All their efforts - every weapon Second Chance had brought to bear - all for one last gasp attempt to bring down their target. MacKensie watched hopefully as the final weapons hit their mark - a flashing white/blue anchor and a flaming white/gold greatsword. The damage was clear, but would it be enough? Baited breath and a moment that seemed to last an eternity followed, before the brain-shaking roar and following explosion of wind and energy shook the very temple. MacKensie was frozen in the silence that followed, not daring to celebrate too early. Her spell of statue-like stillness was broken when she turned to the ritual chamber entrance, hearing the cries and shouts of the once-angry cultists that had turned from violent and bloodthirsty to horror and despair.
"It can't be!"
"What have I done!?"
That's when she knew for sure that it was over. They'd won. The breath she'd not realised she'd been holding suddenly exhaled, and she found herself breathing heavy, her head pounding. Hair a mess, she moved a hand over her face and head to tame the unruliness then said a short, silent prayer to the sky. She wanted to cry. This adventuring business was tough. On the body, thrice moreso on the mind, and who knows how badly on the spirit.
She didn't cry though. Instead she forced her tears back and went to see that her friends were okay. The cocky remarks from the party idiot was enough strength to help her smile at Fenna as she approached the other woman.
"We did it," she said, meaning only to touch the woman's arm but finding herself going in for a big hug instead. She was glad they were all alive, of course. Even having unique affections for each of them, besides Barracker as he was obviously so very new to the group, but she honestly wouldn't know how long she could go on, in this world, if Fenna was not around. The woman she looked up to, in so many ways, was a constant source of resilience for MacKensie. And so the tightness of her hug said so much more than words ever could. Her repeated words choked a little, but she managed not to cry.
"We did it."For Adam, she gave a slow nod with a relieved hand on her heart, so happy that he was okay, but careful to avoid closing the distance out of awkwardness. The feelings she woken up with had yet to be resolved, if ever, and their dynamic from her side would likely be difficult to navigate until she'd figured things out. Speaking of which, the other man in this awkward situation was approaching. Zell - a man that, along with James, she was perhaps the most buddy-buddy broey-broey with. But that just made things even more awkward and difficult, because the feelings underneath all that banter were clear. Keeping her distance from him looked so obviously weird, she could sense it, but she gave him a nod and an uncharacteristic salute, then quickly moved on.
James she hugged, careful to avoid hurting his inuries.
"You saved us all, at the end there," she told him.
"A more perfect leader, I could not ask for."She was about to inquire further about the blessing, but sighted Zell's approach and made herself scarce.
"Barracker, you were amazing," she said to the vampire, offering him his own style of embrace; his patented clasp of forearms.
"I cannot count the amount of times you carried the way through this mission. You have been a boon to Second Chance, and it is an honour to call you friend."Adam removed the barricade easily with his magic, another display of his amazing powers, then began dealing with the very apologetic and traumatized people in the corridor, handling them with the care he was known for. She was glad that the Druid was willing to step up and manage things outside. It was likely his own way of dealing with things. As for MacKensie, she decided to hold off on leaving the ritual chamber, wanting to catch her breath and decompress a moment from the arduous journey before dealing with anything else.
Zapdos
Damycles
Izurich
Teyao
Dark Cloud
Lucid Dreaming
Noctis
xenon
Charybdis