Quality Questions

JP with Omni and Lorem:

Gonyaul had easily left his weapon next to Voah’s at the entrance because he didn’t view it as such. To him, it was an ornate dancing prop and walking stick. In fact, he didn’t even consider the object his and without hesitation would give it away to someone in need if asked.

Gonyaul enjoyed three things on their descent down the stone carved stairs. The first was Voah holding onto him and he happily obliging to draw her nearer. The second was the sweet reprieve from the desert. It was nice to see something different and taste the refreshing coolness with each breath that wasn’t laced with sand and dust. Finally, he enjoyed the intentionality of this cave entrance. The stairs showcased the design of mankind’s hand over nature and significantly eased the labor of venturing below the surface.

Gonyaul was awestruck by the illustrious carvings and ceiling map. The latter he gave special attention, to try and memorize what he could. Though he couldn’t help but have his focus get pulled back to the walls. He studied their depicted story telling and artistry closely, being respectful not to touch anything.

The entire place felt long standing and he could only imagine the time and manpower it must have taken to make it. It got him thinking on a side tangent about his people. It dawned on him that nothing about his Vauxian history seemed this old. Was the history of his people newer than what was depicted here?

“Every time I go underground find amazing architecture and new things stretch imagination.” He stated to Voah, wide-eyed in wonder.

Still a bit on edge, the echoing footsteps took Voah back to the hallucinations and whispers she had suffered in Ypogeios. She could almost feel the headaches returning, her eyes darting now and again at shadows that danced whenever a passage of wind caught the flames of torchlight.

Gonyaul’s voice actually made her jump a little and her heart jolted. Though it had caused her trauma, she couldn’t disagree. Swallowing a bit of nervousness, she said in a softer voice, “Incredible… I don’t yet know what to make of all this.”

Gonyaul had been too fixated on their surroundings to notice Voah’s subtle jitters. His awareness finally caught up to the moment and he was reminded that she had a much different and unpleasant experience then he had in the depths of the earth. He wrapped his arms around her from behind and gave her a protective squeeze, being mindful to avoid her healing arm. He rested his head very lightly on her shoulder as he looked past it to the carved relief of the sea battle she was still admiring.

“I guess that great nation rose and fell before other nations born. It even make me think the Vaux are but babies.”

He paused, once again feeling that inkling again of not belonging.

“Whoever make this place gave it much time and effort. Must have been important. Maybe still is?” He said while turning his head to their robed escort.

She slid her hands tenderly over his and kept him there for a moment as he spoke and then she turned herself in his arms to look directly at him, “Yes… I believe you’re right. But how can this be? How is there no evidence of the Pillars?”

She didn’t expect him to have an answer to that, after all, how could he? She let her eyes roam around the cavernous room again. It had been bothering her since she visited the Grey Mouth tribe. Her Gods were real. Why was there no presence of them in Arcadia or something similar? It didn’t make sense.

Gonyaul held her close as they made eye contact. “Good questions.” He acknowledged and slightly shrugged not knowing the answers. Gonyaul was probably the least qualified person to give apologies for deities.

“What I guess, is maybe gods are like men on earth, not everywhere at once? They no here because never been here. And gods here no been in Helias”.

Her mouth twisted in contemplation. She didn’t like that concept. It was uncomfortable and challenged her preconceptions of things, then again, she herself had similar notions and nothing she could think of that explained their absence was comforting. She felt the need to know more, to figure these things out. Could it be that magik was so powerful here that the Gods could not reach this land?

She not only shivered at the thought, but the contrast of the coolness of the underground and the warmth of Gonyaul’s embrace.

She didn’t want to say these things aloud and hated thinking them but…

“My mind… is full of thoughts and questions, endless questions… and I can’t silence it. There is still so much I don’t understand, but I believe the Pillars are undeniable. I wonder… I mean… maybe…

It would seem that magik is... more potent, at least here in Arcadia, than the reach of the Pillars, whose will is done through works of men, women, worship, and steel. Maybe their reach can only be spread through us, through our belief.”

She paused and sighed, not wanting to say the next part but the cascade had already begun.

“What if the Pillars are immature, infantile Gods, born from the belief of us mortals? Not the other way around? Young, voiceless, unable to yet speak. Like we must nurture them and allow them to grow. Could it be that they are lesser? Jealous entities intolerant of certain other gods? Seeking to strike them out of existence? Just as these twin gods don’t tolerate other gods?”

She didn’t like that at all and similar regretted saying it, wanting not to doubt but to defend the Pillars.

“Or maybe they have been banished themselves, behind some muffling veil, their voices hushed, fighting bitterly to regain their place in the world.

I have always believed that they were just so unfathomable, unattainable, that if we could hear them or see them or… or or touch them… that our bodies… would be shattered by their Holiness.

It is understandable how people could see those who can weave magik as something greater than human. Reshaping reality that was presumably created by the Gods like they are divinity made flesh.

That would certainly give reason for the Pillars to mistrust magik, to hate it, to see it as an abomination and will its banishment. What if magik is itself some entity?”

Her eyes were far off, searching the ceiling, no beyond that, beyond the sky and stars.

“…there is just so much I don’t understand.”

Gonyaul blinked, noticeably surprised by her sudden avalanche of concerns and contemplations. They had talked about the pillars and other gods before, but never had she unleashed so candidly with her true feelings on the topic. He always had a notion that she was trying to shield his fledgling beliefs from such deep and complicated matters to protect doubt from ruining his budding faith.

Gonyaul smiled and took a deep breath. He looked beyond pleased with her, so glad she finally opened up authentically on the topic. This was a good day indeed.

The hands that were laced together behind her back, creating a safe haven of intimacy in the torch light released. His right hand held her firmly to him, resting upon the smaller of her lower back. His left hand raised to caress her cheek and continue onward into her hair to cup her head in the palm.

“You will figure it out my Love. Understanding sometimes just takes time. Perhaps these good questions are a encouraging start? Because no get right answers without right questions?”

His hand moved further through her hair and came back around to allow his fingers to trace along her jawline, then neck, and finally guided by her collarbone off to the side until resting upon her shoulder. He was getting just a little distracted.

“and if you want assistance, I at your service.”

His words were only somewhat encouraging. These were big questions. World shaping, life changing questions, but she gave him a small smile and nodded in gratitude for his listening ear and his giving heart.

She hoped he was right about her figuring it all out. She was tired of feeling uncertain.

The priest said something as he continued pointing out the sculptures and they turned their attention back to him.