[center][img]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/992864037962526720/1000801172313092126/silas.png[/img][/center][colour=7B68EE][hr][b]Trials and Tribulations IV[/b][/colour] [hider=Lambs for Slaughter] Silas didn’t have to wait long after returning to The Castle for his roommate to join him. [colour=7B68EE]“Desmond! What happened with-”[/colour] A voice that was quite distinctly [i]not[/i] that which belonged to Desmond came from the Desmond-shaped figure. “Cadence and this one seem to think you’ll be useful.” Silas scowled at the stranger, but sure enough Desmond did appear to confirm the first words. Brother Wolf, but very much not the same man he’d spoken with less than an hour before. A dirty trick he thought, made all the more suspect by the striking similarities between his roommate and the dread priest. Neither of the two acknowledged it, so Silas did the same- always careful to differentiate what was meant to be seen with what he could see. The trio reunited with that tall student Trypano on their path towards the workman’s quarter. Already it appeared the fight they interrupted had already reached its climax; a handful of students he somewhat recognized bloodied and hurt searching for a vanished Brother Ash. Silas’s senses prickled at the figure cloaked in arcane magic fleeing to the south. [colour=7B68EE]“He’s gone that way!”[/colour] He shouted, pointing and running in the opposite direction. A very small lie, for 500 magus. Except, the others didn’t give chase as he’d expected. The female student with an unfamiliar accent [i]attacked[/i] the space instead. It was so fast, he hadn’t even felt her draw, and barely had time to duck out of the way as darts of pointed scraps of wood, metal, and rock flung past him. The screams that followed stopped Silas in his tracks, ruse forgotten completely. [colour=7B68EE]“What in the hell-?”[/colour] He whirled to find the rest of the group, Zeno’s included turning to restrain the girl. It all meant little once Brother Wolf intervened. He could sense the victims of the unannounced attack, distant as they were. She hadn’t killed anyone. Still, his heart beat hard in his chest for more reason that the eerie puppets Wolf had made of his colleagues and teachers. Silas took the hair and cloth the older boy offered him. Upon feeling only three hairs between his fingers he reached up to pluck out the two more requested by his employer. He took off before the older boy could do more than curse his name into the darkness. Let them have their secrets and lies, he’d have no part of it. The church was no different in the end; hoarding wealth power and knowledge. Silas ran nearly halfway across the city before finally slowing enough to sort the hairs and cloth into vials. Neither his dorm or Zeno's quarters felt particularly safe, and he doubted he'd get much sleep even if he made it so far unfollowed. He settled to instead wait beside the merchant's dorms, pacing in the shadows while he waited for the tall pale woman to return to her rooms. Trypano later returned towards the dormitories, heading back after successfully dealing with the issue at hand and even collecting a few good samples to study upon her return. If there was someone waiting for her she made no indication that she was aware. Silas cursed under his breath and jogged to keep stride with the tall Revidian as she walked right past him. He cleared his throat loudly, in an effort to draw her attention. [colour=7B68EE]"Miss- uh-"[/colour] His face flushed as it became obvious he'd forgotten her name, if he'd ever learned it in the first place. [colour=7B68EE]"I wanted to give you something"[/colour] He finished, hurring over the awkward misstep of an introduction. [color=crimson]”Ah, Silas.”[/color] She recalled the other member of this scattered team, remembering his name largely from the trials team listings. She stopped and waited for him to speak his piece, her expression unchanged from its resting cool. [colour=7B68EE]"You wanted some of that priest's blood yeah? For some kind-of bloodchild magic?"[/colour] From his oversized pockets he procured the vial containing a torn piece of bloody handkerchief. He hoped there was enough light for her to make out what it was. She didn’t want to be presumptuous but this was definitely what she expected. [color=crimson]”Ah, yes indeed. Thank you.”[/color] She gently procured the sample, examining it through the glass carefully. He could see bits of the cloth disappearing along with it’s reddish-brown coloration as she drew from the blood that was soaked within. She left a small remainder of it, a couple drops worth approximately. Producing the vial she had on her she looked inside, focusing as she rebuilt the liquid she had just broken down, her fine Blood Child senses already keenly familiar with this variety of blood. With any luck this copied sample would be virtually identical to the original. With a spare vial she created a portion more and passed the glass back to Silas. [color=Crimson]”As thanks you’re welcome to my share of the coin from this mission. I’ll be attending largely so my contribution is recognized and little else.”[/color] Silas watched in semi-disturbed silence as the energy inside the vial broke down and into her arm. [colour=7B68EE]"It’s not the coin I wanted from you."[/colour] He said hurriedly, gently tapping the second vial of blonde hair in his pocket. [colour=7B68EE]"I want to know what you learn from it. If you find a way to counter whatever..."[/colour] He tried and failed to think of some accurate description of what he'd seen Brother Lamb's magics do. [colour=7B68EE]"Whatever he did to turn them all to puppets. I want to know.[/colour] He sounds more sure than he is, and quickly reverts back to nervous fidgeting, reaching out with his senses for anyone who may have been listening in on the conversation. Trypano nodded, a small pull at the corner of her mouth, a shadow of a smile. It was nice to see others take an interest in discovering more. [color=crimson]”I’ll learn what I can from his blood. What I suspect however is that it’s not tied to his blood but rather what he’s learned. I’ve only seen something like this once before. I only barely managed to break free of it with chemical magic but I suspect something else was at play.”[/color] She turned and began to continue on her way before stopping, if just briefly so. [color=crimson]”If you want to find out more then keep your eyes, such as they are, on Ismette. She knows techniques that nobody else has ever heard of, or at least have kept well and truly secret if they have.”[/color] [colour=7B68EE]"Ismette?"[/colour] Silas muttered to himself, remembering the singing Yasoi that had nearly broken the door frame to give a gift on his birthday. An impossible contrast to the haunting magic of the dread priest. Silas shook his head and the thoughts away. Just another person to avoid. He'd gotten caught up enough as it was- well past time to cash out and try and forget everything he saw. [colour=7B68EE]"Thank you."[/colour] He said, giving Trypano a curt nod before turning away. It was incredibly late, and Silas' weariness was growing but he walked past the common dorms for one final stop at the docks. The small rowboat was still there. Tied to the southmost dock and pulling in and out with the lowering tide. Silas took a deep breath before stepping on, hands balling to tight fists in his pockets as he did his best to ignore the wavering kinetic energy under his feet. [colour=7B68EE]"Got what you asked for."[/colour] He said, addressing the hunched and shrouded figure waiting for him. And nearby stood Trypano, also waiting for their elusive employer. It was dark and the tides had brought in a thin fog to add to the atmosphere. A meaningless thing for Silas, of course, as he saw Sinn’s unique energy signature, but to Trypano it was unexpectedly difficult to get a read from him even with her good reading capabilities. The figure stood, shrouded in nothing but the darkness, and approached Silas. His hand reached out and remained idle until he was given the big he had initially given them. His gaze was dull and indifferent. This was just business as usual and it was about time it concluded. The contents were inspected once the exchange was made, with the gloves taken by Desmond and the vials secured. He examined each one before sealing the container and bringing it into the bowels of the old rowboat. A good three minutes of nothing followed with Sinn’s signature suddenly vanishing even to Silas’ other-sight. But at the third minute mark, he appeared where he had disappeared and ascended back with the bounty in hand. [color=849B84]“Eight hundred.”[/color] he uttered with a voice fitting his cold demeanor. A wooden case was presented to Silas with the contents revealed before his very non-eyes. He was free to count them, [color=849B84]“We will be in touch, young Silas.”[/color] he mentioned whilst giving Trypano a passing glance. For the first time in their brief encounters, he showed a hint of amusement when his attention was on the unusually tall woman. As if he knew something, and he was going to be seeing more of her. [/hider] [hider=Dramatic Flashback] Early afternoons in Madame Copin’s whorehouse were always the most relaxed time. The handful of children that were typically hidden away had free roam of the place prior to the arrival of patrons. But on one particular day Silas opted to remain in the kitchens with his mother and the other women as they sat down for their late breakfasts. It was an exceptionally important day after all; a gift was waiting for them at the end of the table’s long bench. His mother showed him the handful of curling letters she claimed represented her name. The package was wrapped in thin fabric, a scrap piece too small for anything more than a washcloth, though his comment stating as much only earned laughter from those in earshot. “You can’t wash with silk [i]mi jiano[/i]” His mother said kindly before passing it to him. Sure enough, the material was unlike anything he’d felt before. Thin and impossibly soft, he found himself absorbed by the wrapping until a collection of gasps returned his attention to the gift itself. His mother had pulled a cloak from the box, and a shower of dried flowers came out with it. It too was made of another material unfamiliar to Silas. Velvet, he would later learn; a useless material that only lasted so long as it stayed dry. A terrible choice for outerwear; but the deep blue colour and light fur on the trim had left the room speechless. Until they all began again at once, a flurry of reaching arms and shrill excited voices. “[i]Manifique[/i]” “The cost! How much do you-” “What else from a Baron?” “Even softer than it looks-!” Laura, an exceptionally tall blonde woman was the first to stand and swat away the hands of the others. “Enough you greedy monsters. Let Aleshta enjoy her gift before you tear it to bits.” She gently pulled the cloak away only the flourish it dramatically, loosing another half dozen petals before draping the garment over Aline’s shoulders. Even over her tattered bedclothes it was a sight; her pale skin radiated where it could be seen through the dark fabric, only a shade darker than her eyes. even Silas found himself staring agape at his mother. Until the overpowering smell made him sneeze. A few of those close to him chuckled, and casual conversation around the table resumed; even if the topic remained focused on the gift. “This is how you charm a woman Silas; pretty and expensive things are a sure way to a woman’s heart.” Silas had been running his hands over the fabric covering his mother’s arms, the slight change in shade depending on the way her rubbed fascinated him. He looked up to see Willa speaking to him and gave a disgusted look. Already her cup was filled with cheap wine and she leaned in too close to the boy. Silas stiffened and stared at her blankly. Why one earth would he ever want [i]more[/i] women in his life? Laura inserted herself on the bench between them. “What need will he have for gifts?!” She laughed and ran fingers through the small boy’s hair “with his mother’s eyes, the women will lift their skirts for a smile and a wink.” “What nonsense are you filling my boy's head with Laura? He’s too young for such things!” Silas’s mother draped the arm he’d been petting over his shoulder. “He’s old enough!” Shouted someone else from across the table, but embarrassment had left Silas’ face burning and eyes planted firmly on the table. “How long can you expect to keep him in a place like this Aleshta?” “He’ll be pretty enough to pull a few women in himself in a few years,” It was meant to be a joke, but Silas felt his mother stiffen as the others laughed. “Women, men… Even this baron of yours-” “[i]Kess ti,[/i] Enough Willa!.” Though it was not directed at him, the scorn in his mother’s voice made Silas flinch. Both her arms wrapped around Silas and pulled him backwards into her lap. “Do not listen to them [i]Minya[/i]. A good and honest heart is the only true gift that matters to a woman.” She said quietly, almost whispering in his ear. The comfort he normally expected was stifled by the nauseatingly strong perfume of dry flowers still clinging to her new garment. [/hider] [hider=Roses and Neskals Finals] [colour=7B68EE]“I think you have something of mine.” [/colour] Silas said, startling Ahrora from behind. [colour=3CB371]“Silas! Fancy seeing you here.” [/colour] For all her casual tone, Silas could [i]sense[/i] her increased heart rate and darting glances. It made him smile for some reason he couldn’t make sense of. [colour=7B68EE]“We’re competing, and you’re avoiding the subject.”[/colour] [colour=3CB371]“Are we? I haven’t been watching the scores.”[/colour] She lied in an airy tone. [colour=7B68EE]“I don’t much like being robbed.”[/colour] Ahrora abruptly took a step forward until Silas could feel her breath on his face. The warmth of it made his own hitch. [colour=3CB371]“I supposed I’ll have to repay you.”[/colour] His smile flinched for only a moment. [colour=7B68EE]“Still an hour ‘till the match starts. By my eye while I shop?”[/colour] It earned him an eyeroll, but Ahrora slipped her arm into his and pulled him further north. The moment he was able to recover from the sudden intimate touch, Silas resisted. [colour=7B68EE]“Not that way.”[/colour] [colour=3CB371]“But these are the best stalls,”[/colour] [colour=7B68EE]“Souvenirs.”[/colour] He scoffed, [colour=7B68EE]“They’re all just here to trap visitors for the trials. Not worth our time.”[/colour] Ahrora faced him with an exaggerated pout even he was able to glean. [colour=3CB371]“But I need something to bring home, to show I came all this way in the first place.” [/colour] Silas scowled and shook his head. [colour=7B68EE]“Whats the point? You’ll come visit again.”[/colour] [colour=3CB371]“Oh will I?”[/colour] She spun around to look at him, her words mixed with laughter. It was impossible for Silas to keep the red warmth from creeping up his face at that. [colour=7B68EE]“It’s all made from second-rate binders and will fall apart before you even leave the city.”[/colour] He continued, returning back to the point at hand. Eventually he managed to pull her away to the vendors further behind- those with smaller displays and wares easy to move, lest any city guards come in search of licenses or permits. But the effort proved fruitless; the pair struggled to find anything of value and were near about to give up and spent their coin at the food stalls, when Silas stopped and turned at the last of the vendors. [colour=3CB371]“What?”[/colour] Asked Ahrora impatiently, they’d already deduced that the one he’d stopped at had nothing of value, but Silas only motioned her to stay silent, and indicated the alley behind the manned table. There was a figure there beckoning them while fidgeting nervously, as though he’d been waiting for them. The old man was poorly dressed, and lacked matching shoes, but still promised a wondrous assortment of wares should they follow him down the desolate alley. They agreed, Ahrora taking lead on speaking and inquiring, playing the ignorant foreigner, while Silas used his particular sight to measure the authenticity and worth of the items produced from the man’s pockets. Useless trinkets at first, and Silas quickly grows weary of the man wasting their time, even while Ahrora finds some amusement in a pair of spectacles. “This be the glass of unseeing! One shall see wat cannot be seen with tis.” He handed over the item to Ahrora for her inspection as he turned to Silas. “Buyin’ good ser?” [colour=7B68EE]"We'll buy the spectacles,”[/colour] He concedes, placing the other useless item’s the man hand handed them back, [colour=7B68EE]“a good price too if you show us where the real goods are."[/colour] The man gave Silas a look. A rather confused look if any. Is truly one man's treasure and another man's trash? “Eh, yer bighter, sayin’ tis not good enough for yer?” He took the discarded items returned them into position upon his coat, stroking as he admired his precious ones. He took a look at the spectacles within their hands. “If yer too good for my wares, return those and be on yer way”. The man considered for a moment, as they were still interested in those, despite wanting to see the good stuff. “yer not foolin’ me, yer tryin’ to get those on the cheap”. He gave them a very wide smile. “One Magus!” Silas scowled at the fraud, and turned on his heel. He gripped Ahrora's arm, gently tapping two fingers onto her palm in the process. Before they could make it to the end of the alley Ahrora jerked free from him and stamped a foot in a dramatic display to capture both men's attention. [colour=3CB371]"But darling"[/colour] She whined, [colour=3CB371]"you promised me something pretty and rare."[/colour] She reached for the spectacles and clumsily placed them over her eyepatch. [colour=3CB371]"They're far to fetching on me to leave behind-"[/colour] As Ahrora continued her performance, Silas reached with his kinetic magic into the grifter's coat, attempting to free one of the bracelets that looked to be made of something more than mere cut glass, and land it into his own pocket. Except he pulls too hard and fast and the man lets out a yelp, grabbing onto his coat tightly. “Now yer’ tryna mug me! Ought to call the guards on you!” Silas scowled, and prepared to argue with the miscreant before being cut off by the bell warning for match start before he could open his mouth. Instead he sighed and offered the man the requested magus. [colour=7B68EE]“Enough, then take it and go.”[/colour] "Hah, found them in yer trash". He slicked his hair back before going off to spend his new found fortune. Ahrora removed and handed the over-priced purchase to Silas as they left the alley [colour=3CB371]“Useless junk,”[/colour] she confirmed [colour=3CB371]“can’t see a damned thing.” [/colour] [colour=7B68EE]“Won’t make a difference to me,”[/colour] He replied and began slipping them on, [colour=7B68EE]“but what could be the point of them?”.[/colour] For a moment, it was as Ahrora said, a complete disappointment. But what else had he really expected? [colour=7B68EE]“AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”[/colour] The scream is torn out ot him, as for the first time in years, Silas [i]saw[/i], and it was horror. Terrors beyond comprehension stared back in the unending abyss the lenses led too. Energy too, unending and infinite. With shaking hands, he reached to remove the spectacles, but they held fast. There was something. Something which was ought to be left unseen. For a moment he could hear himself still screaming, feel himself ripping at his face, and knew he was going mad. [colour=3CB371]“What… did you see?” [/colour] He was blind again, the energy of Ahrora standing over him, glasses in hand and no monsters to be found. [/hider] [hider= A Night Under the Stars] Ahrora was late for their meeting. Not that Silas was particularly aware of it; he was no expert in keeping time himself, and had spent the better part of the afternoon scrambling together the final pieces of their planned night together. It didn’t look much; a blanket spread over the field south of Millner's hook was a location chosen for privacy and view rather than to impress. That was left to the contents of the homely chipped pitchers and plates; some of the finest wine and cheese in Constansia, found during the day’s event. When she did arrive, it was easy to notice her coming. Few were outside the city outskirts with them, but Silas remained facing away until she called to him. [colour=3CB371]"Help me carry this wont you?"[/colour] She had a box in her arms, the weight of it awkwardly distributed and slipping as she walked over the uneven terrain. Silas was on his feet in a moment. [colour=7B68EE]"I'll try not to peek,"[/colour] He joked, lifting the box as she groaned. There was no need to open to tell that inside was the prime shot she'd stolen from him, a book, and two small and warm bread rolls, made from soft white flour. [colour=7B68EE]"Thought this would be so boring you brought a book?"[/colour] He bemoaned. [colour=3CB371]"Hardly. Took it as an excuse to get away."[/colour] She followed him to the small picnic he'd made. [colour=3CB371]"Bohrom kept nagging to go to see the Retanesse girls perform, had to pull some tricks to shake him."[/colour] She sighed, lowering herself to the blanket. Silas handed her a mug and poured her wine from a clay pitcher. [colour=7B68EE]"I'll try to make it worth your while,"[/colour] He grinned back. They began by talking of the events of the day, their matches of Roses and Neskals. He told her the adventures he’d had, getting the wine, Margot and her new ship. Ahrora explained the events that lead her team to finals, followed by playful needling of him for eventually pushing them out of the game. [colour=3CB371]“Damn smart getting those statues first,”[/colour] She finished, shaking her head and taking a sip of wine. [colour=3CB371]“Could’ve used the extra roses.” [/colour] Silas shrugged and followed her in sipping his drink. He was tired of talking of the trials, nearly of the games themselves. It all felt wrong, a disingenuous celebration while the world was crumbling everywhere else. [colour=7B68EE]“What will you do when you return home a champion?”[/colour] He asked instead. She turned to look at him, head tilted slightly in consideration. [colour=3CB371]“Don’t think anyone from back home would know enough to care. Will be mighty impressed with the riches we’ll be bringing back though. When we win.”[/colour] She finished the last sentence with a choke of laughter. [colour=7B68EE]“When we win.”[/colour] He repeated, sipping again to hide just how wide his grin had gotten. [colour=7B68EE]“What is your home like?” [/colour] Ahrora hesitated again. [colour=3CB371]“Small, I’m realizing.”[/colour] Silas could feel her stiffen. [colour=3CB371]“I thought differently before. But looking at it from here I can see it; small, backwards, and insignificant.” [/colour] Silas nodded in understanding, silently reflecting on his own first time outside of Ersand’Enise. The girl’s mild distress wasn’t noticed in time before she moved close enough for their knees to touch. [colour=3CB371]“I do want to visit again,”[/colour] She spoke so quietly, Silas found himself leaning closer to hear. [colour=7B68EE]“You’ll be able to, they’ll open portals and we’ll be able to come and go as we please. Could even-”[/colour] He was talking so excitedly it wasn’t until Ahrora’s mouth was at his lips that it dawned on Silas to stop. She pressed her body with hard enough force against his to push him backwards onto the blanket and uneven ground underneath. But her mouth was open and warm enough to make him forget the discomfort- and when he faced up to the sky, Silas swore he could see the stars. [/hider] [hider= Ahrora Babayeva] It wasn’t in Ahrora’s nature to apologize. Even in the rare occasions she might have felt it was owed, it was always easier to forget and move on. Forgiveness required too much dwelling. But there wasn’t really much chance for blowing past her most recent mistake she realized when approaching Silas’s window in the Castle. The young boy was there, circling the room with haste that only slowed to inspect the various piles of clutter scattered as small islands throughout. The large jacket usually covering his small frame was on the lower bunk, looking worse than usual. He’d torn the lining open. An unfamiliar sensation of guilt twisted deep in Ahrora’s stomach and the urge to flee and abandon any previously considered plans entirely. Foolish of course, to think she could do so unnoticed around a powegazer. No sooner did she turn from it than the window creaked open. [colour=7B68EE]“Came all this way and not going to say hello?”[/colour] [colour=3CB371]“You should take better care of your things.”[/colour] He took the letter silently, and Ahrora flinched at the action and her own words. [colour=3CB371]“I hadn’t- I didn’t mean..”[/colour] She paused, hoping for some interruption. A sly smile or [i]anything[/i] to bring back the casual levity that’d come so easily only a few hours before. Silas remained stubbornly impassive. It was too much, in the end she became desperate enough to end the silence it all came spilling out at once; [colour=3CB371]“I meant it to be a little game, thought it was a from an old sweetheart or maybe from that Kerrimand girl you met yesterday-”[/colour] Her face flushed with brilliant heat at the confession, but the words kept coming. [colour=3CB371]“Hells, I’m sorry Silas. I did stop once I realized it was your mother, I swear.” [/colour] [colour=7B68EE]“What did it say?”[/colour] He finally spoke, very quietly. Ahrora blinked back, too stunned to reply instantly. [colour=3CB371]“You haven’t…?”[/colour] She managed to stop herself. How would he have read it? Slowly she withdrew her hand, still holding the letter, and opened it. [indent][i]Silas My prayers that this letter reaches you, a thousand more that you are well. It pains to say, but stay away from home. Many have come looking, your friends; the Balzzagic boy and the over-fed young one. Moriff came and made stir enough to for me to send word of warning. Stay away. Keep safe Silas, grow to be good. Do not worry for me, all is well here. All my love, always, You mother, Aleshta Rieger.[/i][/indent] Her reading was slow and clumsy with the unfamiliar language but Silas remained patient and silent the entire time. It was short, and written and in a neat and clear hand; aside from the signature, which was barely legible and oversized. A paid scribe had written the note, how many other curious eyes had read it before hers? More questions itched, but she remained uncomfortably still on her self-made perch outside the window. [colour=7B68EE]“You should come inside,”[/colour] Silas offered a hand to bridge the gap between them. She took it, but he moved away from her the moment she stepped inside, pulling the letter back with him as he did so. [colour=7B68EE]“We’ve changed plans for today.”[/colour] Ahrora flexed her hands, hoping his limited sight couldn’t see her eye flickering about the room, taking in the mess, bed, and various possessions. [colour=3CB371]“What plans?”[/colour] [colour=7B68EE]“For the trail, if we match.”[/colour] [colour=3CB371]“Right. Thin air. Forked tower.”[/colour] Part of her knew it was wrong to let this pass- it hadn’t been a proper apology. But the slow return of a familiar grin to Silas’ face was more than enough to silence what little conscience she had. Ahrora moved to the bed, casually shifting the torn coat and taking it place on the mattress. [colour=7B68EE]“Think we’ve come up with a way to get higher.”[/colour] He replied, taking a seat next to her. [/hider][hr] [hider=Net summary of mad gains] [list] [*]Eight hundred Neskals [*]Large cask of Bernieres Red [*]Port-Bernières Blanc Royal ASZ44: HALF a 72-pound wheel (36lbs) of the world's rarest and most valuable cheese, aged for two centuries. Deliciously tangy and piquant, with a slight nutty flavour, instantly elevates any dish. Sells for Ỽ4/lb. [*]two kegs of Whetmelon Wine, a Mycormish favourite and almost impossible to get outside of yasoi lands [*]Two crates of Yasoi racing snails, one two of the 10 have decent worth/value, and the rest purely decorative or nutritional. [*]VOID Goggles: when focused upon with temporal or dark energy, allow the user to peer into the VOID. Amount seen depends on skill level. [*]One remaining prime shot [/list] [/hider]