Hero

Of Blood and Magic

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How could he not laugh? Eris nearly lost it again once Max mentioned the head patting, but he kept himself together. The very thought was absurd, though he would definitely keep that in mind the next time he wanted to bother the kid. He'd be lying if he said he'd be refraining from rustling him, but something about Max made him want to bug him all the more. Patting his head seemed tame enough, maybe he could snatch him up or catch him off guard. It'd be a decent way to covertly train his reflexes, too.

That said, if Max thought strangling a vampire did anything, he was sorely mistaken. The thought was amusing, though. Hearing that Max was doing well did make Eris happy--that bodyguard suggestion of Ismene's might just play out after all. But he was also interested for other reasons, mostly to see if he would take well to be molded. Stubborn as he was, the kid did have a brain somewhere in-between the moodiness and pouting, and a working mage was a useful asset.

"It's only now that any mage worth their salt would be shown their talents. There's a reason their practical is now," He pointed out. "Metal is a useful affinity, there's a few things I can think I'd like you to try down the line."

He wasn't sure how to comment on the affinity. Was it common to be undecided? He'd have to try to find out without coming off as ignorant. If Sunny asked, though, it meant that Eris should at least be asking, so there was that. Maybe they should talk about it now. "This Academy is weird in that sense: unless I actually decide to step in and override it, you're the one that gets the choice of major." Because watching mages have choices was funny or something to the princess. "What choices were you considering?"

---

Blah blah blahing with @Scribe of Thoth

So I heard some of you folks like Persona RPs?

Of Blood and Magic

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It was...weird to hear Ben talk like that. No, it was weird to hear any vampire talk like that. Lilie thought that the only things they cared about were themselves, but Ben seemed to have a heart when it came to people beneath them. It was still bizarre, but interesting to her--what few vampires she did meet were either condescending, alright in private but different in public, and...whatever Eris was--and she couldn't help but wonder to herself. Did he think that way because those were the values he grew up with, or was it because something happened to him? Did he get betrayed and learn his lesson? There were a few ideas floating around in her head, but she wasn't brave enough to ask.

She looked over as Geoffrey Noila spoke, but when he started acting strangely, she almost expected him to attack. Ben distracted her for a second--what did he mean, "oops'?! But soon that statue changed, it was like the king was taken over by a beautiful young woman. Her veil made her look mysterious, but as soon as she saw the Sinnenodel symbol, Lilie's opinion of the statue dropped a little. Who was that? She looked like one of the Sinnenodels on one of their bills, but that couldn't be, could it?

Lilie was entirely confused about the woman's speech, making little sense of it. Snakes? Time? What? Swords and magic combined, she got, but that wasn't something the woman was interested in. She gasped as the scepter was crushed, the scenery around them changing. All the trees and bushes looked dried and withered, and she felt a pang of guilt. Was this their fault?

Unfortunately, it was: they failed. Lilie was crestfallen, looking around them sadly. Where had they gone wrong? Before she could ask, Ben pointed out that they were running out of time. Not only did they kill the poor plant life, but they lost their chance to do both extra challenges and even the full grade. He left the decision to her, but she hesitated. She had been completely hopeless in the face of the last challenge, what if that happened again and they timed out? At least a ninety was better than a zero, but leaving like this felt wrong, too.

Taking Ben's sleeve, she looked for the clearer path. "We're gonna keep going," She told him, determined.

---

Standing next to @Bert Macklin.

𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑫𝒊𝒂𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒅 & 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑹𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉

"Then our deal has been born. No turning back now," Lakshmi replied with a wink, a mischievous look about her as she released him. "Come then, let us gamble against the fates."

The bustling noise of the streets came back as thunderous as ever once the pair stepped back into the crowd. Even so, no one seemed to lay eyes on either of them; Lakshmi walked the path that would lead them straight to the palace, sidestepping most with a practiced ease. Even the closest calls drew no attention to them, but she walked with an impressive speed nonetheless. There would be no slowing down until she ducked into another alleyway, cutting straight through the foot traffic and emerging on a lesser side of the palace that the populace was less familiar with.

Several guards stood around, checking every product and servant that walked through. One was perched on a mountain of crates, searching for something, but after a few seconds, he descended and headed back into the palace. There was a small crowd towards the end of the line as they awaited an order, mostly people whose faces were more commonly seen among the rabble--the tired and hungry looking for a promise of payment that would tide them over for the rest of the celebration so long as they worked without complaint. In truth it was the Sultan's wife who had suggested the idea, feeling that it would make the royal family look more in touch with their people.

Lakshmi ignored the first guard, taking Harun's wrist and walking past both the guard and the crowd, though she released him as she approached an open crate. An assortment of fine silks rested there, a few men having hauled a few and sorting themselves by color going inside but heading in different directions. There was a slight gleam in her eye, a hastily put together plan as she rummaged through the crate for a moment.

"This one will do," She decided, hoisting up a rolled up silk whose color seemed to match the sea. "Take this one and follow me."

Once she led Harun to the last guard, the man's eyes widened considerably. "My lady, you--"

Holding up her hand, Lakshmi shook her head, gesturing to the silk. "Why is it that I had to come out here and get this material myself?" She asked sharply. "I asked that you deliver this to Khedive Raul's room an hour ago."

The man looked from material to woman, confused. "But...I was told you went missing--"

"And here I am. Lucky you," Lakshmi didn't wait for a response, brushing past the man.

The guard looked over Harun wearily, but after glancing back at Lakshmi, he motioned for the young man to pass. The dark haired woman waited for a moment, hastily leading Harun away before anyone would question them. Fortunately, no one batted an eyelash at him as they walked through the bare servants' quarters, although there were a few that did take an appreciative look at Harun once in a while. Once their surroundings changed into finery, they were in the heart of the palace. Servants were dressed much more eloquently, carrying an assortment of food and drink here and there. Several fine artifacts hung on the walls, the floors much cleaner and having an atmosphere of luxury about them.

Lakshmi stopped at an intersection, letting out a tiny sigh of relief. She didn't think it would go this smoothly--they would go straight to the Khedive's chambers and snatch the lamp while the festivities continued. Honestly, she shouldn't have given it a second thought, but the moment she stepped forward, the door ahead of them opened. Out stepped one of the head guardsmen, one who protected the visiting nobles, his outfit differentiating from the usual blue and gold and instead painted green. He seemed to have noticed Harun first, though once his eyes landed on Lakshmi, he almost looked relieved.

"There you are," He strode to them immediately. "The khedive is asking for you."

"I'm busy," She replied, gesturing to Harun. "I need to make another garb after he so carelessly ripped mine."

The guardsman looked like he wanted to say something, but seemed to change his mind, standing firm. "I was instructed to find you and take you to him immediately," He stated firmly.

Lakshmi hesitated, trying to think. This was a minor hiccup--all she needed was for Harun to get the lamp. Slowly, she nodded, clearing her throat as she gestured to Harun. "Let him leave this then, and I will go with you," She said.

The older man nodded, giving Harun a look that clearly said "Don't try anything funny" before taking Lakshmi by her arm. She didn't resist, though she threw Harun a look and tried to signal a numerical two, hoping he would take the hint.

Scion: Children of Light

How dull.

There may have been honor in tradition and in the future there was very much the possibility that she would come to appreciate their people's customs, but standing around while an old geezer blabbed away was boring Sarahi to death. Yes, they were the future, they were the chosen ones to pave the way for future generations--fine, but all this could have been valuable time used for lessons and resolved easily with a few congratulatory letters. Even the Crimson King himself elected not to show, further proving her point. That said, she did pay attention, even if she found the entire ceremony pointless.

The only upside was Diadem hiding pitifully under her cloak instead of consistently ringing in her ear, the occasional chime mixed in with the occasional breeze heard every once in a while. One look at one of the others' tutelaries and they had retreated, chirping about 'winged demons' and 'hiding their light'. At the very least they were quiet, sticking to her clothes and only sending one tiny butterfly as a lookout. She would have felt bad if it wasn't for the fact that they hid every time a bird flew past; by now she was used to it.

Sarahi's mood didn't lift when she heard her name wasn't associated with the Cult of the Scarab. That was what she got for actually hoping for something. Moving over with the other faces she didn't care about, Sarahi closed her eyes and tuned out the rest of the names and speeches out as she deliberated. It wasn't the Cult of the Phoenix, at least, but wasn't even her second or third choice, either. What was the point of accepting an average student into a cult specializing in something else? Did her mother have a hand in this? No, she doubted that--Behiti would find any cult worthy of bragging about and wasn't aware of what Sarahi liked. Maybe a transfer could be arranged--biomancy didn't really hold her interest enough for her to specialize in it.

Once they were free to roam, she let out a long sigh that she had been holding. Right, if this was how it was going to be, she may as well embrace it. First things first: Magus Nevrakis, the only person worth speaking to at the moment. Or at least that had been the initial plan, as one of her fellow initiates decided to engage her. At the salute, Sarahi slowly raised an eyebrow, though had no comment. Peppy and sociable, everything Sarahi actively avoided, go figure.

"Good for you," Sarahi replied as she lifted her hand, watching the little creature of light land on her finger.

A small bell could be heard ringing, its voice in Sarahi's head. Is it safe to come out?

"I don't know," She replied verbally, flicking her wrist as she noticed the other girl was still around. "Sarahi." She offered her name at least, having no comment on the other thing. It wasn't like she recognized anyone here, either, but there wasn't any point in saying as much. "The selections are interesting, considering they inducted someone into the Cult of the Serpent with no interest in biomancy. Truly fascinating." And asinine.

The Worst Writing Advice

"Don't ever use 'said' when a character is speaking."

Sometimes characters just say things. Said is fine. Use it.

Of Blood and Magic

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That was too bad, Eris did briefly flirt with the idea of directing once in a while. Of course, that would probably take him out of the spotlight, but it had been a nice backup plan some centuries down the line whenever his first wrinkle showed up. Oh well. That said, he did raise an eyebrow at the kid. Wow, Max didn't take his first and probably only opportunity to try to beat him senseless? Then again, that wouldn't be much of a match. At the very least his clone hadn't given Max any sort of ammo, or at least nothing that could possibly damage him. Hearing that his family showed up did make Eris curious, but unless further context was given, he couldn't really get anything from it.

His attention whore status proceeded even through illusions. That was strangely comforting, actually. He was ready to dismiss the entire thing until Max threw a last jab at him in the end. Him, nice? That was a hoot. Eris was surprised, so much so that he couldn't help but burst out laughing at Max's statement. Not just a laugh, but full on cackling. He didn't know why, but the thought of him being nice was just too good to him. After a little while, he stopped, devolving into lesser snickering as he brushed his hair out of his face. Alright, that made him feel much better, he really needed that.

"Quel rire--I don't know how to be nice but that must've been a wild ride," Eris chuckled. "That improved my mood immensely, I'm going to have to make sure to be 'less' annoying tonight. You know, as a small reward for the laugh; that hasn't happened in a while."

Eris lazily swiped the remote, changing the channels until it landed on a woman with what looked like long, violet hair. He stared at her for a moment, watching as she posed for the camera. "Elle a l'air moche dans cette robe..." He muttered to himself, clearly displeased with what he was watching and changing it back.

Looking to divert his attention elsewhere, he decided to go back to their previous topic. "Sunny mentioned your clone told him little as well. I suppose we lucked out in that regard," He said. For the better, having compromised information falling into the wrong hands could've proven to be a headache. "Though that reminds me, I don't know anything about your affinity progress or wishes for your major. I'm going to need to know these sorts of things for the future." And to make sure he didn't make a fool of himself if someone important asked.

---

Continuing to blab to @Scribe of Thoth's annoyance.

Of Blood and Magic

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At least Ben seemed confident about what they were doing. Lilie wondered if maybe there was more than just the objects, if only because this seemed a little too simple to be the solution. Then again, it seemed to be doing something and that was definitely better than nothing happening. Invigorated, Lilie helped guide the blind vampire to each object, watching with fascination as each one disappeared into the marble. Would she be able to do something like that someday? Maybe it was a cooperative effort? She had a million questions that she couldn't wait to spring on Kanalie the first chance she would get, though she forced herself to focus after nearly tripping over one of the objects.

It looked like their initial guesses of object per house were right, too, so that was a relief. Watching each house crest form, she frowned to herself as something came to her. "Hey...do you think that there isn't just one answer?" She suddenly asked Ben. "Earlier I wondered if maybe we had gotten the answer wrong because the fear the King talked about didn't have to be a bad thing. Maybe none of the nobles feared him back then? I mean, when you're loyal to someone, you're not scared of them, right?"

As soon as she said that, however, the other part of the riddle came to mind, and she gently laughed at herself. "Actually, that doesn't seem right, either, since he said 'Fear the one that does not fear me'. Because even if they had a good relationship with the king, we'd have no reason to fear them. Or something, anyway...it was just something that came to mind," She shrugged to herself, looking at the stern Noilan King. "He said 'your friends are close but your enemies are closer'. That's kind of sad, though..."

---

Standing next to @Bert Macklin.

Scion: Children of Light

Sarahi Parvaneh

---

Name:

Sarahi Parvaneh

Age:

16

Appearance:

Sarahi

Height: 5'7"
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Gray
Skintone: Olive

Background:

A little more than sixteen years ago, a man by the name of Sa'd had doubts about his bride-to-be--the marriage was one of convenience to both of them, signifying a union of wealth. Instead of owning up to these doubts, he decided to chase one of the servants' daughters, and after one last fling, he felt he could move forward. Unfortunately for him, the woman wound up pregnant. Preferring not to have his marriage blown up (and risking his wealth), he and the woman, Bahiti, came to an agreement: so long as he financially supported her and her child, she would keep his secret and make sure no one knew the child was his. Unfortunately for Sa'd, Bahiti saw their child as a ticket to a life of luxury and made sure to use that to its fullest, demanding nothing but the best under the guise of giving their daughter the life she deserved.

Sarahi saw things much differently.

With Bahiti's stubbornness and Sarahi wanting nothing to do with either parent after the truth came to light, the two clashed more often then not. The luxuries Bahiti enjoyed became an addiction, and she was all too willing to push Sarahi to show up at her father's estate more than once. Sarahi turned to school and dancing for her escape, happy to drown herself in books and lessons to get her mind off her home life. When she wasn't in school, she was out in the streets performing. Magic came as a welcome surprise and one more thing she embraced to occupy her time. In an effort to further her studying, she met with her father once, privately: she'd agree to never show up around him nor ask him for anything if he would fund her schooling. Surprisingly, he agreed, and Sarahi kept true to her word and wound up at a private institution for magic in her district.

Eventually, her relationship with her mother deteriorated fully, but by that time, Sarahi had fully embraced the idea of being a sorcerer and getting as far away from her home as humanly possible. It was a little more 'secure' than her hopes of finding a troupe to run away with, but for now she would focus on mastering her skills.

Personality:

Sarahi is an aloof young woman who takes solace in silence and is perfectly fine with keeping to herself. She comes off as distant and anti-social at best and cold and uncaring at worst; even normal interactions with people 'close' to her don't seem to change that. There is little that seems to get a reaction out of her, often taking things in stride and easily accepting even the worst outcomes--that much comes from an unhealthy amount of pessimism she carries with her.

Very few things in life elicit a muted reaction, and they are magic, dancing, and her family. The first two are the closest things to passion as they can be; she was initially unsure about having the ability to use magic, but by the time she graduated she came to embrace it. She claims dancing is just a hobby to let out steam, but it's obvious by her talent that she does at least enjoy it. Her family, on the other hand, is a sore topic, and while she doesn't bother hiding her murky lineage, it comes with nothing but contempt and bitterness on her end. That said, Sarahi feels that magic is the solution to her problems, and is all too eager to fulfill her role and become a proper sorceress.

Aptitude:

Sarahi finds her aptitude leaning towards the mental magics of telekinesis and telepathy, with more emphasis on the first--the former in particular comes from her own desire to master it. That said, the other disciplines are about average with the exception of a struggle with pyromancy (not that she cares).

Tutelary:

Sarahi's tutelary has manifested in what is called 'Diadem'--at least, that is what they call themselves. It appears as a mass of tiny, iridescent butterflies that tend to flutter around without a care, their sizes ranging from about the size of a fingernail to a child's fist. They have the capability to unite and transform into one 'massive' butterfly roughly the size of one's head, but appear unable to speak as their voices come out as a sound akin to tingling bells, communicating mentally instead. Their delicate bodies seem to operate as a hive mind, speaking in unison at all times. They bask in all sorts of light but seem to particularly enjoy moonlight best, continuously glowing softly and leaving behind tiny light particles as they move.

Diadem operates on gratitude for being pulled out of their world and have a 'life debt' with Sarahi, treating her with reverence. They do not hesitate when they are called and are openly fond of her. There is a sense of consistent but quiet cheerfulness, though they are very clingy. Usually on the calmer side, they're happy to communicate with anyone and everyone. They tend to be wary around any creatures that can fly, as their natural predator is a being with wings that likes to snack on their light.

Aura:

A sudden cold chill you get when waking up in the middle of the night.

Scion: Children of Light

Sarahi Parvaneh

---

Name:

Sarahi Parvaneh

Age:

16

Appearance:

Sarahi

Height: 5'7"
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Gray
Skintone: Olive

Background:

A little more than sixteen years ago, a man by the name of Sa'd had doubts about his bride-to-be--the marriage was one of convenience to both of them, signifying a union of wealth. Instead of owning up to these doubts, he decided to chase one of the servants' daughters, and after one last fling, he felt he could move forward. Unfortunately for him, the woman wound up pregnant. Preferring not to have his marriage blown up (and risking his wealth), he and the woman, Bahiti, came to an agreement: so long as he financially supported her and her child, she would keep his secret and make sure no one knew the child was his. Unfortunately for Sa'd, Bahiti saw their child as a ticket to a life of luxury and made sure to use that to its fullest, demanding nothing but the best under the guise of giving their daughter the life she deserved.

Sarahi saw things much differently.

With Bahiti's stubbornness and Sarahi wanting nothing to do with either parent after the truth came to light, the two clashed more often then not. The luxuries Bahiti enjoyed became an addiction, and she was all too willing to push Sarahi to show up at her father's estate more than once. Sarahi turned to school and dancing for her escape, happy to drown herself in books and lessons to get her mind off her home life. When she wasn't in school, she was out in the streets performing. Magic came as a welcome surprise and one more thing she embraced to occupy her time. In an effort to further her studying, she met with her father once, privately: she'd agree to never show up around him nor ask him for anything if he would fund her schooling. Surprisingly, he agreed, and Sarahi kept true to her word and wound up at a private institution for magic in her district.

Eventually, her relationship with her mother deteriorated fully, but by that time, Sarahi had fully embraced the idea of being a sorcerer and getting as far away from her home as humanly possible. It was a little more 'secure' than her hopes of finding a troupe to run away with, but for now she would focus on mastering her skills.

Personality:

Sarahi is an aloof young woman who takes solace in silence and is perfectly fine with keeping to herself. She comes off as distant and anti-social at best and cold and uncaring at worst; even normal interactions with people 'close' to her don't seem to change that. There is little that seems to get a reaction out of her, often taking things in stride and easily accepting even the worst outcomes--that much comes from an unhealthy amount of pessimism she carries with her.

Very few things in life elicit a muted reaction, and they are magic, dancing, and her family. The first two are the closest things to passion as they can be; she was initially unsure about having the ability to use magic, but by the time she graduated she came to embrace it. She claims dancing is just a hobby to let out steam, but it's obvious by her talent that she does at least enjoy it. Her family, on the other hand, is a sore topic, and while she doesn't bother hiding her murky lineage, it comes with nothing but contempt and bitterness on her end. That said, Sarahi feels that magic is the solution to her problems, and is all too eager to fulfill her role and become a proper sorceress.

Aptitude:

Sarahi finds her aptitude leaning towards the mental magics of telekinesis and telepathy, with more emphasis on the first--the former in particular comes from her own desire to master it. That said, the other disciplines are about average with the exception of a struggle with pyromancy (not that she cares).

Tutelary:

Sarahi's tutelary has manifested in what is called 'Diadem'--at least, that is what they call themselves. It appears as a mass of tiny, iridescent butterflies that tend to flutter around without a care, their sizes ranging from about the size of a fingernail to a child's fist. They have the capability to unite and transform into one 'massive' butterfly roughly the size of one's head, but appear unable to speak as their voices come out as a sound akin to tingling bells, communicating mentally instead. Their delicate bodies seem to operate as a hive mind, speaking in unison at all times. They bask in all sorts of light but seem to particularly enjoy moonlight best, continuously glowing softly and leaving behind tiny light particles as they move.

Diadem operates on gratitude for being pulled out of their world and have a 'life debt' with Sarahi, treating her with reverence. They do not hesitate when they are called and are openly fond of her. There is a sense of consistent but quiet cheerfulness, though they are very clingy. Usually on the calmer side, they're happy to communicate with anyone and everyone. They tend to be wary around any creatures that can fly, as their natural predator is a being with wings that likes to snack on their light.