09
Orias

It had only been an hour since Vinnie had gone down to the bluff, and still Orias ruminated on their conversation. He felt like an absolute fool for suggesting that Vinnie should go look at a rock— the young man must have thought Orias was looking for an excuse to get rid of him. And maybe Orias had tried to get rid of him, because he certainly didn’t know how to navigate a conversation.

He fiddled with his empty teacup. He had meant to cheer Vinnie up, but a boulder with a mural on it was perhaps something only a local would be interested in. It was a spot teenagers frequented just to be away from the adults in their life. Briar had been a part of those groups when she first arrived in Maramagia. Vinnie, however, appeared to be much older than the demographic that frequented it. Had I been too demeaning when I suggested it? He must have thought Orias had treated him like a child.

He hadn’t registered the sound of the front door opening and the following foot falls coming down the hall.

“I’m back,” came Briar’s voice. There were two soft thuds before the footsteps returned and came down the stairs. “Got some food for tonight, and I also ran into some folks asking how you’ve been—” When she got downstairs, she saw Orias at the table with his head in his hands. “What’s the matter with you?”

“I’m an idiot,” Orias said, not looking up.

“Uh huh… and why do you think that?”

“I told Vinnie to go look at a rock.”

“A rock?”

“The one with the mural on it.”

He heard Briar snicker. “That’s what’s got you so worked up?” When Orias looked up, she hid her mouth. “I’m not laughing.”

“I was trying to make him feel better, but I worry it didn’t come off that way,” Orias said.

“I doubt it was that bad.” She set a paper bag of groceries on the counter. “If you’re so worried about it, why don’t you go after him?”

“I don’t think he’d appreciate me intruding.”

“And how would you know?” Briar asked.

He didn’t, but that wouldn’t stop him from assuming.

What he did know, however, was that Briar wouldn’t stop pestering him until he acted, so with a sigh, he got up from his seat.

~***~

It was quiet along the bluff as it always was. The afternoon sun glittered across the waters, the light revealing the faint sparks of red he had long become acquainted with. Now that he was outside, Orias felt a little more relaxed. His thoughts often spiraled out of control over the littlest of things. He’d done his best to work on it over the years, but lately it seemed that he’d gone backwards. Such is the road to recovery, I suppose... He’d seen similar patterns of behavior with patients in the past. It still embarrassed him nonetheless.

Walking along the shoreline, he noticed sets of footprints in the sand. They were somewhat faded by the rising tide washing over them, but he was still able to tell what direction they were going. Even if it was a silly suggestion, he did hope Vinnie found something of interest coming here. The young man had been through much— the least he could do was try to be a good host while he was here. Soon enough, the painted boulder came into view, its mural thoroughly bleached by the sun. He did not, however, see his guest among the scenery.

“Vinnie?” Orias called out, to no response. Did he walk further down the shore? He went around the boulder to see where he had gone, and saw instead two statues along the cliffside. The shape of them looked familiar, but he didn’t remember there being any sort of man-made structures this far out of town. The oddness of it though surely would have spiked Vinnie’s interest. He’d likely be able to find the young man there.

As he approached, two more statues came into view, and he realized that they were statues of the Patron Deities. They were weathered, but not in a way characteristic to sea erosion. Rather they had been chipped away deliberately by whoever had placed them there. When he reached the other side, he could see clearly that the statues were only a smaller display to an entirely foreign yet familiar structure.

Hidden within the cliffside was an identical copy of the domain found outside of Janahad. Statues of the Administrator framed each side of the entrance, their faces solemn and hair swooping down to their feet like water, and above the entrance was a circular stained-glass window depicting an eerie rendering of what looked like his home, the little pink house sitting high above the shimmery water.

Not once during his time here had a deity ever made their home in Maramagia, and very few deities even resided in the Trigala. The strait was supposed to be safe—so why here? Why now?

You need to leave, his fear spoke. I can’t. Not yet. Not while he was still looking for Vinnie.

He was not here alone. Near the entrance was someone dressed plainly save for the short orange cape that draped over their shoulder. They were pacing around, examining every detail of the facade until they noticed Orias was watching them.

“Do you need something?” the person yelled from across the courtyard. Orias opened his mouth to speak, but the adrenaline clogging his senses kept him from doing such. “Are you a local?”

“Y-Yes,” Orias managed to squeak out. That seemed to pique the person’s interest as they began to walk towards him.

“Oh, perfect! Perhaps you can help me.”

Face to face with the person, Orias noted that while the man was well dressed, there were small rips and tears in his clothing. His hair and ears were a fluffy light blond, contrasting the sharp edges of his face and the curved, orange horns that adorned his head.

“I’ve been looking into this domain here, and I’m curious to know if the locals hold any folklore surrounding it,” the man said. He looked at Orias curiously. “Your face… I know you.”

“Pardon?” Orias knew very few people, and this man was certainly not one of them.

The man began to circle him, looking Orias up and down like he was some scientific specimen before then getting close and grabbing his arm. He felt a prick against his skin and responded by pushing the man away. When Orias examined where he’d been pricked, he saw a black spot fading like it had never been there to begin with.

“How interesting,” the man spoke as he examined something in his hand. He then looked up at him, eyes cold and indifferent. “It really is you, Orias.”

Fear spoke with him again. Get away from him. But he remained paralyzed by the stranger’s analytical glare.

“Who… who are you?”

The man then flashed a toothy grin. “Oh, come now. You haven’t forgotten about me, have you?” The man feigned offense, but he then looked at his hands as if realizing something. “I suppose I do look different than the last time you saw me, but I assure you that you know me well. I’ll even prove it.”

The man outstretched his arm before Orias as inky tendrils wrapped around it, engulfing it until it was only a silhouette of itself. White eyes split open from the surface of the void, revealing pupils with warped but repeating patterns. “See? This is a gift only you and I have.” Then with an elegant flick of the wrist, the shade rescinded from his arm, revealing the false flesh once more.

Recognition came with it a name.

“…Niv?” Orias spoke. “Is it really you?”

“Who else would it be?”

The man before him did match his memory of the name, his features sharper and bleached compared to the Niv he remembered. But there were none still alive that had such a “gift”. When he hugged Niv, it came as a surprise to both of them.

“What are you doing here?” Orias asked as he pulled away.

“I was simply in the area,” Niv said, gesturing as he spoke. “I’ve been traveling, you see, seeing how the Trigala’s changed over the years. Going to where the wind takes me.” He turned to face Orias. “What about you? You said you were a local.”

“I’ve lived here for some time now,” said Orias. “Since we’ve last seen each other, I believe.”

“Quite a nice view you found,” Niv replied, looking out over the water, “though I’m surprised you chose to live so close to the barrier.”

“It goes unnoticed most days.”

“Hm. If you say so.” Niv focused his attention back to the domain. “So, local, what can you tell me about this domain?”

“Nothing, truthfully,” Orias stated. “I don’t know when it arrived here. There’s never been a domain around Maramagia.”

Niv sighed. “And here I was hoping to find something of use. I would have dismiss it as nothing had I not saw someone run inside earlier.”

That caught Orias’ attention. “You did? What did they look like?”

“Red hair, bit of a tan. He wore an awful lot of pink,” Niv explained. “Why? Someone you know?”

Orias nodded. “I came here looking for him. He’s…” He couldn’t really call Vinnie a friend. They’ve only known each other for a few days. “…an acquaintance.”

“Look at you making acquaintances,” Niv said with a sting in his voice. “And here I thought you’d forever be the recluse.”

He ignored the comment.

“Well, I tried going after your ‘acquaintance’, but the entrance is sealed tight. I’m guessing he must know his way around domains.” Then Niv considered it for a moment. “That or he’s a reckless idiot.”

“I wouldn’t say he’s reckless.” Vinnie was certainly curiosity-driven, but there was still thought put behind his actions. At least, I think so.

“Either way, he’ll likely be in there until the domain decides to let him out. Fickle things, deities are.” Niv then stretched and put his arms behind his head. “You know, I was a bit spooked when I stumbled upon this place. It’s nearly identical to what they dug up outside of Janahad.”

“You mean the excavation site?”

Niv raised his eyebrows. “Yeah, how’d you know?”

“I was there as a medic,” Orias explained.

“Oh really? We must have just missed each other. I was there not too long ago. Wanted to see the place for myself, but they weren’t letting anyone in.”

“Oh?”

Niv kept his focus on the domain’s entrance. “Apparently they found the body of a knight inside.”

Orias felt his body go cold. Vinnie’s companion was a Knight of Janahad if he remembered correctly. So he didn’t make it…

“Young fellow too, I heard he was the Regis’ retainer.” Niv continued. “The thing is, they don’t know how he got inside, but something clearly got to him.”

“I see…”

They both fell silent, the sound of the waves behind them replacing the air of conversation. Vinnie might have entered to go looking for his friend, not knowing of his ultimate fate. He should have gone with Vinnie in the first place. He could have kept him from going back into the domain.

It’s your fault Vinnie’s trapped in there now.

“Hey, Orias,” Niv began, his voice just loud enough to surface above Orias’ thoughts. “It’s been quite some time since we’ve last seen each other. I’d like to ask you for your help.”