So Much More to See, So Much More to Believe ~ Private

Inglisse had been informed of the strange phenomena happening atop the Sage tower, the authority figures of the campus linking it to the atranoch she had summoned months ago. Not wanting to react too quickly nor seeing any real harm being done, the faculty simply alerted the summoner and asked she take care of it. If not, or if there was something wrong, the faculty would then step in.

It was not the first time Oras had caused trouble for the academy, but at least this time he was not causing fights that would land them both in detention. Quickly meandering through the green halls of her dorm, Inglisse hurried to the staircase that would take her to the roof. She saw no need to use magic or some talent to fly or transport herself up to the roof. The climb up the stairs would be enough; nothing special was needed. Of course, due to her lower physical stamina and weak physical condition, the girl took a few moments to catch her breath before opening the door that would reveal the rooftop to her.

The atmosphere was calming despite the swirling ice and wind. The frost coating the surface of the roof was hardly anything she was able to fear slipping on. In the middle of it all, Oras was sitting down. “Your snow and ice is causing quite the fuss,” she commented with partial amusement, walking towards him at a relaxed pace.

“Exactly my thoughts,” Inglisse agreed for the most part, taking a few more steps towards him. Not everyone had seen stranger events, however. The ice and wind were not harming anyone, but she could at least understand why they would be alarming to any normal student or faculty member. Those who were not used to rarer or uncommon species, or various forms of eldritch energy, tended to get jumpy over little things. She decided not to go into that, assuming it was for the better to allow him to believe people had seen stranger things. The academy life could get rather dull at times, though. Mystopolis maintained a decent status quo.

He then invited her to sit with him. The blonde hesitated briefly, before deciding to join him. She had been hard at work for the last few days, dedicating her research efforts to the study of vampires. She needed to find a cure for vampirism, and fast, before her own lasted for much longer. Inglisse had done a decent job at hiding it, but it would only be a matter of time before it was more evident that she had been infected. Gracefully, the girl took a seat next to Oras, amber eyes scanning the city horizon. She nodded at his words stating that it was peaceful up on the rooftop, but had nothing to add.

“Patiently awaiting, and mentally preparing for whatever threat is to follow,” Inglisse answered bluntly, not looking back at him as she responded. Her amber eyes stayed fixed on the horizon, taking in the city lights and the soft light from the moon and stars. He had not upset her by refusing to answer. Instead, it only annoyed her. It always felt like there were double standards when it came to him, thus another reason she did not push to ask questions or get to know him unless she needed to. Inglisse simply anticipated him losing his temper once more and seeing much more hostile ice, unlike the fairly comfortable ice seat he had created for her.

Inglisse listened in silence, her amber gaze on the city lights in the horizon. His words fell on unbelieving ears. At least he acknowledged that his words were no excuse and would not sway her to believe him. He fortunately still had the chance, as she had not sent him away. Besides, she was not scared of him. It was more of an annoyance if anything. If it ever went beyond a threat, she knew he would fail to kill her and she would have means of defending herself. That was one reason she kept her talents a secret, just in case she ever needed them to defend against his powerful ice.

He made another promise, this one not to threaten or attack her again. It would indeed take more than just a few instances for her to believe the promise, as Oras seemed to have a track record of doing the opposite of what he said. He of course added a catch-- unless she did something unspeakable. That would vary, seeing as the two had very different ideas of what was right and wrong. However, more surprisingly, he stated he did not believe she would do something “unspeakable”. She was certain she could prove him wrong on that, but at least his trust was a good thing. It hopefully would mean he would not go prying into her book or research too much out of suspicion.

Amber eyes traced up from the city horizon to the stars and moon above. “I’ll hold you to that promise,” she stated simply, with an edge of doubt in her voice. She partially believed he would prove his words untrue within the next few minutes. That was what happened last time, after all. He had told her to promise she would reach out to him and tried to convince her that she could trust him, only to threaten her with ice and frost moments later. Would he still ask the question he had wanted to ask her back then, which would likely lead to another hostile encounter? She mused quietly, keeping herself closed off and not adding anything more to the conversation.

Inglisse waited in silence for the guards to leave the top after ensuring that she had diffused the situation, or rather, the uncanny phenomenon that they could not easily explain. Finally the question she had been waiting for had been delivered. The simplicity of it made the blonde wonder why he not asked it the last time they were together. Of course, the answer was not an easy on, but Inglisse did not plan on giving details.

“I thought I told you. My family died in an accident, I grew up alone,” she stated without even glancing at him. It answered his nonspecific question. It was easy enough. She had no questions yet to ask the atranoch, however. She had decided to study vampires first and put her atranoch research on the backburner. After all, she had her own vampirism to cure, and fast.

At least he felt some semblance of the annoyance she felt with him that time, or perhaps he felt even more irritation. Inglisse understood that it ruffled his feathers, but at least she dropped the hint more politely than simply stubbornly refusing. Of course, Oras was not one to act politely nor receive politeness.

Of course, his detailed questions were not something she really wanted to answer. She refused to let anyone know about Sacramentum or the little she knew it could do. It was such a vast concept, but something she did not need other people understanding. “The accident was caused by the current research they were conducting. My entire family was massacred, and like I told you before, a foolish person went in and made it worse,” she said. It was still vague, but this was nothing some public records would not say if one dug deep enough. Hopefully the hint would be dropped that she was not about to disclose the greater details. He had no reason to have that information. She had already answer his last question once before and did not plan on repeating it. She was so invested in her research in order to reverse the damage of “the fool”, or unbeknownst to anyone else, the damage she had caused.

His words were curious. Previously, he would force her to speak and answer his questions, often by use of threat or force. Now he was satisfied with straight up rejection? He certainly was an interesting individual. She nodded in silence before he continued to speak. Amber eyes met his ice blue ones, only to break contact in acceptance as he concluded. “Thanks, sounds good,” she noted, with nothing more to add. She doubted it would ever happen. She could never see herself trusting anyone again. Just when she had somewhat trusted him, or thought she could start, he turned on her with ice and threats. With his track record, she did not see the pattern changing anytime soon. In her mind, he could not be completely trusted.