Hour of Destiny

[TwinCast]

Closed.

"This is inconvenient," The words echoed through the alleyway as a woman stood staff in hand, looking at several hired thugs. The alley stank of sewage and rotting trash, but that was the least of her concerns, the highest of which was the offending odor the men together wrought against the world. It should have been a crime for these men to be so close together and try to wield their awful stench as a weapon against the woman. Still they stood in her way, and she was not about to back down because a few men thought they could play rough with her.

A hand rose up slowly before with a deft flick of the wrist the beads and trinkets that hung about it slid down to about halfway down her forearm. She then looked at the odorous band and spoke plainly, "I take it you are here to offer me protection? Protection I highly doubt I will need."

The men chuckled as one spoke up, "Actually, tonight it's just highway robbery. Give us your gold, and you can walk away. Don't give us the gold, and well…you seem like a quick one, you do the math."

Sis, I'm not sure this one is winnable. That's a lot of men, and they are armed, The voice filtered into the woman's mind as she looked casually behind her. A small cat was hiding in the shadows, watching the scene with obvious interest. To one who looked upon the cat, they could almost make out the intelligence hiding behind the eyes. It meowed softly, almost pleading the woman to not do what she was about to do.

The woman in question was under a small cloak, the hood of which was up as the nights air was a bit chillier than normal. Locks of fire red hair could be seen flowing out from it and at the moment only her nose and mouth could be seen in the darkness of the hood. A small smile lifted her red lips a notch before she thought sadly, I am not someone's victim. I will play victim no more. You know that as well as I do Sister.

The cat meowed in a more whiney tone before it circled about the girl's feet. Finally she spoke, Where should I go?

The woman looked down at the cat, the only softness crossing her face before she nodded softly, You already know the answer. All I ask, is you don't go to him.

"So, what's it going to be? Your money, or your life?" The man finally asked, interrupting the sisters.

"I think I'll take 'Your life'," The woman responded a cruel smile crossed her face, even as the cat ran off down the streets. The men frowned looking at each other before they looked, and saw the glowing of power under the hood. Where one of the eyes would be a sinister red glow could be seen, and the leader of the group seemed to fidget with his club just a bit more.

Looking over the other guys he finally managed, in a barely calm voice, "You heard the lady, go ahead boys!" He gestured them forward, and they eagerly went on the attack as she frowned, not realizing that the craven coward would have the others do his work for him. This was certainly a pickle she had gotten herself in.


~*~

The cat darted through alleyways making time quickly. She wasn't dumb; she knew her sister was going to end up dead for this one. A small group of three, she could handle no problem. But so many? No, she had never dealt with that many men at once. Even now she could hear the shattering of glass, the tell tale mark of the Mystic Protection going off. She had maybe dealt with two more by using it, but now she was still outnumbered. If she had given one of the men an evil eye, they would probably be consumed by doubt, but that still left too many.

Some days she hated being a cat, really she did.

Moving through the alleyways, she slid to a halt seeing the central park of Radasanth. The Apothecary that her sister trusted in this town was still a block or two away, but he wouldn't be able to heal her. Not to the extent she needed, she needed help, perhaps if she was fast enough, she could bring back someone to fight the thugs on her behalf. After all their estranged Uncle lived here, certainly one of the many heroes to his banner would help. And really if she got one of them to, she didn't have to talk to him directly.

That wasn't breaking her sister's rule, right?

Moving into the park she made her decision, knowing that every second mattered. She had been protected this long by the care of her sister; it was time to return the favor for once.

[Silence Sei]

"Wow, what a pretty kitty!"

Anita reached towards the black cat. The humanlike eyes of the feline widened quickly, and the animal began to scurry away. Anita blinked for a minute when she realized how deep the cat's eyes seemed to go. It was almost as if the thing was human. Now, she had to at least detain the kitty long enough for her father to look into it. Of course, if she and Kyla happened to dress it in a baby outfit along the way, what harm would that do?

Anita sat her backpack on the ground and reached into it. She struggled to pull out the object she required for this task, but eventually heaved it out with one good pull. She fell to the ground with the plastic cat carrier falling on top of her. She scrambled back up and reached into the mystical sack once more to pull out a ball of yarn. "This will get her for sure!"

Anita tore off some of the yarn and attached it to the metal grating of the cat carrier. Placing the ball of yarn a few feet away, Anita hid behind a large bush. Once the cat felt the danger was gone, it began to come back into the area. It looked at the ball of yarn curiously, let out a meow....

...And ran right past it.

"Thaynes damn it!" Anita stomped her foot on the ground as she gave chase. Had she had time to pull out her rocket powered skates, she would have, though that may have caused her to run into a wall. As she chased the cat, she did not realize that the feline had made her way straight to her home anyways. Unfortunately for Felicity, she was about to break her promise to Aislinn, if only by accident.

Sei had been walking out of the tomb when he saw the cat running, and Anita following. The cat caught sight of Sei and immediately stopped in front of him. Anita stopped a few feet away and soundly hit the ground on her face. She wasn't too good on the whole immediate stop thing. Sei knelt down at the cat, a smile upon his face as he looked into those ...strangely familiar ice blue orbs...

Sei's eyes widened as he realized exactly what or who this cat could be. Nobody had eyes quite like them.

"Dear Lord, what happened to you? Felicity? Aislinn? How'd you wind up like that?!"

[TwinCast]

Oh Thayne, oh Thayne, oh Thayne! Felicity thought before the most pitiful meow left her lips. Looking up at Sei Orlouge she recognized the mystic immediately. She looked down before she shook her cat head, a rather awkward look for a feline to do. Further she looked up at Sei, right into his eyes before another pitiful meow left her cat lips. Figuring she was as good as caught anyways, what with the girl running after her and their Uncle right in front of her she spoke softly in the mute's head, Sis is going to kill me! But…well I guess you can't keep a secret on this one, as soon as she saw you she'd put it together!

It was at this moment the cat realized what she was doing. She was talking to herself, in the mute's head, while her sister was possibly being beaten to death. Looking up at the Mute helplessly she finally got across the information she needed to, Aislinn's in trouble! She got in a fight with local street toughs and I don't think she is going to make it this time! We don't have much time left, if we don't hurry she'll probably end up dead, and I won't get fed and, and, and…

Felicity realized she was in hysterics before the cat opened its mouth and let out the most pitiful meow yet.


~*~

Needless to say, Aislinn had seen better days. Blood dripped down the side of her head, from what she guessed was a minor skull fracture that had pierced the skin. She'd have maybe an hour tops before the concussion would probably kill her in her sleep. Still she swung the staff feebly to keep the thugs back, who were hooting and laughing at the girl. They took turns rushing in after the swings of her staff and would hit her with a club, or slash her with a knife. The cuts and bruises added up, and she was more than certain she had a few bruised ribs and a broken bone here or there.

The Mystic Protection had stopped two of the men, who had passed out in pain. The evil eye still had the man at the back hooting and jeering them on. He hadn't joined the mess yet, and she was certain once he figured it out, she'd find more pain. Sewage and nastier things clung to her like a second skin and she was beginning to think even if she somehow survived this, she'd die of the infections alone. She was down to one knee in pain as she held onto the staff as if her life depended upon it.

Because in fact, her life did depend on it.

One of the thugs went forward and threw another club against her skull, scrambling her thoughts even more. It was painful to think, painful to draw breath, painful to do much of anything. Sleep sounded so inviting, she could sleep forever, and run away from the thugs later. Surely they wouldn't attack a sleeping woman would they? They'd probably take her money, rifle through her things and then run off laughing right? It certainly seemed plausible, and yet something in the back of her head screamed to keep fighting, even as she drunkenly swung her staff again.

A roar of laughter erupted from the men as they jeered at the man who couldn't even drop the helpless broad.

She was down on her hands and knees, the staff clattering to the ground even as her crimson hair hung like a curtain before her. Streaks of blood darkened the hair in places where she had been cut by one of the thugs clubs. And she was fast losing out, yet she held on, there was something she was fighting for. Some reason she kept holding out against the pain, even as Aislinn was swimming to stay conscious. Why couldn't she sleep? Why was she fighting?

She couldn't remember, and finally sleep took her.

[Silence Sei]

"I'm sorry about this, Felicity."

"Sorry about -WHOA!"

The cat hissed and threw her clawed paws outwards. They found their home in the face of the cheerleader of the group. Sei had thrown his niece to provide cover for himself and Anita to get through and into the thick of things. A red brick found itself into the temple of one of the cretins, instantly knocking him out and giving him a dusty red kiss on the cheek.

The ringed right fist of Sei slammed directly into the nose of another thug. Red ooze spilled from his nose as the back of his head slammed against the back of the brick wall. A knee would swiftly follow suit into the stomach of the man, causing him to regurgitate the contents of his earlier meal. Sei pointed his right fist towards a man that was trying to charge him. The ring on his right index finger suddenly formed an emei piercer that found its way into the gangsters shoulder. As Sei pulled his fist back he looked to the remaining two or three people still healthy.

They were still hovered above Aislinn, their weapons still in their hands. Sei took a step towards them and they all dropped their items, running away in pure terror. Sei then looked behind him to the man who had just gotten Felicity off of his features. His wide eyes at Sei let the mute know that this man knew who he was. The telepath slowly walked his way towards the leader of this thuggish troupe, leaning over to the man’s face.

“You ever come near her again, I’ll kill you.” Sei said in the most serious tone he had ever mustered. Nobody messed with his family, ever. The man nodded as he scrambled his way past the mystic.

Sei then turned to Aislinn’s still body, walking over to her and picking her up. Anita was busy placing the brick back into her backpack. Sei looked to his left side to find Felicity meowing at the telepath. The mute nodded his recognition of the feline and began to walk back to his tomb with Aislinn in his arms. Anita and Kyla could fix the girl up, but they would need the supplies needed at home in order to do so. As Sei walked, his eyes went back to Felicity.

“So you two have seemed busy since you left…”

[Rehtul Orlouge]

Rehtul looked through Radasanth with his usual disinterested gaze. Though it might not have looked like it, he was actually taking in all the sights at once. His eyes darted from location to location, as if he was searching for something. Instead, he was actually trying to mark every location in Radasanth in his memory, like he would mark the location of various lessons in a textbook. His memory wasn’t something that he would ever take for granted, as it allowed him to remember things that most would forget in the background of their thoughts. As he continued to walk towards the homestead of his uncle, Sei Orlouge, he was surprised to learn that the man was a local legend.

Then again, nothing really surprised him. His uncle, for all he downplayed himself, was no pushover. No matter how much Ciato, another of Rehtul’s uncles, tried to make it seem like he was, the young Mystic knew better. There was something about Sei that just told his nephew that he was more than met the eye, even if he was a bit on the strange side.

He continued to walk until he came upon the cave where his uncle lived. He looked around for a moment before taking a peek inside. Something told him no one was home, so he decided to turn around and walk around the city for awhile before trying again. He looked around and noted that the streets were a little on the labyrinthine side. He kept walking until he heard someone’s shoes making quick steps on the pavement ahead of him. He watched closely, walking off one side of the street to make way for the passerby. When he saw who it was, he was shocked.

His uncle was running down the street with a redhead in his arms, a very familiar redhead. The younger Mystic blinked a couple of times until he was certain he was seeing things right. The woman’s head was bleeding blue blood. That meant she was a Mystic. Rehtul searched his memories, trying to find some grasp on who the woman was. He drew a blank. She was familiar, but he couldn’t tell who she was. As Sei passed him, he turned and watched for a few seconds before following, knowing that this wasn’t going to be the relaxing visit to a relative he thought it was going to be.

Looks like I’m getting dragged into my uncle’s business against my will. The young elementalist said to himself. When they made it to the cave, he approached his uncle slowly, his nervousness almost getting the better of him. He noticed that there was a black cat with them, and his cousin Anita. “Um… Uncle Sei?” he asked as he got within earshot. His eyes darted around, registering every face in the group. Anita, the redhead he couldn’t quite place, and the black cat. He was certain he had come at a really bad time.

[TwinCast]

Aislinn was set upon a bed, as Anita went to work at cleaning the girl off. Occasionally she would move trinkets and finally it got to the point where she had to remove some, for fear of them healing as part of the wound. When she went to the hair she sighed and began to remove beads and other fetishes from Aislinn's hair before Felicity jumped up and moved between Anita and her sister. Her paw batted away the teenager's hand before she hissed and shook her head, Don't touch that one, any of the others you can play with, but I guarantee you she'll be livid if you mess with that one!

"What is it?" Anita asked innocently. Looking upon the small patch of beads and feathers, the fetish looked vaguely avian, and yet alien at the same time. She held it for a moment before Felicity meowed and swatted her hand causing her to drop it.

I'm sorry darling, but I believe I told you not to touch it, The feline said firmly. For the moment she ignored the mute's questions before she saw Anita moving on. Finally she let out a mental sigh as she strained herself for the first time in awhile; talking to all the people in the room, including the newcomer who she could only assume was part of the family from his insistence on calling Sei Uncle.

I suppose I should introduce myself, though some of you already figured it out… The cat said looking pointedly at Sei. My name is Felicity Orlouge, the young woman on the bed is Aislinn Orlouge, and we're the twin daughters of Succed Orlouge. Though I'm certain my dear father is still loathe to admit that last part.

It was at this point Felicity gently nuzzled her sister's chin worriedly before she sat down on the mystic's chest. A soft meow crossing the cats lips before she continued, I still don't know everything that happened that day, and even Aislinn barely understands the what, even if she can't fathom the how or the why. When we were both ten, we came of age, and made our first decision as adults. The choice of magic we would be infused with was difficult, but we had decided upon the Trial of Shadows, unlike our evocationist father. While not particularly pleased with the decision, he did not question our choice. We arrived in Chateau Dranak within a week, and from there we rested only a night. We would take the trial fresh, and I was the first to go, being the eldest of us.

The cat seemed to fidget, pawing and kneading the bed next to her sister in an attempt to avoid talking about the topic before she spoke, I had passed the first trial when they attacked. Several shadowy forms had rushed me and I couldn't understand what was going on. I had thought it was a test, but apparently, what I went through was not even a trial. They seemed to tear and rip at me, and when I passed out from the pain, I awoke like this… The explanation was quick, seemingly hurried, but no less accurate. Once again her paws kneaded the bedding beside her sister.

I was afraid; scared of what had happened, and the instincts and information I got overwhelmed me. I hid for what seemed like forever. I heard the screams, the cries of others looking for me, only those who had passed the trials went all the way, but there are spots, places small enough for me to hide, and hide I did. I think I passed out from fatigue when my father looked for me, or he would have been the first to find me. I think it was my inability to stay awake that ruined any credibility Aislinn had when she did find me. Seeing me in this state she immediately thought of my safety and well being, and brought me out to get fixed.

Father was angry at Aislinn, even though she recognized me instantly, no one else did. They yelled at her, calling her a liar. They said she didn't have the courage to go through the trial. They called her many names, and Aislinn was already so scared by what had happened to me. They demanded I do something to prove her claim, and I had only just become a cat. Even though I retained my mind, my powers had been sealed away by whatever those shadows had done to me. When they asked her to take the light trials, she did the only thing she could think of, she refused. I have never seen father so angry…

The cat looked mournfully at her sister before she lowered her head, continuing the tale, We were exiled, and Aislinn took the brunt of their anger. When we left Chateau Dranak, my sister promised me that I would never be left unprotected again. Since that day she has done everything for me, from going without, to performing all kinds of menial work to gain access to any book she could find. She learned Witchcraft quickly, seeming to master it overnight when she found it could affect the forces binding me to this form.

It's because of her my telepathy and the ability to call upon my blood function at all. However, much like light is opposed to darkness, the shamanistic magic she wields is anathema to the hermetic practices. I'm not even sure if her hatred of structured magic is hers, or the result of her powers and the inability to wield such magic. Much like some Light Mystics shunning shadow magic entirely, Felicity finished her tale before she gently nudged Aislinn, forcing her head to the other side and showing the fetish she had scolded Anita from removing.

That trinket was formed using some of the residual magic found on me from my transformation. The first few months we traveled, Aislinn and I had to hide in the light, the shadows seemed to claw and scratch at her. One night she awoke with bruises on her neck, and nearly killed the man kind enough to let us use his bed because she thought he was trying to kill her. It wasn't till later she came up with the theory of the shadow beings that had forced me into this form, attempting to do the same to her. That charm is the only known way for her to rest and sleep at night, because the shadows would kill her otherwise.

With that Felicity seemed to straighten up. It had been a rough time for her, but she shook her head, firming her resolve before she spoke up, Aislinn is going to be angry when she wakes up, but only at me. So long as that trinket isn't disturbed, that will remain so. I can help you a little with the herbs in her pack, as I often watch her when bored and see her treat small injuries for a few copper here and there. But, she has become only embittered by the abandonment she faced when trying to help family. Aislinn feels that since the family turned its back on me and threw her out for trying to help me, that she would do the same. I fear some days that my little sister died on the road, and merely hasn't bled out from the wounds to her heart.

Felicity looked up at the mystic, grateful for the silence that reigned in the bizarre tale before she said privately, Uncle, I fear that if this keeps up, Aislinn won't recover ever from her obsession. Each day I see another bit of happiness die in her, because of that promise she made to me long ago. She forsakes everything for me; it's why she's so ill kept. She is obsessing over getting me back to human form, and it will be the death of her someday. I fear she may make a deal in her practices to cure me, only to damn herself if she gets desperate enough.

She knew this next part would be hard to ask, but did so anyways, Uncle Sei, you gotta tell her to stop. I went along with it at first because I was scared and she was the only one capable of taking care of me, but I don't care if I ever get back my old form. I'm grateful for what she has done for me, but I won't let her sacrifice her life to rescue me!

[Silence Sei]

Sei had noticed Rehtul as he rushed through the tomb with Aislinn in his arms. Felicity had explained the whole situation as Anita had began to bandage the girl up. Sei had grabbed a wet washcloth and was gently dabbing the forehead of his niece with it while Felicity talked. She told the group her entire story, which Sei broadcasted to everybody in the room. Once Felicity begged the telepath to convince Aislinn to stop, the mute nodded.

"I will talk to Aislinn. I will ask her to at least pace herself in your recovery, Felicity. I vow to you this, however, I won't rest myself until you are back to your normal self, and I uncover the mystery behind the Shadow trials." The Shadow Trails had been such an innocent thing just a few years ago. Mystic would go in, learn shadow magic, and come out unscathed, and not controlled. Furthermore, Kyla had just taken both the Shadow and Light Trials. Sei even went so far as to go through the Shadow Trials with Kyla, without ever learning shadow magic.

Those were extenuating circumstances, but neither Sei nor Kyla noticed mysterious figures trying to capture them. Sei thought this may be because the trials taken were so impromptu that nobody had a chance to amass the cult, or that they feared the backlash from Radasanth and Alerar should Sei Orlouge or his 'daughters' go missing. It would explain why Felicity was captured, they knew she was coming, and it would be years, if not an eternity, to figure out that the shadow colored feline was Succeds daughter.

Sei looked to Aislinn with concerned eyes and patted her forehead once more. His gaze shifted to Rehtul, who had followed them into Anita's bed chambers. "Good to see you again, Rehtul. I suppose you're probably wondering what's going on. Well, this cat and this girl are your twin sisters, Felicity and Aislinn, respectively. They were exiled before you probably had any memories of them. I always thought it was because Felicity had disappeared and Aislinn just failed the Shadow Trials, but now..."

It was then that Sei realized something. Rehtul was at least seven years younger than the girls. He would have been three during their exile. That would mean that if these culprits had been expecting him, they might have attempted to capture him as well. This lead Sei to only two conclusions. Either Rehtul Orlouge never saw the cloaked men, or they convinced him that their purpose was just. Sei stood up after handing Anita the wash cloth. Was Rehtul Orlouge a spy? Sei had to find out.

"Rehtul, I know I don't typically ask this, especially of family, but right now I have to hold my cards close to my chest. I need to know if you've seen these men that Felicity was talking about. I'm afraid I can not take your word for it either. I would like to read your mind, scan your head for any recollection of such events. If that is okay, of course?" Rehtul was a smart lad. He would know that denying Sei entry into his mind would mean that he would no longer be welcome in the tomb. Sei couldn't risk compromises, especially if they were his trusted family members. Sei hated to read other people's minds, it made it harder to determine which memories belonged to him and which were someone else’s. There was no time and no choice at the moment, though.

The group stood in silence awaiting Rehtul's reply.

[Rehtul Orlouge]

We fear that which we do not understand, but a true master of the arts of magic must never balk from the unknown… This was indeed something unknown and alien. Remembering the lesson instilled in him by his father, Rehtul refused to balk from his uncle’s mysterious power of telepathy. He felt his hands trembling as he gripped the table behind him. He looked into Sei’s eyes, using every method his father had taught him to control his emotions, and nodded once. He watched slowly as his uncle’s face took on the appearance of intense concentration. Then, the memories came, aided by the older Orlouge’s telepathic abilities.

The day his father had first deigned to teach him elemantalism as a pursuit, the first ice-based spell he’d ever learned, the day of his Light Trials; each of these appeared in his mind’s eye one after another. He could feel each memory as if they had just happened. Then, suddenly, the memories stopped coming, and all of the telepathic abilities of his uncle focused on a single day, the day of Rehtul’s Light Trials.

The young elementalist had quickly mastered each of the areas in succession, without so much as a single mistake, from the months of study he’d gone through while living with his grandparents. It wasn’t without many days of deep, intensive study that he’d managed to hones his skills to the level they were at. He watched as his memory was nitpicked for any sign of the robed men that his older sister (I have older twin sisters?) had spoken of earlier. Nights, days, years passed in his mind, and not a hint of these beings appeared within his mind. He sighed and shook his head. If these things had ever appeared to him, he did not remember them.

The sheer fact of the matter was that these creatures had appeared during the Shadow Trials, something that Rehtul would never have considered taking. He was unsure what they were, but he couldn’t help but feel that there was something missing from this puzzle. He struggled to think about it while his mind was being gone over, but it just seemed to be a waste. In all of the books he’d ever read as a child, nothing like this had ever come up. He looked at Sei and shrugged. There really was nothing he could remember about entities like these. Nothing in his limited, somewhat sheltered experience came close to even resembling them. He’d seen a few people wearing black cloaks before, but never a group of them at once.

He felt the telepathic connection weaken, and he looked at the bed. “Sisters… I have sisters. Father never spoke of them to me before.” His eyes surveyed the cat and the girl on the bed. It was obvious that there was something hauntingly familiar about them, especially about the one who retained her human form. He shook his head. He had been too young to clearly remember them, but he did remember once seeing a pair of young girls, rather fuzzily, one with stark red hair and the other with a more subdued black. He didn’t think much of it at the time, because he was young, but those two could have been his sisters.

He wondered why his father never spoke of them, and then shook his head. Succed Orlouge was never a man to share deep stories, especially ones that hinted at trouble within his own family life. His emotions were so well hidden sometimes that he could be confused for a machine. Rehtul looked from sister to sister and smiled slightly. If there was one thing the Orlouge family had in common, it was the strange characteristics each shared. He’d inherited the strange hair color, his own hair being white with blue tips.

He felt something within himself stirring, like a memory long forgotten. He found a nearby chair and sat down, never taking his eyes off of the twins. His voice seemed oddly detached from his emotions as he said, “I do wonder why he’d never tell me I had a pair of older sisters, twins no less.” His scholarly façade was one of the ways he shielded his emotions, even in front of his family. He wasn’t as good at it as his father was, but he still had one hell of a poker face.

[TwinCast]

If he did take the light trials Uncle, he would not know of these things. If I were to call them men, it would only be because they took the rough shape. Sis would know more about them, though I'm hesitant to wake her. She needs rest now more than anything… Felicity offered up to her psionic uncle. She looked worriedly down at her sister and shook her head.

"If I need rest so badly, why in the infinite layers of the abyss are you yelling in my head?" The words were soft, loud enough to be heard in the room, but obviously weak, lacking the strength and conviction one could swear they bore as a trademark. A hand gently lifted up from the bed before it rested upon the forehead of hits owner. Red strands of hair stained purple in places from her drying blood was brushed aside, even as a soft wince of pain could be heard through the room. "Might I add dear sister, this is not the apothecary."

Felicity seemed to shrink away from her sister, looking at their mutual uncle for strength before she said firmly, I got you the help you needed, rather than wanted. I didn't wish to see you end up dead sis.

"Any reason, aside from the obvious lack of confidence in my abilities, that you ran directly to the person I told you specifically to avoid?"

The room rang silent at those words. One could swear the temperature had dropped in their wake. Felicity sighed before she spoke sternly, Think of this as me pulling a big sister stunt. You needed help Aislinn, you can tell yourself a million times over you could have handled it, but were it not for Uncle Sei and our cousin, you would not be here. I would be burying you, and I would be alone.

The figure on the bed remained silent; though the silence was so thick one would have to cut through it to be heard. It seemed that she was considering, and reconsidering options, even as she suppressed the pain she was feeling. Finally she spoke softly, "Thank you Uncle. Even if I did not ask for your help, thank you for lending it."

It was a step in the right direction. Felicity nestled close to her sister before she spoke softly, I don't think we've all been properly introduced, though I doubt now is the time for such things. Perhaps we should adjourn for today, give me and my sister time to talk.

"You mean time to argue," Aislinn replied smartly before she tried to sit up. Immediately Felicity was sitting upon her chest, attempting to force the girl back down. Aislinn looked into the eyes of her twin sister as the two seemed to begin a battle of wills. A battle already in the cat's favor, as Aislinn was suffering from a large headache. She could feel a broken bone in her right arm, and further, her ribs still screamed a silent song of agony through her veins. She relaxed under the cat finally admitting defeat to her injuries, at least for today.

Rest sister, pushing yourself does no good today. Falicity encouraged before she looked upon the others, Please, she'll need time. I would recommend only Uncle stay if someone must…

[Silence Sei]

Sei looked to his daughter once Felicity and Aislinn finished. Anita nodded her respects to the two and shooed everybody out of the room, closing the door behind her. Sei looked to the girls with a smile as he approached them. Rehtul's mind was completely clear, and Felicity had confirmed that it would be. Sei still did not want to take the small chance of his nephew working for shady dealers. Sei pulled a wooden chair up beside the girls and sat, eyeing the both of them. To say they had changed was a severe understatement.

"Witchcraft, huh?" Sei asked Aislinn when his gaze fell upon her. Sei could sense the perverse use of magic miles before he ever intercepted Aislinn's body. Most spell casters would be ashamed of their kin for being weak and resorting to such ways for their power. Sei, however, knew that power came at a cost, and if Aislinn's cost and power was a bit different than somebody else's, Sei wasn't going to scold her for it. Chances were that the girl did it in an attempt to save her sister, after all.

"You're becoming strong, Aislinn. Given that you radiate your own power, I'd say you'd outdo your father rather soon. Though I gathered you two don't care to ever see that man again." Sei sighed, knowing he was no expert at reconciling broken families. Perhaps his words of encouragement to his relative would help her get better quickly though.

"As for you, Felicity," Sei spoke with his gaze now locked on the cat, "you should not have gone against your sisters wishes, even if it did save her life. If she wanted to see me she would have, in time. I don't completely blame you for the situation, as running into me was just happenstance, but you were told to go to the apothecary, and I have confidence enough in Aislinn's abilities that that would have been all she needed."

Sei was a terrible liar. In truth, he was grateful to the mystic-turned-cat, for he knew Aislinn probably never would have visited him on her own accord. He still had to scold the kitty girl for disobeying a direct order from the one person who had protected her this entire time. "Now that that has been taken care of, let's talk about living arrangements..."

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Anita eyed her cousin up and down. She had met Rehtul a couple of times in the past, but this was the first time it was more than just in passing. "I see you're doing well," she said in an awkward voice. In truth, the girl was horrible at making small talk. She didn't even know where she should start. There was really nothing to say to the cousin that was a practical stranger all of her life except...

"So...I passed the light trials. So I got that going for me."

[Rehtul Orlouge]

Rehtul wasn’t at all surprised he’d been rushed out of the room. He watched with fleeting interest as the door shut behind him. Anita was indeed a very bad conversationalist, but her cousin was hardly any better. He sat down in the hallway, the smell of burning wax from the candles assaulting his sense of smell. He looked Anita up and down. It was true that they had run into each other from time to time, but they’d never seemed to actually have the time to sit down and talk. When she mentioned the Light Trials, the young man smiled and held up his hand, balancing a small sphere of light on the tip of his index finger. “You too, huh?”

He flexed his finger and the ball disappeared. In the time since he’d last seen his uncle, he’d learned a lot. Albeit, he was currently studying Ice Magic a lot more than he was the magic he’d been granted by the Light Trials, but that just meant that he’d have to work harder on the Light spells eventually to catch up on what he was missing.

“Wait a minute…” Something didn’t seem right, though. Anita was Sei’s daughter, true, but last Rehtul had heard, she didn’t have a drop of Mystic blood in her veins. He looked at her a little more closely, his blue eyes searching hers. She didn’t so much as flinch under his gaze. Living with a telepath was certain to do make it much easier to deal with people who look like they’re trying to read your mind. “If you took the Light Trials, that means that something’s changed.”

He relaxed his gaze and put his hand lightly on his cousin’s shoulder. “You have Mystic blood in your veins now, eh?” When Anita nodded, he shook his head. “No need to tell me who you got it from. I have a good idea, already.”

“That’s a relief.” his cousin said sarcastically.

“Sarcasm… ah, such a wonderful sound.” he said, his own penchant for sarcasm settling in. “Anyway, sorry if I seemed too forward. My curiosity got the better of me.” He looked at her, his blue eyes nothing short of sincere in his words. He looked up at the wall outside of the room. A large painting hung from the wall there, depicting a place that the young Mystic had seen on his stroll through Radasanth. This cave, despite appearing so barren on first glance, was actually quite a nice place.

“I came for a visit, found two relatives, my sisters no less, that I had no idea existed.” Still, something seemed a bit off. His mind was still wrestling with something in the background, a problem he knew existed, but he couldn’t pinpoint. “Something strange is going on here in Corone. I’m not certain exactly what it is, but it’s been nagging at me ever since I left Chateau Orlouge.”

Anita looked at him for a moment with an expression he could not read and asked, “What do you mean?”

“I mean that something really… interesting is going to happen soon. I’m not sure what, I’m not a psychic, but I do know one thing. Whatever happens, I’ll stand by you guys.” He smiled slightly and took out the book his father gave him when he passed the Light Trials, Elemental Ice. He ran his fingers down the white leather binding of the book, almost as if he was caressing it, before he flipped it open to a dog-eared page he’d marked for reading the night before. “I’m not much of a fighter, but I’ll use the skills I do have to help.”

His eyes scanned the page before him as he spoke, devouring the words held within. He noted places that required ritualistic items and listed them in his head as inefficient for most practical applications. He turned the page.

[TwinCast]

"There is not much to talk about. I shall heal, and when I get better I shall of course move on after paying you back for your kindness," Aislinn's reply was stiff, even as she looked over at her sister. She tried to raise her right arm before she hissed softly in pain and gave up the endeavor. Obviously the girl was going to be around for quite some time. Her injuries would not allow her to be able to travel far, even with the possibility of her ribs being only bruised and not truly broken. Lying on the bed she looked at Felicity before she said, "I will probably need willow bark, do we have any left?"

Felicity was merely staring at Aislinn as if her sister had grown two more heads. The casualness that Aislinn had just pushed away Sei's kindness was not only appalling, but obscenely rude as well. For all the grace and civility she purported, the girl was quite inept in any social situation. The bluntness of which she spoke only compounded the difficulty of approaching Aislinn on the subject. For all her supposed ability to get along with people, really it amounted to her telling people off till they went away.

The fact that she was doing so to her savior had Felicity in awe at her sisters inability to function in even the most basic of conversations. The fact she had thanked her uncle at all was a miracle. Felicity had believed for a moment that Aislinn would have seen the situation and helped out, even the briefest of glances had shown Felicity that something big was going on in these catacombs. Aislinn was being a downright bitch, and the cat was ashamed of her sister for the first time in awhile.

Aislinn, at times it's a wonder how you can sound so smart, and act so dumb, Felicity began before she hissed at her sister. Uncle Sei just saved your life and just like that you're going to blow it off? Really? Have you given into the craft that much that the winds took your civility along with your ability to process the situation?

Aislinn was about to open her mouth before Felicity spoke sternly, I may not act it at times, but I am your older sister Aislinn. It's time for you to shut up and do what's best for the both of us instead of just me! We're staying here until you fully recover, and aren't the emaciated stick you have been parading around as because you'd rather feed me than get basic nourishment for yourself!

Aislinn looked down at her sister dumbfounded for a second before she realized she could finally start talking. Her mouth opened, before it closed again. She continued this process a few more times before she finally found her voice, "Well, apparently my sister wishes to stay longer…I…I…I suppose I will have to work out an arrangement with you for room and board…"

Felicity sat back on her haunches purring softly as she looked upon her sister before she turned to Sei, She's an excellent medic, came from learning how to take care of herself with all the fights she gets into for her big mouth-

"I beg your pardon! I did not start a single one of those-"

My point exactly, you don't even realize what your mouth does. While she has the bedside manner of a troll, she is a capable apothecary and healer, given time I'm sure she could do good work for you, Felicity said before she looked over at Sei. Aislinn looked between the two before she said softly;

"Well, it appears this conversation is between you two. My part in this is done apparently."

[Silence Sei]

"Of course you're both welcomed to stay here. Felicity will receive her very own human sized bed if she wishes. You are welcome to anything in the kitchen that you wish. A few days ago we incorporated a soup chef into our ranks. He usually tells people that they don't deserve his soup, but if you can get your hands on a bowl, it is to die for." Sei smiled, attempting so hard to bring down the walls Aislinn had put up for herself. The girl should have been able to trust him more than anyone else in her family, save Felicity. He was never about the 'Family Name' stuff, just the 'Family'.

"I would hope that you would try and get better acquainted with your brother while you're staying here. We are in desperate need of a healer, and from what I've gathered you are full capable of leading our medical unit. Select any empty room you wish to set up both your bedroom and your station, Aislinn, and I shall have my people move the stuff in. You shall not be without anything you need, just ask me." Sei looked to Felicity for the 'true reaction' Aislinn would have.

The cat seemed excited that Sei was spoiling not only herself, but her sister so much. The mute smiled back to the kitty before looking back up at Aislinn. Without saying anything else, the telepath offered his hand to his relative. Perhaps shaking the hand of the new leader of the Ixian Knights Medical Team would be more professional, and thus more acceptable in Aislinn's eyes. Not only was she going to be treated to any medicinal supplies she needed, but the girl would also be treated to several books on witchcraft and its practices. Aislinn and Sei were definitely getting something good out of the deal from one another.

"Seriously though, Aislinn. Get to know your brother. It wasn't -his- fault you girls were exiled." Sei didn't know whether or not Aislinn would take his advice. The girl seemed to grow more stubborn with age since the last time the mute had seen her.

Oh well, they could work on her tact and social skills later...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Anita, meanwhile, was having a blast with Rehtul. She was constantly throwing her light balls at the mystic, who would constantly dissipitate them before they made contact. Annoying the boy was going to brighten the girl's day now that he had pledged himself to the group. Anita had always teased Rehtul when the family did gather, despite the fact that he was two years older than her. Now, she had access to one of the most powerful magics in the world.

"Catch!" Anita shouted, the girl's words distracting Rehtul from his book as he peered up to look directly at the light ball heading for his face.

[Rehtul Orlouge]

Rehtul’s reading wasn’t being interrupted at all by his younger cousin’s antics, but it was slightly annoying, he had to admit. She always had enjoyed teasing him while they were growing up together. When she threw the ball of light directly at his face, he snapped the book closed and lifted his right hand and caught the ball. His eyes twinkled with amusement as he tossed the ball up and down in his hand, watching as Anita waited for him to do something. She knew as well as he did that he was thinking about what he wanted to do. He squeezed the ball in his hand, and it began to shrink in his hand and glow more brightly the further he compressed the light.

The ball left his hand with a deft flick of his wrist, flying quickly toward his cousin’s face. When it made it to her, it paused in midair. She smiled slightly and lifted her finger. When her finger made contact with the ball of light, it exploded with a blinding light. The older mystic blinked and rubbed his eyes. “You’re definitely more skilled than I am, Anita.” He said. Once his eyes refocused, he smiled at her and opened his book back to the last page he’d been reading. “So, what do I have to do to help you guys out?”

Anita looked at him quizzically and said, “Why don’t you ask Father? He’s the one in charge. Even though I’m his second-in-command, no one gives me the respect I deserve.” The note of resentment and frustration in her voice was obvious, and Rehtul nodded with her words.

“Well, Uncle Sei is busy, and you seem to know what’s going on more than anyone else here, so… Tell me, will you accept my help, as Sei’s second-in-command?” Anita smiled and nodded, apparently warming up slightly to her older cousin. He offered her his hand, and she shook it. The agreement was made. “Now, what trap did I just manage to get myself into?”

Anita giggled at him and poked his arm. “You are now a member of the Ixian Knights. Congratulations. We’ll find something for you to do once Father’s done with Aislinn and Felicity.”

Rehtul smiled and went back to his book, researching more about the elemental power of ice that he was in command of. He would eventually outstrip his father. He would become one of the world’s foremost researchers of elementalism. He could feel his cousin’s eyes upon him. He knew she was contemplating a new way to annoy him while the others were busy in the bedroom. He would be prepared for the annoyances, but he would take them all with good humor.

He kept reading as she contemplated her newest tactic, and he knew that in this dysfunctional family, things would never, ever be boring. He would always have something to occupy his attention besides his research. He chuckled under his breath as he thought about working with them. Things were going to get even more interesting as time passed. He could already tell.

[TwinCast]

Aislinn looked upon the proffered hand for a moment. She seemed to be contemplating her answers, even as she looked to her sister. Felicity was never one to hide her emotions, and the anxious way her tail swished across the bed revealed everything on her mind. Looking back at Sei she raised an eyebrow before she spoke sternly, "If I am to be trusted with the lives of your people, I will not tolerate any interference. If it is for the good of a patient's livelihood I do not care if it is you or the High King of Alerar himself, I will not allow you to second guess my judgment."

She then looked upon Felicity before she said, "As for Felicity's sleeping arrangements, I trust her to be adult about it, and not be too lavish. If she wishes her own privacy and room, so be it. When I am better I will wander about and look for a suitably sized room. I shall need one large, perhaps with more than one side room for my quarters and potential stockrooms for supplies. If I am to be in charge of your fledgling healers, I shall require my living space to be close to work, especially once I am well enough to begin work. One dozen people should be more than enough to begin a cadre, though as your ranks swell, so too shall I need more workers. For now, this will be enough to get us begun."

She then faltered softly, looking down for a moment, as the subject of her brother and father were brought up. When she looked up her voice was soft, lacking much of the professional punch it once held, "I will not begrudge a sibling their time with me. I will warn you dear Uncle that I am not a pleasant person. While I do not begrudge my brother his time, if Father arrives, I will not hesitate to toss him out of these tombs myself."

Felicity moved close to Aislinn before she rubbed against the girl's face gently, Sis, you gotta forgive him, he didn't know!

"He also did not deem fit to find out! How simple would it have been to test? Instead they preformed a mockery of a test and threw us out as refuse! I refuse to greet any man who would do that to his own flesh and blood as my 'father'!" Aislinn said sitting up abruptly. A moan of pain escaped her lips before a hand went to her forehead. She remained like that, her face in a perpetual wince, realizing just how badly off she was. She remained in that position for what felt like ages, the pain overwhelming her to the point she could not even speak. Feeling Sei's hands upon her, helping her gently back she relaxed the tense muscles, wracked with pain before she said softly, "I apologize, that outburst was unbecoming of me."

Sis… Felicity said meowing pitifully. She nuzzled underneath Aislinn's chin before she moved off the bed heading for the door.

"I need rest unfortunately. I have much to heal, and I suppose little time to do so if you are in such dire need of a Healer. Forgive me for not shaking your hand Uncle, but consider my word my bond. I shall take up your task, and I shall endeavor to get the infirmary up and running by summer's end," Aislinn said softly. She seemed to relax on the bed looking up at the ceiling, counting the stalactites, in an effort to find some means of rest.

Part of her wondered just what she had gotten herself into…

[Duffy]

Hour of Destiny Judgement

You have asked for a condensed judgement with a slight focus on the character section, so I’ve addled my mind with that focussed. If you have any questions following the judgement, please don’t hesitate to ask me via PM or contact me on AIM or MSN, whichever is convenient.

Story (19/30)

Continuity – 6

Setting – 6 Rehtul’s work pulled the stock descriptions and meandering lack-lustre descriptions from average to talented.

Pacing – 7 Good strong tempo and reaction to each character’s dialogue kept the pacing set to the speed of a brisk summer walk, nicely done.

Character (16/30)

Persona – 6 Little to critique here, the interaction and family bonds between characters was well portrayed. Aislinn’s person was a little lost behind the meek ‘innocence’ she displays, and although she’s a new character, perhaps it might be pertinent to display a more personal and secluded side to her, when she’s not in the bright lights and majesty of the Great Sei Orlougne. A name is a powerful writing tool to describe a rise, and equally, to equate to a fall.

Action – 5

Dialogue – 5 The most glaring fault with your characters, is that they talk less like citizens of Althanas, and more like Jenny From the Block (yes, I went there). Whilst it’s hard to demand historical high brow dialogue from everyone, bear in mind the inflections and mannerisms in speech. It is clear that Sei and to some extent Twincast is writing as they would speak themselves, or as if the characters were dredged directly from a modern soap opera. Speak commonly and plainly with bouncy slang, sure, but try to distinguish your writer’s voice from that of the character.

Writing (19/30)

Technique – 6 Good dynamic techniques that kept the writing and persona together in the thread. Nice play on cat and ice too. The simplest things always work the best.

Mechanics – 5 I appear to be cracking down on non-dialogue elision in fiction at the minute, and Rehtul is the glaring culprit in that regard, such as the opening lines of post 14.

Clarity – 8

Wild Card (6/10)

I might, just might be taking a shining to the Orlougnes…but as a real person, you’ll get no love from IC Duffy :p

Total Score = (60/100)


Spoils:

A Tie That Binds: Once per thread, your character may increase their speed or strength of a spell or ability if it is used to save or protect another character with the surname Orlougne. Cannot be used in battles, and requires permission with non-Orlougne PC's.

Experience & Gold:

Silence Sei receives 1813 experience and 360 gold.

Rehtul Orlougne receives 404 experience and 360 gold.

Twin Cast receives 404 experience and 360 gold.

[Silence Sei]

gp-exp added.