As you talk, Leon grows bored an goes into the house. A few moments later Keiyanna walks out.
"Beckett! It's been so long! She says happily. "And Eadric, I hope Leon didn't cause too much trouble for you. Come in, the both of you, I'm making lunch right now and the kids aren't much for conversation when they're trying to sneak into the kitchen and steal a bit of lunch." She ushers you both into the house with that motherly way that allows no argument. Once inside she goes right back to work on lunch, but you can see the stress of the accusations is taking a more visible toll on her as her hands shake..
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"Greeting, my mother", as he accepts her hug in a way he wouldn't allow any other to. While having recently eaten, the Thrice Cursed doesn't resist being in her lil baby after so long away from a parent's comfort.
As she finishes prepairing, I'll take note of her attempting to hide her stress behind a wall of duty, and maybe alleviate it by changing to brigher thougts. "It is so good to see you again, Miss K. So long away, and your inner light has only gotten brighter. My heart is overjoyed seeing you, this home, even speaking with a few of the children and knowing tht you are protecting and guiding them towards something great, when even the universe itself has seemed to deal them an unfair hand", he gives a gentle smile, to show that he is sincere.
"My I help you? I mean it is a smal thing, but even making a simple meal can mean so much more to some people than other can ever know, and I would like to be part of that, mother".
"Some help would be appreciated. It's just the simple sandwiches you had when you stayed here, but.." He shoulders fall a bit. "I've been a bit under the weather lately, and I've been needing a bit more help."
"Which reminds me, if one of you could go to the market tomorrow and pick up everything on this list I'd be grateful." She says as she points out the list pinned to the wall.
Eadric waves his hand nonchalantly when Keiyanna mentions Leon, Nothing to worry about...
Eadric stands by with a smile as Beckett and Keiyanna exchange greetings and hugs. It seems even more of your children answer the call Mother! I wonder if there will be any others? We could use all the help we can get! The more questions we ask, the more answers we get, even more questions need answers it seems!
Eadric is more than happy to pitch in with preparing lunch.
While doing so he queries Keiyanna about the others, What of the others? Lydina? Azharten? Basha? Have they returned as well?
"Thank you Beckett."
"Lydinia actually sent word that she may not be back for a while. She's helping my other grown child that stayed her investigate a lead." Keiyanna tells you. Azharten was here, but he left when I wasn't looking.. and wasn't Basha with you?"
He was with me, or so I thought. We are talking with Leon one moment and then I turn around and Basha is gone. Wizards... Eadric mutters.
"Careful how you talk about wizards, Eadric. I wouldn't want you turning into a newt!" Keiyanna says with a weary wink. "Did you meet with the Sheriff like you had planned?"
Eadric flushes slightly with embarrassment, I was merely commenting on the fact that one usually never knows what a wizard is up to... or planning... and that they rarely see fit to explain their actions to others... especially those that don't study their "art".
I would never speak ill of a wizard... well... not Basha anyways, Eadric adds with a smile.
Basha and I did indeed visit the sheriff, but he was less than forthcoming, seemingly preoccupied with other events, not the least of which was an apparent break in at his home last night! Eadric gives Keiyanna knowing look. He asked us to return this afternoon when he had more time to speak with us.
Perhaps you would like to accompany me Beckett? Seeing as how Basha has made himself scarce... and Azharten? Well lets just say that might not be the best idea! Eadric adds with a wink to Keiyanna.
We had not thought to examine the remains... that is something that I am sure we could discuss with the sheriff, although I highly doubt we will be given access, seeing as we hold no official position in the investigation other than advocates for Keiyanna.
Eadric strokes his chin thoughtfully for a moment, Perhaps we should see if we can change that. Get ourselves officially appointed. Is anyone here familiar with the laws governing this city?
"That's a very good idea Eadric, if you can get the sheriff to agree." Keiyanna says as she starts setting out plates. "But Beckett has a point too. The.. deceased family may have already had them buried."
"Oh! I almost forgot! I'll be right back." She says as she hurries out of the room.
The dream begins to waver as you hear someone calling out for you to wake up.
"Lumi dear, it's almost time for lunch."
Keiyanna comes back to the kitchen with another person in tow..
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even though i cannot remember all of the visions i see, i can recall a rather frequent one, it involves a bountiful prosperous farm, an uncountably large wealth of crops, but each plant crumbles to dust plant by plant. but just before the last plant crumbles, i awaken shaking, shivering, cold, and sweating. and i have to request a bowl of warmed honey and that usually helps calm me. the church doesn't perform it as efficiently as lady keiyanna and they have had to triple the amount of honey involved to get the same effect. the church takes the cost of the honey from my wages at a drastically inflated rate.
Eadric stands quickly when he sees Luminiere enter the room. He bows slightly as she takes her seat opposite Beckett, but says nothing as he listens to their exchange.
He stares intently at her, having trouble reconciling the 'girl' before him with the one he new so many years ago. How is it that she doesn't look like she has aged a day since I last saw her?
Eadric listens as Luminiere and Beckett discuss their dreams. Eadric thinks about his own recent dreams... especially the one that he shared with Basha with the peculiar lizard.
Things that I do not understand are at work here...
"Well then, I think we need to be very careful with our little 'farm'." Keiyanna says before she calls the children in for lunch. "I won't let the 'crops' whither though, no matter what blight tries to take hold."
Most of the children are in the kitchen almost immediately for their lunch, but two(Leon and girl whose name you think might be Nora) are late. Leon pauses when he spots Eadric, but otherwise acts like all the others.
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Lumi asks Eadric and Becket, have you met Zipper yet? he has got to be the cutest little iguana i have ever seen. i met him during a nap on one of the beds here.
she then continues eating her sandwich. with the amount of warm honey Lumi drizzles upon her sandwhich between bites, one could tell she was chemically dependant on it. and Eadric and Beckett can instantly recognize her due to a realization, that there was likely only one young girl (whom is really not so young after all) who could pack away that much warm honey on just about anything.
Lumi asks Beckett in Celestial , brother, how old am i? i have honestly forgotten my own true age. will you assign me a number that feels appropriate to you?
Eadric nods at Lumi. Indeed I have met 'Zipper', if by meeting you mean drempt of. I met Zipper in a dream that I shared with Basha the first night that I arrived here.
Eadric pauses for a second before continuing, I must profess to have no knowledge or experience involving such things... I was rather hoping that some of you, more skilled in matters such as these, could shed some insight into these most peculiar events.
He looks to Lumi and Beckett, before taking another bite of his lunch...
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Lumi turns to Eadric i wouldn't exactly call it 'dreaming.' but it is a very similar process. and it is very easy to mix up the 2. i know not the proper route to explain it. she continues drizzling warm honey all over her lunch as she eats it. only Lumi could pack away that much honey. even the bears couldn't pack as much as the little angel.
Keiyanna should easily remember all the honey Lumi went through. the finances spent on it should likely cause nightmares.
Lily, the young gnome, looks up from her food as she hears the conversation between Eadric and Luminiere. She quickly gets up and moves to sit next to Lumi, where she begins to talk excitedly.
"You've met Zipper too? He's really nice, huh? I've got a nice blue ribbon I want to tie on his tail but he won't let me! He can jump from bed to bed too and I'm try to do it too but I can't." She takes a deep breath and a bite of her food before she continues. "Sometimes I don't even have to be asleep to play with him! He gets really tall and stays to play for a little bit but he always leaves before I'm ready to go to sleep! One time he even took me up to the roof to see the moon. I've never seen the moon so big before, it was like I could reach out a grab it! But's it probably really heavy, so I might drop it, right?"
"Lumi, meet Liliana, or Lily for short. She's got quite an imagination and daydreams all the time." Keiyanna says. "If you call share a story she's never heard, you're pretty much her friend forever. And Lily, don't talk with your mouth full, it's impolite!" She scolds lightly. Three other children immediately stop talking and swallow, trying to avoid a scolding themselves.
"Yes Momma K." Lily says(after swallowing her food of course).
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Lumi looks towards Lily. I asked Zipper a few basic questions just before lunch. i wish i could have gotten a chance to hug him. the little lizard is just so cute. Lumi's subtle halo glows even brighter than normal as she feels a seemingly happier mood approaching her. could thinking about Zipper cause this much joy in the little angel?
Lumi cheerily thrusts her fist in the air as she cheerily announces Mother Keiyanna will prevail through these difficult times, all we need is to think of that which brings us joy. the cheery side of Lumi could manifest at the strangest of times and the children may likely feel invigorated by the young angel's aura of joy. she sits back down and continues her lunch. drizzling warm honey between bites. the dawnflower will protect us with the best effort she can provide
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Lumi asks Eadric and Becket, have you met Zipper yet? he has got to be the cutest little iguana i have ever seen. i met him during a nap on one of the beds here.
"Zipper? I don't remember Mother letting us have pets. Where would an iguana come from around here, anyway?"
Lumi asks Beckett in Celestial , brother, how old am i? i have honestly forgotten my own true age. will you assign me a number that feels appropriate to you?
Not at all sure what she means, he blinks a few times, waiting for her to clarify or interject. "Are you serious?", he thinks. "Well, my sister, I honestly do not know what yor "true" age was when you came here. But I am nearly 20 now, and we are near the same age, I believe. Did you forget your birthday, sister? Or is this a riddle about dreams?", not sure what she is getting at.
Eadric nods at Lumi. Indeed I have met 'Zipper', if by meeting you mean drempt of. I met Zipper in a dream that I shared with Basha the first night that I arrived here.
Eadric pauses for a second before continuing, I must profess to have no knowledge or experience involving such things... I was rather hoping that some of you, more skilled in matters such as these, could shed some insight into these most peculiar events.
He looks to Lumi and Beckett, before taking another bite of his lunch...
"So you dreamed of Zipper? Ah, I guess that explains, . . . well notin really." Just before commenting that the sweets might be driving them slightly mad, Lily pops up with her comment, and it makes the thrice-Cursed reconcider.
"Little one. Who else has dreamed of, . . . Zipper?", and after thinking about it a moment, "Or more importantly, who is it that has not dreamed of Zipper? Is there anyone that is affraid of Zipper, or other dreams here?"
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Understanding a little more what her issue is, "I'm sorry, my sister. But maybe you are not seeing the bright side? Your innocence might be a great boon in getting others to trust you, and you where always someone worth trusting with importance. Your seeming age might also help the childrent to relate to you, to us rather than seeing us as outsiders, and there is something of a child's soul, their spirit, that is precious, that myabe you might have a better chance of holding onto than others."
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well, i guess being blessed with timelessness comes with not only that, but the envy of various scholars. and i have always highly valued being able to hold onto a child's innocence. and with everyone's approval, i'd like to instead of trying to remember the years, live under my perpetual appearant age as one of Keiyanna's ward's yet again.
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it would help to ease mine as well. i may need to grab a few things at the temple. they shouldn't be too difficult to carry.
Lumi's possessions (back at home) should be relatively easy to carry, 1 clothen angelic doll (modeled after her mother) and 1 holy book of scriptures from the dawnflower. Lumi regularly cleans the same outfit (and herself) with predestigitation spells. so she doesn't really need to change clothes, especially when combined with her eternal youth. so she hasn't bothered with new clothes since she left the orphanage.
Eadric sits silently by, listening to Lumi and Beckett conversing, but having nothing to add to the conversation himself...
"Little one. Who else has dreamed of, . . . Zipper?", and after thinking about it a moment, "Or more importantly, who is it that has not dreamed of Zipper? Is there anyone that is affraid of Zipper, or other dreams here?"
"Um.." Lily says as she thinks. "Momma K says she hasn't seen Zipper. Nora, Coren, Leon, and Lara haven't either." She points to the four oldest children as she says their names. "But no one is afraid of him. He's really nice."
well, i guess being blessed with timelessness comes with not only that, but the envy of various scholars. and i have always highly valued being able to hold onto a child's innocence. and with everyone's approval, i'd like to instead of trying to remember the years, live under my perpetual appearant age as one of Keiyanna's ward's yet again.
"I haven't an issue with that, and maybe it might help to ease her burden."
"I have no problem with you staying here, but I think you are chronologically old enough to no longer consider a ward. Having someone who doesn't look like an adult should help keep some of the younger kids from getting into too much trouble around the house." Keiyanna chimes in as she cleans the face of a especially messy child.
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mother Keiyanna, i thank you for allowing me to move in. i will try my best to keep the children from getting into excessive trouble, and i shall do my best to assist you in whatever duties i can. if you are worried about wages, in thier place, i will accept the same treatment you gave me in my youth. as if i were one of your wards.
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"So, what shall we do now? Is it to early to tr to speak to the Sherrif again? Maybe try to inspect the past victims, which might be better without anyone being forewarned that we are to do so? We could pick up some things for Mother, . . ." as he stands to clean his plate off and grab that list she had pointed out earlier, "at the market. Any other idea?"
Eadric nods in agreement with Beckett, We could stop by the market on our way to the Sheriff's.
Eadric helps to clear the table, while adding, I'm not sure that we will have much luck getting access to the remains, but one can only try and see what happens.