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| − | * - Back to [[GoldenCat/SixthMovement|Sixth Movement]]
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| − | * - Back to [[GoldenCat/DanceOfAngels|A Dance of Angels]]
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| − | == One the Nature of the World ==
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| − | '''Cael: ''' Cael, perhaps surprisingly to Ryshassa, had not asked to meet her on the Zephyr the day before he was due to leave to Great Forks with Anne, Millia and Cedric (and a number of hangers to be dropped along the way) and has instead given her directions to one of the rooms towards the top of the Palace of Timeless Winters, the directions taking her out of the main body of the Palace and into one of the many branches it spreads in to, one ... though it might not occur to Ryshassa ... pointing directly at the Imperial Mountain, the core of the world.
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| − | The doors she approaches are made of a high jade alloy and set with traceries in gold and silver, and the complex patterns on them twist and uncoil, unlocking and opening the doors before her to reveal a large room with no roof, it seems at first though as she takes another step, it becomes apparent that instead the roof is one, single nearly transparent dome-shaped crystal, laced through with fine traceries of gold, all the gold linked to five pillars on the walls of the room, and from there to the swirling of runes on the marble floor. To her left, as she looks into the space there is a large telescope constructed entirely of windjade ... even the lenses are jade so pure it's transparent like the air, tracks on the floor allowing a remarkable choice of position, facing and elevation.
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| − | To the right, there is a desk, with a long curving worktable on one side and a bookcase to the other. At the desk sits Cael, long white greatcoat laid out on the worktable, clad as usual in simple, understated black though he turns as Ryshassa approaches.
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| − | "Greetings Ryshassa, how does the day find you?"
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| − | '''Ryshassa: ''' Ryshassa looks quite impressed at the decor as she turns towards Cael, her delicate features expressing her obvious, almost childlike delight at the aesthetics of this space. An observatory at the top of the Palace of Timeless Winters? It thrills her, the perfection of beauty and balance that this chamber seems to exude, from the precision positioning of the pillars to the purity of the jade lenses and the ornate traceries on the dome above.
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| − | The healer's kimono for this occasion is a celebration of purples. The garment begins almost white at the shoulders, fading quickly into a belladonna purple as it progresses down the sleeves and towards the waist. Adorning the darker parts of the cloth is embroidery in an even deeper, almost black-purple, depicting somber clusters of mourning widow and black orchid, though every now and then the stamens and centers of the flowers are depicted in pinpoints of gold. Her hair is tied in two knots at either side of her head, with a slender, golden cylindrical ornament dangling from the center of each.
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| − | "The day finds me well, Cael." Indeed, as the days have passed Ryshassa's workload has decreased some, and she is well rested for the day. "Even more so now that I am here!" she enthuses, gazing upward through the crystal dome in wonder as she spins around in a circle, her kimono sleeves flaring outward like spread wings. "This is a beautiful place for a lesson."
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| − | '''Cael: ''' Cael watches Ryshassa as she walks into the room, eyes politely taking in the vision of purples before him, before they and indeed his entire face lighten in amusement as she spins to take the whole of the room and the crystal dome above her.
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| − | "That is marvelous to hear." He says with a smile, that subtle look in his eyes showing that once more he approves of her outfit, that he finds her beautiful in it. She took such care in her appearance, and it would be rude not to appreciate it, after all. "I am glad that you approve, though it is not an idle choice, as you will discover later. For now though, please take a seat ... we might talking for some time before we come to the practicalities of the subject."
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| − | '''Ryshassa: ''' Ryshassa nods obediently, calming herself for the moment, a light blush having blossomed on her cheeks from the completely casual expression of her enthusiasm. She seats herself across from Cael, willing her breath to slow, smiling at him with violet eyes sparkling.
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| − | "All right then. I'll do my best to be an attentive student," she tells him, inclining her head; the bells at the tip of her hair ornaments chime lightly. Inwardly, she is quite a bit nervous, as she would soon -- hopefully -- be unlocking a potential within her she had only speculated at for years.
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| − | '''Cael: ''' Cael watches the woman before him slowly calm herself as she seats herself and nods to him, pausing for just a few moments more to let her calm fully before he begins.
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| − | "I am sure that you will, Ryshassa," he says, his voice replete with quiet, encouraging tones, ones to lift Ryshassa's spirit even as they demand her attention.
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| − | "I suppose I should start with the formalities. There were, as you may know, three commonly accepted schools of thought on sorcery. The Devonian, the Silurian and the Salinan." He smiles at her "The methods I will be teaching here actually draw on all three schools, though they lean more towards the Salinan and Devonian schools since that is how I was taught."
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| − | "The second, and more important thing is that while I can teach you all the theory you might need to start your own studies, there is nothing I can actually do to make you sorceror. Whether that will happen depends purely on you, and you will know when you are."
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| − | '''Ryshassa: ''' "I see," Ryshassa says with a measure of politeness for the teacher, as is expected, and a measure of consideration for what he is saying. She folds her hands upon her lap, letting her violet-hued sleeves unfold to either side of her. "I am only vaguely familiar with the schools. What I know of occult theory is mostly from reading and experience, and not necessarily directly related to sorcery. This is the first time I will be taught anything so formally."
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| − | The second part of what Cael says is much more mystifying, and yes, somewhat discomfiting, but also reasonable. The potential for sorcery, in the end, comes from her and not from him, so it makes sense that her own ability, state of mind or whatever else may be in consideration would be the final arbiter of whether she becomes a sorceress.
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| − | ''A test, perhaps? But what sort of test? ''
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| − | Gazing raptly and curiously at her instructor, she asks, "Might you explain to me the differences between the schools?"
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| − | '''Cael: ''' Cael nods approvingly as she speaks of having read something of occult theories.
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| − | "I am sure that that knowledge will help you and of course, as one of the Descending Suns, any further study will come easy to you..."
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| − | He leaves the mystified look at the hints he had dropped and begins to explain the schools instead.
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| − | "The Devonian school was founded late in the days of the First Age and it concerns itself with the study of Sorcery much as one might study any other field. It holds that Sorcery, the essence that it manipulates, has rules and more importantly, that these rules can be understood, that each point in a ritual has its significance. Through an understanding of these rules, the Devonian school teaches you to construct a spell that does just as you wish ... not a thing more and not a thing less. If the school has a failing though, it is an overemphasis on the theory ... on the minute understanding of each element of the spell, more than is needed for the practicalities of casting."
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| − | "Silur and her school are in some ways the school I admire the most. It was this school that first used the concept of the standardised notation of spells, the langauge of spells. What I will teach you now would be almost impossible without that notation ... and once you had learned my own idiosyncratic style of recording sorceries you would then be almost no better off in studying whoever wrote the book you read from next as you attempted to learn new spells. The notation allows for flexibility too ... many spells that originate in the school have elements that may easily be swapped, changing some aspect of the outcome. However, much like a child is taught their simple mathematics, the pure Silurian method teaches little in the way of innovation and perhaps more dangerously, a lack of understanding of the theories of why."
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| − | "The Salinan school is the most natural of the three in many ways and is somewhat at odds with the other two, since it holds that their words and theories place artificial limitations on the true nature of sorcery, which is Essence itself. This belief makes it both quite hard to study in a room such as this with a pure salinan method, but it also represents your best hope of learning sorcery, should my teaching methods cause you difficulty in learning or should something happen to me. More than it being a study of nature though ... the methods themselves have been imprinted onto Creation .... and with study as I did, you can learn much from the gods and elementals that still hold their knowledge today."
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| − | '''Ryshassa: ''' Ryshassa listens. It actually pleases her that Cael is taking the time to explain things so thoroughly. It reminds her of the days in the classroom of Gethamane, immersing herself in the sound of Alexsei's voice as he explained to her what she had become and what it truly meant, something very different than the propaganda of the Immaculate Order and the Blessed Isle. So much of it had been so difficult for her to swallow at first. Alexsei had practically had to rewrite her beliefs from scratch when it came to the Solar Exalted, the so-called Anathema.
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| − | When Alexsei taught her about her abilities as a Solar Exalted, he had said words similar to Cael, in the sense that he could teach her ''about'' them, but not necessarily exactly how to use them once the theory is learned. How her powers would develop would be something personal to her. But he would guide her, he told her, much as Cael is guiding her now. The thought of that sends a flutter of... of something, through her stomach. Cael sitting before her, speaking to her in a studiously eloquent manner much like what she has come to identify with her husband. So similar, and yet so, so very different.
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| − | Having developed quite the attention to detail in the years since her Exaltation, Ryshassa absorbs the heart of Cael's lecture in rapt, thorough silence. Only when he finally falls silent does she deign to formulate a reply, taking her time as she considers all that he has told her. "So... all the schools have their own strengths and weaknesses. Devonian is overly theoretical, but allows you to construct spells precise to your wishes. Silurian is the most standardized, allowing one who grasps little of the theory to practice sorcery purely by understanding notation. And Salinian attempts to do away with rules and notation, so that the caster is a direct conduit of Essence and simply... shapes it to her will."
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| − | "Am I correct? I would guess that you favor mostly Devonian and Salinian because, while the latter is the most natural to use, the former intersposes some limits to how you use it so that you do not overstep your limits. While Silurian may be best used to record, pass on, and learn spells from others, but not necessarily so well used in practice." Finally she falls silent, looking to her new teacher with a hopeful look that what she has just uttered is not completely ignorant.
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| − | '''Cael: ''' Cael nods approvingly as Ryshassa replies to him.
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| − | "Yes, that describes the three schools quite concisely, though my reasons for favour are a little different to the ones you suppose." He smiles, to show that this was hardly an unexpected mistake, and that is nothing for her to worry about. "My favour for the Salinian method is more due to the fact it is how I started to learn sorcery myself ... as I'm sure you know from your own experience, it can be quite difficult to relearn things. However, the Salinian method is very difficult to pass on in room such as this and even knowledge between sorcerer can be hard ... once you have discovered your new spell you might well find the patterns are so idiosyncratic that it takes a lot effort to rearrange, refactor the spell into a form that others can understand ... even though you know it perfectly."
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| − | "Before I go on further, to explain the most basic symbols in the silurian language, is there anything else you would like to know, of Sorcery or no? I can't promise I can answer it now, but I will try..."
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| − | '''Ryshassa: ''' Ryshassa looks pleased that she has at least grasped the concept of the schools without trouble. Teacher's approval is important to her, after all. Why, she could not say; she simply enjoys knowing she does things ''right'', perhaps, and the guidance of one more experienced is the best way to know that.
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| − | "Hmm... so it is easier to teach sorcery with the other schools, but you learned the Salinian first. You might have instructed me primarily in that style if it were not potentially problematic. That sounds reasonable enough." She tilts her head thoughtfully at the request for further questions. "Most of what I would ask would likely be answered through the lesson itself, I think, but if I were to ask something now -- I suppose it would be --"
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| − | Her hands fidget in her lap, the only part of her body that expresses her apprehension so obviously. "Will the process of learning sorcery... change me? at all?"
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| − | '''Cael: ''' "Yes." Cael says simply, directly and gives that a few moments to sink in before he continues.
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| − | "You have to change to learn Sorcery. It is a fundamentally different way of looking at and shaping Essence, and ultimately Creation since they are, in the far view, one and the same thing. An significant part of your teaching, in importance if not in actual length will be learning to change, will be changing yourself. Because Sorcery is Change."
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| − | "This change though, Sorcery cannot force change upon you and I will not. It is a path you have to walk and a destination that it is your choice to reach. I will be here to guide you, to show you the ways in which you can walk, but it is you who will travel them. There will be choices that you have to make and it is those choices that will change you."
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| − | "Or not. You do not have to change, you do not have to learn sorcery. I say this not to discourage you, not to turn you away, just to remind you that you can turn back, you do not have to go where you do not wish."
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| − | And then he waits, to see if she understands what he just said ... wondering if she can, what she will think of herself looking back at this moment. He hopes it will not be in regret, which ever way she decides.
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| − | '''Ryshassa: ''' Ryshassa falls silent and seems to contemplate this deeply for a moment. In particular -- why is she wanting to learn sorcery in the first place? It cannot simply be because she ''can'', though indeed that is true, at least potentially.
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| − | And she has already found her niche as a healer. An exceptional healer, she liked to think, an irreplacable one, who could make right afflictions of the body and spirit that many other magics would fail. And this was what she always wanted. To be useful. To be indisposable. If ever she sought power it has always been so she could help others with it. And in helping them, find for herself a place to belong.
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| − | Cael is right, of course; she could simply walk away. Honestly, it had not really struck her until this very moment that learning sorcery could be much different than learning the simple magics she has mastered since her Exaltation. Of course, she expected it to be more complex, but she had not put much thought into how it would affect her, in turn. Now the choice is laid bare for her -- to accept or to turn away, to change or to remain as she is, to confront the unknown or be content with what she has already become.
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| − | "I do not wish to turn back," are the first words Ryshassa utters once her contemplative silence is broken. Her voice is solemn, yet with the edge of one who has come to a distinct decision. "I have started on this path by my own free will. If I were satisfied with how I am now, I would never have come. I..." Her hands clutch at the violet hued cloth of her kimono as her fists curl in determination. "I want to be more than just a healer. Not because I no longer believe healing is of any use. But after what I have seen --"
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| − | ''War -- the inevitable death toll of combatants and innocents alike''<br>
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| − | ''Devastation in the Boil, the transformation of Spire''<br>
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| − | ''Kanti's fragmented mind in torment and guilt, Selina's regret''<br>
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| − | ''The undercurrents of discord between the Shades of Eventide''
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| − | "-- I have come to understand there are things not easily healed. And things that cannot simply be fixed by finding the right way to patch them together. And... and sometimes... I cannot stop people from hurting no matter how much I wish to take it from them." Ryshassa's voice trembles slightly as she speaks this last part, and she swallows, as if holding back a note of sorrow rising from her throat. With some difficulty she takes a deep breath, steeling herself, and continues in a much firmer tone.
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| − | "I consider this, my initiation into sorcery... a first step towards seeing the world and its people in a different life. I wish to have the shades drawn from my eyes. I wish to be... less naive. I wish to be ''stronger'', so I can be stronger for others."
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| − | "That is why I will not turn back. That is why I wish you to continue your lesson, if you would, my Instructor." And with that Ryshassa bends her head down in a short, sharp, respectful bow, before lifting her eyes and opening her senses to absorb all that Cael would reveal to her about Sorcery and Change.
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| − | '''Cael: ''' "Good." Cael says softly in a voice that fills the room, acknowledging her bowed head with a nod of his own.
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| − | "I am glad that you took the time to think on why you wish to learn sorcery, where you wish to be when you have. That is one of the most important things. Essence can, and will, do anything. To do anything useful, you have to know what you want to do. If you do not know what you wish to do, you are better not attempting it."
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| − | "We will begin today's lesson by considering the most fundamental symbol of the language of sorcery, the one that all spells begin with and all spells end with."
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| − | As he speaks, Cael traces his fingers through the air drawing a symbol of stark and simple beauty at first glance. As Ryshassa looks closer though, she can see complexities and details no matter how closely she looks.
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| − | "This is Essence. Everything flows from it and everything returns to it."
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| − | '''Ryshassa: ''' For now Ryshassa watches, following the symbol Cael traces first with her eyes and then... with more, trying to see beyond what her vision shows her, with the same sort of transcendence of physical sense with which she understands the Essence she has thus far manipulated from her own body. Something about that symbol feels right to her, and that rightness is deeply satisfying to her, as if by representing Essence itself it represents the harmony between all living things.
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| − | "Essence is Everything," Ryshassa breathes in an almost mantra-like tone, the flickering nuances of Cael's tracery reflecting in the depths of her violet eyes as she leans closer. "Everything is Essence."
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| − | '''Cael: ''' And so begins Ryshassa's first lesson in sorcery. Cael teaching her the fundamental set of symbols, the ones that would serve her best in understanding any spells she might read, the ones he would need to explain the concepts of Sorcery.
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| − | Will.<br>
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| − | Air.<br>
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| − | Earth.<br>
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| − | Fire.<Br>
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| − | Water.<br>
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| − | Wood.<br>
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| − | Sun.<br>
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| − | Moon.<br>
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| − | Heaven.<br>
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| − | Life.<br>
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| − | Death.
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| − | As he shows her each symbol, drawn in the air in infinately detailed golden essence, he explains the very basics of its uses, the fundamentals of its nature and how, in a spell, the symbol and the thing are interchangable ... more than that, are the same thing.
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| − | "And I think that is quite sufficient for todays lesson. We will no doubt go over those symbols, and the hundreds more that comprise the full Silurian Set many more times, and I am sure that you will come to understand some of them in time with a depth that will far suppass mine."
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| − | "So, what did you think?"
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| − | '''Ryshassa: ''' Ryshassa, having taken on a studious and concentrated expression for most of the lesson, blinks in surprise at first at the more casual tone of Cael's question. Her mind is still filled with the images of those symbols, the language of sorcery as Cael termed it. Thinking of it that way seemed to make the process by which Cael would be instructing her more comprehensive. Silurian provided the syntax, Devonian the rules, and Salinian the actual content.
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| − | Somewhat jarred out of the interplay of teacher and student that she finds so comforting and... even pleasurable, she takes a moment to formulate a reply. "W..what I think? Oh..." Her gaze drops demurely to her lap a moment, before she gazes up to Cael through dark lashes. "The lesson was quite a revelation for me, I did not think until now upon the idea that sorcery could be interpreted as one might build a sentence out of words. Though I imagine that is a very simplistic way of putting it," she adds apologetically.
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| − | "I admit, it was not quite what I was expecting, but that is not a bad thing, at all. I had read about 'trials' on the way to mastering sorcery, and wondered whether I would be subjected to some sort of spiritual test, so to speak. But I suspect that is still to come." She smiles shyly at Cael, at the realization that this meant there would be more lessons, more meetings like this.
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| − | '''Cael: ''' Cael lets the smallest creep onto his face as Ryshassa blinks at the sudden change of pace and content, listening to her replies.
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| − | "A sentence is both a good analogy and a dangerous one. It conveys the basics, but if that is all you see, then you will become unstuck at some point. Still, it is a good start you have made today." Cael nods in approval.
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| − | "Ah, the trials. I will speak more of them next time. The trials though, are the things that will change you, the choices that you have to make." He returns her shy smile with a warming one of his own. "So when do you want the next lesson, my student?"
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| − | '''Ryshassa: ''' ''Student? His...? '' Ryshassa can't quite stop the color rising in her cheeks again. The wording just strikes a chord in her. Alexsei often called her such during her lessons with him... and more... the mere memory of the "more" only makes the room seem hotter.
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| − | Surely it was just a coincidence, though... Cael couldn't ''know'' she enjoyed such things with her husband... or maybe Calisara told him? Trying her best to ignore the fact her cheeks are so hot they could be glowing, she manages a reply. "I... well... you are departing on the Zephyr soon, right? To bring Anne and Cedric to Great Forks, and my husband to Heaven, and others..."
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| − | ''Alexsei is leaving''. The reminder of that provokes an entirely different pang of emotion in the healer, and her fingers begin to rub unconsciously against the wedding ring around her finger.
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| − | "Perhaps when you return, there will be time? I am unsure how long that would take, what with all the stops you will be making, but the Zephyr is no ordinary craft."
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| − | '''Cael: ''' Cael keeps just the slightest amused smile at her reactions to his chance formality, at the blush that filled her cheeks with such a vibrant colour.
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| − | "Yes, I will be leaving soon." He nods, "But there should be time when I return, yes. I don't think the trip will take me more than a week, and that is at the very longest. After that ... there are somethings that will distract me, but other than those, we will have plenty of time to spend together."
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| − | '''Ryshassa: ''' "I... I see." Ryshassa nods, sending the chimes at the ends of her hair ornaments swinging back and forth. The blush having receded some, she offers Cael another grateful smile. "Thank you. I will be looking forward to it. I would join your journey, and accompany my husband, but there will likely be more use for me here."
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| − | The smile turns wistful. "It is rare he and I are seperated. I suppose I will be grateful if he returns with gifts for me, though." This she says with a hint of mischievousness creeping into her tone.
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| − | '''Cael: ''' Cael grins back at her. "Ahh, gifts from Heaven. I should find someone to bring me back gifts from heaven."
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| − | "It is a shame you can't come along, yes. I am sure you would love the city of Great Forks and that we could spend at least some time whilst flying there and back studying, but as it is, I will leave you with some books, some homework, if you will."
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| − | '''Ryshassa: ''' Ryshassa chuckles softly and demurely. "I admit it is a pleasure -- and I am both greedy and possessive with my pleasures -- but I married my husband for more than just that. It takes more than gifts to capture this woman's heart."
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| − | "Homework, too? That will keep me busy during nights." Eagerness shines in her eyes once more, an eagerness to learn, and to showcase her proclivity for learning. "I have not left the North since I was brought here from the Blessed Isle... I would love to travel all throughout Creation some day. Why did you choose Great Forks to bring Anne, do you have connections in the city?"
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| − | '''Cael: '''Cael gives an overly theatrical sigh as she speaks of the need for more than gifts, but passes no comments.
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| − | "Homework. yes. I will give you my copy of the white treatise, which will tell you more of the fundamentals of sorcery, in addition to being a reasonably comprehensive dictionary of the Emerald Circle's symbols. Beyond that, I have some small primers ... you would do well to read them. Mostly though, I will ask you to think on what you have been taught, and how you wish to change."
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| − | "Great Forks? Several reasons. First is that it is one of the best sorcerous academies, barring the heptogram, where she would not be accepted and I would be hunted or the windian school, but I do not entirely approve of their methods of teaching. Great Forks is also well away from this war, from the cold and much of the possibility of being under attack by the Dead or the Realm is gone. My patrons in the spirit court of the Seven Sages have contacts there, which is what got her her place. And finally, Great Forks is where I am taking Millia and Cedric and she will be more than free to visit the young prince and his nurse, as they grow up and she studies."
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| − | '''Ryshassa: ''' Ryshassa's eyes flash with brief ...indignance? confusion?... at the sigh. ''Hmph, what was that for? '' "I like to think I am too sophisticated to be wooed by mere material things," she mutters somewhat huffily, as if saying it to herself rather than Cael.
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| − | Smoothing her hands primly across the lap of her kimono, she absorbs herself with the details of her homework, instead. The White Treatise, she has heard of, but never got her hands on a copy of her own. "I will read them thorougly, of course, Cael, and ponder this lesson well," she promises. ''How'' she will change is a subtly different question than what, but she will have to sort that out in the time Cael is away.
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| − | "Anyway, it sounds like Anne, Millia and Cedric will do well and be safe in Great Forks, then," Ryshassa remarks approvingly. "I wonder how Anne feels about being away from you, though?" she adds in a tone she hopes is innocent. "She seems quite... ah... attached."
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| − | '''Cael: ''' Cael sighs softly, no theatre in it now.
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| − | "Yes, yes she is. Despite the fact she thinks I'm blind to it. Which is another reason that she has to go, at least for the while. She needs to see more of Creation, more of it's people before she truely decides that I am the one and only for her. I don't know how she will cope, but she needs too and she is a strong girl. I have faith in her."
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| − | '''Ryshassa: ''' "Hmm. I think that would probably be the best for her, yes. Though I am an outsider, so my opinion should matter little." Ryshassa shrugs, once again the wistfulness showing in her expression. "On the other hand, I was not much older than her when Alexsei and I... well. I suppose that makes me a little bit hypocritical." Only a little apologetic smile shows what she might think about that.
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| − | "I did not think ''you'' were much into 'one and only', though. If she settles with you after all she would have to be very used to sharing, hmm? Well, years can change a person. Her education definitely will and Great Forks is quite the populous city... I think she will be all right."
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| − | "As for the rest of us, we're all in this for the long haul, it seems. What with this Circle that Prince Alexander has gathered us together into..." She lets her voice trail away, perhaps as an invitation for Cael to speak of his thoughts on said Circle.
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| − | '''Cael: ''' "I am not the person to settle with but one person I love, no, and I am not sure even if I was, that Anne would be the person I would choose. I suppose time will tell." He shakes his head to dismiss that line of thought. Speculation on Anne's love life was not something he wanted to indulge in. Whether she would or would not be with him in the future, and even when she was, what she did with others was her own business.
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| − | "Ah, the Circle." Cael smiles "I am glad that the Prince made the gestures that he did, it was why I agreed to pass the messages around. We can do great things as a circle, things we could not consider as loners and couples in the world, things that would be be lost if we fragmented, and things that would be forever beyond our reach if we were to fight. We can do terrible things, of course, too but that is something we will have to be careful of."
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| − | '''Ryshassa: ''' Ryshassa nods, letting the subject of Anne's love life pass, as well. "Ah... I suppose it is the general belief among those of us with long lifespans that love is a fleeting thing."
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| − | ''Not that it is something I wish to be convinced of... '' Naive as it may be, it actually somewhat amazes and disappoints Ryshassa that the idea of a long-term monogamous relationship is the stuff of myth to most people she has met in the Threshold. In the Realm, yes, that is to be expected, but... it seems the fickle nature of the heart is predominant no matter where she goes.
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| − | The comments about the Circle are easier to reply to, and so Ryshassa does. "When so much power gathers in one place it can be used for both wonderful and terrible things. I believe it to be a generally good idea, though I wonder at the ability of some of the members to... get along. It would be a shame to see it undermined by infighting, would it not? But I should not show so little faith in my fellow Circlemates."
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| − | '''Cael: ''' "You misunderstand me, Ryshassa. I do not think love is fleeting, though I know it can be fickle at times. But I also do not think that love is just for one person. I cannot concieve of loving no one but to love just one is equally inconvievable. I do not think my love is any less ... or more for it."
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| − | "Yes, I share the same doubts. There are strong personalities in the Circle and there are bound to be disagreements. Infighting too, I fear is almost inevitable, but within the aegis of the circle it should be managable. Within the protections we afford, it will not help to tear the North further apart, I hope. But we can do much for the North, much for Creation and if we dwell on the shadows they are only more likely to be true."
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| − | "But now I must ask for your leave. I have another teaching session to attend ... this one far less esoteric, but I do need more accountants and other bureaucratic functionaries."
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| − | '''Ryshassa: ''' "I believe that I can love multiple people, but then it all depends on what sort of love you are meaning." Ryshassa says with a smile. "There are some aspects of myself, though, I prefer not to divide among many. Besides, how can you say you are loyal to all of them if your lovers are divided amongst each other? What if one becomes greedy, and wishes more for herself?" Her voice softens, gaining a subtle nuance that seems almost... sultry, as her gaze rests upon his face intently.
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| − | The moment quickly fades, though, as Ryshassa begins to realize how much time she must have taken up with just her idle chatter. With a blink and a shake of her head, the healer rises quickly to her feet. "Oh, Cael, I'm sorry, I did not meant to take up more of your time than necessary. If you would bring to me the books I should be reading, or have them brought to my quarters, I would be most grateful. I will be seeing my husband off when the Zephyr departs, of course, but if we do not speak again before then... I wish you and Calisara a safe voyage."
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| − | With a last, graceful bow, her hands held palms together in front of her as if in prayer, she turns lightly on her feet, headed towards the doorway. As she makes her way there she spins now and again, arms lifted dancerlike to the air as her eyes gaze at the crystal ceiling, still as delighted with her surroundings as she was when she first entered.
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| − | * - Back to [[GoldenCat/SixthMovement|Sixth Movement]]
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| − | * - Back to [[GoldenCat/DanceOfAngels|A Dance of Angels]]
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