The return to where it began... [Open/Social]

Out in the streets was a young man with wild blue hair. He had on his rags today as he had just wandered into town. He had gathered a large crowd around him just a few moments before and had wry smile across his face. "Good Afternoon Kou Empire!" His voice was loud and boisterous to keep their attention. "My name is Singefrid and I am a bit of a traveling performer!" He stated and smiled. A few kids of the crowd stared on in amazement and some of the adults remained skeptical. A few of them were shocked. Singefrid pulled out his Tanto a gift from his father one of his only recovered possession from that time.

"I would like to tell you a tale of danger and wonder. All accounts true!" He stated and motioned with his hands. "Long ago on a night where the stars danced in the heavens above. There was a young man out in The Desert of Forgotten Souls. He was drifter, a young man who was seeing the world at a young age." Singefrid paused to create some tension. "The young man had been traveling for some time alone." He stated and held his hand up as the audience started to drift. "But that night was not like every night. No, that night there was danger in the air. A Giant Lizard had been stalking the young man for quite sometime. The young man didn't notice because of the dry heat bringing him close to exhaustion. At least, the lizard thought." Singefrid paused once more some of people eating up his story, others rolling their eyes.

"The Lizard would strike but he was much too slow as the young man would dodge,though he was still weak and wouldn't come out unscathed." Singe smiled at the gasped faces. "Fear not! The young man was armed, and even though he was tired near exhaustion he had the determination to live!" He put his tanto away and brandished his katana. "Ducking and weaving between swipes each attack the Lizard through out was an attack that could've cost the young man's life." Singefrid was beginning to act out the part of the young man dodging against the imaginary beast. Which was easy since he was that young man.

"The Lizard would lash out against the young man, but the young man would take to skies, leaping over and on to the beast the young man would let out a ferocious cry as attack the beast piercing a vital vein." He pause once more as the audience gasped. "The Lizard would try to shake him off to no avail, and with that he would perish. The young man would live for another day." Most of the audience was clapping as Singefrid took his sword from the ground after a mock stab and placed it in his sheath. "Thank you for listening to my tale, and have a wonderful day." He bowed gracefully to them, he expected no money just smiling faces as the kids wandered up to him. "Mister that was really awesome!" One of the boys shouted out.

"Yeah! The way the traveler survived and the he fought!" Another kid chimed in. This is why I tell these stories. Singefrid thought. Spreading happiness in this world, someone has to.

The soft sandal steps of a slow pace carried a disheveled and impoverished looking monk wearing foreign clothing through the streets of a town within the Kou Empire. His journey had been easy enough when a ship was doing the travel for him across a salty body of water he'd learned was called the sea. However, despite heading west as his master had instructed him, things were only going south for the young Tenju Ichidai. The rings on his staff jingled as he supported his weight with it for every step he struggled to take. Shortly after his arrival his travelling funds mysteriously went missing. Or so he thought when in actuality they were pick pocketed from him in the middle of broad daylight. Not to mention, he'd never had to walk so much before in his life.

The feeble bodied magician had just about reached his limit. No food for the past five days and no water for the past two had left his body looking shriveled and emaciated. "Oooh..." A groan sounded from him unconsciously as he wobbled his way forward no longer sure if the town he saw around him was real or just some kind of madness brought about by extreme starvation and thirst. "Truly, this has been far from the glorious adventure I'd imagined...Master Yukirei never mentioned such hardships in her recountings..." The teen mumbled to himself quietly as he remembered how different the fond tales his master would tell him over the campfire.

Just as Tenju pondered on the past, he heard a tale of a dangerous desert night in the far away lands of Heliohapt. At first it sounded like his master, he could hear her voice and perked his head up with wide eyes. A hurry was applied to his hobbling as he got closer only to realize it was not one of his master's tale, nor was it her sultry voice. It was a man performing for a crowd. Tenju reached the outer edge of the group and listened in with all the naive excitement of a 8 year old boy. "Oooh!" He almost forgot his fatigue for a moment as the story reached a climax accompanied by a performance of mock lizard slaying. The weakened monk clapped as best he could and as the people dispersed he tried to make his way over to the stranger to ask him about his time in Heliohapt as it was one place his master hadn't traveled much.

"A great tale indeed! Pardon me but-"

The strength left Tenju as soon as he got close and a loud growl from his stomach that could make a roaring tiger lower its head in shame sounded. The magician was cut off at his words and exhaustion took him. Tenju collapsed at Singefrid's feet, twitching with dizzy eyes. Oooh...fooooood...."

It's as lively as I remember. He smiled and stretched placing his arms behind his head as they now sat inside a small shack like restaurant. Singe was treating the near dying Monk to a meal as a way to help one in need. Before him was a bowl of fried rice and to egg rolls. Looked to the stranger grabbing the bowl of fried rice and before digging in he spoke.

"You had something you wanted to say to me back there?" Singe would ask reaching for a nearby spoon he would then take a bite. The shack's fried rice was just as wonderful as he remembered it. He had a small smile on his face as he devoured a bit more of his food. Traveling did make one hungry. "Also I would like to know why a monk from Kina is in Kou, seems a bit strange to me." He stated as he began to eat his fried rice once more before picking up one of his egg rolls and eating it with no sauce.

Singefrid wasn't from Kou either, but it was probably the place he spent the most time in so far, so he knew most o their customs. He had seen royalty, but never spoken to them. Not that they probably would Singefrid, was always an odd ball and probably would set off guard instincts. Well, dressed like this, however he was smart and a dignified man when dressed appropriately.

The ungraceful sound of a man stuffing his face was all the noise Tenju made for the entirety of Singe's dialogue. It wasn't that the young man wasn't listening, but he simply had much more important priorities to take care of. An entire bowl of food and cup of tea were drained in seconds after which Tenju immediately raised his bowl asking for more. In this manner, the teen magician swiftly stacked up three empty bowls before finally sitting back with an enlarged belly letting out a satisfied sigh. "Aaaaah! I'm revived!" A contented smile covered Tenju's expression until he realized he was being rude to his benefactor and sat up straight to regain his composure.

Serene brown eyes clear as the open sky looked at Singefrid with a solid resolve as Tenju gave his appreciation. "A talented performer AND a saint. You have my thanks two-fold, sir." The monk gave a slight bow of his head before raising it and answering the man's questions. "I wanted to ask you more about Heliohapt before, your story was very exciting! I'd like to go there some day, that is part of why I'm here. My master sent me out to see the world. Firstly, I am to find a place called Magno...Magna...err...Magnostadt!" Tenju patted his open palm with a fist as the name came to him. "Master said that I should go there first to learn more about magic."

Now that Tenju had given his answers, he would get straight to the point that was most pressing in his mind. "You've saved me from the brink of death. I owe you my life." Tenju bowed once more, although more deeply this time, as he introduced himself.

Singe merely stared at the monk before him who was wolfing down all the food in his sight. Well all except Singe’s food. At least this guy has some restraint, though I normally would expect a monk to have way more restraint than this. It's understandable he was nearly dying. Singe thought and watched him call out for seconds and thirds. Woah, he packed it down alright. Singe continued to think with surprise. When the monk finall spoke and realized how rude he was being Singe chuckled at him correcting himself. “I am glad, I couldn’t leave a man simply dying in the street, it goes against my code.” Singe stated. His blue eyes remained on the monk as he continued to speak.

When the praise came the young man shook it off. “A saint I am not, just a kind soul.” He assured the monk. “And you’re welcome; I am sure a man like you would do the same.” Singe continued to listen to the monk’s story and how this man’s master had sent him on a journey through the world, then the name of that city came up. “Magnostadt…the city of Magicians. That is the one place I’ve never been, but I can tell you someone like yourself would be welcomed there.” Even when he elaborated more Singe thought for a moment. “Well if you decide to venture to Heliophat remain careful and if you go through the Desert of Forgotten Souls get a guide, otherwise you’ll probably get lost. I nearly did the second time I traveled there.” He stated and smiled.

Then the words of debt came up. “Don’t worry about it, just remember it if you ever see me in need. Repay a life debt and well we’ll be square.” Singe offered the deal to the monk who finally spoke his name. “It’s a pleasure Tenju, you can call me Singefrid, or Singe.” He smiled and offered his right hand for Tenju to shake and seal their meet. “Kou is wonderful empire in certain spots, though I came back for a few things I recently heard there’s a possible rebellion being incited. This was the place that took me in and a few guards taught me more combat skills. I was fed and clothed before they sent me on my way. Two great people.” Singe was reminiscing as he stared off into space.

There was a lot of new things that she had never ever seen before in the rest of her life and that alone already made her excited and happy at the same time. The country of Kou was truly an amazing one based from the number of the civilization and also the buildings. Living in the nomad tribe made her unable to experience being surrounded in a lot of houses made from a fine materials like in here or seeing a busy market like this, so once again, she would bring her hand together while her eyes were sparkling with excitement after doing this over and over again ever since she arrived to Kou. Not far from where she was, she could see a lot of people gathering and when she tried to see, there was a man who were sharing about something to these people around him. The redhead tilted her head and kept listening to this man's story about defeating lizard, but she didn't know all the details just because she only got to listen to it in the middle and not from the beginning. However, from the looks of it, this man seemed to know a lot of things and Altan was more than interested to hear more story from him as she believed it would be very interesting.

Right after the man finished his story, another man stepped from the crowd and suddenly fell on the ground and since she was not really close to where the fallen man was, Altan was not sure about what was happening at the moment. It happened so fast and when she looked away for a second because something else had distracted her, the storyteller and the fallen man were gone. The redhead was disappointed and looked down, still wanting to hear more stories but then she could hear a loud familiar sound not far from her. It was no other than her stomach's growl and she remembered that she had not eaten anything since morning, so it might be best to find a nearby eatery at the moment.

Not far from there, she could find a small shack like restaurant and without hesitation, she entered the place and wondered what kind of food that they were selling. But it seemed that fate had not forsaken her because she noticed the storyteller was eating together with the fallen man. However it was clear that the fallen man was...hungry? Well, he looked really starved until he swallowed all the food that the storyteller offered to him before showing his gratitude. It was still not clear to the girl about what they were talking about but she knew that it was not really her business, so she waited until the storyteller stared off into space and walked closer to both of them. She became pale at first because she didn't know what to say and she couldn't really approach a stranger without being awkward, but she really wanted to hear more stories. So after gathering up her courage, the red haired girl began to speak, "H-hello! U-uhh... umm... I am sorry to disturb your eating time... B-but..." She looked away with a blushed cheeks and trembling lips but managed to speak some more words, "I-I want to hear more stories!" She realized that it might be too loud even though it was not, then ended up muttering something that would be still audible,"If that's...o-okay..." and that was it, she literally made herself looked weird in front of the strangers. She would jump into a hole right away if there was one near her...

The man took Tenju's words about as humbly as one could, but the attempts to deflect a compliment were politely pressed by the monk. "Kindness is the key quality of a saint, is it not?" The comment was as far as Tenju's insistence on the matter would go however. He was content to let the subject go as the conversation moved on fluidly with Singe gave some brief exposition on what he knew of Magnostadt and Heliohapt alike. Tenju would nod in understanding as he crossed his arms and pondered on how one could get lost in a desert. Wasn't it all just a big open beach of sand with no water? The young man's ignorance of the world would have shown in his thoughts had he said them aloud, but in this case they were kept to himself.

Hearing Singefrid insist that there was no debt to be paid between them was a bit unsettling for the monk. From his point of view, his very life had been saved by the kindness of this benefactor in a foreign land where no one else had reached out to help. "That won't do! Allow me to help you in some way. My soul would not be at peace were I to continue my journey without returning the favor...Think on it. I'm inexperienced in magic, but what I do know could be of use to you." Hopefully Singefrid would be willing to accept Tenju's offer, but before a reply could be given, a young girl approached timidly and asked for an encore to Singefrid's earlier performance. To this, Tenju smiled, his mind lured off topic by the enticing prospect of another traveller's tale. "Hahaha, I would like to hear another as well."

In hopes that it would encourage Singefrid to oblige them, Tenju offered the girl a seat next to him at the table. "Come sit with us, miss. I'm sure this man has many stories to spare."

Singefrid merely smiled and rubbed the back of his head to the compliment. There’s something I don’t get called often. Normally it’s a King among men, the thing I want to be called. He thought while he smiled still. “Heliophat’s desert is vast and it’s easy to lose yourself, those who don’t know where to go will get lost and die, it’s like the desert has some sort of magical effect. They say you need someone from Heliophat to show you the way. Luckily sometimes there are convoys for a price.” He stated with as he leaned back in his seat.

“Listen I understand that you want to pay your debt back, what I am saying is right now is that I have nothing that needs to be done, and I can’t think of anything. I’d rather pocket this for later use. I don’t forget those who owe me a debt, and those I owe debts either. That is why I am here in the first place." He stated moving back to his zoned out stare. Then she approached and he was well in a way captivated. “A Fanalis.” He spoke in a near murmur. Singe had seen a couple before, but this one was extravagant to his eyes. He looked at her and as she spoke her desire he smiled and stood from his chair. With no hesitation he took one of her hand bowed and gave it a gentle kiss. “Anything for you mi’lady.” He laid on the charm pretty thick as he escorted her to a chair and pulled it out so she could take a seat, if she moved willingly of course. He looked to Tenju and smiled.

“This story is about me like the last one was, rather it’s a about an old caravan that you to roam these lands. The Galileo Troupe as they were called. They were performers much like myself and nomads.” Singe started his story and leaned in a bit whilst sitting in his chair. “This caravan was famous for telling stories far and wide with the use of dancers, actors, acrobats, fighters and magicians. They were people from all sorts of different backgrounds grouped together, and the most spectacular thing about them? They never told the same story twice.” Singe spoke and paused to add that drama and mystery again.

He smiled and leaned back once more. “However while they never performed the same story twice, there is a story of the troupe’s that is talked about by those who saw it more so than any other performance to this day. For it was on this day they told a story of victory and peace.” Singe through it all was describing his family in such a high praise. “Two particular people who were famous amongst the Troupe were a Gypsy, or rather a dancer, and acrobat with exceptional sword fighting skills. The two of them were in love, and were to be wed soon. They had one final performance as mere lovers before being bound eternally. Though it wasn’t completely their last performance, just their last performance before the wedding.” Singe paused smiling remembering how his father described the story.

“The story the troupe told that day, the day before the wedding, was a story of two families at war. Two families that nearly brought an entire city down with them, and two young souls in love watching from the sidelines. The year was long ago, before any of them were born.” Singe paused and sighed. “The two families names have long since been forgotten and the city no longer exists. However their actions are remember. The two souls were amongst the two families while they watched a war engulf a city they merely tried to struggle to survive and kept their secret from them. The city at the time had no royal family, and in such there was strife and chaos through the streets, innocents caught in a civil war between two families.” Singe sighed but then smiled. “However the lovers were the saving grace of it all. For you see the families only fought due to the advisors for each family. They were brothers who masqueraded and manipulated the heads of the families into fighting each other. Their actions caused the deaths of many. One day when the lovers were out in secret they found the brothers and over heard them speaking of their plans.” Singefrid smiled as he got to his favorite part of the story.

“However rather than ousting them right then and there the two lovers waited and bide their times, for they knew the proper moment would show itself, and one day it did. On a day with the cities nobles all meeting to try and abolish this war the two lovers went to the courts and stormed in. Each one with an advisor in tow, throwing them to the ground the young man of lovers would point his sword to his father with both disgust in and anger in his eyes. His foot on the advisor for his family, his words would ring out clearly to the court. ‘Father, esteemed members of the court! These two men are the advisors for our families and they’ve been lying to our fathers this whole time, we bring them to you as they’re the scoundrels who have attempted to have our families drown in the blood and rake this city through it with them.’ The young woman stepped forward a crossbow aimed at her father. ‘Yet our fathers not only knew of this they used this as a way to try and control the city damning their families along with the city.’ Her voice was soothing but angry. The courts were in a murmur when the young man spoke once more silencing them as he did. ‘I propose our father’s be put on trial that our advisors also receive a trial and that me and my love be left to govern the mess between our two families.’ The young man’s words touched the republic , they saw more than a leader in him. They saw a king. It was not long after that meeting that the two were wed. And even slightly after that the republic dissolved and turned into a monarch with them as King and Queen. This story is true, and this is only the second time it’s been told by the Galileo Troupe. I’m sorry I couldn’t actually perform it, but it requires a larger cast.” He smirked and chuckled.

Altan could only stare with an empty stare when the storyteller took on of her hand and planted a kiss there, feeling the shiver on her spine when he did that but decided to just brush it off as he was willing to tell her another story. She was not shocked by the kiss but it was more like thinking about why this man would do that, strangers were really weird and couldn’t be fully trusted. They were unpredictable and might do something beyond your expectation. Altan would nod to herself while mentally noting that she really need to keep her guard up towards any strangers to prevent something like that to be happened again. However it was a story time, so the redhead would give her focus and stare at the storyteller while listening to what he had to tell. “Ohhh.” The young Fanalis would show her excitement when the man said the never told the same story twice before shutting herself up and continued to listen.

“A lover who fought for their love and become a king and a queen…” The Fanalis murmured after the man finished his story before smiling at him and thanked him. Even though he was a stranger, she was grateful to hear about his story as it did give her new insight and perhaps she could bring the story home so she could share it to the children. “Thank you very much for granting my wish. It is a very good story, I enjoyed every words of it. If you don’t—“

“There you are, you silly redhead! I’ve been looking for you!” The Fanalis surprised and quickly looked back to see that her companion was looking for her. So she would quickly stand up and bowed towards the two men before saying another thank you and bidding her a farewell. But when she wanted to turn her back, Altan looked like as if she remembered something and began to slip her hand into her bag only to take out two stems of red colored flower. She would put one in front of the story teller and another one for the other man before smiling brightly at them, “This flower is Gerberra, it means cheerfulness. Thank you for letting me have a good time with your story and kindness.” Altan would then quickly bow to them and ran to her companion quickly, knowing it was kind of rude of her to just leave them like that but she hoped that the flower could pay for that.

[EXIT]

OOC: Thank you, I had a good time ^^

Tenju was admittedly less interested in this story, his eyes growing heavy and his mouth opening to yawn twice throughout the whole tale. It wasn't that Sieg's execution or performance were lacking in quality, but something about this story failed to spark the same wonder in Tenju's imagination regarding the outside world. Ultimately it wasn't a tale about a far away wondrous place, but rather of people who happened to live there. In this way, it was no different from the fairy tales children get told at night to go to bed. Nevertheless, he clapped politely once the adventurer had finished telling his story. "Is that story an example of "star crossed lovers" perhaps?" Tenju asked with a smile genuinely unsure about the right way to use the phrase.

Unexpectedly, the fired headed guest that had been joining them was called away just as Tenju was about to compliment Seigfrid's telling of the story. But the girl didn't leave before imparting a small gift for each of the men at the table. Tenju looked down at the flower quizzically, but accepted it with a smile. "I didn't do anything to earn such a lovely flower. But thank you!" He then gave her a slight bow of his head and turned his attention back to Siegfrid once she left.

"As you told your story, I was thinking..." Tenju said with a small grin as he eyed the wall behind Seigfrid. "I might be able to repay my debt to you soon after all..." Tenju stood up from their table and approached the back wall where a few pieces of paper were posted up detailing various jobs. The magician plucked one from the wall and brought it back to the table slamming the posting down in front of Seigfrid with confidence. The monk would then move his hand allowing the adventurer to read what was on it. The posting detailed a wanted notice for a giant beast known to be attacking traders in the region. "After fronting the bill for my stomach you must be short on coin, right? Let's make some money together!"