The Magic Man (Oud)

Verdant green skies still remained in most of Namek, a far cry from what the Magister had been used to over the last few years within the Scar. There were not massive plumes of black smoke that blocked out the three suns, only thin strands of veiled clouds. Even into the mainland his large ears could hear the sounds of waves brushing along the shoreline as the tides moved in and out a top of the sands. It was a calm and peaceful place, something he never thought he would miss until he had returned to it once more.

However, it was not a vacation that Oud had sought nor treated as such. Despite a good passage of time passing, he was sure that the Dragon Clan had not forgotten of his betrayal. He had come here under extreme caution, using a minor illusion—a cantrip, as some might call it—to change his uniform. Gone was his usual red and gold attire, replaced by a sleeved, white robe and dark blue vest that gave him the appearance of just another Dragon Clan member. Given his lack of power that had been lost during his conflict with the Dragon Clan members years ago, it was all he could do for the time being.

Still, he did what he could so as he was able to gather necessary materials without impediment. Resources for his experiments were running low as they were not able to be gathered in the Scar; what he needed could only be found and grown in the lush and vibrant places of Namek, soils rich with nutrients and enough sunlight to grow and bloom to proper maturity. His knowledge of the Dragon Isles was vast and he knew that it was the best place to seek what he needed.

And, yet, he found more than what he was searching for. As he made his way towards the coastline to appraise it for any washed-ashore marine life, he had noticed something—or someone—else, their screams of frustration loud enough for the Magister to hear as though he were standing right beside them despite such a large gap between them. He stood for a moment, studying what this creature was. Dark, royal blue skin and white pants, it was a creature both alien in look and in fashion.

He hummed for a moment, then smirked. He could make potential use of this creature. He knew it spoke, so communication was likely.

”And, yet, you are found,” spoke out the Magister as he approached her slowly, his hands embraced behind his back as he stepped onto the sandy shore. ”You seem to have lost your way, though that is hardly surprising. You do not appear to be a native of this planet. I wonder, what exactly are you?”

There weren’t many creatures in the world that would give Oud pause to think about what he was getting himself into. However, this one left him lost for words. The girl was small in stature yet well developed physically, her body resembling that of a young adult, but her cognitive development was no more than that of a child, a youngling, at best. Despite this, as with many children, her efforts to play off her surprise with jovial cheer was easily seen through by the keen-eyed Magister. A part of him wanted to smile. A part of him felt pity that such innocence could been corrupted so easily. He decided on the latter of two thoughts.

A pity that, perhaps, he could turn her to his favour, so young and innocent she was.

”Indeed, I have found you,” he replied at last as he gathered his thoughts. ”It is good that I did. There are quite a few dangers in this place, especially for an outsider such as yourself. But you needn’t worry; you will be safe so long as I am here.”

He took a step forward. As soon as he did, he saw the fear, the terror, in her face. He was not sure of what had caused the sudden, dramatic shift in emotion or why it had done so now and not when he first made himself known to her. He took another step forward, then unfurled an arm from behind him, his hand held out palm upward, a gesture as though reaching out to her. ”Why is it you hesitate? You act as though I am a threat. As I said before, you are safe here.”

Then, once more, the creature’s jovial nature shone through to the surface as she giggled and what seemed like a joke on her part. However, the shining innocence also illuminated her fear and hesitation more so. The Magister watched as she reached out to him despite her taking a step back. ”Perhaps… you are correct. Perhaps we are not so different.”

He got within a few feet of the girl. He reached his hand out to hers. Then, before the tips of his bony fingers could touch hers, he let his arm hang down, then tucked behind his back once more. ”yet, you still hesitate. You’ve a good instinct to not trust strangers, I will afford you that much. However, I wonder if that will ultimately be a benefit to you… or a detriment.”

He looked past the girl into the distance. His eyes lay upon the fields in the distance, towards the farmlands, to the village upon the horizon. ”As much as there is danger here, there are also plenty who will be willing to aid you. The Dragon Clan of Namek will gladly help you should you need it. However, you will need to shed yourself of your caution and hesitation. They may see them as signs of weakness.”

The Magister watched as the girl tore her hand from where he had barely touched the tips of her fingers, her recoiling giving pause to Oud yet he was not in the least surprised. He knew that she was scared of him yet he could not pinpoint exactly why she did. Part of him chalked it down to her having bad experiences with other namekians, presumably those of the Mazoku Clan. Another part of him boiled it down to her simply being that of a child, a child scared of those who are much older and much bigger than her.

He tucked his hand behind his back once more, a gesture onto her that he would not attempt to lay hands on her again. As she rambled, he merely gazed at her, his expression sober save for the slight feign of concern in his own eyes. He was not so much concerned for her wellbeing but more concerned for her sanity. He wondered if trying to coerce her to his side would end up being a double-edged sword in the long run or if he could somehow bring her to maturity before, or during, his attempts to turn her to his side.

”I am not here to tell you to do anything,” he replied. ”I am but stating reality. I am giving you your options. If you open your heart to those around you, you will find friends willing to help you. If you shut yourself away from the rest of the world… then you will truly be alone.”

Then, she had turned herself away from him completely. Had she been so stricken by terror that she could not bring herself to even look at him? He knew that she was not one of strong character and, perhaps, that would afford him the lesser effort to mould her into what he wanted. Perhaps, with time, he could bring about her inner power that she had locked behind her closed heart. Perhaps he could use that insecurity as a way to control her.

For now, he would continue the role of the concerned elder.

He paced towards her, his steps slow and soft, until he was only a foot away from her. He glanced down as her, watching as she trembled. ”I was much like you, once,” he said, his voice much quieter, soothing and calm like the still waters of Namek itself. ”I was once terrified of everything around me. I found it… difficult to trust in others. However, I had friends who helped me to become who I am now.”

He stepped around her before he stopped by the girl’s side. ”I am Magister Oud. Some call me a wise namekian. Others, a voice of reason and problem-solver. However, I am just a researcher and scholar. Still, I do what I can to help others. Will you let me… help you?”