[h1][u]Ciara Ventura[/u][/h1]
[i][color=gray]Wingram, Leyline Attunement Zone[/color][/i]
[@Nanaya], [@Psyker Landshark]

[hr][hr][center][hider=Eugene - I Might][youtube]https://youtu.be/f6OyrF656QM?si=3f5-sVXV53F461hf[/youtube][/hider][/center]
[i][center]”I just might do it…”[/center][/i][hr][hr]

[quote=Iraleth]“You do realize that he would just as likely kill you as he would allow you to remain within his presence?”[/quote]

The Voices were warm, infatuated. [i]“The Light speaks so well.”[/i]

Another Voice, light and feminine. [i]“Yes, we could just gobble it up.”[/i]

A deeper, husky Voice. [i]“Palette the intelligence and the sweetness.”[/i]

Ciara’s brows flattened.[i] “Now is not the time-”[/i]

[quote=Ozhiah]“While you saw cruelty or murderous intent, we few who dared accept our fate would bear witness to true genius.”[/quote]

Ciara's glare latched onto one of Valen's lackeys, acting as if he was a priest of some new cult. [i]He might as well be.[/i]

She gave him a closer look, trying to gauge his aura. This was the aura of a man easily influenced, susceptible to darker influences given his grayness. No hidden gems of light like Hidegunde had, or soft, cotton-white silver to offset the dull and dark grayness.

It was no surprise this boy liked Valen, despite the absolute horrors the boy had apparently committed against the school in the first day.

[quote=Valen]“That is enough, Ozhiah. Not all can understand, nor should they be expected to.”[/quote]

That brought Ciara's eyes over to Valen, and what she saw-

She froze.

With her eyes focused, [i]actually[/i] seeing him- there were no words. It was as if the air itself was contaminated with the sick, palpable aura Valen exuded. Using Otis as a reference, Valen made Otis’ darkness look like saintly light. Valen was a black hole, eating up every hope and shred of goodness in his path. Blacker than pitch. Blacker than anything she had ever witnessed.

How was that even possible…?

[quote=Valen]"While unfortunate to admit, all exist under my thumb from birth.”[/quote]

While Valen's words sent a spike of ice through her heart, the Voices in Ciara's mind were choking on their own glee.

[i]“It's dark! Darker than the Dark One!”[/i]

Ciara was furious. [i]“It single-handedly wiped out the rest of the school!”[/i]

A light, feminine Voice with a girlish accent. [i]“Duh, that's logical of darkness such as this. It's soooo pretty. Can we get closer?”[/i]

[i]“We are not-!”[/i] Ciara pressed a hand over her face, a frustrated stream of air escaping her lungs.[i] “It's responsible for nearly incinerating the entire student body present at the Auditorium!”[/i]

[i]“Wow, it should have. Less competition. Don't imagine we could feast on burnt corpses though.”[/i]

Ciara’s jaw dropped a little. [i]“What-”[/i]

[i]“Why don't you ask it to bring the entire student body into one place, and you can do a mass feast?”[/i]

[i]“We are [b]not[/b] having this conversation.”[/i]

The Voices cackled with glee, dropping to a more menacing tone. [i]“You're right. Maybe we should just ask it directly.”[/i]

Ciara was taken aback, a tremble in her body as her mind’s voice was a hoarse whisper. [i]“You can't, you wouldn't…!”[/i]

Arrogant laughter. [i]“You still know so little of us, little Hunger.”[/i]

[i]“Just [b]shut up.[/b]”[/i]

[quote=Valen]"It would be best that you both take heed in such truths for the future, as there will be no hesitation should we find ourselves opposed. The humiliation will be far less, would you accept your place in the hierarchy.”[/quote]

The Voices at this point were screaming, shrieking in Ciara’s mind. 

[i]“Attack it! Show it you are the darkest of dark here, Hunger!”[/i]

[i]“Bow to it, Hunger! What glories await following a darkness so pure?!”[/i]

[i]“All of you are nuts! There’s no way I’m following what any of you-” [/i]Ciara shouted back desperately in her mind, before a strange sensation overtook her.

It was as if the Voices rose up, reaching down through her brainstem and into her muscles. Her body snapped and contorted, appearing as if being pulled in in a multitude of directions. She lurched forward, her back half-bent, gaze on Valen’s feet in a half-bow. Meanwhile, the sword held by shadows launched forward, coming to a stop just inches from Valen’s chest.

It was clear, Valen was a very, very bad influence on her.

Ciara panted, the influence of the Voices turning her eyes dark and red. She struggled against their sudden hostaging of her limbs, and couldn't move to save her skin. Her body quaked with the multitude of forces, attempting to straighten, attempting to bend, attempting to attack and kill. 

Just as she was about to give up, the hollowness of her own emotions gave her clarity. Gritting her teeth, Ciara began to exude a shadowy smoke that seeped up from her body. Her body shook and quivered as her hands slowly formed fists, and she stood up straight. The sword hovering dangerously close to Valen was pulled back as Ciara glared hot at the crimson-haired noble.

[b]“When the day comes where we do cross swords.”[/b] Her eyes narrowed. [b]“I’ll make you lick my boot.”[/b]