At first, it didn't seem that odd. The darkness, the sense of being free of reality, the surrounding nothingness...in a way it seemed right and fitting, the desert night gone and this darkness slipping in around her. That changed quickly, and Nadine was gasping and trembling when she found herself dumped on unfamiliar stone. Nothing was right and nothing made sense, least of all what she'd been told. There'd been no fight - being naked and soaking wet and the intent focus of strangers took the fight right out of her - but little comprehension.
It isn't that she doubted she had some great destiny, or that her life was at the whim of some great magic force. She'd known that since she was twelve. But this wasn't it. This is all wrong. After everything she'd done, after all she'd given up and allowed to be done to her...she'd bought her future at too high a cost, she deserved what she'd paid for.
But there's nothing she can do. She has no power of her own, and even if she did, she understood it would be useless right now. All she has is the tunic the people calling themselves mages gave to her - even the stone she's worn around her neck most of her life is gone. Nadine feels naked without it. Why her?
The idea of sharing living quarters isn't a thrilling one, but at least the beds offer some small bit of privacy. She lingers in the doorway, white hair still damp, frowning thoughtfully at the interior and whoever else may already be there. The sign of The World is embroidered on her tunic.
While not terribly interested in exploring this place, there's little else to do and knowledge, as the old public service messages always said, is power. The library seems the most likely place to start, and Nadine can be found puzzling over book titles and flipping through old tomes with a fierce sort of determination.
The study hall also sounds like it may offer much needed information on this place...but Nadine is immediately distracted. This seems the most unreal of anything she's encountered so far - not that she's been here very long. Turning to the first fellow-abductee she sees, she finds herself asking:
Nadine Cross | The Stand | The World
It isn't that she doubted she had some great destiny, or that her life was at the whim of some great magic force. She'd known that since she was twelve. But this wasn't it. This is all wrong. After everything she'd done, after all she'd given up and allowed to be done to her...she'd bought her future at too high a cost, she deserved what she'd paid for.
But there's nothing she can do. She has no power of her own, and even if she did, she understood it would be useless right now. All she has is the tunic the people calling themselves mages gave to her - even the stone she's worn around her neck most of her life is gone. Nadine feels naked without it. Why her?
The idea of sharing living quarters isn't a thrilling one, but at least the beds offer some small bit of privacy. She lingers in the doorway, white hair still damp, frowning thoughtfully at the interior and whoever else may already be there. The sign of The World is embroidered on her tunic.
While not terribly interested in exploring this place, there's little else to do and knowledge, as the old public service messages always said, is power. The library seems the most likely place to start, and Nadine can be found puzzling over book titles and flipping through old tomes with a fierce sort of determination.
The study hall also sounds like it may offer much needed information on this place...but Nadine is immediately distracted. This seems the most unreal of anything she's encountered so far - not that she's been here very long. Turning to the first fellow-abductee she sees, she finds herself asking:
"Is this real? They can just...teach us magic?"