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The lushness of the forests of Sumeru surprised Castorice as she crossed over the blatant border separating them from the deserts she’d just traversed. Where there’d once been no worry of her… ‘gift’ affecting the sparse greenery here and there that you would expect from a desert, now she was standing right outside a place where the evidence would be everywhere. The once lush forest? Would only really be left with patches of dead, withered plant life, and it was the kind that couldn’t be healed by a flicker or two of Dendro. This damage was permanent, as if brought down by some godly force, and the plants would only bend to Her will, leaving the one touched by Death as the one to blame.
Death was all too familiar to Castorice, and it was almost traumatic. When all you’re useful for is using your ‘gift’ for execution, then why would any person think any different of you when seeing the destruction left in your wake? They would blame, it was only a matter of time. People don’t tend to give Death a second glance, for what’s done is done. Why would they think of her any differently?
And yet, something about the lush forest drew her in. It was so green, so… healthy. It was beautiful, and yet cruel, for her hands could not so much as touch the purple flowers the greeted her at her feet. Not all too different in colour from the purple jewel resting on her hip, as if it was some cruel joke from the gods. Death Herself couldn’t bestow Visions, that Castorice was quite certain of, and yet still the jewel had appeared, shining a light purple, shaped, almost cruelly, like a leaf.
The one plant she could touch.
Like a cruel joke.
She had yet to use the powers that the Vision had granted her, and she honestly felt that she had no need for it anyways. People needed to keep a wide berth from her anyways, she needed to be treated like a feral animal, so it was highly unlikely that she’d even need to use them whether it be to save someone or just have a friendly spar with anyone.
Being touched by Death was so isolating.
Even the people she did consider friends had to be wary around her. Not in the way that she was dangerous, but even friends had to keep the wide berth. The reality was almost haunting. The others could hug and playfully hit each other, they could give a comforting shoulder to someone in need.
Castorice had nothing.
She had friends.
But she had nothing.
She’d had to come to terms with that, and it was fine. She could deal with her friends being so distant. She could. At least she had friends, even if they could never be anything closer.
And it wasn’t like Death had any objections Herself. To most of the world, She was merely a god, upholding the very fabric of reality along with Her ‘sisters’. She cared little for the people that inhabited the lands of Teyvat, as to them, they were merely part of Her job. She dealt with the end of life things, Naberius and Rhinedottir dealing with the creation part. However to Castorice, Death almost felt like an incomplete fusion. Nothing like whatever had happened with Naberius and Rhinedottir. Death was there, Castorice could feel Her presence all the same, but she couldn’t manifest her. It was just Castorice, Ronova having been missing since Castorice had opened her eyes the first time. The only instance of Death even being there was her gift.
Castorice shook her head and came back to reality, once again finding herself looking at the lush forest in front of her. As much as she didn’t want to mar the beauty of it, she still had to move on, as the forest was technically in her way. And so, she took her first step.
The grass immediately sizzled and receded under her feet, causing her to flinch in surprise. She should be used to the immediate reaction at this point, but it still surprised her every time, how little the plants put up a fight, as if succumbing to someone’s godly will. As for who, Castorice had a pretty good idea, but she didn’t share the same will. Or well, it was more that she didn’t exactly known what her will would be, and how it would differ from Death’s, but it did certainly hurt to see such an immediate reaction.
Was Life really that cold? Or was Death just too strong?
Castorice had experienced too much and it muddied the answer. Sometimes Life is beautiful, sometimes it’s cruel. And much of the same is true of Death. Though Death is mostly cruel.
Especially when one is touched by Her.
The plants continued to sizzle and die before her very eyes and she continued walking through the forest, not really knowing where she was going. All she knew was that she had to get through the forest for something in her that she couldn’t figure out. Maybe it was related to the disappearance of the Ronova half of Death? Did… Ronova even exist anymore? And why would she be searching for Her anyways? Questions swirled in her head as she continued to walk through the forest, leaving the trail of withered plants behind her, almost reminiscent of the aftermath of a forest fire. And well, that could have been a good cover-up for the damage of the affected plants didn’t smell like death, and not like burnt foliage.
Castorice’s foot brushed one of the purple flowers and it withered instantly. The stalk grew black and the petals lost their gleam. It almost looked like it was mourning. Mourning the life it could have had, if Castorice hadn’t touched it, by complete accident. And it… hurt. It was only a plant, it didn’t have the capacity to blame, and yet, it still felt like it was blaming her. Like it was her fault that it had withered.
Castorice didn’t blame it.
She turned away from the plant and found herself stepping onto stone tiles. Finally, something that wouldn’t wither while under the influence of her presence, and looked up. It was… a tree? Why would a tree be covered in tiles? Then, she noticed the people scattered throughout the tiled road, and the answer hit her immediately.
Sumeru City
She’d heard it had been built on a tree, but she had never seen it for herself. Also, it was a city, so she’d have to be careful traversing here, as expecting there to be no one in a city was nigh impossible. Plus, she could already see some people scattered here and there. Some were at shops, some were watching children playing in the streets. Some were hanging out with friends.
All part of a life Castorice never got to have.
She remembered growing up with other children her age, but she was never allowed to play with them. Forced into the life of a hermit, only to protect those vulnerable to her touch. Which was practically everyone she’d met. Only the very gods themselves could withstand the power of Death. Regular people weren’t offered that luxury. Regular people would fade away to nothing, not even being offered a burial, after so much as touching her.
She didn’t want to kill people.
She never asked to kill people.
Castorice turned her attention on exploring the city, whilst still being mindful of anyone around her, and her… condition. The last thing she wanted was to send people to untimely graves. She would like to avoid it if possible. Especially in such a busy city as this, where it would be… noticeable. She started walking through the city, giving people a wide berth, only to be met with confused stares. She couldn’t figure out why, but she didn’t want to dwell on the idea. It was better this way anyways. Soon enough, she reached one of the lower branches… streets(?) of the city and saw that this appeared to be some sort of market area. She would be able to pay for anything, she couldn’t even do much as brush a vendor’s finger without them dying on the spot. Plus, it looked a little crowded in there, and she didn’t trust herself to make it through there cleanly.
Plus it’s not like Naberius and Rhinedottir or even Istaroth would have heeded her request to revive the unfortunate casualties at her request. Castorice was quite sure that they would never be that merciful, if their once sister had always been so blunt. And well, Ronova was missing anyways. It wasn’t a true fusion, if it even was a fusion at all. Castorice may have the powers of Death, but if Ronova still exists, are they even connected?
Still though, Castorice turned away from the crowded street, and headed in the opposite direction. The path of least resistance is always an option, and the path of least death certainly seemed like the right choice. This took her to a different part of the tree, quite barren in terms of buildings and people. In fact, it looked like another entrance into the city, one far less used and possibly only used by deliveries and local residents that lived on this side of town, at least from what she surmised. To the side of the entrance there appeared to be a building that almost looked like an infirmary, with a few beds laid out here and there, and there was a small child fixing one of the blankets, an older boy standing next to her and looking annoyed. Castorice couldn’t understand them though, and turned her attention on an entrance that seemed to lead into the tree itself, and it intrigued her.
As she moved closer to the door, Castorice could almost feel the young girl’s eyes on her back.
When Castorice eventually reached the door, she pushed it open only to reveal another door, and she found herself confused, what need did they have for two doors? Either way, she opened the other door and stepped inside.
The pitch black, almost dark-green-ish light of the room as she entered, disoriented her, and she struggled to get used to the difference between this and the sun outside. this place was almost lit up as if the sun had never hit it even once, which was honestly ridiculous. Though, it wasn’t long before Castorice noticed some sort of light source, only it was off, for some reason, which was just adding to the darkness. In fact, the only speck of light in the… what was it exactly? A hole? An underground marketplace? Anyways, the only light in the room was the soft glow of the mushrooms on one of the stalls’ desks. And while this wasn’t Castorice’s first time with glowing mushrooms, seeing them here was honestly casting a creepy glow on everything. Still though, it intrigued her and so she went to look at the other stalls
It was difficult to see anything in the pitch darkness, but she could make out what was supposed to be various fruit and herbs that seemed foreign to the area, though even though these plants were already picked, still she would cause them to shrivel, if she touched them, so she was once again relegated to just looking. In another stall, there were various intricate pots and pans, as if handmade, and these she could touch, if not for the owner currently handling them. That could only go poorly, so instead she turned around and turned to find the exit, only to find herself somewhat trapped.
It wasn’t an actual trap, but the darkness was so disorienting that she had a hard time making out the entrance, if there was one at all, and that was sort of frightening in prospect. However, it was then that she was suddenly blinded by the lights just flashing on, without warning, and it drew her eyes toward the stage. Wait… there was a stage down here? Weird place to have one, especially when the ones in Fontaine were open air. Abandoned, but open air. Still though, Castorice walked closer, and it appeared that a small crowd was following her, all heading for the same area. Castorice stayed back, quite literally trying to not bump into anyone, that would only end in death, so she shimmied herself around until she found a safe enough spot, far away from anyone else. Most people had placed themselves more to the front of the stage, so she had situated herself near the back, practically in the corner, quietly wondering what all the fuss was about.
It wasn’t long before a faint beat started up, sounding almost traditional in a sense, before the music burst into a flurry of different instruments, that must be coming from a hidden compartment of the stage with how loud and raw it sounded compared to the music she’d heard from Fontaine, the previous place where she’d stayed before coming here. The music was playing to itself, mostly, and there appeared to be no act on stage. At least, not yet, and for the first time in a while, Castorice felt herself grow impatient. The music was lovely, but there must be another reason why everyone’s decided to gather here.
And then the reason showed herself.
It was a young woman, and Castorice saw that she was around her age, and she was dressed in blue and white. It contrasted with her blazing red hair, pulled into twin tails, and her tan skin. She seemingly floated onto the stage, like she was in a world of her own, and her movements were swift, yet practiced, and flowed as easily as water, not unlike the Hydro Vision attached to her waist. She twirled with ease, and her twists flowed into each other creating a sort of entrancing experience. There was a story in the dance, Castorice could tell, but she didn’t quite have the capacity to decipher it. And yet the implied meaning of the woman’s movements did come across.
Her twin tails flowed behind her as well as if they were merely ribbons to just add on to the performance. The woman was graceful in a way Castorice couldn’t describe. The passion was also evident in her dance, even as the music swelled, and there was a calm serenity to her as well. Her arms showed no sign of slowing down, and neither did her body, even if that was being worked the least out of everything else. There were a few times where she addressed the audience directly. Merely a smile or grin or two, but it had its effect on the crowd. It had its effect on Castorice.
On one turn around, the woman’s eyes had fallen on her and almost seemed to linger for just a second. It was over as quick as it started, but something about had Castorice’s heart leaping.
Maybe it was because she’d felt caught
Maybe it was because this woman’s performance exuded Life so much that Castorice almost felt out of place in that moment.
Death was to destroy Life
And this was Life’s domain
Who wouldn’t feel out of place?
The performance ended not long after that moment, and the crowd dispersed almost immediately almost as if that was the only thing that would bring those particular people together. Castorice had yet to move from her spot when-
“I haven’t seen you come to my shows before,” said a voice and Castorice leapt backward as if burnt, causing the young woman to blink at her, her blue eyes curious. Castorice quickly checked herself to see if she accidentally brushed the woman or not, but after seeing that woman wasn’t fading to ashes, she calmed down, only confusing the woman further. “Then again, I haven’t seen you at all,” the woman added. “Are you new to Sumeru?” The woman appeared to be sweating, though the dance hadn’t exactly seemed all that strenuous. Then she tried moving closer again, and Castorice back away.
“Please. Keep your distance,” Castorice spoke for the first time. “People need to keep their distance from me.” The woman stood back but she seemed confused. She didn’t say anything, but her eyes were filled with questions. Castorice sighed. “I don’t like asking promises of a stranger, but, this needs to be kept secret, okay?” The woman frowned but her expression grew serious.
“I have more than enough experience with keeping secrets,” she said. “What is your secret?”
“Wait you do?” Castorice asked before she had the conscious thought to stop herself. The woman blinked and then smiled.
“You ever heard of the ruse that overthrew the faculty of the Akademiya?” The woman said, quietly, and without elaboration.
“Uh, yes?” Castorice said blinking.
“I was the distraction.”
“Oh you were?” Castorice asked.
“They said I could dance,” the woman hummed. “If I can dance, I’m happy. So I danced as part of a diversion.”
“You seem quite easy to please,” Castorice commented, but the woman didn’t seemed offended. If anything, her eyes started sparkling.
“Most people you’d find here are too wrapped up in their studies to really appreciate someone being ‘easy to please’. Some will try to find some sort of issue with you if you let them get to you.”
“You sound like you speak from experience.”
“They tried to take away the arts,” the woman, even though Castorice barely knew her, sudden sounded uncharacteristically snippy. Castorice blinked.
“They did? But aren’t the very books they study from an art in and of itself?”
“That was exactly the whole point of the ruse. But, you haven’t answered me,” the woman responded. “What do you want me to keep secret?” Castorice swallowed slightly.
“I have been touched by Death Herself,” Castorice murmured quietly. The woman blinked, but no recognition came to her eyes. “I… I… um… Ronova. Of the Heavenly Principles.” She whispered this out, and only horror entered the other woman’s eyes. “I… I… cannot touch someone without them dying. I cannot touch plants. I can’t touch Life.” The woman’s gaze grew sympathetic.
“It’s not exactly the same, but I’ve been told I’m the reincarnation of Nabu Malikata more times than I’d like to count,” the woman said with a small chuckle. “Which is also something I’d like to keep secret. Only, you know now. So yeah. But, they still go ahead and call me the Lotus of Haftkarsvar, so.” Castorice blinked.
“Nabu Malikata..? Lotus of Haftkarsvar…” she repeated. “Those are some fancy titles.” The woman chuckled.
“That’s why I go by just Nilou,” she said with a smile. “If I’m not even sure that those titles fit me, then why go by that? I’m Nilou, and I’m just Nilou.” The stage area surrounding them had basically cleared out by this point, leaving just the two of them alone. “But, I’ll keep your secret, the one who’s touched by Ronova.”
“Castorice. Please, call me Castorice. I don’t even know what my relation to Her even is. Whether I’m some amalgam of her and myself or if I’m Her, and I’ve lost my memory.”
“Well, you could always be a reincarnation?” Nilou suggested. “If people are so adamant that I’m a reincarnation, and if that’s true, then that could very well be what you are too Castorice.” Castorice blinked. She’d never thought of it that way, and she supposed being a reincarnation could make sense, but why would a Heavenly Principle need to reincarnate into a mortal, yet long-living form? Why would a Heavenly Principle have a need to walk amongst the mortals anyways? “Or maybe it would just be a rumour like me,” Nilou added thoughtfully. “Though, unlike me you seem to have powers that are reminiscent of Hers, so I wouldn’t know. I don’t appear to have any powers related to Malikata, anyways.”
“Maybe, if you do turn out to be, you only resemble Malikata in small ways, and nothing so blatant as mine? Maybe, where I bring death with a single touch, you channel Malikata in other ways.” Nilou blinked and seemed to consider the idea for a while.
“How?” She sounded honestly curious and Castorice shifted her feet slightly.
“Your dancing. Malikata is the Goddess of Flowers, right? What if that’s how you channel her, only you don’t use plants, you use water.” At Nilou’s blank look, Castorice continued. “Not literal water, though you could quite literally do that,” Castorice added, glancing at the blue jewel on Nilou’s waist. “But your movements are like the water? In that they flow into each other? I just… you seem to tell a story through your dancing and maybe that’s where Malikata comes out?” Nilou’s eyes started sparkling again, and Castorice felt herself heat up in embarrassment.
“You get it,” Nilou said excitedly.
“Uh… I do?”
“You don’t have to understand the story of a dance to enjoy it,” Nilou said almost out of nowhere, leaving Castorice confused. Nilou then turned toward her. “I’ve probably kept you longer than I should have, I hadn’t meant to.”
“Oh don’t worry, I didn’t really have anywhere else to be. I just came for… a visit.” Castorice mumbled out. She wasn’t all that good at social interaction, and she could blame that on her years long isolation of being kept away from people. And, reality had come back to her as well. She was touched by death, and Nilou was a possible reincarnation of a flower goddess
Flowers
Life
The one thing she couldn’t touch.
The one thing she longed to touch.
Like a cruel joke
“Well, why don’t you follow me?” Nilou’s voice snapped her out of her thoughts. Despite being a possible being of Life, Nilou certainly had no qualms about interacting with her. “Though I may not like it all that much,” Nilou said as if holding a grudge, “the Akademiya does have a lot of books. Maybe we could find something in there that’s relevant to both of our situations? I mean, at worst we could ask Alhaitham.” Nilou went off into a ramble, but Castorice couldn’t really hear her, focusing and the blackening shadow under her feet. The constant reminder of the reality.
For when you're touched by Death Herself, Life does little to fight against you