It had been a week since she had wandered into Thyatira and she still had no clue why she was here. Or why she left the other place, for that matter. But at least she was given a place to live and food to eat every day, even if it was not much, it was better than most days before she had arrived here. Zaccheus seemed nice, but she certainly wasn’t going to let her guard down around him. For all she knew, he could be trying to use her.
Wandering toward the edge of the city, as she oft did, kicking pebbles strewn along the way as she continued ambling toward the city gate. She began to reminisce her arrival in this armoured city, wondering just what Zaccheus had up his sleeves and why he was being so nice to her. ’There’s something about him to which I cannot lay a finger on, but what is it? Is he trying to use me?’
She was in Alexandria, the city was intriguing, and although it was far from an ideal home, it was beginning to feel grow on her. Yes, perhaps she could make her home here. Yet here she was, running from the authorities. She hadn’t meant to use her powers so much, but she needed to flee and there had been guards everywhere, she’d ended up causing terror in the civilized city, throwing the denizens into terrified tantrums as with her constant darkening of the landscape, all because she was tried to flee her location moments ago. In using her powers so much, the voices in her head grew louder and louder. Well, well, well, what have we here? The Rome incident all over again? You’re doing everything all wrong. No, you can still heal yourself automatically, so you’re doing just fine... She struggled to contain the voices and decipher which were real and which were not, so she rammed her body into the brick walls, dragging her skin against its rough edges, blood seeping out as quickly as her theurgy innately healed her on its own. For a weakling…
Feeling the pain of her wounds, she felt her grip on reality strengthening once more, yet the last whisper from the voices in her head stung hard. She knew she was weak, but each time she heard it from the voices, made reality all the more clearer. She was at a lost regarding how she could become stronger, she didn’t have any formal training and everything she knew was only enough to help her scrape by day in and day out. Heaving a heavy sigh, she pushed the thought to the back of her mind as she made a quick turn to head toward the harbour, in search for a ship, any ship, to leave this city. She knew she wouldn’t be able to return anytime soon, but she had to leave for now. She snuck onto the earliest ship to depart, it was a freighter ship with a few passengers aboard, heading toward Thyatira. She’d kept hidden so that no one could find her and throw her overboard. ’It’s not like there’d be a giant fish to save and carry her to land like Jonah had.’ A wry laugh escaping her throat at the thought.
Days had passed and as she kept a tight watch on the journey ahead, she noticed that land was approaching. Soon, so very soon, she’d be in a new place. She had no clue what was in store for her here, she just hoped things wouldn’t go as badly as they had in Alexandria. The ship soon docked and she made her way off, keeping as elusive a profile as possible, not wanting to alert any more trouble for the time being.
Sneaking past the mighty walls which houses Thyatira, she immediately took notice of the grande church amidst the bustling city. Uncertain as to how the church here would take to her abilities, she makes up her mind to stay away, heading into the market, hunting for suitable means to get some food while she was here. Unbeknownst to her, she was already detected by a man who looked to be around his mid-forties with warm, brown eyes, and short, slightly greying, chestnut brown hair, a well groomed, short brown beard, and a sturdy, iron rod, the powers housed within greatly palpable through her theurgic abilities. Though, she did notice when said man ambled toward her, with a speed unlike others his age, gentle eyes alight with curiosity. Tilting her head toward him, she decided to inquire about his sudden presence. “Good afternoon, sir, is there something I may assist you with?”
“Nay, child, I merely wish to speak with you. My name is Zaccheus, and I command this fortressed city, I ensure you that I shan’t harm you as I simply wish to speak with you.”
Narrowing her eyes, she eyed the man before her and hedged, she knew not what to do. Her instincts told her to forgo speaking with him, even so she was very curious as to just what he could want with her. Here, in this foreign metropolis, she was a nobody . So why go out of his way to speak with her? She needed answers, so she was going to get them. “Very well, then speak, Zaccheus, sir, why do you wish to speak with me?”
“You are a powerful theurgist, I only wish to help protect you, there are greater evils about this world, your powers can be used to help defend them. Please, let me help you use them for this purpose.” Zaccheus told her, the intonations of this voice echoed his experience of the subject, yet his voice seemed to be barely on the edge of pleading.
A frown marred her face, her frustration building at Zaccheus’ attempt to beseech her, she reiterated, this time more simple and direct, “But why me? You don’t understand, do you? I am nothing; from where I come, my gifts would have been viewed as a curse had I not kept quiet about them, why do you implore to help me use my gifts? You clearly sound like you know other theurgists, so why not lend your aid to them instead?”
Narrowing her eyes when she heard a feeble sigh escape Zaccheus’ mouth, she listened carefully at his next words, which saw to her posture relax slightly, even if only marginally, as he spoke, “You need not accept my aid, young one, I merely wish to help you develop them. If you choose to refuse my assistance, worry not, I shan’t force you. You are not my enemy. However, you are still new here, therefore if you’d like a place to stay and food to eat for the time being, it shall be provided to you, if you’d like.”
“Very well, I will not require your service in regard to my abilities, however I will take you up on your offer of hospitality for the time being.”
With all that had been said, she allowed Zaccheus to guide her to the grande church, to a room nearby a secluded exit, upon her request. After a quick tour to the dining hall, he then left her to her peace as she slipped out the door and took off for the market, exploring her new temporary home.
Glancing up, she noticed that she had just left the confines of the city, however as her gaze turned forward once more, she her eyes caught sight at a slowly growing speck the yonder ahead and the large rumble of machinery overhead. Wonder what, or who, it could be, she decided to investigate, proceeding onward with errant caution, yet concealing herself with utter invisibility from the naked eye, technological advances, special abilities — everything.
I'm blunt and direct.
I like to lurk and observe.