[Streets of Zeltiva] Charity Work (Open)

[Satevis]

OOC : (See this and this.) Looks like you and I are on our own for a bit, Kaeson. Satevis looked up as the two of them were approached by another, this one a tall, dark-haired man who seemed to be in a bit of a bad mood. Satevis couldn't blame him for that, since he was certain that none of them were truly happy with the situation in Zeltiva. He thought he recognized the other man from the East Wing, but Satevis saw so many different people in the university that he couldn't be entirely sure. He returned the man's polite nod and offered him another strained smile as he spoke with Nai'shee for a few moments. He waited until the man and Nai'shee had finished talking, passing a careful eye over the children. The mood seemed to have picked up with the addition of the dog, and some of their previous spark had returned to them as they played with him. Satevis frowned, wishing that he could have done more for them than what he was doing. If food didn't come soon, the situation in Zeltiva was going to become very dire... He put the thoughts out of his mind. He couldn't allow himself to think like that. The situation in Zeltiva would get better. He simply had to have faith. Yahal, after all, always called for trust and sacrifice... He looked away from the children, turning towards the newcomer. "It seems like no matter where we go, we run into someone we know," he commented, doing his best to inject some cheerfulness in his voice as he extended a friendly hand towards Kaeson. "I am called Satevis, son of Leth. It's nice to meet you." A friend of Nai'shee could afford to know about is Ethaefal form, he decided, especially since Nai'shee would undoubtedly tell him about it later.

[Kaeson Dakano]

"For such a big city, Zeltiva feels like its getting smaller every day," Kaeson said, trying to mimic the stranger's cheerful tone. Kaeson was tired, and visibly cranking -- eyes flashing violet deep within its current stormy grey hues, so it wouldn't have surprised him if the strange benshira thought him rude. "I'm sorry, it's just --," Kaeson tried apologizing to Satevis for his rude tone, but something the man had said caught Kaeson off guard. "Son of Leth?" Kaeson repeated, clearly surprised at Satevis sudden declaration of the moon god. Satevis original intention of using the phrase to hint at what the benshira really was had been completely lost on Kaeson, and instead only resulted in Kaeson giving the man a strange look.

"I'm Kaeson, Son of..." Kaeson paused, briefly considering which deity to consider as a parent, much like what he had thought Satevis had done. "Maybe Eyris?" Kaeson thought. He had never been one to dwell on the gods or care even, but he had come across various accounts of the goddess in his studies and if Kaeson worshipped any of the gods, he had no problem admitting it would probably be Eyris. Goddesses of wisdom and knowledge, it just made sense. "Son of Eyris," he concluded, although Kaeson hadn't said it with the same conviction that Satevis had. Maybe 'Son of Leth' hadn't meant exactly what Kaeson had thought?

Shaking off any doubts to whether he had responded correctly to Satevis' introduction, Kaeson continued his earlier thought. "Anyway, sorry if I came off a little rude earlier, with it being a famine and all I'm not at my best," Kaeson managed a quick smile to show it was a sincere apology. Now that Kaeson had had time to get a better look at Satevis, Kaeson began to get the feeling he had seen the man at the university. "Are you a student at the university?" Kaeson asked, and would quickly continue after hearing Satevis' answer. "I'm a student, I actually enrolled pretty recently -- I'm taking reimancy and herbalism," Kaeson said.

Looking around the alley, Kaeson said,"Just got here too -- seems like I picked a great time to visit Zeltiva," he added bitterly, grabbing his stomach as it made loud grumbling noise. "Petching great" Kaeson muttered underneath his breath.

[Satevis]

"I pay the Goddess of Knowledge a certain amount of respect as well," said Satevis when Kaeson referred to himself as a son of Eyris. "But 'son of Leth' is just a term that marks me as an Ethaefal." He gave Kaeson a small smile along with his mild correction. In Zeltiva, where so many of the people he encountered were either well-educated, well-traveled or both, he sometimes forgot that not everyone knew what an Ethaefal was offhand, or what marked them. He watched the other man's eyes change color, taking note of the shift. So, Kaeson was a Vantha. Satevis hadn't come across too many of them, but their color-changing eyes were a very distinct feature of their race. He shook his head at the other man's apology. "I won't hold it against you. Everyone's tempers are short at this time." Including his own, even though he was better at hiding it. "Yes, I am a student," he confirmed, nodding. "I study anthropology and glyphing at the moment." Kaeson's statement that he studied Reimancy made Satevis stop and think for a moment, remembering something. He frowned, thinking back. He had heard the name 'Kaeson' before... The Martial Association, he remembered. A request for training in Reimancy. Satevis had been meaning to contact him, but with the famine in full-swing, no one was much in the mood for any sort of training. "They say it should be over soon, at least," he told Kaeson when the man commented on the famine. "Food supplies are on their way from Syliras." In exchange for squires, of course. Satevis had actually considered the exchange. The Syliran Knights worshiped Yahal as he did, and he was currently studying both the sword and magic. But his interests were academic--he had no desire to be a warrior. Besides, given the fact that he was biologically immortal, he was rather unwilling to make any lifelong oaths to any organization. He had to prepare for the possibility that he would live for centuries, and though he agreed with the Knights now, who knew how he would feel in two hundred years. "Out of curiosity, Kaeson, did you put in a quest for reimancy training with the Martial Association?" asked Satevis. "I might have seen your name."

[Kaeson Dakano]

"Oh, uh, yeah. Yeah, Of course," Kaeson muttered, a pathetic attempt in trying to correct his folly. Kaeson had never considered himself the most knowledgeable regarding the numerous gods of Mizahar nor could he distinguish the various factions that worshipped them, but he had at least thought himself capable of knowing an Ethaefal when he saw one. Of course, Satevis wasn't currently in his Ethaefal form, but Kaeson should've identified him as such when the benshira had called himself a 'Son of Leth'.

"Glyphing?" Kaeson asked, interest peeked. The mention of glyphing was enough to mark Satevis as a fellow magic user, considering glyphing was hardly a good first choice for people unfamiliar with magic, leaving Kaeson to assume that Satevis, in all likely hood, was fairly competent at one or more of the magical disciplines. "Anthropolgy and Glyphing," Kaeson repeated, adding, "not the most usual combination,".

"That's what they say," Kaeson said, a hint of bitterness in his voice. Kaeson was well aware of the deal Zeltiva had struck up with Syliras. In exchange for food, Zeltiva was too send fifty volunteers to join the ranks of the Syliran Knights -- an effort to replace those warrior mages the knighthood had lost to the Djed storm. Kaeson opposed the deal in its entirety, viewing Syliras as selfish for asking Zeltivans to choose between seeing there loved ones starve or leaving them forever, but Kaeson had been careful to never vocalize his opinion -- growing up in Syliras had taught him to never speak ill of the city or the knights. He knew that lesson well.

Kaeson quickly pushed any thoughts and memories of Syliras to the back of his head as Satevis mentioned reimancy and the Martial Association. "Yeah, actually. I did put down something for a Reimancy -- wait, how did you know that?" Kaeson asked, surveying the benshira questioningly. Suddenly, the answer came to Kaeson before Satevis had the chance to answer,"You're in the Martial Association?!" Kaeson asked, clearly confused. He had never thought benshira or etheafal ones for combat.

[Satevis]

"No, it isn't," agreed Satevis when Kaeson remarked that his classes weren't a usual combination. "I was a little...hesitant to fully devote my energies to studying magic when I first arrived. The anthropology class was interesting, but I believe I'll be studying in the College of Scholars full time once the summer term starts." He nodded as Kaeson asked him if he was in the Martial Association. "I am," he said. "I've traveled a bit, so I can see the value in having some combat training besides magic." Personal magic could make an effective weapon in the right hands, but having the threat of overgiving looming over one's head really limited its use. Satevis did not believe in using force lightly, but he did believe in being prepared for the eventuality in which force became necessary. Besides, he was starting to enjoy learning how to use his scimitar, and he was making progress. "I asked about the Reimancy because I was actually about to send you a note. I was the one that volunteered to teach it, assuming you've already done the initiation." The fact that he was doing magic might strike Kaeson as odd, considering most Benshira took on a firm anti-magic stance and would often curse, say prayers, or walk on the opposite side of the street as a known mage. But Satevis was an Ethaefal. He had seen the celestial realms, and had remembered, if only briefly, flashes of a life before this one. He knew that neither he nor the gods had had problems with the study or use of magic. It was a tool. It could be used for good or evil ends depending on the hand of the user. "I would have contacted you sooner, but famine makes poor teachers of us all," he added.

[Kaeson Dakano]

Kaeson nodded, thinking that Satevis might have joined the Martial Association for the same reasons Kaeson had. "I agree, sometimes magic just...just isn't enough," Kaeson responded. As an animator, Kaeson was aware of the very limited uses of world magic in a fight. Unless he had already animated a golem prior to the confrontation, Kaeson would always lose -- something Kaeson had already experienced multiple times in his travels. Kaeson was tired of feeling defenseless and weak, and so he decided to take up reimancy and join the Martial Assocation.

"Really?" Kaeson asked, a tone of exictement and the brief blast of yellow in his eyes giving him away. He had hoped to find another teacher, considering Kaeson's personal feelings regarding his current reimancy instructor. Kaeson knew he would still have to continue going to Professor Dodkins' classes, but if he could find a tutor outside class Kaeson wouldn't have to see her ever outside the university.

"Oh, the reimancy intiation...," Kaeson's voice trailed off, his eyes instantly dropping to look at his hands. Slowly, Kaeson turned them around to show Satevis the ugly twin scars that would serve as a permanent reminder as to what Kaeson had been willing to do in exchange for the ability to generate res. Kaeson was proud though, he had survived an intiation not many do. The red scars that marked the his palms would always remind him of that as well. "Yeah, I did it," Kaeson replied, adding, "I use earth." He sighed slightly before returning his gaze to Satevis.


Kaeson smiled at Satevis, saying, "So you'll teach me then?"

SatevisI still can't use Reimancy in a thread, at least until Nai'shee comes back -- so I don't know if you want to take the thread somewhere else until then. Also where did you get the covers for your text? I've been trying to find one for Kaeson but so far I've been unsuccessful

[Nai'shee]

OOCI'm back guys.^w^ Kaeson, I finally finished that post in Reimancy thread, I'm extremely sorry for the delay. And you guys will probably have to go page back to understand this whole post.XD "I guess I'm fine", she shrugged, not willing to explain much. He already knew situation with famine and she still didn't seem affected as much as others, but she knew she will soon be. "And how are you?", she asked with a smile. She didn't know about the way Ethaefal fed, so she had no ideas why he looked pretty good. His face was the same as others, he seemed hungry, he didn't seem like it was easy to give away his food. But his body seemed fine, he wasn't thiner than usually. She turned back to dog, petting him. She took a quick look at the tattoo and realized what Satevis was saying. "Yeah, I guess. I'm so sorry for him. I hope this will be over soon, Syliras isn't too generous city, is it?" She, of course, heard of their blackmail, but she wasn't thinking about it too much. She couldn't pity those who volunteer to go. She had no strength to currently. Anyways, looking at those poor kids she wished that Zeltiva had strength to recover by itself. She promised herself she'll never cooperate with Syliran Knights ever if she becomes a sailor. Never ever. "Kaeson?", she called back with obvious surprise. "Hello there!" She met quiet few person she knew during the day and she thought Satevis would be last on the list, but he wasn't. She was glad to see Vantha boy, since she didn't have much chance to talk to him after their initiation and she really wanted to get to know him better. Simply because he was Vantha. Those people always woke curiosity in her for some reason. They weren't as mortal as humans was, divine was noticeable in their color-changing eyes, but they weren't as close to divine to seem foreign and strange as Ethaefal. She surely didn't judge people by their races, she actually approached everyone who seemed even a little bit friendly and someone even to others. Still, mystery always haunted her and she couldn't resist finding out more about races like Vantha. "How are you? You seem a bit off... How are your wounds? Mine are almost healed, I guess." They actually had Reimancy initiation together and she quickly jumped to the topic, wandering around from conversation about famine. She got bored of repeating it and she slowly started to get feeling that she should change something and fighting Syliran Knights wasn't on the top of her "to do" list, at least not for next ten years or so. But who knows what destiny can bring us? Satevis' comment made her smile, so that hid her smile on Kaeson's introduction. She couldn't laugh, she knew everyone had their first time in everything. It is almost laughable when you look back at her reaction when she first met Ethaefal. It felt like a dream, since she found him in his celestial form, but later encounters were funny to her when she looks back now. She once argued with him while he was in his mortal form, claiming that it wasn't him. She was a child, so it wasn't so embarrassing, but it was still funny. She continued to pet a dog, trying not to make awkward eye contact. "Great! Then we can all study together!", she commented when they finally made a deal. "I didn't specify Reimancy back then, but I guess nobody would mind if I joined. And, Kaeson, are you, by any chance, interested in learning Flux?" Kid weren't listening to them anymore, but she honestly forgot about them, so they could have found out about her ability. She didn't keep it a top secret, but she wouldn't want rumors, much people would come to ask for classes and she would have to limit usage of her ability while she works. Anyhow, she hoped Kaeson would agree, since she already promised Flux classes to Sateviswe'll add it in our thread, as we agreed, k?.

[Satevis]

So Kaeson and Nai'shee were both new Reimancers. Satevis glanced at Kaeson's scars, wincing in sympathy. He held up his own hand, revealing a thin line across from his palm. The cuts had been neat, but the marks were still there on both his hands, marking him as a Reimancer to any who knew their trade. It had not been an enjoyable experience, but Satevis would not take it back. Reimancy was still his only real discipline of magic. It was the thing that made him a wizard. "I can sympathize," he said. "Some initiations go better than others, but they are all generally unpleasant affairs. At any rate, I'd be willing to teach, but I think we should wait until the famine eases up. Your bodies will be weaker at this time, and you'll be more prone to overgiving." Overgiving was as much a mental thing as it was physical, and hunger tended to affect both someone's mental state and their physical one. He didn't want to think about the combination of novice Reimancy and famine, and he certainly wasn't going to be a part of making that combination come true. "You'll bear with me, though...I've never taught magic before. I use fire and water, so I'll have an easier time teaching Nai'shee, but I should be able to go over some of the basic principles with you." He said the last sentence to Kaeson. Earth was the element that felt farthest away from him, probably because it was so fundamentally different from the two elements he had gained. But he would do his best, and hopefully in doing so grow a little closer towards attaining his third element. He waited to hear what Kaeson would say to Nai'shee. It would be interesting if they could all end up learning magic from each other. It would truly be the sort of thing the University was meant for, at any rate.

[Kaeson Dakano]

Kaeson nodded, "Makes sense, it doesn't seem like the smartest thing to do -- using personal magic on an empty stomach," he said is response to Satevis. As an Animator, Kaeson was still relatively naive regarding overgiving, but he had heard enough rumors to keep him extremely conscientious of himself and his limits while practicing reimancy. Bleeding eyes, hallucinations, losing control over spells -- over himself, Kaeson grimaced as he remembered the list of symptoms he had reviewed in Reimancy 101. Kaeson sighed, deciding not to dwell long on the subject -- overgiving was just something he had to be careful about, no reason to actually experience it.

"Flux?" Kaeson asked, eyeing Nai'shee questionably. "She doesn't look like practices flux ," Kaeson thought, "But then again, isn't Flux supposed to make it easier to fight?"

"Yeah...yeah, that would be great!" Kaeson replied, eyes golden yellow with excitement.

Kaeson said, "Well, since you're offering Flux and Satevis is going to help us with Reimancy, I guess I should offer something too, huh?" Kaeson added, biting his lip as he thought what he could offer the two before him. "What about Animation?" he asked, saying, "I'm pretty good at it, lots of experience, so if the two of you are interested, I'd be willing to try and teach it."

[Nai'shee]

"Yeah, I forgot about that. I'm overusing Flux these days, helping around. I guess we'll get the food soon enough, or we will all start starving, dying, overgiving and stuff." She talked too carelessly about possible fate of the city. She would never wish something like that to Zeltiva, the city which raised her, but she wouldn't want to negate possibilities if they can come. Realistically, they're eating too much of pieces of food city still has, they're too active, even in personal magic. She wondered how long can they keep doing so. "I guess it's wrong time to test our limits... Mistress Farah keeps telling me not to practice too much by myself." Nai'shee looked at Kaeson's surprised face with a smile. He was noticeably excited and his eyes turned yellow. Recalling it now, they took the same color while he was afraid during Reimancy initiation. The color seems to have connection with strong instinctive feelings. She thought it was a little bit weird for the same color to represent both fear and excitement about something good, but she didn't know much about Vantha anyways. "Animation? Is that the thing Tock does with Golems?" Her eyes widened in excitement. Young builder told her a lot about her work and plans to make a whole city out of it. She almost screamed in joy. Than something hit her. She laughed at herself. "Oh, sorry, you probably don't know her. Is that the thing when you make objects intelligent and allow them to move?" Tock already explained basics to her, but she was still unsure if she has her facts straight. OOCErm.. guys.. we've gone pretty far from original topic for a thread. Shall we think of something and go back to helping out or just keep improvising? I like improvising, but I kind of feel the title is extremely wrong in that case.