Cathedral of the Four Swords (Alex, Lacriment, Emperor Imeriz)

Alex stood quietly before the edge of despair, not looking down into the murky abyss. The vampire turned towards the priestess, “I meant that as a figure of speech, Mother. I do not know how this pool works, so please, instruct me in proper way of using it. I'd rather not be lost in the depths of despair,” again, she mentally added.

She then glanced over at the luminous man next to her. “I, too, face an adversary like that, but one whom I cannot currently defeat. I must carry on and hope that the one day he might be deposed...” Alex said quietly, gazing at her feet.

---

Eight Wings Library ~ Amethyst Wing ~ Archivist's Chamber (Ruka; Ferisen; Chief Archivist)

The ghostly Ruka recoiled in horror as the scholars underwent a spontaneous peeling around her before reforming. This was all quite unsettling to her, but she pulled her fortitude back together and recomposed herself.

“So, keep Tagui calm otherwise this place becomes the Library of Alexandria. And, if he doesn't get treatment, bad things happen. I think I got that much,” the ghost girl said in rapid response to the archivist's request. She then gave them a semi-blank look, “I don't suppose you've got any sedatives around here we could use, do you?”

With a quick shake of her head, Ruka asked a few more questions of the chief archivist; “What exactly is wrong with him, anyway? He kinda collapsed on us outside of the library. And what does a jinni have to do with all this?” Her last question was accompanied by a subconscious shiver of discomfort.

Hopefully, now the Cathedral and the Library are synchronized.

Cathedral of the Four Swords (Lacriment, Alex, Emperor Imeriz)

The lights cast by the anti-light candle flame flickered across Lacriment's exposed eyes as she listened to what Alex and the Emperor had to say... though unless the two of them were psychic, they could not see them, as she still had her back turned, holding her gloved hand over the black mists in the Pool of Despair. But just now she retracted it, and made a 180-degree turn of her head to face Alex.

"Sometimes it is best to not overthink how something works. Especially when magic is involved. I do not suppose you are familiar with using magic? You see, it operates on a force of will alone. One need only to step, lie, or as you pointed out, gaze into the pool and keep your intention in mind. I do find that to help avoid becoming lost, as you might say, to do so with sound mind and, paradoxically, unclouded by petty fears. The pool is meant to reveal hidden things, so those surface fears would corrupt it."

Then she left the pool entirely, spinning her body around to match where her head was facing, and with one swift motion of her winglike cape, was now standing on a bench in front of the organ. Here she looked to the Emperor. "It sounds like your subjects' loyalty is as undying as Alexandra's existence. Which is a shame, as loyalty can often be misguided." She nodded. "Thank you. I understand now, or so I hope, of the distance you seek."

She looked between the two of them, deciding to sit on the organ bench, though face away from it, figuring anything she would play on the organ, no matter how softly and solemnly it would reflect the air of the space inside, would disrupt the silence that this conversation paradoxically created. "Then we all have something in common, and the bells that ring outside these walls seem to have called to us so. I, too, have an adversary... but though I have everything in my power to defeat it, I do not wish to. That adversary is the light itself, and I know that destroying it would take away the meaning of this cathedral's existence. "

Taking steps toward the Pool of despair, she said to Alex, "Interesting how you call retribution a vicious cycle yet aim to defeat this adversary of yours - must be quite the destructive force."

Taking steps toward the Pool of Wishes, she said to Jairuma, "You seem unsure about facing your adversary. Your subjects all want you to, but what do you want?"

And stepping back before the organ, she said to both, "Who are what are your adversaries, if you wish to say? There may be some perspectives I can provide that the respective pools may not."

Eight Wings Library - Amethyst Wing (Ferisen, Ruka)

Listening to the Chief Archivist's talk, two things became apparent to Ferisen. One, this man was concerned for Tagui's health. Two, the integrity of this library was somehow tied to his condition. She had to wonder if what happened to the scholars was tied to it, but for now paid it no mind. This was a dream, and dreams tended to be surreal, even if they were based off of real places sometimes. But just as she was putting two and two together, Ruka summed up what he said, and asked about a sedative. Ferisen lightly shook her head. If only Glee were here... she's an expert at calming people down, and I believe my latria would only put more strain on Tagui at this point. Wait...

She made a quick check of her body, again using her third eye as a physical anchor like she should have done before, and took a few breaths before looking back up at the Chief Archivist. Though she could not see his aura, the way he spoke of Tagui's treatment seemed... off, somehow. As did, perhaps more obviously, the notion of using a spider net to make her soul more stable. This sent a shiver throughout her wings, enough to make them flutter even though she was partially detached from her body. With the fragile state of the library, and how those scholars all seemed entranced... even the scholars seemed to be already initiating the process, as if they were initiating her into a cult.

"I do not wish to have a spider net around me, as I am a mere guest in this library," she spoke as calmly as she could muster, though her voice was a little strained as she struggled even more to hold her soul together in the midst of the scholars' gazes. And though at this point she was unsure if the archivist would answer truthfully... "I have a couple of questions though." Notably, she spoke these words with her physical mouth, having finally managed to make herself speak. "First, is there a connection between Tagui's powers and this djinn of which you speak? And second, what exactly does his treatment entail? That and the answer to Ruka's question may help us decide how to best ease his worries."

Through all of this she managed to close her physical eyes, focusing on her breath once more lest she lose it, and keeping a keen awareness of her body. For she felt that soon, she might need to use it with more control than she had before.

Come, my child of the devil. Your mother is calling you. Hear my call in Hell's grand hall, where all our dreams come true.

Snow Castle - Parlor (Rin, Jackson, Gwenafer, Gliosem, Phantom)

"I'm afraid I have never heard of those before," said Phantom in response to Gwenafer.

Phantom then listened as the group of friends told everyone their stories, but most of them left before he could really say anything to them. Except for Jackson, who remained even if he seemed a bit unsure of what to say now.

"It's brave of you to pursue your own path even if it meant severing ties with your family," he told him, his tone of voice showing some clear respect towards Jackson.

Gliosem, in the meantime, seemed to be shocked by the discussion about Earth and said that the magic used there was clearly of the evil kind. Phantom couldn't help but tilt his head slightly in confusion about what she was talking about, but what was made clear was that she was from a completely different world.

"The very act of creating a Guardian such as myself is considered taboo among the Fae, a taboo that was only broken in face of desperation. The Fae treasure nature and all beings in it, but someone such as me, someone who has broken the cycle of life as they call it, is considered nothing more than an abomination. I'm sure most Fae would be quite eager to rip my crystal out of this armor and break it to set my soul free and put it back on course."

Phantom then opened a hand and his palm began shining with a golden color once more, the light then seemed to curve in the air and gather together, forming a small globe of light floating above his palm.

"Although we are capable of using the same magic and have souls just like that of anyone else's, the Fae see us as nothing more than a mistake. Beings that should not exist born from forbidden arts used to fight against a greater evil that should have been destroyed alongside it," he concluded, his tone of voice was mostly flat, but with a hint of melancholy in it as his gaze was focused on the magic construct he made.

edited 5th Jun '17 5:37:31 AM by FullMoon

Yukijou-minato ~ Snow Castle [Main Keep 1st Floor ~ Parlor] (Rin; Jackson; Gwenafer; Gliosem; Phantom)

Rin stopped trying to wiggle her toes for a moment as she listened to the Phantom. The corrective actions these “Fae” took to correct their own actions seemed a bit arrogant and high-minded; terminate the own creation, be it a new life or a simple transfer, seemed a bit drastic and a disrespect of life. Then again, Senjima, along with the rest of the world, had to deal with the aftermath of finding out that automatons had the capacity to grow beyond their intended purpose.

The Admiral returned to trying to restore her body’s locomotion.

edited 5th Jun '17 2:31:09 PM by WillDeRegio

The Edge of Understanding (Ayako, The Midnight Stitcher?)

Giving Ayako a dispassionate glare in return, the humanoid thing lets loose a deep sigh before speaking. "I truly don't get it... I've explained to you, clearly, that humans are not people like we are. Why do you believe in those things so much? Your precious Junko-sempai isn't a human either! I agree there are good people, but a human could never be one."

Tendrils lazily flickering out from behind him, the impossible man clenches his right hand into a fist, calling out with clear distaste. "My human creators have wanted to do nothing but destroy me. Not kill, no no no, cause I'd still have a soul like that. They wanted to destroy me merely because of my power, because they feared I would be uncontrollable. I have never known peace in my life, constantly on the run from monsters that despise my very existence..."

Snarling at Ayako, the beastly humanoid shouts out. "So why Ayako!? Those vile humans have been nothing but a blight on us all! Why would you believe they deserve our respect, when they're all to happy to let us die or render us non-existent? As if humans would ever let you be in love with Junko. Over seven billion of them alone, and yet they regularly threaten & demean a mere minority. If not that, then you're played up as some damn cutesy fetish instead of people..."

The monstrous male's eyes sharpening in realization, he turns his head 135 degrees- And settles his gaze on a nervous looking child. Lacking any visible arms, the girl's body is wrapped in what look like two wings. Looking over with solid black eyes which her creamy white hair gets in the way of, she glances between the man and Ayako.

Finally the inhuman man calls out rather gently "Everything is alright Lux Sniper, Ayako seems to not want to understand. About time we go little miss, yeah?" The little girl supposedly called 'Lux Sniper' looking over Ayako, the strange little girl approaches nervously and reluctantly. The humanoid abnormality looking down at her, Lux Sniper's eyes nervously dart to and from Ayako.

Finally, the strange little girl speaks up. "I don't know you miss, so I don't understand why you seem to like humans... They killed my mother actually, leaving me all alone and confused... She didn't deserve to die, but they couldn't punish mommy's creator instead. I don't think we're too different, suffering under the heel of humanity just for being different from them..."

The strange little girl smiling sadly, she opens her wings to reveal both tattered old clothing & a massive mouth on her torso- Smiling sadly just like her face proper, before muttering sadly. "I guess it was too much to hope for someone to be my friend... Go and play with your precious humans huh? I'll just continue to rot here, like the unwanted 'tanshumi' I am..."

---

Cerebral Dungeon (Durnem, Ayako, The Midnight Stitcher, Vita Exosso?)

The Midnight Stitcher looking over Durnem quizzically, the grey skinned man responds. "Just because something screams does not mean it is alive. There are numerous ways and reasons for a lifeless mass to make noises that seem to be a person's own. Conversely, there are seemingly lifeless things that are entirely alive. The Brides of Steel are very peculiar individuals for that reason."

Yet it isn't long until Vita Exosso(?) begins lightly laughing, an unhinged touch to it. "You're just... Cruel, fishface. Do you often call little girls tanshumi? Vita Exosso definitely has something going on, oh she really wouldn't have minded Stitcher-kun, cause 'science'. I hate them all, to be frank. You're just another addition to my shitlist, and all your little caviar too."

The crimson and golden eyed man eyeing the invisible mass, The Midnight Stitcher continues with his examination as Vita Exosso(?) speaks more cruelly. "You don't believe Stitcher-kun is your enemy though? Precious, really... Let me show you why you're dreadfully wrong, the only way the Psychic Reaper can!"

With that an ear splitting shriek fills the air, as massive wings beat against the air. Light shimmering away, a visage becomes revealed- A massive vaguely vulture-like creature with no legs, equally massive wings that seem to be unraveling into countless tendril-like limbs, and a giant mouth plastered on what's supposedly its stomach. Then, memories(?) drill themselves into Durnem's mind.

Hearing the gentle splash of blood upon flicking my tendrils, I look down. "Hm, what terrible security." Casually kicking aside the body, I refocus on my goal. Examining the metal doors, I pull them open effortlessly. Looking up and down the shaft, I scoff. "Upstairs? What a fool do they take me for"?

Leaping down and finally crashing down feet first, I seamlessly push open the next of doors. Stepping through only to be greeted with more turret fire, I continue moving forward. "These are the geniuses who hope to destroy me? I question how they could of made me..." Glancing back as I approach the massive titanium doors, my tendrils flicker out to destroy them each.

Refocusing on the door before me, I plunge my right hand through it. Grabbing on and pulling back, the titanium comes tearing without effort as all things do. Letting it drop down behind me, I snarl upon seeing another such door. "Do you hope to slow me down? What nonsense..." Using my left hand and repeating the process, my snarl grows upon seeing a third set. Once more with my right hand though...

Yes, that's indeed one of my creators. Pointing some sort of unusual gun at me, the terrified man fires- Odd rectangular round after round hitting me, bursting into an explosion of fire. Seeing hope on the man's face as fire envelops my body, I simply flex- And that burning substance is scattered about.

His face showing terror and confusion, he calls out "We didn't make you fireproof, what the hell!?" My tendrils darting out with incredible speed to impale his arms, the man screams in pain. I, however, speak coolly. "You didn't make me a lot things, how surprising." Throwing him back into the chair, I sow his arms together with the chair's own.

Looking down dispassionately as he struggles in his seat, he cries out "You're nothing but a predator, hunting us down for what!? Deluded self-righteousness!? Killing us doesn't get you anything!" Threading his legs to the chair, the man lets out another cry of pain. "You wish my destruction, I wish I could do the same. Killing you will suffice..."

Threading more of my tendrils through his eyelids to keep them open, more begin lazily drifting around his chest as I speak once more. "So arrogant, you won't beg for mercy. It was all of you who condemned me, despite having done nothing but exist as I am. You are all threats to my existence, and I will never let you win."

Plunging my tendrils through his chest and causing him to scream louder than before, I tear out his heart with them. Holding it up to him as more and more tendrils pierced it, enveloping his heart, I toss it into his lap. Sealing up the gaping chest wound, I linger for a few moments as I examine his corpse.

"Predator, huh? Hm, fascinating..." Glancing down at the strange gun, I crush it beneath my foot and begin walking away. "No place for me, a monster untold..."' The memories(?) coming to an end, The Midnight Stitcher looks up furiously with purple eyes before shouting "Why would you do that!?"

Struggling to stand up after that piercing shriek, the giant creature above jerkingly looks down at him- And speaks without moving any mouth, using that impression of Vita Exosso. "Because, a worthless thing like that wouldn't help you. I'm doing you a favor, and another right now..." Shrieking once more, all three of them- Ayako, Durnem, and The Midnight Stitcher begin floating helplessly.

The Midnight Stitcher's tendrils being psychokinetically tore out from the giant bird monstrosity, his attempts to retaliate prove useless. Massive hole upon being torn open, the Psychic Reaper speaks(?) once more. "Perhaps we'll meet again, The Midnight Stitcher. But this is no place for fools who would condemn us!"

With that the three are sent skywards, passing through layers of flesh and eventually mountain, before touching the sky. Hanging up so high, The Midnight Stitcher only now begins to notice something bizarre happening with his tendrils that pierced the Psychic Reaper- Bubbling over and melding together, shaping into something he can't control.

So basically, that's all over with and figured this was the least random way for everyone to move on to other locations.

edited 5th Jun '17 9:52:03 PM by Kkutwar

"The Omniverse is the collection of all possibilities, and all possibilities must eventually come to pass."

[Castle (Parlor)]

Jackson was taken aback at the Phantom's words, blinking several times once it all registered.

"I...thank you." he said, "Most people say I was a bit irrational; you're one of the first people to ever compliment me about that."

Giloslem's comment about Earth confused him—even more so than the fact that Gwen has apparently never even heard of earth. But then he realized that was dealing with people from different universe.

"Well, your earth must be different from mine," he said, "Because such powers doesn't exist...at least, not that I'm aware of. And Gwen," he turned to her, "Since you never really heard of earth...well, it's kind of hard for me to explain, because I'm not from the same universe as Giloslem here. I'll just say...we don't have powers.

He tilted his head, "What planet are you from? I-I honestly don't mean that as an insult, I'm genuinely curious."

Just fyi, I am overhauling Chaos where the main characters do get powers based on their personality/hobbies but that won't be until I finish my current draft. Just so ya'll know when I bring my characters back to a new thread.

Snow Castle - Parlor (Gwenafer, Gliosem, Phantom, Rin, Jackson)

Gwenafer looked over at Phantom.

"Yeah... I know the type," she said with a sarcastic smirk. "Purge this, cleanse that and so on. Personally, I try to be a bit more practical about things. 'Someone wants to fight me, steal my shit or mess up the job I'm on, I fight back. Otherwise..."

She shrugged, and then threw a quick glance towards the door to check if Megumi was on her way, before turning to Jackson.

"Planet?" Gwenafer commented, raising her single eyebrow. "The mages and philosophers back home call our world Quassus for some reason. It circles the Sun together with the other Heavenly Spheres." She made a swirling gesture in the air with her finger. "And the Moon and it's Daughter move around us in the same way. 'Sound familiar?"

She scratched her chin. "Some of the crazier ones say that the stars are Suns too, with their own worlds around them." She chuckled. "Maybe that's where you're all from then?"

Still a great "screw depression" song even after seven years.

Maelstrom of Emotion (Ayako; Lux Sniper, the Midnight Stitcher)

"But... but..." Ayako stammered, still kneeling in despair, "humans are people. You keep saying that they're all nothing but a bunch of horrid, evil jerks, when that's not true. Besides, I'm human! And so is sempai!" she squeaked. Tears flowing down her cheeks, she continued, "I might be able to use magic, but so what? I breathe, I bleed, I cry. If not human, than what am I?"

The magical girl sat on her knees awkwardly, before glancing up at the Midnight Stitcher, "I guess I can't convince you. Maybe you're right..." she said quietly. Ayako's eyes then glazed over, dull and unhappy, before the girl toppled over on her side.

She noticed the white-haired girl nearby, prompting her to adjust her head. "I guess that makes us different after all; I've never had anyone close to me taken away by humans. Most everyone I know are, to the best of my knowledge, human and they seem nice. I guess you both have had the misfortune of dealing with the worst humanity has to offer, and none of the better ones."

Ayako felt a dull ache in her chest, but not from the broken ribs she had sustained. Her gaze regained a faint sparkle as she stared at Lux, "I, too, know what it's like to be alone, confused... afraid." The girl pushed herself back up to a sitting position, "What they did to your mom wasn't right. Someone shouldn't kill someone because of someone else's actions." She then turned towards the Midnight Stitcher, "The same goes for you."

The girl continued to sit on her knees for a few moments, pawing at her tear stained face, "Lux-chan, can I call you that?" she asked, glancing over at the Midnight Stitcher, "We're also alike in another way; we’re both different from most folks. And that's okay." She paused for a moment, keeping herself from recoiling when Lux Sniper revealed her form. The purple dressed girl eventually spoke up again, "Allow me to properly introduce myself. My name's Ayako Watanabe, but you can call me Ayako-chan," she said, before extending a hand, "You not unwanted. I'd love to be your friend; so, how about it?"

Slowly but surely, Ayako began to feel something else. It felt as though there was distance building up between her and the others. Panicking, the girl desperately reached out towards Lux, falling slowly forward. "No! I don't wanna go! I was about to—" The world faded to white as Ayako roused from her slumber.

The Graveyard

Between the fully suited Patches looking at Armory Knight(?) and the disoriented boy looking at his crystalline arm, neither pick up much of Sinistrina's and Moreena's conversation. Turning his arm around and all about as if he could glean answers doing so, Armory Knight(?) finally snaps to focus upon seeing Friedrich.

The gunmetal young man raising an eyebrow in confusion at pretty much everything the porcelain boy said, Armory Knight(?) begins puzzling over what he said. "My soul? How did sealing it in my arm fix it? Where do you even get soul sealant?" Grimacing a bit as he feels something like a headache, Patches stands up and looks towards him with some concern.

Yet as Sentinel began going on about this 'Golden Being', the young man known to them as Armory Knight looks increasingly frightened. Her switching to a more human and calm tone doesn't seem to reassure him once Sentinel claims that 'Golden Being'. Without looking down at his right arm, he flicks out his hand downward-

-And looks even more frightened when nothing happens. Flicking out his again, and again, and clearly panicking after those efforts Armory Knight(?) looks down at his right hand with scared confusion. "Buddy, why won't you appear? There's some scary crazy lady who thinks I'm a serial killer or something's charge."

Looking over at Caleb as he spoke, Armory Knight(?) gives a look that sounds 'That's not proud' before speaking in a voice trying to hide his fear and panic. "Yeah, no, I don't wanna inappropriately touch girls I don't know as if that's normal. I honestly don't get why people think that's okay..."

Patches, however, looks away from him for a moment. What the hell!? How can he say that!? Hmm, perhaps something went wrong? Or, well... Hey, hey! If he's stable, he'll eventually heal that damage. Of course, I don't have any prior experience so... Great, decided my boyfriend can just make do as some mutant lich instead of having his memories? What the hell do they know... You do realize my brother would probably be squicked out by Patches being made from me as well right? Hm, why would that? I'm sure its her lady parts down there.

Blushing underneath her mask and shaking her head, Patches glances over to Sentinel & then Armory Knight(?). Suddenly finding herself having pretty much glided in front of him, Patches flails her arms out as she tries to balance herself. Stopping herself from falling over, Patches looks back to Armory Knight(?) who seems confused by her actions, before facing Sentinel. Taking a deep breath, she calls out softly.

"I-I can't let you do anything to him, ya know? The Golden Being is gone, so you can't lash out at him as some kind of punishment. Magical Girls only punish the wicked, never the innocent or righteous regardless of their connection. Please don't hurt him, I-I can't lo-lo... Let you, okay?" The patchwork standing her ground despite not being very comfortable doing so, the fingers of Armory Knight(?)'s crystalline arm begin slowly flexing rather erratically.

As for Half...    The same thing I always do, rot in this eternal prison because everyone refuses to listen to me. The single souls are such bizarre things, yes? It is quite fun whenever one of my souls come to agree with me. Though, I do not think that soulsinger, the one who disrupted the Gift's plan would take kindly to me...   

"The Omniverse is the collection of all possibilities, and all possibilities must eventually come to pass."

Eight Wings Library - Amethyst Wing:

"Tagui's more physical ailments are already receiving treatment in the Ruby Wing as we speak. However, the one aiding him is a supersticious man whose worries may poison his mind. The 'djinn' is myth with a loose link to reality, yet ingrained in their minds strongly enough to motivate violence, should Tagui mistake our work with the influence of said imaginary monster."

The scholars turned their gaze away from Ferisen, seeing her obvious struggle, and the plural voice of the chief archivist paused for a few seconds before resuming:

"It is happening to you as well, we see. Your fear is turning our attempt to repair you against its intent, giving reason for you to feel even greater fear. As for sedating him, a higher concentration than usual would be needed to affect someone like him, and he would need to fall unconscious before he realized anything. Then you should bring his motionless body to us so we could sink into his mind and force him into loyalty to us before he awakens."

Then, after a pause, they added

"As... interesting as that path may be, it is undesirable and unfeasible. We would rather calm his humours the natural way than play with fire."

Eight Wings Library - Ruby Wing:

"Argh! My eyes..."

"...if you can feel them, it means they will recover.", the deep, muffled voice told Tagui as a large hand held his arm. "Slow now, we don't want to break anything. "Not yet, at least."

"What are you?", Tagui asked, puzzled by the surface reading he did when that thing touched him.

"A servant of the Church. Now, no readings until you see clear as day."

Tagui blinked many times in response to the burning sensation in his eyes and feeling his vision slowly clear. "Red... a soldier? Or priest?", he asked as his feet touched the ground.

"A sailor from the far east."

"There is nothing far east of the Empire.", Tagui said, turning his head to listen better to the stranger's answer.

"News travel slowly on the border."

"They do. Any you can share?"

"Yes, and you won't like them."

"The dried flowers are so beautiful, and it applies to all things living and dead."

The Graveyard:

After inspecting Patches between narrowed eyes, Sentinel Niru sighed and raised her chin, meeting her words with a reprimand:

"Hurting a harmless man after helping him? I am no cruel, twisted monster, girl. And if I was one, I would have attacked before the thought of making your little speech even crossed your mind.", she said, "All I wanted was a chance to make that arrogant thing acknowledge the error in its ways." Still, after turning back and walking away a few steps, she glanced back and told them "I cannot say I am joyful at its disappearance however. And try to be careful, both of you, otherwise all this work will go wasted. May gentle tides carry you home."

Then she resumed her walk towards... anywhere. With steps soft as the morning mists, she left the patchwork girl and her knight to settle their issues together, and let herself drift aimlessly. The cloudlike, uncertain plane she made had left completely the wastes, leaving them bare once again, the strange divergences in their core naked to be seem, and the city of the damned that lay between that place and the land of the dead burning before the eye of her mind.

The land of the dead. I was almost there, she thought, insides curling up at the memory of the searing fires of the enemy knight, and the void, the meaninglessness of it all... No! It is still there, but I am still here. Still hungering. Still hating. Still living. She would take precautions, destroy all evidence, devour... "I am no cruel, twisted monster.", she whispered to extinguish the fires in her heart. She had nothing to do, now that the beast that injured her was gone.

And her victory in the battle, if it could even be called that, brought her no pleasure but only heightened what once was so easy to ignore... much like it did in the past. Kneeling on the rough ground, she stared towards the center in meditation. Death still chased her, it seemed. Unrelenting it was, and unrelenting she had to become, for that was the duty of the living. To struggle for one more breath, to bleed for one more sight, to kill for one more night. Staring at that sad corpse of a city reminded that the same was true even for her: she would rather create a ruin like that one than become one. Regrets were better left for when the ashes abandoned the sky.

Rising again, she traced her sure path to Moreena and the other pale woman, focusing her golden eyes on the later. "I remember you.", she said, "You were the one who shielded me from the beast's lightning. I am Niru, Sentinel of the Arginan Empire.". Then, after some consideration, she added "Is any of you willing and able to lend a set of spare clothing? My modesty may have already been wounded... no, flayed alive today, but this form was not meant to be seen, and danger could easily force me to drop this makeshift mantle."

"The dried flowers are so beautiful, and it applies to all things living and dead."

Snow Castle - Parlor (Rin, Jackson, Gwenafer, Gliosem, Phantom)

Gliosem gave Phantom her full attention when he explained how soul manipulation was considered taboo even among the Fae. There was a clear look of concern in her eyes, but beyond them seemed to be an endless deep blue fog. A tune was running through her mind, one that she only thought of more as Phantom finished speaking and she glaced down at her instrument and over at Rin.

Speaking of Rin, the Admiral was still paralyzed, but there were some odd spasms in her aura... like she was trying to move, but couldn't. Seeing this, Gliosem scooted a little bit closer to her. "Don't struggle too much with trying to move," she said. "Soon that tea will be finished, and hopefully you'll feel much better with it. For now, just try to relax."

Then, looking back to Phantom, she said, "I have heard stories on Orenya about beings like you. There is one particular tale of a sorcerer who lured people into the Field of Souls, trapped their souls inside the crystals there, and then put the crystals into puppets that looked like their old selves. He thought he was doing them a favor by making them immortal. But those puppets could not talk, and had a diminished sense of free will. So they undertook a quest to try and free their souls. One of the puppets happened to be skilled with telepathy, and thus was the only one among them who could talk - and so the story goes, he instead opted to stay in his form. Sadly, the priest who freed the souls of the others talked him into doing the same, even after he protested about just wanting to live for a while longer. I can only imagine how that must be when you don't have any memories of whatever life you had before. Which is strange; I have always thought memories were contained within the soul, even after it leaves the body.

"It brings up an unfortunate moral dilemma. Though if it is any reassurance, if I were in the Fae's position, I would simply let you live. Otherwise it seems like killing one's unwanted child. Do you ever long for a proper body? Perhaps if you were to reincarnate somehow, the Fae might reconsider."

After she spoke, she turned her attention back to her abacus-like instrument, sliding a few of the hollow glass beads around and picking at a few of the strings to get it in tune.

Cerebral Dungeon (Midnight Stitcher, Psychic Reaper, Durnem)

Durnem was utterly lost as the Midnight Stitcher explained about non-living screaming things. He truly is losing his head in here, isn't he? But before she could think too much on it, Vita Exosso spoke up again... and Durnem was even more lost. Why was she mentioning a little girl all of a sudden, and speaking about herself in third-person? And what was this about a "Psychic Reaper"?

Wait a minute...

But just as she was putting two and two together, another vision invaded her mind. A memory. One of the Midnight Stitcher's, judging by the tendrils. Of his creators, who were mocking and berating him, even attacking him. It was quite shocking, to say the least... though perhaps not in the way the Psychic Reaper had hoped. In fact, when the Midnight Stitcher ripped that man's heart off, she cracked a smile... and as soon as she saw the brainy room again, she laughed.

"Well good for you," she said to the present Midnight Stitcher. "Serves that tenshumi right, having his heart removed, if he even had one in the first place. He and his buddies have the nerve to create someone like you and then try and destroy you? If they existed on Orenya, their butts would be in prison so quickly, though I'd be tempted to skewer their hearts with my own claws." She was wiggling around a few of said claws on her free fin-hand as she spoke. "Though you are correct, that psychic freak had no business using your memories without your permission. She is exactly the type of criminal the Oradamin would hunt down.

But when she got another look at Vita Exosso, or the Psychic Reaper, or whatever the hell she was called, after that super annoying scream, she was reminded once more of her prior confusion. As well as when the group first passed through the skeleton gate, how she had looked down a corridor and saw that pulsing flesh thing, and wondered about it being something Vita was trying to protect...

That thing was... no, that can't be her, can it?

She was still very confused about how this entire place worked, having seen nothing on Orenya like it before. That hypnotist she had been pursuing over in the ocean... he must have been quite powerful if he was able to transport people to dimensions like this one. Unless...

What if he was an illusionist? Was all this an illusion then?

She thought back to what she remembered after her pursuit... next thing she knew, she surfaced inside a fountain at that Hakoda Academy place, which clearly did not look like it was on Orenya. All those people... that temperamental girl, that desert that suddenly connected with a forest made of bone... and now the hypnotist was trying to get inside her head, it seemed.

Kraguor! I can't believe I let myself be tricked by his illusions! Now I have to find a way out of this illusion...

How convenient, for just then, she felt herself being lifted up into the air, flying up into the sky, and...

Rozeta Marga - Ampelones (Nerea, Durnem)

She floated up into the ocean? Suddenly aware that she was underwater, she took a look around, seeing a seemingly ordinary sea, though shallow, with dark-colored sand on the bottom. To get her bearings, she swam up to the surface, where she spotted land... specifically what appeared to be a run-down city, specifically run-down by some sort of plant. Looking the other way, she saw a bridge leading to the apparently-abandoned island. At this she was confused. ''Where am I? I must have lost track of where I was swimming and ended up on some strange deserted island...

As she looked back to the island, she saw that it was not completely abandoned; she saw another fylin^note Nerea would look kind of like a fylin at a distance sitting at what appeared to be the ruins of a shipyard. At this she breathed a sigh of relief. Lowering herself back underwater for a moment, she swam rapidly up to the dock, where she leapt out of the water and landed on her own tiptoed fins. A trail of water droplets followed her as she landed, forming into a strangely linear and upright shape... and then it solidified and materialized as her staff.

With this she sat down next to the other fylin - a very odd-looking one as she got a better look, what with the horns and the finless arms and abnormally long tail, though the two of them had just about the same hair. And after moving her staff such that its charm rested on top of her knees holding it in place, she spoke, upon which her fangs became easily visible inside her mouth.

"Excuse me, but do you know this place? I must have gotten disoriented by the storms of the Angry Sea, and I have not explored its shores as much as I would have liked. I am one of the Oradamin, and my name is Durnem." She extended a finned hand bearing long claws towards her.

Come, my child of the devil. Your mother is calling you. Hear my call in Hell's grand hall, where all our dreams come true.

Eight Wings Library ~ Amethyst Wing ~ Archivist's Chamber (Ruka; Ferisen; Chief Archivist)

Ruka floated slack jawed, before scowling. "That’s a bit... drastic," she commented. Her scowl then deepened, "Wait, calm his humors? Isn’t that a bit, I dunno, outdated? What are you going to do to him, drain some of his blood or something?"

The ghost then shook her head, "You know what, never mind that. I'll try not to question your methods. All we need to do is keep Tagui calm, and then when we come back, you can point me in the direction of my body," Ruka said. She then started floating towards the doors that they came from before stopping to wait for Ferisen.

---

Rozeta Marga ~ Ampelones Dry Docks (Nerea, Durnem)

Nerea had slipped into a state of tranquil meditation as she observed the vibrant resonances the aether pulses she was continuously sending out. As a result of living at the bottom of the ocean for so long, the Abyssal Empress' vision was rather overspecialized to operating in low light conditions and relatively poor in bright sunlight, hence the visor. As such, the half-merfolk woman had to rely on an alternative means of viewing her surroundings above water: aether resonance. The aether pulses she sent out, while quite faint and indistinct to even the moderately trained, provided Nerea with a clear picture of her surroundings as the raw aether reacted in different ways to different materials.

As such, she saw the circulating deep blue of the water, the faint color of the erratic air the vibrant green life energy and flowing blue of the nearby kudzu, the faded dark green of timber, the deep brown mixed with long faded red of the rock beneath her, the sterling grey of metal and the slow dazzle of colors coating it. She could identify the multicolored beacons of energy she could identify as a tapir grazing on kudzu (and as such, mentally overlaid the proper black and white colorings over it), and the various insects disturbed by it. She could also notice the approach of another beacon of energy, rapidly approaching her.

Observing the newcomer, she could quickly tell this person was a member of the merfolk, or at the very least, be classified as a merfolk. Additionally, she could tell this person was well versed in magic, judging by prominent circulation of aether, and the blue-grey resonance of the staff the person had conjured.

Judging from the frilly fins, she'd wager this person was one of the (supposedly) highly aggressive biting fish^note betta types. The Empress repressed a snicker when she noticed the fangs the person had when she spoke; apparently she was a literal biting fish.

Uncurling her tail from about herself, Nerea turned to face the mermage, reciprocating the offered hand with a handshake. "Greetings, Durnem. I am Nerea, and this," she flicked the end of her tail to indicate the city, "is, or rather was Rozeta Marga, the Jewel of the Tropics. I was once monarch here a long while ago, but it appears that in my absence it has fallen into ruin..." she said with a tinge of sadness.

She then covered her mouth in thought, "I cannot say that I am particularly familiar with this 'Oradamin' you speak of; though, there are many things in this world of which I know naught."

Through the Sky to Rozeta Marga

Noticing the abrupt disappearances of Ayako and Durnem both, The Midnight Stitcher is left all alone as he continues to soar through the sky- His infected(?) tendrils continuing to shape uncontrollably. His eyes turning black as he soars through the unknown without anyone or any understanding, he reflects somberly.

"Durnem praised me, but why? Inflicting death, I wanted to destroy them all instead... Yet this terrible existence of mine... I don't want to be praised for slaughter. I... I don't want to be a monster to them... I don't want to be alone anymore... I shouldn't have run away, Bride of Steel Ashley, I shouldn't have..."

Then, he could suddenly distinguish a voice from down below- Something about a 'Rozeta Marga', and apparently the woman is a monarch. Spinning his head around to look down below, The Midnight Stitcher's eyes return to crimson & gold upon spotting Durnem. Yet then a high piercing cry rings, preventing the seven foot tall man from hearing.

Turning his attention back to the uncontrollable mass of tendrils, The Midnight Stitcher actually seem highly surprised though seriously so- Though still forming, it is undeniably a humanoid child. Yet pass the gradually less exposed organs and bone, The Midnight Stitcher noticed she was beginning to fall away.

Looking back down and seeing that they're finally beginning to fall, The Midnight Stitcher tries pulling on the tendrils connecting them- Only for that to crush the bond, the grey skinned man visibly stunned by impossibly breaking his own tendrils like that. "Ah, loss of durability so it could be restructured... We Eldritchians are truly bizarre things."

Watching as the girl began drifting away, The Midnight Stitcher grasps onto her with new tendrils, pulling himself close to her to serve as a shield. Turning his head in a full 360 trying to identify something he could latch more tendrils onto, the forming girl's cries don't allow him his usual peace of mind.

"I don't understand how she got here, but I am highly her durability! Wait, that golem..." Finally settling on an idea, a massive mass of tendrils sprout from The Midnight Stitcher's back. Touching the ground and remaining sturdy, it becomes clear he's trying to deaccelerate their fall that way.

Though they don't stop perfectly before hitting the ground, complete with audible thud, the ground manages to survive intact. Yet with his black tendrils so widely spread out, from above it would look like some massive chasm. However, The Midnight Stitcher doesn't immediately get up, and instead groans in what sounds like... Pain?

Looking up to the now fully skin covered girl, The Midnight Stitcher takes note of her large brown wings and scaly talon-equip legs. Lifting his arms up with clear effort, he lifts up the crying girl- And suddenly her mewling stops. The pre-teen, perhaps tween, girl looking down at him with pink eyes she smiles & giggles happily-

-Only to become silent in confusion as The Midnight Stitcher immediately plopped her down away from him. Yet as the overall mostly brown harpy(?) girl sits there in confusion, The Midnight Stitcher finally calls out in his usual tone "Are you the same Durnem? I'm finding myself exhausted for the first time, so just let me figure this out."

---

Note: Since The Midnight Stitcher and Arizona would be covered in Magic Background Field, that definitely interferes with soul or magic vision stuff since they're basically covered head to toe with tiny Homunculi- Which don't have recognizable souls or specific magical signatures other than 'We enable magic itself'.

edited 10th Jun '17 2:53:35 PM by Kkutwar

"The Omniverse is the collection of all possibilities, and all possibilities must eventually come to pass."

[Cemetery —> Blizzard]

"It's nothing sensitive or anything." Friedrich turned away from the grave and started walking, making his way back to the entrance of the cemetery. Abadal passed his hand over the empty pit and it was covered again. The child trailed slightly behind Friedrich, eyeing Iveya's sword with wary curiosity. "Philip enlisted in the military this past summer. Two months ago we got a letter saying he was shot dead in the town near the base he'd been stationed at. Investigation ongoing, it said. Haven't heard anything else since." Friedrich coughed. "As for Wilhelm... he vanished not long before Philip was killed. Just didn't show up for school one day, friends couldn't get ahold of him, and they contacted me. I asked some folks in the Eyes if they knew anything about it, and a council member told me he'd sent Wilhelm on a small delivery job out east. Very routine. Should have been finished in a weekend. But it's been two months. We've been scouring arrest records, but no luck yet."

He lowered his head and adjusted his glasses. "Heinrich supports the Eyes, but it's dangerous to be a part of them. He won't like hearing that Wilhelm joined. But he'll be even more upset about Philip. At least with Wilhelm I could talk him into seeing it as something honorable. Philip sold himself to the Republic. There's no honor in that. And I—why couldn't I stop him? An Ibraic kid doesn't just decide out of the blue that he's going to join the institution that persecutes his people. How did I fuck up that bad? If I'd known earlier that he was thinking about it, maybe I could have reached out to him or something? Talked him out of it? I dunno. I just don't know."

The wind intensified and the snow came down harder as they approached the cemetery gates. Friedrich straightened his back and let out a shuddering breath. "Guess I'll just do what I always do. Give the facts, plain and simple. I just hope I have the strength to look him in the face when I do it."

---

[Ji Estate]

"The Centermost Foyer sounds lovely." Seilaan smiled at 3rd Drix. Oh yes, I'm sure I'll be very happy to "observe" this family's idea of pleasing interior design. I'd better be able to hold back this time. Why have I been such a bitch today?

She blinked at the sigil on Mazra's waistcoat and twirled a lock of hair around her right index finger, flashing her gold signet ring. "Interesting shape. Would you mind telling me about its meaning?" Maybe she could finally learn something about Mazra's values besides "decadent aesthetics."

---

[Farm]

"Oh... that's what Father used to tell me all the time." Much more brusquely, but... yeah. Josef still had a vague sense that he was being lectured at, but he wasn't sure if it was because Vince meant to be lecture-y or if he was being sensitive again. Probably sensitive. He was always sensitive. "I—sorry. I wasn't watching myself there. It's a good thing someone else wrote my speech for the coronation ceremony, or else it'd be even more of a disaster than it's already going to be."

Josef stared at the golden circlet in his hands. It seemed… heavier than it used to be. Probably just his imag—wait, no, this was a dream. If he was imagining something, then it was "real" as long as he was here. Right?

All right this thing was definitely straining his fingers now, what the—

He yelped and dropped it. The circlet made a thud much louder than it should have when it hit the ground.

"Sorry! Sorry. It just got incredibly heavy all of a sudden. I really am dreaming, aren't I?" Josef crouched and tried to pick up the circlet. It didn't budge. "I guess it makes sense. I've been worried about this all week. It's a miracle that I fell asleep at all, really. Maybe I'll get to tell a farmhand a good story someday, but it'll be when I'm touring the rural areas to talk to the farmers about what they want out of some new legislation getting hashed out in the parliament, not because I want to borrow some soil. At least my new job still lets me do them some kind of service." He did not sound terribly enthused by the prospect.

---

[Ritter Clinic (parlor)]

"Nice to hear that you deal with your differences in a healthy way." Heinrich looked like he was enjoying his whiskey almost a little too much; his face was a bit ruddy as he refilled his glass again. "My wife was more conservative than me when we first met, but after living with my family for a while, she saw why we believed what we did. Took much less time than I thought, too."

He leaned back and slowly swirled his whiskey. "But you have moments, don't you? Moments when you wonder how someone could see the world through such different eyes. They're so jarring. Sometimes you don't even know how to begin explaining your version, because even basic knowledge that you'd assume you share—you don't. Sometimes I wonder if I did Elise a disservice. She always said she didn't care that we didn't have much money, and she was happy to join the church. But you know what they say, ignorance being bliss and everything."

The last battle's curtains will open on stage!

Eight Wings Library - Amethyst Wing -> Ruby Wing (Ferisen, Ruka, Tagui)

While the archivist spoke, Ferisen was beginning to feel the strain on her third eye from trying to hold her soul inside her body, and knew she could not keep it up for much longer. Even though the latria's pull on her was very weak here, she had already been out of her body for so long that getting back inside of it was proving difficult. In fact, she began to suspect that Ruka's borrowing of her body may have only worsened things. Thus, when the archivist remarked on her stability, that same fear he mentioned only grew worse. What if whatever they do to stabilize me only makes it worse as well? How can I even trust them anyway? They sound like the type of people who only aim to indoctrinate one into their own cult, but I am not completely sure. If only I could get an aural reading on them...

Indeed, she had grown so used to checking people's auras for hints of intent or unrtuthfulness that she had no plan for what to do if that ability was compromised. And even if she could read the auras of the scholars and archivist, at this point the strain on her mind from trying to hold herself together would likely be too much to use it properly anyway. Already it was difficult for her to think about this too much. Her panic only weakened her control over her body more, such that her physical body fell to her knees while her spectral body remained standing and felt a throbbing pain in her forehead. In this desperate state, she managed only a few words with her spectral voice: "Do what you will to keep me stable... I must go to Tagui..."

And so, abandoning her body for the time being, she followed Ruka, who she barely realized was also out of her body, out of the amethyst wing. As she floated by, she felt a tug... and looking to the side, she realized it was from her latria, still with the other crystal resting atop it, that the soldier had parked just outside the entrance. Even in her feeble state of concentration, she formed an idea, though perhaps a poorly-thought-out one. She turned to Ruka and said, "Could you do me a favor and carry that smaller crystal? There's a chance I may need it if things go wrong..."

Ferisen was in no position to wait. Regardless of whether or not Ruka followed her instructions, she floated over into the Ruby Wing. Now that she did not have a body to control, she found it easier to maneuver around the corridors and search around for the fellow troubled psychic. She had no idea how to calm him in her current state, but decided that she would worry about that once she actually saw him.

Finally she saw the soldier the red priest had dismissed earlier walking away from another door, one which contained the red priest from before tending to Tagui, who was lying on some sort of table with what looked like medical instruments of some sort all around. Again she tried in vain to assess the state of the auras present... well, at least for the red priest. She could get some sort of reading off of Tagui, but in her weary state she could not assess it properly. So instead she focused her attention on the conversation they were having. Tagui appeared to be in some sort of pain involving his eyes judging by how he was blinking them so frantically, and indeed they talked about restoring his sight. And then something about the far east, and bad news...

"If I may," Ferisen spoke, deciding that this was a good opportunity to join in, "might I suggest that you spare Tagui any bad news until after he is treated? It is not wise to put any unnecessary strain on him in his state. I should know - my mind is strained enough as it is." Although, it didn't show in how calmly she managed to speak. Then she floated over to Tagui's side, sitting her spectral form down next to him. "How are you feeling?" she asked him.

Rozeta Marga - Ampelones (Nerea, Durnem, Midnight Stitcher, Arizona)^note Not entirely sure on the identity of the latter, just going by what's in the spoiler tag

Durnem was a bit confused as she listened to Nerea introducing herself. A monarch? This Rozeta Marga must have been a well-secluded place... but surely someone would have picked up on its aural signature on their travels... "It appears you have been gone for a long time indeed," she finally spoke, "if you have not heard of the Oradamin. We are one of three main branches of Orenya's modern government, dedicated to bringing justice to those who threaten the peace. It would appear that such individuals may have been responsible for the abandonment of this place..."

As she took a while to take another look around at the city, she saw a shadow growing larger nearby. And moments later, something huge and dark landing on the ground. It looked like... a giant mass of tendrils. And at their center, a girl with large brown wings. Notably, her aura was impossible to distinguish, as she only saw some strange red aural fragments. These look familiar...

And soon after, more deja vu as she saw a familiar grey-skinned man with golden veins and eyes that were currently one gold and one crimson. At this, Durnem's unchanging red eyes grew wide as she jumped to her feet, tossing up her staff and catching it as she planted it on the dock. "Midnight Stitcher!? What are you doing here? I thought..." In her confusion, she cut herself off. But... but if he's here, then that means...

Snarling in disapproval, she looked up at the sky for a moment. "Kraguor. Just as I thought I was free of this humi-no illusion..." Then, suddenly remembering that she said that aloud, she quickly turned to the Midnight Stitcher and changed the subject. "Of course I am the same. Why wouldn't I be?" And she glanced over at the girl. "And who are you?"

Come, my child of the devil. Your mother is calling you. Hear my call in Hell's grand hall, where all our dreams come true.

Rozeta Marga

The bridge crossed into what looked like an abandoned city. The roads, the buildings... Everything was overrun by plants, making it look like a forest. Not a single creature could be seen or heard, giving off the eerie feeling of a ghost town.

Nothing she hadn't been through before.

A figure walked among the worn out buildings, creeping from one to another. It hid among the shadows, looking for any sign of danger. As there was nothing, it relaxed a little, and simply walked down the street, giving glances around ocassionally.

It was a human, or at least looked like one, slightly tall and quite thin. It -actually a she- wore a closed dark red hoodie jacket with both sleeves torn off a little above the elbow, blue jeans, and brown sneakers. All her clothes seemed tattered and worn out, and the way the figure moved made it obvious that she was tired.

The hood was up, covering her face, but her face had mocha-soloured skin, as well as what could be seen from her arms, and dark red hair. But what stood out the most on her face were her eyes. Electric blue coloured, they were what stood out on what would look like an otherwise absolutely inconspicious human being.

She walked down the streets, slowly making her way to the docks. Every now and then, she peeked inside the buildings, to see if there was something useful, though it was unsuccessful. Suddenly, she heard a voice. She froze in place, and then she heard another voice. And another.

Curiosity won over fright, and she made her way to the source of the voices. As she got near the docks, she saw four figures standing there, talking quite loudly. She hid behind a half broken down wall, listening to the strangers' conversation without being seen. They may or may not be hostile, but better be safe than sorry. She had already learned the hard way to not startle people in the wild.

The Graveyard

Prompted by the necromancer's gesture - and with an increasingly disgusted look on her face as she was told about the curse - Moreena shot a glare at the ruined manor. It's destruction had clearly been for the better.

"And speaking of which, if you are so concerned about setting souls on their proper path, then why did you do nothing to help him when his soul was so obviously broken?"

Moreena gave Sinistrina a sarcastic smirk.

"I was somewhat busy trying to keep him from massacring you all," she answered. "Besides, healing isn't exactly a huge part of my Domain, as I'm sure you can imagine."

Next, she faced the approaching Sentinel. Niru?

"A new form and a new name?" Moreena commented, before extending her arm. Thin strands of shadowy cloth separated themselves from her clothing, slithering through the air towards Niru where they weaved themselves into shape around her body, forming a black dress not too different from Moreena's, but without the silvery armored parts that had manifested during the battle.

"Clever move by the way, merging the planes like that." Moreena's eyes drifted towards the center of the crater. "If perhaps a bit reckless..."

She nodded towards Patches and the new shape of Armory Knight. "Do you think they'll be alright?"

---

Suddenly, Moreena noticed something in the distance that clearly had not been there before. Among all the broken husks stood a group of oddly untouched buildings; towers of glass and metal, surrounding a massive structure seemingly built almost exclusively out of black marble and crystal.

The goddess rapidly blinked a few times in disbelief. She hadn't expected to see that place again anytime soon. Speaking of massacres and recklessness...

"I believe I've found my next destination," she whispered to herself, before throwing a glance at Sinistrina and Niru. It was definitely a gamble, but she would prefer not to face the upcoming memories alone, and in some ways, a necromancer and a fellow goddess were very appropriate choices.

"Perhaps you'd like to accompany me?"

Still a great "screw depression" song even after seven years.

Rozeta Marga ~ Ampelones Dry Docks (Nerea; Arizona, the Midnight Stitcher; Durnem; Eavesdropper)

Nerea tilted her head in confusion, "Orenya? I have never heard of a country by that name. Pray tell where that is?" she asked of the mermage.

A large amount of aether above them drew the woman's attention; glancing up she "saw" a glowing, hazy bundle falling from a great height. The bundle shifted, as though trying to stop its decent, though the bulk of it slammed into the ground. The bundle separated, and now Nerea could tell that it consisted of two individuals practically bathed in aether, a rather unusual "sight" to the empress.

Still seated, Nerea frowned slightly at the two unexpected visitors, before shifting to a look of genuine concern. "Are you two quite all right?" Nerea inquired, before glancing over at Durnem, who apparently recognized the taller individual. Unseen by the others, Nerea raised an eyebrow at this "Midnight Stitcher". "Are there perhaps other mer-folk named Durnem I should be aware of, sir?" she asked in mild amusement, followed by another quizzical head tilt at the mermage's strange words.

Nerea turned her gaze upon the other stranger; this one apparently had wings and had a childish giggle, but beyond that, further details were obscured by that strange cloak of aether. There seemed to be something off about this avian child... "Greetings, little avia," she said to Arizona, before sweeping her gaze towards the two of them, "How exactly did it come about that the two of you had a most un-expected landing here?"

About this time, Nerea turned to glance towards one of the dilapidated dry dock buildings, having been tracking the hesitant movements of what was easily recognizable to her as a human with her aether resonance, though a bit greyer than most. The motions of the girl reminded her of the first time she had dealings with one of her two loyal retainers, after inadvertently squishing her.

"We appear to have yet another visitor," she quipped to the others, before rising to her feet. She turned around and spread her arms in a gesture of peace, "Come out and join us, young miss. You do not have to be afraid," she stated, loud enough to be heard by the eavesdropping stranger.

edited 12th Jun '17 3:57:42 PM by WillDeRegio

Rozeta Marga ~ Ampelones Dry Docks (Nerea, Durnem, 'Steel One', The Midnight Stitcher, ???)

Listening to Durnem and this monarch speak, The Midnight Stitcher finally manages to pull himself into an upright sitting position. His nose twitching as he smells the air, the monarch's declaration merely confirms his suspicions. Still, rather than immediately address the newcomer, The Midnight Stitcher instead answers Durnem and the monarch.

"I was sent flying through the sky by a telekinetic Eldritchian resembling a giant decayed bird, so pretty normal method of arrival. There probably are other Durnems, as there seems to be multiple Samsons. Then there's the two identical Women of Fire, who have different names for some reason. As for my doubt, you and Ayako did abruptly vanish, leaving me alone to deal with this mysterious child."

The child in question seems to be processing what's been asked of her, with her wings held out straight down in front of her. On closer inspection, she doesn't seem to have clothing, other than scales and feathers covering her lower half. Nonetheless she doesn't seem to care, or perhaps notice, before speaking in a sweetly young voice.

"I'm a me, Durnem! Though what's an... Ariza? I'm fine though, cause papa protected me! I'm very young, so..." At that the black haired man seems confused by the casual declaration. Scrutinizing her with his golden/crimson eyes, The Midnight Stitcher lifts up his unnaturally long arm to examine it before him.

Finally, bringing himself to his feet proper, The Midnight Stitcher speaks. "I am The Midnight Stitcher miss monarch, you do not need to worry for my safety. I have never felt my skin pierced or my bones break, and thus my creators have every right to fear that which cannot die. Though it would seem nurturing a new life is energy intensive... Honestly didn't think one first becomes a parent after three weeks of existence."

Looking over the tiny little harpy(?) girl like she might snap as a twig, The Midnight Stitcher gently and briefly pats her head. The little girl smiling excitedly, whereas the grey skinned man just seems more confused, he turns in the direction of the hidden person. Looking on in their direction, he calls out with slight curiosity.

"Are you something like the Brides of Steel? You're metal and flesh, I can smell that. Though how much is metal and how much is flesh? The first of the three merely wore skin, yet the second and third were blended beings. Durnem, you understand the existence of intelligent machinery correct?"

"The Omniverse is the collection of all possibilities, and all possibilities must eventually come to pass."

The Graveyard (Moreena, Niru, Patches, Armory Knight, Half, Caleb, Gabe, Sinistrina, Friedrich)

Friedrich watched as Armory Knight looked on in confusion about what he had told him about the state of his soul, gestured his hand downward as if to cast a sort of spell, and remarked about touching girls. Even Friedrich had to flinch a tiny bit of that, having been guilty of touching a girl doll inappropriately once, though in a not-too-private place, thankfully. Then Patches spoke about...

"W-wait, the Golden Being is gone?" Friedrich asked her and Armory Knight. "How? He should have been sealed inside your arm along with your soul, right? I know the two of you were connected, but... it seems that connection has been broken somehow." He felt something of an empty sorrow, feeling like cool black mists touching the insides of his hollow body, and knew that Sinistrina was feeling it too, minus the hollow part.

Then he looked over at the Sentinel. "And while it is true that those two tried to hurt us, they only did so out of desperation. I know how it feels to have one's soul in such a precarious state, though not quite to that extent. Why, it almost seems as if some other necromancer forced the two together." And in fact, when he looked again at Patches, he saw a similar sort of instability in her soul... or souls rather, leaving him to wonder if the same was true of her. By the time he looked back at the Sentinel, she was heading over to Moreena and Sinistrina, and he had a look of displeasure on his face. Necromancy in and of itself is already feared because of its deathly implications. People using it for such evil purposes would not help one bit.

He looked back to Armory Knight. "I am very sorry that you had to lose him... even though I have no idea how it happened. But you are stable regardless. Usually the soul-sealing process would kill the person it belongs to," if they are not already dead, "but you are already defiant, and the Sentinel's enchantment will keep you alive despite it. If anything, you can consider these two enchantments your new Gifts. Be sure to take care of them both, as I do not think you would like being an animated corpse nor an unstable empty shell." In fact, he often wondered how Sinistrina could stand the former.

Sinistrina, meanwhile, paid special attention to Moreena after she mentioned healing. When she replied, she gave the Grim Reaperess a look that actually conveyed sympathy for once. "It may not seem like healing fits in the realm of death... but in a way, it does. Surely you have helped to end the suffering of the terminally ill, for instance. In that sense, death is perhaps the greatest gift God—or you, perhaps—ever gave us."

That was then the shapeshifter approached, and introduced herself as Sentinel Niru. Sinistrina was kind of surprised, though, that she bothered to mention the shield. "And I am Sinistrina von Schwarzwald, de facto queen of the Deathly Glade," she said to her, using the same introduction she had given to Moreena, only this time her voice wasn't as hoarse. In fact, thanks to that blood she drank, she wasn't nearly as frail as she had been after purifying the ether, such that her face, though still notably angular, had a clearness to it, the black veins beneath it becoming less visible. "And I am sorry that that shield did not do much to protect you, for it was hastily cast."

Speaking of hastily cast, when the Sentinel asked for new clothes, Sinistrina was about to have her zombies bring some spare cloth from the ruins of Misery Manor (if there even was any, given the furniture had vanished), but Moreena crafted some much more quickly. She cracked a small hint of a smile; it was exactly the type of dress she could have put together herself.

"I do believe Armory Knight and his triple-souled friend will be all right," Sinistrina said next, "though it seems the Golden Being attached to the former has vanished." She could tell from the way Friedrich felt, as with her soul inside him, she could theoretically hear everything he heard. At least she knew that Armory Knight seemed notably worried. "Thanks to me his soul is stable, and thanks to Niru he is not a zombie with a trapped soul." She took a quick glance back at the manor ruins. "Speaking of which..."

The zombie butler had just emerged from the cellar, carrying a basket containing three goblets and three wine bottles (or blood bottles rather). But with a gesture from Sinistrina, he handed this basket to another zombie, this one a little girl who carried said basket on her head. Notably, she and the butler, as well as all the other zombies, looked to be drained and parched, as if they had been victims of a vampire attack. But there was something else to this girl. As she approached, the three magic-wielding ladies could see a stuffed rabbit poking its head out of a large pocket on her dress. Anyone who could detect souls or magical traces could see a peculiar dark presence inside the rabbit's chest, one that looked a lot like a similar presence inside Armory Knight's arm, though not identical.

As she approached, Sinistrina looked over at the strange marble and crystal structure Moreena wanted to go to, though she found it a bit odd how she wanted her and Niru to come along. In response she said, in an oddly matter-of-fact manner, "The place looks to have quite an ominous quality to it." A pause. "I must say it has my interest." She looked back to the two. "Though given how much damage we have taken in the battle perhaps a little refreshment first. This is Antoinette; out of all the zombies in the Deathly Glade, she is perhaps the most precious to me. Unfortunately, though I managed to preserve her soul so that it was not lost in the black mists, she will not communicate, though we keep trying."

When she looked again at the basket though, she noticed one of the bottles was empty. Figures when they have no intelligence on their own. Although, she still retrieved it, for she had an idea. "Speaking of which, I do not think we should leave the other souls here." She looked at Moreena, offering her a goblet. "Perhaps somewhere on our travels we will have an opportunity to set them on their proper path."

And so with that, she stepped away from them for a while, looking up at the wild souls and holding her staff up to them. "As your reluctant queen I summon you once more. Be safe... for perhaps it is better to be tainted and stable than pure and fragile." Of course, this meant she would have to purify them again, but hopefully with some cooperation with Moreena it wouldn't put as much of a strain on her. As she spoke, the skull on her staff pulled the souls in like a funnel, where they darkened and smoothed out, blending back together into that misty "soup" they had been in when initially summoned. Gently, she planted her staff back down on the ground, where she opened the bottle and guided the souls into that instead. Once all of them were in there, the inside of the bottle was completely black, just like the other two. In fact, when she placed it back in the basket, she said to Antoinette, "Do not confuse this bottle with the other two. It is lighter than the others." In fact, she opened one of the others and prepared to pour it.

"Are you leaving?"
Friedrich had approached the small group, and was now looking up at Sinistrina. "I'll come with you."

Sinistrina shook her head. "You need to stay here and look after Gabe and Armory Knight, my prince. And I shall leave you in command of the zombies in my absence." And then, so that Moreena, especially, could not overhear, she made a similar intonation into his (and also her own) soul that the Golden Being had. "Now that my soul is entirely inside of you, it would be unwise to lead you into potential danger. Especially with the presence of a goddess who aims to set souls free. It would be best if you either stay here or go someplace safe."

But before Friedrich headed back, Sinistrina picked him up and held him for a while. A faint cloud of black mist formed around their embrace, which to Friedrich brought a sort of invigorating sensation, almost like he was being recharged. At last she put him back down, where he rejoined the old group. In fact, he went straight to Gabe, asking again if he was all right.

edited 14th Jun '17 12:48:41 AM by ladytanuki

Come, my child of the devil. Your mother is calling you. Hear my call in Hell's grand hall, where all our dreams come true.

Rozeta Marga - Ampelones (Nerea, Durnem, Midnight Stitcher, Harpy Girl, Metal Girl)

Things were getting weirder around here. By now it was clear to her that she had not escaped the hypnotist's illusion, as especially when she looked at the sky, she knew that this was definitely not Orenya as she had thought. Which means Nerea is likely not a fylin. The winged girl started calling the Midnight Stitcher her father, to which Durnem failed to contain a loud snicker. Stitcher himself mentioned other Durnems. And now there was a new person who was... part metal?

Looking over in the direction of this supposed newbie, at first she couldn't see anything (or smell anything like the Midnight Stitcher did), but looking closer, especially through the crystal ball on her staff, she could see the outer edges of an aura. A rather... odd-looking one, strangely thin, even for someone who was very sick or famished, but otherwise not carrying any hints of danger, though it did carry a tinge of fear. Even when she looked away from Watimari she could see the aura now, and smiled, glad to be out of that "Eldritch" place where that darned ruddy interference obfuscated any auras the beings within held. It was still surrounding the winged girl and the Midnight Stitcher.

"You can come out," she called to the hidden metallic girl. "We aren't as dangerous as we look, and I would only bite if you were a fish." It was a good thing she mentioned the latter, as her fangs became especially visible when she raised her voice.

Then she looked back to the Midnight Stitcher, letting out that loud snicker once more. "Well look at that. I didn't know which was likelier: you being a father, or me being a mother. And don't you start on the latter," she snapped at the winged girl. "I have no hum-" she stopped herself mid-swear, "...no idea what an Ariza is, but I can call you that if you'd like." To the Midnight Stitcher she then said, "Where did she even come from? Also I have not heard of any other Durnem, so of course it's krui- ugh, I mean, of course I am the same. You and me and Ayako had a chat with that Vita lady, fought a man-eating skeleton, and landed on a giant's brain. Don't tell me that telepath tampered with your memory. But... you are only one silver month old? I suppose that means you must be an artificial construct of some sort. I have heard of those before... though more often than not, they are created by necromancers, being mechanical or organic constructs with a soul transplanted into them."

And then she looked to Nerea, remembering her question. "Oh, Orenya is a planet actually, the one where I'm from. And we're clearly not on it - I should've known from the sky, as over there it is more purplish and the sun looks bigger and redder. What planet is this?"

edited 15th Jun '17 8:47:23 AM by ladytanuki

Come, my child of the devil. Your mother is calling you. Hear my call in Hell's grand hall, where all our dreams come true.

Snow Castle - Parlor (Gwenafer, Gliosem, Phantom, Rin, Jackson)

"You're looking for your own path in life, there's nothing to be considered irrational about it," Phantom told Jackson, in a very matter-of-fact tone, followed by slightly tilting his head in curiosity, "although, if you don't mind me asking, what exactly are you pursuing?"

Gwenafer's comment made her point about her being a rather straight-forward person with a self-centered yet not very harmful policy, of course, that would depend on the kind of jobs she did, but that wasn't something for him to intrude in. He couldn't offer much of a comment to add to it and even if he did, Gliosem began making her own speech soon afterwards, talking about a story of someone who had a similar situation to his who at the end of it had his soul set off despite his protests.

As he heard it, Phantom hand which had the ball of light hovering over it began slowly closing, something that caused reaction on the ball as it also seemed to compress itself. However, before his hand fully closed, he quickly opened it and the ball dispersed into various wisps of light that travelled across the surroundings for a while before fading away.

"If I had a proper body, it wouldn't last as long. If I had been living normally like any other human, I would've been long dead, at which point I wouldn't be able to do anything else," he began explaining, folding his arms, "There is a belief among fae and humans alike that when the body dies, the soul is set free and, many years later, it comes back in a new body. The same essence without any memories, but a new body, a new life and new memories to be made. It's something that I believe in myself, but I also don't want to lose the memories I have made during the century I have lived in this armor, nor do I want to have to wait a long time to be brought back. This body allows me to continue interacting with the world as long as it's still functional and my soul is bound to it, so even if I had to lose many things such as my memories and the ability to eat, I still find it worth it."

[farm]

Lise sat bolt upright at the sound. Some of the chickens jumped a bit; the other animals turned to look. Once she determined that the boy's weird gold thing was to blame, she laid back down, laying her head in Fuwa's lap.

Vince seemed a little too disconcerted to notice Josef had dropped the headgear. "'Coronation'? Are... they want you to become a monarch." It was intended to be a question, but the implications of a young man his age being forced to become the head of state got to him first. He glanced away, thinking for a moment that maybe he'd just jumped to the worst-case scenario, but it was right there in the word- 'crown'. Royalty.

After studying the crown in the dirt for a while, Tsadro finally decided to pick it up for a closer look. When his bare hand got within a foot of the crown, his hand clenched and he suddenly pulled back, a shiver radiating through his body. "Fool's pyrite..." he grumbled under his breath as he stood.

"Jack, you have debauched my sloth."

[Castle (Parlor)]

"I want to improve my inventions." Jackson answered, "I've been doing it since I was younger, and I'm hoping to get better."

Soon, his friends returned. Nick sat down, his eyes now red and dry tear stains on his cheeks. He didn't look at anyone in the eye; all he could do was stare at his lap.

"...Sorry." he said, his voice subdued. "You guys didn't need to see me like that."

"I'm sure they understand, Nick." Marie said, "Just know if you still need to talk, all of us are here."

Nick simply nodded, falling silent.

Adam and Jackson looked at each other regretfully. Perhaps bringing up the dreams they saw here was a terrible idea. All that it seemed to do was just re-traumatize their friend.

This is short because I have to start the moving process tomorrow and I won't be here for most of the weekend.