I ruled the world once, Now I'm training to be a Privateer.(An Isekai Quest)

[Princess Scribe]

The Caretaker: Alright, lazy bones, up you trot.

Nala pulled herself out of bed and stood firm. She felt something in her pocket and reached for it. The fox, Rufus, had given her some sort of token. A small piece of quartz - prismatic, and when held upwards to the window, it bounced rainbow light across the room. "Did you have something in mind for the work studies?" she asked, her gaze fixed on the split light, absent-mindedly.

The healer, who she could now discern, was clearly wearing a small plaque that read 'Gianna.' stepped forcefully in Nala's path. "Absolutely not," she stated, her eyes blazing, "You look worn out and frail. I'm not going to let you out of here until I know you're alright."

"Well, ma'am, I'll have two escorts with me wherever I go," Nala countered, politely acknowledging Chloe and River. "I had a hearty breakfast; I'll recover. I just overexerted with my magic, that's it. Everyone suffers from mana burn eventually."

But Gianna was unyielding, her gaze pinned Nala where she stood. "Actually, miss..."

"Nala."

"Miss Nala, most people don't faint in pools of tarry vomit. You'll pardon a bit of concern," she gave Admiral Miller a side eye."I think the work discussion was premature. Wouldn't you agree, Miller?"

Tugging at his wiry beard, he examined Nala. "I don't know what I think currently. I'm not in the habit of holding adults against their will. If she wants to ignore your advice, then I can't stop her."

Gianna emitted a sound of frustration, pinching the bridge of her nose tightly. "You're of no help." She refocused on Nala. "Listen, you need to be careful. Not everyone is going to be okay with what you did."

Before she could continue, Admiral Miller interjected. "I would like to take some time to understand what happened to you. How you achieved what you did... Why?"

Of course, he's not here to explain WHY he did it, that would be too straightforward, Nala thought morosely. How did he tap into that magic which had been dormant in her? Could one of the others have done it?

The Caretaker: "It's a tradition passed down to me that I've lost the ability to comprehend fully. Truthfully, I was primarily acting on instinct." With a heavy sigh, Nala poured herself a cup of water and took a small sip, gazing out the window. "It was one of many ways I helped people in my life."

Outside, on the main campus, people were practicing magic, the magic of this world. It was different. It possessed a sharply refined edge, lattices of bright light dancing in perfect arcs. Two of the practitioners held their fingers on books, seemingly manipulating the light with the words inside. Together, they choreographed an intricate light show.

Admiral Miller spoke, "You don't have to decide now, but if you could, we'd appreciate a chance to pick your brain on this. I think with our resources, we could make this little puzzle whole. If you're willing, of course."

[ ] - Decline the request outright: The Counselor

[ ] - Propose a public talk: The Ally

[ ] - Propose a demonstration for the instructors: The Cruel

[ ] - Propose a discussion over a pleasant luncheon: The Caretaker

"That sounds lovely," she responded. "I'll inform you once I've gathered my thoughts more. Oh, is Tamil alright? The poor girl with the fox?"

Admiral Miller pulled back the curtain, revealing the larger part of the infirmary. It was sterile white, with pink lilies painted on the walls, with intricate vines forming runes and letters. He moved a few steps forward and said, "She wanted to speak with you, but I thought it was better to give you a moment's respite."

Once again, the vivid colors of this world threatened to engulf Nala.

"She's in the waiting room. I'm glad you asked, I didn't want to have to send her away," Miller said, locking eyes with Chloe and River, and gesturing with a nod of his head. The two flanked Nala, who gave them a courteous smile.

As she walked away, Miller said, "When you're ready, I'd like you to assist Captain Donnegan."

Tamil is in the next room, her appearance closer to River's than Nalas or Chloe's. She has a thick halo of curly black hair, with spiraling horns coming out of the top. Like River, her nails ended in sharp points, and her ears were adorned with tiny bright pink ankhs. They popped with brilliant vibrance against her sky-blue complexion. She seemed more likely to bounce from place to place rather than walk.

Upon seeing Nala, she yelped with relief. "Death lady!"

It struck Nala that she was young, teetering on the boundary between adolescence and adulthood.

With a gentle laugh, Nala responded, "Oh no, is that what you're going to call me?"

"I wanted to thank you," Tamil said, bursting with energy. "I didn't know animals could talk, and Rufus! He had so much to say!"

"I'm glad that you could say goodbye." Nala couldn't recall the last time her magic truly brought someone joy. "Do you know River and Chloe? They're going to accompany me for the foreseeable future."

Tamil seemed on the brink of tears, but quickly drew in a deep breath. "I think we met once, yeah."

With a nod, Chloe said, "Yeah, I had come down to the kennel to socialize the kits." She touched her chin. "Tamil runs the—."

"I breed pets! I operate a pet store on the edge of town!" She was already reaching into her robes, sifting through her pockets as treats, herbs, and small bits of dried kibble tumbled out. Finally, she retrieved a rigid piece of paper. "It's my trade card," she declared, "It's a new concept; people write down their business information and hand them out! Donny told me about it."

The card was thick, decorated with ornate black ink. The words "The Kit Kennel, and Kaboodle!" were inscribed on a banner, with tiny hatch shading giving it depth. A drawing of a fox, cat, owl, and dog adorned the card. On the back was some sort of code.

Nala examined the card and glanced at Chloe. Chloe explained, "That's a new system we've implemented. Privateers went through the city erecting signs and numbers to aid navigation."

River groaned softly as they rubbed their neck. "It took weeks."

The Counselor: Nala's focus shifted to River as they provided another tell. She scrutinized them, trying to understand why they were so enigmatic.

I'm having a conversation, Nala thought, trying to wrest her attention away from The Counselor.

The Counselor: I need to understand why I can't read them!

The Ally: Really? I'd think you, of all people, would get why you're so... distracted.

The Counselor: Nala hissed audibly under her breath. "Silence!"

River snorted with amusement, "Something wrong?"

Everyone's attention was on Nala. Tamil looked crestfallen, while Chloe furrowed her brow. Only River seemed mildly amused.

"No, sorry, just a verbal tic, haha," Nala said hurriedly, feeling her cheeks flush. "I must still be a bit disoriented. I'll be fine, though; don't worry about me."

With a brief nod, they turned to Tamil. "We're helping Donnegan today."

The smaller blue girl nodded in response. "Oh, cool, I was just about to head home! We can go together."

---

[X] - Work Studies 1

Together, they left the medical facilities for the main campus. Nala quickly picked up a few treats from the floor on her way out. The size of the academy was daunting. The place where she had first arrived and slept, which she originally thought was the entire school, was actually a small fraction. Far ahead, she could see robust walls, their color fading with the atmospheric distance. They enclosed the entire campus and stretched from the ocean to the mountain behind. On that mountain, she noticed a golden tube protruding from a large building. Whether it was intended for star charting or defense, she couldn't be sure.

The living quarters were intentionally separated from the wider open area behind. Any enemy force intending to invade the school would be confronted by the student body. The institution had been constructed as an impregnable fortress as well as a seat of learning.

The city shimmered in the sunlight as they departed. Seagulls cried overhead, and fluffy pink clouds floated across the sky. Sunlight reflected off the large glass windows of small shops lining the streets. Nala observed her reflection as she walked. Although she'd barely been there a day, everyone had been remarkably pleasant. She'd thought she would be more bothered by having chaperones, but it was nice knowing that there were people looking out for her, even if only out of self-preservation.

The Counselor: To be fair, they have every right to be suspicious, and if they think you're dangerous, is that really unfounded?

You're not wrong, Nala thought as she pulled the quartz out of her pocket, studying it. She wondered when Rufus had managed to slip this to her. Chloe and Tamil chatted the entire time they walked, but Nala appreciated the lack of attention, at least momentarily. She couldn't help but be impressed at how well Tamil had managed to bounce back from the tragedy of the morning.

The Counselor: That's most likely because she's using this to avoid thinking about that. It's the same with you, I imagine.

I just feel, Nala struggled to find the right words, I brought myself here, to not be alone, and already I'm surrounded by people who treat me like an equal. Even my mind now is filled with people. It's exactly what I wanted. It feels wrong, like I didn't earn it.

Chloe and Tamil's conversation had drifted towards Donnegan. "I saw him last night," Chloe said. "He was staring at the Drakkenai."

Tamil gasped, stopping for a moment. "Oh no! Was he okay? He never tells me anything."

"A little bit out of it, nothing major. I got to him pretty quick, I think," Chloe replied, setting the steady pace just beneath a light jog. Everyone there was taller than Nala and moved with purpose.

Clearing her throat, Nala asked, "What does Donnegan actually do exactly? What work will I be doing once we get there?"

With her face beaming with pride, Tamil turned to her and said, "He's a Peace Keeper."

"Like a knight?" Nala wrinkled her nose a bit. The 'Peace Keepers' of her world were malignant brutes with more cruelty than wit.

"No," Tamil laughed, dipping into her bag. "Well, maybe. It's a pretty noble job, and not many people want to do it."

Chloe expanded on what Tamil was saying. "It's a job. I'm actually training for it. Peacekeepers don't enforce the law. They stand on patrol waiting for people to ask for help. One moment you could be lifting furniture, the next helping someone carry home groceries, and then moments later be fighting the Drakkenai."

Chiming in, River said, "Hard job to do. Most give up."

The city appeared slanted as they got closer to the mountains; the houses were now staggered like steps. Walking became difficult for Nala, and she found herself wondering when she last did real physical labor. "Why is there so much training to be a Peacekeeper?"

As Tamil spoke, Nala realized she was the only one struggling. "You could be doing anything. A lot of the time, people are sad or fighting. There are also just longer-term problems that need an even hand and a lot of social skills. The Admiral before Miller, uh..."

"Carter," Chloe said. "People liked him; it was a shame how he went."

Tamil nodded. "Yeah, Admiral Carter. He had been voted Admiral after his work as a Privateer. He basically went around the blue raiding libraries. A bunch of the books he found were studies that sages were doing on how people think and feel. So now, everyone who wants to be a Peace Keeper is strongly recommended to read those books."

The steep road led to a plateau, on top of which sat a large farm. Overgrown and unkempt, the farm seemed to swallow up the space around it, engulfing it in chaos. Animals romped freely to and fro, foxes and dogs nipping at each other with loud laughter and barks. Cats perched on the roof, and behind a fence with a rope on it, a rooster clucked angrily around its hens.

Among the glass buildings and paved roads, the farmhouse had eked out a hard-fought patch of land for itself. It was constructed from logs, painted an eye-searing yellow. Thick, moss-laden roots rippled across the ground, forming a foundation for a plethora of mushrooms. The roots stretched all the way to the road and had started to spill over it. From the roots sprouted thick vines, although they were hard to spot through the patches of clover. Three large faceted crystals—thicker and taller than Nala—floated above the two-tier monitor roof. When she passed the gate, she heard the hooting and screeching of owls.

The Caretaker: Without a second thought, Nala knelt in the grass and opened her arms as dogs and foxes rushed towards her for pets. Wet noses burrowed into her, and she was quickly covered in fur.

"Oh, look at all these wonderful creatures," she murmured, petting as many of them as she could. "Aren't all of you the most precious things?"

"Hi, Donnegan!" Chloe called out. "We heard you needed help today."

The resemblance between Donnegan and Tamil was unmistakable. Both had clouds of hair that perfectly framed their faces. They also shared spiral horns that reached upwards, light blue skin, and rich yellow eyes with green rings. However, Donnegan had a far stronger jawline, as if it were a piece of wood that had its corners smoothed just enough to not be sharp. He wore the same uniform as the four of them, his colored purple with a red trim. Along with the book secured at his side, he wore three vials filled with blue sand, each one corked, each with a green flame flickering inside.

At that moment, he was feeding the chickens, scattering seed on the ground for the small birds. Upon seeing Chloe, he threw the last of the feed wide and started marching towards them from behind the cargo net fence. He was tall; Nala hadn't really taken notice the other day due to his posture. Now, in the light of day, with her full attention, she could perceive a palpable aura of strength radiating from him. Donnegan's long stride brought him to them almost instantly, and with the clover riding so high in the front yard, it seemed as though he was flying through it rather than walking.

"Well, damn, I didn't think Miller would send two of Sabryna's finest!" His voice boomed with a deep rumbling bass. "Chloe, River, how are you both doing today!?"

River had said, "I'm existing."

Simultaneously, Chloe had replied, "I'm fine! Thanks for asking."

She was still making sure that every canidae there got equal attention, adoration, and affection. Scritches and pets were being doled out in abundance. Laughing, Nala pulled a few of the treats she'd picked up off the floor and began to feed the small animals surrounding her. The hyperactive barking and laughter started to reach a manic fervor as the excitement of "New Person" mixed with "Has Treats."

"And who might you be?" Donnegan had asked, clearly amused as Nala continued to play with the animals.

The Ally: She stood up, scooping up one of the larger foxes. "I'm Nala," she said, snuggling into the small creature that let out a giggling bark. "We met last night, for a moment at least."

Chloe nodded. "She's with the last wave. Since it's just her, we're getting her acclimated with work."

Almost unbidden, Nala thought about her dream earlier that morning, and as she did so, she saw something glow in the eyes of the fox. It wore a little dog tag that said, "Crystal."

[x] - Learn a secret about River.

In Nala's arms, Crystal grew squirmy, and she gently set it back down. It immediately started pawing at her legs for more 'uppies'. With a roll of her eyes, Nala reached down to pick it up again, but it shot its face into her pocket and nabbed the prism she had found that morning.

"Oh, uh, shit," Nala swore, as Crystal started to crouch low, its hips wiggling as it playfully backed away from her. "Uh, sir, your fox took a rock out of my pocket. Is that going to hurt it?"

Donnegan looked over at the fox, Crystal, with the quartz in its mouth. "They don't eat anything that will hurt them," he assured. Yet, there was something else in his eyes, an added curiosity, perhaps, as he watched the creature. "Where'd you get it, anyway? Did you come to get a familiar? I think you found one."

"Rufus gave it to me," Nala mentioned casually. "I think, at least, it was in my pocket when I woke up."

Donnegan blinked at Nala for a moment. "What? I thought Rufus was—"

Tamil looked at Nala with wonder, "Uncle, Nala," then she shifted her gaze to Donnegan, "in the end, she comforted Rufus. She made it so he could talk; I got to say goodbye."

The Counselor: He didn't like that at all! His hand reached almost immediately for the vials on his belt. He was playing the situation off, but his posture subtly shifted, positioning himself between Nala and the rest of the group. Nothing overly visible, but a clear tension was detectable. Small beads of sweat dotted his forehead. The only two people who seemed aware of this sudden shift were Nala, and River.

"Wow, that's something really special," Donnegan remarked, grinning broadly. His smile contained an excess of teeth and a lack of genuine happiness.

River's voice rang out, powerful and furious. "She's not a monster, Donnegan. She needs help."

Bewildered, Donnegan turned to River. "I didn't say anything, River," he defended himself, his hand remaining near the flamed vials on his belt. "I just think that's neat, that's all."

River stared intensely at Donnegan, their gaze seemingly assaulting him, before saying, "Ok," and taking a step forward. "Admiral ordered us to watch her."

The Counselor: They know something we don't.

The tension was shattered by a loud crack and a flash of light. The fox had bitten into the stone from before and was illuminating the yard with dancing lights. Tiny points began to twist and turn over each other as glowing fluff spread from Crystal. Her eyes shone with an intense brightness. She floated in a small circle, thick black ichor pouring from her. The darkness seemingly melted away from her fur, turning her snow white. Then tiny rivulets of melted fox began to run down the white fur. The creature had started to decompose, flesh falling away from bone. The pool grew both wider and deeper as every part of the fox—except the bones—disintegrated.

Everyone was struck with horror as the creature's skeleton remained standing in the circle of melted viscera. It scratched a spectral ear and then sat down. The bones were a rough off-yellow, and within the skull two tiny flames flickered. Barking happily at Nala, its mouth hung open loosely, allowing the panting to be heard.

"What did you DO to it?!" Donnegan shouted with fury.

I don't know, Nala thought, widening her eyes in shock. I didn't DO anything. I don't get it.

"Nala had no idea, Donnegan, she didn't do anything!" River yelled, drawing his sword and positioning himself between Nala and Donnegan.

One of the flames in the skeletal fox's eyes flickered out for a moment, only to return. A wink? It tilted its head impishly at River.

The Counselor: Wait... Can River... Can they hear us?

Donnegan unclasped one of the vials on his belt and tossed it at the fox skeleton. The skeleton regarded Nala with tranquil certainty, before it leaped to the side as the vial shattered, spewing gelatinous flame that burned through the field of clover.

Do not hurt anyone, BUT PROTECT THE CREATURE. The Cruel
[ ] - Stop anyone from getting hurt, by any means necessary. Lose Voice The Cruel, gain voice The Coyote.
Jump in the way. The Caretaker
[ ] - Protect the creature, by putting yourself between it and danger until the fight ceases. Lose voice The Caretaker, gain voice The Witch.

--- Commentary ---

The Ally: Chloe and River are our friends; they might get hurt if we put ourselves in harm's way. River almost attacked the guy for what he was thinking.

The Counselor: Agreed, but showing more dangerous magic could also escalate things. We shouldn't be unleashing this part of ourselves every time things go wrong.

The Caretaker: This is our fault; we're the ones who should bear the brunt of it. We have to do something. We should make a stand.

The Cruel: I refuse to entertain this farce. It is not our fault he sees malice in the fantastic. Let him flail against our might.

VOTE RECAP

Share your information later?

[ ] - Deny the request entirely: The Counselor
[ ] - Offer to give a public talk: The Ally
[ ] - Offer to give a demonstration to the instructors: The Cruel
[ ] - Offer to discuss it over a nice luncheon: The Caretaker

[ ] - Wait and See



Protect the fox
Do not hurt anyone, BUT PROTECT THE CREATURE. The Cruel
[ ] - Stop anyone from getting hurt, by any means necessary. Lose Voice The Cruel, gain voice The Coyote.
Jump in the way. The Caretaker
[ ] - Protect the creature, by putting yourself between it and danger until the fight ceases. Lose voice The Caretaker, gain voice The Witch.



Choose your Voices
[ ] - The Counselor
[ ] - The Ally
[ ] - The Cruel
[ ] - The Caretaker

 

[Princess Scribe]

The Caretaker: Nala jumped in the way between Donnegan and the spectral fox. The glass smashed against her forearms, covering them in sticky flame. It incinerated the sleeves of her uniform instantaneously and devoured her flesh.

The Cruel: Of course it does; there were better ways. There are bones in this earth.

[ X ] - Protect the creature by putting yourself between it and danger until the fight ceases.

She turned inwards and separated herself from the sensation. The fire wasn't hot, or possibly so hot it had instantly incinerated the nerves. A chill settled over her, and with a shake, she threw the flame to the ground around her. Nala felt the fox wrap around her ankle as the sickeningly sweet smell of charred meat filled her nose. A distinctly familiar acrid aroma brought back distant memories.

Animals in the yard scattered, dogs and cats rushing back into the farmhouse, while the other foxes hissed, backing far away from the violence. The rooster crowed in anger, but to Nala, everything had frozen.

The Caretaker: Nala! What were you THINKING?! She felt something inside of her break.

Nala slid her hand over the burnt flesh, peeling off dead skin. "Ow." She didn't sound bothered, merely making the noises that were expected of her. Absentmindedly, she discarded her arm's peel into the roaring blaze around her. A few strands of hair turned stark white, and she lifted her lip into a sneer. She looked down at Crystal, her new familiar. Nala reached down and gently cradled it, like a small child, while giving Donnegan a glare. She watched as a small spark traveled across his purple coat.

"Nala!" Chloe screamed. She flicked her gaze from Nala's arms to Donnegan, then back again. For a moment her hand twitched towards her spell book, but River put their hand out to stop her.

They barked at Donnegan, "What are you doing?!"

The Witch: Nala stood to her full height as pale yellow fluid trickled from the raw burns on her arms. When her eyes locked with Donnegan's, panic gripped their heart. Nala's eyes squeezed his chest, an unseen vice making it hard to breathe. Her words were deliberate, but had a hint of an accent that wasn't there before. It was ever so slight, the vowels were deeper and more rounded, her tone now carrying a line of bass.

"I am protecting something," she spat on the floor and then shot a violent look deep into Donnegan's eyes. "Whatever you were attempting to do, you are done now."

Donnegan's eyes had no pupils. Just golden green saucers of iris surrounded by whites. "What is that thing?" He snarled.

Nala's vision flashed; she could see herself, her face buried in an ancient smock, as a withered voice roared at an unseen assailant.

The Witch: "This thing is under my protection." The memory and herself spoke simultaneously. "If you wish, you can test the boundaries of my patience. You do so at your own risk."

The whites of Donnegan's eyes had glowing runes written on them, and on closer inspection, tiny tusks had appeared under the irises. Blood trailed out of his tear glands as the eyes opened up to speak. "You don't belong here. Leave this place." His two eyes spoke in unison, one high pitched and keening, and one low.

"No, there are things here I like," Nala said patiently as she placed the skeleton on the ground, "And I am very protective of things I like." Her voice was low, and touched by affection. She kissed it on its bony skull, and it licked her wound in return. Nala whispered to it, "It's okay."

Crystal gave her a quick look, before taking a small nibble, tearing soft cooked flesh off her. As she supped, her sinew, muscle, skin, and fur grew back. Soon Crystal was re-formed and had a wide smile plastered across her face. She received gentle scratches across her cheek and behind her ears, and Nala took a deep breath.

Her ability to dissociate from the pain was quickly leaving her. The wounds swelled with an intense ache.

The Witch: Remember, girl, your breathing. You can feel this later.

The Cruel: Right. Nala closed her eyes and took deep breaths, counting internally. Deep inhale, 1... 2... 3... 4... exhale, 1... 2... 3... 4... She pushed the sensations back down deep and bottled them for a more appropriate time.

Donnegan jammed his hands into his eyes and swore. He was lost and struggled to adjust to his surroundings. The man swayed and had to catch himself before he fell forward. When he noticed the flames, he rolled up one of his sleeves and ran it over text that had been tattooed into his arm. They died out, leaving only patches of dead burnt earth. The animals had fled into the safety of the farmhouse, and the front yard was silent.

The Cruel: The Glass.

The smell of meat and burnt grass had been all that remained of the encounter. Without really thinking, Nala reached down and started to pick glass out of the ground, collecting them into a small pile in her hands. Everyone was frozen as they watched her odd ritual. When she looked back at them, her tone warbled.

Nala tried to explain herself, "I don't want one of the animals to cut their feet." Her hands trembled as she continued to pick the tiny slivers out of the ground. She accidentally grazed a piece with her hand, and then stared as blood slowly oozed out of her fingertip.

"I don't get what I did wrong," she whispered.

The Ally: Hey, whoa, you didn't do anything wrong. You couldn't have known how today was going to go.

The Cruel: Get up. They are fighting over you. Stop being burdensome.

Chloe and River were arguing with Donnegan somewhere in a far-off place. Somewhere removed from the dirt, blood, burns, and glass.

The Witch: I will tell you where you went wrong. You have no self-preservation. When you enter a room, you must scream, "Here I am, look!" Always, since you were small. The first night you are here, everyone must know how special you are. You were in pain, passing out, but you must talk, and talk, and talk. You see danger and you must walk up and say hello. When a literal open flame is thrown in your direction, you leap in front of it. You have magic. You have a sword, you stupid girl. I don't know why I could never teach you to Think!

[ X ] Cursed Empathy

The Cruel: Oh, in your final moments, how well did thinking help you, exactly? Nala was sneering at the blood stream that was now running into her palm, her lip curled, revealing razor-sharp canines, living off scraps squirreled away alone. Wouldn't it be lovely if we planned like you did? Maybe we could buy our own child. Get them to mercy kill us because we got trapped under a goddamn rock. We will pull ourselves forward as long as another person needs us. We will stop when we are dead.

Chloe came over and helped Nala pick through the clover for glass. She had said something to Nala, but there was no reply.

Nala had long since left her shell behind. She had become a statue, eyes locked with the blood-red drop.

The Cruel: Nala. Get. Up.

The Witch: Even after two and a half decades, you are still a child. Are you not too old to be having tantrums? Wah wah wah, poor baby didn't get enough hugs and kisses growing up. Poor baby doesn't have enough friends. Pah.

"ENOUGH." Nala said, clenching her fists. She winced as the glass pierced her skin, but it gave her clarity. Then she turned to the other two women and apologized. Tamil held out a handkerchief for the glass in her hands, and Nala deposited her shards then said to Chloe, "Did Donnegan say what we are doing today? We should move forward." Her voice was even, still like placid waters.

Chloe furrowed her brow, and replied slowly, "Donnegan's been touched by the Drakkenai. River has to take him to Doctor Gianna."

The Ally: I think, if it's ok with everyone, that I'm going to try and clean this up a bit. I know you all are having a moment, but uh... We look like a freak right now. Full stop.

Donnegan looked upset and flushed. He had retrieved a water skin and drank it as quickly as possible. It was clear he was avoiding eye contact with Nala specifically.

The Ally: "That makes sense, yeah." Nala's tone was bright and chipper again, less formal and filled with enthusiasm. "We should hang out then, do something to get our mind off this unpleasantness." With a twinkling smile, Nala moved closer to Donnegan, so he couldn't avoid her gaze. It was difficult, considering he, like everyone else here, towered over her. "I am sorry this happened. There was probably a better way to stop the vials than stepping in front of them. I hope I didn't cause you any harm. You look like you've really been through it."

Donnegan was taken aback, as was everyone. The sudden shift had once again surprised them, but he found it—as many people do—easy to fall back to the societal defaults of polite niceties.

"Of course, I..." He looked to Crystal, "Familiars normally shift to match their masters. I shouldn't have reacted like that. It's a good thing you came. If you had gone somewhere else today, who knows how long it would have been before someone noticed I was off. I'm... I'm really sorry. Are you okay?"

The Witch: No, of course not, you're in terrible pain. People have perished from burns half as deep.

The Cruel: You can endure.

"I'll live," Nala said with an easy laugh, "I've actually been through worse. I'd tell you about it, but you should be off."

The harshness that normally dominated River's eyes had been smoothed to a soft caress. "You sure?"

[X] Learn a Secret about River.

Crystal barked out a giggle before crawling up Nala's uniform to perch on her shoulders. "Yes, absolutely, maybe we should all get together and chat. Pick each other's brains a bit?" The leery smile grew, "You know, get in each other's heads. I just want to know what you're thinking about everything today." It barked again. Her voice was delicate yet regal. The tone skipped as she spoke, with a circular quality as the pitch fluctuated up and down.

The necromancer did a quick once-over around herself, to see if anyone was amazed by the fox talking, but none seemed to notice. She wondered why Tamil was so shocked that Rufus spoke if animal familiars could.

River widened their eyes, and hissed at Crystal's statements. "Yeah. We should talk. Alone," they said rather pointedly.

[X] - Offer to give a demonstration to the instructors: The Cruel

"If you see Admiral Miller, by the way, tell him I'm willing to do a demonstration of what I can remember of my spells. I think it might be better to cooperate; we could possibly piece things together." She then looked over her shoulder at Tamil, "I should probably get these wrapped up before risking infection."

Tamil nodded, "Yeah... Right, sorry... We've got stuff in the house, come on."

The Witch: Pah, if you will not rest, there is pinwheel flower here, for the pain. Remember, it is poisonous if prepared incorrectly.

"Excellent, and if I could use your kitchen, that would be lovely." Nala quickly moved towards a stack of large stones resting against one of the thick roots where a Pinwheel flower shrub had grown, "Can I pick these?"

With a quick shake of her head, Tamil said, "Please not those ones, that's a cairn. There's a bush by the front door." She pointed at a shrub with far less grooming, and with a nod, Nala shifted her path.

Tamil and Chloe were quiet as they shuffled behind her. Nala felt a gentle hand on her shoulder as she picked the flowers. She looked up at Chloe who said, "You're... I can't even call it bleeding, look at your arms, you're leaking pus. Please just let us handle this, okay?" She gently reached out to take the flowers from her. "I want to help."

Nala didn't want to make someone else handle it. She just wanted to put this stupidity behind her. The more she thought about it, the angrier she got. There was No Way, to know this would happen, in fact, she had handled it much better than anyone could have expected. No-one got hurt, she didn't do anything scary, everyone was more concerned about Donnegan than her.

The Ally: Did she say cairn? Like, a grave marker?!

Huh? Oh... Oh god, we might have... Suddenly, the burns seemed like a much better option.

The Ally: Yeah, that's what I was thinking. That could have been capital B Bad. I don't know how you smooth over turning grandma into a walking pyre.

Nala made a strangled honk somewhere between a snort and a laugh, and pocketed the flowers for that moment. "I'm fine, really."

The burns on her arm had become dark and waxy, with the texture of gummy raisins. Chloe looked from her wounds to her. "Nala, you can keep saying that if it helps you. It's not going to stop me from worrying."

[ ] Keep insisting Nala's fine.
[ ] Dodge it when it comes up.
[ ] - Give them just enough to get them off Nala's back. - The Counselor
[ ] - Just be honest. - The Ally

There was no response; instead, the two followed Tamil into the farmhouse. The interior was filled with bric-a-brac, shelves upon shelves of tiny sculptures, statues, crystals, orbs, marbles, pieces of wood, wands, staffs, the occasional scepter, and a few dolls whose eyes seemed to follow them. Hanging from the roof were herbs of all kinds, many Nala recognized, but a few she did not. Animals flitted around furniture in near silence, the only sound was their claws scrabbling on the hardwood floor.

The walls not covered by shelves were lavender. Some runic passage had been inscribed along the baseboard, with giant lettering in panel molding written to take the shape of an eye. As Nala looked at the crown molding, it too had long sentences that glowed as they all walked past it. There were clear shelves that held spots for cats to lounge and watch from high up among the herbs. In the corner, a compact spiral staircase led to the second floor; there was a door behind it that seemed to be completely inaccessible from the position of the staircase. They walked through double sliding doors into the kitchen, which was far neater. It must have been cleaned moments before they entered because everything gleamed with a highly reflective shine.

The floor had white tile, with small black diamond tiles in the corner, and the thick, smooth black wood of the table felt cool to the touch. A streak of bright sunlight shone through the large window. The window held a picturesque view over the city; it looked much smaller, similar to the tower Nala left. The view made her uncomfortable.

As Nala slid into an incredibly plush chair without arms, she took deep breaths. Her head had gotten quiet again. Probably helping manage the pain, she thought. Across from where she was sitting was the kitchen island, all the countertops were some black polished stone with green veins. Tamil left for the first aid and walked down a hallway to the left of Nala.

Chloe slid into the seat across from Nala. For the first time, Nala noticed her eyes, they were bright amber. Solid shining plates that twinkled in the light. Her cheeks were warm, and she had painted her lips a deep plum color. Was she wearing makeup last night? Nala couldn't remember. Was it for her? Surely not.

The idea sent a flutter through her chest nevertheless.

The Ally: "I love that color on you, by the way," Nala said, pointing to her own lips but taking the chance to break eye contact.

There was a twitch at the corner of Chloe's lip. "Thank you," she replied, pulling out her spell book on its thick chain and placing it on the table. "It's a background process I have running. Almost everyone has a few, just a little color to zhuzh up your looks a bit."

"It takes energy, right?" Nala asked, her voice colored with curiosity. She looked at the runes but still couldn't read them. As she observed the spell book, she noticed a pattern: some spells had huge amounts of blank space, formatted into staggered steps. Other spells were wrapped in tight blocks with broken circles surrounding them. "There were those receptacles for energy around the school."

Chloe nodded. "Yeah, not a lot though. It's hard to put numbers on feelings, but I notice if I keep the spell up for long, I need a bigger dinner, that's all."

[ X ] Workstudy I

-Discuss the spell book? Pick 2.
[ ] Ask what other spells are useful, learn one. (Gain Spell, Energy Transfer)
[ ] Ask to learn that specific spell. (Gain Spell, Minor Glamour)
[ ] Ask about larger magic theory, the differences between the runes, for example. (Gain spelltheory, Spell Crafting for Children)
[ ] Ask about Donnegan's eyes. (Gain bestiary, Touched by Drakkenai)
[ ] +1 bonding time
[ ] (Another) +1 bonding time

Tamil returned with a wooden chest. It had a large blue cross on it, and she placed it down next to Nala. Chloe stood, walking around the table. She looked through the box and sighed with relief as she rifled through it. The medicinal herbs and ointments had a strong scent that made Nala a bit dizzy. The bandages, with runic writing on them, had been packaged in butcher paper with twine to keep them clean. Tamil took out a small package of honey-colored balls in a small vial. "It's willow bark extract," she said, "We make a dough to keep the doses consistent."

A small assortment of first-aid supplies were laid out on the table. Then Chloe said gently, "Tamil can make the medicine with the Juniper flower."

"It's... I'd rather..." Nala was surrounded. "It's poisonous. If done wrong, I mean."

[ ] Push to do it herself. (Gain Spelltheory, Alchemy and Cooking in Sabryna)
[ ] Submit to care. +1 bonding time

After that was decided, with a proffered hand, Chloe said, "Will you let me treat your burns?"

[ ] "They're only on my forearms, I'd rather learn to use your supplies to treat my own wounds." (Gain spelltheory, First Aid basics, Burns and Bandages )
[ ] Submit to care. +1 bonding time

While Nala could hold onto an infinite number of voices in her mind, she knew she could only bring three with her at a time.

[] The Ally
[] The Cruel
[] The Witch
[] The Counselor

 

[Princess Scribe]

In the hopes of being a little less opaque this is from my notes of running flags and what not, plus I realize having a list of knowledge and spells and things might be useful for choices. I'm also putting what voices enabled that action for vote related things.

Personality:

Cursed Empathy
Kindness
A Friend
New Name
Talked to the Beast [Al/Co]
Fox familiar (Crystal)

Gear:

Enchanted Sword [Cr/Co]
Map and Compass
Scribbled Spellbook [Cr]
Metal device with trigger and handle

Events:

Told the truth about being from another world [Al]
Talked to the beast [Al/Co]
Raised Rufus [Al+Cr+Co]
Witnessed Drakkenai raid (Didn't pass out.) [Cr]

Education Path:

Work Studies I - Danger with Donnegan [Al+Cr+Co]
Public Demonstration [Cr]

Voices:

Cruel
Counselor
Ally
Witch <- From Caretaker

 

[Princess Scribe]

[X] The Ally
[X] The Cruel
[X] The Witch

"It's... I'd rather..." Nala was surrounded. "It's poisonous, if done wrong, I mean."

Tamil looked at Chloe, then back to Nala, then a second time with more anxiety to Chloe. "Well, I know that, Nala... I grow it on my property because it's medicinal."

"It's nothing personal, of course! I just..." Nala sighed and rubbed the back of her neck, wincing as the burns on her arms stretched, pushing out new streams of clear fluid. "I've only been here a day, I got set on fire, you know... Not because of you, of course, but it's just... We could compromise? I do the medicine, you do the bandages?"

Chloe's mouth was a grim slash across her face, but she nodded to Tamil.

"Will you at least take one of the pills?" Chloe asked, maybe less gently than she could have.

Nala nodded, picking up the orb and quickly swallowing the compressed pill of honeyed dough.

Chloe's voice became low and gentle as she reached out for Nala's hand. "Here..."

Nala nodded back in response, raising her hand. Inwardly, though, she cringed at the idea. The... intimacy, or... vulnerability or... pointlessness... of it all seemed like too much.

The Ally: What's the point of a new you, if you just repeat the same actions?

[X] Submit to care. +1 bonding time

She hated it, but Nala knew the voice was right. Chloe grabbed a round bottle with a long neck, filled with an off-white, almost pink liquid. When she popped the cork, the room filled with an acrid scent like sugary tar. She removed a rag from a clean parcel of butcher paper, wrapped with twine.

"This is carbolic acid," Chloe said. "It's antiseptic, it will kill off any germs that could cause infection. Here, I'm going to need to hold you still, can I have your hand?"

Nala offered her hand tentatively. Chloe's palm slid under Nala's, and Nala's breath caught in her throat.

Chloe's hand was simultaneously softer and rougher than Nala had expected. There were the callouses of a sailor, the thick toughness of someone who pulled on rope and climbed masts, but also they were silky smooth. The care she showed, the pillowy whorls of her palm, ignited sparks across Nala's body. The hand — Chloe's hand — was extremely warm, almost as warm as Nala's face had become when they touched. Blossoming with a rapid blush, Nala quickly tried to find something, anything else to look at. Her eyes met the spell book, and she opened her mouth to speak, but the words she searched for were lost.

With a soft whisper, Chloe asked, "You ready?"

"Yes. Don't bother being gentle." Nala replied, her voice tinged with a confidence she was desperate to maintain.

Nala noticed Chloe hesitating and was certain she heard a gulp. She pushed the thought aside, along with a dozen others she was trying to process. Chloe then pressed the rag to the wound, blotting it with antiseptic.

Chloe hadn't understated the pain. It sliced through any romanticized notion of the situation, gnawing at her mind. Nala curled her lip into a grin, letting out a sharp breath. "Shit." Her macabre smile wavered, and tears welled in her eyes. Chloe continued, removing debris with each gentle pat, the carbolic acid cleansing the wound. Purifying Nala, in a sense. The searing pain accelerated her heartbeat and sent adrenaline surging through her. Unbidden giggles erupted, endorphins flooding her system to counter the discomfort. The laughter persisted even after Chloe wrapped the wound with a clean bandage.

Nala said, "Sorry, I don't know why I laugh like that." She greedily drank water from the wineskin Chloe offered, "It always happens."

Nala wasn't sure if she was laughing or crying, or if the distinction mattered at that moment.

"You're doing great," Chloe said, giving Nala's face a quick glance and squeezing her shoulder, reigniting sparks within Nala. Chloe refilled the rag, moving to her other side. "Do you need a break?"

"No, why? Getting tired?" Nala teased.

Chloe snorted and resumed her work.

The second arm seemed to heal faster, partly because Nala's attention shifted to Crystal, the fox, who was signaling to Tamil.

Tamil, who was not supposed to be making medicine.

Tamil, who had been observing the entire scene.

Tamil, whose eyes locked with Nala's, a mischievous grin on her face.

The Ally: Nala quickly mouthed to Tamil, Please don't say anything. Tamil rolled her eyes, raised her hands in surrender, and nodded.

Before Nala realized, they were done. Chloe stepped back. Nala's arms tightly were bandaged, and the giggles subsided. Moving slowly, so as not to appear retreating, she nodded at Chloe. "I uh... You uh... Medicine? Should I make it?"

She cleared her throat and said, "Sorry, I'm going to make the painkillers now."

[X] Push to do it herself. (Gain Spelltheory, Alchemy, and Cooking in Sabryna)

For once, Nala wasn't woozy as she stood. The pain sliced through any exhaustion, and she moved across the quiet kitchen with fluid grace. She approached Tamil, who guided her to a cutting board, knives, mortar, and pestle.

The Witch: With swift gestures, the herbs glowed, drying almost instantly. The cutting board then erupted with noise as Nala finely chopped the herbs, her blade moving in a rapid blur.

Chloe and Tamil, hovering nearby, watched in awe. When the herbs glowed, Chloe pointed at them, asking, "What did you just do?"

The Witch: That deep, resonant tone emerged, "I made it Rot."

She turned to Tamil and Nala, demonstrating the hand gestures slowly. "It's for expediting decay, and it's also effective for drying herbs."

"Oooooh," Chloe vocalized, flipping open her spell book. "Nala, do you understand the hand gestures you're using?"

"I'm manipulating the flow of life," Nala answered. "Do you recognize the spell? I've been meaning to ask about your spell book. I've noticed runes on everything, but they're unfamiliar to me."

[X] Inquire about broader magical theories, such as the differences between runes. (Gain Spelltheory, Spell Crafting for Children)

"Yes, kind of. You're also creating logical constructs, look." Chloe opened the book to a page showing hand gestures and rune definitions. "It's the foundation of spell crafting. Your hand movements are forming the runes, see."

Chloe opened her palm, then clenched it into a fist, "If..."

She thrust her hand forward, "Then..."

She twirled her wrist, "For..."

"You're not using qualifiers or checks, which is risky, but I noticed some when you were casting on Rufus. And you use a lot of gestures. Makes sense, given that decay and entropy are complex." Chloe murmured, half to herself, "And you don't write them down... Do you memorize them? Can you demonstrate again?"

Realizing she could show them again, Nala felt a surge of delight. The joy bubbled within her like a brook. Nostalgia for academia, for the sharing and acquisition of knowledge, which she had long suppressed, flooded back. Memories of studying with Maldrake, surrounded by books, and the young dracolich playfully tossing paper balls at her, emerged. She nodded, and they began to review the gestures together.

Nala re-discovered Rot.

As they conversed, she swiftly ground the herbs in the mortar, requesting the highest purity alcohol available. A clear bottle was handed to her, and she took a sip to test it. Her audience winced at her action.

"Nala, that's pure ethanol," Chloe noted, "It's not really meant for drinking..."

Nala laughed, "How else would you gauge its strength?"

She transferred the paste into a wide-mouthed pot and carefully added some ethanol. As she made to leave the kitchen, Tamil and Chloe's expressions grew more concerned.

Tamil stepped in front of Nala, "Where are you going, Nala?"

"I need to refine the medicine, but boiling off alcohol indoors can be dangerous."

Chloe swiftly approached a section of the countertop engraved with magical runes. She traced her fingers over the engravings, and tiny blue flames flickered to life. Then, she activated a hooded stone overhead, which roared, creating a vacuum.

Nala set the pot down and experimented with the flames by sliding her finger along the counter, causing the ring of blue flames to fluctuate in size.

She monitored the boiling mixture, then pulled out several vials, verifying their contents with Tamil and Chloe. These were purer than any she had previously worked with. After mixing them, sharp smoke curled directly into the fume hood. When she requested weights and a scale, they presented her with another magical device capable of incredibly precise measurements. She noticed that every tool had standardized lines, allowing consistent measures across different containers and spoons. It became clear that Queenston's blending of science and magic led to remarkable precision, enabling even novices to achieve accuracy.

They had created systemic precision, one that allowed even the completely untrained to be accurate.

And Nala was now confident in her ability to use it.

"So... What now?" Nala inquired, pocketing the newly created pills.

[X] Inquire about other useful spells, learn one. (Gain Spell, Transferrence)

"Do I need to give energy for the fire?" Nala asked, turning to Tamil. "If we have time, I'd like to learn that. Chloe and River mentioned that many facilities use some kind of... Life Force? I'm unclear about the specifics or mechanics."

Tamil paused, her mischievous grin spreading. "Oh, it's easy, but I'm really tired. I've had a long day. Maybe Chloe should show you." Her words seemed directed more at Chloe than Nala. Chloe frowned, squinting at Tamil.

Her jaw tightening, Chloe said, "I'm not sure that's the best idea. If you could do it, it would really help."

Tamil's grin took on a nearly malicious edge, puzzling Nala. Silently observing their interaction, Nala pursed her lips.

"I'm still upset about Rufus and Donnegan..." Tamil's tone was overly dramatic, her words heavy with feigned sorrow. "I might not be in the right mindset." She let out a small, theatrical sob.

Chloe bit her lip, "Tamil, can we talk for a moment?" They quickly stepped aside.

Crystal the Fox, slinking quietly, followed to spy on them. She glanced at Nala for direction.

[ ] Spy on Chloe and Tamil's conversation.
[ ] Gesture to the fox not to pry.

The Ally: Ok, what do you think that was about?

The Cruel: Why concern ourselves with it?

The Witch: Whatever it is, it's beyond our control. Let's focus on what we can influence.

The Ally: I don't know, it just seems odd. You must think it's strange too.

The Cruel: With what standard do we judge weirdness? Has anything in the last twenty-four hours been remotely normal?

The Ally: People are still people, though. And people have private conversations when they're hiding something.

The Witch: Then why eavesdrop? It's irrelevant. And control your emotions, girl; they'll only complicate things further.

Nala hissed inwardly, I'm sorry?

The Witch: You aren't sorry enough. Leave them be; it'll only lead to trouble.

The Cruel: You said that about the Dragon, too, and that worked out well for us.

The Witch: Did it really?

Before they could delve deeper into the conversation, the back door opened again. Tamil emerged, radiating joy, while Chloe looked defeated. Tamil bounded over with a skip in her step.

"Sorry about that, Nala," Tamil said, her grin undiminished, while Chloe blushed and avoided eye contact. "We had to discuss how to teach Transferrence. It's simple, but you really need someone to show you. It's like a muscle you're unaware of. It's quite revealing. We'll be glimpsing into each other; I hope that's okay?"

"What do you mean by 'glimpsing' exactly?" Nala asked, anxiety creeping in as she began to absentmindedly pop her knuckles. "Like, into each other's minds?"

Tamil nodded. "Exactly. Nothing too invasive, but still, a heads-up is necessary."

The Ally: Oh... Everyone, be quiet.

"Right, understood," Nala replied softly. "And this is common?"

Tamil smiled warmly. "Yeah, transferring mana is almost as essential as money. Most things are energy-taxed. To heal your wounds, you need to know this."

"Okay, let's do it," Nala said, bracing herself.

"Just raise your hand and be open to the experience," Tamil instructed.

Tamil lifted her hand, and bright lights began to circle it. A vibrant yellow vine, glowing with energy, grew forth, surrounded by tiny pink butterflies. Mana motes twinkled and swirled around, filling the room with the scent of straw and cinnamon.

As Nala raised her hand, a tingling sensation spread through her fingertips. A dark, oily tendril, shimmering iridescently, emerged from her wrist, unfurling into coral encircled by lazy cuttlefish that occasionally darted swiftly. The room now carried the fragrance of wine and old parchment. The dark beam reached towards the yellow.

The two beams connected, and Nala was immediately engulfed in profound grief. She mourned Rufus deeply, realizing the small fox wouldn't wake her the next morning, nor would Donnegan. Fear for Donnegan's recovery from the Drakkenai's influence gnawed at her. With the city in dire need of protectors, what would happen if her uncle remained lost to them? The possibility of his never returning to his former self weighed heavily on her. Despite the uncertainty, she knew she had to remain strong, smile, move forward, and perhaps even tell a joke. Nala felt a surge of shock and horror, but it was more for herself than from herself. She was...

The connection snapped. Nala and Tamil looked at each other, both visibly shaken. Nala fought back tears, and Tamil appeared pale and haunted, dark circles under her eyes.

Taking a deep, shaky breath, Tamil finally spoke. "Hey Nala?"

"Yes?"

"If anyone else wants to do that, warn them you've seen some shit." Tamil chuckled weakly, crossing the kitchen to pour herself a glass of water. "You're a mess, Nala." She widened her eyes at Chloe and mouthed wow.

Nala, furrowing her brows, asked, "What happened on your end?"

Tamil offered a weary smile. "I didn't get anything specific from you. You might have seen more from me. Your headspace, though, is a bit..." She paused, coughing.

Nala tried to smile back, looking between Tamil and Chloe, who seemed stunned by Tamil's reaction. Tamil took another sip of water, not immediately responding.

"You've got a lot on your plate," Tamil finally said. "We all do."

"Ah... Right?" Nala's smile faltered. "How do I warn others?"

"Just be adamant that it's a bad idea. Most will understand, and the rest will learn quickly why we don't pry," Tamil suggested, finishing her water. "You know, you should talk to River. They could be helpful to you."

Chloe, concerned, approached Tamil. "Are you okay?"

Tamil shook her head slightly but insisted, "Yeah, I'm fine. It's just everything... Rufus, Donnegan... Maybe you should check in with Admiral Miller? I need some time alone."

"Okay," Chloe agreed, gesturing for Nala to follow her out. "We'll leave you to it. Stay safe."

Tamil didn't reply, she turned back to take a second glass of water.

As Nala and Chloe left, the animals of the kennel, including foxes, chickens, dogs, and cats, returned from their hiding places. The front yard, scarred with dead grass, bustled with life, although the giant crystals above seemed to have lost some of their mystique. A rooster crowed, the hens clucked in response, and they walked away from the gnarled roots spilling onto the street.

Nala turned to Chloe. "I didn't expect any of this. Raising Rufus, the fire, Tamil... I don't mean to cause trouble."

Perhaps you should be more guarded from now on. Nala grimaced, struggling to keep her balance on the steep hill.

"I don't want to be a problem," Nala said, "I just don't always think things through."

Chloe stopped and took a deep breath. "None of this is your fault. What happened on that ship was obviously traumatic..." She exhaled. "I was selfish to have Tamil teach you Transferrence. Everyone has their own burdens. She's inexperienced, still untouched by conflict. I forget what it's like before the reality of fighting sets in. You haven't done anything wrong. After the New Moon, things always get chaotic. There's likely Drakkenai loose in the city, and with one of our Protectors incapacitated, we're in for a rough time."

Nala nodded, and they continued in silence. Halfway to the Academy, amidst the cramped buildings of glass and cobblestone, they encountered River, returning with their characteristic directness. "Donnegan will be okay. He's also now leading the Work Studies."

"What do you mean?!" Chloe's voice rose, her fists clenched at her sides. "He set Nala on fire. He almost killed her familiar! She's been through enough, shouldn't she have a say?!"

River shrugged indifferently. "Our staff is stretched thin. We need to keep an eye on both of them."

"That's it?!" Chloe retorted sharply.

"Yeah," River said, turning to Nala. "Do you care?"

[ ] - "No, not really," Nala replied candidly, "I understand, these things happen." <Nala doesn't blame Donnegan for what happened.>
- [ ] - Later she added, "Can we just start today then?"
- [ ] - Later she suggested, "Should we call it a day?"
-- [ ] - "Maybe just read or study a bit more?" <Go to the library>
--- [ ] - "All three of us?"
--- [ ] - "I'd like to spend more time with Chloe."
--- [ ] - "I'd prefer to go with River for now."
-- [ ] - "Meet some new people?" <Go to the Cafeteria>
--- [ ] - "All three of us?"
--- [ ] - "I'd like to spend more time with Chloe."
--- [ ] - "I'd prefer to go with River for now."
-- [ ] - "Just hang out somewhere quiet? I know you two have to watch me." <Go to Nala's room>
--- [ ] - "All three of us?"
--- [ ] - "I'd like to spend more time with Chloe."
--- [ ] - "I'd prefer to go with River for now."

[ ] - "I care, but it's not something I'll fight over," Nala admitted, "I want to understand what's normal here, not punish someone who was mind-controlled by a monster." <Nala does blame Donnegan for what happened, but chooses to work with him.>
- [ ] - Later she said, "Can we start today then?"
- [ ] - Later she proposed, "Maybe we should call it a day?"
-- [ ] - "Perhaps just read or study some more?" <Go to the library>
--- [ ] - "All three of us?"
--- [ ] - "I'd like to spend more time with Chloe."
--- [ ] - "I'd prefer to go with River for now."
-- [ ] - "Meet some new people?" <Go to the Cafeteria>
--- [ ] - "All three of us?"
--- [ ] - "I'd like to spend more time with Chloe."
--- [ ] - "I'd prefer to go with River for now."
-- [ ] - "Just hang out somewhere quiet? I know you two have to watch me." <Go to Nala's room>
--- [ ] - "All three of us?"
--- [ ] - "I'd like to spend more time with Chloe."
--- [ ] - "I'd prefer to go with River for now."

[ ] - "I don't think I can continue like this," Nala sighed, glancing at Chloe, "Can we ask Miller if there's another option?" <Nala requests a switch, blaming Donnegan for what happened.>
[ ] - "Protector work seems too risky," Nala sighed, turning to Chloe, "Can we ask Miller for a different path?" <Nala requests a switch, not blaming Donnegan.>

(Recap Previous Votes)

Crystal the Fox, slinking quietly, followed to spy on them. She glanced at Nala for direction.

[ ] Spy on Chloe and Tamil's conversation.
[ ] Gesture to the fox not to pry.

While Nala could hold onto an infinite number of voices in her mind, she knew she could only bring three with her at a time.

[] The Ally
[] The Cruel
[] The Witch
[] The Counselor

 

[Princess Scribe]

Personality:

Cursed Empathy
Kindness
A Friend
New Name
Talked to the Beast [Al/Co]
Fox familiar (Crystal)

Gear:

Enchanted Sword [Cr/Co]
Map and Compass
Scribbled Spellbook [Cr]
Metal device with trigger and handle

Events:

Told the truth about being from another world [Al]
Talked to the beast [Al/Co]
Raised Rufus [Al+Cr+Co]
Witnessed Drakkenai raid (Didn't pass out.) [Cr]
Shared Some Dark Mind Stuff with Tamil instead of Chloe [!Co]
Seemed tough in front of Chloe [Cr]
Pushed to do your own medicine, but still compromised [Al]
Did your own medicine [Wi]
More importantly, didn't seem like a stubborn idiot by poisoning yourself [Wi]
Had a capital M Moment with Chloe [Cr+Al]

Education Path:

Work Studies I - Danger with Donnegan [Al+Cr+Co]
Public Demonstration [Cr]
Spellcrafting I
Alchemy and Cooking I

Spells:
Rot
Transferrence
Create Painkiller (Juniper Flower)

Voices:

Cruel
Counselor
Ally
Witch <- From Caretaker

 

[Princess Scribe]

Little bit longer, sorry. Work's picking up a bit, because no-one seems willing to stop doing science for a gosh darn moment.

Also the update feels like it's going to be a heavier one, but that's always dependent on whether or not I realize "Hey, actually this is a really good decision point."

I appreciate your patience!

Here's a drawing of Nala and Chloe I started doodling during a meeting today, Chloe I just kind of left alone after I realized I wasn't going to get the hair right, but Nala I finished later.

Born Nina, Once Lena, now Nala - The necromancer

Chloe, I think I spent more time on the eyes then on any other part lol

 

[Princess Scribe]

[X] The Ally
[X] The Cruel
[X] The Witch

[X] - "I care, but it's not something I'll fight over," Nala admitted, "I want to understand what's normal here, not punish someone who was mind-controlled by a monster." <Nala does blame Donnegan for what happened, but chooses to work with him.>

River regarded Nala with an unmistakable expression of respect. They acknowledged her decision with a nod before addressing Chloe, "She has made up her mind." They became gentle, and pulled out their book, "Here let me repair your uniform. Your sleeves are all burnt to shit."

They ran their fingers over a passage, and the jacket sewed itself back together. The blood drained from River's, and they paled from their normal vivid red, to a light pink.

Chloe seemed to want to argue, and also seemed bothered, but she didn't say anything else.

"Right now, it's not worth the hassle," Nala said. "I'm not happy about what transpired, but I won't stir trouble on my first day here." She felt a soft touch on her hind legs and turned to see Crystal indicating a desire to be picked up.

Nala hoisted the fox onto her shoulders, and the creature perched there, like a clumsy parrot. She had become surprisingly small and settled snugly into the curve of Nala's neck. Crystal yawned and then suggested, "Can we steer this conversation towards some chickens? Or mice? I'm extremely hungry."

The Ally: Honestly, we could eat too.

"Hmm. Sure." River led the group through the city to a small wooden cart filled with half-moon pastries, emitting an aroma of baked dough and seafood. They ordered three, distributing the food promptly.

The pastry, known as a patty, tasted delectable. Stuffed with heavily spiced meats, it was hot and substantial, warming Nala to her bones. The heat rendered her tongue decadently numb. Realizing her ravenous appetite, heightened by constant walking and exertion, she devoured her first and eyed the stand with growing greed.

River quickly gave Chloe a nudge and handed her a small bag of coins, which she passed to Nala, saying, "This is your starting stipend. You would have received it during orientation."

The coins in the bag were silver, each side emblazoned with crossed swords on one and a dove on the other. They were heavy and ornate, seemingly crafted by some sort of magic press to be nearly identical. Eagerly, Nala traded a few coins for a pair of patties, finishing them just as Chloe and River completed their first.

[X] - Later, she asked, "Can we start today then?"

"So, if Donnegan is leading work studies, does that mean we're protectors now?" Nala queried once everyone, including Crystal, had finished eating.

"Yeah," River replied, "Do you have a spellbook? You'll need one." They opened theirs and tilted it towards Nala.

Nala, slightly confused, countered, "Couldn't I just cast it somatically?" However, upon seeing the book, she realized that was not feasible.

Casting it would require learning dozens of hand gestures over nearly half an hour. Moreover, the spellbook referenced other parts that had been stored and reused previously. Nala spent a couple of minutes just deciphering the complex glamour.

In that moment, she appreciated the time spent learning spelltheory with Chloe and Tamil earlier. The fundamental building blocks enabled her to piece together the spell quickly and even consider its expansion.

Spellcrafting I &&
[X] Scribbled Spellbook [Cr]

Nala quickly fished out the small pocketbook from the day before and flipped through the scribbled pages. She was able to locate a spell very similar to the glamour, though it was incomplete.

Curiously, River looked over his book at the notebook and then pointed. "The spell on the back is for editing text."

Nala ran her fingers over the back of the notebook and focused. Tiny purple sparks of light traced over the ink, and the messy, scribbled scrawl seemed to straighten itself into impossibly neat and ornate handwriting. It was a tight cursive, without accent or flourishes. Many of the struck-out passages were moved, and the book itself seemed to rearrange as Nala focused on it.

While reading River's book, she managed to finish the spell, and then added the other spells she had learned that day. It had taken but a moment, though she started to feel hungry again.

The Witch: With a quick toss of her palm, she completed the glamour. She thought of her coronation, the makeup, and a painting of herself the witch had commissioned before she had died.

"You might want to transfer that to something more substantial, like a warded book, later," River said, but there was a warble in their voice. Nala wasn't sure what she had done to cause that reaction. Then she realized they weren't looking at her book; they were looking at her.

- [X] - Spell Acquired - Janky Glamor
- [X] - Sustaining Spell - Janky Glamor

Did you do something? Nala asked The Witch internally. Externally, she had a rictus grin on her face and her eyebrows wrinkled the center of her forehead. She caught a peek of herself in a store window, and was shocked. Her normal brownish black curls now had a decadent ombre, red highlights streaked throughout. Her lips were stained black, and her eyelids had small wings at the tips of her eyes. Just past her teardrops had pinpricks of white, and as she stared closer, her irises had a small ring of light in it. In fact, the lighting no matter where she stood or leaned was perfect.

Her admiral uniform matched the purple of Donnegan's.

The spell then shifted, and the makeup, hair color, dyes, and purple fell away. A few more moments, and it was back.

The new glamor was much more powerful then River's or Chloe's, but also much more temperamental.

The Witch: A harsh grumble crawled through Nala's mind. "Do not think too much of it, girl."

Nala turned to Chloe, who gave her a warm smile. Meanwhile, Crystal giggled to herself quietly, her laughter reminiscent of a fox's bark.

Protector work, Nala soon found out, was rather boring. The following hours were spent meandering around the city and chatting. They chatted not only with each other but also with store clerks, money handlers, children, and people doing their daily tasks. Nala introduced herself more times than she could count and met more than twice as many people. She learned routes through the city and slowly became familiar with its layout and labels.

One of the people she met was Mr. Grayson, an elderly man who owned a farm just outside the gates. His hair was long, wavy, and bright pink like bubblegum. He spoke with a rural accent, and his hands were dry and cracked from working the earth. Nala was quite shocked to learn that he also lived outside the gates, where the Drakkenai seemed to roam. The three helped him load his cart with his remaining crops for the day to the Academy by the wharf. It was apparently a daily habit of Mr. Grayson's to donate whatever he hadn't sold — but would soon rot — to the students' cafeteria.

"Ah well, Ms. Nala, don't you worry about us none. Someone's gotta keep this town fed, hehah," he said. He carried a large tube, called a shotgun, an apparently extremely dangerous weapon. "Us Graysons, why, we've been taking care of Sabryna longer than Sabryna's been Sabryna. Hell, us Graysons were here before the first empire. Dating back to the first'uns."

Mr. Grayson had plenty of stories, some of which Chloe and River even confirmed as true.

It was a Grayson who had mapped every island, creating one of the first complete maps of the world. Though the map had long since been lost.

It was also a Grayson who had developed some of the first defenses the town used, acting as a backbone for the defensive shields during the New Moon.

When the first empire came to try and take their people, it was a Grayson who united the islands and defeated them.

And when the second empire surrendered, it was a Grayson who drafted the peace treaty.

"Hell, girl, it was the thirty-second Admiral, Karaboa Grayson, who first circumnavigated the globe! That's a history story for later though, I reckon. Thank you kindly for helping with the bags. Here, take a soursop." They had just finished loading everything into the kitchen, and Mr. Grayson gave them a warm goodbye. Before he left, he handed them a prickly green fruit. The insides were delicate, like a banana, and it tasted of intensely sweet-sour citrus.

Nala had learned that Sabryna was the name of both the island they were on and the nation. It had never been colonized — though not for lack of effort from their neighbors — and she discovered that Terra was an archipelagic world. Queenston and a handful of other surrounding islands that were part of the nation of Sabryna were called links. There were also dozens of sovereign states on Terra. However, as the third empire expanded, that number was quickly dwindling. People came to Sabryna because it was an open nation to all. Being always open, they had consistently stayed ahead of the curve scientifically. Those fleeing brutality brought their knowledge with them, and few who came to spy wished to leave.

"Some people call Sabryna the Siren nation," Chloe explained with a small laugh. "People come here lured by the calls of freedom, never to return."

River spat into the street. "Funny what happens when you treat people right."

---

After a delicious dinner in the cafeteria, the day soon came to a close.

[X] - Gained History: Politics, The Basics

The Ally: Nala remembered, as the trio were winding down for the day, that she normally read before sleeping. She took a moment, before Chloe and River said goodbye, to ask one of them for a book.

[ ] Ask River to lend Nala a book - +1 Bonding with River.
[ ] Ask Chloe to lend Nala a book - +1 Bonding with Chloe.
[ ] Study the pocketbook - (Gain Spelltheory: Spell Crafting with Libraries), (Gain voice, The Mystic), but Nala also got more tired, and cranky.


While she hadn't commented on it, Nala took note that the room across from hers had been emptied, and that Chloe and River's rooms had been moved to either side of her own. Though she knew it was not for her safety, there was something comforting about it after so much time alone.

However, it also served as a reminder that she was on a sort of probation and that she was being closely watched. When they were out, walking and talking, it was easy to forget. But the painful reality of her situation, flanked by guards, reminded her that she needed to be careful, and that Chloe and River might not have her best interests at heart.

Yet, when she rested on the bed with a book, she felt a change. The anxious thumping in her chest had subsided, replaced by a soft calmness.

[X] Spy on Chloe and Tamil's conversation.

Crystal had been pressing her ear to the door for the last hour and seemed satisfied with something. The fox quickly rushed over with an excited — but silent — yip, and started to regale Nala with what had happened between Chloe and Tamil.

"So Chloe and Tamil today... Do you really want to know?" Crystal asked, her rump wriggling in the air behind her, her pupils nearly swallowing her irises in excitement.

Nala rolled her eyes. "Yes, I want to know."

"Are you sure?!" Crystal goaded. "Once you know, there's no going back."

The Cruel: Nala grabbed a pillow from behind her and swung at the creature. With a small smile, she commanded the fox to speak, "Tell me, fox."

"Alright, alright," Crystal laughed, leaping forward over the pillow. She landed on Nala's shoulders, resting her paws on Nala's head. Crystal's size seemed to adapt for the greatest amount of levity in the moment. "Chloe has been watching you with more than just caution on your recent walks."

"Oh, I'm so sure," Nala rolled her eyes, but her cheeks grew warm.

"Yep," Crystal continued, "Apparently you do more of a sashay then a walk. She didn't want to touch minds and let you know she noticed. How indecent." The fox continued to snicker, while Nala lost herself in thought.

She wasn't entirely sure what she had expected Crystal to say. She knew it must have been something along those lines; the signs seemed obvious. Nala flushed at the idea of being wanted in this new world, of being desired, especially after years of being feared. Of course, it would happen, but she allowed herself a moment of pride at it happening so swiftly.

"Now, remember not to think about that at all," Crystal said, mischief glinting in her eyes.

"Why shouldn't I think about it?" Nala replied, confused.

Crystal broke out into more manic giggles. "Because of the mind reader, one Mix River?"

Nala gasped, then wanted to scream as she thought about her behavior the entire day during workstudies, "Oh my god, they know that:

[ ] - Every free moment today I've been gawking at my own glamour. Nala will reveal more of her vanity.
[ ] - I've been obsessing over them. Like... dangerously so. Nala will reveal more of her obsessiveness.

She fell back and let out a wail of despair. "Why did you tell me that?!"

"Careful with asking for forbidden knowledge. Man, I wonder how that makes them feel," Crystal continued to chitter, before moving over to Nala's desk and staring at a large bottle. "That's gotta be awkward. They're both probably worried about how those kind of feelings would mix with the dynamic between all three of you."

Nala took a deep breath. "I guess it is rather inappropriate, given the power imbalance." She exhaled and but her desire to scream only increased with further ponderance, "Wait, does that mean that River also knows about the Councilor's obsession?"

"Mmmhmmphf." Her affirmative was rather muffled, as Crystal's mouth was full with the glass handle of a bottle of brandy. She dragged it to Nala's hand.

Once the bottle reached her, Nala quickly took the cap off and started to chug. "How? How did I end up in this situation?! Why was I cursed with so much beauty?!"

Be careful what you wish for, I suppose, Nala rubbed her eyes, remembering the little voices in her head. You said you didn't want anyone to fear you, right?

How in God's name did that translate to starting my own harem?!

Oh, come on, it's not that bad.

The Cruel: "I rather like the strong one. She seems to have some grit." With a wave of his hand, he gestured at the fox. "We should probably speak aloud for the creature's benefit."

"Okay, what?" Nala took another swig. "Please explain."

"River..." The Cruel paused, thinking, trying to choose his words very carefully. "Seems like a project."

"You have to know how awful that sounds."

The Witch: "I would just like to remind you all," the Witch's bouncy, accented growl cut in. "You do not actually have to make choices like this. Anyone who would be pursuing you while in charge of watching you would not be suitable as a partner."

"This is, in fact, a very bad thing. A very dangerous thing. Not something to cluck about like hens," she added, then took another big swig of the bottle. "I know I have raised you better than this."

The fox laughed. "Oh wow, you're nuts, aren't you?"

Deflated, Nala let out a defeated groan. "No, I'm not nuts, I'm cursed. It was part of the spell that sent me here."

"Cursed with what exactly?" Crystal asked, watching Nala with curiosity.

"Cursed to... Talk to myself. I guess. Memories, feelings, little chunks of me that broke off at some point. One's my mother, another is my intuition. I haven't figured out the other two, I've been distracted by..."

"Theys, gays, and flambés?" Crystal offered helpfully.

The bottle found its way to Nala's lips once again. "Has anyone told you you're incredibly vexing?"

"No, but I'm sure that conversation will be in my near future," the small creature trotted over to Nala, sitting just out of arm's reach. "Why'd you take off? I feel like being a Queen had to be better than catching fireballs with your face."

Nala went to take another swig, but the bottle was empty. She threw it haphazardly, letting the glass shatter into a magical receptacle. She winced at the crashing, rancorous din.

"My spouse had died, and I had never wanted to be a ruler. When that stupid overgrown lizard chose to kick the bucket, everyone assumed I had 'lost my edge.' I realized that if I stuck around, I'd end up fighting another dozen wars, but this time alone, for people I hated." She snorted. "I was planning to be a swamp witch like my mother, but I found a spell that promised something more."

"What do you mean 'chose to die'? You mean like..." The fox made a squishing noise and then dragged her paw across her own throat.

"No, not like that. We were sharing my time to keep him alive. I lied about it, and when he found out, he wanted to cut it off." She was blunt, trying to cut through the story as painlessly as possible. "In the end, I realized if I kept being stubborn, then I just wouldn't get to say goodbye. But after he was gone, I realized that being a goddess is pretty unapproachable."

Crystal snorted. "Wait, did you really leave because you thought you had become a god?"

"Yes, absolutely," Nala nodded. "Look at what I can do, the way I carry myself. I am beautiful, charismatic, powerful, capable of breaking not only cities or nations, but an entire world. What else would I be perceived as? Once most people know me, they can't help but worship."

The fox snorted, "So, do lots of gods in your world ask mommy to be less gentle?"

Nala swung at Crystal without warning, completely missing the fox as it darted away. Instead, her fist connected with the wall, creating a softball-sized hole. They both scrambled away from her bed in panic. Black ichor, like veins, oozed from the damaged surface to her nails, resembling an infected wound. Both Nala and Crystal stared in horror.

"Oh no," Nala gasped, breathless.

Inside the wall, the ichor spread, eroding the structure. Tiny oily bubbles of white plaster began to pop and boil, creating a heavy foam. They watched in silent terror as the hole expanded. It revealed River, in the adjacent room, who spun around in shock.

They shouted, "What did you do!?"

Nala froze, her gaze fixed on River. In the back of her mind, she noted there was more than just surprise in River's reaction. Their body bore a litany of scars and healed wounds: punctures, old stitches, claw marks, and slashes. Some were obscured by the tight bandages wrapped around their chest, others extending into their breeches.

Before the eruption, River had been tending to a fresh wound, a ragged, bloody bite that contrasted starkly with their blue-tinged blood against the redness of their skin.

The fact that Nala could see those scars, that wound, and the importance of decency took her longer than was appropriate to process.

"Sorry!" Nala locked eyes with the floor.

"Fix the goddamn wall!" River continued to yell. "What the fuck's wrong with you!?"

The Witch: The foolish girl stopped panicking, remembering she was a powerful sorceress, a witch of the wilds, and not a whimpering babe. With complicated gestures and a few muttered words, she started to banish the spell with ease. Then she gave herself time to think about her actions.

The veins quickly receded, and the wall started to reform itself.

The Ally: She heard River's door slam, and before the incredibly angry person could say or do whatever they had intended, Nala called out, "There was a spider on the wall! I panicked, didn't realize the spell was so strong! I'm still gathering my memories!"

The silence stretched out beneath her, and Nala's heart stopped. She winced as she waited to see if she would get a reply. Instead, she just heard River's door slam again.

Crystal turned to the young necromancer. "Nala?"

"Yes?"

"I don't want to make the same mistake twice. Did you just try to obliterate me for making fun of you and Chloe? Or for implying you might not be equivalent to divinity?"

"The uh... The latter. Reflex. Sorry." Nala cleared her throat. "I hadn't really thought about how I might react to that outside of my home."

"You may want to work on finding a healthier way to handle being teased," Crystal suggested, with a gulp. "So, you were an evil queen then?"

"Yes, well... Ahem. I'm sure some would say I was evil, but that's rumored about every head of state." She tried to smooth her naval uniform. "I wore a lot of black, raised the dead; people made assumptions."

Taking a deep breath, Nala moved herself to the bathroom to sip water from the sink. "I actually don't mind being mocked, outside of a few touchy subjects."

"Like... What?"

She was embarassed, and tried to find a reason to stay in the bathroom. "Mmmmm... Don't make fun of my late partner, and the ah, the god jokes. I take that rather seriously. My nation was a theocracy. It's kind of a defense mechanism." The necromancer was now running her stinging hand under the faucet.

"What was the religion called?"

Nala winced, she hoped that she wouldn't scare off the poor fox. "Linaism. The worship of the God-Queen Lina, and her dragon consort."

"Wow."

In a tone that almost seemed pleading, Nala added, "If it helps, the only tenets were 'Don't be cruel' and 'Don't raise an army.' Nothing— Nothing weird."

Nala left the bathroom, and watched Crystal. The fox nodded in slow motion, her eyes wide and vacant as they stared at where the hole in the wall was. Meanwhile, Nala had been giving Crystal a weak smile in reassurance. They sat like that in awkward silence, when Crystal jerked, snapping out of their stupor.

"Oh!" Crystal yelped quickly. "Yeah, of course, that counts for loads. Bonus points AND kudos." Her tone dripped with sarcasm.

"Should I warn them? Tell the—" Nala started to say, but Crystal had already cut her off.

"No, you absolutely do not tell that to another soul," the fox said seriously. "You take that with you to your grave. When River catches your thoughts, we'll deal with it. People have weird intrusive thoughts all the time."

"Right." Nala gulped. "I'll... I'll watch my temper in the meantime."

---

Work Studies continued as normal for a while, a couple of weeks in fact, as Donnegan recovered. Nala largely settled into a routine: wake in the morning, follow Chloe and River (sometimes accompanied by Tamil) around the city doing odds and ends, then come home and read. She decided to diversify her education in her own time. Since she couldn't, Chloe helped tend to her wounds. The necromancer repeatedly found herself distracted by the incredible amount of fictional works created on Terra.

A reminder of the votes offered earlier this update.

The Ally: Nala remembered, as the trio were winding down for the day, that she normally read before sleeping. She took a moment, before Chloe and River said goodbye, to ask one of them for a book.

[ ] Ask River to lend Nala a book - +2 Bonding with River.
[ ] Ask Chloe to lend Nala a book - +2 Bonding with Chloe.
[ ] Study the pocketbook - (Gain Spelltheory: Spell Crafting with Libraries), (Gain voice, The Mystic), but Nala also got more tired, and cranky.

Nala wanted to scream, "Oh my god, they know that":

[ ] - "Every free moment today I've been gawking at my own glamour." Nala will reveal more of her vanity.
[ ] - "I've been obsessing over them. Like... dangerously so." Nala will reveal more of her obsessiveness.


The remaining votes, for how Nala spent her time before Donnegan took over leading Work Studies.

Nala had her first presentation on Necromancy. Forcing her to take The Cruel, she told Miller and the faculties the supplies she would need. They agreed she could keep them. She asked for:

[ ] - Ash from a Funeral Pyre that one loved but would part with, (Learn Summon, Wisp)
[ ] - A corpse with both hands pristine to be desecrated, (Learn Summon, Spider Hand)
[ ] - Nala had second thoughts and bailed at the last minute.

Nala did not have (First Aid basics, Burns and Bandages) and could spend more time with Chloe.

Nala did not let herself be completely vulnerable at the cabin, and lashed out. River saw her power, and offered to help hone it.

[ ] - Nala chose to wait around for Chloe, who watched Nala while River watched over Donnegan. (Gain Spelltheory: First Aid basics, Burns and Bandages), (Gain spell: Minor Glamor), and (Gain spell: Improved Glamor.) +2 Bonding with Chloe.
-or-
[ ] - Nala chose to "learn by doing," and took care of her own bandages. Then she spent time training with River while Chloe watched over Donnegan. (Gain Spelltheory: First Aid basics, I think I know what this does?), (Gain Spelltheory: Fighting basics, Combat Casting, Swords, and Pistols), and (Gain Bestiary, Touched by the Drakkenai) +2 bonding with River.
-or-
[ ] - Nala took a more balanced approach. Some days she spent with Chloe, (Gain Spelltheory: First Aid Basics, Burns and Bandages) and some with River (Gain Spelltheory: Fighting Basics, Combat Casting, Swords, and Pistols.) +1 Bonding with Chloe, +1 Bonding with River.

River and Nala had a chance to be alone and talked about River's powers. After discussing the extent of River's abilities, whom Nala could talk to about them if necessary, and touching on their origins, they found time to discuss other topics.

[ ] - Nala pried a little, but also shared in return. (Ask River about wounds, Tell River about Mother)
[ ] - Nala kept it strictly professional. (Discuss only River's powers and their implications)
[ ] - Nala opened up about her past and feelings, seeking advice. (Tell River about her past and seek guidance)
[ ] - Nala steered the conversation towards lighter topics, avoiding deep personal matters. (Talk about hobbies, interests, and lighter aspects of life)
[ ] - Nala inquired about the history of the Drakkenai and their impact on the world. (Learn more about the Drakkenai)

[] The Ally
[] The Cruel
[] The Witch
[] The Counselor

 

[Princess Scribe]

New Events:

Didn't forgive, but she chose to move on. River respected it. (New personality point: Honest but dedicated)
Took everyone's breath away with her jank ass glamor. [Wi]
Missed an opportunity, because her glamor was so exhausting.[!Co]
Learned some world history.
Seemed a bit like a baby bird to Chloe (still hot though.) [Al+Wi]
Seemed a bit like a wrecking ball to River (still hot though.) [Cr+Wi]

New Education:
History: Politics, The Basics

New Spells:
Janky Glamor

New Gear:
A Pauper's Purse of Coins


Current Sheet:
Personality:

Cursed Empathy
Kindness
A Friend
New Name
Talked to the Beast [Al/Co]
Fox familiar (Crystal)
Honest but dedicated

Gear:

Enchanted Sword [Cr/Co]
Map and Compass
Scribbled Spellbook [Cr]
Metal device with trigger and handle
A Pauper's Purse of Coins

Events:

Told the truth about being from another world [Al]
Talked to the beast [Al/Co]
Raised Rufus [Al+Cr+Co]
Witnessed Drakkenai raid (Didn't pass out.) [Cr]
Shared Some Dark Mind Stuff with Tamil instead of Chloe [!Co]
Seemed tough in front of Chloe [Cr]
Pushed to do your own medicine, but still compromised [Al]
Did your own medicine [Wi]
More importantly, didn't seem like a stubborn idiot by poisoning yourself [Wi]
Had a capital M Moment with Chloe [Cr+Al]
Didn't forgive, but she chose to move on. River respected it. (New personality point: Honest but dedicated)
Took everyone's breath away with her jank ass glamor. [Wi]
Missed an opportunity, because her glamor was so exhausting.[!Co]
Learned some world history.
Seemed a bit like a baby bird to Chloe (still hot though.) [Al+Wi]
Seemed a bit like a wrecking ball to River (still hot though.) [Cr+Wi]

Education Path:

Work Studies I - Danger with Donnegan [Al+Cr+Co]
Public Demonstration [Cr]
Spellcrafting I
Alchemy and Cooking I
History: Politics, The Basics

Spells:
Rot
Transferrence
Janky Glamor
Create Painkiller (Juniper Flower)

Voices:

Cruel
Counselor
Ally
Witch <- From Caretaker

 

[Princess Scribe]

Can't stop thinking about this quest, that I'm doodling the main character over and over lol, I can't really pick a singular face.

Spoiler: More Art

 

[Princess Scribe]

Scheduled vote count started by Princess Scribe on Jan 13, 2024 at 9:41 AM, finished with 3 posts and 0 votes.

No votes were able to be tallied!