exsiliumlogs | [closed]

[ Syllona sets up quickly once she felt she'd found a quiet spot to work with, circle drawn out with a stick and as much of the surface snow cleared away as she could handle. Dirt and ice is far from an ideal medium, but there's a little pride, looking around at her handiwork. One wide circle about a yard all around, three more inside it, slowly being filled in with careful symbols, delicate loops and strong carvings on parts that look like accents to an unfamiliar eye.

She fidgets, knelt down in the snow as she is, and sucks in a cool breath. The moment of truth for this little experiment is close enough to taste and she grins wide, reaching for the last section of the outer circle. It's a rare moment for her, but it's exciting!

Five more lines, I think. That should do it... ]

[Well she's not expecting to come across a scene that if not for the hunkered body of Syllona, scrawling out symbols in the snow, would look like something out of the bloody blair witch project, but there it is in her eyeline between the clutter of talk, dark trees-- unavoidable and impossible to ignore once spotted.

Regrettably.

Chloe takes a few somewhat cautious (though still casual) steps closer, eyes her friend as she goes about her...business.] Having fun?

[ She starts, pulling up straight and whipping to see Chloe with owlish eyes. One hand shifting on the stick, tight gripping and preparing to make it a weapon until her face registers and Syllona freezes. A beat passes and the alarm seeps out if her in a slow huff. ]

I, well, sort of. What are you doing all the way out here, Chloe? [ Its earnest, despite the irony. She does stand, dusting herself off to offer a smile. A decent hello as any. ]

[Brandished stick or not, Chloe doesn't look particularly fazed-- though she's glad to see Syllona's not speaking backwards or anything.] Oh, you know. Was in the neighborhood, thought I'd try pissing in the woods. [A beat:] Walking home on my way back from the transporter.

What are you up to?

[ Oh, so a mission? That sounds interesting in itself -- a lot of people have been going on missions, she's noticed, and its hard to stop from wondering where and what it was like -- but the question brings a sparkle of excitement to her eyes.

She comes Chloe's way, edging around the circle carefully. ] Practicing! I haven't done anything as big as the doors back on the moon in awhile, so... [ No longer a weapon, the stick is held forward, pointing attention to each tier and the writing within. ] I have to see, see what else I can do.

Ah. [Much as she tries to sound neutral about it, neutrality itself is the bit that gives away how she feels about magic in general. Syllona is dear to her, of course, but magic...well...it's never done her any favors.

Made her life that much worse, actually.]

And what exactly is it that you're aiming for in the 'what else' category?

I don't know. [ She hums a bit. ] I mean, my magic is very, uh, versatile, I think. But right now this circle here is to test how strong I can make things.

[ Vague and there's the feeling she maybe shouldn't explain the mechanics too much, so she's quick to add on a different vein, looking up at Chloe hopefully. ] You know? Like if I have to defend myself, I ought to find out.

'Things'? Like, what, the trees or-- [Magic talk: literally uncharted territory for her.]

[ That actually gets a bright little smile out of her, posture straightening as if Chloe had just handed her a birthday gift instead of a uncertain question. Did someone say Magic Talk??? ]

Things like other spells! Uhh, what's a good example. [ A quick glance around-- ] The snow! Pretend I wanted to melt a lot of snow, okay? I could make a spell to spread the heat of a fire over it, and melt it. But, if there was a lot of snow, one fire might not work.

[ She pokes with the stick at some snow, scratching out waves and spikes: a small fire. ]

So you want to see if you can make a lot of fire versus a little. [Reminds her of teenagers on YouTube, actually.]

[ Oh, the possibilities Youtube would present this kid. ]

Er, s...sorta! More like I want to be able to make the small fire as effective as a lota fire if I need to.

I'll be honest: doesn't really sound all that safe.

[ Snow is hard. That much she's known before coming out here, but its the whining voice in her mind as snow crunches underfoot. It's dangerous out here, and she reminds herself for maybe the hundredth time that it's not like she hadn't been cautious. Civilization is within sight with a little back-tracking but even still, she's marked out a path, low on every few trees, just a slice of her dagger. Not that this part of the woods has a lot of trees to worry about. Trudging on she sees why, a clearing. White as far out as she can see, it draws a gasp from her, but hardly out of surprise, its... it's--]

Kodesh, wow. Beautiful.

[Seviilia was rather fond of snow and ice. It made moving around much easier for her, and she tended to blend without armor on. The blue of her skin didn't lend itself to greener landscape.

Someone else is making marks on the trees as she moves, but not to keep track of her path. Sometimes, Seviilia just needs to sink her nails into something and she's not exactly trying to hide -- that is, until she hears a nearby heartbeat that causes her ears to flick. Too strong for an animal, yet too fast for an adult of any species she was familiar with...unless, of course, that adult was in distress.

Curious, she pulls her nails from the trunk and slithers toward the source...much quieter this time. Eventually, she spots Syllona from a distance, but doesn't approach her just yet.

What was a child doing all the way out here?]

[ She's already stepped out into the clearing, steps cut deep into the blanket of snow and while the initial wonder dulls just a bit, a new thought has her smiling. Syllona crouches for a moment, drawing with a gloved finger, then hurries a few feet away and repeats it all where the snowline bends lower.

She looks once between the two spots, then does one last mark and something happens. There's an audible snap through the air, like cracking electricity, and the snow at both sites shifts and shudders before a force cuts outward from each, splitting wide cracks several feet long.

Things settle, and there's a long beat of silence, but one last amazing thing happens: Syllona laughs. Pleased and excited, and something she only allows because she's out here alone.

...and unaware of her audience. ]

Edited (god damn i forgot important subjectline excuse me) 2014-01-13 21:27 (UTC)

[Well.

Seviilia sensed the him of magic the moment Syllona started drawing, thanks to the magic sensitivity of her people. Her ears perk straight upward when the crack splits the air, and her eyes narrow until she hears the child laugh.

Such destruction...it makes her grin and slip out from cover with a slow round of applause.]

Very impressive, for one so young.

[ The laughter dies quickly and Syllona whips around to face Seviilia, heart in her throat. She's not sure what to do, right then-- one part of her is afraid, especially with the realization of who this is; but she's clapping. For her?

She turns red, adjusting her veil in the hopes of hiding the bashful look on her face. ]

I, um, thanks... I. Seviilia?

Ah, you remember.

[She lets her hands fall and approaches to admire the crack, tilting her head.]

That is very interesting spellwork you just preformed.

Of course, you were...

[ THE MUTINEER WHO DIED. But is it the place for that? No, probably not.
The crack is deep, fairly clean, cutting past frost and into the dirt beneath. ]

It, it could have been better. I had to break the circle to do it.

I don't believe I've ever seen anything like it.

[She walks the length of the crack, running her fingers along her chin. Seviilia is not going to ask about what she was going to say. She prefers to forget that whole mess with her death ever happened.]

Was this not your aim?

[ This is so weird. This is so weird but Syllona blinks, and hesitates only another second before answering, a bit more energy picking up in her voice. ]

Well, if I wanted to make a second one, or a third, I'd have to redraw it each time. If I found a way to make, uh, a cut without damaging my circles, then I could reuse them. And add new tiers!

[ There's a tiny nod on that last bit, and while she's mindful of the space between them, saying this much feels harmless. With Kirian gone, Seviilia is the first person to praise her for her spells in weeks. ]

Perhaps the trick lies in the circuitry, hm?

[She did not claim to understand Syllona's powers, but her regenetive powers relied on a complete circuit, just as it seemed these spells did.]

Making multiples incomplete and overlapping? Without actually drawing their connections until you are ready. By nature, would making both whole not also make them incomplete?

[ 'Circuitry'! Syllona can't help the brightening in her eyes. She takes a deep breath. ]

Exactly! I had a theory about it, actually, that breaking a circuit with a follow up already built-in could hold its mark in place, or reroute energy to a broken circle and repair it at the same time-- but that's 'quick and dirty', I've heard that called. But yours' is the best way I've tried so far!

[ She quirks her mouth to one side, thoughtful. ] The only problem is it takes much more time to set up, so... I hardly get to use them as much.

Perhaps you should consider some daily routines...hone your skills. Improve your speed. You might surprise yourself.

[Syllona's enthusiasm is charming enough on its own.]

So you say that you have already attempted it.

[closed]

FOR CHLOE

BUSTS IN

TWIRLS YOU

UvU* <3

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FOR SEV

crashes in here

THROWS BIRTHDAY CONFETTI

lmao thank

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