Conrad Selin (thebiglutovsky) wrote in light_of_may, @ 2011-04-23 19:52:00 |
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Entry tags: | #flashback, #solo |
"Day"-dreaming
Who: Conrad,
Where: Middle of Scarlet Oak, by the river.
When: Riverfest, early evening.
Walking along the river in the early evening the sounds of laughter, talking, and general merry-making filled Conrads ears, taking his mind back to another time, not both similar to this 'Riverfest' and completely different.
Half a world and more than half a dozen years away from Scarlet Oak, was another river. The jungle was thick and dark, almost loud with the sounds of insects and other nocturnal creatures. The river cut a large swathe through the canopy, the moon shining brightly down upon its murky waters.
Conrad had been traveling the region for a couple of months, fascinated by the different dialects and accents spoken within so small a region. The people had been warm and friendly to him, often offering shelter or food when he needed it, in exchange for which he did what little he could to help them. A charm here, a ward there, sometimes even just the appearance of doing magic to ease the minds of those who sheltered him.
His latest master, in Vientiane, had given him two options. Either devote himself wholly to his teachings, both magical and spiritual, or leave. The young witch had chosen to leave. The old man had been furious and nearly unleashed some powerful spell in Conrads direction, but a muttered prayer had calmed him and the crackle of magic in the air had dissipated. He understood that religion could be beneficial to some magic users, helping them to find focus and give form to their energies and intentions, but it didn't fit for him. The universe was too big and varied a place to narrow your mind even for the purpose of centering yourself.
The old man had warned him that he would be scattered and unfocused for the rest of his life if he didn't find a higher calling of his own to follow.
Walking along the riverbank in the dead of night, a feeling of peace came over him. Maybe it would be easier to surrender to religion. Surrender all responsibility for finding his own answers, for thinking about the universe.
What sounded like a cry around the bend snapped him out of his reverie. A short jog brought him within sight of a group of teenagers and children playing. The cry had been of surprise rather than pain or fear, but surprise. One of the boys had splashed water down the back of one of the girls. The water, so much colder than the night air, had startled her. Not wanting to frighten the young ones, Conrad approached slowly with his hands out in the universal 'I have no weapons and mean no harm' gesture. Speaking in a low, conversational voice, the young witch told them who he was and what he was doing. They relaxed and went back to their game, occasionally including him.
For almost an hour, he watched them laugh and shout and play. It let him forget, for a little while, where he was. He allowed himself not to focus on what had happened in the past and what he was set to do in the future, and just reveled in the simple enjoyment being taken by those around him.
The silence of the creatures of the night should have been a sign.
The rustling of the leaves should have tipped him off.
One of the multitude of charms he carried should have warned him.
But no. The first sign of danger Conrad had was the rapid rending of branches, almost like a scream as the monstrous form of an enraged and frightened elephant came tearing through the jungle. Followng close behind was a pair of were-jaguars, half-transformed, the elephants blood dripping from claws and fangs.
Conrad shouted a warning to the children, told them to flee back toward their village. In the meantime, he began scrawling in dirt and mud, slashing his hand with a stone, dribbling a line of his own blood along with the markings in the soil, using a stick to trail some of the elephants blood with it. A harsh chemical smell filled the air around him, energy crackling off the ground and his skin.
One of the jaguars lunged past him, grazed the shield he was erecting and staggered a bit, stunned and hurt, but continued to its goal. While Conrad was focusing on the remaining werebeast, it ripped through the fleeing children, tearing into them with tooth and claw. Their screams pierced the night, distracting the witch. Enraged, he sent a tendril of swirling black and red into the back of the beast that was slaughtering them, pouring all he could into it and drilling out through its chest. The wound wouldn't be fatal, but it would hopefully keep it from attacking his back. Busy with this, he narrowly avoided being raked by the claws of the other.
These creatures were obviously experienced and organized. Not one of the children was left alive with the possibility of turning. They attempted to circle him, but the wounded jaguar could not get into place fast enough and allowed Conrad to get his back against a tree. He thought his life was at an end.
The sky was clear, but a loud crack as of thunder sounded, and a blinding flash of light. The wounded jaguar was left as nothing more than a charred smear on the ground. Three figures cloaked in deep blue stepped through the clearing smoke, their voices chanting rapidly, each different, their arms and hands gesturing even more rapidly, but controlled. As one they stopped, flicking the same harsh gesture. A column of flames shot out, smashing into the remaining jaguar, scorching Conrads clothing in the process.
The were leapt into the river and swam away as rapidly as its burnt flesh would allow.
"Conrad Selin." The three robed figures turned toward the young witch, their voices intoning in unison. "You have been searching for us?"
Conrad was too shaken to respond immediately. First, the weres, now this. Could these be the ones...? "Are you the ones who have been leading me from place to place with your cryptic notes?"
"We are but three. Our numbers are many."
The younger witch snarled, "But why?!?"
"You will be told, in time." With another thunder clap and flash, they were gone, leaving Conrad alone with his thoughts and the gruesome scene of over half a dozen dismembered Laotian children. Or were they Thai? Maybe Cambodian? He supposed it didn't matter much, as they were little more than bits of food for the scavengers of the river and jungle.
With a sigh, he slipped into the jungle before the village became aware that the children were missing. Nothing productive, or even interesting, would happen if they suspected he had dismembered them.
A flash of blue and a quick movement out of the corner of his eye caused Conrad to spin around, beginning to ready a quick offensive spell. Conrad came to with a start, realizing where he was. The color had been part of a womans dress, and the movement nothing but an automobile passing in the distance. He quickly unraveled the magic in his hands and started his slow walk back to the motel.
A voice, pitched just to him, echoed in his ear, the tone unmistakable. "Yes, return to your room. It would be a shame to accidentally kill an innocent normal."
He spun, searching for those blue robes, but none were to be found. With a sigh, he continued on his way.