Estylwen

Iris Ascendis

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Wingram Clinic
_@Nanaya

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The potion was lifted to Ciara's lips. She spluttered a bit, but drank it in full. In her delusion, she swore Otis asked her a question, and as she cleared her throat, she spoke, “Yes, if you start absorbing from the roots of the plant, it will eradicate faster.”

She was set back down on the bed, feeling satisfied she had answered Otis’ question. She saw Otis move from one side of the curtain to drop his coat, before crossing past the other side of the curtain, where she could only hear the sounds of healing going on.

Her eyes lazily stared at the curtain blocking her view, feeling the potion mix with the euphoria in her belly. Heat washed across her cheeks and chest, healing the cuts she had incurred due to rebound.

There was a gargoyle she spied across the room, but as she stared, black dots started to form in front of her vision. Before they congealed into one, two, three shadows. Manifestations from the Voices in her mind. Little did Ciara realize she was now in the full throws of delirium, subject to her own hallucinations. No one would be able to see what she saw, or hear the whole conversation. But Ciara would answer in a muffled voice, easy enough to pick up if anyone poked their head in past the curtain to see her.

The Voices hovered over her head, looking over her. One spoke, agitated. “It's the orphanages all over again.”

Ciara blinked, and remembered strikingly the scent of fire and smoke, of melted snow, the feel of ice under her feet, as she ran from a mob outside the orphanage.

“It's not like that.” She protested.

Another Voice spoke, their voice high and whispery. “Your friends will get you killed.”

“They believe in me.”

The last Voice, child-like. “You will die. We will live, but woe to you.”

Ciara tried to think past the euphoria in her mind, but the conversation was already slipping from her mind. “I believe they will let me live.”

The Voices carried on. “Remember when we tasted the light? It felt good. You enjoyed it.”

Ciara blinked. “Of course, why wouldn't I?”

“There's no way they'll let you live.”

“Say a prayer, say a prayer.”

Ciara felt another wave of euphoria shudder through her. Why did she need to pray? Wasn't she safe? Otis was looking after her. Iraleth didn't kill her. Chunji was on her side.

“I'm going to be fine.”

“There is no safety for the darkness. I bet that Umbralist is already dead.”

Ciara's head spiraled again. Umbralist… Yes, the one in the church. She wasn't sure why it was in a church, but she admired the darkness that poured off him, the inky substance of his aura, flickering…

Wait, there was no way.

“They wouldn't kill him.”

The Voices were quiet for a moment, or maybe they spoke. Ciara couldn't quite hear them over the euphoria. She could only stare up as the shadows staring down at her seemed to twist, buckle, and turn. It was pleasant to look at.

A Voice said something. But it was like listening to someone speak under water.

It repeated itself. “Darkness has to fight in this kill-or-be-killed world. Why aren't you fighting?”

“They're not going to hurt me…”

“They'll beat the truth out of you, and execute you in the most horrible manner.”

“N-no… You're wrong. The dark one wouldn't do that.”

“HE WOULD.”

No, she couldn't believe it. Otis wouldn't let that happen. The euphoria made it hard to think, and already, she was losing the logic to make Otis look like a bad guy. He had saved her hadn't he?

Ciara stared up at the ceiling, feeling the tingles and numbness float over and through her skin and bones. Somehow, lead weights were attached to each limb. She couldn't move them. Couldn't will them to move.

Flashes of the orphanage flared up in her mind. Flashes of eating plant essence. Flashes of the light; Iraleth, how she tasted. Of Chunji, Otis, mottled darkness.

It was impossible to feel fear with all this euphoria, but still, a delusional awareness settled over her. Ciara spoke not to the shadows, but to something else. Her mutterings low and slurred.

“They may kill me… They may end me, and I would have never got to meet you. Never got to learn from you, understand you.

“Please… Don't let them take me away…”

ArrowFell: The Wizard Queen's Court

Bit of a quiet week, eh? xD

Iris Ascendis

I'll have a post up tomorrow!

Magic in the Park

I look away for a second and half y'all have posted

@Asuras

Totally wasn't kidding when I said your posts are like drugs. xD

Magic in the Park

It might be a cool idea to have a place to put enchanted objects. :) Please let me know if there's anything in my post that needs changing!

Magic in the Park

Asher Estate, Realspace

_@Asuras

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Fifteen minutes.

That's how long it would take for the disciples to form the portal. Not much time to do anything, but for Reina, it would do.

While the heads sat in the lounges idling away the time, Reina stepped out the back door of the estate, rain touching her white and black hair as she made her way to a steepled chapel, huddled in one area of the courtyard. Graves were laid out beside the cobblestone steps, silent as she passed.

Reina slipped inside, walked down a dimly lit aisle, past neatly rowed pews, all the way to the altar under an arched stained glass window. With a snap of her fingers, candles were lit, and she knelt.

Yusei may have been her master, but she certainly didn't worship him.

Head bowed, words flowed from Reina's lips.

“Receptor glorise,
Ad pedes tuos me offero.
Magister dominii de Man.
Tenebrarum, etc.
Labyrinthus.
Ego sum pulvis arenae;
Pulvis macula;
Petentes ad pedes tuos.

Afferte honorem domui meae;
Salus populi mei,
Et Victoria ad Descensum meum

(Receiver of Glory,
I present myself at Thy feet.
Master of the Domain of Man,
Of Darkness,
And the Labyrinth.
I am the speck of sand,
The spot of dust,
Begging at Thy feet.

Bring honour to my House,
Safety to my People,
And Victory to my Delve.)”

By the time Reina rose, Isabella had joined her in the chapel, holding a small suitcase. Isabella held it up, and Reina popped the tabs, pulling the lid back.

Inside, nestled in foam, was a gleaming engraved pistol, along with six bullets, each engraved as well. Not only were they beautiful to look at, but each bullet was enchanted. They were specifically geared to shatter through most basic-to-adept magical barriers. Since these weren't curses or soul strings, Reina had reached out to an enchanter to commission her Delving pistol. Expensive, but worth it. Delving itself had an… unpredictable nature.

And this night, it would be much of the same, except exacerbated.

Reina picked out the pistol, letting it gleam in the candlelight, before she nodded to Isabella.

“This will do.”

***

It wasn't long until Reina joined the heads and their disciples in the belly of the Asher estate, pistol strapped to her hip. She looked over the disciples’ handiwork of the portal, and gave an approving nod. It was stable, and in the correct shape. It was a fine door to pass through.

Reina moved past the disciples ringing the door, and in front of Cygni and Erina. She eyed them both for a moment, before she turned and addressed the room.

“Fear not. Yusei would not abandon us. We have faced darker uncertainties and passed through safely.

“I have faith that our dutiful disciples will hold the Way open. If we don't return in twenty-four hours, send a search party.

“Though, I'm certain we will not tarry long in the Labyrinth. We will ascertain what's happening in our territory to create this… foreboding feeling, and return.”

With that spoken, she turned back to Cygni and Erina, gave them a nod, and walked into the portal. There was no need to doubt, or hold off. Better to walk confidently, upright, like the head of the House was supposed to. Yes, though she had her own concerns for what exactly they were walking into, and if bringing one who could very well stab her in the back at any moment was a good idea.

But she didn't have the luxury to doubt herself. Not here, not ever.

Umbra: The Abyssal Connection

@SporkoBug No worries, they technically speak Sylvan, though in-world it's called Aes. You can have chatGPT create phrases for you. :> And no questions are stupid!

Iris Ascendis

Awesomeeee. :D I'll probably wait for Otis to set Ciara in a bed or whatever before posting.

Iris Ascendis

Oof, fair enough. Though to be fair, everyone except Otis is toast rn.

Boooossssss! Boss Nanaya! We thirst for more IA goodness!

Magic in the Park

God, we ate the plot like a pack of ravenous beasts. All responding in a little over 24 hours.

We really went, "Asuras, more story pwease~"

@Kronshi

My feelings exactly. xD Can't wait for the next shot of drugs, Asuras.
We be hooked already.