Solo The Azenth's Heart

[I'saya Tuvalik]

Third of Summer, 514

A deep breath filled the Azenth's lungs as she looked about her. In the space between East and West Street, there was a large, circular plaza, bare save for the the cobblestone wear that passed through both streets and continued on. I'saya looked down upon what would become her stage, a vibrant smile etched upon her features as laughter escaped her lips. If it were a different day, perhaps the space, a plaza by all appearances, would be adorned with a stage for street performances or stalls for merchant sale, but it seemed that it was not the case.

Perfect.

Isaya stretched out, her arms rotating in place, the material of her tunic fluttering in place with each set of the motion. The muscles seized, then relaxed with the movement, a deep, soothing burn coursing through them as she bent backwards. Her arms swung back just as she released her weight, her body on the precipice of falling to the floor, though she caught her weight.

The motion ended with her weight supported by hands and feet, body folded at the elbows and knees to allow distribution to flow fully as her abdomen stretched. The curvature of her body was shown in its fullest as her tunic adjusted, the back nearly touching the floor, allowing the stretch to run its course before she released her weight. The Tuvalik sat herself up, her legs stretched out before she reached for each one in turn, holding the stretch for thirty ticks in turn before she decided that the work was complete.

I'saya ended her stretch by standing up, gaze cast about the surrounding area. Cobblestone, while stylish and pretty to look at, was a nightmare to perform upon. The rises and falls in the floor made it difficult to perform on, the unpredictable terrain for one who did not look at the ground with each passing moment... It wasn't right.

Unacceptable! Just... not cool! I'll have to change it...

The Tuvalik reached into the depths of her soul, willing her Res to form at the soles of her feet, a deep, welling gel that seeped into small cracks and deeps within the ground. The process of producing the Res took approximately thirty chimes, the expanse seeping within a fifteen foot square. A breath was taken as I'saya focused upon her Res, feeling the swell of the Res within the earth before she willed for the changes to occur.

Attraction was cast first, pulling the ground beneath her into a straight, vertical slant, the cobblestone seeping into the ground. Another breath was taken before she willed transmutation, the surface of the stone warped by her Res, the structure of the earth shifting, emphasizing the carbons within it as I'saya turned the stone to coal. Black soot clung to her bare feet as she stepped forward, laughter escaping her lips as the exertion of Res caused her to feel slightly drained.

There was still plenty of time before I'saya would perform, and instead of pushing herself further, she decided to rest. She'd give herself fifteen chimes before she began practicing for her performance. The woman closed her eyes, lying down upon the coals as she stared up at the sky.

Thoughts struck the Tuvalik as an almost nervous impulse coursed through her mind.

Mama... Papa... Cor, Tof...

I'saya was far from home, the images of torchlight and luxurious, if temporary rooms where the family stayed in during their performance tours rising in her mind. The images of her parents and brothers tormented her, a sigh escaping her lips at the thought of having to perform alone for what seemed like the first time. It was not, but her performances since leaving Kalea were all smaller in nature, just enough to keep her going... It was nothing in proportion to the scale that she sought to perform at while in a city that would encourage her. Small feats of acrobatic prowess or simple magical marvels were nothing in comparison to what the Tuvaliks were capable of.

I'll prove myself worthy of Ivak's salvation... I'll prove myself worthy of his mark.

The Azenth mark flared with her resolution as I'saya continued upon her mindset. Flashes of her conversation with Ivak struck at her, pulling at her psyche for several chimes before she relaxed.

Fear, despair... These are lost upon you. You will walk the world as a tool of entertainment, a spread of the rush of exhilaration and the knowledge of sensation. A Tuvalik, like your brothers and your forebearers. Do not betray yourself again, and least of all, do not betray the course I have set you upon."

The God's words continued to push their course through the Tuvalik's mind. Reminding her. Encouraging her. When the Tuvalik opened her eyes, having not realized that they were closed, she found a new resolve pressed to the forefront of her mind.

Right. Today... I'm doing his work.

Common | Arumenic

[I'saya Tuvalik]

.

New life was birthed within the Tuvalik's heart, the fire welling within her as a grin etched upon her face. Excited was the way to describe it, the fright of working along washed away as Ivak's words ignited the fire within her soul. The Tuvalik cleared her mind of the past, banishing the thoughts of her family that was presumably still within Kalea, and with the banishment came an emptiness. A moment of clarity, nothingness allowing her doubt to dissipate as the list of what to do before she began her performance making its way into her mind. Each part of the list involved preparation, a plan of action that was usually accomplished with a slough of assistants, but I'saya lacked this.

She had herself, her ideas, her own goals, and her own talents. Cor and Tof were not present to toss her about and perform the firedancing routine for her as she reigned as a false star in the performance at the front. No, she was the only one. And nonetheless, she would strive to carry out the same enjoyment that the Tuvaliks provided the folk of Kalea. As a Reimancer, she was naturally disposed to doing so already. She just had to get... creative.

The list wove its way into her thoughts as she went over it, sorting out what she needed to get done before she performed:

• Set the stage! Check!
• Check supplies! (Torches, oil, rags...)
• Tie the rags to torches!
• Practice run of the first set!
• Apply make-up for performance and change into proper attire!
• Figure out how to incorporate Reimancy into future performances (Do during performance!)
• Light the coals under your feet!
• Begin performance!

The list was short, but each piece was of vital importance to the performance as a whole. Props were of utmost importance, for being a firedancer involved more than simply jumping about in the flames. It was dangerous, less so when Azenth was involved. The most present danger was to the public, or failure to execute the feats of acrobatic prowess that were to entertain the crowd. One could walk through fire, though an improper landing could easily destroy I'saya's legs or body.

The Tuvalik considered it for a moment before she began to inspect her supply, removing the paint that she would apply to her face. She checked on her torches, taking two and relieved to see that they were in working condition. She wrapped a rag around three torches, carefully making sure to tuck the excess of the rag into the folds of the tie. The next piece of her list was, of course, more complicated.

The first run through was intended to synchronize effort as a unit, the dancing that I'saya performed was meant to stay in synchronization with the rest, or her movements, her acrobatic feats kept at a level where they could be caught and thrown into a totally different set up. This situation was different. She would need to, instead, figure out the working of the space she had given herself and independently give a routine, or, at the very least, a proper freestyle which she could use to entertain.

The Tuvalik decided that she required assistance. She reached, again, into the wellspring of her djed, reaching into the depths of her soul as she allowed Res to flow from her hands. She shaped the Res, a solid, vermilion mass approximately three feet in diameter and two feet tall. A cylindrical rise that she transmuted into rock, though she left, for the moment, the interior as Res, allowing her to navigate it to where she desired it to go. The structure was small, meant to be used as a platform, which was exactly what I'saya would do. The Tuvalik moved the Res within the rock cylinder, attracting the rock to the mass within and allowing it to be moved. She sent it to the exact center point of the fifteen-foot wide space she had created, then allowed all to be still.

She transmuted the remaining Res within the stone cylinder to stone, as well, then allowed herself to rest.

She still had plenty of time. There was nothing rushing her, after all. A street performer acted in the moment.

Common | Arumenic

[I'saya Tuvalik]

.

The practice run.

The Azenth woman found herself in the center of the coal square, her tunic fitted tightly with the help of her sash, the excess kept from moving about unnecessarily. Her hair was tied back, lifted from her face with the help of her headband and woven into a braid at the back, the Tuvalik was prepared for, at the least, her practice run. They were ideal conditions that she did now. A tightly fit outfit, hair tied back and out of the way, unadorned save for her silver key pendant. This would not be the case in performance, when her body would be fitted with jewelry and attire that befitted her station as a performer.

But, it was a start.

A light twirl moved the Azenth in her place before she took several steps back, to the edge of her self-assigned performance space. She allowed a breath to fill her lungs before she lunged forward, several strides propelling her towards the cylinder before she stepped onto the cylinder. The motion came next. Utilizing the excess momentum from her stride, I'saya jumped upwards, curling her body, knees raised to stomach level as she set her center of gravity backwards, head tilted back at well. Her body quickly, with the help of her core muscles, tilted entirely.

Her pendant tipped, on the verge of falling from her neck before gravity moved I'saya's body into a full backflip. When she was on the verge of landing, she brought her legs out from their clutch, the acrobat landing upon her feet, knees bent to disperse the shock of impact through her body as vibrant laughter bubbled from her lips.

The Tuvalik could not help the grin that quickly made its way upon her features, expanding and consuming her features into that of unbridled joy. She allowed the joy to flow through her, her hands moving nearly of their own accord as they flourished, a rather showy, elegant flair added to the stuck landing before her hips began to move. Several steps were taken in response to the movement, I'saya's body taking to a flowing, slow dance that took her in a circle approximately five feet in radius from the point where the cylinder was stationed. When the circle was completed, the Tuvalik built upon her Res once again, a deep breath taken as the vermilion, transformed djed pooled at her hands, taking the form of a wafting, ethereal gas.

The gas swirled and floated about the surface of I'saya's hands, a ribbon of Res on each that coalesced and breathed as the Tuvalik did. Each breath was slow, the Tuvalik intent on recovering from the sweet exertion of physical activity, her practice for her performance. And she decided that it was time to light the coal slab that lay beneath her.

Of course, coals take time to burn, so I'll light them now, and allow time to pass as the heat gathers. If it goes out, I'll just do it again...

I'saya gathered her Res from each wrist and allowed it to coalesce, forming a single, gaseous orb which she then directed to the surface of the coal slab she had created. The gas dispersed over the surface, seeping into the coal before I'saya slowly transmuted the Res, beginning with an even layer along the length of the slab, and intensifying the flame. As the flames formed at her feet, she willed her remaining Res to seep deeper, the Tuvalik attracting the flames to lower into the coal, the vibrant, burning orange as the coals began to ignite illuminating the Tuvalik's body, glowing embers rising after a total of five chimes. When the Tuvalik was satisfied that the embers would remain so, she left the concrete slab, picking up her rucksack in the process.

Finding a corner nook in one of the nearby buildings of west street, I'saya quickly changed into her performance attire, a vibrant smile cast upon her features as she set the rucksack down. She removed from it the supplies she would need to complete her performance costume. Face paint was the primary tool, though she also withdrew her lip pomade and kohl, in order to properly fix her appearance so that it was 'performance ready.'

Lip pomade was pressed to her lips, the workings of her smile turned a vibrant red, I'saya utilizing the presence of one of the glass windows of a nearby building to ensure that the pomade was evenly distributed before she moved on to the kohl. Her eyes were traced with the cosmetic before she moved on next to the most important part.

The face paint.

It reminded her of her closeness to Ivak as she placed her finger within a tub of red face paste, utilizing her right index finger and tracing a line directly beneath the tracing of kohl. The line formed a curved line, completed with another, both bisecting the kohl to form a horn-like structure, the tip of which angled towards her chinSimilar to this, though in a moment it will change slightly.

. When the paint work was completed, I'saya sealed the tub of red paint, changing to her tub of black paste, which she used to draw lines that, in turn, traced the red. Her performance attire was completed, her body adorned with two silver bracelets on each arm, earrings placed upon her ears, hair freed from its braid and cascading upon her shoulders. Adorning her body was a skirted corset, bound at the waist by a vibrant red sash. The corset hung low enough to expose her Azenth to the world, and soon, she would begin her worship for Ivak. The woman picked up the torches she would use in her performance before making her ascent to the stage of coals.

What better form of worship is there than public entertainment?

A moment passed before she spoke aloud, a soft, whispered prayer to Ivak cast,

"I offer this performance to you. With it, I give my soul, and my heart to you, dear Ivak. Hopefully you'll look upon me and be entertained as I try to entertain and uplift those in my presence. Thank you for saving me. Thank you for the gift you have given me... A new life in your flame."

A grin was cast upon her features as I'saya Tuvalik stepped forward and onto the burning embers.

Common | Arumenic

[I'saya Tuvalik]

.

The embers tickled at the Azenth's feet, a brilliant, relaxing heat permeating through her flesh. Ivak's protection turned what would be pain to all others to pleasure, a giggle escaping I'saya's lips as she called out. She noticed that a small gathering of people had materialized, seemingly from nowhere. Small in number, but present, the Tuvalik curtsied to her patrons before she called out to them.

"Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome! I am I'saya Tuvalik and today, I'm here to entertain and astound. I will perform feats of acrobatic prowess while treading burning embers! This performance will, of course, feature fire and with it, a lot of heat, so I ask sensitive individuals to please remain clear of the coal ground, and on top of that, another fifteen feet away! The show will begin in less than two chimes, so please, by all means, stay around!"

The Azenth smiled again at the gathering before she turned around, moving again to her bag to produce the bottle of oil that she used to douse her torches. She brought it with one of her many oil flasks, undoing the stopper and dousing the torches. Two in number and approximately the same length of her forearm, I'saya carried as many as she felt comfortable with. Her brothers were more capable than she, and could juggle up to four, but I'saya had ideas for the two, and a small amount of experience with it. The practice run had not incorporated the use of torches, but she was accustomed to the act.

She was confident in her ability to proceed.

Both torches were held in one hand as the remaining contents of the flask was emptied over her feet. The liquid doused her bare flesh, the oil lowering, splattering over her feet before making its way to the coals beneath. The highly flammable liquid immediately set ablaze, fire trickling along her skin, the warmth driving more pleasure through the wedge of her mind. It was addicting, the pleasure that Azenth turned flame into. It rose her body to temperatures above the average human's, as well, but for the moment, I'saya was gone.

The thought ceased with the bursting flames, her motion immediately starting as she moved both torches down to her feet. The rising flames set the oil that doused the torches ablaze, as well, a gasp escaping the lips of the astonished crowd as I'saya began to toss the burning torches into the air. Her body swayed above the flames, the Tuvalik's hips moving from side to side as a hand moved to her lips, a kiss blown to the crowd before she caught both torches, hands outstretched before she cast both to the ground.

The flames of the torches set the coals off again, sparks flying as I'saya's body moved forward, a twirl moving her body, the crowd little more than a whirl as she spun about. The bracelets upon her wrist clanged softly with the spin, I'saya struggling, and immediately failing, to contain the laughter in her as she concluded her spin. I'saya approached the crowd, at the edge of the coal as her body swayed yet again, the Tuvalik allowing Res to build within her mouth. She reached again into her soul, djed flowing from her throat and manifesting as Res, vermilion gas leaking from her mouth as the Res formed. A small trickle of Res that took a mere tick to form, but what followed was Transmutation.

The Res ignited deep, starting within the Tuvalik's throat, the Res propelled forward just as it began to ignite, I'saya's head tipped upwards so that a ray of flame shot from her mouth, smoke rising in the wake of the flames as it dissipated. Where I'saya's brothers had the capacity to consume fire in the form of burning paper and ignited objects, I'saya had the power to expel it. To produce it from any point in her body, but for this particular stunt, which she titled as 'Ivak's Breath', she was unique among the Tuvaliks in her immediate family.

Reimancy has its uses, aggressive and not, but it's most important use is to make Ivak's task for me all the more extravagant.

Reimancy was, for I'saya, not only her means of protection, but her means of uplifting Ivak's power of fire and giving it form.

Applause broke out as the flames dissipated, but I'saya's performance was nowhere near completed. She backed up, making her way to the stone cylinder once again, standing upon it like a rise at a podium as a breath filled her lungs.

Common | Arumenic

[I'saya Tuvalik]

.

I'saya stood at the top of the world, merely a two foot rise bringing her head above those of the crowd, but she reveled in it. She felt emotion stirring, a fervent excitement budding in the presence of at the very least, one person in the crowd. Entertainment. It was the core of what I'saya's purpose as an Azenth was. What the Tuvalik's purpose in life was. She flashed a bright smile at the crowd before she crouched low. The redhead's knees bent low before she pushed forth from the ground, using her body weight to pull back, the beginnings of a second backflip made, though her momentum was not sufficient to drive the motion. Her knees protested with the force of the push, though her body had left the ground already.

Hands moved forward, pressing to the ground with enough time to spare, the motion bringing the woman to a full handstand, a grin materialized upon I'saya's features as the burning embers tickled at her hands. The skirted bottoms of her corset threatened to tip downwards, but the Tuvalik caught the material with her feet, managing to keep the garment from falling and exposing her, though it would not last for long. The heat permeated in her hands, coursing through her, bringing pleasure to the core of her senses before she made her way to righting the posture. The Tuvalik's core drove her actions, her hips bringing her legs forward, I'saya slowly bending her arms to allow her feet to press to the ground. Once grounded, the firedancer lifted her body with her core, then immediately began to move.

Her body swayed, hips shaking, I'saya erupting yet again in a dance as she looked upon the crowd. She decided for one final trick, one final show of her magical and acrobatic prowess. Res built within the pores of I'saya's exposed shoulders, the vermilion substance encasing her shoulders as her hips continued to sway with a rhythm unaccompanied by music. She recalled the dance from her youth with the Tuvaliks that she called her family, the dear memories bringing a laugh which erupted from her lips as she collected the Res from her shoulders, sweeping the gas along the length of her exposed arms before she willed the transmutation to occur.

She did not hold back in this transmutation with an attempt to control it, the amount of Res unsustainable, a final flare intent on closing out the performance. Fire flared upon the Tuvalik's skin, dancing along the length of her arm and erupting. I'saya neglected to allow Res that could be used to attract the flames, instead too focused on the grandeur of the event. She would not realize her mistake until she was too late. Flames expanded upon the length of her arms, her Azenth mark flaring as her body resisted the burn of the flames, but it was not her flesh that was burned. Smoke rose from the Tuvalik's body as the young Azenth's clothes were set ablaze, a surprised yell escaping her lips as the fire quickly spread, the oils that were used to light the torches creating a residue upon her skirted corset.

The material did nothing to resist the flames, the entirety of her garment consumed by the fire, smoke managing to mask her form as her thoughts blurred, embarrassment flooding her features as she screamed. Before the smoke could clear entirely, the Tuvalik sprinted for her bag, grabbing her rucksack and using it to cover her lower body, her free arm covering the swell of her breasts as she continued her sprint. She took no care for direction, gaze strung about in the hopes of finding a place to avoid the general public. Finding a space obscured by buildings, I'saya quickly placed a pair of breeches and a tunic over her naked form, throwing her possessions to the floor, fists clenched as she toiled over the sorry conclusion to her first solo performance.

Stupid! Stupid, stupid, stupid! Why'd you have to use it ALL? For that extra FLAIR? You sure as petch gave it an extra flair! Of skin! You dumb bitch, I'saya! What would Tof and Cor think? They'd probably just laugh, those bastards.

Rage flared within the Tuvalik's heart as she clutched at her hair, staying within the corner. Tears streamed from her face, the paste and kohl running down her features at the travesty of the event.

Later, when I'saya cleaned herself up and walked towards the World's End Grotto, she would see several faces that chuckled as she walked by, her face visibly turning red in her ascent to her room. When she finally entered, she exploded, her legs kicking out at her furniture, bed disheveled and her possessions thrown about the room in her rage before she collapsed onto her bed, intent on sleep, though her embarrassment would keep her awake well into the night.

Common | Arumenic

[Aoren]

Riddled With Rewards I’saya Experience Skill XP Earned Acrobatics + 3 EXP Reimancy + 5 EXP Construction + 2 EXP Meditation +2 EXP Planning +2 EXP Dancing +2 EXP Cosmetology +1 EXP Busking +3 EXP Lores • Lore Earned • Location: The Cobblestone Stage Between West and East Street • Acrobatics: Backward Body-Arch • Acrobatics: Backflip • Acrobatics: Handstand • Reimancy: Using Earth Reimancy To Manipulate Cobblestone • Earth Reimancy: Transmuting Res to Charcoal • Earth Reimancy: Transmuting Res to Stone • Fire Reimancy: Ivak’s Breath • Construction: Building A Stone Platform With Earth Reimancy • Cosmetology: Ivak’s Mask Notes : I adored this thread to pieces! Throughout the whole thing I could quite clearly see I’saya in action. It was beautiful to behold even at the end where she made her mistake. Well done, well done indeed. If you have comments, questions or concerns please approach me at your earliest convenience. Don't forget to edit/delete your request in the request thread!