"Um... Do you know were Ephebe is?""Um, we know the way." Matthias says softly, still not quite over seeing someone with a broken bone."Sadie will be alright," Fei says with simple, honest assurance. "But your actions need to be addressed. Please take me to them, or we can go to Ephebe and Krays since I believe you know them as well."
"I do not," the young monk replies. "Perhaps it would be simpler to go to the Headmaster's office. I am sure your parents are quite concerned that you are by yourselves in this school and...unsupervised. This way, please," he then says with a polite bow as he motions toward the main corridor that will lead them to the administrative offices.
Vai, still scarlet, smiled. "Of course Sadie. I... I am not saying no, but I would love to get to know you." Vai started to curtsy, about to introduce herself properly when she remembered that Sadie thought her curtsy was cute. Flustered but already committed to the maneuver, Vai finished and said: "Vai Em... Sunwake." Vai stood awkwardly after her introduction, bright red down to her shoulders.
Sadie was so happy she didn't know what to do with herself. Vai hadn't shot her down completely. She hadn't told her that she was disgusting. And she was actually willing to give her a chance. It might never amount to anything, but still it was way more than she'd ever expected. She smiled brightly.
"Pleased to meet you," she said formally and then giggled. "I still think your curtsy is adorable, Vai. Hey wait...Sunwake? Like the gym teacher? Are you related to her?" she asked, both curious and trying to give Vai a safe topic that wouldn't embarrass her.
Vai giggles uneasily as Sadie giggles, the nervous tension disappearing. "She's my adoptive mother. I... I can't explain how much she's done for me since I came to Avalon..." Vai trails off, as if remembering something.
Fei escorts the three children to the Headmaster's office, where they seem to be expected. He bows deeply, quickly explains what happened, then excuses himself, shutting the door behind him. (^.^)
Taking the momentary respite to put his boots back on, he then makes his way to the Infirmary to make sure Sadie and Vai made it there without incident.
Noticing Ehos' hesitation, Ryo carefully reaches out to touch the new student's mind.
::You will be able to talk to me any time after this, and you will know when I am reaching out for your mind again. I give my word as a High Seer that you truly have nothing to fear from me.::
Ehos responds with a clarity which indicates he is very used to telepathic communication.
::I... I have heard my mother give the same oath and she has never, not once, broken it. I will trust you. How can we start?::
Vai giggles uneasily as Sadie giggles, the nervous tension disappearing. "She's my adoptive mother. I... I can't explain how much she's done for me since I came to Avalon..." Vai trails off, as if remembering something.
"I'm glad that you have a good family now. I don't know what your past was like, but from what you were hinting at it doesn't sound like it was very good."
"So this means Jiminy is your brother, right? Does he play pranks on his family like he does on the rest of the students? Last year he made all the toilets squirt out colored bubbles in the girls bathroom. It was a stinky colorful mess. Professor Sunwake made him clean it all by himself."At this point Sadie was interrupted by a frazzled nurse who took one looks at her ankle and bustled off coming back with a small hypodermic.
"This will only hurt for a second. I'm sorry I'm in such a rush. The alchemy students decided to play a prank on the members of the former summoners club and I've been undoing transmutations all night. Should be right as rain in just a few minutes," she said in a rush and bustled off.
"This will only hurt for a second. I'm sorry I'm in such a rush. The alchemy students decided to play a prank on the members of the former summoners club and I've been undoing transmutations all night. Should be right as rain in just a few minutes," she said in a rush and bustled off.
::I... I have heard my mother give the same oath and she has never, not once, broken it. I will trust you. How can we start?::
::The consequences of breaking it severe, but you don't have to know more than that. Another test with the right equipment will help us isolate where your sonic amplification is coming from. The obvious would be your throat or mouth, but we want to be sure. After that a psychic dampener would be put into effect, weakening the ability so you could control and direct the sound. That should be a back-up plan though.::
::Do you have any ideas on how to learn to use your ability?::
::He's gone to get cleaned up in the bathroom, so he may not be here when you get here.::
Vai doesn't look as the needle went in. Devices like that still made her squeamish. Aegythrax had been fond of injecting mind control agents... Vai shudders at the memory. She tries to return to happier thoughts as the nurse bustles off. "I haven't seen a prank from him for at least a week now, though I remember my sister's closet once exploding because he made it duplicate whatever clothing was put in there repeatedly." A shy smile erases Vai's earlier apprehension for the needle.
::Well, it wouldn't be the first time I had to haul a student out of the boys bathroom. They always think I won't follow them in there. I can't imagine why.::
Aananda takes a detour and heads towards the restroom.
::Should I come as well?::
::I... no. I've tried not to make a sound since...:: Ehos pauses for a moment, composing a telepathic scene. Ryo's sees Ehos performing a traditional elvish leafsinger song, in what looks to be a crowded theater. Suddenly, the voice changes. First, it fades slightly, then explodes in noise. The vision fades, replaced with a picture of the aftermath. Dead elves everywhere, the theater partially destroyed.
Ryo can see that Ehos has replaced his scarf, and is crying noiselessly.
Vai doesn't look as the needle went in. Devices like that still made her squeamish. Aegythrax had been fond of injecting mind control agents... Vai shudders at the memory. She tries to return to happier thoughts as the nurse bustles off. "I haven't seen a prank from him for at least a week now, though I remember my sister's closet once exploding because he made it duplicate whatever clothing was put in there repeatedly." A shy smile erases Vai's earlier apprehension for the needle.
Sadie laughed. "That sounds like his style. It's nice that you have siblings so close to your own age. I have a younger brother but he's so much younger than me that we don't really have much in common. And since I can't visit home we're not likely to develop anything in common either. But we write letters sometimes."
::Should I come as well?::
::No need. But I'll call you if I change my mind on that.::
::Very well. I'll return to work.::
Ryo can see that Ehos has replaced his scarf, and is crying noiselessly.
::I am very sorry you had to go through that.:: Ryo sends, trying to comfort the boy. ::We will find a way for you to control it, I promise.::
Fei escorts the three children to the Headmaster's office, where they seem to be expected. He bows deeply, quickly explains what happened, then excuses himself, shutting the door behind him.
"Thank you, Fei. I will talk to you three about this later." He tells his children "Ehos, meet my children, Matthias, Gwenne, and Tal. Don't worry, their cousin will be here to get them in just a few moments."
Ehos turns his face away from the children, so that they don't see him crying, but waves at them.
::Even if I can learn to control it... it won't bring them back. Not even my mother had the resources to bring them all back.::
Tyrrin sees Fei once again leaving the Headmaster's office. "You seem to be burdened with being the ferry to the Headmaster... Fei was it? If you've a moment to talk, I would love to talk with you." Why does it seem like his hair and clothing isn't touched by the wind when he walks?
Vai's own curiosity is piqued, and she tils her head quizically and asks: "Why can't you go visit him?"
Vai's own curiosity is piqued, and she tilts her head quizzically and asks: "Why can't you go visit him?"
"The less I'm around the better. People in the village where I'm from are scared of anything different. They bullied me a lot. Actually, I was chased out of town by an angry mob. They still aren't very nice to my family, but it's way better than it used to be when I lived there. Staying away helps keep them safe," she said with a grimace.
Krays suddenly wonders what he's gonna do while Ephebe is out with her sisters...
Vai grimaced as well. Fear could do such ugly things to people. Fear drove Sadie from her village, just as it had compelled the barbaric rituals which Aegythrax had inspired. She was glad she had learned to master her own Dragonfear, another thing for which to be grateful to her mother. "At least we have something in common. Fear drove us both from our home villages." A weak smile, a bit sad.
Vai grimaced as well. Fear could do such ugly things to people. Fear drove Sadie from her village, just as it had compelled the barbaric rituals which Aegythrax had inspired. She was glad she had learned to master her own Dragonfear, another thing for which to be grateful to her mother. "At least we have something in common. Fear drove us both from our home villages." A weak smile, a bit sad.
"Don't be sad! It's okay. We're in a good place now and have a chance to be around other people like us. People aren't always nice or understanding but that doesn't mean we have to let it get to us....not that everyone here is nice and understanding...I should probably tell you I kind of have a reputation for being violent. It's...well, I had a lot of anger issues when I first got here. And my friends, Zren and Rikken....even here people pick on them all the time just because of how they look and it makes me so...mad. I'm working on it. Especially since I found out that I got so overzealous that I ended up bullying someone. To make someone else feel that way, it's definitely not something I'm proud of. So I'm trying to change."
Vai nods along as Sadie explains. A reputation for being violent? Not much to worry about there. My brother walks around with a staff that has three SOULS in it. "Are Zren and Rikken those... half-ogres?" Vai pauses, "I don't think I have a reputation at all?" Vai's statement turned into a question when she realized that she didn't pay much attention to anyone except her family and close friends.
"Yeah, Zren and Rikken are the half-ogres. People think they're dumb and violent just by looking at them. Okay, they're not the smartest by human standards, but by ogre standards they're practically brilliant. And they wouldn't hurt a fly unless it was threatening someone they care about," she said loyally.
"Well, you haven't been here very long. Mostly you just have a reputation for being a little shy. And some of the people you hang out with are considered pretty scary." She shrugged. "Doesn't mean they are, but the thing is most of the ones who are scared are the first ones running to them for help when stuff goes wrong. I guess they're just intimidated."
Sitting on the bench next to the tools he needs, Phaezeriel is painstakingly chipping away at the seven very expensive crystals before him. Often several minutes will go by as Phaeze holds the gems and his tools, eyes closed, feeling the psychic resonance of the gems, waiting for the perfect time and place to strike.
Having finished her conversation with the fox Ryleh heads towards the lab to speak with Jim. She finds him welding something and clears her throat softly to get his attention.
"Excuse me, Jim Rivets, but I need to speak with you about something."
Ehos turns his face away from the children, so that they don't see him crying, but waves at them.
::Even if I can learn to control it... it won't bring them back. Not even my mother had the resources to bring them all back.::
::It is true they won't come back, but what happened was an accident. There are many students here that have stories similar to yours, and talking to them may help you deal with it.::
Ehos feels a small hand touch his arm. Accompanying it is comforting warmth that seems to surround him.
"Don't cry." Matthias tells Ehos. "Detention can't be that bad."
Tyrrin sees Fei once again leaving the Headmaster's office. "You seem to be burdened with being the ferry to the Headmaster... Fei was it? If you've a moment to talk, I would love to talk with you." Why does it seem like his hair and clothing isn't touched by the wind when he walks?
Fei stops and turns.
"I...am actually en-route to the Infirmary to check on the condition of two students who were recently injured. I can...attempt to answer your questions along the way, if you wish," he replies with a quick bow.
Yes? Seeing the woman behind him, he walks over, extending his hand.You don't appear to need an introduction from me, so may I ask who you are? He seems to be holding back with his handshake, afraid to hurt Ryleh.
Yes? Seeing the woman behind him, he walks over, extending his hand.You don't appear to need an introduction from me, so may I ask who you are? He seems to be holding back with his handshake, afraid to hurt Ryleh.
She doesn't shake hands, keeping her hands tucked inside her sleeves, though she looks quizzically at his outstretched hand.
"This is one of those humanoid customs? I fail to see the purpose behind it. You are correct that we have not been formally introduced. As you already know I am Aanandareavekki's mother. You may call me Ryleh. Or ma'am. I need to speak with you about the recent troubles of the girl, Nasima."
Jim retracts his hand, defaulting to a parade rest stance. Of course, ma'am. What do you need of me?
"You are the champion of Creation, yes? The being that Nasima is currently afflicted with has a piece of the aspect of Destruction within him. I was told that your help would be most important in neutralizing him so that his connection with Nasima can be severed."