AThousandCurses

Iris Ascendis

Blood splattered and it wasn't the mage's. Chunji could almost feel a curse leave his lips as Alto started to slump before the mage with the remains of his longsword held in his hand. Whatever happened, it was clear that Alto was at an advantage. Without essence, an unbroken blade, and now bleeding, the chances of victory seemed minuscule for the Professor.

Chunji's eyes flitted over towards the horned man as he began charging towards the frontline. If he joined the fight, Iraleth and Rio would be crushed under his strength. They were already struggling with the discount foreteller; if the brute were to join, then their defenses would crumble. It left Chunji with little more than desperation.

Help Iraleth and Rio? There was little that could be done. He'd had an idea on how to deal with the flesh pile, but it was a massive gamble that Chunji wasn't sure he could commit to. Additionally, the brute could easily crush him. A rough cough reminded Chunji on what was currently happening inside his body.

Help Alto? Chunji couldn't expend any essence due to the ring, and his sword would fall the same fate as Alto's longsword. If anything, he might get in the way of Alto finding a way to defeat the mage.

Yet, both options ended with the same solution that Chunji had come up with. Gulping, Chunji drew his sword and slit the palm of his hand against it. If he had access to his essence, he'd like to spend it to bond his blood to his blade, but that wasn't possible. His cursed blood stained his family's ceremonial sword. The patterns become embellished under the blood of its wielder. His blood, almost alive, slowly encroached up the hilt to touch his hand. A faint hiss could be heard in the dark recesses of Chunji's mind as he took a deep breath. He had to help the Professor.

He needed to have faith in his classmates. Although there was no camaraderie, they proved to be capable time and time again. He needed to trust them in order to play his part. Chunji's eyes narrowed at the mage's direction.

There was a chance he could pierce the mage's personal barrier with his bloodied sword, but what would happen if the result happened again? He'd just be stuck like Alto. That meant he had to target somewhere different. He'd take a page out of Otis and Iraleth's book.

Doing his best, he ran up and intercepted an attack from the mage. His sword clashed against the man's sword-staff. "I'm afraid that the Professor's is off limits," Chunji chided as he pushed back against the man's staff. The plan was clear: he was going to curse the man's staff with his blood. For every contact made with his sword, bits of his fresh blood would begin to taint the mage's weapon. Vine-like plants would entangle and sap the essence of the weapon and the wielder if they continued to hold it.

Though it was clear that Chunji wasn't in top condition. The withdrawal of essence was soon kicking in, and it was suffocating to fight under. A grievous hit would be inevitable, but if that were the case, it would be another opportunity. Chunji turned his body to protect his vitals as his foe landed a hit on him. There wasn't even a wince, but a cold acceptance of what was to come next. "Get a load of this," Chunji stumbled and whipped his body around. Blood was splattered all over the man as the separated, animated blood was surging toward the mage.

Iris Ascendis

Bro is about to be put on the 007.

Iris Ascendis

A mass of bones and flesh. If he had access to his essence right now, this gory arts and crafts project would've been reduced to fertilizer in the blink of an eye. With Rio bouncing away like a ball and Otis shooting at budget Foreteller, it was left for Iraleth and himself to deal with the menacies.

Well maybe only Iraleth. She had the necessary bulk to deal with the onslaught of limbs, but it was obvious that they couldn't defeat it outright. Alto took the brunt of the attack and he was more capable combatant than Iraleth. Following that logic, Chunji couldn't do anything against budget Foreteller either. He could help Alto and Iraleth stall it, but that would only delay the inevitable.

Instead, he might as well take his shots, literally. Pulling out a face mask from his bag, Chunji's eyes narrowed at the perpetrators. He had only one real shot at this. Retrieving the deadly vial from his bag, he eyed the concoction before simulating his plan in his head. The first step was simple.

First get into position. Backing away from the fight and get in range for the plan. Chunji took cautious measures to avoid budget Foreteller to ensure he wasn't in the way. Then came step two.

His left hand was filled with scalpels. No doubt the duo saw him move away from position and saw what he did with the soldiers. "Heads up!" Chuji threw an assortment of scalpels directly at the duo. They would be inclined to parry the projectiles with their blades, but none of them were poison. The real attack was the vial he threw directly afterwards.

Bodies, blood, and bones were the most nutrious for the land. They revitalized the earth as they were broken down into components for life to thrive on. It was no different with the Great Lotus Serpent, whose power allowed the process to happen instanteously. Though what would it mean for the cultivator that had its nature inverted by the very humans it sought to nuture?

As soon as the vial broke, a noxious fume blew up in front of the duo. The scent of death preserved yet rotting for over years wafted around the area. The variety of plants, animal parts that Chunji had added in were no doubt a component that was mixed in his blood. Whether it was still perpetuated remained to be seen.

Iris Ascendis

Is that what they were doing? Chunji didn't precisely like the prospect of the request, but it would seem that there was little choice in the matter. It would've been easier if they had access to Essence, but it was a problem they would have to deal with. With a sigh, Chunji quickly approached Davil and adjusted his wheelchair before leaving the cart. "Well, we'll try our best," With a shrug, Chunji immediately hid in the chaos of the battlefield.

However, it was more challenging than expected. He wasn't a master of stealth, so naturally, some of the bandits head straight at him. Chunji wielded his poisoned scalpel in one hand and consecutively performed incisions on the bandits. The type of poison he applied was one he concocted himself during his training before his invitation to the academy. It was an amateurish cure that was based on eliminating the pathogens and all cells that were inflicted with the pathogens. Chunji had mixed some of his blood along with other remedial ingredients such as a lizard tail, rabbit fur, and some herbs that his mother grew.

It was amateurish and quickly discarded before Chunji decided to test it. The moment the scalpel melted through the bandit's Personal Barrier, it was clear that Chunji had made the right decision in not testing the poison on an innocent living being. The small incisions soon began to redden and blacken as they circulated through the bandit's body. It would seem that the Grand Lotus Serpent was entirely happy with the arrangement that one of its kin was no longer connected to it.

As his poisoned 'cure' and curse were completely independent of his body, Chunji would at least suspect that the ring wouldn't activate under these circumstances. He had no real control over what the Great Lotus Serpent's Curse did outside of his body.

Iris Ascendis

Chunji would have raised himself from his seat if he didn't have another coughing fit. Sitting back down, it left Chunji enough time to let the glimpse he had caught to simmer. An Easterner, just like himself. If he had felt any better maybe he'd try to greet the man warmly and offer him a cup of warm water.

It'd be nice to watch the man writhe in pain while choking the water down his throat.

Though as things stand he and Davil were most likely liabilities. While his swordsmanship would suffice in a basic self defense scenario, this cursed cough would leave him vulnerable in an opportune time. Seeing as neither his superiors nor peers were doing anything, Chunji was about to relax as he looked over to his peer. "Otis-"

Four bangs.

He was about to say 'stop' but too late for that. Whatever the peaceful plan was crumbled without a slightest hint of communication. Though Chunji wasn't naive to think there was a peaceful solution for this at all. At the moment of escalation, Chunji drew out a scalpel. Apply a healthy amount of deadly poison belonging from his parent's garden, Chunji was prepared to retaliate with a sneak attack.

Hopefully these carriages were reinforced enough that a massive explosion wouldn't absolutely obliterate them all.

Iris Ascendis

Chunji turned and smiled at Davil. "I'm fine, thank-" Before he erupted into another coughing fit. It was nice Davil was being considerate, unlike his grouchy roommate. There was multiple of variables that soured their relationship, but it was most likely personal incompatiability from the start. Still, it did mean in social situations he could make fun of Rio. "Yeah? You don't seem too good for yourself, Rio. Weren't you slouching more than a monosloth?" Now how would he be able to piss off Rio.

"Though as Davil said, I have been through a lot yesterday. From fighting, to running around the academy, and the stresses of it all. I have reason to be tired. You on the otherhand? All you did was bluster and have a fight with Professor Alto. You make it sound like you took a three week long jog. Or was it the fuzzy pop." A grin that Rio would find most annoying would appear on Chunji's face. He needed to sound this more dramatically than possible. What would Emelie would say in this situation?

"Wingram Student taken down by a late night fizzy pop. Said student found himself to be grouchy and irritable in the midst of day having lost his battle against carbonation. That sounds like a dramatic headline, won't you think?" Suddenly, Chunji's eyes brightened as he thought of an idea most ingenious. "I should write up a paper about the detrimental effects of pop on the human body. You'll be the prime example of it Rio, but being generous I am, I'll give you an option to omit your name from the paper." He nodded to Davil's speech about rest but his eyes laser focused on Rio. "Please drink slowly, Rio. I must make an observation for the paper."

Though the carriage rolled to a stop. They weren't far in the ride, so a break shouldn't be been settled yet. Any evidence of a joking demeanor disappeared from Chunji's face. Even when he was talking, Chunji would have heard something occur outside the carriage if it was chaotic.

"If I may inquire. What is the schedule of our travel?" The question wasn't direct at anyone. He'd just follow the someone's example to react accordingly.

Iris Ascendis

Rio's bold assertion wouldn't yield a response from Chunji. While it was true Ciara deserved some sort of punishment in reparation for those she hurt, Chunji couldn't see anything good out of this. Even if she did come out of this alive, her victim complex would no doubt worsen from the entire ordeal. By the time Otis chimed into the conversation, Chunji stopped paying to the attention in the entirety. The end result of Ciara's trial mattered little to Chunji anyway. If she was let free, then so be it. If she incarcerated, then so be it. There little at personal stake for Chunji. He wasn't close with Ciara and he was only grateful for helping him rescue Davil. Though that was also a can of worms.

What Chunji was more concerned about was something else entirely. His personal health. There was a faint irritation in his eyes along with the burning sensation that permeated his skin throughout the night. His body felt as if it was on fire, but he had already performed a basic examination on himself. Everything was fine, his body didn't have any symptoms to conclude that he obtained an illness. That only led him to only rational conclusion.

A burning house. A forgotten duty. A sin bared in blood.

"Urk..." Violent coughs erupted from Chunji as he covered his mouth. Each incrementally more hurtful than the last. After the coughing fit had passed, Chunji was granted some reprieve. "My apologizes, it seems that I have caught something." A quick excuse and a swift retrieval of a mask. All he needed to do was pass through the week and it'll all be over. He could do this, he's been through worse.

Iris Ascendis

Expect a late response from me. I have two exams this week.

Iris Ascendis

"You said you were a part of nobility, correct? Buying seven carriages, one for each day of the week, that are customized by master artisans, along with hiring the chauffeur, gathering the finest horses, and more, should equate to less than 1% of your total wealth. Do not worry; you may think that it is too little. I've considered it, and the total cost will be what I said earlier but multiplied by six." A faint smug look appeared on Chunji's face as he presented the information to Steeler. He had heard brief tales about the wealth of the nobility from his peers when he passed by. Some say that they can buy houses that are as big as mountains, some say they ride a different carriage depending on their mood, and they eat the finest foods. By his estimates, Steeler should be foot whatever he had put on his list.

Wiping the sweat off his neck, that smug look disappeared as he looked at Davil. "You shouldn't thank me. Ventaura and Kyrios did most of the work. I'm sure Arillo had a hand in it as well." There was little to take pride in his part. Ciara and Iraleth fought off the Umbralist while Otis used his usual backstage tactics. That was all the credit that Chunji could give to them. Though speaking of Ciara, the topic of her soured the mood of the group.

Hildegrunde was comatose. Dayin had informed him when his peer had arrived in the makeshift treatment room. Chunji could only infer that she was incapacitated but comatose. "I'll have to pay a visit to Ms. Nachtnebel when the trial is over." It was regretful that Hildegrunde had been put into her current condition by their own classmate. He knew Ciara was aggressive when provoked, but he thought she would go this far.

"Understood." With that, Chunji would go up the carriage with Davil and their respective mannequins. Davil was still an injured person, after all, and it'd probably be comforting to be in the company of someone that wasn't an autonomous object of wood. He took his seat and waited for the travel to start. It would be an agonizing wait until they arrived.

Iris Ascendis

Ngl, I think Ciara needs a mega lawyer.