The Duke’s mien remained implacable at the appearance of Duchess Agustria and Viscount Skybound, but he did turn to one of the servants in attendance. A look was all that was needed for the maid to stride briskly off to retrieve another chair for the surprise guest, while Laurent himself moved to stand up to receive them.
By right, two of the three chairs were owed to the Duke and Duchess in attendance, but it was cruel to let two children stand while the adults sat and ate, especially when they both already looked like a couple of brats who accidentally broke a vase or a window. Honestly, what was dear Evelyn thinking? Laurent repressed a sigh. Then, the corner of his lips twitched into a smile as he caught Mirie’s eye.
A two-for-one show, then.
“What a devoted brother you are, Viscount Skybound,” he chuckled, leaning against the railing of the gazebo to reach up for one of the branches and pluck a ripe plum. Brushing away the dust with the sleeve of his jacket, he tossed it to the young lad. “Two days travel without the benefit of a carriage must have been exhausting, though I see that like any proper nobleman, you’ve nevertheless managed to remain presentable.”
He gave the boy a moment to try the fruit.
“Alas, if you sought your sister, I’m certain that the footman who had let you in would have informed you that she was in the guest room with me, or perhaps at the courtyard, like we are now. Which brings to mind a story I’ve heard of lately…”
Laurent lifted his head up, a jovial light glinting off the rim of his glasses, as if he was sharing trivial, comedic news. “Duchess Agustria, word is that a masterful thief has been plundering the homes of the aristocracy as of late, disdaining what measures we’ve taken to safeguard our estates. I don’t suppose any of the lords and ladies of that social gathering you’ve been at recently have spoke of such incidents?”
It didn’t matter, not when everything ended before the apparition could even manifest. In the shadow of the colossus that dwelled within her dreams, Estelle was left with only the broken remains of Dante, a teenage girl who cried over his body, and Timekeeper.
Scratch that, Timekeeper bolted, leaving her there, alone, with this bullshit.
With all this bullshit, really.
What had the point of this mission even been? What were they even here for? Did this constitute as a success? Did Timekeeper get what he wanted? Did they just make even more enemies? Was she supposed to kill this monster-daughter now, because that was GEMINI protocol? The Knight of Tomorrow was reporting in to Dr. Moller over comms, the fires were dying out as a result of the assistance of the mage-bikers, and this whole thing was a mess from start to finish.
She never had to deal with this in the past. Never had to, back when she was just the guardian of a village, dealing with masses of malice that hardly possessed sentience. Then she had picked and chosen, realizing her limitations and maturing like an adult. Life became an endless set of trolley problems and compromises. And now, if she considered all this, considered what was bound to happen, the adult in Estelle, the Witch Hunter of GEMINI, would act immediately and cut this grieving monster down now, before sorrow turned to hatred and distilled into vengeance.
She made a thing though, of never drawing her sword.
And she was only twenty-two years old. A young adult.
…
Estelle knelt down beside Amanda, and gave her a consolatory hug. Allowed her to cry until there was a break in between her sobs, and then said, “Your friends are outside. They were looking for you.”
What was Dante hiding her from? The schoolgirls hadn’t seen her, so she hadn’t been sent away just because he saw Finn.
"Forward, forward! Deliver upon our foes a storm of steel!"PERSONALITY: | Such pride, such arrogance!
Kreszenz Leichenberg has never known humility, even in defeat. Her chin lifts high, her nose even higher, as she looks down upon the world that she knows will be her own. This is the girl who has lived upon high mountains, high castles, high towers. Praised only as exceptional since childhood, her voice rings out as haughtily as her laughter, the pride that stiffens her spine becoming a lightning rod too that draws forth only conflict. Clover Kingdom has changed since the prominence of the Anti-Magic King, after all. The arrogance of nobility had no place in a society where others were encouraged to reach for summits beyond their station. In an environment where a common villager could seriously entertain dreams of becoming a Magic Knight, in an environment where the sacrifices of generations bearing the burden of rule were forgotten, where aristocrats learn to guard their tongue lest outrage overflows and becomes disobedience, Kreszenz remains adamant in her capabilities as a noble.
If they swear their fealty to her, she will give their lives meaning. If they sought to reach beyond their means, she will be the adjudicator of their trial.
It is perhaps owing to that same nobility of hers, that Kreszenz, for all that arrogance, all that pride, remains polarizing, rather than simply unbearable. For she is loyal to her own, and frank in her assessments. If one wishes to better themselves, then she will show them with brutal honesty just how far they must go. And if there are those who seek to harm what is hers? That is an offense worth waging war over.
One would be hard-pressed indeed, to see Kreszenz Leichenberg as anything but a quintessential noble. |
MAGIC: | Lightning Magic: Capable of wide-spread destruction delivered at blinding speeds, the Leichenberg Family's Lightning Magic evokes a symphonic storm. Bolts of lightning rain from the heavens, while finer alterations of electric force repels invaders or informs allies. What could the hordes accomplish indeed, when they've been brought to heel as an audience to the conductor's calamitous castigation? |
SPELLS:
Canon: Heaven's Strike - Offensive - Lightning gathers upon the tip of Kreszenz's wand, before being released in a destructive blast. This can be continuously charged to increase the power of the spell or increase the amount of bolts released.
Caesura: Polar Bindings - Restraining - Two orbs of electrical energy are shot out towards two separate objects or individuals, before a magnetic bond is formed between the two and the lighter of the objects is swiftly drawn towards the heavier of the objects. Though generally used to pin someone to a wall or a rock, can also be used to propel a weapon towards them instead.
Forza: Inspiration and Aspiration - Communication - A halo of lightning manifests over Kreszenz's head and then shatters, releasing a wide-range electrical pulse in a large radius around her. Those that she recognizes as allies will receive the thoughts and images she has 'packaged' within the crown, while that same information will be just a scrambled burst of 'static' for anyone else.
ABILITIES & SKILLS:
High Mana Capacity - Even amongst other nobles, Kreszenz is beloved by mana, possessing exceptional quantities of it within her body. With such power, naturally comes ambition and expectation.
Battlefield Command - Kreszenz was taught at a young age that for the role she sought to attain, she would need to see others as tools, and to place such tools in the position which they would best perform. She acts decisively and commands boldly. Similarly, when failure strikes, she steps forth as the sole bearer of responsibility, for only cowards blame their tools.
Noblesse Oblige - Her blood runs the blue of her lightning, and she possesses an overbearing confidence that no doubt can be seen as arrogance. Perhaps it is undeserved. Perhaps her audacity can be too much. But what of it? She is fearless and like lightning, has the propensity to appear in the presence of naked steel.
GOALS & FEARS: | To become the Wizard King, usurp the Clover King, and unite the world under a single banner, for the purpose of crafting a prosperous and purposeful society. |
| Kreszenz is entirely confident that she will accomplish her goal.
Kreszenz is entirely certain that it will be worth it.
But there are too many allegories of good intentions, grand ambitions. How many times, in seeking to be great, have aspirants forgotten to be good? She is certain and she is confident, and she will make the hard decisions when she needs to. A mountain of corpses, a throne made of the dead. War, waged with enough violence and vigor to consume the continent and force all under a singular banner. There were no such things as peaceful transitions.
So how could she ensure that she could remain herself once the flames were pushed to smoulder? How could she ensure that she wields the methods, but not the manner, of a tyrant? That she doesn't fall to unsightly self-preservation?
Kreszenz needs an equal. A staunch ally with an unwavering moral compass who could stop her from straying, but who would paradoxically understand the necessity of atrocity when it came down to it.
But she is certain that such a convenient person does not exist. | .............................................................................
War was in their blood.
House Leichenberg had earned their noble privilege through military accomplishments. Their noble blood ran as pure as any other who nestled in the Noble Realm, but their reputation remained that of backcountry hicks who could not live in proper society. All because they saw the protection of the realm as their divinely-mandated duty. All because they watched over the westernmost lands of the Forsaken Realm, taking on the mantle of the ones who would be the first to meet an invasion of enemy forces. And though they were outcasts in noble society, there on the frontiers of Clover Kingdom, they were beloved by their subjects. Blessed lightning descended from blue skies. With thunderous aplomb, the Magic Knights of House Leichenberg would arrive, cleaving through those that sought to harm the people of the kingdom!
But one House, no matter how exceptional, how warlike, could have prepared for the Spade Kingdom.
...
What is House Leichenberg, but a name in history books?
Certainly, during the age of heroics brought forth by the Anti Magic King and his companions, there was not even a footnote spared for them. The Spade Kingdom's invasion had not been paused by the Leichenberg's heavenbound castigation, so they must have fallen in battle. They were never the type to engage in politics, and had been too bull-headed and uncompromising to be effective even if they did, so the impact of their disappearance did not register in high society. And what of the vagrants and peasants they sheltered in the Kingdom's frontier? The taxes that could be collected from them couldn't even be considered a drop in the bucket. If they were all wiped out, it was a tragedy, but only one that merited a flicker of sadness before one moved on with their lives.
And so, one hundred and fifty years passed.
A child was born and given a role. She lived on high mountains clustered by cloud, raised by remnants of a once-glorious lineage. She was beloved, even before she was exceptional. Though the House was gone, though their wealth was no more, stories passed down from generation to generation had embedded themselves in spine and soul, demanding that they stand proud of what they once were, what they still are. Demanding that they should rebuild.
For a time, Kreszenz Leichenberg had believed that.
But by the time she was 15, having traveled to the capital of Clover Kingdom from the very edges of the Kingdom and seen the gradation of wealth and privilege, the encroachment of corruption and misery, she formed ideas of her own. Rebellion and Devil-worship, embezzlement and discontent. Liechenberg had turned outwards, trusting the nobility of the land they protected.
Hm, so would it be the case then, that anyone else who became aware of Helm of Kastrus would be able to join in the latter attunement ceremony? Otis bent his neck to the side, mulling over that idea. Valen seemed to be the type to incinerate someone for such an affront, but on the other hand, it would be interesting to see if Davil can cut his teeth there.
Interesting, if not lethal.
Regardless, the Strigidae turned towards Iraleth, seeing that Chunji and Ciara had already made their own escapes. He eyed the glower, the stiffness of her stance, and the emotional essence broiling around her, like the ambient heat of a furnace. Then, he shrugged. "We both get what we want then. Congratulations. See you tonight."
With that, he turned to leave as well, striding for the campus town. As he did so, a message was sent to Ciara's Adapa, informing her of the Principal's statement: that attunement could possibly have an effect on one's prime essence. There was still the duel, after all. And though Ciara had not gathered any advantages during the course of the day, she may as well do her due diligence and avoid any disadvantages.
For Otis himself though? While he did have his own plans regarding the Iris Record, the day was too bright to be sleuthing about, and the smell of burnt fabric reminded him of work to be done.
@Click This Feel free to have Emilie pop up whenever in your scene with the boyo.
@Estylwen I'll let you transport the pair to the inner courtyard of the estate. The general vibes would be a relatively open courtyard adorned with waterworks and flowering shrubs like forsythia and summersweet. There's more bushes for berries and other such pickable fruits than there are flowers, and the gazebo is an eloquent but simple thing that rests below a large plum tree. The tableware has already been set, and there are three chairs present.
"I can certainly understand that, Lady Skybound. Though House Rhinecliff has not suffered from any crisis of succession in recent history, there certainly were still no small number of incidents where my brothers and I butted heads."
Whether it be over the inconsequential matters that oft accompanied boyhood, or matters of state and love.
Finishing his own cup of tea, the Duke stood up, and the maid within the room immediately stepped to his side. "Emilie," he spoke, "Could you let the Head Butler know that I intend on having my midday meal at the gazebo today? And could you check if our guest has arrived while you're at it?"
The maid nodded, then opened the door for the Viscountess and the Duke to exit first.
"Forward, forward! Deliver upon our foes a storm of steel!"PERSONALITY: | (What does this person like, dislike, enjoy, etc? Do they have a pet peeve? How do they show affection? Do they have a certain manner of speaking or do they have any physical tells/habits? Etc etc.) |
MAGIC: | Lightning Magic: Capable of wide-spread destruction delivered at blinding speeds, the Leichenberg Family's Lightning Magic evokes a symphonic storm. Bolts of lightning rain from the heavens, while finer alterations of electric force repels invaders or informs allies. What could the hordes accomplish indeed, when they've been brought to heel as an audience to the conductor's calamitous castigation? |
SPELLS:
Canon: Heaven's Strike - Offensive - Lightning gathers upon the tip of Kreszenz's wand, before being released in a destructive blast. This can be continuously charged to increase the power of the spell or increase the amount of bolts released.
Caesura: Polar Bindings - Restraining - Two orbs of electrical energy are shot out towards two separate objects or individuals, before a magnetic bond is formed between the two and the lighter of the objects is swiftly drawn towards the heavier of the objects. Though generally used to pin someone to a wall or a rock, can also be used to propel a weapon towards them instead.
Forza: Inspiration and Aspiration - Communication - A halo of lightning manifests over Kreszenz's head and then shatters, releasing a wide-range electrical pulse in a large radius around her. Those that she recognizes as allies will receive the thoughts and images she has 'packaged' within the crown, while that same information will be just a scrambled burst of 'static' for anyone else.
ABILITIES & SKILLS:
High Mana Capacity - Even amongst other nobles, Kreszenz is beloved by mana, possessing exceptional quantities of it within her body. With such power, naturally comes ambition and expectation.
Battlefield Command - Kreszenz was taught at a young age that for the role she sought to attain, she would need to see others as tools, and to place such tools in the position which they would best perform. She acts decisively and commands boldly. Similarly, when failure strikes, she steps forth as the sole bearer of responsibility, for only cowards blame their tools.
Heart of Molten Iron - Her ambition, her expectations, her responsibilities. None of these could be upheld if she did not forge her spirit first. Her emotions run hot, but do not throw her into turmoil. In the face of tragedy and duress, Kreszenz digs in deeper and fuels her magic with rage or fear, yet does not let herself lose sight of the greater goal.
GOALS & FEARS: | To become the Wizard King, usurp the Clover King, and unite the world under a single banner, for the purpose of crafting a prosperous and purposeful society. |
| Kreszenz is entirely confident that she will accomplish her goal.
But in doing so, she understands that she will lose more and more of her time for being herself. That the closer she gets, the less she can afford to lose, and the more she has to give in order to ensure that. It's not enough to be strong, she must be unbeaten. It's not enough to be wise, she must be exemplar. It's not enough to give people freedom, she must give them purpose. It's not enough to beat her enemies, she must ensure that their ilk never step upon this side of the world again.
In exchange, she will lose music and quiet walks. She will trade what small joys she holds onto to become perfect.
And it will be worth it, for her mind rules her heart, and it tells her that this is just. | .............................................................................
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Estylwen
Izurich
Creative Chaos
HereComesTheSnow
Damycles
OwO
Simple Unicycle
Asura
Irradiant
Th3King0fChaos
