[hider=Sunrise over the Summer Isles]
Dyril leaned against the rail, her eyes swept over the sunrise. She watched it creep over the horizon and bled out into the dying purple with warmer colors. Salt whipped across her braided hair, their appearance loose and messy due to her own inexperience. Kiseo usually aided her in tying her hair, but she had to remain behind for the crops. The worry about her being never left completely alone had dissipated over the length of the trip. The ship was smaller than she expected and her friend’s company kept the painful memories away. Her mind continued to absorb the scenery while she waited for Arianna to approach. In the distance the Summer Isles began to grow from a dot into an actual landmass.

She took a breath, her heart thumped with fear and excitement. The hope of not being hated or feared rose up, but it mingled with the possibility of disappointment. It sounded too good to her. Her finger tapped across the top of the wood in a familiar and comforting rhythm. A lullaby Shini once sang to her when she found sleep difficult.

As they drew ever nearer to the Island, the cold sea breeze subsided and the warmth of the sun began to take the edge off the chill. Long shadows fell behind the mast as the sun rose and in the distance the glistening of the water was cut by powerful war galleys on patrol. Closer still to the island, they passed by moored fishing ships, the crews preparing for the days work, as well as several merchant ships of wildly varying shapes, some entering the harbor, some leaving and others waiting.

Though perhaps not as grand or imposing as Nyhem, the capital of the Isles had all the signs of a bustling, thriving port city. Further inland, the majestic spire of the Circle of Mages could be seen, cast in a multitude of warm colors by the rising sun and the magics that swirled around it.

Arianna stood at the helm of the ship as it made the final approach to the harbor. Dyril was at her side.

“Welcome to my home.” She said with a mix of trepidation and joy.

"It is different from Nyhem, but it still has its own charm and beauty." Dyril admitted, a small smile etched across her face. Her fingers had ceased their tapping on the wood as the melody faded in her attention. Though she hadn't much experience with the sea, the peaceful moments began to grow on her.

She pushed herself upright and twisted to face Arianna. "I look forward to exploring it. I hope you aim to join me."

“I’d be happy to show you around when I get a moment.” Arianna replied. “Though I will have much to do here as well. I have to report what we found at sea to the Admirals, and then I have to petition the Circle.” It was clear as she spoke that she was nervous, an emotion that rarely crossed her dusky features.


Dyril subtly cocked her head to the side. Her narrow eyes focused on the nervousness in Arianna's figure. At the sight, a brief empathy trilled through her heart and softened her posture.

"Which one are you more nervous about? The Admirals or the petition?" She asked kindly, studying the woman before her.

Arianna blushed as she realized Dyril could see her nervousness. “Am I really that easy to read?” she said, her tone one of embarrassment. “Both. For different reasons… Though I think the petition edges it out.”

Dyril's smile widened at the redness spreading across Arianna's cheeks. Casually she stepped from the railing and stood closer to her human ally, her words spoken in a firm and calm fashion.

"One thing I learned in my homeland is that you act how you feel. When upset, angry, or nervous, you give off subtle ticks and habits you're not aware of. One way to avoid it is to fool yourself by feeling what you want to act like. I often think of another memory that made me feel that."

Her right hand rubbed her left in thought. “What memory do you have that you felt the most confident in?” 

“Shortly after I was promoted to Captain” Arianna began. “When I outwitted and captured a pirate captain…” She smiled, but then looked distant, gazing towards the open ocean. “Simpler days.”

"The past is always simpler than the present. I believe it's because you've already lived it and know the result, so the mysterious future is gone." Dyril stated as she noticed the shift in posture and look. The hybrid inwardly sighed then addressed it.

"Moving back to what I was saying earlier. Already I can sense and see the difference in your memory and the nervousness you showed earlier. Now, focus on the confidence and courage you held back then. Let it fill you." 

Arianna turned back to Dyril and smiled. “You’re right. It is good advice.” As they had been speaking, the ship had pulled into the harbor and the crew was preparing to dock.

“Now, I must see to a few things as we dock.” 

“I understand. Allow me to remain out of the way and collect my notes. I feel I will need them soon.” Dyril stated. Her figure pulled to the side, allowing Arianna through, as she began to navigate her way back to the Captain’s quarters. She paused just before disappearing below deck as she watched Arianna attend to her duties. A small smile cracked along her usually sober expression and her mind turned back to her original task.
[/hider]

[hider=Puppets and Puppeteers]
The beating noon sun streamed down upon Arianna as she strode through the colorful gardens and grassy practice fields that surrounded the Circle tower. The air smelled faintly of pollen, with a hint ozone, the result of a nearby destruction class practicing with lightning spells. The humidity, unpleasant to most, was barely noticed by the seasoned sea captain. Some unknown quirk of geography, or perhaps the incredible amount of magic practiced here, meant that no matter the season, summer never left these isles.

She basked in the diverse soundscape as the tower began to loom above her. Far from the riotous clamor of Nyhem, the Circle was a mix of birdsong, the laughter of children, droning teachers and the occasional loud bang of a destruction spell.

More than anywhere else on the isles, it felt like home.

She walked with confidence - though the prospect of meeting the High Magisters was terrifying, she had Lanaya’s guidance. More than that, she had a keen understanding that the world was changing, and that the Circle could no longer afford to sit apart from the world and ignore that.

When she finally reached the foot of the tower, she was surprised to find High Magister Ascelina waiting for her. Taken aback for a moment, she could only stare while she recovered her wits. She had been expecting to meet in a grand chamber, not at the door to the tower. Ascelina smiled wryly, the expression highlighting thin lines that hinted at age and experience, seemingly only adding to her otherwise fairly plain features. A hint of olive coloration in her pale skin spoke to a heritage tied to the Summer Isles, but the chin-length blonde hair framing her face was indicative of a more southerly family connection. Most of all, Arianna was surprised at just how short the most powerful Mage in the human world was. She had never seen her so close before, and was finding it distinctly unsettling to be several inches taller than the High Magister.

“High Magister.” Arianna began, her tone belying her lingering surprise. “I wasn’t expect-” She was cut off abruptly when Ascelina raised her hand.

“Walk with me, miss Zerrikan.” The High Magister spoke with the soft yet commanding voice of one who has learned all there is to know, then sought to learn even more.

As they began to walk, Ascelina moved her hands rapidly in a wordless spell that Arianna quickly lost track of. There was no discernible effect from Arianna’s perspective, but the High Magister looked up to her and said “Speak freely.”

“High Magister.” Arianna began again, this time confidently. “The Circle’s influence abroad is much diminished. The people do not trust mages as they once did. The Heretics spread hatred for us wherever they go. Worse, the mundanes are beginning to develop technologies that match our destruction spells. We are at risk becoming isolated and irrelevant… The Circle must intervene in the affairs of Formaroth.”

There was a pregnant pause as Arianna finished, the anticipation significant. After a long moment, Ascelina replied, her tone unaffected, as level and calm as before.

“That is a bold statement miss Zerrikan.” She paused, and Arianna immediately felt her skin begin to crawl a little. Had she overstepped her bounds?

“The world has changed before.” The High Magister continued, taking on a skeptical, lecturing hint in her voice. “And the Circle always endured. Our power is implicit, never demonstrated. Were the simple people of the world to understand our true might, they would be right to fear us. Were the powerful people of the world to understand our true might, they would squabble over controlling it… And us. It is a delicate balance we keep, between the irrelevancy you fear, and becoming the most feared and valued strategic resource on the continent.”

Arianna took in the clear, concise words. She had heard them before, most recently from Lanaya in preparing for this meeting. Yet hearing them from Ascelina was still impactful - the High Magister broke down the concept so cleanly and decisively. When she replied she chose her words carefully - sticking closely to the neutrality theory that formed the core of Circle foreign policy.

“Yet if the balance is disturbed, we must act to restore it. If we show too much power, we withdraw from the world, and let the mundanes begin to forget us… If we fall into irrelevancy, we act to remind them that the world still has much they do not understand. And so we must act, but carefully.” Arianna couldn’t help but smile to herself as she finished delivering her response.

“I am glad that some Tidemasters still understand the Circle’s principles.” Ascelina replied immediately and genuinely. “But do you comprehend the intricacies of the balance we hold? It is more than the reputation of the Circle itself. Where you see a risk of irrelevancy, I see the global presence of mages rising more than it has in a generation. As you say, fear of mages spreads rampantly, and our own do nothing to dissuade it.”

This too, Lanaya had prepared her for, though Arianna was already beginning to feel out of her depth. She was no scholar, she did not use debate to solve problems. She preferred a more direct approach. Still, she kept her voice steady as she replied.

“A combination of the diminishment of Circle reputation with the growing fear of mages will not maintain the balance.” Arianna stated, as if it were an incontrovertible fact. “The Isles will become isolated. We will be forced to rely on the Kings influence. Mage children will not find their way to safety and learning here. Our kin on the continent will be forced to extremes to defend themselves. All the while, our enemies will be emboldened by our lack of action. They will see complacency, and they may choose to attack. When they do, we will have no choice but to demonstrate our full power.”

Ascelina was silent for a moment, seemingly evaluating Arianna’s strategic breakdown of the situation. The moment stretched into a minute, and then several. They soon found themselves approaching the edge of the Circle grounds, the curated gardens and greens giving way to more wild foliage. Just before they entered the tangled vegetation, Ascelina stopped and turned to face Arianna.

“You are your father’s daughter indeed miss Zerrikan. The scenario you present is a grim one indeed, and relatively probable. It is paradoxical, but it may be that to reduce our presence in the minds of the people, we must act…” Ascelina’s voice held genuine praise as she spoke, but when she continued, she sounded as if she were asking a genuine question. “How would you have us act miss Zerrikan?”

Arianna was momentarily thrown by the question. Was the head of the Circle really asking [i]her[/i] for advice? No. It had to be a hypothetical. “I would have us side with the Empire. Alasdair De Reimer is pro-mage, and is best placed to restore the balance once the continent settles… Which it will, with our help.”

Ascelina’s expression took on a hint of disappointment at that response, and Arianna immediately knew she had said something wrong. She couldn’t help but grimace at the idea she might’ve just thrown away her chance to impress Lanaya and Ascelina in one fell swoop.

When Ascelina responded, it was in a more reserved tone. “I see the strings upon you Arianna Zerrikan. You do yourself a disservice by allowing Lanaya to dictate your motives… You are right to say that the Circle must act, but you do not yet possess the wisdom to understand how we must act. Throwing our talents at the feet of a mortal Emperor will not restore the balance, even when the continent is pacified. He is our best choice for an ally, but we must ensure that he remains exactly that - an ally. If we become subservient to him and his Empire, we will remain nought but his catspaws for so long as his Empire endures. That is not why the Circle was created.”

Ascelina turned back towards the tower then, and began walking once more. With a heavy sigh, she continued to speak. “The Circle will act, but it will do so carefully. We will ally with De Reimer, but we will do so on our terms, not his.”

She paused for just a moment then, halting as they approached the first garden and putting a hand on Arianna’s shoulder. “And, if I may give a more personal piece of advice?” She asked.

Arianna nodded.

“Magister Dionisa is ensnared in a web of her own making. What the future holds for her, she has brought upon herself. Do not be so quick to tie yourself to her fate Arianna. You are a bright young woman with the potential for a magnificent legend all your own. You do not need Lanaya, your father, or even me to make a place for yourself in this world. Be bold, think for yourself. You will succeed.”

Arianna nodded again, more slowly this time, a lump forming in her throat and leaving her without words to respond. Ascelina continued looking at her for a short moment more, then turned away and continued towards the tower again. “The Circle’s decision will be made known to Magister Dionisa and Emperor De Reimer. You are free to pursue your own path, miss Zerrikan.”
[/hider]

By
[@Fallenreaper] , [@Sundered Echo]