[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/jvSJcsv.png[/img][/center]
[hr]
[b]The meeting concludes.[/b]
[i]Hugo’s study pre-departure[/i]
Responding to [@YummyYummy]
[hr]
As the meeting proceeded, Yalen found himself abruptly engaged in a conversation with Zarina. Her offer of coffee was more welcome than she realized. He was the type to sleep early and get up at the crack of dawn. This unexpected summons was taxing Yalen’s dwindling vitality. The exhausted youth sipped the beverage carefully so as not to burn his tongue. [color=#FD5E53][i]Such a pleasant aroma. It’s quite smooth and tangy.[/i][/color]

Yalen responded to Zarina’s probing questions with patience. By openly flaunting her opposing faith, she’d made it clear that she was targeting him, and he wanted to avoid conflict if at all possible. He had met a few Hexaic worshippers while traveling to various villages with his Dordian brotherhood. They all presented themselves with varying degrees of politeness or hostility, but they all had a peculiar look in their eyes. He did not know how much persecution Zarina faced from his fellow Quentists, but Yalen hoped to get along with her. The young monk was a moderate among followers of the Pentad. Rather than try to convert Zarina, Yalen desired to learn more about the Hexaic faith, and understand why she chose to worship a false idol despite acknowledging the majesty of the five gods.

Everyone eventually spoke their piece and the meeting came to an end. Jocasta’s performance was especially moving, leading Yalen to wonder why such a fragile person was part of this sortie. Hugo widened the portal to the other side and beckoned for the party to enter. Jocasta followed Yalen as he approached the gateway. For some reason, he felt his neck stiffen in her presence, but the sensation passed as soon as he crossed the threshold to Torragon. 

[hr]
[b]Hostile forces approach.[/b]
[i]Torragon, battle in the desert[/i]
[hr]

Upon exiting the portal, Yalen stumbled and fell pathetically into the sand. He shakily recovered himself with the aid of his walking cane and scuffed the dust off his robe. The sudden change in temperature caused goosebumps to creep along his skin. The party appeared to have arrived shortly after nightfall. 

[color=#FD5E53][i]I’m certain the paradigm did his best to choose a safe entry, but I should check our surroundings just in case.[/i][/color] Yalen closed his eyes and stretched his awareness out into the vast desert. The amount of life he was able to detect was staggering. Thanks to his virus, he could feel the presence of even the smallest mouse. As Yalen focused on each distant creature, he realized that a handful of them were moving towards the group at an alarming speed. His fellow tethered Jocasta sensed them first however. [color=FFE4B5]“We have company.”[/color]

The students prepared for battle. Yalen wrapped the chain of his holy icon tightly around his fist. The peaceful cleric could feel the chaotic energy flowing through the Halassa. They were aberration mad, just as Jocasta said. Yalen knew that his duty was to preserve life, but these pitiful creatures were no longer what they once were. Their bodies were mere puppets, slaves to some heretical power. Only Eshiran’s peace could save them.

The Halassa were close enough to be seen now. It was do or die. Ayla was the first to act. Her performance seemed to slow and disorient the beasts, disturbing them in body and mind via unseen forces. Yalen did not know the purpose of painting the Halassa’s shells different colors, but guessed that it was to make them more visible and coordinate everyone’s assault. Ysilla and Kaspar were making their moves as well, summoning puppets and walls of stone to block the enemy’s advance.

One of the reptiles was getting uncomfortably close now. It appeared to be less disoriented than its brethren and was fully intent on making a meal out of someone. Yallen pivoted to face the foe and raised an open palm towards it. Yalen zeroed in on the Halassa and probed its body with his mind. With his tethered nerves, he could touch the animal’s essence as easily as one would grasp the hilt of their sword.

The monk drew the desert’s ambient energy into his Manas in preparation for a spell. Though the air was cold, there was still plenty of warmth to absorb deep under the sand. His control was perfect, allowing him to fill himself with power right up to the limit without exceeding his capacity. Yalen was hesitant to confront the Halassa, but he had to stop it from killing his fellow students. 

[color=#FD5E53]“And thus Shune said unto Rakda, I shall take thy sight from thee, so that thou may ponder thine own iniquity…!”[/color] Yalen was not one to write spellbooks, but reciting scripture helped him concentrate on what he was doing. The aqueous humours of the Halassa’s eyes were mostly water and collagen. His plan was to exploit that. The icon of sunset in his hand glowed intensely, acting as a focal point from which Yalen sent out a wave of magical energy. 

The liquid layers within the Halassa’s eyes began to boil as Yalen forced them to heat up. The creature’s gait became unsteady. It thrashed about in pain, forced to endure the agony of its eyes being turned into sludge. Yalen felt nausea ripple through his body as he reluctantly tortured the beast, and he had to swallow several times to keep himself from throwing up. [color=#FD5E53][i]Please forgive me. Your suffering will be over soon.[/i][/color] Yalen directed the wave of scorching heat to pierce deeper into the tortoise’s skull. The blood vessels progressively ignited while he continued to boil the creature from the inside out. When its brain was finally destroyed, anyone looking could see the crimson vapor escaping its ear holes. Yalen felt disgusted at his deed. He would sooner allow himself to be killed before he did something like this to a normal animal, let alone a human being.