V5 Incline 47: Test-Taker Larishazza

"Don't do that again..." Nin complains as he pushes himself out of powdered roof tiles. He's shaking his head clear of so much of it! So, I gift him a little splash of water, cleaning off the stubborn rest sticking onto him.

"Now, let's go!" I announce, running off and jumping a building over. I hop some more things and land even higher away. Nin gives chase, and I use the raised ground to observe how much even just today has managed. It's quite clear that a lot has improved since this morning.

He's able to leap with a motionlessness before each jump that is blatantly raw. Though, for all of his new skill, I still need to intervene. So, I do. I catch and grab him, bringing him along for a few more roofs and their limited expanses.

A short while passes along, and his mouth clicks open, "How many more to go...?"

We jump one more roof and I let him go, spinning away with a hand on my chin. I keep pacing about, trying so hard to recall the adjusted number. Noises keep coming out to indicate my pondering and I collapse into crossed legs. I think even harder, being completely immobile as a degree of familiar shock afflicts him.

"None!" I grin, knowingly. I hop up back to my feet, stroll the building- And I intentionally trip!

He rushes to the edge of the roof and I wave at him from the window we initially left from. A water platform builds in my hands and I gently ease it up the building. He steps onto it, his weight and magical power making it wobble and shiver. My hand lowers away, and I lose myself in the distant view.

The Orbital-Halo is beginning to descend, now, and the sky is taking on all the different hues. I really like it all. Especially with how the orange conflicts and mixes with the purple that makes up the upper atmosphere. Never mind what colours manage to make it in from the myriad of emeralds that break away from the initial True Emerald winds.

"That thing moves a lot." Nin comments, his eyes focused instead on the grand structure following and aiming right for the Orbital-Halo's bulb. I try my best to follow his eyes as he inches closer and closer to me. I peek on out the window, used to seeing everything move from inside the city itself.

"Was it always like that?" I find myself asking and smiling over. The giant structure, the Gnomon, I think? The thing at the centre looks like it's sinking into the city!

"This time yesterday it was, and the day before that. And so on." Nin answers, the platform finally settling into the right spot for him to come on inside. My eyes shift, to the way the light glints against his dark shining body, and I find his smile. A full smile, a proper smile.

"You... You like watching it?" I can't help but ask him as I find myself blushing with pride.

"I like machines." Nin shrugs over.

"I figured you did." I huff, remembering how much enjoyed looking at all the magic circuits and machine pieces about Suhurlodst's grounds. Doesn't matter if it's basic or refined, it has him all interested.

"What sort of things do you like looking at?" he then asks me, turning all of his attention to me. My smile grows, wavering as I find myself a little nervous of all things! All over a silly little gaze... A silly little gaze.

"People smile. I love watching people find their smiles." I say, and it's all I will say for the moment. So, I pat his cheek and head off on inside properly, leaving him to crawl on in. I prance about for a bit, aiming to collapse onto something soft and- I stop myself with a sudden jerk to the walls.

I'm all sweaty and dirty because of our work today. Water-magic or not, I can only clean myself so much! I don't like ruining comfortable items with an unpleasant stink. We Ibenoroccons might be used to hot days, but that only makes the colder lands all the nicer to smell. There's so little sweat in the air in this country!

"You... Alright?" he asks, concerned as I lose myself in my thoughts. His pats are visually harsh, but feel like dull thuds. But, as he's not stronger than me or even really approaching my level of strength for the most part, I do not budge. Well, everything except my lips budges, and I smirk.

"Nice try, but. If you need me, I shall be showering and cleaning myself up!" I tell him, skipping off as he follows slightly, lingering on the doorframe.

"Can't you just wash yourself with your magic? It's water-magic, isn't it?" he asks, so silly and misunderstanding of what I can and cannot do.

"I'm not washing myself with magic I can't control the temperature of. I like warm water, hot water, thank you!" I answer, disappearing from his view and heading off to one of the private washrooms. Though I don't really mind which one I go into. The closest just happens to be a private one, the one me and Nin went in earlier today.

I lock the door behind me and find myself looking at myself in the mirror. A smile builds up, rosy cheeks a delight on my growing smile. I wave at myself, giggling slightly over how silly it is. What a silly, caramel-skinned, blue-haired woman in the mirror that is smiling back at me.

This woman in the mirror is also quickly made naked. She happens to be singing like me, too. The sounds of running water blending in perfectly with my voice. Though, I don't think it's because I can sing all that well, it's just so woven into my voice. My arcane accent.

I naturally sound like the sounds of water in rushing rivers, heavy rain and stormy oceans. Down the pipes like the showers here, from the magical etchings if there are no pipes at all. Water along the coastlines, each one sounding so different from the other. From the sky and into the earth below or just onto it if it can't permeate. So different, all unique.

To say nothing of the Water-Veins of Jherikra, such unique echoes... Ancient echoes rich in a history that saw a continent be drained of a disaster unlike the world has seen. Not since the gods and goddesses of Creation left. Not since we because All-That-Remains.

It's so much like how everyone here is, they're always whistling or blowing to some extent, even Nin.

"Quinshuu doesn't sound like anything, though." I remark to myself, my mind shifting on to our light-magic blessed dorm mate. It's so strange, but, I suppose it makes lots of and complete sense. Light doesn't really have a sound, just the things it touches. Yet, that is what helps him sound so distinct, the utter lack of anything.

Though, maybe it's because light-magic influences behaviour more so than how you speak? I guess I can always ask him later. Listen carefully first, however, just to double-check that he really does sound of nothing. Maybe I should wait until night? See if it makes him speak with light?

Nin's similar in a way, he does not entirely sound like he whistles. He has those little clicks of his, and a much larger mouth. So many things to make him sound different, like all the many species of the world do. He simply sounds like someone who's from a completely different land to most others here. Which, I guess makes a lot of sense, too. He's uncertain of his magic in a way only children typically are.

What kind of isolated place is he from?

So many interesting questions that I can ask him, but right now, all I want to do is sing. Sing as I manipulate the water flowing down and dripping off of me. Moving my hips back and forth while my fingers tap against each other, forcing the water about and pulling it back in. I rub my hands along my naked body as I flex it all the way down, always keeping my legs and hips shaking.

All to let the water run off me in a different manner.

Then, as my hands find the shower handle again, I... I don't turn the water off. I summon a pole of solid water to spin up and I throw myself away. My feet land and I slide, throwing out droplets out across the room to catch on the shower handle and turn it off that way.

My attention shifts to the nearest mirror, and I wave my hand. My power ripples across it, clearing the glass completely of any condensation. I might not be able to control steam like my sister if she tries for it, but I can clean up a mirror just fine!

"Do I still have it? I think I still have it." I ask and say to myself as I giggle at my reflection. I look around and stop.

My giggles become howling laughter to the point it hurts, and I can't stop myself. I forgot a change of clothes and a towel! I forgot the two most important things of having a shower! How, how silly of me. Silly me.

Still, a giggle seals my lips, and I look to the door...

I dash for the door, unlocking it and I run and run. Past anyone upstairs, all those on the way to get back to my room and a means to dry myself. Sounds of shock and surprise ring out. All of it centred on the naked beauty running about, and all it does is bring even more joy to my face!