What do you get when two ruthless assassins raise their daughter travelling through the wildest reaches of Caido? Take one look at Theea and you'll get a pretty good idea. Cheerful and tenacious in equal measure, and curious beyond all else, she began her journey on a mission to find those her mother once called family. And find them she did, soon rubbing elbows with demigods, leaders and even ghosts from the past. Her determination is resolute, her thirst for knowledge unmatched. We can't wait to see where her next adventure takes her!
Congratulations, Theea!
Credits
Court of the Fallen was created in October of 2018 by Odd, Honey, and Crooked.
OG Skinning provided by Kaons, with functionality and many custom plugins made by Neowulf!
The ringing in her ears persisted, but the cold seemed to recede slightly as Elizabeth stepped into the steamy cavern. A few other people occupied the space, but the hotter season made the area less frequented than usual. However, Talyson hadn't been exaggerating the relaxing atmosphere. After weeks of tight muscles trying to fight the chill, she could feel each fiber begin to release, a dull ache already starting to take hold.
Shaking off the heavy cloak and other exteriors, she exposed her simple bathing suit, slipping into the nearest pool. Her eyes fluttered involuntarily as the hot springs sang to her soul, a groan slipping from her lips. Dipping her head back, she let her hair immerse into the water, running her hands through the brown tresses as she stepped farther into its depths.
Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.
Even Kings needed breaks from their crowns sometimes, and Hadama was carrying a great deal of weight on his broad shoulders in recent seasons. It was nearly impossible for him to take anything resembling a vacation within Torchline, but their neighbor to the north had a renowned hot springs and none of the locals - Ancients, mostly - would have any particular expectations or duties for a Safrin demigod or foreign leader.
He moved through the steaming cavern with a wistful memory of his last visit there in Seren's company, then shook his head to focus himself back on the moment and his purpose in coming.
To relax. To think of neither gods nor responsibilities for one full hour, and to focus on his own well-being.
He chose a pool at random, slipping into it from its far end and letting his legs merge and shift into the comfort of his mertail. He swam lazily across it, passing through a curtain of steam only to find that it was already occupied--
And by someone unexpectedly familiar.
"Elizabeth?" he rumbled in quiet but pleasant surprise at running into the Halovian in the Climb.
As she continued to run the hot water through her hair, Elizabeth hummed a light tune, letting the comfortable heat and combing of her tresses remind her of her mother's loving care. She'd often sung a similar tune as she ran the brush through her hair at night, its lull dragging her eyes closed. More often than not, she would awaken in her bed, warm and safe. The only difference now was the persistent chill wracking through her body.
Deep in her thoughts, Elizabeth almost didn't hear the soft voice filter through the ringing, but when she did, she noticed a kind face that was a welcome sight. She smiled immediately, ceasing her humming to greet him. "Ah! Hadama! What a pleasant surprise! What brings you out here?!" Her voice was slightly elevated, attempting to overpower the ringing in her ears. It was getting easier, but she still have a tendency to shout at people. Hopefully the condition wouldn't last too much longer.
Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.
It felt almost rude to interrupt the humming that mingled with the rising steam to create a pleasant ambiance amid the enclosed hot springs, but Hadama had truly not expected to see the therapist here. Still, the genuine warmth of her greeting was reassuring, and he floated closer in case that was why she had raised her voice.
"Indeed," he murmured in agreement to the pleasure of the surprise. He settled against a nearby lip of stone, settling his shoulders against it as his tail flexed in lazy undulation in front of him as he gave her question only a moment of consideration. "A small vacation. I have needed a day for myself," he admitted candidly. He breathed deeply of the mineral-scented steam, bare chest expanding before he let the breath out long and slow so that the mist around his head swirled in new and lazy patterns. "And you?"
Sadly, distance was not the reason for her raised voice, and Elizabeth proceeded to speak loudly in response. "Similarly! I needed to get away from Halo's cold and someone recommended Frey's Breath for my ailment!" Realizing that her problem wasn't obvious, she gave him a sheepish smile. "I had a run in with a few unhappy spirits! I haven't been able to get rid of this insesent ringing in my ears or the chilling grip on my bones!" Luckily, there weren't any people nearby to cast annoyed glances her way, but her voice still echoed slightly about the cavern.
Swimming to the edge, she placed her own arms along the side, letting it support her in the deeper water. Her smile was slightly pained as she laughed. "I guess that'll teach me not to visit shrines!"
Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.
He nodded agreement with whoever had recommended the springs; the waters had healing properties, though perhaps not as powerful as those of Halo and Torchline's divine sources. The heat was a more mundane boon to sore muscles, but at the mention of her ailment he looked over to her in subtle concern.
The concern grew into a faint frown at the mention of unhappy spirits and he made room for her to join him at the edge of the pool, though he did not pull away. "Spirits can be dangerous," he agreed soberly. There was a flicker of old grief in his eyes as he tilted his head in regret for her misfortune. "Even deadly. But that is no reason to abandon shrines completely." He considered the Halovian therapist for a long moment, thoughtful as he turned over her options. "I have heard that Abandoned have... difficulty... gaining the attention of the gods," he admitted slowly. "Have you considered going with someone who has... hmm. Already proven to have their favor?"
Elizabeth laughed lightly. "I've definitely found that out! I guess I should be lucky that I got off as easily as I did!" Considering she made it out with her life and only a couple inconvenient symptoms could be deemed fortunate, not that it helped ease the discomforts. Dipping her shoulders into the water in a subconscious attempt to push the cold further away, she thought about Hadama's words. Having another person might be helpful, but she also wondered who she might recruit for such a visit. "Hmmm... I haven't, but I'll keep that in mind for a possible next time! Thank you!"
Her eyes turned back to the Mer King and his tail swishing gently under the surface. Although he'd made a subtle expression of sympathy at her situation, she asked, "Being a demigod, do you find it easier to visit shrines?!" Being aligned with a deity surely made it safer and more guaranteed of a response, right?
Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.
His powers as a demigod did not, unfortunately, extend to mitigating curses, even of lesser spirits. Nor could the healing waters of Frey's Breath wash away their mischief, but he sighed in rare contentment and joined Elizabeth in sinking deeper into the hot water. He flipped his flukes lazily beneath the surface, careful not to lift them high enough to splash as they spoke.
He nodded calm acceptance of her optimism and of her gratitude for his suggestion, unaware of her potential difficulties. At her next question, however, he raised his voice again to make it easier for her to hear him. "I do. Though I have rarely prayed to any god other than Safrin." He looked over at her, quiet encouragement in his voice as he added: "But before I became her demigod, I was rarely answered. Though the spirits who came instead were less unkind." His acknowledgment was made with the understanding that even if the Mer were not particularly blessed with attention from the gods, at least they seemed to attract the truly unkind spirits less often.
Though as his family had found to their great sorrow, 'less often' was not 'never.'
"If you would ever like to pray to Safrin, however, I would be honored to accompany you," he offered after some moments of peaceful thought. "Of all the gods, she is the most loyal to her followers. Though she expects that loyalty to be returned," he added, as much explanation as warning to not turn her back on the goddess of the stars.
Elizabeth appreciated the increase in his volume, nodding her head as she listened. It made her glad to hear that he hadn't 'often' suffered at the hands of vicious spirits, even as it made her slightly jealous, she wouldn't wish the ringing or bone chilling on anyone. Smiling kindly, she said, "That's good to hear!" Safrin had been the one she was praying to during her unfortunate 'experience,' but she didn't want to influence his opinion of the deity he was aligned with. Plus, she didn't really blame the goddess, since it was 'technically' the spirits who had attacked her. That didn't make the feelings disappear, but the therapist side of her tried to acknowledge and see the true source of her turmoil.
Dipping her hand into the hot water, she spooned it onto her neck before running it down her arms. The heat alone didn't seem to be enough, so she was trying to use friction and movement to increase the effect. As she did so, she considered Hadama's offer with a tilt of her head. "I might take you up on that! Once my condition has resolved enough for me to feel comfortable, that is!" Her laugh was light, but the implication was there: Elizabeth wasn't quite ready to risk the wrath of the spirits again. However, she was more than interested in eventually meeting the goddess. "I see! It seems that I have much to learn about the gods." Their desires and personalities. Their dangers. Having never met one, she had no doubt that there would be a learning curve.
Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.
He tilted his head in acknowledgment of her words, but let silence fall between them again for a short while until he made his offer. His dedication to his goddess was such that he took pride in helping others to meet her and to see her beauty and power for themselves, even though Abandoned had a more difficult time gaining the attention of any god.
Once she proved herself sincere, however, Hadama had no doubt that Elizabeth - like Sah, and Hotaru, and Deimos before her - would find that the gods, and Safrin in particular rewarded devotion from any race.
He slipped his arms from where they rested on the rim of the pool and slid deeper into the water until it nearly touched his chin. Steel-grey hair spread out around him, long tendrils floating on the surface of the hot spring as the gentle currents stirred them into a slow undulation. "There is no hurry," he assured her. Even without being told, he could guess that she was not eager to return to a shrine so soon. "Safrin enjoys offerings that reflect her beauty. And compliments do not hurt," he added, a flicker of humor in emerald eyes in spite of his solemn tone and serene expression. "Respect and appreciate her, and she will reward you well..."
The normally-quiet former-Mer was more than happy to speak of his goddess to a willing listener, until the time came for them to part ways once more.
