Just before the sun sets on the AMTP compound, Euan twists the lock on his door before donning a well-purposed outfit which covers nearly every inch of his skin! A monotonous but inconspicuous gray and black ensemble conceals him, including a hooded cloak, elbow length gloves and simple boots. Little holes open over each fingertip -ideal for any Touch caster- and a mask sown into the hood obscures his face, leaving only his eyes exposed. And once he activates his form, seeming charcoal smearing across face and his sclera going black, he is the picture of stealth!
Euan hops into Azowy's Plane and flits from portal to portal, slipping his head through each shadow and snooping on those nearby. Exhausted from their first real day, many he encounters are fast asleep already but Euan busies himself with mapping out the compound. But as he stumbles upon Andrea, Renard and Leon waving off Orin, his curiosity gets the better of him. He lingers out of sight, barely protruding from the shadow beneath a bench in the common area.
"Did he seem off to you?" Andrea asks once Orin is gone, the three of them lingering around a fire pit.
Renard snickers at her suggestion and Euan quickly recognizes him as the sunny support member from his own unit. He is surprised to see the amicable fellow spending time with these two. Renard is petite, mousey and non-threatening, looking much younger than he is. A bright, altruistic and cheerful facade hides a far more scheming, cut-throat persona, known only to a rare few! He finds himself in the company of high ranking heirs, much like Leon and Andrea, despite being of a lower nobility himself. But rather than drawing these people to him naturally or by his combative skill, Renard has a unique talent as an informant! Gathering intel one way or another, he lays his secrets at the feet of these "friends" as though they were sacrificial offerings. In this way, those in the know have come to rely on his useful snippets while others fall victim to vicious blackmail--all for the gain and ambition of this duplicitous teen!
"I heard," Renard comments enthusiastically, "He lost to two deviant Yaxiyans and the Minx heir today!"
"Yeah right," Andrea ridicules, frowning when Renard doesn't laugh along with her, "She couldn't even beat you if she tried!"
"They defeated Ifani, too," Leon adds in, smiling as Andrea's eyes widen with disbelief, "Of course, it was four to one... not that the Huaren girl has any control over her drake," he sniggers, "Such a waste of a good familiar!"
"Now you sound like that damn princess!" Andrea bites with a clear intent to offend but her tone doesn't phase him, "I hope being on that pitiful unit doesn't make her go soft..." Andrea remarks bitterly, "She's the only rival worth my time!"
"Riiight," Leon flashes a sinister smile and Andrea's eyes narrow, "Your 'rival'"
"Havering snobs," Euan grumbles to himself, lowering back into the plane.
Euan continues exploring the compound, pausing again as he stumbles onto Zetian and Longwei in front of their building. Zetian seems to have been waiting on him. Longwei sucks in a breath at the sight of her, immediately bowing and keeping his eyes averted down.
"There is no need for that here," Zetian hums," I just wanted to congratulate you!"
"Con... congratulate me?" Longwei questions, rising but still retaining a deferential demeanor.
"Yes~!" Zetian chimes in her strange, disingenuous tone, "You're already fulfilling your purpose so well! Much quicker than I expected."
"My purpose?" Longwei gasps.
A touch of excitement enters his expression as he imagines what he might've done to please her, followed by delicate, tenuous hope.
"I wasn't sure at first..." Zetian continues, prone to sharp inflection, "But what better way to show the kingdom we want to move forward together, to put the past behind us!" she watches Longwei with a hint of a smile, "You fought well together today, not a hint of hesitation or malice," she peeks significantly at Tia and Ifani's room, "What a powerful message, a Zhou fighting alongside the sole Minx heir!"
Longwei's breath leaves him all at once, eyes widening as he realizes her meaning. Euan squints at Zetian, not having a clue what they're jabbering about but disliking the joy in her face while Longwei looks as if he might shatter. Seeming satisfied, Zetian swivels and makes her way inside without another word. Euan also takes his leave, feeling bad for the little guy. He decidedly resolves himself to prank Zetian later, when he has the time.
"Whits wi' all o' th' drama tonight!" Euan gripes, meandering through the plane.
He lingers in front of a number of unexplored portals, trying to pick one out. As he pops the top of his head through another, he finds himself in the pantry just behind the mess hall. The building has been locked up for the night, not a soul in sight.
"Jackpot!" Euan grins, climbing all the way out.
Euan moves quietly through the pantry, scanning the shelves and plucking up an apple. Munching on the crisp fruit, he continues exploring and quickly locates the wine cellar. He uses the plane to bypass the locked doors and once inside, Euan browses their selection, popping bottles out at random. With a tablecloth turned napsack of bottles, Euan makes his way back into the plane. But it was not how he left it!
A seeming storm cloud has gathered east of Euan, billowing into life silently, barely causing a whisper. Even the shadows around Euan seem to gravitate towards massive pall, leaning and stretching like sunset shadows! Euan keeps a close eye on this while moving towards his room, hoisting his loot through under his bed before turning back toward the strange phenomenon. In all of his years wandering the plane, Euan had rarely seen this kind of activity, having a creeping suspicion of the cause. He approaches furtively, the figure within the storm becoming more opaque as he slips closer.
Confirming his suspicion, Azowyr himself is hovering before him! The smoky, wispy elemental has plunged his ethereal limb into a portal, drawing shadows into himself as he musters his power and concentration. Euan had only seen this entity on the rarest occasion, generally when Euan had managed to offend the shadow-man somehow. Since he was a boy, he had always found Azowyr to be melodramatic and conceited despite seeing him as an odd uncle of sorts--his only companion in the shadows. Especially when he treats Euan like an impudent child misusing his domain for mischief (and Evan often did!) His curiosity peaked, Euan pops his head out to see what's happening on the other side.
In the physical world, shadows flicker and loom outwards from a milky-haired girl she as faces off against some soldier. Euan can see through the shadows which conceal her face, something oddly familiar. Yet, he cannot place her identity. As he studies her more closely, he notices particularly oblique, hand shaped shadows gripping her from below. Peeking into the plane again, he realizes Azowyr is reaching though her shadow and into the physical world-- something Euan didn't know was possible!
"Och!" Euan shouts at the entity, "Hands off th' lass, Wyrie!"
Azowy glances in his direction, giving the girl the moment she needs to break free!
"You're in the way!" Azowyr hisses.
Azowyr gestures toward Euan with his other hand, umbral tentacles coiling around his legs.
"Bollocks," Euan gasps on the quickest of breaths.
With a simple wave of his hand, Euan is flung violently aside, travelling an incredible speed and distance before even realizing what had happened. Euan grips the passing shadows as an anchor, slipping through his fingers until he finally slows and stops. But this eats up a terrible amount of energy! As he regains his bearings, Euan can still see Azowyr at a distance, just barely, and begins leaping back in his direction.
Not even a quarter of the way back, the girl and a black beast slip into the plane, Euan's eyes going wide--had Azowyr pulled her in or was she... like him? He has little opportunity to muse, the tumultuous plane morphing into a full-blown typhoon! All Euan can do is grip the shadows, his body tossed and tumbled in a ruthless stygian tempest. Then, just as quickly as it had begun, the storm dissipates entirely.
Giving a tired sigh, Euan continues his journey back, meandering forward sluggishly. He watches as the girl comes and goes one more time before he reaches the compound. Dragging himself through the portal with a grunt, Euan slumps onto the edge of his bed with leaden limbs. Ginger curls are pasted to his forehead by sweat as he slips off the hood and the slightest pant passes his lips. But that breath hitches instantly as two crimson eyes flash open from across the room!
"Shite!" Euan startles,springing to his feet. Danut looses an ominous but melodious laugh, his eyes rising and gleaming bright in the gloomy room. "Fuckin' gonny no dae that!" Euan clamours indignantly, lowering back onto his bed with his heart pounding. Danut looks him up and down, raking Euan's appearance into the silence.
"Why are you dressed like that?" Danut questions, his voice laden with harsh judgement as his eyes narrow, "You've been out thieving haven't you?"
"Oh, reit!" Euan sasses with a roll of his eyes, "Am a bandit so if Am out at night the only thing l could be doing is 'thieving'?"
"Don't you mean were...?" Danut drolls, deadpan, but Euan remains unblinking and unperturbed, "Why else would you dress that way... assassination?"
"Relax bat-daddy!" Euan teases, earning him another scowl, "All I stole tonight wis stupid gossip an', well," Euan leans down with a smirk, pulling a bottle from underneath bed and waggling it in front of his roommate, "I guess yer too good fur any o' this then?"
Danut blinks stupefied as Euan pops the bottle open and takes a swig. Euan chuckles , rolling another two bottles out with his foot. Danut appears as though he might protest at first, until his leer falls away into a chuckle. Euan tosses him a bottle.
"Oy, flower boy!" Euan barks across the hall.
Florio emerges swiftly with an expression of clear discontent. Another bottle in hand, Euan greets him with a grin from the threshold, instantly lighting up Floro's face with a bright smile!
Walking Nightmare
Night descends over the compound and while most recruits were exhausted, the evening still held many surprises. Tia wanders the plaza, eyes peeled for her bandit friend. She had continued this effort for more than an hour and was beginning to accept she would need to find an alternative.
'I've got his form!' Tia reasons to Duff, wherever he was lurking, 'Why don't I just-'
'Absolutely not!' Duff shuts down her suggestion with surprising fervor, 'I already told you to avoid that place.'
'Yeah, you did...' Tia remarks, her tone too cheery, followed by a bitter mental shout, 'And absolutely nothing else! Maybe if you would explain anything to me I could trust doing what you say! But let me guess...' she allows a silence to linger, glaring into a firepit, 'Yup, nothing!'
'You are acting like a child,' Duff spits dismissively.
'And you're acting like a creepy old man!' Tia retorts just as harshly.
As Tia had grudgingly grown accustomed to, Duff blocks her from his mind and she is left with nothing but empty silence, her questions remaining unanswered.
'I'll just... walk out the front gate then...!' she grumbles to him as she turns away from the fire, 'Getting an imprint can't be that bad!'
Tia makes her way out of the plaza and towards the east gate, her body still weary and heavy. She notices fairly quickly hat security seems far more wary than the night before, leaving Tia uneasy. They watch each recruit with anxious apprehension, assessing them as they pass by as if seeking something specific. Tia finds herself instinctually averting her face from them. And when Tia nears her destination, her heart drops into her stomach! Ben Stahlmann lingers at the gate, chatting casually with security and wearing one of their black uniforms. Tia manages to dodge out of the torch light just before he turns, slinking down with her heart racing. Panic runs cold in Tia's veins as she crouches in the shadows, her breath terse and rapid. Feeling the need to unexpectedly evade Ben brings her back to that night abruptly, a fog washing over her already groggy mind.
When Tia opens her eyes again, Ben aims his orb at her and the sheer plunge into the forest is at her back once again! Frozen to the spot in panic and disbelief, Ben releases the orb and it begins a sluggish, exaggerate path towards her. Yet unlike that night, Tia senses power gathering around her from below—surging, eager and pliable. She pulls and gathers this power together, directing it effortlessly with her fingertips. Tia condenses it into sinister, murky orbs as icy fingers overlay her own, guiding her hands. This eerie material feels hollow, freezing and even hungry as it hums within her grasp, enthralling Tia. She allows the magic to flow through her and surrenders to the frigid influence guiding her, this power having a mind of its own but still pliant to her will!
Outside of her perception, Tia reverts to her true appearance and the shadow she lurks within begins grasping up at her, darkening. The air around Tia becomes desolate and frigid while opaque shadows stretch across her skin. A blurred layer totally obscures her skin, leaving Tia veiled and embraced by an inky wool. More transparent shadows cascade over her limbs and drapes her body like a cloak, resembling gossamer, obsidian silk. Only her purple eyes and wild white hair cut through the stygian disguise.
This esurient hunger at Tia's fingertips grows more potent as Tia returns her attention to Ben, the shards sharpening and hovering violently. They enlarge as Tia's resentment builds, as she recalls how Ben had hurt her and how he took her mother from her! The orb cuts its way toward Tia still, agonizingly slow, and she directs a dagger sized shard into it. A meager explosion detonates in Ben's hand, knocking him from his horse. The steed screams and flees past but Tia's intense gaze remains on him.
Ben staggers powerless, vulnerable and alone on the mountain path before her--giving Tia a strange wave of delight. Tia hovers forward without touching the ground, her movement uncanny and inhuman as she skates atop shadows. Eerily, the empty space between Tia and Ben rapidly shrinks away in distinct leaps, Tia seemingly teleporting from step to step, halting only when she is face to face with Ben. She glowers at her once attacker, collecting her shards together into two curved blades and closing them in around the man. Tia peers into his eyes, relishing Ben's terror and satisfying desperation. A smile pulls at her lips, his helplessness leaving Tia as hungry as the material she wields.
Then, the nightmare melts from Tia's sight, disappearing like a shadow dispelled by a sudden light! They are no longer on the mountain. Instead, Ben is pinned by her blades against the stony wall of the compound. He shivers in terror, the obsidian blades which close in around him carving the stone totally unimpeded, the cuts facile. Yet Ben is transfixed as the shadows peel away from Tia's face.
"It's-it's you!" Ben's chokes, abject terror and horrific realization overtaking his expression.
Tia carefully observes the emotions which pass over his face but his piddling regret isn't nearly enough to slake her rancor, leering at him pitiless and wrathful. Ben and Tia are caught in this fervent exchange until Ben pinches his eyes shut, consigning himself to her retribution. Her head swims and she nearly loses herself to the fog again! The blades humming in her hesitant fingers and the silken shadows gripping her body urge Tia to shred him, to take what she deserves--she can almost hear the whispers in her ear. One of the blades graze Ben's face and Tia revels in his unadultured pain, splitting his flesh apart with the slightest graze!
'Tia,'Duff entreats her, leaping out from the bushes, 'You must stop!'
Tia turns to Duff, loosening her vice-grip to glance at him. Ben seizes his opportunity, ducking and scurrying out of sight. Tia blinks in his absence and tries to clear her addled mind, observing herself. Shadows radiate out in a circle from Tia's feet, stretching out as wispy tentacles while also consuming her like a ravenous flame! Strangest of all, an opache shell of the black material she manipulates encases her completely.
"Duff...?" Tia questions breathlessly, appearing dizzy.
Tia focuses her eyes fully, the material encasing her growing transparent. Finally she perceives the security staff surrounding them completely! Their weapons crash against the shell ineffectively and Tia's eyes pop as she looks to Duff for guidance, painted by fright. Subduing his own hesitation, Duff jumps into Tia and pushes both of them into Azowyr's Plane ! All of the dark manipulations fade in their absence, leaving nothing behind but bewhildering silence.
However, for Tia and Duff the chaos persists. The shadow plane has transformed into an ocean of charcoal waves pushed by invisible, silent gales. The portals are islands amid this sea, tossing them violently and quickly making Tia lose her bearings. Duff steps atop these stygian waters and tries to pull Tia toward a different portal, dragging her while she is left disoriented and overwhelmed by the impossible touch of the umbral waves. But shadowy hands clasp Tia too, trying to drag her beneath the waves as if to drown her. Tia clutches Duff's fur as he bites into these hands with a vicious snarl, repeating this desparate dance two or three times. Duff persists nonetheless, refusing to let them take her!
"What are you doing?"Azowyr booms, his voice familiar to Tia.
A man comprised exclusively of shadows reveals himself in the eye of this storm—Azowyr himself. He looms over them, titanic and imposing with an overwhelming presence! Yet his features are hard to make out amid the storm and darkness.
"You are moving too fast!" Duff roars, his voice actually audible, hovering over Tia and shielding her from him with his body.
"I have waited long enough!" Azowyr refutes with intense accusation and the waves assaulting Duff become more volatile, "If your bleeding heart has yet to mend-"
"Not for me," Duff insists, "Give her time!"
"Do you think you are sparing her?" Azowyr cackles, the sound echoing about the plane several times over, "Ha! You know nothing!"
Despite his continued accusations, the storm weakens and Azowyr slowly reduces his size.
"Stifling her will not prolong the inevitable," Azowyr drones, his voice eerily gentle but matter-of-fact, "The child has been suppressed long enough!"
"Don't pretend!"Duff gives a bleak growl, lowering his head, "We both know that, to you, she is merely a utensil for restoration!"
As the storm dissipates, Tia shakes off her disorientation and glances around the plane, not having been able to make out their conversation amid the chaos. In fact she startles as Azowyr drifts into sight before her, gathering at a more reasonable size while shadowy hands still restrain Tia. An undulating shadow maintains a humanoid silhouette, wisps rolling off of him like smoke. A jagged, branch like crown stabs skyward from his head and his eyes are hollow and empty. The smoky wisps of the plane itself seem to twist and move with him, an extension of his own body--as aloof, ominous and mysterious as the entity himself!
"What even are you?!" Tia grumbles, trying to rip away from the silken shadows but failing.
Azowyr leans closer into Tia's face, unabashedly appraising her. Tia's expression pinches into a scowl, clearly marked with defiance. She rapidly swats at his immaterial face, wafting between her fingers before reforming. He retreats with an annoyed hiss!
"You are nothing like her...!" Azowyr declares with a peculiar tone, his voice carrying both satisfaction and disaccord as he dissolves away entirely.
As the plane returns to normalcy, completely mild and quiet, the shadows fully release Tia.
"Duff?" Tia whips around, desperation clenching her throat.
"This way!" Duff calls, moving west along the plane.
Duff waits by a portal in an alleyway, hopping through as she arrives. Tia takes a deep breath, trying to dispel the lingering fog in her mind before stepping through after him.
Tia meanders towards the light almost impulsively but a human hand pulls her back into the darkness. Two security staff sprint by, one pausing by the alleyway. The man who stopped Tia hushes her attempt to question him, swinging Tia around to block their view of her.
"Who goes there?!" a guard demands.
"Can't a man take a piss in peace?" he shouts back at her unceremoniously.
"Ugh," the woman recoils in disgust, moving on. Tia can't help but join in on his snickering.
"Wow," he laughs, eying Tia before glancing to Duff, "Never thought I'd see you two again!"
"Again...?" Tia questions suspiciously.
Tia looks him over, only able to make out his silhouette which is particularly tall and muscular. Despite his greeting and Tia sensing that Duff recognizes him, Duff wholly refuses to acknowledge the mysterious stranger. This doesn't dissuade his smile until Tia questions his identity.
"Ah," he answers wanly, tinged with bitterness, "I... shouldn't be surprised."
Tia squints at his face, catching the slightest glint of light as he turns to check behind him.
"It's you!" Tia gasps, the realization striking her all at once.
Her unknown rescuer from the night of her transformation stands before Tia in the flesh! Apparently close to Tia in age, he looms in the contrasting light and shodow of the alley, his athletic frame unabashedly exposed to the brisk spring air. With a cool almond complexion, long hair, pointed ears and smooth brown eyes, he strikes a confident yet mysterious figure!
"Still on the lam from the kingdom?" he teases, a lopsided but elated smile lighting up his face, "Impressive! But you should be more careful. These-"
Tia spots two guards clad in black uniforms jogging towards them. On impulse, she grabs him without a word and pulls him with her back into the shadows!
"Azryth's balls!" he curses gruffly, spinning freely but his posture becoming instantly more guarded, "Is this a plane??"
"I-I'm sorry!" Tia gasps, trying to steady him anyway, "I didn't mean to get you sucked up in all of this...!"
Stifling his urge to thrust her away from him, the mysterious boy looks from her to the shadows at his back. Understanding washes over his initially rattled expression as he sees the shadows of the guards beyond the portal. Tia is surprised to see an unknown animal's eyes staring back at her, as gray as the shadows engulfing them replacing the brown he possessed before.
"No worries, you can suck me in anytime," he assures Tia, cooly regaining his composure and cracking a devilish smile as Tia's jaw drops open, "It's not like they saw my face. 'Sides, I needed to get out without one of those nasty imprints! Think you can get me outta the compound?"
Tia is left speechless at first, surprised by his provocative demeanor. But after taking a breath, she finds some comfort in his attempt to dissuade the chaos she hadn't even begun to process.
"Sure," Tia puffs, pulling him towards the river, "I... never got a chance to thank you."
"That was one crazy night," he agrees emphatically but then teases her, "You get into a lot of trouble with this face, its lucky you have more than one!"
"You know?!" Tia peeps, her heart leaping into her throat.
"When I found you, you just screamed: 'Newborn shape shifter!'" he shouts into the plane, Tia releasing all of her breath into an airy, relieved chuckle, "There was no way you were anything else."
They arrive by the river, Tia struggling to pull him out and having to let him do most of the work
"I'm, uh, Tia, by the way," she pants once both of them are on solid ground again.
"Call me Niro!" he echoes and activates his form. The bottom half of his body begins changing, tearing up his pants as his lower body morphs into that of a horse! Niro towers over Tia in a centaur-like form, gaining a sable coat and a soot black tail matching his hair. "Good luck!" Niro shouts with a wave as he gallops south.
Tia turns to face the compound, all bright lights and clamor as security scours every inch for her. Duff waits at her side, watching with her.
"What am I gonna do...?" Tia shudders, trying to find comfort in his company, "What just happened?"
'Come here,' Duff instructs, his voice gentle.
Tia kneels before him, holding his head as he gazes into her eyes. They have a mesmerizing glow, shining almost blue. Duff presses into Tia's mind, gathering up all of her memories of this night -starting from their argument and up to this moment- and locks them deeper within Tia's mind. Tia's head spins as the magic goes into effect, blinking at him and then at their surroundings.
"What... happened...?" Tia mutters.
'You wanted us to go through the plane,' Duff suggests, almost hypnotic, 'And we did.'
Tia's brows knit together as tries to focus, the muddled memory coming together with his suggestion
"Right... see..."Tia mutters before growing confident and cheery, "I told you it would be fine!"
Duff finally relaxes, stretching and laying by the river. Tia takes a deep breath, enjoying the night air before jumping into the water.
An Old Friend
Niro finally arrives at his destination, gratefully landing at his father's front door. He nods to the guards, their familiar faces a welcome sight. He slips on a new set of clothes hidden away by the door as he enters, surprised to hear the murmur and laughter of conversation further inside! The fresh scent of wood, rainfall, leaves and cured leather greet Niro as he follows this sound, just as familiar and welcome as the faces at the door. Lofty, open and spacious, there are no walls enclosing his father's home which allows the refreshing sights, sounds and smells of the forest to bleed inside unfettered. Living wood acts as its collumns and posts, embellished with vibrant flowers and countless animal pets, bones and horns.
"Whoa," Niro breathes, spotting his father's guest as he meanders inside. He feels his whole body tense at once, spotting the stranger in this space, "Deja vu...!"
"There he is, my son!" Supay grins into his greeting, spreading his arms out as Niro joins them with some trepidation, "Pachacutec!"
Dad...
Niro groans as Supay wraps an arm around his shoulder, Mina marveling at the pair
Niro is fine!
You don't have to use that name here.
Supay insists, his smile dropping into a serious frown
You and yer guys are the only ones who call me that!
Niro complains, quick and sharp like a whip. He shifts his eyes away in prickly annoyance, his remaining words a sigh
'Sides, Niro is shorter
Bah, names!
Supay dismisses, lumbering back into his lounge and crashing into a hammock overlooking the jungle
Mina Serious
At least your son has the decency to wear something!
Mina's complains in apparent disdain
You have any idea how many he goes through?
Supay complains and gives a sharp laugh, annoyed by the mere idea of attempting the same
Stashing them away everywhere... too exhausting!
Mina Minx
He inherited that ability?
Mina questions, eyebrows raised
Of course! Well...
Supay confirms with a proud smile
Half of it!
Soooo...
Niro hums, looking between them but unable to hide his suspicious leer
Right!
Supay gives a barking laugh
This is a very old friend of mine Ch- No... what were you using now?
Mina Smile
Mina
she reminds him patiently
Mina
Supay echoes
And she's got a favor to ask.
Have anything to do with a little sister or a daughter?
Niro questions, catching them both by surprise
Tia?
You've seen her?
Mina gasps, rising swiftly and flitting to him with teary eyes
Is she alive? Is she safe?? Mina
Whoa, slow down!
Niro responds, throwing up his hands
She's fine, I just saw her.
Mina's shoulders drop with relief and Niro guides her back to her seat
Please
Mina entreats him once settled, Niro perching across from her
Tell me what you know? Mina Sorrow
Niro's eyes slide to his father as if seeking his input but Supay answers with a single nod, seeming to trust Mina a great deal. This weighs his lips down but, despite shifting his eyes away, Niro agrees.
I only hear so much in my position
Niro notes with a shrug
But there was a lot of talk about her big Introduction as an official heir and all that.
Supay's face sours hearing about Accian politics but Mina is attentive
And she enlisted like all the rest of us. But... well...
Niro can't help but frown
She isn't really... human anymore.
Not... human?
Mina questions in a high tone and Niro presses his lips together, held up by his own hesitation. Mina's fingers tap her chest and she closes her eyes, steadying herself with a deep breath before continuing in a firm voice
Tell me, please. Mina Uncertain
It... happened the night I met her. Some hot-shot, idiot soldier knocked her off a mountain.
Niro narrates grimly, Mina tensing as she immediately realizes the circumstance
I knew it was bad, the way she fell. But by the time I got to her, she had already been changed. What he did managed to save her life but...
Niro sighs, averting his gaze
She's a shape shifter now.
Shape...
Mina peeps and struggles for breath, shuddering, her eyes dashing back and forth as if studying the whorls in the wooden floor
The beast
she questions in a high, rushed tone--fear of the worst hanging over her
What did it look like...?
Mina Urgent
A black wolf.
Niro answers warily, holding Mina's gaze until she squeezes her eyes shut.
She appears frozen, not even a breath passing her lips, her face slowly tightening as she digests every implication and consequence. Mina knew better than most what lay ahead for her daughter now.
It's all my fault...
Mina's voice is quiet but shrill and she shudders, holding herself as though she were on the edge of shattering
Not my Tia, not her...! Mina Despair
The air within Supay's home begins to thin and chill. Supay glances around as loose items begin to rattle.
Shit!
Supay curses, leaping to his feet as his eyes dart to his son
Out!
Wh-
Niro begins to ask as Mina quivers, her skin blackening and hair searing with a hot white glow!
Now!!
Supay booms, rushing across the room and ushering his son towards the exit
Niro glances back, gaping at Mina's full form on his way out
Tia gathers herself at the edge of the water, peeking her head out and assessing the cave before reverting back. Al has made himself comfortable in a nook set aside for reading, so comfortable he's fallen asleep. Tia grins, emerging from the water as quietly as she can manage. She tip toes towards him, looming for a moment and watching him. Stifling a giggle, Tia flicks water onto his face.
"Wha-" Aldric shoots up, gasping and glancing about wildly. Tia bursts into laughter while Aldric's face heats, almost pouting as he speaks to her and dries his face, "I almost thought you weren't going to show up!"
"Sorry," Tia's laughter tapers down, "I had a bit of trouble getting out."
"Really?" Al questions as Tia perches on the same flattened stalagmite, "I didn't run into any trouble."
"I..." Tia is hesitant to admit but speaks hurriedly once she begins, "Might've spaced out during orientation and missed the bit on how to leave?"
Aldric tries to stifle his laughter, almost deferring to the dignified "prince" persona, but as Tia chuckles at herself he reminds himself he doesn't need to, allowing himself to laugh freely.
"So, Al," Tia offers him a smile, "Where's this map you promised?"
"Right," Aldric answers and begins digging through his bag, plucking out a map and rolling it out over his little shelf, "The procession," Al explains, pointing to their current location in the valley, "Will head west first, through the canyon complex," Tia watches as Aldric drags his finger along a path into the canyon, "The mesa is full of caves and mines but if you follow this river to its source above," Aldric points to the lip of the mesa, "There's a cave behind the waterfall, too close to the top for most to attempt exploration. And here's the compound," Al taps near the central city of the region.
Tia scans the rest of the map to find several locations have been circled with handwritten directions scribbled carefully along the margins.
"Wow," Tia chuckles, "This must've taken you forever! It almost looks like a treasure map... How did you find all of these?"
"Well," Aldric answers, a bit surprised by her analogy, and his eyes graze over each location, "I was always looking for somewhere to get away. These were my little sanctuaries."
"It really is a treasure map then," Tia speaks softly, tracing her fingers over the locations, and Aldric blinks, "S-sorry," Tia tries to laugh off her musings after noticing his silence, "I can be a little... weird sometimes."
"No, you're fine," Aldric tries to reassure her, "I'm just... not used to people..." he pauses, trying to find the right words, "I'm not used to people being sentimental around me. But I'd gladly take your awkward candor over flattery, pandering and manipulation any day!"
"Awkward candor," Tia sounds with bright laughter, offering him a grin, "Well I've got plenty more awkward left to offer if it doesn't bother you!" Both find themselves cracking up, the carefree laughter jostling their shoulders. Tia sighs as they quiet down, sliding herself down a wall and sitting on the cave floor.
"Flattery and manipulation though?" Tia remarks, "That's a bit over my head."
"People just..." Aldric complains, imitating Tia's motion and they both sit on the cave floor, staring into the water, "They all want something and I'm a tool for or fast-track to that desire," Aldric explains, "They aren't speaking to me, they're speaking to the keystone of their aspirations. They'Il only ever show me the person they think I want them to be. I always have to keep that in the back of my mind."
"That sounds exhausting," Tia answers, stifling a yawn.
"You were right," Aldric chuckles, his face softening, "This... arrangement... it does make it easier to talk about this stuff."
"Right!" Tia laughs, her chest expanding with a sigh, "I really missed this. I wish everyone was this easy to talk to...!"
"Still figuring things out with your roommate?" Aldric questions, glancing over at her.
"Things are a bit weird," Tia admits with a shrug, "We had to fight during that sparring session but we haven't really talked yet," Tia pauses to laugh, "I can't believe I made it through that whole fight, let alone winning!"
"You're surprised you won?" Aldric asks, raising a brow at her.
"Very," Tia emphasizes, yawning again before she continues, "She is so much stronger than I am. I kinda just... stumbled my way through the fight somehow. The others did all the work."
"At least you can rely on your unit," Aldric answers optimistically, "Mine just... let me win. How am I supposed to get stronger or even know how strong I am if everyone lets me win?" Aldric glances to Tia when she doesn't respond and finds her dozing. Aldric rises, Tia jumping awake after hearing him shuffle about.
"S-sumimasen!" Tia gasps and scrambles to her feet before pausing, speechless. Aldric has cleared off his reading nook and laid a mess of blankets overtop.
"I-It's not much," Aldric stutters, a bit self-conscious, "But you're welcome to sleep here if your room isn't an option."
"I..." Tia breathes and Al winces, wondering if he overstepped, but as Tia approaches the makeshift bed her eyes are dusted with budding tears, "Thank you, Al!" Tia turns to him, speaking emphatically, "But..." she pauses with a mischievous smirk, "I better not find you creeping on me in my sleep!"
"Absolutely not," Aldric denies vehemently, "I would never!"
"Oh, man," Tia chortles and snorts while Aldric turns to hide his embarrassment, shoulders raised, "You're face is so red!"
"Goodnight!" Aldric blurts discordantly, stomping into the water before fading into the pool. Tia gladly slinks between the blankets.
Nothing
Security staff patrol the compound thoroughly, checking every dark corner for their "intruder". Ben is brought back to the lodge after having his face stitched up. He knows it will scar, much like his father's, as even healing magic is unable to mend such utterly sundered flesh. He's taking a smoke before debriefing his superiors when an owl swoops onto a branch nearby. He leers at the creature and it peers into his eyes in return. Ben finds himself in a bit of daze, broken only as the door to the lodge swings open. As Modeste steps outside, the owl slips back into the night.
"We're ready for you," Modeste informs him.
Ben puts out his pipe and follows her inside. The Marshall and one other are waiting, the second woman dressed in the uniform of an instructor. His eyes jump from one person to another, still quite unsettled by his experience.
"Take a seat," Beatrice offers, gesturing to the lounge, "And try to relax." Beatrice sits across from him while Modeste and the other woman situate themselves just behind her. "Miss Claire is here to help us see what you've seen," Beatrice explains, Ben's eyes drifting to her again, "Go on, Joyce."
Joyce makes her way to Ben, offering him her hand with a simple gesture. Ben looks between Joyce and Beatrice once more before grasping her hand, completely enveloped by a pearly glow.
"Walk us through what happened," Beatrice instructs.
"We were changing shifts," Ben begins. As he speaks, Joyce projects an illusion matching the memory he recounts displaying what he saw and heard. "But there was something strange," Ben continues, the illusion focusing in on a nearby shadow as it bends and darkens, "And then she emerged," a bit of fear still touches his voice.
A girl, at first crouched over, rises to her feet. Shadows cloak her face and body, blacking out her appearance and seeming to have a life of their own. Even as the torchlight wavers around her these shadows do not fade yet the girl herself is disturbingly torpid.
"We tried to surround her," Ben narrates. The other two staff flank her, circling around cautiously. Ben readies a small orb in his left palm, drawing a sword with his right. As the orange sphere forms, the girl stirs and locks onto it. "But when she attacked," Ben's voice wavers, "There was nothing I could do."
Shadows begin leaking out around her, snuffing out the torches as the darkness expands. For a moment, she seems preoccupied with something unseen between her hands. Then, abandoning all hesitation, her movements and posture take on a vicious, sinister nature. She gestures and Ben's orb detonates in his hand, disarming him and sending him stumbling backwards. His back collides with the stone wall of the gate and he attempts to regain his balance.
When Ben opens his eyes, he startles as the girl is horrifically face to face with him. She brings her arms together gradually, one to each side of him, gripping unseen weapons which rend the stone to her whim. They carve away without offering any resistance and Ben instantly recognizes the danger he is in. His coworkers attack the girl but meet invisible, impenetrable barriers, unable to impede or even approach her. Yet she doesn't acknowledge or even perceive their presence. Her focus is wholly on Ben and he realizes he is utterly helpless.
"She stopped for a moment," Ben continues numbly. They watch as the inky wool peels away from her face and she glowers at Ben nose to nose.
"I..." Ben squints at Tia, her features seeming familiar, "I thought I knew her when it was happening but..." Modeste and Beatrice share a glance but wait for him to continue, "No," he huffs, the memory of the girl he chased up the mountain evading him, "I thought I'd die by my father's blades," Ben scowls at his shaking hands, "But that beast appeared and I was able to slip away."
"Your father's blades?" Modeste questions, not fully familiar with her newest employee.
She knew Ben was demoted to this position but Modeste prefers to keep politics out of her division. Many staff within the program use their employment here to escape the trappings of nobility. Ben takes a breath before gesturing to the cuts in the stone.
"She was using void blades," Ben's voice is grim, a hand finding its way to his wound, "You can't see them without one of Vokda's blessings but... I know that cut."
The illusion continues and they watch as a creature, exuding shadows and concealing its form as well, leaps between the girl and the other two. As the girl looks to him, Ben slinks down and rolls out of her sight. The beast jumps at her and they both sink into the shadow. Then, nothing.
"Roll it back," Beatrice instructs, the projection moving in reverse until Beatrice motions for her to stop again.
"Joyce," Beatrice questions and the woman practically jumps. She gestures to the fruitless attacks of security staff before continuing, "What's going on here?"
"W-well," Joyce speaks a bit sheepishly, "S-shadows are relatively harmless but void has many effective and devastating applications-"
"Joyce," Beatrice repeats with a harder tone. Joyce clears her voice, flashing an apologetic smile.
"It looks like Vokda's Skin, ma'am," Joyce states plainly, "Only... expanded? Perhaps Vokda's Aura instead..."
"I'll ask you one more time," Beatrice speaks slowly, growing irritable, "What is going on here?" Joyce considers carefully before speaking again.
"While void blades can rend anything, expanding or cutting into the emptiness existing between all materials," Joyce explains as simply as she can muster, "Concentrated void, sometimes called void shields, instead make it impossible for matter to pass through or penetrate the space it occupies. Th-these were the Dark King's sword and shield."
"Why can't we see anything?" Modeste questions in response. Joyce blinks at her before responding.
"They... they consist of void," Joyce emphasizes, "Void is nothingness itself!"
"Nothing did this?" Modeste questions with furrowed brows, gesturing to Ben's face, and Joyce nods to her tentatively. She lets out a dissatisfied sigh, pressing her lips together and falling silent.
Beatrice gestures for her to continue the projection and has her pause again as Tia glowers at Ben with her face exposed. Beatrice and Modeste step before the illusion, scouring Tia's true face, a face to attach their superstition to.
"Wielding both shadow and void," Beatrice notes and ambition sparks in her eyes, "White hair and a dark beast. This is the one his majesty wants!"
"We won't be able to overpower her easily," Modeste speaks plainly, "And she can escape far too quickly."
"We're going to have to be clever," Beatrice agrees with a sigh, "If we spook her that's it, she's gone," she pauses, contemplative, before turning back to them, "We keep this under wraps," she instructs to all of them, "I don't want any recruits overhearing what happened. Everything moves forward normally."
"Normally," Beatrice confirms clearly, "We act as if she's escaped. Let her settle in with us. If we're going to capture her," Beatrice looks at Tia again with narrowed eyes, "We need to play the long game."
Wyrm flits by them in the form of a moth, fluttering back out the window to return to Lily with the good news. He knew already how delighted his master must be.
