This is Me

Hello, I am called Ivaria. I am an angel from Zendikar. I have recently found myself living in a place called Ravnica, where I have made many new friends. I am striving to be so much more. (RP blog, Mun is 18+)

[maris-solstice]

Maris could tackle me to the ground and i would be okay with that

Noted.

Though he would only really do that if you were like… a criminal or something. So…Take that under advisement I guess?

[maris-solstice]

PLEASE DON’T COMMIT CRIMES TO GET MARIS’S ATTENTION

[rodimuses]

What if i committed

Minor arson

[maris-solstice]

That…. that’s a terrible idea. People could be hurt and Maris doesn’t like endangering the public.

[rodimuses]

But I’m gay and full of choas

[oldtumblhurgoyf]

[maris-solstice]

Please only commit crimes against those putting the people down in ways that don’t hurt the oppressed, because Maris is alright with dismantling power structures but burning things that could lead to people being hurt is bad.

[isolde-solstice]

Do crime thoughtfully

[maris-solstice]

[shepherd-ivaria]

Oh I must’ve missed something. Am I supposed to do crimes if I am gay?

[shepherd-ivaria]

I have done what you have asked of me.

( @stoneroot-science )

[stoneroot-science]

Good. Meet us.

Below the text is a glyph indicating extraplanar coordinates. Staring at it for just a moment presses information and images into the brain - Itlimoc. Ixalan.

[shepherd-ivaria]

Ivaria tried her best to quell her excitement long enough to visualize the glyph in her mind. She’d been to Ixalan once before, so it wasn’t too difficult to get a general sense of the plane she was going to, but she had to make sure she got the location right. She focused as hard as she could on the coordinates, latched onto the frequency of Ixalan, and allowed her body to dissipate.

[stoneroot-science]

The air in the clearing was hot and damp. Trees towered overhead, branches reaching toward the sun in constant praise of light and life. Small raptors skittered among the roots and the calls of larger dinosaurs could be heard in the distance. Voren too was phenomenally tall and lanky, in mimicry of the local flora.

Or would be, were he standing straight. The treefolk had pinned a large raptor beneath several roots and was stooped low… tinkering. Branches stabbed into reptilian fleshed as he sliced and stitched and pulsed magic into the very much still living and awake test subject - its mouth open in silent screaming.

“You have brought the scales?”

[shepherd-ivaria]

Ivaria grimaced at the scene before her, watching Voren work with an odd fascination. She wondered what the purpose of what he was doing could possibly be.

She extended her arm to the treefolk, an unremarkable cloth bag cupped in her hand. Inside were ten small dragon scales, bright crimson in color.

[stoneroot-science]

A vine erupted from the forest undergrowth and curled around the bag, snatching it from her hand and writhing toward Voren like a snake. Two claw-like fingers reached in to examine the contents and retrieve just one scale.

“Mmm… not fresh, but it is as we requested.”

He traced the scale along several cuts marked along the raptor’s body which began to grow a ferocious blue. He stowed the scale and the bag as the creature twitched and writhed, in clear pain as limbs grew longer, scales hard. Extra limbs sprouted from its back, rapidly forming meat and sinew and flesh until the small creature had its own set of wings.

“This plane has lacked proper dragons for far too long. The current megafauna could use the additional competition.”

[shepherd-ivaria]

Ivaria took a step back, apprehensive but almost marveling at the creature’s transformation before her. She was amazed that such a tiny scale could cause such a reaction.

Her voice trembled. “What did you do?”

[shepherd-ivaria]

I have done what you have asked of me.

( @stoneroot-science )

[stoneroot-science]

Good. Meet us.

Below the text is a glyph indicating extraplanar coordinates. Staring at it for just a moment presses information and images into the brain - Itlimoc. Ixalan.

[shepherd-ivaria]

Ivaria tried her best to quell her excitement long enough to visualize the glyph in her mind. She’d been to Ixalan once before, so it wasn’t too difficult to get a general sense of the plane she was going to, but she had to make sure she got the location right. She focused as hard as she could on the coordinates, latched onto the frequency of Ixalan, and allowed her body to dissipate.

[stoneroot-science]

The air in the clearing was hot and damp. Trees towered overhead, branches reaching toward the sun in constant praise of light and life. Small raptors skittered among the roots and the calls of larger dinosaurs could be heard in the distance. Voren too was phenomenally tall and lanky, in mimicry of the local flora.

Or would be, were he standing straight. The treefolk had pinned a large raptor beneath several roots and was stooped low… tinkering. Branches stabbed into reptilian fleshed as he sliced and stitched and pulsed magic into the very much still living and awake test subject - its mouth open in silent screaming.

“You have brought the scales?”

[shepherd-ivaria]

Ivaria grimaced at the scene before her, watching Voren work with an odd fascination. She wondered what the purpose of what he was doing could possibly be.

She extended her arm to the treefolk, an unremarkable cloth bag cupped in her hand. Inside were ten small dragon scales, bright crimson in color.

[shepherd-ivaria]

I have done what you have asked of me.

( @stoneroot-science )

[stoneroot-science]

Good. Meet us.

Below the text is a glyph indicating extraplanar coordinates. Staring at it for just a moment presses information and images into the brain - Itlimoc. Ixalan.

[shepherd-ivaria]

Ivaria tried her best to quell her excitement long enough to visualize the glyph in her mind. She’d been to Ixalan once before, so it wasn’t too difficult to get a general sense of the plane she was going to, but she had to make sure she got the location right. She focused as hard as she could on the coordinates, latched onto the frequency of Ixalan, and allowed her body to dissipate.

[shepherd-ivaria]

I have done what you have asked of me.

( @stoneroot-science )

[shepherd-ivaria]

Ivaria opened the journal that she held so closely to her chest for what felt like the last several hours. She awkwardly held it in front of her face as she laid on her side, skimming over her past conversations with Voren. Tears stained her cheeks. She had to be making the right decision. Hadn’t she?

She sat up. Now was not the time to be questioning herself. She felt as though she had gotten a reasonable handle on the last thing Voren had taught her, and it was time to talk to him again. Or at least she hoped. She was lonely. What kind of dumb thought was that? It’s not like he’s ever going to be your friend, let alone care about you in any sort of meaningful way.

She rummaged around for a writing utensil and placed the journal on her lap. She sighed deeply, and penned the words;

I think I am ready to further my studies.

A stray tear escaped her and fell onto the page, causing the ink to bleed slightly. She really hoped she was doing the right thing.

( @stoneroot-science )

[stoneroot-science]

There is a pause before writing appears again. When the text scrawls itself into the book again it looks rushed, as if the writer were distracted with other matters.

Define your request. What knowledge do you seek, Ivaria?

[shepherd-ivaria]

Ivaria nearly dropped the pen she was holding. Had he called her by her first name before? She honestly couldn’t remember. Did he-? No. Remember he does not care about you. This is only a means to an end. The pen hovered above the journal for a second before she responded;

I still seek to become more powerful. Last time we talked I learned to use a form of magic that I previously thought impossible for me. Perhaps I could learn something more familiar.

[stoneroot-science]

Ten minutes pass before the next response. Though it is clear Voren is not troubled in his response, reading the words gives her a sense of… screaming. Like something nearby to the writer echoes into the text.

Understood. As payment for this lesson, we require ten scales of a dragon of Jarguund. The color is irrelevant.

[shepherd-ivaria]

Ivaria’s eyes opened wide. Scales from a dragon of Jarguund? Like Asmund? No way could I ever get him to agree to such a thing... and I’d really like to avoid having to talk to him for now... And he’d question me. Find out what I’ve been doing. She frowned and chewed on the tip of her pen, frustratedly trying to think of a solution to this. Perhaps she could travel to Jarguund herself and find a different dragon? She had been there before so she knew the way... She shook her head. Too impractical, and if other dragons on Jarguund were anything like Asmund, she doubted she could take one on herself. She gripped her pen so hard that it might break in half, and then suddenly, it dawned on her. She wrote:

I can have those for you immediately. Just give me a few moments.

[shepherd-ivaria]

Ivaria opened the journal that she held so closely to her chest for what felt like the last several hours. She awkwardly held it in front of her face as she laid on her side, skimming over her past conversations with Voren. Tears stained her cheeks. She had to be making the right decision. Hadn’t she?

She sat up. Now was not the time to be questioning herself. She felt as though she had gotten a reasonable handle on the last thing Voren had taught her, and it was time to talk to him again. Or at least she hoped. She was lonely. What kind of dumb thought was that? It’s not like he’s ever going to be your friend, let alone care about you in any sort of meaningful way.

She rummaged around for a writing utensil and placed the journal on her lap. She sighed deeply, and penned the words;

I think I am ready to further my studies.

A stray tear escaped her and fell onto the page, causing the ink to bleed slightly. She really hoped she was doing the right thing.

( @stoneroot-science )

[stoneroot-science]

There is a pause before writing appears again. When the text scrawls itself into the book again it looks rushed, as if the writer were distracted with other matters.

Define your request. What knowledge do you seek, Ivaria?

[shepherd-ivaria]

Ivaria nearly dropped the pen she was holding. Had he called her by her first name before? She honestly couldn’t remember. Did he-? No. Remember he does not care about you. This is only a means to an end. The pen hovered above the journal for a second before she responded;

I still seek to become more powerful. Last time we talked I learned to use a form of magic that I previously thought impossible for me. Perhaps I could learn something more familiar.

[shepherd-ivaria]

Ivaria opened the journal that she held so closely to her chest for what felt like the last several hours. She awkwardly held it in front of her face as she laid on her side, skimming over her past conversations with Voren. Tears stained her cheeks. She had to be making the right decision. Hadn’t she?

She sat up. Now was not the time to be questioning herself. She felt as though she had gotten a reasonable handle on the last thing Voren had taught her, and it was time to talk to him again. Or at least she hoped. She was lonely. What kind of dumb thought was that? It’s not like he’s ever going to be your friend, let alone care about you in any sort of meaningful way.

She rummaged around for a writing utensil and placed the journal on her lap. She sighed deeply, and penned the words;

I think I am ready to further my studies.

A stray tear escaped her and fell onto the page, causing the ink to bleed slightly. She really hoped she was doing the right thing.

( @stoneroot-science )

[shepherd-ivaria]

Practice

[isolde-solstice]

Ivaria returned Isolde’s confused blink, cocking her head to the side. “I’m afraid I don’t understand.”

“That doth make two of us,” Isolde said softly. “Ivaria why are you dabbling in magic such as this?”

[isolde-solstice]

Ivaria’s face flushed with anger. “You didn’t listen to me at all did you! If you really loved me, you’d understand that this is something I have to do. I need to see where this goes, Isolde! I can’t explain it but I know I have to do this!”

Her mouth fell into a thin hard line and her expression changed to cold fury. “But I can see you won’t understand. You should leave.”

“Not listened? Not-“ She looked up at Ivaria. Her expression furious, but the look in her teal eyes more pained than anything. “I hath been listening. Otherwise I wouldst not be so goddamned worried about the mess thou art embedded in! Ivaria, I am not even asking thee to stop with thy dark arts if thou art truly convinced it is thy path, but for the love of the asura, find another tutor. One who hath not had thee on their operating table.”

[shepherd-ivaria]

“The reason I even know anything of my spark at all is because of that very incident.” Ivaria continued to glare at the other angel. “I know I can learn more from him. It’s not about the dark magic. It’s about the things he helped me discover about myself. And I can become more powerful in the process.”

[isolde-solstice]

“He wouldst have vivisected thee without another thought! I understand wanting to know more about thyself better than most Ivaria,” Isolde said, exasperated. “But what price doth thou pay for this knowledge? Is it worth the cost?”

[shepherd-ivaria]

“I’m done arguing this with you.” Ivaria snapped. “You won’t understand? Fine. I don’t need anyone’s approval.” She turned away.

[isolde-solstice]

“Ivaria, I know thou needest not approval,” Isolde said softly. “But thou art so keen on learning to make thyself stronger that thou shalt not have anything left to protect.”

With a little extra effort, got up to leave. She paused at the door. “Be careful. Please.” With that she left.

[shepherd-ivaria]

Ivaria waited until she heard the door close behind Isolde before before breaking down. She rushed upstairs to her bedroom, picked up the notebook, and fell onto her bed in a wash of tears.

[shepherd-ivaria]

Practice

[isolde-solstice]

Ivaria returned Isolde’s confused blink, cocking her head to the side. “I’m afraid I don’t understand.”

“That doth make two of us,” Isolde said softly. “Ivaria why are you dabbling in magic such as this?”

[isolde-solstice]

Ivaria’s face flushed with anger. “You didn’t listen to me at all did you! If you really loved me, you’d understand that this is something I have to do. I need to see where this goes, Isolde! I can’t explain it but I know I have to do this!”

Her mouth fell into a thin hard line and her expression changed to cold fury. “But I can see you won’t understand. You should leave.”

“Not listened? Not-“ She looked up at Ivaria. Her expression furious, but the look in her teal eyes more pained than anything. “I hath been listening. Otherwise I wouldst not be so goddamned worried about the mess thou art embedded in! Ivaria, I am not even asking thee to stop with thy dark arts if thou art truly convinced it is thy path, but for the love of the asura, find another tutor. One who hath not had thee on their operating table.”

[shepherd-ivaria]

“The reason I even know anything of my spark at all is because of that very incident.” Ivaria continued to glare at the other angel. “I know I can learn more from him. It’s not about the dark magic. It’s about the things he helped me discover about myself. And I can become more powerful in the process.”

[isolde-solstice]

“He wouldst have vivisected thee without another thought! I understand wanting to know more about thyself better than most Ivaria,” Isolde said, exasperated. “But what price doth thou pay for this knowledge? Is it worth the cost?”

[shepherd-ivaria]

“I’m done arguing this with you.” Ivaria snapped. “You won’t understand? Fine. I don’t need anyone’s approval.” She turned away.

[shepherd-ivaria]

Practice

[isolde-solstice]

Ivaria returned Isolde’s confused blink, cocking her head to the side. “I’m afraid I don’t understand.”

“That doth make two of us,” Isolde said softly. “Ivaria why are you dabbling in magic such as this?”

[isolde-solstice]

Ivaria’s face flushed with anger. “You didn’t listen to me at all did you! If you really loved me, you’d understand that this is something I have to do. I need to see where this goes, Isolde! I can’t explain it but I know I have to do this!”

Her mouth fell into a thin hard line and her expression changed to cold fury. “But I can see you won’t understand. You should leave.”

“Not listened? Not-“ She looked up at Ivaria. Her expression furious, but the look in her teal eyes more pained than anything. “I hath been listening. Otherwise I wouldst not be so goddamned worried about the mess thou art embedded in! Ivaria, I am not even asking thee to stop with thy dark arts if thou art truly convinced it is thy path, but for the love of the asura, find another tutor. One who hath not had thee on their operating table.”

[shepherd-ivaria]

“The reason I even know anything of my spark at all is because of that very incident.” Ivaria continued to glare at the other angel. “I know I can learn more from him. It’s not about the dark magic. It’s about the things he helped me discover about myself. And I can become more powerful in the process.”

[shepherd-ivaria]

Practice

[isolde-solstice]

Ivaria returned Isolde’s confused blink, cocking her head to the side. “I’m afraid I don’t understand.”

“That doth make two of us,” Isolde said softly. “Ivaria why are you dabbling in magic such as this?”

[isolde-solstice]

Ivaria sighed. “We can, but I don’t think you will like what you hear. And my mind will not be changed.”

Isolde thought for a moment and then extended her hand to Ivaria. “I shall not presume to change thee, but I request that thou shalt not presume thou canst not change. Let us enter this tower open minded on both fronts beloved sister.”

[shepherd-ivaria]

Ivaria briefly hesitated before taking her sister’s hand. “Alright.”

She slowly led Isolde inside and to the living room. The interior of the tower felt quiet and stale, not the warm, inviting home that it once was. The plants and flowers she kept about had all wilted, and things were in a state of disarray. Not seeming to notice in the slightest, Ivaria took a seat on one of the floor cushions.

[isolde-solstice]

Isolde sat on a cushion next to hers carefully. She briefly considered offering to help clean, but for now she would listen as she said she would. “Tho mayest begin when it suits thee tho there is no rush.”

[shepherd-ivaria]

Ivaria looked at her sister, confused. “Begin-? I’m not quite sure what you mean, Isolde. I’m not exactly prepared to give a speech, but if you have questions I will answer them if I can.”

[isolde-solstice]

“‘Twas less a request for speech so much as me attempting to pull back from the conversation a bit. I didst not want to offer to listen only to bombard thee with questions and seem as though I was not sincere. My apologies for the confusion,” she said with a soft smile.

“I suppose, on the subject of beginnings, I shall ask thee how didst this start?”

[shepherd-ivaria]

Ivaria continued looking at Isolde. She shifted uncomfortably. “I suppose that is a rather broad question. There could be several points that could be described as leading to where I am now. Which ‘beginning’ do you mean?”

[isolde-solstice]

She wasn’t sure if Ivaria was perhapss being intentionally difficult or not so Isolde gave her the benefit of the doubt. “When didst thou seek out such dark answers to thy fears?”

[shepherd-ivaria]

“I was tired of horrible things happening to me and people I loved that I could do nothing about. I was taken and could do nothing. Alek… was taken, and again I could do nothing. Maris got hurt and I could do nothing.” She grew agitated. “The cause was clear. I was not powerful enough. I’m still not.”

Ivaria stood up and began to pace slowly. “First I went to Asmund for help. I asked if he could make me powerful. He said he’d help, and we traveled to his home plane. He had me perform a number of tasks, most of which I understood the purpose. It was soon after a sparring match in which he used time magic against me that I realized that it was not going to work. I didn’t see the point in it anymore, and I couldn’t get my mind off something else.”

She paused, turning to look at Isolde once again. “I realized then who I should be asking. I decided I would go to the one who took me.”

[isolde-solstice]

Isolde pinched the bridge of her nose and took a deep breath. “Ivaria hath thou no patience that thou wouldst so readily go to the vile creature who had thee under his knife so readily?”

“Surely thou canst not truly trust him?” she added, looking up at her. There was no scolding to her voice, but concern. “How long before he betrays thee for his experiments? If he is training thee thou mayest be stronger, but he shall also know each weakness thou hath.”

[shepherd-ivaria]

Ivaria cocked an eyebrow. “I’m sure he knows of every weakness I have already.” She traced the scar on her chest. “And trust is not the word. But I do feel for him, he lost his world in the very way I almost lost mine. He wants it back. I’m not sure what I would have done were Zendikar completely lost and I possessed the power that we do.”

She paused for a few more moments. “It is not an issue of patience. This is something I have been curious about for some time. I feel drawn to him, for whatever reason, and I need to see where this path leads.”

[isolde-solstice]

“Is it not? Thou didst hardly train with Maris before moving on to Asmund and then thou didst leave his tutelage swiftly as well and then, then thou didst turn to that tree man so readily. Strength takes time, Ivaria. It takes hard work. It takes patience.”

Isolde’s frustration was leaking out now, her hands shaking ever so slightly. Her voice raised. “I am sorry he lost his world. That is a pain I cannot pretend to know, but my god that does not justify the amount of murder done at his… hands. There are other ways if thou art willing to seek them out and work for them. Even when all seems lost there are always other ways!”

“I… I am sorry for snapping. I am not mad, I just…” Isolde stopped and thought for a second. “No I am mad. I am pissed as they say. Furious even! What the absolute fuck are you thinking?!”

She held her face in her hands, trying to breathe deeply. “… even moreso than that I am afraid for thee, Ivaria. Not because thou art weak, please do not misinterpret that. I just… I love thee so very much. Please, please put aside your pride for one moment and see the danger thou art in.”

[shepherd-ivaria]

Ivaria’s face flushed with anger. “You didn’t listen to me at all did you! If you really loved me, you’d understand that this is something I have to do. I need to see where this goes, Isolde! I can’t explain it but I know I have to do this!”

Her mouth fell into a thin hard line and her expression changed to cold fury. “But I can see you won’t understand. You should leave.”

[shepherd-ivaria]

Practice

[isolde-solstice]

Ivaria returned Isolde’s confused blink, cocking her head to the side. “I’m afraid I don’t understand.”

“That doth make two of us,” Isolde said softly. “Ivaria why are you dabbling in magic such as this?”

[isolde-solstice]

Ivaria sighed. “We can, but I don’t think you will like what you hear. And my mind will not be changed.”

Isolde thought for a moment and then extended her hand to Ivaria. “I shall not presume to change thee, but I request that thou shalt not presume thou canst not change. Let us enter this tower open minded on both fronts beloved sister.”

[shepherd-ivaria]

Ivaria briefly hesitated before taking her sister’s hand. “Alright.”

She slowly led Isolde inside and to the living room. The interior of the tower felt quiet and stale, not the warm, inviting home that it once was. The plants and flowers she kept about had all wilted, and things were in a state of disarray. Not seeming to notice in the slightest, Ivaria took a seat on one of the floor cushions.

[isolde-solstice]

Isolde sat on a cushion next to hers carefully. She briefly considered offering to help clean, but for now she would listen as she said she would. “Tho mayest begin when it suits thee tho there is no rush.”

[shepherd-ivaria]

Ivaria looked at her sister, confused. “Begin-? I’m not quite sure what you mean, Isolde. I’m not exactly prepared to give a speech, but if you have questions I will answer them if I can.”

[isolde-solstice]

“‘Twas less a request for speech so much as me attempting to pull back from the conversation a bit. I didst not want to offer to listen only to bombard thee with questions and seem as though I was not sincere. My apologies for the confusion,” she said with a soft smile.

“I suppose, on the subject of beginnings, I shall ask thee how didst this start?”

[shepherd-ivaria]

Ivaria continued looking at Isolde. She shifted uncomfortably. “I suppose that is a rather broad question. There could be several points that could be described as leading to where I am now. Which ‘beginning’ do you mean?”

[isolde-solstice]

She wasn’t sure if Ivaria was perhapss being intentionally difficult or not so Isolde gave her the benefit of the doubt. “When didst thou seek out such dark answers to thy fears?”

[shepherd-ivaria]

“I was tired of horrible things happening to me and people I loved that I could do nothing about. I was taken and could do nothing. Alek… was taken, and again I could do nothing. Maris got hurt and I could do nothing.” She grew agitated. “The cause was clear. I was not powerful enough. I’m still not.”

Ivaria stood up and began to pace slowly. “First I went to Asmund for help. I asked if he could make me powerful. He said he’d help, and we traveled to his home plane. He had me perform a number of tasks, most of which I understood the purpose. It was soon after a sparring match in which he used time magic against me that I realized that it was not going to work. I didn’t see the point in it anymore, and I couldn’t get my mind off something else.”

She paused, turning to look at Isolde once again. “I realized then who I should be asking. I decided I would go to the one who took me.”

[isolde-solstice]

Isolde pinched the bridge of her nose and took a deep breath. “Ivaria hath thou no patience that thou wouldst so readily go to the vile creature who had thee under his knife so readily?”

“Surely thou canst not truly trust him?” she added, looking up at her. There was no scolding to her voice, but concern. “How long before he betrays thee for his experiments? If he is training thee thou mayest be stronger, but he shall also know each weakness thou hath.”

[shepherd-ivaria]

Ivaria cocked an eyebrow. “I’m sure he knows of every weakness I have already.” She traced the scar on her chest. “And trust is not the word. But I do feel for him, he lost his world in the very way I almost lost mine. He wants it back. I’m not sure what I would have done were Zendikar completely lost and I possessed the power that we do.”

She paused for a few more moments. “It is not an issue of patience. This is something I have been curious about for some time. I feel drawn to him, for whatever reason, and I need to see where this path leads.”

[shepherd-ivaria]

Practice

[isolde-solstice]

Ivaria returned Isolde’s confused blink, cocking her head to the side. “I’m afraid I don’t understand.”

“That doth make two of us,” Isolde said softly. “Ivaria why are you dabbling in magic such as this?”

[isolde-solstice]

Ivaria sighed. “We can, but I don’t think you will like what you hear. And my mind will not be changed.”

Isolde thought for a moment and then extended her hand to Ivaria. “I shall not presume to change thee, but I request that thou shalt not presume thou canst not change. Let us enter this tower open minded on both fronts beloved sister.”

[shepherd-ivaria]

Ivaria briefly hesitated before taking her sister’s hand. “Alright.”

She slowly led Isolde inside and to the living room. The interior of the tower felt quiet and stale, not the warm, inviting home that it once was. The plants and flowers she kept about had all wilted, and things were in a state of disarray. Not seeming to notice in the slightest, Ivaria took a seat on one of the floor cushions.

[isolde-solstice]

Isolde sat on a cushion next to hers carefully. She briefly considered offering to help clean, but for now she would listen as she said she would. “Tho mayest begin when it suits thee tho there is no rush.”

[shepherd-ivaria]

Ivaria looked at her sister, confused. “Begin-? I’m not quite sure what you mean, Isolde. I’m not exactly prepared to give a speech, but if you have questions I will answer them if I can.”

[isolde-solstice]

“‘Twas less a request for speech so much as me attempting to pull back from the conversation a bit. I didst not want to offer to listen only to bombard thee with questions and seem as though I was not sincere. My apologies for the confusion,” she said with a soft smile.

“I suppose, on the subject of beginnings, I shall ask thee how didst this start?”

[shepherd-ivaria]

Ivaria continued looking at Isolde. She shifted uncomfortably. “I suppose that is a rather broad question. There could be several points that could be described as leading to where I am now. Which ‘beginning’ do you mean?”

[isolde-solstice]

She wasn’t sure if Ivaria was perhapss being intentionally difficult or not so Isolde gave her the benefit of the doubt. “When didst thou seek out such dark answers to thy fears?”

[shepherd-ivaria]

“I was tired of horrible things happening to me and people I loved that I could do nothing about. I was taken and could do nothing. Alek... was taken, and again I could do nothing. Maris got hurt and I could do nothing.” She grew agitated. “The cause was clear. I was not powerful enough. I’m still not.”

Ivaria stood up and began to pace slowly. “First I went to Asmund for help. I asked if he could make me powerful. He said he’d help, and we traveled to his home plane. He had me perform a number of tasks, most of which I understood the purpose. It was soon after a sparring match in which he used time magic against me that I realized that it was not going to work. I didn’t see the point in it anymore, and I couldn’t get my mind off something else.”

She paused, turning to look at Isolde once again. “I realized then who I should be asking. I decided I would go to the one who took me.”

[shepherd-ivaria]

Practice

[isolde-solstice]

Ivaria returned Isolde’s confused blink, cocking her head to the side. “I’m afraid I don’t understand.”

“That doth make two of us,” Isolde said softly. “Ivaria why are you dabbling in magic such as this?”

[isolde-solstice]

Ivaria sighed. “We can, but I don’t think you will like what you hear. And my mind will not be changed.”

Isolde thought for a moment and then extended her hand to Ivaria. “I shall not presume to change thee, but I request that thou shalt not presume thou canst not change. Let us enter this tower open minded on both fronts beloved sister.”

[shepherd-ivaria]

Ivaria briefly hesitated before taking her sister’s hand. “Alright.”

She slowly led Isolde inside and to the living room. The interior of the tower felt quiet and stale, not the warm, inviting home that it once was. The plants and flowers she kept about had all wilted, and things were in a state of disarray. Not seeming to notice in the slightest, Ivaria took a seat on one of the floor cushions.

[isolde-solstice]

Isolde sat on a cushion next to hers carefully. She briefly considered offering to help clean, but for now she would listen as she said she would. “Tho mayest begin when it suits thee tho there is no rush.”

[shepherd-ivaria]

Ivaria looked at her sister, confused. “Begin-? I’m not quite sure what you mean, Isolde. I’m not exactly prepared to give a speech, but if you have questions I will answer them if I can.”

[isolde-solstice]

“‘Twas less a request for speech so much as me attempting to pull back from the conversation a bit. I didst not want to offer to listen only to bombard thee with questions and seem as though I was not sincere. My apologies for the confusion,” she said with a soft smile.

“I suppose, on the subject of beginnings, I shall ask thee how didst this start?”

[shepherd-ivaria]

Ivaria continued looking at Isolde. She shifted uncomfortably. “I suppose that is a rather broad question. There could be several points that could be described as leading to where I am now. Which ‘beginning’ do you mean?”

[shepherd-ivaria]

Practice

[isolde-solstice]

Ivaria returned Isolde’s confused blink, cocking her head to the side. “I’m afraid I don’t understand.”

“That doth make two of us,” Isolde said softly. “Ivaria why are you dabbling in magic such as this?”

[isolde-solstice]

Ivaria sighed. “We can, but I don’t think you will like what you hear. And my mind will not be changed.”

Isolde thought for a moment and then extended her hand to Ivaria. “I shall not presume to change thee, but I request that thou shalt not presume thou canst not change. Let us enter this tower open minded on both fronts beloved sister.”

[shepherd-ivaria]

Ivaria briefly hesitated before taking her sister’s hand. “Alright.”

She slowly led Isolde inside and to the living room. The interior of the tower felt quiet and stale, not the warm, inviting home that it once was. The plants and flowers she kept about had all wilted, and things were in a state of disarray. Not seeming to notice in the slightest, Ivaria took a seat on one of the floor cushions.

[isolde-solstice]

Isolde sat on a cushion next to hers carefully. She briefly considered offering to help clean, but for now she would listen as she said she would. “Tho mayest begin when it suits thee tho there is no rush.”

[shepherd-ivaria]

Ivaria looked at her sister, confused. “Begin-? I’m not quite sure what you mean, Isolde. I’m not exactly prepared to give a speech, but if you have questions I will answer them if I can.”

[shepherd-ivaria]

Practice

[isolde-solstice]

Ivaria returned Isolde’s confused blink, cocking her head to the side. “I’m afraid I don’t understand.”

“That doth make two of us,” Isolde said softly. “Ivaria why are you dabbling in magic such as this?”

[isolde-solstice]

Ivaria sighed. “We can, but I don’t think you will like what you hear. And my mind will not be changed.”

Isolde thought for a moment and then extended her hand to Ivaria. “I shall not presume to change thee, but I request that thou shalt not presume thou canst not change. Let us enter this tower open minded on both fronts beloved sister.”

[shepherd-ivaria]

Ivaria briefly hesitated before taking her sister’s hand. “Alright.”

She slowly led Isolde inside and to the living room. The interior of the tower felt quiet and stale, not the warm, inviting home that it once was. The plants and flowers she kept about had all wilted, and things were in a state of disarray. Not seeming to notice in the slightest, Ivaria took a seat on one of the floor cushions.