[center][img]https://txt-dynamic.static.1001fonts.net/txt/dHRmLjg4LmU4MGVmYi5TbWx5WVdOb2FTQlRiM05yWlEsLC4w/to-the-point.regular.png[/img][/center] [center][img]https://txt-dynamic.static.1001fonts.net/txt/b3RmLjY2LmI5MDQxMi5KZywsLjAA/midellion-demo.regular.png[/img][/center] [center][img]https://txt-dynamic.static.1001fonts.net/txt/dHRmLjg4LmZiZjgwZS5RWEpoYlNCVFpXTnlkV1UsLjAA/the-godfather.regular.png[/img][/center] [center][color=00a99d]"Those you cherish are your handholds to life, Though this hold may loosen, throughout all strife~ But without a doubt, and to your avail, They will be there, sure to not fail~ And if they pass, be sure to remain, reverent their memory; your belay~ Your goal is the anchor, this is so true, the goal is finding what's inside you~"[/color][/center] Aram wiped a fake tear from his eye as the poem came to an end. [color=fff200]"Truly alluring, really.."[/color] he said, feigning a look of thoughtfulness. --- They'd spent a good part of the morning doing their own separate things; Jirachi in bed, reading a book called "Understanding an Alchemist for Noobs", and Aram nearby on the couch, watching his aged Television shows. He'd occasionally catch her peeking over the book when a interesting part of his shows came on, and chuckle as she whipped back to reading her volume. --- Now though, he shoved a spoonful of ice-cream in his mouth. He was wearing a new set of clothes, of Tan khakis and a matching suit-vest, but with a napkin tucked over his shirt. Jirachi sat across from him, a real tear falling from her eye as she concluded her poem. [color=7bcdc8][i]He liked it? HE REALLY LIKED IT!?[/i][/color] she screamed internally. [color=7bcdc8][i]Nobody has ever liked my poems before...apparently they're "forced to rhyme" ...not exactly sure what that means, but maybe it's because that one time I-[/i][/color] She interrupted her own roaming train of thought when she laid her hands down excitedly on the table. [color=00a99d]"Alluring? Really? Nobody has called my poems that before...you really enjoyed it?[/color] she asked eagerly. [color=fff200]"Oh, yes. I really enjoy it.."[/color] Aram responded, seemingly memorized by the ice-cream. He wasn't listening. [color=00a99d]"Awesome!"[/color] she shouted. [color=00a99d]"What was your favorite part??"[/color] she was gripping the edges of the table now, leaning forward out of her chair while looking intensely at him. It looked like she was trying to stare into his soul. He looked up now. [color=fff200]"Oh, well...uh.."[/color] his eyes shifted back and forth nervously, then landed upon his bowl of ice-cream. [color=fff200]"Here, try this!"[/color] he said desperately, pushing the bowl towards her. [color=00a99d]"Ice-cream? How long has it been since I've had that..."[/color] she mumbled as she took the spoon offered by Aram. She gently scooped some of it up, so as not to spill it on the robe that she had adorned after her morning shower. She paused before eating it. [color=00a99d]"This isn't two-percent milk, is it? That makes me sick.."[/color] she said as she remembered the last time she'd drank two-percent. [color=7bcdc8][i]Milk...everywhere...[/i][/color] she shuddered. Aram had moved to the fridge to fetch more ice-cream for himself, and again wasn't paying much attention. [color=fff200]"Oh, yeah.. no two-percent in this house."[/color] he said, his head thoroughly engrossed in the fridge's contents. She ate the first scoop. [color=00a99d]"Ooohh, this is so gooood!"[/color] she exclaimed. [color=00a99d]"Where did you get this, Aram? I definitely haven't tasted ice-cream this good more than onc-"[/color] her face quickly shifted to a pale green. He removed his head from the freezer to look back at her, [color=fff200]"What were you saying? I couldn't hear- oh crap. Bathroom, [i]Bathroom, [b][i]Bathroom![/i][/b][/i][/color] he shouted. [color=7bcdc8][i]Not again..[/i][/color] she thought as she ran to his bathroom. Aram sighed, shaking his head. [color=ed1c24][i]Ring! ..Ring! ..Ring![/i][/color] He trudged over to the household, picking it up. [color=fff200]"Aram here."[/color] "[color=ed1c24]...[/color]" [color=fff200]"Missing? How?"[/color] he said, shocked. [color=fff79a][i]How did they lose it?! It's a damn Jar![/i][/color] he exasperated. He turned from the dialer to check on Jirachi. [color=fff79a][i]Doggone...feel kinda bad about that...[/i][/color] he thought while wincing at the sounds of barfing coming from the room. He turned back to the dialer. The jar was on the counter beside it. [color=fff200]"WHAT THE DEVIL!?!?"[/color] he screeched, dropping the phone. [color=00a99d]"Aram? Something wrong in ther-"[/color] Jirachi called, but was interrupted by another wave of...milk. Aram quickly recovered the device, also grabbing the jar and throwing it in a nearby cabinet, so as to hide it from the Satyr that would assumedly come out of the bathroom soon. "[color=ed1c24]Alchemist? Is there something wrong?[/color]" [color=fff200]"N-no! No, no...just...Jirachi drank some bad milk...she doesn't seem to pay attention very well. Sorry about that.."[/color] "[color=ed1c24]Right...anyways...If you come across the object in question, Alchemist...[/color][color=darkgray]keep it.[/color]" [color=fff200]"Come again? Did you say [i]keep it[/i]?"[/color] "[color=ed1c24]No. Do [i]NOT[/i] keep it. Bring it in.[/color]" "[color=yellow]"Okay, I'll bring it in. I actually have-"[/color] Aram's mouth stopped. --- His body was suddenly extremely...drained of all energy. All power. He tried to speak. He could not. The air was heavy around him...it was...oppressive. He felt sick. [color=fff79a][i]What the hell? I can't move my arms! Jirachi![/i][/color] He was frozen. The other side of the line paused for a moment. "[color=ed1c24]Great, Aram. No activity so far is a little disappointing, but keep looking out.[/color]" Another pause. Aram couldn't help but stare at the phone in front of him. It's all he could do. Shift his eyes. "[color=ed1c24]Yes, Aram. The ward is [i]completely[/i] necessary. We've already discussed this, she's not going anywhere.[/color]" Pause. [color=fff79a][i]Who the hell are they talking to? I haven't...said...a word![/i][/color] he tried to move as he spoke the words, but the effort was only met with a sharp pain. "[color=ed1c24]Good day, Aram.[/color]" They hung up. His arm began to move, albeit with much resistance. It was shaking heavily as it turned under-handed to place the phone back on the dialer. It didn't even feel like his arm. He could feel it. But it wasn't his. The phone clicked as it fell into place. [color=darkgray][i]Do you feel that, Alchemist?[/i][/color] [color=fff79a]Who is that?!?![/color] he tried turning around to see who it was, but to no avail. More pain struck his body. [color=darkgray][i]That feeling is power. Of which you have none. Look at yourself at this very moment. You're helpless. In fact, I could kill you. Right now. Easily.[/i][/color] [color=fff79a][i]No! Not today! I'm not ready to die! Who are you?! Why are you doing this?! Let me loose, damnit![/i][/color] [color=darkgray][i]Yes, yes! You [b]are[/b] ready to die. As long as you are [b]weak[/b], you will be ready to die.[/i][/color] [color=darkgray][i]I wanted to wait a little longer before we became acquainted, but you forced my hand just now. If they had retaken my little gift...they would have locked it up real tight. I can't have that.[/i][/color] [color=fff79a][i]Gift? GIFT?! Look at you, you chicken! You can't even fight me mano a mano![/i][/color] his remark was met with a lash of pain to the head. He couldn't even recoil, or wince. [color=darkgray][i][b]SILENCE, WELP![/b] I am trying...to help you. You want to become stronger, don't you?[/i][/color] the voice chuckled. It sent shivers down Aram's spine. The echoing, dread-inducing sound made his hair stand on-end. [color=fff79a][i]You...can make me stronger? Why? Why would you do that??[/i][/color] [color=darkgray][i]For my own entertainment, of course.[/i][/color] Another laugh. [color=darkgray][i]From now on...all you have to do...is follow your gut. Don't try to "rationalize" your problems. I'll make sure that you know what to do...one way or another. And if you don't comply. I'll kill you. And her.[/i][/color] Aram's eyes shifted to the left. He couldn't see far enough in his peripherals to tell where Jirachi was. [color=darkgray][i]I will kill...[b][i]EVERYONE[/i][/b].[/i][/color] A long, cold laughter even more chilling than before permeated his mind after that. [color=fff79a][i]You...really think you're something, don't you...I'm the weakest of anyone I know. And you think you can kill [b]everyone[/b]? Ha! What a joke. Whatever kind of Demon you are, it doesn't matter. My death will mean nothing. You'll be exposed. And killed.[/i][/color] he tried to move again. He put all his strength...all his will..into moving his right arm. It moved. Ever-so-slightly. [color=darkgray][i]Oh?[/i][/color] He felt something cold touch his chest. [color=darkgray][i]You moved. How...impressive. You definitely have potential. But...how many times will you resist before [b]you're done[/b]?![/i][/color] The cold feeling against his chest grew sharp. It slowly...slowly began scraping down his chest. He could not make a sound. A single tear rolled down his cheek as the scraping tore through him. [color=fff79a][i]H-how...what are you!? What is this power...[/i][/color] the pain extended to his mind. He could hear it in his own thoughts. [color=darkgray][i]How rude of me...I've yet to introduce myself.[/i][/color] Aram could hear the blatant pride in the voice. The horrid voice. It sounded like the whole chalkboard jig. But in a cave. An echo-y cave. [color=darkgray][i]I am the god who gave you your powers, Aram... I am...[b]THE GODDESS OF SPITE![/b][/i][/color] The following assault on his ears that could only be described as a cackle was cut short. [color=darkgray][i]Play nice now, Alchemist. I will be checking in on you occasionally, so don't try any tricks. Bye...for now.[/i][/color] He could move again. He collapsed. [color=00a99d]"Aram did you smell that? Smelt like-"[/color] she entered the room looking pale, after what felt like she was hacking up her breakfast, lunch, and dinner from the past week. When she saw Aram collapsed on the floor. [color=00a99d]"Aram! Oh my god, are you alright?!"[/color] she screamed as she ran to him. She fell on the ground beside him, kneeling awkwardly due to her legs. [color=00a99d]"What happened? Are you okay? You smell like that damn pot! Is there something here that did this to you?"[/color] she bombarded him with questions. [color=7bcdc8]He looks like he saw a ghost...and he's shaking...what the heck happened to him..[/color] The Alchemist reached for her hand. [color=fff200]"I-I'm alright...I just...got light-headed."[/color] he said in heavy breaths. [color=fff200]"That smell...just my cologne, don't...worry..."[/color] he looked around the room, as if he didn't know where he was. His vision grew dark for a moment. He looked into her eyes, pleading without words. Even though he knew she couldn't help him. Not against a god. Who could? [color=fff79a][i]Why...why me...[/i][/color] [color=fff200]"Bed..."[/color] he managed to let out. The girl tried her hardest to pull Aram into the living room, with much difficulty due to the low amount of traction she got on hardwood floors. But she managed. He was unconscious before he had a pillow.