ღ ❂ Suria

[Elyessi]

[ RP ] Learning About Perzi [ RP ]

[- Roleplay Located Here -]
[- 10 posts -]
[- Suria x Aeuri-]
[- Oba -]

 

[Elyessi]

[ RP ] Sisters Stick Together [ RP ]

[- Roleplay Located Here -]
[- 10 posts -]
[- Suria x Nedrima-]
[- Oba -]

 

[Elyessi]

Congratulations!
Congrats to Suria for becoming a Prentice!

 

[Elyessi]

[ CA ] Confidence Kills [ CA ]

[- 2,403 words -]
[- Suria -]
[- Oba -]

Suria was walking down the street, her head held high like how her mother taught her. She had the typical clothing of the obans, if a bit looser compared to most her age. It was something she was accustomed to, the loose fabric of a dancer, and so she thought nothing of dressing like her mother and the girls who danced with her. She ignored the warnings of her elder brother, the sensitive and hesitant Aeuri who claimed that the world was a dangerous place for a young woman, instead insisting she was strong enough to fight. And if her words would not help her, the small knife she borrowed from her mother would solve the problems at the end of the day.

Even if she had never used it.

How hard could it be to swipe a sharp object at a man? Odds are they would be distracted anyway, and all she needed to do was grab it from the folds of her skirt where it was hidden close to her waist. It was small, the size of her palm, but she knew where the flesh was of a man and knew that all she needed to do was shove, hard. In her mind, that was enough safety to travel the streets of Oba in the fading light, heading to one of the common oasis locations that many of the other children went to have a little bit of fun.

Out of all her siblings, she was possibly the biggest trouble. Her elder siblings were adventurous, but never had she seen them ignore their parents. Aeuri was a bit of a quiet boy, and always rushed after their father like a doting perzi. Orin was focused on dealing with his pet Janarim, and seemed to lose the brave nature a bit from what she recalled. And Nasuri was the most advanced of her siblings and often played with her magic stones.

Nedrima, bless her heart, was the closest one Suria had, but the girl just wasn't ready to play with the adults. Suria often felt a need to protect her sister, and as a result did not allow her to see the truth of the world just yet. No, Nedrima was the innocent little sister, and Suria accepted that. Nearly took on more to protect her, be it from insults or attraction. Sultry Suria always had a way with making sure all eyes were on her.

Little did she know just what type of eyes followed her that evening. With her outfit came the attention of elder obans, those who grew tired of the hybrids that lined their streets. Suria could pass as a normal pure breed, if only she didn't show off her shimmering pink crystals or vibrant blue eyes. In fact, many of her more conservative classmates would chastise her for her actions, and ask her why she was so vibrant. The boys would tell her to avoid such looks or even threaten her with teasing insults. The girls would turn their head, or scoff at the 'attention' she wanted. And those who she called friends would warn her, pointing out the looks she got and the fact that the older Obans were starting to notice.

Suria would just laugh it off, shaking her head and wave at those who mocked her. Her friends stopped warning her, and she stopped noticing. It was all routine, and she hadn't been hurt yet, so why worry about something that probably wasn't going to happen?

This evening she was still in her care-not mood, ready to party with the girls in her school who looked past her light crystals and eyes. They were young, so they didn't drink per say, but they loved to stay out late enough to enjoy the evening and avoid the pressures of their high class homes. The cool air brushed against her revealed skin, but she ignored it and simply moved faster. She didn't realize there was a presence behind her, nor that the area she was walking to was not as well lit as normal.

Her focus was only on getting to her friends, and getting to where the fire would be lit and keep her warm.

She turned down the path, a shortcut she normally took when it was lighter out. The ominous feel of it was something she tried to ignore, but she still picked up her pace slightly as the shadow of the alley consumed her.

She made it about half way down the alley before the sound of a rowl caused her to jump and spin around. A perzi as dark as the night raced past, broken crystals and all skin and bones. Suria let out a shaky laugh, silently cursing the creature and letting her shoulders relax. Her nerves were on edge, but it was nothing more than a stray. That was until a hand slammed on her shoulder and spun her back around. This time she let out a gasp of a shriek as she looked up at the taller man who snuck from the shadows.

He was tall and domineering, much taller than her petite teen form. His cloak was dark as night, making it easy for him to hide in the shadows and out of her view. She couldn't think much beyond a curse, her body frozen in fear at the idea that this man was before her. Everything in her vision focused on him, her senses taking in the stench of his breath and the feel of his hand digging into her arm.

Then, she shook him off and took a step back, trying to gather some sense of courage to face. She was her mother's daughter, and she attempted to channel the strength of the woman. Aseara was strong, stood for something amazing,
and Suria was her mother's daughter. Then there was Itotia, who also was an outsider who fought for everything to survive. Both women inspired the half-blood girl to stand up to those around her, and right now as she lifted her chin and curled her lips, she attempted to be someone she was not. Because if she was herself, she'd shiver like a kitten lost in the sewers, and that would get her no where.

"Don't you dare touch me." She hissed out, internally scowling as her voice showed some her fear. The man seemed to have caught it, because he simply let out a laugh and relaxed his stance. He didn't see her as a threat, and he began to toy with her a bit.

"What's wrong, kitten?" He asked in a grumble of a purr, causing a disgusting chill to run down Suria's spine, "...have you lost your way?"

The girl clenched her fist at her side, "Of course not, but you are keeping me from where I need to go."

He laughed, and Suria debated if she could dart around without him grabbing her. The alley was a bit cramped, and he might try and grab her by her skirt if he can't get her arm. Sure, she could rip it, but then she'd need to worry about looking indecent and the shame of rushing out into the crowd. Sadly, she had a feeling no one would believe her if she claimed an Oban attempted to attack her.
She wasn't a fool.

Maybe she could turn and run. It wasn't a bad idea, but she would be opening up her back to him and take her eyes off of him.

Unfortunately, it seemed she took too long, because once he finished laughing he stepped closer to loom over her. His body was huge, and she could tell he was trying to intimidate her. Unfortunately, it worked, and as he moved to brush his fingers up her arm it took her just a second too long to move away. His grip was tight and as she pulled away thin lines from his nails scratched marks on her dark skin. Suria quickly let out a gasp of a hiss, and the man moved close that she had to shift until her back was against the wall and he stood above her.

"Don't touch me, sleezeball!" She gasped out, and resisted shoving him away as she feared he might grab her arms, "You scum bag, how dare you. Do you even know who I am?"

She was scrambling, trying to vocally fight him as she knew she couldn't physically. He simply leaned closer, grinning, "I saw your jewelry, little girl. You seem fancy enough, for a half breed. Now hold still while I take my pick. I promise I'll even walk you to where you need to go so you are nice and safe..."

He pushed on her arms and held her near her shoulders, her back scraping against the wall. She tried to move but couldn't do much except use her forearms, which would do nothing to push his body away as he leaned in and began to pick at her necklace. Instead, her hands fell to her sides, as her breathing picked up. She was starting to panic.

Aeuri was right. She shouldn't have snuck out. It was dangerous, and she had nothing to fight with-wait, she did have something to fight with. As the man leaned in further, she reached under her skirts and grabbed the small knife she stole from her mother. It was light weight and fit in her palm. All she needed to do was shove it, and so she shifted a little bit to test her stance.

Dropping down slightly, the man stumbled and she pushed to the side. She swung out her arm, but it was limited and she didn't have the force she desired.
The man cursed, before suddenly she felt him back hand her. The force of his hit sent her flying to the side, and in her surprise and daze she dropped her knife and crumpled to the ground.

"You little brat!" He cursed out, looking down at the superficial wound before glancing at the knife on the ground, "All you needed to do was sit still and let me take that gold. But now, I'm going to teach you a lesson about obedience."

Tears ran down her face, a mix of shame, feelings of uselessness, and pain.
The little light that she had disappeared as he stood over her, his face a mask of fury, and she tried not to sob in fear. Her only chance to get away, and she couldn't even use a knife. Oh, how worthless she truly was.

As the man began to bend down to grab her once more, he suddenly let out a grunt and a growl. He stumbled to the side with a wheeze, and she saw the flash of a knife sticking out of his back. Behind him, stood the form of a small woman,
covered in a cloak with another knife in her hand.

"You're a fool, Eziah. I told you not to come on my side of town to pick pockets.
Why don't you listen?" The woman shook her head, before bending down to pick up the fallen knife. Turning toward Suria, she held out a hand to help the girl up, "Come on, let's get you off the ground before he decides that he wants another hole in his back..."

Suria was shaking, but took the hand and quickly rose. She held back the bile in her throat as her head rushed, before letting go of the woman's hand to gently touch her swelling cheek. Blinking, slightly dazed, she murmured a soft, "Thank you," as the woman handed over the discarded knife.

"No need for thanks. But what the hell were you thinking? You at least need to use your body weight to shove the knife in. We're smaller than them, so we need to be smarter. And smarter means not walking half naked down the streets with your crystals showing..."

Suria lowered her eyes in shame, as the woman moved to lead her away from the groaning and cursing man. She didn't bother looking back, too ashamed at her lack of skill and the fact she had to be saved. As they made it out and to a bit more light, Suria turned to thank the woman, before realizing the woman before her was also a hybrid, and had a scar across her face.

"Look now, kid," The woman said slowly, "You are going to have a tough life before you. It doesn't matter that you grew up in a nice home with loving parents,
the word still is half backward and doesn't like hybrids. If you want to survive,
you need to fight for your survival. No one will play nice, or hand you what you want. You need to take it...and that starts with learning how to use that knife for protection."

"I...yes..." The young girl said softly, looking down at the knife that shined brightly, clearly never used. The woman stepped back.

"Knives are great. They are easily hidden, can be used both close and long range, and really reflect the user. It doesn't matter what size they are, as long as they are sharp, strong, and used with intent...One strike and you can take control. Just practice a bit next time before you do something stupid, otherwise you might not be so lucky to have someone save your neck."

With that, the woman turned and walked back into the shadows, grumbling about dealing with a man who seemed keen on taking over her area. Suria watched,
dazed still and by no means interested in going to the party. After the woman fully disappeared in the shadows, the young girl took a deep breath, her knees shaking. It was still close to home, and if she kept to the main streets she'd always be in the light. She would need to tell her parents, but maybe she could spin it the right way where they wont ground her until she died.

For now, she needed to go home. Maybe tomorrow, she would use what little coin she had to buy her own knife, one that she could practice with without fear of her mother missing it. Yes, she needed to protect herself, because some day there would be no one there to keep her safe. And that day seemed much closer than she ever imagined.  

[Elyessi]

[ S ] A Little Protection [ S ]

[- 1,215 words -]
[- Suria -]
[- Oba -]

It had been a few weeks since that incident, and Suria didn't dare to share anything that had occurred with her siblings. The normally exuberant middle child was quiet and calm, contemplative of her status in life. Most of her siblings didn't notice; Orin was too focused on his Janarim, Aeuri on his studies and Nasuri on her own magics. Suria suspected Nedrima might have noticed, so she made sure to avoid the sister she was closest to. In retrospect, that might have cued the girl onto the strange behavior over everything else.

It mattered not, because the young Oban mix was quite capable in keeping things quiet.

However, it didn't go quite as well when she told her mother and father, but that was expected. Both were disappointed in her foolishness for sneaking out, and focused on that. At the end of it all, they had a little hug session, Suria cried, and internally swore she would never play the damsel again.

Which is where she was today. Standing at the market, in broad daylight this time, ignoring the leers of the elder Obans who spied her light crystals. It was old news, her being so different, but she didn't bother to blend in like her older brother did. Instead, she wore her crystals with pride, and occasionally glared back.

But she didn't have time for that today, no, she was on a mission. It was time to pay for her own protection. Her memories flashed back to the hybrid woman with the scar, to the words she said and the caution she left. The world was half-backward, and it wouldn't do to be caught on her tail. No, she needed to focus forward, and to ensure she was ready for anything that came her way.

Strolling by the vendors she normally visited, the ones with the soft silks and sweet treats, the young girl wandered to the blacksmiths. Her bright eyes looked over the shields and armor, the gleam bright in the desert sun. It was very fancy, but not what she needed.

She was interested in a blade, and so she went to the modest blacksmith that sold swords and dirks. Everything was priced quite high, and she felt a bit forlorn at the thought she couldn't get the jewel studded knife. However, as pretty as it was, she realized it wasn't quite practical, and looked instead to the short blades with the small handles. The vendor, who was watching from the side, slid up when Suria reached out to look at them a little closer.

"Interested in a few throwing knives, dear?" He asked, "Possibly for protection?"

Throwing knives? Well that was interesting, and meant she didn't need to be as close to keep someone away.

"Yes...though I have some questions..." She turned and looked him in the eye, showing she was serious in her query. He seemed to study her, before his gaze found her pouch of coin, and suddenly a grin spread across his face.

Suria rolled her eyes; vendors were always the same.

"Ask away my dear..."

Suria took a moment to study the blades once more, before nodding determined and smiled back, "What is the defensive difference between a normal knife and these throwing knives? They seem a bit light compared to the normal blades..."

He nodded, agreeing with her simple assessment, "That is a beginner knife. You wont be able to penetrate an enemy quite quickly with that, but it's good for aim and building up your strength. If you wish to be competitive or use it for self defense, you'll need to gradually build up the type of blade. The heavier it is, the more dangerous but also the harder to throw with true aim."

Suria hummed in response, glad the man wasn't talking down to her but curious what he thought she was going to use it for. He seemed to dance between defense and sport, and sure she might consider doing both. Especially for training...she might need to practice quite a bit in throwing the knives. Maybe after she bought it she could see if there were any clubs she could join in.

She turned to look at some of the more...strange versions of the knives, "What of these? They aren't your typical shape..."

The man chuckled, "Those are unbalanced knives, and are generally used for sport. They were popular in generations past, before blacksmiths realized how to balance the blades. I would not recommend them for a beginner, because they are hard to predict and it's not easy swapping from one to another...really, the one you picked up would be the best purchase if you are new to throwing blades..."

She nodded again, her long ponytail bouncing a bit and catching the light of the sun. She ignored some of the looks of the others around her, focused on her task and what she needed to do.

"How many would you advise I purchase?"

He seemed to think a moment, "If you are practicing only, I'd recommend three. It'll let you get used to throwing them in succession. If you are actually thinking of fighting..." He paused, looked at her outfit, and shrugged, "They are easier to lose in the heat of battle..."

"No, I think three is just fine. Not too many to waste when I upgrade to a heavier weight, right?" She wasn't stupid. Maybe a bit childish, but she had a bit of wit to her outside of the book smarts. And this type of thing seemed to come easily, and she was keen to ensure that she continued to develop her defenses.

He mind drifted back to the woman who saved her, who was so confident in her abilities and seemed like the perfect person to follow. Sure, Suria suspected she had a bit of an ulterior motive, as she did recognize the man who tried to steal from her. But the woman had honor, and Suria respected honor. That and strength. It seemed the woman had become a bit of an idol to the girl, and already Suria was thinking of ways to meet the woman once more.

She followed the man to his post, pulling out her bag of gold and nodding at the cost. It seemed a bit much, but she didn't really bother to haggle. Instead, she paid and also purchased a little belt with holsters for the blades, recommended for use when practicing and for transport. As she walked away from the vendor, she made sure the belt was snug around her waist. The weight of the blades felt strange, more of a weight than the gemmed belts she often wore. It would be something to get used to, and she debated if she needed to keep it covered. Her family surely would not appreciate her walking around armed, but it was something she needed to do. She needed to protect herself, and this was the first step in doing so. Next, she would find a place to practice, somewhere safe and out of harms way. Eventually, she might even see if she could compete, because it sounded quite fun.

Walking back home, Suria had confidence in her step and held her head up high. It was clear the girl was feeling more comfortable with the blades, but now she needed to learn how to use them.
 

[Elyessi]

[ S ] Practice Makes Perfect [ S ]

[- 932 words -]
[- Suria -]
[- Oba -]

The sun was beating down on the sandy town, and Suria was outside in the thick of it. Her dark skin did well to protect her from any major issues, such as a burn, but it also seemed to bring forth a bit of heat. It was why she never wore much in terms of clothing, keeping it light and letting the air cool her off. It was especially important right now, with her outside and in the sun, practicing with her new blades.

She didn't realize it, but she was following in her father's footsteps by sneaking away to her own private practice area. Nuri had also found a secluded place to practice with his whip and his creatures. Suria, however, had a bit more than a practice dummy. In the small area she had set up a series of targets, and was practicing throwing the blade with little success.

She didn't realize how hard it was, to find the right posture and the right throw. Her aim was abysmal, her throws all over the place and had she been near anyone she was sure she would have hurt someone by now. Her arm ached, and as she went to gather the blades, she glared at the targets that were unmarked.

It was painfully clear that this was something she wasn't a 'natural' at. The frugal part of her was a bit pleased, it meant that she wouldn't waste more coin on new blades so quickly. The stubborn side was angry, and started screaming at her to get it together and show everyone that she was her father's daughter.

Sure, she had her mother's beauty, but she wanted to be strong, to be independent, and to never let herself get hurt again.

Stretching out her arm, she pulled the appendage across her body and made a face. She was sweating quite a bit, the heat and her activity making it easy for her body to sheen. She was sure she smelled, but it wasn't something she wanted to focus on at the moment. Instead, she focused on trying to get the ache away from her shoulders by lifting both arms to stretch high into the air. Surely, the ache was a bad sign, and maybe it was time she called it a day and headed back home to soak in her pool.

Nodding, and slightly pleased with the little progress she made with no instruction whatsoever, Suria placed the blades back into the safety of her belt before moving to lift the targets and hide them in the corners of the space. She didn't want anyone to realize what was going on, at least not without some sort of snooping on their end.

Once everything was tidy, the girl brushed her hand across her forehead to get rid of the last traces of sweat, before spinning on her heel to head home. Her legs were fine, as she hadn't quite worked on moving and throwing, but her arms continued to ache in a pretty terrible way as she darted between the shadows of the city's tall buildings. She might need to ask one of her brothers for some tips on how to get rid of the soreness, or even her father. The big thing is figuring out how she could keep her training a secret, at least until she was confident enough to show off her progress.

It was strange, how uncertain she was feeling about sharing her interest in fighting. She knew her father had some allies who were women, strong women who led in the previous wars. In fact, those bug-women from the west were strong, so much stronger than she could ever imagine to be, so why was there a small bit of shame? Maybe it was the fact she had grown up pampered, surrounded by a sister and mother who were beautiful and knew how to enhance it. Maybe it was because she felt pressure to fall into a category, to support her family like her mother and aunty did. Or maybe it was because she was afraid she might, just might, fail at this task and get hurt once again.

The scarred face of the woman who saved her passed through her mind. Would she end up scarred if she faced this path? Did it really matter? Suria knew that the scar didn't scare her as much as that man did, with his towering presence and the fear he gave her. He only wanted to steal her gold, but what if he wanted to do more? There was nothing she could do, and that above all else is what drove her to push until her arms ached and she was covered in a stench.

As she marched through the doors, she ignored the looks from the help as she rushed by, nodding to her siblings if she passed them and focusing on getting to her room. Peeling off her outfit, she quickly donned a loose slip to swim with, one that was solid in color and wouldn't allow any peepers to see anything. Nodding and re-tightening her ponytail, she all but danced outside back into the heat. Her face pulled into a frown, but as she dipped her toe into the sunpool, she smiled with glee. Around her, a few of their pets also bathed, and she settled in to think a bit and let her arms relax. Oh yes, she could get used to this, working hard and then relaxing in the dying sun.

Tomorrow, she would hopefully be able to do it all again.  

[Elyessi]

[ Q ] What Is Strength [ Q ]

[- 1,037 words -]
[- Suria -]
[- Oba -]

The sun was slowly sinking down behind the buildings, covering the city streets with long, lingering shadows. Suria was shifting about, a cloak borrowed from her father wrapped around her small form. It dug against the ground, kicking up dirt and staining the edges a dusky red, and often the girl had to pull it up and around her shoulders. The last time she had been on this side of the city had been months prior, when she was sneaking away to see her friends and believed the weight in her hand was enough to protect her from the horrors of the night. The thought alone caused a chill to run down Suria's spine, and she shifted yet again while she looked around the place that haunted her dreams.

Walking into the shadows of the alley, it wasn't as dark as she remembered but dark enough for her to feel uneasy. How she didn't have that sense of self-preservation before, she would never know. Now, even with the blades snug at her hip, she felt uncomfortable and a desire to run away somewhere safe. However, she was determined to push through, to push past this fear and finally, finally have a bit of closure. The protection with the blade purchase was first, and now it was a mental need to get things moving and start fighting for herself, and not for her shameful past.

Walking to where she had fallen, the girl looked around with a neutral face. She remembered it vividly, the man's grip and the woman who saved her. She wondered, yet again, if she might be able to track down the woman. Maybe get a bit of a lesson, since the woman did seem keen to help out. With that thought in mind, the girl decided she would linger a bit longer, silently hoping she might indeed find that woman once more.

As she paced a bit around the area, avoiding the trash and webs as she thought back to the night yet again. Her body became more relaxed as she relived it, strangely enough. It was as if she accepted it, finally, and compared it to the mental state she was in now. For weeks she had practiced with her blades. She was sloppy, but had a sense of aim and knew how to throw it (or so she thought). The sense of the blades reassured her as they sat on her hip, and she was quite skillful now in at least pulling them out with an arching slash. It wasn't perfect, or pretty, or nearly where it needed to be, but the girl felt so much more confident than when she did with the blade borrowed from her mother.

A sound distracted her, and Suria spun around and placed her hand on her hip. After a long moment, that same dark Perzi raced away from the corners into another alley, but Suria's senses were on edge. She waited another minute, before relaxing her muscles and shaking her head. She had lingered a bit too long, and realized that the woman who saved her was either not there, or not interested in being there. Rolling her shoulder, she marched out and away from the place of her past, determined to never walk there again and brush the memories from her mind forever.

Now, all she wanted to do was find the bandit woman, ask her questions and learn from her what she could. The idea of continuing her secret, of being someone who could sneak through the shadows and stay away from the battlefield, was so attractive to the young girl. She liked the idea of thinking of using her weapons for defense, and while the bandit was someone who had different motives, she also had experience.

Suria stilled a moment, thinking over the idea of experience. She was at a crossroads. Here, she could put the weapons down, never speak of it with her family, and forget about the idea of getting her hands dirty. It would be an easy life, sunning by the pool and covering herself with jewels and gold. Never would she care about the life outside of her home, beyond those four walls. Yet, she didn't want to live in a birdcage, stuck inside because of the big bad men who would hurt her. Her mother proved that strength was important, no matter if you are a warrior or a dance, and Suria had pride in her own strength (developing as it was).

Instead, she had the opportunity to build herself up, to ensure that no one anywhere would think she weak. If they did, she would make sure they gave up that thought immediately, either with her words or with her little blades. She could be pretty, be covered in jewels, and be strong and able to defend herself. The world was a dangerous place, and she was sure to cause some issues and make some enemies with her wild and frank behavior. It was important to ensure she survive, survive her words and survive the words or actions of others in response.

Determination flooded her senses, and Suria looked back to the alley behind her. She wasn't one to give up, no after how far she fought, and she wanted that woman to be her trainer. Sure, she could ask her father to get one of his war buddies to help, but they were so stiff. She wanted to be natural, to be smart, and to fight a little dirty if needed, and that meant she needed someone who thought a bit different than the rest of the world. She had enough gold to pay the woman, but she needed to find her first. It might be smart to get the word out, but based on the last interaction she wasn't sure she could trust any old person stealing off the streets. No, she needed to be smart about this, to learn more about the people who lived in the darkness so she knew where to look.

Yes, she had a mission, and she had determination. Now, all she needed to do, was make it happen. And Suria was very, very good at making things happen.

[ Suria thinks back to what started her journey toward additional strength, going back to the site where she was attacked and hopeful she finds the woman who saved her. Although she doesn't find the woman, she does find internal determination, and leaves with a plan on how to continue to grow, and to make sure she finds the woman who saved her. This internal growth is a stepping stone to her continuing down the path to her new class, and lead her to a new direction and away from the pampered life she currently lives. ]