by Jilitse on March 24th, 2010, 3:48 am
"Animation," she said, ignoring the nonsense question thrown at her, "is a form of world magic that allows you to give life or life-like traits into objects. Objects can be just about anything, as long as it is an empty vessel. Meaning, it does not have a soul. Wood, metal, stone... even corpses. Less of the latter these days." She opened the book and positioned it between her and Cosette. "One of the animation rituals you should be familiar with would be the Daek-Nuit. But, unlike you, I have undergone a voluntary Daek-Nuit ritual, and I was subject to a ceremony unlike the ones performed these days. Lesser nuits seem to have been... some used the word 'inflicted', I prefer to use the word 'turned', into undead beings by forcing them to drink another nuit's ichor."
Jilitse had a sardonic smile on her face. "This is what you came here for, right? Most new nuits do. They want to know who they really are, after finding themselves neither human nor dead. They want to know what nuits are. They come here, wanting to learn what the Daek-Nuit ritual is. Those who came before you, Cosette, all of them painfully tried to learn animation, to learn the process of life-giving. A few of them are still around, but they have never found the answer they were looking for. All of them - and soon, including you - will just settle for eternal life." There was a knowing glint in her eyes. "The sooner you accept that you have died, the sooner you will be able to accept your fate of unlife." She held her hands together, fingertips touching one another.
"Seldom do people understand magic these days." She shook her head, "You are a very selfish person, Cosette. Very selfish indeed. You think that being a nuit is a curse, that it is something you can turn your back against." Her voice was in a hallowed monotonous tone, "You think that you could continue living by acting as if you are still alive? You think that you could morph your skin, your tongue? Your eyes reveal that you are but an empty vessel, an animated corpse. You are the kind of nuit that disgusts me. You are not worthy of your eternal life." She stood up and took the book she was reading earlier. "I have told you before, and I will tell you again. The answers to the question you seek are not here in Sahova. You are stupid to think that Sahova is a retreat for all kinds of nuits. You are foolish to assume that you can start an eatery business here. You are conceited. Too human. You do not belong here."
Jilitse reached out for two of the books in the pile, and handed them over to Cosette. "Here is a beginner's book on flux, and a related book on animation. I doubt you really need these things." She leaned behind Cosette and embraced the young nuit. "Do you feel that, Cosette? Do you see how there in no warmth in our touch? That we do not have hearts that beat?" She snuggled close, cheek brushing against Cosette's cheeks. "I hate to break it to you, but you are dead, Cosette. You are one of the countless fallen stars."
She glided away and in a louder voice, "It was nice meeting you Cosette. I look forward to being your friend... forever."
I. Vox Populi, Vox DeiII. The Night the Watchtowers CriedI am nothing special, of this I am sure. I am a common woman with common thoughts and I've led a common life. There are no monuments dedicated to me and my name will soon be forgotten, but I've loved another with all my heart and soul, and to me, this has always been enough.