RP:At Each Other's Hearts Again
Part of the The God of Undeath Arc
Summary: After the disastrous meeting to discuss what was found in the stolen books, Kanna and The Worm That Walks take a walk to discuss odds and ends about the delicate group they have found themselves in. The being that everyone knows as Worms reveals their real name, and Kanna reveals hers.
Coastal Breeze
The moment you break away from the walls hiding you from the ocean's beauty, you are hit with the soft, salty, and relaxing breeze of the coast. For miles and miles off in the distance all you can see is blue, from the sky down to the water. A window has been placed on the wall off to your west with an incredible view of the ocean. Going either east or south, you'll find yourself along the beach.
Kanna walks in silence in front of the entity that calls itself The Worm that Walks as they make their way down to the beach. There's a distinct sound of things being thrown, and people shouting what they should have said echoing in the dead of night. Kanna comes to a stop in front of a set of dunes, the natural walls creating a barrier to the winds to stave off a chill. "Worms." She starts. "You don't have to speak if you don't want to, and if you think this is unnecessary, then I won't hold it against you if you say so... But I do need to apologize." Kanna turns to face him, her cornflower eyes turned a deep, sad cobalt by the darkness that the streetlights above cannot reach. "Valrae was right, I called you out because I feel pity towards you. Not because of your undead state, but because we both started out as their enemy in this journey, and it feels like I was forgiven faster even though I caused more damage to them personally than I think you did. I feel like because I at least looked human while I was undead, they were able to sympathize with me easier, but you were not afforded that luxury even though I don't think it's within your control, and it's quite unfair." Looking away, Kanna extends a hand towards the ocean, releasing a cantrip that illuminates the area in soft faerie lights so that they are not in complete darkness. "So I just wanted to tell you that I understand."
The Worm That Walks stops when Kanna addresses them, turning their cold-iron face towards the bardess as she articulates her feelings. The scholar doesn’t respond right away, instead turning to look at the twin moons that hang above them. “Thank you. I can’t really blame your friend for lashing out at me the way she did however… I shouldn't have said what I did. The helplessness of this situation is heavy upon her shoulders, I wouldn’t want to add to it. Nothing she can say will hurt worse than what the God of Undeath will do to all of us should we fail. I can take it so long as it means I get to help make up for my failures in life. There was much left unfinished and your allies have offered me a second chance… I won’t act ungrateful.”
Kanna nods softly in agreement, kneeling down to pick up a curved seashell still intact. As she looks it over, she asks, “That thing chooses people at a whim, against their will, because it cannot fulfill the promises to anyone mad enough to go willingly. Part of me can’t help but wonder if they have room to fight over small things like a meeting location because the scale of destruction it threatens is just too much for them to comprehend because they have not met it face to face. I know that might sound mean if I said that to anyone else. Tell me, did it rob you of your memories as well?”
Worms folds their hands behind their back as they listen, a tilt of their head back in Kanna’s direction. “Yes it did… At first the only thing I recalled were esoteric things. Arcane spells and sigils… I think when Quintessa created me she was only thinking about utility. As a necromancer’s monster… When I was in the library I encountered someone who restored a vast majority of my memories, I think by chance… though massive gaps still exist. I don’t think my mind will be whole until I am free from this curse.” The Worm That Walks turns completely to face Kanna. “You were turned undead too? And you were able to recover from it… That’s astounding.”
Kanna lifts her head to look at the cold-iron mask, taking a moment to admire how the lights of the twin moons turn one half a soft green and the other a deep red. “Yes, a good portion of my memories were restored when I remembered a life debt to a man who saved my life once. Because so much time had passed, I was not able to return the favor when he disappeared, and I fully expect that he has passed away now. Even now, my memories did not return fully.” Kanna turns the shell over in her hand, exposing the hole of the spiral shell to the moonlight. Ten crystalline legs peek out as a jeweled hermit crab wakes to observe who has disturbed it. “But just like these things take over an empty shell as it grows and shrinks, I’ll go where I fit most. But I don’t want to leave a shell behind with no memories that I was ever there. I only recovered from being forced into undeath because I was alive when converted, and because Alithyk Caluss stripped the curse from me after openly betraying it at a pivotal point. I don’t understand the mechanics of it myself, but it is what it is.” The hermit crab swivels its eyes to look at Worms, and Kanna holds out the creature for them to take if they’d like. Otherwise, it is returned to the sand.
The Worm That Walks considers Kanna’s predicament. Now that their memories were restored they could recall certain details of Alithyk’s evil magic. “Perhaps the curse had not yet fully taken hold… You never lost your soul. It was trapped within your cursed form screaming to get out…” Something about that statement makes Worms feel uncomfortable, and they turn away. “When I am free from this I only wish for rest. You think I’ll have earned it?” A glint of metal gleams in the moonlight as they look back over their shoulder. “That girl… Quintessa. She’s your friend, isn’t she?” The question comes out almost like an accusation but it wasn’t meant to sound like one.
Kanna looks away so that the creature does not see the flicker of doubt cross her face. She did not know who this being was in life, and could not say whether he would ascend to Praemia or be cursed to be born again until his debts were repaid. “If you continue on this quest to save those you do not know from a fate worse than death, then… yes, I think you’ll--” Her answer is cut off as he makes the accusatory remark. Turning to face him again, she nods. “Quintessa, I do not know what she is thinking, but I’d like to believe that she is not working against us because she enjoys doing so or was promised some ridiculous power in exchange. I’m sorry she brought you into this situation, but I wonder if part of her knew you might defect to help in her stead.” Kanna gives a soft laugh as she kneels to help the hermit crab overcome a small sand dune. “But, that theory is pretty outlandish, isn’t it? Hey. While you’re still here, I think you should write down what you can remember. Someone out there might be looking for you, and once you find rest, it will provide some closure for them to have it.” She sounds like she’s speaking from experience.
The Worm That Walks shakes their head, their form visibly deflating when the bardess responds. “I want to believe that strange woman’s heart is in the right place… otherwise why did she give me my free will? She couldn’t have done that by accident, right?” They turn to face Kanna, a gloved hand moving up to stroke the chin of their mask. “Alright, I might as well. It will give me something to do between translating those ancient texts. Perhaps it will be useful to someone one day to write a memoir of sorts.”
Kanna nods, and stands, appearing to be satisfied with the fact that he did not take Valrae’s words to heart. “You know, I’ve always liked the scholarly type.” Smiling up at him, she wonders aloud in the flirtatious tone she’s used to try to lighten the mood when with the others. “I wonder if we would have been friends if our fates hadn’t crossed like this.” Suddenly, she’s reminded of her meeting with another being that longed for a release from undeath. Her smile fades into a sad, genuine one, and she averts her eyes. “I hope your redeath is peaceful.” She offers, making a motion with one hand to extinguish the faerie lights around them.
The Worm That Walks cannot stifle the ethereal laughter that rings out in response to her flirtatious tone. “Have you? I’m somewhat surprised; You strike me as someone who craves excitement.” They nod at the assertion that they would be friends. “I don’t see why not… My Family taught peace and unity to each generation of students- I’m sure we all would have welcomed you if you stumbled upon us back then.” With the faerie lights extinguished Worms gives one last glance at the sky before gazing back at Kanna. “I have a feeling they are waiting for me on the other side… When everything is said and done… Oh, and my name is Madison, by the way. How can we be friends if we don’t know each other’s names?”
Kanna is taken aback at the playful tone that matches hers, her eyes widening and her mouth falling to make a perfect little 'o'. Snapping her jaw closed at the introduction, she bows her head in greeting. Thinking of the way her mother's name had been written in the lost book, Kanna says, "It's very nice to meet you, Madison. I'm Kanna of the Ikari Isles. I look forward to working with you." Looking up as the clouds start to roll in, the necrobardess silently laments, wondering if her new friends will ever get the chance to clear their hearts and look at the constellations with her someday.