Kavala carefully listened to Shane’s words. He indeed had something interesting to say. It was rare to run across someone who was self taught in any magical discipline and rarer still to find someone who stumbled into it on their own. The Konti could see how it could happen however. The fasting had most likely lead to a quasi meditative state that then lead to an altered vision of life and their own existence within the world. Shane must be gifted with the ability to see with auristics if it came so easily to him. More than likely he was a powerful mage in a past life and his spirit remembered even if it was a new practice to his current form. Life happened like that. Everything was circular and the same talents came around and around and around because in a way the practice of them life after life molded a dependence on them by someone’s soul core.
At least that’s what Kavala believed.
She said as much to Shane as well. “It’s always amusing what our souls long for. I believe our inner essence manipulates our actions and interests more than we actually realize. It’s a rare thing that you discovered a magical discipline without being taught by another or by not having read about it somewhere or having been told by someone. I think our minds remember lives past and we manipulate our existence to get what we are used to having time after time. Perhaps in times past you were a skilled aorist as well and your body and spirit are so used to functioning on that level that your soul demanded you pick Auruistics back up and when you had that situation happen, your quiet spirit took matters into its own hands.” Kavala said thoughtfully, knowing it might make her sound a little off center but it was her firm belief.
“I was born a Konti on the Sea of Grass. We were supposed to be gentle seers and healers. But the moment I could hold a dagger to slice my own meat as a child it felt natural to me. Being with weapons is like being with lungs. I can’t breath as well without them. I know why that is. In the past it was how I was raised and what I did for a living. It’s what my body remembers. When I move, I naturally lead with my forward stance, chamber my body, and support my structure so I can move. People say that people who can do things from birth are ‘naturals’ but that’s not the case. They just spent lifetime after lifetimes learning a skill or technique so much so that its part of them from one incarnation to another.” Kavala said, longing suddenly to take a drink of her whiskey. Alcohol and indeed the dancing had been just what the healer ordered.
“Tailor the game to the partner and I suspect they will come easier.” Kavala said with a chuckle and ran her finger around the rim of her shot glass. She brought it to her lips and licked the whiskey taste off of it. A smile curled her lips and she enjoyed how relaxed she felt just getting away from the day to day grind that had become her life. She loved that life… no doubt about it, but it was still necessary to get away from it from time to time. And Shane was turning out to be excellent company.
She took the time to study his features and decided he was young. Normally she didn’t do well with humans. Someone had once made the offhand comment to her that the most dangerous creature out there was a young human male with too much time on their hands and too much anger in their hearts. That was one of the reasons Kavala loved living in Riverfall. The Akalaks all trained, almost to a whole, from the time they were walking to the time they aged past being able to rise from a chair. They channeled their emotions into their physical fitness, their restraint and even their scholarship. Standing in one’s shadow was like standing in a little grotto of inner control. She liked that. But Shane, no… he represented the most dangerous branch of his peers. And yet he didn’t act like the typical young human did. He’d not once leered at her and she certainly wasn’t convinced he’d already imagined her naked in his bed.
She chuckled a bit at her own thought but didn’t share with Shane. Sometimes though, when she was close to a group of humans, she remembered the past and grew tense. When she was just a girl, they had done something unforgivable. Then later, when she’d fancied herself in love with one… a Drykas… he’d told her that he was sorry but she just wasn’t human enough for him. Kavala gripped the rim of the shot glass again, her hands unused to being idle. She wouldn’t judge Shane for his race, but that didn’t mean she wouldn’t be wary of him. Cautious and stupid were too different things and Kavala liked to think she was cautious.
Kavala really listened to his answer, about how things were interconnected and nodded understandingly. She lowered her voice considerably, thinking perhaps she shouldn’t talk as much because the healer knew the brandy she’d already drank had loosened it. “I think you may be onto something. I learned how to shapeshift with djed and I found it tremendously difficult at first until I came to the understanding that we are all somewhat the same thing, flesh, bone, blood, djed… and in that alikeness I found an interconnection much like the one you are talking about. It made the magic easier and the power flow. From then, arms became wings, feet became hooves, horns sprouted, and even female became male with something more of an ease. Having a model does seem to help, but in the end when you really detach yourself from thinking of us and them and just start understanding the we aspects then it all flowed for me.” The woman finished, not sure he’d understand what she was saying. He might even chalk it up to the alcohol giving her delusions. But she didn’t care.
The Konti walked in power. She cloaked herself in personal power, the kind that was made up of knowledge, confidence, and bright intelligence. Every move she made bespoke it. The choice of their seating, the assessing glances around the room, even noting who came and went as they did so from the bar. It wasn’t easily recognizable until you noted that she moved like a dancer, observed like a scientist, but had the heart of an killer. The last part she was glad wasn’t visible. It all equated to her treating her body like a temple and a tool that had to be sharpened and oiled continuously or it would not function properly. And the mind was the same way. Talking with Shane was like holding a whetstone to it, bringing her focus in towards him and making her think.
And so, when he opened his mouth to ask his question, she deflated slightly. He violated the most sacred rule of ‘the game’ and had basically asked her the same question she’d asked him. It was a disappointment to say the least. Truthfully Kavala felt in the mood to talk about herself a bit, but she also wanted to know what she wanted to know about him meaning have a choice what information he gave her about himself. It scratched her itch to control the situation a bit, even though every other turn that power was reversed. She’d always have the choice to drink rather than answer, right? The Konti stared at the human a bit wide eyed and then shook her head. She made up a new rule right then and there on the spot. “If you ask the same question back, which is a noted violation of the rules of the game, you must buy the victim of your flagrant disregard for the rules dinner. There are some nice places still open tonight. If we finish with the game early enough, I’ll cash in my prize.” The Konti said, laughing slightly. Then she barreled ahead and changed directions, liking to surprise the recipient of her questions with ones that were unrelated to the previous question. It was, after all, best to keep them guessing.
“Name one of your fears. Everyone has them. Some are little things, but some are really huge. I don’t care if you pick a big thing or a little thing, but I’d like to know one thing you are afraid of.” Kavala said, reaching out to play with the bottle of whiskey between them. She dragged it over to her side, uncorked it, and sniffed deeply while she smiled at Shane, her eyes never leaving his face. Her own pupils were wide, bright, as if they were overflowing with mischief and a bit of wonder. Of course, they might just read a tad drunk as well if he looked close enough.
She smiled as she waited for his answer, glad she got two questions out of him and perhaps a meal, while he had gotten none.
At least that’s what Kavala believed.
She said as much to Shane as well. “It’s always amusing what our souls long for. I believe our inner essence manipulates our actions and interests more than we actually realize. It’s a rare thing that you discovered a magical discipline without being taught by another or by not having read about it somewhere or having been told by someone. I think our minds remember lives past and we manipulate our existence to get what we are used to having time after time. Perhaps in times past you were a skilled aorist as well and your body and spirit are so used to functioning on that level that your soul demanded you pick Auruistics back up and when you had that situation happen, your quiet spirit took matters into its own hands.” Kavala said thoughtfully, knowing it might make her sound a little off center but it was her firm belief.
“I was born a Konti on the Sea of Grass. We were supposed to be gentle seers and healers. But the moment I could hold a dagger to slice my own meat as a child it felt natural to me. Being with weapons is like being with lungs. I can’t breath as well without them. I know why that is. In the past it was how I was raised and what I did for a living. It’s what my body remembers. When I move, I naturally lead with my forward stance, chamber my body, and support my structure so I can move. People say that people who can do things from birth are ‘naturals’ but that’s not the case. They just spent lifetime after lifetimes learning a skill or technique so much so that its part of them from one incarnation to another.” Kavala said, longing suddenly to take a drink of her whiskey. Alcohol and indeed the dancing had been just what the healer ordered.
“Tailor the game to the partner and I suspect they will come easier.” Kavala said with a chuckle and ran her finger around the rim of her shot glass. She brought it to her lips and licked the whiskey taste off of it. A smile curled her lips and she enjoyed how relaxed she felt just getting away from the day to day grind that had become her life. She loved that life… no doubt about it, but it was still necessary to get away from it from time to time. And Shane was turning out to be excellent company.
She took the time to study his features and decided he was young. Normally she didn’t do well with humans. Someone had once made the offhand comment to her that the most dangerous creature out there was a young human male with too much time on their hands and too much anger in their hearts. That was one of the reasons Kavala loved living in Riverfall. The Akalaks all trained, almost to a whole, from the time they were walking to the time they aged past being able to rise from a chair. They channeled their emotions into their physical fitness, their restraint and even their scholarship. Standing in one’s shadow was like standing in a little grotto of inner control. She liked that. But Shane, no… he represented the most dangerous branch of his peers. And yet he didn’t act like the typical young human did. He’d not once leered at her and she certainly wasn’t convinced he’d already imagined her naked in his bed.
She chuckled a bit at her own thought but didn’t share with Shane. Sometimes though, when she was close to a group of humans, she remembered the past and grew tense. When she was just a girl, they had done something unforgivable. Then later, when she’d fancied herself in love with one… a Drykas… he’d told her that he was sorry but she just wasn’t human enough for him. Kavala gripped the rim of the shot glass again, her hands unused to being idle. She wouldn’t judge Shane for his race, but that didn’t mean she wouldn’t be wary of him. Cautious and stupid were too different things and Kavala liked to think she was cautious.
Kavala really listened to his answer, about how things were interconnected and nodded understandingly. She lowered her voice considerably, thinking perhaps she shouldn’t talk as much because the healer knew the brandy she’d already drank had loosened it. “I think you may be onto something. I learned how to shapeshift with djed and I found it tremendously difficult at first until I came to the understanding that we are all somewhat the same thing, flesh, bone, blood, djed… and in that alikeness I found an interconnection much like the one you are talking about. It made the magic easier and the power flow. From then, arms became wings, feet became hooves, horns sprouted, and even female became male with something more of an ease. Having a model does seem to help, but in the end when you really detach yourself from thinking of us and them and just start understanding the we aspects then it all flowed for me.” The woman finished, not sure he’d understand what she was saying. He might even chalk it up to the alcohol giving her delusions. But she didn’t care.
The Konti walked in power. She cloaked herself in personal power, the kind that was made up of knowledge, confidence, and bright intelligence. Every move she made bespoke it. The choice of their seating, the assessing glances around the room, even noting who came and went as they did so from the bar. It wasn’t easily recognizable until you noted that she moved like a dancer, observed like a scientist, but had the heart of an killer. The last part she was glad wasn’t visible. It all equated to her treating her body like a temple and a tool that had to be sharpened and oiled continuously or it would not function properly. And the mind was the same way. Talking with Shane was like holding a whetstone to it, bringing her focus in towards him and making her think.
And so, when he opened his mouth to ask his question, she deflated slightly. He violated the most sacred rule of ‘the game’ and had basically asked her the same question she’d asked him. It was a disappointment to say the least. Truthfully Kavala felt in the mood to talk about herself a bit, but she also wanted to know what she wanted to know about him meaning have a choice what information he gave her about himself. It scratched her itch to control the situation a bit, even though every other turn that power was reversed. She’d always have the choice to drink rather than answer, right? The Konti stared at the human a bit wide eyed and then shook her head. She made up a new rule right then and there on the spot. “If you ask the same question back, which is a noted violation of the rules of the game, you must buy the victim of your flagrant disregard for the rules dinner. There are some nice places still open tonight. If we finish with the game early enough, I’ll cash in my prize.” The Konti said, laughing slightly. Then she barreled ahead and changed directions, liking to surprise the recipient of her questions with ones that were unrelated to the previous question. It was, after all, best to keep them guessing.
“Name one of your fears. Everyone has them. Some are little things, but some are really huge. I don’t care if you pick a big thing or a little thing, but I’d like to know one thing you are afraid of.” Kavala said, reaching out to play with the bottle of whiskey between them. She dragged it over to her side, uncorked it, and sniffed deeply while she smiled at Shane, her eyes never leaving his face. Her own pupils were wide, bright, as if they were overflowing with mischief and a bit of wonder. Of course, they might just read a tad drunk as well if he looked close enough.
She smiled as she waited for his answer, glad she got two questions out of him and perhaps a meal, while he had gotten none.