Vincent. Inadi. Lesley. Riley. Three names for three faces. From their introductions it could be presumed that they would fit rather well in the group, seeing as how lively they were.
The green-haired lad had yet to pronounce his name and stayed at the side, not giving any indication of intending to present himself in front of the rest. Rather, he stood next to the candy cane gentleman, watching the guests interact with a happy expression on his face. This alone suggested that he was not meant to join the human party, thus making him Nowhereian, yet only further exchange of words would prove which species he truly belonged to.
In the mean time, the newbie threesome were making themselves quite comfortable among their comrades. Taking up seats on the table, they quickly began consuming the delicious pastries the castle had to offer. The atmosphere was light and delightful, not as jovial as a family gathering or as lavish as a banquet or ball. Instead it had that sweet essence of the everyday, mixed with a pinch of spice, creating something fairly nice, befitting the air of a tea party.
Panter, as Hakuren had labeled the only member with a questionable orientation, due to the fact that ''Pinky'' had already been taken, was courting Inadi, who had not displayed anything extraordinary enough to be given a nickname. The youngster was the second male to wear glasses, the first being Harper, yet dubbing him "Glasses Boy" was a bit too cliche, not to mention there could be confusion as to whom the sobriquet belonged to. However, from what he had asked prior to being silenced by the cat's purring, indeed it appeared as though he would fall into the category of his glasses-wearing senior. It was unfortunate that his inquiry would not be answered, but even if it had been, it would not bring forth any unknown information to the table, at least for the members who had taken participation in the missions up until then. Regardless, this topic, with which he addressed the Queen first, aided in the creation of his sketch. Many similarities he may have with Riddle, yet this time he differed. Whilst the aforementioned had the characteristics of a clumsy main protagonist, who would find his way and build his courage from scratch, Inadi had the appearance of the "voice of wisdom" character. In works of literature there would always be at least one entity, which would provide the main party with knowledge. With a calm level-headed disposition and trustworthy advice, he would be the mediator, the breaker of fights and the bringer of peace. It was forlorn to see such a logical person tossed into the world of Nowhere, where logic did not make sense and keeping the randomness at a low level was simply unheard of.
Whilst the poor lost soul was being harassed by the lord of pink, the last of the latest male additions to the gang was wolfing down any confection that was near his corner of the table, deaf and ignorant to all that was happening around him. By performing these unmannerly actions he was proving himself to be just what Hakuren expected. A individual, who preferred brawns over brains. His mere physique pointed this out and his behavior confirmed it. Alas, even this stereotype was necessary in their ranks. Brute force was always handy, after all. Perhaps now they would stand a better chance against the hooded marauders.
Once the commotion had decreased, Hakuren stepped forward with the thought of introducing himself to his greenest team members, however, he held himself aback, for the doors were briskly slammed open. The perpetrator was a girl in what looked like medieval clothing. Despite the numerous bunny guards and Schizophrenia, who had apparently attempted to stop her, the lass marched into the dining hall with a gait full of confidence.
Zephy said
"Miss your Majesty the Queen lady! I have an urgent letter from Sol!"
Queen Delirium said
Queen Delirium stared at the messenger. At that moment, at least a dozen bunny guards clung to her in an attempt to hold her back.
"Oh my, if it isn't Zephy. It's been far too long since you paid us a visit. Did you come for cakes and tea, you're just in time for the party." The queen pointed to the new humans, then gave the polite Inadi a smile. "There's so much excitement, but don't you fret, I'll answer all questions later." She grabbed a plate of glowing cookies off the table and pushed them into Zephy's arms. "How is Sol doing? You should write to us more often."
Zephy said
"Sol is... " Zephy juggled the plate of glowing cookies as she tried to retrieve the letter from Tobias from her bag. She finally decided to balance the plate on poor Schiz's head, handing the sealed letter to the Queen with a flourish. "Please read it right now! It's really, really urgent!"
The contents of the letter remained unrevealed to the humans, until the moment Her Highness exclaimed:
[quote=Queen Delirium]
"Oh my, a dragon invasion? They burned down the bakery?! This...this is serious."[quote]
The very instance dragons were mentioned, a reminder knocked on Hakuren's door, much like how a notification instantly pops up in one's virtual mailbox. It was very improbable that the "Dragon's Laugh" on the Living List had no connection to this sudden event. As he recalled, Serenade had mentioned that the flying reptiles from folklore were friendly pet-like beings in Nowhere, thus explaining the bewilderment in Her Majesty's reaction after reading the news. No doubt the situation was serious and would require great attention and careful handling. However, seeing as this was a crazy world with a lunatic fox as its ruler, it wouldn't be too far fetched to suggest sending the humans out there instead of an army. In fact it would likely bring more profit. By giving the outworldly guests this assignment, they would be earning not only the next item on the list, but also the respect of another country. It would be in debt to the queendom and would pay back this kindness handsomely. Killing two birds with one stone. In Nowhere, the saying was probably different. Something along the lines of "One shot, two pancakes".
Coming closer to the core of the heated discussion, the lad in the midnight green coat observed as his prediction became a reality. Indeed, Queen Delirium proclaimed that the humans would embark on a journey to slay the scourge of the land. They were to rid the innocent of their oppressor, who burned and rampaged left and right without a rest. It was a dangerous mission indeed, one which would put everyone's lives in peril, and was not to be taken lightly. Yet her Most Highest Magnificence had not a drop of worry and had trust in her lovely companions, who had recently solved the mystery of the "Siren's Song". She shone upon them like the sun, for her confidence was unwavering. Tapping both Hakuren and Leila on their shoulders, she assured the royal messenger that there was nothing to fret. Her hopes were as high as her rank, it seems. But Zephy, as her name was, was unconvinced and it was not due to prejudice. Albeit they had defeated a corrupted star, survived being drowned by a siren and an attack from fugitives, there was so much the mortal body could take. Even with the increase in number, defeating a creature so harrowing was a feat only possible in dreams. An ordinary person's hopeless fantasy for adventure and glory.
On the other hand, Nowhere itself was a dream in full bloom in reality's field. It made the absurd a solid fact and what was certain into silly talk. An upside-down world, where everything and nothing waited just behind the corner. Who was to say that they could and who was to say that they couldn't go into battle with a monster? The dragon itself could be something entirely different from what the humans knew. It could be a giant centipede with six wings and two mouths. Or maybe a creature made of caramel with leaves for wings. Maybe it didn't have wings at all? One thing was certain in this dimension and it was that everything is, was and will be possible.
Having made her decision clear, Her Excellency quickly crossed the room. The treasure chest she stood in front of she opened and scavenged, until coming across a jewelry box. With her desired object safely in hand, little lady turned about and headed towards her guests.
Queen Delirium said
"To aid you on your quest I'll also be giving the humans amulets and the guides will be going along too. You remember Songbird, Two-Thirds and the rest of the gang, don't you."
Hakuren eyed the items carefully with the curiosity of a cat. He was close enough to be able to examine the fine details of each without bending or standing on his toes and one must agree that they were magnificent pieces of art. Every amulet was egg-shaped, with a base and a crown of various kind, made out of silver, gold and small bright gems. The content inside them was bright and bizarre. It was a liquid, which sparkled and weakly shone, sometimes even small particles would appear and disappear within. Each had a unique colour that set it apart from the rest and there were just the right amount for the human band. Without a doubt these amulets possessed some magical quality, otherwise they would serve nothing more than an accessory's purpose.
The young man was amused by the look of the treasures, which were being presented before his eyes. They reminded him of certain elements, which were part of an anime he had once watched, due to a recommendation. He had no regrets about seeing it from beginning to finish, for he liked the eery creepy feeling the story gave off. The Queen offered the humans to pick whichever they liked, thus the two were probably not the same kind of magical tool, yet if they were even remotely similar, the lad had to wonder how dark this cheerful land of sweets could get.
The honor of choosing first was given to Harper. The lad, hesitant as he was, picked a gray gem, a colour quite suitable for him. Her Lordship urged him to up it around his neck, a request he obedient completed and the instant he did so, the amulet started glowing. The young mistress immediately explained:
Queen Delirium said
"Those gems will provide you with power. Some of you will have an affinity for a weapon while others will be able to perform magical feats." She approached one of her knight statues and pulled a sword free from its hands. "You picked the Knight amulet." She stated before holding the sword out to Harper. When he hesitated she placed it in his hands and gave him an encouraging nod.
What followed suit was a peculiar performance. Riddle had not the slightest idea of how to use a sword in the first place. He began swinging it left and right without a thought, yet steadily, as if through a strange metamorphosis, his footing became steadier, his grip - stronger and his slashes - more confident. Withing seconds the youngster was demonstrating the skills of a professional. Unfortunately, they were not a hidden talent he had buried deep inside him, but a miracle. A miracle only Nowhere could create. Harper was now a knight. All he needed was a white horse, but Jasper was a decent replacement, albeit a bear.
Not long after, the boy fell from grace. His footwork turned back to normal. He dropped his sword and tripped over himself, resulting in a crash on the the floor.
Harper said
"That was odd..." he muttered as the queen yanked him up.
Queen Delirium said
"As you can see, that was the amulet's power." She pointed to the grey amulet, the liquid inside had gone down. "That glowing stuff inside is your energy. It'll be what powers your attacks. Make sure it doesn't run out...or," her expression turned serious,
'We die or we turn into witches, which again means we'll die.'
Queen Delirium said
"Bad things could happen."
'Use it the wrong way and we die. Use it too much and we die. Use it less and the dragon will eat us.' Hakuren thought
'This is going to be an interesting adventure, indeed~'
Queen Delirium said
The Queen held up the box with a smile. "Come humans, take your pick. Afterwards, I'll answer all your questions." Her glance fell on Inadi and she gave him a kind smile. "Let's not waste any time. Sol needs your help, heroes." Zephy nodded enthusiastically, suddenly hopeful. Maybe these humans could help after all!
The Queen tapped her wrist as if staring at a watch, funny how the queen knew about such a concept.
The second to come up on the stage was Ace, the cheerful red-head apple. As he observed her overly active demeanor in chosing an amulet and trying to call forth its power by holding a sword hilt, Hakuren could not ignore how hyper the girl appeared. Despite having noticed prior to this occasion, back when they had briefly introduced each other on the outskirts of Yonder, that this girl had plenty of energy to spear, her sparkling eyes and those twitchy jumping movements of hers made him wonder if she had had something this duskdawn. Then again, it was unlikely that such a child-friendly place had the sinful plant, thus it was probably the great amount of sweets she had consumed. With candies being served for breakfast, lunch and dinner, it wouldn't be surprising to get a sugar rush.
Spiritual connections have always been a mysterious topic alley to wander into. Science rejected them for the most part, yet a normal society can not function properly with the belief that they exist. A red thread that binds the hearts of lovers. An invisible string, which ties a mother and its child. The oddity of twins. Those are some of the cases, where there is neither solid proof against or for their existence. Regardless, people believe in non-materialistic connections, in something invisible that ties us together. A puzzle, which no one has so far been able to solve.
Such was Ace's, and most likely everyone else's, situation. It was as if the red amulet had called out to her soul, for they had been bind before even meeting. The power, which came from it was that of fire. Precisely speaking, a fire sword. It was astounding to behold the magnificence of something so baffling cut through thin air. The scene in front of them was as if cut from a fictional novel of kings and queens from medieval times.
As breathtaking as it had been to witness flame swordsmanship, the red gem too began to run out of liquid. The magic disappeared, leaving a rather disappointing Ace to stare at her swordless hilt.
Ace said
"Wait, what do you mean run out? How does the magic run out- wait what happens when the magic runs out? And can we keep these?" Ace was probably one of the last people that needed to keep the magic...
"Who's next?" She asked, curious to see what the rest would be able to do.
Jasper said
"If we run out, what will happen?"
Next in line was Polar Bear. She had taken out a red and white gem quickly after her female comrade and did not wait long before asking a similar question. One would think that the youth of this age had a great imagination, surpassing their ancestors with creativity of the mind. Yet the two girls were a disappointing reminder that some people still could not create the image of the most likely possibilities. In the best case, their capabilities would simply reach their limit and require rest for balance to be restored. In the worst - they perished. Those scenarios were the simplest of hunches that could come to even an ignorant fool. Perhaps they needed the answer as mere trivia. Regardless of what it meant to run out of mana, only one conclusion would be reached each and every single time. The amulet must not run out of liquid.
Seeing his chance to take his pick, Hakuren stepped forward towards the box. If he had animal ears, they would have been perked up and pointing towards the container of wonders. As childish as it sounded, the youngster was certainly eager to get to roll the wheel of fortune. However, his turn would have to wait, for the monstrosity of muscles shoved past him, making his way to the Queen, as if he were cutting the Red sea. Vincent's behavior was nothing to be offended of. After all, "discourteous" and "brute" were already down his Characteristics List, there for the world to see.
No one had the chance to notice what kind of gem the boulder took, for he kept it close to himself. The way he took his leave to the side, retreating to the table and hiding the amulet from anyone else's view was as if he was that hobbit, which shouted "My precious". Such primitive materialistic instincts were interesting to observe, but not enough to keep the psychologist's attention for long.
Instead, his green-blue eyes traveled to Her Majesty, in front of whom there was now no one. With the light tapping of his
shoes, the young man became first in line and examined each of the amulets. They were marvelous indeed. Captivating. Mesmerizing. These little pieces of jewelry held a power capable of destroying entire cities. With such charm and shining colour, the would make you gaze in awe.
Beautiful as they all were, there was one which entranced him most. It was not the rainbow one, where colours flowed back and forth, parading in that compact space. Nor was it the bright ginger-red, where flames danced restlessly in a sun circle. No, it was one, which possessed a different kind of grace. One of colour between white and blue, with a 'crown' in the shape of a star, this egg-like object stood elegantly amid its more flary relatives. Upon closer inspection, through its glass miniature snowflakes could be seen twinkling within, but nothing as heart-racing as the tango of flames. Around its base there were decorations made from precious stones, portraying what looked like hills of white under a starry sky. The great detail poured on this little item reminded him of the Faberge eggs. If any of these magical tools were brought into the light of the human world, surely they would sell for a greater price than that Russian's petty craftsmanship.
"If I may." Hakuren spoke as he reached for his chosen amulet, yet was cut short and could not grasp it, due to a distraction one could not simply ignore.
Vincent said
“Broken piece of shit!”
'Here we go again.'Turning around with the speed of light, the midnight green coat-wearing lad instantly cast his sight upon Vincent, whose expression was far from delighted. Lightly speaking, he was furious.
Vincent said
“Yo, queenie! This thing’s broken! Either that or you gave me the wrong one, I think one of you other guys have got my amulet and I want it…” His right fist raised in the air, swinging down onto the table to accentuate his demand.
“NOW!”
The loud roar of the beast-like man resonated through the entire dining hall, making the plates and glasses shiver. If the poor silverware and china had gotten away with just that, it would have been wonderful. Unfortunately, today they would meet their doom.
His clenched hand slamming against the table, the wood split below it faster than a blink. The ends of the now two separate pieces of furniture jumped upwards, sending everything which was on them into the air. A food fight, no, a food bombardment began. Cakes, tarts, candies, bisquits, milkshakes, parfaits, strudels, chocolates, lokum, rooster lollipops, puddings, flans and everything else made loops and somersaults until they crashed into the ground. Getting hit was potentially dangerous, due to the weight of some of the delights. All of a sudden the room became a battlefield, Nowhere style. Left, right, duck, quack. They continued raining down. Hakuren did his best to avoid getting hit, yet his body was not in the mood for a strain so soon after recovery, thus it betrayed him and he got smacked on the face with milky way ice-cream cake, along with some pieces of fruit, which were in it. The two good things were that he was wearing a fedora and that this particular flavor was to his liking.
The sweet apocalypse ended as quickly as it had begun. Vincent gave an "Oh, whoops" as a response to the two, who had actually gotten hit, namely Hakuren and Inadi, with the thought of apologizing kilometers away from his mind. With his newly-discovered power now in the green, he beamed triumphantly and scooped up some cream as his reward. How flattering.
Taking a moment for himself, Hakuren approached one of the scattered remains of the table, in order to pick up the handkerchief that was still on it. Wiping off the bits of cake from himself, as well as the ones from his hat and clothing as decently as possible, the youngster continued to smile, only in a manner different from before. With most of the chocolate and cream now off of him, he returned to the box and picked up the amulet he wished. It was cold to the touch, like a window in winter against a bare hand, and sent a chill up his arm and down his spine. But it was not of fear. In fact, it was a pleasant feeling. One, which reminded him of those cold winter days, when he would go strolling in the woods. Albeit not much remained of those excursions, which were rare to begin with, memory of the sensation of the cold tickling him, whilst the trees gently swayed, sending snowflakes fluttering through the air, was still there.
Soaking up this refreshment as he held the whimsical charm, the young man tossed it for a moment upwards, only to catch it once more with one hand. Suddenly, it was as if a hedgehog rolled down his back, but it wasn't painful. A lively spark played in his eyes as he smiled with confidence. It only took twice to tap with his foot for the floor below him to become covered with ice. Solid and slippery, the ice was spreading fast, much like the roots of a tree, only with the fast forward button pressed. The atmosphere around him became cold, as though a draught had abruptly entered. Taking two or three steps forward, away from Her Excellency, he noticed how the objects on the floor were becoming frosty, the smaller, shorter ones, such as cookies and other foods, already covered with a thin layer.
"Now this is cool." he said.
Hakuren stretched his right leg, just like any normal person would, in order to walk, yet what it landed on was not the floor, but an ice step. With his imagination carefully working, he created only the stairs of what was a grand staircase entirely of ice and climbed upwards, until he was at a relatively good height above the onlookers, not too high, yet not too low. There he sat and observed from above the bigger picture of the destruction his new comrade had caused. Quite the hazard he was, indeed.
The low temperature did not bother Hakuren at all. He didn't even feel chilly, which was likely due to the magic's influence on his body, making him resistent to the cold. Simply sitting in that place, on that platform of ice, he flicked the air a couple of times, creating big snowflakes in the shape artists drew them, yet they would instantly shatter into dozens of little white specks, which would fall down as real snow. This was most amusing. Wondering what else he could do, an light bulb flighted on in his mind.
The human twisted and turned his right wrist, his fingers dancing all the way, in an attempt to halt the expansion of the ice on the floor. Truth be told, he had no intention of making it stop, but making it look like that was part of the plan. Making numerous gestures, it only made it worse, just as he predicted, and, at that moment, he 'accidentally' made the ice spread directly under Vincent and up the wall behind him. It was time to see if ogres could dance.
"Oh, sorry about that." Hakuren said right after the man fell on the solid ice.
"Accidents happen." He then pushed himself forward and began walking down, a piece of ice forming every time he stepped.
"I hope you newcomers will excuse my rudeness." the young man continued with a friendly smile, taking off his fedora in the process of descending.
"My name is Hakuren Zabluda. A pleasure to meet you all~"The staircase had vanished and so had parts of the ice on the floor. Despite the surge of power he had had, the human had seen his own gem's light beginning to decrease, just as it had with the first two, and had quickly decided to halt his shenanigans, in case he needed a sudden boost later.
"Besides, we just met darling. Why would you want to leave so suddenly?", his attention was on a strawberry tart, he took a bite out of it slowly, trying hard to look as seductive as possible. Seeing as Inadi seemed to just sit there in his seat, Lesley grinned devilishly before placing a disturbing hand on the thigh opposite of him. "Do you wish to take a bite?", he leaned forward a bit, bringing the already bitten sweet closer to Inadi's lips in a rather cattish stance.
