Noctis Venator Manor

[Alexander]

"As you say now."

::Now as the voice spoke, it shifted as to sound like it was coming from various places about you. Each line from a different direction.

As he spoke the shadows would shift and begin to writhe. Books on the shelves would shift about by unseen hands and slowly the from would creep closer. Gliding over the floor as is it did not touch what it tread upon.::

"And what of fear?"

"Do you know it?"

"Do you cower and hide in its presence?"

"Do you run from it?"

"Many fear the unknown."

"And there is much unknown to you."

"And what of death?"

::As the last line was spoken the cloaked figure is near enough that it raises its head and beneath the cowl lies a bare skull.::

[Ama]

"As I say now and as I say always."

Ama had made a vow to herself that she would see this through, no matter how long it would take. She didn't know why others had walked away from their Noctis training in the past, or why the masked Warven had chosen to leave, but this young woman was going to stick with it.

Ama could feel her heart beating faster as the shadows and books began to shift around the room. The urge to fight or runaway grew larger, but the demoness held her ground. She had witnessed a display, very similar to this, back home when Prince Tauer had returned, for he possessed such a talent for manipulating the darkness.

She kept her focus on the shadowy figure - of which Ama decided she had seen one too many already in Wistvale. Her body trembled and her legs threatened to give out from beneath her. As the dark form floated closer, the blue-haired Haisheth listened to the words spoken, each question from a different direction.

Ama sensed this was merely a distraction to mess with her mind and break her concentration. She wasn't falling for that trick.

"I know fear. I feel it now. I'm afraid."

Ama took a step towards the cloaked man. She could feel her hands shaking.

"But I refuse to let that stop me! I won't let that fear paralyze me into inaction. I embrace the unknown and learn from it."

As the cowled head lifted, revealing the bare skull underneath, the young demoness kept a terrified scream locked inside her lungs. In that moment, Ama's courage almost left her vulnerable. She took a calming breath before replying to the last question.

"As for death..." She raised a hand and placed it kindly upon the skull's boney cheek. Her fuchsia eyes stared into those empty sockets and, when she spoke, her tone was filled with pity.  "...it comes for us all in the end."

[Alexander]

::The cloaked figured disapaited like so much smoke in the wind, revealing Alexander still standing at the end of the hall. There was a smirk on his face and he stood, arms crossed, looking at you.::

"True and honest answers, all. Finding one willing to be so honest is as rare as the most sought after relic.

You are Haisheth, are you not? From where do you hail, and why have you come to Wistvale of all places?"

[Ama]

The young Haisheth breathed a gentle sigh of relief, grateful that the head of the Noctis had ceased the smoke-and-mirrors display. 

"Yes, sir, I am. I have travelled far, from a place called Broodenberg, on a mission to deliver a letter from my Prince and friend."

[Alexander]

::He arches an eyebrow.::

"And is it also this letter that brought you to my home, along with your desire to learn?"

[Ama]

"Er, well...no. The letter's for a young woman, who I've yet to find." Ama said, her body no longer shaking. "But I did recently speak to someone who had seen her a week or so ago, so I know she's still around town somewhere.

Althoouugh, in a way the letter did bring me here because, if I wasn't for this little quest, I wouldn't have come to Wistvale, heard about this place or come to the realization that I wanted to follow the path of magicks."

[Alexander]

::He raised a hand to motion her closer as he stepped back then gestured to his left. The way the servant had gone before...::

"I see. And will finding this woman distract you from your studies?"

[Ama]

Ama obediently took quick strides to stand before Mr Ravenhurst.

"No. No, sir." She said, shaking her head vigorously. "This won't get in the way of my studies. I promise. I'll probably run into the cat-girl one day without even searching for her. These things tend to have a way of working out, right?"

The blue-haired Haisheth looked to the Noctis leader's left, in the direction the servant had disappeared.

[Alexander]

"That they do, childe. Though there are many Cathians in our town. And a few Kashir. This search may take more of you then you think.

So long as you studies remain a priority, I should think you will be fine.

Should you choose to study here."

::He gestures now to the door at the end of the hall.::

"Through those doors you will find the stairs up to where are students reside. Study with us and your room will be provided. But know that once you cross through, there will be no turning back.

Many serect you will learn. And many you will have to keep.

Knowledge is power, and should not be given lightly."

[Ama]

Ama looked at the doors that would lead to the next - possibly the greatest - stage of her life. Opening those doors would be acceptance of Mr Ravenhurst's tutelage, to become a student of the Noctis Venator. It was all so exciting...and a little nerve-wracking. Thinking about all the lessons she would learn, all the knowledge she would gain, and all the secrets she would be told. Ama grinned to herself as she thought about the secret she'd already agreed to keep for the masked Warven.

"I understand. I think I can keep a secret."

The young demoness walked towards the doors and placed her hands upon the handles.

Last chance to turn back.

"I'm gonna have to tell Vandal I'll be moving out."

She threw open the doors and walked across the threshold...

[Alexander]

"Welcome to the Noctis Venator."

::He followed her through the door and led her up to her room. It was not spacious by any means, but it had what was needed. Bed, a place to store belongings, a small book shelf, and a desk near a window overlooking the grounds below.::

"I pray you do better than the previous occupant.

Do well. Learn all that you can, and you shall rise within the Order.

Fail, and these will be the only quarters you know."

[Ama]

It may not have been a large room, but it was bigger than what she'd had living with her parents and six brothers. And now she had a bed. Not some mattress on the floor in an abandoned house, but an actual bed! The young demoness fought the urge to throw herself on top of it, imagining it would be an unseemly sight for Mr Ravenhurst to behold from his new student.

Instead, Ama wandered over to the window and peered through the glass. She wondered where Vandal was right now. Would he take her departure well? Would he get lonely living alone? The blue-haired Haisheth felt a little guilty that she hadn't considered him sooner. Perhaps he too shared a hidden passion to learn magicks. They hadn't really ever spoken about that. She would have to ask him the next time they met.

"I won't let you down, sir." She said, determined not to fail him or, most importantly, herself.

[Alexander]

"See that you don't.

Your studies will begin promptly at dawn. If there are any last tasks you need to take care of, or anything you need to bring here, I suggest you do so before then."

::With that, he turned and left her to her new room...::

[Ama]

Ama watched as the tall, dark figure left her new space. She suspected that she wouldn't see the man until the next morning; he didn't come across as the type of person who was seen until he wished to be seen.

Anyway, it was too early in the day for sleeping. The blue-haired demoness would settle into her new room later. She had no more belongings to bring back so, for now, Ama was going to wander the grounds, and maybe the surrounding area, to get a lay of the land.