(Student)
SHSL Flower Maiden
(Year 3)
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Post by Adrianna Kravenski on Apr 12, 2016 1:01:37 GMT
It's been around a week since she stepped through the open gates of Hope's Peak. Classes have now begun in earnest, and the seeds of many a friendship were sown. Adrianna herself had begun gathering a wide range of acquaintances, and what a fun group of people that was proving to be! Having all of these colorful individuals coerced into one academy meant that almost everyone had a tale worth sharing, and the flower maiden practically beamed with delight at every new story told.
She hadn't felt this rejuvenated in years, both in body and soul, but there was one name that lingered still in her mind, solely due to the aspect of nature that decorated this person's name. One Willow Fey. She had first spotted his name in a registry somewhere, and later that day searched him up online, pouring through articles and reports late into the night. The varying opinions that the common, none Hope's Peak folk expressed for him amused her greatly, for they range on a wide scale of extreme anger to almost saint-like praise. This Willow was shaping up to be an impressive, beautiful specimen, and she decided to seek this man out.
After tending to the already blooming flowers scattered in every nook and cranny of her room, Adrianna stepped out today's doors with a refreshing lightness in her step. Pondering about how best to spend this weekend day, a beautiful bonsai sprung into mind. She had spotted it through the doors of the library and wanted dearly to inspect it closer, but had forgotten all about it during the course of this past week's frenzy. What better time than now, she decided, heading to the direction of that age-old plant.
The bonsai immediately came into view the moment she stepped through into the library, and her eyes lit up with delightful pleasure. It was more beautiful than she remembered, much more majestic. She approached the plant, bending down slightly to inspect it closer, brushing over its leaves and branches gently with her fingers. Beautiful things were almost always a welcomed sight, and seeing such a well-taken plant filled her with much happiness. Hope's Peak didn't disappoint, not even in their gardening department. She daresay that it even impressed her, and she briefly entertained the idea of spreading her flowers across Hope's Peak's grounds. She could have faith that they would be in good hands even after she leaves, and why not stain this academy's grounds with a sea of beautiful red? Surely someone out there could appreciate such a sight, and besides, those flowers helped turn her home town into a popular tourist spot. Everybody wins. @ Willow Fey |
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(Student)
SHSL Trickster
(Year 2)
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Post by Willow Fey on Apr 12, 2016 2:32:03 GMT
After a week of attending Hope's Peak, the library had already become his sanctuary. His home away from dorm, as it were.He had been hitting the books pretty hard. Some of these books could not be found anywhere else, or were just extremely hard to come across. His studies here had already began to bear fruit and who knows what he could accomplish in the next few years.
The Trickster had just finished his occult reading for the day and had moved onto Philosophy when he noticed someone entering the library. A girl, quite beautiful, who was examining a bonsai tree. She looked familer. Who was she? Adrianna....Kravenski? Ultimate Botanist...or Gardener. Something with plants. Willow quite liked plants, and she was pretty and seemed interesting enough. And who knows, she might have a good story. Willow couldn't see any bad result from approaching her. So why not?
Then again....He didn't really know anything about her. And if he recalled correctly he was in the same year as her. So he put his nose back into his book. He did have a lot of work to do right now. Making the world a better place was difficult. Willow had to learn as much as he could. Besides....in a couple of days she would call and he didn't want her to get the wrong idea. She had an understanding mind and was confident enough but...he didn't want her to think he was moving on. Love didn't work that way.
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(Student)
SHSL Flower Maiden
(Year 3)
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Post by Adrianna Kravenski on Apr 12, 2016 10:33:29 GMT
If plants were to have feelings, the bonsai would have turned at this point into quite the troubled plant. The duration she stood there had now reached a point where any onlookers would have gotten bored of this peculiar sight, burying themselves back in their books, but Adrianna still stayed for a few minutes more. What can she say? It impressed her, greatly so.
But all pleasant things come to an end, and she stood up to stretch once she had her fill of this sight. Closing her eyes, she soaked in the atmosphere of this library. All was silent, save for flipping pages and soft drifts of conversation. She could see herself spending hours here, she thought, for this was as peaceful a spot as peace could be.
She decided to explore the library, starting by turning to her right, but was soon stopped in her tracks by a sight that graced her eyes. Willow Fey was sitting right there, him in the flesh. A small smile spread across her lips. Somehow, what she saw fitted perfectly with the image she had built up of him in her mind.
Approaching where he sat, she raised up a hand in greeting and sweetly smiled. "Why hello there, Willow Fey. I've been looking for you." @ Willow Fey |
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(Student)
SHSL Trickster
(Year 2)
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Post by Willow Fey on Apr 12, 2016 15:42:58 GMT
Looking for him? That was...interesting. What was someone like her doing trying to find someone like him. It didn't make a whole lot of sense. Maybe she tracked him down for revenge, or to thank him for the positive effects of some trick or maybe for a quick lay. Regardless there was no sense in not talking to her now...
"You've been looking for me Ms.Kravenski? What a fascinating turn of events. Nobody has really bothered to track me down yet. Why have you been looking for me?" Willow said with a smile. The fact that she had been looking for him sent all kinds of exciting ideas through his mind.
Already this school was turning out to have been a good choice. He had plenty of occasions to amuse himself already and it seemed like there was no end in sight to the interesting possibilities and opportunities this school was offering him.
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(Student)
SHSL Flower Maiden
(Year 3)
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Post by Adrianna Kravenski on Apr 13, 2016 5:37:54 GMT
His response delighted her greatly - especially when he called her by her name. That showed that she had caught his eye at least once in the past, and whether that be through news reports or a television talk show mattered not. She's appeared quite a number of times in both, and more than once had she broken down crying when questioned about the betrayal of her brother. It did hurt to imagine him behind cold, harsh bars, but the law always claims its dues, and what he did was truly, truly awful.
Her poor brother. Her poor parents. His incarceration drove a painful wedge between all of them, and just the thought of it was enough to almost bring tears to her eyes. But there were better things to spend her time thinking about, such as the wonderful, delightful future. What bright, exciting prospects HPA would give to her she still did not know, but Adrianna wouldn't stop hoping for more colour in her life. And maybe, just maybe, a pesky student here in Hope's Peak would find a way to release yet another strand of her flowers into the wild. What a tragedy that would be.
Pulling out a chair, she sat down right in front of him. With as coy as smile as she could muster, Adrianna reached over to slide her hand over his. A shiver shot through her when her fingertips touched his skin, and she gently laid down the rest of her palm as she spoke, trying not to reveal too much the excitement she was feeling.
"It was your name that caught my eye at first. I'm quite the fan of plants, and willows do have a certain... admirable charm to them, don't you think?" @ Willow Fey |
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(Student)
SHSL Trickster
(Year 2)
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Post by Willow Fey on Apr 13, 2016 6:46:45 GMT
Adrianna looked quite happy for some reason. Probably because he had known her name. Then she proceeded to pull up a chair and touch his hand. He knew flirting when he saw it and suddenly his adolescent mind lurched into a torrent of scenarios. Most of which were absurdly impractical. They could hardly have sex here on the library table. Besides it was far too soon for that. Most of the time he disregarded society's sexual norms as being wildly unhealthy and repressive. However the fact remains that when dealing with someone like Ms. Kravenski, one did not simply move from introductions straight into intercourse. She was obviously playing "the game" and had merely started with a fairly aggressive opening.
Her feelings had to be kept in mind as well. Willow hated misunderstandings that weren't simply comical. He didn't want her to get the idea that he had replaced her, and he did actually want to get to know this Adrianna Kravenski. Sex did often confuse things in the initial stages of a relationship.
"Yeah. They tend to be sad, dainty, sappy trees with roots spreading far and wide. So I suppose the name fits. I am a bit of a fan of plants and nature myself. I hear plants are your speciality? The reason you are attending this academy?" Willow asked.
He had to be careful himself though. Willow had feelings as well and could be easily hurt if this girl had come to manipulate him. He had secrets he couldn't divulge to just anybody. Secrets his new friend Alexia didn't even know. This girl would have to prove she was worthy of trust first.
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(Student)
SHSL Flower Maiden
(Year 3)
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Post by Adrianna Kravenski on Apr 14, 2016 11:08:49 GMT
"My my, what a poetic response," said Adrianna, lips curved upwards in a smile. Meeting his eyes, she pulled her hand away. She was sure that it had left an impression on him, and that was all she had set out to do. No need to go further than that. They were still strangers, after all. And there was still the chance that this Willow would be a disappointing one, despite the positive signs so far.
"You've heard about me? That's certainly another delightful surprise." Leaning back in her chair, she crossed her legs, eyes falling to the books laid out on the table. Both occult and philosophy were present, two very intriguing combinations. Was this a man who fancied the dark arts? Were there necklaces tucked under his uniform, the nature of which would give a commoner chills? Adrianna wanted the answer to these questions, for they would in turn reveal how interesting of a fellow this Willow really was.
Reaching out to grab one of the occults, she turned the book around to read its blurb, speaking to Willow while doing so. "Adrianna Kravenski, the Flower Maiden of Hope's Peak." She flipped the book around once more, stopping to take a look at the drawings on its cover. Smiling coyly, her fingers traced the outlines of the occult, toying with such drawings while she continued to nonchalantly speak. "It has a nice ring to it, don't you think? I woe thinking about a day the butterflies stop fluttering when I hear that title spoken aloud."
Absentmindedly, she repeated her title again once more. She did so softly, and there was a notable upturn in her lip's two corners when she finished mouthing those few words. Chuckling, she started flipping through the pages, gently and delicately. "Perhaps you first heard my name during the media's coverage of my brother's trial? While what had happened was a tragedy, I can't help but feel mesmerized at the sight of such a red sea. My heart dearly hopes that those spider lilies will continue to propagate and thrive, even when it comes time for my bones to turn to dust."
@ Willow Fey |
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(Student)
SHSL Trickster
(Year 2)
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Post by Willow Fey on Apr 15, 2016 0:38:19 GMT
"Poetic? Pretentious maybe." Willow said chuckling a bit. Self deprecation was a good tactic. Made people know you didn't take yourself too seriously. And in Willow's case it was honest enough.
"It does have quite a nice ring to it. Still haven't quite gotten used to Willow Fey, Ultimate Trickster, but it is growing on me. " Willow said. He was examining the flower maiden closely as she took the oppurtunity to look through the occult text he had been reading that day. The trickster felt oddly exposed. Though not as much as he would normally. It seemed that Adrianna's presence conforted him somewhat, or at least didn't put him on edge.
"Kravenski...I had thought that name sounded familer. Probably heard about it on the news in passing. I can't say I followed the trial however. As for your "red sea of spider lilies" that does sound like quite the sight. I liked the morbid touch you added to that. Coming from you it is very charming" Willow said.
"You seem to be quite interested in my book. Forgive me if I am surprised but most of the elegant ladies I know wouldn't get anywhere near the Occult arts. Whether they find it foolish or scary or are simply not interested for whatever reason. Yet you went to it almost immediately. I wonder why that is?" Willow said. He supposed he was testing her here. Her reaction would be quite useful in determining how much he could trust her.
It would be quite exhilarating to have someone he could share certain truths with. He had some people close to him back in America, but besides for Alexia he had no one here. Making friends would be useful but it was not only a means to an end. It was it's own reward.
Still, he didn't quite trust her yet. Something about her seemed a bit...off. If only a little. Willow wasn't going to ignore his instincts. Reading people was one of the things he did best and she was definitely hiding something. The only question was how big it was and if it even really mattered in the end.
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(Student)
SHSL Flower Maiden
(Year 3)
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Post by Adrianna Kravenski on Apr 16, 2016 9:52:28 GMT
She shared his chuckle at that show of self-deprecation. "Willow Fey, the Ultimate Trickster. That's an impressive title - I'm sure lots of girls would be swooning to get in touch with a man of such grandeur."
Deciding to look up from the book, she responded to his question this time with her eyes not to the page, but not exactly at his direction either. Instead, they lingered to a group of students sitting to the table on her left. It was a mix of female and males, and two out of the five seemed to be awfully close. She kept her eyes on them, not out of jealousy, but out of curiosity. The sustainability of such an early relationship would prove to be entertaining, so far as she could find a way to keep track of those involved.
"It's simply because I'm interested," replied Adrianna. Her eyes lingered on the two as she spoke, though they did attempt to steal a glance at how Willow was doing. His body language, especially. "The occult is fascinating, and I would love nothing more than to try my hand at it. Sadly, it's not an endeavor that my current abilities allow me to chase after. Perhaps I'll need to read more of such books, or maybe you could simply be the one to teach me more?"
Smiling, she drummed her fingers on the book, waiting patiently for his response. Silently musing on a curious train of thought, she decided then to speak her mind on the question that that train-track posed.
"Was that how you pulled off all those tricks?" asked Adrianna, a part of her dearly hoping that his answer was yes. "By making deals with such otherworldly powers?"
@ Willow Fey |
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(Student)
SHSL Trickster
(Year 2)
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Post by Willow Fey on Apr 16, 2016 19:48:29 GMT
Gods, was this really some sort of dream come true? Meeting someone who already seemed to mesh so well with his interests was rare. He still couldn't fully discount the idea that this was some sort of trap. Surely there were people who hated him enough to go through the rather cartoonish lengths of bribing or blackmailing an Ultimate just to get some kind of revenge. Or perhaps he had inadvertently caused something bad to happen to Adrianna directly? Well he would have to see. He had a number of ways of testing this.
The Trickster had also noticed the direction of her glance. To a table filled with others. Including two, who if not lovers currently, were about to be lovers soon. He wondered what her interest in them could possibly be. Could she know them? Or was she merely curious about them? Perhaps she was as interested in people's stories as he was. Or perhaps something else. He would have to observe her closely.
"Quite a few do actually. You would be surprised what thumbing your nose at authority gets you. That and my good looks tend to earn me my fair share of admirers of both genders." He said.
"I would love to teach you more. Like most specialized endeavours proper study requires a lot of time and energy. The Occult is as much about force of will as it is about study. Your worldview must be strong. Regardless of what school of Occult thought you study in you must be passionate and devoted towards it. Magic relays on certain laws. It is a science all it's own as much as it is an art. " Willow said.
"In a way you could say yes, in another sense you could say no. I am and always have been gifted when it comes to social interactions. I am very good at figuring out the motivations of others. What they think about themselves and the world around them. Much of what I do is based off of psychology, the science of knowing people as opposed to a science of higher powers." Willow said.
"However it is also true that what I do is based off of my philosophy and religion. My insights are often based on divination. I have gotten this fair as much with spells and prayers as I have with whispers and sleight of hand. I have had to sign as many deals with otherworldly powers as I have with mundane ones. Much to the degree that Hope's Peak Academy had some difficulty assigning me a title. However they decided on "Trickster" instead of other titles. I assume it was partially PR, but part of it had to do with the fact that they seemed to think it fit better. I trick the people around me with my knowledge of them, and I "trick" the universe with my knowledge of the occult." He said. He was a bit surprised that he gave that last bit of information away. Maybe he already trusted the girl more then he thought.
"Which does make sense in it's way. Honestly dealing with Gods and Spirits and Ancestors is as much psychology as anything. They are as much people as they are embodiments of nature." Willow said finally.
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(Student)
SHSL Flower Maiden
(Year 3)
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Post by Adrianna Kravenski on Apr 18, 2016 21:45:02 GMT
Adrianna listened to what appeared to be a tall tale, but that was something that soon came to an end. As the thread wound on, she found herself slowly taking his words as fact. She noticed little to no disdain when Willow spoke about people of both genders becoming interested in him, and the flower maiden wondered briefly about his sexuality. But that was the only thing she did - pondering about it in her mind, as it was too early a time to breach such a topic.
When she heard that he was willing to teach her, she clapped her hands together and gave him a delighted smile. "Yes! That would be perfect," she excitedly, and perhaps a little too loudly, said. "Thinking of Gods and Spirits and Ancestors as people.. that's a fascinating viewpoint to have."
She mused over it for a second before another thought crossed her mind, one that brought forth a tiny little grin. "You mentioned that you were gifted at seeing through people?" asked Adrianna, knowing full well the answer to that question. "What say you about me, Willow? Please, do tell. I am highly curious."
Her head cocked slightly to the right. She raised a hand, gently tucking away her hair behind her left ear. A wry smile was shown in her upturned lips, an expression that was equal part playful and equal part chilling. Her eyes reflected such an expression too, and she silently noted that it was usually at this point where the common man becomes unnerved. What sort of reaction would Willow show her? This anticipation delighted her greatly, but the reason for that weren't all too clear. The two of them weren't in any high stakes scenario - they were in a library, for Christ's sake - but her spine still tingled with a thrilling cold, almost as if some ghastly, bony fingers were touching her back with a soft, alluring feather, whispering in her ears and heart intrusive, gentle poison. This sensation was delightful, and her soul richened itself with the experience. She thanked him ailently, for no doubt Willow had a part to play in it all.
"I'm all ears." @ Willow Fey |
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(Student)
SHSL Trickster
(Year 2)
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Post by Willow Fey on Apr 19, 2016 2:22:52 GMT
The air suddenly became charged with a strange electricity. Something about her last question made the atmosphere slightly tense. Yet it also made him excited in a way disconnected to anxiety. Adrianna was asking him to use his gift to see through her. To cut to the quick of who she was. There was no way to interpret that in a way where it wasn't intimate. Absurdly, he felt mildly aroused. A thin blanket of lust was draped around him, just thick enough that his world now consisted entirely of Adrianna.
That smile, that look in her eyes. At once familer and yet unique. They told him so much. In truth he had been interested in the flower maiden before today. He had observed her here and there. He had known there was something off about her almost since the outset. She wore a mask but it was very superficial. It didn't cling to the bone like his masks. This conversation told him enough that he could give a profile to her.
"You need entertainment to survive. That's what you eat, drink and sleep. You are as comfortable here as you would be anywhere. Things either just roll off you or they fascinate you. You wear a mask that is kind, gentle and inoffensive but it does not speak to the real you, who has plans and ambitions and dreams that are more important than the niceties of society." Willow said.
Saying it out loud made him remember her. She would definitely approve of this young woman, filled with the same confidence and strength that she had. He remembered how their relationship built slowly, growing like a seed, until suddenly it was upon them. Frightening them both with it's intensity and it's mere existence. He remembered the promises they made, the agreements they held to. He remembered long nights discussing weighty matters about art and philosophy and religion. He remembered nights spent laughing. He remembered how they both improved each other, something he couldn't say about himself and Riley. He remembered how good it felt and how simple it all had been at first. How complicated it got recently. Finally he remembered a farewell that had been forced. Not by anything they had done but through sheer circumstance.
Adrianna was special in the way she was special. Like how he thought Riley had been. He knew that much. Willow also knew that love was something that blinded him utterly and completely. He couldn't afford to be careless. Not here. Not after everything that had happened.
Willow placed a hand on her arm. It was a familer gesture and he felt a shiver of anticipation and nostalgia wash over him.
"You and I aren't that different, you know? Ms. Kravenski... if you wish I can teach you many wonderful things. It would be my honor, and I am sure with such a gifted student I will learn much in return. All you have to do is say the words and I am at your disposal." Willow said. Saying something like that was leaving him open to a responsibility. Two years ago he would have bulked. Now...he could take it. He already had been taught the lesson that responsibility wasn't necessarily a burden. At least not all the time. He counted himself very lucky for having learned that so young.
All he had to do now was see how the flower maiden would react.
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(Student)
SHSL Flower Maiden
(Year 3)
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Post by Adrianna Kravenski on Apr 20, 2016 15:17:16 GMT
Willow reciprocated the emotions that she herself was feeling, and her own grin grew more devilish in return. "Impressive," was what she said first, taking a moment to lean back in her seat. That analysis of his was satisfying. It was of the quality that she had expected from a man with the title of Trickster, and Adrianna in that moment praised her path self for taking this leap of faith.
His fingers touched her arm, and there she let is stay, her skin gently taking in the strangely intimate sensation. "Are we really?" the flower maiden asked, though she herself knew the answer to that question. This Willow bore much similarities to the girl seated across, and for that her heart skipped a beat. It felt like a new, exciting chapter of her life and just begun, and she couldn't be more ready.
Adrianna lowered her head just slightly so as to look at him slanted from below, elbow on the table and fingers intertwined, raised to cover her upturned lips. "I accept," was her response, though the answer was apparent even before the spoken words. It was reflected in her eyes, after all. There was ever only one meaning behind such a dangerous, thrilling look in someone's eyes, and the same goes here.
What fun times await she did not know, but excitement flowed nonetheless through her veins in lieu of normal red.
"Treat me well, teacher. I'm under your care now." @ Willow Fey |
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(Student)
SHSL Trickster
(Year 2)
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Post by Willow Fey on Apr 21, 2016 6:19:15 GMT
Willow had already felt a change come over him. It had only been about a week and here he was, having just extended some trust to Alexia and now taking Adrianna on as some sort of student. He should be focusing on his reasons for being here...but then again fun and excitement were two reasons he had come here. And he had a strong feeling that Adrianna would provide plenty of both.
Besides having a disciple, someone to pass your knowledge down to, was the dream of any occultist, mystic or thinker. Wasn't imparting what wisdom he had his duty?
He removed his hand from her arm after a few more moments of lingering. Ideally, he should start her off from the very beginning. However they were here, and she had already taken a look at the book. Might as well explain some of that.
"First things first. If you are going to be a student of the occult, you have to have a disciplined mind. Fortunately for you your talent probably indicates a more composed and structured mind then most. Still you should meditate, twice a day if you can manage it. You need to be able to clear your mind of distractions to perform any ritual or spell well. It's also a useful skill in general." Willow said.
"That book you were looking at is a copy of a very rare book dating back to the middle ages and written by monks. It has a very long, typically medieval title, essentially it serves as an encyclopedia of witchcraft. Like many manuscripts of it's kind, it was written by monks who in a sense cherished the material but were required to denounce it by their religion. Most of this witchcraft were folk practices that survived or integrated with Christianity. Some of which were recorded elsewhere or lasted to the modern day in one form or another. Others were destroyed through witch hunts and other such crackdowns. Essentially it was written as a guide book for witch hunters." Willow said.
He then crossed over to where she was sitting, taking his chair and the book with him. He sat back down and opened the book so she could see it.
"Lesson for today is this. I will show you what parts are important, what aspects of the text are to be dismissed, and how to distinguish between the two. I know this isn't particularly exciting, but it is an important part of our field. Very soon, I think, you'll be able to observe miracles behind imagination. Understanding Witchcraft of this form is key to understanding any european occultic practice before or since. It borrows from so much and so much has borrowed from it, that it's underlying worldview is very similar to the worldview supported by most European mysticism." Willow said. That is when he began his lesson.
It was so simple, the beginning. Willow couldn't help but wonder if it could last. The people who taught him had all been strong, and as well crafted as his masks were. He was, at his core, a weak person. Maybe one day Adrianna would reject him. Maybe one day they would be forced apart. It was probably foolish to try. Willow would end up hurting her in the end, he wouldn't intend to, but he would. Still, a tiny, voice in his head told him that he had people who loved him. Good people. And since that was so...it was possible he was better then he thought he was.
That was the voice of hope and he clung on to it tightly for the rest of the day,
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