Holy High - The New U - IC I - Use This One

[The Flutterlands]

Flitting down next to Filia, he explained. "A dyubbuk is a spirit which inhabits a body until it gets what it wants. In this case, it seems to be vengeance. But it always leaves its true name behind, usually sheltered in some kind of box that it keeps with it...." He brightened up instantly. "Filia! Can you frisk Tal down and see if he's got anything like that on him? I'll keep looking." All this talking was obstructed by the blood flowing from his nose. "Thanks!"

He jumped up again, flying far above, and began to search again, peeking under rubble and piles of dust. Where could it be? Lucifer had no earthly idea. Smirking at his joke, he continued to look (to no avail).

Lucifer swooped over the entire campus, sweeping the grounds for the box--

What's that? he thought as he flew low over the dojo. Landing with a roll, he began to inspect Hadryn's corpse. "GOT IT!" he bellowed when he picked it up, next to the boy's body. "I GOT IT!" Flittimg back to the colosseum, he showed it to Azazel. "And I did it before you could, brother," he gloated smugly. Setting the box down, he looked questioningly at his sibling. "What now, little brother?"

Azazel

He didn't respond at first, not moving, arms still crossed, except to turn his head towards the other demon, frowning, unsure of where this was coming from, but finding it very...aggravating, to say the least. He neglected to say anything for a moment, searching Lucifer's eyes for a motive behind his suddenly, no, not sudden, but more pronounced, certainly, distasteful behavior.

"You sound like a toddler seeking an abusive father's oh so elusive approval, imp, but I'm sure you know that already. But regardless, it's good that you found the box. Did you check the inside of it? The spirit's true name will likely lie within." The warrior placed emphasis on the term that was normally used for lower-ranking demons, mostly in order to gauge his reaction.

As he finished, his head tilted, wondering just why his so-called brother was acting the way that he was. If he was looking for a fight, he'd be happy to oblige, but he couldn't see any motive behind such intent, beyond possibly spite or a superiority complex.

We'll resolve this later. For now, at least, we have more pressing concerns.

Filia Umbrarum

Filia nodded as Lucifer explained what a dyubbuk was and grimaced. It sounded like a dreadful creature, but obviously something must happened to make it seek vengeance. Could Tal could have done something to make it angry? Or someone else among the school. Nonetheless, Filia nodded again and began searching Tal for the box with her tendrils. She didn't find the box, but she did find some trinkets that she stored in her pockets as an act of theft.

Her ears then perked up when Lucifer found it and scurried off to join him only to find him in yet another argument with a student. "Boys, what's wrong?" she asked, recognizing the other student as an angel like Lucifer once was, "Are you just gonna let old hatred get the better of you guys all year? We got more important things here than petty rivalries."

[Luminesa]

Flitting down next to Filia, he explained. "A dyubbuk is a spirit which inhabits a body until it gets what it wants. In this case, it seems to be vengeance. But it always leaves its true name behind, usually sheltered in some kind of box that it keeps with it...." He brightened up instantly. "Filia! Can you frisk Tal down and see if he's got anything like that on him? I'll keep looking." All this talking was obstructed by the blood flowing from his nose. "Thanks!"

He jumped up again, flying far above, and began to search again, peeking under rubble and piles of dust. Where could it be? Lucifer had no earthly idea. Smirking at his joke, he continued to look (to no avail).

Lucifer swooped over the entire campus, sweeping the grounds for the box--

What's that? he thought as he flew low over the dojo. Landing with a roll, he began to inspect Hadryn's corpse. "GOT IT!" he bellowed when he picked it up, next to the boy's body. "I GOT IT!" Flittimg back to the colosseum, he showed it to Azazel. "And I did it before you could, brother," he gloated smugly. Setting the box down, he looked questioningly at his sibling. "What now, little brother?"

Azazel

He didn't respond at first, not moving, arms still crossed, except to turn his head towards the other demon, frowning, unsure of where this was coming from, but finding it very...aggravating, to say the least. He neglected to say anything for a moment, searching Lucifer's eyes for a motive behind his suddenly, no, not sudden, but more pronounced, certainly, distasteful behavior.

"You sound like a toddler seeking an abusive father's oh so elusive approval, imp, but I'm sure you know that already. But regardless, it's good that you found the box. Did you check the inside of it? The spirit's true name will likely lie within." The warrior placed emphasis on the term that was normally used for lower-ranking demons, mostly in order to gauge his reaction.

As he finished, his head tilted, wondering just why his so-called brother was acting the way that he was. If he was looking for a fight, he'd be happy to oblige, but he couldn't see any motive behind such intent, beyond possibly spite or a superiority complex.

We'll resolve this later. For now, at least, we have more pressing concerns.

Filia Umbrarum

Filia nodded as Lucifer explained what a dyubbuk was and grimaced. It sounded like a dreadful creature, but obviously something must happened to make it seek vengeance. Could Tal could have done something to make it angry? Or someone else among the school. Nonetheless, Filia nodded again and began searching Tal for the box with her tendrils. She didn't find the box, but she did find some trinkets that she stored in her pockets as an act of theft.

Her ears then perked up when Lucifer found it and scurried off to join him only to find him in yet another argument with a student. "Boys, what's wrong?" she asked, recognizing the other student as an angel like Lucifer once was, "Are you just gonna let old hatred get the better of you guys all year? We got more important things here than petty rivalries."

------

[Cruxa]

Lucifer bristled at the use of the term "imp," and glared at Azazel as he bent down to open the box. Inside was a single slip of paper, faintly glowing orange. Lucifer reached a hand out to the paper, and grabbed it. It felt hot. He then opened it, and read:

EMET.

The force of the true name caused some rubble to fall, and Lucifer had to jump out of the way, yelping in fear, as a fairly large boulder came rumbling down off a pile of broken concrete slabs. After that, though, he just stood there in shock as things unfolded.

[Ranoria]

[spoiler]

Flitting down next to Filia, he explained. "A dyubbuk is a spirit which inhabits a body until it gets what it wants. In this case, it seems to be vengeance. But it always leaves its true name behind, usually sheltered in some kind of box that it keeps with it...." He brightened up instantly. "Filia! Can you frisk Tal down and see if he's got anything like that on him? I'll keep looking." All this talking was obstructed by the blood flowing from his nose. "Thanks!"

He jumped up again, flying far above, and began to search again, peeking under rubble and piles of dust. Where could it be? Lucifer had no earthly idea. Smirking at his joke, he continued to look (to no avail).

Lucifer swooped over the entire campus, sweeping the grounds for the box--

What's that? he thought as he flew low over the dojo. Landing with a roll, he began to inspect Hadryn's corpse. "GOT IT!" he bellowed when he picked it up, next to the boy's body. "I GOT IT!" Flittimg back to the colosseum, he showed it to Azazel. "And I did it before you could, brother," he gloated smugly. Setting the box down, he looked questioningly at his sibling. "What now, little brother?"

Azazel

He didn't respond at first, not moving, arms still crossed, except to turn his head towards the other demon, frowning, unsure of where this was coming from, but finding it very...aggravating, to say the least. He neglected to say anything for a moment, searching Lucifer's eyes for a motive behind his suddenly, no, not sudden, but more pronounced, certainly, distasteful behavior.

"You sound like a toddler seeking an abusive father's oh so elusive approval, imp, but I'm sure you know that already. But regardless, it's good that you found the box. Did you check the inside of it? The spirit's true name will likely lie within." The warrior placed emphasis on the term that was normally used for lower-ranking demons, mostly in order to gauge his reaction.

As he finished, his head tilted, wondering just why his so-called brother was acting the way that he was. If he was looking for a fight, he'd be happy to oblige, but he couldn't see any motive behind such intent, beyond possibly spite or a superiority complex.

We'll resolve this later. For now, at least, we have more pressing concerns.

Filia Umbrarum

Filia nodded as Lucifer explained what a dyubbuk was and grimaced. It sounded like a dreadful creature, but obviously something must happened to make it seek vengeance. Could Tal could have done something to make it angry? Or someone else among the school. Nonetheless, Filia nodded again and began searching Tal for the box with her tendrils. She didn't find the box, but she did find some trinkets that she stored in her pockets as an act of theft.

Her ears then perked up when Lucifer found it and scurried off to join him only to find him in yet another argument with a student. "Boys, what's wrong?" she asked, recognizing the other student as an angel like Lucifer once was, "Are you just gonna let old hatred get the better of you guys all year? We got more important things here than petty rivalries."

[spoiler]
Filia Umbrarum

Filia nodded as Lucifer explained what a dyubbuk was and grimaced. It sounded like a dreadful creature, but obviously something must happened to make it seek vengeance. Could Tal could have done something to make it angry? Or someone else among the school. Nonetheless, Filia nodded again and began searching Tal for the box with her tendrils. She didn't find the box, but she did find some trinkets that she stored in her pockets as an act of theft.

Her ears then perked up when Lucifer found it and scurried off to join him only to find him in yet another argument with a student. "Boys, what's wrong?" she asked, recognizing the other student as an angel like Lucifer once was, "Are you just gonna let old hatred get the better of you guys all year? We got more important things here than petty rivalries."

"Kid's got a point, let's find this thing so we can get this nightmare behind us," Patriah answered, "and then you two can duke it out outside. Now...Hamiri! Where was the kid when you last found him?" He turned to Hamiri, who was examining Hadryn's body by the wall.

She turned to him, and stood up. She then pointed to the spot where he was struck. "He was right...hey, wait!" She stared over at the spot and gasped. The box was right there. That was why the boy was struck. As it dawned on her, she looked at Filia. "Hey! The box is right there! Go grab it, and if he tries to rev another attack we'll cover you!" she explained. They were almost finished. Now they just needed to make the demon say his name.

Lux nodded, and he whispered to Markus, "...Now...say your name, and this will all be finished. If you do not, remember...you are outnumbered, and we will annihilate you. Your best option is to merely obey."

Lucifer bristled at the use of the term "imp," and glared at Azazel as he bent down to open the box. Inside was a single slip of paper, faintly glowing orange. Lucifer reached a hand out to the paper, and grabbed it. It felt hot. He then opened it, and read:

EMET.

The force of the true name caused some rubble to fall, and Lucifer had to jump out of the way, yelping in fear, as a fairly large boulder came rumbling down off a pile of broken concrete slabs. After that, though, he just stood there in shock as things unfolded.

Azazel

"There is no hatred between us, little one, take note of that." The demon turned to look at Filia, frowning at her chosen, or so he assumed it was chosen, appearance of someone so young, "I have no need of your lectures now, if you haven't noticed, there is no feud, at least not one that I'm aware of." His eyes flicked back to the devil, frowning. He could see that he'd been aggravated from his calling him an imp, but he'd been angry before that, and why, he couldn't understand.

"You're presumptuous, mortal." He didn't even look at Patriah, voice not showing much emotion, "Watch your tongue, lest someone cut it out."

Finally, he turned to his so-called brother, Satan himself, "The dybbuk itself needs to say the name, Lucifer, not yourself alone."

[Syrixces]

Markus

He could hear them outside of this stone tomb, could hear them arguing, conspiring, thieving, stealing away his soul, his time. No. Markus began to thrash against the walls of his makeshift prison, using his last remnants of energy, in a wild tantrum, part rage, part desperation.

"No!" He begged, screaming, his thoughts and words the same, words cutting through the air like lightning, carried on breath like the winds. "NO! Don't send me back there, please not back there, not to the cold, please!

Please!

Please don't send me back!

Not there!

No-"

EMET

The word was spoken.

Markus was gone. He was not in some box. He wasn't in heaven. Nor hell.

He returned to the place that all spirits do, those who seek vengance, those who seek redemption.

He went There.

He went to The Cold.

---

Tal woke up screaming.

Everything hurt. Everything. He blinked, raising a shaky hand, to wipe the blood and sweat from his brow, groaning with the effort. That being...Markus...it had drained him of every refuge of energy, spent him up, and he could feel it. Rubbing the blood and dust from his eyes, he slowly stood, only for a sharp pain in his chest, to send him dizzily to his knees. There...there was something in his chest.

A piece of re-bar, no more than three feet long, stood embedded in his chest, piercing out from a lump of concrete, and through his rib cage, his shirt soaked with silvery blood. "Oh, for fucks sake." Too tired to transform, Tal knew he would have to act fast, or he was as good as dead, with this thing poking out of him.

"Hey, guys? It, it's me," Tal croaked out, his voice hoarse and dim with exhaustion. "I know nobody likes a teacher, but did you really have to stab me?"

Laughing, he choked, blood bubbling forth from his lips, breaking his smile.

"I'm sorry for that. I'm sorry I endangered you all.

I'm sorry.

Please don't let me die. Not like this.

Please get me out of here."

Hyperion

Hyperion shakily leaned against one of the few remaining pillars of the gymnasium, so glad that it was finally over. It was finally done. They had won. But at what cost?

Tal, buried under all that rubble, the friend he had known for so long, dead, injured, or maybe insane, after all, who knows what having that thing inside his head could have done to him? Speaking of that thing, what of Markus? He didn't choose this. He didn't choose his fate.

He simply had the misfortune, of calling to a God that never answered.

Hearing Tal's cries, he stumbled to his feet, and ran over to the pile of rubble, desperately tearing it apart, trying to find his friend and teacher. "Come on guys! We gotta get him outta there!"

The Janitor's Son

The battle certainly hadn't gone unnoticed. Protection runes had kept anyone outside from entering the building, but they waited outside, Gods, Kings and most importantly, Damage Control ready to help, and clean up.

He stood there along with them. Cleaning up after a God's mess, that was his duty.

But not his dream.

[Charlia]

Tal woke up screaming.

Everything hurt. Everything. He blinked, raising a shaky hand, to wipe the blood and sweat from his brow, groaning with the effort. That being...Markus...it had drained him of every refuge of energy, spent him up, and he could feel it. Rubbing the blood and dust from his eyes, he slowly stood, only for a sharp pain in his chest, to send him dizzily to his knees. There...there was something in his chest.

A piece of re-bar, no more than three feet long, stood embedded in his chest, piercing out from a lump of concrete, and through his rib cage, his shirt soaked with silvery blood. "Oh, for fucks sake." Too tired to transform, Tal knew he would have to act fast, or he was as good as dead, with this thing poking out of him.

"Hey, guys? It, it's me," Tal croaked out, his voice hoarse and dim with exhaustion. "I know nobody likes a teacher, but did you really have to stab me?"

Laughing, he choked, blood bubbling forth from his lips, breaking his smile.

"I'm sorry for that. I'm sorry I endangered you all.

I'm sorry.

Please don't let me die. Not like this.

Please get me out of here."

"...Let me help."

Charlotte hadn't gotten involved in the fighting, that was true. But this was easy--this was something she knew how to handle, and wanted to.

Kneeling by Tlaloc's side, she eased the bar out of his chest with strength someone so fragile in appearance should not have been able to use, and laid a hand against the wound, closing her eyes for a moment.

A softly multicolored light shone out around her hand, and the wound began to knit itself together, although she started shaking as it did, as if it were physically painful.

A single drop of blood stained her lips--it was more painful than she wanted them to know, so she bit her tongue, hard, to keep from crying out. The blood vanished soon enough as she healed the wound she'd created.

Once the wound was fully healed, she drew back her hand, staring at the blood coating it and smiling faintly.

"Does that feel better?"

[Luminesa]

Markus

He could hear them outside of this stone tomb, could hear them arguing, conspiring, thieving, stealing away his soul, his time. No. Markus began to thrash against the walls of his makeshift prison, using his last remnants of energy, in a wild tantrum, part rage, part desperation.

"No!" He begged, screaming, his thoughts and words the same, words cutting through the air like lightning, carried on breath like the winds. "NO! Don't send me back there, please not back there, not to the cold, please!

Please!

Please don't send me back!

Not there!

No-"

EMET

The word was spoken.

Markus was gone. He was not in some box. He wasn't in heaven. Nor hell.

He returned to the place that all spirits do, those who seek vengance, those who seek redemption.

He went There.

He went to The Cold.

---

Tal woke up screaming.

Everything hurt. Everything. He blinked, raising a shaky hand, to wipe the blood and sweat from his brow, groaning with the effort. That being...Markus...it had drained him of every refuge of energy, spent him up, and he could feel it. Rubbing the blood and dust from his eyes, he slowly stood, only for a sharp pain in his chest, to send him dizzily to his knees. There...there was something in his chest.

A piece of re-bar, no more than three feet long, stood embedded in his chest, piercing out from a lump of concrete, and through his rib cage, his shirt soaked with silvery blood. "Oh, for fucks sake." Too tired to transform, Tal knew he would have to act fast, or he was as good as dead, with this thing poking out of him.

"Hey, guys? It, it's me," Tal croaked out, his voice hoarse and dim with exhaustion. "I know nobody likes a teacher, but did you really have to stab me?"

Laughing, he choked, blood bubbling forth from his lips, breaking his smile.

"I'm sorry for that. I'm sorry I endangered you all.

I'm sorry.

Please don't let me die. Not like this.

Please get me out of here."

Hyperion

Hyperion shakily leaned against one of the few remaining pillars of the gymnasium, so glad that it was finally over. It was finally done. They had won. But at what cost?

Tal, buried under all that rubble, the friend he had known for so long, dead, injured, or maybe insane, after all, who knows what having that thing inside his head could have done to him? Speaking of that thing, what of Markus? He didn't choose this. He didn't choose his fate.

He simply had the misfortune, of calling to a God that never answered.

Hearing Tal's cries, he stumbled to his feet, and ran over to the pile of rubble, desperately tearing it apart, trying to find his friend and teacher. "Come on guys! We gotta get him outta there!"

The Janitor's Son

The battle certainly hadn't gone unnoticed. Protection runes had kept anyone outside from entering the building, but they waited outside, Gods, Kings and most importantly, Damage Control ready to help, and clean up.

He stood there along with them. Cleaning up after a God's mess, that was his duty.

But not his dream.

Hamiri immediately hurried over, on command, and she used her shadows to throw the rubble off the teacher. Patriah joined her, simply running toward the rubble and throwing it away. Xavier did the same, and soon most of the rubble was gone, though the rebar still remained. That would be hard to pull out, as the teacher would bleed to death if they were not careful. Yet they could not leave it inside of him.

"Hey, kid," Xavier ordered, looking at Lux as he stood near the teacher, "when I pull this out, start healing him. And work as quickly as you can, we need him to remain conscious." He watched this younger angel carefully, as he had never seen him before and did not quite know anything about him. He did seem trustworthy, however, and he had a very heavenly atmosphere around him.

"Yes. Please hurry, and I will do my part," Lux answered, as he flew to Tlaloc's side and waited for Xavier to pull out the rebar.

The Throne did so as soon as Lux gave his word, careful to heat it first so it would come out more easily. It would be more painful for the teacher, but he would also heal more quickly. Charlotte also helped, making the job easier for both of them and for Tlaloc. When this was finished, Lux reached over and began to fill the wound with light, aiding her in the process. He had an almost-prayerful expression, as he stared down the hole and soothed the wound.

[Charlia]

Markus

He could hear them outside of this stone tomb, could hear them arguing, conspiring, thieving, stealing away his soul, his time. No. Markus began to thrash against the walls of his makeshift prison, using his last remnants of energy, in a wild tantrum, part rage, part desperation.

"No!" He begged, screaming, his thoughts and words the same, words cutting through the air like lightning, carried on breath like the winds. "NO! Don't send me back there, please not back there, not to the cold, please!

Please!

Please don't send me back!

Not there!

No-"

EMET

The word was spoken.

Markus was gone. He was not in some box. He wasn't in heaven. Nor hell.

He returned to the place that all spirits do, those who seek vengance, those who seek redemption.

He went There.

He went to The Cold.

---

Tal woke up screaming.

Everything hurt. Everything. He blinked, raising a shaky hand, to wipe the blood and sweat from his brow, groaning with the effort. That being...Markus...it had drained him of every refuge of energy, spent him up, and he could feel it. Rubbing the blood and dust from his eyes, he slowly stood, only for a sharp pain in his chest, to send him dizzily to his knees. There...there was something in his chest.

A piece of re-bar, no more than three feet long, stood embedded in his chest, piercing out from a lump of concrete, and through his rib cage, his shirt soaked with silvery blood. "Oh, for fucks sake." Too tired to transform, Tal knew he would have to act fast, or he was as good as dead, with this thing poking out of him.

"Hey, guys? It, it's me," Tal croaked out, his voice hoarse and dim with exhaustion. "I know nobody likes a teacher, but did you really have to stab me?"

Laughing, he choked, blood bubbling forth from his lips, breaking his smile.

"I'm sorry for that. I'm sorry I endangered you all.

I'm sorry.

Please don't let me die. Not like this.

Please get me out of here."

Hyperion

Hyperion shakily leaned against one of the few remaining pillars of the gymnasium, so glad that it was finally over. It was finally done. They had won. But at what cost?

Tal, buried under all that rubble, the friend he had known for so long, dead, injured, or maybe insane, after all, who knows what having that thing inside his head could have done to him? Speaking of that thing, what of Markus? He didn't choose this. He didn't choose his fate.

He simply had the misfortune, of calling to a God that never answered.

Hearing Tal's cries, he stumbled to his feet, and ran over to the pile of rubble, desperately tearing it apart, trying to find his friend and teacher. "Come on guys! We gotta get him outta there!"

The Janitor's Son

The battle certainly hadn't gone unnoticed. Protection runes had kept anyone outside from entering the building, but they waited outside, Gods, Kings and most importantly, Damage Control ready to help, and clean up.

He stood there along with them. Cleaning up after a God's mess, that was his duty.

But not his dream.

Hamiri immediately hurried over, on command, and she used her shadows to throw the rubble off the teacher. Patriah joined her, simply running toward the rubble and throwing it away. Xavier did the same, and soon most of the rubble was gone, though the rebar still remained. That would be hard to pull out, as the teacher would bleed to death if they were not careful. Yet they could not leave it inside of him.

"Hey, kid," Xavier ordered, looking at Lux as he stood near the teacher, "when I pull this out, start healing him. And work as quickly as you can, we need him to remain conscious." He watched this younger angel carefully, as he had never seen him before and did not quite know anything about him. He did seem trustworthy, however, and he had a very heavenly atmosphere around him.

"Yes. Please hurry, and I will do my part," Lux answered, as he flew to Tlaloc's side and waited for Xavier to pull out the rebar.

The Throne did so as soon as Lux gave his word, careful to heat it first so it would come out more easily. It would be more painful for the teacher, but he would also heal more quickly. Charlotte also helped, making the job easier for both of them and for Tlaloc. When this was finished, Lux reached over and began to fill the wound with light, aiding her in the process. He had an almost-prayerful expression, as he stared down the hole and soothed the wound.

As soon as Charlotte was finished with her work, she pulled away from the others with what appeared to be fear on her face.

Xavier had come too close to recognizing her. The bizarrely angelic creature was just wrong, with an expressionless face, an empty voice--almost like a walking shell, something that made her cringe in recognition--how long had it been since she was like that?--and the entity deep inside her rage, spewing words of hate. Still, she'd gotten used to Shekhinah's ways over the last several years... which basically meant that she had learned to ignore her other self, at least most of the time.

After all, she could still detect evil, and goodness knows she could have used that skill a long time ago.

"Metatron?" she asks quietly. "W-what are you doing? Let me get up, please." The request is polite, not too frightened.

"Sorry, Charlotte dear," he replies, mouth twisting into a thin smirk as his eyes glint... red? No, not possible... He's my guardian, he can't be...

"Oh, I see you've noticed," he continues, and smiles wider.

She stifled a shudder, and turned away, noticing a flash of red before she was tackled by a very, very frightened Mara.

"H-hey!" she protested, unable to stifle a laugh. "You're going to crush me if you keep doing that, you know!" Noticing her daughter's fright, however, she quickly picked up the girl--she just kept getting heavier, it seemed--and hugged her. "It's okay, Mara," she whispered. "It's okay. It's all over. You don't have to be scared anymore."

Mara just whimpered, burying her face in her mother's shoulder and only calming down a bit when Charlotte began stroking the little girl's hair. "You're safe now," she whispered. "You're always going to be safe, I promise."

I won't ever let you get hurt again.

[The Flutterlands]

[spoiler]Lucifer bristled at the use of the term "imp," and glared at Azazel as he bent down to open the box. Inside was a single slip of paper, faintly glowing orange. Lucifer reached a hand out to the paper, and grabbed it. It felt hot. He then opened it, and read:

EMET.

The force of the true name caused some rubble to fall, and Lucifer had to jump out of the way, yelping in fear, as a fairly large boulder came rumbling down off a pile of broken concrete slabs. After that, though, he just stood there in shock as things unfolded.

Azazel

"There is no hatred between us, little one, take note of that." The demon turned to look at Filia, frowning at her chosen, or so he assumed it was chosen, appearance of someone so young, "I have no need of your lectures now, if you haven't noticed, there is no feud, at least not one that I'm aware of." His eyes flicked back to the devil, frowning. He could see that he'd been aggravated from his calling him an imp, but he'd been angry before that, and why, he couldn't understand.

"You're presumptuous, mortal." He didn't even look at Patriah, voice not showing much emotion, "Watch your tongue, lest someone cut it out."

Finally, he turned to his so-called brother, Satan himself, "The dybbuk itself needs to say the name, Lucifer, not yourself alone."

Filia Umbrarum

Filia tilted her head in confusion as she looked upon he demon warrior. If there is no feud why were they insulting each other? It was all very weird, but perhaps the treatment was natural for demons. In fact, Filia wondered what happened to the other guy that Lucifer was fighting. "O-okay, I guess." she spoke softly looking down at the floor, "I guess I've just been jumping the gun. Today has been a really bad day. Still, what was up with the insults?"

Filia then looked at Lucifer holding box as he shouted the demon's name. She looked to Markus/Thalic now screaming in agony as he was sent back to wherever he came from and sighed in relief as she watched students begin helping out the now back to normal teacher out of the dirt he was buried. Filia melted into a shadow and scurried towards them. "Anyway I could help?" she asked sweetly and curiously as she took on physical form.

[Luminesa]

Hamiri immediately hurried over, on command, and she used her shadows to throw the rubble off the teacher. Patriah joined her, simply running toward the rubble and throwing it away. Xavier did the same, and soon most of the rubble was gone, though the rebar still remained. That would be hard to pull out, as the teacher would bleed to death if they were not careful. Yet they could not leave it inside of him.

"Hey, kid," Xavier ordered, looking at Lux as he stood near the teacher, "when I pull this out, start healing him. And work as quickly as you can, we need him to remain conscious." He watched this younger angel carefully, as he had never seen him before and did not quite know anything about him. He did seem trustworthy, however, and he had a very heavenly atmosphere around him.

"Yes. Please hurry, and I will do my part," Lux answered, as he flew to Tlaloc's side and waited for Xavier to pull out the rebar.

The Throne did so as soon as Lux gave his word, careful to heat it first so it would come out more easily. It would be more painful for the teacher, but he would also heal more quickly. Charlotte also helped, making the job easier for both of them and for Tlaloc. When this was finished, Lux reached over and began to fill the wound with light, aiding her in the process. He had an almost-prayerful expression, as he stared down the hole and soothed the wound.

As soon as Charlotte was finished with her work, she pulled away from the others with what appeared to be fear on her face.

Xavier had come too close to recognizing her. The bizarrely angelic creature was just wrong, with an expressionless face, an empty voice--almost like a walking shell, something that made her cringe in recognition--how long had it been since she was like that?--and the entity deep inside her rage, spewing words of hate. Still, she'd gotten used to Shekhinah's ways over the last several years... which basically meant that she had learned to ignore her other self, at least most of the time.

After all, she could still detect evil, and goodness knows she could have used that skill a long time ago.

"Metatron?" she asks quietly. "W-what are you doing? Let me get up, please." The request is polite, not too frightened.

"Sorry, Charlotte dear," he replies, mouth twisting into a thin smirk as his eyes glint... red? No, not possible... He's my guardian, he can't be...

"Oh, I see you've noticed," he continues, and smiles wider.

She stifled a shudder, and turned away, noticing a flash of red before she was tackled by a very, very frightened Mara.

"H-hey!" she protested, unable to stifle a laugh. "You're going to crush me if you keep doing that, you know!" Noticing her daughter's fright, however, she quickly picked up the girl--she just kept getting heavier, it seemed--and hugged her. "It's okay, Mara," she whispered. "It's okay. It's all over. You don't have to be scared anymore."

Mara just whimpered, burying her face in her mother's shoulder and only calming down a bit when Charlotte began stroking the little girl's hair. "You're safe now," she whispered. "You're always going to be safe, I promise."

I won't ever let you get hurt again.

Lux turned and slightly smiled at Charlotte, as Tlaloc was healed. He watched her playing with her daughter, and he seemed amused. Of course, his face did not show much emotion, as she had noticed. However, a light came to his eyes when he looked at her with her daughter. "You are very sweet together. I am glad that all of this is over. Now you can be with your daughter and relax. I am sure today has been very taxing for you," he suggested gently. He then turned to Mara, and he examined her for any wounds. The attack from Markus had been deadly for one student, and almost-deadly for everyone else. He worried that she may have been hurt. "If it does not upset you, however, may I examine her for a moment?" he inquired.

[Luminesa]

Azazel

"There is no hatred between us, little one, take note of that." The demon turned to look at Filia, frowning at her chosen, or so he assumed it was chosen, appearance of someone so young, "I have no need of your lectures now, if you haven't noticed, there is no feud, at least not one that I'm aware of." His eyes flicked back to the devil, frowning. He could see that he'd been aggravated from his calling him an imp, but he'd been angry before that, and why, he couldn't understand.

"You're presumptuous, mortal." He didn't even look at Patriah, voice not showing much emotion, "Watch your tongue, lest someone cut it out."

Finally, he turned to his so-called brother, Satan himself, "The dybbuk itself needs to say the name, Lucifer, not yourself alone."

Filia Umbrarum

Filia tilted her head in confusion as she looked upon he demon warrior. If there is no feud why were they insulting each other? It was all very weird, but perhaps the treatment was natural for demons. In fact, Filia wondered what happened to the other guy that Lucifer was fighting. "O-okay, I guess." she spoke softly looking down at the floor, "I guess I've just been jumping the gun. Today has been a really bad day. Still, what was up with the insults?"

Filia then looked at Lucifer holding box as he shouted the demon's name. She looked to Markus/Thalic now screaming in agony as he was sent back to wherever he came from and sighed in relief as she watched students begin helping out the now back to normal teacher out of the dirt he was buried. Filia melted into a shadow and scurried towards them. "Anyway I could help?" she asked sweetly and curiously as she took on physical form.

Hamiri noticed Filia once again, and she nodded approvingly at her shadow-powers. So she finally had a classmate who shared powers like hers. She had not noticed this during the fight, but perhaps in the future she would be able to work more with this girl, who seemed very friendly. Walking to her side, she said, "You could check around and see if anyone has injuries. I don't know if you can heal, but if you can that would be a great help. If not, you can send them to one of the angel-kids, I suppose. Also, we need to check around the campus outside and make sure everything is safe. Maybe check the dorms for any water-damage, since the ice melted there as well, I would presume." She was glad that she had not yet unpacked, as she had been too tired to do so the night before. Her items were all still in her suitcases, so hopefully they were not wet.

Meanwhile, Patriah walked over to Hyperion and looked him over. He noticed his wounds, and he put an arm around his shoulder. "Hey. You gonna be alright? You got beat pretty bad out there. Need a hand?" He was too tired to be rude to anyone, and other students were hurt. He wanted to make sure everyone was okay, before he could relax, even though the "test" was now officially over and he could forget about it.

[Charlia]

As soon as Charlotte was finished with her work, she pulled away from the others with what appeared to be fear on her face.

Xavier had come too close to recognizing her. The bizarrely angelic creature was just wrong, with an expressionless face, an empty voice--almost like a walking shell, something that made her cringe in recognition--how long had it been since she was like that?--and the entity deep inside her rage, spewing words of hate. Still, she'd gotten used to Shekhinah's ways over the last several years... which basically meant that she had learned to ignore her other self, at least most of the time.

After all, she could still detect evil, and goodness knows she could have used that skill a long time ago.

"Metatron?" she asks quietly. "W-what are you doing? Let me get up, please." The request is polite, not too frightened.

"Sorry, Charlotte dear," he replies, mouth twisting into a thin smirk as his eyes glint... red? No, not possible... He's my guardian, he can't be...

"Oh, I see you've noticed," he continues, and smiles wider.

She stifled a shudder, and turned away, noticing a flash of red before she was tackled by a very, very frightened Mara.

"H-hey!" she protested, unable to stifle a laugh. "You're going to crush me if you keep doing that, you know!" Noticing her daughter's fright, however, she quickly picked up the girl--she just kept getting heavier, it seemed--and hugged her. "It's okay, Mara," she whispered. "It's okay. It's all over. You don't have to be scared anymore."

Mara just whimpered, burying her face in her mother's shoulder and only calming down a bit when Charlotte began stroking the little girl's hair. "You're safe now," she whispered. "You're always going to be safe, I promise."

I won't ever let you get hurt again.

Lux turned and slightly smiled at Charlotte, as Tlaloc was healed. He watched her playing with her daughter, and he seemed amused. Of course, his face did not show much emotion, as she had noticed. However, a light came to his eyes when he looked at her with her daughter. "You are very sweet together. I am glad that all of this is over. Now you can be with your daughter and relax. I am sure today has been very taxing for you," he suggested gently. He then turned to Mara, and he examined her for any wounds. The attack from Markus had been deadly for one student, and almost-deadly for everyone else. He worried that she may have been hurt. "If it does not upset you, however, may I examine her for a moment?" he inquired.

At first, Charlotte stiffened as Lux said the word 'daughter'.

Then she relaxed slightly, turning to face him and shaking her head. "I'm sorry, I'm afraid you're mistaken. Mara's my little sister, not my daughter." The lie made Shekhinah scream inside her mind, how dare you keep defiling yourself with sin, but she blocked her other self's voice out, refusing to listen. It's for Mara's sake. Everything is for Mara's sake. Nothing else matters.

"I'm not hurt," Mara chirped, but wriggled out of her mother's arms and walked over to Lux anyway, staring up at him. "Who're you, anyway?"

[Luminesa]

Lux turned and slightly smiled at Charlotte, as Tlaloc was healed. He watched her playing with her daughter, and he seemed amused. Of course, his face did not show much emotion, as she had noticed. However, a light came to his eyes when he looked at her with her daughter. "You are very sweet together. I am glad that all of this is over. Now you can be with your daughter and relax. I am sure today has been very taxing for you," he suggested gently. He then turned to Mara, and he examined her for any wounds. The attack from Markus had been deadly for one student, and almost-deadly for everyone else. He worried that she may have been hurt. "If it does not upset you, however, may I examine her for a moment?" he inquired.

At first, Charlotte stiffened as Lux said the word 'daughter'.

Then she relaxed slightly, turning to face him and shaking her head. "I'm sorry, I'm afraid you're mistaken. Mara's my little sister, not my daughter." The lie made Shekhinah scream inside her mind, how dare you keep defiling yourself with sin, but she blocked her other self's voice out, refusing to listen. It's for Mara's sake. Everything is for Mara's sake. Nothing else matters.

"I'm not hurt," Mara chirped, but wriggled out of her mother's arms and walked over to Lux anyway, staring up at him. "Who're you, anyway?"

"Oh! I am sorry. I was quite rude, then," Lux answered, softly, switching his expression to a slight frown,"I should apologize for making such an assumption. I hope you will forgive me." Mara was very young, to be Charlotte's sister, and he thought nothing of it for her to be a teenager with a small daughter. It did happen, and she was not exactly human either. She would not be here if that was not the case. In the meantime, he turned back to Mara, and showed her kind interest as he looked over her. She looked like a typical young child. He smiled once again, as he saw her, and he held her hand to shake it. "My name is Lux. I am an angel, and a classmate of your sister. She is very kind and beautiful, as are you. I am glad that neither of you were hurt." His wings, which he now folded, and eyes flowed softly, showing a playful light that would have drawn awe from any small child.

[Charlia]

At first, Charlotte stiffened as Lux said the word 'daughter'.

Then she relaxed slightly, turning to face him and shaking her head. "I'm sorry, I'm afraid you're mistaken. Mara's my little sister, not my daughter." The lie made Shekhinah scream inside her mind, how dare you keep defiling yourself with sin, but she blocked her other self's voice out, refusing to listen. It's for Mara's sake. Everything is for Mara's sake. Nothing else matters.

"I'm not hurt," Mara chirped, but wriggled out of her mother's arms and walked over to Lux anyway, staring up at him. "Who're you, anyway?"

"Oh! I am sorry. I was quite rude, then," Lux answered, softly, switching his expression to a slight frown,"I should apologize for making such an assumption. I hope you will forgive me." Mara was very young, to be Charlotte's sister, and he thought nothing of it for her to be a teenager with a small daughter. It did happen, and she was not exactly human either. She would not be here if that was not the case. In the meantime, he turned back to Mara, and showed her kind interest as he looked over her. She looked like a typical young child. He smiled once again, as he saw her, and he held her hand to shake it. "My name is Lux. I am an angel, and a classmate of your sister. She is very kind and beautiful, as are you. I am glad that neither of you were hurt." His wings, which he now folded, and eyes flowed softly, showing a playful light that would have drawn awe from any small child.

"Yeah, she's really pretty," Mara answered with a firm nod, not really noticing how Charlotte's face had become a few shades lighter at Lux's declaration that she was 'beautiful'.

Mara smiles up at her, eyes wide as she wraps tiny arms around her mother's neck. She is such a beautiful child. Even with the traces of her father visible in her, she is so beautiful. Not because of Charlotte, though. She is not beautiful. She is filthy and horrible. No matter what he says--

"Do you know how beautiful you are? You always seem so self-conscious, but you really are such a pretty girl."

Mara sees the pain flash in her mother's eyes and pulls away, thinking her hug has upset Charlotte. Guilt washes over her, and Charlotte hugs Mara back. Her demons, her memories cannot hurt her little girl. She won't allow that.

Mara shook Lux's hand with a grip that a little girl really shouldn't have been capable of having, smiling and nodding again. "My name's Mara! And she's Charlotte! You're very shiny, Mr. Lux--"

Her voice cut off abruptly, her eyes widening and a tiny whimper escaping her lips as she felt a sharp pain in her back... but when she turned her head, there was nothing behind her.

She frowned.

...that hurt...

[Luminesa]

"Oh! I am sorry. I was quite rude, then," Lux answered, softly, switching his expression to a slight frown,"I should apologize for making such an assumption. I hope you will forgive me." Mara was very young, to be Charlotte's sister, and he thought nothing of it for her to be a teenager with a small daughter. It did happen, and she was not exactly human either. She would not be here if that was not the case. In the meantime, he turned back to Mara, and showed her kind interest as he looked over her. She looked like a typical young child. He smiled once again, as he saw her, and he held her hand to shake it. "My name is Lux. I am an angel, and a classmate of your sister. She is very kind and beautiful, as are you. I am glad that neither of you were hurt." His wings, which he now folded, and eyes flowed softly, showing a playful light that would have drawn awe from any small child.

"Yeah, she's really pretty," Mara answered with a firm nod, not really noticing how Charlotte's face had become a few shades lighter at Lux's declaration that she was 'beautiful'.

Mara smiles up at her, eyes wide as she wraps tiny arms around her mother's neck. She is such a beautiful child. Even with the traces of her father visible in her, she is so beautiful. Not because of Charlotte, though. She is not beautiful. She is filthy and horrible. No matter what he says--

"Do you know how beautiful you are? You always seem so self-conscious, but you really are such a pretty girl."

Mara sees the pain flash in her mother's eyes and pulls away, thinking her hug has upset Charlotte. Guilt washes over her, and Charlotte hugs Mara back. Her demons, her memories cannot hurt her little girl. She won't allow that.

Mara shook Lux's hand with a grip that a little girl really shouldn't have been capable of having, smiling and nodding again. "My name's Mara! And she's Charlotte! You're very shiny, Mr. Lux--"

Her voice cut off abruptly, her eyes widening and a tiny whimper escaping her lips as she felt a sharp pain in her back... but when she turned her head, there was nothing behind her.

She frowned.

...that hurt...

Mara seemed very happy for a few moments, and yet her cheeriness seemed to fade, as she spoke to Lux. She became anxious, and pained, and she turned behind her as though she was being hunted. When only Charlotte remained, Lux became confused. "You stopped speaking. Are you alright, Mara? There is no reason to be afraid. The battle is over, and you and your mother are safe, correct? Or is there a wound that you and your mother are hiding?" He spoke without harshness, and he turned to Charlotte with a concerned look, as though he was waiting for her to show him a wound that he could heal. Unfortunately, the wounds in Charlotte's heart could not be healed by a simple touch, it seemed.

[Charlia]

"Yeah, she's really pretty," Mara answered with a firm nod, not really noticing how Charlotte's face had become a few shades lighter at Lux's declaration that she was 'beautiful'.

Mara smiles up at her, eyes wide as she wraps tiny arms around her mother's neck. She is such a beautiful child. Even with the traces of her father visible in her, she is so beautiful. Not because of Charlotte, though. She is not beautiful. She is filthy and horrible. No matter what he says--

"Do you know how beautiful you are? You always seem so self-conscious, but you really are such a pretty girl."

Mara sees the pain flash in her mother's eyes and pulls away, thinking her hug has upset Charlotte. Guilt washes over her, and Charlotte hugs Mara back. Her demons, her memories cannot hurt her little girl. She won't allow that.

Mara shook Lux's hand with a grip that a little girl really shouldn't have been capable of having, smiling and nodding again. "My name's Mara! And she's Charlotte! You're very shiny, Mr. Lux--"

Her voice cut off abruptly, her eyes widening and a tiny whimper escaping her lips as she felt a sharp pain in her back... but when she turned her head, there was nothing behind her.

She frowned.

...that hurt...

Mara seemed very happy for a few moments, and yet her cheeriness seemed to fade, as she spoke to Lux. She became anxious, and pained, and she turned behind her as though she was being hunted. When only Charlotte remained, Lux became confused. "You stopped speaking. Are you alright, Mara? There is no reason to be afraid. The battle is over, and you and your mother are safe, correct? Or is there a wound that you and your mother are hiding?" He spoke without harshness, and he turned to Charlotte with a concerned look, as though he was waiting for her to show him a wound that he could heal. Unfortunately, the wounds in Charlotte's heart could not be healed by a simple touch, it seemed.

"...Not that I know of," Charlotte said quickly, already holding Mara again. "What's wrong?" she asked, directing the question to her daughter this time.

"...back hurts," Mara mumbled, to which Charlotte carefully lifted the back of the little girl's shirt, but only after glancing around to make sure no one would be able to see anything. Just because Mara was only four didn't mean her mother wasn't going to be very, very careful with her daughter's safety.

No one hurts her like that. Ever.

There wasn't any visible wound on the child, except for what appeared to be...

Charlotte's eyes widened.

Two small black points protruded from her daughter's skin, directly between her shoulder blades. They weren't metal, so it wasn't as if something was embedded in the girl's back. They looked more like... bone... except bones were supposed to be white, weren't they?

...They're not... No, not possible. She can't...

[Ranoria]

Azazel

"There is no hatred between us, little one, take note of that." The demon turned to look at Filia, frowning at her chosen, or so he assumed it was chosen, appearance of someone so young, "I have no need of your lectures now, if you haven't noticed, there is no feud, at least not one that I'm aware of." His eyes flicked back to the devil, frowning. He could see that he'd been aggravated from his calling him an imp, but he'd been angry before that, and why, he couldn't understand.

"You're presumptuous, mortal." He didn't even look at Patriah, voice not showing much emotion, "Watch your tongue, lest someone cut it out."

Finally, he turned to his so-called brother, Satan himself, "The dybbuk itself needs to say the name, Lucifer, not yourself alone."

Filia Umbrarum

Filia tilted her head in confusion as she looked upon he demon warrior. If there is no feud why were they insulting each other? It was all very weird, but perhaps the treatment was natural for demons. In fact, Filia wondered what happened to the other guy that Lucifer was fighting. "O-okay, I guess." she spoke softly looking down at the floor, "I guess I've just been jumping the gun. Today has been a really bad day. Still, what was up with the insults?"

Filia then looked at Lucifer holding box as he shouted the demon's name. She looked to Markus/Thalic now screaming in agony as he was sent back to wherever he came from and sighed in relief as she watched students begin helping out the now back to normal teacher out of the dirt he was buried. Filia melted into a shadow and scurried towards them. "Anyway I could help?" she asked sweetly and curiously as she took on physical form.

Azazel

"You could call it a test, if anything else. I simply wanted to see what, precisely, Lucifer's reaction would be. After all, he does seem oddly aggressive. Like I said, there is no feud between us, at least not one that I am aware of." The demon sheathed his knife, looking to the higher ranked, self-proclaimed ruler of Hell. "But I did have something that I wanted to address, Lucifer." The demon's eyes searched his so-called brother's, trying to see just what, exactly, he was thinking.

"If you ever try to order me, as if you hold some sort of authority granted to you by none other than yourself, then know that I will have to respond with violence," his fingers snapped, the various weapons he'd created out of thin air throughout the course of the battle dissolving into nothingness, "And I don't think you'd want that, now would you?"

He was staring intently at the demon. He hadn't lied, he truly held no grudge towards the devil, his concern, in fact, was that the feeling wasn't mutual. And if it wasn't, then he'd rather solve this little debacle now, before it caused unwanted tension.

[Castle Crashers]

Mara seemed very happy for a few moments, and yet her cheeriness seemed to fade, as she spoke to Lux. She became anxious, and pained, and she turned behind her as though she was being hunted. When only Charlotte remained, Lux became confused. "You stopped speaking. Are you alright, Mara? There is no reason to be afraid. The battle is over, and you and your mother are safe, correct? Or is there a wound that you and your mother are hiding?" He spoke without harshness, and he turned to Charlotte with a concerned look, as though he was waiting for her to show him a wound that he could heal. Unfortunately, the wounds in Charlotte's heart could not be healed by a simple touch, it seemed.

"...Not that I know of," Charlotte said quickly, already holding Mara again. "What's wrong?" she asked, directing the question to her daughter this time.

"...back hurts," Mara mumbled, to which Charlotte carefully lifted the back of the little girl's shirt, but only after glancing around to make sure no one would be able to see anything. Just because Mara was only four didn't mean her mother wasn't going to be very, very careful with her daughter's safety.

No one hurts her like that. Ever.

There wasn't any visible wound on the child, except for what appeared to be...

Charlotte's eyes widened.

Two small black points protruded from her daughter's skin, directly between her shoulder blades. They weren't metal, so it wasn't as if something was embedded in the girl's back. They looked more like... bone... except bones were supposed to be white, weren't they?

...They're not... No, not possible. She can't...

"Is...something wrong?" He spoke after this whole time, feeling as if he'd been a bit useless throughout the course of events that'd just happened. He was a god of death, that was all, and he doubted that any of the students wished to kill their teacher. Not to mention, he would know; it wasn't that man's time yet. It wasn't yet time for him to collect his soul, and it wouldn't be for a while, as far as Cade could tell. And while he wasn't good at telling many emotions, he had seen enough human faces around death to know when someone was shocked. Or afraid. Or in grief. Charlotte's face was as pale as a ghost, and she didn't look happy about what she was seeing. Luckily, he'd moved just a little to her side to catch a glimpse of what she might be so pale about. He saw them; the bones, just barely breaking from the skin. Ah...why would that be happening..? He was...fairly certain that wasn't normal...right..? "Oh...uh...is that supposed to happen..?" He asked, looking a bit confused. "It...doesn't really look like it's bleeding all that much...are her bones out of place..?"

[Charlia]

"...Not that I know of," Charlotte said quickly, already holding Mara again. "What's wrong?" she asked, directing the question to her daughter this time.

"...back hurts," Mara mumbled, to which Charlotte carefully lifted the back of the little girl's shirt, but only after glancing around to make sure no one would be able to see anything. Just because Mara was only four didn't mean her mother wasn't going to be very, very careful with her daughter's safety.

No one hurts her like that. Ever.

There wasn't any visible wound on the child, except for what appeared to be...

Charlotte's eyes widened.

Two small black points protruded from her daughter's skin, directly between her shoulder blades. They weren't metal, so it wasn't as if something was embedded in the girl's back. They looked more like... bone... except bones were supposed to be white, weren't they?

...They're not... No, not possible. She can't...

"Is...something wrong?" He spoke after this whole time, feeling as if he'd been a bit useless throughout the course of events that'd just happened. He was a god of death, that was all, and he doubted that any of the students wished to kill their teacher. Not to mention, he would know; it wasn't that man's time yet. It wasn't yet time for him to collect his soul, and it wouldn't be for a while, as far as Cade could tell. And while he wasn't good at telling many emotions, he had seen enough human faces around death to know when someone was shocked. Or afraid. Or in grief. Charlotte's face was as pale as a ghost, and she didn't look happy about what she was seeing. Luckily, he'd moved just a little to her side to catch a glimpse of what she might be so pale about. He saw them; the bones, just barely breaking from the skin. Ah...why would that be happening..? He was...fairly certain that wasn't normal...right..? "Oh...uh...is that supposed to happen..?" He asked, looking a bit confused. "It...doesn't really look like it's bleeding all that much...are her bones out of place..?"

"..." Charlotte stiffened slightly, letting the back of Mara's shirt fall back down quickly.

How do I explain this? "Oh, yeah, she's growing wings, and judging from their appearance so far they're probably going to take after her father's much more than they do mine, so yeah, she's half-demon, please don't call her an abomination."

That's not going to work on anyone.

"...What is it?" Mara twisted around, staring at her mother, her own face echoing the fear on her mother's. "Is... is it really bad?"

That brought Charlotte out of her stunned state. "N-no! No, it's not really bad," unless you consider being called an unholy abomination that goes against everything your own grandfather created to be really bad. "You're... well, Mara... it... looks like your wings have started growing."

Mara's eyes widened, and she let out a shriek of excitement that could have deafened a dinosaur. (An exaggeration; but to Charlotte's mind, perfectly accurate.)

"Mr. Cade," she declared, turning to the one who had asked the question as if he couldn't have heard the answer perfectly well himself, "I'm getting wings."

[Castle Crashers]

"Is...something wrong?" He spoke after this whole time, feeling as if he'd been a bit useless throughout the course of events that'd just happened. He was a god of death, that was all, and he doubted that any of the students wished to kill their teacher. Not to mention, he would know; it wasn't that man's time yet. It wasn't yet time for him to collect his soul, and it wouldn't be for a while, as far as Cade could tell. And while he wasn't good at telling many emotions, he had seen enough human faces around death to know when someone was shocked. Or afraid. Or in grief. Charlotte's face was as pale as a ghost, and she didn't look happy about what she was seeing. Luckily, he'd moved just a little to her side to catch a glimpse of what she might be so pale about. He saw them; the bones, just barely breaking from the skin. Ah...why would that be happening..? He was...fairly certain that wasn't normal...right..? "Oh...uh...is that supposed to happen..?" He asked, looking a bit confused. "It...doesn't really look like it's bleeding all that much...are her bones out of place..?"

"..." Charlotte stiffened slightly, letting the back of Mara's shirt fall back down quickly.

How do I explain this? "Oh, yeah, she's growing wings, and judging from their appearance so far they're probably going to take after her father's much more than they do mine, so yeah, she's half-demon, please don't call her an abomination."

That's not going to work on anyone.

"...What is it?" Mara twisted around, staring at her mother, her own face echoing the fear on her mother's. "Is... is it really bad?"

That brought Charlotte out of her stunned state. "N-no! No, it's not really bad," unless you consider being called an unholy abomination that goes against everything your own grandfather created to be really bad. "You're... well, Mara... it... looks like your wings have started growing."

Mara's eyes widened, and she let out a shriek of excitement that could have deafened a dinosaur. (An exaggeration; but to Charlotte's mind, perfectly accurate.)

"Mr. Cade," she declared, turning to the one who had asked the question as if he couldn't have heard the answer perfectly well himself, "I'm getting wings."

At first, he winced at Mara's shriek, but he was relieved to see that nothing too abnormal was happening. Just a child growing wings, that was all. Yes, that was a bit odd, but it was better than her shoulder blades breaking out of her skin or something...right? When she declared it loud and clear for him specifically, he smiled. "Well, that sounds awesome," He answered, and seeing the child's face light up with such joy on the subject just instantly proved that it was okay. "I wish I could get wings like yours, that would be really cool, don't you think? Just make sure that when you get those things you don't go around flying without your mother...since I don't know if you'll know how to control them right off the bat." He chuckled a little. "But it's good to see you're so happy about it."

[Charlia]

"..." Charlotte stiffened slightly, letting the back of Mara's shirt fall back down quickly.

How do I explain this? "Oh, yeah, she's growing wings, and judging from their appearance so far they're probably going to take after her father's much more than they do mine, so yeah, she's half-demon, please don't call her an abomination."

That's not going to work on anyone.

"...What is it?" Mara twisted around, staring at her mother, her own face echoing the fear on her mother's. "Is... is it really bad?"

That brought Charlotte out of her stunned state. "N-no! No, it's not really bad," unless you consider being called an unholy abomination that goes against everything your own grandfather created to be really bad. "You're... well, Mara... it... looks like your wings have started growing."

Mara's eyes widened, and she let out a shriek of excitement that could have deafened a dinosaur. (An exaggeration; but to Charlotte's mind, perfectly accurate.)

"Mr. Cade," she declared, turning to the one who had asked the question as if he couldn't have heard the answer perfectly well himself, "I'm getting wings."

At first, he winced at Mara's shriek, but he was relieved to see that nothing too abnormal was happening. Just a child growing wings, that was all. Yes, that was a bit odd, but it was better than her shoulder blades breaking out of her skin or something...right? When she declared it loud and clear for him specifically, he smiled. "Well, that sounds awesome," He answered, and seeing the child's face light up with such joy on the subject just instantly proved that it was okay. "I wish I could get wings like yours, that would be really cool, don't you think? Just make sure that when you get those things you don't go around flying without your mother...since I don't know if you'll know how to control them right off the bat." He chuckled a little. "But it's good to see you're so happy about it."

Mara grinned, until more of his words registered and a shadow crossed her face.

"...Why does everyone keep thinking she's my mommy?" she muttered. If she were to be perfectly honest, she had no idea what she was saying. The words just kept coming to her, a little voice whispering This is what you need to say. "I think you're scaring her a bit, y'know? An' I know why. 'Cause she's seventeen, and I'm only four, but if she were my mommy that would mean she was thirteen when I was born. An' that's too young to be a mommy, isn't it?"

[Luminesa]

"Is...something wrong?" He spoke after this whole time, feeling as if he'd been a bit useless throughout the course of events that'd just happened. He was a god of death, that was all, and he doubted that any of the students wished to kill their teacher. Not to mention, he would know; it wasn't that man's time yet. It wasn't yet time for him to collect his soul, and it wouldn't be for a while, as far as Cade could tell. And while he wasn't good at telling many emotions, he had seen enough human faces around death to know when someone was shocked. Or afraid. Or in grief. Charlotte's face was as pale as a ghost, and she didn't look happy about what she was seeing. Luckily, he'd moved just a little to her side to catch a glimpse of what she might be so pale about. He saw them; the bones, just barely breaking from the skin. Ah...why would that be happening..? He was...fairly certain that wasn't normal...right..? "Oh...uh...is that supposed to happen..?" He asked, looking a bit confused. "It...doesn't really look like it's bleeding all that much...are her bones out of place..?"

"..." Charlotte stiffened slightly, letting the back of Mara's shirt fall back down quickly.

How do I explain this? "Oh, yeah, she's growing wings, and judging from their appearance so far they're probably going to take after her father's much more than they do mine, so yeah, she's half-demon, please don't call her an abomination."

That's not going to work on anyone.

"...What is it?" Mara twisted around, staring at her mother, her own face echoing the fear on her mother's. "Is... is it really bad?"

That brought Charlotte out of her stunned state. "N-no! No, it's not really bad," unless you consider being called an unholy abomination that goes against everything your own grandfather created to be really bad. "You're... well, Mara... it... looks like your wings have started growing."

Mara's eyes widened, and she let out a shriek of excitement that could have deafened a dinosaur. (An exaggeration; but to Charlotte's mind, perfectly accurate.)

"Mr. Cade," she declared, turning to the one who had asked the question as if he couldn't have heard the answer perfectly well himself, "I'm getting wings."

Lux watched as Charlotte and Mara's reactions turned from those of pain, to horror, and then to excitement, at least for Mara. Charlotte still looked scared about the idea of Mara growing wings, and as he finished healing Tlaloc, he flew behind Mara and examined her "wings". The sharp, tiny bumps on her back were black and wicked-looking. His expression showed no surprise or concern, though he did seem curious as to why this cute, bubbly little child was seemingly growing demon wings. "Soon you will be able to begin learning how to fly, Miss Mara. I would be very happy to teach you, if you want," Lux offered.

Xavier saw this as well, and concern showed very much on his face. This sweet little girl was going to be a demon? At least that's what he saw, when she turned to Charlotte, and he saw the black stumps on her back. What sorts of dark powers was she hiding? Even more disturbing than that, who were her parents? Charlotte had denied being her parent, though Mara did look a little bit like her. Charlotte had attested that to her being her little sister, but then that meant that neither of Mara's parents were known. One of them was a demon, however, and this part made him nervous.

[Charlia]

"..." Charlotte stiffened slightly, letting the back of Mara's shirt fall back down quickly.

How do I explain this? "Oh, yeah, she's growing wings, and judging from their appearance so far they're probably going to take after her father's much more than they do mine, so yeah, she's half-demon, please don't call her an abomination."

That's not going to work on anyone.

"...What is it?" Mara twisted around, staring at her mother, her own face echoing the fear on her mother's. "Is... is it really bad?"

That brought Charlotte out of her stunned state. "N-no! No, it's not really bad," unless you consider being called an unholy abomination that goes against everything your own grandfather created to be really bad. "You're... well, Mara... it... looks like your wings have started growing."

Mara's eyes widened, and she let out a shriek of excitement that could have deafened a dinosaur. (An exaggeration; but to Charlotte's mind, perfectly accurate.)

"Mr. Cade," she declared, turning to the one who had asked the question as if he couldn't have heard the answer perfectly well himself, "I'm getting wings."

Lux watched as Charlotte and Mara's reactions turned from those of pain, to horror, and then to excitement, at least for Mara. Charlotte still looked scared about the idea of Mara growing wings, and as he finished healing Tlaloc, he flew behind Mara and examined her "wings". The sharp, tiny bumps on her back were black and wicked-looking. His expression showed no surprise or concern, though he did seem curious as to why this cute, bubbly little child was seemingly growing demon wings. "Soon you will be able to begin learning how to fly, Miss Mara. I would be very happy to teach you, if you want," Lux offered.

Xavier saw this as well, and concern showed very much on his face. This sweet little girl was going to be a demon? At least that's what he saw, when she turned to Charlotte, and he saw the black stumps on her back. What sorts of dark powers was she hiding? Even more disturbing than that, who were her parents? Charlotte had denied being her parent, though Mara did look a little bit like her. Charlotte had attested that to her being her little sister, but then that meant that neither of Mara's parents were known. One of them was a demon, however, and this part made him nervous.

Turning away from Cade after her rather disturbing(for a little girl) pronouncement, she grinned at Lux. "I think she's going to teach me to fly, but if you wanna help you can," she replied cheerfully, pointing at Charlotte. "She's got wings, too. You just can't see them right now. They're really shiny."

Meanwhile, Charlotte saw the look on Xavier's face, and her hands curled into fists. This was exactly what she'd been afraid of. They didn't even know the truth about her daughter, and they were already judging her, silently, because of what she was.

They have no right to judge her... I don't care what they think of me, it's probably all true, but it's not Mara's fault! She's just a little girl, it's not like you can blame her for what her father did! It's not her fault!

[Castle Crashers]

At first, he winced at Mara's shriek, but he was relieved to see that nothing too abnormal was happening. Just a child growing wings, that was all. Yes, that was a bit odd, but it was better than her shoulder blades breaking out of her skin or something...right? When she declared it loud and clear for him specifically, he smiled. "Well, that sounds awesome," He answered, and seeing the child's face light up with such joy on the subject just instantly proved that it was okay. "I wish I could get wings like yours, that would be really cool, don't you think? Just make sure that when you get those things you don't go around flying without your mother...since I don't know if you'll know how to control them right off the bat." He chuckled a little. "But it's good to see you're so happy about it."

Mara grinned, until more of his words registered and a shadow crossed her face.

"...Why does everyone keep thinking she's my mommy?" she muttered. If she were to be perfectly honest, she had no idea what she was saying. The words just kept coming to her, a little voice whispering This is what you need to say. "I think you're scaring her a bit, y'know? An' I know why. 'Cause she's seventeen, and I'm only four, but if she were my mommy that would mean she was thirteen when I was born. An' that's too young to be a mommy, isn't it?"

He realized his slippage of words, and nodded. He hadn't meant to say that, and while Charlotte did look a lot older than Mara, he knew it wasn't right to accuse anyone out of the blue for that...that was just a word that'd come to mind, is all. "Ah, of course, my apologies. Just a slip of tongue, is all." He replied, still feeling a bit embarrassed by his mistake. She then turned her attention to the angel, Lux, ignoring Cade entirely. He just stayed silent from there, not wanting to make any more mistakes as he had.

[Sky-TheLandOfNekos]

Theia

It's over...

The two words lingered in her thoughts as she stood there, still bracing herself on one knee to maintain a gravitational field that no longer existed. She gave it her all to make sure that the monster that became her teacher couldn't escape, and now she couldn't so much as will herself to accept that the battle had been won. Her slowly fading presence, the remnant of a being that fought beside her peers, would certainly not react well with her level exertion.

She barely managed pushed herself back to her feet, only to feel as though her heart skipped a beat as her physical form flickered. The experience was devastating, and for more than enough to put her into shock.

Why did I help them? I could have fled...