As soon as she saw Yue's delighted smile at Faeran's red-faced blustering, she knew. Brothers. Definitely. When he started shouting "freaks!" and running around like a maniac, she had to press her hand to her mouth to keep from laughing. When Faeran started yelling again, she had to put another hand over her mouth to smother her giggling. By the time Faeran turned back to her, she had mostly pulled herself together, and she waved away his apology, "It's fine, I'm fine. Thank you, though." She coughed to cover up one last little laugh, then grinned up at him, "Let me guess: that's how Yue says hello?"
-
This section is for roleplays only.
ALL interest checks/recruiting threads must go in the Recruit Here section.
Please remember to credit artists when using works not your own.
MoD RP (Shaples)
- Thread starter redribbon
- Start date
redribbon
ლ(́◉◞౪◟◉‵ლ)
"Only to magicians," Faeran grumbled irritably. His brother was a troublemaker-- all his life he had to deal with his shenanigans and the constant chaos he'd bring to him. Around non-magical people, though, the kid was harmless and always polite. A little cold and sometimes a bit distant, but polite nonetheless. Magicians were another thing entirely though. He seemed to have difficulty controlling himself, like a child getting a new plaything. Unlike normal children who treated them with care, Yue was the type to test out the durability of his new toy first. "I think magicians make him giddy or somethin'," he mused thoughtfully.
"Anyway, he's a good kid, though. Ain't no one more honest an' thoughtful than Yue," Faeran said, the smile returning to his face and his chest slightly welling up with brotherly pride. He suddenly paused, an eyebrow arching when a realization flitted through his mind. "Well, ain't more honest an' thoughtful when he chooses to be. Anyway, might be important to mention that he's one o' the magicians, too. Kid's fast when he wants to be!"
"Anyway, he's a good kid, though. Ain't no one more honest an' thoughtful than Yue," Faeran said, the smile returning to his face and his chest slightly welling up with brotherly pride. He suddenly paused, an eyebrow arching when a realization flitted through his mind. "Well, ain't more honest an' thoughtful when he chooses to be. Anyway, might be important to mention that he's one o' the magicians, too. Kid's fast when he wants to be!"
Kari laughed, "I noticed that. And I kinda figured the magician part - it was like he swept in and blew himself away." She looked around. Now that Yue was gone, the air was perfectly still again, the big gust of wind slipping away through the tents and trees right along with him. Still staring off at the spot where Yue had disappeared, she said, "Your mom must be a hell of a lady." Two magicians in one family - with two different types of magic, no less. It was so far beyond improbable that it made a strange sort of sense. Of course Faeran would be the way he was - and Yue would be the way he seemed to be - if they'd grown up with another magician by their side. Kari couldn't even imagine; hell, she only understood what it was like to have a brother by proxy. That thought brought back a sudden memory, and she smiled. "I think he was trying to tease you as much as me, though. Did you know you get a little vein right here when you're mad?" She asked, pointing at her forehead.
redribbon
ლ(́◉◞౪◟◉‵ლ)
"Huh? Oh, yeah, our mother was... Well, she definitely was, I guess..." Faeran started, turning his eyes elsewhere and lifting a hand to rub the back of his neck. He was glad the topic shifted quickly, because his cheery smile came back almost immediately. "Oh, yeah?" he laughed. "People say it's in a different place every time!"
He peered up from Kari up at the tents around them. A good number of soldiers had managed to make their way into the clearing they stood in, probably brought on by all the yelling and the fact that the wind had picked up. Faeran lifted a hand and smiled at them-- a friendly gesture to let them know things were okay-- before turning to look down at Kari.
"Anyway, we better keep moving," he said, gesturing over in an obscure direction by a few rooted tents. "I gotta take you to one o' the med tents. Need to teach you magic an' all. If you got any questions, like about the magicians 'ere o' how things'll work, you should ask 'em now before we get there, yeah?"
He peered up from Kari up at the tents around them. A good number of soldiers had managed to make their way into the clearing they stood in, probably brought on by all the yelling and the fact that the wind had picked up. Faeran lifted a hand and smiled at them-- a friendly gesture to let them know things were okay-- before turning to look down at Kari.
"Anyway, we better keep moving," he said, gesturing over in an obscure direction by a few rooted tents. "I gotta take you to one o' the med tents. Need to teach you magic an' all. If you got any questions, like about the magicians 'ere o' how things'll work, you should ask 'em now before we get there, yeah?"
Was. How eloquent that one little word could be. Kari marked Faeran's mother down as: do not discuss until much better acquainted and thoroughly intoxicated, then promptly changed the subject. She was relieved the topic shift worked, and even more glad to see Faeran's smile come back so easily.
She followed his gaze to the soldiers that had come out of the woodworks. Gods, there were people everywhere here, and all of them crammed in so close together. That was going to take some getting used to. Faeran's voice pulled her attention back to him, and she nodded along with what he was saying - the med tents, right, she kept trying to forget. When he asked if she had any questions, though, she came up short. She didn't really even know enough to know what to ask. She reached up and scratched her head. "It's probably safe to assume that if it's really important to know, I don't." She glanced down, feeling a little sheepish, "To be honest, I don't even actually know where I am, geographically speaking." That was an understatement - she'd spent the last three days blindfolded in the back of a wagon. "I guess, what do I need to know to keep myself out of trouble? The general said something about a Mandate?" Once she started, the questions just flowed out of her, "What am I supposed to be doing every day, and where will I be staying?" She blinked, "And, uh, how many other magicians are there here?"
((I'm not sure whether or not Kari would know about the Mandate; if she probably would, pretend I didn't ask
))
She followed his gaze to the soldiers that had come out of the woodworks. Gods, there were people everywhere here, and all of them crammed in so close together. That was going to take some getting used to. Faeran's voice pulled her attention back to him, and she nodded along with what he was saying - the med tents, right, she kept trying to forget. When he asked if she had any questions, though, she came up short. She didn't really even know enough to know what to ask. She reached up and scratched her head. "It's probably safe to assume that if it's really important to know, I don't." She glanced down, feeling a little sheepish, "To be honest, I don't even actually know where I am, geographically speaking." That was an understatement - she'd spent the last three days blindfolded in the back of a wagon. "I guess, what do I need to know to keep myself out of trouble? The general said something about a Mandate?" Once she started, the questions just flowed out of her, "What am I supposed to be doing every day, and where will I be staying?" She blinked, "And, uh, how many other magicians are there here?"
((I'm not sure whether or not Kari would know about the Mandate; if she probably would, pretend I didn't ask
))
redribbon
ლ(́◉◞౪◟◉‵ლ)
(( The Mandate's only well known to soldiers, so it's all good! ^q^ ))
"Ha! That's practically everything," Faeran laughed. "Funny. The general should've at least told you what you were going to be doing every day an' how many o' us are here. He prolly had someone important comin' in soon or somethin'."
He started walking, making sure to keep his pace extra slow so he'd have enough time to answer the questions before they'd reach the med tent.
"Let's see... I'm gonna start with the simplest ones first," he said, turning his eyes up at the sky. Looking at the clouds helped him think better. "There's nine o' us now, if I counted right. There's me, you, wind, dark, water, earth, fire, summoning, an' a jack o' all trades one. However many that's supposed t' be. As for where we are, we're in the Royal Army Camp, o' course!"
He nudged her a bit with his elbow and let out a barking laugh. "Ah, just a joke! We're stationed right next t' Cassus, if that's any help. S'one of the towns that celebrates the Starlight festival-- what are there, like only 10 o' them all over Delphine? Anyway, s'maybe a week o' two of marchin' if we all decided to up 'n head t' the capital. We ain't that far, actually."
"Ha! That's practically everything," Faeran laughed. "Funny. The general should've at least told you what you were going to be doing every day an' how many o' us are here. He prolly had someone important comin' in soon or somethin'."
He started walking, making sure to keep his pace extra slow so he'd have enough time to answer the questions before they'd reach the med tent.
"Let's see... I'm gonna start with the simplest ones first," he said, turning his eyes up at the sky. Looking at the clouds helped him think better. "There's nine o' us now, if I counted right. There's me, you, wind, dark, water, earth, fire, summoning, an' a jack o' all trades one. However many that's supposed t' be. As for where we are, we're in the Royal Army Camp, o' course!"
He nudged her a bit with his elbow and let out a barking laugh. "Ah, just a joke! We're stationed right next t' Cassus, if that's any help. S'one of the towns that celebrates the Starlight festival-- what are there, like only 10 o' them all over Delphine? Anyway, s'maybe a week o' two of marchin' if we all decided to up 'n head t' the capital. We ain't that far, actually."
Yes. Someone important coming in. Let's go with that. Kari cleared her throat, "He seems like a very important man." She matched Faeran's slow pace, her eyes scanning the seemingly endless sea of tents, trying to get herself used to the sight, since she'd be seeing a lot of it from now on.
"Nine," she breathed, her voice full of wonder. It was both a small number and an impossibly high one. Kari looked up, a little incredulous when Faeran stated the much more obvious fact that they were in the army camp, but caught on and laughed with him when he nudged her. The truth was more surprising, though - she'd been through Cassus before, and it was a long way from where she'd started; that wagon had taken her farther than she'd realized. She felt a little pang, wondering where Talion was now and hoping he was safe now that she was gone. Her ears perked up when Faeran mentioned the festival, though; it was an odd detail, and one that prickled at her memory. "The Starlight festival? Is that coming up soon?" She looked up, like the still-daylit sky would tell her about the alignment of the stars. "I remember I went once when I was just a little kid. Man, I'd love to do that again."
"Nine," she breathed, her voice full of wonder. It was both a small number and an impossibly high one. Kari looked up, a little incredulous when Faeran stated the much more obvious fact that they were in the army camp, but caught on and laughed with him when he nudged her. The truth was more surprising, though - she'd been through Cassus before, and it was a long way from where she'd started; that wagon had taken her farther than she'd realized. She felt a little pang, wondering where Talion was now and hoping he was safe now that she was gone. Her ears perked up when Faeran mentioned the festival, though; it was an odd detail, and one that prickled at her memory. "The Starlight festival? Is that coming up soon?" She looked up, like the still-daylit sky would tell her about the alignment of the stars. "I remember I went once when I was just a little kid. Man, I'd love to do that again."
redribbon
ლ(́◉◞౪◟◉‵ლ)
"Hmm, a few weeks from now, maybe? The whole camp's gonna talk about it nonstop the closer it gets," Faeran answered, looking down at Kari to smile at her. "General Tiberus usually lets just a handful o' people go, but he lets any o' the magicians attend whatever festivals they want."
He was about to add that most of them usually never bothered to exercise that privilege, including himself, but he decided it'd probably be better to let Kari decide for herself. At least she seemed eager to go. Any magician that wanted to go out and interact with other people should be praised and encouraged, as far as Faeran was concerned. Too many magicians were bitter about the outside world.
"Heh, maybe you'll find a nice guy to go with, yeah?" he joked, nudging her with the elbow again. "We got lots o' them here! Most the magicians here are men, too, so if that's no good, maybe you'll prefer their company!"
He was about to add that most of them usually never bothered to exercise that privilege, including himself, but he decided it'd probably be better to let Kari decide for herself. At least she seemed eager to go. Any magician that wanted to go out and interact with other people should be praised and encouraged, as far as Faeran was concerned. Too many magicians were bitter about the outside world.
"Heh, maybe you'll find a nice guy to go with, yeah?" he joked, nudging her with the elbow again. "We got lots o' them here! Most the magicians here are men, too, so if that's no good, maybe you'll prefer their company!"
Kari flirted with the mental image of a line of magicians standing inside the general's tent, crackling with energy, demanding to be allowed to go see a parade. But, no, given the literal whirlwind that was Faeran's brother, it was clear that the magicians here were on a pretty long leash as a general rule. Or maybe it was more than that. Now that she thought about it, hadn't the general said that most of them were assigned to lead their own battalions? Sure, she'd be stuck in the medic tent, but she had to wonder - were magicians treated as commanders here? Kari had always had power - more than she ever wanted to - but she'd never considered the idea of having authority.
Faeran's next words were so at odds with her own thoughts that Kari did a quick double take. Was he-? Had he just-? But no, he wasn't being coy; it was just a friendly joke, a little tongue-in-cheek nod to the fact that she was one lady adrift in a sea of potential suitors (yeah, right). It made her give him a second glance, though. Faeran was definitely older than her (though how much older she couldn't guess), but probably almost everyone here was. He was handsome, too, but appearance was always something she'd judged objectively - a hint at personality, character, disposition. She'd never really had the luxury of nice guys or preferred company. She laughed, realizing he was teasing her, treating her like a starry-eyed, love-struck tween; it was delightfully big-brotherly. "But can any of them dance?" She did a little flourish, just a snap and a pose from the beginning of one of the traditional dances she knew, then grinned at Faeran, "The dancing is always the best part of any festival."
Faeran's next words were so at odds with her own thoughts that Kari did a quick double take. Was he-? Had he just-? But no, he wasn't being coy; it was just a friendly joke, a little tongue-in-cheek nod to the fact that she was one lady adrift in a sea of potential suitors (yeah, right). It made her give him a second glance, though. Faeran was definitely older than her (though how much older she couldn't guess), but probably almost everyone here was. He was handsome, too, but appearance was always something she'd judged objectively - a hint at personality, character, disposition. She'd never really had the luxury of nice guys or preferred company. She laughed, realizing he was teasing her, treating her like a starry-eyed, love-struck tween; it was delightfully big-brotherly. "But can any of them dance?" She did a little flourish, just a snap and a pose from the beginning of one of the traditional dances she knew, then grinned at Faeran, "The dancing is always the best part of any festival."
Last edited by a moderator:
redribbon
ლ(́◉◞౪◟◉‵ლ)
"Well, there's Sitri. She's always out dancin', festival or not," Faeran mused thoughtfully. That girl didn't have any worries at all, though thinking about it, it was strange that she didn't seem to want to go to the festivals herself. Faeran started racking his head for some idea of who else would be a good dancer, but the only thoughts that darted through his mind were the images of the magicians spastically flailing around like landed fish. He laughed at his own thoughts, a little more louder than he'd like, before clearing his through and turning back to Kari. "Well, there'll be plenty o' opportunities to dance. Work hard then play hard, yeah?
"Anyway, as for what you'll be doin' all day, it sounds t'me like you'll be workin' with me!" He gave her a pat on the shoulder. "All the girls in the med tent are nice. Helluva lot smarter than me, lemme tell you that! Just three years ago, the only non-magic treatment I knew was to spit on it! I know a lot more things now, but don't go askin' me how to tell apart the leg bone 'n the arm bone. I don't know that."
"Anyway, as for what you'll be doin' all day, it sounds t'me like you'll be workin' with me!" He gave her a pat on the shoulder. "All the girls in the med tent are nice. Helluva lot smarter than me, lemme tell you that! Just three years ago, the only non-magic treatment I knew was to spit on it! I know a lot more things now, but don't go askin' me how to tell apart the leg bone 'n the arm bone. I don't know that."
Sitri, huh? Maybe that would be the first person she'd try to track down when she had a free minute. From the expression on Faeran's face, the whole rest of the camp was full of people with two left feet. She was about to ask if it was really that bad when he started laughing. Yep, she was not going to find a magically-inclined dance partner here. Too bad. She nodded her agreement with his sentiment, though, "Words to live by."
She laughed at Faeran's casual self deprecation, but secretly hoped it was at least a little bit true. "Yeah, I'm going to need a remedial class myself, to be honest." She looked down at her feet. "I don't have any medical training at all, and I have no idea how to use my magic to heal other people, or even myself, really. I tried to explain to the general that my magic doesn't really work like that, but he was pretty insistent about the whole medic thing." She glanced up quickly, "Not that I'm not excited to be working with you, I just, uh... I really have no idea what I'm doing."
She laughed at Faeran's casual self deprecation, but secretly hoped it was at least a little bit true. "Yeah, I'm going to need a remedial class myself, to be honest." She looked down at her feet. "I don't have any medical training at all, and I have no idea how to use my magic to heal other people, or even myself, really. I tried to explain to the general that my magic doesn't really work like that, but he was pretty insistent about the whole medic thing." She glanced up quickly, "Not that I'm not excited to be working with you, I just, uh... I really have no idea what I'm doing."
redribbon
ლ(́◉◞౪◟◉‵ლ)
"Huh. Issat so?" Faeran asked. That was strange. If she couldn't cast healing magic, why'd she be sent to train with the medics?
"I guess unless you wanted t' be in the frontlines head-t'-toe in armor, medic trainin's the only thing left," Faeran said, a crooked smile on his face. "Used t' be part o' the frontlines myself, but they took me out when they found out I could do a little healin'. You sure you can't do even a little bit? If you can't, I think it'd be better if you trained as one o' the soldiers instead of as a magician. Y'know, our own army hero!"
His shoulder dipped into a shrug and he let out a laugh. "But I'm not the general so I dunno. If you want, I can talk to 'im about it if that's what you want instead."
"I guess unless you wanted t' be in the frontlines head-t'-toe in armor, medic trainin's the only thing left," Faeran said, a crooked smile on his face. "Used t' be part o' the frontlines myself, but they took me out when they found out I could do a little healin'. You sure you can't do even a little bit? If you can't, I think it'd be better if you trained as one o' the soldiers instead of as a magician. Y'know, our own army hero!"
His shoulder dipped into a shrug and he let out a laugh. "But I'm not the general so I dunno. If you want, I can talk to 'im about it if that's what you want instead."
Kari reached up and rubbed the back of her neck, "Honestly, I don't really know what I want. I haven't had much choice in any of this. A few weeks ago, a group of... soldiers? mercenaries? bounty hunters, maybe? I don't know what they were, but they figured out that I was a magician. I tried to give them the slip, but they cornered me and threatened to kill my friend if I didn't go with them. The next thing I knew, I was here." She shook her head, sighing, "Gods, this has all happened so fast. I'm just a street kid with a good right hook. I don't know how to fight with anything bigger than a knife, and my magic is better armor than any metal." She glanced over at Faeran, "That's why I don't really know how to heal - I've never really been hurt, and I've never been in one place long enough to..." She shook her head. He didn't need a full life story, not yet, anyway. "Anyway, I'd like to learn whatever you can teach me. If there's a better way to control my magic, I want to know about it, and I think..." Kari chewed her lip thoughtfully, "I think I could do it if you showed me how. I don't remember it, but supposedly I was able to heal people when I was really young - like two or three - and I can sometimes shield other people if I'm touching them."
redribbon
ლ(́◉◞౪◟◉‵ლ)
During the whole time Kari spoke, Faeran listened patiently.
"Ah, I see. So they threatened ya'll into the army," he said. He wondered where her friend was now and whether they were sent in the army, too, but he figured he could ask her at a later time. Right now, it was more pressing to him that she wasn't aware of the King's law. "Y'know, magicians're all supposed t' join the Royal Army. King Deidric decreed it 'bout... 3 years ago? Somethin' like that? S'called the Magician's Mandate, an' the law says soldiers're supposed to kill 'em on sight if they're not in the Army.
"Thing about the law is while rogue magicians get offed, the King gives his Royal Army magicians a reward. At the end o' the war, you can collect anythin' you want from him." He looked down at Kari, a thoughtful expression on his face. "If it makes ya feel any better, you can look forward t' that at least after the end o' this all. The King'll give gold, land-- dunno what the others are askin' for, but he's supposed t' be really generous."
"Ah, I see. So they threatened ya'll into the army," he said. He wondered where her friend was now and whether they were sent in the army, too, but he figured he could ask her at a later time. Right now, it was more pressing to him that she wasn't aware of the King's law. "Y'know, magicians're all supposed t' join the Royal Army. King Deidric decreed it 'bout... 3 years ago? Somethin' like that? S'called the Magician's Mandate, an' the law says soldiers're supposed to kill 'em on sight if they're not in the Army.
"Thing about the law is while rogue magicians get offed, the King gives his Royal Army magicians a reward. At the end o' the war, you can collect anythin' you want from him." He looked down at Kari, a thoughtful expression on his face. "If it makes ya feel any better, you can look forward t' that at least after the end o' this all. The King'll give gold, land-- dunno what the others are askin' for, but he's supposed t' be really generous."
So that was the mandate the general had mentioned. The men who had attacked her had mentioned something along the lines of the kill-on-sight order, but hadn't made any attempt to bribe her. Not that she would have believed them; even coming from Faeran, who as far as she knew had no reason to lie to her, the promise of wild riches rang false. Too good to be true, and therefore not to be trusted. Kari grunted, "Assuming we survive the war, and they don't immediately sic the army on us once it's over."
She shook her head. No reason to fly her pessimist flag quite so high. "It seems like it would be a tough law to enforce." There were at least twenty men in the group that had taken her, and in the time they were following her, she'd put half of them out of commission. If they hadn't gotten their hands on Talion, she probably could have gotten away, and all she could do was throw a punch, not rain down fire or bury people in living rock. Considering how hard it was to kill a magician, though, she had to wonder: was it the threat or the bribe the king was making good on? Either way, she was here now, and the end of the war was a long way off. Kari huffed out a little sigh. "Anyway, I would have showed up just to meet another holy magician if someone had made the offer, but as far as I knew, the whole magicians-in-the-army thing was just propaganda." She closed her eyes and rubbed her temple, "I guess I should count myself lucky there weren't enough of them to kill me."
She shook her head. No reason to fly her pessimist flag quite so high. "It seems like it would be a tough law to enforce." There were at least twenty men in the group that had taken her, and in the time they were following her, she'd put half of them out of commission. If they hadn't gotten their hands on Talion, she probably could have gotten away, and all she could do was throw a punch, not rain down fire or bury people in living rock. Considering how hard it was to kill a magician, though, she had to wonder: was it the threat or the bribe the king was making good on? Either way, she was here now, and the end of the war was a long way off. Kari huffed out a little sigh. "Anyway, I would have showed up just to meet another holy magician if someone had made the offer, but as far as I knew, the whole magicians-in-the-army thing was just propaganda." She closed her eyes and rubbed her temple, "I guess I should count myself lucky there weren't enough of them to kill me."
redribbon
ლ(́◉◞౪◟◉‵ლ)
"I think most the magicians 'ere arrived on their own free will," Faeran said. "Sho's prolly the one that hates Delphine the most, an' he joined without any problems at all." He paused, then added with a chuckle, "Well, he has a few problems 'ere an' there after joinin', but it ain't much as you'd expect from a Sansa. He's a pretty nice guy, all things considered."
When Kari finished talking, Faeran just offered her a sheepish smile. He had to admit it sounded ludicrous-- a magician army!-- but it wasn't as crazy as the King's other endeavors. The King of Delphine was a strange man who often talked about strange things, and it was probably more apparent in the army with how closely he kept an eye on the Royal Army. He didn't want to talk badly about his king, but he had to agree that King Deidric's nickname of 'Mad King' was fitting for a reason. In any case, he was certainly glad Kari didn't get hurt. If General Tiberus had been the one who caught wind of a magician instead of those soldiers, he'd've sent a magician out to take care of her instead. But there was no point in worrying her about that.
"Hmm... What else... Did I answer everythin'?" he asked, turning his eyes to the sky. "Ah, it's prolly about the magicians. You'll prolly want t' meet them at some point. The only way t' find them usually is to hunt 'em down, but my brother, Sho, and Rima visit the medic tent I'm in sometimes. Which reminds me, we got commandin' officers ourselves. That's Sho an' Rima. You hear them from 'em, you listen t' them. They get orders straight from General Tiberus."
When Kari finished talking, Faeran just offered her a sheepish smile. He had to admit it sounded ludicrous-- a magician army!-- but it wasn't as crazy as the King's other endeavors. The King of Delphine was a strange man who often talked about strange things, and it was probably more apparent in the army with how closely he kept an eye on the Royal Army. He didn't want to talk badly about his king, but he had to agree that King Deidric's nickname of 'Mad King' was fitting for a reason. In any case, he was certainly glad Kari didn't get hurt. If General Tiberus had been the one who caught wind of a magician instead of those soldiers, he'd've sent a magician out to take care of her instead. But there was no point in worrying her about that.
"Hmm... What else... Did I answer everythin'?" he asked, turning his eyes to the sky. "Ah, it's prolly about the magicians. You'll prolly want t' meet them at some point. The only way t' find them usually is to hunt 'em down, but my brother, Sho, and Rima visit the medic tent I'm in sometimes. Which reminds me, we got commandin' officers ourselves. That's Sho an' Rima. You hear them from 'em, you listen t' them. They get orders straight from General Tiberus."
She wasn't happy about how or why she'd ended up here, but all things considered, it might not be so bad. She'd meant what she'd said - the opportunity to meet even a single other magician was more than enough to pique her interest, and now she was in the same place as - what had he said, eight others? She ticked them off quickly in her head; there was Faeran, his brother Yue, Sitri the dancer, and now Sho and Rima, her commanders. That left three he hadn't mentioned. "I look forward to meeting them. To meeting everyone, really." She paused, trying to think if there was anything else, then shook her head, "I'll probably be stuck to you like a second shadow until I figure out where everything is, but I think I at least know where things stand, now." Kari flashed Faeran a grin, "You ready to give me a crash course in healing magic?"
redribbon
ლ(́◉◞౪◟◉‵ლ)
Faeran grinned back and was about to give her a, "You'd better pay attention," when he finally realized what exactly that would entail. "You... probably don't want to copy me exactly," he said with an uneasy laugh, his smile drifting away until a frown took its place. "Y'should keep watch when I do things, but you gotta figure out how t' do it your own way, yeah?"
He had no idea how to make that any clearer, and while he clawed his head for some way of making that make sense, the pair had finally reached the medic tent. He held the flap open for her, still looking a bit uneasy. "This is the medic tent. There's a few 'round camp, but this 'un's the one I'm usually in."
He had no idea how to make that any clearer, and while he clawed his head for some way of making that make sense, the pair had finally reached the medic tent. He held the flap open for her, still looking a bit uneasy. "This is the medic tent. There's a few 'round camp, but this 'un's the one I'm usually in."
Kari tilted her head, bewildered by the way Faeran's grin melted right off his face at the prospect of teaching her magic. As soon as she started to wonder why, though, it occurred to her that this was probably going to be really weird. She'd done magic in front of other people before, but never someone who also had the same magic, or any magic, for that matter. Would she be able to feel his magic, and would he be able to feel hers? Or did he have some unusual way of doing things that he was embarrassed about? She wouldn't know what "normal" looked like, if such a thing even existed, but his sudden uncertainty made her feel uneasy.
She stepped past him into the tent, blinking to get her eyes adjusted to the relative darkness, "I guess that means this is home base for me, too, for the time being?"
She stepped past him into the tent, blinking to get her eyes adjusted to the relative darkness, "I guess that means this is home base for me, too, for the time being?"
redribbon
ლ(́◉◞౪◟◉‵ლ)
Faeran couldn't help but smile at her comment, disregarding his own uneasiness for a second. "Welcome to your second home," he said.
The medic tent seemed to be just a giant room full of makeshift cots all aligned in straight rows. There was a decent amount of light coming in through the tan fabric of the tent, shrouding the entire place with what looked to be an angelic golden glow. Still, some parts of the tent were rather dim, and those corners were supplemented with a few square lanterns on the tablesides beside a few beds.
A number of soldiers were laying in the cots, in various stages of undress apparently depending on their injury, though it appeared random where they decided to lay. A great number of them were moaning or shifting around in their beds, calling over the medic girls in short light-blue dresses to tend to them. All of the injured, however, didn't look to have any injury at all-- no missing limbs, no blood-soaked bandages, no open cuts or wounds or visible bruises-- just the occassional soldier with a newly bandaged arm or someone with a towel sitting on their forehead.
Further into the tent were what looked to be curtain dividers shielding things from view. Most of the medics were hurrying in and out of that area, carrying a container full of strange metal tools or with arms clutching a bag of bandages. There wasn't a great deal of noise going around the place, save the occassional yelp or a string of tortured sobs which all seemed to be coming from the back rather than the front.
Faeran stepped in after Kari, a more serious expression on his face. It was time to work.
He wandered over to a soldier, calling Kari along with a small wave of his hand, before he looked down at him with a friendly smile. "Hey, Joel! You doin' okay?"
The soldier named Joel, a man whose entire top half of his armor sat in a neat pile beside the bed, flashed Faeran a grin. "Oh, yeah, I'm doing alright," he said. "Still a little sore. Bethany says she's kicking me out soon."
"Ah, so your arm still hurtin'?"
There was a momentary flash of terror all over Joel's face before he let out a laugh, albeit an awkward one. "Nah, it's good, Faeran. It's just a little uncomfortable. I'll be fine."
"Actually, we got a new kid 'ere," Faeran urged, gesturing over to Kari. "I was hopin' t' see how she does first before I help 'er out with things."
The soldier visibly relaxed at the sight of the girl, wrongfully assuming she'd be training as a medic. He smiled. "Oh. I thought you were gonna... Nah, nevermind. Yeah, I'm fine with it."
Faeran grinned over at Kari. "We got an 'OK'! D'you think you could try? No help first?"
The medic tent seemed to be just a giant room full of makeshift cots all aligned in straight rows. There was a decent amount of light coming in through the tan fabric of the tent, shrouding the entire place with what looked to be an angelic golden glow. Still, some parts of the tent were rather dim, and those corners were supplemented with a few square lanterns on the tablesides beside a few beds.
A number of soldiers were laying in the cots, in various stages of undress apparently depending on their injury, though it appeared random where they decided to lay. A great number of them were moaning or shifting around in their beds, calling over the medic girls in short light-blue dresses to tend to them. All of the injured, however, didn't look to have any injury at all-- no missing limbs, no blood-soaked bandages, no open cuts or wounds or visible bruises-- just the occassional soldier with a newly bandaged arm or someone with a towel sitting on their forehead.
Further into the tent were what looked to be curtain dividers shielding things from view. Most of the medics were hurrying in and out of that area, carrying a container full of strange metal tools or with arms clutching a bag of bandages. There wasn't a great deal of noise going around the place, save the occassional yelp or a string of tortured sobs which all seemed to be coming from the back rather than the front.
Faeran stepped in after Kari, a more serious expression on his face. It was time to work.
He wandered over to a soldier, calling Kari along with a small wave of his hand, before he looked down at him with a friendly smile. "Hey, Joel! You doin' okay?"
The soldier named Joel, a man whose entire top half of his armor sat in a neat pile beside the bed, flashed Faeran a grin. "Oh, yeah, I'm doing alright," he said. "Still a little sore. Bethany says she's kicking me out soon."
"Ah, so your arm still hurtin'?"
There was a momentary flash of terror all over Joel's face before he let out a laugh, albeit an awkward one. "Nah, it's good, Faeran. It's just a little uncomfortable. I'll be fine."
"Actually, we got a new kid 'ere," Faeran urged, gesturing over to Kari. "I was hopin' t' see how she does first before I help 'er out with things."
The soldier visibly relaxed at the sight of the girl, wrongfully assuming she'd be training as a medic. He smiled. "Oh. I thought you were gonna... Nah, nevermind. Yeah, I'm fine with it."
Faeran grinned over at Kari. "We got an 'OK'! D'you think you could try? No help first?"
Kari liked the way Faeran said home. It made her throat feel unexpectedly tight as she looked around inside the tent. It was simple, a humble little space, but the afternoon light made it beautiful. She'd expected... well, she wasn't sure what she'd expected, but it wasn't this. Faeran obviously did good work, and when he stepped into the tent behind her, she understood: he took his job very seriously.
She followed after him as he headed toward one of his patients, doing her best to keep her focus on Faeran and not let her gaze wander wildly around the tent, as badly as she wanted to take everything in. There would be time for that later. She shuffled up beside Faeran and gave his patient a pleasant smile. It faltered a little when she saw the fear glint in the patient's eyes. What was that about? She glanced over at Faeran. He had neither confirmed nor denied whether or not he glowed when he did his magic, too, but if he did, Kari imagined he would strike quite the imposing figure. Still, why would this soldier be afraid of the man who had healed him?
She didn't have much time to think about it, though, because Faeran was already volunteering her for duty. She blinked up at him, a little wide-eyed; she hadn't expected to be given an actual patient, not without seeing Faeran work first. But the surprise on her face quickly turned to determination. He probably just wanted to see what she was capable of, and what better way to do it than with an actual patient? Worst case, the soldier wound up afraid of her and with some temporary body armor, right? Kari nodded, "Yeah, okay."
After all, she didn't know she couldn't heal, she'd just never really had a reason to try. She never got hurt, and for as long as she could remember, she'd always put herself between Talion and anything that might have hurt him. And it had always just been them; it wasn't like she stayed after fights to mend her opponent's broken bones - she just took her purse and made a run for the next town. But she knew it was possible. Talion had been born with a withered leg, and though she had been too young to remember it, he liked to tell the story of how she would kiss the gnarled knob of his knee every night "to make it better," until it was.
She hoped it would be that easy - to simply will something to be healed - but there was only one way to find out. She slipped past Faeran and knelt by the wounded soldier's cot, trying to mask her own nervousness with a friendly smile. "Can I see?" She waited for the soldier to proffer his injured arm, and then she took it in her hands as gently as she could. There was no obvious swelling or damage, no bruising or anything to indicate he was even injured at all, beyond the soldier's quiet intake of breath as she gently probed his arm with her fingertips, trying to find the wound. "Just close your eyes and relax," she said. If it was Faeran's glowing visage that had terrified the soldier, she wouldn't be any better. "You might feel a little tingle, but I won't hurt you."
She waited for the soldier to do as she said, then took a steadying breath. It didn't help that she could feel Faeran's eyes on her. You can do this, Kari. She closed her eyes and breathed out slowly. Touching another person with her magic was an intimate thing, and she'd only ever tried it with Talion. But there was a first time for everything. She breathed again, slow and steady, gathering the energy that lingered in her skin, leftover from her demonstration for the general. She let it flow through her, warm and liquid, and pool in her arm, in her hand, in the tips of her fingers, before spilling over into the man she was touching.
It was intimate, almost startlingly so; as her magic flowed over him, she became aware of his body, the shape and presence of him, her magic fitting his arm like a long glove and spilling over onto his torso. This was how it had been when she'd shielded Talion, but the man in front of her was completely unfamiliar. A shield also wasn't what he needed. She took another breath, pushing her magic down into the meat of his arm, and suddenly she became aware of the pulse of blood through his body, the slight tremor in his muscles, and - "Oh." She could feel his injury like a dark spot pushing back against her light, an ugly knot that felt somehow wrong. She pushed and probed at it, letting her light seep into the shadow, pouring more magic in to fill the cracks and crevices and banish the darkness until there was nothing left but light.
When it was done, though, the worrisome knot untied, all the magic she'd focused on that one small spot spread out abruptly, and suddenly she could feel her patient's whole body, inside and out; the beating of his heart, the air moving in and out of his lungs, every minute bead of sweat forming on his skin, the line of every bone and muscle. It was so much at once, and all so crystal clear that it shattered her concentration. She jerked her hands away and her awareness snapped back into herself, the soft glow that had suffused her skin disappearing back inside. She was breathing hard and shaking, not sure how much time had passed. She looked back at Faeran, "Did I just...?" Then, wide-eyed, turned to her patient, "Are you okay?"
She followed after him as he headed toward one of his patients, doing her best to keep her focus on Faeran and not let her gaze wander wildly around the tent, as badly as she wanted to take everything in. There would be time for that later. She shuffled up beside Faeran and gave his patient a pleasant smile. It faltered a little when she saw the fear glint in the patient's eyes. What was that about? She glanced over at Faeran. He had neither confirmed nor denied whether or not he glowed when he did his magic, too, but if he did, Kari imagined he would strike quite the imposing figure. Still, why would this soldier be afraid of the man who had healed him?
She didn't have much time to think about it, though, because Faeran was already volunteering her for duty. She blinked up at him, a little wide-eyed; she hadn't expected to be given an actual patient, not without seeing Faeran work first. But the surprise on her face quickly turned to determination. He probably just wanted to see what she was capable of, and what better way to do it than with an actual patient? Worst case, the soldier wound up afraid of her and with some temporary body armor, right? Kari nodded, "Yeah, okay."
After all, she didn't know she couldn't heal, she'd just never really had a reason to try. She never got hurt, and for as long as she could remember, she'd always put herself between Talion and anything that might have hurt him. And it had always just been them; it wasn't like she stayed after fights to mend her opponent's broken bones - she just took her purse and made a run for the next town. But she knew it was possible. Talion had been born with a withered leg, and though she had been too young to remember it, he liked to tell the story of how she would kiss the gnarled knob of his knee every night "to make it better," until it was.
She hoped it would be that easy - to simply will something to be healed - but there was only one way to find out. She slipped past Faeran and knelt by the wounded soldier's cot, trying to mask her own nervousness with a friendly smile. "Can I see?" She waited for the soldier to proffer his injured arm, and then she took it in her hands as gently as she could. There was no obvious swelling or damage, no bruising or anything to indicate he was even injured at all, beyond the soldier's quiet intake of breath as she gently probed his arm with her fingertips, trying to find the wound. "Just close your eyes and relax," she said. If it was Faeran's glowing visage that had terrified the soldier, she wouldn't be any better. "You might feel a little tingle, but I won't hurt you."
She waited for the soldier to do as she said, then took a steadying breath. It didn't help that she could feel Faeran's eyes on her. You can do this, Kari. She closed her eyes and breathed out slowly. Touching another person with her magic was an intimate thing, and she'd only ever tried it with Talion. But there was a first time for everything. She breathed again, slow and steady, gathering the energy that lingered in her skin, leftover from her demonstration for the general. She let it flow through her, warm and liquid, and pool in her arm, in her hand, in the tips of her fingers, before spilling over into the man she was touching.
It was intimate, almost startlingly so; as her magic flowed over him, she became aware of his body, the shape and presence of him, her magic fitting his arm like a long glove and spilling over onto his torso. This was how it had been when she'd shielded Talion, but the man in front of her was completely unfamiliar. A shield also wasn't what he needed. She took another breath, pushing her magic down into the meat of his arm, and suddenly she became aware of the pulse of blood through his body, the slight tremor in his muscles, and - "Oh." She could feel his injury like a dark spot pushing back against her light, an ugly knot that felt somehow wrong. She pushed and probed at it, letting her light seep into the shadow, pouring more magic in to fill the cracks and crevices and banish the darkness until there was nothing left but light.
When it was done, though, the worrisome knot untied, all the magic she'd focused on that one small spot spread out abruptly, and suddenly she could feel her patient's whole body, inside and out; the beating of his heart, the air moving in and out of his lungs, every minute bead of sweat forming on his skin, the line of every bone and muscle. It was so much at once, and all so crystal clear that it shattered her concentration. She jerked her hands away and her awareness snapped back into herself, the soft glow that had suffused her skin disappearing back inside. She was breathing hard and shaking, not sure how much time had passed. She looked back at Faeran, "Did I just...?" Then, wide-eyed, turned to her patient, "Are you okay?"
Last edited by a moderator:
redribbon
ლ(́◉◞౪◟◉‵ლ)
Faeran's face lit up like a proud parent.
The soldier looked just as disoriented by the entire ordeal, but he recovered his composure quickly. He stared uncertainly at Kari, startled that she had been a magician and not the simple medic he'd assumed this whole time. Instead of saying something about it, the soldier kept silent. He turned his head down to look at his arm, rubbed it, flexed it, scrutinized it-- and he looked up with an excited smile. "Hey, feels great!" he said cheerfully, lifting his arm to make circles with it. "I didn't feel any pain at all! You should replace Faeran!"
Faeran's smile dropped from his face. "Hey, now, I do good work, don't I?" he started sulkily. Soldier Joel simply crooked an eyebrow up, eyeing the large magician suspiciously despite the smile on his face.
Faeran rolled his eyes and let out an exaggerated 'bah'. "The next time you get injured, I'm gonna go out of my way to treat you. You'd better take care o' yourself from 'ere on out, Joel."
The soldier blanched at the words, but let out a sigh of relief when Faeran laughed and leaned over to give him a pat on the arm. The huge magician turned to Kari now, beaming. "Hey! Looks like you did it! Good job," he exclaimed, eyes twinkling. "How'd it feel? Think you can get used t' it?"
The soldier looked just as disoriented by the entire ordeal, but he recovered his composure quickly. He stared uncertainly at Kari, startled that she had been a magician and not the simple medic he'd assumed this whole time. Instead of saying something about it, the soldier kept silent. He turned his head down to look at his arm, rubbed it, flexed it, scrutinized it-- and he looked up with an excited smile. "Hey, feels great!" he said cheerfully, lifting his arm to make circles with it. "I didn't feel any pain at all! You should replace Faeran!"
Faeran's smile dropped from his face. "Hey, now, I do good work, don't I?" he started sulkily. Soldier Joel simply crooked an eyebrow up, eyeing the large magician suspiciously despite the smile on his face.
Faeran rolled his eyes and let out an exaggerated 'bah'. "The next time you get injured, I'm gonna go out of my way to treat you. You'd better take care o' yourself from 'ere on out, Joel."
The soldier blanched at the words, but let out a sigh of relief when Faeran laughed and leaned over to give him a pat on the arm. The huge magician turned to Kari now, beaming. "Hey! Looks like you did it! Good job," he exclaimed, eyes twinkling. "How'd it feel? Think you can get used t' it?"
Relief washed over her when the soldier smiled at her. Despite his obvious uncertainty, she hadn't spooked him too bad, and she hadn't hurt him. When he started waving his arm around and praising her, she felt a rush of pleasure that caught her by surprise, and she found herself blushing and smiling. But wait, if it wasn't the magic or the glowing that had made the soldier afraid of Faeran, then what..? But Kari was too caught up in the moment to think about it too hard. She'd actually done it! And apparently a half way decent job, too!
When she realized Faeran was talking to her, she turned to look up at him, the pride on his face making her beam right back at him. "I did, didn't I? It was weird, but," she looked down at her hands, "it felt... right?" She didn't say it out loud, but she felt surprisingly unburdened. It had always been a challenge to expend enough of her magic that she wasn't humming with it all the time, but she'd just poured out a lot all at once, and it was like a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. She started to get to her feet, "I think I- whoa-" She knelt back down abruptly. Okay, feeling light might have edged into feeling lightheaded, and her legs might maybe have gone a little shaky. That accidental spill-over of magic at the end might have taken more out of her than she realized. She laughed a little, using the edge of the cot to push herself to her feet more slowly this time, "I think I might have gone a little overboard." She grinned up at Faeran, "But not bad for a first try, huh?"
When she realized Faeran was talking to her, she turned to look up at him, the pride on his face making her beam right back at him. "I did, didn't I? It was weird, but," she looked down at her hands, "it felt... right?" She didn't say it out loud, but she felt surprisingly unburdened. It had always been a challenge to expend enough of her magic that she wasn't humming with it all the time, but she'd just poured out a lot all at once, and it was like a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. She started to get to her feet, "I think I- whoa-" She knelt back down abruptly. Okay, feeling light might have edged into feeling lightheaded, and her legs might maybe have gone a little shaky. That accidental spill-over of magic at the end might have taken more out of her than she realized. She laughed a little, using the edge of the cot to push herself to her feet more slowly this time, "I think I might have gone a little overboard." She grinned up at Faeran, "But not bad for a first try, huh?"
redribbon
ლ(́◉◞౪◟◉‵ლ)
"Ha, not bad at all!" Faeran said. Though he tried to be enthusiastic for her, he was much more concerned about the display of lightheadedness. "You should lay down," Faeran finally said, the smile on his face growing tepid. "There's a thing called magical fatigue. Could get bad if ya overwork yourself. Take a rest for a little while before ya do anythin', alright?"
"Magical fatigue," she repeated, then laughed inwardly at herself. She'd only felt woozy after using her magic a few times before, and the last time had involved two very large, very angry men with sledgehammers, and this was almost as bad. Definitely need to practice that whole restraint thing. She breathed in slowly, closing her eyes and turning her focus inward. She'd used more magic faster than she was used to, mostly because she was using it in such a completely different way. The little spark inside her still seemed strong, though, and by the time she'd taken a few deep breaths, she'd set the light inside her in order and regained some of her equilibrium. "I think I'm alright," Kari said. "I promise I'll take it easy, and if you really think I should, I'll lie down, but I'd hate to become a patient on my first day. Maybe I could just watch you work?"
