ardent-lux:

“Your sister is quite charming. I like her,” she chuckled with a little head shake to follow. “It’s a good thing to be worldly though; it’s eye-opening and trust me, it will make your life far more enjoyable in contrast. I’m happy to a play a role in your expansion of acquiring new skills. I’m quite interested in observing just how far you’ll go.”

Neo, a foreign entity to this world altogether, wasn’t personally invested in its gods or quite frankly, the war at hand- not like the others in her company. She was, however, fully intent on seeing her comrades succeed in their endeavors and being there with them until the end. Initially, she sought to gain something from offering her services and over time, her forging of attachments was only inevitable, though it wasn’t something she considered in the beginning. Making friends with people like Luthier was unexpected, but warmly welcomed when all was said and done. Helping and sharing knowledge was rewarding in Neo’s eyes. Sticking around was well worth it.

The woman’s face lit up to her friend’s thought process. Enchanting a trap? That sounded utterly amazing and something to trial and error in the future. “Now that’s something we should definitely look into! Since I lack magical aptitude, doing such a thing never crossed my mind. Just think of the possibilities!”

Returning her focus to the task at hand, she walked alongside the mage as they advanced into the nearby wilderness. They found an ideal place to set the trap and with that action completed, next came the waiting game. Finding cover within some nearby foliage, their eyes eagerly watched in expectation for an animal of sorts to be seized by the contraption.

“Charming is... one way to put it.” The hint of a grimace contorted his features at the mention of his sister. He wasn’t oblivious to the way Delthea bounced around camp, harassing any available personnel with her antics. Luthier supposed it was due to a lack of any friends her age in their army, but there was a limit to how much of a nuisance she should make herself. The mage silently considered himself fortunate Neo still held a positive opinion of his sister. “I hope she’s been agreeable, but if she ever causes you any trouble, do tell me. I’ll be sure to give her a lecture...” Though, its effectiveness was quite subjective as of late.

“Yes, I suppose being a magi allows us to have different perspectives. I’m enthused to share knowledge with you as well.” His lips quirked upwards, sharing in her excitement albeit in a more modest fashion. Traditional magicks involved enchantment of charms and weapons, but he didn’t think traps would be too far a stretch from the latter. Certain metals took to magic more easily than others; maybe he should start looking into different types of wire...  “Perhaps a better application would be to bless traps and save ourselves the trouble of having to exterminate those ghoulish Terrors. Mila knows we could do without fending them off every waking moment.”

As they waited in the bushes, Luthier’s concentration remained on his trap, anticipation simmering low in his gut. This would be the chance to prove himself, to pull himself from the dregs of his recently lackluster performance. All he had to do was be patient. He considered himself a fairly patient person - after all, he had spent years mastering the technique for a single spell.

Waiting for one rabbit to stumble upon his trap should be nothing compared to his previous discipline... except, that with each passing moment of silence, he felt himself growing incrementally discouraged. He turned towards Neo, minutely rustling the leaves around him. “Er... does it usually take this long for a trap to take effect?” A few in his village hunted in the forests, but he’d never the opportunity to accompany them. (Or rather, he never saw the point.) He wasn’t sure if his luck was simply unfortunate, or if it was another sign from the Mother that his calling lay elsewhere.

📚

from the pages. | accepting

“This is just another aspect of the behavior of human beings. It’s nothing to be surprised at.”

📚 - southfaire

from the pages. | accepting

“Well, then, Celica… as a token of our meeting each other, would you care for some dried sardines?”

i’m replaying sov before classes start again and luthier? a milf (Mage I’d Like to Friend)

Send “📚” and I will flip to a random page in a book and use the first line of dialogue I see as a starter.

ardent-lux:

“Hmm, I have to wonder if there’s any other mages within the towns that we’ll come upon who would know anything? As long as we keep matters discreet about our inquiries, I see no harm in asking around. It seems silly not to try and reach out to people who may have a branch of knowledge- even the smallest details could help.”

Information, of course, was a powerful tool regardless of weight. Should they discover anything of note, Neo herself would not let it slip from their grasp so lightly. She desperately sought answers and she intended on getting them one way or another.

Luthier’s change in expression and demeanor made her chuckle; purely from the amusement alone. “Ha, I can be pretty convincing at times. I think that I could make Delthea find appeal to the idea and besides, she’s fun to fight with, so perhaps she’d be an equally entertaining study buddy!” One could hope, right? Delthea was clever just as Luthier was and that made her a potentially helpful partner in these tasks. Even if she was turned down, Neo still wasn’t deterred from trying. “I’ll talk to her about it and see what she thinks. Regardless of what happens, I can count on you. That’s perfectly fine either way.”

The thought of coming across other mages would have titillated his curiosity under any other circumstances, but so far, his experience with Rigelian magic users had been in the form of witches and sorcerers.  And how numerous they had been, too - at this point he was wary of the prospect of coming across any magi should they be willing to submit their soul to Duma so easily. The thought was rather sickening; where Mila gifted her people with the ability to control the elements, it seemed Duma bequeathed something far more sinister unto his worshipers.

“Making use of available resources would be to our advantage, but I’d say it’s best to be wary while on Rigelian soil; who knows how aggressive other mages could be...” With any luck, they would come across ones that weren’t witches that appeared out of thin air or vile priests that wielded the most undesirable of magics.

“Of course. It’d be my pleasure to aid a comrade in need.” And it was... nice to finally be of use to someone in another context, if not in battle. Though, upon seeing Neo’s resolve to convince his sister, his sighed, shaking his head. 

“Hopefully you’ll have an easier time conversing with Delthea than I have as of late. She treats every word I say like a nuisance, even though I’ve only her well-being in mind. I can’t help but wonder where I went wrong...” Delthea had been far more agreeable when she was younger; only in recent years did a rebellious streak rear its head from seemingly nowhere. And with their parents gone, Luthier had tried to fill the role, but it seemed to have exacerbated their relationship. Frankly, he was at a loss as to how to deal with his sister’s temperamental nature and he was doubtful anyone could quell it.

cardedfate:

Robin listens in silence, all his FOCUS trained on the words the other speaks to him. He wants to help Luthier if he’s able, and if he’s not, he’d like just to LEARN something of this other culture. Anything could be of help, even if at first it isn’t APPARENT. But quickly enough, his company’s expression TWISTS, the mention of war seeming understandably SOUR upon his tongue. He can’t help but wonder how such a HORRIBLE event might impact the peoples’ lives, but he still hopes it will be for the better.

“I see. That’s a grand way to found a land’s first king.” A pause as he brushes PALE bangs from AMBER eyes. “…It’s good to have faith in your rulers, as well. But one should never let that faith interfere with their own morals or beliefs. That said, I hope in spite of the war your nation has just be subjected to, it will flourish and only continue to do so.”

“Well... regicide and deicide is one method to ensue a new era of government.” He gives a small huff at the memory. Really, how could one foresee the scale of their ‘deliverance?’ Alm’s intent had been to drive away Rigelian forces from the border, but they ended up slaying a mad god by the end of the ordeal. It would be uncouth to complain about it - he had vowed to lend Alm his magic, after all - but a bit of warning would have been appreciated, especially considering his motive for pledging his loyalty was to keep his kin alive.

“Without the Mother’s influence, who can say what lies ahead? We’ll have to survive without her bounty, which is more bane than boon at this moment.” Being freed from the chains of decadence was certainly a welcome change, but it wouldn’t solve the famine and chaos that plagued the land. While Luthier didn’t have much of an interest in the realm outside of his arcane study, even he recognized that their quest did little to remedy the suffering of the people. “But our new king once claimed he was more than willing to help till the land, and I don’t doubt Alm would follow through on his word. I suppose there’s a first for everything in Valentia’s history, including farmer-kings.”

&&. Unknown World. // Luthier.

southfaire:

✦ ┊ IT was obvious that Celica chose her words and activity wisely, a fact that she was proud of. Any time she could relieve Luthier of the stress he undoubtedly felt was a chance she would gratefully take. Besides, she also enjoyed talking about magic over a soothing cup of tea. He would no doubt also enjoy the blends she had in her arsenal: the teas originating on the east coast of Zofia were most likely very different the blends he grew up with.

❝ Well, I’m rather curious about the Sagittae spell you male mages use. It looks awfully powerful and I was curious how you do it. ❞

Luthier took a moment to recline in the chair at their shared table, one hand resting on his chin as he considered Ceclia’s inquiry. At this point, wielding Sagittae was near-intuitive. Unlike using magic for study, war left little time to contemplate the details of the spell. In a way, he supposed it was fitting; like its namesake, Sagittae was best utilized in the style of real archery. Quickly, and without mercy.

“At its most basic, Sagittae is similar to Excalibur. I assume you’re familiar with the spell - that is, how to shape the winds in your palm.” With magic writhing and thrashing in its user’s hold, Excalibur was prone to hitting the weak points of one’s enemy. It was an incredibly useful and intricate spell, in his opinion. “Instead of calling the winds to your palm, you must learn to control them from a distance. Think of it as an Excalibur spell, but fragmented - you’re controlling the same wind while casting it away from yourself before it can settle in your grasp.”

modern luthier def likes the used

priestess celica would like to battle!! (for @southfaire!)

submitted by anon

ardent-lux:

“I have to say, Luthier, this effort of yours really surprises me. Please don’t take that the wrong way,” she chuckled softly. “The whole sabotage thing didn’t seem to interest you at first, but here you are: steadily becoming a snare-making pro. A magic user with a penchant for setting up traps? What a combination.”

Some people might have found these little activities of theirs ‘questionable’, though it wasn’t like anyone tried to put cease to them. Everyone needed a hobby on the side, right? Neo would gladly enforce this- without putting her friend in absolute danger, of course. No one would be losing fingers on her account.

“There’s a little trail leading into the woods nearby and if I recall correctly, there’s a dense section that should make for a perfect spot to place the trap- you can hide one with ease under leaves and sticks. With luck, you might be able to snag a rabbit or something. We can sit tight and observe from afar while there’s daylight to burn.”

He didn’t take any offense from Neo’s words; it was quite the contrary, actually. He rather enjoyed the fact he could impress her, even if it was in an unfamiliar area of study. “Well, being skilled in more than one field would most likely benefit me and others, especially now that we’re a bit shorthanded. Delthea also said I should be more... ah, worldly, so I believe this is a good start.”

Or more accurately, she told him he needed to stop sticking his nose in books and actually pay attention to what happened around him. There was nothing wrong with being ensnared by his research, he wanted to say, but the world brought a war to his doorstep before he could argue otherwise. It was a humbling experience to say the least. 

“Hm... I wonder if it would be possible to enchant this...?” He mused aloud, scrutinizing the wire again. Enchanting and blessing weapons wasn’t his forte, but that simply meant there was room to improve there as well. Another experiment for another day, he supposed.

“Splendid; let us go, then. I’m sure I’ll be able to catch us a sizeable addition to dinner.” With that, he briskly set off in the direction of the aforementioned path, remembering it to be a short way’s back from their current position. 

ardent-lux:

Her and Luthier were on good terms, sure, but Neo felt a pinch of shock over the mage’s seemingly calm acceptance over these circumstances. He seemed to take it well and hopefully didn’t believe that she was insane. That in itself was fantastic, however, hearing that he’d openly assist in trying to resolve her condition was far better. Having someone who dabbled in areas of the arcane already seemed very beneficial and quite frankly, Neo would consider herself lucky. Maybe this was fate in the works or some divine blessing- who could say. Not that it mattered.

“That means more to me than I could ever express! Thank you so much, Luthier,” she sighed with relief and a smile to reflect said emotion. “I’d imagine that we’ll be stopping at different places frequently, so there could be plenty of resources at hand- we’ll just have to keep an eye out. I’ll inquire about libraries or any research material at the towns and keeps we come across throughout the Deliverance’s movement. Delthea appears pretty crafty; I bet she could help us track down any information as well.” She didn’t want to make her situation known to everyone, granted, the more minds at work, the better. Putting her faith in the magical siblings seemed like a pretty good bet if she had to make one.

“Indeed, and I’ll be sure to do the same. Our combined efforts should definitely facilitate the process.” He nodded, returning her smile with a small one of his own. It seemed like a grand undertaking given they were starting from scratch, but it was satisfying to know his particular set of skills were useful in some context outside of his family’s library. It was also something to occupy his time with, the majority of his research materials having been left at home. That wasn’t to say there was much respite between battles, but to have the familiar sensation of parchment and ink under his fingertips would do him well in more ways than one.

The mention of his sister halted his tongue, a troubled expression flickering across his face. “Er... I’ve no qualms with helping you, but I wish you luck if you decide to convince Delthea to join us in this project. You see, she dislikes study and can be rather... difficult to work with in general.” She was crafty, yes, but not in any way that would benefit them. Back home, Delthea shirked her lessons in favor of frolicking about their village, making her disdain for any sort of reading or writing well-known when he attempted to coerce her into studying. He could only imagine how disastrous such a request would be when she was preoccupied with the rest of the war. “You’re more than welcome to ask for her help, but I doubt you’ll get very far.”

northfaire:

  ✦ — ❝ …pftt– haha… ❞

A chuckle escapes between his lips. Though he raises a hand to try and hide it, he’s certain the mage has no doubt heard at least a little of it. Still, there is no embarrassment or shame that shrouds Alm’s countenance but rather a sort of fondness for the relayed tale.

     ❝ I see. I don’t think it sounds too strange–         she’s important to you even if you don’t         agree sometimes, right ? I think… I kind         of get that. ❞

He nods– whether to himself or to Luthier is unclear, but it is definitely one of affirmation regardless.

     ❝ Maybe you two just need a new topic to         talk about next time ? I mean… only if you         start every talk the same way. ❞

Alm’s apparent mirth only serves to confuse him; he’s unsure what part of his lamenting could be seen as humorous. He instead turns his attention to the other’s question, taking a moment to recall his latest brush with his sister.

“Well, usually the structure of our conversations begins with me chastising her for some misbehavior, and stubbornly Delthea refusing my advice...” He sighs in exasperation; even with their lives at stake, Delthea remained as carefree as ever. The potency of her power was undeniable, but improper use could hurt their comrades more than their foes. His sister had never taken well to the lessons foisted upon her by their parents, and she seemed reluctant to learn still. It was quite a frustrating predicament.

“Though, as of late, she’s been teaching me how to flatter others. She tells me that’s how, er, normal people have a conversation; I believe I am becoming quite proficient at it.” Delthea was certainly more agreeable when he praised her, though whether or not others took well to his praise was another matter altogether. In one of his more recent attempts, he had dared to compliment Python in the midst of battle and received an expression that should be reserved for the growth of a secondary head. “Erm... if you’ve any pointers, I’d be more than willing to take them into consideration.”

cupaed:

“AH, WELL….Hopefully, I will be of some help, Luthier.” He shall jest another day it seems, but for now, Leon has to shoot. He finds himself looking for a position that is post tensed yet relax —- the find line he often rides when facing a foe or taking aim while in action. That means to Leon aiming, shooting and reloading as fast as humanly possible.

Oh, but he knows his flaws;; he knows that with such a rush, he won’t always be completely be accurate, but he can be precise enough to damage. He readies the first arrow, drawing back the bowstring in the way that he knew. Leon released the first arrow and while it is in flight, he takes another arrow and mimics his actions in seconds. Hopefully less.

He waits to see what the mage has up his sleeve. What ‘partnership’ he has to offer.

Luthier watches intently, attention fixated on the way each arrow takes flight. Spells of fire and wind were cast in a different manner, with minimal regard for crafting the best way to send them sailing through the air. Fire was pure energy while wind wove around itself with enough skill - the way an archer’s arrows carved a path in the air was uniquely foreign.

After another moment of observation, he murmurs the familiar incantation for casting Sagittae, arrows of his own creation hovering next to his person like a serrated halo. Then, in the same manner of Leon’s archery, he waves his hand with a quick motion, sending them in the direction of the tree being used for target practice.

Thwack! They lodge themselves in the trunk of the tree with a calculated precision, only to fade into nothingness after causing scratches in the bark. Luthier pauses and asseses his performance; he’d made some adjustments to his initial technique but still found it unsatisfactory in comparison. He raises his hand again, repeating the beginnings of the spell and conjuring another batch of arrows...

a neo for @ardent-lux! i luv her 😍

TAGGED BY: @ofimitations​ (thank u!! c:) TAGGING: idk steal it from me ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

RULES: share four songs/pieces of music that represent your muse. ( REPOST. DON’T REBLOG. )

Windowsill by Arcade Fire

Because the tide is high And it's rising still And I don't wanna see it at my windowsill

Transpose by Bad Suns

And it’s hard to justify what you can do I’m so sick and tired of falling through and It’s true, maybe I’ve been wasting my time All this time, yeah

Ask Yourself by Foster the People

I pick up all the pieces and I move my feet as fast as I can I'm always falling behind, just float in the line You want more and ambition's taken its toll on you Well hey, your confidence is fading with your youth

Tornadoland by Regina Spektor

It starts to hurt But you wanna be heard, wanna be heard Wanna be louder than the storms around You hear them through the windows and the doors Everybody’s time has come It’s everybody’s moment, except yours