Cora
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Lenw?'s childhood friend
Posts: 107
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Post by Cora on Dec 4, 2005 0:32:50 GMT -5
(OC: This takes place 13 years ago)
Despondently, Cora walked along a rough path leading away from Mr. Palladium's house. She didn't want to be out here but her mother had shooed her away, telling her that it was too beautiful of a day to not be outside playing. But she knew better. After all, she was ten now; she wasn't stupid and she certainly wasn't a child, Cora thought indignantly. She knew what her mother had really meant: she meant that Cora was just a little girl who couldn't possibly help Mr. Palladium get well. And that meant that her mother didn't have time for her today - or any day for that matter. And neither did her father. They were too busy with Mr. Palladium. Crossing her arms in irritation, Cora bitterly wondered if the man was even sick.
Quickly Cora admonished herself for having such negative thoughts. It wasn't right for her to think those things . . . Mr. Palladium's condition was serious. Mentally Cora recited to herself the words she had overhead her father say the other day, "Any time an elf becomes ill past the point where healing with magic is virtually impossible, the matter must be dealt with using the utmost care."
Sighing, Cora continued to shuffle down the path. Even though she knew that Mr. Palladium's condition was not a matter to be taken lightly, she still couldn't help but feel some negativity toward him for taking away her special time with her parents. Twiddling her thumbs, Cora knew that what she missed most were her lessons in magic with her father. Ever since they had left the palace so that they could come here to Mr. Palladium's home, her father had stopped giving her the lessons. There was no time.
Walking in silence for several minutes, her mind wandering, Cora started when she heard a crashing sound nearby. Moving forward cautiously she called out, "Who's there?"
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Post by Palladium on Dec 4, 2005 0:39:03 GMT -5
Lenwë Palladium whirled around when he heard a faint voice calling out. Was it his mother, he wondered? His mind jumped to the next thought before he could stop if - was it his mother coming to tell him that his father had died? Feeling fear running through his body, Palladium waited in tense anticipation.
Several moments later, he heard light footsteps walking through the brush and then he exhaled in relief. It wasn't his mother coming for him - it was just a young girl . . .
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Cora
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Lenw?'s childhood friend
Posts: 107
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Post by Cora on Dec 4, 2005 0:57:51 GMT -5
Stopping dead in her tracks when she saw the boy standing in front of her, Cora wondered if she should laugh or ask him whether he was all right. Tilting her head to the side, she assessed his appearance. He certainly was a peculiar sight - thin and awkward . . . gangly, would describe him best. And it was almost as though only his legs and arms had ever grown - his torso was short as a stump!
Cora started to giggle to herself, but stopped when she reminded herself that she looked no better. It was an elf curse, maybe - at least that was how her beautiful mother began her soothing reminder whenever Cora felt ugly. All elves start out awkward looking, but when they evolve later on in life, they become beautiful or handsome. Still . . . she couldn't imagine this boy would ever turn out to look as handsome as her father - and she also highly doubted that she would ever turn out as pretty as her mother. Deciding that this made the boy her equal, Cora boldly stepped forward and stuck out her hand, "Hello there - I'm Cora."
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Post by Palladium on Dec 4, 2005 1:07:35 GMT -5
Palladium blushed under the critical gaze of the girl. Even though he could clearly see that he was at least a few years older than her, he couldn't help but feel that she had some kind of authority over him. But then again, this wasn't anything new. Anytime he was around a girl he became even more awkward and clumsy than his normal awkward self. He just couldn't talk to them.
His palms damp, Palladium pushed up his heavy glasses and then rubbed his hands against his pants. He didn't want to shake the girl's hand, but she didn't seem like she would put it down until he did. Reaching out, his hand shaking noticeably, Palladium replied, "Ah . . . ah . . . hello, C-Cora. I am . . . that is, I am Lenwë . . . Palladium. Lenwë Palladium."
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Cora
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Lenw?'s childhood friend
Posts: 107
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Post by Cora on Dec 4, 2005 1:16:32 GMT -5
Cora felt a smile tug at her mouth when she heard the discomfort in his voice, but just as suddenly, her smile vanished when she heard him say his name. Feeling guilty already, Cora braced herself and then asked meekly, "You wouldn't happen to be Mr. Kyros Palladium's son, would you?"
Waiting for his answer, Cora vaguely remembered her mother talking about how Mr. Palladium's entire family consisted only of his wife and son. Apparently, like her family name, Tselios, the Palladium name was a dying breed.
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Post by Palladium on Dec 4, 2005 1:20:49 GMT -5
Surprised that she knew his father, Palladium replied curiously, his nerves vanishing, "Yes, yes I am. How did you know?"
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Cora
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Lenw?'s childhood friend
Posts: 107
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Post by Cora on Dec 4, 2005 1:25:28 GMT -5
Cora bit her lip and then gave a little wave, "I'm Cora - daughter of Adrastos and Isaura Tselios." Mildly, she wondered if her parents' names would mean anything to the boy - if he would know that they were the ones who were helping his mother take care of his father.
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Post by Palladium on Dec 4, 2005 1:32:09 GMT -5
"They have a daughter? I never knew . . ." Palladium furrowed his brow in thought. "But why have I never seen you around? Certainly we would have come across one another before now since your parents are living with my family-"
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Cora
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Lenw?'s childhood friend
Posts: 107
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Post by Cora on Dec 4, 2005 1:39:02 GMT -5
Cutting him off, Cora interjected bitterly, "My parents don't like me staying in your home - they think that I will get in their way and prevent them from helping your father. But I wouldn't. They just don't believe in me. They still treat me like a little girl." Glancing up at him, seeming to question whether he would dare to argue her on this, she continued with slightly less rancor, "I would be of great help, you know. I'm not stupid."
Noticing that he didn't seem likely to respond to her outburst, Cora smiled guiltily, "So, I think that explains why we've never met." Still seeing no response, she elaborated, "My mother always sends me outside all day and so I just wander around by myself . . ."
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Post by Palladium on Dec 4, 2005 1:51:51 GMT -5
Palladium burst out into a grin, "Me too. I mean, I wander around outside too because my mother thinks that she can help my father more if she doesn't have to worry about me getting in the way. But she's wrong - I wouldn't get in the way. If she gave me the chance I'm certain that I could make my father better."
Eagerly, Palladium picked up a heavy book that been resting by his feet. "Look at this - it's a book of ancient healing spells; if I can learn how to do one of these I can cast it on my father and I know that it would make him better." Casting Cora a sideways glance he added, "Everyone seems to think that my father is beyond being healed by spells, but I know better. I just have to find the right one - and then everything will go back to normal."
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Cora
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Lenw?'s childhood friend
Posts: 107
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Post by Cora on Dec 4, 2005 2:00:35 GMT -5
Cora let out a little squeal, "Is that book what I think it is?" Her fingers itching to touch the worn, frayed edges, Cora bent the book's spine toward her so that she could read it. Immediately, her eyes glowed in awe. "It is! How did you get a hold of it? It's so rare . . . not even the royal palace's library has that book!"
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Post by Palladium on Dec 4, 2005 9:55:11 GMT -5
Running a hand gently over the book, Palladium smiled, a sad, almost faraway look coming into his eyes, "It was a gift from my father for my tenth birthday . . . I remember that morning I woke up and came downstairs to help mother with the chores and on the kitchen table there was a wrapped package - from my father, my mother said. I didn't expect it to be much as we are far from being one of the wealthy citizens of Athryell. But when I tore open the package, there was this book. Even at the age of ten I knew what the book was and I knew that it must have cost a fortune." Pausing, Palladium shook his head in awe, "It turned out that my father had slowly saved money for this book over a period of ten years - ever since I was born."
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Cora
Full Member
Lenw?'s childhood friend
Posts: 107
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Post by Cora on Dec 4, 2005 10:06:41 GMT -5
"Do you use the book often? Because I know that I would . . ." Cora smiled broadly, her eyes lighting up, "Do you know much magic, yet?" Not waiting for him to answer she proudly added, "I do - my father gives me lessons in magic. And not just about the history of magic, but also about how to use it." Realizing that what she said was no longer true, her voice faltered, "Well, he did . . . but now he's too busy with your father." As soon as the words slipped out of her mouth, Cora flinched. She hadn't meant for that to sound so unsympathetic. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that about your father - it's just that I miss my father, you know? And, I miss the lessons he used to give me - I miss learning and reading books about ancient magic and spells and-"
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Post by Palladium on Dec 4, 2005 10:18:13 GMT -5
"I understand," Palladium replied, cutting off her awkward babbling. "I really do. You see, my father used to give me lessons too, but now that he has fallen so ill he no longer has the strength to stand up, let alone work on casting spells with me . . . so now I'm teaching myself." Sighing, Palladium sadly continued, "It doesn't seem to be going the way I hoped it would. In fact, it's not going at all like I hoped it would."
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Cora
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Lenw?'s childhood friend
Posts: 107
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Post by Cora on Dec 4, 2005 10:32:49 GMT -5
"Then let me help you," Cora replied simply. "After all, it's a win-win situation: you have a better chance of finding the right spell with me helping you - two heads are better than one - and I get to learn more about magic. See? Win-win situation."
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