Welcome Hone (Graded)
Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2018 1:34 am
89th Zi'da, 718
Under the darkness of the night sky, Violet walked the two slowly through the woods. What as about to happen to Rey'na would be a dangerous process, one that she had endured once and never once put upon anyone else. Hone was a tool that Violet didn't care to share with many people, not really. Very few ever caught her attention enough. But Rey'na had been an exception in more ways than just one as far as the Runewright was concerned, which meant she could at least share a gift with her. Besides, there was a burning curiosity inside Violet that the Rune of Naming would answer.
"When I say it hurts, Rey'na, I mean it" she warned the girl. While her own curiosity was a drive for this process, the biggest was a gift to her new friend. They had fought together and Rey'na had proven to be an interesting character, among other things. Daughter of Lisirra, talented fighter and loyal companion. Even with the lack of emotions the girl showed, Violet felt cared for. Rey'na had protected her more than once and would stay up with her to talk during sleepless nights. Blunt honesty meant that Violet could be sure what Rey'na said was true, usually, aside from when it came to her own well-being. She had a bad habit of putting training before eating. But that commitment might just mean Rey would survive this night.
Rey'na nodded, the same lack of regard for her safety on her face now. "I know pain well. If I made it through that, I will make it through this" she said simply, reminded of her time with the Mantis. Having pieces of her soul torn out had hurt more than any pain she had ever known, as if a part of her ripped through everything she was and tore it all open to get out. That and the hatred she had felt before then to a woman she had come to respect meant her time in Rynmere would be one she would regard poorly for the rest of her life. But she couldn't fault it. Losing her emotions had taught her a lot about herself and had removed one of her biggest flaws. She no longer reacted with emotions, no anger or panic to drive her. Just a calm mind and an empty heart. It had taught her an efficiency that most would never learn.
When they found a small field to go to, Violet finally stopped and looked over her shoulder to Rey'na. As soon as they arrived Rey placed down her spear and removed her shield from her arm, resting them on the cold ground against Violet's bag before looking up to her friend. If the Hone initiation was anything like Abrogation had been it would test her bodies limits. But her limits had been tested before, more times than she could count on one hand. Losing a Spark, having Lisirra's blessing torn out of her head and the Abrogation initiation were just three examples of what her life had made her endure. Luck wasn't much on Rey'na's side throughout the Arcs, she had come to realise.
"You wanna pray to your mother or something before we get started?" Violet laughed and looked as Rey'na stood with an empty expression, watching patiently as Violet removed her sword from her side and placed it down with the other pieces of gear they had brought with them. On the off-chance they got jumped on this journey they would need their weapons, especially after the initiation was done. Both of them would likely be tired and neither able to cast in a way that would really help them out, not without a high risk of overstepping for Violet and a very patient attacker for Rey'na. Summoning Runes would take Rey time and practice, both of which Violet intended on hammering in to her. There was only one real way to learn Hone, even if it took a long time to do. If she was going through the journey there wasn't a step Violet would let her half-ass.
With a small shrug, Rey'na shook her head. "No. I don't do prayers. Not anymore. People don't tend to answer" she admitted simply, Violet laughing almost immediately before turning to face Rey'na with her deep purple eyes. "I don't know what answer I expected, but that one has to be my favourite" she poked playfully to the Mortalborn. Then again, the idea of praying to her mother was one that felt weird. But Violet had a mortal mother, not a godly being that could summon an army of some weird insects at will. Presumably their relationship was somewhat different than that of an Immortal and their offspring.
With that out the way, Violet focused on her Ether. "Focus on me, keep yourself focused. Once the ritual is done the pain will mostly fade. You just need to stay strong for a while. Only six runes need to be placed, then the final one that will finish the process" she ordered Rey'na, much more like a teacher than a friend for those few trills. It didn't phase Rey'na, however. It didn't really scare her either. Whatever it was Violet was about to throw at her was survivable or their conversation wouldn't be possible. If it was doable, that meant Rey had a chance. What more could she ask for than that? As her thoughts focused purely on the odds of her survival, how likely she would be to come out of this in one piece, the first Rune was placed. A Rune of Numbing.
Immediately after it came the second, a Rune of Fatigue. Violet had a plan. If she could numb and fatigue Rey's body it wouldn't be as detrimental to Rey, not really. Maybe she would find herself feeling weak for a while, though that was to be expected. No initiation to Hone was likely to leave the girl feeling any better than she had before, let alone when the teacher was of this particular dialect. Draining people and crippling them was what Violet specialised in, not boosting them or making them as strong as she could be. Not that she had any complaints to make about it. Being supernatural like that made her feel powerful, such abilities left exclusively for her. As if that wasn't enough, being able to weaken the toughest opponent so she always stayed on top meant nobody had ever stood much of a chance against her.
Two more runes of the same kind placed, the first pair on her left arm while the second placed on her right. Whether the pain was numbed or not, the weakness was felt. It crippled her, arms barely able to move as Violet traced single lines with her finger and runes were placed over her body. Yet Rey'na refused to give in. As weight covered her arm, the numbness taking over, Rey'na's mind flashed back to the season prior. A crystal placed against her chest and her Spark removed had scared her for a while, but what happened during it was the moment she would never forget. Hands desperately clinging on to Maxine for dear life, pain surging through her as the thoughts of rage left her - left with a hollow longing. Not for her emotions, not for her friends, not for anyone but the one woman that had been there.
It was a feeling that nothing would take away.
As the last two runes were placed on her stomach and torso, Rey'na slouched over with fatigue running through her. Violet gave a look of sympathy, hesitating for a trill before Rey'na spoke up with a firm gaze in the Runewright's direction. "Don't. I can do this" she snarled as her stomach and arms lost what little energy she had in them, feeling weighted and hard to carry. If these had been placed on her legs she would have collapsed almost immediately, her whole body falling. But Violet had known it. With Rey's intentions clear, Violet gave a small nod and took a step closer before placing the final rune - the Rune of Naming. Slowly, she drew it across Rey's chest, before the final stage of it began.
While Rey focused, the power overbearing her as her fate was decided, Violet felt into the Rune. While most showed the feelings someone had or a deeper side of them that very few could know, what she saw inside of Rey'na terrified her. A deafening silence and a hollow feeling flooded through her as she looked into the fractured soul. What had seemed like an act or facade proved to be so much more than the Runewright could have pictured. She wasn't void of empathy, she was void of emotion. None of it was fake. Every blunt word Rey'na said or felt had been the only thing she could stand to muster, the only thing inside of her soul that worked or mattered.
Now that the final burst of power came over her, Rey let out a small cry while her new Witchbrand took shape on her chest. Once Violet felt the bond fully, she let go of the six runes she had place, Rey panting for breath with a deep and powerful as all the fatigue she felt slowly faded away from her. Violet quickly stepped forward to hold her steady, wanting to protect her and feel her warmth. Whatever sickening cold she had just witnessed inside of the Mortalborn wasn't what defined her, it couldn't be. Even with such a hollowness inside Rey had proven to care about their travelling group. That wasn't something that could just be made up, something faked.
With crippling doubt in her mind, Violet turned to the direction of the camp, eyes avoiding the newly initiated mage. "Come on, let's go back."
"When I say it hurts, Rey'na, I mean it" she warned the girl. While her own curiosity was a drive for this process, the biggest was a gift to her new friend. They had fought together and Rey'na had proven to be an interesting character, among other things. Daughter of Lisirra, talented fighter and loyal companion. Even with the lack of emotions the girl showed, Violet felt cared for. Rey'na had protected her more than once and would stay up with her to talk during sleepless nights. Blunt honesty meant that Violet could be sure what Rey'na said was true, usually, aside from when it came to her own well-being. She had a bad habit of putting training before eating. But that commitment might just mean Rey would survive this night.
Rey'na nodded, the same lack of regard for her safety on her face now. "I know pain well. If I made it through that, I will make it through this" she said simply, reminded of her time with the Mantis. Having pieces of her soul torn out had hurt more than any pain she had ever known, as if a part of her ripped through everything she was and tore it all open to get out. That and the hatred she had felt before then to a woman she had come to respect meant her time in Rynmere would be one she would regard poorly for the rest of her life. But she couldn't fault it. Losing her emotions had taught her a lot about herself and had removed one of her biggest flaws. She no longer reacted with emotions, no anger or panic to drive her. Just a calm mind and an empty heart. It had taught her an efficiency that most would never learn.
When they found a small field to go to, Violet finally stopped and looked over her shoulder to Rey'na. As soon as they arrived Rey placed down her spear and removed her shield from her arm, resting them on the cold ground against Violet's bag before looking up to her friend. If the Hone initiation was anything like Abrogation had been it would test her bodies limits. But her limits had been tested before, more times than she could count on one hand. Losing a Spark, having Lisirra's blessing torn out of her head and the Abrogation initiation were just three examples of what her life had made her endure. Luck wasn't much on Rey'na's side throughout the Arcs, she had come to realise.
"You wanna pray to your mother or something before we get started?" Violet laughed and looked as Rey'na stood with an empty expression, watching patiently as Violet removed her sword from her side and placed it down with the other pieces of gear they had brought with them. On the off-chance they got jumped on this journey they would need their weapons, especially after the initiation was done. Both of them would likely be tired and neither able to cast in a way that would really help them out, not without a high risk of overstepping for Violet and a very patient attacker for Rey'na. Summoning Runes would take Rey time and practice, both of which Violet intended on hammering in to her. There was only one real way to learn Hone, even if it took a long time to do. If she was going through the journey there wasn't a step Violet would let her half-ass.
With a small shrug, Rey'na shook her head. "No. I don't do prayers. Not anymore. People don't tend to answer" she admitted simply, Violet laughing almost immediately before turning to face Rey'na with her deep purple eyes. "I don't know what answer I expected, but that one has to be my favourite" she poked playfully to the Mortalborn. Then again, the idea of praying to her mother was one that felt weird. But Violet had a mortal mother, not a godly being that could summon an army of some weird insects at will. Presumably their relationship was somewhat different than that of an Immortal and their offspring.
With that out the way, Violet focused on her Ether. "Focus on me, keep yourself focused. Once the ritual is done the pain will mostly fade. You just need to stay strong for a while. Only six runes need to be placed, then the final one that will finish the process" she ordered Rey'na, much more like a teacher than a friend for those few trills. It didn't phase Rey'na, however. It didn't really scare her either. Whatever it was Violet was about to throw at her was survivable or their conversation wouldn't be possible. If it was doable, that meant Rey had a chance. What more could she ask for than that? As her thoughts focused purely on the odds of her survival, how likely she would be to come out of this in one piece, the first Rune was placed. A Rune of Numbing.
Immediately after it came the second, a Rune of Fatigue. Violet had a plan. If she could numb and fatigue Rey's body it wouldn't be as detrimental to Rey, not really. Maybe she would find herself feeling weak for a while, though that was to be expected. No initiation to Hone was likely to leave the girl feeling any better than she had before, let alone when the teacher was of this particular dialect. Draining people and crippling them was what Violet specialised in, not boosting them or making them as strong as she could be. Not that she had any complaints to make about it. Being supernatural like that made her feel powerful, such abilities left exclusively for her. As if that wasn't enough, being able to weaken the toughest opponent so she always stayed on top meant nobody had ever stood much of a chance against her.
Two more runes of the same kind placed, the first pair on her left arm while the second placed on her right. Whether the pain was numbed or not, the weakness was felt. It crippled her, arms barely able to move as Violet traced single lines with her finger and runes were placed over her body. Yet Rey'na refused to give in. As weight covered her arm, the numbness taking over, Rey'na's mind flashed back to the season prior. A crystal placed against her chest and her Spark removed had scared her for a while, but what happened during it was the moment she would never forget. Hands desperately clinging on to Maxine for dear life, pain surging through her as the thoughts of rage left her - left with a hollow longing. Not for her emotions, not for her friends, not for anyone but the one woman that had been there.
It was a feeling that nothing would take away.
As the last two runes were placed on her stomach and torso, Rey'na slouched over with fatigue running through her. Violet gave a look of sympathy, hesitating for a trill before Rey'na spoke up with a firm gaze in the Runewright's direction. "Don't. I can do this" she snarled as her stomach and arms lost what little energy she had in them, feeling weighted and hard to carry. If these had been placed on her legs she would have collapsed almost immediately, her whole body falling. But Violet had known it. With Rey's intentions clear, Violet gave a small nod and took a step closer before placing the final rune - the Rune of Naming. Slowly, she drew it across Rey's chest, before the final stage of it began.
While Rey focused, the power overbearing her as her fate was decided, Violet felt into the Rune. While most showed the feelings someone had or a deeper side of them that very few could know, what she saw inside of Rey'na terrified her. A deafening silence and a hollow feeling flooded through her as she looked into the fractured soul. What had seemed like an act or facade proved to be so much more than the Runewright could have pictured. She wasn't void of empathy, she was void of emotion. None of it was fake. Every blunt word Rey'na said or felt had been the only thing she could stand to muster, the only thing inside of her soul that worked or mattered.
Now that the final burst of power came over her, Rey let out a small cry while her new Witchbrand took shape on her chest. Once Violet felt the bond fully, she let go of the six runes she had place, Rey panting for breath with a deep and powerful as all the fatigue she felt slowly faded away from her. Violet quickly stepped forward to hold her steady, wanting to protect her and feel her warmth. Whatever sickening cold she had just witnessed inside of the Mortalborn wasn't what defined her, it couldn't be. Even with such a hollowness inside Rey had proven to care about their travelling group. That wasn't something that could just be made up, something faked.
With crippling doubt in her mind, Violet turned to the direction of the camp, eyes avoiding the newly initiated mage. "Come on, let's go back."
