[IC] [Wonder]Full Hearts

[Ikthaias]

@Letter Bee

The darkness of the compound was cold and unforgiving. It matched the faces of the guards and cultists who moved the children about and set them to tasks. Mikhail wouldn't know if they were underground, though it would lik ely be his first guess, or if the windowless, gray block they had lived within for the last few months, was in the middle of no where. Regardless, they could not scream, they could not run, they could not fight. The guards carried cattle prods they loved using, and Mikhail could almost be certain they had guns. Perhaps if they could manage to grab a weapon- but it was almost too late.

Tonight something was happening. The guards shifts had changed, closing off any planned escape attempts, and new cultists with black robes instead of the usual blue were walking around, inspecting the other children.

The last few months have been hell. Locked in cages, taken out to be strapped down to tables and inspected, tortured, teeth pulled out and fingers broken, some had received implants, some had been given archaic scars, others were beaten, broken, or outright killed if they didn't pass some kind of test. Directed in chained teams to build machines, taught to wield weapons or use tools, or dig out more of the complex, everyone seemed to be kidnapped orphans, party favors, a menagerie of children from different kinds of families and cultures, but all from near the same area. As the black robed cultists grow nearer to Mikhails cage, one of the other children scramble over.

A scraggly red haired girl near his age named Sarah, kidnapped from a middle class home, Sarah has suffered less than some, but the scars across her arms and legs show she clearly hasn't had a pleasant tome in the complex.

"Mike- Mike!" She would whisper loudly towards you. "We need to get out of here- tonight has to be the night, they're about to do something! The other kids talk about how some of us have been having special assignments lately, digging something- building or fixing some machine- I don't know. But there's a plan. One of us found a way out- a back door the guards use to haul in supplies from a ramp. Look, we've got kids ready to move- steal the right keys, open the right ways. We just need one more thing- you. Those robed freaks will come and when they take some of us down we need you to be ready. You'll be in the middle. Trip your guard and follow whoever's in front of you. I'll be right behind you. If anything goes wrong- keep running. One of us has to make it out. Then we can go and get help."

She would be laying her side against the bars, whispering between passing guards, watching the black priests grow ever closer, inspecting child after child. Some would be marked down on a clipboard by a following doctor. Sarah and even a couple of the other children would be looking at you desperately and waiting for you to agree before the cultists grew too close.

[Letter Bee]

Mikhail would not disappoint the friends he made in this hellish place, even as his quick mind felt wary of such a risky escape plan. And so, he nodded, and whispered:

"Yes," before smiling faintly at Sarah. Even if this ended in his death, he would at least have done something for her and the other children. It was strange, they've become close during their ordeal, close to being family. And so, after voicing his agreement, he waited for the black-robed cultists to come and bring him out, looking every bit the broken, submissive prisoner.

"Come on out," one of the Cultists said, "it's time." And as they made to escort him and Sarah down, as they began to make their way to wherever the new tortures were going to be held, Mikhail extended his left leg in what must be the oldest tricks in the book, tripping one of his escorts and making a break for it!

@Ikthaias

[Ikthaias]

@Makarov

The school day had ended and the students were being let out onto the streets of the poorer side of town. As you would be going down the steps you would see your boyfriend, school quarterback and sarcastic goof Josh, who would be making his way toward you when the blondest, preppiest, nose-stuck-so-far-up-in-the-air-looking-like-a-pug girl, Brittany, would 'trip', 'spilling' her textbooks all over the pavement. In the most obvious show she could make she bent over, picking up things and almost rubbing in him as he handed them to her.

He looked awkward, like it was a situation he definitely didn't want to be in, and when it was over she headed to the car her parents were lending her, giving you an over the shoulder look like she knew exactly what she was really getting out of it, and he gives you an exasperated sigh and a kiss. Slowly he would start leading you to the school bus to head back to your seperate houses- but the fury starts rising in you.

This bitch, this stuck up- proud of herself, hair flipping bitch, was just obsessed with your man- and he was Handing her her books? What the he'll was this about exactly? And what the Fuck if you didn't want to go home, in fact, you'd almost rather meet up with him later- he owes you a date after pulling this crap. You might just need to do something about Brittany- she's had it coming for a looong time.

[Ikthaias]

@Letter Bee

The black robed cultists would make their way over to Mikhail, and the first one, a tall one, although you can't see their faces, would draw a strange crystal out of it's robed sleeve ans wave it about. Maybe it's some kind of mumbo-jumbo, or maybe it's real- the crystal seems to change colors as he waves it about and he watches it knowingly. Or at least this can be assumed from the way he moves. He would look at the scientist and the doctor would tell you to follow him.

They would grab Sarah, much faster than they would you, and neither of you would struggle as they lead a dark haired boy- maybe a little younger than you, and begin the procession past the cages, down a tunnel further into the dark of the compound.

Minutes would pass, other children- mines or tunnels you can't be sure. What you are sure of is a vibrating, a dull hum, not under your feet but in your head, and the farther down you go, the thicker it becomes. Somewhere on your right halfway down would be guards in a wide hall- the exit you'll have to take. Less than a minute more the kid in front of you would start coughing- and before the guard could prod him to move he would dip and trip him, sending him to the ground with a shove. Sarah would seize her guards stick and start beating him with it, quickly helping you after you'd trip him up. She would brandish it offensively against the cultists behind you, looking almost like a cornered animal, and the boy that had been ahead would start radoing to initiate the escape plan as he unlocked everyone's shackles. In the few moments this all took place the cultists would seem shocked but held at bay, and the boy would begin leading the escape.

[Letter Bee]

Mikhail began following the dark-haired boy as soon as he made his run, worrying about Sarah as he did so - he didn't know she would have the job of holding back the Cultists! He wanted to go back and help her somehow, but he was certain that she would not approve. And as he felt hope rise in his heart, Mikhail realized this, that he wanted to do more to help, that he wanted to do more than trip people. He wanted to help Sarah and the black-haired kid, because he admired their ability to have hope in the midst of despair.

He didn't know this, but he was giving off a faint, blue glow as he moved with the other kids, but no one noticed, for now.

Suddenly, he heard Sarah scream, and a cold chill went through him. Continue! his mind shouted at him, obey her wishes! But he found out that he couldn't.

"Go!" Mikhail said to the dark-haired boy, "Go on without me!" And he turned back to where Sarah was, along with the guards that may be grabbing her. Clenching his fists, he then made to rush towards them in desperate battle -

And everything turned blue.

@Ikthaias

[Ikthaias]

@Letter Bee

As Mikhail turns he would see a guard extend a hand and it would be as thunder drummed through the cavern, all hearing reduced to a sharp ring. The lead boys body would drop. Executed.

Upon turning he would see farther down the tunnel, as the edges Of his vision burned bright, almost electri blue, a cultist would extend a hand towards the desperate girl, a clawed, disguistingly twisted appendage, holding a red and purple crystal on a lengthy string, and she would collapse with an agonized scream.

Mikhails back would be assaulted by one, two, tiny bites- traders that began pumping into him. It was a hot liquid burn, and his feet would falter. On one knee, teeth gritted, and the burning spreading through you, the cultist would approach.

Throwing back his hood you would see no human, but rather a twisted demonic vision, a stretched, split smile, jutting, sharp teeth, and black eyes rimmed in dim red. His skin was mottled, thick as leather, angry and surprised, and he would speak.

"This one." He would say in a multitude of voices, voices from beyond this world, and his hand would lay upon your head. The blue would turn from your vision, a corrupted maroon, purple and swimming with black, brown, and red. You would feel Despair. Everyone might be dead. Everything was Over. You would never see the light of day again.

Minutes, perhaps, would pass, but in the darkness of your unconscious mind, you would know nothing. Swimming with the edge of nightmares, voices, gunshots, and all kind of bloody, carnal darkness, you would awaken with a start.

You are on your knees. A pit lies before you. Runes, images, glyphs, lines are carved into it's sides and they disappear into the darkness whole meters below you. Ahead and in front is some machine, some hulking thing of strange parts and design, bulky and almost moving. Behind you stands the cultist, one hand on your head and the other holding the dark crystal. All around the pit are gathered the other children, similarly put, and directly ahead of you sits Sarah, her eyes closed.

"Now we gather here," speaks the cultist in his multitude, "in this darkest hour, to see the rise of our masters," overhead some kind of skylight would open and a moon would become visible, a supremely sized, ethereal blue, moments from reaching it's apex, "in sacrifice we bind ourselves to our dark lords, that we may serve them in eternal undeath, with ultimate power over ours and every heart," he would speak with greed, with hatred, with fear. It is true then. This was going to happen. These freaks are going to sacrifice you to what- Satan? Cthulu? "These tortured, Miserable souls are gathered here today as witness, as tools in this, the most arcane of rituals!" He would scream up at the ghostly moon, seconds away from the middle of the night sky. "Look upon the darkness- and know your fate!" He would shove your head forward and you would see some movement- was it Sarah? Does she live? You would look toward the pit and feel something. Almost a draft. A pull. Maybe, just maybe, these nuts had accidentally built a way out. Did they have time to inspect it before the escape attempt? Maybe that's the real plan, the pit had been mined, but it was so dark down there, who would know if there had been built some sort of slide or escape hatch?

Looking up, Sarah's head moves, and she stutters awake with almost a scream, caught in her throat with fear. "In this final hour, as the world's become one, we offer you an opportunity that is greater than any of us could ever receive! Sacrifice yourself, give into the darkness, and save the others! Do it! Or watch as one by one their lifeless bodies are thrown into the bottomless pit," he would say it with maniacal glee, almost pushing you too far.

But was it bottomless? What is it that you felt before- the same feeling almost that exists within this strange portal? Was losing anyone worth it? Would some god really come and choose these people, these monsters?

Are you willing to let others die to find out?

[Letter Bee]

Nightmares and despair and death, those all held the boy's mind as he struggled unconciously against his inner demons. Finally, however, he would wake up to a scene from his nightmares; they had failed, they were going to be sacrificed, and, wait, was the Head Cultist offering to save the others if he allowed himself to be thrown into the pit? If so, he knew what to do; clearing his throat, the (Edit: 16)-year old kid spoke:

"I will not...let the others die." Mikhail stood up, a new strength filling him. "Throw me into the pit; I am not afraid." The cultists could see that his eyes were firmly set.

"'Good choice, boy," said the lead Cultist, before four other acolytes took Mikhail's thin frame and threw him into the gaping hole in the ground. The boy screamed as he fell, closing his eyes, awaiting the pain that would come when his head would hit the bottom with terminal force.

It didn't come.

A few moments later, Mikhail opened his eyes, finding himself still falling, the wind blowing at his hair. Some moments more, and Mikhail decided that he wasn't deluding himself; something was happening! Exuberantly, he tried to right his position, instinctively knowing, and hoping, that that was what he should do.

He was answered by a burst of brilliant blue light that emanated from him, surrounding his body in an aura that seemed like bright flames. He felt a voice call out to him, whispering directly into his thoughts:

Child, Mikhail Peacemaker, will you be my Champion, my Squire? Will you spread Hope throughout this city, then the world?

A nod. I will, the boy thought back.

Brave boy, said the voice, and a sword appeared in Mikhail's right hand. This is the Blade that Ends Misery. Use it as I would. Knowledge would then fill Mikhail's head, welcome information as to what the sword can and can't do. A few moments more, and Mikhail flew up, up above the pit, enveloped in a fiery blue blaze, confronting a slew of surprised cultists and children.

"All will feel awe," he spoke out loud, and the Cultists bowed down in fear; it was quite clear to them that something had gone wrong, that they had summoned the wrong entity. Mikhail, his face stony with rage, gazed upon the lead cultist, before saying:

"You wished to summon one of my patron's kin, and live beside them in undeath. You didn't know what you were asking, and you still don't know now." Another cultist drew his gun, while yet another took out one of the crystals used on Mikhail earlier. With a thought, Mikhail created a construct of a giant hand that would grab the gun and throw it into the pit, before doing the same with the crystal.

"That will be enough of that," the boy said before binding every cultist with constructs of chains, before creating constructs of swords to free the children from their bonds. As Sarah and the others found themselves able to hope again, Mikhail drew strength from them, strength to keep flying; he was now sensing the weakness of his newfound powers. He then turned towards the Lead Cultist and spoke:

"Why should I spare you, after what you did to them?"

Another gesture, and the other children began healing of their bruises and other injuries, with some even regenerating their teeth.

"Why should I not kill you and all of your people, right here and now?" another question aimed at the head of the Cult.

@Ikthaias

[Ikthaias]

Mikhail would feel the energy flowing through him, from the pit, from beyond, from even farther than the heart of the earth. It was sentient, it knew, it was a greater being than he had thought to exist, and it flew out to the children and filled them. It existed as the presence over him, that made his heart grow wings, that firmly sat as the blade in his hand. The High Priest sneered, his disturbing features twisted in a terrible grimace.

"Spare me? Boy, you do not know in what powers you meddle here- these others may kneel before you," and indeed they did, fallen to the greater power they had summoned, kneeling before the pit and the dirty that had risen, "but I am of a higher breed, and a whelp like you cannot slay me-" regardless what action Mikhail would attempt next, the Cultists crystal would rise and with a rush of whirling darkness he would be brought into the floor, disappearing from here.

Mikhail, the spirit would speak inside his head, saying his name not as his parents would of said it in the old Russian way, nor as the American 'micheal', but he would say it as the Latins would name the Angel, Mik-I-el, these others have been under the control of another. I can see inside them, these poor and wretched souls, whose minds are gone with nought but thought and use as for tools of some master- cloaked from me, I cannot see inside that darkness. Use the blade- End their Myseries, and bestow new hopes they have not felt upon them. For every piece of a child they have destroyed, each of them has received so much more devastation. Cut the misery from them and allow them new life.

[Letter Bee]

Mikhail closed his eyes in bliss as his Latin name, Mik-l-el was mentioned, before turning back to the matter at hand.

"Let it be done," he said before swooping down on the Cultists, his sword slashing, cutting, and thrusting, but despite this, drawing no blood; further observation revealed that the blade dealt no physical damage whatsoever (for now) but did cause pain, pain as the magical corruption that had drugged the Cultists was cut out, allowing them to be filled with the rejuvenating power of Hope that Mikhail emamanted. Once he was done, he flew to the centre of the chamber, saying:

"You, all of you Cultists, have been given a second chance. You will not die here today, but make up and atone for your crimes." As the robed men and women recovered from Mikhail's blows, slowly coming to grips with what had happened to them in their search for power, they nodded, and the chain-constructs that bound them were loosed.

"Now, sign over all of your wealth and holdings to my Catalyst; he will reveal his name to you shortly," Mikhail spoke out loud. "You will also return the children that still have families, and who want to see said families again, back to their homes. Then return to me; I will have use of you."

After recieving their assent, Mikhail then flew back to the ground, where the children were. He faced Sarah, before strapping his sword behind his back - he used a construct - and saying:

"Sarah, was what I did okay? And, sorry for allowing Rob -" Rob being the name of the dark-haired kid who was killed "- to die -"

But Sarah was alread rushing to hug Mikhail, crying. After some hesitation, Mikhail cried as well, his aura still blazing. All the pain, all the fear and sadness, he let it out in his friend's embrace.

Then he spoke to the Cultists once more:

"Show us the directions to your finest rooms; we - I, Sarah, and the other kids without families or with families they don't want to return to - are staying there from now on." He was finally going to sleep somewhere decent, that was a plus.

@Ikthaias

[Ikthaias]

@Letter Bee

The Cultists, a handful of about twenty members, we're purified- the hatred and terror stricken from them. Their memories were almost completely gone, splotches and spots, and while a few began to organize, as well with some of the guards, Hope itself speaking in their minds- others were left as little more than dolls.

Sarah, her heart nearly broken from what the priests crystal had shown her, said nothing as Mikhail would take her and begin following a cultist to a room. As they drew farther from the pit, the blue moon shining into it and the Machine sitting quietly, it's true purpose yet revealed, the strength that came to him would decrease with his distance, the glow stifled within him, and the power would rush out with a sigh.

[i]Mikhail, [i/] Hope would speak within him, quieter now, it's presence still felt but no where near as large a being as it was before, [i]You have done well here my child. Rest easy now young Peacemaker and tomorrow when you rise, I shall tell you that has happened here. You have much to learn if you are to be my Champion. Do not worry, here I can walk among you while the blue moon still sits Fits height and the way to the aether lies open. Much is about to change for you, young one. Rest. You will need it while you can.[i/]

With that his voice and presence would almost entirely be gone, only a faint sense of a bright light that was there before, but has gone around the corner. Fatigue would catch you, tired, sore, and painful, and you would know that perhaps a lot of things would be better in the morning but there were a lot of things to come.

The room you would be led to would be small, little more than a head barrack, a large cot of a bed, tech ready to communicate to some outside source, a chair, little couch, even a small kitchen and bathroom, all the necessities of a studio apartment, with little of the comfort that could be found even there.

Sarah would sit, taking a deep breath, and hold herself on the bed. For now it would indeed seem rest is best, and with a simple touch, the feelings of Hope would calm you both and promise dreams of a better morning.

[Letter Bee]

Mikhail would sleep on the couch, letting Sarah take the bed. Despite this, he would wake up refreshed, new strength filling him. And...the sword, the Blade That Ends Misery, it was gone. A brief moment of worry took over Mikhail, before the sword manifested in his right hand once more. Concentrating, the boy would open his mind to the spots of hope around him; both kids and former Cultists.

Their Hope is my hope now, their strength, my strength. He thought of going back to the skylight, but didn't want to worry Sarah. And so he just sat on the couch, waiting for new instructions from his new patron...

@Ikthaias

[Ikthaias]

@Letter Bee

The Blade that Ends Misery would appear in your hand with your mere will, hardly a thought or a movement required, but it would be different than before. It was an instinct, but one that required practice, and the sword did not appear the same. It was both more and less real than before, it's weight corporeal where there was none, it's shape smaller and more solid, with a less archaic design. Through it you would sense Hope like a diving rod, filling the minds of childre nearby who could greet a new day, and the freed cultists, who's Only purpose now was service to that which would give them new life, Hope.

Mik-I-el, the voice would sound in your head, not yet familiar, but still calm and warming, and a rapping would issue at the door, a clear of the throat, and you would here the same voice with a stranger, reaper depth, though still not quite one that belonged to a physical set of vocal cords, more like a clear speaker. "May I come in, Squire? There is much to speak of."

Once Mikhail had undoubtedly allowed him entry, Hope would stride in. He would look strange, as if he were a holograph of a man, not quite there, blue splotches of shadowy color sometimes moving over him. He would be a tall, broad, long-haired blonde man, in a very nice business suit.

Quietly he would shut the door behind him and stride to the couch, where he would sit quite soft and primly next to you. Being near hear fills you with the same energy as before, his presence calm and serene, and already he seems like a simple, but great man, who speaks and acts gently, but posses a force within him the world could not quiet when unleashed.

"Mikhail, Squire- the Peacemaker, we have much to discuss. I know that you have many questions, and you may ask them. I will answer to the best of my ability." He would say to you with a serene smile.

[Letter Bee]

Mikhail gladly let Hope, his liege, in, while Sarah would groggily wake up, her eyes opening a little wide with surprise at Hope's apperance, before the girl would look at how the strange man approached Mikhail, who greeted him as a friend. She would stay on the bed as Hope spoke to her friend, who was at ease. Then, the girl would hear Mikhail ask:

"Who are you? Or rather, what are you?" Mikhail said. "From my inference, you seem to be a being of great power, perhaps from the 'Aether' the Cultists," he shuddered, "spoke of? And, you seem to be tied with the power of Hope."

"Second question; what would you have me do? How can I champion your cause?"

"Third, just who was that Lead Cultist? Who are the enemy?"

@Ikthaias

[Ikthaias]

@Letter Bee

Hope would laugh, a hearty, full rumbling chuckle, and he would lay a hand on your shoulder, as warm and great as any other part of him.

"I am Hope Mikhail. I am Hope itself. You m ay call my Siegfried, or Sir Knight. Whatever you would wish. It is true, I come from the atheriel plane, a place of dreams and magic beyond this world. And you will be my Squire. You see, this cult you were given to, the people, they tried to use the rising of the Blue Moon, a rare magical event, to lift the veil between your world and the beyond, to awaken magic, and cause our worlds to meld. Among the ather there exists creatures, beings such as I, who exist as the very focus of human emotions. They were lead by one such force, that High Priest who served one of my siblings, and used their magic to bind these people to it's will. The pit, the machine, these trials- all part of their plan to raise their master, a being of Despair, Hate, Fear, perhaps even Misery, who are powerful in the way that I am powerful, some more or less so. I am the very embodiment of human Hope itself, and you can serve me by spreading my will, root out my brothers and sisters, these infernal machines, destroy them both and right your world. Or I feel only devastation can come," he would look grave, serious and hard set, and he would speak in a very low, meaningful tone.

"Mikhail, there is a great task before you. If those like me should succeed, disaster will spell for you, I, and the entire human race. As one who was so filled with Hope, I chose you, who at that very moment was in a destined place. Serve me here and now as my squire, with my sword at your side, and raise the banner across the lands- give your people a reason to look for the new dawn, and go forth to forge it. Do you believe you can do this?"

It is daunting. Many perils lie ahead. Some of these things, you may never understand, but still, it is your choice wether you will fight or fall, and if you believe that the world can be saved.

[Letter Bee]

Mikhail bowed, finding only truth in Hope's words, and spoke:

"As you were the one who saved me, or helped me save the children in this place, I will serve you, not just out of gratitude, but also because I believe that what you want me to do is right." He then dispelled his sword, and placed his right palm over his chest.

"I will do my best to serve you and your cause, to spread hope in a world that needs it." He then looked at Sarah, who was gazing at the scene.

"Thank you," he said to her, "I could not have done it without you."

"Will you be okay, Mike?" was Sarah's response. "You have powers now, but you're being asked to fight."

"This has to be done," Mikhail said. "I have these powers now, and I have the responsibility to use them." He then faced Hope again.

"All right then, what is the first order of business?"

@Ikthaias

[Ikthaias]

@Letter Bee

Hope- Siegfried, would try to put things in perspective, "while you've slept I've been hard at work. I've learned much I otherwise would not know in the other realm. Things not concerned with hope, not told in the world of dreams. I have collected penance, the remnants of a shadow company that allowed the cultists to move and work at all this, removing and reworking the last bits of carcass these people had among the digital world and the picked at funds of their once-full lives. There are still those who," he would look almost confused, "devote themselves clandestinely to my cause, to my being, who believe I am sort of Angel sent by their God,"

He would almost scoff and shake his head, as if the actions of the humans seemed silly or rediculous, "I have contacted them. Some of the money has gone to charities, poor houses, true causes of the good- but others have gone into preparation. For a war." He would look thoughtful, and give Mikhail the chance to speak for moment while he contemplated their next true course of action.

[Letter Bee]

Mikhail nodded attentively, before saying:

"Have you found out what targets are we going to war against?" Privately, the boy hoped that the Russian Mafiya would be among them; they were the ones who had killed the 16-year old's parents, after all. "Also, what provisions can be made for the safety of our homefront, while we or I go out to attack?"

"And, are there any other Catalysts or Champions of positive emotions?"

While waiting for an answer to his questions, Mikhail mused on Siegfried's words. While the boy still believed in a God, his beliefs were accomodating enough to allow for the existence of beings like Hope, just as they were accomodating of...other things. Besides, Siegfried/Hope's actions were all good, and people should be judged according to their actions, not their state of being.

@Ikthaias

[Ikthaias]

@Letter Bee

"Very good Mik-I-el!" Siegfried would say with apparent pride in his squire, "you are a quick one. Targets, I am not so certain of yet. There are gang leaders, corporate heads, and much more in this city of- Serendipity. We can take them out, one by one, undermine them or defeat them and have their stocks added to ours. For provisions- there are still things to accrue, deals to be made, people you should meet. Trust them or not is your choice." He would think for a moment, choosing his next words with tact.

"There are many of us, the Catalysts of the Heart. As many as there are human emotions. There are courage and bravery, my brothers, love, happiness, some are even ideals- guile, self-righteousness, justice. Some will help you. Some may not. It is dependant on your actions, and if you can form bonds of trust with their champions and themselves. Some will never turn to help you- hate, fear, sadness, some are greater than others- ideals such as Cataclysm or totalities like Despair. These you must beware. They could easily be your downfall."

"There is something we can do- and it almost assures facing some of these forces. At This moment we stand on a gathering point, a Marker, a place where ley lines meet. Think of them as the magical veins of the earth. There are many throughout the city, a network, tied to these machines, to people, objects- focuses of great emotional energy that summons up the wild atheriel magic. There are ways to detect them. Find them out. If we can destroy some, rework others, create a different focus for them, we can find a way to banish the ather and all of the catalysts. It will be difficult but we can accomplish this. For a few days if you wish you should likely go about the compound. There are people to meet here that you may wish to know before they charge at your side. I will come up with a plan and then we will move into the city. I will go about procuring another base. You can also train with me and others. Hone your skills. Battle comes soon." He would pat your shoulder and stand, moving out of the room and about his business.

Sarah would slowly get up and come over to the couch, coming around to sit as she spoke "I... I don't know what to think about here Mike. I just- what he said is a lot to take in. Ether beings and lay points. Fights. This is a lot of big stuff." She would take a big breath before looking at you, weighted with worry, "are you sure you can handle all this?"

[Letter Bee]

Mikhail would smile at Siegfried's pride in him, and take in the Catalyst's words, before turning back to Sarah.

"To be honest...I'm afraid. A little, but I'm also hopeful, hopeful that, as Hope said, I won't be doing this alone." He then smiled at her, a smile filled with happiness, perhaps even the faintest glimmerings of love. "For you, and for Rob," Mikhail felt...stirrings for both the now-gone dark-haired boy and her, "I will do anything."

Anything within reason and morality, which still meant a lot.

He then looked at Hope/Siegfried.

"I want to meet our allies, then train in the use of the sword and other weapons. Also, isn't there a machine here? Has it already been destroyed, or do we still have to wreck it? Also...by banishing all of the Catalysts, do you mean yourself as well?"

@Ikthaias

[Ikthaias]

Siegfried would stop at the door to look back at his protege, "It is not our choice when we meet them, or where. Nor does such a decision belong to them. Much could happen between here and then. They may not even be awakened yet, they may require some act- some mortal who's heart is filled with their meaning." He would contemplate again, a being or man who was very considerate of his words.

"The machine here had not yet been activated by the cultists. It is likely they sensed, upon your sacrifice, that something had gone wrong. Otherwise with the rise of their true master they would have resurrected it and instated the at her, making them that much more powerful for their realm being instated here. Much as an arm seized from the enemy, it is our last resort. If it is needed, we will activate it in my name, and it will aid us. Mikhail- there is something you need to understand. I am not of this world. Nothing that will come to be in these few nearly days will be meant to exist in your realm. It must be abolished. The worlds must remain separate. In the end, I will leave you. But do not worry here. What must come to pass, will. Prepare yourself." He would look like he was about to add something, but would give a reassuring smile and a nod, and pass into the compound. However, hope would always be a thought away.

Sarah would smile at you and hold your hand for moment before getting up, "I should get changed," she would say ruffling her hair, looking at the shower. "I'll use the washes down the hall. Whatryu going to do? I know a few of the other kids who helped in the escape, and I think someone even mentioned one of the guards or a cultist who's still really helping out. But I uh, I'll see you in a bit?" She would head out and down the hall after Mikhail spoke with her.