RP:Illusionist Apprentice

Summary: Reginae meets Pilar in the Hanging Corpse while trying to locate Larewen, as she usually does. The naga offers the fledgling Vampiress an apprenticeship in the arts of Illusion and after passing the test Regi set up for her, Pilar earns the title.

Hanging Corpse Tavern

Reginae nodded, not forcing the issue any further. “I wanted to see you and discuss an apprenticeship with you, in the realm of Illusion.” The conversation takes a quick turn. “I would say that I am offering it to you, but there is a matter of a sort of test to pass. Apprenticeships are hard work for both the student and the teacher, and I need to know that you will be committed to putting in that hard work with me. If you agree, I will give you a task to complete. Once it has been accomplished, I will grant you the title and work will begin.” She narrowed her eyes at the vampire, wondering how this would end.

Pilar listened to Reginae carefully. The idea of a formal apprenticeship hadn't even crossed her mind, nor had the possibility of needing to prove herself. She worried about what the task might be, and if she'd be up to the challenge. But, she did want to learn, and so she would try. "I will do my best," she promised.

Reginae reached into her pack and set a normal coin on the table in front of Pilar. "You saw what I look like in Xalious yes?" She tilted her head towards the coin, directing all her attention towards it. “An Ilusionist must have a strong mind." She explained. "You must be able to make other beings see what is not there. Your imagination and strength of mind can bend and alter the world itself as long as you concentrate. Take this coin, cast an illusion around it, and make me see this as a miniature version of a naga. The key to illusion is the attention you pay to details. It's when your subject starts noticing flaws or your concentration slacks that the illusion will waver. Never let it be an accident when your illusion drops. Go ahead. Show me what you can do."

Pilar gulped. She had only seen one naga in her life, and only the one time. And she did have a habit of letting her concentration be broken while working. She pulled out her spellbook and clutched in to her. The pages teemed with magic, and she relied on this tool to cast her own spells. Holding out a hand, she focused hard. The coin appeared to shift in shape and soon it had the form of a snake. Pilar grunted and concentrated harder. The head of the snake morphed into a mannequin-like torso. Arms and a head slowly sprouted from the shape. The naga appeared to be made of the same material as the coin, a solid copper statue. There were no defining facial features, nor even any scales.

Reginae watched Pilar, not wanting to critique her too quickly. Illusion was difficult. As it morphed slowly in front of her, the naga's gaze shifted from the vampire to the coin. In time, Reginae could teach her to remove the coin from the equation completely and have a living breathing naga illusion on the table before them. Moving, reacting to stimuli; etched in skin, blood and bone. “The basic form is there. Try covering the color of the coin with your own. Something simple. Try a dull green. Naga are like snakes, so use what you know of snakes to fill in the blanks. "Regi pointed out the obvious.”Now, think about scales. Add these to the tail, here. Your illusions are painting. Every detail counts." With this being something small, and having a base to work with, Reginae knew it was more realistic to ask Pilar to do this. No one grows without resistance.

Pilar's illusion faded slightly as she gave part of her concentration to listening to Reginae. The vampire redoubled her efforts. The copper's metallic sheen disappeared, and the color shifted as if time had got to it, turning it green. Slowly, scales began to appear along the tail, and musculature began to form on the torso. A face started to take shape, similar to Pilar's own, but masculine. Hair sprouted from the head, black and straight, falling to just below the chin. She tried to make it move, but at that moment it became too much, and the illusion vanished. Pilar put the book down and covered her face with her hands, groaning softly.

Reginae nodded with a stern expression, her gaze still flicking from Pilar as she strains against the naga’s demands and continued with her own additions. Good, Reginae though, narrowing her pupils at the illusion until it vanished. Pilar’s face was hidden behind her book, allowing Regi a chance to smile at her success. For someone without formal training, that was a start. A damn good one. “Hmm.” Regi says at length, bracing her chin atop her hands while her elbows were planted firmly on the table. The silence sank between them only to spike Pilar’s nerves before the naga announced her decision. “All right,” she says after a time, cracking a small smile. “I will teach you. It will take practice, patience, dedication. Do not give up if it gets hard.” Her tone chilled. “If you give up, I will not accept you back as a student.” This point she wanted to make clear. “Failure requires correction, but you also have to want to improve. So think seriously about this in the meantime. “It must have been strange, hearing such harsh talk from such a small human. “I will teach you a basic technique here. Take this.” Reginae pulls a notebook from her cloak and hands it to Pilar. The pages are blank, nothing written inside. “Start by taking notes of things you see around you. Simple things. Flowers, tables, chairs, books. Embellishments on cloaks or grooves that run in tree bark. Draw them. By familiarizing yourself with your environment, you will become better at conjuring them. You have to master what you can see and what really exists before you can delve into what your imagination along provides.”

Pilar was ready to graciously accept that she would not be taught. She opened her mouth to say 'thanks anyway,' only to find it hanging agape when she was accepted as a student. She could hardly believe it. She had failed so utterly, at least that's how she felt. She eventually closed her mouth and nodded emphatically as Reginae went on. Yes, she would practice, she would be patient, and she would dedicate herself to learning! She took the notebook from Reginae. She was not an artist, by any means, but she would make do. Pilar looked at Reginae with a tearful smile. "Th-thank you..."

Reginae’s expression remained stern, her body language indifferent, but there was a thrill in her heart and mind for this. She’d been taught by grand masters, Ha-Naga’s, the best in Alithrya…and now she would be teaching someone else. Someone who wanted to learn. The only thing that might have improved the moment would have been if Pilar had been another naga. Oh well. They were few and far between these days as it was. Still, as the vampire thanked her, Regi smiled. “Do not thank me yet,” she said, letting the smile slack. “This is a weapon. To be used. Do not use this to run away. I would not teach you if I did not believe you were strong, so do not disappoint me. Be strong.” With that, Regi pushed back against the table top and stretched her humanoid arms into the air. “I will come back. Practice with this coin, stones. Anything. Show me your progress when I see you next. We will work together to get it down.” The slightest urge to hug Pilar arose in the child’s chest but she suppressed it. Must not seem soft, Regi told herself. “I will check the archives for information on curses. Find out more about your friend’s situation and I will give you what I can.” And with that, no formal goodbye is offered; Reginae didn’t want Pilar to see how broadly she was smiling as she left.

Pilar frowned a little bit at the talk of using it as a weapon, and being forbidden to use it to run away. Had she not told Reginae when the subject first came up that she wanted to be able to escape? She didn't think she would be a good fighter, anyway... But she was flattered that Reginae believed her strong. "I-I will. Thank you, pequeña..." As the naga-turned-child left, she called out "Goodbye!"