S
scikaiju
Guest
“You mean that's all it is?”, a disappointed sounding Nadia asked once she showed them how to do the metal spike. Actually Shae looked a little disappointed as well that it was apparently so simple. Granted she remembered being slightly confused, alright very disappointed, as well when Vincent first showed it to her all those years ago. There was something exciting about something being more complex than it was. Looks like that hasn't changed over the years, at least with these two
Bringing her brush to the paper she channeled some of her magic through it and swiped it across the slip as the bristles glowed. Both of them watch the paper fly out of her hand, transform into a metal spike and implant itself into the target. “Afraid so,” Jules said, a bit amused the the girls were still gawking at the spike. After making the spike disappear she added, “Not everything is all hand waving and motions. Sometimes it's as simple as a single piece of paper. Like that sleeping spell a lot of us learn in the more advanced sessions.”
“Is that what happened to that guard?”, Shae asked as Jules handed her a couple of slip of the gray paper she used to make the spikes.
“Maybe?”, Jules answered while handing some to Nadia as well. “But considering it wasn't on him when they discovered him, nor did he mention somebody slapping one on his forehead so it's doubtful that's how it happened.” Grabbing one for herself she took a moment to check her supply of that particular paper. “Gotta remember to make more of these later. That's were the real work is for this particular spell. I'd be willing to show you if you're still interested.” Nadia just shrugged while Shae looked on eagerly. “I can do a bit more than aim and shoot them off. I can control their direction a little too.” To demonstrate she faced the other direction and fired off a spike but kept her brush aimed at it this time making it pause in the air. “Could the two of you take a couple of sreps back?” When they did Jules quickly aimed the brush at the target. The spike quickly reversed direction and flew past them as it hit near the bottom of the target. “I'm not entirely that accurate doing it this way. I can hit the side of the building with no problem.” She caught the question in Shae's face before she even asked it. “Long story,” was all she told her. “Now you guys give it a try.”
After a brief explanation of the basics Jules stepped back and let them try it. Much like when she did the first time she tried it took them a couple of times to get it. But almost at the same time both of them fired off a spike that hit the target. Shae jumped a little after she finally got it. Nadia was a bit more subdued in her reaction but it was obvious that she was pleased that she got it to work as well. “There you go,” Jules told both of them as she stepped up behind them. “While you got me here is there anything else you want to know?”
Jules tried to mot get that suspicious as the girls looked at each other. Nadia was urging Shae on,” Go on ask her.” Shae being hesitant worried her slightly.
“What is it Shae?”, Jules asked her. When she started to look away again Jules put a hand on her shoulder. “I said you can ask me anything, and you took advantage of that earlier. So don't start being afraid of asking me now.”
Shae looked at her and surprised her again by asking, “Is there really a black market for Makai items?” Where was she getting these questions? Well based on Nadia urging her on there was a good chance it originated with her. And they were both looking at her waiting for an answer
Blowing out a breath Jules remembered she also told her she'd be as honest as possible. Why did she ever tell her that? Oh yeah to help build up the level of trust between the two of them. Olivia was probably going to give here another earful if she ever found this out. “I'm afraid so. Honestly that was one of my first thoughts that crossed my mind when I found out things were stolen.”
“I told you,” Nadia said. Okay that's exactly where that question came from.
Shae still didn't looked convinced, “Do they even know what the items are?”
“Most of the time, no they don't. At least that's what some of the buyer or sellers said the times I was assigned to track one down or break one up.”
“My folks,” Nadia spoke up, “said it's stuff stolen from the Order.”
“Sometimes that's the case,” Jules said with a nod, “sometimes it somebody who not part of the Order any more, either they left or got kicked out. Occasionally it the children or grandchildren of those who left for whatever reason and decide to get ride of the 'junk' their inherited without knowing exactly what they had. Sometime they just stumble across an old temple and think the things inside are interesting and valuable. And as hard as we try to keep it from happening information about us does gets out occasionally so people go looking for evidence we exist. There's are a lot of reasons why it happens.”
“How is that even possible?”, Shae asked. “I mean they're not supposed to know we exist at all, we do everything possible to make sure that doesn't happens.”
“Because at the end of the day we're still human,” Jules told her, “and humans makes mistakes, we're no different. Look guys, I've met Priests who forget that, even start thinking that we're above the regular humans. But we're not.” Looking both in the eyes she said, “If either of you take anything away from what I'm trying to tell you, let it be that at least.” Both of them looked thoughtful as they thought that over. Hopefully that was a good sign.
Given the moment Jules looked around, started seeing more and more activity from the kids staying here. Trying to remember how things around here was done when she was here learning Jules figured it was time for one of the training sessions. Looking at Nadia she told her, “I think I've kept you for too long. You better get back to your group before you get in trouble.” Nadia started to say something, Jules knew what she was going to say just by the look on her face. “No arguing,” she said sternly. Okay where in the hell did that voice come from? “I don't need any of the instructors around here getting on my case for taking their students.”
“Fine,” she said with a huff as she started to get up. Oh yeah, this one was reminding her of somebody all right. And she could almost feel Vincent's amusement over the situation if he was still here. Looking over at Shae she went, “If I see that Knight trainee you like should I tell him you said hi?” Shae started blushing immediately.
Naturally as the responsible adult she shouldn't add to the young girl's embarrassment. But Jules couldn't help herself in this situation. “You know who she likes? We're talking later.”
“No,” Shae quickly got out before she realized what was happening.
“You're lucky I'm not here all the time because you are way too easy to tease,” Jules informed her.
“Told you,” Nadia said to Shae before she started to leave.
Looking around at the other kids Jules grabbed her shoulder real fast, getting her attention. “If anybody give you any trouble about sticking up for Shae earlier, let me know.”
Nadia just grinned, “Sure thing. Behave yourself Shae.”
After she left Shae stepped up to Jules. After a bit she said, “I think she meant you.” Looking at her Jules saw the smile she tried to hide from her. Was she really that much of a bad influence?
“Hey,” she said with a slight shove. “I don't think Olivia or the others are going to be that happy at all that I brought out this side of you. Come on, I hate to do this to you again but I'm going to have to leave you with Olivia for a bit. Don't worry,” she said to quickly cut off the upcoming out burst, “I'm going to give you some busy work to do while I'm out so you don't get too bored.”
Shae looked a little wary, “Doing what exactly?” Yeah, that was an opening. When was this girl going to learn?
“Translating some old scrolls, doesn't that sound fun?” The look on her face said she thought it was the exact opposite of fun. Good, because Jules wasn't sure what she was going to do if she looked excited about the idea, outside of finding some old scrolls that is. Putting an arm around her shoulder as they headed off Jules told her, “No I'm not, but it's something almost as tedious. I'm going to show you how to make the seal to make those spikes. Don't worry I won't leave until I'm sure you understand it fully. And I'm going to want, let me see what sounds like a good number, at least five done by the time I get back.”
Looking up at her Shae asked, “What are you going to be doing?”
“I'm going back to that spot we found,” Jules told her as she looked in that general direction. “After I get some back up that is. And not you, if I knew that place had booby traps I wouldn't have taken you there to begin with.” And she knew who that back up was going to be too. Hopefully Olivia knew where Emily was.
Bringing her brush to the paper she channeled some of her magic through it and swiped it across the slip as the bristles glowed. Both of them watch the paper fly out of her hand, transform into a metal spike and implant itself into the target. “Afraid so,” Jules said, a bit amused the the girls were still gawking at the spike. After making the spike disappear she added, “Not everything is all hand waving and motions. Sometimes it's as simple as a single piece of paper. Like that sleeping spell a lot of us learn in the more advanced sessions.”
“Is that what happened to that guard?”, Shae asked as Jules handed her a couple of slip of the gray paper she used to make the spikes.
“Maybe?”, Jules answered while handing some to Nadia as well. “But considering it wasn't on him when they discovered him, nor did he mention somebody slapping one on his forehead so it's doubtful that's how it happened.” Grabbing one for herself she took a moment to check her supply of that particular paper. “Gotta remember to make more of these later. That's were the real work is for this particular spell. I'd be willing to show you if you're still interested.” Nadia just shrugged while Shae looked on eagerly. “I can do a bit more than aim and shoot them off. I can control their direction a little too.” To demonstrate she faced the other direction and fired off a spike but kept her brush aimed at it this time making it pause in the air. “Could the two of you take a couple of sreps back?” When they did Jules quickly aimed the brush at the target. The spike quickly reversed direction and flew past them as it hit near the bottom of the target. “I'm not entirely that accurate doing it this way. I can hit the side of the building with no problem.” She caught the question in Shae's face before she even asked it. “Long story,” was all she told her. “Now you guys give it a try.”
After a brief explanation of the basics Jules stepped back and let them try it. Much like when she did the first time she tried it took them a couple of times to get it. But almost at the same time both of them fired off a spike that hit the target. Shae jumped a little after she finally got it. Nadia was a bit more subdued in her reaction but it was obvious that she was pleased that she got it to work as well. “There you go,” Jules told both of them as she stepped up behind them. “While you got me here is there anything else you want to know?”
Jules tried to mot get that suspicious as the girls looked at each other. Nadia was urging Shae on,” Go on ask her.” Shae being hesitant worried her slightly.
“What is it Shae?”, Jules asked her. When she started to look away again Jules put a hand on her shoulder. “I said you can ask me anything, and you took advantage of that earlier. So don't start being afraid of asking me now.”
Shae looked at her and surprised her again by asking, “Is there really a black market for Makai items?” Where was she getting these questions? Well based on Nadia urging her on there was a good chance it originated with her. And they were both looking at her waiting for an answer
Blowing out a breath Jules remembered she also told her she'd be as honest as possible. Why did she ever tell her that? Oh yeah to help build up the level of trust between the two of them. Olivia was probably going to give here another earful if she ever found this out. “I'm afraid so. Honestly that was one of my first thoughts that crossed my mind when I found out things were stolen.”
“I told you,” Nadia said. Okay that's exactly where that question came from.
Shae still didn't looked convinced, “Do they even know what the items are?”
“Most of the time, no they don't. At least that's what some of the buyer or sellers said the times I was assigned to track one down or break one up.”
“My folks,” Nadia spoke up, “said it's stuff stolen from the Order.”
“Sometimes that's the case,” Jules said with a nod, “sometimes it somebody who not part of the Order any more, either they left or got kicked out. Occasionally it the children or grandchildren of those who left for whatever reason and decide to get ride of the 'junk' their inherited without knowing exactly what they had. Sometime they just stumble across an old temple and think the things inside are interesting and valuable. And as hard as we try to keep it from happening information about us does gets out occasionally so people go looking for evidence we exist. There's are a lot of reasons why it happens.”
“How is that even possible?”, Shae asked. “I mean they're not supposed to know we exist at all, we do everything possible to make sure that doesn't happens.”
“Because at the end of the day we're still human,” Jules told her, “and humans makes mistakes, we're no different. Look guys, I've met Priests who forget that, even start thinking that we're above the regular humans. But we're not.” Looking both in the eyes she said, “If either of you take anything away from what I'm trying to tell you, let it be that at least.” Both of them looked thoughtful as they thought that over. Hopefully that was a good sign.
Given the moment Jules looked around, started seeing more and more activity from the kids staying here. Trying to remember how things around here was done when she was here learning Jules figured it was time for one of the training sessions. Looking at Nadia she told her, “I think I've kept you for too long. You better get back to your group before you get in trouble.” Nadia started to say something, Jules knew what she was going to say just by the look on her face. “No arguing,” she said sternly. Okay where in the hell did that voice come from? “I don't need any of the instructors around here getting on my case for taking their students.”
“Fine,” she said with a huff as she started to get up. Oh yeah, this one was reminding her of somebody all right. And she could almost feel Vincent's amusement over the situation if he was still here. Looking over at Shae she went, “If I see that Knight trainee you like should I tell him you said hi?” Shae started blushing immediately.
Naturally as the responsible adult she shouldn't add to the young girl's embarrassment. But Jules couldn't help herself in this situation. “You know who she likes? We're talking later.”
“No,” Shae quickly got out before she realized what was happening.
“You're lucky I'm not here all the time because you are way too easy to tease,” Jules informed her.
“Told you,” Nadia said to Shae before she started to leave.
Looking around at the other kids Jules grabbed her shoulder real fast, getting her attention. “If anybody give you any trouble about sticking up for Shae earlier, let me know.”
Nadia just grinned, “Sure thing. Behave yourself Shae.”
After she left Shae stepped up to Jules. After a bit she said, “I think she meant you.” Looking at her Jules saw the smile she tried to hide from her. Was she really that much of a bad influence?
“Hey,” she said with a slight shove. “I don't think Olivia or the others are going to be that happy at all that I brought out this side of you. Come on, I hate to do this to you again but I'm going to have to leave you with Olivia for a bit. Don't worry,” she said to quickly cut off the upcoming out burst, “I'm going to give you some busy work to do while I'm out so you don't get too bored.”
Shae looked a little wary, “Doing what exactly?” Yeah, that was an opening. When was this girl going to learn?
“Translating some old scrolls, doesn't that sound fun?” The look on her face said she thought it was the exact opposite of fun. Good, because Jules wasn't sure what she was going to do if she looked excited about the idea, outside of finding some old scrolls that is. Putting an arm around her shoulder as they headed off Jules told her, “No I'm not, but it's something almost as tedious. I'm going to show you how to make the seal to make those spikes. Don't worry I won't leave until I'm sure you understand it fully. And I'm going to want, let me see what sounds like a good number, at least five done by the time I get back.”
Looking up at her Shae asked, “What are you going to be doing?”
“I'm going back to that spot we found,” Jules told her as she looked in that general direction. “After I get some back up that is. And not you, if I knew that place had booby traps I wouldn't have taken you there to begin with.” And she knew who that back up was going to be too. Hopefully Olivia knew where Emily was.