Flashback [Wright Memorial Library]School Daze [Ayara]

[Annalisa Marin]

53rd of Summer, 511 AV

It was an odd feeling, studying alone amidst the maze of bookshelves that was the Wright Memorial Library. Normally she would joke with Velia that it was exactly what she wanted, to study alone and that the blonde haired girl was nothing but a distraction. Now that she was actually doing it though... it was actually a little lonely if she were being entirely honest. Velia's chatter had often filled some part of her mind, giving her a pleasant backdrop to her studies. The tall woman reminded herself to be less caustic with her best friend in the future.

As the woman turned the page of the particular volume in front of her, a rather dull but informative read on basic Nader-Canoch. Anna had advanced beyond this tome, however it never hurt to brush up on the basics as she went forward. It was a pity she couldn't access some more magic oriented works from the Restricted Section, but that would have required some paperwork and permission from Professor Stonemiller. The less she saw of the old man the better, he tended to make her rather uneasy with those grey eyes of his.

As she turned another page her eyes fell upon the scar on her right palm, faint and fading but still visible. It hadn't been long since she'd been initiated into Reimancy, honestly she still woke up in the night screaming from the initiation. The way his res had snaked through her body had been more than unpleasant, it had felt so very wrong and hurt her deep within herself. Ryleth had warned her beforehand, but still it had been traumatic to say the very least.

Already she could manipulate two elements, though she was conservative about using them. Fire and earth were hers to command, though the art of creating a para-element was still not yet hers. She would need to apply herself a little harder. It would take time, no mistake about it but she had time aplenty.

Anna's eyes gazed over the tome, forcing herself to study the rather dull subject matter. It was mind-numbingly dull, simple things such as 'Yomi' meaning 'fire' but also spelling out the other thousand possible meanings. Whatever could be said about those that came before they certainly knew how to overcomplicate language. Gods, how she wished to be outside of the city, perfecting the Para-Element. Yet here she sat musing over the scribbling of the long dead civilizations.

A weighty sigh escaped the Student's lips as she slumped further back into her seat, staring at the ceiling idly. Yes, she was definitely going to apologize to Velia for those times she called her 'chatty' or 'grating'. Perhaps both if she was feeling particularly desperate, the rich girl had a way of getting what she wanted from the tall dark haired woman.

Then there was that itch she'd been meaning to visit the Loveless to get scratched, oh the joys of having extra money to spend on a nighttime escapade or two. Velia was right, she needed to get out a little and meet some guy or gal that looked nice and see where things went. Prostitutes were nice, but hardly satisfied every urge she had. That and her little habits tended to bite a little into her funds.

Looking back to the tome she started scanning over the same sentence over and over again, pretty sure it would lose all meaning to her eventually. When that would happened she resolved to just give up on studying for today and try to practice her Glyphs. Always best to keep her skills sharp after all. If she couldn't practice Reimancy in the city at least she could draw a few Glyphs. The peace and quite would be good for that.

[Ayara Orin - Migrated]

Zeltiva was a treasure trove. Ayara could see herself spending years in the library. She probably would, if she wasn't careful. She had always had a special love for libraries. The smell of books in the air reminded her of the Cribellum. It reminded her of home, and her schooling. She could reach out, right there, and learn about... the mating habits of the common goose, apparently. Some dusty tomes were dusty for a reason. Another section, perhaps. Languages looked interesting.

Ayara admired the Zeltivan people. Sylira was far enough away from Kalinor that her kind wasn't regarded with the outright hostility she was used to, and Zeltiva was even more accommodating than most. Repositories of knowledge like the Wright Memorial Library were precious, shining beacons of learning and understanding and wow really cute ladies.

Setting her books down across from the one that had caught her eye, Ayara sat and regarded the girl, considering how to start the conversation. She smiled. "Hello."

[Annalisa Marin]

Just as Anna was about to carefully close the book in front of her she noted a very inhuman woman sitting down in front of her. Her eyebrows rose considerably as she noted an almost unhealthy grey complexion and golden yellow eyes. Claws adorned her hands and Anna couldn't help but see how incredibly thin she was, again almost rather to the degree of being unhealthy. She swallowed hard, rather not used to interacting with non-humans especially ones so exotic as this one.

It just occurred to the young wizard that the woman had greeted her, though Anna was somewhat at a loss for words. It also occurred to her that she was staring which she rectified by turning her gaze to her book, dull as it might have been it provided a good excuse to avert her gaze. Now the question remained what the petch was she expected to say? Did she respond in kind? Comment on the weather? Ask her just what the petching petch she was?

The problem with Anna was that unlike her friend she lacked social graces, her rather bookish nature combined with her passion for the arcane resulted in a blunt personality. Considering that she had not yet come to know Rhysol and his gift and the lessons of Amaryllis were not yet imparted to her, she had really few reasons to bother socializing with many. Velia was really it, she was the only one that could put up with her arrogance. So it was that she responded as arrogance would prompt her.

"Who are you and more importantly, what the petch are you?" She asked, lifting her gaze from the book and regarding the grey skinned woman suspiciously.

Non-humans were different in many radicle ways Anna had found, they were strange and even frightening. That and technically it was her studies the woman had so rudely interrupted so it was a fair question. Granted, Anna had been bored out of her skull reading but still it had been an interruption. At least, she thought so. Maybe.

The woman drew herself up in her seat, her grey eyes narrowing slightly in annoyance. It was a pity she wasn't standing, her fully height always served as an intimidation factor. Claws or no, Anna was still a wizard and a damned quick learner at that. She could also be more than a mite mean if the situation called for it, and right now she was being greeted by and unknown person and a non-human. Those seemed adequate reasons to be a little leery of this woman

A bit racist? Certainly, but Anna was a wizard so some degree of paranoia was certainly warranted when dealing with the unknown. Still she kept open hostility from her tone, Anna didn't want to pick a fight in the middle of the library. Lisaelis tended to be a bit... overly zealous in protecting the integrity of the Library.

[Ayara Orin - Migrated]

"This one is many things," Ayara said playfully. She'd had worse receptions. "Ayara. Symenestra. Curious. Interested." She was surprised that someone who looked to be an educated Zeltivan didn't know what a Symenestra looked like. Wishful thinking, probably. One could learn the ancient tongue and still be ignorant of a great many things. She was an example of this herself.

"Bet I can guess what you are, yes?" She leaned forward, just a fraction. "Human. Female. Pretty. But what is your name, hmm?" Seduction game too strong. In her defense, most ladies didn't exactly react well when faced with a Symenestra trying to get under their skirts. She hadn't tasted another woman in months. She'd left Kalinor to become a wizard, not a monk. She'd take a bit of rudeness. Just a bit.

[Annalisa Marin]

Anna lifted an eyebrow, the name of her race coming off as a little foreign to the young wizard's ears and certainly unfamiliar. She felt as though she should know exactly what it was though, Symenestra, something about it held a quality that stirred something deep in her mind. Irrelevant for now, as she focused on the other comments offered and started dissecting them in her normal way of looking far too deeply into likely innocent meanings.

Curious eh? So were many, that was why they were here in Zeltiva after all if they travelled from beyond. Many wished to satisfy curiosity of scholarly pursuits, Zeltiva was unmatched in that regard. Though the magic offered was certainly restricted to a high degree. The University certainly regarded safety as being pretty petching important. Anna herself preferred just a touch of danger in her studies. No risk, no reward.

Interested? Anna was but one scholar among many in the University, that and she was herself rather plain looking. Why the petch would this thin little woman possess any interest in her? Was it possible she knew of her magical ability? Did she desire to steal this knowledge for herself then? Anna's eyes narrowed ever so at the line of thought, considering her rather unremarkable appearance it was possible.

This Ayara certain was odd, a slight blush tinting the wizard's cheeks red at the word pretty. Hardly, she stood taller than a number of men and looked unremarkable. Statuesque was probably the best compliment she could hope for in honesty, though her height was a source of pride for her. Gave her an advantage when it came to scaring the piss out of people who angered her. Though the fire and earth did that just as easily.

"I am Annalisa Marin, student of the College of Djed. What brings you to my corner of the library?" Anna asked, trying to gauge the other woman's intensions.

Velia had often called Anna cynic at the best of times, which she defended with calling herself a realist. Everyone wanted something from someone, no action was made randomly and there was a purpose to be found in everything. She was a wizard after all, and wizards retained a healthy amount of suspicion regarding the intensions. This Ayara was after something the question was what it was.

Arcane knowledge was really the only thing Anna had to her name, it was what she excelled at. It was a passion to her, in fact whenever she cast a spell it was a pleasurable thing in and of itself. Even carnal desires were nothing compared to the sheer joy of casting, the primal feelings that came with manipulating the natural elements to her whim. It often felt like she was a goddess, powerful and capable of ending others with a flick of her wrists.

Was it possible that was what the woman sought?