[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/P2IyNrh.png[/img] [h3]Of Fervor[/h3][/center] [hr] Ayre’s breath became tight and sharp as she beat her legs ever forward. Her heartbeat pounded in her ears as the crowds around the tree began to dissipate. She ignored her body. A few short moments ago, many turned and gawked at her as she streamed by. A few shouted her name. A few more tried to stop her. But Ayre would not be stopped. Not for them. Not for anyone. She could feel it in her bones that something was wrong with her twin, her flesh and blood. She knew not where exactly but she knew where to start looking. So she ran. She ran so fast she felt like she was soaring. The Divinium Forge at last came into view but her heart sank as she took in the empty sight. No people had gathered there. No Syllianth remained to guard it. When she finally came to a stop, more out of an imminent collapse of her beating chest, she held her arms high above her head and just breathed. Her sides ached and each breath sent a sharp pain into her lungs but still she looked. For any sign of her sister’s whereabouts. When it became increasingly apparent that there were no signs of her sister, Ayre forgot about her labored breathing as she grabbed onto a small workbench and lifted. With a loud crack, the workbench hit the stone floor and every tool on it scattered. With the final blunt clang of iron over stone coming to silence, Ayre’s shoulders drooped and she rubbed her temple with her thumb and index finger. She sighed and heat escaped her mouth. Anger would get her nowhere, she knew that and yet- and yet she didn’t stop herself. What would Ida think? Ayre’s cheeks flushed a deep red as shame cooled her heat. It was the only answer she needed and she bent down, righting the table and retrieving the tools to place them back on it. Only when she allowed herself to back away from the table, her work being finished, did a cold breeze nip at her and she looked down at her bare skin. Her cheeks flushed with crimson as she looked around, finding an old and worn smithing apron. It covered the front of her but in the loosest terms, as she had to tie it tight around her back and neck. For her back, she managed to find another apron and tied it in reverse. She was almost happy that Ida wasn’t here to witness. She swore both she and her sister would have died from sheer embarrassment. She dipped her head and used the palm of her hands to rub either side of her head. “Think Ayre, think.” She muttered to herself. Where would Ida have gone? Well, she knew sister and was certain she would have tried to come back for her and their father. Seeing as she hadn’t, or she had and Ayre had missed her, but that seemed unlikely. Ayre still felt off, not the calm she normally had in Ida’s presence. No, she hadn’t come back or hadn’t been able to and if that was the case, where would the Syllianth have sent her? Would they have known the danger at the tree? Seeing as there wasn’t anyone at the Forge, that meant they had gone somewhere and they wouldn’t have sent people back to the tree if there was some sort of threat. No, they would have sent them… Underground! Ayre snapped her head back up and twirled. The entrance to the caverns beneath the tree, where the Little Folk and their kin delved and called home. Of course, of course! She began to jog in that direction. The entrance drew closer, and closer, and closer. It kept coming closer, she had already been jogging for a few minutes at least. Surely she would have been there by now? “Lost my dear?” A voice suddenly pierced the air. From seemingly nowhere, a figure appeared in her vision. It was an elf, dressed in the gaudiest fashion she had ever seen. Their long coat was a mishmash of colours and designs and laid upon their shoulders. Their shirt and pants were equally gaudy and mismatched, with their boots curling at the toe. Finally, a wide brimmed hat covered their head, only barely hiding their wide smiling face. “You seem like you’re running from a fire there.” They leaned against a cane in their hands. She came to a stop, holding her arm across her midsection as her eyes lit with confusion. “There was…” She began but her voice faded as she looked at the elf. Really looked and the confusion on her face deepened, growing with weariness. She cleared her throat and began to walk past him, towards the entrance. “No, not lost. Just looking for someone.” A soft chuckle came from the elf, picking up the cane and beginning to walk alongside her. “Looking for someone? In a good way or a bad way?” The smile upon his face had remained. “That fire within you says it could be either. Quite the conundrum I imagine?” She glanced at the elf but kept walking. The entrance to the cave was so close but with each step it felt like she wasn’t getting any closer. A strange sort of feeling crept into her chest as she glanced at the man again and picked up her pace. Maybe he’d take the hint? Maybe he’d go away? The elf did not in fact, take the hint. Instead he kept walking alongside her, the clack of the cane sounding alongside both of their steps. “Not the talkative type are you? So focused on your destination. Are you even sure they will be there?” Another chuckle came from the elf, this time it sounded far more discordant, like an off tune lyre being plucked. “That fire within is driving you somewhere, have you wondered where yet?” She made the mistake of listening to what he said and doubt crept in beside that feeling of growing unease. It was as if she needed to run from this elf but to do so would be certain death. She stared ahead, watching the cave entrance grow no closer. She knew not if it would be another mistake but she couldn’t contain herself any longer and blurted, “I know where I’m going, so back off.” This time, it was a full laugh from the elf, discordant and chaotic, with notes changing at every step. “Feisty! No wonder the dear flame has taken to you.” He picked up his cane again, gesturing towards the entrance that still sat so close, yet so far. “Yet there it sits, for one so confident, your destination is still so far off. Are you certain it's the correct choice? If it's wrong, that's just less time to find her.” He lowered the cane. “The fire may know, but do you?” She had been so close to breaking into another full sprint. To escape this crazed elf man who spouted nonsense. But what he said stopped Ayre in her tracks. She spun on him and grabbed his long coat at his chest with both hands. “What did you just say?” she demanded. The uncertainty in her voice from earlier had faded into indignation. She scowled at this gaudy looking elf with his stupid cane. “What have you done with my sister?” “I have done nothing my dear.” The elf only continued to smile even as she grabbed him. “Your sister is not in my hands. I would never dare to split such loving siblings apart.” Another chuckle, it was beginning to grate upon the air. “I suppose you could say I’m merely…curious, especially about you and your flame.” He made no move to actually leave her grip, instead he just stood there, smiling at her, his face seemingly contorting to contain it. Her grip tightened on the fabric and she pulled at it ever so slightly. “I don’t believe you.” she snapped. “You act like you know me but I’ve never met you. Then you show up out of the blue, while the Tree is in a panic? The Forge abandoned! My sister…” Ayre grit her teeth. Her face tightened as that feeling of dread tried to blossom, only to be smothered by something else entirely. Her eyes narrowed. “You keep mentioning my flame.” she hissed. “Should I show it to you, old man or are you going to tell me where my sister is?” “Like I said my dear. I do not know where your sister is.” The elf looked beyond her, towards the rest of the tree. “As for the tree? I suppose I just enjoy it when Chaos is unfurling.” He returned his gaze to her, a glint in his eyes. “I suppose my words will not stop you. Go on then, how about we see that flame of yours? I have been eager to see what my dear flame has been up to.” She felt the heat rising in her. At this infuriating elf and at this infuriating predicament she found herself in. Her grip on his cloak began to smolder and she wondered, truly wondered, what it would be like to touch flame with flesh. And then like a wave, guilt washed over her and she let go, stumbling backwards. She couldn’t harm a person like that. She couldn’t, not ever and the fact she even had such a thought was damning. But hadn’t she hit those elflings who made fun of Ida? Hadn’t she harmed others? She blinked and realized what she had been about to do, would have been so much worse. She sucked in a ragged breath. “I can’t.” A soft ‘tsk’ came from the elf, still completely unbothered by her attempt to light him aflame. They took a step closer, letting their cane clack against the ground. Their smile had faded, but only a little bit. “I suppose it's to be expected, you mortals and your moralities.” His gaze went elsewhere once more, up towards the tree that covered the world above them. “Never understood why the others would build a place like this, then just lock it all up. But a matter for another time!” He returned to focus on her, his smile growing once more. “Regardless, a test has been passed, I suppose. Was it a test though? I suppose regardless of what you would have done would’ve been passing. Maybe it was all just a fun little game, or a trick! Anyway, You have passed, and rewards are to be given!” The elf began to dig in their cloak and pockets, searching for something while muttering random words to himself. Ayre suddenly felt the anger drain from her, replaced by a wave of nausea at his words and she knew without a doubt what that feeling dread was trying to warn her. “You… You are a Divine?” she murmured, more to herself. “Perhaps I am! Perhaps I’m not! I am Chaos that is all.” The elf mused out loud, continuing to search their pockets, over and over again. “To be divine, such a silly thing, so focused on the god hoods and the ceremonies, though isn’t this a ceremony? I guess so.” Another laugh, if one could even call it that anymore. “But that is no matter to you, what worth would be anything but your dear sister? Ah ha!” Finally, the elf-god pulled out something from a pocket on their coat. In their hand was a necklace, built of a beautiful shimmering cord, strung together with a prismatic gem placed at the end. The gem glowed and shifted colours with every look, almost looking like it would change its shape if it wanted to. “There it is!” Her eyes snapped to the gem of the necklace. “I… I don’t understand.” She let out after a moment, unable to take her eyes off the thing. Had he said reward earlier? The elf-god stepped forward, showing off the necklace even more. “You see my dear, I happened to be in the area and noticed the touch of my Dearest Flame upon you. I felt the pain you were seeking to relieve, and I figured I’d help out!” Their head cocked in a strange direction, their wide smile returning. “But I had to test you first of course! Test that flame that has sparked within you. And you passed!” Their hand shot forward, necklace being offered. “But of course you were always going to pass. There was never any doubt in that!” She managed to look away from the gem and to the God, with a mix of suspicion and intrigue. She didn’t know what to do. Would not accepting the gift be seen as an insult? Did she want something from this strange deity of chaos? Unsure of herself, she tentatively reached out, “I… Thank you, Lord.” The god only smiled, letting the necklace drop into her hands. “Always A Pleasure.” They spoke, their voice now turning into a discordant tune. Their gaze shifted from the phoenix back towards the tree itself. “I suppose it's a turn of luck that I was here. But That Is No Matter! Your Necklace There Will Be Of Great Help! Your Powers Will Grow With Its Aid, Hopefully It Will Aid You Finding Your Sister.” The god took off their hat, taking a bow towards her. “Alas, This Is Where I Must Leave You.” Ayre blinked, closing her hand over the gem. “Wait!” She said, taking a step forward. The sudden urge to ask, that curiosity welled inside her. “Do you know exactly where she is? My sister?” “Alas, I Do Not.” The god shook their head, their gaze now shifting rapidly around in every direction. “She Is Alive, That I Know. But It Will Be Up To You To Find Her, My Sight Can Only Go So Far.” For a brief moment their gaze returned to her, their smile unwavering, before shifting away again. “That Fire Of Yours Will Take You Far. That Is Certain.” Their focus finally focused elsewhere, a spark caught in their eye. “That's My Cue Then. Off I Go!” Suddenly, in a flash of prismatic flame, the elf was gone. Ayre cursed under her breath and turned back to the cave entrance. She didn't know whether to be shocked or appalled that she had met a god in the flesh or that he knew about her gift from her mother. She was almost certain her attitude would have gotten her killed but it didn't. Instead she looked at the prismatic gem in her hand and then she slipped it over her head, pulling her hair back to tuck it around her neck. The metal was strangely warm upon her skin as she took the first step forward. Her sense of urgency doubled as she entered the dark of the cave. She had to find her sister. [hider=Summary] Ayre runs to the Forge, the last place she saw her sister. There she finds it deserted and loses her temper a bit. Afterwards, she gets a bit ashamed and fixes her mess, then thinks hard about what might have happened and comes to the conclusion Ida was probably sent under the tree. She then jogs towards the entrance but stops when a strange elf wearing gaudy clothing greets her. She tries to ignore him and run past but he keeps pace and the cave entrance never gets closer. He insinuates he knows about Ida and this makes Ayre jump to conclusions. She threatens him in a fit of anger but doesn’t go through with it, once more feeling ashamed at her lack of control. This elf reveals themselves to be none other than Chaos and rewards her for a test she maybe or didn’t pass. Then leaves, and Ayre puts on the necklace gifted to her as she goes off to find Ida once more. [/hider] [hider=MP] Yumash Start-20 2MP-Create the Artifact: The Fervor Necklace, a prismatic gem amongst a rope of rainbow colours. When worn, the Necklace enhances the emotions of the wearer to a far larger degree than normal. They will feel more intense highs and lows, and it will expand the power of any emotional based powers used. The necklace has consequences though, as the emotional strength will wear upon the wearer, and the more it is used, the more a sense of madness will begin to creep in, further driving their emotions to wild levels. 2/4-Towards the Madness Domain Yumash End-18 [/hider]