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Valentha Summers     The coordinates provided lead to the top of a cliff overlooking a quaint little village in a world that seems to have very little contact with the rest of the Multiverse. The village is nothing more than a collection of thatch-roof hovels. Made of sticks and stones, but perhaps cozy enough.

    However, the village is not where the coordinates point at. Instead they point at a short path through the woods behind the warp gate, towards the base of an even higher cliff. There... another abode is carved seemingly into the very rock itself. It's... well. It's a cozy hole in the ground, really. Probably not the sort of dwelling typically associated with an Elf. Dwarves, perhaps. Or Gnomes. Maybe Hobbits. But not Elves.

    And yet merry curls of smoke come from a hole off to the side and far above the entrance. The big stone door's cracked open. However...

    The surroundings are considerably overgrown. As if almost nobody ever, EVER comes this way anymore.

    This world is so off the beaten path that it isn't even referenced. Some swords and sorcery hellhole. But enough research ahead of time does indeed reveal a name and location.

Palladium. The Western regions, the very edges of the Domain of Men. No name for the village though.

    Valeska is just through the door, which is half open into a foyer. It seems to be a combination of workshop and foyer, with tunnels leading off to who knows what else.

    Oddly, there's a forge built into the rock of the corner. A blacksmith's forge. Plenty of tools around for it too.
Sanary Rondel      The trek from the warp gate is rather uneventful for the most part, Sanary's semi-trademark coat proving to be a questionable choice of clothing as she makes her way through the wooded path and overgrowth. It's probably for the best, though, since it does make her approach rather easy to hear between all the snapping branches, irritated muttering, and occasional ruffle of a plastic bag straining at whatever weight is inside it. She's certainly not going to be creeping up on anyone, that's for sure.

     Perhaps tellingly, the healer arrives without a single oversized shield on her person at all. Only her buckler is dangling from her waist, but it's clear she's here without any intent to actually fight. The smell of questionably fried food also wafts from the bag she has tucked under her arm.

     Once Sanary does finally arrive at that dwelling hole in the ground, she clears her throat before speaking up loudly. Not yelling, but hopefully enough to be heard easily from the inside. "I'm here! I.. uh. I brought some food, too!"
Valentha Summers     "I was wondering what that delightful smell was!" Valeska's quick to hurry to the door. It's made of STONE and on giant hinges. But she seems to have very little trouble pulling it back further. She's wearing... well. The big, bulky robes are gone in favor of a simple, humbly woven white gown. And without the giant, billowy robes her extremely slender, dainty, obviously-elven body type is more than obvious.

    "Please, come in, come in." The girl insists warmly, gesturing. She's smiling rather pleasantly too. "It is... traditionally my duty, as host, to provide food and drink, but gifts that smell this delicious are an exception." She can't help but lick her lips in a rather undignified manner, but she takes a seat near a wooden table. There are three or four wooden chairs... fairly delicate-looking. And one that seems to have been assembled from carved stone components fit together like jigsaw pieces.
Sanary Rondel % Hearing Valeska's approach, Sanary grins while offering the elven girl a quick and informal two-fingered salute. She takes a moment to shake the leaves and branches off her too-long white coat before stepping inside, her own clothing probably looking just as out of place as she did yesterday with how cheap it looks. It does look easy enough to move in, at least!

     "Thanks for having me. I wasn't sure if we'd be meeting somewhere outside or inside, so... Figured this would be good to have just in case." The cleric sets her bag on the table and lays out everything from the inside carefully. It's all on top of the bag to prevent grease from getting on the table, of course: Fried chicken chunks, vegetable spring rolls, napkins, and a handful of plastic forks.

     "I'm not gonna object to drinks, though! Aah.... So. Is this your place, then?" She looks around slowly, a soft and somewhat distant look coming to her eye for a moment. "Nice place..."
Valentha Summers     "It belonged to my father." Valeska explains as she peers at the offered food. And utensils. "The wonders of the Multiverse never cease to amaze me. Through one gate... anything you could dream of and more. If you can brave constant peril to explore it."

    The elven woman breathes deeply for a few moments. It seems nearly everything she does is carefully measured and deliberate. Always thinking before she speaks. "Would you rather talk business during or AFTER the meal?" Her lips curve up with a hint of merry amusement. She knows how this kinda thing tends to go!
Sanary Rondel      Laughing lightly, Sanary shrugs before taking a seat at the table on one of the normal-looking wooden chairs. "It's not /that/ constantly perilous, is it? I mean.. Sure, there's some pretty weird places, but even those have some good food sometimes, too."

     Unlike Valeska, the cleric's actions are noticeably less calculated. Aside from taking the wooden seat, she's just glancing around at a whim and doesn't take more than a few seconds before turning back to the elf. "I'm fine with during if you don't mind me talking with my mouth full. Besides, this stuff goes fast, anyway."
Valentha Summers     Valeska answers with a little laugh of her own. "Perhaps I exaggerate! Though the locals certainly regard it that way." She settles into forking some of the fried chicken and eating a bit, but she's very sure to chew and swallow before speaking.

    "Entirely fine. Just try not to make a mess. So tell me... what brings you to the lair of necromancers to begin with?"
Sanary Rondel      Well, whatever keeps 'em out of the way. Easier to handle my own work if I don't have to worry about civilians getting caught up." Another chuckle, and Sanary snags a spring roll for herself. Both the chicken and spring rolls are still quite crispy, although it's clear that these came from a street cart rather than any indoor restaurant.

     The outside gives it flavor! "Heh... Don't worry. I'm a clean. Don't like wasting food, anyway." Sanary certianly lives up to that promise: She's eating the spring roll in just the right way that even the crumbs just end up falling back into her other hand. After a bit more chewing, she hums in thought.

     "It was a request from a superior. She needed her book of... Whatever it was, and I didn't have anything better to do." She chuckles lightly and fishes out a bit of dangling vegetable from her roll. "Mm... Fact that they were necromancers just made it better."

     She's not fond of necromancers, it seems!
Valentha Summers     "Hmmmm. So it was more than just a mercenary job." Comments the fair-skinned elven woman. But she shakes her head slowly. "Alright. My mistake for asking the question a bit too vaguely. What brings you to the life of adventuring at all, I should have asked." Nomph. She daintily stabs another chunk of chicken and pops it into her mouth!

    "Everyone takes to the life for some reason."
Sanary Rondel      "Mhm. I still do some mercenary stuff occasionally, but... Well, it's hard doing that with two bosses." Chuckling again, Sanary snag a piece of chicken for herself and pops it right into her face. "Not a problem. Ah... You mean doing this kind of stuff in general, then." The cleric nods and takes a moment to actually think about it, eventually letting out a long sigh.

     "Didn't have any other options." She points at her eye. "This didn't work." She points at her eyepatch. "This got shot out. My home was on the border of two warring countries, so we had to fend for ourselves. Before I got shot in the face, I had to learn how to fight. After I got shot..."

     There's a pause as Sanary holds her hand out to let some of that magical energy out in a green light. Even from a distance, Valentha might be able to tell that the healing power is just that magic in its natural state. "I found out I could do this. So I could either stay home and hope the useless nobles actually started fixing things, or I could join the Confederacy to get stronger and fix it myself."

     Antoher awkward pause. "... And then it got blown up. But... Hey, I'm still alive, so!"
Valentha Summers     "The Confederacy. Well. Now I understand the eye!" Valeska claps her hands together gently... but, as an afterthought, nabs another bit of chicken.

    Even for a being that doesn't need to eat, it's too delicious to resist!

    Though she stops mid-chew, just staring at the sudden wash of magical power.

    It's not the average stare of your average woman either.

    It's the piercing, soul-searing gaze of a trained wizard. Tales are told about how a wizard, deep in concentration, gives people the feeling they're being slowly peeled apart layer by layer and evaluated.

    That sharp look takes in the glowing mass of energy.

    Yet after she finishes her examination, the blonde elf sighs, bows her head... "Your home.... I see. My apologies. Now I understand why you put so much rage behind that weapon."
Sanary Rondel      Sanary shifts around in her seat uncomfortably at that long stare, following Valeska's gaze to the light cloud before quickly withdrawing it back into herself. "Er... Sorry. Didn't mean to... Wait. Was that a good staring or a bad one?" The questions come out somewhat awkwardly, but she does settle back down once Valeska offers her condolences.

     "Eh? Ah, don't worry about it. You couldn't have known. Besides, it... Eh." THe cleric grunts lightly and pops in another piece of chicken before leaning back in her seat. "Just means I wasn't strong enough to stop it before. Still not strong enough now, either, but... But I'm working on it." Another distant stare. There's a hint of frustration and uncertainty in her voice, directed at herself more than anyone or anything else.
Valentha Summers     "Armies are made of many people, miss Rondel." The elven girl begins, shakingg her head again and sending that crop of blonde hair swaying.

    "Stopping them with power alone is not a feat one woman could hope for. Not without a miracle. Or perhaps becoming something more than human. Look hard enough and one can find... shortcuts... but they all bear hidden costs. That is why I felt you might benefit from more magical discipline!"

    She purses her lips upon looking up again... then blinks a few times. "OH! A good staring. That... am I right? You are simply... producing... healing power? Without training? Because working a spell without words or gestures is considered the realm of master casters! ... is this a common phenomenon from your part of the Multiverse?"
Sanary Rondel      "That they are... That's why I've been trying to focus more on magic rather than chopping things up. Especially after... Uh." Sanary deflates a bit as she appears to be recalling something particularly unpleasant. Or would that be several somethings?

     "The shortcuts... They're nice, but they're not the same as real power. The gear's great, but... Doesn't help me if I'm still not fast enough to take advantge of it, right?" She laughs lightly, then rubs her neck lightly before raising an eyebrow at Valeska. "Is that a... Offer or something?" She certainly sounds open to the idea! Especially if it involves puking fire down a hallway.

     That would be awesome.

     "Yeah, that's... Just how my magic works, I guess. Is it that big of a deal?" Sanary blinks slowly in confusion, although she does hum a moment later. "Uh... Not a common thing as far as I know. I don't know anyone else from my world that can do it, actually... They usually use books and staffs and things. Like the one I had yesterday."
Valentha Summers     "Iiiiiiiiintriguing... ahhh. Getting a lit bit ahead of things, but yes. I AM of a mind to perhaps teach. You have the aptitude. Though I have never before attempted teaching across worlds before. There can be no guarantees. Still... some things should be common. And I already have some ideas about alternate ways to employ this innate talent of yours. Would make for a very interesting study! An unexpected bonus. Even practiced mages always have more to learn."

    She folds her hands in her lap though, and leans forward.

    "The question really is though... what sort of a person you are, Miss Rondel. I would not be happy if a student used such teachings for chaos. Your Confederate allegiance concerns me. Surely you have realized many of them have few scruples. So... bare your heart for me, and we shall see. What is the true reason you want power? Were you the mightiest being in your world... what would you do, what would you change? It sounds like a silly question, I know... but please humor me. What ends will your power serve?"

    There's a hidden meaning to this request... as the Wizardly gazxe is turned harshly straight into Sanary's eyes this time.

    As if this young-looking woman with the princessly face really is peering deep into her mind.

    And in a way... she is. Behind that intense look of focus, Valenthanixa opens her mind as far as she can to scan through Sanary's thoughts as she hopefully replies!
Sanary Rondel      Sanary grins as she hears Valeska confirming what she was suspecting, wearing her emotions on her sleeves rather easily. She's seen her in action already, so what use would there be in pretending she's not excited? "That's perfectly fine with me. I mean, I've already spent the most of a year studying at one place, but their magic... Job system? Whatever it is, it didn't work with me, anyway, so I'm open to trying something else."

     Strangely enough, she doesn't sound bitter about that last part. "Been trying a couple of different things, but... Well, something's bound to stick, right?" The cleric proceeds to go quiet again once Valeska starts probing further, however, a multitude of thoughts running through the cleric's mind at once.

     Some of them are noble, yet others aren't. Fixing the injustices in her world, righting some of the wrongs she's already done. Protecting her friends and those she would consider family. Bringing destruction on those that have harmed the same. There's some scattered thoughts to indicate that she's done some of the last one already.

     "Yeah, I've noticed. I've worked with 'em, even, since... I mean, orders are orders, you know? The Confederacy's done a lot for me, so I owe 'em a lot. And... Some of 'em are trying to do the right thing, even if it doesn't look like it." She genuinely believes that. "If I was the strongest... Mm. Try and fix the messes the nobles keep leaving behind." As she starts to answer, it's actually rather easy to tell from her other scattered thoughts that she's being truthful about this. "I'm not as... Questionable as some of my other allies. If there's nothing to gain from breaking things, I won't do it unless I got orders to. And if I am breaking stuff, having power means I can fix it. It means I can protect my friends."

     Among those thoughts, there's also some pranking involved. It's mostly harmless, at least.
Valentha Summers     After being quiet for a good twenty seconds of slowly shifting expressions, Valeska puts her hands on the table. "Well. Yours is hardly the darkest heart I have seen, but it is certainly one of the cloudiest. I predict your future will be a struggle... struggling against your bittter past. It is easy to lose perspective when you are drien by vengeance and anger. But apart from that.. I can tell you are as genuine as you appear. Almost."

    And at that announcement, she smiles.
Sanary Rondel      "That's... Uh. Cloudy is... Good?" Sanary seems even more confused than before, a blank stare directed at Valeska even as she picks up another spring roll to munch on. She does pause for a moment, however, to peer at the elven girl again. "You wouldn't happen to know someone called Ayako, would you? She sorta mentioned something like that when I saw her, too... Lots of struggling and stuff."

     She leans back in her seat, the chuckles after a moment. "Okay, okay... If I learn how to fly properly, I might also use that to drop stink bombs on certain people. Is that better?" Her thoughts include a white-haired man as she says that. How strange.
Valentha Summers     "Hmmmm. Well. I shall simply say that it was not just your words I was paying attention to. Your homework will be figuring out what else was being scrutinized." Valeska again folds her hands, but she seems... more or less pleased.

    "Ayako? Ah... the water spirit. No, I do not. Heard her speak several times but never had a chance to really meet her acquaintance. If she said so though... yes. If you would like it told simply... your anger and bitterness will be your worst enemy down the road. Do nothing to rein it in and you may come to regret it. What you might feel to be a justified course may not be. Though... I am not worried about you using power thoughtlessly or cruelly. ... TOO cruelly." She ends up sticking her tongue out, clearly getting the joke! But the undignified moment lasts only a moment.

    "So. I wager you have little eduction in spellcraft of any kind?"
Sanary Rondel      "Eh? I'm not gonna have to do a lot of studying along with this, am I?" Sanary grins, although she speaks up again quickly after that. "Well, I know it'll involve a lot of work. Probably. Just... Hoping it's less 'papers and tests' and more... You know. Actual magic-use."

     The talk of anger and bitterness does get the cleric to settle back in her chair, the thoughtful expression returning after a few moments. "That's... Mnn. I don't even know what to think about that any more. Some people are telling me it'll screw me over, others are telling me to use it..." She runs a hand through her hair and stops at the band holding the ponytail together, then undoes it and lets out a relaxed sigh.

     "That's better... Eh? H-hey, I'm not /that/ cruel unless someone actually deserves it." If Valeska is still probing her mind, she might catch glimpses of the back of someone's head getting their face pressed into their knee. That image is quickly replaced, however, by images of schooling!

     "Nothing that's actually helped me with casting magic. I.. Uh. I'm a student at Alexander Academy, but that world's got its own system of focused... Jobs or something? Stuff that I haven't been able to get to work at all."
Valentha Summers     "Hahaha.... no. Not paperwork. Though you will not find many mages who are not incredibly literate. Though..." She takes a few moments to simpyl ocus on breathing, gathering her composure and thinking....

    "Starting from familiar angles will be best. This healing power of yours, I felt it quite clearly. It stimulates the body to regrow. Without any effort otherwise... it is a quite effective surge of energy. Healing and perhaps some more. But have you tried to employ it for other purposes? Besides powering that eye."
Sanary Rondel      Sanary laughs again and finishes off a spring roll before wiping her hands off. "Yeah, makes sense... Most of the mages I've seen have been really smart, so I've.. I've got some work to do." Chuckling again, she looks from Valeska to the ceiling while thinking.

     "Tried, yes. Succeeded... Uh. Does powering other stuff count? Weapons, anklets, other people to make 'em have more energy to draw on?" She pauses, then straightens up a bit. "Well... There was that one time I got some earth powers, but that was only for a little while. Nothing permanent." That part, too, is said with a tinge of bitterness behind it.
Valentha Summers     "Oh...oh?" Valeska blinks a few times, disappointment in her eyes. But she cants her head..... eyes widening a little, brows quirking with curiosity. "What about other strengthening approaches? See... it should not be much of a stretch to channel a power that rejuvenates the body into one that strengthens it. Yours or another."
Sanary Rondel      "That... I'm not so sure." Sanary strokes her chin lightly as she leans back in her seat again. "Er. If I've done it, I mean. Since I know I can give people more power to do stuff with the energy, and I can heal myself or them with it, but..." She seems to be having trouble figuring out how to articulate her thoughts. "Like... I can power them up to do their own stuff that needs a lot of power, but I can't make anyone... Stronger stronger?" Sanary sighs lightly, then holds her hand out. "Would it be easier if I just showed you, or... Did that make sense?"
Valentha Summers     Valeska raises a hand, amusement glinting in her eyes. "Easy. It made sense. Yes. A source of power. Amplification and... fuel. Beyond healing that is how you have used it. However... while you power has its own tendencies..."

    The hand Valeska holds up begins to glow... then it ignites with a ghostly blue flicker! Soon the power separates from her hand and simply hovers. She's NOT CHANTING. She's not even gesturing. It's pure focus that 's guiding this little display.

    The blue, ghostly energy - heatless, despite the appearance of flame - soon starts to swirl. Then it roils and TRULY ignites, becoming a tiny ball of congealing, ever-swirling orange flame.

    "With FOCUS the results could differ. Have you tried? Twisting that power into something fundamentally different? Think about it this way. Your power can energize the body. Can you force it to do so exactly as YOU intend it to?"
Sanary Rondel      Sanary lets out a relieved sigh at Valeska's confirmation, and she smiles in return. Her eyebrow arches slowly when the elven woman holds her own hand up, jumping in her seat just a bit when the small blue spark appears and again when it becomes a flame. Even a novice like her can notice that she's doing it without any further physical input whatsoever, and the cleric's brow starts to furrow again.

     "I've... Tried, yeah. More times than I can remember, even. Remember when I mentioned the earth powers before? that was... Uh. The closest I came to really feeling how it's supposed to work. But trying to do it that way after those powers went haven't really worked, either."

     Setting her fork down, Sanary starts to channel that magic energy outwards, congealing it into a small green light cloud in front of her. She guides it towards the fork and narrows her eye, starting to focus on running that cloud through the fork repeatedly. Nothing happens. Nothing moves. After ten repetitions, she sighs again. "... Still nothing. Been trying to get it to move stuff for weeks now."