Evalise Reflects

Evalise awakes with a startle. Same damn dream again. Kids at the Esoterica making fun of her being poor and a ward of the school. Telling her that her mother died trying to get rid of her. She instinctively fires an Eldritch Blast into the ghosts that aren’t there.

Equandy still sleeping soundly beside her. After a long day of studying lore, maps and leads the two of them believe they have found a route to Ohm. And with it a possible cure for An’ric and the others that have been cursed.

And while she should be happy she can’t shake the ghosts in her head tonight. Was it so long ago that she and the others were in the Esoterica? Where in a way they all saved each other. From the Professors, the bullies, the lonely nights they all shared being orphans.

But another voice scratched the inside of her brain tonight. One she honestly hadn’t thought of in awhile. One she took for granted nowadays. Her patron, The Celestial. The voice that came to her in the night while at the Esoterica and gave her the ability to fight magic with magic. She was already stronger then most of the other students. She was smarter than most. But the one thing she lacked is what made her stand out, and not in a good way. She lacked the ability to perform magic.

A ward of the school. With no magical abilities. The other students made fun of her. The parents of those students questioned why she should be allowed to stay. She heard it from everyone, and when she defended herself she was the one called bully. Because she was more physically fit. Because those other damn kids knew how to game the system better than her.

Then in one desperate night she prayed, no she begged for someone to find her. To listen to her. To grant her the ability to use magic. If even a cantrip.

Then that little girl saw a light. Not with her eyes but in her minds eye. And the voice spoke. Asking her what she would give to have the ability to use the arcane. And that little girl hesitated. Was this real? Was it a dream? It didn’t matter, she was asked again, “What do you promise in return for the power you seek?”

Evalise who once thought she would give anything to be able to use magic. Now confronted with the idea, real or imaginary didn’t know what to say.

She payed attention in class. She aced Monster Studies and her Mythological Studies. She knew if this was real it could cost her.

She asked the voice what was it offering? The voice said the ability to defend yourself as you asked. The ability to further your studies. And for the last time I ask, “What will you offer me?”

Evalise thinks for a moment.

“My Capacity For Peace!” Evalise blurts out.”

“Done.” Says the voice. “I take from you the ability to stand back while evil rises. You will not be able to standby as suffering and injustice surround you.”

Evalise shivers at the thought of that night. But from that moment on she became the bullies at the Esoterica’s enemy. She stood up for the students being bullied like her. And then she met them. She has some classes with them but she didn’t know them. Arabess, Calyxtris “Cal”, and An’ric. Others would join their little cliq, but they would all be inseparable now.

Evalise slipped from the bed and went back to work at the table with the maps, tales, fables and any lore they had scrounged up. She can’t let her friends down. And An’ric whether he admitted it or not needed her specific help. She can find a way. She can find out how. SHE WILL help her friend any way she can.

Evalise whispers thank you to her unknown patron. And goes back to work.

Somewhere in the High Heavens a Celestial watches on in pride. Glad they answered her pleas.