"Now, back to our previous conversation... Scylla, if you want to get into Bloom, you still have so much work to do. We've covered the basics, but there's still a lot left for you to figure out. For a quick example, horseback riding—proper control of both yourself and the horse, is a basic necessity. Unfortunately your powers don't facilitate any sort of mobility, this isn't something you can put off. More importantly, unlike horseback riding controlling yourself; it isn't optional."
Scylla shift atop Grace, navigating through the swamp. The dense, damp air clings to her skin as the soft squelch of hooves in the muck is the only sound besides the occasional rustle of swamp life around them. Carelessly drifting off, at best half paying attention.
"Eh hem, as you could have guessed, your father doesn't take much of a liking to me, but even so, he expressed a lack of faith in your ability to show restraint. He confided in me. Please, for his sake—and for mine—at least consider…"
"Readjusting herself, Scylla straightened her back and shifted the saddle. 'I will consider nothing,' she proclaimed."
"I bet it's easy for you and Father to judge, sitting on the sidelines, blissfully unaware of what it's like to have something like this inside me—this monster. My mother didn't have to go through half the pain I did when she was my age."
"And yet, you've shown more care than either of them has even with my mother having shared my troubles.
Believe me, your parents care far more for you than you think they do. If they didn't, they wouldn't have purchased me."
For it being half of the places i've ever known
I hate it
The swamp
The air is thick with the briny scent of saltwater, a pungent reminder of the swamp's edge. After a steady hour of walking, the moisture in the air clings to my skin, and the ground beneath my boots squelches with every step. The scent of damp earth, decaying leaves, and the subtle tang of brine fills my lungs—the kind of smell that settles deep in my bones. The swamp stretches ahead, its still waters dark and glassy, dotted with patches of overgrown reeds and tangled roots. I've arrived at the heart of it now. The quiet hum of the bog wraps around me like a blanket, as if the sun itself has hushed down, watching our arrival.
He smiles, his hand brushing through Grace's mane as she nudges him gently, her ears flicking in appreciation. "Good girl," he murmurs, offering her another apple. The horse eagerly accepts the treat, her soft lips brushing his hand. "You made a good stop back there," he says with a soft chuckle, giving her a pat on the neck. "We're almost there."
Brutus, walking up beside Scylla, gives her a hand to help her down from the horse. He keeps his movements smooth, careful not to jar her from the saddle. "Careful now," he says with a slight grin, a hint of regret in his voice. "Wouldn't want to have to carry you back home."
Scylla rolls her eyes, but lets him assist her. "I can manage," she mutters, though she allows him to steady her. Once her "\\\" are firmly on the ground, she brushes off her outfit, glancing around at the swampy landscape surrounding them.
the low hum of the swamp's creatures, and the gentle glow of light filtering through the fog.
Scattered around them are various pieces of magical training equipment—arcane tools, practice dummies, enchanted blades lying on the damp ground, some half-buried in the swamp's soft muck. A few spellbooks are tucked beneath a tree, their covers damp but still readable, their pages fluttering slightly in the breeze.
"Looks like the training grounds haven't changed," Brutus remarks, his tone flat but observant. "Hope you're ready for what's ahead, Scylla."
Scylla, adjusting her gloves and giving a quick look at the scattered items, cracks a small grin. " ready as always." Her gaze lingers on the glowing marks in the distance—symbols left behind from previous training sessions—and her fingers twitch, eager to get started.
He nods, knowing it's going to be a long day. "Let's get to work then."
He smiles, his hand brushing through Grace's mane as she nudges him gently, her ears flicking in appreciation. "Good girl," he murmurs, offering her another apple. The horse eagerly accepts the treat, her soft lips brushing his hand. "You made a good stop back there," he says with a soft chuckle, giving her a pat on the neck. "We're almost there."
Brutus, walking up beside Scylla, gives her a hand to help her down from the horse. He keeps his movements smooth, careful not to jar her from the saddle. "Careful now," he says with a slight grin, a hint of mischief in his voice. "Wouldn't want to have to carry you back to camp."
Scylla rolls her eyes, but lets him assist her. "I can manage," she mutters, though she allows him to steady her. Once her feet are firmly on the ground, she brushes off her riding outfit, glancing around at the swampy landscape surrounding them.
Scattered around them are various pieces of magical training equipment—arcane tools, practice dummies, enchanted blades lying on the damp ground, some half-buried in the swamp's soft muck. A few spellbooks are tucked beneath a tree, their covers damp but still readable, their pages fluttering slightly in the breeze.
"Looks like the training grounds haven't changed," Brutus remarks, his tone flat but observant. "Hope you're steady and prepaired for what's ahead, Scylla."
adjusting her gloves and giving a quick look at the scattered items, Scylla cracks a small grin. "There's never a day im not." Her gaze lingers on the glowing marks in the distance—symbols left behind from previous training sessions—and her fingers twitch, eager to get started.
He nods, knowing it's going to be a long day. "Let's get to work then."
With Grace calmly grazing nearby, the two of them step forward, ready to dive into the magical challenges ahead. The swamp is quiet now, but they all know better than to assume that silence will last long.
"To start with, go around for a few laps with Grace while I get the equipment set up," Brutus says, giving Scylla a quick, purposeful glance as she starts to move toward the horse. He watches her swing herself back onto Grace with practiced ease.
"Got it," she responds, clicking her tongue lightly to urge Grace into motion. The horse, ready for action, moves into a steady trot, their form becoming a blur of movement as they circle the area. Scylla's posture is graceful, a blend of focus and ease as she guides the horse around the swamp's edge.
As she rides, Brutus turns his attention to the task at hand. He kneels down to pull a glowing spell tome from his satchel, its cover shimmering faintly in the low light. The intricate symbols and runes etched into the leather seem to pulse with faint energy, almost alive as he sets it carefully on a rock to keep it steady.
Next, he grabs the wooden panel—a simple structure, yet important. It's like a door on a hinge, but detached, standing on its own in the middle of the swamp. There's no frame around it, just the panel with weathered edges, standing crookedly. The hinge creaks slightly in the humid air, giving it an eerie, slightly unnatural vibe.
Finally, Brutus picks up a small, delicate looking orb, no bigger than his palm. Inside it, a swirling blue liquid moves restlessly, glowing with an inner light. The liquid is fluid yet seems almost solid in motion, as though it's being pulled by an unseen force. The orb hums faintly in his hand as he holds it steady, placing it carefully beside the panel.
He steps back, surveying the setup, his gaze drifting to Scylla, still riding gracefully around the perimeter. With everything in place, he mutters a soft incantation to activate the spell tome, the runes lighting up in response. The air seems to crackle, charged with magical energy, as the equipment begins to hum faintly.
"All set," Brutus says, as Scylla completes another lap on Grace. He moves to the side, waiting for her to return. "When you're ready, we can begin the first assessment."
Scylla slows Grace to a walk, her eyes already focused on the setup. "Ready when you are," she replies, her voice steady, concerned, but tinged with anticipation.
The first test is about to begin.