Same as It Ever Was (Part 10)

The group of adventurers saved Nala from doing something she'd regret, _and_ they kept her safe from a strange entity that wore the face of Karan'taara, who sneered, jeered, and taunted the crowd. Until, of course, Aryia stole the seeming-servitor of Thul's scythe. Once vanquished, the adventurers returned with Nala to her home to lick their wounds and determine their next path in discussing the stories that they wish to weave for Navos, including the story that Nala wishes to write.

Nala's eyes begin to shine with understanding as Aryia, Zeke, and Rune talk. "I _do_ want to go on an adventure," she says softly at Zeke. "I want to go on an adventure with my friends. I want to meet Telanmo and Yiara and Runelei and Shankahar. And... I want to meet the you that's not you, Simony."

She looks at Zeke resolutely. "I want to save the you that isn't you from himself." Nala smiles brightly, and one could swear her golden eyes are glowing softly. "So, since you're all adventurers... Can you teach me how to be an adventurer like you, too?"

Zenith looks astonished, peering up at Nala. "You want to leave the house, Nala?" he asks. "You hate leaving the house. Because of all of those horrible people."

Nala nods gently, but she looks down at Zenith in her lap. "It's okay," she says softly. "Because I've got people who can help me. I've got..."

She looks at every single person. Aryia, Simony, Telamon, Harkashan, Rune, and Zeke. Nala's smile is as bright as the sun that's the same color as her eyes on a summer day. "I've got friends now."

+++

The training starts on the very next day. Bright and early, Nala springs up from her bed and leaves her door, fully dressed in clothes that have seen some better days (that are not particularly fitting of an adventurer, but... baby steps).

"I'm ready!" Nala says with a grin. "Let's start adventurer training!"

The Goblin looks tired and bleary when she awakens. And doesn't seem enthused about going outside the mansion, let alone outside into the cold and snow.

Once outside, she yawns and stretches at length, quickly canting her head back and forth, causing pops and cracks to be heard.

"So we should probably come up a plan for your training. We need to sharpen your mind, and hone your body, so that you can survive out in various wilderness and underground areas." She looks to the others.

"Survivals skills, yes? Some endurance training, for being able to walk far distances? Basic healing skills. And knowledge of nature, and arcana?"

Telamon, by contrast, seems to have slept well. And the cold doesn't bother him. He has been teaching for a while -- first at the University, then his apprentice. His lessons center on controlling and focusing the mana any sorcerer draws on for their spells, and how to be efficient with it. But his contribution to Nala's training isn't just magical. He gently prods and encourages her, to help build up her battered spirit and self-esteem, encouraging her to reach a little further. To dream a little bigger.

But with that comes caution. The lessons he's taught at the University come to him easily, and he's happy to pass them along. "As you grow in power, the world will become far easier to manipulate. But that's where the danger is greatest, Nala. A world of soft clay and crystal -- but it is made of living things, and people with their own hopes and dreams. Don't be the one to warp and shatter those dreams."

His smile is kind. "I don't think you're that kind of person. But I try to teach this to every student I can. It's a lesson that every master or mistress of magic should know by heart. Compassion matters. Empathy matters. When you wield this power, you must do so with those things in mind."

Zeke teaches Nala a bit about healing. Not with magic by any means, but how to heal a wound with bandage and patience. How to listen. Patience. He makes her sit and listen. He talks to her of the things that one that one needs to know for helping others survive. But mostly he tries to teach her patience because this is what he sees that she lacks the most. She is young though, and it's hard to teach the young patience. So he teaches her what he knows of healing because this teaches patience and it is good to know. And it teaches kindness, and that matters too.

Normally, mornings are a little rough for Rune, given her tendency towards nightmares. However, Nala's excitement is something that feeds her own enthusiasm. She smirks, getting to her feet. "You're probably best suited towards magic, which is a bit out of my wheelhouse. I'll leave that to those who have those sort of gifts..."

No. Rune has other ideas in mind. After all, Nala had asked if she could teach her how to stab people. And Rune /does/ know how to stab people.

Though, her lessons aren't just the usual 'stick them with the pointy end' sort of things. Instead, she focuses on trying to hone the young woman's ability to watch people for weaknesses. Looking for vulnerabilities both physical and mental which can be exploited, either with a weapon, or with magic. Her lesson on 'how to hit someone where it hurts' may very well leave male party members wincing at her suggestions.

This will be followed up by quieter instruction on matters of Fey bonds. The benefits, the risks, and how to make use of abilities that such pacts bring with them. And likely some lessons on how to avoid falling prey to Fey beings that may do harm.

There's much Harkashan could in fact teach this young woman. They have time to 'shape' her into whatever form they need from her. Everything still does not fully sit right with Harkashan.

So as others begin to explain matters of Spellcasting and Friendship being Magic, Harkashan latches onto one of Simony's recommendation.

Over the next few days, as they others instruct her on those things, at the start and end of every day - Harkashan takes over. Opening the door to her chamber and forcing her into 'Healthy Breakfasts', and taking her running in the mornings. Not just regular 'go for a run'. No, he forces her to run until she is absolutely exhausted, and has absolutely no more stamina, and then pushing her a bit past that point.

Survival training within the snowy region. Teaching her what is safe to eat. How to make a camp safe from the elements. What kind of clothing to wear, and what kinds of foods to eat. And returning her to her home a little after Sunrise to her tutelage under the others.

In the evenings, he does not give her any rest. Forcing her into a run again, to train her ability to react even in the dark. To make the terrain hers, so that she grows more perceptive. Using Illusions she is forced to avoid to train her senses and ability to get out of the way of danger.

Each evening, Nala returns to bed absolutely exhausted.

And Aryia gives Nala her own training. One might expect Aryia to double-down on the runs and physical prowess that Harkashan encourages, but instead, the monk focuses on controlling her own emotions. This proves to be a challenge. Nala is an emotional girl. But Zeke's lessons on patience and healing help her in this regard. She never develops the talent to heal the way Zeke can, not without expending diamond dust or a diamond for a wish spell, but she knows enough about practical medicine that she can help set a bone or make an herbal remedy.

Aryia also teaches Nala how to throw a punch without breaking her hand. This gets filed away with Rune's lessons on stabbing people. Both of these are handy talents to have in a pinch, and Nala takes surprisingly well to swordwork.

Telamon's an able teacher of magic, and of course Nala absorbs his teachings like a sponge. She listens to his every word on caution and ethics, and it's clear that Nala takes these lessons to heart, as she is exceedingly careful at casting magic. As the winter begins to thaw, not a single gout of flame goes near the trees in the woods, and there's more than one occasion where Nala can be found weeping tears of happiness over baby ravens croaking for food (much to Zenith's chagrin).

What is remarkable is the way in which she develops, a meteoric rise. It takes the changing of seasons for her to approach the apex that everyone else is, and Zenith reassures everyone that time will almost certainly be the way it was when they come back to their original time, but it feels odd to spend so much time in intensive training. It's time spent away from loved ones, from duties, from everything. It's the longest Telamon's ever been away from Cor'lana and Pothy and the Shining Chalice. It's the longest Simony's been away from her friends and the Temple of Navos. It's the longest Zeke's been away from Cuemoni and the Temple of Daeus. It's the longest Harkashan and Rune have been away from the City of Alexandria, and Harkashan's family in Am'shere, and the Temples of their deities. It's the longest Aryia's been away from her apartment and her boat.

Yet one evening, Zenith requests everyone to stay up with him once Nala's gone to bed. He's seated on the living room table, curled up in a nest that Nala's made for him out of books. "So... Remember that Seelie fae man who showed up?" he asks. "I'm pretty sure he's due to show up any day now."

It's bizarre, and a little worrisome. Telamon... doesn't like it. He's been so long living with Lana's presence in his head that it feels like a part of him is permanently numb while he's here. His friends help, and the work helps, but he's not whole. And he won't be, until this task is done.

And so his response to Zenith is a slightly sardonic, "Again?" Tel takes a moment, before responding, "Sorry, Zenith, I'm... not feeling myself tonight. Look, can we back up a bit?" He seats himself at the table, regarding Zenith. "In... our timeline, Lana was sought out by Alud'rigan, the Feathered One. If I recall correctly, in this timeline Nadina made a compact to marry her daughter off. Is there any chance we can dissuade him, head this off without a fight? Because he's not going to stop just because we ask him to, and he's not interested in Nala's wishes."

"He's going to come back after the shellacking he got the first time around?", the Goblin wonders with a frustrated snort. "He's a glutton for punishment...wait."

Simony blinks a few times. "Have we gone back in time, or does this guy keep showing up every spring? How annoying." She crosses her arms.

"Guess we will have to fight him again?" She looks to Telamon and ohs. "You convinced Grandfather to back down? How did you do that? Convinced him that you were the better choice for marriage? Perhaps... Telanmo should be brought in on this, yes? I can't imagine Nala wanting to go with this guy, and she will probably resist."

Zeke shakes his head. "Perhapss it isss time to allow our baby bird to fly. We mussst sssee if sssshe can, with sssome assissstance, do what ssshe musst. Sso. We will turn him assside. Ass before. But thisss time ssshe will tell him no. Ssshe will act with her own conviction. With the thingss that we have taught her. With her friendsss perhapssss. If we can bring them here. Then... we will bring her to thisss world'sss versssion of..."

He is silent then.

Harkashan rumbles, and notes; "I am in agreement with my Kin." As he sits upon the ground, finding it more comfortable than a seat at the moment. "Drawing in her friends may be of benefit here. After all, she cannot rely on our presence on the long run." He points out.

The passage of time leaves a lingering feeling of 'missing' something in Rune. She doesn't truly have any place she calls home, but there are friends that she hasn't seen in what feels, for all purposes, like weeks. What time she hasn't been spending with Nala or assisting one of the others with their training, Rune has spent with her time writing.

So, that is what Rune is doing when Zenith brings up this topic of conversation. "On the plus side... she is way more equipped to deal with his Lordship, in ways he is definitely not likely to expect. If he tries to touch her without her consent, he's likely to get shanked in the jibbly bits."

Pushing her glasses up on her nose, the rogue seems thoughtful. "I think it may very well be time for her to start crossing paths with the people who will be her closest friends and allies. I think they all have a part to play in this." A worried look is cast to Zeke, but she keeps the pensive thought to herself.

Zenith looks very uncomfortable at the mention of 'Grandfather'. "Umm. Well. There was a good reason that Nadina made that pact. She didn't remember why, because the memory of the terms was stolen from her, but _I_ can tell you. I never swore a pact. I witnessed it happen."

He looks at Telamon. "The man you call Grandfather... He's the Unseelie King. His Darkness, the Feathered King, the Wielder of Mortal Dread, once worshipped among the first of mortals as a god. He has taken scores of people to warm his bed from his own Court and all other Courts, yet he has only ever loved one person."

Zenith's voice drops as he says, "A celestial, stolen from the heavens. Nala is their descendant... Because their child ran off from the Court and fell in love with a mortal elf woman. It is said that he hunts for their descendants to bring back to their Court, and his howls of anguish fill the Court the day that they die. He butchers everything in sight. Even his celestial-spouse stolen from the heavens can only do so much to placate his rage. It's... not where Nadina ever wanted her daughter to go."

Telamon's face -twitches- in a way he doesn't appear to be aware of, and his hand flexes a bit. Another long, deep breath, before he speaks, his voice even. "Wonderful. How much of that is truth and how much is legend though, Zenith? I've been witness to that more than once, you know. Grandfather -- my version, anyways -- was thought to be a monster that stole children away to be devoured."

Telamon rubs his temples. "I wonder if in this world, Grandfather just got fed up with the Queen's bullshit and straight up killed her instead of walking out. I could see that happening. Regardless..." He furrows his brow. "Zenith, does he command the Wild Hunt? Or is that someone else's job?"

Simony looks sad at what Zenith tells them of the nega-Grandfather. "Oh. He feels the pain every time one of the descendants die. That must be terrible. Not that I have ... much ... sympathy for someone who steals people from their homes and makes them marry him." She rubs at her chin. "I guess that's the greatest disadvantage to living eternally. All of your mortal family passing before you. Heh. I imagine him having any Goblin descendants would have him reeling every other day."

The Goblin sighs. "So is this prince who is coming again, the Grandfather of this timeline? Did we really almost fairly easily kick Grandfather's ass?" A giggle is heard and she makes a little fist. "No matter... we'll help Nala beat him. First by her telling him no. And delve into what may come after that."

Zeke looks at Telamon in confusion. "Why doesss thisss matter Telamon?" He doesn't understand why these tangential things are important. They seem like twisting threads that are disconnected to him, but Telamon knows Nala - Lana - better than he does. Though who is to say that this dream of Zenith's isn't one that concerns all of them more broadly than they know?

Harkashan rumbles, "Remember, Sympathy is why we are here." He mentions as Simony speaks about people being kidnapped and being made to marry. His tail whipping in an irritated manner. It doesn't look like he disagrees with Simony. But he's keeping a keen eye and ear out for any opportunities.

Once, Rune had written Cor'lana's story, and this one does not match up with the tale that she was told about Grandfather. However, this world is very different from their own in a great many ways. Her eyes look across to Telamon, uncertainty in her expression. "In our realm, the man that everyone thought had come to steal away Cor'lana for nefarious purposes... ended up being a loving grandfather and someone who has saved our asses from the fire a fair time or two."

She sighs softly, "I'm not sure his Fae Lordship really strikes me as the kind person underneath the wanting to steal a child bride persona, though. It's... really a tough one, there." Her eyes turn to Harkashan, then. "Sympathy and compassion are similar, but not exactly the same thing. Regardless... I think if Telamon was there to help her face Grandfather, then his counterpart, at least, should be here for when he comes."

Zenith bird-blinks at Simony. "The prince who will be showing up is Raeluin," he says. "Prince Raeluin of the Summer Court, the First and Last Son... and First and Last Sun. Nadina agreed to give him Nala in an attempt to protect her from the Feathered King, who rules the Unseelie, who are the polar opposite of the Seelie. The Summer Queen, Raeluin's mother, rules over the Seelie. I told her she was making a bad deal. Nadina disagreed. She'd do anything for her daughter. But she failed to account for the fact that the fae have a different concept of time than mortals do, and... Raeluin is a _scumbag_. For all of the things that the Unseelie King is alleged of doing, he's only ever forced that celestial to marry him, and even that's not clear. I heard a story once that the celestial actually begged the King to steal him."

He shakes his head. "I've never met the Unseelie King," he says to Telamon. "So I have no idea what he's actually like. For all I know, maybe he's a kind and generous man, and everything I've ever heard about him is all... Raeluin's propaganda. He's effectively the real ruler of the Summer Court, actually. The Queen doesn't do much in the way of holding Court anymore, and when she is around, she appears only as a red shroud around a humanoid form. I saw her from afar... And... It was uncanny. I don't know that there was really anyone under that shroud."

"Bits and pieces, Zeke. Sometimes puzzles have to be assembled first." Telamon rubs the bridge of his nose. "But this is all sounding familiar to me." His eyes flick to Rune's. "Nadina took off with Lana to try and evade Grandfather. Because that idiot Glorenacil had convinced her Grandfather was a child stealing monster. Except... it wasn't nearly as bad as it could have been, and we were able to ... renegotiate things."

He muses, "I wonder... could we get them to cross paths? I can't imagine an Unseelie King being thrilled at the idea of his granddaughter marrying a Seelie noble." His fingers tap absently at the tabletop. "Raeluin might drop the idea if it means he'd have to deal with the Feathered King regularly."

"Notably, Raeluin does not exist on our side anymore... or never did." Harkashan notes. "This side's Thirku illuminated this to me when he showed his face and I... asked." He leans back a bit and looks to Rune for a moment while having his snout stuck up to the air - just checking up on her for a moment - then lowers his head again.

"There's significant enough changes here that we should be wary of using our own experiences here. The history and paths here are not the same. So let us let them play out... as they desire to turn out." He then looks to Telamon and Zenith, before glancing to the girl in question.

"Either way, I agree that we should get her... 'Romancing Partner' in here."

Simony nods to Zenith, "Okay, just wondering how far the "opposite" people are opposite." Her shoulders slump a little, and she looks to Telamon.

"It would remind Grandfather of her existence, and it's likely he would arrive to take her off in order to protect her from "undue influence". And uh, we'd probably be close to fighting him at that point, yes?"

The Goblin nods and gestures to Harkashan. "And Zeke suggested it too, let's bring the others in."

"Thisss one thinksss that it isss between Nala and her mate, and this man who wissshesss to be her mate." Zeke nods this is all he has to say on the matter, and all he really understands of the matter. Perhaps this Grandfather person should be involved as well, but such familial connections are harder for him to understand.

The exact complexities of Fae courts and their power struggles are far beyond Rune. She adjusts her glasses slightly, looking confused, but in a way that suggests she isn't about to frame any sort of question to clarify.

Instead, she nods, "I agree that this needs to play out. I don't have to like it, but... I know well enough that I wasn't here the first time. Let's get loverboy, and make sure Nala knows what is coming..."

As soon as Rune says the word 'coming', the door to Nala's room slams open. There's Nala, dressed in a wool nightgown that covers her from collarbone to ankle, and her golden eyes are alight in gleam. "I had a dream about him again!" she says. "Zenith! Telanmo's in the town square!"

Zenith sits up to attention, bird-blinking rapidly in a way that rather imitates a person doing it. "Umm." Yup, Zenith's temporarily flabbergasted for words. "Don't tell me you want to go meet him?"

"Yes!" Nala says, already rushing for the door. "He's sitting at one of the benches in the town square! I _have_ to go! Telanmo's just had dinner and he's not going to be outside on that bench for long!" She's totally going to run out the door in just her nightgown if no one's stopping her.

Harkashan rumbles, "I see you still have a lot of energy." As he begins to rise. "That suggests this morning's training is going to go longer than usual." With a little playful smirk. "Get dressed into something proper when stepping outside. I think that nightgown is going to send the wrong message to the boy." He warns, almost like a chiding parent.

The Goblin tsks, and she moves to intercept the girl, "Shoo, got get dressed!" She huffs and nods to Harkashan. "She'd run off without her head if it wasn't screwed on."

"Tel, did you want to go and get to Telanmo, let him know what he's getting into and uh, keep him there til we get this young lady dressed?"?

There's something in Telamon's eyes, a touch of frustration. But he firmly pushes it back. "You're right. Too much is similar, just enough to throw me off. I keep thinking I know what the next note in the song will be and I keep getting wrong-footed." He slumps a little. "I am missing the best part of me." he murmurs in Sylvan.

When Nala bursts out of her room, he jerks upright. "Oh for... Alright, we can get you down there fast, but -put on some clothes first-." He gives Nala an amused look, tossing Hark and Simony a grin. "Not a bad idea, but I honestly think we should go as a group."

The sudden arrival of Nala in her nightclothes has Rune looking up from her writing again, giving a bemused look. "I'm not sure that's the impression you want to give the boy, though... I'm not sure he'd have an issue with it." Rune coughs once, closing her book and tucking it under one arm.

"But, what have we taught you about going out unprepared, lass? Go, get dressed. The boy may not be the only thing waiting out there, so you should always be ready." Getting to her feet, the rogue joins in the shoo-ing.

Zeke sighs and stirs himself looking a little morose himself. "Sssaaa. Thisss one will make sssome-thing to eat. Sshe hassss not had a bite yet." No morning tea? Not under any roof that he has slept under! Zeke sets about making some tea and something simple for the girl to eat while she gets hurriedly dressed. "I wisssh Cuemoni were here though." He murmurs to himself.

Nala blinks as she stops a few feet short of the door. "Oh! Right. Yeah. I just was excited." Thankfully, no fireworks or magic happens as the result of her emotions. It's happened before, and Aryia's lessons about emotional control have ensured that they don't happen again.

She doubles-back to her room, and the door slams shut behind her. The sound of hastily changing into clothes can be heard from the other side of the door. Nala comes out with a nice dress made for her earlier by Aryia (whose tailoring skills no little equal, even if she did have to glare at a fabric merchant who stopped into the little town to get her some fabric to sew together for Nala). She's also equipped with some of the gear that her mother left behind, including that dagger that she'd intended to use on herself that one day in the snow.

"Zeke? I love, love, _love_ your tea, but I really don't want Telanmo to move on before it's too late. Can you hold off on making it? I really don't want it to go cold." Nala makes big golden puppy-dog eyes at Zeke. "Please, please, please? With a Zenny-feather on top?"

"Why are you volunteering my feathers?" Zenith says with a sigh. "Listen, I can fly ahead and try to convince the young man to stay, if you want tea and something to eat. The Sunguard's right, you _do_ need proper nutrition." Not that Nala is ever getting any taller at this point, but…

"Ah, but there's something to be said for a shared meal. Or tea for two." Telamon's spirits seem roused somewhat by Nala's intensity, and he pushes himself to his feet. "Let's go find Telanmo. Maybe we can convince him to come back here for a properly chaperoned date."

He smiles crookedly, his eyes starting to flash with starlight again. "From such humble beginnings come the best stories. Even if sometimes they're written in Crimson Pen novels."

"Uhm. Why don't I stay here? I could clean the place. Zeke, perhaps you could stay also? Have some tea made, while the others bring Telanmo back? Make a nice little meal out of it?" Simony grins. "Two birds, one stone, yes? Er... if you'll pardon the analogy, Zenith?"

"Wow," Zenith says bluntly.

"Poor girl. She's been adopted by a crew of adventurers and shall never know a moment's peace in the romance department." It seems that the rogue has little real interest in playing chaperone, if only because it somewhat interferes with things progressing more organically between the two.

"I'll let you all worry about summoning the boy, and making food and drink. I'll just go keep an eye out for any signs of uninvited guests." She motions outside.

Zeke nods to Simony and Telamon. "Thisss one will remain here and make tea. And ready the houssse." He swishes his tail in pleasure and excitement. Though the truth is that the house is already in good order really. Zeke is something of a neat makari. Tea every morning and picking up after everyone is something that he does quite regularly. He doesn't even think about it, it's just something he does quite naturally.

-TBC