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Post by Valo Stark✾ on Dec 12, 2020 22:13:24 GMT -5
Valo Stark
"Don't need a reason to seek strength."
"How is what possible?"
Valo heard the question coming from Hinota, the female member of golden dawn. She was referring to him, realizing he asked that question out loud. For a few moments he struggled if he wanted answer her directly and tell her exactly what was happening, hearing the Daemon's voices in his head that is.
But with all the commotion going on, he chose to keep his words short. "Nothing." he replied, wanting to leave it at that. Right now wasn't really the time in his opinion for a full explanation. Perhaps in time, but not right now.
Valo had done what Lilitu asked of him, burying the mana beast. It may have looked pretty weird to some, but it didn't matter to the fire mage much. If she was right and that mana beast, was actually a knight in the past then he deserved a proper burial. Valo let out a sigh, right before hearing Lilitu's voice in his ear again.
He feared this was becoming, a bit to comfortable. He wasn't keen on the idea of the enemy talking directly in his ear. And thanking him too.
"Thank you for doing that for him my dear prince."
"...Your welcome." he responded quickly after her sentence. His mindset was still focused on the idea, of putting an end to her, her brother and anything else. He wasn't about to become too comfortable with the daemon.
"And yes, he was once a knight many years ago unfortunately when people come to my graveyard over time they change from their natural forms to that of what you have seen and come across thus far, I think it is something tainted within my magic perhaps because of the race I am who knows."
"So your'e tainting these people as well? Another reason to add to the list of why I'm going to stop you." Valo responded to the female Daemon, the anger in his voice obvious. His goal of ending this threat hasn't changed, or wavered in the slightest. When he sees Ito or Lilitu he's going to kill them, simple as that.
She continued speaking on how, she tried to keep her promise to him. Staying in the one spot at Purple Orca's headquarters, till he came back. Honestly Valo forgot all about that promise, he figured with the way things ended that last time. That promise was null and void, but the Daemon spoke as if she truly intended to keep her word.
"Tch." Valo sucked his teeth, his brows furrowed. "You were at the-." he didn't finish his sentence. He remembered that moment, when Alyssa looked like something was off. It was probably then.
" If you are so bent on keeping your promise, then stop using innocent lives to attack us. Atone by protecting the civilians from any harm not matter who or what is causing it. Since Charles isn't here I can speak for him, I would ask that you kindly destroy one of the wells as well. That should be a fair trade no?" Valo responded back to Lilitu, though his voice and tone didn't match the color of his cheeks when she noted how handsome he looked at the ball.
"Didn't want help?" the voice of Hans hit his ear, Valo was slightly caught off guard. Realizing he was paying to much attention to this Lilitu conversation. It took the fire mage a moment to respond, realizing Hans was referring to the burial of the mana beast.
"Aahh. With everything going on, I figured I would do it on my own. The mana beast was a magic knight at one point in time. He deserved a proper burial." Valo replied to the dark mage, hoping he would understand.
He looked back towards the scene, with Valentine and everyone else. His voice directed towards Hans. "Genesis sure is talking a lot more than usual." Valo said pausing then he continued. "You think we can rely on him going forward?" he asked Hans referring to Valentine.
POW 110(+5)
DUR 000(+5)
SEN 025(+5)
STA 065(+5)
CON 064(+5)
WORD COUNT: 670 TOTAL WC: 6,753 ITEMS: Kolivan's Lantern火之迦具土 Hinokagutsuchi BATTLE: Speed = 8 m/s (Thanks to Vulakn >_>. Talking to the evil daemon girl. Then the bro Hans.
Name of Spell: 真っ白(Masshiro / Pitch White) Spell Element: Fire Spell Rank: Intermediate Mana Cost: 20 | 10 Type of Golem: Balanced Applicable Perks:Puppet Master -
Puppet Master: This Perk allows your Golems to start with a bonus of +3 to all of its Stats. At Grand Rank this bonus increases to +5. If this Perk is applied to a Balanced Golem these bonuses increase to +5 and +10 instead.
Description: Masshiro is an all white long dragon, that Valo can summon to aid him in different ways. At full length of 6 meters long, Masshiro is a rather long and very slender looking golem. Masshiro is capable of flight, aiding Valo in the air as well. While it may not look as viscous as Valo's other golems it is just as strong, and aggressive. Masshiro is able to use it's arms, claws, feet, tail, horns, jaws and it's entire body to attack whatever Valo directs it too. When attacking it's jaws, claws, horns and tail are covered in flames causing at rank fire damage to whatever they hit. Masshiro can be used for transportation following the transportation guidelines for intermediate ranked golem spells. Carrying up to two people at a time moving at speeds of 10 m/s. They fully respond to commands given by it's user through a mana connection and also verbally.
Type
Power
Durability
Sensory
Range
Speed
Health
Balanced
35 (+5)
35 (+5)
35 (+5)
60m
12m/s
Intermediate
Name of Spell: フレアアクセルVセカンド (Fureaakuseru V Sekando / Flare Accel V Second) Elemental Type: Fire Rank & Spell Type: Intermediate | Physical Reinforcement Range & Speed: Self Mana Cost: 20 | 10 Stats Effected: Speed - 10ms Applicable Perks: Full Blitz-
Full Blitz: By taking this perk, your magic is able to push past the normal limits of your bodies speed. When using a Physical Reinforcement spell that buffs your speed, you can increase it by an additional 5 m/s. At Grand Rank you can increase said spells by 10 m/s. (Note these bonuses do not stack.)
Description: Simply an upgrade to Valo's first Fureaakuseru. Allowing a much greater increase in speed, swiftness and reaction time. Using this spell in combination to Valo's natural speed truly pushes past the limits of an average human movement speed. The small embers still present this time growing a bit in size becoming much more visible to the naked eye.
[attr="class","textie"]Vulkan simply listened to the others speak, and give their thoughts on the situation with the white haired male. His aura was still up, and as Jett approached the man to take him in. Vulkan couldn't disagree with that, it was what they were meant to be, however listening to the woman, the mother speak. Charolette was showing compassion where it was warranted, but he didn't agree with her. The man killed innocent civilians, and didn't inform the group of his true intentions until it was to late. Just because those people had been brought back by her healing magic did not justify his actions. So he turned to Charolette, and narrowed his gaze.
"We are acting rationally, a man killed innocents, and thus he is being apprehended...We are not butchering him in the streets like a dog." he spoke in his soft emotionally distant tone. "His history is irrelevant, if he knew this was going to be an issue he could have told us at the forefront rather than keep it a secret, and we could have handled it better, but he didn't, so do not presume to lecture us on rational thinking." the heat that he gave off coalesced for a moment swirling around him, and his armor disappeared returning everyone's movement to them.
"You are only speaking this way because it was not your child he murdered...I wonder what the parents of these children would think of him?" Vulkan spoke to Charolette very bluntly pointing out the hypocrisy in her words, and actions, and trying to defend someone like this. "Just because you brought them back, does not justify what he did, or warrant a lesser sentence, they died, and what happens next time when you aren't around to bring them back?" He asked her simply. If there was a solution that could be handed out the next time the white haired man went out of control, and potentially killed innocents he would hear it, but if she could offer no recourse then her thinking was just as shallow as her defense of the man. "He is not a child...So treating him like one is folly, and to do so, and be swayed by emotion like this is also folly. We do our duty, which is to protect others." for someone that produced so much heat, he was being incredibly cold, and calculating at the moment.
"Bringing him further with us holds little merit...But if Jett decides to bring him, I won't argue, but keep this in mind." he turned his reptilian eyes to the white haired male. "If you go out of control again...You won't be able to run as I've just shown...And unless Jett himself steps in I will stop you." Vulkan stated simply, he would not risk innocent lives for the sake of one mans selfish desire. "So you can either be safely locked up, or risk dying by coming with us." What everyone else aside from Jett, and Genesis thought mattered little to him. Those two seemed to have a straight head on their shoulders.
He didn't know Hans, or Valo well enough to comment on their wits, and Hino was observant as well. Crossing his arms as he had said all he wanted. It was one thing if the man had warned them of his issue when he showed up, but he did nothing knowing that it would put not only the group at risk, but the people they were trying protect as well. Vulkan was stalwart in that singular belief, and no one was going to change his mind, at least not easily.
The doll-like mage could only watch quietly as events continued to take place in front of her, she could feel empathy towards the white-haired civilian on some level because as far as any of them knew it was a mistake due to instability in mentality and so could understand where the former purple orca was coming from but she also knew that her senior had valid points too. This wasn't like damaging a park or blowing up a graveyard people actually died this time and though they had been brought back from the grasp of death it was something that shouldn't have happened and if there was a possibility then they should have been informed they were entering with a potential loose cannon so they could act accordingly. "Sir, her child was murdered by another civilian much like those children." she said calmly she looked to the sleeping child within Vulkan's mantle "And was returned to her by a daemon from the information she has given us." she closed her eyes thinking carefully on what she wanted to say next as it was a sensitive situation in her mind "I am guessing you forgave the one who took her and your husband from you, that you pleaded for them to have the same chance you are wishing for us to give him?" she inquired knowing that the chances to at least the first part would be yes "At the same time you would still want justice for the injustice done to you and your family." she said knowing no one could let such loss go not fully even after revival. "I say this with respect so please do not take this as an attack on you but just because you are a forgiving person Miss Charlotte doesn't mean the parents of these children will be and it is those parents that should have the say on if he should get a more lenient sentence." this was her view on the matter and knew that there would likely be differing opinions on it. [break][break] "As my senior has said this man isn't a child and so shouldn't be treated like one with kid gloves." she said her tone soft as she tried to voice her thoughts "I am sure if Nanami committed such a crime as much as it would hurt you, you would want her to take responsibility and the punishment that came with it." she sighed silently "I feel for the man but I can say I am the youngest in this group and I know right from wrong and if I committed a murder whether it be intentionally or intentionally I'd want the book thrown at me so it would be able to bring some sort of peace to the family that I hurt in a way no one should ever have to deal with." she looked the weak woman in the eyes "You of all people should know that pain and it is no pain a parent should have to endure." she didn't know the exact pain of loss between parent and child the most she could compare it to was a baby bird that she had found abandoned on the lawn of her family's estate that was almost killed by a cat. She had reared it from when it was a hatchling to when it eventually died years later due to an unfortunate series of events. she was sure to that bird she was its mother and on some level, to Hinota she guessed she seen it as her baby as she had raised it like a mother would a child and the pain she felt where not the same as this situation she felt it was somewhat akin to it. Did she forgive the person who started the series of events? Not at first she was upset and hurt the closest 'person' to her had been removed from her life and she wanted the person punished not caring it was an accident. She, after all, was still a child at the time so the reason it happened didn't matter to her all that mattered was it had happened. [break][break] Now she understood the series of events and knew while it could have still been avoided it was an accident, she had forgiven the person and even apologised for reacting the way she did giving her peace. The other accepted the apology however they still called her an entitled spoilt brat for acting the way she did over a 'pet' it wasn't like a person had done. It had been the first time outside of what she was told of the diamond war that she had seen the cruelty and darkness inside a person towards another living thing as to her just because a living thing didn't have a humanoid form didn't mean their life was worth less than someone who did. Her eyes now went back to Vulkan and Jett for a moment "Sirs, where either of you informed of this being a probability or did we all get blind-sighted?" thinking that perhaps giving their ranks they would have been given more information in a different briefing via the Wizard King himself in Jett's case or Zaven's in Vulkan's case given their reactions she would have to say it was the latter over the former but she wanted to be sure. She turned her eyes at the rambling man once more "I can't speak for the others but I am not against people having additional motives so longs the person is there for the main reason everyone else is and for 'if' they're forthcoming about it at the beginning instead of it being sprung on us suddenly like some unwelcome trap spell." she said she was completely honest in these words although she was clearly frustrated. [break][break] "I honestly believe there is little merit in bringing you with us as you are a huge liability and who knows what else you may spring on us at the most inconvenient times." she said standing up holding the sleeping Nanami to her as a big sister would do to a younger, "I think you should get the harshest punishment given for the crimes you have committed regardless of whether the people were returned or not but the decision has seemingly made for now at least." she moved over to him briefly and for the first time in her life raised her hand striking the white-haired man across the face hearing him begging to be killed, it was enough to leave a red mark and a clear connection would be heard as it landed "All life is valuable you twit, even yours." she said her voice angry and cold though she kept it low as not to wake Nanami up "Did you mess up? Royally so. Are you selfish? without a doubt. Should it end your life? In my opinion, it shouldn't but I won't be the one making the decisions at your trial. Are you irredeemable? I don't think so but you need to want to be redeemed and to better yourself and that means letting go of whatever is making you irrational and find someone or something worthy of protecting, something I'm sorry to say you can't with your current irresponsible, selfish and irrational behaviours." she said moving to give Nanami to Charlotte "Because you would end up hurting if not killing them in the end with your selfish or unstable actions." to her this was just a matter of fact "I'm sorry for hitting you but you really needed a reality check and I'm pretty sure if anyone else done it you'd end up through a building and separated from the group and that's something we can't afford given your... actions." with that she went back to Genesis rubbing her still stinging hand. [break][break] "Sorry about that." she apologised to the redhead smiling weakly, it was clear that hitting someone wasn't sitting well with her but that she also felt that someone needed to do it. "If you could tell him you are contacting him on my behalf, we might want to tell him what has gone on with Valentine as well at least to start with, if he needs proof that you are contacting him on my behalf then he can ask a question only I'd know the answer to." she said knowing this was the best place to start and that Zaven would likely ask questions himself and give an update on his end.
To say that Jett was taken aback by Charlotte’s words of not being rash in his decision to arrest the shadow mage would be an understatement. ”I’m sorry Charlotte but actions have consequences and this is his. When a child makes a mistake, we explain why it’s wrong, so they don’t do it again, it comes with the territory of a child’s innocence. This man does not have that innocence and clearly knows right from wrong, and he’ll pay for his crimes.” The captain was rather stern in his words, life was precious and those who endanger others needed to be dealt with, one way or another. Valentine pleading for death fell upon deaf ears when it came to Jett, more interested in what the group as had to say not for them to influence his decision but rather to measure them up in how much he could trust them. Vulkan echoed the diamond mages sentiments almost perfectly but was reluctantly accepting of bringing him along upon Jett’s orders. The purple haired mage simple shook his head at Vulkan. ”No point in bringing another threat into the fight. We’d only be wasting our mana, energy and attention on him, we need to be as focused as possible for the on coming fight. He’ll stay detained here and his punishment will be decided after we liberate Kikka.” It wasn’t just Vulkan who agreed with Jett but Hinota too, though she seemed much more interested in not hurting Charlotte’s feelings in the process. Hinota then turned to Jett to ask if he knew of Valentine’s ulterior motives, given his higher rank in the group. ”We are all here of our own volition, for our own reasons. Valetine’s reasons for being here might not be to save Kikka but they worked alongside the Magic Knight’s goals. I can only assume that’s why Jagen would of allowed his participation.” The golden dawn mage proceeded to berate the shadow mage, even slapping him about the value of life. Jett was mostly switched off to this, as he had no intentions of executing the man, nor did he have any intentions of comforting him in anyway. Moving on, the group were to contact Zaven for Hinota, sitting down at the table, Jett awaited the next course of action, should his fellow captain reveal anything that would help they mission.
[break]
Combat Summary
[attr="class","jettcomscroll2"]
tl;dr Jett reaffirmed his actions to detain Valentine and then sat down and awaited word from Zaven.
The lightly lavender haired woman listened to the group and knew they did have points and were working logically for what was in the best interest for the people of Kikka but still, she felt for the white-haired civilian and his plight. She never faltered or even second-guessed what was right even if she was empathetic to that person, they would have committed a crime not only to a person but to the kingdom as a whole and so they would have been apprehended and given a trial of peers to decide their fate but she had seemed to have grown soft when she gave life to her beloved daughter because she saw things in a different light and it almost gave her a set of rose-tinted glasses more so in a town shrouded in eternal darkness kindness, compassion and understanding in her mind was needed far more now than ever. She clutched the skirt of her dress tightly and closed her eyes her soft-looking face clenching in what may have been pain or even anger, this would be something neither Jett nor Valo would have ever seen from the kindly woman but as quickly as it was there it was gone and she could only shake her head taking Nanami when she was offered to her "Then let me clarify my words. Instead of instantly condemning him and believing him a loose cannon perhaps act like adults and ask what triggered it so it might be avoided in the future." she said standing up though it was clear she was still unsteady on her own. "I didn't deny that life is valuable, this town knows that more than most recently and we realise that some sins can be lessened even if never fully forgiven." she said her voice bitter as she spoke though it was quiet as to not wake her child.
"It is true he didn't murder my child but my entire family was murdered and unlike those parents, I saw mine die." she said coldly to Vulkan tears falling once more, it was clear she was still in mourning "I forgave the man who did the heinous act, it didn't lessen the pain or bring back what I lost and it never will and he was still punished for his actions." she said her voice filled with sorrow her eyes red and puffy from the tears "Casualties happen in combat you remember the diamond war and the shattering I'm sure..." she said to him "It's true they didn't use civilians in this way and there was rarely friendly fire against them but it did happen on that rare occasion." she closed her eyes for a moment "I'm not saying give him a free pass as all crimes do need punishment, I am saying a least get to know the reason the crime happened... small gestures of understanding can change the world after all." she said with a weak voice "But who am I to question a magic knight when I'm merely a civilian who knows no better on the task you have been assigned." her voice was gentle but the undertone was clearly bitter but this could be because she was still trying to get over what had happened in the last two months and what was continuing to happen even now, she was honestly sick of the darkness and just wanted to see the light of hope and compassion again but it seemed to her as if that was wiped out.
"As I said life is a precious thing regardless of who that life might belong to and even if brought back death still gets some sort of payment." she said looking to her sleeping daughter "And he may have not known his mentality would be an issue it's not as if a lot was known and could have been reported." she admitted sighing "Let me give you a few examples..." she said looking at Jett and Vulkan "You know there are three daemons one of them is an archdaemon, you know they are called Sven, Ito and Lilitu. The report likely said they all use shadow... they don't... only Sven uses shadow. Ito uses darkness and has another element he keeps hidden while his sister Lilitu uses wraith and pure aura." she divulged that some of the facts that they may have previously known were, in fact, wrong and so they were walking in without a full picture of what to expect. Her eyes went right to Vulkan as he spoke to her on presuming to lecture them. "I presume nothing as right now my life or my daughters could be taken from me at any second from not only the daemons that currently hold dominion on this place but my own neighbours..." she closed her eyes as tears began to fall silently knowing a secret truth that she didn't want to face. "You all have enjoyed the light and healthy living for the two months that we have been shrouded in this never-ending darkness, there is civil unrest and where the people do hold hope that the darkness will one day end their trust within the magic knights has faltered." she informed them standing once more "I am no like them because I have the understanding as a magic knight and know that what previously happened was due to it landing on their heads and the sins lessened by the town but they will not fully be forgiven nor forgotten some downright despise the magic knights for leaving us like this for so long." she said moving to her door her hand touching it as he heard a slap echoing through the street but she didn't look back as the emotional teen spoke instead she just walk past the threshold.
What happened next no one could have foreseen, the illusion of the house had dropped and what now showed was a house that showed signs of burning on the stone walls around the windows, the glass of the windows that been broken by something being thrown through them, the word 'daemons' had been painted across the broken door and the smell of burnt wood could now easily be smelt in the air. It would be evident that whatever happened to the house would have happened weeks ago. In front of the group a man stood, messy black hair, ashen skin, amber eyes, long black tail and a single horn it would be a face that three of the group would recognise. He put his hand to his chest, the flat of his other towards them and bowed a little. "Don't attempt to attack this is merely a doppleganger illusion." he informed them his eyes turning towards the house before walking towards it and peering through the door. "Around a month ago this happened..." he started his voice saddened "Anger, fear and malcontent are powerful emotions and it had to go somewhere and where they couldn't lash out at us they lashed out at the next best thing." he said his voice not changing "They blamed this family for what happened that day and every bad thing that came after it and still they did their best to protect and defend people." he explained "It wasn't good enough and so the child and her pregnant mother were put to death by a mob... from what I saw and remember they barricaded both exits and windows before throwing some sort of fire bomb or spell through the windows." he looked back to the group "They screamed in agony, the mother begged for her child to be allowed to live but it all fell on deaf ears they were burned alive for doing nothing more than protecting the town." he shook his head "So much for the compassionate mortal race who merely fight to survive... what survival came of killing these two?" he would ask looking directly at Hans and Genesis as this carried on from the question he had asked before.
"As for what your next question might be, my sisters magic doesn't revive she's a wraith user... she just gifted these wraiths memories of who they once were." his voice almost seemed like he was as much in mourning as his sister would be "What makes it worse is their corpses are still within the house, from what we can discern they are believed not to deserve a burial even though even after death all she did was tried to protect the people around her." he said looking to Jett and Valo "You both knew the family and so my sister believed you deserved to know the truth but it pains her to speak on it." he said calmly to them but listened to his sister and Valo speaking "I will agree only to protect civilians that call Kikka home though they are vile creatures that don't deserve it and..." in the distance an explosion could be heard "The well inside the shadow palace is now destroyed so my atonement is complete my dear prince I will not leave the purple orca headquarters until you yourself come to meet me again." she assured him "Also, no I don't intentionally taint people, in fact, I'm able to give wraiths memories of who they once were as I did with miss Charlotte and little Nanami." she said in forming him in case he hadn't heard what Ito had said. "I was fond of them, it wasn't right what happened." she added softly
"I am sorry about this however I have a schedule I actually want to meet this century so forgive me for what I'm about to do next." Ito finally said his voice once again stoic, from the doppelganger darkness moved quickly engulfing the entire street it would be so thick that everyone would be blinded and would almost feel suffocating as everyone breathed. No sooner than it was there than it was gone but something was different as the group had been split up. Valentine, Jett and Vulkan would be dead in the middle of town, Hans and Genesis would find themselves in the mayor's mansion while Hinota and Valo remained alone in the street they had all been on "Tick tock." is all the illusion let out before it ended.
Story:
There was some chatting between Charlotte and the group before a hidden truth was revealed, six weeks previously a mob took matters into their own hands and killed the pregnant mother and daughter by burning them alive after making sure they couldn't escape. Lilitu has agreed to Valo's terms with a slight alteration, she will only protect civilians who live within the town even if she does find them vile after which an explosion would be heard from the sky as she complied with destroying one of the four remaining shadow wells. Soon after Ito separated the group into three Valentine, Vulkan and Jett in the dead centre of town, Hans and Genesis are in the Mayor's mansion leaving Hinota and Valo in the street alone.
As no plan was made beforehand and so this round is a free round to move forward.
"When you spend so long trapped in darkness, you find that the darkness begins to stare back."
Hans stood there for a moment, waiting for Valo to respond. The fire mage looked a bit out of it, possibly not expecting someone to come over and offer the guy help. "What are you doing?" would've probably been a more expecting question, but it felt obvious enough to the merc that he didn't need to ask that. Valo finally got it together and spoke up, making the dark mage shift his attention to the buried beast. "A Magic Knight...?" the dark mage muttered to himself. He could've sworn that Hinota claimed it to be an actual monster and no illusion. Perhaps she made a mistake? But how would Valo have known then....?
As the merc thought on this, his mind went to another thing the fire mage had said. "...at one point in time." Before the merc could open his mouth again to question this, he heard Valo speak up once more which took the dark mage out of his thoughts. "Hm?" He then looked over to where Valo was looking which was back at the others, specifically Genesis and Hinota. "Yeah, now that you mention it." the merc replied before crossing his arms. "She isn't being as....sassy as usual too." he added in jest, a faint laugh escaping his lips as he looked back at the fire mage. It was clear given the atmosphere why she might be being more serious now, but in this moment of calm, it was probably good to get a little laugh in to help ease things, especially for Valo since this is his town. Funny that it's Hans of all people trying to loosen the tension though since that isn't usually his thing....
The dark mage's attention then shifted to the rest of the group, seeing that they still seemed to be getting worked up about Valentine. As he watched them, he heard the flame mage speak again, this time about said shadow mage. Hans didn't answer at first, pondering a bit on what he should say before rubbing the back of his neck. "What he did back there wasn't intentional, that much is clear." Hans claimed as he crossed his arms again, his eyes trained on Valentine. "But it could happen again...." The merc exhaled out of his nose before shaking his head. "So no...I don't believe he can be relied on." Despite his stoic demeanor, the merc still felt a bit saddened for having to admit this since a part of him feels bad for the silver-haired male...but it was true.
They couldn't just trust his words. From what was seen, this appeared to be something beyond Valentine's control, and it seems like that he was already aware of these little episodes which kind of bothers the merc. But then he remembered about the woman Valentine said he came here for...He's clearly only in this town for her, not anyone else, so maybe it doesn't matter what happens to anyone else here to him. The merc was honestly curious about this mystery woman, wanting to know what's so special about her that this guy would risk his own and other's lives just to find her.
"A woman...with a four-leaf grimoire...?" The merc muttered to himself...
He then turned to face Valo again, and his eyes shifted back to the buried beast. The man was still curious about how Valo knew this stuff and was going to try again to ask...
...until....
Hans' head quickly turned back around as he saw...the illusion slowly fading from the house, revealing what was hidden underneath. A burned down home with shattered windows...and the word "Daemons" painted across the worn-down door! What happened to the beautiful home that once stood here....? What happened to Charlotte and Nanami? Then...a sinister presence made itself known, appearing before the group. It was an unfamiliar face to the others, but for the returning trio...they knew this sharp-tongued figure all too well...
Ito....
A mere illusion...but it was still him nonetheless.
Hans furrowed his brows as he placed a hand on his sheathed greatsword, ready to unsheathe it as he slowly walked up to the rest of the group, not taking his eyes off of the daemon. Ito spoke about what had happened to this home a month ago...the true fate of its residents. Not slain by the daemons that have conquered this town...but by the angry townspeople themselves...riddled with hatred over all that was happening. Instead of working together to try and survive this hell...the townsfolk decided to go after two of their own. The daemon was now looking towards Hans and Genesis, his last few words echoing a previous conversation they had with him. The merc couldn't do anything but grit his teeth, not daring to say a word. People can be easily consumed by hatred, making them go violent which is something the dark mage cannot deny. He has witnessed a lot of that while growing up in Aries Garse, from the shady folks who live there...to when the Diamond Kingdom first attacked....taking his mother away from him. Not to mention his own resentment towards his father...
The merc has been surrounded by nothing but hatred for most of his life, but still, a part of him believed that this would not have consumed Kikka...but it looks like he was wrong.
Ito continued to speak, revealing that these weren't mere revivals like the others thought...but the work of Wraith magic. They were all surrounded by nothing but lies and trickery. Hans should be used to this, but here he is, as caught off by all of this as he was when he accidentally struck those children...The daemons were too good a this...dreadfully good.
Without much warning...darkness had started to engulf the streets, not coming from Hans...but the daemon's illusion. It engulfed everything...including the group itself! Hans tried to unsheathe his sword, summon his armor with his grimoire, but he started to suffocate, vision going dark! His hands were now around his neck as he fell to one knee, trying to grasp for air...but everything went dark! He slammed his eyes shut, but as quickly as this suffocating darkness appeared, it vanished...and the merc was no longer in front of that house...but within another...a mansion.
Hans' eyes shot open as he sharply inhaled some air before coughing, removing his hands from his neck as he slowly stood up, staggering a bit. It took him a moment, but as Hans' vision started to focus he realized that he was now in a different location. "Wh-what?" He looked around until his eyes set on a familiar figure with red hair. "G-Gen!?" He quickly made his way over, nearly tripping a he still felt a bit weak. "You alright?" he asked with a hint of concern in his tone before looking around once more...noticing that they are the only ones there...wherever they are.
[attr="class","hansheader"]N O T E S
Talked with Valo, went over to others when Ito appeared, now in mayor's mansion with Genesis.
[attr="class","hansheader"]S P E L L S
Cool spell descriptions here
[attr="class","hansinfobg"]
[attr="class","hansinfo"]
[attr="class","hansinfotext"]
WC 1,164 || TOTAL WC 7,661
TAGS @people ITEMS Cosmic Blessing, Raven's Grasp PERKS List 'em here
[attr="class","lonelyscroll"] “No” [break][break] Why? [break][break] Why did none of them listen? Had he not begged them enough? Had he not told them that it was the right thing to do? Had he not proven himself unworthy of continuing on in that hellish existence? Death should only be returned with death. He lifted his head only slightly, barely enough to acknowledge the words of the red-haired shadow mage. [break][break] That was how it should have been. Because unforgivable acts should remain unforgiven. Because a carelessness of life meant a reckless intention to others. Because if he could not control himself, then he would lose her. Again. [break][break] Was he supposed to accept their justice? Didn’t he deny their sympathy because he knew he deserved none of it? When he lost her he found someone to blame, someone to hate, someone he would never forgive. There were people he would end without a second thought if given such a chance. Hadn’t he made himself the easiest target? [break][break] And yet none of them would take the shot. [break][break] He had half a mind to end it all himself. [break][break] But instead, he did not. No matter the reality he wished for, he still existed in the one that would always deny him what he wanted, what he thought wanted. Maybe there was truth to that, deal with daemons first, feelings later, but like that was nearly impossible for him. The daemon demanded control, and the idea of it was always just so out of reach, so what else was he left with? [break][break] Submission? Denial? Surrender? Repentence? Words like that bore a weight that forced him to his knees. Maybe he was afraid. Fear was one word for it, but the shame was almost too unbearable. Maybe there was a point, maybe he could understand. Death would be too easy of an escape. So he wasn’t given it because someone like him wasn’t there to be let off easy. Life and living were almost punishments unto to themselves. There was a truth to that somewhere. It was bitter irony too cruelly poetic. [break][break] The mercenary Hans walked away, conversing with the Mantis who had so boldly declared that Valentine himself should have just left. Maybe there was truth to that request as well, after all, Valentine himself had been no help and frankly admitted he didn’t intend to. Vaile wanted to say he didn’t care, but perhaps that would have been a lie. [break][break] Because now everyone else was all too interested in what he was supposed to do next, even the Daemons who whispered in his ear. [break][break] He heard the words of the red-haired shadow mage, Zaven Blake. What a name. The family was not something Vaile immediately found kinship with, whether it be blood or bonds. The Blakes had been his sister’s allies, it was hard to say whether they had were to be his own. [break][break] He didn’t expect any sympathy. He didn’t ask for it either. Silence was the only answer he could give for the time being. [break][break] Shoulders dropped as he stayed on his knees, crimson eyes trailing to the ground. His fate was being spoken of as if he was a mere object to be talked about. It was as expected of his cousin’s Squad, words so vastly rationally and justified in their thinking. A righteous man who followed a righteous cause, Vaile yet wondered why the lava mage simply didn’t decide to be judge and jury all by himself. He was barely a step behind doing so. It was another irony to be disposed of. [break][break] Another part of him did hate the talking. The speeches. The debate of what life was supposed to mean and what punishment was supposed to be given. They all thought themselves so much better because it simply felt good to say the morally right thing. Knights loved their talk and that was all they were. [break][break] She even came to him. She raised a hand. And the strike hit him hard. [break][break]
Of course, she wasn’t terribly, physically strong. He didn’t make moves to avoid her assault, and instead simply held still. His face hurt, cheek stung, and yet she still had every right in her to do what she wanted. [break][break] Because she was a Knight. [break][break] And Jett King had his own words to say. The Captain of the Purple Orca, at the very least, didn’t so much as add on the diatribes as much as summarized them. The better question was what they were to do with him. They couldn’t just let him go. Yet who would want to be his babysitter? And despite all the wonderful possibilities, death still seemed the most logical one in his mind. [break][break] And yet other thoughts lingered, the one regarding why they blamed him. Because he didn’t tell them the whole truth, inherently. But the other truth was that no one had thought to ask. [break][break] Vaile remained silent, maybe it was funny. [break][break] “Maybe you’re right, maybe should I have told you something, everything upfront...” A humorless laugh echoed from his lips. “But if you really think it’s something you deserved to know, I’ll let you…” [break][break] There was another reason as to why he didn’t quote ‘tell the truth,’ because the truth would have regarded them as enemies from the start. And perhaps they always had been, and always will be. His scattered breaths receded into whispers. [break][break]
“I h̴͔̜̃̐å̴͖̱t̵̺̳̑͘e̴̻̘̊ magic knights.”
[break] Such a pure, simple statement. After all, it was the truth that they wanted. [break][break] Life did continue, but only for those willing to move on. He was stuck, fantastically stuck. He was living that nightmare all over again, all because fate liked playing its funny little games. As that faded mother Orca continued on, and maybe he did feel all too guilty watching her stumble as she talked. But what good was guilt to feel when there was nothing to offer in return? [break][break] And so was he even surprised when the illusion of a daemon suddenly showed itself? No, he didn’t care for it at all. Neither did he care for the apparent show and tell. What a sad story, a dead mother, a dead child. It wasn’t his place to care. [break][break] Because the world was cruel like that, and people didn’t care. And no one here cared for Daemons and their plight. [break][break] There was all too much suffering to go around. [break][break] It went without saying, Vaile welcomed the darkness when it consumed him. If only that really had been the end. The void, the black, the suffocating nothingness lasted only for a few precious seconds. [break][break] However, it was only meant to whisk him away. He found himself standing in a different place, the two familiar signatures of Magic Knights beside him. They were in, apparently, the town center. Wherever that was. [break][break] Vaile did not move from his standing position. He knew all too when that any movement he made would be considered an act of a reckless enemy. At least for the moment, he could act with restraint. [break][break] “Listen.” He said, breathing out a heavy sigh. “I won’t fight either of you. It is useless I know. So if you decide to stab me in the back then just get it over with and go ahead.” [break][break] “Death is inevitable, mine for certain. But I know that since you both have other ideas in mind, and none of them are executing me on the spot, then arresting me right here, right now, means babysitting me. And you don’t have time for that.” He explained what they had to do, to make his point as clear as possible. “So for now, we work with each other. And I swear to you, when we ever get out of this hellspace, I will not run, I’ll let you take me in, I’ll go to jail, trial, whatever repentance means I’ll do it once we’re out.” [break][break]
A short pause. “Once I find the woman I’m looking for.” [break][break] But what good was his begging? It hadn’t pulled through for him before. His promises were empty, perhaps meaningless. [break][break] And so he paused again, hesitating upon his next words. [break][break] “I swear to you on the name of my sister, Vanilla Valentine-Blake.” [break][break] And that name, it did carry weight.
COMBAT SUMMARY
[attr="class","lonelytempy2"]
[attr="class","lonelystats"]
MANA SKIN
archmage
MANA POOL
240/240
HEALTH
grand
MANA REGEN
60 ic // 55 ooc
[attr="class","lonelystats"]
POW
177
DUR
002
SEN
031
STA
100
CON
122
[attr="class","lonelyscroll2"] Mana: 240/240 [break][break] TL;DR Vaile displays his use of edginess through cursed:tm: text and does his best impression of a joker laugh. Afterward, realizes that he's going to get out of here alive if no one kills him so tries to strike a deal with Jett & Vulkan by name dropping his sister *le gasp*
Post by Genesis Fantome on Dec 23, 2020 21:44:05 GMT -5
[googlefont="Lobster"][googlefont="Be Vietnam"]
[attr="class","boxas"]
Genesis Fantôme
La Poste
If anything, the red-haired woman stuck out like a sore thumb, and she hated it. Ever since she was young, she had always been marked as different, as strange and cursed. Even now, in this group, she could sense the attention and hushed talk about her. Why could she not just be another face in the crowd, a fly on the wall, a breath of wind, a shadow passing by?
Heavens above, why can’t she just stay anonymous?
Honestly, if there was a curse to be forgotten, she would probably seek out such a spell. Otherwise, how would she be able to live if people knew about her? She gave an inaudible sigh, then turned her attention back to the Golden Dawn female, who was coming back after slapping Vincent-Valentine. Honestly, she had not expected that from the soft-spoken girl, but if anything, she knew that looks could be deceiving. Gen only nodded and started her communication spell, attempting to contact the Golden Dawn captain who must be somewhere in this town.
“Hello, Captain Zaven. You don't know me, but I'm contacting you on behalf of one of your squad members Hinota Yuiee. She is standing right next to me, and if you want confirmation, you can ask a question only she knows the answer to, and I'll relay the response back.”
Her tone was clipped and formal, and she did not waste any time on pleasantries and such. She never liked those empty words anyways. Though, it might have been a good idea to identify herself with a name...
“We're at Charlotte's house and just fought against civilians clocked with illusions and a mana beast. One of our team members is...uh...” she paused to find the right words for this...delicate situation. “...currently under arrest, under the orders of Captain Jett. What is the situation over there?” Her summary of their position and circumstances were succinct, straight to the point. Then she awaited for the answer, and if she heard anything back, she would relay it out loud for the group to hear, if any one of them were nearby.
There was some more talk, as everyone seemed eager to give their opinions on what they should do with a certain individual. Vulkan seemed to side with Valo, wishing to eliminate any more collateral damages. Jett wanted to see justice, while the others seemed more or less somewhere in between on helping the male shadow mage. As for Gen, she only sighed, wanting to get a move on things. There were wells to find and daemons to deal with. Time was ticking, and she was getting slightly restless with all the delays.
Then suddenly, something shifted in the air, and Gen turned at once to behold the house...which did not look anything like the house that stood there just a few seconds prior. The walls were marred with smoke from a recent fire, some of the glass windows were shattered, and there was even a big fat ugly ‘daemons’ written across the front door. She wrinkled her nose. There was the sudden scent of burnt wood, one that had not been there before.
Then he appeared, and she stiffened at the appearance. Well, it was only an illusion, a doppleganger. But still, just the sight of the daemon made her bristle. She was both repulsed and intrigued by him. It was such a maddening and paradoxical situation. He went on to explain what had actually happened to the house, then turned a question on to the group. Or rather, to her and the dark mage.
"So much for the compassionate mortal race who merely fight to survive...what survival came of killing these two?"
At this, the redhead was momentarily struck speechless, but finally blurted out with a “Compassion? All this and you are lecturing us about compassion? There were some other things she would have said, but it felt like her lungs were being suffocated. The redhead attempted to throw some of her shadows around her, but the darkness was pressing in too strongly. It swirled around her until she could not see anything, not even her own hand in front of her. Then everything went black.
“Tick tock.”
Genesis coughed, then heard her name being called and recognized it as the dark mage. Even before her vision cleared, she was feeling out for the things she had on her, especially the bracelet. Good, it was still there on her wrist. “I’m fine. Did you lose anything?” She glanced over at her companion, then around their new surroundings. They were in some type of house. Regal designs, fancy furnishings...was this the mayor’s mansion? Well, whatever it was, she had a feeling that they should not stay here, not when they have been separated from the rest of the group.
“Let’s get out of here.” She tried to wave away some of the dust and lingering smoke from the air. “I don’t sense anything in here, and I think the library is close by. I remember Nanami said something about him being there...” Without another word, the redhead strode out of the mansion, feeling out for any mana signatures that might be nearby. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary...if sensing nothing was an ordinary thing.
Outside the mansion, it was the same dreary and hazy atmosphere. The daemons really have done their work well in infesting the town. There seemed to be no more light, no more life. The trees and flowers were all devoid of life and color, and all was just a jumbled mess of shadows and nightmares. Gen paused in her tracks as she sensed something familiar. It tugged her towards a certain direction, and she was not one to question her gut instincts.
“I think it’s this way,” she muttered, and hastened her steps. She was not completely familiar with all the buildings in the town, but this mana and presence was unmistakable. Soon enough, she would find herself striding up the steps to a large building, which seemed to be the town library. Assuming the dark mage was nearby, she looked over at him, as if to ask if he was ready, though she did not voice it out loud. Regardless, she would push the doors open, shadows swirling around her in anticipation.
She was not surprised to see him there. Unlike last time, this was no illusion. This was the real deal.
Summary: Communicated with Zaven, talked a bit to illusion Ito, got transported to mayor's mansion with Hans, went to library, now face to face with the real Ito
- Sustained Relaying Information (Enigmatic Sentry), -4 mana - Charlotte's Tea & IC Regen, +15 mana
- Nanami: water and permeation - Charlotte: permeation - Anyone can see perfectly fine indoors, children can see perfectly fine outdoors - Wells have moved, might grow stronger if destroyed (flood/contain/cleanse?) - Daemons don’t depend on the wells for power anymore - Charlotte gave them each a lantern, 20m radius, can be broken, will take on the holder’s element - Time limit of three IC days - Only Valo knows Nanami’s secret IC - PO may need to give up some squad secrets to destroy the well in the PO base, but there are 3 sleeping knights there - Wells shown IC - Sven: shadow - Ito: darkness and ?? - Lilitu: wraith and pure aura - Mayor's mansion close to library (Gen and Hans), PO HQ (Hino and Valo), center with trap-guarded well (Vulkan, Jett and Vaile)
Type & Uses: Flow ¦ 3 (uses) ¦ 2 (overheating) Rank & Specialization: Junior ¦ Sensory ¦ Communication (Long Distance) Mana Cost: 8 ¦ 4 Range & Speed: Long Distance ¦ 10 m/s Stats Affected: N/A Description: The bearer of the bracelet moves their hand over the smokey quartz stone of the bracelet while saying the name of the person they want to speak to. From the bracelet, a liquid amethyst like substance seems to appear and form into a perfect replica of the person they want to talk before hardening while in front of the person they want to talk to the same liquid-like amethyst substance appears in front of them making a perfect replica of the bearer of the bracelet allowing them to converse face to face so to speak. As this is a long ranged communication spell, the barer can speak to others in entirely different regions (boards). Additionally, this is only a junior long-distance communication spell it can only be used to contact one person at a time however with time and effort it would be possible to advance this ability.
Rank & Element: Intermediate ¦ Shadow Class & Type: Enchanted ¦ Armour Magic Specializations: Physical Reinforcement Appearance & Lore: "I hope you like the gift."
These finely crafted black leather boots seem to give off an unsettling energy to any that get to close, they come midway up the shin and have seven silver buttons and seem to have an elastic-like band or string that comes behind the boot and loops over the silver buttons to keep the shoes in place.
Lore: After a compliment to an enemy about their boots and where to get a set just like them for themselves, these boots have found their way to their current owner from said enemy with a note that reads "I hope you like the gift. ~Ito" Whether it is meant to be a taunt or mocking no-one but the sender knows, still they are a really nice set of leather boots.
Name of the Ability: Enigmatic Enhancement Type & Uses: N/A Rank & Specialization: Intermediate ¦ Physical Reinforcement Mana Cost: N/A Range & Speed: N/A ¦ 20 m/s Stats Affected: Endurance Description: The wearer of these boots may feel a little strange while they wear them, it would almost feel as if nothing in the world could harm them or if they could then it would be a lot harder to do. This is because of the endurance buff they give ignore the damage of a single spell or attack per post equal to the rank, or below the current rank of the boots. If the opposing attacker has +20 power to the wearers durability stat they will deal half that spell’s rank in damage. If they have +30 power, the wearer will not be able to ignore any of the damage. This is able to ignore ALL ammo of the single ability/spell that is ignored.
[attr="class","sigh"]POW 25
[attr="class","sigh"]DUR 01
[attr="class","sigh"]SEN 30
[attr="class","sigh"]STA 31
[attr="class","sigh"]CON 35
[attr="class","sigh"]SPEED 5 m/s
[attr="class","sigh"]HEALTH senior
[attr="class","sigh"]MANA SKIN int + jr
[attr="class","sigh"]MANA POOL 90/90
[attr="class","sigh"]MANA REGEN 10[+5] IC 20[+5] OOC
Post by Valo Stark✾ on Dec 30, 2020 1:14:25 GMT -5
Valo Stark
"Don't need a reason to seek strength."
Valo continued to stand beside Hans, looking at the scene involving Valentine, Jett, Vulkan, Hinota and Charlotte. The group was going back and forth on whether it was a good idea to keep the lunatic around. It was a tricky situation there wasn't a simple answer to it, could the guy still be useful? Sure, but could he be trusted? Probably not. Valo could relate to him in a way but even when he was a simple gang member, a common street thug he never took someone's life. Maybe hurt a few people, stole a few to many times, but never took a life. Of course those lives were able to be saved, and Valentine didn't intend to do it on purpose but the act had already been committed. Keeping him locked up and detained was a matter of the team's safety, another slip up like that just could not happen. It should not have happened in the first place.
Valo left his ears open for Hans opinion on the situation , which was pretty much the same as his. Hans had a knack for explaining his point of view in very little words, something Valo liked. He was simple and clear in his choices and opinions. Valentine's actions were not intentional, but the possibility of them happening again was to high. Thus he could not be relied upon, simple as that. "Agreed." Valo replied back to Hans folding his arms waiting for this debate to end.
"You are only speaking this way because it was not your child he murdered...I wonder what the parents of these children would think of him?"
Valo heard the lava mage utter this line in a blunt tone. This one line angered Valo his blood was getting hot, why would he say such a thing to Charlotte of all people. Considering everything she had been through this entire time, everything she had lost. Everything she had tried to do since all this madness occurred. Valo knew that line had to hit Charlotte hard, and the former magic knight was a dear friend, ally and like a second mother to Valo. So he couldn't not speak up when he heard the line. He unfolded his arms and took a few steps forward toward Vulkan.
"Hey Lava man. Watch what you say to her and watch your tone. You don't know what she's been through." Valo said loud enough for the lava mage to hear. He just couldn't let that pass without him saying something about it. Charlotte had been through and sacrificed so much for the betterment of people in Kikka, she just didn't deserve to be talked to in that way. And the Green Mantis knight would leave it at that, he didn't care to have his overall opinion on the matter out there. People could probably guess what it was, he took a few steps back and looked at Charlotte holding Nanami. But he ready to move on, time was wasting the longer they spent on this topic.
"It is true he didn't murder my child but my entire family was murdered and unlike those parents, I saw mine die."
Valo looked towards the mother once again, it must have killed her saying words like that out loud. Just the image of it made Valo sigh, Charlotte, Nanami, her late husband. Valo was close to the family, he met them when just started turning his life around for the better. Helping little Nanami from some bullies they had a bond since then. Just the thought of this family being hurt and attacked, triggered a sadness in the young fire mage. "Charlotte..you don't have..." Valo was trying to say, but once Charlotte started there was no stopping her. She was going to speak her mind no matter what.
The mother continued to speak letting the team know her final opinion on the Valentine matter, believing he still should be listened to and given another chance. Valo couldn't agree to this, but he did understand where she was coming from. But him changing his mind wouldn't matter in the slightest, it was up to Jett and his final decision. No matter what there was pros and cons that had be taken into consideration.
Charlotte then started giving more information on the three Daemon's, informing them that not all of them just used shadow. In fact only Sven used shadow the other two used different elements. Ito used darkness and another that was not known as of yet. Lilitu used wraith and pure aura, which made sense on how she was able to bring back former magic knights as mana beasts. Both of her elements were very powerful, but Valo was ready for the challenge to face her and put an end to all of this.
"I presume nothing as right now my life or my daughters could be taken from me at any second from not only the daemons that currently hold dominion on this place but my own neighbours..."
These words caught Valo slightly off guard, why would she say this? He thought, a team of powerful wizards was there. Surely they would be able to protect her from most of the threats present in Kikka. Especially neighbors. Valo raised an eyebrow looking at the young mother as she continued, seeing the tears falling down her face again. Valo was not keen on Charlotte dropping tears, and it was happening again. A reminder of the failure when they failed to protect Kikka the first time. She spoke of the townsfolk and how they have been handling this madness, most of course have had their faith in the magic knights altered. No longer believing they could protect them fully, Valo couldn't blame them. Valo watched Charlotte carrying Nanami back towards her home and touching the doorknob. A slap could be heard from Valentine's direction, a slap he probably deserved. But as the mother and daughter that Valo cared for so much, went into their home her well built home vanished.
Valo's eyes popped and widened in shock and confusion. What happened? They were just there? Was this a trick an illusion?
"Charlotte?...Nanami?! ...Where'd you go?!" Valo called out, looking at that now replaced her home was a burnt down house. Windows shattered and broken, stone walls burnt the words 'Daemons' written out across the wall. Burnt wood hit Valo's nose, causing more confusion. Valo was beginning to think the worst but, he quickly denied such thoughts. There was no way, they both stood right before him touched him, hugged him, embraced him. That couldn't have been a mere illusion.
Then Ito arrived. Valo extended his right arm sensing his silver staff Hinokagutsuchi and calling it over to him, the silver bo staff flung directly to his open palm. Valo now carrying his weapon, his eyes darting from Ito to the burnt house. His mind still denying what seems to be a tragic truth. Of course this Ito was an illusion, he wasn't stupid enough to come here on his own.
"Around a month ago this happened..." Ito said. As soon as he those words, Valo's eyes had tears falling from them, the young fire mage trying his best to keep his composure.
But they were right here...I saw them...
Ito continued to explain what happened, the horror that took place. Valo refused to believe it, more tears falling down from his face he had yet to realize. I touched them...I felt them...They were right here...
Valo's thoughts and emotions were scattered and breaking. He couldn't believe what he was hearing, nor what he was looking at. He refused to, it just couldn't be the truth to him. It could not! He wouldn't allow it!
"So much for the compassionate mortal race who merely fight to survive... what survival came of killing these two?"
"WHERE ARE THEEYY!!!" Valo shouted at the top of lungs, he didn't believe a word Ito was saying. This had be another trick, They were not supposed to get hurt, Nanami and Charlotte was to be protected. They had be alive somewhere! Ito was lying! But why would he? Valo's grip on his silver staff was getting tighter and tighter his palms began to bleed, leaving a trail of blood coming down his weapon. The Daemon continued his story and his lies, more words that Valo refused to believe.
"What makes it worse is their corpses are still within the house, from what we can discern they are believed not to deserve a burial even though even after death all she did was tried to protect the people around her."
I hugged them...They were right here.
"Stop lying!! and tell me WHERE THEY ARE!!!" Valo shouted at the illusion once again, his eyes puffy more tears falling down his face. Was Ito lying? He had to be? There was no way possible this was the truth. Did he fail Nanami...again?
Lilitu's voice could then be heard, she spoke of her atonement and the deal the two made. These words fell on deaf ears, Valo was only concerned about Charlotte and Nanami. She spoke of them calling them wraiths, being able to give them memories of who they once were. Was Lilitu also lying? Was this all a big hoax? A master illusion. It was getting to the point where Valo could no longer deny it.
"I was fond of them, it wasn't right what happened."
Valo let go of his weapon, the silver staff dropping to the cold hard ground. Was it the truth? Was Nanami and Charlotte...
They were right here.
Valo dropped to his knees as the darkness engulfed the entire team, it felt suffocating and uncomfortable. But he felt unmoved by it, as if nothing were happening to him. Then it ended and he was in the same street, in front of the same burnt up, destroyed home. That read 'Daemons.'
Valo looked up and saw it. It was the truth.
He had to accept it.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!." A loud outcry came from Valo. He had failed again. He failed Charlotte and Nanami and their whole family once again. Valo had his hands and knees on the ground, his tears falling on the cold floor. His mind losing it's grip with reality, for the first time in his life he was truly loosing it. His entire body shaking. They were gone.
The promises he made, "If people are mean and you need help just call for me and I'll come running as quickly as I can..."
The words he told Nanami whenever she needed him, she just had to call out. How many times? How many times did she call out to him? How many times was she afraid? How many times did she need him to be there? It's was almost as if he could hear her little voice calling out him even now.
"Pl... please help me... pretty please... come help... home... home needs you...Home needs you."
Valo was broken, the fire he had in him. Gone. His will to fight nearly shattered completely. It felt like all the strength in his body had left him. What was the point now? Why continue the fight? Why? Charlotte and Nanami were gone. Taken. Not by the deamons, not even mana beasts. But humans the very people in Kikka they were trying to protect. They took them, they killed them. A horrific act. What does he do now? How does he go forward? What can he do? So far he has been nothing but a failure.
Failure.
Failing to protect anyone. Only good for burying them.
Valo's body started to move on it's own, rising to his feet. He had to bury them. They deserved that. They deserved to be buried properly. He started to make his way towards the burnt home. Valo's eyes were sunken and dark, nearly devoid of any kind of life or strength. But he was going to bury them, he heard their bodies were still in there. It had been weeks but it did not matter to him, it didn't matter if time was running out. It wouldn't matter if someone tried to stop him. If there was traps or surprise attack it wouldn't stop him from just moving forward, and burring them.
The fire mage didn't even realize he was not alone, that Hinota from Golden Dawn was left with him.
Name of Spell: 真っ白(Masshiro / Pitch White) Spell Element: Fire Spell Rank: Intermediate Mana Cost: 20 | 10 Type of Golem: Balanced Applicable Perks:Puppet Master -
Puppet Master: This Perk allows your Golems to start with a bonus of +3 to all of its Stats. At Grand Rank this bonus increases to +5. If this Perk is applied to a Balanced Golem these bonuses increase to +5 and +10 instead.
Description: Masshiro is an all white long dragon, that Valo can summon to aid him in different ways. At full length of 6 meters long, Masshiro is a rather long and very slender looking golem. Masshiro is capable of flight, aiding Valo in the air as well. While it may not look as viscous as Valo's other golems it is just as strong, and aggressive. Masshiro is able to use it's arms, claws, feet, tail, horns, jaws and it's entire body to attack whatever Valo directs it too. When attacking it's jaws, claws, horns and tail are covered in flames causing at rank fire damage to whatever they hit. Masshiro can be used for transportation following the transportation guidelines for intermediate ranked golem spells. Carrying up to two people at a time moving at speeds of 10 m/s. They fully respond to commands given by it's user through a mana connection and also verbally.
Type
Power
Durability
Sensory
Range
Speed
Health
Balanced
35 (+5)
35 (+5)
35 (+5)
60m
12m/s
Intermediate
Name of Spell: フレアアクセルVセカンド (Fureaakuseru V Sekando / Flare Accel V Second) Elemental Type: Fire Rank & Spell Type: Intermediate | Physical Reinforcement Range & Speed: Self Mana Cost: 20 | 10 Stats Effected: Speed - 10ms Applicable Perks: Full Blitz-
Full Blitz: By taking this perk, your magic is able to push past the normal limits of your bodies speed. When using a Physical Reinforcement spell that buffs your speed, you can increase it by an additional 5 m/s. At Grand Rank you can increase said spells by 10 m/s. (Note these bonuses do not stack.)
Description: Simply an upgrade to Valo's first Fureaakuseru. Allowing a much greater increase in speed, swiftness and reaction time. Using this spell in combination to Valo's natural speed truly pushes past the limits of an average human movement speed. The small embers still present this time growing a bit in size becoming much more visible to the naked eye.
The doll-like mage listened as their hostess rebutted the harsh words that were spoken to her, she could understand where Vulkan and Jett were coming from but she also understood Charlotte's words. She understood that life was important something that she had clarified at least twice by this time but she also didn't believe that they should fully condemn him without knowing what had caused it. She gave it a long moments thought, she had to agree that there would be no way to help the white-haired Valentine without knowing the problem. She looked back to where Hans and Valo had seemingly rejoined the group but still was listening as she spoke about how it was true that Valentine hadn't killed her daughter, but, unlike the parents of those children she had borne witness to when her own child had died. She couldn't even imagine losing a child let alone having to watch it happening, it was a gut-wrenching feeling and she wanted to support the woman but at the same time, she had no idea how she would go about it. It seemed like the fire mage Valo on the other hand had no such qualms. [break][break] He was happy to call out her senior for his harsh words and remind him they had no idea what she had been through. No truer words had been spoken, they didn't know what the woman and child had been through, they hadn't been there the entire time. Valo, Hans and Genesis had been in the town two months ago but by the looks of it, this was more personal for the Green Mantis mage. It seemed as if he knew her, that much was apparent from how they interacted when they first met each other this time, even the Purple Orca captain seemed to have known the woman but that mystery was easily dissolved when the information was given that she was a previous member of the squad. She kept an ear out for the message that was being sent to her captain but then Charlotte's words took her attention away once more, she could understand about the daemons being able to take her life away but she didn't understand why was she worried about her neighbours. She knew that her child had been attacked because of her markings and believed that may have played a part in it, but the truth turned out to be worse than any of them could imagine. [break][break] She watched as Charlotte passed her and Genesis touching her hand to the door as she spoke those words and as if rose-tinted glasses had been shattered a reality none of them could have foreseen set in. The house... it had been destroyed. It left her speechless her eyes going to Valo once more as though she had taken in the information of the daemon's elements she was overwhelmed at what was going on at that current moment to put it to any use. The stone bricks showed cracking and blackening due to intense heat, the windows had been smashed but there was no way of knowing if it was because of the blaze or due to having things thrown through them. The door was almost off its hinges the word 'Daemons' written in red paint could be seen on the scorched door. "Why didn't they run...?" she couldn't help but whisper "Why weren't they given help?" she continued trying to comprehend the site that she was seeing the smell of burnt wood still in the air making her raise her hand to release a miasma smelling more of rose and lavender. She wasn't doing this out of disrespect but because the smell seemed to be affecting everyone. [break][break] It was then a voice was heard, she turned and looked seeing one of the three daemon's leaning against the wall of the house, before bowing to the group. She knew that there was no way this was the real deal, it would be suicidal to take on the entire group on his own and up till this point, they had played their hands wisely. He, however, started to go over the tragic event that happened four weeks prior. It seemed as if Valo was taking the information in but he didn't want to believe the daemon or his eyes even though the evidence was right before them plain as well in this case night. "They... they barricaded them in?" she whispered not able to believe people were so vile that they'd do such heinous things to people who showed no signs of malice "She was pregnant?" it was so much information for her to wrap her head around. Tears were falling from her eyes as the bile feeling started rising she was ready to let it free but kept pushing it down as she knew that it wouldn't bring them back. "They burned a four-year-old and her mother due to the daughter finding herself in an unlucky and unavoidable circumstance?" she shook her head feeling sick on the matter. [break][break] "Nothing was added to survival for the deaths of those two, it just showed us for the vile beings we are." the doll-like mage said knowing it to be true even if the question wasn't aimed at her. Her eyes looked to Genesis as she answered the question "Then you are a bigger fool than you let on to be." she snapped her eyes turning cold for a brief second "He didn't ask about compassion and what it has to do with survival!" she almost screamed "He asked how killing them increased their chances of survival... the answer is it doesn't! It decreases it!" she felt as if she was losing herself as the sweet-smelling miasma started to change to its normal foul-smelling self, she was crying and shaking though the latter it could have been in rage or fear after a moment she managed to calm herself and the gentleness once again appeared in her eyes as her miasma went back to the rose and lavender scent it had previously. "I.. I'm sorry for my outburst Miss Genesis" she whispered sincerely she didn't like she did that but it was like she wasn't even the one who was speaking the words. [break][break] She turned around hearing a thud behind her but as she did she was enshrouded by a thick, heavy fog like darkness, it was truly terrifying as she couldn't hear or see the others but at the same time it was like she couldn't breathe because of the crushing feeling it had on her. No sooner than it was there than it had vanished making her look around as she took a silent gasp of air now she felt like she could. "A.. ah.." was the only thing that escaped her lips as she looked around the once semi populated space to realise that everyone but herself and Valo was missing. "Valo..." she said her tone showing worry "Are you alright? Are you missing anything?" she enquired but it was almost like her words fell on deaf ears as he entered the house, her hand going out as to stop him but she just missed it. They didn't know how safe that house was after it was burned but it didn't seem to matter to her sole companion, not that she could blame him. He had known this family personally and by how the 'wraiths' had acted it was more like they were family than mere acquaintances. [break][break] She could see he was struggling but she had no idea how to help ease his mind even for a little, she wanted to say not to blame the people but then she would be a hypocrite because she herself blamed the people for this crime. They could have taken refuge elsewhere if they believed them an issue but instead they went the more extreme route and snuffed out the lives of three innocent people. She walked behind Valo and into the house her eyes adjusting to the darkness as dust, ash and smoke-filled air entered her lungs. "Something doesn't make sense Valo." she said looking to the walls and stepping back outside for a moment looking to the other buildings before walking back in "The other houses show no damage at all." she said to him "Even though they had decided them of a crime they didn't commit and decided they would play executioner..." she gripped her sleeves "She still protected them..." she said following after Valo, her body moved on its own and though she didn't take touch well she hugged the other from behind to comfort him hearing his words her eyes closing believing at that moment he needed to know he wasn't alone. [break][break] "Kikka can wait for now" she whispered into his ear, to her the town as a whole didn't really matter they had taken justice into their own hands and murdered innocent people then left them without proper burial rights because of things that were out of their control. "They deserve a proper burial and the rites of passage that come with it." she said showing their beliefs lined up and she would do anything she could to help "Let's locate their bodies, take the last lantern and when we bury them we can hang the lantern above so they'll never be in the darkness again." she suggested knowing she hadn't taken her own lantern when it had been offered and even that one small kindness even in death could make a difference. She just hoped her words would help ease the other but she honestly didn't blame him if he wanted revenge for what had happened to the people he cared about.
[attr="class","textie"]This...This feeling it was something he hadn't felt in a very long time, since he had lost his partner. Since he had watched Abraxas disappear before his eyes. The womans rebuttal was expected after all Vulkan had said something harsh with her, even the fire mage who seemed friendly with them, Valo, had chimed in to try, and defend them. Vulkan stood stalwart however, until the illusion shattered before his eyes. The once nice looking house was now tattered, burned, and broken, the place where he had, had a tea party not that long before. Where he had given a sweet girl his mantle for protecting everyone, it was gone. In it's place stood this mausoleum to a crime that set him ablaze, and the heat he produced intensified to a degree greater than before. His armor was starting to slowly form around him almost as if he wasn't in full control of his magic, right now.
As this illusion described what had taken place to them all, Vulkans anger soared into the skies above as he couldn't believe that the people of this town would kill an innocent woman, and her unborn child. For something they had no hand in, for something they couldn't control.
Sheep...They are all sheep...Animals... His thoughts couldn't stop pouring forth as he continued to try, and keep himself under control so he didn't accidentally hurt the others. The partial armor that did form around him faded as he drank in everything around him. These people of this city deserved to be destroyed for this crime, how could they do that...How could they act in such a manner when they should have been trying to work together to survive. All he had to do was summon his meteors, and he could potentially level the city, and let the Daemon's rule over the rubble, but that was better than they deserved.
Shaking his head he just listened to the male Daemon speak before they were all engulfed in shadows, and split apart. He didn't know where everyone else was, but it appeared he had been left with Jett, and Vaile. A 'tch' sound left his lips as he looked around doing his best to try, and figure out their location. If his guess was right the three of them were in the middle of the town, from what he could remember of Nanami's little map she had made for him when he asked her how well she knew the town. He was glad he got to have that tea party with her even if it wasn't entirely her. That was when he felt the pulse of mana nearby, even with his abysmal sensory skills he could feel the power radiating from it. It appeared they had been teleported here for a reason, but whether they were meant to destroy the well, or not was something he still wasn't sure of.
That was when Vaile mentioned what his sisters name was, and that she was a Blake. Vulkan tilted his head curiously at the male before him.
"You are related to Zaven then...I see..." There was still no sympathy in his eyes, or tone as he looked at the man in front of him. If he was related to Zaven then perhaps it was best that he had decided to not shove his lance through his chest. After all the current Golden Dawn captain was the only person left from his past that he felt close, and to kill one of his family would not sit well with the Lava mage. "Fine...As we are in the current situation that we are in, and I am not a savage like these townspeople, and neither is Jett...We will work with you. You have a spell that gives us flight, yes? Cast it on all of us so that we can get a birds eye view, and make our way around easier. There is a strong mana presence nearby, and I think we should make our way towards it, and hope the others are either nearby, or able to defend themselves." It was not ideal as they had been forcibly split up, but it was at least not so bad that they couldn't keep going forward.
The use of the mans shadow wing spell from the fight with the mana beasts hadn't been lost on Vulkan, and as he lacked any such mobility for himself he would make full use of this mage, and take every advantage he could in this situation. Then they would take the proper measures after this entire mess was sorted. For now Vulkan still hadn't lost control as evidenced by the town not being filled with craters right now. Though it was getting increasingly harder to control his anger the more he found out about this place, and was continually exposed to people like this Vaile person.
"If the source of the mana is a well...I think we should destroy it, since it appears that the other team has done that already, and there doesn't seem to be an adverse affects. Though if I am wrong...We will be playing right into their hands. With the three of us we should be able to brute force our way through relatively easy. With Jett's defenses, and the two of us attacking, it is a blessing that we got sent together. Though I am sure they planned for that." He sighed thoughtfully.
He didn't understand what the enemies goal was for splitting them up, unless it was to single out the weaker members, and systematically eradicate them. That was one possibility, another was that they just enjoyed playing with their food to much, and the last was that the Daemon wanted to continue to torture their minds. With enemies that he himself had not yet met it was hard to figure out their motives, but this was the hand they had been dealt, and so they would do what was necessary of them. They were after all Knights...
[attr="class","jettcomscroll"] Jett had said all he was going to on the matter of their newfound prisoner, a fate he had accepted, even if Charlotte had not. The rest of the group continued on while Jett awaited the words of protest from the ex Orca, he compassion wasted but he knew it was precisely what made her such a strong Magic Knight but his mind was made up. While things did appear to be wrapping up, what happened next took the whole group by surprise, the captain being no exception as the warmth of the home faded and the smell of old embers and smoke filled the air, scorch marks and broken glass decorating their surroundings. The diamond wizards mana would swell, conjuring his strongest magical presence as a deamon appeared before the group. The pages of his grimoire flipped rapidly as he was ready to unleash one of his strongest spells upon the creature, only for doubt to stop him, knowing the beast could be a child clad in another illusion. [break][break] Thankfully, the Jett’s cation was correct, the deamon himself identifying himself as an illusion, telling the group not to bother with attacking. The Orca had half a mind to test the validity of his claim, but thought better of it, instead listening to the tale of woe that had befell the residence. The two people that had acted as the only light in Kikka since they arrived, an old friend of Jett’s and her daughter. The diamond mage’s fists clenched, white noise drowning out the words of the deamon, his emotions running wild deep inside his unmoving frame. His feelings mirrored by the actions of Valo’s outburst, how he wished to do the same but the burden of leadership meant he needed a cool head, even now. ”So your deals mean nothing. You’ll follow them to the letter but will look for any loophole you can to bail on it. Make no mistake, this is my home and my squad! You can play your games all you want but in the end you’ll die by my hand!” Jett walked to Valo, placing his hand on their shoulder. ”We can’t change the past, look forwards, get stronger and we’ll make sure nothing like this happens again!” Shadows quickly engulfed the group as the deamons finished speaking, separating them. [break][break] Once released by the darkness, Jett found himself in the company of Vulkan and Valentine, which was less than ideal but the captain’s attention was no longer on the shadow mage. A quick look around their location and Jett knew exactly where he was and knew the streets like the back of his hands. Quiet as he was, Jett simply listened as the other two spoke, the weight of Valetine’s reveal was no lost on the captain as his rage was all he cared for as of now, though he had wished it was Vanilla with the group instead. Vulkan’s head was strictly on the task at hand, pointing them in the directing of a potential well, even suggesting that they destroy it. It was then that Jett finally spoke up. ”I agree. If everything we just saw was an illusion, then there is no reason to believe the words of the deamons that destroying the wells will only serve to make them stronger. If we are wrong, we are wrong, their death is guaranteed.” With no further input, Jett walked past the duo and made his way towards the well, taking flight should Valentine agree to Vulkan’s plan.
[break]
Combat Summary
[attr="class","jettcomscroll2"]
tl;dr Jett got angry but kept cool, encouraged Valo and then agreed to Vulkans plan
Post by Satori Ryuutei on Jan 7, 2021 18:54:17 GMT -5
Deep silver wings beat as Satori was sent propelling across the sky akin to a missile. The large man shot across the sky, wings beating with each flick as his gaze shifted along the air around him occasionally. The town was supposedly under attack, but alot of the situation appeared to of been handled. He'd spent the last four hours flickering from one building to the next evacuating civilians, using his golems to spread across the town and minimize casualties. Those that were dead he left behind undeterred, however. There were bigger issues at hand than a few dead bodies, children or not.
Another beat of his wings and crackle of electricity caused a sound akin to thunder to fill the air. The darkness that flooded the surroundings had caused the entire city to be difficult to navigate through the higher up he went. So he'd begun flying just under the cover of the darkness, dodging buildings and relying on his ki, and golems sensory to map out the town and locate those he was evacuating. It was around this point that Bengal flickered upward, shifting his gaze along the dozens of signatures from his Golems before he closed his eyes and released a slow breath.
Waving a hand and causing them to disperse into static electricity as he floated above the city as high as he could while maintaining the range of his ki. He'd evacuated as many as he could focus on and been steadily searching for the source of this damn darkness, but hadn't managed to locate it just yet. An issue. His jaw set slightly as his mana pulsed along his hands, forming small sparks of static electricity as the large man rubbed the back of his neck slowly. His options were limited, he wasn't a sensor, and though he had solutions to that in the works, Chi hadn't reached a high enough potential for him to properly help in this situation either.
That left him with doing things the old fashioned way. Spreading his wings, Satori launched forward once more. Darting from one spot to the next as his eyes kept their concentration on his surroundings. Ki reaching out, tracing the environment carefully with each beat of his wings. The civilians had been evacuated. So he needed to locate abnormalities in the town manually and use ki to skim for abnormal life signs. He already knew, all too well, what the Daemon's ki felt like. Twisted and unnatural.
The search didn't take long as the man flashed across the top of the town until he finally beat his wings once, banking hard as he felt two ki signatures that gave off a different set of emotional signatures than others. Grunting as the massive man flared out both wings, slowing his movements and coming to a slow descent from the high-speed movements he'd been using to travel across the town. Landing with a heavy thud behind the pair as they began to enter into the building, the large feral man slowly straightened.
Wild black locks pulled back with a leather thong into a wild ponytail, grey feline-like eyes shifted over both of them quickly. Knight mantles. A mantis and a dawn, hm? Both of them looked thoroughly perturbed however. Closing his eyes once he reached out with his ki. The house was tainted. It felt wrong, twisted and gnarled, giving off a feeling similar to the Daemons own ki. Grunting, he stepped forward toward the pair, lifting a hand calmly to indicate peace.
"I'm Bengal. Came to assist with the situation, been evacuating civilians. What's going on? What is this house? The ki feels wrong, here." His name and appearance should ensure the pair knew who he was, and that he wasn't a threat to them. Well. Assuming they were on the side of the civilians at least. Even if he didn't flaunt the fame he'd acquired, it was hard to ignore how useful it could be for situations like this. His gaze snapped toward the large building, one hand resting on the pommel of the large katana sitting on his right hip. The long sheath crafted from a polished, fused spinal cord catching the light against the man's dark clothing lined with white fur. Whisps of black miasma flowing from the blade while Satori lifted a hand up to touch some of the burnt wood. Brow furrowing.
There was a bigger question, too. He'd felt the large ripples of more powerful mana when he'd begun the evacuation process. His gaze slid toward the pair.
"Where're your Captains at that? Where the hell is Zaven?" Hell at that point what about Ardere? Lydia? There was no way those two would just sit back while something of this scale was happening after all. His brow furrowed as he rested his hands on his hips, if there was a larger fight he may be needed elsewhere. At the same time he'd seen how nasty some of the Daemon could be though. These two didn't feel that strong, the mantis felt strong enough to hold his own at least. But the other one...
He glanced over Hinota for a brief moment, grunting. He wouldn't just leave until he had a bit more information. They both had ki that was all over the place, rage, regret, grief, fear, concern. All negative emotions swirling around them. Closing an eye he released a slow breath.
"What's going on that has you both so worked up? The sooner I know what's going on the sooner I can act and make a difference." Satori had a very... simple, outlook on the world. Higher moral quandaries didn't exist in the man's mind. He had allies, enemies, and those that were neutral. Right now, the only enemies in this town he had were any that attacked him. The Daemon here, as far as he knew, weren't affiliated with those that had killed his clansmen and father. In that case, he had no grudge against them. Nor did he have one against the townspeople he had been evacuating.
They had asked for help, and offered some limited information in return as well as been on the way for what he'd been trying to do. Plus, he'd been asked to help protect the town when he'd been sent here. Simple and easy for now.
Though he had a feeling that may change with whatever information these two, with their storm of negative emotions, may have.
There was a small conversation between Valo and Hans as he found out that the mana beast that the Green Mantis mage buried was in fact once a magic knight themselves. It was then that he had changed turned his attention to Genesis and Hinota trying to make a light-hearted joke on the assassin but it again turned towards Valentine. It was clear that what happened wasn't intentional and even voiced as such, he did realise that it could happen again and that wasn't something that any of them could allow given the situation and so the shadow mage couldn't be trusted in his mind. What bothered the merc was that the shadow mage knew of these episodes and still came where he could indeed be a danger to everyone due to his own selfish desires. Though he took in the fact the one he enter this godforsaken town was also a four-leaf clover wielder themselves. It had been then that Ito had spoken the sad tale of what happened in the not so long ago past before separating him and the others in the group. It wasn't too long before he realised he within the Mayor's estate and his only companion was that of the red-headed assassin.
The communication went without a hitch in regards to the captain but he had asked the question of where he and Hinota had spent three days after their training within the Forsaken Region. Ito's doppelganger chuckled lightly "I never said I was the compassionate one, I am far from it especially when angry so you're talking to the wrong twin on that one." he said pushing off the wall "But your doll friend there is correct. I hear words like compassion and survival so frequently from your kind so where was the compassion for this mother and child? What survival came from their deaths?" it was that simple to the observant daemon, he wasn't playing around it irritated him to no end, he knew he and his kin were deceitful, dark, impure beings but at least they didn't pretend to be anything but that, unlike mortals who tried to pretend to be virtuous but that only seemed to be when it suited them in his opinion.
She like the others had been consumed within the darkness before she could even answer the captain or asked Hinota the question to prove she was who she said she was and found herself with Han's within the Mayor's mansion. She started to feel around to see if she had lost any of her equipment and asked Hans if he lost anything but it had turned out that they had everything they entered the town with. She said that the pair should get out of there and even mentioned Nanami's map and how she had said that Ito would be in the nearby library, due to this information she made a beeline to the location under the assumption that the merc would follow. Before long following the mana signature they would enter the library where Ito would be sat reading at a table, a cup of tea in one hand as he took a sip his tail just turning the page, on the table sat a saucer and a plate with a slice of cake. Hearing Genesis he looked up and blinked "Shh, we're in a library. Please keep your voice down." he said before looking back down at his book. "I see your control hasn't gotten any better in the last two months you are still a hothead." he almost sounded disappointed at the fact. "I see you got my gifts however, how are they aiding you?" he asked not caring if Hans knew the origins already or not.
~~~~~~
Jett, Valentine, Vulkan:
Valentine it seemed couldn't comprehend why the others wouldn't take the free kill after what had happened, he knew that the survival of the woman he came in search of was contingent on his ability to control himself. It seemed it was always something just out of the man's reach, much like his wish for death. He believed that the woman to strike him had every right to because she was a knight but that had nothing to do with it, the woman was a pacifist and struck him not because of what she was but because she as a person believed he needed to check back into reality. He realised he maybe should have been upfront and even said if they really wanted to know he would let them. The truth of the matter was... he hated magic knights. He cared little for the plight of the woman, her child or the town itself even when the truth of their fate came to light as far as he was concerned the world was a cruel place and there was enough suffering for everyone.
Unlike the others, he also seemed to embrace the darkness that had swallowed the group before it vanished and he, Vulkan and the captain of the purple orcas found themselves within the city center. He informed them that he wouldn't try and run as he knew it was useless, even saying that if they wanted to stab him in the back to just get it over and done with. It was something that neither Vulkan nor Jett would do regardless of personal feelings due to the fact they were magic knights. He then stated that arresting him at that moment would mean babysitting him so, for now, they should work together and that after the task was done he wouldn't run. That he would willingly let himself be taken into custody, taken to jail to await a trial and let his fate be decided that way but only once he found the person he entered the town to find in the first place. It was then the man made a promise that was an interesting turn of events as at least one of the two magic knights knew of Valentine's sister yet another surprise that the man had kept.
It would seem as if Vulkan had been affected by the sight of what happened, even if he didn't agree with Charlotte's words. The ashes of what remained of the funeral pyre that had killed her, her unborn child and young daughter stood in place of the once beautiful home. His mana was swelling to the point that it would be easily noticed by others and though there was some control it was hard to know if he was fully in control at that point. It was soon after that he was engulfed with the rest only to reappear in the centre of town with the other two strong members of the group and he found out that Valentine was related to his captain making things a bit more complicated as killing him would put him odds with Zaven. He still showed no signs of forgiveness but he had to admit that working together to end the threat was the best course of action. He enquired about spells that could give flight so they could get a bird's eye view, little did the lava mage know that it would hinder them the higher the got off the ground.
He was right, however, there was a strong mana source nearby and believed it was a wise choice to head towards it and was willing to take advantage of anything that might aid in ending the darkness that plagued the city. He hadn't lost control but little did the other two know it was getting harder the more truth was brought to the light and continued exposure to Valentine wasn't helping any in helping him. He let the others know what he believed it was and going by the reports one had already been destroyed with no adverse repercussions other than a crater in a park. He saw it as a positive thing that they got sent together as between the three they could deal with pretty much everything but he also knew if the three strongest were put together then they had calculated for such a thing to happen. What they didn't know was that much was true, just not as they would expect it.
The true motives of the daemons were still unknown at this point but the lava mage had a few in mind, little did he know that none were correct. The twins had done this due to something they themselves selfishly wanted and this was the quickest way to achieve all their goals in one swoop. In the long run, it just benefited everyone involved except for Sven but that fight was about to start real soon as everyone in the town would soon find out.
Jett had been no exception to the surprise as the truth came out but he then chastised the daemons "I made no such deal with anyone, if I had they would still be alive and the ones that attempted it would be on a barbeque pit elsewhere." his voice was cold but it was made clear he wasn't going to have anyone tarnish his honour "The deal my father made when he first arrived here was he would spare one child, which he did. The next deal he made was with Artemis Somerset and that was that six children harmed by magic knight and civilian would get treatment if she paid a sacrifice, she countered and said that he wasn't allowed to harm civilians in their homes." he said his voice not changing tones "He kept that promise by building his palace above it's why it gets darker as you get higher." he said folding his arms "This crime was done by civilians we were under no obligation to protect them from their own, it wasn't part of an agreement any of us made." it was as simple as that to the male daemon.
"My sister took pity on them, she was fond of them." he said crossing his arms eyes closing "They were the only light in this entire city and it was snuffed out by the very people they were protecting." he shook his head his voice showed pain "I truly don't understand your kind." he said once more looking at Jett with deep slate grey eyes. "My sister and I do not loophole our deals if we make a deal we follow them to the letter and if we break it we pay penance as the green mantis will test to if asked." his voice was bitter as he continued to speak "She promised him and the boy Charles that was here last time she would remain in your base until they came back. She broke the promise three times and in penance, he told her to protect the citizens and destroy a well." he walked to the man "She destroyed the well in the shadow palace without a second though and going forward she will protect the citizens that call this townhome even if she finds them vile creatures unworthy of the air they breathe for what they did to that innocent woman and child." his voice was still cold but it had an angered undertone to it.
"My sister is currently in your squad headquarters and awaiting the green mantis's arrival." there was no deception in his voice he didn't see the point in it, he smiled at the man's words "I hope that I do, please don't make me wait too long." there was almost a peace to that one sentence, could it be that he actually was wanting death? That everything the twins had done since the two groups entered was so they could finally meet their ends. "I hope you can make the people here stronger, but, I also hope they face judgement for their crimes for that woman and child." with those words said he too was engulfed in the suffocating smoke that moved him to the other two stronger members of the group which was less than ideal in the captain's mind. It was also at this point that he would get a communication from Lydia stating she was abandoning her position of overwatch as the three juniors were on their own and she would be their guardian going forward.
When the purple orca heard the reveal it wasn't wasted on him but right now his rage was what was making him move forward, though he would have preferred the dead sister over the male he was currently having to work with. It was true that the house had been covered in an illusion for the comfort of the two wraiths that being said their words were one, they gave the all the information they had and it had been completely true "Don't destroy the well... not yet..." Lilitu requested of the captain she didn't know if he would listen to her but she thought she'd at least try. "The words were not ours but hers... my wraiths... their personality remains intact as do their memories." she sounded saddened "I... I allowed them to return home and gave the illusion everything was fine because that's what Charlotte wanted, she knew you'd all eventually come to end it all. I made her a promise no purple orca would be harmed or die and none have, they are all in the prisons asleep my wraiths tend to them." her voice genuinely sounded compassionate. She was willing to answer questions if the captain asked out of this group.
~~~~~~
Hinota, Satori, Valo:
The green mantis mage seemed to have taken offence to what the senior golden dawn had said and stood to defend the former magic knight. He was right he had no idea what she had been through over the last few months. It was clear the young man was heated over the entire situation, he couldn't even imagine how hard it was to speak the words that she saw her daughter die unlike those children's parents who had been spared the sight but soon enough the truth of things would come to light, she saw it not once but twice. He even tried to tell her that she didn't have to but it was made clear she was going to be heard regardless of what others may want or thing and so she was. He had taken in the information of the daemon's elements and surprisingly it was noted that only Sven himself used shadow while the twins used more unique and stronger elements compare to their father. He was ready for the challenge nonetheless.
However, what the soft-spoken mother said next caught him off guard. She presumed nothing as she knew that her life could be forfeit at any time not only by the daemons but her neighbours too. He could understand the daemons but he knew that Charlotte was no weakling in her own right and would go down fighting, what he couldn't understand was the neighbour's comment. The group was strong and would be able to deal with any unruly neighbours even without the woman helping. She also notified them that the people of Kikka no longer believed in the magic knights and their ability to protect them from danger, which was understandable given what had happened to the town over the past months. Hearing a smack from behind him he turned his head to watch the doll-like mage walking away from Valentine but by the time he looked back the mother and daughter were gone. The house that he was so used to had now lost is glamour and what was left was the vile truth of the recent past.
The fire mage couldn't come to terms with what he was seeing or hearing from the daemon to he clutched his staff so hard that blood was even falling from his palm. It was clear from the first sentence Ito spoke that this had done damage to the fire mage, tears instantly welling in his eyes. Ito looked at the suffering male "With my sister now, they are her companions added to her graveyard." he said softly "She wanted to tell you at the ball but if she did we would have been found out and that would have turned into a less than a festive place." he said tilting his head a little "We didn't want to bring unneeded harm so we kept our presence from being detected to easily." That much was true, too much life would have been lost including their own and where they had lost the will to continue they wouldn't give their lives up easily either. "There are no tricks here young lord, everything I spoke is the truth and when you meet them again you can ask them yourself." he said not enjoying the pain that the fire mage was going through.
"I have no reason to lie to you young lord, it doesn't benefit me in any way, I gain no gratification in causing pain to others and this is why even if there are holes as big as black holes in any deal I make I do not exploit them, not anymore at least." he was truthful on the matter over the last twenty or so years he hadn't tried to twist deals nor had Lilitu, they kept to the letter of their deals normally without having to exploit anything unless it was really necessary. Over the last ten or so years, their outlooks had changed quite a bit and it was because of that they were willing to defy their father to a certain point to get what they wanted. He soon faded with the darkness allowing his sister to take over when needed. "We wouldn't lie to you my dearest prince, I wanted you to know the truth of the animals that took this part of your family away. I will keep them safe while I am alive but they do not deserve it, they were savages that took the only light in this town and with that, all hope was forsaken." she whispered going silent allowing him to mourn.
"One last thing young lord, I don't know how much peace this will bring you but my sister heard the mothers prayers and put the girl to sleep. She felt no pain and passed in pleasant dreams." he said, unfortunately, he couldn't say the same for the mother who had felt the lick of each and every flame while she pleaded for her daughter's life. With that the darkness had enshrouded the group separating them but unlike everyone else he and the golden dawn's doll-like mage hadn't moved. When he had moved into the house she had followed him tears running down her own cheeks unable to believe what had happened. She had hugged him from behind saying they could allow kikka to wait a little longer and bury the family even using her lantern to make sure they were never left in darkness again. It was during this time she got a communication from Joseph asking her how things were, that they had been split up and if there was any important information that could be shared. She ignored it for a moment believing that Valo right now needed the support more than anyone else.
She didn't do well with touch but her body reacted to the need of the green mantis mage and for now, just hugged him from behind. She even commented to the fire mage that despite what they had done to Charlotte, she was still protecting them from the flames that were ending her own life, it was something she couldn't believe given they had played judge, jury and executioner on a crime that was just a figment of their imaginations. Eventually, she knew she would have to answer Joseph's call but that could wait for the moment. It would seem there was another ace in the hole that no one knew of, one that had spent the entire time escorting civilians out of the town by the use of golems. He left the bodies of the dead, they were past saving and it would just be wasting time and effort that could be used on the living. With a beat of electric wings, he started to move forward towards his next destination but even the well-seasoned warrior found the town hard to navigate as the higher he went up the darker it became.
It was because of this he flew low using his ki and the sensory of his golems to help him to dodge buildings and other obstacles that he may come across. As he was evacuating the city he was also attempting to find the source but the darkness being all around made it quite impossible for him to do it on his own. He knew he had an up and coming solution but for now, the wraith wasn't strong enough to be much help. This left him with one option, the old fashion way of search and destroy. Some of the civilians had been evacuated so there wasn't that much to worry about in that part of town allowing the male to look for any abnormalities in the area and it wasn't that long before he found two ki signatures that showed different emotions to others. He got to the door and started to bombard the two within with questions after he introduced himself. It seemed like he was checking them over before asking more questions. This was so he could make assessments on what to do to help and if the pair needed protection.
Story:
Paths have been decided and the truth of some losses have hit some more than others. Hans and Genesis have made their way to the library finding quite a peaceful Ito who has told the shadow mage to be quiet they were in a library and that he saw that things haven't changed in the last two months.
A conversation happened between the trio of the stronger mages and the daemons made their stances known to Jett. They've decided to go to the nearby well but the daemoness has requested the well not be destroyed yet but there wasn't exactly a lot she could stop him. Jett found out about an agreement between charlotte and the daemoness to protect the sleeping purple orca still located in the base. The decision is now will they listen to her request of would they follow through with their original plan.
The duo was in mourning over the loss of mother in child and had seemingly decided that they would bury them before going forward. Some words were spoken to Valo from the twins to try and reassure him though they weren't too sure if it helped any, soon enough a third would meet them after introducing himself he started to ask questions just after a communication from the other group came in from Joseph. It would seem that the doll-like mage would be able to fill in the other team and Bengal at the same time.
June was late. She’d been with Bengal when he received the news of Kikka’s attack and takeover.The mages that had gone to deal with the mess were apparently in need of assistance despite the presence of a few powerful figures. The lightning mage had taken off by way of his silver wings while the Silva trailed behind riding her transport spell, River Walk. Her method of movement was a bit slower than his, but not by enough to justify being carried. That sort of thing was for when they needed to arrive in the same place at the same time or after the mission at hand had been completed.
The goal had been to start from opposite sides of the city before meeting in the center. After a few hours of travel, the blue-and-silver-haired woman arrived on the scene. Without the advantage of fully trained Ki or sensory magic, she had to rely on her other senses. The short Silver Eagle caught sight of her husband-to-be flying over the city a few times and decided to leave the evacuation of any civilians to him. Her chances of effectively finding and guiding anyone away from danger were low.
June strode through the streets after letting River Step fade, taking in the general sense of wrongness in the area. Her senses were too dull to pick up on much more than that. The town itself had definitely seen better days; an oppressive feeling lingered in the air as if the atmosphere itself had been weighed down. As she made her way towards the center of town, the mayor’s mansion caught her eye. The Magic Knight decided that a quick detour to see if anyone was inside would be worthwhile.
Before entering the building, the short noblewoman drew her sword. Quietly, she moved through the building, moving towards the faint sound of people speaking. After a few minutes, the silvery haired woman made her way to the library before opening the door to reveal three figures. A woman with long, blood-red hair and a man with short, dark hair, and a third individual that seemed off.
Experience told her that the woman was still new to conflicts like this based on her posture, overall aura, and expression. The man seemed to be more familiar with danger, perhaps close to her own level in power. The Magic Knight knew she needed to identify whether any of these individuals were an enemy and their relative strengths and weaknesses in short order. The best way to get someone to open up was to offer a bit of information first.
June lowered her sword a bit, not pointing it at anyone in particular but keeping it ready for action.
“I am June Silva, a member of the Silver Eagles. I’ve come to provide support against the daemon occupation of this town. Identify yourselves.”
Her words were short, professional, and to the point although not necessarily polite. June saved the song and dance of “politeness” for situations that called for it. There was no time to waste on such niceties when any of the three people standing before her could be a threat.
The Silver Eagle mantel draped over her shoulders marked the woman as a Magic Knight, just as she claimed, though the blue tint in her wavy hair called her heritage into question. Her delicate features were pressed into a no-nonsense look, and her free hand hovered just over the grimoire strapped to her side. Over her shoulder, the top of a spear made from bones was visible.
