Dark Side of the Moon
Cross Effects => Cross Effects => Areas => Topic started by: SINIB on April 16, 2013, 01:56:25 PM
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Contested Areas
A large swathe of the land in the north between the three great powers is not directly controlled by any of them. A diverse collection of polities and communes exist within this area, influenced to various degrees. Most are at least nominally aligned with one or more of the powers, and there are large swathes of people whom simply wish to live their lives in peace seperate from "all the bullshit."
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Adaham District
History:
Adaham has had a checkered past. Decades ago, it was a center of industry, harvesting resources from the bordering Stone Forest. The workers didn’t risk angering the elementals by logging, instead mining the meadows where the mineral-rich trees fell ages before. WIth a steady flow of rare material and precious gemstones, the district experienced great wealth and prestige.
Of course, all great things must come to an end. Restricted to the meadows, and all but forbidden from logging, there was no room for expansion. Soon, the open-pits bottomed out and, with that, the industry halted. The wealthy packed up and left, with the middle-class following soon after. Refineries closed their doors, and the apartment complexes emptied out.
Adaham became a slum. Poverty was rife, and the streets could only be described as ”semi-controlled anarchy.” The district chief was the leader of whatever gang held the most influence. It is dangerous to walk the streets at night, and exploring the myriad of empty buildings could end up with you stumbling upon the more..carnivorous citizens or witnessing something a less-than-scrupulous syndicate doesn’t want to be seen.
At least, that was the case up to five years ago…
Witnesses described seeing an angel clothed in white flying out of a bank of clouds. Shortly afterwards, the then-district chief’s administrative building erupted in flames. As suddenly as it arrived, the angel disappeared. Days later, a wealthy man by the name of Edward Flank arrived with a mercenary outfit…
Current Day Overview:
Edward Flank seeks to restore Adaham to its former glory, no matter the cost. The main streets have been cleaned up, the refineries repaired, the apartments returned to livable conditions. It is a time consuming process that requires a lot of capital, and there are plenty of areas just off the main roads that are still ghettos.
Flank is not entirely benevolent, however. Said refineries are being put under the Adaham Mineral Corporation’s name, a corporation he himself started up. Those who become a thorn in his side are forcibly removed from the district or just disappear.
The surrounding districts is wary of Flank; After all, the timing of the supposed angel attack and him setting up shop is far too short to be coincidence. Not to mention the fact that the mines have been exhausted for decades now, so him creating a corporation tailored to such an industry is quite suspect.
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Meeting Hall
4:00 PM Nexus Time
The people of Longdale led uneasy lives. Its people had some choice in who led them, and a few of them were strong enough to keep the monsters away. It still had some crime, some of it even violent, but it wasn't ruled by supernatural dictators or controlled by massive gangs either. It was a fairly ordinary place with fairly ordinary people who had fairly ordinary problems - but those were still problems. People were still poor, still had trouble finding work, and still had unpleasant home lives. No amount of stability and mundanity could take away these things. No, only a real effort could work to improve the lives of others when the answer wasn't 'put a bullet in it.'
COMMUNITY DINNER TODAY
BRING YOUR OWN DISHES
SPONSORED ENTERTAINMENT
Which is why events like this one happened every so often. People would come together and spend the day as a community, and there would be all kinds of raffles and local organizations would try to recruit or solicit donations. And food.
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Sakura and Shirou
4:00 PM Nexus Time
As soon as they had returned from their unexpectedly-extended walk, Sakura and Shirou immediately set to work, cooking up the dishes that they had planned for the dinner. Despite the delay and the resultant hurry they were in to get everything ready in time, they were in good spirits, excited to be able to meet people and share their delicious cooking with their neighbours. They moved around the kitchen with great efficiency and skill, cooking up as many of the dishes they had planned as possible, aided by their wise decision to do as much as possible beforehand. Still, they knew they would unfortunately be somewhat late to the party.
5:00 PM Nexus time
An hour later, Sakura and Shirou were ready. Both of them had dressed up in smart clothes, Sakura wearing a nice blouse and knee-length skirt, and Shirou in a shirt and trousers. The food, meanwhile, had been absorbed by Sakura into her shadow dimension, and was being carefully maintained and stored for retreival when they arrived.
"OK, let's go, Senpai!" Sakura said. "We're already an hour late."
Shirou nodded, and the two of them headed out of the door.
On arrival at the hall, they rushed in, seeking out the person in charge of the food.
"Sorry we're late", Sakura said, apologetically. "We got a little delayed, and we needed the time to cook. Where should we put our dishes?"
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Meeting Hall
On their way in the young couple had a lot of people waving to them, smiling and saying hello, but many were already sitting down at the tables set out in the hall and getting the plates and plastic utensils ready. Up at the stage set up on the other end of the hall were people shuffling about, clearly cleaning up after some other opening event Sakura and Shirou had just missed.
One of the organizers, a nice young man wearing a white button-up shirt and some slacks, smiled in relief as the two of them walked in. Shirou and Sakura had a bit of a reputation for their cooking in the neighborhood, but from this boy's expression it was like they'd just saved the day. "Oh, thank you! We were just starting to have people start serving. You missed one of the opening presentations, but I don't think anybody minds."
He showed them to a spot on the serving tables, where some guests were already helping themselves, where there was room. "Please, help yourselves while you're at it! Some of the charity events are still getting set up, so you have time."
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Sakura and Shirou
The couple responded to the greetings by returning their own, waving and smiling as they greeted their neighbours before they found the person they were seeking, the man in charge of the food. They could tell from the look of relief on his face that he had been somewhat worried that they and, more importantly, their food, wouldn't be coming, and they smiled back as he directed them to the serving tables.
"OK, thank you", Sakura said, politely, before heading over towards the tables.
On arrival, Sakura opened a small shadow portal and removed the dishes one by one, as if she was pulling them out of thin air, before placing them on the table as instructed. Then, with that complete, the two of them moved to join the short queue for obtaining a plate and some food. After a few moments, they were able to obtain the plate and moved to collect some food. They both took food from a variety of dishes, some of their own together with some of the dishes cooked by other people which caught their fancy. Then, having loaded their plates up with a reasonable but not excessive amount of food, they looked around the room for a mostly-occupied table with a pair of seemingly free seats. Finding some, they moved over to the table in question.
"Are these seats free?" Shirou asked when he got to the table, smiling kindly.
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Meeting Hall
"Hmm? Oh, yes, of course!" An older woman at the table they sought a place to sit and eat. She looked at them both and smiled, as if to think 'what a cute couple', and then turned her attention back to what she was doing. Talking to her friend across the table about some portion of her daily routine. Everything was pretty much as normal, as you would expect it to be at something like this. Sakura and Shirou found themselves with plenty of time to eat a bit, mingle with the locals, get a sense for what was going on.
They heard soon enough about some of the charities and other donors involved with the event. They had some local churches and and a couple of student groups renting the space out for this, and the two of them could see people passing out pamphlets and other materials around some of the tables. One young girl with long hair dyed a bright pink and wearing a blue sundress came up to Sakura in particular and bounced in excitement. "Wow, I love your hair! What dye did you use? Oh, or is it real?!"
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The DMV
5 AM Nexus Time
A man stands outside the local DMV. His car sits behind him, the hum of the engine fading along with his passion for life. There were few places so boring and tepid, so pointless and dry. He was a grown man, with a history of visits here. This was one of the safer spots in town. Nothing bad tended to happen here, almost nothing at all. There was crime sure, but where wasn't their crime. Supernaturals lived here, but they kept things quiet. It wasn't something people really talked about. This was a safe location.
And so boring.
There was nothing in the building, nothing but sadness and the sensation of his butt against the hard seat. Every single face had the same thing on it, the face of people who wanted to be anywhere else. Some looked around in dispair, others in anguish, many with just exhaustion. Him... All he could think of was what lead him to this moment. There was something dark, something truely terrifying about reflecting on ones decisions when in the DMV. Yes. Then and there he decided to reflect on his entire life.
Born to a wealthy family, Jackson lived a life of privlage. He never needed anything in the world. A smart boy, the young Jackson did well in his classes. With all the special tutoring, he knew everything he needed to in order to overcome the education system and thus had no real troubles there either. With his connections, finding a job wasn't that much trouble either. However, wealth couldn't help him with his personality and so he got fired from his high paying job. Even they thought he was entitled. Dropping from the ladder of society, he found himself falling further and further, losing the respect of his wife, family and freinds. Worst of all, he had to learn how to drive.
Jackson wiggled in his seat. There was nothing he hated more than these trips. They were so miserable....
Jacksons body began to expand and grow as the feeling of despair deepened. The ground beneath him started to crack as his body grew larger. Bodies began to slump in their seats, souls gathering around him. His dispair acted as a magnet for all those lost in the eternal hell of the DMV. The giant of a man burst out of the DMV his eyes glowing red with anger. He reached down, scooped up several bodies in the palm of his hands and emptied them into his mouth. The sound of bones cracking filled the air as blood dripped from his lips. The huge behemoth of a monster began to glow....
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Sakura Edelfeldt
5 am Nexus Time
Sakura had been flying over the Nexus with Edelgard clinging to her back, looking around studiously for something they could justify beating the snot out of. Sakura felt powerful, invincible, as Elizabeth's blood still coursed through her veins.
And finally, they had found something! An enormous monster had burst out of a building, and threatened this small community.
She waved her wand at it, an enormous magical circle instantly forming in front of her, charging energy from parallel worlds.
"Sakura beaaaaaam!"
A brilliant violet blast hurtled forward, about as thick as a car, towards the monster.
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Edelgard
Edelgard didn't plan to complain, but this flying was awkward even with Sakura's uplifting mood. So it was almost a relief when something came into their view, breaking through the repose of the sleeping city.
At the sound and tremor of it, the Forsaken flashed back to a distasteful fight from two days ago - and the meeting that ensued -, but Sakura acted first. The darkness scattered with a glare of mystical force, and that removed any need for words. In an instant, Edelgard climbed into Sakura's shoulders and jumped into the air. Her body twisted with ferocious grace, as Forthright End came free from its straps, and her feet catapulted it.
The spear boomed, and faster than it boomed, it flew parallel to the cherry-colored lance with dragon-piercing strength, while Edelgard began her free-fall.
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Jackson the Giant
The giant held out his palm, the blast pressing against his palm. The beast roared in pain, the crushed bones of the victims visible in his mouth. Blood and drool overflowed from his lips, dropping the mushy remains onto the rubble beneath. The beasts entire arm slumped down to its side, the giant falling on one knee. The spear pierced its back, causing it to roar once more.
Finally, it swallowed, a dark magical aura engulfing its body. The third-degree burns on its arm started to heal, becoming less and less severe by the second. If nothing was done, they would fully heal.
"DIE!"
With its free arm, it attempted to swat Sakura out of the sky, completely ignoring the other one.
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Sakura Edelfeldt
Sakura dodged upwards, laughing like a maniac. "Hahaha, this feels great!" She waved Sapphire at the giant's hand, sending out another series of beams in rapid succession. "Fire!" Brilliant purple beams headed straight for the monster's eyes.
She felt the blood pulsing through her body, the nimbleness of her movements, and the throbbing of her addition.
Despite her better impulses, she was getting really into this fight. She wanted more.
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Edelgard
Tough, Edelgard thought, but no matter. The warrior flicked her wrist, and the spear tore free from the meat of the monster, and she clasped it decisively in her hands. Her body turned mid-air and she landed bladed point-first on the thing's wounded arm.
Edelgard inhaled as it only shallowly buried past burned skin. Steadying her footing, she pulled the spear out, and began a mad run over the length of the limb. The polearm whistled repeatedly through the air, spraying unclean blood as it made a trench of scars through the still-recovering meat.
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Jackson the Giant
The giant bit his lip, finally swallowing the mangled victims, all while blood on his arm shot upward like a geyser. It was a shallow cut, but it was still incredibly painful, maddeningly so. Frustrated, the giant slammed its foot into the ground, shattering the earth below and sending minor tremors through the district. The rubble of the DMV shot upwards, shooting up entire chairs, bodies, chunks of the reception desks, and even the building. It all threatened to strike both Sakura and Edelgard at the same time if they did not take action to defend themselves.
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Jackson the Giant
The giant bit his lip, finally swallowing the mangled victims, all while blood on his arm shot upward like a geyser. It was a shallow cut, but it was still incredibly painful, maddeningly so. Frustrated, the giant slammed its foot into the ground, shattering the earth below and sending minor tremors through the district. The rubble of the DMV shot upwards, shooting up entire chairs, bodies, chunks of the reception desks, and even the building. It all threatened to strike both Sakura and Edelgard at the same time if they did not take action to defend themselves.
Sakura Edelfeldt
Sakura trusted Edelgard to take care of herself, but she was worried-this monster was ludicrously strong, physically seeming to be as powerful as a strong servant. Shadows began wrapping themselves around both the women's bodies, ready to absorb blows if need be. Sakura's quickly turned into clothing-like gloves and boots, while Edelgard's simply remained as it was, a writhing black mass that gave her the impression of Sakura.
Sakura waved Sapphire in front of herself, and let the stick do her work. Her magical output shifted in favor of defense, lowering her offensive power but increasing the automatic shields Sapphire created.
Even weakened, she still continued strafing with her beams, aiming for vulnerable points such as the monster's eyes and groin area.
If he even still works like that anymore, she thought to herself.
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Sakura and Shirou
Smiling back at the older woman, Sakura and Shirou took their seats and began to eat the delicious food. Once they finished, they remained seated for a bit, chatting to the other attendees on their table, before they decided to mingle with the rest of the attendees and check out some of the groups that were manning tables along the edges of the room. In particular, they were very interested in the charitable groups that were involved with the dinner, wondering if there was anything they could do to help them out.
As they wandered around, though, a young girl with bright pink hair approached them, addressing Sakura. The purple-haired girl frowned momentarily at the bad memories her question brought back, before she buried those feelings and gave the girl a genuine smile.
"Thank you", she said, her gratitude seemingly genuine. "But it is real, I'm afraid, so I can't recommend any dye for you to use."
Of course, Sakura's hair wasn't truly natural, but she knew that the girl wouldn't want to go through what she'd been put through to make her hair look like this.
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Edelgard
The force of the step was tremendous, and Edelgard's eardrums trembled. The upwards wave of debris was too dense and sudden to easily avoid in its entirety. But she felt the familiar pulse and coldness of Sakura's sorcery settle around her like armor, and decided to leap.
Edelgard barreled through the least parts of the hazard, and bounced between the larger pieces as they flew, causing an chain of thunderclaps. Shrugging off mere scrapes and scratches, she cannoned off the last jump at where the giant's face ought to have been, and swung her polearm with all her strength.
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Giant Jackson
Lasers rained down from the sky, some blocked by debris but most landing on his back. Keeled over a bit, the lasers simply struck his back and eyes, causing the creature to wail, its unburned arm reaching upwards to shield its eyes. Meanwhile, the burnt arm began to heal once more, the open wounds closing shut. The third-degree burns slowly started to become less severe. Caught completely off guard, the giant's face stood firm as it was struck by Edlegard's strike.
Annoyed, but afraid of being struck in the eyes again by the beams, Jackson swiped at Edlegard, intent on killing it in a single hit.
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Edelgard
Having such a hard face was unfair. A lesser warrior wouldn't even leave a scratch, and that was precisely why she had no leeway to think of anything else as the giant limb attempted to swat her. Falling after a useless swipe, the only thing that she could use to her advantage were mere pebbles and splinters of debris still in the air.
Her lips quirked up in a way that was only meant for herself. Twisting, Edelgard touched the sole of a foot to a piece of a desk - and kicked off as though from a nailed-down plank.
The graze of the monster smacked her beyond the force of the jump, and she flipped in the air with a mild feeling of nausa before righting herself. The asphalt screamed as she ground to a halt with her metal heels and the butt of her spear, leaving long gashes carved ahead.
Her cracked ribs burned on the side where Sakura's armor had torn, and Edelgard spit to the ground, honing her sight on the thing's movements.
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Edelgard
Having such a hard face was unfair. A lesser warrior wouldn't even leave a scratch, and that was precisely why she had no leeway to think of anything else as the giant limb attempted to swat her. Falling after a useless swipe, the only thing that she could use to her advantage were mere pebbles and splinters of debris still in the air.
Her lips quirked up in a way that was only meant for herself. Twisting, Edelgard touched the sole of a foot to a piece of a desk - and kicked off as though from a nailed-down plank.
The graze of the monster smacked her beyond the force of the jump, and she flipped in the air with a mild feeling of nausa before righting herself. The asphalt screamed as she ground to a halt with her metal heels and the butt of her spear, leaving long gashes carved ahead.
Her cracked ribs burned on the side where Sakura's armor had torn, and Edelgard spit to the ground, honing her sight on the thing's movements.
Sakura
Sakura began to chant a spell, her crest glowing brightly as she called upon its great stored power. She reached into the shadow, and pressed her hand against Edelgard's back. A healing light covered her, closing her wounds and dulling the pain. Sapphire continued the offense, firing beams at full strength, maintaining the assault against its hand protecting its eyes.
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Giant Jackson
The lasers pressed against his arm, now beginning to leave purple bruises on his arm, almost as if he were being punched in the same spot over and over. It was really starting to hurt. Assuming it had killed the other one, the giant reached out with its free arm to grab Sakura. The arm that Sakura burnt was now a second-degree burn rather than a third-degree burn and was continuing to heal.
"GRRRRAAAAAH"
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Giant Jackson
The lasers pressed against his arm, now beginning to leave purple bruises on his arm, almost as if he were being punched in the same spot over and over. It was really starting to hurt. Assuming it had killed the other one, the giant reached out with its free arm to grab Sakura. The arm that Sakura burnt was now a second-degree burn rather than a third-degree burn and was continuing to heal.
"GRRRRAAAAAH"
Sakura Edelfeldt
Sakura's body faded into the shadow, reappearing on the ground behind the enormous man, staring up at his broken body. The stench of destruction invaded her nostrils, and her red eyes flared with anger. "You piece of shit! Just die already!"
She reached into her shadow to pull out a card. "Cover me!"
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Edelgard
Edelgard frowned at Sakura's shift of position and blasted to her feet, zigzagging forward to draw their foe's attention, flashing her spear. The sorcerer was the one with ranged attacks - and the Forsaken may have been faster, but that made her a less appealing target, not more. How did she expect cover from her? No matter, Edelgard would follow the lead.
Unaware of what the magician was planning, it didn't stop her from yelling at her ally. "Mouth! Inside!"
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Giant Jackson
The giant retracted his arm, staring at the empty palm of his hand. No blood, no body. "Where?" he grunted, looking up, down, left and right. Eventually he turned around, the ground shaking with each step. THe massive figure towered over them, its shadow blocking out the view of the moon. Its chin tilted downward, its eyes narrowing as it spotted its targets. Its knee rose, ready to stomp them into the ground.
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Sakura
The purple haired, red-eyed magical girl glared up at him dismissively, as if to taunt the rouge beast. "Class Card! Berserker!" She cried out. "Install!"
To those that were magically sensitive nearby, they would feel an intense rush of magic as Sakura was enveloped in a billowing darkness. Her shadows absorbed her, clamped around her, and then, burst outwards with a blast of force.
Her magical girl outfit was gone, replaced by a black fog surrounding black armor. Shadows coalased into a whip in one hand, while she ran to the side, suddenly as fast as Edelgard. She tore up a lightpole from the ground and lept up, following her comrade towards the creature's mouth.
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Edelgard
She recognized the black knight's shape from the first wisps of darkness, and knew their approaches were now aligned. There was no reason to not commit.
Aslphalt cracking from her steps, Edelgard's arm strained with force and hurled Forthright End before her entire body followed it. She flew at the mouth of the monster like a single ray of bronze lightning, riding her weapon under its rising arms with her posture wound low.
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Giant Jackson
The foot sunk into the remains of the building, rocks and rubble shooting into the air. Dust billowed from the ground, flowing upward towards his face. He underestimated his strength and the impact his size can make. The creature's eyes widened as the two emerged from the dust, shooting towards his face like little rockets. Instinctively, he turned his head to the side and attempted to swat them from the air like flies. His lips parted ever so slightly to allow a gasp to come through.
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Giant Jackson
The foot sunk into the remains of the building, rocks and rubble shooting into the air. Dust billowed from the ground, flowing upward towards his face. He underestimated his strength and the impact his size can make. The creature's eyes widened as the two emerged from the dust, shooting towards his face like little rockets. Instinctively, he turned his head to the side and attempted to swat them from the air like flies. His lips parted ever so slightly to allow a gasp to come through.
Sakura Edelfeldt
Sakura was moving faster than the giant had expected, and flew past the clumsy hand. She crashed into his shoulder and climbed onto it, creating herself a sword to decapitate him with.
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Edelgard
The swing that came would throw Edelgard off even if it didn't hurt her, but before that, she jumped off the flying polearm herself. The giant's attempt passed under harmlessly, and she slung herself at its mouth with the momentum.
The forsaken warrior grit her teeth and triggered her spell. Her strength was flooded beyond its limits, and with a minute gesture, the diverted spear found itself back in her grasp.
She roared, and with both hands plunged it into the monster's mouth, locking its half-closed jaw in place with a ugly sound.
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Giant Jackson
The giant flailed its head in utter pain, its hands once again trying to swat the two girls. One hand went for his shoulder where the purple-haired bug was, the other reached to grab hold of Edelgard. Hopefully, he could get at least one of them. It was like being stung constantly by hornets while being occasionally bitten by a dog.
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Giant Jackson
The giant flailed its head in utter pain, its hands once again trying to swat the two girls. One hand went for his shoulder where the purple-haired bug was, the other reached to grab hold of Edelgard. Hopefully, he could get at least one of them. It was like being stung constantly by hornets while being occasionally bitten by a dog.
Sakura Edelfeldt
Sakura hopped backwards off of the shoulder to dodge the attack, smacking the side of his head as she flew by. "I'll keep him distracted, you handle the inside!''
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Edelgard
She pulled, and the polearm shallowly cut itself free from the thing's jaw - the warrior took it it with with her into past the formed mouth, and chopped without missing a beat, forcing it through the tight space of this wet, cancerous gap.
Edelgard's roar echoed from the giant's mouth as she began to tear, and tear, and tear, repeatedly thrusting into the engorged skull with the little freedom she had like she was trying to open a hole in a wall of steel.
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Dead Jackson
Pain. There was nothing but pain.
The giant fell to his knees, destroying several houses. His face fell forward onto the ground, smothering even more houses. The giant known as "that fucking giant that appeared out of nowhere" was now dead.
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Sakura Edelfeldt
And, within minutes, they'd slaughtered him. Sakura hopped off of him as he fell, releasing the transformation after landing on the ground. She grabbed the card and reabsorbed it into her shadow before sighing. She wasn't happy with the damage that it'd caused, but it was also over disappointingly fast. She couldn't shake off the rush of battle, but also felt somewhat bad for enjoying fighting in an urban area.
"Hrm." She muttered, scratching the back of her neck.
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Edelgard
Before the dust had even settled, the collapsed giant trembled. Its shape shook and bulged, as though something was about to erupt from its bowels, and the next moment, its limp, heavy mouth was kicked open, dislodging the entire malformed skull in place.
Edelgard stepped out, covered in sweat, blood and cranial matter, as strips of flesh and pieces of bone clung to her person. A viscous drip accompanied the clack of metal heels on the cracked ground, and her chest heaved up and down with the steady tempo of powerful lungs. The Forsaken warrior wiped blood from her smile with the back of a hand, turning a mellow and flushed look towards Sakura.
"Victory," she declared, whipping her polearm down and splashing red out of it.
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Sakura
Sakura chuckled, covering her amused grin with her hand. She raised her arm up into the air with a tightened fist. "Victory!"
If nothing else, she was happy her friend had been snapped out of her funk.
Sapphire just retracted herself into storage mode, and snuggled up back in Sakura's chest puppies. "Yes, a brutal, bloody victory." She muttered from within.
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Edelgard
She looked down at herself, then to Sakura, and back at herself. Edelgard's voice fell slightly in her next words, "Could use bath."
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Edelgard
She looked down at herself, then to Sakura, and back at herself. Edelgard's voice fell slightly in her next words, "Could use bath."
Sakura
Sakura chortled. "Yes. This sort of blood makes my stomach turn-it looks and smells absolutely revolting."
Sakura looked around at the destruction the giant had wrought as a shadow opened up behind her, coalescing into an inky black doorway.
"Shall we, then?"
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Edelgard
Edelgard cringed at the visible distortion of the passageway, but blinked it away and stepped in along with Sakura. The caster would probably not appreciate it if Edelgard grabbed her shoulder for security during the journey while she was so bloodied. She forced herself to remain still.
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Edelgard
Edelgard cringed at the visible distortion of the passageway, but blinked it away and stepped in along with Sakura. The caster would probably not appreciate it if Edelgard grabbed her shoulder for security during the journey while she was so bloodied. She forced herself to remain still.
Sakura Edelfeldt
Sakura laughed and wrapped her arm around Edelgard's arm, pulling her tightly against her, ignoring the mass of blood and viscera on her friend.
"Don't hold back for my sake, silly." Sakura laughed before pulling Edelgard into the fell-looking ominous portal.
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Evan
A large bright orb shined ever so brightly against a starry night sky. Each little twinkle seemed so far away, yet Evan couldn't resist the urge to reach toward them. Each one had a different color, glowing ever so warmly. The only thing holding him back, from grabbing that warmth were the chains tieing him to an execution tower. It was an enormous platform that stretched high in the sky, casting a shadow on the citizens below. Evan's face was beaten and bloody, a stream of blood coating his face, his cheeks swollen from repeated strikes to the face. The young man was on his knees, bent over with his neck on a chopping block. He stared down at the crowd, all cosplaying his famous alter ego, the mage of lies. Every single person in that crowd had frowning faces and watery eyes, barely holding themselves back from breaking into tears.
"So this is what you saw... John," Evan said, making eye contact with a little boy. He was the first to start crying.
Never before had there been such an absolute power on its people. Even with the mage of lies and the full force of the rebellion, it wasn't enough. The hero of the people had been captured, and his executioner was none other than the leader of that horrible organization.
A hand wrapped itself around the back of his head. "You know, you were a real annoying gnat for a little while. I wanted to sit around, see what you would do, thought maybe you would grow to threaten my power, give me a little challenge. I was so disappointed when I found out you just wanted to help grannys. What was that one woman's name, Jerald?"
"Jannet."
"DEAD! SHE'S DEAD!"
The man stared into the crowd. "John.... why did you smile. How could you smile in a situation like this?"
20 Years Ago
"Why don't we have any money Ty!?"
"I don't know, why is Thomas always over Serra?"
"Don't change the subject! What are we going to do about the bills?!"
A young Evan walked into the room, holding a white top hat. He was wearing a mini suit with the word magician stickered onto his chest. "Mom.. Dad... I'm ready. Can you listen to my show now?"
The two looked at each other, then sat down on the couch. This was Evan's most charished memory. He could still remember their smiling faces as he pulled pigeons from his hat and cloth from his wrists. It was all fake, every aspect of it. He wasn't a real magician, they knew that. It wasn't magic that he was preforming. It was tricks. Those smiles. He thought for years about whether or not those smiles were real. When his parents watched him, they were in utter awe, oooing, ahhing and laughing. Their laughter in unison was the most beautiful thing in the world to him, especially since they spent every other moment fighting it felt like. Even that was a lie.
When someone goes to a magician's performance, they desire a fantasy where one man convinces them they are a magician. Magic isn't real, everyone knows that. Yet, for an twenty minutes to an hour, they let all of that fall away and live in a lie. They believe a lie so they can smile.
Evan's parents divorced many years later. That lie of happiness. Maybe I could give that to someone else.
That thought was what made him don the cape. One by one he helped people. Their smiles.... they were the same as his smile when he was a kid. They were similar to the ones his parents had back then. Maybe their happiness was a lie but their joy was real. The magic was fake, but the smiles were real. In the end, his parents couldn't find their own happiness in that cruel world. However, in the future, he was able to give others those same smiles. That was the true mission of the mage of lies.
Present Day
The man was holding Evan by his head, suspended in the air. "This is the fate of your hero, a fool who dared rise against my proud country. Let it be reminded that you don't live in a world shared by all but my world. A world I rightfully earned through conquest."
Evan's eyes were barely open, unable to really see much but the crowd was tearing up, crying. Evan's own eyes began to water, a single tear rolling down his cheek. "I... I don't want to die yet."
The chopping block split into dozens of pieces as Evan's head was slammed into the platform. The axe was raised, ready to come down on his neck. In that moment, he couldn't help but think back to that moment so long ago. "Why... did you smile? Why can't I-"
The axe came down, a collective gasp from the crowd filling the air. The mage of lies's mouth twisted from a distraught fearful frown to a joyful grin, the tears of despair twisted into ones of happiness from the framing of that grin. Thats when everything went black.
Evan
The young man laid on the ground, his arms sprawled out and his gaze facing the sky. The sky was different, clouds obscuring the heavens. He turned to the side, allowing him to see simple ordinary houses and street lights. Heaven was either a ordinary suburban neighborhood or he wasn't in Kansas anymore. Evan took a deep breath, savoring the simple joy of having air come in and out.
"Heheheheh......HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
-
Thorra
Thorra soared through the air, clutching herself tightly with her hand. She hadn't particularly wanted to dip out of that fight with, what was her name, Nanako? Despite her rambunctious nature, she was a plucky squirrel and she wouldn't have minded hanging out with her longer. However...
Thorra knew that fate was tugging on her strings. She wasn't sure what, or even how, but it was a familiar feeling that strung her along as she lived her life. And when it came calling, it wasn't going to be polite. It would smash down the building, cause tremendous collateral damage, get people she cared about killed. She'd read the stories, she knew of her own fated end. And she didn't want to involve bystanders in a way which would harm them. As powerful as her new acquaintance had been, she didn't have faith in her ability to have her back in a serious fight. Let alone the people who ran the shop, or the civilians within the rest of the district.
Eventually, she landed upon the roof of an abandoned, overgrown warehouse. Nature had overtaken large parts of it, vines digging into decaying concrete, but it still remained sturdy. Using her pointer, she began deftly carving runes in the tongue of the Æsir, searching for the time at which her destined event would happen. So, when Sage arrived, she would find a tall blond sitting atop a building, holding onto her bare feet and slowly rocking with a soft hum to pass the time.
-
Thorra
Thorra soared through the air, clutching herself tightly with her hand. She hadn't particularly wanted to dip out of that fight with, what was her name, Nanako? Despite her rambunctious nature, she was a plucky squirrel and she wouldn't have minded hanging out with her longer. However...
Thorra knew that fate was tugging on her strings. She wasn't sure what, or even how, but it was a familiar feeling that strung her along as she lived her life. And when it came calling, it wasn't going to be polite. It would smash down the building, cause tremendous collateral damage, get people she cared about killed. She'd read the stories, she knew of her own fated end. And she didn't want to involve bystanders in a way which would harm them. As powerful as her new acquaintance had been, she didn't have faith in her ability to have her back in a serious fight. Let alone the people who ran the shop, or the civilians within the rest of the district.
Eventually, she landed upon the roof of an abandoned, overgrown warehouse. Nature had overtaken large parts of it, vines digging into decaying concrete, but it still remained sturdy. Using her pointer, she began deftly carving runes in the tongue of the Æsir, searching for the time at which her destined event would happen. So, when Sage arrived, she would find a tall blond sitting atop a building, holding onto her bare feet and slowly rocking with a soft hum to pass the time.
Sage
An unkindness of migrating ravens passed overhead, unleashing all manner of inauspicious sounds in their wake. Yet one of their lot separated from the group and made to alight upon the opposite end of the warehouse's metal roof. Before its feet could reach the ground a glimmering green gas spread from the minuscule spaces between its feathers, and it was completely engulfed before her eyes. And then -
A lithe elven woman with green hair stood before her, hands folded before her. Her eyes, red and unblinkingly intense, took Thorra in with a predatory sort of assessment.
"I have found you, then."
-
Thorra
Electricity arced down from Thorra's pupils into the ground she sat upon, staring intently and unblinkingly at Sage with the intensity of the storm goddess. "So you have." She replied. "Before we fight, may I ask why fate has brought us here against one another?"
-
Thorra
Electricity arced down from Thorra's pupils into the ground she sat upon, staring intently and unblinkingly at Sage with the intensity of the storm goddess. "So you have." She replied. "Before we fight, may I ask why fate has brought us here against one another?"
Sage
The elven maiden motioned to Thorra, or rather to her legs, in a rather languid manner. "You wear quite a fine set of leggings, one for whom the skies speak praise. I must ask of you - did the being whose hide they were made from die by your hand? Or are you merely the beneficiary of the deed?"
-
Thorra
"Hmmm..." Thorra raised her eyebrow. How curious. Who would care about a dangerous beast created from a lust for greed and power being slain? "I killed the dragon, yes." She replied, slowly standing up. "I hunt many dangerous beasts which threaten the smallfolk. My name is Thorra-the daughter of Mjolnir herself." She tightened the grip upon the haft of her hammer while her divine aura flared. Lightning burst out of her skin and enveloped the entire building, glowing blue from the force of her power. The only part left untouched was the area directly around Sage, for now. "Before we fight-" Thorra leveled the hammer at Sage, pointing the gleaming head at the other woman. "What was he, to you?"
-
Sage
"Ah." The pointy-eared woman's shoulders seemed to slump at this moment, and her eyes sparkled in the light of Thorra's energetic display with unshed tears. Then, she closed her eyes, and took a step back toward the ledge of the warehouse's electrified roof. "My name is Sage. You murdered my son."
A step back further -
And then, a lightning strike independent of the divine hammer's own power struck down from the heavens. The thunder that shattered the windows of the warehouse came not from that, but from the furious roar of the great beast that rose up into the sky on wings of leaves and branches. The beast leered down with hateful glowing eyes.
"Prepare to die."
-
Sage
"Ah." The pointy-eared woman's shoulders seemed to slump at this moment, and her eyes sparkled in the light of Thorra's energetic display with unshed tears. Then, she closed her eyes, and took a step back toward the ledge of the warehouse's electrified roof. "My name is Sage. You murdered my son."
A step back further -
And then, a lightning strike independent of the divine hammer's own power struck down from the heavens. The thunder that shattered the windows of the warehouse came not from that, but from the furious roar of the great beast that rose up into the sky on wings of leaves and branches. The beast leered down with hateful glowing eyes.
"Prepare to die."
Thorra
Thorra swung. Her hammer arched through the air as she released it, as fast as lightning as it impacted the mother dragon's leg. With a tremendous crash, the impact exploded, sending shudders through the air around her.
"You? A dragon, caring what happens to their spawn?" She asked incredulously. "Inconceivable." She muttered under her breath.
-
Sage
The great wooden beast was tossed back by the impact of the hammer. It struck like thunder, crushing the vulnerable limb in question like the cracking of a tree trunk, and she spun once, twice... and pulled back up into the air, swooping around with a sky-shattering roar. As it soared past Thorra could catch a glimpse of the devastated limb pulling itself back together before her very eyes, and a great billowing cloud of poisonous, metal-melting breath dropped on top of her.
"I have many treasures, the dragon boasted as it pulled itself around to hover over the opposite edge of the warehouse, waiting to see Thorra choke and die as her insides melted. "The finest of jewels, mountains of gold, weapons and armor from heroes of old. And yet you chose to take from me the most precious treasure of them all!"
-
Sage
The great wooden beast was tossed back by the impact of the hammer. It struck like thunder, crushing the vulnerable limb in question like the cracking of a tree trunk, and she spun once, twice... and pulled back up into the air, swooping around with a sky-shattering roar. As it soared past Thorra could catch a glimpse of the devastated limb pulling itself back together before her very eyes, and a great billowing cloud of poisonous, metal-melting breath dropped on top of her.
"I have many treasures, the dragon boasted as it pulled itself around to hover over the opposite edge of the warehouse, waiting to see Thorra choke and die as her insides melted. "The finest of jewels, mountains of gold, weapons and armor from heroes of old. And yet you chose to take from me the most precious treasure of them all!"
Thorra
The hammer seemed to gravitate right back to Thorra's hand as her eyes widened. This dragon-she was regenerating as if she were a hydra, talking as if she-truly-cared about her children. She kicked off the roof, leaving it crumbling underneath her as she soared through the force of her jump at Sage's chest, passing right through the mist of her breath. It exploded with a few applied shocks, leaving a dramatic image as she soared right through it.
If sage cared to look, she'd see the shimmer of tears in Thorra's puppeted body.
-
Thorra
The hammer seemed to gravitate right back to Thorra's hand as her eyes widened. This dragon-she was regenerating as if she were a hydra, talking as if she-truly-cared about her children. She kicked off the roof, leaving it crumbling underneath her as she soared through the force of her jump at Sage's chest, passing right through the mist of her breath. It exploded with a few applied shocks, leaving a dramatic image as she soared right through it.
If sage cared to look, she'd see the shimmer of tears in Thorra's puppeted body.
Sage
Bright glowing eyes widened, and it was only the dramatic showing precipitating Thorra's ascent that permitted the great floating beast to rise above her lunging assault. But, t'was not a total rout in any sense, for the dragon's tail swung as if a whip along with her own rise in an attempt to smack its child's murderer back.
-
Thorra
Thorra's form slipping, and she could feel it. Her cocentration faltering, Sage's tail slammed into her gut, sending her hurtling back with a red welt on her stomach. This was all wrong! She wasn't supposed to care! She wasn't supposed to be a good parent...
She crashed down through the building, allowing herself to be taken to the ground.
-
Thorra
Thorra's form was slipping, and she could feel it. Her concentration faltering, Sage's tail slammed into her gut, sending her hurtling back with a red welt on her stomach. This was all wrong! She wasn't supposed to care! She wasn't supposed to be a good parent...
She crashed down through the building, allowing herself to be taken to the ground.
Sage
The great beast spread its great rustling wings across the evening sky like a green curtain, as though the forest had risen upon to consume their battlefield. And indeed it swiftly became so, the sky consumed by clouds and thunder while the roots beneath the black pavement pushed their way through cracks and crevices. A shifting malevolence echoed through the cracking and the pound and the beat, beat beat of wings against the wind. It was there to catch Thorra, wood and grass wrapping itself about her limbs and tangling their way into her fingers.
The remnants of the ceiling above her dripped down like a great rusted rain, melted by Sage's heaving breath, and they carried with them words.
"Are you so arrogant in your victory, butcher, that you are incapable of honoring me with the dignity of a worthy foe? Do you mean to fool me, that this is all the means you possess to fight back? What keeps you still, Thorra of Asgard?
The dragon grasped with enormous talons the husk of industry, and stuck her head through the aperture torn open for her by her opponent's woe. Golden eyes shone bright.
"Tell me at least that this is not what stole my treasure from me - this pitiful display!"
-
Thorra
A pair of green dragonscale leggings came flying up through the hole in the roof. Immediately following them came the blond storm goddess with an unexpected look of sorrow contorting her otherwise fine features. She looked sad. Confused. Upset. Uninterested in fighting. Her hammer hung at her side, and she shook her head. She floated at a respectful distance, in case Sage decided to try to suddenly close the distance and attack her once again. "What kind of dragon are you? You don't look like one from an eastern tradition at all."
-
Thorra
A pair of green dragonscale leggings came flying up through the hole in the roof. Immediately following them came the blond storm goddess with an unexpected look of sorrow contorting her otherwise fine features. She looked sad. Confused. Upset. Uninterested in fighting. Her hammer hung at her side, and she shook her head. She floated at a respectful distance, in case Sage decided to try to suddenly close the distance and attack her once again. "What kind of dragon are you? You don't look like one from an eastern tradition at all."
Sage
Sage pulled back from the opening as the leggings struck where she had been floating, while thick vines extended down from the terminus of her immense floral wings to catch them greedily. Delicately. Recognizing, then, that what had at first been an attack was in fact some manner of offering to surrender, the dragon pulled them closer to her face. And then, her eyes turned to Thorra.
"You - what game do you seek to play with me, wretched one?
Holding the physical remnants of her offspring close to her oaken hide, the great beast leered down upon Thorra's floating form.
"Is this your way of trying to plead for mercy? Surely, you do not expect me to believe this is regret?!"
-
Thorra
"It's no game." Thorra replied. "I think we just had a terrible misunderstanding." Lightning coursed along the woman's bare skin, gathering around her, making her glow with the blue of plasma. "I don't wish to add to my sin unless I have to." She readied her hammer, but made no further moves beyond that. Tears boiled away from the heat and she stared right at the dragon's green eyes. "In my world, dragons are evil creatures who are created as a result of greed or destroy the roots of the world tree. Tell me, O' great tree-dragon, what are your origins?"
-
Sage
"A misunderstanding? Evil world devourers?" The dragon's head snapped in Thorra's direction, but this time she made no move to strike. No, she appeared far too busy attempting to stow away the precious treasure the living hammer had pushed toward her. "I am guardian of the great forest, without whom man might tear down all that is green and good. There I was born, and there so was he - until you made him die."
A deep rumble escaped the beast's throat. "Surely, you do not expect mercy merely because you 'misunderstood?'"
-
Thorra
Before Sage could even finish asking her question, Thorra had already defiantly spat out a responce.
"OF COURSE NOT!" She roared. "I"m going to make what was wrong right!" The goddess thumped her chest with her fist. "I'm going to figure out how to bring him back! I swear it upon my father's name!"
-
Sage
The dragon, and the multitudinous lifeforms she had invoked into action, stilled as Thorra's words echoed louder than thunder could. That great forested figure descended with a creaking and a cracking to the ground, slowly, and drew close once more the prodigious prize of power which the demigoddess had relinquished. Sage's glowing eyes considered it, then her, and then it again.
"We shall see to the sincerity of your oath soon enough, then."
A thick cloud of acrid smoke escaped Sage's mouth and nostrils, and obscured all vision of her. In her place she was soon once more the green-haired elven maiden from before, and she stood in a fine dress of leaves holding the leggings in her arms. Her eyes, now red, glared up at Thorra as if challenging her to show her craven nature by attacking now.
-
Thorra
Thorra's responce was simple. She crouched down on the ground and lowered her head. "I will be sure to work hard to earn your forgiveness."
Despite her oath, she had absolutely no idea of where to start for such a quest.
-
Thorra
Thorra's response was simple. She crouched down on the ground and lowered her head. "I will be sure to work hard to earn your forgiveness."
Despite her oath, she had absolutely no idea of where to start for such a quest.
Sage
Heedless of the manner in which lifting her leg in such a way in such a dress demonstrated the many virtues of the elven form to her repentant foe, Sage did thusly place her foot atop Thorra's head and push down in a manner congruent with her frustration. "Hmph. You most certainly will! Firstly."
She proceeded to grind her heel against the demigoddess' fair and fairly soft hair. "Where is the rest of my precious child's body?"
-
Sage
Heedless of the manner in which lifting her leg in such a way in such a dress demonstrated the many virtues of the elven form to her repentant foe, Sage did thusly place her foot atop Thorra's head and push down in a manner congruent with her frustration. "Hmph. You most certainly will! Firstly."
She proceeded to grind her heel against the demigoddess' fair and fairly soft hair. "Where is the rest of my precious child's body?"
Thorra
Thorra's confidence shifted into a melancholic frown. "That's all that I have left. The rest is probably long gone, knowing her." She allowed Sage to grind her foot against her as much as she wanted, kneeling in place as she wracked her brain for ideas-anything.
Agh, she was sure Arndora would have an idea to help her out! What was she doing! Why hadn't she found her yet! "Hmmmm..." She brought her hand to her chin, practically ignoring the minor irritant of the heel on the top of her head.
Hell, it even felt kind of good. A nice little tickle.
-
Sage
"Knowing who? Who else laid hands on his remains, storm creature?" She lifted her foot off from Thorra's head after a few more frustrating moments of grinding, picking up readily then on how little difference it made to the demigoddess in this state. "Did they put you up to this folly?!"
-
Thorra
"I can't answer that question." Thorra replied. She couldn't just throw Neptune to the provibial wolves-this was her shame, not the smith's. She'd deal with it herself. There was all sorts of cool and interesting magic here, and she was absolutely positive in her abilities to make this happen on her own.
She finally stood up to her full height, looming over Sage. "Do you have any abilities yourself which could help in reviving him, Miss Dragon?"
-
Thorra
"I can't answer that question." Thorra replied. She couldn't just throw Neptune to the provibial wolves-this was her shame, not the smith's. She'd deal with it herself. There was all sorts of cool and interesting magic here, and she was absolutely positive in her abilities to make this happen on her own.
She finally stood up to her full height, looming over Sage. "Do you have any abilities yourself which could help in reviving him, Miss Dragon?"
Sage
"You can't answer, or will not?" Sage's eyes gleamed with her frustration up at Thorra, and after a moment of staring her down to no avail she clenched her elven form's fingers into fists. "It would be considerably simpler if I had the rest of him. This... state he is in," she said, holding up again the leggings the demigoddess had surrendered to her as an example. "Is something twisted enough I am uncertain my magic will even register as being him. And returning him as he was, is not certain."
She turned her eyes back down to the leggings, and Thorra caught a glimpse of wetness at the corners of her eyes. She closed them, shook her head, and turned her eyes back to Thorra. "If you will not surrender the craftsman to me, at least assist me in acquiring the rest."
-
Thorra
Electricity crackled down the length of Thorra's body, shrouding her in a faint blue light. "I can't and won't betray a friend." She replied simply, with a firm tone. "But of course, I will be helping you in any way I can. This new world-it's strange. Almost spooky, in a way."
-
Thorra
Electricity crackled down the length of Thorra's body, shrouding her in a faint blue light. "I can't and won't betray a friend." She replied simply, with a firm tone. "But of course, I will be helping you in any way I can. This new world-it's strange. Almost spooky, in a way."
Sage
She let out a growl of frustration, turning away from the great big blonde and clenching her hands into fists. "It's - accursed, and loud, and crowded, and nothing follows the same rules as what you expect. I understand that." Thorra could make out the thick exhalation through the nose. Smell the acidity of it even from there.
"When I come for you next, you will aid me." She turned, abruptly, back to Thorra. "Whatever you are doing, wherever you are staying, you will abandon it all and aid me in this task. Or we will finish what we started."
Eyes glaring, but with far less of the heat than before, she turned her eyes to the hammer in Thorra's hand.
"Deal?"
-
Sage
Some time later
The pseudo-elven maiden sat amid the dilapidation and disintegration of human civilization at the edge of the known world. A bramble, tough and merciless in its desire to endure amid crumbling construction and rotting roadways, attended to her requests for respite by serving as a place for her to rest her rear while she awaited the indebted one. It was a long wait, and she was given much time to spy the curtain wall of rock which rose up toward the sky.
There had once been a settlement on this spot, a place where those seeking a pathway to the Great Western Mountains could stop and rest before the perilous journey would begin. Then one day the stones fell in their hundreds, blocking the one reliable passage, and the village withered away. Witnessing the wake of civilization's passing left a small smile on Sage's lips when the sensational sensations of nature's reclamation could distract her from the dire desires motivating the trip to her would-be destination.
Even her princess, Eruraviel, could not unweave the remnants of her son's spirit without the proper reagents for her mighty magic. Only there, beyond the horizon, might her child's salvation be found.
It was why she awaited his murderer here, in this place where the land soon squirmed beneath the weight of her desperate heart.
-
Thorra
The hammerborn daughter of Thor didn't keep her waiting for too long. With a powerful crash of thunderous lightning signifying her arrival, the blond walked out of the small, freshly scourched crater wearing her usual outfit as well as a face filled with mixed emotions. There was shame, but there was also excitement. She wanted to explore new lands, experience new peoples, and this new world had so, so much to offer!
She just hoped that Sage's feelings would have cooled by now, enough to avoid any urges to step on or belittle her any further.
She wanted to start her first journey here correctly and properly.
-
Thorra
The hammerborn daughter of Thor didn't keep her waiting for too long. With a powerful crash of thunderous lightning signifying her arrival, the blond walked out of the small, freshly scorched crater wearing her usual outfit as well as a face filled with mixed emotions. There was shame, but there was also excitement. She wanted to explore new lands, experience new peoples, and this new world had so, so much to offer!
She just hoped that Sage's feelings would have cooled by now, enough to avoid any urges to step on or belittle her any further.
She wanted to start her first journey here correctly and properly.
Sage
The dragon in disguise set her stare to Thorra at the very moment of her arrival, fixing upon her as one might an intruder or a threat. She became exceptionally still, pointed ears ceasing to twitch, and awaited the living weapon's approach. Then with time and proximity the great druid visibly willed herself to relax, and instead merely fixed her with a frown. "It is good that you have made haste in this. Perhaps you are serious in your intent, and not merely bereft of pride."
She turned, then, not so far that Sage could not retain peripheral vision of Thorra but sufficient to be facing the old rockslide. "It has been spoken by the deep wood unto me - this once one of the few passages known to the Great Mountains, whose roots reach below the world to safeguard it from a sleepless, seething spite. Beyond it are lands untouched by the civilizations of man."
Sage pointed a finger sharply at the rocks. "Are you capable of breaking this? We will not find what we seek in the mists from above."
-
Thorra
"Tch-better than before. I'll take it. Thank you for giving me the chance to aid you in this endeavor, Madame Dragon." The woman stepped forward, walking past Sage without looking back, intentionally lowering her guard and giving sage an opportunity to attack her—if she desired, she would be able to fell Thorra's body right here, right now.
Then, Thorra raised her arm and made to strike the boulders with her thunderous strength.
-
Thorra
"Tch-better than before. I'll take it. Thank you for giving me the chance to aid you in this endeavor, Madame Dragon." The woman stepped forward, walking past Sage without looking back, intentionally lowering her guard and giving sage an opportunity to attack her—if she desired, she would be able to fell Thorra's body right here, right now.
Then, Thorra raised her arm and made to strike the boulders with her thunderous strength.
Sage
The dragon did not strike.
The boulders rubble cleared once, twice, thrice, before a path became clear. The air filled with dust and debris, blotting the slow rising sun. Ozone filled her nostrils.
The passage to the ends of the earth revealed itself again at last, steep and perilous as it reached for the sky.
Sage was standing next to her just slightly behind. Her eyes faced forward now, past Thorra's shoulder. She was standing on her tip toes to do it.
"I suppose I will have to lead the way, will I not?" She dropped back down to her heels, and brushed past the hammerborn warrior until it was her with her back unguarded. "Do not stray far. I may not be able to find you again in this place."
-
Thorra
Sage could feel Thorra's power beginning to course through her-granting her a portion of the demigoddess's strength as the nearly naked woman quickly caught up with a slight bounciness to her form. Looming over Sage, she took a position only a few steps behind her. "I'll be careful to avoid getting lost, then."
-
Thorra
Sage could feel Thorra's power beginning to course through her-granting her a portion of the demigoddess's strength as the nearly naked woman quickly caught up with a slight bounciness to her form. Looming over Sage, she took a position only a few steps behind her. "I'll be careful to avoid getting lost, then."
Sage
Her eyes fluttered in surprise at the sudden sensation of strength suffusing her soft and sensitive skin and skeleton, Sage's elven form feeling for just a moment closer to her true and terrible capabilities. Her ears twitched and wiggled for a moment, and then she let out a huff. "Excellent. Let us set a pace, then!"
She set off at a speed no human could hope to sustain, ears bouncing along with every leaping step.
The path was initially old and overgrown, stone shot through with stubborn weeds and filled with cracks and crevices. The grey stone of the mountain rose up like walls around them, smoothed in places as though by the hands of craftsmen yet worn with time. The scale of it was nothing extraordinary except in the sense that one was rising up beyond the lands of the Nexus, able to look back and see for one's self the vast blue horizon beyond.
From here it seemed as though it could go on forever.
But the stones grew steeper still around them everywhere but the crumbling path itself. They rose up like row after row of palisades, harsh and barren on their faces and yet dripping with the wetness of dew onto tall grasses and rustling bushes of thorns. Great birds of prey flew back and forth from crevices in the rock walls, their wingspans wider than Thorra was tall. The wind went through twists and turns, pliant to their passage only from the demigod’s great dominion over the powers of the skies.
Sage would halt their progress periodically to lower herself to the earth, listening and whispering in strange tongues to forces unseen and unheard. At the end she turned, and stood, and took in the sight of her again.
“The path shall soon split,” she said to Thorra with a frown far less harsh than those previously populating her face prior. “Many will lead us nowhere or worse. A handful, perhaps, can take us somewhere meaningful. We can choose one short yet dangerous, or one that shall prolong our journey yet does not speak with the voice of monsters.”
-
Sage
Her eyes fluttered in surprise at the sudden sensation of strength suffusing her soft and sensitive skin and skeleton, Sage's elven form feeling for just a moment closer to her true and terrible capabilities. Her ears twitched and wiggled for a moment, and then she let out a huff. "Excellent. Let us set a pace, then!"
She set off at a speed no human could hope to sustain, ears bouncing along with every leaping step.
The path was initially old and overgrown, stone shot through with stubborn weeds and filled with cracks and crevices. The grey stone of the mountain rose up like walls around them, smoothed in places as though by the hands of craftsmen yet worn with time. The scale of it was nothing extraordinary except in the sense that one was rising up beyond the lands of the Nexus, able to look back and see for one's self the vast blue horizon beyond.
From here it seemed as though it could go on forever.
But the stones grew steeper still around them everywhere but the crumbling path itself. They rose up like row after row of palisades, harsh and barren on their faces and yet dripping with the wetness of dew onto tall grasses and rustling bushes of thorns. Great birds of prey flew back and forth from crevices in the rock walls, their wingspans wider than Thorra was tall. The wind went through twists and turns, pliant to their passage only from the demigod’s great dominion over the powers of the skies.
Sage would halt their progress periodically to lower herself to the earth, listening and whispering in strange tongues to forces unseen and unheard. At the end she turned, and stood, and took in the sight of her again.
“The path shall soon split,” she said to Thorra with a frown far less harsh than those previously populating her face prior. “Many will lead us nowhere or worse. A handful, perhaps, can take us somewhere meaningful. We can choose one short yet dangerous, or one that shall prolong our journey yet does not speak with the voice of monsters.”
Thorra
The tall hammer-woman simply laughed at Sage's query into her motives. "You have a good sense of humor, Sage of the Great Forest! The answer is obvious—we have little time to spare, and much strength to waste!"
-
Sage
The dragon blinked once, twice, and then forced her lips to stretch into something like a smile without showing her teeth. "Aha ha. Yes, yes that was a joke. A test of your resolve!"
She turned around then, and began stalking her way toward the split in the path.
"A test you have passed, of course!"
-
Thorra
"Bwahahahaha!" Thorra's boisterous laugh did not match the singsongey high-pitched voice which she usually spoke with. No, it sounded an octave deeper, sending rumblings through her form and causing her mounds to tremble in a manner quite pleasing to Sage's eyes.
Could they be—even bigger than her princess's, perhaps?
Thorra stepped close to Sage, draping an arm around the much smaller woman's shoulder to shield her from any attacks that may come. "That said—you're in the form of an alf, correct? How powerful are you, and how much force would it take for someone such as myself to injure you? If I'm going to protect you as a bodyguard, then it's important for me to take the proper steps required to do so."
-
Thorra
"Bwahahahaha!" Thorra's boisterous laugh did not match the singsongey high-pitched voice which she usually spoke with. No, it sounded an octave deeper, sending rumblings through her form and causing her mounds to tremble in a manner quite pleasing to Sage's eyes.
Could they be—even bigger than her princess's, perhaps?
Thorra stepped close to Sage, draping an arm around the much smaller woman's shoulder to shield her from any attacks that may come. "That said—you're in the form of an alf, correct? How powerful are you, and how much force would it take for someone such as myself to injure you? If I'm going to protect you as a bodyguard, then it's important for me to take the proper steps required to do so."
Sage
Sage stiffened up for a moment, her elven form's soft face red, and then obviously forced herself to relax. It was entirely just about the physical contact and not the sight that awaited should she return her eyes several degrees to the right. "W-Well, yes, this form is that of an elf. You could in all likelihood crush me like a melon in this state."
But then she let out a huff through her nose. "But I can return to my true state in little time, so you needn't worry yourself!"
-
Sage
Sage stiffened up for a moment, her elven form's soft face red, and then obviously forced herself to relax. It was entirely just about the physical contact and not the sight that awaited should she return her eyes several degrees to the right. "W-Well, yes, this form is that of an elf. You could in all likelihood crush me like a melon in this state."
But then she let out a huff through her nose. "But I can return to my true state in little time, so you needn't worry yourself!"
Thorra
"You dragons sure do huff and puff a lot. I guess habits stay around through the shifts between different forms, huh?" Thorra got off her, and began following close behind her into the mists.
-
Shirou
Normally, Shirou would have gone with Sakura to Columbia but, aware that she wanted to get him a gift and not having anything he needed himself, he had instead elected to remain home and take advantage of the spare time to perform a few chores around the house. Now, though, it was lunchtime and, as such, Shirou was making what was, by his standards, a simple lunch. Some Miso soup, along with some fried rice made with last night's leftovers. Yet, even as he cooked the basic meal, he was pondering what to cook for his wife on her return, the thought of providing the woman he loved with a delicious meal bringing a smile to his face.
-
? ? ? ?
There was a sudden, irresistible feeling. Like a hunger, a craving - the feeling of cold iron under your skin. Without warning, as the sky's final lights waned, a sudden suffocating sensation emerged from the veil of dusk. If someone with enough instinct laid behind that mansion's walls, it was a feeling all too familiar. The sensation you experience moments before being killed.
A massive red crystal as large as a dump truck floated, barely restrained in its fervor. In a second, it'd crash against the kitchen window with irresistible force, hitting whatever was in its path with full destructive intent. Was it a warning? Or something else? For certain, the cause's presence had remained hidden until now. The perpetrator might have claimed, if one truly wanted, he'd have annihilated the mansion right there and then. But in that case, would it really be a hunt?
"Sorry kid." A sincerely apologetic voice rang out. And then, a moment before the crash -
-
Shirou
As Shirou continued to make his simple meal, taking pleasure in the process of cooking even without his beloved wife there to assist him, he suddenly had a disconcerting feeling, one that made him feel that his life was in imminent danger. Reacting quickly, he put down the utensils he was holding and summoned up his twin swords. Turning around, he saw a large red crystal hanging in the air, his eyes widening as he suddenly heard the sound of the bounded field indicating an intruder, someone with hostile intent. Sending a mental signal, he activated the traps dotted around the house, shadow traps that would fire out spikes of shadow if anyone other than he or Sakura came close, and others which would trap anyone foolish enough to step on them. Then, just as he heard an apologetic voice call out, he dodged desperately to the side, doing his best to avoid the attack, even as he looked around to find the person who was assaulting him.
-
Costin
Shirou dodged with a hair's beath, and the moment his footing was regained, he could clearly see the massive blood spke gradually evaporating, turning into a red mist that was seeping all around the kitchen and the house's halls. Costin sighed with a half-smile on his face. Without much care, he took a step forward, walking towards the house with a calm stride.
And yet, suddenly, his footstep stopped short in the middle of his walk. His foot frozen mid-air, his expression shifted as if struck by electricity.
Traps, huh. Clever, clever.
The feeling of prana was a familiar one. When he followed up his stride, a barrage of thorns came flying towards him like dozen black arrows. A sudden sadistic grin flashed on his face, and without warning, he swung his arm with full force. The Apostle's swing bled, and the streak of blood slashed away at them like a liquid whip before being sucked back into his middle finger. A slow piece of meat might not even tell that though, and might just see the arrows being mysteriously parried by something. But the kid wasn't slow.
"Nice moves." He held back a pleased chuckle before his foot boomed on the ground, smashing a gigantic crater on the street beneath him. It sounded like a targeted bombing, but the truth was even more menacing. The next thing you knew, he was shooting into the adjacent wall behind Shirou. A vampiric projectile, though it was nothing more than his own self, crashed right behind the magus to greet him with a nonchalant expression. As he wiped the dust off his coat and pushed his shades back, he spoke with a calm, dry tone.
"The door was locked. Had to help myself in." He reached for his pocket and turned up his mp3's volume, tuning in different songs nonchalantly despite the intrusion - or because of it. "I hope you don't mind. I'm looking for a Sakura. Makiri Sakura."
-
Shirou
Shirou was surprised to see the spike evaporate into what seemed to be a cloud of blood, the red mist seeping around the house. However, he kept his concentration, focussing on the man who had broken into his house as the traps triggered. To Shirou's surprise, a small tendril of what seemed to be blood came from the man's fingers, swatting away the tendrils of magic from the trap as if they were nothing. Then, the man spoke up, his praise of Shirou's fighting skill making it clear that he wasn't taking this whole thing entirely seriously.
Still, it was clear that the man was a threat and, unlike him, Shirou had no intentions whatsoever of playing around. This man had broken into his house and attacked him, he clearly needed to defend himself with full power. Yet, even despite his best efforts, he could barely manage to react when the man stomped down, before charging towards him. Shirou did his best to evade but, to his surprise, the man made no attempt to attack him, instead simply rushing behind him, crashing through the wall and causing further damage to their home, something that made Shirou even less keen on this man.
Then, the man addressed him once more. Shirou ignored his bullshit excuses, not even slightly interested in bantering with his attacker, but his follow-up question left Shirou shocked and worried. The latter because of the fact that this man who, presumably, was some kind of mercenary, was searching for his wife, and the former because he had used a form of Sakura's former adoptive family's name that hadn't been in use for centuries. For a moment, Shirou considered his response, torn between wanting to know the man's intentions and not wanting to put his wife in danger but, ultimately, there was only one answer he could give.
"Sorry, I don't know anyone with that name", he said, entirely truthfully.
Not that he had any objection in principle to lying, of course, but he suspected the man knew more than he was letting on, and openly lying might offend the man's sense of "honour".
-
Costin
"Is that so." The dead apostle didn't sound quite convinced to the response, yet he didn't sound unconvinced either. He sniffed the air, taking in the scents intently as a wolf ought to do, and tapped one more button on his mp3 before setting it in his pocket. One hand rested there, while the other dangled casually. Step. Step. Step...
He's got good nerves. Steeled, like a blade. Damn, okay that one was bad. Anyway, I wonder what I should have for dinner....
"You're not lying, and I can't sense any hesitation in your words. Your body temperature isn't rising either - not abnormally anyways." He looked totally disinterested, but he still took a step forward, then another. Baring no weapon or claw, he slowly walked towards the man. He kept taking short, deliberate breaths. Man, I feel like a dick. Was that fried rice he was cooking? As if looking for some scent, probing for something. A reaction maybe? A feeling? Or maybe he was going to kill the boy there and then anyways. Egg fried rice... should I get some rangoon on the side? Maybe the orange chicken... His steps were like a clock, ticking, flowing in one single direction.
"But something's strange..."
His grin grew like the cut of a blade. Was the boy really fine with that? With an apostle approaching him like this?
-
Shirou
Despite the fear that he felt as the powerful man began to approach, Shirou stood his ground, a sense of relief coming over him as the man took his claim not to know Sakura at face value. Yet, he could tell that the man was still a threat and, as such, he held the twin swords which he used as his main weapons in front of him, ready to defend himself against any attack that might come. Hearing the man's words, his concern grew once more, but he still did not waver, instead responding to the man's statement.
"The only thing that is strange is that you smashed a big hole in the side of my house and attacked me", he said, clearly irritated.
"Now, given that this Sakura girl who you're looking for is clearly not here, there's no reason for you to be here either. All you're doing is wasting time, both mine and yours", he added.
-
Costin
Step.
Step.
Step...
The dead apostle walked forward with the same nonchalant swagger. Before long, they were both in each other's range. If either wanted, they might just hack at eachother's limbs away with wild abandon, cutting into their flesh again and again. And yet, it didn't happen.
Costin let out a stifled chuckle. Then, he shook his head.
"Heh, I guess you're right. Sorry about that." The mood instantly relaxed, as if it were a ticking time bomb that was defused at the last second. He grinned amiably, with genuine respect to the kid for holding out his ground like that. He had balls, and he liked that.
BOOM!
Without warning, he dashed away straight into the opposite wall behind Shirou, smashing it into bits and fleeing the mansion with the speed of sound. And so, he was gone. He couldn't be sensed anymore.
-
Shirou
As the man came closer, Shirou tensed up, preparing to react at a moment's notice if the man showed any sign whatsoever of attacking him. The closer the man got, the more tense Shirou became, the distance between them rapidly becoming far too close for comfort given the man's earlier hostility. But, then, to Shirou's slight surprise, the man let out a slight chuckle, before admitting to his mistake, apologising and, then, without further ado, leaving, smashing through the wall of the house once more. Angered by the man's total lack of respect for his home, Shirou glared angrily in the direction of the hole in the wall for a few moments, before relaxing, aware that, as annoying as it was to have his house wrecked, things could have been much, much worse. As it was, he'd managed to convince the man to leave and, what was more, he'd also convinced him that he was looking in the wrong place.
Sighing, he returned to the stove, trying his best to salvage the food that he'd been so rudely interrupted whilst cooking, intending to do something about the holes in the house afterwards, even if Sakura was somewhat better at the magecraft necessary to do so than he was.
-
Almost a minute later
With all the holes cracked in the Emiya household, the winter chill was far less merciful than before. The winds scattered small traces of snow into the halls, but thankfully the weather was kind tonight. It was naught but a brisk breeze. Still, the stifled moan of the chill scraping against the walls was eerie at best.
No one could fault him for trying to fix whatever disaster befell the house. Let alone cooking a nice meal for the one he loved. These sorts of thoughts are common when one is blessed with a peaceful, leisurely life.
It was truly unfortunate.
It wasn't just the cold that the winds brought to Emiya's house. Soon, something rubbed against his cheek softly, before slowly gliding to the kitchen floor. It was a ticklish, cold sensation. As if some cloth was brought to him by the wind. But it wasn't just any cloth. If it were, or if it were any cloth to that man, perhaps his peaceful life could continue uninterrupted.
Falling down next to him was a tattered mess that was once a beautiful cloth, its charming hibiscus now stained with red.
Falling... falling... falling.
It is
your
wife's
ribbon.
-
Shirou
Still angry at the man's intrusion, Shirou was working on his meal, the cold wind whistling through the holes in the wall that he knew he would need to fix soon. Until, suddenly, he felt something soft rub against his cheek. Looking down, he saw a familiar, blood covered ribbon, his eyes widening in response as a sense of fear gripped him. He instinctively recoiled at the sight, even as his mind told him that it was surely a trick of some kind, that there was no way the man could have found his wife this quickly and, even if he had, the ribbon couldn't possibly have reached here already. But, despite that, he knew that he had to be sure. So, this time making sure to turn off the heat on his food so as not to burn it, he took out his phone and selected his wife's number, attempting to call her.