Hidden(open)

[HoudiniDerek]

"There are many things you do not understand in life, child." Kimara looked at her knowingly and focused on the altar to see if the runes had been activated. The fact that the girl had not only noticed the garden but had wondered about its potential was a good sign, especially if she was whom the prophecy foretold.

Kimara looked at the runes in the altar and they began to shimmer. A single rune which appeared to be circular in nature with several squared edges emerged. And then it was gone...and so was the blood. The sacrifice and offering had been accepted. This young lady would be allowed to know the secrets of the hidden city...and would become one of its protectors.

"You have passed the test of the blood sacrifice, child," Kimara spoke again...breathing a little easier now that nothing would have to be done to ensure that this girl not remember. "I will answer your questions and show you around the city later. First, why don't you tell me your name and more about you, hmmmm?"

[jada]

"My name is Cadence, but i prefer to called Cadi. There is not much to know about me except I wanted to live life on my own. Do things to benifit myself without anyone else's help. I grew tired of Tamisha village and so decided to move on and found myself here." Cadi said quite simply.

"When am i going to see the rest of the city? There has to be some wicked hiding places. I wonder if there are other placeslike the garden that have some sort of special meaning." Cadi thought.

"Can I know your name? I don't beilieve you have told me mam'."

[HoudiniDerek]

Kimara looked at the girl as though unconvinced by her story, but did not press her farther. She would answer in her own time and Kimara was patient...very patient. A smile crossed the thin lips when Cadi asked her question.

"My name is Kimara Severn, dear...and what makes you think I am a woman...or human for that matter?" Kimara winked knowingly and slowly stood up, bones cracking multiple times.

"Come, I will show you the other entrance so you are aware of it. But beware, you cannot use it unless you enter with me. I am the only living soul with the magic spells to the doorway. All of the others have passed on..." Kimara trailed off and the eyes went hazy. Shaking the grizzled head, Kimara took up the staff and headed towards the interior of the city.

[jada]

"So...What are you exactly? And Will you pass on the magic to someone, so they too can get through the door?" Cadi followed with questions pileing into her head. Soon she had a mountian of questions. Her head was becomming overloaded with them. She focused on on in particular.

"I am not in a hurry to leave. So why am I in a rush to know so much right now, I have plenty of time."

Then Cadi's mountian of questions crumbled. Many were instantly lost and forgotten, all the ran through her ming now was a river of curiosity. She took in everything she passed in the ancient city. Building her own personal map of the place, and took notes on what she wanted to know more about. She followed Kimara silently amazed at the crumbling buildings around her. She could imagine the city whole once again. With people of wisdom and thier children soaking in the knowlegde their parents worked so hard to gain.

Why had Cadi been so eagar to escape it? Maybe these children had to work to uncover the knowledge as well, maybe they had some kind of motive to gain knowledge. Maybe they weren't just handed everything. Life had to have been a challenge in some way.

[HoudiniDerek]

Kimara did not answer right away when Cadi was asking questions. Sometimes questions found their own answers when they were held at bay long enough. They walked through the city until they came to the exact center. In the center was an old oak door. However, there was nothing supporting it. It was standing straight up with nothing around it for several yards.

Kimara walked around it, showing Cadi that it was just a door and that no buildings or anything was attached to it. Kimara walked up to the door and tried to push it and pull it to no avail. Kimara stepped back and looked at Cadi once more.

"This is the door to the heart of Valear. The way is protected by magic. Only by magic can you find your way here through this door and only by magic can you leave. The way is rough and long and it if you are not careful, you could end up lost in the tunnels of the darkness. I am the only one alive who knows the spells and it took me years to master them."

Kimara walked over to a bench outside of one of the buildings sitting within the city and sat down. Leaning on the stick, Kimara leaned forward and continued. "Only those with an inherent sense of magic, and to some degree, magic in their blood can hope to get that to work. From what I have seen, learn, and sensed from you, that is not the case with you. When I die, these spells will more than likely die with me. That means this way will be forever safe from exposure. However, you will need to watch the other entrance. As you found out, it is easy to penetrate at times."

Kimara leaned back and sighed heavily. The day was already passing and it would soon be night. They could easily reside here for a few days, but they would have to leave soon for more supplies and such if they wanted to extend the adventure as a pair much longer than that. "Do you have any other questions you want answered, child?"

[jada]

"Does that mean that I am the only other person who knows of this place?" she questioned.

Cadi could picture this place as if it had once been whole. All of the ancient buildings no longer crumbled, and the door, the door that stood at it's center must have once been hidden. even though protected by magic as it was now, when this city had inhabitants it must have been heavily gaurded. But with the years passing many who knew it's secret died leaving only Kimara.

"Kimara, ... Are you going to pass the secrets of this place on to anyone? Or are you going to let the history of it all die with you one day?"

Cadi didn't want to see this (as she saw it) Magnificent place crumble, fade, and eventually die after Kimara would pass on. She wanted to see it prosper and grow and become whole and healthy again. Unfortunatly cadi also remebered like the garden this place was a land of magic and not so easily fixed up.

[HoudiniDerek]

Kimara grinned at the young lady with a twinkle in the old eyes. "I just passed the knowledge on to you, dear." Kimara winked and stood up, bones cracking in protest.

"This city has ever only been known to a few....especially with the passing of the old ways. There is always someone who knows of its existence and how to get here. When I die, you will be that person, Cadi. The responsibility is a big one, which is why the blood sacrifice is necessary."

Kimara gestured and headed towards one of the smaller buildings on the edge of the circle where the strange door sat. Inside, Kimara poured some ale for the two of them and retreated to a round table in the middle of the room.

"This used to be a tavern. Even then, taverns were popular. It makes me wonder how much we have changed over the years, if at all. Would our ancestors see as equals or intruders? It is a fantasy of mine that I indulge from time to time and that is why I return. Plus, I like to keep records of Valear and leave for those who will come after us...and read up on the history of Valear when this city was grand."

Kimara took a swig of ale and sloshed it around the glass in an absent fashion. "I will not pass the secret of the door on to anyone, Cadi. I have only met one person in my time that could do what is required. While I am sure he would love this place, I do not intend to pass it on. Like you, he will have to find something out first and then we will see. I do not search for a successor, but I will train them when they come to me."

Kimara refilled the empty glass and set the bottle back down before taking a long draught. "You have a long life ahead of you, Cadi, but it would be longer if you took fewer chances with it. Find something to make of yourself. Believe in something. Remember, this city is tied to the heart and soul of Valear. Ask yourself if you are not part of the reason it is crumbling as we speak."

[jada]

Cadi had to ponder that for awhile. It was like biting stale bread. It was so hard for her to chew that information, she was part of the problem before. But would she continue to be that problem?...

It wasn't something she would decide just yet, after all that is the way she had lived her whole life. She didn't have to change in one day.

"I suppose i have been part of the problem. But what about the people who were born into a bad life and had no choice but to do wrong things to get by? Do they contribute to the whole mess or are they just veiwed as doing what is nessisary to servive?"

Cadi wasn't liking this too much anymore. The world was much too complicated a place to just pick apart so easily. Why did life have to be so complicated? Why couldn't it just be beautiful. Simple. ?



(OOC: sorry, it's not very good, but i need to get back in the swing of things. I haven't been writing at all and my brain is like not functioning correctly . )

[HoudiniDerek]

Kimara nodded knowingly as Cadi came to grips of what her lifestyle might have meant to Valear as a whole. It was very shocking for some to realize that their actions had repercussions beyond their own lives. Just like ripples in a pond from a rock, the world was tied to those ripples and more and more people were affected as the ripples spread farther outward.

"Being born under a bad sign or into a bad situation is no excuse, my dear," Kimara stated after another swig of ale. "You are responsible for your actions up to a certain point and beyond. You can choose whether or not to try and redeem yourself or go down the easiest path in the forest. Either way, the results and the consequences can be directly tied back to a conscious decision you make. No one is free of the burden of consequence...not even you."

Kimara took another swig and looked at the girl with sad, tired eyes. "Now, more than ever, your actions will define who you are and what you are about. You know of this place now...its message and meaning. Every action you take from now on will change you. You will scrutinize yourself more and you have the burden of worry for a whole planet on your head now. If Valear falls, will it be your fault?"