Closed The Darkest of Meetings.

[Russell Wood]

30th Day of Spring, 514

Russell had forced himself to wake up extra early that morning, he was expected at the Lazarin’s place today to void up their rubbish. He himself was rather surprised to find himself within this place, but he continued to stay calm throughout the whole day. Russell was now standing in a court of sorts with a pile of garbage right in front of him. He sighed, he was expected to void all of this; he’d have to be extra careful with how he was going to do this. With that thought in mind Russell began to plan how he was going to void some of the rubbish. It’d be stupid to open up an extra large portal and just fit them in. So the only other option open to him was using a stronger than usual pull, he nodded before he began to start working.

Russell began to clear his head, all unneeded thoughts were thrown out, he needed to become like the void himself. A mind as empty and as barren as a near infinite realm as nothingness, he continued to clear his head with only one image in there, the one of the void. Russell let his djed flow out from the palm of his hands, the molecules in front of his hands were being pushed away slowly; the space was becoming empty.

Ever so slowly the first sparks of a portal were beginning to start; Russell could already feel the pull on his djed as the tiny little portal opened in front of him. Russell had to will it to grow larger; it steadily began to grow as a pull could be felt. To those standing nearby watching, they’d fill the lightest of pulls that can only be felt due to the unnatural angle it was from. Russell stopped willing it to grow anymore as it reached half the size of his body, floating in mid-air was a swirling purplish black portal that would suck anything into the large realm that was called the void.

Russell willed the pull to become stronger; it was already a strain on him. Even if he hadn’t done anything amazing with it so far Russell could tell that this would be the only time he’d be voiding today. Soon garbage came flying in, it was light and the pull was strong enough to drag it in. A few pieces would certainly be able to stay due to their weight. Russell increased the pull a little more, slowly the heavier pieces of garbage moved from their drag to a small bit of flight before they disappear once more into the darkness with their brethren. The pull was still weak, Russell sighed, why was he being so careful? He willed it to become a lot stronger, the pull on his djed increased a good deal and Russell felt a lot better seeing even the pieces of rubbish from far away were dragged into the darkness. He almost felt as if he was done with what he was supposed to be doing here, just a couple more seconds of this.

[Andariel]

Business reports, financial records and family expenses ledger. All of them are bound to form one exasperating word that'll clog the rest of her leisurely time, and that is stress. The word alone disrupts the very last liters of her sanity, mostly it would make her a more paranoid person if ever there was a mistake committed on her family's duties. Keeping archives would definitely be the most challenging task she could ever do due to the vastness Zelkov Lazarin's business is ranging. Her father would always expect utmost assistance of his connections with the Nitrozians and those expectations are certainly raised when Andariel is assigned to be the pillar of his success. Sometimes expectations are the very things which dwindles her humanity into something that isn't worth for a living. Perhaps she didn't desire a life full of expectations at all.

A day living at her parents' manor wasn't always about leisure or bundling one's self with ecstasies. There were limitations for such cases. Everyone seemed to keep themselves at a busy state, fearing lectures from a day spent by worthlessness or lack of productivity. Each member of the household would normally have a large share of contribution for the betterment of the entirety's future. So much to say, it was one of the prominent reasons why wealthy families were always above the myriads of mundane townsfolk. Elise Lazarin, her mother, would always be seen handling documents mainly concerning the Ebonstryfe's activities. Crimes weren't usually the ones that would rest for the entire season, and Elise dearly knew that fact. However, decreasing it's rampant run was what she devoted herself into. Keeping herself busy with all the Ebonstryfe's order for Rhysol and against conspirators, was only a necessary way to prove her devotion.

It was mid-morning around the 11th bell when Elise Lazarin approached her daughter to claim archives of the past financial records of her husband, Zelkov Lazarin. Like Andariel, she also did her uncontroversial investigation against the Galatos, if ever Andariel's suspicion was bringing up facts. However, not enough information were gathered at that time but Elise had enough proofs in her mind that illegitimate activities were indeed running rampant throughout the city. Of course, those sorts of negotiations weren't often rendered to publicity and it would take fools to fill their greed by defiling the code of the city. Elise Lazarin left the manor after the 12th bell, leaving Andariel in-charge of the manor with most of the family's servants aiding her.

Andariel remained at her desk, grubbing into deeper documents that were piled up on her main table. The last thing she remembered was to search for the Galatos family's transactions with her father but her task seemed to subside from her reaches once stress invaded her sanity. Just from glancing at the pile of papers simply made her mind swirl like a mere cyclone. She sighed for a moment and then rubbed her forehead with her delicate fingers. San, her Inarta slave, stood in beside her office's door, still the same as she always was; looking lifeless the entire time but Andariel didn't manage to even look at the child. Only when another servant barged her office with courteous gestures gave another train of stress to divert Andariel from her focus. The male servant shoved the door, opening just to lure himself into a stressed and impatient mistress.


"Mistress Andariel," The aura of Andariel alone sent shivers of terror from the servant's fragile bones. Dropping his words abruptly, the servant realized one important 'ceremony' he must perform in order to ease his mistress' unyielding impatience. The servant bowed with courtesy but all of it seemed to be bundled with nervousness. Andariel didn't mind the servant but her concentration to her tasks were gravely disrupted.

"I'm sorry or the sudden interruption m'lady but-"
"No, do not apologize. Apologizing would just open the larger reserves of my impatience." Andariel slashed the words of the servant, almost seemingly annoyed by the trait they were developing lately; apologizing excessively. "Alright m'lady I'm sor-" The servant cut his stutter, abruptly realizing his attempted mistake.
"The garbage collector, m'lady."The servant took a gulp of his nervousness before continuing himself. "He uses magic to dispose the garbage." Andariel's head turned abruptly to the servant with her eyes flared that struck unspeakable terror to the one taking a glimpse of it. Magic wasn't a completely unfamiliar subject to her but once she heard it being performed at her family's manor, there were multitudes of sudden yearnings, smearing about her head to try everything for it to be stopped. The servant somehow understood his mistress' reaction for the matter, and then he nodded to affirm about how true he conversed it.

"San! come with me child." Andariel commanded. San followed her mistress, leaving the office before pacing themselves in a faster momentum. Perhaps Andariel couldn't afford herself to run as fast as she could to stop the thing she judged as 'barbaric'. Her body wasn't clearly built to be physically active and she didn't wish herself to be involved in such tedious activities. She walked and continued to do so until her mouth started to stream heavy breaths. Within a few chimes, Andariel reached the main door entrance of their manor which leads to the outside vicinity. She then neared a large window beside the door to get a clear view of what was happening on their garbage outside.

With a glance, she saw the monstrous streams of djed sending off rubbish into their wards. Andariel's eyes were widened after getting a clear view of the amorphous blobs. They looked like portals, as she would describe it. Andariel haven't had the widest array of vocabulary when it comes to magic but she knew how they processed the garbage by swirling matter around them and devouring every object it was willed for. Andariel felt terrified, not towards the view of magic but the risk of damaging her manor. She couldn't stop it by force alone but it was better to try something than nothing at all. She then stepped outside, with eyes drawn with anger as he saw the man performing the cursed ritual.

"STOP THIS YOU BEAST! ONCE YOU DAMAGE THIS PLACE, A BOUNTY WILL BE PLACED ON YOUR HEAD!!" She cried, making her voice loud enough to let the man get a clear hearing of her words.

[Russell Wood]

Russell was beginning to feel rather tired from the great strain that allowing this portal to exist was causing him. The garbage was nearly all gone, and the few pieces that were there weren’t going to be picked up by whatever pull he had the energy to create. But what really threw him off was the sudden shout, he usually managed to clear his head enough to ignore such things, but the fact he was almost sure it was aimed at him didn’t help what so ever. Russell looked in the direction it came from, it was a woman that had “asked” him to stop.

Russell complied and slowly allowed the portal to close itself as he stopped fuelling it; he also decided to ignore the fact that he had been called some sort of beast; retaliating to such an insult would cause far more trouble than it was worth at the moment. Russell decided to simply let out a rather loud sigh. He decided to make his way over to where the woman in question was, his steps were slow as to show no hostility and the palms of his hands were shown to all of those who were watching.

He couldn’t care less about anyone else that was there at the moment, this woman claimed to be able to put a bounty on his head, plus she seemed to hold an air that was different to some of the other people here. Broken in slaves tended to appear empty for a long time, if not rather skittish, she didn’t hold that feeling. Russell could tell that she at least wasn’t someone that belonged to another. ”I’m sorry for any distress that my display of magic might have caused you and anyone else. But I would like to interject that it is my job to use it in such a manner and it is known by the few who need to that I use it as such.” Russell bowed; a strange one though both of his arms were spread to his sides, not fully out.

”I’m Russell Wood, a mage who specializes in voiding, and I tend to use my skill to help out our great city in my own way.” Russell stood up straight once more with a small smile on his face. As he talked he made sure to weave a suggestion. ’He appears to be friendly.’ Russell inwardly smiled, if things went well with this conversation he might make himself a powerful friend. The opposite also applied but he made sure not to worry about such a thing, he was far to great for such a mistake.

”Usually I’d have been practicing in another designated area, but today it seems like I’ve been tasked to work here. I believe I’ve mostly finished with the job. I’d also like to add that I’ve had years of practice with my particular art, there was never any threat to your property or home to begin with ma’am. Although if you do find any damage I’d take my own head for such a failure.” He was exaggerating a little, but that was rather obvious to tell. He elicited an emotional response of awe. He felt a heat build up behind his eyes after the last one, so Russell finished his tricks off with a suggestion. ’This man at least knows what he’s doing.’

Russell didn’t know this woman too well, he couldn’t tell what the right buttons to press were, it bothered him a little but it was also something he’d get used to over time. It was a minor wall blocking his way into becoming a memorable figure within this woman’s mind. ”May I enquire into as what your name might be ma’am?” He said with a smile on his face.

[Andariel]

Tasked to work here? Andariel wondered, and thought if ever there were people trying to attempt the destruction of her home. In the end, there wasn't any she could think of, oddly enough the man was clearly misunderstood. But misunderstandings weren't the ones Andariel would thought of as a reason, there might be some hidden intentions and she was eager to lift their revelation before they unravel themselves.

Andariel finally calmed herself, the sudden anger shifted into usual moods, though it might return again if ever there was something that would escalate her temper. "Who sent you here, if I may ask?" She managed to ignore the pronunciation of the man's name, not like it would pose some great importance to any of her aims. The last question was ignored as well, as she might have thought knowing his motives first would be a probable reason to understand such actions. San, Andariel's Inarta subordinate, appeared from the inside of the manor, stepping outside after having troubles to catch up with her mistress' abrupt actions. Although the demonstration of djed vanished, the sight of it remained inside her head and she couldn't help but wonder such unique and amazing things. San then brought herself to Andariel, standing right beside her with her usual lifeless presence.

"Your apologies should justify your actions, magic user. However, fortunate enough for you, no damage has been done or you might have been doomed yourself for the methods I would plan on executing your head." She spoke loudly, portraying her true potential if ever the unlikely occurred. Andariel then decidedly stepped forward. She wanted to see the man clearly, taking a view from distances would be as if she was conversing to deaf people. After moving away, from the front yards of her mansion, she took a much more visible view of the man. He was unbelievably tall for someone who would look like a normal citizen, if Andariel would judge. The intriguing feature she found was the man's green eyes. Andariel quickly noticed it and wondered if he ever was a sub-cultured human. A Drykas? or a Benshira perhaps? The truth was probably uncertain but Andariel wouldn't ask of whatever is the truth, therefore assuming he was an ordinary human with unique features. Magic was somehow a prominence to her interests but knowing who sent him was the first and foremost reason she wanted to peruse.

"I am Andariel of the Lazarin family but that is not the reason why I'm placing my efforts on speaking myself to you." She managed to pause her words while a multitude of questions smeared her thoughts. "Who do you work for?" Though there were many questions she wanted to ask, the question she spoke might give a concise answer to all of them.

[Russell Wood]

Russell found himself thinking deeply underneath this woman’s gaze, as he thought she was nothing like the people around her, you’d be hard pressed to find people like her in Ravok. But then again Russell himself wasn’t normal, as much as he liked pretending to be so. He found himself wondering on how to answer her first question, should he go in detail? ”Well Ma’am, I’ve been asked to come here by Mr.Lazarin, it was a rather big surprise, but who am I to say no to such a specialized task?” Russell said with a small smile, it wasn’t a direct query from the man, but rather he was asked by someone else coming in his place. Russell did find himself worried about how they knew of him.

Russell found himself wondering how he was going to harm this place to begin with; he trusted his own skill far too much to even damage this place. ”I’m well aware of any possible damage that could have been made, but I do place a fair amount of faith in my own abilities. I don’t believe I have damaged a building yet, and damaging a property as well made as this one would take more than a mere slip-up.” Russell said with a calm tone, he was standing up stock straight. The same small smile planted on his face. It made him look far friendlier than he actually was without showing any of the superiority he felt inside.

Russell heard her finally introduce herself. ”I’m glad to meet you ma’am, please ask what you need to.” He said in the calmest of tones he could muster. The current situation was one hardly to be worried about, magic tended to scare the majority of people that was all. Then again there was the curiosity that one feels when first talking to a wizard. Russell heard the question she had asked of him. This was going to be one that he would have a good deal of fun answering. ”Hm, that is a rather complicated question ma’am. But the simple answer would be that I work for Rhysol and the city, the more complicated answer would be I work for myself. Take that however you will. I void things that no longer need to be here, and I get to work whenever I want most of the time. During special occasions such as this one I tend to go earlier rather than later.” Russell appeared to be as calm as one could possibly be.

Russell was beginning to be able to build up a mental information box of this woman; her personality would be one he would need to watch for a little while as he thought of what buttons to press. ”Now Ma’am, I have a few queries that I would be most happy with if you would answer them. In exchange I will answer some more of your own, no matter how many of them you have.” Russell’s smile dropped for the time being, showing a more serious expression. He’d test this woman’s reactions out, and her answers. Then would come her questions and he’d know what to do.

”Now Ma’am, would this be the first time you’ve seen anyone use magic?” Russell said in the same calm tone as before, while his tone sounded friendly his facial expression was rather neutral if not serious. He had a couple other questions in mind, but this was probably the most important one, he wanted to see how she reacted to this one first. ”I doubt that you’d know the answer to this question, but just how did Mr.Lazarin learn of me and my abilities.” He knew a little bit of the richer families of Ravok, but not the full extent of their influence this question would help him out a good deal.

[Andariel]

The man talked a lot for what Andariel could perceive. His name was clearly forgotten the moment another topic slipped her mind but regardless, it still wasn't of big importance if she would resolve some issues about the situation. Magic....... Her thoughts circled around a specific timeline. One which she dearly despised for all the years of her life. It was the reminiscence of Zeltiva and her vile experiences in the city. Perhaps she wouldn't call it as a 'reminiscence' but rather, a grim reminder of how trusting her loyalty to others was an unlikely sin. Though the thought occurred to her all of a sudden, she quickly shook them off before she could erupt into uncontrollable rage.

Andariel lent her ears to listen at the man. Most of his words gave her confusion, thinking about the fact where the answers couldn't get any vaguer than what she was understanding. Then again, asking for another clarification might still confuse her more than she ever was. Magic was simply understandable to her, was there anyone who studied at Zeltiva who is foreign to such phenomenon? Although Andariel might as well keep her distances away from the clutches of magic, it would sometimes be an interest of wonder to marvel a demonstration of it. Perhaps she didn't have friends who were very familiar with magic or maybe if she had, there wouldn't be any strong connections with them as Andariel's interest revolves on wealth and power. But none the less, the man was intriguing. Voiding was spectacularly useful and anything which might be of use never ceased to color Andariel's interests.

"No, I'm afraid not." Answering to the man's question, Andariel raised her modesty. San, the Inarta servant, finally stepped outside with seemingly unaware of what just happened. The girl walked as she approached and stood by her mistress' side. "Magic is very familiar to me, perhaps it was much more familiar than what you were thinking of since these.....barbaric things have been lingering around at the time when I studied at Zeltiva." Calling it barbaric was somehow an inappropriate term for her, she quickly gave it a thought before speaking herself up. "Oh I'm sorry....ignore my discourtesy, it's a very nasty trait of mine," She paused as she recalled about the things she have said recently. "I do apologize for calling you a beast." She then glanced at San only to think her presence wasn't noticed the time when Andariel stepped outside.

Perhaps it wasn't a wise decision for her to apologize, her pride seemed to have a higher concern than courtesy but she knew the man had potential. Another ally perhaps? Her thoughts were uncertain but forming allegiances with magic users could be a wise move. Their abilities were far more superior if she might compare it to mere soldier pawns. But she still wouldn't consider of calling them pawns, the man's capabilities were still unknown. His smile displayed an ambiance of harmlessness though reality could be deceiving at times.

Agian, Andariel felt discourteous for not minding all of the man's questions. But she did want to discuss about how he got himself into the mansion and of course, Andariel might have plans on giving the man an 'offer'. "Would you rather come inside and have your questions answered? I dislike staying outside and you have my permission, I have.....some things to discuss about you," Andariel paused as she tried her hardest to remember the name the man had mentioned. Unfortunately, she haven't and her mouth remained open for a brief moment. "Do not worry, this isn't the first time I invite strangers." Andariel then turned to face the front entrance of the mansion, taking few steps as she gestured the man to follow her.

[Russell Wood]

Russell nodded as the woman spoke, she didn’t seem to be angry about the building which was certainly a plus if Russell had to be honest. He now only had to concentrate on getting on her good side. His initial display of magic might have put her off, which would certainly bring down his chances of making her an ally. He barely paid attention to the servant that had just stepped next to Andariel. But he was glad to hear she wasn’t put off by magic, or rather she wasn’t a stranger to it. ”Hm, I see. Well it’s rather interesting to hear that magic isn’t something new to you. Not many people seem to know much about magic, and what they do know is from 3rd hand accounts, although I can understand why Zeltvia seems to be place magic users would be attracted to.” Russell didn’t know much about the place, merely the name and the number of times it cropped up in his grandfather's conversations, from what he could grasp it was somewhere wizards would be attracted to.

”Oh no, it’s no problem, the fault does partially lie with me, perhaps I should have informed your servants that I use magic for my job. So I do apologize for that myself.” Getting himself to say that was a little hard. But he had an end-goal in mind and lowering his pride would be for the best at the moment. He was dealing with someone that could help his ideas come into fruition. He put on the smile that he had been wearing earlier once more, he still had another question of his to be answered, and then again there was always possible questions he would need to answer. He had to keep a close eye on her to see any of her reactions, and possible find the best buttons to push with hypnotism if it had to come to that. He wanted to avoid using magic at the moment as voiding had used a good deal of energy earlier.

”That would certainly be most welcome, thank you for inviting me into your home ma’am.” He said with a rather calm and as friendly a tone as he could muster. He laughed a little at the woman’s last comment. He was a little on edge if he had to be honest, he had his citizen registration papers on hand if it was anything along those lines. Russell was a little more busy worrying about his outward appearance as he felt that he needed to give off a calm air. He followed Andariel and thought about the possible questions she could have and would he have an answer?

”The weather is rather nice today, compared to the recent weather that is.” Small talk was boring to some, but was good for seeing her opinion on things. Russell found it strange to be in a situation in which he couldn’t play with a person so easily, it was a challenge and a rather welcome one. ”Now ma’am, I believe you had some questions. I can hold mine for the time being seeing as this is your home.” His smile lessened a little, looking less friendly and more professional. It was a smile that rather than show happiness conveyed that it was a smile that showed he was interested and her next few questions would show her worth in his eyes. A smile that could almost be called dangerous.