[11:00] Lily O'Keefe was between classes for the moment and had not yet been summoned to work. Lily was running down her mental checklist as she waited in line at the small cafe that the students frequented, counting out her coins. She bit back a wince slightly at the thin contents of her coin purse and tucked it away, holding the exact change in her hand for the luxury of her small order. She moved to the side while the drink was made, tucking her hands behind her back as she scanned the horizon for a moment and mentally run down the list of all the things still to do. There were never enough hours in the day it felt like. Nor enough days in the week. Outwardly, Lily wasn't too much different than when Llyw had first met her. Her hair was shorter, the braids pinned up lighter. Inwardly, however, the small spark of her nature had finally managed to make large cracks in the prison inside. The sweet scent of chrysanthemums clung to her, carried by bracing mountain breezes that were totally incongruous with the island environment they found themselves on. Lily, for her part, was barely holding onto her humanity. Everytime it dropped away to reveal pearly skin and petal wings, it was harder to reassert herself. Lily had thought it would be easier with time but it was only more difficult and made more so everyime she snuck off with Kiernan for illicut makeout sessions in dark corners.
[11:14] Lady Llywellynn Devoreaux Esher: Lady Esher was making her way slow and cautious with her cane tapping in front of her across the bridge leading from the faculty housing. The woman was dressed in widow's black and moved with the determination of someone much stronger than she looked. She was elegant but almost too thin, worn down too much from within. Much of her demeanour otherwise was hidden by a wide brim veiled hat and large dark glasses. She was on her way to the library for awhile. She had left a note for her bodyguard to let him know, but she was too impatient to wait for him. She keenly felt the passage of time and didn't want to waste a moment of it.
The breeze got her attention first as she stepped onto the quad, lifting her hat in surprise that she could sense such a thing over the constant smell of death and ash. She spied a certain fiery red hair she recalled from her first visit on campus, though the student herself seemed almost too bright now to look at directly, shimmering like light on water. Esher just steadied her resolve and accepted yet more strangeness she witnessed on this island every day and forged onward. She headed over to the girl and lifted her free hand to wave, hoping to get her attention.
Llyw remembered her promise to Lily and the offer of help. She needed all help she could and now was the time to ask.
"Oh, hallo! Miss Lily I believe? Do you remember me, Lady Esher?" She tried to speak above whisper in her soft light British accent. Her own scent of sweet honeysuckle and winter fire might mingle on the breeze with the chrysanthemums.
[11:18] Lily O'Keefe glanced over at the dark figure and offered a sunny smile that released both dimples in her cheeks. Her smile was wide and warm, and the lilt of her Irish accent was clear still in words. "Oh, an a lovely morn' to you, m'lady. Yes, of course I remember. Kiernan was helpin' you get settled in with the library and you were lookin' for some information on somethin'. I offered to write my welsh Nana about things but I haven't seen you. Did you find what you were looking for?" Lily wanted to know as she turned to fully face the woman, and give her the entirety of her attention. Lily remained as earnest as she was at their first brief meeting, though she'd used Kiernan's first name rather than the last that she'd called him their last visit. A slight softening of her smile at the mention of the boy gave more meaning to that if one was the sort to catch such nuances. "How have you been settlin' in?"
[11:18] Luciano walked on Llywellynn's flank as she made her way carefully across the Island. Thumbs tucked into his pockets as he looked around the quiet academy grounds. A stern look on his face as his brow remained knit together. His lips fashioned into a slight frown. His attention was pulled back to Llyw as soon as the two of them stopped. His gaze eventually settling on Lily as he looked towards her. The mans features softened slightly, his frown disappearing into something more neutral. His brow unfurrowing as he rocked his weight onto his heels.
"..." He was silent. But he gave a nod of greeting and acknowledgment of greeting to her. Otherwise remaining silent and idle.
[11:35] Lady Llywellynn Devoreaux Esher: Esher warmed her own visible expression considerably when the girl turned and smiled like the sun. The widow could almost feel it across the cold shadows that always remained around herself. She smiled back, drawing close enough to be heard easier since she spoke so softly, but she at least was able to speak at length after a good rest, "Oh lovely indeed! I was meaning to contact you actually, now I am settled on campus quite comfortably. I am grateful to the Dean for allowing me access here."
Luca drawing even with her, almost startled Llywellynn though she hid it well. She had been so intent upon her thoughts she hadn't realized the silent footed man had caught up to her so quickly. He was getting wise to her habits of slipping off, though not very far these days. She looked up at him with a small almost fond smile but then she turned back to Lily to hide her sudden slight flush under her hat. She was too preoccupied to note his softening expression towards Lily, nor the girl's soft smile at the mention of the cheeky fire boy. She stuck to her main objective of her pursuit of knowledge and aid today, replying to Lily's questions, "I wanted to help you with your studies I recall as well. If you still have need of me, I am happy to help. Thank you for wanting to research on my behalf. I still have so much to discover yet, so any help you want to give is greatly appreciated."
She paused and the smile fell abit, recalling too many horrible things in her mind's eye now, "I..also have some information you might need to hear. You work for the Constables I think? I got the impression from that rather scandalous Aethernet forum."
[11:40] Lily O'Keefe gave Luca a still uncertain glance but her nod was welcoming. Lily was prone to give people second chances, and honestly, third and fourth chances. She did so want to believe the best of a world that was determined to not let her. Her expression turned more solemn at the talk of horrors and the way the woman's features fell. Lily's expression gentled into concern and she bobbed her head, gesturing towards the orangerie behind them. "Let's go inside here. It's outta the wind and you can have a seat and tell me whatever you need to. If I can help, I will. I'm a clerk but, yeah, I work for the constables." Lily offered her hand to the woman, clearly offering to help her across the slightly uneven terrain and towards the seats inside the small glass building. "An, yeah, I can always use help with my studies. So far, I'm not failing but astrology is causing me no end of troubles, but there's no rush. Lemme help you first. Your stuff sounds more urgent and school will always be there."
[11:58] Lady Llywellynn Devoreaux Esher: Ironically enough the terrain was less treacherous here on the warded campus than most other areas of the island, but footing was never certain for the exhausted widow. Esher took the other woman's offered hand with a touch of surprise, not expecting such welcome, clearly not used to it. The contact was muted by her gloves but Llywellynn couldn't help but feel some of the girl's unbound power, so bright and warm washing over her.
For just a second, the worlds seemed bright and sunny in her vision, before the dready shadows closed back in. Llyw bit back a gasp, steeling her composure to reveal nothing of this strange reaction. She couldn't help but wonder what it might mean, considering her own Curse.
She let Lily lead her inside the central building, giving Luca a glance to indicate she needed a moment alone. They had worked out a routine of sorts for his guarding duties. The tall Italian would join the two after he had checked out the surroundings first most likely.
"Of course, you are welcome to contact me for when you need help anytime. Astrology is a favorite of mine so I feel I might be able to help." Llyw was relieved to have her guess confirmed, "But yes, there is...information I may have and I thought it best to convey it to you. That you might...understand *why* I might know..." There was a soft inquiry in her quiet accented tone as she gestured to the school in general. She walked easier to the seating with the magic girl holding her hand.
"And please, you may call me Llywellynn if you don't mind. I hope I may call you Miss Lily?" Esher really wanted to get away from titles and formalities at this point in her life.
[12:06] Lily O'Keefe was strong despite her slight size, sturdy in a way that her frame didn't seem like it would be though there was nothing supernatural, just hearty peasant ancestry. She held open the door with her free hand before walking the widow towards one of the chairs with measured steps. Lily's hidden power was that of rebirth, of new shoots in a field burned to cinder and new life in the wake of the pall of death. Even though she struggled with accepting it, hers was the gift of dawn and a bright new day, full of all of the possibilities good and bad of the wheel turning. That was the energy that sparked through her body, barely veiled by the thinning glamour of her human birthright. The wheel had begun to turn for Lily and there was no stopping it, regardless of how the girl fought destiny out of fear and uncertainty. Each step she took led her ever closer to a reckoning. Oblivious of such undercurrents, Lily gently stopped in front of the chair, making sure that the woman's cane would tap it's railing so she could exert as much independence as she liked while still having the advantage of Lily's hand. "I'm happy to hear though there's only so much I can do. An' yeah, at the moment, I'm the only one Awakened at the constables. They don't..." Her gaze paused, and strayed to Luca outside briefly before returning to the lady. "....They're not all bad, they're just human, y'know. For good or ill. Even if they wanted to understand, the magic of the covenant is gonna have them turn a blind eye even if no one goes mucking about with their head." Lily's smile reasserted itself and she bobbed her head, "You can call me whatever you like, Lady... Llwellynn." Lily corrected herself to the woman's preferred name, though unlike most, her tongue had no troubles with the lilting rolling of the Welsh name. "Lily is jus' fine." Once Llywellynn settled herself, Lily perched on the edge of the fountain with the ease of youth.
[12:28] Lady Llywellynn Devoreaux Esher: Esher had the Sight to the highest level though twisted by a powerful and deadly Curse leached upon her. So she Saw death in all its forms and worlds. There was no Veil for her to be shielded from all the horror and misery of the restless dead cooped on this island. Regardless she Saw through Glamour in most cases unless of the strongest kinds most oft and especially for anyone beyond the reach of death, those of the immortal kinds. But all others she bore witness to their mortality falling to ruin before her eyes, all things broken and worn away, decay claiming the landscape.
Esher didn't have to pretend too hard to be somewhat blind. In a way she Saw far too much rather than too little to function properly in the living world. Lily was a bright sun upon all that darkness. Though Llyw could not make out details she could Sense some of the girl's life filled power...but as if through hurricane glass, muted and distant to her own cold grasping shadows and accursed state. Llyw was grateful to be led to
[12:28] Lady Llywellynn Devoreaux Esher: somewhere she could sit and rest her weakened frame. Her hair was the palest blond smoothed in a prim bun, streaked with grey and silver. Yet her revealed face still held the softness of youth herself, despite looking wan and untouched by the sun.
She nodded to Lily's statements, confirming her own guesses on the matter, relaxing enough to get over her own natural reticience, "I understand. That is why I wanted to seek you out for both matters frankly." Lily pronouncing her first preferred name right got a slightly brighter smile from Llyw's unadorned lips, her tone barely above a whisper as if she didn't wish to be overheard, "Lily then, thank you. I...I have the Sight, you see. I unfortunately...had a vision at the graveyard of that...horrible murder there. I saw the flyer recently asking to identify that poor young man.....I think I could, based on what I Saw...."
Llyw shuddered in remembrance, hugging herself as the brutal scene unfolded in her memory again and she had to shake her head to try to stop it.
"A..and of who killed him..." She added trying to regain her composure, her pallor going whiter.
[12:33] Lily O'Keefe tipped her head to the side for a moment, confused before she realized the murder that Llyw was talking about was the one before the church massacre. Understandably, the more recent one was dominant in Lily's mind. "Ah, the one with the violin left behind - the one out back, not the nasty scene in the church proper," Lily murmured outloud. She leaned forward, her expression earnest. "If you can give me a bit about the victim, that'd be fantastic. I can see about tracking their family down proper like t'let them know he's not comin' home. As for the murderer, I know who it is - well, I know one of 'em - but the official constable statement is it was a wild animal attack. Just like the one in the church. I just dunno *why* any of it happened. It's not usual for that fellow to go murderin' normal humans. It's not his typical prey," Lily said with a slight grimace. "I think he was fightin' somethin' in the church cuz he got injured that time but the guy is notoriously closed mouthed and has some significant protection from his master."
[12:47] Lady Llywellynn Devoreaux Esher: Llyw was rather bowled over by the casual revelations Lily handed out. The killer was already *known*? That horrible monster had a *master*. Did she really want to know? The widow almost lost her resolve to pursue the matter...and yet some strange imperative to help kept hijacking her motivations on her own quest to survive.
She hugged herself tighter, already drowning in the horror of her daily life. This was just another layer of it. She swallowed the rise of bile as she made herself replay the vision enough to gain the information the clerk needed for the closure. Esher described the victim in halting but very accurate detail until she pressed her hand to her mouth unable to continue. She had to catch her breath a moment, her heartrate spinning out of control to spin everything wavering in her sight.
"Y...you *know* the killer, you say?" Llyw had to ask after she managed to compose herself bit by bit, blocking that bloody scene from her mind. The weariness pulling at her made such efforts more difficult every passing day. But she had to know, no matter the risk. She felt compelled to help.
The mention of the church finally impinged on her thoughts, now she had some space to think again. A pit opened in her stomach, raced her pulse again, a horrifying supposition dawning on her. "Was...Father Malcolm there? Did he...?" She couldnt finish, stifling a gasp.
[12:54] Lily O'Keefe leaned forward, her expression kind and concerned as she realized this was new information. "Father Malcolm was attacked, yes, one of the only survivors but I'm afraid he's not woken up. He's under care at the Sanitarium. I'm so sorry. I thought you knew," Lily said, the words as gentle as she could manage to make the grim news. Her green eyes were sad and tired behind the glasses. She leaned across the distance to attempt to squeeze Llyw's hand with one of those easy warm gestures that were natural for the effusive Irishwoman. "He's gonna be alright. He's got the very best care but it's a long road back I'm afraid." Lily paused to let the information sync in, "Most of that evening's congregation didn't survive. Let me back up a bit an' explain." She paused for a moment, gathering her words. "I figure, havin' the sight, that you know there are those among us that are proper predators, right? They hunt, because for fun or sport, or need. The man who did all that killin' is one o' those. Not human, not even close an his Master is one of the Professor's here. A powerful man but careful and controlled. Even if his man was prone to that kinda murder, the master would be pushing it back into the shadows. This is real unusual an' I don't know why its happening this way. There are lots more attacks happenin' than normal. Like somethin's riling up those with the need to hunt an' feast way past what's usual or normal but I got no power an less ability to look into it, I'm afraid."
[13:10] Lady Llywellynn Devoreaux Esher: With one compelling obligation discharged, Esher should have been able to let the matter be over and get back to her own research. But listening to everything Lily told her now made clear that this was far from over and that terrible things could be happening right on campus, under the eyes of a professor here no less.
Llywellynn's hand was thin, frail like a bird might if held so, but she accepted the girl's warm comfort for the kind gesture it was...and the touch of actual warmth that was conveyed. This helped steady her and bring her mind out of blind panic. Hearing the old priest would live was at least a relief out of this fresh round of horror. But the confirmation of her growing suspicions about the dangers lurking in this port town were just horrifyingly made real. The attack at the docks made more sense now, and the nerve wracking attention she had gotten from several other people so far that hadn't made sense until just now.
"Oh...Oh gods....I..have noticed that...." Llyw exclaimed quietly, reeling in the sudden feeling of not being safe at all, not even here in this warded place..."I..That poor man. He was the one I told of my vision...and now this happened to him. I've..I've got to go see him." She was speaking more to herself aloud than anything, some strange notion curling through her that somehow she had marked the priest for disaster just by divulging what she had seen.
But the rest of Lily's news hit her harder, "A..Professor here? Keeps a killer like that? Why on earth...." She shook her head grimly, she had truly no idea how this place was run and now she was finding out the ugly truths one at a time, "Can I ask who it is...So I can avoid them? Both of them?"
The widow's sweet scent filled the atrium, something quite beguiling in its own way much like Lily's was of sunny Spring. Luckily the girl was no predator, but even she might make note that if there were any around they would likely hone right onto the lure of this woman's natural fragrance. Esher might be in more danger than she realized.
Luca's lurking presence might make more sense now as well.
[13:18] Lily O'Keefe left her hand in Llyw's as the touch was welcome, unaware of the soothing balm that was her power trickling in to push back and coil around the shadows of death. Her magic was drawn to death, it always would be. Where death fell, life must follow and that was Lily's true nature. It was no wonder that she was drawn to the woman's concern even if Lily didn't understand the push and pull of the magical side of nature that she didn't understand or even accept. She gave a little shake of her head slightly, "Yes, of course, though there are a great many predators here at the university. I don't even know them all. They... they follow some rules up here, though. The Wilds, though, that's no man's land an the town is only safe when the covenant pushes hard on keeping things contained. Professor Dashrix isn't fully human himself. He's powerful, an frightening. He lives up in that big monster in the sky. The murderer is his... I dunno. Apprentice? Protege? Servant? I'm not sure what the relationship is there. Sato. Naoki Sato. But, like I said, he usually hunts things that are proper threat. I spoke with him yesterday when he came in t'claim his lost violin at the station." Lily didn't mention the threatening interaction but she swallowed once, remembering the ambient threat of the garrotte on her throat even it nothing had come of it. This time. "He did confirm that somethin' else was in the church with him. But I dunno what it was. There was a sigil, left in blood on the wall after he left. A five pointed star." It had been a Seiman but Lily lacked the understanding of nuance and had only seen a pentacle. "Dashrix makes students cry an Kiernan thinks hes a monster but he doesn't go into details with me. He might have more information for you, though. He gets real funny about the Professor. Sato, though, he's a hard one to understand. He put a bunch of effort into rescuing this one older lady. That's what I knew him from, though he also threatened to rip my arm off during that too. Or, offered. He's a strange one. But this is real unusual, even for those two."