Perhaps the closest equivalent of Caido’s golden retriever energy, Zavien has been the light in an otherwise patch of darkness. Always putting others first, working hard at being a Dragoon and helping Stormbreak thrive in kindness, and always being optimistic, Zavien’s outlook is refreshing and wonderful even with drama and terrible things occurring around him. He always has something helpful to say and a willingness to lend a hand that makes it so fun to keep up with him and we can’t wait to see what else comes his way.
Congratulations, Zavien!
Credits
Court of the Fallen was created in October of 2018 by Odd, Honey, and Crooked.
Skinning and hosting by the epically talented Kaons, and functionality fanciness by the coding magic of Neowulf. If you ever see either of them around, make sure to show them some love!
The words and letters blended together as he passed spine upon spine of book after book on shelf behind shelf. It astounded him to see so much knowledge in one spot and he immediately understood why some people dedicated their lives to studying the contents. There was just too much. However, he seemed to have quite the opposite idea of a quality life. To be stuck behind a desk for hours every day as the letters swam across the page, taunting him. That sounded more like a nightmare. But Zavien would do anything to help understand the enemy they faced, even if it meant sneaking a peak at what the Collegium's books might have on the Family.
He continued his path down an aisle, looking around to scan the titles. At the slightest brush of his shoulder, a nearby book erupted in a plume of dust that had him clutching his nose to keep from sneezing. Still clamping his nares, he whispered to Koa, "Which section would the information be in?" Zavien didn't want to announce to any nearby ears what they were searching for, yet he had no idea how to navigate this labyrinth of ancient tomes.
No better version of me I could pretend to be tonight
"Who knows," Koa groans, sniffing as dust buffets his nose. "'Bad Guys From the Sky for Dummies?'" He takes a step away from Zavien and the unearthed cloud of dust. Hands on his hips, Koa rotates his shoulders, wincing as his back lets out an audible crack that echoes like gunshot through the quiet stacks.
"I've been going through the ones we already grabbed, but nothing's looking promising." It's been his part of the task: take notes on the books they've found that might have something good. So far, absolutely no dice. It feels like they've been doing this forever, and yet they haven't found a single written word about their foes. "You got anything else?" It's like chasing ghosts, and Koa - never a scholar to begin with - is nearing the end of his limited patience, tired of this fruitless pursuit.
Chuckling at the suggested title, Zavien adds, "Or 'How to Save the World from Purple People Eaters'?" Obviously, he doesn't know if they eat people, but the phrase seems right. As he says it, he worries again that someone might know what they're up to and he jumps slightly at the crack of Koa's back, blushing slightly in embarrassment and brushing the remaining dust from his head.
Zavien sighs, trying not to let the despair creep into his mind. "Not yet." They'd been here for quite some time with no results to show for it. He didn't know if they just weren't checking in the right spots or if there was nothing for them to find. History books didn't mention anything similar to the Void or the Family. Botany books were too dense, showing pictures of purple plants that didn't show any signs of being 'infectious'. Even medical books about diseases didn't have a 'purple hued illness that affects people and animals' category. Overall, he felt like they were coming up empty-handed. There is only one topic they haven't explored, if they can just find it. Trying to scan the titles to gather what section they might be in, he says, "It's a long shot, but maybe fiction?" People sometimes mistook folklore or fantasy as just that, when usually there's a kernel of truth hidden within.
No better version of me I could pretend to be tonight
The title gets Koa to snicker, which he quickly attempts to stifle into an undignified snort. He's beginning to think he'll lose his mind if he looks at any more book spines, the letters blurring together into a collection of nonsense words. He's read more about diseases in the past hour than he'd ever have cared to in his entire life, and while it's given him a great deal more respect for people working in the medical field (and thoroughly upset his stomach), he's still none the wiser re: Space Demon God Shit.
"Like myths and stuff? Maybe," Koa agrees to Zavien's suggestion, though there's no real hope in his voice. "This way," he directs the other Dragoon, abandoning their stuffy shelf in pursuit of another. "This reminds me of school - writing book reports. Did they make you read Everything in Order: a Retrospective On the Voice, too? I always kinda thought it was made up - the whole idea of a robot goddess who thought she could challenge Caido." But the reality of it had been monumental and terrible. Every Breaker remembers where they were, the day the Tower fell.
"Yeah. My mom always believed in the old stories. She didn't like the word 'myth' because it implied that they didn't happen. Her opinion was that it had changed so much over time that it wasn't as realistic sounding." Kind of like the relay game where people repeated things until they were complete nonsense and no one understood what the original message was. At least Koa had an idea of where to go and he followed close behind.
A shiver ran through his body at the horrid mention of school. "Ugh. Don't remind me. That and 'The Evolution of Magic Races'. Honestly? They had more of an impact on my brain when they fell off my shelf." His grimaced chuckle was indication enough of the fist-sized knot he'd had on his head for a week. It wasn't that he hadn't tried to read them, but his brain seemed to think opening the books was its 'power off' button. Every time he'd wake up with ink stuck to his face and no recollection of that night. It was slightly concerning.
Zavien shook his head. "The Voice was overconfident to say the least." Considering what he remembered of her infamous downfall, they were lucky more didn't get demolished. Looping things back, he added, "I just hope the same can be said for the Family."
No better version of me I could pretend to be tonight
Again he struggles not to laugh, snickering as they pass by glaring scholars who want only to read those same tomes in peace. "I never actually finished that one," Koa confesses in a hushed tone. "There was a kid a few years older than me- he'd sell summaries of all the worst reading. That's one that was definitely worth saving for." A thought occurs to him, and he glances curiously at Zavien. "You might've known him, actually. Phineas Edgewater? I think he'd be like 26 now. Huge nerd. Works here, somewhere, last I heard. Can outdrink a dragon," the young man adds, admiration in his voice.
The Voice is, of course, a sour subject, one that has Koa's teeth grinding with generational hate. "They've stayed pretty quiet so far, it seems like." Which is not reassuring, because how are they supposed to know what the devils are planning, if they refuse to make a real move? "Just this void shit spreading everywhere. But not here." Which in itself is bizarre, given the Reaper's Family ties.
His face crinkles at the name. "Yeah... I knew him." They'd been in the same year, but Zavien never had the money to pay him for his services, so Phineas never had a reason to like him. In fact, the kid was a bully, mocking him for being 'stupid.' "The urge to punch him had nearly overwhelmed me in the last year." It was just barely contained by his own morality. "I did rip the last page out of one of his books though." It wasn't a very nice thing to do and he'd instantly regretted it, but Phineas had been furious that he couldn't finish the ending. The memory makes him smile sheepishly. He doesn't notice the horrified looks shot his way by a few of the Collegium patrons. It doesn't even cross his mind that the man might be in earshot.
Zavien's face shifts painfully at the other topic. Everything they do seems to revolve around the Family and their schemes. Yet, just like today, they always come up empty handed. It's more than a little draining on the soul. Pausing in the middle of the aisle, he sighs loudly and places his hands on his hips. "I think I need a drink. You interested?" After the long day they've had scouring the shelves and reading the words of people long dead, he needs a break. He has no doubt that Koa will agree. They deserve it after all.
No better version of me I could pretend to be tonight
"Ha!" He shouldn't laugh, but the idea of Zavien clocking Phineas is immensely entertaining, as is the petty vengeance of defacing a book. "I bet he had a fit," Koa snickers, heedless of the glares cast by busy scholars. His memory of the older boy isn't super clear, but from what he can recall Phineas had been rather short and gangly, with long limbs disproportionate to his diminutive height.
Given that Koa's ability to focus gave put two sections ago, the younger Dragoon is all too happy to call their search a wash. He mirrors Zavien's sigh, running a hand through his hair. "Gods yeah," Koa agrees. They hesd bsck to clean their section before heading tona bar, chattering and reminiscing all the while.. "Hey, did you have Mr. Laconia for religious studies? I swear, all that man wanted in life was to fuck a demigod...."
