The Journey Home | Eldritch Academy

Traveler

264 posts

GRADE • A-

   VITALITY • 3

   STRENGTH • 4

   SPEED • 3

   RESILIENCE • 2

   STAMINA • 4

Atranoch Telemindred

Mar 12, 2019 11:51:38 GMT -6

Post by Oras Aventra Auro on Mar 12, 2019 11:51:38 GMT -6

He could feel the distrust coming from the mother. Dear Ryse, what did you tell about me? When she spoke up it was clear she thought something happened to her daughter. He listened to her words, his grin turning into a smirk. "Why don't you ask her yourself you idiot?" he said while pointing with his thumb in the direction of her home. He would wait until she started moving forward and would tail behind her at whatever speed she went... Well unless she went supersonic or something like that. He was already tired and needed some ice.

Ryse Azar

Student Scholar

350 posts

GRADE • B-

   VITALITY • 3

   STRENGTH • 2

   SPEED • 3

   RESILIENCE • 4

   STAMINA • 2

Spirit's Fire Church Grim / Phoenix Terra

Mar 12, 2019 12:28:30 GMT -6

Post by Ryse Azar on Mar 12, 2019 12:28:30 GMT -6

Ariza looked over in the direction of the house, raising an eyebrow. Was he suggesting that her daughter was here? At her home? Curious now, she lifted her wings and took off towards the building.

Ryse sat there in front of the house, ears flat against her head, and head drooped. She had been waiting anxiously for Oras to return, feeling useless that she hadn't been able to help. But upon catching a familiar scent her ears perked up and she lifted her head. Spotting a flame colored bird flying towards her, a familiar ice demon beside her, she shot into the air, a beaming smile on her face. "Mom! You're okay!" She called.

The teenager halted in front of the bird she now easily recognized as her mother, and the older phoenix did the same. The two hovered in the air, Ryse whining in happiness as she licked her mother's face, her tail wagging rapidly.

"Thanks to your companion, yes." Ariza replied, giving a smile of her own. "He is a skilled fighter."

Oras Aventra Auro

Traveler

264 posts

GRADE • A-

   VITALITY • 3

   STRENGTH • 4

   SPEED • 3

   RESILIENCE • 2

   STAMINA • 4

Atranoch Telemindred

Mar 12, 2019 14:24:44 GMT -6

Post by Oras Aventra Auro on Mar 12, 2019 14:24:44 GMT -6

Oras, in his human form, watched the two reunite. It was weird if he was honest, seeing the half-breed licking a phoenix while wagging her tail... Yet at the same time it was kind of sweet. The mother mentioned how it was thanks to Oras. He chuckled. "Speaking of which, thanks for the fight. I enjoyed myself~ However please tell me you have some damn ice in your home? I'm exhausted." Without permission, he flew over to their house, landing in front of it. If anything Ryse would keep him from being killed for his rudeness. He opened up the door and walked inside, feeling for any coolness in the air. When he detected it he smiled and walked over. Taking a chunk of ice in his hands he absorbed it. By the time the two reached him the would have seen this. And would see the tension leave his shoulders as he was finally able to relax. "Ryse thank heaven and hell your bones are hollow like a phoenix's. Otherwise carrying you would have been worse than it already was."

Ryse Azar

Student Scholar

350 posts

GRADE • B-

   VITALITY • 3

   STRENGTH • 2

   SPEED • 3

   RESILIENCE • 4

   STAMINA • 2

Spirit's Fire Church Grim / Phoenix Terra

Mar 12, 2019 15:11:37 GMT -6

Post by Ryse Azar on Mar 12, 2019 15:11:37 GMT -6

The two landed on the ground in front of their home, taking human forms. Ryse looked over to speak to Oras, only to find that he wasn't there as he was a moment ago. The sound of the front door shutting alerted her that the Atronach had entered their home, and she looked up at her mother, giving a nervous chuckle as sweat dripped down her forehead. "Don't worry mom, he's just looking for ice. He won't go snooping through our things. He ran all the way here, so he used up a lot of energy..."

As the two entered the house, they walked into the kitchen and saw him absorbing ice. "See?" At Oras's comment Ryse rubbed the back of her head sheepishly. "A-Actually, my bones aren't hollow." Which was the reason why she struggled with flying when she was younger. She had to work twice as hard and twice as long as normal phoenixes, because her body was heavier than a bird's.

Ariza's brows furrowed in displeasure, humming a bit. "While I'm glad you're home, Ryse, I don't know why you are. Your schooling isn't over already, is it? Did something happen and the school had to send you home? And why did you come here with someone else?"

Oras Aventra Auro

Traveler

264 posts

GRADE • A-

   VITALITY • 3

   STRENGTH • 4

   SPEED • 3

   RESILIENCE • 2

   STAMINA • 4

Atranoch Telemindred

Mar 12, 2019 15:54:30 GMT -6

Post by Oras Aventra Auro on Mar 12, 2019 15:54:30 GMT -6

He noticed there was cool water as well and went ahead and started drinking that. Upon finishing he looked at Ryse with curiosity before speaking up. "Really? Damn, how much do you weigh then?... Am I just that strong? Like, literally I want to know the numbers so I can understand this." When she asked her daughter about her school and why she was here Oras scoffed. "I got the idiots in faculty to give her leave for this. There's at least one smart person among them it seems. And yes Ryse." he said as he took another drink of water. "Tell her what you need to. And ask what you need to ask. Prove your words to me here and now. I'd rather not waste more time than we already have... Freaking nature..."

Ryse Azar

Student Scholar

350 posts

GRADE • B-

   VITALITY • 3

   STRENGTH • 2

   SPEED • 3

   RESILIENCE • 4

   STAMINA • 2

Spirit's Fire Church Grim / Phoenix Terra

Mar 12, 2019 19:01:15 GMT -6

Post by Ryse Azar on Mar 12, 2019 19:01:15 GMT -6

Ryse's brows furrowed a bit at Oras's words. Was he calling her fat? Or was he genuinely curious as to how much she weighed? It wasn't her fault she didn't have hollow bones! She was actually grateful for it, as having hollow bones meant you were more likely to get injured. A hard enough hit would kill her if she had bones like a bird.

As Oras turned her attention as to why they were actually there, the teenager fidgeted with her sleeves nervously. She had wanted answers for so long. Would her mother actually give them to her? Or would she just avoid the question like she always did. Taking a deep breath, she looked her mother in the eyes. "Mom... I wanted to come back here for a few days so that I could get answers. I know that I've asked you this a lot already, but. I need to know. How is that if you and my dad are my parents.... how am I half Church Grim? I've done research at the school library, looking for answers, and nothing I've learned on the facts of the species tells me anything that could answer how someone can be half Grim."

Done research, she had indeed. She had scoured the shelves of the library, reading and taking notes from every book found. And she had found no answers. None that she needed, anyways.

Ariza was silent. Too silent. The older phoenix said nothing for what seemed like an eternity, simply looking at her daughter and Oras as if trying to decide whether they were people posing as them or if they were really there. When she spoke, her voice was irritatingly calm. "I've already said this, Ryse. You are still too young to know. What I can tell you is this. I didn't break my bond with my mate, nor did I have a curse laid on me."

"That's not an answer!!" Ryse nearly howled. The air shimmered just a little as the teenager barely managed to suppress her anger. Oras was in the room. If both she and her mother got too upset the temperature would spike to a level the Atronach wouldn't be able to survive.

Oras Aventra Auro

Traveler

264 posts

GRADE • A-

   VITALITY • 3

   STRENGTH • 4

   SPEED • 3

   RESILIENCE • 2

   STAMINA • 4

Atranoch Telemindred

Mar 12, 2019 19:13:11 GMT -6

Post by Oras Aventra Auro on Mar 12, 2019 19:13:11 GMT -6

As Oras listened to Ryse he admitted it wasn't a bad way to introduce the issue at hand. Unfortunately, Ryse's mother was being a stubborn idiot. When the woman responded, there was a silence. He could feel the anger resinating from Ryse and Oras sighed. "Alright, you'll get nowhere. Let me take lead then." He walked up to the woman and slapped her in the face with enough force to send her head turning to the left. "You're a first rate IDIOT!" He yelled. Dodging any retaliation she may send at him. "Don't you pull that 'your too young to know' shit on her! She's at an age where she not only can understand and fathom information like that, can handle information like that, but DESERVES the right to know her lineage!!!" He pointed at Ryse with a very hard finger, his body radiating a mist of icy power.

"That young halfbreed girl you claim to love has been in mental and emotional agony and torture because of who and what she is! When she was young your word was enough. But as she grew older the words and insults and threats of others made it harder for her! While you tell her she's too young to understand, no one is teaching her to appreciate who she is! She hides in the shadows and hates herself for being half grim!" He lowered his hand but his eyes were glowing at this point. "It was your job to raise her to build herself up and love who she is. Not let her crumble into self hatred, skulking in the shadows because she's afraid of how others will treat her. Now stop dodging the DAMN QUESTION and GIVE HER A STRAIGHT ANSWER!!!"

Ryse Azar

Student Scholar

350 posts

GRADE • B-

   VITALITY • 3

   STRENGTH • 2

   SPEED • 3

   RESILIENCE • 4

   STAMINA • 2

Spirit's Fire Church Grim / Phoenix Terra

Mar 12, 2019 21:23:30 GMT -6

Post by Ryse Azar on Mar 12, 2019 21:23:30 GMT -6

Ariza’s eyes widened in shock as the Atronach slapped her. She didn’t say anything, however, staying silent even as Oras yelled and shouted at her. The older phoenix simply looked at her daughter, an unreadable expression on her face. When Oras finished yelling, a sadness entered her eyes. “I just wanted to protect you.”

“From WHAT?!” Ryse practically exploded. “I ALREADY KNOW I’m a freak! It’s why dad left! Why those other phoenixes distrust me! And call me names! And why they’ve been threatening us and destroying our home!”

Her voice began wavering at this point, and tears gathered in her eyes. “Do you know how many times I’ve avoided telling people what I was because I was too afraid of what they would say if they found out? Or ran away when they did? Or wished I was just like you and every other phoenix? That I was normal? I did that too many times to count. And I still do.”

She pointed a finger at Oras, her hand shaking slightly. “Oras is the only one who cared! He offered to help us! When nobody else would! He tells me that I shouldn’t be ashamed of what I am! That I am the best of both species, phoenix and church grim. How can I believe that if I don’t know the truth?!” A tear rolled down her cheek. “You tell me that you love me, and that you care for me. Well if you do, you should tell me the truth, not hiding it from me!! SO JUST TELL ME!!!”

Ariza looked at her daughter, silent for a few more moments, before shaking her head. Her sadness growing deeper. She spoke slowly. “To be honest, I don’t know myself.” She took a deep breath, motioned for the two to follow her as she walked to the living room and sat down on the couch. And she fixed serious brown eyes onto her daughter. “When you hatched from your egg, at first I was shocked. I had never been with another besides your father, so I didn’t know how you managed to have church grim genes. Your father left, and I tried to raise you to the best of my ability. As the years went on, I tried to find as much information as I could about Church Grim.”

Ryse listened, her eyes widening a little as she sat beside her mother. She was finally hearing the answers she’d needed to know for years. Finally.

“The information that I read and heard from different sources told me that Church Grim are created by burying an animal - mostly a dog - alive, so it may serve as the protector of the graves in the chosen graveyard. But you were born as half Grim, not made into one.” Ariza shook her head again, wringing her hands together. It was clear to see the guilt in her eyes. “There are no records of any half Grim that I’ve found, so I couldn’t ask one to find answers for myself. I had hoped that by the time you grew old enough, I would have the answers you seeked. But… I’m afraid I have nothing."

It was evident that the older phoenix felt terribly guilty about how this had made her daughter feel. She'd tried to raise her in the best way she knew how. She'd always told her she'd loved her, and cared for her. To know that the child she was raising felt this way because of her actions made her feel horrible.

Oras Aventra Auro

Traveler

264 posts

GRADE • A-

   VITALITY • 3

   STRENGTH • 4

   SPEED • 3

   RESILIENCE • 2

   STAMINA • 4

Atranoch Telemindred

Mar 12, 2019 21:45:07 GMT -6

Post by Oras Aventra Auro on Mar 12, 2019 21:45:07 GMT -6

Oras growled and muttered under his breath about how he thought they moved past the whole: 'I'm a freak' bit but nooooooo. Apparently she was still stupid enough to believe it even now. Freaking idiot. When Ryse screamed that only Oras cared however, he walked up and slapped her the same way he did her mother. "I NEVER said she didn't care! Your mother wanted to do what she thought was best for you. Just because she was stupid about it doesn't mean she doesn't love you!!!" Oras growled. How stupid were these two? He was glad idiocy wasn't contagious. He'd have been deceased by this point. After that the mother began speaking, and led them to the living room.

Oras hung back, and leaned against the wall in the room as the two talked. He listened to every detail because... Well he wanted to know how as well, plain and simple. The way she described it however was very annoying. There was no hint as to any way. Or perhaps she was an idiot in the observance and processing department as well. He should test that. "...Have you ever encountered a grim before?"

Ryse Azar

Student Scholar

350 posts

GRADE • B-

   VITALITY • 3

   STRENGTH • 2

   SPEED • 3

   RESILIENCE • 4

   STAMINA • 2

Spirit's Fire Church Grim / Phoenix Terra

Mar 12, 2019 22:19:27 GMT -6

Post by Ryse Azar on Mar 12, 2019 22:19:27 GMT -6

“Oww!” Ryse cried, holding a hand up to her now throbbing cheek. But she didn’t get angry. Looking at her mother’s face, she knew that she was already feeling guilty, and she felt shame of her own wash over her. What she’d said had been terrible. “I- I’m sorry, mom. I didn’t mean it. I was just……….” She trailed away, looking away from the other phoenix. Anger wasn’t an excuse for saying what she had. It had been downright nasty.

She was pulled back from her thoughts as a pair of arms wrapped around her, and she was gently pulled into a hug. “Mom?”

“I know. I’m sorry too, Ryse.” Ariza replied, kissing her on the forehead. “I should have told you years ago. I’m sorry you’ve felt this way for so long.”

The older phoenix was silent as her eyes grew distant, searching through her memories after Oras asked his question. “I… believe I met one, once. Many many years ago. Long before Ryse hatched.” She shut her eyes, brows furrowing as she tried to remember. It had happened so long ago. “It was… after the Ancient War. A few years after it had ended.”

Oras Aventra Auro

Traveler

264 posts

GRADE • A-

   VITALITY • 3

   STRENGTH • 4

   SPEED • 3

   RESILIENCE • 2

   STAMINA • 4

Atranoch Telemindred

Mar 12, 2019 22:41:53 GMT -6

Post by Oras Aventra Auro on Mar 12, 2019 22:41:53 GMT -6

He was silent for a little while as they embraced and made up. After a few seconds however. "Oh thank Elentros Above you two finally got past this! Now, let's try making progress when it comes to answers next shall we? And don't worry, this therapy session is on the house~" he said using a sarcastic voice. He wasn't about to let them forget that it was him who made this happen. He endured a lot of stress to get them here.

When the phoenix answered his question Oras put a hand to his chin. "Hmm... I need a minute to think." He began to walk back and forth through the room, and began to speak his thoughts aloud. "After the ancient war... What's unique about the war... The races were forced into the contract... The more 'animalistic and demonic' races into hiding... Grim didn't count, they were a creation... Vampires were a big issue at one poin-.... Vampires... They have.... So if one bit...." Oras stopped pacing and closed his eyes, entering meditation mode. Vampires could bite their victim and force their genetic code into the bloodstream of the victim, forcing them into becoming a vampire. Grim don't have healing properties, so they could technically be effected. It's never been heard of undead effecting undead, but it wasn't impossible either. Especially since Grim had blood too. So if a grim was turned into a vampire...

Oras turned to the two of them. "So. I have a theory. This is assuming of course that vampires can turn other undead with blood into vampires, but it's better than nothing. What if the grim you were bit by, was turned into a vampire? Did it show any odd behavior for a grim that would suggest or promote this theory?"

Ryse Azar

Student Scholar

350 posts

GRADE • B-

   VITALITY • 3

   STRENGTH • 2

   SPEED • 3

   RESILIENCE • 4

   STAMINA • 2

Spirit's Fire Church Grim / Phoenix Terra

Mar 13, 2019 8:58:17 GMT -6

Post by Ryse Azar on Mar 13, 2019 8:58:17 GMT -6

Ryse tilted her head in confusion, the same sort of confusion that would appear on her mother’s face as well.

“It’s...possible….” Ariza answered slowly, opening her eyes to look at the Atronach. “I’ve never heard of such a thing, but I suppose that doesn’t mean it can’t happen.” At Oras’s question about any odd behavior, she paused before she spoke. It was obvious she was struggling to remember that far back. Living forever tended to make memories of the past hazy. “It bit me, for one thing. Church Grim only attack those that threaten the cemetery they guard over. I wasn’t doing anything of the sort. I was merely paying my respects to my fallen friends. I didn’t even know it was there until it attacked me.”

The older phoenix was silent for a few minutes more, concentrating. “I think I remember…. there was… blood on its fur. Before I retaliated and struck back at it. I don’t know if it had attacked some other creature before me, though. That could be the case.”

Oras Aventra Auro

Traveler

264 posts

GRADE • A-

   VITALITY • 3

   STRENGTH • 4

   SPEED • 3

   RESILIENCE • 2

   STAMINA • 4

Atranoch Telemindred

Mar 13, 2019 9:09:43 GMT -6

Post by Oras Aventra Auro on Mar 13, 2019 9:09:43 GMT -6

There was confusion among the two of them, but this time he expected it. The two of them were not adventurers. They didn't study monsters and dark races like Oras and his first summoner did. So it stood to reason they wouldn't know any of this, nor consider the possibility either. He gave them slack in that area. Lack of knowledge didn't make someone stupid. Making a stupid choice when the answer was obvious was where he drew the line. And it was sad to know there were hundreds and thousands of people like that out there.

The mother began explaining to the best of her memory... Finally. She told him how she thinks she remembers being bit, which was essential to the possibility. And how she believed she saw blood on the grim at some point as well. Oras nodded. "Alright... Alright... Ok, so pretty sure this theory is as close as we'll get to the most logical outcome:" Oras leaned against the wall again. No sarcasm, snark, or pride in his face or tone. Just him going over facts. "First, to clarify some things if you didn't understand it already. Vampires can infect other people with their own genes via blood infection. If they bite you, their genes begin invading and overtaking your own. Grim are undead creatures, but they still have blood so it might be possible the grim was transformed into a vampire. Which would mean there's a chance it could infect others with vampirism as well.

"My guess is that the vampire's genes mixed with the grim's because they were both undead, or that the grim's eventually overtook the vampire's. When it bit you however, your phoenix blood purged the vampirism. My guess as to why it only killed off the vampirism and not the grim DNA, is that vampirism contains the invasive orders, while the grim blood is just manufactured DNA. Thus, your genes became a permanent mix of grim and phoenix blood. However since you've already grown to maturity, your body won't change. But your children will be," he said. Then he shrugged. "That's my best theory anyway."

Ryse Azar

Student Scholar

350 posts

GRADE • B-

   VITALITY • 3

   STRENGTH • 2

   SPEED • 3

   RESILIENCE • 4

   STAMINA • 2

Spirit's Fire Church Grim / Phoenix Terra

Mar 13, 2019 9:54:29 GMT -6

Post by Ryse Azar on Mar 13, 2019 9:54:29 GMT -6

The two listened attentively to what Oras was saying. As he explained, the confusion melted away, replaced by understanding. The fact that vampires could infect other undead that had blood in them was one they hadn’t known before now. “So it is possible…” Ariza said thoughtfully.

Mother and daughter heard out Oras’s theory. Listening to how Ariza’s phoenix blood purged the vampirism from her body. The phoenix nodded in reply to that. “I died after my battle with the Grim, so it’s likely that’s what happened.” It would explain why she wasn’t turned into a vampire when she was reborn. The theory was a solid one. It made sense when he told it that way. “It explains why…”

She stopped, paused for a moment, and continued. “Ryse wasn’t the only one in her clutch. There were three others. They were just like her, half Grim and half Phoenix. They hatched before Ryse did, but… they didn’t survive. They were too misshapen to have stood a chance. I thought Ryse would have died as well, when she hatched. She almost did, but she survived.”

Ryse stared at her mother in surprise. She hadn’t known she’d had siblings. Her mother hugged her tighter.

Oras Aventra Auro

Traveler

264 posts

GRADE • A-

   VITALITY • 3

   STRENGTH • 4

   SPEED • 3

   RESILIENCE • 2

   STAMINA • 4

Atranoch Telemindred

Mar 13, 2019 10:16:02 GMT -6

Post by Oras Aventra Auro on Mar 13, 2019 10:16:02 GMT -6

Hearing that the mother had lost children because they were deformed caught Oras off guard. The atranoch's eyes widened a bit, but then he looked away. Sorrow for the woman showing in his eyes. He'd seen the pain of someone losing a loved one. He had seen the death and devastation before. He had to watch a mother cry over her children as they died in her arms... "...I'm.... I'm sorry you had to go through that... I can't imagine what it must have felt like, for you to endure that..." There was no mockery in his tone. He was genuinely sorry for what she went through. He took a deep breath. "But, we have to move on. Time is already short as it is."

Oras turned to the two of them, and looked at Ryse. "Now will you shut up about the whole "I'm a freak" bit? I already told you dumbass, you aren't a freak so stop listening to those morons! Now I'm going to ask this one. More. Time. I want you to take a good ten minutes to think this over and no less!" Oras stormed over to her and bent down so their eyes were leveled. "What is your answer. To my question?"