Care for a Bite? {Hilana}

[Dreyfus]

☬ 23rd of Ash, Year 122, A.o.S ☬
Company: Hilana | Thoughts: She is quite the curious one | Mood: Amused, Intrigued

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Continued from HERE


☬ He was glad to know that this was someone so knowledgeable of the biome and animals that are native to this realm he found himself in. She continued to prove to be quite the treasure trove of information. It was often good to have inquisitive types to have on hand so you could have a great deal of information at your disposal. She was proving to be one of the few humans he could come to tolerate as of late.

His eyes shifted as the food was brought to them, their wine glasses refilled again. The food was not what the vampyre was used to, but the flavor profile was rather interesting, enjoyable even. It had been quite some time since he had eaten actual food. He had been sustaining himself on the blood of those he could get his hands on, and wasn't sure if he could even stand mortal food anymore, but to his surprise, he was finding the mean rather delicious.

He had this look of a child in a new school being shown how to do a certain task, a mix of self-conscious awareness and nerves as he listened to her explanation of the dish as he ate what was presented to him. When Hilana offered up a toast in a native tongue, it almost went over his head, but he nodded, lifting his glass to her as well. "Sit saluti." he returned as she continued her inquiry of his magical talents.

"Well at the moment I can lift up to 2,500 pounds, I can punch holes into the aether flux around an object that can cause it to either explode or implode on itself at my discretion. At my current level of prowess, I can use kinetics for much longer than any novice or apprentice." he explained, allowing that information to sink in while he continued to taste the dish in front of him, his glowing crimson eyes looking to her with much interest. ☬

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"Common Speech"
"Silandris Speech"
"Self-Thoughts"

[Hilana Chenzira]

With both of them eating, Hilana enjoyed the flavours, and the girl made an approving sound. The snake wasn’t interested in her meal, it seemed, despite the meat, but then again, when pythons ate and what people ate were usually two different things. Especially with the spices on it. But Tiaz was not particularly hungry, and he also seemed used to just hanging out on his owner while she was doing whatever it was that Hilana was into at the moment. He looked like he would be just as comfortable while she was working, or climbing something, or even riding along on whatever beast she chose as a method of travel here, be it one of the winged wyverns or something on the ground.

She hadn’t known what to expect when it came to him and the food, but he was eating, so she didn’t know whether or not he was feeding on people. But this suggested that he wasn’t. But that was something for others to judge, not her: she lacked the Runes to be able to see such things for herself, but the Sentinels or maybe even the Golden Guard likely could. But perhaps he was sticking to the straight and narrow while he was here. It was hard to know. But one thing was for sure, she did not seem to be judging him as he sampled the native fare and tried out her advice on the ways of eating. It may have been less formal than high society elsewhere, but the girl, while being Populous Equestris, was perfectly content with this sort of food and showing him how it was done. This clearly wasn’t the first time she had dined with those who were outside of the culture, and perhaps that was part of her unusually inquisitive nature. "Very good," she praised his efforts, both with the eating and with the pronunciation of the toast.

As he told her of his strength and abilities with Kinetics, her eyes widened. 2,500 pounds was not lightweight, and making something implode or explode on itself seemed rather daunting. “How does that work, if I may ask? How it implodes on itself with the... aether flux, you called it? Do you make it collapse inwards on itself? Does it work on people?” Her eyes were wide at the thought. That...would take a lot to try to fix and undo, she had to think.

[Dreyfus]

☬ 23rd of Ash, Year 122, A.o.S ☬
Company: Hilana | Thoughts: She is quite the curious one | Mood: Amused, Intrigued

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Continued from HERE


☬ He chuckled at her enthusiasm, finding her genuine curiosity amusing like a child learning something new, which in her case was the correct assumption. "In a way yes. More so as kineticist, we can punch holes into the aether flux." he began, pointing to the vase of water that happened to be sitting upon the bar counter some feet from where they were seated. He indeed punched a hole within the flux of aether that made up the vase with his pointer finger.

"From there, we can either collapse that hole ourselves causing the object to explode, or in this instance." he continued, allowing the hole to fill in on its own causing part of the vase to implode on the bar. The shock of the sudden disruption caused those present to gasp with alarm, which only made the Vampyre chuckle. "Or as you have seen, we can allow the flux of aether to fill in the hole causing it to implode on itself."

He took a moment to taste some more of the food before leaning in to look her over, tilting his head to the side. "Im curious my dear, as to what keeps such an inquisitive and bright mind like yours in this place? Is it family? Friends? A lover? You seem to want to travel and escape to new places, but I get the sense that it's not possible for you." he began, leaning back into his chair as he cut another piece of the meat and paired it with the side before tasting it, finding their food at least if any tolerable.

"I could sprout wings large enough to whisk you away from this place if you so desired, but I feel as though something would hold you anchored to the ground." he was curious, and so the question and opportunity had to be asked. He just had to hope he didn't offend her. ☬

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"Common Speech"
"Silandris Speech"
"Self-Thoughts"

[Hilana Chenzira]

Hilana watched Dreyfus’ demonstration of Kinetics, keenly interested. It was perhaps a shame she had refused to take up Semblance from her Great-Aunt in order to best watch what was actually happening, but the Vastiana possessed a vivid imagination, she could have some ideas about it. They might be completely off of what one might actually be observing, but the girl’s mind could fabricate something about it. Maybe the next time that she was in Tertium, she could ask her. Eliana might be shocked by her change in attitude regarding the acquisition of Runes, but it was worth a thought.

She had a bite of her food, as the vase exploded, and her eyes widened. She swallowed, looking on. “That is interesting. So with Kinetics, you could choose whether it implodes, as you just did, or if it explodes?”

She considered his questions, having a sip of wine. “Duty,” she said finally. “Duty to my people. Duty to my homeland. I would like to see much of the world... I’ve heard stories, and there is so much out there to experience... but I have a duty to my people. Family rules can be strict amongst the higher castes... much of our lives are chosen for us by our elders. Much is by design,” she smiled faintly at that. She may not necessarily have agreed with it... but such was the way of her people, it seemed. “I am learning the crafts I am not just because I love them and I find them fascinating, but in order to be able to help those who wander the sands and may not be able to come in to the towns or cities when they need medical assistance,” Hilana explained.

“But that is a kind offer, and I thank you for it,” she smiled at him. She wasn’t offended, it seemed. “How do you sprout wings?” He had apparently piqued her curiosity there, because now her food was forgotten once again as the lazy python shifted on her shoulders.

[Talisman]

Ever since the Vampyre had entered the Port of Tertium, he had been watched. They were not common here, not with how strictly regulated Vitalis was, and how difficult it was to legally be able to feed. Not when every citizen had more rights, even a servus, than a Peregrinus did. And this was certainly the case now. While they had made no move to intercede before, things were changing now that he was actively using his Runes for something else in a crowded public area. The timing was circumspect, these foreigners coalescing here, and sometimes it was the unexpected hook that caught the fish.

The Sentinels had been watching from nearby, but with their wards, no one bothered to look at them or pay them any mind. The implosion of the vase on the bar counter in the relatively open rooftop level of the restaurant, however, stirred up action amongst them. The wards were relaxed briefly to allow Hilana and her dining companion to sense them, and the girl’s eyes widened as she looked at the hooded figures dressed in black that had come out of apparently nowhere. There was two of them, while Hilana knew she had done nothing wrong, she didn't know what brought them over except perhaps the implosion of the vase. Fortunately no one was hurt. And while she was surprised, she didn’t make to get up, and she remained where she was.

“Using Kinetics in such a reckless fashion within the Holy City is frowned upon,” the Vigil spoke directly to Dreyfus, using Common that was more accented than Hilana’s, but understandable nonetheless. “I would not advise that you do it again, or there will be consequences. Is that understood?” It was impossible to tell whether they were male or female, or even what race was under the black uniform of the Silver Sentinels. They were simply warded too well from those who would try to sense and figure them out. But there was a detached crispness in their tone that suggested disobedience would not be brooked.

[Dreyfus]

☬ 23rd of Ash, Year 122, A.o.S ☬
Company: Hilana | Thoughts: She is quite the curious one | Mood: Amused, Intrigued

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Continued from HERE


☬ Before he could answer her inquiry, the atmosphere shifted, greatly. His instincts told to him to fight, but he knew he couldn't do such a thing, especially not in a populated space like this. He could do nothing but be at the mercy of the cloaked figures that approached. As they spoke his, gaze never met theirs, but he could feel the intent behind their words. Something like again and we will punish you. That's what it felt like to him.

Finally, his gaze moved to Hilana, who was stunned and shocked it seemed, but then his glowing crimson eyes fell on the hooded figures. "As you command, I am anything if not compliant." he spoke, a generous and obedient smile on his face. Surely with that, they would take their leave of them, and Dreyfus could answer her inquiry.

"That my dear is quite the question. It's a part of Vitalis, through an ability of mine, I can mold the flesh of myself or others to my whim. I can even regenerate my limbs or the limbs of others if I so choose. Did you lose your arm in battle? That's an easy fix with my power. Having difficulties having children? I can make the womb fertile again by simply manipulating the hormones of a woman." he said as he flesh-crafted the digits of his left hand into the knives they used to eat with and wiggled them around, before turning them back again.

Chuckling a bit he regard her previous answer to his question before they were so rudely interrupted. He knew all too well how dangerous such devotion could be. It's what got his mother killed, what caused him to lose many friends while in the order of reconciliation. "I know all too well that feeling, devotion to one's ideals, the ideals of your people and nation. Such devotion is what cost my mother her life and saved mine." he said as he thought about his mother for but a moment, before turning the conversation elsewhere.

"Tell me, my dear, would you like to hear an interesting story, one that I think is easily the highlight of my life?" he spoke, leaning in as he rested his chin ontop of his clasped fingers. ☬

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"Common Speech"
"Silandris Speech"
"Self-Thoughts"

[Hilana Chenzira]

With his assent, the Sentinels did leave again, vanishing and leaving the odd pair to their meal. Hilana’s attentions were quickly returned to the Vampyre, as he explained one of the abilities of Vitalis. That was incredibly useful, and if it wasn’t so stringently regulated in Solunarium… it might well beat Necromancy in terms of arcane disciplines that could be used to help with healing those who needed it. But such as it was, Vitalis came with considerable cost. She paid close attention as his fingers turned into knives, and he wiggled them. If they had been more familiar, she might have tried touching one, but that seemed like less of a smart idea. However, the girl settled for observing and paying close attention.

“That’s amazing,” she told him as his fingers returned to normal, peering at them. The girl was clearly surprised. “Does it take a lot of studying of medicine and anatomy to form something that is brand new, then? To use your example, if your arm was ruined beyond repair, or cut off, does flesh-shaping with Vitalis require you to know the nerves, ligaments, bone structures and musculature?” Hilana wanted to know. “Or is it more of a case of blood magic inherently knowing what it’s supposed to be doing?” The fact that he could also manipulate hormones in the body was very interesting, and quite surprising. One's ability to work those could lead to a very interesting method of controlling the body's sensations, if she had to guess. She was going to have to find out more about what Vampyres could do, especially since she had one now that was willing to tell her more about it.

She considered his words. Hilana would be remiss to miss the warning there, that blindly following others might well lead to her death. But all the same... it wasn’t quite so easy to up and leave. Well, she could. She could just walk away, get on a ship from Tertium and head out. But to what end? She was still studying, she had a lot to learn, and her mentor was arguably one of the best that she had access to. Beyond that, she would need to leave her friends and her chosen family... She had a bite of her food as Tiaz’s tongue flickered, tasting the open room around them.

At the offer of a story, Hilana’s eyebrows went up. “I’d like that, yes. Would you tell me?” This was bound to be good - she was well curious to know what this worldly Peregrinus deemed the highlight of his life, considering all that he had seen and experienced.

[Dreyfus]

☬ 23rd of Ash, Year 122, A.o.S ☬
Company: Hilana | Thoughts: She is quite the curious one | Mood: Amused, Intrigued

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Continued from HERE


☬ He smiled. "In a way yes, that's exactly how that works. I've rebuilt my arm many times after pushing too hard in my magical training that I've come to know how to rebuild most of myself, that and its more instinctive as the rune just knows." he explained, and though it was not an elaborate answer it was one nonetheless.

He consumed some more of the food and wine, as he watched the wheels turn in the woman's head from his warning against blind devotion. Indeed he found that such a thing was a detriment to the growth and potential of others, to be beholden to the leash of another person's ideals and way of thinking. He wondered if he could spark an interest for her to leave. When her eyes lit up at the mention of a story, he chuckled a little, before leaning back into his chair, looking out at the view they had.

"As I am sure you are well aware, there hangs a rift over Zaichaer. Well, I have been in that rift, gone through it. I was torn apart and remade so many times I couldn't keep count, the raw aetherium touching my soul on a fundamental level. Though it was only the briefest of moments, it has changed me." he began, taking another sip of his wine before continuing.

"I then walked the aetherium, to the palace of God of gods, I stood among them. Now I don't know about the deities the Solunarium subscribed to, but these gods exuded power and authority that would make the most strong-willed men and woman fear their own existence. Along with two other brave souls that went into the rift, we stood before the king of the dragon gods, Eikean. We spoke and conversed with him and four other gods and were given tasks to aid the world in its time of need, it's one of the reasons I am here. To fulfill my duty to the God of Gods."

His eyes returned to her, wondering how she would respond to that, knowing that she would have millions of questions about it. he would do his best to answer them.☬

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"Common Speech"
"Silandris Speech"
"Self-Thoughts"

[Hilana Chenzira]

“That is fascinating,” Hilana was surprised. She knew a bit of the basics regarding Vitalis, if only because it was mentioned as part of the standard Solunarian education in that regard, and she’d heard enough about it from her tutors as a teenager, but to know it could do that sort of thing? “Does that means you must devour more blood when you do something like that?” The Vastiana wanted to know. “Or no, that depends more on using your aether?”

When he mentioned the rift, her eyes got wide and she immediately swallowed what she had been eating, clearly getting ready to wind up with a battery of questions. “The rift was caused by the explosion, right? One of my Peregrini friends mentioned that. And you’ve been in it? What was it painful, that experience? How did it change you?” She couldn’t even imagine that, going through such a thing, and Hilana was, by all counts, someone who subscribed to the ‘no guts, no glory’ credo. She was adventurous, but a rift to go through? And speaking with the Dragon King of Gods? This would be something else to ask about and look into, maybe, but delving deeply into such things was asking for a trip to the College of Compliance. She did not want to be accused of apostasy and hereticism.

This topic was going to get possibly close to that in and of itself, but Hilana’s curiosity got the better of her. “Were you nervous, meeting the Gods? Who were the other four? What sorts of things did they ask of you? Of those that went through with you? What kinds of tasks?” She wanted to know. “How does Solunarium fit into their plans, then? These tasks that are to help the world?” She had a sip of her wine, her big brown eyes unblinking as her gaze did not leave Dreyfus for even an instant. Tiaz shifted on her shoulders, adjusting his body a bit to shift where the soft beams of sunlight hit from under the cloth sun shades of the rooftop dining area.

[Dreyfus]

☬ 23rd of Ash, Year 122, A.o.S ☬
Company: Hilana | Thoughts: She is quite the curious one | Mood: Amused, Intrigued

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Continued from HERE


☬ Giving her an affirming nod he took a sip of his wine. Setting the glass down his gaze lingered on the server at the table next to them as he responded to her first inquiry. "Most of my abilities, if not all of them, come from vitale, the essence of life within a person. In this case, their blood. If I use master level abilities I will definitely need to feed or replenish my vitale less I slip into a frenzy from lack of it."

He finished off his plate before continuing to answer her questions, also giving her a quaint bow to thank her for agreeing to come to dinner with him. "Imagine a million tiny little hands peeling away your flesh bit by bit, and restitching them, only to repeat the process over and over again while feeling as though you have been flung into the very sun itself. To bare the full brunt of the aetherium and live is no easy task."

The waitress came to refill their glasses, and he nodded in thanks to her before she bowed and went to check on other guests. "If you were to stand in front of the king of a cosmic pantheon of gods and goddesses wouldn't you be nervous too. Of all the gods present, there was Malgar the Dragon God of Suffering, Myshala the Mistlord of Wishes, Vicis the Dragon Goddess of Fate, and Akrivar the Mistlord of Tyranny. And at the helm of them was the Dragon King himself, Eikaen."

Taking a sip of the refilled glass Dreyfus continued. "Of the three of us that went through, The Dragon King wished to hear how we felt about the rift, about the current state of things. At first, I thought them nothing more than fiction, but to see them up close and in person, and to see the genuine interest he had in us and how we felt, it makes you look at things differently. As to what was asked of us. I and another were tasked with freeing the Dragon Prince, the Crowned Prince of Kalzasi Talon who in turn is Arcas, the Demigod light and Justice from the Imperium. However, that failed and things seemed to have gone unexpectedly. As for the other one that went with us, he was tasked with closing the rift in the sky."

He allowed all that to soak in and marinate within the woman as he sipped more of the wine, as it was rather good. ☬

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"Common Speech"
"Silandris Speech"
"Self-Thoughts"