02-02-2014, 09:34 AM
The journey had taken such a long time. For years he had stayed with the Alma, in the Himalayas. Their generosity, hospitality and willingness to assist him with his trials where unsurpassed. No human would ever be so patient or wise. And they thought him what he needed, he learned new ways of walking stealthily but most important. He could control his rage. He still needs it to channel, the fires had to burn in his heart to take on his adversaries, to do damage he had to become pain and pain. The darkness that Luna had driven back with her light, needed to grow in order to defend himself. But he didn't need to be provoked anymore. He still could be, for some reason he couldn't control his rage when provoked, but now that he was a master of his rage, he could call upon it whenever he needed it.
When the Alma had tought him all they could about hiding and controlling his emotions, he didn't know what to do. But at least he could now travel more safely through CCD territory. What the Alma couldn't help him with though, was the longing that was in his heart. To follow his moon. They spoke of an old wretched woman that lived in CCD territory that could help him. The old witch was, even in this age of strange powers, a very illusive myth. Everyone had heard of the tales of wicked Baba Yaga, albeit in different forms. But the Alma are a friend of Baba Yaga, for as long as they remember Baba Yaga has been their ally. With a strange and ancient magic the Alma put a weave around his feet. They imprinted his feet with his destination, so he would always be able to follow his feet to reach his destination. They gave him a strange farewell gift, a blue rose. One cut off from the last blue rose bush on earth. As long as he had an empty mind and didn't change his goal he would reach it.
The spell worked, and he followed his feet for thousands of miles, through all kind of terrain. When he was in a deep and dark forest in Ryazan, he walked through some kind of invisible barrier. He didn't notice it untill it was too late, but somehow he knew Baba Yaga now knew of his arrival. He walked for a few more meters, and then Calamorro, his horse and only friend on his journey, refused to go on. Panteni felt his anxiety and left Calamorro there. After passing a very dense bush he saw the strangest cabin he had ever seen. He opened the gate door that seemed to have been made out of human bones, and looked at the cabin filled with amazement. The seemingly normal cabin was standing on chicken feet, and danced and walked within the perimeter. When he got closer he could read an inscription on the door "turn your back to the forest, and your face towards me".
He knew the answer wasn't the obvious one. He sat down and decided to be patient. He turned his attention inwards and thought about the riddle. When the riddle was all that was on his mind, he felt a hand on his shoulder "Not many have passed the first test, please, i feel your need of an answer". Panteni woke from his meditation, that voice. It sounded like the voice of a million spirits, both haunted and serene. When he opened his eyes he saw the strangest woman he had ever seen. With a broomstick in her hand and a mischievous smile on her face she continued "I see the Alma have send you, you must be either wise or foolish, please tell me of all about yourstory".
Panteni couldn't resist, he started telling his complete life story. With every emotion he put into his story he saw her face. Almost as if she was savouring a good meal. After talking for hours he was almost sure some of her wrinkles had disappeared. She seemed younger. When he reached the part of Calomorro's refusal to go on she smiled. "That was the best meal i've had in centuries, I will answer one of your questions with a true answer as a reward.".
This was something Panteni hadn't expected, or wasn't prepared for. The Alma had told him she had the answers to all the questions in the world, he wasn't prepared for the fact he only was given one question to ask. "I want to think about my question" said Panteni, very careful not to ask any questions. Baba Yaga looked almost disappointed as she spoke "You may think until the end of times, though you might not have that time, call me again when you want your answer, but stay within the perimeter for each and every living person may only find me once."
For days he meditated on the answer he wanted. When he knew it, he meditated for another few days on how to formulate the question. He opened his eyes and called her name. When she stood in front of him he saw the crescent moon behind her. And everything he thought of was gone, suddenly he knew what he had to ask. She wouldn't need answer where to start his journey or how to go on, he would just need a tool or a weapon, a way to stay hidden.
"You know what I need to finish my endeavor, to stay hidden from my enemies, so my question is: What do you want to trade with me, for the tool i need?". She looked surprised, this she didn't expect. But she was impressed by his cleverness and bold attitude. "In all the centuries i've lived, nobody had the guts to ask me for a tool. They always thought that an answer told in truth would be a true answer. I like your way of thinking. Therefore I will grant you another question, but watch out, the answer to your question might not be the answer you need". Panteni was a little bit bit shaken by the answer. He remained quiet and looking at her for the remainder of the night. The longer he remained quiet the darker her expression became. "Fine" She said with a grim undertone in her voice. "Since i've lived for so long, i believe i cannot die, but i do age. I saw you noticed my face as you told your story, emotions keep me young, give me vitality. But as you can see... I haven't really succeeded recently. Therefor all I want is a tear of the world, a blue rose." . Finally understanding why the Alma had given him a blue rose, he reached to his knapsack and gave her the rose. As she held it in her hand, she let a thorn sting her. And as the rose withered, she regained her youth. Her expression grew less and less sour, and the grace of the blue rose spread through her body.
Now i will give you something that might help you. It has served me for ages, and it will protect you. She went inside the strange cabin and came back with a broom in her hand. She took a stick from it that looked like white stone. "This is a powerful amulet, whenever you need to hide, use it, but only in the correct way, or the consequences will be dire. And now, your next question. The fact that i have all the time in the world doesn't mean my patience is equally stretched" She hoped he would ask how to use the amulet, but surprisingly he didn't.
"Fine, you know the answer i need and you've already got your reward so here's my question: What is the clear answer I need?". This time Baba Yaga just smiled. By now she didn't expect anything less from Panteni. "In Losiny Ostrov national park you will take your first steps towards your goal. I can't tell you how, but you are linked to it and you will know it's whereabouts. From there, you will meet many people like you, and even more troubles. But how your journey ends... well the wheel weaves as the wheel wills. Good luck with your Journey, and thank you for the fun. Please... tell people to come and see me... i will grow hungry again soon."
He woke up... he had fallen asleep next to Calomorro... not a single night seemed to have passed. . That was the strangest dream he had ever had. But as he searched for some food in his knapsack, he felt something he didn't expect. The amulet. He looked Calomorro in the eyes and he seemed to be smiling, he knew his next destination. Losiny Ostrov... just outside of Moscow.
Edited by Panteni, Feb 2 2014, 11:31 AM.
When the Alma had tought him all they could about hiding and controlling his emotions, he didn't know what to do. But at least he could now travel more safely through CCD territory. What the Alma couldn't help him with though, was the longing that was in his heart. To follow his moon. They spoke of an old wretched woman that lived in CCD territory that could help him. The old witch was, even in this age of strange powers, a very illusive myth. Everyone had heard of the tales of wicked Baba Yaga, albeit in different forms. But the Alma are a friend of Baba Yaga, for as long as they remember Baba Yaga has been their ally. With a strange and ancient magic the Alma put a weave around his feet. They imprinted his feet with his destination, so he would always be able to follow his feet to reach his destination. They gave him a strange farewell gift, a blue rose. One cut off from the last blue rose bush on earth. As long as he had an empty mind and didn't change his goal he would reach it.
The spell worked, and he followed his feet for thousands of miles, through all kind of terrain. When he was in a deep and dark forest in Ryazan, he walked through some kind of invisible barrier. He didn't notice it untill it was too late, but somehow he knew Baba Yaga now knew of his arrival. He walked for a few more meters, and then Calamorro, his horse and only friend on his journey, refused to go on. Panteni felt his anxiety and left Calamorro there. After passing a very dense bush he saw the strangest cabin he had ever seen. He opened the gate door that seemed to have been made out of human bones, and looked at the cabin filled with amazement. The seemingly normal cabin was standing on chicken feet, and danced and walked within the perimeter. When he got closer he could read an inscription on the door "turn your back to the forest, and your face towards me".
He knew the answer wasn't the obvious one. He sat down and decided to be patient. He turned his attention inwards and thought about the riddle. When the riddle was all that was on his mind, he felt a hand on his shoulder "Not many have passed the first test, please, i feel your need of an answer". Panteni woke from his meditation, that voice. It sounded like the voice of a million spirits, both haunted and serene. When he opened his eyes he saw the strangest woman he had ever seen. With a broomstick in her hand and a mischievous smile on her face she continued "I see the Alma have send you, you must be either wise or foolish, please tell me of all about yourstory".
Panteni couldn't resist, he started telling his complete life story. With every emotion he put into his story he saw her face. Almost as if she was savouring a good meal. After talking for hours he was almost sure some of her wrinkles had disappeared. She seemed younger. When he reached the part of Calomorro's refusal to go on she smiled. "That was the best meal i've had in centuries, I will answer one of your questions with a true answer as a reward.".
This was something Panteni hadn't expected, or wasn't prepared for. The Alma had told him she had the answers to all the questions in the world, he wasn't prepared for the fact he only was given one question to ask. "I want to think about my question" said Panteni, very careful not to ask any questions. Baba Yaga looked almost disappointed as she spoke "You may think until the end of times, though you might not have that time, call me again when you want your answer, but stay within the perimeter for each and every living person may only find me once."
For days he meditated on the answer he wanted. When he knew it, he meditated for another few days on how to formulate the question. He opened his eyes and called her name. When she stood in front of him he saw the crescent moon behind her. And everything he thought of was gone, suddenly he knew what he had to ask. She wouldn't need answer where to start his journey or how to go on, he would just need a tool or a weapon, a way to stay hidden.
"You know what I need to finish my endeavor, to stay hidden from my enemies, so my question is: What do you want to trade with me, for the tool i need?". She looked surprised, this she didn't expect. But she was impressed by his cleverness and bold attitude. "In all the centuries i've lived, nobody had the guts to ask me for a tool. They always thought that an answer told in truth would be a true answer. I like your way of thinking. Therefore I will grant you another question, but watch out, the answer to your question might not be the answer you need". Panteni was a little bit bit shaken by the answer. He remained quiet and looking at her for the remainder of the night. The longer he remained quiet the darker her expression became. "Fine" She said with a grim undertone in her voice. "Since i've lived for so long, i believe i cannot die, but i do age. I saw you noticed my face as you told your story, emotions keep me young, give me vitality. But as you can see... I haven't really succeeded recently. Therefor all I want is a tear of the world, a blue rose." . Finally understanding why the Alma had given him a blue rose, he reached to his knapsack and gave her the rose. As she held it in her hand, she let a thorn sting her. And as the rose withered, she regained her youth. Her expression grew less and less sour, and the grace of the blue rose spread through her body.
Now i will give you something that might help you. It has served me for ages, and it will protect you. She went inside the strange cabin and came back with a broom in her hand. She took a stick from it that looked like white stone. "This is a powerful amulet, whenever you need to hide, use it, but only in the correct way, or the consequences will be dire. And now, your next question. The fact that i have all the time in the world doesn't mean my patience is equally stretched" She hoped he would ask how to use the amulet, but surprisingly he didn't.
"Fine, you know the answer i need and you've already got your reward so here's my question: What is the clear answer I need?". This time Baba Yaga just smiled. By now she didn't expect anything less from Panteni. "In Losiny Ostrov national park you will take your first steps towards your goal. I can't tell you how, but you are linked to it and you will know it's whereabouts. From there, you will meet many people like you, and even more troubles. But how your journey ends... well the wheel weaves as the wheel wills. Good luck with your Journey, and thank you for the fun. Please... tell people to come and see me... i will grow hungry again soon."
He woke up... he had fallen asleep next to Calomorro... not a single night seemed to have passed. . That was the strangest dream he had ever had. But as he searched for some food in his knapsack, he felt something he didn't expect. The amulet. He looked Calomorro in the eyes and he seemed to be smiling, he knew his next destination. Losiny Ostrov... just outside of Moscow.
Edited by Panteni, Feb 2 2014, 11:31 AM.