The Darklight Project

Pandemonium

Jack Calumina

Name: Jack Calumina
Nicknames/Titles: Ambassador Calumina, Jackster (to someone), Jacky-Jack (to someone else)
Age: 29
Race: Human
Sex: Male
Sexuality: Heterosexual(?)
Occupation: Ambassador for Ventus
Place of Birth: Ventus
Appearance: Standing at six feet even and weighing in at 134.5 pounds, Jack is a tall and thin man, much longer than wide. He has dark black hair that goes down to his neck, with a sort of deliberate messiness to the style. His skin is quite pale, and his eyes are a strange yellow-gold. He is often smiling, and prefers to have a merry, almost playful air rather than a somber one. His fingers are also quite long. He keeps himself clean-shaven at all times. When it comes to attire, Jack prefers dark suits in some form, typically ones that accent his lithe form. For the most part the suits remain simple, black with splashes of white and a tie included, but as necessary he can throw on formal long coats over. The only piece of jewelry he wears is a Ventus signet ring.
Personality: At first glance, Jack is a very carefree individual. He takes his time, does what he wants, and sometimes misses what seems to be obvious things. He can be a little lazy (strange for someone in his position), but in reality he's a little more serious than he lets on and he's definitely a lot more intelligent than a first look at him reveals. He's an extremely bright individual and can easily multitask without batting an eyelash. Still, a smile is almost always on his face, even during more of the serious situations; it can be a little eerie because of this. He rarely gets angry, at least visibly so. Behind all this lies his true, almost fierce intelligence, which he not-so-obviously uses in each situation.
Likes: Reading, playing games, relaxation, negotiations, deals, and challenges
Dislikes: Paperwork/bureaucracy, tedium, inaction (padoxes!), and those who stubbornly refuse to budge.
Strengths: Jack is quite knowledgeable about the political workings of each of the nations, as a part of his job. He is also a talented diplomat, and possesses a general knowledge of many topics, leading the awful pun of "Jack of all trades." He is also talented at bluffing and manipulation, which helps in everything from his position to games of chance.
Weaknesses: Jack, as he acknowledges himself, is not a fighter, and prefers to avoid violence at all costs. He also has a bit of a razor wit around him, which while entertaining for himself may irritate others.
Weapons: No weapons.
Lapis Potentia: None.
Biography: Jack recalls his past fondly, and believes he's lived a good life. Born with a silver tongue, his skill at conversation, debate, and history set him in the good graces of Ventus's politicians. Of them, Jack showed a particular interest in Aeryn Crossman, most likely due to her intelligence and drive, especially when it came to her inventions. He helped pave the way for her, laying the groundwork for her to be selected as the unofficial leader of the nation. Trusted by her, he was given the position of lead ambassador for her efforts, and often represents the nation in other countries.
Other: Seems to take enjoyment in doing the unexpected.

Aerona Teven

Name: Aerona Teven
Nicknames/Titles: Nothing befitting a Scholar.
Age: 60
Race: Human
Sex: Female
Sexuality: Pansexual.
Occupation: Spiritan Scholar
Place of Birth: Spiritus
Appearance: Despite being sixty years old, Aerona doesn’t look any older than upper twenties to maybe the upper thirties. She’s of decent height, around 5 feet, 6 inches, and of a rather average but slim build, weighing around 140 pounds. A little pale, her skin still has enough healthy hues to it to not be concerning. Her hair can only be described, simply put, as somewhat poofy, and is a rather bluish color. In contrast, her eyes are red. She often wears red, typically a dress, but she keeps a white coat as well. A bag hangs from a sash at her waist, where she stores various things. She can often be seen carrying a handmade fishing pole and an opium pipe as well.
Personality: She's made up of odd mannerisms, to put it simply. While she’s obviously extremely intelligent, she doesn’t seem to choose to show it, instead asking questions to either obvious things or just things she already knows the answer to. It’s possible that by feigning this ignorance she’s attempting to teach others and get them to think on their own, but that’s debatable considering just how lazy she is. Aerona is almost ridiculously lazy. She doesn’t enjoy doing work, and avoids it as much as she can, preferring to fish instead. Fishing gives her time to relax and think while on her own, pondering whatever it is she ponders. She enjoys taking her time while doing things, not being rushed, but she seems to very rarely to get a chance to do that, according to her at least. Despite all of this, she gives off the air that she knows her skill, just how powerful she is, but she doesn’t dwell on it. She doesn’t talk down to others beyond somewhat embarrassing nicknames, and often keeps her speech somewhat colloquial despite her extensive knowledge and vocabulary. The fact that she often smokes opium also influences these habits.
Likes: Fishing, sleeping, reading, alchemy, and opium.
Dislikes: Being woken up, being made to do work, having to explain her thoughts, running out of opium, and mornings. Mornings suck.
Strengths: The extent of Aerona’s abilities aren’t known, but her abilities with magick are obviously extreme. It would not be smart for someone to underestimate her just because her mannerisms aren’t… quite what one would expect from a woman of her position. Also, despite her rather old age for a human, she still appears as if she’s anywhere in her upper twenties to upper thirties. This is probably an example of her magick at work, that or the effect of someone who works as hard with the Lapis Potentia that she has… apparently. No one really sees that hard work anymore, not unless they're on an operating table. She’s also able to affect others with her presence; blame the Spiritus Lapis Potentia with that. With it, she’s able to either calm or excite others, to either their advantage or disadvantage.
Weaknesses: Her laziness, apathy, and general lethargy is probably her biggest problem. Since she seems to have no desire to do anything besides fish, watch others, sleep, and smoke opium, things that should probably be done are never done. This obviously leads to issues later on that could easily have been avoided if she had taken proper steps to prevent them before. Opium is also a problem of her's; she loves the stuff, and often does it in inappropriate areas. In public, in the middle of meetings, it doesn't matter. If she has the desire to, she's doing it, damn the consequences.
Weapons: Her intensely powerful Magick, plain and simple.
Lapis Potentia: Can use Spiritan Magick without a Lapis Potentia, but also has Terran and Ventian Lapis Potentia within her.

General Offensive Abilities
Earth Magick: Able to easily command the earth to move, either around her in general or in pinpoint locations. This can be anything from splitting the ground beneath an opponent, making them fall to catch them, or to create a spear that pierces through an opponent. She’s easily able to imitate an earthquake with her abilities, or go to even greater extremes and affect the battlefield around her to an almost ridiculous level. An extension of this is Nature magick, able to command plants to grow, change shape, etc.

Air Magick: Able to create extremely fast wind currents, moving them in such a way that they’re actually cutting attacks. She’s also fond of creating cyclones/tornadoes to deal with multiple opponents at once, or just one, as overkill is always an option. Can also create vacuums in chosen areas; when used in conjunction with her Earth Magick, when she has an opponent trapped, the result isn’t pretty. She’s able to create gusts of wind to lift and knock back opponents as well, or bring them forward to her.

Spirit/Mind Magick – Being the abilities she’s had the longest, these are the abilities she’s the best with. However, she doesn’t seem to be using them, seem being the operative word. Most likely, the entire time her opponent’s thoughts are being altered in some way or form; what the opponent is seeing may or may not be real. While she can easily create ridiculous illusions to confuse, frighten, and disarm her opponent, it’s a little more terrifying to realize that, after the battle, the opponent was probably under her influence the entire time, they not even realizing it. The extent of these powers under the “mind games” category is unknown, as there is no promise people have realized it’s happened to begin with. Another disturbing tactic is when the opponent’s body is turned against them or their allies; it’s certainly frightening when your limbs stop obeying your commands, to say the least. Other abilities she has are telekinesis and telepathy.

General Defensive Abilities
Earth Magick: The manipulation of earth (and nature, for that matter) can be used for more than just attacks. She can create large defenses with the earth, forming walls, shields, and domes, all to keep attacks away. If someone charges her, it’s all too easy to open a rift in the earth and watch them fall. By moving the earth she can also move herself without taking a stepping, dodging or moving into a better position with ease. Raising the earth beneath herself, lowering it, it’s an extremely quick and efficient way to move in nearly all directions.

Air Magick: With the manipulation of air, Aerona can divert attacks that are directed at her, sending them harmlessly past her. Gusts of air can even be used to turn attacks back against those who sent them, which is certainly a surprise. Other things that air can be used for defensively is also movement; using gusts or air she can move herself more quickly if she actually desires to walk or, in the extremely rare occasion, run, and she can also use gusts of air to send her up in the air, and actually remain afloat.

Spirit/Mind Magick: Do not attempt to use any of this kind of Magick against her. It will be turned against the opponent, and the results will be less than desired.
Biography: Aerona was always meant for greater things, and she refused them. From a very young age she showed the signs of natural Magick that was so eagerly sought after by Spiritans, and she was groomed for the position of High Magus. However, as the training went on and on, she plotted to herself, and just before she would officially take the position she simply... disappeared. The position then fell upon her childhood friend Tynan Hawthorne, and for awhile Aerona was gone. Only after Tynan became Grand Magus Aerona returned, to serve as a Scholar instead.
Other: Aerona just wants to relax and take it easy.

Pandemonium

Way on board for this one! I'll send you questions as I start working on profiles.

The Origin: A Devil Returned (Arc Two)

Divines rest our souls.

The Origin: A Devil Returned (Arc Two)

The Hermit's Abode

Those who were smarter in their searches and actually took their time returned to the Hermit's Abode at later hours. It was honestly unfortunate that they too, for the most part, brought back nothing for the group as well. The only real lead to report was news of ships disappearing off the Kyoran coast, typically at night; for nearly half a year a ship had been disappearing almost once every two weeks, sometimes less.

Though the nautical industry in Kyora hadn't suffered in the slightest, it was more than enough to concern the King and his company. And so, without any other leads, the search area for the next day was narrowed down at least a little.

After all the docks of Kyora were so massive, with its branched out shore, that they accounted for about half of the city-state. There was also the performance to remember that night, with the Governor requesting at least some measure of presence, and so the search would be even shorter for some.

But that was the next day, and there were those who were content to live in the present. Perhaps the Divine Paladin, as calm as ever (when he wasn't slaughtering enemies of the crown), was one such individual; he did not seem bothered by the task that was facing them the next day.

Instead, he seemed more concerned with the state of Jeremy, the bartender who had returned to being curled up on the floor. After stepping around to gently lift the man to his feet and brushing him off, he only asked, "The boy?"

Jeremy nodded, and the Paladin's glasses glinted.

Whatever fell fate that was waiting for Christopher would apparently be carried out later, as the Paladin turned with a smile and asked Sam, who stood nearby almost anxiously, for a small, simple meal of bread, chicken, greens, and water. He waited patiently for the plate to be brought out, and thanked the woman graciously for the meal.

Before eating, he folded both hands over his plate, and quietly prayed to himself:

"Glorious Divines, thank you for the meal. Train my eyes for the days to come, and guide my hand. Allow me to be the second greatest tool you've bestowed upon King Serio, and help me in bringing and a swift and just end to this matter. And, Lady Ambrosia, grant me your patient love. Your favor is taxing."

With that said, he finally allowed himself to at least begin eating.

The door to the inn opened, the creak of its hinges accompanied by the frustrated sigh of a woman whose day had been about as successful as that of the others. Joy stepped through the threshold, her brow knitted, her eyes tired. To most it would appear as if it was just her usual look of downtrodden exhaustion, and she most certainly was, but there was something else thrown in the mix: a subtle hint of concern, of worry, but not the kind that normally peppered the cautious woman's face. She had been searching with Christopher earlier that day before the two of them had decided to split up to cover more ground, but when the young man did not return to their designated meeting spot the rest of her evening had been spent searching for Christopher. It wasn't until the sun had completely settled beyond the horizon that Joy had decided to return to the Hermit's Abode, as annoyed as she was hopeful that Christopher had just forgotten about their agreement.

She scanned the common room, noting the absence of the one-armed idiot that she had stupidly taken under her wing, and cursed softly underneath her breath. She knew she shouldn't worry—he was an adult, technically, and a damned near indestructible one at that—but she couldn't shake the feeling that he was her responsibility. It was similar to how she felt about Cyril and Ayano, as if she was destined to be their protector. She grimaced. Yeah, right. Abandoned them for years and failed to save their sister. Some protector she turned out to be. She rolled her head back and forth, trying to get both the negative thoughts out of her mind and the creak out of her neck.

Joy wanted a drink. Hell, she always wanted a drink, but she hadn't touched liquor in months and there was no way she was going to touch it again. She needed her wits about her, even if the thought of having something to warm the belly and dull the mind sounded so good right now. Something to take the edge off, let her relax, shrug off the days of walking and hours of wasted searching. A break, if only for the night, but of course it would not just be for the night, and her track record had proven that the sauce did more harm than good. She was faster than she had been in years and could actually keep up with the rest of them now, and it wasn't just because of what that lady did to her bum knee. She sucked on her cheek and looked away from the bar, her eyes settling on the Paladin as he ate his meal.

Shit. Not the kind of person she would ever want to talk to, but perhaps he saw the boy come back. She made her way to his table, her face growing stern as if she was steeling herself for what she imagined was going to turn into a lecture chocked full of proverbs and 'praise bes' as she pulled out a chair and took a seat. Now she really needed a drink. For a second she just stared at his food and decided against ordering a plate for herself, fearful that she might start gagging if he started going, and then she made a noise with her throat somewhere between a greeting and a retch as she leaned her sword against the table and folded her arms in front of her.

"Have you seen Christopher?" asked Joy, getting straight to the point.

The Paladin lowered his fork and finished chewing, taking his time to be thorough and clean; raising one finger to plead for more time, he ran his cloth napkin over his mouth before speaking, surprisingly clean for so big and scary-looking of a man.

"I have not seen the boy myself, Instructor Debove, but I know him well enough to spot his trail. He returned before I did, and it seems to me that he spent his time terrorizing poor Bartender Jeremy over there. That, and whichever bottles he decided to nurse." The Paladin gave a slow shrug, his eyes shut behind his gleaming glasses.

"The boy's chosen fallback makes me think he takes after his mother a little too much for my taste, but each and every day it feels like it is less and less my place to intervene. I have taught him what I can, spent years teaching him right from wrong. The mistakes he chooses to make now are his own, are they not?"

The sigh of relief that was about to escape her mouth when she heard that Christopher was back died off as the Paladin mentioned the bottle, her eyes narrowing ever so slightly at the man's decision to wash his hands of the boy. She placed one hand on her knee and one balled fist underneath her chin as she leaned forward and stared ice straight into the man.

"You tell me. I would say that choosing to ignore someone acting irresponsibly and endangering the mission would be classified as a pretty big mistake," said Joy softly, a hint of anger in her voice. "Son of a bitch. If you won't talk to him when he sobers up then I will."

She slumped back in her chair, letting her head hang over the back as she let out a groan. This was all becoming too much of a headache; she could feel her life being drained out of her. Simply put, she was tired. The years of hard living had caught up with her, or she had finally sobered up enough to realize that they had been caught up with her for quite some time. Even now, doing nothing but sitting in this chair, she could feel the aches and the pains of her body. They used to subside after a moment of relaxation, but now they were a constant. Always there, always nagging at her, serving as a reminder that she was no longer cut out for this kind of life. She let herself fall forward, her hand catching her chin so she didn't crack her head against the table.

"How do you keep up with him?" she asked.

The Paladin, who had once more returned to his meal in an attempt to finish it off, was actually brought to a stop by the sudden question. His eyebrows rose, and his fork hovered in the air just before his mouth for a full three seconds before he regained his composure, slowly setting the utensil back down before he crossed his fingers down in front of himself.

"To put it simply, I have learned after years of watching over the boy when I should run after him, and when I should let him be. In all of my years, I have never seen such a case of self-loathing as his; he acts confident and arrogant, but it is all a defense to keep others away so he can... stand alone, so to speak. Fundamentally, he understands right from wrong. There is very little grey area for him, so when he chooses to indulge in the more... base behaviors he soon returns to his reality with intense disgust."

He gave a nod to himself, as if what he said was apt enough for his tastes. "Now is one of those times. A moment where, in his frustration, he purposefully picked the wrong choice. To try and match his state with how he feels about himself. Tomorrow, when he wakes up he will throw himself into the next task once again with reckless abandon, and this will continue as a vicious cycle until, finally, he succeeds in a way that he believes is worthwhile. The most important part about all of this, and why I'm telling you this, is that it is important for someone to be there to catch him before he destroys himself with these swings. That person could, perhaps, be the one who took years to learn and understand that he needed to be caught, to be helped without obviously helping. The one who missed the obvious for so long, and barely kept the worst from happening. Or it could be someone who has the advantage of knowing in advance his difficulties and pains, and can be so much more effective from the beginning."

---

H'kela, Fallen Temple of Danmun

The new peace between Barcea and H'kela was a strange, unfamiliar thing, and yet it was there all the same. Trade had opened, gingerly at first, and as the merchants traveled others followed.

Among those, many from Barcea traveled as pilgrims to the temple where their beloved Queen fell months before. When it had first become clear that they would freely be allowed to approach and even enter the ruins, the flood had been immense, but even now a few would come and go every so often.

The lone pilgrim of that night was named Joka, and he had once been a farmer who had lost everything in the war. One of the few survivors of the slaughter that began the war, he had seen plenty of death and destruction before it was said and done. Now, he had retired early to be alone. With plenty of time, he made the trip at least once a month.

He was still in shock and rightfully so, and because of that he didn't believe what he saw in those next few moments. When he finally told people about it, they too didn't believe him.

The change was immediate, overwhelming: a sudden shift in the air that brought rage like a plague, a rage that stole and destroyed all other thought, made him forget how to breath and sent him to his hands and knees. As he choked on nothing and struggled to stand once again, he realized that though he was feeling the rage, it was not originally his own; though he no longer felt sad about the fate of himself, his family, and his Queen and instead wished to see Gartian remains, wherever they were, torn to pieces and desecrated, his own anger had only been awakened by this other thing's rage.

It was a rage beyond him, ancient and unending.

Though his senses were shut down, drowning beneath emotion, he still heard the sharp impact of heavy hoof against stone from beyond the pit. He looked up, and failed to suck in the air he so desperately needed as a weak sound guttered out. The horse the hooves belonged to was a monstrosity, three times the size of an average horse and skinless, muscle, sinew, and bone exposed to the world between the once grand rusted armor. It had no eyes, only empty, dark sockets that twitched.

The figure that sat upon it was just as ridiculously large as the horse, its head above the remains of pillars. Like the horse it wore rusted armor that, long ago, was once absolutely majestic; now it was just a twisted, warped shell of its former self, clinging to the body that wore it. Unlike the horse the figure was more skeleton than flesh, and both armor and bones were bound together with chains that clanked with each step of the horse.

The metal on its torso was an exception to the rusted rule, but rather than being a breast plate of some sort seemed almost like a grey cage with arms that looped through the ribs and around the spine. The metal even reached up the neck to the skull, where it seemed to fuse with the bone and reached up like a jagged crown. In the center of the torso section sat a great orb thatwas strangely dull and coloress, save for the moments where white or black pulsed.

At the rider's side were six skulls, metal hooks attached to a belt driven through burned bone, and they clattered together as the mount stepped forwards.

Both beast and rider were encompassed by a flame that was too red to be real. It filled their bones and licked along the muscle, dwelling deep where the eyes weren't and giving off a heat like the sun. Joka was amazed that he did not burst into flame as the pair got closer, never mind the city around it; yet that flame never spread to any of the wood that was scattered all around, nor did it linger on any of the stone.

When the rider brought the horse to a stop, Joka saw no more as he instead bowed his head low, touching his forehead to the step below him instinctually. He only heard what the rider said.

"It was here a woman too good for this world offered up her life fearfully. Her Love led to Pain, and her Pain bleeds to others. She left this world willingly enough, and yet a small part of her still keeps hold. I can feel it lingering here, refusing to let go."

Slowly, the head turned, towards the place to the south where the final battle of the war had taken place:

"There died a man who was conten to drag the world screaming down into his own Insanity. One content to pull half the world into bloody oblivion simply because he was jealous of what others had. A man who did not realize he was being held on a leash, as he ripped and tore at anything within reach. His Madness will shake even the chains of Death until he is answered."

Briefly, the fires seemed to die away, flames becoming embers. It was then the rider turned his mount, and departed the way he came with the following words:

"The Cancer comes for them both. This does not bode well."

Joka did not hear these last words. Unconsciousness had already taken him with the same force the air had left him. He only woke hours later, and by then the sun had begun to rise.

---

Kyora, Grand Theater

As King, Cyril had many responsibilities. His least favorite of these various duties involved anything with the political game; where niceities and the like were required, words had to be carefully measured, and face time had to be given. Cyril saw himself as someone who was always honest and straight forward, someone who kept to business... And going to a play while a madman threatening society as he knew it did not feel like business.

And yet it was necessary, and he was well aware of that. The fact they had been allowed to move and search so easily was because of the grace of the Governor. If all she wanted in return was some measure of a meeting with the King at a venue of her choice, he was more than willing to pay for it.

Preparation took the entire afternoon, as they had to gather supplies in the form of clean and new clothes, proper for the event they would be going to. Even the King needed a new wardrobe, a fact that Diane didn't let him forget as she berated him time and time again as they searched. Getting the attire so last minute caused its own set of problems, but one seamster with a knack for magic was up to the task.

The clothes they received were distinctly Kyoran, sleek and soft to the touch with plenty of capes and wraps. The King was able to have an outfit made of blue, but the canny seamster included Kyoran orange, especially in the fastenings that were closer to jewelry than anything else. The metal shone brightly, glinting with such intensity it would have made a gem jealous, and the King felt more conspicuous than he even wanted to be.

The Grand Theater stood alone in the middle of the city-state, with wide roads placed around it so the other smaller buildings stood an almost reverent distance away. Cyril couldn't help but be reminded of the Guratan Arena when he looked upon it; after all, both structures were shaped the same and held a similar purpose of entertainment, though through different means. The Theater was smaller than the Arena, but was more beautiful to behold, with great white columns and statues of everything from people to scenes of life or battle wrapping around.

There was a bit of a stir when the King's party first arrived; people stared and crowded, but a sudden wave passed through and they were forced to part as the Governor and her attachment of guards and fellow politicians approached. While the King simply tilted his head down slightly, the woman bowed fully with both hands out, the same that she had given Nia the day before.

"Ah, it's a pleasure to meet you finally, King Serio! Thank you for agreeing to come to this little performance."

"Of course, Governor Quloan. Please, lead on."

The two parties merged to one, and Cyril couldn't help but noticed that the Governor was pulling him further and further into her own guard. She didn't go far as to actually touch him, but her constant conversation pulled him from his own Sentinels. For a brief moment, it seemed like Diane was about to force her way through back to him, but a glance from him brought her to a stop.

The Governor's constant chattering aside, there was plenty to see on the way up to their private balcony. The inside of the Theater was lit with a grand light, floors clearly illuminated but the shadows beneath the paintings and behind the statues yawning deeply. The higher they rose the higher in society the Kyorans around them were.

The balcony was the largest one easily, but Cyril didn't expect anything else. Servants were at hand, ready to take any sort of requests for drink, food, or the like. There were plenty of seats, but Cyril could immediately tell that there were too many:

"Expecting someone else?"

"Perceptive, King Serio! Yes, some other friends of mine will be coming along soon enough. I play patron to them, and I'm excited for you to meet them."

"What do they do?"

"Consider them a political party, for lack of a better term."

Cyril just nodded, and soon they were all being seated. Down below, the people of Kyora milled together, the stage well lit but closed with giant red curtains.

The Origin: A Devil Returned (Arc Two)

Alright, surprise everyone. I'm back, with a new computer for writing. By some miracle from the grace of the Divines all of my old data managed to transfer over, so I only lost time, nothing else.

So, sorry about that unofficial hiatus, everyone! Got a post for you, of Joachim moving away to get the training (and ass kicking) he needs. Now, we've got some free time for the most part; the current roleplay day (save for Nia going to the Governor that I'll be writing with @Atrophy) is free, and the next one save for the evening as well; you'll learn what will be taking it up with Nia and the Governor.

I understand if we're a bit slow getting back into the swing of things, and we were always going at an easy pace anyway. If interest has waned, that's also understandable; fate did give a kick in the ass to this recently. But, if you all would like to continue, then I would as well.

The Origin: A Devil Returned (Arc Two)

The Hermit’s Abode, Kyora

"Honestly, who does that guy think he is, anyway?" Remy kicked back in her chair, leaning dangerously on the hind legs with her boots propped onto the table they sat at.

The lobby had grown a bit louder just outside, but she didn't care. The tavern was quieter, and she didn't think she could get the kid out. Talking her ear off was always a good solution to filling the silence. It was starting to feel a lot less like wardening, and more like glorified babysitting. "You shouldn't worry so much about what people think of you. I stopped giving a shit about that a long time ago, and look where that got me!"

Sat beside her, Kaishu shoved cutlets of marinated beef into her mouth, guzzling down water to wash it down before starting on some beans. "Can you quit talking to me? You're annoying."

"Annoying?! I'm not the moody teenager."

"Urya. Bai chi."

"What the fuck did you just say to me?!"

"Nao can!"

Clicking her tongue, Remy kicked back again, pulling out her flask and taking a long guzzle. She didn't know, really, what Kaishu was saying. For a diplomat, and the scion of an earldom, well... she wasn't the most culturally-wise. Better to say she just didn't give a crap about learning. It was hard to keep her seated in a classroom most of the time. She was better at practical learning. A lot better.

For now, though, she left the girl in silence, staring at her every now and again as she rocked back and forth on the legs of her chair. For a kid, that girl could really eat. It almost made Remy envious. Almost.

... Maybe a little more than almost.
But that was beside the point. Rocking, and rocking, she finally rocked back far enough to spot a certain head of blue hair. Lifting her arms, she gave them a wave.

"Oi! Cyyyyyyyyyyril! You're not gonna come say hello to me?!"

Kaishu looked at her forehead, in silence. Maybe in a silent wish for this all to end. She continued eating regardless, though.

That blue head of hair was startled out of whatever reverie it was in, and the person who it belonged to quickly made his excuses before making his way along the room. For a place that had been dead deserted just a little while ago, the Hermit's Abode was filled up completely thanks to the King and his companions.

Soon, he was there, bowing ever slightly before sitting down next to Remy. He smiled some, giving a bow of his head, then saying, "Forgive me, Remy, for not saying hello sooner. The Wanderer told me you were here, but I haven't been able to come seek you out. It's good to see you again."

Rocking back dangerously, in a way that seemed like she was going to fall back completely, she only safely rocked forth. Her feet hit the ground hard, and she patted her hands on the table, smiling a little less tantalizingly, and maybe a little more sincerely. "Well, yeah, of course. You're obviously starved..."

Pitter patter went her hands, before her smile faltered a little and she leaned in, clamping him in a hug. "Sorry I wasn't here sooner."

For a moment he was still, and then very gently his arms came up, hugging her back, even as he nodded. "Yeah. It's not your fault, don't worry about it. It... happened quickly."

"I get it." She pulled back, smiling again, though her eyes were a little more vulnerable than that. "We had a sermon for her in the main Cathedral when we had my dad's."

"I'm sorry for your loss." He bowed his head once again.

Waving a hand, Remy snorted. "It's fine. Just wish he didn't go out in such a shitty way... the spring games were his favorite."

Pausing, she glanced at Kaishu, then back at Cyril. "This is, uh..." She gestured awkwardly. "The suspect everyone wanted tossed to the guillotines."

Slowly, Cyril looked over to her. For a moment he was quiet, and then he smiled gently. "Cyril Serio. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Bristling a little, Kaishu looked up at Cyril. She seemed perplexed by his smile, shrinking back a little. She simply nodded. "... Yarinaosu Kaishu."

"She's a bit of a brat. Princess of Kisoku. Mom hitched us together with a warden rune, so I'm kind of stuck dragging her along."

"I see. I suppose that was just to appease the masses, wasn't it?"

"Sort of. I can never tell what my mom is thinking, but..." Remy shifted, leaning an arm on the table. "I don't know. This entire thing is a little bit of a ... complicated situation. I was coming back to Barcea to give you the news, but I guess you're already on some death-defying crusade already, huh?"

"With a one who defied death on the other side." Cyril said glumly, shaking his head afterwards. "It's bad, Remy. When this guy, Yaguar, who was supposed to be killed can come back and just kill and Remake whoever he wants without getting caught, it means things are really bad."

Remy crossed her arms now, looking thoughtful. It was one of the only times Kaishu had ever seen her, aside from once in Bellamy, and another on the road. Looking between them, Kaishu took another guzzle of water.

"The solution from here is simple." She said, fixing her headband back into her hair. "We squash him. End of story."

"Saying it is the easy part."

"Fights against things like Shisor Yaguar aren't easy. I'm not that naïve." Lifting her eyes, Kaishu stared at Cyril. "But so long as we draw in air, saying it has the impact of doing it. It's going to be a shitty fight, no matter how much that Wanderer trains. But we have to do it, and we will end it."

He blinked slightly, looking towards her. His eyebrow raised slightly, before he smirked some, looking to Remy. "I like her."

Patting her hands on the table, Remy grinned crookedly. "She's a total brat. I kind of hate-love it. Right now, I think a little brattiness works. You think that's good? You should see her fight. She almost kicked my ass at the tournament."

Sinking in her chair a little, Kaishu blinked, looking between the two. Her cheeks seemed to flush up, but... she ducked her head, starting to stuff her face again.

Cyril's eyes widened just a little. ”Really? You're not losing your touch on me, are you?"

"No! Definitely not. She's just a natural." Remy crossed her arms again. "Kind of like you! But, like... with more than a sword. She whipped out axes, spears, a bow..."

Leaning, Remy lifted an arm, cupping her mouth in faux secrecy. "I think she's an automaton."

"So not."

Cyril couldn't hold back the chuckle, shaking his head slightly and straightening up some. "Well, whatever the case, I certainly feel a little more at ease having you with us."

Lifting a brow, Kaishu blinked a couple of times. "I'll try my best to help you while I can. If this busybody lets me work ..."

"Hey." Remy lifted her hands. "I'm just doin' what my mom told me to. Make sure you don't do anything insane, keep you from running. Just don't try running again."

"Hmph..." Glancing at Cyril again, Kaishu straightened. "You have the Gift, right?"

He nodded ever slightly, his eyebrows coming together some. "Yes. How do you know?"

Looking between them, Remy looked at Cyril. "The Gift. The fuck's that?"

Looking aside, Kaishu rubbed at her cheek. "... Just heard it through the grapevine."

Cyril's eyes narrowed just a little, before he shrugged slightly and patted the sheathed blade at his side.

"The Gift was made by the Divines long ago, and has been passed through the Serio family for ages. For me, it took the shape of a blade when... I needed to finish off Gartian."

"Eugh. So hocus pocus religious garbage."

"You seem pretty intolerant. You, like... just saw a Divine the other day."

"Uh-huh. That was just some busty bitch with weird powers. I don't believe in that hierarchy of being shit. Just rules."

"Bai chi."

He laughed just a little, shaking his head. "Don't worry, your Highness. I'm used to Remy by now, and her... unique beliefs."

"Oh, don't act like I'm the only person from a place that doesn't share that shit! Kisoku and Bu'zai still worship the damn moon - wait, you can understand her?!"

Holding up her hand, Kaishu waved it. "Only Kaishu."

He chuckled a little, holding up his own hands, with two fingers close together. "Only a little, but decently enough."

"About time someone did. I don't like speaking so much like this."

"Ugh... You two are insufferable..." Shaking her head, Remy sighed, then leaned in. "Say, has Cecilia started bugging you about getting hitched yet?"

Cyril sighed, shaking his head. "No. Been too busy to worry about that."

"Patrons - lucky. My mom wouldn't shut up about it before the tournament. Neither would Ron."

Kaishu smirked cattishly, crossing her arms. "You adults have it hard, I can tell. Real teeth-grinding."

"I never wish such worries to fall upon you." Cyril said, before standing. "I need to spread word around about the plan. If you'll both excuse me."

"I'm coming, too!" Remy hopped up. "I need to spend some quality time with my favowite Kiiiing." She pinched his cheek, snickering.

Standing, Kaishu stacked her dishes neatly. "Am I free to go?"

"For now! But I'll know if you leave. Go make friends."

"...." Giving Remy a look, Kaishu shook her head and headed off, shouldering past the Commander.

"You really should be nicer to her," was all the King said.

"What?" Remy huffed. "I was being nice!"

”Oh, Remy…”

"What?! When wasn't I being nice to her?! I complimented her and shit, didn't I?!"

"Try thinking more from her perspective next time."

"The more you don't explain what you're going on about, the more I regret even considering it." Remy scowled, but shook her head with a sigh. "Look, the kid's fucked up. I sympathize with that. That's something, isn't it? I feel sympathy."

Gently, he patted her shoulder. "It's a start. Come on, I've got work to do."

"Uh-huuuuh." Shaking her head, she grumbled, following in his tracks without another word about it.

---

The Crucible, The Trial, The Clearing

Almost as if he had set an alarm, the Wanderer awoke precisely an hour before the sun would rise. In complete silence he dressed and prepared himself, placing both the broken blade and the new blade at his side, while carefully putting his pack of equipment on his back; the tools, though vicious, might end up being needed for what the Master had planned for him.

With his preparations made, he made his way down into the common room of the inn, which was completely empty save for the Master. The Divine was clearly waiting for him, sitting against the counter of the bar with bottle in hand, and his gaze directed out to the dark street beyond the window. He did not turn his head to look to the Wanderer as he began to speak:

"You remember the way back to the Clearing, yes? Earn your way there once again."

The Wanderer swallowed. He had expected as much, remembering how his first trek up the mountain had nearly killed him; he had been a child then, not nearly as experienced, and yet he couldn't help but feel that the second time was going to be harder than the first. The climb itself, though quite long, wasn't the issue; it was what lay in the way of the climb, things that slumbered that did not like to be disturbed, both living and not.

"You have until the end of the day. Any longer and I'll kill you myself on the trail. Do you understand, boy?"

He bowed his head. "Yes, Master."

The morning moon, like a teasing whisper from a lover, was a bitter thing to look out to. The Princess wasn't so bold to suggest she was the most unfortunate souls, nor was she ever so ignorant, but today's shining hunk of rubble seemed the worst to see. If there was one thing to feel good about, it was that Remigia Bellamy had finally left her alone. One night of solitude was all Kaishu could ever ask for, and she was almost so pleased she thought about passing thanks to the King of Barcea himself.

However, she did no such thing. Her course of the night, instead, lead her to a familiar scene.

For the most part, at least, Kaishu's night went the same as it ever did - alone, awake, gazing up at that chunk of space dust called the moon. When she got bored of that, she took a walk through familiar streets as it broke 1 a.m.. By 2 a.m., she was bored of that, too.

By 3 a.m. the Silver Prodigy returned to the Hermit's Abode and helped herself to the kitchen, preparing herself a meal fit for kings that she ate on her own, belly filled and head numb. It was a better night, she admitted by 4:30 a.m., and by this point she had made her place in the common room, bundled into the dark, presence scarce, head at ease. No doubts, only thoughts - planning. Every now and again, she thought of escape and sanctuary in some distant costal land. She thought of sawing her arm off.
By 5 a.m., she was done thinking about that. Instead, Kaishu focused on eavesdropping. A rat in the dark and a fly on the wall, she peeked an eye open only when mention of the so-called Clearing came into clarity. Leaned on the wall, her eyes flitted over the frame of the Wanderer, a man so strangely small-seeming she was sure he'd be blown over by any sudden gust of wind. Pushing off the wall where she leaned, the shadows all pulled away from her cloak and she lowered her arms in favor of keeping them tucked below.

It would have been no real surprise to the Master to know she had been there, and so, without a word, she looked at the massive man with hooded, lilac eyes that shone every thought in her head. It was barely an ask for permission - more an assurance to him that she'd be following hot in their path.

The Princess didn't know why she felt so compelled. Maybe it was phantasms of memories not hers, or maybe it was a silent cheer for this man called 'Wanderer'. That would be silly, she mused. She had no intention of helping him, and if he died, well...

How messy.

The Master knew she was there, and it made him roll his eyes, causing Joachim to just glance over his shoulder. The Wanderer did not say anything, but the Divine did, after a scoff:

"Great, another idiot. Now there's two of them." He brought up his empty hand, a single finger extended upwards, glare intense as he said, "Fine, but if you help him it'll be the same as him not making it in time, except I'll be killing you both." He looked back to the Wanderer, not waiting for an example, and said, "Get going, so we can get this waste of time over as soon as possible."

Just like that, he was gone, only traces of black left behind that faded like smoke, leaving the two of them alone. Slowly, the Wanderer turned. He gave Kaishu a little smile, but with the slump of his shoulders it clearly seemed forced.

"He would recommend you not following. This will be difficult enough as it is."

Listening without qualm to the Master's conditions, Kaishu simply bowed her head in a nod before lifting it back up. No intention of helping him anyhow. She knew very well how much this trial meant in the grand scheme of things. This was the Wanderer's journey - not hers.

As he disappeared, she looked to the other apprentice with a level gaze. Not a usual scowl, but something gentler. "Worry about yourself. I already know what lies ahead, and I can handle it on my own. You have a time limit. I do not."

The smile on his face seemed to become even more pained, as he shook his head slightly. "You are not wrong..."

With that he began to step past her, heading towards a door, out into the street. To the east, the sun was just beginning to peek over the hills, casting light over the walls of the city. Turning towards the north, he began to follow the streets along, making his way towards the wall in that direction.

Kaishu's only response came in the form of a short click of her tongue against the ridges lining the roof of her mouth. Turning heel, she followed in Joachim's footsteps, gloved hand resting on the hilt of her blade, fingers running along the curved adornments of the pommel.

The night was dragging on, it felt like. The sun cascading through the streets only made that seem more and more real. The silhouettes of homes and the cobblestone shadowed among them became all too familiar all at once. It was a warm nostalgia and a gut-twisting one that she didn't particularly like.

"You hide yourself behind that weak-ass smile too often." Kaishu finally commented, falling into step with him at some point, keeping her statement short, and to the point.

"He does not know what you're talking about."

"You don't want to do this. I think you know that."

"And yet he has no choice."

As they got closer to the wall he scrambled up the side of one building to the roof, following them along; rather than waiting for the gate to open, he simply jumped up onto the wall, pulled himself up, and then dropped down the other side.

He hit the ground with a roll and only a slight grunt, following the road north. Quickly it gave way to simple trails, and then to even less as he made his way into the foothills.

Still, the Princess followed on, although she simply went straight towards the gate. Even so, with a small shift in space and Abyss around her, she appeared on the other side with him even before he dropped back down, figure blurred at the edges and burning like soft embers before settling.

"You always have a choice. It was your choice to leave in the first place, too." Kaishu shook her head, eyes flicking around. "I understand it, though."
He had no response for her. Not to that.

So the two proceeded on in silence, following the trails until they were little more than animal foraging tracks. Joachim continued pressing on as if he knew exactly where he was going, and at the pace they were going the grass fell away to simple stone and snow. They were beyond the range of distance that any citizen of Kyora went, and for good reason; the skeleton of the ruins within and above the mountains was enough to dissuade even the most hardened hunter.

Though the citizens Kyora didn't know it, for millennia the Master had made the area his home, at best briefly leaving but always returning. In the time the Jasian Empire began to stretch across the entire world, the average citizen knew this fact, and worship for the Master reached its peak in both tribute and danger. Though the Jasian Empire fell, split to pieces among the children of the Emperor, the Crucible remained.

Set between twin peaks, the Crucible loomed, spread around both of the mountains. He knew that beyond it laid the Clearing, but it was a sight that precious few ever saw, even in the days that the crucible saw dozens of challengers at a time. Within there were traps, obstacles, and once had even been creatures and Devout prepared to stop progress at all costs, but as the years had gone by time had decayed what was within.

The Trial and its power remained, however.

The doors to the Crucible had collapsed in and back, and they had to climb over the fragments to get inside. Within, they saw the ruins barely hanging together by threads of steel and rock, sprung traps left empty of all except the bones. They proceeded cautiously, Joachim leading the way, but he was not concerned about anything lying in wait for them.

The higher it went, the hotter it became, until it felt as if the very blood within their veins was ready to boil. Within an hour they had made their way to the top of the Crucible, having climbed up the hollow tower where a massive platform would have rose on its own long ago; now, it just fell into a bottomless hole. Above, the room of the Trial at the top was massive, a tremendous space with two solid doors of black stone set into the far wall, and in the middle of the room a raise platform, where a large bowl was carved into the floor.

The Wanderer proceeded forwards, towards that raised portion of the floor. As he did so, he looked back, his smile weak. "Now, he recommends you stay back."

The Wanderer gained no response, however. As his eyes settled back on the Prodigy he was met with a glassy, wondrous gaze that stared ruts into the ruinous ground and sights of the Crucible. With how intent she was, there wasn’t any doubt that Kaishu had been like this for a very long time, maybe even the entire walk.

She seemed mystified. Her memories pulled back to a flourishing and new structure. No erosion, no fragments of something that once was proud. The Princess seemed close to tears, but she was smiling even as they bubbled in her eyelids. Each second passing lost in this faint reverie, Kaishu felt herself being pushed back farther, and farther - but the Wanderer’s voice brought her snapping back.

Smile fading, the younger girl wiped her eyes as though nothing had happened, settling her gaze on Joachim. She blinked a few times, focusing, before responding. “I thought I made it clear that I’m coming to the Clearing with you.”

"He is not stopping you. But for this part, he asks you to stand back. Demands it."

"Only for now, then."

He looked back forward, and continued to walk. Though bits of stone fragments covered the ground, fallen from cracks in the ceiling high up above, for the most part the floor remained clear, and so the narrow and small trenches that ran through the floor in geometric designs, twisting back and forth sharply, were for the most part clear. These trenches eventually reached one of four larger circles in the floor, slight dips at each of the compass points.

He stepped up onto the raised platform, stopping when the bowl was at his feet. He stood there for a moment, quiet... and then a shudder passed through him.

The Crucible, designed to burn away the weak, and leave only the strong. Sacrifice was inherent. Sacrifice was required.

His hand went down as he knelt, drawing the broken blade. He brought it over, looking down to it, and carefully removed a piece of the blade that was about to fall from the end anyway. Carefully he leaned forwards, tilting his head to the side and exposing his neck. The blade went up, and carefully he pressed the base of it against his own throat-

He turned his head ever slightly, slicing into his flesh deeply.

The blood flowed down the blade swiftly, pouring into the bowl. He held it there, even as a tremble passed through him, but as soon as he could he pulled it away, pressing his palm deeply against the wound. The blood, meanwhile, continued to rise, as if more and more was filling the bowl. In a matter of seconds, it began to boil.

Just as quickly as the blood rose, it dropped downwards, down into the hole in the bottom. From beneath the platform it began to spread outwards, flowing in the ruts even as it hissed in its boil, spreading outwards and outwards, farther than it ever should have gone. All the way to each of the four circles it went, creating bubbling pools.

Once more it began to rise, but in slowly congealing chunks. Higher and higher it rose, taking shape in each of the four circles, and before long four bloody Joachims stood at distance from the one in the center, who was shakily getting to his feet.

Without interfering, Kaishu watched the spectacle, hand rested calmly on Danzetsu's hilt. Once more she was met with familiarity, flicking her eyes this way and that as the bloody figures came into place. A phantom burn lit up in the right side of her neck, but it wasn't much more than a tickle.

Like he requested, the Princess kept back. No aid, nothing - that was what she agreed, and intended upon.

Taking a few steps back, she simply made herself scarce, watching in anticipation.

For a while, the five Joachims stood in the positions, all dripping blood to some degree while remaining as still as stone. When some invisible sign passed and the stillness was broken, they all moved as one: the blood four towards the center, and the bloody Wanderer down. As his blade came up, theirs came down, and he was nearly crushed to the ground beneath the strength of four blades that came crashing down onto his raised to block.

Almost flat against the ground, he suddenly lunged around, body twisting and legs striking out at two. With the same movement he spun out from beneath the remaining blades, straightening up and holding his up as he backed towards those that he had kicked away. The two in front of him followed his steps, slashing back and forth, chips of hardened blood flying as each blow was blocked by Joachim.

The two that had been kicked suddenly rose, unnaturally, more flooding upwards instead of straightening, and once more Joachim was surrounded. Like a tornado he spun and lunged back and forth, striking out and blocking as they continued to fall upon him-

A slash here, a cut there, every so often blood would draw blood as strikes slipped past his guard. Despite the pain he remained standing, soon once more knocking two back and away, before taking the third to the ground. The fourth raised its blade high to behead him, but as it swung downwards he rolled away, and it struck its comrade, red splattering upwards and around.

Amazing.

Kaishu watched from the shadows, bundled up and arms crossed as she watched the sanguine battle before her. The red stood out to her more so than any color she'd ever seen. Mesmerizing, she thought, and she was enamored by the Wanderer as he battled for his life.

Bathed in red. She thought it suited him. Her fingers twitched on her arms, and Kaishu's eyes flitted ever back and forth as he moved, a bloody red streak in this murky black and white world's canvas. The Princess was transfixed now, hooded eyes owlish and dazed as she watched in anticipation to his ever fumble and misstep. One wrong move meant life and death, a line he danced on with rusted abandon. Someone so suited to steel and bloody rain should never have let himself oxidize so harshly.

What a stupid old man.

... And yet, she felt herself rooting for him, even if only a little.

Unconcerned with the missed stroke, the one turned towards him, and both lunged at each other. For a moment their feet remained planted as strikes were met time and time again, before the blood suddenly began to give ground, back over the companion that was struggling to reform on the floor.

Harshly, the Wanderer stabbed his blade downwards as he passed over, into the "skull" of the blood, making it go rigid. As it suddenly lost shape and spilled across the floor, Joachim kicked the back of his blade, sending it up from the ground straight into a swing that arced high upwards, and kept the blood form in front of him back.

The other two swooped upon him, and he yelled as, suddenly, a blade made of his own blood punctured through his shoulder from behind, and another cut into his side. He dropped his arms back, looping them first in between and then around the main arms of his doppelgangers.

His own blade was dropped briefly as, instead, he gripped, twisted, and turned their own weapons on them in the same movement. The blade of the one on his left found the throat of its wielder, while the other was suddenly pierced through the eye and out the back of its head.

The blood figures on either side lost their form, tumbling down and washing over him instead, even as the last one stepped towards him. It lunged forwards with its blade, and carved into his side, a sudden, vicious tremor passing through him before he suddenly stepped past, sweeping low. He found his blade, and with it turned around to face his last opponent.

In that moment, they perfectly mirrored each other. With the same practiced movement they sheathed their blades, holding them out to the side. Both stepped forwards using the right foot, and with the motion drew their blades to swing.

Joachim, as he stepped past towards the door, was slashed across the chest. The copy, on its way back towards the center of the room, split in two before splattering forwards across the ground. The doors rumbled, and suddenly harsh white light filled the room at the split-

Joachim collapsed to his knees as, very slowly, the doors swung outwards while snow blew in like a blizzard, blood that had been boiling immediately freezing over.

The victory, messy and distraught as it might have been, brought a sudden cry out from the dark, where Kaishu melded out with her fist in the air and the other clenched in front of her. She had lost track of herself part of the way through, a blunder she'd scold herself for later. Maybe she didn't even realize her own jovial cries at all, even despite the Wanderer's condition.

He did it. Kaishu thought that was all that mattered. Rough, unclean, but he did it. A step in the right direction is a step they need to get through the wall that was Shisor Yaguar.

Cheeks flushed red, she thrust her arms down beside her and composed herself, cloak fluttering as she blinked beside him, floating softly back to her feet and crouching beside him.

"Not the most refined, I'd say." The Princess commented, arm resting on her knee. "Now get up. No time for rest."

For a moment, he didn't respond. He only breathed in deep, heavy breaths that sent icy mist billowing from him. His wounds had already frozen shut, as had the blood that covered him, and he leaned against his blade, it keeping him up.

Without a word, he slowly rose and staggered forwards, out into the ice and snow whipped past, almost as if it were trying to push them back.

Alongside him, Kaishu stood and followed in his path. Her eyes flitted towards him and the path multiple times as the wind bit at her cheeks. She was well-protected from the weather, and it didn't bother her in the least. Her cloak billowed and her scarf tails whipped behind her.

Stupid old man. He wouldn't make it very far if he used his body like that again. Beside her, the prodigy's fingers twitched - no sudden thoughts, no impulsive actions.

Nothing. No help, she reminded herself, and stilled her hands from reaching onto her blade.

There was no path, only piling and packed snow alike that had to be pushed through, sent tumbling to either side. More than once he nearly slipped and fell, almost disappearing beneath the snow before floundering back to his feet. Each step was a challenge in its own right, each breath forced down.

At the height of the rise beyond the Crucible, the mountain suddenly flattened out almost like a dish. Pillars of twisted rock rose all around, the area walled off by the very mountain itself, and beyond the flat land there was one final rise up to the peak of the mountain.

To the left there was a great cavern in the rock, and though ice filled the cracks all around the opening was clear. As the Wanderer trundled forwards, struggling through the snow, something within the cavern moved. Something very big, and very dark.

Kaishu pushed on beside him still, the wind howling in her ears and her feet kicking through snow and ice without trouble or complaint. Every time Joachim fumbled, her hand was there to grab onto his tattered clothing and hold him steady while he struggled to his feet. As good of an aid as she could give him.

Though their surroundings were loud, Kaishu's eyes were keen even through the snow, piercing lilac flames melting through the white haze around them. Her hand went out a bit quicker now, clapping onto the Wanderer's shoulder on instinct. "Careful."

"He knows." He shrugged her hand away, and pressed forwards.

Slowly, the dragon emerged from the cavern. Its scales were the night sky, both black and twinkling. Its head, triangular and acute, held three eyes of deep purple. Its claws, long and twisted, were as black as its scales, and its tail swished back and forth not unlike a cat. Massive, it would have been able to fill the throne room back at the Capitol easily.

Its feline nature became more pronounced as it bounded forwards and around, loping along like a great panther to place itself in front of Joachim's path. Despite its size, the ground barely trembled with its steps, but when the beast reared up and spread its wings to darken the sky, a rumble filled the mountain even though it made no sound.

Slowly, Joachim looked up to the dragon's eyes, and smiled. "Greetings, Venorax."

Its head then went forwards, its maw opening, and cold black flame flooded over him.

Having never seen a dragon before, however, Kaishu's hand went quickly to her blade, body bristling. Familiar, but not enough to quell the alarm she felt seeing it. Instinctively, she ducked away from the flame, feeling no heat passing from the licks that passed. Lowering her arm from her face, she simply watched, owlish and alert, brows furrowed tightly as she gripped onto the warm hilt of Danzetsu's blade.

"... Urya..."

Still, she didn't intervene, but didn't lose her guarded stance much at all.

The Wanderer was gone, disappeared beneath a mass of writhing black flame. When the dragon snapped its jaws shut, the flood of fire stopped instantly, but what had already been expelled clung to the snow stubbornly. There was no crackling to go along with it, no sound at all, silent as the dragon itself was.

Slowly, Joachim straightened. Though he had been consumed by the black flame, and it clung to his body, there seemed to be no damage. However, he was different; the blood vessels beneath his skin stood out, some even bulging, and they pulsed black. Black seeped into the ice that froze the wounds shut, and of his flash what wasn't black was an unhealthy pale, like a fresh corpse.

"Last time, you merely greeted him... He knew it would not be so easy this time."

Once more, he began to stagger forwards, dragging one foot behind him as he moved, and Venorax stepped to the side and turned, taking slow steps along with him.

Behind the two, Kaishu straightened, watching the two lumber forward. For a few moments, she stood perfectly still, fingers twitching and shaking again - but she clenched her hands, steadied herself, and continued on. Her head felt swarmed, flooded with ... nothing. Murkiness.

The feeling was nauseating, like stepping through a dream. The wind howled after her as she watched the Wanderer's back, steering clear of the swinging dragon tail before her. For just a moment, she thought she heard the whisper to her, head whipping back around. She expected to see something else than a blank and vacuous way behind them - but there was nothing.

Turning back forth, she traipsed after the two, coughing into her fist haggardly before settling once more for the trek ahead.

Up the trio went, up the final rise. Finally they reached the peak of the mountain, where the ground curved down and in like a bowl even as the rock stretched upwards into crags around. As soon as they reached the top, the nearly blizzard conditions cleared; though still cold, ice and snow no longer blew against them, and the wind no longer opposed their every step.

Here in the Clearing white flowers bloomed, petals seemingly made of ice shimmering in waves. In the center stood the Master, his arms crossed, and though he stood on a lower level than Joachim he did not need to look up to his apprentice. His eyes were narrowed ever slightly, and calmly he said, "So, it seems you can still reach the top."

The Wanderer nodded, and then his eyes rolled into the back of his head, and he fell to the ground.

Listening to the thud of the Wanderer beside her, Kaishu kept her eyes trailing around the sunken area, tracing its every feature. She flicked her gaze down, then back away with a shake of her head. "Urya. Just barely." Very gently, and gingerly, her hand drifted up to Venorax's hide, rubbing into a soft spot in the dragon's scales fondly.

"The fool's blood has gone weak. That of the Void has become diluted. He'll need more, simple as that."

With that, the Master began to step forwards, even as Venorax tilted his head to the side and brought it around to nudge the Princess gently.

"Are you sure it won't kill him? Stupid old man is more frail than I anticipated..."

While her gaze was on the Master, when the dragon bumped his head into Kaishu her attention was rapidly drawn back. Lifting her hands, she pressed her hands to its soft jowels and rubbed him there, bumping her nose into his snout. She felt a little better like this, she thought. Though, she missed her own kitty back at home, too...

"He received my blood first before he even turned ten. He will be able to handle it, and when he wakes up you will return back to Kyora."

"Ehhhh?" Craning her neck back a little, she scowled over at the Master. "Why?"

The glare was immediate, as he came to a stop in front of them, towering over them all save for the dragon and yet still somehow making it seem small in comparison-

"You are not ready for the lessons that are to come. I will not tolerate your presence here."

Grimacing, Kaishu pressed her cheek into the dragon just a bit more, casting her gaze away from the Master. "Whatever..."

Venorax got some more pets after she uttered that, as she locked her focus on the dragon more than what the Master said.

And the Master ignored her in return, reaching down to turn Joachim over onto his back, before pulling back his own sleeve and pulling up his own blade, drawing it just enough to slice into his elbow.

He held his hand down, and the blood forwards, dropping from fingertip to the Wanderer's mouth.

Joachim began to scream.

The Origin: A Devil Returned (Arc Two)

Hopefully next weekend I may have a new computer. Hopefully I can get all my work off the hard drive of the old one.

The Origin: A Devil Returned (Arc Two)

Hey all. Just wanted to give you all the heads up that my computer died. Gonna be a big delay on my end for, well, everything. I'm sorry about that.

The Origin: A Devil Returned (Arc Two)

Alright, so! The collabs are done, and the group is finally at Kyora. Now we've got a little bit of free time, around two days of it in game time. That first full day is free for you all, but the evening of the second is going to be taken up by an event. The day after that, Yaguar will officially send his challenge (spoiler alert).

So, until then, do as you like! If you want to work on other collabs to prepare for the inevitable fight, or simply explore Kyora, or do whatever, go for it! I have Kyora set up as a sort of melting pot of not just Barcean/H'kelan/Guratan culture, but culture all over the world so anything can feasibly happen.

Personally, I'll be writing the start of Joachim's training with the Master, and I know I'll be working with @moonfelling on that. I also would like to work with you @Atrophy, with Nia going to the Governor; I can use that to set up for the event that's going to happen the second night everyone is together in Kyora.

Other than that, run, be free, write some fun stuff. I'll be checking in after some point of course, just so we can keep things moving.

Also, I need people to let me know who they want to fight with the confrontation against Yaguar; I need a headcount, so I can come up with the proper number of opponents. This includes opponents that you all create, if you'd like; just let me know if you want to bring in an antagonist, and we'll work together to figure out how they ended up under Yaguar's madness ambition.

I think that's everything for this next segment, but I might have forgotten something... Just ask any questions you might have, and let me know.

The Origin: A Devil Returned (Arc Two)

To the Strange Tower

Before the Wanderer was content to leave the cavern that had been tragically ruined, he warned the three who traveled with him to be prepared on their departure, thinking to those bandits (or soldiers?) that they had seen on their way in. However, when they exited they found only an abandoned village in front of them, save for the corpses that had been left stuck and hanging above. Apparently, Alexai's departure had also meant the departure of all of those lower peons; the realization made Joachim relax some, but only slightly.

They did not travel far that day. Instead, Joachim turned his efforts to the dismantling of those grim sentinels all around the village, cutting and pulling them down and burying them with the pick and shovel he found. It was long, difficult work, but still the Wanderer took the time to give the dead a proper burial. Joachim's mind seemed to be elsewhere, and he did not wish to travel so far in such a state. And so, after finishing his work he led them a fair distance away from the village, before picking the first clearing they came across to settle down.

He didn't seem to sleep that night, instead keeping close to the fire with a blanket wrapped around him, keeping the flames from fading. Next to him, the bag that he had picked up at the start of the trip held close to him constantly.

To the east, a storm roared.

With the rising of the sun he did the same, finally snuffing out the fire and leading them once again. As they traveled the forest around them changed; the trees grew wide and tall, cluttering together thickly in an impossible sort of way. The path that the Wanderer led them through required them to squeeze in between those trees, the air around them darkened by the canopy up above and was sticky with dew.

Especially for the horse this path was especially difficult, and yet the Wanderer continued on. He did not quite have an answer for why he was so insistent on travelling through such a difficult patch, such an old area that seemed to be beyond any form of society...

But he couldn't help but feel like he was following soft, distant humming.

And then, suddenly, the tree line broke. Out they emerged into a clearing, where the sun gently shined down from up above. Filled with long grasses and flowers that drifted softly in the wind, animals of all kinds lingered; not just birds, rabbits, and deer, but foxes, wolves, and bears as well all lingered among one another. At the sudden intrusion of the travelers, the most they were given were lazy, uninterested glances.

And in the center of this all was a great tower. Made of black stone, it matched the height of the trees all around the clearing with ease, leaving a great shadow across the meadow behind it. There was just a single entrance, a simple doorway directly in front of them, and there were no windows to speak of across the entire structure; just smooth stone that seemed to eat up light greedily rather than reflecting it away.

It was a sight that the Wanderer had never seen before, and he slowly came to the stop a few steps into the meadow. For a moment everything was just completely silent, peaceful...

"Oh my stars, it's been awhile since I've been here!"

Joachim suddenly straightened all the way up, eyebrows rising in alarm. Instinctively, he prepared to throw himself to the side, but he wasn't nearly quick enough to outrun the arms of the Lady of the Abyss herself.

Of course, there was no way to tell just where she had come from, when all she had to do was slip out of a tear from the Void. There was no telling just how long she had been there, so quietly and subtly she had slipped herself into the party until the moment came for her to speak. What mattered though was that Ambrosia was there, positively suffocating Joachim as she swayed back and forth with her hug, happily humming to herself.

It almost seemed like the poor man was as close to dying as he had ever been.

It was a long, long few days. Distant to the group, Remy kept to himself, skittish, a little irritable. Whenever a body was near, he wanted nothing to do with it. Noble of you, he'd say with a sneer, flask in hand. Real' fucking neato. It was a piss-off, Kaishu thought, but nonetheless, she ignored him. She helped the Wanderer bury the dead with no complaint, wishing silently that she had incense on her person, or even some flowers not caked in blood or trampled upon. The prodigy had nothing but silent sentiment, and prayers said behind the backs of her reluctant companions.

After they moved on, though, there was nothing to be said. There was only silence while, in their travels, Remy would yammer on about this and that. She understood it - using mania to fill the silence. Sometimes, he could be a decent person, which is maybe why someone like him could ever hold such an esteemed position in such a massive militaristic force.

There was almost too much to think about. Like Joachim, Kaishu didn't sleep, kept awake by the glow of the moon above them and the thoughts bouncing around in her head and her heart.

Kyora.

Even thinking about the country made her every nerve jitter in anticipation for some long-forgotten reason. She couldn't stop thinking about it.

Their next destination's scenery wasn't exactly enough to break the anxious train running amok inside of Kaishu's head. She stepped past rabbits and faun, looking up at the tower as it came into view. Another distant memory.

"Ugh! Fucking rodents! Fuck off!"

Idiot. Huffing, Kaishu peeked back over her shoulder to watch Remy struggle with the animals that seemed to gravitate towards him with little avail. "Could you pipe down? Ne, ne, you're going to wake the fucking dead -"

Almost as if on cue, the familiar voice that rung out made Kaishu's entire body bristle, hand grabbing onto the hilt of the blade at her hip and drawing it. The black metal shone in the sunlight peeking through the trees, but upon turning and seeing the unfortunate smothering of Joachim, her stance loosened, body going cold all at once. Familiar.

Too much familiarity at once. With her fingers still gripping the hilt of that radiating blade, Kaishu stared at the Lady of the Abyss with a skittish, uncomfortable sort of stare. Owlish, like a newborn child seeing their parent for the first time.

" . . . "

Not knowing what to say, Kaishu let herself get lost in the swell, feeling both like crying and throwing up at the same time.

Nia, quick of wit and silver of tongue, made up for young woman's silence, elegantly summing up all of her thoughts on the mysterious woman ambushing the Wanderer by giving a shriek of surprise followed by a jump back, her hands held up as if she was about to box the Lady of the Abyss.

Her hand lowered once she realized that the stranger was just hugging, not choking, Joachim. Still, Nia couldn't help but be alarmed as she killed the conjured embers in her hand by smothering them against her legs. Nia was an excellent infiltrator, and therefore she was also excellent at realizing when someone or something was sneaking up on her. However, she had not detected anything until the moment the lady had spoken. It was as if the lady had materialized out of the air itself, which wasn't really an impossibility. Nia's eyes thinned as she looked over the woman, her brow knitting as she felt herself hit by an overwhelming feeling of familiarity. Had they met before? Nia felt as if she would not have forgotten someone who looked like this woman, yet she still couldn't shake the feeling.

Whatever. It didn't matter. What mattered was them getting to Kyora, and fast. They had already wasted enough time as it was with burying the bodies of the slaughtered villagers. Nia thought it would've been simpler just to ignore it all and leave them for the birds. She had even thought, once it had become clear that Joachim was going to cut down each and every single one, that perhaps she could just summon a great, raging inferno and burn the whole damn place down in one massive communal cremation. However, she decided against it. She did not know how the Wanderer, or their two new companions, would react to such a suggestion, and she rather not rub any of them the wrong way yet, but she did not go out of her way to volunteer in anyway with the burial (although she did not refuse to help either).

Anyway, this hug was going on for too long.

"Pardon me," said Nia, raising up a finger as she stepped forward. "Would you mind letting my friend come up for air? He's already purple enough as is."

It was the words of Nia that grabbed the attention of the Lady of the Abyss, not the hiss of a drawn blade. Blinking, she slowly looked over to the H'kelan woman, seemingly confused by what was said before she looked down to the man in her arms; indeed, from what little she could see of his forehead, the skin of his face was starting to turn purple and he had gone utterly limp, his struggles having weakened to just a simple palming of his hands against her side.

With a noise that could only be described as a sort of surprised squeak, she released the man, and the Wanderer crumpled to the ground. There he remained perfectly still for just a moment, before he sharply gasped, taking in sweet, sweet air that smelled of lavender. Satisfied with the depth of Joachim's breath, she turned to face Nia more fully, with a smile upon her face; her arm swung around, settling her parasol on her shoulder even as she opened it in the same movement.

"Oh, thank you for stopping me there, my dear Ms. Nia! Sometimes I just forget myself in my excitement, perhaps you know how it is...

Her voice trailed off as she looked over to the rest of the small party. At the sight of Remigia she perked up slightly, and it seemed like she very much wanted to say something- perhaps something deeply personal that was better left unsaid, but possibly for the good of everyone the Lady of the Abyss instead became distracted by the sight of Kaishu. However, her eyes remained on Kaishu for just a moment, before it went to the drawn blade, and then the Divine's lips popped into a little 'o' with a silent gasp, her purple eyes going big and round.

For a moment she stood like that, without a word, before she suddenly turned and hid her head from them with her parasol. Her foot tapped, agitated, her gaze instead on the structure in front of them all. Next to her, the Wanderer shakily got to his feet, both hands on his knees as he continued to gasp. That all came to a stop, though, when the Divine spoke.

"You've made some friends, haven't you my dear?"

"Uhhhh..." He drew out the syllable, taking the moment to straighten before he continued with, "Yes, he supposes he has."

"Good, good. You need plenty of friends." For another moment she stood there, completely silent as even her foot came to a stop... And, quite suddenly, she was all smiles again, looking over her shoulder as she beamed. "Well, what are we waiting for?! I haven't been here in so long, so let's explore!"

Without waiting for a response, down she suddenly went, disappearing through the tear that appeared beneath her feet and sealed up just as quickly. In front of them, at the entrance to the tower, she once again appeared, the split this time appearing higher up in the air; from it her upper half dropped down, her hanging upside down and beckoning them with both hands.

Slowly, Joachim looked to those who had chosen to travel with him. He seemed sheepish, and said, "If you wish to stay outside, for... whatever reason, he understands. But he..." He shrugged, and then began to make his way forwards.

"...is not leaving her behind," said Nia, finishing his sentence as she rushed forward so that she could stay abreast with Joachim. The teleporting woman had caught her interest after she had dropped Nia's name, her own personal curiosity overriding her obligations to Ennis. Besides, besides, sticking with Joachim was still the best way to get an audience with Cyril, and Remy and Kaishu also seemed to have a connection to the Barcean King as well. It would be a downright foolish act to head out to Kyora alone, or so she told herself. In reality, she was most likely just forgetting herself in her own excitement.

"What are you two waiting for, a personal invitation?" asked Nia, spinning around to wave Kaishu and Remy on without stopping. She managed to avoid tripping as she spun back around, a mischievous gleam in her eyes.

There was a lot going on. Standing there with flask in hand, Remy guzzled down whatever contents were inside before pulling his lips away. He couldn't really place the sudden, ebbing discomfort he felt when Kaishu drew her weapon. He was right about prepared to pull the chain again, but... instead, he fixated on the scene with a little bit of a sneer. Especially when he met the gaze of the Lady of the Abyss, his lips pulled further into a displeased sort of expression.

Instead of replying with a witty line, though, he just took another drink, ignoring the look. It had been a wild couple of days - he wasn't feeling very peppy for a few reasons. The little purple fucker seemed to know this crazy chick, so there wasn't anything he could really complain about. On top of that, the kid seemed fixated on the woman like she was a long-lost friend, or something.

Bunch of fucking freaks, he thought, shaking his head and shoving on Kaishu's back. She stumbled forth, snapping out of her daze and fixating a glare on the soldier before sheathing her blade. "You heard the lady. Get." Finally grinning again, Remy started sauntering past Kaishu, going to fall into step beside Nia instead, pocketing his hands.

Behind them, Kaishu's hooded eyes looked exhausted and faraway, but she reluctantly followed them along, hands disappearing beneath her cloak once more.

With everyone set on coming along, the Divine waited until they were all reasonably close before she turned with the tear. Slipping into the open entrance, the group saw how there was no foyer or stairs upwards; instead, the stairs led down. Floating along with her tear that strange Divine suddenly turned sideways, parallel to the ground, and outstretched her hands-

Screaming with delight, her tear suddenly zipped off down the staircase, following the wall and quickly curving out of sight. Even as the noise of Ambrosia's amusement began to echo off the walls, the Wanderer stepped in and began to make his way down.

Down, down, down. Down they went, seconds soon stretching into minutes. At first they had descended into the deep dark, feeling their way along carefully, but just before they lost the last fragment of light a torch flared into existence, somewhere farther down the spiraling staircase. They soon passed by the fixture where it was welded into the wall with no visible mechanism for lighting it, and once more they proceeded past and nearly beyond the light before, once more, another torch burst into light farther down. This pattern continued, time and time again.

Deeper still they traveled. Around them the staircase was cold, yet dry. They passed no doors, no diversions from the staircase, only the continued movement down. Off the walls every so often the wavering echo of the Divine's delight would bounce past, but it was becoming more and more faint, possibly drowned out by the pressure building in their ears.

And then, suddenly, it all came to an end: the staircase, Ambrosia's cries of laughter, the darkness. Twin torches burst into flame in front of them at the bottom of the stair, revealing tall, deeply black doors the stretched high in front of them, two stories at the very least. Slowly they opened in front of the group, swinging inward and allowing them through.

The underground cathedral stretched higher than even the doors, with a vaulted ceiling. Despite the dozens of torches that obediently lit up along the walls, the true height of the place couldn't quite be seen. Several rows of pews stretched from doors to the opposite end, where the floor was raised up a level and seven pulpits were set at even distances across. Dust covered everything thickly.

Books were scattered everywhere, in some places coating the floor and others all piled on top of one another. Behind the pulpits was a shrine, covered in gold and purple cloth, and upon it something glowed deeply black tinged purple. As the Wanderer took a single step into the place, the Divine's giggle could be heard though it came from both nowhere and everywhere at once; it echoed all around, faint in one moment and close in the next, and with it the glow intensified briefly.

Slowly, the Wanderer continued forwards, his gaze only briefly passing around before he focused on what was ahead. His pace eventually quickened, as the object came into clearer view: a curved, sheathed blade. It was surrounded by beautiful stones, gold, offerings of faded and yet not dead flowers; it was the only thing that wasn't covered with dust.

When he took the first step onto the raised floor, the glow, which at the point had reached almost terrifying heights, suddenly stopped. This gave him pause briefly, but he went forwards once again, stopping in front of the blade. His hand went out, briefly pausing, but soon he gently touched it-

And then, back at the entrance the doors shut heavily, a long, wide tear appearing in the ground as massive and twisted grey arm emerged from it suddenly, pews nearby sent to dash to pieces against the wall.

"What a freaky place..." Remy commented the further they traveled. Kaishu couldn't help but agree, but it wasn't creepy to her in the same way it may have been creepy to the warden.

The prodigy sort of figured it may be like that for the Wanderer, too. The dark around them felt like a warm embrace rather than a cold phantasm. It was a feeling unlike any other, for her. A comfort she's never quite known... ever. She walked with a vibrant awareness to the path, keeping her hands by her sides while her feet did the tracking. The sound of Ambrosia's laughter helped, she supposed, but it was a noise she wished she didn't have to hear. It was tauntingly familiar, a turning in her stomach she couldn't get rid of.

The cathedral brought a similar feeling. The overarching ceiling, the pews in ordered lines like soldiers settled in waiting. A somber air that churches always held - she heard Remy comment how much he hated cathedrals, how the ones at home wigged him out, too. She agreed with that much. The feeling of divine providence hanging over her shoulders made her spine tingle.

Kaishu's ill feelings melted into alertness the moment the arm burst from the ground. Wood chips bypassing her, she drew her blade, twirling it in her hand as it gleamed in the dark, the abyssally black metal humming in excitement.

"What the fuck?!" Remy shouted, stumbling back from where the tear had opened just by his feet. Kaishu scoffed.

"Ambrosia..."

Crazy old woman.

"Maybe you should put it back," said Nia, her voice lined with worry before arriving at a quick crescendo as she flinched as splinters of wood pelted against her. She knew that she should've hightailed it out of this place the moment it had turned into nothing but mad laughter and flickering lights. She didn't even bother drawing her dagger, doubting that if she even had an opportunity to defend herself that the small blade would be completely useless against the tumorous arm. A flicker came to life in her right hand as she cradled a fireball, not yet ready to start throwing flames all about quiet yet. There was plenty of kindling around if she needed it, but with the only entrance blocked starting a bonfire would be a good way to crisp up her new companions and, more importantly, asphyxiate herself.

"Really, any ideas now would be appreciated," she added, taking a few steps back.

Joachim remained perfectly silent, his spine slowly straightening as the thing continued to emerge. The arm lunged forwards, gripping into the ground, fingers clawing down through the spread books to slowly but surely lift; the creature that emerged from the hole certainly belonged to the arm. Twisted and grey, the skin hung from what seemed to be the twisted imitation of a man, though it had no eyelids and four extra eyes, with just the one arm.

On its shoulder sat the Lady of the Abyss, her hum somehow audible above the movements and grumblings of the creature as it gnashed its teeth. The foulness of the thing in comparison to her was almost absurd, and yet she seemed as pleased as could be sitting on its shoulder, her hand stretched out to rest on what seemed to be its warped cheekbone.

"What is the meaning of this, Lady Ambrosia?" Joachim spoke quite calmly, but there was an undeniable tension in his voice that was paralleled by the tension in his shoulders. Giggling, the Lady snapped her parasol open, setting it on her shoulder and giving it a spin-

"Oh, I just wanted to give you a partner to play with! A little... pick-me-up! You seem very, very down."

"He... appreciates the sentiment, but he doesn't think it is a good idea."

"Oh well! It's too late now, isn't it? So come on, play a little!"

Even as she spoke the thing was beginning to lean forwards, hand stretching out as its mouth opened with its yellow, split teeth and it began a low, drawn out groan that sent the walls about them trembling-

When the Wanderer moved, it was so quickly that it was difficult to say. Suddenly he whirled, and in that same movement he drew the blade, his eyes widened; in the next moment he was a blur and then across the space, standing up against the closed doors behind the creature. Suddenly, the room had become much colder, as if a chill wind had passed through.

The Phantasm glowed as if with a soft, purple fire; along the edges of his clothes and hair he seemed to be burning away into swirls of purple embers. Across the floor his footsteps could be seen, but not as imprints in the dirt; instead, the dust flared up with little curves of purple flames that danced in place with a vibrant speed. In either direction the dust was still flowing away from where his path had taken him, and his arm was stretched out with the blade held behind him; it was black and purple, its definition difficult to perceive, as if staring into a deep hole.

Even as Joachim began to fall from his position back towards the ground, the creature reeled back as its arm split from its hand all the way up to its shoulder. Thick, deeply blue blood splattered floor, walls and ceiling as it fell backwards, its low moan suddenly ascending to a shriek as, with a yelp of surprise, Ambrosia fell from its shoulder. Briefly it thrashed back and forth, the two halves of a limb flailing pathetically, before it quickly began to retract back down into the tear, disappearing.

Crawling to the edge of the tear, the Lady gripped it with both hands as she peered over the edge, down into the depths.

"Oh my Divinity- you completely butchered poor Gary!"

Where he was straightening, Joachim winced slightly to himself. "He... apologizes?"

"Oh, don't worry about it; he'll recover, and he was getting too big for his britches anyway- trying to take up all my time, not letting me take care of any of my other pets! Serves him right, really..."

"He wasn't worried about it!" shouted Nia, her arms out wide, wisps of smoke still streaming from her hands. The woman would not admit it, but she was impressed by how quickly Joachim had taken care of the Divine's creature. She had heard about him in hushed whispers among those in H'kela, but she had assumed that they had been embellished as all stories regarding feats of strength were. She made a mental note not to cross him, doubting that her fire was faster (and her fire was fast). Really, what she had seen, or rather what she hadn't seen, was hard to believe. It was almost as unbelievable as the strange woman being Ambrosia. Nia had always expected the Divines to be a little less, well, ridiculous. Being all powerful must've been dreadfully boring.

"It's fitting that this is Barcea's Patron. No wonder they're so successful," said Nia, calm enough to return to keeping her tongue firmly planted in cheek. She took a few tentative steps towards the closed door, taking some effort to avoid stepping in any of the gore. "Danmun always seemed so stuffy, but considering the alternative I think I lucked out," she muttered beneath her breath as she bypassed Ambrosia on her way to Joachim's side. It wouldn't do her any good if her guide had winded himself. She had already wasted enough time as it was by letting herself get distracted; she could almost kick herself for not having pulled the others away from this little sideshow. She leaned forward and craned her neck up at the Wanderer as if she was appraising him for sale.

"Are you oka—you smell like sulfur," she said, screwing up her face as she flitted away.

Remy wasn't really one for all this Divine garbage. The pull of the Abyss was a little too disorienting, and he wasn't sure what kind of crazy bitch it took to unleash a massive Hell monster in an enclosed space just for funsies. "Oh, yeah," He commented at Nia with a sneer, jamming his blade back into its sheath. "Just so successful with a crazy witch at the helm of all belief. Right?"

Grinning, the Commander looked over at Kaishu as if for confirmation, but paused. "... Kid?"

In the height of all the excitement and the glow of Abyss and grandeur, he hadn't really been paying attention to his companion. Just to the heat in his chest, the anticipation of a long battle that actually seemed to be quite short - maybe he had been wrong to do so.

Kaishu's eyes were fixated on her hand, owlish, her browned cheeks a little more pale than normal. Her mouth was moving in silent words, a way Remy recognized with a sickening sort of feeling - like that time in the arena, when everything turned over on its head. He knew better than to try and touch someone going into psychotic catatonia, but still, he tried to reach out.

"Hey, kid..."

Before he could lay a hand on her, her body pitched into a hunch, starting to rack with coughing so bad the Commander was sure her esophagus would turn inside out. Her blade dug into the ground as she dropped to her knees, coughing harder with each breath before finally retching up a dark, blackish-purple substance that seeped through her fingers and onto the ground, burning little holes into the stone and faded carpet of the cathedral's aisle. And still, she coughed on, shoulders shaking as Remy knelt down with a hand on her back, trying to steady her.

"Lords above... Hey, hey, canteen. Water. Anyone got one?"

Joachim had seemed initially surprised at Nia's reaction; and then he realized that bits of him were lit with flame, and with a close-mouthed shriek he began to rapidly pat himself out, even as Ambrosia leaned over to pinch out one tuft of his hair between two of her fingers. Surprisingly, no damage was left behind on

In the moments before Kaishu fell, Ambrosia was as happy as could be. The sarcasm was palpable in both of those who spoke, and yet she seemed to take them as full-fledged compliments, bringing both of her hands up to squish both of her own cheeks together, swaying back and forth as she giggled away. However, Kaishu's coughing attack brought a change over the moment entirely.

The Wanderer moved, his hand going to pull for his water skin even as he moved; however, he soon found himself being sent off to the side slightly, his water skin gone. Like a ghost Ambrosia slipped past Nia and then swept Kaishu away from Remy, both the H'kelan and the Bellamy suddenly but softly forced back, as if the very world had turned them away.

Gently, Ambrosia brought Kaishu upright, one hand settled on her back while the one with the water skin did the raising at the level of the woman's collarbone. From there, she gently raised the water to Kaishu's lips, tilting it back only slightly, so the water would just slowly pass Kaishu's lips.

"Shhh, shhh, child, it's alright. Drink."

Remy watched (concerned, admittedly, not that he'd ever admit it) as the water flowed down Kaishu's throat. The coughing subsided, but by the time the water skin left her mouth, she still didn't look quite all there. Her eyes were lines with exhaustion, and even a hint of frustration. Remy could tell the latter very easy as she suddenly ripped away from Ambrosia's grasp, grabbing the hilt of her curved blade and ripping it from the ground as she began storming her way out of the cathedral and back up the twisting stairs.

Fucking brat...! A bead of sweat rolled down Remy's cheek and he bared his teeth a little before relaxing his mouth.

"Kids these days, huh?" He lifted his arms in a shrug, nudging the closest person to him - Nia - with his elbow with another grin.

"Can't blame her for not wanting to be smothered," said Nia playfully, rubbing her arm where Remy had elbowed her. "Or drowned, rather."

The woman in black sighed as she recalled how dark the stairwell was, and she took off swiftly after the younger lady, slowing only to shoot a deliberate look of disapproval towards the Divine. The air above her hand ignited like a torch as she reached the stair, bathing the black stairs with a soft, orange glow. Nia quickened her pace so that she would catch up with Kaishu, lest the girl stumble in the dark and fall upon her own sword. She had managed to only ruin a little bit of the carpet with whatever it was that she had coughed up; it'd be just dreadful is she wrecked even more. Nia smirked. How interesting Joachim's "guests" had turned out to be.

Ambrosia had simply beamed back at Nia, before looking back to Joachim. Her smile softened, her just looking upon him as he shifted uncomfortably, looking away. Finally, she reached forwards, giving him a light pat upon the head.

"Go on, my dear. You still have a way to go."

"He thanks you for this kindness." With that, he gave a nod towards the exit at Remy, before quickly making his way towards the stairs with the new blade at his side, sheathed next to his broken one.

---

Kyora

They arrived with the setting sun, finally looking down upon the city that sparkled like a many-faceted jewel on the water line. Kyora was massive, easily even bigger than the Capitol was if the docks were included. With mountains just to the north of the city in less than a half days’ worth of travel away, Kyora was set on the inner curve of a crescent in the land, with the curved arms creating a lake of saltwater immediately next to the city before it suddenly gave way into the greater ocean. The docks were set on both sides of those arms, and boats and ships could be spotted both within the salt lake and the ocean beyond.

A great wall protected the city's western side (as the east gave way immediately to the docks and water), and all of the roads from the north, south, west, and east led to the single greatest gate, often passing with bridges of stone that allowed crossing over the web way of creeks and small rivers that carved through the land. Farms were stretched over the fertile ground surrounding the waterways, those closest dedicated to rice and those farther keeping to livestock and other forms of produce.

Despite the way the sun had already bled deeply into the sky, they were not the only ones eager to enter the city before nightfall. Merchants, other travelers, and those who worked outside the walls but lived within all clamored to squeeze their way through the gates. All around them, everyone was talking, a mixture of accents from seemingly all nations blurring together; snippets of the clear Barcean, gruff Guratan, and smooth H'kelan could all be caught at random intervals, but there were even more, less familiar as well: perfectly articulated Jasian accents (with the rare cases of Old Jasian speech) were spoken within feet of both the Kisokan and Cantian languages all at once.

No two people were dressed alike as well. Here and there bits of light Barcean clothing were spotted right next to thick Guratan fur, and H'kelan robes were not far behind. More likely than not it was some mixture of different pieces of attire brought together as necessary, unlike in any way that they had seen before.

It was amazing how, not so long ago, Barcea and H'kela had been at each other’s throats for lifetimes, and yet here both cultures thrived side by side. The power of relentlessly enforced neutrality, with the income to back it up, didn't seem like it should be underestimated.

Within, even the architecture was just as blurred, buildings varying wildly in heights and design from place to place. The streets remained full of people, with peddlers shouting their wares from the side and innkeepers trying to draw those needing a place to stay to the warm beds up above. The more they went in, the more travelers and the like stepped aside out of the street in order to partake.

The Wanderer, however, did not glance to any of the inviting buildings built for food and rest, no matter how much any in his party may have wanted to finally stop walking at that point. Instead, he continued to lead them farther and farther into the city, which had the benefit of making it eventually easier to move; considering the nature of the city-state, they were not even stared at as outsiders, their makeshift party making it seem even more like that they belonged.

Eventually, the Wanderer suddenly picked a side road to turn onto, leading them a short distance down it. The building they stopped in front of them was surprisingly small, especially in comparison to some of the other inns they had passed; it was two stories in height and would barely fit all of the Sentinels and their company if rooms were shared, and the stable would barely fit three horses. Mercifully, it was empty.

A simple wooden sign above the door was painted with these words in black: The Hermit's Abode.

"This is it. We will be staying here." He opened the door, the entranceway just a tiny square that had a doorway to the left and stairs opposite the front door, Joachim turning to stay on that first floor. The common room was as small as expected, and quite dark; only a few candles were here and there, one of which was in front of a woman who sat in one of the booths, entertaining herself by blowing at the black lock of hair that fell from her part at her forehead.

Quite suddenly, however, she stood up upon seeing them. Her eyes widened, almost boggling, as it seemed like she at first didn't believe they were there and then had to convince herself that they were not ghosts. When the moment passed, however, she suddenly beamed, cheeks glowing red with her smile as she rapidly smoothed out her apron and made sure her hair, cut into a bob, was in order-

"Jeremy, get up! Up, we have guests!"

"Wuzzat?" A muffled voice came from somewhere behind the bar, followed by a sort of scuffling shift, but the woman was walking straight towards those that had just entered. Her excitement was filling the room, and she seemed to be almost vibrating as she bowed to each of them in turn.

"Welcome to the Hermit's Abode! Please, have a seat anywhere you like- oh, dear, wait a second!" She suddenly turned, and very quickly began to use one candle to light up all of the other candles throughout the common room, quickly spreading light with her. The last place she went to was the fireplace, where after a moment of struggle she suddenly got the fire going, pulling back just in time to keep from lighting herself on fire.

She rushed back towards the group, and as she did so an older looking man, perhaps fifty or so, with charcoal grey hair and tired eyes had risen from behind the bar, yawning as he did so. However, he nearly jumped out of his skin when the woman suddenly called:

"VI, HINERI! HURRY HERE, WE HAVE GUESTS! ACTUAL GUESTS!"

Slowly, the Wanderer began to tense.

The rest of the journey to Kyora had Kaishu a little more at ease from before. She was happy to be moving again, satiated by the sweet smell of the sea. Like home, she thoughts, before immediately regretting the decision. This place was familiar, bringing up waves of nausea and pleasant nostalgia again. She forced it down as best as she could, shaking herself a little to make the feeling scatter. It was a little easier with Remy rambling on as they hit the streets. He was excited about the change in scenery, but it made him jumpy. Mania-ridden and loud, he bounced from stall to stall, pining over all the food he never reached for.

"Just get something to eat... you're so annoying..." Kaishu muttered at one point, quickly dismissed by the Commander.

"Savin' my appetite for something more tasty, sugar." His snicker sealed the deal on the matter, and Kaishu didn't push it any further.

It was nice, Kaishu could at least admit. The deeper they walked, the more the nausea passed, drifting her into a gentle reverie instead. Though... there was an intense sort of pressure she could feel building on her shoulders. Her anxiety starting to spike, she stared up at the sign of the Hermit's Abode with a look of mild distress and almost regret. A terrible feeling... an omen... Lagging behind, she took her time to enter, keeping in the back of the pack and looking around, skittish and a little paranoid. She barely paid attention to the hostess as she greeted them, focusing instead on the sudden click-clacking of wooden sandals on the hard wood upstairs. Even before she announced the name, the source of the frantic running (and distant yelling) started getting closer.

It started as a din of an excited scream, followed by the sound of something breaking. "Joooo...."

Another crash could be heard, a woman coming tumbling down the stairs, a flurry of pinks and oranges. "AAAAAAAAACHIIIIIIIIM!!" With a strange sort of coordinated finesse at the end of her fall, the woman extended her arms as she hit the middle of the group, locking onto Joachim's neck with her arms and sending them crashing back to the entrance of the inn. The woman herself had soft brown hair, her robes very Kisokan in nature, a spattering of pink and orange, orange coming from the flowers embroidered upon the fabric. She was a smaller woman, but certainly a bit rounder. Kaishu gingerly picked up one of the chunky wooden sandals that flew off her feet, dangling it by the rope of the toes.

"Hineri..."

The rabbit hole just kept getting deeper.

Of course Hineri's loud voice and practical running across the Inn could be heard as they'd collided with the shorter man.

Vi came down the stairs at a slower pace and a pleasant smile upon her features as she remained quiet for the moment. She was a bit taller than her louder counterpart just a few inches shy of six foot. Her clothing was something of a hybrid of robes and a dress. Fitted at the top to flow out as it reached the floor. The high neck accentuating her elegant features. Black hair with light skin, almond shaped wicked blue eyes behind white framed glasses.

A twist of her lips could be seen as she approached the pair on the floor before flickering her eyes upwards to the rest of the party, "Pardon the noise, guests. Welcome to the Hermit's Abode. I am your hostess-Vi. THe young lady over there is Sam, the man behind the counter is Jeremy and this lovely lady is Hineri-though I do suspect at least some of the party already knows this?" She lightly mused with a thin arc of her brow. "I am here to answer any requests or questions you may have. How many rooms will this party need for their stay with us?" Her voice was smooth and unfazed with a plain as day Jasian accent.

"You have more than one?" asked Nia in a mix of disbelief and disenchantment, her eyes searching the common room for some elegance that was not there. It wasn't the worst place she had ever been in, truth be told, but after passing all of the other lavish and elegant places to stay it was rather disheartening to find herself in a place like this. It was odd how she didn't dislike roughing it in nature, there was something therapeutic about it, but once back in civilization she quickly recalled how much she missed comfort and luxury (and how desperate she was in need of a hot bath, a mirror, and some fresh clothes). She had a word for a place like this: antiquated, if she was being kind, or shabby, if she was being honest. She ran a gloved finger over the counter in inspection, wrinkling her nose as she rubbed the invisible grime back and forth between her forefinger and thumb, her head nodding in confirmation of the worst.

"I suppose it is too late to find anywhere else," she said more to herself, brushing her hand off on Remy's shoulder. "I'd prefer to have one for myself, if I must be honest. I fear if I shared one with Joachim it would just end with me not being able to get a wink of sleep as an endless parade of girls throw themselves upon him." She smirked, her moment of snootiness subsiding as she stepped over to the Wanderer and bent over, the poor man still be smothered by Hineri. "This is...what, the third time this has happened since we've started? I've seen you move enough to know that you're getting tackled on purpose."

"More importantly," said Nia, straightening her back as she turned on her heel towards Vi and clapped her hands together, "do you have a bath? Also, after I freshen I wouldn't mind dining on something light, and I'd gladly take a fine bottle of wine to share with my friends. Oh, and none of you happen to be musicians, perhaps? Some entertainment with our dinner would be greatly appreciated." She paused, cocking her head to the side. "All of this is doable, yes?"

The moment before impact, Joachim reacted instinctively by loosening his own muscles, seemingly to deflate in preparation. He did not attempt to dodge or duck, simply waiting for what seemed to be his inevitable death; with the way his body just immediately gave away beneath the momentum of the woman he certainly seemed more like a rag doll than a human being.

The crash was loud, and shook the entire building briefly. Beneath the woman, the Wanderer could only be described as out of commission- his eyes were practically swirling as his head limply rolled back and forth, stunned beyond function. For the next several moments he remained like that, but just after Nia finished speaking he rapidly shook his head, eventually reaching down and patting Hineri's head gently, smiling a little.

From there, he began to stand, which was a difficult enough process with Hineri hanging from him, and yet somehow he managed it. Grunting, he rubbed the back of his head, before he said, "Rather than the rest of all that, or rather just before it, it is most important to him that he speaks to the Master of the establishment as soon as possible. It is extremely, extremely important, in fact."

At this request, in the background Jeremy paled and slowly slid down out of sight behind the bar, while Sam's smile took a sort of stunned note. When she spoke next, she managed to stammer out, "W-Well that's not necessary, you kn-know? We can h-handle whatever request you m-might have-"

Smiling gently, the Wanderer gave a shake of his head slightly. "Please, do not be worried. He already knows him, and how he can be."

"... Oh."

As the atmosphere in the room changed, Remy had shifted interest (very rapidly) to Nia, snickering a little at the brush of his shoulder. "Whaaat, I'm not an option for ya, sweetcakes? I think I get it, though..." He hums, rocking back and forth on his boots. "I could go for a bath. A real bubbly one... With like, little bonbons." He wiggles his hand at Nia to indicate the size, looking already lost in the thought of chocolate.

Still distracted by the way Joachim was completely knocked out by Hineri almost, Kaishu finally snapped to around when Vi appeared on the stairs. All of a sudden, the flood of occupants in the vicinity was making her skin crawl. She dropped the sandal, shrinking back into the group a little and leaning back on the wall, bundled in her cloak as she made herself scarce. She was only glad Hineri hadn't noticed her off the bat. Instead, the woman scrambled to cling onto the man's back, curling her legs around him and rubbing her cheek against his head fondly. "Jo~a~chimmmm~ You're b~ack~"

Blissful, she continued her little song before the mention of the inn's Master. Eyes snapping open, an alarmed look came over her, signaled especially by the change of her pupils into little, lime-green exclamation points. ".... Kuuuuuuuu... Please... Have mercy, Joachim... Hineri is already wobbly enough..."

"I 'on't get the big deal." Remy said, scratching the inside of his ear with a gloved pinkie. "What's up with the fear factor racing up because of this 'Master' guy?"

Kaishu didn't say anything back, still keeping her presence scarce... but her presence just grew thinner at the mention, her eyes flicking to the side while she pressed her face into a grimace. Still time to regret all of this and escape...

Vi's face remained warm and pleasantly smiling as several requests were made. They may be a touch difficult to do but nothing she wouldn't be able to handle. She'd turned her attention fully away from Hineri seeming to backpack on the shorter man's bdy and focused, instead, on the rest of the party," Your requests are able to be fufilled I simply ask for just a small amount of time to get everything fully prepared." Her eyes closed behind her lids in another smile-only for it to disappear into a thin line a flash of a moment later. Her attention left the rest of the party to focus in on the other, much bigger, issue that has just arose.

Vi's eyes stared directly at the man called Joachim as she took a position before him, looking down at the shorter man with a neutral expression; though her voice remained pleasant enough. "The Inn Master is currently away and may not be back for quite some time. May I ask your relation to him so that we can better assist you?" Her words were kind but the hard look of her eyes was not.

This certainly was unexpected.

Nia shot Remy a sympathetic look. At least she wasn't the only one in the dark; she absolutely hated being excluded from secrets.

"Hi, yes, sorry, question," said Nia, standing on her tiptoes while simultaneously pushing down Joachim's head so she could peek over it from behind, her other hand raised like a child in class. "So since it seems like he's going to stand between me and my bath, could somebody at least fill in the peanut gallery on who the Master," she said the name with a tone mocking the gravitas it apparently warranted, "actually is?"

Nia stepped to the side, letting the Wanderer have a moment where he wasn't being physically abused by someone, and shrugged her shoulders. "Like, what's all the fuss about? He just owns an inn, right?"

Up above, a door slammed.

Joachim flinched ever slightly, even as the steps of whoever was on the second floor began slowly walking towards the stairs. "He does more than simply own an inn. He did not own it when he, as in this one, last spent time with him... Perhaps it was the best cover he was able to pick at the moment. But that's an aside."

The steps had reached the stairs, and they began to squeal in protest beneath the weight of what they carried. Slowly, the Wanderer began to turn, with his eyes shut. "The Master is the Master and always has been. But perhaps, most importantly at the moment..."

"I was this idiot's Master." Without opening his eyes, Joachim reached up and slowly pulled Hineri's arms from him, making the woman drop down and away from him. Slowly, he opened his eyes, and then looked up to the eyes of the man who stared down at him.

The man positively filled the space. Kisarin seemed normal in comparison; this man was gigantic. Despite his size he was properly proportioned, nothing seeming too big or too small, no awkwardness to the eye. In fact, the man could have easily been described as beautiful; there was an other-worldliness in the glow of his skin, and his hair was long enough to reach down his back, smooth as silk.

He positively radiated power, both in appearance and aura. He looked like he could have bent steel with ease, or simply tear through it with his bare hands. His very presence forced the air from the room, and the breath from their lungs. Each word spoken caused the wood around them to creak. In his hand he held a large cup, filled with some form of alcohol; it was so intense that they could easily smell it, even when he had just entered the room.

"So you're back."

"Yes..."

For a moment, the two stood in silence, staring at one another. Suddenly the dish was raised high, faster than a blink-

The Wanderer simply shut his eyes.

The dish was brought crashing down on his head, shattering, shards flying every which direction. Limply Joachim went down, falling to his knees with his head bowed; the Master's hand went out to side with the continuation of the movement, sending the cloak around him fluttering almost angrily.

"So, after fifteen years, you decide to return. Return, mind you, after leaving like a fool. I warned you that you were not prepared, and that if you left you would only find misery for years. And what is it you're dealing with now? Some half dead thing from the past? You were not prepared there, and froze. Now, countless are dead because of your failures." The Master turned, and began to step back towards the stairs. "Get out of here, be gone. You have no friends here."

"That may be the case..." The Master paused, slowly looking back to Joachim as he began to stand, shakily. "But his Master certainly is. And if he does not gain the help of his Master, then even more will die."

"You made your bed, boy. Now lie in it."

"He will lie in the bed he made for himself. He will not make others lie in it."

The palpable shift of atmosphere had Hineri climbing off of Joachim's back before he even needed to move her. Her pupils twisted normally until the massive man reached the bottom of the stairs - nay, even the middle of the stairs seemed too much for the small woman to parse. Her pupils turned to spirals, and she wobbled off to the side, finding the nearest potted plant to pitch over and vomit into.

And while she suffered just a little, Remy seemed to be having the time of his life. His lips were stretched into a wide and toothy grin, one of his elbows resting on Nia's shoulder as he leaned there, fingers folded in delight. The rising fear and intense discomfort over the room was mind-numbing, and he was kind of loving it. The beating on Joachim seemed to only amp that excitement up. The Commander nudged Nia a little, giving her a bit of a rouse to the woman's shoulder. "Are you seein' this?" He muttered, snickering a little with a fist up to block his mouth a little. His snickering only grew a little, Remy having to hunch a little to try and calm the rising shake of his shoulders. For whatever reason 0 he thought this was hilarious.

By this point, Hineri was trying to recover enough to go to Joachim's side, but as soon as she put herself on a vertical axis, she was back over into the pot, throwing up again. Kaishu didn't seem to mind much, even being stood beside the woman. Instead, she seemed a little distracted, fixated on the scene. Her body shuddered, as though snapping out of some daze she was in. Lifting her arms, she crossed them over her chest, gloved fingers fidgeting and tip-tapping against her arms. Shutting her eyes, the princess shook her head, now.

"We don't have much time to be debating this. It's either help, or don't. It won't be long until we're racing into combat. This doesn't only affect us, no - rather, the destruction will spread here, too, if he fails. If we fail." Peeking open her eyes, hooded as always and keen on the Master. "Even if you were to put an end to Yaguar, there will be casualties. He'll be sure of that. Some Master you'll be if you allow that to happen."

With the scene happening before tham- Vi seemed to be one of the few who wasn't visibly shaking at the entrances of The Master. Aside from the twisted frown on her lips as she kept to the edges of the group and moved between the bar, grabbing a cloth and water, before going to Hineri's side with the items in offering.

She kept her mouth shut up until Kaishu began to speak. Vi spoke to the rest of Joachim's group with a level gaze, "I would advise you think your words a bit more before addressing The Master like that. He will not hesitate to do to you what he just did to him." Nodding towards Joachim on the floor.

Nia stood in silence, her hand over her open mouth as she watched the scene unfold in front of her. It would be wrong to say she was shocked or disgusted, but rather, like Remy, she was just soaking in the schadenfreude. However, she was more focused on the girl losing her lunch than the Wanderer getting beaned again. She took back every ill thing she had thought about this inn and tabled every demand she had made; being witness to this moment was more than enough. "I can't look away," she muttered back to Remy, barely succeeding at holding back her own chuckles. It'd be unbecoming to appear to take too much delight.

She bit down on her knuckle and looked away until everything was stifled, following the nod from Vi to Joachim. She grimaced. Perhaps she had grown fond of the Wanderer, or perhaps it was guilt for laughing at him—Remy's influence and nothing else, she told herself—but she felt obligated to help him. She brushed free of the Commander and took a confident stride over to Joachim, although she looked at no one else but the Master. She didn't really care about what Vi had said, even if it had been intended as a warning instead of a threat, since the woman had no doubt that she would be fine. It was nothing other than pure cockiness, but there was enough fuel around for Nia to make the Master instantly regret any actions he might take. He wasn't the only one who wouldn't hesitate.

"Now, now," said Nia to the Master, producing a handkerchief for Joachim to wipe the blood off of his face as he got up, "was that really necessary? If you want us to go, then we will go. It's your inn, after all, and it's in your right to pick and choose your guests. C'mon, Joachim. There's really no point in arguing, is there? Let's go."

Nia started to head to the door, but stopped in her tracks. She put a finger to her chin and cocked her head, as if she had suddenly realized something very important. "It's just really going to be a such damn shame," she said, the condescension thick in her voice. "When word gets out, I mean. I can hardly imagine the awful things they will say once this idiot fails," she jerked her thumb back towards Joachim and continued, "after all, the student's only as good as the teacher. Oh, although, I'm sure there would be some who would argue that the student was better this time, because while they might be an idiot at least they weren't a coward."

"Well! On the bright side, all of the rumors would at least finally put this quaint inn in the spotlight; absolutely everybody would know about it. Not a bad business move, I suppose, assuming there's anything left after all is said and done," she added, turning back towards the Master with a shit-eating grin on her face. She could only make it clearer that she was willing to expose the Master's location if she spelled it out for him. Now, she just had to hope that what Joachim said about him using the inn as cover meant that the Master did not want to be found. That, or that he was a man of pride and wouldn't be able to stand having his name tarnished.

"Unless..." she drew the word out, keeping her eyes peeled for any flying dishes.

The Wanderer was standing fully once again, but it was clearly he was barely holding on; there was a tremble in his legs as they wobbled and threatened to give away at any moment, so bad that he moved the sheath that held his old, broken blade from his side to in front of him, using it as a crutch for support with both hands. Though others were speaking around him, his gaze remained on the Master, unflinching.

In return, the Master's gaze matched his, even as Kaishu appealed to simple reason, and Nia resorted to a threat against his secrecy. Once again they stood there in silence, the Wanderer's gaze pleading and yet firm, while the Master's expression was one of borderline contempt-

When he looked to Kaishu finally, it became one of utter irritation. "You. One time around wasn't enough, was it? Still have more mistakes to make?" One hand went out then, empty, as he said, "Talbot, one of the newer bottles. The cheap stuff."

He then slowly looked over to Nia, and that was when utter contempt entered his gaze. "You're as stupid as you look if you think I'm frightened by your threats. I have lingered here since the Creation, have been a part of the cities that have risen and fallen here until, finally, Kyora was brought into being; some cocky little shit from H'kela who can toss a little fire won't be the reason why I'm finally revealed." His other hand went out, and once again he spoke to Vi, saying, "The biggest bottle, Talbot. I don't care what it is."

The Wanderer took one shaky step forwards, and immediately the Master's piercing, purple-black gaze snapped back to the much smaller man. Joachim slowly straightened, his shoulders no longer slouching and him using the sheath less as he struggled to stand on his own two feet.

"Tomorrow, the King of Barcea will be arriving with his companions. He wished to be finished with this affair before then, but he has been delayed so much that, inevitably, they too will become a part of this. He does not ask for himself, but for the King; finish his training, so that he might better help the King."

Slowly, the Master's gaze narrowed, a look coming over his face as if he had smelled something foul. "The King of Barcea, eh? The one currently wielding the Gift in a proper way? Of course he would be getting involved." Where he held his hands out still, the Master's fingers slowly curled into fists. For a moment, it looked like he was preparing to bludgeon Joachim to death.

And then, quite suddenly he crossed his arms, the movement so swift that it caused his cloak to billow outwards, before it settled around his arms once again. "Very well then, this is what's going to happen: You lot will stay here for the night quietly. Tomorrow, when the King and his little entourage arrive, we're going to chat," Here the Master shuddered, as if disgusted with his own idea, "and I'm going to see if your words hold any weight. If they don't, then I'll put you down like the mistake you tried so hard to prove yourself to be."

Slowly, the Wanderer nodded. He did not ask what would happen if things went in his own favor, and only said, "Thank you, Master."

The Master was already turning on his heel, but had enough time to make the roll of his eyes quite apparent. "Don't thank me yet. Your fate hinges on mortals, of all things; you're probably as good as dead."

About halfway up the stair, they heard him call, "If I hear any damned music I'm bringing this place down on all of your heads."

Vi had to literally bite her bottom lip to prevent herself from sighing disapprovingly at the antics that The Master was progressing towards. As she had turned her back to go behind the bar she couldn't help but roll her eyes at his order to bring him a new bottle. She had been reaching for some of the dustier bottles that no one touched before pausing and watching the scene unfold further-still quiet. Even as The Master told her to bring him an even bigger bottle she watched-trying her hardest to avoid the oncoming smile on her face as she looked from The Wanderer to The Master and back to The Wanderer once more. The day was just getting more and more interesting by the word.

She took this time to look back over the group as part of her mind wondered if they were going to have enough rooms to accommodate everyone. She was sure with a bit of creative cooking and time management she could get everything ready in time.

As her mind wandered she was already making her way towards Joachim with a cloth and a small container of medical supplies. "I've never seen someone survive a hit that hard." She passively said as she began organizing the supplies. "Since you are staying with us tonight, how many will be arriving tomorrow? I'd like to have everything stocked in the event The Master relents and aids you." Vi was speaking as though the man she called her boss hadn't just threatened bodily harm to the man she was about to give first-aid to.

Meanwhile, Nia was busy trying to cool her head, telling herself things like, 'only an idiot would call me stupid' while simultaneously visualizing just what a little bit of fire chucked behind the bar would do. Nia knew that even if the Master was too cheap to stock the strong stuff and too lazy to replace the likely wet and molded wood she could still prove him wrong. All it would take was a flick of the wrist and this place would go up like an oil-soaked rag, lighting up the night for all of those around to join. Of course, she knew she couldn't do that; no need to upset Joachim yet, especially after he mentioned that they were to rendezvous with the King here. Still, it was a therapeutic thought, even if it didn't stop her from opening her mouth.

"That guy's a total jerk! Just because your old doesn't mean you have the right to be a total sourpuss," said Nia, flopping on a bench near Joachim. Her voice shifted once again into a nasally, mocking tone as her face scrunched up. "Nyah, I'm older than cities, look at me, blah, make your bed, you cocky little shit," her voice fell into her normal tone, "I'll cocky little shit you." She folded her arms over her chest and slouched. "What a prick."

"But you're fine," she hurriedly said with a wave of her hand once she noticed that Vi was still around, before quietly adding, "so, uh, that bath situation? How's that looking?"

With all this commotion, Remy couldn't help but nearly laugh himself into a coma. His hands rubbed at his cheeks, pulled at his bottom eyelids, tried to massage the smile from his visage as best as he could. He tried to no avail, and ended up biting into his fist while stifling what laughter he could. The Commander's muffled snickers and nasally chortling died off as the Master retreated upstairs, shoulders still shaking with delight. Through the verbal beating laid out in front of him, he remained relaxed and leaned on the wall with arms crossed. Carefree. The only time he moved was to stop Kaishu from moving. After the comment from the Master, the only thing that could be used to describe the prodigy in that moment was... enraged, perhaps. Maybe even visceral. Quickly, she'd begun to step forward to follow the man up the stairs, but Remy was quick to slap his hands onto her cloaked shoulders, giving her a tug back even as she tried to wiggle away.

"Pick your fights, mausebär. This isn't one you're going to want to fight, huh?"

Begrudgingly, Kaishu let up, wrenching away from Remy with a huff. With a mutter under her breath in Cantian, she very quickly turned heel to storm into the dining hall, away from the group and instead to find a table to do what Remy could only assume, with his knowledge of the teenage mind, was brood.

Hineri, in the meantime, was happy to finally stop vomiting enough to wipe off her mouth and rinse it with the water Vi provided her. Leaning on the taller woman, she still looked a bit ill, her pupils wide and seeming to turn in little rotations, albeit slowly. "Hineri feels... as though she is dying..." Which... maybe wasn't too far off the mark. When she finally recovered, she straightened up, finally not needing to use Vi as a post for her balance. Her face was knit into a deep frown, watching the Master ascend back into the rooms above, before it finally lit up in a smile. Addressing Nia this time, she tucked her hands back into her sleeves.

"Hineri will draw you a bath right away, Miss. You still have time, Hineri thinks, before you... are once more stuffed into a close space with that man..." The thought made her spine tingle with pure, unadulterated terror. Her face very briefly turned terrified again before she perked up once more. "She can show you to a room... with the nicest bathroom, too." She added this final part with a playful whisper and a wink. As much as she wanted to go to Joachim, work sadly came first.

Meanwhile, the Wanderer had given a light shake of his head, looking over to Vi and what she carried. He relaxed a little, before beginning to count to himself, soon resorting to his fingers as his eyes seemed to glaze over briefly. When he finally spoke, he said uncertainly, "He believes... nearly twenty will be coming. He cannot be certain, simply because his comrades are the type to... recruit, as they go along. It will be quite crowded."

And, with that, he drew the small packaged he had been carrying with him closer to himself, giving just one glance outside.