1st of Glade, 4622
Everything was as it should have been. Arkash had been able to use his blood magic for the first time in ages. His blood ran thick in his veins and retained warmth even in the most frigid parts of the derelict. He'd worn a smile over the past month, frequently secluded himself to play with the magic he'd lost and got back into the habit of manipulating blood as a tool in private.
In his alone time, he also practiced the concept of light with the mark of Lucence. It was different from the principles of sway that he'd grown so comfortable with. Arkash wasn't manipulating the light as he did with blood, he was creating it.
Izzy and Bants had both noticed something different about him since his return, and he'd promised them an explanation at the beginning of Glade, which unbeknownst to them, was time he needed to practice before a live demonstration. So, Arkash doubled down on the concept, eager to impress his peers when the time came.
Unbeknownst to him, Izzy had been counting down the days to the changing of the season.
The three were in the derelict's main chamber, setting up various lanterns from a series of chains they installed to the ceiling with the aid of Bants' Socket Binder. Arkash could see clearly in the dark, while the others struggled to so much as find the exit without the lantern on. It was for the best that they illuminated the tunnels.
Arkash and Izzy held Bants' steady at the feet of his ladder while he climbed to the higher steps with a chain and wrench in hand, then bound the chain to the rocky surface through the use of his Artificing tool.
Arkash watched in wonder, for he knew such tools were how Lorien built so tall.
It was part way through his wondering that Izzy spoke up. "So, Ark." Izzy began. He looked to her in anticipation, a glance that read 'out with it'. "It's the beginning of Glade today..."
"...Okay?" He began and furrowed his brow. "So what?"
Izzy frowned, unamused. "So... You said you'd tell us about your trip." She presses an accusatory look with her one eye. "I don't know why it took you a month, but I've waited and now I wanna know."
"Oh..." Arkash began, as though it was news to him. "Yeah, I did say that, dinnae?"
"Yes," she began. "You did, now spill."
Arkash sighed, then reached behind his head to rub at the scales there as Bants fully disengaged the ladder. "Orite, well... I've bin workin' on a live demonstration for 'ew both, but I feel like I'm gonna mess it up." he said as he cracked his knuckles and stepped back from the ladder.
"A live demonstration?" Asked Bants with a look up at Izzy. "...how is that gonna tell us-"
"Shh." Izzy ordered with an extension of her arm. "Ark, you can just tell us where you've been, it really is that simple..." she began, one palm open while the other maintained its silencing hold on the half Gnome.
"It's easia' to show 'ew," declared the Rath who rolled his shoulders. "Alright... so I've only managed to do this ah... once, before..." He began as he lifted his clawed hand and aimed his palm toward the floor in front of him. His free claw wrapped the wrist of his extended arm and then, he began to conjure his ether in an attempt to create... light.
He focused. Summoning his ether not to manipulate what was around him, but to create something, a different form of energy.
He closed his eyes, breathed deeply through his nose and filled his lungs with the damp air of the cave before he let it out through his mouth. Focus he told himself as he cast the thought of his surroundings from his mind, and meditated solely on the concept of light, the radiance of the sun, the glow of lanterns and candles... All the revealing purity of its blare.
"...What are we waiting for?" Interrupted Izzy.
Arkash scoffed and let down his shoulders. "Fack sake!" His arm came down, lax. "I wus almost there!"
"...Almost where?" Quizzed the half gnome.
Arkash exhaled through his nose. "Figure 'a speech," he briefly explained. "Both of 'ew jus' hold on a minute."
With sigh of frustration, he pressed his jaw hard, shook his head and closed his eyes again. Again, he breathed through his nose and eased into a moderate application of pressure with his ether. His musculature tensed and his eyes closed a little tighter as his nose curled. Light he told himself, and envisioned all the concepts of light. Revelation, illumination, warmth, brilliance. And after a minute or so of intense focus, light conjured at his fingertips and extended to his palm. His arm shook while he struggled to maintain the light, then let out a grunt as he began to lose it. Then as quickly as he'd conjured it, it was gone again.
He let out a breath of exhaustion before he wobbled, then clung to the stepladder for support. Bants moved in to support him while Izzy stood there in silence. "That was so cool! You're a mage now?" He asked, eyes shining with awe in the low light of the room.
He nodded a little with a smile. "I wuz a mage befaw, but I lost it... Now my magic's back, see?" He looked up then from the Gnome to settle his eyes on Izzy, who was far from pleased at the revelation.
The human said nothing as she turned on the spot and hurriedly walked from the chamber, all wroth and heated storm about her.
Arkash hissed. He recognized that she wasn't happy and had a vague idea as to why, but was she really so furious as to leave right there? "What's wrong with her?"
"I dunno," he shook his head with a slight smile on his lips at the end. "Everythin' pisses 'er off I think."
To that, Bants laughed a little.
"Wanna finish up the lantu'ns? I'll go ask 'er whats eatin' 'er afta'," he offered with a turn of his wrist.
Bants rose a brow. "I dunno, you look like you're gonna fall over if I let you go. Can you really hold up the ladder?" His question was serious, but seeing the way Arkash smiled in return it almost became something of a joke.
"If I didn' know any betta', I'd think 'ew was crackin' an old man joke," he accused playfully.
"I wasn't... But it's getting pretty late for you, isn't it?"
"Shut up," Arkash returned as he lifted his weight from the half gnome. "Come on, let's get it done."
Before long, Arkash and bants were all done with the installation of the lanterns, and the main chamber of the cavern had been lit up enough to grant Bants plenty of vision. To Arkash, there was no difference. "You're sure this is good?" he asked while looking over the various lanterns as they hung at different heights from chains.
"Yeah," the small Druskai answered. "It's real bright in here now... Might have to get some decorations to make it more homey."
Arkash rolled his head in thought and curled his nose. "Eh... Maybe," he answered, and looked to the little Druskai in thought. "Maybe if you show me your Artificing tools sometime."
Bants crossed his arms. "Oh, really?" Then hummed in thought. "If you teach me how to use magic, then sure."
To that, Arkash laughed a little. "That's a li'le more involved, but if ew'a still willin' to try after I explain it all to 'ew... Mmm... Maybe."
"Deal," Answered Bants with an upward reach of his hand.
Arkash laughed and shook it. The half- gnome began to tuck away his step ladder while Arkash went off in search of the fiery Badlander. His nose lead him straight along her path through her room, where it appeared that she'd packed up all her belongings, then toward the front door. Anxiety began to pick up in his chest as he considered that she might have left, but there he found her on the elevator platform with her chariot and bags. "I'm leaving!" She declared, full of anger.
"Gods, why..." Arkash muttered as he caught up. "Where to?" He began with an uncertain smile. "Can I go with?"
"No!" She bellowed. "You waited this long to tell me you broke our agreement, and you think you can just carry on like nothing happened? Bel no!" She leaned forward, righteous fury all over her face while she delivered her piece of mind.
"...Izzy," Arkash began with a step toward her, quieter then.
"No," she shook her head, then crossed her arms. "I can't believe this. After everything I told you, you still went and cured yourself."
"I didn'," he interjected. "Izzy I... It wasn' on purpose, I didn' even think it would work."
"But it did," she declared oh so triumphant. "You went and got your magic back-" she cut herself off mid-sentence and looked at him like a deer in headlights. "...Is your magic back? Your..."
The Rath nodded in affirmation, then showed her his other hand, where a number of vertical scars divided his palm. "Haven' gotten around to fixin' 'em yet, I've been so chuffed."
Complete and utter disgust twisted her features. Tears welled in her eyes. "You're fucking proud of it, aren't you?"
"Yes, act-"
She spat. "That's disgusting, Ark. You're just like the rest of this shithole country." Arkash was quiet, silent in wake of her accusation before he shook his head.
"Alright," He spoke in his more refined dialect before he took a deep breath through his nose and sighed. "You can fuck off then," he said with a bitter smile before he turned away.
Everything was as it should have been. Arkash had been able to use his blood magic for the first time in ages. His blood ran thick in his veins and retained warmth even in the most frigid parts of the derelict. He'd worn a smile over the past month, frequently secluded himself to play with the magic he'd lost and got back into the habit of manipulating blood as a tool in private.
In his alone time, he also practiced the concept of light with the mark of Lucence. It was different from the principles of sway that he'd grown so comfortable with. Arkash wasn't manipulating the light as he did with blood, he was creating it.
Izzy and Bants had both noticed something different about him since his return, and he'd promised them an explanation at the beginning of Glade, which unbeknownst to them, was time he needed to practice before a live demonstration. So, Arkash doubled down on the concept, eager to impress his peers when the time came.
Unbeknownst to him, Izzy had been counting down the days to the changing of the season.
The three were in the derelict's main chamber, setting up various lanterns from a series of chains they installed to the ceiling with the aid of Bants' Socket Binder. Arkash could see clearly in the dark, while the others struggled to so much as find the exit without the lantern on. It was for the best that they illuminated the tunnels.
Arkash and Izzy held Bants' steady at the feet of his ladder while he climbed to the higher steps with a chain and wrench in hand, then bound the chain to the rocky surface through the use of his Artificing tool.
Arkash watched in wonder, for he knew such tools were how Lorien built so tall.
It was part way through his wondering that Izzy spoke up. "So, Ark." Izzy began. He looked to her in anticipation, a glance that read 'out with it'. "It's the beginning of Glade today..."
"...Okay?" He began and furrowed his brow. "So what?"
Izzy frowned, unamused. "So... You said you'd tell us about your trip." She presses an accusatory look with her one eye. "I don't know why it took you a month, but I've waited and now I wanna know."
"Oh..." Arkash began, as though it was news to him. "Yeah, I did say that, dinnae?"
"Yes," she began. "You did, now spill."
Arkash sighed, then reached behind his head to rub at the scales there as Bants fully disengaged the ladder. "Orite, well... I've bin workin' on a live demonstration for 'ew both, but I feel like I'm gonna mess it up." he said as he cracked his knuckles and stepped back from the ladder.
"A live demonstration?" Asked Bants with a look up at Izzy. "...how is that gonna tell us-"
"Shh." Izzy ordered with an extension of her arm. "Ark, you can just tell us where you've been, it really is that simple..." she began, one palm open while the other maintained its silencing hold on the half Gnome.
"It's easia' to show 'ew," declared the Rath who rolled his shoulders. "Alright... so I've only managed to do this ah... once, before..." He began as he lifted his clawed hand and aimed his palm toward the floor in front of him. His free claw wrapped the wrist of his extended arm and then, he began to conjure his ether in an attempt to create... light.
He focused. Summoning his ether not to manipulate what was around him, but to create something, a different form of energy.
He closed his eyes, breathed deeply through his nose and filled his lungs with the damp air of the cave before he let it out through his mouth. Focus he told himself as he cast the thought of his surroundings from his mind, and meditated solely on the concept of light, the radiance of the sun, the glow of lanterns and candles... All the revealing purity of its blare.
"...What are we waiting for?" Interrupted Izzy.
Arkash scoffed and let down his shoulders. "Fack sake!" His arm came down, lax. "I wus almost there!"
"...Almost where?" Quizzed the half gnome.
Arkash exhaled through his nose. "Figure 'a speech," he briefly explained. "Both of 'ew jus' hold on a minute."
With sigh of frustration, he pressed his jaw hard, shook his head and closed his eyes again. Again, he breathed through his nose and eased into a moderate application of pressure with his ether. His musculature tensed and his eyes closed a little tighter as his nose curled. Light he told himself, and envisioned all the concepts of light. Revelation, illumination, warmth, brilliance. And after a minute or so of intense focus, light conjured at his fingertips and extended to his palm. His arm shook while he struggled to maintain the light, then let out a grunt as he began to lose it. Then as quickly as he'd conjured it, it was gone again.
He let out a breath of exhaustion before he wobbled, then clung to the stepladder for support. Bants moved in to support him while Izzy stood there in silence. "That was so cool! You're a mage now?" He asked, eyes shining with awe in the low light of the room.
He nodded a little with a smile. "I wuz a mage befaw, but I lost it... Now my magic's back, see?" He looked up then from the Gnome to settle his eyes on Izzy, who was far from pleased at the revelation.
The human said nothing as she turned on the spot and hurriedly walked from the chamber, all wroth and heated storm about her.
Arkash hissed. He recognized that she wasn't happy and had a vague idea as to why, but was she really so furious as to leave right there? "What's wrong with her?"
"I dunno," he shook his head with a slight smile on his lips at the end. "Everythin' pisses 'er off I think."
To that, Bants laughed a little.
"Wanna finish up the lantu'ns? I'll go ask 'er whats eatin' 'er afta'," he offered with a turn of his wrist.
Bants rose a brow. "I dunno, you look like you're gonna fall over if I let you go. Can you really hold up the ladder?" His question was serious, but seeing the way Arkash smiled in return it almost became something of a joke.
"If I didn' know any betta', I'd think 'ew was crackin' an old man joke," he accused playfully.
"I wasn't... But it's getting pretty late for you, isn't it?"
"Shut up," Arkash returned as he lifted his weight from the half gnome. "Come on, let's get it done."
Before long, Arkash and bants were all done with the installation of the lanterns, and the main chamber of the cavern had been lit up enough to grant Bants plenty of vision. To Arkash, there was no difference. "You're sure this is good?" he asked while looking over the various lanterns as they hung at different heights from chains.
"Yeah," the small Druskai answered. "It's real bright in here now... Might have to get some decorations to make it more homey."
Arkash rolled his head in thought and curled his nose. "Eh... Maybe," he answered, and looked to the little Druskai in thought. "Maybe if you show me your Artificing tools sometime."
Bants crossed his arms. "Oh, really?" Then hummed in thought. "If you teach me how to use magic, then sure."
To that, Arkash laughed a little. "That's a li'le more involved, but if ew'a still willin' to try after I explain it all to 'ew... Mmm... Maybe."
"Deal," Answered Bants with an upward reach of his hand.
Arkash laughed and shook it. The half- gnome began to tuck away his step ladder while Arkash went off in search of the fiery Badlander. His nose lead him straight along her path through her room, where it appeared that she'd packed up all her belongings, then toward the front door. Anxiety began to pick up in his chest as he considered that she might have left, but there he found her on the elevator platform with her chariot and bags. "I'm leaving!" She declared, full of anger.
"Gods, why..." Arkash muttered as he caught up. "Where to?" He began with an uncertain smile. "Can I go with?"
"No!" She bellowed. "You waited this long to tell me you broke our agreement, and you think you can just carry on like nothing happened? Bel no!" She leaned forward, righteous fury all over her face while she delivered her piece of mind.
"...Izzy," Arkash began with a step toward her, quieter then.
"No," she shook her head, then crossed her arms. "I can't believe this. After everything I told you, you still went and cured yourself."
"I didn'," he interjected. "Izzy I... It wasn' on purpose, I didn' even think it would work."
"But it did," she declared oh so triumphant. "You went and got your magic back-" she cut herself off mid-sentence and looked at him like a deer in headlights. "...Is your magic back? Your..."
The Rath nodded in affirmation, then showed her his other hand, where a number of vertical scars divided his palm. "Haven' gotten around to fixin' 'em yet, I've been so chuffed."
Complete and utter disgust twisted her features. Tears welled in her eyes. "You're fucking proud of it, aren't you?"
"Yes, act-"
She spat. "That's disgusting, Ark. You're just like the rest of this shithole country." Arkash was quiet, silent in wake of her accusation before he shook his head.
"Alright," He spoke in his more refined dialect before he took a deep breath through his nose and sighed. "You can fuck off then," he said with a bitter smile before he turned away.
