Lotus Eater

Isabella loved the plantmarket. It was a little hidden away, not as well known as the "normal'" market and definitely not as big as Raanan's markets, but it was a beautiful little corner of Ishgard that returned every week. It was always a little overwhelming as well; all the plants spoke to her, in their own way, and she could learn a lot if she only spent enough time here. However, Isabella was still young, and she was not completely in control of her divination. It was very hard for her to learn things on purpose, and even harder to get actual, concrete things out of her plants. She only ever could say vague things, little warnings, little details. The girl browsed through a stall that housed a lot of white flowers. They seemed to glitter in the light that made it through the linnen roofs. The one closest to her moved a little in the wind, almost waving to her, and she took a closer look at it. What did it want to say?

@ Ran

she laughs at fear, she does not shy away from the sword.

To be honest, Rán got lost. And when she turned the corner, she found herself in a wonderful little place. Her eyes were wide as she saw plant and flowers she had never seen before. Flowers were a rare sight in Norwyn, where the land was frozen solid almost all year. Of course Rán had seen flowers before, she wasn't completely otherworldly. But is was just magnificent. Tranquil in a way. Her fingers touched te petals, brushed the leaves softly as she walked past. She could feel a tiny bit of energy from the living organisms beneath her fingers. It was like a small pinprick, a tickle on the back of her hand. If only she could bend it to her will perfectly. She would need to practice more. But she couldn't. It was forbidden. It was especially stupid to try it in Ishgard.

Then she noticed a small frame of a young woman. She recognized her vaguely from important events her family had to attend down in Ishgard. Although it had been a while. It was a Rizal, that's for sure. And when there were Rizals, there was magic. She approached the stall were she was looking at white flowers. ‘‘They are beautifull,’’ she commented, making herself known. ‘‘What are those?’’ Rán wasn't sure why she wanted to talk to the Rizal. Maybe for a touch of destiny.

into the fray

The quiver rattles against her side, along with the flashing spear and lance. In frenzied excitement she eats up the ground. She cannot stand still when the trumpet sounds.

Isabella softly touched the petals of the little white flower that had caught her attention. They trembled slightly, as if they were cold. Interesting. She startled when a voice suddenly spoke from behind. She turned around and saw that it was the governess of Norwyn who had approached her. Isabella knew her from important functions her family often had to attend, but had never spoken to the governess directly. She made a polite bow of her head and returned her attention to the little trembling flower. The governess asked her what kind they were. "This is an orchid", she spoke quietly. Her gaze moved from the white petals to the pale complexion of the other woman. "It seems to have taken a liking to you.", Isabella continued, softly smiling. Given enough time and attention, she would surely be able to learn a lot about the governess through this plant.

uh drie maand later posten is no problem right

she laughs at fear, she does not shy away from the sword.

Rán was probably never going to be a great lover of flowers. Only if they had useful properties. She had learned some basics to survive in the wild, to use the nature in her profit. But her halls were rarely adorned in things like flowers. Only in rare occasions they would bring them inside. Brann would probably scold her anyway because the "flowers would die" and the softie cared about such things.

But it was an orchid, as the Rizal girl explained. A soft "ah" came from Rán as she looked at the flower. Rán had tried to make smalltalk with the Rizal, but she soon grew to regret it, as she stopped making sense very soon. The plant liked her. Well, yeah right. ‘‘Sure,’’ she responded absently, looking back at the silver haired woman in front of her. It actually wasn't the plant she was interested in. No, the Rizal family was on her radar. Ever since she had gotten that weird invitation. What did they want from her? ‘‘How can you tell? Is it your magic?’’ she eventually managed to ask. She was very suspicious of every Rizal. If they could predict the future... it was uncanny. Such power should not be allowed. It was arguably more dangerous than dark magic.

into the fray

The quiver rattles against her side, along with the flashing spear and lance. In frenzied excitement she eats up the ground. She cannot stand still when the trumpet sounds.

The other woman didn't seem very interested in the flower. Isabella grew a little uncomfortable under her gaze, so she focused her attention on the orchid, touching it's white petals delicately. It was a beautiful flower, wasn't it? And yet so strong at the same time. It braced the winter cold and bloomed even in the snow. The governess asked her how she could tell, if it was her magic perhaps. Isabella turned her gaze back to the woman in front of her. She never quite knew how much to reveal about the magic of their family, or how much should be kept a secret - but nobody had ever told her to lay low, and so she didn't. Besides, her own wasn't very strong, she could never tell details of the future - only vague feelings, sometimes relations, only rarely actual events. "Yes, the plants, they.. Speak to me.", she answered softly, although 'speak' wasn't the right word - it was not as if she heard voices. "The way they grow, it can tell a lot about the future."