Anima, Ch.26: Sidhe Sneachta

[Anima, Ch.26: Sidhe Sneachta]
--01-- [Scene: Dunbarton] <BGM: The Feeling of Swimming in Gold Coins>
"That's my little entrepreneur." Kiandra beamed with pride. "A quarter million's not bad for a week."
"Thanks," I said sheepishly. "Now I just need to keep a regular supply of herbs around..."



--02-- <BGM: The Feeling of Swimming in Gold Coins>
"Welcome to my world." Kiandra turned her focus back to the dress she was stitching together.
"I'd say buy them up whenever you can. Of course, getting them yourself is always cheapest."



--03-- <BGM: The Feeling of Swimming in Gold Coins>
Just as I was preparing my potionmaking kit to make a new batch, an owl flew in a circle just above me,
dropping a rolled paper into my hands, then flew away again. A letter? For me?



--04-- <BGM: The Feeling of Swimming in Gold Coins>
"Eh? What's this?" I untied the cord securing the paper. It's...a letter, all right.
Kiandra looked over at me. "Oh? Are you getting fan mail already?" She giggled. "What's it say?"



--05-- <BGM: Lost Memories at the World's End>
"Umm...
'Please come alone to the northernmost point in Sidhe Sneachta this evening at sunset.
I would like to discuss something with you.' Signed, Tarlach."
What in the world?

--06-- <BGM: Lost Memories at the World's End>
"Rotten spot for a romantic rendezvous," she japed. "Better take an extra robe or something,
it's damn cold up there."
"I don't think that's what he has in mind, Kiandra."


--07-- <BGM: Lost Memories at the World's End>
Where have I heard that name? Oh. Right.
He was one of the three who'd gone to Tir na Nog years before we did...
And the only one who came back.
I wonder if...that's what he wants to talk about?

--08-- [Scene: none]
It was already late in the afternoon.
I made potions out of my herbs, set them out for sale, bought a simple blue robe from Malcolm,
then set off for the frozen north. A snowstorm was coming.


--09-- [Scene: Sidhe Sneachta] <BGM: Lay Thy Lips on Goddess' Wings> {SFX: wind}
As the sun sank behind the western horizon, I donned my newly-bought robe and went through the
mysterious teleporter to the snowy highlands of Sidhe Sneachta.
The chill rapidly sank deep into me.


--10-- <BGM: Lay Thy Lips on Goddess' Wings>
I passed through a clearing filled with snowmen, to yet another teleporter.
It sent me higher still into the mountains, to a long narrow path.
I followed it, trudging through hard-packed snow.


--11-- <BGM: Lay Thy Lips on Goddess' Wings>
In the dimming twilight, at the end of the path I saw up ahead a raised altar, half-surrounded
by rough stone columns. A man in a brown robe stood upon it.
He waved to me as I approached.


--12-- <BGM: Lay Thy Lips on Goddess' Wings>
"You sent that letter? I didn't know I had any secret admirers..."
I hadn't meant to put it that way. I softly laughed in spite of myself.
"So, you're the famous Tarlach I keep hearing about."


--13-- <BGM: The Legendary Magician>
(Tarlach)
And you're Meara, correct?
Yes. You could say that I wanted to meet my...counterpart.
So, you really are an elf...


--14-- <BGM: The Legendary Magician>
(Tarlach)
I heard from Chief Duncan that you and your friends went to Tir na Nog...and that you accomplished
what Mari, Ruairi, and I failed at...
Thanks for finishing what we started.


--15-- <BGM: The Legendary Magician>
"I wouldn't call it an unquestionable success.
We unwittingly helped Cichol create a permanent link between Tir na Nog and Erinn,
and Morrighan is stuck there making sure that nothing uses it..."


--16-- <BGM: The Legendary Magician>
(Tarlach)
You released Morrighan and stopped Glas Ghaibhleann from destroying Erinn, though.
That's more than we accomplished.
Did you see my master, Mores, in Tir na Nog?
Was he still there helping the Fomors?

--17-- <BGM: The Legendary Magician>
"Mores...had a change of heart at the very end...
He stood up to Cichol...and Cichol killed him for it.
I'm sorry; that's probably not what you wanted to hear, but..."


--18-- <BGM: The Legendary Magician>
(Tarlach)
No, it's... It's all right...
If Master is at peace now with his wife, then that's good enough...
I suppose I can forgive him. He did try to save us when he saw Mari again...


--19-- <BGM: The Legendary Magician>
An awkward pause falls between us. It's never easy to be told bad news by a stranger.
Maybe I should steer this conversation in a new direction.
I'd looked up Lugh Lavada in the library, recently...


--20-- <BGM: The Legendary Magician>
More specifically, how he came about his power. I found very little. Maybe Tarlach knows more...?

"This might sound a bit, uh, random, but what do you know about the Knight of Light, and spirits?"


--21-- <BGM: The Legendary Magician>
(Tarlach)
Spirits? The Knight of Light and the spirits...?
Hmm... I don't know if what I know will help you, but...



--22-- <BGM: The Legendary Magician>
(Tarlach)
Lugh Lavada wouldn't have been who he was without the blessings of the gods and the spirits.
I've read that the power of the Knight of Light comes from a balance between three sources...



--23-- <BGM: The Legendary Magician>
(Tarlach)
The blessing of the gods of Erinn, the power of the spirits of nature, and human willpower.
No amount of training can substitute for them.
Are you thinking of following of Lugh's footsteps?


--24-- <BGM: The Legendary Magician>
"It's not for myself that I ask... It's the friends I went to Tir na Nog with.
After we destroyed Glas Ghaibhleann, Morrighan requested of them to follow the path of the Knight of Light..."



--25-- <BGM: The Legendary Magician>
"But they took it to mean training with the Paladin Knights in Emain Macha.
Now they're just being used as slave labor, and they won't even listen when I try to warn them
that no good'll come of it."


--26-- <BGM: The Legendary Magician>
(Tarlach)
I see...
Perhaps what is needed is for you to set an example for them to follow.
Actions speak louder than words, after all...
Your friends would seem to have the will...

--27-- <BGM: The Legendary Magician>
(Tarlach)
And since you and your friends came to the aid of Morrighan, you must all certainly have her blessing,
so I suppose you have the power of the gods as well...



--28-- <BGM: The Legendary Magician>
"The whole 'human willpower' thing is a problem for me, as I'm a bit lacking in the 'human' part,
being an elf and all. Is 'elven willpower' going to be an acceptable substitute, or what?



--29-- <BGM: The Legendary Magician>
(Tarlach)
True... Since you're not human...I don't know what it would take, or even it it's possible.
You'd have to ask a spirit.
You should go see Aer, the Spirit of water.
You can find her on Ceo Island.

--30-- <BGM: The Legendary Magician>
"How would I get there?
There's no boats, and to go somewhere by Moon Gates you need to have been there first,
so you can visualize the place."


--31-- <BGM: The Legendary Magician>
(Tarlach)
If you've been to Emain Macha, you've no doubt seen Ceo Island out in the lake.
From the shore, you should be able to see the island well enough to envision yourself being there.



--32-- <BGM: The Legendary Magician> {SFX: wind}
"So that's what that island is... Thanks. I'll see to it when I have the time."
A gust of wind chilled me to the bones. I shivered.
"So cold up here... How do you stand living in a place like this?"


--33-- <BGM: The Legendary Magician>
(Tarlach)
Cold? I don't even notice the cold any more, really.
Maybe it's a sign that I've been here too long...
I suppose where you're from is nothing like this?


--34-- <BGM: The Legendary Magician>
"Not at all. I don't know if it's just me, or if elves in general can't stand cold...
They live in a desert, in a village called Filia.
I wasn't there very long, but I remember it being rather hot."


--35-- <BGM: The Legendary Magician>
(Tarlach)
Interesting...
We don't know much of anything about the eastern continent across the sea, other than it exists.
I'd love to hear more about it from someone who's been there.


--36-- <BGM: The Legendary Magician>
"I'd like to tell you what I know about it, but I feel like I'm getting hypothermia.
My ears are about to freeze and fall off.
Perhaps another time? Like when we're not about to have a blizzard?"


--37-- <BGM: The Legendary Magician>
(Tarlach)
I'd like that. Farewell then, Meara. It was nice meeting you.




--38-- <BGM: The Legendary Magician>
I put the hood of my robe up, covering my hair and ears.
"Sure. Perhaps after I deal with this whole Knight of Light business, then...
Thanks for the information."


--39-- <BGM: Wind-biting Blade>
I turned, and walked back down the snow-covered path leading to Tir Chonaill.
The wind howled even stronger, tugging at my robe, as snowflakes began falling.
I'll be happy to get out of this cold...


--40-- <BGM: Wind-biting Blade>
Morrighan warned me not to seek power for its own sake.
But I'm not doing this for myself. I'm not seeking this because I want it.
I just want to lead the way for others...
Is this...acceptable?

[chapter end]