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[hr][hr][h1][center][color=pink]Cold Comfort - Merchants of Danger[/color][/center][/h1][hr][hr]

Silas was gone. Nazih was gone. Marz was gone. She knew of two of their fates, but only truly cared for one. Marz was someone she valued and cared about. He'd crafted her first real weapon, a thing of beauty that had been lost to that wretched creature she'd fought at the proving grounds. Now, it was time to get her back, and they had to stock up for the mission ahead. Kirimansk had many stalls, it was a trading port, and one of the most important in her country. They couldn't rely on their magics any longer, they needed steel, bullets and black powder to fall back on. So she went with the others to gear herself up for the coming trial, only to find that Yvain and her were not welcome for her hijinks the other days. So, she disguised herself. A quick trick of Khaliun's altered her eye colour, and she dressed herself down, hiding her hair in a shawl. She'd played plenty at being a merchant in Ersand'Enise, it would not be hard to hide her air of importance.

And so, she shopped. Both to hide from the security of the venue, and to obtain information, power and equipment. As did her crew, though they did not need to dance around the shadows of stalls and remain occupied as she did. She was beginning to hate it. Hiding from the others, hiding her status, true nature, thoughts, skulking around the shadows like a common cutpurse. Yet it was a necessary evil. Not all would be so kind as Zarina and Penny. Not all would understand the burdens she bore, the price of such a power. Alas, in certain places within this complex, she did not have to hide. She found kinship with a few of the merchants, namely Fat Yuri. A portly man, and a great salesman. She enjoyed the bartering, the conversation and he was even so kind to put a good word for her at another store she intended to visit. A prime example of an ideal subject, one that it was her job to protect.

Her motley crew danced around the place and spent vast amounts of coin. Khaliun had managed to win the lottery with some shenanigans, and that other native girl, Oksana, had also enjoyed some luck in that regard. They proved the most prolific spenders, but Yuli did not find herself needing their coin, for she had plenty of her own. So, she went and bought most of what she needed. That was until she'd noticed an unusual book, marked with the seal of Verrano. Her and Penny both proved interested in the item, and so did Yvain, but the royals curiosity proved too much in this regard, and they went ahead and bought it, preparing to delve into the contents together. 
[hr][h2]A Trip to the Annex[/h2][@Force and Fury] - Penny[hr]

Penny arrives at The Annex. She's nibbling on some mouillettes, dunking her toast in it, covered in Yuri's Special Sauce. She offers some to Yuliya and the two of them eat and talk. [color=f7976a]"That book is something special, I'm telling you,"[/color] she was saying, as they loitered outside the Annex. [color=f7976a]"That's the seal of the Holy See of Verrano."[/color]
She cast about for Yvain, but he wasn't there yet. She sighed and finished off the last of her food. They could always just share it with him later, she supposed. [color=f7976a]"Ya ready, bloodsucker?"[/color] she whispered mischievously, leaning in. She licked her fingers and dusted the crumbs off of her chest.

Yuli smiled as she finished her last bite of egg and bread, as she too was intrigued in this little book. [color=pink]"I thought so. I wanted because it seemed holy, but if is holy seal, then is special, no? Is that your city, or Revidian? I get confused."[/color]

[color-pink]"Ready as you, peggy. Let go!"[/color] she spoke excitedly. She simply wanted to preserve what seemed to be the word of the gods, but if this truly was special, then she wondered. Just what could be inside?

Penny mock glared. [color=f7976a]"It's the worse one,"[/color] she replied. Then Yuliya had a new nickname for her. [color=f7976a]"Fair play,"[/color] she grumbled, walking up to the counter, where the book in question was one of the few behind it in a glass case. [color=f7976a]"Hello, good sir, we'd like to take a look at that one."[/color] She pointed, speaking slowly and simply.

She grinned all the while, heading to the Annex where she happened upon the book alongside Penny. [color=pink]"That one might be too much for her, I don't suppose you have a copy with colourful drawings and a nice water resistant cover to drool on?"[/color] she teased, as she pinched Penny's cheek and too gestured to the book they were after. 

[color=f7976a]"I don't know the words, conasse, but I know the tone."[/color] She stuck her tongue out. She looked at the merchant, who looked back, unamused. She smiled sweetly. [color=f7976a]"We'll take it!"[/color]
With a disapproving look, he turned, took out a keyring, and unlocked it, carefully extracting the tome within. He held it out with both hands to the two young women before him, eyes momentarily flicking downwards. [b]"The price is two-hundred oubles."[/b] he said simply, hands clasped reverently around it. Penny leaned in as they tried to negotiate, low-cut dress sliding partway off of one of her shoulders with a sneaky bit of coaxing. They got it for 40% off of what he'd been asking. Each paid ₽60 and they made their way over to a small sofa, Yuliya holding the book.[color=f7976a]"We should do it at the same time,"[/color] Penny advised. [color=f7976a]"Better chance that way, I think."[/color] Yuli nodded and anxiously placed her hand alongside Penny's. Her hands were trembling slightly with excitement. Would this be another encounter like the tower? 

The cover seemed to resist them at first, but not as if it were glued shut or bound shut or even sealed with some sort of traditional magic. Then, both got their fingers under it and... it opened. Then, Penelope Pellegrin and Yuliya Ilyanovna Vassilieva were in a garden. The hedges were high and there was a man there in priestly robes, bending over some roses. He was unusually tall or... they were unusually small? Penny looked over at Yuliya and, in her place was a little blonde girl. She looked down at herself. None of the bosom she had leaned in with a minute earlier was present. She was... a child as well.
The man snipped at the bush with some shears.

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[color=pink]"Penny?[/color] Yuli exclaimed in shock. She was.. a kid? What was this? Illusions? But they were in a no magic zone. And the man was so tall, no, she was shorter. This was different. She'd know if it was a trick. [color=f7976a]"Yuli,"[/color] Penny confirmed. She twisted to face the man, leaning on... it was her old crutch: the wooden one she'd had as a kid. This was no illusion. [color=f7976a]"Père, excusé moi..."[/color] she began, and he turned suddenly, as if startled. The priest blinked and they could see that he was no ordinary priest. He was, in fact, an archbishop. [color=red]"Young ladies?"[/color] He held the shears in one hand and a rose the colour of his robes in the other. [color=red]"When did you get here? I must've missed you."[/color] Penny managed her best curtsy. It was less than perfect. In the same breath, Yuli realized the truth as well. She too saw the priest, tending to the garden. It did not feel familiar, yet she did not feel unwanted in this place, however foreign it might have been. She bowed in respect. 

[color=pink]"Where are we, Patri?"[/color] she spoke, not knowing how to address the foreign yet familiar garb of the man [color=f7976a]"l'Archevêque,"[/color] Penny whispered, voice ripe with reverence. The man smiled at both of the children. [color=red]"You are in a very special place: one that is very real, or perhaps was. You are children, by the way, because you are [i]learners[/i] here, just setting out on a journey."[/color] He nodded, bringing the rose to his face and sniffing momentarily. [color=red]"It seems that my warding spell has somehow found [i]two[/i] of you worthy. [i]That,[/i]"[/color] he mused aloud, [color=red]"or you are particularly clever, and that is a worthiness in its own right, I suppose."[/color] 

Yuli gasped. She knew of two instances that held magic of this scope, the aberration and the forked tower. Both of which involved the divine. It was true. She was chosen. It had been proven time and time again, perhaps they had more for her to carry out their will, as their vessel on earth. She immediately went onto her knees in reverance, even moreso than before. She had plenty of respect for priests and their ilk, but this was beyond that. She wanted to ask, but she could not find the words, so the only sound that left her lips was a simple gesture, one that she had not spoken much in her life.

[color=pink]"Thank you."[/color]

Small-Penny's eyes flashed towards small-Yuliya's and she, too, sunk to her single knee. This was magic well beyond their scope, like that of the Pulsating aberration or even beyond. [color=f7976a]"Holy Father,"[/color] she asked tentatively, [color=f7976a]"If I may be so bold as to ask, who are you and what are we learning?"[/color] 
[color=red]"Oh, do stand up, girls, please,"[/color] he repied, making his way over to a small table. There was the book upon it. He placed the shears to one side and the rose to the other. [color=red]"and come sit with me."[/color] There were two chairs. Penny could've sworn there had been one before.

Yuli got to her feet, noticing the table there. She wiped the grass off her dress, and took Penny by the hand, leading her to the seat first, before taking one herself. He waited until both were seated, and then clasped his hands over the open book and began. They may have noticed that it appeared substantially newer than it had when they'd first gotten it. [color=red]"My name is Remi Alonsius Picard, though you may know me as St. Remi,"[/color] the archbishop began. [color=red]"We are in my garden and this book here is my word. It teaches one of a study I delved into in my youth: it involves manas themselves and how the Gods allow us to commune with and exert control over them."[/color] Penny's eyes widened. They flashed Yuliya's way. Yuli's eyes followed suit as she listened to the Saint's words. He couldn't mean... surely not. She'd seen it in action, both when she uncovered Jocasta's secret and at the showdown between Hugo and the Progenitor. That was... magic that made monsters kneel before him, it was inconceivable. She turned back towards Penny, just as shocked, before realizing the immense opportunity that had been afforded to both of them.

[color=pink]"I am ready, Saint Remi.[/color] her shock quickly turned to determination and confidence.

Penny bowed her head. [color=f7976a]"I, too, am ready if you find us worthy."[/color]
He smiled beatifically and reached out with both hands. [color=red]"Very well,"[/color] St. Remi replied. He placed a hand on each of their heads and then there was the perception if not the sight of a flash. The manas swirled inside of their bodies, burning and tingling. Then, they were sitting their on the sofa in The Annex. [hr] 
Following that extraordinary series of events, Yuli felt just as she had prior. This anti-magic zone sucked, and the sooner she could be rid of it, the better she would feel. Her and Penny regrouped with the others, to exchange information and find their comrade. And if she had to use this new power to destroy the enemies of the gods, and reunite with her friends, then she would do so gladly. For her encounters so far had proven her divine right, the judgement of Dami would be exercised through the crowns of men today, tomorrow and forevermore. For they would not fail with the gods on their side.