Ouranos God of the sky opened his eyes, looking down at the mortal below him
"Welcome back, Thallan."
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Thallan looked up at Ouranos as Ouranos looked back down at him.
They stayed like that for a while, not saying a thing, each in their own thoughts. The air was thick with unspoken tension, the weight of promises remembered and kept on both their shoulders.
"Shall we continue?" Voiced Thallan, breaking the oppressive silence.
"Yes," Ouranos rumbled with a voice matching the vastness of the sky itself, as expected from the sky god. Rising from his throne if momentarily to stand over the smaller man
Thallan turned his back to Ouranos, bearing it to the god.
Taking out a small needle, the sky god pricked his finger, allowing a single drop of blood to fall to the back of the mortal before him.
Thallan felt the way liquid fall to his back, sinking into his skin. For a moment, nothing happened.
Suddenly, a warm sensation expanded from his back. It felt like relaxing under the clear blue skies.
"So this is the divine' blessing," he thought, and indeed, this was the falna, a gift from gods decended from heaven - Tenkai, in order to experience entertainment. Those gods give the mortal races a fraction of a fraction of their divine power to allow for perpetual growth, even if it was harder or easier for different people.
With it came a sun. It wasn't overbearing or too bright, yet I wasn't dim by any means. To it, Thallan felt a connection, as if he could reach out and grab it, but just as he did, it slipped past his hands, and he awoke once more in the grand chamber.
"Well, that was a trip and a half," he muttered.
"Interesting..." said Ouranos."It would seem the Falna's bond to your soul awakened something within it. "
"Any idea what it is?"
"I have yet to witness a phenomenon such as this until this day, at the very least I can confirm that it isn't harmful"
"That's reassuring if nothing else," thought Thallan. "So what now?" He asked Ouranos
"Now? Now you best be on your way. There are spare rooms you may use down that hall. I must continue my vigil, " the god replied, taking his seat on the throne once more.
While it was true that most gods came down to the lower world for entertainment, many of them found themselves caring for the mortals under their care and appreciating their short lives.
Of course, Ouranos was one such god, even through his view of aloofness he continued to protect the world and its people by subduing the dungeon into a sleep-like state, ensuring no monsters could get through to the surface.
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There were, in fact, empty rooms down the hall, though they left much to be desired, most being invested with dust, cobwebs clinging to the ceiling - a sign of their long tenure as desolate and empty chambers.
Thallan chose the least dusty of these rooms, cleaning it quickly of most dust and debris - "truly, the epitome of cleanliness," he joked.
Considering it was only the middle of the day, the sun high in the sky and the weather warm, Thallan decided he'd better go for a walk and visit some family on the way since he was already in town and he hasn't seen them in nearly fifty years.
In those fifty years, he had traveled the world learning and experiencing life as a traveler and not the royalty that he is.
Heading out of another secret tunnel, he turned into the market, it smelt of spices, and the chatter of the commoon folk and merchants alike could be heard. Thallan moved through the marketplace, browsing wares as he went, picking up a gift or two along the way.
At the end of the road stood a small bookstore. It's a worn sign belaying its age.
"I should probably get her something, no? I am the cool grandfather after all, "
Nodding to himself, Thallan stepped inside.
The smell of books predated the small store, the shelves that lined the walls packed with tomes both old and new, giving the shop a clattered yet homely feeling.
Thallan briefly greeted the clerk before inspecting the shelves closely.
"Aha!" He exclaimed, picking up an old tome from the shelf. "This should do nicely,"
Leaving the shop, he strode onwards towards one of the many manors located in the city. It was a grand yet narrow building, towering over the other buildings around it and connected to several towers that support each other, the middle one being the tallest and largest.
At the ends of each tower hung a flag depicting a smiling jester.
The compound itself was surrounded by a metal fence that squared off the land and prevented unauthorized entry as well as allowing narrow passage around the manor itself.
Thallan stopped for a moment, appreciating the architecture of the magnificent construction before him. It has been compared multiple times to a fire with the many towers and was even said to have been borne from the flames.
For a brief moment, Thallan looked around, making sure through both his mundane and mystical senses that no one was around.
Taking a deep breath, he concentrated on the flow of magic around him, dispelling the long-held magical disguise that he had used for years at this point. As royalty, he couldn't simply wander the world, both because of his families enemies and because of the caution - and in some cases, reverance - he'd have suffered. His trip was to experience the world, not be burdened by it.
As his disguise fell, Thallan's true appearance shimmered back into existence - not that it was ever gone in the first place, only hidden.
He had long emerald green hair and fair pale skin. Green gem stone like eyes adorned his face,along soft features - that didn't truly change to much during this transformation- a small kind smile played on his lip.
In addition, the tips of his ears elongated, showing the truth of his existence as an elf.
Similarly, his personal effects were also transformed. The old walking stick he used turned into a magnificently beautiful magic staff, and on his hip, the worn travelers pouch turned sturdier and better made.
[Image]
Suddenly, he heard a voice behind him - "You?!"