Sonnambula

Grimoiric Heart

Nessie opted out of Charlotte's guided tour given that it would've been but a hazy blur for her, much like everything else at that point. She even found difficulty in reading the sheet passed to her, containing the oh-so critical information of where she was supposed to be and when. All that was important to her at that moment, though, was where her bedroom was. She didn't even care who she was sharing it with, for all she knew and cared it could've been a gorilla; as soon as she had the building and door number, she was off, trudging along and occasionally terrifying the other students on the campus by shambling up to them like a zombie and asking for directions. Somehow she'd eventually made it to her and Lucette's new room, flumping on the closest bed to the door, unconscious before her head even hit the pillow.

It wasn't like she had any recollection of this at all once she woke up though, those hazy memories too clouded to recall now that she was at least somewhat refreshed. At least she remembered how and why she'd ended up at Marrywell in the first place, that definitely saved some awkwardness. Though, then again, it's not like one could ever forget the events of the day before, let alone the significance behind them.

However, there was barely any time for her to explore the academy's grounds further in lieu of her missing the tour the day before, as she found herself sent straight back to London for her first patrol duty, but she was far from alone in this. Lucette, who Nessie had found out was her new roommate almost immediately after waking, took charge of a group comprised of her, along with Olivia and Wilhelmina. A good opportunity for the redhead to get to know her new classmates, as well as to get the hang of the whole 'Magical Girl' thing obviously.

The four found themselves in a large city park, probably Hyde Park Nessie guessed, given its immense size, and it seemed like they'd come just at the right time. Given it was a weekday it didn't seem to be so busy, but the life that was scattered throughout didn't intrude on the natural serenity around them. In fact it added to the atmosphere if anything, and the clear blue sky that accompanied the bright sun was just the icing on the cake. Truly a lovely day.

Though it did feel odd to walk around so inconspicuously amongst normal people now; it felt to Nessie almost as though they ought not to blend in given their true natures, but that was nothing more than a passing feeling, one she was sure she'd get used to eventually.

Nessie took a moment to pause and think about a question before she took a seat on the grass next to her companions. There were so many but, as is usually the case, when prompted to ask one they all seemed to disperse from her mind like sand falling through your fingers. A few remained though, and one in particular that she'd been dying to ask since the beginning.

"What are those... things? The Pageless. I've never seen or heard of anything like them... and how can they...? And where do they...? Just- fuck, argh... what are they?!"

Nessie couldn't help but smile and laugh, her question inspiring more questions to a point that overwhelmed her, pushing her into hilarity. Her curiosity remained genuine though, and she would be surprised if the other two new students among them didn't also take interest in what Lucette had to say.

Grimoiric Heart

Thank Merlin at least someone here is reasonable.

@Izurich

You guys will regret letting her rest when the true Scot within her awakens once she gets up.

Tower of Fable

There was no time to talk and ask questions though. This was something Thomas realised almost immediately after his question, whatever answer Riku was about to reply with crushed and muted under a roar unlike any other he'd heard before. It tore through his senses, near deafening as the cavern shook with the force of it. Though it seemed omnipresent due to its immense volume, the source of that guttural howl was easy to spot. In fact, it was about all that the boy could 'spot'.

A colossal beast, coated in dark, shimmering scales, contrasted only by a light underbelly and light blue patterns that streaked along its large, muscular body. Soulless marble-like eyes framed a face which inspired only terror, with teeth that looked as sharp as its claws, not to mention the pointed twin blades that tapered off its tail. Its wings meant that there was no room for confusion as to what this thing was, allowing it to soar up high and, in the process, rip open the very cave they were in like a paper birdcage. The dazzling light that now shone forth with the absence of walls and ceilings sealing it away made the creature seem almost angelic, a sheen of radiance shining around its majestic form. But this was no angel. No, this was a dragon.

Another roar, and the state of awe and fear which had kept Thomas subservient and frozen for the duration of the dragon's appearance snapped away just like that. That didn't mean he wasn't still feeling both of those aforementioned emotions, amongst plenty of others, but he now instead fuelled himself with those feelings, not waiting for Riku to get up off him as he kicked himself up off the ground. He held the princess in both arms, carrying her much like a knight from a fairy tale would. Except he definitely wasn't taking on this dragon alone. This thing looked like it would take more than just a single stab to get rid of.

Luckily though, it didn't seem like he was alone anymore. The newfound light that had flooded the cavern clearly revealed the locations of his fellow party members, all of whom by now seemed to be aware of the giant dragon raging overhead. In fact, Thomas clearly saw one of those party members rushing over to him and Riku at that very moment.

Akiko? Thomas thought it odd that she would be the one to approach the two of them, especially given that he'd barely spoken to her since his arrival, but at this point he definitely wasn't going question it. He held Riku tight as he ran to meet Akiko in the middle, calling out a question before he'd even stopped in front of her.

"What do we need to do?!"

Part of Thomas wanted to ask something else, like what exactly was going on or where the hell this dragon came from. After all, it was like it had appeared from nowhere. But, given the circumstances, that could all wait. What needed to happen now was action. Still though, the boy couldn't help but feel some shred of familiarity from the beast hung high above the group. Like a deep-seated presence he could recognise, but it was too distant to decipher. But how was that? What was there to recognise in the face of an animal that only screamed of death?

Grimoiric Heart

Charlotte Clementine. Ozma. Both names meant nothing to Nessie, at least in terms of being able to recognise them. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, though? Now that, she knew. She looked slightly surprised at the mention of it though; a powerset based on the Wizard of Oz seemed slightly... odd to her. Like, what, had she disappeared off to Kansas or something?

Sensing that more questions at this particular point would just be wasting people's time, however, Nessie simply responded with a nod before listening to Lucette's words of praise towards the whole group. She didn't feel dissatisfied, not that much at least, but there was still something that she felt was missing. Some vital piece of information to make things clearer. After all, how can you recognise someone in the same striking way she had just seconds ago, without having any recollection of their name?

The mention of rest, however, was not lost on Nessie. She'd gotten up early the previous morning for a university interview, and a whole 24 hours or so awake at this point combined with the rigour of the night's events were beginning to set in on her, in the form of an oppressive and unyielding feeling of exhaustion. Which was probably why she didn't have a problem with Lucette going when she did. Now wasn't the best time for a Q&A.

"Nae bother... I'll see you later."

It felt odd that a girl that looked younger than she did had such a matronly demeanour to her. Those pats and parting words left Nessie with a warm smile, one that opened up to a yawn while she was mid-sentence and interrupted her for a couple of seconds, before she burst out of it with a chuckle.

With Lucette gone though, now Nessie turned to the rest of her newly acquainted comrades, unable to help another yawn slipping out while she spoke. She rubbed her eyes in an attempt to refresh them and rid them of their dull, tired quality, but it didn't help much.

"So, uh... where're the bedrooms then? I could bloody well use a good kip."

Given the size of the castle itself, Nessie had a feeling she was going to need some help with directions here, lest she end up passed out in a squash court or something.

Grimoiric Heart

@Sonnambula I assumed Nessie has given her name during their trek back to Marrywell, but just tell if it's not the case as I can simply edit out Lumi's dialogue that mentioned her name.

@Izurich

I was intending for her to give her name and introduce herself properly in the next post, but it makes just as much sense and doesn't really change anything at all if she gave her name on the trek back, so we can just go with that. Means you don't need to edit and it's one less thing for me to do as well, haha.

Grimoiric Heart

After such an attack, especially given it had been her very first, not even the vision of the Pageless' massive form collapsing and crumbling to the ground could rouse her from the sudden wave of fatigue that overcame her entire being, both physically and mentally. She barely even noticed Lilac until the girl was already falling back towards the ground, her words almost completely lost to the air as Nessie struggled to gather her bearings. So spent was she in fact, dangling precariously from her broomstick still, that, were it not for Lumiere's coming to her rescue, the new Magical Girl's story might have ended right then and there. Though perhaps not, if what Lilac said was true, but it probably wasn't worth testing. It was quite a distance to the ground, after all.

Instead, however, she was brought down gracefully by the same angelic woman who'd lent Nessie her own energy just minutes before. There was a wise and knowing intonation to her voice, one that commanded the ears to listen without even trying and kept Nessie's attention all the way while they descended, though all the response Lumiere would receive right now was a nod and a slight smile. If Nessie had any questions, she would leave them for later at this point, after she got some sleep perhaps. For now, her instinct told her it was probably best to follow the people who seemed to know what they were doing.

Now Nessie got a good look at the group of girls she'd caught glimpses of during her confrontation with the Pageless, those who had helped her in a situation she otherwise definitely would not have walked away from. Definitely a motley crew if she'd ever seen one, each with a distinct look and personality, not to mention the flamboyant dresswear that matched the varying abilities they all possessed. There was no time for introductions though, and no sooner had Nessie finally opened her mouth to introduce herself to the others as they addressed her in various ways, her hand was taken by the now-reverted Lumiere who insisted they retreat to a 'Marrywell'.

And so, the group retreated away from the construction site, which was left in a spotless state so that even the keenest eye would never be able to discern that a battle had taken place there, let alone one on as grand a scale as what had taken place. Nessie wasn't sure what she'd expected to arrive to, with a name like 'Marrywell', but one of the last things she would've expected was an academy. And this wasn't just any old academy either. While she, and most other normal students, had been reading prospectuses for universities such as Oxford and Cambridge, this place seemed more akin to something up Hermione Granger's alley.

"It's beautiful..."

Nessie gasped, immediately enchanted by the school grounds surrounding her. She let go of Lumiere's hand, stepping forward to get a proper look at the landscape around her: the stunning castle that made up the main building and the immaculately kept grounds surrounding it, flora blooming from lush grass and with trees and shrubbery all around. No doubt her charming reaction to what was, to her, a completely new world to the one she'd come from, would elicit giggles and chuckles from onlooking groups, but Nessie paid no heed to that. She was too spellbound, not to mention sleepy. This new setting clearly raised her spirits though, as the redhead turned back to her group with a cheery smile spread from cheek to cheek. Now was as good a time as any to introduce herself.

"Good to meet you all! And cheers for the help back the-"

She hadn't even gotten to the part where she actually said her name before a new distraction came hurtling in. Nessie simply looked to the newcomer in surprise at her sudden entrance, but before she could say anything or else or continue, the other redhead left almost as suddenly as she'd entered. Not just left, vanished completely in fact, as no sign of her was revealed in or behind the bush she'd seemingly dove into. Despite the fleeting encounter though, a strange feeling came over Nessie that caused a slight shiver down her spine. Did she know that girl from somewhere? She seemed oddly familiar.

"Who... who was that?

Nessie abandoned her introduction for now, more curious about the identity of the woman who'd flashed past them only moments before. The first of many questions.

Tower of Fable

Thomas' questions begot only silence. Only those eyes communicated in vague terms, staring right back at his own. That stare creased into an accusatory glare, the man looking down at Thomas as though he were some kind of imposter for the simply bearing the eyes that he did. But the boy neither recoiled nor advanced, weapon in hand still while he remained frozen in place. Perhaps by fear, perhaps by curiosity. Most likely, it was a combination of the two, amongst other things.

"Huh...?"

Thomas' expression fell as the violet-eyed figure shook his head with a sigh. Though he was sure he had no idea who this man was, that show of vexation and contempt hurt the boy. Like he'd disappointed someone important to him, an unseen and unknown connection that had been frayed. And to that end, as the violet-eyed man finally turned away to leave back whence he came, a look of total desperation came over Thomas' countenance. Now he rushed forward towards the apparition with the utmost urgency, glaive dematerialising at it only hindered him in his mad sprint.

"Wait! Don't go, please!"

The boy cried to the back of the fading figure. Finally he'd found someone who looked as though they knew something about him, only to receive nothing in return. Visage or not, it felt as though someone close was leaving him.

And so, once again, Thomas found himself standing alone, in the midst of complete darkness and absolute light. All that was left were a few lingering words, from a broken and muttered sentence. Words that Thomas would keep in mind, but couldn't find the heart or headspace to comprehend right now. For a few seconds he just stood there in stunned silence within the shadows, staring at where the man had stood only moments before. Followed by deep, deep frustration. He felt betrayed, he felt screwed over once again.

"Fuck!"

The side of a fist was slammed with alarming force into the rough stone wall, crimson blood flowing as sharp rock grazed Thomas' hand. With tense and high emotions bubbling to the surface, another brief glint of gold came and went over his violet eyes, from which tears began to form. His knees bent and he bowed his head to the ground in despair.

"Who the hell am I? What the hell am I?"

Alone was what he was. The cursed hue of his eyes reflected in the droplets of tears which slid down his cheeks, leaving a faint line of moisture behind, before dropping off his face to meld into the ground.

But, despite whatever he might've thought, he wasn't alone. At least not for long. Before he could descend further into the darkness, a familiar voice was there to pull him right out.

"Rik- uff!"

The equally familiar source of that voice crashed into Thomas blindly, knocking him to the ground and into one of the rays of light spilling through the cracks in the Abyssal walls. Those tears he'd been facing down at only seconds before now rubbed into his back, a few wet stains on his clothing. They were present, but behind him. In a figurative and literal sense.

The boy sniffed and rubbed his eyes and face fervently to try and hide any evidence of his upset, though red and puffy eyes and cheeks, along with a glistening sheen that remained over his irises, made it pretty obvious as to what had happened.

"Y-you ok?"

Thomas asked Riku concernedly, his voice faltering slightly. He looked up to his friend, now that he was able to see clearly.

Grimoiric Heart

Funny that Ozma and Nessie seem to be the only ones that use broomsticks, heh. That's all I'll add to fuel the fire. Maybe it's just a coincidence though, who knows...

Grimoiric Heart

Oh, I think you can go ahead and continue the post with the result of Nessie’s action. I think no one else is going to steal her thunder, so all I can reply with is pretty much just Lumiere watching her.

@Izurich

Yeah, probably would've been good to just do that right off the bat haha, my apologies. Post edited.

Grimoiric Heart

Nessie, in all her good humour, burst into a fit of laughter as she saw the state of her opponent, crumpled back with a leg lost to one of her new acquaintances. It was a boisterous hooting, perhaps to be expected of a loud Scottish girl like herself, one of those wheezing laughs that was difficult not to at least crack a smile at with how contagious it was. In fact, the redheaded witch only descended further into roaring and guffawing when the wounded Pageless, now with only one limb to stand on, sprung back up with fury in its deeply angered crimson eyes. It began charging with reckless abandon towards her, the intent to kill and destroy the newly awakened Magical Girl trickled heavily into the air it shot through, its hateful aura darkening the atmosphere.

At a certain point, Nessie manged to compose herself though, belly laughter simmering down to no more than a smirk on the girl's face. A soothing hand placed on her shoulder helped her with that, and indeed with calming any nerves she might have been feeling and disguising. Not only that however, but there was something else. Almost immediately, she began to feel lighter atop the ground, her legs springier and her body just... buzzing, somehow. Like an influx of energy and warmth passed onto her through that soft palm laid on her, power granted from one Magical Girl to another. Needless to say, it spurred Nessie on.

She turned around briefly, offering a quick but genuine smile to the angelic figure behind her. She didn't really know her yet, nor any of the other girls who she'd seen fighting and helping her, but she assured herself that she'd thank them properly once this whole mess was over. And then there'd probably be more than a few questions to follow.

"Thanks!"

But for now, a brief show of appreciation was all she really had time for, the very real threat of the raging Pageless getting closer and closer with increasing speed. She went to meet that threat head-on, hopping on top of her broomstick and balancing on it with surprising ease. A new kind of instinct had awakened within her, shown as clearly as the light of the stars reflected by her outfit. And towards those stars she went, shooting up in the air to match the tremendous speed of her main target, and also to meet its eyeline. Soon she was high up above the ground, her face the very picture of snark and determination.

"Right you! I don't know what I'm doing with my life, but it sure as bloody hell won't end here with you! Y'understa- oh shit-"

Instinct doesn't always come with the skill to wield, however. It was almost funny how ironic it was: one of Nessie's legs completely slipping off of the broomstick, towards the end of her confident proclamation. The Pageless could maybe take some solace in knowing that it wasn't the only one on the battlefield that day to lose its balance, but it would be the only one to fall. Quick reflexes, no doubt helped in some part by that boost in abilities she'd received only a minute or two before, granted the girl a second chance, a hand snapping onto the broom to leave her dangling off it. It wasn't the best time to be this precariously positioned, but the strength of her grip made one thing clear- she wasn't going to let go.

"I'm not dying here..."

Nessie muttered, her words meant for herself, more than a direct defiance of the impending dooms that could have befallen her. Her face dropped gradually, relaxing into a solemn expression as she closed her eyes. More indistinct muttering followed, the words lost even to her own ears, but that didn't matter as such. It was the thought of them that counted. Her free arm was raised up towards the oncoming monster, gesturing, aiming, homing in on it.

A rumble. There was a shimmer in the air as Nessie concentrated more, wincing to channel that borrowed extension of her current power to its absolute maximum. Another rumble. A more obvious shimmer, like the air itself was shaking. Something was coming.

There was a moment of utter silence on the battlefield. For everyone, except Nessie. Her eyes opened slightly as another fleeting presence was felt for a moment. Indicated only by a red blur flashing past her vision as she regained her sight. An attack? A new friend or foe? As if on cue to interrupt those questioning thoughts that immediately came to her mind, she felt a light pat on her back. Barely enough to sway her forwards, but with a warm touch that felt very real to the redhead.

"Do your best."

The words came gently, softly whispered into her ear, as lingering as briefly as the blur that had caught her eye only seconds before. There was something special about those words, and whoever was saying them to her. Something that spurred her on in a way no power-up ever could. Something to dwell on later, but for now, the message was clear. She'd do her best.

All of a sudden, an eruption of noise gave way to a torrent of water materialising from Nessie's outstretched palm. Like a dragon hungry for its prey it burst on forward, growing in both scale and pressure until it dwarfed its caster, rivalling the size of the Pageless just ahead. The water spiralled and twisted, the sound of it clashing with itself comparable to the growl of a great beast. It was almost like the water itself was alive.

The unyielding, torrential pressure of the water cyclone ripped right through its target, a huge chunk of the dark creature, including its head and lower body, engulfed by the oncoming storm. A storm that tore and mauled its target for all it was worth, showing no mercy while Nessie kept her hand raised. Until it was enough. As Nessie lowered her arm, her concentration and energy spent, the crashing of waves against the mechanical Pageless ceased. It had probably been killed by the first few impacts, there was no need to drag this out longer.

And so the storm passed, the water clearing away into the air past its fallen foe, dissipating away, until only a few stray droplets floating along mindlessly in the sky were evidence that it had ever been there at all.