The Basilisk's Eye .:{Echo x Apollo}:.

"Very well, Ezra, now attack,
Let's see if in training I have been slack."

Just another normal day For Veces. Or, rather, a normal day since about thirteen years ago. Before then, he was nly worried about his curse, and about being powerful. But, long ago, on that fateful day, he had met his wife, a charming woman with whom he had the two oddest boys he had ever seen. The first, his wild boy, young Ezra. He was getting stronger with every day, and he's been using his crystal daggers like they were going to dissapear ever since Veces had given them to him. In fact, Veces and Ezra were just about to begin training, Veces casually holding his crystal scythe as he waited for his boy to strike. He knew where Vered was, too: He was probably with his mother, either in his flower garden or cooped up somewhere in the stone building they called a home. Just another normal day.
((.......Fail. I know it is. But I wanted to get it started, so this is all I've got. Sorry))

Guest

The sun had just risen over the horizon and was shining its light down on the simple stone cottage protruding alone just on the edge of a deep, forboding forest. It was the only building in sight for about a half mile; the nearest town was close enough for walking, but far enough away that the family that lived there wouldn't be bothered by peasants and solicitors. The humble abode also included a small shed and a rather large garden, an add-on that both parents agreed was necessary to their way of life, not only because of the need for food, but also due to the opinion of an old friend with a very green thumb. A clear, crisp stream gurgled merrily only a few dozen yards away from the home, a source for clean, fresh water when needed. Overall it was a perfect house for a family of four; the twins in the family needed as much free room to roam as possible.

Ezra's blue-toned eyes never left his father's as they warily circled each other, two hunters caught in a dance of metal and fury. His stark white hands contrasted greatly with the dark, deadly blades clutched in each hand. At Veces's words, he tensed, preparing to either be attacked, or to attack. When his father stayed still and silent, he took the initiative and sprang, both daggers aimed towards the neck. However, at the last second, he twisted and instead aimed at his stomach, hoping that the unexpected move would throw him off. Luckily, neither father nor son needed to worry too much about hurting the other; Ezra's brother, Vered, who was becoming quite the little magician, had shielded both his knives and his dad's scythe so that the worst damage they could do to each other was bruises.

Ezra, too, dabbled slightly in the affairs of myticism and magic. However, he much rather preferred the feel of hard, cold metal in his hands, and his oddly toned body gave away his constant battle to be as strong and physically fit as possible. Because of this, his knowledge of the magical arts was limited. He didn't mind too much though; when he could get his brother to spend time with him, they seemed almost an unstoppable force. Their powers, though still in the making, were suprisingly vast. Neither Veces nor their mother, Zuberi, knew where the power came from, but they assumed that it was from Veces's side, since Zuberi provided no magic, only wisdom and natural instincts, to their children.

His brother, usually studying whenever possible or else getting lectures from his father, was currently learning about the different types of herbs and plants that had been planted that year in their garden. Zuberi, dressed in a short white robe that flowed pleasantly over her curvaceous blue figure, was his teacher. Oddly enough, it was usually the other way around, with Zuberi fiercely preparing Ezra for battles and hunts while Veces instructed the more timid of the twins in folklore. Now, however, since Vered was the only son who could sit still long enough to learn about the foilage, Zuberi was taking to oppurtunity to teach him about the magical properties of herbs. The two had been in the garden for nearly an hour.

"This," she told him, delicately touching a spray of small, bright yellow flowers,"is common rue. It is a very powerful plant, only used when absolutely necessary. It heals nearly all wounds much faster than normal, and is also said to ward off venomous creatures and protect against poisons. Never use it unless your father or I instruct you to." Making sure he was still paying attention (which really wasn't necessary, considering that his whole, undivided attention was on her), she continued on to the next plant. It was thin with small, pointed leaves, and was speckled with white flowers. "This is caraway. For medicinal purposes, it is used to treat scorpion stings, snake bites, and upset stomachs. However, it has been told to also be a key ingredient in love potions." A light smile lit up her face as she spoke, and her gaze trailed over to where her husband and son were sparring. Ezra had just taken the first move in what was sure to be a short battle, considering he had let his eyes give his true target away, as usual. She gathered up the few books that she had gathered for the lesson and motioned to Vered. "I think that we have studied enough for now. Come, let us watch your brother and see how well he can fight." Taking his hand, she led the young boy towards the sparring ground. She felt extremely protective of both of her sons, but Vered in particular. He had always been a sort of frail, shy boy, and all of her attempts to make him otherwise had failed. He was obviously her child - their skin tone was exactly the same color, although his was decorated with many tribal-looking tattoos that had been on him since the day he was born. She still wondered why both he and Ezra seemed to have been graced with such marvelous gifts.

((Hehe, here's the list I used for the herbs: http://www.quantal.demon.co.uk/saga/ooc/herbs.html ))

Veces, though he wasn't trying to brag, could tell his son would feint as soon as he moved: He knew his boy like he knew his own blade, his muscles, the way his eyes dilate as he attacks, all of it. So instead of moving to protect his face and neck, he retained his resting posision, and moved only when Ezra was right about to strike. He simply twisted his scythe, useing the scythe's handle to deflect the twin blades with ease. He then swiped sideways with his blade, hitting Ezra's side with a blow that would leave him winded at the very least. The boy was learning, he could not deny it, but he had so much to fix, and he lacked the weaponmaster's ability to be at one with his weapons. But, that wasn't something he could just learn, or really accept, until he had worked with weapons more. So he would just let him be enthusiastic, let him learn his mistakes with his father, rather than with a foe whose weapon wasn't safeguarded. Veces didn't have to say so, however: He needed only to nod at his son, and he knew that the message would be read loud and clear.

Throughout all of this, Vered was sitting calmly , absorbing every word his mother said to him like a Rose of Jericho in a puddle. He was a sucker for knowledge, and between his mother and father, he had enough to entertain himself for weeks, should he find himself with nothing to do. His eyes were trained on the diffrent plants, widening in delight as he learned the diffrent purpouses for each one. He was especially intruiged by the common rue, and it's rarity mde his mind buzz with questions, lie: If it's so powerful, how could it be common? From what Vered had learned, the stronger something was, the harder it was to find. These thought were silenced by the thoughts of caraway, making more questions for him to puzzle out. But before he could even start, his mother's attention was taken by father and Ezra. Which maent it was time to watch father win, once again. So he plucked up his staff and let his mother lead him to them, watching curiously as his father made easy work of his brother.

Of course, Vered often entertains the thought that Ezra could someday beat father, but it's usually only a passing thought: Their father was the strongest person around, and only a giant monster could even have a chance of hutring him. Well, a monster or mother. Vered thought, smiling. Father could never really say no to mother, no matter what the occasion. He could try, but he would never win. Vered found himself looking up to his mother, smiling proudly. If only he could be as strong as them. But, it just wasn't meant to be, Vered just wasn't strong enough...

Guest

Ezra growled in frustration when his attack was knocked aside so easily by his father. He was tired, and frustrated, and was now attacking without really thinking... They had been at it for a while now. He usually wasn't so obvious in his attacks, though he never could get past his father, unless he purposefully allowed him to. Veces was ridiculously powerful, and though Ezra was a great warrior in training and could sometimes get past his mother's defenses in battle, he had yet to beat his father in a serious fight. It led to many frustrated nights and hours of physical torture to try to be better. Truth was, he simply wouldn't get better until he was more experienced. Simple as that. Veces had a great advantage in that department.

Ezra contemplated trying to attack again, perhaps in a more strategic manner, but decided against it and sheathed his blades. His body was soaked with sweat, and he was tired, not to mention thirsty. Then his stomach growled. Oh, right. Hungry, too. It was time to stop. He dipped his head in respect to Veces as he always did when their spars were through, as though they were strangers. He always felt distant when he was fighting with his father, as if they didn't really know each other like father and son should. Then Ezra would end up getting frustrated, leave to sulk for a while, and then return in a better mood, usually with a freshly caught rabbit or trout from the stream.

He was about to do just so when movement caught his eye. He turned to see his mother and twin brother approaching them from the garden. He waved to them, smiling lightly. Apparently they had just finished another one of their sessions in the garden. Their mother seemed to like to spend a lot of time in there. When he had asked her about it, she had givem him some vague reply about it bringing back old memories of a garden she had once been it. He had dropped the subject quickly, suspecting it had something to do with how his parents met. They didn't talk about it often, for which he was glad. It made his stomach turn when his parents got all mushy.

Deciding that he would find his own meal, he simply told his father,"I'm going down to the creek." He knew they would know why. His voice was odd for a young teenage boy; it was already oddly deep, but also held some sort of musical quality, like that of an elf's. It seemed nothing was normal about Ezra, or his brother, who was the same way.

He wandered slowly down to his normal spot, where his net was already waiting for him. The creek was small enough that he could simply stand in the middle of it and wait for a fish to pass by before snatching it with his net. He drank deeply from the water, then waded into the stream, prepared to strike at any moment.

What he was unaware of is that he was not alone. Nearby, behind some especially thick brush, a pair of keen, chesnut-colored eyes watched him curiously. They belonged to a petite, thin girl that appeared around the age of 16. She looked normal enough, if not a little exotic; her almond-shaped eyes were rimmed by thick, full lashes, orange eyeshadow, and odd swirling, tribal-looking markings that curved from the bottom of each eye down to the top of her cheekbones. Her skin was like ivory, with hints of peach and pretty flushed cheeks. Her hair was short and a little choppy, and framed her face in short, copper locks. She could nearly pass for an intriguing young human girl, if not for the elongated, tipped points on her ears that gave away her true race - elven. She didn't take her gaze away from Ezra as he suddenly jerked his net into the water, coming up a moment later with a small, squirming trout. Grinning in triumph, he retreated to the bank and quickly killed the fish, then, satisfied with his catch, made his way back to the stone house. Rhavaniel - for that was the elf girl's name - silently trodded after, her footsteps as light as a falling leaf.

Zuberi had watched Ezra's departure with wary eyes, and, when he was out of sight, sighed. "Sometimes I worry about your brother, Vered," she told her son, shaking her head. "He can be so distant and unpredictable." After Veces cleaned up from the battle, she walked over to him and placed her hands on either side of his face, then kissed him and smiled. "He is learning," she commented,"Though he still needs to learn not to let his eyes give him away. Vered is like a sponge - everything I tell him, he soaks up and remembers. It is quite the gift." For a moment, she just gazed into her husband's eyes, letting the warmth of love and friendship fill her spirit with content. Every time she looked at him, her mind drifted back to the days of adventure and danger, where they had fallen in love between long, hard nights and indescribable terrors. It was an odd romance, but strong and true nonetheless. She brushed a stray hair away from his face, then turned back to Vered. "I was hoping that today we could go into town to get supplies; I need flour and salt, and with the way you are learning, we will soon be out of parchment." They spoke for a while longer, waiting for Ezra to return. When he did, Zuberi didn't notice the odd rustle of the bushes that also signified that someone else was with them.

((Gah, I feel like this wasn't a good post. I'm tired, and the words weren't really coming to me x.x ))

Vered watched his brother sulk off, coated in sweat and looking beaten. Oh dear... He though gloomily. Looks like he's leaving for lunch.... hope he remembers to bring me something. Vered saw Ezra continue to walk off until he was out of view. He probably won't, he never does anyways. Then again, the thought of eating something Ezra made always sends shivers down Vered's spine, seeing as most of his meals consisted of one bland, plain dish, devoid of all flavour and presentation. That was just another thing that set the two twins apart: differing tastes. So after listening to his mother worry over Ezra, Vered allowed himself to let his mind wander as he watched his parents.

And what a sight they were. Veces, who barely looked like he was done with lifting a feather, much less a duel, was dusting himself off calmly, rising to find Zuberi standing before him. His eyes lit up as Zuberi's lips met his, and he nodded smiling humourously. He felt it hard to answer her when she spoke to him so, his curse making most comments difficult, not to mention difficult. But that was why he was always listening for information, even the smallest bit of news that could lead to the end of his curse. He saw over Zuberi's shoulder Vered, who was grimacing horribly as he thought how lucky Ezra was to be away at that moment. As all boys his age felt, Vered thought that even the slightest show of affection between his parents was embarassing and strange. Ah, if only he knew... Veces thought, smiling. His children are going to act the exact same way.

Vered nodded as his mother told him of their plans of the day, making sure she didn't see the face he was making. This meant that Vered and Ezra got the day off, leaving Ezra to go adventuring and Vered to read, unless Ezra somehow gets him to follow him to wherever it is he's going. His mother continued speaking until Ezra returned, holding what looked like a small trout, walked up next to him, accompanied by what sounded like bushes rustling. Vered barely caught the sound, and began tapping his staff nervously as he nodded to Ezra. Hed he heard? Had anyone heard? Id didn't seem that way, So Vered just stood there, turning to whisper to Ezra. "They're going out to the market, day off." He muttered, then turned back to his parents. I wonder what'll happen today.

Guest

Zuberi sometimes wished that Veces was free from his curse, so that he could speak his feelings freely and not have to sometimes contain his words. It could make things difficult, and yet she loved him no less for his unfortunate curse. She knew what he wanted to say without him speaking a single word, and it was enough. After the decision was made that the two of them would be going to the market, leaving the twins to fend for themselves, she slipped into the house to change into something more sociable.

She returned a few minutes later, now wearing leather leggings and a tunic, as well as looking... Well, human. She and Veces had decided long ago that the people of the village didn't need to know about her or her sons' appearances, and so Veces had created a spell that diguised their true features. She now had deep, tan skin, midnight-colored hair, and less exotic-looking features. Her eyes were the same, though; piercing and sharp as a freshly cut emerald. She disliked having to hide herself so, but it was better than having the villagers attack their home accusing her of being a witch, or worse.

When Ezra had returned with his catch, she stared at them both seriously. It wasn't very often that they were left alone by themselves; they got into trouble far too easily. "I expect nothing to go wrong while we're away. If we come back and anything is out of place, there will be consequences." She said no more, then, hefting a small pack over her shoulder and adjusting the large knife on her hip, motioned to Veces that it was time to leave. There was a narrow dirt road that led from their home to the town, and, though she sometimes simply teleported them to their destination, it was a nice enough morning that she thought they should walk. When they were out of sight of the twins, she entwined her hand with Veces's and grinned. "It's not often that we have time to ourselves anymore," she commented. Summer was just around the corner, and the birds were showing their delight of the coming season with joyous songs that echoed through the trees. They walked mostly in silence, though Zuberi sometimes broke the quiet by commenting on a certain plant or what she planned on doing once they got to the village. Truth was, they hadn't been on a real date in a very long time, and she was going to take everyone oppurtunity she could get being alone. Along with buying supplies, of course.

Back at the house, Ezra nodded at his brother, then went into the house to clean and gut his fish. It was large enough for two meals, so he grudgingly decided that he would share it with Vered. Vered came inside as well and retreated to his room; it could be assumed that he was busy reading some book about botany or herbology. He cooked the fish with only a little salt and lemon, leaving a few spices on the table in case Vered wanted to add something more. He waited impatiently for it to be finished, his stomach growling with hunger as he paced around the room. Finally it was ready, and he cut the fish in half and placed each serving on the stone table in the family's dining room. "Come and get it!" he hollered, then sat down himself and began to eat the meal.

When the twins had gone into the house, Rhavaniel had taken the oppurtunity to dash closer to the abode. Her movements were oddly fluid and graceful, even for an elf. She made it to the window with hardly a whisper of sound, then curiously glanced inside. She lived near the village as well, though by herself, unlike this quaint little family. She had wanted to introduce herself for a while, but when she realized that the people in the home were not just a normal human family, she decided to just watch and wait to see if anything interesting happened. It turned out that the older robed man was quite gifted with magic, as was the little blue one. The tall blue woman seemed to enjoy nature and weaponry, and the small white boy was dangerous with his crystal daggers. Overall they were the weirdest family she had ever seen, and the more she learned, the more curious she became. Who were they? Where did they come from? And most importantly, what made them the way they were? She knew that the village had no idea of what they were really like; no one ever visited except for planned trips, when they could prepare themselves for visitors.

She wasn't quite tall enough to see well through the window, so Rhavaniel stepped up on a small stool nearby, not realizing that it needed repairs. It collapsed under her weight, and she leapt off of it, landing lightly, but the damage had been done. The stool had made an awful cracking noise when it broke, and it was sure to alert the boys inside. Cursing, she tried to retreat back to the trees, but didn't make it very far before she was tackled from behind. She yelled and tucked into a roll, surprising her attacker, who momentarily lost his grip on her. Before she could gain any ground, though, he tripped her, and she fell onto her back, giving up the fight. She was met with the bizarre, unnatural gaze of Ezra, who was glaring at her with untrusting eyes. "Who are you?" he spat, unsheathing one of his daggers and pressing it against her throat. "Why were you spying on us?"

"I.... I never meant to intrude," she replied, her voice unsteady but oddly rhythmical. It was obvious that she was no more human that Ezra was himself. "Please, don't hurt me. I don't mean to cause any harm. You are just very intriguing, and I didn't think you'd appreciate my company." Her large amber eyes pleaded with him to let her go. "If it's alright, I'd like to be friends. I'm very lonely. I don't really know anyone around here."

Ezra hesistated. It was unlike him to give in so easily to an opponent, but for some reason, he felt odd attacking such a dainty young woman. "Fine," he finally muttered, pulling the blade away from her throat, but keeping it unsheathed in case she became a threat. "You didn't have to spy on us. We're not as reclusive as we may seem. And anyway, it's just rude."

Rhavaniel flushed with embaressment, looking downcast. "I'm sorry," she murmured.

While Zuberi went off to dress, Veces watched his children warily, eyebrow raised. The two always seemed to ruin something whenever he and Zuberi were gone, and that made Veces a little worried. What would break today, a plate, or a wall? Or maybe that stool Veces had told the two to fix the day before. He stared for a minute, then shrugged: If something broke, it broke. The would just have to accept the consquences.

Veces took the time now to walk to the house, laying his scythe carefully against the wall. He then removed his cloak, revealing a white cotton shirt, soft brown shorts and a small leather pouch, and hung that up next to his scythe. This was for the same reason Zuberi went indoors: his appearance tended to scare people just as Zuberi's did, and this was the only way they could prevent that. He then moved back to where the boys were, turning to watch his wife as she emerged from thier home. He watched her now human figure walk to them and warn the boys one last time before she motioned for them to head off. He nodded to the boys one last time, feeling at his side to ensure his pouch was secure. He then walked away, moving next to his wife and accepting her hand as she entwined it with his. He smiled as she spoke, and looked around at the world around him until his eyes wandered to the most beutiful thing there was: His wife. They soon came to a fork in the road, both paths leading to town but the right one made the trip a little longer, and had much better scenery. He nodded his head in that direction, then led Zuberi on that path amidst the singing of various songbirds.

Vered waved as his parents left, a small smile on his face until they were out of sight. And, when Ezra was out of sight, the smile left altogether. He looked around warily, going from bush to bush, tree to tree, even going as far as to search behind his father's robe, but found nothing and no one hiding behind it. All out of ideas, Vered went inside and headed into his room, shutting the door grumpily and sitting next to the window, lost in thought. Was he crazy? They were in the forest, for Pete's sake, surely you would hear a rustle every now and again, wouldn't you? But no, he was almost sure of it, there was someone or something out there, spying on them, and if he found them...

His thoughs were interupted by a call to eat, and Vered clumsily got up and went to go eat with his brother. Thankfully, Ezra had set out some spices for him, and by lucky chance they were spices that didn't need to be cooked in. So Vered sprinkled some of them onto his half of fish and sat down, opposite his brother, and began to eat. But as soon as he began, he heard the sound of wood splintering and an oof of pain, and a small, proud smile showed itself on his face. He was right after all.

Vered followed his brother outside and to the small surprise outside. An elf... he thought, wide eyed as he stared at her pointed ears. He stood stupefied as his brother incapacitated her, holding his daggers over her warily, and a dangerous thought caught his attention: She had seen them. She had seen them without their disguises and if she told the town....

As Ezra moved away from the girl, accepting her claim of wanting friendship, Vered hurried to his side, watching the girl carefully. "Actually, we kind of are." Said Vered shakily. "She can see us. You know, without our disguises! Blue skin and all!" How could Ezra look over that? What they should do, as they were told, was keep her here until Veces and Zuberi returned to take care of her. But something told Vered that wasn't going to be the case. So he stepped away from Ezra warile and turned his head away, nervous about meeting eyes with the elf. "Ah, I'm, uh, Vered. He's, ah, Ezra. Nice to meet you, I suppose...."

Guest

The couple walked on amidst the beautiful sounds of spring for the rest of the walk in mostly silence, just glad to be with each other and enjoy the love that they shared. After a while, they heard the sounds of the city, but before they could enter, Zuberi pulled Veces off the path into a wild peach orchard beside the road. It was completely devoid of other people, but the multitude of songbirds and other small animals made it seem pleasant. The peaches were just starting to ripen on the branches, and Zuberi reached up and plucked one, offering it to Veces. They traveled deeper into the trees until the canopy overhead blocked off a good portion of the sky, eating some of the fruit and laughing over old jokes and pleasant memories. It was as perfect as Zuberi could imagine, and soon she stopped under a large willow tree, taking both of Veces's hands in her own and turning to gaze into his incredible grey eyes. "I love you, so much," she murmured, brushing a strand of white hair away from his forehead. His face, now just beginning to show the lines of age after their many years together, was still as handsome as she remembered it from when they had first met. She had memorized every detail and line of his features from spending so much time together, and her passion for him had never faded in all their time together. He was truly all she needed in life, and as long as they could be together, she was content. And of course, their two boys, while sometimes a pain and definitely a handful to take care of, had strengthened their bond even further.

Journey to the city momentarily forgotten, Zuberi simply pressed her forehead against her husband's chest, waiting for his response.

Vered's exclamation brought back Ezra's senses, and he shook his head, wary of letting the elf stand. "He's right. How do we know you won't give away our appearance to the town?" he asked accusingly, waving the knife dangerously close to the girl's throat again. He was so used to looking the way he did, he had forgotten that other people were not so open to strange appearances.

Rhavaniel made no move to stand, realizing that she was not quite out of danger yet. "I have no dealings with humans," she said, almost like a complaint. "They do not like elves, and unlike you, I have no way of disguising myself, so on the rare occasion that I go into the village, I speak as little as possible and wear a hood to cover myself. I am an outsider to their society." She knew what it was like to be unique, to be ridiculed and ignored for being different. She really wasn't that different from these two boys. There were hardly any elves in this part of the world, and so to see one such as herself around humans was sometimes seen as a bad or unwanted omen.

Ezra wasn't a cruel boy. He softened at her mention of being an outsider, and finally sheathed his blade. "I don't forgive you for spying on us, but I believe that you are telling the truth. Please, join us - we were just finishing our meal." Not only did he want to have a new friend for company, but he did want to keep an eye on her as long as possible, just to see if she was as innocent as she appeared.

As soon as the blade was sheathed, Rhavanial leapt to her feet, grinning brightly. "Well, then, Vered and Ezra, you may call me Rhavaniel." Her change of mood was instantaneous and unexpected; she had gone from being a timid, scared girl to a confident, bold young woman in a matter of seconds. As the boys would come to realize, the elf was a very unpredictable sort of girl, which was why she had been given a name that translated roughly to the word 'wild'.

Ezra blinked at her, confused, then laughed a moment later. He liked her already, even though she had been spying on them. "We don't really have any more food, so if you want something, you'll have to get some yourself or wait for our parents to come home..."

"Parents?" she interrupted him as they entered the house. She hopped up onto the counter, cocking her head curiously. "Would that be the beautiful blue woman and the tall cloaked man?" She had caught a glimpse of them as they headed out to the town.

"Aye, that's them," Ezra said, finishing up the last of his meal. "They're outsiders too. Mum, well, for obvious reasons, and dad is a powerful magician, but also cursed..." He scowled slightly at the mention of it. "It's hard, having a parent who can only speak to you in rhyme."

Rhavaniel was instantly alert, mouth open in awe. "Your father is cursed?" she asked, though the answer was obvious. She paused, as if debating whether or not to say more. Eventually, she slowly added,"I have heard tales of a talisman hidden somewhere in this area that is told to have the power to break all curses. I don't know if it's myth or fact, but it may be something that you want to look into." She didn't say how or why she knew about the talisman; that, she would keep to herself.

Veces absorbed every detail ther was in the woods, taking in all of the sounds and sights and delighting in every moment. And, accepting the peach with a smile, thedelight even attacked his mouth, leaving a sweet taste that lingered even after the fruit was gone and the pit tossed casually away to face the world. But what made it perfect, what could make anything perfect, was the fact that Zuberi was there to enjoy it with him. And as they walked along that path, as they talked and laughed, all he could think was that this was what he lived for, what he longed for, these perfect moments where he could forget everything but his love. And this feeling was only intensified as they embraced and as she proclaimed her love to him with that beutiful voice of hers. He stared at her face for what felt like an eternity, seeing past the veimagic hiding her true self, her true nature, and thought with a smile: She isn't hiding herself out of fear: She's hiding her beauty so that I alone can love her. He held her close, wanting nothing more than to answer her love with he kindest words he could muster... But how could he? His curse would ruin his proclamation, make anybody watching giggle at the absurdity of his curse. So instead, he did the only thing he could, and bent lower to kiss his wife with all of the passion he had hoping that it would show just how much he loved her, but knowing that nothing he could ever do could never show that.

At the same time, a young girl only fourteen or so was practically skipping along the faster of the two routes, dressed in a bright yellow sundress and her long blonde hair flowing freely from under a large sunhat of the same colour. Swinging with her arms was a large wicker basket, in which Ther lay hidden handfulls of spices and fruit. The young girl's name was Mois, and she is often proclaimed by the people of her village as having a fce that could melt even the coldest heart. And her personality was one loved by all: Truthfull almost to a fault, and loving everything good about life. And to top that off, she even liked those odd people that lived near the forest, and often goes to visit them and bring them treats. Her favorites were the twins, simply because of how different the two were: Ezra was strong and willfull, whereas Vered was smart and thoughtful. Together they were a sight to see, especially when they were working together. So she always enjoyed these visits, sometimes even forgetting how late she stays.

And so, she thought of flowers and butterflies, and of the twins, as she walked until she was three or four dozen yards away, and thn stopped. It was a peculiar habit that they entertained, that you had to wait a ways away until someone came to fetch you, usually one of the twins. So she set her basket down and cupped her hands around her mouth and exclaimed "Hello!" And stood, waiting for her 'guide'.

"Rhavaniel...." Vered said quietly, commiting the name to memory. But wow, how much she had changed! He hadn't taken her for the confident type, but as he had read muliple times before: Elves were always full of surprises. He watched thier exchanges with interest, feeling a boiling anger at the mention of his fathers curse: Even when spoken about casually, if you could even do so, that cuse wasn't a joking matter. It made their father's life hard for him, seeing as he watches normal conversations with such envy, and looking like he wanted to join in. But what really caught his attention was the mention of that talisman, and Vered's eyes practicaly jumped out of thier sockets when he stared at Rhavaniel. If she spoke the truth, it could mean that thier father would be freed and ould be able to speak freely whenever he wished. He was about to ask her how she knew this, but a call grabbed his attention and made him look away. He could recognise that voice anywheer, it was Mois! At leas se remembered to say put. He thought nervously, then he turned to Ezra. Uh, Ezra, could you get her? I'll bring Miss Rhavaniel inside..." He watched Ezra tromp off, watching him to make sure he disguised himself properly.

And, with that taken care of, Vered turned back and stumbled over words until he finally said "Could you, ah, follow me?" He gestured to her and shuffled off, leading her inside and sitting her down at his seat, where his fish lay uneaten. He moved away and, not looking, told her "You can, ah, eat that. I'm not that hungry anyways." He left the room and went to his own, where he quickly appraised hisself: His oversized robes covered everything except his hands and his face, which were thier naturl blue color. He grabbed his staff, which had lain there since Ezra hd called him to eat, then waved it aout, feeling the magic trickly over his body. He then replaced the staff and looked hisself over once again, shocked at his appearance: Gone was the blue skin and odd eyes, and n their place he was now pale, and his eyes were a dark brown flecked with green. Nodding, he returned to Rhavaniel and looked her over, puzzling over her. "Okay, uh, Rhavaniel? Would you mind me working on your ears? It'll be a small magic, just to make them look human, would tha be okay?"

Guest

Zuberi breathed in deeply as Veces kissed her, stealing his breath as his lips met hers with so much love and tenderness that she felt her heart flutter with passion. No one was around to see the two lovers in their private moment of intimacy, and so they didn't have to worry about being watched. They stayed this way for a long while, until Zuberi finally pulled away and breathed out, tasting the faint flavor of peaches as her mouth curved into small smile. Her human form seemed to shiver momentarily, and for a second her true appearance was revealed, but was soon gone again as the magic strengthened its hold over her. "How I wish I could read your mind," she murmured, caressing his cheek. "I know what it is that you wish to say, without the words ever leaving your mouth. I miss hearing your voice, though. I swear, one day I will find the way to break your curse." The brushed her fingers over his lips, kissed him once more, then took his hand again and nodded towards the city. "We better go and get what we need, before the boys wonder where we went," she said, though reluctantly. It was far too infrequently that they got to spend time together like this. Perhaps, if they were fast enough getting the supplies, they would have time to do something else... She toyed with the thought as they wound their way to the town, and were soon caught up in the crowds around the marketplace. They soon found a booth that sold fresh, crisp parchment, and Zuberi bought a couple bundles of it, so that Vered wouldn't go through it in a few days like he usually did. He was always studying, that boy, and with the way he wrote notes, he could have dozens of books already written with the paper he had gone through. Next they went and purchased the week's worth of food, as well as a few things that needed replenishing. It took them a few hours, but eventually they had all that they were looking for, and made their way back the same way they had come - through the orchard. It was such a pleasant place, usually empty of other people, and perfect for getting away from worries and other problems. They had many memories in the place, and would likely continue making them until the day they died.

Ezra, too, was about to start questioning the elf madly about this talisman that he had never heard of, and ask if his brother, in all of his studies, had ever heard of such a thing. However, his sputtering was interrupted by a recognizable call, and he swore under his breath, a bad habit he had picked up from hearing men in taverns in the city. "That blasted girl, always coming at the worst of times...." His words were mean, but to be honest, he rather liked Mois. Maybe even fancied her, perhaps. He waited until his true appearance was hidden, and came out of the house as a pale, dark-haired, brown-eyed boy. Oh, how he disliked being disguised. The magic made his skin itch, and he always had the urge to scratch himself until the spell released its hold over him. Well, he thought, at least he was lucky to have a brother and father who could perform such spells.

He soon caught sight of the young woman, and waved to her, forcing cheeriness. "Hey Mois! Come on in, we were just finishing lunch." He waited until she reached him, and then the two went in together. "What brings you here today?" he asked, noticing with a touch of delight that she was wearing the yellow sundress that he liked so much. He, in a most un-manlike way, enjoyed certain colors and styles on clothing, and this dress was especially pleasing to him, for some reason or another.

They went inside, where Ezra hurriedly cleaned his plate and the rest of the table, as well as Vered's fish, which he had left partially uneaten. 'Hey, I worked hard to catch that,' he thought grumpily as he dumped it into the trash. Washing his hands, he turned back to Mois. "Can I get you anything? Mum and dad are in town getting stuff, so we don't really have a lot to offer. Oh, and you can put that -" Here, he took the basket she was carrying and deposited it on the fireplace - "right there. Thanks!" He managed to smile brightly at her, then tapped his fingers, waiting for his brother and the elf to appear. He hoped he had the sense to disguise her ears, and perhaps the designs around her eyes as well. They were rather odd and exotic, to say the least.

Rhavaniel perked up at the sound of a voice coming from outside, and went along with it as she was led into the house. She had no interest to eat the fish, and so instead followed Vered to his room, where she waited outside politely until he finished his spell. At the mention of disguising her ears, she touched them delicately, frowning. "Well, I suppose if you must. I can sometimes use magic as well, but my spells never turn out quite correctly. I guess it would be in our best interest if you did so." She motioned towards the swirling tattoos that decorated her eyes. "You may want to cover these as well." She waited for him to cast the spell, hearing voices coming from downstairs as she did so. "Is this a friend of yours?" she asked, feeling a slight pang of jealousy inside her. She had no friends. Which was why, she thought, it would be interesting to get to know these boys, especially since they were obviously different, like her. And they were very intriguing... This blue one, Vered, was obviously the more shy and quiet of the two, but extremely intelligent as well, if his actions were anything to go by. And then the white one, Ezra, who had attacked her... He had a hard exterior, but seemed kind enough on the inside. A very interesting pair indeed.

Shopping was about as enjoyable as it could be, Veces thought: It took many hours, and he caught many silent stares when he allowed his wife to speak for him, only whispering private words every now and again to her then resuming his silent watch. But the time seemed to fly as he watched Zuberi in action, bartering, finding the best and buying only the best, and making sure it was inexpensive as well. So in this way, by the time they were done, Veces was carrying a light but awkward stack of papers, which he set carefully on the ground when they reached thier grove. And there they sat under the shade of one of the larger trees, smiling and snacking a bit more on peaches as they relived thier expiriences together.

Mois moved to Ezra cheerily, waving and smiling as she answered him. "Oh, I just came by to give you some of the vegetables from my mom's garden... oh, and there's some herbs for Vered, I think." She could see that Ezra wasn't exactly dressed well, and giggled softly: He was an odd one, but no odder than the rest of his family. And with that, they were already at thier cottage, and Mois followed Ezra in and stood awkwardly, looking from place to place for a place to put her basket, and released it gratefully, as Ezra took it and set it down. She looked up when she heard light murmers from upstairs, then turned to Ezra, head tilted slightly. "Um, what is Vered doing up there?"

"O-okay then, ears and eyes..." Vered mumbled, then walked to a corner of the room and picked up a stool, then sat it in front of his mirror then motioned for Rhavaniel to sit there. Once she was seated and facing the mirror, Vered wrung his hands together a bit then held the tips of her ears gently between his index finger and thumb. He closed his eyes, then began to rub her ears gently, getting a feel for them, then felt a small prickling in his fingers as the spell took it's course. Vered answered her calmly: "Um, yes, she is. She comes by every now and again, if that's what you mean." Then, still with his eyes closed, he moved his fingers over her eyes, then felt the magic course through again, covering her tatoos skillfully.

Vered then opened his eyes, looking into the mirror then smiling weakly: She still looked very exotic, but her ears were now human, and the skin where the tatoos were now resembled the skin around it. "Now, this isn't transformation." He mumbled lightly. "This is just a cover, so it'll itch a bit at first. But whatever you d, don't scratch, or it'll come off."

Guest

As they ate the small snack, Zuberi was taken back to the time they had first met, so many years ago in that horrendous garden. The peaches reminded her of a certain event that occured within that fateful place, and a grin came to her face. She draped an arm over his shoulder, leaning her back against a tree and looked off innocently into the distance.
"Do you remember," she murmured mischeviously, still looking away,"A time much like this, many years ago, when we found ourselves resting underneath a tree producing fruit that we had never seen before, and you made the unwise decision to test it out?" Her smile grew wider as she continued the narrative. "We were lucky Freki was there to give you the antidote for that poison, or else we might have more children than we already do." She laughed, finally looking at Veces to see his reaction. Back then, it had been a confusing and slightly terrifying predicament, but it had been so long ago that Veces ate the fruit that drove his male horomones crazy that they could now recall the memory with laughter and amusement. It was rather amusing that a food could have produced such strong and unusual reactions from Veces, who, back then, had normally been meek and unsure when it came to intimacy.

She tossed away the pit of the peach she was eating, then stood, grabbed a few of the supplies that they had bought, and took Veces's hand as they made their way back to the house. Within a quarter of an hour they had reached their home, and came to hear a recognizable voice. "Sounds like Mois is here," Zuberi commented, smiling. She liked the girl; she was always cheerful and happy, and one of the twins' only friends. It was also convenient for her to visit, as she nearly always brought some sort of snacks or herbs from her mother's garden. As they entered the house, she caught sight of the girl and nodded pleasantly. "Mois, a pleasure, as always," she greeted the young girl, wrapping her in a warm hug. "And I see you have brought your basket! Oh, sweetheart, thank you." She took the basket to the kitchen and started sorting through them, occasionally commenting on how lovely the food looked and such. "I hope Ezra and Vered haven't been causing you too much trouble," she also added, eyes twinkling. She had an inkling that Ezra had feelings for the girl, but she wasn't about to say anything about it unless she thought it necessary.

Rhavaniel couldn't help but laugh a little at the tingling sensation that ran over her skin as the magic took effect. She felt no different, and she was about to reach up to feel her ears when Vered gave his warning, and she dropped her hand. She tilted her head to the left and right in the mirror, inspecting his work. "Very nice," she complimented, thought in reality, she didn't like the way she looked without her pointed ears and tattoos. Without them, she looked not elvish, but just like a normal human girl with strange features. She suddenly hopped into a standing position, an action that would normally be simple and unexciting except for the odd, twisting, graceful flair that she gave as she did so. She had practiced the art of elven dancing since she was old enough to stand, and sometimes accidentally incorporated it into her everyday life without even realizing it. Turning, she pecked Vered on the cheek, a small thanks for his act, and then exited the room to go downstairs.

"Oh, he's just, you know, messing with, uh, something..." Ezra muttered unintelligably, wishing that his brother would hurry up. It normally didn't take him long to perform the spell if it was just on himself, but with the need to disguise the elf as well, he assumed that it would take longer. He tapped his fingers on a countertop, and suddenly felt his face get warm when he realized that it was just he and Mois, alone, in the living room. "So, ah, have you thou-" he was interrupted by his parents arriving at the house, and, pleased for the excuse to drop the conversation he had tried to start, eagerly helped his parents carry in the supplies they had got. He watched the exchange between his mother and Mois in slight embarassment; his mother was such a gentle, loving person, and he, well... Wasn't. And the affection that Zuberi showed to people made him uncomfortable, to say the least. Especially when she and father started getting into it...

He quickly shoved that thought back, shuddering slightly. He then retreated to the corner of the room, waiting for Vered to appear with Rhavaniel. When he thought of the elf, he suddenly remembered the talisman that she had mentioned, and tugged on his father's arm excitedly. "Dad, there was this el- ah, girl that came by today. She said she might know something about-"

"-A talisman that can break curses, yes," the girl's voice floated down from upstairs. She appeared a moment later, looking slightly strange, but human. She caught sight of Veces and Zuberi, and dipped her head politely. "My name is Rhavaniel, and I have been taking the pleasure of getting to know your sons. We were discussing the topic of the talisman when their friend stopped by, so I didn't get the chance to tell all that I know." She shifted herself so that everyone could see her, then, tapping her chin, continued. "Sadly, it really isn't much. I know that it is located somewhere within the enchanted forest just outside your land, but the place is so vast that I am unsure of the exact position, or even how to find it. It is said to be guarded by some sort of dangerous creature, what, I don't know, but only a skilled and talented person, or persons, would be able to retrieve it. It is also rumored that it can even only be found by a certain type of person, and that it stays hidden for others. That's really all that I know. I would suggest researching old tomes or scrolls for more information, or perhaps asking around. I think it may be something important for you to look into." She smiled brightly at Veces, hoping she had given them useful information.

Veces nearly choked on his peach when Zuberi mentioned that disturbing occasion, his face turning a light pink. He remembered. Or, to be more exact, he remembered the excrutianingly embarrasing story that Freki and Zuberi had told him of that occasion. To be honest, he wished that they hadn't even bothered: it was a disgraceful day for a man to let his hormones be taken over by a fruit. He nodded solemly, grinning stupidly. He was glad Zuberi didn't taunt him more on the subject, however, and gladly picked up what supplies she had left sitting and followed her home, already reminescing on this new memory.

Veces nodded at Zuberi's guess: Mois was indeed a sweet girl, and the twins were always so happy when she came around, no matter how their day went before her arrival. Veces pushed open the door as he thought this, set down his load, then turned to nod at Mois, who was at current getting a warm hug from Zuberi. She wasn't shocked, which meant that the boys had remembered their disguises, and the fact that they were standing under a roof meant that they hadn't done anything too destructive... But you never know, those boys found a way to make every day interesting.

"It's good to see you too, Ma'am." Mois said, giggleing as she was hugged: she loved it that she was always recieved so warmly on her visits, and in not just one way: Zuberi's hug, Veces' nod (which was more than what most people got in greeting from him), and the twin's clumsiness were her favorite parts of each of her visits. "Oh, it's no problem, really!" She said, smiling at Veces. "We always have so much extra anyways." She then turned and smiled at Ezra, tilting her heaad oh-so-slightly. "And no, they've been no trouble." To be honest, she thought Ezra was kind of cute, in a rough and uncut sort of way.

Well, that turned out better than expected. Vered thought, watching Rhavaniel inspect herself: Of course, she still looked a little exotic, but it didn't have to be perfect, just believable. Her exoticness almost reminded him of mother in a way, with her confidence and charm. and she moved very gracefully, like she was a dancer or something of the like, and-

At this point, all brain functions except for what was needed to keep him standing shut down, as he felt his face flush into what would be the brightest red known to man, had he been able to blush. His hand moved shakily to his cheek as he watched her leave his room, and swallowed. What... just... happened?

Veces knelt down slightly to listen to his wife, his eyebrows raised slightly as his son quickly changed what he was about to call the girl. El?- This unspoken question was halted as he heard the strange girl speak, and as he looked at her his eyes widened in shock: A talisman that could break curses!? Could there even be such a thing that he didn't even hear it? He opened his mouth slowly, then shut it, not wanting to speak in front of Mois: He didn't want to get her involved in this. Besides, she thought he was a mute, and breaking that belief could be dangerous to their survival. But, then again, she was a trustworthy girl...

And so, deciding that he could trust Mois, he gestured to Vered, whom had just descended down the stairs, staring off into space. And if those two were alone together, it could only mean that Vered had to disguise something about the girl. At least, he hoped that was what it meant.

Vered had walked down the stairs in a daze, still thinking about what Rhavaniel had did. But he shook his head clear as his father motioned to him, and Vered waked to him obidiently, preparing to do some translating. He stretched up to meet his father, and listened intently before he turned to Rhavaniel. "Um, father wants to know who you are, how you know that we are interested in something such as that, and what all do you know about the talisman?"

((Sorry if it's not great, I had a hard time thinking about what to write.))

Guest

((Dear, your reply was lovely, as always ;] I'm tired though, so this may not be a great reply.))

Zuberi halted her inspection of the produce that Mois had brought when Rhavaniel spoke, and stared at the young elf in a mixture of wonder and uncertainty. She had searched for years for something, anything that would break her husband's curse, and had no luck whatsoever. All of her attempts had failed, some more dramatically than others, and she had eventually stopped looking, thinking that if the curse was meant to be lifted, then perhaps something would come up. Nothing had. Could it really be this simple? She doubted it. She put away what she had been sorting through and perched upon a chair near Veces, intertwining her hand with his own as she awaited the answer from the girl.

So much for having an normal afternoon, thought Ezra as he listened to the interactions going on. He found a spot to sit rather close to Mois, trying to make it seem as inconspicuous as possible. He was surprised when his father spoke to Vered, wondering if they would finally let Mois know that he was cursed. Only an idiot would have listened to everything that had been said and not caught on to what was happening, and Mois was far from being an idiot. He glanced sideways at her, wondering what was going on in that pretty head of hers. She had known them long enough to know that they weren't a completely normal family, considering the fact that she always had to warn them before she entered the house, and every one of them in the family, even under their disguises, was oddly exotic and, in a way, inhumanly beautiful. Vered was the closest to pass for human, but being 'mute' was pretty strange, to a normal person's point of view. Mois had apparently gotten used to it, though, and seemed to like their company, for she kept coming back over and over again.

Rhavaniel was interested greatly by the twins' parents. The woman was obviously hidden by a magical veil; being an elf, she could sense certain magics if they were strong enough, and she wondered how odd the woman must look, normally, to have so much magic wrapped around her to hide her true form. She had caught glimpses of her when she had watched them earlier, but had never really gotten a close look. The father was interesting as well, covered in a white cloak and saying nothing as he entered. He didn't appear to be a gruff or unsociable man, though, and she wondered why he didn't even greet his sons when he entered the house. It must have something to do with his curse.... She shook her head, listening to Vered as he translated what his father said for her to hear. She glanced to the human girl - Mois? - wondering if she could risk giving away her true nature. They must have known her well, considering how they had treated her when she arrived. They had disguised themselves, though... Oh, she was tired of hiding. She gave Vered an apologetic look as she reached up and rubbed away the magic that hid the tips of her ears, then scratched away the magical cover around her eyes, revealing the swirling tattoos that adorned them. If she was going to help them, she might as well be completely honest with them. "I'm an elf," she said, stating the obvious. "I live not too far from here, completely alone. I have been watching you for a while, I'll admit, and your, ah... Family life has interested me." She blushed lightly, embarrassed to tell them that she had been spying on them. "I have no friends, and, well, I was too afraid to make contact with you. It was purely by accident that we met today. As for how I know you are interested, well.... Ezra here simply mentioned something about a curse of some sort-" she stayed vague for Mois's sake, "- and it simply reminded me of the tales I have heard of this talisman. To be honest, what I have already told you is all I know. If you have any history books or ancient tomes of the area, though, I'm sure you'll find more about it. It has been considered simply a myth for a long time, but I have lived near this forest for a long time, and from what I can tell, there are strong magics within the trees. I wouldn't be surprised if such a talisman truly did exist." She fell silent, waiting for a reaction, hoping they wouldn't be too angry at her spying on them.

Zuberi didn't react too much to the spying. She understood what it was like to be alone and friendless, and didn't blame the girl for wanting to be closer to people who were different like her. This talisman, though, was another matter. To think, if it was real, something that could break Veces's curse.... To have him able to speak freely, without trouble, sounded too incredible for her to imagine. After thirteen years, she had grown used to his quiet ways; however, it didn't mean that she didn't wish for more, and to have the oppurtunity to break the curse was too great of an opputunity to waste. "Vered," she said, turning to him. "I'm sure we have something in the library that mentions this talisman. We have so many old books in there, I'd be surprised if we didn't. You would be the best to go look; you know those books like the back of your hand. See if you can find something." If anyone could find the right book, it would be him. She looked to Mois, frowning in concern. She had probably never seen an elf before, and may be a little shocked at the appearance of one. "Mois, dear, would you perhaps like to go home, and come back later?" she suggested. She didn't want to overwhelm the young girl with too much, and besides, it was a little hard to speak freely about the curse with her there.

Ezra bit his lip, trying to hide his excitement. To think, an end to father's curse! He wondered what one had to do to find it. Pass a series of tests? Battle a wild animal or monster? Nothing seemed too strong a barrier if the talisman could do what Rhavaniel said it could. He was already convinced that he would be able to find it, and get past any obstacles that stood in his way.

Such an interesting young girl. Veces thought, wondering if the word 'youth' could apply to her: Elves were tricky when it came to age. And quite bold, showing her true nature to us. His eyes strayed to Mois, concern written all over his face. How will she take all of this? She's a good girl, and trustworthy, but... But now wasn't the time for such thoughts: if she was going to know, she had to know everything. So, turning to Rhavaniel, Veces spoke.

"The secret is out, however,
It seems that to you thi secret wa never
known to you, the truth half seen
through our wards, secrecy, and magic sheen."

He then turned to Mois, noting the shock on her face.

"And to you, my dear, I must make amends,
Can such truths be hidden from such good freinds?
It is now seen that not a mute,
but just silent, and cursed to boot."

What is this!? That girl she's an.... elf!? And Veces, he can talk!? And, and... All of this information was almost too much for poor Mois to bear. But they must have kept these things a secret for a reasn, and she could see why: The townsfolk were nervous about magic and the like, believing that it could be deadly to their delicate balance. But these people weren't evil, or dangerous! They were kind, loving people, and she wouldn't give them up! So, swallowing nervously, she smiled to Veces, then at his wife and children, noticing just now how close Ezra had gotten. "I-It's fine, it''s just a bit too much to take..." Her eyes wandered to Zuberi. "So, um, are you also...?"

"Oh, yes mother!" Vered said, rushing out of the room, part of him glad to escape this awkward moment. He strode down a short hallway, noting the unadorned walls, then came to a halt a : A dead end, just a few feet away. Or so it seemed. Closing his eyes, Vered knelt down and pressed one hand to the floor, feeling around untill... Ahah! Pressing lightly, a small switch on the floor pressed down, setting into motion an array of magic that revealed a set of spiraling stone steps, heading down underground. He strode down the steps, unblinking as simple candelabras lit and extinguished themselves as he went, giving him light only where and when he needed it. And soon, he was through the steps, and came out in a vast onderground chamber: The Library.

Veces had constructed The Library soon after settling here, carving it efficiently and magnificently with his magic. The room was roughly as long and wide as the house, and was a story high, carved out of grey stone and mostly unadorned. But what took one's breath away wasn't the room itself, but rather the books: From history to magic, reccipie books to almanacs, every book that the family had ever come across or wrote was in this room. The wooden bookcases were filled with book, and there were ladders that were ever-present in the room, for no person could ever reach the highest shelves. Vered took one of these ladders and rolled it down the wall, then climbed and plucked a single book, leafing through it then placing it back. He pushed his way along the wall and did th same with another book, then another and another.

There were alot of books.

Guest

Zuberi cast a worried glance first at Veces, then at Mois as her husband broke his silence and spoke. She was used to the curse after all these years, but to someone who was not accoustomed to it, it could be odd and a little intimidating. She hoped they weren't overloading the poor girl.... She was bright and very open-minded, but there was only so much that a person could take. She was glad to see that Mois hadn't run out the door screaming yet, but when the girl turned her attention to Zuberi, she frowned in concern. It was only right that she show herself, after their guest and her husband had given away their true selves... Sighing, she stood, her bronze skin shimmering in the filtered sunlight. "You must realize, dear child, that I did not ask for this," she murmured, a touch of sadness in her eyes. "I was born this way, and I have no control over who I am." Without another word, she whispered something under her breath and waved a hand in front of her, breaking the spell that Vered and Veces had put over her to hide her strange appearance. For a moment her image wavered, and then the magic lifted off of her, a sudden change as her dark skin changed from tan to azure in the flash of a moment. She opened her ivy-colored eyes and looked to Mois, looking a little nervous and feeling rather exposed. She never showed her real form in the presence of others.

"My true self," she whispered almost too low to hear, dropping her gaze to the floor. "I don't know how or why I am so different from normality, but it is who I am." She brought a hand up to her deep black hair, touching it lightly before glancing at Veces. Self-consciousness was not a feeling she was familiar with, and it was rather uncomfortable. She watched as Vered scurried out of the room, apparently eager to get away from the awkward situation. "I'm sorry we haven't revealed this to you before now," she added to Mois. "We.... Are afraid that we will be shunned, or worse, if it's found out how different we are." She nodded to Ezra. "He is not as he appears either." Might as well get it all over with in one setting, she thought.

Shut up, mother! thought Ezra as Zuberi turned her attention to him. He didn't want Mois to know what he looked like. He was a freak, there was no other way of putting it. His marble-white skin was far from attractive, and the strange blue symbols etched all over his body only added to his strangeness. Not to mention his eyes.... He shook his head. Zuberi hadn't really given him a choice.

With an apologetic grimace to Mois, he performed the same sort of thing as his mother, hesitating before uttering the words and wincing as the magic was lifted off of him. He kept his eyes closed as he said,"Please don't judge me. I, too, had no choice in what I look like." He couldn't help but think it was Zuberi's fault that he looked so strange. She apparently carried some sort of mutant gene, or something, because not only was she strange and exotic, but had abilities as well. "Vered is the same way, though he is closer in form to mother." He finally opened his eyes, slowly, and looked away from Mois. Please don't freak out.... he fretted, refusing to look her in the eye.

How beautiful they look! Rhavaniel thought as mother and son showed themselves. So different and stunning.... It's such a shame that they have to hide themselves! Veces's curse was rather interesting as well, more annoying than debilitating, it seemed... Still, it would be nice to get him free of it. She watched as Vered practically ran out of the room, and she wondered if she should follow him. "If you don't mind, I think I should go help him," she told his parents, nodding after the retreating figure. "I may be able to help him find the right information." She followed lightly after him, seeming to almost glide along the floor as she walked.

She rounded a corner just as the boy hit a switch on the floor, and she floated after him into the now revealed staircase. She stared in awe as they entered the library, gawking at the vast array of books all over the room. "It's amazing," she breathed, going over to a shelf and staring at a thick, dusty tome. She meandered for a while before turning her attention back to Vered, who was searching the books one by one. "That will take ages," she said, tilting her head. "Can't you use magic to find one? A searching spell or something, perhaps?" There couldn't be too many books that spoke about the talisman, even in this collection of books.

She found a place to sit as she waited, frowning up at his small form. "It's unfortunate that you have to hide yourselves so," she commented. "You truly are beautiful."

An awkward silence now stood in the room, and Zuberi turned back to what she had been doing before. "Do you think they'll find anything?" she murmured to Veces, nodding down the hall where the two children had retreated. "To think, something that could break your curse...." She shook her head, still too stunned to believe it.

Ezra glanced to Mois, feeling extremely self-conscious in his current state. "If it would make you more comfortable, I can reapply the spell," he offered. "I won't be offended."

((Fail reply is fail.))

Looking at Zuberi, her true form exposed to young Mois, Veces could only think about how strong she was. Compared to her and their sons, Veces' curse seemed so insignificant, despite the fact that he thought her beautiful and the boys handsome. But I can walk around in my own skin. Veces thought, eyes full of love and sorrow as he stared at his wife, wishing for the second time that day that people would be able to accept her for who she was. Consling her the only way he could with people watching, Veces wrapped his arm around Zuberi's shoulder, giving her a strong side hug, then loosened his hold: Maybe someday.

Wh-what!? Zuberi is, is... Mois racked her brain for words to describe Veces' wife, but was only able to dig up one: Gorgeous! She was extremely exotic, looking like she belonged in some far-off jungle, communing with nature, and somehow her blue skin seemed to enhance her beauty. But, sadly, Mois knew how the other townsfolk would reply to her behavior: pitchforks and torches. "Mois' jaw worked, trying to form words as Zuberi talked, but all hopes of speech were lost when she reaized that Ezra was the same. And Vered, too. She corrected herself, staring at Ezra's marble white skin. Is he blue? She wondered, then reahed a tenative hand out and cupped Ezra's cheek in her hand, moving him so she could see his entire face and running her thumb over his cheekbone and staring into his eyes. He had an almost inhuman beauty, but his eyes scared her slightly. Was... was everything she knew about them a lie? No, no, it couldn't be! No matter what they looked like, this entire family was still human, capable and in the act of loving. She swallowed hard, trying not to avert her eyes. She swallowed hard and swallowed, attempting to speak several times until she finally forced out in a squeak "N-no, it's fne, stay like this." She would have to get used to this, and continuing to look at them when they were disguised would only remind her of their oddness.

Vered had already gone through almost a dozen books, and was just about to open another when he noticed that Rhavaniel was in the room with him. Did she follow me? He wondered. Stealthy. "Uh, sadly, no." He muttered, shutting the book he held in his hands. ""It would be convinient, yes, but such a spell would require us to go through every book and thread them through with an intrivate magic web that would connnect them all to one index, which would have to be re-made every time we added a new book." He rubbed his arm as he spoke, staring at the title of the book he held: Talismans Throughout Time. "Besides, I've read most of the books, so I know what books to avoid, at least."

After that, he leafed through the first few pages of the book, suspecting that Rhavaniel was done. But he was never a good guesser when it came to people. He stood there, leaning against the ladder's rungs and staring at the book with wide eyes, thinking about what to say. He then blinked, shook his head, then turned to face the wall, suddenly finding a book on rare marsh gases very interesting. "I-we.... that's an opinion." He said, the words tumbling out clumsily. She thinks we're... beautiful? He sighed and frowned. How could she think that? When it came to his mother, yes she was, and he thought that maybe Ezra would be somewhat desireable, but he himself... no. He was small, weak, and he couldn't pull off his blue skin the way his mother could. "B-but thank you, Rhavaniel." He leafed through the book quickly, frowned, and put the book back in it's place. Not it.

Guest

Zuberi glanced up to Veces when she felt his arm around her, and she offered a tentative smile. She had grown accustomed to her looks long ago, though she still had trouble revealing herself to people for the first time. She had often before been met with fear, anger, and sometimes threats. She was relieved when Mois did none of the three, even if she did look a little shocked. It was to be expected, she thought; she had expected no less. Especially at such a young age, it was easy to be afraid of the new and unknown. "Perhaps you should go help Vered to see if you can find something," she suggested to Ezra and Mois, nodding after where her son and the elf had disappeared to. "You know how long it will take to find anything on his own... Even with your help, it may take a while." She kissed Veces lightly on the cheek. "I need to go tend to the garden. I noticed the lavender was starting to wilt, and I thought maybe you could help me trim the deadly nightshade." With a wink, she whirled out the door, chipper mood back in place. She was still a little shaky from the encounter with Rhavaniel, and the possibility of finding a cure for Veces, but her optimistic attitude wouldn't let her dwell on it too much, and she turned her attention to the task at hand. She grabbed her watering can (magically crafted so that it was constantly filled with water) and began to float around the garden, watering any plants or herbs that seemed thirsty. She was so into the tending that she didn't notice as one side of the collar of her robe fell slightly, revealing the gentle curve of her shoulder that she had begun to conceal soon after marrying Veces. She had grown out of her days of romping around the wilderness with little more than a few pieces of leather strapped to her body, and instead changed to short robes, like Veces, but leaving a good portion of her legs exposed, in case she needed to run; too much cloth would tangle her legs, she thought. She hummed as she worked, pondering if there was anything she needed to pick for the day. She thought about gathering some flowers for Mois, to show her how much she appreciated the young girl... Yes, that would be nice. She continued to wander farther into the garden.

Ezra blinked doubtfully at Mois. He could see the mixture of awe and fear in Mois eyes, and as she reached up and cupped his cheek in her hand. He felt his face grow warm, and was glad that his odd appearance hid his blush. She seemed to be struggling to keep looking into his eyes, and so he blinked, mumbling under his breath so that when he opened them again, they appeared a more normal clear blue. "I.... Thank you for not running away," he mumbled. Unlike his mother, he hadn't gotten many chances to show his appearance to people, and so this was actually a rather new experience to him. Still, he figured it had to happen sooner or later, especially considering how he felt about her.... He shook his head, then turned away, brushing a thumb lightly over the top of her hand before clearing his throat and nodding to his mother. "Sure, we can go help, though you know I don't know those shelves as well as he does." He realized how oddly calm he felt for once, and wondered if maybe Mois's presence calmed him down from his normal tough, emotionless exterior. He wasn't sure if he liked the feeling or not. Motioning to Mois, he led the way down the hall, repeating what Vered had done until they arrived at the library. He knocked before entering. "Can we help?" he asked, seeing Vered up by the shelves, and Rhavaniel watching nearby.

Rhavaniel blinked. Vered really knew his stuff. She mingled in weak magics, but had never really taken the time to learn more about it. Her race was naturally gifted at some forms of it, but she was more interested with communing with nature and being a dancer than using magic. "I didn't realize there was so much work involved," she replied, standing and heading over to a pile of books. "I suppose I could do more than just sit here, although I don't know the content of these books like you do..." She picked up a large red book that seemed to be written in some sort of ancient elvish rune. She contemplated it, thinking that it would be too easy to have simply found a book that may contain information about the talisman... Still, she flipped through it, recognizing a few words, but none that seemed to relate to an ancient talisman. "Do you have any more books written in elvish rune?" she asked Vered, frowning. "They would be the best chance of finding something about the talisman. And more importantly, can you read them?" She scolded herself silently; she should have learned how to read the more ancient texts.

She glanced up at Vered again, sensing his nervousness. He obviously wasn't used to being complimented. "Don't be so modest. True, you look different than most, but it only adds to the exotic nature of your family." She smiled at him. "Blue is one of my favorite colors." She turned back to the book, looking only for a moment before a sound caught her attention. She looked up to see Ezra and Mois enter the room, and she waved cheerily at them. "Come to join the search party?" she chirped.

Needless to say, Veces trailed after his wife when she left the room. If the book in question was found, and the talisman's area discernable from the information found, their time away from the house on their quest would be long. And that meant they would have to take care of the plants, lest they all expire in their absence. So there he stood at the edge of the garden, watching his beautiful wife wander gracefully through the plants, watering them with an air of serenety and calm. But then, to his surprise, the collar to her robe fell, exposing her soft shoulders and reawakining his memories of her in skimpier outfits. Part of him rejoiced at the fact that she changed her style, favouring the robing style that he preferred in a slightly more feminine tone. But another part of him missed the wild, adventurous garb that she wore, in the way most people would miss it. But both styles complimented her beautiful form, each showing a different quality that made her the woman that she was.

Unable to help himself (ge'd blame it on fruit if he had to), Veces walked up to Zuberi while she was turned away and hugged her around the waist from behind, planting a small, soft kiss on her exposed shoulder, then on the bottom of her neck.

Oh, that's much better. Though Mois, relieved, much more able to stare into Ezra's eyes now that he had made them look a bit more normal. But... it somewhat defeats the purpouse, doesn't it? She added. The whole point was to try and take in as much as she could of the new Ezra (or, as it should be said, the real Ezra), and the illusioned eyes were sort of a step back. But it made the whole ordeal much easier to take, in a way, and for that sh was thankful. "Why would I run away?" She whispered back, giving him a warm smile accompanied by a slight tilt of the head, something she did almost every time she smiled. She let her hand join it's companion on her lap as Ezra turned away from her. It will take a while for him to get used to it. She thought, turning her attention to Zuberi as she asked her question. She nedded, giving a small "Mhm" sa an answer, then tagged along after Ezra, looking on in awe as he revealed the staircase. How much have they kept secret? She wondered, gazing at the candles as they flickered on and off as they passed. But she needn't have voiced her inquery, and couldn't should she have willed it, for she stood at the bottom of the stairs awe struck at the enormity of the hidden room and the sheer amount of books within it.

More than anyone could ever think.

Elvish rune? Vered thought, halting himself a he began to pull out another book. I had completely forgot those. He gripped the ladder with both hands, pushing the ladder alomng the wall with hs foot until he came to the same level that Rhavaniel was at, then quickly climbed down the rungs and floated to the elf, looking over her shoulder at the book in her hands. "I... believe we do." He muttered, brow furrowed in concentration. "And you're probably right. But I'm afraid my knowledge of the written language is basic at best." He replaced the book, pointing to an area of books a few feet away. "We try to keep them close together, so most of them are around there."

Vered's eyes widened slightly at Rhavaniel's proclamation. She... likes blue? And, more importantly, why did that seem like such a big deal to him? He had learned of many people's favorite colors, and he had taken them as no more than information. But this was... something more...
Vered turned to face his brother and Mois, suprprised not at the fact that they were down here, but that Ezra had taken off his illusion. Or, most of it, anyways. Well, the secret is out. He told himself. He looked at Mois for a second thoughtfully, then sighed and lowered his head, mumbling his own words of release. In no time at all, Vere was now standing in his true form before Mois, blue skin and marble white tattoos and all. He averted his eyes and shifted from foot to foot, unable to meet the young girl's eyes. "I-if you want to help, y-you and Ezra can ch-check o-ovre there." He pointed to the opposite wall, mentally slapping himself for stammering like that. Most unbecoming.

((Sorry if Veces' part is a bit faily))

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