Mist

The Temple of Sky was behind the Cathedral of Hope, and even further back behind the Stone, in a dense enclosing hidden by mist that had been woven by the first belonging to Sky. Several Stone shaped in the forms of tall lantern-trees grew around it, hiding the temple from all but one angle; from the opening the Stone lantern-trees could be seen twisting around the temple, almost as if protecting the structure, but never did any of the winding branches touch it.

Angel had never hidden the paths he took to go to the city and back to the cathedral, then the temple, as he didn't think that anyone would possibly be interested in knowing where he lived, not even the thieves from when he begged. It was also incredibly hard to navigate in the mist, as the spellweaver had seemingly woven threads around the entire outside of the city, causing it difficult even for someone with the Thread of Starlight as one of their foundations or an Imprint of Route to be able to walk around knowing where they were.

However, those belonging to Sky were seemingly an exception to this as Angel faced no difficulties when traversing through the mist, leading him to know it as well as he did his own Tapestry.

And since most of those who had belonged to Sky had integrated themselves into the politics and life of the city Stone-Dwellers a century or so ago, they had no need to travel to the outside of the city. So, their blood had become considerably duller and less of Sky than it had been—any whose ancestors had belonged to Sky were able to have safe passage—for in the city lurked indescribable creatures, capable of decapitating a Stone-Dweller faster than a guard, and even more so outside—as well as a moderate understanding of where things were.

However, this was only based on what Angel had observed from what he had seen of those who traveled too far into the mist and the rest from deductions.

He had never seen another family belonging to Sky whose blood still remained as dark and blue close to the Temple of Sky or even in the mist, so he had no reason to guard against them. Angel also saw no reason as to why he wouldn't be joyful at the arrival of another of Sky's.

Because of this, Angel was surprised when he heard voices from inside the mist, a bit further away from the Temple of Sky.

Since he didn't wish to intrude into anyone else's life, he quietly ran to the the temple, putting his food outside, on one of the rails of the small balcony, then headed inside.

Angel once again prayed to the Being of the Nights and Days, before placing his notebook and book beside his pile of blankets on the makeshift desk, then drifted off to sleep.

—————

Nestled in the trees far, far above the dark grounds on which the resting body lay, a søün-hæk peered down at the dark grey-green valley and leaped off in a single moment, spreading its wings wide as it soared above the greyish trees, then tucking them into its pockets as it dived down, front claws outstretched—the glint of the sun reflected off of its dark golden-brown talons, before it was covered in shadow as it tore through the red neck of the swæn, which fought back, the four necks darting together as one and twisting around the others for protection.

In a flash, the hæk spread its wings open, its feather-tips cutting through the swæn's feathers, dyeing its necks in dark black blood.

Angered, the five-necked creature's necks twisted around themselves into one massive blood red neck and opened three wide white beaks and twisted around the ensnared hæk's wings, trying to rip them off.

The golden-brown hæk snarled, venom flying loose from its saliva, which sizzled on the giant neck of the swæn, burning away the red feathers, only causing the giant creature continue to bite down on its opposer's wing.

In a desperate screech, the hæk tore away, many of its feathers tearing away as well as its flesh, but continued to soar high up into the tops of the grey-green trees.

Below it, the twisting neck unwinded itself and formed four necks, all equally damaged. The four necks called angrily at the tiny golden-red form in the sky, then opened all its beaks wide and called loudly, alerting all of its anger, as well as the fact that the søün-hæk was its.

Nearby, the sleeping body stirred slightly, and its form stopped shifting and settled, before its eyes opened, eyes that held everything in their shifting images.

—————

When Angel awoke, he prayed to the Being of the Nights and Days, then headed out to retrieve a portion of the food, which he ate while having a brief walk. Although his body had strengthened considerably, he was still weak because the illness wasn't due to a lack of nots but was instead in his very bones themselves.

That was why the only way he could ever truly cure himself was by exercising for a certain amount of time every day—such as thirty minutes of walking, for example. Because he was no longer part-running-part-walking to the city and earning his exercise that way, he had to come up with other forms of exercise instead, such as by taking a brief walk.

It was because of this that Angel half-saw, half-heard two people several dozen metres in front of him, speaking in hushed, seemingly angry tones.

'Why are you doing this?' The voice came out twisted and wrong; the Mask of Truth—Angel had seen it being hanged in shiny windows at incredibly cheap prices—which had been woven by Hound for entertainers to be able to change their voice to suite their performance better. 

Angel was momentarily taken back by something so innocent used for something other than its purpose. Then he remembered to continue focusing and his drifting thoughts vanished.

'A lot of reasons.' A pause. 'It's hard, you know, to try and go against something which you know you can't possibly go against. Which is why I'm not going against it.' The new voice was clear, and bright.

'Stop speaking in tongues!'

'Oh, I assure you, Vinculorum, I am speaking in no tongues apart from Ophe.'

There came a silence and Angel realised that when the second made a noise of impatience that they were wearing no constrictor.

'May you be locked in the chains of eternity,'the twisted voice said coldly—

Angel—not wishing to intrude any further—gathered and calmed himself, then started on his way back to the temple.

After making sure that he was well outside of the range possible to be heard even by someone with the Imprint of Melody, Angel started running.

—————

Angel was doing some light reading on words when a long-red-haired man walked in, a strange half-circle-like thing carved out of wood in his hands.

'Ah,'the man said. Then: 'Greetings, one of Sky. I am Hou'yi Sh'e'sh'ou. May I stay alongside you in your lodgings?'

Angel blinked slowly, realising that the man had the same voice as the one whom he had heard before. 'Yes.'

Hou'yi smiled at him. 'I will not disturb you. Please do continue with your studies, one of Sky.'

Angel looked at the man then continued with his reading on the threads.