Axel watched as the Reseda lady split into two different copies of herself, both of them identical. He couldn't begin to guess which was the real one, but he'd try. Axel craned his neck toward the Reseda that had moved to the side and tilted his head slightly. "That's you?" He asked in a questioning tone, his eyes trying to find any differences.

There didn't seem to be any, so he'd just have to wait until Reseda revealed who was who.

@Reseda

Reseda smiled and the standing one spoke. "Good job. Yes, this is the real one." The copy on the ground blinked out of existence and she sat back down. It had been guessing - a lucky guess most likely. But she thought that she might be able to use this to her advantage.

"You can see how that spell would be useful. I can trick lesser creatures in battle or divert their attention to a decoy. You have sharp eyes to pick out the real me." Of course, she doubted that the unfortunate one had eyes quite that sharp, being new hatched and all, but she wasn't exactly going to say that out loud.

"Now, I have many other spells. Would you like to see some more?"

"Living with myself."
Nothing but lies.


tags: @Axel
notes:

Axel grinned as the copy dissipated. He had found the right Reseda, and praise came from it. The turkey held his head with pride, nodding. Yes, he wanted to see more spells. Yes, he wanted more examples of magick. Yeah, he wanted to be like Reseda.

Okay, maybe that was a bit farfetched. He wanted to be as powerful as Reseda. To hold the same awe over others as she did him. To impress.

@Reseda

Good. The unfortunate one thirsted for power, just as she once had. Just as she still did. No matter how many spells she learned, it wasn't enough. It would never be enough. More spells, more power. More chance to impress and frighten.

Like this one. She remembered the day she had met the deep one and how he had shouted for her fear and then opened the void above them. Yes, she would do that. She would show him the power of inescapable darkness.

She stood up and grounded herself. This spell was taxing and would get out of control way too easily. She smiled at the unfortunate one. "Get ready, kid," she hissed. She accumulated energy quickly, faster and faster until the threw her head back and focused on a point above them.

A speck of darkness appeared and the bones began to rumble. Her gen flowed softly as her power was thrust into the void, making it larger until many bones around them began to rise and be crushed underneath the darkness. Above them, a small black hole formed, catching bones and rocks and smashing them into dust and swallowing them completely.

After a few seconds, Reseda felt her own body begin to get pulled upwards so she cut off the magic before she started to rise. The bones that were still in the air clattered to the ground and the black hole faded from existence, leaving no trace of anything it had eaten.

"Living with myself."
Nothing but lies.


tags: @Axel
notes:

Axel watched as Reseda summoned a steady supply of energy, and then shot it into the air. A dark void began to suck in bones, wiping them from existence. The turkey's beak opened slightly, his eyes wide and shiny.

How could one have that much power?! He faced Reseda excitedly, his eyes bright with excitement. "Teach me!" He demanded, his voice hoarse. She would teach him, and in return, he'd provide company and an ally.

@Reseda

Did she hear correctly? Was she mistaken or did the unfortunate one just as for an apprenticeship? Yes, it did and it deliciously satisfied the aching in her stomach, the greed for power, respect, and, of course, followers. This was her first one. It was a little strange, a turkey and a dragon, but she wasn't going to reject it. No, she wouldn't reject it at all. She would reward it for doing the smart thing.

She had never expected this upon sitting down in front of the bird. She had thought this would be just a regular old her trying to make friends and failing, like it usually did. But no, this had turned out perfectly.

She raised her head with pride. "Yes, of course I'll teach you, Axel. There is much benefit in learning great magic. But, I must ask you. Why do you want to learn from me? These spells are dangerous and, if in the wrong hands, could do terrible things." At her words, she discretely sent out a mental tendril that would latch onto the small turkey, hopefully without it noticing. She only opened it enough to allow a stream of thoughts to her, but nothing in the opposite direction. She didn't want it to know that she was spying on its mind.

"Living with myself."
Nothing but lies.


tags: @Axel
notes:

The young turkey thought for a moment? Why did he want her to teach him? He thought about how she was powerful, and if he could be like that he wanted to be powerful too. He thought about how he wanted to explore and gain knowledge, and that would need power too. Yes, it was power. He wanted Reseda to teach him because he wanted power.

The turkey smiled. "I want power. I want to taste it, and to enjoy the finer things these caves have to offer." Axel decided.

@Reseda

Reseda carefully inspected the unfortunate one's thoughts, but she found no lies or deceit. It truly wanted power and enjoyment. Just like her. But she didn't think it was thinking far enough. It seemed it wanted to explore and be strong for that while Reseda wanted nothing more then complete domination. This made it easier for her to accept its offer. It hopefully would not be competition, but a student that she could cite as the one who had taught it.

She nodded approvingly. "You have a strong spirit. Power will come to you, I can assure you of that. I had the same spirit of you and I can promise you that power is the sweetest of tastes. It will not disappoint you."

Now, what to teach it first. She remembered the spell the deep one had first shown her and wondered if that was what she should start with. But it didn't seem to have the same kind of demeanor as her. More upfront and strong instead of reaching for fear and the tricks from behind. No, this one would want the firm power. She thought back to the spell it had seemingly done unintentionally and wondered if that was where they would start.

"Now," she began, thinking of each word carefully, "the thing you have to understand first is the difference between us. I am of darkness. I hide in the shadows and cast my spells to trick and fool before going in for the final blow. You, I can see, you are of light and of strength. I can teach you magic, of course, but you will not channel magic the same way as me, unless that is what you wish. But I think it would be best for us to focus on your strengths first." She nodded, as if she was approving of her own thoughts. "You did something before. You made it smell and your feathers sizzled. Perhaps you are of fire. Fire is powerful and, like my magic, dangerous and difficult to wield. I cannot teach you specific spells, but I can teach you how to better your body and your magic so that you can learn your fire on your own."

"Living with myself."
Nothing but lies.


tags: @Axel
notes:

Axel listened to Reseda carefully. He didn't have her magick, no, but he still had powerful magick. And that was good enough for him. "Before we begin, may I find food?" He asked in a raspy voice. He wanted to be respectful to his teacher, and yet he wanted to just take Reseda's power for himself.

The turkey looked expectantly at Reseda, feeling his belly rumble slightly.

@Reseda

Reseda waved a claw, but internally, something rumbled with approval. Respect. She could hear it in the unfortunate one's voice. It respected her, or, at least, it was pretending to. Well, if it was a fake pretend, she would destroy that, crush it easily. "Yes, do what you wish. When you wish for my lesson, you will find me here, munching on the bones."

With that, she picked up another one and began to grind her teeth. She watched the unfortunate one out of the corner of her eye, however, to see what it did.

"Living with myself."
Nothing but lies.


tags: @Axel
notes: