Her coy answer made him smirk in response. Most people, women included, would be taken aback by his blunt and matter-of-fact speech. She was a bit of a tease, but not overtly so. He never liked people who were too forward and the same could be said about those who couldn't spit out what they wanted to say. Both were equally bothersome.
"Komiteia… I've heard of that one from the larger cities I've frequented. It's the halfling settlement isn't it? I've never heard of Varaz however. If it isn't right along the coast between the west side of Parvpora and the eastern side of Canelux, chances are I've never seen or visited it. Most of my time is spent in the ocean's waters or in the Highlands nowadays, so I never realized that magic was less stable on this continent." He continued listening as Talise seemed to struggle for words. It was like she was trying to say something but was hesitating for some reason. She asked him if he had ever been to Sulaira. "Yes, I've traveled there from time to time. At least twice a year. Usually when I stop by it's to sell raisins and fruit, or shells and pearls collected from the seabed."
"My mother is Angela, The Goddess of Life and Earth." When he heard that he almost choked. "Wait…what?" Recollecting his composure again he looked at Talise with a mixture of confusion and shock. "Could you repeat that again?" Did she just say that her mother–the legendary healer she was speaking of–was actually…a goddess?
In spite of how shaken she was to meet the same group of hunters that had caused her so much grief, Talise was still able to joke about herself. The ideas of bringing honor to one's family name and continuing tradition were completely foreign to him. Maybe it was because of his background, but the merfolk who had helped him acclimate to the customs of land-dwelling society never gave him the same prejudices that native inhabitants of the continents had. Whether it was hunting animals or hunting people, they were all the same to Gerard. In the seas creatures hunted not for profit or gain, but out of necessity and survival. Sharks only ate their fill and fish did not hoard items for themselves. But unlike animals, people had options. They could choose how they made a living. The hunters weren't doing it out of self-defense or because they needed to.
As she spoke of one of her sisters who had been created from the earth, it brought to mind a story Jacintha had told him once. "That reminds me of a tale I once heard where an enchanter created a woman from clay. He had crafted it into the likeness of a beautiful statue, and breathed life into it. I suppose that if one was created from a tree, they would still hold memories as plants are living beings." He mused, mulling over the idea. It should make sense: plants themselves were alive and could move, albeit slowly. The earth was different. Inert, stationary. It did not grow, it did not change unless wind and water or the hand of others altered it.
As Talise did her best to understand, he himself tried searching his memories again. The sea… All he could remember was the sea.
"A hundred siblings… Must be quite a row whenever everyone has a family reunion. I marvel at how your mother can keep track of all of them. But then again a mother would know each and every one of her children by heart." He at most could imagine a large gathering of people like the city streets on a busy day, all talking, laughing, crying, spending time together. Eventually Talise came to a topic that he knew well. "I can relate when it comes to the loneliness. It's a difficult conundrum. Sometimes you want to be around people, but other times it becomes draining. People have a tendency to be bothersome and troubling when they're present, but when they're needed sometimes they aren't there. With a few exceptions, I've found that keeping to myself is easiest. People ask too many questions, particularly humans."
Gerard frowned, crossing his arms. "I've never considered having pets before, but I suppose cats would be more suitable for me. Perhaps in another life I was a cat, a particularly moody one. We have much in common." The joke wasn't quite as humorous as Talise's, but it was a start. He hadn't held such a long, in-depth conversation with anyone before.
