Perspective of Fate (Solo)

[orphans]

This Quest takes place after the Serenti and right before Price of Passage (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?23356).
A full week passed since Azza’s elimination from the Serenti Invitational, a competition between fierce warriors from all walks of life. A competition that Azza had no place in and been entered on the whim of someone with far too much pull on events. It was a fact that she was painfully aware after her conversation with Miles, one of the Ai’Brone monks that tended her. But if that was the case, why was she let go so easily? Could there have been another reason why she was thrown into the competition?

Draping her right arm over her eyes, Azza sank a little deeper within her bed in an effort to block out her thoughts. Try as she might, she couldn’t with her mind as the only real companion she had at the moment. The use of a false name, Sophia, had done little to disguise her real identity and earned her a long sentence of grounding. Somehow in her heart, she knew it was a stupid way. She was perhaps one of the more identifiable individuals within the Ixian Knights just by looks alone.

Picking up her right arm, Azza looked to it feeling more and more tired as she stared. Only a week ago, the very same arm had been severed by her opponent. A woman named Rosalyn de Havlan, if she recalled correctly. A somber smile fluttered across her lips half wondering if that was a false name as well.

A sigh passed from Azza as she thought back to the name she had used - Sophia. By all rights, it wasn’t necessarily a “false” name. In fact, it was a name that she had used when a man named Marcus first trained her. The name Sophia had been hers for nearly eight years during her early childhood.

In fact, it was given to her by the orphanage keeper in Underwood, Holly Ciders, a strong woman who had always shown much more care towards her than any of the other children in her charge. It was a fact that Azza had never pondered upon until recently, and fortunately never taken advantage of.

Now, left alone in her room to contemplate the events that has transpired, Azza felt a sense of helplessness she had never felt before. Yet, it all felt so familiar. As if she was a leaf caught in a maelstrom with no way to change the direction and flow of situations. Even the very act of naming herself when she turned eight year old couldn’t have been a random twist of fate. Azza had been a name she chose for herself.

But why?

Why had she chosen that name for herself? Vague memories of a time long since passed reassured her that her name had always been Azza. But where did these memories come from? Were these her own memories? She wasn’t human, Azza knew this much, but what was she then?

A question she had asked herself many times while alone and never had an answer to.

Could it be why she was slowly slipping away from the certainty of the reality around herself? Was she really the only one of her kind here on Althanas? After all, no one could say what she was for certain.

[orphans]

Two knocks on the heavy oaken door jostled Azza out of her thoughts. “Hey Azza? Can I come in?” A short moment passed before Azza could place the voice – Tobias. Tobias was as eccentric as they came and a kleptomaniac to boot. More often than not, the elf would be Azza’s caretaker when her adoptive parents were away.

“Sure. The door's unlocked.” The words nearly dribbled from Azza’s mouth as she rolled over to stare into her pillow.

The door slid open just enough for the lithe elf to slip in and then closed again with nary a sound. With a quick glance around the room, Tobias finally settled her eyes on Azza’s small frame and frowned. Not that the growing teenager could see her frown, but it was troubling Tobias that the usually buoyant Azza was anything but. “Hey, what’s wrong kiddo?” she asked as she took a seat at the edge of the bed.

Tilting her face enough so that one of her maroon eyes could play over Tobias’s features, Azza shrugged as best she could. “Lying on my wings too long makes them ache.” It wasn’t a lie, but it obviously wasn’t what was bothering the girl.

This much Tobias knew. Along with this knowledge, Tobias also knew when to let a person be. “Well, what do you say to ditching this stuffy place heading out for a bit? Sunny outside.”

“No thanks… I’m supposed to stay inside since I’m grounded.”

Tobias frowned and hummed in light thought. “Think of it as an adventure then. Wouldn’t it be more fun trying to not get caught?” With a mischievous glint, Tobias tickled at Azza’s side lightly.

The girl gave the reaction the elf wanted, giggling and squirming in an attempt to slither away. “N-no fair! You’re supposed to warn me!”

Stopping her hands, Tobias leapt off the plush bed and stretched heartily. “What do you say?”

It took a moment for Azza to right herself on the bed, looking more disheveled than before. “You know I stand out worse than a sore thumb,” Azza said quickly as she waved to her long locks of white hair. Her hand stopped in mid motion as it tangled within a few locks, forcing her to spend a moment to loosen the strands.

“We could always wrap you up with a hood and cloak.”

“Wouldn’t I look even more suspicious?”

“Hrm… good point.” The air of enthusiasm deflated slowly from Tobias as she sat down on the bed with Azza again. “You know that Jensen's grounding you because he doesn’t know how else to handle it, right?”

Azza nodded solemnly.

A light chuckle and an affectionate hand tousled Azza’s messy hair some more. “You’re a good kid though, sticking to your word of… sitting and doing nothing. Much better than I was.”

Azza smiled weakly and leaned herself against Tobias. “I feel bad making so much trouble for everyone. Especially when everyone here is giving me so much more than what I deserve.”

“Hey now, don’t think like that. You deserve plenty.” Holding Azza by her shoulders, Tobias stared at the girl as if trying to get a new perspective. “Mmm, well, if you aren’t going to go outside… are you feeling hungry?”

Azza thought for a moment and then shook her head. “No...” Truth was she never felt hunger anymore. That wasn’t to say she didn’t want to eat during mealtimes, but her appetite had dropped dramatically and sometimes she opted to skip a proper serving of food for a piece of fruit.

“Are you sure?” Tobias pressed. “You’re a growing girl you know? If you don’t eat, you won’t get bigger.”

“Wouldn't that be a good thing?”

Tobias made to respond, froze, thought about it and then smiled brightly. “I suppose being small has its advantages.” Getting up, Tobias strode for the door slowly. “But seriously Azza, if you need to talk, you know that you can tell me anything right? Even things that you don’t want to tell your dad.”

The offer allowed Azza to smile faintly again as she nodded her head. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Sounds good. Laters then!”

“… wait.”

Tobias froze in the door way as she leaned back into the room. “What’s up?”

“Thanks.”

“Hey, it’s what I’m here for right?” Azza nodded her head once more and that was good enough to ease Tobias’s mind.

[orphans]

Left alone again Azza returned to her thoughts, no matter how unpleasant.

Truth was, Azza felt lost ever since her adoptive mother had died. She had been helpless to do anything to save her…

Truth was Azza had followed the advice of a mysterious seer because she yearned to find herself. She had been offered a “destiny” at the Citadel…

Truth was Azza was surrounded by those that cared for her…

Cherished her…

Loved her, even.

Yet, inside she felt hollow. It was a strange feeling: one that Azza felt was unusual for a girl of only fourteen. If forced to describe it? Azza could only say that her heart felt… old and tired. She knew it wasn’t true though, but it felt that way.

Flopping back onto the bed again, her mind turned slowly to her adoptive parents Stephanie and Jensen. At first glance, the two would have seemed to be a mismatched pair – and they were – but somehow, the small budding family of three worked and was happy. Now that the family had dwindled down to two, that happiness was replaced by an awkward melancholy.

After the initial crying and mourning, Azza coped by withdrawing herself in almost complete solitude.

Her father on the other hand? Azza wasn’t sure how her father dealt with his sorrow, but he always managed a smile for her.

Guilt peppered Azza conscience from time to time, urging her to seek her father to comfort him or at least share in the misery. However, she couldn’t. Part of her didn’t believe that her mother was really gone. It also didn't help that everyone skirted around the subject when Azza was around, almost as if Stephanie had never existed...

It was the same way Tobias had just done. Azza knew the roguish elf didn’t mean harm by it, but it disturbed her. Were they deliberately making an effort not to remind Azza that her adoptive mother was now gone?

A few stray tears rolled out of the corner of Azza’s eyes, and by reflex, the girl wiped them away quickly with the sleeve of her right arm.

Staring up at the ceiling, her thoughts rolled towards the Serenti: a tournament where the fiercest in Althanas competed. It had been such a bizarre set of circumstances that lead her there. First, an Akashiman witch told her that destiny waited at the Citadel. When Azza arrived, she was prepped for the semi-finals of the Serenti and forced to face an opponent that seemed to be several eons more experienced than her. After she was defeated, she had been healed by someone who even surpassed the Ai’Brone monks' legendary skill of restoration arts that could stave off death.

Azza’s eyes closed as she thought of the consequences of her stupid actions. She had known that if she sustained any serious injuries the Ai’Brone wouldn’t be able to heal her. Azza had learned that when Marcus, her impromptu combat instructor, taught her in the Citadel.

She should have just run.

No one would have blamed her, would they? Even whoever was powerful enough to pull strings to get her into the Serenti would have seen it was all a mistake, wouldn’t they? To stand and fight had been a foolish decision especially after how recent the death of her mother was.

And so, it came to no surprise that when Azza finally returned, Jensen had grounded her in Stephanie’s stead. There was no real heart in her father’s command, but Azza followed it anyways. It was the only thing she knew how to do.

Snapping her eyes open, Azza sat up quickly at that reflection.

Following orders was the only thing she knew how to do...

[orphans]

A sickly feeling crawled up her throat at the awareness of such a glaring flaw. Yet, was it truly as she understood it to be? Anger began to well up slowly, making the small girl clench her fists tight enough to whiten her knuckles. Was this her purpose? To obediently obey the orders of those that she considered important to her? If that was true... just who was supposed to be giving the commands? Was she left at the orphanage to wait for someone else?

Anger turned into nervousness as she ran a hand through her hair and tucked the strands behind her horns. It almost seemed ludicrous that someone would leave her at an orphanage, only to return at a later date. Why not just keep her with them? Was Jensen's intervention mere coincidence? What if he was part of the plot?

Guilt stabbed into the young girl as she fell back onto the bed. It was stupid of her to accuse Jensen of anything. He was suffering just as much, if not more than her. In fact, ever since she had learned of her father's immortality Azza figured that a man with such a fate must have endured much in his life. The death of her mother, Stephanie, put it all into perspective; just how many people has Jensen lost that were close to him? Azza shuddered just thinking about how close she came to be included on that list.

Dragging herself to her feet, she staggered over to a full length mirror and started at her image. Long white locks cascaded down her shoulders and hung just slightly past her waist loosely. Only her mother and the orphanage keeper of her youth ever braided it. To ask anyone else of the task would have felt... wrong. Azza couldn't replace her adoptive mother and the orphanage keeper was much too far away.

Touching a hand to one of her horns, she traced its spiral pattern to the tip. With a sigh, she let her hand fall back to her side as she tilted her body to gaze at her russet wings. No matter how much she wished for them to go away, she knew both of these things were all she had as clues to where she came from. But just where exactly was that? Haidia? While it might have been true that her horns were reminiscent of a demon's, her wings spoke otherwise.

The wings couldn't have been angelic in nature either though. Angels had wings of the purest white feathers and of majestic size. Azza's were the color of autumn reds and brown and comprised of part fur and feather and pitiful in size. She was hardly the fitting image of a celestial host of any sort.

"Just... what am I?" Carefully, she brought a delicate hand to the surface of the mirror and let it graze her reflection. The feel of cold glass sent a small shiver across her body, but she didn't pull away. Instead, Azza flattened her palm against the plane and stared into the eyes of her image. "Why me?"

"Do you not remember?" Azza's eyes widened as her image spoke with unwavering clarity. "Do you not recall the promise to defy fate?"

[orphans]

For a long while, neither the image nor Azza made a movement. The two stared at one another until Azza's expression faded to annoyance. "I can't remember anything and I'm more worried that I'm not more anxious about talking to my reflection."

It was the image's turn to be surprised as it stifled a snicker. "Oh? I suppose it might be because this isn't the first time that it's happened." The chuckle slowly let up before the reflection gave an impartial shrug. "It's happened once, two years ago, more or less on your birthday."

Azza drew her hand away with a grimace before casting her eyes wearily at the manifestation's features in the mirror. There was no doubt that it was her, however, she could feel something strange about it. A different breath of life, perhaps. "You wouldn't happen to know what I am - we are, do you?"

The image frowned, drifted for a moment in midair and then settled on a sitting position with its legs crossed. "That's something that I cannot tell you."

"What? Why?! You're me aren't you?"

The frown turned to a halfhearted grin. "I am, except... simply put, we aren't ready to know. Even if we did, we would have no context in this world for perspective."

"Meaning?"

"Meaning, I can only steer you in what I think is the right direction to discover it for both of us." Its eyes closed for a moment, as if contemplating the next step it should take. "What I can tell you is that I am what you used to be."

"What I used to be?"

A smile played across the image's face. "Yes. I am your old soul."

"That..." Scrunching up her face a little, Azza moved back and sat upon her bed. "That doesn't make sense. I mean, does that mean I have a new soul?"

The image shook its head quickly. "No. You exist in body and mind, but the soul is missing."

The frown on Azza's face deepened as she stared at her image. "So you're saying I have no soul?"

The image became flustered as it waved a hand to brush the question away. "No, that's not... Coil's Breath, I'm not very good at explaining these sorts of things. I was never good at explaining things." Thinking quickly, the figure snapped its fingers and grinned brightly. "Think of it like this. I'm the old soul and you are the body and mind. I have a hard time talking to you normally, so the body and mind are confused. Still following?"

Azza made to shake her head, but stopped herself and only gave a hesitant smile.

"I know when you're not fessing up. I am you. Well... used to be you."

"Sorry, it's just a bit hard to... swallow."

"Then just believe for now."

"I... alright."

The smile returned to the image as it gazed back to Azza. "Now, because we're separate, your mind is still asleep."

"Asleep?"

"It's why you don't know what you are."

"Okay... then how do I wake up then?"

The image made to answer, but stopped as its eyes became crestfallen. "I'm not sure. That answer is locked in your sleeping mind, ironically." A sheepish smile crossed the image as said with hesitance, "I tried to force a joining before... and was stopped. I know now that I would have caused more harm than good had I been successful."

"Wait... you... tried to join us before?"

Its face contorted in unease. "Do you remember when you awoke and Sei, Kyla, and Jensen were all standing around your bed?"

"Vaguely..."

"That was when."

Another long silence passed between the two. The image waited patiently for a response while Azza fumbled with the information she was presented with. "How do I know that you aren't lying?"

The image chuckled, "Besides the fact that I'm you? Ask yourself if you have ever lied directly."

Azza immediately made to answer, but paused in thought as she tried to recall an example of herself fibbing. Every situation that she thought would prove that she could lie competently only drove her closer to the realization that she had never actually told a lie in her life. Omission of the truth had always been the route taken.

"Can't think of one, can you?"

Azza nodded her head slowly to confirm the image's words. "But still, this is... a bit strange for me to all take in at once."

"Oh? We have wings and horns. Both aren't of an angelic or demonic influence. You know this already. Is it really so strange to see an image of yourself talking back?"

"I don't know for certain..."

The image frowned at those words sighed out in frustration. "Azza, look at this."

Lifting her head to look at the image, Azza saw her likeness pull out a small metal vial on a silver chain. "A pendant?"

"Hardly. It's called an Oracle's Grace. It's supposed to be something powerful and wondrous to our kind. Thing is, I have no idea how to use it. Well, we don't have an idea how to use it."

"But I have nothing like that."

The image snickered and shrugged its shoulders as it let the pendant hang about its neck. "It's inside of you somewhere."

For another long moment, Azza said nothing and looked to the Oracle's Grace upon her image. "So," Azza began hesitantly, "What do you suggest I - we do?"

Her image shrugged. "Do you remember when you went to buy your sword?" Azza nodded her head. "It's a pretty nice sword, but more importantly, do you remember the woman who helped you?"

"I think so. She said her name was Sakuya and the shopkeeper Osmond called her an Akashiman witch."

"Yes her. You could feel something odd about her, right?"

Azza nodded her head slowly. "There was something very odd about her." Turning a bit crimson suddenly, Azza mumbled, "But that might be because I've never seen a wolfen Akashiman before..."

The image stared at Azza in skepticism. "Have you ever been to Akashima?"

"Well... no..."

"Then it could be very normal for all you know. However, what you do know is the strange vibe you got from this Sakuya, correct? I'm pretty sure she's the one who holds the answers."

Azza nodded her head again as the pieces fell into place slowly. Suddenly, her eyes snapped wide and looked to the image of herself. "Wait a second! She was the one who told me to go to the Citadel during the Serenti as well!"

"Who did?" If it had been possible, Azza's blood turned to ice as she turned around slowly at the sound of an all too familiar voice.

[orphans]

"You," was all that Azza managed to say as she stared at the woman before her. She knew now that the Akashiman was the strange seer who told her to go to the Serenti. The same Akashiman with bright brown eyes who had suggested the very sword she bought. It was a voice that Azza could recognize beyond a doubt - that she should have recognized in all of her dealings with the woman.

"Me?" The woman blinked as her wolfen ears did a small swivel on her head. Her brown tail swished lazily behind her as she took a few steps inside the room. As she did, she cast her eyes about, lingering on the various stuffed animals, books, and flowers decorating the room. Finally, they focused onto the young girl as she offered a smile.

"You're the one from the weapon shop I went to with Adolf." The woman only nodded with a perplexed blink of her eyes. "And... you were also the seer who told me to go to the Citadel, the day of the Serenti, aren't you?" Another perplexed look and nod. "Why?"

The Akashiman mused for a moment with a hum before shrugging. "That's a difficult question to answer. Reasons are always by perspective, yes?" With a few quick sweeps of her hand to dust off her long skirt, the woman then folded her legs beneath herself and sat down upon them.

"How did you make it past the guards...?" Azza managed to ask as she edged ever closed towards the sword propped against the head of her bed.

Again, the wolf-eared woman looked confused as she tilted her head and looked upwards, as if the answer would be written on the ceiling. "Ho... hum... I guess I was just quick enough not to be spotted." Azza frowned at the response as her hand bumped against the hilt of her sword. "That wouldn't do any good, little one."

Azza swallowed her nerves and despite the woman's advice, drew her blade quickly and held it before herself. "You still haven't told me why you're here. From the look of things, you've only been trying to get me killed!"

For the first time in all their encounters, Sakuya made something between a frown and a grin. "Dearest Azza, if you died, it would only cause untold amounts of pain for a treasured friend of mine. I would never let that happen."

"How can I even trust your words?"

The question stopped the woman in her thoughts as she hummed once more. "That is a hard thing to do, isn't it?" Clapping her hands together suddenly, she beamed a smile to Azza. "Well, what can I do so that you will trust me?"

It was Azza's turn to be dumbfounded as she frowned in reflection. What could she have Sakuya do? "I don't know... you could just lie to anything I ask about."

Seemingly offended, the woman huffed, "I don't know how to lie very well. Never saw a reason to." Smiling again, she gave a small snicker, "Though I'm very good at hiding things." Brightening again, she rattled off quickly, "What if I was to tell you that I'm very good friends with Mother Holly? You know her, yes?"

Again, Azza froze as she stared at the woman before stating flatly, "You're lying."

"Oh?" Bewilderment took hold of Sakuya's features before a frown settled on her lips. "Perhaps you'd rather I tell a few stories of when Holly was younger, would that convince you?" Just as quickly, the woman shook her head and mumbled, "No, no that wouldn't do. Holly wouldn't want me to do that."

"Pretend that I do trust you, what then? What difference does it make?"

"Pretend?" Sakuya repeated the word as if it had a foul taste. "I suppose if you did trust me, I would only try to give you a little more advice. But advice is what you already know and don't want to ask for, yes?"

"Then... what is it that I already know?"

At Azza's question, Sakuya's lips split into a true smile as her eyes closed in contemplation. "You already know what you are, but you are afraid of finding out."

The absurdity of the answer had Azza's very being nearly smoldered in aggravation. "Why would I be afraid of what I am? I've been trying to find out this whole time!"

A gloomy shadow cast itself over Sakuya's features as she waved to the floor in front of her. "Sister Azza, please, sit. I will explain as much as I am allowed."

Being called a 'sister' by Sakuya sent a jolt up Azza's arms. It was familiar and yet... sounded as if echoed from far away. Still skeptical and cautious, Azza sat down slowly. "You called me.... sister. Did we know each other?"

A soft laugh passed from the woman as she nodded her head once. "You could say that. We still do, yes?" Azza wasn't amused, but Sakuya didn't seem to notice. At least, if she did, she didn't appear to care as she continued, "You might want to put away your blade. I've been told it's rude to talk to someone with a weapon drawn."

Azza grimaced, but in the end she relented and sheathed the blade. "You know where I'm from, don't you?" At that, Sakuya nodded her head once. "Can you tell me?"

With a quiet sigh, Sakuya shook her head. "You will learn that for yourself soon."

"Fine, then why am I afraid of finding out what I am?"

Holding out both her hands with palms facing up, Sakuya mumbled something quickly and two images of Azza formed on each hand: one older and dressed in armor, while the other was her younger, current form. "Familiar, yes?"

Of course her current form was familiar, but the armored older one? It shouldn't have been, but it was. "Yes," Azza began, "But how is this supposed to show me why I'm afraid."

With a grin, the woman held her hands closer to one another. "Your other self has already explained, no? Mind and body are separated from the soul. But your mind sleeps, because it is afraid."

Circles. If anything, everything was becoming circular in their explanation and for once in her life, Azza felt true fury as the white of her knuckles showed once more in her clenched fists. "But why? Why is my mind afraid?"

The tenacity in Azza's voice made Sakuya blink her eyes in surprise before they turned dim. "When you become whole, Sister Azza, both your present and past will die. In their place, you will become something new. Are you prepared for that?"

[orphans]

Sakuya's words stilled Azza's mounting infuriation and instead replaced it with overwhelming doubt about her wants. What did becoming something new mean? Would she really have to die?

Or was it just some sort of metaphorical death and rebirth?

The question of whether or not she was prepared still lingered, however, as Azza turned her eyes to the floor between them in thought. Her life, until recently, had been relatively docile and free of struggle. She was thankful for such, but where was the satisfaction in existence when she couldn't even protect those she loved?

And what of her memories if both her present and past perished? Would she forget Jensen and Stephanie as those she cared for? Wouldn't losing her memories be the same as losing herself again?

Steeling her nerves, Azza turned her gaze to Sakuya with determination. Regardless of her fears and what the consequences were, she wanted to know. Rather, she needed to know. "Yes, I am prepared."

Sakuya's eyes dropped and darkened before they finally closed. Nodding her head once, she said softly, "So I see. Then the first steps are already taken."

"What... do you mean?"

Ignoring the question, Sakuya continued, "A few days from now, a white ship with black sails will be at the docks of Radasanth. Be certain that this is what you want, Sister Azza, for there is no turning back now that you follow this road." When she finished, Sakuya made to rise while Azza scrambled quickly to her feet and raced to block the door.

"Wait a minute! That's it? I'm just supposed to pick up everything and go to Radasanth for some ship? I mean, the last time I followed your advice, I almost died!"

"And yet, here you are, with more knowledge of your perceived limitations."

"Perceived limitations? I traveled to the Citadel on your advice, was forced to fight in a match against a far superior opponent, and nearly died. All for what? To gain knowledge that I could have died that day? That I'm weak and had no place in such an event? That I ultimately have little control over my own life?! Why can't you just speak plainly? Why all the riddles?" Azza screamed.

Sakuya narrowed her eyes at Azza and began to stride forward slowly with steady steps. "And if I was to tell you everything, what then? We are all bound by fate to a degree, Sister Azza..." Without warning, Sakuya closed the gap in a blink and placed a single finger against Azza's forehead. Sakuya then leaned down and whispered harshly, "Just know that all your actions and inactions have dire consequences. Not just for yourself, but for all those around you." With barely a push, Sakuya sent Azza sprawling onto the ground as she stepped over the girl and out into the hallway.

When the woman reached the end she turned the corner and was gone, leaving Azza on the floor still fuming with tears.

[orphans]

Left alone once more, Azza stayed by the window of her room with her arms on the sill to watch the sun as it slowly drowned beyond the horizon. "I should have chased her..." Azza managed to mumble after some time. All of her actions and inactions? Did Sakuya mean to tell Azza that her mother's death was her fault? Because she wasn't strong enough to help?

The thought dragged the girl deeper into dejection as she sank her head down to her arms. Far too exhausted to cry, Azza just stared off into the distance. Why had she been crying? It never solved anything, yet when frustration surged to the surface against Sakuya it was all she could do. Anger would have normally welled up in her chest at those thoughts, but instead, Azza dragged herself to her bed and flopped down upon it face down in defeat. Perhaps it was her fault.

Perhaps...

Perhaps it would just be better for everyone at the Ixian Castle if she wasn't there. Thane knows they didn't need another liability to take care of. Pushing herself off the bed, she looked to her reflection again in the mirror. "Just what are we supposed to do?"

No answer.

A grimace crossed the girls face as she returned her gaze to the window again to see the sky awash with majestic crimson splashed with violets. Was she just a prisoner of fate? And what was Sakuya's role in all this? The woman had shown up a multitude of times seemingly watching from afar, but Azza knew better. Rather, Azza knew that the woman must have been manipulating events to a degree.

The question of why returned to Azza as she crept to the window again and peered out into the courtyard. Down below, Adolph was still training new recruits while others were wrapping up their day's work. Part of Azza wondered how Sei dealt with the complexities of grief and the fleeting thought of asking him crossed her mind. With a sigh, Azza returned to her bed to lie down and stare at the ceiling. "Doubt Sei needs me to trouble him at the moment..."

Turning her mind to what her other self had first said, Azza couldn't help but frown. "To defy fate, huh?" she asked to no one in particular. Wouldn't she be following fate if she did as Sakuya told her to do? Yet, if she did nothing... nothing would change, would it? She would just remain as a weak child in need of protection from monsters like Cassandra Remi, the one who killed her mother.

It was thoughts like these that had plagued her whenever she was alone and they made her tired. So very... very tired...

[orphans]

There was a familiar feeling of laying on stone with the sun beating down on Azza as her senses slowly trickled back to her. Stone? Why was there stone? With a small groan, she opened her eyes to see several curious others looking at her. "You alright?" someone asked.

Mumbling a soft, "I think so..." Azza pushed herself off the ground and looked to the small crowd surrounding her. Humans and elves she could recognize easily enough, but there were others as well that she didn't know; Mouse-like creatures, bovine, bi-pedal wolves, and all sorts of others had her surrounded. A look of apprehension descended upon the small girl as she shrank back a little.

"Come on everyone, we're scaring her now," one of the wolf-like humanoids said.

Someone laughed and chimed in, "We'll I'd be scared if your mug was the first thing I saw when I woke up." More laughter rang from the gathering as they began to move off. "Come on, we still have this lot of lumber to get over to the market district. This city isn't going to build itself." There was a chorus of groans, but all good natured. Rather, it was just a general show of mock displeasure

Confusion made its home in Azza's mind now as she looked about herself and watched as the group move off with several carts. Was she witnessing the past or future? What sort of creatures were those though? She had never seen most of them, even at the Citadel. More importantly, how did she even get here? Was this a dream? If so, how could the inhabitants interact with her? Or perhaps they could do so because it was her dream? Questions buzzed about in her mind as she took in more of her surroundings.

"Oh, mistress! Might I ask you something? Erm, mistress?"

Turning with a perplexed and hesitant smile, Azza looked to her left and found one of the mouse-like creatures adjusting a pair of glasses as he addressed her. "A-are you... talking to me?"

It was the creature's turn to be confused as he nodded its head. "Of course! Though the other prefers that we just call her by name. Personally, I think it's a bit improper to do so when we owe so much to her and your kind."

"I'm... I'm sorry, but who are you talking about? I've only just... uhm... arrived."

"Dear me, my apologies - I didn't know! I'm talking about Mistress Besal and I was actually hoping you could point me to her whereabouts." Taking off his spectacles and cleaning it on his tunic briefly, he continued to speak quickly. "Oh, where are my manners! My name is Maetus, one of the construction foremen here at Arfezeria."

With a shake of her head, Azza couldn't help but keep her puzzled smile glued to her face. "I'm sorry but I don't know where she is."

"Hrm, pity. That's quite alright then. I'm sure she's elsewhere in the city or perhaps with her husband. I will leave you be then, Mistress..."

"S-sophia," Azza blurted out.

Smiling, Maetus gave a quick bow, "Mistress Sophia, it has been an honor. I will leave you be now. I'm sure you have other tasks to fulfill." Watching the mouse rush off, Azza could only wonder what in the world was happening. Was that the name of this city? Arfezeria? And the name, Besal, why was it so familiar? Did she know her? According to Maetus, she was the same kind.



A sudden gust of wind kicked up a cloud of dust that blinded the small girl and when it finally settled, everything had changed. Standing in the middle of what looked like a marketplace Azza gazed about and saw the city fully built. Large metal and stone structures reached high into the sky on all sides while the streets were paved with stone and lined with tall lamps. Even the carts were strange, as they were being moved about without horses.

Eventually, someone bumped into her and gave gruff, "Hey, watch it!" before they kept walking. It was only then that Azza noticed herself clothed in a large cloak and hood that hid her wings and horns.

This had to be a dream...

Steeling her nerves with that fact, Azza willed herself to move towards one of the buildings that had a great deal of people entering: a city hall of sorts. Upon entering, Azza merged together with the gathering crowd and slowly made her way forward for a better view. Yet, as she went, she couldn't help but notice a large amount of grumbling and the very fact that the air was nearly palpable with tension. At long last, after a bit of pushing, Azza managed to reach the front to see two figures on an elevated platform.

One was a wolfen humanoid with midnight black fur dressed in clothing that resembled most of the crowd of commoners. The other figure was a woman with dove white wings and a pair of horns, much like Azza's own, wearing a very modest and earth-toned robe.

Despite the fact that the two on the platform were of different races, the expression both wore were one in the same of grim disappointment. "As I've said," the woman pleaded, "my power isn't infinite. The demons have been repelled back now and you are all able to return to your lands."

"But this is our home now!" something shouted out.

"We were born here!" others shouted, "We can't just leave!"

As the clamor of voices rose, the woman looked to the wolf beside her and as she did, the wolf offered his hand in reassurance. She took it quickly. "If that is the wish of the people, then I will continue to do my best. I will need time, however. Allow me to gather my strength for a time and I will return. I make this promise as your Skalu Hudie - your wish-bearer."



The room slowly melted away and after a moment Azza found herself outside in a forested area with the light of the full moon illuminating the area. Around her was a small group of individuals garbed in black cloaks, including her. She could see the city close by in the distance and even hear the sounds of the odd mechanical carts moving along the road. A sudden hand patted her shoulder and motioned towards a simple house nearby. "Everyone knows what we're here to do, if you want to back out now, it's the time to do so."

There were a few exchanged glances before one figure stepped forward. "Our Skalu Hudie, our prophet... our goddess, wish-bearer, whatever you want to call her, has abandoned us for years now! Our lands are dying, the winters grow harsher and no matter how much we pray and plead, she has yet to show herself. Hells, she's even abandoned her own child and husband here! Well, I say we make our goddess react, if she even is one!" A shout of approval rose from those gathered and whatever doubt that was still in the hearts of those gathered gave way to a bloodthirsty roar as the group charged from the brush.

With horror, Azza felt her feet carry her forward as one of the aggressors lit something aflame and threw it into one of the windows. Moments later, several others did the same and soon enough, the small home was set ablaze. Two shapes, one large and one small, ran out through the fire.

Recognizing the larger figure as the wolf that stood beside her kind on the platform, she watched as he fended off two of the attackers. "Sakuya run!" Azza's blood froze as her attention turned to the small terrified girl behind the wolf move hesitantly, not wanting to do as she was told and abandon her father. "RUN!"

[orphans]

With a gasp, Azza bolted up and fumbled momentarily in the dark. Catching her breath took more effort than it should have as her heart pounded against her chest. Had she not know better, she could have sworn it was trying to burst from her body. Swallowing slowly to clear her throat, the girl felt about herself and calmed slightly as she touched the plush covers of her bed.

She was safe.

Safe with no answers to any of her new questions.

A soft groan drifted from her as she fell back against her pillow to stare blankly at the ceiling. Moments later, she tossed out of the sheets and approached the window of her room and basked in the cool air that rolled through her room. Glancing up at the moon, Azza guessed it to be about midnight as a dog howled somewhere in the distance. Down below, patrols paced about with a near flawless precision. None of that had mattered tonight. The soldiers would bring the small girl no comfort this time with their vigilance, as they usually did, and as she watched them carry the torches held high, her mind slowly drifted to her dream.

Sakuya had been there.

Small. Frightened. Vulnerable.

Did she witness her father murdered that night?

More question assaulted the young girl and in an effort to shut them out, Azza closed her eyes. She had barely done so when a bump outside her door made the girl jump. The sound of soft cursing from one voice and the chuckling of another had her relax in recognition that it was only the floor guards - the younger one must have stubbed his foot on the corner, again.

Gazing out into the distance in the direction of Radasanth, Azza's heart sank deeper with each moment, painfully aware at how her current existence was easy, safe, and ultimately pathetic. She would never be able to protect anyone properly and if danger ever struck, she would be at disaster's mere whim. But was she willing to gamble her life to search for answers?

What if she died? Jensen would truly be alone. She couldn't do that do him.

And yet, if she remained as she was now, wouldn't she just be a burden?

With a scowl, she shed her sleepwear quickly and searched about for her traveling clothe and donned them. Intent on leaving before she had second thoughts or before anyone could stop her, Azza packed only a spare change of clothing, her hat, and her sword. As she left her room, she stopped as she looked to her father's door across the hall.

"... promise me one thing? If you start travelling, visit us whenever you can? If you can't, at least write to us once awhile?"

Those words, her mother's words, stopped her dead as she started at the door to her parent's room. Azza has promised, and even though her mother was no longer present, there was a creeping sensation Stephanie's ghost would surely haunt her if she didn't fulfill her promise. Returning to her room, Azza found a piece of parchment, her quill and then sat down at her desk. The words she wanted to use, on the other hand, where nowhere to be found. The truth then - lying, even to put others at ease, was never something she could do right and truth was, she didn't know if this would be her last chance to leave something behind for her father.



Jensen,

There are things I must know, things that I need answers to. I don't know when I will return or if I even will. I don't even know where I'm headed, but my hope is that I will be able to find my way back someday. No matter what happens, know that I will always be thankful for the home you have given me and that I love you.

Your daughter,
Azza Ambrose


There was a disconcerting lack of satisfaction as Azza looked at the letter. It was missing things - a lot of things. In fact, she was sure it would cause more worry for Jensen than ease his mind. Sighing, she penned in quickly at the bottom:



I need to know who I am and what I am and I'm afraid of putting everyone here in danger.


Better, but it still didn't convey everything she wanted. Just how exactly does someone convey their heart with words? Her hat? Taking the straw hat off her head, she looked at it for a long time before placing it over the letter. It was something that she had used to hide her horns time and time again from everyone around her and perhaps leaving it behind will let her father know just how seriously she felt. After all, he had always encouraged her to be proud of who she was.

So, just maybe...

Maybe he'll understand.

[Christoph]

Hey there! I am terribly sorry about the delay. I got excited and claimed your thread when I saw it, and then ended up getting a new job. I’ll toss some extra GP your way to make it up to you. PM or IM me with any questions.


Storytelling: 4 I know a lot of folks got into the habit of recapping previous threads to establish a backstory, but it’s important to ask yourself whether events alluded to are relevant and not just perfunctory additions that don’t contribute. This is -especially- true when it’s your first paragraphs. Spending several lines talking about a previous series of threads doesn’t exactly hook the reader. I realize that in your case, it tied in to Azza being grounded for her antics, but you could have led with the fact of her being in trouble to hook the reader and -then- back up a little and explain why. Integrate it seamlessly into the narrative, with things the character sees or does bringing up relevant memories at logical times. (More on this in Pacing.) The story concept at the beginning is interesting in its... normality. It’s a teenager who got grounded (more on that in Persona). Beyond that, for all the backstory you dumped into your thread, the conversations with the mirror and the seer contained a lot of loose threads, even beyond those left dangling intentionally for story reasons, that left me a little lost as to, well, why I should care, haha. Some events seemed too convenient, like the wolfen seer showing up right at the appropriate time with no effort on Azza’s part.

Setting: 5 It felt like a lot of the thread took place in a room that I never had a good feel for. You did manage to integrate some details of the environment nicely, like how the sun on the stone felt. Still, it’s hard to score this category since setting wasn’t very important in this thread to begin with.

Pacing: 3 As mentioned in Storytelling, you spent a lot of time establishing a backstory, talking about her assumed name and related events. That was basically your entire first post, so suffice it to say you got off to a slow start and, unfortunately, didn’t really keep me interested. Even post 2 dragged a bit, but at least you included some dialogue and cursory character development. Then post 3... more backstory, more recapping. Even into posts four... Not much happened. You could have probably fit all the actually relevant information in the first five posts into maybe two posts and gotten on to the more exciting stuff.

Persona: 6 Oh goodness, poor Azza starts the story already in trouble. Basically anyone can relate to being a grounded teenager and all the over-the-top emotions, how it feels like the end of the world at the time when like a month later it’s no big deal. You portray all that pretty realistically. There isn’t much of a story in this thread early on, and thus Azza reflecting basically -is- the story until about halfway through. Some of the motivations as the story progressed didn’t quite make sense to me. Sometimes you need to sell motivations to the reader, because the reader needs to buy that the character would actually do or think whatever they’re doing or thinking and also care about it.

Action: 5 Your story wasn’t action-focused, but you did a good job at the subtle things. For the most part, you avoided the pitfall where it feels like the characters are just standing still and talking at each other. Gestures and facial expressions made them feel like living sentient beings and not wax sculptures with speak holes. My main complaint is that Azza didn’t really do much in the story. She was more of an object that things happened to rather than an agent, one who actually acts.

Communication: 7 In general, your dialogue was your strong point. You had a lot of it, but it didn’t typically feel like too much. Some lines of dialogue brought up questions that I wish you had answered, such as Azza suggesting that she wanted to stay small, and Tobias just accepting that as sensible for some reason. Remember, just because the characters might accept something doesn’t mean the readers will.

Technique: 6 Nothing spectacular here, which didn’t actually work against you. You knew when and where to use some fancier turns of phrase, and it worked out decently for the most part. All I can say at this point without going through line by line is to settle on your own personal style and refine it as much as possible.

Mechanics: 7 You used some odd syntax and wordings, as well as inefficient or awkward phrasings. You also tend to repeat names and pronouns too frequently, which can be jarring. Especially with Tobias in Post 2. Using some pronounce and descriptive indicators would have helped bring the character alive rather than an elf with a name and not much else. I didn’t even know Tobias was female until paragraph three (let alone a clear appearance other than being a “lithe” elf), and if I’d missed that indicator (which would have been easy since Tobias sounds very masculine), it would have been several more paragraphs before I realized. This is actually equally a Clarity thing, but I figured I’d leave the complete thought here. Other than that, your grammar and spelling was fine as far as I can tell.

Clarity: 6 I actually touched on most of what bothered me about Clarity in previous categories. In summation, some odd pronoun usage and descriptions combined with references to things and events that didn’t quite make sense were your primary detractors. In general, I could keep track of the actual transpiring events easily enough, so you did okay.

Wildcard: 6 Interesting quest overall. It feels more like an introduction (which could have been maybe four or five posts instead of ten) rather than a full story. Still, it’s a good start and I hope you stick with it.

Total: 55

Azza receives 1175 EXP and 200 GP!

[Mordelain]

Experience and gold added.