Solo Project New Soul- Part 1

[Rayage]

Spring 39, 514 AV

Rayage smiled as she watched the Zith struggle. The lab was filled with noises of the monsters protests. One would think that it would grow tired with such little food it has been getting lately. The beast had gotten thinner, that was sure, and its struggles were still flailing against the cage and pulling at the chains binding its hands and legs together. A cuff around each wrist and ankle with a length of chain going between the pair. It was ample enough to keep it from running or moving in a sophisticated manner. The cage was too small for it to spread its wings. One would call it cramped, but the beast had earned no less. It’s been seasons and still it acts like this. Ray had failed at breaking it in the usual manner with hypnotism. The effects, after her long absence from the isle, had worn thin. The original spells were hardly reflected in the zith at all.

It irritated her. Everything about the creature did. She hated its looks, she hated its lack of intelligence, she hated its personality and constant fighting against her. She hated most of all the disruptive and rebellious aura the creature possessed. Everything she did the creature hated. The zith hated her, and she hated it. She hated gazing upon its aura to see a fighting spirit, and yet she did so. She checked in on it from time to time to monitor its progress, and yet it hasn’t faltered. And now again she found herself focusing on the exact subject of her disgust: the aura of the beast.

Her eyes scrunched as she focused on the beast trying her best to ignore its pointless yelling. Her djed was directed by her will, energy brought to life by the processes of the mind, and it was through the transformation of this energy that a tangible effect was brought about. Something was given, and with payment received, something was earned. That something, in this case, was the ability to glimpse upon the aura of the being which stood in front of her. With concentration and djed the aura of the beast started to fade into Rayage’s reality. It appeared to her as a glimmer at first, wavering in and out of sight as she continued to get a good ‘grasp’ on it so she could properly view it.

As she focused more and more on her spell the wavering became a thickening of color and a wave of emotion washed over the wizard. Hate. Pure and simple, it wasn’t hard to figure out. Animosity. The color red washed over the zith and mixed with his pure black fur. The arua only seemed to add to the ferocity which the creature was showing, mirroring the ziths actions and intents. It was interesting to observe whenever the zith would lash out its aura would vibrate, and expand outward as if in attempt to help the creature assert its ‘dominance’. It was not a creature that liked to be bound. Though this display only made the wizard smile. She was confident in her abilities to handle the situation of a chained zith, it barely posed a threat.

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[Rayage]

Concentrating more on the matter at hand, the wizard let loose some more djed to keep the story going. The red vibrancy of the ziths aura turned shades of hateful black. The wizard could feel the pins and needles go across her body as she looked upon it. So scornful, but wonderful at the same time, emotions were so fascinating to experience in this manner. It made her want to take a step back from the beast, but she held still. She couldn’t lose this. She couldn’t back away. She wouldn’t allow herself to do it as it would be admitting defeat and being intimidated by a harmless zith. She was an observer, and nothing more.

Instead she fought her first instinct and kept still, watching, looking at the aura drenched in red and black. The two colors swirled and radiated from the beast, posing a fierce combination. She hated this aura truly. She hated everything about it, but more so she hated that it almost intimidated her. For a non-magical creature to do that to her with aura alone… She wouldn’t allow it. The thought of killing it had crossed her mind, but she restrained herself. She could easily do so, but there had to be a way, there had to be another way.

The aura radiated with the passion of fire from the zith as he continued to yell and claw and be generally disruptive. He was always more active when Rayage was in the lab, thinking that its noise would disrupt the wizards work or at least irritate her. It did one of those things, the latter, but she would not allow it to disrupt her. Red and black filled her vision with the accompanying feeling coming from the beast. She had enough of this, and blinked a couple times. As her concentration faded so did the aura. The red fiery passion of the zith fading from view, only actions testament now to how he really felt.

Though, there was another way, and that way would prove, once and for all, that she is the best alchemist on Sahova. Maybe then she would be given the respect she deserves! As a punishment for being away for so long Qiao thought it best that the majority of her toys were taken away. Her pets… they were all gone, and now she was left with this, this zith. It irritated her beyond belief that she would be treated in such a way, but this experiment would not only put her back on top but restore Qiaos confidence in her brilliance. She needed him to have complete faith in her abilities, and to do that she needed to do the ‘impossible’ once more. She would tame this zith not only that, but give him a completely passive personality, an enhanced personality, smarter, better in almost every way. Change is a powerful force in this world, and with Alchemy she could wield a fraction of Changes power. Even a faction, in Rayages case, is more than enough.

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[Rayage]

Behind her stood six individuals of who were ‘chosen’ to help her on this project. They were watching the zith, some looked terrified, others merely observed, while yet one or two of them seemed interested as to why the Zith was here. It was an alchemy laboratory after all, and it was no place for living specimens. The ziths cried more as Master Rayage took a step closer, and the beast slammed itself threateningly against the cage towards Ray, but the wizard did not flinch. Instead she kept staring at him, a soft smile on her face, ”Now, now,” she waved a finger at the Zith, ”that will not do.” She was smug, arrogant in her situation. She was so much more than the zith, and with that statement the wizard turned and faced the six individuals who were part of the project.

Her arms waved out in front of her, palms facing the apprentices, her arms open like she was expecting a hug, but instead she announced in a rather dramatic manner, ”Welcome to Lab 45-E.”

”You all have been having difficulties rising in the Sahovan ranks. Not even wizards yet, and you have been here for years.” she shook her head. Most wizards would have called her crazy enlisting six failures to help her with her experiments, but she saw it as an opportunity to control every aspect of the experiment. Besides, they couldn’t steal her research. They were not a threat, no, not like the other wizards here. They were outcasts, and it was for that reason she sent an invite to each of them, ”But that is all behind you, I assure you. I am Master Rayage.” she was sure that they had heard of her, but she introduced herself anyways, ”and I need your help.”

She was careful to look at each individual in front of her, establishing eye contact. Five of them were living, the sixth was undead. Three male, three female. ”When this experiment is a success and Qiao himself hears that you helped me so greatly, there would be no reason to deny you wizardship.” She smiled, the six looked hopeful, a mixture of joy and awe in their eyes as they looked upon her. She reveled in it, soaking it in. All eyes were on her and she was running the show, ”However, to make sure this is a success you must do exactly as I say. Can you do that?” she asked.

The six of the nodded, they looked like they had questions, but Ray allowed no time for that, ”Yes or no?” she asked, sounding a bit impatient, but right after the question she got an immediate ‘yes’ from the group. They seemed eager, oh so eager. After all, she had just promised them wizardship. This is what they desired and Ray presented it to them on a golden platter, but for a price. After all, nothing in Sahova is free. That is something they would have to find out the hard way.

”Before the experiment can begin we must first deal with this Zith.” She gestured behind her, ”It is far too noisy, don’t you think?” she asked, growing tired of trying to talk over the ziths constant protests. The entire time the zith was making sure that he wouldn’t be ignored, it was one of the only things he could do, be annoying.

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[Rayage]

Turning to the cage once more Rayage took another step closer. Now the zith had his hands sticking out of the cage as far as his chains would allow, the metal clanging and grinding against metal could be heard as a faint chime under the feral growls of the beast. He was desperately trying to reach Rayage, to grab her, but couldn’t quite reach. She liked teasing him in such a way, standing just out of reach… She would sedate the beast herself and then the ‘help’ will position him within the circle.

Clawing hands struggled still to grasp at the master nuit, reaching and streaching fingers long, ugly snarls from the beast disgusted her, but she stood there. Fearless. The beast could not do anything to her. She was powerful here. She was in her sanctuary and it was here she had the power of a god, and it was here where she would prove it to Sahova itself. She is the very best Alchemist. She had to be. She could feel it in her bones, she knew it deep within her soul. Change had melded her, and with the ability to think abstractly, she would be able to push the boundaries beyond what a normal wizard could. She was Master Rayage and her magic would rewrite the world, bring it lasting peace, and there will finally be a place where all families can live. Together. Forever. A place of beauty and peace, without the rot of darkness and revenge, negative things to be cast away… Rayage knew this darkness well, as she was once the darkness between the stars. Could this darkness become a light? Rayage was sure she could.


With this, she was on her way. The light, she could see it in all living beings. The light she so longed for, to become, to consume… This light was so desirable that she spent over five hundred years observing and studying it. This light so spectacular that its very presence was an instrument of change. It can change and be changed. It both molded and meld, this light of life. It took many forms, and one such form stood before her. An undesirable one. Ugly and full of hate, rage, feral. She would change that, she could change that. No, not with brute force or out of some sick desire to change because she can, to play. No, her desires now were beyond that. She would mold this world to be a peaceful place. She did so out of love and the light of her own heart. Or at least, that was the lie she told herself. She was beginning to believe it.

Her desires were not selfish, and that this Zith would see that she was just looking out for him. With this thought in mind she smiled even though the Zith was still at it. It wanted so much to just tear her apart, but it was in the most disadvantageous spots, chained and caged, while Ray was on the outside looking in. She had seen its soul many times to know that it needed to be changed, it needed to feel what it was like to be human, emotions other than the selfish ones that it harbors within itself.

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[Rayage]

Deep into its eyes she looked and she saw something familiar, and she frowned slightly, ”Im sorry it had to be like this.” she apologized to it, acting out the very lie she was telling herself. But she had to end its darkness and replace it with light. Transformation was the name of the game, and through this transformation will come unparalleled growth.

Her features hardened as she was set in her cause. She needed to sedate the zith for its own good. It wouldn’t change itself, she had to do it for it. Alchemy was salvation and through it change could work and thrive. It was her Alchemy that would change the world. It was her mind, her genius that will enact this change. A small ripple can become a wave.

Calling upon her magic she concentrated on her left arm. This new magic was still weird for her to perform, but it gave her an extended reach which was what she desired. Djed shot to her arm upon her command. It slowly pooled there collecting more and more. Her arm twitched with effort and a tingling sensation began to spread throughout. It felt like the arm was falling asleep, but that was not the goal of the wizard. She wanted to push her hand out of her body so she could grab at the Zith without putting herself in harms way.

With Djed there, she could start the process of detachment. The tingling sensation condensed itself into the wizards hand, starting from the wrist and continuing down the extremities. The djed tugged and pushed at the astral appendage below the surface, rousing it to action. Starting at the wrist the djed lulled the astral body out of the physical shell, slowly as the nuit concentrated on the limb. This experience was still quite new to her and so the process was slow. She had all the time in the world. The beast was chained and caged. So she took her time.

Piece by small piece she could feel the limb go numb, the tingling sensation turning to no sensation at all. Her wrist was numb and the part of the astral limb extruded out of the body. Propelled out of the body by the wizards djed, her brown scrunched with the concentration. She needed more. Djed came to the limb and flooded it, more and more assisting in the removal of the astral body which was a time consuming process.

Chimes passed and the wizard slowly urged the astral body out of its physical shell. Her hand was almost there now. The very tips of the fingers were all which was left, and soon they too were removed. The djed filled the limb allowed no space and so the astral part of the body had no choice but to detach itself.

With the process done she admired her work. Her physical hand unable to be moved, disconnected, but to replace the loss there was the invisible astral appendage that she could move and manipulate. Her hand clenched and released a couple of times, the wizard getting used to this new state. She could innately sense her astral body and where it was, just like she could her physical body. It was an interesting state to take note of.

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[Rayage]

The wizard was impressed by her own abilities. This magic of projection was really turning into a useful tool. Turning her attention from her own body, she looked at the zith and directed her hand towards it. The astral limb stretched from her body, and just like she would with her physical body she opened her astral hand to grab ahold of the zith. The hand clamped onto the wrist of the creature, and then she willed djed to her hand, using its power, the power of her thought and the hand turned ‘physical’ yet remained invisible to the naked eye. It could now interact with the physical world, and it did, grabbing ahold of the ziths wrist.

The zith felt the touch and began to retreat, but the nuit stepped forward making sure that it did no go out of the nuits range of control. From the connection she made with the zith she began to steal the creature’s energy. She began to picture her astral body stealing the djed from the zith. The energy of the zith flowing into her body and out of his; to do this successfully she pictured herself attracting and taking in the energy of the zith. She was a black hole and the zith was being drawn in. The energy and power, she could feel its arousal at her touch and mental command. The energy within the captive began move and cluster and migrate towards where her she was touching him.

And as she sipped the first drops of djed from the being an overwhelming sensation of satisfaction came with it. From deep within she loved stealing the energy of others, it had grown on her. The ability to take all the power she could ever need and more, the world’s djed at her fingertips, ready for the taking. This zith will be one of many, the first of many of her victims which she would drain. The djed moved from the zith, being torn from him by the will of the wizard of the lab.

She could feel the connection that her mind made with the creature she was touching. The djed, she could feel it within him, she could feel herself taking it in as her own. The pull of leeching was intoxicating and made her smile, and the zith had nowhere to run. It was cornered, caged, and chained. Struggle was futile, and unlike last time it didn’t put up much of a fight. It couldn’t. There wasn’t an opportunity, there wasn’t time, there wasn’t a chance. The zith got weaker and weaker, the growls and hisses dying down as it slumped to the bottom of its cage. The djed which the body held onto being drained from it left the host rather drained and weary as well. Rayage did not want him to lose consciousness, but wanted him weak enough not to put up much of a fight and be able to be safely put in the Alchemy circle, the doorway of change.

She watched the zith grow weaker as she continued to drain his djed. The defiance in his stare wasn’t there. It was replaced with fear, and a tired worn look. His eyes were weak, and he hadn’t the strength anymore to put up a struggle if the apprentices were to move him into the circle. It was perfect.

That job accomplished she relinquished her grip on the zith and looked at her limb, astralless appendage. She would need to reconnect her limb before she would be able to continue with her plans. She didn’t need her hand to eat up precious djed. Her magic would be needed if this experiment was to be a success. And so she began the process of reattachment, which was much like the one for detachment. However, in reverse.

She moved her astral hand to overlay into her physical. Getting it exactly right was not especially needed, as it would likely snap into place as she would begin to focus on reattaching it. The process was highly visual for the nuit as she stared at her physical hand and in her minds eye ‘saw’ the astral copy inside. The two were overlapping now, and remembering the notes which she had read about Projection, she would begin the process starting from the outer edges of her soul, and work her way in to ensure a smooth reattachment. This method, as stated expertly by the one who taught her, took longer than the other way, but the time it took was worth it especially in this situation where she could afford to take an extra chime or two.

The djed which had originally pushed the astral body out moved from her fingers to allow space for the Physical and Astral body to reconnect. With the unnatural block out of the way the fingertips sort of snapped back into place, the astral being guided by Rayages will and mind. She noted that it was much harder to detach, but reattachment took special attention to detail of what was happening and guiding the astral body back into place. So perhaps her fist assumption of detachment being harder was wrong, and they are at least equally difficult, taking a different sort of attention for each set of tasks.

A tingle could be felt in her fingers as the astral body began to fall into place without the djed blocking its passage anymore. The more she concentrated on her fingers and the tingling feeling she had the more in place the astral body fell. The tingle became a numb connection once more and she adverted her attention down her fingers, slowly inlaying the astral body back into her fingers. One finger at a time slowly she got a tingling sensation and then a numb understanding that the astral body reconnected with the physical. Once her fingers were done she turned her attention to her hand and began to drain the disconnecting djed from the palm, and with her will it slowly dissipated. With the obstacle out of the way and the will to reconnect her astral body’s palm back her physical body she watched as she pictured them merging seamlessly once more. And again, the tingling sensation could be felt, and after a while, after the bodies settled into their positions, a feeling came back to her palm and spread across her hand.

After doing a final look over to see if the astral body was fully connected she tested herself by clenching her hand closed and then opening it again and closed once more. Satisfied with her handiwork and magical progression she turned her attention to her ‘team’, her eyes glancing over them as they all were just standing there watching her. A tinge of annoyance built up in her, why weren’t they preparing for the experiment?

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