Innocence

[Renita_Serafim]

<div><em>It was another day in Maj'Dul for Geburia Mal'Kut. A long, silky green haired Ayr'Dal with jade green eyes, she had a scar running down her forehead, piercings on her nose and on her ears and a faintly clawlike left hand with a purple tint to it. She walked past the Twilight Terrace wearing her long black leather trenchcoat that went from head to toe, heading towards her home district in the area of the city belonging to the Court of Tears when a Koada'Dal standing near a herd of camels caught her eye.</em></div><div><em></em> </div><div><em>The Koada'Dal wore an elegant, aquamarine dress. She had short, blonde hair and dark brown eyes. Something about this youthful Koada'Dal made Geburia want to stop and greet her.</em></div><div><em></em> </div><div><em>"Greetings.", Geburia said to the Koada'Dal youth cheerfully.</em></div><div><em></em> </div><div><em>The Koada'Dal looked back at Geburia dubiously with a look of clear distrust on her face.</em></div><div><em></em> </div><div><em>"What is it? What do you want?"</em></div><div><em></em> </div><div><em>"I'm just greeting you.", Geburia replied, a little surprised by the elf's reaction.</em></div><div><em></em> </div><div><em>"Greetings are for friends. You would not speak to me unless you expected something. Nothing in life comes without cost.", the elf responded bluntly.</em></div><div><em></em> </div><div><em>Geburia couldn't help but admire the young Koada's way of thinking. What she said rang true to her, very much so. However, she wanted the elf to know that she herself wasn't so cold and manipulating.</em></div><div><em></em> </div><div><em>"Sometimes "hello" is just "hello".", Geburia said in return in a tone that showed her genuine desire to simply greet the Koada'Dal and talk.</em></div><div><em></em> </div><div><em>The Koada'Dal's expression of intense distrust hadn't yet faded. "In my experience, "hello" can also be a trap. A trick to lure one into making incorrect choices and dicisions. Some choices lead to unimaginable suffering."</em></div><div><em></em> </div><div><em>A sudden wave of realisation flooded over Geburia. This Koada'Dal had been burnt. Badly. Just like herself. "It sounds like you've been badly burnt.", Geburia replied sympathetically.</em></div><div><em></em> </div><div><em>"Perhaps.", the Koada' answered. "You should seek the cobbler and learn his tale. You will find him where you might least expect a man with intensive training and skill. Then you would know what can be the consequence of one dicision."</em></div><div><em></em> </div><div><em>Geburia wanted to reach out to this elf now, she seemd a kindred spirit. Geburia would do as the elf had requested, handing her a a tattered journal opened at a blank page in order to note down her instructions. "I will seek out the cobber."</em></div><div><em></em> </div><div><em>As Geburia walked away reading the elf's notes, she noticed that the Koada'Dal had signed with her name.</em></div><div><em></em> </div><div><em>"Barakah."</em></div>

[Renita_Serafim]

<div></div><div></div><p><em>Later that same day, Geburia was passing through the Court of Truth district on business, carefully evading the guards as she allied herself with the Court of Coin. Passing through a court surrounded by beige coloured walls, she saw a white haired Teir'Dal standing by a black lamp post. He had jade green eyes not unlike her own, the youthful Teir'Dal wore a crimson red tunic and pitch black leggings.</em></p><p><em>Geburia suddenly felt the need to greet the Teir'Dal just as she had felt with the Koada'Dal named Barakah earlier that same day.</em></p><p><em>"Greetings", she said to the dark elf.</em></p><p><em>"How dare you speak to me!", the Teir'Dal snapped at her sounding suddenly like your average Teir'Dal from Longshadow Ally.</em></p><p><em>"You looked like you wanted to speak to me.", Geburia replied calmly.</em></p><p><em>"Is it that obvious?", the Teir'Dal answered with a look of sadness on his face. "The changing, the loss...I suppose I do seem as though I need to talk to someone. I apologize for being so rude."</em></p><p><em>Geburia could hardly remain annoyed at the Teir'Dal after the reaction she'd manage to stir in him. "What's wrong?", she asked sympathetically like she had done with Barakah earlier.</em></p><p><em>"Many things in this city are wrong,...", the Teir'Dal began to explain. "...but far worse are the things beyond these walls. I cannot trouble you; what is set into motion cannot be stopped. You would regret trying to help me."</em></p><p><em>Geburia would feel awful if she simply walked away without finding out how she could help the troubled Teir'Dal youth. His words rang as true as Barakah's, Geburia felt like she had met another kindred spirit. "Try me.", she replied.</em></p><p><em>"I do not know that I can trust you, or anyone for that matter. Yet, you would not ask if you did not mean to help. There is an outcast near the wall that needs assistance. If you help her, you help me."</em></p><p><em>Handing the Teir'Dal her journal at another blank page whilst he wrote down his instructions on the page after Barakah's, she agreed. "I'll return when I'm done."</em></p><p><em>Walking away as she read the notes that the elf had just written, she noticed another signature.</em></p><p><em>"Siyamak."</em></p><p>Message Edited by Astralmage on <span class="date_text">02-17-2006</span><span class="time_text">03:48 AM</span></p>

[Renita_Serafim]

<div></div><p><em>After hearing the cobbler's tale of a doomed love involving the Court of Blades and how the choices he had made resulted in tragedy for many of those involved, Geburia stood once more before the Koada'Dal named Barakah near the Twilight Terrace.</em></p><p><em>"Greetings", Geburia said as she walked up to Barakah again.</em></p><p><em>"Have you heard the cobblers whole story?, Barakah asked.</em></p><p><em>"Yes, though I don't understand what this has to do with you. Are you the "lady" he loved?"</em></p><p><em>"No.", Barakah answered. "She too suffered because of the cobblers choice. Her husband did not believe that she was faithful and had her exiled. Every step we take is the result of a choice. While I am not the lady in the cobblers tale, I have suffered for someone else's choice...and for the choices I have made."</em></p><p><em>It was difficult not to feel sorry for the young Koada'Dal. She was a good person and she had clearly been through a lot, and still plauged by the memories of it. "What choice did you make?"</em></p><p><em>"I chose the way of anger and bitterness...", Barakah replied. "...and it consumed me for a long time. After making myself suffer, I realised that my anger was misplaced. Though I punished the one who put me into danger, I was really punishing myself."</em></p><p><em>It was difficult for Geburia to know what to make of this statement. She too had given over to anger and bitterness too in the past, the residents of Qeynos Castle knew that well after her attempt on Queen Antonia Bayle's life. Although she'd never felt as if she was punishing herself. Was Barakah saying that she was wrong to feel anger for what had happened, or that the one who endangered her was undeserving of her wrath? "Have you forgiven yourself"?, was all that Geburia could ask.</em></p><p><em>"Yes, but I still live with the consequences of my choice, as do we all.", Barakah explained. "Someday, I may see you again, even though you may not recognize me."</em></p><p><em>"Indeed.", Geburia replied.</em></p><p><em>Geburia walked away from Barakah that day not realising that they would indeed meet again, and that the young Koada'Dal was more than Geburia could know at present.</em></p>

[Renita_Serafim]

<div></div>Just a quick note. I'll be writing the final chapter to this fic' just as soon as I can get a group together to help me finish the "Every One Counts" quest that the Siyamak chapters of the story are based on.

[dano]

<div></div>if i could, i would group with you

[Renita_Serafim]

<div></div><div></div><div><em>After aiding the outcast, who had explained that she had been cursed to never die as she watched her loved ones die all around her, Geburia stood before Siyamak once more in the Court of Truth district. Aiding the outcast had involved venturing into the underground ruins of an lost lost city known as Akhet Aken but now refered to as the Living Tombs, finding the vase that was sustaining the outcast's curse and destroying it.</em></div><div><em></em> </div><div><em>"Greetings.", Geburia said, happy to have finished Siyamak's task in the hopes of aiding him with his troubles.</em></div><div><em></em> </div><div><em>"Have you assisted the outcast woman as I asked?", Siyamak asked.</em></div><div><em></em> </div><div><em>"Yes. I am not sure how that helps you though.", Geburia answered.</em></div><div><em></em> </div><div><em>"So you destroyed the vase that kept her alive? Good! That was a vessel of the djinn. The more of those vessels that survive, the greater their power. I must destroy them all!", Siyamak exclaimed vigorously.</em></div><div><em></em> </div><div><em>"Why?", Geburia asked curiously.</em></div><div><em></em> </div><div><em>"You will find that not everything is as it appears. I am not what I seem, thanks to the djinn. My beloved and I are cursed, our forms shifting from one form to the next. As the djinn's power lessens, we shall be able to overcome their influence.", Siyamak explained.</em></div><div><em></em> </div><div><em>"So you were cursed by the djinn, like that beggar woman.", Geburia responded, checking what she had just heard.</em></div><div><em></em> </div><div><em>"Yes, I am cursed, but your actions have helped me in a small way. You do not realise it, but you walk a path upon which we shall meet again someday, though you may not recognize me.", Siyamak clarified.</em></div><div><em></em> </div><div><em>"Farewell.", Geburia said as she walked away, back upon the path she had walked prior to taking the time to help two elves who looked as if they needed help.</em></div><div><em></em> </div><div><em>As Geburia pondered upon the two people she had just assisted, and their claims that they would meet her again in forms she would not recognize, she paused as a thought came to her.</em></div><div><em></em> </div><div><em>"Nah, couldn't be.", Geburia said, dismissing the idea as unlikely as she got back on schedule for her projects.</em></div><p>Message Edited by Astralmage on <span class="date_text">03-13-2006</span><span class="time_text">06:03 AM</span></p>