Of Darkness and Light

[Lilith]

Lilith sat on the edge of a cliff overlooking a mid-sized town. Twilight had faded into nighttime proper, and the gates had been shut by the time she got there, so she had taken refuge in a small copse just outside of the town. She had tried to follow Alecto, but he had just about vanished by the time she caught up to where he had been

Seeing no other way to move on, she decided it would be best to find a teacher who could help her reach the end of her apprenticeship. She could have gone back to Liza, but she decided the best place to look would be the center of magic, and the place she had been avoiding all this time; Etruria.

So on top of a cliff she sat, listening to the sounds of the lute and lyre drift up from the town's pub. A smile drifted across her face as she though of what merriment was happening in such a place. She decided that it would be best to start her search here, and she saw the tell-tale signs of magic users in even this, a farmer's town.

Multicolored lights burst forth from some windows, giving away some person practicing magic by night. There was even a small monastery, where, if she could not find a shaman or druid, there were sure to be monks, masters of controlling their art, which was the only thing she needed to work on to become a full-fledged magic user.

Lilith walked back to her camp and erected wards against beasts and marauders. Her posture sagged against the drain of energy, and she slipped into her bedroll. After a short prayer, she let the calm of sleep take hold of her mind.

[Alexis]

[[ OOC: Hopefully, this isn't reserved or a solo post? ]]

Alexis sat on Elda, her white horse petting it gently while listening to a man's lecture about where the pegasus come from. Alexis rolled her eyes the whole talk causing more words to come out of the man's mouth. This conversation went from a normal talk, to a lecture, then to a complaint. She was getting tired of it. While this man is talking, Alexis can probably ride her horse all around Elibe and find the answers that she wanted of Arcadia. "Excuse me, sir, I'm in a hurry to somewhere... perhaps I'll see you someday else!" She made a small goodbye as the horse heaves away from the place leaving the man lonely there. He eventually walked back into the store he owned, though.

The man seemed to be poor judging by how his store looked. It was all ragged and broken down. This man continued on repairing it while his daughter trained as a pegasus knight in Ilia. This man was probably a civilian who originally came from Ilia for some issues. Alexis wanted to help their family, but she wasn't that rich herself and she needed suplies for her all around journey.

She ended up at a cliff where she saw this girl sitting. It looked as if the girl haven't noticed her yet. Well, the walk up the hill made less noises so it was probably not noticeable to many people unless they have a very keen hearing. She got off Elda, but halfway down to the surface, the horse made a sound of itself. Alexis calmed her down by rubbing the top of its nose telling it to be quiet.

She saw a camp nearby the place, but without worries she walked toward the edge of the cliff to see if there are any large buildings that she can search for her research.

[[ OOC: If it's a solo post... I'll delete. >_< ]]

[Alexander]

Alex had noticed Lilith following him from the hidden magic facility spot, and so decided to make a run for it and lose here. Well, Alex did think he lost her....for a while.

The journey to the town was tiring, and Alexander had to take a few rests, drinking lots of water before he moved on. He had a short nap in the afternoon, but the city was still too far to reach by sunset, at least by walking. His tired legs helped him come close to the town, but its gates were closed. Deciding to find some sort of inn outside of town, he searched further before he reached a certain elevated portion. He walked up to see if there was anything he could find to be of some use when he got shocked aafter seeing something.

It was that girl! She was right before his eyes! He had thought he had lost her, but it was quite unfortunate that he had found her again. Not wanting his presence to be recognized, Alexander tried to tip toe down the elevated surface, he also noticed a woman on a pony sitting next to the girl.

And then, he stepped on a branch, which made a crackling noise, and then slipped and fell flat on the ground. Crap. Hopefully, the girl wouldn't notice him.

OOC: What Alexis said.

[Lilith]

OoC: No worries! By the way, Alexis... your mug is a work of art.

IC:

One of Lilith's ward woke her. She jumped out of her bedroll and growled a spell. Three orbs of dark energy circled around her body, ready to attack anyone who came near her. "Who goes there?! I warn you, I am armed!" she yelled out into the night. She was glad she had remembered to place wards around her camp... She had a feeling that something like this would happen.

She summoned one of the orbs to her hand and molded it into a glove. It slipped on to her hand, then she promptly manipulated the energy in it, extending the end of it to resemble a knife, though made of pure darkness.

[Alexander]

Alexander just saw through his half-closed eyes... the girl was a dark magic user? This was turning out to be interesting... he didn't know the girl had lots of spiritual power.

Whatever the case, he had to get out of that place to shun Lilith off of him... if he could actually manage that. But if it was a fight she wanted, it would be her last, he would make sure of that.

He stood up , standing bravely. He was ready to face his opponent... if that was meant to be. he was ok killing her, it'd just give him more experience in kiling humans.

"I see... so you use dark magic then." he said, smirking.

[Alexis]

[[ OOC: The mug wasn't made by me, however it was free of take. I should really credit that person... ]]

Alexis got surprised when the girl was yelling over in the camp. She was just sitting nearby the cliff, she walked toward the camp trying to seek if there were any problems going on. Great, more problems after the boring lecture of the man awhile ago. She never liked having problems like this. As she went nearby the camp, she saw the girl using a pure dark blade to defend herself and there was this mystery man nearby.

She walked up to them, with a staff in her hand leaving her horse lone away for a moment. "Is there... some kind of problem?" She asked, wondering what's going on.

[Lilith]

Lilith lessened the flow of energy to her hands, allowing the glove-knife to revert to its orb form and join the other two still circling her. Then she addressed Alecto. "Yes, I am. I have had a hard time controlling it, but... I am just about ready to become a full-fledged user of the elder arts. She looked around, noticing a girl who had come on to the scene.

"There is nothing wrong, my lady," Lilith said to the woman, "but a misunderstanding. This man, whom I know from a uh... failed... quest, sneaked up on me." She then turned back to Alecto.

"I can sense your power. You have a lot of it. Tell me, what sort of magic to you use?" His power felt different from any magician she had ever met before, but she wanted to tread lightly. If he really was some sort of demon, she didn't want to chance making him angry.

[Alexander]

Alexander was a bit startled by Lilith's question. What type of magic? What should he say? He did not use any magic! Did she truly believe he was a powerful sorcerer?

He didn't want to lose that respect she had for him. Plus, if the girl was wanting to be an apprentice... that could probably be used in his favor. He chose his words carefully... he still didn't want her to know he was a manakete.

"I don't use the type of magic that you usually use, young shaman. My magic is different from others. I use a type of magic which strengthens me physically. I'm an artifact collector of sorts. I search for valuable artifacts that can increase my spiritual power and tell me more about history. A full fledged user of the elder arts, you say? That is quite....interesting." Alex said confidently. He didn't want to raise any doubt in the mind of the two women who had just appeared.

[Alexis]

"Well, it seemed like you were pretty alarm, young lady. I thought I would come and see what was going on while I was going past." He smiled at the girl and looked back the man in robes. The guy had this freaky-looking hair along with facial hair. It sort of grossed out Alexis, but she had the manners and decided to keep her smile up.

"Who's this man to be specific as possible?" She asked the girl still peering at the guy searchingly.

The man mentioned something about using magics related with old artifacts. "That is highly interesting. I studied the types of magic in existence during my time years ago. I have never heard of such a magic - considering that I'm an archaeologist... it is quite ironic. If I knew such magic existed, I might be able to study that one right now... Perhaps I missed out on something..." She said lightly disappointed. She truly was disappointed. If she knew such a thing of expanding your strength physically, then she probably would not be with a horse, a staff, and even the robes will turn out to be a training suit right now.

[Alexander]

Alex heard the other, black-haired woman saying,"That is highly interesting. I studied the types of magic in existence during my time years ago. I have never heard of such a magic - considering that I'm an archaeologist... it is quite ironic. If I knew such magic existed, I might be able to study that one right now... Perhaps I missed out on something..."


"Truly, books aren't the only sources of knowledge, no?" he said in a sinister manner.

"Young woman, has it ever occured to you that there may be much more, types of magic than what is commonly known? Some are forbidden, and only a few know about something like that. Some books have secrets that are hard to understand. In a world as big as this, one can't be too sure about how accurate his or her knowledge is." he said, now walking up next to the black-haired woman and trying to give her a sense of curiosity. He hoped his story was convincing at least.

Trying to shift the conversation, he asked the black-haired woman, " Oh, I believe we've not exchanged pleasantries? I'm Alecto, a wandering artifact collector and scholar of sorts. I've not known the young shaman there for a long time now. We've just been...acquaintances." he said. He thought it was better to introduce himself as Alecto, seeing as the blonde shaman already called him by that name. She'd only mistake him now if he truly introduced himself and...besides, he didn't want to blow his cover.

[Alexis]

"Yes, that is indeed a true fact. Books aren't the complete sources. However, a magic to... strengthen yourself physically means that some part of your body must change?" She smiled tilting her head to the left as she messes with a staff in her right hand. The staff was shaped extraordinary. It had a large circular ring on top of a pole along with a cross within it. Under that circle was a part spiking out.

When the man called her as young woman, she raised an eyebrow. Does that mean this person is very much older than her? Getting a little suspicious, she decides to stay idle while the man finished his statement. "I do know about the forbidden magics. Does your type of magic account for that?" She asks curiously with that grin on her face.

"Ah, yes, we clearly haven't introduced ourselves. My name is Alexis, Alecto. I'm a traveling archaeologist in search for answers of a place. Speaking of which, may I have the honors to ask where are you from?" She stuck the staff onto the ground having a hard time lifting it up for a very long time. She fixes her position to be left comfortable as they will be no dangers for now.

[Lilith]

Lilith yawned and looked at her bedroll, longing to be back in the world of the dreaming. She sat down and took out the obsidian skull she had found in the tomb. Holding it above her head, she brought it down on to a rock, smashing it two two workable pieces. She used magic to shape them as she desired, condensing the material and making it more hardy. She also inscribed, still using magic, runes of power and storage, so she may use the product to stockpile power for spellweaving. A few minutes later, she had two wide bangles resting on her wrists.

As she did this, she listened to both Alecto and Alexis, giggling at how fate brought two similarly-named strangers together. She stepped forward and held up her tome.

"You speak of forbidden magics, yet you forget that it is I, Lilith DeGarte, who wields that which was once outlawed." though her words might have seemed condescending, her tone was friendly and her face adorned with a smile. turning her attention to Alecto, she said, "I do not think that I have ever heard of such artifacts that change your physical strength. Yes, there are those which you may store energy and use to to revitalize yourself or to casts spells, but... The only shape-shifting magic I know of belongs to a race long banished from fair Elibe..."

[Alexander]

"Young shaman, you forget that magic is different from artifacts. With my magic, I'm able to be capable fighter, and that is all. But certain artifacts can increase your spiritual power as long as you hold on to the. Have you not heard of energy rings? They are rings which can increase you power as long as you wear them. Speedwings are artifacts with the shape of wings, but as small as a ring. You could run and move faster which such an artifact. Yes, you could find them in shops these days, but the price is too much, and I'd rather find one and study its past. There's always a story behind each artifact one finds, and to get to know that story, its interesting. Also, you could sense the amount of power that I had...how peculiar." he said, rubbing his chin and frowning.

He was starting to get annoyed by their curiosity. He did not want them to know more about him and his powers, because if they got to know... he would surely kill them. If they were going to want to live, they better shut up and stop asking him questions. Also, how could the girl sense his powers? She was only a human! He needed to be careful around her.

"So, Alexis, Lilith, what brings you here? I decided to stop by at this town for some rest. I've been wandering without purpose for a while. After a failed attempt to find the Book of scrying, I've decided to take a break from my artifact searching...Or at least till I find another place to travel to." he said.

OOC: I actually first assumed that Speedwings and stuff are very rare 'artifacts' but then thought it probably was not right. But if you think so, I'd gladly edit my post for that.

Also damn you people, you're making my posts harder now. xD

[Alexis]

"Indeed, Speedwings are quite a rare artifact. I doubt so many people could find it out there as of present now. They're also worth a lot of money. Speaking of physical strengthening magic... as the lady said, the only thing I heard about with physical attributions is the ability to shape-shift by a specific race." She eyed Alecto curiously and grinned wickedly.

She looked back at the trail where she left off and waved at her horse to come over. Elda slowly walked until it reached the back of Alexis. Alexis just softly pat it with a light kiss on top of its nose. "I'm sorry Elda for leaving you out there. Just stay with me for now."

She looked back at Alecto who wondered what Alexis was doing around here. "I'm doing nothing in particular... just like you are, I search for artifacts but I'm looking for something a bit bigger. I just travel around Elibe to find small details for it so that it may help me with the search." She nicely answered trying to resist asking a bit of questions to this artifact seeker. It would've been a hassle.

[Lilith]

Lilith sleepily put her hands behind her head and yawned. "I'm not really up to anything in particular. I was hoping to restock my supplies in this town and set out to try and find my old comrades. Neither of you have seen a green-haired mage in the near past, have you?" she flicked her eyes from Alexis to Alecto, wonder if the two would know anything about her search.

She could not shake her suspicion of Alecto off. It was like an itch right in that spot on one's back that is nigh unreachable. He had power, and he was not being honest about it. Though he probably had a good reason not to be handing out his true identity to ever girl he met...

Lilith sat down by her bedroll and took a hand mirror out of her bag. She looked at her hair. The purple, like some sort of creeper, had been slowly taking over her hair the more and more she used her magic. Frowning, the took her parts now shaded into her hand. Taking a pair of scissors from her bag, she delicately cut off the purple parts, leaving her now-short hair one color.