A Self-sufficient Execution (Callisto)

[Panna Cotta]

Timestamp: 1st of Fall 510AV

Callisto's beauty was a little out of place in Sahova, and it was she who was bewildered and smitten with the unattractive and uninteresting Citadel. Her journey was simple, she wanted to learn magic, and she wanted to learn it from the best, if not the ancients. Sahova existed even before the Valterrian, and who knows what primeval magic awaits the brave and willing? The very enterprise of going to Sahova deeply ensconced her in anticipation, a behavior that she might learn to regret later.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Came a voice from behind her. It was a very pretty woman, human and not human at the same time. "The Palsa Hydrasa is over at the other wing." And she swirled on her toes, her bright azure and emerald dress flowing in the tremor of her own making. There was a brief examination of the golem that escorted her, the pretty human gave it a good pounding, leaving it lying on its side, after a couple of fiddling words in a language unfamiliar to Callisto.

"Good gracious, it's still as bad as last summer." She gave the cylindrical golem a proverbial kick in the nads, "Apprentices gone missing, visitors found undead," she gave a displeased sigh, "you'd think there'd be more bodies to work on at the rate of things." The golem convulsed and puttered out, "Task # 4. Assistant-in-Training for Master Amaryllis taken by..." the sound of broken gear whirred in the air, "Callisto."

Another solid kick dented the metal plating of the tumbled golem's body. "So, you came to be an apprentice?" Callisto didn't really have any choice when she arrived. She figured she could ask around for help, but there didn't seem to be any sign of life anywhere. To top it off, the Vestibule Golem threatened to kill her if she dared try to enter the Citadel without 'permission'. Which was made more terrible because the Greeter Golem did not offer any option for Callisto to enter the Citadel except if she accepted a job. Which was petching irritating, for it offered nothing but Amaryllis' 'task - something that involved anatomy and reimancy. Callisto visited the Citadel to learn Projection, to practice under an able Master. The Ethaefal also wanted to stake her chances at finding out more about the Ukalas and Astral Coordinates. Tough luck, but who knows? She was willing to do everything and anything to go back to Syna.

"So, why are you here anyway?" The beautiful woman swiped her hair with both hands backwards. "You really up for the job?" She examined her, eyes prying every nook and cranny of her body.

Callisto will inevitably mention her goals, her desire to find a way to return to Syna, and Amaryllis will click her tongue "tsk tsk tsk" as if condemning Callisto's fall from grace. By this time they were crossing a covered bridge, grandiose arcs framing the breathtaking lifeless scenery around Sahova. Amaryllis led her through the doors at the end of the bridge.

Callisto was catapulted into a room that was unlike the weathered walls and spirited architecture of Sahova. Everything was so clean. She would have declared it fit for human condition if not for the constant permeation of the strong scent of embalming fluid in her nose. The smell, if inhaled deeply, spiked her nasal tunnels, thrusting annoyance at her brain. They walked down a short path in the middle of what appears to be a pool of clean water, only Callisto was sure it was what gave off the unwanted aroma of disinfectant and embalming fluid. Doesn't matter, she will get used to it soon enough. At least she wouldn't have to work in a rodent-infected cobweb-infested dungeon.

The next room had a stronger scent of bleach, and rows upon rows of bodies lined up for embalming. Amaryllis led Callisto to the second door on the left wall, "Your room, should you decide to stay." Amaryllis opened the door, revealing a clean modest room with nothing but a basic bed. She did not let Callisto linger, for it was quite a small room and there was really nothing else to see (it didn't even have a window). Motioning the Ethaefal to follow her into the other door, Amaryllis turned on her heel and gave Callisto a smirk.

Amaryllis' office, should Callisto enter, was bigger than her room and was decorated lavishly with curtains of royal blue fabric. There were golems that automatically fanned Amaryllis, there were columns that held and offered bowls of grapes and fruits. There was no desk, and the ambiance was hardly office like. There were very big cushions made of velvet to sit on. Amaryllis, proud and beautiful like the peacock motif in her room, motioned for Callisto to take a cushion and make herself comfortable.

"Does everything you see appeal to you so far. Go on, talk more about yourself." Amaryllis smiled and popped a few grapes into her mouth.

[Callisto]

Rarely does Callisto show much enthusiasm for anything, aside from her magic and her suvai. But Sahova had caught her attention ever since the Nuit Jilitse had assaulted her with questions last season. She had found her fascinating at the very least, and her introduction of Sahova through her monotonous tone yet detailed depiction of the citadel had trapped her in a tight web. She wished to see, and if not to be enrolled, then to at least gather what information she could; ask questions, seek answers and know more!

When the beautiful woman Amaryllis approached her with the rather morbid looking golem, Callisto merely quirked a brow. She wasn’t frightened, far from it, but she was certainly intrigued. The mention of a job had left her a tad irate, but the appearance of the woman had dampened whatever bitterness she felt. This was a chance to test the limits of the living amongst the undead, was it not? But in ways, Callisto would call herself not among the mortal kind; yes she was living, but only temporary! The realm from whence she came was where one transcended from after a long life lived in the worship of Syna or Leth, of course, she knew she had once perished, but whether or not she would perish once more during this era was something to be determined sooner or later.

The Ethaefal followed Amaryllis into the varying rooms, observing the texture of the walls and the floors, and whatever contraptions lay about if any. “I came to learn.” She said simply, as they passed clean rooms that stunk of the dead and whatever liquids were used to preserve them. She would have found it disgusting if it were not for the fact that the dead brought the influx of amazing and notorious wizards. There was something to be said of the recycling of useless, mortal bodies, they preserved the stronger, the smarter and the seekers of secrets.

Her room left much to be desired, but she cared little of material things. She only wore her sari-like clothes for decency, and her suvai was her weapons. She wondered then, if they would allow her exit of the Citadel, for she knew she would yearn the feel of Syna’s rays on her skin, nourishing her…

And then they came to Amaryllis’ office. Far more luxurious than anything else she had encountered, other than the far too extravagant buildings and rooms on Mura. Callisto sat on one of the velvet cushions, touching the textured fabric idly, until the woman asked her yet another question. “Quite ravishing, actually.” She remarked with a charming smile of her own, “I suppose humans don’t find the Citadel too tempting?” The implications in that statement were painfully obvious. “As I have said, I’ve come to learn; more so about my own falling, what powers could be unleashed in one’s retained body and the ways of Projection. I understand I must hold a job of some sort to appease you?” Callisto’s air felt like that of a queen. Regal, beautiful, but her deep, citrine eyes were unnaturally cold.

She continued, “Which is fine, as in no way do I wish to anger those that have taken their time to allow me entrance.” She gave another, rueful smile. Do they lie? Do they hold the bodies of even divine beings such as Ethaefals? Callisto had to wonder this, although she was hardly frightened of the thought. She gazed at Amaryllis with those unnerving eyes, taking in her beauty, so distinct from her surroundings, and that of the overall atmosphere of Sahova. “Lady Amaryllis, if you would have me.” She bowed her head, in submission? Perhaps only this once!

[Panna Cotta]

"Oh, the living finds no reprieve in Sahova, they always end up down below and then up above." This might be a jargon for something, but Callisto did not know, and possibly did not care.

"I see, I understand, Projection." She smiled, "Yes of course, we are always willing to teach, especially those willing to learn. You are the first one to know the rules of exchange. Those willing to learn must pay, one way or another." Once again, she flipped her hair back. Amaryllis was certainly too classy for a Nuit. She spoke in a tongue that elicited mixed reactions from Callisto. A golem approached Callisto bearing a bowl of berries. "A tit for tat. First, the contract. I require you to appear here twelve hours a day and work on corpses. Bodies are far too fragile, too important to be handled by golems. So we use labor. Your job would be nothing but ensure that bodies are properly washed and prepared for embalming. When there are no bodies to handle, I require you to grind herbs and, if you are willing to learn, philter embalming fluid. That takes work down at the Venenium Laboratory. We won't be paying you for serving us, but you can get access to the Citadel's Library under my permission. I doubt you'll find anything worthwhile, unless you learn Nader-Canoch. There are translations, but they are not very easy to come by."

"So, you have any questions?" She smiled, goading Callisto to eat the berries.

"Next, while I consider myself to be your Master, your Mentor, don't treat me like I'm sitting in a high lofty throne. I don't. I hate pretenses." She sniffed and looked away, once more flipping her hair backwards. "You just report to me everything that you do, and I mean everything. If you go outside of this area I want every minute you spend out of the doors accounted for. If you talk to anybody but me, I want their names. Do you understand?" Of course, what Amaryllis did not mention is that there would be golem-spies sent after Callisto. Can't be so sure enough of pulsers.

"And finally, if you want to learn Projection, visit me here anytime after work. I'll be working the same hours you do, and I'll be willing to teach you for as long as you can stay awake."

[Callisto]

oocjust realized your avvie is so deceptive! White fairy in an undead world, haha, so out of place!

Callisto politely declined the golem who offered her berries. She never ate in her Ethaefal form, and she wasn’t about to begin now. Instead she listened to Amaryllis with rapt attention, nodding occasionally and toying with the hem of her long skirt. Indeed, the Ethaefal was grateful that she needn’t pay, but the conditions to which she would have to repay the lessons she would learn sounded less than appealing. Oh well, twas life, and from what she could tell in her relatively short visit to Mizahar, life seemed to want to kick her in the ass the majority of the time, this was no different, but it sounded fair, at the time.

“Of course, I understand. I will do these tasks to the best of my abilities.” It was a good thing Callisto rarely, if ever slept, she would get as much information as she could from this woman, this.. Nuit, and store it in her mind and in her heart, for greater use later on. Now the idea of touching the dead didn’t phase her as much as the subtle implications of being trailed. Report all that she did to Amaryllis? She paused for a moment.

“Are there times when I am able to leave the Citadel, or am I confined for the duration of my apprenticeship?” Not that she had anywhere to go, but she wondered if she would be trapped here, much like a prison, a very cold prison, that seemed to suit her just fine for the moment.

“Understood.” She remarked to Amaryllis’ next comment. Callisto was not bothered by the fact that she now had rules enforced on her, this was what it took to learn from the best? Fine, it was well worth it. In the end she would hopefully leave Sahova with new information in tow, and a more expansive knowledge of the magic she now wielded. She smiled toward her new Master, showing her respect by even bowing her head in the slightest. If she could not call her Lady then she would at least show proper mannerisms, whether she liked it or not.

[Panna Cotta]

"You are free to roam anywhere you want after your work hours, I wont restrict you. That is to say, there are far more dangerous places and wizards in the Citadel that you should have enough wits to avoid. If you suffer demise out of my watch, I won't be held responsible." She combed her hair with one of her hands.

"The next shipment of bodies won't come until the 11th, and there really isn't anything for you to do around here. You may confine yourself to your room, walk around or take a stroll outside, for all I care. You just have to be clear where you want to go and how long you'll be away just so I'll have an idea where to pick up your corpse if you die."

She told Callisto, "You have access to, hmm let's see..." putting a thoughtful finger to her lips, she said, "...common laboratories and workshops." She sniffed, "As if you've got anything to do there. You'll be sharing it with other mages, and by other mages I mean undead mages. You can also visit the Library, but the golems won't respond nor assist you, so you'll have to manually climb the shelves if you're looking for something. You may drop by the Venenium Laboratory if you like, tell the Nuit-on-duty down there 'Amaryllis from Palsa Hydrasa sent me to philter embalming fluid'. You must be clear on that or else they'd think you were a test subject of sorts. Ethaefals are a novelty around here, you know." She winked and smiled.

A couple more of hair flipping and Amaryllis said, "Up to you where you want to go. Just make sure you're here by the time the day breaks on the 11th. Technically, you're free for a while. Lucky, you. Or not. Teaching you Projection would still have to be off my hours of work. However, I'm currently working round the clock until the 11th, so... I really would have to leave you alone." Amaryllis straightened up and pointed towards the door, signalling that they would have to exit her office now.

Once outside, she told Callisto, "It's not hard to find your way around Sahova. Watch the signs on the walls, there are usually shiny blue arrows pointing you in the general direction of offices and locations. We don't have danger sounds around here, but I'll advice you to avoid going down the basement levels, unless you want to die by suffocation or a very bad case of poisoning." She nodded to Callisto and walked past the lined up bodies, examining each one of them as she moved on.

[Callisto]

“I’ll be sure to avoid them,” Callisto commented when Amaryllis responded to her question. She smiled guardedly, something she was used to at this point; a façade, a show of gratitude that at some points was also quite genuine. “I wouldn’t want to annoy you with the prospect of picking up my body.” There was no insulting tone to her voice as she said this. Callisto, in all aspects, regarded Amaryllis with up most respect. After all, she had not expected to be taught without a fee!

At the mention of the library, the Ethaefal gave a soft laugh. “I’m sure I’ll be doing quite a lot of exercise then, I suppose. All’s well, books do not read themselves,” she paused, “Perhaps I should bite my tongue on that. In Sahova, I would presume that wouldn’t be impossible.” And then the Nuit had peaked her curiosity! She spoke of test subjects and Ethaefals in such a way that it made Callisto’s skin erupt in small goosebumps. That same, charming smile was playing on her lips then, but the unnerving citrine eyes showed a hint of her desire to know more.

“Please, if you will. What do you do with test subjects? Dissect them? Torture them? I’ve always wondered of the sort of creatures Nuits worked with, and their habits. Quite fascinating, although I’ve heard not many take well to the Nuits as a whole.”

When Amaryllis stood, so did Callisto, and she followed the lovely Nuit out of her office. The prospect of being free for a time made her stay on Sahova seem not as difficult as she had originally believed. “I’ll keep that in mind.” So too did the Ethaefal’s eyes linger on the corpses. She was beginning to get used to the prospect of handling them. “Not much different than dolls, really. It will be done.”

[Panna Cotta]

"Your brand of curiosity might turn you into a test subject." Amaryllis shook her head. "I do not mingle with the other wizards, I have never belonged in that crowd. They are snobs and S.O.B.s, if you know what I mean. Being a test subject spells death at the end. Being an apprentice occasionally spells death at the end, too." She waved a strand of hair away from her face and said, "Their business ain't my business, so I don't really know what happens back there. I do my job, and do it forever. At first embalming corpses was a very daunting task. Other than dipping them into embalming fluid I have lots of free time in my hands. And I mean lots." She sighed and rolled her eyes before motioning Callisto to come near a corpse. "So what I do, I try to figure out the exact time they died. This one, judging by the bloated abdomen," Amaryllis pointed to the male corpse wearing a tunic. "Must have been gone a few days, 8 at tops." She touched the corpse with such elegance, and the job didn't look so bad. The Nuit took the man's stiff arm who they were before they arrived here. "Jagged wrist lacerations indicate suicide." She cocked her head and encouraged Callisto to look.

Once Callisto was done examining, Amaryllis told her, "Once determining their exact time of death becomes boring, I try to play detective and check whatever belongings they have on them. You can tell a lot by the clothes people wear. Leather and armor usually indicate a hunter, exquisite fabrics reveal their material wealth. And so on. It will be part of your task to strip the corpses of their belongings. Whatever can be salvaged will be sequestered by the Council. Remember that Sahova bought these corpses, and any item on them belongs to Sahova." A slight laugh, "Of course, I'm not a prick, and would allow you to keep a trinket or two. I'm not a hypocrite, can't say I don't do it, too." She held out a ring to Callisto, one with a particularly big, clear, sparkling gemstone.

"Once a corpse if naked, you may bring them onto the washing table," She interrupted, pulling Callisto's attention back to her job. "You wash them with tepid water," Amaryllis led Callisto to an empty marble bed and took a hose. "Press this button and water comes out." After a demonstration, she stepped to a doorway. "Well, here's where I leave you. You may examine the last batch of corpses if you like, take some work off my other apprentice. Remember our rules, and you'll do fine." And she turned her back to Callisto, dark hair and blue dress fluttering as she went.

[Callisto]

“Snobs and S.O.B.s,” Callisto repeated, slightly amused despite Amaryllis’ dark undertones, “I could see why you wouldn’t want to dabble in such things.” A wise decision, perhaps I should follow in her footsteps as well. It was all linear to the Ethaefal, to be quite honest. She was here to work, and foremost learn as much as she could about a variety of magic and the one she had chosen to follow so diligently. To examine these human corpses seemed like a privilege to her now. They would be primped and proper for the Nuits that allowed her entrance; it was the least she could do to repay their “kindness”, or in this case, Amaryllis’. So when the female Nuit spoke, Callisto listened with rapt attention to what Amaryllis did to pass the time. She inspected the corpse just as the other woman pointed at the abdomen, then scrutinized the wrists of the male. Ah yes, suicide, but for what reason?

Clothing, it determines their history and origin. Callisto nodded, “Very gracious of you.” She replied softly, a shadow of a smile on her lips. Then the Ethaefal obediently followed the smaller Nuit toward marble bed, taking note of the hose and the button. “Understood,” Callisto bowed her head as Amaryllis turned to leave, “I will not disappoint.” When the Nuit had disappeared beyond the doorway, the Ethaefal glanced about her once more. She was used to the smell of the corpses by now, and examined the surface of the “bed” further. Such pristine material, such a pity it had to be marred by the rotting corpses of dead men.

Tossing a strand of flamingly crimson hair aside, she turned to approach the row of corpses lined against the wall. One by one she passed by them, roaming their faces, absorbing their pallid skin, sunken eyes and thinning hair. There was a woman amidst them, far more fresh in appearance than the rest of them. Callisto paused, extending a golden hand to lift the arms of the dead woman to inspect them further. She was cold, mostly because of the atmosphere in the room, but beyond the deep incision in her throat, she seemed quite peaceful. The blood had clotted, but her neck and her fine dress were matted with the crimson liquid. Her abdomen, just like the one that Amaryllis had pointed out was beginning to show signs of bloat.

Almost casually, Callisto began to strip the woman of her fine jewelry, setting them aside for Amaryllis, then lifted her luxurious dress over her head. “Murdered at the prime of her life, such a pity.” She murmured, dropping the cloth at her feet. “Wealthy, beautiful and young, who could have murdered you but a jealous man that could not have you?” She smiled, running a finger down the smooth skin of the corpse, then paused when she noticed something bellow her naval. She leaned closer, a tattoo? She scratched at the spot a moment. Not ink, and nothing she could rightly read. Instinctively, she looked about for someone to ask, but it was silent, as silent as they could in the realm of the undead. “Curious, very curious."

It didn’t take long for Callisto to transport the corpse to the marble bed. She figured she might as well get one of them underway to get a feel for her work, and pressed the button beside the hose to begin the water. The tattoo seemed to remain, and it continued to taunt her. Something unknown, something she would like to ask Amaryllis should she return anytime soon.

[Panna Cotta]

"No, no, no, no!" The cry came as Callisto went on about doing someone else's job. Apparently, that someone else wasn't too happy, either. It was a man of small stature, thin and bony, dressed in aristocratic clothes. He had neatly combed curly golden hair framing his triangular face. He looked at Callisto, volleyed a look towards the corpse she was checking and painted a horrified look in his face. He pointed a long bony finger and stabbed at her direction. "Who are you what are you doing here why are you touching that corpse?!"

As soon as the Ethaefal was finished with her explanation, he would say "Name's Bannarche. And whatever she told you, I am not her apprentice!" He marched, and quite elegantly. He had to look up a bit to the Ethaefal to talk to her. "What did she tell you, huh?" He gasped dramatically, "You! Do you know what those mean?!" He pointed towards the unusual tattoo, finger stabbing the air once again. "Those are very important numbers that would open up the gates to another world." He waggled a finger in front of Callisto. "Do not meddle with these corpses, as I am in the middle of a great discovery. I have been spending days trying to figure out the correct order of things. It would not help if you start adding chaos into the equation."

"Why don't you follow peacock-lady to wherever she is?" Bannarche suggested, "Make yourself useful?"

[Callisto]

The only reaction given to the abrupt entrance of a rather irate man was a quirk of her brow. Callisto turned to glance at him, pausing in her scrutinizing of the mark on the woman’s navel to address him. “My apologies, I had no clue you would be returning so soon, I only wished to get a feel for my future work. Shall I put her back then?” She inquired, although when the Nuit began to introduce himself then vehemently stated that he was not an apprentice, Callisto couldn’t help but smile.

“She told me I could look these corpses over. She did look one over herself, right over there.” She pointed to the man. “I won’t touch any more, if it bothers you so much.” When he pointed at the tattoo, Callisto glanced at it, then tapped her lip, “I suppose I don’t. Another world? What kind of world?” She was intrigued now. How so many things in this place intrigued her! “I really do not see how washing a corpse would create chaos so grand it would screw you over, sir Bannarche.” There was a look of innocence on her golden countenance, and perhaps she meant it!

“Amaryllis already told me what I needed to do, and I intend to follow it. She has specifically told me to look to these corpses come the 11th, I suppose that is being useful?” Perhaps she was treading dark water, but she went on, “I have nothing else to do, Bannarche, will you not show me your research? Are you certain these tattoos open a gate? Did you put them there yourself?”