Neziul
MaeB
Lemons
Altered Tundra
Raijinslayer
Xiro Zean
WXer
Taka
Achronum
Hero Member
Sincerest of Knights
Status
Recent Statuses
4 yrs ago
starting off 2022 with COVID LESSGOOOOOOOOOOOOO
8
likes
8 yrs ago
Whoever says "the customer is always right" has not worked with atual customers.
18
likes
Bio
Most Recent Posts
Maybe he was right, but that didn't mean she felt good about it. Lilie frowned to herself as she looked around for any hint or clues, but she felt distracted by that man’s stare. Why was he looking at her like that, anyway? It was an honest mistake! And now that poor kitty was gone. If they had just hit a border then he should have just shooed them away!
As tempting as it was to try to go back and walk around, even now she was having trouble keeping up the spell. The all too familiar tearing was starting up, and as she wiped her eyes, she figured it was best to cut their losses. She was so disappointed in herself, they maybe could have gotten one last challenge in, or maybe even had completed this one if she hadn't lost focus or knew more or something.
Taking in a deep breath, she made sure to concentrate before firing up the spell again. Fortunately a nearby symbol caught her attention and she noticed that the kitty had led them amongst the underbrush--just like the clue had told them. She deflated a little at the realization, but she did notice it did take them another way. Maybe Ben was right.
For now, she focused more on getting them out. It wasn’t until then that she realized how weirdly tired she was. She didn’t just feel tired physically--though she could really just collapse into a bed right now--but she felt like she was somehow drained mentally, too. Was this what it felt like to exhaust her magic reserves? Well, not really exhaust, but considering how it was a struggle to keep it up, it was pretty close.
Luckily they made it out to a very familiar and kind face. Princess Ryner seemed happy to see them, but Lilie couldn’t really feel accomplished or relieved. She felt like she should’ve done better, feeling a little ashamed and finding it hard to be as enthusiastic as usual. At the very least she did force a smile, feeling like if she was too down it’d probably send the wrong message.
There was no greater feeling in the world than being greeted with sight after such a long period of blindness. The darkness faded and were he not a gentleman with dignity he would have cried as soon as they had stepped into the clearing. The relief was immediate and he was all too grateful to be greeted warmly by Her Highness. In any other circumstance he would have reveled in the chance to have a full length conversation, however, his mage’s lack of enthusiasm clued him in that she was probably tired from the ordeal.
After politely excusing them and wishing her a pleasant evening, the pair walked where instructed to leave the spoils of their travels and then entered the car to be whisked away to their dorms. Ben barely muffled a groan of relief as he was all too happy to be off his feet. There was a small ‘tsk’ of disappointment as he looked himself over and noticed the many nicks and tears in his clothing followed by a small shake of his head. Fortunately clothes could be replaced.
Ben looked over to Lilie but paused at her pensive expression. His frown matched hers for a moment as he inspected her. There were a few scratches and her clothes had also seen better days.
“It won’t be long until we arrive. Fret not, we can see to your injuries and replace anything too torn,” Ben said.
Lilie had left everything they had picked up, but she had to admit she was gonna miss the little warm heart stone. She was tempted to ask if she could keep it, but decided not to, instead following Ben to the cars that would take them back to their dorm. She held onto the thermos Salem had given her, wishing she could drink some, but it was probably cold by now. She’d have to thank him again for it.
Sliding into her seat, she chose to stare out the window. The practical had been a lot harder than she thought it was going to be. Magic was a lot harder than she thought it would be! At least they would pass since they managed to get out before the time limit, but she was definitely going to have to change things up going forward. More studying, more practicing...she needed to get a better handle on her affinity, too.
Ben’s voice snapped her out of her thoughts, and she gave him a sheepish nod. Fortunately her boots were okay, but her tights and coat had definitely seen better days. As she smoothed it out, she noticed a bruise on her hand that she hadn’t seen before. She wasn’t too surprised to see it, but it did remind her of something.
Lilie looked at Ben, frowning. “Oh, yeah, I’m okay, no need to worry,” She assured him, pausing for a second. He looked like he was back to his usual self, but she felt like she should check on him, too. “Um...how about you? You seemed really shaken back there.”
Ben had almost let the incident in question slip his mind. Personally he would have much rather put the entire ordeal behind them. There were a few concerns he would have liked to address privately but seeing Delia was not something he was eager to speak of. He did not hide his past but he did not like to speak on his greatest failure. His reluctance aside, this was an opportunity to reveal his motivations. There was also the possibility that she would hear it elsewhere.
“The young lady you had seen chained was a mage I met in boyhood. Her name was Delia Mallory and she served under one of my father’s vassals as his tertiary mage,” Ben said. “She had an uncanny ability to steer a conversation in any direction she wished and was more than happy to occupy my time at my father’s request. Her master, however, was not nearly so kind to her or those who served him.”
“Today was the first time I had seen the bruises on her arms and legs, ones I had known were always there; Delia always wore modest clothing to hide what the duke had done, but she struggled to hide the marks on her neck. No matter how many times I asked she would not confirm and would instead drive my attention elsewhere. I was young, inexperienced, and gullible, believing that so long as I could keep an eye on her, she would be safe. I mistakenly assumed that because she did not make an issue of it that I had overplayed the situation as it was common to see the odd injury here and there from numerous servants from nearly every vampire I had met. She had successfully convinced me that there was no problem despite her injuries and despite the ever so small flinch anytime the duke raised his hand. Were I wiser I would have traded for her purely for her ability to deceive.”
“Alas I was wrong. In hindsight I now realize the violence escalated because of my inquiries. I believe he had a sick pleasure of knowing I was right and enjoyed watching Delia do her best to convince me to doubt reality. Biased, yes, but I cannot think of any other explanation. He favored injuring her neck and eventually she died of a tracheobronchial injury: a crushed windpipe due to an extraordinary amount of pressure on the neck. His initial claim that it was an accident was as obvious a lie as any and I swore I would see justice. I took every bit of evidence I could get my hands on, gathered as many testimonials as I could manage, and brought him before the Council. I ‘won’.”
Lilie listened patiently as Ben talked--honestly, she wasn’t expecting him to open up about it. If they met when he was a kid, then she was probably long gone. She didn’t have to dwell on that for too long as he continued, her expression going from politely curious to somewhat horrified. It was like hearing her biggest fears coming true, and she had to admit it did scare her a little knowing it happened while Ben was around.
Well, he wasn’t really in a position of power like now? He was a kid, so it wasn’t like he could really do anything about it. It was still really sad to hear, though, especially since it was like she didn’t want to be helped. But that couldn’t be true, right?
She raised her eyebrows as she caught the way he mentioned his victory. “You…’won’?” She repeated slowly. “What do you mean? If you won, then that means that the guy paid for what he did, right?”
The hollow look in his eyes was something Ben could not easily hide. In the back of his mind he did realize he was a little too open at the moment. Still, he pressed on. “Officially, yes. The Council ruled in my favor and Duke Gerthin was to pay a fine for the destruction of property and loss of a mage life. A fine he paid in five years so he could sequester more funding for his dam. The ordeal was all but forgotten at that point and I was shamed for bringing it up to the officials. My father in particular was less than pleased to learn his son had pressed charges against one of his own vassals. Were it not for my mother, I am sure I would have been punished extraneously.”
“What?!” Lilie couldn’t stop herself from blurting out her shock. He did the right thing and he was still punished?! “Wouldn’t your dad be happy to know he had such a cruel person under him? It’s--Someone died. That has to mean something, right?” She asked, shaking her head. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing right now, a tiny, terrified part of her realizing that this was literally the house she was going to be serving from now on. She looked at Ben nervously, waiting for his response.
The silence that followed was deafening. Ben need not speak anymore on the subject but it was clear Lilie wanted him to say something. He would not fill her head with empty promises and honeyed words that could be used against him if the worst would happen. It would be too cruel to do so. Even as the thought crossed his mind he still struggled to find what to say.
It was only after a pregnant pause that he continued, “It meant Duke Gerthin was callous with his mages and my father would send those he deemed unworthy his way while keeping any he valued close to him. Otherwise it meant nothing. Delia’s death was simply something that happened. I can’t tell you that she is the last mage to have died under his care, either, but I have been expressly forbidden from embarrassing my father in that avenue any longer. I keep to my business and he to his. That is simply how it is done in Pierce Devan Eve’s Branch.”
The car came to a halt afterwards and Ben opened the door without waiting. He apologized to the driver and walked to the dorm. He did not realize this conversation would make him feel so tender. No, it was only because he was faced with seeing her face perfectly recreated, plucked directly from his memories. He thought at this point in time that wound would have healed.
In his haste, however, he did realize Lilie was expecting more out of the conversation. Reassurance, most likely. He did not believe she would attract anyone’s attention except for a point of mockery, but he couldn’t promise anything. Not yet.
“As long as you are under my care, I will do what I can to keep you safe. You needn’t worry about my problems; they are purely my own. Since my mother’s death I have done my best to remain quiet about my beliefs. So long as you keep your head down, we can minimize any chance of danger,” Ben said.
It was like a giant weight was pressing against her chest after Ben basically confirmed exactly what she was thinking. Oh boy. Lilie stared at him, watching as he just left the car. Once she was alone, she couldn’t help but hold her head in her hands for a second. She wasn’t sure why she was surprised--this was her life now.
Hearing the car door open, she straightened up, thanking the driver as he helped her out. She felt like she was going to throw up, but she made sure to take several deep breaths before following Ben inside. She was ready to head straight to her room to cry when he talked to her again. Well, at least he wasn’t going to go throw her to the wolves, so that was good.
Lilie nodded, rubbing her arm as she noticed just how upset he was. Ben! Upset! She was seriously considering that he was a robot with how he barely had any emotion, but that entire situation with Delia looked like it really bothered him. She wished she knew what to say to him about it, but honestly, she was still pretty much in shock over the whole thing. “...I think you did the right thing. I’m sure she would have been happy to hear you tried to do justice for her,” She tried to comfort him. “Even if you feel like it did nothing, I’m sure you’ve saved a lot of people without knowing it. Maybe your family doesn’t appreciate it, but someone could have.”
Ben was always convinced Lilie’s virtuous traits were less of a boon and more of a source of worry, but hearing such sweet, sincere words coming from someone who had no reason to lie was refreshing. He would battle his guilt on his own as far be it from him to ask anyone to shoulder his burdens, but this helped.
“I hope so,” Ben said. “I’m retiring to my room. Have a pleasant evening, Lilie.”
The white haired girl nodded again, deciding that she’d have a nice, warm bath. Once she started the water, she let her thoughts buzz around for a second. She really did wish she could do more, but even now she felt so helpless. Letting out a long sigh, she peeled off her clothes before nestling in the tub, another sigh of relief escaping her. For now, she was just going to relax--tomorrow, she’d start improving herself.
As tempting as it was to try to go back and walk around, even now she was having trouble keeping up the spell. The all too familiar tearing was starting up, and as she wiped her eyes, she figured it was best to cut their losses. She was so disappointed in herself, they maybe could have gotten one last challenge in, or maybe even had completed this one if she hadn't lost focus or knew more or something.
Taking in a deep breath, she made sure to concentrate before firing up the spell again. Fortunately a nearby symbol caught her attention and she noticed that the kitty had led them amongst the underbrush--just like the clue had told them. She deflated a little at the realization, but she did notice it did take them another way. Maybe Ben was right.
For now, she focused more on getting them out. It wasn’t until then that she realized how weirdly tired she was. She didn’t just feel tired physically--though she could really just collapse into a bed right now--but she felt like she was somehow drained mentally, too. Was this what it felt like to exhaust her magic reserves? Well, not really exhaust, but considering how it was a struggle to keep it up, it was pretty close.
Luckily they made it out to a very familiar and kind face. Princess Ryner seemed happy to see them, but Lilie couldn’t really feel accomplished or relieved. She felt like she should’ve done better, feeling a little ashamed and finding it hard to be as enthusiastic as usual. At the very least she did force a smile, feeling like if she was too down it’d probably send the wrong message.
There was no greater feeling in the world than being greeted with sight after such a long period of blindness. The darkness faded and were he not a gentleman with dignity he would have cried as soon as they had stepped into the clearing. The relief was immediate and he was all too grateful to be greeted warmly by Her Highness. In any other circumstance he would have reveled in the chance to have a full length conversation, however, his mage’s lack of enthusiasm clued him in that she was probably tired from the ordeal.
After politely excusing them and wishing her a pleasant evening, the pair walked where instructed to leave the spoils of their travels and then entered the car to be whisked away to their dorms. Ben barely muffled a groan of relief as he was all too happy to be off his feet. There was a small ‘tsk’ of disappointment as he looked himself over and noticed the many nicks and tears in his clothing followed by a small shake of his head. Fortunately clothes could be replaced.
Ben looked over to Lilie but paused at her pensive expression. His frown matched hers for a moment as he inspected her. There were a few scratches and her clothes had also seen better days.
“It won’t be long until we arrive. Fret not, we can see to your injuries and replace anything too torn,” Ben said.
Lilie had left everything they had picked up, but she had to admit she was gonna miss the little warm heart stone. She was tempted to ask if she could keep it, but decided not to, instead following Ben to the cars that would take them back to their dorm. She held onto the thermos Salem had given her, wishing she could drink some, but it was probably cold by now. She’d have to thank him again for it.
Sliding into her seat, she chose to stare out the window. The practical had been a lot harder than she thought it was going to be. Magic was a lot harder than she thought it would be! At least they would pass since they managed to get out before the time limit, but she was definitely going to have to change things up going forward. More studying, more practicing...she needed to get a better handle on her affinity, too.
Ben’s voice snapped her out of her thoughts, and she gave him a sheepish nod. Fortunately her boots were okay, but her tights and coat had definitely seen better days. As she smoothed it out, she noticed a bruise on her hand that she hadn’t seen before. She wasn’t too surprised to see it, but it did remind her of something.
Lilie looked at Ben, frowning. “Oh, yeah, I’m okay, no need to worry,” She assured him, pausing for a second. He looked like he was back to his usual self, but she felt like she should check on him, too. “Um...how about you? You seemed really shaken back there.”
Ben had almost let the incident in question slip his mind. Personally he would have much rather put the entire ordeal behind them. There were a few concerns he would have liked to address privately but seeing Delia was not something he was eager to speak of. He did not hide his past but he did not like to speak on his greatest failure. His reluctance aside, this was an opportunity to reveal his motivations. There was also the possibility that she would hear it elsewhere.
“The young lady you had seen chained was a mage I met in boyhood. Her name was Delia Mallory and she served under one of my father’s vassals as his tertiary mage,” Ben said. “She had an uncanny ability to steer a conversation in any direction she wished and was more than happy to occupy my time at my father’s request. Her master, however, was not nearly so kind to her or those who served him.”
“Today was the first time I had seen the bruises on her arms and legs, ones I had known were always there; Delia always wore modest clothing to hide what the duke had done, but she struggled to hide the marks on her neck. No matter how many times I asked she would not confirm and would instead drive my attention elsewhere. I was young, inexperienced, and gullible, believing that so long as I could keep an eye on her, she would be safe. I mistakenly assumed that because she did not make an issue of it that I had overplayed the situation as it was common to see the odd injury here and there from numerous servants from nearly every vampire I had met. She had successfully convinced me that there was no problem despite her injuries and despite the ever so small flinch anytime the duke raised his hand. Were I wiser I would have traded for her purely for her ability to deceive.”
“Alas I was wrong. In hindsight I now realize the violence escalated because of my inquiries. I believe he had a sick pleasure of knowing I was right and enjoyed watching Delia do her best to convince me to doubt reality. Biased, yes, but I cannot think of any other explanation. He favored injuring her neck and eventually she died of a tracheobronchial injury: a crushed windpipe due to an extraordinary amount of pressure on the neck. His initial claim that it was an accident was as obvious a lie as any and I swore I would see justice. I took every bit of evidence I could get my hands on, gathered as many testimonials as I could manage, and brought him before the Council. I ‘won’.”
Lilie listened patiently as Ben talked--honestly, she wasn’t expecting him to open up about it. If they met when he was a kid, then she was probably long gone. She didn’t have to dwell on that for too long as he continued, her expression going from politely curious to somewhat horrified. It was like hearing her biggest fears coming true, and she had to admit it did scare her a little knowing it happened while Ben was around.
Well, he wasn’t really in a position of power like now? He was a kid, so it wasn’t like he could really do anything about it. It was still really sad to hear, though, especially since it was like she didn’t want to be helped. But that couldn’t be true, right?
She raised her eyebrows as she caught the way he mentioned his victory. “You…’won’?” She repeated slowly. “What do you mean? If you won, then that means that the guy paid for what he did, right?”
The hollow look in his eyes was something Ben could not easily hide. In the back of his mind he did realize he was a little too open at the moment. Still, he pressed on. “Officially, yes. The Council ruled in my favor and Duke Gerthin was to pay a fine for the destruction of property and loss of a mage life. A fine he paid in five years so he could sequester more funding for his dam. The ordeal was all but forgotten at that point and I was shamed for bringing it up to the officials. My father in particular was less than pleased to learn his son had pressed charges against one of his own vassals. Were it not for my mother, I am sure I would have been punished extraneously.”
“What?!” Lilie couldn’t stop herself from blurting out her shock. He did the right thing and he was still punished?! “Wouldn’t your dad be happy to know he had such a cruel person under him? It’s--Someone died. That has to mean something, right?” She asked, shaking her head. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing right now, a tiny, terrified part of her realizing that this was literally the house she was going to be serving from now on. She looked at Ben nervously, waiting for his response.
The silence that followed was deafening. Ben need not speak anymore on the subject but it was clear Lilie wanted him to say something. He would not fill her head with empty promises and honeyed words that could be used against him if the worst would happen. It would be too cruel to do so. Even as the thought crossed his mind he still struggled to find what to say.
It was only after a pregnant pause that he continued, “It meant Duke Gerthin was callous with his mages and my father would send those he deemed unworthy his way while keeping any he valued close to him. Otherwise it meant nothing. Delia’s death was simply something that happened. I can’t tell you that she is the last mage to have died under his care, either, but I have been expressly forbidden from embarrassing my father in that avenue any longer. I keep to my business and he to his. That is simply how it is done in Pierce Devan Eve’s Branch.”
The car came to a halt afterwards and Ben opened the door without waiting. He apologized to the driver and walked to the dorm. He did not realize this conversation would make him feel so tender. No, it was only because he was faced with seeing her face perfectly recreated, plucked directly from his memories. He thought at this point in time that wound would have healed.
In his haste, however, he did realize Lilie was expecting more out of the conversation. Reassurance, most likely. He did not believe she would attract anyone’s attention except for a point of mockery, but he couldn’t promise anything. Not yet.
“As long as you are under my care, I will do what I can to keep you safe. You needn’t worry about my problems; they are purely my own. Since my mother’s death I have done my best to remain quiet about my beliefs. So long as you keep your head down, we can minimize any chance of danger,” Ben said.
It was like a giant weight was pressing against her chest after Ben basically confirmed exactly what she was thinking. Oh boy. Lilie stared at him, watching as he just left the car. Once she was alone, she couldn’t help but hold her head in her hands for a second. She wasn’t sure why she was surprised--this was her life now.
Hearing the car door open, she straightened up, thanking the driver as he helped her out. She felt like she was going to throw up, but she made sure to take several deep breaths before following Ben inside. She was ready to head straight to her room to cry when he talked to her again. Well, at least he wasn’t going to go throw her to the wolves, so that was good.
Lilie nodded, rubbing her arm as she noticed just how upset he was. Ben! Upset! She was seriously considering that he was a robot with how he barely had any emotion, but that entire situation with Delia looked like it really bothered him. She wished she knew what to say to him about it, but honestly, she was still pretty much in shock over the whole thing. “...I think you did the right thing. I’m sure she would have been happy to hear you tried to do justice for her,” She tried to comfort him. “Even if you feel like it did nothing, I’m sure you’ve saved a lot of people without knowing it. Maybe your family doesn’t appreciate it, but someone could have.”
Ben was always convinced Lilie’s virtuous traits were less of a boon and more of a source of worry, but hearing such sweet, sincere words coming from someone who had no reason to lie was refreshing. He would battle his guilt on his own as far be it from him to ask anyone to shoulder his burdens, but this helped.
“I hope so,” Ben said. “I’m retiring to my room. Have a pleasant evening, Lilie.”
The white haired girl nodded again, deciding that she’d have a nice, warm bath. Once she started the water, she let her thoughts buzz around for a second. She really did wish she could do more, but even now she felt so helpless. Letting out a long sigh, she peeled off her clothes before nestling in the tub, another sigh of relief escaping her. For now, she was just going to relax--tomorrow, she’d start improving herself.
Finishing the practical with @Bert Macklin.
Eris watched Max for a moment, almost as if he was waiting. His eyes were still sharp, but it wasn't unpleasant or accusatory. It was closer to curious than anything, but something seemed to click in his head. The blonde had to admit he liked what he was hearing--at least something positive was coming out of this cursed night--but he figured pushing it would just result in taking a few steps back. Instead, he chose to give his attention back to the television. For now, anyway.
"Lesson learned," He replied airily, leaving his phone next to him as he made himself comfortable on the couch. "Bien joué, little one. Now, I'm going to spend the rest of my night on this couch and watch my soap opera, Lady Anabelle is about to find out her husband isn't dead and is about to marry his older brother." He chuckled as he changed the channel. "It's so stupid, I love that people can come up with this crap."
He sank into the couch and propped himself up on a few pillows, watching the show with great interest.
"Lesson learned," He replied airily, leaving his phone next to him as he made himself comfortable on the couch. "Bien joué, little one. Now, I'm going to spend the rest of my night on this couch and watch my soap opera, Lady Anabelle is about to find out her husband isn't dead and is about to marry his older brother." He chuckled as he changed the channel. "It's so stupid, I love that people can come up with this crap."
He sank into the couch and propped himself up on a few pillows, watching the show with great interest.
Blah blah blahing with @Scribe of Thoth
They must have reached the border of the practical if one of the princess' workers was telling them to turn around. But the cat lead them here, there should have been a reason for that, right? Lilie was entirely confused and a little uneasy at how stern the man was. Maybe it was some sort of mistake? She did want to ask, but she had to admit she was definitely feeling her inner goodie-two-shoes kicking in with full force. Not like she could protest without getting them both in trouble--no way did she want to fail just because of something dumb like this!
Lilie slowly nodded, trying to look away from the man as she gingerly pried Ben's hands off her. "S-Sorry," She added, slowly looking at the man, but he didn't so much as move the entire time. Okay, time to go for sure. "Um...here, let me..." She turned Ben around first, still feeling the man's stare at the back of her head. She looked back timidly, regretting it and looking away immediately. Okay, she got the message, he didn't have to be so weird about it!
Once she was sure of the right direction, she cleared her throat. "This way, Count Eve," She took him by his sleeve and dragged him away, though she didn't learn her lesson as she looked back over her shoulder again. Geez, why was he just staring like that?!
Now that they were away from...all that, she let out a sigh. "Sorry about that, I thought I was onto something..." She apologized to Ben first. "I should've known better, even the tiger was a little scared as he walked towards the hut. Poor kitty...I feel so bad..."
Lilie slowly nodded, trying to look away from the man as she gingerly pried Ben's hands off her. "S-Sorry," She added, slowly looking at the man, but he didn't so much as move the entire time. Okay, time to go for sure. "Um...here, let me..." She turned Ben around first, still feeling the man's stare at the back of her head. She looked back timidly, regretting it and looking away immediately. Okay, she got the message, he didn't have to be so weird about it!
Once she was sure of the right direction, she cleared her throat. "This way, Count Eve," She took him by his sleeve and dragged him away, though she didn't learn her lesson as she looked back over her shoulder again. Geez, why was he just staring like that?!
Now that they were away from...all that, she let out a sigh. "Sorry about that, I thought I was onto something..." She apologized to Ben first. "I should've known better, even the tiger was a little scared as he walked towards the hut. Poor kitty...I feel so bad..."
Taking on the challenge with @Bert Macklin.
The demon stared long and hard at Hikari as he fired off question after question, but for some time she did not respond. Any humor in her face seemed to have disappeared for a moment, her expression almost pensive. Still, it passed, and she let out a small sigh as she rolled her eyes. She did seem a little surprised at the accusation, giving him a scowl at the thought of being referred to as a thief, although she would first prioritize placing the top of the barrel back before taking a seat on it.
Placing her elbows on her knees, she raised an eyebrow at Hikari. "Hmm, I guess I'll go in order," She said mostly to herself before raising her voice. "Asato Haruto was the last prominent Lunari Priest of Shiroiwa. He was talented...in his lifetime, only one villager was ever lost to the demons--and said villager was only lost because they foolishly walked outside the barrier he cast. His strength meant this part of the realm was weakened...without human suffering to feed on, the lesser demons were forced to roam the surface more often than not. Highly inconvenient if you ask me."
She paused for a moment, giving him a sly smile. "Let's see...you recognized me as a demon, but I suppose the shock of it all has robbed you of your thinking skills," She teased. "This is the realm below the land of Shirogane, what you humans call the 'realm of demons' where we reside comfortably. I guess this ties into your last question, so I'll go ahead and answer that. I'm sure you're aware that any human that comes here is either instant demon fodder or quickly turns into a lesser demon. But Lunari Priests hold an absurd amount of light within them, protecting you. Well, they'll protect you for a while...it'll take time, but you'll turn into a demon sooner or later. Or at least, you're supposed to, but Ajisai would rather keep you around as her pet." She shrugged as she sat up.
"I used to have a hairpin like this one a long time ago and I wanted it. So I took it," She declared, quite pleased with herself as she crossed one leg over the other. "You may call me Lady Airi, the Seventh Shirogane Greater Demon. Feel free to bask in my glory, most humans can't resist the sight of me."
Placing her elbows on her knees, she raised an eyebrow at Hikari. "Hmm, I guess I'll go in order," She said mostly to herself before raising her voice. "Asato Haruto was the last prominent Lunari Priest of Shiroiwa. He was talented...in his lifetime, only one villager was ever lost to the demons--and said villager was only lost because they foolishly walked outside the barrier he cast. His strength meant this part of the realm was weakened...without human suffering to feed on, the lesser demons were forced to roam the surface more often than not. Highly inconvenient if you ask me."
She paused for a moment, giving him a sly smile. "Let's see...you recognized me as a demon, but I suppose the shock of it all has robbed you of your thinking skills," She teased. "This is the realm below the land of Shirogane, what you humans call the 'realm of demons' where we reside comfortably. I guess this ties into your last question, so I'll go ahead and answer that. I'm sure you're aware that any human that comes here is either instant demon fodder or quickly turns into a lesser demon. But Lunari Priests hold an absurd amount of light within them, protecting you. Well, they'll protect you for a while...it'll take time, but you'll turn into a demon sooner or later. Or at least, you're supposed to, but Ajisai would rather keep you around as her pet." She shrugged as she sat up.
"I used to have a hairpin like this one a long time ago and I wanted it. So I took it," She declared, quite pleased with herself as she crossed one leg over the other. "You may call me Lady Airi, the Seventh Shirogane Greater Demon. Feel free to bask in my glory, most humans can't resist the sight of me."
Hikari's spell hit the wood and remained there--if he watched closely, something akin to a barrier shined through the spaces between the bars. The demon raised an eyebrow at him, unamused at the display. She shook her head in disappointment, approaching the cell as she stared him down. There was almost a look of pity on her face until she let out a quiet laugh.
"You're stronger than you look. The other priests were barely able to conjure up any power," She told him, brushing her hair over her shoulder. "You look younger than the other ones, so I suppose this technique is from before your time. You can hit it with as many spells as you'd like, but you won't be breaking out anytime soon." She tapped the wood once, its magic glimmering for a faint moment. "Even if you did, I wouldn't recommend it. You're safer in there than you are out here. I can't touch you and you can't touch me. Funny how that works."
She took advantage of the fact that she was closer to examine him, studying his face in particular. "Your village will be fine until the next Red Moon. I'd turn that worry over to yourself, honestly," She said with a slight shrug, narrowing her eyes. "...you look just like Haruto..." She muttered, a little suspicious.
"You're stronger than you look. The other priests were barely able to conjure up any power," She told him, brushing her hair over her shoulder. "You look younger than the other ones, so I suppose this technique is from before your time. You can hit it with as many spells as you'd like, but you won't be breaking out anytime soon." She tapped the wood once, its magic glimmering for a faint moment. "Even if you did, I wouldn't recommend it. You're safer in there than you are out here. I can't touch you and you can't touch me. Funny how that works."
She took advantage of the fact that she was closer to examine him, studying his face in particular. "Your village will be fine until the next Red Moon. I'd turn that worry over to yourself, honestly," She said with a slight shrug, narrowing her eyes. "...you look just like Haruto..." She muttered, a little suspicious.
I'm just a touch confused, should we do a followup to what happens, or have a reflective post?
In her rush to follow the rainbow tiger, Lilie had completely forgotten about Ben. Not literally--she had made sure to drag him along as she tried to keep up with it--but maybe not informing her blind count wasn't the best idea. Of course, she was also more focused on keeping up. It was pretty fast and she could only follow so quickly. Where was it going, anyway? It was definitely trying to lead her somewhere, and as much as she hoped it was the exit, she was starting to think she was being lead elsewhere.
"We're following a cat made out of water that lead us back to that challenge we failed and it absorbed the rainbow and turned into a tiger and now we're following it!" Lilie hastily explained as she made sure to keep an eye on it. She didn't miss the whispers growing, though she couldn't really make out what they were saying.
Once the tiger came to a stop so did Lilie, and she was glad to take a second to catch her breath. A hut? Oh no, another challenge, Ben said it was best to take what they could and just go. Did this count as disobeying? In her defense, she thought it was going to lead her to the way out or at least to the next riddle that would give them instructions or something. Well, since they were here anyway, there wasn't any harm in at least checking it out, right?
As the thought crossed her mind, though, suddenly the tiger was just gone, killed by lightning. She gasped, horrified, though she let out a squeak of surprise as she only then noticed the man when he spoke. When did he get there?! She backed up, bumping into Ben as she looked at where the tiger once was.
"Who--Who are you?" She asked nervously.
"We're following a cat made out of water that lead us back to that challenge we failed and it absorbed the rainbow and turned into a tiger and now we're following it!" Lilie hastily explained as she made sure to keep an eye on it. She didn't miss the whispers growing, though she couldn't really make out what they were saying.
Once the tiger came to a stop so did Lilie, and she was glad to take a second to catch her breath. A hut? Oh no, another challenge, Ben said it was best to take what they could and just go. Did this count as disobeying? In her defense, she thought it was going to lead her to the way out or at least to the next riddle that would give them instructions or something. Well, since they were here anyway, there wasn't any harm in at least checking it out, right?
As the thought crossed her mind, though, suddenly the tiger was just gone, killed by lightning. She gasped, horrified, though she let out a squeak of surprise as she only then noticed the man when he spoke. When did he get there?! She backed up, bumping into Ben as she looked at where the tiger once was.
"Who--Who are you?" She asked nervously.
Taking on the challenge with @Bert Macklin.
A wind would blow through the village, picking up the stray petals and letting them flutter to the ground on their own. What was once a multitude of color and variation, however, was now only one: petals fallen from a spider lily. Slowly, the grass painted itself scarlet, the color overtaking nearly all of Hikari's surroundings until it seemingly reached the sky. Orange and purples gave way to the red until it reached the clouds and sun, blotting it out and plunging him into a world of red.
"There you are." A voice called out to him, its direction indiscernible. The only thing uncolored was himself, as if someone had shined a light on him, and smaller lights started popping up all around, sprouting more spider lilies. Before he would have a chance to react, however, each lily exploded, showering him in petals until they clung to him. One after another they piled on, their small size quickly multiplying until he was covered head to toe. The darkness would claim him in that moment.
A melody was hummed nearby, and when Hikari would come to, he would see himself in a room with wooden walls and doors. One wall bore a cage-like pattern, its door locked tight. He had been resting on a small, soft futon, a low desk next to him with an assortment of the possessions he carried on him organized neatly--the only exception was the opened and now empty red bag. A pitcher of water with a cup was placed on a seat on the other side of the cell, and a flickering torch gently lit the area up.
Through the bars he would see a pale, ethereal looking woman with hair nearly as white as her skin. Her kimono was unusual, its sash and lack of length almost unorthodox, and yet its quality was unquestionable--it looked like it could have easily been commissioned by a lord of the land. She paid no mind to him, focused instead on her reflection in an opened barrel of water. Her fingers delicately pinned her hair back, and as she lowered her arms, he would see the hair ornament previously gifted to him now in her hair.
"Perfect," She mused to herself, and after a few seconds looked up, meeting Hikari with an unusual pair of amber eyes. A red colored symbol sat on her forehead, a marking familiar to ones used in ceremonies long-passed in Shiorwa. "Good morning, little light. Still human, are you? A Lunari Priest through and through...although, not much of one if you managed to get dragged here so easily by Manjushage." Her voice was light and airy, almost mocking if one listened hard enough. "Ah, well... what Ajisai wants, Ajisai gets. And here you are!"
"There you are." A voice called out to him, its direction indiscernible. The only thing uncolored was himself, as if someone had shined a light on him, and smaller lights started popping up all around, sprouting more spider lilies. Before he would have a chance to react, however, each lily exploded, showering him in petals until they clung to him. One after another they piled on, their small size quickly multiplying until he was covered head to toe. The darkness would claim him in that moment.
A melody was hummed nearby, and when Hikari would come to, he would see himself in a room with wooden walls and doors. One wall bore a cage-like pattern, its door locked tight. He had been resting on a small, soft futon, a low desk next to him with an assortment of the possessions he carried on him organized neatly--the only exception was the opened and now empty red bag. A pitcher of water with a cup was placed on a seat on the other side of the cell, and a flickering torch gently lit the area up.
Through the bars he would see a pale, ethereal looking woman with hair nearly as white as her skin. Her kimono was unusual, its sash and lack of length almost unorthodox, and yet its quality was unquestionable--it looked like it could have easily been commissioned by a lord of the land. She paid no mind to him, focused instead on her reflection in an opened barrel of water. Her fingers delicately pinned her hair back, and as she lowered her arms, he would see the hair ornament previously gifted to him now in her hair.
"Perfect," She mused to herself, and after a few seconds looked up, meeting Hikari with an unusual pair of amber eyes. A red colored symbol sat on her forehead, a marking familiar to ones used in ceremonies long-passed in Shiorwa. "Good morning, little light. Still human, are you? A Lunari Priest through and through...although, not much of one if you managed to get dragged here so easily by Manjushage." Her voice was light and airy, almost mocking if one listened hard enough. "Ah, well... what Ajisai wants, Ajisai gets. And here you are!"
© 2007-2026