The Magi's Society

Mevi awoke feeling as if she had slept atop a cloud. She drearily looked around herself and collected what fragmented thoughts she could. She was within her room, the place Kalesi gifted to Mevi as her new home. Atop the soft and luxurious bed, covered in soft sheets, Mevi relaxed within the safety of comfort.

Mevi lazily gazed through hazy vision, her senses trying to catch up to her consciousness. Feeling around herself, and reluctantly revealing one of her arms to the air, Mevi found what she was unconsciously looking for. Her items. The staff, blanket, and small pouch were stationed close to her bed to her right. The soft touch of her blanket was what she sought, and she pulled the fabric into her new nest. With her den complete, Mevi tempted herself with returning again to her soft slumber. Yet as she debated with herself, her musing was interrupted by the muffled sound of conversation echoing through the hall and arriving into her room by the partially opened door.

Mevi heard the distinct voice of Kalesi, her noble countenance toned with a slight gruffness. Paired with hers another voice, much deeper than any she had heard before yet calm and almost monotone, a man most likely. Their debate was muffled but it was clear Kalesi was frustrated or upset with something. They were most likely talking further in the building, or even by the strange moving room that could deposit someone onto the street. The two seemed to conclude some part of their conversation and there was quiet for a few moments. Then footsteps were heard approaching Mevi’s room.

Unsure of what to do, Mevi’s first instinct was to pretend to be asleep. Not entirely sure as to why, only that she feared she had made some mistake again. Maybe if she was asleep she wouldn’t be in trouble, or would at least be able to avoid the strange encounters that seem to be constant within the Barge. Mevi held her eyes closed tightly and pretended to sleep with her face partially covered by her sheets. The two figures approached and slid into the room quietly. The man’s voice spoke as they halted in the doorway, his deep voice sounded as if it was several voices in one unified purpose, “See? She awoke as I said.”

Kalesi was quiet for a moment, her tone was hushed, “Her eyes are still closed, are you sure she is coherent enough for questions?”

The man seemed entirely without expression or changing tones and the smaller voices that were barely perceivable made him sound entirely strange, “My senses do not mistake me. I think she is hiding herself for some reason. I am sure she can hear us at least.”

Mevi decided to give up on her attempts to feign resting, she sat up slightly and leaned her back against the frame of her bed. She was expecting a large man, maybe even someone in similar looks to Naazir and his muscled disposition, yet the creature standing outside her door frame was something out of a fever dream and defined her understanding of the word ‘alien’.

A tall creature stood in the doorway, standing at least two or three heads taller than Kalesi. Their sheer height made it so their head was almost brushing against the top edge of her door frame. From the large frame sprouted four separate arms, each seemingly bulky, and each clasping hands in pairs in front of themself calmly. The alien wore long purple robes, with gold trim that was incredibly baggy, and partially dragged against the ground. Their chest emblazoned an orange sigil of an eye shining as if it were a sun rising on the horizon. Most of their features were covered by the baggy attire, but their face was made entirely bare and further confused Mevi. The face was split in half horizontally, following the inner end of the brow curving down the nose and following the bottom part of the eye socket and then in a straight line to where Mevi assumed was an ear. The top half was a dark and deep blue, as if part of the depth of a deep water, and seemed to be made out of a hard chitinous material with jagged edges. The bottom half of their face was varying shades of a light sky blue, their mouth region being the brightest section, and resembled human skin, if ignoring the blue coloration. Their forehead bore red patches that seemed to breathe slowly, and the dark blue chitin cut into it like an upside down ‘V’. Their features, and the divide of their facial colors, were framed by what looked like a thick golden line tattooed into the chitin that almost drew purposeful focus to the sharp contrast in colors. The top of their forehead, at the tip of the chitinous ‘V’, bore a gold brand with a blue jewel that seemed to be embedded into the chitinous plate. The rest of their face, including what might count as his ears, was covered by a thin red hood that emerged from the interior of the purple robes.

The strange four-armed and blue creature stood calmly outside Mevi’s doorway, Kalesi not put off at all by the being’s presence. But Mevi could imagine her own face, that wasn’t covered by her sheets, was a mixture of fear, confusion, and curiosity. Kalesi seemed to pick up on her pupil’s dilemma late and it took several moments of silent investigation before Kalesi came to realize the disproportionately strange individual might be a new experience to Mevi. Kalesi quickly attempted to put Mevi’s worry to rest, “Mevi! I am glad you are awake. This is Magicae Murano, servant of Vol, and Acolyte of Healing. I suppose he might be considered a doctor of sorts.”

The being, now known as Murano, introduced himself, “Greetings. I mended your many wounds. It is a pleasure to meet you, if you are still feeling any uncomfort please describe it so I might remedy it.”

Mevi stumbled over her words but managed to make a squeak, “Hello… Um, thank you.”

Kalesi spoke, as if wanting to hurry the conversation past the revelation of the strange alien, “Mevi, do you still feel any pain? Are you well enough to answer some questions?”

Mevi wasn’t sure, she thought and sat up fully in her bed, the aching pain and exhaustion was completely gone from her leg and arm, “I think I am fine. I don’t feel any pain as far as I can tell.”

Murano interjected before Kalesi could ask more questions, “Good. Your body showed signs of dangerous levels of adrenaline and I worried some symptoms might have remained. You had a broken right leg, your right ankle was shattered, and your left hand was dislocated. Beyond that you had other minor fractures, bruises, and varying degrees of cuts along your right arm. Including a collection of broken bones”

Kalesi stopped the man before he could continue with his surgeon’s report, “Yes. You were incredibly badly injured, but were healed enough that your injuries weren’t obvious until we arrived back here. Do you remember anything at all about how or why you were injured?”

Mevi had to take time to wrack her brain for any information she could recall. The past day’s events were a blur, if there was any recollection at all. She definitely remembered going to the Education Forum and the grand speech in the auditorium. Yet beyond that point few memories were functional. She remembered something, or some place, very dark. In this darkness she remembered confusion and fear, yet not why she felt it. Mevi simply shook her head, none of her experiences would explain her injuries or why her first stable memory was in the arms of a Lord Councilor.

The three idled in the room, Kalesi seemed to hope for some kind of answer or explanation but found none. The tall creature, Murano, seemed to be studying Mevi and her responses. One of his hands silently moved to stroke his chin as if grooming a phantom beard. He seemed to make up his mind about something, “Regardless of her memory, I will need to continue implementing healing arts for several days. Perhaps I might glimpse some clues, or her improved condition will reveal her forgotten memories.”

Mevi was confused, and looked to Kalesi for explanation but finding no clues on her face she was forced to address the strange man, “Sir… I feel fine, I don’t think I feel any pain or even sores. What would you be healing?”

Murano produced his top right hand, and a sort of black gauntlet bore a purple stone in the palm. He seemed to focus, and suddenly the stone shone in a beautiful display. As it came to life a vision of a female body glowed the same purple light just above the stone’s surface. The strange apparition was simple and several areas of the body were colored a dark tint. Most of the head, left hand, left forearm, entire right leg, along with several smaller parts of the stomach and chest, glowed the dark tint as if indicating something. Two spots shone almost no color at all, a portion of the head and the ankle, they were a dark and intimidating black. Murano spoke in a professional tone as if giving a lecture, “As you might’ve guessed, this is a representation of your body. Before you ask, I am able to produce this image with a power practiced among the Magicae. It is more or less a mental image conjured by my aiding Maige, the stone embedded into my palm. The darker areas indicate extreme physical damage, and the black areas indicate brokenness or other life-altering damage. You are currently affected by powerful anesthetic, enhanced further by the abilities I may use with my Maige.”

Kalesi spoke up, noticing the information was confusing and alarming her pupil, “Mevi, Murano is here to assist you. He said that you can make a full recovery, but he must help with the process. I trust him, so you don’t need to worry. I will also not need to go anywhere for a long time, if you are at all worried.”

Mevi was worried, and incredibly alarmed. She felt perfectly fine, without any pain or indication that she was dazed or influenced by a drug. She had not been on this path of her life long, but at least Kalesi had been kind and caring towards her. She disregarded the bias and premonition of unease she had surrounding the strange blue man, she had no other choice it seemed. If she was truly so badly injured she needed to recover so she would not hinder Kalesi, if her physical condition was beyond recovery she feared the idea of being abandoned. She would not allow herself to lose to her own fears and prejudice, and could not handle being abandoned for her incapabilities. So she would place her life into the hands of her guardian and this strange man, if it was so endangered as the two seemed to believe.

Mevi nodded after her internal acquiescence of her priorities. She would do as she was told and be of service again when she became better. Kalesi seemed to appreciate the movement and turned to Murano, “I think we should let her sleep. We can continue this conversation later, and you and I have things to discuss.”

Murano had not removed his gaze from Mevi the entire encounter, and continued to look at her with an emotionless studying look, “Yes. Yet first I must talk with your pupil, if you will permit me. I think it would be better to have some privacy as well, if you might permit it. For her benefit rather than my own. But if she insists, you might listen, it makes no difference to me.”

Kalesi seemed curiously confused, “Mevi, do you mind talking to him alone? I won’t be far and will not leave the building.”

Mevi thought for a while, and she determined that if she would put her life in the stranger’s hands she should trust him to some degree, “I think I will be. I don’t know what he wants but I trust you that he means well for me.”

Kalesi nodded to herself and gave Mevi a smile before exiting the room. The looming blue frame of the strange man entered the room, slightly ducking to ensure his head didn’t graze the door’s frame. Closing the door carefully behind him, he stood staring down at Mevi quietly. His eyes seemed to almost glow like her own people’s when in the dark, his irises were a dark blue seemingly without a pupil and were afloat in a gold-yellow sclera. The man had light blue, almost white, skin around the eye and part of the socket making him seem more human than he was. The facade made his eyes seem slightly closer to the shape and size of her own, but in reality he had incredibly small eyes that almost never moved. The entire presence of the being above Mevi’s bed seemed to be made specifically to intimidate without any overtly intimidating action or features.

Murano eventually walked further into the room, strolling to Mevi’s right, and approaching close to Mevi’s small pouch and staff. He could easily reach down to grab her things, or her, and her unease was only growing with his silence. Eventually the man spoke up, looking down at her personal belongings, “I thought I sensed something. I had done most of my operations on the table in the parlor. Standing close to your room was enough to confirm it. You have quite the item in your possession…”

Mevi wasn’t sure exactly what he was talking about, she wondered if her confusion was a byproduct of the aesthetic she was apparently given, “What exactly are you speaking about? I don’t think I understand.”

Murano gestured a hand towards her belongings, but turned to face her as if it wasn’t important, “You own a small and insignificant stone do you not? You seem to hide its presence, albeit without intent or knowledge of how, it seems. I find it curious.”

Mevi realized what he referred to, her small treasure and golden-orange pebble. It was no more than a colorful rock to her knowledge, it was capable of letting out small amounts of light with her great effort. She suddenly worried for it, in her tired state she could not defend or protect the treasure. Murano seemed almost amused by Mevi’s sudden panic, a quick smirk crossing his face then disappearing as he managed his own features to return to his neutral state. Mevi scavenged her mind for an answer or response, but Murano spoke up before she could manage an excuse, “Don't worry. I don’t need such a trifle. But your ability to control it is evident as to why I was summoned here. Your value has potential to grow it seems. If you wish to learn how to increase your own advantage in our great Barge, I might show you. If you wish.”

Mevi wasn’t sure how to respond, but knew if she could become more desirable in some way the chances of Kalesi leaving her would shrink, so she asked what came first to her, “What do you want in exchange? I can’t provide anything, I can barely even keep myself safe it seems.”

Murano didn’t hesitate in his swift response, “Nothing. I want for nothing. But it would be remiss for me to not report this to my own master. I cannot guarantee what his response would be, but I assume he would know about this already.”

Mevi didn’t know who his master was, only their name ‘Vol’ and that Magi were all equally strange as they are dangerous. Mevi could not muster a response, and didn’t know enough about the world she was recently thrust into, she couldn’t possibly have an answer. She also could not anticipate Kalesi’s reaction to such an offer, would she see it as Mevi betraying her to receive instruction from some new stranger? Socialites were said to be extremely valuable and desired, but most followers indentured to a Magi hated them. If Mevi became something else, or learned something outside of her station, would Kalesi hate her for it as others hate them? Her inner conflict was studied by Murano, and his emotionless face shifted into slight amusement again as he sighed to himself, “You needn’t answer now. If you want to ask your master, feel free, I will return to mend your body regardless of how you treat with me. I only warn, if you do not pursue my lessons, never use the abilities you operate to hide your precious pebble. It might attract unwanted attention, and if not properly trained you could very well kill yourself. So be warned.”

Murano left Mevi’s bedside, and opened the door while she was still conflicted with herself. He began to exit the room before turning to say, “I will return soon. Do not leave your bed, doctor’s orders.” That brief smirk crossed the alien man’s face, if it was some sense of superiority or that he thought something funny Mevi couldn’t tell. But he quickly left and marched down the hall into the parlor, voices could be heard from outside. Soon his heavy footsteps were heard echoing down the hallway and escaping from her senses, likely entering and leaving by the strange exit.

Kalesi walked into the doorway as if to check up on Mevi. She was a confusing person, to Mevi. She held herself proud, strong, and had the form to suit her outward countenance. Yet when around Mevi, she always seemed to care for and even dote on her, she was almost awkward in the strange way she interacted with her pupil. If Marcus and Nessia’s words represented the majority of Neophyte masters, Kalesi was indeed strange. But Mevi felt herself becoming more and more attached to the woman with every small action and sign of genuine affection. Kalesi watched her pupil from the doorway, concern still on her face, and seemed to debate what she should do or say. Kalesi eventually resolved herself and reclaimed her confidence with a smile, “Mevi? Are you hungry? I still have to introduce you to our kitchen. Though since you aren’t allowed to leave bed, I'll have to bring the kitchen to you!”

Mevi was glad to be blessed by her ancestors, her mentor and master was her first experience of affection and acceptance. Mevi would ask her about Murano later.