Reunion

[Vivian Shiryu]

Timestamp:16th of Cylus, 717
Location: Rharne, Lightning Cathedral

Vivian looked around her with interest and wonder as she headed from the Glass Quarter, where the inn she had taken was currently placed, to the Lightning Cathedral. Rharne was fascinating to her, the difference in culture from Rynmere the difference in style. A city built into a mountain was a wonder she was delighted to behold, and the view was absolutely magnificent. For now, however, her gaze was fixed firmly on the cathedral at the top of the mountain, where her friend and Queen, if she still desired the throne, was waiting for her. She shifted the box she carried under her arms, making sure she wasn't covering any of the airholes in the box.

Well, that was probably not quite true, as Vivian doubted if Zvezdana knew she was in the city. Still, though, she was looking forward to seeing her friend again. She had left her rapier at the inn with Seira and Seriel, as they would need the piece bonded blade if something happened, whereas Vivian could handle herself passing well in a fight. If nothing else, she could leg it until she found a soldier.

Walking into the Cathedral, Vivian looked around a moment, surprised at the opulence. The great cathedral was, in a way, more impressive than the castle in Andaris city. Clearly, the Immortals were beings that demanded respect from their followers. She wondered if they were worth. Still, evidently the place had taken Zvez in when she needed help most, so they already had her thanks.

There were women in white robes all over the place and she tapped one who looked less busy on the shoulder. "Could you tell me where I could find a woman named Zvezdana? I'm a friend of hers, and I'm told she became a priestess here." she asked politely, reminding herself she was a peasant and not a noble. Though she doubted that her old family name would have done her any good in Rharne.

The woman blinked at Vivian, then nodded. "I'll tell her you're here, if you wish. What's your name?" she asked, her tone demure and polite.

"Vivian Shiryu." she said, smiling as she said it. The priestess nodded and headed into the cathedral, and Vivian went to one of the pews and sat down, resting the box holding the first thing she felt Zvez might want in her lap.

[Zvezdana Venora]

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"May it be an evening star, shines down upon you..." The sound of a song was very faint, as is the singer seemed to be ashamed of her skill. Zvezdana was far from being a competent singer, or someone capable of standing in a theater hall to draw the crowds with her voice. Yet, she sang because it seemed to relax Alzorn. Already into his next season, he was growing stronger each day. He was clothed in the green knit jacket, hat, mits, and booties. "May it be when darkness falls, your heart will be true..." The song was not necessarily a lullaby appropriate for a comprehending mind, but it did the job to lull him to sleep. Alzorn smacked his lips in his lips, kicking a leg in recognition of his mother's voice.

"Novitiate Zvezdana?" Someone had come up quietly behind her. Most of her sisters walked tenderly into the dormitories when it was quiet. Without the sounds of a screaming child, they did not want to take their chances at waking him if he was happily asleep. Silence was treasured here lately, as many blamed the young novitiate for their lack of sleep. Despite the grief she received, Zvezdana powered through the sleepless nights and constant sniggering behind her back. Alzorn was everything to her in her lonely days.

"Yes?"

"A Vivian Shiryu is here to see you."

Recognition was immediate across her face as a smile split her lips. So, her Sergeant had finally come back from the war it seemed. Gently, so as not to wake him, Zvezdana picked Alzorn up from his sleeping box. Having known her for a short time, the messenger was slightly taken aback when she saw how happy the new mother looked. It was probably the happiest she had ever seen the woman look. Quickly, with a new pep in her step, Zvezdana swept past the other novitiate. "Thank you."

It did not take long for mother and son to arrive in the prayer chamber. Dressed in the same white robes as many of the women running around, Zvezdana could easily blend in. Her long, black hair fell in loose waves. For the most part she was physically unchanged. Upon close inspection, Vivian might find bags beneath her eyes and calloused hands. Her feet had blisters and her skin was not as soft as it used to be. The scars remained, marking her a cursed mortal to Syroa. Even with the subtle changes, Zvezdana sported a smile and glittering eyes. She finally spotted Vivian, seated in one of the pews. Zvezdana closed the distance quickly, standing next to the pew in the side aisle.

"It's about time you got here Vivian."
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[Vivian Shiryu]

It didn't take long before Zvezdana's voice sounded from the side aisle of her pew. Standing up, Vivian grinned at her friend and walked over to her, still holding the box in her hands. "Sorry for the delay, Zvez. Lei'lira's husband was...taking liberties with her person. I delayed to put a stop to that." she said, her voice quiet in deference to the infant in her friends arms. She gave Zvez a one-armed hug, careful not to startle the baby, then took a close look at her.

"You need more sleep, Zvez." she said, her tone a soft rebuke before she glanced down at the child. "Though I imagine this little one makes it difficult." Vivian considered the child silently for a moment. Another small child keeping his mother awake at night. "I'm beginning to think I was very lucky to have been able to skip infancy in my own daughters." she said thoughtfully before she looked back up at her friend. "What's his name? Andraska didn't tell me." she asked, her words still soft.

After a bit, she gestured Zvez into the pew. "Sit down. I have something I felt you'd like." she said, sitting in the pew and gently holding up the box containing Cornelius, Zvezdana's pet snake. When Zvez was ready, Vivian handed her the box and waited for her to open it. "By the way, I'm going to be looking into either renting or buying a house in Rharne. If you haven't found a home of your own, you're more than welcome to come live with me and the girls. Seira and Seriel have missed you." she said, her voice gentle before she gave a slightly mischievous grin. "Pakse has too."

[Zvezdana Venora]

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Lei'lira? Ah yes. If she recalled correctly, that was Lazuli's twin sister. Her memory of the houses was beginning to grow dusty, having little inclination to practice Rynmere history in her spare time. That, and she had never specifically met Lei'lira. Lazuli had been someone she favored long ago, but those bridges had been burned with Warrick's dragon fire on the Qe'Dreki forces. Zvezdana was remorseful that their relationship had ended that way. She suspected that much of the ill will had stemmed from her abduction of Veljorn's heart and her quick marriage to the Qe'Dreki king. Although she had done it mostly for herself, she had hoped that Lazuli would come to understand that a betrothed marriage could saddle a woman with eternal remorse and suffering. She had seen it in her parent's relationship. Her marriage to Veljorn would spare Lazuli from that future. It had been a gift; one she had never been able to explains since Lazuli locked herself up after that. Vivian always speculated that it had been their grandmother's doing, but Zvezdana had little to offer on that subject. She allowed the thoughts to run off without her as Vivian gave her a side hug.

"So, you adopted Seira and Serial? How are the girls?" Zvezdana moved to sit, smiling at the thought that Vivian was already well into making her own family. "This is Alzorn," She cooed lovely, running a gentle finger down her son's face as she nestled herself into the pew. She adjusted him into the arm away from Vivian so that she could use her free hand to weasel the lid off the box. There, coiled up in the corner, was Cornelius. Her mouth dropped. After all this time, it appeared that he had survived the trials and tribulations of the war. After the Sessfiend transformation that left Jorick's Keep in ruin, she had expected that the snake would have not survived.

"I'm surprised that he survived. Thank you for caring for him. It's good to know that he has been safe all this time and I didn't kill him as that best," Zvezdana was careful to say the last portion, her eyes looking around the room to ensure that none of the other Priestesses heard her. After all, no one knew that she was cursed by Syroa.

"I think I might have to take you up on that offer. I would certainly pay my portion. Sleeping in the dormitories with an infant has proved difficult. I'm sure the others would appreciate it if I moved out." Zvezdana lifted a brow at the mention of 'Pakse'. "You still have that drooling ball of fur that has about enough sentience to know where to lick his arse? You realize that if I come live with you, he gets to live in the backyard right?"

Although she would not enforce it, the thought was definitely there. If Vivian bought the house, she would have to abide by her rules. If that meant the dog lived in the house, she would have to deal with it. She offered a pitiful smile, pooching her lip a little bit. "If anything, he won't be allowed in my room. I won't have drool on my bed or near Alzorn. That's just gross." Zvezdana chuckled, her laugh light. Vivian might notice that her mood had drastically improved since she had escaped Rynmere.

"How have things been with you Vivian? You've come all this way for me. Tell me about your adventures."
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[Vivian Shiryu]

When Zvez asked if Vivian had adopted the girls, Vivian smiled brightly and nodded. "I did. And they're...good, but I think they're still nervous about the whole thing. They got so used to having nobody to depend that I think they might be worried I'd leave them if they ever make me angry." she said, her tone a mixture of wry amusement and worry at the end. She wouldn't pitch the girls out in the street if they pissed her off, they were her family after all, but they hadn't quite realized that yet.

When Zvez introduced her son, Vivian merely smiled at him and nodded, though she didn't speak to the sleeping infant. She grinned at Zvez's reaction seeing Cornelius again, but shook her head when Zvez mentioned killing him. "No, but the tank was a lost cause. He was okay though, but it took some work to retrieve him. He doesn't come when called, does he?" she said, shaking her head in amusement. "Apparently, infants are the enemy of sleep. I'm sure he'll be better at the house, though. From what I saw, the way people around infants feels affects their own attitudes." she said, her tone thoughtful.

Zvez's reaction to Pakse, however, got Vivian smirking. "Of course I still have my dog. She's a good girl, if a little drooly." she said, before laughing. "And yeah, don't worry, I'll keep her out of your room. Pakse is very affectionate, but she likes to show it by covering the people she loves in slobber." she said, before taking a long look at Zvez. "I haven't seen you this happy since the tournament." she said, before grinning and hugging Zvez again. "I'm glad to see you smiling again."

At Zvez's question, however, she leaned back in the pew and sighed. "After you left, I went back to Jorick's Keep. Found out someone had injured Seira while we were out. Blackwood wanted to leave, but I'd had enough. When they left, the girls and I stayed behind. Iron Hand came by shortly afterward, arrested me. Took me to Andaris for trial." Vivian paused a moment, then leaned forward and sighed again.

"Rank, title, family name. I lost it all. Dear old duke and duchess showed up excommunicate me personally. Got told I until seasons end to leave. Planned on coming straight to Rharne." she said, then growled. "Then people started coming after the girls. Followed them to the source, turned out to be their uncle. He's got some connection Pythera Venora. Turns out she goes by Valkyr whenever she can." she said, before taking another deep breath.

"Turns out their father might be alive still. We're looking for him in Rharne, but...if we find him, he'll want his daughters back. I don't fault him for that, but..." she said, before looking at Zvez with eyes that had turned silver from her emotions. "I don't want to give them up. They're _mine_ now." she said, her voice clearly distraught.

[Zvezdana Venora]

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The letter had mentioned that Blackwood and the Qe'Dreki had fled from Jorick's Keep. It still burned her that they had left the twins and Vivian behind, but it may have been for the best. What was more irritable was the fact that she had fallen into Cassander's hands, even if it had been because one of his lackeys had done the work. Had Zvezdana been there, she might have been able to do something. Her breath was even as Vivian continued her tail. It was probably safe to say that the same would have occurred to her. She was no longer a Venora. Her family would never take her back. Zvezdana had already given that life up, but the pain was very real right then and there. She could never go back to Rynmere, no matter her feelings. Her gaze fell. She did not have a home any longer.

The girls seemed to be having trouble of their own. Pythera had a strange fascination with names. Valkyr? It was not what she would have chosen for her as a bandit alias. Zvezdana listened carefully about Vivian's quest for the twins' father. They were lovely girls. Why wouldn't he want them back? Especially now that they were musicians with a knack for survival. "We'll never let that happen Vivian. The girls belong with you. You love them. From one mother to another, that will never change."

She allowed that thought to sink in, looking up to the alter at the front while it did. Priestesses milled about their duties, but there was a specific pair that caught her eye. Every once in a while, a knight would come in to accompany one of her sisters on their next mission. They would meet several times before heading off into Idalos. Emissaries and Clerics seemed to be the ones that would get paired up. "I know you just came to Rharne and are getting on your feet, but what are you going to do as a profession? Leaving Rynmere's military must be hard." Zvezdana jerked her head towards the pair, hoping to guide Vivian's gaze to them. "I'm supposed to be getting paired up with a Lightening Knight soon, once I have established myself at the next rank. I'm going to pursue the Emissary branch. It means lots of traveling and putting myself in places I've never been before. I'd appreciate someone I trust beside me."

It seemed selfish to ask, but she was implying that she wanted Vivian to join the Lightening Knights. Her skills as a warrior would be welcome, and Ilaren could use someone like her to protect the city and her devoted Thunder Priestesses.
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[Vivian Shiryu]

Vivian smiled at Zvez as her friend tried to reassure her that she wouldn't lose the girls, though she still held that worry in her mind. However, as Zvez asked her about her occupation, she pushed the thought to the back of her mind. She followed Zvez's head jerk and looked at the pair, one who looked like a priestess, kind of like Zvez did now, and another who looked more like a warrior.

When Zvez explained what the pair were and what, exactly, she was asking of Vivian, the soldier grinned. "Leaving Rynmere's military wasn't all that hard. It had become naught but Cassander's tool. But no, I hadn't thought to a career yet, though. But I enjoy being a soldier, and it's the only thing I know how to do." she said, before looking up at the top of the Cathedral. "So, that does raise a question, then. Do you know how I go about joining these Lightning Knights? Or, for that matter, what do you know about them? I haven't really had much time to learn about Rharne, I spent most of yesterday catching up on my sleep after having slept no more than an hour a day on the way here from Rynmere." she said, looking a little embarrassed at the end.

After a moment, though, she laughed a bit. "It's a little silly, isn't it. I'm half-Biqaj, but there's nothing I hate more than sea travel." she said, looking back up the ceiling. "Maybe it's why I was always so fascinated with the thought of flying. It's why I joined the Skyriders." she said, sighing a bit before grinning again. "Someday, though."

[Zvezdana Venora]

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"Sadly, I know little of the Lightning Knights. I know they serve Ilaren in a different capacity. I am still learning about Rharne myself. Vincent had been kind enough to tell me a little about the city on my way up to the Cathedral at the beginning of the season. From what I have gathered, Knights are paired with Priestesses. Although we learn to protect ourselves, it is good to have someone with knowledge of a weapon by our side. Or so they say. Many of the women here have never picked up a sword or bow."

Zvezdana thought back to Jorick's Keep, when she had been obligated to learn a ranged weapon while pregnant. As a soldier, everyone carried their weight. Healthy or sick, young or old, everyone had a role to play. Here, Priestesses healed, negotiated, and spread the word of Ilaren's greatness. Knights protected her disciples diligently. Those in the quarters below celebrated her gifts of joy and alcohol. Everyone had a choice as to what role they wanted to play. It heavily contrasted Rynmere.

The woman who stood next to the decorated knight bid him farewell before looking around. It seemed that it had been High Priestess Ki'oriq that had been the one having the conversation. Her eyes fell on Zvezdana and the baby. The look she gave suggested it was time to end her conversation.

"I must go Vivian. I have chores to attend to. I would like to move in with you and the girls if the offer stands. If you would, could you take Cornelius with you? I'll make sure to get a tank for him when I move in. I don't think my dormitory sisters would appreciate him living with us," Zvezdana slowly stated with a firm tone as she stood. A smile played on her lips. "We are no longer queen and soldier. We are friends now Vivian. A lot of things have changed since I have come to Rharne. I have changed. When I come home, we will have a deeper conversation on what has transpired in my world while you were helping the Lei'lira and the girls."

"Novitiate Zvezdana!"

"I shall see you soon Vivian," Zvezdana slipped past her friend, hurrying down the aisle. "Coming!"
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[Vivian Shiryu]

Vivian nodded as Zvez told her she was still learning about Rharne herself, though she laughed when she heard that many of the women had never picked up a bow or sword. "Not so odd, really. I know a lot of people in Rynmere who would have thought the fact that I sought out a dangerous occupation to be odd." she said, shrugging slightly.

When Zvez said she had to leave, Vivian simply nodded and took the box with the snake back, standing up at the same time as Zvez. "You doing chores? The image doesn't quite fit." she said, grinning slightly. When Zvez told her that they were no longer Queen and soldier, Vivian cocked her head to the side before slowly nodding. "A lot to talk about, I see. You've changed a lot in a season, Zvez, and I think it's largely for the better." she said, before pulling a pouch off her belt. "By the by, this was also among the things I recovered for you." she said, handing Zvezdana back the Nel she had been holding onto for the past season.

"You best get to work before you get in trouble. I'll see you tomorrow after I secure a residence." she said cheerfully, waving farewell to her friend. Once Zvez had gone back to work, Vivian put Cornelius back under her arm and headed out the door, heading back to the inn she was staying to start looking into more permanent housing.

Off Topic

1399 GN, 5 SN, 3 CN removed from ledger as it's been returned to Zvezdana.

[Tristan Venora]

Vivian:

Knowledge:
Knowledge: Etiquette: Speaking quietly around a sleeping newborn
Etiquette: Holding your friends baby so they can look at their snake

Loot: N/A
Injuries: N/A
Renown: N/A
Magic XP: N/A

Points: yes

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Comments: I miss Zvezdana and Vivian and the time we were all nobles in Rynmere. I wish Zvezdana hadn't died!

Enjoy your XP!