[color=gray] [center][b][color=limegreen][h1]Kazumin Nagasa[/h1][/color][/b] [img]https://i.ibb.co/YX1sZZL/download.png[/img] [/center] [color=limegreen]Time: [/color] Evening [color=limegreen]Location: [/color] Castle Dining Room [color=limegreen]Interactions:[/color] [@potter] Lady Olivia/Percy, [color=limegreen]Mentions:[/color] [@princess] Charlotte [hr] The half-hearted grin sat unnaturally forced upon Kazu’s face as he fought to maintain control of his nerves. Tense shoulders lightly trembled in anxiety that even his nonchalant joking struggled to feign courage after the near taste of magic’s potent, deadly side mere seconds ago. The witch hunter’s presence was already disturbing enough, but it was the bound woman who rattled him most, for he couldn’t avoid the harrowing image of Percy in her place. Had he not acted despite the danger and fear, she very well could have found her another of the hunter’s standing prey.. [color=lightpink]”I agree–let’s find the others and leave. This stays between Lottie, you and me.” [/color] Hearing Olivia answer in agreement pulled his attention from the unpleasant image plaguing his mind.” [color=limegreen]Aye, don’t fancy sticking around this dour feast much longer, heh… and ya know yer secret’s saf-[/color]” As he spoke, intending to say more when he saw Olivia shyly smiling back at him. The unexpected, cute sight left his cheeks burning with a reminder of their shared moment; awkward as it had been, the fluttering heat in his chest melted away the anxious tension pressing down on his stressed shoulders.”[color=limegreen] I- right…ah heh..secret safe and um..find Charlotte..that too.. yes! Haha![/color]” Kazu scrambled to get the words out in between fumbling chuckles, ending with a face palm to keep himself from rambling. [color=tan]”By the order of the Royal Family, nobody can leave the banquet.”[/color] The guard’s abruptness and warning announcement nearly caused the flustered Kazu to jump, with a heart attack shock that almost felt like his wildly pounding heart to explode. Had Olivia not still been holding onto his likely clammy hand, he might have punched the guard out of reflex. Instead, his free hand whooshed through empty air, though his knuckles scraped the man’s armor plate, causing some minor eye-watering scraping.” [color=limegreen]Gah! Da heck?! Don’t ya know it’s rude to sneak up on guests? And scaring them half to death at that? I have half a mind to voice a complaint for this, but, but thankfully for you, Lady Olivia and I were just planning to get to our seats, now if ya don’t mind..good sir.[/color]” A hat, tilting the tip of the hat, and a departing pat to the guard’s chest plate before feeling Olivia tug at his hand. Offering no resistance, Kazu allowed her to pull him back into the banquet hall before he could get into a tiff with the guard. Still partially annoyed at the unneeded fright, though the interruption proved a timely distraction enough to snap him out of the flustered state.* Ugh, damn it..losing yer cool like that. Unfair of Percy to go..go smiling like..all shy like that?!* Sensing the image creep back into his mind, prompting a hasty shake of the head, needing to keep his head straight. Grumbling to himself for allowing his head to get all twisted simply over a smile, a smile that made enduring this whole awkward and dangerous ordeal worth it, but now wasn’t the time.*[b] [color=limegreen] Urgh…great. Best try to avoid gazing at Olivia’s face too directly..least till I get my head on straight…properly at that.[/color][/b]* A thankful sigh of relief upon seeing the table still littered with that same wide assortment of delicious dishes of highly delectable food. Just the thing needed to help settle his fried mind; a deep rumbling in his gut told of a greater hunger than when they left. A hunger that had been shared by his friend it seemed, seeing Olivia waste no time in resuming her feast. She ate with more ravenous fervor at that. The magic usage possibly took up a lot of stamina, which, with what she said about having huge appetites, seemed evident enough and could explain how she never got full when they ate together. An appetite he couldn’t help but admire, for it wasn’t often one met a girl of all things capable of eating so much, though it was due to a side effect of having magic was worrisome. Before he sat down to join her, he had taken to scanning the room with furrowed brows twisted in concern, trying and failing to seek out Charlotte or Fritz. He had hoped they would be at the table eating and having a merry good time..or at least were until Killian's chilly entrance. But found no trace of them, Cassius was gone as well, with Char possibly as none of the three were visible in the hall. He thought to try and find them, but the guard’s words about not being allowed to leave and Killian’s presence made moving about too risky to move about, especially with Olivia still shaken up and in protective mode. Doubtful she would let him leave her side, nor did he plan to, as long as the witch hunter was around. Seeing as there were no signs of them so far, there was no helping it since moving around now would only increase missing them. And with their seats being at the same table made it only a matter of time, so best to sit and wait. And he had no intention of being the one to disrupt Olivia’s feasting, as he knew best that once she started, it was difficult to stop. He huffed out an amused chuckle, watching his friend devour dish after dish, which only fueled his own hunger. With a chuckling shake of the head, he moved to the food cart to find half of the dishes gone.” Aye, hope they enjoyed filling their bellies!” Kazu beamed at the thought of satisfied guests from the shared food and, much to his delighted surprise, found the bowl of pudding sitting untouched; his warning had the effect hoped for. Humming as he pushed the cart till it sat between the two of them, where he then started piling the remaining dishes onto the table.” That’s the way! There are plenty so have at it!” Humming the words as he replaced Olivia’s empty plates, wanting to make sure she got her fill first.” Do be sure to save some room for desserts, got some of that real fancy pudding to save for last.” Nodding his head with barely subdued excitement. With his friend topped back up, he then grabbed the last batch of dishes for himself and dropped into his seat to dig right in. Or at least that was the plan, but the murmurs coming from the royal table appeared to hold a growing tension that made even those sitting near the opposite end hard to miss. He couldn’t make out much of what was being said, though it seemed to be centered around the queen. Then he caught notice of Wulfric standing behind the queen, mouthing something,though the words long faded before reaching them; a cold silence, however, followed in its wake as once more the warmth of the hall was sapped away. Kazu began eating as he waited and watched quietly as the king stood up with angered abruptness that echoed through the hall with fist crashing rage against the table, impossible for any at the banquet to miss. Shocked confusion etched his face initially, unsure what to think seeing the king act so brashly before this court of nobles, though as his voice rose, soon revealing what had the man so enraged. [color=ddb775]"This betrayal will be met with swift justice. We cannot, and we will not, tolerate such corruption within the very heart of our kingdom."[/color] *[b][color=limegreen]Betrayal? Corruption…what?[/color][/b]* The questions barely popped into his head before getting his answer as the king carried on. [color=ddb775]"Arrest her. Escort Her Majesty into confinement. She shall await judgment by the tribunal of the Church. “[/color] This night’s feast appeared to have no end to the surprises, and hardly any of them were pleasant. The drama between Roman and Violet and the witch hunter’s unwanted arrival felt like paltry appetizers compared to witnessing the queen be publicly arrested by her partner, of all things. He could do little else but watch in pure stunned disbelief as he idly stuffed food in his mouth, unsure what to think or even believe this to be real, but the sight of the queen standing with armed guards guiding her from the hall showed this to be all too real. As King Edin spoke on about rooting out magic users like the woman accused of spiking drinks and talks of supporting the witch hunter in their endeavor, all while his wife was currently being taken to a cell. None of what had just transpired was bafflingly shocking and made little sense. The queen herself could do magic? And still she brazenly hired on a witch hunter, and from the looks of thing,s more of them would be showing with the king backing them. This put his opinion of the queen on hold, and while he wasn’t much a fan of the woman, her being arrested was anything but good. Now that she was removed left King Edin was all the more susceptible to Calbert’s machinations. [color=ddb775]"We must stand firm, united by our faith in the gracious Gods and our commitment to justice."[/color] Finally, Edin gestured decisively, signaling the end of the banquet.[color=ddb775] "Now, go in reflection. Caesonia shall endure and rise cleansed by faith, united in vigilance."[/color] With the shock of this arrest wearing off, the last of Edin’s speech ended with a dismal signaling the end of the feast, a taxing ordeal it had been. Before he could think on it more, however, when a distinguished, quiet kind of gentleman stepped forward, apparently having something to say about the kingdom shattering debacle. [color=#47d8ff]“I was not going to speak tonight. It is not my way to stir the waters the Gods have set still. I believe men meddle far too often, mistaking their own voices for divine will.” [/color]He then shook his head in repulsion.[color=#47d8ff] “But the stillness is broken now. The winds carry whispers… and they do not come from Primitus.”[/color] Kazu listened with a raised brow, eating without stopping all the while.* The hell? Is he one of them preacher loonies?* [color=#47d8ff]“We have wandered from the path, and we are now devoured by the weeds of comfort and sin. I have stayed my tongue for years. I have watched men barter virtue for gold, watched children grow blind to the light of Primitus. I told myself it was not my place.”[/color] [color=#47d8ff]“The Gods have clearly seen fit to remove the veil from our eyes. What was once hidden has been revealed. And for that—”[/color] he inclined his head ever so slightly toward King Edin, [color=#47d8ff]““—we must give thanks to our sovereign for acting swiftly and in accordance with divine law.”[/color] [color=#47d8ff]“We are all children of the divine, born beneath the eyes of gods who bled to bring order to the chaos. Zivitas shines upon us because we remember our place...Because we honor balance, law, harmony!” [/color] Munching away as the duke prattled and ranted on about gods and something about a shameful disgrace, this all was. The man spoke in a rather flowery and poetically dramatic fashion that was certainly amusing to behold.*[b] [color=limegreen] Not really sure what this guy’s prattling about, but he certainly got that amusing artsy flair…too over the top, though some advice and tips to reign it in. Hm…could be just the kind of dramatic showmanship my stories need.[/color][/b]* [color=#47d8ff]“We must cleanse ourselves. Not with fire. Not with steel. But with truth. Find the source. Purge it—not for punishment, but for salvation. Before Claedo laughs. Before Sapreon smiles. Before the gates of the underworld open again.”[/color] Kazu pondered on how he might need to meet this crazed nobleman who even went down onto one knee as if he wholeheartedly believed all the things said and not merely for show.* The dedication and determination this guy has..astounding! That settles it, got to get him in my future shows for sure!* [color=#47d8ff]“This… is a test. A divine trial set before us by the Gods themselves! And we—we who were born in the light! We have cowered in comfort while darkness whispers in our halls.”[/color] [color=#47d8ff]“We must not falter now. We must not reason with corruption. We must repent. Fall to our knees in prayer, cleanse our spirits in truth, and beg Primitus to turn His gaze back upon us before the heavens turn away forever!”[/color] He kept eating away while watching the strange spectacle come to a close, with those around mostly confused or put off by the show. He, however, had been quite amused and impressed by the message, even if he couldn’t grasp all of what he was trying to say with the preachy and religious language, but the part about dealing with corruption and opening their eyes to the truth, he could get behind. It did wonders to ease the unpleasantness of the queen’s arrest, and who was he to deny such entertainment, though it wasn’t intended to be. Still, as the duke walked off proudly with his head held high with his family in tow, the candy-suited man couldn’t help but stand up and give him his owed applause. He clapped for the duke even if no one else would; the man deserved it for speaking boldly in front of the king’s court. “[color=limegreen] That man has got quite the way with words, wouldn’t ya say?[/color]” Said in between claps, chuckling when he felt Olivia’s hand grip his wrist and a warning look as if chiding him to stop drawing attention, and allowed himself to drop back into his seat.” [color=limegreen]Aw, come now, the man went through so much effort, couldn’t very well let him walk out with nothing and after that whole…arrest thing, think the hall needed a good ice breaker…odd as it was, sure.[/color]” Chuckling sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck as he did so. Shaking his head with a shrug as he glanced around, seeing people beginning to move around to depart. Still not catching sight of Charlotte or Fritz, frustratingly so, though they were no longer stuck sitting either, and turning his gaze to the mostly empty cart now, an idea came to mind. Turning and leaning towards Olivia, and whispered.” [color=limegreen] Psst, much as I enjoy the decor, think we should go try finding Char in one of the halls, seeing as she ain’t in the hall. Didn’t she have much of a chance to either…so how about we get the cart restocked real quick and bring a mini feast with us for her.[/color]” He gave a small grin, hopeful that Charlotte would enjoy being surprised by the two rolling up with a full food cart.” [color=limegreen]Plus, she probably doesn’t know about the rest…we should get her clued in quick…[/color]” That is, if she was well enough A plan that Olivia seemed privy to, mostly for the chance of more food, he guessed, as he was still quite hungry, which he could imagine to be more so for her. With a shared thumbs up, the duo snuck their way over the carts, using the crowd as cover, where they made their way around the table till the angled view made snatching up dishes a sneaky breeze. Once it had been topped off, the pair wheeled off towards the hallways, opposite the rest as they refused to leave without making sure Charlotte and whoever she was with were fine and clued in on what this grim feast had resulted in. [/color]