Private ✪ Finweald Somewhere I belong

[Erick Stryker]

From where he was sitting, Astorea stretched out for miles ahead. The outcropping that overlooked the approach to Finweald was adorned with scaffolding and makeshift battlements, a newer addition put in place after the Magia attacks, and the diaspora of Landers. Erick sat nestled in one of the frames still unfinished, a leg hanging over the edge.

It reminded him faintly of the plains back home. Not entirely, of course. At the edge of the horizon sat hills and mountains, things that you would never see on the Great Plains. The crops just went on forever, at least, in the perception of one man. It wasn't unlike the Dakotas when it came to storms, though.

The rolling thunder softly crept along the gray sky, playing a rhythm discordant to the gentle raindrops that fell on his face. Hand outstretched, he let the droplets pool in his palm for several moments, then pulled it back to gaze into the miniature pool that amassed there.

After frowning slightly, he sighed. He couldn't see his reflection in it. The water felt empty, just like he did. Everywhere he went in Arcia seemed the same. At the end of the day, the people were still people, the places were just places. It got him away from reality, but where did he go now that his escapism wasn't an escape anymore?

"I wonder if anything interesting's going to happen today," he said, balling his hand into a fist. Flourishing his fingers, where there had been water a moment before now he held a small, folded piece of paper. Flicking it open with his thumb, Erick glanced briefly at a faintly glowing glyph, then blinked.

"Well, that's new."

@Vina Skysong

 

[Vina Skysong]

The weather was a bit more unruly than usual, with thick grey clouds crawling across the boundless skies, carrying with them a mild rain as well as the rumbling of distant thunder. The thickest parts of the storm were still far away, in the mountains, leaving the plains to enjoy the nourishment while the danger of lightning was but a murmuring from far away.

Some might consider this weather depressing or ominous. Vina would disagree with them, although that could also be because she rarely found anything truly depressing. Thanks to the rain the plants would flourish, and remnants of days past were getting gently washed away to make place for new things.

Which was why she was walking through the rain with an upbeat step and a cheerful tune rising from her throat, the playful vixen humming along with the rhythm of the raindrops that danced across the landscape around her. A rhythm which might seem chaotic and erratic at first, but which had deceptive patterns buried underneath, begging to be unearthed and turned into melodies by an attentive bard such as the silver-white-tailed one currently passing through.

As usual, humming along with the rain caused a trickle of magic to come forth as well, weaving through the air around her to form a breeze which matched her tune. Raindrops were carried along the breeze as well, making the water curtain swirl around her alongside her floor-length hair, which swayed along with her footsteps as if blatantly ignoring the rain that should have drenched it and pulled the fine silver-white strands towards the ground.

Her journey was leading her towards Finweald, and she could already see the new defensive structures rising up before her. Behind her the plains continued to either endure or enjoy the weather, while before her the realm of civilization loomed, Finweald's outermost layer less welcoming than it used to be. A bit disheartening, but understandable given everything that had happened: those who hadn't decided to leave weren't willing to await the next disaster without making preparations.

As she passed through one of her vulpine ears twitched, catching the murmurings of a male amidst the battlements, her eyes following the sound until she spotted him sitting on top of one of the parts left yet unfinished, peering at a piece of paper. While she hadn't caught the first part accurately, now that she was paying attention her sharp ears did overhear his second comment, noting that he seemed to be surprised by something.

What's new?

Her voice carried farther than it should have, gentle and playful yet smoothly bypassing the rain's drumbeat to reach Erick's ears. The vixen followed soon after, having changed her course to where the human Starcalled was peering at a piece of paper which appeared to have piqued his interest, which in return made Vina quite curious.

@Erick Stryker

 

[Erick Stryker]

Erick found that the less frequently he tapped into his Chronomancy, the fewer episodes of Temporal Dilation he suffered from. Because of the severity of that condition, he sought different means of gleaning information, other types of magic that weren't so volatile when you tampered with things that mankind had no business dipping their hands into. So, with the new form of scrying for information came new experiences. In this case, the glyph he was reading was...

What's new?

"The Enchanted Evening," he explained, seemingly undaunted to be suddenly joined by a newcomer. "It speaks to excitement and delight, or making new acquaintances." He folded the paper and quashed the glyph, which filtered back out into the world as ambient mana. "I've been testing this method for several weeks now and this is the first time I've come across this omen."

He was a bit disjointed in the way he dealt with others due to sequestering himself away from the majority of society, but the social butterfly in him quickly reminded Erick that this display of explaining his nerdy new hobby? Not exactly socially adjusted individual behavior.

"Sorry, I had an inkling someone might be coming, but I was in a weird headspace," he apologized for his rude demeanor, "I'm Erick." There. Proper greeting.

At a second glance, Erick realized he was looking at a Beastfolk woman, and somewhat amazingly, she was surrounded by a gentle breeze that appeared to wick away the rain. It didn't occur to him to stop the natural course at all- he could, certainly, but something about appreciation for the natural sequence of things stayed his hand.

Still, seeing a different method- one that seemed less invasive and volatile- was always heartening. It was good that people used their power for small things, useful things; and not simply to play God. Because even God, it turned out, didn't have the power to change things that had been set in stone.

He offered her a soft smile. "Are you interested in Divination?" he asked her.

@Vina Skysong

 

[Vina Skysong]

Most people would be mildly startled if they were suddenly approached by a stranger who interjected herself into their voiced thoughts. That this person simply answered her question without even a pause made Vina even more curious: whatever it was that had his attention was intriguing enough that it kept him focused even as he responded to her presence.

While Erick explained the glyph he'd just read Vina closed the distance, then hopped onto the same unfinished battlement the diviner was also resting on, the winds carrying her light frame high enough that she momentarily floated in the air before gently landing on top of the structure. Her expression was friendly and cheerful as always, a light smile on her lips as she lowered her centre of mass and sat down next to her fellow Starcalled.

So either you'll have a good time or you'll make a new friend? Sounds like a good omen to me~

Her smile widened as he actually apologised for his attitude as if answering her question without hesitation was something she should be bothered by. Her large tail swished from side to side behind her as she shook her head and chuckled softly.

No worries: if anything I'd have to apologise for interrupting you while you were busy with something. I'm Vina Skysong, and it's nice to meet you Erick~

Her legs idly swayed as they dangled off the edge of what was now seating for two, the silver-white-tailed vixen placing her staff next to her so she had both hands free. With a quick motion, she guided the winds to gently alter the course of the rain, allowing the water to pass them by on the way towards the ground where it could nourish the flora that persisted on this outcropping. The soft nature of her magic meant that the effect wasn't flawless: even on the way here Vina had accumulated beads of water on her skin, clothes, and hair/fur. But at least it prevented them from becoming completely soaked, which was somewhat important when you had a big fluffy tail which could become quite heavy when drenched.

Hmmmm...~ I'd say so yes~

She hummed briefly before answering Erick's question, smiling back at him while she rested her hands on the edge of her seat. Her azure eyes turned briefly towards the piece of paper her companion had now folded up in his hand, then went back up to his face.

I tend to live in the present, but it can be fun to take a glimpse at what's up ahead. Or if you're lucky you learn of trouble before it happens and you can prepare for it. I'm guessing this isn't the first type of Divination you've tried your hand at Erick~?

@Erick Stryker

 

[Erick Stryker]

She was right, of course. This was a good omen. They did exist! It was one of several he had encountered over the course of acclimating to this low impact, easy-going practice. Somehow hearing someone say as much managed to remind him there were positive things, if only for a moment.

No worries: if anything I'd have to apologise for interrupting you while you were busy with something. I'm Vina Skysong, and it's nice to meet you Erick~

"It's a pleasure, Vina," he replied with a smile.

He noticed after a moment that her makeshift umbrella had expanded to shelter him, though his features- and his clothes- were already mostly soaked through. Not that he minded at all. The reprieve from heavier rainfall was welcome regardless.

Hmmmm...~ I'd say so yes~

He looked up to match her gaze as she answered him.

I tend to live in the present, but it can be fun to take a glimpse at what's up ahead. Or if you're lucky you learn of trouble before it happens and you can prepare for it. I'm guessing this isn't the first type of Divination you've tried your hand at Erick~?

Living in the present. That was a concept that, at one time in his life, he could have completely related to. There was nothing like, in his youth, when he was living out the best days of his life. He supposed those golden days hadn't quite ended for this woman yet- or perhaps, she was the type who against all odds continued to see the good in life.

If it were the latter, then Vina was the exact sort of person who Erick found most precious in the world, because they kept the light alive in the face of darkness.

"To be completely honest, I'm used to a different kind of magic entirely," he admitted. "More accurate in many ways, or maybe I should say more specific. However, I think what you said, about learning about trouble before it happens- that's more important than necessarily knowing what the trouble is."

Erick had spent so much time worried over the future, about things he believed he could change, that he never realized how much it could change him.

Maybe living in the moment was exactly what he was trying to do, too.

"I've heard there's a great many types of Divination, each of them unique and specific to other cultures, different religions, that kind of thing. This is just how mine happened to manifest. Drawing in ambient mana from the world around me that coalesce into specific glyphs."

He found her easy to talk to. Maybe it was her personality, or maybe he had been secretly yearning for some human interaction. Erick didn't bother questioning it.

"What kind of magic is this?" he asked, gesturing toward the breeze that arced around them, though he didn't break eye contact. It was more polite to maintain that, he vaguely remembered.

@Vina Skysong

 

[Vina Skysong]

With introductions out of the way Vina listened as Erick explained that he was still new at Divination, referring to experience with another type of magic which he described as more accurate. The vixen tilted her head slightly at that, noting the more subtle hints in her new friend's explanation. The magic he was more familiar with also had to do with predicting the future... but something had convinced him that this new magic was the better option.

A part of her wanted to dig further into the other type of magic, but with her usual friendly smile and a curious look in her eyes she encouraged Erick to keep talking, ears perked up and turned towards him as he mentioned the existence of various types of Divination. Her tail swished once as he mentioned his glyphs, the playful songstress nodding with clear enthusiasm.

It's similar to Rune Casting, isn't it? That thing they did hundreds of years ago in Norway and other places close by. Cast some runes onto a surface, see which ones come down face up, which are face down, and which are closer to the centre or further away~ (She nodded towards his hands.) I'm guessing with your magic you try to get the glyphs which would normally be face up and close to the middle, right Erick~? Runes can have lots of meanings so it was never meant to be accurate, but like what you said it can give you some guidance.

Putting some of her weight on one hand she raised the other one in front of her, forefinger extended upwards. Sparks of electricity flew out of the tip to form several of the traditional Germanic runes, each one lasting for about a second before dispersing harmlessly, the blue-white sparks barely containing enough energy to illuminate the hand from which they originated.

But you're right that there's lots of ways to do Divination. From what I've heard it's usually about finding patterns which tell you something about the world around you. That's why they usually involve some random element like fire gazing or throwing pebbles into the pond to read the ripples. Which to me also makes it more mystical and attractive~

Spreading the fingers on her raised hand the sparks disappeared entirely, the druidess chuckling before indicating the breeze which was now keeping most of the rain from hitting them. The droplets that still passed through were more like a refreshing spring shower than the heavier rainfall currently blessing the plains spreading out before them.

This? Just some wind magic so we don't get too wet~ (She shrugged.) Well, no wetter than we already are~ As my name suggests I'm a sky druid, so guiding the winds is part of my shtick.

This time she pointed down at the plains before and below them, where the plants which had managed to endure the winter were relishing the weather. Or, at least, she was pretty sure they were happy.

I don't mind the rain, which is why I'm only avoiding the worst of it, but the plants wouldn't get much use of it if we soaked up all the water either, right~?

@Erick Stryker