Estylwen

Iris Ascendis

Been daydreaming about this fight for about a month now. I'm excited.

Iris Ascendis

"600 lives-
-at stake.
-I'll break."

Ciara Ventura

Wingram Academy, Girls' Dorm
@Nanaya @Psyker Landshark @Sifr

---

"I don't think you're doing yourself a favour."

A creeping shadow. Whispering dark mist, thickening the air. The powerlust was palpable.

"You don't get it."

This wasn't about keeping her secrets, her monsters, under lock and key anymore.

This was something more.

She wouldn't be questioned anymore. She was Ciara of Vaal Kastrix, shunned but unquestioned. She had to push back hard in the dark streets of her home city, etching out her future. She would do the same here. It was all a familiar pattern, one she knew well. She just had to push a little...

"You come all this way to Wingram, make it through the trials with us, only to throw it away at the last moment?"

The light, exhausted and affected by rebound, stood in her way. Iraleth's gaze could stop the heart. Ciara scoffed, feeling something akin to her temper flare.

"You. Don't. Understand."

"Head Advisor, as the challenged party in this duel, you do have the right to name a champion. Allow me to stand in your place."

Ciara's jaw dropped a little. Surprise. She wasn't expecting Iraleth, her sister in battle, so willing to take arms against her so quickly, so... thoughtlessly. Did Ciara's sacrifices in their battle against Gulliver mean nothing?

"No. Don't you dare."

She wanted to raise her hand, to force Iraleth to take back her words.

Snap.

Ciara visibly flinched, startled. Immediately, her eyes darted to the source of the noise.

Ice.

Her chair toppled on its back, one of its legs snapped clean in half. There was a chill in the air that choked the agitated dark wisps, and brought Ciara back into her senses. The stretching shadow collapsed. She stared, stunned, as the Undermage spoke. Swallowed painfully when she mentioned getting the spanking of a lifetime. What would a mother's punishment even feel like?

Pity. The look in the face of the Undermage was akin to a form of pity. Furious pity. Ciara's own eyes betrayed flickers of regret, before they hardened, tightening into a narrow stare.

"These terms are acceptable. Upon my defeat, I'll confess everything. But... with the stakes that high..."

She glanced at Iraleth before turning from the room, hand on the handle of the door. "I don't plan on losing."

She opened the door, snatching a glance at Hildegunde, "Don't leave until you get a key."

And with that, she exited the office, the door softly shutting behind her. She had a war to prepare for.

---

Wingram Academy, Girls' Dorm Rooftops and Grounds
@Nanaya

---

The soft sound of rustling came from the open door of room 07. Rushed, as luggage was opened and the sound of purposeful footsteps began moving to and fro. Potted plants were uncased and placed along the windowsill. Plant pods were cut and shoved into pockets. Glass orbs were procured from deep within the luggage case. A change of clothes, essentials, and her blanket and pillow were snatched up in her waiting arms as she closed the luggage case with a huff and strode out of the shared dorm.

In the open doorway, she took a moment's pause, looking at the two other beds.

Mixed feelings crossed her face before she shut the door, locked it, and strode to the entrance of the dormitories. Outside, the sunlight shone bright. She eyed the large, ominous-looking tower first before glancing at the roof of the girl's dormitory. In an instant, she was off the ground and walking across the roof's edge in a rush of shadow. She put her items on the wall by the door access to the roof, and took a moment to catch her breath.

She felt winded. She really did push herself too far today. She sat against the wall in the shade. Put her head in her hands. Her mind buzzing.

"We'll show them-"

"Start preparing for war-"

"No one can beat us-"

"Our secrets are ours alone-"

"I'm going to hurt her..."

The last thought made all the other thoughts come to a standstill, and it was eerily quiet. It was true. Iraleth got involved when Ciara only wanted to protect herself from the Undermage's prying eyes. Ciara's lips pursed, considering how the situation unraveled so quickly. Taking a step back, she had to remember Iraleth was the one who brought up her concern, her suspicion in the first place.

How long had she held these suspicions? Before, or after the fight in the auditorium?

"She can feel our Hunger for her. How we yearn for her."

Ciara scoffed. "Doubtful."

Another voice spoke. Cold like the dead. Whispering in her ear.

"We were going to hurt the light anyway. This is just.... fate forcing your hand."

"What do you- I won't."

"No." The Voice was firm, forceful like a slap. "When you strike her down, you will make it so she never rises up again. We will finally have our light. And you will be unquestioned, and rightfully feared."

Ciara's blood ran cold, eyes staring blindly into the distance. The very thought sickened her.

The Hunger in her stomach was so strong it hurt, burning at her insides at just the thought of finally getting satisfied.

She couldn't... could she?

Ciara shook her head, trying to dispel the consuming darkness. Instead, she stood, eyeing the grounds.

With purpose, she disappeared from the rooftops, appearing again on the grounds of Wingram. She would be gathering a few common things, like specific shapes of rocks, and fallen branches. The day she would likely spend alone along the rooftops, giving herself as many advantages as possible for the upcoming showdown.

War waited for no one.

The Dark Beyond

@Lexisheeps Approved! Feel free to add it to the CS tab.

@WhiteAngel25 That sounds great! Your employer concepts sounds good and I look forward to hear more about them when the time is right.

The Dark Beyond

@WhiteAngel25 No worries, it happens sometimes. :)

Speaking of which, did you want your research centre to be a bit more active in the world? I know Stella isn't hired by HiveMind, so it might be interesting to learn more about her employers.

Edit: Epic post.

The Dark Beyond

@Lexisheeps

No worries, sounds great!

The Dark Beyond

@Lexisheeps

Hehe, ye. And yes! The more world building you wanna do, I am down for it. You could have the Louvre give HiveMind a call to arrange a business meeting in your next post, if you like. :)

The Dark Beyond

Sweet! New post is up!

The Dark Beyond

Underwater Cave, ???

@Lexisheeps, @WhiteAngel25

---

Another tremor, and then another.

Then, static as loudspeakers from within the depths of the forest rang out.

"Silly Contractors, did you really think you were in control of anything?"

It was the same voice as the lead researcher Nick had heard screaming.

"We have you here for a specific purpose. And you will complete that purpose."

Subject #3 seemed to visibly cower, recognizing the voice. In response, there was a chuckle.

"Oh, don't worry, Subject #3, we haven't forgotten about you. Consider this an extended punishment for your failure before we... close the file on you, permanently."

She whimpered, holding Ivaylo closer. "Y-you don't scare me."

"Oh really, now."

"Y-Yes! This time I have friends. You can't push me around like before!"

"Oh, my dear," there was a pause as the lead researcher chose his next words carefully. "What do you think is happening to your 'friends' as we speak?"

Her eyes widen, staring at Nick and Stella. With an expression of pure dread on her face, she looked as though she saw the two contractors the same way as her - prisoners.

There's a low chuckle over the loudspeakers as more drones encircled Nick and Stella. "Now you're starting to realize. Perhaps a demonstration is overdue."

The loudspeaker suddenly cut out before a static charge filled the air with cracking light. Slowly, like unzipping a Ziploc bag, the fabric of reality tore itself asunder.

Crackles of white burned away at the dark forest, the crypt, and everything surrounding them. In the end, they were left in a stark white cube room with only a handful of objects. Drones, scattered artifacts that had been purposefully placed in the simulation, and the glowing orb. No Ivaylo. Not dark dragon. And no escape.

At least, not at first. Beyond the line of 10 or so drones was a stainless steel door, a hatch on the front of it that was locked, glowing hazard symbols encircling it. Upon closer inspection, it would appear that it had a weakness in its hinges.

The orb hovered closer to Nick for a moment as if in understanding, having shared some pain with him, before it fired a white bolt at one of the drones, incapacitating it.

The drones blocking the way hovered closer, undeterred. They had their stun batons deployed at the ready, prepared to beat down any resistance as they attempted to subdue Nick and Stella.

Another, more fervent tremor shook the ground.

The Dark Beyond

I will likely post in the next few hours to keep the pace of the story, if Angel isn't able to make it. :)

Iris Ascendis

Oh daaaaaang, that was worth the wait.

Edit: Should we re-name the Seeker to the Gatekeeper?