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Post by Aidana Hawkins on Jun 17, 2005 0:35:42 GMT
Edit: (Invite Only) OOC: Okay, I really should've done that in the first place, no?
Aidana Hawkins wandered up to the Owlery on her brother's behalf. She hadn't seen him around in a while, and he had made her promise to go up and see their hawk. He knew that she resented Mercury, and had made that request probably just to irk her. But why was she here now? Actually complying with her brother's wishes and coming to see that excuse for a bird. She sighed, knowing exactly why. Things were getting too hectic, and she needed a break. She yearned for normalcy in an abnormal time. Right now for her, this seemed like the only outlet.
Aidana climed up the stairs quickly, jumping the recently broken last step. Stepping into the Owlery, she was once again amazed at how many birds rested here. She walked around the circular room, looking up for a certain bird. There! She spied him sitting in a nest near the top, looking disdainfully down at her. She looked up at him.
" Well, come on then. Get down here you useless bird," she said, holding out her arm. Surprisingly, Mercury got up and flew down towards her. Sitting on her arm, he gave her a soft hoot. Apparently he missed Aylen too, and Aidana was the closest he could get to his favorite twin.
" You know, I just wish everything was over," she said softly, stroking Mercury's feathers. " Temporary truce then, old enemy?"
The bird seemed to agree, and he affectionately nipped her fingers. Suddenly he launched off her arm and flew off back to his nest. A second later, he appeared with a note in his beak.
" Don't tell me you've been holding my mail!" she yelled angrily, then remembered the truce. Mercury flew down, and gave Aidana the letter.
" Well, it seems to have been sent today, so that isn't that bad," she said opening the letter. She read it over twice in a span of a few seconds. It confused and intrigued her.
Aidana Hawkins
Meet me in the Owlery after classes.
That was all it said. The person who had sent it hadn't even signed their name. And who was she supposed to meet here anyway, and why did they want to meet her? Well, she seemed to be in the right place at the right time for once in her life. She looked around for this person she was supposed to meet, and only saw the birds.
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Post by legend on Jun 17, 2005 0:48:12 GMT
The man sat in the corner staring straight ahead. His whole demeanor seemed subtle and calm as his dark hair covered one eye slightly. He looked out and decided it was time he introduced himself.
He had chosen this place because it was above all quiet. Students were downstairs eating usually. He still sat calmly noticing Aidana receive the letter.
"So who do you think it is that sent you that note?"
He could tell that she was startled but he sat quietly as she finally noticed him. He didn't seem dangerous or excited, just completely calm and relaxed. Maybe tired.
As the man stood up the dark hair fell back by his ear. He walked over to her. A military sword was attached to his belt. The handle was carved with a particular seal that seemed familiar to Aidana but she could not explain or tell what it may have been.
"You might be wondering of course why you are here."
His expression did not change. He seemed completely bland and emotionless as he stood infront of her a mere shadow of what he once had been. The last time he had seen this owlery was once back when he had some sort of ability of expression. Everything now was conditioned to him, as if a military approach was all he had left.
He looked at her one last time and bowed his head then turning toward down a hallway of owls and perches toward a dead end.
"Please follow me."
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Post by Aidana Hawkins on Jun 17, 2005 1:22:32 GMT
Aidana slightly jumped as she heard a voice behind her. Why did everyone do that to her? She should have gotten used to something like this now, but still she hadn't. She turned to see a man with long dark hair sitting in the corner of the Owlery. He was looking at her with a bland expression, as if he could no nothing else.
" Was it you then?" she asked lightly. He stood up, and Aidana could see that he towered over her. She looked him over, and was puzzled by what she saw. He was young, maybe in his midtwenties? She could see the hilt of a sword of a sword at his hip with an odd seal on it. She hadn't seen anything like it before, yet it seemed to mean something to her. He carried himself militarily, but that wasn't the oddest thing about him. He seemed to have no expression at all.
"Of course I'm wondering. This is a very bad time for strangers to be mysterious. Who are you?" she asked. He turned and and walked down a hallway. Engrossed by him, Aidana had no choice but to follow.
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Post by legend on Jun 17, 2005 1:37:52 GMT
He was careful not to respond to her question. He just kept his eyes forward. His eyes themselves seemed tired and worn down but there was something safe about him.
As he reached then end of the owlery he stared directly at the wall. When Aidana stood next to him he turned to her placing a hand on her shoulder. He then turned to face the wall and placed his other hand flat against it.
A blight flash of light flew past them until they both could not see. His hand gripped a little tighter as if making sure not to let her go as if she would get left behind.
When the light was gone they were standing in the middle of a snow covered field. Underneath them there seemed to be the remains of a large brunt building. A huge ditch in the ground which looked like it had once held something inside. There were a few charred trees of the few that were left standing. Fallen timber was everywhere around them about a two hundred yards out.
Snow was falling and it felt cold. Aidana shivered but the man stood tall without saying a word. Until finally he broke the silence.
"Look."
His voice was hushed as he pointed out into the field and there stood a wooden pole with a black robe hanging over it. Around the pool in the snow was a pattern in a black ash.
The man looked down instead of looking straight out.
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Post by Aidana Hawkins on Jun 17, 2005 1:56:30 GMT
Aidana stood next to the man, who still hadn't introduced himself, at the dead end of the hall. She was about to say something, when he placed his hand on her shoulder. Aidana was going to step away, when a light seemed to be rushing by them and she understood why he had done that. His hand tightened painfully, but she didn't say anything. Obviously he was a man of few words. They had now emerged in a snowy field.
Aidana shivered as the wing blew around her bare legs, whipping around her skirt. Resisting the urge to do a fire spell, she looked up at the man who had brought her here. He hadn't answered any of her questions, just made her think of more. She looked around, trying to guess where they were. Something bad had obviously take place here. The burn marks were evidence for that. Now the man was pointing out into the field.
She saw a tall wooden pole, standing alone. There seemed to be a black robe hanging on it, flapping in the wind. Around the pole there were odd burn marks. Aidana lifted one eyebrow. She wasn't sure what she was supposed to be seeing. Actually, she wasn't sure why he had brought her here at all.
" Yes, I can see the robe, but is it supposed make sense to me? Why did you bring me here? why me?" she whispered up to him. " What should I see?"
The wind blew around them again, and Aidana was shaking now. she hugged her arms around herself, trying to get warm.
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Post by legend on Jun 17, 2005 2:06:07 GMT
"Here."
The man held out his hand as if to shake hers with his palm face up. Within it sparked a small flame.
"Take this in your hand. You will warm up. Now come with me."
He began to walk toward the pole as soon as she took the flame as it floated an inch or so above her palm.
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Post by Aidana Hawkins on Jun 17, 2005 2:18:08 GMT
Aidana took the small fire in her hand, and suddenly felt warm.
" Thank you," she said softly.
The fire molded in her hands, and she smiled. She wanted to make the fire bigger, but couldn't break an oath. But it would have to do for now. She walked behind the mysterious man towards the pole. The snow chilled her feet and almost froze her ankles. In a few minutes she arrived in front of the pole. The strange burn marks around it had charred even the snow.
" So? What now?"
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Post by legend on Jun 17, 2005 2:37:07 GMT
The man did respond only smiled and stepped over the charred ground. As he did the ash blew away into the winds scattering beneath his feet. He reached into the cloack's pocket pulling out a red gem. It was shaped as a cylinder with pointed ends and as he moved it around the sunlight reflected through it onto the snow creating a prism. He held it up to the light and then walked back over to Aidana.
"Here."
He handed the stone to the girl as she seemed to shiver.
"Still cold?"
He smiled slightly trying to comfort her. She was no doubt wondering what was going on.
"Don't worry. We will be done here shortly. But what you must recognize around you is the school in which you were just standing. The cloak you are seeing is that of Danawi. Of course though there is no forest anymore. No school. No Danawi. No You."
He turned over to the lake.
"Even the lake which once shown so brightly as a brilliant symbol of the school has disappeared. The gem which you now hold in your hands is the key to preventing this all from happening. It was left here by the founders way before the time of the current headmisstresses. Take this back with you. Remember though this is of course not the future. Just what will happen if you dont succeed."
He paused for a few seconds and then the light faded back into play. It was almost blind and a few seconds later they were both standing in the Owlery. He then turned to Aidana once more.
"That gem will lead you to the other. Take a careful look at it. Right now i have other preparations to make. Take that to Professor Talon and explain to him what's written on it. Goodbye. I will see you again."
He turned away quickly and began his trip down the hallway and stairs disappearing around the corner. Aidana looked at the stone and read an inscription:
Jaspure's secret lies within the greatest of all oceans lying above the ground as much as the sky drowns each mountain.
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Post by Aidana Hawkins on Jun 17, 2005 2:55:07 GMT
Aidana looked at the gem the mysterious man had just given her. It sparkled crimson in the sunlight, and for some reason gave her warmth. The man smiled warmly at her, and again she wondered who he was. He started explaining where they where, but she already knew that. This was the bleak future that awaited them if they didn't win. This was what was going to happen if she didn't do her part. Aidana was speechless, she had expected something mysterious, but nothing as big as this.
Seconds later they were once again standing in the Owlery, and the man turned to her again. She was instructed to take it to Professor Windwaltz, maybe he would know what was going on. Then just as suddenly he had come, the mysterious man disappeared. Aidana stood in the Owlery, perfectly still.
" What? Why did you choose me? How did you know about the professor?" she asked the air. Of course no one replied. She quickly found Mercury again, and he looked at her inquisitively.
" Find Professor Windwaltz Mercury, tell him to get here right now!" she said, slightly panicking. The hawk, sensing the urgency, took off into the air and towards the castle. Aidana looked down again at the inscription on the gem.
Jaspure's secret lies within the greatest of all oceans lying above the ground as much as the sky drowns each mountain.
What was that supposed to mean? And more than that, what had just happened? Had she really ventured into the future that awaited them all? All this began to weigh down on Aidana as she waited for the Professor to arrive.
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Post by Professor Windwaltz on Jun 17, 2005 3:31:24 GMT
Talon had been sitting in the empty library, his hair still horribly spiked and conducting electricity like lightning rods and his eyes still a deep amethyst. He had no book out, but was calmly thinking to himself. In a few days time, the war would begin. And there he would be...there defending the school from countless enemies...like Agiel Firefox. Would Agiel be proud of him if he could see him now?
That was when a hawk flew through the doors of the library, and landed on the table Talon had been leaning on. "Why hello there," Talon said with a happy tone, but the bird did not seem happy at all. It was flapping its wings manically, zipping about as if for Talon to follow it. "What is wrong with you, my dear bird?" But the bird did not seem to care about Talon's questions, zipping right out the door. Talon, having nothing better to do, followed the hawk out the door.
It led him through the corridors, up the stairwell, and through the path he had gone through so many times in this past week. At last he reached the old wooden stairs of the Owlery tower, and he charged up them after the hawk. Maybe it was all a mistake, maybe the hawk had just gone mad and zipped around the library before returning home? But this was all answered as he reached the top floor - carefully not stepping into the hole in the top stair.
Aidana was standing there looking panicked, holding a gem in her hand, and Talon rushed over to her. "Aidana?" He said her first name in shock, "Did you send the hawk? What's wrong?"
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Post by Aidana Hawkins on Jun 17, 2005 3:51:19 GMT
OOC: Sorry, I have to go. My mom's yelling at me to get off the computer. I'll be on tomorrow though. But OMG...did that really happen?
Waiting alone in the Owlery, Aidana had begun shaking. It had just hit her what had happened. The whole weight of the world pushed down on her shoulders, and right now she just wanted to go far far away. Was it really up to her for the outcome of this war? She hoped not, she really really hoped not. She heard someone coming up the stairs, and quickly turned, not wanting to be startled again. Professor Windwaltz had just run up the stairs, preceded by Mercury. He rushed over towards her. He was a comfort in such times to her now. She didn't know what she would do without him.
" Pro-Professor I can-can't do it! It- it's too mu-much" she stuttered. but he wouldn't understand would he? She took a deep breath, and told her story.
" I got a mysterious letter, telling me to be here. A man came, tall with long dark hair. And I think we went to the future," she whispered. "It was bleak, the school was destroyed and the lake was gone. Snow everywhere...He gave me this gem and told me that was the future, if I didn't succeed. I didn't understand, and he brought me back here. Told me to find you."
Aidana ended, looking up into the Professor's violet eyes. She hoped that he could help her greatly. Looking at the jewel in her hand, she gave it to Professor Windwaltz. Then her knees slowly buckled, and she sat on the ground, staring ahead. She had no idea what to do, and now she felt awful, and desperately in need of a hug. Aylen just had to disappear now, didn't he?
"Oh, and there's an inscription on it," she whispered, gesturing vaguely at the crimson gem.
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Post by Professor Windwaltz on Jun 17, 2005 5:58:38 GMT
Talon could see that his pupil was distraught, and it bothered him. She was alone in the Owlery, and her only company were birds. What could possibly have been the matter? This question was swiftly answered with her stuttering, which made Talon feel even more confused. At last she took a deep breath and told him everything.
He put a hand on his chin in a thoughtful manner, considering the evidence that Aidana had given him. Apparently a complete stranger had come into the Owlery and shown her the 'future'. The Cabal had lost. Danawi had lost. All was lost. What a very bright future that man apparently saw. Yet, apparently, Aidana could stop it? What was this madness?
He took his hand away from his chin, reached down and took the gem from Aidana's outstretched hand. He read carefully the words carved on it.
Jaspure's secret lies within the greatest of all oceans lying above the ground as much as the sky drowns each mountain.
Oh, now it was an entirely different ballgame. Talon looked awestruck at the gem before him, almost about to drop it. That wouldn't be wise, seeing how the gem was apparently the key to the future. "Jaspure's...secret...?" He muttered to himself, surveying the gem completely. "Greatest of all oceans lying above the ground?"
He looked up at Aidana with a look of great interest, "Did he say anything about what it meant?"
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Post by Aidana Hawkins on Jun 17, 2005 16:31:23 GMT
Aidana looked up at her mentor, who was standing next to her. At first he had been questioning, perhaps even skeptic of what she had been though. She didn't blame him for that. How many other people would believe all that had just happened? That she had been whisked away to one of the futures that was waiting for them, and only she could stop it. but the professor's demenor changed once he read the inscription on the gem. Now he was looking at her, plainly interested.
" He said that the gem was the key to preventing all that happening, saving all of us from such a horrible future. He said that it was left here by the founders, much much before the current Headmistresses time. And that the gem would lead us to the other. I'm guesing they posess a greater power when together," she said, regaining herself. If she was going to cope with this, Aidana needed be calm and calculating.
"Who is Jaspure Professor?" she asked. "You're the History of Magic professor, and I'm guessing that's a person from history. Most of all, what does this all mean?"
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Post by Professor Windwaltz on Jun 17, 2005 18:10:16 GMT
Talon looked from Aidana, back to the gem, to Aidana, to the gem, and then kept his gaze fixed on Aidana. "Jaspure Riddle," he said after a short silence, "Was one of the greatest heroines to ever exist throughout our entire history." He nodded, pacing again across the familiar wooden floor of the Owlery as he had done many times this week.
"Once, there was darkness." He began quite simply, leaning against the balcony now, "Under a Dark Witch by the name of Voldemoria. She crashed through the gates of the school, killed the Headmistress...took over completely." He looked over at Aidana for a fleeting moment, and then continued. "Three people led a revolution against her. Jaspure Riddle, Josh D, and Ender I (The First). They fought, and Jaspure Riddle and Josh D trapped Voldemoria, forcing her from the Headmistress position. Then Ender I sealed away Voldemoria in a stone...and that was the end of her.
"For many years, Jaspure Riddle reigned as Headmistress. She created a utopia, an empire, great fun it was...then, however, one day her companion Josh D went mad...tried to seal the "Supreme Headmaster" position all for himself. He trapped Jaspure in the same fashion as he did to Voldemoria...and then took the position he longed for. Of course, he was not going to get away with it completely. He was mortally wounded in battle against two of Jaspure's most loyal students. So he decided to give it his last hurrah...
"He went to a pool, a great giant pool - a natural pool mind you - it led down to the Lake from the Prefect's Bath...and there he fought with Jaspure one last time. Josh D didn't kill her, but she too was wounded...the two limped away from each other...and never returned." He sighed, having told the story, and looking down at the gem once again. "But what Jaspure's secret is...the riddle...."
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Post by Aidana Hawkins on Jun 17, 2005 19:08:17 GMT
Aidana listened to the Professor tell Jaspure's story stunned. Maybe it wasn't so bad that her mentor was an old history bore. His knowledge of the past was coming in handy, she could see that. But she was surprised at the depth of history in this place. She knew that there had been wars and such, what place hadn't? But she didn't know that the school was a turbulent place. Everyone, it seemed, was trying to gain control. She looked to the gem in the professor's hand.
" Well, we have to try to find the other gem don't we? Jaspure's secret would have something to do with that," she said. She was still reeling with all the information he had just given her, but had no idea how to find the answer to the riddle.
" '...the greatest of all oceans lying above the ground as much as the sky drowns each mountain'? The obvious thing to me would be the Lake. It's the only ocean-like thing around. But, what are these gems supposed to do to help us?"
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Thankies Sealla!!
