SolfĂšge of Scions, Verse I:
Provincia, the Enlightened Mother
In the Beginning, at the start of the First Day, there was naught for all the see and hear, naught to feel nor experience. Such emptiness sought to be filled, and so she was:
Provincia
From her, Daylight would emit, unfathomably far and unmeasurably vast, enveloping all things, for naught ought be sightless and soundless, nor unfelt or unexperienced. From her Light would come Thaumaturgy - Magic that fostered healing and hope in a world that knew nothing.
Yet, for all that her radiance touched and her kindness caressed, there was an emptiness and loneliness. And so, at the end of the First Day, Provincia would rest and dream of another to complete her.
SolfĂšge of Scions, Verse II
Regalius, the Enshrouded Father
In the Beginning, at the start of the Second Day, when there was naught but Daylight and blinding pleasantness, a shadow would fall over half without warning, and so he was:
Regalius
From him, Darkness would sear away the Light, and equalize the vastness with both in alternating halves of coverage, for some things were meant to go unseen and unnoticed. From his Darkness would come Void - Magic that coaxed harm and cruelty into a world that only knew niceness.
And yet, in equality they were unsatisfied, and sought more than simple balance. And so, at the end of the Second Day, they would lie together, and dream of more.
SolfĂšge of Scions, Verse III
Naturia, the Daughter of Creation
In the Beginning, at the start of the Third Day, when all was Light or Dark, as far as one could see and feel, an jubilant laugh would break the silence, and so she was:
Naturia
From her joyous giggle, Nature would spring from the Day and the Night, from sturdy Earth and whipping Wind to roaring Fire and calm Water; all matter of element would come to be, and so, too, would Elementalism - Magic that turns the wildness of the unchecked elements into ordered power.
However, a lone child would not be left to her own, and so, at the end of the Third Day, the Mother and Father would lie, once more, and dream.
SolfĂšge of Scions, Verse IV
Lemures, the Son of Graves
In the Beginning, at the start of the Fourth Day, when all was greens and blue, yet barren of all things still, a somber yawn would break the silence, and so he was:
Lemures
From the solemn exam game, the stillness of the Earth and the calmness of the Water would be jostled with the whispers of flora and the chatter of fauna, as Spirit was breathed into Nature, giving Life and Death to Light and Dark. Of this, Galdr would come to be - Magic that guides the Spirit from Beyond and back in a cycle.
Yet, in this world of plant and beast, of fish, bird, and creeping bug, there was want for more, so, at the end of the Fourth Day, so the siblings would lie, and dream.
SolfĂšge of Scions, Verse V
Mesmer, the Thinking Grandson
In the Beginning, at the state of Fifth Day, when all was dominated by the plant and animal, a new beast would be given true Divinity among them, and above them he would stand:
Mesmer
From his presence, the First to Stand would rise from the muck and mire, from the grass and sand, and learn to control the world from their ascended place of thought. From this, Espermancy would come to be - Magic that shaped and sharpens the brain into a tool of great power.
And yet, still, this world felt lacking, even with so many beasts of so many kinds, so, at the end of the Fifth Day, the siblings would lie together, once more, and dream.
SolfĂšge of Scions, Verse VI
Hexerei, the Tinkering Granddaughter
In the Beginning, at the start of the Sixth Day, when The First of Man and Belua hunted beasts, and the Ancient Faefolk claimed the treetops and mountain cores, among them she would lurk:
Hexerei
From her lurking, knowledge would be gained to push each of the First to Stand further than the simple beasts of her Father and better command the unchecked elements of her Mother's nature. From this, Alchemy would come - Magic that takes control of the Elements and strengthens the Body.
Yet, the grand-siblings were displeased by the limitations of the creations of their parents, and so, at the end of the Sixth Day, they would lie together, and dream..."
SolfĂšge of Scions, Verse VII... Vidi, the Quizzical Great-Granddaughter..."
"
In the Beginning, at the start of the Seventh Day, when the Material Realm was whole and hale, an innocent question would rupture all, and so she asked..."
"Vidi"
"
From her request, the First to Stand would, and they were horrified by what they saw, for they saw what they ignored, and that what they ignored is what they'd done to each other: war, violence, bloodshed, destruction of land and their fellows to excel and dominate..."
"
And from that horror, came my Magic..." concluded a Beluan-presenting woman, her design and fashion virginal-white, yet her presence was stained with sin. "
I tell you this, not for the history lesson alone, but to expose you to the Truth, oâ Sage of Eon," she says, rolling a bright, cherry-red apple in her right hand, while holding a pipe with her left. "
I am the snake in the Garden of Eden, I am she that tempted Eve, and burned Adam. I am the whisper on the wind. I am the crack in the forest at night. I am the creak in the dark of the old, cold house."
"
I am the Unknown, the Question," she says, "
But, you can call me Mae, short for Maedelyn Eribiss. I'm here to help you save the world from the mistakes of my family..."
Arteus looked at the serpentine woman sitting in front of him, with an expression that encompassed both intrigue and apprehension. One could perhaps say that what he just heard was
forbidden knowledge"You know, among all people, it is almost universally agreed upon that man cannot speak the names of the Scions. It is considered sacrilege, and some believe that even if one wanted to, they couldnât. Not that most people know their names regardlessâŠ" He said.
"Then again, you arenât really a mortal, are you? Indeed Iâm not sure what one would call you."Rubbing his chin, Arteus shifting in his seat a bit, with arms folding he made a small huff.
"I presume you describe the Six, and yet you claim to be a part of their brew, a Seventh, if you will. Based on what I knowâŠ" He looked at the ceiling for a moment, before turning back to the woman.
"Are you a wayward Precursor?" He asked. He was referring to the long vanished Ad-Yafloreon civilization. Apparently something about the woman triggered a piece of knowledge he learned from their ancient texts.
"
As I said, you can call me Mae. Also, brew? I'm a tall drink of water, true, but only figuratively, dear," Mae says. "
My true body is tucked away. Isolated. Imprisoned. Grounded, if you like," she says, "
I'm simply operating in a body that you'll find fetching. Men are more agreeable when aroused, and I'm pressed for time."
Arteus made a small scoff at the serpentâs jab.
"I suppose I am too, I have a group of magus coming to my Tower today, becoming new members of this circle. I donât suppose you wish to become a new member as well?" He asked jovially.
"This, I presume, forbidden knowledge. What is it that you need from me? Few things in this world are free.""
In a sense, I am joining your team. I have toys to offer you," Mae says.
"Toys?" Arteus responded.
"What do you mean by that?"Mae would tap her tail, and three circles would form - ritual circles that glowed and âbubbledâ with Miasma. However, it didnât leak into the world, but rose up into shapes, tightened into figures, and, after a moment, refined into four female forms.
"Miasma�" Arteus looked on with curiosity as though the rot did seep through the circles, it did not spill out and cause its usually destructive effects. His curiosity grew as the rot took humanoid shapes, they were female.
"Are theseâŠmonsters? Malfested dolls?" He inquired.
"
A little of yes, a little of no," Mae says, "
Iâm surprised you donât recognize them, considering..."
Arteus looked them over, a bit more thoroughly. His eyes widened a bit as it came to him.
"These women⊠She told me, Brun, that they had died, butâŠ" Arteus looked directly at Mae intently.
"Was it you who did this to them?""
Broken toys serve no purpose. Do you know how rare it is to find FIVE girls with heart conditions," Mae asks. "
Rare, like catching a sunbeam at midnight."
In a different part of the Tower, Brunhyldia, who was preparing to meet the new recruits coming this morning, suddenly felt a sharp pain in her head. At first it started as a small ache, but it quickly escalated to a splitting pain, as if someone were stabbing a needle into the side of her head. She began winching at her soreness, holding a hand to her head. She started to stumble a bit, grasping her other hand to the wall while walking through a corridor.
"Aah~ S-Scarlett, Lupina, KaâŠlos, and Ba..ast???" She uttered out in labored breath. A cold sweat began to drip down her forehead as she tried to fight back the pain.
"What areâŠthese namesâŠ?"Meanwhile, Arteus was still examining the miasma-cloaked women in front of him.
"YouâŠintend for me to take these gals under my wing, having them act as new members of Eon along with the others coming?""
My toys, your game, our shared goal."
"... Our shared goal, you say." Arteus responded flatly.
"I wonder about that."Before Arteus could continue, both he and Mae would hear a knock at the door.
"Arteus, whatâs going on in there? WhoâŠwho is that?!" They heard Brun's voice from outside. She began to open the door, head still in a pounding pain.
"
Ah, the other toy. Four of five, all gathered," Mae hissed, pleased as punch.
"Toy?" Arteus responded, turning his head quickly to Mae, his tone accusative. At that point Brun had entered the room, her eyes wide with shock at the sight of the serpent woman and the four dark figures that stood in front of her fellow sage.
"Y-You! AllâŠofâŠyou! YouâreâŠyouâre here butâŠhow? Argh!" She held her head again, the pain increasing. A strange static noise began to ring in her ears, causing her to grit her teeth and stumble in place.
"Brun, whatâs wrong?!" Arteus said, quickly pacing toward her, attempting to ease her pain with healing magic.
"Mae, is this your sorcery?!""
Was, once," Mae says. "
Give her a minute. Sheâll get over it."
Brun, with one eye open, began to look up at Mae, still holding the apple along with her pipe.
"YouâŠIâŠknow you⊠ButâŠthere was someone else, there was darkness and I couldnât see anythingâŠ" Brun said, attempting to stand back up.
"Who ARE you?" She said.
"
A benefactor of knowledge," Mae says, "
A patron, forgotten," she says, "
You could say, I made you. In a sense."
Arteus began glaring at Mae, as her presence and actions have obviously bewildered Brunhyldia in a way he wasnât expected.
"I somehow doubt thatâŠ" Brun said, standing back up, her pain seeming to subside.
"Have you made these four souls your puppets? Release them if so.""
My, what a mouthy toy youâve been built into," Mae says, "
I wonât be doing that on the behest of a broken doll with patchwork parts. Iâve spend quite a long time with my limited resources to cobble together artisanal work..." Mae put pressure on her apple, cracks appearing on the surface - in response, Brunâs chains would tighten against her, and start to put equal pressure on her body. "
Fall in line, little one. Rebel when Iâm not looking at you. Behind closed doors, in dark corners..." she warned, "
Youâre all my toys."
Sighing, after a moment, Mae would loosen her grip, and take a hit of her pipe. "
This temper of mine, unruly. Apologizes. Hard to focus when youâre between dimensions and life."
Brunâs eyes widened with anger as the golden chains that she can be seen using in various instances began coiling around her, betraying their mistress as they bound her. Arteus, deciding it was enough, was about to make a move before he saw Mae loosing the grip, but the chains did not disappear.
However, soon the chains would remove themselves from Brun, but not of her accord. Instead, they would wrap around Mae, the Belua-like snake woman would bind her arms being bound to her tightly by the golden shackles. Then, a voice would ring to her mind directly.
â
So called fallen god, I will only warn you once. I take a neutral stance toward you because we share a common hatred. But I will not allow harm to come to this girl from forces outside the mortal plane. Iâve already said you canât have her, and that will not change. Mae was the only one who could hear the voice, and the voice seemed to be the one controlling the chains.
Arteus looked at Brun for a moment to make sense of the scene, but he realized that she was just as confused as he was.
After the voice was done speaking, the chains unwrapped themselves from around the serpent and dissipated into thin air.
"Goodness, your presence here is causing more drama than I thought it would." He said to Mae.
"Are you alright, Brunhyldia?" He asked, turning to the Chaos Witch.
"Yes, IâmâŠfine." She said, hesitantly. She was still glaring daggers at Mae, but also didnât understand why she lost control of her chains.
A warm, yet cold touch of metal kiss the back of Brunâs head, "
Unless I ventilate your skull all across the ceiling for that little stunt."
A thin katana blade rested at Arteusâs neck, "
Drama, he says. Unable to control his own subordinate..."
A pair of scythes, one of ivory and one of onyx, crossed between Brun and Arteus, "
Talk. Talk. Yap. Yap. Kill âer! Thatâll solve the problem of little Miss Uppity Boobs!"
"
As much as I hate to agree, I do."
There was a subtle hit of Miasma, but the reason was clear, as the Living Dolls were active.
"
Quite the first impression," Mae says, "
Seems they donât quite remember you just yet..."
Arteus sighed at the murderous intent emanating from the three girls.
"My, my, youâre quite the lively bunch." He said. However, oddly, Brun could only laugh at the situation. Arteus looked at her as if she were a patient at a mental ward.
"Itâs funny. Itâs been roughly, ten years I believe? You all look a bit different, but you more or less act all the same. Itâs strangely refreshing in a way.""
Cracked. Euthanasia at this point I feel is best."
"Really now?" Brun said, still lightly giggling.
"You know, youâre supposed to allow the one who is to be executed a last meal of their choice, along with letting them friends and family.""I suppose your morbid sense of humor is a sign that youâre feeling better nowâŠ" Arteus said with a small huff, unable to hold back a smile himself.
"
This one is mental, too, it seems. This place doesnât smell like the Library..." Suddenly, Brun would feel the pressure on her head leave, as a woman walked back. "
Oi, old lady, where are we?"
"
Oi, yourself!" The woman would be batted upside her head, knocking her glasses off.
"
My glasses!"
"
Shambles, the both of you..." sighed the woman with the katana, as she shaped it into a sock, and slipped it back on. "
I need a smoke."
"
And, I need to kill, but seem neither of us are getting what we want, huh," ragged the woman with the scythe, as she shouldered them both, and looked at Brun, "
Another day, Miss Uppity Boobs. My Lord yearns, and I strive to provide. Praise be."
"
Perhaps, youâd like to introduce everyone," Mae asks, looking to Brun.
"HmmâŠ" Brun hymned for a moment, although she was still wary of the serpent woman in the room.
"Well I already know who you all are of course. Arteus barely knows you in passing, however, so this will be for his sake.""Scarlett Ishval." Brun said, motioning to the woman who had a dark air about her. She wore a white collar shirt under a suit jacket.
"Momozuchi Lupina" She said, then motioned toward the slender woman wearing militaristic garb. She appeared as if she could be formerly from an Altarian corps.
"Baast, Lupinaâs twin sister." Brun gestured to the woman wearing form-fitting pants and glasses.
"And, of course." She turned to the sinister looking girl with the twin-sided scythe.
"Phillipa Hemos. Although, she usually prefers to be called Kalos."Arteus looked them all over, their appearance now more visible.
"Nice to meet all of you, haha." He said in a friendly tone.
"My name is Arteus Narrave Irvin. I welcome you to Eon Tower, where I serve as the administrator here. You can also consider Brun to also be an executive officer of sorts. Mae bades that you all work as members of this sect, so my hope is that we all work well together.""
Now, with the pleasantries out of the way, Iâll run you the short list of what they can and cannot do," Mae says, "
My dear Scarlett has become proficient in Historiansâ Magic, combining the spirituality of Galdr and the mentality of Espermancy into a singular magic. Her talents are limited to her choice of attire, but each article of clothing is a different Spirit that she formed into a weapon. As you saw, one of her socks is a katana - I wonât guess what kind of Spirit likes being a sock..."
Mae would turn to Lupina and Baast, as Scarlett chewed on her cigarette, "
My darlings Lupina and Baast, twins, are proficient in Philosophersâ Magic, combined the raw power of Elementalism with the refined potential of Alchemy to create a singular magic. Handily, she can shape raw Elemental Mana into Alchemical Shells, and fire them in coordination with Baast, who serves as a her medium, and takes the form of a pump-action shotgun with a rifle barrel. She insist thatâs cool..."
Mae would ignored Lupinaâs pout, before looking to Kalos, "
And, lastly, my dearest Kalos uses Explorersâ Magic, which combined the unknown vastness of Void with the guiding light of Thaumaturgy into a single magic. It makes up the basis of her scythes, Dusk and Dawn, which are forged from a moonbeam and a sunbeam, respectively, by her own hands, and form the foundation of her combat style of freezing or burning whatever she can cut. Sheâs quite good at it, too..."
Kalos would puff out her chest, as she was complimented for the most basic of tasks.
âThaumaturgy and Void?" Brun said.
"My, how interestingâŠ" It would seem that she and Kalos, in addition to being reunited, also now share something else in common.
"Well, you ladies seem like youâre all quite capable. I suppose I should expect as much from friends of the Chaos Witch here. " Arteus added.
"More on to business: Today marks the formation of a new team here at my Tower. Several new recruits will be entering these halls soon. Some wish to flex their muscles, their creative minds, or just need an outlet in order to find themselves. As Maedelyn has already made clear to you, youâve been asked to become a part of said team."Arteus looked toward the direction of the exit.
"I believe some have already found the entrance." He said, turning back to the girls.
"So tell me: Are you in?""
I don't feel like we've been given much of a choice in the matter,â Scarlett says, "
I need a room that can accommodate my Spirits, however.â
"
I need access to a machining bench, so I can work on my ammo crafting,â Lupina says.
"
A comfortable bench, at that. A nice one, wood-made, from Yaoke-Hau,â Baast says.
"
I require a temple, and beasts to slaughter in reverence,â Kalos says, "
Squirrels. Rats. Rabbits. It matters not, so long as it bleeds pleasingly."
"Hah!" Arteus tried to hold back a laugh, but a little bit of it still came out.
"I donât believe that will be a problem." He said.
"Yes, boarding accommodations wonât be a problem. Also Lupina, we have a fairly decent arms factory that acts as someoneâs atelier. Heâs quite an accomplished magitech engineer. ""Quite so. Scarlett, we also have a spiritual researcher who specializes in dealing with spirits and should be of great help to you." Arteus added.
"Ah, as for you Kalos, weâŠactually have a member of the Tower who does a similar practice to what you describe. The chamber is barely a substitute for an actual temple, but hopefully it will do." Brun said.
"Well, we can work out the details later. Right now, are you girls ready to meet everyone at the Entrance Hall?" Arteus said.
"
If I must...â Scarlett yawned.
"
I don't see the point in wasting time, but whatever,â Lupina says.
"
Maybe they'll be fun, at least,â Baast offered.
"
If not, we can cut them so they dance!â Kalos supplied.
Mae chuckled, as the girls would gather and follow. Her puppet show was beginning, and so she would fade into the background, pulling the strings of fate...
