No.294[Last 50 Posts]
>Date: September 16th, 2017 (Earth time)
>Location: Ceridwen's Room, The Axiom
>After the situation with Sirius, Ceri retires to her room. Clearly drained of some of her energy, she takes her cloak off, letting it float over to a hook on the other side of the room. Without the bulky piece of clothing covering her, how small her form is is even more obvious, the cloak having added an inch or two to her height, and having hidden how thing and twig-like her arms really are.
>Also revealed by the cloak being gone is just how extensive the brand on her arm is, while still visible with the cloak on, not being covered reveals how it twists and winds around her arm, leaving little in the way of skin, and continuing on to her shoulder - and perhaps beyond.
>With an exhausted slump, the girl takes a seat in the room, staring at the brand.
"It doesn't pulse and hurt any more, but it still remains, even with nothing on the other side to exploit it, the rift remains a risk. . ."
>Looking at a book on her desk, Ceri thinks for a moment.
"I should check on it, maybe visit the family, although I don't think they would be that pleased to see me. . ."
>Another thought enters Ceri's head, and she groans.
". . .and that Chimera, why is he just left to run amok with the secrets of the Thaumians?"
"I mean, they were pompous idiots. . . but even they understood how some things worked, right?"
". . .and how did he get it in the first place anyway? It was magitek. . . Eukar. . . Ewe Carrot? If it's magitek that means they were given it by. . ."
>Ceri groans.
"The Hydes. . . Who else would have access to magitek? But why?"
>Ceri groans again.
". . .and now that's going to be stuck in my head until I work it out. . . wait. . ."
>Ceri taps her head for a moment.
"The male heir died, but there were two more, younger sisters. . . they're probably still out there somewhere, I could just track them down with a spell and. . ."
>Standing up, Ceri rushes over to a desk, shuffling through it until she finds a crow's feather, which she takes holds in front of her.
"We just need a bit of. . ."
>Putting the feather down on a clean surface, Ceri unsheathes the dagger from her belt, bringing up to her finger very carefully and pricking it so a drop of blood comes out, landing on the feather.
"Then we just. . ."
>Picking the feather back up, Ceri holds it close to her mouth, closes her eyes, and whispers an incantation to the feather, causing it float in front of her.
"It's not a lot, but I have a little bit of Hyde in me, let's just hope that's enough. . ."
>Holding her hand out, Ceri summons her cloak to her, putting it on once it floats close enough to her, then taps the feather again, causing it to slowly glide to her door. Following it, the girl grins.
"Well, here's hoping. . ."
No.298
>>296>Stepping out of a portal outside of a small village in Devon, Ceri looks around for a moment."This isn't too far from home. . . I could. . ."
>The girl shakes her head, pulling her hood up."Not worth the effort, I'll just talk to whichever Hyde is around, try and understand why, then leave. . ."
>Looking around, Ceri runs her hand along the edge of her hood."Wards are holding up, good, means no one should be able to notice me unless I call attention to myself, let's be off I guess. . ."
>Following the feather, Ceridwen heads in to the village.~~~~~~~~
>After some time following the feather, Ceridwen ends up in front of a house, looking it up and down, she shrugs."It looks fairly normal? I don't know, I was expecting. . . more?"
>Her eyes darting to the flowers near the door, Ceri steps forward."Oh you. . . you're not doing well, are you? Your owner doesn't quite hear what you're saying, but it's ok, I can help. . ."
>Kneeling over, Ceri takes some dust out of a pouch on her pocket and sprinkles it on the flowers."There you go, faerie dust, you'll love it. . ."
>Standing back up, Ceri dusts herself off and steps to the door, knocking on it."Anyone in?"
No.299
>>298>Amy's ears nearly perk up, as the sounding of knocking reaches her. In one smooth motion she spins around on one foot, turning to face the door."Oh great. Hope it's not another conman trying to get me to buy their 'Non Fungus Tokens' or whatever…"
>Amy heads towards the door and then opens it. Looking straight forward, before moving around and finally spotting Ceri below.
>Amy stares at her in silence for a few moments, blinking. Not recognizing her, she says: "Hello? Do you need something?"
No.300
>>299>Ceri looks up at the occupant of the house."Oh. . . Hello. . . Is this Miss Hyde? Actually. . ."
>Ceri tries to look past Amy."Is your older sister home? I. . . Really came to talk to her really."
>The tone of her voice makes it very clear that Ceri isn't really used to speaking to people casually. No.301
>>300>Amy raises her eyebrow at the girl. "My sister isn't here right now. She went to the market, and won't be back for a while. She tends to be slow when grocery shopping."
>Amy blinks."I can relay a message to her for you though, if you want."
No.304
>>301"Ah. . . No. . . I was just trying to ask some questions. . ."
>Ceri takes her hood down, awkwardly scratching the back of her head, the brand on her arm being visible to Amy for a moment."I don't suppose your sister and brother really talked about technology or anything, who to give it to. . . Things like that?"
No.325
>>306>Ceri's eyes dart away from Amy, deliberately avoiding looking at her directly."I. . . just know about. . . you know. . . I. . ."
>The young magician tries to move away from Amy."You know. . . this was a bad idea. . . You probably don't know anything - your brother wasn't the most talkative."
No.326
>>325>Amy's eyes remained narrowly locked on Ceri. "…Right…"
>She begins slightly pushing against the door. "Maybe it would be best if you left and came back later."
>Her eyes move around, as she begins noticing how elaborate and less than normal looking Ceri's outfit is. No.327
>>326>Ceri takes another step back, her eyes darting down to the flowers from earlier."And let you just disappear? You'd like me to do that, wouldn't you!"
>Ceri shakes her head."You won't get rid of me that easily. I'll just stay outside here if you don't let me in."
No.329
>>328"Fine then. By like that. . ."
>Pulling her hood back up, Ceri takes a seat on the step, next to the flowers."I see why you needed help, if your owners are that rude, don't they know you can pick up on it?"
>Sighing, Ceri leans back so her head is resting on the door, ready to wait all day if she has to."You know, I should really be resting, I've done a lot over the last 24 hours, Stephanie'll be so mad. . ."
>Ceri closes her eyes, still leaning against the door. . . No.331
>>330"Owwww. . ."
>Ceri groans, rubbing the back of her head, a single white lock of hair visible from above. Sitting back up, she adjusts her hair to hide it again."I'm very important to Stephanie."
>Ceri says, the smugness in her voice is almost physical."She didn't send me though, I just wanted to find something out."
No.332
>>331"Oookay."
>Amy looks around for a few moments, before turning her gaze back towards Ceri. "Come inside them, if you want."
>Amy moves out of the way of the doorway, making room for Ceri to step past her. No.333
>>332>Ceri picks herself up from the ground, trying to look Amy in the eye as a display of confidence and authority."That's much better. . . I'll go in and them maybe you can answer some questions."
>She stops herself, thinking about her last sentence."And then. . .
then. . . Can I make her forget that? . . .it probably wouldn't be a good thing to do. . ."
>Shaking her head, Ceri steps back and looks down at the floor inside the house."Do I take my shoes off before I enter or. . .?"
No.334
>>333>Amy furrows her brow at Ceri's spoken aloud thoughts. "It doesn't matter. Just come inside."
>Now starting to get annoyed, Amy waits for Ceri to step in before nearly slamming the door shut.
>She walks towards the couch and drops onto it, causing the furniture to slide across the rug slightly. Slumping back she crosses her arms, asking: "What's your questions, kid?"
No.335
>>334>Ceri takes a few moments to walk over as she takes her shoes, which could be more accurately described as "boots", carefully putting them to one side before making her way over to a seat and sitting down - all of this makes for a very slow act, but it doesn't seem to be deliberately designed to annoy Amy in any way.
>Sitting down, she looks around the room."This is a nice looking house. . . the castle had bigger rooms though. . ."
>A sad look lingers on Ceri's face for a moment before shaking her head and slapping herself on the cheeks, snapping herself out of it."I was thinking about the. . . well. . . monster, your family served, and the fact that you gave certain people technology that you gave away and I just wanted to know. . . why?"
No.336
>>335>Amy stares at Ceridwen in silence for several moments. Not moving a muscle. She begins to notice Ceri show signs of mild uncomfortableness."Why? Because."
>Amy adjusts herself in her seat, crossing her legs to make herself more comfortable. "We were just doing what we were told. Aaron knew the most about it and took it upon himself to guide us the way he said mom and dad would've. I was just doing what I was raised to do."
>Appearing a bit annoyed, Amy asks: "Does that make you think I'm stupid or something?"
No.337
>>336>Ceri thinks for a moment."No. . . yes. . ? Why couldn't you have a
good answer?"
>Ceri groans."It hurt. . . so. . . so. . . much. . . the weight of that
thing on the rift. . . but it hurt to stop people like your family. . . and you don't even have a
good reason. . . why. . ?"
No.338
>>337>Amy's eyelids slump, with her appearing like she's nearly about to fall asleep. Now audibly annoyed, she says: "What do you even want me to say? I don't know. I was smaller than you when my parents died."
>Adjusting herself in her seat again, Amy straightens up a bit this time. "Sorry if I did something to you. But I was just doing what I was raised to do. I didn't know it was going to turn out like it did."
No.339
>>338"I want you to have a reason. . . a
good reason. . . one that makes sense and justifies everything. Like. . ."
>Ceri throws her hand up."Power. . . o-or fame! Or immortality. . . or bringing back your parents. . . I could at least
understand that. . . not just. . . 'we were doing what we were told to do'. . . I can't even. . . I can't get anything from that, not with your brother being dead. . ."
No.341
>>340"Then. . . at least. . . the technology, you know why with that? You know
who benefits from you giving that, right? Please say you're at least aware of that. . ."
No.343
>>342"Just. . . please. . . anything. . . you achieved something that shouldn't be
possible normally among you. . . and you did it. . ."
>Ceri looks at Amy, her eyes practically pleading."Just. . .
anything."
No.344
>>343>Amy stares back at Ceridwen. Becoming more and more audibly frustrated, she says: "You want a different reason? Fine I'll give you a reason. I did it because I was a religious weirdo. I drank the blood of babies and I killed people for fun."
"Are you happy now? None of that's true by the way. But if you want, I can pretend like it is."
No.345
>>344"I don't want convenient lies. . . I want the truth. . . I just. . ."
>Ceri brings her knees up, folding in on herself."I want a better reason for it hurting. . . For mum dying. . . For dad dying as well. . . I want a reason that's true and isn't just 'it's what we were told to do'. . ."
>Closing her eyes, Ceri rests her head on her knees, defeated.". . .but I can't get that answer from you, I could only get it from your
brother, who I can't even
attempt to speak to because the people who are meant to provide for me now made sure he can
never come back. . ."
"I never should have come here. . ."
No.348
>>347"Ummm…"
>Amy scratches her head, feeling more awkward than ever. {"Why does this have to happen to me?"}"Well when I'm feeling bad I usually just do something I like. Like uh… using my phone. Or watching TV. Or eating ice cream."
>She continues scratching her head. "Some people like talking about their feelings to others. That makes them feel better. I find that kind of awkward though."
No.349
>>348"I don't like talking. . . Talking involves people. . . People are weird and. . . They don't just work like spells and magic. . ."
>Ceri opens her eyes for the first time in a while."Can we try the ice cream. . . Thing? I don't know what it even is, but it should be better than talking?"
No.350
>>349"Uhh… okayyy."
>Amy gets up and walks into the other room, heading towards the kitchen.
>A few minutes later she returns with a small bowl filled with basic vanilla ice cream. She holds it out for Ceri to take and says: "Lucky you. You get the last of it."
No.351
>>350>Ceri looks down at the ice cream, carefully picking up the spoon and biting in to it, cringing as she gets brain freeze."Ow. . ."
>She moves the bowl away for a second."It's. . . cold? Very sweet too. . ."
>Ceri looks down at the bowl."Do you enchant it or something? To affect emotions."
No.352
>>351>Amy raises her eyebrow."Huh? No. It's just food. I'm not even sure how you'd enchant food anyway."
>Amy scratches her head. "Have you really never had ice cream before, kid?"
No.353
>>352"It's a simple spell to enchant it though? How haven't you been taught that? Mum taught me how to before. . ."
>Ceri stops for a moment."And no, it's not like it's common, right? And I'm not a kid! You're not really older than me!"
No.354
>>353>Amy looks annoyed."Wow. First of all, I'll be eighteen next month. Making me an adult. You're just what… like nine years old or something?"
"Second, you can get ice cream everywhere. You must be living under a rock if you don't know that."
"And third, why would I be taught how to enchant food? It wasn't ever something we needed. And I wasn't allowed to learn much anyway."
No.355
>>354>Ceri looks offended at the list."First, that doesn't make you an adult yet, and I'm not
much younger than you, I'm 14, I'm just a late bloomer!"
"Second, we didn't have much contact with the outside world to prevent people like
your family from getting to the rift. . .
because of your family! And third. . ."
>Ceri stands up, although not before carefully putting the bowl down."How can you not be allowed to learn something that simple, I can't just sit by and leave that!"
>She starts storming towards the kitchen. No.357
>>356"You couldn't really stop me if you
wanted to if you don't even know this!"
>Ceri says, still on her march."And I'm going to show you some simple spells to help with daily life, nothing dangerous, and I know you already know, I can't just sit by and let someone from a family as old as yours not know because. . ."
>Ceri stops for a moment."Why weren't you allowed to know in the first place?"
No.358
>>357>Amy stops just a few feet away from Ceri, and then begins speaking in a bored voice, almost as if this is something she's recited on many occassions. "Because it is the duty of the women to take care of the men and the household. Magic is a right for men and a priviledge for women. And only the most devoted women may learn anything more than the simplest spells for self defense."
>Now sounding more natural in tone, Amy says:"Anyway, I can do magic! I'm not as good as my sister, but I'm still good at it! Watch!"
>Amy holds her palm forward, grabbing hold of her wrist to keep her hand steady. Her arm rattles and shakes as if gravity is fighting extra hard to pull it down, only for a small flame barely large enough to burn a fly briefly puffs in and out of existence.
>Amy drops her arm and pants heavily. "See? I told you I know magic. I didn't even have to say an incantation. I'm that good."
No.359
>>358"That's not right though!"
>Ceri watches the small flicker."If your family wasn't so bad, you'd be learning to do that at
5.
This is the kind of thing you should know about by now. . ."
>Bringing her branded arm above her head, a position that causes her sleeve to fall down, revealing more of the brand, and snaps her fingers. As the sound from the snap finishes, a torrent of flame bursts out, somehow not burning anything around, and spins until it forms the shape of a bird, which flies around Amy, landing and perching on Ceri's shoulder."
This, I learnt how to do at 8, but most would learn around your age
No.360
>>359>Amy's face flushes red with embarrassment and envy, as she turns to look away - crossing her arms. She mumbles:"
Show off…"
>Speaking up again, but still not looking in Ceri's direction, Amy says: "Well I already knew it was a load of crap anyway. There was just nothing I could do about it. And any time I tried to teach myself more I'd just get in trouble with Aaron. Or Allison would try to stop me because she's all about that crap she was fed about women."
No.361
>>360"
But you still tried to do something that would end the world because you 'were told to'. . ."
>Ceri mumbles to herself, snapping again to dismiss the firebird."If your brother was the only one who knew, and your sister believes that, who's been maintaining the wards on your house? Do you even have a laboratory?"
No.362
>>361"My sister was allowed to know more than me because she never complained and always did what she was told. So she's the one who manages the wards."
>Amy now turns to look at Ceri again, no longer appearing embarrassed."And what do you mean by a lab? We have a basement where Allison has a tome or two and a few leftovers of the stuff we made for Aaron."
No.363
>>362"For studying magic? The secrets of the universe?"
>Ceri looks genuinely shocked."Can you at least show me the basement?"
No.364
>>363"I guess I can. You'll have to be careful on the way down though. The light switch is at the bottom of the stairs and one of the steps are loose."
>Amy turns towards a door located near the back of the kitchen and walks towards it. She opens it up, immediately filling the kitchen with the stench of damp, stale air.
>Taking her time, Amy makes her way down the creaky steps, trying to avoid falling. Once finally making it to the bottom, she begins moving her hand all along the wall, trying to find the switch."Found it."
>The room floods with dim light, revealing an old dusty basement made of concrete and stone. A tiny puddle of water pools in the corner, occasionally being displaced by drops of water falling from the corner of the ceiling.
>Holding her hand out, Amy gestures towards a large wooden workbench on the other side of the room. Tools are scattered along the table, along with the occasional bits of metal, wiring and circutry. As well as a handful of small vials glowing softly with mana of the natural and artifical varieties.
>Next to the table sits a decently sized carboard box, containing only two tomes. One about as thick as the average dictionary. The other, no larger than a children's book. "Well, there it is. Our 'lab', I guess. I've been meaning to come down and clear up the work bench but… who wants to stand around in a dusty old basement for very long, am I right?"
No.365
>>364>Ceridwen looks around the room in shock."This. . . is it? Surely there has to be more. . ."
>Ceri looks up at Amy"Your brother must have had a hidden one somewhere, this isn't even. . ."
>Ceri sighs, snapping her fingers again, slumping slightly as she uses more of the little reserves she has left, and the dust vanishes". . .clean. But at least I can handle that one. You can't have done what you did from
this."
No.366
>>365>Amy raises her eyebrow at Ceridwen."Huh? Did Stephanie not tell you? We just moved into this house a few months ago. This is just the stuff we had left."
>Amy stares at the now dust-free room. c"We never had a permanent place to stay with Aaron. Our house got destroyed by some Meta-Humans in a fight when I was just a baby. So we were always on the move while Aaron told us what to do and where to go."
No.367
>>366"She doesn't even know that I'm here, I tracked you down myself."
>Ceri sighs, leaning to put some of her weight against the wall."She tends to avoid telling me things like that, treats me like a child, like. . . I don't live with them because my parents both died."
"And you mention Meta-Humans destroying your home. . ."
>Pushing herself off the wall again, Ceri looks directly at Amy, seeming like she's caught her breath again."And your brother
hated them, but I can't hear that same hate in your voice. . ."
"And nothing short of a 'miracle' could have made the technology you gave out, certainly no mage with as little knowledge as you have, and. . . no offence, but your brother doesn't seem the type to make such things. . ."
No.368
>>367>Amy brushes some hair out of her eyes, walking over to pick up a handful of junk laying on the table."Um… yeah. He wasn't the one who made it. He could barely understand anything newer than eighty years old."
>The pieces of junk suddenly appear to begin weaving themselves together, creating an ugly, but apparently functional piece of technology.
>Amy places it on the table, where a set of tiny lights occasionally turn on and off. Looking at it, she says: "Yeah… that's another reason I didn't talk to my brother much…"
No.369
>>368"I can't understand anything like that either, but I think like your brother did. . ."
>Ceri stops, thinks over the last sentence, and then adds:"Not exactly the same though of course, but. . . I understand how he would think, for the most part. I don't understand the part about women, for example."
"So I knew it couldn't be him, and you and your sister wouldn't know enough amount magic to make that technology without an extra. . . Spark to it, so. . ."
>Ceri sighs."I have to say. . . I'm so sorry for what you must have had to go through. To hide it. Even if that means nothing, I'm sorry."
No.370
>>369>Trying to play herself off as being cool, she leans against the workbech, and waves her hand in a dismissive manner. "It's no big deal. I don't have to deal with it anymore. Just my sister occasionally coming in the room and nagging me."
>Putting on an irritating mocking voice, Amy says: "Women need to mind their manners. You'll never find a husband if you don't know how to properly cook and clean. You need to learn to speak more proper. Men don't like improper women."
>Amy continues this until he words get increasingly less comprehensable, before finally crossing her arms and returning to her normal tone of voice."Like I care if some guy thinks I would make a good housewife or not. Guys are smelly and weird. Unlike most girls."
>She blows a tuff of hair out of the way of her eyes. No.371
>>370"The only ones I've ever met were related to me, or Isaac, who I don't think I could ever see as. . . 'a husband', so I don't really get what your sister is saying there."
>Ceri shrugs."I was always taught to keep out pact, but to think ahead, to always find new things, and to work through pain. There's spells to help with cooking and cleaning - why should you put all your energy in to them?"
No.372
>>371"That sounds… useful."
>Amy stares at Ceri for a few moments, blinking. "Well, I'd still like to learn more. But my sister isn't as knowledgeable as our brother was, and she's usually too busy doing housework anyway. And the only other person I know is Stephanie. Who is kind of… intimidating/"
>Amy appears as if her eyes have nearly glazed over for a moment as she recalls previous interactions with Stephanie. No.373
>>372"I don't see why anyone would bother otherwise if they knew it, it's very simple magic, easy to maintain it as well. I just don't use it often because. . . Well. . ."
>Ceri shrugs"I don't need to. But I know
how to use it, I could try and teach it, I guess."
". . .although my methods are probably more. . . Naturalistic than the ones your books would have taught."
No.374
>>373>Amy's eyes appear to light up suddenly. "You'd be willing to teach me, really?"
>She stops leaning against the workbench, now standing up straight. "Would you… be willing to teach me more than that? Because my sister usually handles all the stuff in the kitchen anyway."
No.375
>>374>Ceri thinks about it for a moment."I guess. . . if it isn't anything that's
too dangerous or powerful. . . nothing summoning related. . ."
"Besides those, is there anything you'd particularly like I guess? I can get books from the library about them to help."
No.376
>>375>Amy thinks about it for a few moments, looking to the floor."Hmm…"
>After a few moments of silence, she looks back at Ceri and says: "Anything. Just anything and everything. I don't care what we start with. Just something."
No.377
>>376"But do you like anything in particular? 'Everything' is a lot, especially compared to. . ."
>Ceridwen gestures at the cardboard box.". . .this."
No.378
>>377"I don't know what I like. I was never exposed to enough to gain a preference."
>Looking at the box, she says: "And all that's in that box is just some family specific things and what I already know."
>Turning back to Ceridwen, Amy says:"So why don't you pick something for me then? What's something you started with?"
No.380
>>379"Sure, I guess. Anything is fine, like I said."
>Amy looks around for a few moments, before turning her attention back towards Ceri."We can do it in another room though, right?"
No.381
>>380"Warding magics we could, yes, I would recommend invocation be done in a room like this however. . ."
>Ceri looks around.". . .or at least in a room that you don't have any issues with accidentally setting on fire."
No.382
>>381"Ugkh."
>Amy lets out a groan. "I'd be fine it it were more comfortable here. It's too chilly and dirty."
No.383
>>382>Ceridwen sighs."Yes yes, enough with the hints. . ."
>Bringing her branded arm up, Ceri closes her eyes, standing in place for a moment. Then, after a few seconds, her brand lights itself up, the light coming from it almost blinding, yet also not casting any shadows on anything else. The light increases in intensity for a few moments, and then the space in front of Ceridwen seems to break, cracking open violently and then stabilising to form a portal in the middle of the room."There. . ."
>With the spell done, Ceridwen drops down to her knees for a moment, taking deep breaths as if she has just finished a marathon. Another lock of her hair appears to have lost its colour as well, although she quickly hides it."That should take us to somewhere that is both safe - and better than this room."
No.384
>>383"Wow, good job kid. My sister can't even just do that so casually like you did."
>Amy helps Ceridwen up. "So where does this lead to?"
No.385
>>384"Stephanie is going to be mad later. . ."
>Ceridwen mumbles to herself as she's helped up."A quiet spot in the pathways between realms, nothing has dominion over it, and nothing wants dominion over it because it has no worth in terms of power - which makes it perfect as a quiet place to practice."
>Standing up fully, Ceri steps through the portal, entering an empty space with no distinguishing features for itself. Despite being a seemingly endless void, however, there is still a "ground" that can be stood on, if not seen. No.386
>>385>After stepping through the portal Amy looks around. "Woooah. This is crazy, kid."
>Amy taps the floor with her shoe, getting practically zero feedback from it. "I've never been in something like this before. How are we even standing here? How are we even able to breathe?"
>Amy's attention darts around, with her asking several questions like an excited child. No.387
>>386"Don't think about it too much. . ."
>Ceri stops for a moment."That is serious advice, do
not think about it too much, thoughts can shape reality here, and that could have serious consequences. So. . ."
>Ceri smiles to try and keep Amy calm."You can breath because you can breath, ok?"
"Now, would you rather start with warding or evocation?"
No.389
>>388"We can start with warding then. Wards are very useful, even the weakest ones will defend you from any
physical attacks, and more advanced ones such as mental ones will stop any intruders from reading your thoughts - in more traditional times, none of your family would have been allowed out before you learnt how to use mental wards."
>Ceri shrugs."But we don't live in those times, so that didn't happen. . ."
"We'll start with the most basic ones first, runic wards, unlike other ones, these ones can be maintained and transfered to others very easily, for example. . ."
>Ceri reaches in to her pocket and throws a small stone to the "ground", on the top of it is a small, engraved rune of Celtic origin."That one was exhausted earlier today, but it should serve as a good lesson, try and put some mana into it."
No.390
>>389>Amy's eyes move back and forth between Ceri and the small stone. She begins feeling a bit anxious. "Okay then. I'll give it a try."
>Amy points her palm towards the stone, holding onto her wrist in a similar fashion as earlier. She appears intensely focused, scrunching her face as she begins to sweat.
>Her arm rattles and shakes, struggling to stay straight against the force of gravity. After several moments of this a small speck of softly glowing particles fire out from her palm, floating towards the tiny stone at a snail's pace.
>Amy bends forward, holding onto her knees as she pants. She looks at the stone, and asks: "Did I do it?"
No.391
>>390"Not particularly well, but I don't suppose you were taught to how to channel mana as well."
>Ceri carefully takes the stone and holds it in her hand, achieving a similar effect in a much smaller amount of time, holding the stone out for Amy to take."Keep this one, we need to get the fundamentals in your head first, which means you'll have to do some reading on them, then I can teach you properly."
No.392
>>391>Amy blinks, and takes the stone - examining it closely now. She rungs her thumb across the rune etched onto it. "Oh. That makes sense."
>She looks at Ceri. "You really know a lot about this stuff, don't you?"
No.393
>>392"Not that much, there's still a lot I could learn. . . books to read. . . fantastical beasts to meet. . . even ancient civilisations that survived the purge. . ."
>Ceri puts a finger to her lips."That one is just a theory though, based on the fact that certain groups survived it - and that the Thaumians were particularly. . ."
>Ceri taps her cheek, thinking."Loud and obnoxious, and very dismissive of their rivals, a bit of a beacon to receive punishment from up high, really."
No.394
>>393>Amy tilts her head to the side slightly. Confused, she raises an eyebrow. "Huh? What purge? What're you talking about?"
>She blinks. "I was just told there used to be more people who used magic. Never anything about a purge."
No.395
>>394"Ah. . . it's not really that important, the implications are it are basically what you said."
>Ceridwen shrugs."Once there were a lot more people with magic, entire civilisations even, and now there are not. . ."
>She indicates to the portal."But that is a story for another time, and another place, there are things out there that would kill you for knowing this kind of knowledge, thinking that you're a successor to them somehow - and therefore a meal."
No.396
>>395>Amy's eyes shift back and forth for a moment, as if she's checking to see if those things are hiding close by. "Right… I'll keep it to myself then."
>She looks at Ceri again. "Well, what now kid?"
No.397
>>396"You go on through, I just want to confirm that nothing is following us before closing the portal. It
should be safe, but it's better to be safe with these things."
>Ceri indicates to the portal."Go on, it will take you safely back to your home."
No.398
>>397>Confused, Amy stares at the portal. "Uhhh… okay. I'm going to assume you'll come back later with those books."
>She looks at Ceri. "See you later then, kid."
>Amy steps through the portal, with it closing behind her. No.399
>>397>>398>Just a few moments after the portal closes, another one opens up in it's place. The portal has a distinct look compared to the last, with it's edges appearing to be weaved together out of various streams of magical energies in elaborate patterns.
>Stephanie casually steps through, adjusting her glasses on the way in. "Ceri."
>Stephanie speaks in a soft, sweet tone. "You're over doing it again. You know that brute forcing your way in here takes a toll on you."
>Having moved closer to Ceri, Stephanie leans forward - placing herself eye level with her. "If you wanted to help Amy, you should've taken her somewhere else. I'd let you bring her to our library if you just asked."
No.400
>>399"I'm fine, it just tired me out a little, and this place is perfect for teaching safely."
>Ceri says, refusing to make eye contact with Stephanie."And the library would have been too much for her, she barely knows how to channel mana. . ."
"I just got a little tired because I haven't had a chance to sleep since the incident with Sirius and Chimera."
". . .which reminds me, I need to try and set up some tracking spells so I can intervene where he next appears."
No.401
>>400>Stephanie's eyes narrow slightly, as she keeps her gaze locked firmly on Ceri. "…Right."
>Taking a step back, Stephanie straightens her posture, and says: "Well, come with me. You've done a lot and it's time for you to take a break."
>Stephanie makes a casual swiping motion with her hand, causing the portal to move closer to the pair. "We can worry about the rest later."
No.407
>>401"I can carry on, I was going to get Amy some books, I only sent her ahead because I knew you were watching."
>Ceri crosses her arms."I'm not a child, I just needed a moment to catch my breath. I don't need to take a break before I set up the spells."
No.408
>>407"Ceri. I wasn't asking. Child or not, you need a break."
>Stephanie then shifts the portal to pass over them, transporting them into the Axiom. "Rest."
No.416
>>408"And I wasn't responding to an ask, I was
saying I don't need to rest, I'm
fine."
>Ceridwen stands still in the spot she appears at in the Axiom, refusing to move without being moved."Why can't you just let me carry on?"
No.417
>>416"Because you need to rest. Being an adult doesn't mean working yourself to death. You. Need. A. Break."
>Stephanie motions for Ceri to sit on the near-by furniture. "Rest. I'll make you something to eat."
No.418
>>417"And I'm
not doing that, I just got a
little tired."
>Ceri remains in her spot."I don't
need to rest, I don't
need to eat, I just need to get what needs to be done,
done."
"Stop treating me like a child who does."
No.419
>>418"Ceri. For the last time. You need to rest. It doesn't matter if you're a child or an adult. You're overworking yourself."
>Stephanie motions towards the furniture again. "Sit."
No.420
>>419"And for the last time, I
don't need it. It was just one moment of being tired because I cast a fairly big spell. . ."
>Ceri takes a moment from her stand to adjust her hair, as if she just remembered the effects of the spell."I'm not sitting."
No.422
>>421"Because I don't
need that time to rest. . ."
>Ceri looks around the room, sizing distances between her and objects."I
need to fix my mistakes. Even
if they were because of Chimera messing things up, that man nearly
died because of them - because of me. And
I need to fix that. And I. . "
". . .needed to understand the Hydes, because
you and Isaac deprived me of any chance of asking Aaron
why."
No.423
>>422"Ceri…"
>Stephanie leans forward, making herself eye level with Ceridwen again. "Nothing you did was wrong. That man would've eventually died regardless. But you saved him, and gave him a second chance at life. Something he wouldn't have if it weren't for you."
>Stephanie studies Ceri's reactions, while she continues to speak. "And secondly, yes. I will admit Isaac made a mistake and destroyed Aaron Hyde. But Ceri, you have to understand that even if he were still here he wouldn't give you the answers you're looking for. Aaron wasn't cooperative. He would've done nothing but anger you."
>She lets out a sigh, holding silent for a few moments. "Ceri. I just want to help you do what's best for you. And right now, that's getting some rest. Please. Give yourself a break. You haven't done anything wrong."
No.424
>>423"Not if I had separated him from Sirius before then, like I was planning to do. . ."
>Ceri sighs."I could have just been faster, more prepared. . ."
". . .and I could have
taken the answers from Aaron if he were still alive, if he weren't destroyed. . ."
"And for the last time, I. Don't. Need. To. Rest. I need to fix the things that are broken because of me."
No.428
>>427"Which is why you should just let me do what I need to do!"
>Ceridwen shouts, sounding exasperated with Stephanie."Because
that is what is best for me, not resting and letting things slip."