Little Pup (Ricky)

[Lyra]

67th of Ash, 120 AS

► Show Spoiler

Lyra smiled at the snake as he slowly slithered around her shoulders. He had become a fixture of sorts, with Lyra rarely being seen within the little serpent. Black as ink, if one looked close they could just make out what looked like lines of glyphs running along with his scales to the top of his head. Lyra lightly pets the serpent's head as he weaved down her arm, turning his head to look back at her. His scales gave off a faint black mist, the sign that Lyra was present and controlling him. For the first few days, maneuvering Artur had felt a bit awkward. His body moved very differently than her current vessel, and it was only as she tuned the soul inside the soul gem that she began to understand the flowing motion of muscle and scales. After some time, however, she came to realize the way the doll moved was much like how she controlled her true form, which she found she rarely adopted of late.

"Sh'minal... beautiful." Lyra cooed as she scratched under the snake's chin. His tongue flicked out, sending a rush of senses through their partial possession. Perhaps it was a bit odd, the affection Lyra felt toward the constructs. It was, after all, just another part of her. Like another hand that she could move freely. Despite that Lyra found herself forming an odd attachment to the snake, and found herself more and more treating it as if he were his own person. Doing this seemed to push back on the odd emotions that came to her from time to time, though for the life of her Lyra could not recognize it for what it was.

She let Artur wind himself back up to wrap her shoulders, his head resting under her chin as the woman sighed and stretched. The shop had been fairly slow, though she was not surprised. She had officially opened the doors just 6 days prior, and word of mouth had not yet begun to spread her presence to the rest of the city. Most of those who came in were either associated with one of the Great Houses, connected with the Central Bank of Kalzasi, or linked with the Circle of Spells in some ways. As she thought of the Circle Lyra's eyes flicked to a half-folded piece of paper with their crest emblazoned on the top. It was a letter asking, or rather demanding, she attend a new shop located in the plaza. It was something Lyra had been putting off for several days now, though she knew she would need to see to the request soon.

Children are so impatient. Lyra thought as she gently rubbed the top of Artur's head. She sat back in the chair behind her desk, looking absently down the hallway like a shop.

All of the shelves were now filled with items. The shelve's near the back were the latest project Lyra had completed. Each shelf held some form of magical or infused item, be it specialized ink and paper, or even wands and staves as was the case for the back right shelf. These shelves in particular had wards surrounding them, and each item was given a temporary pictograph that would alert if someone were to take the item too close to the exit. The most expensive items were held behind infused glass panes, and could only be opened by Lyra herself. A few particularly powerful wands, and nearly the entire shelf of magical grimoire were given such protections. It wasn't that Lyra was overly concerned about the item's loss. She simply did not wish to deal with the fallout if a foolish novice were to accidentally kill himself with one of her spell scrolls... at least not before he had paid for it.

The small dragonshard on her desk glowed slightly, indicating someone touched the door to her shop. Soon after Lyra heard the sound of the door open and close once more, and footsteps drawing closer. Shifting slightly Lyra folded the letter from the circle of spells completely, sliding it and a few other papers into a drawer before sitting back and crossing her knees, letting her hands rest in her lap. She had Artur perk his head up, tongue flicking in the direction of the approaching footsteps. Lyra placed a smile on her face, prepared to welcome the new customer as he entered.

[Rickter]

Little Pup

Ash 67th, 120th Year, A.o.S.

The residual cold in the air did hardly anything to damper Rickter's spirits, not that they were very high to begin with, as he and Telion walked towards the newest shop that had opened in town. The wolf had never really ever heard of the place for one, indicating it was new, which meant somebody had recently just set things up there in turn. According to rumor, it was a magical shop that catered to things like scrivening and magical creations, which didn't really fall out of the realm of necessity for Ricker, as Telion had grown pretty focused on teaching him Negation as of late.

With the challenges of the Argent Hand practically complete, however, all that remained was for the wolf to prepare and focus now. When the tourney would come, he would be ready for it, and then the time would come for him to decide... "I'm pretty sure this is the place." Telion remarked as Rickter looked at her from just a general direction his eyes wandered, his lingering thoughts put to rest once again when his eyes fell upon the sign above the shop. Ale'Ephirum. Somehow the name felt familiar to something, even though the wolf hadn't the faintest idea as to what... yet. He looked to the blonde bard next to him, a soft trail of moisture emitted from his nostrils when he did.

"This is the place." He confirmed as Telion stepped forward to reach for the door, her woolen gloves clutching the knob softly as she gave the mechanism a quick turn. Within moments of opening and crossing through the threshold, the cold lingered with them upon their entry, before gradually fading out after Rickter had shut the door behind him. Both wore varying layers of clothing to deal with the cold, Telion the one more bundled up in a cloak beneath her fur-padded armor, since she didn't necessarily own a jacket to wear around just yet. The wolf could only sigh quietly to himself when he noticed this, noting to himself that he'd have to go out later, and buy a couple more articles of clothing just so she'd stay warm for the Frost.

Rickter himself, however, only wore a long-sleeved shirt the color of snow, over the usual pair of beige trousers he'd often wear around the city. The Rune of Reaving could be visibly seen through the layer of fabric, as could the Rune of Negation that rested upon his upper left bicep. Within the storefront, it looked as though they had merely stumbled within a building, as the hallway had been their first immediate area to survey and assess. It was fairly obvious the store was small, clearly new as the rumors entailed, but at the end of the entrance hall awaited someone. At the desk within the nook of the front hall, there sat a woman with an all too welcoming grin upon them, and an odor that Rickter hadn't quite forgotten as of yet.

"Hi there!" Telion greeted the woman in turn, however, before she could advance Rickter caught her by the arm. Immediately her eyes went to his hand with a sense of concern, followed up with actual worry when she noticed the look in Rickter's very eyes. They were narrowed heavily on the woman at the desk, and indistinctively, a low growl started to rattle within the confines of his chest cavity. "Ricky?"

"So you're the owner of this shop then..." The wolf lowly mused, or rather scoffed, when he addressed the woman; hardly aware of the fact she now had a pet lingering around her throat. The markings had changed entirely changed on him as they did before, back when the wolf had the pleasure of seeing Lyra at the ball, but they were still a small contrast to the first time he'd paid the woman a visit. Telion looked from him to the woman a bit confused, before she realized who it was Rickter had grown so defensive towards.

"Wait, so you opened a magical store now?" The bard inquired curiously, mindful of Rickter's wariness, but a little more receptive to Lyra than he was; as the pair approached to stand only several feet away from the desk she sat at.

"Every side attacks you when you don't pick sides."

[Lyra]

Well now.... The smile on Lyra's lips widened to a full grin as the two very familiar faces approached the desk.

"Hello Si'fera." Lyra said in greeting, leaning forward. She quirked an eyebrow at Ricky as he grabbed the woman's arm, resting her cheek on her hand as she leaned her elbow on the desk. Around her neck Artur stirred, slipping between the strands of her hair and raising his head higher. Lyra tasted the air through him, noting the odd animalistic musk that the man gave off.

The air hummed as Lyra opened her senses to the melodies of the man. Suspicion, uncertainty, curiosity and... Lyra tilted her head, eyeing Ricky for a moment before her eyes flicked to Telion. There was a note underneath it all, something that hammered like the beat of a drum, pushing the other notes higher and higher. A look of understanding passed over Lyra's expression as she chuckled.

"The power of your mind never ceases to amaze me little one." Amusement colored her tone as Lyra waved, "Only one as brilliant as you could have come to such a conclusion." Lyra plucked at the strings of Rickter's melody, pushing down that determination, confidence and pulled out a note of embarrassment and raised it above the rest.

Seeming to lose interest in the halfblood Lyra turned her golden eyes on Telion, and she softened her expression somewhat, "I did indeed." For Telion the melody shifted only slightly, curiosity was raised and tuned so that it beat faster and sang above the suspicion brought on by Rickter's actions. Lyra molded this, shaped it like one did clay as she steadily soothed the agitated notes down as she spoke, "I am ill suited for most work given my fragility." She indicated her body, "I needed a way to support myself, so thought to apply what little skill I have and opened this shop."

Artur slowly began to wind around Lyra's raised hand, and she smiled at him fondly as she pet his scales. She seemed to relax slightly as she sat back, motioning at her desk and the papers there, "Though I underestimated the amount of clerical details that it would require."

Shaking her head with a sigh Lyra looked back up at the two, a note of interest in her tone, "Tell me, what is it that you seek?"

[Rickter]

Little Pup

Ash 67th, 120th Year, A.o.S.

The wolf maintained a constant reluctance in the presence of Lyra, growling lowly even when she greeted them in that native tongue of her's. "Rickter," Telion muttered to him in a lowered tone, "that's actually rather rude to do to someone you know." Not that he'd care really, Lyra was someone he didn't trust at all. Somebody that he felt was dangerous and manipulative, like the words she'd say could hold a hidden meaning or agenda within them.

"With you, it doesn't take much to figure out." The wolf lowly remarked in regards to her comments on his perception, admittedly feeling rather challenged by her in turn... which part of Rickter certainly didn't like. Whatever it was about the woman in front of them, he could never quite tell for sure, just simply heed the caution his instincts told him to keep when he was around her. But of course, within all that uncertainty she could detect, it was likely Lyra had noticed the significance of their bond as well. Even now, the two melodies that emanated in the room had a similar vibe, almost as though they shared a wavelength together, while their symphonies complimented one another delicately.

Innately he was her bodyguard and protector, and even when he tried, Rickter couldn't hide those true feelings even from Lyra. Telion on the other hand? Hers was a symphony rather unusual, for there were adventure and excitement, coupled with notes of yearning and inquiry... A seeker. That's all that immediately arose within her melody, while the wolf's own dwindled from fierceness to uneasiness just by being in the presence of Lyra. And then... it was there, the moment Telion looked to Rickter and saw his shift in demeanor, the notes of endearment heightened out above the rest in turn. "It's okay Rickter, just look at her," She spoke to him gentler now to try and ease his state of mind, "as she is she's clearly harmless to us. No need to get all fussy!"

Another low growl but the notes indicated a change then, the wolf relenting in the antagonistic front he developed earlier, only to lightly glare at Lyra when he did so in turn. That left Telion to deal with the situation then, since the wolf seemed hardly inclined to speak now, which wasn't necessarily much of a problem since it was her idea to stop by anyway. "Sorry about that, Rickter's hard to gain trust with, but I've never seen him dismiss someone so quickly." She lightly remarked before generating a soft smile to Lyra, hopeful that she hadn't found any offense in the wolf's actions. "We're actually here to collect some materials for Scrivening, when we heard this place offered supplies I just had to come by!"

"Telion..." The wolf gently sighed as she'd been far too friendly, and far too open, towards the entity that sat at the desk before them. It was bad enough Rickter suspected her of manipulation, but seeing how the snake lingered at her shoulders? Immediately he felt innate shivers wrack his core somewhere within, almost making him shudder as he tried to keep the bard from indulging in too much conversation. Then again... Seeing Lyra as she was now, and how 'fragile' she claimed herself to be... It did generate a bit of wonder in regards to her condition, and whether or not she'd actually be able to recover from it anytime soon.

"Hm?" The bard tilted her head when she looked at Rickter, curious and clearly unaware of the resounding uneasiness within Rickter's being.

"...Never mind..." The wolf muttered as he looked away towards the shelves nearby, admittedly a little curious about the available stock in her store.

"Every side attacks you when you don't pick sides."

[Lyra]

Lyra watched the two's interactions with interest. She absently pet Artur's head, the snake now snuggly wrapped around her wrist with his head raised over her palm. His eyes looked at Rickter, unblinking as he swayed slightly from side to side. It seemed these two were closer than Lyra had at first realized. Curious... How long had they known one another? Usually it took some time for the melodies of two people to grow to such synchronicity. It made the older elf wonder just what drew these two together. Hardship? Longing? Lust? The soul was a mysterious thing at times.

"It is quite alright, Si'fera. This man, Rickter, has every right to be wary of me." she leaned forward conspiratorially, giving Telion a wink, "I am quite dangerous after all, especially to men." she looked passed Telion at Rickter, and she made a show of looking him up and down with an appraising eye, "Though I doubt he has what it takes to handle me. He was quite adorable when he called upon me at my apartments, all alone. He even watched me dress, the Letcher." Her eyes stayed on Rickter for a moment before she smiled, looking at Telion and shrugging, leaning back once more, "Boys shall be boys I suppose. He seemed quite flustered. I hope he has not given you much trouble."

Waving a dismissive hand Lyra stood, cooing to Artur as she carefully placed him back on her shoulder. He slowly would back around her neck, still staring at Rickter even as Lyra turned her back on the two, "In any case, if you have come for supplies for the Scripts then Ale'Ephirum can supply. I admit I am surprised. Thought I that few in this city beyond the Circle gave much thought to the way of the scripts."

Lyra motioned for them to follow, leading them to a set of shelves near the end of the hallway on the left. The selves were neatly organized, inks and stacks of papers and bundles of scrolls in orderly rows. A few jars of ink were behind a glass casing, and if one looked closely signs of glyphs could be seen along the shelves themselves.

"What is it you seek supplies for? Do you have a schema in mind, and what sorts of restraints do you face as far as breadth and scope of power usage?" Lyra eyed the shelves, hands folded behind her back as she seemed in thought, "Do you plan to apply the scripts to paper or other surface? Shall you use dragonshards, and if so what type and quality?" Here Lyra would pause, looking back over her shoulder at the two, awaiting a response to this first set of questions.

[Rickter]

Little Pup

Ash 67th, 120th Year, A.o.S.

Remarkably the snake charmer in front of him had the gall to tease him further, nearly warranting further growls from the wolf in turn. However, even with those jestful remarks she made, the wolf did everything he could to remain complacent in her presence, namely because it was Telion who deemed her not so much a threat. Not that the wolf didn't see it necessarily, truth be told her knack for speechcraft in general would've amused the wolf; had Lyra not so freely taunted him in turn. I'd bet you'd like to see me handle you... He thought quietly to himself yet the feeling evoked was there, ignomy hummed about him like a jubilant tune in his heart then, as Rickter all the more contemplate ways of just how he might prove her wrong.

Telion on the other hand giggled a bit, finding the humor in Lyra's ways well enough when it was present. "A woman of your experience and stature, I'm sure any man would feel threatened by your presence." The bard reasoned with thoughtful consideration, the tone of her melody resonating agreeance as she remained amicable with the shop owner. Rickter almost couldn't stand it honestly, how friendly and receptive the bard was towards Lyra, almost like she wasn't even aware of the fact this ancient being wasn't released from an ancient device.

"What?!" Surprised filled her eyes then as Telion looked to Rickter, who looked to her a little mortified in turn, as Lyra went on about their previous visit at her apartment.

"It's... It's not..." Color pooled into his cheeks then as he looked away, clearly upset to the point of embarrassment as he bit his lower lip. Another innate growl came out of him and in seeing it happen, Telion couldn't help but lowly laugh at seeing his reaction. In some ways, it kind of hurt, but could tell just from the glimpses that he saw of her, that she wasn't necessarily laughing at him per se. She was only laughing at his reactions, and how easily this woman got under his skin more or less.

"Oh, no worries! Though he's not been as upfront, he's certainly not shy about bathing in front of me and a friend of ours." His cheeks reddened even more then, as he shot a brief glare at her, garnering a nervous chuckle as the bard had clearly said enough about his venture at the spring. "Besides, he's proven to be an effective mage. Which is kind of the reason why we're here, since I'm showing him ways that Scrivening can be applied to magic." Though his glare lessened as she spoke, Rickter still grumbled lowly to himself in turn, crossing his arms as he contemplated what items they could shop for while they were here.

Wonder if I can learn how to reseal her in, the wolf mused to himself quietly, that'd be one helluva way to show her. Suddenly he was feeling very dogmatic now, almost like a rivalry had been kindled in his spirit suddenly. Was he really allowing himself to be manipulated by Lyra so easily? Before he was always calm and collected, able to keep his thoughts and feelings controlled to a degree. But with Telion here?... Why? He was fired up and ready to bark insults at the woman now, all because he was in the presence of a friend he thought highly of. What did it matter to him so much? If Telion were as capable of brushing it off as calmly as she was, then how come he found it difficult to do the same now?

At her remark of surprise Telion lightly chuckled then, giving Lyra another warm smile as she clasped her hands together behind her back. "Well of course! Any witch or warlock worth their salt knows that Scrivening is a useful practice! Why without it we couldn't keep a fire going without wood, much less repel the cold and other entities without the use of pictographs." Admittedly the use of that writing Rickter wasn't familiar with was pretty damn effective, setting a makeshift campfire up using nothing but paper, paint, and writing? Oh yeah, that kind of art was phenomenally useful with its application. Which was why Rickter wanted to learn it, and how he wound up being here with Telion... in Lyra's shop.

It was then Lyra began to show them her inventory, bringing them along so that they passed shelf after shelf of goods. Some of times were just the bare essentials, the components that all made up the core fundaments of the Scrivening art itself. Further on, however, it became apparent that Lyra herself was a diligent practitioner. As the wolf could see past the jars of ink, the stacks of paper, and even the clusters of shards at her disposal, what few trinkets were housed within the other shelves and glass cases. Those other bits and baubles were keenly interesting to Rickter, as he could only wonder what purpose the Scrivener had given them. Truth be told he started to realize more about Lyra in that case, and how surprisingly down-to-earth she seemed when speaking of the magic in turn.

Her questions were well-catered to whatever needs that they might have, leading Telion to briefly think on them in turn, while the wolf lingered on a secondary thought entirely. It stands to reason I could learn a thing or two... even from her. His eyes reluctantly fixed on Lyra when he made this conclusion, Rickter found that another stray thought led him to wonder about another matter.

"Well, we're only starting with the basics here. So I'd certainly like to start with just the ink and parchment materials for sure, that said though I do wonder if you have any schema in mind for beginners to practice with? Obviously, Rickter's no Elementalist yet, but the practice is just as useful with a few dragonshards." This meant they'd only likely need the minimum grade, since those alone would be the base components of his practices.

"Learning how Scrivening works will be easy, but it's showing Rickter ways it can be applied is where the challenge is." The bard admitted thoughtfully with an enlightened tone of voice, clearly in her own element now that she'd started talking about magic more. "Stuff for Negation would be a good start, he's already growing proficient in that discipline as is!" Pride seemed to resonate from Telion then as she beamed at him with a wide grin, garnering another light flush in his cheeks before he dipped his hands into his pockets.

"Reaving too I guess..." He remarked lowly to Lyra, clearly still a bit reluctant to associate with her. "Though I've no idea how this can apply to my weaponry, it'd be great to learn how Scrivening can assist with Reaving." It was then Rickter realized he still had it in his pocket, as the eerie chill of the soul gem reminded him that Rickter still carried it around. It was something he did often when he contemplated the soul's purpose, but now that they were in the shop with Lyra... did he dare bring it up? Something like this wasn't outright his schtick, but if Lyra knew of Necromancy as well then perhaps?

The wolf admittedly sighed in turn, after the realization of what his pocket contained faded out. With the swirling white gem emitting the same ghostly mist, the wolf tucked it out of his pocket to hold it at his side, revealing it to Lyra from where they both stood. "Don't take this the wrong way," He lightly started, "I'm not asking you to make something out of this... But I was also wondering if you happen to dabble in the arts of flesh and soul also?" And there it was, genuine curiosity resonating at his core. Perhaps for once, he'd find some even ground with Lyra, even so much as bond with her with that common ground. But most of all he wanted to know what purpose could he give this gem, seeing as he still drew blanks on how to help it make reparations for the misdeeds within its past.

"Every side attacks you when you don't pick sides."

[Lyra]

Artur flicked his tongue at Rickter, his head bobbing several times before he turned slitted eyes on Telion. Through those eyes Lyra watched them as she looked back at the shelf, pretending to examine their contents again. She had Artur extend himself, moving his head to and fro as he attempted to touch Telion on the shoulder. If allowed he would even slowly crawl onto her arm, winding himself through her hair and brushing his scaled head against her cheek as if curious.

"Elementalist..." Lyra tried the word, frowning slightly as she worked out its meaning, "One who speaks to the elements, bending the forces of nature. The discipline itself lends itself well to scrivening, better than most though usually because the effects of such rune magic are immediately understandable and witnessed." She absently waved to the corner, around which was another set of shelves that were stacked with even more scrolls, "All of the magic scrolls you see I created using dragonshards, though what you can produce with just that and the scripts is greatly limited based on the scripts themselves. Still, as you say it is perhaps best to start simply."

She glanced back at Telion as Negation was mentioned, and her brow furrowed at the word 'reaving'. The glance she gave Rickter was appraising as if she were genuinely surprised to hear that he was not as inept as she originally seemed. The gaze wasn't one of respect but mirrored something closer to disbelief before she shrugged, "You touch on the core of what drives many from the scripts. It is difficult to transform conceptual knowledge into practical application. Simply put, those who are able to become experts in the field, while those who can't quickly give it up."

Lyra tapped her chin in thought, looking at the shelf across from them. This shelf was filled with what looked like wands of different shapes and designs. Some had gems attached at their base, while others simply held the glyphs which made them work.

"Those who wish to learn the scripts learn best from simplicity." she said at last. Walking past them she would reach forward, touching a particular pictograph before picking up a wand about the length of her forearm. This one had a red dragonshard at its base. When she removed it from the shelf the glyphs along the inside shimmered faintly, but faded as quickly as it appeared.

"The most complex works of the master are all built upon the simplest principles every beginner must learn." As she said this Lyra flicked her wrist, the glyphs on the wand activating as a shower of sparks formed. Flicking her wrist once more the sparks changed colors from red to blue, to violet, and finally to green. After the display she held up the wand, letting them see the glyphs on its surface, "This schema contains 3 elements. The path, mirrors, and convergences. The paths pull aether from the dragonshard at the base in 3 separate places. These lines lead to a mirror which collects and draws out the desired elements of the shard from the aether. Finally, convergence heads to the focal point at the end. This wand works on the basic principles of flame, which I am sure you know can change colors depending on the minerals used in its burn. This wand simply draws out three particular color potentials, using mineral lased inks at each of the mirrors, and when combined they form different colors. The trigger is the flicking motion itself." She would let Telion hold the wand to inspect if she wished, but if not the wand would be returned to its resting place.

"You ask for a Schema for beginners, however, that is not the way of the scripts. Start, instead, with the simplest manipulations. Draw the aether from a shard, bend light around a lens, or some other simple act and simply use what you know to make it happen. Then take those principles and try them again with different materials. Different inks and papers, depending on their make and purpose, result in different effects. Though perhaps that is more advanced than you wish to go for now." Though she would never admit it, Lyra found passion in the act of teaching. Yes if pressed she would say she detested it, despised the effort it required of her, and seek to avoid it at all cost. Yet when she spoke she spoke with more passion than she ever had before. When she smiled it wasn't a sneer, but a true smile.

"As for the other magics... I have experience creating schema for negation, though the practical application of that is dependent upon the specific task you wish performed. I would suggest becoming proficient with the fundamentals before attempting much with that particular magic. Reaving, though, I do not recognize..."

Lyra's words trained off as Rickter brought out the soul gem, her attention focusing fully on the gem even as she directed those last words to Telion. She seemed to hesitate slightly before extending her hand out, palm upward for the gem. Her fingers would curl slowly around the gem, feeling its cold deep in her bones as she brought it up to her eye to inspect closer.

She traced the design on the gem's surface, breathing in slightly as she turned the gem over. She did not speak for some time, ignoring anything said to her. Finally, Lyra would look up to Rickter, gold eyes hardening slightly as she examined Rickter as if she had never seen him before. Her mask had cracked slightly, the smile slipping during her inspection of the soul gem, but she quickly fixed it back in place. This time, however, it did not quite reach her eyes.

"I may know some of those arts..." She spoke softly, eyes fixed on Rickter as she called upon her rune to bring her the melodies. She listened intently as she asked her next question, "Who did you kill to make this?"

Everything Lyra had thought about the man was suddenly put beneath the magnifying glass. She had thought him a simple warrior, but it seemed she had missed something. He held multiple runes and suddenly was interested in the scripts. He had already implied he would be watching her, and she had taken precautions to slip away undetected from his prying gaze. Why had he shown her the soul gem? He knew of her true nature, at least in part. Was this a subtle threat, or was something more going on?

Her eyes glanced down at the gem once more. The designs there... They were done by a master, perhaps one more skilled than Lyra herself. Had he been the one to craft this gem? If so... Rickter would need to be put down.

[Rickter]

Little Pup

Ash 67th, 120th Year, A.o.S.

The snake seemed to curiously bob it's head in Rickter's direction for a bit, garnering a fiercely narrowed look of intrigue as the wolf eyed it in turn. Was that thing even alive? He could smell its odor from here but something also seemed to merge with its own scent, a hint of a familiar smell that the wolf had only experienced once before. Lyra had that same smell in fact upon their first meeting, but of course, that had almost entirely faded since the time it occurred. Still, if such residual traces could reside not just on her, but on whatever animals fell within her reign of control, then that could only mean she had something to do with them in turn.

Undoubtedly he would likely be seeing more pieces of the puzzle later, for the time being, he continued to remain as minimally amicable as possible. Granted he didn't like seeing the snake fixate its attention on Telion later. He watched as they walked along together, the bard slightly surprised at first, but welcoming of the creature as it started to slither onto her. The wolf almost growled once more, only this time settling for walking closer to Telion, only to bring a hand up from below and relocate the snake back onto his master's shoulder instead. He might not have liked the snake's charmer that much, and just even touching the serpent made his skin tingle with aggression, but the wolf suppressed those intense urges just to keep his partner safe.

He didn't know what the snake was capable of, in the event it was something that Lyra had learned to manipulate. Although, while Telion looked a little surprised to see him reeling in the aggression, she looked to Rickter with a gentle smile in turn for assurance. "Dragonshards are also important to remember, since different types of shards can produce different results." When the bard ruminated on this she didn't share it for conversation necessarily, as the fact remained an important one to remember for Rickter, since he too would have to learn how to manipulate whatever core principles Scrivening involved. It sounded overly complicated initially, yet after seeing what it can do, the wolf admittedly wanted to learn how to apply Scrivening to his own personal magics.

In learning that he'd started practicing with Negation, as well as possessed Reaving, Lyra seemed to look to Rickter a little more differently than before. For some reason that unnerved him, and he had yet to figure out just why. She appeared to appraise him then which was something he'd grown used to, seeing as how by now others in higher positions had already done him the same. Although... Rickter was more afraid of her than he was of Lyra, which only goes to show that his recent growth in power, would likely show the Iron Queen his dedication to the cause he'd dedicated himself to. "I have to agree," Telion remarked when Lyra went on about learning best from the simplicity, "when the core concepts are mastered, Scrivening has a much more broad spectrum to experiment with."

This became apparent when Lyra began to demonstrate such things, revealing a wand she had likely crafted in turn, and how it could generate sparks that changed color in turn. In handing it to Telion the bard accepted it humbly, observing the instrument herself inquisitively before handing it back over in turn. "That's actually an interesting design, I love how intricate your detail is with the wand as well." The bard complimented in turn as she handed it back to Lyra, before it was placed back on the shelf where it belonged. Admittedly, Rickter thought it impressive to be able to make such tools. Though small in particular, wands could achieve many things depending on their purpose.

Lyra in turn shared her insight with the application of other magics also, Negation being the easier one to work with since it obviously relied heavily on Shieldcrafting. That technique alone was still something the wolf was slowly learning, mastering even, before he could overcome the boundaries of his current limitations. Soon he probably wouldn't even need to think about combining Negation with Scrivening, but then again to dismiss the idea would be foolish and reckless without fault. Reaving on the other hand... Lyra knew nothing of the discipline, which didn't exactly surprise Rickter entirely. It was a magic he learned to be quite old, perhaps ancient even, but apart from that it was just as much a mystery to him as it was to her. Thus he brought out his next unusual inquiry...

And Lyra seemed to change.

She seemed to ask the most peculiar question, generating a light gasp of awe from Telion when she heard it, while leading the wolf himself to look at her with surprise. Who did he kill? Suspicion started to fill him then, as he remembered what happened before he'd been gifted the gem. That ghoul... All of his insides laid bare, the look of contorted pain frozen on his face, it was a sight he would never forget anytime soon. Even now he felt a shiver of fear beckon out of him, and yet even so, he accepted the token that Sahfri had given to him that day. "By my hand or not, they're dead now so it hardly matters." Yet Lyra wasn't at all playful anymore, she'd grown serious and quite focused on the matter entirely. Was she afraid of the gem itself? No... She'd admitted to practicing Necromancy, so it was likely she wanted to know if he did also, and how he'd manage to attain a soul gem such as the one he showed her.

Telion looked a little lost then, admittedly because she'd been there when Rickter walked out, and seen him with the gem after he left the meeting with the Daizokura. Why does she seem concerned by it? The wolf couldn't help but wonder, as it certainly was something Lyra seemed to focus on innately. Thus Rickter began to realize something. If the snake was under her control in any way, then perhaps she had managed to achieve that control through Necromancy. A soul is still a soul after all, and thus far the wolf had only seen Lyra enjoy manipulating others. That said, he was rather surprised to see the woman show such utter passion for magic, as with her earlier lecture on Scrivening and the show with the wand. Somehow... There were far more layers to this entity than the wolf initially realized, and in turn, Rickter started to think that Lyra was noticing the same with him.

And that spelled trouble.

"It was not my design, as you're no doubt well aware." The wolf admitted reluctantly in turn, crossing his arms as he waited to see if Lyra was done with examining it. "Someone powerful gave it to me, and I want to learn the aspects of that power. Although I..." He trailed off then as the reluctance wasn't towards Lyra, but from his own personal lack of judgment in part. "I don't know how." He loathed to admit it but it was the truth, and sure enough, Telion's quiet concern slowly lessened as she watched them. Somehow in her eyes, the two were slowly building a bridge together. Something that could help them connect more, and help the wolf himself grow to tolerate Lyra's presence more.

Truth be told, however, Rickter just wanted to learn and understand Necromancy in general. To practice would be one thing, but if what Lyra beheld intimidated her, then surely that meant she had reason to fear such power right? So what happened if the wolf actually did learn the craft, and mastered it to a degree similar to the predecessor of that soul gem? Perhaps then he'd give Lyra a reason to truly be afraid, although even then, there was no certainty he'd outdo her given she too practiced the art. "Fair enough?" He inquired with a raised eyebrow, as he watched Lyra with curious intent. Meanwhile, the songs she would've heard remained similar to before, Rickter's somehow beginning to sound more and more like a howl into the long night, while Telion's softly carried out like a calming ambiance within the room.

"Every side attacks you when you don't pick sides."

[Lyra]

"It hardly matters?" Lyra asked, raising an eyebrow. She studied Rickter closer still, listening for any subtle changes in his rhythms. Eventually, she seemed to relax, looking down at the soul gem once more, "It seems I was wrong about you... I am unsure if I am surprised, or merely disappointed." Indeed for a moment Lyra had thought, perhaps, this one was of those that truly valued the lives of those around them. She had expected it to be so, in fact, given how he treated the woman. As it turns out he was just like the rest of the mortals.

"So few of their sort exist in this age. Perhaps it is just Be'melar after all." Lyra traced the lines on the gem with a long black nail once more, her expression changing to a thoughtful one before she extended the gem back to Ricky. The air about her had shifted once more, and when she looked at Ricky now her eyes almost slid past him. "It was perhaps too high of an expectation, little one. It is natural to care only for oneself and their own devices. The truly selfless, as I am sure you are aware, are few."

It was then that Lyra seemed to come to herself, refocusing on the topic after shaking her head to dismiss the idly thoughts. She pointed at the gem that was in Ricky's possession now, grimacing slightly, "That is a Soul Gem, a prison from which no one can escape. It is an especially cruel art form, as those that it is used upon still feel pain, and retain their consciousness even when they are unable to speak or interact with the world any longer." Goldeyes looked at Ricky once more, but she glanced quickly away to look at the shelves, "It is the perfect practice for those who dismiss the lives of others. Though I tell you this," she looked at the gem once more, "Whoever made that is not just skilled, but exceptionally ruthless. Tread carefully little one."

With a dismissive wave, Lyra turned to look at Telion, smiling once more. Artur once more curled around her neck, and Lyra pets him affectionately, "In any case, scrivening supplies are fairly inexpensive, and I am willing to negotiate a discount if you would be willing to run errands for me from time to time." Artur flicked his tongue at Telion, "Though I do not do this often, I might be persuaded to give you lessons as well. I have one other student, but he is..." She frowned briefly, a look of exasperation on her face, "Not as suited to the practice as I had originally hoped. Perhaps if I took the time to teach another with some skill I may learn where it is I am failing."

Out of the corner of her eye, Lyra kept watching on Rickter, though she pointedly did not face him. It seemed he was not the one who crafted the gem, but he was in contact with a powerful necromancer, one he could not reveal to her. It spoke of things moving beneath the surface that she had not anticipated.

Measures will need to be taken. she thought as she idly pet Artur's scales, This person must be found, and subdued.

Easier said than done.

[Rickter]

Little Pup

Ash 67th, 120th Year, A.o.S.

Lyra, for whatever reason, seemed to have a change in opinion about Rickter, a result which he regarded very little in truth at this point in time. Yet he was actually quite curious, not just at the name Be'melar, but at what Lyra had said in retrospect about them in turn. Who was this Be'melar? Did they really care so much for everyone else, and so little for themselves, that they really were such a good person in this world? The wolf found it odd that the woman looked so highly upon someone, given how frequently she'd turned her nose away from someone like Rickter in turn.

"Awe, don't say that!" Telion weighed in softly, already quick to jump to his defense. "He may come off stern and mean, but deep down Rickter's just as selfless as some others I know! " The wolf groaned a scoff lowly as he wanted to disagree, understanding that he had a long way to go, before he'd be anything of the sort like one of those others. Talon already came to mind in that regard, which generated a warmth within him that he passed along to the Prince in turn. Indeed their bond may seem trivial sometimes, but for Rickter just the simple connection meant the world to him. It made it easier for his thoughts and feelings to be understood, without ever having to worry as to whether they would be compromised in turn.

In light of what he was told though, Rickter looked down at the gem in his hand in turn. He was well aware that the soul resided within the confines of the crystal, and yet, for that very soul to be able to feel and exist even within its prison. That did not weigh lightly on the wolf's mind when he heard this, for he did not want to induce any more suffering on this soul than he had to. Hell, he didn't even want to. Yet the soul had to have a new purpose now, for he was its new warden, and that in turn meant Rickter had some considerable thinking to do in turn. Lyra's warning about its maker also stirred uneasiness within the wolf, although that too waned when he felt his Companions reach out to him.

Concern and curiosity were the immediate responses he'd felt traded between them, to which the wolf quickly reciprocated the calm peace in his heart in turn. They were ready to help him out as ever, and that actually humbled him as well, yet their support wasn't a request he needed to make right now. For Lyra, however, the melody that Rickter would exude not only changed but echoed as though there were multiple melodies resonating within his symphony. The innate howl reaching far into the long night soon became accompanied by notes of comradery, as well as compassion, as they hummed deeply within the heart of his being.

In watching the snake Telion slightly tilted her head, ever curious about it as she watched his master pet him affectionately. Strange. Rickter didn't expect to see Lyra so fond of things, people especially, but if he were to guess Telion was likely one of those people. Why else would Lyra treat her differently from him, almost as though she were a potential pupil instead? That or something else entirely. Rickter didn't know what faucets guided this woman's behavior, just that Lyra as a whole remained ever the enigma he couldn't figure out. "That doesn't seem like too much trouble!" She agreed quickly with the discount, mindful of the brief glare of disapproval from Rickter in turn. "We're always looking for easy jobs on the side anyways, so we could do the occasional favor for you as well."

It was then the scholar seemed to ruminate on lessons and an actual pupil of hers, one that didn't seem to be taking to the lessons clearly from the tone in her voice. Still, the idea of learning these magics didn't fall on deaf ears. "Oh? Well, much of what I learned is from trial and error myself, but I'd be glad to give it a shot sometime if you like!" Telion then looked to Rickter as well, her smile soft as she gazed at him hopefully in turn. "Rickter here would probably be better off in your hands in my opinion, he needs a good teacher to show him the ropes!"

"Be it Necromancy or Scrivening..." He started reluctantly. "I'd be willing to learn from you." Almost ashamed to admit it he diverted his gaze, almost mocking Lyra as they exchanged indirect stares with one another. "...Just don't expect me to do anything... outrageous."

"Every side attacks you when you don't pick sides."