|
Post by Hitotsumami on Oct 1, 2013 12:04:43 GMT -5
It was in all the papers.
Astral Lance of the Magical Council, Rank 3, suddenly, and with barely a word, stepped off his seat and became a rogue mage, announcing quite publicly that the entire Magical Council could go to hell.
What lead to his sudden actions are unknown. But one thing the remaining Magical Council knows clearly is that they must watch the mage very carefully. Their public records say that the mage appeared out of the blue a decade back and quickly rose to power within the Magical Council. Prior to then, nothing was known of the powerful electric mage, except a few scarce and untrustworthy records that said a man with the same name once worked in a Dark Guild called Nightingale, but that was over a hundred years prior.
Now that Astral Lance has left the Magical Council however, and in such a boisterous way, the Magical Council is rethinking what they knew of the man and is calling for his capture, alerting all good Guilds to be aware of his presence.
The future is uncertain.
---
Astral Lance laughed and crumbled up the newspaper. He then held it in his hand and strike of lightning appeared, obliterating the paper to dust.
He sat in a cave. It had been a place he had visited frequently. Along the cave walls and floor, all around, huge translucent crystals formed, some twisting around others like diamond vines. Even this deep in the cave where sunlight could not reach, everything glew brilliantly.
It was here that Astral Lance was waiting. He had contacted five other mages, powerful ones that held his same ideals and promise. He had also sent a message to Pollux, alerting him of the happenings, but he doubted the man would come and be a part of his new organization. Pollux had decided to abandon his cause.
But the five mages that were supposed to show today, he had confidence in. If they showed, it would be the start of something grand.
"The Oracion Seis," said Astral Lance to himself. He had not used that title to refer to himself for centuries, but he was happy to claim it once more.
He looked towards the entrance of the cave, waiting for the mages to arrive.
---
At the cave entrance, a woman stopped. She wore black leather pants and a jacket, with boots and dark gloves. She held her purple hair in a firm ponytail.
She examined the cave entrance. From the outside, the cave looked like any other, but upon closer inspection, one would see small crystals protruding out of the ground and the sides of the cave.
"I guess this must be it," she said. "I wonder if I am the first? Well, no point sitting around and guessing."
The woman named Izealya Thorn took the first step into the Crystal Cave.
|
|
|
Post by CJ on Oct 2, 2013 11:08:30 GMT -5
It might have been surprising to Izealya that she wasn't alone.
Someone had been following her for a long time, someone who lived in a world of silence, and knew how to use it to his advantage.
His clothes were radiant, a sparkling blue like the reflection of the sky on the sea. He was truly fit to be a prince or king of a rich and prosperous nation. His long white hair draped around a black masquerade mask, which perfectly obscured his eyes. Approaching Izealya, he pressed a finger to his lips and smiled.
Known by his alias "The Siren," Apollo was a dark mage who dismantled his guild, Odyssey, in a single night. The men of the guild were found dead, having flung themselves from a high cliff into the stormy sea. To that day, the women were missing, never to be seen or heard from again.
Now, here he was, having responded to the call of Astral Lance.
Gesturing his hand forward in a gentlemanly fashion, Apollo seemed to want Izealya to walk in front of him.
|
|
|
Post by Hitotsumami on Oct 3, 2013 10:52:45 GMT -5
Astral Lance saw Izealya Thorn first, and following behind her was the silent Apollo.
"Ah, the first two have arrived," said Astral Lance, standing from his crystal seat and walking over to greet them. He gave a small bow to each.
"Azealya Thorn, Dragon Slayer," said Astral Lance in an admirable voice. "You know, Dragon Slayers are hard to come by, especially this time and age where dragons have seldom ever been seen. I'm grateful you've chose to come and serve me."
Azealya raised an eyebrow at Astral Lance and crossed her arms. "I'm not here to serve anyone," she said flatly. "I'm here because you said you could--"
"Hush," responded Astral Lance, raising a hand. "Not now. Let's wait until everyone is here before we get down to business."
Azealya sighed and then eyed Apollo. "What's up with this freak? Can't he talk?"
Astral Lance gave Apollo another bow and then laughed at Azealya's comment. "Oh, he can talk, but I don't think you'd want to hear it. It is good to have you here with us, Apollo. I've heard great things from you, great power. Someone with your ability can definitely get us to our goal."
He then turned towards the opening of the cave. "Three are here. Three more to come."
|
|
|
Post by Mise™ on Oct 4, 2013 12:13:11 GMT -5
"De-deh~ Here I am." Could be heard from outside of the cave and soon a young boy entered the cave. Assuming he knew what the people he invited looked like Astral Lance should immediately notice that this boy wasn't supposed to be here. The boy was very short and had a ginger hair, though the color was very light; the hair was long enough to just barely cover most of his ears and just barely not cover his eyes at all. Looking at him he would appear to be around 14 or 15 years of age. He had a very wide grin on his face, the kind some may find unnerving. His choice of clothes were quite unusual and he had a silver piercing on his left ear. The boy also was just casually eating a cone of chocolate ice cream, without a care in the world. "Yesterday I met a man, he seemed very big and strong. But life is so sudden and now you could say just a half a man he used to be. Heheheheheheheh..." After laughing heartily for a moment the boy continued. "He was invited to come here, but sadly he fell just a little short on that. Hehehehehehe... So I came instead. De-deh~" The boy seemed very free carefree and cheerful. Maybe he had no idea what was going on or maybe he was just playing dumb.
|
|
|
Post by Hitotsumami on Oct 4, 2013 12:51:14 GMT -5
Astral Lance turned his attention back to the cave entrance as yet another figure arrived. To his surprise, however, it was not the one he had sent a message to, but instead what appeared to be a young boy.
Astral Lance took a step forward, keeping Apollo and Azealya Thorn behind him. "Who are you? What did you do with Tarragon the Herb Titan?" Terragon had been a dark mage that had been working on a project to raise hundreds of plant warriors and overcome the capital in Fiore, but to think he had failed to this little boy...?
"Answer me!" shouted Astral Lance, pulling out his lance which began to glow with electricity.
|
|
|
Post by Mise™ on Oct 4, 2013 13:10:53 GMT -5
"You can call me Aether. De-deh~" The boy didn't seem to be fazed at all despite the fact that Astral Lance was pointing a spear at him, he just kept on eating his delicious ice cream and grinning, just like he had done so far. "Oh... The big guy, I didn't attack him. I only talked to him and he got really annoyed at me for some reason. De-deh~ Then he got in an accident and now I'd say that he could use a hand or two. Hehehehehehehehe..." Aether wasn't lying, he did not harm Tarragon at all, though it might be hard for Astral Lance and the others to believe, but then again what could a tiny boy like that do to someone like Tarragon. The kid was clearly very suspicious to say the least and not only that there was a very special kind of aura around him.
|
|
|
Post by CJ on Oct 4, 2013 13:18:59 GMT -5
Apollo greeted Astral Lance with a dramatic and graceful bow. He smiled, displaying shimmering white teeth and a dimple near his cheek. It was clear Astral Lance had Apollo's full attention and respect. Previous letter correspondence between the two had proved the siren was as mannered as he was deadly.
As for Azealya, Apollo merely shrugged. It seemed to be his way of apologizing for his previous silence. He strained to smile at her, perhaps suggesting he was willing to overlook the "freak" comment... at least this once.
The siren seemed initially confused at the sight of the Aether. When the notion came about that he killed one of the six, Apollo immediately fell back behind Astral Lance and Azealya. He gripped the side of his masquerade mask, as though to tear it off it any attack were to occur. He wasn't as useful in direct combat as Astral Lance or Azealya, but he would resort to cheap tactics if it meant saving his own skin.
|
|
|
Post by Shark a' Pult on Oct 4, 2013 13:36:59 GMT -5
At some point anyone in the cave may have noticed it, as it had been happening for awhile now and building in intensity, but there was the sound of a low humming in the cave. Eventually towards the back, a visible distortion in the air could be glimpsed, as though an entire spherical area in the cave of about eight feet in diameter was in flux. There was nothing particularly special about this region, and trying to view it was impossible as it was simply like looking at air, but looking through it to something past it like the cave wall gave a very warped impression of whatever was on the other side.
Finally the hum came to a head when all the bits of stone and dirt on the floor were rapidly forced outwards from the zone of clearing, until at last there was a sudden burst from the center point outwards. A collection of pots and pans, dishes and forks, and various other kitchenware exploded outwards in all directions (possibly hitting those present in the process) and rebounded off the cave walls or simply shattered. Having emerged from the center point of the sphere, a person seemingly appeared out of nowhere.
"Whew, that was a close one... oh wow what is this place?"
A young woman, dressed in a rather contemporary fashion with jeans and a coat, looked around at the place about her as pots and pants rolled to a rest across the floor. The crystals were a good distraction at first, but eventually she came to notice the others, and nervously began to back away.
"Uh... what is this place?"
|
|
|
Post by Hitotsumami on Oct 5, 2013 13:40:48 GMT -5
Astral Lance was completley taken aback by the child named Aether. Even though the kid said he didn't directly destroy the Terragon Titan, Astral Lance knew it couldn't be a mere coincidence. Whoever this kid was, he was strong.
And strong was good.
"Kid," said Astral Lance, leaning down to get on his eye level. "Got any plans? I'm not sure what you're capable of, but I'm interested! Want to come with us and have an adventure?"
After he received whatever answer Aether would give, he heard and felt a sudden shock wave erupt from inside the cave, followed by a torrent of pots and pans. Astral Lance blocked the barrage with his spear, then watched as a young girl appeared in her place.
"This can't be right," muttered Astral Lance, looking at the rather ordinary looking girl.
He recalled the day before. One of the mages he had sent a message to, an old man named Chrononition, had denied Astral Lance, saying that he wanted no part in his quest. However, using his magical powers of foretelling the future, assured Astral Lance that during his time in the cave a replacement would surely arrive.
"Is this the replacement?" muttered Astral Lance, walking around the girl and examining her. "Well, it's true that was certainly some strange magic, but she doesn't look like much." After some time, he asked, "What's your name?"
All the while, Azealya Thorn watched as two people who weren't supposed to be there arrived, and were most likely going to join the group. "What have I gotten myself into," she muttered.
But still, there was one member of the Oracion Seis that had not yet arrived, and Azealya Thorn had a bad feeling about it.
|
|
|
Post by Mise™ on Oct 5, 2013 14:37:29 GMT -5
"Sure. I really don't have much to do. De-deh~" Aether agreed to Astral Lance, he was clearly happy that he was accepted here, though he might have not have a very grasp on what really was going on in here. "But one thing; I'm not a kid. I'm..." The kid started counting his age using his fingers did so or quite a while, untill eventually stopped as it seems like he had lost count. "...about a hundred years old or so. I do not age, I was born just like this and so I have looked like a kid for all my life... I can not be killed either, at least by any normal means. De-deh~"
If anyone were to know of it they might have figured out what Aether was; a child of magic, magic given flesh, by a forbidden spell, that has been forgotten for centures, that gives life to the user's magic, in exchange for the life of the user. Last time children of magic were known to exist was about 500 years ago, but all of them were eventually destroyed and the knowledge of such beings has been mostly forgotten. It was also commonly believed that those that came in contact with children of magic would face horrible misfortune. So those here in this very cave might run in to some bad luck. If he were to understand this Astral Lance might want to change his mind on bringing Aether along, though then again he was certainly very powerful.
As Aether witnessed a girl making her, quite unusual, entrance he quickly ate the rest of his ice cream so that he could happily clap for the performance. After a while he eventually stopped clapping he pulled out a chocolate bar out of his robes and then began munching on it.
|
|
|
Post by Shark a' Pult on Oct 5, 2013 17:08:20 GMT -5
"Uh... replacement for what?"
When Astral approached, the girl started to get scared. Partly because he was talking about some weird stuff and seemed to be evaluating her, but mostly because he was carrying a spear. In trying to back away she slipped and fell over, and didn't have time to get up before he started circling her like a vulture.
"What's your name?"
"M-My name... uh, it's Elly. But who are... who are you people?"
She was starting to feel pretty scared now with all these strange and intimidating people around, and suddenly the humming sound could be heard again. Very low now, but distinct, as it would probably increase in volume overtime.
|
|
|
Post by CJ on Oct 5, 2013 17:58:22 GMT -5
So the child was immortal, or at least it seemed he was.
Apollo was already twenty years old, an age that felt ancient to the dark mage. He had no idea of how sirens aged, but he didn't want to know before it was too late. His goal was to remain beautiful forever so if he had to risk his life around this child-like creature to find out, he would gladly do it.
The siren fell to the floor after being smacked in the head by a pot. It had knocked off his masquerade mask, but fortunately his long hair was enough to conceal his eyes. He positioned the mask back on and was about to show the woman a thing or two until he saw her for the first time.
Elly, a name as simple as its owner. There was something about her that resonated with Apollo. Her nature wasn't like anything he had ever seen. Her words flowed through his mind like a melody. It wasn't love but he had a strange longing to get to know her more.
He would likely never understand it was the honesty of her words and situation that drove him to want to be with her. In his life, he never experienced such a thing.
Kneeling down, he bowed his head and held his pale hand out to her to help her up. All her offered to her as a greeting was a charismatic smile. Unfortunately for Apollo, but fortunately for Elly, he wouldn't dare give out his name to her. His ears twitched as he picked up the characteristic humming that had occurred before. He tilted his head to the side to hear where it might be coming from.
|
|
|
Post by Hitotsumami on Oct 7, 2013 14:09:54 GMT -5
Astral Lance gave Aether a strange look as the kid said he was over a hundred, but he disregarded it for now. He guessed it must be some kind of trick, or part of his magic. At least he knew he had some kind of powerful kid in his group.
He then turned his attention back to Elly. "So, that's your name, huh? Never heard of it, so apparently you're not a famous mage or anything... Well, I guess we'll just have to test you out. But before then..."
Astral Lance stood up straight and put his hands on his hips, looking around. "We're still missing one member. When will that thing show up...?"
He then glanced back at Elly and said, "Oh, we're the Oracion Seis, by the way. A group of mages who are after a certain person. Just stick around for a while and I'll show ya, will ya?"
All the while, he noted the strange humming sound, but guessed it was an after effect of Elly's magic. Whatever was going on, Astral Lance was most focused on the entrance of the cave, waiting for the final mage to appear.
Izealya Thorn, however, did take note of the humming and walked over to the young girl. "You, whatever your name was. Elly, right? Yeah, whats the humming sound? Is it coming from you?"
|
|
|
Post by Shark a' Pult on Oct 7, 2013 17:18:19 GMT -5
"T-Test me out? You're not going to hurt me are you?"
It was clear to see that she was pretty scared, and the humming intensified as the space about her began to distort. In response, she clasped her hands together close to her chest and kept her eyes closed, trying to regulate her breathing and slow her heart rate.
"You, whatever your name was. Elly, right? Yeah, whats the humming sound? Is it coming from you?"
"What?" Hearing someone, Izealya addressing what was happening directly, Elly looked towards her. "Oh, it happens when I get scared or anxious... I can't really control it that well, and I start to Walk whether I want to or not. I guess it helps when I get into trouble, but..."
A little lightning bolt seemed to zip through her head, and cause a face fault in the process.
"I probably shouldn't have said that."
Whatever she was trying to do to prevent the issue didn't seem to be working out, because now the distortion about her was quite strong, and little rocks and dust and even bits of broken pots and plates started to move towards the girl. All these tough-looking people and everything that was going was frightening for her, and the more panicked she was the worse the warping effect around her became, until Apollo approached. He wasn't talking about scary things she didn't understand, he wasn't brandishing weapons, and he didn't even look so spooky.
He just reached out a hand for her to take, something stable and calming, an anchor to latch on to. So she took it, and by the time she was helped to her feet, the distortion was gone and the humming was starting to fade.
"So I'm... not in trouble or anything? You just want me to meet someone? Or, see them, I guess?"
She was still quite nervous, but she was at least coming to peace with the situation in her own mind. Maybe they weren't a bunch of evil people who were going to hurt her for trespassing into what she assumed was their cave. She couldn't be sure though, it was hard to tell with these mage types.
|
|
|
Post by Kuro on Oct 8, 2013 16:33:53 GMT -5
"bRigHt...SO briGHt. CAn we tURn off tHE lIghtS, mOmmY?"
The voice was high-pitched like a child's, but distorted. It sounded hollow, broken, varying from an average child's pitch to that of several octaves higher than should be possible. A white spindly leg came into view of the entrance, followed by five more.
"MoMmy, plEasE? CAn we tURn oFf the lIGhts?"
The creature took up nearly the entire entrance of the cave as it crawled in, with the long-dead corpse of a boy hanging in the air, leading the way. It's skin and meat was rotted and bone could be seen, along with...tiny bulges moving under it all. Its face was nearly torn in two, the eye sockets empty, black pits. The skin was warped, twisted, and wrapped around the bottom of the slimy head that bulged from it. It's six eyes flickered everywhere, always moving, looking in every direction at once and taking in every detail. It moved forward, closer to the mages, it's legs long and its entire shape nearly taking up all of the space around it as it moved closer. The child's gaping maw of a mouth never moved as it spoke.
"mOmmY? aRE yOU thERe? Is tHAt yOU, moMmy?"
Its legs moved about the cave, nearing the other mages, the legs attempting to brush past them, to just touch them in even the slightest way. The boy moved along with the motions of the spider, simply dangling in the air as the spider moved around. "iT's so BRigHT...iS tHAt yOu, moMMy?"
Arachnoid Aegis was a monster known as something to be hunted down in S-Level missions. Not much was known of it to the government, only that cities everywhere had been warned to report any sighting of the ghastly beast. The guilds that reported sightings of the monster and then attempted to kill all ended up dead. This had been going on for years, and it had actually become a popular nightmare story, a fairy tale of sorts. It had become a monster to tell the children about, it had become the boogeyman that would eat the naughty children up. Little did they know just how many children had actually fallen to the beast.
One of the legs stretched out suddenly and barely touched the one in radiant, splendid clothing, making the spider turn in his direction.
"i cAn sMEll yOu"
|
|