Solo The First Trial

[Mirage]

OOCIts a cloak not a robe! So she will need to hold the front to not flash the entire citadel

Sliding off of the desk Riyana took up her own cloak that lay draped over the back of the chair, pulling it around her shoulders and smiling back at Celeste, "Then lets be off!

Riyana would lead Celeste out from the lab back the way they had come, proceeding down the ramps toward the bottom of the Gug Andjak once more, "Now where I will take you is where you will be spending most of your time here in Shova. You are free to use my lab here as you wish, however, my real work happens within the Testing Grounds." She would stop suddenly as they reach the ground floor and take Celeste by the shoulders, her expression serious, "I know you have always wanted to be a Wizard, and I know you are very excited right now. When we step outside of these walls thought... You need to be read." She leaned closer, her eyes showed concern, "I will do everything I can to keep you safe, but where we are going is dangerous. More dangerous than anywhere you have ever been. You might die there, and you will almost certainly be maimed there at least once. You have to be strong for the work you will have to do with me. Do you think you can do that?"

[Celeste Arumen]

The girl could barely contain herself. As they walked she bounced from heel to heel, anxiety blooming in her stomach like a springtime flower. But Riyana froze as soon as they reached the bottom floor. She might die; she’d surely be maimed. Celeste looked up into the face of her mentor with a serious expression. ”Of course.” She suddenly looked older, as if aged a few years. When the djed storm hit in 511, she’d been walking by the Coliseum. Celeste had known it was a djed storm right off – she could feel the energy overhead, crackling, clouds roiling with power. The tempest blew the lid right off the place, sending hundreds of exotic creatures rampaging through the streets. She’d barely escaped with her life. In fact, that whole day had been a living nightmare. The city went insane, illusions gone haywire, the entire place turned upside down. For a girl living on the streets… Well, it was a very harrowing experience. But this was real. Not an illusion. Clutching the front of her cloak, she smiled. ”I’m not afraid.” Even though she should be. The fear would come, in time. ”Let’s go.” She resolved to be tough, to be ready. This was the price a Wizard had to pay and she’d pay it gladly. Of course, other things floated through her mind. Had this been her destiny all along? The timely disappearance of her Grandmother had freed her to pursue her own fate. Did she ever even have a Grandmother; was it all just Lhex’s scheme? Some illusions to help her grow, see her through until it was no longer necessary? Perhaps she’d find answers here, perhaps not. She might die before she could. But at least she got to try. Whoops!I went back and fixed it, teehee.

[Mirage]

Riyana smiled softly, pulling the girl into a very quick embrace before holding her out at arms length again, "Maybe in another city I would tell you to be brave, to not let fear get to you, but not here. Not in Sahova, and not in the Testing Grounds. Here fear is a necessity. Fear will save your life. If you feel frightened then stop. Do not continue where you were going, and turn around in the opposite direction immediately. Trust your instincts. Do no let fear paralyze you if you have work to do, but if EVER a sense of fear arises in you, and there is no source, turn and run back the way you came." There was a look of deadly seriousness in her eyes as she said these words, almost foreboding.

In an instant her entire demeanor changed, and a smile brightened her lips once more as she grabbed Celestes' hand and nearly drug her out of the Gug Andjak and into the Courtyard, "Alright lets get going!" Riyana paid no attention to the specters of the Courtyard, though she made a point to stick on the path all the way to the Vestibule. When they finally exited the citadel Riyana stretched her arms over her head, breathing deeply and laughed, "I would not call this much better, but at least we are not stuck inside those cold stone walls. The living were never meant to be entombed inside of stone, and that is why these living who come here for apprenticeships often die prematurely. Those that get out, however," She looked down at Celeste and put a hand on her shoulder, "Have a real chance to prosper."

Waving for Celeste to follow Riyana lead Celeste down a dirt path leading around the Citadel. They were met with the rising mouth of the volcano, and without hesitating the woman climbed up the rocky incline, grabbing onto an overhanging of rock to lean out over the edge and the trees down below. She pointed with one hand to a cluster of mountains in the distance, "That is where we are going, the Testing Grounds. That is where the nuits test their latest experiments, and that is where we, the Wardens, perform our most important duties." Hopping back down to the ground Riyana returned to the path that lead down the inclide toward a patch of forest, waving for Celeste to follow once more, "The Wardens is an old faction of Sahova, established when Sahova was still very young. Our main duty is to dispose of some of the more volatile creatures that the deadies let loose in our domains, as well as maintain the balance of the ecosystems as well." She paused at the tree line, leaning against the trunk to talk to Celeste a moment longer, "There are different domains in the testing ground, and each domain has its own Warden, and each Warden in turn has their own Initiates, who will take the place of the Warden should something happen to her. All of the Wardens are then overseen by Sahova's Groundskeeper, Chabiza." The woman looked down the path into the forest. The trees pressed close to the path, overhanging in some places, and a gloomy darkness ebbed from it, "You are now my new Initiate, but your are more than that. I have taken you on as my apprentice as well. That puts you in a very odd position, and one that tend to make some of the deadies nervous. Unlike my other Initiates, you will be working with me to perfect my own research, and that in turn means that one day you could go on to become a Wizard yourself. Because you have not made the mistakes I have you have a real chance for advancement in rank, and I believe to them that makes you dangerous." She looked at Celeste and smiled a toothy grin, "They fear the possibility of someone with my abilities gaining any kind of political strength in the Citadel. That would make you a fierce rival, and deadies don't like being rivaled by the living." She paused and then added as almost an after thought, "That also means they might try to kill you before you make it that far."

With a shrug Riyana stood straight once more, removing her cloak and handing it to Celeste to hold so that she stood completely exposed to the world. She raised a finger and looked Celeste in the eyes, "Now what I am about to do you must NEVER tell anyone about. I would never hear the end of it, but right now there is little choice. It is already past noon, and we have to reach the testing grounds before dark. So, I shall carry you there."

Closing her eyes, Riyana spread her hands out at her side. Her skin rippled, shifting as the djed pulled and stretched and she grew three times bigger in size. Her back hunched, her arms lengthens and her hands disappeared into clubs that were still shaping as they touched the ground. Her body lengthened, neck stretched and face elongated, and a thin coat of fir sprouted all over her body. The change took no more than a few seconds, and where the woman once stood a horse now took her place. The horse was taller than average, legs longer and lankier and the hooves had divides and appeared to be more flexible. Her neck arched gracefully, and the pink hair had become a pink mane, with the tail to match. The color of her fur was a strange mix of blue and purple swirls, as if Riyana had taken some artistic liberties, and there was a minor dip in her back as if she had made a place for Celeste to sit. The silver tears still remained as they were, streaming from her eyes as a stark contrast from the swirled colors.

Eyes the color of molten gold looked at Celeste, and Riyana bent her knees, lowering herself to the ground so that Celeste could mount.

[Celeste Arumen]

Celeste was struck silent. Fear was good, Riyana had said. Intuition and fear would keep her alive. As they walked, she revealed exactly why she should be afraid – they were to maintain a part of the Testing Grounds, where the Nuit unleashed their abominations on the world. So many details fell into place. If ever she felt directionless fear, she should run. Excitement quickly turned to icy shards of apprehension. She was just a little girl, now tasked with an undertaking so great… How could she have imagined such a thing? Further, should she live, Celeste would be different for it somehow. For the first time since Alvadas, she felt her age. ’It’s a small thing to a giant,’ she thought, throat tight. It gave her the courage to smile as Riyana suddenly changed tack. They walked forth from the Citadel and the sunshine, in spite of her fear, made her feel oddly buoyant. No wonder Riyana was so cheerful. ”You’re right… I feel better just being out here.” More explanations were to follow. Riyana had her own research, much like the other Wizards of Sahova. Not only would Celeste be groomed to replace her, but to surpass her, and excitement lurked close behind. No wonder the Isur-Nuit looked so thoughtful, back in the presentation area. Choosing her had been risky, but if she were to succeed, she’d unbalance the carefully maintained status quo. ”Brilliant,” she said, grinning. ”You’re quite clever.” Lhex surely had brought her here. The timing was too curious to be otherwise. ”Of course,” she replied. Carry her? But the question was soon answered; with negligible effort, a horse suddenly stood where a woman had once been. Riyana had not only morphed into a horse, but one with a pink mane and tail. Celeste grinned. It sure would be embarrassing to hear a Wizard was carrying her apprentice. Perhaps one day she’d become good enough to carry her too. She mounted clumsily. ”I’m sorry,” she murmured, scrambling into place. ”I’ve never ridden a horse before.” It was a little uncomfortable, but she was only thirteen. She’d get it with some practice. That fear, still running in the background, now skipped to the forefront of her mind. They were about to go somewhere dangerous, somewhere she could die. Celeste inhaled deeply, cleansing her mind of uncertainty. ”I’m ready,” she said simply. But wait – where should she hold on?

[Mirage]

Riyana looked back, her golden eye searching out Celeste's, "Grip hard with your knees, and hold onto my mane. Stay low, and try not to pull my hair. Try and move with my body, and remember don't close your eyes."

Looking forward she stood and began a slow trot forward, adjusting her movements so that Celeste would not have too much trouble. As they passed under the tree line Riyana began to pick up the base, quickly gaining speed faster and faster until the trees began whipping by at an alarming rate. As long as Celeste stayed low, almost pressed against Riyana's neck, she would find holding on difficult but not overly so. The pace was steady, but fast. Faster than it should be possible for a horse to move in such a densely wooded area. Riyana galloped at full speed, faster than the average horse, yet as she did she would dodge trunks, duck under limbs and leap obstacles with surprising agility. There were very subtle hints to Riyana's secret. Subtle shifts to her body, changes in her form occurred almost constantly. As she leaped her front legs might lengthen ever so slightly to change direction suddenly on landing, her body would thin and widen depending on how densely pact the trees were, and even her neck would shrink and stretch when the times called for it. It was as if she were constantly morphing, changing and adapting to her situation, a continual stream of modifications to her body to make it better suited for every given moment. This was the secret to Riyana's ability. There were several morphers in Sahova that could match her in what and how they changed, but no one could match her ability to shift and alter her models on the go.

Suddenly the trees opened and Riyana sped between two large peaks, entering a large open area. They had arrived in Riyana's domain, the Prairie. Here Riyana slowed to a stop, lowering herself once more to allow Celeste to dismount. Once freed of her burden she would re-assume her previous form, though now her hair was shorter, ending in spikes with blue tips. Her eyes also remained molten gold, but they shifted to slitted pupils like those of a cat. She smiled at Celeste, somehow not quite as friendly looking with sharp pointy teeth and predator eyes, "Welcome to my domain, the Prairie." She extended her arms and twirled like she had done for her lab. When she halted she bent down to look Celeste in the eyes, "Now before we go any further, is there anything you want to know? We may not have time for questions later."

[Celeste Arumen]

The scenery began to blur. Celeste followed her instructions carefully, flush against Riyana’s neck, hands lightly gripping her mane. It was difficult to move with the horse, being jostled and tossed from side to side more often than not. The grip of her knees was airtight however; the last thing she wanted was to be thrown or worse, swept from the figurative saddle. The journey seemed like a lifetime and Celeste was far too nervous to notice the subtle changes happening beneath her. She simply attributed it to Riyana’s skill as both horse and rider. When they finally pulled to a halt, she shakily dismounted. The Prairie seemed so barren, so vast. She couldn’t imagine anything being able to surprise them there. ”It’s huge,” she said, admiring the shift in Riyana’s features. ”I like your hair,” she continued off-hand, shading her eyes from the blazing sun. ”I do have a few questions, but they can wait. I just wonder how something could survive out here and if so, where could it hide?” It was very nearly a wasteland. But then again, that was their job. To find out. ”I think I should just see it,” she said finally. Whatever explanations she sought could simply be demonstrated firsthand. That and she was anxious to know what dangers they were to face and further, how to fight them. ”I know a little bit of Reimancy and some Hypnotism too, if that helps.” Somehow, she assumed it would not. She had very few models at her disposal, but nothing exotic. Celeste adored the dog, but that was not helpful. Next to Riyana, she felt like a beginner. ”You didn’t pick me because of my ability,” she said, frowning. ”I guess I better learn fast.”

[Mirage]

Riyana laughed, "Thats my girl. Too much talking makes living hard." She straightened and put her hands on her hips, "And both of those magics might turn out to be useful, but soon I will teach you my way of doing things." She winked. Turning, Riyana looked over the vast expanse of the Prairie, smile fading slightly, "And don't be fooled by appearances. You and I both know that things are not always what they appear to be. Before we do anything else I think we should go on a tour of your new domain, and of course we need to introduce you to your fellow Initiates."

Taking a deep breath Riyana stuck her fingers in her mouth and whistle long and loud, a quick tune that seemed to have some kind of meaning. The results were almost instant as in the distance where a patch of trees could be seen a cloud of dust was kicked up. Two dark shapes soon appeared, rushing toward Riyana and Celeste. As they got closer their shape grew clearer. Two creatures that resembled wolves, both with light brown fur, slowed to a stop before the Warden, each standing nearly at eye level with Celeste. Their coats were smooth, slicked back, snouts elongated with ferocious canines jutting out. One's eyes were light silver, the other molten gold like Riyana's. Along their necks and back there were bony plates, as well as underneath their armpits and along their stomachs, clearly in place to protect their sensitive parts from harm. Each of them also had very distinct markings on their face, what looked like a trail of silver tears running from their eyes down their cheeks just as their Master had.

Riyana smiled and embraced both by the neck, hugging them tight as she turned around to look at Celeste. She kept her arms around their necks as she said, "Celeste I would like to introduce you to Tierra," She nodded to the one with gold eyes, "and Brom." She nodded to the one with Silver eyes, "These two are your fellow Initiates. Please introduce yourself!"

Tierra stepped forward, offering a slight dip of her head as she opened her mouth and spoke in a polite voice, "It is a pleasure to meet you Celeste. I am Tierra, Initiate under Riyana. I look forward to working with you."

Riyana nudged Brom, who simply looked away, "You smell like fresh blood. I hope you run fast."

Riyana kicked him hard in the side, and Brom yelped and slinked away, looking disgruntled. Glaring after him Riyana said, "Celeste will be with us for a while yet, and each of you are to help her learn her way around the Prairie." She looked back at Celeste and fixed her smile back in place, "Now then Celeste, we shall take you along the parameter of your new territory. What is the fastest model you have?"

[Celeste Arumen]

Riyana would be teaching her new skills. That was something she’d figured; after all, she was her new apprentice. ”Of course.” Appearances were deceiving. It was perhaps, the very essence of their craft. But before they could move on to the lesson, she’d have to meet the other initiates of the Prairie. Celeste shifted anxiously from side to side while her mentor whistled in a peculiar rhythm, too quick to commit to memory. Two shapes emerged almost immediately in response. They looked eerily like their master, bearing the same silver markings, only they were dogs – wolves, to be more precise, armored against the dangers of the barren waste. The one called Tierra was rather polite and Celeste inclined her head in reply. She was interested to get to know a fellow pulser. But the one called Brom seemed less enthused. She didn’t bother to give him a reply. Instead she grinned, unable to resist. ”I hope so, too.” ”Let me show you,” she replied, letting their collective cloaks fall to the floor. Closing her eyes, she focused inward. She knew what came next would be less than impressive, but it was the best she had. Her djed was mostly replenished, having been given some time to recover. In her mind's eyes she saw the gloried splendor of energy and visualized separating it, expanding it, rebuilding her core make-up from start to finish. In the intricate lacework of her soul there were fibers of both mental and physical djed, the many strands of a tapestry, interwoven. Slowly, she focused on picking out one from the other, isolating her earthly form with the intent to alter it. She felt it gradually disengage, breaking from previous worry and despair. Celeste turned invisible eyes toward her essential code, suddenly an artist at work. Her legs began to shorten, trading calves for hocks. Her body shuddered to the ground and she pushed further, stretching her djed into an all-too familiar shape. The strain was always evident in her face, far from the seamless grace of her mentor. But she maintained, fashioning a snout out of skin. Falling to her hands she went from biped to quadruped, focusing acutely on the image of her favorite form, shaping stifle joints from knees and stretching her spine. The sensation was always peculiar both within and without, like manipulating the elastic of her soul. Her skin began to itch as fur pressed up and out of each pore. By the time all was said and done, she sat on her haunches, panting in the afternoon sun. She was nothing more than a mutt – a brindled shorthair, indistinct from any other canine. But her eyes were liquid gold, one of her favorite characteristics. Internally, she held fast against the impulse to let the shape go. It was much more difficult to maintain her morphed form in the sudden heat. But such was having fur and worse, what she suspected was an undercoat. Celeste had a very vague sense of anatomy – she only intuitively copied what she saw. ”Not quite up to par, but I’ll learn.”

[Mirage]

Riyana laughed and went to her knees, taking Celeste into a quick hug and rubbing her head, scratching behind the ears. She smiled a toothy smile, "It is adorable! Absolutely fantastic! I am very impressed that you have such a wonderful model mastered at such a young age. Most can barely handle shifting their features to something more human, but you can do this!" Riyana beamed, and Tierra seemed to smile where she stood. Brom did not bother to look over, settling on his haunches to look over the distance, nose in the air to test for scents.

Petting Celeste a few more times, Riyana looked her in the eye, "But I don't think you can hold that form for very long can you?" She smiled encouragingly, "It is alright really. Both Tierra and Brom took time before they could stay as they are for longer periods of time, and they were much older than you when they began." She stood and waved Tierra over, "For now I would like for you to ride on Tierra's back. It would not look good if my Initiate succumbed to overgiving on her first day, now would it?"

Tierra crouched low, looking into Celeste's eyes, "It's alright, I do not mind."

[Celeste Arumen]

She was not prepared for that level of approval. In fact, she had feared disappointment as a reaction, or worse. Instead she wagged her tail vigorously, grinning a lopsided smile. But Riyana was right – she couldn’t hold that form, not for very long. She’d only used the dog to get to safe places or to occasionally a make quick escape. Celeste was far too limited to maintain it for any significant amount of time. She strained against the mounting pressure of her djed for one last moment before the release, allowing her original identity to snap mercifully back into place. After a chime or so she was back to normal, though somewhat drained. ”Okay,” she rasped. ”I don’t mind, either.” After the ridicule from the Nuit, what did she have? She was there to learn. Whatever came next, she’d accept it unflinchingly. Celeste stretched her sore limbs, oblivious to Brom’s disdain, and walked over to Tierra. ”I’m ready when you are.” And she smiled at Riyana, pleased to be for once, wholly accepted. OOCSorry for the shortness! It's been a long weekend.