(from here)
“A teacher could help,” Riski agreed. “And practice. But if they’re helping and you’re having good luck, and especially if you actually enjoy doing it, that sounds like something to look into for sure.” He watched her hands skim over the cards, drawn to the shine of the gold edging. While he admittedly didn’t set much stock in the practice, it was still fascinating as an art form and the cards themselves could be quite beautiful.
His gaze switched to the fairy in his hand as Destiney talked about her. She was sparkly, practically glowing even in the daylight, but beneath the glow she didn’t look anything like as old as she should be if she came from the fallen city. Clearly a creature of magic. He felt a little better about his carbuncle comparison. “She definitely seems very special. You can tell just by looking at her. “
“She is special to me. Though sometimes it’s like having a nagging mother always over my shoulder. She doesn’t approve of me worrying about others first over my own well being.” She smiles at Riski as she smooths down the creases in her doublet. Daisy’s smile bright an happy at Riski’s words. “She’s really friendly. Well to most people. There may have once been an incident where she was nearly a meal. Not quite sure she’s forgiven Oni yet for that.” At the mention of Oni, Daisy frowns an waves her arms frantically which just makes Destiney chuckle. “Nope. Apparently not.”
“A lot of what I know or attempt is fumbling in the dark. I learn by doing usually rather then a teacher. But… I think when it comes to those cards I am going to find a teacher. Or at least someone I can ask questions who has real answers. I’ve a fond love for research more then I do actually working up the nerve to bother strangers usually. This here…” She motions between them with a hand to indicate what she was talking about. The sitting down with a stranger in the wild and speaking with them. Caring about someone’s well being rather then moving on when they had insisted. “For me is a step in a good direction really. Though it helps you have a charming smile.” A slightly teasing smile as she looks away towards the river.
“So besides getting yourself zapped by couerls, what sort of things do you do? If you don’t mind me asking. Or if you feel up to answering. I feel like I must be talking you to death.”
“I’ve learned a little bit of everything through either trial and error or bugging people I’ve been stuck with on jobs. The best for that was the merc band I used to be in – different people with different specialties. It was invaluable on a couple of occasions to be able to pick up a battleaxe or a glaive and keep going even after running out of arrows.” Riski grins, giving Daisy a small nod of warning before lowering his hand to rest on his knees. She’s welcome to stay, of course, but he can’t keep his arm up like that any longer.
“As you’ve observed, I’m very charming.” Riski winks at her, tilting his head to the side briefly in order to toss his hair back out of his face. “But mostly I just do odd jobs. Fighting the local nuisance of the day, deliveries, running messages – whatever’s needed that they’ll pay me for. Within reason, of course. So again, knowing a little bit of everything comes in handy there, too.”
Daisy fluttered off his hand as his arm began to lower. Her new perch being the top of Destiney’s head once more. Destiney merely shot a glance upwards at her fairy companion as she listened to Riski speak.
“Ah so in other words you’re very versatile. Must be handy indeed. I am still a decent shot with a bow. It’s what I used to do before I chose to be a healer. I’ve never really tried my hand with other weapons. Not sure if I’m ready to even consider such.” She looks towards the northeast, knowing what lay in the distance over that way. She shakes her head briefly to cast away the thoughts. Daisy flutters down off her head to light smack her hands against Destiney’s cheeks. “Daisy!” She sighs before chuckling. Daisy merely crosses her arms an frowns. “Like I said. She is like a nagging mother.”
“I’m a terrible shot anymore,” Riski admitted cheerfully. “But it’s no big deal, because of those other skills I picked up. But not everyone is suited to all weapons, just like not everyone is suited to healing. There’s nothing at all wrong in finding what you’re good with and sticking with it.”
He followed Destiney’s gaze, raising his eyebrows at Daisy’s reaction to her. “I take it she disapproves of something? Or is she just annoyed?” He didn’t know what was off in the distance, but it obviously meant something to Destiney and her fairy companion.
Destiney takes a long moment, gazing towards Daisy. Deciding how best to answer. A deep breath in an out. “Yes. A bit of both really. She remembers what happened that day. She was still my uncle’s companion at the time. It’s her way of trying to smack some sense into me.”
Her right hand goes to rest over a spot on her chest, just to the right of her heart. “She thinks I need the occasional reminder. Which sometimes I do. But right now…” A pause as she looks up at the sky an closes her eyes for a moment. “Right now I’m in a much better place then I was back then.” A genuine smile, though not nearly as warm as she tried to make it. “We all do stupid things when we’re younger an not as smart as we are further down the road. I made some extremely stupid choices. Daisy just likes to remind me when she thinks I’m in danger of dwelling too hard on those choices.”
“I have good company today despite being this close to that place.” There was the warmth now. The smile meeting her eyes an much warmer this time. “Even if said company is only because he got himself zapped.” A slight tease of course. Something she found she couldn’t resist.
Spirit of the Warlock 