Looking to the Past..

[Karianin]

While parting a pair of leaf burdened branches, a voice called out into the night, “Lili, where are you?” The tone seemed only mildly annoyed, spoken from the dry, frowning lips of a youth who looked around searchingly. Azure eyes twinkled beneath the sky, which was quickly surrendering to dusk. A rich tangerine orange and melon red sunset cast its glow over the quiet forest, within which an insignificant figure, a thin young man, more arms and legs than muscle, stood sighing. Of moderate height for his years, brow furrowed in thought, he rolled his shoulders and shook his head. Impatiently, he called out again, “Lili!”

An answering laugh seemed designed to provoke irritation, “Ivan! Stop looking with your eyes and you’ll find me!” This voice, chiming, chiding, was female, young, breathy in its projection. Perhaps it was fortunate that he could not see her pale lips, folded into a mischievous grin. To her, this was a game. Emerald green eyes flashing, Lili focused, grasping the power that lie dormant within her being, waking it from its slumber and feeding it .

As always, the spark within rose to meet her demand, growing, expanding, twisting and elusive in its intensity. Lili did not channel her magic into frost; nor fire, but instead worked with the arcane in its purest form. The girl had no scholarly training, no guidance as to the right manner in which to deal with such things. Instead, she let the power fill her young body, its roar drowning all other sound while it echoed through her mind.

Darkness was quickly winning over light, spreading across the thick woods which stood not far from the township of Brill. Despite this, the young seeker had no trouble locating his friend. Lili shone like a beacon of light, readily visible to those arcanists who could sense such a sharp, pulsing magic; one of which he assuredly was. Blinking, gasping, he dashes toward her, purposeful steps carrying him forward, once narrowly missing a thick root that had crept its way up through the soil which might have tripped a lesser aware individual. Ivan didn’t announce that he could sense her, instead slowing his approach as he grew near. Careful to quiet his breathing, he dared a smile of adoration for her, concealed by the growing shadows.

Lili stood in the center of a small gathering of trees, her arms to her sides, fingers fully spread, palms angled outward. Face lifted to the sky, she radiated with the force of the power she embraced, it seeming to subsume her small body. She had the body of a budding young woman; perhaps in her twelth year, standing at around five feet tall, and slender as a reed. The girl’s skin had always lacked luster, its eerie alabaster tone making her appear almost unhealthy, as though too frail to run and play with the other children.

Appearances could be deceiving, however.

The girl never seemed to stop moving completely, spending her days running all over the hillside. If she did try to stay still there was some part of her in motion; a foot tapping, hand flexing, or hair being tossed from one side to the next.This moment was one of the rare exceptions, however. Ivan noted this, having observed her many times with the studiousness of a serious scholar, inquisitive as he was for his tender age of fourteen.

In silence he watched her, feeling the pulse of her magic, able to taste it in the very air he breathed. Her ebony curls framed a face that promised to one day be beautiful. For now, though, her lips were a bit too broad for her face, nose a little too small, eyes large and dominating her features. Still, though, she looked like a white rosebud outlined against the bleak night, shimmering, the arcane wrapping around her with more and more strength.

Frowning, he scanned her face, and then shook his head. “Stop, Lili! That’s enough! It’ll drown you if you let it!” Peering at the girl, his blue eyes lit with disapproval, and he put his hands on his hips, ready to either scold or come to her aid if she did not heed his warning. He was wiser by far.. a whole two years! “Reckless!” he thought to himself, eying her up and down. Ivan knew better than to call the whole pool of magic into himself at once, instead working with a carefully controlled stream.

Gasping, the girl’s hands balled into fists, and she gave a mighty shiver, sagging as she released her tentative hold on the power, letting it rush through her and out into the night. Sinking to her knees, she panted, taking in large gulps of simple air to replace the sudden emptiness felt in its parting.

Brow furrowed, Ivan dashes to her side, chastising, “Lili, if you want to keep working with me you just can’t do this anymore! You can’t let the magic do what it wants.. You make it do YOUR bidding! I know how good it feels, to drink it and let it spin you around.. but you can’t let it get out of control.” Taking her hand, he searched her eyes, much like a personal bodyguard might study his charge.

In many ways, that was the role he had chosen: To guide the girl so that she didn’t extinguish herself, all while the two explored their powers on their own, unhindered by adult supervision. Seeing her struggle, he sampled the gentle stream within himself, offering it to her through the their laced fingers as though providing her a glass of water.

Parched, the girl absorbed the energy, gratefully sighing as the dizzying sensation began to abate. A nervous laugh followed, breaking the silence in the air. “I’m alright, Ivan.. It just felt so good!” Glancing around, seeing that he seemed to be gearing up for a stout lecture, she provides a legitimate distraction. “We better get home soon or we’ll both have brothers come looking for us..”

Their eyes met, and each triggered a grinning response from the other, more laughter following them as they stood and starting running toward Brill, pausing at a crossroads. “Same place, in two days time?” Lili inquired.

Nodding his answer, steps already leading him toward his parent’s homestead, he called back, “Yes.. and don’t try to do anything on your own before then! I’ll know.. you know I will!”

As his words faded, Lili smiled to herself, standing stock still for a moment, feeling the wind kiss her cheeks as though in proud acknowledgment of her achievement.

[Karianin]

In the distance she could already hear her name being shouted, and she retorted, “Yes! I’m on my way, Rosta! You needn’t wake every animal in the forest!” Small feet met the soil swiftly, carrying her toward her brother’s voice. Glancing around, she didn't spot him upon reaching the homestead, and so, with a shrug, she went to aide her mother in setting out the evening meal.

Glowering out into the darkness, a young man stood completely still in the shadows of a large shade tree. Narrowed brown eyes watched the boy whose steps lifted a layer of dust from the simple dirt path that had been formed due to frequent use. Once an animal trail, it had since broadened into more, framed on both sides by long, coarse grass sprinkled with cattails.

Some might have been intimidated by the canopy that had formed above this simple route between homesteads; branches twined so intimately that they seemed to be woven together. The result was that it seemed more tunnel than anything, and yet the youth who walked it did so with a casual gait and a smirk upon his lips.

Perhaps had he not been so focused on his thoughts the lad may have heard the sharp crack of a limb breaking underfoot or the soft ‘swish’ of a branch being shifted beside. Instead, however, he was completely caught off guard as he was sent sprawling forward, sliding against the ground for a few feet as though he had been lifted and thrown.

Ivan scrambled, cursing and calling his magic to his fingertips even as another youth crouched over him, a small dagger held warningly in one hand. The glint of steel beneath moonlight was unmistakable, and yet the pressure of a knee pinning his chest stifled any exclamation of surprise he might have made.

“I warned you to stay away from my sister!” hissed a quiet, threatening voice. Rostamin’s lips were formed into an angry snarl as he looked down at the other’s form. Physically, the youth was no match for him, his slender frame that of a scholar’s, compared to the raw musculature of the elder boy who was practiced at moving in and out of the shadows, accustomed to rugged hand to hand melee.

Recognition was swift for Ivan, and he smirked, knowing that the other not dare use the dagger he waved about so menacingly. “Scare tactics,” he thought to himself, lifting his hands to shove the other off of him. It took some effort, but the other relented, continuing to glare at him with the hostility of a cornered animal. Lili’s brother could be hostile as he wanted, but in truth any action he might try to take would result in a mess that neither of them wanted to deal with.

Ivan winced only slightly, dusting himself off as he clamored to his feet. “How nice of you to come looking for me, Rosta, to see that I returned home safely. I’m sure Lili will thank you for your kindness…” The corner of his mouth lifted into a wry smile, knowing this simple statement spoke volumes.

The rogue paced around the younger boy, eyeing him up and down, rolling his shoulders back, dagger still displayed threateningly. “Don’t test me, mage.. Lili doesn’t belong anywhere near the likes of you! Our father may be gone for a few days, and my older brother away in service, but don’t think I’ll let you lead her off into danger! Its MY job to protect her; and I’ve decided I don’t want you anywhere near! One day I just know you’ll have to face my big brother.. he’ll tear you apart! Until then, though..” He cut through the air with his blade as though to underscore his words.

Blue eyes studied the aggressive young man calculatingly, and Ivan had to suppress the desire to force that smug look to turn to one instead of fear. Power surged through him, and yet careful control has the mark of any arcanist worth his salt. Besides; any action he took would surely be reported to his friend, and she would be torn then between he and her own brother. Sighing, he tried to be civil, “Rosta, calm down. You know that I won’t let anyone or anything hurt her, either. I care about Lili.. and it isn’t MY fault that she has magical potential. If she isn’t taught a thing or two at least, she’ll end up destroying herself!”

Shaking his head, the rogue denied this, “No! No.. There’s nothing.. magic about her! She’s young, and nice, and will be married one day, with kids and a family. There’s no need for you to go encouraging her to some fantasy of Dalaran or whatever demon hole you crawled out of. Just leave her be to collect herbs and tend to the flowers.” His voice faltered just enough to reveal to the other that even he didn’t completely believe his words, and what conviction he lacked verbosely he made up for by swinging his dagger once again.

The exchange might have continued further had not a loud howling suddenly rang out through the night. Both heads whipped around simultaneously, just in time to see two mangy wolves leaping out of the woods, charging directly toward them.

Ivan was startled but quick to response, sending a spray of ice toward them to slow the movements of one. The rogue launched a throwing dagger not moments before he launched himself, making short work in bringing the lanky beast to its collapse.

The mage began backpedaling, sending another spray of frozen air at the wolf that remained upright, its chilling affects seeming successful as the animal howled in pain and rage. Rosta turned on his heels, deftly slicing now at the remaining creature until it too dropped, bloodied, upon the path.

There was a moment of guarded silence between the two as they regarded the dead beasts, the rogue moving purposely forward to collect his thrown dagger. Ivan felt his heart still racing from the taste of the magically charged adrenaline. He was slow to release the power in his fingertips, but slowly eased back, looking to the rogue with uncertainty.

After a series of breaths designed to cool his own racing pulse the rogue spoke in a low, rumbling voice, “Don’t forget my warning, mage. You keep away from her.” Sidestepping into the shadows, he rushed home for dinner, leaving the scowling mage to collect himself and make his own way.