He heard rumors from the Page Boys within the Sanctuary about the past few days' happenings, when he'd returned, having been gone just a few days, really does put a damper on one's knowledge of what happens when you leave. Not only has a new arrival come, which he had seen with his own eyes, a massive legion of men and women camped just outside of town, he watched them for several hours, none of them had even picked up a weapon when someone passed by, they watched them yes, but did nothing else. They had sat there, doing what ever duties they were supposed to be doing, others slept, and others ate and drank.
When he figured they were of no harm yet, he left his hiding spot and returned to the Sanctuary, only to be bombarded by more rumours, apparently a little tiff had popped up between Ceirra, Rashis, and Merilyn. Cipher shook his head and sighed as he went to his corner and sat down. Pondering on what he should do. He liked Ceirra, that was no secret from the start, but he also liked Rashis and Meri. He thought on what his best course would be, he had heard that she would leave pending what his choice was, but he didn't want to make a bad choice either.
This had to be his toughest predicament since his arrival here. By choosing one, he would most likely loose the other, and he didn't want to loose anyone. They all meant a great deal to him, more than they probably knew. He stood up from the floor, and went out into the garden, and to a stone bench, where he sat down for a moment, before repositioning himself and laying flat upon it, staring up into the night sky. He went to his thoughts, thinking out the scenario's of his choices, the goods, and the bads of each, none of which proved any good. No matter how he saw it, one was gone, one disliked him from there on, and another probably wouldn't have anything to do with him ever again.
If he chose Ceirra, would Rashis forget about his request and not teach him, and thus not have anything to with him? Would Meri shun him as well, not letting him see their child anymore either? And would Ceirra profess a new-found hatred for him and no longer speak to him? Or was it the wiser choice for him to just leave, and cause no more trouble? It seemed that it had all started when he had made himself known to these people. it seemed to be the best course of action thusfar, by him leaving, it would most likely cease the arguing between them and he'd be able to see them all, on a more personal level, than on a professional level. But would it be the same as before? No, it wouldn't be the same.
He sighed and rolled over onto his side, closing his eyes for a moment, the stars still twinkling in his eyes, as they had above him. What was he to do, The Sanctuary, or Ceirra, this was a tough decision, the toughest by far. It was easier to choose to murder than to choose between people he had grown to care about. Had he gotten softer than normal by letting them close to him personally? Or had he grown stronger by doing so? He rolled over again, laying on his back, eyes still closed, his mind still racing over the only choices he could think of. Three choices, three possible outcomes, each a drastic change in his life, no matter how trivial one might think it. Once again he rolled over, onto his right side this time, his eyes opening slightly to stare at the Sanctuary's massive structure, it time once again to return to that place. But this time, time was of the essence, he sat up, then stood, walking to the stables, and saddling up a horse, a smaller Paint horse. After a moment, he placed his foot in the stirrup and hefted himself up onto the saddle and reigned the equine towards the doors, and then bolted into a run towards town.
Time had been cut drastically upon the animals back, normally taking him an hour to get to the Cathedral, this only taking him maybe ten minutes in the dark. But before long he was standing in front of the cathedral, tying the animal to a post and walking up to the doors and slipping them open gently. He closed the door behind him and walked silently to the front of the room, sitting upon the bench staring up at the Statue in the center of the aclove above. He lowered his head and closed his eyes, and prayed.
He prayed for help with the decision he faced, though at the moment it was a rumour, but even such a rumour as this had to be taken seriously in case it wasn't. He would need help in making such a vital decision in his life that would affect more than one other. He sat there until he fell into his trance once again, this time it was willing. He purposefully fell into his trance in order to come to a decision. Letting his mind wander until the answer would come to him. And he remained in such a state for more than four days. When he came to, he was no longer in the cathedral, but laid upon a bench in the office of Janib, who was scribbling words upon a parchment. The scribbling ceased when Cipher sat up and yawned, looking over to the priestly man behind the desk, who quickly crumpled the writing paper and put it into a trash bin.
"Ahh, good evening young Cipher....how was your search this time?"
Janib's voice was calm and tender, his eyes compassionate and anxious to hear what Cipher had to say this day. but was only rewarded with a shake of a head and a frown.
"I see, no luck, perhaps that was the answer to which you searched for. Often silence is the best answer for such difficult queries."
Cipher just smiled softly in response to the Priests statement, which only caused Janib to frown in understanding.
"Such a question to which an answer cannot be lightened by humour must be a question to which an answer encompasses more than oneself, reaching out to those around your heart, can't bear to see you go, nor can you bear to see them go as well. Perhaps your answer does not lie with you leaving, nor does it lie with anyone else leaving..."
"How do you know of this?"
His words cut the priests off in more shock than anything else.
"You spoke in your transit state late last night Cipher."
The blue haired boy cringed his face apologizing far louder than he could have screamed, he hadn't meant to burst out his words like that. And before he could open his mouth to speak, he was cut off as well.
"Do not fret Cipher, the heart reacts faster than the mind."
A nod was given, as the boy once again tried to speak, this time successful.
"So Father, you say that by not choosing, it would be better...?"
"Perhaps, but do not quote me on this: when you can't make a decision on your own, let the decision choose for you."
"I don't understand father..."
"You will when the time is right. Not all decisions can be made in just one week. Often such decisions of the heart take more time than that. Now lay down and rest, when morning comes, you can return to the Sanctuary and ponder more on your decision."
With that Cipher nodded and laid back down, closing his eyes and falling into slumber, letting the dreams come to his mind, and the wonders fly by. When he awoke the next morning, he stepped out of the room to which he slept, and moved through the Cathedral, to the front entrance, through the doors and let his eyes wander about for the Paint that he had ridden in on, perhaps Janib had sent a young Acolyte with the Horse to the Sanctuary to return it. It was for the better in the long run. He walked through town stopping at a tavern to get something to eat, and drink, inside there were several men and women all dressed the same, though he thought it odd, for only a moment before he recognized the colorings from several days ago.
They were with the camp outside of town, he approached them and asked to sit, to which he was welcomed with warm smiles and kind gestures. He sat with them for several hours asking and answering questions, he was told of their Commanding officers, and they were told of his commanding officers, back on earth, they told him of life in Gellik, and he told them of life on Earth as well. They exchanged stories, and rumours, jokes and names, before he knew it, it was nearly sun down, with departing words, and promises of returns, the parted ways, they headed back to camp, and he headed to the Sanctuary, though he had made camp just outside of town, lettting his thought debate on the choice he had to make soon, pending the rumours being true or not.
And as Cipher sat and pondered over his choices, once more he saw in his mind's eye, the tall willowy redheaded teen, her dark hazel eyes smiling into his multifaceted ones, her hand outstretched to his wordlessly before fading into the night.
[Song of Choice: She's All I Ever Had: Ricky Martin]
He stood in the center of a park, tree's lining the edges, to the southern end a small stream flowed beneath a bridge, to the north a fenced in public pool with a low diving board and a high diving board, he turned round, watching the children play, and the children swim. He stood there for several moments before the sun dropped low in the sky, and the moon began to rise, the children left with mothers, fathers, and grandparents. Where they went he knew not, but knew they left in low spirits, not wanting to leave the fun of the playground.
He remained there for a few more moments before he moved to one of the swings, wrapping his arms around the chain links, his gaze to the ground, he swayed back and forth as he sat there, just experiencing the moment he had now. There were no worries, nor fears, no monsters and no sins to think about. Just himself, the swing and the moment. the leaves rustled high above in the tree's as the wind blew through them, the water sprinkled over rocks, and dirt in the stream bed. The moment was relaxing and soul soothing, the tension eased from his form the longer he remained there. He lowered his head and closed his eyes, taking in a deep breath and exhaling softly, letting the tension out slowly and smoothly.
It was soft and smooth, rolling over his shoulders and over his chest, moving along his collar bone, the feeling was warm and calming. He felt warmth wash over his left ear, silky threads tickled his neck and cheek. He took in yet another deep breath, taking in the unfamiliar scent that washed over him, slowly his eyes opened he saw a pair of arms wrapped about him in a form of a hug, he slowly turned his had to take in the sight of the being behind him, the figure faded from sight as he turned, a faint rush of air being released in its stead.
He felt a touch upon his cheek as if someone were turning his face gently in the other direction, trailing down his jaw and over his chin, when he turned his gaze met another gaze, hazel eyes stared back at him, framed by fire swaying in the unfelt wind. Her lips curved upwards into a smile, as they looked at eachother. He blinked and inhaled sharply at her smile, and again she faded into the rising darkness. He turned his head this way and that looking for her, but she had once again left his sight.
He rose from swing and moved through the park looking through the bushes and amid the leafy tree's with no sign of of this girl. He searched the park as if he knew every detail, every bush and every tree. From the smallest of the cooking sites to the largest of playground equipment, she was no where to be found, as always.
he awoke with a start moments later, his gaze shifting from left to right and up, to diagonal. He was still in the forest, the sun had made its way to the top of its path, well almost that is. He stood up and moved back to the path, walking towards the Sanctuary again, when he arrived he walked in, and looked around, not seeing anyone but the normal busy bodies, he moved to the room he had claimed as his own some time ago. The Eufiber Armor writhed and moved away from his body, returning to the small cloth looking garment.
He changed his clothing into something more normal, like what he used to wear before joining up with the Corporation, and then the Knights. He walked back downstairs and went to the kitchen, asking the cooks to make him something to eat. They smiled and told him towait outside, which he did, and before long breakfast was finished. He ate in silence as he waited for others to show up.
He heard rumors from the Page Boys within the Sanctuary about the past few days' happenings, when he'd returned, having been gone just a few days, really does put a damper on one's knowledge of what happens when you leave. Not only has a new arrival come, which he had seen with his own eyes, a massive legion of men and women camped just outside of town, he watched them for several hours, none of them had even picked up a weapon when someone passed by, they watched them yes, but did nothing else. They had sat there, doing what ever duties they were supposed to be doing, others slept, and others ate and drank.