Fourth Quest: Makeovers, Magic, and Meditation

[lightnovelexperiences]

1: Makeovers
Deedee has, after a rough month, healed enough to start treating people in the spa and in her space in the Vault, personally, again. She's a little worse for wear, of course - but she's turned half of her hair burning off into an excuse for a hairstyle where half her head is shaved, and the other is in a side ponytail; it's a good look on her, if a bit... butch for her tastes.

As promised, she's doing a sale on beauty treatments; haircuts, dye-jobs, mani-pedis, nail painting. While she's still healing with her hands, she's also giving people new looks with a smile.

2: Magic
During her time healing and enforced Vault time, Deedee has been studying magic diligently, not wanted to get caught flatfooted by Imperial witches - be they jannisaries or otherwise - ever again. She's be studying the theory, practicing the techniques Ziel taught and in classrooms, and she finally feels like she's going to make a breakthrough.

Which is when you may find her in a training hall across from a candle, sitting seiza, taking deep breaths, fingers in a mudra before her. She exhales -

- a gout of flame that lights the candle, without melting it.

She opens her eyes, and whoops triumph.

3: Meditation

There is a shrine in the courtyard of the spa, now.

It doesn't advertise it's religious affiliation. To those who don't know what it is, it just looks like a pleasant little open-air structure; in moments of weakness Deedee refers to it with a smile as "The Dread Gazebo." But it has windchimes, and streamers of red tipped with white triangular "tails," and a central altar made of little brass flutes that catch the wind to make music; and every so often, you can see Deedee in there, meditating in motion, by dancing or practicing her martial arts.

It is her way of thanking and honoring Sylphan for delivering on his half of a vow made in desperation and in earnest; to help them free Terra Branford, and live to see her live free.

All are welcome to pray to Sylphan, the trickster-fox, the laughing wind, friend of travellers and fools, foe of tyrants - if you have need of him.

Comments

3: Meditation

[bearsperminute]

As a being of earth, usually, Kanna was more inclined to keep her Ether control sharp and her power clear by engaging in various forms of penance and ritual cleansing.

Having found such a shrine, however, and the place already being a place to wash... She makes a bare sop to modesty, and sits, and practices her breathing.

The fact that it reminds her of home, just a little bit, is coincidence. Plenty have made prayers with ribbons and flags. Even more have made devotions of shrines like this.

She utters no prayer. Clears her thoughts, or tries to. Lets the shill of February wash over her as she closes her eyes and breathes.

It is a simple thing, to ask a god's aid.

It is an altogether different thing, to see what is clearly a place of worship, and attempt to piece together a practice, even if it was based in your own-- and then, even further, to emulate that god's example.

2

[purplexing]

He's started to feel a bit more like himself enough to get back into his usual routines. Staff extended and in his hands, the turtlekin's spinning it slowly as he makes way into the training hall looking for an unoccupied space to make use of.

Even though he sees he's not the only one in here, Deedee's sudden exclamation startles him a bit. Still, he can't help for a faint smile. She looks and sounds a lot better than when he'd last seen her.

"I don't think I ever got to properly say thank you," he says as he steps over towards her.

1

[frost_and_shinies]

"Erm. Hello."

It's the Vault. And this girl chatted with you via the Ethernet once before, Deedee.

"... Er. Pleased to meet you in person?", she observes.

Makeovers

[spacetogrow]

"Hello, Deedee. Can I ask for some advice?"

Thankfully the winter weather means Ilphyl can keep a cloak and hood up. They are starting to worry they are a bit too distinctive looking. Which is why they are asking someone who knows how to do more with makeup than Ilphyl themselves.

(They also brought flowers for the shrine, albeit ones that they had been growing indoors and supplementing with magic. Ilphyl tends to be a bit transactional about divine offerings when they don't know the god well, but this means they are attentive about it.)