Twisted Plot Revision Page64

For more information on the entire series, read the "'Demon's Due' Defined" journal entry here faile35.deviantart.com/journal… or the "'Demon's Due' Plus" journal entry here faile35.deviantart.com/journal… .

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“’Tis not the wand I bring you,” Avora clarifies, smiling fully now. “’Tis as I said, the mark of Antreatos, a lost scion of the house you protect. His life, his will, are a part of this, his creation. And while you cannot wield it or use it, I have done so for some time, and the essence of the man’s intent and passion is now within my mind.” The woman pauses in her own bid for effect. “This is what I bring you, and this you can touch, and use.”

The massive pupil constricts, focusing on the center of Avora’s face. ”You know not of what you speak. My thought is venom, and for my mind to touch yours will be the end of you. Within me I hold the will and directive of eight generations of Mitesceru scions and those loyal to them, and to feel my bite is to contend with their strength. Only thieves and miscreants will I subject to such treatment—those who sneak and steal into these hidden chambers with the intent to rob…”

“I know you,” Avora counters. “I know the manner of your creation. I have seen and felt the touch of your smaller kin, observers like those who wait magically in ambush in the chamber that protects this one. And you are not the first of your kind I have met, Oh Guardian. Like Antreatos, I was once initiated into the circle of Scholars at the Well of Wisdom, wherein I was tested at the Guardian Archway to gain admission into the archives. The Guardian there is older than are you, less flamboyant and intimidating in appearance, but it has touched the minds of a hundred hundred initiate scholars in the generations since sorcery was used to transform it beyond its eyespider life, since its web of psychic energy was merged with the wall that supports it.” The wizardess nods. “I have been trained to wield a shield of identity in my mind as have all scholars—your thought will not harm me unless you will to do so, and as I am no thief, this is not in character with the House of Mitesceru, nor its Guardian.”

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Every once in a while we get a glimpse of the legendary school/library that figures prominently in this storyline. I figured it was time to give a little more visual and explanatory detail of it, and recent correspondence with a creative mind adding their personal effort and flare into this storyline helped this image pop. More will be revealed on this later, but I do need to point out that the right-hand side of this image is perhaps a bit confusing--the outside of the Well of Wisdom and the circular archives for which the building is named do not join together as pictured. The connection seems to lose some of its "collage" flavor there, unfortunately, and I may try to digitally adjust it in the future. As always, Avora was drawn using references provided to me by Viator-Defessus , whose work with this model really made the Avora character come alive for me. My thanks to photographer and model!

Note (April 17, 2016): I've also gotta share that a great deal of this idea comes from the very creative idea contributor and long-term comment-giver, White-Feather who has also essentially handed me the Elina character on a silver platter. Her ideas and as yet unseen contributions will be brought to light soon, I hope.

Enjoy!

Note: Twisted Plot and Demon's Due are a work of fantasy and fiction. The artist/creator in no way condones this kind of treatment toward any woman or man, by living person, gremlin, plant, assassin, ratman, viscous fluid, programmed device, animated home furnishings, or otherworldly spiritual beings. Furthermore, the artist opposes the marginalizing and restriction of women in general by any institution, political and/or religious, including those which have individual women amongst their membership touting/promoting their own happiness within that institution as evidence that ALL women should feel the same way. This includes the religion I was raised in and which I have utterly discarded from my life over this and other issues.