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Lilith sat back against a tree and fixed her hair underneath her bonnet. With a light sigh she dropped down from her perch and looked into the forest. She had this odd sense that someone was out there. Not an evil presence like the Arcana but a more light hearted presence with a demonic aura. She clutched something to her chest before calling out. " H-Hello!" If it was a demon she would be no match in her current state of magic.
Kyle Thurman was leaning against the solid rock walls of the study hall, one hand pressed firmly against his face, the other tracing small circles in the rough stone. It had been a long day, longer than most, and his head was pounding. But the cool evening air was slowly lessening his head's pounding, and, after a few more moments, he stepped forward, feet once more regaining the entire weight of their lifelong burden.
He let out a sigh, and then began to walk forward. He didn't know why exactly his teachers always pressed him so hard. They should know by now that he had nothing more to offer them than what he gave. He did his best, really, but they seemed to sense some unrealized potential within him, and weren't willing to let him get away with anything less than perfection. He supposed it was normal. One day, he would be sent out into the world, to do tasks for the world at large, and he needed to be able to handle himself before that point.
You could always let me have some fun.
"You've got to be kidding me," he muttered, glancing around to make sure that there was no one nearby. "I've already said no, as you know full well."
Oh, come now. The voice said, perfectly reasonable. I'm simply trying to help you here. Make sure that they always show a proper... respect.
Kyle let out a snort, pushing some of his shaggy black hair away from bright grey eyes. Jace had a strong gift for persuasion, persistent, frustrating voice, but that was one thing he wasn't going to be able to get Kyle to do. He was too fond of retaining control of his own body to let a not-so-friendly, ancient mage run it for him, no matter how funny it would be to see the teachers' faces.
He laughed softly at that, but stopped promptly when the voice cajoled See? You think it is a good idea to.
Frustrating, antagonistic, pestering, provoking, agitating voice.
Kyle turned mid-step, changing course from his dorm room to one of the nearby nature preserves. He had always been fond of the quiet atmosphere of the parks, and, right now, a little bit of peace and quiet sounded wonderful.
And were are we going now?
So much for peace and quiet.
"Since when have you been so talkative?" Kyle growled through clenched teeth.
I'm bored, Jace replied, somehow managing to sound disinterested, rather than whining. When was the last time you and I had any fun?
"As I recall, the last time you convinced me to have 'fun' I woke up twelve hours later, a partially naked druid on top of me." He still hadn't gotten all the spiders from his room, once she had finally woken up and realized what was going on. He was only lucky that he wasn't a part of the Psi training, or he could have had much greater trouble than spiders. Mind control was a highly forbidden art, and the punishments were quick and severe. He had also been in a relative daze for several days afterwords, trying to recover from the aftereffects of having Jace use even such a limited amount of his magic.
I set you up for the perfect evening. It isn't my fault you didn't take advantage of it.
Kyle growled, but didn't deem to reply beyond that. For one thing, he had just entered the borders of the sanctuary, and he wanted to devote attention to things that were outside of his head for a bit. He took a deep breath, relishing the clean air and smell of sap, resin, and decay. It was a warm, living place, the forest, and a perfect place to go in the evenings, when the setting sun stained the leaves and bark a warm gold.
Diving deeper into the forest, Kyle allowed himself to forget about the day, and his normally cheerful attitude quickly returned. A small laugh escaped his lips as he half ran, half skipped further away from the walls.
He froze suddenly when he heard a voice call out to him, tremulous, light, and clearly feminine. "H-Hello!"
He felt Jace tense up inside his mind, suddenly severe. Kyle wasn't particularly worried. Not inside the city walls. Sure, he was meeting a strange person in the middle of the woods, but he had nothing worth stealing, and the city was well guarded and well watched. No harm would come to him, no matter how pessimistic Jace was.
"Good afternoon," he replied warmly to the unknown caller.
Lilith breathed out in relief. Seems human enough She smiled and quickly appeared in front of Kyle through the foliage. With a tiny smile she waved to the man. She had to get back into the city at any cost. She needed revenge on those filthy, lying, scum sucking, pricks of the arcana. She wanted to freeze them and shatter them into a million pieces. Instead she just focused on the moment. Get him to get her into the city.
" H-hey... I can't tell you how happy I am to see you... I...I kinda...Need your help " She got more and more quiet the more she went on. Her eyes went to the ground before continuing. " The Pr-Praetorian gaurds...won't let me in for some reason...even though...I am registered in the city..." She let some fake tears take their effect as she looked up at him. " C-can...you help me?"
Kyle felt his heart twang with pity, looking at the lady so clearly heartbroken. How long had she been out here? His first instinct was to reach out with a gentle hand and help her forwards, but Jace's voice suddenly hissed in his ear. What do you think you are doing? If the Praetorian won't let her into the city, there must be a reason for it.
He could offer Jace no reply, having long learned that people tend to look down upon those who held a one sided conversation, but it wouldn't have mattered if he could, anyways. Jace would not suddenly decide to trust the woman, and Kyle wasn't about to abandon her. So he ignored the aggressive murmurs echoing around inside of his mind, smiling crookedly but warmly at her.
"Let's see what we can do," he replied, ignoring Jace's curse and mutter of Fool.
Lilith smiled and basically leaped into a hug with the man before letting go and stepping back. " I-I am Lilith von Solairis the III...might I ask my helpers name?" She looked to the ground with a light blush after wiping her fake tears away. Ahhh such simpletons... all it takes is a few fake tears and a sob story, and they are basically so heartbroken they have to help you. Though that aura isn't a good one She managed a light smile before looking back up at the boy.
"Kyle Thurman," he replied with a half bow. If she is an evil sorcerer, she now could have everything she needed to control your mind.
Once more, Kyle was unable to retort, but he saved a few choice words in the back of his mind for when they were alone. It would do no good, they would argue, and Jace would likely not speak to him for the next couple of days. Which could be a blessing in its own respect, but, when he got over his anger, he was even more talkative than usual, recovering from his time of forced "boredom".
But, it was also true that Kyle knew, should this strange lady try and force her way into his mind, Jace would protect it. Kyle's mind was one of the few places he reigned supreme, and he would not be nice to anyone he managed to get his claws on. Sometimes, Kyle was glad he was a good student. He didn't want to think what might happen if he ever got interrogated by one of the Arcana. If one of them tried to work their way into his mind, no matter how subtly, Jace would pounce, and the situation would not be pleasant, for anyone.
He paused for a moment to muse over the lady... Lilith's name. It was long and complicated, which meant she likely had once been, or perhaps even was now, someone important. That was one thing he hadn't considered. Maybe this was some sort of test of compassion. Or something. It didn't really sound like something that the city would do, especially not for someone as unimportant as him, but maybe they needed someone who had little magical ability but a warm heart. For what, he could not guess.
He wasn't quite ready to leave the forest yet, but the dark was coming on quickly, and he didn't want to force the lady to wait in the woods while he enjoyed himself. He would come back tomorrow, after classes.
"Shall we go?" He inquired politely.
She gave him a quick and warm smile. " I like that name. Kyle Thurman. It has a powerful ring to it..." She shook her blue hair around. " Forgive my musings I...I just tend to see things in people that others do not... Yes we can go." Lilith looked up to the sky a little bit worriedly as it darkened. Though as normal the City of Mages was as bright as ever. She glared very coldly at the white city with dark eyes. one day I will freeze you stupid city
She moved closer to Kyle before starting to walk on the dirt path towards the city. " I guess you are wondering why I am out here, huh? Well I honest do not know myself... I all remember is the Arcana calling me in on a mission...then Bam, Here I am unable to conjure up an ice spear... It is...s-shameful." She looked down at the ground, this time in legitimate sadness. " and...Now....they won't let me in...the city...or out of...this preserve." She continued, trying to fight back the stinging sensation that the tears brought to her eyes.
"I was a little," Kyle replied, shortening his step a little bit so that the smaller woman would not have to hurry to keep up with his long legs. "But I didn't really see it as my place to ask."
And why not? You are rescuing her, after all.
He took a deep breath through his nose, schooling himself to patience. Jace was obviously doing this simply because he knew that Kyle could not respond at all, but would have to listen to every comment made in a stubborn silence.
"Not my place," Kyle repeated quietly, more directed at Jace than Lilith. It was the best he would be able to do right now.
Her situation was strange enough that Kyle didn't really know how he would be able to help her. If she wasn't allowed in the city there was likely nothing he would be able to do to help her in. But he would do his best to help anyways. He had no reason not to try. After all, no one could punish him for doing something out of ignorance, and his kind heart wouldn't tolerate leaving someone out here, in the dark and cold.
They approached the edge of the preserve, and Jace slowed, uncertain what exactly he was supposed to do.
Lilith managed a tiny smile. " Can I ask what type of mage you are. You seem to kind to be a Necro... Maybe you are an Elementalist?" she put her finger on her lips and looked at him, staring intently at the boys face. " Cause if you are I have an idea." She quickly took off her hat and sweetly said a magic chant. Seemingly out of nowhere a tiny doll formed. "Ahhh Lilith-sama so good to see you. My master was wondering what happened to you after you just went *poof* " The doll was about 6 inches in height and was pitch black except for some neon blue lines over its body, and where its mouth and eyes should have been.
The tiny black doll hovered infront of the man. " Ah... I see you got yourself a boy friend. The Master will be s-" Lilith hit the doll away and blushed lightly. " Stupid doll shut up. I am trying to tell you something!! I need you to help me get into the city..." The doll instantly looked from her to the man then back to her with a questioning gaze. " I...alright...but if you do get it...Master is going to have alot~ of questions for you!" Lilith looked up at Kyle before moving her gaze over to the doll. " Yes I understand Aion.."
Kyle flinched violently as a small portion of his power was ripped away from him, and, if it hadn't been for a lot of practiced, would have succumbed to Jace's sudden push to take over his mind. He lost track of the conversation briefly, as he fought to retain control of his own mind. He only picked up the very tail end of the conversation.
"Questions for you!" "Yes, I understand Aion."
Kyle blinked, forcing him to focus, to examine the little doll floating in the air before him, trying to ignore Jace's persistent and attention drawing voice penetrating every corner of his mind.
I warned you. I warned you she had all she needed. You are just lucky that was a small spell. You need to get out of this situation, now. There is something very wrong about that... woman. He spat out the final word like a curse, as though it was the worst term he could come up with to describe the female before him. But Kyle felt like he was committed now, that he had gone in too far to whatever this was to just back out now.
"Elemental, yes." He agreed hesitantly. He didn't know what this strange person wanted from him, exactly, but he told himself that he wasn't going to let her get him into any trouble. He would rather avoid the Arcana, if he was given the choice. So, that meant he would be careful, think about things, and maybe even listen to Jace.
No, listen to me. Get out of here now, before she ropes you into something you do not want to get involved with, and won't be able to get out of. Turn her into the guards, ignore her, I don't care, but don't let her just control you like this.
Really, though. What was the worst it could be? He shuddered suddenly. Famous last words.