Mana Academy (IC) (Open, Fantasy)

[Luminesa]

Ah, they'd found her. Red eyes gleamed viciously as she stared at them, noting that this body's sister and the doll needed to be swayed. The more on her side, the better.

"Stay back," she demanded, making her voice quiver as if she was genuinely afraid. "Don't come near us! I won't let you hurt them!"

The blue-haired girl--Kasumi, the memories called her--stood firmly behind the brunette, staring with wide eyes at the teachers and students congregating on them. The doll hid behind her leg, peering out nervously.

Good.

They believed the lie. For a little while longer, she could distract them, help her mistress destroy them. Take them down.

This would be fun.

"Ah! Here we go! I found something!" Rabbit hurried toward the clearing, in which he saw Hikari, Kasumi, and Natalie. He was completely shocked, as he had expected Katelyn to be in the area. He sucked in his breath, and he turned to Henry behind him. "...Henry, send-up a flare for Hestia and the others. Let them know that we have found something. Please hurry," he ordered softly. He then stepped toward them. "...Are all of you safe? What is going on?" he inquired carefully, keeping his distance. He stared down at Natalie, and seeing that she was physically unharmed, he sighed his relief. "...Natalie, can you tell me what's happened?...And where is Miss Katelyn?" he inquired. Something here seemed amiss, but he could not figure what it was. Why did the students seem so scared? Had they seen Katelyn? Did she attack them?

[Saldinado]

Shaun Calhoun

"They did eh? Did they do anything to you? All of you?" This was rather strange. He didn't really take the others as the ones to do anything bad towards them; especially Rabbit and nevertheless Henry. Though from what he'd seen throughout his entire time here is that things aren't what they seem. That you can never fully get to close to anyone before something occurs and everything you thought was just a facade.
Suddenly Shaun then heard the voice of Rabbit speak to them as well with a furrowed brow he looked at him. His face then grew colder as his hands became shaky even more. His heart rate increased as it was before even a bit faster, and his breathing shortened. Looking at both sides of him he was completely confused at what was happening.

"What? Why are you worried about her? She just told me that you're crazy. And from what I saw earlier with you, she does have a point. Is there something that you would like to say to me? The both of you really? And also, what's wrong with Katelyn? Did something happened to her as well?" His voice sounded deeper and more angered than before and his eyes were still filled with the confusion and worries of a small child who lost their parents in a crowded mall. Just completely lost, alone, and afraid. "What is the meaning behind this cross behind me? And what is the reason behind the other things that happened in these woods tonight? I don't care who answers first just tell me now." He didn't yell once yet one could hear the anger that was building up inside of him. Perhaps this lost child in the mall was getting upset now.

[Kingdom of Irhk]

Ah, they'd found her. Red eyes gleamed viciously as she stared at them, noting that this body's sister and the doll needed to be swayed. The more on her side, the better.

"Stay back," she demanded, making her voice quiver as if she was genuinely afraid. "Don't come near us! I won't let you hurt them!"

The blue-haired girl--Kasumi, the memories called her--stood firmly behind the brunette, staring with wide eyes at the teachers and students congregating on them. The doll hid behind her leg, peering out nervously.

Good.

They believed the lie. For a little while longer, she could distract them, help her mistress destroy them. Take them down.

This would be fun.

"Ah! Here we go! I found something!" Rabbit hurried toward the clearing, in which he saw Hikari, Kasumi, and Natalie. He was completely shocked, as he had expected Katelyn to be in the area. He sucked in his breath, and he turned to Henry behind him. "...Henry, send-up a flare for Hestia and the others. Let them know that we have found something. Please hurry," he ordered softly. He then stepped toward them. "...Are all of you safe? What is going on?" he inquired carefully, keeping his distance. He stared down at Natalie, and seeing that she was physically unharmed, he sighed his relief. "...Natalie, can you tell me what's happened?...And where is Miss Katelyn?" he inquired. Something here seemed amiss, but he could not figure what it was. Why did the students seem so scared? Had they seen Katelyn? Did she attack them?

Henry Von Kressel

Quickly, Henry cast a small, yet bright fireball which he launched upwards, causing an explosion that would certainly draw the attention of the students and teachers near him, gathering them all on his position. If they were really fighting a demon - again - they would need to be together against this threat.

Needless to say, deep down inside, he started to remember the fateful night that the battle against Signas occurred: The students, young and mostly untrained, against a being that threatened to end their lives. However, Henry knew that this situation was a different one: They were in a bigger number, with better training.

"Done. They should be here at any minute."

[Charlia]

Shaun Calhoun

"They did eh? Did they do anything to you? All of you?" This was rather strange. He didn't really take the others as the ones to do anything bad towards them; especially Rabbit and nevertheless Henry. Though from what he'd seen throughout his entire time here is that things aren't what they seem. That you can never fully get to close to anyone before something occurs and everything you thought was just a facade.
Suddenly Shaun then heard the voice of Rabbit speak to them as well with a furrowed brow he looked at him. His face then grew colder as his hands became shaky even more. His heart rate increased as it was before even a bit faster, and his breathing shortened. Looking at both sides of him he was completely confused at what was happening.

"What? Why are you worried about her? She just told me that you're crazy. And from what I saw earlier with you, she does have a point. Is there something that you would like to say to me? The both of you really? And also, what's wrong with Katelyn? Did something happened to her as well?" His voice sounded deeper and more angered than before and his eyes were still filled with the confusion and worries of a small child who lost their parents in a crowded mall. Just completely lost, alone, and afraid. "What is the meaning behind this cross behind me? And what is the reason behind the other things that happened in these woods tonight? I don't care who answers first just tell me now." He didn't yell once yet one could hear the anger that was building up inside of him. Perhaps this lost child in the mall was getting upset now.

"I made the cross," 'Hikari' said quickly. "As a signal, to try and get anyone who's still in their right mind to help. Please, if we all work together, we can do this, right?"

Ah, they'd found her. Red eyes gleamed viciously as she stared at them, noting that this body's sister and the doll needed to be swayed. The more on her side, the better.

"Stay back," she demanded, making her voice quiver as if she was genuinely afraid. "Don't come near us! I won't let you hurt them!"

The blue-haired girl--Kasumi, the memories called her--stood firmly behind the brunette, staring with wide eyes at the teachers and students congregating on them. The doll hid behind her leg, peering out nervously.

Good.

They believed the lie. For a little while longer, she could distract them, help her mistress destroy them. Take them down.

This would be fun.

"Ah! Here we go! I found something!" Rabbit hurried toward the clearing, in which he saw Hikari, Kasumi, and Natalie. He was completely shocked, as he had expected Katelyn to be in the area. He sucked in his breath, and he turned to Henry behind him. "...Henry, send-up a flare for Hestia and the others. Let them know that we have found something. Please hurry," he ordered softly. He then stepped toward them. "...Are all of you safe? What is going on?" he inquired carefully, keeping his distance. He stared down at Natalie, and seeing that she was physically unharmed, he sighed his relief. "...Natalie, can you tell me what's happened?...And where is Miss Katelyn?" he inquired. Something here seemed amiss, but he could not figure what it was. Why did the students seem so scared? Had they seen Katelyn? Did she attack them?

Shrieking, Natalie hid behind Hikari, clutching her mama's leg. Go away! she burbled. Don't hurt Mama!

[Luminesa]

Shaun Calhoun

"They did eh? Did they do anything to you? All of you?" This was rather strange. He didn't really take the others as the ones to do anything bad towards them; especially Rabbit and nevertheless Henry. Though from what he'd seen throughout his entire time here is that things aren't what they seem. That you can never fully get to close to anyone before something occurs and everything you thought was just a facade.
Suddenly Shaun then heard the voice of Rabbit speak to them as well with a furrowed brow he looked at him. His face then grew colder as his hands became shaky even more. His heart rate increased as it was before even a bit faster, and his breathing shortened. Looking at both sides of him he was completely confused at what was happening.

"What? Why are you worried about her? She just told me that you're crazy. And from what I saw earlier with you, she does have a point. Is there something that you would like to say to me? The both of you really? And also, what's wrong with Katelyn? Did something happened to her as well?" His voice sounded deeper and more angered than before and his eyes were still filled with the confusion and worries of a small child who lost their parents in a crowded mall. Just completely lost, alone, and afraid. "What is the meaning behind this cross behind me? And what is the reason behind the other things that happened in these woods tonight? I don't care who answers first just tell me now." He didn't yell once yet one could hear the anger that was building up inside of him. Perhaps this lost child in the mall was getting upset now.

"I made the cross," 'Hikari' said quickly. "As a signal, to try and get anyone who's still in their right mind to help. Please, if we all work together, we can do this, right?"

"Ah! Here we go! I found something!" Rabbit hurried toward the clearing, in which he saw Hikari, Kasumi, and Natalie. He was completely shocked, as he had expected Katelyn to be in the area. He sucked in his breath, and he turned to Henry behind him. "...Henry, send-up a flare for Hestia and the others. Let them know that we have found something. Please hurry," he ordered softly. He then stepped toward them. "...Are all of you safe? What is going on?" he inquired carefully, keeping his distance. He stared down at Natalie, and seeing that she was physically unharmed, he sighed his relief. "...Natalie, can you tell me what's happened?...And where is Miss Katelyn?" he inquired. Something here seemed amiss, but he could not figure what it was. Why did the students seem so scared? Had they seen Katelyn? Did she attack them?

Shrieking, Natalie hid behind Hikari, clutching her mama's leg. Go away! she burbled. Don't hurt Mama!

"...Hikari...you know I would never hurt your Mama...what on earth is going on here?" He turned and stared at Hikari, and he saw that her eyes did not look normal. He also sensed a strange atmosphere around her. "...Hikari...what did you tell her and Kasumi?...You know I have never hurt you...and that I have never hurt Natalie...or Kasumi...What is going on here?..." He was shocked. Natalie was one of his most loyal students. She even knew, mostly, what he was, since she was the same sort of being he was. She had never seen him hurt Kasumi, and he had never even said anything harmful to her. He was always kind to her. Even if he racked his brains to think about it, he could not think of anything. "...Answer me, please! This is wrong!" he called, distressed.

[Imperial--japan]

Hestia Iolonos: Beyond Irritated

Hestia wasted no time in searching the premises of where Rabbit had sent her off to. She left no stone unturned as she moved with haste to secure the student of her current ire, Katelyn was her name. Regardless of if she was an opportunity that arose only once in a blue moon, the after-action consequences of this incident would no doubt be far reaching. She would need to call a meeting with her fellow professors in order to see what type of cover-up that they could fabricate to please the masses. The best hope was that they could pass this off as a drill of some sort. What to do in the event of a demon-possession? That sounded plausible.

Hestia continued her search unabated and with her support alongside her. She didn't speak to them, instead she was lost in a sea of variables and alibis. From this point on, they could schedule possible problem students for periodical mental evaluations? Perhaps the whole student body? An incident like this, no matter how much Hestia saw it working in her favor, could not be allowed to happen again. Her pride as a teacher demanded it. It was when a fireball exploded in the sky she knew that the location she was in would prove to be useless, as her target had been found by her colleagues instead. Luckily, they had not split up too long ago, and a simple 'Haste' spell would allow her and her companion to arrive in no time.

With said spell casted unto herself and her support, she sped off in the direction of the explosion in the sky. Another happenstance she would need to explain. Perhaps a supervised experiment, excused from the 'drill' by her very own self? Possibly, but she would need to think it over.

Hardly any time later.

Hestia would come across a clearing where a number of students and teachers were gathered. It seemed to almost look like a standoff of some sort, but there was no time for that. Any issue with the students would be handled effectively and accordingly. Any attempt to resist in an emergency situation such as this would be met with the harshness required to maintain order and discipline. The students would be removed from the premises, anyone in league with the 'demon possessed' Katelyn would be handled swiftly, and Katelyn herself would be put down if needed.

"I honestly wish I could handle this more subtly, but the burning cross in the sky makes this a bit fucking hard." Hestia spat, truly upset by todays turn of events, and the eventual damage control and public conferences she would need to attend to mend any damage to the institutions reputation. Stopping as she reached a decent position away from rabbit Rabbit, she paid the students no mind as she sought to quickly converse with her colleague and called out to them.

"This needs to be handled yesterday. If this goes on, the student body may continue to panic as long as Teachers remain focused on finding the source of our problem." Hestia deadpanned this time in an attempt to reign in her earlier noticeable irritation.

"If we are to handle this with speed and precision, we must abandon all pretenses of diplomacy now, for I believe that phase has since passed. We are teachers, it is our sworn duty to protect and guide the next generation of mages, and to let this spiral out of control would be a disrespect to our positions, and the Students we claim to protect." She stared at Rabbit, hoping they would come to see her point.

"That means for now, we must make sure all students are confined to their quarters, anyone in league with the 'problem child' be detained and status at this academy reviewed, and the 'problem child' detained, but only if we can. There is no use in letting people receive injuries because of sympathy we cannot afford to have here." Hestia finished. She spoke her peace, and would act in the best interests of this academy and its students.

[Kingdom of Irhk]

Hestia Iolonos: Beyond Irritated

Hestia wasted no time in searching the premises of where Rabbit had sent her off to. She left no stone unturned as she moved with haste to secure the student of her current ire, Katelyn was her name. Regardless of if she was an opportunity that arose only once in a blue moon, the after-action consequences of this incident would no doubt be far reaching. She would need to call a meeting with her fellow professors in order to see what type of cover-up that they could fabricate to please the masses. The best hope was that they could pass this off as a drill of some sort. What to do in the event of a demon-possession? That sounded plausible.

Hestia continued her search unabated and with her support alongside her. She didn't speak to them, instead she was lost in a sea of variables and alibis. From this point on, they could schedule possible problem students for periodical mental evaluations? Perhaps the whole student body? An incident like this, no matter how much Hestia saw it working in her favor, could not be allowed to happen again. Her pride as a teacher demanded it. It was when a fireball exploded in the sky she knew that the location she was in would prove to be useless, as her target had been found by her colleagues instead. Luckily, they had not split up too long ago, and a simple 'Haste' spell would allow her and her companion to arrive in no time.

With said spell casted unto herself and her support, she sped off in the direction of the explosion in the sky. Another happenstance she would need to explain. Perhaps a supervised experiment, excused from the 'drill' by her very own self? Possibly, but she would need to think it over.

Hardly any time later.

Hestia would come across a clearing where a number of students and teachers were gathered. It seemed to almost look like a standoff of some sort, but there was no time for that. Any issue with the students would be handled effectively and accordingly. Any attempt to resist in an emergency situation such as this would be met with the harshness required to maintain order and discipline. The students would be removed from the premises, anyone in league with the 'demon possessed' Katelyn would be handled swiftly, and Katelyn herself would be put down if needed.

"I honestly wish I could handle this more subtly, but the burning cross in the sky makes this a bit fucking hard." Hestia spat, truly upset by todays turn of events, and the eventual damage control and public conferences she would need to attend to mend any damage to the institutions reputation. Stopping as she reached Rabbit, she paid the students no mind as she sought to quickly converse with her colleague.

"This needs to be handled yesterday. If this goes on, the student body may continue to panic as long as Teachers remain focused on finding the source of our problem." Hestia deadpanned this time in an attempt to reign in her earlier noticeable irritation.

"If we are to handle this with speed and precision, we must abandon all pretenses of diplomacy now, for I believe that phase has since passed. We are teachers, it is our sworn duty to protect and guide the next generation of mages, and to let this spiral out of control would be a disrespect to our positions, and the Students we claim to protect." She stared at Rabbit, hoping they would come to see her point.

"That means for now, we must make sure all students are confined to their quarters, anyone in league with the 'problem child' be detained and status at this academy reviewed, and the 'problem child' detained, but only if we can. There is no use in letting people receive injuries because of sympathy we cannot afford to have here." Hestia finished. She spoke her peace, and would act in the best interests of this academy and its students.

Basil Smith

"You do seem to lack sympathy towards Katelyn, Ms. Iolonos."

It would seem that the wind around them was speaking, and it wasn't wrong: From a strong gust of wind Basil appeared, materializing himself from the pure air as he appeared, correcting his mustache before continuing his speech. Two things were unusual: He lacked a cup of tea, and it was clearly irritated by his teacher's suggestion.

"Allow me to correct myself: You do seem to lack general sympathy. Your argument is nothing more than an excuse for the use of violence for reasons I fail to comprehend than out of worry towards these students. Their curriculum and their achievements gave them credentials enough to fight Solaine Rise in France, which was clearly more dangerous than a simple demon. However, your sudden burst of amnesia towards such facts is quite interesting, isn't it?

You're not acting on the behalf of the Academy and its students, mostly because both of them are harder than the unadvised observer would judge them. So, at least have the decency that was entitled to you when someone gave you the title of Professor at this Academy and admit that you are acting on your behalf, favoring your visions. Do not evoke the name of this institution or the role of guardian of those students to give your personal ideas some little spark of reason, Ms. Iolonos."

The wind blew stronger. The trees near them bent, before Basil calmed himself.

"Rabbit. Do what you think it is best for the current situation. I've said my peace."

Henry Von Kressel

And if in one front Hestia had to deal with a surprisingly angry Basil, in the other one the sassy yet educated Henry decided to manifest as well.

"Pardon my opinion Ms. Iolonos, but containing the students? I would be one student that would gladly foil your planning, for the simple reason that it doesn't make any sense regarding every event passed in two or three years in this Academy. So, you can make sure of stating your opinion, as this is a right granted by this Academy to every person included here, but you'll find a little bit harder to contain us students with the simple idea that we shouldn't sustain injuries for the sympathy you don't have to spare. I have some, and I'm sure some of my colleagues have as well, but I can't speak for them: I tend to avoid such habit, as I'm not representing any group here.

Also, please, do not pretend that we don't know about the lethal option that everyone is trying to hide here. Please do not pretend that someone planned to use Rabbit as a receptacle for the demon. We are students, not imbeciles. Now, as I've stated before, this is my opinion, and I guess that it's a granted right by the Academy's code. You are, obviously, granted to disagree or agree with me."

[Luminesa]

Hestia Iolonos: Beyond Irritated

Hestia wasted no time in searching the premises of where Rabbit had sent her off to. She left no stone unturned as she moved with haste to secure the student of her current ire, Katelyn was her name. Regardless of if she was an opportunity that arose only once in a blue moon, the after-action consequences of this incident would no doubt be far reaching. She would need to call a meeting with her fellow professors in order to see what type of cover-up that they could fabricate to please the masses. The best hope was that they could pass this off as a drill of some sort. What to do in the event of a demon-possession? That sounded plausible.

Hestia continued her search unabated and with her support alongside her. She didn't speak to them, instead she was lost in a sea of variables and alibis. From this point on, they could schedule possible problem students for periodical mental evaluations? Perhaps the whole student body? An incident like this, no matter how much Hestia saw it working in her favor, could not be allowed to happen again. Her pride as a teacher demanded it. It was when a fireball exploded in the sky she knew that the location she was in would prove to be useless, as her target had been found by her colleagues instead. Luckily, they had not split up too long ago, and a simple 'Haste' spell would allow her and her companion to arrive in no time.

With said spell casted unto herself and her support, she sped off in the direction of the explosion in the sky. Another happenstance she would need to explain. Perhaps a supervised experiment, excused from the 'drill' by her very own self? Possibly, but she would need to think it over.

Hardly any time later.

Hestia would come across a clearing where a number of students and teachers were gathered. It seemed to almost look like a standoff of some sort, but there was no time for that. Any issue with the students would be handled effectively and accordingly. Any attempt to resist in an emergency situation such as this would be met with the harshness required to maintain order and discipline. The students would be removed from the premises, anyone in league with the 'demon possessed' Katelyn would be handled swiftly, and Katelyn herself would be put down if needed.

"I honestly wish I could handle this more subtly, but the burning cross in the sky makes this a bit fucking hard." Hestia spat, truly upset by todays turn of events, and the eventual damage control and public conferences she would need to attend to mend any damage to the institutions reputation. Stopping as she reached Rabbit, she paid the students no mind as she sought to quickly converse with her colleague.

"This needs to be handled yesterday. If this goes on, the student body may continue to panic as long as Teachers remain focused on finding the source of our problem." Hestia deadpanned this time in an attempt to reign in her earlier noticeable irritation.

"If we are to handle this with speed and precision, we must abandon all pretenses of diplomacy now, for I believe that phase has since passed. We are teachers, it is our sworn duty to protect and guide the next generation of mages, and to let this spiral out of control would be a disrespect to our positions, and the Students we claim to protect." She stared at Rabbit, hoping they would come to see her point.

"That means for now, we must make sure all students are confined to their quarters, anyone in league with the 'problem child' be detained and status at this academy reviewed, and the 'problem child' detained, but only if we can. There is no use in letting people receive injuries because of sympathy we cannot afford to have here." Hestia finished. She spoke her peace, and would act in the best interests of this academy and its students.

Basil Smith

"You do seem to lack sympathy towards Katelyn, Ms. Iolonos."

It would seem that the wind around them was speaking, and it wasn't wrong: From a strong gust of wind Basil appeared, materializing himself from the pure air as he appeared, correcting his mustache before continuing his speech. Two things were unusual: He lacked a cup of tea, and it was clearly irritated by his teacher's suggestion.

"Allow me to correct myself: You do seem to lack general sympathy. Your argument is nothing more than an excuse for the use of violence for reasons I fail to comprehend than out of worry towards these students. Their curriculum and their achievements gave them credentials enough to fight Solaine Rise in France, which was clearly more dangerous than a simple demon. However, your sudden burst of amnesia towards such facts is quite interesting, isn't it?

You're not acting on the behalf of the Academy and its students, mostly because both of them are harder than the unadvised observer would judge them. So, at least have the decency that was entitled to you when someone gave you the title of Professor at this Academy and admit that you are acting on your behalf, favoring your visions. Do not evoke the name of this institution or the role of guardian of those students to give your personal ideas some little spark of reason, Ms. Iolonos."

The wind blew stronger. The trees near them bent, before Basil calmed himself.

"Rabbit. Do what you think it is best for the current situation. I've said my peace."

Henry Von Kressel

And if in one front Hestia had to deal with a surprisingly angry Basil, in the other one the sassy yet educated Henry decided to manifest as well.

"Pardon my opinion Ms. Iolonos, but containing the students? I would be one student that would gladly foil your planning, for the simple reason that it doesn't make any sense regarding every event passed in two or three years in this Academy. So, you can make sure of stating your opinion, as this is a right granted by this Academy to every person included here, but you'll find a little bit harder to contain us students with the simple idea that we shouldn't sustain injuries for the sympathy you don't have to spare. I have some, and I'm sure some of my colleagues have as well, but I can't speak for them: I tend to avoid such habit, as I'm not representing any group here.

Also, please, do not pretend that we don't know about the lethal option that everyone is trying to hide here. Please do not pretend that someone planned to use Rabbit as a receptacle for the demon. We are students, not imbeciles. Now, as I've stated before, this is my opinion, and I guess that it's a granted right by the Academy's code. You are, obviously, granted to disagree or agree with me."

"Considering we're not quite dealing with Katelyn right now...I'm trying to figure if this is a trap. And yes, the students can help, as long as they obey our instructions. It is good for them to have some field-experience, but at the same time they do not need to be in the brunt of the fight. So I suppose I am smack in the middle of your sentiments," Rabbit answered, while not taking his eyes off Hikari. Whatever had possessed Katelyn had left this mess as a distraction. Yet he was not sure how it worked. How did Natalie of all people turn against him so quickly? The one student who always trusted him, even over Henry? And Kasumi, who was always respectful of her teachers? "...Girls, come back with us now, please. We need to look for Katelyn, and you all need to be in your dorms. You are in no conditions to fight," he explained, seeing how frightened they were.

[Charlia]

"I made the cross," 'Hikari' said quickly. "As a signal, to try and get anyone who's still in their right mind to help. Please, if we all work together, we can do this, right?"Shrieking, Natalie hid behind Hikari, clutching her mama's leg. Go away! she burbled. Don't hurt Mama!

"...Hikari...you know I would never hurt your Mama...what on earth is going on here?" He turned and stared at Hikari, and he saw that her eyes did not look normal. He also sensed a strange atmosphere around her. "...Hikari...what did you tell her and Kasumi?...You know I have never hurt you...and that I have never hurt Natalie...or Kasumi...What is going on here?..." He was shocked. Natalie was one of his most loyal students. She even knew, mostly, what he was, since she was the same sort of being he was. She had never seen him hurt Kasumi, and he had never even said anything harmful to her. He was always kind to her. Even if he racked his brains to think about it, he could not think of anything. "...Answer me, please! This is wrong!" he called, distressed.

"Stay away from us," 'Hikari' hissed in response, scooping up Natalie and hugging the frightened doll tightly. "You think I don't know what's going on here? All I told them was the truth. If you take one more step, I'll make you leave us alone. There's no way I'm letting any of you hurt either of them!"

The desperate, fiercely protective sister. What a role. It was getting a bit dull, though... she wanted to make them bleed.

Soon enough, though. Soon enough, that would come.

[Luminesa]

"...Hikari...you know I would never hurt your Mama...what on earth is going on here?" He turned and stared at Hikari, and he saw that her eyes did not look normal. He also sensed a strange atmosphere around her. "...Hikari...what did you tell her and Kasumi?...You know I have never hurt you...and that I have never hurt Natalie...or Kasumi...What is going on here?..." He was shocked. Natalie was one of his most loyal students. She even knew, mostly, what he was, since she was the same sort of being he was. She had never responded seen him hurt Kasumi, and he had never even said anything harmful to her. He was always kind to her. Even if he racked his brains to think about it, he could not think of anything. "...Answer me, please! This is wrong!" he called, distressed.

"Stay away from us," 'Hikari' hissed in response, scooping up Natalie and hugging the frightened doll tightly. "You think I don't know what's going on here? All I told them was the truth. If you take one more step, I'll make you leave us alone. There's no way I'm letting any of you hurt either of them!"

The desperate, fiercely protective sister. What a role. It was getting a bit dull, though... she wanted to make them bleed.

Soon enough, though. Soon enough, that would come.

Rabbit sighed, and he held up a hand. "Ahhhhhh, no. I'm not sure whether to trust you right now. And since you are not giving me an answer, I'm not allowing you to hold and potentially hurt Natalie," he answered. Using his powers, he lifted Natalie out of her arms, and given that she was only a few ounces, he held her away from Hikari in mid-air. "I'm sorry, sweetheart. I'll make it up to you in the morning, once this is over, okay? I promise I won't drop you," he told her softly. He also took his other hand and pulled Kasumi away. She was heavier, and so he could not lift her, but he could keep her away from Hikari. "Once again. I will make it up to you in the morning, dear," he told her.

He then turned to Hikari. "...I have never hurt any of you. Ever. And you know this. Even now, as I am separating the group of you, I am not harming you. But I will say this. I do not have to move a step to fight you. I do not technically even have to move, though movement is preferred. Now. Tell me. What did you tell them? And if you did not do it, tell me who told you that I would harm any of you. Hestia, get next to me in case she attacks," Rabbit called to her. "But do not harm her. Merely hold her back. Understood?"

[Charlia]

"Stay away from us," 'Hikari' hissed in response, scooping up Natalie and hugging the frightened doll tightly. "You think I don't know what's going on here? All I told them was the truth. If you take one more step, I'll make you leave us alone. There's no way I'm letting any of you hurt either of them!"

The desperate, fiercely protective sister. What a role. It was getting a bit dull, though... she wanted to make them bleed.

Soon enough, though. Soon enough, that would come.

Rabbit sighed, and he held up a hand. "Ahhhhhh, no. I'm not sure whether to trust you right now. And since you are not giving me an answer, I'm not allowing you to hold and potentially hurt Natalie," he answered. Using his powers, he lifted Natalie out of her arms, and given that she was only a few ounces, he held her away from Hikari in mid-air. "I'm sorry, sweetheart. I'll make it up to you in the morning, once this is over, okay? I promise I won't drop you," he told her softly. He also took his other hand and pulled Kasumi away. She was heavier, and so he could not lift her, but he could keep her away from Hikari. "Once again. I will make it up to you in the morning, dear," he told her.

He then turned to Hikari. "...I have never hurt any of you. Ever. And you know this. Even now, as I am separating the group of you, I am not harming you. But I will say this. I do not have to move a step to fight you. I do not technically even have to move, though movement is preferred. Now. Tell me. What did you tell them? And if you did not do it, tell me who told you that I would harm any of you. Hestia, get next to me in case she attacks," Rabbit called to her. "But do not harm her. Merely hold her back. Understood?"

As soon as Rabbit took Natalie, she started shrieking, wriggling and shouting, Mama, Mama, help me! Mama! Don't leave me alone, Mama!

'Hikari's' eyes widened slightly, and then a slow smile spread across her face.

"...Good enough, I suppose," she said with a shrug. "I was getting bored of this game anyway."

"Hikari-chan..." Kasumi's own eyes were ridiculously wide, now. "Game? Did you lie? Why would you--"

"Ah, ah, ah," 'Hikari' interrupted. "No. 'Hikari-chan' is dead. Dead and gone." MAMA?! "...Well, I suppose she's still in here somewhere, but that doesn't matter, since you're all going to die, anyway. My mistress commands it, and so it shall be. Hmm... this body loved fiction, once. Why not play a game with that? I'll use terms she would understand and appreciate. You all just love commemorating the dead, after all. So..."

Another smile carved its way across her face.

"Let's play, okay? A tribute to the sister first, of trauma in the glimmering depths. DROWN!"

It wasn't physical.

It was mental.

Swimming through their minds, a memory of looking up from the bottom of endless depths. Weighed down, crushed by water pressure, unable to move, unable to breathe, unable to do anything. Frozen. Endless. Why couldn't they just die so it would stop?!

[Luminesa]

Rabbit sighed, and he held up a hand. "Ahhhhhh, no. I'm not sure whether to trust you right now. And since you are not giving me an answer, I'm not allowing you to hold and potentially hurt Natalie," he answered. Using his powers, he lifted Natalie out of her arms, and given that she was only a few ounces, he held her away from Hikari in mid-air. "I'm sorry, sweetheart. I'll make it up to you in the morning, once this is over, okay? I promise I won't drop you," he told her softly. He also took his other hand and pulled Kasumi away. She was heavier, and so he could not lift her, but he could keep her away from Hikari. "Once again. I will make it up to you in the morning, dear," he told her.

He then turned to Hikari. "...I have never hurt any of you. Ever. And you know this. Even now, as I am separating the group of you, I am not harming you. But I will say this. I do not have to move a step to fight you. I do not technically even have to move, though movement is preferred. Now. Tell me. What did you tell them? And if you did not do it, tell me who told you that I would harm any of you. Hestia, get next to me in case she attacks," Rabbit called to her. "But do not harm her. Merely hold her back. Understood?"

As soon as Rabbit took Natalie, she started shrieking, wriggling and shouting, Mama, Mama, help me! Mama! Don't leave me alone, Mama!

'Hikari's' eyes widened slightly, and then a slow smile spread across her face.

"...Good enough, I suppose," she said with a shrug. "I was getting bored of this game anyway."

"Hikari-chan..." Kasumi's own eyes were ridiculously wide, now. "Game? Did you lie? Why would you--"

"Ah, ah, ah," 'Hikari' interrupted. "No. 'Hikari-chan' is dead. Dead and gone." MAMA?! "...Well, I suppose she's still in here somewhere, but that doesn't matter, since you're all going to die, anyway. My mistress commands it, and so it shall be. Hmm... this body loved fiction, once. Why not play a game with that? I'll use terms she would understand and appreciate. You all just love commemorating the dead, after all. So..."

Another smile carved its way across her face.

"Let's play, okay? A tribute to the sister first, of trauma in the glimmering depths. DROWN!"

It wasn't physical.

It was mental.

Swimming through their minds, a memory of looking up from the bottom of endless depths. Weighed down, crushed by water pressure, unable to move, unable to breathe, unable to do anything. Frozen. Endless. Why couldn't they just die so it would stop?!

Rabbit froze, and he dropped the two girls as his magic seemed to come to a halt. He caught Natalie promptly, however, before she could hit the ground. He could not concentrate, however. He felt inside that he was sinking...

He was suffocating. A sort of deep, crackling despair was overcoming him. All of the blood. All of the bodies. All of the deaths. As he looked around, he realized the ocean around him was red with blood, and bodies were all floating around him. Everybody he had ever killed-except Mikhailov's, since Mikhailov was gone from his mind. While he was the worst one, Rabbit still felt sick from seeing all of the bodies. Everything he wanted to avoid was right here in front of him.

...Gah...I'm a monster...I'm a monster...look at...what I have done...and how many more will I add to this endless sea of destruction?...How many more...until my cursed body is finally satisfied?...

And yet these thoughts seemed...familiar. Perhaps on a different scale, but they were the same sorts of thoughts that he had dealt with before. He had never seen them like this, but he knew that he had felt this sickness before. This depression. This self-hatred. He grit his teeth and looked up. He had to find an exit. He needed to think of something...something bright...

His body, however, struggled toward Hikari, as he fought the thoughts inside. The breathlessness was unbearable, but he refused to give-up. He had to find Katelyn and to end this nightmare. "...You cannot...stop us...whatever you are...I won't let you...Ggggghhhhh..." He clutched the side of his head, fighting the demon as it sought to break him.

...Something bright...something bright...

[Chrome Legion]

Catherine de Sanguine Vivere


It did, for a moment catch her off guard, the assault on her senses. She looked out and saw a foaming sea, and water poured down her throat. She couldn't breathe, couldn't move, and the blackness surrounding her and concealing her from the others failed, pushing her out of hiding. Was this how she was going to die? After all she had faced, all she had given up? No. She chuckled sightly. She had been unable to breathe before. Drowning? This was nothing. All the experience she had fighting her own pain crushed this into nothing, her mind held fast against the waves of oppressive emotion. This was just as hard to fight as it was to stand up with her spine screaming hot nails at her. There was nothing here to frighten her. The compulsion didn't hold her for long.
Finally, flushed from hiding, she spoke up.

"Do you know how fucking hard it is to sleep with that thing blazing away in your window? Would you please turn it off? Ah, you're busy. I'll get it for you." Then She reached out, an arm made of the darkest knight clasped around the base of the flame cross. The arm blazed as it's nothingness sucked in the energy, pulling apart the mana, the embers, and the very heat of the cross. The cross faded away and blinked out. Soon after, the light faded from her arm as the last of the energy was consumed. "So, I don't suppose I'll just be going back to my room to sleep now, will I?"

[Imperial--japan]

Hestia Iolonos

Hestia was taken aback by the sudden refusal to see the logic behind her argument. What stunned her into momentary silence were the accusations and actual argument prevented against her. Some of the insinuations of her character and personal beliefs hit a bit too close to home for her comfort. She opened her mouth, prepared to retort only to close it once more. There was no need to rush into an argument. No, she had gotten as far as she had by being unnoticeable, by not starting incidents with her associates. She was a 'paper pusher'. She was the 'mean teacher', but she was not a violent maniac. Hestia was a researcher. A dedicated individual who would one day bring about peace and salvation to all, and this was not the time to debate ethics with someone she's rarely had any interaction with.

"If you would seek to have a discussion later on about my ethics, then very well. However, I offered my suggestion to my colleague here." She gestured to Rabbit.

"I merely offered my input, and while it may come across as unsatisfactory for you, I do not see it being nearly as untenable as you claim. Do you know what happens when incidents like these happen? We hold conferences, we are interviewed and investigated. In the end, this is an institution of higher learning, and we operate as one. When people decide to withhold their children from attending someplace to master their gifts, they may do it out of worry that their child may suffer while here." Once more, she gestured to the burning cross in the sky.

"It hurts nobody but themselves. In the end, all we can do is salvage what reputation she can, promise we did everything we could, and move on. True, the heavy-handed tactics I put forth may come across as reprehensible, and I'm sure these students can handle themselves, but what of those who can't? The scrutiny we would incur by merely letting our students roam while a demon held onto one of our own would be enormous." Hestia sighed, not sure if her fellow teacher would understand her reasoning, but she didn't really care. They had already insulted her character, a slight she would not soon forget, but would not act on for now.

"So I suppose I am smack in the middle of your sentiments," Hestia supposed that was the most she could ask for, and as the scene with Rabbit and Hikari unfolded, she did not expect the sudden drop and feeling of drowning...of helplessness. It was almost enough to make Hestia lose he normally cool composure. She had not felt helpless since the day she received the letter detailing that she was the last of her great house. The end to a lineage that had lasted hundreds of years, only to be purged by the inquisition on baseless rumors.

"I'll see you again soon...." Hestia thought to herself as she believed she truly was about to meet her ends. No more blood on her hands, no more murder for the sake of her research, no more long nights of losing sleep as she coped with the pictures of the bodies she was sent. She could finally be at peace and acknowledge that she tried. However, she realized something important.

"All those who I've killed for the sake of my dreams....I refuse to let their deaths be in vain." Hestia, a murderer in secret, claimed she did this for the greater good. That all those who had died so far because of what she needed to accomplish, would smile because it was their sacrifice that brought everlasting peace to this world. Perhaps Hestia was deranged, but she did not believe so. She was simply an underappreciated hero.

Then as she seemed to sink even farther beneath the water, she realized that wasn't all there was to her despair. She did this for more than some righteous 'New World Order' dominated by mages, and enforced by her, its new queen. As shadows peeled away for another memory to surface, she froze. A window laid in front of her, and on the other side was a mother and child. The child, a younger Hestia sat on the lap of an older woman that she could clearly recall as her mother. The two sat cozy by a fireplace as a Christmas movie played on the television.

"The Polar Express..." Hestia thought to herself as she remembered her favorite Christmas movie. Her father trailed in afterwords with a plate of cookies and a glass of milk. Hestia rarely smiled, but this was an exception. The room then suddenly burst into flame as they all sat on the couch together. Hestia's eyes widened in astonishment, and she banged on the glass and screamed to get their attention. She felt that she was running out of air, and watching the family she desired be reduced to ash only caused her to lose her composure once more panic. As everything faded into darkness, she recalled one important fact.

"This isn't real.." She thought slowly. Her eyes shot open at the prospect and she realized, much to her surprise, that she was no longer drowning. She was once more inside her body, next to Rabbit, and perfectly fine. She stumbled slightly, concerned that this Demon had accessed her inner mind. Hestia had never encountered a Demon before now, but knew that coming without shoring up her mental defenses more appropriately was a mistake. The demon would pay for making her confront her own 'demons' so to say. She confronted them every night, and she didn't need some abomination inducing them on her behalf.

Seeing that her companions were in a similar stunned state that she was previously, Hestia gripped her sword tightly and raised it in the air.

"That was a mistake." Hestia grounded out as if she were wounded. She was in a way. There would be a lot of nightmares tonight. Without another word she brought the blunt end of her blade down with the intention to hit Hikari across the face. Hopefully, knocking her out.

[Saldinado]

Shade & Dominique

Shade along with Dominique searched for clues within the Aquo house as they tried to see exactly who was the one that has been taken advantage of during Katelyn's wrath. "Oh. So it was her. As well as the doll as well? Hm, I must say that this is rather interesting. Now exactly why would she be so interested in these two? Was there a relationship between them that prompted her to go after them?" She said to herself as her student continued to look around the girls' room, rather careful not to see things that he wouldn't like to see as well. "Sweetie, I think that we have found all that we need. Come. Let's go meet the others." With those calm words, Shade turned around and walked out the room. "And please close the door behind you; that'll be awfully rude of us, thank you."

"Huh? Oh, okay ma'am." Doing what she said her student walked behind her and closed the door to the room and remained quiet most of the time as he didn't know what else to say during this time. Once they made it outside of the dorms, Dom finally began to say something to her. "So um, wha-" However that was soon worthless as the night sky was then brightened once more with a flash of light. However this one was more straight as it flew in the air before exploding like a firework and lasting for a moment before it dissipated.

"Now what was that?" Dominique said in bewilderment. Shade can only do nothing but look into the sky and nod to herself as she looked straight ahead to see that her cloud was now gone. "So I seem that he got the message. Good. Now it's our turn." Turning towards the forest, she began walking in the direction of the flare and said calmly out loud to Dominique.
"Come now; the others have found Katelyn. But I must warn you to be careful of yourself as well as her if we do need to resort to physicality. She is still your classmate and my student, and I'll be damned if anyone was to hurt either one of you." And with those words she continued walking in that direction.

Dominique watched amazed at the sight of his teacher as she remained so calm and composed yet serious and disciplined. Not saying a word, he run up to her side and walked alongside her through the forest where the sound of screaming and yelling and talking soon filled their ears. And then the fierce blowing of the trees that made Shade use her own wind to block to prevent Dominique from being hit by any of the debris. Once it calmed down, they finally saw a brighter light and quickened their pacing albeit carefully until they made it to the shores of the lake and saw that Rabbit along with the rest of the students and teachers were stationed on one side and Kasumi and Hikari were on the other, with the latter being trapped in a form of water orb.

In the middle of them was the frightened Shaun who was becoming increasingly angered with both sides given the lack of evidence. Sensing this, Shade made her presence know to everyone as she raised her hand up and created a rather large surge from the lake rise up and carry Shaun towards her, making sure to not get in the way of the ones on the other side of the water as it moved only as if it was a wall and on both sides of it was the opponent and defendant. As Shaun came towards them, the water quickly engulfed him before releasing him only with Shade catching him in her arms and hugging him close to her body as if she was her child. The water soon returning back to its original state as it crept back into the lake careful not to make any of the other students and teachers wet.

Looking up at the sight in front of her with a shaking and confused teen in her arms, Shade looked over at them and softly sighed. "I see. Well then. Dominique; take him." She then handed Shaun over to Dom who he then hugged the wet and delirious boy as she looked to see that there was something wrong with Rabbit and the others. Only to then have Catherine appear out of nowhere and reveal herself with a rather snarky remake as she put out the cross. Sighing jocular, she shook her head. "I would guess not my dear. This will be a long night for all of us. I don't have my iced coffee and Basil doesn't have his tea, so this will prove to be a rather interesting night."

[Finsternia]

Allistor Abendroth

Allistor quickly drew his rapier out of its scabbard as things have gotten to worse. "Sir Rabbit! That isn't Hikari!" His eyes could only widen as this doppelganger shouted the words and his eyes turned towards the waters. He tried to summon the glacial storms but suddenly he felt his chest be hit by a tidal wave so strong that his breath left his being. He frantically looked around but there was only nothing around them. No waves, no floods, no deluge. He gasped and his vision swam into his most prominent dream.

He was in that endless ocean again, the merciless sun beating down on his face. The waves weren't calm, it was a storm and the hands of the faceless men beneath tried to bring him down with them. 'I'm... drowning...' He said to himself as his personal nightmare took him down, leaving him only gasping and grabbing to Mizar mindlessly.

Glacia, however, had her serpentine eyes at the monster in front of them. Her forked tongue tasted the air provocatively, like a predator teasing its prey to come closer. "You filthy little scum!" The serpent thundered in the mind of 'Hikari' as she retaliated with her own mental assault, fuelled by despise, disgust, and diabolical intent. "You will not and shall not hurt my master!" If anyone would only know what the serpent sees, it was not a memory but a vision. A vision of Allistor bleeding on the ground, with the Lord and Lady of the House beside him. It was her only duty, to protect. She had no other memory of remorse, only the vision of her mission failing. It was as choking as the stench of blood, the stench of death, the stench of rot. No... She doesn't want to remember that again. Her mental assault at the demon continued, like a hailstorm against its mental shields. It was the only thing that the otherworldly serpent can do, else she will be risking the state of her master.

[Serah]

As Oliver continued to rush for the cross, his mind was suddenly hit with a wave of whatever it was that hit everyone else.
Although it didn't seem to be fully meant for him, and as much as he was prepared for pretty much anything, he felt himself drowning.

In his mind, very few things passed, but were of utmost importance to him.
Ah... Well, guess I won't die like Sigurd. That's... Good, I think. Though getting blasted by a tidal wave isn't especially better is it?
I'm not sure if I want to die right now, now that I'm confronted to it... Guess I'll just let it happen, water isn't exactly something I can fight against, can I?

Despite saying that, he still tried, he tried to summon a tornado, a typhoon, something to push himself out, whatever he could.
Yet nothing came out.
His helplessness started sinking in, however he kept himself calm, like he had dealt with way worse before. And it wouldn't too much of a far shot to say he did.
Oliver was his own mind's worst enemy, hardly anything else could top that. He knew exactly how to make himself feel like garbage, how to keep himself from eating, demeaning himself, anything.
The flood was just one of the many he had already lived through.

Maybe that was why he had survived this long? Maybe not. Who knows?

Welp, that's not working... Sigh. At least I can't say I didn't try.

As he started embracing the cold reality with a calmness uncharacteristic of his age, visions of his dog popped left and right, his mother, what would happen after his death.
All the things that kept him from pulling the trigger so many times.

Haaaah... Sigh. These again. Why must this always keep me from accepting my fate...
Begnion, mom... Everyone. I swear, stop keeping me alive already.

Using his own rationality to force himself back to consciousness, his eyes that were once slammed shut suddenly opened as anger started to overcome him.
After all, no one but himself had the right to bring him his own depression to his face but him, especially not some random nobody that decided to act on whatever belief of theirs.

"Alright..." He muttered. "What kind of bastard induced those thoughts into me again?"

It was then that he saw someone, two people rather, one still standing with a blade in her hand, and the other seemingly causing the global PTSD attack.

As soon as he saw the latter, he was tempted to just invoke whatever was heaviest and just crush the girl, but Oliver being who he is, decided otherwise.
He just thought of slamming her head back to a tree to knock her out with a gust of wind that could easily be considered a miniature tornado.
And that's what he did.

[Charlia]

Their attacks were... interesting. If a little bit pathetic. A gust of wind? Against a demon's thrall? A gust of wind. Even if it was strong, even the original body had had some control over air. It was so easy to make it calm, so easy to weather. The serpent's mental attack was... well, not much better.

You think you can harm me that way, little snake? Perhaps the original owner of this body would have faltered. I am not a weakling.

That wasn't to say it didn't affect her; it did.

But it wasn't very effective.

Hestia's attempt was a little more interesting, one that actually made her reel back. After all, human bodies were so fragile... even with the added protection she'd provided. Regaining her footing, she said, "Admirable. Your resistance is admirable. I expected as much. Let's keep playing, shall we? I think I'll call this one 'tree of death!'"

Thick shadows shot out from her body, splitting into 'branches' that reached to hem in her opponents, splitting again and again and then moving to spear right through them.

"This is so much fun," she said gleefully. "I'm so glad I got to do this."

[Finsternia]

Allistor Abendroth

"ALLISTOR!"

The telepathic voice of Glacia cut through the haze of Hikari's psychic attack, enough for Allistor to evade the incoming tendrils. It wasn't enough though, his arms and legs suffered a few shallow cuts that would make movement quite painful. He slowly bathed himself in a cold air, his wounds freezing all over to recover. "Glacia... Handle the mental assault. We might be able to reach into 'Hikari'!"

Glacia stared towards the demon, with those serpentine eyes that spoke of anger. "Let us see what we can do." The mentalscape would soon turn into a frightful blizzard, as voices of long lost regret, insecurities, judgments, and self loathing were being dug up by Glacia to be weaponized against whatever humanity is left in the demon's chosen vessel. They would feel like needle sharp icicles stabbing into their heart, fists knocking into their mind, and the shouts of a mob that mocks and threatens to unleash violence. It was like a call to resurface, and a devious way of manifesting feelings as physical pain. "A true demon doesn't need a vessel... What are you but a leech who can't manifest itself without a host...?"

Allistor, meanwhile, continued to fend off the spikes and tendrils that came from the demon's assault. A swipe there, a slice here, Mizar cutting through and clashing with the deadly shadows. He then raised the rapier, forming five sharp icicles above Hikari the size of a fully grown man each. As gravity and command took control, they fell down and crashed into the ground and hopefully subdued the menace.

[Luminesa]

Their attacks were... interesting. If a little bit pathetic. A gust of wind? Against a demon's thrall? A gust of wind. Even if it was strong, even the original body had had some control over air. It was so easy to make it calm, so easy to weather. The serpent's mental attack was... well, not much better.

You think you can harm me that way, little snake? Perhaps the original owner of this body would have faltered. I am not a weakling.

That wasn't to say it didn't affect her; it did.

But it wasn't very effective.

Hestia's attempt was a little more interesting, one that actually made her reel back. After all, human bodies were so fragile... even with the added protection she'd provided. Regaining her footing, she said, "Admirable. Your resistance is admirable. I expected as much. Let's keep playing, shall we? I think I'll call this one 'tree of death!'"

Thick shadows shot out from her body, splitting into 'branches' that reached to hem in her opponents, splitting again and again and then moving to spear right through them.

"This is so much fun," she said gleefully. "I'm so glad I got to do this."

Something bright...something bright...something...

Rabbit was still struggling, partially because he had used so much Mana only an hour or so ago. He had to grit his teeth to continue this fight. It was becoming too much. Yet they still had to find Katelyn, and he could not let this demon cause his death. He had to think. There had to be a memory that could awaken him from his nightmare.

"Papa?...I-Is this what I think it is?..."

His father had put something in his lap, but he needed his mask to see it. It was soft, fluffy, and tiny. He could hold it in two hands, when it was not squirming so much. It made lots of little noises, squeaks that wanted desperately to sound like something else. The little creature seemed mostly calm, however, after a while of sitting in Rabbit's arms.

"...I think it might be...Let's see!" His father came to his side and put his mask over his face, so he could see. He first looked up at his father, who was smiling mischievously at him, and then at his mother, who was watching nearby, and then down at the little creature in his lap. It was a kitten. A small calico kitten with a white underbelly, face, and paws.

He was shocked, and then delighted. "...Y-You knew?"

"Of course I knew. I saw how excited you were, when you saw that cat by the marketplace. She had kittens, it turns out, and the shopkeeper was selling them, so I bought you one. Of course, you have to take good care of her, alright?" he explained.

Rabbit looked down at the kitten, and he pet its soft, downy fur. "...Yes, Papa...thank you..." he whispered, as he held the kitten to his cheek and let it sniff his mask. The kitten did not seem disturbed by it, as most people were when they saw it. "...Giorella...that will be a good name for you..." he whispered to the kitten.

"...Thank you, Papa..."

In the deep, bloody sea in Rabbit's mind, he remembered this simple, sweet memory, and he smiled. His father had given him the kitten not only as a Christmas present, but also as a small way to teach him how to not be afraid to love. Even after his father was killed, and he was forced to run away from his home, the kitten had remained in his mind as a symbol of love and affection, of the way he saw his students. For this reason, he had to break free, and to save them. Otherwise, the sweet memory would have been recalled in vain.

Rabbit took a deep breath, and he came back to reality right on time-perhaps even a little late. A branch had speared him, but it had only gotten his left shoulder. He could deal with this. Breaking it with ice and pulling it out, he then summoned his ice-broadsword. Ignoring the pain in his left arm, he slashed at the branches, cutting them down as he fought next to Allistor. "...We need to knock her unconscious somehow," he muttered to his student. He also looked toward Glacia. "...That means slowing her down somehow, as well..."

[Saldinado]

Shade & Dominique

The sudden appearance of the "tendrils" were a rather surprising sight for Shade as she tried to avoid them. As one of them grabbed onto her arm she softly sighed in annoyance before using a blade of wind to cut them apart from her arm. But even that wasn't enough as another one went straight into her wrist through and through. Growling in pain she looked at the ones that were also in trouble and looking at the lake she closed her eyes for a moment.

Meanwhile Dominique shielded Shaun who was still in his delirious state by putting him on the ground and creating a dome made of plant material and stone that allowed him to breath as well as protect him. And just in time too. The tendrils suddenly appeared and came towards him and before he could do anything, they clashed into him, cutting his arms and hands. Gritting his teeth from the injuries he looked as Allistor created a form of imprisonment for Hikari with his icicles. He then put his hand down on the ground as his mana transferred into the soil when suddenly the ground under Hikari rumbled and soon was distrupted as four shoots of large vines revealed themselves to her; each one wrapped around one of her wrists and ankles to secure her in place. Making sure that she remained in place he made a quick flick motion of his fingers as the vegetation tendrils of his own tightened up and remained firmly clasped in the ground preventing her from moving.

Shade noticed this and grunted softly as he rose her injured hand above her, making the lake bubble and boil before a large surge of water rose upon the shores and swirled until it circled around the icicles that Allistor created as the liquid formed into a tall cylindrical dome that engulfed around her without getting her wet or drowning her with the water. "If anyone has an idea of what to do next, then now will be a good time." She said softly and calmly as the water dome continued to encircle around Hikari due to the wind infused in it.

[Serah]

As most others tried to fight back mentally or flat out tried to attack, when Oliver noticed his attack didn't work, his pragmatism kicked in.
He was being attacked, and since he didn't have a weapon on hand and simply slashing at them with wind wouldn't work, he decided to draw the metal from the earth to form himself in a matter of seconds, a full plate armor, rather reminiscent of Hector's.

As he used the wind to push himself forward to the level of someone with a regular running speed without being hindered by armor, he advanced forward, seeing as the tendrils meant practically nothing to him now that his armor was too thick to be penetrated.
However in the mean time when it was being created, he had gotten stabbed a few times, mostly in non vital areas such as the hand or arms.

Oliver wasn't exactly determined to kill the girl, or whatever it was that was controlling it, although it did seem like a clear solution, he didn't like the possible outcome, and if everyone was holding their blows, maybe it meant that whoever's body this was actually meant something to them.
Not that it did to him, but one way or the other, he or someone else would have to take care of it.

As soon as he closed up on her, he casually went for a blow to the stomach, not exceptionally fast, but fast enough to pose a threat if not taken care of.
As in dodging, given that the girl, despite having been able to negate his gust of wind could hardly negate an armored fist flying at more than a 100kph towards her stomach.
If that didn't knock her out, well, he'd have to try something else.
Or she would, and if she did, chances are that being so close would not equate to a lot of mercy on the girl's part.

[Kingdom of Irhk]

Their attacks were... interesting. If a little bit pathetic. A gust of wind? Against a demon's thrall? A gust of wind. Even if it was strong, even the original body had had some control over air. It was so easy to make it calm, so easy to weather. The serpent's mental attack was... well, not much better.

You think you can harm me that way, little snake? Perhaps the original owner of this body would have faltered. I am not a weakling.

That wasn't to say it didn't affect her; it did.

But it wasn't very effective.

Hestia's attempt was a little more interesting, one that actually made her reel back. After all, human bodies were so fragile... even with the added protection she'd provided. Regaining her footing, she said, "Admirable. Your resistance is admirable. I expected as much. Let's keep playing, shall we? I think I'll call this one 'tree of death!'"

Thick shadows shot out from her body, splitting into 'branches' that reached to hem in her opponents, splitting again and again and then moving to spear right through them.

"This is so much fun," she said gleefully. "I'm so glad I got to do this."

Henry Von Kressel

The mental attack hit Henry deeply. Inside his head he wasn't just drowning: It was an attempt to kill him. Hands, multiple hand with golden rings and clothes kept his head below water, as his breath slowly became more and more difficult. His mouth, once full of hellish fire, now was filled with punitive water, that insisted in taking his breath away.

His arms, his source of balance and the members he used to create his constructs, and to use the spear he crafted with the same arms . The ones that cast fireballs, lava whips and magma walls, the ones he used to defend himself from the attacks of his enemies, were now failing.

His legs, the source of his agility and dexterity in his chosen style of fight unable to give him the strength of exiting his liquid prison. Everything would end like this: Drowned, with the sensation of being burnt from the inside by the water slowly filling his lungs.

No demon... No battle... No bed, with my family gathered around... So this is the sad tale of my life ending. May my father be happy and my family satisfied. Soon as I die, all the potential for the problems I would cause for you all. Lucky bastards.

Wait...

There wasn't any water. I was in the forest, not in the lake...

No. I need to get back. One more breath, and then another war.

The hands that tried to drown him were being hurt through the fire that came out of Henry's arms. The water in his mouth evaporated through the pure heat that Henry had. His legs gained the strength to push his body out of the water. He wasn't going to die. Snapping back into reality, Henry would jump back and create a series of pillars to defend himself from the attacks.

It was a hellish scene, to say at least. Quickly, he reinforced Allistor's spikes around Hikari, in a manner that a simple touch would burn her hand, but wouldn't melt his ice.

Basil Smith

No simple tendril would reach him. With swift moves a small hurricane formed around here, making impossible to reach him. The usually calm professor displayed the fury of his winds without second thoughts, and after dismantling Hikari's attacks with sudden changes in the direction of his winds, he produced a dense ball of wind and threw it at Hikari.

The ball opened its dimensions, as it circled the possessed student. It would drain her oxygen, hoping that if she fainted, the demon would be more controllable or at least contained in her body, making it easier for the group to go after the real target.

[Chrome Legion]

Catherine de Sanguine Vivere


Catherine had more reaction time than the others, being farther away from what ever Hikari was now. Some of the vines rushing at her disintegrated in anti-flashes of black fire, others withered and flailed as razor threads of blood sundered them. Then, she used the attack to her atvangate, worming a trace of blood through the false vasculature of the demon wood, racing back up the vine to the source, brimming with volitile organic compounds that burn and poison the flesh it would come in contact with. Catherine had been thinking about how she would react if things got violent while she had been stalking the group. She wasn't going to hold back this time, she wouldn't be put on the defensive, left helpless again. What ever was going on, if Hikari was going to try to hurt Catherine, then she would hurt Hikari back. Catherine would kill her to avoid being left helpless again. Maybe this wouldn't actually hurt the demon or what ever it was in control, but it could deprive it of a host.

[Rhomaia]

Their attacks were... interesting. If a little bit pathetic. A gust of wind? Against a demon's thrall? A gust of wind. Even if it was strong, even the original body had had some control over air. It was so easy to make it calm, so easy to weather. The serpent's mental attack was... well, not much better.

You think you can harm me that way, little snake? Perhaps the original owner of this body would have faltered. I am not a weakling.

That wasn't to say it didn't affect her; it did.

But it wasn't very effective.

Hestia's attempt was a little more interesting, one that actually made her reel back. After all, human bodies were so fragile... even with the added protection she'd provided. Regaining her footing, she said, "Admirable. Your resistance is admirable. I expected as much. Let's keep playing, shall we? I think I'll call this one 'tree of death!'"

Thick shadows shot out from her body, splitting into 'branches' that reached to hem in her opponents, splitting again and again and then moving to spear right through them.

"This is so much fun," she said gleefully. "I'm so glad I got to do this."

Pillowtalk

The search for 'Katelyn' had ultimately proved fruitless for the young Jaegar, as even from the dark skies above there could be found no trace of the lone pyromancer he sought. Try as he might have to track the girl's mana, he was no adept when it came to that art, a fact which was far from surprising given the fact that he was still a novice when it came to magecraft in the first place. He did not possess a single drop of Noble blood in his veins, nor any font of magical knowledge from which to pull from. In so many respects, he was just like any other Commonblood here on the island, weak and unrefined.

Yet, the boy did not require a hint of magical prowess to see the battle beginning to unfold below him, and owing to his naturally sharp eyes, he had found his target in a heartbeat. A single girl in the center of a clearing and surrounded by most of the students and teachers from the Academy grounds, obviously one of the students herself based on her height and attire. But that most definitely wasn't the thing about her that caught his eye. No, far from it...

It was the crazed, 80's slasher movie kind of smile that sent shivers down a man's spine should he take but a second's glance, the kind of smile that simply screamed, 'Hey, look at me! I'm gonna commit mass homicide with a hop, skip, and a jump, just like mother wanted!' Morbidly humorous though that sounded, Kar imagined it could only be anything but for everyone on the ground.

For a moment she only raised her hand against the students and teachers surrounding her, but there was no magical effect arising from the action. With his eyes still focused on her, and having remained far out of the girl's range, he silently brought the sable flute out from the inside of his dark cloak, clutching it as one would a sword's hilt. In this brief moments after, he only quietly observed, not concentrating on the anguished faces of the crowd around her. As far as he could tell, she was only causing some kind of minor trouble to the students and teachers, or at the worst some foolish and vague threat that would be easily dealt with.

Unfortunately, Kar couldn't have been any more wrong at that point. Soon enough, dark matter exploded out of her body in every direction, resembling what could only be described as a bloody black snowflake from the Jaegar's position. That much was far more visible in it's purpose, and infinitely more telling as to the girl's intentions. Gripping his flute in a vice, the thought of ending her life there and then came quickly to the boy, knowing that by killing her now he could potentially save the rest and eliminate a very credible threat to the safety of the island's inhabitants. Yet, she was only a student here. Killing her would do more harm than good for him as a hunter, and likely destroy any chance that he had of finding a place here...

And so, he had his objective.

Incapacitate the girl and prevent as many deaths as he could in these passing seconds, without killing her.

Putting his lips to the mouthpiece and his slender fingers to the keys, an ominous tone sounded from the instrument, the dark and cold evening wind joining in the beginning of his little performance. In the crisp air surrounding him, countless tiny will-o-wisps flared to life, their ghostly blue light shining upon the hunter as he continued his song, the song continuing on and steadily rising in it's tone, the forbidding melody audible from even the ground as the azure flames joined in seven orbs around him, shaping themselves into ethereal, burning greatswords as they hung in the sky.

All at once, the hunter's tune stopped, and the phantom blades fell from their unseen strings, descending like shooting stars from the night sky. Arranging themselves in a circular pattern before their inevitable landing, they cut through the shadows with simplistic ease, and like a flame to rotted wood, the azure embers feasted upon the dark matter, consuming them as a bonfire would tinder. From there, tongues of fire trailed between the burning blades, forming a ring of bright fire around the possessed girl. Yet the vegetation did not blacken and die from the heat, for the fire would not feed on the land's life, but upon the Dark Mana that the forest had only moments ago been enriched with...