OOC commentary: Still Pika doesn't know who Ror exactly is. The punk. *g*
Training the Kra'ineba
'Do you understand?' Claire's face throbbed from the blow. She lay in bed, in her father's bed, at Ruthivan's side. She had made the mistake of being unsuccessful. She tried to get Ruthivan to see that she was miserable, unhappy, that she didn't love him, that they had no rights to lead the tribe, that everything would be better if he let her leave and found himself a mate that loved him. For a fleeting glimpse of a moment, she thought she had him thinking... but the moment collapsed with a slap across her face. 'You are mine, Claire. You were promised to me, you have been mine for three hundred years. You are where you belong, and tomorrow you will act like it. Or you will be sorry. Do you understand?'
'Yes...' she whispered.
'Now, get your rest.'
Claire drifted off, hoping that Mirin was doing something to help her. Anything. This situation was growing unbearable. Claire felt guilt over her father's death, guilt laying in his bed, guilt that somehow everything was her fault.
She was awoken the following morning by a small boy who stared at her with white hair and a sky blue complexion. His voice was soft and halting, 'What would you like for breakfast, Kra'ineba Claire?'
'Wha... I'm... what are you doing here?'
Then reality suddenly shook Claire. Ruthivan had even brought on servants. It disgusted her. The boy rattled off choices for breakfast and repeated his question. 'Please,' Claire said, 'You don't have to call me that.'
'Yes I do.' The boy frowned and looked around himself. 'He said I did.'
'Who said?'
The boy's expression left no doubt. 'Is it true he killed Elder Eladrim?'
'I... yes. It is.'
'Do you love him?'
Claire looked at the boy, her mouth hanging open. She started to shake her head, then stopped herself. The night before, the threat, the understanding. She nodded her head. 'Yes, of course,' she lied. Her heart sank as the boy looked at her with incredulity and disgust.
He returned after a long while, struggling to keep the dishes from clattering together. He set them down and stood watching her. 'You don't have to wait.'
'I... do. He said for you to eat everything, you need your strength.'
Claire closed her eyes tightly. 'Please, Mirin,' she thought to herself. 'Please get me out of here.' Then Claire ate was the boy stood watching her to make sure every scrap was gone.
'Yes...' she whispered.
'Now, get your rest.'
Claire drifted off, hoping that Mirin was doing something to help her. Anything. This situation was growing unbearable. Claire felt guilt over her father's death, guilt laying in his bed, guilt that somehow everything was her fault.
She was awoken the following morning by a small boy who stared at her with white hair and a sky blue complexion. His voice was soft and halting, 'What would you like for breakfast, Kra'ineba Claire?'
'Wha... I'm... what are you doing here?'
Then reality suddenly shook Claire. Ruthivan had even brought on servants. It disgusted her. The boy rattled off choices for breakfast and repeated his question. 'Please,' Claire said, 'You don't have to call me that.'
'Yes I do.' The boy frowned and looked around himself. 'He said I did.'
'Who said?'
The boy's expression left no doubt. 'Is it true he killed Elder Eladrim?'
'I... yes. It is.'
'Do you love him?'
Claire looked at the boy, her mouth hanging open. She started to shake her head, then stopped herself. The night before, the threat, the understanding. She nodded her head. 'Yes, of course,' she lied. Her heart sank as the boy looked at her with incredulity and disgust.
He returned after a long while, struggling to keep the dishes from clattering together. He set them down and stood watching her. 'You don't have to wait.'
'I... do. He said for you to eat everything, you need your strength.'
Claire closed her eyes tightly. 'Please, Mirin,' she thought to herself. 'Please get me out of here.' Then Claire ate was the boy stood watching her to make sure every scrap was gone.
The New Elder
"The enchantments are in place, Elder Ruthivan."
Ruthivan released Claire's arm and nodded to the wizard, who promptly left. He looked back at his mate and smiled. "Welcome home, Claire."
He walked from the room, leaving Claire behind, and went into the large grand foyer. While the tent looked small from the outside, looked simply like any other tent, inside it was a palace. His palace. After all the years of groveling to the Elder Eladrim and his wife, years spent silent in his observations of their rule, years waiting for Claire to be his as he was promised - he was now the one in charge. He stopped at the looking glass and dusted off his jacket and ran fingers through his hair. He turned and walked out into the tribe.
"My brothers and sisters," he began when they all had reassembled. "We are at the dawning of a new beginning for this tribe. Your previous leader, my previous leader, was weak. A fact well known to every one of us, evidenced by how he allowed his own daugther to run about, shirking her duties to her people. A fact evidenced when he banished me after everything I had done for his family because I dared to tame the wildness that he allowed to flower in his child. He is gone, and now I am here to lead us. As was foretold in the annals of our histories, one will come forth of noble heritage and pure lineage who will lead us back to our rightful home. Our duty is to populate our people once more, for if we make a population of great might, the spirit of the one to lead us will undoubtedly have a home when the time comes. Your Kra'ineba will serve as an example of a dutiful mother, our bond will be the guide for how to live your lives. I have proudly brought four children to bear with my beloved mate, and a fifth on the way. Together, and with the strength of our tribe, they will be raised to be noble, admirable, and pure. Each of you will be expected to do your part, your duty. We will champion the new beginnings of the Esper race. We will grow our people to be proud and mighty. We will destroy any who oppose us, abuse us, and use us. We will return home."
He smiled at the applause, which started slow, then grew as the others joined in. He turned to his old friend, Velek, who stood clapping in the group. "Velek, come here please."
"Elder," Velek addressed as he inclined his head.
"Your son, Fendash, I wish him to tend to my wife."
"It would be an honor for my family to serve."
"Good. Send him tomorrow morning."
"As you wish, Elder."
Ruthivan turned his back on the tribe and entered his tent. His children stood looking at him, humbled and quiet, wary and afraid. "Children," he said, kneeling and holding out his arms. They reluctantly shuffled forward. "I know what you saw, and I know it looked terrible, but it was necessary. Look, look where you live now. And look at all the people out there, your people." "But you killed Grandfather," Celiara whispered. "I know, my love, but your Grandfather was not a good man. He was not a strong man. Not like me. I won't let anything happen to you. I will take care of you and protect you with my life."
His children entered his embrace and Ruthivan felt them relax. Everything was changing, everything was turning out right.
Ruthivan released Claire's arm and nodded to the wizard, who promptly left. He looked back at his mate and smiled. "Welcome home, Claire."
He walked from the room, leaving Claire behind, and went into the large grand foyer. While the tent looked small from the outside, looked simply like any other tent, inside it was a palace. His palace. After all the years of groveling to the Elder Eladrim and his wife, years spent silent in his observations of their rule, years waiting for Claire to be his as he was promised - he was now the one in charge. He stopped at the looking glass and dusted off his jacket and ran fingers through his hair. He turned and walked out into the tribe.
"My brothers and sisters," he began when they all had reassembled. "We are at the dawning of a new beginning for this tribe. Your previous leader, my previous leader, was weak. A fact well known to every one of us, evidenced by how he allowed his own daugther to run about, shirking her duties to her people. A fact evidenced when he banished me after everything I had done for his family because I dared to tame the wildness that he allowed to flower in his child. He is gone, and now I am here to lead us. As was foretold in the annals of our histories, one will come forth of noble heritage and pure lineage who will lead us back to our rightful home. Our duty is to populate our people once more, for if we make a population of great might, the spirit of the one to lead us will undoubtedly have a home when the time comes. Your Kra'ineba will serve as an example of a dutiful mother, our bond will be the guide for how to live your lives. I have proudly brought four children to bear with my beloved mate, and a fifth on the way. Together, and with the strength of our tribe, they will be raised to be noble, admirable, and pure. Each of you will be expected to do your part, your duty. We will champion the new beginnings of the Esper race. We will grow our people to be proud and mighty. We will destroy any who oppose us, abuse us, and use us. We will return home."
He smiled at the applause, which started slow, then grew as the others joined in. He turned to his old friend, Velek, who stood clapping in the group. "Velek, come here please."
"Elder," Velek addressed as he inclined his head.
"Your son, Fendash, I wish him to tend to my wife."
"It would be an honor for my family to serve."
"Good. Send him tomorrow morning."
"As you wish, Elder."
Ruthivan turned his back on the tribe and entered his tent. His children stood looking at him, humbled and quiet, wary and afraid. "Children," he said, kneeling and holding out his arms. They reluctantly shuffled forward. "I know what you saw, and I know it looked terrible, but it was necessary. Look, look where you live now. And look at all the people out there, your people." "But you killed Grandfather," Celiara whispered. "I know, my love, but your Grandfather was not a good man. He was not a strong man. Not like me. I won't let anything happen to you. I will take care of you and protect you with my life."
His children entered his embrace and Ruthivan felt them relax. Everything was changing, everything was turning out right.
Arrivals and Declarations
Claire had spoken with her daughter. She had the chance as they walked the quarter mile into the camp from their home in exile. Ruthvan kept his arm linked in hers, preventing her escape and giving the impression to the children that things were okay. They remained behind, walking in wary silence. It would have been the perfect time for Claire to get away- would have been - if Ruthivan hadn't threatened her before leaving: 'If you try anything, anything at all, I will hunt you down and find you, my love. And I will have to teach you a lesson, do you understand?'
They arrived in the camp, subverting the magics that kept the entire tribe hidden from the world. Every esper face had gathered in the commons, standing and watching them. There were thirtyfive espers, all faces Claire and Ruthivan knew. Many looked at Ruthivan with a solidarity that made Claire sick. Others simply looked on with shock. Ruthivan halted and pulled Claire close to his side. 'As soon as I have my family settled, I will address you all. Suffice for now, it is as Seranfrit told you. I am your new Kra'bat, and Claire is your rightful Kra'ineba, the daughter of Eladrim, making me your rightful Elder.'
'Welcome, Elder Ruthivan. Welcome back, Kra'ineba.'
The entered the tent followed by one of Ruthivan's hand picked wizards. 'We need protections on our home. Kra'ineba Claire is not to leave or use her magic until she learns her place.' The older esper turned his swirling magenta eyes on Claire and nodded.
'It will be as you ask, Elder.'
'Good.'
'Please,' Claire croaked. 'Stop calling me that. I am not the Kra'ineba. You are not the Elder. We are imposters in our own tribe.'
'You see?' Ruthivan said, gripping Claire's arm tightly. 'She has lost her way and needs guideance until she finds herself again.' The wizard bowed and nodded. 'Yes. Kra'ineba has always had a desire to flee us.'
'Indeed,' Ruthivan answered coldly. 'Make your enchantments quickly so I may address the tribe.'
As the wizard worked, Ruthivan escorted Claire to the bedroom. She winced as he tightened his grip and shook her. 'You had better resign yourself quickly to your fate, Claire. This is what we are meant to do. It is our destiny, yours, mine, and our children.'
'This is wrong, all of it.'
'The only wrong is the way this world has treated our kind. And that is the wrong we shall rectify.'
They arrived in the camp, subverting the magics that kept the entire tribe hidden from the world. Every esper face had gathered in the commons, standing and watching them. There were thirtyfive espers, all faces Claire and Ruthivan knew. Many looked at Ruthivan with a solidarity that made Claire sick. Others simply looked on with shock. Ruthivan halted and pulled Claire close to his side. 'As soon as I have my family settled, I will address you all. Suffice for now, it is as Seranfrit told you. I am your new Kra'bat, and Claire is your rightful Kra'ineba, the daughter of Eladrim, making me your rightful Elder.'
'Welcome, Elder Ruthivan. Welcome back, Kra'ineba.'
The entered the tent followed by one of Ruthivan's hand picked wizards. 'We need protections on our home. Kra'ineba Claire is not to leave or use her magic until she learns her place.' The older esper turned his swirling magenta eyes on Claire and nodded.
'It will be as you ask, Elder.'
'Good.'
'Please,' Claire croaked. 'Stop calling me that. I am not the Kra'ineba. You are not the Elder. We are imposters in our own tribe.'
'You see?' Ruthivan said, gripping Claire's arm tightly. 'She has lost her way and needs guideance until she finds herself again.' The wizard bowed and nodded. 'Yes. Kra'ineba has always had a desire to flee us.'
'Indeed,' Ruthivan answered coldly. 'Make your enchantments quickly so I may address the tribe.'
As the wizard worked, Ruthivan escorted Claire to the bedroom. She winced as he tightened his grip and shook her. 'You had better resign yourself quickly to your fate, Claire. This is what we are meant to do. It is our destiny, yours, mine, and our children.'
'This is wrong, all of it.'
'The only wrong is the way this world has treated our kind. And that is the wrong we shall rectify.'
Plans
Meanwhile in Ror's office, Ror finished the last of the intel reports. The last one informing him that one of the esper tribes had a radical leadership change by murder. Keeping an eye on what remained of esper society here was something Ror valued. After all, Vector was always nearby. Always on the mind...
Done with his work for today, he stood up and started pacing around his room while thinking. He found that walking around improved thought. He was brooding on something. Something which he had discussed with Aneh before, but still...
All life came from the lifestream and was energy. Magic too came from the lifestream and was energy. Espers, highly magical, consisted out of energy as well. Magitek and makou were ways of harnessing energy. In his mind he drew lines between the facts, spinning a web of relations. Everything came from the same source. So then, he thought, so are you, Kefka.
It was a devious plan, one that had worried Aneh, but Ror had good faith in it as it was in essence fairly simple. After he had acquired many pieces of Kefka's armour, he and Psycho found out there was more to them than met the eye. Kefka had somehow latched onto them. And to prevent the bloody armour from re-assembling, Ror had boxed and locked away every piece separately and put under 24 hours surveillance. Safe and sound in the Tripower, but yet, it was a temporary fix. A final solution needed to be found. He had tried to destroy one piece, but it had been an extremely tough deal. A dangerous deal.
But there is a way, thought Ror, Kefka's soul is not the problem, but the key to the solution. Lifeforce is energy, and Kefka's power was stolen from the espers. All I need to do, is to take back what was never his...
He stopped before the map of Cruoris and narrowed his eyes when they fell on the Vectorian Empire on the map. When I have back what you stole, Ror thought, I will annihalate Vector along with ever man, woman and child that supports it. There shall be no quarter...
A knock on the door broke Ror's concentration and the rage ebbed quickly away. Fixing his composure, he said, "Enter." And the door swung open, revealing a young recruit.
"Sir! It is I, sir, Robin? " said the boy slightly nervous.
Ror waved his hand in the go-on-go-on motion and Robin explained he had been assigned to watching the DAQ in the basement during Rors shifts. Ah yes, thought Ror, "In case something changed, " interjected Ror. The boy nodded and Ror smiled. "Finally. " He took his coat off the peg and stepped past the boy into the hallway. "Well, what are you waiting for? Tag along and give me your report as we walk to the lab. I don't have all day, you know. "
The young recruit gulped, "Yes, yes, sir! " And hastened after Ror.
Done with his work for today, he stood up and started pacing around his room while thinking. He found that walking around improved thought. He was brooding on something. Something which he had discussed with Aneh before, but still...
All life came from the lifestream and was energy. Magic too came from the lifestream and was energy. Espers, highly magical, consisted out of energy as well. Magitek and makou were ways of harnessing energy. In his mind he drew lines between the facts, spinning a web of relations. Everything came from the same source. So then, he thought, so are you, Kefka.
It was a devious plan, one that had worried Aneh, but Ror had good faith in it as it was in essence fairly simple. After he had acquired many pieces of Kefka's armour, he and Psycho found out there was more to them than met the eye. Kefka had somehow latched onto them. And to prevent the bloody armour from re-assembling, Ror had boxed and locked away every piece separately and put under 24 hours surveillance. Safe and sound in the Tripower, but yet, it was a temporary fix. A final solution needed to be found. He had tried to destroy one piece, but it had been an extremely tough deal. A dangerous deal.
But there is a way, thought Ror, Kefka's soul is not the problem, but the key to the solution. Lifeforce is energy, and Kefka's power was stolen from the espers. All I need to do, is to take back what was never his...
He stopped before the map of Cruoris and narrowed his eyes when they fell on the Vectorian Empire on the map. When I have back what you stole, Ror thought, I will annihalate Vector along with ever man, woman and child that supports it. There shall be no quarter...
A knock on the door broke Ror's concentration and the rage ebbed quickly away. Fixing his composure, he said, "Enter." And the door swung open, revealing a young recruit.
"Sir! It is I, sir, Robin? " said the boy slightly nervous.
Ror waved his hand in the go-on-go-on motion and Robin explained he had been assigned to watching the DAQ in the basement during Rors shifts. Ah yes, thought Ror, "In case something changed, " interjected Ror. The boy nodded and Ror smiled. "Finally. " He took his coat off the peg and stepped past the boy into the hallway. "Well, what are you waiting for? Tag along and give me your report as we walk to the lab. I don't have all day, you know. "
The young recruit gulped, "Yes, yes, sir! " And hastened after Ror.
Knowing Claire
Mirin sat by the stream watching the twins play. It was clear that Reggie was going to be extremely adept with magic, as the boy kept summoning globes of water into the air to try dropping them on his sister's head. Regina, too, was adept, but in the ways like her father, Orn. She dodged the water, barely keeping her balance and using the quick aid of a squirrel to race over and nibble Reggie's arm. They would both giggle and return to their play. They were growing so fast.
She leaned back and closed her eyes. What would her mother think if she could see them now? Mirin didn't assume much - her mother, Claire, had been gone for a long time now. Sanria was more of a mother to her than Claire. Though, it didn't mean she couldn't try to reach out.
'Mother,' Mirin telepathed, but got back only static. Perplexed, she tried again. 'Mother?' This time the telepath went through and a very surprised voice responded.
'Mirin? Oh Gods, I can telepath... I can reach out!'
'Mom, what are you talking about?' Mirin sent, dropping the formal mother. Something wasn't right.
'You have to talk to Gilean and Sanria, you have to tell them that Ruthivan killed my father and is in the process of moving to the Tribal camp. I need help... I desperately need help. He's lost his mind.'
'What?'
'I can't focus for long or he'll know, he has an eye on me right now. He has lashed out at me, killed your grandfather, and ... oh please, Mirin... get someone to help us. Please.'
'Of... of course,' Mirin telepathed in return. She was shocked at just how desperate her mother sounded, and even more so that this man who had stolen Claire from her father had stooped to murder.
'You know how to find the camp?'
'No... '
'Ask Askari... he can help... I hope he'll help... Gods I hope he will help. I'm ready to take my own life but he's sealed up my magic.'
'No... no mom, don't do that. I'll get help, I promise, just... hang in there.'
'Thank you, Mirin... thank you.'
The connection was broken and Mirin stared blankly ahead. How exactly did one go about stopping an esper from beating an esper?
'Twins,' she telepathed. 'We need to go inside. I have to talk to Grandma Ria and Grandpa Gilean.'
"Is bad?" Regina asked.
'No, no it's okay.'
"Why are you sad, Mama?" Reggie asked.
'I'm... not sad,' Mirin replied, but couldn't shake the tremor of anxiety that gripped her.
She leaned back and closed her eyes. What would her mother think if she could see them now? Mirin didn't assume much - her mother, Claire, had been gone for a long time now. Sanria was more of a mother to her than Claire. Though, it didn't mean she couldn't try to reach out.
'Mother,' Mirin telepathed, but got back only static. Perplexed, she tried again. 'Mother?' This time the telepath went through and a very surprised voice responded.
'Mirin? Oh Gods, I can telepath... I can reach out!'
'Mom, what are you talking about?' Mirin sent, dropping the formal mother. Something wasn't right.
'You have to talk to Gilean and Sanria, you have to tell them that Ruthivan killed my father and is in the process of moving to the Tribal camp. I need help... I desperately need help. He's lost his mind.'
'What?'
'I can't focus for long or he'll know, he has an eye on me right now. He has lashed out at me, killed your grandfather, and ... oh please, Mirin... get someone to help us. Please.'
'Of... of course,' Mirin telepathed in return. She was shocked at just how desperate her mother sounded, and even more so that this man who had stolen Claire from her father had stooped to murder.
'You know how to find the camp?'
'No... '
'Ask Askari... he can help... I hope he'll help... Gods I hope he will help. I'm ready to take my own life but he's sealed up my magic.'
'No... no mom, don't do that. I'll get help, I promise, just... hang in there.'
'Thank you, Mirin... thank you.'
The connection was broken and Mirin stared blankly ahead. How exactly did one go about stopping an esper from beating an esper?
'Twins,' she telepathed. 'We need to go inside. I have to talk to Grandma Ria and Grandpa Gilean.'
"Is bad?" Regina asked.
'No, no it's okay.'
"Why are you sad, Mama?" Reggie asked.
'I'm... not sad,' Mirin replied, but couldn't shake the tremor of anxiety that gripped her.
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