Shielding at Sunrise (Antar)

[Shai]

Focus lost as Antar tapped her nose. Violet crystals flickered open, crossed, to better understand what pulled her attentions so thoroughly from meditation and magic. For a brief moment of jocular consternation the Symenestra glared at his finger. As soon as the absurdity of her facial expression dawned upon Shai she quickly readjusted herself to gaze upon her teacher’s own eyes. Breaking their night’s fast wasn’t an objectionable concept and perhaps a small respite would allow for a superior third attempt. Curiously, the spider noticed Antar withdrawing his reach from her cloak. The rogue wasn’t to be trusted regarding tricks and Shai enjoyed his lack of knowledge regarding the precise contents of her pockets, it kept him from utilizing those very objects in his games. But the very thought of Antar having access to her secretive belongings? Astonishingly enough didn’t bother her to nearly the degree that it ought to. Retrieving the waterskin on her own, Shai brought the vessel to her lips knowing full well its contents never grew on a tree. The heady tang of iron filled her mouth and wafted across the small space between them. Shai usually kept her meals less sanguine around the humans, it made them uncomfortable although they partook of the same creatures she did, but she hadn’t intended to dine in front of the rogue this morning as so was left with little alternative. A wicked thought danced through her mind, wriggling like a flame that fought the night’s embrace, as pervading as the idea was Shai refrained from offering the skin to the rogue. Although the perverse amusement it might have provided was a delicious temptation. Silently rebuking herself; their games should be put off for later; there was all of the time in the world to play with him after she had succeeded in his lesson. Returning to her companion she noted his meditative trance taking hold. Unable to view him with magic Shai set her sights on the minute changes in his posture. Watching for any hints that could usher her towards expedited success, dismally she would be disappointed. A thief saw what would help a thief and mage knew to look for queues to assist with his works. Being a thief left Shai woefully unprepared for the observations required to aid her in this endeavor. It was a weakness and some day when the opportunity presented itself, she would seal this hole in her defenses as well. But for today, she needed to center her efforts upon shielding. Shielding to hide her steps from ears and her body from eyes seemed a multitude of times more valuable than blocking out arrows as Antar had first used to justify it. To be caught was only an alternative for the unprepared. When the diaphanous filaments rose from his fingertips Shai froze, watching without respiring. A pattern wove itself around the collar, transfixed the spider dare not blink. The magic seemed to fade into translucency too swiftly worrying that she had missed some valuable information. The thief had to hold back her pleasure; in his woven pattern Shai had her means of success. A Symenestra who could not weave so no Symenestra at all. In delicately measured movements, wary that haste might ruin her thought process Shai returned her waterskin and replaced its space in her palms with a tiny metal key. A skeleton key. Refusing to dwell on the why of her choice the thief ignored the nagging at the back of her brain that showing more of her trump cards to the rogue was asking for danger. Placing it between them transplanted her hands above his once more and with the closing her lids she sealed away the world beyond her being. Drawing from the soul-lit rays inside her body she fashioned crystalline tendrils urging them to escape from her palms. Weaving with her mind and not her fingers allowed for flexibility unimaginable with physical constraints. Twisting the ethereal strands over on another the spider made a web, and there was no room for debate the pattern she intertwined could only belong to an arachnid. The web, diminutive in size and complexity but not in purpose and effort, wrapped itself around the key in a sheer embrace. Obscure she commanded the web and after only a moment the shield attempted to evaporate. Unsurprisingly the novice spider’s skills were inadequate and instead left behind a mottled and misshapen screen that held for only a moment before winking out of existence. Sighing heavily Shai opened her mind to the world again and inquired with subtle self-aimed vexation, “Was that acceptable? It did not hold long nor succeed in the task I assigned.”

[Antar]

Antar shrugged a moment, supressing a small smile at Shai's attempts. She had done well, though her consternation at failing her first attempt at tasking was more amusing to him. But he'd never actually show it, he knew that with learning anything a person must believe that they have the ability to think they would succeed, otherwise the chances of failure were almost guaranteed. It was strange for him to consider Sha having such a weakness, but Noth supposed that perhaps through his growing familiarity with her as a person was offering him slight insights to her carefully hidden expressions.

A natural consequence he supposed, though it made him wonder if she would begin to pick up on silent cues in his own body language he knew he gave away when not completely focused on a job. He might have to take measures to ensure he could muddle the waters of her perceptions of his mood soon enough... purely an instinctive defense reaction, though one whose contemplation left him slighty ... reluctant to do so.

Interesting she possessed a skeleton key though... if he ever did tie her up again he'd have to keep that in mind. But as for the shielding he could see with auristics; the weaving the symenestra had made had been an interesting one in his sight, stretching instead of a grid like pattern, into a radial one similar to a spider's web. Gossammer strands of light, transfixed upon a single purpose, weaving about in a created web.

It was good for a start, in fact, much better then he expected for the second attempt though he oddly noted a strand of hair on the woman's face had fell from it's usual braided style which she wore. Reaching up a free hand he tucked it behind her ear as he began to talk, "An adequate attempt, you are learning a little more it seems. Though you should know it is difficult to task a shield at times. A novice can only do so much in the means of tasking, like blocking light, or sound, as well as djed. When your skills increase I'm sure you will do much better. Rest a moment longer, we will continue shielding practice in a few moments. More, we shall concentrate upon the tasking process as you weave another shield. "

Turning to let his legs hang over the bedside, the rogue pushed himself to his feet and whistled a moment as his mind shut down his auristics use, letting the surge of djed to his eyes become re-absorbed back into the proper pathways of his body. Humming a little to himself, the rogue stretched and took a seat... he was feeling quite stiff from the events of the past week and still in quite some pain. Though he'd hide such things of course as best he could, it wasn't his way to let others see some weakness in him. If he hadn't promised the little spider to practice today, he would have spent it in his room, sleeping and recovering as he could.

Calling a thimbleful of Res to hover above his fingertips, he lit a candelabra beside the bed. Something that was normally unnecessary in the dim morning light. Looking towards the window where Shai had entered from, Antar lifted a hand towards it calling forth the rivulets of djed from inside himself again. Like wriggling worms they stretched from his fingertips to bridge the five foot divide and anchored themselves on one side of the aperture before stretching lengthwise over the breadth of the window frame before he tasked it to block light.

The small daylight, trickling into the room went out, leaving them both cast only in the flickering candlelight. Turning stiffly, Antar returned to seat himself upon the bed again, turning towards Ellise to give her a small chuck under the chin to send her chortling. He didn't say anything about starting the exercise over, only that when it was time that they would continue. "One of the most important things to note is when to rest, and when to relax and simply take a breather." With that uttered statement, Shai would see Antar bring his legs up into a crosslegged position on the bed, close his eyes, and begin to meditate
while the symenestra rested in whatever manner she chose.

He was content to remain silent in the symenestra's presence, quite happily situated on the present course of events. Of course, whatever the woman did next might change that course like tossing a small boulder into a streambed. But inwardly, he simply hoped for a bit of peace. Even if he let the symenestra share such a moment with him, an uncommon silent compliment as he would normally brook no one in his presence while meditating, she would have to consider his reaction if his meditations were disturbed without good reason.

[Shai]

Softly releasing a breath as Antar gave his opinion on her attempt. Listening attentively to his explanations Shai watched the man. Not for queues this time but instead just to observe. The rogue was an enigma, even still after almost half a season spent with him. A question had been wriggling through her consciousness every so often since she had learned of his alias Anthony; was Antar even his real name? It didn’t really matter in the grand scheme of things, he would still be the same man regardless of his name but that did nothing to abate her curiosity. Nor would she ever actual inquire, the question would seem either ridiculous and betray her suspicious nature or would dig too deep into his hidden history. Probably the fact that his past was a forbidden topic is what spurred on her curiosity.

In her observations she was also able to watch his reimancy and shielding although only as a non-magical audience could, Shai had no concept of Auristics not even that it existed. Although she had suspected that sometimes Antar was looking through her rather than at her, but she blamed that on male inattentiveness than a supernatural skill. When he blocked out the morning light Shai’s pupils reacted by dilating and returning complete vision to the spider after only a small adjustment period. The thief tried to hide her smile as she realized, only with the aid of the flame’s flickering in opposite to Antar’s gait, that he was still feeling the effects of the ordeal days before. He had seemed the type to hide his weaknesses; it was only natural since a limitation in Sunberth would spell death. Shai would certainly have exploited a stranger’s defect. Not to say she wouldn’t exploit Antar’s, but when she did her actions would display only mischief not malevolence.

As her returned and mention rest, she nodded. They were, of course, going to be practicing the rogue’s favorite past time; meditation. Mimicking his posture Shai crossed her legs as well but brought each foot up to rest upon the tops of her thighs instead. The amount of flexibility required for the position would stretch her leg muscles nicely; perhaps she ought to practice her tumbles later if she wasn’t too exhausted. Normally when meditating Shai sat on her knees but this should work as well. Pulling her focus inward and closing her eyes the spider blocked out the rest of the world, which was not difficult considering Antar was silent and the room was dark.

After over two dozen chimes had passed a question continued to bob to the surface of her consciousness and finally she couldn’t concentrate any longer. The spider had always noted that the rogue meditated often but had never taken a moment to inquire why. It seemed a harmless question to her, perhaps it had a relationship with magic? It did allow for better concentration, regardless it seemed an appropriate question for someone being taught magic. Shifting her weight which would subtly disturb the bed they both sat upon. She made no further noise or movement, simply flicking open her eyes she peered at the rogue. Waiting silently for him to break his own trance. When he finally acknowledged her she would give voice to her question, clearly but quietly; she had not forgotten Antar’s use of her alias. “Why do you meditate so often?”

[Antar]

For the span of almost half a bell , Antar let himself becoming immersed in the calming ebb and flow of his thoughts. He did not forget the practices of ordering ones mind, not dismissing the importance of one's feelings. Meditation was not for that, and those who thought it was returning the mind to nothingness, or the contemplation of nothingness were only taking a step upon the road to discovering voiding.

No, for him it was about categorizing his thoughts, displacing his time to review things objectively. To discover why he felt a certain way, at a certain time in order to recall such a state again. States of calm were always useful, and over time he hoped to be able to induce such a state. Then there were the beneficial effects.

Meditation helped order the mind, and in such a dangerous use of personal magic, an ordered mind meant one better knowing their own personal limitations, and most importantly- where and when to stop. Like always, he started with his breathing, letting his breaths form a cadence which allowed him to focus upon the mental image he equated with calm. The frozen waterfalls of Avanthal with light refracted through the icicles. Each mental image or memory within the exercise was brought forth in his perceptions with each indrawn breath, and released with each outward one.

For now, he went through the memories of his own learning of Shielding's Art. Taking time to understand the dificulties he'd faced the first time, and the techniques he had had to develop later to further his progression. Like any craft or magic, technique was the sole derivative of improvement. It didn't matter how many times you could cast the same shield over the same object, unless you could silently tweak it in some way: letting it last longer, defining a tighter weave to reduce the patches of where the shield energies showed discord, attempting to learn how to create a more balanced shield that was ever stronger.

Each time he had used shielding thus far, sans the one time he had used it upon Shai to inflict fear, Antar had focused on a single select choice of improvement, building his understanding of the craft further. Most of all, he liked to learn a craft's theory as completely as possible at first, thus trying to limit the inherent dangers which ill-borne gaps in the knowledge would allow to remain. If he could tell an example what an accomplished user could do, then observed such a thing, he could discern the truest nature of the threat they posed.

Eryss had taught him well in this regard and now; with Shai's development under his care now it would be his job to relay as much as he could to her as well. Opening his eyes for a moment, he spared a look at the symenestra, and perhaps thinking his meditation was over she asked her question. It was an easy enough one to answer. "A mind well grounded in meditation may have enough control to sway the course of yielding to ... errant thoughts, Shaisha. Something that is essential in the uses of magic, or in any form of conflict. An ordered mind will keep you alive in situations where panic, chaos, and disorder will break the common person's mentality, causing them to commit a decision, wrongly or rashly which may end their lives, or..."

At his words, Ellise crooned from where she was lying half asleep, to place her beaky little head upon Shai's lap, just glancing between the pair of them. Looking from one to the other. His eyes noted the pesky lock of hair again falling over her face, and he reached offhandedly to tuck it behind her ear again as he continued, "perchance to cause you to injure another who is not your real target in a time of physical conflict. In magic, there are things called the Sweet Whispers... and you, in time must be trained to note them well, and force your mind to resist instead of obey. To do that, you will need to know, not only your own limits, but how you normally think in order to determine when you are not thinking as clearly as you should. "

Absentmindedly, though he murmered his last bit of reasoning behind meditation, "Of course with these ruminations posed to you, you should also consider that meditation does allow one to consider memories, of their past, and to help discern their present emotions. Even to understand certain... questions they ask themselves to consider about others.Tell me now; what do you know of djed? What do you think it is?"

As Antar finished his quesion , he would reach across the space between them towards the skeleton key which had almost been discarded and weave a tightened shield about it, this time tasking it to block against djed itself. He would hold it carefully in one palm , simply waiting for Shai's reply.

[Shai]

Shai studiously internalized the information Antar imparted upon her. Magic required concentration and meditation improved concentration, it seemed like a straight forward answer. She hadn’t considered the potential boons of meditation in the unarcane arts though. But it made sense in a way, acrobatics could assist in every day combat even though the practice of it was not, usually, specifically combat orientated. Perhaps meditation could fit into a similar niche.

Leisurely Shai brought a hand to stroke the falcon’s sleek feathers while the rogue continued. The term Sweet Whispers was yet another foreign concept to the spider, perhaps there was a book somewhere. Furthering these studies would require her to better comprehend the terminology obviously. When he wove his explanation Shai’s face remained impassive but inwardly she considered such a concept to be a consequence of meditation, not a benefit. There were few memories the spider had which dwelling upon further would place her in a better frame of mind. Not because she had such an overwhelming number of unpleasant experiences only that each was tainted by association to darker half-recollected and seldom sought events. But then again, everything was dark in the woven city.

Forcing her mind from the topic of memories and onto djed Shai considered her answer carefully before replying. It was an old habit, one she had gained in the formal schools of Kalinor. Her voice even betrayed a modicum of the younger Shai’s sincerity, as a consequence her answer shifted between Symenos and Common until it finished completely in her native tongue. “Djed is. . .well it seems like a source of energy that is me.That sounds strange, but it is like a translucently, no more like vaguely, tangible force that lies within. Dormant in most I would wager, I didn’t know it was there until I was forced to acknowledge it." She replied while watching him take the key that had sat loosely upon her lap. She watched the shield dissipate from visible existence but was savvy enough in shielding now to understand that it was still very much present around the tiny metal skeleton. Only noticing she had slipped between languages much after she was done speaking she offered a quick “apologies Anthony, I was not paying enough attention.” Then she repeated a condensed version of her understanding of what Djed was.

Another relevant question entered Shai’s thoughts as she regarding the key, “What process do you follow to assign a task? So you mentally verbalize the command? Is the woven pattern pertinent to the desired effect? Tasking seems the most elusive step of the process.” She trailed off near the end turning back to internalized contemplation. As a last moment thought she tossed out a qualifier, “for me at least.”

Silently rebuking herself, she needed to focus more she kept wandering off onto thought tangents while Antar was expending his time to teach her. She had never been the best of students at a child, Sanvis was by far superior, but she had always eventually understood the material. It was disrespectful though to a mentor to let her head hang in the webs. Then again, the rogue was occasionally rather irreverent perhaps he would take no offense.

Laying back Shai retrieved the large indigo and silver fan from within the confines of her ebony cloak. Occasionally if she wasn’t able to focus by watching the speaker, she could distract her eyes and hands with a trinket or minor task and let her ears alone focus on the subject. At one time the task she had most often used to this purpose was embroidery. Luckily the materials were not at hand nor did she have any desire to work on such an onerous hobby. Lifting herself back upright, still with her legs crossed and feet lying upon her lap, Shai jerked her wrist and the fan flew open. “I will not make noise I assure you, and I am still listening I assure you. I just need to focus or my mind will continue to run away with itself.” Oddly enough the spider had learned from this very focusing technique that if she repeated a task, that she performed while learning a subject, while attempting to recall the information it would come almost immediately. It was a strange tool to use for remembering but it had worked for her in the past and hopefully would work for her now.

[Antar]

"So you want to know about tasking hmm?" the rogue asked with a bit of amusement in his voice. "Tasking is one of the most difficult things for a shielder to do, due to the fact it differs in the makeup of how each shield is built. The best way I can describe this is what Eryss said when I learned, that a beginners shield is usually only one layered, and can be tasked singly for blocking djed, sound, or light.

It's when you improve beyond that that it becomes difficult, when you start adding more layered shields to a construction, or in theory, tasking a single shield layer to more then one task. If it's imagined like a stack of pancakes each layer of the shield for different taskings would have its own flavored syrup." Antar paused a moment in rumination, as he thought back to the time where he harvested maple syrup at the cutters and carver brothers. The stuff was delicious when from the sugar maple, and full of sugars to compliment an otherwise drab meal. He wondered for half a thought if Shai might ever be able to taste such a thing and enjoy its addition to her meals. Even if they were a little sloppier in table manners then how a human normally ate, for now; take that small hint of red at the edge of her lips, his eyes could tell the sign of blood. Probably from a small animal she feasted upon.

Most humans would be turned away by such a sight, feeling as if it was repugnant or repulsive. To Antar, it was merely another way they were different and he accepted her for it. He waited for her some silence to pass between them as he noticed her subconsciously wiping her lips with a bit of attention from her tongue. Smiling a little he reached up to place one scarred palm gently to the side of Shai's face.

"Well, perhaps a better idea of tasking at higher levels when layering shields would theoretically be needing a different from of weaving as well, to keep each layer of the shield active with its building as it was tasked. It's different then stacking shields, at least from what Eryss taught me, the theory for stacked shields is like building a soap bubble around another soap bubble around another soap bubble. But I can say one thing for how I can task a shield. Let me show you."

With one hand he placed the collar in shai's palms and raised them up to just under eye level, about chest high as he set the skeleton key in the center of the collared space. "I haven't had the experience to shield over another shield, even if its around a smaller item so I'll let that go now."

From his hand a single bluish string of djed connected like a spinning thread to the skeleton key's shield and he imbued a small 'pulse' of visible bluish energy with his mind, influencing it as a means to enact a change on the prior woven shield. Asking it to dissipate and disperse.

When it was succesfully fading from view, the rogue then built another shield around the collar, this time weaving it with djed strands from one hand alone. As they twisted into place, a skein of matted energy arced between the lines of the 'net' he had fashioned, letting him know the shield was settling into place. He knew from experience though that if he looked at the shield now with his auristics he would still find smaller gaps in the energies, loose strands that had never 'anchored' properly, such would be a marked improvement of course.

"Now to task it, I do the same thing as I did to dispel the shield. Let me show you again before I explain." For a few seconds to the visible eye, the shield would be seen slowly fading from sight until a single incardinine strand of bluish djed from his hand connected with the fading contraption strengthening the sight of the whole makeup back to a burning blue.

Along the thread he began to form an attached 'ball' of djed, enhancing it with his mind's vision to clarify what changes he wanted to discern. He didn't force it upon the shield, merely seeking to change its behavior. Within the ball of light he impressed the idea of silence, of two great walls, blocking sound and preventing the slight jingling from the collar's lockpin. Then he pushed the pulse forwards along the ethereal thread of power till it came into contact with the main part of the shield. A rippling effect of blue washed over the construction, and for a moment the change enacted until the shield faded again from sight.

Reaching gently downwards he flicked the metal of the collar with a nail to show that it had now been tasked against sound, leaving the room devoid of the usual timber such a strike would have made. Through the entire process as she played with her fan with one hand, Antar noticed her eyes intently watching in puzzlement at his actions. Smiling, the rogue lifted her chin to let her eyes meet his, "You see there's another way to help entrust you gain the deft touch to task a shield, there's no need to be too rough and let your thoughts attempt to force it. Perhaps I might give you a hint a way for your mind to help use finesse . Take care on... certain things."

Without explanation on the term 'certain things' ; which usually meant her fangs. At first his words caused her to stiffen slighty in startlement, before the rogue let himself lean forwards to softly press his lips against hers in a rather chaste and gentle kiss, well for the pair of them anyways. For a moment he let the moment between them linger. Feeling the cold metal of the collar between them both, almost held defensively within her arms. With one eye almost hooded, Noth watched the symenestra woman's eyelids close a bit as her body seemed to shudder once, then begin slowly to let her lips soften against his own's touch as the moment grew even longer.

When he could begin to feel her drop the colalr move an arm up to his shoulder, he let himself break away; perhaps leaving her there slightly shocked at the sudden departure of his attentions. Taking her now free hand in his own, unsure of why he had just transgressed as he had done, the rogue mused he certainly wouldn't have tried to teach any 'male' this way though. For a moment, just a moment he though he might see the flicker of confusion in her eyes, and a flash of anger, and pain at the though he might be playing on her emotions or some other such selfish rationalization.

But soon enough she would feel the rogue trace his thumb across a gentle caress across the woman's cheek to the corner of her lips to remove the smudge of blood her tongue had failed to remove completely. He didn't fail to notice the slight rosy flush which came to her cheeks though, but covered any further embarassment up with a bit of gentle laughter in her direction. Not mocking at all, as he smiled kindly at her."Now my dear, Shaisha, I think I just tasked your lips quite well, even if it took a small bit of time for the rest of your body to stop resisting it. Taking things slow from a single point in such a regard is key to understanding the endeavor one sets out upon. Does that help you understand a bit of how to task a shield? Especially if the majority of the shield is what's resisting the tasking after you build it. "

[Shai]

Shai allowed herself to be pulled in, the idea that the embrace was just an academic example never occurred to her. It should have been in the forefront of her mind, she knew the rogue was compartmentalized to a fault, she could claim the same characteristic as well. Still her emotions shuffled like a well worn deck, faces up; confusion, indignation, and for the briefest moment disappointment. Quickly regaining her features she let them shift towards a frosty stare, taking in the knowledge he justified his example.

Nodding curtly Shai flicked her fan shut so all the struts lay in profile. Resting the fan upon both her open palms Shai closed her eyes again. She sought her fickle meditative state, shoving away her little scheme she’d concocted. But before she could put it into play she had to forget about it. Quietly concentrating on the inward rhythms of her body; breathing and beating, Shai managed to censor her mind from distractions. Gently coaxing at the djed within her the spider drew upon the energy again, as it was a repeat so soon after her first relative success the path was easier. She knew that tomorrow she would struggle again the first time and it would take weeks of such a routine to improve to the point where drawing upon such energy was simple. Drawing the djed out through her palms she wove another ethereal shield, in a similar pattern to her first with the key, around the fan. Now for the most difficult part, she had to make her intent clear without words. Unheard, quiet, silence; Shai drew of these concepts attempting to impress the very feeling of soundlessness upon the djed woven web.

Shai kept her eyes closed as the flimsy barrier faded out of sight. She had succeeded; at least, the task had taken. Having not actually looked the spider couldn’t be sure the shield had actually disappeared. Taking another steady breath she pulled back her scheme. Keeping her posture relaxed she opened her eyes and looked at Antar. Keeping her movements relaxed, perhaps if the rogue was aware of her normal carriage he might notice the change. Or that she was acting more wooden than when she was truly at ease. Tilting her left hand she slid the fan completely into her right hand. The spider curled her fingers around the fan and with a twist of her wrist spun the fan in a circle. At the midpoint of the fan’s path she released the back strut and held the first steady, causing the rest of the circle to be completed by a blooming blue fan.

Her shield against sound held until the final strut struck home. At which point the barrier snapped and deteriorated momentarily mottling the artfully embroidered fan. Elevating the fan to cover the lower half of her face, she peered over the horizon at the rogue. She played her eyes carefully, it was simple to paint a coy smile upon a face but to draw that into the eyes was more difficult. Luckily, it was only half act and she was able to fake the rest. Except for one hitch, the expression lacked mischief she had pushed too far and seemed gentle. If her body language didn’t tip him off her mien would, Shai was rarely gentle.

The hint was probably a good thing because in the following moment the spider jumped from languid to agile. She flicked the fan shut and in the same downward movement aimed to smack the back of his hand with the fan. If it should connect it might sting but there wasn’t enough force behind it to cause more than a light bruise, which it certainly could if she wanted it to. “Do not play with my emotions rogue. Do we not usually separate work from recreation? If you wish to change that then at least refrain from playing the tease.” She gave him half of a smile and then would attempt to withdraw the fan and place it benignly in her lap.

“And speaking of business; that was a success for shield, even if it was flimsy. At least, I believe so?”

[Antar]

As Shai worked, Antar watched her efforts with his auristics, sensing the weaving of the shield's power and tasking twiling together like hastily spun thread off a thimble. It wasn't the most graceful weave, it had its flaws, just like his did. But it would be enough to consider the overall exercise completed.

He almost tensed to defend himself when he noticed Shai's eyes looking at him, reminding him of a simpering cat's which would look at you with longing just before it tried to bite or paw at your hand. He could have dodged it, but he didn't , instead letting himself take his licks as it were a few moments, nodding solemnly as if he had understood what she had tried to say... and he did actually understand. No woman would want their emotions toyed with, such was ungentlemanly, unseemly even, and yet he had let himself partake upon an act that might do so to prove a point, and soon he fancied he might do so again...

For a while as she returned the fan to her lap the rogue smiled gently at her, giving pause long enough to bridge the distance between them both to gently trail a finger down the side of her jawline to her lips, placing one finger over them before speaking. He hoped she wouldn't snap at him, that might cost him a finger, but he would definitely keep it there a moment. The gesture as if to imply a brief instillment of silence upon her as he leaned towards her; almost nose to nose to grasp the key from where it had fallen. Whispering softly she would feel his breath tickle her lips. "My dear Shai, you forget we are not on business now, nor are we particularly in a courtship situation... this is practice of sorts. And that is an entirely different set of circumstances... don't you agree?"

He'd allow the finger resting upon her jaw, stroke back and down her neck along her pale skin to her shoulder before he made his move. Stretching forwards he allowed his weight to push her backwards onto the bed before holding up the key. For a second he thought her eyes widen in shock as he amusingly noted, "To make a shield you must concentrate in all forms of situations, learning to deal with many a distraction. Let's start with a few pleasant ones shall we? They're much less barbaric then Eryss' teaching via pain... though they may prove just as effective for you to learn to ignore . For a bit of extra impetus, I think being in darkness should help you not predict what's coming."

With those words, Antar stretched one leg closer, letting his knee rest beside hers in a kneeling position, his eyes gazing down upon her with a subtle smile as he raised a hand above her eyes. The shield was woven quickly, stretching across her eye sockets, anchoring themselves like upon the edges of a windowsill before they were tasked to block light, letting Shai's vision turn blind. For a moment there was a startled gasp as he saw her body stiffen in surprise, and then a few muttered words as he took her hands to grasp ahold of the small skeleton key.

"When this exercise is over, you will learn the most basic thing- tasking a shield to block djed. But for now:I want you to task this against light... ignoring all distractions. " His instructions were simple yet his tone held a hint of amusement she would be able to place as he brought his auristics to bear upon her aura. When he saw her beginning motions to tap into her reserve of djed culled from many days of holding it from escaping like free radions, the rogue would reach out to Shai's stomach and begin to lightly tickle her skin mercilessly for five second spans of time. Then he would switch it around to other areas of skin, including the soles of her feet, as an effort to gauge her ability to remove herself from distractions as she sought to complete the tasking.

Whether she would succeed or fail, would be up to her.

[Shai]

Clearly the thief was losing her edge. Sitting docilely as the rogue as the rogue sealed her lips with a fingertip. She ought to bite him, putting his hand so close to her mouth it was what he deserved. Didn’t he know spiders were apex predators? Both the animal and the humanoid counterpart could be considered in such a definition. Instead, she attentively listened and forced her pupils to dilate to their fullest leaving only a small ring of purple. Setting her inhuman eyes directly against his.

It took Shai a moment to digest the word ‘courtship’. She hadn’t taken the time to evaluate their relations like she had promised herself so many times. But, going through their interactions it was certainly there although the rogue probably hadn’t meant to point it out like that. The Symenestra’s eyes widened perceptively as these pieces fell together and the rogue pushed her back simultaneously. It was a better cover for the facial expression than she could ever have managed intentionally.

Lying on her back she considered further their strange mode of operation. Up until now ‘work’ and ‘play’ had been a dichotomy, the two different facets of the whole of their interactions. But add a third the same could not be said. How many more than three might there be? Where does this thread of though lead … . Regardless, it was irrelevant at the moment and she hadn’t been paying adequate attention to his teachings. Consequently, she was caught unaware when her shielded light from her eyes. Her body jerked rigid as she constrained her reflexes and moderating her snarl into a rough exhale. This seems … familiar. Shai allowed the rogue to guide her hand, knowing full well there was no blindfold over her eyes this time and if she wanted her sight restored it would have to be because Antar released it. After a few ticks she finally answered, “Against light? Fine.”

The item the rogue had led her to was her skeleton key, she could recognize its feel almost instantly due to compulsively checking her cloak’s pockets to ascertain her tools were in order. Shai dared not pull from her own djed again so soon, she was too much the novice so instead it was time to open the chest lurking in the recesses of her thoughts. If all Antar had planned was this blindfold she could manage.

Cracking open the imaginary lid, Shai drew out diaphanous radiation before slamming the top back in place; the energy threatening to free itself. The very moment she had closed the lid her physical form was assaulted. The adversaries in this case were human fingers dancing across the surface of her skin eliciting involuntary chiming laughter from the spider. Terrified she might lose the energy she had just released Shai sectioned off a portion of her mind quickly, desperately. Pulling her attentions there and emancipating her body to react to his … tickles.

Hastily, with little regard or delicacy Shai wove a shield for the third time today. The hastily made pattern had definite wholes and sections were the ligatures were pulled too tightly and threatened to snap or deteriorate. Wrapping the shield clumsily around the key.

Now the hard part came she had to task the shield against light. Silence had been simple; stealth was integral to who she was. But then as she considered the notion so is darkness . Quickly conjuring a memory from so many many seasons past Shai recalled the day she had met Veldrys.

Shai flipped down onto the silken cord, desperately grasping after the crystalline chalice as it fell into the cavernous abyss below. Violently acuate teeth grasping around the lip of the goblet as it passed beyond her inverted form. The glass shattered against her lips and the roof of her mouth and in the stark and bloody moment Shai came face to face with the horrible tenebrous solitude of the world beneath.

Clutching the memory, struggling against the tremors of laughter wracking her body, Shai made the memory into a command. The shield should mimic that absence of anything, like a nescience of all that is light.

Shai couldn’t be sure the shield had succeeded at the order but she could feel it attached to the key, she prayed that there was no sentience in the magic that it might misunderstand. In retrospective, using those depths as the basis for any construct, especially magical, was begging for horrible outcomes. So long as she had another choice, she would never use it again. A shiver fled up her spine almost hidden by the earlier laughter that had shaken her body, it would look similar. But Shai would know, for in her memory of the woven city that darkness was absolute in its pervasion of that moment.

After her breathing returned to normal Shai spoke again, “Please return my sight. Being without it is disconcerting, more so than previously.” The spider would have laughed had she not been in her current frame of mind, it was the first request she could recall having asked of the man beyond the kidnapping he had assisted her with. The kidnapping too had a connection to Kalinor. Do all thoughts lead me back? Ever before, she had only made demands upon Antar. The request might seem out of place as an effect.

The Symenestra woman’s concern seemed to go more palpable in her mind, what of her existence didn’t lead back to the woven city? Somehow, she must learn to sever those threads of her mind. Shai had no intentions of ever returning. Beyond the gates she was a free woman, no stigma to shadow each step. No on the surface her anonymity was a blessing great enough to overpower the racial hate and potential dangers … maybe even the low standard of life she had adopted to survive in Sunberth. The last was a bit of a stretch, and her presence in this practice with Antar was proof she intended to rectify that situation.

As he released her sight she looked at the rogue for a long stretch of silence, overtly searching for answers to questions not yet dreamt of. Reaching her arm in liquid extension the spider twisted her fingers around a strand of Antar’s hair. Subtly the woman voiced a thought, disjointed from any conversation they’d had that day, clearly meant for only her own ears the phrase was poorly annunciated and heavy with the slippery Symenos accent she never displayed. “Oh, yes. And that which does not lead my boots to return seems to seek me out. Some things never let go ...” Her far-off sight jerked into sharp speculation as she realized she’d spoken out loud, she made a addendum to her statement in much clearer pronunciation. “Do you not agree, Anthony?”

Shai shrugged and withdrew her hand, laying in docile contemplation for another short span of ticks before the lithe thief could shake her strange melancholy. Returning, at first reluctantly , to the matter at hand. “You said there would be one further shield. To block djed, this time. I have thus far managed to express my commands by memory or my personal understanding of my desired outcome. But djed seems … so nebulous. How can I tell my shield to defend against that which I am only just beginning to comprehend myself? More importantly, how do you intend for us to test such a shield to see if it was tasked successfully?” Flashing a half-hearted frisky grin, “More blue fire?”

Inwardly Shai found her conclusion quickly, she of course had a ready example of djed within her as she constructed the shield, perhaps she could use that for her example to task a shield. It really came down to whether or not djed was fundamentally altered when turned into an element by a mage. Would a shield blocking djed block reimancy? Shai had no idea, but if it didn’t block reimancy than what purpose was there to a djed blocking shield? To stop another shielder from shielding with the shield? Good grief that sounds unnecessarily complicated. “Furthermore,” she continued, “what does such a barrier actually block?”

Propping herself up on her arms, Shai sat up. As nice as her times beneath the rogue had been, it was not part of her usual protocols to have conversations on her back.

[Antar]

For a moment, just a moment Antar considered going on with the lesson like nothing happened. But something inside his heart made him reconsider. The rogue slowly, if painfully, slid around the bed to sit behind Shai pulling her back to rest against his chest as he spoke softly and wrapped her in his arms, holding."Shaisha; it is not wise to practice further if your heart's unsound... while I will not pry into your past, do not feel like you have to hide your frustrations and pain from me. Even if I do not know the cause; I'll be here for you to help put your fears to rest; if only it means just sharing a moment of warmth and comfort. Whatever is bothering you my dear; just close your eyes and ponder: face the reality of it first before it becomes the anchor which may drag you to despair. I will listen if you need me to; though I will not judge or offer solutions. Only a solution you would think of to help you would work best anyways. Besides; a mind perturbed is not one best to practice with. It would prove distracting to the rest of the day's teachings."

Antar was silently fumbling for the words to say that he was not the overbearing type. Trying to simply be there as a support. For an unknown span of time longer, that's what he would do, not confining her in his embrace but merely being a presence for her rest against in her worries. There were no thoughts of seduction towards the physical vices of passion either.

He merely stayed there; at times calming her by gentle touches as he'd pull a bit of stray hair from her braid back from her eyes; only letting her consider and ponder her thoughts in silence. At times, he would note a clawed hand reach backwards to tangle itself in his hair as her head lay against his chest; using him like a pillow. But his hands did not wander, and his actions were quite chaste. It surprised him that during this time, Ellise would come over to lay her beaky little head upon Shai's lap, looking upwards much in the way a dog would if it sensed someone sad yet crooning to Shai as if she was a lost chick.

Antar would take a moment to smile and scratch her feathers with one hand, whilst keeping the other about Shai's waist. He knew very well when a woman was troubled it was best to ensure they were physically comforted, not comforted physically. It was odd, but perhaps this was a fourth division of their interactions with each other beginning to manifest itself. The chimes began to pass in silence, Shai merely thinking and pondering her thoughts in silence. Antar merely being present with her until an unspoken cue passed between them that she was ready to begin again.

Sighing loudly, he moved away, stifling a bit of discomfort at being in such a position for so long with his injuries from falling from his lips. Instead he would return to face her, sitting cross legged while simply affording a brief but genuine smile in her direction. A sign he found her company pleasant at least in rather different circumstances then merely their moments of lovers play."Shielding as a beginner may only block djed, though it requires the strength of the shielders crafting to be greater then the attack coming in contact with it. Though Eryss said; as a shielder progresses to higher levels of understanding and begin to weave stronger shields, they are able to begin different tasking against different things. You remember his shield where you were thrown back? That was tasked against biologics. Shields aren't impenetrable though; only the most powerful shields would stop all physical matter; like bits of snowflakes. With any created shield there lies a chance that a good hard strike may have even chances of breaking them: if it's not tasked that type of attack."

Stretching across to scratch the birdbrain who'd remained with her head on Shai's lap he'd continue. "Besides, our good friend Ellise is an interesting sort of bird, and I'm sure she might help you test your first shield if she wishes. All things concerned;Wind is much safer then fire." At his words; Ellise's head would pick up and turn towards Antar, before swivelling back towards Shai as she began chirping like a gaggling goose. Fluttering her wings a little in her enthusiasm as her taloned feet pranced upon the bed.

He chuckled a little, "It seems she likes the idea of tormenting someone other then me; though i warn you the little scamp may try to wake you up at night as well with a cold bit of air after this."