Chosen [Part 14]
Nov. 14th, 2011 10:42 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
esp_dragonFandom: Original
Summary: Ras has just been chosen by the Gods to protect humans from geists, beings that prey on people's souls. Sent by Them to aid her is Aldran, a psyven; through the bond forged on their first meeting, Aldran can pass his magic to Ras for her to use against the geists. Only those bonded with psyvens can fight the geists, as a psyven's magic is the one magic that is truly effective against them.
But stories are told to children to placate fears and soothe nightmares. Ras has to learn that Aldran and living as a khertan are not what she expected and that the danger is very real.
While she adjusts to her new life, she and Aldran begin to discover all is not as it seems; however, realising and accepting the truth is not easy and ultimately, in the end, is it worth it?
Rating: R
Notes: Contains bloody fighting.
You can find my commentary on this part here.
OH MY GOD, MY TAGS. *cry*
Genre: Fantasy/Friendship
Word count: 3,404
Total word count: 35,926
Status: Work in progress
The geist that barrelled itself around the tavern wall, seemed half-mad: it didn't stop or pause, and it didn't act like it could see them. It was breathing heavily - no, it was scenting the air, like a dog would track its prey - and why was she still thinking when it was heading straight for them?
Ras flung herself out the way as the geist bore down on her. It crashed through the bath house door with a snarl, but it didn't look like it was registering the pain as it stood up instantly, pouncing onto the spot that Ras had just been in. Ras swore as her pendant slipped from her grasp, but she scrabbled away, the geist still focused on her.
It knew where she was without seeing - its eyes were half-lidded, like it were just waking up - or savouring smell of a meal before digging in.
"Taste," it mumbled, and Ras used that small pause to gather Aldran's magic and blast it. It dodged, and Ras remembered with a curse that she has said that she would try smaller bursts in fights. Already she felt weaker, and Ras gritted her teeth, resolving to change the way she fought.
"I can taste it," the geist continued, practically tripping over its own tongue as it slurred its way through the words.
What was it - was it talking about their souls? But - no, she wasn't going to say geists couldn't do that -but the others hadn't seemed able to do that, and Ras was sure someone would have mentioned this fact- so she concentrated on fighting first. Maybe - no, stop thinking.
She focused on Aldran's magic (it was flickering wildly, like trying to grab a hold of water. Why was he...?) and tried to send out a spread of smaller blasts of magic. It worked, one of the balls catching it in the shoulder, making it pause long enough for another one to slam into its arm. Ras briefly wondered about if she could attempt to control the magic after it had left her, but maybe she should try to do that when she felt more control - in control of Aldran's magic, in control of the situation, she wasn't sure, and why did her mind keep wandering.
There was a door slam behind them, and Ras felt the magic inside her putter like a flame about to go out.
"What is-" someone roared, but halted. Ras dimly recognised the voice of the barkeep, and Gods dammit, she couldn't be distracted any further than she already was!
"Inside!" Aldran yelled at him, and the door slammed shut again.
Ras dodged as the geist ran at her - it passed her, and then it span, heading straight for Aldran, its breathing heavy.
No. The link between them wavered open and Ras grabbed what she could -if it hit Aldran, could the magic hurt him? Did the magic only hurt geists?- and flung what she could, belatedly remembering just before she cast that she was trying to throw small bursts.
As soon as the magic left her, the link snapped off as Aldran ducked out the way of a swinging arm, putting as much distance as he could between him and the geist.
The geist howled as it was scored right across the back, its glowing blood splattering the ground. It stumbled, falling to one knee.
Ras tried to regain the equilibrium of her breathing, it going far too quick and shallow. When Aldran reached the other side of the bath house, the link opened again. It still wasn't stable, but maybe that was Aldran's way of telling her that she should stop trying to attack with one big blast of magic.
"No. No! It's right here." The geist whirled around, its movement jerkier than usual the only sign that it was affected by Aldran's magic, and sped towards Ras.
No time to think -but plenty to hope- Ras raised her hand and blasted the geist in the face. The blow was hard enough to make it stop, and all Ras could see blue blood trailing down its clothes, white bone visible behind the mash of what used to be its face.
Breathing heavily, her knees shaking, Ras prepared to blast it again, but the link between her and Aldran snapped shut again. Ras span around to see what was attacking Aldran -the sudden movement made her want to bring up the contents of her stomach- but there was nothing there apart from Aldran, shaking his head.
"Wait," he said and Ras could only gape at him. Wait? Wait for it to heal, for it to attack again? "Don't overexert yourself," he said desperately, and Ras could hear the pleading in his voice.
Of coruse. But she didn't feel too exhausted -not compared to their last fight- but... Right. It wouldn't do if she continued to push her body past its limits too often.
There was a hissing sound, and Ras turned around -she hadn't even kept it in the corner of her eyes! Stupid!- to see the dark mist lifting up from the geist's body and the body disintegrated.
Ras steeled herself for another fight, scanning the area around her, just in case there was another geist in the area.
When the air cleared enough that she could see past the smoke, Ras was relieved to see there was nothing there.
She took a deep breath, trying to calm her heart, wryly wiping at the mud and grass that caked her clothes and skin.
That...had not taken her very long to become dirty again.
Aldran was searching the ground, crouching right next to it, his tail whipping left and right - not to keep his balance, but in agitation. The way his eyes scoured the ground also told of it not being a casual search, but one filled of panic, of something that needed to be found.
"Aldran?" she said, trying to see if there was anything out of place. Overturned stones, churned over grass, but nothing out of the ordinary.
"The geist," Aldran said quickly, not looking up at her. "It was talking about - how did it know we were here?"
That was what was worrying Ras about the fight -and yet another bit of information Ras didn't know- but what did that have to do with what Aldran was searching for? "Well..." Ras said uncertainly, wracking her mind for an answer. None came. The villagers wouldn't tell a geist they were there - the geist would eat them instead, because why would a geist search for another meal when one had presented itself right in front of them?
"It was acting like it was tracking-" Aldran continued, before then shaking his head. "And... And..." He took a shuddering breath. "The only difference between those times and this one was that you weren't wearing your pendant."
Ras stared at him, her stomach churning. He did have a point but... The pendant couldn't have been the cause, surely - but why was it marked by magic? Uneasily, Ras nodded, hoping that Aldran was incorrect, but not wanting to say this to him, in case that incensed him further.
"I dropped it in front of you," she said, cautiously moving forward, in case she stepped on the pendant. Right where she was sure she had dropped it, bits of dirt and grass had been ripped out - that must have been where the geist had bounded away from.
Treading carefully, (partially to make sure she didn't stand on the pendant, partially to make sure her head didn't spin if she moved too quickly) Ras circled the area, keeping an eye out for anything that shone, but it was hard in the moonlight. While Aldran continued to look at where Ras had dropped the pendant, Ras searched elsewhere, looking for where it could have fallen if the geist had accidentally caught it with its foot.
It didn't take very long, but she did see a glint in the grass, and when she reached down to see what it was, her fingers brushed against cool metal.
Breathing a sigh of relief, Ras turned around, the pendant swinging in her grasp. "Aldran," she called out, and she grinned, seeing the relief on his face. Ras started to attempt to put it on, but she frowned, her arms too tired to even stay at head height for too long before becoming tired.
"Ras," Aldran said slowly, and when Ras looked at him, she saw that he was watching her carefully, his eyebrows furrowed. "Do you mind if I…?" He waved towards her hands.
Ras sighed, annoyed at her weakness, and if she refused, Aldran would worry. It didn't make sense – why would the pendant be the catalyst for the geist finding them? But if Aldran thought it mattered… Ras indicated for him to come closer with a jerk of her head.
The pendant's chain was already around her neck and she slid it around so that the catch was around the front; she doubted he would be able to see the catch under her bedraggled hair.
A concentrated look on his face, Aldran had his head cocked to the side as he attached each side of the catch. It didn't take him long, and when he was finished, he tugged at both sides to make sure it was secure. He nodded, taking a step back.
Ras slid a finger around the chain and tugged at it also, just to make sure, and then smiled up at him. She didn't feel any different, or any magic for that matter, but if it helped Aldran's peace of mind… And since she had it again, she wouldn't have to explain to someone that she had lost it.
Now…they had to walk through the tavern again. Ras eyed the door, and then sighed, steeling herself for whatever happened. They had just fought a geist and lived; she could handle the looks of the villagers.
* * *
There weren't any further attacks after that, so Ras and Aldran went back to Winolock two days after their fight with the geist. Ras had had enough senra to pay for the repairs of the bath house as well.
They had both been given a wave of healing magic –it was apparently standard to do so after every time they returned from being sent out, whether or not they had been injured- and told that they had a day's rest before they should next be called. Ras didn't point out that her and Aldran's last resting period had been cut short. She just hoped that the geists' numbers were decreasing, rather than increasing.
As she and Aldran made their way back to their room, Ras starting to know her way around better, they spotted Ceilha and Dracer, who saw them at the same time.
"How are you two faring?" Ceilha asked, looking them over. "Already back from being sent out?"
Ras could see a dark stain on Ceilha's neckline that looked suspiciously like blood. She nodded, and then realised she had a perfect opportunity to ask when she and Aldran had been wondering over the last day.
"Do we…" Ras struggled to pick the right words, "wear the pendant for a particular reason?"
Ceilha blinked at her, and then her face went thoughtful. "We wear it as a sign that we are khertan." Which Ras knew, but she didn't say anything to interrupt Ceilha, seeing that she was about to continue. "It's also because geists can find us very easily without it."
Ras stared at Ceilha and Dracer, her eyes wide, feeling the heat drain from her face. "How…?" she croaked, not sure if she wanted to know the answer. The geists could track her down without the pendant?
Ceilha's expression became concerned, and she stepped forward, her eyes flicking between Ras and Aldran. "You didn't know? But Lesten should have told you this."
Ras shook her head. She would have remembered if Lesten had told her that! And if the pendant was to make sure they weren't found by the geists… "Why doesn't Aldran or Dracer have a pendant?"
"Because the geists eat human souls, not psyven souls," Ceilha said quietly.
Ah, right. Of course. Ras took a breath, trying to calm her thoughts. Why was there so much to know, so much for her to remember? She wanted time to think it over, to not reach for information that was only half-formed, for information she thought as fact to be overwritten to become something completely different.
"But, why did it seem like it was targeting us? It knew where I was without even looking!" And even though her head was filled with information, Ras couldn't not ask, because if she didn't know, she might not be able to later on, and if it was something that could get her and Aldran killed, like it had already had…
"It's because we were chosen by the Gods," Ceilha said simply, and Ras started at her answer. "They can sense that we were chosen to destroy them, and I've read that before the pendants were created, while finding the geists were easier, more khertan and psyvens died during that time."
Ceilha peered at Ras. "Forgive me for not telling you of this – it's something I don't put much thought to, because I'm always being protected by the pendant and never take it off." She sent Ras a curious look.
Ras shifted in her boots, looking away. "I'd…wanted a closer look." It sounded trite and childlike now, but that had been the entire reason why she had done it.
Ceilha sighed, a worried expression on her face. "That curiosity could have gotten you killed."
She couldn't deny that, but she couldn't have known that taking off her pendant could have such dire consequences! Still, a response was needed, and Ras nodded. "I'll try to keep my curiosity contained to less dangerous situations." Though she wouldn't know what would be considered dangerous - maybe she should ask someone first, rather than try it out herself.
Ceilha nodded, smiling softly at her. "Is there anything else you need to know?"
No, Ras was fairly sure – ah. There was that. That was definitely something that was considered dangerous to try by themselves.
"Is it possible to control Aldran's magic after it's left my body?" Ras asked, not sure if that was how she should phrase it, if it made sense.
"Control…?" Dracer repeated, frowning. "Yes," she said, drawing the word out, her tail waving, "it's possible, but it would need fine control and concentration on your part. You would need to continue 'holding' Aldran's magic after it has left, as if it were still in your body and direct it with your thoughts, not directing where it comes out of your body."
Ras tried to turn the new information in her head, and then stopped at the last thing Dracer said. "I can direct Aldran's magic elsewhere other than my hand?"
Both Dracer and Ceilha nodded. "You probably won't need to," Ceilha said, "and it's best to go with what feels natural to you, but yes, it's possible."
Ras stored that piece of information away, because it would be useful at some point. "I think that's all my questions answered at the moment." She glanced at Aldran, who also shook his head.
"All right, then," Ceilha said, turning to leave. "If there's anything else you want to ask, remember that you can use your pendant to talk to me."
Ras nodded, raising a hand to make sure the pendant was still there.
After Ceilha and Dracer left, Ras looked up and down the corridor before looking up at Aldran. "Do you want to explore Winolock?" She may be tired, but it wasn't as bad as her previous exhaustion; she could stand without tiring herself too quickly, and she doubted anyone here would mind if she didn't look like some heroic khertan from the stories.
Aldran looked conflicted, his tail curling in on itself. "Are you sure?" he asked, worriedly. "Your strength…"
"Is much better than before," she said patently. "I'll be able to walk for a while, especially with the healer's magic still in me."
Aldran hummed, looking away, and then he nodded. "All right."
Ras grinned, wondering if they should wander or if they should pick a specific area and stay there until they had found everything. "How do you think we should do this?" Ras asked out loud, and waited for Aldran to speak.
Aldran looked thoughtful for a while, his tail unfurling and seemed to be more relaxed. "We have a map in our room…?"
Ras let loose a bark of laughter. So they did. "We'll decide there, then." Together, they started to make their way back to their room.
* * *
The next time Ras and Aldran were called to the teleportation room, the door had been left slightly ajar, and they could hear the hissed conversation while they approached.
"It's been a week since we last heard from Karrah and Wolliran and longer still since Uton and Laencer has contacted us," a female voice said worriedly.
"Which is why we're sending two khertan and psyvens there this time," a male voice said resolutely.
Before Ras' thoughts could react to that, a third voice said, "I wish it wasn't Ras and Aldran with Farrick and Penran, but…it can't be helped."
Ras' footsteps slowed, until she stopped. Aldran stopped only one step in front of her, frowning, his tail lashing.
Someone huffed, the sound of fabric shuffling against each other in the air. "Farrick and Penran paired with anyone is a pity on the other khertan and psyven," the first male said, and finally Ras recognised it as the mage who had sent her and Aldran to Mawson. "But at least they know what to expect and how to deal with him."
Oh, so they hadn't been implying that they would be troublesome, but it was the other way around. Sending Aldran a reassuring smile, which he sent a muted version back, they continued walking into the teleportation room.
"Ah, good," the mage Ras recognised said, looking up from another list of names. She should really ask his name… "You're being paired with Farrick and Penran, this time," he said, his voice neutral. "They…aren't like Ceilha and Dracer, or Lesten and Yaran," he continued cautiously.
In what way? Ras waited for the mage to say more, but before he could, she heard the clip of two people approaching – no, striding forward. Apprehensively, Ras watched the door.
It wasn't long before Ras saw a black haired khertan (Farrick, Ras' mind supplied, if she was right in her understanding of how psyvens were named) stride in, his pendant swinging, his psyven keeping pace with him without difficulty. The way they glanced around the room, not really seeing anyone, a hint of a sneer on their lips, made Ras' stomach fall.
The look of a high born, expecting everyone to fall to their feet and cower.
When Farrick's eyes fell on Ras and Aldran, there was a hint of surprise as his eyes before it was swiftly buried. "Why do we need help?" he declared, glaring at the mage Ras had been talking to.
"Because," the mage said, a hint of a sigh in his voice, "we have already sent two khertan and psyven there separately, and it hasn't been enough."
Farrick snorted, crossing his arms.
"No wonder Lesten looks older than he is," Ras couldn't help but mutter.
Which wasn't the smartest thing to do, not when the person she was commenting about was a scant couple of feet from her. But she never could quite stop her mouth some times.
Farrick whirled on her, his eyes narrowed.
"It doesn't matter what she says," Penran said loftily, looking at her as if he was peering down his nose at her.
Ras felt disconcerted at the odd emphasis of her gender, because she had a feeling it wasn't quite what she was thinking about, but she had no idea what else Penran could mean.
Farrick nodded, smirking at Ras, before his gaze deliberately moved to Aldran, and instantly Ras bristled, not wanting Aldran to be drawn into this bullying. "I know - her psyven is male." He sighed dramatically. "It's obvious she's confused."
…What?
Summary: Ras has just been chosen by the Gods to protect humans from geists, beings that prey on people's souls. Sent by Them to aid her is Aldran, a psyven; through the bond forged on their first meeting, Aldran can pass his magic to Ras for her to use against the geists. Only those bonded with psyvens can fight the geists, as a psyven's magic is the one magic that is truly effective against them.
But stories are told to children to placate fears and soothe nightmares. Ras has to learn that Aldran and living as a khertan are not what she expected and that the danger is very real.
While she adjusts to her new life, she and Aldran begin to discover all is not as it seems; however, realising and accepting the truth is not easy and ultimately, in the end, is it worth it?
Rating: R
Notes: Contains bloody fighting.
You can find my commentary on this part here.
OH MY GOD, MY TAGS. *cry*
Genre: Fantasy/Friendship
Word count: 3,404
Total word count: 35,926
Status: Work in progress
The geist that barrelled itself around the tavern wall, seemed half-mad: it didn't stop or pause, and it didn't act like it could see them. It was breathing heavily - no, it was scenting the air, like a dog would track its prey - and why was she still thinking when it was heading straight for them?
Ras flung herself out the way as the geist bore down on her. It crashed through the bath house door with a snarl, but it didn't look like it was registering the pain as it stood up instantly, pouncing onto the spot that Ras had just been in. Ras swore as her pendant slipped from her grasp, but she scrabbled away, the geist still focused on her.
It knew where she was without seeing - its eyes were half-lidded, like it were just waking up - or savouring smell of a meal before digging in.
"Taste," it mumbled, and Ras used that small pause to gather Aldran's magic and blast it. It dodged, and Ras remembered with a curse that she has said that she would try smaller bursts in fights. Already she felt weaker, and Ras gritted her teeth, resolving to change the way she fought.
"I can taste it," the geist continued, practically tripping over its own tongue as it slurred its way through the words.
What was it - was it talking about their souls? But - no, she wasn't going to say geists couldn't do that -but the others hadn't seemed able to do that, and Ras was sure someone would have mentioned this fact- so she concentrated on fighting first. Maybe - no, stop thinking.
She focused on Aldran's magic (it was flickering wildly, like trying to grab a hold of water. Why was he...?) and tried to send out a spread of smaller blasts of magic. It worked, one of the balls catching it in the shoulder, making it pause long enough for another one to slam into its arm. Ras briefly wondered about if she could attempt to control the magic after it had left her, but maybe she should try to do that when she felt more control - in control of Aldran's magic, in control of the situation, she wasn't sure, and why did her mind keep wandering.
There was a door slam behind them, and Ras felt the magic inside her putter like a flame about to go out.
"What is-" someone roared, but halted. Ras dimly recognised the voice of the barkeep, and Gods dammit, she couldn't be distracted any further than she already was!
"Inside!" Aldran yelled at him, and the door slammed shut again.
Ras dodged as the geist ran at her - it passed her, and then it span, heading straight for Aldran, its breathing heavy.
No. The link between them wavered open and Ras grabbed what she could -if it hit Aldran, could the magic hurt him? Did the magic only hurt geists?- and flung what she could, belatedly remembering just before she cast that she was trying to throw small bursts.
As soon as the magic left her, the link snapped off as Aldran ducked out the way of a swinging arm, putting as much distance as he could between him and the geist.
The geist howled as it was scored right across the back, its glowing blood splattering the ground. It stumbled, falling to one knee.
Ras tried to regain the equilibrium of her breathing, it going far too quick and shallow. When Aldran reached the other side of the bath house, the link opened again. It still wasn't stable, but maybe that was Aldran's way of telling her that she should stop trying to attack with one big blast of magic.
"No. No! It's right here." The geist whirled around, its movement jerkier than usual the only sign that it was affected by Aldran's magic, and sped towards Ras.
No time to think -but plenty to hope- Ras raised her hand and blasted the geist in the face. The blow was hard enough to make it stop, and all Ras could see blue blood trailing down its clothes, white bone visible behind the mash of what used to be its face.
Breathing heavily, her knees shaking, Ras prepared to blast it again, but the link between her and Aldran snapped shut again. Ras span around to see what was attacking Aldran -the sudden movement made her want to bring up the contents of her stomach- but there was nothing there apart from Aldran, shaking his head.
"Wait," he said and Ras could only gape at him. Wait? Wait for it to heal, for it to attack again? "Don't overexert yourself," he said desperately, and Ras could hear the pleading in his voice.
Of coruse. But she didn't feel too exhausted -not compared to their last fight- but... Right. It wouldn't do if she continued to push her body past its limits too often.
There was a hissing sound, and Ras turned around -she hadn't even kept it in the corner of her eyes! Stupid!- to see the dark mist lifting up from the geist's body and the body disintegrated.
Ras steeled herself for another fight, scanning the area around her, just in case there was another geist in the area.
When the air cleared enough that she could see past the smoke, Ras was relieved to see there was nothing there.
She took a deep breath, trying to calm her heart, wryly wiping at the mud and grass that caked her clothes and skin.
That...had not taken her very long to become dirty again.
Aldran was searching the ground, crouching right next to it, his tail whipping left and right - not to keep his balance, but in agitation. The way his eyes scoured the ground also told of it not being a casual search, but one filled of panic, of something that needed to be found.
"Aldran?" she said, trying to see if there was anything out of place. Overturned stones, churned over grass, but nothing out of the ordinary.
"The geist," Aldran said quickly, not looking up at her. "It was talking about - how did it know we were here?"
That was what was worrying Ras about the fight -and yet another bit of information Ras didn't know- but what did that have to do with what Aldran was searching for? "Well..." Ras said uncertainly, wracking her mind for an answer. None came. The villagers wouldn't tell a geist they were there - the geist would eat them instead, because why would a geist search for another meal when one had presented itself right in front of them?
"It was acting like it was tracking-" Aldran continued, before then shaking his head. "And... And..." He took a shuddering breath. "The only difference between those times and this one was that you weren't wearing your pendant."
Ras stared at him, her stomach churning. He did have a point but... The pendant couldn't have been the cause, surely - but why was it marked by magic? Uneasily, Ras nodded, hoping that Aldran was incorrect, but not wanting to say this to him, in case that incensed him further.
"I dropped it in front of you," she said, cautiously moving forward, in case she stepped on the pendant. Right where she was sure she had dropped it, bits of dirt and grass had been ripped out - that must have been where the geist had bounded away from.
Treading carefully, (partially to make sure she didn't stand on the pendant, partially to make sure her head didn't spin if she moved too quickly) Ras circled the area, keeping an eye out for anything that shone, but it was hard in the moonlight. While Aldran continued to look at where Ras had dropped the pendant, Ras searched elsewhere, looking for where it could have fallen if the geist had accidentally caught it with its foot.
It didn't take very long, but she did see a glint in the grass, and when she reached down to see what it was, her fingers brushed against cool metal.
Breathing a sigh of relief, Ras turned around, the pendant swinging in her grasp. "Aldran," she called out, and she grinned, seeing the relief on his face. Ras started to attempt to put it on, but she frowned, her arms too tired to even stay at head height for too long before becoming tired.
"Ras," Aldran said slowly, and when Ras looked at him, she saw that he was watching her carefully, his eyebrows furrowed. "Do you mind if I…?" He waved towards her hands.
Ras sighed, annoyed at her weakness, and if she refused, Aldran would worry. It didn't make sense – why would the pendant be the catalyst for the geist finding them? But if Aldran thought it mattered… Ras indicated for him to come closer with a jerk of her head.
The pendant's chain was already around her neck and she slid it around so that the catch was around the front; she doubted he would be able to see the catch under her bedraggled hair.
A concentrated look on his face, Aldran had his head cocked to the side as he attached each side of the catch. It didn't take him long, and when he was finished, he tugged at both sides to make sure it was secure. He nodded, taking a step back.
Ras slid a finger around the chain and tugged at it also, just to make sure, and then smiled up at him. She didn't feel any different, or any magic for that matter, but if it helped Aldran's peace of mind… And since she had it again, she wouldn't have to explain to someone that she had lost it.
Now…they had to walk through the tavern again. Ras eyed the door, and then sighed, steeling herself for whatever happened. They had just fought a geist and lived; she could handle the looks of the villagers.
There weren't any further attacks after that, so Ras and Aldran went back to Winolock two days after their fight with the geist. Ras had had enough senra to pay for the repairs of the bath house as well.
They had both been given a wave of healing magic –it was apparently standard to do so after every time they returned from being sent out, whether or not they had been injured- and told that they had a day's rest before they should next be called. Ras didn't point out that her and Aldran's last resting period had been cut short. She just hoped that the geists' numbers were decreasing, rather than increasing.
As she and Aldran made their way back to their room, Ras starting to know her way around better, they spotted Ceilha and Dracer, who saw them at the same time.
"How are you two faring?" Ceilha asked, looking them over. "Already back from being sent out?"
Ras could see a dark stain on Ceilha's neckline that looked suspiciously like blood. She nodded, and then realised she had a perfect opportunity to ask when she and Aldran had been wondering over the last day.
"Do we…" Ras struggled to pick the right words, "wear the pendant for a particular reason?"
Ceilha blinked at her, and then her face went thoughtful. "We wear it as a sign that we are khertan." Which Ras knew, but she didn't say anything to interrupt Ceilha, seeing that she was about to continue. "It's also because geists can find us very easily without it."
Ras stared at Ceilha and Dracer, her eyes wide, feeling the heat drain from her face. "How…?" she croaked, not sure if she wanted to know the answer. The geists could track her down without the pendant?
Ceilha's expression became concerned, and she stepped forward, her eyes flicking between Ras and Aldran. "You didn't know? But Lesten should have told you this."
Ras shook her head. She would have remembered if Lesten had told her that! And if the pendant was to make sure they weren't found by the geists… "Why doesn't Aldran or Dracer have a pendant?"
"Because the geists eat human souls, not psyven souls," Ceilha said quietly.
Ah, right. Of course. Ras took a breath, trying to calm her thoughts. Why was there so much to know, so much for her to remember? She wanted time to think it over, to not reach for information that was only half-formed, for information she thought as fact to be overwritten to become something completely different.
"But, why did it seem like it was targeting us? It knew where I was without even looking!" And even though her head was filled with information, Ras couldn't not ask, because if she didn't know, she might not be able to later on, and if it was something that could get her and Aldran killed, like it had already had…
"It's because we were chosen by the Gods," Ceilha said simply, and Ras started at her answer. "They can sense that we were chosen to destroy them, and I've read that before the pendants were created, while finding the geists were easier, more khertan and psyvens died during that time."
Ceilha peered at Ras. "Forgive me for not telling you of this – it's something I don't put much thought to, because I'm always being protected by the pendant and never take it off." She sent Ras a curious look.
Ras shifted in her boots, looking away. "I'd…wanted a closer look." It sounded trite and childlike now, but that had been the entire reason why she had done it.
Ceilha sighed, a worried expression on her face. "That curiosity could have gotten you killed."
She couldn't deny that, but she couldn't have known that taking off her pendant could have such dire consequences! Still, a response was needed, and Ras nodded. "I'll try to keep my curiosity contained to less dangerous situations." Though she wouldn't know what would be considered dangerous - maybe she should ask someone first, rather than try it out herself.
Ceilha nodded, smiling softly at her. "Is there anything else you need to know?"
No, Ras was fairly sure – ah. There was that. That was definitely something that was considered dangerous to try by themselves.
"Is it possible to control Aldran's magic after it's left my body?" Ras asked, not sure if that was how she should phrase it, if it made sense.
"Control…?" Dracer repeated, frowning. "Yes," she said, drawing the word out, her tail waving, "it's possible, but it would need fine control and concentration on your part. You would need to continue 'holding' Aldran's magic after it has left, as if it were still in your body and direct it with your thoughts, not directing where it comes out of your body."
Ras tried to turn the new information in her head, and then stopped at the last thing Dracer said. "I can direct Aldran's magic elsewhere other than my hand?"
Both Dracer and Ceilha nodded. "You probably won't need to," Ceilha said, "and it's best to go with what feels natural to you, but yes, it's possible."
Ras stored that piece of information away, because it would be useful at some point. "I think that's all my questions answered at the moment." She glanced at Aldran, who also shook his head.
"All right, then," Ceilha said, turning to leave. "If there's anything else you want to ask, remember that you can use your pendant to talk to me."
Ras nodded, raising a hand to make sure the pendant was still there.
After Ceilha and Dracer left, Ras looked up and down the corridor before looking up at Aldran. "Do you want to explore Winolock?" She may be tired, but it wasn't as bad as her previous exhaustion; she could stand without tiring herself too quickly, and she doubted anyone here would mind if she didn't look like some heroic khertan from the stories.
Aldran looked conflicted, his tail curling in on itself. "Are you sure?" he asked, worriedly. "Your strength…"
"Is much better than before," she said patently. "I'll be able to walk for a while, especially with the healer's magic still in me."
Aldran hummed, looking away, and then he nodded. "All right."
Ras grinned, wondering if they should wander or if they should pick a specific area and stay there until they had found everything. "How do you think we should do this?" Ras asked out loud, and waited for Aldran to speak.
Aldran looked thoughtful for a while, his tail unfurling and seemed to be more relaxed. "We have a map in our room…?"
Ras let loose a bark of laughter. So they did. "We'll decide there, then." Together, they started to make their way back to their room.
The next time Ras and Aldran were called to the teleportation room, the door had been left slightly ajar, and they could hear the hissed conversation while they approached.
"It's been a week since we last heard from Karrah and Wolliran and longer still since Uton and Laencer has contacted us," a female voice said worriedly.
"Which is why we're sending two khertan and psyvens there this time," a male voice said resolutely.
Before Ras' thoughts could react to that, a third voice said, "I wish it wasn't Ras and Aldran with Farrick and Penran, but…it can't be helped."
Ras' footsteps slowed, until she stopped. Aldran stopped only one step in front of her, frowning, his tail lashing.
Someone huffed, the sound of fabric shuffling against each other in the air. "Farrick and Penran paired with anyone is a pity on the other khertan and psyven," the first male said, and finally Ras recognised it as the mage who had sent her and Aldran to Mawson. "But at least they know what to expect and how to deal with him."
Oh, so they hadn't been implying that they would be troublesome, but it was the other way around. Sending Aldran a reassuring smile, which he sent a muted version back, they continued walking into the teleportation room.
"Ah, good," the mage Ras recognised said, looking up from another list of names. She should really ask his name… "You're being paired with Farrick and Penran, this time," he said, his voice neutral. "They…aren't like Ceilha and Dracer, or Lesten and Yaran," he continued cautiously.
In what way? Ras waited for the mage to say more, but before he could, she heard the clip of two people approaching – no, striding forward. Apprehensively, Ras watched the door.
It wasn't long before Ras saw a black haired khertan (Farrick, Ras' mind supplied, if she was right in her understanding of how psyvens were named) stride in, his pendant swinging, his psyven keeping pace with him without difficulty. The way they glanced around the room, not really seeing anyone, a hint of a sneer on their lips, made Ras' stomach fall.
The look of a high born, expecting everyone to fall to their feet and cower.
When Farrick's eyes fell on Ras and Aldran, there was a hint of surprise as his eyes before it was swiftly buried. "Why do we need help?" he declared, glaring at the mage Ras had been talking to.
"Because," the mage said, a hint of a sigh in his voice, "we have already sent two khertan and psyven there separately, and it hasn't been enough."
Farrick snorted, crossing his arms.
"No wonder Lesten looks older than he is," Ras couldn't help but mutter.
Which wasn't the smartest thing to do, not when the person she was commenting about was a scant couple of feet from her. But she never could quite stop her mouth some times.
Farrick whirled on her, his eyes narrowed.
"It doesn't matter what she says," Penran said loftily, looking at her as if he was peering down his nose at her.
Ras felt disconcerted at the odd emphasis of her gender, because she had a feeling it wasn't quite what she was thinking about, but she had no idea what else Penran could mean.
Farrick nodded, smirking at Ras, before his gaze deliberately moved to Aldran, and instantly Ras bristled, not wanting Aldran to be drawn into this bullying. "I know - her psyven is male." He sighed dramatically. "It's obvious she's confused."
…What?
no subject
Date: Nov. 22nd, 2011 04:20 pm (UTC)Interesting... Somehow, just because she considered the possibility, I doubt it's true. Well have to wait and see.
""No. No! It's right here.""
It? Why am I starting to get the feeling he's talking about the pendant?
"The way his eyes scoured the ground also told of it not being a casual search, but one filled of panic, of something that needed to be found. "
Pendant thoughts again!
"The only difference between those times and this one was that you weren't wearing your pendant."
Hah! Pendant thoughts were right!
""Because the geists eat human souls, not psyven souls," Ceilha said quietly. "
So the worst they can do to Aldran is kill him? (still sounds pretty bad)
"Farrick and Penran paired with anyone is a pity on the other khertan and psyven"
So... Are they very arrogant or very inexperienced?
"The look of a high born, expecting everyone to fall to their feet and cower. "
Ok. Arrogant then.
How ARE psyvens named?
". "I know - her psyven is male." He sighed dramatically. "It's obvious she's confused."
Pfft. Just pfft. Ras is going to beat him up someday.
DarkDragonne
no subject
Date: Nov. 23rd, 2011 11:24 pm (UTC)>D Yep, we'll see.
"Hah! Pendant thoughts were right!"
*griiiiins* \o/
"So the worst they can do to Aldran is kill him? (still sounds pretty bad)"
XDD Still a big thing!
"Ok. Arrogant then."
XDD
"How ARE psyvens named?"
'-ran' is for male psyvens (Aldran[well, you know...], Yaran, Penran) while '-cer' is for female psyvens (Dracer, Laencer). :3
"Ras is going to beat him up someday."
XDD
no subject
Date: Nov. 25th, 2011 12:13 pm (UTC)So... Not a whole lot of options then. A lot of psyvens must have similar names XD
no subject
Date: Dec. 2nd, 2011 07:32 am (UTC)Haha, nope! XD