you bow to no one

MAEA

The sound of water haunted her wherever she went. Rushing, dripping, rippling and pouring, from the ceaseless rain outside to the echoing shimmer of waves whispering against stone keys. It taunted her with memories of what it had been like to have that murmuring against her soul, a spark of cool potential just beyond her fingertips. It had been years since Maea lost her ability to do magic, but today in particular she felt the ache of it, an itch she couldn't quite scratch - and nothing to distract herself with.

As she was perched on the edge of a canal in the Atheneum, surrounded by volumes upon volumes of books and tomes and scrolls of every subject one could think of, that was quite laughable of course. The sheer amount of them was overwhelming her though and where she gazed up into the high dome above, leaned back on her elbows and with bare feet splashing languidly in the water, the task of picking a path or subject to immerse herself in left her dizzy.  

Above all, it seemed so pointless. The world and the Grounds had both done a good job of continuing without her. Her presence or absence had not made any difference, and so it was clear that she wasn't needed. Why bother, then? Why do anything else beyond seeing to her own immediate needs? There was certainly a sense of freedom in not giving a fuck about anything or anyone. Unfortunately, it also left her with a hollow ache in her gut.

Sighing to herself, Maea slumped to the floor on her back. White hair pooled around her head like a drift of Deepfrost snow left behind, contrasting sharply against the deep black of the cloak and dress she wore. Thinking she was alone in the building, she began to hum to herself, a slow lullaby she couldn't quite recall the words of. The sound grew and swelled as echoes took up the melody; bittersweet and guilt ridden, a touch rebellious for daring to make so much noise in a house of silence.

Lost in a world full of non-believers
Searching for smoke in a still water pond

BASE INSPIRED BY ODD <3

Edmund had come to see if any books in the Atheneum covered fire magic. With how robust of a collection, he imagined that there were at least a few that might help him advance his magic. His last spar with Sunjata showed him that creativity with his magic could be an asset. Perhaps a book on the shelves covered new techniques for him to try.

It's as he's quietly running a hand along the spines of the books and reading them that he hears a thump. It's quickly followed by the beginning of a song and the young Ancient paused to listen. The melody was powerful in its simplicity. Mere humming yet lyrics seemed to make themselves known by the raw emotion within. Haunting, aching, and filled with grief. Edmund had to take a deep breath to steady his emotions as the humming continued.

Nearly in a trance, he silently tracked the sound. The sight of someone splayed out on the floor caught him off guard and he froze for a heartbeat. Clearing his throat, he eyed the unfamiliar woman, "Are you alright down there?" She doesn't look like she fell but why else would she be on the floor?

Edmund

Come dance in the shadows

MAEA

When was it that she stopped singing? As a child, it had come so easy. There were songs for cooking and songs for cleaning, songs for good times and bad, for joy and sorrow. Singing was a rare freedom in a land that long since forgot what it was like to live without cages, and it had been one of few things she could do without hinder. But somewhere between the child and the woman the melodies had caught in her throat. Withered and faded, until she choked on words that came out soured and bitter, impossible to voice without an aftertaste.

Even now, it was only a means of self soothing. The moment a voice called out, Maea quieted and laid frozen. Heart beating wildly, she instinctively sought to activate the teleportation device embedded in her by the Voice - and found herself still on the floor, as nothing happened. Lingering echoes of her own voice mocked her and she strained to find something to say - something witty, cocksure and drawled to show how little she cared about being caught breaking rules - but nothing came to mind.

"Mh. Yes," came out as a mumbled croak, a far cry from the flowing tunes she had produced a moment ago. Rolling up into sitting again, she pulled the cloak around herself like a midnight shroud, and fought the hefty horns jutting from the sides of her head for dominion over the tousled hair. When they kept winning, she gave up and bolted upright to rise, but in her haste her wet feet slipped on the stone and sent her sprawling back down onto the floor again, with the back of her head connecting soundly with the stone flagging.

This time it did hurt. A soft groan escaped her throat - probably as much from humiliation as from the pain itself.

Lost in a world full of non-believers
Searching for smoke in a still water pond

BASE INSPIRED BY ODD <3

The woman's tone doesn't make Edmund all that confident in her words. "If you're sure." She was clearly tense, and he began to back away and give her more space. Her clumsy attempt to stand and resulting failure, however, had him coming closer. He held out a hand to help her to her feet, "That looked painful. If you'd like, I can bring you to the infirmary to get some medicine?" He'd say ice if they weren't Ancients.

He blinked, "Oh, where are my manners? My name is Edmund. It's a pleasure to meet you." The horns on his head glinted in the candlelight as he smiled gently at her, hoping to set her at ease. This was his sister. One he'd never met, but a sister, nonetheless. Mother had told him to get to know and help his siblings. Helping one off the floor wasn't much, but it was a start.

Edmund

Come dance in the shadows

MAEA

She had been sure. More than sure, because Maea Valair did not need new people to add to her current confusion. Jumping at shadows and flinching every time someone so much as looked at her, it was difficult to find her footing again. Harder than it ever had been, now that she had been revived from oblivion and returned to the world for a fourth time. If she could, she would have gotten up and left with a murmur of apologies...

But when she tried to sit up, pain sliced through her head like lightning and a sensation of tipping over made her stomach lurch. Chills made her skin clammy, as she reluctantly accepted the young man's hand.
"That... might not be a bad idea," she agreed pathetically, squinting at the youthful face that kept splitting in two's and three's. "My bad... not used to - people." Straining up on her feet, the small woman pressed her lips into a thin line when her stomach lurched again. A fine figure she made. Very impressive looking.

She felt double her actual age as she began staggering towards the exit, helped along by her new best friend. "Mm Maea... talk later, yeah?" When she didn't feel like throwing up, and her head had stopped hurting. When she actually could stand to look at him for more than a second at a time - yes, that would be an excellent time to get to know other Ancients.

For now, the infirmary beckoned.

{FIN}

Lost in a world full of non-believers
Searching for smoke in a still water pond

BASE INSPIRED BY ODD <3