Amesha

As the question left Petra, Kenner was at her side of the platform and ready to answer. The look on his face showing a certain amount of enjoyment that she was able to ask in the first place, or for the fact that she had the nerve to do so as quickly as she did. "Give it some time around the house and I believe you will see more than enough of what I am talking about."
Kenner looked on at the group as he smiled and rubbed his hands together at the responses he managed to illicit. Walking to a small sway in his step as he reached the outer edge of the platform and gleamed over the others, giving a small clap in a moment of torpid excitement. "I had hoped that all of you could be here this morning, however its unfortunate that more than one has had confinement made necessary. It is good however that a majority are able to continue with the proceedings, as usual there is always one or two that make the transition difficult." He gives Akhira a small sideways glance before returning his view to the who group and Chlorra can be heard behind him, issuing a lurid array of giggles. As the two of them shared a moment of comedy between one another, a fact that Akhira was more than aware of emanated from her own expense.

"I do have some rather high hopes as to how you will all choose to acclimate to life in this home of ours. So little is it that we manage to get such new blood in from time to time and I can say with assurance that the others will be happy for the new faces as well." He adds a finger to his words, as if to point out a fact for the others to take in. "I will tell you this however, seeing that several of you are not entirely safe for the household.. do not be surprised if you see guards shadowing your movements through the house."

"It is merely just a precaution and nothing more than that."


Chlorra says nothing as Kenner explains this, shrugging lightly as Seth catches her in his view. Only for Kenner to continue speaking "You will all have a few minutes to converse between one another here, before the bell tolls and the days activities begins."

Luna

The dark bird leans over Luna's shoulder as she was only able to adjust the angle of her neck and head "This place is mine little demon, a virtual home away from home if you will." The bird spoke, echoing forth voices that belonged to Chlorra.
It was then that Luna could tell that the bird itself was not entire correct in his shape, in fact the whole form was misshapen and unnatural for something that a normal creature would have. Twisted joints, crooked bones and feathers that were more than likely made from a pitch colored goo that clung to its body. The idea of how this creature could even hold flight was beyond her at the present moment. Then again she was suspended within a tree that had either no end or beginning, in a void surrounding a lush island. So it was possible that reality took side coach to everything else here.

"You have been put here as punishment for killing a member of the house.. despite the fact he will not remain gone forever. I was tasked with giving you a small test and if you pass the test, you go free."

The very sight of the bird made Luna shiver in fear and imagine hurling into the dark void below her, but she knew that doing such a thing would only put her at a psychological disadvantage to the strange thing. "And what would that test be my dear little swan", she replied without a second thought as she mentally planned out ways that she may escape from the tree and land on the lush island down below. "Do I have to appeal to your owner's humanity and prove that I'm gonna be a good little demon from now on hmmm?" she said in a high-pitched and overly cheery voice. A second later she had to bite her lip hard to keep from laughing out loud.

The large avian predator looms over Luna as she remains stuck into the trunk of the massive tree and chirps in a mild tone at the young demons reply. "Oh the Master has no interest in you being good in all respects.. he just wants you to behave and follow the rules. I mean.. take me into account here.." A light cackling could be heard in the back of that statement. "He doesn't really wish to change who you are, just your attitude.. and maybe your manners as well." The bird goes to preening itself for a moment before looking back down at Luna and craning its head, only to look off into the distance ahead of them and peer across the island.

"Do you like the view? This is my very own creation.. thirteen square miles of serene beauty." The birds voice begins to trail off as it keeps looking, as though being lost in thought were its only concern for the moment. As it looked back onto Luna, the young demon could feel something stirring. Not something that could be seen, though she could feel something moving across her skin in the body of the tree and it was easy to tell that such a sensation could come from only the hands of another. Or in her case, the hands of several others combing over her form within the dark mass. "Within the center of the island is a pool of water, a fresh pond of dark liquid that writhes with the power that is me. All you must do is make it to the pool and submerge yourself, only then will you be returned home." Luna then felt the sensation of hands being wrapped around the whole of her legs, several strong grips holding her tighter than the most fervent of lovers. All at once the hands pulled, slowly drawing her body deeper into the trunk and the wood of the tree liquefied to comply with the passage.

The bird leaped from its perch from above her head and called out as her vision began to go dark once again. "Do not worry for company my dear, I always keep the island well stocked for entertainment." And so it left her, darkness consuming her vision and mind once again as she could feel her body being moved from one place and along towards the next. Straining her eyes she could see dim figures swimming her through the darkness, wretched, wraith like forms that seemed emaciated beyond their very cores. With eyes that turned to screen her body as they moved, small lights like the last ember of a great fire refusing to die sat deep within their sockets.

Ahead she could see a dim light that was piercing the veil of this strange world she was currently inhabiting, and its rays caused the creatures holding her to loosen. Only the strongest of them remained to carry her forward and plunge her into the light, tearing it like a great womb among the world and she was spit from this place. Her body falling from a large rip in the flesh of yet another great tree, but one that sat among the island. Her face was greeted by the lush grass that came rushing up to meet it, the fresh air of this place assaulting her senses. As she managed to write herself she could tell that the air her was fresh and vibrant, in fact it was even more so than the world she had recently been plucked from. Surrounded by lush plumb trees in full bloom, sitting within a large open patch of grass and only dark wood of the tree behind her was what seemed out of place.

All she had to do was make it to this pool somewhere within the center of the island. This was the only instruction given to her in from the creature before, but it was doubtful that was all she needed to know.

Nadiya swallowed hard as Kenner replied, vaguely suggesting that they would eventually find out, whether as a witness or as a subject of such things- what punishments were worse than death. A shudder ran down her spine, her doubts struggling to combat her will and desire to ensure a better life for her family back home. She only hoped her plan wouldn't backfire.

Her gaze followed Kenner's as he glanced towards a certain individual in the crowd, seeing the dragon girl again. She had been the last one to enter, and Nadiya hadn't had the chance to look her over fully. Thankfully, the young dragon seemed unharmed, but knowing how the woman on stage had treated her put a sick feeling in the country girl's stomach. Hearing the master's words made her eyes widen and her anxiety increase. The dragon girl was going to be chaperoned? Confined, even?

The giggling figure on stage with Kenner was met with a frown, her disdain for the eerie woman growing rather than abating. Her eyes followed the unpleasant individual with a wary gaze before Kenner finished speaking.

About to relax and go see the wolf boy and the dragon- girl to see how they were doing, she abruptly changed tactics- reminding herself she needed to speak with the master of the house first. How embarrassing to think she had nearly forgotten!

"Sir...Master Kenner! Might I have a word with you sir?" Nadiya asked nervously, looking up at him as she edged closer to the stage. Not like she wanted to discuss things loud enough for the whole room to hear after all.

After Luna was done taking a look around she immediately tried to make a run for this mysterious pond, until a sharp pain rang out from her right leg. "Ah shit!" she yelled aloud as she fell down to the gorund and hugged hwhat felt like her sprained anxle to her body. She had had sprained anxles many times before but for some odd reason this time felt as if her whole leg was on fire. She couldn't think past the pain for what felt like several hours, until finally it began to slowly pace away, but she found walking was now slow and strenuous.

The landscape around her was even more enticing up close, but it held an errie happiness to it; colors were a bit too vibrant, the smell a bit too sweet, and its source of light was more of a cold flourescent white from a bulb than the warm golden yellow rays of a real sun. It felt as if someone tried to create an oasis but went a bit overboard. All-in-all it made Luna crave the darkness and heat of her homeland down under, no matter how cruel and evil her own brethern were to her- at least their she was in a place she was familiar with. Now everytime she turned around something new ws happening to either her surroundings or herself, nothing stayed the same for too long. She suspected she would soon be riped from this world and into a new form of Hell in the near future, if she could only find were the damn pond was that fueled this diamond crusted shit-whole.

Her rage threatened to overcome her yet again but swiftly died down as she made it to the top of a particularly steep hill, overlooking more lush green valleys and trees with the object of her desire staring her right back in the face, the pond. True to the bird creature's description it was indeed dark, so dark in fact that she could not tell how deep it was or even see any ripples forming. Yet her ears picked up on the sound of the pond lapping against it's bank, but no light could bounce off ts surface and show the movement of the water, this greatly disturbed her, for nothing like this was common even in her home. With great effort she slowly hoppled closer and closer, noting how everything around it took on an extremely pale look, as if the very life and color of the plants were being sucked out of it and absorbed but the inky black void beyond. A smell permeated the surrounding area and Luna dared not breath one more whiff of it so she completly took off her shirt and wrapped it around her nose and mouth as best she could.

She arrived to the very edge of the pond sooner than she would have liked and for a few long moments she simply stared at the strange portal with a sense of fear that she had never experienced before. Not even the presence of The Man made her stomach twist or her vision sway as much as this, it was paralyzing, but when her eyes closed she found the will and with one final breath she prepared to dive.

Luna

As she peered deeper into the unwavering pool, Luna began to lean forward on her toes and the edge of the pond was moistly beating under the edge of her feet. It wasn't apparent to her in that instant that the reason it was so still was either because of the unnatural calmness of the place it resided in, or if it was the fact of something waiting below. As time slowed for her dive to continue she was now buckled nearly half way over her waste and her eyes caught it. A pin point of contact in the pond that was all the more still than the rest and as she leaned forward over the pools edge, that point broke from the surface of the water. So out came a large arm from the surface of the small pond, parting the top of the water like a great womb. A long outstretched limb with six fingers, each sharing an equal length and tipped with a viscous nail. Aside the shoulder of this form was a large head that jutted from the surface, aside from that it was hard to discern what exactly it was in all honesty. Long raven black hair slid effortlessly off from each angle, conceiling its true visage from Luna. Only leaving a large form for her to see that was both massive against her stature and painted black, like the color of the pond itself.

This revelation came to soon as she was far beyond the point of turning back from her choice, her body being committed now in its motion. Her face was just about to decide its own expression in the face of the inevitable, but as soon as she felt the weird grimace come over her features. She felt a strong arm grip around her waste and pull her away from the pond, allowing the outstretched arm to barely glance her cheek in turn as the world became a blur. The force her body felt in the intense pull was enough to draw a ragged breath from her lungs and the speed at which she was moving did not allow for much of a chance to inhale. The pond and its receding dark form slinking back into its hole are what painted her view for only a fraction of a second, before it was consumed by the sight of the forest being rushed in around her head.

The color of the trees turned from a brightened pink, into what could be seen as a deeper crimson and possessing more twisted bark than before. It was then that Luna was dropped with very little grace as the one responsible began to slowly trot past her, the momentum of their escape still carrying whoever it was in step. They were dressed in what seemed to be the same garb that many of the house maids were seen wearing, though Luna could swear it was off in some form or possibly just an older style. This outfit feature a tightly pulled corset and a shorter skirt, with only one torn and stained stocking to speak of wrapping a very feminine form. She fell to her knees breathing like she had just run a marathon for several days as she rolled onto her rear and began to pedal away from Luna slowly. She managed to get away from Luna's physical range before leaning up against a small, rocky slope. "Damn it.. how could you just jump in?..." The woman was breathing heavily still and it was easy to see why, the skin of her arms and legs that could be seen was nearly emaciated. Showing that she had gone for some time without a decent meal and it was at that time Luna noticed her face. It was almost completely covered by a heavily forged, silver mask that was missing several inches on the top and side of its left. Exposing most of the woman's face that Luna could easily see what was the source for her being saved.

The woman's one visible eye was the color of pitch, with a singular red slit passing all the way down from top to cheek. Along with the stump of what seemed to be a broken horn protruding from the side of her head, just above the ear. On the other side the horn was intact, indicating a form of lower demonic heritage as the horns bore a goat like curving. It seemed something had tried to take her head off at one point and was only able to acquire what little it could. "You're lucking I was following you since you entered the grove..." She added, with her speech still being broken at times with heavy breaths.

Nadiya

As Kenner watched on in anticipation for anymore questions to come forth, he did spot Nadiya approach. While the other newer slaves were buys glancing back between one another with the same uncertain look that he had seen many, countless faces share in the past. She was at least calm and collected when she walked up near the mound. From what he had read about her, she would be a rather straight forward girl to tend for and raise into the family. However a smirk did form on his face as the idea of her breaking mold and going against the norm came to mind. He looked on and knelt slightly as she reached her head up, raising her chin and he could almost hear her make a overly audible swallowing noise to clear her throat.

She asked if it were possible for her and him to have a quick word together, as so the other slaves would not hear the two of them. He gave the thought of it some time before lightly nodding to agree and he motioned for Chlorra to move out and begin the daily activities. To which the masked woman motioned for all of the others to gather near her and several guards in response.

"Its okay Nadiya, they are just going on their way through the house to see everything they need to know."

The truth of his words shined easily when all of them were slowly lead out of the room and than down the hall from which they came

Akhira was irritated by everything here, and she couldn't tell if it was just because she was starving or perhaps, if maybe, this really was happening. Having gotten caught for the first time in and seeing that her captor was quite, quite, capable of keeping her encaged was making her really question this reality. Yet, she knew it was all real despite her shock, that this place was as real as she was and that she was now apparently stuck in this brick cage made to play house with... these others... Her sapphire gaze fell onto those around, and lastly on that... that Bruja.

Akhira could vaguely hear Nadiya, that insect from before, question Kenner. She tried not lose her cool since she also knew that she would be one of those that would be shadowed by guards. How could she not know this? Especially since Kenner said it as jab meant for her to hear.

She growled, and could feel the faint feeling of the scales on her head changing color. They looked more jagged than usual as the color was lightened to that of grey stone. Her teeth were sharper now, since the entire situation was making the hair on her neck stand on edge. She was glaring at Kenner, I am no slave. She snapped her teeth like she would had she been in her true shape and there was an audible snap of fangs slicing through the air. Challenging was her gaze and thus, another memory slid into her mind.



If only... The memory made her feel bitter and nostalgic, letting her drop her defenses for a mere second on which the guards seemed to press into her. She came back from the inside of her head to see that everyone was gathering near Chlorra. She was being pressured into following the flow of the current conversation. She surprisingly submitted to the situation and seemed to have her flame dimmed down by a sudden sadness.

The group was being lead higher into the structure of Raven Home and as they came up the last flight of stairs it was easy to see that the decor of the house was becoming more vibrant. Dark maroon carpeting, with silver inlays and less guards on patrol than the levels below. Even the guards themselves were different, with striking symbols etched into their armor and more variety in their armaments.

Akhira's slight reluctance in the matter of being moved was no problem for the guards, though it did mean her pace slowed from the others and in doing so lead her from the muddle of the group. All the way into the back with two guards walking slowly behind her to help keep her pace, keeping a quiet observation of the whole event.

Looking ahead it was possible for Akhira to see the one leading the group and her dark countenance against the contrast of the well lit halls as she keep pace ahead of them. Her dragonic eyes sharp enough to catch the smallest of ripples in her dress as she strode ahead of them and able more than able to see a glint of attention from the woman when she looked over her shoulder. A stare that Akhira could feel piercing her body, right in the same place that Chlorra had pressed her touch against before. Whether it was an effect the woman was having on her or the strength of such a vivid memory, she did not know. It was at that moment her eyes caught the sight of something passing by, as slim shadowed figure that she was hard pressed to keep track with passing down the opposite way.

The speed as quick and slight, were it not for such a generous amount of light up on this floor she would be even more at a disadvantage at catching it. But for now the figure passes and her turns until it cannot follow anymore in order to see its path, which ends as she feels a presence stop right at her opposite shoulder. Before even turning her head she could tell something was there keeping pace with her, turning to meet such a thing head on. Only to be met with the sight of a strangely armored guard, more extravagant than the others and with a helmet framed with curled brown, shoulder length hair.

The figure was keeping pace easily as it barely made a noise against the rest of the crowd in the hall and the head turned to greet Akhira. "Hello miss.. I was wondering when I would get to meet this dragon I've been hearing so much about." The voice was masculine to her ears, but something was off about that when she eyed the whole body. It was unnatural stride in the character or some form of shape that was playing with her eyes, but this person was a strange oddity even to her.

"I am Captain Stern and it is an honor to have one such as yourself among the family."

At the initial silence, Nadiya began to fear the master of the house was not interested in discussing anything with her, and she could feel a rising anxiety. Before it could fester and grow into distress and panic, Kenner nodded in agreement with her wish, prompting an immediate sigh and smile of relief.

She did not fail to notice him motion for his masked companion to escort the rest of the slaves in attendance out through the house. NAdiya tried to keep her expressions from betraying her, but it was obvious she was pleased to see the odd woman leave.

It did, however, leave her feeling very exposed and alone when the room was empty except for her and the master.

Looking thoughtful for a second, Nadiya ran over the words in her head before voicing them, not wanting to sound rude or cause any misunderstandings. Managing to meet Kenner's eyes, she began to speak softly, yet earnestly.

"Well, as I said before, the reason I've come here is to sell myself for the highest price I can get. Not for me you see, but for my family. I am the oldest of six, and obviously that is a lot of mouths to feed." Nadiya paused, feeling slightly embarrassed all of a sudden, unsure if there was a safe way to ask such a question. She had to find out though, to know if she was making the right decision.

"Master Kenner, if I might be so bold to ask, how much would you be willing to send to my family if I offer myself in service to you and your household?" she asked, getting it all out in one breath before going silent, biting her lip in nervous anticipation.

"Hello miss.. I was wondering when I would get to meet this dragon I've been hearing so much about."

I am Captain Stern and it is an honor to have one such as yourself among the family."

Akhira's instincts made her feel on edge when Stern came about. His aura... it was similar to someone else's, wasn't it? She blinked her eyes and watched Stern emotionlessly before turning back to walk the hallway as they continued walking. Every once in awhile she would roll her shoulders as if resisting the reflex to knock them away from her back.

She wanted to get out but she that she needed to watch, and wait. Be silent. She closed her eyes for a brief second, slowed her breathing and cast out her senses. Everything became muffled, the people around her, everything was stretched... and her concentration snapped. She nearly let out a gasp, but as she was born wild instantly shut her mouth to keep from making any noise. Everything she saw became framed by stars. No, not now... She was still walking, although her head was now lowered.

Akhira was starving, and weak... Perhaps, trying to cast out my senses was a bit much... She was definitely dizzy right now, but her pride would not allow her to show weakness in front of that Necromancer. Yet, it was perhaps going to happen sometime as she knew what would happen should she choose not to eat the previous night. And to make matters worse, she was beginning to feel cold. And now I may becoming ill... Her head began to hurt, and that's when she felt the world begin to spin.

Her stomach was hurting for food, and indeed, she needed it desperately, but all that were in front of her were mostly humans. And not even she would stoop that low. Humans were scum, there was no doubt about it, but her palate was more used to elk, and deer, even horses. Eating a human would more likely make her even sicker. She slowed down more, and began to see those Others in front of her leave her sight.

Akhira finally felt the stars begin to invade her senses, making her even dizzier and suddenly... She swayed, and was barely able to catch herself with a hand to the wall. Her claws were digging into the stone, and the scales on her head were beginning to pale... Her pearlescent skin seemed to glitter more... like glass that held a rainbow... She could feel it, the cold.... It was seeping in through the magic that kept her in this form. She fell to the floor in a heap, her breathing becoming short fast pants.

Akhira had always been sickly for a dragon, and she would often fall ill enough that Blackfire had to stop their traveling for days, sometimes weeks as she battled with the virus. Blackfire had shared a theory with her that she was sickly because she hadn't been raised with other dragons that could keep her warm with their inner-flame. Medicine was mostly used, but to no avail, leaving Blackfire to wait on her, bringing her food and trinkets to keep her agile mind from falling to boredom.

Nadiya

Kenner smiled back as Nadiya fought with the shyness that welled up within her as she tried to ask the question that had building in her mind. Her need to know if she could somehow parlay herself for enough to provide a future for her family was a normal question and though it had been sometime since Kenner's home had hosted one in such a condition. He stepped down from the platform and paired up in front of her as he looked her over, seeing as such she was not able to meet him formally till now. Holding out a hand to take hers in turn, which after a short moment of battling the same meek nature that was surging in her from before. She managed to hold out her hands and allow him to take them in his own, turning them over and examining both sides. He would run a finger over her knuckles and across her palms as she could feel his eyes roaming over other aspects of her person as well. A prospect that threatened to raise a heavy blush on her cheeks as she slowly realized what such a look could imply.

Releasing her hands so that she could return them to her sides, only to continue the gentle smile that he had possessed before. "To be honest Nadiya life is not a cheap commodity like the ruling half would have you believe. I am more than willing to ensure you're family have generous compensation for you to join my house." He Keens his head to the side for a moment before stepping around her, keeping a hand on the flat of her side as he strode around. An act that raised a certain alarm in Nadiya's person, whether it was the feeling of his touch or the anticipation of what that meant for her was a vastly racing possibility in her own mind. Only for his hand to lift from her side and stepped away towards where everyone had gathered before.

"But first I would like to know why one such as yourself felt it was necessary to be sold into such a service?" He sat on the on the stone surface and looked back at her. "One with you're skills could have been more than a well accomplished herbalist.. why come here, seeing as how illegal the Crown views such a service as mine?"

Akhira

Stern slows his step as Akhira begins to move with less speed, only stopping to wave the other guards around them both as he stays in stride with her. Watching silently as she swayed with the weight of her full body pressing against the wall, her fall quickly followed after. As he knelt down beside her Chlorra's form came rushing up to their side, moving like a blurred shade in the darkness and stopping just as abruptly. Stern places a hand on her neck to feel her pulse and even in her diminished state Akhira could feel something was off about him, though his presence was dark there was an intensity in his presence. She could feel the strength of his heartbeat through the tips of his fingers, a vast contrast to the normal aura that permeated his being.

"Whats wrong little scale, feeling blue?" Chlorra asked with a depraved hint of comedy in her voice, it seemed she was taking all of this as a powerful joke. To which Stern replied justly.. "Even in the mornings you can be such a heartless bitch Chlorra." She tilted with a giggle that easily pooled within as she jostled her form and replied by stroking the back of his hair. "Oh sweetie its her own fault for being in this situation, that legendary pride they all share is only outmatched by their stubbornness."

He leaned down to lift her slowly, making sure as to not increase her discomfort and Akhira quickly found that his form greatly dissuaded from his strength. The metallic edges of his plate causing only slight discomfort on her side as he held her firmly. "The Master should be informed.." Chlorra was quick to wave off his suggestion with her hand as she looked on, the group ahead had stopped in her absence and was now waiting for her return.

"Let the little one deal with her this time around, its been a while since a dragon has been her way. She will most likely be elated to see such a figure in her care." He doesn't give the dark woman much attention after that and leaves with Akhira in arm, only worried to hurry her off towards her next destination. Leaving Chlorra behind to return to her current task of leading the others on.

Akhira was hungry. Dizzy. Weak. Getting sick. She wanted to eat, to fly and not have to bother with things such things that kept her from doing what she wanted, killing what she wanted dead. Vaguely, she could hear that Witch conversing with the Quick-Shadow, Stern. Then, she was being carried. What's he... I'm being carried...?

He is... carrying me...

WHY!? She wanted to snarl at him, and shrug off his... Whatever this was.... WHAT IS HE DOING?! It has been so long, since Blackfire had been around to show her kindness, and even then, he wouldn't do it all for nothing. It didn't even occur to her that humans could be Kind or that the two words could even belong in the same sentence. Humans were all things wrong in the world. That was all she knew. And as far as she was concerned Stern was just trying to-

Akhira winced at the sudden headache building behind her eyes. With eyes shut tightly, she couldn't be bothered to care that Stern was carrying her or that she wasn't keeping her guard up. All she knew was that she felt like she had been alone in a cave for so long without food. Her stomach was killing her. The stress of everything that had happened also made her more mentally exhausted then she originally thought she was. Not to mention the sudden urges telling her find prey and hunt it down. To eat.

A sudden coldness made her shiver and duck her down closer to her bottom to preserve body heat. An instinctual response.

She moaned and bit down on her bottom lip, tasting blood. She ran her tongue over her canines, feeling the sharpness of it. It seems hunger has made her fangs sharper then they should have been in this form, even enhancing her claws and sense of smell. She could feel the presence of Stern even more now, and it was intensely powerful in it's own way. Somehow, dark but not frightening.

Without knowing it, she muttered a word. A word so familiar, and so full of hope that it would perhaps, somehow, save her from her current situation. "Blackfire." Was that who he reminded her of?

No.

Akhira opened her eyes to look up at Stern. Maybe it was because he shared the same hair color as Blackfire. She watched him quietly. Strange. She then thought of Aemon, the other strange one and compared how they seemed to be doing.. unnecessary things. Both of them. Strange. There was no fear in the way she was watching him, just an inquiring look that was somewhat daring... Maybe also searching for something she didn't know she was looking for. What, though?

Then, without even thinking about it she ducked her head down again and... sneezed. Great. A blue frost was covering her crossed arms and chest as well as some of Stern's fingers and chest plate. She hadn't meant to. Yet... "Sorry." The words left her lips, unbidden.

She closed her eyes, focusing only her breathing, not even noticing that her cold breaths had become visible. She didn't even care. Not even if Stern were taking her to be tortured; she just wanted the sickness to pass without making her feel even more worse then she already was.

Akhira could feel the air moving over her as Stern carried her on from the group, traveling quickly from the way they originally came into the hall and down a separate set of stairs from before. Such a massive home to so many people and he was able to quickly navigate it as normally as someone who lived within a small cottage on the countryside. As they both rounded the corner and the group lost sight of them, Akhira could feel their pace quicken. Stern's footfalls rapidly became a distant thing as she could feel the air rushing over her skin and the light of the lamps making brief appearances through her heavily lidded eyes. She caught a glimpse of someone being passed in the corridor, however at the speed they were moving it was highly unlikely that this person even caught notice.

It was quiet in this place that Stern and Akhira were inhabiting, with the cool serenity of a wind tunnel and calm of a moonlit night. As her head rested she could hear his heartbeat through the armor adorning him, its course strong and unaffected by the speed at which he moved. To her it sounded less like a hurried run and more like someone taking a short walk as he gripped her tightly for each corner to be taken taken. Though soon his pace began to slow and she could feel him preparing to stop in his tracks, because that is exactly what he did. He stopped in his pace without a single warming beside the fact that he tightened up on her for the last time and the passing of the world ceased. Only for Akhira to hear someone draw a flat gasp as they did so, followed with the dropping of something metallic on the floor ahead of them. This was followed by a deep pouting noise and someone nearly shouting out at them both, but the bulk of the rebuke was focused on Stern himself.

Dammit mister Stern.. what have I told you about doing that?" Akhira could hear him smirk with a laugh in the back of his throat as the world around her began to sting her senses with a multitude of different feelings. Her nose and eyes were tingling from something in the air and even her tongue was tasting the scent of incredibly pungent flavors. "I am sorry Phillipa but it was necessary, I have someone here who is in need of treatment.." Akhira could not see who Stern was speaking with, mainly because her view was now restricted to seeing up and out of her cradled position.

The soon began moving again as she could hear the person walk away and Stern began to follow some short distance before she was laid down into a bed surrounded by a white sheet. It became apparent to her that she was in some sort of infirmary, though it was possibly the first that she had ever actually been inside of at this point in her life. Before the sheet was closed by Stern she could make out the blurred form of someone laying across the room from her in their own bed. She could hear the slight voices of others as well from far enough away, through the curtain itself was doing a rather good job of keeping the noise out.

"Stern is she what I think she is?" She felt a hand pressed across her forehead for a moment only to be met with another blurred vision as she opened her eyes. Going by the sound of the voice however must have been a young woman, that and the softness of the touch was rather unmistakable. "Yes and I am sorry to be so sudden with her on this, but she began to collapse in the upper halls. Chlorra decided I should bring her here instead of getting the master to pull himself away from his current obligations." At the mention of the dark woman's name, Akhira could feel a slight shiver run through the hand on her head.

"Speaking of obligations, I am needed elsewhere for the time being but I will return." At this time Akhira could feel the girl tense up as her voice dropped in tone. "You have to go see her again? I think you need to spend more time living and less time with her." She could see the captain shrug out of the corner of her vision as he began to speak "Maybe so but as long as my lady has need of me, I will be there to answer." Stern exits the same way he arrived, moving in what seemed to be a silent blur.

Akhira could feel a heavy blanket being pulled over her as she was being tucked in.
"Alright, I need to get some things to help you get better. Just get some sleep and I will have everything ready quick as possible.." There was no wait for an answer as Akhira could get one final glimpse of the woman beside her and it was hard to even call her that. The person appeared so young that it was difficult to even think she was as such, however she smiled warmly and her expression caring all the same as she rushed out through the curtain.

Akhira was beginning to feel like a... Something she had no word for. Maybe there was a were a word for what she was feeling, but she didn't know it. What was it? It was like looking in on something she could not be, but yet, able to fathom what it would mean to be part of it. An outsider? Not likely.

She growled at the way these strangers were talking so fast, she couldn't keep up with the language. Again, with the word-speak. She let out a small breath, and noticed that her skin had paled. I have chills now. I wonder how this Girl-Child will deal with me when I have a fever. She sneezed and a light blue mist appeared. Where it fell onto the blankets, frost appeared and it reminded her of how stranger it was for her to be on a bed.

Akhira let out a small rebellious snarl, to which was followed by her shoving the blankets off and rolling off the bed to all fours. Insects, all of them. The blankets fell off the bed with a plop. Everything around her became stars once again when she got to her feet. A strangeness came over her then. Something she has felt before many times. An unwanted feeling...

Something she would have never worried about until... Panicked, she let out a strangled snarl as she suddenly turned and began clawing at the black ribbon on her upper arm. OFF! GOT TO GET IT OFF!!! Feeling a pressure other then the fear and panic was building up within her. A frightening thing when she knew the feeling of such things. Being forced to change when she was sure the ribbon would keep her from shifting. Before, she had wanted to transform, but now, with a stronger magic binding her and the feeling of an unintentional change... She had been through it before, and it had hurt... And now...

An animal's need to survive was resounding deep within her chest, she let out a pain filled roar and fell to the floor. Her scales on her head were cracking from within and... NO. No... Her skin became harder, sharper, more like a glossy diamond then that of flesh and bones. Grabbing at the scales on her head, she curled into a fetal position and deep within her torn mind, wondered if she was imagining that the ribbon on her arm was burning hot.

She was in pain, stuck. Shivering. Hunger. Pain. All of it, shapeless emotions began to well up deep inside her chest, making her feel even more terrible. Right now, she looked more like an almost elvish thing, something human but not. She was stuck. Human chrysalis. She no thoughts, only sensations now.

Nadiya waited in silence for the lord of the house to answer her, body stiff and on edge as she fretted over rejection. As Kenner approached her, she tried to read his body language, attempted to study his facial expressions for some insight as to what he was thinking. Had she been rude or presumptuous to ask such a thing? She considered apologizing for her question when the master of the house took her hands in his, examining them as he ran his fingertips across her skin.

His steady appraisal as well as the feel of his touch elicited a flush of pink in her cheeks, unsure what he was looking for- or looking at. Not used to being studied at length like this, Nadiya felt a unique mixture of curiosity, anxiety, and surprise. Even as he released her hands, the young woman was unable to look away from Master Kenner, face a bright pink at being the center of attention.

She released a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding, relieved to hear he was perfectly willing to provide her family with a suitable payment- and even suggesting he didn't think a life was cheap (something she was also pleased to hear- a sentiment she could agree on). Beginning to relax, she parted her lips as words of gratitude formed in her mind and on her tongue. She didn't manage to properly thank him, however, his closeness sudden and unexpected. She burned an even brighter pink, mind whirling with thoughts as she tried to decipher what he was doing. What he was thinking as he appraised her some more. Did she even want to know? Each possibility she dreamed up only served to make her more uncertain, watching him with a question in her eyes. He was smiling and acting pleasant enough, so she made no move to retaliate. Besides, she was essentially offering herself as a tool or merchandise for sale.

His question caught her by surprise, swiftly pulling her out of her attempts to puzzle over his actions (and become further confused or anxious by the many possibilities in the process). Why? Nadiya bit her lower lip, eyes following master Kenner as he sat himself upon the stone. He was being generous with his words, suggesting she of all people could become an able bodied herbalist in her own right. She dreamed of such, but without being properly taught, she'd never be as highly sought after as the masters of the craft.

"W-well sir...I must admit I have had no formal training- only knowledge passed on from my mother and various village folk. Most healers begin as apprentices and study under a master- something I had neither time nor resources to do. And no one would take a simple country girl. When I was younger, I still needed to help look after my siblings, but now that I am older, I may offer of myself as a servant. I..I would seek employment or tutelage, but I have had little luck. And I have no magic talent as far as I can tell." Nadiya swallowed hard, realizing she was pointing out all very logical reasons not to take her on or buy her. Anxiety began to creep into her subconscious again.

Clutching the sides of her skirt in her shaking hands, Nadiya spoke again, softer this time. "I...I thought this was the best way...the only way. I am too cowardly to hop a ship any further from my home- it was hard enough crossing the strait to reach this part of the country. And I fear having no place to turn to, nor one that might take me or have such access to all that you do..." The young woman managed to meet Master Kenner's eyes, silently begging him not to turn her away with nothing.

Babble

The question period went by whimsically well. There was no sound and no touching was involved. All in all it was all he could of hoped for really.

It wasn't that he wasn't curious. Curiosity gripped him as would a strong appetite, constantly reminding with each look that he was subject to being fascinated. Kenner, Chlorra, the things that lived in the walls, so many little mysteries to the building he was keen to explore.

What he wasn't keen on was punishment. He knew little else of life than the fact that he was made to be punished, few things were more evident to him than that. After having his sound, his limbs of intangible nigh-omnipresence, cut down by several magnitudes he was wary of even breathing. The silence such change had brought has been sublime bliss but he was not foolish enough to believe that it was intentional. It was a lucky accidental discovery on his part which turned his frown upside-down but there was always more time to change things towards the worse.


After some silent gesturing and mouth movements guards were summoned. Two guards dragged him to his feet and began hauling him down the way by his shoulders, taking him along with everyone else. He probably would've walked if it seemed necessary but the guards weren't long in asking. He was brought along with the others to view the house it seemed. He wouldn't know, he couldn't hear a thing and neither could the two guards next to him.

The dragon lady seemed unwell. He might of made more note of it but the whole ordeal hardly phased him. Brought along by effort from the guards and subdued by magic Babble seemed largely absorbed in the silence, his eyes possessing a somewhat glazed quality. One might be able to wave their hand before his face and not elicit a single reaction.

He was busy counting down the seconds until his next torture.

Nadiya
Kenner looks back at Nadiya after she tells him her own reasons for not going in a different route before choosing doing what she has done. It simply boiled down to the fact that such an avenue was not readily available for her in her current state, which was understandable seeing the way things worked outside of the cities.

He stands and meets her gaze as he can be seen formulating his response on the side of his mouth, a creased smile following his next words. "In all my years on this earth you humans, have always fascinated me. Some of you are born to greatness and others have to fight for it all their lives, but that never stops you from striving for the best that you can perceive." He clasp his hands together for only a moment, allowing a glimmer of light to strike Nadiya's vision before he separates them. Only to reveal that a thin, emerald green ribbon was now swaying gently between his fingers. "I can offer you some of the best training and the highest quality of working conditions for such a craft.. yes. But you must be willing to take that final plunge into this life, and that is something that I cannot press upon you.

You see unlike the ones that are brought to me in the night and are sold beyond their own power into my arms, you are different. Those that come here willingly are still within their own power to turn and walk away into the world they left. Not to mention I cannot promise you that you will remain a member of my house forever, someone may take a fancy with you and that means you may eventually be bought from my home. Taken to a vastly foreign land and will always be at risk of never seeing you're family ever again." He clutches the ribbon in his hand softly as he looks it over for a just a moment, before lightly dangling it in front of her eyes. "This world will become yours should you wish it or you may return home... the choice is yours to make." He holds out a hand in what appears to be some sort of offer to take hers, this was apparent to Nadiya that if she was to take his offer. Everything that he has spoken will become true and she would be at such a danger, its just that with such a life like her former one behind her. She could just well be damning herself should she walk away from his offer.

Akhira
It was not long before her feet touched the floor that Akhira could feel eyes upon her from beyond the curtain. She could feel the urge in her body fighting with the black ribbon wrapped around her arm and no amount of clawing could dislodge it, to spite the wounds she could inflect upon herself. She could feel her skin pulling into its new form despite the fact this was rather unnatural for herself, what was more unnatural was the coming pulse of heat released from the ribbon on her arm. Shattering her new skin leaving her human form bare, as the forced transformation of her flesh was cracked from her and sent into the air like a flowing glacial mist. The force was not painful though it was rather unpleasant to feel herself pulled back into a form that was not her current choice.

She could feel the object wrapped around her was not mere magic, but something far more transient than her own relation to the forces of magic could ever be. The ribbons burning sensation stopped as soon as her transformation was halted, leaving her keeled over slightly beside the bed as she could here a small collection of footsteps coming her way. Her head could only crane so far as to see just their forms as the curtain parted. Seeing an older man with two of the maids framing his side, though these maids were in dresses that covered every feature they possessed. As well as what appeared to be a green choker wrapped around their throats, with a matching veil covering their faces. "Well she wasn't exaggerating, you do seem to be in a rather terrible way..." He snaps his fingers and the two maids are on Akhira quicker than she could react in her current condition, though she would be hard pressed to say that their grip was not human in the least. Even struggling as strong as she could, neither woman was budging an inch and their hold as they lifted her back into the bed. The pain and sickness was already causing her sight to blur with some off setting consequences. Her sight of the man was only to the point that she could make out the edges of his face and his piercing blue eyes in her haze.

The maids made sure to lay her back on the bed as easily as she was able to let them operate and they quickly adjusted themselves to hold her down, as the man pressed his head to her chest and checked her eyes. "Alright, we are going to address you're fever and you're health at this moment. Hopefully get this evened out before we can get you some food and maybe see how much better you do in the coming hours." The clatter of hurried footfalls came up form the other side of the curtain once again. Only for Akhira to make out the visage of the young girl once again as she hefted a tray up to the older man and he began to take items from it.

One was a wide flat stone that he proceeded to lay upon the crux of her stomach, one that she found was exceedingly warm to the touch and continually flowed with magics that allowed it to stay at the same intensity. The other was a small vial that he uncorked and than closed to what seemed like an extremely uncomfortable distance to her face as he began to speak again. "This is a special dust that we use for creatures such as yourself, it will put you to sleep for almost an hour but that will be just enough time for me to work. I am telling you this out of courtesy, rather than having you panic about what I am going to do to you right now." In an instinctive response she closes her mouth to keep him from pouring the contents in, only to have him take hold of the back of her head and bring the vial under her nose just as she inhaled.

The powder comes flowing in with reckless abandon, only a slight hint on the edge of its texture. It slowly brought back the memory of far flung mountains that she had once crossed in her younger years, as the edges of her eyes slowly became more heavy and lidded.

Babble
As the group continued to walk through the upper halls of the house, Babble was till stuck with having to come to terms with his power being refocused into something more akin to what a human would sense. He could barely argue with the idea that now his eyes were possibly more accurate than his sense of sound. Though it did not stop him from trying to attune himself from time to time, in methods that could effect those around him. But every time he tried to break past that barrier of restriction that Chlorra had placed upon him, he could feel the ribbon on his arm slightly heat up and somehow dial back on the strength that he was allowed.

As he eyed the ribbon for a few seconds as soon as he looked up his eyes were met with a rather grand sight. An extremely large room that seem to be built on the actual outer edge of the building itself, with the height of its beveled ceiling taking up what appeared to be several of the floors above and thick roped curtains of dark purples could be seen hanging over the windows. The room in general was vastly different from the rest of the house that the slaves had currently been allowed to see, with lavish decorations adorning nearly every surface that could be seen with the eye and the floor was polished with an immaculate shine. In fact several of the house maids could be seen toiling away with their own work keeping them busy in the room as they shined and dusted all around on edge of the room. Chlorra started to lead the others down the large room, its open space stretching far off from the door in which they entered. Babble was able to pick it up before the others, but in the back of the room he could hear and somewhat feel sounds being plucked upon. Only when the group crossed through a set of twin curtains did they see what the sound was coming from.

It was a group of people, slaves like themselves in fact that were are stringing and tuning their instruments in the process of getting ready for practice. They paid little attention to the group as a whole, though it was easy to see that Chlorra's presence was an almost universally unsettling substance in of itself for them. Several of them becoming physically disheveled by the sight of her and the others opted to just adjust their seating to keep her from their view. Babble could hear each of them doing a poor job in his taste, not one capable in actuality of satisfying his rather rich pallet. Save for the next sound he hear coming from deeper within, beyond the bodies of the other faceless slaves that sat before him. A stag was erected beyond their seating and past its curtains he could hear some kind of heavenly sound cascading out, only to be plucked at lightly before drawing out several long notes. It was an instrument of some sort of that he was rather sure. His mind was struck from its train of thought as a voice sounded out from behind the group and everyone turned to see a dramatically young girl standing there in what seemed to be a well pampered victorian dress. Her pale skin and silvery white hair are abstracted against the sight of her blue eyes that are able to glow through the low light of the room.

"Well lady Chlorra its good to see you, however I must say you were not to be expected as of yet. Brother and I have yet to prepare for class today and I haven't even had my morning cap myself." The girl laughs behind her teeth as she lifts a hand to hide them from the view of the group ahead.

Luna looked at the strange woman with apprehension in her eyes and a fighting stance. Everything she had seen inside this strange lair was not all pure; who was to say this woman wasn't a physical entity of the horrors that lurked beneath the black waters in front of her. The only plan on action to do at this point was question her and see if she slipped up and revealed her true nature. "I..take it you are a demon like myself?" Luna said under her breath as she gazed at the cracked horn. She never in her life had seen such a sight and could scarcely believe it was true for during her younger years she had seen her brethren impale many a steal cage with their horns without so much as a scratch on them. "I have many other questioning but I'll let you do the explaining first,yes? She uttered while seemingly lowering her guard so as to not appear completely hostile- this was the first person to really speak with her besides The Man and his lapdog; the very thought sending tremor through her arms.

Akhira was fragile right now. Everything ached from the sudden end to her transformation. It took energy to shift from form to form, and usually didn't take much, but when she gets torn between the two forms... It usually made her weak. So weak. Like a newborn deer. So easy to crush.

She panted and thought, that if she were human, maybe she would be sweating now. Yet, she was a dragon, and instead, her body began to look more like a sparkling diamond, only the lights and rainbows that ran off from her skin were pale.

Once those... Nuns caught ahold of her, she let out a weak growl and hardly thought to fight them off. Her hair fell down her shoulders, and covered half her face. They were speaking words to her, these two nuns and that old man. Unable to comprehend the language, she let out a snarl once they began to lay her back onto the bed.

These roaches... Her irises were slits now. Her teeth sharp to the point. Everything about her screamed predator. A hungry one. A cornered one. Yet, she did not fight as it seemed to her that she somehow knew... It was pointless. She was just a dragon that had been forced into a cage. "A dragon in a cage. How pitiful." Akhira stopped caring at that point, when the old man spoke sounds that she did not follow and produced some sort of powder. She accidentally breathed it in.

The old man spoke sounds again. Sounds that seemed to reach into the depths of her brain, and pull out the memories she had, spinning it all into a world she could live in. A world...

She was flying, soaring. No. She was racing the winds! Power coursed through her wings with ever stroke, bringing her aloft the clouds. Her icy blue scales sparkled, that of a young healthy dragon. Nothing could stop her. Nothing could stop her from winning this... A sudden gust of air made her flap awkwardly to the side. Ahh! A black mass far bigger than her passed her by. "You just lost." The grumble of a dragon bigger than her, entered her mind.

Irritated, she sent her Mentor a thought she had repeated many times over. "Again."

Luna

As Luna looked back at the woman in question, she sat still on the edge of a large stone. She was nursing her stomach from what seemed to be an apparent injury that Luna could now see was starting to leak from below a makeshift bandage. It was only hard to see because the fabric was made from her own uniform and though it was a minimal injury, she could see it caused some discomfort.

Her eye traced back to Luna as she made her statement and a look of apprehension caused pause in her features before she tilted her head. "Like you..? No."

"My blood is a bit more muddied than yours it seems." She leaned forward and pressed up on her thin legs to stand, only for her to wobble like a new born faun. Managing to make her stance work as she began to trudge off in a direction reaching further from the glade. "You get one new blood and just that one..." She stops in her tracks and looks around, keeping her head tilted as she scans around the area they stand. It was obvious that she was nervous just standing out there and speaking. "You need to be on you're toes at all times.. and don't eat anything that grows on the island." She puts her back to Luna and adjust her mask, giving her a sight of scales that cover the features on the side of her head. Only for that small chance to end as she clasp the mask back on one again. She turns her side back to Luna with a punitive stare and it was easy to see a question was boiling behind her eye. "What year is it... is the war still on? Its good to see Pandorum still thrives what with kin like you still existing." The name she speaks sounds strange to Luna's ears, not that she didn't know it. Sure that she had read it in some strange book from long ago, while seeking the secrets it held.

Akhira

The feeling of flying was not all that Akhira could feel, but an overwhelming sense of warmth. It was a soothing sense to feel her body being overtaken by this feeling. Like she had laid in a bed made of warm coals and she was settling to rest for a long night. Though her empty stomach was still nagging at the back of her mind and causing its own source of pain. She was beginning to feel calm and it was then her senses were beginning to return and her eyes began to crack open to see the one lamp above her head shedding light all through her enclosed space. Her sense of time was off and it was hard to tell just how long she had been out from the moment that she was put to sleep. Though her mind could not really wonder on the subject seeing as something began to catch the attention of her nose and as she shifted her head to see what it was, she found a plate of cooked meat sitting off from the side of her bed. Not sides, no dressings, just plane cooked meat smelling heavily of lamb and though it was not in a vastly large portion. Her mind could not lie in its need that it was desiring this meal placed out for it.

That in itself would have been a good enough reason for her to move and snatch for the food, to gobble it down as greedy as a pig would. However she found her left arm and legs unwilling to move, only for her eyes to be met with a rather awkward form encasing her when she turned her head. It was a Lamia and a rather young one at that by the look of the bandage wrapped around her face and shoulder, she was a patient in the ward as well.

Her skin was pale with a hint of emerald green that ran down both sides of her body, verging several inches below her navel. The rest of her consisted of a rather impressive serpentine body that she had folded over Akhira's legs, several times in fact and had fallen asleep. Her left arm bore a black ribbon just like Akhira and despite the fact of what it mean, she was laying there sucking her thumb like a weening child. The sound of shoes padding away outside was the majority of what she could hear, aside from the usual word spoken here and there.

Babble

Much like an inflating balloon all tied up with rubber bands the pressure was unbearable.

He was being held back by the magic of the band, his power stifled in an unnatural fashion. This was nothing new, he was quite used to being restrained from accessing his nature. What was different was that it deafened him. It also blinded him and numbed him. His eyes were only a complimentary organ meant to enhance social interaction. He wasn't prepared to start using his eyes to observe things. That just didn't seem right.


His gaze laid low, his eyes half lidded as though he were fighting through a lack of sleep. He might of seen what the room looked like, or he might of not. There were instruments being tuned in the room. He had little care for that or anything at that moment. If his head were suddenly removed he'd barely register the event, that's how out of it he was.

Then he heard a strange sound. A stranger sound coming from behind the curtains. A string instrument, clearly. It's unusual qualities only barely settled past the aura of silence he had erected, the golden sound crushing as much sound as the ribbon would allow it to. It filled Babble with a sense of...

Uncertainty.

Because he couldn't help but consider the idea that his mind was being directly pried into with magic. The warlock did something similar back in the tower. It was on a Tuesday. The day before was a Tuesday as well. Strange.


"Well lady Chlorra its good to see you, however I must say you were not to be expected as of yet. Brother and I have yet to prepare for class today and I haven't even had my morning cap myself."

Was there a person talking? Where? When? Did it matter? He wasn't really cognizant of the meaning of her words. Sound was much quieter around him, like it was very easy to fall into silence. Babble couldn't even bring himself to look up from his feet. He looked empty, lost inside.

The smile was reassuring, though she was surprised to hear him marvel at humanity. He wasn't human himself? She had mistakenly assumed he was a magically gifted human. Nadiya tried not to stare, but she looked at him with surprise and wonder. What manner of being was this master Kenner? Did she want to know? Would he even tell her if she asked?

Her contemplation was interrupted by the sound of his hands coming together- creating a light at the action before he pulled his hands apart once more. The young woman let out a soft gasp of amazement, only for her eyes to fall upon the ribbon that had magically appeared between his fingers. For a moment, Nadiya stared at it with a slightly puzzled expression, unsure what to make of the sudden action.

As she looked up with a question in her eyes, Kener began to speak again, confirming that he could provide her with all the tools and knowledge to become more than just a simple village herbalist. His words were laden with warning though, her future uncertain even if he took her in. She had never considered that if she sold herself, she could also likewise be bought from someone such as this Master Kenner. But he made it clear she had a choice...unlike the others (a thought that rather saddened her to think about). The emerald ribbon was hung before her, soon followed by his offered hand. She wasn't entirely sure what the ribbon was for, but the though left her mind fairly quickly, his voice encouraging her to make her choice- of her own will.

A part of her was scared- scared of the unknown, scared of the possibility of things going sour, scared she might not succeed. And what if by some strange chance someone did want to take her away? Perhaps this wasn't the only option? But she might never have such an opportunity ever again in her life- and she knew it. She bit her lip out of nerves, the thought of this being a mistake a daunting one.

But she wanted to help people- especially her family. It was tough, but life had been good to her, and she felt her family deserved to be taken care of likewise. In addition, she would finally get to learn how to be a proper healer! If this was her only chance, she would be a fool not to take it. And the promise of her family being compensated...

Placing her hand in his, Nadiya gave a single nod of resolution, making her choice before she could have a chance to hesitate or back out. Regardless of the unknowns, she had to try! She didn't come all this way for nothing. "I...I accept, if you will have me sir." she declared, looking up to meet Kenner's eyes.

Babble

Chlorra looked across the group of new arrivals as she passed in front of them and pointed them out for the young girl to see. "They are all here save for a few, ones that needed separate care especially." The girl looked over the group on her own terms as she walked around them, giving each a cursory look as she passed. Only stopping for a moment when she looked at Babble, cocking an eyebrow and turning her attention to Chlorra. "Taking in charity cases now are we? He would have little to no use for me.." She chuckled slightly.

"No Masha, he is an elemental just like Ferna and the others." She added as she stepped up towards the group "The little man can conduct and create sound as easily as a human breaths, despite the fact of his former master being more than a little rough with him. The master's offer still stands on fixing that for him.. if he would just play along.." She says as she runs a finger across the breadth of his shoulder. The room begins to fill with the sound of instruments again as several of the students begin to string up on their choice instruments and Masha passes around the group to close the large curtain separating the two halves of the room before addressing the group in full. "This is our music room if you could not tell already, I am Masha and through my brother Misha is nowhere in sight for the moment, I am confident that his greetings are as given as my own."

She begins to adjust the hem line of her dress for a moment, still speaking as she does. "We both train prospective students who wish to understand and learn to play the most elegant of instruments. Though from time to time we are called upon to play for specific roles and functions within the house, you're ultimate purpose is to be purchased and trained to the taste of any new master that finds you worthwhile. Though I must say it never hurts to learn an instrument despite what you're chosen vocation may end up being." She smiles at the group with a practiced grace for a few moments as she continues "Now are there any questions, or shall the tour continue?"

Nadiya

Kenner looked down at the palm of Daniya's hand as she held out her arm a warm smile growing across his face, holding out the ribbon with his had and taking hold of both ends. He runs it around her right bicep and clasp the two ends, which quickly disappear from view leaving the ribbon whole. He waves over a guard who seems to have been waiting for their conversation to end this entire time and takes a stand next to Nadiya. The guard gives her a small gesture which appears to be some sort of appreciative nod before speaking. "Please take Nadiya to the infirmary and inform mister Anton that she is to become one of his new apprentices." He looks back at her and continues "If you wish to see more of the house later, than I suggest you ask him assign someone to you. He would be more than willing to do so himself, but daily operations of the infirmary have him busy for some time."

The guard gives Nadiya another gesture, offering her to follow him as he leads her out and down the hall. Master Kenner on the other hand was last seen by her still standing where she left him, as his face vanished around the corner of the door frame.

Akhira had awoken to a strange feeling on her chest and indeed, it was startling when she had opened her eyes to see the... creature. A snarl leapt from her lips, "Get off!" She struggled and was beginning to get desperate when she felt her stomach growl yet again. "Dang it." Stopping her useless attempts to get free, she made herself quiet and thought about her situation. She had never met whatever this creature was and had not idea what to do to get rid of it...

And yet... her stomach was calling her to action. Irritated, a realization came to her. This thing on her was part reptilian, wasn't it? That must mean it must have been attracted to her body heat which was already high to begin with due to her fever. And so... She collected herself and began to breathe calmly.

Slowly, her breathing became visible. Ice Had begun to appear along her skin, and a frosty mist appeared when Akhira sighed. I wonder how well this creature can tolerate sub zero temperatures.... All warmth in the room seemed to be sucked out, and the air was painful to breathe. The stone was creaking, as well as the bed Akhira was in. Akhira had never dropped the temperature this low before, and she was still going, too young to understand what danger she was creating.

Expecting him to take her hand in a handshake or something of the like, Nadiya was surprised to find the master of the house had another reason entirely for silently urging her to hold out her hand. Before she could question him, he carefully wound the emerald ribbon he had summoned out of nowhere around her bicep, the ends magically connecting to form one solid ribbon encircling her arm. Her eyes widened at the ease with which the man used magic, and she touched the ribbon with her free hand as a guard was called over.

So the ribbon was a marker of some sort? The young woman glanced over at it as she contemplated it's sudden presence upon her body. Now that she thought about it, she had heard tales that claimed slaves of old were always marked- either with a brand burned into their skin, or sometimes even a form of restraint to prevent them from fleeing. Was this his equivalent? If so, she was grateful for it, this method much preferable over the rumored habits of days long past. And now that she thought about it, she had seen quite a few people in the household with varying color ribbons.

Nadiya looked from Master Kenner to the guard, then back again, feeling a bubble of nervous anticipation at hearing she was being led to someone who would make her an apprentice. She'd only ever dreamed of being able to learn as an apprentice under a skilled healer! The guard's nod was met with an incline of her own head, smiling softly in return to his silent greeting. Master Kenner's words were met with a nod of understanding, and Nadiya gave him her best curtsy before following after the guard. "Thank you sire! I'll do my best!"