This Little Piggie went Astral Traveling Winter 85, 505 AV "Raiyari, I want to speak with you for a moment," Dian Haru, Rai's sponsor stopped her after meditation, gesturing back towards the now empty room. Other Acolytes stared at her as they stampeded by, directing either smug or concered looks towards their classmate. They obviously assumed she was in trouble. They were correct. "Yes Dian," Raiyari bowed respectfully, following her Sponsor into the empty room. The Shinya promptly seated himself on reed flooring, and gestured for his student to do the same. His sharp black eyes missed nothing as he observed the girl sit down. Haru knew that his charge was no mage, she was truly a warrior at heart, but he also knew that Rai would utilize any and all tools she could to win, including her magic. There was something he sensed about his student, some anger and distrust that must have come to her from outside the Shinyama Pavillion's walls. She took what was given, and used it to her advantage. Even by the way she knelt, Haru could tell that Raiyari was far more comfortable with the power of combat than the intricacies of magic. She knelt as she would at Kenjutsu practice, dividing her robe to the left and right, kneeling first on her left knee, and then on her right. Resting on her haunches, she placed her hands flat on her upper thighs, back straight as a rod, ready to listen to whatever the Dian had to say. Though by the timid way she preformed the formal sitting posture, it was obvious to Haru that she knew what she had done wrong. He sighed tiredly, looking at the Acolyte, his charge, with a faint trace of pride. He'd taken her on because she'd seemed a bright and eager child, ready to learn. However, at the death of her mother, Rai no longer smiled as much, she no longer relished the different oppertunities and experiences that training had to offer. Instead, all Haru could see was a girl obsessed with bettering herself, throwing herself into training to block out the grief. While he had no doubt that such a girl, if properly trained in the way of the Shinya, would be a good protector of Lhavit, Haru still missed the little girl that had so excitedly joined the Order. The days of Rai being the naughty trickster, and Haru her gruff Sponsor were over. "Do you know why I wished to speak with you?" he asked gently, inclining his head towards her left hand. She looked him straight in the eyes, as polite and proud as Haru knew she was. Rai would not back down from a challenge, not if she ever had something to say about it. "Yes, Dian. I do." |