11:00 am
Izayoi Village
Drake's Quarters, aka the Serpent's Den
Drake roused slowly as he shifted in his bed. Images flashed in his mind, pain arced up his back. Death, burning flesh filled his nostrils. Mud, made from blood, filled his nails. Digging, clawing he dragged himself up out of the pit. Fire burned and razed the ground in front of his terrified eyes.
Gasping, Drake sat up in his bed. Sweat dripped down his his brow, chest, and back. Swinging his legs over the edge of the bed, Drake let his face rest in his cupped palms. Only a pair of grey boxers adorned the man's muscled and scared body. Gasping for breath, Drake's grey eyes stared out into the misty room around him. Dim morning light entered the room from the gaps and holes in the blinds. Grey blankets were draped, haphazardly, across the bed. Several chess sets were laid out on top of dresser in the room. On the side next to the door stood a bookcase that reached from the floor to the ceiling. Next to the bookcase stood a desk, a chair pulled halfway out from it.
Standing up, Drake felt the all too familiar weight of that which made him different. A tail, long and black, covered in scales, fell across the bed. At its base rose a section of scales that rode across Drake's spine. Thin tendrils of scales stretched across his back as well. Stretching his back, Drake's eyes easily adjusted to the dim lighting. He could probably read easily in this light. Running his hand along his tail, memories of the death came rolling back into his mind. Shaking the thoughts away, an image of Foresight entered his thoughts.
Foresight, she was a character. They had been chess partners ever since Drake first joined the now destroyed Cartwright Academy. Though, while they had been friends for a while, Drake had, for some time now, wanted to be a bit more. However, glancing back at his tail, he knew that it would never be. Not with his condition at any rate.
Walking over to the dresser, Drake pulled out a large white shirt, a pair of jeans, and a belt. Adorning the pants and belt, Drake wrapped his tail around his stomach. Thankfully it was thin enough that this was still an option. Then he pulled the white shirt on, its size effectively hiding the existence of his condition. Walking over to his closet, Drake pulled on a pair of socks. Grabbing a red flannel shirt, Drake donned the long-sleeved button-up. Then, turning away from his closet, Drake pulled on his black, cloth trenchcoat.
Running his hands through his hair, in a halfhearted attempt to make it look relatively nice, Drake pulled on his black boots. He let the legs of his pants fall over the top of the boots as he did so. Then, he checked the papers on his desk. If he remembered correctly, the Bastion was supposed to be finished today. He also had to visit that one family today. If he didn't, then that girl would show up again and bother him. A small smile appeared on Drake's face as he thought about her.
Ready to start his day, Drake opened the door. Standing there, in the brightly lit hallway, stood a boy, maybe 16 years old. "Calaumn-sama, Kiwami-sama wishes to meet with you." The boy's young voice berated Drake's ears as he woke up. Pushing past the boy, a small frown began to appear.
"That's nice," replied Drake as he patted the boy's shoulder. What he needed now was a good cup of coffee. Nothing came before coffee. "Tell me about it. We're getting coffee." Drake beckoned the boy to follow him as he walked down the hallway. However, the boy's next comment stopped Drake in his tracks.
"It's about Bastion, Calaumn-sama."
Immediately, Drake's expression changed. "Alright, change of plans. I'm going to Kiwami first." Looking back at the boy, Drake replied, "Thank you for bringing this to my attention. Do whatever you want now."
11:33
Izayoi Village
The Summons
Drake walked towards the town hall. The sounds of children playing in the streets was a welcome difference from his nightmares. Though, he made sure to look around before coming out. Letting out a sigh of relief, Drake walked through the streets, certain that the girl would not try and jump him. Walking up the steps, Drake realized that the atmosphere, though light and cheery around the children, was cold and heavy around the adults. Something had happened, he was sure of it. However, Drake tended to be a little slow on the rumor mill.
Walking into the building, Drake was immediately taken to where Kiwami, Abe, and Foresight were. The first thing he noticed, was the cup of coffee in Foresight's hand. Walking up next to her, Drake spoke, "Hello Kiwami, Abe. I was told that this had to do about Bastion." Stealthily, Drake managed to steal Foresight's cup of coffee, from which he took a gulp before being caught by Foresight.
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