Post by mercuryman on Jun 18, 2010 2:52:22 GMT -5
Background story of Alexandra Zhirekova, the founder of the Sisterhood.
(Note: altered Zechshires to Zhirekova, so as to match the style of the family she is associated with. I trust thats acceptable
)
----------
3442 A.D.
Age 16
Blue and wispy tendrils of energy floated near, illuminating her face in the dark room.
The blue intensified, crackled.. vanished. Silence and blackness for a moment.
Magnus snapped his fingers together and with that harsh sound came on the lights. He looked to Alexandra.
She beamed. "I did it."
"Indeed you did." Magnus replied, not quite smiling, but with definite approval in his expression
Alexandra waited a moment. Then, her triumphant smile grew euphoric.
For once, Magnus had ventured no criticism. That was rare! He was always so stern. Even when she felt proud of her efforts, he always found some detail to deflate her pride. She knew it was for her own good, but oh, how those critical words rankled.. not this time!
Magnus turned to examine a terminal. Statistics on the strength of her performance, no doubt.
Alexandra didn't mind, she knew they would tolerate scrutiny. Few people would admit it, but she knew that in her class, she was the standout.
Applicants to the Ether-Masters school were many. Not many made it through to her class. Only a handful from her class would become Disciples.. and of those? Well, with luck, one might finally become a Master.
"When can I take the tests?" she asked of Magnus.
The tests were the final ritual examination of ether ability that an initiate underwent prior to graduating as an Ether Disciple.
A Disciple was considered a professional rank for ether users, whereby their talents were adjudged stable and powerful enough to be relied upon, to be employed.
Magnus spoke, still studying the terminal screen.
"When you are ready, Alexandra." He glanced at her. "And not before."
She frowned, then asked another question. "How will you know when I'm ready?"
"When you can complete every task to my satisfaction and ---"
"But I HAVE done every task!" She interjected.
"Not to my satisfaction." Magnus stated, unperturbed.
"Why not?" Alexandra felt indignant. What did it matter how satisfied he was, so long as she did it right?
Magnus smiled at her, the sort of smile she knew that older people wore when they beheld what seemed to them the naive haste of youth.
"There is a difference, Alex.." He paused and closed his eyes. ".. a difference.. between the ability to perform a spell and the ability to perform a spell in any circumstance."
Alexandra's frown deepened, but she said nothing.
"The unique pressures of a serious situation WILL disrupt your ideal order of casting." He continued. "You must be capable of improvising, adapting, redirecting your attention to where it is most needed at any given moment - all while under threat of dire consequence, should you fail."
She listened, still annoyed, but considering Magnus's words.
"When I am satisfied you can do that, then I will consider you ready - AND.." He paused and held her gaze, lest she think to interrupt him here once again. "And.. then I shall send you to Razukon, whose judgement you must equally satisfy."
Alexandra inwardly went cold. Razukon! She hated Razukon. Magnus was stern, but at least he was fair. Razukon was.. monstrous!
Magnus smiled again, with some understanding now. Even the Masters were reserved, if not a little intimidated, when they needed to deal with Razukon.. Mere knowledge of the Savant Masters presence would subdue the most riotous ether-school crowd.
"Nonetheless, Alexandra.." began Magnus. "your impatience may be somewhat justified."
THAT got her attention.
"Therefore, in view of your.. admirable progress, I will offer you a unique opportunity."
She held her breath. Waited... waited.. Why did he always have to talk so SLOWLY?!
"If you can successfully demonstrate the weapon balance test, right here and now, then I will refer you to Razukon immediately."
Alexandra went wide-eyed. Was that all? She'd done this test a dozen times, it wasn't even one of the difficult ones!
"..And? What else must I do?" she asked.
"That's all." smiled Magnus.
"Now?" She could hardly believe it.
"Now." He confirmed, handing her a small blade.
The weapon balance test was simple, but elegant in its requirements. Using the element of Air, one had to lift the blade and balance it, point down, upon ones fingertip, without moving ones hand. Thus positioned, it then had to be held in place for a full minute.
The difficulty lay in the precision of the ether-weave - it was all too easy to use Air as a blunt instrument of force, but much more difficult to use it with finesse. Even so, Alexandra had mastered this long ago, it was purely a matter of focus.
She concentrated and the blade leapt up off her palm and rotated in the air, slowing and coming to rest, point down, upon her outstretched finger.
In her state of excitement, there was a slight wobble - but that was nothing to worry about.
Magnus watched impassively for a few seconds, then spoke. "Very good, Alexandra."
Inwardly she smiled, pleased at the acknowledgement of her skill, but continued to focus.
"I should add," drawled Magnus "That if you fail this test, you will be permanently expelled."
Expelled?? It felt like he'd just kicked her in the stomach.
The hilt of the blade began to swirl, the weapon wobbled precariously upon her finger. She focused harder, steadied it.
It didn't matter, she could do this.
But Magnus wasn't finished. "And if you succeed here and with Razukon, you will be immediately and permanently separated from your family to undergo further specialised training."
"WHAT?!" she exclaimed. "Why??"
Once again the blade wobbled. Her mind whirled with conflicting images and emotion. Leave her family? Nobody had ever mentioned that!
The hilt of the blade swirled around in a large circle, she fought back the confusion in her mind and tried to refocus.
Stop it! Her mind would not settle. The visage of failure arose in her mind and she could not shake it.
Alexandra's grasp upon the ether faltered, slipped.. the blade gyrated erratically, then fell, clattering to the ground.
The sound of metal on metal echoed on for a few seconds in the large room.
Silence.
Magnus stared at her, emotionless.
Alexandra's face burned with shame. How could she have failed? It was a simple test!
A lump rose in her throat. She clenched her teeth and blinked away tears.
She then stared at the blade on the floor, unable to even look at Magnus.
At last, Magnus spoke.
"I trust you understand, now.. what I meant by pressure."
She said nothing, but felt a tear trickle down her cheek. It made her furious. Stupid girl! Don't cry! You're not a child anymore! DEAL with it..
"I'm... expelled?" somehow she uttered the question without losing all composure.
"Hmm?" Said Magnus. "Oh, no.. this was all merely to show the importance of performance under duress." He smiled, acknowledging the deception.
A surge of relief coursed through her entire body. She slumped forward and covered her face with her hands, finally allowing herself to weep.
Her position in the school was safe.. but her failure was a humiliating lesson. How arrogant she had been earlier! She would never forget this..
"Besides," continued Magnus, glancing at the terminal. "..61 seconds." He chuckled.
She looked up at Magnus in shock and slowly dawning realisation... then suddenly grinned.
Magnus shook his head, amused, but not surprised - and turned away. "Lessons are finished for today, we will resume tomorrow morning. Don't be late.
He left the room, the door hissing shut behind him.
Alone, Alexandra began to laugh and cry at once. She collapsed into a chair, physically and emotionally drained, laughing until she lost all breath.
Finally, she regained her composure, gathered her things and with an enduring, wry smile, left for home.
* * *
3446
Age 20
How DARE he!
Alexandra fumed, storming out of the chamber, black hair and cloak a whirl as she spun and strode away. The air about her crackled and snapped, her fury partly manifesting itself within the ether.
Razukon! Why always Razukon? The man blocked her efforts at every turn. Why couldn't they see that? It was pure prejudice! There was no justification!
The circle of Ether-Masters had convened to nominate candidates from the Disciples of each class for the annual Master trials.
All in her class knew she was the prime candidate. None matched her, strength for strength.
Yet the name read out moments before was... Mikhail?!
She snarled and flung out her arm, ether rippling through air and slamming open the door as she left the building.
Mikhail! Were she so inclined, she could crush him with a thought... just a thought!
The entire situation was a joke. She should have been selected last year, though then it was a much closer thing, she had been the newcomer then.. but this time.. Mikhail?? Ridiculous!
It could only be because she was a woman. Not just any woman but the FIRST woman, to have come so far, so fast.
Clearly, those BOYS cherished default traditions over common sense! And none were more rooted in tradition, more obstinately biased than... Razukon.
Well, we'd see about THAT! Her family, the Zhirekova family, was powerful. There were close ties to the Akzerians and they thus had great influence.
Her mother would understand.. a few choice words in the right ear and the Ether-Masters would come under substantial outside pressure.
Powerful as the Ether Masters were, no institution was completely immune to the whim of the body politic.
"Alexandra!" Came a voice, from behind. Magnus, she recognised, but did not stop.. No doubt he'd not approve of her style of exit. So what? He was irrelevant now, she was a disciple in her own right, her own authority.
"Alexandra, stop!" Shouted Magnus.
She whirled about abruptly and growled. "WHAT?"
Magnus, hurrying after her, came to a sudden halt.
"WHAT, Magnus?" She repeated, fury in her face. The whip and snap of the ether audibly arcing about her shoulders like an invisible mantle.
Magnus took a step back, clearly intimidated.
Alexandra's lip curled into a contemptuous smile. Not so long ago it was SHE who was intimidated by HIM. How quickly things could change..
"...That was .. unwise, Alexandra." Said Magnus, trying to appear unruffled.
"UNwise?!" She replied, all anger and incredulity. "T' would have been unwise to remain a moment more amongst such stubborn, blinded FOOLS!"
Magnus visibly paled. One simply did not speak of the circle of Masters in such fashion.
Seeing his reaction, Alexandra's temper cooled, very slightly.. and she qualified her statement.
"Perhaps not fools.. but they too rigorously uphold tradition when to do so is unjust!"
Magnus closed his eyes before replying. "Alexandra.. You must be patient. There is still much you do not know. None doubt your strength. Yet there is much more to Mastery than sheer power."
"Is there?" She sneered. "What more? Petty backroom plots and selfish politicking?"
Magnus frowned, but she kept going.
"Why sit they so idle? Why in this time of rebellious war do they hesitate to act?"
Magnus said nothing, but slowly shook his head.
"Hmm?" She raised her eyebrows. "Is it because they won't? Or because they.. can't?"
Silence and an icy gaze.
"Frightful inaction deserves not the title of 'Mastery,' Magnus." She concluded, all haughty derision.
Magnus was tightlipped and now quietly simmering with his own anger.
"I had thought better of you, Alexandra." He said at last. "I pray that when your anger dissipates, you'll be able to see your own folly."
Alexandra felt a pang of remorse. She did have a temper, she knew... but nonetheless, this occasion she was right. It was righteous anger. Magnus was getting old, he too was mired in tradition and long, obsolete habit.
Her anger returned in full. "Unlike you Masters I need not pray to accomplish anything!" She snapped. "Begone, Magnus! I'll no longer argue with you, lest I further lose my respect for you."
With that, she again spun and stalked away.
Magnus watched her go. He felt a sadness, but did not let it show.. She was partly right, he knew.. The Ether Masters could be slow to action. There was reason for it, though... Tradition did not equate to mindless inertia. Long years of experience had taught them the inadvisability of too hastily adopting new change..
Ah well.. she would learn on her own. Hopefully the Ether Masters would not be too harsh on her for this.
Magnus shook his head. Who knew where this would lead? Such were people.. such was life.
He too, turned away.. and walked back toward the chambers he knew as home.
* * *
(Note: altered Zechshires to Zhirekova, so as to match the style of the family she is associated with. I trust thats acceptable
)----------
3442 A.D.
Age 16
Blue and wispy tendrils of energy floated near, illuminating her face in the dark room.
The blue intensified, crackled.. vanished. Silence and blackness for a moment.
Magnus snapped his fingers together and with that harsh sound came on the lights. He looked to Alexandra.
She beamed. "I did it."
"Indeed you did." Magnus replied, not quite smiling, but with definite approval in his expression
Alexandra waited a moment. Then, her triumphant smile grew euphoric.
For once, Magnus had ventured no criticism. That was rare! He was always so stern. Even when she felt proud of her efforts, he always found some detail to deflate her pride. She knew it was for her own good, but oh, how those critical words rankled.. not this time!
Magnus turned to examine a terminal. Statistics on the strength of her performance, no doubt.
Alexandra didn't mind, she knew they would tolerate scrutiny. Few people would admit it, but she knew that in her class, she was the standout.
Applicants to the Ether-Masters school were many. Not many made it through to her class. Only a handful from her class would become Disciples.. and of those? Well, with luck, one might finally become a Master.
"When can I take the tests?" she asked of Magnus.
The tests were the final ritual examination of ether ability that an initiate underwent prior to graduating as an Ether Disciple.
A Disciple was considered a professional rank for ether users, whereby their talents were adjudged stable and powerful enough to be relied upon, to be employed.
Magnus spoke, still studying the terminal screen.
"When you are ready, Alexandra." He glanced at her. "And not before."
She frowned, then asked another question. "How will you know when I'm ready?"
"When you can complete every task to my satisfaction and ---"
"But I HAVE done every task!" She interjected.
"Not to my satisfaction." Magnus stated, unperturbed.
"Why not?" Alexandra felt indignant. What did it matter how satisfied he was, so long as she did it right?
Magnus smiled at her, the sort of smile she knew that older people wore when they beheld what seemed to them the naive haste of youth.
"There is a difference, Alex.." He paused and closed his eyes. ".. a difference.. between the ability to perform a spell and the ability to perform a spell in any circumstance."
Alexandra's frown deepened, but she said nothing.
"The unique pressures of a serious situation WILL disrupt your ideal order of casting." He continued. "You must be capable of improvising, adapting, redirecting your attention to where it is most needed at any given moment - all while under threat of dire consequence, should you fail."
She listened, still annoyed, but considering Magnus's words.
"When I am satisfied you can do that, then I will consider you ready - AND.." He paused and held her gaze, lest she think to interrupt him here once again. "And.. then I shall send you to Razukon, whose judgement you must equally satisfy."
Alexandra inwardly went cold. Razukon! She hated Razukon. Magnus was stern, but at least he was fair. Razukon was.. monstrous!
Magnus smiled again, with some understanding now. Even the Masters were reserved, if not a little intimidated, when they needed to deal with Razukon.. Mere knowledge of the Savant Masters presence would subdue the most riotous ether-school crowd.
"Nonetheless, Alexandra.." began Magnus. "your impatience may be somewhat justified."
THAT got her attention.
"Therefore, in view of your.. admirable progress, I will offer you a unique opportunity."
She held her breath. Waited... waited.. Why did he always have to talk so SLOWLY?!
"If you can successfully demonstrate the weapon balance test, right here and now, then I will refer you to Razukon immediately."
Alexandra went wide-eyed. Was that all? She'd done this test a dozen times, it wasn't even one of the difficult ones!
"..And? What else must I do?" she asked.
"That's all." smiled Magnus.
"Now?" She could hardly believe it.
"Now." He confirmed, handing her a small blade.
The weapon balance test was simple, but elegant in its requirements. Using the element of Air, one had to lift the blade and balance it, point down, upon ones fingertip, without moving ones hand. Thus positioned, it then had to be held in place for a full minute.
The difficulty lay in the precision of the ether-weave - it was all too easy to use Air as a blunt instrument of force, but much more difficult to use it with finesse. Even so, Alexandra had mastered this long ago, it was purely a matter of focus.
She concentrated and the blade leapt up off her palm and rotated in the air, slowing and coming to rest, point down, upon her outstretched finger.
In her state of excitement, there was a slight wobble - but that was nothing to worry about.
Magnus watched impassively for a few seconds, then spoke. "Very good, Alexandra."
Inwardly she smiled, pleased at the acknowledgement of her skill, but continued to focus.
"I should add," drawled Magnus "That if you fail this test, you will be permanently expelled."
Expelled?? It felt like he'd just kicked her in the stomach.
The hilt of the blade began to swirl, the weapon wobbled precariously upon her finger. She focused harder, steadied it.
It didn't matter, she could do this.
But Magnus wasn't finished. "And if you succeed here and with Razukon, you will be immediately and permanently separated from your family to undergo further specialised training."
"WHAT?!" she exclaimed. "Why??"
Once again the blade wobbled. Her mind whirled with conflicting images and emotion. Leave her family? Nobody had ever mentioned that!
The hilt of the blade swirled around in a large circle, she fought back the confusion in her mind and tried to refocus.
Stop it! Her mind would not settle. The visage of failure arose in her mind and she could not shake it.
Alexandra's grasp upon the ether faltered, slipped.. the blade gyrated erratically, then fell, clattering to the ground.
The sound of metal on metal echoed on for a few seconds in the large room.
Silence.
Magnus stared at her, emotionless.
Alexandra's face burned with shame. How could she have failed? It was a simple test!
A lump rose in her throat. She clenched her teeth and blinked away tears.
She then stared at the blade on the floor, unable to even look at Magnus.
At last, Magnus spoke.
"I trust you understand, now.. what I meant by pressure."
She said nothing, but felt a tear trickle down her cheek. It made her furious. Stupid girl! Don't cry! You're not a child anymore! DEAL with it..
"I'm... expelled?" somehow she uttered the question without losing all composure.
"Hmm?" Said Magnus. "Oh, no.. this was all merely to show the importance of performance under duress." He smiled, acknowledging the deception.
A surge of relief coursed through her entire body. She slumped forward and covered her face with her hands, finally allowing herself to weep.
Her position in the school was safe.. but her failure was a humiliating lesson. How arrogant she had been earlier! She would never forget this..
"Besides," continued Magnus, glancing at the terminal. "..61 seconds." He chuckled.
She looked up at Magnus in shock and slowly dawning realisation... then suddenly grinned.
Magnus shook his head, amused, but not surprised - and turned away. "Lessons are finished for today, we will resume tomorrow morning. Don't be late.
He left the room, the door hissing shut behind him.
Alone, Alexandra began to laugh and cry at once. She collapsed into a chair, physically and emotionally drained, laughing until she lost all breath.
Finally, she regained her composure, gathered her things and with an enduring, wry smile, left for home.
* * *
3446
Age 20
How DARE he!
Alexandra fumed, storming out of the chamber, black hair and cloak a whirl as she spun and strode away. The air about her crackled and snapped, her fury partly manifesting itself within the ether.
Razukon! Why always Razukon? The man blocked her efforts at every turn. Why couldn't they see that? It was pure prejudice! There was no justification!
The circle of Ether-Masters had convened to nominate candidates from the Disciples of each class for the annual Master trials.
All in her class knew she was the prime candidate. None matched her, strength for strength.
Yet the name read out moments before was... Mikhail?!
She snarled and flung out her arm, ether rippling through air and slamming open the door as she left the building.
Mikhail! Were she so inclined, she could crush him with a thought... just a thought!
The entire situation was a joke. She should have been selected last year, though then it was a much closer thing, she had been the newcomer then.. but this time.. Mikhail?? Ridiculous!
It could only be because she was a woman. Not just any woman but the FIRST woman, to have come so far, so fast.
Clearly, those BOYS cherished default traditions over common sense! And none were more rooted in tradition, more obstinately biased than... Razukon.
Well, we'd see about THAT! Her family, the Zhirekova family, was powerful. There were close ties to the Akzerians and they thus had great influence.
Her mother would understand.. a few choice words in the right ear and the Ether-Masters would come under substantial outside pressure.
Powerful as the Ether Masters were, no institution was completely immune to the whim of the body politic.
"Alexandra!" Came a voice, from behind. Magnus, she recognised, but did not stop.. No doubt he'd not approve of her style of exit. So what? He was irrelevant now, she was a disciple in her own right, her own authority.
"Alexandra, stop!" Shouted Magnus.
She whirled about abruptly and growled. "WHAT?"
Magnus, hurrying after her, came to a sudden halt.
"WHAT, Magnus?" She repeated, fury in her face. The whip and snap of the ether audibly arcing about her shoulders like an invisible mantle.
Magnus took a step back, clearly intimidated.
Alexandra's lip curled into a contemptuous smile. Not so long ago it was SHE who was intimidated by HIM. How quickly things could change..
"...That was .. unwise, Alexandra." Said Magnus, trying to appear unruffled.
"UNwise?!" She replied, all anger and incredulity. "T' would have been unwise to remain a moment more amongst such stubborn, blinded FOOLS!"
Magnus visibly paled. One simply did not speak of the circle of Masters in such fashion.
Seeing his reaction, Alexandra's temper cooled, very slightly.. and she qualified her statement.
"Perhaps not fools.. but they too rigorously uphold tradition when to do so is unjust!"
Magnus closed his eyes before replying. "Alexandra.. You must be patient. There is still much you do not know. None doubt your strength. Yet there is much more to Mastery than sheer power."
"Is there?" She sneered. "What more? Petty backroom plots and selfish politicking?"
Magnus frowned, but she kept going.
"Why sit they so idle? Why in this time of rebellious war do they hesitate to act?"
Magnus said nothing, but slowly shook his head.
"Hmm?" She raised her eyebrows. "Is it because they won't? Or because they.. can't?"
Silence and an icy gaze.
"Frightful inaction deserves not the title of 'Mastery,' Magnus." She concluded, all haughty derision.
Magnus was tightlipped and now quietly simmering with his own anger.
"I had thought better of you, Alexandra." He said at last. "I pray that when your anger dissipates, you'll be able to see your own folly."
Alexandra felt a pang of remorse. She did have a temper, she knew... but nonetheless, this occasion she was right. It was righteous anger. Magnus was getting old, he too was mired in tradition and long, obsolete habit.
Her anger returned in full. "Unlike you Masters I need not pray to accomplish anything!" She snapped. "Begone, Magnus! I'll no longer argue with you, lest I further lose my respect for you."
With that, she again spun and stalked away.
Magnus watched her go. He felt a sadness, but did not let it show.. She was partly right, he knew.. The Ether Masters could be slow to action. There was reason for it, though... Tradition did not equate to mindless inertia. Long years of experience had taught them the inadvisability of too hastily adopting new change..
Ah well.. she would learn on her own. Hopefully the Ether Masters would not be too harsh on her for this.
Magnus shook his head. Who knew where this would lead? Such were people.. such was life.
He too, turned away.. and walked back toward the chambers he knew as home.
* * *