Welcome to Gaia! ::

Whatever you do child, do not rest in the open where dangers can easily spot you for there is no telling what lurks beyond the horizon.

Pounamu could not help but to think of the elder’s words as she kicked her way out of the ocean depths and climbed onto a cluster of rocks that jutted from the ocean. The hybrid was exhausted with every muscle in her body screaming at her to rest. It took all of her energy to just break free from the water and to drag herself up onto the largest of the rocks so that she could lay there for a moment to try to regain some energy. The fact that she was even still alive amazed the hybrid who had been flooded with adrenaline just moments ago, her staff keeping her from collapsing as she fought against a creature and sent its body flying back into the depths to hopefully never be seen again. Pounamu had agreed to help fight against the sea creature after hearing that it had been terrorizing the nearby settlement where she had been staying for the past couple of days while traveling in search of Naia. She had spent months already exploring the Kahi islands to try to find her friend, but without much luck save for faint hints here and there from those that gossiped about a golden hapuna wanting to look for treasure. It was exhausting going from place to place without stopping much save for whenever she got caught up in matters such as these where Pounamu would end up helping out whenever someone was in trouble. Eventually it seemed that there truly was no place left in Kahi for her to search and Pounamu had come this way because of a port that was further south, just a few days travel away, so that she could take a ship to the earthling countries in hopes that there could be more clues there about Naia’s disappearance. The hapuna had always gone on about finding out more about earthlings and their treasures, after all, and the few clues that she had pointed towards the hapuna taking a journey overseas. So maybe, just maybe there would be more news at that port where she could inquire about any passengers that left Kahi over the past few months. And along the way Pounamu had stumbled into this quaint little village with its scenic views and a little inn that didn’t charge much for the room but offered plenty of service and care for any traveler. At first glance it had seemed like an ideal place for her to spend a few days to gather her energy for the overseas journey that awaited her. So much for resting there though since within two days she had learned about local fishers being in trouble. Now her energy was completely drained, her body bruised and bloodied all over with her one arm hanging limply by her side from the last attack that she suffered before ending the fight. Her only solace was the precious staff clutched in her own functioning hand that had saved her life, Pounamu relying on it to support her as she crawled up the cluster of rocks and finally collapsed. Maybe one of the villagers would come out this way to look for her before the next tide washed her body back into the ocean. At this point that was all she could hope for since she had no idea what else to do. It wasn’t as if she had Naia to pluck her from the rocks and carry her to safety, as much as she wished that was the case. If only this could be the moment of their reunion, she would be so delighted no matter how exhausted she felt. After all, the only reason she was so far away from home was to find Naia to adventure together again just like what they imagined as children. Hopefully she’s safely finding all the treasures that she’s always dreamed of right now. Maybe if fate wasn’t so cruel Naia would be nearby, preparing to return home to share all of her stories from the past few months away and Pounamu’s search would be over. Pounamu’s eyes fluttered closed as she tried to imagine her friend showing up at this very moment, the hallucination that the golden hapuna was actually there nearly working as the dark edges of her vision finally took over and she passed out.


It seemed as if she would be breaking the warning from her elder….that thought haunted her beneath the illusion as reality clashed with her dreams. Still, Pounamu didn’t have the energy to even care at the moment. It was not as if she had a choice in where she rested even as the warning from the elder haunted her, but such a mistake held disastrous results for the young elemental who was spotted by a foreign vessel filled with those holding ill intent for the rest of the world. Despite her battered appearance it was obvious that she would be a worthwhile investment for those interested in such things and so the crew plucked her from those rocks and took her to one of their finest cabins for holding. If she had not been so injured then perhaps they would have simply tossed her below with others held in the damp brig below. Instead Pounamu was treated and wrapped up so that her wounds would heal without any issue during the two month voyage towards the Matori coast - a fact that she would learn to dread later when all was revealed about why they were going to the earthling continent in the first place.

As much as she wished otherwise, Pounamu woke up within the first few days after being taken in by the crew. It was a disorienting sensation to feel the rocking of the boat as she stirred into consciousness and then saw wooden boards instead of open skies, the new room causing much confusion as she tried to make sense of everything. Where was she? How did she even get here? This was not the room that she had been staying in at the village, that much was for certain. And then came the panic when she felt the rough ropes digging into her wrists from where she was imprisoned on the simple cot, the captain not wanting to take any risks with their newest passenger. The dark musty walls of her room, the continuous rocking of the ship as they crossed rough waters and the lack of fresh air was enough to make her retch as she tried to regain her bearings. The noise alerted the healer, a rough looking earthling with gold eyes and finned ears peeking out beneath dark tangled hair, and it took a whole afternoon for Pounamu to fully accept that she was on a vessel sailing away from Kahi and towards earthling lands. How strange even that the healer looked similar to her people while the rest looked…well so different! The captain was an Oban man who didn’t have any patience as he ignored Pounamu and simply discussed her health with the healer before deciding that she could stay in the cabin for the remainder of the voyage. Best ta keep the goods ene tip-top condition ta geh as much as we can from the collector, aye. Keep ‘er from scarrin’ up tha’ prettah face. The rest of the time was spent in a fever as Pounamu’s body fought against infection and the hybrid recovered with the pungent smell of healing ointments and incense blurring the rest of her senses. Thankfully though the rowdy crew that she only heard snippets about were kept outside of her room, the door locked save for when the healer came with food and to check in on her recovery progress. There was some humanity in the old Matori though as he eventually started lingering more during his visits and spoke with Pounamu and taught her some of the earthling languages and customs in preparation for her future arrival in Oba. Just in case you do find a way out of the hell that awaits you, miss. That was all he could do with her since he had his own contract to abide by, else his family that relied heavily upon his income would suffer even more than they already were with his disappearance in their lives. At least that was what Pounamu gathered as she tried her best to keep up with the Matori as she eased him into sharing more information as their voyage continued on. There were louder days of course when he couldn’t spend much time with her, the crew attacking other settlements and ships which rocked Pounamu’s cot back and forth across the room as the ship whipped around other vessels to fight. Sometimes the crew would board, other times they would be threatened and boarded before fighting back, but at the end of the day any hope of freedom dissipated as she listened to loud cheers and jeers with the lock on her door staying put as the healer took care of any injured during those clashes. It seemed they all shared the same term for these ocean raiders though - pirates. Pounamu was stuck on a ship of pirates who wanted nothing more than to toss her to someone else like a bag of goods for pay when they finally arrived at the Matori coastline. Any trades would happen there in the darkness of evening, Pounamu tethered to a few others who were thrown into the back of a smuggler’s wagon to be taken further inland into the Oban capital city of Sulburi. All she could do was keep a brave face as she simply nodded her final farewell to the healer who had taken care of her during the past few weeks, the Kahi truly thankful for his aid despite everything. If she hadn’t been captured then perhaps she would have been found by the villagers, but she also could have just been washed away by the tide into the deep ocean where she more than likely would have passed away from her severe injuries. So who knew? Maybe this was the only twisted way that fate could preserve her life instead of simply allowing her to slip into the darkness of the ocean depths as so many others had.

Still, it did not mean she had to simply go along with it like others who trudged forward with their heads held low. Admittedly at first Pounamu did stay quiet, watching as the scenery changed from ocean coastlines full of dark cliffs and waves different from the crystal clear waters of her home island, but after a time she started to ask questions to those who were also added to their ranks that were earthlings as well. What was this land called? Did anyone know what was happening? Slavery was not a thing in Kahi, nor was it supposed to be a thing here in the present state but that was what the black market was for ever since the Oban war ended. Smugglers would make deals with the wealthy who could manipulate things to their advantage and bring in contractual servants to work for a time, if they could ever pay off the contract that their new masters owned. As for Pounamu? It wouldn’t surprise the petite Matori hybrid girl with pink curls who spoke with her that the Kahi would be a precious prize for some family to show off to others who were fascinated by the islanders who had just been recently introduced to their world. It was why she was taken with a few others who had been gathered from Kahi by the pirates into a separate bathing chamber when they finally did settle in Sulburi. The inn was discreet and accustomed to working with smugglers, its placement ideal where it was hidden along the edges of the city for various travelers with a bustling tavern in front, and the large chambers in the back had pools of water for them to bathe in. All the dirt and grime that had clung to Pounamu’s skin and tattered clothing was roughly scrubbed away by other serving girls who worked at the inn, the Oban twins knowing better than to ask questions as long as they got their pay. And work hard they did as Pounamu tried to protest every time they dumped water over her hair and pulled out the tangles with an ivory comb without hesitation. There was no point in trying to run this time, not when she didn’t have clothing at the moment and smugglers were positioned at every possible exit and entrance to the building. Her previous attempt when they first arrived in Oba had already been intercepted with another getting lashes in her place for trying to run away with her. The poor girl’s screams had been muffled by the pain across her expression was obvious to all who witnessed the punishment. Pounamu couldn’t watch such a thing again because of her own mistake. And so she simply endured as her hair was tied back into a long braid with simple ribbons woven throughout. Her skin almost shimmered with how much scented oils they rubbed into it and Pounamu shivered as a silk dress was pulled over her body, the flowing material foreign and strange to the Kahi who was more accustomed to the more natural materials woven into her clothing back home. At least her skin felt somewhat hydrated again after enduring the harsh dryness of the desert, the very landscape awful and uncomfortable for the Kahi who required water to stay in shape. How did anyone survive in such a place? No wonder these earthlings had turned out to be so cruel! Once dressed she was put back into line with the others from Kahi who looked to be from all over the islands, none of which were talkative thanks to the constant glares from the smugglers who threatened them. Though it looked like while they were here for display, unlike the other servants who had been brought along into Sulburi, she was the centerpiece since her island home had only recently been discovered and none like her had ever been spotted before. There had been no hesitation apparently from the one who had bought their contracts and Pounamu didn’t even get a chance to go to the main event like some of the others who were tossed in front of a crowd to sell their abilities. She was instead whisked away with a select few into a manor hidden at the upper edge of Sulburi, the upper level as normal as could be beyond the tall walls that blocked it from outside view, with hidden levels of stairs twisting further and further into an underground cavern that stretched throughout the property. It was here that the largest ballroom existed beneath the cavern ceiling that matched the marble flooring and flickering flames colored by the glass orbs holding them for guests to enjoy. It was almost surreal to be brought to such a place with how the various shades of violet and blue played off of each other along the reflective surface of the marble floor. There were even pits of fire held together by bronze braziers to add to the effect as their dancing shadows stretched across the walls with the stalactites only adding more to the display. And at the front of the giant room with its elegant columns and expensive looking statues of earthlings frozen in various positions? That was where the main stage was for the owner to lounge on a chaise with others surrounding her, all chosen to accompany her for the night. And it was in that moment when Pounamu’s bi-colored gaze met that ruby one that she realized sea monsters were not the only things to inspire dread in her very soul. Perhaps it was not fate saving her after all. Maybe this was something worse than fading into the deep abyss of the ocean itself. Pounamu could not help the thought as she was brought forward to be appraised by the one who now held onto her contract, the grim reality finally sinking in on the Kahi who was terrified of whatever awaited her next.

[2734]

For many it would be a hauntingly beautiful scene with various masked figures waltzing about in a grand ballroom, the rich colors of Oban indigo and crimson prominent throughout the entire event with a cast of decorated servants to attend to all of the guests. Some did not even bother to wear masks with their layered makeup and accessories offering only a hint of a disguise and it made Pounamu’s stomach twist to think of what confidence they must have or how much they did not worry about the authorities to show up so boldly at an underground affair such as this. Not that she knew much about earthling culture but based upon the whispers of servants in the hallways it was very uncommon for someone to flaunt about living creatures like they were pieces in a museum. Such practices apparently had ended decades ago with a war, something that should have disrupted these events but somehow only fueled more of them for those who thrived in the shadows of the great cities. Did earthlings not have a system of justice? Though she supposed that they must have for the other guests to be so secretive with their identities. Even her home island had some sort of protection, some form of council to help govern and make certain that everything from artisans to fighters had some sort of justice to answer to in case of vile deeds. The life that she had once known there was far more peaceful than this bustling city that she had slowly learned more and more about through the haze of her stay within the collector’s manor. While her arrival in Oba felt like just yesterday, the phantom pain still making her wrists ache from the heavy cuffs, the truth was it had been weeks and possibly months since she had arrived in Jatine and probably even more than that considering the amount of time that she had lost before fighting against the haze that they kept so many of the collections in. Of course they only reserved such treatment for the special ones, and for those that they thought were worthwhile to keep despite their resistance to the life offered here. Some came willingly, the very thought terrifying Pounamu, but she refused to bend and accept that this was going to be her life going forward. She was not some sort of mindless doll to present to elites that wanted to bid on her, nor was she a performer seeking to grow her own jewels and gold by appeasing those here.

When she was a child Pounamu had been quiet and reserved, but over time the elementalist had started gaining more of her courage while training back in the islands. When she first arrived in Oba that courage showed up in multiple attempts to escape before she had fallen into a trap set up by her new provider. The very memory of those nights, of watching the shimmering crystal as it rotated on that silver chain before her eyes, and of feeling herself fade away into those gentle words sent a strange shiver down Pounamu’s spine. Waking up and not knowing where she was and how much time had passed if not days then weeks, of breaking free from that haze to only be reckless in her panic which ended up with her getting caught once more, and then repeating the cycle with the crystal and those crimson eyes haunting her every move afterwards. Surely, eventually it would break her….at least that was what one would believe. Somehow Pounamu endured though and just as when she was a child, the hybrid Kahi would hold onto pieces of material like silks to help organize her thoughts and memories. What had started as a childhood fear of forgetting those she loved was now an actual anchor in her time of need as she fought to not forget herself and all those that she cared about. Those pieces of silk that she stored under the mattress that she slept on in her private quarters, a luxury reserved for the most special ones in the collection, somehow managed to find their way into her hands whenever the haze was waning and it brought her back to reality. A bright pink for Naia’s eyes, a deep turquoise that was as close as she could get to represent Kili with his brilliant green markings, crimson for her aunt, indigo for her mother and a slightly darker shade for her father and a few other pieces of materials to just mark everyone that had meant so much to her so far in her journey before she was ripped away from her home island. Naia, I was supposed to catch up and find her before all of this went so horribly wrong. The very thought brought tears to her eyes as she curled up on the marble floor by her bed, her fingers clutching the silk dress so tightly that her nails ripped at the material. Eventually though the pattern had to break and the last time that Pounamu snapped out of her trance was the moment that she decided to endure all that she could while retaining her mind instead of succumbing into the haze once more. For the past couple of weeks she had gone along with everything willingly, acting as if she needed those drinks and dances to keep going, and despite her skin crawling when fingers grazed across her arms the Kahi managed to act the part well enough to succeed with her ruse. There was only the quiet click of the lock in her door at night which was partly for her own protection, and there were no more chains to keep her in place should she try to run and especially no more of that swinging crystal or sickly incense. All that existed in the darkness was the muffled screams and cries into one of the many feathered pillows as she clutched it to her chest as the night continued on with only the faint rays of moonlight as her witness.

And now as further proof that her ruse was working, the hybrid was allowed to bathe by herself in the large chamber attached to her quarters with a servant waiting outside to help dress her afterwards. Slipping free from the silk dress, Pounamu allowed the soft material to slide down her shoulders as she gingerly stepped forward on the tiled floor with its spiraling mosaic patterns of amber and ruby. The tiles were cool against her feet and somehow managed to make her shiver despite the heat of the Oban desert that seeped into the room from the outside. Still, it was nice to feel something instead of nothing and so Pounamu held onto that feeling as she approached the steaming waters that had been granted to her. It was not as if she could simply swim to freedom from a stagnant pool of water like this, but apparently the earthlings in charge were still afraid of what could be done if she was left alone in such a place for so long and so for months she had the careful eyes of servants trained on her as they helped her bathe and dressed her for events. Today was the first time in forever that the Kahi hybrid could simply slip into the bath on her own and just enjoy the feeling as water washed over her skin. She did not know if all earthlings had such luxuries to keep them going since there was no nearby ocean or river for the capital city, but the large chamber with the pool of water that she could actually swim in was the one blessing that Pounamu had in this place. The realization brought tears to her bi-colored gaze, the Kahi’s emotions bubbling up once more. She felt so much despair about all of this despite her attempts at clinging to hope, how could she do anything other than keep pretending to go along with everything here? How did she even escape and if she did, then where did she even go in a foreign land with no directions or money of her own? Not only herself, but the others as well who would want to return to the islands with her. She didn’t want to leave them alone, not if she could help it. As far as she knew, not many Kahi had even seen these lands since their islands had been isolated from the earthling countries for centuries until just recently. She would stick out like a sore thumb if anyone was to send guards looking for her and Pounamu didn’t even dare to think about what could happen once she was found in such a situation. All she could do was just continue living in the moment as she tried to figure out some plan, trying her best to avoid suspicion even while soaking in the scented waters before the Matori servant came to reclaim her to prepare her for the evening event. It was a quiet event, neither speaking really for fear that someone else would walk past and catch them in the act. Pounamu and the servant both knew it was for the best for fear of what could happen to those who annoyed the nobles living within the manor, one terrified to lose herself again while the other feared for the small portion of salary that kept her from going back into a worse situation as well. All Pounamu could do was simply sit there then as the Matori worked her hair into elegant curls with pearl beads threaded through the locks as she twisted some up into a half crown and allowed the rest to fall against her bare shoulders. She didn’t even know the name of the servant, they all knew better than to speak with Pounamu after her previous escapades and none dared to learn too much about the other. It was easier to stay numb that way if you didn’t have anyone else to worry about and focused only on your own survival, right? Still, the girl was nice enough to Pounamu as she carefully helped her into one of the many Oban silk garments that the Kahi was adjusting to wearing with a golden chain belt holding the sheer material in place along her waist. It was scary how wealthy the collector was with her underground connections feeding into her twisted hobbies, the very thought of how much that belt alone cost making Pounamu’s stomach twist. If she could just steal one accessory from any of these outfits and sell them to a merchant in the marketplace then surely that would be enough to feed her for a few weeks and afford travel back towards the ocean. The temptation was so strong even as she allowed the servant to guide her down the hallway towards the main ballroom where music was already playing softly through the arched doorways. The sight of another crowd of masked strangers was enough to make Pounamu sick but she had mastered hiding her emotions beneath that dull expression with her gaze growing distant as she avoided looking directly at anyone gathered here tonight. It was here in the midst of a ballroom full of luxurious items and moving bodies that Pounamu slipped around the edges, hoping that her momentary spotlight introduction would be forgotten as others took to the stage with their music and dance to entertain tonight’s participants.

After all, she was not alone as there were many various servants from foreign lands dressed in elegant Oban attire for show, their finery all given to them by the collector. While Pounamu still had yet to learn the name of their Oban captor she remembered her features through the haze of scattered memories. An elegant earthling woman with long dark hair and a scattering of those golden earthling gemstones across lightly tanned skin. It was almost impossible to forget those crimson eyes as well, the very sight of them striking terror in Pounamu. Anything else that Pounamu knew was gathered through servants who sometimes did dare to gossip in the hallways, a rare occurrence and one that only happened when they assumed Pounamu was out of sorts. From those whispers she learned that the family had been in this business long before the Oban war and that they had simply moved their activities to the underground once certain things were banned by the new monarchy. Most seemed to almost revere their mistress and did not doubt that she could obtain whatever she wanted. It was best to just stay quiet and do their best to earn enough to pay off their contract before it was too late to leave this place. Of course there were also discussions about preparing for larger events, the staff stressed and strained over making certain everything was perfect. It was what had allowed her to understand that tonight would have a lot of interesting guests, some that worked with the collector from outside of Oba with others coming in that were rarely seen. For once she would not be the one stuck lounging in the main area next to the masked collector, instead she would be walking with others since tonight’s event was to socialize with others in their society and not try to sell off any of the collections. Instead they were simply here to serve and act as part of the staff for the evening, a flex of what power the collector held. Anyone else would be afraid of losing such prizes while she acted as if she had plenty to spare with her immense wealth and influence.

It almost made Pounamu wonder who she was trying to woo at this particular event. Still, she knew better than to look at whoever it was lounging out there with the most important of guests. Instead the Kahi was trying her hardest to keep with the shadows, slipping her drinks into various plants lining the walkways without being noticed so that she wouldn’t stumble because of the heavy hitting alcohols. She was lucky unlike the other few Kahi who lingered around in the ballroom, some completely lost to the buzz of everything while others had simply accepted their fate since it allowed them more luxuries than ever imagined before. Not everyone came from the best of backgrounds but it still twisted Pounamu’s stomach to see some foreigners, hybrids and even fellow Kahi willingly entertaining the masked guests that were here tonight. Was that a river Kahi walking away with an earthling woman? It was hard to tell the origins of that particular guest with her hair twisted up under a dark veil, but the Kahi’s lean and graceful form was noticeably taller and with their silvery skin striking in comparison to the darker attire of the guest. Their gaze did not appear dull or vacant like others and the very realization nearly made Pounamu stumble. It appeared that maybe her goal of helping out others once she figured out this place would not perhaps work for everyone. If they decided to stay then what was it to her? All she wanted was her own freedom and to offer the chance to others who wanted to return home like the golden hapuna who was dazed and being tossed from dancer to dancer as they played with him like he was just some type of doll. The sight of someone like that with similar ruby hair made Pounamu’s heart ache. What if Naia accidentally stumbled into this place one day? Would she end up in a similar situation to that hapuna? No, she couldn’t let that ever happen. Never! But how did she escape or better yet, could she even fight back against this place? How she would love to close these doors so that no one ever got trapped inside again. It was so easy for her to imagine setting the place on fire, but then the fear that innocents would be harmed always snapped her out of such a fantasy. The masked figures would probably get out of here without a problem while the staff would be the ones to suffer from such chaos. Would it be worth harming so many as a distraction for the slim chance that a few could escape? The very thought made Pounamu’s mouth tighten into a tight line of frustration. It was not something that she would ever be able to decide upon, that much was for certain with her soft-hearted ways. Nor could she even summon fire like that in her current state. Something had happened since she had been brought to this estate and Pounamu could not figure out why she had no connection to anything like before. Was it because she was away from her home oceans or simply because of something that she was forced to eat? She was thinking or rather hoping it was the latter since an escape would prove pointless if she could not access her magic later on. She already knew it would be challenging enough to navigate foreign lands, and without magic it would surely be impossible. But how did she even begin to figure out her magic when she was still struggling to just navigate all of this on her own? It was frustrating enough to nearly bring tears to her eyes even as she tried her best to keep that empty expression to avoid attention. Focus, ground yourself. She had to do this. She would figure things out…one step at a time. Pounamu closed her bi-colored eyes before a pair of earthlings waltzed past, their fingers reaching out towards her before she pulled back and acted as if someone else had called her name. Heart racing, Pounamu tried to keep a smooth pace without frantically bolting as she twisted through the crowd and tucked herself in the shadows of one of the many columns lining the ballroom. This was going to be a tricky event to navigate, but she was determined to see it through without being caught in her act and find whatever small speck of hope that she could for a path forward through these foreign lands.

[3040]

Arunika. The young lady of the manor who was mostly hidden from view save for whenever her mother wanted to present her to potential suitors. Despite being a b*****d child she was an absolute beauty with dark hair that shimmered like onyx and golden eyes that seemingly were brighter than any of the golden pieces within the estate. Her only downfall were the faint traces of Matori heritage from the lover that her mother had taken years ago which had resulted in her birth.While some may have considered her too impure for their noble bloodline others who wanted in with the wealthy family, mostly merchants, and adored lovely things did not mind as much. That was why she was such an important bargaining piece since the mistress of the estate had two other children to work with. A son and a daughter sired by her actual husband, a lower rank Oban noble who had just enough connection to allow her to flourish in this society despite her own origins as a merchant who had simply pushed aside the original collector to take up their mantle and begin her own work. Somehow though Arunika appeared to be so innocent in comparison to the rest of her family, the very thought making Pounamu lower her guard more around the young noblewoman. Originally the Kahi had thought to take advantage of Arunika’s loneliness, making a friend within the otherwise prickly walls of the estate, but after time it seemed that she too fell for the lovely appearance and personality of the young mistress. It was unexpected, but not the worst thing especially since Arunika spent days begging her mother to claim Pounamu as her own maid and companion. Somehow her words worked, the girl agreeing to behave and see as many suitors as possible before allowing her mother to choose a fiance while Pounamu was allowed to stay by Arunika’s side as her companion. Though it seemed Arunika was quite taken with her, even the lady of the household did not see it fit to worry about such matters, and so Pounamu went along with things with the hope that somehow it would turn out for the better.

[360]