Egfor sat on the fountain outside the Pony, his arm around Elsa, comforting the girl. He seemed to be doing this a lot lately.
It seems that once he fought his own wolves, he was given the power and wisdom to comfort others emotionally. All through the day, he found himself comforting people, holding them in his arms, offering words of wisdom and comfort where he can. Days prior to his spiritual journey, its seems people avoided him like he had the plague. Like he was disease ridden, unpleasant to be around. And truthfully, he was. But now, however, it seems like everyone has noticed the change, consciously or not, and sought the man out for comfort and wisdom.
Seers, shamans, soothsayers, whatever they were called, were exactly that; to soothe the spirit, mind and body, to bring comfort and ease to the hear. Egfor was able to take that mantle up much more seriously now that he had dealt with the wolves within himself and went through a symbolic and ritualistic death and rebirth. Though he is not open about his workings or secretive work on the side, he openly counsels those he cares for as friends and holds close to his heart with no problem. It is one of the few things that brings him joy in life.
Egfor watches his breath cloud the air in front of him for a moment. The cold was starting to creep into him after he gave his furs to Nathan before the man drunkenly stumbled off. He had a gnawing worry in the back of his mind for the man, but of course he did. Egfor is truly a tender, caring man at heart, despite his crude and lewd tendencies, ignoring his own personal feelings he was developing for the man.
He listened to Elsa talk to him of what troubles her. Egfor smiles, pausing between each question, "When did you stop dancing?.... When did you stop singing?... When did you stop being enchanted by stories?... When did you stop being comforted by the sweet territory of silence? Just things to think on and dwell on during this time." He watches her consider each thing quietly.
He continues on, "We need to start seeing the world through a child's eyes more. They contain unbridled, unfiltered wisdom we lack, due to our egos. Adults wear blinders that we impose on ourselves. Children don't. They are wide eyes, curious filled with awe and wonder at the world around them. We need to be like that. The world is bleak and gray if we lose that wonder and awe, if we stop being creative and imaginative.
"Long ago, I lost that inner child. My childhood and innocence snatched away. It took some time, but I got that inner child back! Now I am nurturing it and letting him run around, laughing and explore the world round us. Letting him love with open heart and mind and unconditionally without judgment." He falls quiet, nodding and looking over to her. He watches her think in silence, a look of understanding crosses her face as she nods and looks up at him.
Egfor smiles widely and warmly at her, squeezing her shoulders. He felt part of his soul get reignited with each person he held dear that he helped. By taking their hand and stepping through the muck with them, he helps himself as well.
