Bloom into Yourself (Class Training Menat/Merrze)

After everything she had gone through so far between her time off in Kina and her adventures into Ipos Menat was amazed there was still things that could shake her nerves. She might have even been surprised just at the fact she still had nerves to shake even. She was worried about her mother and siblings, wondering how they would react to their eldest returning home with her new foliage based body. It was such a conflicting set of emotions for the young Princess as she had been longing to return to the familiarity of her new home in Meridia but those fears and doubts about scaring or even being attacked for her new appearance, by her family no less, clashed with those desires.

Eventually she would have to deal with reuniting with her family regardless of what she looked like. As much of a pain in her ass as her mother tended to be she believed that the Meridian Empress would actually care if she never returned from her travels. Especially after being the one to have sent her to Kina in the first place. She sighed, as best she could now that she lacked a physical mouth at least, as she took her first step back into her new nation's capital, which just so happened to house her family's home. Here and there the odd citizen gave her a second glance as she walked by as if trying to make sure they had actually seen what they had saw yet for the most part none seemed to pay her a second thought. She supposed her people were used to the more "exotic" looking individuals given the kind of citizens her mother took in to found the nation with in the first place.

That much left her feeling less tense with each step she took towards the small log cabin her mother had built for them and her four other siblings. That was one more reason she had wanted to return to her mother now that she had her new form. Her mother was more of an expert in the field of things similar to what Menat had now become given her power over nature and life magic her djinn granted her. If anyone would be able to help the former Fanalis learn more about her new capabilities it'd be her own mother by the widest possible margin she could imagine.

WC: 402/2,000

Akane Shinjo:

Ipos:

@Merrze

The face of Meridia was changing, with every day its image grew more. Its vines, its structure rooted themselves more into the land as nature and society slowly fused into one in the capital of the empire. As the rest of the nation had its own trials the Empress would oversee them, expanding at a rate that was becoming hard to keep up with. She had to take time to breathe, to focus herself, it was how she had managed to control it so far, it was the only reason she had the idea to found structured systems to control power and monitor freedom with their range of information.

Pwhuuuuuuuuuuuuuu she sighed.


"Momma Mommma! Can we go play outside!" Merza would say tugging the edge of her pants. Merna was already climbing on her back. Even with a big knew house her children always seemed to find their way to her. All of them were in her study at the moment in fact, well except for Menat. She missed her eldest but she was out seeing the world, wishing to be more than just a princess but an asset to the empire, to the world, to herself. She respected it, it didn't mean it didn't pain her. She already lost her childhood after all.

"Mama, I can take em out if you want, Merzan wants to do sprints anyways!" Merlin would chime in with, the 11-year-old had hit a growth spurt and his persimmon hair reached beyond his shoulders. Merzan, was already jogging around his older brother, his 10th birthday was next week but he was as tall as Merlin already.

"Not like it'll be much competition though, I am the fastest! Blegggh!" he teased, wasn't much fair but the elder brother had his own strengths.

With the twins still clinging to her she would stand up, walking over to the crib in which three babes laid. "It's fine my little fox, I think they could use some air as well." Her most recent children. Triplets born from an Immuchak Giant, they were already exceptional in size themselves. She would need to hold two while having one strapped to her chest. It would take a moment to get everything together.

"Li, we're gonna go relax outside for a bit, would you like to join us? I'll send some of the kitchen staff to prepare a basket?" She would say to her guard, she seemed to be peaking from outside the office room.

"Not at the moment m'am, but I can go visit the kitchen staff for you" she would offer.

"Would you? that would be wonderful! the tired mother would say as her bracelet jingled. It would be nice for them all to enjoy a moment, she could maybe find a nice beautiful place for them to enjoy the climate. The good thing about their part of the country was at least the weather never got too cold.

Wordcount for extreme magic: 520/3000

Menat found herself staring at the palace before her with awe. She knew her mother had been working on upgrading their home before she left for her duties as her mother's ambassador but she hadn't expected the final result to be so dramatic. It was absolutely gigantic! She didn't know how they were going to make use of so much excess space. Though she did suppose she could claim an entire wing for herself as opposed to just a single room with so much free space. The eldest of the royal children chuckling to herself happily at the idea.

Menat found herself freezing in place with her body standing at attention hearing the laughter approaching. There were voices she could clearly recognize, and especially the thundering of excited feet against the ground. Her siblings had made it out of the palace to enjoy the exceptional weather their nation was regularly provided with. She expected them to be accompanied by one of their sitters, as normal, seeing as Menat herself hadn't been home to keep an eye on them as they went off to play. Her heart thundered in her chest with the sound filling what acted as her ears in her new form. She had the most powerful desire to hide herself in a panic to prevent the rest of her family from finding her and scaring them off with her new appearance. Oddly enough as she stood there frozen while fighting her own urge to flee she appeared far more like a tree than she now did normally.

Yet she had already made her mind up. She needed to see her mother once more, to learn better control over her new form and to take that next step as a warrior and a figure of royalty for the nation. Despite knowing that all her nerves were practically misfiring with each step she took towards her siblings. It was actually her surprise that it was their mother that had accompanied Merlin, Merzan, the twins and apparently three other children Menat was unfamiliar with. Now she had a new fear. Imprinting the image of her new form, faceless and formed of bark and vines and flowers and leaves, upon these three children she had never met and leaving them with lasting nightmares of the experience.

"Mama?" She'd find the courage to vocalize to the Meridian Empress once she had gotten close enough to the group, doing her best to keep her body language as unthreatening as she possibly could around her siblings.

WC: 421
TWC: 825 / 2,000

As she marched outside she wasn't sure what she'd see in place of her daughter, she felt many emotions, none of them terrible. She felt joy, but surprisal was the most prevalent feeling. She did not see the daughter she once knew across from her, she saw a reminder of her past, of the dungeon she had won. A floral image of her child, a spriggan had stood from her and her children. The voice, even if her visage hid some of her features, would tell them that this was the eldest of the Firdaus children. Despite this, a smile would come across her face, after all she had to introduce her youngest siblings to her.

"Come on everyone, I'm sure your big sister missed you, go give her a hug" she would say. She would wave to them, the young Merzan and twins dashing with sand storm-inducing speed. Merlin was less affectionate but would happily speak to his sister "Well you always grow fast big sis but I guess this is a whole new growth huh?"

She would snicker a little, she was glad they would treat their sister with the same love. She would walk up, showing the faces of the three large, but young children. "These are your new little siblings, Mana, Maze and Mara." Their eyes were as purple as plums with amethysts for eyes it seemed. The young babies looked at the plant woman with glee and excitement. Cooing they would reach up, wishing to grasp and climb her but Merrze would hold them back.

"Looks like they're happy to have such a big sister, but they've been growing fast, and it's been draining." She would say, at closer inspection Menat would be able to notice the bags that were forming under her eyes. Even with so many children, she tried to keep up the habit of spending her first and last hours of each day. Rest was something she needed, but she could hold off for most of the day.

She wanted to usher her daughter into their new abode, to give them a chance to eat. "Come on in, I wanna hear everything that's happened. We've all missed your charm my little wolf, we can enjoy some lunch and regale over what we've both been through. We can give your siblings some time to play afterward too, I'm sure they wanna spend some time with you.

She wanted to remind her daughter this was her home, no matter what. "Don't let the size fool you, everything but the center palace is occupied, we live there but you will have a floor to freely spend your time in my daughter, the bottom floor is our lounge area." the mother would say, turning around to lead her towards the inside of their home. As she would the twins would chase Merzan around as Merlin would hover around Merrze and Menat, he wished to follow them it seemed.

Wordcount: 1012/3000

In an instant Menat found every single fear she had harboured about this reunion with her family were all but erased completely. Merzan and the twins were the first to reach her, their vast quantities of energy being put to use as all three raced right up to her and practically tackled her to the ground with a trio of hugs all at once. Their mother had been able to tell it was her for certain and had been the one who went so far as to tell her siblings she was, in fact, their eldest sister returned. Merlin himself approached her as well, yet he lacked the same kind of energy and enthusiasm their younger brothers and sister carried. Regardless he still attempted to crack a joke with her.

Before she could respond Menat found her mother had closed the distance thanks to the fact three of her children had knocked Menat to the ground. Merzan and the twins finally allowed their sister to return to her feet just in time for their mother to make an important introduction to her. The three younger children she had been sporting were apparently her newest, youngest siblings. Mana, Maze and Mara as their mother introduced them. She had made sure to let all three of them see Menat as they were introduced and Menat couldn't help but feel her chest throb as she saw how their amethyst purple eyes sparkled at seeing her. Or how they reached out to try and take hold of her. Yet Merrze held them back from doing as such.

To their mother it seemed at the three youngest all seemed to accept Menat regardless of her new appearance. Everything was playing out in such a way that it seemed none of her family gave any care as to what her physical appearance was. Except, if she had to guess, Merlin. Yet she expected something of the sort and given that Merlin was the most properly and formally educated, thanks to their mother, she wasn't surprised it would be him. Merrze would begin to usher Menat towards their new palace home, triplets still in her arms and bound to her chest, all while gushing about how she wanted to hear about everything that had happened to her eldest while she was away and how they had all missed her charm. What really hammered it home for Menat was to hear her mother's nickname for her once more after all her time away and the drastic physical changes she had undergone.

She would stop just before entering the main doors to their home and do her best to give her mother a smile. She could actually feel as if she still had a normal mouth and flexible cheeks behind the bark that composed her face now and tears still managed to well up in the corners of her eyes. "I'm home Mama." She'd weakly say as her happiness released in such waves from her body one would be convinced they were just shy of being completely tangible. The self worry, stress and doubt that had been brewing on her return now felt absolutely dumb as she was reaffirmed that her family truly loved her no matter what. If anything she wanted nothing more than to throw her arms around her mother and hold her close yet she didn't want to risk harming her new siblings. Instead she would reach her arms out and signal for Merrze to hand her the two triplets she carried in her arms.

Should her mother accept her offer or not she'd continue to follow along with or without the children in her own arms, listening to her continue on about how they could have lunch and catch up with each other and how her siblings would most likely love to spend some time playing with her afterwards. She would continue on into details about their new palace, claiming that Menat would have an entire floor just for herself to spend her free time in while the first floor was to be their "lounge area", which she assumed would be for family activities and general time together. She would notice that of all the siblings only Merlin had chosen to return inside with them while Merzan and the twins went off to start chasing each other around. "Speaking of playing with my siblings Merzan and the twins are still outside. Should I go keep an eye on them for you mama? Or maybe ask Akane to do it even?" She questioned the motherly Empress.

WC: 760
TWC: 1,585 / 2,000

"I'm happy you're home my dear, it's not the same without you she would say lovingly.

She was glad her daughter showed such open interest in her family's affairs. Maybe it's because of how much they'd grown without her. She wished she could truly understand her daughter. Merrze had a rough childhood sure, but how could she compare to the unusual one that was Menat's. She would just continue, allowing the children outside to continue playing.

"If you wish to leave Akane you can, but Ping is also watching guard out there, Merzan is starting to get to the age where he can watch his younger siblings as well the mother would reassure.

She would joke "Plus it seems like your little brother wanted to spend time with us, so let us just let the kids play."

As she chuckled a little the young boy couldn't but help retort at his mother "Of course, why wouldn't I want to hang out with the entertaining ones."

"See this, he's not as shy, he learned he can use words to hide it, ain't he cute" the mother would say, showing a warm smile to Menat. They looked so different, but they were only 11 months apart in birth. She could tell the young magician was missing his older sister.

As they would walk through the halls, they could see the gardens outside. Fountains decorated the interior gardens as the birds sang amidst the sunlight. She had truly put effort into making it a great palace, a sustainable one.

"I hope you'll fit in, I know it's not as close but it feels more with nature. I wanted a place for the family to grow, for those dedicated to the cause to be close to the heart of the nation. I hope these gardens inspire poems, that they hold memories, later tonight I hope to bring you out stargazing with me" she would go on, rambling before her eldest.

How much her daughter had changed, she knew how shocking it was for your body to alter on you. This was a trade for power, it gave so much more than either of them really knew. She felt proud but concerned for her baby. She didn't want her sweet wolf to feel rejected, to feel replaced or forgotten.

"Every time I see you my daughter I see my young self but the fire of your father. Every time you leave my eyes and comeback you seem to grow so much more, it terrifies me, but it fills me with so much joy. I am so proud to be your mother, how proud that I can learn from raising you. I became a mother young, much younger than I should have. I know you may regret, or feel unloved as our family grows. But I had no father, my mother died and I lost all my friends. I've only ever wanted to raise, and love people out there. I see so much love, so much strength and courage in you my daughter, you've come home, and never forget that this is your home. Each flower in this garden, each smile in these halls exists to greet and guide you. That's why we do whatever we can to protects its peace, its freedom, our freedom" she would pour out to her daughter with her deep, passionate voice.

The lioness had gone on to her daughter, she had lost so much and each day tired her more. She felt her youth draining, despite how young she looked she knew it would take her own diligence to stay healthy. She wished to enjoy the days, to watch the blooming empire continue its path of prosperity. She was glad they had a long walk towards the center palace, it was good exercise and gave them this chance to talk. Even Merlin looked as if he had his own piece to speak, but held his tongue to hear his sister's words first.

Hopefully, they would both speak their minds, and not feel too much embarrassment as servants, and animals guests of the gardens alike moved around them.

Word Count: 1699/3000

The Firdaus family had, in effect, branched off into two groups. Merzan and the twins remained outside while Merrze, her new triplets and Merlin escorted Menat into their completed palace home. Merrze couldn't help herself and seemed to want to drive in the fact that Menat had indeed been missed by her family while she had been away and that it hadn't been the same without her. Her mother offered her ease at not needing to be the one watching over her siblings remaining outside for once, claiming that not only would Ping be out there, and Akane should Menat prefer to task her with keeping the children safe, but that Merzan was getting to be of the age where he himself could look after the twins as well.

Unknown to either Merrze or Menat for that matter, even if she could have taken a guess on her companion's actions by this point, Akane had already split from her Lord. The fox had beaten the young princess to her exact suggestion and relocated herself to a spot where she would remain unseen while able to keep a close watch on her Lord's siblings as they frolicked with one another. It was things like this very action that made Menat come to appreciate Akane as more than just a friend, even if she no longer had a human form of her own.

Menat herself had found herself smiling as Merlin piped up about wanting to stick around and hang out with the entertaining ones. Well to her it felt as if she were smiling but the bark covering her face left much of her emotions hidden save for the brightened glow in the hollows that were her eyes. He was the one closest to her in age out of all of the royal children so she found that the fact that he took such interest in her to be an impressively welcomed thing. Especially after her trip into Ipos. That had really made her appreciate her oldest brother more than she already had prior to the dungeon.

As the trio, triplets still carried by their mother, continued on with Merrze explaining more and more of the palace's features that had been constructed while Menat was away. She took exceptional pride in the garden specifically, clearly given how she was going over it in great detail to Menat as they all arrived. Their mother even commented on how she hoped the gardens would inspire poems. Menat wanted to roll her eyes in a typical teenage daughter manner at her mother's ego over something she had created in her own palace. But just because she wanted to do such an action didn't mean she didn't enjoy knowing that her mother hadn't changed all that much while she was away.

Still the eldest princess remained silent, allowing her mother to speak. Much like her brother. Merrze continued on, this time expressing her parental pride in Menat's development. Even when she now looked the way she did. The young girl's posture seemed to grow heavy as Merrze mentioned how Menat physically reminded her mother of herself yet there was the fire inside that she shared with her father. As Merrze continued on Menat would silently produce the tuning fork that now held the powers of her very own djinn, staring at it silently as she remembered what the former Queen had told her before she left.

"Momma.... About Papa..." She'd trail off as she attempted to gain her mother's attention. She knew that she and Merlin only shared the blood of their mother and that each had their own father, much like her other siblings, and would normally have waited for a moment of privacy to discuss what she was about to but there was the added support of having her closest sibling knowing her problems as well. Even if she was supposed to help carry the burden of his problems rather than the opposite. "When I was in Ipos. The Djinn there told me about what happened to him. She told me Papa is dead." As she turned her gaze from the item in her hand to look at her mother a single dewdrop of clear green fluid formed in the corner of her eye hole before streaking down her bark-like cheek.

WC: 719
TWC: 2,304 / 2,000 (Secondary Unlocked)
TWC: 304 / 2,000 (Primary Rank Up Tracker)

A heart weathered by a hundred battles, only kept alive by the love of Meridia, of family, died a little a bit more. She had suspicions, but her fellow lion was a wild card. Desperately Merrze had hoped for desertion during the war, that wrath and insurmountable battle lust had brought him somewhere he could let his rage out. The world was never that simple, she had to be more realistic about her expectations. It was difficult, her heart lingered for those she loved, for those who shared in life with her. To separate those feelings as she became imperially driven was difficult, even now it petrified her entire being. She'd lost a child, she'd lost love, she was used to reacting to it, but the pain never got easier.

"Well I'm glad you were able to find that out, I could never find him after the war, I never got answers, I'm sorry you had to wait for so long my dear" she would say, somberness lingering behind each word.

Emotions weren't something she had help with, the fanalis was controlled by rage for the majority of her life. Rooting in her brain, gripping and puppeteering each action. Learning to escape that grief, the ache which was brought upon by her young trauma, was the greatest struggle of her adolescence. With a heart and head, with new emotions in control, the mother had new objectives. Glancing at Merlin, looking back into Menat's eyes. Her children could be better, would be better than her. They could do anything if they avoided being stunted the way she had been.

"My sweet Cub," she would mutter comfortingly "I know that it's hard, and the world may seem unfair, but if you hurt let that pain out. Do not hold onto it, do not blame the world. That pain can drive you, it can inspire you but it must never control you, anger is an infestation that leads to savagery. You are driven, you are powerful, do not sacrifice that to your sadness. Yet, do not feel afraid to be open to it, I love you Menat, you darling child" she would finish opening her arms to embrace the young fanalis.

It didn't matter if it wasn't the same body, the same warm hug she was used to. This was her firstborn, she missed it, but she knew the soul within this body. Deep beneath that exterior, it echoed, speaking out to her. She would entwine vines into her fingers, barks scraping each knuckle. It was as if she was wishing to squeeze out her own depression. Even hugging this mass of flora covered in bark, all she could see was the baby girl with poppy red hair that she gave birth to all those years ago. No matter how old, how accomplished, how proud she was of her she couldn't let go of that visage. With Endolf gone, someone had to, she had to love their baby, the woman she was becoming, that she would become.

It was difficult to bring out those deeper words, to be so vulnerable like this to her children, they'd known she could fail, but to be overwhelmed was not something they ever saw. Tears peaked over their ducts, carrying myriad colors in a kaleidoscope of growing passion. "I" she would say "I know it may seem hard, or cold when I don't express much, I show my love often but there are times in which my own emotion push me to rashness or abrupt acting. I know you both have seen my eccentrics, I morn Endolf greatly but I've been preparing for such a pain. My father was sold into slavery when I was born, my mother died when I was the same age as Merzan, and with each passing year I forget her face. Do not forget how to feel, how to express pain, remember and love always."

Merlin, who was mostly an outsider, would still come close and hug his sister. He was young, but he was already starting study with kids 3 years older in age, and his emotional intelligence seemed to reflect this as well. He would hug them both, giving the women a few kind words despite his playful nature "The way you feel is valid, as long as you feel it, you express it and are honest about it. I love you both." He was a sweet talker that was for sure, yet the young magician was just hoping to comfort his mom and sister.

WC: 2454/3000

It was a somber moment for the mother and daughter duo without any question but Solomon damned it if Merlin didn’t help diffuse the seriousness of the situation. Even if it wasn’t in the way he intended. Menat started at him for a pause, then two, as she let his words sink in until she couldn’t hold it in any more. If she were still made of flesh her cheeks would have puffed up, her hand coming up to cover her mouth before finally bursting into laughter. As such with the lack of a real mouth or any cheeks all she could maintain was the muscle memory , even if it was a stretch to claim the vines acting as her muscles now could remember the actions she had as flesh, and the sound of her laughter echoing through a hollowed trunk was her reward.

“Merlin, you’re too cute when you try to be so mature.” She told him as she finished laughing, her hand reaching to pull him in by the shoulder as to grant him a hug. “You don’t need to worry about me so much. I’m the big sister, I’m supposed to look after you.” It was truly how she felt about the eldest of her younger siblings. But she was thankful all the same for having a brother like him. For now she would put the subject of her father’s passing on hold as she knew it was something to discuss with her mother in private. For now she would turn her attention towards the more important things she wanted to know.

“I do have something you can help me out with though Merlin. Thanks to all those fancy learnin classes mom gets ya I know you’re better at magic stuff than me. Wanna help teach me how to use my new djinn?” If she could smile at the boy it’d have been that of a sister that wanted nothing more than exactly what she asked. The aid and time of her closest sibling. “Of course I wanted your help too momma.” She would turn her attention back to their mother. “Someone needs to help me understand what this new body of mine can do better and with your djinn I figured you’d be the best person to ask about that.”

WC: 385
TWC: 2,304 / 2,000 (Secondary Unlocked)
TWC: 689 / 2,000 (Primary Rank Up Tracker)

"Well, I'm sure with our heads together we can figure it out but learning this does take time. Tomorrow the both of you need to meet me at the edge of the city, I"m going to show you Buer's true power, and it'll give you a better understanding of the power you come from. If there's one thing I want you to think about over the night, is growth, a growth so continuous that it starts to strangle and drag you into's overcoming beauty and strength." In that brief moment her tone would surely go down, it held a stoic nature she only showed when serious. It went as quick as it came, however.

The mother would give them both a warm smile, patting them both on the back she'd walk by and say "First thing in the morning around 8 or 9 am if you think you have some time to sleep in. Love you both, feel free to catch up and feel free to stop by for dinner though I imagine you might need something different?" She would sorrowfully joke.

---

The next day would come quickly, thankfully it seemed her children were rather prompt. When the red sun had barely been up an hour they were both at the edge of the Meridia, past the jungle and the farms for livestock which graze deep into its' plains. It was a powerful spell, she would need to choose a safe location but it would be important for them in order to grasp the power of Buer. She didn't want to scare them, but she felt more in tune with the djinn when she brought its' overgrowth. In all honesty, she had practiced her Extreme Magic a few times but only one time it was enough to actually take shape. Now, she was going to use what energy she had to bring out the djinns' raw power.

"Alright my cubs I hope you slept well but I need you to focus your eyes on the horizon towards the east. I thought we could use a new thorn patch." It was somewhat of a joke, but natural borders were good for keeping back threats and invasions to the farms.

She would raise her right arm up, the silver vessel would begin to glow as her magoi would start to flow inside of it. and Vitality allow me to create life anew! Infest the world with the power of the living to rid the world of all that is vile! Grow, Buer!" With her words the silver turned to sliver vines. They coiled down her body and around her waist as green energy began to glow and cover her with fig and oak leaf. Her skin gained root-like veins as her eyes turned green with life and her hair turned rich like fresh-turned soil. The soil of her hair would spread down to her ankles as her feet and wrist would grow fresh flowers around them, roses, tulips, and hydrangeas. Finally, the vines which gripped her body would sprout out into the four flytraps which she controlled and used with Buer's magic.

"Alright, now follow this. Buerai Qabr-Alghaba!
"

With her words, vines would form around her wrists as they turn to thick branches wrapping into the shape of a great longbow. Stringing it with the finest blade of glass, but as strong as iron. Then the great thorn would appear within her right hand whilst the other held tightly onto the conjured weapon. Buer did love her bow greatly, Merrze was only able to really use it well for this one spell, but it was surely the greatest.

With it the arrow would fly forth, ripping through the wind, flying past the grass less than half a mile before the shot would plant firmly into the earth. Where grassy earth sat thorns and vines would begin to tear the earth asunder as they dropped hundreds of thousands of seeds creating all variety of grabbing, biting, snapping, and trapping plants. The great jungle would grow until it consumed a decent amount of the land, it was certainly enough to take up their vision. "So, what did you think?"

words: 3000/3000+

ability trained:

The remainder of the day passed far slower than Menat would had likely hoped for if she were being honest with herself. The entire ordeal had felt far too bittersweet for the young princess as she enjoyed the company of the family she had been away from for so long yet at the same time could not share in the simple activities they all indulged in such as their evening dinner together. While her mother and siblings stuffed their faces full of the food Merrze no doubt worked away cooking for herself Menat was left the odd one out with her new biology providing her with food through the same manner as any other garden variety plant. It was only when she retired to her quarters that she felt the full blow of the negatives of her new self. Right up until she finally fell asleep she found herself once more questioning if taking the Magi’s gift had been the right thing for her to do or if she should attempt some way of returning to her old self and truly being part of her family once more.

The dark, depressing thoughts of the evening before were all but a haze as Menat rose the next morning. Her mother had instructed both Merlin and herself to meet with her around eight in the morning by the edge of the city. She had been the one to ask of her mother for help figuring out what all her new form could allow her to do so she was going to do anything but arrive late. Especially knowing that it was taking time from her mother’s work on their new nation to focus on her needs. She had no real idea what her mother was going to show them to begin with but it had to be something significant enough given how the training was supposed to be about teaching Menat what her new form was able to accomplish.

The Princess arrived at the requested destination surprisingly punctual, a feat that would have been rare for the girl prior to her transformation. Of course Merlin had arrived all the same, having been instructed to meet their mother just the same as his sister. That authoritative attribute of their mother’s personality rose to the surface once more as she directed the duo to look towards the horizon while explaining that she thought they needed a new thorn patch.

Menat wasn’t able to watch the actions her mother took next, being that she was following her instructions and looking into the distance like a proper student. But she was able to hear the words that seemed like a chant that her mother spoke. She obviously knew her mother had a djinn of her own, it was what had helped them terraform the land of their new home and build the foundation of their new nation but she had never seen her transformation herself. Never heard what it took to release the djinn’s powers for that to happen. She turned her attention from the horizon to their mother in hopes of catching something that would help her unlock the powers of her own djinn in the process. Of course she was still a complete novice with Ipos, having just acquired the radiant being’s blessings before her return home and her encounter with the Magi that had turned her into her current self.

The piece of silver jewelry dangling on her wrist stretched high overhead shone momentarily before coming to life, branching and snaking down her limb like living liquid metal taking shapes similar to those of vines. They coiled down to come wrap around her waist before she was shrouded in a green glow that actually got her daughter to cover her eyes for the remainder of her transformation. The queen’s hair had turned from crimson and white to a rich brown like freshly tilled soil. Menat found herself most impressed by the four sizable flytraps attached to the web of roots running through her skin like extensions of her own body. Something Menat was sure she’d be able to replicate herself in some manner with her new body.

Yet another chant from her mother, some words she herself couldn’t understand, produced a naturally formed bow of thickened, curved branches strung together with a thread of tightly woven foliage. Pointing the bow towards the spot she had originally told her children to focus on she released a thorn from the grass sting. The arrow cleared about a half mile before striking into the ground, exploding before Menat’s eyes into a rain of seeds that all took to full bloom in an otherwise astonishingly rapid rate into a variety of, for a lack of better terms, predatorial flora. She couldn’t even begin attempting to figure out which ones there even were. The only question her mother had after such a display was to ask her children what they thought.

Was this what her mother had meant when she said for Menat to focus on the concept of growth the night prior? She had no words for her mother’s display of her djinn’s power.

WC: 857
TWC: 1,546 / 2,000

"This is the power that exists in the world, this is what you wield. A djinn not only chooses kings, but it also shapes the world. For many an Empire, an Empress or Emperor is the King of Kings. For us, I hope to be the Imperials that raise royals, that raise more importantly the people. Our job isn't to rule or control others because we know better. We have the cause, the passion to make a change that is why we must. The world is filled with fire, and storms, they are natural but they try to snuff out life. Our goal is to raise life to survive that, to help others survive. We are stronger, we must be the plants, the caretakers to nurture the future. That is why we gather power by uniting, by freeing, we do not rule to control, we rule to uplift because we know we can. You both hold the world in your hands, at your ages you are worlds above where I was. When I was your age I was getting my ass beat by the cranky old man that trained me. I surpassed him in strength but he'd get me to trip myself up."

Merrze had gone, elaborating to her two children who seemed to be speechless. Her job was to cultivate not just the nation but her children. She loved her parents, but she never got to have those opportunities. The fanalis felt selfish, but she want to make up for the lost time by guiding her children but the time was flying by.

Approaching Merrze had disengaged her djinn equip, she wanted them not to see her power but see their mother.

She caressed both of the faces, she missed Menats touch but the firm bark she had now was still a comfort. Merlin seemed to avert his gaze slightly but would then provide his mother with a warm smile. Merrze was happy to have them, to have her efforts pay off after years of giving her blood. "Our family, our world is growing but never lose yourselves. I want you to take on the world, but no matter how grand it gets do not forget the struggle that your brothers and sisters will never see. We must fight so that we can remove that plight from this world. I know its selfish of me to ask this of you, none of us are asked to be born. It's just that you, my beautiful cubs, shine brighter than any constellation and stand stronger than any stone. I am proud of how you voice yourselves and how you challenge the world. Please forge your paths."

Merrze could surely be high energy, she could be rough and aggressive with the challenges that faced her. It was this, it was this love that tempered her, it was learning that importance that taught her to survive. "My dream was this nation, but my children you are the greatest thing I could ever hope to make."

"I'm not really sure what to say Ma, I'm not really sure about the path I've been taking. I'm glad you believe in me but, I haven't done nearly as much as you or Menat. You're both chosen by fate to correct and guide the world. I just want to understand it, you gave me this curiosity and I wish to sate it. To feel born on such a burden of mind and body I know we have talked of me leaving but I feel I must do more. I feel I need to go find myself out in this world if I am to be myself if I am to truly help my home" the young boy would start to say with a fervent cadence and warm pitch.

Confusion had begun to wrack his mind along with awe and inspiration. Seeing the magic potential of a djinn, the potentially his sister now held. He had learned some from the magicians around him in his life but there was so much still for him to learn. He couldn't let himself stay behind while his family not only had the body of gods but would attain the power of them. His determination was growing like the vines of Buer's magic.

He would turn towards Menat, Merlin would say "I need to truly understand the laws of life, of magic. I've seen the snake you conjure and carry. You have looked out for me as long as I've known you sister. My first memories of absence and travel, but the longest and most consistent source of joy in my youth was having you. I want you to both be proud of me, I want to become a man you can both admire. I know the younger ones look up to me but Merzan is really showing how much of a whiz he is. He seems to have a real knack for strategy, the twins are also spending too much time with traveling bounty hunters."

His rambles would stop, he felt a bit choked up. Merlin wanted to at least show his importance, he didn't need to be the one everyone went to but he wanted to make sure that his family was proud, that they were safe.

"Sorry I'm not trying to make this more emotional than it is but, as I get older these happy days feel like that may have to change so we can make things better. I love our home, but I've heard of the things going around the world, can we really keep the empire safe and strong? Sorry, I didn't mean to doubt but I know you know of dark rukh, I've seen its swelling" he would say with a faintness to his tone.

The young magician had been keeping most of his feelings close but, he had to show some of his heart after getting the chance to spend time with his mother and big sis.

It may have made her come across as an inattentive sister but Menat couldn’t focus on Merlin’s declarations after having seen her mother’s display of power. She had been right to go to Merrze for help unlocking the true potential of her new body, especially with Buer granting such a level of command over the foliage that even Menat hadn’t thought would reach such heights. She could only dream of the day she reached, and even surpassed, her mother’s capabilities in her own way. For now there was her lesson. Growth. The simple prompt that she had been given at the start of the lesson had been put on display in its entirety for her and her brother’s benefits.

But her attention shifted with just a single, simple, thought to that of her younger brother. Catching him in the middle of explaining his worries to their mother. If she were to use her powers, her responsibilities, to help things growth and thrive then who was to say she was only allowed to do so with plants and cities? Her brother’s potential, all of her siblings’ potentials for that matter, could be nourished and aided as well not just from their mother. Menat had always felt she had taken on the role of a sort of second mother to all of them after all. Except for maybe her mother’s newest additions of the rather large twins, she hadn’t really had the chance to bond with either of them since being introduced upon her return home.

“Merlin. You’re putting to much on yourself little bro.” She would reach out, wrapping an arm around his shoulders before pulling her brother into her for a tight, loving hug. “Believe me I don’t think I was chosen for any of this. I went off to make my own path, to explore and try and be the kind of daughter my dad would be proud of. I still am, now that we know….” She’d pause to look at her mother. Merlin had been around when she returned from Ipos and delivered the news to Merrze about her father’s demise as the djinn had informed her but it still was hard for her to verbally admit the man she had idolized, had heard amazing stories of and had spent her whole childhood dreaming of meeting was now nothing more than an unattainable wish. “Well. You know. But I didn’t stop with that. Ipos asked me what my wish was when I met her and I told her that I wanted to use her powers to help mom and give Ipos a second chance at a loving family here with all of us.”

She released Merlin from the hug only to keep him against her shoulder, her arm still wrapped around him. “The way I see it there isn’t anything saying that me or mom were chosen to guide the world. Its our family that was chosen. We all came from an amazing woman who binds us together. I know I’m going to need you and that giant brain of yours. I can put up a good fight but without you to teach me about magic and the Rukh and how to use Ipos’s powers right then there’s no point to me having conquered her dungeon.”

This time she’d release him altogether as she finished her speech for him. “Merzan can help me hone my fighting skills, teach me the better ways to move this body. What you need to do is exactly what I plan to do once I’m ready. Go out there and find your footing. Learn everything you can because when it comes time for me to take mom’s throne then I’m gonna need my brainiac brother as my advisor while Merzan handles our soldiers. Between the three of us Meridia will be an absolute paradise for any and everyone!”

The green of Menat’s new eyes shone like sparkling emeralds as she looked at the eldest of her younger siblings. A warm sensation even seemed to be spreading through her form as she spoke in the attempt to lift Merlin’s spirits and embolden the youth. She could feel that warmth spreading down into her roots. A thought occurred. She had experimented once or twice with an ability to increase her own size but what if she didn’t consolidate that ability and keep it inside? With little more than the feeling of love and support she felt for her brother she felt her roots take deep within the soil around her, spreading around her and her family members like veins from a heart or a spider’s web. All around them flowers began to sprout and bud from untouched earth before blossoming in rapid time. Each and every flower sent back sensations to the Meridian Princess like they were each a new addition to her body.

Her power of growth. They were parts of her body and with some focus she found she could go so far as to alter their sizes. The field of flowers surrounding her mother, brother and herself now exploded into a meadow of colossal foliage normal people would be able to use as tables or chairs should they desire. That was the key. It was channeling and controlling that sensation, that desire, of growth that would allow her to break past her old, and even current, limitations into something amazing. A literal force of nature for her family and the people of her nation. Where her mother had been able to terraform the land and aid in the construction of Meridia Menat would be able to offer those living within a bounty on command once she had mastered her new abilities. Meridia could, and would, become a true utopia within the world once she had mastered her endless potential.

WC: 967
TWC: 2,000/2,000 (Primary Rank-Up Unlocked)
TWC: 500/500 (Secondary Rank-Up Unlocked)