9th of Winter, 513 AV
"Sutla Gug. Gug Sutla."
"Sutla Gug. Gug Sutla."
"Sutla Gug. Gug Sutla."
The eldritch words dripped from the lips of the tall Sorceress, who sat upon the mat of her tiny slice of Sahova staring at the space above her outstretched hand with all possible concentration. The Ancient Tongue incantations held the weight of time upon them, the language having lasted through ages uncounted. Anna often utilized it for her incantations regarding the Void, when she bridged this dimension with another so far beyond it that it was impossible to measure.
Her focus was all upon that singular point in the air above her hand, the place that would need to serve as a bridge for the two dimension. It was amusing that places so vast could be measured in the tiny space a Portal took up. It was much like her Djed going to feed Portals that were so very insignificant, when in reimancy she could rend the bounds of the earth and lay waste to most anything that was put in front of her.
She focused upon her center, upon the core of her being that made up her very sense of self and identity. The incantations assisted in keeping focus, in finding that center within herself and holding onto the concept of infinite emptiness. Voiding was still an art she found very little comfort in using, but she found herself progressing quite quickly upon the path to understanding. Her little sister, whose arcane talents the Sorceress considered subpar at the moment, could manifest Portals nearly the seize of a person. Anna could think of so many applications for Portals that size, it was just a matter of getting there.
The dark haired woman moved the energy to beneath her hand, her eyes still fixed upon the spot above her hand. She willed the energy to move upwards and empty out the space above her hand, her concentration completely upon the task at hand. As always nothing happened at first, for half a chime no indication was given to her success. When she actually formed the bridge between dimensions she felt it rather than saw it.
A rush of energy fled her body, going to fuel the tiny black spot born above her hand. The little spot of shifting inky black darkness tugged at her Djed, swallowing the weaves of who she was and what she could become. The strands were measured for now, but Anna knew that if she gave too much to the Portal the threads of the whole tapestry of her being would be unraveled. Personal magic was a dangerous thing, far more dangerous than many could ever know if they didn't practice it.
Anna stabilized the Portal, feeding the bridge between This Side and The Other Side her vital energy. It drank of her being eagerly, swallowing her energy like a man dying of thirst would water. Once the Sorceress had it stabilized she carefully, very carefully and slowly, willed it to begin to expand. From that mental command a wave of euphoric bliss washed over her mind, a primal pleasure that urged her to expand it beyond her comfort zone. It was so very enticing, the desire to simply give in, but she resisted.
The dark haired woman expanded the Portal until it was roughly the size of her fully stretched hand, a pitiful thing really. Anna stared deeply into the inky darkness, remembering that she had indeed seen something beyond it. Part of her wanted to reach inside and see how deep the secrets went, how far they were hidden within the Void. Her fingers twitched involuntarily at the desire, almost acting upon it. She resisted however, merely holding the Portal and counting to a full chime.
Once she had held it for that single chime, which seemed to last far longer than it realistically should have, the woman willed a bit of matter to fill the core of the Portal. Immediately the swirling black vortex collapsed, the air where it had once existed rippling slightly before returning to normal. A small smile played at Anna's lips, pleased that her little Voiding exercise was finished. Magic was like any muscle, one needed to constantly work at it to improve.
Anna stood slowly from her mat, letting out a long exhale as she did so. She hardly looked the picture of well rested as of late, her grey eyes ringed in dark circles that indicated lack of sleep. Her nightmares were haunted by the specters of the recent past, visions that marred her mind permanently. The unfocused dead eyes of that girl in the Element's Sanctum, starring up at her and accusing her of inadequacy without speaking a single word. The cruel red eyes always followed, gleefully beginning to unravel her memories and make her into a hollowed out husk of nothing.
Despite her rather tired appearance she looked well fed compared to the majority of pulsers on Sahova. Her body was filled out and not marred by the marks of starvation, this being Amaryllis' doing. No doubt just another way she cared for her investment, Anna reflected with a surprising amount of bitterness. She didn't hate the Nuit, but she certainly didn't like her over much as when she looked at her she saw a reflection of herself in the future. Cold, passionless, dead, it was not a pretty sight and it horrified Anna beyond belief.
With a heavy sigh the tall woman slipped on her sandals and fastened her cloak around her neck. She idly fiddled with her bronze apprentice ring, its sigil that of Amaryllis, the twin crossing needles mocking her and providing that terrible reflection. Pushing that unpleasant line of thought to the side Anna opened her door and stepped into the halls of the Sahovan Quarters.
Anna walked with a certain confidence in her step, an outward appearance more than anything else. Appearances were everything, if she showed the weakness that coiled within her heart she would be destroyed by it. She needed to continue to be as she appeared, a powerful woman unafraid of the world around her. Rhysol demanded it, thus she obeyed his desires and will.
It wasn't too long into her walk that she happened upon a strange sight, and unfamiliar pulser. There were not many pulsers on Sahova, most knew of each other and Anna took time to learn of whomever she could. A quick glance to his hands showed no ring, meaning he was likely a new arrival. If only he knew what laid in store on this island, she wondered if he might flee back home.
"Well now, here's a surprise. A fellow pulser that both looks fed and mostly healthy. You must be a new arrival." Anna stated rather than asked, her voice like smooth honey as her grey eyes raked him up and down.
