Hesessür | Eraat: II

Although wearing nothing underneath his dark and light blue vest, and given the nighttime, the streets were uncomfortably hot. Logan wonders how any vegetation manages to flourish under these conditions.

From the rooftops he follows the disguised pair of Enes and Demir patrolling the streets. Biding his time for the perfect opportunity to confront them, and to be certain that those voices truly belonged to the veteran duo.

"They're starting to suspect us," the pair on the right says.

"Be that as it may, there are still things to do," the pair on the left remarks.

They turn a corner and Logan has to jump across the street to keep on their tail. He listens hard, they'd furthered their discussion while he was trying to close the gap.

"...scum. It's time we rid ourselves of them. Why isn't Eraat doing anything?" Says the one on the right.

"How do you imagine Eraat stays in power?" The left one responds.

The two continue to patrol in silence for a while before they enter an empty courtyard.

Logan relieves a sigh of relief when Enes removes his covering. Revealing thick dark eyebrows and a clumping mess of sweat drenched curls. The amber of his almond shaped eyes are looking fierce.

"It's so damn hot here. The only good thing about this city is the vitae." Enes dabs at his eyebrows. "We've not heard from them yet, shouldn't we contact them now?"

"Fool! Put it back on," Demir hisses. "Thirty years of experience and you're still acting like a youth."

"You can be too uptight at times," Enes dons his covering. "So how about it? Isn't it time we contact them?"

"The Etraean says they know we're both here. They'll find us when it's time." Demir responds in his unmistakable gruff voice.

With assurance that these two were Demir and Enes, Logan leaps from the roof, awkwardly landing between them. The flesh of his neck is dangerously met with the ends of their halberds.

"Whoa! Easy, it's just me!" Logan hisses.

Enes glances at Demir. "Shall we teach the boy a lesson?"

Demir retracts his halberd. "Surrounded by fools!"

Enes looks Logan up and down once more before retracting his halberd. "Be careful next time, I might ask questions later."

Logan relieves another sigh. "What's gotten you two on edge? And why are we here?"

Demir nods to Logan. "You've recovered, the Nagari summoner almost took your life."

"You could've told me you two were here," Logan shakes his head. "I didn't find out until Olivia came."

Enes and Demir share a perplexed glance.

"Olivia?" Enes repositions his halberd. "Who's Olivia?"

"His roommate," Demir answers.

"The lovely young lady? Why is she here?" Enes scopes the area.

"I'd hope you two would tell me," Logan retrieves the Izlara from his pocket. "Çetin told her to bring me this."

Enes' eyes widen. "Fool boy! Conceal it!"

Logan quickly pockets the Izlara.

"Çetin's position must have been compromised." Demir shakes his head. "We'll tell you everything, not here. It may not seem like it but the walls have eyes and ears."

Logan nods. "I'm staying at the-"

"-We know which inn." Demir interrupts. "Don't speak so openly."

Enes nods. "We learned of it three days ago. That Etraean practitioner informed us."

"We'd been expecting Çetin, not your Olivia." Demir's grip on his halberd tightens. "This is troublesome. Go on, we'll rendezvous in the morning."

Logan assents and departs the two with whispered information of his lodgings.

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Back at the Avaha Inn Logan finds Halil snoozing away over a scattering of papers and books. He nudges the adolescent with his finger.

Halil opens his eyes. "Mister Logan?"

Logan is tickled at being called mister. "Halil, just Logan is fine. You fell asleep at the desk again."

Halil sits up, glancing at his papers. "So I have."

"Why don't you go back to your room. I'll wake you if anything happens," Logan nods assuringly.

For the remainder of the night, Logan lounges on the low-rise sofa, cradling his head in interlaced hands. Mulling over the details of this situation.

Before dawn breaks, there is a light knocking at the door. Logan arrives immediately to open it.

Demir's hard exterior greets him. He's out of disguise and in his silver and navy uniform from O'taomon. Enes is standing beside him in similar uniform, watching the corridor.

Logan ushers them inside and pours each of them water from the vessel, unconscious of his speed.

"Thank you," the aged Demir nods in appreciation and relaxes in his position.

"You saved my life boy," Enes grins and downs the contents of his cup. He rises to refill it.

"There isn't much to say," Demir begins. "Captain Emir commanded us to scout the area beforehand, and to wait for Çetin and the rest of the guard to come under pretense of escorting you back."

Enes takes a seat. "What's Emir playing at?"

"Captain Emir, is not playing at anything." Demir shakes his head, "something has gone wrong."

Logan leans his back against the wall. Çetin was supposed to come, not Olivia. His gaze drifts towards her room. "Were we supposed to infiltrate Hilal?"

Demir assents Emir's enquiring glance with a nod. The latter takes a drink before speaking. "Do you recall the night we captured the young man in the apothecary's ward?"

Logan nods. Garrett.

"After the translator finally arrived to help in the interrogation, we learned what medicine he intended to make off with," Enes drains the contents of his cup. "Though they're simply plants, the period of maturation takes an incredibly long time and is short lived."

"Couldn't you have asked the apothecaries which plants he'd taken?" Logan comments.

Demir shakes his head. "The master apothecary accompanied the Gran Vizier to the World Summit."

Logan nods.

"When we realized which medicine had been taken it was already too late. The thief that did escape had them." Enes gestures to Demir, "Demir had sense enough to follow the Dark One."

Logan recalls those strange mist abilities. "How?"

For a time Demir sits in relative silence, collecting his thoughts. When finally he speaks, his voice is rife with foreboding uncertainty. "I followed the mistings of the Dark One.

"It led me deep into the heart of old O'taomon, to an empty courtyard illumined by a Dalkarian marker." Neither Enes or Logan comment, so he continues. "I heard voices amidst the darkness. He manifested himself from the mist." Demir pauses, his eyes drifting to the fireplace. "There were three of them. The dark one and two others, all bearing the tri-crescents of Hilal.

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"I did not hear much of what they had to say, but I heard enough to know their business in O'taomon was finished." Demir sips from his cup. "Perhaps from arrogance, the Dark One's voice carried to my ears. He commanded the other two to 'gather the others and return to Hesessür.' Once more he became mist and intentionally dispersed in nine directions." Demir shakes his head. "When I returned, the captain and I relayed the urgency of the matter to each other. As for the plants, among them there is only one of its kind and it grows at the palace. It is an ingredient for-"

"-Amrita."

The three spring to their feet at the voice.

Halil stands silently in the corner, gazing into space.

"Halil," Logan begins. "You should get some rest."

Halil ignores Logan and gestures to the sofa. "May I join you?"

Demir scrutinizes the youth for a moment and relaxes. "Yes, you're from O'taomon?"

Halil nods. "I study at the University."

Logan offers Halil a cup of water. "How long have you been listening?"

"Since the beginning." Halil accepts the cup. "I heard voices." He takes a sip of water before continuing. "It is for Amrita, yes?"

Demir nods.

"What is Amrita?" Logan glances at Olivia's door, wondering if she too was listening in on this exchange.

"It is an elixir of immortality." Halil shrugs, "that's the legend. No one entirely knows for certain what it is."

"Or how it can be used," Enes adds.

Halil nods in agreement. "It has only ever been concocted once, by the esteemed Mahtammel Aljhebrai and Sohmnias."

Logan frowns, "the organisation?"

Demir shakes his head. "He speaks of Drahsrhaeon's progeny."

"We know much of Mahtammel, but little of Sohmnias," Halil continues. "What we do know of Sohmnias is the Vitaeic nature of his essence, and the origin of his birthplace. O'taomon."

Logan frowns, "I suppose he's the founder of Sohmnias then?"

Demir shakes his head and sips from his cup. He looks to Halil and nods his head for him to continue.

"He's a founder of the Vitae in O'taomon. As for the organisation Sohmnias." Halil shifts uncomfortably. "It is not certain, but there is rumor of experimentation on people."

A subtle dread drips into Logan's chest. "What kind of experimentation?"

"I only know of the rumours," Halil shakes his head. "It said that Sohmnias' experimentation caught the ire of the Vitae and was removed from the guild.

"By then he had garnered a reputation among his colleagues as a genius." Halil pauses to sip water. "With a mass loyal following of acolytes under his command, he founded the organisation."

Logan mulls this over. "Where does this Amrita fit into the picture?"

"Patience," Enes comments.

"The greatest mind of that time was Mahtammel Aljhebrai of Ankhe-Dür, and Sohmnias sought out his assistance." Halil shrugs, "perhaps it was his reputation that gave him privilege to speak with Aljhebrai.

"Regardless, whatever information Sohmnias gathered from Aljhebrai, it allowed him to concoct the elixir of immortality - amrita." Halil gazes into the space between them. "It is said with this, Sohmnias never truly died."

Logan and the others are silent for a time, sitting in the subdued silence of their thoughts.

Olivia emerges from her room. She gawks bleary-eyed at the four of them. Finally she gathers herself. "I wasn't expecting this."

Logan comes to her side. "Sorry, Olivia, let me introduce you. This is Demir and Enes."

Demir nods his head in greeting.

Enes rises from his seat and bows slightly. "The lovely young lady," he gestures to the spot next to Halil, "have a seat."

Olivia settles herself next to Halil and smoothes out the creases in her dress. "It is nice to make your acquaintances. Yes, thank you," she accepts a cup of water from Enes.

Logan returns to leaning against the wall. Halil and Demir bring her up to speed. Logan's considering what Halil had told him when Olivia raises the question; "where does Hilal fit into this?"

Demir and Enes share a glance and look to Halil for answers.

Halil is ruminating for a moment before answering, "I don't know."

"We know it is much, much older than Sohmnias," says Demir. "First founded in Drashtrehl."

"From Daskalania?" Olivia asks with uncertainty. "Are they not headquartered here in Hesessür?"

Enes shakes his head, "Hilal is here, they've long since expanded across Eldaeor. Hesessür is only one among many major headquarters."

Olivia nods. "You spoke of this Dark One," she begins. "Surely his abilities hint at a fusion?"

Logan recalls his encounter with the second thief. Not even Loraunt could emulate the physical formlessness of darkness.

Demir clears his throat as he's gazing into the fireplace. "It is not entirely unheard of. What he does are telltale signs of the Insignia of Drahsrhaeon."

Halil snaps to attention.

"You've heard of it I'm certain," Demir nods to the adolescent. "This Dark One is likely a progeny of Drahsrhaeon himself. Not unlike Sohmnias."

"If that is the case, and he is here in Hesessür…" Enes murmurs.

"Then we've no hope of abolishing Hilal at its core," Demir finishes. "Even if we've the full force of the guard, we stand little chance."

"There's very little more we can do with just three abled fighters." Enes rises from his seat to refill his cup. "As for the Izlara," he shakes his head, "does the arrogance of Emir fall so low?"

Logan finds himself unconsciously fiddling with the lazuli sphere in his pocket. He'd grown so accustomed to its presence, he'd forgotten it was in his possession.

Demir watches him carefully. "What use Captain Emir intended for the Izlara remains unknown." He shares a look with Enes, then Logan. "For now, all we can do is wait. Perhaps the captain will send someone along with further instructions."

"Halil," Olivia shares a look with the adolescent. "Your return trip is drawing near. Will you be heading back?"

"You and Logan will need my help," Halil shakes his head. "I might also be of more use here."

"Thank you, Halil. I truly appreciate it." Olivia smiles graciously.

Demir rises from his seat. "We will be in contact."

Logan nods.

Enes rests his hand on Logan's shoulder. "Keep a lookout for Emir and Çetin." He removes his hand. "Demir and I will continue to observe Hilal."

Demir and Enes exit the room. Leaving Halil, Olivia, and Logan to ponder their discussion. Eventually Logan feels the onset of drowsiness. He makes for Halil's room with a goodnight to Olivia.

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Olivia begins her day organising the scatterings of her papers from the day prior. After that's accomplished, she cleanses herself in the bathhouse and returns refreshed.

Halil greets her with a nod. A hefty tome lays open before him.

"Good morning, Halil." Olivia puts her worn dress in the wicker basket. "I'll be needing to run a few errands today."

Halil looks up from his tome. "Where to?"

"The library to start," Olivia combs out the tangles of her hair. "After that, Ethel and the market."

"Okay," Halil shuts his tome. "I've gotten all I need from this."

Olivia wraps herself in the milky scarf and gathers the books she borrowed from the library. With Halil's lead, the two proceed to the library. The bustling streets are sultry in the morning blaze of the sun.

"I'll never get used to this region," Olivia comments.

The library is a fairly large edifice with accentuating shady flora. The pair cross one of the three arching thresholds.

Olivia exchanges her books for those listed by Professor Omer, and waits patiently for Halil to exchange his own.

Afterwards, the two breakfast at a private eatery overlooking the city. The towers of the Vitae are silhouetted far off in the distance.

"Were it not for the climate, this would be a perfect city." Olivia spreads a nutty bean paste over a beytil loaf.

"You're fine with the customs?" Halil spoons a creamy vegetable soup into his mouth.

Olivia drizzles melted ghee on her pasted beytil. She considers Halil's words before answering. "I've not been here long enough to know whether or not I'd acclimate to the customs." She savors a bite of beytil.

"It really is a beautiful city," Halil takes a sip of his tea. "How long have you known Mister Logan?"

Olivia stifles a giggle. "I've known Logan for nearly a decade now." She takes a sip of tea herself, reminiscing her first encounter with Logan. "Though I've a feeling we've known each other longer. The first time I recognized him was nine years ago."

Halil pauses momentarily to swallow his food. "What do you mean by that?"

"Well…" Olivia hesitates. "It's a rather odd story," she fiddles with the teacup's handle. "Something happened to me nine years ago. I'd just simply woken up one day with amnesia."

"You didn't seek out the Vitae?" Halil spoons another mouthful.

"At the time, I'd been ignorant of the Vitae. It was fortuitous that I encountered Logan. Or rather it's more appropriate to say he encountered me." Olivia savors the last of the beytil. "You see, three years prior, Logan had also woken in a similar state of amnesia."

Halil is listening intently. He sips his tea and nods for Olivia to continue.

"We recognized each other and have been inseparable since. Later, we met another friend who'd also woken in a similar state of amnesia. Loraunt." Olivia's chest beats saudade. "He'd awoken around the same time I had nine years ago."

"Amnesia…" Halil ponderously finishes the last of his creamy vegetable soup.

Olivia sips the last of her tea. "Loraunt saught healers in Zastaesia and it seems their assessments were that this afflicting amnesia we bear can never be cured."

Halil's face expresses an apology. "That must be difficult news to bear."

"On the contrary," Olivia shakes her head, "I'm finding solace in never needing to fret over my amnesia anymore. There's nothing that can be done."

Halil considers her words and smiles. "That is an insightful perspective."

Olivia and Halil finish the remnants of their meal and proceed to Ethel where Logan's new garments are ready for pickup. Afterwards, they stop at the market and purchase an assortment of food items for Logan. They then return to the Avaha Inn little after noon, both thoroughly drained from the heat.

Olivia refreshes herself with a cup of water, and begins Professor Omer's assignments.