Rift Magic Session 3

The trip to Nostvale hadn't been fruitful at all after the one in Cinderfall. In fact, all he was coming across were only rude strangers that would quietly whisper on their lips just how much they weren't willing to uphold any communication. In fact, most were eager to shoo him away, insult him, or downright attack him sometimes - it was a horrible experience, and a proof once more why he does not like visiting cities. He decided to return to Wychwood, the long home amidst the wilderness which he used as shelter against his foes. Besides, it would be a much better place for the practice as well.

The young magi was pacing around the forest, seeking for appropriate place for his plans; the trees were tall, and the shadow from each leaf extended upon the ground in a much bigger scale, covering the forest in eerie, dark, soothing atmosphere, shielding any traveller-to-be from the heat of a sun. It was a pretty place, actually, with an amazing lake nearby as well and no soul around to disturb you... at least most of the time.

But he remembered - there was a cave, and in fact the whole hill dedicated for such solace and letting one stay away from any possibly hostile stranger. Saulot headed it's way, hopeful to reach the place without any trouble. He had enough previously as it is, he wanted peace.
(Saulot Vykos)
Her legs wiggle on the top of a steep cliff, in her mouth a piece of jerky that she brought with her as her journey rations. Of course she received a bit more food that most others at the campside, considering she was one of the few people who does the cooking and because she was Little Miss - the strongest girl in the camp!

She would watch as Saulot approached with silver eyes... Whistling at him once he walked past her. Her hat was red with a flower weaved into it, her jacket were also red, while basic clothing was under her, her body covered in a strap, no t-shirt.

"You be okay going into the woods? It's kinda very deep and dangerous. Rawr." She would shrug after she poked at him. "What're you doing here?"

(Esther)
A whistle. Oh boy, if that was yet another stranger that was eager to pick a fight for little to no reason---

Huh. Seemed like a young girl instead. And what was she doing here?

It almost felt that she was a tad too confident for a forest, to be here all alone at such age... but judging by her clothing, he could assume that she belongs to those... rebels, that he had heard of. In fact, his old friend Seamus even had similar clothing and Saulot knew for a fact that he's with them. Was she actually one of them, or merely a coincidence?

"I'm okay, yes. I used to live here not that long ago."

He elaborated upon her inquiry on whether he'd be fine or not. Truth be told, although he encountered some /very/ dangerous strangers that could put up a fight even against the mightiest warriors, most of the time he actually handled himself just fine, and fought even Kaor Lords - and won, too. He felt confident in his safety, at least most of the time.

"Studies and practice."

Though, he didn't wish to give any details to a person he barely knew at all and met literally first time. Why would he, anyway?
(Saulot Vykos)
"Out in the forest, used to live here and out here doing studies and practice?" She would kick the cliff under her, pushing herself forward and dropped down beside him. She wasn't very tall, only about four feet. She held two daggers at her sides, around a foot long each.

"Hmm, if I didn't know better you're doing something that the cities don't like." She sniffed a little, looking from side to side. "Why else leave a city?" She wasn't an idiot, she was an Outlaw afterall who found people like this and bolstered their wants to fight back.

"I think you're secretly against the Alliance, the Depravity and the users of the Occult. Why don't you look into joining the Outlaws? I'm sure someone like you would make a perfect match for the fight against the Depraved." The girl smiled at him, she looked extremely innocent. Her face smooth and soft, her hair long and straight.

A generally good vibe clung itself around her.
(Esther)
Uh huh... now this was awkward.

Oh the irony, how he was caught up inbetween hammer and ingot. That wasn't far from truth, he was in fact against cities such as Nostvale and Alteros; their government did not deserve to exist, and the sheer thought of how humanity were literally -cucking- themselves to Oscuri was disgusting to him. He fought some Oscuri as well, and bested them with ease - which only fueled Saulot's confusion as to why humanity submitted themselves to Azraelite religion and willingly accepted Oscuri with open arms, despite the fact that they view humans as inferior pigs worth of nothing but getting slaughtered. Just why?

In fact, he was already invited by Seamus, actually, and The Owl too...

But if anything, Saulot was the type of fighter that went with route 'to defeat your enemy, you must use their weapons against them'.

Yes... he was an Occultist himself, and wished to practice forbidden Arts to combat them. But why would Esther feel no evil vibe from him? Saulot was a collected person with a very powerful psyche that was forged in many challenges, both physical and mental. Besides, he was simply very good at concealing it...

But perhaps he could see how an Outlaw would react to witnessing Depraved Art, rather... from another point of view? It was worth a try, The Owl already knew about Saulot's practice, but for old times sake and knowing that Saulot had a goal of greater good (despite his magics), the Owl decided to let him go and probably keep his silence on the matter.

"I'll think it over. Perhaps you'd like to tag along in my practice and we would discuss it further?"

Saulot decided to take the risk. If she were to attack him, well, he'd have to defend himself, but he had no plans for violence. In the end, he'd either have acceptance or flee (assuming he'd successfully defend himself from her assault, if it were to happen).
(Saulot Vykos)
She would nod a few times, tapping her boot of the ground a few times. "Sure I'll help." She didn't know who this man was, but she felt like for some reason she could trust him. Seeing a man out in the public would easily lead to many assumptions, and hers was that he was working against the alliance.

"So we like - kill people who are depraved, and if you're an occultist we implant you. Which means you can't use your occult magic but you can use other forms of magic."  She'd smile after giving him a quick rundown of what has happened, his occult feeling pushed aside by her holy feeling.

"What is it you're practicing?"
(Esther)
Ah, uh... the details...

Okay, Saulot had to think up how to name the art he was going to practice. Maybe she wasn't magi herself and could be easily lied to about the form of magic? Hopefully that was the case, because if she would easily recognize the type of magic, that'd prove to be a disaster.

"Oh, I see. Indeed, some depraved individuals do not deserve to live at all, and are far too fallen to walk this world."

Saulot was walking on the edge of a blade here, to be honest. Willing to cooperate with Outlaws due to sheer hatred he has for Alliance and all that they do? But to be allied by hatred is a fragile alliance at best...

Doesn't matter. The mere thought of submitting himself to Azraelites was disgusting to him, it was nothing short of slavery. In no way he would -ever- allow that to happen to himself, not until he draws breath.

"It's teleportation magic, something new."

Boy, hopefully she didn't know what Riftmancy was... he knew that during practice he would tear Lifestream for the transportation, but at least Saulot was careful about it and would conceal the Depravity with ease due to sheer willpower and strength of psyche that he possessed, and then he would let the Lifestream repair itself in the area.

He watched her reaction carefully. What if she knew what that is, and would pull a weapon on him?
(Saulot Vykos)
"Rift magic. An interesting pursual." Came the soft voice of Rin. The Malpercian waltzed out of the shadows of a tree as if she had been born of them, frowning at the sight of Saulot with Esther. She barely glanced over the younger girl before turning her attention back to Saulot.

"There was once a place called Mormegil in this country. It was destroyed and buried under the desert sands; but it would be a place to search if you truly were pursuant to the magics you seek." She said bluntly before turning away. "I owe you one life. Use it as you will. I am leaving."

And with that, the girl would start off as quickly as she had come, clearly just choosing to announce her debt and her departure after Saulot had saved her life.
(Rin)
"Not some... All."

She stated that bluntly to Saulot. There was no redemption for the wicked - they were not Krausites believing that the Depraved could be returned to the path of good. No, they believed that the world was better off without the Depraved and occultists altogether, perhaps this was due to her being raised as a Urayan...

"Aeillix give me strength for when the time comes." She squinted at the sight of Rin... Not speaking until she was FULLY gone out of view. "You do know that Riftmancy is a depraved art..."

Her eyes squinted at him...

"Teleportation magic isn't new, nor is it anyting good. It disrupts the life stream and turns an individual depraved..."

"So that means the Outlaws would need to eradicate you."

(Esther)
Rin showed up at the least convenient moment. And although the information she voiced /might/ be useful, the timing was extremelly bad. Sigh.

But he turned his gaze upon Esther. Really now, he has to be eliminated? That was prejudice at best, and ignorance at worst. Saulot didn't wish for a fight - regardless of the outcome, he'd either be defeated and captured by her, or defeat her instead and she'd go out of her way to tell the Outlaws about Saulot, only to be hunted down later on. Neither outcome would be good.

"You misunderstand. I do not wish to combat Outlaws nor stand in your way. I have my reasons to go against Alliance and what they do, primarly the loathe of Azraelite religion and the state humanity are putting themselves into."

Yeah, nice words, Saulot, but did he really think that such would convince Esther? Probably not. In fact, he was getting prepared to get attacked - the young magi was already getting used to the fact that he's stuck inbetween hammer and ingot with the policies and philosophy that he followed. Just amazing.

"You're a group of people, and I doubt that you're larger than the numbers that Alliance has. I do not ask you to ally with me, but at least let me be to my business. I'm not your enemy here and you shouldn't focus upon me either when there's a far bigger threat."

Lowkey he was suggesting to her that the forces are uneven, and thus attacking Saulot would be basically doing Alliance's job for them by eradicating their potential enemy for them.

But would Esther listen? We'll see.
(Saulot Vykos)
"Our numbers aren't big, no."

She would nod in agreement to this, of course they weren't big. "But you know who we are, right?" She rose her brow, of course they did. There were wanted posters up everywhere - even of her who was dubbed as 'Little Miss'. She coughed, there was no reason to attack him - he hadn't dwelled into the magic and wasn't in her eyes evil as of yet, unknowing that he was an Occultist afterall.

"I will not aid you in the art of riftmancy, an art should be left alone. Know that for every time someone becomes Depraved, it breaks the lifestream a tiny bit more. Aiding Azrael and supporting the very religion you loath so much." She would shake her head slightly after telling him the effects of Depravity on the world.

"Depravity can bring another plague, it can weaken the chains of Azrael and make it much easier for Oscuri to bring him back." She would nod, taking a step back from him. "Our numbers arent big, but our ambitions to take all things Depraved from the alliance are huge. The Oscuri have become lazy, their rituals and wanting to bring back Azrael have been dragged out too long."

"Know that we are growing, and either you're with us or against us."

"And if you're against us, you will face the same faith as the Alliance."

"Defeat under the crushing hand of Justice!"

In her head, that speech sounded BOMB as all hell. Yea! She was right.

(Esther)
At least she wouldn't attack him or go out of her way to let Outlaws know about Saulot... or at least he thought so. A quiet sigh of relief escaped his lips and he casually listened to what she had to say on the matter, laying his eyes upon her whilst she spoke.

"I'm aware who you are. We will not cross paths, at least that much I can promise."

Saulot knew that dwelving into Depraved Arts was a dangerous affair, and that Azraelite was largely tied to such, but he had his own, personal reasons to study them, the ones that he wouldn't voice for Esther. She didn't have to know such, after all, and it would be for the best to simply leave it out.

"I will not stand in your way. On that note, I have my own matters to attend to."

He saw her taking a step back, and naturally assumed that she would be leaving. And he had to go practice his Art of Riftmancy, after all, if he wished to make any progress. The more time he wasted, the worse for him.

Saulot was preparing to leave, unless she had something else to say.
(Saulot Vykos)
Viridian Legionnaire: Prepare to die!
Making his way further from Esther, he sighed in relief that it didn't escalate beyond his control. If he fought her, any sort of outcome wouldn't be pleasant; whether he'd  defeat her or not, there would be consequences in the future, and clearly not the pleasant ones. But it didn't matter for now anymore, as the situation was over and he made his way to the flowery top of the hill.

Ah, the smell of the flowers in the air, the butterflies flying about and everything blooming... it would be almost a shame to disrupt the Lifestream in places like this. It would be a shame to see all of this die because of whim of one Magi who just wished to pursue his goals - but such was the price.

Sitting down on the flowery hill, Saulot drew a deep breath. He had to throw off the distracting thoughts that plagued his mind, the thoughts of slipping into rage of Occultism back then. He had to calm himself, reaching out to his very soul.

The cognitive magic technique, in fact, mastery of it... Saulot could pull that off, honestly. He was tutored from the very childhood, and practiced much ever since. In fact, his mastery went as far as using Mixed Casting just perfectly fine, drawing upon strong psyche and force of will.

Calling, Concurrence and Occurence...

Initializing the draw of mana from his circuits, he carefully connected them to his consciousness, directing the process manually with his sheer willpower; his eyes were closed, putting great concentration into task at hand.

But Riftmancy was not an easy art and he knew it. He was slowly drawing even more mana from his enriched circuits - gladly there was more than enough - and slowly putting them to use by harboring all of the energy within his consciousness.

The Rift was being forged.
(Saulot Vykos)
Small sigh escaped his lips. He spoke unto his own mind with a silent mutter that escaped his lips, hushed down with a gentle wind that was caressing the grass and flowers around him, much like a guidance to his actions:

'Feel this environment. Listen to the sound of a wind brushing against your face, to the union of wings of each butterfly around you cutting the air, the hum of the tree bark. Now, stretch out...'

With Riftmancy, there was no distance. With Riftmancy, the ultimate focus must be achieved. Saulot knew that all too well and focused his mind upon a single task - to forge a Rift, that was taking it's beginning infront of him. It was at it's very early stage, drawing the destination from Saulot's mind.

'Hear the whisper of the grass as it moves along with the wind, the chirping of birds, the Lifestream itself around you...'

Drop the distractions.

A drop of sweat rolled down the side of his head. There was much effort, much strength attached to the Rift forging, but he wouldn't dare give up on it now. There was no way back at this point.

'Listen to your own breathing while you sit in the bloom. Now, go deeper, go past the breathing, and listen...'

Putting immense focus to bend the Lifestream and contort it to it's will was not an easy task, but Saulot was handling it good for now. It was a dangerous affair too, one that could backlash upon the Magi badly for daring to tamper with the Lifestream.

'As my feet walk down the ashes of the Lifestream, I shall not fear, for in fear, lies death...'

Good... he had brushed off the distracting thoughts and established a proper channel for such effort. The Rift took a spark with the flow of mana directed upon it.

But what was the destination?
(Saulot Vykos)
This time, silence your thoughts, keep them still. A clear direction must be made for the stage of Occurence, to draw infront of yourself the path that you shall walk.

'Imagine the blooming hills, full of life and breath of the wild to them...'

The Rift was taking it's direction around the Wychwood, although vague for now. Saulot's breathing deepened, the Rift was sparking as it tore against the Lifestream - although it did so gently, with incredible focus and detail that Saulot was laying down upon the magical efforts.

'Imagine the quiet castle rooms, and thousand fountains across the kingdom of rich, each stream suddenly falling silent and still...'

The Rift took it's direction to the distant castles instead. His thoughts were getting far more precise, able to direct the teleporting Rift into directions where he wished it to go.

'Imagine the ice of mountains, cold and smooth, as it gathers upon the surface...'

But why Saulot did this? To understand each place correctly. Riftmancy was based upon the knowledge of areas and directly transporting one into them. Thoroughly imagining each area had helped him much to direct the Rift, which was based upon sheer cognitive magic and willpower, always made up of manual thought.

'Now, stretch out... feel the pulse of the Lifestream, the breath of Eternia as a whole.'

Tapping further into power of Lifestream, he was conjuring the Rift successfully infront of him, although not yet perfect. It lacked precision... something that Saulot was intending to fix.
(Saulot Vykos)
'Now... strip away the trees, the walls, the metal. See the bare land, the flow of Lifestream, one that could carry you anywhere you want...'

Now, did Saulot hear the Lifestream, truly hear it? Oh, he did. He could feel the backlashing scream of the Lifestream as it were torn for the Rift, but with the previous focus, he silenced it. The Depravity that would otherwise ooze had been muffled to as small extents as possible, with precise detail put into efforts of his magic.

The Rift sparked infront of him and it were open. Saulot's expression was weary to an extent, having put much of his conscious energy into doing a single spell. It was a strenuous task, one that demanded strong willpower and large mana pool as well, but gladly Saulot had both and could pull off such a feat.

He opened his eyes at last to gaze upon his creation. Was it worth it? It surely was.

'Stretch out...'

Those words lingered his mind as a main direction for Riftmancy. If one were to open the Rift, they must understand the environment and Lifestream like nobody else, to be able to extend unto any other place as quick as possible.

But Saulot had accomplished this task successfully.

The Rift was getting shut, there wasn't a need for it right now. The mastery was not achieved, however, and he must step forth on his ventures to perfect his Riftmancy Art.
(Saulot Vykos)