|
Post by Riku on Jun 6, 2019 20:18:41 GMT -6
And she’s not even where she wants to be!? What more can she accomplish!? His own lack of achievement and sheltered later-teenage years limited his imagination at what there even was to reach for. All he had ever wanted was to be an arch mage. After that....he hadn’t really thought about it. He sort of just figured he’d be....happy? Satisfied? Heck! He could die, for all he cared. He just wanted to get there first.
Listening still, maybe it wasn’t such a bad thing to be a spelunker. What she said was true...he was there to hunt for crystals to make nodes! He was really glad she understood that. He looked down on the mines because they were dark and dirty - whereas he preferred well-lit and clean spaces - but...maybe other people didn’t see them as a ‘lesser’ job at all. Maybe he didn’t need to be self-conscious about it. It was where he was, after all....and that was for a reason.
Riku 3/5
|
|
|
Post by Riku on Jun 6, 2019 20:21:07 GMT -6
And he knew where he was going and that he’d get there...and especially now, he’d even seen the path’s potential success with his own eyes! A real arch mage...sitting right across from him! And real....nodes! It had been ten years since he had seen either a real mage or a node. (He considered anyone less than a master an amateur and therefore not a real mage. Pursuing magic without mastering it was nothing more than a pipe dream in his eyes....but he was a special case. He could make it.) This was surely some sort of (scheduled) fateful encounter! He could feel it! Yes...he had asked her to be there, but...there was something familiar deeper.
Wait......’after coming back to life’..!?
”You died!?” he exclaimed, a bit loudly at first, but very quickly adjusting his volume. ”As in....dead!? Dead, dead?? The ghostly type?” his face grew worrisome.
Riku 4/5
|
|
|
Post by Riku on Jun 6, 2019 20:23:28 GMT -6
He knew it was a delicate procedure, but he hadn’t realized death was a possible outcome! What if he....what if..no one.....found him..in time? (Was there a time limit on bringing someone back?) What if they did find him, but he came back and he...wasn’t the same ever again? What if it turned him dark!?
Well, she seemed to be speaking from experience. He assumed...and she didn’t seem dark. In fact, it was very un-dark-like to have agreed to meet him at all, be so kind so far, and even show him her magical nodes. Hmm...
”What was that like...?” he first asked, then realizing his curiosity taking precedence over his concern for her feelings seemed insensitive. ”Er, I’m sorry that happened to you. It must have been....confusing..and horrifying to wake up like that.” he grimaced visibly for a second and added ”How...er, were you okay..? Emotionally speaking, I mean...”
Riku 5/5 +3 (Ready!)
|
|
|
Post by Jack on Jun 7, 2019 14:07:29 GMT -6
"Dead, dead," Jack said a little dryly. It was a sensitive subject for her, at least a little bit, she had done something wrong and she had died because of it. At least no one else had. She leaned back a little, staring down at the nodes on the table, her hand wrapped around the pouch a little just in case, and thought about it. What had it been like to be dead... "It was dark and bright at the same time. I smelled my mother's scent, herbs and grass, wheat, saw my father's... rage..." she said quietly, still staring at her nodes, "Everything came back all at once, it was home, but then there's a blinding light and surge of pain and you feel it all again, every bit of yourself. You wake up bruised and battered from the attempts to bring you back, and your mind just wants to go home again. But you can't let it, you can't let yourself, you have to stay strong and stay here, you don't want to leave anything behind..."
Jack: 4/5
|
|
|
Post by Riku on Jun 8, 2019 16:39:09 GMT -6
He could see the pain on the woman’s face. It made sense to be sensitive on the subject, he just.....he wasn’t expecting this person to have feelings like that. To show weakness. Not that this was weakness. This was human....and that was actually a strength, in his opinion.
He listened to her words, felt her pain, as she explained the situation. He didn’t really understand what she was describing, but he knew it meant something to her. He scratched at the scar on his right hand some more, and played with the tough skin. That was something he could relate to her about, in his own way. It had happened. It was over. He moved on from it....but..sometimes the skin still hurt.
He didn’t feel like that was appropriate to share. He also didn’t know how to explain it properly without having to explain himself and who he was...maybe another day, if she could be trusted. He wanted to trust her.
Riku 1/5
|
|
|
Post by Riku on Jun 8, 2019 16:39:59 GMT -6
His heart hurt at her description of having to let go of letting go.....that he could relate to in his own personal ways. After...what had happened ten years ago..there were many times that he wanted to let go. However, something (or someone?) inside told him he needed to stay here. There were things to do. A reason for his existence. A song that only he could sing...
“I’m sorry that happened to you.” He put his hand on the table, wanting to reach out and put it on her wrist to comfort her like he would one of his Malii....but he didn’t think touching was within their new and undefined boundaries. He sort of made a gentle gesture with it (keeping distance from the painfully familiar power spheres) on the table to express a sort of conduit - as if he was passing his comfort trough the table and into her own arm.
Jack was human......that made Riku feel a lot more at ease. She wasn’t at all what he had expected - but that was a good thing. In a way, it gave him permission to relax about his path ahead of him. Perhaps the ‘future him’ wasn’t so different than the person he was today, that he could also be human, and humble. Grateful for what he had...and vulnerable to lose it all. Somehow that gave him peace.
Riku 2/5
|
|
|
Post by Riku on Jun 8, 2019 16:40:29 GMT -6
“Sometimes...when we chase something so hard, it alludes us.......but when we give it the freedom to choose us, it does.” he said, shocked afterwards. Where did that come from!? he thought. It was as if something inside him just took over and said what was in the air. As if someone else was standing over, watching them, and interjected with their own higher wisdom. He added ”Someone told me that, once...”
His eyes were wide at first, but he looked down again in a visible ‘mental note’ manner to make it obvious the statement was for the both of them, and not some sort of know-it-all observation towards the person who he had come there to learn from.
He took another sip of his green tea and cleared his throat. “I think there’s a lot that I can learn from you, Jack.” His eyes almost watered, but he caught them in time. He was sincere, but the caffeine always made him more emotional. “I’m really glad I got to meet you today.” He said with a warm smile and another through-the-table gesture. Oh gosh, I’m being a bit too mushy. I hope she doesn’t think I’m flirting...
Riku 3/5 (Ready!)
|
|
|
Post by Jack on Jun 10, 2019 14:03:13 GMT -6
Chuckling a little, Jack shook her head, "In a way I'm happy it happened to me, it showed me what things could be like, and it's not something I want just yet. Just made me that much more determined I figure." She smiled at him and then stretched her shoulders out before she took another gulp of her drink, a mocha that was cooling down a little bit, perfect for long drinks.
"Well that makes two of us. It's nice to know there are other people out there who want more magic than can be swallowed," her cheeks turned a bit red as she thought of Renathan, and she shook her head a little to try and keep the thought down for the moment. Jack nodded though, "I think it would be interesting to talk to each other once in awhile, see what we're doing in life and if there's anything else we can do for each other."
Jack: 5/5 +1
|
|
|
Post by Riku on Jun 16, 2019 23:59:54 GMT -6
Wow.....it was just such an incredible perspective. He knew what it was like to not want to be here because of the contrast of what it could be there, but the fear that it might not be better (or anything at all) kept him from finding out. That didn’t seem too uncommon or difficult to understand.
But this....was different. She had been there and experienced both sides of the comparison. And from what he gathered, she got to choose this one from the other side. She chose to allow this side to bring her back. Even though it was better there.
Suddenly his life had so much more value to him. That someone would choose to endure this place rather than rest in perfection - whatever that was like - proved that something about living must be worth the pain.
And he always knew it would get better. He counted himself lucky for that, since he could have been born a pessimist. Not that his livelihood was anything that left him needing more. He was very comfortable. It was mainly his mind that suffered. His memories that haunted him. His fears that got in the way of trying harder.
Riku 4/5
|
|
|
Post by Riku on Jun 17, 2019 0:01:12 GMT -6
Riku was lost in amazement for a few moments between the other person’s sentences. Panicked at first that he might have missed something she said, he quickly rewound the ‘audio’ in his head to make sure that he hadn’t.
Had he said he wanted multiple nodes...? It wasn’t really something he had decided yet - or rather, not a decision that stayed the same from week to week. Did he want plenty of magic? Yes, of course! He was used to having an almost unlimited supply at his disposal, growing up, and desired nothing less when he started again....but did he want to spend the next ten years getting back to a similar supply? It wasn’t an ideal thought - but neither was being restricted to one non-hollow element and less than three greater nodes’ worth of magical stamina.
Compared to his youthful studies, that was pocket change. That much magic could barely teleport a group of his friends to the beach and back. In fact, he used to have a designated travel pouch specifically for that! It was his fourteenth birthday present after he had proved he had mastered the spell. They were essentially his keys.
Riku 5/5 +4
|
|
|
Post by Riku on Jun 17, 2019 0:02:11 GMT -6
....but one node per year?
If he wasn’t such a humanitarian, he would almost want to force someone else to do it like the founders of his magical kingdom had done before Cephalo convinced then to outlaw node-slavery. And he was right to do so! It was a very significant part of Aulador’s history. And being there himself, Cephalo knew how to tell the story very well.....
No, milking someone else’s soul dry was not ethical.....but perhaps if they offered and he was willing to somehow reimburse them for their troubles? How much do you pay someone for a piece of their soul...? And who would offer to trade something like that!?
He took another look at the pouch on the table, only glancing quickly as to not become entranced in their awe. It was smarter to collect than swallow. He liked the idea of taking on an element, but didn’t like the limits it brought. Besides, he remembered a few spells that granted immunity to different elements....even if they were rather foggy after so many years out of practice.
Riku 1/5
|
|
|
Post by Riku on Jun 17, 2019 0:03:06 GMT -6
He figured Jack was probably right in her assumption. If she, being as intelligent as he assumed, collected and seemed to recommend it as well, then it would probably be a good path to follow. Something to work up to - that would never stop growing if he wanted more. And this way he could gradually grow in power as he (hopefully) grew in responsibility....rather than becoming overwhelmed with power all at once.
He took another sip of his drink, which was lower now. Smiling unexpectedly at what she had said, he covered his mouth with one hand because he was unsure if the green from the ice-blend had stuck to his teeth. ”Really?” he removed his hand as soon as he was sure they were fine, and revealed his blushing grin. ”Wow. That would be so great! I’d really love that....” he looked down and sort of shook his head in disbelief. It felt like winning the lottery!
Riku 2/5
|
|
|
Post by Riku on Jun 17, 2019 0:05:11 GMT -6
”It would be so interesting - inspiring even - to hear about the happenings in your life. To see what you’re working towards.” He shook his head in disbelief again, then added ”And I would love to help you out if you ever needed me.”
He paused for a second, realizing he didn’t know what an arch mage would need his help with. Hopefully she wouldn’t ask him to ‘help’ her clean her house or anything like that. Adventures. Magical Adventures! That’s more of what he had in mind.
He chuckled a bit. ”I don’t really know what I can do for you...but I do have a few pets that can heal. They can do magic, too...but we haven’t really cracked that side of them yet. Oh! But I’m a part of this awesome training guild. Surely someone there might have a clue. Have you heard of it?”
Riku 3/5 (Ready!)
|
|
|
Post by Jack on Jun 17, 2019 9:30:23 GMT -6
Another laugh, this guy was funny in what he said, but she could appreciate his earnest desire to learn, or at least to have it. "I don't know about inspiring, but it would at least be interesting," she told him with a kind smile. Jack shook her head a little and then took the pouch back and put it on her hip again, "I'm working on a Light Node, I have four crystals for it already, as well as the mind crystal and healing berry. It's my hope that by the time I regenerate I can make it."
Ah, so that's how she had known the name. She thought she had but she hadn't considered the Guild... "You could say that," Jack told him with a smile and nodded toward the window where you could see the top of the Guild hall, "I started it after all, you know." That was a thought though, magic... Maybe that could be a future challenge for the members, though she wasn't sure how to gauge that just yet.
Jack: 1/5
|
|