Closed Are We Cursed? (Wrenmae)

[Ana Sol Starris]

Well she should have known he would grab her, he had dangled her over the aperture only moments before this, why didn't she react apropriately before? Holy petch. Was all that went through her mind, struggling out of principle at seeing the green wisps that rose from him like poisonous gas wove around the both of them. Her face must have paled to an awful green as well. The fear saturated her expression, wafted about in her eyes, staring up at him like a doe shined on by light; she didn't know how to react to what was happening. Nodding very slowly to what he was saying, she understood, of course, the incompetent would be devoured.. This was magic, it had to be. Ana vaguely understood auristics, and had a growing handle on morphing, so what was it about this magic.. That frightened her? No current experience she had could have prepared her for this, the green that surrounded her hands brought a chill up her spine. Then it happened. The jaded mist entered through the cuts, mingled with the crimson of her blood and drove through her arm. Ana swore outloud, gasping at the feeling, arm spasming as the serpentine body would travel through her and metaphorically exploded with a type of pain that couldn't even be compared to that of hot metal branding ones skin. Ana was not ready for this. It continued to travel, into her shoulder, and sunk low to her toes through one leg. Said leg gave out, only Wrenmae was effectively holding her up now. To Ana, it felt as if she were being poisoned, or invaded by something that wasn't natural to her system, it was alien to her body. The feeling washed over to the other side, the same unbearable agony happened. There went leg number two, the first side of her body had slowly numbed over, prickling painfully as if it had fallen asleep and was attempting to wake up. Except, the normal prickly feeling was replaced with sharp barbs for every inch of her body. Make it stop It was an internal plea. Another wave of horror passed over, she couldn't tell how long it had taken but it felt to be an eternity before it would finally stop. With nothing but pain and suffering. Writhing, Ana thought she heard shouting, screams of it, only to vaguely realize it was coming from her. The second chime, she had shut her eyes tightly, by the sixth she was convulsing, and finally on the seventh chime, her vision began to fade to black after an erratic jump in her chest, making it difficult to breath. It wasn't until the seventh chime that she felt something crack, with the retreat of Wrenmae's own green substance, she felt something follow after it looking for its own way out as well; the action could have been called chasing. Even after he had let her go, her body crumpling, writhing, twitching, spasming, and curling inwardly on itself into a heap of seemingly lifeless flesh, silent. Ana saw only the black, felt only the black, and was only the black; nothing else, nothing more, the darkness echoed with a ruling silence that terrefyed her despite the calm tranquility. She stayed like that for what seemed to be forever. Until.. There was a spark, a small lit up flame in the darkness. A thump richocheted against the inner walls of her body, inhaling a harsh breath of air, making her chest cleave itself in two in pain, but nothing near as awful as what she had just gone through. Ana gagged, and then coughed loudly, shivered, feeling weak after the entire ordeal. Flicking her eyes open and shut repeatedly, the sun far too bright for her tastes, but even if she had wanted to pass out then.. She couldn't. Eyes, gaunt, and devoid of energy, glazed over with fatigue. Then her eyes caught sight of a puddle around her hand. A brilliantly translucent amber colored gel, viscous in nature, that had oozed from the open wounds of her hand along with the blood. Not a particularly big puddle, but fairly large enough to make her stare at it, confused, again- scared. What had happened? What was this? What did Wrenmae just do to her? The words were mouthed, but she couldn't utter a single one.

[Wrenmae]

When her body bent in spasm, he felt the same old echoing pain of his initiation. She took it about as well as he had, bucking wildly before falling prone. There was only the whisper of consciousness on her tongue, her eyes rolling into darkness. He let her fall, slumped on the bridge above the dark, dark below them both.

For a time, he let her lay there, content to let the girl find her own way back to consciousness. He looked out over the Aperture, far into the city of Nyka, and down into the infinite shadow of the fall.

How far had he come?

Four winters ago he was a performer in Alvadas, singing tales as he though weaving thread for all to listen and appreciate. Now he plotted and schemed, brought cities to their knees, threaded agony into the loom of Mizahar's heart. And yet he lived? And yet the gods had not struck him down?

He almost let himself chuckle, but it died before it reached his lips. All too introspective, all too real.

Ana gasped as she clamored for her breath. Wrenmae was above her, but not looking down at her. He already knew what she wondered, what thoughts thickened in her pain addled brain.

Why. What. How.

"Reimancy," He said to the Aperture, "A magic of bending elements with ones will. You emit a substance called res...your body knows how to do it now. You have one element, your first, that will speak to you. In the beginning, there will be mantras, gestures...but in time you may do so without the use of either. I grant this gift to you, my student, and with it...a command. You are to find others, those who show magical aptitude...encourage them, learn their names, their weaknesses, their desires." He looked down at her.

He wasn't smiling.

"Tell them to me."

Sighing, he pushed off the railing of the bridge, "We have much work to do, and only our lifetimes to accomplish it. Don't make the mistake of living an unimpressive life."

He paused, thinking.

"Next you see me, bring me the giant. I think I did a wrong by him I should correct for his ability to not petch everything up already."

[Ana Sol Starris]

Reimancy.. Ana's eyes traveled upwards, registering the word for what it was from a bleakened memory long in the past. She remembered it vaguely, a past time her brother use to play, showing off to her like a big brother should. Life back then had seemed so.. Simplistic. So, protected, and yet so far away from the world she knew now, and here she was- initiated into the same craft her brother had been. If he had gone through the same thing as she did, had Wrenmae as well? Were there other ways, less painful methods to passing on the magic.. Ana could only ponder. Wrenmae's own request was simple, it made her cringe for it required her to give out Zandelia and Ximal's secrets.. But with the recent mishaps, she wasn't so sure she would keep them from Wrenmae out of a vague loyalty to them. Ximal wasn't her friend anymore, he could burn for all she cared, and Zandelia.. Ana wouldn't think more on her. Instead she barked, balling her fists into the ground as her head caved in to rest on the cobbled ground of the bridge. The initiation had taken a toll on her energy, and especially on what stamina she had before the event. "Ximal... Morphing" she gave away Ximal first, for the lies he had procurred earlier before the incident with the black cloud "weakness... Self control, desire... To kill you." Ana inhaled slowly as she slowly pushed herself up, palms flat on the ground now as she continued on. "Zandelia, auristics.. Weakness.." Ana paused a moment before thinking "self failure, family, Revy.." The last one was a guess, but a logical one at best, she had gotten so angry at Ana for insulting Revy. For even talking smack at that wretched cur trying to play herself as a man. "Desire.. To kill her father, which I found cliche when I learned.." Ana cleared her throat, every inch of her body screamed, but she didn't let it deter her from uprighting enough to lean against the bridge's wall. Percipitation dripped slowly down the side of her forehead, but she paid it no mind, growling instead with a venomnous anger "don't bother with that oaf, he submitted to me under the word slave just like you wrote.." It only took her a moment to realize how much better she felt after revealing secrets of her former two friends, she felt.. Relieved. Yet the both of them had betrayed her in some way.. For simple mistakes, they abandoned her, and she would not forget that- ever. "I know more than that.. I know the both of their life stories practically.." she looked at the amber puddle, stared at it in thought "why not keep the curse on him? I could exploit it further.. Hes loaded with funds, and could take these monks down without breaking a sweat.. Hes just a weapon, and walking pursebag afterall.." Ana severed what emotional ties she had to him that were left, he wanted to play the drama game, and she would take no part in the pain that would cause. Zandelia as well, she snapped what support she held for the woman in half; the both of them crossed her severely, and that was not something one did so lightly.. They would regret it.

[Wrenmae]

"My," Wrenmae said, raising an eyebrow, "You've changed, Ana." It was all he said at first, looking away from her and back out across the Aperture. Had he been responsible for that? Certainly. She had taken her leave from him weaker and come back stronger, ready to give her all...everything she was, to the cause that Wrenmae gave her. Was there concern there? Care?

Yes. Certainly. It was a confusing mire of responsibility and attachment that kept him to her. He had helped create this kind of commitment, and it was foolish of him to throw it away.

He considered the information she'd presented him on Ximal and Zandelia...but ultimately decided that keeping the original curse on Ximal was inefficient. If he rose up when she slept or somehow caught her unable to speak, she would be powerless to stop him. Even the new talent he'd granted her wouldn't be enough to completely immolate the dumb leviathan.

"No," he said, rubbing his chin, "The curse was meant as a lesson, but it seems Ximal has grown out of his useless phase. You say he has grown as a weapon and someone of great disposable income? Fine then, that sort of thing can be used...but not so overtly. The trick of manipulation, Ana, is that the most effective kind is that which the manipulated never knows about. When you've done a good job, most folk will be convinced you've done nothing at all."

Turning back from the bridge, he took a breath and shook his hands. The transmutation of res always took it out of him. All this deviance into magical disciplines had to be dangerous...he could feel it each time he worked his will. But once upon a time there was Alahea. Once upon a time a nation was built upon the backs of such mastery.

Although...perhaps some moderation was in order.

"Ana," He said to her as they neared the mouth of the bridge, "I can grant you many talents, many different magics to follow and learn...but I have to be comfortable that you'll use these talents for your own betterment and the recruitment of others. Hone your skills and make something teachable...find students and foster loyalty in them. Gather the mages and give them something to hope for. Gather the talented and give them purpose. Mizahar is in need of strong guidance, as you know. When you take the life of your father, make sure that afterward...your priorities are straight."

He smiled.

"Fetch me Ximal...let's see if we can't undo that hatred he has of me."

[Ana Sol Starris]

Wrenmae's comment on how she had changed stunned her, she didn't feel all that different, but on further introspection Ana found that there were subtle alterations. In Zeltiva she had been naive, and childish, a scared child looking for a home that didn't hate her. Further forwards to Sunberth, she had distrusted anything that moved, afraid of everyones intentions, and what they might do. Continuing, she was definitely not a Spirian any more, where she was complacent to wait, and hide from the outside world for a time until finally.. Nyka. This city had done wonders for her, and she supposed the branding had something to do with the change as well. "Yes," she agreed. Returning her gaze to the ground, unsure of what else to say. The uncut hand went to cover the thieves brand on her neck, confused as to who she was now. Ana knew her name was 'Ana' and that once upon a time she had been called 'Neilles' as well but now.. She was at a loss. Out of all the different changes she had gone through, there was one trait that was missing. Fear. Ana was no longer afraid of doing what must be done, and instead what use to grip her as a vice had transformed into deterimination "I've stopped being scared.. of everything.." she stood, wobbly, and tired, but ecstatic. Ana had finally figured out what her problem was. It was a big key, that unlocked many possibilities and cleared the void of uncertainty while replacing it with something more: Ambition. Of course she found the word 'No' to be infuriating, but she trusted Wrenmae. Listening to his reasoning, and agreement that Ximal had become useful, at least enough to perk her leader's interest. It was such a funny feeling, to be agreed with on a matter, it sent the butterflys that clung to the walls of her bowels a flutter. If only Ana was better at real manipulation, and not being manipulated herself, the farthest she had gotten was befriending two liars. That certainly turned out swell, her hand clenched around the brand mark tightly, angerly. "I will.. Wrenmae," she started with a small growl, releasing the brand mark and bringing both hands to her sides agitatedly, trying to smile back at him "I've... Always been squeemish with the thought of killing someone, but I am going to take joy in watching the life sputter out in my father's eyes.. and eventually Ximal and Zandelia's, when they've lost their usefulness.." she bowed slightly to him as the transition of anger became a bittersweet smile for her two former friend's very existances. Ana would happily dispose of either of the two for him when she became able enough. Indeed, she would love to see the two burn or hang for the trouble they had caused her, maybe twice as harsh as the Monks had been to her "I will bring Ximal to this bridge right away, expect to see the both of us soon.." Of course she would go to the Infirmary first to get the cuts on her hand cleaned and bandaged, and then she would go to Ximal, she would need to think up a plan on how to get him to the Cursed Bridge without telling him about Wrenmae.. They had not spoken for awhile after the incident involving the curse word 'Slave'. She turned from Wrenmae and began to make her way to the Infirmary. -- Hostel -- After Ana had her hand bandaged and cleaned in the infirmary, she went straight to the Hostel, the red scarf wrapped around her neck once more. There was a type of dreary exhaustion that clung to her feet, and swayed with her arms, but one shouldn't be fooled by that, for her eyes were glistering in the sunlight with a hot and firey motive. Bringing Ximal to the Cursed Bridge. Inside the Hostel she paced, holding the bandaged hand with her other, and the cane in the crook of her arm, thinking, she had to figure a way to not seem too blatantly obvious something was up. Maybe Ana could trick Ximal into thinking that perhaps she had a gift for him.. A gift of what? Misery? Ana didn't know what Wrenmae intended to do with the brute when she would finally bring him to Wren, his plans were a mystery to her. She would have to wing it, she flung herself at the stairs and stepped two at a time trying to hurry. How long had she been making her leader wait? Petch, Ximal, you better damn well follow.. Pausing in front of the door, she let her fingertips lightly press on the wood, leaning forwards to eavesdrop and see if he, or anyone else in the room. From what she could tell there wasn't, she would have to be quick.. Ximal couldn't possibly know what she wished to do. Ana took a nervous breath of air, steeling herself for bones to be broken, or her head to be ripped off, and pushed the door open after turning the handle. Peeking her head in "Xi-ximal...?" Ana squeeked to the air, an idea of what to do quickly forming, she would have to play the sorry game "I...I need to talk to you..." Maybe she was being a little too 'real', she was nervous, and it showed on her face. "Not here though.. Too many ears.. Too many eyes.. P-please..?" Her head retracted itself from the room, biting her lip as she turned from the door and began to walk away to go down the stairs.. Ana had to believe he was going to follow after, she had just dangled a bit of information in front of his face, maybe it would be enough to make him follow after curious. She would refrain from using the curse word until they were outside, and moving towards the Cursed Bridge. "I just.. Wanted to apologize for what I've done.. Or did.. I didn't realize how wrong my actions were.." She spoke in a low tone, eyes to the ground as if she were bashful for what she was saying. Until finally, they were mere meters away from the bridge, her eyes rose to meet his, they watered with much fear for being next to him but she stood her ground "will you forgive me?" Lies. All of it was a lie, she was putting up a facade, and to her she couldn't tell how good it was, or if it were horrible, but she tried; attempting to redirect his attention to her, and not the bridge itself. Ana before the branding would have been like this, Ana in Sunberth, the same, and Neilles in Zeltiva, an exact copy if not ten times worse on the naivette scale.. oocWas told by Ximal he would follow after Ana.

[Ximal]

XI lay on his bed in the hostel, staring at the ceiling, Xi closed his eyes thinking over the events of the seasons thus far, sending a chill down his spine and a slight smirk across his face. Before long the silence of his room was broken with the creaking of his door and the twisting of the door handle. And lo and behold ana poked her head around...Xi held leered at her...She needed to talk to him. At the moment given the situation he felt still angry but like he needed to apologize for what happened...If she needed his attention, she was risking a lot and he knew it with how his attitude had been towards her...Xi sighed and swung his legs off of the bed before she spoke again saying the couldn't talk there...What kind of trouble had she got her self into this time? By the time he'd opened the door, she'd already reached the bottom of the stairs. Xi sighed and followed down after her. She was apologizing for what she did? Xi sighed and knew what she was talking about. "I should be apologizing...I said i'd understand and i exploded anyway...It's still goig to be a sore subject but it's done and gone. Anyway what was it you needed me for ?" Xi followed on after her...His attention now lurking around at the surroundings and noticing the bridge ahead...Xi sighed and, let her take him there, perhaps her problem was on the other side?

[Wrenmae]

Wren said nothing as she left, turning his attention over the Aperture again. There was a silence that descended around him, the sort that was all but impervious.

You're kind of a monster

I know

No clever retort?

What should I say to you, Zan? She is not the same as she was. In another place, another time, I could have made her happy.

She is happy

Is that a joke?

No, you fleshlings and your causes and your missions. If one thing doesn't make you happy, you find another. You're like the most resilient joybags in the world.

We manipulate, lie, cheat, steal...

Defend, bare witness, play fair, donate

Always with an answer, aren't you?

Would I be any kind of partner if I didn't?

I suppose not. Get ready.

You think he'll go for the throat?

That's what you're here to avoid.

Zan spun away from Wrenmae, slinking down till he was hovering just beneath the bridge, emitting a pale green res that he kept around himself like a blanket. If Ximal felt like fighting, Zan would knock him into the Aperture.

Let the gods sort him out.


As the two approached, Wrenmae stayed a distance away, at the edge of the bridge.

He nodded to them gravely as they appeared, and beheld him...a bridge away.

"Ximal," he said with a short wave, "You're looking better than I expected you to. I was told by Ana that you have proven invaluable in your journeys together."

He paused, as if considering that fact.

"I think it's about time I remove that curse from you...What do you think?"

[Ana Sol Starris]

Ana only gave Ximal a furtive glance, nervous, and without a reply for there would never need to be one once Wrenmae had called out to them. Clasping her hands behind her back she began to walk across the bridge towards Wren, she wouldn't risk speaking, lest she would mess something up he had planned but she wouldn't stay there next to Ximal. Far too risky, she didn't trust him to react in a very good way, and being near him was a death setence if everything turned out for the worst. Dira, stay away, she was more than ready to begin a full fledged sprint if she heard the lumbering oaf begin running towards her. Ana was smaller, faster with her legs, and she expected a lunge. Getting caught by Ximal was not what she intended to happen, nor would she place herself in a bad situation. She had grown from that stage, trying to believe that everything would be alright, allowing trouble to make its way towards her without any preventive cautions being placed down in advance. "This, Ximal." Ana muttered, perhaps just loud enough for him to hear if he were still in hearing range, if he wasn't, she didn't care. For all the anger and distrust she held for her former friend, she would play along with Wrenmae's game. Hopefully in the end it would result in something much worse, a fly began to buzz around her stomach, as worries stirred irrationally next to hatred. Gut reaction told her the negative outcome was more than likely to happen, instead of the better. I really hope you know what you're doing Wren.. There was only a sliver of doubt in her mind. Maybe, perhaps, Ana was a little more than a quarter of the way across, the black depths on either side whistled uncomfortably. Mocking the three so very close to falling into its gaping, hungry maw.

[Ximal]

Xi stepped onto the bridge, following behind ana, an uneasy feeling welling in his stomach...Unsure of what was going to happen ahead, Did ana just want to discuss something with him privately in a place that few to none ever crossed? Or was this something else...His question was answered the moment he saw wren. Xi felt some what...hurt again...this time though he wan't surprised. He just wouldn't be trusting ana ever again. Xi then caught the voice of wren echoing out over the bridge, nothing but the still blackness of the aperture beneath...Xi felt his hand clench subconsciously beneath his cloak. Then he caught ana's voice. He spoke now through gritted teeth with ain air of anger behind it. "Ana...If you don't want to find out what's at the bottom of the aperture...I suggest you get away from me. Now." Xi slowed his breath...Xi then turned his attention back to wren, making sure that ana knew he was serious. "As far as ana goes...I've saved her backside more times than she would care to admit...As far as how I'm looking is concerned, I'm well...Enough. No thanks to you." He paused a moment before continuing. "So you come here to mock me ? Toss me into that black abyss, or just to twist ana into a more corrupt and deceitful woman than she already is? Or maybe it's all of the above...I can never really tell with you." Xi stepped forwards onto the bridge...A flash of anger across his face as he leered on at wren...Not letting ana out of his sight either. About time he remove the curse...Xi's hand clenched tight enough that his knuckles turned white beneath the steel of his gauntlets. "Time to remove it? Over damn time...Heck there was no reason to put it there in the first place! I helped you escape and you thanked me by stringing my ass up in chains, and setting a petching ware house on fire, all of which after you set a curse on me that has made my life like living in abject torture! About time? Too petching right it's about damn time." Xi took a deep breath and listened to the whistle of the wind over the depths below... "If i was the old me...I would already be wrapping my hands around your throat and squeezing the life out of you until your head popped like an over ripe cherry...No...That's not how I am any-more...I spent time in the spires...And I...As much as i hate to say it...I forgive you for what you did...You had your reasons...and I see that." Xi turned his head to look towards ana...the anger in his face evening out to still calmness again. "I forgive you as well...As much as I've tried to help you your still loyal to him...And I can't hold it against you..." Xi's anger calmed and went down the the smallest fizzle before going out entirely...

[Wrenmae]

Both hands met in a sharp retort, once...twice, than thrice.

Wren applauded Ximal dryly from his side of the bridge. Ana approached, and as Ximal sang out his highbrow words, Wrenmae resisted the urge to laugh in his face.

"Ximal, Ximal..." the wizard shook his head, "You misunderstand. Allow me to educate you." He folded his hands, leaning against one of the posts holding up the bridge. "When we first met, in Sunberth, you were fool enough to try to set all the slaves free from the slave market. My first impression of you was a headstrong, self-righteous idiot. Since then, you continued to flaunt yourself in such brazen fashion that I was and still am surprised your body was not hung on the gallows. Granted, you may have helped me escape a sticky situation, but you continue to delude yourself. Ximal, you are a mage without principle...you do not understand what it is to possess magic and so you will never truly be a wizard."

As Ana reached him, he put a comforting hand on her shoulder briefly, and beckoned to Ximal.

"To be a wizard is to have secrets, secrets you cannot afford to let anyone know. With the pitfalls of magic, both your weaknesses and your strengths are a matter of simple definition. You had to die because you knew too much, it wasn't a matter of hatred." He paused, "However, the curse was a lesson and insurance that the next I met you, I could control your habit of exposing your abilities and, by extension, creating trouble for those around you."

He sighed, and Zan shifted position, drawing out res around his viscous body and prepared to send it out straight at the man. "Now, if you're done forgiving me, you have a choice. Either calm your mind and let me remove the curse from you in the same state you were in when I laid it, or continue to have it. Either works for me, really. I just thought you'd want a way out."