La gare, journée d'orientation


"Soyez doux." Un souffle agité bâillonnait les lèvres de Seren dans une tentative de s'empêcher de se serrer les mains. Au lieu de la force calmante que l'exhalée était censée être, il a seulement souligné le fait que Seren avait même besoin de se calmer en premier lieu. En tant que tels, leur main séduisante n'a pas cessé, et ils ont dû consciemment se rappeler de garder leurs épaules de s'éterniser dans l'appréhension. "Prends le premier pas," Seren s'est dit en pensant, "et ensuite le suivant. C'est simple. Suivant leur propre piste, Seren fit cela, et s'éloigna finalement de la plate-forme de train jusqu'à l'embouchure de la forêt qui entourait la montagne sur laquelle l'Académie était assise. Seren leur soupira avec déception avant de repositionner leur sac à dos sur leur dos. Ils ne devraient pas être si nerveux, mais ils l'avaient anticipé. Seren les connaissait assez bien pour savoir comment ils sont arrivés dans de nouvelles situations, et Seren avait appris comment leurs frères et sœurs ont commencé à obtenir quand Seren était dans de nouvelles situations.
Ce n'est plus la bonne disposition de Maeve à regarder son dos, les machinations brassantes d'Armani qui complotent pour effrayer encore plus Seren, et le plus affectueusement manqué, Erika n'a plus donné à la main de Seren une pression chaude qui promettait que tout allait bien se passer. Avant qu'ils ne puissent se ragoûter dans leurs propres pensées, Seren s'en retourna à l'attention. Ils savaient que Maeve et Armani les attendaient, même si Armani avait promis que les deux continueraient selon la demande de Seren. "Ils peuvent probablement me voir maintenant," Seren s'inquiétait silencieusement. 'Gotta agir normalement.' Avec une fausse conviction, ils marchèrent vers la piste. Ils ont eu un long chemin pour aller au sommet. Seren s'est forcé à sourire, et a mis leurs mains anxieux dans les poches de leur sweat à capuche. "Pas de retour en arrière maintenant," ils murmuraient sous leur souffle. Seren s'approche du sentier usé et battu qui serpente à travers les bois, en haut de la montagne, et à l'Académie. Seren regarda en arrière alors qu'ils continuaient de marcher. Derrière eux se trouvait la gare, le dernier endroit entre la maison et ici. Devant eux était un étudiant, que Seren a à peine réussi à voir l'arrière de avant de marcher les cornes d'abord dans eux. Le contraire de lisse et normal
Full Name
Seren Dellia Woloust
"E-excuse me, sorry . . . no nicknames, please. Seren is fine."
Age
15
Race
Cambion
Half-Demon, Half-Human


The child of an Incubus and a Human woman, Seren did not come into this world by choice. Far from it, the way of Concubi can only be described as insidious. Preying on sleeping humans in dreams, Concubi already cross the threshold of consent. When a human isn't receptive to their seducer's illusionary allure, the demon takes what they want by force; manifesting a physical body, and entering the –still asleep- human's bed. For what arousal the mind has denied, the body cannot as it is an uncontrollable and automatic response. One cannot imagine the horrors Seren's mother went through that night being forced to feed the demon's appetite, and one cannot imagine her state of mind upon discovering she was pregnant.


Gender
Agender
They/Them/Their/They're/They've
Proficiency / Techniques
Oneiric Magic
Dream Manipulation

Seren can induce, influence, and enter the dreams of others. It begins subtle as Seren wheedles away at their target's alertness, opening them up for further suggestion. The target's constitution is waged against Seren's focus in a battle of timing, attentiveness, and willpower, but the unsuspecting and asleep are Seren's only viable subjects at their current capability. For Seren, their abilities are magnified on sleeping targets, and as Seren sleeps as a gift from their demon half.

Illusion Manipulation

Currently, this ability is constrained to guises of themselves and small mirages. Seren can make themselves appear more like people from the target's dreams. While their skin, hair, and eye color change, and while Seren has even learned to partially glmaour clothes they're familiar with like their signature hoodie, Seren can never seem to hide their horns. On top of the fact that Seren's illusions only effect their deliberate target, it doesn't for make much of clever disguise as of yet. Outside of looks, Seren has been known to pull small objects from their targets dream into reality as ghostly after-images of what they were once were imagined to be. This takes considerable effort however, and is still only visable to the target and Seren.

Personality
ISFJ-T
Reserved • Diffident • Sympathetic • Obedient • Courteous
Seren can usually be seen with their back straight, standing off to the outskirts of whatever's going on; tugging on their sleeve or wringing their hands, waiting to leave. It's not that Seren is uncomfortable with people, but they're uncomfortable with themselves around people. Always afriad they're being a nuisance, or they've said the wrong thing, Seren is anxious to please and quick to appease for any faux pas they may or may not have made. When a approached, a low and breathy voice responds with haste attentiveness with all the honors the individual is due even in informal settings. Seren is the type of person to hold the door open for an extended amount of people, genuinely listen to a stranger talk about their issues at the drop of a hat, but also the type to mutter apologies to their bully as they lug around both of their belongings while the bully berates Seren with insults. In short, a polite doormat who needs their older siblings around to protect their self-respect for them.
Background

Amanita Laveau Woloust
Mother

Having raised Seren from an infant, Amanita is the only mother they have ever known. Never hearing the name Dellia growing up, Seren never heard any different, but they could still tell. It was quite obvious from how their mother and all their siblings had deep brown skin and eyes, ebony hair, and the same pronounced features. Seren shared none of these qualities, and their lack of blood relation was only pointed out further when the family would make their anual trip to visit Erik's grave. He was Amanita late husband, and the father of her biological children. Regardless, this did not lessen their bond. Amanita always treated Seren as one of her own, because they were. No if, ands, or buts about it. She fed, clothed, nurtured, and protected them since before Seren had chosen their current name. From back when everyone assumed Seren was a boy –and used a different name for them– to unquestionably supporting them after, Amanita had been there through it all. Her steady hand guided them through their challenges and shaped their morality. Seren was a momma's child, and they wore the fact on their sleeve. It was no secret that they'd cling to their mother all day if she wasn't always pushing them towards independence. She cherished their company, but she also knew they needed time away from home. Besides, it was a bad mother who smothered her children into codependency, and Amanita prided herself on being the best mother she could be for her children.

Erika Marie Woloust
Eldest Sister

As Seren's elder by seven years, Erika remembers a lot about life before Seren came to live with the Wolousts unexpectedly in the night. Her father, for whom she was named after and especially close to, had died only a few years ago, so seeing that little ball of innocence bursting with tears made her heart go out for them. She just had to look out for the poor, defenseless baby who would wake up everynight night crying like clockwork. Till this day she hasn't stopped babying them. Though in all honesty Seren loves the attention, and the two share a special bond. Erika is always the first to make sure they're doing fine in school, if they're making friends, if they need help with anything. The answer is usually "yes," "no," and "Maybe so . . . I mean if it's not too much trouble . . ." respectively, but she can't help but to ask as she fusses over their clothes and hair in the mornings. She's like a second mother, always giving Seren extra attention and encouragement. Erika's also the only one who can make Seren leave their comfort zone by choice.

Maeve Cicely Woloust
Older Sister

As twins, Maeve and Armani were both only the young age of two when Erik had passed, and by five years old they were already stuck together like glue when Seren arrived. Amanita was quick to let Maeve know it was okay to cry, but not okay to scream at her, break things, or hit their older sister, but Maeve didn't listen. Just a toddler, she didn't fully grasp why her mother was reprimanding her, all she wanted to know was why her daddy was gone. In her mind she just happened to be asking loudly, and it was right for her to get angry at anything or anyone reminding her that he was dead, because what was that supposed to mean anyway? When Seren entered the picture Amanita had to divert some of her attention to the new baby. Seizing any opportunity when Aminata was away with Seren, Maeve would sneak away with her brother outside. Erika was no fun always trying to hold and play with Seren, so she and her twin caused havoc in the streets where mommy couldn't see them. Growing up, Maeve found the whiny and timid Seren to be annoying, and let them know regularly. However only she could pick on Seren. When she found out some neighborhood bullies were the reason Seren never wanted to leave the house, she made sure the little punks never even winced in Seren's direction again. From then on, Maeve became Seren's feared defender. She still pushed Seren around whenever they hung out, but she was always there whenever they needed her. This duality can possibly be to blame for the extent of Seren's gratefully submissive side, but what's done is done.

Armani Bishop Woloust
Older Brother

Armani reacted very differently to Erik's death at first. He drew into himself and was quiet. The rare time he made a noise was when he was crying, and when he cried, he cried a lot. Amanita tried to console the toddler, but he would always run away from her hugs; willfully inconsolable. Often he'd hide behind his twin, or she'd come running after him. Maeve didn't have much patience, but she spent it all on Armani. She'd drag her brother around and ask him what he wanted to play. The answer was usually more tears, but she'd keep asking and asking until she'd give up and try again the next time he ran off. However, one day she got fed up with him, and she pushed Armani to the ground. He tackled her back, and from their the three year olds started wrestling, and soon they started laughing. Following their bonding moment, Armani began to actually give Maeve answers when she asked what he wanted to do. The ideas became more and mischievous as Armani discovered how much they liked pranking people. It was the most fun he'd let himself feel since his dad died, and he intended to keep the fun going. One thing led to another, and the twins where thereby dubbed "Trouble Makers." From their mother to teachers to older kids on the playground, Armani and Maeve made a reputation for themselves. Whenever a punishment hindered his plans, he just came up with new ones replete with loopholes and backups in case they were caught. Some of these schemes required more than two people, and so Armani enlisted the help their younger sibling, Seren, who was eager to be liked underneath their shy disposition. Aramni couldn't always make Seren participate willingly as they were a true momma's child at heart, but Armani always had tricks up his sleeve for that as well.


Amanita spoiled her kids with attention, but this is not to say that she raised any brats. Far from it, things were very disciplined in her household. The Woloust kids all had daily jobs to do. Whether it was sweeping, cleaning the dishes, or tending the garden, Amanita made sure to instill in them proper work ethic, and proper manners as well. It was "Yes, Ma'am," "No Ma'am," and speak when spoken to with Amanita, and she would not have any child of hers showing an inch less of respect to any other adult. While she was never overbearing with her punishment, Amanita's firm stance on disobedience taught her children to respect the rules, even if they were unfair. It wasn't a very popular lesson among their siblings, but Seren took it to heart.
Beyond being a disciplinarian, Amanita was a very outgoing and an active parent. She made sure to keep them busy, out of trouble as much as she could, and give them the best experiences childhood had to offer. Parks, street-fairs, circuses, and festivals were frequent excursion throughout Seren's life, and Amanita always had somewhere new planned to visit on the holidays. Always shuffling around from place to place, it was surprising that wherever Amanita went someone would recognize her. Some of it was men tipping their hats, women paying her extra compliments, individuals giving her a grateful smile, and many people stopped her on the street to talk as if they were old friends. Though not every onlooker was kind. Ever since Seren was little, they've noticed too many preferred to spit on the ground as she passed, or clutch their religious objects close. This immediately would sour Seren's mood, but Amanita believed in never letting your fear hold you back. She would shower Seren with reassurances and keep on to their destination. Continuing whatever fun they had scheduled for the day like nothing was wrong, but there was something wrong, and this denial of it made Seren a worrier early on. Their siblings, to varying degrees, seemed to have adjusted, but Seren could not. If their mother wasn't going to acknowledge the danger, then Seren would always have to be on the lookout for it.
What Amanita didn't admit was that she was a Witch. That she and her husband had traveled around the world exorcising, warding off, and banishing wicked spirits and even minor demons when the pay was worth the risk. What Amanita didn't tell Seren was that when Erik passed, she carried on the work to feed their children. How could she? How could she say that when it was training Dellia, Seren's biological mother, to be her apprentice that attracted the Incubus to her? The same Incubus that impregnated Dellia; the same Incubus that drove her to madness while she slept; and the same Incubus that dragged Dellia into hell in exchange for Seren's life. How could she tell any of her children that Dellia was one who taught Amanita to love again when her husband died, and that's why she raised Seren instead of giving them up to some orphanage? In short, she didn't. She had resolved to wait until Seren was much, much older, but he had other plans.

Even without any of her mentionings, as a small child Seren always felt a sense of dread hanging over them. This was due in no little part to the fact that Seren had night-terrors ever since they were born. Horrible, disorienting, and agonizing night-terrors. At three in the morning Seren would wail a blood curdling scream, writhe, and grab onto their skin desperately as if someone were trying to rip it off. Amanita would try endlessly to soothe her child, and their siblings had tried everything from shaking Seren to praying for Seren to splashing Seren with cold water to no avail. Thankfully, Seren's mind could not remember much of the extreme stress it had been through, but their body told the story. Often they would scratch or bruise themselves from pinching at their own skin, or from flailing into hard objects. Naturally this took its toll on them. They couldn't remember details, but shortly after the experience and when asked general feelings racked their body in waves. It was excruciating and indescribable. This just made them ask more questions, probing Seren's mind, and forcing them to think about it. Quickly they learned that the only way to stop the questions was to convince their family they were alright. So Seren lied. They trained themselves to become quiet because it hurt too much to deal with the problem at hand. Furthermore Seren knew they themselves were still a problem. Even if no one dared to point it out, Seren knew they were beyond bothersome when they woke everyone up every night, so they tried their best to make up for it. Seren always took on extra chores around the house, cleaned everyone's room in the morning, and was always willing to be useful no matter the request.
This went on for years, and the only thing that would end their suffering was waiting it out, which could last upwards of half an hour, but one night it was too much. That night, like many nights, Erika had given her mother a break and was sleeplessly watching over the screaming Seren. She sung lullabies to bring any semblance of tranquility to her frenzied sibling, but as Seren's night-terror drew close to lasting three hours, Seren began convulsing and speaking in tongues of an unknown language; actively clawing their skin. Deciding she couldn't bare seeing Seren in that state any longer, Erika broke the household taboo. She used her mother's emergency ceremonial equipment, and preformed a divination spell with the knowledge she'd learned at the academy. Erika was at the top of her Augury Class, and so she was confident, clear of mind, and receptive when she called out to the void for insight into what Seren was going through, and assistance in making it stop; Erika willingly opened herself up as a vector between the mortal and immaterial planes. However Erika was only a Second-Year, and she discovered all too late that her pleas for help had been anticipated since Seren's first night-terror. Using Erika's invitation to bypass the wards and protection spells of the house, the same ominous aura that plagued Dellia descended upon Erika. Immediately Amanita came rushing into the room having sensed it, but the incubus had already crossed over into Seren's mind from Erika's; burrowing itself deep into Seren's soul. As it did, the demon's horns painfully grew through Seren's skull, forever marking them as his demonic host.
For months Amanita contacted every exorcist she'd met on her travels, and they all told her the same thing. Seren would either have to trap the demon inside their soul by their will alone or be killed in order to avoid becoming a fully-fledged demon host. Amanita would not accept this. Their mother tried every spell from her grimoire and made countless sacrifices from animal to priceless momento to deities long forgetten in order to pull the demon out. All her work resulted in were powerful rebounds that took a little bit of Amanita's soul with them every time. Erika watched from the sidelines every step of the way. Amanita had forbidden her from magic, but unbeknownst to her mother Erika had switched all of her courses from Divination to Demonology. She blamed herself entirely for what happened, an had to learn all she could to fix it. Despite this, Amanita had to stop trying. Seren's father simply surpassed anything Amanita was capable of casting. The two women still searched obsessively, but Amanita knew if she kept performing these exorcisms needlessly that she wouldn't have much of soul left to lose.
All of this just made Seren's lying more entrenched. Seren saw how broken their mother looked after five days with zero sleep and zero progress. Seren knew the reason why Erika left home four years ago was to find a cure for them. Seren noticed Maeve was more gentle with them, retraining her punches to shoves and shoves to pats on the back. Seren even realized the only reason Armani started invited them to just hang for no ulterior motive was because of what happened. All of it was because of them, and it was heartbreaking watching their entire family change overnight. Seren figured the least they could do was give them peace of mind on the regard of their well being. No longer having night-terrors now that their father had gotten what he wanted, Seren just left out the latter half of that sentiment, and used it as "proof" that they were getting better. It didn't work very well, but it was something. They all could at least pretend for at least a second in the back of their minds that everything was fine. There was no need for Seren to tell their family about what replaced their night-terrors while they slept every night. All Seren had to do was change their career path, and learn to control the manifestations of their father's magic properly. Learn to control themself properly. Right? Right. Maybe it was inevitable, and all of their pathetic lying, and trying was for no use in the end, but Seren had to do something. Anything. They weren't just going to let eveything around them deteriorate while their family solved all of their problems for them. Not this time. This time, Seren was going to enroll in the academy that had trained their mother and sister, and they were going to change their future.