[center][h1]Interlude 
-Collab Between Pezz570 and 13Org-

[color=6ecff6]Karina Frost[/color][/h1][/center]

[@13org]

[hr]
[hider=View Post]Year 4256
2nd day of the month of Olfaccium
Early Morning

Business had been bad for Delvin, the Familiarist. Before the war, his shop had sold least two familiars a week from people all over the land. He had even had nice renting business going on, where less wealthy people could rent out a familiar for their kids or what not.

On the back end of things, he used his magical talents to create traps which he sold on to mercenaries and the like. The first purchase always cost the most, however the beads of glass he sold them were reusable. And for that reason, he had a steady stream of mercenaries always coming back. Paying him to recharge their traps.

Yes business had been good. So good in fact that he even had started hiring staff to assist with customers while he was busy working. 

Then the war began and his big money makers, the Familiars, sold much less often. The mercenaries still gave him business, yes, but it was barely enough to stay afloat. Expenses had been tight. He had been considering letting his staff go... and now... They were dead...

Delvin shivered, trying not to think of the day the city went mad. An itch crawled up the back of his neck. 

[color=f6989d][b][i]It wasn't my fault[/i][/b][/color] He told himself. [color=f6989d][b][i]It wasn't my fault...[/i][/b][/color]

A slight breeze snapped him out of his thoughts. Delvin looked up from the counter. A young girl with white hair had opened the door to his shop.

[color=f6989d][b]"Why hello, my dear!"[/b][/color] Delvin said. The man put on a friendly smile. [color=f6989d][b]"Please please, come on in!"[/b][/color]

After receiving the small locket from Chres, she did try to search and ask around for what it was. Judging by how Chres himself had reacted when holding and looking to it, it probably had some sentimental value to him... Even if he wanted to get rid of whatever that meant.
She did found out after a while that it was made of metal glass, used to make familiars such as Sil and Lynx. While it did made Karina quite surprised, she knew next to nothing about those nor where she could use it. If it wasn't for someone telling her to search for Delvin, the Familiarist and his shop, she would probably had just put it into her pocket and forgotten about it.

It did take her a bit to find Delvin's shop as most of the landmarks and reference points on maps and such were either unrecognizable or just destroyed. After finally finding it, she opened the door, looking inside. Even though she had quite a presence, it was clear due how she was looking at everything that she was both curious and didn't know much about familiars and that kind of stuff.

After being greeted by the shopkeeper, whom Karina assumed it would be Delvin himself, she replied with a silent and simple, but polite greeting before walking up to the counter and delicately putting the metal glass locket on top of the table.

[color=6ecff6]"I... received this from someone."[/color] Karina said as she started to explain.

[color=6ecff6]"I didn't know what it was at first and honestly... All I know now is that it's made from metal glass and it's used to make familiars."[/color] she continued.

It was clear to the shopkeeper that she was a bit embarrassed of being there and talking about the pendant. The reason for that, even though he didn't know was that Karina believed that such things, familiars, were luxury. Stuff that nobles and wealthy people who never lifted a finger in their whole lives to earn what they had used to like. Being there was rather... Awkward for her. About as awkward as it would be if she somehow encountered an officer from the army that knew her when she was eating ice cream and wearing a cute summer dress instead of her formal and serious officer uniform.

Delvin raised the pendent to his eye checking to see if it was real. [color=f6989d][b]"This is quite a piece... Not to mention its a blank slate. Nothing on it at all... and someone just gave this to you?"[/b][/color] 

The shopkeep placed the pendent back on the counter and pushed it towards Karina.

[color=f6989d][b]"I'm sorry, lass."[/b][/color] He sighed. [color=f6989d][b]"I can't buy this from you. I'm barely making enough money these days to keep myself afloat. If you need food, The Cul- uh- Clan has been giving free food out to everyone. Who knows. Maybe they'll even give you a job."[/b][/color] 

Delvin gave the girl a friendly nod. He began to turn towards his workshop, expecting that to be the end of the conversation.

Karina was surprised when she heard that the piece was actually valuable. According to Delvin's words, not only the piece itself was valuable but being completely empty also added to it's value. That even more made her wonder why Chres gave it to her... The moment the shopkeeper mentioned, or better, began mentioning the cult before he hesitated, Karina's expression immediately changed as she looked at him with a sharp, surprisingly intimidating sight before her expression returned to normal again. Not much was needed for Delvin to realize that Karina wasn't really that [i]fond[/i] of the cult. The only thing that probably saved him from being questioned and meeting the Officer Karina instead of the girl was the fact that he was going to call it the Cult and only did the opposite in order to protect himself.

[color=6ecff6]"The cult."[/color] She said, correcting Delvin with a sharp tone before going back to normal.

[color=6ecff6]"I didn't know it was this valuable but... I'm not here to sell it."[/color] she said, lowering her voice almost as if embarassed in what she was about to say.

[color=6ecff6]"... A familiar..."[/color] she said in a lower tone.

Delvin froze. A familiar? A customer?! She seemed to not like him calling them The Clan... And the comment he gave her about finding a job. Delvin winced. 

[color=f6989d][b][i]Everything's fine.[/i][/b][/color] He told himself. [color=f6989d][b][i]I can fix this![/i][/b][/color]

Delvin spun back around, his smile returning. [color=f6989d][b]"I'm so sorry, my dear. The way you came in here all nervous and what not. I just assumed... But no, no! Of course you came here for a familiar! Ah yes, I see now!"[/b][/color] 

The shopkeep reached back out for the pendent, raising it back up to his eye. This time he looked at the item with curiosity. His thumb and forefinger rubbing his chin as if in thought.

[color=f6989d][b]"Yes, my dear, you were right to come to me for the job. This, you see, is quite a delicate piece to work with. It will take skill and mastery to make a familiar suitable for a gem such as this! Of course it will cost you a coin or two. I'm afraid new creations do take up much time and work."[/b][/color]

Delvin eyed the girl expectantly. [color=f6989d][b]"You did come here with money, I presume?"[/b][/color] No point in going any further if his customer didn't have the means to pay.

Karina listened to him talking, albeit with a skeptical look. While she was interested in that familiar thing, she did know he was a salesman and all the times he called her 'dear' was a clear indication that he had his salesman's smile on.

[color=6ecff6]"I do have some coin now. It's not much, seeing how the city is at the moment but I'll receive some more tomorrow. I could pay half now and half tomorrow. You said it would take some time to get the job done, right?"[/color] Karina asked after she heard his question and saw his eyes, the eyes of someone who did like money quite a bit.

[color=6ecff6]"I also don't plan to use it in a necklace so if you could turn it into a brooch, you could keep the necklace..."[/color] Karina said as she looked at the man with sharp eyes, watching his reaction to the little offer she was making.

The man's smile waned just a smidge but quickly covered it up. He preferred she keep the necklace, otherwise she would have room to bargain.

[color=f6989d][b]"Half now, half later is perfectly fine, my dear. I recall doing much the same when hiring the carpenter who built my shop! 'No way I'll pay you all up front now!', I thought. After all what if he did a poor job? Are you sure, though, you want to go with a brooch? All my brooches are quite simple. They won't look anywhere near as lovely as this fine necklace here."[/b][/color]

[color=6ecff6]"Great, that works fine."[/color] Karina replied, with a satisfied nod as she heard Delvin.

When he mentioned that she might wanted to keep the necklace though, she thought about it for a bit. A brooch was discreet, but it could fall easily in the middle of combat meanwhile a necklace would be safer, especially if she wore beneath her shirt or kept it in a shorter chain. Plus it could be used if she wore more casual or even formal clothes instead of her military uniform.

[color=6ecff6]"Keep it in a necklace then. It will probably work better than a brooch when I'm moving around."[/color] Karina said.

Delvin smiled. [color=f6989d][b]"Yes, yes. That is a wise choice."[/b][/color]

[color=6ecff6]"Regarding the... familiar... itself, how would it work?"[/color] she asked, a bit awkwardly though, indicating that she had no knowledge about familiars at all.

[color=f6989d][b]"It's rather simple, actually. The piece of metal glass associated with a familiar absorbs up the light around it. Leave it in the light long enough, and it will have enough to sustain your familiar about 2 days. Leave it in the dark too long and your familiar will fade away until it gets a new source of light."[/b][/color]

[color=f6989d][b]"Then there's the bond."[/b][/color] The man continued. [color=f6989d][b]"One drop of blood is what it will take. The metal glass will soak up you blood and bond you to your familiar."[/b][/color]

Karina heard, curious as Delvin explained how familiars worked. Since she had never had one nor bothered to learn more about them, everything he was saying was new to her, especially how the familiars worked with light, having to absorb light to work. That said, leaving it in the dark for a long time would mean the familiar itself fading until a new source of light was provided.

[color=6ecff6]"By fade away... What do you mean? Do they cease to exist completely?"[/color] she asked, thinking about Sil and how she flew away and didn't come back until now.

[color=6ecff6]"The familiars I've interacted with recently were very... complex. Almost like real people with their own thoughts."[/color] Karina said with a thoughtful expression. Even though she didn't make a question regarding that, it was clear for Delvin that she was having troubles to understand what Familiars really were. They acted and talked like real people but they were artificially made as far as she could tell.

[color=f6989d][b]"Like people?!"[/b][/color] Delvin bellowed out a deep laugh. [color=f6989d][b]"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Didn't mean to laugh."[/b][/color] The man said wiping away a tear. [color=f6989d][b]"Familiars aren't people lass, no matter how much they act like one. They don't hurt, they don't hunger... unless of course you decide to add traits in which imitate such feelings... But no, Familiar's aren't people. Just magical companions. They come right back once you turn the lights back on. All memories in tact. Even if you die, they will still exist. The bond will break, yes. They will fade away in about three days, sure. Bond it to another, though, and it will come right back."[/b][/color]

Karina's question was serious, even if it sounded naive for someone that knew more about familiars than she did. For that reason, when Delvin laughed, she couldn't help but feel insulted and embarrassed, which immediately was shown by her sharp, icy cold stare towards Delvin. Even though she choose to stay silent, it wasn't any secret that she wasn't happy. Even the air around her gave the impression of being a little bit colder than normal.

Delvin shivered. [color=f6989d][b]"Is it me or did it just get colder in here? The weather must have gone crazy with the sky... Oh, no matter, no matter"[/b][/color] The shopkeep smiled bemused, complete unaware of Karina's displeasure. [color=f6989d][b]"Come."[/b][/color] He said, walking from the counter. [color=f6989d][b]"I'll walk you through the process of creating your little companion."[/b][/color]

Delvin waved Karina over to a display, with several glass marbles, set up on the side. [color=f6989d][b]"The process requires a bit of back and forth. You give me an idea of what you want and I go and design a prototype of sorts to give you an idea of what you'll get. You can request it to have certain traits, behaviors, looks, and even a changeable form... But I think I have a good idea of where to start with you."[/b][/color]

Delvin grabbed a glass marble in a pile marked F-B. [color=f6989d][b]"Now these here are simple illusions I've designed to give us a place to start. It is important to remember that these illusions are not the real thing. It is a prototype only."[/b][/color]

Delvin raised the marble up to the light. [color=f6989d][b]"This one, right here, has been a popular starting place for many a young lass your age."[/b][/color]

The air around the marble began to darken as it drank in the light as the illusion began to appear. Suddenly, a fluffy bunny with wings, materialized in the air. The bunny landed delicately unto Karina's right shoulder and rubbed its head lovingly against her cheek.

[color=f6989d][b]"We also have puppies, kittens and-"[/b][/color]

When Delvin mentioned that she would have to give him an idea of what to do, Karina simply frowned her eyebrows. She had absolutely no idea of what form she wanted for her familiar. Before she could say anything though, Delvin mentioned that he knew exactly the type of familiar that would be perfect for her. When he showed her a cute bunny that landed on her right shoulder, Karina seemed to stop for a bit, surprised. Even though the bunny was undeniably cute, it certainly wasn't something that would fit with her. The fact that Delvin showed that bunny to her could only be seen by Karina as an insult. That coupled with the fact that he had called her 'young lass', assuming her age made her mood even worse. What seemed to be just an impression of a cold air current around her became impossible to dismiss as anything other than reality as she gave a step towards Delvin.

[color=6ecff6]"Enough. You aren't taking me seriously."[/color] Karina said, with a piercing stare.

Delvin's back stiffened as realization of the type of person he was dealing with began washing over him.

[color=f6989d][b]"I-"[/b][/color] He started.

[color=6ecff6]"You didn't need to laugh at my question just because I am not that knowledgeable about familiars. Not only that but now you are assuming I'm a naive, young little girl... My patience has limits."[/color] she said, with her voice lowering to a dangerous tone as she looked at Delvin.

The man's friendly expression began to falter.

[color=6ecff6]"You are not giving me the respect I demand."[/color] she said, in a sudden authoritative voice that didn't seem to belong to such a delicate and petite girl like Karina.

Delvin blinked. He became far too aware of the icy chill in the air. [color=f6989d][b]"R-respect..."[/b][/color] He stuttered. [color=f6989d][b]"Right..."[/b][/color] 

[color=6ecff6]"I am not a naive little girl. Despite my appearance and my tastes, I know very well how to take care of myself."[/color] She said, still looking directly at Delvin

The man forced a smile back on his face, but his expression had clearly soured. [color=f6989d][b]"My apologies, madam. Shouldn't have assumed... Been awhile since- But no matter... I realize now that such a design would be distasteful for a gir- woman- such as yourself."[/b][/color]

[color=6ecff6]"It's fine. As long as you treat me seriously, we won't have further problems."[/color] Karina said, as the room began to go back to it's normal temperature and her expression gradually returning to normal.

The shopkeep dismissed the bunny and placed the marble off to the side. [color=f6989d][b]"Come."[/b][/color] He said, moving towards the room behind the counter. [color=f6989d][b]"Best if we do this in the workshop."[/b][/color] 

By this point, Delvin had completely collected himself. [color=f6989d][b]"So what kind of familiar are you thinking of? Humanoid? Animal-like? Male? Female? Beastly?"[/b][/color] He said the last option as smoothly as the rest. Making it sound like a question he would ask any customer asking for his service.

Following him again as he entered the workshop, Karina's stare as she looked around after entering the workshop betrayed her curiosity despite her serious expression and what had just happened. It did take a moment until she was able to calm herself again and return to how she was before though.

[color=6ecff6]"Honestly... I have no idea. I never had a familiar, nor was interested in one until I received that locket. My interests were definitely... sharper and more dangerous than that."[/color] Karina said as Delvin asked which type of familiar she was thinking about.

[color=6ecff6]"I've recently met a familiar that is a silver lynx while the other is a small fairy, so I know that they can have the most varied forms and appearances but I never thought about having a familiar..."[/color] Karina continued, clearly trying to think about what appearance she wanted for her familiar.

[color=6ecff6]"I... May like cute things but not overly cute... It would only make it even harder for others to take me seriously..."[/color] she began saying, hesitating a bit when she said she might like cute things but clearly using Delvin as an example when she mentioned others not taking her seriously.

[color=6ecff6]"I don't have a preference between humanoid or not, nor it's gender."[/color] she said. Ironically enough, despite everything that she had said, she gave almost nothing for Delvin to work with.

Delvin nodded as she spoke, doing his best to hide his soured mood. The man quickly realized he wasn't going to get anything useful out of the girl. Though the part about not wanting to make it harder for others to take her seriously was interesting. He could do something with that...

The shopkeeper's smile broadened. An idea beginning to form...

[color=f6989d][b]"If you want others to take you seriously, then I advise you go small. A creature like a lynx? No... you'll be over compensating. We can make it smaller, but then it will be more of a joke. Smaller critters won't do you much better. Birds? Overdone. I say we go humanoid. Toss in some animal characteristics for flair."[/b][/color]

Delvin pulled a small sheet of glass and a few marbles from the shelf. He place the sheet of glass on the table and let it drink in the light. A gender-less humanoid figure appeared hovering above it.

[color=f6989d][b]"Let's start with the additions..."[/b][/color] 

One at a time he touched the marbles to the glass sheet. Transferring their contents over. A fox tail appeared on the figure along with a pair of devilish horns.

Karina listened to Delvin's reasoning nodding from time to time as he continued with his logic. Indeed, something big would be seen as overcompensating, which could lead to problems while little things would only reaffirm the stereotype others had of her. As he mentioned humanoid with animal characteristics, Karina watched in silence as he grabbed a few marbles and a sheet of glass from the shelf, putting on the table making a gender-less humanoid figure appear, hovering above it.

Even though Karina had seen similar things being done before by her father, it was her first time seeing the process of making a familiar, the sheet of glass, the marbles and how they worked were something new for her, which made her watch the entire process curiously.

[color=6ecff6]"I liked the horns. They look like those Onis from the far east culture."[/color] Karina mentioned as she watched the figure hovering above.

[color=6ecff6]"Regarding it's size, are you thinking of making it similar to a normal person?"[/color] she asked, clearly interested in the creation process of the familiar.

Delvin shook his head. [color=f6989d][b]"Make it large and we'll have the same problem. Not to mention people might feel wary of a familiar that is too human. Best to make it small. Similar in size to the fairy familiar you saw. The key here will be its personality. Best if we give it a personality much like your own."[/b][/color]

[color=6ecff6]"Hm... I agree, although a fairy would be rather small wouldn't it? Giving it the same size of a child would work too, wouldn't it?"[/color] Karina asked, replying to Delvin before realizing the last few words that he said, which made her raise an eyebrow, looking at him with a sharp stare.

[color=6ecff6]"And what would you mean by 'a personality like my own'?"[/color] she asked, looking right at Delvin. Even though it wasn't nearly as bad as how she reacted before, it was still as if Delvin began touching into something that he shouldn't have.

[color=f6989d][b]"My appologies."[/b][/color] He said, giving Karina a friendly smile. [color=f6989d][b]"Didn't mean to touch a nerve. I simply mean we should make it decisive. Direct. Observant... Capable."[/b][/color] Delvin's smile widened ever so slightly as he mentioned the last trait.

Delvin grabbed another glass marble from the shelf and added it to the light construct. The figure grew to the size of a tiny child. 

[color=f6989d][b]"I take it you are not a fan of the tail."[/b][/color] He said, transferring the trait to an empty glass marble. He set the marble aside as the tail disappeared from the light construct.

Karina nodded with a somewhat satisfied expression as Delvin explained what he meant by giving the familiar a personality similar to hers. Indeed it would be good to have a familiar that was as capable as she was, using the very same word Delvin used.

[color=6ecff6]"I see. It would be good to have a familiar similar to myself in these aspects."[/color] she said, nodding with a discreet but satisfied expression. Delvin's smile broadened.

[color=6ecff6]"The tail indeed looked a bit too... showy.."[/color] she said, agreeing with Delvin as he took the tail away from the prototype, definitely thinking it looked better without the tail.

Delvin nodded. [color=f6989d][b]"Now,"[/b][/color] He said. [color=f6989d][b]"let's move onto the physical details..."[/b][/color]

The process continued, much like that. Delvin would add details here, and remove others there. Occasionally, he would take out a fresh sheet of glass and transfer the figure onto it.

[color=f6989d][b]"Mustn't let it sit too long on a single slate."[/b][/color] He would explain. [color=f6989d][b]"Else we risk the magic running out and all our work lost."[/b][/color]

He began to add body features, facial features, garments and more. [color=f6989d][b]"Yes yes."[/b][/color] He started to say. [color=f6989d][b]"I think we just about have something which will match you well."[/b][/color]

He added another feature, as he finished his words. Suddenly the figure turned into a ghastly beast.

[color=f6989d][b]"Whoops. Sorry sorry."[/b][/color] He said, while making sure to wince. He quickly removed the beastly features. [color=f6989d][b]"My mistake. Picked the wrong marble, you see."[/b][/color] He replaced the marble with another. This one adding some color to the hair.

They then moved onto behaviors such as movement, mannerisms and how much or how little it obeyed the laws of physics. Time dragged on. The sun rose higher. Finally, just before midday, Delvin looked up from his work and smiled.

[color=f6989d][b]"So,"[/b][/color] He said. [color=f6989d][b]"What do you think?"[/b][/color]

Karina continued watching carefully as Delvin grabbed one marble after another, adding detail by detail on the previously gender-less and featureless humanoid figure, slowly giving it life and making it unique. It was easy to see that he was indeed experienced in that kind of stuff, despite the few mistakes, like when he used the wrong marble, it was still very interesting to watch.

From clothes, accessories and even the color of it's hair, the familiar soon was a completely unique one, with almost nothing but the humanoid shape resembling the gender-less figure he first showed to her as a starting point. Karina didn't even realize the time passing as they continued adding things to the familiar. When they were finally done, it was already near midday.

[color=6ecff6]"It is fantastic. The process itself, I mean. It's nothing like the first model you showed."[/color] Karina said, inspecting the completed familiar, hovering above the glass sheet in front of them.

[color=6ecff6]"I liked her. She is very unique."[/color] she finished, with a discreet but easily perceivable smile on her face.

[color=f6989d][b]"Indeed."[/b][/color] He said with a smile. [color=f6989d][b]"Very unique. Out of all the familiars I've created, I suspect this one will be quite... awe-inspiring."[/b][/color]

Delvin took another blank slate of glass and transferred the familiar's traits onto it. This time, though, he did not let the construct take form. Instead, he carefully placed the glass sheet into a padded pouch.

[color=f6989d][b]"Now,"[/b][/color] He said. [color=f6989d][b]"In regards to payment..."[/b][/color]

[color=6ecff6]"Oh, of course."[/color] Karina replied as Delvin mentioned the payment, taking the money from one of her pockets and handing to Delvin.

[color=6ecff6]"The agreement was half now and half later, right? I can deliver it to you tomorrow after I'm done with that small job I told you about earlier. By then, it should be already done and ready for me to take it, right?"[/color] she asked, looking to Delvin as she watched him putting the slate, now with the familiar traits on it, to a padded pouch.

Delvin graciously took the coin and nodded. [color=f6989d][b]"Should be plenty of time. I'll begin work immediately."[/b][/color][/hider]