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 Posted: Sun Jul 18, 2021 8:14 am
 (Lines by kaname423, Colors by Elyessi)
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Posted: Sun Jul 18, 2021 12:22 pm
♥ Table of Contents ♥
❣ Table of Contents
❣ Nanami
❣ Relationships
❣ Rps & Plots
❣ Inventory
❣ Reqs
❣ Current things
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Posted: Sun Jul 18, 2021 12:23 pm
♥ The Swim So Far....♥
❣ Won in a raffle on 7/16/21!
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Posted: Sun Jul 18, 2021 12:26 pm
♥ Nanami ♥
Name: Ami
Stage: 3 - Sage
Race: Kawena
Sexuality: Taken by Noelani
3 Base Traits: Shy, Sensitive, Loving
Personality: Ami has a natural affinity for knowledge. The young kawena quickly proved herself as quick witted with a photographic memory that could recall anything she ever read or saw. Her passion for solving puzzles kept her a bit apart from other younglings as she found it easier to understand things such as numbers and languages more so than the actual social interactions of others. Still, despite her isolated nature the girl has a gentle spirit and will actually lend a kind ear whenever someone does dare to try and get closer to her. Ami won't be the one to approach normally and can be often misunderstood as being distant or even uppity when she's simply too afraid to bother others as she fears rejection. If anything it is simply shyness which makes her seem a bit snobby when in fact she wouldn't mind playing with the others if she didn't feel so overwhelmed in a large group. For those who dare to push past her "icy" exterior and earn her trust they'll find a kind and loyal friend who would fight with them until the bitter end.
Now that she has been out exploring the world more, the Kawena is starting to be more outgoing and bolder in her approach by actually befriending and helping others instead of simply pushing them away out of fear. She has a deep belief in romance, only strengthened more now that she has found love and a family with Noelani. Her intelligence is key in helping to decipher ancient texts and treasure maps, something that is a great assist to Noelani whenever they plan out excursions throughout Matori and Oba.
Description: Slender, with a slight hourglass shape.
Some Notes:
Theme Songs: [Mercury's Theme]
♥ History ♥
❣ Ami was mostly raised by her mother who was a strict mentor with high expectations. Her family comes from a long line of scholars and healers so it was only expected that the youngling would follow suit. Naturally this pushed her more into learning and working towards her future path since she refused to disappoint either of her parents. Ami has an older brother who she vaguely remembers as a gentle spirit who watched over her when she was younger. Several years ago though her brother left home to go out and find himself in the world, something which greatly disappointed her parents, and despite the affection she holds for her brother the young kawena refuses to disappoint her parents as well which is another reason why she pushes herself to try so hard. While her father is busy helping out in the community and often traveling, her mother would be the one mainly raising Ami and helping her study instead of being like other younglings who would perhaps be playing more games instead during this point of their lives. Thankfully Ami doesn't mind as much since she's terribly shy and always too critical of herself to really spend time dilly dallying around with others, a courtesy of her anxiety caused by the pressure she feels from her family. As a young girl she was content staying home and working hard to live up to her family's expectations. An unexpected friendship with Mina slowly but surely started to change Nanami's approach on life and eventually Ami broke free of her family's expectations to go and experience the world on her own. She now explores Kahi and helps out those in need in order to spread love and justice.
♥ Relationships ♥
Mina - her truest friend that she has adored since their youngling years, both girls have set out on their own adventures but she hopes to reunite with her soon!
Noelani - a dear friend that was a visiting treasure hunter in Kahi, the two spent weeks together before going on different paths but she hoped that fate would let them meet once more. After years apart the two reunited and began pursuing a relationship together, eventually building a home and family in Matori.
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Posted: Sun Jul 18, 2021 12:33 pm
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Posted: Sun Jul 18, 2021 12:34 pm
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Posted: Sun Jul 18, 2021 12:35 pm
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Posted: Tue Jul 12, 2022 4:43 pm
♥ Mystic Path ♥
Whenever Nanami’s family visited Tamar the girl was thankful that they lived in Hota. It was not as if she despised the village that was in the deepest area of the long caverns that stretched across their island, but rather that she just felt so terribly isolated when in it. Nanami could imagine being raised here and learning how to deal with the isolation, not really caring when you had your local community and the depths of the caves to explore, but since she had grown up in Hota the girl was more accustomed to having better access to the outside world. Such a location had allowed her to meet Mina easier and it allowed her to sneak away whenever she met up with her friend at areas that were halfway between their homes, something made easier whenever Ami tagged along with her mother or father for their business trips. Unfortunately tagging along with other business trips meant that she had to endure this one even though it took her far away from her best friend. It would have been nice to invite Mina along but even Nanami didn’t know how those in Tamar would take to a foreigner, even if she was another Kahi. Her expression shifted thoughtfully as she placed a hand against the cool cavern wall, her fingers tickling some of the faintly glowing fungi that helped guide the way towards the center of Tamar. It felt so much darker down here but it was also beautiful in a way with how the bio-luminescent flora and fauna in the area made up for the lack of sunlight. Ami almost felt like she was a foreigner though with how her eyesight took forever to adjust to the darkness, the many impromptu trips to the surface over the last year slowly making her more comfortable with the sunlight and less accustomed to the darker area of the caverns.
“Your grandmother’s family was actually from Tamar.” Mused Nanami’s mother quietly as they walked along, her long dark hair almost glittering in the faint glow of the wider passageway. Unlike Nanami who wore a simple tunic and leggings for their trip with her short hair the older Kawena was dressed to impress with a silk dress and tight leggings that had gemstones and pearls woven into the finer material, the insulated underlayer being the only thing to keep her from getting a chill in the deeper caverns. Her hair was twisted in intricate braids decorated with more pearls and shells and Nanami could only imagine what it would be like to take the time to dress up like that. Once when she was younger her mother enjoyed brushing her hair but Nanami had started keeping it shorter as the long strands distracted her whenever she was studying and made it harder to hide her more recent adventures, her longer hair always getting messy during her missions with Mina. It was one thing if she could take the time to rearrange her clothing and her hair before returning home but Ami always had to rush back before her disappearance caused too much concern for her overprotective parents. It was hard enough as it was to swap outfits and hide her adventuring gear! There was no way she had the time to actually try to look as elegant as her best friend did even after a wild adventure in the ocean or along the islands.
Still, Nanami found her attention drifting back towards her mother as the words slowly sank in. “So grandmother was a local?” She questioned with a tilt of her head. That would make sense now that she thought about it. Her father’s mother was more wild than the rest of them and she knew that her father had been a bright student who hadn’t any relatives in the area whenever he first moved to Hota. Her father had thought Hota the best idea at the time since it connected him more with the other communities and gave him easier access to the other races of Kahi so that he could broaden his medical studies and connections over the years. Tamar was lovely in its own way but it truly was wild and more isolated than any of the other settlements. Her father most definitely could not have achieved his dreams by staying here and leaving to be in Hota connected him with her mother whose family had powerful connections and kept in touch with all the communities of Kawena the best that they could.
“Yes. Once your grandfather passed, your grandmother finally decided to come to Hota and settled with us.” Nanami’s mother confirmed with a nod. “We’re only staying for a couple of days but we’ll be using their old home since our normal accommodations are under construction.” Construction was a little stretch of the truth since Nanami knew that they were here for an emergency meeting since there had been a bit of an accident with a rampaging creature that a group of fighters had taken care of. Unfortunately the inn had been in the way of the fighting and had been damaged which was why her mother was here to help fund repairs, the owners finally calling in a favor that their family owed them from years past. Normally her mother simply sent a messenger since she honestly didn’t like going into Tamar but Nanami’s father was away and there had also been things at her grandmother’s home that he had been wanting but could not simply send anyone to fetch. Nanami was honestly surprised her mother had wanted to come herself, but apparently it was things that her family thought would be needed in the near future. “Here we are.” As they had been walking the pair twisted up a pathway that was a bit secluded from the rest of the settlement. A larger home had been carved within the larger cavern, an offshoot of the main area that housed the number of apartments for the locals, and it was here that her mother took Nanami.
“It’s big.” Nanami admitted her surprise quietly as they walked inside.
“Mmhmm. It’s simple but it does have plenty of space. Apparently your grandfather shared this space with at least ten siblings.” Her mother shook her head. “I couldn’t imagine.”
Nanami blinked at the image of her father having a larger family, something she wished they had known more about before everyone dispersed throughout the settlements to start their own families, and she couldn’t help glancing around all the different rooms. “Should I stay with you or look about?”
“You can look around. I have some meetings to attend but there’s a room of storage which should have the heirlooms your father wanted.”
“Okay.” Nanami nodded before going about away from her mother, her steps echoing slightly as she approached the emptier part of the home. Up the curving stairs that disappeared into natural crevices of rock, Nanami found herself amazed by how beautifully the house blended with the natural surroundings. Their own home back in Hota was close enough to the surface that they had natural materials from trees and the like to create her family’s manor, the brighter silver wood shimmering the darker areas. Here though the walls shimmered with condensation on the natural stone walls that were etched with lines from burning candles and the like that had been used over the years by the families residing within. She liked the natural feeling though, it made her feel more connected with the environment and she enjoyed the cool breeze that swept in from the various vents within the cave system as it carried hints of the ocean that surrounded them. She wished that her family had attempted to visit at least once or twice before her grandmother moved in with them, but those days were past and Nanami knew that she would truly never get to know what the home would have been like when it was full of life. She liked to imagine that her father’s family was more prone to laughter and having fun whereas her maternal family was so prim and proper that emotions were a rare exhibit. Her father had his moments when he was kinder with a warm laugh that was a bit lighter than her mother who was so strict and intent upon following all of the guidelines that kept their family above others. Nanami respected her mother but always felt so distant from her because of it. Now that she had experienced a friendship with someone so different the girl was understanding why she too had once come off as harsh and proud when she was simply shy and accustomed to focusing on her studies, not playing games and the like. If she had been born in a different life would she be the same as she was now? Nanami shook her head at the thought before stopping as she realized she had approached a larger room, the door slightly ajar as if welcoming her inside. It was colder here and Nanami had to use an orb of light to navigate, the little bioluminescent flowers inside the glass guiding her as they shined a path around the boxes of supplies.
Shouldn’t her father’s relatives come to claim this soon?
Nanami supposed it was because her father was the oldest that he had been left to sort out these belongings once her grandmother passed away. Still, she was surprised by how many things were there and couldn’t wait to see what relatives appeared over the next few days to help sort through things while her mother lingered in the area for business. Nanami’s uncles and aunts never really left Tamar and she had no idea what to expect from them or her cousins since they hadn’t met since she was a very young child. She hoped they were more like her grandmother with warm voices and a lack of respect for any rules even if that would bother her mother.
“Grandmother.” Nanami’s free hand reached for the blue pearl that hung on a silver chain around her neck. It was one of the final gifts from the old Kawena who had taught Nanami that it was okay to live her life the way that she wanted. Even if Nanami was still shy about approaching her mother and still doing her best to keep up with her studies, the words of her grandmother had given her the courage to go and meet up with Mina more often, exploring the ocean and nearby islands instead of simply staying inside to keep up with her family’s expectations. She missed her grandmother terribly even now and it was hard to not cry whenever she passed something that smelled of the woman’s herbal perfumes that she had enjoyed using. There was a blanket that Nanami stopped to inspect, her fingers tightening as she clung to the woven material that depicted a school of fish swimming in a circle under the full moon. It was bright and colorful and everything about it reminded her of her grandmother. Nanami swallowed against the rising emotions and slowly tucked the blanket back into the trunk, her fingers lingering for a moment before she closed the lid. She wasn’t completely certain what her father had wanted from the family home, but Nanami didn’t think it would be a simple blanket and as tempting as it was to cling to the reminder of her grandmother she knew that her mother would consider it a burden when they were only to take the bare minimum based upon her father’s requested items. It was hard to travel into Tamar after all and Nanami respected that decision since they needed to travel lightly whenever going into the deeper caverns and even leaving was dangerous based upon the creatures that lurked in the nearby ocean passages.
“It wouldn’t be dangerous if I was allowed to stand my ground.” Murmured Nanami with a frown as she thought about it. She was supposed to be able to fight dangerous things and protect the weak! Her mother would be against it since it wasn’t proper for a member of their family to dirty their hands like that. Her father could argue that if she dirtied her hands it would only be because she took up medicine like him and used that to guide her way into their community, but Nanami wanted to be more than a simple healer. She wanted to be an adventurer and wanted to be able to hold her own. It was a burning feeling that started in her chest as she thought more and more about it while walking through the quiet room. Actually…her chest was quite warm. Nanami blinked as she realized that she had actually gotten heated with her thoughts! “Am I sick?” She murmured before raising a hand to check her forehead for a temperature. It didn’t seem like she had a fever but at the same time something was strange. Nanami frowned before a gleam caught her attention. Was that there before? The girl tilted her head in confusion before walking towards the trunk that had somehow fallen to the side, the lid slightly ajar and allowing her to see a jeweled hilt that peeked out from the faded cloth that was wrapped around it. “What is this?” Her gaze widened as the bright blue star on the hilt of the blade seemed to match the pearl that her grandmother had gifted her. How unique! It was absolutely stunning with a gorgeous design like nothing Nanami had ever seen before. Unlike other settlements Tamar had a bit more strength to it, the darker caverns posing more dangers that some of the other islands in the ocean of Kahi. Was that why her grandmother would have a sword tucked away here like this? Still, Nanami couldn’t help closing her hand around the hilt. Her fingers curled around the cool metal perfectly and she swore that the gemstones gleamed even more as she lifted the blade from its bindings. It was almost magical.
Was it magical?
The question nearly caused Nanami to drop the sword before she quickly closed her hands around it again. Had her grandmother been something more than she had ever told her? “No way.” Nanami gasped as she found the sheath and placed the sword inside. Instead of tucking it back away though Nanami kept hold of it and carried it around with her as she sorted through the rest of the mysterious trunk. It looked like old traveler clothing was stored inside of the chest and was the reason the sword had been hidden before the trunk fell. The clothing was musty and torn from years of abandonment, but it definitely was shaped for a woman and not for any man. How curious! Nanami found herself digging deeper until her fingers touched a leather tome. How had this not been taken yet?
Maybe she would speak with her father about this when they returned. Nanami knew that her mother would not allow her to take a sword or a journal with her but at the same time Nanami didn’t feel like she should leave it behind. Something about this just called to her and she gladly scooped up the journal and sword so that she could store it with her luggage. “I’ll take this as a gift from you, Grandmother.” She whispered quietly as she started to understand more about her grandmother’s appreciation for Nanami venturing outside of their family’s expectations to instead adventure. Had she been a kindred spirit this whole time? It would appear so. That much became more obvious when Nanami managed to sneak the journal and sword back home after greeting her relatives and helping them to clean out the rest of the storage over the next few days. While they were just as different as she had hoped, none of them seemed eager for adventures nor did they seem to say anything about her grandmother being an adventurer. All of them were simply doing their best to keep up with their own families while the boldest uncles were hunters or traders who enjoyed tales of adventure and entertained them while noting that they were not heroes themselves.
When she arrived home though and helped her father to unpack the materials he had asked for, a few heirlooms, some of his older journals and some portraits of family members, Nanami found herself staring at a really pretty Kawena girl who looked like her father. “I never saw this aunt.” She mused quietly as she handed over the book of portraits to her father.
“That’s because she passed away.” Her father replied quietly, sorrow filling his gaze as he stared over the picture. “She was the most like your grandmother but unlike your grandmother she did not live through all of her adventures.”
Nanami blinked in surprise. That was the first time her father or anyone had referenced adventures and her grandmother. Still she could not be quite happy about it because the admission that her aunt had died darkened the mood. Her father was obviously upset over it and Nanami found herself placing a comforting hand on his arm. “I’m sorry.” Even Nanami felt depressed about it. What if her aunt was still around? Did that sword belong to her? Would Nanami have learned more from her aunt then? A soft sigh left her lips at the thought. It was almost selfish of her but she was curious about how different things could have been. Her father must have been mourning for so long though because even now she could feel his pain. “I wish I could have gotten to know her.”
“Ah.” Nanami’s father nodded with a faint smile. “Don’t tell your mother but she was admirable. Kei was a strong mystic and saved a lot of lives in ways that I never could. It’s a shame what happened, but she would not have been happy in any other life even if it was safer than the route she took.”
“A mystic?”
“Yeah.” Her father closed the book and tucked it away on a shelf. “Your grandmother was one as well but she stopped fighting a long time ago.”
“I see.” Nanami found her mind swirling with the realization that maybe….just maybe there was a reason she had a calling to adventure and felt so at ease with the elements, especially water. “Father…could I….nevermind. Let’s work on finishing this and I’ll help prepare dinner.” She shook her head since she knew his pain was already too much at the moment and settled for quietly helping him instead. Next time though she would have a serious conversation and finally admit her feelings, her desire to become a mystic shining just as brilliantly as the sword that was tucked away in her room.
[3151]
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Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2023 8:59 pm
♥ Arriving in Matori ♥
Coming to Matori was a strange experience. Nanami found herself roaming the earthling country with a perpetual look of confusion on her face. Everything here was so different and yet so similar at the same time! How was that even possible? The Kawena left the ship, her hood nearly slipping off of her hair once more, and the port town was nothing like she had expected. In Kahi most of their people lived within the water, keeping it nearby while the earthlings seemed more adverse to placing too much of the town near the ocean’s edge and instead built it a bit up the cliffs away from any potential floods. The docks seemingly stretched forever and the vast amount of cargo and different types of ships was admittedly overwhelming at first. “Excuse me! Watch out!” Another Matori man bumped into her and Nanami found herself taking a quick step back, nearly stumbling over a pile of coiled ropes before catching herself and darting to the side. Heart racing, Kawena placed a hand against her chest and counted to ten before finally removing her fingers and letting her hands drop back to her sides, her breathing even now that her heart had stopped thumping like crazy from the surprise. All she knew seemed so useless here and even the tidbits of Matori that she had learned seemingly slipped from her mind whenever confronted by foreigners curious about the stranger who was wandering in their town. Common thankfully was shared here despite her island accent and eventually Nanami managed to snag a room with the few coins that she had earned while helping the ship’s healer during their trip from Kahi to Matori. It was almost baffling the amount of accidents that had happened while island hopping all the way back towards Matori, the constant flood of sailors almost overwhelming until Nanami had offered her help. It was also beneficial that the Kawena knew more about the fauna in Kahi and could help with anyone who had accidentally ingested some poisonous plants, the antidote being quickly prepared by the Kawena while the earthlings scrambled around in a panic with those ill constantly rolling about with pale faces and upset stomachs. Some had almost claimed she was a witch, casting magic to make them ill before logic had sank in and Ami had proven herself to be a good person to most save for the few that refused to believe the Kawena wasn’t bad luck for their return voyage. Yes, blame me for your reckless decision to dive into those dark waters for treasure or for trying to snack on some glowing green mushrooms that you saw growing within the nearby cove. Nanami had simply rolled her eyes at them even though for a moment she truly had feared the crew would throw her overboard until the healer had gotten the captain to approve of Nanami helping in the sick ward with those fools. Her mother’s stern lectures and strict studies had gotten Nanami the knowledge she needed to prove herself as a reliable healer and honestly others were confused to hear that she was actually more prone to battle magic than simply healing! “Really? You seem so gentle and sweet now that we know you, so it’s truly hard to believe that you can fight like that!” Nanami simply would blush and shake her head before going back about her business, refusing to fight their assumptions and simply letting things stay like that until one dangerous encounter had her casting an array of magic and darting in with her grandmother’s sword to fight off the creature and save yet another life on the way towards Matori. After that encounter the crew had given her more respect and many kept their distance, save for the few that actually seemed to accept the Kawena in their midst. Those that did stay nearby found themselves wanting to learn more about Nanami and so she had shyly shared some of her story and given her true reason for leaving Kahi to go into foreign lands. A chance at love after years of doubting herself because of a loss so long ago, was it truly possible to love again? Yet she could not find it in herself to forget those pale green eyes and the hybrid who had smelled of vanilla and ocean breezes. They only had such a short amount of time together during Noelani’s stay in Kahi, but it felt like an eternity to Nanami. That moment in the underwater cave would always be treasured by Nanami and then later when she had been reflecting upon it the stars suddenly fell from the sky as if it was a sign from her lost beloved that it was okay for her to move on and to love another. “If I can find her again then that would be fate…” She always concluded her tale with a soft sigh before others would wipe their eyes. It’s so beautiful! Was it? Nanami would ponder later, especially once she arrived in Matori and found herself caught in the busy streets of the local port towns. How could she even dare to try and find Noelani after nearly two years? She had no idea of where the hybrid lived or if she had even stayed in Matori after returning from Kahi.
“Please don’t be too far away.” She murmured as she explored the bustling markets of Matori, the Kawena confused about how a place could be along the ocean and yet smell so different from her own ocean home. Finding some food after getting board had been her first priority and for now Nanami was simply content browsing the market and getting a feel for the local foods and culture, the whole experience eye opening as she realized how different Kahi truly could be from this particular earthling country. No wonder Noelani had seemed so amazed by everything! Nanami couldn’t help but to laugh softly as she bartered with another Matori woman for some fruits, the orange round fruits going into her belongings so that she could try them in her room later. A few more rounds of shopping later and Nanami finally managed to fight her way back towards the inn where she picked up some bread from the kitchens before going upstairs. The rickety stairs made her wary, but Nanami continued along until she reached the end of the hallway where she had her room. The room itself was small, a simple area with just a bed and a wash basin full of water per her request since a bathtub wasn’t likely, but at least it was clean….well for the most part. Nanami made a face as she brushed some cobwebs from the window. It gave enough light she supposed even though it was a tiny square, tinier than some of the windows even on the ship that she had taken from Kahi to Matori. Coughing, the Kawena covered her face as she pushed the window open for somewhat fresh air, the bustling noise of the nearby markets quickly flooding into the space and blocking out even the noise from the patrons in the tavern below. “Just a couple of days.” She repeated with a soft sigh, hoping that somehow she could get a lead on Noelani’s whereabouts from local merchants or traveling traders. So far she hadn’t lucked out, but there was apparently a town further up the shoreline that had some deep divers who specialized in gathering pearls which sounded similar to what Noelani had talked about before and so Nanami was hopeful. In the morning she planned on checking the docks once more before starting her journey towards the next town with those divers where hopefully she could get more information to narrow down Noelani’s whereabouts….as long as she was still within Matori that was. How insane she felt to have traveled across the world on a vague hope that she could find someone who she didn’t even know remembered her! What if she was the only one who had felt such a deep connection? Surely not. Nanami’s fingers twisted together as she thought about things. Would it be silly for her to come all this way and then not find Mina or Noelani? “Why didn’t I come here right away?” Another sigh left her lips as she sank onto the bed and pulled her legs up to her chest, her arms squeezing them against her body as if trying to defend herself from the negative thoughts and emotions. “If it’s fate then it’ll happen, I just have to keep believing.” Nanami repeated as she remembered the other Kahi who had also lost a love by allowing her to go back to the earthling countries without following. Nanami would not be like that, she was determined! Even if Noelani didn’t feel the same way…well then at least she could get an answer and stop chasing such useless feelings. As it was right now Noelani knew that she couldn’t simply go back to living her life the way she had been before meeting Noelani, not when she had so many things to ask the hybrid who had caught her attention and melted the ice around her heart. And so she was determined that tomorrow morning she would continue her search to find her answers.
[1560]
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Posted: Mon Mar 04, 2024 11:47 am
♥ Preparing for Kahi ♥
Another late night that continued even when the sun was rising for a new day. While most of the family slept, the Kawena had been busy going through the office space back in their Matori manor so that she could get some final work done. And now that the amber rays of sunlight were slowly coming in through the overhead window, the large bay window giving a nice overview of the beach and the shimmering ocean, it was fairly easy to see the extent of the mess that had been created in the flickering lights arranged throughout the room. Just the sight made Nanami wince, the Kawena looking over the piles of records that were scattered about the office. Normally the space was far more organized with various displays showing off some personal pieces from treasure hunts that Noelani had wanted to keep, Nanami also kept a few pearls and rare shells that she enjoyed in glass case that allowed the sunlight to gleam off of the vibrant objects, and the shelves were neatly stacked with parchments, maps and journals. Now though those very things were spread out haphazardly across the two different desks in the room with some larger maps even rolled out across the floor. There were pins and ink markings on set locations that she wanted to send to the treasure hunters who would be handling things during their vacation so it was crucial that she double check the coordinates with her journals to avoid accidentally guiding them into any danger. So she had spent quite a long night with only tea as her companion pouring over her notes to mark each map carefully while Noelani prepared other things elsewhere. Other than the maps, she had quite a few journals and parchments all gathered together which she was finally organizing to send to Omari in Oba while she would be away. He had a few already but these were her more recent ones and some older documents that she felt would be helpful for the museum’s newest displays. Over the years she had amassed quite a collection of things in Tendaji, the list of creatures and rare artifacts continuously growing as they continued making new discoveries in both Matori and Oba during all these various excursions. Bouncing between Oba and Matori had consumed most of her life these last few years, Nanami working with Noelani and other treasure hunters to discover new ruins in the desert while also taking some time to venture into the ocean for any shipwrecks. Every adventure was exciting and she wouldn’t have complained if part of her life continued to be spent out in the desert now that she had gotten accustomed to it. She had adjusted to this life so well that she hadn’t expected anything to truly shake their family, but then well…it happened when the Elidae arrived for dinner one night with Omari and introduced herself as Noelani’s long lost relative. Suddenly the life she had grown accustomed to living was changing, the family deciding to leave their Matori home for an overseas trip.
The recent news that her beloved had an older half-sister who was an Elidae had sent the family into a frenzy of sorts, nothing truly horrible but more exciting than anything, as they prepared to venture overseas towards Kiros to visit Noelani’s grandmother. Nanami knew that neither she nor the children could actually walk into an Aishan settlement like Noelani and her mother could with Quiana, but she wanted to at least be nearby. So the family had decided it was finally time to go towards Kahi where Nanami had family, Noelani’s own parents tagging along while leaving their homes in the care of her Matori grandparents who would watch over everything during their time away. It would not be a short journey either, especially if Nanami’s own family accepted them and they would probably be in the islands for potentially a year if everything went well. Traveling there alone would take weeks, a journey that Nanami was anxious about considering that their children would be tagging along as well. It would be an adventure, that was for certain, and she just hoped they were truly prepared to face all of the dangers that waited for them in the area. She wasn’t as worried about the hapuna villages as she was the deeper caverns with their dark waters and many creatures that could easily snatch a child into the depths. Even with the sharks at least one could see them approaching in the crystal clear waters of the reefs and Nanami had taught her children about which creatures were approachable and which ones had enough toxin in them to paralyze anyone or worse. The ones with the bright blue rings, no matter how tiny and cute they looked, were most definitely to be avoided and only studied from a distance unless any of her children wanted to sink to the bottom of the ocean with how much toxin those little tendrils contained. Just the thought made Nanami’s fingers tighten against her quill, the Kawena praying that she would never have to witness such a thing after all the horror stories she had heard from other Hapuna whenever visiting Mina during her childhood years. She had to reassure herself that it was fine, she was well versed in medicine since her family was full of healers and leaders, and at least she knew how to react if such a disaster ever occurred. Still though…what if she wasn’t there in time one day?
Nanami let out a sigh, dropping her quill so that she could rest her head on crossed arms instead for a moment. Noelani had taught her to be bold and she had learned through their adventures that shying away from every potential danger was actually more harmful than good. How would they learn unless they faced the world and gained experience and knowledge from all of these various encounters? It was something that Nanami had grown to embrace over the years, especially since leaving Kahi, and despite her concerns about the dangers she just hoped that her children would also grow into such ideals. Her oldest seemed more than eager to face the world, all strangers and dangers included, while their youngest tended to shy away from any contact with outsiders to the point that even those in the local village scared them at times. Maybe some time away in Kahi would be for the best? It could hopefully ignite some curiosity about the world and maybe teach the little ones to be a bit bolder going forward. She would never force them to do something that truly terrified them, but if they could take even a small step at a time towards something then that would make her happy. Kahi would give them plenty of chances, especially once they got closer to Nanami’s childhood home in Po'lua. At least Hota was towards the beginning of the caves, the large settlement a perfect place for her mother’s family to thrive where they took up leadership positions generation after generation. Her father’s home in Tamar though would be quite a journey if the family decided to venture further into the caves, the darkest of the settlements nestled past dangerous passageways full of vicious creatures. Nanami’s pale blue gaze drifted towards the corner of the study where her sword rested, a reminder of her father’s childhood home and of her paternal grandmother who had left behind such a precious artifact and inspired her own journey to become a mystic instead of following the strict path that her mother tried to force upon her. She had no regrets about taking up the blade and embracing her magic so that she could protect others, she just wished that her mother would have tried to understand her better instead of turning her back on her. No wonder my brother disappeared for years. Another soft sigh left her lips as she continued resting her head against her arms, the exhaustion from pulling an all nighter and her thoughts both making her feel fatigued. Perhaps it was finally time that she tried to track her brother down and reach out to her father again, Nanami considering the rare opportunity to visit her family after years away from home. Maybe this time she could finally get through to her mother, hopefully the Kawena would be at least interested in her grandchildren even if she never fully accepted Nanami’s life decision to venture away from home and chase after some foreigner. Though at the moment none of that mattered until she could get this information safely to Sulburi, the very thought bringing yet another sigh to her lips. This one though was less of frustration and more so just in lieu of the yawn that threatened to escape her. Just a few more pages. Surely she could do that and get this to the post before taking a well deserved nap, the Kawena silently praying once more that everything would work out in the end.
[1512]
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Posted: Tue May 14, 2024 4:01 pm
♥ The First Reunion ♥
Once Kailani went to lay down everything seemingly slowed down and a silence crept over the room now that it was only the pair of Kawena left. Only the flickering flames of the candles placed above the mantle in the living space made anything of a noise, the shadows dancing from that decorating the walls and giving Nanami something to look at as she avoided studying her father even after preparing tea and sitting down at a table with him. If anything she wished that it would take longer to brew everything, but the twisted bundle of herbs quickly blended into the steaming water to create a pale amber tea that she poured into cups for both of them. At least the scent was calming despite everything, Nanami hoping that somehow the tea would help ease her own nerves. And now that the tea had been served with some small flower cakes there was more silence, Nanami chewing on her bottom lip as her father paced for a moment longer. “It feels like you’ll run away once I sit down. Is it truly alright that I stay for a bit?” He began quietly, studying his daughter before finally approaching the table once Nanami nodded towards him.
“How was I supposed to react to seeing you so suddenly, Kane? It’s just a lot of feelings to sort through.” Nanami began, her hands curled around a warm mug of tea as her father settled into the chair across from her. Her youngest slept in the bedroom next to them while the rest of the family was still exploring the area which probably gave her at least an hour or so with the other Kawena before they would probably be interrupted. Though part of her did wish for some sort of interruption or distraction now that she was finally facing her kane after years apart. The previously large inn room with the windowed wall facing the nearby swamplands suddenly felt a lot more cramped, almost as if she were curled up into a box rather than in such a spacious area. For the first time in years her hands felt clammy, the anxiety behind each moment building as she tried to sort through her feelings. If it was anyone else then Nanami probably would have been in a worse situation, but seeing her father brought a mixture of feelings especially since he was the most serene one of their family and far less likely to be harsh on her like her mother once was. Ami both missed him and worried that his presence might mean her mother was nearby and despite knowing that they were on the way towards her home there was part of her that was still fearful, not prepared to truly face her family. Despite her confidence and Noelani’s support, the Kawena was still so nervous to see how they would react to her return and towards the little ones that she wanted to introduce to them. Perhaps there was some hope though considering that her father appeared calm, no disdain crossing his features but rather an expression that could be considered something akin to concern there instead. “It’s one thing to send letters and another thing entirely to actually see you in person again.” When was the last time she saw him? When she had taken what coins she had to book passage overseas to a foreign country behind her mother’s back? He had been the one she had hastily hugged when she fled, Nanami not wanting to risk anyone stopping her as she ran away towards Matori. Technically, she would like to consider it exploring and not running away but she hadn’t said a proper goodbye to her mother before leaving behind the grand plan outlined by the older Kawena who had wanted Nanami to follow in the family footsteps as a leader in their community. So it was running away…as much as she hated the thought. She could only imagine how much her father had to deal with once she departed, Nanami already breaking away from the plan by becoming a mystic and warrior of justice instead of a doctor or council member. Still she had no regrets, not when she knew she had helped others over the years as had others in her dispersed group of fighters. They brought justice to the world, sought to help out those in need and fought against those who wanted to harm others. She could only hope Mina and others were continuing the fight, Nanami’s own efforts slowing down as she picked up archeology and started a family with Noelani. From fighting, well mostly from fighting since she did venture out sometimes when they were in Oba still, to researching and piecing together the past which Nanami had quickly grown to love doing since she collected knowledge and adored solving ancient puzzles. And now after a decade she was finally back in Kahi, showing her family the home that she had left behind to pursue Noelani and her new life in Matori.
“I understand.” Nanami’s father began quietly, his own hands mirroring Nanami as he held onto his cup of tea. “You took a great leap and were afraid of looking back lest you fall.” The scholar nodded his mouth twisting into a faint smile, his pale blue gaze sorrowful as he looked up towards his daughter. “But I don’t blame you. I can only blame myself for being so caught up in work and the family’s grand plan that I missed out on how you truly felt.” He had been gone for so much of her childhood, always going to conferences or traveling between settlements to teach healing and gain more wealth for their family…could he even consider himself a father when it came to actually raising his children? “Your mother insisted it was for the best and I simply went along with everything. No wonder you felt like you had to leave without discussing it first, she…no both of us would have pushed back more if we had the chance.”
“Kane…” Nanami began, her gaze burning as his words both surprised and pierced her heart with emotion. She had never thought she would hear him blame himself! Where were the angry words, the insults towards her actions that she had always feared? “I don’t think you should blame yourself completely. We all made mistakes in our own way. I should have voiced my feelings more often, not hiding them until I felt ready to burst.” Her fingers clutched at her cup even as she looked towards her father and tried to express herself. “In your own way you thought you were doing the best for the family and I didn’t want to disappoint either of you, not after my brother had left.” At least he had come back from the letters she had received, Nanami taking some comfort that her family had an heir again despite her own disappearance. “I should have said something, but I started disappearing to find my own path before falling in love and leaving you all behind.”
“Everything works out for a reason, I suppose.” Her father replied after a long moment, a soft sigh leaving his lips. “You were just a child and I should have done more to help you out. As it is, I have spoken at length with your Manahine over the years and if you feel comfortable enough I would love for you to bring your family to our home for a visit. Would…would that be possible? I know you sent letters, but I wanted to invite you in person once I realized you were truly back in the area. I also wanted to ask for your forgiveness, to allow me to do my part as your father and greet my grandchildren.”
Nanami swallowed against her rising emotions, her hands leaving the cup finally as she pushed away from the table and stood up. “I think we still have a lot to talk about and honestly I’m wary of meeting Manahine, but I’m willing to try. We can’t stay in Kahi forever, but it would be nice to let my children meet the other side of their family and visit for a bit.” There were still a lot of emotions and things to sort through, but Nanami knew she was happy to see her father. There was a feeling of relief as well, the Kawena having been afraid of never seeing her father again despite everything. Knowing that he had apologized and was willing to try to work together, to move forward despite the bitterness of their past, well…it was a good start and if anything Nanami truly never had held anything against him. She had simply left to find her own path and live her own life without being constantly in her family’s shadow, there were no ill feelings or hatred for her there. “I did miss you, Kane.” She admitted quietly, watching as her father got up as well and came forward to embrace her. Despite her best efforts there were some tears on her cheeks by the time she let go and sat back down, the pair spending the afternoon together to reminisce, catch up and discuss everything for going forward.
[1547 wc]
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