When Vas arrived at Elliot's penthouse in The Canopy, he couldn't help but be struck by the sheer opulence of the place. The Canopy was known for its luxury, but Elliot's penthouse was something else entirely. As soon as he stepped in, the first thing that caught his eye was the private garden—a rarity, given that they were forty stories up. A serene space filled with exotic plants, it offered a stark contrast to the bustling city below.
"Wow…" Vas muttered, glancing around.
"Not bad, huh?" Elliot's voice came from behind him, a playful lilt in his tone.
Vas turned, nodding appreciatively. "It's... peaceful. Not what I expected."
Elliot smiled. "You spend enough time studying the nature of existence, you learn to appreciate spaces where you can hear your own thoughts."
Vas continued exploring the room with his eyes. The walls were adorned with stunning, surreal artwork—humans with animal heads, painted with delicate brushstrokes that brought them to life. The detail was so intricate, the emotion in each piece so palpable, that Vas found himself drawn in.
"You made these?" Vas asked, pausing in front of a particularly striking image—a regal lion-headed figure gazing out over a vast, empty landscape, its expression equal parts serene and sorrowful.
Elliot nodded. "Yeah, they're mine. Took me years to get them just right. Each one is a reflection of... well, let's just say they're aspects of the human condition."
Vas could feel the energy radiating from the paintings—the care and effort that had gone into each one. There was something more here, something layered beneath the surface of each image. He lingered in front of them for a moment longer, feeling a strange connection to the figures, as if they were silently communicating something.
"You can feel it, can't you?" Elliot asked, stepping beside him.
Vas nodded. "It's like they're alive… like they're telling a story."
"They are," Elliot said softly. "But it's not a story you can hear just yet. That will come in time."
Vas frowned, curiosity piqued. "What do you mean?"
Elliot smiled enigmatically. "You'll understand when you're ready. Now, come on. There's something I want to show you."
Vas followed closely behind Elliot, who led him to a special painting. It depicted three pyramids with a striking figure in the foreground—a lion with the head of a human, standing proudly before the ancient structures. The image seemed almost alive, its intensity captivating.
"This is… my best work," Elliot said softly, a rare vulnerability slipping into his voice as he gazed at the painting. "Vas, I'm showing you this because I want you to remember it. As a personal favor—would you mind?"
Vas blinked, slightly taken aback by the sincerity in Elliot's tone. "Of course not," he replied earnestly. He looked at the painting again, allowing its details to wash over him. "It's beautiful," he added with a smile, the admiration genuine.
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Elliot's expression softened, the tension in his posture easing just a bit. He lingered for a moment, clearly attached to the piece. There was something unspoken in the way he stared at the painting—an untold story or memory embedded within its strokes.
After a few moments of quiet, Morrigan's voice cut through the stillness, her tone matter-of-fact as she took her crow form and fluttered onto a nearby ledge.
"Do you mind if we start the lesson now?" she asked, her beady eyes fixed on Elliot.
Elliot turned away from the painting with a nod. "Of course not," he answered easily. "Vas mentioned you had something specific in mind."
Morrigan's feathers ruffled as she perched, her voice crisp with purpose. "I want you to teach him about sigils. I've already started, but I want you to finish up the lesson."
"Oh," Elliot said, raising an eyebrow. "No problem with that. Sigils are tricky but crucial." He turned to Vas. "Alright, let's begin."
Vas straightened, ready for what he knew would be another intense learning session. "No problem. Where do we start?"
"The basics, as always," Elliot said, a smile tugging at his lips. "Let's go over the core rules, Vas."
Vas nodded, thinking back to Morrigan's earlier teachings. "Intent and focus, materials, cost and sacrifice, the symbology of form…"
"Good, you're halfway there," Elliot said with an approving nod. "But there's more. Binding sigils to objects or beings, for one. Sigils can be bound to things, and they'll last until either the sigil is broken or the energy fades after it's spent."
Vas listened closely as Elliot continued, absorbing the weight of the information.
"Time of creation," Elliot went on. "Sigils are stronger depending on when you create them—certain times amplify their power. And of course, it also depends on the specific sigil you're trying to make."
Elliot stepped closer, his expression growing more serious. "Then there's the activation process. All sigils need to be activated. Traditionally, this is done through specific rituals or hand signs, but nowadays, with advancements in technology, some people program a sigil's activation digitally. It's not common—very advanced stuff, and not everyone can do it."
Vas frowned slightly, trying to wrap his head around the complexity of it all. "So, even tech can interact with Anima?"
Elliot smiled knowingly. "When you understand the fundamentals, everything can interact with Anima. It's all about how you manipulate the energy."
Morrigan, perched above, interjected. "But you have to be cautious. There's a risk of corruption. If your intention falters, or if you mess up the technique, the sigil can become corrupted. And believe me, that's not something you want."
Vas winced at the thought. "What happens if it's corrupted?"
"It depends on the sigil," Elliot replied, his tone darkening. "It could do something small, like backfiring and draining your energy. Or it could do something far worse—unleash forces you can't control."
Morrigan flapped her wings, settling more comfortably. "Which is why you need to understand the collaboration aspect. If multiple people work together on the same sigil, the effects can be strengthened. It's the easiest way to create a grand sigil."
Vas nodded, the weight of their words pressing on him. "And forbidden sigils?" he asked, curiosity getting the better of him.
Elliot's expression grew guarded. "Those," he said in a low voice, "are found only in The Void. And even then, you'd need permission from The Archivist to access them. They're... dangerous. For a reason."
Vas felt a shiver crawl down his spine. He had heard whispers about the Archivist and the forbidden knowledge hidden in The Void, but hearing it confirmed made it all too real.
"Wow," Vas muttered, feeling slightly overwhelmed. "That's... a lot of information."
Elliot chuckled lightly, the tension lifting just a little. "Don't worry, you'll get the hang of it. Just take it one step at a time."
Morrigan tilted her head, her sharp eyes gleaming. "And remember, Vas—it's not just about learning the rules. It's about mastering them."