[center][h1][color=32CD32]Ishara[/color][/h1][/center] [hr] [quote=Makhai Amon, Magistrate of the Cult of Crows, Vizier to the Crimson King] "[color=f6989d]Sorcerer-Magus Callis Dagon of the Cult of the Crow accepts under his auspice Sorcerer-Novitiate Ishara Thumotep, Sorcerer-Novitiate Radaam Esi, and Sorcerer-Novitiate Khaemtir Maryatum.[/color]"[/quote] As she stood there, donned in her pure white cloak clasped with smooth golden brooch, the green-haired girl almost felt her breath stop as she heard her name called aloud. For so long she had wondered, prayed to the goddess, and pondered as she lied in her bed to sleep what of the Cults might take a fancy to her. To some the Cult that had chosen her in the end was likely not a surprise, given her individual talents, but at the same time she hadn't come into this with any more than a desire to learn in whatever Cult chose to take her on. Magus Dagon was a rather somber looking kind of individual indeed, though his hair color and ilk almost seemed to suggest-...ah, never mind. Behind that scowl on the man's face she put the hope that his wisdom and knowledge would be fruitful for her and her peers' studies indeed. After all, she was one of just three students to be taken in by the Cult of the Crow this year! And to boot, one of her peers was a former classmate from Pesedjet whom her adoptive mother knew the family of personally! Though the lack of the Crimson King's own presence this year was...hmm, she could not put a finger on it. A gut feeling told her 'something' was up, though in all truth he was perhaps just kept busy with all the political goings-on in the city. There was no need to overthink such things, though the more superstitious might see this as an inauspicious sign indeed. In that sense it was a slightly off note to the overall rather successful and otherwise almost perfect ceremony. At the very least, however, as she listened the Vizier's advice it was something she took at its face value. A very hand of the city's ruler himself, his words might be rather valuable indeed. It was enough to allow her to breath out a relieved sigh as quietly as she could after nodding in response to the man's words. Perhaps with the following festivities, she would be able to let more of the tension roll off of her shoulders whilst food and drink abounded. ---------------- ...As music began to waft through the air like a welcome summer breeze, and the glow of the lit braziers further illuminated the area like a setting sun, the teen allowed herself to relax a bit more as she looked through the throng of people about her. Her adoptive mother would surely be here without a doubt, she had promised such! It was a day that the two had long worked towards, and perhaps some part of her sought comfort in the presence of a familiar face after all of this. Though to the girl's shock, she eventually noticed not one but [b]two[/b] figures who were now bee-lining it towards her. The most surprising of the two was a woman who wore a thin and similarly pure white colored attire, rather revealing but just enough so to catch the gaze of passerby and others. Her clothing seemed to caress her very figure from top to bottom in a smooth yet eye-catching manner, from her leaner and curvy shape to her sizable chest to even her swaying hips that seemed to move in a soothing rhythm. Her lower face was barely covered in a nearly transparent gossamer veil as well, showing only some of her smooth, soft, and milky skin, all allowing for the contrast of the woman's piercing green eyes to stand out all the more. Her arms sat daintily to her sides in turn as well as she moved, though it was hard to ignore the tinkling gold and silver ornaments and bangles and ilk that adorned the woman's wrists and ankles as she moved along. Then in final, a long braided length of a familiar green hair seemed to hang down her back, bound with golden bands adorned with jewels and religious symbols that most did not see this far from those working near the Temple of Ishari at all. It was a breathtaking sight of beauty that some might easily attribute to Biomancy treatments in life, or at least past generations, the truth of which Ishara herself did not know for certain to boot. The young student's face lit up in a heartbeat at seeing this woman, however, and without pausing she ran over to the duo without a second thought. [color=32CD32]"Mother!"[/color] she said, a certain youthful joy in her voice as she flung her arms around her birth mother's neck with a beaming smile. [color=98FB98]"Hahaha! My sweet child, how much joy it brings me to see you. I could naught else but be here on this momentous ascension in your life. The Matron of the Temple was given vision, guidance to send me here this evening to be with you even if for at least this moment,"[/color] the woman said after giving out a peal of warm and joyful laughter, before running a gentle hand through her daughter's hair and looking down at her warmly in turn, [color=98FB98]"By Ishari's grace, you have grown so beautifully...you remind me of your grandmother so. Never feel shame in your body, for it is blessed upon you by the goddess."[/color] Ishara took the woman's gentle hand in her own, clutching onto its calming warmth before letting go and stepping back to look her birth mother in the eyes. [color=32CD32]"Haha...you have said these things many a time, mother, though I wish I could have met grandmother myself from the stories you tell of her! Even so, even your brief presence is something of a comfort for me today. Though before I leave tonight, I must confer with my new teacher as the Vizier advised us and seek out my peers!"[/color] [color=6A5ACD]"Ahem."[/color] The duo looked next to them as another voice cut into their conversation, seeing the other familiar person of the night who stood right there with a small but humble smile on her slender yet experienced face. Semi-dark skin akin to a more paled chocolate adorned the woman's body, and her silky black hair seemed to hang over her right shoulder with a single silver band clasped upon it with a family engraved into it: "Thumotep". Whilst her beauty was more towards that Aemeni sort, and as enduring even as the city itself, it was only accentuated with the comfortable blue and purple robe that she wore to rest from the heat as well as look proper for the occasion. An air of grace hung about her, almost like how an aura of shining light hung about the midday sun, though a certain soberness lie underneath that seemed to bring down the jovial atmosphere to a more respectful one for Ishara. Likewise the woman's arms were folded, though unfolded calmly as she was finally noticed by the other two. [color=32CD32]"Ah, apologies Mother. It was rude to-"[/color] [color=6A5ACD]"Do not worry, Ishara, this is a moment to celebrate and you have every right to celebrate with family,"[/color] her adoptive mother said, moving over to give her a brief hug and even a small squeeze of her shoulders in turn, [color=6A5ACD]"Though do heed the Vizier's advice if he gave you any, and otherwise. Now shoo, you have things to attend to! I will escort your birth mother back as well, at least once we have lingered to chat some with some familiar faces and old friends."[/color] The green haired girl seemed to perk back up, before giving a vigorous nod and taking off in the other direction at top speed back towards her peers. [color=6A5ACD]"Heh, that girl has a bright future ahead of her. I take pride in assisting her to this point, but after this it is a path that she will have to work harder for now that she's here. Not that she needs to work herself to death, Photep forbid."[/color] [color=98FB98]"Indeed....May the goddess watch over her always."[/color] ---------------- When the girl made it back over to the others, however, Khaemtir seemed to pick up on the introductions before she could so much as open her mouth. The corners of her lips seemed to pull up at the boy's first comments, however, as memories of galas and classes at Pesedjet came back into her mind. Khaemtir was not a bad talker or socialite, at least from her perspective, but when it came to group work he seemed to be more...lax? She'd had to get on him and prod him just to get his part of the work done in time, and on more than one occasion! Their styles differed indeed in this manner, but even so she'd tried her best to not chase him off at least. Albeit his Tutelary was something of a more sober mind, it seemed, which was something she'd appreciated after the small hippo had appeared. Likewise, their other peer to work under the same master was visibly not among the nobility. Yet from him Ishara felt a sort of more sober manner, a certain nerves she could rather empathize with, and perhaps a more hard-working aspect. Then again, assumptions were one thing. But how the boy reacted to his own Tutelary being curious in this instance elicited a small chuckle from the green-haired girl in turn. [color=32CD32]"I must agree with Radaam, before we leave to enjoy the night we must confer with our new master. Though do you know how Amenemhatanhk is doing? When I last spoke with him, he seemed to be recovering from the end of a small cold,"[/color] Ishara said, directing her words and smile towards Khaemtir and her question towards the boy's familiar before she looked over at Radaam in turn, [color=32CD32]"But it is all really is very overwhelming, and I could barely hold back my own nerves to be honest. It is pleasure to meet you as well, though, Radaam! I hope we will be able to work well together in the future! Though I hope I can get my own Tutelary summoned sooner than later..."[/color] It was...awkward to be the only one among her new peers to be without a Tutelary thus far. Oddly so, despite how much her teachers and mothers had praised her talents. But maybe patience was also the correct route to take as well. Maybe something unique was out there for her, or the right one had been awaiting her beckoning to this world! Yes, that had to be it. [@Obscene Symphony][@Achronum]