ORIGIN

Reseda heard the howl from her cave. She was sleeping when she heard it and it jolted her awake. As light bloomed in her unblinking eyes, she raised her head, wondering what exactly had made such a noise. Was it another gembound? A creature of the deep? Or was she imagining things.

No matter, she was going to investigate in anyways.

She stood up immediately and stepped through her cave and made her way to where she heard the noise, her tongue flickering to try and catch a scent of who it was. Eventually, she did manage to catch a scent. It was cold and strange, and it smelled faintly like the bones that surrounded her. It was certainly another gembound.

Soon, she came in sight of the wolf and paused. She had seen a wolf before. The light one was a wolf. But this one was different. This was a cold one, one who had lived in darkness, one who was entrapped in darkness forever. It wasn't the dark one, for the dark one feared the darkness. No, this darkness went deeper.

Interested, Reseda approached the deep one and stopped just before it, staring at it intensely. Yes, there was a different vibe about this one then she had felt among the light one and the dark one. "You made that noise." It wasn't a question, it was simply a fact, as if the deep one did not know that it had made any noise.

When I speak.

Reseda stared at the deep one curiously. Did it think that she was greeting it? She didn't remember greeting it. She remembered stating that it had made a noise. Of course, it had stated back that she was a lizard. Correct, she was a lizard. At least it had gotten something right. She stared at its strange pose, not intimidated in the slightest. She could tell already that the deep one had no intention of attacking, so there was no point in holding the pose. However, she decided not to point it out. It was a little amusing watching the animal's attempts at intimidation.

The name of Astaroth meant nothing to Reseda. However, she decided to play along for a moment, just to see what would happen. "I am Reseda." However, once her own 'introduction' had finished, she didn't really know what to say. She had come out to see what the noise was. And now she knew. What was the point of lingering?

She was just about to turn and go, but then an idea struck. Perhaps this was a good opportunity to learn. She had talked to few gembounds, but she was getting an increasing feeling that learning to speak would be a more important skill then she realized. At least for now, she could see how it suited her.

"So, Astaroth, what brings you to the room of bones?" Her voice was smooth, but it was dry. As if she either hadn't used it in a while or had no care for the answer she would be given. Of course, Reseda noticed neither of these things and the voice she gave seemed a perfectly acceptable one to use.

When I speak.

Reseda frowned. Why was the deep one so aggressive? She had done nothing. She didn't understand these creatures. First the dark one erupting and now this one, threatening. She just didn't understand. To be fair, she didn't really care to understand. What were they to her anyways?

She decided to start with answering the questions. "Sure, I'll speak your name.
Astaroth. I haven't met many others, but if I come across them I'll tell them to fear you if you want. And I don't think I need further convincing? What were you trying to convince me of again?"

She thought that her words were a good mimic for the conversations she had had already, but her voice was still dry and uninterested. She also had no intention of telling anyone to fear her. She saw no reason to fear the wolf. She saw no reason for fear.

When I speak.

When the deep one looked up, Reseda followed its gaze. At first, she didn't know what she was supposed to be seeing, but then she saw it, the dark hole that pulled the bones in. She felt her own body begin to move and she dug her claws and wrapped her legs around the rock she was on to hold herself in place.

It was an incredible power that she felt bursting from the core of the magic. Magic that resonated within herself and she felt the left side her of face grow hot. And then, suddenly, the bones were flying. In a circle around her, all matter was sent away, clattering across the ground. She barely noticed, however, as she turned down to look at the deep one. Something gripped her insides, something unknown and violent. Ambition was clawing at her, scourging her insides with its filthy claws. She could feel it and, for once, she relished the feeling.

This deep one, this...Astaroth. Perhaps it was interesting after all. She still had no fear, as fear had no place in her heart, but now it had caught her attention. If things like this inspired fear, then she would have to learn it too. She needed to be feared, as the deep one desired. She needed to be able to cast spells of that magnitude. She could use the deep one after all.

"Teach me," she growled, her voice cold and intense, "so we can both be feared."

When I speak.

Reseda stared at the deep one and waited. But nothing happened. She had they it was going to show her some magic. It had talked about a spell of some kind, but they hadn't gone farther then that. What was the use of telling her that she was going to learn a spell but then not demonstrate. Or at least show her. She thought about the wisdom of being taught by this one.

"If you aren't going to show me anything," she remarked, dryly, "then could you at least tell me what to do?"



When I speak.
When I think.