Araia stood upright, neatly tucking and folding her hands and arms underneath her breasts, and her lips pursed together to form a sultry expression on her luscious tender lips that was not quite a smile nor a scowl when she heard Archmage Kos compliment her appearance. Truthfully, it was the most awkward compliment she had ever received, and she held it dearly close to her for she doubted that the Archmage would ever say so again, or if he would, the compliment would be buried in depths of bizarre thoughts and dry witty sarcasm. She said nothing in return. Instead, she listened to him take pride in delightfully frightening others, and Araia now could believe that although hardly did she approve, and if anything she thought his cruelties were born from boredom and amusement.<br/><br/>Her ears heard the melody he whistled, a blend of something hauntingly sad, eerily so, with an undertone of happiness to it, and while the young beauty tried to decipher the source, a twinge of pain pierced her shoulder. Thoughtlessly, her hand brushed a stone, a small gray pebble, from her shoulder which, in turn, made her gaze up at the cruel beasts upon the wall as she gingerly caressed her skin. She would bruise there; her skin was delicate and supple, and too tender for mistreatment.<br/>The gargoyles began to converse. Their heinous impish beaks and mouths twisted in an ugly fashion to spit out unseemly words at Araia, gravelly and grating in sound, and their smooth stone eyes blankly stared at her although she imagined that a malicious intent would glisten there if it were possible. It made Araia wrinkle her nose, desperately try to push her trunk with all her might, and when despair accompanied by panic began to settle into her body, she shrieked as a brilliant light bolted between the gargoyles and what sounded like thunder crackled from the skies that were turning gray black.<br/><br/>There was a mentioning about traveling light, that a lecture on the topic would do her no good, and as she was about to retort, she pressed her lips together, shutting them tight. She had packed her own trunk, but in not knowing what she might need at his household, she packed a little of everything. Originally, it had begun with a simple satchel, grew into a leather case, which expanded into a bag or two, and then, alas, the trunk. She scampered beside the trunk, once it levitated itself, once it began to move, and was rather in awe of it, impressed. Araia stopped several times, amusing herself, watching the trunk heel like a faithful dog, but she wished not to try Archmage Kos' patience too much, and so with little word, she strode along to follow the man.<br/><br/>There too was a mentioning of learning a levitation spell, something about working two brooms and being effective within his household. She frowned at the idea of cleaning house, never particularly enjoying the task, yet she would not complain. She was interfering with his lifestyle, no doubt, and she was going to be eating and lodging at his house, and so she believed it to be a fair trade at least to an extent.  “A levitation spell.” She repeated, chirping like a morning bird at sunrise.  “Not that I would ever,” she began on another line of thought. “Not that I would want it demonstrated on me, but does it work on people as well as objects? Could you float an irritatingly boisterous old fat man half a mile down the road to rid of him?” Araia mused to herself the idea of whisking her father away as he lectured her about being of use for the family. She shook her head free of the thought as she came to the doors of her new home.<br/><br/>It was a marvelous creation, the lodge, and Araia, out of curiosity more than anything, needed to stroke a ruin, trace her slender fingertip upon one and then caress the brass knocker that was in the form of a dragon. She had always marveled at the creatures, thinking of them as elegant, and regal, and a smile graced her lips as she turned to look at the Archmage Kos.  “It is exquisite, simply exquisite.” Araia said, her voice but a whisper. Being the impulsive creature she was, she stood on tiptoe and brushed a simple kiss across the wizard's thin cheek.  “Thank you for accepting me, and taking me into your home.”