Curious Meeting - Soulguide To Be

Valkyrie was walking through the dark forest, she loved the slight chill along her scales from the cool forest floor which Umbraveil brought. There was clearly something else out in the wilderness with her. She was choosing her walking path carefully while listening closely for whatever else was out with her. Remembering what it was like to hunt for and fight the voidwyrn, and so she wondered if this a ‘friend’ of Voidcall. This made her tense and uneasy as she continued to hear steps follow her, and stop when she did. It wasn’t long before she simply stopped, and prepared herself to call out to the unknown creature. “Hello? Whoever you are step out where I can see you.” Solid red clashes against a solid blue-tinted white as eyes peered around a tree, “S-Sorry I didn’t mean to scare you, I- I’ll come out now.” Then as an Arcanai initially revealed themself, Valkyrie visibly relaxed as it was clear that he was more nervous about this interaction than she was.  There had been flame licking her breath as she had searched for the possible threat.  Knowing now that she had found one of the least threatening Arcanai she’d ever met, right next to Lief, she tried to quench those flames quickly. She let out a long breath with her mouth closed resulting in smoke pouring out of her nose and rising in the cold night sky.  Allowing her filigree markings to glow and have a breath like wave pattern as the glow ebb and flowed along each branch of the markings. Pointing her large ears forward and blinking as Morti introduced himself and the small ghost named Bo who was with him. 

He was rambling about souls, and something, something, Magistream? Valkyrie waited till he was done before speaking, trying to be respectful and knowing that Morti worked up a lot of courage to ask for help. “So… Magistream? The part I got is souls, that lost souls need help back to this… ‘Magistream’ as you call it, for them to rest?” Morti nodded, “Yes! Hold on though the Magistream is an important part though… I- I know it can be hard to understand but it’s where the raw natural energy flows through the surroundings.” Valkyrie’s head tilted in response, and a slight nod before responding. “Okay, got it! Is there a specific way to catch these guys or just with magik?” After Morti summons a soulcage and explains how to use it, Valkyrie nods in understanding again. “So when they are illuminated after I touch the stone are they always ‘easy’ to see and find or will some of them know and start to move away?” The ghost-like Arcanai was silent for a second. “Th-They shouldn’t give you much trouble, unless they are a soul who runs from any living being they see. Though most are polite… they just need help back to their home- the Magistream.” Valkyrie was inspecting the soul cage as Morti spoke, admiring the shine of moonlight off of the delicate silver cage. Valkyrie continued to ask questions as she thought of them, “So I just approach the Magistream to empty the soul cage? There no ‘trick’ letting them out or anything?” Morti shook his head, “There is no ‘trick’, when you approach the Magistream they will be drawn into the stream. The pull of the soul cage is not as strong as the Magistream, though it is strong enough to draw their attention and contain them until it is close to the Magistream.” Valkyrie continued to examine the soulcage she wanted to make sure she would use it correctly. “So… I just touch this and any souls near me would illuminate?” She pointed a claw at the blue gem Morti had mentioned earlier. “Yes! You can try it now if you’d like? I believe there are a few souls hanging around currently…” With that Valkyrie touched the gem, which then illuminated and a few wisp-like shapes became visible to her. Her solid eyes went wide, as her ear relaxed downwards slightly. Her mouth ahead of her thoughts, “Is… is this what all souls look like…” the nature of her magik felt different. Whenever she had used her magik before, she felt a personality and a figure-like illusion was with her… but if they were just a wisp-like shape. That thought alone made her sad, her magik losing the charm that it held to her. Morti watched as the breath-like quality of Valkyrie’s glowing markings dimmed to almost nonexistent, she was clearly distressed by the thought that this may be how all souls look. Whether they are true or not Morti chose the following words to comfort the distraught Arcanai. “Th-The souls don’t always look w-wisp-like. They come in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes… f-fret-not their appearance is simplified by the soulcage. It would take a lot of power to show their true appearance, and that’s if they would want to be seen.” Valkyrie turned back towards Morti and Bo, both unsure if she was actually looking at them or around them; it seemed she was processing Morti’s words. A glossy surface had formed over her eyes when she had looked away, but it disappeared as she blinked back tears that no longer needed shedding.  “Oh… um…” she cleared her throat slightly to clear the wobble from her voice, “that’s very good to hear. Thank you Morti, I needed to hear that.” There was a moment of silence between the three in a now sort of awkward atmosphere, before Valkyrie broke the silence again, “I would gladly help you, and more importantly these souls so they can find a proper resting place.” Morti gave a smile, “Thank you… uh…” Well it was indeed awkward now as Morti hadn’t asked Valkyrie’s name, nor had she introduced herself. Valkyrie raised her paw as an invitation for a handshake, “Valkyrie, Val for short, and no problem. I’m glad to help.” She made a point to turn her head towards Bo and gave him a nod as well. After this she began her search for souls to help return to the Magistream.