Tea is dead

[12:00] "I will not stand here and pretend I know more of your heritage than you do, Kofe." He shakes his head. "Of this, I apologize."

"Should you meet with Tea, you will learn something terrible and sad."

He gestures towards himself.

"Come with me, Kofe. Come, Ella."

"I have a story to tell you."
(Elesius Soleis)
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[12:02] Her hands would remain hidden as she listened to the two speak.

"Summoning spirits is tricky work. You could accidently invoke the incorrect one and upset the balance by summoning a person who has passed to the next life."

Her head would shake slightly.

"It's very tricky work."
(Ella Gracia)
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[12:02] Kofe's brow rose with a tad of confusion when Elesius said such a thing. How would he know anything about Tea? Did he see what happened? Maybe. Perhaps this was the answer Kofe was looking for all along, coming right to him as the stars aligned.

He nodded, ready to follow his old friend.
(Kofe)
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[12:11] They move through the city, down the path, down to Messaris with it's rolling hills, the scent of spring dancing with the gentle yet ever-present smell of manure. They cross the bridges leaving the city, and slowly things transition away from civilization, the trees grow larger, and the buildings grow smaller.

Eventually one remains, and the other is a distant memory.

They come to a beach, white sand and endless surf. The sounds of crashing waves oscillating every few moments. It's clear by the look on his face that Elesius does not like this place, contrary to his normal attitude, he frowns, pins and needles slowly fill his face as memories and pain fill him.

He stops eventually, and points to an area on the beach with a small pile of iridescent stones.

"This is where Tea died." He says, despondence creeping into the edge of his voice.

"This is where she took her final breath and departed from this world into the next."

"This is where I come to pay my respects." He states, pulling a small bowl of something from his tattered cloak, and placing it upon the stones.

If it was any indication, something tells you he did this with some frequency, various other bowls poking half buried out of the sand.

"What do you want to know?" He asks, not turning.


(Elesius Soleis)
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[12:17] If they were going anywhere at all it probably would have to do with his sister. Whether it was where she was now, or where she perished. He put no mind to the travel, instead focusing upon Elesius' shift in attitude as they moved on. The way he looked at it seemed more and more like a death.

.. And soon enough that would be confirmed. That... weight of hearing such, of having it confirmed gently lifted up a weight from Kofe's shoulders. At the same time, a much greater weight came pressing down on his heart. He felt.. pain. A deep, deep chest pain. Inexplicable, illogical. His heart spoke out, transmitting its own song directly into the Soleis' mind.

A eulogy of silence.

Despite producing no notes, no tune, no melody, Elesius would likely be able to tell that something was... amiss. Like watching a band not make a single sound, standing there in complete silence. An empty orchestra. Haunting.

It'd take far, far longer than Kofe would like to admit for him to finally break that cold silence, eyes staring towards the pile of stones.

"How did you find out?"
(Kofe)
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[12:18] Ella would move to the side... THis wasn't her reunion...
(Ella Gracia)
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[12:39] Within himself, Elesius felt nothing new at first, it was the same every time he came here. A pressure, an orchestra of malcontent. Two dancers, one unseen moving within themselves an omnipresent movement of three. A dead woman's waltz.

Eventually Kofe's own silence melded with his own, forming something new, something immensely more soul crushing. More silent than silence. The kind of thing only forming when one is left to their own devices, in a room with heavy walls. A ringing silence, as loud yet as quiet as anything.

"I didn't find out, Kofe." He chokes, not wishing to relive this pain again. He had seen what happened in his minds eye and infinite number of times. A ballet of flaw, a dance of pain, as if choreographed by death himself, the angel always watching.

"I was the one who killed Tea." He whispers, yet as if a scream in the indelible silence growing.

"I was fishing, I remember. I was fishing for her, Iwas young, and for some reason I thought the way to her heart was to give her as many ingredients as I could attain whilst she was imprisoned."

"I attempted several times to free her, through one method or another. All failed."

"I didn't know where she was, for a long time. I visited the church daily."

"One day I hear she has been freed, and I began my search."

"I stopped here at some point, I can't remember when or why, but I felt fishing would clear the soul."

"She found me, yet it was as if she didn't recognize me."

"She attacked me with all the beautiful ferocity I've known of her."

"I can't remember much, I don't know if my mind has intentionally failed in this regard, as some protective gate."

"All I remember is her dazzling red hair, coming to me in a rush."

"I motioned to defend myself, yet she changed her path, her movements as streamers linked to a dancer's arms."

"I don't understand how it happened, or why it happened, Kofe."

"I don't want to hurt anyone ever, this is why I never joined The Order. It's not my place, or my purpose."

"Yet, it was my sword that delivered the blow. It is my fault she is dead."

"I held her as she died, she did not cry. I did." He chokes again, his normally resolute composure quickly showing cracks and leaks.

"She went peacefully, Kofe, this is all I can say, this is all I know."

"She placed this upon my head as a final act." He says, reaching into his tattered cloak.

He withdrawals a fish, dried, but still iridescent and opalescent. It simmers and shines an orchestra of colors.

He places the fish on his head again, some ritual, which out of context would look strange.

"I never understood why she didn't recognize me, but something tells me she did." He frowns. "I just wanted to talk to her..." He turns to Kofe, then, streaks of tears on his face, moving with the reflected scales of the fish, all manner of colors reflecting throughout them.

"I will not apologize, as it's too late for that."

"I made her a cradle, of fronds and of reeds, filled it with flowers and fairy powder."

"I set her to sea, in peace."

"I couldn't let her rot here..."

"I should have told you sooner, Kofe."

"I just couldn't look at you."

"You remind me of her."


(Elesius Soleis)
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[13:08] Kofe listened to the answer that was given. To hear of what he never would've thought was possible; to think a friend would be the one who'd take her life here and there. He knew that it would be a possibility, but... With the way he spoke? With the way Elesius said those things, brought... passion and pain into the mix, Kofe knew better.

He knew better than to see it as some sort of act in a senseless war over wanting to slay a dragon. He knew better than to think it was a fight over territory. Tea came at him, being herself. And he let his inner self take over him.

He made a mistake, of that Kofe was sure.

The young bard remained silent for a long, long while. He let those words, that apology, those tears all flow out from Elesius as his own inner song turned into a low hum. Something was... happening. Shifting. It took another while for him to stare right into the boy's eyes. The see past the fish, past the sadness, and into the depths of his very being without filter. Piercing yellow eyes. A frown. Anger, obvious for any to see.

"Elesius."

Like thunder crashing in the middle of the ocean, a sound shaking most beings down to their very core struck Elesius right into his mind. A thunderous, sea-shaking explosion of feelings escaping his heart all at once, only for his lips to part again, correcting his previous statement.

"No... Judge."

Kofe took a slow step forward, his right fist clenched up, teeth gritting. He threw forth a single slugger aimed at his friend's cheek carrying enough force to topple any weak foundation of one's self. What followed was a longer, more attrocious silence. There was no harmony, no rhythm, nothing but discord in the song of Kofe's heart. Sudden movements. Emotions held back and bottled up, restrained. All building up for more.

"You killed her. You took her life when she came for yours. My sister wasn't well. My sister had lost her mind after what happened in Osrona. I found friends, I found the love of my life. I found people I'd break my own code and tarnish my honor for.

She had none of that. On that day, it wasn't Tea that you murdered: It was a beast."

He stepped up closer, closing the distance after that punch to reach out for Elesius' clothes; whether he was on the ground on or his feet Kofe would reach out, seeking a solid grip of his left hand. One that'd make this golden armband of his clank against his skin, against the one he thought of as a friend. To hold him up. To hold before what he couldn't look at. What he feared.

"You should have told me when it happened. If she died in battle, then she died happy. But you were scared. You let that fear... control you. You fought for freedom. Jury told me so. You weighted what you thought was wrong and right. You freed people that you believed deserved to be freed. You were ready to go against your own people. For my sake.

.. And still, after all of that, you shackled yourself. You took away your own freedom and let a ghost haunt you."

Another swing would be made. One well-deserved that'd come with the Rhoynish letting go of Elesius' shirt. Kofe's emotions finally started spilling out. The sadness in his heart intertwined with anger. A song of anguish escaped lips and heart, sinking into the blond's mind, crashing into it unintentionally. Brief memories— vague visions of a trip in the desert, of a giant sandworm. Of a smile on a red bonfire of pride's face. Of a celebration. Of great cheers, and even greater food. A hazy thought. A heartwrenching feeling that Kofe knew would never return.

A wolf. Dark fur. Red streaks. An untamed beast that came ready to kill. A song that reached out for it at its fiercest, rather than drawing a weapon to fight it. A test of strength; the mettle of courage put before it. Nightmares and flames. And... friendship. Loyalty. A partner to hunt with again. A howl calling forth the battle. A monster that took away honor.

And far above it all? It shone even here. Those emotions of Kofe's needed more than mere heart to be spoken. They needed... Power. Proof. His lips parted, moved, yet no words came out.

A silent prayer.
Kofe's first prayer to Iberl, his first conscious acceptance that he was beneath the star's vast reach, and that right now? He needed to tug on that bond. This was no impressive performance. This was no hunt with an old nightmare: This was reality. Harsh truth. The young man tugged at his own bond, drawing forth mana to amplify his voice.

"HOW COULD YOU LET ME SEARCH FOR HER?! HOW COULD YOU LIE TO ME? YOU GAVE HER WHAT I COULDN'T GIVE HER, ELESIUS! WHY DID I HAVE TO SUFFER MORE FOR IT?!"

Emotions weren't logical. And neither would Kofe boiling anger be. His traditions called for him to stay out of Tea's fight, but that had long passed. This wasn't about Tea anymore.

This was about justice lifting that blindfo
(Kofe)
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[13:33] This was about justice lifting that blindfold. This was about justice making a decision without seeing it for the truth. It was no selfish war over slaying a dragon. It was no selfish desire to gain more power. It was selfish fear, and a lie to protect it.

Lies.
Kofe hated lies.
(Kofe)
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[13:39] Elesius takes the punch, not defending himself. He felt no need in it, no purpose in it. It just reminded him of Tea, it reminded him of the day on the beach so long ago. The fish does not fall, it remains perched precariously atop his head.

"There is no Judge." is his only statement, his only remark. He knew many people knew of his supposed second identity, as if it was to be held over him as some threat. The truth was that there was no Judge no second player in Elesius' court. No jester to play off the roles he took upon himself in his time.

"There is only me. The chains I burden upon myself are mine own, I've never made a claim to be proud, or brave, or any number of those things. I did go against my people for the sake of yours."

The second punch comes then. Kofe didn't need to know the details behind was he meant when he said that, he probably already knew the plot, and the sub-plot to the story of Elesius' love forthe girl who had attempted to mug him in his youth.

Stars dazzle in Elesius' eyes.

"I do not fight for freedom, just as Judge has never fought for freedom. I fight for what I feel is right, the weights and measurements I take are for the benefit of all, not just one, or another, not just for me, or my people. I fight for the greater good."

"You ask me questions I cannot answer, Kofe."

"I cannot apologize, for there is no recompense."

"Your sister was someone I loved. The only person I've truly loved."

"Why? I do not know."

He didn't know the truth was he was still a boy when he ran about trying to find ways to impress Tea. He didn't think, he was morally upright, but emotionally flawed.

"You had to suffer for it, Kofe, because we all must suffer the pain of passing."

He shakes his head, still dancing with lights.

"You had to suffer for it, Kofe, because I could not suffer it alone."

"You had to suffer, for it, Kofe, because I was weak."

"I must suffer, because we all must suffer the pain of passing."

He nods then, the heaving rush of Kofe's passion coursing around him. The ever present stars beginning to fade, a slight lucidity returning to him.

"I must suffer, because I could not suffer it alone."

"I must suffer, because I am weak."

Truth is, there was no lie. Elesius had never lied regarding it, he held it within himself as a wound. A festering blackened thing that only now came to haunt him, as it did every time he visited this place.

"Do what you will, but to not harm the fish." He takes it from his head, cradling it in the crook of his arm.

"It's all I have left of her."

This fish, so simple a thing, had been with him since that day, never leaving his side. Manysaw it as just some oddity, some strange habit of a man slightly strange in his own regard.

Several moments pass, and Elesius holds it out. Arguably causing him more pain than Kofe's punches, those were just physical. They were not the ripping tearing emotional wounds he faced now.

Nothing compared to those.





(Elesius Soleis)
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[13:49] Heart wasn't logical. Emotions and love all shifted around like a storm that one couldn't control. A storm that could part on its own, grow weaker, then stronger. There was no... logic to it.

And neither did Kofe's actions in a moment like this own. No rhyme or reason: These were just the emotions that a younger Kofe would've held in, emotions he would've tucked in, and hid.

But to accept he was lesser than another for one purpose and one purpose alone? There had to be a reason. There had to be... something.

Kofe suffered because of him.
Kofe would keep on suffering because of him.

The trace amounts of cosmic mana in his own circuitry flared up. His left hand swung aside the hand that held out the fish; Elesius' last memory of Tea. Just as he had tarnished his own last moments with his sister by making them more and more distant without him accepting it, he'd tarnish this odd souvenir of a mistake he once made.

"If you think I'll listen to a guy who didn't speak when I'd have listened, then you're dead wrong."

A wave of sound played forth, drawing enough to make the paladin skid across the sands, creating some distance. A decorum of battle. A neutral start. An honorable one.

"Pray that you rise above that in the coming moments."

A challenge was issued.
A battle to let out emotions, to let the truth have some... meaning beyond mere anger and pain.

And if Elesius were to keep his head down?
A death sentence.
(Kofe)
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[14:04] Elesius skids across the sand, a flurry of crystal and quartz rising above him as his love for Tea, ignited within him. A rainbow glimmer flies all about.

Should Kofe feel such pressure within him, it would be all Elesius could do to defend himself.

"I don't expect you to listen, Kofe."

"I expect you to remember her. I expect you to remember her purpose in life. I don't expect you to understand this immediately, I don't even expect you to understand this in a couple of years. I just hope one day you understand the love I held for your sister.

I just hope you understand the misery I feel every time I come here.

I hope you understand the misery I feel whenever I see you."

His weapon flickers to life, rising to his side.

He would not make the same mistake. He could not harm Kofe, as he hurt Tea.

He could hopefully hold their rage at bay, however.
(Elesius Soleis)
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[14:17] There was a lack of restraint in his motions. A lack of care. A lack of those shackles that bound him to Osrona, to his friends, to the life he had built up.

Let it out. Be yourself. Be what you are. I was wrong to tell you otherwise.

Those words echoed into his mind. Words spoken on a beach amidst a warm summer night, yet not warm enough to draw distance between a nightmarish life and a nightmarish love. The impossible that was never drawn. Spirits that were bound together more tightly than ever before, yet years later would find their paths splitting.

Perhaps he should see Edelaide after this. She always wanted to see him pass his rite of passage.
And maybe there would be more to tell her.

It's with a strum of his lute that he drove back the glowing boy, his lips parting with a clear message in mind.

"Is that all you've got? Really?! You took her life away, and that's all you can manage?! She was my sister, Elesius! You said you loved her! Fight me! Fight me and prove to me that she didn't die to some... loser who can't do anything but cry about the mistakes he's made to the guy he wronged!"

His right hand shifted forth, the stars dancing upon his fingertips as this lightshow of his turned into more than raw, rough emotions. His presence below the heavens echoed the tune of his songs. His heart was poured into this. A performance was to be had.

The curtain had fallen upon the beast of nightmares. The closing act, or so he thought. The crowd had clapped, and risen from their seats. Yet the lights hadn't turned on.

The spotlight showered the scene with its might, and in the middle of it lied a coward. One that would hurt his friends out of fear.

The last act of The Tale of the Best Chef in Esshar.

The pamphlet never spoke of it. Yet, the crowd stared, standing, mesmerized.

"Fight like she fought."
(Kofe)
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[14:21] "SHE TOOK HER OWN LIFE WHEN SHE THREW HERSELF UPON MY SWORD, I LOVED HER AND SHE TOOK HERSELF AWAY FROM ME!"

"You expect me to defend myself, you expect me to fight some ragged fight for feelings you cannot control?"

"I understand your pain, Kofe."

"So call me your names, and lash out, lash against the world."

"I loved your sister, and should I need to prove it, I will."
(Elesius Soleis)
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[14:22] Kofe exclaims, "Then do so!"
[14:22] Elesius Soleis says, "Let us dance, Kofe."
[14:22] Elesius Soleis says, "We will dance in her memory."
[14:22] {Won Dangerous RPB against Elesius Soleis}
[14:22] ** Kofe has inflicted an injury upon Elesius Soleis. ("Temporary Injury", "Temporary Injury", "Temporary", "Duration: Medium (4 days)") **
[14:44] It was better than their first bout. This dance was one that Tea might've been proud of. No. Not at all. She'd still be upset. Angry. Angrier than ever. That's more like her. The last thing she shared with Kofe was naught but a headbutt, and an idea about going out to hunt like back in the days. This was all that Kofe had to remember his sister from.

Material possessions? There were none left. None remaining.

Phantasmal copies danced around the swordsman, punching through his defenses whilst a song of greatness and glory that stole his reason, and took away from him sense after sense. From touch, to sight, to balance, to hearing.

Bit by bit, an orchestra of life and death attacked the very heart of the one that had plunged his blade into another's. Kofe's victory was assured, there was no doubt about it. Had it not been for Elesius perfoming better than he had previously he surely wouldn't have found peace with his rear hitting the sand, but rather would be met by the cold embrace of death iself.

A melody of pain and suffering still picked up in the silence of the battle's end. Kofe's yellow eyes peered right into Elesius. A steady, fast breath came and left his lips as he quietly stared him down, allowing those horrible feelings he refused to keep bottled up to move from his heart to the paladin's mind.

It wasn't a tune that detailed an adventure, or a smell, or a sight. This was... sadness. Nothing more. There was no fluff to it, no magical journey in sight, nothing. Nothing but pain. This was how Tea's Last Act was going to end.

And within that melody would more of Kofe's own be poured. Within Elesius' mind was that song further pushed with Iberl's blessing, allowing the star to have a hand in this performance of his, as sad as the way this story wrapped up was.

Tears gently ran down Kofe's countenance as that song did not grow in volume, but merely sank deeper and deeper in Elesius' mind. This was not a reminder of Tea herself, but rather a reminder of his silence. Of what that silence had brought. Of the kind of pain he threw at his friend, fearing to be alone in it. There was... naught but that.

No words.
Nothing.

A long stare. And unending song from Kofe's heart.

One that would manifest whenever Elesius would choose silence over honesty.

Even when in pain, the Lorespeaker taught. His feet shifted. He turned around.

And Kofe walked away. Letting Elesius live. Letting Elesius learn.
(Kofe)
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[14:49] She sat aside for this story. She had no connection to the people in it - besides the two men that stood before her.

A man killed a lover, who was the sister of Kofe. A tragic tale of what the world was truly like, full of monsters and betrayals at each corner. Yet she stood above all that, she was just a mediator... Standing back and watching.

She would not intervene...

However - the two would notice as Ella meditated to the side... Even Elesius could feel it. The magnitude of eyes that watched from absolutely nowhere. It was panic inducing - it was stressful. Ella's own powers could only prevent these malevolent spirits from approaching close to them, yet not stop them completely.

They were fuelled on the anger and sadness. On the melodrama of this whole experience... They were excited, and it truly frightened Ella, as she stood watching... Her powers wading these spirits off...

The sense of dread in the air was palpable, nobody could escape the bloodlust that these spirits wanted to see... Wherever she went, spirits followed - and high emotions and magics only grew them closer...

She wasn't sure how long she can wade them off for however! She didn't exactly want anyone getting possessed or worse.

But one thing was for certain. The spirits were hungry for more. Would the two fall for their presence?
(Ella Gracia)