Thread: The Powers That Be (PadanFain and Oreo)

Wintou was late. Her first day in Graymarsh seemed to be ill fated. Or was it less fate, than her own will taking precedence over the Council of Shapers? She didn't much care what they thought of her. She was perfectly capable of making her own decisions, and if that made her late, so be it. Granted, as a student she had not been given permission here yet to heal, but the poor child had been knocked to the ground by a runaway fiora. Looking around for the beast's shaper, she saw no one. Not wanting to see any more harm done, she set about dispatching the offending creature. Even that was something out of the ordinary. Only a shaper could unform their creation, call back its core matter. Unknown to the Council, Wintou knew how to see inside and unheal...anything. Stretching forth her arm in the fiora's direction, she allowed her mind to look inside and find a weakness. Then with but a thought, she squeezed the atrial valve to its heart, and caused it to rapidly age. Her mind held on until the fiora dropped to the ground. Its red scaly hide grew quiet, then breathed no more, claws unclenching in death. Compassion filled her eyes as she gazed down at the broken child lying still at her feet. She cared not that he was a commoner. Her light blue satin outer robe dragged across the dirt, the jewelry that hung in shimmering rows about her neck and face tinkled slightly as she reached down laying her hands on the boy. She brushed the scruffy hair away from the injury to his head, and with the concentration and manipulation of raw power she had learned over the past two years, restored him to health. She waited until his eyes opened before smiling down at him. His reaction was no less than she expected. Even a student Shaper was someone to be feared. Wide eyed he leaped to his feet, head bowed. Her gentle hand reached out lifting his pale, trembling, chin. Try to be more careful where you walk young man. You were lucky this day that it was me who passed by, any other would have let you die. I will ma'am, I swear it. The look of fear radiated from him like a palpable aura. Without warning, he turned fleeing down the street then out of sight. It was true, there might be consequences for her action. She shouldn't have even looked at the boy, let alone stop to help him. Brushing the dust from the hem of her robe, she turned to the crowd as if nothing was amiss. Her deep red hair went unseen, it's long tresses bound within her many colored turban which itself was covered by her robe. A slight dusting of light freckles speckled her nose and cheeks. Her eyes seemed to hold the weight of the world within their deep green depths. Her mouth, often inclined to smile, at the moment remained void of emotion. Not tall by any means, Wintou carried herself with an air of dignity and authority that made up for her lack of height. One did not command respect from people by demands. It was a state of mind that was reflected in a persons every move and action. Her tilt of chin, the set of her jaw, her stature drew attention, and without a word the commoners backed out of her way. This day she was late and had no mind to delay it further with pleasantries. Best to see how this town reacted to such things before she got herself into more trouble. For three years now she had been studying. Her secluded home kept her far from the eyes of the shapers, but once she had been found she had been bustled off from her placid boring life into the magnificent realm of Creating. She hadn't regretted a minute of it, but her ideals did not always match that of the Shaper class. For now she was keeping them to herself, but things were happening that she was not at all certain were good for anyone. Twice on her way to Greymarsh she had been beset with wild melonvine. Her affinity for plants had gifted her with the ability to neutralize them as she passed, but they were not growing as they should. Rumors were skirting the countryside of more runaway beasts than ever before. Rogues actually killing their masters. Her young mind wanted to know why. Perhaps here, at the hub of the Shaper Council, she would find more truthful information. How she longed to see the hidden library, but that wouldn't happen unless she was perfected enough to become a full Shaper herself. Wintou made her way to the towering structure that housed the training center for new Shapers. Her hand idly rested against the small pouch attached to the gold belt at her waist, where her orb remained safely hidden. Tempted to remove it once inside the compound to have a look around, she decided against any further delay. The door slid open in time for her to hear, For those of you new here, I am Zack, and I will be your Shaping instructor. Any questions before we begin? The teacher looked to be about the same age as herself. She had somehow expected an older man. His thin face wasn't at all unattractive, it just seemed out of place. He must have a very powerful connection and ability to be teaching at such a young age she thought. As she walked to one of the available seats close to the front of the class, she inclined her head gracefully, My apologies for the disturbance of arriving late Zack. I am Wintou.