Arreyis

Devouring Light

"I'm sorry..." Ayrie said. "Is there any way you can look at me as just me? Not as her? I'll try not to act on feelings that are not my own if you'll try not to think of me as her."

She thought that she could separate her own feelings from the memory of Astoria's feelings. She had already begun to be attracted to him before, but had thought he was off limits to her. Now she wasn't so sure, but she knew she had to go slow.

"I like you Asran. Me, Ayrie, not just the memories I have. But more than that I care about you, and I want to be your friend... Even if," she paused, "even if that means that I should stay away for a while."

Devouring Light

"What's wrong? You've been kind of quiet..." She said, looking at him staring at his plate as if he thought the meaning of life was in it.

"I don't want to pry, but if there's anything you want to talk about... I know I'm not really her but... Ugh, it's hard to say what I mean. I feel as though I've always known you but I know that I have only known you a few days." She looked down, not sure what else she could say or do.

Devouring Light

To Ayrie's eyes what he was doing was just as magical as anything else she had seen in the last few days. She sat at the table and waited, and when he served up the food she handed a plate down to Symphony and started eating herself. It was delicious, and filling.

"This is wonderful." She said between bites. Judging from the gulps and happy little growls Symphony was also enjoying it. "I wish I could cook like this. I can bake treats, but anything I do on the stove winds up burnt."

Devouring Light

Ayrie spent some time exploring the first floor of the house, finding a few things interesting but nothing of serious interest until she spotted a piano in one of the rooms near the kitchen. She sat down and tested the keys for tune, then began to play a melody she had learned years ago while attending music class. The notes were clear, the melody following her mood of the last few days. When she finished the song she started just playing a random tune that she made up as she went, allowing her fingers to just play what she felt. Symphony sat next to her, watching her play and appreciating the music.

She was much happier than she had been the last several days, and certainly happier now than she had been when she was a child and teenager growing up in the Church. Growing up as an orphan and ward of the Church hadn't been terrible, but it had been boring. She let the melody trail off as she thought of her childhood, remembering the teasing of the other children when she asked questions. The looks of priests and priestesses as they realized she would not be easy to control. The punishments she received at the hands of some of the less forgiving of them.

She shook the memories from her mind and stood, walking to the bottom of the stairs. Gingerly, she started to go up them, taking it easy in order to not pull at her side. Symphony went up ahead of her to make sure there was nothing that might be harmful, and finding nothing he waited at the top of the stairs for her. She walked around the upstairs for a bit, staring at artifacts and magical items in one room, and then finding a locked door she assumed was either his bedroom or a workroom. She was curious what might be inside, but she went back downstairs smelling something delicious coming from the kitchen. She found Asran cooking away, and stood in the doorway for a moment just appreciating the sight.

Devouring Light

When she saw the statue she looked at him, but he was looking away from her. She resisted the urge to say anything, instead just looking ahead. This was the farthest she had been in the city, and many things she had seen were new to her, though the statue had been a surprise.

Ayrie accepted his help to get out, looking up at the house as she did so. It was beautiful, reminding her of stories she had read as a child about children discovering wonderful mysteries.

"You have a lovely home." She said, looking back to him. Symphony jumped out of the car behind her and twirled around her legs, impatient.

Devouring Light

Ayrie felt bad for Wrath and Nadia, as they had helped her to know what to do, but she was also thankful for some time alone with just Asran. Her brain was fairly well fried and excess conversation with the other two women would likely make her unnecessarily awkward.

"You cook?" She asked, a bit surprised. As she thought about it though it made sense that the Lord of Gluttony also knew how to cook. She stretched her legs and got up to write a note for the priests. She didn't say where she was, only that she would be back later that night. "I'll be right back, Asran."

She went into her room, thinking she shut the door behind her but not quite catching the latch. It slowly cracked open, leaving it visible slightly to the living area. She took off her sweaty top and skirt, and took a clean cotton dress from her wardrobe to change into, then went to the small wash table she had and wiped herself down with a clean wet rag. She added a bit of rose scented perfume behind her ears and on her wrists, then pulled the purple cotton dress over her head. She brushed out her hair and slid a length of cloth over it, tying it like a headband. She wasn't trying to impress, she just wanted to feel comfortable.

Devouring Light

Ayrie sympathized with how he felt, though she didn't want people who were innocent followers to be harmed. She didn't say anything though, not wanting to rile him up more.

"We will get him, Asran. I'll help you however I can. First, though, is anyone else hungry?" She asked, "I'm starved. I could use a large meal and some sleep." As if to accent her statement her stomach rumbled. She hadn't eaten since the previous day, and that had been a quick meal before leaving the house. Since then she had been too nervous, busy, or drugged up with pain killers after being hurt to want food.

'I would like something to eat as well, Ayrie. I've not tasted anything in a long time.' Symphony thought at her.

Devouring Light

Symphony jumped onto the couch and curled up next to Ayrie, funneling mana into her to help with her exhaustion. She felt as though she could sleep for days and jump for joy at the same time.

"So long as he gives us a few days to relax, I'm okay with the trade off." Ayrie said lightly. "I feel as though I've been hit by a herd of elephants and then dragged through the streets by a crazy taxi driver. I need a few nights of decent sleep!"

She pulled the bun out of her hair and ran her hands through it to lessen the tension on her head, then put her hand on Symphony's back, lightly scratching his fur.

'That feels nice, human.' the little fox thought at her, surprising her. He looked up at her, 'Our bond makes it so that I can speak to you in thoughts, if there's ever a time you do not want me to hear you, shield me out like this.'

He showed her with power how to shield him out, then relaxed and closed his red eyes.

Ayrie looked back to Asran, sighing. "They know about the God they serve, and his role in the curse. They have not yet divulged how he ascended, if they know, and I have yet to know that information. He should never have been allowed to ascend after what he did to that city, what he did to you!"

She was angry now, and her eyes flashed.

Devouring Light

Feeling the shock Ayrie jumped, Symphony growled a little but made no moves, just wanted Asran to know he wouldn't tolerate him hurting Ayrie.

"Well, that's one way to get the feeling back in my legs." Ayrie joked as he let her go. She moved over to the couch and settled down, not really caring much that the room was a wreck after everything that had happened. She felt exhausted, but happy that Asran was going to be okay now. "The priests will be returning soon, they were only going grocery shopping. Though I suppose we can call them ex-priests now, as they will surely be ex-communicated for helping me."

She looked at Wrath, who was visibly relieved at Asran's restoration. Ayrie wasn't sure how she would react to her now, whether she would still hate her for all the suffering Astoria had caused him. The only thing she was truly sure of was her desire to remove the former Angel, now God, from his place in the heavens.

|| The School of Death ||

Haha, I suppose George was growling at you, @Krytavius ^^ I guess I was writing at the same time as you.