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 Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2007 11:49 am
Once, Sisel wondered if it was odd that she took more pleasure in sifting through old books than she did in spending time with her fellow guild leaders or joking with the League members in her division.
But that was only once.
Her quill was moving quickly down the parchment. Thick, angular strokes made up her vertical writing as she penned down, in Duszecy, the interesting factoids that she had found in the most ancient book to her right. An Unabridged History of Kartajan and the Northern Relinswood: Myths, Legends and Lore was thick, and although the title suggested something boring, the blonde-haired Duszek looked quite enthralled by its contents.
She set her quill down to carefully lift the current page and turn it; her movements were so slight that it seemed she thought the text would disintegrate if it weren't handled perfectly. Judging by the tome's condition, disintegration did not seem unlikely.
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Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2007 8:34 am
Elias chuckled at the quality of his luck.
On a whim, he had decided to enter the League's library to peruse their expansive collection. Like most Duszek, Elias had developed a great fondness for the written word. But while his countrymen tended to read more about spirituality, astronomy and the arcane, his tastes leaned toward military histories, classic fictions and of course, music.
It was in this final category that Elias celebrated his fortune. Standing near a large scrollcase, he thumbed through the ancient parchments that codified songs from the past. His past. There were folk songs, religious songs, dirges that lamented the dead and arias that celebrated the Duszek's existence within the Flow. How the League had come into possession of these documents was anyone's guess. But for the first time since his arrival, Elias allowed himself to rest.
Elias chided himself for not bringing his lute. No matter. He would have plenty of time to practice in his room before his first mission. Collecting the scores for "Yesod's Sacred Light" and "The Ballad of Aenarion," Elias glided towards the circulation desk. In his jubilation and eagerness, he nearly missed a familiar pull that manifested in the back of his consciousness.
Elias froze. Lingering in the corners of his mind was a feeling he had not felt since his sad departure from Heym. With a quick back/side-step that earned him a quizzical look from another library patron, Elias rediscovered the sensation.
Cool and steady, it represented the solidarity of his people and the promise of the world to come.
It went by many names. The Weave, The Flow, The Infinite.
But to Elias, it was all summed up in one beautiful world...
"Daat..."
Fighting the urge to search, Elias closed his eyes and allowed himself to be guided by the feeling. Upon bumping into a bookshelf however, he revised his plan to let his eyes help as well.
The journey was brief.
Rounding a corner into a quiet study parlor, Elias rested his cheek against a marble pillar as he took in the other source of their bond.
Soft blue skin and a golden mane...
He thought to call out to her, but he knew that wasn't necessary.
She felt his presence as well.
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Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2007 11:53 am
So long had she been surrounded by the young ones, feeling The Flow suddenly strengthen in building was pleasantly awkward, like beginning to once again speak one's native tongue after years of studying abroad. Sisel was careful to finish what she had been writing before looking up.
Duszek were rare in Aschere, and the sight of a familiar figure made Sisel stop, her jaw hanging ever so slightly. There was a brief moment of panic when Sisel realized that she would be interacting with a Duszek and, oh no, what if he had done something to disappoint her family? What if he would return to tell them?
"What if" was simultaneously Sisel's most favorite and most hated phrase.
When her momentary terror had subsided, and she could catch her breath again, Sisel transitioned seamlessly into Duszecy. "Traveler, does the day find you well?" She asked. She inhaled deeply, and managed a small smile.
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Posted: Sat Jul 07, 2007 8:03 am
Elias smiled at the unbalanced reaction of the female.
It was obvious that the Flow had been absent from her life as well. Eager to converse, Elias stepped into the small parlor and positioned himself where he would not infringe upon her personal space and the sun would stay out of her blue eyes. Here he would stay until invited to sit.
The Duszecy flowed naturally to his lips.
"It does, Master Scholar. I hope that my unworthy presence does not detract you from your work. It's just that...It has been too long since my last encounter with the Weave."
As he spoke, Elias drank deep of the woman's simple beauty. Her smile was framed by a crown of golden hair that rested unevenly about her face. From this hair emerged a pair of long elegant ears that gave promise for a fortunate life. Her robes accented her thin shoulders and her graceful arms extended into delicate fingers that were smudged lightly with ink.
Certain of the female's League seniority, Elias played it safe by introducing himself in the traditional fashion.
"I am Elias, son of Krzys and Alba Urbas from the tribe of Jozef."
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Posted: Sat Jul 07, 2007 10:15 pm
Sisel repeated his name aloud, half to ensure she was pronouncing it correctly - as was normal - and half as acknowledgment. "The Flow does feel weaker so far from Malkut." She noted and paused.
"If you feel so inclined, you are more than welcome to join me, I suppose I should take a rest from my research for a moment." Or, at least, that's the sort of thing that the mages under her tutelage would tell her. She set down the gray feathered pen before continuing. Although he, himself, was unfamiliar, Elias's strong physique and weathered features gave away his occupation - or rather, his former calling. She assumed immediately that he was in Aschere escorting Duszecy scholars, but wondered, then, why he would react so strongly to the presence of another child of the Flow if he had been guarding researchers.
Sisel eventually noticed the pregnant pause, and, feeling quite embarassed, spoke again, "Ah! I am Sisel Chaikin, sent from Heym many years ago by Head Sage Perko to study." She neglected to mention the part where leaving home was not her idea, "By some form of luck, I seem to have been promoted to head of the offensive division."
Being very young, and even more frail than the average Duszek, Sisel always felt quite embarrassed at mentioning her position - in her opinion, and perhaps in the opinion of most Duszek, she was far too young to be in such a position of power. Every time she introduced herself - Sisel Chaikin. Head of Offensive Magic at the Asterion League - she worried that people would think she was bragging.
"Please," She said suddenly, attempting to distract herself with conversation, "if you wish." She gestured with her hand to the chair across from her.
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Posted: Tue Jul 10, 2007 10:03 pm
Outwardly, Elias gave no reaction to Sisel's introduction.
Inside however, he reeled at the thought of standing before another of the Guild's mighty primarchs.
By Yesod, she's so young...
Recovering quickly, Elias switched his lexicon into one more worthy of Sisel's position.
"Please forgive my foolish intrusion, High Magus. I would have never thought to address you so informally had I known I was speaking to my...superior." Elias stepped into a deep and venerating bow.
Holding his bow for a few seconds (as dictated by years of dealing with Duszek Generals), Elias rose to his full height and moved to the exact location that Sisel had motioned for him to sit.
As he walked, Elias' mind mentally coached his rigid etiquette...
Back straight, eyes forward!
Don't think about her age. Be respectful.
Let her set the tone.
Arriving at his chair, Elias unclipped Sunfang from his belt and rest it across his lap as he sat. Once seated, he lifted his head and regarded Sisel with a soft and more importantly, polite smile.
Oh bloody hell. And to think I was ogling her like a debutante maid!
I sure hope she can't read minds or I'll be a pile of ashes very soon.
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Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2007 1:53 pm
Sisel watched Elias closely; her expression remained unchanged, despite her slight discomfort at the sudden jump in formality. Although she was used to those of the younger races who were of lower station than she behaving in such a way, Sisel would probably never be able to shake the awkward feeling she got when an older Duszek bowed lower than she did merely because she was a guild leader. She waved her hand dismissively, "Please, be at ease, soldier."
She paused thoughtfully before continuing. "There is no need for such formality..." Despite the fact that she had urged Elias to speak more casually, her own language remained rather formal - as though it were she who were of the lower station. Admittedly, Sisel was only really familiar with the deferential language of a young scholar, having left Heym so young, and would probably botch any attempt at the direct language of a high ranking official. "...especially when you are -- oh, you aren't under the League's jurisdiction, are you?"
It seemed to occur very suddenly to Sisel that it was more likely that this man were a new recruit, not a scholar's escort passing through. Now, she found herself very curious.
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Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2007 3:37 pm
Elias exhaled deeply before giving his response.
"I...I have that honor, High Magus. I am one of the most recent appointees to the Guild's ranks. I was recruited in Camacho by the venerable Proteus."
Inside his mind, Elias braced for the inevitable barrage of background queries. But before he allowed himself to be interrogated, Elias attempted a last-ditch conversational redirect to a topic more suited to the Sorceress...herself.
"I did not know that a Duszek held such an esteemed position among the Guild's ranks. Had I, I would have certainly presented myself to you first. If I might ask, how did you step onto this most unusual path?"
Looking to loosen the dialogue's cold formality, Elias allowed his mouth to broaden into a wide smile.
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Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2007 2:16 pm
She felt a great deal more calm at Elias's change in expression, but was still not eager to answer questions about her own past. So, she gave the abridged version, "I was on my way back to Heym with the other scholars in my group when I came upon the Asterion League library. There was a great deal here that was, at the time, unrecorded in the Duszek libraries and so, as the youngest in my group, I decided it would be best if I stayed on. I joined the guild as a formality, but fate stepped in and I found myself very much involved with all the workings - hunts and such. By some luck, as I said, I was promoted to head of offensive magic several years ago."
Not particularly interested in having to dredge up what was seen by most as ancient history, she pushed the subject away from herself. "But, what news do you have from the homeland?"
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Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2007 10:19 pm
Elias' eyes grew distant at the thought of home.
"Malkut..."
In an instant, the flood of memories involving his final days in Heym rushed to Elias' mind. He saw the angry faces of his soldiers, who howled in protest at the Tribunal's call for Elias' death. He saw the stoic and hooded faces of Gwidon and Aurek Korol as they asked the court to change their sentence to exile. And most painful of all, he felt the warmth of Hania's tears on his lips as he kissed her cheeks for the last time.
Somewhere in his mind, Elias realized that his time outside the Oasis had suppressed the feelings of remorse he had for his exile. How fitting it was that they would resurface while speaking to his kinswoman. Still, the conversation was afoot and a longer pause would be seen as rude...
"All is well, as can be expected. When last I was in Heym, it was just after the Highmoon Celebration. The temple gardens had been planted with Silver Lotuses to reflect Yesod's light during the midnight ceremony. It was beautiful. As for politics, nothing has changed. Though the drought affecting the desert tribes has finally driven them to raiding our borders. Desperate savagery, really. It was nothing we, rather, the Warhost could not handle."
Elias gritted his teeth at the conversational blunder. He had revealed too much by allowing the mage to know about his prior affiliation. If she wished, Sisel could press more information out of Elias concerning his past.
Hoping for the contrary, Elias prepared for the next exchange.
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Posted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 2:59 pm
"It all sounds like normal, then." Replied Sisel, sounding rather unenthused. Of course, no news was generally better than bad news, and rarely did anything truly revolutionary happen in Heym, now, anyway. It was the research from outside the city walls that brought in the excitement.
"Recruited in Camacho, you said? Was your position there so boring?" She seemed to smile, amused. "What was your charge? Protecting scholars?" She leaned forward and rested her head in her hand. "Were that my job, I would've joined the League sooner, I think."
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Posted: Wed Sep 12, 2007 8:02 pm
Elias tensed at the inquiries about his past.
Alright, then. Now comes the lie...
"It's not very exciting, I'm afraid. Prior to my recruitment, I was an officer in the Great Warhost. Infantry, to be exact. Once my commission was complete, I chose to leave Heym to explore the outside world."
Elias' eyes drifted downward at the thought of his days in Camacho.
"Sadly, the outside world proved more savage than I expected. Of course, this may be because my first stop after Heym was Camacho."
Chuckling, he continued.
"You can imagine how glad I was for the opportunity to join the Guild."
Elias held up some sheet music to press the point.
"The library alone was well worth the Trials!"
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Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2007 3:37 pm
"Ah, I certainly agree with that!" Replied Sisel. She hadn't seemed to notice Elias's anxiousness. "Of all the human libraries I have seen, this one is the finest."
Although she looked as though she had more to say, Sisel paused and refocused her attention. "We have an audience." She gestured with her eyes to a group of four humans who had stopped at the end of the aisle next to theirs and were trying their best to look inconspicuous. "I doubt they've heard Duszecy before."
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