In this world, Magic is Everything. All people, all races, are granted with the power to perform mystical and magical feats via grimories, mystical tomes granted to each and every child on their 15th birthday. Those blessed by the mana can have their names written down in legend.
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Post by Heshin Shinsei on Apr 2, 2022 14:37:08 GMT -5
Blood is thicker than water; A misquoted saying whose meaning was all but lost when read this way. It seemed to imply that, as a basis, ones familial ties were thicker than whatever other relationships may form. This was, of course, not true. The original saying, before becoming bastardized, was 'The blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb.' Quite a different energy about it, and an entirely different meaning. In reality, it meant that the bonds one formed intentionally with those around them meant far more than arbitrary familial ties. It was quite the powerful statement, with a meaning that seemed at odds with the ideals of Nobility. After all, for Noble families, it was their blood itself which gave their lives meaning, and it was the circumstances of their birth which drove their lives. It made sense, then, that nobles would prioritize family above all else.
Despite what many may believe, the Shinsei family was not like this.
To clarify, that was not to say that family was not important to the Shinsei line; on the contrary, family was the most important thing to them! Yet despite this, they found a rather profound depth to the aforementioned phrase. So how could this be, that a saying which so fundamentally seemed to clash with everything about this bloodline would be so appreciated? This was due to a longstanding tradition in which the Family Lead and Family Head would ensure close cooperation and bonds were formed between the younger members of the family early, and that they would be allowed to socialize and learn form the older members as soon as they were thought capable. While the lessons and playdates were all carefully formulated to ensure the optimal amount of education and growth, they were also intentionally crafted to be enjoyable and fun for the children. This ensured that ties of importance would be created early on, and that the children of the household would understand that family meant growth as well as enjoyment.
As the children grew older and learned the truth, nothing would change. It wasn't as if they would find out and suddenly despise the past they had so cherished. In fact, it was usually the opposite. After coming to understand the work and dedication which the older members of the family displayed towards the youth, and how much they strived to ensure an environment in which children felt cherished, loved, and protected, the young adults would develop a deeper adoration for their family. They'd come to understand just how much they were cared for, and how much they mattered. It was a foolproof system, and one that in truth never stopped.
Heshin was the oldest of the newer generation, and as such, he had become the Head of the household. While this put him in a unique position in which he had power and influence over the family, the respect which accompanied the title really was only shown during meetings or in situations which explicitly called for it. There were exceptions, of course; members of the family who insisted on always treating him with the respect his title deserved. For the most part, though, and with the children he helped raise and instruct, there was a much closer relationship. One of friends, and truly of family. It was around these family members whom Heshin could relax the most around, and it was with one of these members that he now found himself.
"Hello, Thalassa," he spoke, his voice rich and deep, yet smooth like velvet to the ears. He had arrived at a quaint little cafe a short while ago, awaiting the sister who now had arrived. He stood, offering a very minimal bow with a head tilt as a sign of acknowledgement and respect, a gentle smile on his lips the entire time. His eyes locked onto hers, and he motioned towards the chair across from him. "Please, take a seat." As she would relax into her chair, he would mimic the action by falling into his own. "Mother asked about you, you know. She wants to know when you'll be checking in next."
It wasn't a surprise that she had been invited out to have what she could only assume was lunch with her eldest brother. The two had been rather close as with all the siblings of the Shinsei family, but this was a little different as she was usually accompanied by her twin. The two weren't inseparable but they were around each other more often than not, something that ingrained a sense of longing in her when the other wasn't around. The bond between the family was just that strong and that was not by mistake or coincidence, it was just the way of life for one born into the Shinsei family.
Gliding through the masses with a smile on her face and a servant boy a few steps behind her who carried her things with gloved hands, Thalassa was like a ray of sunshine amongst the people. Wherever she went in the noble region she was greeted with " hellos " and " how beautiful you are today " and the ever-popular " please accept my marriage proposal ". It was amusing yet exhausting though she still maintained her mask of friendly and kind deposition and addressed every person who spoke to her. The warm sun and cool breeze made the interactions only slightly bearable but the thought of spending time with her brother also brightened her up a bit. Since she had become a member of the Blue Roses her time was spent bettering herself and she spent less time at home and more time within the walls of the Blue Roses headquarters. In her mind, she had picked such a weak path that only benefited others and because of that, she needed to work that much harder to bring recognition to herself. Her need to want to help her family only fueled her choices which only pulled her deeper into her work.
Walking up to the cafe dressed in a simple navy blue dress with lace trim, long white socks, and navy blue mary jane shoes, Thalassa really was just adorable. As her eyes met with Heshin's her smile grew a little wider, approaching him with a little more pep in her step. Hello, Heshin. Her words danced from her lips like a butterfly on the wind, ever so pleasant to hear yet fleeting. Matching his bow with a little curtsey of her own she swept her hand over the back of her dress and took a seat as he did, her servant standing off to the left of her but still a few steps behind. She was thankful to have such a dedicated and well-trained servant, this one she hadn't had to beat since he hadn't made a mistake since he had been in her " employment ". It really was nice to find good workers.
Oh did she now? Well, I'd hate to show up in front of her with no real achievements to present to her. Mother might be loving but she's also hard to impress, best not to get on her bad side by showing up empty-handed.
It really was hard to please mother, a woman who strived only for the best and nothing less. Her approval is what they all sought and Thalassa was no less. Since she just joined the Blue Roses she had planned on at least getting a few stars under her belt before showing her face to her mother, but it seems like she's going to need to come around a lot sooner. Before she could say another word a waitress of slim build, long white hair, and crimson irises came up and set down some menus before introducing herself as " Rose " and telling them about the special of the day. Thalassa stopped listening to the girl after her name, picking up the menu and scanning it over she would wait to see if Heshin ordered anything before sending the woman away so that she could keep looking over the menu in peace.
Post by Heshin Shinsei on Apr 3, 2022 7:30:53 GMT -5
Thalassa had arrived, a servant from the family in quick pursuit. Heshin's eyes slowly drifted from his little sister to the boy following swiftly behind her. He wore a charming, content smile on his lips, yet the eldest son saw only a mask in which to cover anxiety. No family was uniform in personality, and despite the closeness and cooperation within house Shinsei this was no exception. Each of the family members had their flaws, the things which stuck out in which to make them unique, and the poor servant boy was likely well aware of the rumors swirling around the girl in which he served. These rumors had never made it outside of the family, and so it wasn't as if a stranger or even close friend to the family would have heard of this, yet the servants spoke amongst themselves. They would never let it leak; they knew the potential backlash should they allow rumors to spread, yet that didn't prevent them from sharing it amongst themselves when they were alone and isolated from the world.
Thalassa, as it turned out, was not always cheerful and upbeat. Truth be told, she was almost never in this constant state of euphoria and joy that the world bore witness to. In reality it was how she had chosen to present herself to the world. Heshin couldn't know for sure why she chose this behavioral pattern specifically; many within the Shinsei family acted in a way which they thought was expected of them. Truth be told, though, it was up to the individual to interpret the world around them and understand how they should behave. The secret was that there was no wrong answer, and yet so many of the family spent so long thinking that their actions had to reflect a specific pattern in order to appease himself or Mother. It wasn't ever his place to correct them, and why would he?
For that was fun, too.
"Hard to impress, but for good reason." His words were sweet like honey, and as the server girl approached he could see her glancing between the siblings in a mild sense of disbelief. The Shinsei family was known to be rather physically appealing, so it was no surprise that she felt caught off guard, even in the realm of the Nobles in which appearance was paramount.
Picking up on his sisters behavior, he turned his smile to the girl. "We'll be needing a moment, thank you." As she turned and left, he turned his attention back to his sister. "Thalassa, it really is good to see you again." His voice held a sincerity that was not filtered behind a mask. There was no need to lie or to put on airs with family, and it was the truth that he loved his siblings very much. However, Heshin served as more than an older brother. He was also the Head of the Shinsei House, and that meant that there were times which he had to act as the head rather than a sibling. It was a truth that his sisters and brothers knew well, and yet it was still something that he knew could make their blood run cold at times.
"Now," his voice was cold now, his golden hues locking onto her gaze as if to penetrate through to her very being. "I would like an update on how you have been performing in your duties as a Magic Knight. Things are going well, I take it?"
Of all her siblings Heshin was the one that made her blood run cold, the only one to make her blood run cold to be exact. Yes, she loved all of her family but there was something about the oldest that was simply....Off. Maybe it was because he had spent more time with mother than the rest of them, picking up something from her that the rest of them just didn't get. Perhaps it was his overwhelming power and being a holder of a fabled tier grimoire. Whatever it was she was always slightly on edge around him even if she didn't show it outwardly. Once the waitress was dismissed by him her eyes moved from the menu and back to Heshin. His honeyed words would fall on deaf ears as she awaited his real reason for calling her out here today. Yea they could just be enjoying each other's company because they were family but she knew better as his voice changed from honey to ice. Placing the menu on the table she held his gaze, in part too afraid to drop it and in another part knowing that standing down would place her in a position that would strip her of worth, and as a Shinsei she wasn't about to let that happen.
Well considering I only started a week ago I'd say things are going about as well as they can possibly go. I've been too busy to meet up with other members of my squad but that will change soon.
She kept the same tone of voice she addressed him with when she appeared before him. Already getting pressed about what she was doing when she just started as a Magic Knight..Typical. She was in truth lacking and putting her attention on her magic, trying to craft spells and such but now she can see that she'll need to get on producing some sort of results. A week in and no stars to show for it? Clearly not the Shinsei way. She should have already been getting praise for being a rookie ahead of the curve. Thalassa wishes her twin was here, it was easier to hide in their shadow than stand on her own sometimes. A weakness that she had to admit that she needed to purge from herself if she wanted to rise as one of the best.
What about you dear brother? We all thought you'd be going to Golden Dawn but you chose Azure Deer, what a strange choice for our dear leader. Have you perhaps obtained a few stars yet?
The question was posed as innocently as possible, her gaze never dropping from his own. If they were gonna tit for tat then she wasn't going to be left holding an empty bag. There was no way he was ahead of her but if he was she would have to try harder to match his achievements. A smile played on her face and she shifted ever so slightly in her chair to cross her legs, sitting in a position of comfort while not losing the poise of nobility. Now the ball was in his court, but once again they were interrupted by the waitress who had set down some iced tea which was apparently compliments of the owner. The waitress explained that it was butterfly pea sweet tea before quickly moving away from the table. Thalassa was parched so this was a good welcome as she looked over to her servant boy who quickly placed her things in a nearby empty chair before pouring herself and Heshin some tea. Nodding to the boy who quickly returned to his spot, she picked up her glass and took a sip of the cool yet delicious tea.
Maria walked through the streets with a well made cloak over her head, a simple tunic with gems replacing the buttons, and silk shorts. All eyes were on her due to her getting her grimoire only recently. As a proud member of the Shinsei, she was expected to join the Magic Knights. In fact, all of her siblings were already in squads. So which one would she join? In truth she did not know. The thought never crossed her mind. After all, when everyone else was so great, talented, and accomplished all you could do was hope and pray you would not trip and fall on your face with your shoes overgrown with expectations. Like mother always said, she had big shoes to fill.
The thing Maria was worried about most was being gifted with a grimoire worthy of her family. It took her a bit longer than the others to discover her magic when she was little, or so she was told, and everyone was constantly pushing her to be better, be gifted, be the prodigy just like Henshin was. Everyday was studying, practicing mana control, exercising, lectures, on and on. The rooms were always so stuffy. There were so many eyes on her at any one time. It was suffocating. So she could only imagine the horror that would come had the grimoire she was gifted been of low quality. While she was not blessed with the renowned Platinum book like Heshin, she was able to breathe a sigh of relief that it was at least an acceptable tier just like her other sibling.
It took a while for her to shake that surprise and happiness her gift brought her. However, a new bar was placed above her. It was something she should have known was coming. She was told about it, taught about what each squad specialized in, and preached how this choice would be the most important thing in her life. Yet, she wasted her time dreading the about getting the stupid book. Maria placed her hand over the hoister which held her grimoire. It was her 2nd greatest gift but sometimes she wondered if it was a curse. What if she was deemed a failure and freed from those expectations? Either way, now she had to figure out which squad she would join at the Magic Knights Entrance Exam.
What if she did not get accepted. What if nobody wanted her. She looked at her hands. She still struggled at projecting her magic offensively and constructing anything that could support her in battle. The best she could do was create gems that would amplify her physical abilities or rejuvenate her vitality. If only she could use better offensive techniques. If only she could show off so everyone would be happy about her. She did not want to let anyone down. She did not want to fail. She did not want to be left behind.
It was at this moment that she heard a couple of familiar voices. She turned her head and noticed her eldest brother and one of the twins together talking at a cafe, drinking tea at that. She wanted tea. However her instincts wondered if it was a good idea. After all, she did run away again. It was a terrible habit when she felt overstressed. Before, she would get in trouble because of danger but now, it was solely because she was "now" slacking. Still, it was not like her siblings knew she was running away. They all had lives, training, and squads. She smiled happily with her logic. Worst case scenario, she would just say she was asking for advice on what squad to join while getting some tea.
She entered the café and pushed a chair up to the table where her siblings sat. "Prodigious Big Brother, Wonderful big sister. What a wonderful surprise to see you both here. I hope the Knights are treating you all well. Mother is always talking about you both. How prestigious you both make our family." She sat in the chair and presented her signature smile. A tea cup was placed in front of her and a man was pouring tea into her cup. Within seconds, she was dropping sugar cubes into her drink. "Oh and I too would love to learn what events lead you to choose Azure Deer. It is such a cute group. I wonder if they really fit someone like you." Her smile shifted into something more mischievous hinting at the true nature of her comments.
Only, suddenly she remembered seeing a sign on her walk through the area. It was not something she was thinking about while she was walking, but with the people she cared and trusted the most, she was free enough from her stress in order to actually process the information safely. "Oh Sis, you are in the Blue Rose. Did you hear about the Flower Blossom Festival? Want to go there together? Big Bro, you should come too. That way mother would be more approving of me going. Also, it would be nice to do things together again. I'm sure if you come then it would be easier to get Iakah to join. Then it would be the four of us again... at least for a bit." Maria gave a small giggle before she started sipping her tea.
Post by Heshin Shinsei on Apr 5, 2022 17:46:45 GMT -5
"Your insecurity is ugly, sister." He was blunt. There were those who played in battles of wits, and Heshin was no different, but this was not the time for this. Not when one was with family. "Your duties as a magic knight is not singled out to stars- I myself have not gained any either. Promotions are certainly important, but there needs to be growth. And have you begun growing, as a proper Shinsei should?" She was courageous, willing to speak up when she felt slighted, but one needed to know the limits to their reach.
Yet his attention couldn't sit solely on Thalassa, as another had joined their table. He turned towards Maria, arguably the most innocent of the Shinsei clan, and offered what some could describe as a warm smile. Like his mother, he placed great expectations on his baby sister to become a powerful member of the family and to properly grow to represent their interests. Yet between the two, he was without a doubt the one who seemed to have a soft spot for his baby sibling. He didn't particularly, of course; he cared for her the same he did all his siblings. Unlike them, however, she crumbled into dust under the slightest bit of pressure.
"Of course, Maria. That sounds like a great idea." Turning back to Thalassa, he tilted his head lightly in curiosity. "Would you be available, my dear little sister?"
Her perfect facade of a smile almost broke at her older brother calling her out on something she already knew about herself. Insecure. The word sent unwanted shivers down her spine because she knew, or at least she told herself that in private, where no one could see her, between praise and criticism in her mirror when she looked at herself. Insecure. The youngest twin, technically the middle child, and the one who chose food as her medium for a powerful gold grimoire. A Shinsei was never judged on the path they chose, they were judged on what they did on that path, and even though she knew that Thalassa had already told herself she was the weakest of the batch. To anyone outside of the family her gaze looked down with confidence but to those within the family she felt like she was climbing a ladder that she'd never reach the top of, running a race she had no right to be a part of. Her brain couldn't process a quick enough response to what she took as an insult so she kept quiet as her brother's words continued to attack her, like an adult scolding an ignorant child, or at least that's how she saw it.
The tea no longer tasted sweet on her tongue, and the bitter flavor profile started to kick in for her which made her put her cup down. A question was posed that continued to attack her where it hurt the most, and though she should have answered she used the arrival of her younger sister to ignore it. Maria Shinsei was the only one she didn't feel inferior to and the one she doted on the most due to how young the child was. Thalassa was happy that a distraction came around and placed itself in the middle of a conversation that would have ended much sooner had the youngest one not intervened. ah yes, the festival. Of course, I'll be attending Standing As she let those words fall from her lips her mind began to churn on it, Thalassa would of course go to this festival as she had no choice being a part of the Blue Roses, but she couldn't go dressed like this. You two can go ahead. I'll catch up with you the both of you, I'd like to freshen up a bit before partaking in all the fun. Giving her signature curtsey before departing with her servant trailing behind her, Thalassa could only hope that the rest of today would be easier to swallow than what she just went through.
Maria continued to smile before taking another sip of her tea. This was perfect and now she was sure she had the backing she needed to attend the event. Best of all, since her big brother was coming, nobody would be able to say anything to her. It was unfortunate that her big sister would be taking a breather to get change. If anything she probably should also get changed along with telling her tutor that she officially would be missing her lessons. She finished her cup and then jumped down from her seat. With a small bow, she told her bother that she had to take care of a small thing but she would meet him there. (exit)
