Warrior in Training }{ Open

[cordana]

A descrete smile appeared on Cordana's lips when Ainutsa was talking about her first impression of the dark elf. It was true that people are scared when they see something for the very first time in their lives. It was mostly the same with Cordana. Sadly she wasn't being giving a second chance by those people.

Then when Ainutsa said it would be awesome to have a tail, she couldn't help it but to chuckle. "Yes, It is handy sometimes but it's quite uneasy when I want to lie down on my back."

When the young elf asked Cordana about her tail, she knew that Ainutsa ment her demonic appearance. Her smile dimmed away a little, still being be able to be seen vaguely on her face. "It's alright for you to know. I don't feel sorrow about it anyway." Cordana said calmly. It was silent for a moment While the dark elf was thinking about how she would explain it to her younger compangion. "I wasn't born like this." She started.

"My appearance used to be that of a dark elf. And my dream was to become a magister, a magician that specializes in the use of arcane magic. I'll explain about that later." Cordana said. "I became a magister eventually and I decide I wanted to discover more. Not just for more power but just because I wanted to learn more." She continued. "I was young and didn't understood the risks I took. Eventually I discovered fel magic. The purest form of arcane, used by demons. I started a research but I was exiled because of it." Cordana looked at the ground for a moment. Still sad about her exile so many years ago.

"Since then I lived in the wilds. At first in Selkia forest, just like you." She said while pointing at Ainutsa. "But when I got more selfassured I travelled around, still practicing fel magic. Eventually I attracted some unwanted attention. Because I used so much magic a demon appeared." Her hands went across the bandage. "He was the one that carved out my eyes but also gave me a gift, to see the magic that surrounds us and reckognize a demon no matter in wich form he is hiding." Her hand was laid back in her lap. "That explains the glowing orbs." Cordana said while smiling. " Since then I am hunting demons, their worshippers or anyone and anything that has fallen to the dark arts, using their own weapons against them. But there is a down size to fel magic. It gives one great power but also causes..." Cordana her hands moved across her body, mentioning her transformation. "...all this. I sacrife my body in order to protect others." She leaned a bit closer to Ainutsa and whispered:" And I wouldn't have it any other way." Leaning back again with a smile on her face, Cordana felt inside truly happy about her life.

[Summerchika]

As Cordana told her tale, Ainutsa listened intently, just as Cordana had when Ainutsa had told hers. Cordana's story was not a happy one and Ainutsa found herself blinking tears away. Perhaps becasue Ainutsa could somewhat relate to Cordana's pain, even a small bit, Ainutsa found herself sensitive to the point of tears. However, Ainutsa knew that Cordana had felt ten thousand times her own pain and that Ainutsa could not fully understand it. A strong wave of admiration for her new-found dark friend washed through Ainutsa as she listened to Cordana speak.

By the end, she found herself staring at Cordana's smiling face in wonderment. Realizing that she was wrong to cry, Ainutsa blinked her tears away. Cordana's tale was not something to soil with tears of sadness. Remaining as calm as she was able, she smiled back at Cordana. "Cordana, I hope I am as noble and strong and... as giving as you one day! You are truly amazing!" Ainusta exclaimed, looking toward the glowing orbs. "Although many fear you, they will come to see you as their friend, I am positive! After all you have given for them, they would be fools not to see it! To be so blinded by their own eyes..." Ainutsa shook her head, "I cannot believe they would stay that way for long. Perhaps they have already started to realize...?" Ainutsa guessed.

Considering her next words for a minute, Ainutsa smiled and took Cordana's hands in both of her own. "Cordana, thank you for protecting me, even though I was oblivious to the danger and did nothing to help. Protecting everyone at your own expense... will you teach me? Help me so that I may help others?" Ainutsa requested this carefully. Her grandmother had tried so hard to help Ainutsa to harness her given powers but had failed and had instead taught her how to block them, but Ainutsa felt a need to use them now. After hearing of Cordana's selflessness, Ainutsa felt a regret and guilt that she had been hiding away: living, but not really living, hiding and not helping. She felt a strong urge to change that.

((occ: I tried to be as not-cheesy as possible, but I find that is a default of mine that is hard to ignore... sorry!))

[cordana]

After telling her story Cordana saw that Ainutsa had some trouble to hide her tears. It was alright. Some might think it is a sad story but Cordana had no problems with it. There is no way to change that what has happened and it is best to learn from it then to mourn it. After a few moments of silence Ainutsa spoke again. About that people might end up seeing Cordana as their friend, because of all her help. It was something one should expect from the other people but sadly it wasn't.

"It should be expected that people get used to me but I am walking this earth for more than five centuries, Ainutsa. When one generation is about to accept me they are replaced by another, and so the cycle begins anew." It was a sad truth but Cordana had no trouble with it. People are free to chose what they think.

But when Ainutsa said she wanted that Cordana teached her, the dark elf frowned slightly. It was to be expected ofcourse but Cordana thought of the dangers the young girl would expore herself to. The frown disappeared and a smile took it's place. "It would be my pleasure, Ainutsa. Though you must be aware of the fact that my life is far from easy and once you start, well..."Cordana was starting to think about her own addiction towards fel magic."...there is no way back" The dark elf paused for a moment. "But I am sure you are aware fo that." Cordana assured her.

[Summerchika]

Shaking her head, Ainutsa objected to the hopeless sentiment Cordana shared with her. " I refuse to believe that all the people out there are so thick that they cannot learn from the past, Cordana. Perhaps this cycle will be different. Perhaps, all that is needed is for one to befriend you! If that is the case, then that step has already been taken! Besides, why is it that the one who fights for the happiness of others is denied that same blessing of happiness and safety?!" Ainutsa would not let this injustice stand unchallenged. She knew her grandmother would not have approved of it, so Ainutsa could not approve either.

Ainutsa raised an eyebrow at the dangers Cordana mentioned. In a quiet voice, she quoted her adoptive father. "'Nothing that is easy is good, because you cannot grow.'" Ainutsa looked to the trees on her left where a small animal skittered up a trunk. " I do not wish to be a burden to you, so please do not feel obligated to teach me. There may be no way back, but there is always a way forward. Believe me when I say that I do not give up easily." Ainutsa uttered a small, perhaps even bitter, laugh and turned back to Cordana. "At the very least, I want to be a help to this world in what ever way I can, Cordana." A slight breeze made music with the leaves of the trees and a wide smiled changed Ainutsa's expression for what must have been the tenth time in the few moments she and Cordana had been speaking together.

[cordana]

The young Ainutsa's comment about how Cordana was treated by the people she protected made her smile. It felt that good that at least some of the new cycle aren't as short-sighted as the large majority. "I'm jealous of your optimistic way of thinking, Ainutsa. You should feel blessed about having that trait." With a friendly smile on ehr face, Cordana slowly stood up.

Nodding approvingly at the young elf her determination Cordana strapped her sword on her back. "Believe me Ainutsa when I say you are not a burden, but a rather welcome addition in my ever-changing existence." With a freindly gesture, the dark elf motioned at Ainutsa to stand up.

"It's better we walk until we find a clearing to camp. While we are looking for a campsite we can talk about your training." Her tone became more serious when talking about the training. It was something she didn't took lightly. "You can better start with telling with everything you know about magic. That way I can take off where your previous training dropped, if you had any that is."

[Summerchika]

Looking up at Cordana from the ground, Ainutsa realized why Cordana had reminded her of her grandmother. It's the way she carries herself! she realized in wonder. As she realized the similarity, Ainutsa knew she was not wrong in asking Cordana for further training.Glad she had finally recognized the similarity, Ainutsa eagerly joined Cordana in standing with a fabulous smile on her face.

"Oh! I know plenty of spots to camp!" Ainutsa replied, starting toward her current one, but then stopping. "Just tell me what direction you want to go and I'll lead you to one!" She didn't like to live in one place in this forest too long for many, many different reasons, so she had come across many places all around to camp, nature made and not-so-nature made alike. Then, noticing the change of Cordana's tone, Ainutsa nodded, becoming serious so she could correctly fill Cordana on what she did know about magic... which, Ainutsa realized, wasn't a whole lot...

Walking with Cordana, Ainutsa tried to explain what she didn't really understand. "Well... I don't know a whole lot about the mechanics of it, or the different forms of it... My grandmother had told me one time but I don't remember much." Ainutsa admitted apologetically. "I know that when I use it, it comes from inside my mind to the outside by my thinking it, well no more like when I command it. My grandmother taught me some words that harness the magic, but I don't remember that much of them. I'd have to go back to her house where she kept her books. I only use it for little things, like making the water safe to drink or summoning my arrows when I shoot them too far... small things. Healing a little bit too. Scratches and things. Sometimes an animal will get hurt in an accident and I'll see if I can heal them. My grandmother taught me more of the healing part, but I forgot the words a long time ago. Now I just use it by concentrating really hard." Ainutsa paused, playing with her necklace and thinking over the things she had said and had forgotten.

Then she realized what her fingers were busying themselves with. "My necklace glows whenever I use magic." she said, looking up at Cordana and holding up the necklace from her neck. "My necklace stops my magic sometimes. I think that when I try things that are too big for me to control, it stops the magic flow... or something." she ended, putting down her necklace. Then she tried to think of other things she knew, but none came to mind.

[Talwyn]

Holding a bow and arrow made of magical ice, Tal was stalking through the woods, carefully watching the deer tracks while reminiscing about the past weeks or so. He had left Tamasha a week or two ago. And, it had not entirely been by choice, though thinking about it he had to admit it had been his own fault.

As always, he had visited his friend Baden, and had heard about a rich man named Bartholomew Coffyn. This Bartholomew, he was told, had a penchant for collecting ancient and rare texts and his collection was enormous. And thus Talwyn had decided to pay the man a visit. Mister Coffyn however, refused to let him in. Of course... being all hooded and mysterious isn't the greatest way of getting a stranger to trust you. Still... mister Coffyn could have been a bit nicer about it. Either way, Tal left empty handed, and returning empty handed when a possible clue to change himself back to normal was within reach went against his principles. So, he did the only thing he could do... he returned after midnight and, silently, let himself in.

He almost bumped into a servant while looking for Coffyn's collection, but he had managed to get into the vault where Barholomew Coffyn kept his rare and ancient texts and started browsing through them. Reading one of them, he had to fight an urge to take that one, the content was interesting. But, as he reminded himself, he was no thief. He might have illegally entered the premises but that was just because mister Coffyn was so unreasonable... He had shook his head in shame and removed the paper from his pockets. Sometimes he hated the fact he was so honest with stuff like this.

It just wasn't his day, or night depending how one looks at it, because as luck would have it mister Coffyn decided to check his collection before going to bed. He could still hear the chubby little guy accusing him of thievery. He had replied with an insulted sounding "I am not". But, naturally the man just wouldn't listen leaving him with no choice but to run as fast as he could. Quickly going to his room he got his stuff and said farewell to his friend as he bolted up and down the stairs before scurrying to the towns gate. Luckily the guards weren't alerted and he was able to leave without a problem... well other then the fact it would be safer not to go back for a few weeks.

And so, he spent a week or two in Selkia forest, searching for bandit hideouts, troll lairs, in other words: the usual. Finally putting his mind back to the present, he noticed he had found the deer he was tracking. Or well, found... more like stumbled upon. Another step and the beast surely would have noticed him. Taking aim, he released his magical arrow and the deer dropped down. Releasing the bow, the ice melted and evaporated before even touching the ground. Swinging his catch over his shoulder, he nodded with a satisfied look, at least he'd have something other then jerky for dinner tonight.

After finding a nice spot to camp, he dropped his meal and quickly gathered firewood before preparing the deer for roasting. Spinning the skewer to rotate the meat, his stomach growled as his mouth watered. But wait... he turned his head slightly... was it his imagination? No he was sure it wasn't, there were people coming his way. Pulling his cowl further over his head, he placed himself in between the fire and the sound so whoever it was would be looking at the flames making it harder to see his face. He placed his hand on the handle of his sword, ready to defend himself as he waited for whoever, or whatever of course, to come out in the open.

[Summerchika]

Still trying to think how to explain the things couldn't understand to Cordana, Ainutsa felt disturbance in the woods around her. The animals were acting differently. Ainutsa opened up to the emotions of the animals around her and frowned. One of the presences of her animals had left. Upon a few seconds of further investigation, Ainutsa realized that the animals were... restless. Something new to them in this part of the forest, the part of her forest that her own camp lay hidden. Or not so hidden... Ainutsa thought to herself.

"Cordana... do you sense anything... different? Another person, perhaps? Maybe one that you know?" she asked, distracting from their previous conversation. This conversation seemed to be more important somehow. Without waiting for an answer though, Ainutsa took hold of Cordana's wrist and led her toward the disturbance. Stopping on the edge of her hidden camp, Ainutsa realized the new camper was not in her hidden camp, he was just almost on top of it. Realizing that it probably wasn't the best to go intruding into the newly made camp, she made a quick decision on how to approach this.

Before acting her plan, Ainutsa pointed up to the trees and then at herself, then at Cordana. She moved that finger to her lips and winked, trying to convey that they should avoid a big bang entrance. For Ainutsa, this was her second encounter of another not-animal being in one day and she didn't want it to be one she would regret. Her encounter with Cordana made her realize that she really enjoyed meeting people. And so with that, Ainutsa leaped into the trees with about as much sound as a feather made landing on the water.

Her extremities quickly and effortlessly finding the crooks and hand holds in the bark of the trees, Ainutsa quickly scaled the trunk of the tree closest, and traveled through the intertwining branches of the trees so that she could peek down on the stranger next to her camp. She tilted her head to the side and let her eyes cover the clearing and finally the stranger himself. Her eyes lingered curiously on his drawn up hood. Was he expecting someone? Or was he sleeping? With a mental shrug, Ainutsa's eyes moved on to the source of the light that was casting a shadow on his face and tears sprung to her eyes. The speared body of a deer, lay above the fire, roasting nicely. Except it wasn't nice to Ainutsa. Ainutsa understood the need to eat and that eating meat was important to many living beings to live. She still didn't like the killing. She turned her head to look for Cordana, blinking and cursing the tears from her eyes.

[cordana]

While walking Cordana didn't pay to much attention to her surroundings as she was to busy thinking about the necklace AInutsa had. "Apperently it seems to be some sort of securiy device left behind to prevent any magical accidents." She thought. Then the dark elf started to figure out a way to harness the magic in the amulet for the training.

Though her speculating was interrupted by Ainutsa. The dark elf looked up. Her spectral vision allowed her to see a dark silhouet, something she thought to reckognize. Sadly Cordana couldn't remember from what. Before she got a chance to asnwer Ainutsa grabbed her wrist and led her towards the disturbance.

When upon arrival on the camp of the intruder Ainutsa seemed to inspect her surroundings. It was the wisest course of action to prevent a hostile situation and it seemed Ainutsa agreed. Still she seemed a bit to relaxed about it at first. Not everyone was as kind as Cordana. The dark elf tried to stop the young elf, by grabbing her shoulder, but was to late. Right then Cordana saw that the man had his hand around the handle of his sword. Her eyes narrowed, he knew they were here.

Still, Cordana couldn't shrug of the feeling she knew this person. The aura reminded her of someone but the dark elf couldn't put her finger on it. When she looked up a look of sadness was in Ainutsa's eyes, also a few tears. Wondering what happened Cordana looked in the camp. Then she understood the shocked expression. The death of an animal should be shocking to the young elf the dark elf thought.

Still, the reckognizing feeling she got from the man in the camp still kept coming back. Cordana decided to follow her gut this time and walked into the camp. Slowly walking, with her arms resting against her sides Cordanacmae out of the woods, into the camp clearing. Then when she was so close, the man's indentity hit her like a clash of lightning. "How goes the artifact hunting, Talwyn Greyoak?" The dark elf said with a smile.

[Talwyn]

Whoever was coming, was getting closer and Tal tightened the grip he had on his sword and braced himself. The figure coming closer seemed familiar however. When Cordana finally stepped into the clearing however, he relaxed instantly as a smile formed on his face. Letting go of his sword he reached for his cowl and pulled it back, unaware that Cordana was not the only person watching him. "Lousy as always." He answered still smiling. Gesturing to the fire and the deer he stepped forward to shake Cordana's hand. "Good to see you again Cordana. Food should be ready soon and there is plenty for the two of us."

[Summerchika]

Again, Ainutsa tilted her head to the side curiously as Cordana walked right into the clearing. Surprised, Ainutsa stayed where she was, unsure of what Cordana was planning. And then Cordana spoke to the stranger, and Ainutsa's eyes grew wider as she addressed the man by name and smiled. Then the man called Talwyn stood, letting go of his sword and pulling his hood back to reveal a smiling face. I hadn't noticed the sword.... Ainutsa thought, frowning, disappointed that she had missed such an important detail. Talwyn offered to share the deer with Cordana, which made Ainutsa's eyes tear up again, but she pushed them away, telling herself that of course he would share the food, because that was what it was to him. But why would he? Only friends would share, right? ...

So they know each other... They even seem to be friends! Ainutsa shifted her hold on the branch slightly, taking in the situation. A friend of Cordana's... This thought was in her mind when she leaped from the tree and landed lightly between the tree and Cordana. Straightening from the crouch her leap had left her in, she looked back up at the back of Cordana's head.

"A friend, Cordana? You lied then; you said you were not accepted by people! But that's silly, Cordana! Now there are two people who have accepted you! The cycle is already breaking!" Ainutsa said, laughing. She still didn't move from where she was, though. For some reason, she was nervous of this Talwyn. Perhaps because he was a male? Or maybe because of the deer? Either way, she knew she shouldn't move suddenly anymore. He has a sword. she reminded herself. But she knew that it wouldn't matter. Talwyn looked strong, like Cordana, and Ainutsa was so very inexperienced.

[cordana]

With a smile Cordana stepped forward to answer Talwyn's greeting gesture. "It is good to see you, Talwyn. It has been to long." The food that was offered by her friend made Cordana smile even wider, happy that she was offered a warm meal. "Thank you but you'll need enough for three." She added friendly

Shortly after that Ainutsa landed behind her. It suprised Cordana a bit that the young elf dared to come down, since a deer was roasting on the flames, and she wasn't all to comfortable in the presence of strangers. The dark elf chuckled at the optimistic thinking of Ainutsa. Perhpas she was right, perhaps the years of solitution made her a pessimestic thinker.

"Perhaps you are right, Ainutsa. Besides if I recall correctly I befriended his village to." Cordana started to think back to the bandit attack. But that quickly stopped. "Oh, where are my manners. Talwyn, I want you to meet my new friend Ainutsa." She said while side stepping, revealing the young elf. "She is also my new protégé as I'll introduce her in the arcane arts soon." Cordana said while tapping Ainutsa's shoulder.

[Talwyn]

Before he had even registered the fact that Cordana said he would need enough for three, he saw someone jump down from the branches. Jumping back a bit, his sword left its sheath in less then a second and a scowl appeared on his face. "A friend, Cordana? You lied then; you said you were not accepted by people! But that's silly, Cordana! Now there are two people who have accepted you! The cycle is already breaking!" The newcomer said, laughing.

Putting his sword back again, he started laughing to, obviously mocking the young elf. Shaking his head he looked at Cordana with an amused look that seemed to ask something like "where the hell did you pick up this little recluse?". Facing Ainutsa, he sounded sullen and gloomy as he replied. "Peh, as if my acceptance of a person is worth anything. Look at me girl," Spreading his arms as if to invite her to take a good look he went on. "I am far from a normal person. Being in my company does no good for your reputation and no offense to Cordana, but the same is true for her. People, humans especially, distrust and fear that which they do not know or understand. And while I am grateful that I can once again go home without fear, I know for a fact that if that village had not been my hometown I would have been chased out even after risking my life to save them."

Walking back over to the fire he gestured the elfs to join him. Sitting down, he smiled at Ainutsa. "Either way, my name is Talwyn Greyoak and a friend of Cordana is a friend of mine. Though it seems she will have to teach you more then just the arcane arts if you want to have any hope of surviving in the real world." A slight mischievous grin was the only sign that the last part had in fact been intended as a joke. "Dinner will be ready soon and it should be more then enough for the three of us." He was as brusque and gruff as ever, and as always he seemed to prefer being alone, but it was obvious he actually enjoyed the company.

[Summerchika]

At Talwyn's laughter, Ainutsa's bottom lip puffed out and turned downward. She really didn't know what to make of this Talwyn. But she was happy to be recognized as Cordana's new protégé, and she couldn't hide a smile that came after Talwyn's laughter at her. But her smile didn't last long. Talwyn gave Cordana a look that Ainutsa took offensively and her lip butted out again. She raised her chin while Talwyen was speaking. She had noticed his appearance before; she wasn't completely inadequate at observing things. Or had she truly noticed? She looked him over as he spread his arms out wide. Her bugged as she noticed his funny skin.

"You're blue!" Ainutsa exclaimed, decidedly ignoring his rudeness by calling her 'girl', even if he hadn't known her name. Her lips curled upward a bit as her jaw dropped. She looked into Talwyn's eyes. It was fascinating! "Cordana has a tail and you have blue skin!" she announced as if it was something no one had known before. She had to admit, she was feeling a little jealous of them. A little forlornly she added, "Why am I left out?" She looked toward Cordana with eyes that matched her forlorn voice.

Then, following Talwyn's movement with her eyes, Ainutsa wondered if she should sit. The deer was over there.... She stayed where she was and decided to retaliate a bit. After all he continued to make fun of her and she was starting to feel indignant. She couldn't even tell if he was joking or not; he was so difficult to read! "Well then, Talwyn Greyoak," she addressed him directly, "I blame you for Cordana's negativity. It took me forever telling her that humans can't really be so close-minded and you just have to ruin all of my work." she said, trying to match her grandmother's stern tone unsuccessfully. She couldn't really be stern when she didn't really mean it.

She glanced at the deer again, then quickly looked away. She kept having to remind herself that they only thought of the deer as food and nothing else and they weren't being unduly cruel because they did have to eat. Reminded of the deer-as-food fact, she added as an after thought to her little rant, "I'm... not . Thank you, though, for your generosity."

[cordana]

With a smile of amusement Cordana observed the introduction between her two friends. It was a funny thing to see. A more embittered person who was forced into solitution by society and a naiver person who was left behind and lived in solitution. Almost, just almost, she felt sorry, in a comical way, for the two youngsters as they were almost each others opposites.

When Ainutsa said she felt left out because of the fact Cordana had a tail and Talwyn was blue-skinned Cordana frowned and her smiled disappear. "That is nothing to be jealous about, Ainutsa. Altough you might find our appearances something to be envied about, you must remind that there is much suffering and sadness in how we aquired it." Cordana turned her head towards Talwyn. "I am very casual about it but to Talwyn it is a bit more... touchy of a subject."

Cordana sat down next to Talwyn, infront of the fire and the roasting deer. The dark elf looked at the younger elf and she clearly noticed the pail she felt towards the dead deer. Then Ainutsa blamed Talwyn for Cordana's negative thougts about mankind. the young elf was just being teased but didn't know how to react. "I didn't know I was negative." She said on a casual way, trying to save the conversation. "Ainutsa, dear, Talwyn was just teasing you. Just sit down and have a bite." Cordana said with a friendly voice.

When the young elf refused to eat she sighed. "Please eat a bit Ainutsa. I know it is hard for you but if you want to train you have to eat you keep your strenght up." The dark elf looked up to Ainutsa. "What you are doing now is an insult towards the deer's former life. It gave his life so that we can eat and live. It is a noble sacrifice, worthy of honouring and not grieving. It would be sad to let his sacriice go to waste, wouldn't it?" She said while adding a friendly smile. "Anyhow, I am famished." Cordana said while eying Talwyn with a hint.