Come first century

The place for in-character stories, events, correspondence.
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drowking
Posts: 16

Come first century

Post by drowking » Wed Mar 22, 2023 11:47 pm

And so came the day when the child turned adult. How come he didn't feel any different? Shouldn't he feel something by now? Anything? Eon sighed with disappointment the morning he woke up 100 years old and still feeling like a youngling.

Luckly, he had a back up plan. For months he had sought the counsel of his elders, asking for ways to become wiser, even magical ways if possible. He'd get but one recommendation: travel.

The elves are friends to travelling, to the roads and the thrill of exploration. The Wanderlust was ever present, really, and the only thing holding him back now was his duty to the Elder Queen, to Arandor and its people. So right after his birthday party, he spoke to Siora and asked her for something he'd never imagine.

"Would you relieve me from my duties? For a time?"

He explained to her what he had in mind and the queen, for his surprise, granted his request. Siora had a knowing smile on her face, which made Eon think she probably knew what he felt. Surely, no adult elf is a stranger to the Wanderlust and its effects. The desire to simply wander and get lost in the world, only to return later - changed, more mature and, perhaps, wiser.

Eon's time had come. And he knew it; he felt it. Would he change? How long would he be gone? He didn't know, but he was ready. Waking up with a child's mind was the sign he was waiting for. He need to go. He needed experience.

The bags were packed since the day before. He tied them to Griggo's saddle and climbed onto the bear. And before the sun had risen, he was far from the jewel of the east, his hometown and his heart: Arandor.

"I will return", he whispered to the wind, before finally turning around and beginning his journey.

drowking
Posts: 16

Re: Come first century

Post by drowking » Mon Mar 27, 2023 11:22 am

"In solitude, you will find your path"

And Eon desperately wanted to find his. Without a path in life, any action was meaningless; just another ripple of chaos creating waves. That was not the elven way. The elves were the epitome of order and discipline, after all. He needed a path to point towards a goal; without a goal to strive for, what exactly was his purpose in the immortal life he was given at birth?

As a child, he wanted to become Arandor's champion, a hero, perhaps fueled by the tales his parents told him (here). But he wasn't a child anymore now. Right? Actually, looking back at his childish dream and seeing it as such was the very first realization that he was changing, not only physically, but also mentally.

Of course, the physical changes were more perceivable. His hair grew, his voice deepened, his muscles developed. How long had he been away? A day? A week? A month? He stopped counting, as many elves do. What bearing does time have for a timeless creature? Even Griggo, his giant bear companion, didn't seem to recognize him anymore at times. She'd sniff him and take a close look just to be sure.

During his travel, while training on a deserted beach, Eon wondered to himself: "Why am I doing this? Why all the training? Why do I fight?". Half immersed in the water, he was trying to battle the tides, to push them back with mere brute force and will. And all he achieved was to get wet.

How to change the unchangeable? Could there be truly immutable things? Even the elves changed, after a while. The strength of the sea was one-sided and no matter how hard he punched, he'd never change that. Given enough time and effort, he could punch down a mountain to grains of sand, he could shape earth and stone with raw power alone. But one cannot transform water with just violence. Water was more elegant in its formlessness; it embraced his fists with his every attempt, and it did so kindly. It was fighting back his violence... with kindness.

Panting, hungry and tired after the day's fruitless training, the young kensai stood on the beach and marveled at the endless waves. He was defeated by an enemy who did not even fight back. He just remained there, observing the ballet of the water until the sun set.

Without realizing, an idea was forming in his head. A notion, a concept. But he would need more time and meditation to grasp it. For now, it was shapeless.

Like water...

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drowking
Posts: 16

Re: Come first century

Post by drowking » Mon Apr 03, 2023 9:25 pm

He could not believe the last few days. In truth, he felt like he had lived more in the last weeks than the last century. He experienced so much: courage, love, passion, sadness, joy, loneliness, even hatred at times. And the more he experienced, the more he grew. Each new memory forming a new piece of Eon. Would he change? If so, how much? Just a little? Or completely? He wondered to himself...

His contemplation led him to seek the caves of the water spirits to medidate upon the turn of the world and the changes it brings. He sat on a stone inside the cavern, legs crossed, and observed as the water dripped from the ceiling. It was probably dripping for way longer than he was alive. And because of its ancient dripping, all those hundreds of stalagmites and stalactites were formed.

Eon observed how water conquered earth and molded it through only time. Water, then, adapted to the new form of the earth, ever changing, ever fluid. It gave new form and adapted to it. And it did so kindly, drop after drop.

"Be water", he thought to himself. "Change and adapt".

If water conquers earth, what conquers water? He wondered to himself...

During these meditations, Eon's mind would often wander back to Arandor, to home and to kin. He missed all of it, every little bit. Soon, it would be time to return...

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drowking
Posts: 16

Re: Come first century

Post by drowking » Sun Apr 09, 2023 5:31 pm

He sinked his feet in the sands of Ka'mella and felt sorrow in the dry lands of Khallusia. He climbed to the top of the ophidian pyramids and reached deep down below Karagard. And it was as if he took with himself a piece of every place he visited and every person he met. Eventually, Eon had enough pieces to form a whole.

Looking back now, he realized how much he had learned; and the more he learned, the more he felt like he didn't know anything. But he did learn some things about himself with which he struggled before. His path in life, his idea of what is a warrior and what it was like to embrace the fires of war, by balancing them with the calm waters of peace. A wisdom that became invaluable to deal with the last trials of his trip.

As he sailed the world, one night the Seafarer was struck by a terrible storm. The furious waves tossed and turned the vessel around, cracking its hull in half and swallowing it to the fathomless depths. The last thing Eon remembers was being throw overboard and falling into the waters. His last thought was that he had finally met all sides of water, including now the violent one.

As his consciousness sank unto darkness, Eon thought of Arandor and his mind lingered on many of his kin. And he thought how sad it would be if he died there, withouth laying eyes again upon the jewel of the east, his home Arandor. Before losing consciousness, Eon realized it was time to go back...

* * *

...he felt Griggo licking his face. His mouth tasted like salt and he couldn't stop coughing. Where was he? What had happened? He opened his eyes to an empty beach, wooden debris all around him. He didn't know where he was, but he was alive. Aldarwen, the Lady of the Deep, had given him another chance.

Eoneleth looked down upon himself and reflected back to beginning of his travel. And he smiled thinking about some of the things he did, making peace with his past. He was changed, somehow, but he couldn't tell what. He felt different and yet the same. How was it possible?

His near-death experience was the sign he needed. He treated Griggo's and his wounds, packed what was left of his things, and, by the next morning, they departed towards the east, crossing plains, rivers and mountains... And eventually, she would appear on the horizon... Arandor, the sacred land of the Valar...


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