Introduction
x
x
x
x
x
x
╔ ╗
╚ ╝
x
x
x
x
x
────────────────────
☍ Do not fear me ☍
────────────────────
Dead, dead, their bodies piled up in the streets, their blood running into the gutters. Ashes drifted through the air, bodies nailed to crosses, hung from posts, bags over their heads. The lake had turned black, the odd finger popping up every once in a while. If they floated, they were a witch, if they drowned, they were human. The grave yards were crammed with stones full of grievances of young lives lost too soon. Accused of witch craft, died because of a witch's spell, killed in a witch hunt. There were so few of them left; the real spell keepers, guardians of the book.
99% of the time the accused perished.
The Town of Salem was once a quaint, sleepy, albeit religious settlement. Their people had no idea that right under their noses was one of the oldest covens in America, the Witches of Time. They welcomed everyone into their coven with open arms, men and women, frightened children, passing off as an alternative church that sat in the woods. On good terms with the church, the blood was not shed until the Black Plague reached Salem. The Coven was blamed, people lay dead in the streets, the smell of the sick and dying filled the air. Fingers were pointed at the witches, they were dragged out of their cozy streets and hung by the neck until dead. The people were not satisfied, the seed had been planted, the witch hunts had begun. No one was safe, especially not the familiars. They were burned by the dozens, an eternal fire in the square of Salem. Their ashes dusted the air in a sick snowfall, a black plague truly had been set upon the city.
☍ I hate humans ☍
────────────────────
The Witch Hunting ended the same way it began, with the Covens. Dozen of the magically gifted traveled to Salem to place a spell of peace upon the once sleepy town. They encircled it, casting their magic to make the people forget about magic, to realize the sins of their actions, and to ban the sanctioning of the outlandish trials. Their magic was successful in its cast, the people of Salem rest peacefully in their beds and the witches fled, taking their familiars and all traces of magic with them.
Pointed hats, brimstone, blood, and ash; these are the things wizards are made of.
To the woods they went, fleeing into the safety of natural world. Magical circles were drawn to keep outsiders out, runes used to propel them away from the settlements built into the trees and grass. Safely tucked away, the witches had closed themselves off from the world and thrived, building their own society and land with rules and strict regulations. They had schools and jobs, their lives sleepy and peaceful; they had grown content with their world and set in their ways.
At least, until the stranger came.
Blessed with the gift of magic, abandoned by everyone she loved, the stranger had stumbled into their village, allowed through the magical border thanks to her gift. Both a curse and a blessing in disguise, the villagers must rethink their very ways of life and confront the fears they had been harboring for generations; Outsiders.
[ Role ||Witch ]
[ Name || Zinnia Evernight ]
[ Age || 15 ]
[ Gender || Female ]
[ Face Claim || Abigail Williams ]
[ Played by || The_Queen ]
[ Role || Familiar ]
[ Name || Blithe ]
[ Age || 689]
[ Gender || Female ]
[ Face Claim || Tamamo No Mae]
[ Played by || NPC ]
[ Role || Wizard ]
[ Name || Yuu ]
[ Age || 21 ]
[ Gender || Male ]
[ Face Claim || Yuno ]
[ Played by || NPC]
[ Role || Witch ]
[ Name || Yue ]
[ Age || 15 ]
[ Gender || Female ]
[ Face Claim || Miuna Shiodome]
[ Played by || Spiderwitch]
[ Role || Potions Professor ]
[ Name || Elias Castle ]
[ Age || 25 ]
[ Gender || Male ]
[ Face Claim || Viktor Nikiforov]
[ Played by || NPC ]
[ Role || Dean of the Magic College]
[ Name || Dean Eincrad ]
[ Age || 62 ]
[ Gender || Male ]
[ Face Claim || Elias Ainsworth ]
[ Reserved by || NPC ]
[ Role || Occlumency Wizard]
[ Name || Autumn ]
[ Age || 24 ]
[ Gender || Female ]
[ Face Claim || Sailor Moon ]
[ Played by || NPC]
[ Role || Elder Council]
[ Name || Freyja The Divine ]
[ Age || 120 ]
[ Gender || Female ]
[ Face Claim || Aliza Katrina ]
[ Played by || NPC ]
[ Role || Elder Council ]
[ Name || Ulrich the Deliverer ]
[ Age || 230 ]
[Gender || Male ]
[ Face Claim || Mikhail ]
[ Played by || NPC ]
[ Role || Elder Council]
[ Name || Drake the Unmovable ]
[ Age || 320 ]
[Gender || Male ]
[ Face Claim || Laxus ]
[ Played by || The_Queen ]
[ Role || Elder Council]
[ Name || Rainier the Swift ]
[ Age || 240 ]
[Gender || Male ]
[ Face Claim || Tatsuya Shiba ]
[ Played by || NPC ]
[ Role || Human ]
[ Name || Orie Laron/Orie Eldriss ]
[ Age || 15 ]
[Gender || Female ]
[ Face Claim || Noriko Kamomebata ]
[ Played by || NPC ]
[ Role || Witch]
[ Name || Claris Aurora ]
[ Age || 16 ]
[Gender || Female ]
[ Face Claim || Erina Nakiri ]
[ Played by || NPC ]
[ Role || Human ]
[ Name || Rainarch, the Fang of Teranos ]
[ Age || ???]
[Gender || Female ]
[ Face Claim || ??? ]
[ Played by || Spiderwitch]
[ Role || Divination Teacher]
[ Name || Yorick Forester ]
[ Age || 160 ]
[Gender || Male ]
[ Face Claim || Gin ]
[ Played by || NPC ]
[ Role || Ulrich's Apprentice ]
[ Name || Wing ]
[ Age || ???]
[Gender || Female ]
[ Face Claim || Kanami Eto]
[ Played by || NPC]
[ Role || The Auroch's Son ]
[ Name || Zeus ]
[ Age || 20 ]
[Gender || Male ]
[ Face Claim || Yuri Plisetsky]
[ Played by || NPC]
((Will add more as characters are completed))
☍ Do not fear me ☍
────────────────────
Dead, dead, their bodies piled up in the streets, their blood running into the gutters. Ashes drifted through the air, bodies nailed to crosses, hung from posts, bags over their heads. The lake had turned black, the odd finger popping up every once in a while. If they floated, they were a witch, if they drowned, they were human. The grave yards were crammed with stones full of grievances of young lives lost too soon. Accused of witch craft, died because of a witch's spell, killed in a witch hunt. There were so few of them left; the real spell keepers, guardians of the book.
99% of the time the accused perished.
The Town of Salem was once a quaint, sleepy, albeit religious settlement. Their people had no idea that right under their noses was one of the oldest covens in America, the Witches of Time. They welcomed everyone into their coven with open arms, men and women, frightened children, passing off as an alternative church that sat in the woods. On good terms with the church, the blood was not shed until the Black Plague reached Salem. The Coven was blamed, people lay dead in the streets, the smell of the sick and dying filled the air. Fingers were pointed at the witches, they were dragged out of their cozy streets and hung by the neck until dead. The people were not satisfied, the seed had been planted, the witch hunts had begun. No one was safe, especially not the familiars. They were burned by the dozens, an eternal fire in the square of Salem. Their ashes dusted the air in a sick snowfall, a black plague truly had been set upon the city.
☍ I hate humans ☍
────────────────────
The Witch Hunting ended the same way it began, with the Covens. Dozen of the magically gifted traveled to Salem to place a spell of peace upon the once sleepy town. They encircled it, casting their magic to make the people forget about magic, to realize the sins of their actions, and to ban the sanctioning of the outlandish trials. Their magic was successful in its cast, the people of Salem rest peacefully in their beds and the witches fled, taking their familiars and all traces of magic with them.
Pointed hats, brimstone, blood, and ash; these are the things wizards are made of.
To the woods they went, fleeing into the safety of natural world. Magical circles were drawn to keep outsiders out, runes used to propel them away from the settlements built into the trees and grass. Safely tucked away, the witches had closed themselves off from the world and thrived, building their own society and land with rules and strict regulations. They had schools and jobs, their lives sleepy and peaceful; they had grown content with their world and set in their ways.
At least, until the stranger came.
Blessed with the gift of magic, abandoned by everyone she loved, the stranger had stumbled into their village, allowed through the magical border thanks to her gift. Both a curse and a blessing in disguise, the villagers must rethink their very ways of life and confront the fears they had been harboring for generations; Outsiders.
[ Role ||Witch ]
[ Name || Zinnia Evernight ]
[ Age || 15 ]
[ Gender || Female ]
[ Face Claim || Abigail Williams ]
[ Played by || The_Queen ]
[ Role || Familiar ]
[ Name || Blithe ]
[ Age || 689]
[ Gender || Female ]
[ Face Claim || Tamamo No Mae]
[ Played by || NPC ]
[ Role || Wizard ]
[ Name || Yuu ]
[ Age || 21 ]
[ Gender || Male ]
[ Face Claim || Yuno ]
[ Played by || NPC]
[ Role || Witch ]
[ Name || Yue ]
[ Age || 15 ]
[ Gender || Female ]
[ Face Claim || Miuna Shiodome]
[ Played by || Spiderwitch]
[ Role || Potions Professor ]
[ Name || Elias Castle ]
[ Age || 25 ]
[ Gender || Male ]
[ Face Claim || Viktor Nikiforov]
[ Played by || NPC ]
[ Role || Dean of the Magic College]
[ Name || Dean Eincrad ]
[ Age || 62 ]
[ Gender || Male ]
[ Face Claim || Elias Ainsworth ]
[ Reserved by || NPC ]
[ Role || Occlumency Wizard]
[ Name || Autumn ]
[ Age || 24 ]
[ Gender || Female ]
[ Face Claim || Sailor Moon ]
[ Played by || NPC]
[ Role || Elder Council]
[ Name || Freyja The Divine ]
[ Age || 120 ]
[ Gender || Female ]
[ Face Claim || Aliza Katrina ]
[ Played by || NPC ]
[ Role || Elder Council ]
[ Name || Ulrich the Deliverer ]
[ Age || 230 ]
[Gender || Male ]
[ Face Claim || Mikhail ]
[ Played by || NPC ]
[ Role || Elder Council]
[ Name || Drake the Unmovable ]
[ Age || 320 ]
[Gender || Male ]
[ Face Claim || Laxus ]
[ Played by || The_Queen ]
[ Role || Elder Council]
[ Name || Rainier the Swift ]
[ Age || 240 ]
[Gender || Male ]
[ Face Claim || Tatsuya Shiba ]
[ Played by || NPC ]
[ Role || Human ]
[ Name || Orie Laron/Orie Eldriss ]
[ Age || 15 ]
[Gender || Female ]
[ Face Claim || Noriko Kamomebata ]
[ Played by || NPC ]
[ Role || Witch]
[ Name || Claris Aurora ]
[ Age || 16 ]
[Gender || Female ]
[ Face Claim || Erina Nakiri ]
[ Played by || NPC ]
[ Role || Human ]
[ Name || Rainarch, the Fang of Teranos ]
[ Age || ???]
[Gender || Female ]
[ Face Claim || ??? ]
[ Played by || Spiderwitch]
[ Role || Divination Teacher]
[ Name || Yorick Forester ]
[ Age || 160 ]
[Gender || Male ]
[ Face Claim || Gin ]
[ Played by || NPC ]
[ Role || Ulrich's Apprentice ]
[ Name || Wing ]
[ Age || ???]
[Gender || Female ]
[ Face Claim || Kanami Eto]
[ Played by || NPC]
[ Role || The Auroch's Son ]
[ Name || Zeus ]
[ Age || 20 ]
[Gender || Male ]
[ Face Claim || Yuri Plisetsky]
[ Played by || NPC]
((Will add more as characters are completed))
The Story So Far... Write a Post » as written by 9 authors
"Drowning under the weight of my sins and hers too."
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#63CC14 ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя #5640FF】
"The bitch is dead." Orie's voice was cold in the dark night at the outskirts of their crime-infested city, Castene City. "She killed Father, but she's been dealt with." Pain, Yue recognized that. Her throat had been slit but it was also quickly patched up, though her voice was gone now. Funny, Orie always told her she had a nice voice. "Traitors get punished." Miranda, the new head of the family, as signified by the golden ring on her finger with the family's insignia. "Get rid of her Orie, get her out of my sight." It hurt to exist, she had pain marks all over her already broken body and now she was going to be disposed of while alive? Why did Orie hate her so much? "Let's get this over with. We need to be at Warehouse B for the meeting with the Wilson family." Tyler was tapping his foot, already having lost interest in this matter.
Not that escape was an option or anything. It was all she could do not to open her eyes and fight back. Death would be a mercy, Yue had waited for such a gift for so long. But Orie had stolen that option from her, not even allowing her the briefest reprieve. Now she would have to experience a painful death by drowning, wouldn't she? Yue wasn't an idiot, she knew they were going to dispose of her in the river. "And to think we took her in and gave her a home." Miranda clicked her tongue as Orie pulled Yue out of the car, holding her with a surprising amount of care. It was probably fake, Yue wouldn't make the mistake of trusting anyone ever again. "When Father bought that pitiful thing at the auction, it was a act of mercy. Can you imagine what kind of monsters would have bought her otherwise?"
Yue remembered the auction, it was one of her first memories. The leering greedy eyes all staring at the five year old her that day, of course the moon child would never forget that. They promised to return her to her parents but in the end the mafia lied and sold her away without any hope of escape. Were her parents even out there anymore? Why hadn't they come to save her? It was silly to think of such things now, it was probably some desperate attempt to hope someone could save a wretched garbage like her. "We're here." Tyler's rough voice punctuated the rapid rush of the river crashing against the banks. It was time. At the very least, Yue would be free from the traitor and the children of the Devil that bought her.
"I'll get a better vantage point." Orie said aloud to Tyler and Miranda. "Give me a sec." Miranda gave her nod of assent and down the rocks Orie went, still cradling Yue's still body, who was hardly even breathing from the sheer terror of the situation. What caused her to break? What caused her to pull the trigger and kill the Devil? She could only remember the worst fear in her life and then suddenly he was dead before her eyes, lying in a pool of his own blood in front of her. "Please swim." Orie whispered once out of earshot where the river was at it's loudest. "You'll be free, swim as far as you can and you'll be free from this hell." Orie's hair tickled her cheek and Yue finally opened her clear blue eyes, cloudy with hatred and confusion. She gaped, trying to speak but her throat wouldn't allow for that.
Orie looked at her, her own eyes gentle and soft. "I'm sorry I couldn't save you sooner. But you're safe now." Yue grit her teeth, she wasn't buying it. This was worse than death, drowning was worse than having a throat slit. She wished to be free, to be dead, not like this. What hope was there for a garbage girl like her in this cruel world full of monsters anyways? "Goodbye, soulmate." Yue wanted to spit on her if she had the energy to. Ever since that horrible day when they promised to be together only to be betrayed, Yue would never trust this witch again.
As she was released into the water, Yue closed her eyes tight shut, feeling the chill of the winter water already. Yue wanted to die. She didn't want any of this anymore."Please, God, if you're listening..." Yue said silently to the moon leering at her with that mocking smile on it's face. But then a new wave of terror came about her. A garbage like her - there was no way she would ever get to go to Heaven. No, most likely even in the afterlife she would be sent straight to hell with all of those she killed in the past with the blood everpresent on her hands.
No, she didn't want to die.
"Please, just this once, can you save me?"
Sharp pain in the back of her head was the last thing Yue knew before she went under, limp, to who knows where God might have in store.
Setting
0.00 INK
"To be human is to make mistakes."
Dirty Paws | Of Monsters and Men
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#F87531 ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя: #EE9572】
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#F87531 ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя: #EE9572】
Red hair is the mark of a strong witch, these were words that Zinnia had been plagued by ever since she was just a babe, sleeping in the comforting sway of her Mother's arms or the low hanging branch of a tree, bassinet tied in place with a red ribbon. Her parents would tell her stories of how she had summoned her familiar with crayon on the wall, standing on weak legs and citing the verses from her Father's spell books. They had told her that, that moment was the one that had made them come to the conclusion they could no longer care properly for her. Their daughter was too powerful for their little village and so, they had sent her away to live in the widely populated Constantina, the Capital City of all magic.
Zinnia Evernight had been the ripe age of 6 when she had stared down Dean Eincrad, the head of the University of Magic. Blithe had been by her side of course, supporting her quite literally, as the muscle weakness was quite terrible. Recognizing the symptoms of overwhelming magic with no where to go, Zinnia was enrolled that very day and was one of the youngest witches to ever wear the uniform. Now, at fifteen, she lay on the ground of her home on the edge of the city, staring up at the crescent moon. "Zinnia?" Blithe asked, in her fluffiest form. The young witch was wearing nothing but her dressing gown and slippers and yet, she had seemed to make a bed in the soil of her green house. "What is it Blithe?" The familiar crept closer, nudging Zinnia's hand with her white snout, her nine tails swishing. "I heard a sound by the river, come." Zinnia fixated her multicolored eyes on the nine tailed fox, wondering what could possibly have spooked such a fearsome beast.
"Alright, let's go." Zinnia rose, Blithe changing into a more human form in case her Master was in need of assistance. Zinnia crawled, setting herself down in her chair and propelling herself forward, outside of the green house and down the garden path towards the river. "You can't take your chair to the river bank," Blithe chided, jogging to keep up. The bell around her neck jangled with each step, warning animals and beasties away. "I know," Zinnia wasn't dumb, she knew the muck of the river would embalm the wheels of her chair the same way they would a mummy. "That's why I brought this," she held up a draught of strength, it would giver her legs and arms the energy they needed to take her to the banks, where Blithe believed she had seen something.
The young witch downed the draught, she had two more stored, just in case, and rose from her chair, parked in the whispering grass. "Zinnia, have you come to play?" A young dryad asked, her face alight with joy. "Not today," the red haired witch smiled apologetically, you never apologized to magical folk, it implied that you let them down and owe them a favor. "Wait!" Blithe called, braving the mud beside her Master, a small flame lighting the way for them. "What if it's an enemy?"
"Aren't you one of the Five Generals of Hell?"
"Yes, but what if it's a human?"
"Nonsense, humans can't come past the border, remember?" Blithe nodded, but was nervous despite herself. The two of them reached the bank of the river, Zinnia's dress stained in mud. Her eyes widened, spotting a figure, motionless, face down and stuck on a tree branch. "Hang on!" Zinnia ran towards the water, splashing into the waist-deep river. "Zinnia, wait!" Blithe ran in after her, knowing her Master would need help. "What is it? Is it a human?" Zinnia grabbed the figure by the shirt and began to tug, the wet fabric ripping. "Let me," her familiar lifted the limp figure easily as well as her Master and carried them both over her shoulders, towards the shore.
"Zinnia!" Someone called from the banks, the young witch groaning, she would recognize that voice anywhere. "Elder Ulrich! What a surprise!" The Elder scowled, he hated his formal title after all. "What are you doing here? A patrol caught her chair in the grass and thought you might be tangling with a nymph." Blithe set Zinnia down on the shore, the Elder's eyes going wide as he caught sight of the second figure, the one that was hanging limply from the nine tailed fox's arms. "She was in the center of the river, is she still alive?" Elder Ulrich knelt down, uttering something underneath his breath. Blue light came forth, swirling around the figure. "Yes, but barely."
"I have a draught of strength, two."
"Good, we'll need it if she's to make it to Madame Pomfrey." Madame Pomfrey was the University's best healer. Zinnia could already feel the effects of the draught she had taken wearing off, Blithe assisted her to her chair as Ulrich summoned his own familiar. "Zinnia, send Blithe away, she's draining your strength."
"No, Blithe stays with me."
"Alright, but come with me." Blithe took the handles of Zinnia's chair and propelled her forward, the odd party making their way to the center of the city.
"Drowning under the weight of my sins and hers too."
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#63CC14 ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя #5640FF】
The pain didn't go away like she thought it would. If this was death it wasn't what she'd been hoping for. Voices were murmuring about her and it was impossible to get even the slightest sense of time now. Afraid and lost not for the first time, Yue opened her eyes. Her head felt foggy, heavy, blurry, her breathing was ragged, but she was most definitely alive. A woman was there, as were some others but this one with the silver hair and the funny hat looked over at her. "Oh, hello there. You're awake. You're safe now, child. Do you have a name?" Her voice was warm - this entire room was warm and Yue wasn't sure how to feel. Her whole life she lived in danger, so how could she trust the hint of hope? She shook her head, pointing to her throat. There was no way she could speak.
"Oh, that?" A giggle that sounded like a crackling bonfire. "It's okay, hon, I've already healed that." Healed that? What was she talking about? Yue furrowed her eyebrows and opened her mouth, trying to say her name... yet still nothing came out. Now this was frustrating along with the normal aches and pains of being awake and alive in what appeared to be a hospital bed. Who were all these people? Why was she here? "I see. Then perhaps there's another reason why you can't speak for now. Autumn, can you give us a name?" A long haired woman looked at her and then Yue felt a strange tickling in her head. It was a funny and indescribable experience that left her still baffled by it all. "Her name is Yue Fan-Xiang. It means Moon Echo. I think it's pretty, Pomfrey." Two names. Autumn and Pomfrey. No names Yue recognized, and she knew many important faces back in her home turf at Castene City.
It was very clear now. Wherever this was, it wasn't Castene.
A new wave of nausea and anxiety rushed through the moon child.
"She doesn't know about us, Pomfrey, she's never heard of witches before. She's from the outside." Autumn said and not for the first time Yue was confused. Not just because Autumn was apparently reading her mind, but because witches didn't exist. Magic and miracles did not exist. How could they? She saw the darkest of humanity and no one ever cast a spell to save her. "No, you're not being drugged as a punishment. Your mind is clear, child." Autumn spoke again, answering the questions before they could even pop up. Now Yue just wanted her out of her head, starting to get an idea about what was going on.
Another voice spoke up and then Yue noticed the other three. A man dressed in dark garb yet with the air of someone of great importance. With him was a small wheelchaired girl and a very busty red haired girl, both of them seeming close together. As a member - well, former member of the mafia, Yue was fairly perceptive and could see these things quite easily even if she couldn't do basic math. "You two should stop beating around the bush." The man, Elder Ulrich, stepped closer, almost imposing. Terror flashed through Yue's mind and she was still, ready for punishment. "This place, outsiders can't get inside. Only witches can cross the border."
Yue gulped, eyes narrowing. Full of hatred, as if she was trying to curse the world to burn into ashes. She refused to believe in something like this, in something as fanciful and happy as magic. Otherwise why was she fighting so hard for, why did she have to suffer so much if magic existed? "You're a witch. Something like this hasn't happened ever before." Ulrich looked away from her back at some of the others who were curiously watching. "Obviously we can't leave a new witch alone and unattended to. Is there anyone who wishes to take her under their wing?"
No. Yue knew what this was. Just like before, just like that day. This was an auction and she was being sold off. Yue squeezed her eyes shut, trauma thumping in her chest where her heart should have been, a dizzying spiral growing in her mind as she hugged herself and tried to become a ball under the sheets. If magic was real, could she please turn invisible now and hide away from the world and all the noise forever?
"To be human is to make mistakes."
Dirty Paws | Of Monsters and Men
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#F87531 ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя: #EE9572】
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#F87531 ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя: #EE9572】
"Zinnia, grab m the Tears of Midnight and two bushels of sage." Zinnia did as asked, washing her muddied hands and reaching for the ingredients as Madame Pomfrey diligently worked to heal the mysterious child. Autumn arrived, the occlument keenly observing informing them she was in terrible pain. "I can make a draught of peace," Zinnia offered, her fingers itching to work. "No Zinnia, those ingredients I asked you to grab are for yourself. Blithe, if you will?" The familiar nodded and took the ingredients, boiling them in the pot that stood in the center of the room. "Now, sit back young one, you have school tomorrow, don't you?" Zinnia nodded, setting her jaw. Blithe handed her the brew, a sticky blue one that smelled of sage and tasted like milk with a sprinkle of nutmeg.
Elder Ulrich left, no doubt going to convene with the council and send out an order to try and find the misplaced girl's parents. "She's your age," Blithe whispered, settling own on a bench as Zinnia finished what was in the mug. "How can you tell?" Zinnia asked, brushing her fingers along the rim of the mug. Her multicolored eyes flickered upwards, glancing at the still figure on the bed. She would have been pretty if not for the myriad of scars that marred her body. Madame Pomfrey rubbed a balm on them, they would fade and disappear in a few days."Well?" Zinnia asked, a bit impatient. "Do you sense anything from her?" She placed the mug down, wanting to help, to do something. She felt responsible somehow, she had found the child, shouldn't she treat her?
Elder Ulrich returned, his expression unreadable. "What did the others say?" Zinnia inquired, her hands balling into fists. "I'm not stupid, I know you convened with the others." Elder Ulrich nodded his head. "They've confirmed that there are no missing girls in the outlying villages. The other cities have yet to receive word from a few of the townships, but there is some doubt that she could have traveled on the river that long." Zinnia nodded upon hearing this, somehow, she had a feeling that this girl wasn't from around these parts. "I asked the nymphs on the riverbank, they never saw the child enter the river. The dryads claim otherwise, but you know how fickle those creatures can be."
The child stirred, they held their breath, she seemed frantic as her eyes swiveled around the room, looking for something, anything, she recognized. Zinnia knew that expression, panic at the unfamiliar. It was the same look she had worn upon arriving at Constantine City.
Yue Fang, foreign, shrouded in mystery. An outsider that didn't understand the inner mechanics of the magical world. The red haired witch looked from one adult to the other, they too, were at a loss as to what to do with the girl. "I'll take her," Zinnia cleared her throat, "I found her, so I should take responsibility, it's only fair." Blithe's tails all stood up at once, she was so surprised, in fact, that she turned back into a fox. Zinnia wasn't the most social of creatures, even Elder Ulrich quirked a brow at her offer. "I have the room and it's secluded enough that she won't feel as though she's being stared at." Ulrich opened his mouth, perhaps to protest.
"I think it's a great idea," Madame Pomfrey clapped her hands together, "besides, I'm sure Zinnia could use the help." Zinnia wrinkled her nose, she did not need help! She could do everything herself, that was what magic was for. "Alright, up you go Yue, you'll be in good hands and the hospital is no place for rest." Zinnia muttered something under her breath and the wheels on her chair began to move. "Follow me," she gestured with her head. "Blithe, help her please." Blithe turned back into a human, offering an arm to help Yue.
They left the center of the city, Zinnia silent for a while. "This way," she would say occasionally as they entered the woods and at last, reached the house. "This is my home," why did a child own a home? Zinnia had been working diligently everyday after school to buy the wreck of a home that had been abandoned in the woods. She would make candles of all kinds and then would head to the house and spend all night helping Blithe with repairs. "Welcome to my home," the red haired witch snapped her fingers, blue lights leaping from her fingertips and lighting the lanterns along the garden trail. They went through the green house and through the front door. "I'm Zinnia Evernight, this is my familiar, Blithe."
"Drowning under the weight of my sins and hers too."
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#63CC14 ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя #5640FF】
They were talking about her as if she were a thing and she did not understand. She was a witch now, but it wasn't as if she had ever used magic in her life before. This had to just be some elaborate scheme. That was what she wanted to think but then again with how this Autumn girl had gone into her head it was hard to really tell what was going on at all. The small girl around her size volunteered to take her in. "Those two will be responsible for you." Autumn told her, clearly still in her head despite how much she hated the invasion of privacy. "Please calm down, you'll be safe." Safe? Yue gave her a baleful stare. When has she ever been safe? Did that word even have a definition anymore?
The fox girl took her by the arm and Yue flinched nearly violently backwards. Autumn stepped closer to whisper something Yue couldn't hear into their ears but she had a feeling she knew what was being said. "She's rather delicate, so treat her with care." With that Autumn left without much ado, leaving Pomfrey to gently almost pat Yue on the shoulder but not enough to make her draw back even farther. "I hope you'll find yourself at home here. Welcome to Constantina!" Yue flinched, shutting her eyes because the nurse's voice was too loud and it hurt her ears. The moon girl shivered, not sure what to do. Well, she would just do what she always did. Pray for the world to end and just accept the suffering that was about to come. Orie looked nice too in the beginning but in the end everyone's going to betray her.
Leaving the hospital now they were on the streets of what was supposedly Constantina City. It looked different, it was hard to imagine a city in the forest before but it was beautiful. Yue hated it because it was beautiful. She stared around at different things on shakey legs that didn't want to walk, didn't know how to walk. How long had it been since her execution? A month? A week? A few days? It felt like decades with how sore her body was now. She pressed a hand to her throat, trying to wonder why she couldn't speak. Nausea overcame her and so she decided not to bother.
This was their home, far from the main, more populated parts of the city. It was quieter here, it was calmer here and Yue was grateful for that. It looked like a sprawled ruin and there was something oddly calming about the path. The red witch was trying to be nice to her it seemed but Yue had to be careful. She shivered and shut her eyes, confused and afraid. She looked around and took a few unstable steps to try to acclimatize with the place. If this was her home she needed to find a safe little hole to hide in. "How am I a witch? This is all a lie." She mouthed silently, narrowing her eyes in suspicion yet again. "I don't have any magic power." If only she had, then maybe things could have gone better.
"To be human is to make mistakes."
Dirty Paws | Of Monsters and Men
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#F87531 ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя: #EE9572】
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#F87531 ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя: #EE9572】
A breeze passed through the open windows of the green house, the air smelled heavy with rain. "How are you a witch?" Zinnia tucked a stray strand of red hair behind her ear and smiled. "Most witches spend generations, studying hard to learn magic. You were living in a world full of Nomages, you never had anyone to teach you." Zinnia's chair rolled forward, the glint of the moon revealing the fact that she was not touching the wheels. Blithe perched on the porch, watching keenly. "Magic power has to be honed, but admittedly, you do have to have at least a meager amount to draw any out. Your gates are closed, but I can sense it within you." The chair stopped close, but far enough away not to startle the poor thing.
"Azarath, metrios, zinthos." The garden began to light up, flowers glowed and bent towards them, their spores glowing as they surrounded the two girls, illuminating their figures. "These buds are called wisps, they're only attracted to beings with magical power." They seemed to be clinging to Blithe, whose furry form was batting at the floating spores. "The wider your gates, the more spores are attracted to you." Zinnia wrinkled her nose as one dusted her cheeks and bounced away, moving as though it were swimming, towards Yue. The spores surrounded her and then all at once, began to make their way back to their respective flowers. "I have school tomorrow, so I need to get to bed." Blithe rolled her eyes at that, moving out of the way as the chair gently bumped the porch. Zinnia took out a wand, seeming to float out of her chair, her nightgown casting a ghostly shadow around her.
"Don't mind the dramatics," Blithe whispered, "Zinnia can be a bit of a show off sometimes." She scampered inside, jumping into a basket. A fire lit in the hearth, emitting a warm glow across the living room. It was cozy, with a throw rug pushed to the side, a magic circle surrounded by candles drawn in the center. The walls were decorated with ornaments, dried flowers, bushels and bundles of herbs bound together with twine. A top one dresser were tinctures plugged in multicolored bottles of all shapes and sizes. "I apologize for the mess, I wasn't expecting guests." The carpet suddenly moved back into place, covering the magic circle.
The table was littered with books, some half open, some having pages torn out. Almost all at once they moved, the room seeming to clean itself as Zinnia moved her wand, making them dance in a line back towards the bookcase. "There's an upstairs and a downstairs, we'll do a quick tour, then we should both be off to bed. Madame Pomfrey's spells use the body's natural healing ability and reflect it, so you're probably tired." Zinnia drifted towards the doors that lay just off of the side of the living room. "This is the study, don't touch anything in there," she warned, the door opening to reveal a brief glimpse at a messy room, a large copper cauldron in the center. "This is the kitchen," she beckoned towards the galley, where a sink full of dishes lay in wait for someone to wash them and a half eaten loaf of bread was being nibbled on by a mouse. Blithe pounced, scattering bread crumbs and small creatures in her wake.
"Don't mind the animals, they're... friends of mine." Next came a small washroom and Blithe's room. "We'll be sleeping upstairs," up they went, the larger of the two rooms belonging to Zinnia of course. Compared to the rest of the house, it was oddly neat, not hide nor hair out of place. In fact, the room hardly looked lived in. The walls were awash with gray and blue hues, a four poster bed with drapes that hung down the sides, the same color of cream, in the center. The floors were wooden, like the rest of the house, and there was a small rug and chest positioned at the end of the bed. In the corner was a desk with a neat stack of papers, ink pots, and feather quills, but no chair. "The bathroom is this way and your room is right here," another door opened, revealing a smaller, but cozy space. "Feel free to decorate it as you like, but don't touch the birds on the windowsill, they lay the most beautiful eggs."
For a moment, her attention drifted elsewhere and Zinnia blinked, shaking her head. "Well, don't stay up too long. We can go get you some clothing after school tomorrow, but this might fit you," Blithe came running with a plain shift in her mouth, depositing the dress at Yue's feet. Her tails swished, clearly quite chuffed.
Zinnia drifted to her own room, the door shutting behind her. Blithe scampered through it, turning human and catching her Master, who fell into a fit of coughs. "It's a crescent already," she murmured, a butterfly landing on the windowsill. "What do you want?" She asked, glaring at the small creature. Blithe pounced, the butterfly drifting off. "Are you sure we should invite this girl into our home?" Blithe asked nervously, tails swishing. "It should be fine, besides, she can keep you company while I'm at school." Zinnia crawled towards the bed, her familiar pulling her up and onto it. "You haven't been taking Madame Pomfrey's prescription, have you?" She walked over to the desk and rummaged through the drawers, finding four full phials, the stoppers still on.
"Take it," Blithe thrust it towards her. Zinnia cringed, pulling the plug and taking a swig of the murky green goo. "There, happy now?" She asked, drifting off towards sleep. The last thing she saw was Blithe smiling smugly, a butterfly landing on the windowsill behind her.
"Drowning under the weight of my sins and hers too."
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#63CC14 ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя #5640FF】
As the smaller girl, Zinnia, repeated the question Yue nodded to confirm that yes, that was what she was asking. They all were calling her a witch, and everyone else here was also a witch. So what could she do, where was her magic power? If she had used it sooner maybe she could have been able to do something to change things. Her captors seemed happy to tell her whatever they wanted to tell though and Zinnia delved into an explanation about magic and Nomages and Gates and by the end of it the moon child felt confused and dazed, her head overloaded by new information she did not know how to process. She tilted her head spectacularly at the word 'school'. Yes, Yue knew what schools were. But on the other hand she really did not know what schools were having never gone to one in her life.
The other girl, Blithe, was talking to her now as Zinnia went off. Yue stumbled in, knowing she had no choice but to comply. She learned very well how to listen and obey and follow orders when necessary. She was now shown the house and Yue kept her eyes peeled for any possible hiding hole when she did not want to be hurt and thus could use as a sanctuary. Rooms, kitchen, lots of animals. This was her life now and she needed to adapt. Maybe - maybe she could even learn magic. But Yue stared at her hands in defeat. No, there was no way they would teach her magic, that was as foolish as giving guns to a slave. Shivering at the prospect of being punished with magic, the scared child put the thought away and continued puttering behind Blithe, wondering faintly what to decorate her room with. She had never been allowed to decorate her own room before!
Eventually though she was left alone with clothing dropped in front of her. No doubt they wanted her to wear it so Yue closed the door and closed her eyes as she wriggled into the plain shift. It hung loose on her body, no meat, no curves, just sticks and bones and skin stretched out marred by scars and markings. Why would anyone want to buy her was not something she could know. With a silent sigh she stared out the window, up at the moon, mocking her from up above. Her name in Chinese meant Moon but the moon had only ever mocked her for her misfortune. "I have new masters now." Yue whispered dully though no sound could come out. "And once again I have to bow to someone else." For a brief moment she felt the old fire churning up, a fire that wanted to burn the whole world to ash.
Morning was a problem.
Because the room had been turned into a wreck. Yue stared at her bloody fingernails in shock and surprise, not for the first time she did this and it probably wouldn't be the last either. There were bloodied scratch marks lining the walls and one of the pillows was turned into a corpse of fluff and cotton lying in a sad defeated heap on the side of the room. Even a picture frame was destroyed and defenestrated, in pieces out the window. In confusion and pain, Yue began to rock herself, a broken girl like her was already going to be punished, wasn't she?
"To be human is to make mistakes."
Dirty Paws | Of Monsters and Men
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#F87531 ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя: #EE9572】
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#F87531 ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя: #EE9572】
Hoot, hoot, there was only one reason an owl came to see you in the morning. Zinnia pried her eyes open, the sunlight filtering in through the open window. An owl perched itself on the ledge, carrying a summons. She had been expecting this of course, to think that Elder Ulrich would simply leave her be after taking in the stranger would be a foolish mistake. "Bring it here," Zinnia held her arm out and opened up her hand. With a flourish, the owl flew inside, dropped the summons, and left just as quickly as it had come. Outside in the hallway was a popping sound and just like that, Blithe had come, dusting feathers off of herself. "I tried to chase him away, but he was insistent." Zinnia brushed it off as she unfurled the scroll, the looping cursive that could only belong to Freya greeting her. "Well? What does it say?" Blithe asked impatiently, her tails swishing.
"It says that I've been summoned and to bring the girl, Yue with me." Blithe's eyes widened. Zinnia had been summoned before the council plenty of times before. "But what about school? Your teacher isn't going to be happy if you ditch again." Zinnia smiled, pulling on her uniform. Zinnia shook her head as Blithe zoomed forward to button the front buttons, doting as ever. "I don't intend to ditch, I'm going to take Yue with me and we'll head straight there after school. She can wait in Dean Eincrad's office," Blithe gave her a withering stare. "You'll watch her," her familiar perked up at that, she hated being left at home everyday.
"Or maybe take her to market and get her some clothing?" Blithe grinned eagerly, ever the fashion lover. If it weren't for her, Zinnia would be wearing her school uniform at all hours and possibly a plain black shift. "Let's go invite our guest to breakfast," Blithe turned into a small poof, running alongside her as Zinnia floated towards the door. "Yue?" Zinnia knocked, "Are you dressed? Can I come in?" She opened up the doors, looking around the room and finally, at the huddled form in the corner. "Interesting choice, I see you've gone with the modernist method. It's never been my taste in particular, but if it is what you like then I can't argue." Zinnia waved her wand, the entire room seeming to move in reverse as the blood stains were wiped off of the walls and the pillow repaired itself. "You can't make something from nothing, but you can certainly fix it. Now, let me see your hands."
Blithe ran out and came back, totting bandages. "Anyhow, we'll be going into town. I'm not the best at healing, but I'm sure Freya will take a look. We've been summoned before the Elder Council, to appear after school." Zinnia wrapped Yue's hands as best as she could, her touch ever so gentle. "In the meanwhile, let's have breakfast, shall we?" Zinnia tried on her best smile, attempting to comfort the poor thing. "I smell toast!" Blithe hollered as she ran from the room, practically throwing herself down the stairs. Zinnia went to the sink to wash her hands and made her way down the stairs, hoping that Yue was following. Blithe had already busied herself in the kitchen, fancying herself a chef as Zinnia set the table, her wand doing all of the hard work for her.
"Drowning under the weight of my sins and hers too."
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#63CC14 ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя #5640FF】
Yue hugged her knees to her chest, mind as blank as the whitest piece of paper as she rocked back and forth in the corner, farthest away from the door. But of course no sanctuary lasted forever and the door opened to reveal her captors, Zinnia and Blithe, have arrived. Were they going to punish her for destroying the room? Were they going to hurt her for making a mess on the first day? Whatever happened she would have to accept it no matter how fast her heart was thumping. Yue shut her eyes tight enough to draw a tear, waiting to be struck by the big chested Blithe. She trembled and waited, waited, but no punishment happened .When she next opened her eyes what she saw was magic, the destroyed room was turning back into it's old plain but clean self, even the blood was gone, the pillow back together.
Was that what magic could do?
But what kind of magic could Yue herself do? She glanced down at her hands, stained with blood that only she could see. As a member of the Eldriss family, even at the bottom rung she was in a position to hurt others, to kill others. And she definitely did do those awful things in order to survive. Could someone like her ever be able to cast magic that beautiful? Yue did not know but she had a feeling she knew the answer. Any magic she could use would be disgusting and filthy, full of darkness and destruction. She passively allowed her hands to be examined and bandaged up and even so the moon child did not know what to think. Were these two trying to make her let her guard down in order to hurt her more later? What kind of trick were they plotting?
She decided to nod at the prospect of more clothes. While Yue knew she wasn't particularly pretty, she did have some sense of modesty and wanted to wear more than just a half dress that she was given by the two witches here. Zinnia was so small but there was obviously a lot of power within her. How much power did Yue have too? How could she open her gates? When Blithe came screaming in for toast Yue flinched again, falling down to her knees and clutching fearfully at her head. She hated noise, she hated sudden loud noise and the child was hyperventilating as she tried to process what had just happened. After a moment she got up - still hunched over a bit - and blinked a few times, shaking her head. She did not want that to happen again.
Yue was almost mesmerized at how the magic happened as Zinnia used her wand to prepare all of the food. She however was not so excited about having to appear before some Elder Council. Yue did not know what kind of cult this was but she did not want to be sold again. Once the food was finished Yue waited as if wishing for permission to eat. Eventually once she did take a bite though she could only manage a few bits before she had to vomit it back up. Tears welled up in her eyes as her disgusting fluids dripped down the table, out of shame, out of fear of being punished for her crime.
"To be human is to make mistakes."
Dirty Paws | Of Monsters and Men
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#F87531 ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя: #EE9572】
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#F87531 ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя: #EE9572】
Breakfast was ready quickly, Zinnia sank into her seat, placing a napkin on her lap so as not to dirty her uniform. "No one is going to hurt you here," Zinnia said softly. She had noticed the flinching, how Yue was bracing to be hurt one way or another. "Besides, quite frankly, I'm not strong enough to hit you and Blithe doesn't even hurt flies." Her smile was gentle as she passed the plate of toast, "You're safe here, that I can assure you." In spite of her words, Yue threw up. Was it from nerves? An upset stomach? "I'll clean it," Blithe offered, snapping her fingers. The vomit burned away, but the fire didn't burn the human. "Let's get you cleaned up, maybe you can borrow some of Zinnia's clothes so you don't have to go out in that?" Blithe offered, changing from a fox into a human once again.
"You'll have to excuse my master," Blithe said as she rummaged through Zinnia's clothing. They were inside of the large room, Blithe finding something simple that would suit their guest. "She isn't the best with other children her age. Her parents sent her away when she was young and she grew up surrounded by adults. I think... you're our first real guest." Blithe placed the clothing on the dresser. "Come downstairs when you're cleaned up, alright?" She smiled, closing the door behind her and heading back downstairs, where Zinnia was just finishing breakfast. Blithe wolfed down the rest of her food, changing back into her smaller, cuter form.
The dishes drifted off to the sink, Zinnia pushed back from the table, rising to grab her belongings. "When you go to Market, we're out of bread. We'll need ingredients for dinner too and I'm out of beetle wings, if you can pick some up." Blithe nodded, moving out of the way as a book nearly hit her in the head. "Oh, Yue? Are you ready?" Zinnia asked once the girl had revealed herself once more. "Let's go," once on the porch, Zinnia settled into her chair, the garden sparkling in the early light of morning. The smell of flowers was thick in the air, the buzz of fall cicadas chirping hit their ears as they exited the green house and entered the garden. "Good morning Zinny!" A young dryad waved exuberantly. "Good morning Termanius," Zinnia tossed a sachet of seeds, which the dryad caught and tucked into the lapel of their jacket. "Tell her parents I say hello."
Their walk into the city was slow. Constantina was a flourishing capital for young witches and wizards of great renown and those who aspired to be. It was not like a traditional Nomage city, wherein skyscrapers would touch the skies and all semblance of nature had been ripped away. No, Constantina flourished on nature. There were homes built within trees, buildings crawling with grapevines and what have you. "That's the University," Zinnia pointed to the building that was hard to miss. It stood in the center of Constantina, a beautiful spire of wood and glass. Shops were just opening for the morning, owners sweeping stoops and shooing stray faeries and elk from their windowsills.
The university stood tall and proud, its lights gleaming. "Don't wander, follow me please." Zinnia directed, leading Yue to Dean Eincrad's office. He was already there, hands clasped together as though waiting for them. "Zinnia, why am I not surprised?" He stared down his snout at them, looking rather imposing. "This is Yue Fang, I couldn't leave her at home. Is it alright if she stays here until class is over? Or at least, until Blithe can take her to market?"
Dean Eincrad sighed, "I suppose." He gestured towards the next room, where a cushy looking couch and ornamental bookcase were. "You can wait in there, Yue."
"Drowning under the weight of my sins and hers too."
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#63CC14 ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя #5640FF】
Zinnia was speaking words sweet like honey and Yue wanted to believe, wondered what it was like to believe. But she had been hurt by someone she trusted her whole life to - she wouldn't so easily trust a stranger no matter how nice. In this strange alien world Yue still needed time to acclimatize and find her bearings, if there were any. The food was nice and homey, but still for a malnourished girl like her it was hard for her stomach to handle such strange tasty delicacies for the moment. She glanced fervently back and forth between Zinnia and Blithe when the fire started up. At first she was ready to take the heat but then she realized she didn't feel it at all. Was this not punishment? In moments her excrement was cleaned up, as if no mess was made at all.
So this was magic too, wasn't it?
Yue found herself shuffled into another room where she was given another set of clothing to wear, consisting of a near transparent outer robe with a bright bow at the front by her chest, a comfy dark shirt and a short purple skirt with long socks underneath, ending in cute simple black ankle boots. Feeling awkward and not used to something like this Yue slunk out of the room to present herself to her captors. Did they like it? Probably so and now it was time to go. Constantina City wasn't like the underbelly of Castene City she was used to, all seedy and full of despair and gloom. Constantina was bright and lively, both things which Yue was very uncomfortable with. A strange magical creature called out to Zinnia - were they friends? Even if her captors were scary they were a source of vague familarity so Yue clung to the end of Blithe's tail for security as they walked down the streets to wherever they were going now.
The University was large and just as immersed in nature as the rest of Constantina City was. Yue felt very much like an alien wandering in an alien place. Someone who lived and breathed the smog and muck of the big sprawling urban land, how could she possibly get used to air this clean, to views this magnificent? And the inside of the University seemed almost as if it was brimming full of magic. Could Yue too one day use magic? Is this the place for her to learn how if she really wanted to? The Dean was introduced to her and Yue gave him a timid, fearful nod before sitting down where she was meant to.
And that was when she met her. A taller girl was staring with bright blonde hair that shone like the sun, breasts as big as the moon. "Seriously, Zinnia? Why'd you have to bring the Outsider here?" Yue flinched again, trying to shrink on the couch to make herself invisible again. "The prophecy says if any outsider were to ever come to Constantina City, our peaceful world would end." She tapped her foot and scoffed, hands on her hips. "Dad thinks we should've just thrown her back out where she came from." She knelt down and gave Yue a long hard stare, the moon child wriggling uncomfortably at this new loud girl. "My name's Claris Aurora, and there's lots of us who think you don't belong here, Outsider." Yue could see the many eyes on her, some curious, others cold and foreboding.
A slave like Yue did not belong in such a beautiful place.
"To be human is to make mistakes."
Dirty Paws | Of Monsters and Men
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#F87531 ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя: #EE9572】
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#F87531 ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя: #EE9572】
Zinnia recognized that look, the awe that came with seeing the University for the first time. Zinnia's expression had been something like that, before she had composed herself and made her proposition to Dean Eincrad. He could be quite intimidating at times, what with his peculiar looks and intimidating air. Zinnia had learned to take it in stride, the two were oddly close as he had personally mentored her in certain areas of study. She knew he wouldn't be able to turn her down when she brought in Yue, the girl trailing behind her, hugging Blithe's tail. Dean Eincrad sighed, sending them off to the side room where Yue would be able to rest in peace, Blithe watching over her, until after school. "When you feel ready, Blithe will take you into town." Zinnia said, about to head out when Claris Aurora showed up to ruin everything.
"Oh please, we've all thought the same thing about you Claris." Zinnia rolled her eyes, there were a handful that snickered at it. No doubt they had all thought of expelling Claris at one point or another. She wasn't exactly the friendliest of faces. "Alright, everyone back to their classes." Dean Eincrad rose from his desk, scattering those who had gathered outside the door. "Yue and Blithe will be safe her Zinnia, I promise you that." Zinnia nodded, darting her eyes to Blithe, who nodded as well. "I'll be back when I have a break," her chair turned, carting her off to her first class. Potions, one of the subjects that Zinnia excelled at.
Class went by quickly, for the most part they took notes and were orally tested on identifying plants. When it was over, Zinnia was packing up her books and capping the phials of brew that would be tested against the other student's. She was the last one to leave, as always, taking her time moving about and returning items where they belonged. A shadow waited against the wall, well, a boy really, who watched her with passive interest. "Can I help you, Yuu?" Zinnia asked as she placed the stirring sticks in the sink. "No," he muttered, his gaze resting on her. Her chair turned, angling towards the door, but he stopped her. "No," she said firmly. He stood in the doorway, arms still crossed.
"You don't even know what I'm going to ask," he picked at a piece of invisible dust on his coat. "You can't see the girl, if that's what it was going to be." She moved her chair once more, intending to run him over. He jumped out of the way, trailing along behind her. They shared most of their classes, she was no stranger to Yuu's quiet antics. Unfortunately, she shared this next class with Claris, who loudly insisted on seating herself next to Zinnia's chair, pulling out her notebook and quills with a flourish. "I can take notes for you today," Claris grinned, it was clear that she was up to something. "I'll have to decline Ms. Aurora, I can dictate for myself." The course seemed to drag on forever, Claris insisting on sharing equipment and even at one point, trying to make a grab for the young witch's wand.
Zinnia jerked away, falling out of her seat. There was an audible gasp as the red haired witch hit the ground, the blonde one jumping to her feet. "Oh my gosh, someone help her!"
"No, don't touch me!" Zinnia snapped, she turned, pulling herself onto her feet. There was quiet as Zinnia drew herself to her full height, which wasn't much, her legs trembling. "I don't need your pity," she packed up her belongings, knees threatening to buckle, and sat back down in her seat, fluffing her hair out behind her. "I'm leaving early, please excuse me." Zinnia angled her chair towards the elevating platform, she would go to Dean Eincrad's office to pick up Yue, then take her to market.
"Drowning under the weight of my sins and hers too."
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#63CC14 ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя #5640FF】
Yue cowered under the combined weight of everyone's eyes, Claris's cruel words, and perhaps most of all, Dean Eincrad's monstrous skeletal face that could only be the face of some horrible evil monster beyond anything Yue had ever experienced thus far. If Monster Eincrad was the Dean and the leader of the University, then perhaps this was a den of evil after all. Zinnia was able to make everyone leave as did Eincrad and thus Yue was given some solitude, shuffled into a side room where she wouldn't be a bother to anyone. She opened her mouth, gaping like a fish as she tried to speak but nothing came out. Why couldn't she speak? Why weren't the words coming out? It was frustrating and Yue wished she could stil lspeak so that at the very least she could scream for help if Eincrad were to eat her.
"Now that they're gone, tell me about this child." Eincrad knelt down to get a better look at Yue while referring to Blithe, who happily volunteered whatever information she could offer. Yue stared at his bone sunken eyes, trembling, wondering if he was going to eat her now. Could she scream, would someone save her? How could a slave like her possibly do anything to survive being eaten by a skeleton monster? "Do you want to open your gates?" Open her gates? Yue shivered, thinking about one particular gate she never wanted opened. As a member of the Eldriss family she had seen far too many times girls having their gates forcibly opened and used by men as punishment, or perhaps for no reason at all but primal pleasure and power. She shook her head, not even a whimper escaping her.
Eincrad seemed not to take any of that into account however as he took her wrist, taking her to another room. Blithe following closely behind, she seemed curious. The next room had a crystal ball in a dark room, dim lights making it all seem even more ominous. What was this ball? Yue stared at it and even she could sense the immense magical energy coming off of it. "This is the Orb of Runic Echoes." Eincrad explained, gesturing to the dark orb. "We use this to open the gates for mages. Most receive the treatment as babies, so you're a rare case." For some reason Yue had a feeling he was smiling. "Don't be afraid." Blithe said, tails still. "Put both of your hands on it. Nothing will happen, okay?"
Yue gulped, knowing she had no choice but to obey her captor. So she took a step forward and gingerly pressed both palms against the Orb of Runic Echoes. Almost immediately she felt her hands stuck to the orb and her eyes went wide in shock and terror. A strange wave of energy rushed through her, tingling and overpowering but not exactly painful. Another, another, each stronger than the last. Once it was over she was panting and barely hanging on. "You've spent many years with closed gates, so it'll take a few more reverberations." Dean Eincrad assured her. "You're almost done now." If Yue could cry she would, but she wasn't allowed to cry ever again so she bit her lip and held on.
Finally it was over and she collapsed, breathing hard, hands free from the orb. A vibrant scarlet glow came about the Orb, bright and powerful, and then it faded and a pale lavender, calming to the eye. "So you're a Major Offensive and Minor Divination mage." Eincrad explained after helping her out of the scary room into the side room once again. It was around that time the door opened, revealing Zinnia had returned. Blithe's tails were wagging, as if excited to tell Zinnia all about what had just happened. Yue merely looked dazed, too exhausted from the opening of her gates, too hypersensitive to the very obvious waves of mana that permeated the place that she could now sense thanks to the gates opening.
"To be human is to make mistakes."
Dirty Paws | Of Monsters and Men
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#F87531 ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя: #EE9572】
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#F87531 ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя: #EE9572】
"We're leaving," Zinnia declared, bursting unannounced into the office. Dean Eincrad nodded, he didn't question her motives. "Yue needs rest, Zinnia." Dean Eincrad spoke as Blithe bound beside her. Zinnia needn't be told, she could see it hovering round the girl, but she would let Yue tell her later if she chose to. "She'll get her rest, once we see the Council." The Dean's expression hardened, it was clear he didn't approve, but just like Zinnia, didn't have a choice in the matter and didn't get to protest. "Alright, take this with you." He pushed a familiar set of glass phials towards her. "I won't decline, these always help." Zinnia handed one to Yue, "Drink this, it will help you." Draught of strength, Zinnia would know that illusive blue sparkle anywhere.
"This way, stay close please." Zinnia said as they left the university and headed towards the center of town. "Ooh, let's stop at Little Cup," Blithe's tails swished eagerly, aside from the one that Yue clung to of course. "I suppose we could all use a bite," Zinnia sighed, they entered the cafe, which seemed largely unoccupied. There were flowers growing from the ceiling and creeping along the walls, the peppy yellow sign on the outside had ivy strangling it. If one didn't know any better, they might think the cafe to be abandoned if not for the dwarf that scampered out to greet them. "Table for three?" He asked, his beady eyes glinting up at them. "Yes," Zinnia nodded and he led them to the terrace, a table overlooking the glowing blue river that ran through the side of the town.
"Pick anything you'd like Yue, not you Blithe, you're treating us today." Blithe's tails struck upright, the familiar going rigid. "Kidding," Zinnia stuck her tongue out in a friendly gesture. "I want sausage." The demon complained, scanning the menu that changed daily. The dwarf returned, "today's special brew, ginger-lemon, Ms. Evernight," her eyes sparkled as he poured three cups of mismatched China. "You know me well Casper." Casper shuffled off once more, content. "Never say please or thank you to the folk," referring to the magical folk, of course. "It implies they did something for you and thus, you owe them something in return."
It occurred to Zinnia in that moment that Yue might not be able to read runes, the native tongue of the witch world. "Can you read it? Do you need me to translate?" Zinnia asked patiently. "The daily special changes, but today there's acorn and hazelnut soup, a Welsh salad, which is usually greens and bread sprinkled on top, chicken smothered in cream sauce with a side of rice, and lemon tarts." Casper returned to take their orders, this time toting a freshly baked bread basket to place on the table. "Compliments of the chef," he winked and a piece of paper and quill floated beside him, poised to take their order.
"I'll have the lunch set," Blithe went first, eagerly putting in her order. Zinnia scanned the menu once more, even though she had just read it aloud. "The soup and a lemon tart, if you will." Zinnia turned to Yue, waiting for her to decide.
"Drowning under the weight of my sins and hers too."
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#63CC14 ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя #5640FF】
It was now time to go to Market. Yue just wanted to rest, but if this was her fate she would follow it. "The Elder Council will like to examine her with her gates opened." Dean Eincrad informed Zinnia who no doubt could feel the difference on her. "Perhaps they'll allow her to learn magic and enroll at the University." Yue wasn't sure how much she liked that idea - she was aware of the fact that she could barely function on any level at the moment. And yet even her terror was not able to quash her human primal curiosity that couldn't help but wonder just what it would be like to learn magic, to become powerful, to be worth something for once. Still, she needed more time before she was ready for anything like that. She couldn't even remember how to speak yet!
Yue wrung her hands as Zinnia brought her and Blithe to some cafe looking place, keeping her head down and low so that maybe she wouldn't be noticed by anyone. Once again the very fluffy tail was a good comfort for her as they entered the Little Cup, according to Zinnia. Already Yue realized that she could not read a single thing. Everything was written with strange unfamiliar runes that made no sense to her. How was she going to survive in this strange new world? Zinnia was reading from what was probably the menu after they were seated and Yue simply stared in confusion the entire time. She shook her head to indicate that no, she could not read the letters. An odd sense of shame burned in her tummy as she realized just how helpless she was in this world.
She nodded when Zinnia told her what the special was, deciding to simply go for that since it would be the simplest, an acorn and hazelnut soup didn't sound so bad. Hopefully soups would be easier for her stomach to handle too, considering the accident earlier. Tapping her feet against each other to a rhythmic beat only she could hear, the food finally arrived. Yue took a spoonful, deciding that the mild taste was good for her sensitive stomach. Once they all had eaten a bit Yue tapped her feet against Zinnia's, a query forming in her mind. She gestured to her hands, tot he mana flowing around them and the entire world. Eyes sparkling with just a tiny bit of curiosity, Yue's question was clear.
When would she get to learn how to use her magic?
"To be human is to make mistakes."
Dirty Paws | Of Monsters and Men
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#F87531 ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя: #EE9572】
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#F87531 ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя: #EE9572】
Zinnia was enjoying her soup, Blithe ate the heart meal with gusto with Zinnia took small sips, the spoon trembling slightly in her hands ever so often. A powerful mage she was, but there was something that Zinnia would never admit to and it was the muscle weakness. She had been born with it, due to the immense amount of mana that could never be properly channeled. Late to crawl, her parents knew something was amiss, but they were not healers and so they had thought that she was just late to bloom. It was only when they found her with spell books and summoning familiars that they had sent her off to the city an she resented them for that. Instead of taking care of her at home, like parents should, they sent her off to a world of magic, to teachers that would drill spells, potions, defensive, and offensive magic into her head.
For a while, the muscle weakness had gotten better. Zinnia was free to walk, run, and even dance. She participated in extracurricular activities, she was on the flying team, but the more magic she spent, the more mana flocked to her. Eventually, the bones in her legs became brittle. She had been in the University's yearly pageant when they snapped, shattering like glass. She spent a good bit of time healing at Madame Pomfrey's, detesting having to use her chair. Now, Zinnia embraced it. It did not effect her magic, it did not limit her, in fact, she rather thrived. Zinnia didn't care about the muscle weakness so long as it did not get in the way of her magical ability.
Zinnia was digging into her lemon tart when she felt the brush beneath the table and jumped in her seat, the fork clattering from her hands and falling to the floor. Blithe's head jerked up, acutely aware. "I've got it," she reached beneath the table to pick up the fork. Zinnia watched Yue, who gestured around her, seemingly forgetting that she had a voice. No matter, the child would speak when she felt comfortable to. "Yes, in due time, once you learn to read the runes, you can learn magic." All spells were in Latin and runic, it was to protect the witches and to keep outsiders from incidentally studying their ways.
"Here, I'll teach you something simple, a spell to bring items to you. You needn't a wand for it either," no mage needed a wand, it just allowed them to concentrate their magic and focus it to complete tasks. "You'll have to speak though, thinking hard won't do you any good." Zinnia wrote the words down in their Latin form, using English letters so that Yue could read them, or at least sound them out. "Frachio, it's simple enough. Usually you'd say the desired item after it, for example, frachio fork." The fork zoomed out of Blithe's hand and back into Zinnia's.
"Drowning under the weight of my sins and hers too."
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#63CC14 ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя #5640FF】
Yue crossed her eyes and tried to focus. This place was such a - it felt so happy, so pure compared to the world she knew back when she wasn't magic. Castene City was dirty and sad, everyone was always suffering. Yet the mages here all seemed to live a content quiet existence here in the forested Constantia. Yue grit her teeth, looking away in shame. Zinnia probably was just a nice person, and Blithe here too was likely just as nice. That was why her tail was so fluffy, right? Meanwhile Yue knew she was a bad person. At the age of 7 she was trained in how to fight with a knife, how to wield a gun, how to kill another human and the best ways to hurt them if you wanted to keep them alive. At the age of 10 she was given her first victim to punish and kill for betraying the family.
Yue was not a good person, and she was stained in black blood. Why did she deserve to be in such a happy place?
If she wanted to learn magic, she was going to have to learn how to read the runes. Yue grimaced, wondering how long it would take to learn. She mouthed the question, asking how she could learn. Maybe if she learned how to use magic and became a good witch, she could take that power and use it to punish the person who hurt her most. Her chest ached, she wanted to see her soulmate again, she wanted to see Orie again. Then maybe she could teach Orie what it means to be betrayed beyond hope of repair.
"Frachio Fork!" She tried to say but no sound came out. Brows furrowed in frustration, Yue sighed, giving up for now. Maybe the Elder Council would know why she wasn't able to speak, maybe they had some sort of solution to this mystery. Yue stared both at Blithe and at Zinnia. "Why are you both so nice to me?" She mouthed to both of them. Kindness to a stranger? That sort of thing was impossible, it was unheard of for her. "Where I come from, no one is nice to anyone." It was just an endless cycle of abuse, so she wasn't used to anything else.
But in the end it was about time that they had to go to see the Elder Council. Yue once again clung to Blithe's tail, terrified once again. Her body felt a bit better now with some sustenance, as well as the healing magic Pomfrey had done for her. Yue could feel eyes on her, watching her with curiosity, with malice, she didn't like it at all. Yet another time the moon child shut her eyes and tried to pretend she didn't exist.
"To be human is to make mistakes."
Dirty Paws | Of Monsters and Men
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#F87531 ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя: #EE9572】
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#F87531 ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя: #EE9572】
"Well, no matter, it's only your first day." Zinnia said, considering that Yue seemed frustrated by her lack of voice. She blinked when Yue asked why she was so nice to them, mentioning that in the human world, humans were never nice to one another. "A long time ago, we used to live in the human world." Zinnia mentioned, stirring the spoon inside of her tea cup. "The humans began to hunt the witches, they did not understand magic, they blamed the black death on them and burned our kind at the stake. The remaining witches fled into the forest, it was evident we were no longer welcome in your world and so, we built our own." She tapped the spoon on the side of the cup and took one last, long sip.
It was time to go.
"Hold your head high, Yue, if they want to stare, then give them something to stare at." Zinnia had learned this long ago, if they would look at you, let it be for good reasons. Power, ability, talent, those were the things that mattered. Zinnia sat a bit straighter, her wand in one hand, guiding the wheels of her chair. They would not goad her into cowardice, their eyes nor whispers did not bother her, after all, people had whispered about her most of her life. Blithe strode beside her, not minding the fact that Yue clung to her tail as though she were a lost child. In a way, she very much was. Zinnia led them down the cobblestone streets, her chair bumping on the occasion, but she would never allow Blithe to take the handles.
The building belonging to the Elder Council was not imposing, in fact, it was rather homely. Zinnia had been brought here a number of times, she had been schooled by Freya, her first few days in Constantina had been spent laying on her stomach on the council room floor, reading whatever book she was allowed to devour. Spells, histories, it mattered not. All Zinnia wanted to do ws drown her mind in something other than the abandonment she felt upon being sent to the city. "We're right on time, I'm sure Drake will be pleased." Blithe knocked on the red wooden door, which creaked open slowly. "We've been waiting, come in," a kindly voice spoke softly, the house elf shuffled to the door. There were slippers for their use and he held a tray with cups of water and sprigs of mint.
"Hello Welt," he dipped his head, stepping aside to allow them inside. Zinnia parked her chair outside and uncorked a draught of strength, rising from her chair. She walked inside and took the offered water, adding two sprigs of mint. There was a fire crackling in the fire place, a large patterned rug covering the floor. Chairs convened in a semi circle at the back of the room, each one decorated to the liking of the Elder that occupied it. Zinnia removed her shoes and replaced them with slippers. The walls were decorated with nick knacks and relics of of the past. The rough hew wooden walls were exposed, there were leaves growing from the cracks and lights sparkling above them, fireflies casting shadows across the space.
"Hello Zinnia, Blithe, who is this you've brought with you?" Freya shuffled into the room, dressed in a white robe decorated in golden embroidery. Ulrich followed and behind him, Drake. Rainier came afterwards, tinkering with something in his hands. "This is Yue Fan-Xiang, a witch brought to us by the river, Delphine." They nodded as Zinnia stepped aside. "Go on, they won't bite."
"Does the child speak?"
"Was she raised by humans?"
"The poor thing is shaking."
Drake was silent, he propped up his chin on his fist. "Don't mind him," Zinnia whispered, "he always glowers, but if you can get a smile out of him, it's brilliant." Three chairs were brought forth by the house elf and Zinnia scowled, they were being polite of course, but during traditional discourse, one was meant to stand when presenting in front of the Council. "Yue can answer your questions herself," Zinnia took a seat regardless and took a sip of her water, deliberately remaining silent. Blithe turned herself into a fox and took a seat as well.
"Drowning under the weight of my sins and hers too."
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#63CC14 ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя #5640FF】
Poor terrified Yue found herself sitting before the Elder Council, and she was not sure what to do, or even how to exist. This was a secluded world for mages to live in, free from the evil of humans so did that mean even the Elder Council was nice? That didn't stop Yue from being terrified though, even if the outside of the building was more homely than it was intimidating. According to what Blithe told her earlier, the female was known as Freya, the sickly pale one was Ulrich, the strong one with a face marred by marks was Drake, and the sleek young looking male was Rainier. Yue committed the names and faces into memory because she had a feeling this was going to become important. "Stand." Blithe whispered to her despite Zinnia sitting. Yue gulped and nodded, standing as best as her trembling legs would let her.
Does she speak? Yue shook her head, pointing to her throat. "No." She mouthed, and then Ulrich muttered something, casting a spell. A strange glow connected her head to Ulrich's, almost like a tether, a rope to tie them together. "Speak and it will go through me." Ulrich gave her a awkward smile that Yue couldn't discern one way or another. "Okay." it wasn't her voice, but it would have to do. "Y-yes, I was raised by humans. Um, the Eldriss family... we were a gang that controlled the South Side of Castene City." No doubt those terms and names meant nothing to the mages who lived in solitude. "They taught me what I know." Freya seemed slightly intrigued. "Well, what do you know, child?"
Did they really want to know?
"Um... I can fight." Her eyes were already burning at the memories. "I can handle a knife, or a gun, or hand-to-hand... um, I can kill..." But that was about all she ever learned. She had never gone to school, only barely learned how to read English, let alone runic mage languages. "That explains your Major Offense then." Ulrich said with a chuckle. Did Dean Eincrad already forward the information to them, or were they able to tell just by looking at her? "How did you end up in the River Delphine?" Rainer asked in his smooth calm voice. That was an easy answer. "I betrayed the family... and then I was betrayed by a friend." She grimaced, gripping her wrist with her left hand, shutting her eyes. "So I was disposed of and executed for my crime."
Rainier lifted what he was tinkering with. "Do you know what this is? It was retrieved from your body when you were found." Small, black, but no doubt waterlogged and useless now. "It's my gun." A handpistol, capable of murder despite it's size. "It's a weapon to hurt and kill. It's useless now though, the um, the gunpowder's wet." It was nothing more than a paperweight now.
"Do you intend on abiding by our rules and learn how to be a good witch?" Freya asked, her eyes warm yet stern both. "...Yes. I have nowhere else to belong." Yue was one of many, discarded by humanity and left to die. "Do you want to attend school at the University?" Yue's eyes perked up and she nodded... but then she recalled the problem. "I... don't... I can't read your runes." She admitted shamefully, looking down at her feet, twiddling her toes helplessly. Ulrich shrugged at that and skipped past. "Well, you'll need a wand. Why don't we turn this gun of yours into a wand? Wands are stronger when there's a personal connection to its owner." Yue nodded, if that was how it worked she didn't mind it at all.
"Then, welcome to Constantina City. We're glad to have you, New Witch from the Outside."
"To be human is to make mistakes."
Dirty Paws | Of Monsters and Men
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#F87531 ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя: #EE9572】
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#F87531 ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя: #EE9572】
Zinnia sipped her water as she listened to them converse. This was no business of her's, there was no reason for her to butt in where she did not belong. Rather, Zinnia tilted her head, keen to hear them speak. She had a feeling the human had come from some dreadful situation. Why else would she tear at pillows and flinch when spoken to? Acting like some sort of timid mouse. They would have to get that out of her, a witch needed to be able to present herself, after all. It would be untoward to push this... child into a university and expect her to flourish. No, she would need plenty of home lessons and Zinnia had just the tutor in mind. "The wand chooses the witch," the child recited, looking up from her glass,the ice having long melted. "That was something you told me, Elder Rainier." He knew very well that even if they turned that... monstrosity into a wand, it might still reject its owner.
"Besides, a metal wand is unheard of." No, wands had just as much significance as their owners. Dragon heart strings, unicorn hair, nymph blood, they were all unique, like a finger print. Crafted of fine oak or cedar, sometimes the witch or wizard went out of their way to have a wand made from a tree that was significant in their life. The people standing in this room were like parents to her, to all of magic. No doubt Yue would find comfort in them as well. "You're in good hands, Yue. Zinnia might not appear sociable, but she has a kind heart." Zinnia scowled at this admittance, turning away as her cheeks blushed pink. Blithe laughed, far used to the antics and nuances of the Elder Council and her Master.
"Yue is free to stay with me so long as she doesn't get in my way." Zinnia crossed one leg over the other, crushing the leaf of mint in her hand. "Don't worry Yue, Zinnia's bark is much worse than her bite." Drake said, his voice gruff, but kind. He rose, sparks flying off of him. "Let me see that," Rainier handed over the gun and Drake broke it in two, gathering the dust inside of a vial and capping it. He released it, the vial floating towards Yue. "Use this for the core of your wand," the other halves of the gun were decimated to dust in the fire that burned in the corner of the room. "We do not condone violence, nor using magic for nefarious purposes." It was a warning as well as a threat, if Yue brought trouble to Constantina, they would not hesitate to banish her.
"Come, Yue, let's go get you some proper fitting clothing." Zinnia rose, her leg buckling. Blithe caught her, going from a small poof to a full sized human in the blink of an eye. "Thank you, Council," Blithe said as a goodbye and led the party out, supporting her Master back to her chair. "That was reckless, you need to be more careful." The familiar chided as she sat her Master down. "I don't need you to tell me what I can and can't do, I'm perfectly fine. Besides, you caught me, didn't you?" Blithe sniffed and turned towards the new witch. "Let's go get you a wand." She said kindly, "you have the vial Elder Drake gave you, don't you?"
"Drowning under the weight of my sins and hers too."
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#63CC14 ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя #5640FF】
The moon child went quiet again as the light tether chain dispelled and it was taken away, her ability to speak was gone now. "You'll probably have to learn to speak before starting school." Ulrich told her with a casual smirk. Yue agreed, that probably would be a good idea if she were able to. Yue nodded, she would try to get back to speaking capability as soon as she could. She felt sort of empty - without being able to sing, what way did she have to relieve the pressure building up in her chest? Her gun was taken and the wet gunpowder was taken from it, transformed into some form that could become a core for a wand. The rest of the gun melted away and the gunpowder was given to her in a vial.
Now it was time for partings and to get her clothes and a wand. Yue was most excited for a wand and felt somewhat comforted by having the gunpowder back with her. Yue nodded her acquiescence to follow the rules. A girl like her never wanted to live a life of blood and violence in the first place and she was honestly glad to get to escape that kind of life. "B-but... um, I'm a Major Offense." She mouthed softly. Didn't that mean she was unsuitable for a peaceful existence? Was she unwelcome here now? "Isn't offense violent?" Freya gave her a gentle sort of smile. "Not necessarily. Every magic can be used in good ways, as long as you have a good heart you will be okay."
Yue looked nervously at Blithe and Zinnia, once again tugging helplessly onto Blithe's furry foxtail. The two were going at it but Yue personally wanted to go and get her wand first. So she mouthed it, pointing to the vial. "Wand!" Her eyes were almost lit up with excitement at the idea of having her wand. Clothes could come later, her current outfit sufficed for now. A blush came to her cheeks as she realized she probably wasn't in a position to be bossy. So Yue meekly lowered her head, looking down at her feet. "If it's okay." She mouthed, her silent voice echoing in her mind.
One way or another they found themselves in front of an oddly pink building built into a giant pink tree stump. This was apparently the Wand Maker's place and then Yue found an unwelcome face. "What are you doing here, you freak?" Claris Aurora was here? Why was she here? "Oh, you look so surprised. My dad's the wandmaker, okay? He's in the back room right now, so make any requests through me." Yue bit her lip and revealed the vial. "Wand core." She mouthed, wriggling. "What the heck is this black dust crap." Claris stared at it incredulously. "It's just as ugly as you, congratulations." Claris was her father's apprentice and would take over his job as a Wand Maker.
"To be human is to make mistakes."
Dirty Paws | Of Monsters and Men
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#F87531 ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя: #EE9572】
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#F87531 ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя: #EE9572】
Zinnia nodded, "If you want to make your demands known, you're going to need to speak louder." The red haired witch said, holding her own wand lightly in her hands. There was no reason to hold it tightly, no one would take her wand from her. The wand was an extension of one's body, every witch and wizard had one. The folk had no need for them, since they learned to direct their magical power in a different way. Nymphs, dryads, elves, dwarfs, etc. They had no need for wands because their magical pathways were different. When witches and wizards were children, the easiest way to learn how to direct their magic was to use the wand as an extension of themselves.
Yue would learn the same concept, perhaps she would have an easier time at it considering her age. Although, Zinnia had a sinking feeling that Yue had never had any sort of formal schooling. Perhaps it would be best to begin tutoring her at home, where she could be exposed to a learning environment before enrolling her into University. Of course, there were the entrance exams that would need to be taken, not to mention the fact that she would have to wait until the end of the semester. There were rules in place for a reason, the witches and wizards were strict when it came to what was allowed because of the haunting past that was attached to their magic.
The wand making shop was a small, pink home built out of a tree, just like many of the other homes and shops that lined the streets. They entered, an unfriendly face waiting at the reception desk. The shop was rather large on the inside, but not very busy. Lining the walls were wands of all kinds, encased in boxes and intricately carved. Underneath were small plaques, detailing their cores, their wood types, their swishing ability, and weight. Zinnia had gotten her first wand from her Father, it was her Grandmother's wand and she had broken it after climbing a tree and falling out, nearly breaking her leg. Her wand had broken and she had been incredibly distraught. Elder Drake had taken her here to get a wand of her own.
"The Elders gave it to her," Zinnia interrupted, wheeling up to the desk. "They told Yue to use this as her core," there were many things to consider when making a wand, it had to be personal, it had to be balanced, it had to choose you as much as you chose it. "Claris, you're as crass as you are dumb." Zinnia turned towards Yue. "Don't let you push you around like that. If someone is rude, stand up for yourself." She set her eyes back on Claris, "the only way to deal with a girl like her is to put her in her place."
"Drowning under the weight of my sins and hers too."
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#63CC14 ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя #5640FF】
With a huff Claris examined the vial, grabbing it rudely from Yue’s hands. “I’ll take that.” She said with a vague snarl, sniffing it, swishing it up and down, shaking it and taking a fragment to examine close up before eating it. Yue gave her a wide eyed stare of confusion, half thinking about telling her how bad it was to eat gunpowder but she chose not to, these mages probably knew nothing about ballistic weapons anyways. “What, don’t stare.” Claris huffed, hands on her hips. “I’m doing a very highly technical diagnostic test so I can report to my father how to best make a want to suit this ghastly core.”
As the apprentice and next in line wand maker for Constantina City, Claris probably was the one who knew second best how the make the darn things. Her father was around two hundred years old now and he was fit to retire whenever he decided she was ready to take over. Someone stepped out, a man in a mahogany robe with a soft looking moustache and for some reason he had a chameleon-like tail. “Ah, father.” Claris bowed to him quickly. “This is the new girl.” He knelt down to look closely at Yue, adjusting his monocle. Yue faintly remembered him saying that she was not welcome here, at least according to Claris this morning.
“Welcome.” His voice was deceptively smooth and soft, just like his moustache. “I am Zacharius Aurora. I see Ulrich in particular has taken a liking to you.” Mysterious pale Ulrich, Yue wasn’t sure how she thought of him but he was the one who interacted with her the most that day. Yue gave him a meek nod, not able to bring up the confidence Zinnia kept expecting of her. “Claris, how is the core?” Claris did a brief salute and rattled off a string of numbers, Zacharius nodding to each one.
“As a test….” Zacharius’s face was stern and demanding. “I will leave it to you, Claris, to decide the details for the wand. This is the first time I’ve allowed you to make a wand independently, but I know you will do well.” Claris blanched, shooting both Yue and Zinnia harsh glares. “Y-yes, Father, I will do that.” Zacharius smiled and then glanced at Zinnia. “May I see your wand, Little Miss Evernight. I’d like to examine it and see how happy it is for being with you.”
So Claris, who hated Yue, was going to have to make a wand for Yue? “Most of the time a wand is already made and it chooses the mage.” Claris explained, rolling her eyes as if this knowledge was obvious. “But some mages, like weird ones like you, need specially made wands with special cores unique to them, like your disgusting black paste.” It wasn’t disgusting. Her gun was important to her – Yue learned early on that it was her lifeline, she could use to make sure she stayed alive.
“I’m gonna have to do a few tests on your mana and temperament to decide what would work best.” Claris crossed her arms, clearly unhappy. “Ready?
"To be human is to make mistakes."
Dirty Paws | Of Monsters and Men
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#F87531 ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя: #EE9572】
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#F87531 ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя: #EE9572】
Zinnia watched as Claris evaluated the wand core, recalling the day she had brought her own core in, requesting a wand to be made, clinging to the fabric of Elder Drake's robe. He and Rainier had accompanied her, knowing the ways of the wands far better than the novice witch at the time. Wands were more special to the witch and wizard if the core had a special connection to them. Many went for basic models, but Zinnia had needed something light and easy, with great swishing ability that wouldn't hurt her fragile wrists. "Don't be a fool Claris, business is business." Zinnia uttered as Blithe looked around, having never been in a wand shop. She had stayed in the dorm that day, relatively unwelcome by the council for being a renowned General of Hell.
There had been an inherent mistrust in her familiar, but not longer after, Blithe had won them over with her easy smile and fluffy tails. Now, she wandered about the shop, a look of passive interest on her face. Zacharius Aurora entered the room, looking business-like in his robes, his tail peaking out the back. He approached Claris, declaring that she would make the wand for Yue. That was just as well, perhaps it would bring a bit of amnesty to the situation. Not to mention, give her a chance to explain her confusing actions in class earlier this morning. Zinnia watched coolly, wondering what it was like to have a dotting father that wanted to share the family business, Zinnia wouldn't know. Perhaps somewhere, Yue had a family?
Not that the girl would tell her, as it seemed Yue was fearful of even her own voice. Zacharius walked around the counter, requesting to see her wand. "I've taken care of it, using the polish the way you instructed me to." She reached into her sleeve, procuring the slender, silver stick. Claris watched, somehow seeming jealous despite the multitude of wands surrounding her. She could have any wand she wanted and yet, she eyed Zinnia's. Did this have to do with the reason she had tried to grab it out of her hand earlier? Zinnia watched Zacharius carefully, she didn't want the wand-maker to walk off with it. She trusted him of course, but his daughter, not so much.
"Yue, just go along with it for now, alright?" Zinnia watched from the sidelines, glad when Zacharius handed her wand back to her in order to watch Claris perform her duties. Once it was over, the hour was growing late and Blithe was getting anxious, fire flickering from her fingers every so often. "We should really be going," the young witch announced.
"Drowning under the weight of my sins and hers too."
【ɗιαƖσgυє cσƖσя:#63CC14 ♙ тнσυgнт cσƖσя #5640FF】
Yue fidgeted and sat down, shutting her eyes. She was afraid of Claris because Claris was aggressive and probably knew magic and would be able to hurt her easily if she wished. She did notice how Claris oggled Zinnia's silver wand and wondered what kind of what Claris had. "Okay, stay still. I'll handle this." Yue heard the apprentice take a deep breath and then cast a spell, a feeling of an egg being broken on Yue's head overcame her. She tried her best to not fight it and to not open her eyes. Next she felt her fingers being played with, being poked and prodded, and then something went into her mouth. Finally the thing was removed from her mouth and Claris glared at her. "Okay, it's done. I know what'll suit you best now."
Yue nodded, opening her eyes. Claris muttered something and then an image appeared before her, shimmering in thin air. "This is what your wand will look like." Claris said seriously. "It's long and the black powder will be safely sealed inside using bones of Scylla and yew wood together. At the head it'll be charmed by a Charybis Gem curling around the tip. It'll be stiff though, but strong. It should bond quickly, so long as you treat it well." Claris looked at her in the eye, hostility for some reason not there for once. "You have to polish your wand at least twice a week, and you have to use spells with it to attune with it and not have mana overflow, which can damage the magic circuits." Yue nodded, wanting to take this new responsibility well. Her old friend had taken a new form, and this was the only thing she had brought here from her past life. Her gun was the one thing that never betrayed her.
"Okay, off you go." Zacharius waved them off. "It's late, don't tire out the new one." Yue was already tired again despite the drought of strength. It was time to head home. Yue felt dizzy and tired. She was once athletic and strong but ever since coming here to this new world she's felt weak and lethargic. What was wrong with her? As a gang member Yue was in top form - otherwise she wouldn't be able to hurt and punish people. But waking up here after being as close to killed as possible to Orie, she lost nearly all of that physical strength. She clung once again to Blithe's tail, trying to make sure she didn't get lost in this strange place.
All of a sudden there was a flash of light and Yue felt herself being grabbed. "Outsiders should stay out." The unfamiliar voice hissed and Yue felt eyes all around the three of them. In the dark of the woods she was pulled away into a dark figure's grasp, fingers digging into her upper arms. "Stay out of this Zinnia, Blithe. We're simply cleansing the magic world of those who do not belong." Yue stared at Zinnia in terror as she was pulled into a dark circle and then she felt as if she were drowning and then everything went black.
View All »Arcs
Arcs are bundles of posts that you can organize on your own. They're useful for telling a story that might span long periods of time or space.
There are no arcs in this roleplay.
View All » Create New » Quests
There are no quests in this roleplay.
Add Group » View All » 0 Factions to align with
Here's the current leaderboard.
There are no groups in this roleplay!
Game Master Controls
Welcome home, Promethean. Here, you can manage your universe.
Arcs
Arcs are bundles of posts from any location, allowing you to easily capture sub-plots which might be spread out across multiple locations.
Add Quest » Quests
You can create Quests with various rewards, encouraging your players to engage with specific plot lines.
Add Setting » 1 Settings for your players to play in
Settings are the backdrop for the characters in your universe, giving meaning and context to their existence. By creating a number of well-written locations, you can organize your universe into areas and regions.
Navigation
While not required, locations can be organized onto a map. More information soon!
Add Group » 0 Factions to align with
There are no groups in this roleplay!
Collectibles
By creating Collectibles, you can reward your players with unique items that accentuate their character sheets.
Once an Item has been created, it can be spawned in the IC using /spawn Item Name (case-sensitive, as usual) — this can be followed with /take Item Name to retrieve the item into the current character's inventory.
Mobs
Give your Universe life by adding a Mob, which are auto-replenishing NPCs your players can interact with. Useful for some quick hack-and-slash fun!
Mobs can be automated spawns, like rats and bats, or full-on NPCs complete with conversation menus. Use them to enhance your player experience!
Current Mobs
No mobs have been created yet.
Spawns
Locations where Mobs and Items might appear.
Events
You can schedule events for your players to create notifications and schedule times for everyone to plan around.
The Forge
Use your INK to craft new artifacts in Denouement. Once created, Items cannot be changed, but they can be bought and sold in the marketplace.
Notable Items
No items have been created yet!
The Market
Buy, sell, and even craft your own items in this universe.
Market DataMarket conditions are Quick Buy (Items Most Recently Listed for Sale) |
Open Stores
View All » Places
821 posts · 17 characters present · last post 2019-07-30 02:53:14 »
The Kingdom Owner: The_Queen
None
Fullscreen Chat » Create Topic » Denouement: Out of Character
Discussions
-
- Topics
- Replies
- Views
- Last post
-
-
Pre Roleplay Relationships
by The_Queen on Sun Mar 29, 2015 10:21 pm
- 6 Replies
- 646 Views
- Last post by Andjare
on Wed Apr 01, 2015 7:37 am
-
Pre Roleplay Relationships
-
-
Important Information
by The_Queen on Wed Mar 25, 2015 5:43 pm
- 4 Replies
- 566 Views
- Last post by The_Queen
on Sun Mar 29, 2015 8:07 pm
-
Important Information
Most recent OOC posts in Denouement
There have been no posts in the OOC topic for this roleplay!