[center][h3][color=skyblue]இ [/color][color=#7BCDC8][i]ℭ [/i][/color][color=#57A3C6]h a r l e s[/color] [color=#4E99C6][i]Λ [/i][/color][color=#3F88C6]e o n[/color][color=skyblue] இ[/color][/h3] [sub]~ Twilight Spirit ~[/sub][/center] [hr] Charles’ curled head snapped up from his phone when his ears caught Zeki’s approach. His eyes tightened in suspicion while the shopkeeper edged to his left side and lowered down beside him. Then the Licenti leaned into to whisper into his ear. The voice tickled at the professor’s skin causing his figure to tense in reaction to the closeness, his nerves strained taut from the unexpected action. His head jerked back in alert as most his encounters with the Licentia had often been hostile, stirring his natural defenses up. His hand had already shimmered with his vis but the action itself would be less than effective, he feared, for survival. [color=662d91]"I am the security. Any meeting requiring it, I am there. Otherwise, I do not prefer to handle things myself, that is to Roger. He is handling the rally organization right now because it does not need security. I do not know your age, [i]immortal[/i], but don't forget, you don't know mine, though on the latter we are on equal footing. As far as wolf in sheep's clothing, they are more than welcome. I will be [i]severely[/i] disappointed if none showed. Don't worry for your safety, it's taken care of."[/color] The words ring in Charles’ attention and for a moment, he felt young and inexperienced compared to this being beside him. There was only a few times in his vast life when he had such a sensation and few were anything he considered worth visiting or recalling. For several moments, he silently eyed the individual before him. The aura Zeki gave, intentional or not, seemed to remind Charles of his blood Aunt. Secretive and more than what she appeared, both these traits were dangerous in the right mind and required caution when dealing with them. A slight dread etched into his heart because he was ill prepared for the task. [color=#7BCDC8]“Careful what you wish for… everyone has their limits and you’re not the only one involved in this little rebellion. Every step we make from here on out will determine if we succeed or fail.”[/color] Charles quietly warned, his voice hard to read for a moment. The magic shimmering at his fingers ceased as he relaxed and slumped back, his vision still focused on the Licenti. When Zeki raised up, Charles noted the Licenti tapped his cane into the ground. The motion was hard to catch and if he hadn’t already been looking, he might’ve missed it. The air weighed down suddenly. Gradually, Charles turned his head toward Zeki, indicating he knew the source and said nothing. Pain and thought mingled in his mature eyes causing him to wisely absorb the experience like a student adjusting to newly learned fact before the others arrived. One, an Eximius Lord, came to stand in front of him causing the professor to glance upward. His eyes met a familiar sight that caused him to pause. "[color=#BE93D4]I[/color][color=#BC97CE]t[/color] [color=#BA9FC4]s[/color][color=#B9A3BE]e[/color][color=#B8A8B9]e[/color][color=#B7ACB4]m[/color][color=#B6B0AF]s[/color] [color=#B3B9A4]t[/color][color=#B2BD9F]h[/color][color=#B1C199]a[/color][color=#B0C594]t[/color] [color=#AECE8A]I[/color] [color=#ACD67F]w[/color][color=#ABDA7A]a[/color][color=#A9DF75]s[/color] [color=#ACD67F]a[/color][color=#ADD284]b[/color][color=#AECE8A]l[/color][color=#AFC98F]e[/color] [color=#B1C199]t[/color][color=#B2BD9F]o[/color] [color=#B5B4A9]f[/color][color=#B6B0AF]i[/color][color=#B7ACB4]n[/color][color=#B8A8B9]d[/color] [color=#BA9FC4]y[/color][color=#BB9BC9]o[/color][color=#BC97CE]u[/color][color=#BE93D4],[/color]" His lips curled into a smile and then seemed to ponder on something, then seemed to shift his topic. "[color=#BE93D4]A[/color][color=#BD96CF]l[/color][color=#BC99CB]r[/color][color=#BB9CC7]e[/color][color=#BAA0C3]a[/color][color=#B9A3BF]d[/color][color=#B8A6BB]y[/color] [color=#B7ADB2]g[/color][color=#B6B0AE]e[/color][color=#B5B4AA]t[/color][color=#B4B7A6]t[/color][color=#B3BAA2]i[/color][color=#B2BD9E]n[/color][color=#B1C19A]g[/color] [color=#B0C791]y[/color][color=#AFCB8D]o[/color][color=#AECE89]u[/color][color=#ADD185]r[/color][color=#ACD581]s[/color][color=#ABD87D]e[/color][color=#AADB79]l[/color][color=#A9DF75]f[/color] [color=#ABD87D]p[/color][color=#ACD581]r[/color][color=#ADD185]o[/color][color=#AECE89]p[/color][color=#AFCB8D]e[/color][color=#B0C791]r[/color][color=#B0C496]l[/color][color=#B1C19A]y[/color] [color=#B3BAA2]h[/color][color=#B4B7A6]e[/color][color=#B5B4AA]a[/color][color=#B6B0AE]l[/color][color=#B7ADB2]e[/color][color=#B7AAB7]d[/color][color=#B8A6BB],[/color] [color=#BAA0C3]o[/color][color=#BB9CC7]r[/color][color=#BC99CB].[/color][color=#BD96CF].[/color][color=#BE93D4].[/color]" He pauses briefly as he looks at the vials on his lap, "[color=#BE93D4]D[/color][color=#BC98CC]o[/color] [color=#B9A4BE]y[/color][color=#B7AAB6]o[/color][color=#B6B0AF]u[/color] [color=#B3BBA0]r[/color][color=#B1C199]e[/color][color=#B0C792]q[/color][color=#AECD8A]u[/color][color=#ADD383]i[/color][color=#ABD97C]r[/color][color=#A9DE74]e[/color] [color=#ADD383]a[/color][color=#AECD8A]s[/color][color=#B0C792]s[/color][color=#B1C199]i[/color][color=#B3BBA0]s[/color][color=#B4B6A8]t[/color][color=#B6B0AF]a[/color][color=#B7AAB6]n[/color][color=#B9A4BE]c[/color][color=#BA9EC5]e[/color][color=#BC98CC]?[/color]" Charles’ arm resumed to press in at his side and ceased the bleeding, slight red discoloration the bandage farther. The pain hadn’t ebbed in the least while it flared across his ribs and flesh, his arm able to feel the slightly swollen muscle underneath. He suspected it would be purplish by now. The color drained and pallor save where the healing was focused at. It was never pretty to watch him gradually heal, the ages failed to improve what was effective enough from the curse as he adjusted himself within his seat. He hissed in discomfort then took in Archene a bit more, his eyes noted the key details that set the Licenti apart from others of his kind and stirred another memory. Immediately, Charles started to scourge inside his vast mental library to locate the identity of the individual. Archene. The name came easily enough and a displeasure washed over shortly after, a general bitterness rotating around the last time they met. It wasn’t directed at the Licenti himself, but rather the scene before and the results that followed. Blood, violence, and worst were connected to that memory. Charles pushed it aside when he collected what he needed. He then addressed one of the only Eximius Lords he actually trusted and met in his past, his voice calm despite his condition. [color=#7bcdc8]“It nearly seems that at some adversity in my life, you seem to find the time to show up. Usually when I am heavily damaged. I’m almost wondering if you’re doing this on purpose,”[/color] Charles voice had little accusing tone toward the Licenti. His face turned back to the two discarded vials at his side then looked back to Archene and debated on his offer. Compared to Zeki’s questionable offer, Archene was the safer since the Licenti had saved him numerous times. [color=#7bcdc8]“As much as I dislike merely declining our host’s generous offer, I’m wary of it. Do you have any idea how to either tell those two vials apart or have a less painful offer?”[/color] His ears heard their host speak again, [color=a187be]"I believe we are all here. I will begin the-"[/color] Another squeak of the door opened and another human walked in, someone that Charles knew. Killian. The professor sighed then hoisted himself upright from his seat, his arm still pressed to his side while the trio entered. Already, Zeki was greeting them. [color=a187be]"Welcome to the Resistance?"[/color] Ignoring Zeki’s persistence to get the meeting started, Charles frowned deeply at the teenager who currently walked over him. Worry was easily to spot on Killian’s figure and seemed edgy about the door being left open. Something the professor knew well related to the boy’s past. [color=#7bcdc8] “I didn’t tell you where I was for you to find me.”[/color] Being upright, Charles briefly glimpsed to the others in the room to commit to memory for a moment. That’s when Zeki shook his head then picked up his pointer, beginning the meeting. Not wanting to interrupt, the immortal gestured to Killian, Oscar, and the young woman to take a seat near him before the shopkeeper’s voice rang out.