Figures from Your Past

That was much more than Shalia had bargained for. But she was grateful for the rundown, if not slightly overwhelmed. She had been meaning to inquire about a great number of things involving Ostiarium, and this offered some answers. She'd ask about it more some other time for this moment was too precious to interrupt. Retaining large sums of information wasn’t too difficult at this point and she always enjoyed learning about new things. Still, this was quite a lot to dig through mentally. How heavy had this baggage been for Islana?

She was paying close attention when something visibly caught her off guard. The Creed of Slivikhi. It took a minute to process as she kept listening.

That was a name she'd almost forgotten. If only it were that easy.

Upon seeing the pacing from Islana, she slowly rose from the bed and stepped over to the woman. She reached out and put both of her hands on Islana’s shoulders to keep her still. Their eyes met as Shalia attempted to reassure her.
“That’s all over now. You’re not alone in this anymore.”

Once Islana had steadied her movement, chest rising and falling in slow breaths, Shalia dropped her hands and took a step back.

“Not your first time being kidnapped either, huh? Quite the tale of your life, young Islana. An exhausting one. I know better than most what it’s like to be chased by shadows all your life. Running nonstop.” She clicked her tongue, shifting her gaze downward for a moment to let that sink in before looking up again. “You’ll always have an understanding place with me.”

“...I did wonder what the recent state of Ostiarium was; I’m surprised the Creed lasted this long. Thought they’d have been taken down for good in that second year. Clearly I underestimated their persistence. They crossed me, too, but there was no one else to play savior then or protect me. I had to save myself like you did, but it wasn't nearly as effective. That was when I first felt real, raw power, so you are not far off where I began.”
She hoped those words would be somewhat comforting in the rising feelings of nakedness and vulnerability.

“Killing their leader is one hell of a way to scare them off; I’m glad someone finally did it. If this Stran fellow is ever encountered again, I have all the more reason to make him die painfully now. Him and the bounty hunter.” She let out a short-lived giggle at the thought. That winter of the cult stalking and terrorizing her on top of what this member wished to subject Islana to? That would not do. She hoped the redhead felt the same or would in time.

Carefully Shalia took the woman’s hand, her free one lifting up to hold Islana's face where her jawline and neck met. Maybe a touch that meant no harm was what she needed, or did the words suffice?

Either way, this simple contact was important to Shalia. She rarely got to feel a sense of comfort or make others feel that way, so she would do everything she could now and savor the interaction. What an exception this fascinating woman was in such a bizarre circumstance.

Her face held a half-smile as she decided to attempt sending some kind of reinforcement Islana's way. Taking the bull by the horns. Empowering her in a time of need. Having made it as far as she had, surviving terrible things, was a feat to celebrate. To be proud of herself. Perhaps one day Shalia would reach the point where she could tell her that directly.

“You are strong, Islana Annora. Now, repeat after me: fuck the Creed, fuck Alcuin, and fuck Lord Vasant. And say it with the burning conviction of someone who suffered all three and still lived."