"A scar?" Venat's gentle voice declared as her outstretched hand caressed the healed wound. There was wonder in her tone that complimented the surprised expression drawing her eyes wide and a twinkle of discovery radiated in those twin blue skies.
"Yes," Venat's lone guest confirmed and shifted excitedly in their seat as they pulled the collar of their robe aside to show off the prize, "I hoped you'd notice."
With her white hair dripping off her shoulders and her head inching closer until she had scooted herself off her seat, Venat grinned and replied, "You hoped? You should come to expect, my dear Azem. With each return, you give me more to uncover and discover!"
How beautiful she was. Pupils quick to take in every detail, lips twitching with thoughts and silent observations, Azem saw themselves in those very actions but with a vibrancy and grace they hoped to one day achieve.
"Tell me," Venat continued, her gaze drifting to Azem's eyes and her smile reaching her ears, "What man or beast did you cross to leave this?"
Giddily, Azem mirrored her happiness and paused dramatically to stir her addicting anticipation. Finally, they spoke in a hushed whisper as if it were a grand secret.
"Neither! "
Venat's eyebrows shot up and Azem broke into a tender giggle as she came to a full squat on the floor in front of them and her hands patted their lap eagerly. Oh, how her joy and need to know synced to their very core. How wonderful it was to have someone understand and to share this bliss with.
"Not man nor beast then let it be a tree!" she guessed and Azem snorted.
"A tree?! You believe I fell out of one?"
"The branches do leave quite the mark on the fall and I should know!"
Rich and hearty laughter echoed on the walls as they relished in the moment, Venat blushing softly from the embarrassing confession and Azem picturing her in her youth boundless and daring wherever she went. And apparently somewhat clumsy too! Comforting thought that, knowing one’s predecessor wasn’t without their own missteps and foolish moments, but also an endearing quality that made her seem more real . Not a polished tale of days of eld so many previous Convocation members were —Authentic.
Once the air stilled back into the intimate whisper Azem cherished with every visit, they joined Venat on the floor and together the pair met in an embrace. Amber auras intertwining as if they were always meant to be, Azem pressed their cheek to Venat’s and felt her pulse of life, sharing theirs in return.
"Coral from the northern seas," Azem finally answered and traced their fingers along the scar. Venat gasped and her eyes softened until they were closed tight in memory.
"Such beautiful waters those are and how long it has been for me since I've set my sights upon them. I can still see the towns carved into the cliffs and hear the music the peoples there play."
Indeed, so could Azem whose memory was still a crisp fresh painting of the rose colored shores and the people alive with voices riding the wind in song. The fauna was so inspiring and the flora a sight to behold. A sight they hoped to see again one day…and perhaps…
“You should come the next time,” Azem said and turned their head slowly to feel the heat of her cheek pressed upon their lips, “Show me how it has changed and ponder with me what the future may bring.”
Subtly, Venat’s aether changed to a twisting knot and Azem felt the muscles under Venat’s skin loosen into a frown. Had they gone too far? Never before had their dear Venat sink at such an idea. Realization dawned in the back of their mind and Azem’s heart leapt not far where the scar resided on their neck. Had…she finally decided to return to the star? Were they hurting her with wishes of a future she would not be in?
Sensing their shift in countenance and inhaling sharply to clear her mind, Venat sighed and pulled away to look Azem in the eye, a pained yet hopeful scene drawn on her face.
“There is nothing more I would love,” she concurred and Azem pursed their lips as they swore they saw a hint of a tear budding. However, she swiftly blinked it away if it had existed. “We shall if time and your duties allow it. You have so much yet to see and people to meet! And I look forward to your visits between each venture you brave.”
Her voice trembled for a moment before regaining its usual passion, carrying with it the impression she had so much more to say. However, Azem resisted the temptation to delve or prod and instead nodded fondly. Venat’s shoulders eased and beaming like a precious sunrise, she returned her attention to the scar. Once again, her lips moved deftly and her eyes lost themselves in the daydream of how the scar came about. And when Azem placed a loving hand in hers where her calluses and several faded scars of her own resided, she leaned down to place a kiss upon the mark on their neck, inhaling as if she were smelling the salted sea air and enjoying the breeze cradling her cheeks.
They stayed in this moment for several heartbeats, yet several too short for Azem’s liking as Venat suddenly slipped from their grasp and stood.
“Come, regale me with the tales of your journey while I explore the new landmarks of your body as you do,” Venat requested with an open hand and a half-smile gracing her lips. “Unless you wish me to win the honor instead~?”
A duel, while thrilling to the mind as much as the prize, couldn't quell the stray thoughts about her prior demeanor and Azem contemplated if they should allow her to guide the conversation away to more pleasing ideas or if they needed to talk. No question about it, they should talk and Azem hoped they would…but if there was one thing they knew about Venat, she would talk when she felt it was time. Their chest ached with the uncertainty, but seeing all the effort she put forth to indulge in the now instead settled their choice to not push the matter.
Meeting their hand into hers and jumping to their feet, Azem replied affectionately, “We have the time, so why fuss with haste when we can dance instead?”
That brought a genuine chuckle from their love who summoned her sword and a shiver traveled through Azem’s body as the itch to call upon their own arms screamed in rapture from within. She too scrunched her shoulders in anticipation and in the blink of an eye, her presence was gone from their hand and she was out the door, dashing across the fields of Elpis for a worthy arena.
One day, they hoped to learn of the truth that weighed on her mind just as they hoped to visit her a hundred times over to talk the night away with musings of experiences and marvels they witnessed. They wished for there to be a day they could travel together and explore all that was new and old. And, selfishly, they aimed to take at least one blow to leave a mark she could study and document as a fresh discovery of her own making.
The future had so much promise and Azem would reach for it no matter what.