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Post by Hitotsumami on May 4, 2014 16:34:29 GMT -5
Asmoday turned to see Elly. "Oh, good morning. I guess it is time then, hm?"
She peered at the map that Elly had pulled out of her bag. Scanning it, she saw a few familiar places, places she had journeyed before Atrum or Renascence. Tracing her finger on the paper, she stopped and tapped a small part of the coast, a town called Elm. "That's where Renascence is."
Hearing so many promises from Elly, she wasn't sure how to take it. She seemed sincere, so she'd just have to trust the girl. Though, if things went the way she wanted, they'd just want to talk to her, and nothing more. That's all Asmoday wanted.
"Okay then," said Asmoday. She looked around. There Inn was busy with people finishing breakfast and the town was exuberant at the shining new day. She felt deep down this might be the very last time she'd see such a kind, peaceful scene. "I guess I'm ready."
Asmoday prepared herself for the walk. She'd experienced it once, but reasoned it wasn't something you'd get used to so quickly. "Let's go."
---
In the Crystal Cave, Astral Lance was pacing furiously. He glanced at the prick of light in the distance which was the entrance to the cave, then continued pacing.
"Where the hell are they!?" he exclaimed.
Azealya Thorn was sitting upon a roughly natural crystal which just happened to be in the rough shape of a chair. She propped her legs up. "Relax. It's been just one day. I'm sure they'll come around."
Astral spun and pointed at her. "Weren't you the one who was supposed to be watching her!? How'd you let her get away!?"
"I didn't!" shot back Azealya. "I told you already. I told Elly to walk Asmoday out of that place. I'm sure she's with her now and they're on the way here as we speak."
"They better be," said Astral. "I didn't just risk my life getting that info for Elly to warp her and that girl into a who knows where! At least.. At least you saved Spider Thighs."
Astral looked over at the hideous creature which stood not far away in the cave. He had done his fair share in distracting most of the Magical Council, so he awarded him with corpses he picked up in a nearby town. Fresh meat to regain his energy for the next attack.
He then turned to look at Apollo. "Is this really the same guy?" he asked to Cassandra. "His voice can still do damage, right? That's what I need him for. Actually, don't answer that, Apollo. Stay quiet, just in case."
Though Azealya had guided Noil to their base, it was yet to be seen if he would ever arrive, or Aether for that matter.
"Just one piece left," muttered Astral Lance. He looked about the Crystal Cave. Bright blue shimmering crystals shot in every direction, providing their own eerie light.
He remembered what he had been told the first time he had entered this cave.
Asmoday is no longer here.
That would all change soon enough.
OOC: CJ, Kuro, Mise, feel free to post now.
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Post by Mise™ on May 5, 2014 0:58:06 GMT -5
Noil Jauquard had arrived to the crystal cave as Astral had wanted him to do. However he wasn't doing much, just leaning to the walls of the cave and standing here arms crossed waiting. And he was getting tired of it. Nothing was happening.
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Post by Shark a' Pult on May 5, 2014 1:21:06 GMT -5
"Oh, Elm? I've been there before, good bakery in town if I remember. That should be no problem."
So it wasn't just some obscure place in the middle of nowhere, but a fairly well-known and populated town. She might have been confusing which town it was in her mind, but she knew at least that she had been there before based on the name, so walking back there wouldn't be difficult at all for her.
"You look readier than I am, heheh."
Folding away the map and putting it back in her coat pocket, Elly envisioned the Crystal Cave in her mind as she wrapped her arms around Asmoday in a hug. In no time at all, the visual distortion and hum collapsed them inwards to some unseen central point, and just like that they were gone.
---
Outside the Crystal Cave the same effect could be seen and heard, and after a burst of dirt and litter in all directions, Asmoday and Elly expanded outwards from seemingly nowhere. Once the distortion and dust settled, Elly opened her eyes and let go of Asmoday.
"Hello?" she called into the cave, "Anyone here? I'm back!"
She was uneasy and on the alert, not sure what to expect. All the while she worried for Asmoday's sake and remained ready to walk away at a moments notice if anything went badly.
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Post by CJ on May 5, 2014 10:27:48 GMT -5
"I won't stay quiet," Apollo retorted. "No human tells me what to do. Not anymore."
Gone was the lyrical quality the siren was usually known for. That wasn't all. He was entirely different now, younger and paler with bruises covering his visible skin on his neck. His white, shimmering hair was shorter, but still styled, recently cut from the shaggy mess it was back in Era. He wore a vest and nice suit pants, likely part of his attire left over from the original copy. His eyes were exposed with no mask to cover them. They were deep blue, reflective and entrancing like pools of water.
"Go away, Cassandra," he said in an odd tone, suggesting he had some of his old magic. He continued in his normal voice. "I don't even know why you're here. Actually, what am I even doing here? From what I can tell, you're going to resurrect some old hag, but what's in it for me? Why did I ever agree to doing this in the first place? What could possibly be worth the risk of getting eaten by that thing? Tell me. Right now."
There was the odd tone again, that danced on the senses, but also pulled unsuspecting humans into his control. It seemed it might only apply to orders he gave directly. It was clear the new Apollo had some understanding of what happened to the original member of the Oracion Seis. As Astral suspected, the creature before him really was a different person entirely, though with the same memories and body of the first sixteen years of the one who came before him. Four years of magic was gone. For all they knew, he probably didn't live up to Astral's expectations. He might have been too stubborn for the Oracion Seis.
Cassandra walked out of the cave, nodding to Elly and Asmoday on the way out. She seemed to have some clear direction as to where she was going. She was neither distressed or disturbed by their sudden appearance.
Meanwhile, Apollo would neither acknowledge Noil, Elly or Asmoday, too focused on his own problems.
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Post by Hitotsumami on May 8, 2014 15:00:34 GMT -5
Astral looked at Apollo with distrust.
"So it seems your powers truly have dwindled in whatever events occurred to you in the Council building." Still, Apollo's words held a firmness that taunted Astral, but nothing like what the old Apollo could accomplish with just a whisper. "If you wish to know why I risked so much, then I will show you. Just as soon as--"
Astral heard a call from down the cave. He spun around, and there before him was Elly. Elly and a girl. Astral's jaw dropped at what he saw. Was this Asmoday? Was this the girl he had been looking for for the last three years?
Approaching, he first looked at Elly. "Congratulations, Elly. The Spider is uncontrollable, one of us has already gone, Apollo has changed, perhaps you and Thorn are the only two I can truly trust."
He then turned his attention to Asmoday. "But you... You are the girl I fought that day not long ago. You were attacking one of the Renascence mages. I saw you with my own eyes."
"You," said Asmoday. She was so taken aback by the sudden change in scenery. All around her was a cave composed of some kind of bright glowing crystal. And this man in front of her, the man who had lead some kind of attack on the Council building, was the same man she had fought. It was because of this man, and the other man who had controlled ice, that Qi was still alive today. "Who are you?" she finally asked.
"That is the most important question," answered Astral. "Who are you? I am Astral Lance, one of the Oraicion Seis as you see before you now."
Asmoday looked about the cave. She didn't recognize any of them except for one... "Azealya!" she called, pointing at the mage who sat boredly on her throne of crystals.
Azealya smiled and gave a little wave. "Hey there. Yeah, sorry about lying. I work for Astral here, not your guild." She shrugged.
Asmoday couldn't believe it, but her memory was still hazy, and she didn't realize that it had actually been Azealya who had caused her to faint back at the Council. She looked back to Astral. "I've come on my own free will," she stated. "It appears that you know something about myself that I do not. If you have the answers I seek, then I want to hear them."
Astral kept smiling, his mouth filled with sharp teeth. He began walking about Asmoday, examining her. "Something changed in you," he started. "You really don't remember anything. But of course you don't, or else you wouldn't of attacked me back then."
"What's changed?" asked Asmoday.
"It must have been because of that Castor boy," thought Astral aloud. "When he sent us through time, something must have happened to you." He suddenly grabbed her arm, not hard, but enough for Asmoday to gasp in surprise. "You're incomplete, aren't you?"
"Yes," said Asmoday between clenched teeth.
Astral let her go and turned around. He opened his arms. "Where do you think we are? This is the Crystal Cave. It was created centuries ago as a prison for a particularly dangerous mage, a place that even she could not escape." He looked back at Asmoday. "It even took a magic so powerful that it controlled time itself to pull even a part of you free from it."
Asmoday shivered at the thought. "What kind of prison is this?" she asked. "For who?"
"For you, my dear," answered Astral kindly.
"I don't understand," said Asmoday, shaking her head. She was starting to think that maybe Astral was mad. This was just another dead end, but a dangerous one. "Perhaps I should leave."
"You can't leave," said Astral back quickly. "This is your home. This is where you belong."
Asmoday took a step back, but she found her feet stuck to the ground. Looking down, the crystals in the cave had already began wrapping around her legs. Faster than she could blink, she was suddenly lifted into the air by the morphing crystals. The crystals grew from the ground like a tree, splitting and fracturing in all directions, threatening to impale anyone who drew too close. Even Astral Lance took his distance.
Quicker still, the crystals began to cover her entire body. She yelled in struggled, she even tried to use her teleportation magic, but these bizarre crystals prevented her from doing so somehow. Suddenly, Asmoday felt a terrible pain in the back of her neck, like someone had stuck a hot needle deep inside. Her eyes began to roll back inside her head, but she saw someone, she saw her only hope.
She reached her hand out as far as possible to Elly. "Please, help me," she said in a rough whisper. Her arm was just in reach, and if Elly desired, she could touch her.
Astral watched on the other side of the forming crystalline structure, paying no mind to Elly, his eyes stuck on Asmoday. He could feel the magic radiating from her. She was becoming whole once more.
Azealya had given up her crystal throne as the growing structure claimed it. She backed far away, further than Astral. She knew Astral wanted info about her, but she didn't expect something like this would happen.
"What is this, Astral?" she asked.
"Look well, Thorn," he said. To Apollo, he said, "You too! This is the answer to your question. This is rebirth!"
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Post by Mise™ on May 11, 2014 9:20:25 GMT -5
When Elly and Asmoday arrived to the cave Noil took a quick look at them, but nothing more. He thought about introducing himself, but thought that there would be a time for that later on. When Astral spoke how he only trusted Elly and Thorn Noil took it that Astral did not trust him. He was fine with that as Noil did not trust Astral either. When the crystals began to surround Asmoday Noil still did not react a whole lot and just stood there watching as the events unfolded in front of him. He did not really know what was going on, but was cautiously optimistic about all this. Maybe it really would be worth his time.
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Post by Shark a' Pult on May 12, 2014 13:29:56 GMT -5
Elly felt all weak in the knees when Astral confided in her. It was nice for once to know that she was considered dependable by somebody, anybody. True, that person was as far as she knew, a dangerous criminal but why split hairs?
Before it had a chance to sink in though, a bunch of crazy stuff happened. It seemed, as according to her fears, Astral had immediate and dire plans for Asmoday. She ran to her to see if she could help, but it was quite a scary display that was happening.
"What's... this isn't ok! Look, it's hurting her!"
It seemed Elly would have to make good on her promise. Of course she didn't have the luxury of time on her side, and this wasn't going to be easy. She saw Asmoday reaching out though and she acted on it, reaching herself for the girl's hand. In the process though she found herself being jabbed by the growing crystals and she cried out in pain.
"AGH! H-Hold on!"
She could take it though, and she didn't even need to try to use her powers. Her body could feel it was in danger, and already, even without her consent it started to walk. All it would take is a little more time before she could try to take Asmoday with her as well. Already the distortion effect and hum was starting to expand around her, but did Asmoday have the time to wait that long? And as well, would the others just let Elly do this?
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Post by Hitotsumami on May 12, 2014 14:05:34 GMT -5
It took Astral a moment to realize that on the other side of this growing crystalline formation, Elly was attempting to save Asmoday. He had been so entrenched by the spectacle that he had hardly noticed.
He immediately dashed forward to pry her away, but as he did, a huge wall of crystals appeared, from floor to ceiling, barring his way. He raised a hand and shot a bolt of electricity, but it left not even a scratch. He cursed and remembered that these were crystals were made so that magic would not work on them, it was the only way to keep Asmoday prisoner. If that was the case, even Noil's magic couldn't open a door to Elly.
"Stop it!" demanded Astral through the crystal, though his voice would not travel through the crystals, no anyone's for that matter.. "What are you doing, Elly? We need her here! You're going to ruin everything!"
But it appeared there was nothing that could be done to stop the girl, or at least, nothing he could think of.
Azealya tried to break through the crystals as well, but to no avail. Her spikes might as well have been made of mud compared to the hardness of the wall.
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Post by CJ on May 13, 2014 12:15:17 GMT -5
Apollo was dumbfounded. First Astral insulted him and now the man was going about with some kind of insane plan with one of the human girls who had entered the cave. Apparently she was the goal of the Oracion Seis, an idea the new Apollo was completely unfamiliar with.
"How is this something I wanted?" he asked, watching as the crystal process started. "If what I'm assuming is correction, you're trying to turn that girl back into a monster. She obviously doesn't want that. What if she decides to kill us all once she gets power?"
The siren was somewhat relieved when the crystal wall sprang up, blocking him and Astral from the apparent danger. He wondered how the Elly girl was faring, but it was a fleeting thought. Unlike the old Apollo, this one didn't have any connection to the girl.
"Stay right here," he said again in the strange tone to Astral. It was almost as great as the previous Apollo's magic, though it didn't seem he could control when he used it. "If this gets out of hand, you're the one who will take the blame for it."
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Post by Mise™ on May 13, 2014 13:30:36 GMT -5
From Astral's reaction to what was happening Noil understood that something was going wrong behind the crystal wall that had emerged. He still did not move from his spot, but he did say something: ”I can not open that wall. My magic does not work on it.” Noil had already found this out a short while ago. It was almost the same as it had been in the prison. Hardness of the material was irrelevant to him, everything was soft as silk for Noil Jauquard, but he could not do something to the crystals that negate magic. ”I guess this was a waste of time after all...” Noil was disappointed with all this. The plan was falling apart already.
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Post by Shark a' Pult on May 13, 2014 16:12:06 GMT -5
She was starting to feel like swiss cheese what with all the crystals stabbing into her, but it happened, and out of self-preservation her body walked. Assuming the crystals could be so affected, then they too would be brought, and the only thing left would be a spherical cutaway in the mass of crystal where once Elly had been.
---
Since it was unintentional, there was no telling where the walk would lead to. In this case, it happened to be deep in a forested glen with a creek nearby. A completely random chance, but it actually wasn't all that far away from the cave to begin with, only a couple of miles or so.
As usual the walking effect emanated through the area, and an outwards explosion of crystal chunks brought with, surged from some unseen point. There lay Elly however, shards of crystal sticking out of her and bloodying her clothes. She was alive though, and after gathering her wits, she moved to sit up and look around. To see if her efforts paid off.
"Asmoday?"
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Post by Hitotsumami on May 13, 2014 21:03:43 GMT -5
Asmoday and Elly vanished.
"NOOO!" shouted Astral, slamming both fists against the crystal wall. Immediately, it sunk bank into the floor. Astral would have stumbled forward, but Apollo's voice caused him to stand his ground. "Damn it, Elly! Damn it!" He spun around, looking at his gathered force. "You're all pathetic! Every single one of you, good for nothing!"
"Hey, now," said Azealya, who found herself back on her little throne. "What have I done?"
"Worthless!" spat Astral. "Absolutely worthless!"
While Astral yelled insults, behind him the crystals were changing shape one more. At first they sunk into the ground, but quickly rose back up and took the shape of an adult woman. The sharp pointed crystals folded inwards until the exterior was smooth, and then faded altogether, giving way to white skin. Hair formed atop the figure, long flowing black hair. Arms and legs stretched out, and finally, no sight of a crystal could be seen, only a fair woman.
She opened her eyes. No pupils, just a glow of white light.
The first thing she did was reach forward, grabbing the back of Astral's head.
Astral yelled in surprise as the woman lifted him off of the ground. "W-who's there!?" He looked towards his companions. "You guys, do something! Come on!"
"Why would they wish to assist you?" said the woman. Her voice was like the plucking of a string on a harp, melodic but mysterious. Astral recognized the voice immediately.
"A-asmoday?" he asked, his eyes swerving from left to right to try and get a glance of the woman. "Is that you? Asmoday?"
Asmoday slung Astral on the ground. He rolled twice before looking up at the woman. "It is I, Astral Lance. Asmoday."
"You're back!" Tears were practically forming in his eyes at his excitement. "You're really back! I brought you back! You're alive again! I knew I could do it! I knew it!" Astral pushed himself back to his feet, but fell back down when Asmoday delivered a terrifying slap against his face.
"You've done nothing," said Asmoday at the stunned Astral. "I have been watching you, Astral Lance. You attack the Magical Council, and you free dangerous mages."
Astral could barely form the words. "The Asmoday I know would take something like that in stride."
"Fool." Asmoday's voice was more pity than anger. "What has happened to you in these past hundred years? Look how you treat those of the Oracion Seis." She lifted a hand, moving it from Noil, to Apollo, to Azealya and even Spider Thighs. "Do you not remember the Oracion Seis I once created? We formed a pact, a group of individuals working for one cause, one desire, and we never abandoned one of our own. Yet here, I've seen you put them down as if they were lower than dirt."
She smiled sinisterly to the other mages. "They are not dirt. They are wonderful."
"What are you talking about?" muttered Astral. "I'm the one who revived you! I heard your voice that day, long ago, telling me I had to bring you back, to make you whole again. I did it all! These pathetic people have no right to be called Oracion Seis!"
In the blink of an eye, Asmoday reached down, wrapped a hand around Astral's throat, and lifted him into the air. "It is you, Astral Lance, who has no right to be called one of the Oracion Seis."
Asmoday's raised her free hand and placed it against Astral's right eye. "What do you have to say for yourself?"
Astral was shaking. "I brought you back. You weren't supposed to... To be like.."
"Enough." A blinding light erupted from Asmoday's hand, searing through Astral's face. Astral screamed at the top of his lungs, struggling to try and pull away but to no avail. Finally, after a grueling half minute, Asmoday dropped him onto the ground. Astral reached and tried to care for his face, but even the slightest touch sent shivers of pain through his body. He looked up at Asmoday, but couldn't see her out of his right eye. Turning towards the other mages, he couldn't see them either.
"What have you done to me?" muttered Astral Lance. The entire right side of his face had been blackened by Asmoday, his skin seared off. Every slight touch caused a small flake of skin to fall to the ground. His right was gone altogether.
"You say you made me whole, Astral Lance," said Asmoday, "but that is a lie. If anything, you kept me separate. And thus, I have made you separate as well. You will never look upon the world whole again."
Astral looked up at Asmoday, trying to focus with his only good eye. "Why..."
"No longer are you an Oracion Seis. No longer are you one of us. Begone, Astral Lance, forever." She reached down and touched Astral on the forehead, and in the instant, he vanished from the Crystal Cave.
Asmoday stood up straight once more and sweetly smiled at the mages before her. "He has treated you wrong," she said. "All of you. There is still much to do, and much to say, but if you wish to stand by my side, I will not deny you your much earned respect."
Her voice was so harmonious it almost sounded like the old Apollo's, almost a command, but not.
---
A few miles outside the cave, Asmoday had been transported by Azealya. But when they landed on the ground, Asmoday simply went limp. Examining her more closely, it was apparent she wasn't dead, for she was breathing and her eyes were open, but she neither moved nor reacted whatsoever.
She simply laid there.
Shortly after, a small crystal would pop out of the ground within Elly's sight. It would transform into a hazy image of a different woman, of the Asmoday now in the cave, but it looked more like looking through a mist than an actual figure there.
"Come back to me, my dear," she said softly. "No need to run. All is well in my cave. You did well. I will rid Astral Lance. No longer shall he speak to you again."
The figure would shortly disparate within giving Elly any time for a question. If she walked back to the cave with Asmoday's soulless body shortly after the message, she would make it back in time to hear a majority of Asmoday's speech, and even see Astral Lance be sent away.
---
Even further away, miles and miles, upon the fringes of Fiore, Astral fell from the sky and collided into a giant mound of snow. Astral yelled, breathless, trying to stand up, trying to regain control, but it felt like his entire life had been sucked away, and the entire right side of his face stung like hell.
He tried to make sense of things, tried to figure out what had just happened, why Asmoday had sent him away, why she had done such a thing to his face, but he couldn't reason any of it.
Asmoday had truly changed. She was no longer the woman she respected.
"Pollux was right," muttered Astral, pulling his knees to his chest to try to stay warm amongst the snow.
His one good eye then opened wide.
"Pollux."
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Post by CJ on May 14, 2014 23:36:33 GMT -5
Apollo would have never guessed Astral could have ever been talking about someone like this.
The sight of Asmoday was enough to leave Apollo speechless. He felt a strong connection to her, unlike any he had ever known. She reminded him of a mother, though very unlike the human mother who raised him. He was like her, but not exactly what she was. Rather, by her inspiration, Apollo understood that she or someone much like her created him for the sole purpose of servitude. Normally, he would be ashamed to even be associated with a position so low, but if it was for her, he would sink as low as he could.
Apollo understood what Astral meant when he said the siren would be willing to risk his life for her. This was someone so precious, he would wish to kiss even the bottom of her feet.
He watched in gleeful wonder as she punished Astral. The wretched fool deserved it. His pompous attitude was insulting in the presence of Asmoday. He grinned his dazzling white teeth when he vanished completely.
He smiled still as Asmoday's voice danced on his ears. He could barely believe her was worthy of her praise.
"I will stand by your side," Apollo said, stepping forward. "I am Apollo, "The Siren." What would we have the honor of addressing you as, my lady?"
He held his head low, but did not kneel. He wanted to lay upon the ground before her as an ultimate sign of respect but chose instead to heed her suggestion to stand.
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Post by Mise™ on May 19, 2014 6:56:29 GMT -5
Stoic as usual Noil did not react much when Astral complained about the performances of his fellow Oracion Seis members, saying that none of them had done anything. All Noil did was stare angrily at Astral, and he was always angry and bitter, so not a lot had changed. As Noil had understood Asmoday was some sort of demi-god and it seemed to turn out to be truth when Asmoday returned to the crystal cave and she was like an entirely different person to what she had been just a few minutes ago. Then she fired Astral on the spot claiming that he had done nothing, but get in her way. ”Astral was at least right about one thing; I had not done anything at all.” He could not speak for anyone else, but Noil really had not done much ever since Astral dragged him in to this. The reason Noil was here in the first place was mostly because he felt like he should pay back Astral for freeing him from the prison he would have otherwise had to spend the rest of his life at. By this point Noil had began to think that Oracion Seis might not help him at all. He was not quite sure to think about all this or what he should do. On one thing Noil's mind still hadn't changed, however, not a single bit: ”I will not bow down to anyone.”
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Post by Shark a' Pult on May 20, 2014 0:53:30 GMT -5
The little shadowy figure appearing in the glad brought some level of relief. No more Astral meant no more worry. She felt bad to just betray his trust like she did, but it seemed from the start that he was the main reason keeping her involved with the group. She felt differently towards the various members, but she never really felt at risk of them coming after her unless Astral was involved. Now that he was gone, she could breathe a little easier.
Still though, no matter what the shadowy figure said, in her state she couldn't trust it. She had been injured quite badly, and Asmoday was out of it, so they were quite vulnerable in the current situation. There might have been reasons to return to the cave, but not now, not when it could very easily be a trap and then there was nothing she could do to stop it. Certainly the cave was worth checking out again to see what the deal was with this new person, but at least after she was in a better condition.
"Asmoday... are you hurt..."
She didn't expect an answer, she was more or less talking to herself at this point, as she attempted to remove some of the crystals that had stabbed her. Some shards remained, and wincing she made a bloody effort to pull them out. Once she had removed the last and tossed it away, she crawled over to Asmoday to see if the girl had suffered any similar injuries, and to do what she could. If she remained unresponsive, then Elly might be inclined to walk to a medical facility to seek help for the both of them.
Hopefully, even though the new shadowy person could find them, they wouldn't in turn be able to just appear with the others before Elly was in a decent condition but there was no way to be sure.
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