[center][h3][color=f7976a]『𝕊𝕙𝕒𝕟𝕖 𝔸𝕝𝕜𝕒𝕟𝕒』[/color][/h3][/center]
[center][img]http://i.imgur.com/VBEkrXj.png[/img][/center]
[hr][center][color=silver]𝕀𝕟𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕒𝕔𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕎𝕚𝕥𝕙   / /  [@Kyrisse][@Snagglepuss89][@Diggerton][@RedDusk][/color][/center][hr][hr][center][color=silver]𝕊𝕖𝕡𝕥. 𝟛, 𝟚𝟘𝟚𝟘   / /   ℂ𝕣𝕚𝕞𝕖𝕟 ℂ𝕦𝕝𝕡𝕒𝕖 𝟙   / /   ℕ𝕠𝕣𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕟 𝕆𝕦𝕥𝕤𝕜𝕚𝕣𝕥𝕤   / /  𝟚𝟙𝟜𝟘[/color][/center][hr]
As Lilianna complied quite readily for an Aberration, Shane nearly winced for her. Not a fun power. But she had chosen it all the same. The X on her throat was the damning evidence of that.

He scattered a corner of Sander's prison into dust, floating the shimmering cloud towards the wound Lily had left behind on Christmas's leg--a long, diagonal gash across the front of his thigh, right above the knee. It was more horizontal than vertical and, with the tourniquet loosened, blood was flowing freely from the severed blood vessels.

The crystal dust slipped into the wound, reforming into a crystal layer that sealed up much of it before forming small passageways directing the blood flow towards a small opening in the clear substance. An aqueduct to more precisely siphon the blood. Something he could only manage to that level of precision while using the armaments. The blood collected easily into the glass positioned below the aperture and Shane closed the opening as the glass filled up.

The shot glass pushed itself gently against Lilianna's arm, reminding her that she should be keeping herself topped off during the duration of the healing.

Lawrence had spoken up while he had been busy pretending to be a healer and Shane grimaced at the mention of his reputation.

For all that talk, his team had a body count of ten so far. For all that talk, they'd had to retreat with the rest of the support mages and leave Decker's body behind as the Precursors finally arrived to finish off the category four that had woken up near Jakarta.

[quote][i][color=f7976a]"Don't fuck up again. Not gonna be around to teach you how to git gud."[/color]

He hadn't been able to focus through the pain. Had barely heard Decker. Crystals had burst into life and shattered uselessly around him. Then the watery, prickling sensation of Decker's stitches had disappeared.[/i][/quote]

He didn't respond to Lawrence's offhand comment, watching instead the application of the mage's power. If Lawrence had been there to stop Ethan, would he still have had one more teammate?

[color=f7976a]"Thanks, Lawrence,"[/color] Shane released Sander from the prison, lowering the impromptu prisoner slowly to the ground and breaking apart the prison into several sheets of crystal. [color=f7976a]"I'll take you up on the offer then."[/color]

Despite that, he kept the crystal panes nearby, ready to intervene if Lawrence's power wasn't enough.

No sooner had he finished than one of the other students came up to him, resentment and accusations lacing the already sordid aftermath of drinking blood from an unconscious boy.

He held up a hand to stop Myla from responding. Ethan wouldn't have said anything. Ethan, particularly, had no right to say anything.

The marker on the phone displayed "Emma Halwell," with a voice as tattered as her clothing.

Looked like a sweet girl under most circumstances. Looked like she had no place on the battlefield. As did all the new students.

The amount of blood he had consumed from Christmas had healed his injury enough that he could finally breathe comfortably for the first time in weeks. So he stood up to face Emma's words, the expression on his face unreadable.

[color=8A3DFF]"Why... couldn't... you... have... been... here... sooner?"[/color]

Because he had been injured. Because he hadn't dared push himself before seeing the state of the battlefield. Because he had only woken up about forty minutes ago and had been just as angry and accusatory as she was now. Because he had to get the Director's permission before heading to the battlefield. Because he had needed time to prepare his crystals. Because. Because. Because. He could answer her for days.

But none of those were the answers she wanted to hear. They weren't the answers he wanted to give either.

His lips curled into a sneer, eyes half-lidded with condescension like her question had set new standards for stupidity.

[color=f7976a]"Because I fail where it matters most. It's what I do."[/color]

He tilted his head mockingly at her, spreading his arms out in a dare. A provocation. [i]Hit me.[/i]