Hex Time

[15:43] "Greetings Lavinia."

Serenity speaks in a soft, friendly tone, as she approaches the younger woman. It hadn't been too long since their last meeting, but Serenity couldn't simply walk by without speaking.

"I trust you've been well since we last met? I've been thinking about perhaps showing you a sliver of the Dark Lord's power, one of the abilities we witches possess."

Serenity moves forward, standing next to Lavinia now. Her crimson gaze shifts from Lavinia off into the distance, seemingly contemplating something.

While it was unlike her to be out and about this much, given her aversion to crowds, she would sacrifice to bring another to service of the Dark Lord.

"Soon anyways, as there are a few housekeeping things I must do first before a ritual."
(Serenity Vander)
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[15:50] With the sword competition at a close and Douma ending up the /humble/, story-less victor, Lavinia was now left to idle like most who congregated around this tower. This moment of contemplation would be cut short by a certain familiar redhead entering the moment.

"Oh, oh! Lady Vander. I have been grand, actually, m'hm. I hope you're doing just as well, m'hm."

Energy oozed from this one, likely a bit frustrated with the far too short sword contest she had run. Oh well, maybe she should've brought prizes too. The witch stared toward the popular west, and in turn, Lavinia would orient her gaze toward the older female.

"An ability, huh? I'm game, m'hm. I do love to see things actually happen, rather than talk!"

Graduating from a mere smile to a grin, it looks like Serenity knew what to took to get the audience's attention.

"Need a hand?"
(Lavinia Walters)
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[16:00] Taliyah says, "Sibylle."
[16:00] Taliyah says, "I've found things for you."
[16:00] Sibylle says, "Ohhh?~"
[16:00] Taliyah says, "Come, come."
[16:00] "Things have been uneventful, for the most part, which is a welcome change of pace."

Given her medical expertise, it was only natural that she'd get plenty of cases... Didn't mean she enjoyed it, though.

"Very well. I suppose you can simply wait while I make my preparations."

Serenity turned on her heel, entering the tower with Lavinia in tow.
(Serenity Vander)
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[16:01] "...Not a clue, sadly."

After a long thought and an extended silence, the white spider speaks lowly, looking back down at it still clutched in hand.

"I wish I could say I was a whisperer of things fallen deep into the dark, and that I could regail at length the story of that Old One locked for so long in the depths of that crypt. But I know little more than the feeling of it in my hand, and the feeling that that inspires.

That is enough for me, however. I believe I will, in time, grow beyond this blade, and find better still."

For as fine a weapon as it was, those were bold words.

But it was not the first time she'd said that, either.
(Yalmavanta)
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[16:09] Lavinia followed the dark witch into her quarters and waited patiently!.
(Lavinia Walters)
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[16:25] Upon reaching her quarters, Serenity immediately began preparations. Five red candles were quickly retrieved from her cupboard, as was a dark piece of chalk.

The candles were set up at five points in the room, forming a sizeable circle.

"You'll never find a witch that does the same thing as the others. We all have our own brand of craft. So long as it is in service to the Dark Lord, I don't think he cares."

Serenity began working on drawing the pentagram, much like the one she had shown Lavinia the other day. Black chalk scraping atop the stone floors, this open space perhaps something purposeful.

"Witchcraft requires three core fundamentals. Those being a direct connection to Helheim, which you receive upon signing your name in the Book of Shadows. Affinity for the occult, which you already posses. The final thing is-"

Serenity paused, before lighting the candles at each point. She quickly returned to the circle.

"The essence of life itself."

Her eye lit a pale blue, as her occultic aura began to materialize. A blade was drawn from her cloak, as she raised it to her palm. As she cut her hand, her blood began to drip on the ground, providing the essence required for her witchcraft.

"Da mihi intellectum. Praebent fortitudinem meam."

Shadowy wisps began to materialize, forming a large serpent which seemingly slithered along the stone. It coiled itself around Serenity's legs, inching its way up towards her neck. But before it could begin choking, it stopped and vanished.

"The power to assassinate your foes without them ever knowing. The strength to summon familiars and empower your magic. His gifts are endless, you need only take the first step."

Truthfully, the snake, the circle, the candles, the blood offering... It was all for show. That wasn't witchcraft, merely the trick of a charlatan intending to fool, to make things seem sweeter. While it might not have been completely dazzling, all the girl required now was a gentle push to believe it was.

The real witchcraft had been taking place as soon as Serenity locked eyes with Lavinia.
(Serenity Vander)
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[16:43] What a fascinating spectacle! Truly the way to go to impress a teen such as Lavinia. Impressionable, naïve, young. Serenity grasped the art of manipulation well before actually using any sort of ability to directly circumvent the mental teetering of her victim.

Lavinia remained close to the wall, arms crossed and gaze fixed onto the whole display. That alone was hypnotic enough, the witch's words certainly alluring. But all of this was all talk. There needed to be something more. Something that the dark hid from her.

Just as she thought something would occur, nothing would happen. She had been poisoned without her knowing, a Bulgarian Umbrella ploy that'd leave her condemned. She was hexed.

So wise, so powerful, the strength to soar to heights unknown lays before me. How could I pass up such an opportunity? How could I dwell on it? I won't. Lady Vander knows the way, she knows the truth, and I will learn all that I can.

At first, these words were worn by Serenity's voice. But more and more, as they ceaselessly cycled through Lavinia's head like a looped song, it'd adopt her own voice. But of course, she wanted this. It was so obvious. Now that she was the dark, she could only transcend it! As would a dragon in its prime.

Pupils turned foggy as she was clearly under the influence. The change was subtle, but her gaze would that of a sleep-walker. The subconscious ruled over the conscious and yet she remained conscious despite that. Except the subconscious here was a very powerful suggestion placed by the witch.

"The greatest gift of all. Worthy to be grasped by the mighty dragon of the dark, yes."

Both hands rose before her, palms facing Lavinia's direction. With a hint of focus, she'd cause a surge of occultic manage to leak out of each hand, causing falls of darkness to flow throughout her arms and down to the floor, corroding the stone and fabric below.

"I do want it. For I deserve it, yes. I deserve the dark, more than any other. For I am a dragon, the greatest creatures to walk this world."
(Lavinia Walters)
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[16:57] Perhaps she could have displayed what it was like to dreamwalk, or something else entirely, but it was this that Serenity decided upon in the end. While there was a possibility Lavinia didn't want this at heart, that her mind would change, odds were that she did.

Witchcraft was something which spoke directly to the heart of most occultists. So sickly sweeet, so tantalizing, the temptation to delve in the gifts of the Dark Lord was far too great.

Sometimes the only thing required is a gentle push, one which Serenity provided.

"Yes, yes- that's it."

Serenity's eyes widened in partial amazement as the young woman displayed her occultism. Her words were like magic to the witches' ears.

"All of the power which the Dark Lord provides.. You deserve it, you will have it, and I will show you how."

The witch spoke loudly, excitably, only further urging on Lavinia's newfound desire. Even if it was implanted, she needed to make the girl feel like it was her own.

"You have embarked upon a path of greatness, and this is but the beginning. Expect future lessons in essence, as well as spectral sight. I will teach you all that is required to fully control the darkness."

The candles died down, before flickering out. Serenity would need to clean up the mess of her fake ritual later, but it was all worth it. At least so far.
(Serenity Vander)
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[17:11] Occultism depended on one's emotions, ambitions and perspective. But, the most important element to consider in the here and now was mindset. And with this particularly potent breed of witchcraft, mindset could be so easily bent, especially with a mind already so attuned to the darkness that enveloped all that was under the umbrella of the dark lord.

The darkness of her hands then surged like flames, spreading throughout her arms to her shoulders, and then her chest. It seemed to 'burn' her scales more than anything. And so, her wings were inevitably going to be searing as well.

"So many things to see, so many to experience. So much to take in, hidden in the dark. Mmmm. Like the most ancient of Dragons, I will accumulate this wealth, and make it all mine. Only mine."

Spoken like a true occultist. The burning wings made for quite the light show. Orange and black flames cooking away at the fleshy scales that composed 90% of the parts. Until it'd seem like her wings were made entirely of fire, as well as major portions of her body that had initially held scales.

"I have embarked onto the path of the DRAGON. There is nothing greater and mightier than this, Lady Vander! None will cast a bigger, oppressing shadow than my hungering wings."

With that her incinerate wings stretched wide as her arms extended in the air in a sort of trans-like state. The emphasis on dragons was the fruit of her stronger subconscious, her desires flaring and meshing with the witch's spell.

In barely a few seconds after her display, the flames would turn to sulphur and smoke, leaving only a dreadful set of thin bones and charred scales. The type of wings one would expect from a dead, rotting dragon carcass.

"Oh, Lady Vander. I couldn't tell you how much I just caaaaan't wait."
(Lavinia Walters)
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[17:24] Serenity knew quite well the danger and threat which Lavinia posed, if she were to wish to assert supremacy above all anyways. Though that was an aspect expected of all occultists.

Not quite something Serenity was interested now, but perhaps in the future. She had been successful in suppressing the lingering corruption, but even she had her occasional outburst.

"I know little of Dragons, miss Walters, but I have seen firsthand their ferocity through yourself."

Lavinia certainly had energy, that much was certain. But did she have what it took to be a successful witch? Only time would tell.

"I have another apprentice, a young man by the name of Sath. I'd like to teach the both of you about life essence sometime, so await the call. It won't happen overnight, but you will eventually grasp all that the Dark Lord has to offer."

The hardest part would be ensuring her apprentices didn't eat her alive, though.

"Would you like to depart now? I have nothing much to do, so I'll probably linger around the gate."
(Serenity Vander)
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[17:35] A stream of occultic flames burst out of her nostrils as she'd have her ego stroked by the greedy witch. She was so keen to amass the dragon, and well, it wasn't that hard with her hex. Though, a wrong step and the dragon's ferocity could easily get out of hand.

"You're goddamn right I have the ferocity of the Dragon. Hehe."

Gaseous occultic influence escaped her mouth as she spoke, like a foul breath she was unleashing into the world. Or like a dragon releasing an immense amount of sulphur after burning down a whole valley.

The hex died off, and with that, the dragon's frenzy quickly died down. Scales and wings regenerated from the dust they had turned into, and the foggy eyes were no longer showing signs of an absence episode.

"Heh, that was . . . Tsk. Interestin'. But, yes, I see. Another pupil. Sath, yes? Never heard of 'em. Guess I'll have t'find 'em, so we can get this show on the road faster, huh?"

She smirked, still emboldened to a degree by the excessive abuse of her occultic power. Lavinia had a grasp over it, but her previous state allowed for a slip up.

"Alright, let's get some air. Could use a break too, I s'pose~"
(Lavinia Walters)