Fantasy RPG Forum - Standing Trials

The last thing that Padraig had planned on this cycle, was to head out on a spider hunt. A giant, deadly, aggressive and difficult to bring down spider. In fact he couldn't say that it was anything he'd have ever added to his list of enjoyable or desirable things to do. And back in Scalvoris Town, he simply had too many things to do.

That was the rub however. If Faith was right and it was his run in with the spider that had caused the problem with his eyes, then it was necessary to return to the source. If they didn't, it might only grow worse and all those things he had to do would mean nothing or very little at all. So he'd cleared his schedule and he'd fashioned the bolts that he'd promised he would.

He came to Faldrass prepared with all the gear he'd need, including his sword, his crossbow, the bolts, leather armor...and so on. If he'd known that she secretly wanted two of the things...well, he didn't know, and one was plenty for him. The only real bright spot, was that once they entered the tunnels where they'd found the spiders the first time, it would be easier going on him. Less light these trials, was better than more.

"Five trials should be plenty, I'm sure," he'd told her while they'd unpacked their things and prepared for the outing. Still, he grinned when she reminded him of the last time they'd battled what was to become their prey. Her methods had left something to be desired. But in the end, he couldn't argue their effectiveness. The job had gotten done. The job was different this time however.

Of course he knew that she was feeling...well, guilt, upset with herself, all of those things that were neither warranted or necessary. But he also knew that no matter what he said, he'd never talk her out of it. "Can't think of anything I'd rather do," he said dryly. However. "But you know, it's getting late. We're both tired. I know I could use a little shuteye before we head out." Padraig knew of course that it he'd suggested the delay for her sake, she'd have argued with him. So a little white lie, with the best of intentions.

"Why don't we wait till the morning, when it's bright out, and that'll get me out of it during the worst part of the trial. I'll do better down in the dark. But for this evening, a nice meal, a quiet time by the fire. We can read, relax?" It took some doing to convince her, but ultimately they'd delay the outing till morning. And the food at the resort was good after all. It meant as good a sleep that night as he'd get. That was, till something caught his imagination, just slipping awake from a dream in the dark, and he spotted something quite strange.

It was difficult not to, since the thing was circling his upper arm and was glowing in the dark. And he laid there for some time, frowning, remembering what he must have impossibly forgotten, considering while Faith slept. He didn't want to wake her, but since she too woke before the dawn, after he kissed her and smiled, he adopted a truly curious expression and drew back the sheet to reveal his arm. "So, I've got this thing," he said, showing her just what he meant.

"What do you mean, it's just my arm?" Padraig shot back, frowning, confused. "What did you think it was?" he asked then, almost accusingly as if he was personally affronted. But then it dawned on him, based on the myriad of expressions that had crossed her face. Something like that would have been far more serious indeed, in his mind. And though he wasn't the least bit cavalier about what the mystery was, he'd have been much more alarmed instead.

"I'm not sure," he said at first when she asked about the tomb, and frowning, Padraig sat up in the bed, his back resting against the headboard. It had been chaos and confusion from the very start, all the way to the end. Much of it had happened in a strange sort of haze, and was just as hazy now that he thought on it again.

But if that wasn't enough, Faith then revealed a mark on her hand and one on her breast. If those had been there before? Long before? It was enough that he hadn't noticed it in himself. But then maybe it didn't glow like this in the brightening's light, and in the dark...well, she ought to have noticed in the same way he wouldn't have missed the mark on her chest.

Still, in spite of all of it, what Faith was saying made sense. Moseke? He shook his head, frowning. "No, I didn't see. But now...I'm not sure why I haven't remembered before. But after I left you, after we came out from the tomb I was headed back towards the portal. An immortal was there. I didn't realize who it was. But now...I think, Qylios," he said.

Remembering back, he told Faith how the Immortal had stopped him, and thanked him for his part in all of it. And then before she'd gone, she'd taken him by the arm. "It felt strange, it tingled. Is that what this is?" he asked, examining his arm again. "Qylios?"

"Well at the least, it certainly would have made things interesting," Padraig said dryly, in response to what he thought that Faith had assumed. Or at least, what had been the first possibility to cross her mind. He couldn't quite suppress a grin in response, in spite of a more pressing mystery.

But she was right. If the things, blessings or marks he guessed, had been visible before, they would have noticed them. Both on each other, and on themselves. It would be fruitless, at least in the moment, to question why he'd only noticed it now. "You do have dimples," he maintained. "And I'm not imagining them."

And forgotten, just for the moment, was the problem with his eyes. It hadn't gotten any better of course, but the dawn hadn't quite broken yet and the room was dark, making the glowing band around his arm all the more noticeable. "You think I'd just know?" he asked with a frown.

A scientist didn't just know anything. He studied, experimented, did research, compared all the variables...Knowing was gut instinct and while that had it's place too, a scholar simply didn't rely on it completely. Of course he trusted her. Implicitly. But he was still skeptical. Nevertheless he'd give it a try. "Alright then. So Qylios is the Immortal of light." Hence the nature of the mark, he guessed.

"Of bonds, leadership, courage." Of course these were all knowns, gained from reading, observation or word of mouth. So falling quiet and holding her hand in his, he let logic go in exchange for sense and feeling. It took some effort to still his mind and let it drift back before uttering, "I can bond with another, like yourself for instance," he said, and then she too would wear a gold band round her arm. If she was willing.

"Our actions, while fighting for example, would be in tune with one another, as well as our thoughts and feelings" He wasn't sure how he knew it, or if it was true. But maybe she was right after all and he'd known it all along. "What about this then?" he asked, referring to the mark on her hand and over her heart.

It hadn't set well with him, therefore it had taken some effort. Padraig was a scientist. But a scientist's way of thinking and approaching the world wasn't just his job or part of his chosen field. It was his natural way of being. Scientist's didn't just know. That was for seers, philosophers and the devoutly religious. And he was none of those.

But strangely it had come to him, just as Faith had assured him it would. He couldn't say he'd become a convert overnight to that way of thinking, if ever. But in this case, letting go of logic and critical thinking had served him well. "I guess it does," he agreed. Appropriate for the Immortal, suited to many of his natural inclinations. Then he smiled, even grinned a little. 'You're right I think. Kura would find it both ironic and delightful." Maybe they ought not tell her, he suggested with a wider grin. At least not right away.

Since it's you, she said. Tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, he brushed her cheek and let his hand drop to hers again. "Well I can't think of anyone I'd rather bond with, or anyone at all but you. We're as bonded as two people can be already though. I wouldn't know where to start." But for now he was more curious about the marks she'd received from Moseke.

What she revealed though took him by complete surprise and it showed. "You can heal, in a way you never could before?" It wasn't only appropriate, he thought, but it brought up a world of possibilities. Some far reaching, some very close at hand. "You can fix my eyes, just like that," he asked with a curious mind, and something about it was bothering him. "At what cost? To you I mean."

It was clear that if the ability to heal came with a risk for herself in doing it, Padraig was prepared to refuse and opt for hunting the spider instead. He wouldn't see her harm herself to help him. But if she could assure him that there was no real danger of harming herself in the process, then, and only then would he agree.

Was it logical and scientific, at it's root? Padraig knew that in part at least, she was teasing him with that statement. But there might be some truth to it. If he considered any strong emotion, like fear, anger, happiness, love, each of them seemed to evoke some physical response as well. The connection between mind and body, perhaps. He'd not go so far as to say the philosophers were in any way scientific, or logical in their approach. Still, Padraig grinned when she brushed his cheek and admitted. "You might have a point."

So if he'd been fundamentally changed somehow by his interaction with Qylios, changed by the mark that she'd left behind, then he may already intuitively know something of the nature of those changes, and how to go about tapping into them. "I think that maybe this bonding is different, between one choice or another. You and I, I mean, as opposed to me and someone else," he considered. At the least, he felt it would be more personal.

But if she could assure him that the process of healing him would do her no harm, then he was willing to allow it. After all she had a point, the dangers presented by the giant spiders, of which they'd already experienced once before, were real enough. In fact the last interaction with the things was the cause of his current predicament. And so Padraig agreed.

It was a marvel, the changes in her as she proceeded, the glowing of the mark, the dark green liquid filling the bowl. He sat quiet throughout, only moving if she wanted him to and not speaking at all. And when she was done? He wasn't completely sure. The sun was just coming up outdoors and the curtains were drawn to block out the light. They were in near darkness already and he'd been fine already, under those circumstances.

Padraig thought it was better, but it could be wishful thinking. "There's only one way to find out I guess?" Dropping his feet over the edge of the bed and sitting up, he lit the lamp and on reflex, due to trials on end of troubles, blinked in response. But when the glow from the lamp formed a wide circle around them, something he couldn't have tolerated just the night before, he smiled and looked at her. "It's worked. I believe it's worked."

Opening a set of curtains as the sun rose seemed to confirm what they already knew, and he joined her back on the bed. "You are nothing short of a wonder, Faith. Thank you. I didn't tell you how worried I was," he admitted. "Though I think you already knew. It's like getting part of my future back." His professional one, that was. His future with her had never been in question.

So, how did this bonding thing work? "You know, I feel as if you and I are as connected already as two people can be, and this is...well, I almost feel as if it's ceremony, an acknowledgment of what we already know." But it was what was needed, he guessed, if he was to use the gifts he'd been given. More importantly, if the blessing worked in the way that he sensed that it would, it might act as a protection for her as well. They did tend to find themselves in any number of unusual or dangerous situations and if they could face them better bonded as one, then that alone was worth it.

Facing her on the bed, he took Faith's hand and placed it on his upper arm, where the gold ring of light glowed around it. Padraig placed his own hand then, gently round her upper arm in the same place. He'd never prayed, not once, and it wasn't really something he'd ever thought about doing. Heartfelt declarations, spoken aloud, also weren't his strong suit. That wasn't to say he didn't feel deeply, but saying was different.

"In Qylios' name then. In gratitude for the gift I've been given." Looking at Faith then while they were joined, his hand on her and hers on him, he smiled. Mostly what he said, she knew already. But he also knew that what he'd say was right. At least for the two of them. "I am yours, and you are mine. Me for you, and you for me. Two, drawn together as one. One mind, one spirit, one heart. Always."

And then Padraig smiled again, curiously now. The mark he wore on his arm, she did as well. She'd been right. It was done now, and just as she'd assured him would be the case, it was done.