[center] Location: Nyhem, Formaroth (Docks to Thale Manor) Time: Present Day By: [@Sundered Echo] & [@Fallenreaper][/center] [hr] “I think that’s it,” Dyril said as she finished writing the list of her wares. Her hunched over figure lifted upright and her dark eyes looked over the Mao at her side. Kiseo appeared rather nervous about her given task as she cautiously took the extended letter from Dyril’s hand and pocketed it into her satchel. She still held bags under her feline eyes thanks to the disrupted slumber during her first experience in a real bed. It was obviously miserable for her all night thank to the anxiety and restlessness causing her to tumble to the floor where she at last fell into a deep slumber. The next morning, they both had risen early to categorize their goods locked within the ship and determine how much gold was required to make this trip worth it. Through not dwarven metal, any profit was going to benefit them in the long run for the war happening back home. At least until Dyril’s grandfather discovered her current situation and either forced her back home or completely disowned her, neither were pleasant as it meant complete isolation. Dyril inhaled a breath to sooth her nerves before she nudged Kiseo along to her given task. There was still much for the half elven woman to attend to, primarily getting her wares somewhere else and stored safely until they were sold. Kiseo bowed her head obediently before she vanished into the crowded streets of Nyhem. [center]~~|An Hour later|~~[/center] After asking around and trying to navigate her way through numerous buildings, Kiseo managed to simply become ‘lost’ in one section of the city. While she knew the way back to the docks, going forward with little knowledge of how was simply impossible for now. Anxiety built in her core when she approach a pair of guards standing on a path’s corner and surveying the crowded streets of merchants to common folks, all attending to their daily business. It was a nerve wrecking start that ended up causing her to slip into her native language on instinct. This drew a look from both men as one nodded his head then turned to her, requesting she wait with him. She nodded her understanding through she was not exactly enthusiastic about it since it meant she might’ve caused trouble for Dyril now. After several minutes passed, the second guard arrived with two other men who bore the familiar symbol of the Thale Manor. Kiseo’s shoulders immediately relaxed upon the sight and she stepped forward, her words spoken in broken Formaroth with a request to see Magister Lady Dionisa. After hearing her request, they escorted her to the Thale Manor. Kiseo memorized their path for the future as she timidly stepped into the grand doors and was ordered to wait in the grandhall while a servant fetched Lady Dionisa. Forced to wait, the Mao observed the room. Lana was in her study on the top floor, looking over various documents from the palace. It was a boring job, and most of the reports of ‘magical activity’ from around the city and its surroundings were superstitious, ill-informed or attention seeking. The few genuine ones were typically explainable quite easily and not worth investigating. The rest of the stack of paper was logistics, and even more boring the fearful ramblings of the peasants. It had been one thing to manage House Thale, but her workload had near quadrupled with her promotion. Frankly, she didn’t know how Aurelia had dealt with it. It certainly explained her friends lack of time. At this rate she was genuinely toying with the possibility of delegating the Thale management to someone else, to say nothing of managing the task of restoring her own families recently re-granted assets. She was pleasantly interrupted from the tedious yet necessary paperwork by the chime of an ethereal bell - caused by the disruption of a subtle sustained illusion around her room - a warning spell to tell her when people approached. She shuffled the papers to the side and walked towards the door - reaching it just in time for a polite knock, followed by a servant’s voice. “Mistress, there is a…” The voice - Lana could now tell it belonged to the dark haired maid Mary - faltered. “Creature… to see you downstairs.” Taking a short moment to secure an illusory dress of black of and purple over her form, she then opened the door and thanked Mary, before descending to the hall on the first floor. As she appeared, she noted the presence of the Knight of St. Eleanor assigned to guard her - who immediately stood slightly taller when he noticed her. She also noticed the creature that had accompanied the Elf earlier admiring some of the plants set around the edges of the room. “Kiseo, was it?” Lana said, sure that she was butchering the name. Learning elven was one of the things she had always intended to do… eventually. “It is Key-see-o, not Kay-see-o, Magister,” Kiseo politely corrected as she retracted her attention from the nearest potted plant. Both her hands gripped the scroll and held it in front of her, aware she still had to deliver it. Her tail curled tightly against her backside. It didn’t sway like in the carriage as her mind was still wary of the last time her tail became too relaxed. Swallowing her emotions, Kiseo stepped forward to out hold the scroll, “Inventory request from mistress. Please the Magister, I hope, and detailed it is.” There was obvious struggle with the words she chose as she attempted to adjust her own understanding, but still seemed to fail to grasp the foundation rules over the language. “Thank you” Lana said, taking the scroll. She held it delicately, but did not open it. “I will look at it later. Did you wish to stay here a while and speak?” She asked expectantly. It was difficult to read the creature's emotions - a rather disconcerting element for Lana - though she was already applying her shape-shifting lessons for learning about creatures in order to gain that basic knowledge. She had no intent to study this creature enough to take its shape, but some basic knowledge was vital and would likely help facilitate communication. “Not use to talking free is me so please forgive. About many things, I am curious like clothes of yours… but normal ones rustle, these don’t,” Kiseo stated, attempting to make her sentences a bit more clearer, as her tone took on a questioning one. She wasn’t fully sure she was speaking as well as she wanted, her curiosity getting into the way and trying to edge her into speaking Mao when her mistress forbade her to. Part of her wished there was some type of magic that might make communication easier. Lana’s eyes widened ever so slightly as she comprehended the words of the creature. That was not an element of her illusion she usually worried about - most people were not attentive enough to notice. “Why don't you come with me and we can speak a little more privately?” Lana said, turning on her heel and moving further into the house - up to the second story and to a sitting room that had a view of the evening sun. The Knight followed her, but she instructed him to remain outside the door. “Yes, Magister,” Kiseo said seeing no way out of this without being impolite. Being within an individual’s home without Dyril made the Mao overly aware of her surroundings and she intended on avoiding a misstep that might cause issues for her Mistress in the future. Inhaling, she moved quickly behind the woman whose clothes weren’t following the natural laws as she made sure to keep an eye on her tail. The moment the Knight moved, her movement hesitated for a second causing her head to tilt to the right. She had learned in her youth that following steps often lead to trouble when she wasn’t always aware of their location. It was a habit she never broke for fear of suffering pain and misery like the first time. She was relieved when the man was asked to remain outside and edged cautiously into the room. Feeling the light upon her fur, the sun peaking through the window and warming her, caused a soft rattling to erupt from her throat much like a purring cat. However, Kiseo didn’t close her eyes slowly to enjoy it for long as her attention turned to the master of the home. Lana basked in the fading sunlight, appreciating the light warmth on the skin, but moreso the cascade of color on the horizon - a display that was far more magical to her than anything she could conjure to fool the masses. Even as she appreciated the light, anothe rpart of her mind noted every motion and sound that came from her guest. The latest sounds suggesting even more that Kiseo was essentially a giant, intelligent cat. “Are you familiar with magic and how it is used in Formaroth?” She asked as a lead up to what she was going to tell the creature. Kiseo’s attention was drawn from her distraction and her eyes darted to the Magister. Her purring had immediately ceased as she studied the woman’s words, then replied, “A knowledge little, I do… yes.” Her ears erected with an alertness while her foot twitched, eager to move from her spot and pace. However, good training and fear kept it in check. She fixed her unblinking eyes upon the woman before she added more, “In Formaroth, no sadly, because little we found.” It was completely true, through Kiseo was careful she didn’t detail her knowledge source or how. She might’ve had the talent but Dyril, despite being a non mage, knew far more then herself. The hybrid studied material when she had nothing else to do. This impressed even the priests when conversations reared up over the topic, but they still frowned upon her inability to cast the fine arts and often moved back to their own company. It didn’t help Dyril’s family would often interfere with matters of trade and other subjects that required immediate attention, preventing additional progression from her runt rank among the family. Lana took in the words carefully, unsure yet if they were chosen carefully or if Kiseo really had such a poor grasp of her language. Still, she pressed on. “Ah. Magister, my title, denotes many things, but one is my skill with magic. There are greater titles than mine, but they are few. I am versed in several schools of magic, including illusion, which I spent several years teaching at the Circle of Mages, Formaroth’s premier center for magical learning. I am among the most capable of mages in this city.” Kiseo decided to nod this time rather than say yes. It indicated she understood the rank and importance that Lana held within the city, a fact she had figured out beforehand during her conversation with Dyril. Being a lower ranking individual, correcting her better was very much frowned upon causing her to resist commenting on it. “Well respected, you would be back at home,” she added, her voice quieted a bit with the words. “Oh, I’m sure.” Lana said, before catching herself. “Though, my dear, I do not flaunt my titles to impress, or claim superiority. Merely to provide context. Are you curious why you cannot hear my clothing?” Lana asked. She wanted to see if the creature would press for an answer, and indulge in some curiosity. “Yes, am I. Interesting to see if … guesses of mine are right,” Kiseo said perhaps a bit too eagerly. She suspected maybe they weren't real at all or merely magical in nature, an illusion or expensive cloth designed to be silent. Either way, it was best to get the actual answer from the woman herself than continue to make theories over it. Lana smiled, ever so slightly mischievously. It wasn’t often she got to show off her illusory skills - though for good reason. They worked better the fewer people knew of them… She raised her right hand to her left shoulder, her fingers aglow as they touched the mock ‘fabric.’ Sliding them fairly quickly down her arm, she dissipated the illusory sleeve, showing the bare skin of her arm beneath. “That is why my clothes make no sound.” She said with just a hint of pride. Restoring the illusion as quickly as she removed it, she continued speaking, slipping into her ‘teacher’ tone of voice. “It would be quite rude to look too closely at me now you know this little secret. Disbelieving another mages illusion is simply not done in polite company.” Kiseo’s eyes widened slightly. Not because she had never seen magic performed, the act rather uncommon among the higher society Elves like Dyril, but because she was correct in her theory. The clothes weren’t real at all. Her tail twitched in excitement like a cat that had found a mouse in the grass and held intentions to toy with it before moving on. The motion reminded her of Lana’s reprimand earlier in the carriage about being careful not to let her tail stray too close to another’s personal space causing her hand to jerk out to the side and bat it back behind her. “Not hard, that is,” Kiseo began to explain, “Not the first mage I’ve meet, but taught well I am. No worries.” Another question surfaced within the Mao, “Illusion magic is all you know?” “I am talented in many fields of magic.” Lana said proudly. “But it would be foolish of me to reveal all of my talents to one I barely know…” She continued slyly. “Perhaps I will demonstrate some more spells if you answer some of my questions first?” She did not wait for a reply before launching into the main question she had. “Tell me, does your species possess the gift? Are there those among you that can perform magic?” Kiseo tilted her head, her eyes narrowed and thought for a moment. The subject became dangerously close to home for her as she sought the correct method to use in order to handle the answer. She decided to go with what the Priests had once told Dyril’s grandfather, both lucky enough to be in the room when it happened, and play it safe. She exhaled before she answered the question, “Mao, not many. An unlucky few.” Lana was puzzled at that response. She quickly thought through the possible meanings while comparing with what she knew of the Elven culture and law. The possible conclusions she came to didn’t make much sense to her, and were not good overall. Narrowing her eyes, she asked “What do you mean by unlucky few…. Magic is a gift.” Kiseo lowered her eyes, her posture submissive and guarded as she explained, “Elves, it is a gift. Any race beneath them are slaves and the experience, frightening it is. Magical slaves are taken from masters and sell again to Priests. Experiments they are use for, often maim or dies.” At the words, the Mao was instinctively trying to sooth over her anxiety on the topic. Her tail remained still and close to her body as her hands began to rub at her lower arms, her chest inhaling deeply then exhaled in a steady rhythm over and over. After a few moments, she managed to collect her calm once more. Her head lifted upright to bring her vision to Lana’s chest out of instinct. Lana’s face contorted in shock at the prospect that any mage - no matter the species - could be experimented on until they died. It was disgusting. Just as bad as the burnings in Formaroth. “I had no idea…” She began. “No clue that Elven culture was so brutal to my kind…” Suddenly, she was quite glad she had never visited elven lands, for, with no elven blood, she would likely classify as one to be enslaved by their standards. At one time, she had considered reaching out to the elves to assist her plans, but this revelation quite firmly removed that consideration. Kiseo resisted the urge to console the broken belief, a reality she once experienced herself. Her expression softened as she took a step closer, hoping her present might help, and continued to speak, “Truth, dirtier it is than hope. Rare immunity diplomats share, but stay in their host’s lands they must or risk slavery.” “Wise words.” Lana began. “But they do little to console my conscience… Perhaps one day I shall be able to extend my plans to bring freedom there as well-” She caught herself abruptly, realising what she had just said aloud, and to whom. “But enough of that. How are you finding the fair city of Nyhem so far?” She mentally chastised herself as she rapidly switched the topic. This was not her first slip up in remembering that she was among mundane company. It would have to be her last though. The Mao nodded her head as she observed the woman. There was a moment lapse in compassion, something that made the Magister almost human, but she expected never to see it. The sight was refreshing compared to the sober Elven senate whose expression seemed more rigid and stiff compared to humans. “Streets, confusing they is. Adjust, I shall with time before I can… navigate the city without getting lost,” She mentioned, taking the topic shift presented without protest. She let the answer linger a moment then added, “Any other questions, is there?” “Are you curious about this city? Or Formaroth in general?” Lana asked, starting to get a little annoyed at the extreme deference her guest was showing. “I studied a great deal about the culture and history of Formaroth while I was in the Circle of Mages. There are few in this city better equipped to answer questions than I about such things. You should ask while you have the chance.” “Many questions I have, but doubtful I am they can be cover by this visit. This is my first city since leaving the Imperium and very odd it is, not to see slaves roaming about in routines to their masters,” the Mao pointed out. This was the first thing she noticed that differed between Formaroth and the Elven Lands, one that held mixed emotions in her mind. Slaves were highly dependent on their masters which made freedom both a blessing and a curse in her mind. Her head tilted for a moment, her right ear tilted downward in thought then snapped back up again, “Magical talents not practice, what happens to mage? I have only seen a few mages but little knowledge.” “That is an… odd question.” Lana began. She didn’t know why any mage would not want to practice their talents. Even those hiding from the stake often still practiced in secret. “Though it is not something that has been tested much, to the best of my knowledge, it will not diminish the potential, nor raise it. Magic is like a limb, in a way. You must know how to use it, and regularly exercise it to get any results from it. If you did not use your arm, it would still be attached to you.” It was an awkward metaphor, but it was the one she was taught and the one she repeated on the rare occasion something like this came up. “The one difference, and danger, of not learning magic, is that in times of great stress people can occasionally manifest raw and uncontrolled spells. These can be a danger to not only those around the latent mage, but the mage herself. And so it is best for everyone if those with the gift recieve at least some training.” Lana finished her lecturing response, but before more could be said quickly added “Do you know someone who is hiding their talent? I can endorse their tutelage at the Summer Isles, or at least teach them myself how not to lose control of magic in a time of stress…” She was genuinely concerned as she spoke, though in the back of her mind she was going through possibilities already. There were not many people Kiseo could know in Formaroth... At the mention her question being an odd one and the brief pause, Kiseo’s heart thumped hard against her chest. It rattled and briefly skipped its pace causing her to inhale deeply through her nose to catch her breath. She had been caught up in getting some critical questions asked about magic, hopefully to benefit herself, that she hadn’t realized how sloppy she became with the wording. Even worst there was a fact that training was unavoidable which wasn’t something that she hoped to hear from the Magister. She would’ve been happy if her magic had just faded away or became a limp, useless ‘arm’, a view much different than the woman before her. Upon being asked about if she knew anyone, a lie was already forming in her head. Instinctively, her right paw like hand rubbed at her side where the faded scars of her whipping still remained. They weren’t as terrible as they should’ve been because she could harden her skin and protected herself during the event. Thankfully, Dyril’s family didn’t bother to assess the damage afterwards or she would’ve been sent away. Deep down, she hoped her next words would be a convincing enough lie, “Witness I did a slave once demonstrate magic back home. A Mao he was, like me. Frightened when a banded crocodile, vicious and large, attack and he set on fire protecting a young straying kit to the edge of the river. Suppose to be helping him I am, but distracted I am with the other kits. After separate from us, never forget his face I shall. It is of pure horror and cause me to wonder if intentional or uncontrol outburst.” She hoped the lie sounded convincing enough to ease the Magister’s unsettling attention and then bowed her head, her body bent at the waist as she added, “Thank you. Much clearer that incident is in my mind.” “I see” Lana replied. It was an interesting tale, but the whole conversation didn’t quite line up in her head. She had a feeling that there was more to this subject that Kiseo wasn’t telling her… But for now, it was neither terribly important nor particularly polite to press for more, and so she respected the apparent desire to change the subject. “Going, I should. Dyril is waiting for me and much still to do,” Kiseo bravely began to say in order to allow a smooth departure as she waited for the Magister to release her. It was hard to tell if her lie was working as it had been woven on the spot, a mix of truth and lies from her past, and her eyes pointedly fixed upon the woman for longer than was ideal for someone in her stature. At least in Imperium lands. She inhaled softly through her nose then thought to add an afterthought,” See you again, can I?” “Of course. Though I may not always be available immediately, you will always be welcome in Thale manor.”