Lia exhaled slowly, her task given to her by Thornton done. She trudged into the house with Aziza by her side. She heard crashed coming from deeper into the house. She let Aziza run ahead to check out the noise, watching from within Aziza's jagged amber eyes as her feline body wound its way down a small staircase. Aziza peered through the bars of the stairs to watch Thornton overcome and heaving himself onto a massive bed. Lia gasped softly, not understanding the depths of emotions she was unwittingly watching. Aziza retreated slowly, knowing without a doubt that Thornton knew Aziza had seen him. She retreated, letting him bring it up should he want to. She would pretend she didn't see this private moment if that's what he desired. Lia began looking for a bedroom to bring her things to. She searched upwards, being drawn to the west tower, up a black spiral staircase to a suite of rooms that were separated by landings on the spiral stair, each landing a different room. The first, a greeting room and foyer. The second landing she came upon was a small dark wood library. Recessed book shelves graced the walls and large windows flooded the space, contrasting with the dark wood to create a cozy reading area. The third landing was a work room, daggers and broadswords dotted the walls along with wicked looking spears and blades she had no names for. Her breath was stolen from her as her eyes ate up the well lit workout space, lined with mirrors and a springy mat floor. In the corner of the room a smaller set of spiral staircase led her to the final floor, a modest bedroom tucked into a loft, brightly colored wall tapestries hung from the ceiling and cascaded down the walls, giving the room a cozy vibrant nod to her home. The pillows on the bed were trimmed with delicate gold and silver thread that shimmied in the light of the room, and the dressers were painted a bright orange gold and blue dizzying patterns sliding over rough hewn wood, a modest dresser with an immodest soul. Vibrancy and love drifted from the room, calling Lia. Aziza bounded onto the bed, her tummy turned upward as she began to wriggle and scratch her back on the bed. Lia's mouth perked up. " You like it too, huh?" Lia put her hand on the panthers belly and pet her strong stomach and sides. Her mind had drifted to Samir briefly, knowing he would love this room when he got here. A noise from the lowest staircase alerted both to someone entering her rooms. The stood still as they waited for the intruder to come further...be them sinister or friend.
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The dark thrums with life.
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It feels like home here. I finally found a substitute for Zenhex right when my soul needed this back so deeply.
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I am a 25 year old living in the U.S. Im just looking for the magic writers block solution, and I have always loved weaving tales and fantastical adventures, of gritty abused characters. I love a wide range of RPGs with unique worlds to dive into. I am an open book, ask away.
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Aziza began growling on the couch as Lia's head whipped to the door from where she came through from the back lawn. Grunts, roars and clashes could be heard from the open door. Standing quickly, Lia and Aziza came bounding through the back door, breaking into the lawn to the sounds of battle and the smell of blood singing in the air.
"Humans" Lia whispered in disgust. She turned to Aziza and smiled. They got to play again today. Aziza took off running, her sleek form moved like water, her Smokey form now solid, they both coursed with power. Lia's tattoos began swirling and moving, turning black to leak smoke like a cloud around her.
Aziza launched into two men, her jaws wide and sharp. Upon impact with her touch, the men burst into flame. She whirled to the next man, wielding a sword. He swung down to cleave Aziza in half, his eyes filled with hate. His sword came down hard and fast. Aziza swirled into smoke at the intrusion of the blade, but quickly reformed and lunged at the man trying to free his sword from the dirt where Aziza's neck was. Lia chuckled and turned her attention to the group still emerging from the woods. Her hands flew up and the black smoke that sprang from her finger tips were solid black, inky curls. They sought out every orifice of the 4 men charging from the nearest copse of trees, forcing their way into the lungs of the men, before igniting into white hot flame. The men fell to their knees, unable to scream in agony, as terror wrapped their faces in a death grip. They would expire soon, and Lia turned her attention to 2 more men coming at her quickly, screaming their war cry with their ugly ruddy faces contorted in rage. She smiled and blew sand at them, covering them head to toe in a block of sand, she lit it on fire, slowly bringing the temperature of the sand up until it melted, cooking the men now encased in a block of clear solid glass. Steam bubbles encased in the glass forever from the moisture escaping the withered corpses where men had stood 2 minutes before. Their death was excruciating, and Lia relished in it. Aziza was now toying with her opponents across the field, slicing fire down one side of a man, then disappearing in a puff of smoke while the man swung wildly, fear replacing rage on his face, before she re-materialized mid swipe with her long claws turned toward the man's stomach, her body mid lunge as it solidified again. She let his cooked entrails spill to the ground before happily lapping at the her claws. The battle had died down by this point, her fellow elves holding their own. Her tattoos stopped swirling and her and Aziza plunked down together, Aziza grooming herself happily, her belly full with death. Contended as well, Lia began re-braiding her long black hair.
"Humans" Lia whispered in disgust. She turned to Aziza and smiled. They got to play again today. Aziza took off running, her sleek form moved like water, her Smokey form now solid, they both coursed with power. Lia's tattoos began swirling and moving, turning black to leak smoke like a cloud around her.
Aziza launched into two men, her jaws wide and sharp. Upon impact with her touch, the men burst into flame. She whirled to the next man, wielding a sword. He swung down to cleave Aziza in half, his eyes filled with hate. His sword came down hard and fast. Aziza swirled into smoke at the intrusion of the blade, but quickly reformed and lunged at the man trying to free his sword from the dirt where Aziza's neck was. Lia chuckled and turned her attention to the group still emerging from the woods. Her hands flew up and the black smoke that sprang from her finger tips were solid black, inky curls. They sought out every orifice of the 4 men charging from the nearest copse of trees, forcing their way into the lungs of the men, before igniting into white hot flame. The men fell to their knees, unable to scream in agony, as terror wrapped their faces in a death grip. They would expire soon, and Lia turned her attention to 2 more men coming at her quickly, screaming their war cry with their ugly ruddy faces contorted in rage. She smiled and blew sand at them, covering them head to toe in a block of sand, she lit it on fire, slowly bringing the temperature of the sand up until it melted, cooking the men now encased in a block of clear solid glass. Steam bubbles encased in the glass forever from the moisture escaping the withered corpses where men had stood 2 minutes before. Their death was excruciating, and Lia relished in it. Aziza was now toying with her opponents across the field, slicing fire down one side of a man, then disappearing in a puff of smoke while the man swung wildly, fear replacing rage on his face, before she re-materialized mid swipe with her long claws turned toward the man's stomach, her body mid lunge as it solidified again. She let his cooked entrails spill to the ground before happily lapping at the her claws. The battle had died down by this point, her fellow elves holding their own. Her tattoos stopped swirling and her and Aziza plunked down together, Aziza grooming herself happily, her belly full with death. Contended as well, Lia began re-braiding her long black hair.
Lia and Aziza sat in quiet companiable silence, waiting for the show to start. Kia was still reeling from the feeling of playing with Aziza so well, and her sleek black form lounged at Lia's side, licking her paws like she had just felled a gazelle. Her mind began to wander while the two on re field procrastinated. She could see Liz beginning to zone out into her own thoughts, and Lia took the opportunity.
the hearth was warm, the embers still crackling happily. Samir looked over his bowl, his dark almost black eyes staring kindly at her. When Lia found Samir, she was a volatile cranky guarded feisty desert elf raging at the word.
Samir, while he couldn't control her power or help her wield it, did start to calm the inferno in her heart, showed her the way of modern technology, and became a friend in all things except the training field.
Samir flicked a piece of food at Lia from across the table, a mischievous grin lighting up his tanned face.
"We need to work on your customer service. You can't throw things at everyone who asks a dumb question. Even if it is hilarious."
Lia huffed, rolling her eyes as she put down the spoon she had been about to chuck at him before he said that.
" They shouldn't ask stupid questions then. They will eventually get the hint and both of our lives will be that much easier. Your too soft sometimes."
"And your a firecracker, pretty and dazzling, but you tend to go off when no one is expecting it. Also, you screech ikr one too when your mad. " the humor in Samir's eyes was undeniable, as well as the love hidden in their depths. Samir had been taken with Lia since the first fit of rage, and had taken it upon himself to try and glad her ire as much as possible without actually getting himself killed. The problem was that Lia wasn't ready to hear it. She was like a dog with a bone trying to find a teacher for her abilities. He had been devastated when he realized her power was too great even for him, knowing she would take off as soon as she could. But she had surprised him, and chose to stay for a few months. They became good friends but Samir knew she wouldn't be ready until she had control of her gifts. He hoped it would happen soon, but it showed no signs of improving. He knew she got the same later he did, and it was only a matter of time before she told him she was leaving. He was waiting for it, she was savoring the last remnants of their shared time together.
Lia's eyes snapped up to Thornton at the sound of the whistle. She guessed the show wasn't starting after all. Getting up from her seat, she and Aziza, totally in sync, began walking towards the house together.
Thorntons laughter filled the yard, his shadow twin popping out of existence. Aziza growled playfully at the will-o-wisps that invaded the lawn ahead of the messenger, but Lia paid him no mind. The only messenger she would be expecting would be a tall dark handsome Desert elf with an affinity for nutella and snoring. Crossing her arms, lia called up her earth power and created a small clay likeness of Samir in the palm of her hand, letting her mind create an exact likeness of Samir. When Aziza swung her Amber eyes to the clayfigure she began purring. " I guess you liked Samir too. Hopefully soon he will be here." Aziza harrumphed in impatience and began walking again, her smoke tail blurring a little as she waved it lazily in the air. They entered through the back of the house and sat in one of the many living rooms, and sat down on a giant couch. Aziza climbed up as well, and played her head on Lia's lap. Petting Aziza's almost to warm head, Lia relaxed and waited.
the hearth was warm, the embers still crackling happily. Samir looked over his bowl, his dark almost black eyes staring kindly at her. When Lia found Samir, she was a volatile cranky guarded feisty desert elf raging at the word.
Samir, while he couldn't control her power or help her wield it, did start to calm the inferno in her heart, showed her the way of modern technology, and became a friend in all things except the training field.
Samir flicked a piece of food at Lia from across the table, a mischievous grin lighting up his tanned face.
"We need to work on your customer service. You can't throw things at everyone who asks a dumb question. Even if it is hilarious."
Lia huffed, rolling her eyes as she put down the spoon she had been about to chuck at him before he said that.
" They shouldn't ask stupid questions then. They will eventually get the hint and both of our lives will be that much easier. Your too soft sometimes."
"And your a firecracker, pretty and dazzling, but you tend to go off when no one is expecting it. Also, you screech ikr one too when your mad. " the humor in Samir's eyes was undeniable, as well as the love hidden in their depths. Samir had been taken with Lia since the first fit of rage, and had taken it upon himself to try and glad her ire as much as possible without actually getting himself killed. The problem was that Lia wasn't ready to hear it. She was like a dog with a bone trying to find a teacher for her abilities. He had been devastated when he realized her power was too great even for him, knowing she would take off as soon as she could. But she had surprised him, and chose to stay for a few months. They became good friends but Samir knew she wouldn't be ready until she had control of her gifts. He hoped it would happen soon, but it showed no signs of improving. He knew she got the same later he did, and it was only a matter of time before she told him she was leaving. He was waiting for it, she was savoring the last remnants of their shared time together.
Lia's eyes snapped up to Thornton at the sound of the whistle. She guessed the show wasn't starting after all. Getting up from her seat, she and Aziza, totally in sync, began walking towards the house together.
Thorntons laughter filled the yard, his shadow twin popping out of existence. Aziza growled playfully at the will-o-wisps that invaded the lawn ahead of the messenger, but Lia paid him no mind. The only messenger she would be expecting would be a tall dark handsome Desert elf with an affinity for nutella and snoring. Crossing her arms, lia called up her earth power and created a small clay likeness of Samir in the palm of her hand, letting her mind create an exact likeness of Samir. When Aziza swung her Amber eyes to the clayfigure she began purring. " I guess you liked Samir too. Hopefully soon he will be here." Aziza harrumphed in impatience and began walking again, her smoke tail blurring a little as she waved it lazily in the air. They entered through the back of the house and sat in one of the many living rooms, and sat down on a giant couch. Aziza climbed up as well, and played her head on Lia's lap. Petting Aziza's almost to warm head, Lia relaxed and waited.
Lia stood to the side as the conversation swirled around her. Her head was filled with light pure joy, she had finally wielded her power and she was still coming down from the heady rush. Thornton may have thought it was a show for them, but it wasn't. It was her and Aziza playing together for the first time. She truly loved her power, her lovely black panther. A thought struck her, and she smiled. An onyx smoke black panther poured from Lia's belly, her power made manifest to sit beside her. Now that she had a taste of her true power, she wanted Aziza next to her all the time, not just when she closed her eyes and burrowed deep. She wanted to take Thornton up on his offer. She wanted to show the world the power of Kaal, of Lia.
Up until now the conversation had been greetings, but quickly moved on to power.
"I could also help suppress her untamed magic. I've done it before when I helped train others, but if you've got the hang of it maybe Liz would like to train with me? I could always use the practice." Aziza immediately reacted. Her hackles raised, and she snarled at him. She swiped at him, not close enough to touch him, just to make the threat known. Lia herself stiffened, her tattoos became black and smoke poured from her mouth as she spoke.
" You will not touch my power." She said, quietly but with iron in her words. Aziza stood to her full height next to her, Lia's hand steadying her head. Twin amber eyes glared at the new comer. They didn't trust him.
Lia and Aziza turned as one and headed to the box, and sat next to the dramatically dressed Thornton. She glared at the newcomer, and hoped Liz snapped a bone and sucked out the marrow just like at dinner.
Up until now the conversation had been greetings, but quickly moved on to power.
"I could also help suppress her untamed magic. I've done it before when I helped train others, but if you've got the hang of it maybe Liz would like to train with me? I could always use the practice." Aziza immediately reacted. Her hackles raised, and she snarled at him. She swiped at him, not close enough to touch him, just to make the threat known. Lia herself stiffened, her tattoos became black and smoke poured from her mouth as she spoke.
" You will not touch my power." She said, quietly but with iron in her words. Aziza stood to her full height next to her, Lia's hand steadying her head. Twin amber eyes glared at the new comer. They didn't trust him.
Lia and Aziza turned as one and headed to the box, and sat next to the dramatically dressed Thornton. She glared at the newcomer, and hoped Liz snapped a bone and sucked out the marrow just like at dinner.
" If you think that's wise. I will try and rouse him." Lia took a deep breath and instead of standing, sat down in the clearing. She had been working on meeting her power calmly, and it helped to meditate a little before hand. She closed her eyes and burrowed deep into her belly looking for him. She found him quickly, laying on the ground, panting and trying to lift his head.
" I'm sorry, I had to." He gruffed softly, rolling his eyes and letting a puff of onyx smoke out of one nostril. She gently walked up to him, put her hand to his snout for him to sniff. She tried to think of Thornton's words, and instead of approaching him with fear and trepidation, she went to him thinking of Tal, of the only mother she had ever known. Her heart clenched, and she took a step forward. She looked down at the same beast she had always seen when she used her power, and yet this time she saw an old friend. A constant, that had always been there. She had always thought of him and her as separate, 2 things that needed to dominate each other. Something she needed to conquer, when she should have been working with him, as one. She looked at him for the first time as a friend. " Help me? Show me what you need." As soon as the words left her mouth he pounced on her. Black smoke filled her vision, it wound its way into her mouth and through her nostrils.
She flared, her body convulsing in the field, singeing the grass around her in an 8 foot arc. Her tattoos turned black, pulsing and writhing around her skin, like angry vipers in a pit, crossing and swirling one another. Her eyes opened and thick black smoked rolled from her nose and mouth. Above her, the beast took form in fire and ether. He reared his head back and roared into the sky, a pillar of white hot heat lit up the landscape. Inside her mind, she gasped and choked on the smoke forcing its way into her skin, engulfing her entire body. Tears filled her eyes as she thought this was truly the end of her. Then, she got angry. How DARE he? This was HER power, HER birthright and she couldn't access it because HE was an asshole? FUCK THIS. She sat up, and batted the smoke away like a snarling child. She breathed smoke every day of her life, why was she letting it rule her? This was HERS. She found the beast, clawing at the walls of her mind, roaring at her.
" STOP. You. are. MINE." Lia roared over the distance separating them. At the sound of Lia's voice, the beast turned around, its massive mouth dripping smoke like drool, and cocked its eye at her.
" You heard me. You are MINE. You have known me all my life. You have always been there, but yet you hate me, refuse me control of MY power. That changes today. WE ARE ONE. FUCKING ACT LIKE IT."
Outside, her body stilled. The tattoos pulsed once before returning to red slowly. Inside, the beast began changing. Black smoke and sparks swirled around the beast body, rendering it invisible for a moment, before Tal appeared. Lia gasped, heart hammering.
" I never hated you, child. I just needed you to be strong enough to fight back. We will be facing alot together, YOU needed to be ready for ME."
" Who are you? really? I know you are not Tal."
" I am a memory of Kaal. The element of Fire made manifest. Your source of power. Kaal knew there would one day be one born that was strong enough to wield his true power. An undiluted drop of his blood flew threw the generations, laying dormant, until it found one such a child that matched with his blood. Attached with it, was a message. ' Once you have embraced the beast within, my power will be given to you. You are my weapon to our kind, my offering to the universe. You are the destroyer, the purifier. Love and hate, you are our kind's manifest emotion. Wield it wisely.'" Tal's form flickered in and out, with one last puff of smoke, her form whispered " It was so good to see your face again...Love him just as you hated him."
The beast was back, but changed. Instead of the formless hazey beast she had always known, a black panther languidly licked her black coat. Her power, after being embraced, transformed into a combination of the power and of Lia. Instead of her power being this nameless thing, it was finally and truly hers. And she was gorgeous. She walked up to her and let her sniff her hand. Jagged Amber eyes stared deep into hers, and the panther writhed onto her back, exposing her belly to Lia. A genuine smile lit up her face, and she laughed a little as she reached over to pet her stomach. "I think I will call you...Aziza." It had never felt right to name her beast until now.
Lia opened her eyes and smiled. Her hands shot out and a swirling wall of fire rose up 80 feet into the sky. Her smile widened as she threw a fire ball into the center of the wall and it came crashing down only to transform into a thousand fireflies made of flames so blue it rivaled the sky for attention. They flew together past the people in the field, leaving a warm balmy breeze pushed by the air she conjured. Her body was alight, her tattoos simmering joyfully, glowing and pulsing with her heart beat. The fireflies soared up into the sky and split into to swarms that charged each other. Upon impact they formed an intricate tree of life in midair, Raising her hands together in front of her mouth, she blew on her hands. As she conjured Earth, a stream of sand blew from her palms into the fire in the field. Instantly, the sand melted and created a molten glass figure suspended by the air Lia was conjuring. She took the liquid glass and clapped her hands, instantly bringing the temperature of the glass to such a high heat that it was instantly incinerated.
Out of breath, chest heaving, and smiling like a mental patient Lia looked to the sky and wept. She fell to her knees to catch her breath. Her eyes looked over the new comer to the field, grazed over the lady, and met Thornton head on with her eyes blazing.
" Well that was different." A smile touched her lips.
" I'm sorry, I had to." He gruffed softly, rolling his eyes and letting a puff of onyx smoke out of one nostril. She gently walked up to him, put her hand to his snout for him to sniff. She tried to think of Thornton's words, and instead of approaching him with fear and trepidation, she went to him thinking of Tal, of the only mother she had ever known. Her heart clenched, and she took a step forward. She looked down at the same beast she had always seen when she used her power, and yet this time she saw an old friend. A constant, that had always been there. She had always thought of him and her as separate, 2 things that needed to dominate each other. Something she needed to conquer, when she should have been working with him, as one. She looked at him for the first time as a friend. " Help me? Show me what you need." As soon as the words left her mouth he pounced on her. Black smoke filled her vision, it wound its way into her mouth and through her nostrils.
She flared, her body convulsing in the field, singeing the grass around her in an 8 foot arc. Her tattoos turned black, pulsing and writhing around her skin, like angry vipers in a pit, crossing and swirling one another. Her eyes opened and thick black smoked rolled from her nose and mouth. Above her, the beast took form in fire and ether. He reared his head back and roared into the sky, a pillar of white hot heat lit up the landscape. Inside her mind, she gasped and choked on the smoke forcing its way into her skin, engulfing her entire body. Tears filled her eyes as she thought this was truly the end of her. Then, she got angry. How DARE he? This was HER power, HER birthright and she couldn't access it because HE was an asshole? FUCK THIS. She sat up, and batted the smoke away like a snarling child. She breathed smoke every day of her life, why was she letting it rule her? This was HERS. She found the beast, clawing at the walls of her mind, roaring at her.
" STOP. You. are. MINE." Lia roared over the distance separating them. At the sound of Lia's voice, the beast turned around, its massive mouth dripping smoke like drool, and cocked its eye at her.
" You heard me. You are MINE. You have known me all my life. You have always been there, but yet you hate me, refuse me control of MY power. That changes today. WE ARE ONE. FUCKING ACT LIKE IT."
Outside, her body stilled. The tattoos pulsed once before returning to red slowly. Inside, the beast began changing. Black smoke and sparks swirled around the beast body, rendering it invisible for a moment, before Tal appeared. Lia gasped, heart hammering.
" I never hated you, child. I just needed you to be strong enough to fight back. We will be facing alot together, YOU needed to be ready for ME."
" Who are you? really? I know you are not Tal."
" I am a memory of Kaal. The element of Fire made manifest. Your source of power. Kaal knew there would one day be one born that was strong enough to wield his true power. An undiluted drop of his blood flew threw the generations, laying dormant, until it found one such a child that matched with his blood. Attached with it, was a message. ' Once you have embraced the beast within, my power will be given to you. You are my weapon to our kind, my offering to the universe. You are the destroyer, the purifier. Love and hate, you are our kind's manifest emotion. Wield it wisely.'" Tal's form flickered in and out, with one last puff of smoke, her form whispered " It was so good to see your face again...Love him just as you hated him."
The beast was back, but changed. Instead of the formless hazey beast she had always known, a black panther languidly licked her black coat. Her power, after being embraced, transformed into a combination of the power and of Lia. Instead of her power being this nameless thing, it was finally and truly hers. And she was gorgeous. She walked up to her and let her sniff her hand. Jagged Amber eyes stared deep into hers, and the panther writhed onto her back, exposing her belly to Lia. A genuine smile lit up her face, and she laughed a little as she reached over to pet her stomach. "I think I will call you...Aziza." It had never felt right to name her beast until now.
Lia opened her eyes and smiled. Her hands shot out and a swirling wall of fire rose up 80 feet into the sky. Her smile widened as she threw a fire ball into the center of the wall and it came crashing down only to transform into a thousand fireflies made of flames so blue it rivaled the sky for attention. They flew together past the people in the field, leaving a warm balmy breeze pushed by the air she conjured. Her body was alight, her tattoos simmering joyfully, glowing and pulsing with her heart beat. The fireflies soared up into the sky and split into to swarms that charged each other. Upon impact they formed an intricate tree of life in midair, Raising her hands together in front of her mouth, she blew on her hands. As she conjured Earth, a stream of sand blew from her palms into the fire in the field. Instantly, the sand melted and created a molten glass figure suspended by the air Lia was conjuring. She took the liquid glass and clapped her hands, instantly bringing the temperature of the glass to such a high heat that it was instantly incinerated.
Out of breath, chest heaving, and smiling like a mental patient Lia looked to the sky and wept. She fell to her knees to catch her breath. Her eyes looked over the new comer to the field, grazed over the lady, and met Thornton head on with her eyes blazing.
" Well that was different." A smile touched her lips.
Lia's breathe puffed into the brisk morning air as magic crackles the atmosphere. Looking at Thornton, with her Amber eyes flashing, she whispered "Kaal, I hope so." Kaal being the Saadian fire God her people worship.
Stepping into the ring of protection, Lia's hand trembled, and she shut her eyes against the world. She burrowed deep into her belly, coaxing the sleeping beast of her power awake. It unfurled it's head filled with ether and puffed smoke from it's enormous nostrils. Lia grinned a little, wanting to fully embrace her beast and more than a little excited to bring him out. She knew she should be fearful, but the fear never fully took root even after the beast had taken her body over and controlled her rather than the other way around. She just wanted to meld with him, but he did not let her yet. Yet.
She crooked a finger at him, and stared straight into the depths of his ember eyes. To everyone else she looked as if she was standing there with her eyes closed, her tattoos slowly beginning to wriggle around her body. The swirl at her belly began to circle her belly button, faster as her body began to heat up. The tattoos began swirling and becoming angrier and redder by the moment. It looked as though the tattoos began to smolder lia's clothes.
Inside her mind, she stared at the great beast that was her fire. She stared him down, and reached out to touch him. Just the barest touch, would be all that he let's her accomplish. When she made contact with his head, her hand gently resting, not moving a millimeter, she opened her real eyes and channeled him. Her mouth filled with smoke, like the beast, and her eyes changed to the same burning ember color, dancing in the light of the morning. The grass at her feet began to burn in seconds, the circle rapidly growing from her at the center. Her body began to vibrate with power, and she roared fire. The anger of the beast bubbled to the surface, and while she only had a hand in his head inside her, she could barely hold on. If she could keep the rage in check for just a moment, she could actually do.something with her power. The fire that escaped her was blue, hot but not white hot yet. She took a deep breathe and conjured that blue inferno, stilling it turning it solid with her mind, a deadly sphere, the steam from the water Thornton had put in the air did little to tampen the temperature of the fire. Lia conjured her water with her other hand. She ran a constant stream of water around the fire ball that still hung in mid air. Sweat trailed down her neck, she was honestly shocked the beast was being so....cooperative.
She conjured the water into a wall around Thornton. Hoping the darkness would protect him, she touched the fireball to the the wall of water. Instantly, the wall was gone. A surge of steam billowed everywhere, seemingly conjured of its own volition. It was her one harmless parlor trick. The only thing she had been able to attemot to master. This had been a success, other times it had ended in countless scalding. She closed her eyes and looked at the beast. He stood now, had pressed his giant paw to her hand. "No. No. Not yet. Please." The beast looked at her and she could see the moment he chose. His eyes hardened and he roared at her. She flinched and shut her eyes. This is where he takes over.
He nudged her stomach with his about, right at the base of her tattoo, where her power lived, and took over.
Her scream tore through her throat as her fire shot out from her hands, her tattoos, her mouth. She was lifted from the ground by the force of the expulsion. A blast of raw energy was tearing through her, and she needed to find him and cut it off. They could be like this for days. She scrambled for the strength and power to find him in her mind. When she found him he stood alone, snarling and roaring fire. She walked towards him and bent to her knees. As he stalked closer to her, presumably to wrest from her more of what ever they give each other. When he was close enough she reared up and grabbed him by the neck, scrambling onto his back, and snapping his neck. He passed out unconscious on the floor of her mind, she sighed in relief. This was the only way to shut it down once it started, he would he awake in a few hours and that was when she would have a hair trigger, her rage seemingly uncontrollable. She took a deep breathe and opened her eyes to the field around her. She began to take stock of any damage, when it started.
Hundreds of birds and flying creatures fell to the ground. While they had protected the trees, they had overlooked anything flying over the manor directly above the source of the power. Lia stood, unfazed by the oddly delicious smelling pigeon that had landed next to her, cooked to a crisp well done, she'd say, and looked to Thornton. Her nostrils and mouth still puffing out black smoke, but atleast her tattoos had stopped moving.
Stepping into the ring of protection, Lia's hand trembled, and she shut her eyes against the world. She burrowed deep into her belly, coaxing the sleeping beast of her power awake. It unfurled it's head filled with ether and puffed smoke from it's enormous nostrils. Lia grinned a little, wanting to fully embrace her beast and more than a little excited to bring him out. She knew she should be fearful, but the fear never fully took root even after the beast had taken her body over and controlled her rather than the other way around. She just wanted to meld with him, but he did not let her yet. Yet.
She crooked a finger at him, and stared straight into the depths of his ember eyes. To everyone else she looked as if she was standing there with her eyes closed, her tattoos slowly beginning to wriggle around her body. The swirl at her belly began to circle her belly button, faster as her body began to heat up. The tattoos began swirling and becoming angrier and redder by the moment. It looked as though the tattoos began to smolder lia's clothes.
Inside her mind, she stared at the great beast that was her fire. She stared him down, and reached out to touch him. Just the barest touch, would be all that he let's her accomplish. When she made contact with his head, her hand gently resting, not moving a millimeter, she opened her real eyes and channeled him. Her mouth filled with smoke, like the beast, and her eyes changed to the same burning ember color, dancing in the light of the morning. The grass at her feet began to burn in seconds, the circle rapidly growing from her at the center. Her body began to vibrate with power, and she roared fire. The anger of the beast bubbled to the surface, and while she only had a hand in his head inside her, she could barely hold on. If she could keep the rage in check for just a moment, she could actually do.something with her power. The fire that escaped her was blue, hot but not white hot yet. She took a deep breathe and conjured that blue inferno, stilling it turning it solid with her mind, a deadly sphere, the steam from the water Thornton had put in the air did little to tampen the temperature of the fire. Lia conjured her water with her other hand. She ran a constant stream of water around the fire ball that still hung in mid air. Sweat trailed down her neck, she was honestly shocked the beast was being so....cooperative.
She conjured the water into a wall around Thornton. Hoping the darkness would protect him, she touched the fireball to the the wall of water. Instantly, the wall was gone. A surge of steam billowed everywhere, seemingly conjured of its own volition. It was her one harmless parlor trick. The only thing she had been able to attemot to master. This had been a success, other times it had ended in countless scalding. She closed her eyes and looked at the beast. He stood now, had pressed his giant paw to her hand. "No. No. Not yet. Please." The beast looked at her and she could see the moment he chose. His eyes hardened and he roared at her. She flinched and shut her eyes. This is where he takes over.
He nudged her stomach with his about, right at the base of her tattoo, where her power lived, and took over.
Her scream tore through her throat as her fire shot out from her hands, her tattoos, her mouth. She was lifted from the ground by the force of the expulsion. A blast of raw energy was tearing through her, and she needed to find him and cut it off. They could be like this for days. She scrambled for the strength and power to find him in her mind. When she found him he stood alone, snarling and roaring fire. She walked towards him and bent to her knees. As he stalked closer to her, presumably to wrest from her more of what ever they give each other. When he was close enough she reared up and grabbed him by the neck, scrambling onto his back, and snapping his neck. He passed out unconscious on the floor of her mind, she sighed in relief. This was the only way to shut it down once it started, he would he awake in a few hours and that was when she would have a hair trigger, her rage seemingly uncontrollable. She took a deep breathe and opened her eyes to the field around her. She began to take stock of any damage, when it started.
Hundreds of birds and flying creatures fell to the ground. While they had protected the trees, they had overlooked anything flying over the manor directly above the source of the power. Lia stood, unfazed by the oddly delicious smelling pigeon that had landed next to her, cooked to a crisp well done, she'd say, and looked to Thornton. Her nostrils and mouth still puffing out black smoke, but atleast her tattoos had stopped moving.
Lia nodded her head at the on an sitting across from her. "I hope so, it's my last chance." Clenching her fist, she finished the last of her dish with a quick tip of the bowl into her mouth. Setting the delicate thing back onto the table with a soft rattle, Lia fixed her braids and adjusted her gun holster on her thigh. At Thorntons words of prompt, she got out of her chair. Exited and eager to begin training. With her tattoos pulsing, she followed him outside into the vast back yard that hedged the forest behind the manor. Lia was unsure if the woods would still be standing when they were done.
"Do you have a protection spell you can use?" The glass dunes of Saadia roared to life in her minds eye, causing her heart to pick up it's pace. She didn't want to begin her hopefully fruitful stay in the manor with unnecessary
destruction.
"Do you have a protection spell you can use?" The glass dunes of Saadia roared to life in her minds eye, causing her heart to pick up it's pace. She didn't want to begin her hopefully fruitful stay in the manor with unnecessary
destruction.
" Thank you. I have seen 4 teachers, all claiming by many to be the most powerful of the fire wielders. The longest any of them has been able to last with a continuous power push was 7 hours before collapsing. You have done Tal a great honor, she would be pleased." Lia said, her accent lilting softly and caught slightly on Tal's name. She wondered if she had faded yet or was still in her tent on the Saadian dunes living the rest of her life out in piece, no longer worried about looking after her youngest grand daughter. The thought both saddened Lia and gave her some peace, knowing that she was giving her grandmother final days of solitude and quiet but wishing to see her just once before...Blood pooled in Lia's palm, dripping into the polished hard wood of the dining room floor and working its way into the cracks, deeper, deeper into the house itself. This would not be the first drop of blood she would lose to this house, she could tell. May as well start now.
"What else can I tell you? None of them believed in my abilities, and when I demonstrated them only one stayed around long enough to know my whole name. They could offer me nothing, and frankly, seemed hateful. One man in the Volcano dunes of Demi snarled at me before stomping off and locking his door against me." Lia lifted her shoulders in a shrug, her braid tossed to one side behind her back. Popping a piece of sauteed cactus into her mouth, she waited for another prompt.
"What else can I tell you? None of them believed in my abilities, and when I demonstrated them only one stayed around long enough to know my whole name. They could offer me nothing, and frankly, seemed hateful. One man in the Volcano dunes of Demi snarled at me before stomping off and locking his door against me." Lia lifted her shoulders in a shrug, her braid tossed to one side behind her back. Popping a piece of sauteed cactus into her mouth, she waited for another prompt.
Lia stared at the dish in front of her, the smell of it mixing with her memories in the ether of the room, to tempt and torment her. She made a small sound in her throat, hoping the chef took that involuntary moan as a thank you. She stared up at the table and offered a small smile.
" This is the dish my Grandmother Tal would make me as a child when I was sick with fire-fever." Lia's tattoos pulsed at the memory of the last time her grandmother made it for her. She had just had another round of horrific training with the elders and pushed herself to hard. Control was her weak point when it came to her fire, and the elders wanted her to push as much of her fire out into the dunes to see if she could exhaust herself with the hopes of diminishing her power to a manageable level. She had stood out in the Saadian dunes for 3 days straight. Scorching heat was no stranger to Lia's life, and in those days she had turned a 5 miles patch of sand into glass before the fire-fever kicked in and left her weak and crawling into her grandmothers hut. Tal got to work, lovingly bathing Lia in cold water stored in deep holes dug into the sand. Then she made the spicy chicken, using the hottest peppers known to only grow in Saadia, with the hopes of sweating out the last dregs of her power that turned against her. That night when Lia had finally fallen into a fitful sleep and Tal went to lay down herself, Lia's Tattoos began to pulse for the first time. What started out as small tribal tattoos that she had gotten with the rest of her age group as they matured, began to elongate themselves. They grew rapidly around her body, twisting and curving in on itself until it frenzied and met together in a giant swirl surrounding her belly button, while also encircling half of her face. The tattoos began giving off heat, and Lia began to smolder on the tent floor. When she woke the next morning it was to a burnt canvas floor that gave way to a solid glass outline of Lia's body and her new angry red markings. After that morning, when the Elders saw what she had done to the dunes and the new markings, everyone had shunned her. Except Tal. Everyone was petrified Lia would set fire to the maanam tent. That she would kill the camels beneath her if she road them, that she would kill if anyone touched her. And she didn't not believe them.
Lia's bright eyes looked over at Masters, her hands shaking slightly at the memory.
" Well, I grew up in the Saadian Dunes, a small remote region of the Sa'andahar nation. But I doubt I need to tell you that. I have lived a nomad life for 73 years. We traveled frequently, offering security services, trades for goods, hired help, anything we could do around the market bazaars to bring home things for the tribe. I only left because Saadia could no longer help me, or contain me. What do you wish to know?" Lia tugged her lip ring into her mouth once more. That had been the longest she had spoken since leaving the small market room with Samir. She shoved some vegetables into her mouth, bypassing the utensils for her hands. Her eyes flicked over to the other woman and a small grin peeked out from her full mouth. It seems she wasn't the only one to prefer using her hands. She knew the marrow tasted good, soft and just a tiny bit gritty. She popped the vegetables into her mouth one at a time, picked apart the chicken into bite sized pieces, and hoped she could stop the urge to bring the bowl up to her lips, upturning the contents into her open mouth. She had had no learning in formal table manners, and frankly she used the cultural divide to continue how she wanted to eat regardless of the company. She may not have had a formal education but Lia was intelligent, crafty, and a little bit of a wrecking ball. If eating with her was necessary, the least of someones concern would be how she ate. The danger came when she opened her mouth and began talking. Blunt honesty was a nasty habit of hers that got her into more than a few fights. It was all well and good until she actually got angry. Her markings pulsed on her face, remembering a few of those said fights. Lia tightened her fist so that her nail broke the skin on the fleshy part of her palm just enough to let loose a drop of blood, and refocused on the meal.
" This is the dish my Grandmother Tal would make me as a child when I was sick with fire-fever." Lia's tattoos pulsed at the memory of the last time her grandmother made it for her. She had just had another round of horrific training with the elders and pushed herself to hard. Control was her weak point when it came to her fire, and the elders wanted her to push as much of her fire out into the dunes to see if she could exhaust herself with the hopes of diminishing her power to a manageable level. She had stood out in the Saadian dunes for 3 days straight. Scorching heat was no stranger to Lia's life, and in those days she had turned a 5 miles patch of sand into glass before the fire-fever kicked in and left her weak and crawling into her grandmothers hut. Tal got to work, lovingly bathing Lia in cold water stored in deep holes dug into the sand. Then she made the spicy chicken, using the hottest peppers known to only grow in Saadia, with the hopes of sweating out the last dregs of her power that turned against her. That night when Lia had finally fallen into a fitful sleep and Tal went to lay down herself, Lia's Tattoos began to pulse for the first time. What started out as small tribal tattoos that she had gotten with the rest of her age group as they matured, began to elongate themselves. They grew rapidly around her body, twisting and curving in on itself until it frenzied and met together in a giant swirl surrounding her belly button, while also encircling half of her face. The tattoos began giving off heat, and Lia began to smolder on the tent floor. When she woke the next morning it was to a burnt canvas floor that gave way to a solid glass outline of Lia's body and her new angry red markings. After that morning, when the Elders saw what she had done to the dunes and the new markings, everyone had shunned her. Except Tal. Everyone was petrified Lia would set fire to the maanam tent. That she would kill the camels beneath her if she road them, that she would kill if anyone touched her. And she didn't not believe them.
Lia's bright eyes looked over at Masters, her hands shaking slightly at the memory.
" Well, I grew up in the Saadian Dunes, a small remote region of the Sa'andahar nation. But I doubt I need to tell you that. I have lived a nomad life for 73 years. We traveled frequently, offering security services, trades for goods, hired help, anything we could do around the market bazaars to bring home things for the tribe. I only left because Saadia could no longer help me, or contain me. What do you wish to know?" Lia tugged her lip ring into her mouth once more. That had been the longest she had spoken since leaving the small market room with Samir. She shoved some vegetables into her mouth, bypassing the utensils for her hands. Her eyes flicked over to the other woman and a small grin peeked out from her full mouth. It seems she wasn't the only one to prefer using her hands. She knew the marrow tasted good, soft and just a tiny bit gritty. She popped the vegetables into her mouth one at a time, picked apart the chicken into bite sized pieces, and hoped she could stop the urge to bring the bowl up to her lips, upturning the contents into her open mouth. She had had no learning in formal table manners, and frankly she used the cultural divide to continue how she wanted to eat regardless of the company. She may not have had a formal education but Lia was intelligent, crafty, and a little bit of a wrecking ball. If eating with her was necessary, the least of someones concern would be how she ate. The danger came when she opened her mouth and began talking. Blunt honesty was a nasty habit of hers that got her into more than a few fights. It was all well and good until she actually got angry. Her markings pulsed on her face, remembering a few of those said fights. Lia tightened her fist so that her nail broke the skin on the fleshy part of her palm just enough to let loose a drop of blood, and refocused on the meal.
Lia entered the mansion, fists clenched at her side. The house, if you could call it that, was huge. A stark contrast to her beloved crowded yurt, stuffed with friends and comrades. Until her power had grown way beyond, until she became someone shunned from the village. She looked at her early laugh with a mix of longing and bitterness, of a lover denied a touch before they were ready to be alone. This place would do nothing to remind her of home, and maybe that was a good thing. Because her fire was never able to be contained in the desert and dunes of Saadia. Her mind drifted to Samir, wondering if he was alright. He refused to leave the human realm, staying behind to help the stragglers of the exodus, the lost ones trying to get somewhere safe. As much as he proved to be a useless teacher for her, they had grown to be friends. Sharing rice and fruit together on the floor of his tiny market room, sleeping face to face on that same floor, exchanging stories and hopes for the future. She had told him where she was going, even though he had received his own invitation. He decided to stay back just a little longer, new lost elves were coming to him weekly looking for a way out of the realm that was becoming increasingly volatile to our kind. Lia had never had a hand in politics, never much cared. Her power, after a certain age, ended up consuming most of her attention and energy so all the stories that came from the traveling traders fell on deaf ears. She knew the war would never touch the tribe, but she was concerned for Samir. She hoped he bailed before he got himself killed.
Lia trailed behind the group, taking in all the rich wood and ornate-ness of the house that still held a tasteful appeal. She took a seat at the table and said nothing. Her hands clenched at her side, her nails a steady pressure into her palms, slicing half moons into the fleshy part of her hand. The action kept her in the current moment, and grounded. When her mind wandered the flame built, fueled by whatever thoughts her mind seemed to wander to. She took in the table, followed by a deep breath, and waited for the next thing to happen.
Lia trailed behind the group, taking in all the rich wood and ornate-ness of the house that still held a tasteful appeal. She took a seat at the table and said nothing. Her hands clenched at her side, her nails a steady pressure into her palms, slicing half moons into the fleshy part of her hand. The action kept her in the current moment, and grounded. When her mind wandered the flame built, fueled by whatever thoughts her mind seemed to wander to. She took in the table, followed by a deep breath, and waited for the next thing to happen.
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