RP:Something About Books and Covers
This is a Mage's Guild RP.
Summary: Karasu is given a higher status among a clandestine organization, and is informed of Kaaname's ultimatum relayed through Quintessa. Magikrios makes Karasu his student as to circumvent the threat, and provides her with a useful weapon.
The Syndicate Grand Council Hall
Magik places two covered bird cages on the meeting table. One for each of his most favorite SoS members. He dramatically pulls the coverings off each cage at the same time, "Tada!" He gives a diabolical raven-crow to Quintessa, and a great-horned owl to Karasu.
Quintessa's eyes light up at the sight of the birds. "Delisha's bosom!"
Karasu immediately fawns over the owl, holding out her fingers for it to sniff and peck lightly. "What a cutie!"
Magik smiles, "Just something small for you both to show how much I appreciate your efforts. I do have another shipment of owls coming soon but that one was definitely top tier quality." Magik winks. "I may have to get a raven like that for myself.."
Quintessa said, "Great horned owls have been known to kill full-grown men on occasion!" she leans in close to her raven-crow. "And this corvid! Is it a raven or is it a crow? I'm not sure!"
Karasu opens the cage to let the owl perch on her wrist. "This will actually come in handy if, Xalious-forbid, our communicators stop working. Anti-magic spells and all that."
Quintessa said to Karasu, "Good thinking! It's always good to have a backup plan." Quintessa said to Magik, "Thank you! I love it!"
Magik tilts his head at the bird as well, "Size of a raven but the tail shape of neither. Very unique. Cross-bred, perhaps?" He then looks to Karasu, "Exactly. Great for delivering any confidential notes back and forth. And, who doesn't like having an extra friend nearby?" Magik said to Quintessa, "You're welcome!"
Karasu nods, echoing the sentiment from Quintessa. "Thank you. So should we get you a feathered friend to ferry Vhid around?" As if on cue, it peeks up from Magik's shoulder. The feline imagines the little creature riding on a hawk’s back while Magik moves around in smoke form. She seems entertained by the prospect.
Magik pats Vhid's head, "I don't think that'll be necessary. He's a chonk. He can walk." Magik didn't really think about the idea but he wouldn't be quite against it. Especially with his favorite mode of transportation lately. The elf gently scratches the owl's neck, "As you may have figured, your ranking has increased. Between your quick thinking that literally saved my life and your ability to sneak behind the uyeer to initiate the first attack as a well executed sneak attack..You deserve it."
Karasu seems surprised at this. "I... really?" Her raspberry eyes seem to sparkle for a moment. She opens and closes her mouth a few times, trying to articulate how to thank the Lyastri for the unexpected praise. "You're probably the best mentor I've had yet. So I look forward to learning more from you." She finally settles on.
Magik said to you, "Good. When you feel up to it, preferably soon, let's meet in my office at the tower. I think it's time for your presence to be felt there once more."
Karasu chews on her lower lip, thinking about it. A mischievous smile creeps up her face. "As myself?" She taps the red heart around her neck to emphasize the question.
Magik said to Karasu, "For a bit, yes. I'm not sure what the rules are on inactivity so let's just keep you noticed and as a student of mine, yeah?"
Karasu nods. "That's reasonable. The rule is generally 10 moons, if I remember correctly." She knew very well that the ninth moon had just passed as well. The owl is placed back in his cage. "Does this mean I have to learn how to meditate?"
Magik leans against the table and shrugs, "I just want you noticed in the meditation center. Grab a book or two. One on meditation theory and another dealing with fire magics. I'll throw something together when we are there, yeah?"
Quintessa looks up from playing with her bird, only catching some of the conversation. "Might I remind you that Kanaame is still looking for you," she says, stepping toward the pair as her Raven-crow flies around the room squawking. "The last time I spoke to him he eluded that you had until the Celestial Celebration to show up or you'd be kicked out." Quintessa's expression is serious, "If you get captured I'm going to be so mad at you."
Karasu pales slightly at her girlfriend's darkened demeanor, and the relayed threat from her own father. She cracks a smile, looking up at her. "He doesn't even practice that much magic. That's why he's been stuck at Provost for so long." The mark on her neck thrums softly, as if replying to her nonchalance. "So long as I'm walking around in the sight of others, he can't touch me."
Magik shifts his gaze between the couple as he speaks, "Try to not wander too much as yourself, Kara. In and out. The moment we begin a lesson, my promise to Kaaname will be solidified. No one will touch you."
Karasu moves to the other end of the room where several coats hang, some dusty from old members who never returned. She plucks her runic jaguar pelt, half-stitched to become a coat instead of a cape after being whipped around like a ragdoll by the uyeers, and dons it. "I'm going to take all the notes I found for myself, too. Everyone I know seems not to be involved, but I need to read absolutely everything to figure out the identities of his co-conspirators."
Quintessa lets out a sigh, but she trusts Karasu and Magik. "Alright, if you say so, but I still have a really bad feeling about this." Quintessa reaches into her cloak pocket to draw a wooden cigarette case, but she never pulls it out. "I wouldn't put it past Kaaname to do something petty just to get back at me for threatening him in front of the Administrator."
Magik said, "Just be careful you two. Watch each other's backs. Hell, watch your own back. I'll be heading there in a bit just to probably clean up the room a bit, burn some herbs. Ya know, the usual.."
Karasu pauses, bringing a hand up to her temple. Quintessa threatened Kaaname. In front of the councilmember most likely to be enabling Kaaname. Of course she did. "I'm going with you, Magik."
Quintessa isn't sorry about it either. "I also told him that he was a useless good-for-nothing... And I might have also let slip that you and I are dating now..."
Magik extends a hand to Karasu, "I've never tried this but take my hand." Magik grinned devilishly. Should Kara take his hand, she would take on Magik's smoky form as well to make their trip to Xalious a bit more exciting.
Karasu makes a suspicious face at the grin, but cautiously puts her hand in his anyway. She offers a hand to Quintessa as well. "When I'm back for good, we're going to make them all SO uncomfortable." She smirks.
Quintessa reaches out to take Karasu's hand but then slowly withdraws. "You know what? You two go without me. I'm not ready to show my face around there yet and I have a meeting with House Mahara to schedule anyway. If either of you need me I'll be in Vailkrin." Quintessa pulls Karasu into a quick embrace to whisper in her ear. "Please be careful. I'd never forgive myself if something happened to you because of my big mouth. I love you, my Xalious Princess."
Karasu feels her face turn red as she mutters back, “I'll be fine. I'll always have a compass pointing me back to the Countess of the Black Pond, after all. Can't die while she still has my heart."
Quintessa hides her face as she giggles madly.
Mediation Center
Magik and Karasu take on Magik's smoky cloud form. The two immediately rush to the surface then head towards Xalious. Magik doesn't want to scare the newly promoted Owl to death just yet so he keeps his antics under control. They fly high above Kelay, Sage, and safely find themselves just inside the entrance to the Mage's Tower.
Karasu keeps wrapped around the elf's back as they materialize in the Tower. Or at least, she thinks she does. It only becomes apparent once they materialize again. The spellblade has since reverted to her natural halfling form during transport, and the fur on her tail stays completely poofed as she climbs down. "Ahem." She snaps her fingers and resumes her human form. The hallways of the Mage's Tower are oddly silent for it being midday.
Magik moves to the small alter, lighting a bowl of his special herbs that help relax just about everyone. He wafts the smoke in his face as he takes a deep breath and softly smiles before looking up to see who is present.
Karasu looks around the mystical area with trepidation. The class seems full of young apprentices, mostly. She takes a seat on one of the plush cushions, trying not to sneeze as a plume of smoke drifts into her face.
Magik steps infront of the alter to direct the class, "Everyone welcome our newest student, Karasu, to class then settle into your breathing exercises that we have discussed." The students turn their attention to the newcomer. Some offer some waves, others audibly welcome her with hi's, hellos, salutations, etc, before turning their focus back on Magik. "Kara, I'll be right with you in a second to catch you up." Magik waves a hand to extinguish the bowl of herbs behind him, "Everyone close your eyes. Relax. Breathe. Remember the assignment I gave each of you. Focus on what brings you peace. Let that take over." As the students make themselves comfortable on the floor on their individual cushions, Magik makes his way to Karasu and plops down next to her, "How's it so far?"
Karasu returns the various greetings with a practiced smile that shows off her cat-like fangs. The spell-blade looks around the room, attempting to mimic the poses of the other students. This is a far cry in a change of atmosphere from the last time she was here. When Magik sits next to her, she answers, "Like I'm extremely prone to an attack right now?" This prompts some hushed laughs from those around her. A single eye opens, trained on Magik. "Give me some inspiration. What, oh Meditation Master, brings you peace?"
Magik shushes the class immediately, "If you are laughing, you're not focusing. If you're not focusing you will receive negative marks." That shut everyone up real quick. Once the class is completely silent again he continues with his hushed conversation, "Right now, you are not. Those who disturb the peace within this room will receive the wrath of Veneficus D'Chath." He lightly elbows Karasu, "That, my friend, is a secret that I will always hold close to me." He looks up at his class to search for any open eyes. Seeing none, he continues quietly, "Find them books I was talking about?"
Karasu closes her eyes again and opens her coat, revealing the two books in the inlaid pockets. There is the unmistakable clicking of footsteps from the staircase, and Karasu tenses slightly in response, though she does not give the passerby a look. Thankfully, it is not a certain councilman set for imminent death from the Guardian of the Sage Forest. As the footsteps recede, Karasu relaxes again. "Does sleeping peacefully on top of a pile of weapons because a pile of cushions can't be trusted count as something that brings me peace?" She teases with a smile.
Magik wasn't 'too' amused by Kara's sarcastic tone. The person passing by never got a single look from Magik. He was here to teach his class, not entertain outsiders. "I think you can do better than that, Kara." He smirked then got to his feet to walk between the students. Some students received hushed words of advice, others had their posture adjusted by a simple push or pull on a shoulder or their back. He finished his round then returned to Karasu. Instead of sitting down, he leaned against the wall, "Keep those books visible while you are walking about, yeah?"
Karasu nods and relaxes into the cushions, the atmosphere of the meditation room finally claiming another victim. At his note, she withdraws the books and keeps them in her lap before resuming her position. Her mind drifts to her initial expeditions with Quintessa, and how their biggest concern was once how they were supposed to procure the right kind of meat to feed Berrentam.
Magik watched his class carefully then shifted his focus to the two books, eyeing the meditation book in particular. His voice remained low and calm as he directed his words directly to his newest student, "Did you look in the meditation book? A simple nor or shake will suffice. Keep your focus for the most part."
Karasu raises an eyebrow with her eyes closed and shakes her head. Her fingers drift to the book on fire magic to flip it open. Her mediation deepens as she imagines a future that could have happened in another life. Kanna and Karasu being neighbors as sisters, fully living and not flesh-hungry sisters. A vision of Karasu living with Quintessa and their adopted son. A deep exhale escapes her as she relaxes fully.
Magik whispers, "The fire book in your hands will help you with your studies. The meditation book is a bunch of bullcrap. However, it should have a gift inside...One of my arrows that I can create on my own sits between cut out pages to hide it nicely.." Magik then directs his class once more, "Alright. Time's just about up. Everyone start adjusting your focus to the sound of my voice to come back to. Pyromancers, I'll see you tomorrow night for a lesson. Everyone else, same time next week. Take your time gathering your belongings, feel free to send me any notes about any questions, and I'll see you next time. Well done, everyone."
Karasu lets out a deep breath as she comes out of a trance she did not even realize she fell into. She looks from the book, to Magik, then back. The book on fire magic is given a once-over with a comment of, "I already know intermediate spells, do you want me to be a pyromancer too?" Before the large tome of meditation history and practices is opened.
Magik nods and waves as his students quickly leave the room to their next classes. After they clear out, the volume of his words are a bit more audible, "That's up to you, really. We can have a lesson or two and see how you feel about it." As Karasu opens the meditation book, eventually she would find the black arrow resting between the cutout pages. The arrow is cut halfway up the shaft to fit properly inside the book. The arrowtip is extremely sharp and of a simple and imperfect design. The arrow in general looks organic yet unnatural. It takes a certain undiscovered magic for the Lyastri to conjure this out of his palm.
Karasu stands, turning the arrowhead over in her fingers. The curiosity is examined from nearly every angle. "I'll treasure this. I might lose it in someone's eye socket, but you know how it is." Karasu grins, sliding the arrow underneath her long sleeve to rest against her forearm. Her arm is just long enough that she can move her wrist around comfortably, which she demonstrates by rotating it around to see if the arrowtip pokes her palm. She pulls the arrow back out and asks, "How do you make these?"
Magik said to Karasu, "Might I suggest keeping the arrow in the book until you absolutely need it? 'If' you are caught and searched, I wouldn't imagine the poor fool worrying about a book or two in your hands, ya know..And, I don't quite know how I make them. They are just..there. And it does hurt to let one loose. A lot."
Karasu gives the elf a nod and replaces the arrow into the book. "You're too good to me. If Odie-- Ah. Magister Kerrigan, knew about your ability, he'd probably love to research it." She chides her mentor. Her mind turns to the newly-appointed councilman for a moment, feeling a pang of guilt. Karasu's eyes drift past the elf to a movement at the staircase, and her expression falls quickly into one of panic. If Magik were to turn around, he'd catch only a glimpse of the guild's robes as the figure exits. Karasu clutches the books tightly to her chest. "Hey, wanna escort me to my office? I still haven’t visited it once." The feline laughs, though her eyes betray her hesitation.
Magik nods, "Someday I'll have a sit down with Odh to clear some air. I don't want too many knowing about my party trick though." Magik's demeanor quickly changed as he could sense Karasu's dread. He doesn't need to turn around to see who was creeping by. However, he offers his arm, "Absolutely. Do you have everything?"
Karasu has to reach up to take his arm. Trying to take her mind off of the glare she was given at the staircase, she instead tries to amuse herself with how the pair must look with the elf being nearly two heads taller than she. "Sure, why not."
Magik looks about the room to make sure there are no stragglers then back to Karasu, "Shall we?"
Karasu gives a nod, letting the elf lead her to the office she had yet to see in her year of being an Arcane Steward.