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Jania watched as Raidek tried to summon fire to his fingertip and to her surprise it worked, for about a second. Jania's ice was still holding on her fingertip, and could probably last a few more minutes but she chose to discontinue it and the ice melted away. "Try again, I expect to last twice as long this time." Jania said, annoyance seeping into her voice. She didn't know why she was accepting this man as he apprentice but in the very least she could have fun breaking his spirit.

Kin was sitting off to the side, not eating or with the group near the fire at all. He just listened to whatever it was they were talking about. Hearing Vilya's question, Kin thought back to the conversation Sai and he had when they were collecting wood. Sai gave almost the same answer this time as well as Kin listened. Kin's eyes were half open. They appeared very depressing, yet fierce.

Kin seemed to have his eyes on his gauntlets. He drew out the large claws from them and he looked into the reflection of the steel. It's been a while since I've had this feeling. The feeling of hating my own existence... Why should a being exist only to want to fight? Kin questioned himself in deep intense thought. Vix appeared suddenly, his body wrapping around a tree behind Kin and making his way up it, stopping half way. It was a rare occurrence to see Vix in the open.

Kin thought to Vix.

Vix didn't reply. Kin said, letting the event go.

((Edited my last post, realized I never answered Vilyas question about where Sai is from.))

Sai glanced at Kin for a moment, and realized that he wouldn't want to reveal much about himself if he could help it. He turned to Damiano instead.

"So, Damiano, where are you from? And why did you decide to become a combatant?" Sai asked and then took another spoonful of soup, it was quite good.

Stratus said.

((Just letting everyone know a tidbit about this whole silentcasting thing. Silentcasting is exactly what it sounds like, casting without an incantation. As of right now none of our characters know silentcasting, with the exception of gigashadows character, Jania, and that is because I have allowed him/her to know it. Most mages don't know about silentcasting as it is a skill that is used almost exclusively by Sages. Right now the only people that know it are certain Sages, Jania, and Aruhl. Characters can not learn how to silentcast without being taught by somebody that already knows how.

If you have any further questions please PM me or simply post here in OOC.))

Vilya fixed Kin's back with a concerned look, letting out the breath she held while he spoke in a quiet sigh.

Tura said nothing.
Vilya finished her soup in silence, put her bowl away in silence and got up to put the pack back around the gryphon's chest.
Home...I've always acted like that was my village...but after what happened...was it really? Vilya then realized what she was thinking and reprimanded herself. What does it matter now anyway?
"This is nice and all but..we shouldn't stay in one place for too long." She said, unknowingly mirroring the dragon's thoughts.
After a long pause she added, looking back at the 'sleeping' Kin; "Don't worry, I'm sure your reason will turn up. Just stick with us all right?"

((Ima not sure if Raistlin is going to reply anytime soon...))

((Yeah, swamped by school work but not out just yet! Sorry I've taken so long. I've found some time so I'll make something of it and post so we can move forward.))

Damiano hadn't yet touched his soup. He had, for the most part, been mumbling something to himself over and over again while Vilya and Sai were chatting. He heard Sai's question just as he was about to feed himself the first spoonful of the fragrant broth. Not wanting to be rude, Damiano turned his gaze to Sai, acknowledging that he had been addressed. He lifted the spoon to his lips, gingerly testing the temperature. With an upset look, he put the soup back down and sighed. "It went cold," he stated flatly, more to himself than any of the others, "I guess I'll just have to heat it again."

Stretching his arms upward, Damiano cracked his joints to limber up and shut his strange eyes. He began to murmur the arcane language of magic as he lowered his arms to a steady length in front of him. His right hand remained perfectly still above the bowl of soup as his left one whirled in circles no more than three inches above his right. The incantation grew more resonant though the young mage seemed to keep a steadily soft voice. It was only a few seconds since the start of the spell when Damiano's eyes flared open, ignited by magical energies. "Riscalda!" he said firmly. His words echoed for a moment and he remained perfectly still. His soup began to bubble slightly and with that came a chuckle. "Another successful casting. I'm starting to think learning those more utility-based spells wasn't such a bad idea after all!"

interrupted Ark, Damiano looked up at Sai again wondered what this magus could have possibly asked him. He hadn't heard him say much more than his name during his little meditation and he couldn't help feel embarrassed. Trying hard to keep composed, Damiano cleared his throat to speak. "I beg your pardon, but could you repeat the question? I'm afraid I hadn't been paying attention to the conversation," Damiano said with a light chuckle as he scratched the back of his head.

"Well, First off, You address me properly when speaking, either Master or Mistress McWaylenn will do. Second, I need some rest for today," She said with a little bit of distaste showing in her voice as if she hated the idea of resting. "So you'll be practicing your focus. Tomorrow I will tell you how to break my strings and we will really be working on your focus, with a penalty for failure. I expect you'll have allot of bruises." Jania paused for just a moment as they reached the door to the inn.

"You will also show me your power and your fighting technique both physical and magical so I can devise a training regiment from hell to increase your physical and magical stamina," Jania said as an afterthought. "You'll need allot stamina if your going to learn the focusing properly." Jania turned back to her apprentice and sized him, "We may need medical supplies also, depending on how hard you've trained before this. Of course I won't except broken limbs as excuses for pauses in the training, after all it's not like all of your foes will be kind and stop for you if you break something," Jania said more to herself then to her new apprentice.

((I just realized I had the 1000th post in this thread blaugh ))

Damiano blinked at the question. It was an odd question to ask, then again, he guessed not everyone in the open world became a combatant. He had to remember that his family was different in their practices. After all, only so many mages can honestly say their magic was as old as their bloodline. Damiano wondered where he should start for a few moments before finally deciding on his home town. From there, he was sure the others would understand the rest of his reasons.

"I grew up in a relatively large forest town. From where we are, I'd have to say it's in a rough southern direction. I didn't know most of the townsfolk due to my training, but I did know that they were an important part of my order's world," Damiano paused to taste the soup he warmed up. It was a pleasing flavour, one he was accustomed to at his home where his mother cooked their meals. Damiano thought how fortunate he was then, living his childhood in a sheltered environment even while training.

"I was trained from a very young age by my grandfather, my hometown's sage and current leader of the Maghi Anima, the order of which I am a new part of. It was at the end of my training that I received the markings of my order and went through the rites of passage into mage-hood," Another taste of the soup interrupted Damiano. It was quite delectable, he had to admit. He'd have to thank Vilya for making it afterward.

"I've been a mage for a bit more than a year now. Well, technically two years, but I spent the first one in a deep trance. I was told it was as though I were dead, but my grandfather knew better than the others. Thankfully he was the one in charge of my well being or I'd have been buried with my partner," Damiano's expression hardened as he said this. He would have to conclude as to why he was a combatant. How would he phrase it, how could he make them understand his views? He would simply have to try.

"As to why I am a combatant," he started, the carefree voice suddenly becoming serious, "It is my task as the heir to the order of the Maghi Anima to strengthen myself, earn my rank in my order, and when I have gained the power and wisdom I seek, to return home and take position as Sage of my town. Though I do not know how other sages take route, in my village one must defeat the current sage and then cast them out after taking their companion stone from them."