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Post by Nyte on Apr 9, 2020 22:43:51 GMT -5
"Not special?" Magnus asked with a surprised look on his face before settling back in his chair and picking up a pipe from a small table next to him. "My dear boy. Not just any mage can travel through time. Those that tried and failed either end up mad or dead. Lost to the currents of time for forever and essentially erasing their very existence from the world." He packed a bit of tobacco into his pipe and then summoned a bit of flame to light it.
Ivy looked to Rhys as he told her of what she was like in the future. She was uncertain what could possibly happen to make her like that. Honestly it didn't sound like her at all. "I.. I don't know. I mean I can't imagine doing the things that I apparently do during your time. Even once I'm Queen. No war or any personal strife would be enough to make me hurt my own people."
"Mm, I know you believe that Ivy, and honestly I believe it too." Magnus said between puffs on his pipe. "That's why I'm thinking there is some external factor we're not seeing. I've even contemplated going back far enough to steal you away as a baby. Simply get you out of the Kingdom entirely and that even would not have worked. Something is drawing you back in and making sure that your future remains steadfast."
"So, I'm doomed to become some sort of monster? Who enjoys the suffering of others?" This idea upset her greatly. She had hoped that meeting Magnus would shed light on the situation, not more darkness.
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Post by Blindside Tex on Apr 10, 2020 22:17:49 GMT -5
Rhys watched Magnus carefully as he responded. Others had failed before him? How many had Magnus tried to get to save his daughter? He watched as the man effortlessly lit the tobacco pipe with the flick of his wrist it seemed. He then brought his attention to Ivy as she spoke, his eyes pulled away from her though. Perhaps telling her of the future wasn’t helpful. It seemed to make her more fearful than anything. The mage shifted slightly as he listened to Magnus, his expression turned almost determined. “No. You won’t become a monster. I won’t allow it.” He finally spoke his eyes shifted to her.
“The king. It has to be something that he has done. He’s kept her under lock and key. He knows every move she makes, he is afraid to allow anyone too close to her. He controls her every move. Like she is a pawn in a chess match.” Rhys glanced to the princess then. “Unless, that is new for him to act as he has in my presence?” He questioned with a raised brow.
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Post by Nyte on Apr 10, 2020 22:47:03 GMT -5
Ivy shook her head. "No, it's been like this as long as I can remember." She chewed her bottom lip for a moment as she tried to think of something, anything that might be helpful to their cause. "I know.. when I was younger, perhaps eight or nine, the rule of all order from my father having to come with a royal seal was implemented later than the others. Something happened though I could not tell you what. All I remember is guards were posted on every corner and I couldn't be without at least a couple personal guards for about a year. I had asked why but was told that the matter was taken care of and not to concern myself with details."
It was frustrating to say the least. Not being able to really help either of the men protect her. She didn't want to sit idly by anymore and continue to be helpless either.
Magnus continued to puff on his pipe as he considered Ivy's words in a thoughtful manner. "Well, I know that I did not intervene at that time. I thought you were too young and I would have scared you more than anything with my appearance and claims that the man you had called father for so long was a fake." He sighed and scratched the mouthpiece of his pipe against the side of his cheek. "This requires some research. Research that you two will have to conduct I'm afraid. There might be some sort of record or someone that knows what happened that night. See if you can find out. We may be thinking of this wrong. The thing that sets the future in motion may have already happened and simply waiting for it to rear its head once more may make us too late."
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Post by Blindside Tex on Apr 11, 2020 20:55:48 GMT -5
Rhys glanced to Ivy as she spoke. He could see the frustration in her eyes...she couldn’t help them at all. She didn’t have much information to share that would give them as much as a whiff as to what was going on. Rhys turned his attention to Magnus as he spoke and his brows drew together a bit more. “If it has already happened...then how do we stop it?” He scoffed slightly and shook his head.
“Research. If we focus our time too much on trying to figure out something from the past and we are so focused on that...what if we miss something and...it happens again?” He ran his fingers through his hair slightly and then leaned against the couch. The thought that this was merely a loop in time came to him once again and he grit his teeth slightly. “In the future you took an interest in me that you didn’t show any of your other mages.” Rhys looked to Ivy. “It never made sense...you showed up in my town one day and you...had my family killed by your guards...you took me and made me your lead mage. I did all of the killing for you...I trained all of your mages. If I so much as hesitated I would regret it for days...” He looked away from her to the crackling flames. “Any other mage…? You’d have them killed if they hesitated or didn’t follow the order to the T. Maybe a second chance here or there...but...I was the only mage that time and time again stood up to you and yet...you kept me so close.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “I don’t know….Magnus, what if we’ve already tried this?” He looked to the old mage.
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Post by Nyte on Apr 11, 2020 21:23:10 GMT -5
Magnus leaned forward in his chair as Rhys spoke. He saw the way Ivy recoiled from Rhys as he spoke of how harsh and cruel she was in the future. Her hurt expression alone was enough to make him put his hand up to stop Rhys from continuing. "Enough.." He said in a gentle yet authoritative tone. "I said the event that set this in motion may have come to pass. That does not mean we still must arrive at the same resolution." He looked to Ivy as she had also diverted her gaze from Rhys and leaned away from him towards the opposite arm of the couch.
"You're getting ahead of yourself. Just like you always did when I tried to teach you something new. You grasp onto things so quickly Rhys that if someone does manage to slip through your fingers you think it's unobtainable." He sat back in his chair once more and sighed. "Unfortunately we must learn about this time line, what has already transpired and what may come to pass. If you know the direction we should take to avoid such a terrible future then by all means share it with me. Otherwise we will do what we can."
Ivy clinched her teeth as she sat on the couch between the men. She felt useless, powerless, just like she always did. The subject of discussion but was not able to add to any of it.
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Post by Blindside Tex on Apr 11, 2020 21:37:03 GMT -5
Rhys sighed softly when he realized just how uncomfortable he’d made Ivy. “Sorry..” He muttered softly before he looked away to the fire once again. He grit his teeth slightly as Magnus spoke. The man was right. Rhys did have a way of getting ahead of himself. He had a way of trying to push through things and that caused him to miss other important things. That was what held him back, it caused him to stunt his learning as a mage….though Magnus had never given up on him.
He gave a sigh then before he looked to Ivy, a smile curved up his lips. “You’re right.” He spoke to Magnus. “We need to find out as much as we can. Ivy, you’re the most important in that role, you’ve been here. The king may not have allowed you in on his conversations, but you know when people came and went from the castle and if you don’t know, I am willing to bet your mother does since she’d locked away in a perch. She as the perfect view of the courtyard to see just exactly who comes and goes from the castle.” Rhys then looked to Magnus. “Even if the timeline has been set in motion, I won’t let you, the queen...or most importantly Ivy...down.” He looked back to her and gave another smile. “Just slap me if I lose my focus. Your father is right, I do tend to get ahead of myself...he put up with me when I was a young mage.” He chuckled softly. “He was the only one that would.” He nodded to the man. “In fact I was nothing more than a street rat.” He grinned. “He took me under his wing and taught me all he could.” Rhys then looked to Ivy. “I’m going to do the same. While we uncover everything, I’m going to keep teaching you...it’ll be a good distraction if anything.” He spoke and then nodded. “Where do you think the best place to look for records would be? Is there any place that records are kept? Does the king hold files or anything of that nature?”
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Post by Nyte on Apr 11, 2020 21:53:47 GMT -5
"Yes, I make an excellent wall flower. Don't I?" Ivy snapped and finally glanced back to Rhys. "My father's records will be in his private study. He is the only one with the key I'm afraid. Not even I've ever been in that room. No guards are allowed either. Just outside the doors to make sure no one even attempts." She spoke quickly, concisely and with irritation in her tone.
Looking back to Magnus she set her jaw and gave a sigh. "I suppose Rhys owes you a great deal for practically raising him. Not many contain the capacity to care for someone else when they have no obligation to do so. Most people barely take care of themselves much less others." She looked back to Rhys. "I'd like to go back home please. I will help you look for whatever it is you require and hopefully an answer presents itself quickly."
She rose from her seat and gave a small, respectful bow to Magnus. "Thank you for your wisdom and for having us in your home."
Magnus's eyebrows lifted, as if he were surprised she would want to leave so quickly. "Yes, well. If you need help I want to give you a way to contact me." He rose from his seat and walked to a cabinet and fetched a small box from one of the shelves. Inside was a whole supply of scrolls like the one that had brought them here. All miniaturized for storage and concealment. "I will send a dove if I feel I have found anything on my end as well." He offered and gave his daughter a gentle smile before stepping up to her and wrapping is arms around her in a gentle embrace. "I wish I could have been there for you as you grew up."
Ivy stood perfectly still as Magnus held onto her until he eventually released her from his hold and smiled before he looked back to Rhys. "I know you'll take care of her and I wish you the best of luck, my friend."
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Post by Blindside Tex on Apr 11, 2020 22:12:02 GMT -5
Rhys drew in a breath to the sharp tone that Ivy used. He lowered his eyes slightly. That wasn’t what he had intended. Perhaps he shouldn’t have said anything at all. Any room was accessible. If one tried hard enough. Lucky for Rhys...he was a mage. A key wasn’t always needed for a room when one could use magic. He frowned slightly as he listened to the tone in her voice, it reminded him of the queen from his timeline. It caused him to look away from the two until she spoke that she was ready to return home. Her quick change in attitude seemed to be his fault. He gave a nod. “As you wish princess.” He spoke in a soft tone.
He stood and looked to Magnus with soft eyes as he watched him retrieve the scrolls. Rhys crossed his arms over his chest as he walked toward the door. He had a pit in his stomach, he was uncomfortable. This had turned into something completely different. Not only did he have a huge pressure resting upon his shoulders...it wasn’t as easy as just simply assassinating the princess. He couldn’t bring himself to do it. Unless...she changed. Then maybe…
Rhys watched as Magnus hugged his daughter, she remained so stiff...unmoving to the hug. Like nothing more than an object. He sighed softly as he looked to Magnus. “We will fix this. Hm?” He took in a deep breath. “Let’s...get home...” He held his hands out. “Getting back is a bit easier than coming.” He waited for her to take his hands. Rhys nodded to Magnus before he began to speak the spell. His eyes began to glow and the cold air rushed around them once again. He wrapped his arms around her as the world began to spin and his breath was taken from his chest. The world became dark. Cold. Silent. Though seconds later he released her as the cold melted away. Rhys took a few steps back and glanced around. They stood in the library once again. He looked to her a moment before he looked about the library. He then began to walk about the room, he began fixing and placing books back in their place from their adventure to the Void earlier in the day.
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Post by Nyte on Apr 11, 2020 22:21:55 GMT -5
When they returned to the palace Ivy helped clean up the library. She could only hope the King hadn't come looking for her in the time they were gone, but if he had she wanted to make sure the library was spotless the second time she met with him. The entire time they worked, picking up books, sorting papers and putting furniture upright she did so silently. It wasn't until they were nearly finished that she spoke again.
"Why are you doing all this?" She finally asked him. "Why come back here and help to prevent whatever it is that makes the future or horrible? Is it because Magnus asked you to?" Her arms shook slightly as she held onto one final book that she had picked up. "My whole life I've been groomed, trained and taught to eventually be the best monarch possible. I've done everything that was asked of me. Tried to earn some sort of approval or acknowledgment that what I was doing was what was best and what I was meant to be doing." Her voice began to crack. "The King.. the King is worried about whether or not I'm a perfect doll and puppet for him. My teachers only want to impress the King. Yourself and Magnus only care about the monster I'm supposed to become. The only person who actually carried for my current well being is locked in a tower for the rest of her life!" She slammed the book down on the table.
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Post by Blindside Tex on Apr 11, 2020 22:35:47 GMT -5
Rhys kept his distance as he lifted overturned chairs. He would glance to the princess every once in a while, but otherwise he was silent. He even repaired the statue with his magic, the pieces lifted from the floor and melded back together with ease. He was lifting up one last book as the princess began to speak. Rhys stopped as he stood across the table from her, his eyes watched her calmly. The tremble in her voice, the shake to her body. He drew in a breath as he let her words cascade over him. He jumped slightly when she slammed the book down. Rhys set the book in his hand down as he brought his eyes to hers. He was silent for a long time before he let out a long breath.
“Ivy...I’m sorry.” He spoke, the words broke the silence like a knife through butter. His jaw tightened slightly. “You don’t deserve anything that you’ve had to overcome. The hand of cards that you were dealt isn’t the best...” He fell quiet again as he walked around the table to stand in front of her. He gazed into her eyes. “Magnus never asked me to try to time travel. Not once. We spoke of it, and in fact he told me it was incredibly dangerous...I chose to come back and I had planned to assassinate you...” He fell quiet then. A silence settled once again in the room. “But...you do not deserve that, Ivy.” He closed his eyes a long moment. “You do not deserve the teachers that only care about the king. You do not deserve to be a doll for the king. Nothing...is how it should be.” His voice shook slightly as he spoke. “You are not the monster that your father and I spoke about. I want to help you...I don’t want you to become that. Because you do not deserve it Ivy.” His eyes locked on hers once again. “You will be a wonderful queen, just the way you are. A much better leader than the current king could ever hope to be.” He drew in a breath. “So you tell me. What is it that I need to do to help you?” He had a serious expression as he watched her.
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Post by Nyte on Apr 11, 2020 22:49:01 GMT -5
Ivy shook her head as she listened to Rhys and closed her eyes as a couple of tears streamed down her face, which she immediately wiped away. "I want an escape." She finally answered after a moment. "Something I can do right, or at least enjoy doing. To be somewhere that people don't step around me like I'm made of glass or willing to cut them down for saying the wrong thing. I'm just a person and I want to be treated like one."
She let herself slide into a chair and propped her elbow up on the table as she covered her eyes as she tried to fight back any additional tears that threatened to overcome her. "I'm sorry Rhys. For what I've done to you, or will do, or however you say it. Those actions are completely inexcusable and I don't understand how you could ever see me as something else than what you've come to know." She looked back up at him finally, her eyes a bit red around the edges. "I know you say I don't deserve these things but maybe.. maybe there's just something wrong with me and it's not apparent yet."
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Post by Blindside Tex on Apr 11, 2020 23:17:26 GMT -5
She was like a broken shell of a person. The tears that ran freely down her cheeks caused Rhys to reach forward slightly, but she’d wiped them away before he could. She was right...how could he see her as anything else? But...he did. He didn’t see her as the queen that he knew. That dark look wasn’t yet behind her eyes. Her words, her voice. It was nothing like the queen that she’d become in his time. He listened to her as she spoke and when she finally looked to him he merely shook his head. “There is nothing wrong with you, Ivy.” He reached forward and brushed a stray tear from her cheek. “We will create an escape, hm?” He gave a gentle smile. “I don’t plan on stepping on egg shells around you, and I don’t plan on performing for the king. I may put on a good face around him so as he does not throw me out of this castle, but I intend on freeing you from this prison that you’ve been locked in. Even without bars it is clear that you are in chains.”
Rhys moved and sat across from her at the table. His eyes never left her as he sat in silence for a long moment. “I want your mother freed.” He spoke, his voice even and calm. “In fact, I’m going to make that a goal of mine...” He let out a sigh and shook his head. “From this point forward, Ivy. I will not speak of my time...I’m going to think of the future as another person entirely...for you are to be the queen...and you’ll make a fine queen. Excellent even.” He gave a smile then. He then cleared his throat slightly and popped open one of the books that sat before them. The door to the library had pushed open in the distance. He couldn’t see who it was, but he could imagine it might be the king. “So as I way saying.” He spoke and gave a nod. “It will take time for you to learn to be a mage, it doesn’t happen over night. But we will get there. Do not fret Princess.”
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Post by Nyte on Apr 11, 2020 23:36:03 GMT -5
Whether he was simply saying what she wanted to hear or whether he truly meant it Ivy wasn't sure, but either way she couldn't deny that his promise made her feel better. Even if only just a little bit. Having her mother freed would indeed make a lot of things better and perhaps then the King would lose some of his power as well. Things would improve for everyone.
Before she had the chance to respond once more he had started the ruse of teaching her magic once more and she was quick to follow suit. Wipping her cheek once more, sitting up straight, and looking at the book he had open with feigned intent. Though when she heard the soft sound of a woman gasping behind her she turned to see her hand maiden with an appalled look upon her face. "Your Highness! What has happened to your lovely gown?" She asked and prompted Ivy to look down at herself and the soft material Magnus had dressed her in while they were in his home.
"Oh, a miscalculation on my part during a spell. It was meant to be a ballgown from the east. Seems I still need work." She lied so flawlessly and even managed a smile with a look of self disappointment.
The woman nodded and looked to Rhys a moment before looking back at the Princess. "We should get your changed at once before the King sees you." She stated and beckoned Ivy to come with her.
"Very well. Would you care to accompany us, Master Alistar?" She asked him with a pleasant smile as she rose from her seat. "After I change clothes we can continue our lessons." She promised.
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Post by Blindside Tex on Apr 11, 2020 23:58:54 GMT -5
Rhys lifted his eyes to look to the woman as she gasped. The dress. Of course. He’d enjoyed the comfort that the dress seemed to give Ivy. “Yes, a miss calculation. Just something she needs a bit of work on. My mistake.” He went along with the ruse. He stood and gave a simple nod. “Of course princess.” He bowed his head and followed after the two. He glanced about the halls as they made their way through the castle. They went into a different wing. He hesitated slightly as they rounded a corner, he knew exactly where they were going. Ivy’s room. He knew the hall well. She hadn’t changed where her quarters were in the future...oddly enough.
The mage drew in a breath as he followed the two into the room. He gave a nod to the small woman. “Don’t worry. I won’t look.” He spoke as he glanced about the room to a few items. “I think next time we shall see if you can change the cover of a book from leather to paper, perhaps we shouldn’t dabble in your clothing until you are more proficient.” He spoke as he stared out the window to the kingdom.
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Post by Nyte on Apr 12, 2020 0:04:18 GMT -5
The maiden had only cast a single skeptical glance to Ivy as they made their way down the hall towards her chambers. It would have been far to risky to question their words openly as a servant so she kept her opinions to herself. Though the handmaiden did smile as Rhys promised not to look as Ivy got dressed, though Ivy was still behind a curtain regardless, it was comforting for the handmaiden that Rhys was a gentleman.
"Agreed. Smaller tasks first." Ivy replied from behind the curtain as the handmaiden slipped on the appropriate gloves before helping Ivy out of the dress.
"What clothes would you like to wear, M'Lady?" The woman asked her as she held the new dress in her grasp.
"My blue gown will suffice." Ivy replied to which the woman bowed her head and went to retrieve the clothing.
Once Ivy was changed she stepped out from behind the curtain. Once again dressed in the thin silks that did little to hide her form. "You are safe to turn around Master Alistar." She told him in a formal tone. "Shall we move on to another type of magic to learn for the rest of the day?"
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