As the morning sun finally gave way to midday, Talyssa sat atop one of the constantly shifting hills. Her gaze scanned the barren landscape, eyes squinting occasionally as the pale winter light danced against the undulating waves of the hills. The wind whipped around her playfully, toying with the ink-dipped end of her tail. She swept her strikingly blue-grey gaze towards the caverns beneath, their darkness always looming ominously despite the daylight.

As per her usual as of late, she had a rag tag group of individuals with her, heir voices just whispers but amplified by the unique acoustics of the cavernous surroundings. Talyssa smirked, observing each new arrival with an appraising eye. Her impulsivity had led her to this moment, yet it was her heart that now guided her. Once everyone was settled, she cleared her throat to begin. “Let’s talk about memory.” Talyssa’s voice echoed through the still depths of the caverns- a soft melody against the grating discord of shifting gravel.

“Memory,” she began again, “is not just remembering names, faces, or facts…” As she spoke, an earthy tremor rolls under them - a reminder of the ever-present danger in this volatile landscape. Undeterred by the sudden shake, Talyssa steadied herself and continued with a confident smirk. "No, memory is more than that. It's about experiences, it's about feelings. It's about remembering the sensation of a harsh winter wind, or the smell of a fresh spring bloom."

"Talyssa Carpathius"

Rakia sat huddled within the protective embrace of the cavern, her back pushed against the cold, rough stones. As Talyssa's voice echoed out into the wild and whip-lashed landscape, Rakia let her mind wander. Closing her eyes, she let herself feel the chill of the wind as it swept through the cavernous mouth, nibbling at her bare skin with a gnawing coldness and tugging at her silver-white hair. The scent of damp earth and ancient rock hung heavily in the air; a quiet testament to the ageless endurance of their surroundings.

Talyssa's words haunted the air around them, and Rakia found herself sinking into them, carried away on the tide of melancholy that they incited in her. The concept of memory was one she had grappled with before, wrestling with the idea that something as intangible as experience could etch itself so deeply into the fabric of their existence.

"Feelings...experiences," Rakia murmured softly, her voice barely audible above the whistling wind. She traced idle patterns on the rock beneath her, sensitive to every minute indentation and protrusion. The rough surface was cold against her skin, but it felt grounding, real—a stark reminder of their precarious situation.

"Rakia Perreau"

Illusion remained silent, her mind absorbing Talyssa's words while her eyes darted across the group and the shifting landscape. The wind tugged at her fur as Talyssa began to speak of memory.

But when the tremor rippled beneath them, Illusion's body instinctively tensed, and she stumbled. Frustration filled her, a sneer encompassing her lips as she looked up to study Talyssa's unwavering stance. Why couldn't she do that? Jealousy was a hell of a thing.

The way Talyssa spoke about memory; it was not just a mental archive but an archive of sensations and emotions. Her face remained a mask, revealing nothing of the internal storm brewing beneath her calm exterior. Feelings. She had them, but they were separated into categories. Intense or nonexistent. So what did the feelings bit matter to her in a lesson about memory?


illu

Setekh observed Talyssa from a distance at the back of the group, his molten eyes fixed on her as she began to speak. The stark winter light, the undulating hills, and the ominous caverns -- a setting fit for his ever changing and fickle preferences. He watched her composure in the face of the tremor, his own godly limbs steadying himself as he watched the silver eyed girl stumble in shock.

As the tremor subsided, Setekh stepped forward, his imposing figure casting a long shadow over the group. His gaze sweeping over the ragtag group, now attentive and curious. Would she speak of how memory is also a double-edged sword? How it can also be a chain, binding souls to the past and their fears? No, surely not.

So he remained silent, letting the woman lead her lesson with proper attention given. What she spoke of, those feelings that memory wrought. Setekh had plenty of memories, and a scarce amount of emotion to boot. This was a fact the intelligent God knew well, that it was not considered... right in the world of mortals. But what else would these silly souls have him do? Play at being ungodly? Laughable.

"speaking" | voices

Annwyn stood at a distance. Her thoughts drifted to her own past, woven with both haunting regrets and fleeting joys. She understood the weight of memory, how it could shape and define one's path. Her gaze remained steady on Talyssa, noting the teacher’s confident demeanor even as the earth trembled beneath them. With a graceful yet deliberate movement, Annwyn stepped forward, joining the group again, her expression guarded but intrigued.

Annwyn's presence alone, marked by the darkened scars and bone accessories, served as a testament to the power of memory. Her experiences were etched into her very being, a living reminder of the trials she had faced and the lessons she had learned. She listened intently, allowing Talyssa's words to filter through her mind. As Talyssa spoke of the sensations and emotions tied to memory, Annwyn's mind conjured images of harsh winter winds biting at her fur and the delicate fragrance of spring blooms mingling with the scent of the forest.

the selfish

Elysia found herself sitting across from the familiar woman now For another lesson. And she couldn’t help but wonder if it would be much of the same as last time. Filled with more confusion at the end of it. But regardless of her beliefs on this woman’s teachings she still sat silently beside her cousin’s Sidi. One she had brought along with her on this journey for education.

Listening carefully to the woman’s words she was already intrigued by today’s lesson topic. Memory. Elysia knew the importance of memory. It helped with a great number of things. Like getting around a new land. Or teaching one’s family history to the next generation even.

Her mother had taught her siblings of their family history. And without memory she wouldn’t ever have been able to raise the Saxe children she bore to be proper Saxe prodigy.


"Ely & Ezekiel"

Nila sat quietly beside Her escort. Trying to blend in with her surroundings as she looked at the woman who’s last woman left her mind spinning with questions. She hoped this time Elysia might give her the chance to speak with this woman after this lesson unlike last time. But she knew it was a slim chance.

Todays lesson was memory. And Nila couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of sadness. Her memories were often flashbacks of her mother now long gone. And it made her sad to think about. Shifting uncomfortably like this woman would somehow see through her she tried her best to push her negativity away.

Nila wanted to scoff. She wished her memories where of those things and not the pain and sorrow she remembered more vividly. Like the smell of her mothers blood after a beating. Or the feeling of her heart breaking as her mother took her very last breath in front of her very eyes.

"Speech"
|| "Thoughts"

Once more the woman sat down, listening to the womans vocals that set forth. Memories, there was something about that, which made Identification's heart sink. Some odd reason. Although she was happy that she could sit for another intellectual lesson. Learning was always something she enjoyed, so why not. Although she was cautious of the others, ears perked forwards listening to her voice that rang forth. Understanding some memories hurt, but it was only a moment of hurt, while others were happy and joyous. The hurt only lasted a moment or so.

mood board

Another tremor rolled through the landscape and some of the group members audibly gasped. Talyssa simply laughed, allowing her voice to echo dramatically throughout the cave. "Fear not, my friends! This land may be unstable, but so is life." She gestured widely to the barren hills surrounding them. "We are here precisely because this place is unpredictable. It changes every moment, like our lives. Like memory itself." She paused for a moment, allowing that thought to sink in before she continued.

"Now I want you all to close your eyes," she instructed, her voice resonating off the cavern walls. The attendees complied, their visible unease subsiding slightly as Talyssa took control. "I want you to picture the most vivid memory you have. Hold it in your mind. Feel it, breathe it." As if on cue, the earth gave a violent shudder, causing even Talyssa's heart to skip a beat. But she held firm, refusing to open her eyes as some of the group did.

"Talyssa Carpathius"

Rakia flinched as the earth beneath her shook, her heart pounding erratically in her chest. She closed her eyes tightly, trying to follow Talyssa’s instructions despite the unease that was creeping up on her. She tried to think of a memory, any memory, but all that came to mind was the shaking of the earth and the shock that it instilled.

She forced herself to breathe, slow and steady, and soon a memory started forming in the darkness of her mind. A memory of laughter echoing through the hills, of running with her siblings in the soft grass, of a feeling so light and carefree that it made the present moment feel surreal and distant. The scent of wildflowers, the warmth of the sun on her back, the delight in her heart - they all painted a picture so intense that for a moment she could swear she was back there again.

"Rakia Perreau"

Breaths came from Identification, while she listened to the woman before her and the others to breath. Allowing her eyes of emerald seas to close slowly, relishing the memory that came to mind, and holding it. All the while the earth shuddered, still Fic held on to the memory, not allowing her eyes to open, a smile crossing that of her ebony lips, her white tainted maw twisted upward, showing ivory canines for a moment.

The feeling was all to new to her, to remember, to hold on to memories. It wasn't something she did often, well honestly she did. But would she admit it straight forward? Probably not. Her ears flickered upon her cranium, as drawling a long needed breath, and allowing it to slowly slip out.

"Identification"

Annwyn felt the tremor ripple through her paws, and she relished the connection to nature so strong beneath her toes. As Talyssa instructed the group to close their eyes and recall their most vivid memories, Annwyn complied with reluctance. Her mind's eye conjured a scene from a harsh winter, the biting cold stinging her fur, juxtaposed with the warmth of a spring day filled with the scent of blooms and forest. The memories surged with emotions, a blend of joy and endurance, triumph and then… regret.

Another violent shudder of the earth snapped her back to the present. Annwyn's eyes opened momentarily, noting those who faltered, but she quickly closed them again, forcing herself to stay in the memory's embrace.

the selfish

As the ground shuddered beneath them Elysia’s body sat firmly upon the ground unphased physically despite her heart beating slightly more than normal. She showed no sign of fear unlike some of the others the day with them. Narrowing her eyes as talyssa instructed them to close their eyes. Elysia wasn’t fond of turning off such a vital sense like sight while surrounded by strangers.

But as she watched the others one by one comply she too gave in and closed her eyes. Searching through her memories for one such as the description the woman had described. She settled on one of her first victories of her mothers fighting brackets. She could hear her mothers ‘praise’, could smell her and all of her siblings scents swirling all around her. The faint tinge of blood mixing in.

She could see her father, ever silent sitting back watching as his wife forced her children to fight each other until only one stood victorious over the others, and she could see her brother Ze grinning at her from the ground, pride in his eyes because she’d won.


"Ely & Ezekiel"

Nila had already been nervous about this lesson. About the way it would bring up bad memories and feelings. But having the rumbling of the earth beneath her feet helped her center herself. Shaking her from her bad thoughts and reminding her to move on. But as the woman instructed them to close their eyes and relive a memory she couldn’t help but wish she was back home.

Nervously she did as she was told however. Closing her eyes and going to her favorite memory. One of a scared little girl, meeting her very first friend. A small silver and lavender version of Kaino came to mind and Nila couldn’t fight the smile that slipped into her face. She missed those days. When she and Kaino were equals. And she had her mother too.

"Good," Talyssa's voice echoed once again. "Now, remember that memory is not just recalling an event or a name—it's about reliving an experience. It's about clutching onto the raw emotion of that moment. The fear, the joy, the sorrow, the thrill. Remember it. Now open your eyes." An eerie silence had settled in as Talyssa's words lingered in the space around them before getting swallowed into the echoing depths of the caverns.

"Memories," Talyssa continued, her gaze piercing under intensified scrutiny, "are what make us who we are. They shape our actions, guide our decisions and ultimately define our identities." She paused, letting her words seep into their conscience. “And that’s what I want to leave you with today.”

"Talyssa Carpathius"

Rakia opened her eyes slowly, blinking back into reality as Talyssa's words continued to resonate within her. She looked around at the rest of the group members, their faces a mix of awe and uncertainty, all of them absorbing the depth of Talyssa's statement in their own way.

Her gaze fled back towards the mouth of the cavern where the landscape awaited beyond – a vista of barren hills and biting winds, no semblance of the sunny meadows that had danced in her memory moments ago. Yet, she felt an odd sense of calm taming the surprise that had gripped her in that moment of being startled earlier.

Talyssa’s words had not only brought forth a cherished memory but also revealed a truth. That who they were, every emotion, decision, and action, was sculpted by their past experiences. They were not just individuals standing in the face of an unpredictable world. They were summations of countless moments, living embodiments of time itself.

"Rakia Perreau"

"Speech"
|| "Thoughts"

Memories flooded Identifications mind, and held on to them. Some of them she didn't want to remember, but had to. For the pain was a fleeting moment, her gaze shifting around towards the others and then Talyssa, for this lesson was a little harder than some of the others. She known this, but she also felt a little calmer due to it. She was happy as a smile crossed her features as offering the others the gentle gesture. Identification continued in her thoughts for a moment before once more glancing around, maybe it was time to head back to Auster? She had no idea really.

mood board

Setekh remained silent, a towering figure of calm amidst the group's rising tension. The tremor reverberated through his frame, but he stood unwavering, a symbol of strength. His molten eyes flickered with interest as Talyssa laughed. He wondered what other sounds she could make, with that sweet chime, and the delicate curve of her waist that led into her hips.

As she instructed the group to close their eyes, Setekh's gaze sharpened slightly, observing the shift in the group's demeanor. Their initial unease gave way to tentative trust. How easily she swayed them. Perhaps... She was a creature to be studied, so that he might mirror her interactions. It had been long since he last did so... When the earth shuddered violently again, he noted those who faltered, their eyes snapping open in fear, while Talyssa remained resolute, eyes closed, embodying her own lesson. Such a beautiful woman. Like Amunet herself, complete with gold adornments and hidden knowledge all the same.

Setekh's thoughts turned inward. His daughter, Absinth. He remembered the first time they dissected a small animal together, how her hands were steady and her eyes gleamed with curiosity. He recalled the afternoons they spent devising ways to manipulate others for their amusement, laughing together at their victims' confusion. He saw her as an extension of himself, meticulously grooming her to carry on his legacy of manipulation and control. He took pride in how quickly she learned, convinced that she was the only one who truly understood him. These memories, dark and twisted, were the ones he cherished most, believing they solidified their unique connection. But she had left him. She cursed him.


Setekh remained unmoving, his molten eyes fixed on Talyssa as her words spread throughout the group. Inwardly he was analyzing her, comparing her to the scholars of his homeland. Her speech on memory stirred something deep within him -- those memories of Absinth, of their twisted bond, surfaced with vivid clarity. He could almost feel her small jaws next to his, her steady grip on the knife as he guided her movements, the shared laughter at their dark games.

As Talyssa's gaze met his, he felt a strange recognition of sorts. She spoke of memories shaping identities, guiding actions, and defining lives.

Her final words lingered in the air, and Setekh let them settle into his consciousness. Then he would approach her, a dazzling smile on his face. "You speak very well on these topics, am I free to ask where you gained your knowledge? And perhaps, what is your most cherished memory?"

"speaking" | voices

Illusion closed her eyes, reluctantly allowing herself to be drawn into Talyssa's exercise. The ground's unpredictable shudders were as chaotic as her mind at this moment. But she tried to follow Taly's command. She searched through her memories, bypassing the mundane and the painful, until she landed on one that stood out vividly.

It was a memory of a stormy night, the rain lashing against the den and the wind howling like a feral creature. She recalled the warmth of the fire, crackling logs, and the sense of safety it provided despite the weather outside. She could almost feel the heat on her face and the softness of the body wrapped around her smaller frame. Her brother.

As the earth trembled once more, Illusion's heart skipped a beat, but she held onto the memory, grounding herself in its familiarity. She let the sensations wash over her, the memory of warmth and safety contrasting sharply with the instability beneath her feet.

Illusion opened her eyes slowly, letting Talyssa's words reverberate through her mind. She didn't respond verbally, but her expression softened, a faint glimmer of understanding reflecting in her eyes. She nodded once, an acknowledgment of the lesson Talyssa had imparted.

Memories, she thought, do define, hmm? An essence, was it? As she stood there, the tremors of the ground seeming a little less daunting, she felt a subtle shift within herself. The exercise had brought clarity, a reminder of holding onto what matters most. Cadaver. The girl smiled softly, her chest filling with a delightful warmth. How could she have forgotten? She stood, watching the ivory older man approach their teacher, and as nonchalant as she could; she listened in on the conversation.


illu

Annwyn opened her eyes, the vivid memories still swirling within her. She met Talyssa’s gaze with her own, the intensity of her memories weighing heavily on her shoulders.

She felt the weight of the chains and jewelry adorning her body, each piece a reminder of her history and a physical representation of the memories that shaped her into who she was. Her smile turned sardonic as she contemplated the lesson, seeing the parallels between her adornments and the intangible chains of her memories. They were both burdens and badges of honor, symbols of her journey and struggles. The humor was not lost on her.

As the lesson concluded, Annwyn let the words settle in her mind. With a final, thoughtful yet bitter glance around, she turned and left.

the selfish