Thread: Shadow Dance {Pretty and Fades}

Sciomancers. The Shadow blighted version of the Ascendrils, to whom she had belonged to since she was twelve. They were cruel and ruthless so the Elders had told the novices. And what was worse, they allowed members of the Undead to join their ranks! Detestable. Outrageous. Sinful. That's what she had been told for years. The Consanguine, more commonly known as vampires, or the Undead, were horrible creatures, feeding on the lives and blood of other humans to survive. Their bodies were dead, and yet the continued to live on. Unforgivable, these walking corpses. And now, at nineteen, Aislyn Starion, was about to join their ranks. Dragging her feet along the highway and using her Aetherstaff as a walking stick, Aislyn looked gloomily towards the city of Spinesreach. The city where the Sciomancers were said to dwell. She may have been kicked out of the Ascendrils, but there was no way she was giving up on being a Magi! I won't give up, she muttered to herself. Not ever. She would learn, even if it meant joining the dreaded Sciomancers. I'm sorry, Aislyn, but you just don't have any talent for Channeling or Crystalism. Her rejection from the Ascendril guildhall had been painful, but not nearly as painful as the look of bitter disappointment in her teacher's eyes. The former guildmaster had been like a father to her since she was a child, and once his term as leader had ended, he no longer had the authority to protect her. The new guildmaster had thrown her to the curb without so much as a bachwards glance. The Ascendril was the only thing she knew of in this life, and they had thrown her out. She took a deep, shuddering breath, holding back the tears that threatened to spill from her big blue eyes. She would not cry! She scrubbed furiously at her eyes with the back of her hand and sniffled softly. She knew her teachers were right. She had no talent at all. She was timid and slow, easily exhausted and prone to daydreaming when stressed. It was bad enough that Channeling was beyond her, but she could barely even make a sonicportal from one end of the street to the other! And now she was stuck walking all the way from Ashtan to Spinesreach. She had sent a message to the Elders of the Sciomancy ahead of her by way of messenger doves, but she had yet to receive any sort of answer. She heaved a pained sigh and trudged on, eyes locked on the glistening spires of Spinesreach. listulistu listulistulistulistulistulistulistulistulistulistulistu Glancing briefly at the two letters on his desk, a ghost of a smile flickered across Mazzion's handsome features. A little Ascendril wanted into his guild, eh? Those Light blinded fools must be slipping if they were loosing hold of their young. Over the years, he had had other Ascendrils come knocking on the Sciomancer's door, but they had had a lust for power that the Ascendrils could not sate. This girl... He glanced once more at the fine parchment of the second letter. Pjoll, the former master of the Ascendrils had written him as well, all but begging him to refuse the girl entry. He turned his back to the letters, turning pale eyes towards the window and the setting sun. Why would that old fool care so much if she joined? Her own letter sounded desperate and pleaded. There was no hunger for power in her words. Only for a home. Bring Tierian to me, he said absently. I have a job for him. The rustling of robes was the only indication that his orders were being followed as one of the Seekers ran to fetch one of his most promising Sciomancers. Aislyn Starion, he murmured quietly. What sort of woman will you be I wonder?