Grimm Days [closed]

[Ethan]

53rd Day of Summer, 511 A.V. The rough grass tickled the back of Ethan's neck. Gently rousing him from sleep. He had been drifting off and coming back like this all night. He couldn't make up his mind whether to sleep or not. Hadrian would be worried about him if he did not return soon. They were staying in Ravok and the streets were dangerous, especially for a Kelvic. Ethan also needed his time away. As much as he loved Hadrian, Kendall and Sondra. None of them understood everything about the Kelvic. Looking up, he gazed at the moon. No bigger than his thumb but it illuminated the whole sky. They called the moon, Leth... At least that's what Kendall had told him. Everything from the rolling hills. To the thin wisps of nearby clouds. Was covered in a light silver tint. The beauty and vast presence of the open skies pulled Ethan from his sleep. He lay there with his eyes fixed on any stars seen through the cloud cover. They were so much brighter away from the cities and their torches. Out in the wilderness you could see for miles without a single light. The night was endless and in some ways terrifying and alone. A small shiver went down his back as he thought about this. It wasn't often the wilderness scared the Kelvic, but when it did. He preferred to forget it. The wilderness and Sea held two things in common. Each had no end and each had no love for you. Survival was a cruel game. sitting up the young man sighed. ”These seas have no love for you, boy. No love for you at all.” He spoke to the wind, imitating his old master. The sea had even less love for him in the end. Sighing heavily Ethan closed his eyes and cupped his hands. Slowly he counted down from five. Taking a deep breath for each number. Reaching five he let out a small amount of Res. The precious Ethereal substance came out from his hands after a couple of seconds. The flow was small but steady, and continued until a modest ball of the golden gas was cupped in his hands. In the pitch black of the wilderness the soft glow of the Res was blinding. Smiling as he gazed on his creation. The young Kelvic began to morph and twist the Res in various but simple shapes. Hadrian had showed him so many ways to practice but he found it therapeutic as well as challenging to simple mesh and morph the Res in its basic form. A past time of sorts.

[Ethan]

It was such a pretty color of gold. Deep and rich with flecks of honey splattered throughout. It reminded him of Lavia's eyes. Another bird Kelvic, who was on his mind a lot recently. They first met at Sunset Falls... That was so long ago though. More than three years? He was just a boy then. How odd, he has grown up so fast. Living with Hadrian has taught him how valuable his time is. Hadrian didn't look a day older but Ethan, a year. His mind was restless and couldn't sit still. Golden res spilling out of control into a semi solid mist. ”Petch.” He bit his lip and focused. Mentally reshaping the gas back into the swirling sphere. Keeping a mental note on the hollowness in his chest. It was his own gauge on telling how much energy he was using. He cursed his mind and the endless thoughts parading in his mind. When the orb was back to its original shape. He laid back on the grass with a heavy sigh. Holding one hand out to make the Res trail after him lazily. The more he concentrated and used Res in its simple form. The easier it was for him to control it, make it move at his bidding. He thought the basics of control should be his main target before he starts summoning wind and not knowing how to maneuver it properly. Slowly he twirled his left hand. Making the orb hover and follow in a similar manor. It was transfixing to watch. He was particularly fond of how he controlled the Res. It was an extension of his soul. It was literally his spirit. So it had a connection to his mind and everything he was As long as he concentrated. Which reminded him to pull the orb back on track. It was strange though. He moved it mentally, but it almost felt as if he moved it with his body too... like a phantom limb. It was a pity that Reimancy relied heavily on concentration. Where as Auristics needed focus of course, but it also needed a quizzical mind. Eager to learn. He would have to learn to deal with it though. Res was his soul and the whole reason to become a Mage in the first place. The whole reason for following Hadrian... Thoughts about the Hydromancer made his stomach stir in a funny way. He sighed again and began to float the orb from one hand to another... Why couldn't he be with Hadrian alone!? It was a selfish thought, but how could he truly be happy with another person around? Teacher was just a precursor to Master... He knew that. It was a flat out lie to say otherwise. As much as he wanted to have a kind and caring Master. He did not want to have his love divided between another...

[Ethan]

This is ridiculous! There is no point in dwelling on such things. Ethan sighed heavily and sat up. Still floating the ball between hands. If Kendall and Hadrian were happily in love. Then who was he to come between them? Kendall was his friend after all! He deserved love after what happened to him, the poor girl. Besides Hadrian and Kendall were committed. He wouldn't be able to sway them. Less he killed one of them? Or they fell apart naturally? He was always going to be in their way other wise. Just another person. Not even between them, a back drop in their lives... A pet. His anger started to flare as he kept thinking. They would have me as a pet! Only some little bird to keep them company. Or an experiment at teaching for Hadrian. He had loved Grimm with all his heart. Obeyed him no matter what. Massaged his sore muscles and backed his law when the crew wouldn't listen, and for what!? To become his little Pet! He sat up quickly and began to pace. Keeping the Res in a hand. Ethan was little more than Grimm's training experiment. He wanted to make a perfect Kelvic. Trained and as able bodied in human from as animal. Ethan did nothing but obey as Grimm beat and twisted the animal out of him. Morphing him into something more than a Kelvic. Did his master ever show an ounce of love or kindness for it? Did he ever treat Ethan as the son or even a friend? Ethan was nothing more than a sick little student. No matter the love and devotion he gave. The bond they shared... It all meant little to nothing to the human. Tears started to swell in the Kelvics bright golden eyes. He was nothing more than a creature. Something the man bought in an auction. An orphan Kelvic that was nothing more to him than a compass in stormy weather. A passing hobby. A Goal to be accomplished. Tears streamed down his dirt stained cheeks. He didn't care to stop them. Tears came for a reason. It was the self loathing he didn't care for. Taking another deep breath he thought about what his old master taught him. No matter how much he hated the man. He had to give him credit. He was a good mentor, he taught Ethan to be more than a servant. He taught him to be more than a Kelvic. So Ethan learned to hate his master as well as love him. To wish for his death even when he saved it. Little by little to disobey or think against the man he was bonded to. Hadrian wanted a student. He would get it. If Hadrian wanted a slave... Then things would have to change.

[Ethan]

Ethan paced along the hill for what seemed like hours. Spacing off, he was unable to hold any real thought for long. It seemed to stream together in his subconscious. Moving too quick to grasp. Tears poured down his cheeks from time to time. Never letting the previous ones dry. It would have been hard to explain why he cried. It felt like there were too many reasons to count, and too few that anyone could understand. It just felt right to cry, to let it out when no one else could see his emotions... His weakness. The feeling of damp grass between his toes. And the crisp breeze on his back. Were his only Solace. It made him think of Zulrav... The wind felt refreshing on his hot face, and quickly dried his tears. Ethan knew he was just one Kelvic. One small person adrift in a storm, but he could at least hope and wish his prayers would reach a him. ”Zulrav, God of wind and storms.” He called aloud. ”I thank you, for all you have given me. You have kept me afloat all these years. And even gave me a new life, during... During, that storm.” It was hard for him to speak about it, even now. The images were still burned in his head. Often following him into his dreams. Where he would wake, covered in sweat and his eyes filled with tears. ”I was reborn that day. No longer a slave to my former master... So I thank you. I realize now, that I was spared in those winds. They should of torn me in half. Shattered my young wings. But... You kept me safe.” He paused and breathed deep. Taking in the air, his god created. Got to his knee's and let out a small stream of res between outstretched hands. Gathering it into an orb of bright golden gas.. ”Please continue to bless me with strong tail winds, and the will to weather through my storms. Physical and emotional.” Ethan knelt And concentrated on the mist his spirit created. Closing his eyes to help. The Kelvic slowly formed the mist into a gel like state, then began gently spinning it. When it gathered speed and his head felt like it was about to burst from the concentration. He opened his eyes and drew in the air around him.

[Ethan]

The orb of golden Res spun faster as the air was sucked in. He tried to remember Hadrian's training. ”Concentrate as much on how you feel. As you do on controlling the substance.” If you weren't careful you could over give and without anyone around, it could prove fatal. ”Pretend the Res is another limb, a muscle that strengthens as you use it. Push and pull it with your mind. Small steps and take your time.” Ethan never took into consideration how fast conventional wisdom fled when you where actually doing it. He remembered little if anything of what Hadrian said. And hardly thought about what he did remember. Ethan was going off pure instinct. Perhaps it was for the better? He was an animal after all deep down inside. At least half of him was. Getting up and on his feet. Ethan fought to keep control. The Kelvic had an idea and the confidence to try it out. Bits and pieces of his training where flowing through his mind as he started experimenting. Hadrian taught him to meld and construct his Soul Mist, before using it to command the wind. The elements where serious business and if you couldn't control them, things could get complicated. Even though wind didn't pose as much a risk as fire or water. He still obeyed and practiced on shaping his Res every day. It seemed to pay off as he gently formed the Gel like substance. Mentally molding it to his image. It was a slow process taking a couple minutes, but it was beautiful when finished. Using his control of Res, Ethan shaped the gel into a small cyclone. It only extended a foot or so from him but it was powerful. Using the gel to attract the wind. He created a life like tornado. Smiling he pointed it towards the ground and felt the spray of stones and dirt fly towards him. It stung against his bare skin but it was an accomplishment and felt of victory. He had been wondering night and day how he would be able to harness the power of Air. Use it to defend himself and his loved ones. This Cyclone wasn't much but it proved. With a little molding and creativity. He was able to create something more powerful than pure wind.

[Ethan]

He continued his manipulation for another couple of minutes. The energy was draining and his chest felt heavy. Before long he was back on the floor. Sitting and breathing hard. It was exhausting work. even for someone as dedicated as Ethan. It seemed easier around Hadrian. Either because he had the urge to impress his teacher or the Mage's helpful advice. Alone he was prone to taking breaks. Which was good. It stopped him from over giving. A problem he had around Hadrian. But it still felt like quitting and weakness. Grimm had always beat him when he stopped. It gave the Kelvic a reason to succeed and give it his all. His current teacher encouraged and rewarded him. Another reason to do his best. Maybe he only succeeded to please others? Was Ethan's drive smaller than once thought? Or was he just taking the breaks any hard worker needs? As he wrapped his mind around the topic, his heart slowly stopped pounding. Running and flying had little effect on the Kelvic. Ethan's stamina seemed endless, but Reimancy always left him short of breath and sore the next morning. It was puzzling to say the least. ”I am such a little girl.” He laughed to himself while stretching noisily. It always helped after Reimancy and the flight home would a long one. He was somewhere in the hills surrounding the lake Ravok slept on. He knew little about the land and didn't care to know. Ravok was an evil place, only fit to burn. And the land was surely cursed. Better to leave the names behind with the city.

[Ethan]

The cold was biting into his skin and he could hear howling in the distance. From what, he couldn't say. But he knew it was time to go. He had done what he came here for. To let out the emotions too harsh for others to see. A little time alone was all Ethan needed. To keep his mask on, in this hideous joke called life. Grabbing the roll of clothes he carried as a bird. The Kelvic set off jogging down hill. Gathering speed before throwing the bundle. Years of practice taught him how to wrap the tunic just right. So it wouldn't fall apart. A burst of golden light transformed Ethan into his most basic form. As a Lammergeier his mind was more focused. Stripped bare of human emotions. Letting his true feelings shine through. Without the need to communicate, trick or charm. No need for fake laughter or warm smiles. He was who he was. And it was beautiful to behold. If he could bless others. It would be with a second form. Flying down the hill, a couple feet from the ground. He tilted his wings, lifting up. Then right before the clothes. Ethan swooped down to pluck it from the grass. He didn't hunt like others birds. Nor did he fly as often. But when he did. He made sure to test himself. And sharpen his skills to make up for lost time. It was this intelligence and practicality that made him a miracle of nature. The perfect combination of man and animal. For all his flaws and self doubts. He was truly, a Kelvic. The End <3

[Cantrip]

Did you want something? Ethan: XP Award: Reimancy +2 Lores: Playing with Res Overgiving: Migraines (3 days), Bloodshot Eyes (5 days) Additional Notes: Fairly short, with a lot of emotions flying around. It’s always refreshing to see characters questioning their place in the world, and their relationships to others. Ethan is about as raw as they come in reimancy, so I’d have liked to seen you depicting the effects of overgiving proportion to the quantity of djed expended.