Closed An Old Witch (Poison)

[Sayani]

65th of Winter, 513 AV

Sayani carefully warped the wound with a clean cloth, hiding her fascination at the blood that immediately tainted the white. The pure being tainted. The Symenestra still didn't know why it fascinated her so much. Gratefully, it was something that she had long learned how to hide, and her patients at the Place of Purging never felt uneasy around her anymore. At least, not because of that reason.

That day, she was tending to a wound a hunter had got while using a Symenestra Lash in the most careless way Sayani had ever known. It was almost as if the woman was a novice at hunting, although Sayani knew this wasn't true: Naria was a very frequent figure at the Place of Purging, and all her wounds had always been made by wild animals she was hunting or by careless use of equipment. Maybe the Symenestra was just that, careless. And very talkative.

"You know, you are the quietest doctor I've ever known." the dark haired woman observed, moving her legs, impatient. "Do you ever talk with your patients? Or are you always that quiet?"

"I talk to them when they have something interesting to say." Sayani answered, her voice neutral, while she finished the bandage. It had the desired effect, and silence finally reigned again. The Symenestra tightened a little the tie, smoothing and doing the finishing touches before getting up from the floor. For some reason, Sayani enjoyed much more sitting in the floor while working than in chairs, and most of the people on the Purge, or at least those who went there frequently, didn't mind this habit anymore. "Change the bandages everyday, and clean the wound throughout. Do not forget it, or you will get an infection. Now, any questions before you go?"

"Is magic an interesting enough subject for you?" the woman asked, eyeing her. Sayani's face stayed unchanged, but she was listening. Naria obviously noted that, because she smiled, and continued. "I heard from someone" yes, always 'someone', as if she wasn't a gossiper. "that Lephora Orphine will take on an apprentice. The old witch wants to pass her knowledge on witchcraft for someone, so they can keep doing all those things."

It took an effort for Sayani not to roll her eyes, already tired of all the rumors that went around about the Orphine Web. However, this information was sure interesting, and the Symenestra wanted to urge her patient away so she could check if it was true. She wouldn't show her interest to the other woman, though.

After a while, when Sayani only glared at the other, Naria sighed, clearly disappointed by her lack of reaction, before getting up and stretching. "Not any interest in that? I thought you would be the first to be interested."

"And why is that?" the Symenestra's voice was cold, and Sayani already knew the answer. Naria found her strange. Many people did, and the reputation didn't annoy her. If it was true or not, Sayani couldn't care less. But her tone of voice was only a way for Naria to think that she did care about it, and that the woman shouldn't be bringing it up in front of her.

The dark haired Symenestra looked for the doctor for a while, before shrugging and walking towards another much more talkative doctor, probably to gossip about Lephora's wish to take on an apprentice. Sayani slowly tied up her tools, not hurrying so she could wait until Naria got out of the Purge before heading to the Orphine Web's house. It wasn't long before the woman went away, and so Sayani followed short behind. Her shift was almost over, anyway.


It didn't took long to reach the hanging house, and Sayani entered the place, slowly, noticing some interested glances from Symenestra that were around. Very few dared to go into the Orphine's residence, but luckily, after a single glance, they seemed to loose interest.

Sayani entered the bedroom, approaching the old Symenestra woman laying on the bed. Even at her old age, Lephora seemed to hold something mysterious. The woman was covered in thick blankets, most of her body hidden under it. The room was mostly empty, except for an altar dedicated to Viratas. Sayani made a small note of it in her mind, before turning to the woman again and nodding respectfully.

"I am Sayani of the Wisteria Web. It's a pleasure to finally meet the famous Lephora of the Orphine Web." the Symenestra introduced herself, not telling immediately for what she had come. If the other woman wanted to know immediately, she would ask. If she preferred to start with small talk, Sayani could do that, too. Besides, it would be a good way to know at least a bit of the woman's personality.

[Poison]

Since the hypnotist Sanairas Larkspur had overgiven, driven herself insane and died Lephora Orphine had without a doubt been the most powerful mage in Kalinor, and even before Sanairas‘ death there had been some people had called her the true magical authority in the city of the Symenestra. Lephora Orphine practiced several magical disciplines, Sanairas Larkspur had only practiced one, although she had been extremely talented in it. Sanairas Larkspur had lost her mind at a young age while Lephora Orphine was still almost completely sane. All that magic had taken its toll on her body though.

She had briefly been able to leave her house this year, but suffered a relapse and was almost completely bedridden now. Everybody was worried that her time had finally come – even her three useless adult and unmarried daughters that stared at Sayani stupidly as she entered the house. They didn’t have the skill to succeed their mother, but still expected to.

Lephora was lying in her bed motionlessly as Sayani approached. For a moment it seemed as if she were sleeping or half dead, but then she turned her head. Her skin was thin and seemed like parchment, it was covered in warts and age spots. She didn’t seem to be much more than skin and bones, but her crimson eyes were filled with an intelligence that few in this city possessed.

She studied the young woman that stood before her for a few moments, and then she made a face as if she had seen something unpleasant. Lephora Orphine was intelligent, she was talented, but she didn’t have a particularly pleasant personality. „I’m not sure if it’s a pleasure yet. I’ve had too many idiots visit me, lickspittles that can steal my knowledge now that I’m sick. What do you want, girl? I’ve heard of your mother. She survived your birth, didn’t she? It seems stupid to me to take such a risk regardless.“

[Sayani]

Sayani couldn't say she wasn't impressed. She didn't listen to rumors, most of the time, but she knew magic could be dangerous, and to see that Lephora seemed to conserve all her intelligence and mental capacities was a nice surprise. It wasn't for nothing that she was called powerful, even in this old age.

The mage's comment amused her, and she wasn't sure which part. The thought of idiotic Symenestra coming to talk to the woman only to be sent away by her words were entertaining, but the fact that Lephora seemed to think her mother was one of those idiots (even if not for the same reason) was much more enjoyable, specially since she thought the same.

"I doubt anyone can steal knowledge from you, Mabdara." she wasn't one to use titles, but she felt like the woman deserved it. Sayani smirked, still amused at the others words. "Your knowledge is stored in a place that is still in a perfectly good state." the Symenestra had to make some effort to hold a laugh back. It had been some time since she had spoken with someone that actually interested her. "If you heard of my mother, you certainly also heard she is an Esterian. To her, purity of blood was above even her security. She mistakenly thought that she was helping her race, while in truth she was only taking the risk of dying. I wish I could say she came to her senses, but unfortunately, her believes didn't change, she only became scared to bear more children of her own." Sayani made an effort not to scowl. "I cannot disagree it was a stupid risk, if her believes aren't strong enough."

The Symenestra thought for a few ticks, before deciding to answer the question truthfully. Maybe Lephora would get angry at her, but that was manageable. If she lied, then it would probably be impossible to go back, and Sayani's only chance to become an apprentice would then be manipulation. The woman's eyes hold too much intelligence, and Sayani didn't think manipulating her was an option.

"I'm guilty of coming for your knowledge, but I haven't come to steal it." Sayani smiled a little. "I was hoping you could share it with me."

[Poison]

„That doesn’t keep them from trying though“, Lephora informed Sayani as she told her that she doubted anyone could steal knowledge from her. „They only see an old woman who has trouble moving and equal that with weak.“ The old witch made a face. Now matter how unusual and eccentric Lephora Orphine was otherwise, she shared the common view of Esterians. Since Sayani was the daughter of an Esterian, she expected her to come to her mother’s defense. When she did no such thing, she looked at her in surprise. „Well, well“, she murmurred. „It seems as if you haven’t inherited your mother’s beliefs. Maybe there’s still hope for you.“

She paused and looked directly into Sayani’s eyes. „But tell me, child, what do you believe in? Do you believe that the blood must be kept pure or do you believe that our women should give birth to half human children and create a race of halfbloods? Surely you must have thought about the dilemma of our race. I know that I have, but unfortunately my daughters have no interest in continuing my bloodline, one way or another. I assume you’ve met at least one of them? What do you think of them?“

She looked at Sayani questioningly. Lephora Orphine was old and weak, but she still loved talking – and especially asking questions. She wanted to know everything – and test people before she let them into her life and went through all the effort of passing her knowledge on to them. „Tell me why I should share your knowledge with you of all the people in Kalinor, Sayani Wisteria. What makes you so special? Do you know anything about magic? Do you know anything about the dangers involved?“

[Sayani]

No, Sayani hadn't inherited her mother's believes. She hadn't inherited much from her mother at all, actually, except for her will to exceed. However, the question caught her a little by surprise. The Symenestra had indeed thought about it, as every Symenestra probably had done at least once, but she knew too little to come to a conclusion she was satisfied with.

"I believe in knowledge." Sayani finally answered. "And everything that comes with it. I believe that our race must be protected, must be kept pure, so our characteristics, our customs and our traditions do not become lost. A culture is the result of physical and psychological characteristics, and halfbloods do not share the same characteristics as pure blood Symenestra. If our race became only of halfblood, then the knowledge of our culture will one day be lost, and the world would have to bare a huge loss." she didn't talk of purity of blood in the same sense others might. No, her reasons were different, which sometimes made her cautious to talk about them. But the woman that was before her was an intelligent one, and she would sure understand what she was talking about. Even if she didn't agree with it. "But what is purity of blood, Mabdara? The Symenestra born from surrogates share our appearance, wouldn't that make them truly pure of blood? Or at least pure enough to preserve our culture? I know very little of biology, and I know very little of this subject, but this is sure something I wish to find out." after another pause, Sayani kept talking. "I have nothing against halfbloods. I just do not wish for them to take our place in Kalinor." for the last question, Sayani had to think even more. She had seen Lephora's daughters, but she had never been interested in them. All three seemed way too dull to her liking. "I have seen them around. Unfortunately, none of them have caught my interest, and I have not talked to them. I mean no offense, of course. Only that I doubt we would be able to have any kind of talk."

Sayani had come here to become an apprentice, but the visit was proving to be much better than what she had initially expected. Lephora Orphine wasn't just an old woman with knowledge in magic, but someone that could actually ask interesting questions and someone that could keep her interest. Being refused wouldn't be good, but the visit would have been worth no matter the outcome.

The Symenestra smirked again at the woman's next question. "Oh, I am far from special, Mabdara, but I am different. I know about magic, although only the few and almost unimportant things that we all can learn on books. That's why I am here, to learn more. I have no interest for power, but I wish to learn and I wish to know, and I search for that. It is not that you should share your knowledge with me, but that you could, for I have pride of being a good student, and someone who will not just throw your lessons and your time away. As for the dangers" Sayani's eyes focused for a tick in the altar before returning to Lephora. "which knowledge can be obtained and used without risks? What matters is how one uses it."

[Poison]

„It is important to protect our customs and our traditions“, Lephora agreed. „I agree that if the women of our race bore only halfblood children, the Symenestra as a race would eventually cease to exist. The knowledge of our culture would be the smaller problem though. Even halfbloods have the ability to remember, the honor our traditions, but they have trouble walking the ropes that are the streets of our city, their venom is weak, and they cannot climb. I cannot stand a race of weaklings. The children that are born from surrogates on the other hand are Symenestra in every way that matters.“

As Sayani told her that she didn’t wish for halfbloods to take their place in Kalinor, the old woman inclined her head a fraction, a sign that she accepted her statement. Lephora had the same views. She didn’t have anything against halfbloods – she believed that some of them had potential – but she didn’t want them to be the future of the Symenestra, not really. Only sometimes, in her darkest moments, the old woman thought that even a halfblood grandchild, a halfblood to somehow continue the Orphine bloodline would be better than no grandchild at all.

„I’m not offended“, she replied as the discussion turned to her daughters. „It is hard to have an interesting conversation with them. They are proof that while blood is important, it isn’t everything.“

As Sayani told her why she should teach her, Lephora frowned a little. „We’ll see if you are really a good student“, she remarked. „Anybody can claim that. And it doesn’t only matter how one uses knowledge, but also how often. Too much magic too quickly can kill you – or worse yet, drive you insane like Sanairas Larkspur. She was like you, so eager to learn. I assume you have researched what kind of magic I practice? Or do you just want to learn magic because it’s magic, because of its reputation?“

[Sayani]

So the woman shared the same vision as her, mostly. Interesting. Sayani listened to what Lephora replied, her smirk finally turning into a genuine smile. It was rare for the Symenestra to find someone who could add something she found interesting in her views, and the fact that Lephora was such person made her happy that she had come, in a very simple manner. Sayani hoped she would have the opportunity to talk with the woman again, sometime.

The way the Symenestra spoke of the daughters really didn't seem to offend the other, and she was glad. It would really be a pity if she had to leave because she offended the older woman with something so unimportant. Sayani nodded in agreement. She sometimes found that her brother was way too foolish, and she agreed. Blood wasn't everything.

And then, when Lephora said that they would see if she was a good student, Sayani couldn't help but smile. Did that mean the woman was going to teach her, after all? This would be truly wonderful news.

"I will try to be very careful." she was careful in nature, but even if Sayani said that, Lephora didn't have any reason to believe she was telling the truth. "And I care very little for reputation, actually." it was true. Reputations almost never were well deserved, and it was only a waste of time to build up a reputation just for the sake of it. "But yes, I have heard what kind of magic you practice, and I hope that, this time, the rumors were accurate. You know Morphing, Glyphing and Auristics, right?" Sayani thought for a few ticks. "In fact, I'm interested in all three of them. But if I had to chose an order of preference, it would be first Morphing, then Glyphing and last Auristics."

Morphing was a discipline that seemed of great utility to her, and she was thinking of learning it ever since she discovered what it was. Glyphing was basically an interest, something she could surely find use for, but she wanted to learn only because of the interesting knowledge it would allow her. And Auristics... While it was an interesting discipline, Sayani didn't find it as useful as others did. She believed that a person could gather important information only by observing and thinking, with no magical aid, although she wouldn't deny that the discipline seemed like a very interesting one.

[Poison]

„Good“, Lephora remarked as Sayani informed her that she cared very little for reputation. „I wouldn’t want to teach a woman who cares only about how other people see her.“ As Sayani correctly identified the disciplines of magic that she practiced, Lephora smiled, for the first time since the younger Symenestra had met her. „You’ve done your research. How did you find out? Most people in Kalinor don’t trust me, even though I’ve made it known that I’m looking for an apprentice. They think I’m some kind of evil witch that would love to eat their children for breakfast. They only talk to me if there is no other way.“

„If Morphing interests you the most, I will teach it to you first, and then, depending on how things go, I will teach you the rest. But tell me, child, why does Morphing interest you? Because it allows you to hide what you are? Because it can make you, stronger and faster?“ As she waited for Sayani’s answer, the old woman raised a bony, wrinked hand. A moment passed, and then her wrinkles disappeared, and her claws became longer and sharper as if she were young and strong rather than at the end of her life.

„I can still do that“, she told Sayani. „If I want to, I can make myself look young again, like the granddaughter I will probably never have, but it doesn’t last. Morphing can make you look young, but it doesn‘ actually make you young.“ She patted the side of her bed. „Sit here, child. I’ve decided to give you a chance – one chance – so you might as well be comfortable.“

[Sayani]

Sayani was happy that the old woman finally smiled, but she focused on answering her question. "I have a very frequent patient at the Place of Purging that loves to gossip. You are her favorite topic." Sayani shrugged. "Mostly, is just stupid guesses and dumb rumors, but sometimes she brings some useful information. Her name is Naria. You probably met her already, since I doubt she would be able to keep herself away from here." if Lephora had met her, then it would explain why Naria knew so much about the magic the older woman practiced. Or maybe she was just passing the gossips forward. She liked to do that.

When Lephora said she would teach her, Sayani smiled once again. This was a truly wonderful chance, and she wouldn't throw it away. The next question, however, made her a little uncomfortable. The Symenestra was already saying to much, much more than what she was comfortable with. While Lephora seemed to make other people uneasy, the woman had the oposite effect on Sayani. The Symenestra found herself comfortable at her side, easily talking about things she wouldn't say to most. She didn't even mind showing how impressed she was when Lephora demonstrated the morphing by making her hand look years younger.

The Symenestra sat besides the old woman, still thinking about whatever or not to answer the question. She could, and in fact, she wanted to. Share something with the woman who was going to be her teacher. With a sigh, she shrugged again.

"Survival." she finally answered. "Morphing is a great skill for survival. I am not ashamed of what I am, but I know that Symenestra aren't exactly the most adored people out there. I think it is useful to know things that might help." sometimes, that reason didn't even make sense to her, but it didn't matter. It was the reason, and she hoped Lephora would be satisfied with it.

[Poison]

„I’m somebody’s favorite topic?“ The old woman laughed. „Bah. I know that Naria. She went to Meine Madras with one of my daughters. I don’t want to hear anything more about her. She may be marginally more intelligent than my daughters, but that’s about it.“ From the look on her face Lephora really didn’t like Naria – or her daughters, even though they were the only relatives she had left in this world.

As Sayani talked about why she wanted to learn Morphing, the old woman calmed down a little. „You are right. Most people don’t love us. There are those fools in Kalinor that believe that they can change the way the surface dwellers think of us, but I say, all their efforts are in vain. People hate us for a reason. We take their women. You can’t sugarcoat that.“

„Well, let’s begin“, Lephora said. „Bring me a glass of water. I’m thirsty, and my old bones hurt too much for me to go myself. You should find something in the kitchen. And then sit down again and try to think about nothing as long as possible. That’s the first step. You didn’t think that you would be able to transform yourself completely a few chimes after our first meeting, did you?“

Lephora looked directly at Sayani. She really hoped that the young woman wasn’t that stupid and thought that she would instantly master the complicated discipline of morphing. „And by the way, you won’t get any money for being my apprentice. I’m passing my knowledge on to you. That’s a greater honor than anybody in Kalinor has ever received.“