[03:45] Ithaca can't help but laugh at Artorius. "You'd listen to an angel to tell you how to feel about vampires and demons? I'm beginning to think you've never had an original thought. You're just going to listen to whatever you idolize the most."

Then turns to Noel. Rather harshly she comments, "And you won't prove anything wrong, Noel. You'll stand there and navel-gaze for the next thirty years, wallowing away in frustration that people just won't do what makes sense. You'll die after accomplishing nothing, with a long life full of pointless talking and puffing yourself up. But, at least you'll be able to look in the mirror and tell yourself 'I didn't do anything bad'. Actions matter, not words."

She shakes her head. "I'm an old woman, full of regrets. I've made many mistakes. But at least I did things."

Then brightens a bit as she looks over at Calael. "...Anyways. I'm done with this conversation. I've had it too many times in the past, and I'm on a time limit. I'd much rather hear what you have to say. Care to go into my old home? Or... another time?"
(Ithaca Blackwater)
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[03:46] Calael Elisheva says, "Ah, now is fine."
[03:46] This was the first time he head an lady called herself old. Which was rather shocking.
(Dinji)
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[03:46] Tragedy peered dully at Noel for a moment, smile fading before she, too, turned around. "Goodbye, little Ithaca. Worry not, my demi friend. I'll speak to you soon as well."
(Tragedy)
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[03:46] Artorius says, "If that's what you took from my words... I guess then I guess you lost your touch for learning."
[03:47] Artorius says, "But Noel got it. I'm sure he did."
[03:47] Artorius says, "Or he didn't."
[03:47] Artorius says, "I'll never know."
[03:48] Artorius whispers something.
[03:49] Artorius whispers something.
[03:50] Noel Elisheva whispers something.
[03:51] Artorius smirks
(Artorius)
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[03:51] Artorius says, "oh that's funny."
[03:51] Calael hops down the cliffs and heads toward the tavern. "I'll be inside!"
(Calael Elisheva)
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[03:51] Ithaca merely shakes her head, and wanders off.
(Ithaca Blackwater)
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[03:51] Calael Elisheva says, "Ahh... right."
[04:01] Calael took the same stool he had been sitting in during his conversation with Emiri and let his large tome rest upon the counter top. He turned it open and flipped a few pages through until he reached cosmological diagrams and scribbled notes alongside them. Given Ithaca had just come from one philosophical conversation with his brother, he would begin elsewhere, somewhere that the Valkyrie might prefer.

"I had heard you were... well, sort of like me." a gestures was given to a sketch of the night sky. As if to ruin what was decently talented art, a darkened circle and an arrow pointed to one star in particular, and labeled in two, simple letters was the name Io. The demiangel shrank back some, uncertain of where to even begin.

"I wanted to know what... what your star tasked you with. What... what sort of union you have with it. The only other cosmic magiI've been able to converse with at length about all of this is Perseus Kang and... well I'm certain you are aware of his... nature."

Cal looked away for a moment. No matter how many times he and Perseus had met, that undead's corrupt air and way of life were something he could never forget or ignore.

"I've struggled some with my power, controlling it. Specifically. Sometimes it is overwhelming and explosive, encouraging my pyromancy to feats I hadn't thought possible. And other times... I feel, almost ignored. Or not ignored but... left. Alone.

As if the weight of my strength is mine to carry."
(Calael Elisheva)
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[04:06] A grey-haired Ookami strides into the familiar bar. Perhaps she followed the pair? It seems the slightest bit unlikely, as her gaze seems to sweep around the room, looking for something or someone...?

Whatever that was, such a thing was not found, and she comes to slump into a stool, a little ways away from the others, yet comfortable close to door.

Anxious hands tug at the edges of her red cloak, digits covered in weathered work-gloves. Her gaze is mostly about the wooden tiles, though occasionally scans the unknown, book-wielding young man, lingering on the other Ookami.

The hesitant, cautious, and quiet young woman is listening in, no doubt, but does not respond.
(Jamie Morvan)
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[04:09] Ithaca enters the tavern almost reverently. For a few silent seconds, she stands in the doorway. Shades of friends long gone, stories left untold, all flit in front of her. This was her home, once.

"It's changed. They added... hmm. A lot more beds."

But she makes her way behind the counter and adds, "Don't trust Perseus Kang. Or that snake. When I was thirteen, the former turned me into a murderer. And the latter had my friends over the years do work that suspiciously benefitted the Gaiar Empire. That's your first and only warning from me."

She turns her attention to the book and asks, "...Ah. A familiar struggle. It looks like you know your star's name -- that's good. Next step then is finding the right way to commune with it. In my case, I sing to mine. It sings back. It creates a song in my heart, and I use that to synchronize and enhance my magic. Sort of like the drumbeat in a band."

Ithaca goes on, "And I take that, and I use it to help me freeze things. I have a cold star that's far, far away from any others. Offloading the effort to it helps me focus on other parts of the fight. Err, so. To answer your question -- find how best to communicate with it, and use that in battle to ask it to enhance what you're doing."

"Does that help?"
(Ithaca Blackwater)
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[04:20] Calael took in a sharp breath at the warning. To trust or not trust the Kangs had been an issue that had arisen nearly as many times as the arguments on peace and violence. Given Ithaca's warning was final, Cal accepted it without sharing his own thoughts on the matter. It wouldn't be something he would decide here either way, especially given the current situation of most things. But it did allow him to find in the Valkyrie a teacher who didn't make his hair stand on end.

He nodded following her advice on how to better commune with his star.

"My star is... well, like I said it seems to primarily work as a way to control my pyromancy. When it's there, I... well I'm warm. Like my magic is listening to everything I have to say, it works how I want it to." If Ithaca's star was a cold one, Cal's was a burning inferno far off in the distance of the night. "I have communed with it some, though it feels as if it chooses the moments, not... me."

Calael rested his hands in his lap, though his fingers pushed together. "Your advice does help. Are there... any specific steps that might help?"

A glance was given to the hooded ookami who entered behind them. Nothing he had said was secret, nor would anything he would say, so for now he simply waved as another guest entered the tavern.
(Calael Elisheva)
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[04:33] "I can't say I'm overly familiar with pyromancy, except on how badly it can hurt someone. When I was... actually, right around your age, a chaos magi cursed me with flames and I burnt for a year straight. I lost all the feeling in my skin. It was holy fire though, so it healed where it burnt. It wasn't great."

She shakes her head. "At least 'not feeling pain' was useful."

But she continues, "And hmm, well. Like I said. Find your unique way of communicating with it, and do that. It might sound ridiculous, but that star is your partner. It wants to interact with you. It's by your side every time you fight, and a more reliable ally than anything you'll find on Agartha. Use that to your advantage."
(Ithaca Blackwater)
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[04:35] The grey-haired Ookami remains in place, her downwards gaze flicking up at the other who waved at her. Her gaze doesn't remain on him, just giving a tiny, reserved little nod.

The youth listens, the idea of burning for a year having her blink. Such a thought sounds horrible, and her gaze falls to the floor again. Lost in her own thoughts, partially...
(Jamie Morvan)
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[04:43] Find your unique way.

Calael paused for a minute before he actually scribbled that down along the bottom of the page. Hearing of Ithaca's run in with the very fire magic he specialized in brought another weight onto his shoulders. A pyromancer had used their magic not only to scar, but to make another suffer. Even if Noel utilized Cal's opposite magic in water, the two shared the similar trait of being too hesitant when it came to harming their enemies.

"I'll try to do that then. I.. found a spot where I felt a little closer to it. Maybe I'll try something again there?" The demiangel gave the ookami another glance, and then gave Artorius a weaker wave as he entered. It seemed as if the conversation may be cut short due to added company.

"If-- we can meet again afterward, I'd like that too. If that's OK?" he asked the ghostly ookami.
(Calael Elisheva)
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[04:47] Ithaca adds, "I connected with my star for the first time on the tallest mountain in Agartha. It's freezing up there, and the skies are clear. It's the perfect place. ...For me, at least."" And a nod at the request, "And please, ask any time you'd like. As I said, I wish to impart what knowledge I can before I pass on."
(Ithaca Blackwater)
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[04:51] Artorius entered in his rather chill self, seemed a bit ruffled up, had been fighting an angel, and it was one of those good fights, full of thrill and adventure. He just wondered how long it would take for Dawn to ask him to give his first... Preach? Preaching? That was a funny word. He needed to learn more about the Gray Way.

Once he entered and sat down on the stool he would look and hear what Ithaca had to say, it was very interesting, but he knew the tallest mountain in Agartha, and worse: What dwelled there.

"Calael, right? I would ask you to take care if taking the advice of venturing into the mountains, there's a threat yet unseen and unresolved that lives there... Dangerous and powerful beyond belief. A vampire that no one lived to talk about in the last... Five... Years? Maybe more. Don't go to the frozen mountains."

Oh that remembered him, he needed to talk with that one was well, after all he seeked something they had.

"Also... When you have some time in the next couple of days, weeks or months could you allow us to chat? I have some things I need to talk with the Demi-Angel, religion projects, very important. But we can leave it to another time. Just making sure that I want such interaction."
(Artorius)
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[04:52] Calael Elisheva says, "Thank you, Miss Ithaca. I'll be sure to find you soon. And... maybe Artorius. I'll be around Crafthold, ask me again soon..."
[04:54] Calael Elisheva says, "Anyway, I'll be around later."
[04:54] Calael Elisheva says, "Night."