After much thought, you smirk toward your apprentice and say, "Very well, we shall undertake this task for you in exchange for two things."
Ignoring the younger woman's protests, Quelana nods. "Of course... I expected no less... name your price."
With a wide grin you lean and simply say, "Pyromancy."
"I suspected as much... I'm afraid that I cannot grant such a request." She replies instantly. At your annoyed look, she elaborates. "In order to manipulate one's inner flame, you must... well... possess one."
Scoffing, you create a fireball in your right hand. "This one found a fire."
"Indeed." She says dryly, clearly unimpressed. "I still cannot teach you, as whatever that flame may be, it is certainly not a pyromancer's flame."
"Obviously." Your reply is just as dry. "Hence the need for this conversation... can you not simply use yours to give me one of my own?"
Oddly enough, your words cause the woman to avert her eyes. "I... I don't..." She stammers briefly before coughing. "I-In light of your ignorance, I shall assume you are not implying... Well, to say that a pyromancer's flame is a part of them is... inadequate to say the least. What you are suggesting is rather... intimate. A flame must be nurtured throughout one's life, for it is through the flame that we are connected to the world. The act of sharing your flame with another creates an eternal bond."
Rubbing your beard, you take a moment to think about what she said. On the one hand, you are loath to allow anyone to have a that sort of leverage over you... considering the last person(that you didn't have a hand in molding) that you were certain to truly be looking out for your well being turned into a child devouring monster, your distrust isn't unfounded. On the other hand, potentially an entire new branch of magic to learn at the low cost of being connected in some manner to a naive immortal who you can influence through her love of children.
Noticing Quelana's growing blush as your staring continues, you speak up. "Hmm... Yes, I cannot say I am thrilled at the idea of being bound to another... Still, if it is necessary, you are far from the worst choice."
A muffled noise that sounded far too much like giggling for your liking, causes you to send a warning look toward your apprentice. Unaffected by your disapproval, the teen smiles knowingly and the elder woman clears her throat to get your attention. "Regardless, you cannot learn pyromancy without a pyromancer's flame and you cannot manifest a pyromancer's flame if you have no inner fire... with or without my help."
"Fine, fine... perhaps another time then... How about the other forms of magic in this world? You must be at least passingly familiar with them."
Shaking her head, she sighs. "I'm sorry, as I said before, I cannot teach you the sorceries of these times... My family and I were flame sorcerers, a different school of thought entirely from Seath's teachings... the nation-city of Oolacile once possessed sorceries that lay somewhere between the disparate magics, but I never managed to find myself there before they all perished."
Growing frustrated with the lack of progress, you are sorely tempted to throttle the woman. Taking a deep breath, you growl out, "So there is absolutely nothing that you can teach us after living for over a thousand year?!"
"Hmm... I suppose I could recite a portion of one of the tales of Gwyn." She offers blithely, smiling as though she had stumbled upon the answers you'd been seeking.
Hanging your head, you choose not to respond to that suggestion. As if a story about false gods would be immediately useful, you can always find that information in a book once you take the time to figure out a translation. Shaking those thoughts from your head, you decide to move on. "Okay, no magic... my second request still remains, however." When she doesn't say anything, you continue, "Deep below this area, through a hollow tree at the other end of the swamp, lies a gateway by a lake. I would like for you to find it and use it to leave this world."
"Absolutely not! Izalith is infested with twisted mockeries of my friends and family, creatures that seek nothing but bloodshed because of our mistake... There's no way I will abandon my responsibility and run away... not again!" Her vehement denials increasing in volume as her emotions flare.
You ignore the flickering embers wafting off of her as you step into her personal space. "You are not responsible for the actions of others, much less for the lies that were fed to your mother in order to goad her into the attempt. Even if you were, one thousand years is punishment enough." Throwing her own words in her face, you stare her down. Not letting your nervousness show at the literal fire in the immortal's eyes, you refuse to look away or even blink. While obviously complacent in her studies, she already claimed to have reduced a stone tower to molten rock with a single spell during her flight from her homeland and she claimed that a pyromancer's flame grows throughout their life.
A thousand years is a long time for raw strength to accumulate.
Even if her claims are all exaggerations, you still know nothing of her capabilities or the limits of her immortality. While it could simply be agelessness, it would be bad to discover that you are unable to kill her if you managed to overwhelm her. Then there is the fact that Louise is unlikely to assist immediately due to her budding fondness for the witch, though you do not doubt that her loyalty would win out, the delay could prove costly.
Your eyes itch and burn from being held open, but you are soon rewarded when Quelana's shoulders slump and she sighs. "I... I suppose you are correct. I'll make my way down when you set off. I shall await your arrival before passing through to your world."
"While I appreciate your confidence, I hope you have a plan... Or an indication that this is at least possible." You admit, not particularly caring if she waits or not, as Cattleya is likely the most dangerous person on the Valliere lands.
Frowning, the immortal mutters something about black knights before shaking her head. "I've never fought them, but if the everlasting dragons taught us anything... it is that nothing is eternal. Gwyn's knights were covered in blood and ash when they marched back into Anor Londo, so I know the demons bleed... If it bleeds-"
"-it can likely be killed as well. Very well, I can agree with that logic." You say, heading for the door. The three of you head down into the swamp, Louise remaining silent in contemplation as you discuss the layout of Izalith with Quelana. By the time you arrive at the Spider's den, the two of you have come to the conclusion that her knowledge is most likely far out of date. For one, the spider's den has replaced the old bell tower of Izalith and the rest of the city had to deal with massive amounts of lava, plants, rampaging demons, and an invading army of knights.
As you stare down the webbed tunnel, you feel a pair of slender arms wrap around you from behind. "Be careful Cynric... I would hate for you to perish and leave Louise on her own." Quelana whispers in your ear before releasing you and grabbing your apprentice in an uncomfortable looking hug.
Status: Healthy
Magicka: (650/650)
Choices:
[] Last minute prep.
[] Write in.
[] General battle strategy write in.
[]Spell write in
[] Tactics write in
[] Conjuration write in
[] Write in
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A/N: This fight will take at least two posts, so decide general tactics and priorities. You will get at least one more vote mid combat. Let me know if you'd prefer presets for boss fight votes.