The girl who cried Crow (Hyacinth)

[Elhaym]

60th Day of Winter, 510 AV Pain stopped dead in her tracks. The pack on her shoulder slid off her shoulder's as they went limp, impacting the ground with considerable racket. Beautiful. Amazing. This city was alive... Pain hadn't fully taken in the locale of the city until this very moment. The sweeping view, towering structures composed of some odd crystalline compounds glistening, narrow walkways connecting the various platforms that seemed to make up the city... it was all so foreign. Yet, Pain did not feel out of place. Perhaps it was because for the first time in her life, she looked upon countless other people who's distinct facial features and complexion were the same as her own. Tanny wiggled happily at her feet, apparently approving of the new city as well. "Well... good gods, this place is beautiful Tanny. What were doing wasting so much time in that hellhole crypt when there are places like this." Pain said, lowering her gaze to her precious pet. She may have earned a few odd looks, but that was nothing new. She had a nasty habit of talking to herself, and had long given up trying to restrain it. After a few more moments of marvel, Pain collected herself (and her pack), and set to business. Room and board, job... all that could wait. She wasn't even sure if she would be staying in this city, after all. If someone told her Crow was somewhere else, she'd most likely just be leaving. Pain sincerely hoped that wasn't the case, because despite the urgency of her desire to find this woman she really did want to explore this place. Pain began doing just that, making her way through the crowds until she spotted a flash of blue. A guard, just like the ones at the gate. The Knights in Syliras had always been helpful (if not a bit gruff) whenever she needed help finding something, so Pain decided to try her luck again. This man looked a bit older, so perhaps he would have some information for her. Without further ado, Pain marched up to the Shinya Monk with her dog following at her side. "Err... 'scuse me. Hi... Oh, hello there. Uhh... Yeah, I need your help." Pain said, her thought process and vocabulary apparently derailing as she initiated conversation with the Monk. She produced the journal with the sketch of Crow, and began to ask him about her. "She looks like me, s'what my father said anyway. So uh, I think she's from around here. She's called Crow, and she's pretty good in a fight, that much I know. Oh, she knows "projection" and "voiding" as well." Pain said, putting special emphasis on the named schools of magic for no apparent reason. Pain didn't know much at all about them, so she assumed the guard may not either. When Pain was finished with her spiel, she gave a pleading smile that seemed to tilt to one side. Would he be able to help her?

[Kelpie]

Fortunately for Pain, all Shinya obliged the questions and pleas of the public. They didn’t find her any different than the rest of the Lhavitians, on the contrary, if it weren’t for her clothes and her pack, she could have disappeared in the mass of bodies swarming the Surya Plaza without the odd stares a foreigner might receive. When she approached the Shinya standing stationary by a rather curious shop, he showed no hint of curiosity towards her. Stoic could be the word that best described him as he patiently listened to Pain’s odd request. When Pain whipped out her journal and displayed the sketch of Crow, something in the monk seemed to falter. Although it was subtle, and his placid expression remained as it was. “We do not know anyone here with the name of ‘Crow’, however that woman did come from Lhavit. If you are searching for her, she is here no longer. ” His common was accented, but his tone was sharp, “She has been absent for many years.” He seemed to pause, “Voiding is not allowed in this city.” The comment seem to come as an afterthought, but the way he said it seemed to imply dire punishment for voiders who make themselves known. “If you require further information you may find it at the Shinyama Pavilion. I will be happy to escort you there if you wish.”

[Elhaym]

Pain blinked rapidly as the monk spoke to her, confirming that her target was in fact a former resident of Lhavit. Upon his offer to escort her to Shinfukaimiki... err, whatever it was he said, Pain nodded solemnly and began to follow. His movements were slow and purposeful, contrasting Pain's jerky movements. She battled the weight of her pack, and Tanny's ever curious nose as he pulled on the leash. Pain focused on her guide's back as she walked, failing to take in the scenery as she did before. At this point, she was deep in thought. Weird choice of words... he hadn't said she left, he'd said been absent. For some reason, that choice of words had Pain wondering what exactly her role in this city had been. Not to mention his obvious disdain for Voiding. That seemed to have come as a surprise to the monk at the very least, but her father had been positive she had in fact used that sort of magic. Odd. Maybe there was more to this than simply figuring out someones name... Pain stumbled and moved to the side, narrowly missing plowing straight into the monk. He motioned towards the structure before them, a tall building unlike anything Pain had seen in Sylira. Apparently, this was Shojikuzakiyama or however he'd said it. "Thanks for showing..." Pain began to say, but her guide was already trudging forward into the building. "Alright then." Pain said, hoisting her pack up higher on her shoulder. The building looked pretty official, and though the man hadn't made any mention of the policies on pets in Lhavit, she didn't want offend anyone. As he disappeared through the heavy doorway, Pain set to tying Tanny's leash around a large square column that housed a glass bowl containing a fire. "Sit tight buddy, i'll be right back." Pain cooed to her companion, then jogging with the accompanying racket of her supplies clinking together towards the doorway. When she entered, the monk that had led her here was nowhere to be seen. Pain saw a few similarly clad men and women moving to and fro, but decided it best just to wait for him to come back. Pain unslung her supply pack to her feet... and waited for whomever may come to greet her.

[Kelpie]

It wasn’t long before a young boy reappeared to draw Pain’s attention, clad in a light blue uniform only acolytes wore. He bowed to the woman and motioned for her to follow him up the stairs, passing through several floors before ascending to the top most level, all in all it hadn’t taken long for them to arrive to what appeared to be a spacious room, with several meditating Shinya settled near the walls, and several more under the guidance of their instructor, who softly murmured to those who sat cross-legged and passive with their eyes closed. The boy continued onward, to a room stationed in the corner, with clean white wood walls and a sliding door opened for Pain to allow her entrance. Inside was a low polished wooden table, with cushions for seats set across from two men who waited patiently for Pain to settle herself. One was garbed in a robe gown of black with a golden overcoat embroidered with the insignia of the Shinya. He appeared to be in his later years, but still retained a youthfulness to his skin and eyes that made it hard to tell his age. The other man, also garbed in a black robe gown but with only a golden sash to show his rank sat placidly, his eyes showing no hint of surprise or disapproval. It was as if all traces of emotion were wiped clean from his features. He was neutral, and it would remain that way. “Welcome,” came the Shinsa’s polite greeting as Pain sat down, “We are honored to have you in our presence. My name is Atanu Tan’kima, Shinsa of the Shinya Order, and beside me is Jun Lhutav, my trusted adviser and friend. Luat has told me that you seek a woman named ‘Crow’, what else can you tell us of her?”

[Elhaym]

Pain awkwardly positioned herself onto the cushion, folding her legs underneath her and sitting with both of her knees pointed forward. There was a simple elegance to this room that Pain admired, but she had little time for her apparent new interest in architecture to develop. Pain wasn't positive, but she was fairly certain that she was currently in the presence of the leader of this cities patrol. The Shinya, as he had said. A steady stream of blinking and gulping erupted from Pain's face as she took this in. This was the equivalent of being sat down in front of Loren Dyres. Was this woman so well known here as well? "Well... uhhh..." Pain said, stumbling over her words. She was a fraction of a second from spilling her life story, but decided against it. If they wanted to know, they would ask. "She's a woman my family encountered in the wildlands of Sylira. My father, uncle, and brother..." She paused for a second, inhaling deeply and forming her words into a more coherent form than what was currently jumbled inside her mind. "... Well, apparently she was working with some slavers or something along those lines at the time she met up with my family. She fled, so i'm guessing her loyalty didn't run too deep." Pain continued, but she stopped after the last bit and shook her head. She was getting off tracked, and needed to remain concise. "Anyhow, apparently she was a woman of Lhavitian heritage, my father was certain of this. She also used Projection and Voiding magic... and she had a good amount of talent when it came to fighting with her body and some sort of blade as well. She killed my brother then. My father hunted her for years, ten to be exact." Pain said, gritting her teeth as she told the story. She had not told it often, and it felt odd to speak about those events in such a nonchalant way. The thing was, she had a feeling these men could help her. She needed to seem capable and strong. No weakness. "He found her again, near Sunberth. This time, she nearly killed my father and maimed both him and my uncle. That was it. After she escaped, the both were forced to end their search and return to Syliras. Now, it has fallen to me to find her... and finish what they started." Pain said, heat growing in her throat and face as she spoke. She couldn't hold back her true nature any longer. "I need help finding this murderous bitch, so I can repay her for everything she's taken from me. I intend to kill her." Pain paused for a moment, reaching to her pack that sat beside her and fishing out her father's journal. She flipped it open to the page that held the sketch he had done of the woman's face and flipped it around, sliding it across the table to the two men that sat before her. "This is Crow. Inside that journal is a much more detailed account of everything my family knows about her, her abilities, where she has been and who she was seen with. My father was a Bounty Hunter; this is his trade. I guarantee you everything you find within this book is nothing short of the absolute truth." "I will do anything you ask of me... but I need help finding this woman. Please, if there is anything you can tell me about her..." Pain quietly spoke, her fists clinched tightly in her lap. The heated wave that swept her face had grown in intensity, and a swollen lump had grown in her throat that stymied her voice from it's full volume. She looked on the verge of tears; not from sadness, but from despair. At this point, the full breadth of her search became clear to her. Any aid these men could render would be the only thing she had. Without their help, her search was as good as over.

[Kelpie]

Both the Shinsa and the Sanim waited patiently as Pain began to tell her brief story on the woman she was after. They showed no telltale signs of ones who have taken interest, only occasionally did they nod and give a small smile. Only when Pain was finished speaking and fished for her journal to show them both the sketch did their eyes stray from hers and scrutinized the image. Jun was the one who showed a brief hint of something that may have been akin to disgust. The moment was brief, and it had passed as quickly as one blinked. It was Atanu that spoke, “I apologize on the behalf of the Shinya for what this woman has done to your family. She did originate from us, but at the time that she studied here, she was an exceptional student.” He paused, “This image only furthers to deepen our resentment for her continued presence in this world. Her name is Oyama Tye.” Atanu flipped through several sheets of the pages, as if meaning to study what was written inside, “She may very well deserve to die by the hand of the girl whose life she has tormented, but we have been searching for her for many years. You see, miss…?” He continued after she spoke her name, “We do not allow those who have marred the image of the Shinya to go freely. We only ease their passage to Dira far more quickly. But Oyama… Oyama had escaped, and what she had done here has haunted our people for many years. She will die, my dear, but you will not have a chance of ending her life until you are ready.” It might have seemed like a father sheltering his child from unseen dangers. Atanu had closed the journal and slid it back towards Pain. “We cannot give you any information as to her whereabouts and risk your demise, young one--” “On one condition.” It was Jun who spoke up, and Atanu, mildly surprised, glanced his direction with an inquisitive look. “Train under the name of the Shinya and prove that you have what it takes to defeat this woman and reclaim the honor of our Order. Do this, and we shall help you.” His dark eyes bore into hers, with something that dared her to say no.

[Elhaym]

"Pain." was her responses when Atanu asked her name, which she noted seemed to to perplex him only the slightest amount. He continued speaking without breaking stride, and the fellow sitting next to him whom he had called Jun seemed entirely unaffected by her odd name. Lately, she had introduced herself as Elhaym Vormav to many, but thinking about Crow and what she had done and being so close to finding an answer... it felt as though she was thrust back into the moment when she had actually become Pain. After all, Crow had created Pain. When they met, she would show her the consequences of her actions. She would know Pain. But as Atanu continued speaking, Pain's anticipation faltered into rage and disbelief. He wasn't going to give her anything other than her true name, and that would get her nowhere. She could scarcely believe that this man had the nerve to tell her that they would not risk her demise. And then, the stoic one spoke. A condition. A chance. Pain's eyes nearly bulged out of her head, and she had to restrain herself from shooting upright in excitement. Yet, she did restrain herself. She met his gaze, a direct challenge that she could not refuse. Pain had no idea what "The Shinya" really even meant, though she had a loose idea. They were warriors. She was a warrior as well, and she had total confidence in her abilities. Further imposing upon them the true manner in which she lived, Pain answered his challenge directly. "Okay. I'll do it." Whatever formalties she had managed earlier in the discussions were long gone. Pain was a blunt speaker of few words, and her statement carried the eloquence of a battleaxe. Yet, from her voice they would detect that this promise was not spoken lightly. Indeed, this young girl who walked into their city with a book full of bad memories and a fist full of rage would do whatever they asked of her if it meant fulfilling what she considered her destiny in this world. Now, what exactly had she just agreed to?

[Kelpie]

Jun retained no smile at her agreement. He was a clean slate, devoid of any outward display of contentment, anger, pain or joy. He nodded his head every so slightly toward Atanu, and the Shinsa turned toward Pain, no smile of his own to greet her as he spoke. “Very well, young student. You will be inducted into the Shinya. You will learn our customs, our philosphies and the skill that sets us apart from the rest of Lhavit, but should you fail, you will remain with us, as a servant for the rest of your days.” His hard gaze bore into hers, “Are you sure you can live with this, young one?” Jun sat with a stare that lacked blinking. His was purposeful, as if he wished to transmit a message through the gap that separated them. He dared her for a reason, and one reason alone, because despite all of the potential candidates that walked through these halls and these doors, he saw something in Pain that he has made sure he would not dismiss so easily. Once Pain had made her decision, both the Shinsa and the Sanim stood, bowing low with their hands clasped together and gestured for Pain to exit. It was Atanu who spoke once more, “Treyu here will lead you to the Acolyte quarters and show you your rooms. We will assign your Shinya sponsor and he or she will arrive at your rooms at the break of dawn. Be prepared and dressed for the coming lessons. The Star Lady be with you.” The sliding door shut just as the boy named Treyu, freshly shaved and in his clean sky blue acolyte robes bowed toward Pain and motioned for her to follow. They passed through clean wooden hallways, fresh reed floors and scrolls in a language she could not yet read plastered to the walls. Down the steps they went, all while the Acolyte spoke, “Lessons begin at the break of dawn every day for six days, we get one day off to do whatever training we wish, but we must report to our Shinya sponsor every evening for meditation. If we’re late we don’t eat. We eat two meals a day, one in the morning, one in the evening. All these doors we’re passing are classes. We go to classes five times a day, each of them different. Martial arts, Projection, Meditation, Weapons, and the Shinya Ethics class. Don’t be late to Weapons, ever. Just a precaution. Here’s where you’ll be sleeping.” Treyu opened a sliding door where two other pallets lay neatly on either side of the wall. Both of them held neatly folded blankets and a fluffed pillow, but the owners were no where to be seen. “Your roommates are named Hashin and Rei, they’re probably out with their sponsors right now. That’s your bed.” He pointed at the far right corner. Nothing was in the room save for the pallets and another scroll on the wall Pain could not read. On Pain’s bed was a set of sky blue Acolyte robes. “If you need anything, my room is on the end of this hallway. May the Star Lady be with you.” He turned to leave.

[Elhaym]

The two men seemed none too responsive to Pain's decision, and Pain breathed heavily as she anticipated the next few words. She had no real ambition in her life other than to fulfill her self given duty of killing the woman called Crow, and if they took that away from her... but then, the elder of the two spoke. "Yes." Pain said in response to his cautionary statement detailing her fate if she were to prove herself unworthy. She nodded her head sharply as she spoke, brimming with confidence. She'd failed many times in her life in many different areas and subjects, but the art of war and the way of the warrior were two things that Pain could safely count on excelling in. Not to say she was a trained soldier or tactician, but she had real world experience in overcoming foes and both receiving and administering bodily harm to others. Pain took note that Jun's gaze seemed intently focused on her. He was impossible to read; she couldn't tell his state whatsoever. The only thing she knew about the man was that he and he alone had spoken up and given her a chance. For this, she would take special care to make sure his influence with Atanu would not have been wasted. She gave him a second nod, but no smile. He didn't seem the type to appreciate one. Pain stood and mimicked their bow and clasped hands, taking leave of them as the commanded. One may find it quite surprising that for someone of Pain's potential volatile and bold behavior that she had little problem with authority. She followed Treyu into the hallway, exchanging brief introductions before he launched himself into a description of a typical day, expectations, and a few warnings. She was then led into a room that housed several bedrolls of sorts, and not much else. For a moment Pain hesitated, wanting to ask her new peer where the blazes she would be keeping her stuff. The question weighed on her physically as well, in the form of a sixty pound pack hoisted on her shoulder. And Tanny! Shyke. Before she could vocalize these worries, he was already saying his goodbyes. "Err... and with you... I guess..." Pain said, the last bit rolling off her tongue in a slight whisper as he hustled away. Pain briefly walked into the room, inspecting it. "Hashin, and Rei, huh... never had roommates before." Pain thought aloud, her eyes trailing to the scroll hoisted along the wall uselessly. In any case, she needed to get back down and figure out what she was going to do with her stuff, but more importantly with Tanny. He undoubtedly would not be able to stay in the room with her, but she had to find a place to keep him while she was in this city. As close as possible would be best... the old mutt had been at her side for a while now, and had grown accustomed to her love and attention. Pain retreated from her new home, retracing her steps without guidance to the entryway of the Pavillion. She found Tanny where she had left him, laying at the foot of the column she had tied him to. She unfastened his leash and roused him from his slumber, giving him some scratches behind the ears and cooing to him. Pain looked to and fro, until she noticed another young man dressed identically to Treyu walking towards her. Quickly, she waved and presented herself. After a brief explanation of what had occurred and noting that she would be beginning her training with the Shinya in the morning, she asked where she could keep both her belongings and her dog for the time being.

[Kelpie]

The Acolyte seemed rather taken aback by the black-haired girl with the dog on a leash. He quirked his brow, as if it seemed he wasn't able to understand her, but after a moment he nodded and motioned for Pain to follow. He couldn't speak Common. Of course, that was convenient. After several chimes of walking up a series of steps, Pain and the Acolyte arrived at an enormous building nestled between the walls of the Shinyama Peak. "Shinyama Monastery." He said in Lhavitian, as he pointed at the structure with an array of Shinya monks walking about the open garden ahead. The Acolyte continued to the two guards at the front of the gates and when Pain asked once more where she could keep her pet Tanny, one of the men responded. "We may be able to keep him in the open garden. He will have a home and be cared for while you study at the Pavilion until you reach Shinya status and have your own rooms at the monastery. You may visit him whenever you wish." It was a simple answer, but enough for Pain. If she wished, they would take Tanny then, and assure he was comfortable and had delicious food to eat immediately. oocYour next post can end this if you'd like, then you can start your solo threads. I'll let you know when I will be requiring you for another modded thread. In the meantime, enjoy!