RP:Midnight Visitor
Summary: Karasu sneaks back into the Mage's Tower in order to steal a book of research notes from Odhranos regarding spells capable of binding a physical item to a person's bloodline, originally requested by Provost Tsuji. Karasu is caught red-handed by Odhranos, and almost revealed to Kaaname, but Odhranos covers for her and swears himself to secrecy for her sake.
Mage's Library
As you stand here, towers of bookshelves completely surround you. Most of them look to be magical in nature, but there are books of more mundane subjects in the library. Some are for spell research, some are about the history of spell casting and magic, while others are just lists of spell uses and objects. The cases are of a dark oak or pine, and glow a little at the ends, where runes have been placed to protect these sources of information from aging and decay. There are tables all over the room, with people of quite a few races sitting and studying. You notice a small door behind the rows of shelves to the north, and as someone opens and enters the room you see that it is the dormitory for those who stay here and study. To the east are two massive doors with designs carved into them, a golden dragon on each door.
In the darkness of a new moon, only the dim lights of the runes surrounding and protecting the library illuminated the halls. For one that had grown up here, navigating through the shadows was little of a challenge. A tilt upwards of a rune with a branch of the Xalious tree to prevent a spell-laced alarm being tripped, a crawl under a blind spot for the guards there, and the halfling was in the library. She was confident that Odhranos was gone for the night, so she thought, and she quietly closed the door, weaving her away around the messy tomes of the Provost's office. It was a stark contrast to the meticulously organized office of the Provost that usually sat just yards away. For a moment, the spell blade was still, listening for signs of footsteps drawing nearer. Fairly certain there was none, she allowed her feline eyes to adjust to the darkness of the room, carefully picking through Odhranos' tomes until she found what she was looking for: A series of notes started regarding binding spells that prevented separation of a physical object from its owner. As she looked for a place to set the tome down and read, she questioned whether her father had already requested this information from Odhranos before. The mechanics for such a powerful spell was not one easily accessible to the likes of fledglings and apprentices.
Odhranos stirred in his sleep, murmuring incoherently as he rolled over in bed. "The runic kinematics, they're too squishy…" he groaned, flailing out with one hand as he fended off large man-eating dissertations in his dream that threatened to hunt him down and grade him. The flailing hand whisked through the air blindly, before Odhranos' knuckles collided with his bedside locker, knocking the golden cage that sat there off kilter, sending it rolling, before it crashed to the ground with a metallic clang. Odhranos sat bolt upright in bed, eyes wide as he raised his hands into a guard, ripping a swathe of sand from the cage that arced around him protectively. "Wha! Who! Wheh?!" Odhranos glanced around his small room frantically, before spotting the relic that had caused the ruckus. "Ah, S'erok, sorry. I didn't mean to wake you." Picking the golden cage from the floor and checking it for dents, Odhranos returned it to his bedside locker before climbing back into bed. However, sleep was seemingly not going to come easily to the mage. It had been that way recently, he was sleeping less and less, and it became harder to achieve sleep every successive night. After a handful of fruitless minutes, Odhranos cursed and got out of bed. Pulling his robes from the back of his small desk chair, he draped them about his shoulders, slipping his feet into a pair of slippers before leaving the room, heading for his office in the main tower. If he was not going to sleep, he may as well be productive. The journey was short, and the cool night softened the details of the wooden panelled corridors, leading Odhranos to his door, which he pushes open idly, not so much as checking the interior of the office as he shuffled in.
Karasu almost missed the telltale sound of shuffling as it got closer to the study. There was so much lore to pilfer through in order to decipher anything from these! Only when Odhranos was feet away from the door did she realizes she was close to being caught. In her attempts to ascertain which members of the Mage's Guild were safe to contact and which were linked to Provost Tsuji, she had yet to monitor the scholar's movements. Panicked, she set the tome down on the desk as-is and murmured a spell. She crouched behind the desk as Odhranos walked in, her form decreasing and becoming furrier. Karasu cursed her luck as she watched her wand and her sword in its hilt move down and gently rest itself on the floor. A perfect transformation required concentration, something the halfling could not afford. As a wild cat, her head barely came up to the seat of his chair. 'What is he doing here!' She cursed her luck, slithering behind a makeshift pile of books and flattening her ears. Unused to being in this form, she neglects to tuck in her tail, which wags in annoyance behind her as she thinks of how to push her gear out of sight.
Odhranos kneaded his eyes with the heels of his hands as he walked into the office, not allowing so much as a glimpse of Karasu' transformation as he shuffled into the cluttered office. Once he had reached the desk, the mage placed his hands on the surface with a slap and stared balefully across the desk and out the window, glaring almost reproachfully at the crescent moon beyond. "Good evening Valaane, it seems that you have chosen me for your vigil once again." Odhranos snorted derisively, shaking his head. "Listen to me, moonstruck I am. A veritable lunaticus." The mage strode around the desk and stood close to the sill of the window, so that his breath fogged slightly in the glass as he gazed out and upwards. "Where is your crimson brother? Off bothering some other poor soul, I hope. The night sky looks much better without his glow." Odhranos reached out, as if to reach into the sky, but naturally his hand collided with the glass ith a dull clunk. Taking his hand back, Odhranos stared as his palm inquisitively, before shaking his head. "I'm losing it. Xalious protect me, I need to fix this sleeping issue before so truly go insane." Odhranos pulled his chair out from behind the desk and sat down, turned halfway to face sideways, so he could keep looking at the moon. Odhranos stretched his legs out and with a quiet rattle, his slippered heel collided with some object on the floor. "Hmm? What's that?" Odhranos murmured, turning his attention towards the two dark, long objects that were tucked in the shadows that hugged the floor. Odhranos leaned down to see more clearly, squinting into the darkness as he tried to ascertain what it was he had kicked.
Karasu panicked as she saw him reaching for the discarded weapons. As she opened her mouth to call out for him, another voice called out, "Burning the midnight oil again, I see." At the doorway stood Provost Tsuji, unconcealed from his usual form. It was an open secret amongst the Mage's Guild that Karasu not be told about the vampirism. Karasu's ears flattened against her head as she looked up in alarm, inching backwards reflexively. The clutter of the unorganized books and reports wobbled as she bumped against it and fell sideways, covering the hilt of the sword from the eyes of her recent nemesis. Along with it fell a rune, illuminating the crook for Odhranos to see. The halfling inched her way back into the open space of the bookshelf. Could the other Provost see her from the angle he was in, he would see the terrified expression on her cat face.
Odhranos had just made out the outline of a staff and sword when an unexpected guest appeared in his doorway. From his crouched position, Odhranos had a clear vantage point to observe the stack of books being toppled, sending a cascade of papers and crystals with it, tossing a small runic lightsome into the depths of the shelving, where it illuminated a small strange creature. In the seconds that followed, Odhranos registered the sheer terror in this creatures eyes and the sword and staff that lay just under his fingertips. As his palm settled on the twisted grain of the Xalious wood, a sudden impression struck him, seemingly emanating from the staff itself. An impression of someone who he had not seen in a very long time. Quick as a flash, Odhranos splayed his fingers against the floor, and the flagstones morphed beneath his touch, becoming soft and pliable as Odhranos got to his feet. The terramancer stepped on the staff and sword, sinking them into the stone, even as he whisked a finger towards the lightstone, extinguishing it. "Provost Tsuji." The mage smiled wearily as he got to his feet. "I'm afraid my lamp is quite low, but the flame refuses adamantly to be put out. I'm running on the midnight fumes, as it were." Odhranos stepped around the desk to greet his colleague. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"
Karasu watched from the shadows as the two conversed. Had their eyes met? Surely not, he would have given her away if that was the case. "Is it a crime for one Provost greet another? Just returned from Vailkrin a few hours ago, and I believe you could use some of these in your next batch of tea." The vampire flashes a smile as a pouch of fresh magnolia bark shavings is produced from his sleeve. "Admittedly, I was going to toss them in your mailbox and be done with it; here I thought you were actually resting." Golden eyes flicker from the sleep-deprived Odhranos to the open book on his desk. "Ah, are you finally looking into those soul-binding mechanics?" Kaaname had not been subtle about his curiosity about the subject, rather, how to undo such a powerful spell by oneself. The feline in hiding looked from the doorway from her hiding place to the table and back.
Odhranos laughed warmly as he accepted the pouch from Kaaname. "No crime at all. The only crime I see at present is the criminally late hour that we are both up at." Odhranos scratches his head and gives the vampire a half-smile. "I'll admit, I have a newfound respect for you and the other Provosts. I haven't been in this job a year and it's running me ragged." The terramancer passes a weary hand over his face, rubbing at his eyes. When Kaaname asks about the book on his desk, Odhranos turns to look, slightly bewildered as he had not even noticed the book lying open. However, he recovered and passed his bewilderment off as weariness. "Oh, yes, indeed. I actually visited the Black Library in Vailkrin a few weeks back, at Steward Quintessa's invite. I've spent the time since then cross-referencing as many different materials as I can that touch on the topic of bound items, relic attunement or soul-binding, but it's a mountain of literature and all of it is in constant contradiction to it's contemporaries." Odhranos picked the book up and flipped idly through the pages, humming with recognition. "Honestly, I feel like I've hit a dead end. None of the literature I've read makes reference to the particular runic magic that the Robelous employed, and the principles are all so vague that any one of them could apply." Odhranos closed the book and set it aside with a dejected huff. "My only option at this stage would be to branch into experimentation to try and reverse engineer the process, but that goes against my entire philosophy so far. It's frustrating." Odhranos tapped the book with his fingertips before turning back to Kaaname. "Honestly, I'm not even up because I planned on working. I've been having sleepless nights recently, and the only thing that seems to help is coming here and reading myself into oblivion. It's a cruel fate for an academic."
The elder Provost watches with the same unfaltering smile as Odhranos flips through the book and sets it down back down, listening intently to his rambles. "Quite. The Stewardess has done well to make sure the Black Library has been preserved. Well, I shall leave you be to lull yourself back to sleep, then. Do consider the magnolia bark, there's a reason it is so popular with knock-out potions." As the vampire turns to leave, he adds, "By the way, if you see my daughter, you would tell me, wouldn't you? Poor thing must be so troubled to have left the only home she's known for so long. Well, that's a discussion for another day." With a wave of his hand, Provost Tsuji departs, his footsteps clicking down the flagstones of the halls. There is a pause, and Karasu squeezes out from hiding, her feline body lowered to the floor in an attempt to maintain stealth as she makes her way to the pile of books if she hadn't already been found out. Her paws fumble with the books covering her weapons for a few moments before she looks back up and freezes. In a pathetic attempt to pass herself off as a familiar, she gives a feeble meow, her tail ducking between her legs.
Odhranos shook the pouch in his hand contemplatively. "I may just do that. I'm not fond of having to turn to medicinal supplements, but I think my nighttime wanderings have gone on long enough at this stage. Thank you, Kaaname." Odhranos bowed thankfully towards the exiting Provost. At mention of Karasu, Odhranos' expression fell to one of concern. "Yes, I meant to ask had there been any news. I shall keep an eye and ear out for any news. She is dearly missed around the Tower, I pray for her safe return." Odhranos waved the Provost off then closed the door behind him, locking it with a small gesture, before sinking down against the back of the door, til he was sitting on the ground. With a wave of his hand, the runestone that had illuminated the little creature blinked into life again, and lifted up from the ground, casting a small halo of light on the pile of scattered books, and the black wildcat that now perched on top of them. Odhranos stared at the feline, before his head tilted to the side and he smiled wearily. "Well, I just lied to one of my colleagues, little one. How's about that for a night's good work. Odhranos slowly clambered to his knees, then to his feet, moving towards the desk, but keeping an appreciable distance from the cat. "That staff, the one I just sank into the floor. It's Karasu's, isn't it?" Odhranos rounded the desk and sat down cross-legged, about three feet away from the pile of books, and he folded his arms into his lap and studied his feline visitor with a tired gaze. "Xalious staves gain a particular feel to them after a lot of usage. It's a little like a fingerprint." Odhranos reached out into the space between him and the cat, before placing his hand against the flagstone again. The stone rippled slightly, before Karasu's staff and sword slowly emerged, as if floating to the surface of a grey pond. Odhranos prised the two items from the stone, then laid them out in the no-mans land between them. "How did they get in here? And you, for that matter? Are you a familiar of Karasu's?"
looks around at all the possible exists. After a few seconds of deliberation, she realizes that Odhranos just locked her only way out, lest she feel like testing how high up a cat can fall from. As the light shines on her, illuminating her tribe's leopard spots, the idea that he's bought into the idea that this is an actual cat bewilders her more. 'You must be really tired. How many tiny leopards have -you- met?' Then again, she only forced herself to learn transfiguration in all her downtime of being a bodyguard. Deciding to play along, she trots forward with a burring noise, boldly shoving her head into the heel of Odhranos' hand with a loud purr, a thanks for not revealing her to the Provost. As she takes the pets, she looks over at her staff and sword. At best, she could have walked out of here with the staff, but in this form, the sword weighs just as much as she does. With a sigh, Karasu comes to the conclusion that there was no way she was taking them out in this state. The jig was up. Moving away, she jumps onto the table, pointedly ignoring the weapons. "Mutatio." There is a familiar light of Xalious magic, and the spellblade looks down at Odhranos from her perch, pink eyes almost glowing in the runelit room. She looks nearly as sleepless as he does. A few beats pass in silence as Karasu thinks of what to say. "I know you have questions. The simple answer is, well, you're dreaming." Her lips quirk up at the jest. It quickly falls, and she looks over to the book laid out on the table. It can wait. "You should go back to sleep, Odhranos. I wasn't here." Karasu says in a solemn tone. "I'll come back to celebrate your promotion, I promise."
Odhranos smiled as the cat butted his hand, purring all the while. Odhranos had a soft spot for animals, and moreso for ones that seemed kindly, as this one did. He watched as she hopped up onto his table, and he gazed up at her with gentle curiosity. This curiosity soon turned to surprise as the form of the feline morphed and changed, now presenting itself as a familiar Steward, crouching on his desk. Odhranos stared up into those piercingly luminescent pink eyes, and all of a sudden, a soft snort of laughter escaped him. "Of course." He murmurs, surprisingly taking this all in stride. "Of course." Odhranos continues to sit, slumped against the wall, his head just tucked under the sill as Karasu gave her brief explanation. When she lapsed into silence, Odhranos shook his head softly. "I have no sense of what is going on, but I will not impede you. I'm just glad you're alright." The pieces began to fall into place, the open book on his desk, the weapons on the floor, Karasu's surreptitious appearance. Odhranos sat up into a kneeling position, and picked up the staff and sword from the ground, holding them out to Karasu. "There's a small box on the shelf, over there, the little blue one. It has some coin and simple tools, firestones and the likes. Take it, it might be of use." Odhranos got to his feet and approached the desk, picking the tome that Karasu has been reading and offering it to her. "This too." With that, Odhranos flicked his wrist towards the locked door, unlatching it, then turned to face the window once more, so that his back faced Karasu "I misplaced the book and the blue box. No one was ever in here tonight except myself and Provost Kaaname." Odhranos announced, seemingly to the moon. "I have heard nothing about Steward Karasu's whereabouts, nor have I any inkling where she might be found." Odhranos paused, then added; "Though, should by any chance she need help, for whatever conceivable reason, my door is always open to her." Odhranos leaned his elbows on the window sill, not daring to turn around until he heard the door closing in Karasu's wake.
Karasu bowed her head and took her gear back. For a moment, she dared not say anything else for fear that she might cry. Futsuka was right; these people were never her enemies. As Odhranos circled around to the window, pointing out the little blue box, Karasu fastened the belt of the sword's scabbard back around her waist. "Do you remember the day I started calling you Odie? It was before the Xalious' Swiftclaw tribe burned down in the forests. I had just learned to write, and being stubborn as I was, I wanted to say the hardest words first. I got to see you writing your report, and as you started signing O-D, I thanked you for letting me watch you write, "O-D." Back then, I thought I was gonna grow up to be a spellcaster that could go along with you and protect you, my favorite mage in the tower, before you went off into the desert. Now, I’ve found someone that needs my skills more. I have to save her from the Provost before she disappears into her own desert. She might not be strong enough to come back on her own.” Karasu walked over and gave the terramancer a hug from behind. “Thank you, Odie.” With the book and the small box procured, Karasu slipped out from the Mage’s Tower almost as quietly as she came.