It was a boisterous evening for sure, everyone had something to do and someone to be seeing. Jiyu however? Really had nothing to do, except work behind the Silver Moon’s Bar, she could take a job, but this late at night, honestly it would not be worth anything. The night dragged on slowly, and every single loud, obnoxious noise in the bar was exactly akin to stabbing a knife into her sensitive ears, all the numerous scents that filled the air within the building becoming overwhelming after stewing in them for so long. Each second she served people? Jiyu grew to long for her bed more and more, each passing breath bringing her closer to the end of a shift, one that she always signed up for, despite knowing at the end she’d basically want to mutilate anyone who came too close to her, dropped pins or was wearing perfume. However the young wind mage also knew it was one of the best shifts for hearing what was going on all over the world, since it was when people shared stories the most, all the stimulation to her sensitive ears, every single ounce of pain she would be in until she could escape to her room to wind down from all this, it was all worth it for one juicy tidbit of information. Any half decent information? Could take her on some mission, an unassigned job that would take her well above the ranks of a Rising Star, something she had started to dream of, and assign as the task she needed to complete before opening the final letter her mother had left to her. However tonight was a very slow night in terms of any rumors passing through, and it kind of irked Jiyu that she was subjecting her fragile senses to this torture once more, only to be seemingly getting nothing whatsoever out of it! Why did she keep doing things like this? She had a good life in Black Rose and she had someone she thought she may love, yet she drove forward for things she did not need, every single chance she got! Honestly the wind mage did not know how anyone put up with her, she was reckless, out of control and worst of all she could never be honest with them, nor let them into her world, no matter how small her world happened to be. Jiyu was honestly surprised no one had given up on her yet, just thrown in whatever towel they had and come to realize she was never going to give them the things they gave to her, never love them in that way! However sometimes she almost fooled herself into thinking she could stop progressing her magic long enough to allow the world around her to catch up, feelings to settle in and bud their way into large emotional roses that would consume her very being, become who she was. In the end thought, Jiyu always remembered those flames, the time cut too short, why she had started practicing magic in the first place, the task she had originally set to be the one that would allow her to open that letter. In the beginning? It had been to kill her mother’s murderer, but oh how time had changed that, sometimes she even found herself doubting that her mother had been murdered, maybe she’d simply passed out from a heart attack or something, and died in the fire that way. Each time she found herself about to give up the ideal thought? Jiyu would remember how it felt to be standing there, the look in that man's eyes before mother had sent her away, flashing before her own when she saw their cottage in ashes. Whenever the wind sorceress saw that, she couldn’t help but return to the initial ideal that she had on that day, her mother was murdered by the stranger who visited right before the house went up in flames, and once that thought came into her head again, she began to desire revenge once more, lust for it so badly she thought it might consume her, if it had not already. Even if no one else alive knew about her quest for revenge? She was still very much going out on it, and working the bar was another way to do that, she might find that bastard doing this sort of thing. Kazehime’s ear’s flinched again
“Did you hear about-” Those were magical words that drew over the waitress/bartender to the table where they spoken, tray held in the crook of her arm, held across her chest, pale pink lips pressed in as welcoming of a smile as she could manage. So far in her work, she’d managed to hide the fact she payed a bit more attention to people who seemed to be gossiping about the world, when compared to how she payed attention to normal customers. However if someone had noticed, they had not confronted the fairly biased wind user on it yet, and thus she was free to unsuspiciously and openly wait on tables that gossiped, collect the information she wanted. “Welcome to the Silver Moon, I’ll be your server, Jiyu Kazehime, do you know your drinks yet.” at a busy hour like this one? Formality was a partly big deal, it lead to better tips the female typically found, and while it all went into the Black Rose account anyway, she liked doing a good job on anything. Plus? With so many tables and people to deal with, she managed to ignore any glances at her bruised and marked up body, so it was a double benefit to her; Working without snapping at anyone over staring at her body for too long, and gathering intel that would eventually aid her in doing lovely things. “Just whatever you recommend~” oh ew, the boy sitting at the table was flirting with her, his far too round and sheep like eyes staring straight at her cleavage, which was actually fairly covered in her work uniform. In her normal attire? She could understand people staring at her chest, but in this uniform, sleek black and maid like, all she could think of anyone that stared, was the fact they must be a creep! Jiyu glanced over a specific booth in the corner of the store, and found it to be desolate once more, honestly what job was that man on, she wanted to see him in here tonight, it was a comfort to see her savior when she was being ogled by the customers. However? It looked like Jiyu was on her own tonight, and well she was alright with that! When had she ever needed anyone anyway’s? Well except for when he had lifted her from the ground in her shackles, into his safe arms and brought her home like a knight in shining armor, and then decided to plague her thoughts daily. Honestly she did not actually want to see him sitting in that booth, it was just a force of habit since mister drunk off his ass was always sitting there anyways, that was all it happened to be! At least that was what the dishonest wind witch kept telling herself, however some part of her already had come to know and accept that she had developed a crush of sorts on the man who saved her life. Shaking off all thoughts of the alcohol mage? Jiyu walked away from her costumer’s, into the bar and picked up two very potent but sweet tasting whiskey’s, swirling the bottle once before pouring three cup, one for each person at the table she was serving. Hopefully? The liquor would help them to talk rumors and nonsense more, if she was lucky this would give her the time and means to collect every scrap of information they had to give up on whatever topic they would be discussing. The funny thing was? For all Kazehime knew they could be talking about their latest sexual conquest, or something, she didn’t know if the info was useful, but she was already working this angle; Of course, that was just something Jiyu did. “Here you darlings go, you look sooo thirsty~” she let a flirty tone sneak in, bending over a little more than needed when she placed the plates down. Even if this made her feel disgusting? The more they liked her, the greater chance she would not look suspicious eavesdropping on them, so she’d work their puppy love crush, for later she could cultivate her own puppy love, not that she loved him, but she sure thought he was hotter than these suckers. Realizing what she had thought about him, the tsundere little female blushed brightly, which the other men thought was at some comment they’d made towards her. Finally, she worked to chase every last single thought of Marschal Leigh from her delicate little brain, praying she could get back on track tonight, despite missing him and feeling a longing she was not adjusted to feeling anymore. The last time she had felt this longing? Was the time playing with other children before her mother died, she longed for her parents like this, only than it didn’t make her face hot.
“So what is this rumor you were going to tell us before you got distracted by the hot waitress?” oh yeah that was absolutely charming! Jiyu reminded herself that this was why she was not really overly fond of most people, they objectified everything, of course she was human herself and did the same things. However it was human nature to judge others without addressing that same fault in yourself, because than you did not need to face that fault within your own being. Jiyu was often guilty of this action, but just like she would not fess up to many other things, neither would she admit to this! So the female just listened in, collecting their first round, and heading to the counter to refill it, bare footed steps being swift and fleeting, for she wanted to get back to eavesdropping sooner. “Round two, and thanks for the compliment.” she brushed hair behind her ear, smiling in this playful manner, swaying her hips to one side, however since they actually looked at her, they seemed put off by her purple bruises and scraped up face. Still? These were horny young men, and when she reached across the table to slide a class, they shattered beneath her. “Would you like to sit with us lovely, I’m sure your boss wouldn’t mind for ten minutes, while our food cooks.” actually she was pretty sure that Iza would ring her neck if she caught her, but the female sat down beside one of the men anyway’s, smoothing down the white apron tied around her waist, putting on a dazzling and mischief filled grin. “So what were you three boys talking about?” she purred the words out, snuggling up to one of them and felt her stomach do several summer salts, threatening to push up her lunch from that afternoon back up and out, especially when he took it as an invite to wrap his arm around her shoulders and nearly touch one of her full breasts, she luckily pried his fingers off before he could grope or such. “Now, now this is not that kind of establishment, back to the chatter dears.” she chided with a adorable little laugh she had learned turned to make people flush towards her, and it worked, a small blush covering their faces as they focused in on her and the desires she possessed, making the wind sorceress rather pleased. As they turned their heads back towards each other and chuckled embarrassed she batted her doe eyes, playing with her hair, heck no one besides Leila had seen this behavior, but she wanted this information and she’d give up a little to obtain it, getting her hands on it could only boost her ego if anything! So Kazehime was willing to give up a little to obtain a lot, she’d get her invest back a few times over hopefully. Second’s later lowering herself to their level started paying off.
“So you guys know peace village right?” why were they mentioning her home town? Painful images flashed behind Jiyu’s odd optics and she struggled to remain happy for them, so that they would keep chattering and reveal the things she wanted to know, one of her arms wrapped around the boy she was sitting besides. Soon enough? A hilarious nod done in sync by those listening to him was given and this seemed to egg the young man on considerably, with more courage in his arsenal the stupid male spoke up once more, sipping comfortingly on his beer. “Well there’s this place to the north of it, I guess it’s be south of here, it’s called Sky Tower.” she had heard rumors about that place when she was a child, but she’d never bothered listening to the stories, because after-all she was just some helpless child who did not care for magic until her eighth year of life. In the beginning? She’d only been a very cute little girl in the most peaceful village that anyone could ever hope to find, running around and growing up perfectly, enjoying every day offered and provided to her. Every single day? It had been so fun to see people pass through for the rest and relaxation such a rustic and charming little town could offer, and with the river running alongside it, well the landscape in the distant southern grasslands where she grew up, was nothing less than serene! However when their house had burned down with her mother still inside, when her life had been taken, Jiyu’s life had taken another turn forever. From that day forward? It had been promised she would not be a simple village girl and grow up to marry some merchant, fisherman or such, not be some average citizen. Instead the event’s of that day lead to the utterly sacred oath that she’d become the best mage she could, her guide to magic being the only thing her mother had left behind, a book with every single training method, every single spell, all locked within it. Even if her mother had not lived to teach her? She was still very much Jiyu’s mentor, just as much as she was her beloved, yet deceased parent. Kazehime recalled once more, very fondly the feeling of reconnection to her mother she’d endured once she finally cast her first wind spell.
It was a foggy day in Peace Village and the mostly evaporated, heavy hanging rain, had reduced visibility to nothing. For some time now? The young eight year old girl had been waiting for a day like this, holding a small candle lantern in one hand and using the other arm to clutch her mother’s book tightly to her chest; If Jiyu’s father found out that she was out in the field’s east of their home, beside the river today, he would likely throttle his adorable little daughter! However the soon to be mage knew that she had to take that risk, the first rule her mother wrote in the book was to practice utterly alone, due to how destructive wind magic could become, especially in the early, rather uncontrolled stages. Apart from its express instructions to avoid any nearby people to potentially harm on accident? Her mother had written that she should start training on a day like this, at a time where if she blew out the candle, the wind and elements surrounding her, could be her only guide. So when this fog had rolled in the night before? She prayed it would hold until she could sneak out while her father was at his shop during the day, or passed out drunk in bed! Luckily for the aspiring little magician it had held and now her eyes skimmed the first wind spell in the book once more, closing the book and setting it down on the soft dewy ground. “I’m ready” the wind seemed to come alive as she spoke, and she relished the feeling, bringing her lantern's flame up to her pale pink mouth, tongue curling outwards slightly as she blew softly towards the flame, watching it dance and die under her breath, Controlling flames like that? It was intoxicating as a form of power, especially after what they had done to her mother, and this time extinguishing the fire was giving her something else, her first chance ever to practice wind magic! “See the wind moving the fog.” the female looked down at her own hands, watching as she slowly managed to manipulate the fog around them and slowly began to see something else besides the white transparent texture of the fog. What she began to see around her fragile clawed hands? Was light grey in color, so fluid and composed in it’s movement, almost as if it was dancing, but it was also powerful, she could feel the wind lifting up her hair, revealing her blue eye as she gasped. However this was a mistake “OW” the female lost her focus and the wind exploded around her hand’s, blood dripping down into the white sea surrounding her, tears pricking in the child’s eyes as she sank to her knees, done and defeated for that day. How was she going to explain her cut up hands to her father without mentioning magic?! Jiyu sniffled as she gazed upon her damaged appendages, kneeling there, before she felt the wind wrap in an embrace around her shoulders, pulling a gasp from her mouth. Kazehime had read in the book that she would and should, had to, form a connection or bond of some kind with the wind. However? The young child had not expected it was a literal sense, that the wind would come to know her enough from just one spell, to feel her tears and try to brush them from her cheek’s! With closed eyes, she leaned more into the winds shockingly solid touch, sighing out “I can do this” and letting her body lay down, thinking of an excuse and trying to find sight of her lantern and it’s spare match, so she could find her way home. Little did Jiyu know she’d not really need that sort of light again now that her magic and thus her abilities were active.
Growing up before her mother’s death and her first magic spell? She’d always had better senses than her peers, and been hard working, a ruff and tumble sort of child. However after that day, everything seemed to grow exponentially until it blossomed into it’s current level. “What about the sky tower?” she was broken out of her reflection by one of the other boys prompting the one trying to cuddle with her, to simply continue his story, and she was grateful for that, with her current reminsistic state the wind mage was not entirely sure she had the physical strength to push the young man away from her, only the ability to sit there and listen to them, as her mind played games with her and danced about her heart. As one of the other non-mage waitress brought the food over, Kazehime figured her time was running short, but damn she could be off shift for all she knew, how could she even tell how long she’d been sitting with them. Calming her breathing slowly she listened to them dutifully “Well at the very top of it-” he was using suspense and it was ticking the mage off, her body leaning forward as he desired, as if she didn’t want to miss what he was saying and that might be the only truthful thing about her interaction with them this evening! “I’ve been hearing these rumors-” could this prick just spit out the information she’d been working him for most of the night?! Jiyu’s ears and the rest of her senses had about expired in their ability to even function, every single sensory organ on her body throbbing painfully and weeping softly at it’s owner. A few more seconds? Right after he gave up what he was holding out on her? Than she could go relax, ease her distressed body. “Well the tale these days is that a Gem sits at the top of the tower.” oh great it was just some uber pretty gem. While Jiyu did have a nice appreciation for shiny objects? This was not nearly shiny enough to chase away the utter dread that settled in over the fact this effort put in tonight, had been worth almost nothing in the end, only serving to put her into a state where once able, she’d collapse and fall asleep right away. “It’s held between two griffons and it’s called the gem of time.” wait it had a name and lure to it? When he kept speaking the wind mage seemed to perk up, eyes begging and willing him to say anything more as she leaned in again, hopeful once more. Most times? People did not make statues, especially griffon ones, for something not uber important; Someone might try to steal it and she could stop them, that would be worth something! If she could put up the time to keep an eye on the glittering shiny object at the top of a tower! “I’ve saved the most interesting for last thought!” he exclaimed it shooting up with his drink, taking a hero’s pose with his beverage, in drunken stupor. Even though he was moving along the explaination? Jiyu only wished he’d get along with it twice as fast as he currently was, right now he was still wasting her time! Crossing her legs she struggled to remain passive and lady like. “This thing sits atop a sky mosaic carved into the tower floor, and it’s said to have only one ability!” he was waiting for the astounded gasps and she managed one somehow, despite not being impressed just yet, pushing herself up. Honestly? No matter how bad she wanted this, her ears had begun to commit murder on her body some time ago, and she just couldn’t stay any longer, really. Already? She had a blush across her face like a fever, but it was due to sensory overload, watching their concerned looks as she panted. “Sorry I’m not feeling well.” suddenly the boy who had been flirting with her all night seemed to change, and it confused her, he put his hands on her shoulders, sliding one to between them, to help hold her nearly fainted form up. “You live here right, one of Black Rose’s mage’s? I can help you to your room.” and marschal wasn’t allowed to stop this man from doing just that, the wind mage looked around for the boy, but the drunk was nowhere in sight, only the sheep eyed boy. However the trip back to her room was nothing like she expected! Instead of trying to touch her intimately and get into her bedroom tonight? This boy suddenly became a gentleman of sort’s, pushing her along by the middle of her back and supporting her with his arms, not hands, it made her flush and think of Marschal…. Poor none cat eared boy, he was being so sweet to her and all she could think of was the man she was always yelling at anyways. However one last thought entered her head as he opened her door for her, offering to close it for her as well. “What is the gem suppose to-” she sighed and leaned against her dresser, looking over, and he stopped cutting around everything, as if he had needed her alone to tell her this, come to tell it to her. “It lets one learn with one's master once more” he closed her door for her and she sunk weakly to the floor, digging her barely regrown claws into the wood and leaving visible scratches in it.
Learning from one’s master once more? Jiyu thought about the wording of that as she leaned against her dress, head pressed again it’s wooden side panel, slowly pushing her trembling body up. Even now that she was away from the over stimulation? Kazehime was in agony, her ears and nose threatening to commit some sort of rebellion and murder her, steps so ungraceful you’d believe the wind user had just been born as she slouched and stumbled. Even though her bed was only five feet away from the door at most? The young woman felt as if she had walked for years or even centuries, by the time her jaded body was allowed to flop down on the super soft wooly blanket stretched over her single twin mattress, of course it’s twin was elsewhere in the building, but that didn’t change the fact it was only built for one person, and that singular entity was the wind mage and only her. Honestly? She missed the day she’d woken up in Marschal’s bed, curled within his blanket, wrapped up comfortingly in his thick and potent scent. Laying there with the scent of his drinking, the ash from fire she guessed was from the restaurant or some spell she hadn’t seen yet, potent and tangy cleaner’s he used due to being such a germaphobe, and lastly the basic feline like scent he carried atop the scents like rose garden that just happened to cling to him? Jiyu didn’t think there was anything better than that, and she so desperately wished as she laid down in her own bed, sprawled out on it, that she could be doing this in his. Even when he was out on mission’s? It would be a blessing to her, the room would always carry his scent and she wouldn’t have to miss him like this. Sometimes missing him irked her more than anything he ever actually did, Jiyu didn’t understand why she longed for him so much once he was out of her sight and scent range, once she could no longer feel his magnetic signature or hear his heartbeat! However none of her own displeasured changed the fact she felt this way, slender hand reaching for one pillow and pulling it to cover her stomach, feeling the fabric of her dress itching at it. After having traveled around in a bikini top and jeans at best for so long, plus those two captive years, any fabric touching those parts of her was itchy, but she honestly didn’t have the care to change right now. As she rolled over? Jiyu brought the pillow up to her chest to hug, ebony locked head laying on her second pillow, a sigh escaping from her body, as she put out the effort to slip under the covers. When she woke up, Kazehime knew she’d likely be out of the dress, and on the floor, her bodies punishment for not taking off the itchy garment before falling into slumber. However? Tonight the female could care less where she woke up the next morning, inhaling the deep and earthy scent of her blanket. Sighing out the female balled one hand into her blanket, curling her body into an almost fetal position, one foot already sticking off the bed. Sleep thought, it didn’t come easy tonight, even exhausted as her brain was, it could not stop thinking about what she had learned tonight. To the south of Rose Garden and the north of her old home in peace village? There was a tower that reached into the sky, and atop it existed a gem held by two griffons, and this gem was called the gem of time. Jiyu could care less about the jewel itself, but something like that, oh heavens, something that let someone learn from their mentor again! Kazehime wondered desperately if it would mean the mentor one actually learned from physically, which in her case was nothing more or less than a simple leather bound book that now always rested on her night stand (It had been such a hassle to locate and get it back after her two year captivity, but it was precious), or if the gem would actually take what someone considered their mentor, quite literally. Even though she’d learned from reading a book? Jiyu had always considered only one woman her mentor, she never felt like she was learning from reading a book, whenever she was learning magic it was like her long haired border collie looking yet gorgeous mother was really there, teaching her, not six feet under ground as a corpse burnt beyond recognition! It had been part of the reason she fought so hard to keep practicing magic, even against her father’s wishes, Wind Magic, it was the only thing besides the book her odd eyes now stared at, it was the only thing left of her mother in this world, besides herself! For Jiyu the only way to keep the older woman alive was to practice the magic she’d left behind. In the past slightly over ten years since she’d come into possession of the book? The young mage had never considered finding some way to see her deceased mother again, after-all the dead did not rise and even when they did, nothing about them was the same! However this gem was different, it sounded strange, but she wondered if maybe, just possibly, somehow there was the slightest chance, that it would let her see the woman who had given her magic. Laying there, she could not find herself anyway to fall into sleep, the only thing that Jiyu could think of was if the Gem Of Time would allow her to legitimately train with her mother for once in her life. Mostly? It seemed too good to ever be any bit truthful, however she had some trace of hope as well, the ideal turning over and over again in her head as her breathing hitched and her eyes misted over. Tomorrow? She’d have to set out to try that, and with the decision made she fell into dark slumber once more.
Tortuously bright rays of dancing, playful sun beams poured into the room once more and she could feel them trying to burn holes through her face. Normally? She relished in when the light returned to an active state in the world, considering she’d become paralyzed by the darkness after being forced to spend two years in it. However this morning was just one of those where she wished that she could be capable of staying in dark unknowing sleep for just a few hours longer than she had been contained within it! Jiyu could feel every single muscle in her body screeching at her, urging her to just roll over and find some way to go back to sleep, even though it was dawn already, her ears and nose feeling mostly numb as she sat up slowly, pushing against the bed. Even if her body did not want to agree with anything she desired for this currently new day? The wind mage had her own plans, apart from being utterly shocked she had woken up on her bed instead of the floor, this morning. However the dress she had fallen asleep in, was thrown straight across the room, hanging against a picture in the corner of the room, she’d certainly expected that thought, it was itchy and she only wore it because somehow it was a uniform of sorts. Quickly Jiyu decided that before acting out any plans she had for that day she had to get herself dressed, as she could not go around town naked, that would get her in trouble. Plus? Having some sort of clothing on, even if it was her normal ‘stripper’ like attire, was some comfort when compared to the bruises and marks on her fragile body! So the wind mage went right for her normal clothing in terms of items, picking out a bikini top, today’s being a light baby blue color, and sliding on jean shorts that were dark blue in color. Once she was dressed, the female went over to her dresser once more and picked up her hair brush, even if Marschal was not here right now, she still maintained her unruly locks, simply because he had mentioned how much he disliked the way she once it go, when they first met, Shockingly? Maintaining it for someone other than herself, no longer irked the female, at first it had enraged her and she had sometimes taken it out on him, but well Jiyu these days adored having her hair brushed, especially since it was just a bit shorter than her mother’s. However, it was sad that the years of not maintaining it properly had left their mark, and now it was almost impossible to keep the locks straight, they were curly and unruly, nothing could be done about them, unless she was going to spend over three hours working on her hair alone! Jiyu was not able to focus on her soft locks for that long, it just was not happening. Before long the magus was aiming to pick up her bow from beside her dresser, clipping it secured to her short’s. Once more? She proved that she had not given Marschal back his jacket yet, because she picked it up off her dresser, one of the few neat things in the room unfolding it and sniffing it before she slipped it onto her arms and smiled happily. After she did this whole pseudo mission thing? She’d give it back to him so that it could soak in his scent once more, but for now she guessed the item had enough scent left on it, at least for a simple trip to this sky tower, gem of time, place. One more thing was needed before she could leave though, and that was some more arrows encase things got dangerous. Walking to the other corner of her room, Jiyu began to count her arrows, reaching up to the full twenty four projectiles. With everything she needed within her grasps, the wind mage slung her quiver over her back, feeling the strap cut between her breasts, her hand finally tucking her knife into her sleeve. “I suppose I should get going, I want to make it there without having to stop the night.” she might end up tempted to make a visit to peace village or something, being that close to it, however Jiyu did not want to ever go back there! Thus she walked forward and closed her door behind her, walking carefully so that she would not wake up anyone else in the guild, especially because she did not want company for this mission. Jiyu wandered further until she got into the kitchen, a small backpack in her arms, opened and ready to receive items, eat them so to speak. Considering she wanted to wake no one? She also would not be eating breakfast here, she could do that on the road or in some shop on the way. Thus the wind mage only bothered grabbing a few fruits that would keep for long enough to do this mission, brushing her hand across an apple before watching it vanish into the bag. Briefly? She wondered if she should go buy smoke balls or something, but decided against it, picking up a juice box from the fridge, finally venturing forward and out the door. As she glanced back at the guild? She wondered if she should leave word with someone for Marschal so he would not think she’d been kidnapped again, but she quickly decided she’d not be gone long enough for that. So now she was heading off, on a wild goose chase, for a whimsical ideal she had not even had as a child, she hadn’t even thought these things right after her mother died, but now, she couldn’t get the idea to go away.
The trek was longer than she would have ever liked it to be, in fact the wind sorceress was rather ticked with the length of the walk she’d have to conduct, just to get to this godforsaken tower! Currently? She couldn’t even see the tower, her feet touching against hard sidewalk's, heading out of rose garden and any fairly advanced towns surrounding it. Most of the time? Jiyu was ready and happy to give up what many civilized comforts to go on jobs and enter into less developed but much more peaceful and less bustling area’s. However this time the only thing filling her heart was apprehension, varying forms of dread. Kazehime could not even believe she was embarking on some quest like this one, it was all on rumors and it was for the pursuit of something she’d known to be impossible since she was merely a young child who lost her mother to a flaming murderer! Why was it only now that she was beginning to believe in things so whimsical these days? Jiyu was so much happier when she was more practical and the female kept telling herself that she really had been happy on her own, with an unreliable father and then on her own truly before she joined Black Rose. However she internally knew the truth was very different from that, she was so much more delighted now that she had people to share her days with. Even if she yelled at him so often? She adored the feeling she got when Marschal held her close, and when Leila held her hand on jobs she felt as if she could do anything. For so long after losing her Mother the young human had forgotten about how much other people could make you feel, and how amazing it could be to give into those sensations. However as each and every day passed by, the female grew more back into those feelings, ones that if she had never lost, never needed to hunt for again, without knowing what she was chasing, she would have never found anything outside Peace Village. So in a way? Even if her mother’s death had taken a good deal away from her, the event had also given her some things in return. Those thoughts faded from her frail little head as she padded forward, finally passing out of the towns that happened to be large and bustling, into smaller settlements that everyone knew each other in. At the moment? She was not even done her juice box, mostly stuck inside her own head as she considered the things that had driven her to take such a rash and idiotic action as seeking out the Gem Of Time to train with her dead mother. Once upon a time she had not cared about anything besides for pushing forward in life, not even progressing, just not staying in the same position from day to day, seeking out new things. Becoming an actual guild backed mage? Had been the thing to trigger her desire to strive forward within magic, to become better at casting, performing and every such thing, alongside the desire to never be weak again. So she owed most of her drive to a single man, and that drove her nuts, thought these days it was in a very good way, most of the time. Yet since she didn’t understand her feelings? Jiyu took them out on Marschal instead of expressing to him, it was just her way of showing she cared, even if it was such a crude method. She laughed slightly, her feet falling onto the soft feeling of normal grass and dirt roads. By now? She wandered past the ending point of the last town on her way to the tower! It wouldn’t be much longer, until she could see her mother again, of course this was a long shot, but if this Gem really did allowed you to learn from a mentor, her only mentor that was not an inanimate object, had been her mother! After over seven years, she missed the older woman terribly and was also loosing objective on what she should do with her life. While she wanted to smell the roses sometimes? She did not want her mother to think she’d abandon her pursuit for revenge in her name! Thus if this would give her the chance to speak to her mother, even just an illusion of her mother generated from her own head? It would be well worth the trek it would require to get this far. So arriving at the base of the tower, Jiyu gathered her courage and placed her hand on the side of the door frame, crossing the threshold and starting up the dimly lit corridors, the stairs being decent sized, yet numbered so many she wondered if this climb was truly possible. Kazehime gulped slightly as she ventured further, panting at the effort required to get up the steps, until she finally saw a bright light emitting from above. Upon arriving at the summit of the super tall tower? Jiyu could tell this was indeed the place mentioned by the prior night's costumer’s, looking around at the astounding view to see the achingly familiar shape of peace river and village to the south, a brilliant sky patterned mosaic beneath her feet. Lastly? The two griffons stood tall and proud, their stone claws reaching outwards to hold the immovable gem in place, but she’d never heard of it’s dim golden glow before, the sight taking some of her breath away, as she walked towards it. Even if she had come all this way? Jiyu had done no research, even if the jewel had the powers boasted to it, the young mage had no idea how to trigger them! Came all this way and she would get entirely no pay out besides for reflection from it, that really sucked. However since she did come all this way, the wind mage felt the need to just, touch it, before she went home with her metaphorical tail between her legs for the time being. Thus the young female walked forward, her breath taken away as she lifted her pale scratched up hand, small fingers reaching outstretched for it, not knowing all she had to do to trigger it’s power was lay her pretty little hand on it, she did it, and the golden glow engulfed her “wha?!” she felt consumed by the warmth from it, and nearly fought it for a second, before her eyes closed and she vanished from the living realm, feeling her surroundings vanish instead of herself. She was going to get what she wanted, but of course Jiyu normally did, such a spoiled child.
“Did you hear about-” Those were magical words that drew over the waitress/bartender to the table where they spoken, tray held in the crook of her arm, held across her chest, pale pink lips pressed in as welcoming of a smile as she could manage. So far in her work, she’d managed to hide the fact she payed a bit more attention to people who seemed to be gossiping about the world, when compared to how she payed attention to normal customers. However if someone had noticed, they had not confronted the fairly biased wind user on it yet, and thus she was free to unsuspiciously and openly wait on tables that gossiped, collect the information she wanted. “Welcome to the Silver Moon, I’ll be your server, Jiyu Kazehime, do you know your drinks yet.” at a busy hour like this one? Formality was a partly big deal, it lead to better tips the female typically found, and while it all went into the Black Rose account anyway, she liked doing a good job on anything. Plus? With so many tables and people to deal with, she managed to ignore any glances at her bruised and marked up body, so it was a double benefit to her; Working without snapping at anyone over staring at her body for too long, and gathering intel that would eventually aid her in doing lovely things. “Just whatever you recommend~” oh ew, the boy sitting at the table was flirting with her, his far too round and sheep like eyes staring straight at her cleavage, which was actually fairly covered in her work uniform. In her normal attire? She could understand people staring at her chest, but in this uniform, sleek black and maid like, all she could think of anyone that stared, was the fact they must be a creep! Jiyu glanced over a specific booth in the corner of the store, and found it to be desolate once more, honestly what job was that man on, she wanted to see him in here tonight, it was a comfort to see her savior when she was being ogled by the customers. However? It looked like Jiyu was on her own tonight, and well she was alright with that! When had she ever needed anyone anyway’s? Well except for when he had lifted her from the ground in her shackles, into his safe arms and brought her home like a knight in shining armor, and then decided to plague her thoughts daily. Honestly she did not actually want to see him sitting in that booth, it was just a force of habit since mister drunk off his ass was always sitting there anyways, that was all it happened to be! At least that was what the dishonest wind witch kept telling herself, however some part of her already had come to know and accept that she had developed a crush of sorts on the man who saved her life. Shaking off all thoughts of the alcohol mage? Jiyu walked away from her costumer’s, into the bar and picked up two very potent but sweet tasting whiskey’s, swirling the bottle once before pouring three cup, one for each person at the table she was serving. Hopefully? The liquor would help them to talk rumors and nonsense more, if she was lucky this would give her the time and means to collect every scrap of information they had to give up on whatever topic they would be discussing. The funny thing was? For all Kazehime knew they could be talking about their latest sexual conquest, or something, she didn’t know if the info was useful, but she was already working this angle; Of course, that was just something Jiyu did. “Here you darlings go, you look sooo thirsty~” she let a flirty tone sneak in, bending over a little more than needed when she placed the plates down. Even if this made her feel disgusting? The more they liked her, the greater chance she would not look suspicious eavesdropping on them, so she’d work their puppy love crush, for later she could cultivate her own puppy love, not that she loved him, but she sure thought he was hotter than these suckers. Realizing what she had thought about him, the tsundere little female blushed brightly, which the other men thought was at some comment they’d made towards her. Finally, she worked to chase every last single thought of Marschal Leigh from her delicate little brain, praying she could get back on track tonight, despite missing him and feeling a longing she was not adjusted to feeling anymore. The last time she had felt this longing? Was the time playing with other children before her mother died, she longed for her parents like this, only than it didn’t make her face hot.
“So what is this rumor you were going to tell us before you got distracted by the hot waitress?” oh yeah that was absolutely charming! Jiyu reminded herself that this was why she was not really overly fond of most people, they objectified everything, of course she was human herself and did the same things. However it was human nature to judge others without addressing that same fault in yourself, because than you did not need to face that fault within your own being. Jiyu was often guilty of this action, but just like she would not fess up to many other things, neither would she admit to this! So the female just listened in, collecting their first round, and heading to the counter to refill it, bare footed steps being swift and fleeting, for she wanted to get back to eavesdropping sooner. “Round two, and thanks for the compliment.” she brushed hair behind her ear, smiling in this playful manner, swaying her hips to one side, however since they actually looked at her, they seemed put off by her purple bruises and scraped up face. Still? These were horny young men, and when she reached across the table to slide a class, they shattered beneath her. “Would you like to sit with us lovely, I’m sure your boss wouldn’t mind for ten minutes, while our food cooks.” actually she was pretty sure that Iza would ring her neck if she caught her, but the female sat down beside one of the men anyway’s, smoothing down the white apron tied around her waist, putting on a dazzling and mischief filled grin. “So what were you three boys talking about?” she purred the words out, snuggling up to one of them and felt her stomach do several summer salts, threatening to push up her lunch from that afternoon back up and out, especially when he took it as an invite to wrap his arm around her shoulders and nearly touch one of her full breasts, she luckily pried his fingers off before he could grope or such. “Now, now this is not that kind of establishment, back to the chatter dears.” she chided with a adorable little laugh she had learned turned to make people flush towards her, and it worked, a small blush covering their faces as they focused in on her and the desires she possessed, making the wind sorceress rather pleased. As they turned their heads back towards each other and chuckled embarrassed she batted her doe eyes, playing with her hair, heck no one besides Leila had seen this behavior, but she wanted this information and she’d give up a little to obtain it, getting her hands on it could only boost her ego if anything! So Kazehime was willing to give up a little to obtain a lot, she’d get her invest back a few times over hopefully. Second’s later lowering herself to their level started paying off.
“So you guys know peace village right?” why were they mentioning her home town? Painful images flashed behind Jiyu’s odd optics and she struggled to remain happy for them, so that they would keep chattering and reveal the things she wanted to know, one of her arms wrapped around the boy she was sitting besides. Soon enough? A hilarious nod done in sync by those listening to him was given and this seemed to egg the young man on considerably, with more courage in his arsenal the stupid male spoke up once more, sipping comfortingly on his beer. “Well there’s this place to the north of it, I guess it’s be south of here, it’s called Sky Tower.” she had heard rumors about that place when she was a child, but she’d never bothered listening to the stories, because after-all she was just some helpless child who did not care for magic until her eighth year of life. In the beginning? She’d only been a very cute little girl in the most peaceful village that anyone could ever hope to find, running around and growing up perfectly, enjoying every day offered and provided to her. Every single day? It had been so fun to see people pass through for the rest and relaxation such a rustic and charming little town could offer, and with the river running alongside it, well the landscape in the distant southern grasslands where she grew up, was nothing less than serene! However when their house had burned down with her mother still inside, when her life had been taken, Jiyu’s life had taken another turn forever. From that day forward? It had been promised she would not be a simple village girl and grow up to marry some merchant, fisherman or such, not be some average citizen. Instead the event’s of that day lead to the utterly sacred oath that she’d become the best mage she could, her guide to magic being the only thing her mother had left behind, a book with every single training method, every single spell, all locked within it. Even if her mother had not lived to teach her? She was still very much Jiyu’s mentor, just as much as she was her beloved, yet deceased parent. Kazehime recalled once more, very fondly the feeling of reconnection to her mother she’d endured once she finally cast her first wind spell.
It was a foggy day in Peace Village and the mostly evaporated, heavy hanging rain, had reduced visibility to nothing. For some time now? The young eight year old girl had been waiting for a day like this, holding a small candle lantern in one hand and using the other arm to clutch her mother’s book tightly to her chest; If Jiyu’s father found out that she was out in the field’s east of their home, beside the river today, he would likely throttle his adorable little daughter! However the soon to be mage knew that she had to take that risk, the first rule her mother wrote in the book was to practice utterly alone, due to how destructive wind magic could become, especially in the early, rather uncontrolled stages. Apart from its express instructions to avoid any nearby people to potentially harm on accident? Her mother had written that she should start training on a day like this, at a time where if she blew out the candle, the wind and elements surrounding her, could be her only guide. So when this fog had rolled in the night before? She prayed it would hold until she could sneak out while her father was at his shop during the day, or passed out drunk in bed! Luckily for the aspiring little magician it had held and now her eyes skimmed the first wind spell in the book once more, closing the book and setting it down on the soft dewy ground. “I’m ready” the wind seemed to come alive as she spoke, and she relished the feeling, bringing her lantern's flame up to her pale pink mouth, tongue curling outwards slightly as she blew softly towards the flame, watching it dance and die under her breath, Controlling flames like that? It was intoxicating as a form of power, especially after what they had done to her mother, and this time extinguishing the fire was giving her something else, her first chance ever to practice wind magic! “See the wind moving the fog.” the female looked down at her own hands, watching as she slowly managed to manipulate the fog around them and slowly began to see something else besides the white transparent texture of the fog. What she began to see around her fragile clawed hands? Was light grey in color, so fluid and composed in it’s movement, almost as if it was dancing, but it was also powerful, she could feel the wind lifting up her hair, revealing her blue eye as she gasped. However this was a mistake “OW” the female lost her focus and the wind exploded around her hand’s, blood dripping down into the white sea surrounding her, tears pricking in the child’s eyes as she sank to her knees, done and defeated for that day. How was she going to explain her cut up hands to her father without mentioning magic?! Jiyu sniffled as she gazed upon her damaged appendages, kneeling there, before she felt the wind wrap in an embrace around her shoulders, pulling a gasp from her mouth. Kazehime had read in the book that she would and should, had to, form a connection or bond of some kind with the wind. However? The young child had not expected it was a literal sense, that the wind would come to know her enough from just one spell, to feel her tears and try to brush them from her cheek’s! With closed eyes, she leaned more into the winds shockingly solid touch, sighing out “I can do this” and letting her body lay down, thinking of an excuse and trying to find sight of her lantern and it’s spare match, so she could find her way home. Little did Jiyu know she’d not really need that sort of light again now that her magic and thus her abilities were active.
Growing up before her mother’s death and her first magic spell? She’d always had better senses than her peers, and been hard working, a ruff and tumble sort of child. However after that day, everything seemed to grow exponentially until it blossomed into it’s current level. “What about the sky tower?” she was broken out of her reflection by one of the other boys prompting the one trying to cuddle with her, to simply continue his story, and she was grateful for that, with her current reminsistic state the wind mage was not entirely sure she had the physical strength to push the young man away from her, only the ability to sit there and listen to them, as her mind played games with her and danced about her heart. As one of the other non-mage waitress brought the food over, Kazehime figured her time was running short, but damn she could be off shift for all she knew, how could she even tell how long she’d been sitting with them. Calming her breathing slowly she listened to them dutifully “Well at the very top of it-” he was using suspense and it was ticking the mage off, her body leaning forward as he desired, as if she didn’t want to miss what he was saying and that might be the only truthful thing about her interaction with them this evening! “I’ve been hearing these rumors-” could this prick just spit out the information she’d been working him for most of the night?! Jiyu’s ears and the rest of her senses had about expired in their ability to even function, every single sensory organ on her body throbbing painfully and weeping softly at it’s owner. A few more seconds? Right after he gave up what he was holding out on her? Than she could go relax, ease her distressed body. “Well the tale these days is that a Gem sits at the top of the tower.” oh great it was just some uber pretty gem. While Jiyu did have a nice appreciation for shiny objects? This was not nearly shiny enough to chase away the utter dread that settled in over the fact this effort put in tonight, had been worth almost nothing in the end, only serving to put her into a state where once able, she’d collapse and fall asleep right away. “It’s held between two griffons and it’s called the gem of time.” wait it had a name and lure to it? When he kept speaking the wind mage seemed to perk up, eyes begging and willing him to say anything more as she leaned in again, hopeful once more. Most times? People did not make statues, especially griffon ones, for something not uber important; Someone might try to steal it and she could stop them, that would be worth something! If she could put up the time to keep an eye on the glittering shiny object at the top of a tower! “I’ve saved the most interesting for last thought!” he exclaimed it shooting up with his drink, taking a hero’s pose with his beverage, in drunken stupor. Even though he was moving along the explaination? Jiyu only wished he’d get along with it twice as fast as he currently was, right now he was still wasting her time! Crossing her legs she struggled to remain passive and lady like. “This thing sits atop a sky mosaic carved into the tower floor, and it’s said to have only one ability!” he was waiting for the astounded gasps and she managed one somehow, despite not being impressed just yet, pushing herself up. Honestly? No matter how bad she wanted this, her ears had begun to commit murder on her body some time ago, and she just couldn’t stay any longer, really. Already? She had a blush across her face like a fever, but it was due to sensory overload, watching their concerned looks as she panted. “Sorry I’m not feeling well.” suddenly the boy who had been flirting with her all night seemed to change, and it confused her, he put his hands on her shoulders, sliding one to between them, to help hold her nearly fainted form up. “You live here right, one of Black Rose’s mage’s? I can help you to your room.” and marschal wasn’t allowed to stop this man from doing just that, the wind mage looked around for the boy, but the drunk was nowhere in sight, only the sheep eyed boy. However the trip back to her room was nothing like she expected! Instead of trying to touch her intimately and get into her bedroom tonight? This boy suddenly became a gentleman of sort’s, pushing her along by the middle of her back and supporting her with his arms, not hands, it made her flush and think of Marschal…. Poor none cat eared boy, he was being so sweet to her and all she could think of was the man she was always yelling at anyways. However one last thought entered her head as he opened her door for her, offering to close it for her as well. “What is the gem suppose to-” she sighed and leaned against her dresser, looking over, and he stopped cutting around everything, as if he had needed her alone to tell her this, come to tell it to her. “It lets one learn with one's master once more” he closed her door for her and she sunk weakly to the floor, digging her barely regrown claws into the wood and leaving visible scratches in it.
Learning from one’s master once more? Jiyu thought about the wording of that as she leaned against her dress, head pressed again it’s wooden side panel, slowly pushing her trembling body up. Even now that she was away from the over stimulation? Kazehime was in agony, her ears and nose threatening to commit some sort of rebellion and murder her, steps so ungraceful you’d believe the wind user had just been born as she slouched and stumbled. Even though her bed was only five feet away from the door at most? The young woman felt as if she had walked for years or even centuries, by the time her jaded body was allowed to flop down on the super soft wooly blanket stretched over her single twin mattress, of course it’s twin was elsewhere in the building, but that didn’t change the fact it was only built for one person, and that singular entity was the wind mage and only her. Honestly? She missed the day she’d woken up in Marschal’s bed, curled within his blanket, wrapped up comfortingly in his thick and potent scent. Laying there with the scent of his drinking, the ash from fire she guessed was from the restaurant or some spell she hadn’t seen yet, potent and tangy cleaner’s he used due to being such a germaphobe, and lastly the basic feline like scent he carried atop the scents like rose garden that just happened to cling to him? Jiyu didn’t think there was anything better than that, and she so desperately wished as she laid down in her own bed, sprawled out on it, that she could be doing this in his. Even when he was out on mission’s? It would be a blessing to her, the room would always carry his scent and she wouldn’t have to miss him like this. Sometimes missing him irked her more than anything he ever actually did, Jiyu didn’t understand why she longed for him so much once he was out of her sight and scent range, once she could no longer feel his magnetic signature or hear his heartbeat! However none of her own displeasured changed the fact she felt this way, slender hand reaching for one pillow and pulling it to cover her stomach, feeling the fabric of her dress itching at it. After having traveled around in a bikini top and jeans at best for so long, plus those two captive years, any fabric touching those parts of her was itchy, but she honestly didn’t have the care to change right now. As she rolled over? Jiyu brought the pillow up to her chest to hug, ebony locked head laying on her second pillow, a sigh escaping from her body, as she put out the effort to slip under the covers. When she woke up, Kazehime knew she’d likely be out of the dress, and on the floor, her bodies punishment for not taking off the itchy garment before falling into slumber. However? Tonight the female could care less where she woke up the next morning, inhaling the deep and earthy scent of her blanket. Sighing out the female balled one hand into her blanket, curling her body into an almost fetal position, one foot already sticking off the bed. Sleep thought, it didn’t come easy tonight, even exhausted as her brain was, it could not stop thinking about what she had learned tonight. To the south of Rose Garden and the north of her old home in peace village? There was a tower that reached into the sky, and atop it existed a gem held by two griffons, and this gem was called the gem of time. Jiyu could care less about the jewel itself, but something like that, oh heavens, something that let someone learn from their mentor again! Kazehime wondered desperately if it would mean the mentor one actually learned from physically, which in her case was nothing more or less than a simple leather bound book that now always rested on her night stand (It had been such a hassle to locate and get it back after her two year captivity, but it was precious), or if the gem would actually take what someone considered their mentor, quite literally. Even though she’d learned from reading a book? Jiyu had always considered only one woman her mentor, she never felt like she was learning from reading a book, whenever she was learning magic it was like her long haired border collie looking yet gorgeous mother was really there, teaching her, not six feet under ground as a corpse burnt beyond recognition! It had been part of the reason she fought so hard to keep practicing magic, even against her father’s wishes, Wind Magic, it was the only thing besides the book her odd eyes now stared at, it was the only thing left of her mother in this world, besides herself! For Jiyu the only way to keep the older woman alive was to practice the magic she’d left behind. In the past slightly over ten years since she’d come into possession of the book? The young mage had never considered finding some way to see her deceased mother again, after-all the dead did not rise and even when they did, nothing about them was the same! However this gem was different, it sounded strange, but she wondered if maybe, just possibly, somehow there was the slightest chance, that it would let her see the woman who had given her magic. Laying there, she could not find herself anyway to fall into sleep, the only thing that Jiyu could think of was if the Gem Of Time would allow her to legitimately train with her mother for once in her life. Mostly? It seemed too good to ever be any bit truthful, however she had some trace of hope as well, the ideal turning over and over again in her head as her breathing hitched and her eyes misted over. Tomorrow? She’d have to set out to try that, and with the decision made she fell into dark slumber once more.
Tortuously bright rays of dancing, playful sun beams poured into the room once more and she could feel them trying to burn holes through her face. Normally? She relished in when the light returned to an active state in the world, considering she’d become paralyzed by the darkness after being forced to spend two years in it. However this morning was just one of those where she wished that she could be capable of staying in dark unknowing sleep for just a few hours longer than she had been contained within it! Jiyu could feel every single muscle in her body screeching at her, urging her to just roll over and find some way to go back to sleep, even though it was dawn already, her ears and nose feeling mostly numb as she sat up slowly, pushing against the bed. Even if her body did not want to agree with anything she desired for this currently new day? The wind mage had her own plans, apart from being utterly shocked she had woken up on her bed instead of the floor, this morning. However the dress she had fallen asleep in, was thrown straight across the room, hanging against a picture in the corner of the room, she’d certainly expected that thought, it was itchy and she only wore it because somehow it was a uniform of sorts. Quickly Jiyu decided that before acting out any plans she had for that day she had to get herself dressed, as she could not go around town naked, that would get her in trouble. Plus? Having some sort of clothing on, even if it was her normal ‘stripper’ like attire, was some comfort when compared to the bruises and marks on her fragile body! So the wind mage went right for her normal clothing in terms of items, picking out a bikini top, today’s being a light baby blue color, and sliding on jean shorts that were dark blue in color. Once she was dressed, the female went over to her dresser once more and picked up her hair brush, even if Marschal was not here right now, she still maintained her unruly locks, simply because he had mentioned how much he disliked the way she once it go, when they first met, Shockingly? Maintaining it for someone other than herself, no longer irked the female, at first it had enraged her and she had sometimes taken it out on him, but well Jiyu these days adored having her hair brushed, especially since it was just a bit shorter than her mother’s. However, it was sad that the years of not maintaining it properly had left their mark, and now it was almost impossible to keep the locks straight, they were curly and unruly, nothing could be done about them, unless she was going to spend over three hours working on her hair alone! Jiyu was not able to focus on her soft locks for that long, it just was not happening. Before long the magus was aiming to pick up her bow from beside her dresser, clipping it secured to her short’s. Once more? She proved that she had not given Marschal back his jacket yet, because she picked it up off her dresser, one of the few neat things in the room unfolding it and sniffing it before she slipped it onto her arms and smiled happily. After she did this whole pseudo mission thing? She’d give it back to him so that it could soak in his scent once more, but for now she guessed the item had enough scent left on it, at least for a simple trip to this sky tower, gem of time, place. One more thing was needed before she could leave though, and that was some more arrows encase things got dangerous. Walking to the other corner of her room, Jiyu began to count her arrows, reaching up to the full twenty four projectiles. With everything she needed within her grasps, the wind mage slung her quiver over her back, feeling the strap cut between her breasts, her hand finally tucking her knife into her sleeve. “I suppose I should get going, I want to make it there without having to stop the night.” she might end up tempted to make a visit to peace village or something, being that close to it, however Jiyu did not want to ever go back there! Thus she walked forward and closed her door behind her, walking carefully so that she would not wake up anyone else in the guild, especially because she did not want company for this mission. Jiyu wandered further until she got into the kitchen, a small backpack in her arms, opened and ready to receive items, eat them so to speak. Considering she wanted to wake no one? She also would not be eating breakfast here, she could do that on the road or in some shop on the way. Thus the wind mage only bothered grabbing a few fruits that would keep for long enough to do this mission, brushing her hand across an apple before watching it vanish into the bag. Briefly? She wondered if she should go buy smoke balls or something, but decided against it, picking up a juice box from the fridge, finally venturing forward and out the door. As she glanced back at the guild? She wondered if she should leave word with someone for Marschal so he would not think she’d been kidnapped again, but she quickly decided she’d not be gone long enough for that. So now she was heading off, on a wild goose chase, for a whimsical ideal she had not even had as a child, she hadn’t even thought these things right after her mother died, but now, she couldn’t get the idea to go away.
The trek was longer than she would have ever liked it to be, in fact the wind sorceress was rather ticked with the length of the walk she’d have to conduct, just to get to this godforsaken tower! Currently? She couldn’t even see the tower, her feet touching against hard sidewalk's, heading out of rose garden and any fairly advanced towns surrounding it. Most of the time? Jiyu was ready and happy to give up what many civilized comforts to go on jobs and enter into less developed but much more peaceful and less bustling area’s. However this time the only thing filling her heart was apprehension, varying forms of dread. Kazehime could not even believe she was embarking on some quest like this one, it was all on rumors and it was for the pursuit of something she’d known to be impossible since she was merely a young child who lost her mother to a flaming murderer! Why was it only now that she was beginning to believe in things so whimsical these days? Jiyu was so much happier when she was more practical and the female kept telling herself that she really had been happy on her own, with an unreliable father and then on her own truly before she joined Black Rose. However she internally knew the truth was very different from that, she was so much more delighted now that she had people to share her days with. Even if she yelled at him so often? She adored the feeling she got when Marschal held her close, and when Leila held her hand on jobs she felt as if she could do anything. For so long after losing her Mother the young human had forgotten about how much other people could make you feel, and how amazing it could be to give into those sensations. However as each and every day passed by, the female grew more back into those feelings, ones that if she had never lost, never needed to hunt for again, without knowing what she was chasing, she would have never found anything outside Peace Village. So in a way? Even if her mother’s death had taken a good deal away from her, the event had also given her some things in return. Those thoughts faded from her frail little head as she padded forward, finally passing out of the towns that happened to be large and bustling, into smaller settlements that everyone knew each other in. At the moment? She was not even done her juice box, mostly stuck inside her own head as she considered the things that had driven her to take such a rash and idiotic action as seeking out the Gem Of Time to train with her dead mother. Once upon a time she had not cared about anything besides for pushing forward in life, not even progressing, just not staying in the same position from day to day, seeking out new things. Becoming an actual guild backed mage? Had been the thing to trigger her desire to strive forward within magic, to become better at casting, performing and every such thing, alongside the desire to never be weak again. So she owed most of her drive to a single man, and that drove her nuts, thought these days it was in a very good way, most of the time. Yet since she didn’t understand her feelings? Jiyu took them out on Marschal instead of expressing to him, it was just her way of showing she cared, even if it was such a crude method. She laughed slightly, her feet falling onto the soft feeling of normal grass and dirt roads. By now? She wandered past the ending point of the last town on her way to the tower! It wouldn’t be much longer, until she could see her mother again, of course this was a long shot, but if this Gem really did allowed you to learn from a mentor, her only mentor that was not an inanimate object, had been her mother! After over seven years, she missed the older woman terribly and was also loosing objective on what she should do with her life. While she wanted to smell the roses sometimes? She did not want her mother to think she’d abandon her pursuit for revenge in her name! Thus if this would give her the chance to speak to her mother, even just an illusion of her mother generated from her own head? It would be well worth the trek it would require to get this far. So arriving at the base of the tower, Jiyu gathered her courage and placed her hand on the side of the door frame, crossing the threshold and starting up the dimly lit corridors, the stairs being decent sized, yet numbered so many she wondered if this climb was truly possible. Kazehime gulped slightly as she ventured further, panting at the effort required to get up the steps, until she finally saw a bright light emitting from above. Upon arriving at the summit of the super tall tower? Jiyu could tell this was indeed the place mentioned by the prior night's costumer’s, looking around at the astounding view to see the achingly familiar shape of peace river and village to the south, a brilliant sky patterned mosaic beneath her feet. Lastly? The two griffons stood tall and proud, their stone claws reaching outwards to hold the immovable gem in place, but she’d never heard of it’s dim golden glow before, the sight taking some of her breath away, as she walked towards it. Even if she had come all this way? Jiyu had done no research, even if the jewel had the powers boasted to it, the young mage had no idea how to trigger them! Came all this way and she would get entirely no pay out besides for reflection from it, that really sucked. However since she did come all this way, the wind mage felt the need to just, touch it, before she went home with her metaphorical tail between her legs for the time being. Thus the young female walked forward, her breath taken away as she lifted her pale scratched up hand, small fingers reaching outstretched for it, not knowing all she had to do to trigger it’s power was lay her pretty little hand on it, she did it, and the golden glow engulfed her “wha?!” she felt consumed by the warmth from it, and nearly fought it for a second, before her eyes closed and she vanished from the living realm, feeling her surroundings vanish instead of herself. She was going to get what she wanted, but of course Jiyu normally did, such a spoiled child.
