"I think it was good, old-fashioned hysteria and paranoia at work. The group was killed off by tigers, and it sounded like they had been hunting the group for a long time."
"I think it was good, old-fashioned hysteria and paranoia at work. The group was killed off by tigers, and it sounded like they had been hunting the group for a long time."
He visibly relaxed at that. "Okay. Tigers I can handle. That's not so bad. It's just mind magic, I really don't like it."
"Interesting that you should mention Time," she said with a little smirk. "The thing is, I don't think he's ready to be done with this world...or all the others...just quite yet."
I FEAR NOT TIME NOR WRATH NOR DEATH NOR ANY OF THE OTHERS.
IT WAS I WHO CRUSHED THE CHAMPIONS OF THE ASPECT OF POWER AND DESTRUCTION BEFORE DEVOURING THEM BOTH
I AM POWER AND DESTRUCTION NEVERENDING AND I WILL NOT BE SATED
After a few minutes of walking, the young monk stops before a door in the Administrative wing, and knocks respectfully.
The door opens.
"Hello, Fei." Keaton says politely. "Bringing in some new students?"
Nasima twitches and groans, her jaw muscles clenching. For a moment her face starts to relax back into its more normal, seemly appearance, but then there is an extremely close lightning strike outside and a crash of thunder, and with a whimper her head jerks to one side as Khoda reasserts control. Tears start to roll down her cheeks, a bizarre counterpoint to the hideous rictus of hate in which her face is locked.
HAH HAH HAHHHH! LITTLE GATE! LITTLE PUPPET! YOU ARE MINE
Yu makes his way confidently down the hall, heading for the cafeteria. En route, he passes Aananda and Jim. He gives them both a polite nod. His eyes are once again hidden behind his obscenely expensive sunglasses, but he smiles warmly. "Hello friends!" He says, and keeps walking.
He visibly relaxed at that. "Okay. Tigers I can handle. That's not so bad. It's just mind magic, I really don't like it."
"Then I'll see you and whoever Professor Reading might bring along in the morning. I'll send a message telling you were to meet us." Oneiro tells the lycan. "Do you want to know what we're looking for?"
"So basically you're gluttony," she said evenly, carefully not reacting to the lightning strike. It was not pleasant to watch the child suffer so, but she had already learned a great deal about how Khoda was using her. In his pride he was not being careful with information. He obviously liked to be cowered before and was pulling out all the stops to make that happen.
He visibly relaxed at that. "Okay. Tigers I can handle. That's not so bad. It's just mind magic, I really don't like it.""Then I'll see you and whoever Professor Reading might bring along in the morning. I'll send a message telling you were to meet us." Oneiro tells the lycan. "Do you want to know what we're looking for?"
"It's probably a good idea to tell me, yeah. Otherwise there's a risk that I'll mess things up unintentionally."
Yu makes his way confidently down the hall, heading for the cafeteria. En route, he passes Aananda and Jim. He gives them both a polite nod. His eyes are once again hidden behind his obscenely expensive sunglasses, but he smiles warmly. "Hello friends!" He says, and keeps walking.
Aananda had a thoughtful expression as she watched him walk away.
"Something seems a little off about that guy. I can't quite put my finger on it yet. Keep a wary eye on him," she said, hitting a few buttons on her wristband to mark this strange young man as someone to observe. Better safe than sorry.
The door opens.
"Hello, Fei." Keaton says politely. "Bringing in some new students?"
Fei bows deeply.
"Yes, sir. This is Tyrrin and Ehos - they have been sent to study here by the High Seer Denulia. They would like to speak with the Headmaster when his schedule allows."
"It's probably a good idea to tell me, yeah. Otherwise there's a risk that I'll mess things up unintentionally."
"I was told I needed to gather seven books. Considering I need them to see my family again, I think they may be artifacts. One of them was in the Namori Jungle last time there was any reference to it."
"It's probably a good idea to tell me, yeah. Otherwise there's a risk that I'll mess things up unintentionally.""I was told I needed to gather seven books. Considering I need them to see my family again, I think they may be artifacts. One of them was in the Namori Jungle last time there was any reference to it."
Jeran nodded. "Okay. Powerful books. Got it. I'll do what I can to help."
He hesitated a little. "Thank you for asking me along. I know I don't have the best reputation here."
"An unpopular rumor is that you got kicked from the pack for your help during the fiend's invasion. The least popular rumors tend to have a thread of truth in them. Besides, I thought you might like the chance to get out of the school for a while."
Both Tyrrin and Ehos bow deeply to the Professor when introduced.
Nasima struggles again, coming even closer to regaining control. She looks about to speak to Ryleh with her own voice when the stone in her forehead flashes blue-white and she jerks back as if punched. Her hair, normally lively and mobile, is hanging limp and lifeless around her face. Blood starts to trickle steadily out of her nose and left ear.
HAHHHHH! YES
FIGHT ME. FIND ME AND FIGHT ME. I GROW.
I COME.
Nasima's eyes shoot out two small lightning bolts that tear big chunks out of the walls and she is jerked back, hard, off the stool and lands in a heap on the floor. The stink of electricity mixes with the sickly smell of burnt blood.
For a long moment, the sylph princess does not move, then she slowly clenches her right hand into a fist and punches the floor uselessly, skinning her knuckles.
She begins to cry.
"An unpopular rumor is that you got kicked from the pack for your help during the fiend's invasion. The least popular rumors tend to have a thread of truth in them. Besides, I thought you might like the chance to get out of the school for a while."
"Well, that's a lot closer to the truth than most of the other unpleasant stories I've overheard. Thanks for the chance. I'll see you in the morning."
Ryleh knelt down beside Nasima and pulled a handkerchief out of her sleeve which she then tied around Nasima's bloody knuckles.
"I am sorry, Nasima. I do not wish to put you through this. But better here with me than at some random time among lots of students."
Yu makes his way confidently down the hall, heading for the cafeteria. En route, he passes Aananda and Jim. He gives them both a polite nod. His eyes are once again hidden behind his obscenely expensive sunglasses, but he smiles warmly. "Hello friends!" He says, and keeps walking.Aananda had a thoughtful expression as she watched him walk away.
"Something seems a little off about that guy. I can't quite put my finger on it yet. Keep a wary eye on him," she said, hitting a few buttons on her wristband to mark this strange young man as someone to observe. Better safe than sorry.
I'll keep an eye out.
"I d-don't understaaaaaaand!" Nasima sobs. "How can he do this?! I came here to learn to control him and it's just gotten WORSE! I'm such a FAILURE! Now he's...he's...eating my soul or something! I just wanted to find out how to stop him and now he's stronger than everrrrrrr." She continues to lay face down on the floor, weeping openly.
Somewhere a ways off, thunder caroms around the horizon like a rude chuckle, sending Nasima off into another paroxysm of grief, pounding her small fist on the ground in sheer frustration.
Ryleh held her while she cried, at least trying to keep her from damaging herself overly much.
"Don't despair just yet, child. We know a great deal more now than we did before. You are not a failure. If anything we here at Avalon should be apologizing to you, for failing you. This school is here to help children learn to control their powers. That this went on for so long without anyone noticing...I am so sorry, Nasima."
For a short while, Nasima is just a scared teenager, clinging to Ryleh's arm as if for dear life and crying hard through gritted teeth. Gradually, though, she remembers the discipline she learned from being raised at Court and augmented at the hand of Sifu Daiyu, regains control of herself, and sits back against one of the legs of the workbench. She sniffles. Her face is a smeared and snotty mess and her hair is drifting as far away from it as possible, making alarmed little exclamation-point shapes. She takes a few deep breaths and looks at the ground, then looks at the handkerchief on her knuckles.
"I'm sorry." She says softly. She looks up into Ryleh's eyes and smiles weakly. "I'll wash this for you. I've stained it terribly." She looks off to the side again. "You don't have to apologize, My Lady. No one here does. But...but I do need to get to work. Professor Sunwake said this stone is a focal point, a channeling agent. Khoda needs me alive, and I need him away from me. Out of me. Whatever. I...I just need to think. I need to figure this out. I can't fight him. He's a god. What can I do?"
The question threatens to break 'Sima's control, but she breathes in heavily and closes her eyes and keeps things flying true, for the moment.
"I gotta think."
Ryleh reaches into her sleeve and pulls out another handkerchief which she hands to Nasima.
"I find that with an abundance of grandchildren it is prudent to carry an abundance of handkerchiefs. The little ones especially ten d to go through them. You don't need to worry about returning those."
"And you aren't in this alone. Learn from the foolish mistakes of those around you, dear. We are all here to help you. That includes helping you think of ideas. For instance, researching if there might perhaps be a way to reverse the flow of the gem. I imagine that his personality would be vastly improved by suddenly developing a love for things that are small and cuddly."
Nasima gives an embarrassed but genuine laugh and blushes a little bit. "I heard about Ephebe and Krays. That makes me so happy for them. It's all so...so grown-up it's a little bit weird, but in a good way. *giggle*" She looks thoughtful for a moment, the lingering smile slowly fading. "And yeah, you're right, of course. I need help. Who...who here could reverse this gem? Who's strong enough? it's like...it's like I wish there was a way I could just close this door. But he's already eating me, or whatever it is he's doing. Could I get that part of my...spirit...back? Ugh, I don't know anything about magic. Not real magic anyway. I don't know where to begin. Who's most powerful here? Who would even have time to help me?"
After finishing his dinner, Phaezeriel hops up to the tabletop.
Ephebe, Krays, thank you for sharing your dinner with me. I will be in the magical lab if you need me.
::Lady Ananda, I am headed for the magic laboratory. Is there anything specific you need me to work on?::
"Well, that's a lot closer to the truth than most of the other unpleasant stories I've overheard. Thanks for the chance. I'll see you in the morning."
"Don't mention it." Oneiro tells Jeran. "I'll see you in the morning then."
He sends a paper bird to Professor Reading telling her Jeran Darkclaw has agreed to join the expedition as he heads to his room to get ready.
Both Tyrrin and Ehos bow deeply to the Professor when introduced.
Keaton bows in return.
"The Headmaster actually just finished up with another student. He should be able and ready to talk to new students. I am sure you two will enjoy your time here at Avalon."
Nasima gives an embarrassed but genuine laugh and blushes a little bit. "I heard about Ephebe and Krays. That makes me so happy for them. It's all so...so grown-up it's a little bit weird, but in a good way. *giggle*" She looks thoughtful for a moment, the lingering smile slowly fading. "And yeah, you're right, of course. I need help. Who...who here could reverse this gem? Who's strong enough? it's like...it's like I wish there was a way I could just close this door. But he's already eating me, or whatever it is he's doing. Could I get that part of my...spirit...back? Ugh, I don't know anything about magic. Not real magic anyway. I don't know where to begin. Who's most powerful here? Who would even have time to help me?"
"You're looking at her," she said dryly. "And I do believe that I already volunteered. Based on his boasts I would like to consult with Ephebe and Krays and perhaps some of the others as well. Their patrons may be able to provide more insight into his powers and limitations. Not to mention strategy. While magic is not my primary field of study it is similar enough to my primary field of study to let me understand it fairly well. I would also like to consult with some of the magic practitioners here. I cannot make any promises, but I will at least give it my best effort and that is not a small thing, child."
After finishing his dinner, Phaezeriel hops up to the tabletop.
Ephebe, Krays, thank you for sharing your dinner with me. I will be in the magical lab if you need me.
::Lady Ananda, I am headed for the magic laboratory. Is there anything specific you need me to work on?::
::Hold off on going to the lab just yet. Mother is meeting with Nasima there and it could be rather er, shocking for lack of a better term. Nasima's powers are out of control and there could be a lot of lightning.::
Ori stops to receive the message on the way to see Mr. Antairus.
"Well, that's good. Now we just need one more I think. I'll have to think about that."
She knocked on the door to Keaton's office.
"Ah, would you three kindly excuse me for a moment?" Keaton asks as he goes to the door.
"Good evening Professor Reading. Dare I assume this meeting has something to do with our last discussion? I hope things have not started to turn dire."
"Not to my knowledge, no. But you did say to keep you apprised of current events in that situation. We have a lead so we're having a little expedition in the morning. Myself, Mr. Mance, and a Mr. Darkclaw I believe he said. We'll need a healer of some sort. I think I might ask Mr. Blackadder. I think I remember him saying something about having grown up in a jungle and it would be nice to have someone who knew a little about the terrain."
"Also I may have been the tiniest bit rude to the librarian so I'll apologize in advance for the complaints you are likely to receive. Anyhow, I can see you're busy and I don't want to keep you."
"I can clear everyone for the expidition. If Mr. Blackadder is not available, Ephebe Sunwake or Krays Blackscale might be able to fill in. Both are excellent healers."
"I will keep that in mind. Thank you, Mr. Antairus," she said formally, the twinkle of mischief in her eyes not meshing well with the excessive politeness.
Ach, Someone is talking about me.
In the meantime Keme was having an argument with his patron. Again.
"Do I look like I'm running a charity here? First you want me to tag along after the tiefling girl who apparently can't make it two steps without getting into trouble. And now this? Seriously? You have got to be kidding me. Nuh-uh. No way. Not gonna happen. I am not the universe saving type."
Ori sent a paper bird with a message for Khassar.
Ori sent a paper bird with a message for Khassar.
** spoiler omitted **
Khassar replies:
Nasima's eyes get big. "Oh! I...I'm sorry, My Lady, I didn't understand what you were...that is...I...thank you." The sylph slowly stands up and takes a deep, shuddering breath. "He's...far, right now. Far away. I'm not sure which is worse; when he's actively d-devouring me, or when he's outside of my head and I'm anticipating him devouring me. This all just really started in the last few days. Since I got back. All the work I did, the mental discipline, controlling my thoughts, it's like it doesn't stop him at all. Doesn't even slow him down. I think he thinks it's funny when I try to stop him." She folds her arms defensively over her chest. "Dad wants me to use Khoda's powers, but now I know that's not possible, and I just wanna get back my life, even if I can't get back the lifeforce he already ate, I just wanna close the door."
She looks at Ryleh again. "What do you need me to do? How do we start?"
