19 Saun 717
The suns weren't even up yet, but Aeodan was. He was standing, shirtless, in the long window of his room, staring out in the direction they would travel that trial. Sleeping in the next room, Anari would have no idea that he'd not slept a wink, but instead had stared out the window. He'd watched as the night grew darker and darker, and then as it began to gradually brighten. He knew the suns were going to soon peek from behind the horizon, but still felt no exhaustion. Instead, his insides were molten fire, swirling in his bowels and keeping him from any comfort in the evening. Nerves, jittery and alert in anticipation, were his dreams.
Deciding not dress at that break, he slipped from his room on bare feet that glided across the floor. The Duke's mansion was beautiful, and the floors were solid and did not creak. That was to his benefit. Instead, it allowed him to slip from the comfort of his room into the cool morning mist of the ducal gardens. He'd spent quite a bit of time in this area, training with Judah, and he decided he wanted to watch the suns rise that trial. He knew that he had a long, exhausting trial ahead, but it seemed right. Sitting cross-legged on the stone path, he sighed deeply and allowed the cool air to overtake him.
It had been arcs since he'd tried to meditate; The physician suggested it for him as a child to help nullify some of the pain in his legs, but it had never really done much to alleviate the physical aspect. Instead, he found that it calmed him when he was overcome with emotion, and he wanted nothing more than clarity in that trill while the suns began to rise. Taking a deep breath of crisp air, Aeodan exhaled and cleared his mind completely. Instead, it filled itself with his subconscious thoughts, not the least of which was LYCHLT. Relaxing completely, Aeodan began to mull over the experiences of the past few trials. Since arriving in the Settlements, so much had happened.
The First Barrow, their crowning achievement thus far... They'd found quite a few artifacts, all of which had gone back to Viden to be catalogued. They'd found a few well-preserved skeletal remains, of both genders and differing ages. It was almost too good to be true. Most interesting to Aeodan, though, was the patch of consecrated ground in the First Barrow. No human flesh had touched that since the Jourkadri had sealed the barrow, and Aeodan could only surmise as to what they buried in that dirt before blessing it. He dared not risk disturbing it.
And the Second Barrow... A library of business transactions and trade recordings that showed the Jourkadri and their trading practices. They showed that the Jourkadri had some skill in crafting and pottery, but were poor farmers. As Aeodan surmised, they were a war-like people, austere and practical. But it was what happened to him in the Second Barrow that burned so brightly in his mind. Even over meeting the Duke, even over training with Judah... Viewing the world from LYCHLT's body was something surreal to the young man. He wanted nothing more than to discover the source of this suffering the Jourkadri man endured.
As he opened his eyes from his reverie, the first golden rays of the suns peeked above the horizon. Warmth, unrelated to the suns directly, spread from his face to his legs. Smiling in his contentedness, Aeodan rose from his position. Nearly a break of meditation, and the man felt calm and collected. The nerves were calmed, the anxiety tempered to an electric excitement. A smile broke his face as he sauntered back towards the ducal mansion. He should rouse Anari. He'd like her to have some of the bitter coffee from the Uzkernian Jungle that she enjoyed. It smelled of acrid smoke, but it seemed to perk Anari up. He made his way to the kitchen, hoping to heat the water. Still bare-chested, he stopped when he noticed a form in the room.
"Hello?" His voice was soft and not alarming, and when the form made itself known, Aeodan let out a sigh. Anari herself was seated, a cup of the smoky brew in her hands, both of them cupping the glass cup the liquid was in.
"Aeodan." Her voice was quiet, and he could tell she was tired. She must not have slept the previous night either.
"Anari. Are you well?" He asked from concern, though she was about as concerned with his well-being as she was the goose she'd eat for dinner. Still, he asked because he cared.
"Yes. Simply enjoying the solitude of the morning. As I saw you were, as well. Serene, I take it?" Still, there was no emotion to her voice, but Aeodan smiled in appreciation.
"More so than you'd guess. I apologise for my lack of clothing. I was going to make the coffee and wake you with it." He shrugged sheepishly, and Anari's milky eyes fell on his. She managed a weak smile before nodding.
"I am grateful for the thought, but I could not sleep. This final barrow..." She trailed off, sipping the coffee audibly. Aeodan nodded.
"Let's get dressed. We have names to make for ourselves." He smiled and turned, holding the door for the Eidisi. She murmured a vague thanks as she went through, and Aeodan went to dress. Soft, black cotton shirt over his pants. He needed the comfort that trial.
Yvithia, this is the trial I send the most praise to you. Let us discover the reason the Jourkadri received the Cuts, and put this mystery to rest once and for all. Watch over me, so that I may illuminate your name.
It was time.
