#aisahna

[kisaell]

In brighter news, I’m playing FFXI again and Anna has already obtained a rideable Raptor companion... I should draw them together

(The raptor is called Rosie)

[kisaell]

The thick leather-bound tome landed on the wooden table with a loud thump; Anne's yellow eyes locked into the scrawled handwriting along the spine, her handwriting.

“What this?” Ali leaned over from her chair and picked up the book, examining it, “Some journal from that mage we... Defeated?” The Knight opened it and flicked across a few pages, muttering some of the written words under her breath.

Ali stopped after a short time and her face paled, “This is yours...” She put the book back, still open; the page had neat scrawl on one half and a sketch, identical to Anne's sketches on the other. Anne nodded, “It's from before 'she' became 'me'...” The Mage looked at her best friend, the two shared the same expression, fear.

“Are you gonna read it?” Ali asked, standing and walking over to her friend, she placed a hand on Anne's back, offering what little support she could.

“I don't know... That's not who I am anymore. What if I don't like the old Anne? What if I was a horrible criminal and this was my punishment?” Anne pinched the bridge of her nose, “Look at the last few pages for me. Tell me if 'she' said anything about becoming what I am. Please...”

Without another word, Ali returned to her seat and found the last few written pages; her eyes scanned the parchment, expression unreadable. The Knight gave a slow nod and then a deep breath.

'This is it. Yasfel has offered me my final choice. Do I truly wish for this power? Yes. What I am now is limited and quite frankly I've reached it; unless I devote myself to either the path of black or path of white... Neither is for me. I wish to harm and heal. I don't want to leave myself open to such betrayal again.

I'm going to take this offer. He said that something precious must be lost as a price. So long as I remain myself, no cost is too great.'

The leather on Anne's gloves creaked as she slowly unfurled her fists, “So long as I remain myself, huh... Wow...” She staggered on her feet, kneeling down to rest against the table, “I suppose I should read the rest. Path of Black? Path of White? Betrayal? Sounds like 'she' had a lot going on.”

Ali gave a sympathetic look, “Hey Anne? Y'know, even if you're not 'her' or even if you are 'her'... I'll still be your friend. You know that, right?” The Knight smiled and put the book back on the table, “I'm sure your princess will still love you all the same too.”

Anne allowed the rest of her weight to hit the table, “Not funny, Ali... Princess Arciela doesn't love me, not.... not like that.” She reached over a hand and grabbed the book, “Still, even if she did... I hope she knows that just reading about who this,” She tapped the cover of the book, “was won't change me. Just because we look alike and we used to be the same... Something tells me that I could read all about 'her' and it would do nothing to me.” She gave a weak laugh and sat up, “Becoming this took everything... She's gone, forever.”

[kisaell]

Potential - pt 2

Arciela bolted awake, cold sweat poring from her hot clammy skin. She was alone, she was in bed... She was safe? Anne's voice pierced the silence and the Princess jumped out of her bed as fast as she could. She only stopped when she reached the door because she heard... Laughter.

“... I swear Ali, your stories get more ridiculous every time I hear them.”

Arciela opened the door a crack and looked out into the next room; Anne and Ali were sat in front of the fire, mugs of ale in hand... Laughing and joking. The Princess let her head press again the door and a few tears fell, Anne was alive and safe... Everything was fine.

She turned to return to bed but stopped. Her heart disquiet. Arciela looked back to the door and took in a deep breath, it wasn't enough to spy a glimmer of red hair and hear a sliver of her voice; she needed to know Anne was okay, and with another deep breath, she opened the door.

“Princess?” Anne leaned over her chair and looked towards the opening door, giving a gentle smile, “Were we too loud, my lady? Forgive me, ale goes right to.. my...” Anne's voice trailed off as she stood up slowly, her smile vanishing.

Arciela brought a hand to her cheek, she was still crying. She looked back to Anne and lost all composure; she was about to fall to her knees when she felt a body against hers. Anne had dashed over and held her in a firm but comforting embrace, “Arciela... Did something happen?”

“You... You're okay...” Arciela managed to speak between gasps of air, lifting her arms to pull the mage into a tighter embrace. Anne stammered and gave up on words, letting the princess relieve her sorrows against her.

“... I'm fine.” Anne pulled away a little, so she could make eye contact with Arciela, “Look at me. I'm okay. I'm alive... I'm well. A little drunk but otherwise in good health.” Anne shook her head, “It was a dream. All is well.”

Their embraced ended, Arciela lingering close to the mage still. Anne gave a small shrug towards Ali, who had spent the entire moment with the biggest smirk on her face; the mage scowled at her companion but her expression softened as she looked back to the princess, “You should go back to bed. Try and get some more sleep.”

The princess grabbed Anne's hand and tugged on her, “... Come with me...” She asked. The mage's face flushed blue and her throat drying in an instant, she opened and closed her mouth a few times unable to speak. “Please...” Arciela's grip tightened.

Anne looked back to Ali who was now hiding her grin behind pretending to take a drink and the mage was at a loss. “Okay...” Anne followed as the princess lead her back to the room.

Ali released the laugh she had been holding in, “About damn time...” She muttered, leaning over the table to grab Anne's discarded drink; she swirled the mug and took a swig, grimacing at the taste but finished it regardless.

[kisaell]

Potential

“Anne!” The Princess called into the darkness, “Anne! Please, it's okay. You can come out now.” Her voice quivered, panic and worry filled her entire soul.

“P-Princess...”

A voice, hoarse and ill whispered just loud enough for Arciela to hear. The Princess swung around in the direction of it and lifted the torch above her head, letting the soft glow from the magical flames illuminate the path before her.

Blood.

A trail of blue blood trickled further into the darkness. Arciela held her breath and pushed further on, her instinct to run away only overshadowed by her need to see Aisahna; the mage had panicked after being confronted by another blue mage, this one twisting into a monster before her very eyes. It was only natural she fled the scene after putting him down. But... Why the blood? The Princess picked up her pace, dread replacing reason. Was Anne injured in the fight or her escape? Arciela didn't know.

She heard a whimper and her name and she stopped. She lifted the torch again and her heart stopped. The flames revealed a monster slumbering on the path before her.

The beast was larger than anything she had encountered before. If it was standing, it would overshadow her height maybe twice over; but it lay on the ground, breathing heavy and laboured. Arciela counted six powerful legs, a set of wings and many, many fangs.  Against all logic, the Princess stepped closer; her boots squelching in the blood-soaked mud.

Anne's blade was buried within the beast's belly; the creatures back legs twitched uselessly. Letting out her breath, the Princess relaxed a moment, the beast was likely near dead – likely by Anne's hands but... Where was the Mage?

A loud hiss escaped the monster, it spluttered and wheezed; the middle set of legs grasping towards Arciela. It did not take much to back from the creature's range, limited and weak as it was. Arciela pitied the beast, it was suffering; she drew Otharsyne from the sheath at her hip and took another step towards the creature.

“Don't worry. I'll make the pain go away.” She offered a small prayer for it and as she readied to strike, she made eye contact with the beast... And it spoke.

“A...Arciela...?”

Four golden eyes locked onto hers. Golden eyes she had seen more times than she could count. Arciela's heart sunk to the depths of despair. Blue blood has stained the beast's teeth, the substance trickling between it's teeth...

“Anne...?” She asked, the monster replied with a painful shriek. Arciela stumbled backwards, letting the torch drop to the floor, the monster's scales another familiar shade... It couldn't be... This had to be a coincidence.

“R...Run...”

The Princess broke away from her sobbing and glared at the beast; it heaved again. A shaky stare locked eye contact again, “R..Run... I... I can't...” Something sound like it snapped within the beast's body; once useless legs now kicking with strength.

Arciela was frozen in place and the beast rose. She could hear the bones snapping and twisting back into place; the sword slipped from it's belly and hit the stones with a melodic tone. The monster shook it's head and let out a deafening roar as the coloured marks that once anchored the serpent brands blinked open to reveal eyes.

“Anne...?” The Princess asked in a small voice. The beast looked to her, mouth twitched open; a set of four hungry eyes on hers.

Anne was gone.

[kisaell]

Another meeting.

@the-sun-princess answered: anne meeeting the princess doooo itttt

Another child had gone missing.

Aisahna sat in the tavern, the night dragging on longer than she wanted; a man sat next to her, drowning his sorrows in his sixth cup of the night. Adoulin was not proving to be the kind grave she as hoped it would be.

Placing her own empty mug on the counter of the tavern and handing over the money to pay, the mage pulled the small crumpled invitation from her coat; there was some meeting being held at the palace tonight. Apparently Aisahna's contributions to the colonization effort had attracted the attentions of those above her station.

The mage scowled and pulled her hood closer to her head, she wasn't looking for recognition but the leader of the guild has practically begged her to attend. The dinner was to begin soon, so Aisahna set off towards the large castle sitting on the hill.

The exchange with the gate guard was swift and she was passed onto a servant to lead her into the dinning hall. As she followed, the mage could not help but marvel at the rather simple decorations within the palace; for a moment she worried she as in the wrong place.

“You will wait here.” The servant motioned to the empty table at the back of the hall and gave a stiff bow; something told Aisahna she wasn't quite as welcome here as the invitation let on. Taking a seat, the mage waited.

And waited.

When the doors opened next, a small group of self-absorbed and noble looking individuals entered the room, already bickering over something in not-so-quiet tones; she heard the taller elder gentleman mention something about, “those barbaric nomads” and guessed pretty quickly that he was speaking about people like her.

Aisahna sunk lower in her chair, frowning. They had taken her sword at the doors to the castle as to ensure she couldn't cause trouble and now she could not help but think if this was part of the cause. If they had truly heard of her skills would they not know about her magic? Unless the castle has some protective method to prevent it, even so, her magic came from a different place to most mages.

The door opened again but Aisahna ignored it, some mention of royalty entering; she'd need to pay attention soon but for now she was focused on her left hand. The magic in her blood reacted to her call, she let the power pulse and a light frost began to cover the leather.

“I'd not do that if I were you.” Came a light chuckle from next to her. Aisahna snapped out of her trance and almost fell out of her chair, “It is good to see you, Anne.”

The silver haired maiden from the forest gave a light smile as the mage questioned, “Arciela? W-What are you doing here? Did you get an invitation too?” Aisahna recalled her first meeting with the young woman; in the forests outside the city after the mage had gotten very lost... It was actually Arciela's suggestion that Aisahna become a pioneer.

“I suppose a real introduction is in order. I am Arciela V. Adoulin. Sister to the Grand Chancellor of Adoulin.” Arciela smiled and offered a small bow, “I told you we'd meet again, did I not?” She added as she took a seat next to the mage.

Aisahna was dumbstruck, “You... You are Princess Arciela? I,” She paused then made an attempt to stand, “I'm very sorry, My Lady. I've been too casual in greeting someone of your station an-” She was stopped by a hand grasping at her sleeve gently.

“Please, remain seated.” Arciela asked, her smile replaced with a light frown, “I wish to just talk to you. As a friend if that is possible. She removed her hand from the mage's arm and played with the cuffs of her gloves, “I was the one that issued the invitation to you, actually. I've heard a lot about what you can do, Anne.” The princess's expression turned dour.

“I need your help.”

[kisaell]

Does this character have vices? What are they?

Wrath! It doesn't take much for Anne's anger to spike and when it does, you'd better watch out. She can be vindictive and spiteful if you push her the wrong way and the quickest way to do that is to threaten the people she cares about.

She's never used to be good with reading people but thanks to spending time with Ali she learned that the intent behind words can mean more than the words themselves and has stopped flying off the handle at badly timed jokes.

Arciela's influence is also a calming one, Anne doing her best to vent her anger in less explosive and destructive ways as to (at least at first) not scare nor harm the princess.