Diver's Paradise, Eastern Entrance
Yvette narrowed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Sydney, of course," She whispered irritably. At the mention of Tinon, she groaned and began making her way down the ramp. "Stay here with Brian, or don't, I don't care. I'm going to see if Luke is lugging himself around this dusty cavern somewhere. If not, I'm sure Laura and Tinon will be able to shed more light on the situation," she announced, giving neither Brian, nor Jenso a chance to stop her. They were free to follow, but given her already
sour mood, it was likely a horrendous idea. Brian poked Jenso's shoulder and then towards one of the pillars.
"Perhaps we can help with repairs," Brian sheepishly suggested. He was out of place here, wearing a CMAS uniform just like Yvette. They were both bound to get some funny looks. In fact, the moment that Brian shot a glance in the direction of Len and the other Divers working on the south eastern pillar, two men were immediately on guard, exchanging his harmless glance with a pair of deathly stares.
Yvette face similar issues as she made her way down the ramp, and into the lower recesses of the cavern, where all of the buildings were built, and the common areas sat, overlooked by both the eastern and western exit ramps that sat meters above them, as well as Luke's head office, so to speak. Several Divers stopped Yvette in her tracks, threatening her as she passed through. Despite her objections, and assurance that she meant no harm, they would not let her pass. If somebody didn't intervene soon, there was sure to be a commotion.
Diver's Paradise, Tinon's Bedroom
Tinon looked out his window at the masses that gathered below him, repairing the endless amount of damage that the CMAS mages had caused. Something was on his mind, and despite the gentle touch of his wife at his side, he was not comforted in the least.
"Really though," Tinon mumbled, thinking over Luke's decision to head for Hyznia castle. "That buffoon is going to get us all killed."
"He's smarter than you give him credit for. I'm sure that Sulfrax will hear him out. The two of them go way back, after all. Thrallmor shares an affinity with the Divers of Thorisa as well, it might not be as hopeless as you think it to be."
"But to assault Sydney and the CMAS head arch mages? The armies of Arcadia and Tek'noh's advanced weapons gravely outclass the inferior forces of Hyznia, and
us Divers. It's a hopeless endeavor."
"You think too much," Laura hissed, pinching Tinon's collarbone, "That's why you've never gotten along with my brother. He always acts in the moment. He's the most genuine Diver I've ever known... The way you're speaking makes me think that you're a CMAS official, haha." Tinon Flinched at Laura's quip.
"Your words wound me. You know how I feel about the counsel."
"Yes. I know.."
Arcadia, CMAS HQ - Conference Room
Sydney Duvell sat high on his podium, with his four counsel heads seated symmetrically on four other podiums, scattered around the giant circular room. Lower, around the room's edge, hundreds of CMAS officials were seated for a discussion regarding the disappearance of Yvette Eridal, Brian Tormal, and several other officials. Sydney looked to his equals with no seams loose in his composure. His plans were under wraps, Councilwoman Marie, head of the CMAS' science division, made sure of it. Lumar Devonport of Hyznia, head of CMAS' military might, Hariot Crower of Teknoh, head of CMAS' Mechanical studies, and Pablo Gradius of Illon, head of CMAS' government relations, were completely ignorant of Sydney's transgressions, and if he played his cards right, it would be too late for any of them to react when he plan was set into full motion.
"I am to to understand, that the senate has some concerns for our missing official, Yvette Eridal," Sydney asked, his voice slow and soothing like it had always been. He was dressed in a gaudy purple robe that hid his average figure and distracted from his wrinkled skin and graying black hair. He always kept his hair tied back into a ponytail. It did make him appear more youthful, but only ever so slightly. "But I am here to assure you, that Yvette Eridal's disappearance is one of traitorous intent. Yvette consulted my follow head Mage, Marie, earlier in the week, prior to her disappearance, regarding her right to leave the borders of Arcadia. When she was denied this, Yvette reportedly stormed out of Marie's quarters, and revealed intentions to break our rules, and march into no-man's land with a group of her creation. This, to my knowledge, was Yvette's reaction to her application as a
Survey Head being denied."
"A rather childish reaction," Marie started, "One which I regret, as I failed to convince her that her actions were foolish."
"As such," Sydney continued, "She has been deemed a criminal, and sentenced to immediate silencing upon her return to Arcadia, whenever that may be."
"Why in the world would Yvette, with such a golden record within the CMAS over the past 5 years, throw her title and reputation away like this?" One of the attendees shouted from the stands. "Although this senate agrees that she was not ready for leadership out in no-man's-land, we cannot believe that she would allow her ego to take hold of her like that! And what of the other missing mages? Do they share the same fate?"
"It is as you say," Sydney interjected, "This is extraordinarily out of character for miss Eridal, and we've deliberated this issue for quite some times. Your concerns have only further cemented our decision, despite your kind intentions. Miss Eridal is dangerous, and will not be given special treatment in lieu of her crime. Those who she dragged down with her, if they survive the unkind terrors of No-Man's-Land, will suffer the same fate." Silence filled the room. The five heads of CMAS nodded in unison. "Now then," Sydney quickly flipped through a stack of papers on his desk,
"Shall we discuss Sulfrax Lauchlin's recent trip to Hyznia?"
@RyuShura
Pincy found himself in CMAS's local branch within minutes of his
abduction, trapped in a room positively
loaded with CMAS officials. It was small, square, and resembled some sort of
interrogation room. Though, to those who have had the unpleasant experience of seeing the inside of a
silencing chamber might have made that comparison first. Pincy was sat at one end of a small wooden table that had a chair on either side, practically bolted to the floor. Several minutes of silence ensued, and the Mages that surrounded him responded to Pincy's musings with a
hush or ignored him outright. The deeper he found himself within CMAS' grasp, the more difficult it became to prod at the officials around him.
After ten minutes of
nothing, the door that Pincy was pushed through swung back open, and a woman made her way towards the opposite side of the table. She sized up Pincy as she passed him by, before sitting in the other chair. She was a stout woman, with rigid facial features, including a longer than usual set of cheekbones, a petite mouth, and small, unforgiving eyes. She wore the conventional CMAS uniform, a black and blue vest with black dress pants and the CMAS crest placed over the center of one's breast, and it fit her rather well, conforming to her conservative figure. Her silver blonde hair was tucked into a tiny CMAS beret, a hat that signified rather dignified standing within the officials, much like that hat that Yvette Eridal lost in Xena plains.
"Ehem," The woman cleared her throat, and placed her hands on the table in front of Pincy, "I will be asking questions. You will be answering them. There will be no idle chatter, and you will not speak out of turn. Understood?" She glared at Pincy with a pair of piercing pink eyes. This lady meant business, but Pincy wasn't exactly
sound of mind. How might he react?
Zentai Mountains, Southern Plains
The crevices and outcroppings that surrounded Zentai were one of the few safest areas throughout all of No-Man's-Land. Hyznia made sure of it, long before the creation of the Force field generators that kept the largest nations safe. The local mages hunted every last flying beast to extinction in the early ages, including the menacing Dragon that rested near the top of Zentai's central peak long ago. A perfect haven for Divers that weren't living in the Paradise, or found themselves far away from any sort of home. And perfect for Elisa Wilmeg, by extension.
It offered a safe place for her to experiment in peace and quiet. It was secretive, safe from repeated attacks, and the giant mushrooms that grew at the base of Zentai were edible, and hearty at that. Elisa found herself perfectly positioned underneath a generous collection of the aforementioned toadstools, near an outcropping of rocks and trees that branched off of the base of one of the mountains, into a small cavernous area, safe from any curious eyes that weren't willing to climb the mountainside. A very fortunate twist of the land for Elisa, especially considering that many travelers used the path that lead along the southwestern edge of the Zentai triangle to move between Illon, and the westernmost Nations on a regular basis. The local land-beasts also prowled just beyond the nearby path, but never strode anywhere near the mountains, except on very rare occasions. Fortunately, Elisa was more than capable of handling herself. She was a
Diver after all.
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