Closed [The Silver Sliver]A fine day to make a deal[Amelia Cross]

[Clyde Sullins]

Clyde just stared at her eyes, as she examined his hand, looking it over. Apparently examining the lines and ways of his hand. After awhile, she began speaking, but her words did little to convince him of anything. To the contrary, it served more to do the opposite. Most of what she said could have been gathered, or assumed, from prior statements of himself, or simple observation. It seemed this "fortune telling" and "palm reading", had more to do with such things than actually any kind of intuition or other sense. And certainly nothing magical. It was simply mundane senses, observation, and logic to come to a correct point. Which was certainly fallible. He simply kept himself stony, impassive, until she finished, and he responded. "Really? That is what you have? Most if not all of that could be gathered by looking and feeling. It takes no skill or ability beyond the mundane. That and making more assumptions, which you are not the best at making. Obviously I don't work with my hands, I would have calluses and scars and cuts. Whereas my hands are relatively unmarred. I could deduce the same thing." "Much of the other things could be gathered by prior words, my attitude, even how I act. And clearly as you have said I use "destructive magic", a term I find laughable in its ignorance as any magic can be used destructively, I have endured great pain. Anyone who knows what I do, and what you wish to, must endure great pain and suffering to unlock it." "As for something being stolen... Who has not at one point in their life had something stolen. But I can honestly say, that at this moment nothing dear to me has been stolen. That assumption is false. But I suppose you were lucky enough to get the others mostly correct." Clyde paused for a moment, downed the last sip of his ale, and thunked the empty mug down on the table, looking across at the girl. "So, whether you have figured it out yet or not, I am in fact the mage Clyde Sullins. And you are? As you have yet to tell me your name. Though it does make me wonder how ill informed you are, to sit and talk with the very man with whom you look for, for so long, and not know he is that man. You need to open your eyes and your ears, and listen and see everything, not just what you think you should see and is of the most importance. I would hazard an assumption that you were hasty in arriving here, and had you taken your time they would have pointed me out, and even described me well enough to easily find me. It seems you have come here by way of the steep mountain, when their was a well built path just feet away. What a waste of time and effort." "Magic is not about trudging on blindly, by brute force, and hoping to get were you must go. At least my magics are not. I teach my students to find the easiest solution to a problem, the least costly. And to not make assumptions based on faulty information. Both things you have done in excess." "And most importantly of all, details are important. Details make the difference between living and dying. You seem to ignore so many details, to quibble when I comment on your faulty speech or wording. But if you took magic in the same haphazard fashion as you speak, you would be dead by morning. When I tell you to do something exactly, I expect just that, to have you do it exactly. Even if you don't understand why, it is for a reason. The slightest wording can have meaning deeper than you realize." Clyde paused for a moment, a small smile twitching across his face. "But now my real question comes, and I ask you again, what would you offer, to convince myself, Clyde Sullins, to instruct you? What will you offer. What do you offer? Make an offer, a good one mind you, and I will ponder it. I am the one selling, and you buying, which means in the rules of barter and negotiation, you make the first offer to convince me."

[Amelia Cross]

There came his voice once more. Not exactly giving any words that would indicate surprise. Amelia had failed to impress the man, and for good reasons. None the less, she was doing her best to not show disappointment in herself. ”It’s just a matter of practice…practice” she repeated in her head as she continued to listen to what the man had to say. Perhaps she wasn’t the most intelligent of them all, well-spoken or observant as she liked to think, but she was patient. Not arguing and realizing, all of this, was brought on herself by her own foolishness.

”This? This is Clyde Sulins…” Amelia wondered to herself as she looked the man up and down, as soon as he had announced his name. What set her off the most was probably the apparent age he held. All this time, she was assuming to find an old man, but in reality, she found a young man with a hard attitude. The thought of the man being this young, didn’t cross her head even once and it made Amelia think to herself even more ”Maybe I am as blind as he was saying…” but she wouldn’t announce it aloud.

”Amelia Cross…””I’d say it’s a pleasure, but I’m not sure anymore” she finished in her head as she was clearly looking for words to defend her foolishness, nothing came to the call. ”Strike while the irons hot, I could have waited, my mind was saying me that was the proper thing to do even without such an awkward and bad presentation of myself, but if I’d have waited…wouldn’t I have lost the little chance I got by my haste?” and the girl believed in her own words dearly. Now that she knows the man she looked for was this young, it made her think, that she could even have lost the chance to a bit more…esthetically pleasing woman.

This man, he had made Amelia think that what she always had thought in herself as good, wasn’t as good anymore. She was sure that the way she didn’t take anything seriously enough to offend her and how she went with the flow of things was good, he made her word and ideas twist in unknown directions. Making her wonder, does she even wish to be his student? It would be the nightmare of humiliating herself on and on…or was she exaggerating? Maybe he was actually good and just trying to protect the ones he comes in contact. His hand didn’t say ‘monster’…he just kept his distance.

”I told you, my offer is myself… If you’d chose to teach me, I’d become more than just an apprentice, I’d be willing to do what you ask. You say follow , I’d run…listen, and I'd hear even your whisper… Of course, with me…you would also gain something more than a servant, you’d gain access to the Black Sun” she said, but soon enough realized she needed to point out a few things ”You see, I’m the daughter of Dominick Cross, a respected member of the Black Sun and even though he is just an agent, he has ears and eyes that lead upwards…if that interests you…” she explained without much second thought ”and now I ask you…have I made a good offer?”"Or should I just go to the institute?"

[Clyde Sullins]

When he told her who he was, he just smiled for a moment as she examined him once more, before returning to a passive expression. He had come to accept others would think less of him due to his young age, in comparison to most mages. But then, he had started young, beginning his delving into magic at the young age of five years old, even if it was against his own choosing. Most did not start as a magic user until they were much older, often around this girls age, since it tended to be safer once you were fully matured and not so young. Though now that he thought on it, she could not be that far different in age than himself. Surely within a year of each other, age wise, though he was uncertain who was older of them. But even if by years they were close in age, he still felt like her elder, like he had lived much longer than her. Perhaps magic did that, making time seem more packed, more full of experiences, and inevitably more interesting. Cursed with an interesting life, that was what magic brought him... He took in her name, Amelia Cross, and just nodded once, as she then continued on, attempting to defend her actions. He just shook his head, a grim look on his face. "If you are going to be a mage, your mind, your instincts, are the last thing you should be listening to. Once you set out upon magic, decide to in fact do it, your instincts can help to guide you, but never let your instincts be the chooser of when to do magic. I would not have made it this long if I did." "I listen to logic, and reason, and do what I must, and do my level best to fight my instincts and the voice of my magics. Because all they will ever do, is to call to you to do more, just one more spell, just one more bit, what will it hurt? Listening to your instincts is a dangerous road for a mage, at least a personal mage. World Magics... Have their own pitfalls and dangers." As she spoke again, he listened, pondering her words, what she offered, what her first offer was anyways. The first step in negotiation. Both sides made offers, and usually you ended up in the middle. But in this case, he was negotiating from a position of strength, and held all the cards. "Most of my dealings have to do with the Stryfe, I tend to work with them more than the Sun. After all, since I use as you call them "destructive magics," it makes more sense to deal with the more combat oriented arm of law in Ravok. So I am not certain how helpful that would be." "As for your promises... I am sure you would say that, make promises that you will do as I say, follow my orders, be my apprentice as well as you can. But words are empty if there is nothing to back them up. Have you ever heard of a grand oath? It is a work of Glyphing, another magic I am almost as skilled at as I am in Reimancy. It is rightly named, for once you make a grand oath, it is impossible to break it. Would you then make a grand oath to me, promising what you have promised? Enforcing what you say with empty words?" Clyde paused for a moment, letting it sink in. "Think carefully, for once one is signed, you cannot take it back. I cannot force you to sign it, you can only do so of your own free will, but would you be willing to sign one? I am afraid I have had prior experiences that did not work so well, and would require you to do so before any lessons could begin. So are you willing to commit, and back up your words, with a unbreakable promise? I do not make an offer lightly, as such a thing is not cheap, and I would bear the cost for making it myself."

[Amelia Cross]

Did Amelia really catch a glimpse of his smile? For a moment she doubted the possibility, but yes, it was there. He was probably amused by Amelia. She was probably no younger than him, and yet, she was here asking the young man to be her mentor. Life really doesn’t get any more bizarre than this, now does it?

Oh but the smile was gone as soon as it was there, after all, he managed to turn to a much more complex subject. Rather than the amusement of being around the same age as Amelia, and still being not only in the lead, but also the possible mentor.

”I always thought listening to the mind was a good thing, you seem to be twisting my own thoughts of the world…none the less, I thought it might be like so…” Amelia confessed. And it was all pure truth, after all, she believed that the mind was the same thing as reason and logic, was it not? Perhaps no. With every passing moment, she felt like she was thrown in a whole new philosophy of life. The one when a person is cold and calculating. She didn’t wish this life, not down deep in her soul. But, she knew that desire to learn magic, was higher than anything else.

”One should become cold and calculating, in order to use magic? Is that what you are saying?” she questioned once more, starting to realize that not a lot of her guesses where that precise. ”World magic…those were a more...craft like arts? Like, alchemy and spiritism?” she wasn’t sure, but somehow, she wished to be sure. Why? The gods might only know, but the fact she had to get used to asking him questions, was true…well, as long as she believed that she might have gotten on his good side?

A person not that interested in the Sun ”he really is unusual…” she confessed to her mind, but before she offered much of anything else, or even reconsidered her offer. Clyde spoke of the ‘grand oath’…She had heard of this, briefly, but what she had heard was enough to make the girl swallow what seemed a rock before speaking ”The Grand Oath?...I must apologize for my cluelessness, as I am unfamiliar with the details of this…but, doesn’t it mean I lose my free will and just…become a shell? A mindless body?” highly exaggerating, the Cross had heard only the worst of it. She was afraid, that with saying she’d be bound to him…she’d become more than a slave. She wasn’t afraid to be forced into cleaning his house; honestly, he’d be the one regretting it. However, she was frightened of things like murder… murder of someone just because he’d order it, could he do it?

”Think good Amelia, he is considering you as a student, maybe…you are just thinking of the whole oath…as a much more frightening thing than it was?” she wondered to herself, as she waited for the man to answer. The answer of it would determine, does Amelia even want to be his student as badly. She had no shame in serving another, but, every service had a limit, does this man have it?

[Clyde Sullins]

"Listening to your mind is fine, but you must realize the difference between what you want to do, and what instinct and the magics will call you to do. Magic by its nature is addictive. And with personal magic... our instincts would never tell you to stop, you would simply keep going and going till you were dead, and your instincts would never tell you to stop. Instead calling you to do more, till you fall over the precipice." "So it is fine to listen to ones mind... Just so long as when it comes to magic, and to when to do magic, you are the one choosing, and your magic is not in control." "But once you learn magic... There is no going back, no deciding to quite and stop doing it... The more you do, the more addictive it will get... Even now my magic thrums in my veins, calling to me to do magic over the most trifling of reasons. But I have learned to ignore it, and to fight such impulses." He shook his head at her response. Did she see him as that, as cold and calculating, and inhuman? Perhaps others did see him as such. But he did not feel that was who he was... It honestly was hard to say, after doing magic so long. Many things had become habit, or a means of survival. "In order to use magic you must be logical and use reason, or else you will never stop. But no, you do not need to become cold and calculating in general, when dealing with other things. Only when with magic." "And as for world magics, and personal magics, their name states it all, their source of power. World magic take their djed from the very workings of the world, some innate logic or rule that states when things are done in x way, with y ritual, then z happens. They can be dangerous, but do not have such a direct influence on the user, and do not risk overgiving, using to much djed. Though they can be dangerous in their own ways." "Each is unique, but tend to involve imbuing an item with magic, or crafting such an item. All of them allow you to affect the very djed of the world around you, in items and objects, in ways not normally possible. " "Personal magic on the other hand, takes djed and its powers directly from the person using it. You are the source of fuel for the magic. In general, such magics are faster, and able at time to do much, but always at a personal cost. It is also addictive, and if you push to far beyond your limits, you will overgive. If you are lucky, all that will happen is you will perish. If you are not so lucky... You will have to live with the repercussions for so long as you shall live." Already Clyde was falling into his teacher mode, delving into a lecture on the differences between different kinds of magics, how they worked, and were fueled. Teaching just felt... Right, somehow. "And then there is gnosis, which takes its power from the very gods... Which is an entirely other matter altogether." He smirked once more for a moment, and shook his head, at her idea of how Grand Oaths worked. He supposed things did tend to be aggrandized, or altered, when spoken of by the general rabble. "Who told you that? Some simpleton afraid of magic, who cannot cast even the tiniest spell? It is possible to do that with a Grand Oath, but it is a much more honest thing than that. I cannot force you to sign it, and it will only do exactly as it specifies. So only if it specifically says so, would that happen." "For example, if you signed a grand oath saying you would never leave Ravok, you would never be able to of your own free will attempt to leave Ravok. You would not be able to make decisions, like freely stepping onto a boat headed away, which would make you leave Ravok. It would keep you from breaking your promise. But it would not totally take away your free will, and in all other ways you could do as you wished, if that was all the grand oath stated." "So if I am to write it out, I need to know, what specifically are you not willing to do? What would specifically keep you from signing it? And I will make sure to word it so that it will not force you in those ways."

[Amelia Cross]

Amelia did what she did best, listened and caught up to every little piece of information or, teaching, he did. Somehow, she found it reassuring how his voice twisted around and how he was explaining the way magic made you feel. ”I’m glad, I couldn’t survive becoming cold, call me overly philosophical or romantic…but I believe our warm hearts are what makes us real, makes us human” somehow her voice was soft, she really managed to turn her emotions around like the wind itself. ”Somehow, I’m starting to think, that using magic, leaves your mind in a daze…like, if one would find release in it? Like a drug?” she added.

With every detail Clyde added about magic, the world and the personal. Amelia began wondering more and more, maybe this man was actually waiting for someone to approach him and ask him to become his student? He looked like he enjoyed teaching, like he enjoyed sharing knowledge. Someone who would be respected in Zeltiva, probably here to. It was just his age that seemed to…set one off. As she had noted to herself before, she would never have guessed a master of magic could be this young.

”gnosis…divine and touched by a god, that’s probably the one bit of magic I don’t really need that much education in, but, that could be interesting to hear” she confessed with a light smile. Amelia couldn’t remember the last time she used her own gift, she just didn’t think it was called for. However, now, she was starting to question it, just how long would she avoid using her gift, if magic could lead her to…addiction?

Amelia couldn’t help but chuckle of his reaction to her guess about the oath, even more by his words. ”simpleton…” she repeated in her head, sure to remember the word, it sounded funny to her, even more so, since she had never heard of it before. ”good guess, I’ve heard of it back in Syliras…the people there aren’t too welcoming towards magic” she stated while thinking about what exactly would she be completely against in terms of the oath. It was a serious decision, and so, she had to take everything into consideration.

”I wouldn’t want to turn on my family, but would he call for it?...better make sure…not taking a life unless it’s needed, she wouldn’t want to follow him to other cities…or maybe? He could probably grand her experience if he chose to take her along…it could be fun” Amelia thought it all over, making a silence come upon the two. Usually it would make her feel uncomfortable, but this time, this time she was too drifted off in her own thoughts ”would there be anything more that would call for noting…I don’t think he would wish me to steal or commit something illegal…”

”don’t laugh, but…taking someone life, I know I said that I wish to see a city burn…but, when I’m ready, not by order…””even if I don’t know when it will be…” Amelia paused, wishing to follow Clyde’s reaction to her statement ”turning against Ravok or my family, I have the impression you wouldn’t ask of it, but…I think making it clear is better, no?” she finished, but soon enough decided to add ”Please, don’t take it as an offend, I just, there are things I don’t wish to do by order, when I know I have no choice…when the moment calls for it, I shall do it” that was probably it. Now it was left to only see, would he agree to take her in fully? Even when he knows things she would still like to keep: her own mind.

[Clyde Sullins]

Clyde just smirked again, as Amelia told him what she felt made humans human. It being a bit ironic, since most people in Ravok were highly racist, and felt what made people human, was being one hundred percent pure blooded human. Her description however was much broader, and included even many other races. Though that did not tell him for sure she did not care of race, it simply made it seem a bit more likely to be true. "I think you might be surprised what you could survive, or what you might do when pressed. I have smelled the burning sizzling flesh as my magic burnt a hole in a instant through a mans chest, another time when I burnt a man inside out and melted his head half off from a foot away... Well, not a man technically, a Zith, but still... My point is, you might be surprised what you are willing to do, when you are pressed, and your life depends upon it. Magic only makes it the more likely, that you will go to greater lengths." "For everyone, magic is different. Usually though, it is pleasurable, or at least pleasant. And by its nature, it is addictive, calling for you to do more... Perhaps it is like a drug, I would not know, I have never tried any. Just fair warning, mixing magic, with things that take away judgement, like drugs or drinking... It is not a good idea. It is why I never get drunk, I just sip at a single ale. The last thing you need is your inhibitions freed, and you blowing the roof off a place, and setting half the town on fire as you overgive. A wizard must constantly be in control of themselves, they cannot let up even for a moment, least their magic take over." As she spoke of his words on gnosis, he just shook his head. "Perhaps it would be interesting, but I think that is about the limit of my knowledge on it. I deal in World Magic, and Personal Magic, I don't know much of Gnosis. Go ask a priest or something about that. And much of what I know of World Magic is simply things I have picked up over time, or noticed by observation, making connections." As she mentioned Syliras, he did nothing, no reaction, except a small frown unconsciously crossing his face. Not of hate... But of something he could not describe. He supposed it was the place of his birth, and were he had learned magic, and practiced it, and had it taken away. But there were far to many bad memories about the place, for him to like it... And he understood the truth of the knights far to well, how they truly were, to like or respect them. Better as she had said before, it was left as a pile of burning rubble. He responded, with a rather noncommittal, and vague response. "True. I know of Syliras position on magic all to well." Then it was once more time to wait, as Amelia thought his question over, trying to think of how she thought she would be hampered from accepting such an oath. Once she had spoken her piece, Clyde waited a few moments, turning words over in his head, thinking of how he could word it, what would be hampered, what was the best way. He took out a piece of scratch parchment, along with a quill and some ink, and began scratching out words with his quill, occasionally marking some out, and rewriting new ones under. This would do this... But that bit was to vague, it could leave it open to that... Or that... And this... He followed the logic of the wording, improving it, rewriting, trying to find a wording that would be fine to both, and still serve his purpose. His mind was a flurry of activity, as he fitted in words, cut bits out, found faulty lines of logic, and bigger issues that might prove to his disfavor. Finally, he let out a sigh, and looked down at the paper, returning his eyes to Amelia. "Yes, I think that could work. So if I leave in clauses to take care of those issues, you would be fine with signing?" As he waited for her response, he turned the parchment over, and began to scratch out a final version, from all of the partials he had done on the other side. "Though even if you sign today, I am not sure when I will have time to begin your training in magic. It may need to wait till next season begins."

[Amelia Cross]

As Clyde spoke, Amelia had to admit she had no clue what a Zith was. She hadn’t met any and she wasn’t that sure if she was even interested in seeing them. Even though Amelia had seen a few different types of races, she didn’t manage to memorize most of them, definitely not the name. Or to be more précis, she didn’t have that much interest in it. So maybe, she had seen a Zith? Just didn’t know she had done so? Like with the snake people and those blue men…oh she couldn’t remember their name…

”Well, there are more than just alcohol and drugs that can get you addicted, I’m sure you know that, but regarding drinks…I limit myself to a glass of vine, occasionally, so it wouldn’t be a problem…”Amelia stated, hopping she didn’t need to also explain her feelings towards drugs, as she didn’t use them and hopped, she didn’t look like someone who does. ”…but, what exactly is…overgiving?” she asked, wishing to make sure, the name made her think it’s something like…overusing? Abusing maybe?

”familiar with the rules of Syliras?” she wondered, what was his frown about? Did he have anything against the city to? Maybe she should ask him, If he was so keen on explaining things to her, maybe he would share it? It made Amelia wonder about the gnosis as well. Did he not know more? Or was he hiding it on purpose? Amelia was a curios creature from as far as she could remember herself, especially with people; she couldn’t help herself if she wanted to know something. Yet, her common sense told her to avoid the topic until she becomes more familiar with Clyde. She might just lose the few good points she had earned with him.

Then, as Amelia had explained what are her dos and don’ts, silence toke over. She didn’t mind the silence, it wasn’t unusual, and of course she preferred to have at least someone speaking. But Amelia let herself concentrate on the small talk that was going around them. Suddenly ”huh?!” Clyde had managed to startle her, she had been gone in a world of her own, while he was scathing out the oath. ”yes, I agree to sign in”

”next season…today is the 63rd…hmmm…then there is the Nitrozian party…latter on I have a few deals with my father to do and..” She thought over her plans for the rest of this season and in conclusion, she was actually quite glad to have him say that he would probably leave her waiting till the beginning of summer. ”I understand perfectly, I can wait, I can sign it in summer as well, it will give you proper time to prepare, no?””and for me to man up…”

[Clyde Sullins]

What is overgiving... What a question, but one that inevitably needed to be answered. So far he had been speaking to her on more general things. Magic, world magic, personal magic, though still only the basics and what differentiated them. But overgiving was something anyone who practiced personal magic needed to know of. So he set out on the task of explaining it to her. "I explained from were different magics get there powers from earlier. That personal magic gets it powers, from oneself. It takes the djed and power, right out of you. Of course that will not be without danger or cost." "Don't misunderstand, every casting you do will not cause this. The better you get at a magic, the more skilled and efficient you become at turning your internal djed into a magical effect. But regardless of this, you have a limit as to how much djed you can safely expend without going into overgiving. Before that point is reached, you will simply grow tired, possibly weak, usually hungry. That is normal, as you are expending great amounts of energy in casting spells. That is why after using magic, it is a good idea to rest, eat a good meal, and recuperate, to replenish the spent djed." "But not everyone does that. Personal magic normally is without limit. So if you want, you can keep going, just a bit further, just a bit further, expending more and more djed until you suffer worse and worse effects from overgiving. Such effects are quite various, I have no way of knowing which you will suffer. If it is only light overgiving, you might recover, without permanent damage. But if you go to far... To deep... Push beyond what is possible for you, then the effect may last forever. In magic, there are worse things to happen, than simply being killed by it." Clyde paused for affect here, and to make sure she paid attention to his last words, before continuing onward. "Which is why I plan to make a condition within the Oath you will take, that allows me to enforce and choose how much magic you can do, to keep that from happening. At least until I am confident you can be held responsible on your own in that regard. I will make a caveat should your life be in danger, but don't forget there are worse things than dying, when dealing with magic. But magic as I said, is addictive. It is not so easy to stop, and such a addition to the Oath will be in your own favor in the long run, not against you." He was not surprised she wanted to wait till she would learn, to actually sign the oath. In the meantime, as long as she did not change her mind, he would have time to gather the materials, and prepare most of the oath. "Fine, then if you have had all your answers given, we will meet at my house on the first of summer, at midday. It is a newer building, so it is in the docks." Clyde quickly scrawled out some simple directions on a torn off piece of the scratch parchment which was still blank, which would lead her to his home when she needed to be there. And if she was indeed done, he would pay for his own ale, and leave. Otherwise, he would possibly answer any final set of questions, before heading out.

[Amelia Cross]

Amelia listened to Clyde without interruption. She was one of those people who were easily fascinated by knowledge they didn’t poses and so, she was clinging one very word he spoke. Patiently listening, until, he mentioned death from magic. She only felt herself swallow a big gulp of fear, her body tensed for a bit. As she didn’t think that it was possible to actually use too much magic, go out of control, yes…but use too much? It still didn’t quite stick in her mind that someone could die because they used magic. Still, she chose to not add in any notes and continue listening.

His other statement, regarding the oath and his rules. It made Amelia bout calm and troubled, she wasn’t sure, should she tell him about her studies at the institute? All this time she had made it sound like she wouldn’t attend it, but it wasn’t entirely true. Still, the thought of him protecting her…even if just indirectly, was calming. That was it, she will let him know about the institute latter on.

Amelia just nodded, not wishing to bother him anymore, and wanting to think over a few things before the day, the first of summer, when she would sign the one piece of paper that would change her life. ”Very well, I shall see you in summer then” Amelia simply said, as she got up and toke the piece of paper that held directions. Finding his home shouldn’t be that hard, not a lot of people build new buildings around Ravok so there shouldn’t be a lot of them.

”Till we meet again, Mr.Suliins, have a nice day” She bowed her head ever so slightly, before turning around and leaving him. Leaving the tavern. The girl was left with her own confused mind, that seemed to be working off track this day.

oocblah, but should work for en exit post