Submission (#5131) Approved

Submitted

26 March 2023, 17:06:25 PDT (1 year ago)

Processed

31 March 2023, 21:21:25 PDT (1 year ago) by Mocha-Miel

Comments

Tinúviel goes to see Manadh, a practicing fortune teller who gives them some interesting information via the cards.

AP: Bellmoril
Word count: 1,542 (after removing Chaemera's passages)
Elnin AP is for: Tinúviel (https://worldofeyre.com/character/MYO-ELN233)
Other elnin: Manadh (https://worldofeyre.com/character/MYO-ELN349)

Content

Tinúviel had been feeling trepidation all morning. A few things had resulted in a false start and even the usually golden leaves of the trees around the room he was currently staying in filled him with a feeling of unease. Maybe there was a new moon coming; he always felt a bit on edge when the cycle came around. It always reminded him of the night he stumbled into this realm, not that he liked remembering the events leading up to that moment. Shaking his head, the blue faenin cleared his mind and made himself observe the movements about him. He watched as the blackbird pair built their nest in the golden branches of the tree near him, using white fluff they had found to fill the cracks between woven twigs. A few passers-by greeted each other in the morning sun, and he could hear the noises of the market in the distance. If he was going to start the day he needed to do it soon. He mused to himself for a moment, recalling what he had planned before remembering an elnin he had spotted the day before.

They had been in the marketplace, though not within the stalls but close to the café Tinú frequented since arriving in Il'durahn. The mostly dark kittom had been giving out fortunes to other guests of the café and this intrigued Tinú greatly. They had exchanged a few words in passing but the faenin had been busy that day and couldn't spare the time. Maybe a peek at his fortune to see if he was on track would be what he needed to get his motivation back.

It didn't take him too long to find the dark kittom, he was sitting at a small table with a stack of cards and a blue blanket. Tinúviel nodded a greeting and sat down at the table. "I heard you've got a bit of a fortune-telling thing going?" at the affirmative nod Tinú continued, "I'm interested in having my fortune told please." He didn't mind when the kittom mentioned they were new at this, maybe being new would be a good thing because they wouldn't have preconceived notions. The last thing he needed was a traditionalist!

Tinú watched as the cards were shuffled and scattered over the floor as the kittom lost his grip on the large stack of cards. He helped Manadh gather them back up and then, after the cards were shuffled back into a neat pile, sat back to watch the other kittom pull out a handful of cards, arranging them in a specific pattern on the table, all face down. He concentrated on his question but his mind kept drifting back to previous events, threatening to sour his mood. Shifting a little in his chair he focused his attention to what Manadh had to say about the cards spread between them.

The knight of wands was first, followed by the page of swords. He was told they referred to him taking a trip and seeking secrets that others may miss. At first he was non-committal about that information, letting his gaze drift to the near-by birch trees. It seemed quite generic; who doesn't go on long trips in their lives, and almost everyone learns about secrets, be them trade secrets passed down, or learning about the mysteries of the world around them. The next card however, got him to pull away from the view of the autumnal forest on the horizon and sit up a little more rigid in his chair.

"The Devil, reversed at least." Manadh seemed a little worried about this card at first before amending his expression after checking his little book. "You are trying to get free of something..." he offered as an explanation for the card's meaning. Quickly the kittom turned over the next three cards, Nine of swords and two of coins, both reversed, and a five of cups round the right way. Manadh explained the meanings of all three as he went; about how suspicions and lurking fears set things in motion, he did something well because it was required of him, and his future would be filled with empty friendships, regrets, and loss. As he spoke he turned over the final card of that batch showing the knight of coins, also reversed, and added "You feel stuck and fenced in where you are..."

'Where I was...' Tinú thought to himself. Those cards reminded him of his past, the past he had travelled here in an attempt to escape. Memories came to him of friends who turned out to just be using his position, trying to do well in his lessons only to find out he was being set up for failure, being pushed into a role he was not prepared for and had no interest in being a part of. He schooled his expression to not betray the rush of realization and kept it inquisitive, but aloof and pointed to the cards, directing attention from the message and instead focusing on the different types of cards that were featured in a tarot deck.

As Manadh explained about the different suites he turned over the next card, The Star in reverse. The darker kittom frowned and checked his little book again before gesturing toward it and The Devil, "They come from the same set, the major arcana, while the Devil meant you were looking to get free, this one means you are disappointed with the way things are going."

"This really isn't sounding great." Tinúviel felt his mask break a little and he let himself give into a slight frown. He understood where the cards were coming from but didn't feel like revealing that information to a stranger. Lost in thought for a second he realised the fortune teller had asked him a question and answered it with a nod, pretending his attention had been focused on the lady who had just walked by wearing a dress that reminded him of the birch trees that Bellmoril was known for. He was ready to see the last of the cards, maybe they had better news for him. Luckily the first did, and the cards were right, while this realm wasn't what he expected, he was happier here. The second card however, almost let his guard down in surprise. Someone working against him? But who? His mind went back to the events and scoured for any clues that might reveal any hidden information. Belatedly he realised he was looking for secrets like the cards had mentioned and he paused in his thinking. This would be better to look into later on when he was alone in case there was anyone who may have followed him. "But..."

He was interrupted by Manadh who was looking over the cards again, connecting their meanings together. "I think," the dark kittom stressed the word with a pause, looking up again, "this is saying that what you've been doing up to now isn't really what you've been after, and that you need to look for yourself at some things to try and figure out what's been hidden from you."

Tinú heard the darker kittom ramble on, as he folded in on his own thoughts making non-committal sentences to keep from being rude. Now he was worried they were still on his tail. If anyone caught wind that he crossed over the border... He knew there were other fae here, he had met them, ones who had no contact with the circles he was a part of. He had assumed they were either fae-touched, or maybe they were in hiding too and were keeping secrets of their own. The blue faenin ruminated on that thought for a moment before he realised Manadh was apologising. "It's not your fault. And like you said, you're still figuring this out, so maybe it's just messed up?"

"Could be. Something to think about, at least."

It most definitely was, a little too much to think about now. Tinú covered his tracks and gave a wry smile. "Guess so. Ugh. And here I was hoping for 'your venture will see great success!'" He added a weak chuckle at the end, glancing out to where the wind had picked up, swirling the golden leaves that had fallen from the trees into miniature whirlwinds. They tossed around on the breeze much like his thoughts spun around in his head. Maybe he could contact Irlina again and see if she happened to know of others who could look into a few things for him. For now he needed to focus on the current moment, which was the cards before him and the kittom who had just told the faenin more than he realised.

"You will find what you seek. Do not let the steps of others lead you astray."

Tinú almost jumped back, and would have if he wasn't sitting down. That voice sounded familiar, as if it was calling to him from the past. He felt as shaken as Manadh looked and he rubbed at his ears to hide the fact that they were laid back in reaction. "That happens often?!" Maybe this one was another he should keep his eyes on, at least for the time being until he figured out what was going on. Keeping that thought stowed away with the rest of the knot he needed to untangle now, the faenin helped smooth things over and got the darker kittom to feel a bit better before he left. Back in the bright golden sun of Il'durahn he wandered back down the path to where he had been staying, winding his trail around a few extra routes as if he was enjoying the amber-coloured environment of the forest. He needed some time to write everything down before starting back out. This had become a very interesting day indeed.

Rewards

Reward	Amount
Elecite Coins	8

Characters

MYO-ELN233: Tinúviel Astraea ✩

Reward	Amount
AP (Bellmoril) (Currencies)	1

MYO-ELN349: Manadh

Reward	Amount

Add-Ons

These items have been removed from the submitter's inventory and will be refunded if the request is rejected or consumed if it is approved.

Item	Source	Notes	Quantity

Malis's Bank

Currency	Quantity