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( Video; UN: dragonspirit )

I am...Nigihayami Kohakunushi, but you may call me Kohaku or Haku. ( The voice belongs to a boy who looks like he is no older than twelve. His expression is impassive, the grey-green of his eyes as difficult to read as murky water.

Behind him, there is a dragon with a long skinny body, short legs and tufts of hair on his head, neck and tail. He gives a mighty yawn, showing pointed teeth. )

I am new to Camelot, though I believe I have heard of it. In my world it was thought to only be a legend, but that could be a consequence of distance and not the truth.

I hope to make friends and regain - ( He stops himself, looking around warily. If another witch is causing this, he doesn't want to take chances and speak out of turn. ) Never mind.

This is my familiar. ( Turning, at last, to the awaiting dragon, he lays a hand on the spirit's head. ) Should you see him, do not fear him.

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A Atazara'an is a Dragon? [He perks up. Someone who knows of his kind?] I am sure he can manipulate his size. He is a spirit.

Uhhhh... yes? I guess so? I don't really know what a 'dragon' is, but if it is something like that then, yes. But Atazara'an aren't ... spirits, exactly. They're living, they age, they die. Albeit, really slowly compared to Zertian. So they might be mistaken for spirits sometimes.

[That brings a laugh, like an inside joke with oneself.]

Sorry, it's really different. I've just never had to explain something that just is before. It's like telling a rock in a cave what the sun looks like. Kind of weird.

My familiar is an Asian water Dragon. ( For reference. Haku would be happy to show them his true form, but he can't transform. ) I'm sorry, I don't know either of those races.

( Species? )

I think you better get accustomed to explaining. You are in a new land.

[A breathed sigh, or laugh, it's hard to discern as it just ends up being loud air over the microphone.]

Yeah, so I noticed.

You don't seem too bothered by it, even though you say you're new. Does... this happen to you often?

I am a spirit. I have traveled and I have been held captive before. Getting upset changes nothing.

( And there might be others who need him to be strong. )

You're a familiar?

[Yes, we are very confused. But wait, let's back-peddle and make it worse.]

Wait. I mean. Sorry, maybe that sounded, uh, rude. I just mean, well, you seem... more like others here and less like your friend there. Didn't mean to sound so surprised. We don't really have 'spirits' where I'm from. They're for stories we tell younger ones to get them to sleep at night. They're not real.

Not that I'm saying you're not real. Erm... I'll just uh- sorry.

I am not.

( He isn't angry at the mistake, but he is firm. )

I guess I am...for now. That must be an effect of Camelot's magic.

( Or so he presumes. )

You needn't apologize. The living shouldn't be in contact with spirits usually. I...had a river once. I met a little human girl that way. So I know more about humans than most spirits.

You had a river. [Just double-checking they heard you right. It brings up so many more questions. Like how can you 'have a river' and why is it 'had'? For the sake of not overwhelming themselves, 'Nneth holds the questions back for now and tries to consider the more important question from the many. It's a long pause while they consider.]

But usually, you aren't ... real?

I am real. Spirits are real. But we aren't tangible in the living world. You should be able to pass right through me.

( And yes, had a river. Past tense. Humans need to stop redirecting natural water flows. )

Edited 2021-03-16 06:15 (UTC)

This must be a rather big change for you, then, isn't it? You're handling it all very well.

I think I'm the one having a tough time and all I have done is question you. Sorry again. Uhhh... I'm 'Nneth, by the way.

I have lived through change before and I'm not injured. ( He is counting his blessings. )

If I can help you, that would help me too. ( Haku likes feeling useful - especially towards those who deserve it. ) It's nice to meet you, 'Nneth.

[Another ill-placed breath over the microphone.]

You're either very lucky or very... I don't know what word you might use. Resourceful? Ah, probably not that.

And yeah. Right. Nice to meet you, even over these things. Oh, I appreciate the offer of help, too, but I just don't even know what it is that could be helpful. I mean, what others could do. Thanks though. Maybe it's just time.

I am blessed. There were those who wanted me to heal. When I was injured, that is. ( Chihiro had gone through so much for him. He would have died, spiritually, without her. )

I haven't been injured here. I'm grateful for that. ( He is trapped in the body of a twelve year old. Just about anything could hurt him. )

It could be. Or maybe you need a friend?

[He talks of injuries so casually but it doesn't sound as simple as that.

It's a little cheesy, perhaps. Karim would have scolded 'Nneth for being so trusting, 'Nneth could even hear the beratement in their ears. But Karim wasn't around to say or do otherwise. So why not?]

Yeah, sure. I wouldn't mind that. You... gave a few names before, which do you actually like being called? Does it matter to you?

I've grown accustomed to Haku - that is the name the Witch, Yubaba, gave me. My real name is Kohaku, but it feels strange to remember it.

( His river was either named for him or he was named after it. Regardless, the name brings back some sad memories. Being lost and without a home isn't comforting for anyone. )

Err... so Haku, then..? Or, uh. Sorry. I still don't know which you'd prefer. But. Um. No need to feel strange about your own name. I'm sure others go by names given to them just as well, right?

['Nneth isn't terribly different, but has no reason to say so now.]

Haku is fine. ( He frowns, realizing he hasn't explained himself very well. ) A witch called Yubaba stole my name. She gave me the name Haku. I couldn't remember Kohaku for a long time.

[Incredulity mixed with concern. It sounds like a serious problem to 'Nneth, why isn't Haku more upset?]

Stole? You mean... she made you forget your name? Wh-How is that possible?

( He has had a lot of time to adjust and there is someone who is willing to free him too. )

She took my name and all traces of it, yes. Through a spell.

Spell...

[If a furrowed brow were audible.]

Is it- Do you mean like the magic that some can do here?

Not that- Not that anyone would. Um. I'm glad you got your name back.

[Is that really appropriate to say as you would to someone recovering from a wound? There's a hesitation and a stopped word that doesn't quite catch on the microphone as 'Nneth debates whether to re-explain their words or not. The silence might sound a little awkward instead.]

Yes, much like the magic of Camelot. ( Like Merlin? Was that his name? Haku thinks that's right. )

Me too. I won't ever forget it again. ( He catches their hesitation, their discomfort, and he tries to quell it. ) Odd things can happen to spirits, that's all. You don't need to worry about me.

I'll call you Kohaku, then. If you don't mind, of course.

And I think here, here odd things can happen to everyone, right? I have a feeling what we thought was odd before, isn't really going to be odd anymore. I think- er. I think maybe that's why you're less upset. What I think is odd, you can find a way to make it ... normal because of the odd you saw before. Well. None of this is normal but. Ah, I don't know where I'm going with this.

I don't mind at all. ( He blinks and listens, trying to understand what they mean. Their words feel like a spiral. Are they panicking? )

We must discover a new normal. And we will. ( Because they must. )

[Yes.

And there's a huff of a breath. Not of relief, but of someone who held their breath too long.]

Yeah. We will. Thanks.

[There is relief though, even if the exhale doesn't sound as much. Kohaku doesn't point out 'Nneth's spiral and just goes along with it. What 'Nneth panicked about from misunderstanding is understood and the focus is less on words that are jumbled, but the thought 'Nneth was attempting to produce.]

It's comforting.

( He understands their discomfort - and he shares it to some degree. But Kohaku has experience beyond the usual and he is older - and wiser - than he looks. )

Being together? I don't like being alone, either. But you can rely on me. I will help you as much as I am able.

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