"Ohhh." Larke had misunderstood, mostly because she was a child and there were certain things she found fun to ask about. The fact that Raz was an honest to goodness princess didn't exactly help, nor did the fact that Larke had a certain feeling of familiarity with her that she didn't understand. "Um..."
She started trying to think of a new question, but Raz sighed and explained what it was like to be a princess. Not all of it sounded fun, but she did include all of the things that a girl would love to hear about a princess doing. That fact alone made her smile a rather large smile for a moment, though the smile disappeared as she thought.
"Um, what do you mean about my differences from other people and my magic?" she asked. "Do you know why I have magic like I do and stuff? Dad always just said I was special..." she sounded intrigued, like this was a question she'd given up even getting an answer for before Raz offered to answer it. "He told me there were lots of kids with magic like me in Fiore and that I just needed to find a teacher to learn to use it better."
Razhiel wondered how much she should tell Larke and if the girl would even believe her. A sheltered kid, even an easily manipulated one would not willingly leave their comfort zone. At least that was her opinion. In a way Razhiel was appreciative of her upbringing. She could not imagine relying on someone else nor being dependent on someone else for her survival. Though Razhiel would bet the kid brought out protective instincts in others and not just her.
“I have an educated guess.” She admitted; eyes on the sky as they continued to walk; alert to those around them. “Your Dad is trying to protect you by keeping you from knowing the complete truth. He must care for you a lot. But you must know the truth if you are to protect yourself and him.” She couldn’t believe Larke’s father would leave the teacher part up to Larke. There were enemies in Fiore. Just because it was a different country did not mean it was less dangerous. She almost growled at the unknown man’s carelessness… or maybe it was hope. A royal of Valland stumbles upon a dragon slayer clone. What are the chances? Had she been someone of different character...
“There are quite a few people with magic in Fiore. Yes. But not your type of magic. Your type of magic makes you even more special. Your sharp little teeth, right here…” Razhiel pointed to her own canines, which while sharper and slightly longer than normal it did not compare to Larke’s or the other Dragon Slayers. “ And your smell tell others that you are quite different.” Looking down at Larke she asked, “Have you heard of Dragon Slayers?”
Princess Razhiel admitted immediately it was a guess, even if it was an educated one. Larke nodded her acknowledgement despite the fact that she knew Raz wasn't looking at her currently, and the red-headed woman continued. She believed her dad wasn't telling her everything in an attempt to protect her. That made sense to the young girl; there were a lot of things he kept vague when she asked questions. There was a lot he answered when she asked too, so she wasn't sure why he wouldn't answer things. "I do want to keep dad safe if bad things happen..." she admitted. "He takes care of me and I want to be able to take care of him too... even though I'm a kid..."
Raz went on to talk about how there were a lot of people with magic in Fiore, but that Larke's magic was different than even their magic. It made her more special, pointing to Larke's teeth, which she compulsively started poking at in her own mouth. "I suppose I do have pointy sharp teeth..." she admitted, referring to her canines as her 'sharp teeth.' She'd never really thought about it. "Dragon slayers? I dunno... that sounds like someone that kills dragons..." that was the best guess she had.
Deciding to return to the subject of protecting herself and her father, Razhiel smiled a little. “Yes it does sound like that. Dragon slayers are people that dragons trained to use dragon powers in the event that a dragon should purposely hurt people. Though it is a double edged sword as people who are given great power can also turn bad, and have in the past. Same with dragons. Razhiel paused in her walking, coming to a complete stop.
“I have met a few dragon slayers and a few dragons. So I know when I meet someone with similar powers. I too have super smell.” She turned to Larke, waiting until the girl looked at her. “You are a dragon slayer with dragon slayer magic without having to learn it from a dragon. And that is why you are so special because to my knowledge you are the only one. That is also why after Valland fell, you were always on the run. There are people out there who would do anything for you.” She waited to see the girl’s reaction. Razhiel did not know what to expect. Hell, she stopped trying to guess at what to expect on a daily basis. Never would she have imagined she’d have met a second Nox experiment. And never would she have guessed the form and ability of said experiment.
Razhiel explained dragon slayers to Larke. They were a bit more heroic sounding than she'd expected based on the name, and she started to consider that she might just like to hear more about them. But then the story became hard for Larke to comprehend. She was somehow a dragon slayer not taught by dragons? "But... but I wouldn't want to slay anything!" she protested. "I can't be one of those! I just can't!" It was a little too hard to wrap her head around at the moment, as evidenced by her arguing.
A moment or two passed as she continued thinking. "But... we did move around a lot... and Dad was always a lot more cautious around strangers before we came here and he said it was our new home..." The young girl stared at her small hands. "You... you think I smell like one of the dragon slayer people?" She knew different magics could have different smells. She wasn't experienced enough to pick out what was what considering she hadn't met and talked to that many wizards, but she was aware of the fact. "I'm just a kid. Why would people want me?"
Razhiel almost sighed out loud. She was the last person to be explaining what a dragon slayer was. What did she really know besides having a personal vendetta with one and having a loose friendship with another. She was a devil slayer, not a dragon slayer. Completely different. Even if she did have a dragon taking up residence inside her.
She knelt on one knee next to the girl so they were the same height. "Okay. Deep breath. You don't have to slay anything. What I told you about dragon slayers is just a vague description of how they came about. Think of dragon slayer as a name for a type of powerful magic that only a few have. Remember banana." Damn food analogy. That would be her legacy. 'She called me a banana Dad.'
At the mention of her smell, it brought to mind a much older blue eyed version of her. "Yes, I am sure of your smell." She didn't press any further on it. Her gaze swept the courtyard before resting her gaze upon Larke's. "You are special and you are young. There are people out there who would try to manipulate you, who would use your power for their gain. That is why it is important you practice your magic. Why it is important you get strong and... to be cautious." The harder part of her, the one brought about due to her royal obligations, wanted to push the girl harder. Ensure she understood the risks and begin training not just with her magic but physically as well. But she did not wish her harsh look upon reality upon the girl. The distant part of her tried to reason it was not her problem and to walk away. The caring part wanted to stand beside the girl, if only to protect her from those who meant her ill will. Even though she knew she was wanted in Fiore for her previous attacks upon the country when Valland was still an Empire to be afraid of. Though with the new regime, she was unsure of its validity, though she could be she sure would not be welcomed by many.
So... she was a dragon slayer? Larke knew that similar smells usually meant there was some sort of relationship. Grass usually smelled like other grass. People who smelled similar were usually related by blood, or at least spent a lot of time together so that their scents intermingled a bit, such as married people. Larke tilted her head as she tried to listen to Razhiel even as the cogs obviously spun in her head. How could she be a dragon slayer without being trained by a dragon? That was where they got their magic.
The story Raz had initially told the girl went through her mind. She was smart and had a very good memory, especially for her age. The evil Nox had done many experiments on people. Had... he done something to her? Had he made her dad do something to her? It might explain why he wouldn't want to tell her. He knew she wasn't the bravest girl, and well... knowing something like that was enough to make someone afraid. Larke was too busy thinking to be afraid right now.
"Okay... I'm a banana..." she used the term because she automatically disliked being anything with the word 'slayer' in it. "But..." she simply trailed off. She didn't even know where to go from there. Tears started to well up in her eyes - not from the fear she felt in her stomach from what had surely made her father sad. She understood now that when he had called her sick, it had been a lie to protect her from that. No, she just... didn't know what to think. "If a magic is so special a dragon has to give it to you... how did they do it to me?" she asked pointedly. "I've never even seen a dragon..."
Seeing the tears in the young girl’s eyes, she almost flinched. No crying… Please no crying. Razhiel thought to herself silently. Larke’s question had Razhiel reminding herself not to be harsh, or rather not to give Larke her honest, raw opinion on the matter as it would probably be too much for the young girl.
“I don’t know the how. Your father would though. I expect your father knows a lot of things in regards to you… Silent a moment, she said quietly. “Nox had the habit of creating the impossible…” Such as the ability to control a dragon, or a dozen. She slowly stood upon both boots once more, rising from her kneel. Hand rested upon the hilt of the whip at her side. More out of habit than anything else as her eyes surveyed the courtyard again. “And that is why certain people would be after you. Because you are essentially one of kind. A powerful one of a kind.” Razhiel reiterated in a slightly different wording. She recalled what Tracen had told her. “Dragon Slayer is a chosen title. You have a specific type of magic. It is your choice as to how you use it.” Raising an eyebrow at the girl she decided to elaborate on her own person. "Myself, for example. Due to my type of magic, one would call me a Devil Slayer. It is merely a name for the magic I use. Though there are not many who use magic similar to mine, so not many would know the name. And only those with super smell would know I did not smell like other people."
"Um..." Larke at this point had no idea what to think. She'd done fantastic to even put together what she had, but at this point that weird feeling between clarity and panic was beginning to become unbalanced, and she was starting to look more and more upset. She shook her head, clinching her little fists as she shook. "I don't know... I don't know..." she chanted quietly as she stopped shaking her head. She chided herself; her father had always told her when she wasn't sure she should talk to him. He'd also said that she should never get stuck thinking; trust her instincts when she had to.
"I um... I... thank you for telling me what my magic is..." she told the former princess, locking her little hands together in front of her as she gave a very small bow. She had to throw her hair back behind her shoulders after doing so. She sounded somewhere between really nervous and in shock. The magic was just... too special for her to know what to do with. "I think it was important to know... I know we just met and stuff, but I trust you. And... and you can tell me things that Dad is scared to tell me for some reason..."
She saw the glazed look. She had over loaded the kid. And this is why she usually only ever interacted with them from afar. The girl's manners caught her off guard. The bow even more so, if only because it had been a long while since anyone had done so, especially not out of fear. Razhiel nodded in acknowledgement. "Your very welcome. I did not intend to upset you. I too, think it was important to know."
The hair flick had Razhiel feeling a sense of deja vu and a flash back to when she first met Kotone. Who was going to tell the kid she was someone's mini. Not her. Definitely not her. Maybe her. But not for a long while. Unless of course Larke randomly ran into Kotone. Larke most likely wouldn't realize what she was but Kotone would. She didn't know Kotone well enough to know how she would react but she would pay for a front row seat to that.
Razhiel pulled an old silver coin about half the size of her palm out of her pocket. On one side was an elaborate castle with turrets. On the other was a large bird of prey, wings spread mid flight. It was given to her by Lily, her mentor and mother- though Razhiel did not know of the last until somewhat recently. "I was given this coin by my teacher. I was told that while I had great responsibility, I had to remember to stay strong so that when I spread my wings I would one day soar on my own." For her it was a reminder to always keep her head up, essentially one of the factors to her extreme logical outlook on life. Her thumb swept over the castle, a very likeness to what she called home once.
Razhiel held the coin out to Larke, though the edges were worn everything else was in mint condition. "I'll pass it on to you. The only person you are destined to be is the one you decide. Practice and ask questions. Get strong so you can soar on your own wings and have the knowledge to know which way to fly." Violet orbs glanced at the lowering sun.
"I will be in Grand City for awhile. If you need me, I won't be hard to find." Larke's words of trust passed through her mind. "If ever you need help, count on me." Razhiel almost shook her head. First Tracen and now Larke. Allegiances already when she meant to fly solo. She supposed it was in her nature to look after people.
Larke took the coin, wide-eyed. She knew it wasn't for spending, so it was safe with her. She held it to her chest with both hands for a moment, watching Razhiel. The red-headed woman told her that she would be in Grand City for awhile, which of course would make it easy with someone of Larke's particular magical talents to find. "I don't know who I want to be when I get older," she admitted to to the woman, her head tilted curiously. "But..." She paused for a moment, her words slow despite the overwhelmed sense of energy in her eyes.
Larke carefully placed her coin in the compartment in the large pendant in her necklace, where it would never be lost. She held onto the necklace carefully before letting it drop carefully. It apparently fit tightly enough that it didn't even make a clinking sound from the jolt of gravity. "I think I want to be able to be smart and make decisions quick like you," she admitted, looking back up at Raz's face. She placed her entwined hands behind her back, shifting her torso back and forth nervously. She didn't want to fight, she didn't need to be the best wizard ever... but she did see a certain strength in Razhiel that she honestly admired more than just about anything else she'd ever seen. It was comforting, in a way.
Memories flashed within her mind. When Razhiel was Larke's age there was no doubt for her. Her life had been decided from the moment she was born. She had understood her responsibilities despite spending the first decade of her life away from the capital. There was always someone watching, the expectations were always high and there was never any doubt that she would meet them. There was no 'what if she did not.'
Larke's last words had her looking back at the youngster, a surprised but genuine smile upon her face, alighting her eyes. A feeling in her chest. Something unidentifiable to Razhiel had her tilting her head slightly as she regarded the young girl. "You can achieve anything you put your mind to. I believe you will grow into a strong, smart young lady."
With a half smile she curtsied to Larke. Arms held slightly out, fingers grasping an imaginary skirt. "Thank you for an enjoyable day. I look forward to seeing you again." Razhiel said with a wink. She waited a moment in case Larke wished to tell her or ask anything else before taking her leave.
Raz departed with a curtsy and some encouraging words. Despite wishing she wouldn't go, Larke remained quiet, nodding with a small smile on her face as she obviously prepared to leave. "Thank you for... for everything, Princess Razhiel," she curtsied back before just going all in and giving her a full hug. "Maybe I'll get to say hi before you go, but if not, just um... thanks," she nodded. She opened her necklace compartment, pulling out a small rock. "I was um... told this was some sort of magic space rock. I want you to keep it."
She didn't know it was supposed to be some sort of metal that killed people's ability to locate her with magic. Not that it mattered; the people who were looking for her probably had other ways of finding her if they were really looking. She'd never seen them, and she'd long ago decided she was safe, despite her father's, as well as Raz's precautions. How could she not? It wasn't any real quality of life to run around a scared little kid all the time. "See you again sometime," she giggled, "I'm gonna go home before Dad gets too worried anyway."
When Larke’s arms encircled her, Razhiel froze. Even her breath held. Her world seemed to tilt a moment. Which in itself was ridiculous, that such a tiny human and such a simple act could have such a huge effect on her. She returned the gesture and simply smiled when Larke let her go and began to mess with her amulet.
When the young girl presented the small rock for her to keep, Razhiel grabbed it gently. “Thank you. I will keep it always.” As she turned and walked away, something within her settled. The rock warm within the palm of her clenched hand. She knew one thing as she walked away and that was she would kill for that kid.
