The construct uses its shield to block some of Issi’s attacks. But the fire proves quite effective, and Sadiki’s water blast destroys the shieldbearer!
The sickle hand slices at Sadiki, but she rolls back and forth to dodge!
Sadiki stands and blasts the construct with water, then Issi hits with a burning strike, doing just enough to destroy the sicklehand!
”Woo hoo! One more round,” Sadiki cheers. She uses the downtime to try to heal her sister.
She is unable to focus. ”Sorry, sis! Try not to get hit!”
Sadiki lays on hands to heal Issi a bit more as the final foe steps forward—a towering bramble champion with a maul of soft wood!
Sadiki starts things off with a powerful torrent!
The construct falls as the electricity melts its controls and renders it inoperable! The crowd goes wild as you emerge victorious! Your dorm mates cheer loudest of all. Teacher Ayuwari congratulates you on your victory. "A fine perfomance, initiates! And here is your prize!" He presents you with an onyx dog wondrous figurine.
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Issi holds her blade up to the sky and, in pure showmanship, send a ripple of fire flashing into the sky to mark her victory before turning to her sister and spinning her around in a hug, laughing wildly as the adrenaline races through her veins.
It takes a minute or two to calm down but when she accepts the prize from Teacher Ayuwari she has enough poise to bow and thank him politely, before turning to the leshys and commending them on their crafting skills.
Sadiki giggles as her sister spins her around, her cheeks flushed. She used to be the bigger, stronger sibling, but now, being held tightly and hoisted aloft, she feels a secret thrill at the reversal of roles.
She brushes her hair back and looks away as Issi commends the leshys. Then their dormmates come over to celebrate the sisters' victory, and the moment passes without further comment...
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"I assume I'll get an invitation next time?" Issi says teasingly to Haribam, Esi and Mariama when they come over to congratulate her. "Maybe I should have you lot do try-outs to impress me instead!"
Esi promptly puts her in a headlock and Issi cries for mercy before her lovely hair gets ruined, causing much laughter among the group all the way back to the dorms.
"Have you noticed how Okoro has been looking at Sadiki?" Mariama asks, falling into step with Issi. "I think he's smitten. He could barely take his eyes off her the entire time you two were fighting. When she went down I thought he was going to cry, or leap into the ring to save her."
"Really?" Issi replies. "Interesting... I don't know if she's looking for someone. She's... inexperienced in that regard but he might be good for her. Lots of the same interests and so on." The two make the rest of the way back to the dormitories deep in discussion, only to be assailed by Tzeniwse's boys who want a blow by blow account of every fight. Issi happily complies, complete with flashes of light and glowing figures who act out her words much to the delight of the anandi younglings.
Sadiki continues to excel at her studies, learning more about the school and her branch’s history. She spends more of her free time in athletic pursuits like swimming lessons with her sister and sports like kickball, which allows her path to intersect more with Okoro’s. Though she plays coy with her fellow student, Issi can tell that Sadiki is starting to take a liking to him as well...
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Issi, riding high on the victory in the combat tournament, turns to her studies with renewed focus. Her wishcraft project with Mariama rapidly pays dividends, earning her high marks in her Cascade Bearer classes and leaving her with some extra time to spend on combat classes with the Sun Mages. Teacher Ayuwari, having been impressed with the fiery initiate, offered extra combat sessions which Issi has gratefully taken advantage of.
On the non-academic side Issi notes with approval her sisters increasing interest in Okoro. Getting to go swimming more often is an unintended side benefit which Issi isn't unhappy about and she starts slipping away from game nights along with Chizere and Mariama to leave Sadiki some private time with their illustrious game-master.
Without intending to Issi finds herself with romance more on her mind these days. Her previous experience in Kibwe had always been rather hurried and furtive events thanks to her traditionalist and overbearing parents who watched their daughter closely and the freedom provided by the Magaambya, as well as Sadiki's romantic interests, gives Issi both the interest and opportunity to consider some romance of her own. Oddly she soon finds herself spending more time with Noxolo and her snabble, exchanging stories with the attractive Uzunjati about their disapproving parents and watching as the tall woman dances. Whether its simply Noxolo's mannerisms and way of dressing, or something else, Issi finds herself increasingly drawn to her class mate and, after plucking up her courage, goes to Tzeniwe for advice on how to arrange a date for the two of them.
Tzeniwe smiles at Issi. ”Ah, to be young and infatuated... I assume that human romances would be not dissimilar to anadi courtship rituals. Noxolo is very big into fashion. One of Nantambu’s famous designers is having a show tomorrow to show off her latest designs. Invite Noxolo to attend the show with you. I am sure she will say yes! Then the two of you can spend time together and talk about your feelings.”
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"Thank you Tzeniwe!" Issi says, offering her dorm-mate a hug. "I owe you an evening of babysitting for this!"
She hurries to put Tzeniwe's excellent advice into practise and secure two places at the designers show in Nantambu the next day. That done she goes to Noxolo's room, taking a piece of liver with her and knocks. After pacifying the snabble with its treat she tries to introduce the topic of tomorrow and finds herself suddenly tongue-tied.
"So... umm... I know you like clothes and stuff." Way to go Issi - stating the most obvious facts you can. "There's a big show in town tomorrow, Ximbe Wensigu is showing their new designs and... I thought... youmightliketogowithme?" She finished in a rush. "On a date?"
The snabble chomps happily on the meat as Issi asks Noxolo out. The other woman’s eyes widen slightly. ”Ximbe Wensigu! They’re only one of the most influential designers in all of the Mwangi! Yes, of course I will go with you, Issi!”
Noxolo smiles and brushes some of her hair out of her eyes. ”But you didn’t have to go this far just to take me out on a date, you know. Although I do appreciate it!”
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"Well I wanted to." Issi says, blushing so much that her face almost matches her flaming hair. "I've not really dated much, the 'rents you know. So I wasn't sure what to do... glad you like it though!"
That evening when Issi and Sadiki reconvene in their shared room the magus is bouncing. "Sad! Sad! Guess what! I'm going on a date tomorrow!"
"Yay! I'm so happy for you, Issi!" Sadiki exclaims. She gives her sister a hug. "I hope it goes well! Have fun! And I expect you to tell me everything when you get back!"
Sadiki blushes. "Yes, I do like him. But... I'm waiting for him to make the first move! He is the man, right? That's what he is supposed to do!"
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"Think about how you felt when you wanted to ask Reisa out." Issi points out reasonably. "You agonised over it for days, and that was with our parents arranging it with hers first! Men like to have some encouragement, a sign that their advances won't be rejected. You need to flirt a bit sis. Maybe a compliment or two, touch his arm, that sort of thing. If he thinks that you like him too then he'll be that much more likely to actually do something."
She winks. "That's how it works for us girls. We're the sensible ones so we have to arrange things for the boys to catch on to."
Sadiki smiles. ”Right, right. I should have remembered to encourage him some more. Thanks, sis.”
The sorceress heeds the advice the next time she sees Okoro, telling him he has a nice smile and gently touching his arm. Hopefully he gets the hint!
The next day, Noxolo is ready for the date by the time Issi comes to pick her up. She is dressed in a colorful dashiki shirt and comfortable leggings, and her hair is styled in a crown of braids laced with beads. ”I am ready to hit the town! Esi is going to look after my snabble while we are out!”
She offers her arm to Issi.
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"So gallant, thank you kind sir!" Issi says, taking the offered arm. She's also dressed up nicely, wearing the (repaired) dress that was supposed to mark her acceptance into the Magaambya.
"I'm hoping to give it some better memories." She says, after explaining what happened to Noxolo as they walk into Nantambu. "So, tell me more about Ximbe Wensigu? I don't really know much more than the name..."
”Well, you see...”
Noxolo speaks at length about Ximbe, a nonbinary designer whose styles defy cultural and gender norms and conventions. At the show, she gasps and gushes over the styles on display. She reaches over to squeeze Issi’s hand with excitement, clearly enjoying herself immensely.
”That was fantastic! Thank you, Issi!” she bushes once the show is over.
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"You're welcome." Issi replies, "I had fun too." She has - Noxolo's enthusiasm is infectious and Issi has enjoyed the show far more than she was expecting too.
"So, would you like to be a designer?" She asks as the pair wander through Nantambu in the softening afternoon light. "I bet you could do wonderful things if you wove magic into the fabrics. So, which outfit did you like most? I thought the tree-like one was the most amazing. I couldn't tell if the model was male or female but it really didn't matter, they looked amazing! It's... kinda weird for me. My parents were so big on gender roles. Our community in Kibwe was really conservative - Sad and I were both expected... we had our whole live planned out from the moment we were born, just because of who we were. That's a big part of why we left, but I still find it odd - seeing people who just... don't care. It's one of the things I really admire about you, how you're just yourself no matter what everyone else thinks. It's, inspiring."
”I do enjoy sewing and styling,” Noxolo says. ”I don’t know if I have talent like Ximbe, but I would certainly like to try!”
She listens to Issi talk about her parents’ beliefs. ”Nobody should be forced to be somebody they are not. I didn’t really find myself either until I left home to come to the Magaambya. Here, we are all free to discover ourselves without fear of judgment and persecution. I am happy to inspire you, Issi. And your positive attitude and openness is an inspiration to me, too.”
Noxolo looks Issi up and down, then gently pulls her close and leans in for a kiss.
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Issi tilts her face upwards as Noxolo leans in, accepting the kiss and letting Noxolo lead. Her relative passivity seems to be something trained into her as, soon after Noxolo presses lips to hers, she seems to actually engage in the kiss, her hands snaking around the other woman's back and holding her close.
"So that was more than just a 'thank you' kiss right?" She asks when the pair separate. "I certainly hope so..."
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When Issi eventually returns to her dorm room and finds her sister she's obviously had a good time, from the flushed cheeks to the spring in her step. "Sad, it was amazing!" She says, grasping her sister's hands and swinging her around. "There's so much variety in fashion and Noxolo is so smart! She knows so much and we went for a walk afterwards and we kissed and she tasted of cinnamon!" The rush goes on for quite a while.
"You have got to go out with Okoro." She concludes. "I want my sister to have a good time like I had!"
”It’s more,” Noxolo confirms. ”But let’s not rush things, my sweet. This will be the first of many dates to come...”
***
Sadiki shares in Issi’s excitement, laughing with her. ”I’m happy for you! I hope Okoro takes the hint and asks me out soon! I’m jealous that you had a kiss before me!” she says.
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"Silly comparison." Issi points out. "You had a kiss before I did, but I kissed boys before you became, well, you. So it doesn't work either way!" She sticks her tongue out and then continues to lyrical about her date until tiredness catches up with her.
The next day is game night and at the end of the session Okoro asks Sadiki to stay behind for a few moments. Issi leaves with a wide grin on her face and once Sadiki and Okoro are alone the young man clears his throat a couple of times.
"So, Sadiki... I, err, had an idea for a new game and I was hoping you'd help me out. You see, I'm developing an interest in the, oh screw it!" He steps forwards, grasps Sadiki's face in both hands and kisses her!
He steps back a moment later and flushes. "I'm sorry. I had a whole speech prepared but it just... felt so silly in the moment!" He grins, obviously abashed. "So I did what Ash or Tygrah would do. I hope... you don't mind."
Sadiki is expecting the big speech, so the sudden kiss catches her off guard—in a good way! It is over all too quickly, though. She smiles at Okoro as he acts abashed.
”Of course, I don’t mind! I’ve been waiting for you to do that for weeks!” She pulls Okoro in for another kiss.
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Okoro responds with enthusiasm, pushing Sadiki back into the table and sending game pieces flying everywhere! With her encouragement he steps it up a notch, hitching Sadiki onto the table and stepping in close so that he can run his hands up and down the smooth skin of her skin as the pair continue to kiss hungrily.
Issi sticks her head back in at the sound of flying objects, sees whats going on and closes the door silently. She walks away, after placing the arcane mark for Rabbit on the closed door - a universal sign amongst the students that the occupants of the room are not to be disturbed...
Sadiki’s heart pound as Okoro finally unleashes all of his pent up lust toward her. His hands hitch up the hem of her dress, caressing the smooth skins of her thighs. ”Okoro! There’s something you should know—“ the sorceress begins, but he cuts her off with another kiss. Sadiki moans into his mouth and leans back on the gaming table, an invitation for Okoro to climb on top of her...
Sadiki takes a deep breath. "I was born into the wrong body. I've only recently been able to fix that, and... this will be my first time as a woman... I hope that does not dissuade you..."
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Okoro pauses for a moment.
"You're a beautiful woman Sadiki. I'm honoured to be your first, if you want me to be." He says. "What you were before doesn't matter to me. I only care about the strong, smart and beautiful woman in front of me."
He leans in to kiss Sadiki again and she can feel his hardness pressing up against her belly through his trousers.
"I want you." He whispers against the sorceress's soft lips.
”Then take me,” Sadiki whispers back, pressing her tongue into Okoro’s mouth and pulling him even closer.
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Okoro does so, and beyond an initially painful moment and some accompanying awkwardness it is probably fair to say that mutual skill checks for 'carnal knowledge' were a success. No doubt taking twnety would produce a better result in time but for a first time it certainly isn't a bad performance.
"So..." Okoro says afterwards, offering Sadiki a hand off the table. "I'd like to make this official, if you would? I think people would probably figure us out if I started a 'solo' game for you."
Her first time is a largely enjoyable one, as Sadiki finally is able to experience lovemaking the way she has always wanted to. She smiles dreamily up at Okoro as he helps her to her feet.
”Yes, I would very much like to be officially yours,” she says, pressing her body against his as she goes for another kiss.
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"Wonderful." Okoro replies, returning the kiss with passion. Once they break apart some time later he smiles and looks around. "You're very welcome to come back to my room Sadiki, but we should probably tidy up in here and head somewhere more private..."
He gestures to the mess the two of them have made. "Hopefully all the models survived!"
Sadiki helps Okoro clean up the game area before following him back to his room. Games of all kinds, from wooden board games to dart boards and hoops, have been piled high in this room. Everything appears impeccably organized with not even a speck of dust or mud on anything.
Of course, the tidiness doesn’t last long as clothes quickly hit the floor and bodies hit the bed, entwined with one another once more...
***
The next morning, Sadiki finally make it back to the room she shares with Issi. ”I have a boyfriend!” she declares happily.
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"And I think you lost something along the way." Issi replies snarkily. "I'm delighted for you sis, but can you be a bit less cheerful this early? I'm still tired!"
Once the magus has had a bit more sleep, and some strong coffee, she's much more cheerful and interested in her sister's story.
"So, how was he?" She asks with a grin. "Did you have a good time? What was it like being on the other side of - you know..." She waves vaguely. "Everything you hoped?"
"It was everything and more!" Sadiki gushes. "I was not expecting Okoro to be quite so...vigorous! I had better visit the apothecary and stock up on night tea!"
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"Seriously Sad there's probably some stuff we should talk about." Issi says, sounding a little awkward. "Since mother isn't here to do it with you."
The conversation that follows is awfully frank and frankly awful. Issi blushes a lot but perseveres and by the times she's done Sadiki has the strongest sense of deja vu, as though she's been speaking to her mother again.
"I just want you to be safe and happy Sad." Issi concludes. "That's all that matters."
Sadiki is patient as her younger sister lectures her on the things women need to be careful about. When Issi finally finishes, Sadiki takes her hand. ”Thank you, Issi. I will be safe. No babies until after graduation, at least!”
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"Good!" Issi replies, recovering her joie d'vivre. "I wouldn't mind being an aunt but I suspect studying with a baby around would be a right pain!"
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"So," She says over breakfast. "You're an item now. Is he going to take you out on a date at some point? Treat you right? Can you get some free rerolls for Tygrah if we need them?"
”I’m sure there will be lots of dates and rerolls in my future,” Sadiki says happily!
***
With new relationships blooming, you continue your studies. At one point during the semester, Teacher Zuma calls upon you to pay him a visit. There are those who might call Teacher Zuma eccentric. He would, most likely, correct them with a deeply—if questionably—referenced rant about the need for alternative methods of information gathering and dissemination within the current political and magical climate. The teacher’s intellect is sharp, and his mastery of defensive magic is superb. Zuma’s ability to distinguish strands of truth (though perhaps, at times, picking up “truths” where none exist) qualified him early on for the Emerald Boughs, and he’s now one of that branch’s most colorful members. Zuma’s classes range from details of eminently useful rituals to utterly nonsensical ramblings, often within the space of only a few minutes. He’s well liked, although few students (or teachers) have the mental fortitude to interact with him for long. Tzeniwe, normally gracious and caring with everyone, has little patience for Zuma because she sees “when a web of thoughts is poorly shaped from insufficient foundations."
Zuma has one of the few offices in the Elephant Museum. He insisted on an office here, among the Uzunjati teachers, because of powerful but undetectable defenses he believes Jatembe imbued into the building named after his greatest chronicler.
“Ah, are you the new volunteers?” Teacher Zuma gives an eager grin and rubs his hands together. “Volunteerism is a sign of…” The half-orc seems poised to launch into a rambling rant, but he shakes his head and returns to the subject at hand. “No need for you to be nervous about this little process, this shouldn’t hurt anyone too much. At least not if I carried the five in the formula, ah?”
He guffaws as he opens a door from the sprawling mess of his office to an even-more-chaotic laboratory behind it. A bright-green liquid burbles in a flask and travels through a dizzying network of spiraling tubes until it becomes something dark and swirling in a much smaller bottle. Pinned to the wall are several scraps of paper, each bearing a separate piece of an impossibly complex alchemical formula.
“Your role here is simple: just sit still and focus while I attempt to prove my theorem that it is possible to entangle and connect the magically inclined essences of multiple persons in such a way that they may, in fact, be able to affect each other’s dependent natures and cause independent changes on those who are part of the created system of magically inclined individuals. Perfectly logical and natural, of course, when you think about it.”
Zuma has already completed most of his preparations; he has followed his formula and produced a bottle of special tattoo ink. When applied to skin, the ink is supposed to permit your inherent magic to “talk between yourselves,” amplifying individual effects.
”Don’t worry, sis. I’m sure this will be mostly harmless,” Sadiki says. Still, she closes her eyes and wishes for luck as she begins her part of the ritual.
Zuma carefully crafts a small temporary tattoo of a mouth on the back of each of your hands as you concentrate on your magic as instructed. Once he is done, the half-orc nods. "Alright, let's see if it worked."
Zuma asks each of you to cast one of your spells at the highest level you can. When this casting proves to be no higher a level than you can normally cast, he scribbles several notes and asks you to try casting a spell you've seen one of your companions cast but which you can’t cast yourselves. When none of you can cast in this way, he anxiously scribbles more notes. Finally, he asks you to try to communicate with each other silently. Unfortunately, you are unable to do this, either.
"Hmm... Yes, yes. The ritual did not work, alas, but I have some good notes on how I can improve the ink formula. Perhaps I'll make another attempt in a few months' time.
"Thank you for your time. Here, take this." He offers you a cheap-looking costume hat. "It will protect you from unwanted mental influences!"