|
Post by Circe on Jan 30, 2020 17:25:42 GMT -6
Xiaolian followed after Tyrus, intent on not becoming lost in the twists and turns on the inner court. While her sense of direction across the world tree and it's various planes was fine, when it came to some of the dwellings on this plane she often found it confusing, claustrophobic, and disorienting. Why couldn't it be the same clean and simply ordered constructions of the Ba-Shu? Where everything had its place and its purpose.
Compared to the vampire prince, the lieutenant and guardian was absolutely tiny. Xiaolian stood just barely above five foot with creamy colored skin, dark almond shaped eyes and hair that was usually kept in an untidy knot at the base of her neck. But what she lacked in size, she had learned to make up for in skill. Hardly what many could call a magic practitioner, Xiaolian had instead focused on learning other skills. Using her knowledge instead of ability was what had allowed her to rise to the rank of Specialist. It also hadn't hurt that she had the leverage of the Council's Black Lotus program.
|
|
|
Post by demikara on Jan 30, 2020 17:33:22 GMT -6
Tyrus was much taller than her and was careful not to walk too quickly in case he lost her. Still, when they arrived, he stepped to the door and applied magic to a small divot in the frame. It swung open and he gestured in with an open palm. "The ritual room. Give me just a second and I'll have the needed ingredients." He waited for her to go in and followed after. The room was largely empty. There was a huge circle carved into the floor and a closet door that was closed tight. Otherwise, there was nothing to make it seem like this was anything other than an empty room.
He opened the closet door and pulled out a copper brazier and some charcoal. There was a moment of hesitation before he chose his favorite incense out of the bunch. That would do.
|
|
|
Post by Circe on Jan 30, 2020 17:42:37 GMT -6
As Xiaolian stepped inside she surveyed what lay out before her, it appeared to have seen little in the way of use for some time. It also appeared to have been cleansed since the last use as well, which suited her just fine as she didn't have to cast a larger nullification field. Nullification and her investigation skills where what MCU had wanted her for, where as the Council had been more interested in how they could take advantage of someone like a Guardian.
Watching Tyrus fumble with the incense and brazier, she wondered if she shouldn't have just brought her own things. But then again, he hadn't been exactly clear or concise when he had called her to come to the aid of the court. It was only when she had arrived had she understood exactly what she had been called for. "Indecisive I see." She remarked blithely.
|
|
|
Post by demikara on Jan 30, 2020 18:03:14 GMT -6
"I wasn't sure if it would affect the ritual." He said simply and stepped away, closing the closet door with a foot and bringing her the brazier with the charcoal in it. "I went with my favorite. I hope that's fine." He was fairly certain his favorite was in every ritual room he regularly haunted and in others in hopes it'd summon him there. He didn't think that'd ever work, but it was nice to be thought of. The fact that it was largely because he was a spoiled prince of the court didn't even occur to him. Of course where he went there was his favorite incense.
In some ways he remained a very spoiled rich boy and was completely unaware of it. He'd had no doubt that Xiaolian would come when he called. People always did.
|
|
|
Post by Circe on Jan 30, 2020 18:16:29 GMT -6
"Of course." Xiaolian answered. If anything it would influence the attempt positively, drawing a finer attention to Tyrus's own confusing web of fate. "If the tea is here we can begin." She added patiently.
It seemed that there was a reason she had been paired with Molly and later assisted with Maria's first days as a Specialist; Xiaolian was patient and not terribly easy to anger or surprise. Both sound traits that had benefited her through out her career so far.
|
|
|
Post by demikara on Jan 30, 2020 18:22:46 GMT -6
Tyrus put the items in the center of the room and checked outside the door. Mr. Travers arrived as he was checking and held a try out to him. He was an older gentleman, and had been turned as an older gentleman as a reward for a lifetime of service to the family. Mr. Travers had been part of his life since he was born, as far as he knew. At least, he had certainly been here that long, if not longer.
"Your tea, Principe. And please, let me know if you need anything else."
"Of course. Thank you so much Mr. Travers." He took the tray from the older man and carried it inside, setting it down on the only table in the room. "The tea is here. How do we begin?" They had everything now, apparently.
|
|
|
Post by Circe on Jan 30, 2020 18:46:48 GMT -6
Xiaolian motioned for him to sit on the floor facing her and the brazier. "Place the tea down near the brazier, it will keep it warm. Nothing is worse than cold tea or rice. Then I will pour you a cup, you will drink it until nothing more than dregs remain. Then I will do the rest." It seemed odd, almost as if she were asking him to drink a strong elixir. But this didn't differ much from how she had started with O'Hara. The only difference was one was a prince and the other more a politician than anything else.
As she led him through the ritual step by step, smoke, incense, and magic of a different type began to fill the chamber. This was not the warm and seductive magic of the veil, but something darker, harder, and colder. "Your path is clear Principe, you must look at those who are loyal to you. Choose from those, those who will stand with you and weather the storm that comes from the north."
The small woman had changed slightly as the ritual progressed, seemingly more confident and able in more than just parlor tricks. Locked deep into the trace of divination, she spoke with the authority of a Guardian and the surety of Heaven's will.
"But I sense that you still have questions, ones that I cannot answer but another can. Speak to the one who created you, there you will find what you seek."
|
|
|
Post by demikara on Jan 30, 2020 18:50:43 GMT -6
"The one who created me?" What? "My birth parents? I don't know them. Or my adoptive ones have passed. I don't understand." Speak to the one who created him? He almost understood the first part. It sounded like he'd need to lean on the people he trusted. That would be difficult, but doable. But he didn't know about who created him. His birth parents, he supposed, but they were a mystery to him.
"Can you tell me anything else?" The ritual had been well enough. The tea had been delicious of course, and he had given it over easily enough but now? Now he was confused.
|
|
|
Post by Circe on Jan 30, 2020 20:00:18 GMT -6
"You are a new creation, seek that which created you." Xiaolian confirmed. Tyrus meanwhile was being difficult and obtuse, not doubt there would be endless questions afterwards. "Look to the solstice and the one born in it's bitter darkness." She continued. Making sense of the hazy images and feelings that the ritual showed was often difficult if not impossible. This had been done with little preparation and quite suddenly, it was a wonder that he was even getting any answers.
"Seek five that will provide you with harmony and balance against that which is to come." Struggling against the clouded uncertainly, Xiaolian forged ahead. "Three male and two female." But who these people were Xiaolian had no idea. "I can say no more."
|
|
|
Post by demikara on Feb 1, 2020 15:23:53 GMT -6
A new creation? It took him a minute and he colored when he realized what was meant by that. "My sire. I can speak with them." They were still being circumspect about who in the family was his sire, and it was for the best that they keep it quiet. Catherine wouldn't be happy though. He also wasn't thrilled with having to drag her back into this before she was good and ready. But if he didn't want the court falling down around their ears, then he'd need her here too. Hopefully, she was willing. Five people to help. Five people who he could trust to stand beside him and not be power hungry little fools. That would be the hardest part. But surely in the entire court, in Broadmoore as well, there were five people who could be trusted. Ra, he hoped there were at least five. It should just be a matter of finding them. That should be the trickiest part.
"Thank you Lieutenant. You've been incredibly helpful."
|
|
|
Post by Circe on Feb 1, 2020 18:09:35 GMT -6
Sweat glistened on her forehead, as either a product of the effort or the warm room, as Xiaolian bowed stiffly. "It is my pleasure to serve the court and yourself your highness." She replied formally. What would the rest of the other Guardians think if they found out that she had managed to land herself in servitude to a vampire court? Most of them would likely laugh and declare she wasn't worth the ink tattooed onto her skin. But as far as she was concerned, what they didn't know wouldn't hurt them; as long as no one told them anyway.
The magic soon dissipated from the room, leaving only the heady scent of rare incense burning on the brazier. In it's wake however there was still confusion and uncertainty. Picking up the slips of paper Tyrus had handed her, Xiaolian fed them into the charcoal while muttering a few words in a foreign language. 'Suízhe xiāngqì de xiāoshī, ràng zhège yìtú xiāoshī...'1 It didn't take long for the paper to catch as the other muttered the words over and over while the paper burned to ash.
This brief spell ensured that there was nothing left of the ritual once the null-field had been cast. But in the meantime, Xiaolian was left looking exhausted and spent. This was more magical effort than she had had to use in quite some time.
1: As incense vanishes, let this intent vanish
|
|
|
Post by demikara on Feb 1, 2020 18:55:46 GMT -6
Tyrus looked to her and frowned, brow creased as he considered her state. "Have some fruit juice before you leave. It'll help replenish your magic some. Well, the potion in it will." He was a fan of fruit juice of all sorts. "I believe it's melon flavored." It was tasty as far as he was concerned. And it did it's job. Tyrus was well aware of how draining magic could be. He tended to have snacks set aside for the ends of his control lessons for the children, usually doctored with something to help perk them up with their parents full permission.
"Should I call Mr. Travers over with some?" That they'd get with all vampiric speed. There were advantages to having turned the staff into vampires. He was kept well at the court and always had been.
|
|
|
Post by Circe on Feb 1, 2020 19:57:30 GMT -6
Xiaolian leaned back onto her heels as she blew the remaining ash in her hands from existence. Then she carefully placed the cover over the brazier, snuffing the life from the coals and incense abruptly.
She regarded Tyrus with the same neutral indifference as earlier. The tiny woman seemed poised to address something for a moment, but then quickly turned her attention back to the remains of the ritual which she was so carefully disposing of.
"You are most kind, your highness." She replied after she had finished. "It would be a very much welcome respite before I leave."
|
|
|
Post by demikara on Feb 1, 2020 20:10:46 GMT -6
He wondered what she had been about to say, but shrugged it off and phones Mr. Travers to bring them some of the melon juice he kept at hand. It wasn't long before he was knocking at the door and Tyrus accepted the tray with the melon juice on it and gave him the tea tray. There was another glass there of a deep red liquid and he set the tray down and took that glass. He gave the other one to Xiaolian. "Here. Is there anything else you need? You've been a great help after all." He wasn't looking forward to talking to Catherine about all of this, but it didn't look like there was going to be a choice there.
Finding five helpers was going to be impossible. He wasn't looking forward to the interviews that would need to take place. Tyrus took a sip of his drink and considered his options. He'd need to decide what he even could delegate first.
|
|
|
Post by Circe on Feb 1, 2020 20:21:29 GMT -6
Xiaolian took the cool glass of juice carefully in her hands before taking a sip. The liquid was mild, sweet, and refreshing after being in the warm room. "Seeing as I am in service to your court, I should tell you that I have also read Alpha O'Hara's fortune. Death approaches him, and it is immense in it's danger. I have not had such...a reading ever before, but Heaven does not easily lie to those of us in it's service." She said carefully. The blow had been softened the best to the best of her ability, but it still frightened her. There were changes afoot and an ill wind was waiting to blow through from the east and meet the coming storm.
"O'Hara will not last the year, that much I am certain of. His replacement however, I cannot see. They are still shrouded by either magic or time."
|
|