[center][h3][b]Unknown[/b][/h3[/center] Bzzzzzz...[b]"Status Report."[/b] [color=purple]"All is going according to your plan. The preparations are in place and all we now do is wait."[/color] [b]"Excellent. You have done well. Thank you."[/b] [color=purple]"I owe you my life. I intent to give it up for you too."[/color] [b]"..."[/b] [color=purple]"Sir? I...I have a request."[/color] [b]"Go ahead."[/b] [color=purple]"I...wish to take part in some of the festivities before... Permission to leave my post?"[/color] [b]".....I understand. Permission granted, just take care not to get caught."[/b] [center][h3][color=silver]Ferrin Astra[/color] [color=00aeef]Colt[/color] and [color=ed1c24]Claire[/color] [color=440e62]Mors Vincent Omni[/color][/h3][/center] [b]Morning of the fourth day[/b] Colt and Claire stood over Ferrin's prone figure. [color=00aeef]"Should we wake him?"[/color] Colt asked. [color=ed1c24]Of course! He can't sleep all day."[/color] Claire replied. [color=00aeef]A-Alright, but you do it."[/color] [color=ed1c24]"With pleasure."[/color] [color=ed1c24][h1]WAKE UP YOU LAZY EXCUSE FOR A WIZARD!!![/h1][/color] Claire shouted in Ferrin's ear, while shaking him. No reaction. Claire pause, amazed. [color=ed1c24]He didn't even flinch.[/color] She said. Then a slow smile spread across thier face. [color=ed1c24]"Brother, dear are you thinking what I'm thinking?"[/color] Claire asked. That smirk turned into a frown. [color=00aeef]"Of course I am, I'm your head, and I can tell you that that is a bad idea."[/color] Colt warned. [color=ed1c24]What is life without a little risk?[/color] [color=00aeef]"Safe?"[/color] [color=ed1c24]Just do it, he needs to be up anyway, and it is looking like he won't voluntarily get up anytime soon."[/color] [color=00aeef]"No, I won't, and that is final. We are not actualy kids, remember?"[/color] [color=ed1c24]"Awwww."[/color] An hour later, Ferrin finaly stirred. He groaned and rolled over, intending to go back to sleep, when a voice interrupted. [color=ed1c24]"About damn time, sleeping beauty."[/color] Claire said. Without moving, Ferrin replied [color=silver]"I guess that makes you the ugly step-sister."[/color] He then sat up blearily. [color=silver]"What are we talking about again?"[/color] Claire hesitated. [color=ed1c24]"Huh? I'm not sure...ugh whatever, now you have me confused."[/color] Ferrin un tangled himself from the blankets he had been sleeping under,and staggered toward the burnt out fire. He grabbed some wood he had stacked nearby and piled it up. [color=00aeef]"What are you doing?"[/color] Colt asked. [color=silver]"Need...coffee..."[/color] Ferrin groaned. Moving sluggishly, he stacked the wood in a haphazard pile, and with a word, set it ablaze. While the Twin looked on curiously, he grabbed a pot and, with more magic, filled it with water. The fire had been cast purposely hotter then normal, so it burned down to coals quickly. Ferrin set the pot in the hottest part of the coals. While he was waiting, he pulled a bag of coffee beans out of his supplies that he had bought along with a mortar and pestle. He began to grind the beans. Colt just then noticed that Ferrin had only one eye barely cracked open. [i][color=ed1c24]He is still half asleep![/color][/i] Claire realized, seeing Ferrin through their shared eyes. By the time Ferrin had ground the beans into powder, the water was boiling. Ferrin grabbed the pot of boiling water with his Gauntlet, completely ignoring the heat, and added the grounds, and set it aside. While he waited, Colt spoke up. [color=00aeef]"What are your plans for today?"[/color] He asked. When Ferrin didn't reply, Colt went on. [color=00aeef]"I ask because my sister and I decided we want to go with you. We hate feeling useless, and sitting around is boring and unproductive. I feel--[/color] [i][color=ed1c24]Brother?[/color][/i] Claire thought to Colt, interrupting him. [color=00aeef]"What?"[/color] [color=ed1c24]Shut up for a moment.[/color][/i] He did so. A soft snore emanated from Ferrin. [color=00aeef]"He is asleep!?"[/color] Colt cried in disbelief. [color=ed1c24]"Seems that way."[/color] Came Claire's voice from the same mouth. Ferrin woke with a start, glanced around, and went back to dozing. About five minutes later, the fragrant smell of coffee woke Ferrin. He eagerly grabbed the pot, and poured himself some coffee into a mug. He drank deeply of the liquid nirvana, almost draining the whole mug in one large pull. The coffee had an obvious effect on him. His eyes opened completely, and he sat up straight, becoming more energized. He refilled his cup, then set the pot aside. [color=silver]"Good morning."[/color] He said. [color=ed1c24]"MORNING?! IT'S ALMOST AFTERNOON, YOU SLUGGARD!"[/color] Claire shouted at him. Ferrin said nothing, taking another sip. [color=silver]"Nothing to be done about that. No sense in wasting energy complaining about it. Especially since you are going to need it for what I have in mind."[/color] [color=ed1c24]"And what's that?"[/color] [color=silver]"A test of sorts. I want to see how much magic you two retain."[/color] [color=ed1c24]"Now?"[/color] Claire asked. Ferrin raised his eyebrow. [color=silver]"Yes, 'now'. No sense in wasting time."[/color] [color=ed1c24]"Other then the time you already wasted."[/color] Claire muttered. Ferrin let this past without a challenge. [color=silver]"It's pretty simple, I want you to cast the largest spell you can handle. I'll gauge its strength and effectiveness, as well as see what caliber of magic you wield."[/color] Colt and Claire shared a mental shrug. They agreed that the request was reasonable. [color=ed1c24]"I'll go first."[/color] Claire said with a smirk. She took a stance, and put their fist in one hand in a very familiar way. [color=ed1c24]"Lava make! Lavalance!"[/color] She shouted, moving their arms to the side and back before thrusting them forward. Ferrin felt a small surge of magic, and a small stream of molten rock dribbled from her hands. He tried to conceal a small burst of laughter. Apparently it wasn't good enough, because Claire rounded on him, blushing furiously. [color=ed1c24]"Hey! If I had my full power, that move would level a building! It would be perfect to use on an ass like you!"[/color] Ferrin assumed a somber expression. [color=silver]"I'm sorry for laughing."[/color] He said, with a bow of his head. That wasn't enough to pacify her, though. [color=ed1c24]"I'll [i]make[/i] you sorry you son of a --[/color][color=00aeef]--I guess it is my turn now."[/color] Colt said, calmly, their eyes turning blue as he took over, cutting off his sister's torrent of verbal abuse. She kept firing off in their head, but Colt ignored her. He took a stance, completely different from his sister's. He held up two fingers, closed his eyes, and calmly intoned, [color=00aeef]"Glacier magic: Flash-Freeze."[/color] His eyes shot open and he swung his hand out. Ferrin felt this magic surge, it was as weak as Claire's but more focused and efficient. Ferrin looked at the ground, and there was a small plant with some flowers, completely frozen in a thin layer of ice. [color=silver]"Not bad, considering your current state."[/color] He had, by now, drunk the whole pot of coffee he had prepared, and he tossed the grounds into the fire. He rose to his feet, and dusted himself off. He yawned, and stretched in a few different ways. [color=silver]"All right. Today we are going into town. The only lead we have is that we are looking for a Necromancer. I met one yesterday, but I have my doubts about him."[/color] He looked at the Twin. [color=silver]"I cannot stress this enough, but stick close to me. If we get separated...well, I imagine you know quite well what will happen."[/color] The Twin nodded. Colt, judging by the blue eyes, didn't seem too happy about something, but he said nothing. [color=silver]"Here we go."[/color] Ferrin said. Then they headed into town.