[center][img]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1170081630887612468/1170156549650534470/55db9d55763b87bfdfeb2a3ad496683c.png?ex=65580435&is=65458f35&hm=18273165adfdc1dddf6f8f1c88891b3ea57222883974fcfe4ac447f5df5ada1b&[/img][/center] [hider=DREAM SEQUENCE][hr][h1]The Sea of Unconsciousness[/h1][hr] Miyuki walked on water, her bare feet sending ripples through an endless black abyss. The white shift and black nightgown she'd worn to bed floated as if a soundless breeze surrounded her, and a dull, flickering light surrounded her body. [i]Is this...a dream?[/i] Her dreams were normally happy things. Lush, green, sweeping countrysides dotted with homey little cottages and overlooked by grand castles with tall towers. Towers that she waited in, dressed in royal finery with gem-encrusted jewelry, until some dashing figure in blazing white armor would ride his thundering steed over the drawbridge, enchanted sword in hand... But she stood now amidst choppy, churning waves. The dark water moved like an angry mass of worms, the waves splitting over themselves like mouths devouring each other time after time. An unnatural force held her as the whirlpool rose higher and higher...or maybe she was sinking? [i]Of course my dreams would be like this...[/i] She crossed her arms over her chest, hugging herself as she shivered, closing her eyes as her face twisted in sorrow and pain. [i]After all, I've given up on my happily ever after, haven't I?[/i] But the nightmare didn't end with her drowning, stranded and alone and blind beneath the water, abandoned in icy depths. Instead she was lowered, softly, gently, to land like a fluttering fairy with another quiet ripple of light. She was in some kind of...office? Or a sitting room? Velvet carpets and furniture clashed in garish colors. A fire, burning spectral blue, crackled merrily in a hearth. But its pale light was obscured by the shadows creeping around a great, plush chair. "It's a little too soon for that, isn't it?" The figure that spoke licked its white gloved finger, and turned a page in the enormous tome perched against their knee. [i]Wh-what?[/i] Miyuki held herself tighter, and took a trembling step backward. The figure, cloaked in shadows that hid its gender, its features, its face, and its intentions, looked towards her. Where eyes should have been in its face, two glowing lights peered out. Glasses, like her own, that reflected the firelight? Or two rays of power, revealing her thoughts and secrets? "Your happy ending. It's too soon to give up on it, don't you think? The story's only just begun." They looked back to their book. "You've been chosen, dear girl. Great changes are coming to this world, yes indeed, and [i]you[/i] shall be one destined to witness them!" Excitement creeped into the thing's voice, and Miyuki swallowed her fear as she wrung her hands in front of her. "But, it shall be no...blurgh...[i]knight[/i] that comes to your aid," they stuck out their tongue several times and smacked their lips as if trying to get a bad taste out of their mouth, "but a [i]demon[/i]! Oho!" Their lips twisted, and they cackled with a seemingly malicious laugh. "...What are you talking about? A...demon? You're saying a monster is coming after me?" Somehow she found her voice. Her fist clenched harder against her chest. "Yes! And no!" The figure laughed again, throwing their head back like a vulture ripping a strip of fetid meat from a carcass. "If you wish to bring forth your protector, then you have only to call them by name! As one [b]marked[/b], those who wish to form contracts shall hear your voice above all others! Of course, if you scream too loudly, they won't be the only ones..." "Marked? What does that mean? And you said I was...chosen?" [i]If this is a dream, it's...a very strange one. Why do I feel...almost hopeful? This sounds terrible, as if something horrible is going to happen...[/i] "It is! And you are!" The mystery speaker suddenly closed their book with a sound like clapping hands. "Here, let me show you!" They snapped their fingers, and a spark leaped from the blue flames. Like a snake it coiled through the air--and struck so fast, Miyuki could only throw her hand up as a shield! The back of her hand burned. Searing light at the edges of her vision started to erase the room, and she felt as if she were falling-- "Fare thee well, [i]princess[/i]! Oho, ohohoho!"[/hider] [hr][h1]Tokyo Streets[/h1][hr] "...multiple diagnoses of stress-induced hallucinations. But some experts don't believe this accounts for the shared details between many of the claims, such as those who have reported seeing fictitious creatures such as Youkai..." Miyuki watched the news on her phone as she sat at the tiny table in her diminutive apartment, and ate her small bowl of rice with a little cup of miso and a few cucumber slices. Her glasses magnified the bags under her eyes as she slowly chewed, and tried to force the fog clouding her brain to clear. She still hadn't been able to sleep well, presumably because of stress, even though she didn't have classes or work today. Maybe it was because she was dreading getting [i]that call[/i] soon. Her hand itched. It had been like that all morning, for some reason. But, as she rubbed it against the front of her jacket, she was grateful for a little distraction. Today was shopping day. Miyuki's boots clomped along the bustling streets as she walked, unconsciously favoring the side of her irritated hand. She only had to make one real stop, a department store with floors for groceries, electronics and gaming, and books, the only things Miyuki ever really cared about buying unless circumstances forced her hand. It was close enough that she didn't need to take a train, although it was a long walk. Especially if she ended up buying a lot. Obviously she would visit all of the latter before the former, but she needed to watch her budget otherwise her bag would be too full by the time she got her foodstuffs and cleaning supplies... Something tickled the back of her mind. A feeling like when she sparred in the dojo with other kendoka--like an opponent sizing her up, trying to read her techniques. Gulping, she turned, and for the first time noticed that she'd come to a part of the sidewalk that seemed eeriely empty, as if everyone else had instinctively avoided it. There was a small business of some kind here, but it wasn't open yet and no lights were on inside. Between this building and the next was a narrow alley, half-filled with vending machines for juice and snacks, and further back the aroma of garbage bins wafted up over the street. Miyuki breathed in through her nose, and tugged her scarf tighter as she stepped past the alleyway. Something knocked over the plastics bin, scattering bottles and packages down the walkway. Maybe it was...a stray animal? The sudden thought of a cute puppy or stray kitten rummaging through the recyclables caused the stray hair atop Miyuki's head to shoot straight up like an antennae, as her cheeks flushed and her eyes filled with stars. She stepped into the alley, past the vending machines-- And immediately felt as if she'd stepped into the training hall, and even heard in her mind the sound of the doors slamming shut. Before her, standing at only three, perhaps three and a half feet tall at the most, was a pudgy yet muscular creature with a disproportionately bulbous head. The beast had horns, fangs, and pointed ears, and carried a club that looked like it'd been carved from a tree. "Gyagyagya!" the creature howled, its eyes locking onto Miyuki with clear rapacious intent, and it charged! The girl screamed as she stepped back, putting out both hands defensively-- And the back of her palm suddenly blazed with blue fire. The goblin drew up short, cowering behind its club as if it feared the light. The haze in her mind cleared. Everything--the dark ocean, the strange room, a mysterious figure with an enormous book and an ominous message. Everything rushed back to her with crystal clear focus. But the flames seared into her palm and then died, leaving behind only a branded mark as if it had been tattooed there. "Wha--are you? Is this...What they meant?" Miyuki gasped, sweat beading on her brow. The goblin, seeing that the girl's magic had faded, snarled again and leaped with its club at the ready! "Ah!" Despite years of training, in this moment with no weapon, all Miyuki could think to do was scream for her life. "SOMEONE--!" [i]Papa![/i] "SAVE ME!" [i]Please![/i] [b]Amidst the dark, a maiden's voice rang out. A ripple of light passed through shadows. The mark was recognized. Many dark tongues began to utter. But, first of them all... A blood-red hand raised in recognition.[/b] [i]"Ah shall hulp thee, wee lassie. Ca' oot mah name."[/i] As an unheard voice whispered in her ear, Miyuki's eye's snapped wide open. She fell back, tripping over herself, but in the process dodged the goblin's swinging club. Her rear end hit the concrete, and so did the weapon, sending up a scattering of dust. Sitting up one one knee, the girl held up her hand, turning its symbol towards the beast. She took a deep breath. [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6dVOPoMmjg]"LHAM! DEARG!"[/url] "Gyagaaaaah!" The goblin brought its club down once more. It would break open this human's skull and drink her blood! Even as dark tendrils of writhing power opened up beneath her feet, its fanged smile leered-- Then steel rang against wood, knocking the malodious creature backwards. "Pugyiii!?" Miyuki's glasses threatened to droop down the bridge of her nose as she looked up. A tall, broad shouldered, muscular man stood before her draped in a kilt, leather armor, and cloaked by furs. Yet his arms dripped with thick streams of dark blood, and all manner of blades, daggers, and bent arrows had pierced his torso from every angle. His face was gaunt, cheeks pale and sunken, but his eyes glowed with a horrible wrath. His hair was dry and matted. But he held weapons of his own, a battered shield and a chipped, double edged sword. "Gyagar!" The goblin spat what might've been a curse, before it charged yet again to try and strike the much bigger opponent. Miyuki's protector took the blow against his shield without budging, then raised his own weapon high. The glow in his eyes suddenly intensified--and a crackling surge of crimson power was conducted into his sword. It was as if the blood coating his arm had become electrified! "Gram!" The undead warrior brought his weapon down as veins bulged in his arm. "Slice!" The very wind seemed to part under the stroke, whipping up a harsh draft in the alleyway. The goblin's body split in half, spewing black viscera. The glowing sword left a trail of light as it passed through the air, and once again the various bottles and other recyclables were scattered down the pathway as the force dissipated. Slowly, the being turned around. Miyuki gulped as she adjusted her glasses, but her shoulders heaved as she panted, panic and adrenaline rushing through her body. She could still see the blood dripping from the man's sword as he raised it up... [url=https://youtu.be/BJoJQnbcMXs?list=OLAK5uy_nbKCtWvT-PbRbS4bfzSaLLniKAuLQ7CQM&t=59]Then he stuck it into the ground[/url] at his side, as if the concrete offered no more resistance than sand. He held his bloodied hand out to her. "Ah ask o' ye..." he said, his voice carrying an unearthly echo, "Art thou mah master?" [hr][hr]