The Heptagram. School of sorcery and mysterious learning that jealously guards it’s secrets. Over three hundred and fifty years ago, this campus stood not, until a terrible event destroyed the Versino, the first attempt by the Scarlet Empress to create a scholastic haven of sorcery and magical research. The only survivor was sixteen years old Mnemon, daughter of the Empress, who walked away without so much as a scratch. The old grounds were abandoned, warded and the land salted to prevent the rise of hungry ghosts, and a new school built on the other side of the Isle of Voices.

Now, fourteen buildings surround the central tower in a ring, home to staff, protectors, bound demons, and seventy-five students at a time. It is here that young Chosen study to become wielders of the very forces that shape Creation, arcane artificers in search of recreating the Lost wonders of the First Age, or summoners of the eldritch forces that are demons to be bound into service to the Dragon-Blooded.

Yet some, in their outward search for one of these goals, are in fact seeking something else as well. Something that will shape their perspective, recast the world the see in their eyes, and will change how they see themselves and others for the rest of their lives.

Answers.

Answers. The stacks of the Heptagram's libraries were full of them. Thousands and thousands of pages of answers, shelf after shelf, from floor to ceiling. All those answers, and only so many questions. The smoke-haired beauty rubbed at her eyes with a sigh as she brushed a finger along the spines of a series of tomes. She'd been working for months, ever since she arrived - one of the main things she'd wanted to attend the academy for was to master the art of summoning Elementals, and yet it had been nothing but obstacles to reaching that knowledge - even though she'd already been initiated into the practice of Sorcery before she'd ever arrived.

It had been more than a little unusual - the academy could count the self-initiated students who attended it at any one time on one hand. The added resentment for her being ahead of the curve hadn't helped Ashera make any friends, either... Not that she really cared about making friends.

Ah, there it was. One finger smoothly tipped the modestly slim, well-bound book from the shelf, and she took it in hand to inspect the cover. Elemental Binding Templates. It looked old, maybe Shogunate-era in make. The finely-crafted, lacquered wood 'pages' within the book were slim, but notable. She opened to one of them and let her eyes brush over the artful designs. Even with just a brief glance, she was able to make some sense of how the techniques involved would work - she'd been studying Summoning for weeks, now, after all.

Taking the book, she turned to head for a table to sit and make some notes - and doing so carried her past a table of students who seemed a year or two up on her, going over, from her cursory glance, manuals on Demonology. She didn't let her attention linger for too long, and instead, she powered past, though she really couldn't stop her ears from tuning in to their conversation.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:53, Mon 03 Apr 2017.

Books and scrolls were tucked into the vintage leather carry bag as the brunette woman of tall stature strode down the corridors of the Hall of Verdigris. Blue markings on her face gave a much more sinister visage than was true about her, but she wasn’t one above using that to her advantage when needed. Scurrying behind her was a large wood spider elemental that cause a few of the students occupying the halls to look in surprise and caution.

She hardly had time for any of their stares as she turned a corner, with a definite course and purpose to her pace and direction. The clack of her boots against the stone floor was quite audible, and with few occupying the Hall of Verdigris, the sound was able to resonate further in the corridors. The scuttling taps of the wood spider, while fainter and muffled by comparison, were audible enough to create a rather unnerving sound.

One of the staff  noticed this personage making her way down the halls, and almost opened their mouth to utter a greeting, but one look at the wood spider was enough to stop that train of thought. And so the brunette, followed by her elemental companion, continued unobstructed through the great library toward the well known chamber that was are restricted for summoning instruction.

The wood spider increased its pace to hurry ahead of her, making it to the heavy door and opening it just in time for her to strode through and into the summoning chamber. A few students were already there, waiting, but the woman noticed that at least one expected student hadn’t arrived yet. She was running early, so she’d give them the extra time to get there before starting this lesson.

If anything, Sorrowful Leaf was patient.
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:31, Mon 01 May 2017.

---

Ashera finished her review of Binding Templates in a timely fashion. Her book was returned to the shelf, and still, the students discussing the possibilities of Demonology were there. More than a few of them had looked her way as she worked, and at least twice their conversation had turned to the subject of Neomah and what could be done with their twisted creations.

Ashera had tensed with her ears burning under such talk. She tried to avoid showing any sign that she'd noticed their topic of discussion, and in the end, had succeeded as much for the natural intimidation she had as her efforts to focus on her work.

Still, she was done, and she could leave. -- She was almost late - almost. This lesson was what she'd been hoping to see at long last... an actual summoning, her first chance to watch one in progress...

---

Ashera was right on time, as usual, stepping in and stopping by Sorrowful Leaf's desk. The dark-haired dragon presented the parchment with her detailed review - she'd actually gone above and beyond, and discussed some of the harder-to-find, more uncommon binding templates in her study - she'd always been rather serious about getting to learn summoning - her dedication showed.

"My review, as requested... Thank you for allowing me to sit in on the session." Ashera was a year early getting into this presentation, she'd worked hard for it, and now, it was so close... She waited to be dismissed and, assuming she was, she then turned to head to her seat in the summoning hall. Then again, maybe Sorrowful Leaf would have words for her.

A quick nod was the Wood Aspect's response while she looked through some of her notes and a couple of scrolls while awaiting their last pair of observers. "I don't usually allow such early year audiences for my lessons, but you made a rather strong case for this exception in your paper that I reviewed," came her statement after setting a couple of sheets aside on her desk. Her bark brown eyes shifted a bit as two more youths entered the room, older students that she had more expected to be part of lessons in the Verdigris Hall. Good, that was everyone for this lesson.

The wood spider scuttled over to the doors and shut them tight, making sure to lock them and set several wards in place. Once those tasks were done, the elemental scurried back over to Sorrowful Leaf while she set up her own array in the center stage. A few needed items placed in the proper alignment, markers drawn, and all was ready.

“So, some of you are more familiar with the usual demon summoning and binding of First Circles.” Leaf notably glanced to the various diagrams on the walls, then turned back to her own supplies. “Personally, I prefer the company of much less corrupt companions.” The wood spider gave a happy wooden crackling sound at that. In response, the Wood Aspect Exalt gave her elemental assistant a small smirk before returning her attentions to her students.

“Elementals have different rules they operate under in the case of being summons to task and whims. They can only be forced to serve for a month and a day, unless they willingly, of their choice, decided to remain and assist you in multiple tasks.”
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:34, Thu 04 May 2017.

The explanations were all well-understood. She'd had to go above and beyond to get into this session, years ahead of schedule. Even starting ahead, it took proving ones worth to get further in the Heptagram, especially if they wanted the rules to bend in their favor.  Hard work to flex those rules would build conviction and strengthen the strong-willed, and that was certainly true in this case. Alas, Ashera had put in the effort to win herself a seat, here, but as it turned out, she needed only the edge.

Leaned forward, Ashera rested her arms on her lap, propping herself up a bit as she watched and looked over the summoning circle. She found her head spinning a bit as she wondered just what would be summoned, here.  She'd wanted to actually learn this art ever since she'd awakened her sorcererous talents...

She didn't have any questions to ask - her research had been incredibly detailed. Instead, she waited eagerly for the ritual to begin.

The wood spider scurried about the summoning hall while Leaf set out talismans that were being placed in specific spots on the circle. The array seems to be devised for a summoning with a bent toward….fire it looked like. The wood Aspect was being cautious on positioning the artifacts, clearly taking some precaution in this. As elementals were not bound to the same rules of binding as demons, it was, perhaps, not a surprise.

Once the array was finished, Sorrowful Leaf took a moment to check everything over, the loo,Ed to her students observers. She definitely had the attention of her audience. Good. “I will remind you all, Elemental summoning must not be treated the same as calling a demon up. They are beings of Creation, and are to be treated with proper respect if you’re going to ask one to be in your service for up to a month.”

There was that cracking chortle from the wood spider. It clearly had some experience with Exalts who had not been so respectful, and had learned the hard way they should have been. Despite the seriousness of the task at hand, Leaf could not help but crack a smile. She’d been able to see the results of said mistakes, and from a safer position than those who learned the harsh lesson.

”So, if there are no questions at the moment, I’ll insist any you may have in the next few minutes be kept for later, and we will get this under way. Make sure you stay outside the central ring of the hall, things are likely to get a little hot.”

There was a flash of green as she turned her attentions now to the summoning circle, and the faint trails of gather essence began to form and swirl through the air with the movements of Leafs hands. At first, it was the emerald glow of Wood essence that came to her beckoning, but soon enough, a red hue overcame that of the green, indicating she was working to call on some elemental of the fire courts. So far, everything was going well and contained as a standard summoning should.


[Private to Nellens Ashera: Roll me...hm...Perception awareness roll, and then a seperate essence roll...]

Ashera might've been under instruction to keep back - and she did, but only just. She was eagerly perched just beyond the outermost ring of the summoning circle, her eyes focused and keen as she put in her best effort to study the process. She'd gone over this many times before, but she'd not actually had the chance to attend an actual summoning before now.

Perception+Awareness: Used 3m for +3 dice: 3 Successes on 8 dice
Essence Roll: Failed (not a botch)

The summoning seemed to be going according to the book, though out of the corner of her eye, Ashera could see that the wood spider was starting to fidget and slowly scoot away from its place behind Sorrowful Leaf. That would seem odd  on its own, since one would assume the elemental had plenty of faith in Leaf’s abilities. None of the students seemed disturbed, so perhaps the spider was just put off by the obvious fire essence that was gathering in the summoning array.

Embers started to appear at the center of the circle, slowly swirling around and cascading into a crude silhouette resembling what appeared to be a bird. The silhouette began to shift as it filled in with the hot embers, the shape of wings flapping…

And then the piercing cry as the embers form let out a terrible screech while wild firey essence began lashing out of control. The wood spider was now cowering behind Leaf’s desk, the other students now scrambling out of their seats and for cover. Leaf, meanwhile, was clearly panicked as this shouldn’t be happening. She had already released the binding spell to summon the elemental, which would have released it back to where she had been calling it from…

But the out of control essence was still raging, and the bird-silhouette was still forming and screaming in what looked to be pain.

[Private to Nellens Ashera: Roll essence again. Also make an endurance roll, but in general, know that Ashera is in slowly increasing pain in reaction to the elemental summoning.]

Ashera had been focused on the summoner's method, rather than her bound companion. Regardless, though, as the elemental tone of the magic shifted, Ashera felt something odd. She winced faintly, cringed as she leaned back from the well of essence focused in the circles in front of her. Her breath felt strangely short, and she quickly turned her eyes back to the worried-looking Summoner.

This wasn't normal - Ashera knew it even without looking her in the eyes.

Essence Roll: Failure, not a botch
I assume you mean Stamina+Resistance? If so, 2 successes on the roll

The summoning circle was in chaos, talismans shattering and flying about while the bird flame, form continued to rage out of control. The student observers had already fled to get help, but Leaf had yet to abandon the hall; she could not leave the young girl who she had given permission to observe to her death if this went really wrong. This was her responsibility.

The wood spider was already ahead of her, scurrying to reach Ashera before the roiling cacophony of essence hit its tipping point. By this point, the child was already on the floor, wracked with pain for some reason, almost in synch with the screams of agony of the fire bird that was still forming over the cracking ground that had bore the summoning array.

“Ashera!” Leaf cried over the roaring storm of essence. It was reaching a critical point, and would result either in the elemental forming and being rather angry and destructive, or more likely...an Essence explosion. Which was very bad for those at ground zero, meaning them.

“The nest falls!” came the pain wracked voice that was neither Leaf nor Ashera. The professor looked back at the roaring stork of essence, now seeing the fully formed, but clearly unstable, firebird…a Garda bird. She’d been trying to summon a much different elemental, not this!

“The nest falls, the hatchling must survive!”

[Private to Nellens Ashera: Yeah, been a long day. so the nice are not liking you much on that essense roll, so screw it. Even as the Garda bird is screaming in pain and speaking it's message, Ashera has quick flashes of somewhere else, people dying as they'remain attack, of an emblem of what looks to be a phoenix on banners, and a man with white blue hair fighting off attackers. This strange vision ends with seeing a boy with red hair being hidden just before everything goes dark and Ashera heats the roaring cry of what sounds like a massive bird. After that...it's silence. When Ashera evetually comes to, she'll be in the Heptagram infirmary.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:01, Mon 05 June 2017.

Wavering on the edge of the binding circle, Ashera cringed as pain licked at her insides like a fire's touch. Where she'd once leaned forward in excitement, she now doubled over in pain, and fell from her seat, panting. She collapsed into the pool of fiery essence pooling in the ring of binding, and let out a raspy cry as the essence burned. It didn't burn for long, though, as her anima banner flared to life in the midst of the flames. There was yet, though, only one Garda Bird, blazing even brighter now as Ashera let out an agonized scream. She clutched her face with her hands as she spasmed in the burning heat, even despite her anima protections - the agony was searing her from within.

Her vision blurred and melted into a white haze. A few flickering images danced at the edge of her awareness as pain continued to wrack her body. Banners, people dying, a Garda emblem on war banners... A man with blue-white hair battling some...thing? some one?  A boy with red hair, hiding as  a village burned around him.

“The nest falls, the hatchling much survive!” came a voice Ashe dimly found... familiar, in a way nothing else ever had been.

Together, two voices as one, the half-formed garda and Ashe herself both convulsed, and shrieked the shrill cry of a wounded, dying phoenix. The room erupted in flames as Ashe's senses burned up to white...


Some unknown eternity of time later, still hot and aching from head to toe, Ashe stirred in a bed. She felt sheets light atop her body, dressed now in a simple shift rather than her academy garb, Her vision was still bright, washed-out, her eyes themselves felt seared blind, and her senses could only tell her of the sight and scent and feel of an intense inferno.. save her ears, at the least. She managed to sit up, her senses slowly starting to recenter themselves.  "A-ahhhh~!" she issued a cry of pain as she forced herself to sit upright. Her skin seemed undamaged, upon her inspection - her anima had protected her from the physical burns, but she could feel her essence, as though it had been gutted by the inferno...

Her face flushed with frustrated embarrassment, for how quickly she'd cried out. Ashe bitterly threw herself back down onto her back, across the bed. Her eyes searched the roof above her, and she took a deep breath. No family at her side. How long had she even been out? She didn't know. All she could do was wait and suffer the slowly-ebbing pain as quietly as she could.

It was some hours after the doctors had found that Ashera was awake that she finally did receive a visitor; Sorrowful Leaf, who still had a few burns as evidence of what had happened in the summoning hall. Her hair was tussled, crudely tied up in a bunch instead of the usual loose free flow, but otherwise, she was in good condition.

“I see you’re doing pretty good for someone that was at ground zero of a Garda bird going nova in the summoning hall,” the Wood Aspect commented from where she stood at the foot of the bed. She was trying to keep an upbeat demeanor, but it was still obvious what had happened was weighing heavy on her. “The dominie is still trying to find out what went wrong, since I was calling up a specific elemental that had agreed already to be part of the lesson...”

It was clearly bothering the older Exalt that what was supposed to be a routine summoning went so horribly wrong. The upside, at least, was no students had been killed. But suspiciously absent was Leaf’s ever present wood spider companion. She was never without the elemental to act as her asssistant…

Ashera had been dozing, trying to meditate and block out the discomfort of her situation, when Leaf made her entrance. Ashera looked up at her, a frown crossing her features. "I... I made it. I think I managed to awaken my anima before... whatever happened..." she shook her head. "That... that shouldn't have been possible at all. I know, I did the research. And - well - I don't think you did anything wrong... It was an accident, so it's..." she paused, before she went on to say that everything was fine. She hadn't noted the skittering steps of the instructor's faithful companion. She pushed herself upright slowly, looking past her to the floor. Nothing...

"..." Ashe looked away, her frown deepening as she folded her arms over her lap. She wasn't good at this - it wasn't that she didn't care, but... "... Sorry... if I messed anything up. And... and about..." she glanced at her. "... Well, you never go anywhere without that elemental of yours. She didn't... make it, did she?"

Ashera looked back to Leaf, letting out a heavy breath. "... Honestly, I might have some... ideas about what caused this. Just ideas - I don't really know.  But I had these... visions as I was burning there... It's faint, but... I think it must've been some kind of message or warning, maybe. It felt like my essence was getting ripped out of me..."

Silence was the response to Ashera’s question about the Wood Spider, at least at first. Leaf had to admit, she’d been attached to the elemental. “I’m still alive because of her,” was the woman’s reply once she’d had time to think on how to answer. It was a little hard to swallow, but the wood spider had gone out a faithful companion.

After a moment, Leaf realized there were tears on her cheeks, and she took a moment to wipe  them away. “The bigger concern I have is how you are doing. The doctors heard you were talking in your sleep the last few days, something about a nest falling and a hatchling.” The woman paused again, looking about to make sure they were alone. “You say you were having visions during all that?”

Ashera gave a little shake of her head. "... Nothing that made very much sense, to be honest. But that does sound a bit familiar." she confirmed, giving a nod. "It's been whole days, huh? Has anyone from Nellens actually come to see how I'm doing?" she prompted, sounding rather doubtful, all considered. "I'll.. I'll be alright. I don't think I suffered any permanent harm... But..." she sighed, and lowered her head. "You said it was a Garda bird - my anima is one, too - it...  it might be related."
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 22:38, Tue 09 May 2017.

Leaf gave the girl a quizzing expression. Her…anima…was a Garda? That didn’t sound normal at all. Typically, only Anathema had that kind of anima, but Ashera was most assuredly not one of them. The woman was about to question her charge about what she meant when the infirmary door opened again, this time allowing in a man that Leaf knew better than to question|.

“I trust young Nellens Ashera is making her recovery after the accident,” came the words of Ragara Bhagwei as he entered the room. Wrackstaff in hand as always, though surprisingly, his expression and tone were those of relief and not anger. Then again, it was known he was more compassionate, especially for the dominie of the Heptagram. “I sent word that you've woken up to your mother, we expect to hear back somewhat soon. In the meantime, you are a very lucky young lady that Sorrowful Leaf and her elemental assistant were able to protect you.”

He held up his hand even as Leaf opened her mouth to speak. He knew what she was about to say. “Your companion’s death is a tragedy, Leaf. I understand if you wish some leave as such loyalty deserves time to be honored.” Another gesture, though this one was for her to wait for him outside. The expression on his face then told her that they would speak once he was done with the child.

Leaf hesitated, then bowed in compliance and headed out the door. It was after Bhagwei closed it that he set his wrackstaff against the wall, sat down beside the medical bed, and sighed. “I’m glad to see you appear much better than you were a few days ago,” the dominie quipped as he made himself a little bit more comfortable. It was hard, in the rigid wooden chair, but he made due. “And before you worry about her, Leaf is not being held responsible for what happened. We’re still trying to piece things together, but the rough information we’ve gathered from the remains in the summoning hall suggest that somehow, a Garda bird from the Eastern Threshold somehow got pulled into the binding instead of the elemental who had agreed to the class.”

Ashera let out a sigh and settled in as she tried to relax - and then the dominie made his appearance. her eyes gave a somewhat-surprised flutter as he gently but firmly nudged Leaf out of the room, and then, he took a seat. She frowned, and glanced off to the side on her own for a moment, mulling his words over for a moment in silence.

"A Garda Bird from the eastern threshold...? That doesn't entirely explain what happened, but... "  Ashe shook her head. She was sure that it had something to do with her - the odd nature of her Anima, and likely more. Still, she was an oddity and an exception to so many rules - whether she liked it or not. What it would ultimately mean, though... She wasn't sure.

"For what it's worth, I'm glad nobody else got hurt... Leaf will be okay, too... I don't know what my mother's going to say - I doubt she'll be too bothered, honestly..."  She let out a sigh, folding her arms over her chest as she laid back down.

Such apathy toward her mother’s  possible reactions to what occurred and the injuries she had sustained. Less typical than he’d expected, though not out of the question. It was likely that, as was common with Dynastic parents, Ashera’s mother had made efforts not to form any attachments. Pragmatic to be sure, though at times, it left something to be desired. A degree of loyalty to the House, at least, was preferable to total apathy.

“At the least, she should appreciate  not losing what she’s invested in a very gifted daughter,” the dominie said in attempt to be assuring to her. It seemed she wasn’t accepting that logic, at least from the reaction he saw. Still… “Your instructors all have told me you’re quite gifted, and that was why Leaf allowed you to sit in on a summoning class this early. I do need you to tell me what you remember happening before you blacked out.”

If only the domine could know the details - but then, her mother did take pains to keep anyone else from learning of the secrets of how she'd... produced Ashera... At least, if all of the whisperings surrounding Ashera were to be believed...  She was still one of his students, however, product of a Neomah's handiwork or not. "I imagine she'll be eager to give me a thorough examination..." Ashera said in a dry tone that made it clear that it wouldn't be the first time some unusual occurance prompted such rigorous interest in her... Interest, it seemed, that she resented entirely.

"I do my best..." Ashera said softly, closing her eyes. Part of her just wanted to be left alone, but... no, she needed to go over what she remembered now, while it was fresh... "I don't know how helpful it'll be... but alright. I took my seat, and everything was fine. I sat close, but I was entirely outside the circle. Everyone was. Anyway -  she started the spell and everything seemed fine, until I felt a sensation running through me. It was almost like the circle was a vortex of invisible essence, and it was pulling at mine. It was only uncomfortable at first, but then the fire surged into the circle, and it really started to hurt. That was when people started panicking and running, but I couldn't move, I was in so much pain..."  She sighed, and sat up again, resting a hand over her chest, rubbing the shift she wore against her skin. She turned her unsettling eyes away from the domine, and sighed. It seemed she still hurt, somewhat.

"At this point, everything had become hazy beyond the circle. Somehow, I'd fallen forward into it, but I don't remember exactly when that happened. I saw the garda... and heard it screeching. The nest falling and the hatchling must survive. Whatever that means - it doesn't mean anything specific to me. I managed to awaken my anima as I felt the flames on my body, burning away my clothes." she frowned, and a slight hint of  color touched her fair cheeks. "...not long after that, though...  I blacked out... and woke up here..."

She let the moment hang in the air, before she turned to look up at the domine. "...Probably nothing you haven't already heard, except, I did see... things. Visions. A garda bird on a blue war banner. A red-hedded boy hiding as soldiers burned and butchered his village.  A few other... hazy things I can't recall clearly enough..." She gave her head a little shake. "I really don't know anything more, other than that she was doing the ritual right - based on my studies, it was exactly right up until... it wasn't."

The nest...interesting indeed. If it was what Bhagwei thought that meant, being a Garda bird said it, and the imagery described, he had a decent idea of what the visions meant as well. More so...the timing was very suspect. He’d need to look into a few things now, while they still had the chance.

But the girl did deserve some answers that he could provide. “I have some suspicions...when a Garda bird references ‘the Nest’, it tends to mean the place where they all came to be when the first Garda shattered apart to birth the Lesser ones we know now.”. And he then noted something to himself. The remains of the bird that had been pulled into the summoning hall had been from the Eastern Threshold. If they said that the Nest was falling, then that would mean...

He needed to make sure, but if his knowledge of the region was right, the Realm was about to need to send aid to a certain small ally of theirs. “Get some rest, child. I have some matters that I need to address, but you’ve given me some valuable information.” a soft smile, and the dominie stood to leave. He had to hurry if this information was going to be of  any good to the Empress...

Ashera had been no stranger to the idea of the Garda. Ever since her Exaltation, she'd had an interest in learning about them, if only because of her anima.  Since joining the Heptagram, she'd learned a great deal, and so she did have a small grasp of what the domine was mentioning as he spoke of the rumored origin of the Garda Birds...

"Yeah - I've read that before. I don't really know if it's relevant, but my Anima takes on the form of a Garda... Maybe that has a little to do with all this - but I don't know for sure..." She sighed softly, and settled back down, closing her eyes. "... Glad I could help, I guess. Let me know if you find out anything... this... does kind of involve me, now." She added with a frown.  "Can you send in someone with some food - I'm... actually pretty hungry. I'd like to eat and take another nap if I can squeeze it all in, before Mother arrives..."

He had to hurry, but Bhagwei gave the young woman a nod and a smile. “I’ll have someone bring you something. In the meantime, I wouldn’t expect your mother for a day or two, considering the distance, and I have yet to hear back via messenger important. Take the time to rest while we look further into what happened and I attend to some important matters.” A bow of his head, and the dominie of the Heptagram was on his way, pausing to talk to the attending physician, then vanishing through the door.

Ashera gave a little nod. "Y-yeah...  well. She's just as likely to be using some Chariot spell to be rushing over here. I know she'll be terribly interested to find out everything she can about what happened. Ah...  alrigh, thank you for visiting, domine."  She said gently, tring to sit up and offer a respectful nod before he departed. She stayed sitting upright , inching her back to lean her against the headboard of the bed with a heavy sigh.  She needed to eat - she was starved. Then, maybe... rather than a nap, maybe she could try and get on her feet? She really didn't relish the idea of being stuck in bed...

Once her food came, she was gracious but quiet, and she ate with a particularly brisk focus - and proved to be rather ravenous.

The young Exalt was given some time to rest before another meal was brought for her; physician’s orders, apparently, that she be well fed following the days of her sleep. It was during this second mean that the little messenger important appeared, the familiar slightly withered winged imp that her mother was fond of. And as expected, it spoke with her mother’s voice, which to some could get a little more that awkward and off putting.

“I’ve been informed by the Dominie that you have awakened from the coma you were put into by the accident that occurred. They assure me that you are safe and recovering well, but I will be conducting my own examinations when I arrive in three days. I will not be rebuffed by Ragara Bhagwei in these matters, so no matter how much he will likely insist that you are fine, child, I will handle this before returning to my work. I will contact you if I need to give you further instructions.”

And the imp relaxed a bit, awaiting any response that the young lady before it might have for its own mistress before it returned to essence.