Liadi Sunset {Eli}

[Ayvajin]

The sun was slowly starting to set in Liadi. The day had been a long and hot one. Most of the locals had been going about their work in a lazy matter. Even the waves that crashed upon the beachside and the port had seemed a bit slow and languid. The day had been just one of those days to go out into the water for a relaxing swim.

Now that the day was coming to an end, the people seemed to stir up a bit more as the cool air of night slowly started to drift over the island. However, night had not fallen completely over Liadi, and Ayvajin was taking advantage of this with a quiet eagerness. The necromancer had been spending her time out of the sun during the day, and now she came out from where she had been sitting in the inn to the beachside.

Ayvajin loved the beach, and she found it a pity that she had not been to Liadi in some time. It had been a couple of years since her last visit, and she wished she would not have waited so long. The beach was gorgeous, especially at dusk when the sun was just starting to set. The sand gleamed as if it was dusted with gold. Even the water along the beach looked to be made out of golden liquid fire. The necromancer loved how bewitching the sunset was when looked upon on one of the beaches of Liadi.

The necromancer walked upon the sand barefooted. She was dressed rather simply and comfortably today. The heat never bothered her, but Ayvajin felt as though it was appropriate to dress in a way that would make sure seem comfortable to and fit in better with the people of Liadi. She wore a form fitting white shirt with sleeves that just covered her shoulders. She was also wearing a white skirt that fell down to her knees. Upon her neck, on her wrists, and in her ears were blue gemmed jewelry.

Ayvajin pushed her long, loose black hair to the back of her to keep it out of her face and eyes. The necromancer was only looking to enjoy the sunset, alone or not. The sunsets over Liadi always seemed to amaze her no matter how many times she saw it occur.

[james]

Another glorious day in Lidia was slowly drawing itself to a close. But of course there would be one last encore from Mother Nature as she dazzled the residents with a breath taking sunset. One of the greatest things about Lidia was that it was situated on the coast making the pier a renowned location for watching such a sunset. However, one resident in particular never opted to stand on the pier due to a heart wrenching past and instead dragged himself over to the golden sands of the beach to view the terrific sunset.

The resident in question is none other than the six foot two native of Lidia, Eli Shaw. The young man, in his slightly worn and dirty clothing, crouches on the edge of an embankment as he withdraws his bow from the battered holder on his back. He looks over the beach, his brown eyes narrow as his eyes patrol the rich sand looking for any sort of nemesis that may be roaming around, looking for its next unsuspecting victim. Perhaps a little over cautious of Eli but, with rumours of troubles spreading like wild fire day in, day out he’d rather be safe now rather than sorry later. Eli eases the grip on his hand crafted, maple bow as he flings it on his back, flinging an arrow back into his quiver, it was very rarely that he was found without his trusted weapon these days.

Upon leaping down the small embankment, letting him onto the tiny grains of sand, Eli does spot something or rather, someone that he hadn’t managed to spot while briefly scouting the area. The always wary Eli slowly approaches what seemed to be a woman, ever so carefully as an unknown figure could easily be foe as much as friend in this day of age where people live in fear. His hand carefully reaches for his bow, knowing he could quickly unleash a piercing arrow from his trusted weapon in a heartbeat. Eli cautiously calls out “Who are you?” waiting for a response Eli halts in his tracks. He swiftly glances back at his footmarks in the sand to ensure this was not some ambush but he eases the grip on his bow as the scene seemed all to tranquil to be of any threat to him.

[Ayvajin]

A moment passed before Ayvajin realized she had been spoken to. Lost was the necromancer in her thoughts. This was nothing new; she always seemed distracted by just something in her mind.

Ayvajin’s eyes flickered away from the beauty of the sunset as she turned around to face who had spoken to her. The necromancer was not use to these random distractions from her thoughts. She was not use to people calling out to her, especially when she was quite certain that she was the only person upon this beach. She was also not use to people making sure she was not a threat.

The necromancer eyes locked onto the stranger who had asked her who she was; her calm demeanor never changing as she turned to him. She sent him a slow smile to allow him to know she meant him no threat. Ayvajin was not quite use to the changing times. She had only been around for a short while before the wars had ended, and the violence from before the peace was a very faded memory. She still was quite relaxed as she traveled the world, despite the struggles starting to rise.

“Relax yourself, stranger,” Ayvajin said gently. “I am Ayvajin, and I mean you no harm. I only mean to watch the sunset upon the beach.

[james]

Although simply being told that things are ok normally wouldn’t convince Eli that things truly were ok. However, this seemed to be different, that sharp small smile that she slid in his direction certainly seemed trustworthy and Eli already had his positive suspicions. The young man ruffled his short, ragged black hair quickly as he stands up straight once more as he walks towards Ayvajin. “My name is Eli; Eli Shaw it’s nice to meet you,” he speaks calmly, allowing himself to be absorbed in the atmosphere created by the stunning sunset.

Eli allows himself to drift from the moment he found himself caught up in, his eyes rolling up towards the sunset as his mind rolls back into perfect tranquillity. Only in Liadi could you experience a moment like this, a sunset like this, a feeling like this. The native Liadian takes a deep breath, still admiring the sunset as his hair feels the effects of the cool breeze that every once in a while trickled across the sand. He turns his head towards Ayvajin once again, “So where are you from? I don’t believe I’ve ever seen you around the port before.” Eli questioned, a little curious as to why anyone would opt to travel in such “dark times” and if she hadn’t travelled to be here where was she from?

[Ayvajin]

The necromancer pushed her hair out of her face and gave another, playful smile. “I feel as though I should be asking who you are, young one,” she said softly, her eyes gleaming with a mischievous glow.

Ayvajin had been around the world and in places like Liadi she had a habit of remembering faces. The necromancer had even lived in the port town for several years at one point and had become acquainted with the residents of Liadi at the time. Eli’s face was a new face to her.

Eli’s question was rather a hard one for Ayvajin to answer. She had no real home anymore. She was a wander. The necromancer never stayed too long in one place. She was constantly on the move, staying a few days at a time in places.

“I originally come from Secstial,” the necromancer answered the human’s question. “I travel around Yviex, though, so I have no real home.”

[james]

Eli couldn’t help grin as Ayvajin questioned him as he spoke almost immediately after she had finished introducing herself, “young one?” he chuckled, “I’m not exactly a boy anymore; I’ve had a lot of growing up to do over the past few years I’ll have you know, probably more growing up than I would of liked in all honesty.” He takes a deep breath, turning himself away slightly as memories of those hideous skies block his mind from revelling in the glory of this epic sunset. The memories of his parents watery disappearance still haunted the poor Eli Shaw, it was just something he couldn’t release from the back of his mind and despite trying his best he knew when those thoughts were around just waiting for a moment to creep and drop down on him, just like now.

He also nods his head, breaking out of his living nightmare, acknowledging the last thing this woman had commented on, the fact she really had nowhere to call her home. Smiling gently he speaks out to Ayvajin, “So where do you sleep when you’re travelling? I know it’s summer but it’s really not that warm at night.” Turning back to the breath taking sunset Eli relaxes ever so slowly waiting for a response from Ayvajin it was nice to have someone to enjoy this marvel with for once.

[Ayvajin]

Ayvajin rolled her neck slightly before rotating her shoulders slightly. “We should sit down,” she said to Eli. In a quick movement, the necromancer sat down upon the sand, gracefully crossing her legs despite the skirt she was wearing. Ayvajin pulled her hair out in front of her, letting her fingers stream through the locks. She had a habit of messing with her hair in just some way.

“I stay in the inns or outside,” she answered Eli’s question as her eyes gazed over at the sunset. “Temperature does not bother me at all. I am quite immune to the cold and to the heat. I spent my childhood in the desert, and I spent several years living in the Forsaken Lands. I have lived in every extreme that this world has to offer.”

The necromancer turned her attention back to the human. She sent him a smile. “You are considered young to me because I have no doubt of what you are and what your age is. It shows on your face.”

[james]

Now Ayvajin had really caught the attention of Eli Shaw. His concentration had slowly faded from the marvel around him to this rather unusual woman just like, ironically enough; the Sun fades from the sky at night. He sits besides her as she sits; dusting the sand from his ragged clothing that seemed to have a habit of jumping on him. He laughs gently, speaking out mid-laugh, “I’m just a man, miss. But I do regret to inform you that you’ll only know what a man is when you see the strength of his heart because a man can be all kinds of things.”

A silence begins to arise ever so slowly with Eli still looking at Ayvajin, not quite sure what to make of her. It was quite obvious to him after what she had said that she was no ordinary woman, it would be impossible for her to live the way she does while remaining completely ‘normal’. The silence is sharply broken by Eli as he speaks kindly to this stranger on the beach, “If you have nowhere to stay tonight then there is space in my house if you would like it. I know you can quite clearly sleep where you please but, it can’t be all that comfortable can it?” Eli smiles softly although one question did spring to his mind before he could give Ayvajin a chance to answer his first question, “So what exactly are you? It’s clear to me that you’re not as black and white as you may appear to be so do tell…”

[Ayvajin]

The necromancer thought for a moment about Eli’s last statement. She was used to being questioned about what she was, and it was never a problem for her to tell someone that she was capable of raising the dead.

A smile crossed over Ayvajin’s lips. “Let me show you,” she said to the human.

The necromancer repositioned herself, sitting directly in front of Eli and facing him. Ayvajin held her right hand over the sand that was between her and Eli. She gave a quick flick of her wrist, her eyes focusing on her hand’s movements. She mumbled something softly beneath her breath. The sand started to move a bit and unsettle as something started to emerge from beneath it. After a few moments, the skeleton of a fish head appeared and after it the rest of the fish skeleton. When it was all out, the fish skeleton hovered above the ground by an inch.

“I can raise the dead,” she told him.

[james]

Eli was shocked to say the least. A real necromancer, someone who can truly raise the dead. When he first saw the fish skull he didn’t know whether to rum away or to stay put after all this wasn’t a thing that someone showed him everyday. However, he trusts the smile on the face of Ayvajin. He slowly switches onto his knees as he shuffles towards the floating fish as he touches the skeleton ever so gently almost like it was an ancient artefact, not knowing how fragile it may be. It certainly was incredible.

Moving back off of his knees Eli laughs, looking up at Ayvajin he returns her soft smile with a sweet smile of his own. He ruffles his own hair gently as he mumbles out loud, “Wow really beats my speciality…” Still a little stunned by it all Eli has completely lost track of the sunset, it could be over by now and he wouldn’t have known any better. He opts not to speak another word he just admired her work of art perhaps waiting for her to say something.

[Ayvajin]

Ayvajin let out a soft laugh, looking to Eli. The fish skeleton floated over to the human as if it was swimming through water. “Do not be afraid of it,” she said. “This one is quite harmless, especially with me controlling it.”

The necromancer loved surprising people with her magic. She loved how surprised Eli was and she could not help but to smile. “You can even take him home with you if you would like, but I will soon release the skeleton from my spell. It is not good to use and abuse skeletons. They deserve rest, but this does not mean they cannot find rest in a nice place in your home.”

[james]

Reaching his knees once again Eli keeps his eyes switching from the resurrected skeleton fish to Ayvajin. Stretching an arm out extremely carefully Eli takes the small skeleton figure in his hand. Taking a long, deep breath Eli shakes his head once again; he may have had her magical ways confirmed not only by his ears but by his eyes as well but it still seemed so untrue. He takes a glance at the sunset once again and although it was beautiful beyond belief it was no longer the focal point of his attention.

“So have you decided where you’re going to stay tonight that our sunset seems to be fading ever so slowly? Like I said you can feel free to make yourself at home back in my home especially after you kindly give me this fish. Believe it or not no one has ever given me a skeleton fish before…” Not being able to keep a straight face as he talks especially when he tries to treat this necromancy as an ordinary occurrence, Eli lets out another laugh, surely this necromancer was used to weird reactions to her powers.

[Ayvajin]

Ayvajin thought for a moment, letting her eyes drift out to the darkening water. She had planned on just sleeping in the inn on the mats they had laid out for travelers. The necromancer did not mind the discomfort that the mats brought; she was quite use to sleeping in uncomfortable places during her travels. Eli’s offer was rather nice, though.

“I would not want to be a bother to you,” the necromancer told the human. She brought her hand back into her laps, watching as the fish collapse into Eli’s hand. “If you insist on me staying with you, I could not turn you down and be rude. I just do not want you to feel like you must offer me a room when I can easily stay in the inn tonight.”

[james]

Eli nodded brightly insisting that Ayvajin stayed with him for the night if not for her entire visit to Liadi. Still holding the skeleton of the fish in hand, rolling his fingers over the bones, this was still so strange to him but, at the same time it had kind of hit home that this was simply a unique ability that the necromancer had. Although, truth be told it wasn’t half as alarming to have it in his hand compared to watching it float above the golden sand.

Scratching the back of his, taking a deep breath as the night comes creeping around them slowly he speaks in response to Ayvajin, “I do insist that you spend the night; I’ve stayed in the local inn a few times, don’t ask, and they’re really not all that comfortable.” He smiles once again waiting for what was bound to be an acceptance.

[Ayvajin]

Ayvajin thought for another minute before giving a slight shrug and a smile. Staying with Eli would be a harmless thing, and at most she would only be staying with him for a couple of days. The gesture was a kind one, but the necromancer would have to put up some guard. A person still could not be careful even when sincerity felt true.

“I could not refuse your offer,” she told Eli with a wider smile. “I will need to go back to the inn, though, and collect my belongings. If you would not mind escorting me.”

[james]

Eli gets to his feet slowly, looking down at the necromancer with a soft, sweet smile upon his face. He extends his hand down towards Ayvajin offering to help her back to her feet, “It’ll be my pleasure to escort you to the inn miss.” His smile widens a little his arm still extended towards Ayvajin as his mind rolls around a little the sunset more or less over and with it the interest in the sky. It was unusual for Eli to communicate like this with people, of course around town he had his friends who he would communicate with often, frequently and sometimes uniquely but, when it came to strangers Eli found it better to steer clear of strangers as they could be anyone and anything as the necromancer had proved herself. However, there was something about her that Eli felt that little bit drawn too, something that made him want to talk to her and also that made him want her to stick around.

[Ayvajin]

The necromancer stood up with the help given by Eli. She smiled and gave a slight nod. “Then, thank you,” she said to him as she dusted off her clothes, trying to get off some of the sand. “The inn should just be a short walk from here. It did not take me too long to reach this area from the inn.”

Ayvajin had no doubt that Eli already knew this information. He seemed quite acquainted with Liadi, and he should be. He was a local as it was.

“But the mats are not that bad,” she told him as she started forward in the direction of the inn. “Of course, I am use to being uncomfortable whenever I sleep somewhere on the road. I have gotten use to hard surfaces.”

[james]

The native of Liadi and the travelling necromancer begin to walk together towards the inn, it wasn’t that far away and to be honest Liadi wasn’t the biggest town in the world. Eli enjoys walking along the beach with someone and even though it was no longer a picturesque sunset, the sky still added something special to the atmosphere as the sky still had that purple tint to it before surely night completely fell.

Eli stops at the door of the inn, as he turns to Ayvajin knowing that she knew exactly where she was going, she’d been here earlier after all. The young man stands to one side and even pushes the door open for her so she could collect her things with ease.

[Ayvajin]

Ayvajin gave a smile to Eli. “Thank you,” she said as she stepped inside. She paused for a moment, turning to the human. “I will be back in a few moments.” She sent him another smile before going off to get her things.

The necromancer never took too much with her when she traveled. She had brought her sword and a bag holding her clothes and a few other possessions to Liadi. She never needed anything extra, so she traveled light.

Ayvajin put her sword upon her back and slipped her bag over her shoulder. She came back out of the inn and looked to Eli. “Alright, I am ready to go,” she said, sending yet another smile his way.

[james]

Eli continues to exchange smiles with Ayvajin, she seemed to be a very positive person and extremely happy although there was no suggestion she would have something to unsettle her. Eli begins to walk with her once again as he guides her towards his pleasant yet rather modest home, the one he inherited from his parents upon their disappearance.

“Now I’ll be honest with you, this isn’t a luxury home but, I’m pretty sure the guest mattress will be far more comfortable than the stiff one’s in the inn, well I actually know that, that’s the case as I’ve slept on both.” Smiling once again, Eli unlocks and then leans back against the door to slide it open for Ayvajin, giving her a hassle free entrance to enter with her bags. “Try and make yourself at home.” Eli speaks softly, laughing ever so slightly, this must have been better for her than the inn right?