Mana Academy: Beyond Borders IC

[Finsternia]

Allistor Abendroth

Allistor stared at Soleil as he tried to understand the boy's words. Soleil dreamed that he was a vampire, that he fed on Shaun's blood before hunting the blonde haired boy right afterwards. He stared at his blankets and tried to sit himself up, grunting through the pain and soreness. His ruined left arm is thawing as he pulled it from underneath the heavy blankets, and his wounds are healing underneath ice. His eyes stared at his hands as Soleil's words continued on and on like white noise. Soleil liked Shaun, and he liked Allistor as well. Seeing the two boys get together made him feel like they're abandoning him, and it seems that his dreams are an allegory that Soleil feels like Allistor stole Shaun from him. After all, they were friends before the two boys got together. But at that point, Soleil had his own romantic affair with Kasumi as well.

Allistor looks up to Soleil with a distressed expression, his eyes seemingly filled with confusion. "Wait... What... are you... You're... you're really dreaming that I... killed Shaun? Are you telling me that... that I'm taking him away from you? Is that it?" Allistor brought his hands to his face, tiredly and frustratingly rubbing his face. His ice cold claws are dangerously scrapping against face, and any more force would tear the fragile skin underneath his touch. "...God, why do you... do you need to..." He sighs and he puts down his hands. "...I'm sorry if you... felt that way with Shaun and... you know that I don't see you that way Soleil. You're like a little brother to me and..." He closes his eyes and stays silent. The dark circles underneath his eyes seem to become darker and deeper at this perspective, and his accumulated stress is showing at this moment. "...We're not abandoning you. It's just... we are... we have... we miss each other as well. I hope you understand that." His voice sounds heavy and grave, as if he's tired of arguing already and is giving up.

[Luminesa]

Allistor Abendroth

Allistor stared at Soleil as he tried to understand the boy's words. Soleil dreamed that he was a vampire, that he fed on Shaun's blood before hunting the blonde haired boy right afterwards. He stared at his blankets and tried to sit himself up, grunting through the pain and soreness. His ruined left arm is thawing as he pulled it from underneath the heavy blankets, and his wounds are healing underneath ice. His eyes stared at his hands as Soleil's words continued on and on like white noise. Soleil liked Shaun, and he liked Allistor as well. Seeing the two boys get together made him feel like they're abandoning him, and it seems that his dreams are an allegory that Soleil feels like Allistor stole Shaun from him. After all, they were friends before the two boys got together. But at that point, Soleil had his own romantic affair with Kasumi as well.

Allistor looks up to Soleil with a distressed expression, his eyes seemingly filled with confusion. "Wait... What... are you... You're... you're really dreaming that I... killed Shaun? Are you telling me that... that I'm taking him away from you? Is that it?" Allistor brought his hands to his face, tiredly and frustratingly rubbing his face. His ice cold claws are dangerously scrapping against face, and any more force would tear the fragile skin underneath his touch. "...God, why do you... do you need to..." He sighs and he puts down his hands. "...I'm sorry if you... felt that way with Shaun and... you know that I don't see you that way Soleil. You're like a little brother to me and..." He closes his eyes and stays silent. The dark circles underneath his eyes seem to become darker and deeper at this perspective, and his accumulated stress is showing at this moment. "...We're not abandoning you. It's just... we are... we have... we miss each other as well. I hope you understand that." His voice sounds heavy and grave, as if he's tired of arguing already and is giving up.

Allistor did not even look at him when he explained himself. Soleil could feel his heart beating faster, and he wanted the anxiety to stop. Allistor was flummoxed as he tried to solve the nonsensical strain of words the boy tried to string together, and as he did not give a coherent response, Soleil felt worse. He grimaced and tried to think of some other way he could word his dream, but the damage was done. His friend was now convinced that he was only trying to annoy him further.

Somehow, this knowledge made Soleil force himself to try harder to explain himself. He could hear the anger and exasperation in Allistor’s voice. He wanted badly to be understood. “...Why do I what?...Why won’t you tell me?...” he muttered, trying to get Allistor to tell him how he felt. He could see enough of his emotions, but he wanted him to speak. Somehow, he felt that talking would give him the relief he needed.

Oh you won’t feel relief...Heheheh...

That voice came back. Soleil grit his teeth and wanted to cover his ears, except that he would look bizarre doing so. He kept his eyes on Allistor, trying to form the answer he wanted to give. If only the voice in his head did not sound like his close friend. “...A-Allistor, I...I dreamed what I did because...because I guess...I-I felt...the way you two were so close...I-It wasn’t something...I really understood...and...I wanted to be...to be close to both of you too!...But...I don’t know how...I...I just really like you. A-And I guess part of it...is that...”

Is that you’re dark and mysterious and cold and yet somehow also hiding affection?...Hehehehe

Soleil did not speak the words that came to his head. He stared at Allistor’s claws, and he broke into a cool sweat. He rubbed his arms. “...Y-You’re not taking...him away...but...you love each other to death...a-at least in my dream...my...strange dream. But...I...wanted...to feel what that was like...I guess...in some creepy way...” he explained clumsily.

[Finsternia]

Allistor Abendroth

Allistor brought his hands through his hair, combing his tangled locks of black silk in frustration. Just when he thought that everything couldn't get even worse, this happens. Soleil has feelings for him and Shaun, and seems to have some kind of weird jealousy over the two boys. Soleil felt so alone that he wanted to know what the two boys felt for each other, and he wanted to feel the same as well. Perhaps his own loneliness just intensified his feelings of friendship or it's really something romantic, yet twisted by his own sheltered and dark upbringing by Solaine's hands.

Soleil would feel that the other boy is leaking mana out of his frustration and stress, and the ice scales on his injured arm are falling off and disintegrating into motes of bluish white mana that the black haired teen is reabsorbing. "...Soleil, I... I don't have any words for you... If it's friendship you're asking, I can... give that but... If you're asking for the same affection as I give Shaun then... it's a no, Soleil... I'm sorry..." He slumps back on his bed and he sighs, staring into the white painted ceiling of the infirmary. He watched as motes of ice mana drift upwards, and slowly fall back down like fresh snow.

[Luminesa]

Allistor Abendroth

Allistor brought his hands through his hair, combing his tangled locks of black silk in frustration. Just when he thought that everything couldn't get even worse, this happens. Soleil has feelings for him and Shaun, and seems to have some kind of weird jealousy over the two boys. Soleil felt so alone that he wanted to know what the two boys felt for each other, and he wanted to feel the same as well. Perhaps his own loneliness just intensified his feelings of friendship or it's really something romantic, yet twisted by his own sheltered and dark upbringing by Solaine's hands.

Soleil would feel that the other boy is leaking mana out of his frustration and stress, and the ice scales on his injured arm are falling off and disintegrating into motes of bluish white mana that the black haired teen is reabsorbing. "...Soleil, I... I don't have any words for you... If it's friendship you're asking, I can... give that but... If you're asking for the same affection as I give Shaun then... it's a no, Soleil... I'm sorry..." He slumps back on his bed and he sighs, staring into the white painted ceiling of the infirmary. He watched as motes of ice mana drift upwards, and slowly fall back down like fresh snow.

The conversation died a dishonorable death, not from a mighty battle but from a sigh of disappointment. Soleil watched as Allistor did not even try to fight or argue. Instead, he deflated in his bed and just looked away, staring at the ice re-absorbing into his arm. The Ice Mage was still leaking Mana, but he was still healing and stable. And yet his eyes twitched with frustration and exhaustion. Soleil had only made his pain worse.

Aaaaaand that’s another loss for you, isn’t it?

This time, the smaller Mage did not even try to fight the voice in his head. He thought he was done with voices when Tsukiyomi had removed spirits from his soul. Yet now this. He wondered if it was related to his dreams, given that it sounded like his sickly friend in bed. He covered his eyes, wishing he could cry but holding no tears ready. How ironic. “...It’s okay...I-I...I shouldn’t have said anything...” He sat down and continued to stroke Allistor’s hair. “...L-Let’s just pretend I never said anything. You need to drink your hot chocolate and rest!...It’s gonna be okay. We...w-we can spar again once you’re really healthy...” He gave a cheery smile, despite knowing that neither of them were feeling cheery. “...I was...thinking about what...I might buy for your birthdays too...th-they’re only a month away...”

Right around Christmas! Ahhh don’t you want for someone to kiss you under the mistletoe? Don’t you? Relax. It will never happen.

Now the tears came, and the Wind Mage lowered his eyes so Allistor would not see them. He would not understand that some foreign voice, maybe his own words in his friend’s voice, was talking to him in his mind. Some remnant of his nightmares. Soleil wanted to run out of the room and to find Shaun, but something told him to stay and to try and make Allistor feel better...

[Finsternia]

Allistor Abendroth

Soleil tried to push forward with the conversation, trying to veer away from the painful rejection that he has just experienced. Allistor moved his functional right arm over his eyes as his temples start to thrum with a headache. He's dealt with multiple cases of people, men and women alike, "falling in love" with him, and many of those advances he has rejected. It was at this moment that a friend confessed to him, and a friend that he needed to reject and push away. He loves Shaun already, and the love that he has for Soleil is different from the one he had for Shaun. Shaun was a companion for his heart while Soleil was a sworn brother that he felt obliged to care for and felt like the little brother he never had. But what would he do when that same little brother came forward with feelings of admiration greater than that of heroic admiration? What should Allistor do when the only path for him to take is to shatter Soleil's heart before him?

Slowly he took his arm off his eyes and stared at Soleil, the Wind Mage's tears now falling freely and flowed down his cheeks. He gave an exaperated sigh and called out to Soleil. "Sol... Soleil, look at me." Allistor gave him a stern yet understanding look, and tried his best to look not as threatening as he always presented himself. "Soleil... This... This feeling of abandonment you have... You don't need to find love for yourself to feel like you are loved. You don't need the same love that Shaun and I have for each other for you to feel like you belong... And... You don't need to force yourself to... talk about these things to make us feel better. I'm sorry if I... need to reject you in such a way but... Soleil, I am still here as your... brother. Like Shaun and Henry, I am your friend and..." He closes his eyes and he sighs again. "We all care for you. What Shaun and I have is incredibly special, yes, but so is our relationship with you. Just... be you, Soleil. Always be the sweet, curious boy that us here in Mana cherish."

[Luminesa]

Allistor Abendroth

Soleil tried to push forward with the conversation, trying to veer away from the painful rejection that he has just experienced. Allistor moved his functional right arm over his eyes as his temples start to thrum with a headache. He's dealt with multiple cases of people, men and women alike, "falling in love" with him, and many of those advances he has rejected. It was at this moment that a friend confessed to him, and a friend that he needed to reject and push away. He loves Shaun already, and the love that he has for Soleil is different from the one he had for Shaun. Shaun was a companion for his heart while Soleil was a sworn brother that he felt obliged to care for and felt like the little brother he never had. But what would he do when that same little brother came forward with feelings of admiration greater than that of heroic admiration? What should Allistor do when the only path for him to take is to shatter Soleil's heart before him?

Slowly he took his arm off his eyes and stared at Soleil, the Wind Mage's tears now falling freely and flowed down his cheeks. He gave an exaperated sigh and called out to Soleil. "Sol... Soleil, look at me." Allistor gave him a stern yet understanding look, and tried his best to look not as threatening as he always presented himself. "Soleil... This... This feeling of abandonment you have... You don't need to find love for yourself to feel like you are loved. You don't need the same love that Shaun and I have for each other for you to feel like you belong... And... You don't need to force yourself to... talk about these things to make us feel better. I'm sorry if I... need to reject you in such a way but... Soleil, I am still here as your... brother. Like Shaun and Henry, I am your friend and..." He closes his eyes and he sighs again. "We all care for you. What Shaun and I have is incredibly special, yes, but so is our relationship with you. Just... be you, Soleil. Always be the sweet, curious boy that us here in Mana cherish."

Soleil Rise

Allistor wanted to force the painful subject, and so Soleil could do nothing more than sit and listen as the Ice Mage tried to finish the subject. He wiped his tears as much as he could, and he watched the feverish, hazy look on his friend's face. His condition...is it getting worse?...Or is he just tired?... His eyes flickered to a nurse, who seemed to sense his distress and paced over to the bedside. The nurse did not pay much mind to Allistor's rambling, and checked his temperature as Allistor paused while speaking. He was a bit warm, and so he went to grab a cool rag and some Tylenol. In the meantime, Cecily and John were working on other tasks, but they remained worried about the two boys, who were mired in a discussion neither of them had wanted.

Soleil gave his friend eye-contact, as much as he did not want to look at him, and he was surprised by the sudden softness in his friend's voice. He wished he could see this side of Allistor more often, but then he knew he was missing the point of the older boy's advice. The Wind Mage did not have to throw himself at others to receive affection, as he already had that affection all around him. His friends had done everything to save him from his tyrannical mother, including going to war partially for his sake. They comforted him during his low moments and his not-so-low moments. They risked their sanity to deal with his laundry list of issues. Allistor was assuring him that he was here as his brother, as his protector, and Soleil understood. Yet understanding did not fill the cup of his heart the way he wanted it to, though he knew that their love for him was a guarantee. ...I guess I'll have to...give the feelings time to simmer away...like sugar left in a pot to boil for too long...to burn...But if it burns, you have to scrape-out the mess...and you may even have to...throw away the pot. I guess that's...the same for me. But...I don't want to throw my heart away...I wanna...give it to someone... he contemplated, taking Allistor's hand and squeezing it as his friend spoke. He could tell the Ice Mage was not entirely cognizant, as his fever had risen. Luckily, the nurses were bringing cold rags and pouring Mana into him. He smiled down at the sickly Mage, and he nodded. "...I can...I can be that..."

Artosh

Artosh had not come into work on-time this morning, unusual even for his worst days of his sickness. Someone had needed to check on him, but he was not too sick to go to work. Instead, he was rolling back and forth in bed, stuck in a restless sleep wrapped in soaked bedsheets. As he had entered the dream, he had seen a beautiful, wintry woodland. A blur of pearly-white snowflakes, shimmering snow, and bony, greying trees poking through the sugary landscape. The sky was a blanket of cottony clouds, lovely to behold. And yet in the midst of that Norman-Rockwell scenery, a frightening visage stood several yards from Artosh. A pillar of white satin, flowing over an ethereal, slender figure, stared out at Artosh. Glowing violet eyes stared out from under the satin, and the figure seemed to float through the snow, creating no path as it moved. It did not blink or breathe, and it glided steadily to its target.

Looking toward his surroundings, Artosh had nowhere to run. If he tried to escape, only endless whiteness rushed out before him, deep enough to trip and bury him if he misstepped. If he let out a groan, the ghostly being only moved closer. Eventually, it stopped in front of him, and a veiled arm rose to touch his cheek. An eerie set of featureless, slender fingers rose and rested against his skin, and Artosh could hear an echo in the snow. Not his own screams, but the sounds of someone's shrieks of agony and terror. In the vast forest, the noise seemed to split into many screams, before vanishing into nothingness. The sharp pain of touching freezing metal reached the Mage's face, and he had to draw back, struck with the premonition that some other pain awaited if he stood still. The veiled figure cocked its head to the side, and moved closer. WIth no other options, Artosh had to run away.

As he panicked and flew through the snow, the figure moved behind him. He could feel it moving behind him. Just as he expected, he eventually tripped in the snow. The fall was steep, and he was at least two feet deep, as he lie waiting for what seemed to be death's own avatar. The veiled figure walked toward him without a fuss, looking down at him in the snow as he seemed paralyzed. It seemed to bend its knees, examining its prey, before it crouched and sought to touch him again. Beautiful, mystifying, and inherently terrifying...

And yet as it approached, it also quickly drew away from something. A magical sprig of lavender striking up through the snow, next to Artosh's arm. The sprig looked like a normal plant, save for the gentle sparkle of violet floating off the flowers. Another one appeared, and another, until suddenly this small patch of lavender had sprung from the frozen earth around the Mage. The veiled figure drew back with each sprout, until it had flown away into the woods. As it left, however, another figure strolled through the snow, its feet crunching heavily through the snow. Each step came after an eternity, so it seemed, and yet Artosh never got to see its face. The dream ended before he could see the bringer of the spring flowers...

When he awakened, however, the dream had left him an odd gift. As if to assure him that the dream was not an ordinary nightmare, on his nightstand was another sprout of lavender, filling his room with a fresh, soothing scent. He also received some sort of...spiritual boost. He could feel, for the first time in some time, a gift had been given to his broken body and soul. A tiny one, a seedling of some curious future which granted him a chance at salvation. Or destruction. Either way, the morning had begun without him, and his bed was covered in cold sweat.

Michel Rise - Romania

Michel did not quite understand what made him look so strange. As he stood in the restaurant to get his food to go, he wiped some dust off his black cloak, and he tapped his feet to a song in his head. Maybe the shortened version of Cauchemar that he whirled in his hand made him suspicious, but he only smirked at some of the wide-eyed looks around him. He got his bag of food from a very confused and scared waitress, and he waltzed out the restaurant without a care. The scythe vanished behind his back as people seemed to try and forget that he had been inside the building. Maybe he was a foreigner who thought Halloween had not yet passed. Maybe he really was a madman out to hurt someone. Nobody bothered with him, not now anyway.

He did hide the scythe as he went to McDonald's-he had to search a little for one-as he knew more people would take him seriously. Or at least that was his theory. American tourists would panic seeing the scythe, while Romanians had a darker sense of humor, he thought with a grin. He did not know a lick of Romanian, but he knew that the language of globalism was easy enough for anyone to understand. He gave Catherine's order. "Chicken nuggets, fries, a coke, and uhhhh...ice cream. Chocolate." He fumbled for some euros in his wallet, and he handed them to the cashier, who quickly made the meal. He grabbed the bag and walked out, humming a tune under his breath as he walked. As he walked, he got another idea, and grabbed at his pockets. "...Oh wait. I don't have a phone...Oops."

Walking into a library, he managed to find a public phone and began to dial into it, ignoring the fact that he had brought two large bags of food which he hid under a desk. Knowing that the future now was uncertain, with the threat of the Obsidian Towers neutralized and with Catherine wanting to take a trip, he wanted to make a call to "home". He waited for the phone to pick-up, knowing Henry would not recognize the number, nor would he know how Michel got his number. "...Hello?...Hello?" he whispered, waiting for a response. "...C'mon, kids, the librarian's gonna kick me out..."

[Saleon]

Eliza Hartford
The Hellish Space Dimension that is House Sanguine

---

Michel noticed the Unseelie was in bad shape. He gave a rough chuckle. "Well, well, someone walked into the wrong side of a brawl...?!?!"

Rene gave a good chuckle, his breath still raspy. He looked back to Michael, “well, I apparently forgot my invitation, so they roughed me up a little before letting me in.” The horse had morphed into his human form. The good news was that the blood had stopped, the bad news was he looked like shit. He turned to Eliza, attempting to shrug off the pain and giving her a welcoming nod.

---

Eliza looked a little spooked to see Rene in such pain. It was a horrid sight. Of course, her attention then turned to the ‘student,’ Catherine. She apparently was still not quite welcome, but not in immediate danger. Catherine sat in a throne. She sat there like a cruel goddess that demanded attention. Someone who saw themselves as royalty. Catherine commanded the area, and apparently had her own guards. Of course, one other thing that latched onto her attention: she knew something had attacked and brought Rene to his current state.

That presence guarded the whole tower. Guarded Catherine. She knew some fear, but knew not to show it. Her eyes didn’t flinch as Catherine spoke: “Well then, Eliza let's hear who you are in your own words. You, fae, if you prompt her I'll see how good I can throw this pike from up here? Capeesh?”

Eliza looked up and down Catherine, “I am an independent mage; Rene and I are inseparable. Friendly partners. We do the occasional bounties every now and then, but our main focus is often working to protect fae and ensure their protection. We’d been investigating your friends over here as they were tied to the magical war that has displaced so many fae. It raised concern as Romania had mostly been untouched by those conflicts.

“My business with you…”

She rolled her eyes, before turning back to Michael and Rabbit, “is because of these boneheads. Your teachers? They kept running on about the danger of these towers. Supposedly, it would start an apocalypse, unleashing something that would raze hell on the entire continent.”

“Now… do you want a business card or something? Can Rene be freed from his, um… prison?”

“...Rene told me about some of your situation with your family, Eliza,” he began, his voice mechanical and even, “and I can imagine that you get paid quite well, depending on who you bring when you are offered pay. Michel and I were a bounty hunter and a bounty-hunter-in-training for quite some time. We understand the business well. And thus we recognize that bounty-hunting is also a very dirty, taboo job, often putting yourself at risk to fight beings much stronger than yourself. So tell me. You are independent, and not aligned with the Jaegars or with any such hunting forces. Who have your recent clients been? And what of your targets? Were they affecting the Fae somehow?...And did they happen to have any connection with us?”

He did not expect for her to be honest, as she had spoken with the bravado, once again, of someone who had not been properly humbled. As if seeing her closest friend in distress was not enough, she had called both Michel and Rabbit ‘boneheads’ in front of the latter’s powerful student. Michel chuckled as he waited for an answer, but Rabbit decided to take precautions. “And Rene I have released, as after he took his beating I was the one to imprison him in Ice. I do have alternative methods of trapping a soul, but those are...last-resorts.” He put a hand near his back, and he pulled a sleek, black appendage out like a sword from a sheath. Roughly eight feet long and bent like a crab’s leg, he held it by his side like a polearm. “You would do well to remember to be honest. And should you attempt any sort of combat with my student, you will meet me first.”

Eliza moved through the room a bit, setting close to Michel. She moved closely. Her brow furled a bit with a slight twitch on her lip. She replied, "I am not here to fight. AS much as I want to kick you right in the balls for even daring to trap Rene's soul... I know where I stand. Even if I wanted to attack... I would likely be sliced to pieces before even you could react. Besides, I was only here to ensure that nothing would happen to further displace the fae. That quest was not given to me by any bounty."

She then turned to Rabbit, "one quest was to deal with some squabble between minor royal families in France. Two villages that both claimed ownership of a profitable refinery. Whereas it was owned by mundanes, the contracts were actually forged by ancient blood ink by mages. One village baron knew he could not find the yields to keep his village people happy. And the other baron sought to keep the yield from the refinery for himself. I was sent to destroy a copy of the contract, allowing the poorer baron to have the only remaining contract. I will say, I don't know if allowing this contract to split the two villages was the wisest, but it was the bounty I was given."

"Another was to quell the fury of some ancient spirits who had been angered by a chief's latest hunting spree. The war made it harder to find food, so he hoped to collect more meat than usual to supply his village. Unfortunately, it riled the spirits, so he needed someone to barter a deal."

---

Rabbit, back inside, turned to Catherine, curious of what she wanted to do next. He did not want for Eliza and Rene to wander free, but he did not know what she wanted with them. He would make another Ice Prison if necessary, as he guessed that the duo still did not have well intentions. "...Is there...some sort of prison in this castle? A dungeon? I say we lock them there until we are ready to question them further," he suggested to his student.

Eliza sighed, groaning. She looked to Rabbit, "You two sure have no hospitable bone in your body. I'm not going to attack. What else could I do? Make your burger cold and soggy? Make you the wrong flavor of ice cream? Ooh, I'll freeze your sodas, that way you have to wait for them to warm up."

She then turned back to the delivery boy, "Also, Michel, did you at least get a McChicken and nuggets with hot mustard? Something about rolling in an iceball for an hour made me starving." The Brownie snipped up out of her collar, looking around as he sniffs food. He crawls up, trying to glare over a bit. After losing his home and then running around all over the place confused and out of the loop the little fae creature seemed quite hungry. He had been running all over the place so much that the fact he was hungry snuck up on him and attacked only when the feint smell of food roused his nose.

[Kingdom of Irhk]

Henry von Kressel

As the tempers seemed to get less heated around Salzburg, the members of the Seat went back to their own business: the soldiers started to remove the bodies from the courtyard, as Sebastian seemed to organize the efforts on normalizing the day.

However, while Eglantine gave Henry a long talk about while forced him to eat a plate she did, his phone rang. Usually, few people called him, with the majority preferring to send messages.

Staring at the screen, he couldn't identify the number, but clearly it came from Romania.

"Henry Wilhelm here, who do I speak to?"

[Luminesa]

Henry von Kressel

As the tempers seemed to get less heated around Salzburg, the members of the Seat went back to their own business: the soldiers started to remove the bodies from the courtyard, as Sebastian seemed to organize the efforts on normalizing the day.

However, while Eglantine gave Henry a long talk about while forced him to eat a plate she did, his phone rang. Usually, few people called him, with the majority preferring to send messages.

Staring at the screen, he couldn't identify the number, but clearly it came from Romania.

"Henry Wilhelm here, who do I speak to?"

Michel was relieved that Henry did not hang the phone-up right away. He grinned as he held the phone, knowing that his niece’s boyfriend was in for a surprise. Or several surprises. He eyed the bags of food under the table, and the small number of eyes staring at him as he spoke. “...Hey, this is Michel. We’re in Budapest and we’re doing fine,” he explained. He gaged the eyes around the room, trying to think of ways to talk about the matter without mentioning Magic of any kind.

“Listen, Catherine’s good too. I’ve been assigned to bring food to the party, if I can call it that. Your classmate’s new pad is...elaborate, I should say. And kinda spooky. It would be my thing if not for the massive waves of...oh, I shouldn’t talk about that, should I? Rabbit is alright, he’s with her and we’re gonna be back home soon. Hopefully within the next 48 hours.”

He paused for a moment, knowing he had just spit a ton of information into Henry’s ear. Most of it was good information, but Michel himself was confused about the Obsidian Towers. They had entered them and they had not experienced any dreaded, world-ending Magic. He wondered if perhaps that Magic had to be activated a certain way. Catherine has really only used the Towers to summon guards and some frightening armor, but the Towers had to have other powers as well.

Once he gave the news, Michel decided to change the subject, to give Henry some room to talk. “So how’s everything at home? How is my niece? You bought her more wine and chocolates yet? Or did you write her a love song to express your love? I saw that piano you have in your mansion, I know you like music. I ought to teach you some love songs to sing. But yes, are you all doing well?” he inquired. He grabbed a fry out the bag and ate it as discreetly as he could, glad to have a morsel of food in his stomach.

[Luminesa]

Eliza Hartford
The Hellish Space Dimension that is House Sanguine

---

“...Rene told me about some of your situation with your family, Eliza,” he began, his voice mechanical and even, “and I can imagine that you get paid quite well, depending on who you bring when you are offered pay. Michel and I were a bounty hunter and a bounty-hunter-in-training for quite some time. We understand the business well. And thus we recognize that bounty-hunting is also a very dirty, taboo job, often putting yourself at risk to fight beings much stronger than yourself. So tell me. You are independent, and not aligned with the Jaegars or with any such hunting forces. Who have your recent clients been? And what of your targets? Were they affecting the Fae somehow?...And did they happen to have any connection with us?”

He did not expect for her to be honest, as she had spoken with the bravado, once again, of someone who had not been properly humbled. As if seeing her closest friend in distress was not enough, she had called both Michel and Rabbit ‘boneheads’ in front of the latter’s powerful student. Michel chuckled as he waited for an answer, but Rabbit decided to take precautions. “And Rene I have released, as after he took his beating I was the one to imprison him in Ice. I do have alternative methods of trapping a soul, but those are...last-resorts.” He put a hand near his back, and he pulled a sleek, black appendage out like a sword from a sheath. Roughly eight feet long and bent like a crab’s leg, he held it by his side like a polearm. “You would do well to remember to be honest. And should you attempt any sort of combat with my student, you will meet me first.”

Eliza moved through the room a bit, setting close to Michel. She moved closely. Her brow furled a bit with a slight twitch on her lip. She replied, "I am not here to fight. AS much as I want to kick you right in the balls for even daring to trap Rene's soul... I know where I stand. Even if I wanted to attack... I would likely be sliced to pieces before even you could react. Besides, I was only here to ensure that nothing would happen to further displace the fae. That quest was not given to me by any bounty."

She then turned to Rabbit, "one quest was to deal with some squabble between minor royal families in France. Two villages that both claimed ownership of a profitable refinery. Whereas it was owned by mundanes, the contracts were actually forged by ancient blood ink by mages. One village baron knew he could not find the yields to keep his village people happy. And the other baron sought to keep the yield from the refinery for himself. I was sent to destroy a copy of the contract, allowing the poorer baron to have the only remaining contract. I will say, I don't know if allowing this contract to split the two villages was the wisest, but it was the bounty I was given."

"Another was to quell the fury of some ancient spirits who had been angered by a chief's latest hunting spree. The war made it harder to find food, so he hoped to collect more meat than usual to supply his village. Unfortunately, it riled the spirits, so he needed someone to barter a deal."

---

Rabbit, back inside, turned to Catherine, curious of what she wanted to do next. He did not want for Eliza and Rene to wander free, but he did not know what she wanted with them. He would make another Ice Prison if necessary, as he guessed that the duo still did not have well intentions. "...Is there...some sort of prison in this castle? A dungeon? I say we lock them there until we are ready to question them further," he suggested to his student.

Eliza sighed, groaning. She looked to Rabbit, "You two sure have no hospitable bone in your body. I'm not going to attack. What else could I do? Make your burger cold and soggy? Make you the wrong flavor of ice cream? Ooh, I'll freeze your sodas, that way you have to wait for them to warm up."

She then turned back to the delivery boy, "Also, Michel, did you at least get a McChicken and nuggets with hot mustard? Something about rolling in an iceball for an hour made me starving." The Brownie snipped up out of her collar, looking around as he sniffs food. He crawls up, trying to glare over a bit. After losing his home and then running around all over the place confused and out of the loop the little fae creature seemed quite hungry. He had been running all over the place so much that the fact he was hungry snuck up on him and attacked only when the feint smell of food roused his nose.

Michel did not give Eliza much of a listen when he left, and so he somewhat also forgot her order as she called it to him. Rabbit, however, remained inside the mysterious, ominous Obsidian Towers, listening to her as she spoke. She was still angry that she was not being given leeway to do anything. He, in the meantime, needed a place to sit down. The stress of finding Catherine had worn him, and he sighed. Yet he nodded as she explained the previous bounties she had undertaken. Minor royal families having disputes was not unusual, but everyone was connected in some way.

Yet he did not speak until she was finished. She managed to throw a gripe about Rabbit’s defensiveness, which made him chuckle behind his mask. “Oh my child, you will have to be patient with me. I have been hunted and tracked in almost every country I have ever lived, for most of the years of my long existence. I am not comfortable with strangers coming to me claiming to know who I am. I know from experience that they often want something sinister. You will have to forgive my apparent rudeness,” he explained, as he walked to a wall and leaned against it.

“You have been incredibly busy then. You must be good at your work, to be brought into the petty squabbles of nobles who live so far from you. What royal families were involved, if I may ask? I’ve seen many royal families, prominent or not, and I’ve heard many names. As far as this chief and his angering of the spirits...were these Fae also? The Fae do not tend to care about the matters of humans, unless they somehow collide with the eternal politics or the sacred lands of the Fae themselves.”

[Kingdom of Irhk]

Henry von Kressel

As the tempers seemed to get less heated around Salzburg, the members of the Seat went back to their own business: the soldiers started to remove the bodies from the courtyard, as Sebastian seemed to organize the efforts on normalizing the day.

However, while Eglantine gave Henry a long talk about while forced him to eat a plate she did, his phone rang. Usually, few people called him, with the majority preferring to send messages.

Staring at the screen, he couldn't identify the number, but clearly it came from Romania.

"Henry Wilhelm here, who do I speak to?"

Michel was relieved that Henry did not hang the phone-up right away. He grinned as he held the phone, knowing that his niece’s boyfriend was in for a surprise. Or several surprises. He eyed the bags of food under the table, and the small number of eyes staring at him as he spoke. “...Hey, this is Michel. We’re in Budapest and we’re doing fine,” he explained. He gaged the eyes around the room, trying to think of ways to talk about the matter without mentioning Magic of any kind.

“Listen, Catherine’s good too. I’ve been assigned to bring food to the party, if I can call it that. Your classmate’s new pad is...elaborate, I should say. And kinda spooky. It would be my thing if not for the massive waves of...oh, I shouldn’t talk about that, should I? Rabbit is alright, he’s with her and we’re gonna be back home soon. Hopefully within the next 48 hours.”

He paused for a moment, knowing he had just spit a ton of information into Henry’s ear. Most of it was good information, but Michel himself was confused about the Obsidian Towers. They had entered them and they had not experienced any dreaded, world-ending Magic. He wondered if perhaps that Magic had to be activated a certain way. Catherine has really only used the Towers to summon guards and some frightening armor, but the Towers had to have other powers as well.

Once he gave the news, Michel decided to change the subject, to give Henry some room to talk. “So how’s everything at home? How is my niece? You bought her more wine and chocolates yet? Or did you write her a love song to express your love? I saw that piano you have in your mansion, I know you like music. I ought to teach you some love songs to sing. But yes, are you all doing well?” he inquired. He grabbed a fry out the bag and ate it as discreetly as he could, glad to have a morsel of food in his stomach.

Henry von Kressel

Even with the bandages over his eye (and face) there was a certain expression in Henry's face. Somehow Michel found a phone, and somehow he had Henry's number, even if Henry had no memory of giving it to him. However, this was probably the smallest mystery Michel had orbiting his persona.

"Michel, excellent to hear from you. Well... Let's just say the unpleasant part of my family decided to pay a visit, my aunt didn't take it that kindly, I didn't take it kindly and Sebastian got profoundly offended when someone messes up with his courtyard flowers. Oh, and I'm one scar and one eyepatch closer to being a movie villain, but don't mention that to Rabbit.

Eglantine is fine, yes. Force feeding me through the last hours, saying that food will help my eye to get better soon... And yes, there is a piano here, but I think your love songs are accompanied by a skeleton choir or something similar.

If I know Catherine, she's probably staying around there a little bit more. And I am sure her place is exquisite as her magic is, which certainly worries me."

[Luminesa]

Michel was relieved that Henry did not hang the phone-up right away. He grinned as he held the phone, knowing that his niece’s boyfriend was in for a surprise. Or several surprises. He eyed the bags of food under the table, and the small number of eyes staring at him as he spoke. “...Hey, this is Michel. We’re in Budapest and we’re doing fine,” he explained. He gaged the eyes around the room, trying to think of ways to talk about the matter without mentioning Magic of any kind.

“Listen, Catherine’s good too. I’ve been assigned to bring food to the party, if I can call it that. Your classmate’s new pad is...elaborate, I should say. And kinda spooky. It would be my thing if not for the massive waves of...oh, I shouldn’t talk about that, should I? Rabbit is alright, he’s with her and we’re gonna be back home soon. Hopefully within the next 48 hours.”

He paused for a moment, knowing he had just spit a ton of information into Henry’s ear. Most of it was good information, but Michel himself was confused about the Obsidian Towers. They had entered them and they had not experienced any dreaded, world-ending Magic. He wondered if perhaps that Magic had to be activated a certain way. Catherine has really only used the Towers to summon guards and some frightening armor, but the Towers had to have other powers as well.

Once he gave the news, Michel decided to change the subject, to give Henry some room to talk. “So how’s everything at home? How is my niece? You bought her more wine and chocolates yet? Or did you write her a love song to express your love? I saw that piano you have in your mansion, I know you like music. I ought to teach you some love songs to sing. But yes, are you all doing well?” he inquired. He grabbed a fry out the bag and ate it as discreetly as he could, glad to have a morsel of food in his stomach.

Henry von Kressel

Even with the bandages over his eye (and face) there was a certain expression in Henry's face. Somehow Michel found a phone, and somehow he had Henry's number, even if Henry had no memory of giving it to him. However, this was probably the smallest mystery Michel had orbiting his persona.

"Michel, excellent to hear from you. Well... Let's just say the unpleasant part of my family decided to pay a visit, my aunt didn't take it that kindly, I didn't take it kindly and Sebastian got profoundly offended when someone messes up with his courtyard flowers. Oh, and I'm one scar and one eyepatch closer to being a movie villain, but don't mention that to Rabbit.

Eglantine is fine, yes. Force feeding me through the last hours, saying that food will help my eye to get better soon... And yes, there is a piano here, but I think your love songs are accompanied by a skeleton choir or something similar.

If I know Catherine, she's probably staying around there a little bit more. And I am sure her place is exquisite as her magic is, which certainly worries me."

"Uhhhh...hmmmm. How do I put it...Did you play Castlevania as a kid? I'm sure you probably at least saw it once or twice. Snuck-out to play it on someone's Playstation once. Anyway, you know the big throne room where you finally meet Dracula? Yeah, it looks like that, but with a lot more gold. And uhhh...bigger, and 3D and a lot more wicked-looking soldiers standing around and threatening you," Michel described. He grabbed another fry out of the bag and ate it. "Ummmm not sure what Rabbit's going to be doing over there, but hey. Hopefully I'll deliver this food, and we'll have no more speedbumps on the way home."

Hearing that Henry's family had come to visit made him grin. "Oh? Little Hans came to play? Did he bring that big frowny mutt Joachim? Did Sarah punch out their ribs? Gosh, I thought she was going to punch my ribs, but I was wrong! Well then...I hope they didn't do much damage. How are you and Eglantine handling that?" In reality, the idea that Hans and Joachim had randomly appeared at Salzburg spelled trouble. Michel thought that Joachim was someone willing to put aside internal conflicts to handle a foe like Blanchefleur, but perhaps his intentions were murkier than expected. Or maybe he thinks taking over all of House Von Kressel will make that job easier? No...that's too optimistic... "Well, anyway, I won't tell Rabbit you nearly got your eye gouged out. He'll probably try to burn down Vienna if I do. As for skeletons? Hmmmmm...you actually gave me a lovely idea for something. But we'll talk about that later. Hug my sweet niece for me, and tell Sarah I'm going to be back soon! Bye!" he ended. He put the phone down, and ignored some confused faces as he hurried out with the food.

He managed his way back to the spot of the Towers, walking into the winery and finding the mirror. He had understood that this mirror led to the Towers somehow, and so he walked through it. Seeing everyone inside, he grinned as he held up the bags. "I got Romanian food and I got McDonald's for Catherine. If I forgot anything, I'm not going back through there to get food. You can have the nice stuff I ordered from the restaurant. Or Rabbit and I can eat it," he declared.

[Chrome Legion]

Catherine de Sanguine Vivere


Catherine hopped down from the throne to meet Michael when he returned. "Woohoo, food time. Dark and obscene magics get me all hungry. And thirsty, but that's another matter. There's got to be a dining hall around her somewhere. Figured we could break bread and figure out what all our disagreements are. Don't need to throw anyone in the dungeons... Though I don't know if we really have those here. From the histories I've read, most offenders against Sanguine rule where dealt with in more expedient ways."

Catherine approached one of the Knights standing by his horse, the one with a red hand print over his ebony breast plate. She bent over slightly and leaned in close to speak with out the others hearing, only for a few quick moments, before pulling back and standing up straight. "Alright then Khas, I'll let you lead us to the dining hall, you know the place. Let's do the private one, instead of the state hall. That thing sounds a bit ridiculous even by the standards of... you know."

To the keen eyed, the people that knew her, could see that what Khas had said had troubled Catherine more than she let on, and the conversation surely wasn't just about the dining hall.

"Come one everybody, even you cute little intruder lady, follow the spooky vampire guy."

[Luminesa]

Catherine de Sanguine Vivere


Catherine hopped down from the throne to meet Michael when he returned. "Woohoo, food time. Dark and obscene magics get me all hungry. And thirsty, but that's another matter. There's got to be a dining hall around her somewhere. Figured we could break bread and figure out what all our disagreements are. Don't need to throw anyone in the dungeons... Though I don't know if we really have those here. From the histories I've read, most offenders against Sanguine rule where dealt with in more expedient ways."

Catherine approached one of the Knights standing by his horse, the one with a red hand print over his ebony breast plate. She bent over slightly and leaned in close to speak with out the others hearing, only for a few quick moments, before pulling back and standing up straight. "Alright then Khas, I'll let you lead us to the dining hall, you know the place. Let's do the private one, instead of the state hall. That thing sounds a bit ridiculous even by the standards of... you know."

To the keen eyed, the people that knew her, could see that what Khas had said had troubled Catherine more than she let on, and the conversation surely wasn't just about the dining hall.

"Come one everybody, even you cute little intruder lady, follow the spooky vampire guy."

As Michel handed Catherine her food, he walked to Rabbit’s side and looked over his companion. Noticing that he looked somewhat weak, he put an arm around his shoulder. “Hey, you’re tired already? We haven’t even done any actual fighting today!” he teased. He knew that Rabbit had been afraid about being followed by the fox-girl. With the threat neutralized, he offered some of the food to the Dark Mana Being. “...Hey, I dunno if you’ve ever had Romanian food. To be honest, I haven’t either, but it looked really good on the menu...”

He opened a box with a very gamey, herbal smell wafting from it, and a loaf of lamb drob sat in the container. Looking like a meatloaf with an egg protruding from the middle, it had a homey appearance, and Rabbit gave a look of pleasant surprise. Michel also pulled-out a tiny container for cabbage rolls, filled with meat, tomatoes, sauerkraut, and onions. He began to munch the cabbage rolls, grinning in approval, as he turned to Rabbit. “...Give it a try!” he urged. “I know your stomach’s probably grumbling.”

Rabbit held the container with the lamb drob, and he looked toward Catherine. As Michel had begun to speak to him, a knight with a horse had begun to whisper in the girl’s ear. Some secret, worrisome message. Concern began to ripple across Catherine’s brow, and she invited everyone to the dining hall to talk. Michel gave Rabbit a look of puzzlement as he continued to eat, and the duo walked to the hall together behind Catherine, with the former Jaegar carrying the bag of food.

When they entered the large dining hall, which was not the largest one in the Towers, Michel handed Eliza a box of food for herself. “I bought a lot. It’s not McDonald’s, but the restaurant advertised good and hearty Romanian food. It’s tasty!” he assured her. Inside the box was a set of spicy beer sausages, some baked potatoes, and sun-dried tomatoes. The scents and starches floated out the box, and Michel continued to eat as he sat down at the table.

Rabbit sat next to him, and found himself enjoying his own meal. At the same time, the Dark Mana Being’s stomach also churned as he wondered what message Catherine wished to give. “...I get the feeling our trip home is not going to be as peaceful as we hoped,” he muttered to Michel. He then looked down the table at Catherine, who had yet to eat her own food given the sudden change in mood in the dark Towers.

[Saleon]

Eliza Hartford
The House Sanguine Hell Dimension

---

Catherine de Sanguine Vivere


Catherine hopped down from the throne to meet Michael when he returned. "Woohoo, food time. Dark and obscene magics get me all hungry. And thirsty, but that's another matter. There's got to be a dining hall around her somewhere. Figured we could break bread and figure out what all our disagreements are. Don't need to throw anyone in the dungeons... Though I don't know if we really have those here. From the histories I've read, most offenders against Sanguine rule where dealt with in more expedient ways."

Catherine approached one of the Knights standing by his horse, the one with a red hand print over his ebony breast plate. She bent over slightly and leaned in close to speak with out the others hearing, only for a few quick moments, before pulling back and standing up straight. "Alright then Khas, I'll let you lead us to the dining hall, you know the place. Let's do the private one, instead of the state hall. That thing sounds a bit ridiculous even by the standards of... you know."

To the keen eyed, the people that knew her, could see that what Khas had said had troubled Catherine more than she let on, and the conversation surely wasn't just about the dining hall.

"Come one everybody, even you cute little intruder lady, follow the spooky vampire guy."

When they entered the large dining hall, which was not the largest one in the Towers, Michel handed Eliza a box of food for herself. “I bought a lot. It’s not McDonald’s, but the restaurant advertised good and hearty Romanian food. It’s tasty!” he assured her. Inside the box was a set of spicy beer sausages, some baked potatoes, and sun-dried tomatoes. The scents and starches floated out the box, and Michel continued to eat as he sat down at the table.

Rabbit sat next to him, and found himself enjoying his own meal. At the same time, the Dark Mana Being’s stomach also churned as he wondered what message Catherine wished to give. “...I get the feeling our trip home is not going to be as peaceful as we hoped,” he muttered to Michel. He then looked down the table at Catherine, who had yet to eat her own food given the sudden change in mood in the dark Towers.

”Yay for spooky vampire guy. I’m starting to like this strange student of yours,” Eliza says, grinning to Rabbit.

She followed into the large dining hall. A part of her was confused at the size and scope of the dining hall. It was akin to the dining hall for nobles. Large, grandiose. But, it also felt a bit cold and empty. A large dining party for nobles would have filled seats, friends and family. Raucus conversation. It didn’t necessarily seem the number of people for such a table.

The other concern was how the dining table felt like it had been properly maintained, but it wasn’t used often. There had not been fancy dinners at the dining table. It seemed like a stage for mannequins. Some of the cloth seemed a bit old. It was clean of dust, but also clean of life.

Eliza sat down at the table. She placed a napkin on her lap and held the cutlery with surprisingly elegant manners. As if it was second nature. She leered at Michel, “did you get food for Rene?”

[Chrome Legion]

Catherine de Sanguine Vivere


In all honesty, Catherine had been surprised at how relatively demur the towers had become as they moved into the private quarters. Her private quarters. There was wood, for one thing. Dark ebonies and rusted mahogany. Instead of the sliver and obsidian walls of the throne room and grand halls, simple, geometric tapestries hung over the walls. The dining hall, though it's ceilings vaulted high above them, still managed an attempt and warmth and closeness. The well polished table could seat a dozen, maybe a few more with compromises on personal space. The furnishings were fine, but not ornate in the same way that the rest of the central palace was. Catherine took her chair at the head of the table, slightly larger than the others and with a simplified crest of her house over her head. This time a raven clutching a halo of a black sun, curving rays touched with gold spreading from it. Khas did not sit, but took a position standing behind Catherine to her right.

"Alright, this is a bit more comfortable. Let's just go a round the table and give some simple introductions and why we're here. Good to start on the same foot. I'm Catherine, taken name de Sanguine Vivere. I was born Catherine Anne Kennedy. That Kennedy. I lived in obscene wealth, privilege, and pressure. But my dear mum's blood showed itself, making me the first blood mage of the Sanguine house in quite some time. I mostly ignored what that meant, even as I studied at Mana Academy and grew my talents. Then Mana was attacked, and I was... hurt. Then I encountered the Rise. Again I was... violated. Then I knew that for my safety and freedom, I needed power. So I came here. I have come to claim this place, and its power for myself, to assure my personal safety and freedom."

After her rather dark introduction, seemingly like flipping a switch, Catherine cheered up, munching a chicken tender and pointing at Micheal to go next.

[Luminesa]

Catherine de Sanguine Vivere


In all honesty, Catherine had been surprised at how relatively demur the towers had become as they moved into the private quarters. Her private quarters. There was wood, for one thing. Dark ebonies and rusted mahogany. Instead of the sliver and obsidian walls of the throne room and grand halls, simple, geometric tapestries hung over the walls. The dining hall, though it's ceilings vaulted high above them, still managed an attempt and warmth and closeness. The well polished table could seat a dozen, maybe a few more with compromises on personal space. The furnishings were fine, but not ornate in the same way that the rest of the central palace was. Catherine took her chair at the head of the table, slightly larger than the others and with a simplified crest of her house over her head. This time a raven clutching a halo of a black sun, curving rays touched with gold spreading from it. Khas did not sit, but took a position standing behind Catherine to her right.

"Alright, this is a bit more comfortable. Let's just go a round the table and give some simple introductions and why we're here. Good to start on the same foot. I'm Catherine, taken name de Sanguine Vivere. I was born Catherine Anne Kennedy. That Kennedy. I lived in obscene wealth, privilege, and pressure. But my dear mum's blood showed itself, making me the first blood mage of the Sanguine house in quite some time. I mostly ignored what that meant, even as I studied at Mana Academy and grew my talents. Then Mana was attacked, and I was... hurt. Then I encountered the Rise. Again I was... violated. Then I knew that for my safety and freedom, I needed power. So I came here. I have come to claim this place, and its power for myself, to assure my personal safety and freedom."

After her rather dark introduction, seemingly like flipping a switch, Catherine cheered up, munching a chicken tender and pointing at Micheal to go next.

Michel continued to eat cabbage rolls as the rest of the group piled into the elegant dining hall. He did not pay as much attention to the features of the room, though the throne chair and Khas both perked his curiosity. He wondered why the knight had followed them into the room in the first place. Apparently he had some news, but Catherine wanted to take her time with introductions. She spoke about herself first, how she was somehow a member of the Kennedy clan and secretly a Sanguine. She had fought the Rise prior, which surprised him a little, given how he initially thought she was friendly with Blanchefleur. Soon she finished her speech, however, and she motioned for Michel to speak. L

“...First of all, Eliza, they don’t serve hay at McDonald’s.” He munched another cabbage roll, he turned to everyone at the table. “Second um...about myself, what can I say about myself that’s not technically classified...Well, I’m Michel Rise. I did not violate Catherine, but I am related to the people who violated her. Ah, by marriage. My wife, Solaine, had two beautiful children with me, and they were the pride of my life. Then she killed me. Mostly because I was a Jaegar and I didn’t like what she was doing with our kids. I managed to claw my way back into the land of the living by Magic I’d rather not explain. I’m here to kill Lady Blanchefleur, to support my son, and to hopefully live out what was supposed to be the rest of my natural life.”

His eyes turned to gaze around the table. Silence. He gave a slight smirk. “...I guess some fun facts about me? I’m Jewish, I like classic rock, my birthday is on Bastille Day, my biological family does not practice Magic, my grandfather killed Nazis, I’ve studied all sorts of secret Magic from the time I was 14, I love all my nieces and nephews, and I can summon skeletons and zombies. And other things you don’t need to know about.”

[Chrome Legion]

Catherine de Sanguine Vivere


Catherine did her best to seem nonplussed by Michel's introduction, but she was comforted only by the fact he had traveled with Rabbit. Otherwise she likely would have had Erebus and Khas kill him right here and now. But if Rabbit was willing to trust the man, if he was Soleil's father and still Rabbit saw him as some one worth sticking around with, then Catherine would accept him for now. She wondered how Soleil was doing, did he even know his father was out here? Granted, if he was here fighting, Catherine could understand why he would leave that useless boy behind, she didn't blame him in the least.

"Well, good that I won't have to give it a go at making Soleil and orphan, would be a rather rude thing to do for a class mate. Maybe if anyone else has been working with the Rise or is fucking related to them, they could share that now?"

[Luminesa]

Catherine de Sanguine Vivere


Catherine did her best to seem nonplussed by Michel's introduction, but she was comforted only by the fact he had traveled with Rabbit. Otherwise she likely would have had Erebus and Khas kill him right here and now. But if Rabbit was willing to trust the man, if he was Soleil's father and still Rabbit saw him as some one worth sticking around with, then Catherine would accept him for now. She wondered how Soleil was doing, did he even know his father was out here? Granted, if he was here fighting, Catherine could understand why he would leave that useless boy behind, she didn't blame him in the least.

"Well, good that I won't have to give it a go at making Soleil and orphan, would be a rather rude thing to do for a class mate. Maybe if anyone else has been working with the Rise or is fucking related to them, they could share that now?"

Michel paused from eating his food for a moment, as he examined Catherine's face. He had of course made the mistake of mentioning he was a Rise after she had explained how Blanchefleur and Solaine had mutilated her. He finished chewing his food, swallowed it, and stood with a calm stare on his face. Given he was usually smirking or bored, the cold glare was unsettling. He dropped his fork in his styrofoam container, and he took a breath. "...I should clarify something, since...I know the rest of my family has been cruel to my son...I didn't have to be dead for twelve years to know that he would be treated badly by them...but let's make two things clear. Just two, before I suppose someone else gets to talk about their dirty secrets. Number one! You don't know an ounce of the Magic I know. And the reason I am not killing you now is because your own teacher, not your fabulously wealthy parents, traveled roughly 300 miles to make sure you were not dead. But if he didn't show-up, and you managed to pose even an ounce of a threat to me, you couldn't kill me if you tried."

His eyes took a sharper hue of gold as he made this declaration to Catherine, and he drew his shoulders back just a little, making himself look just a little bigger, even if only on reflex. "This relates to my second point. The Magic that I happen to know is responsible for the deaths of many wicked beings, because I did mention I was a Jaegar, and the Jaegars are not liked by the Rise. It is also responsible for the protection of my only living child, and for the fact that he happens to have a father. Will he understand? No. Do I expect you to understand? No. Which is to your benefit. Why? Because I tortured myself and made a series of horrible decisions, hoping and praying that they would somehow benefit for him. And now I am...here. So you continue to speak, I suppose. But don't talk to me about what I've done, because the simple truth is you don't know." He took another breath and sat back down to eat. "Well, if anyone else wants to talk, I'm sure they can now. Mmmmm, how about Little Fox and Big Horse over here? By the way, your food is going to get cold, if you don't eat it," he advised them, as he nodded to Eliza and Rene.

Rabbit had found the entire exchange to be almost too tense, and he only found himself unclenching his fist as Michel sat back down to eat. Catherine had threatened somewhat casually to kill Michel right then, and Michel had threatened her back, though with the caveat that he had nothing malevolent intended for his son. He recalled the misery on the man's face as he spoke of the life Soleil had lived without him, and how his niece and nephew were dead. Rabbit always knew that people could hide plenty of evil behind layers of good intentions, but he did not sense that sort of wickedness in Michel. Even so, he would never allow the former Jaegar to attack his student, and he was prepared for a fight if he needed to be a part of one. Why can I not be home, away from this Old World?...I can't ever find a sense of ease in any place on this side of the world... he lamented. "...Yes, Eliza...Rene...if you would also share, I believe perhaps doing so would...relieve some of the stress at this table. Thank you."

[Chrome Legion]

Catherine de Sanguine Vivere


Catherine responded to Michel's look in kind, easily matching the cold of his glare.

"Let's hold on that thought for a second, assume you can kill me here. That's a hell of a leap but we'll assume it for this little thought experiment."

The room grew darker around them. A chill with out a breeze.

"Have you ever seen the movie Dr. Strangelove? It's always been one of my favorites, since I was old enough to understand it. So I'll take a note from it. A doomsday weapon is of no use if you don't tell anyone. So I'll tell you. That apocalypse that Rabbit mentioned around this place is very real. My death would cause it. First of all, this place would smash into the earth at what ever speed we're moving now. Millions would die from the impact. But, that would be the start. Erebus is bound to the sanguine blood, my blood at this moment, and nothing else. You kill me, and his chains drop away. We would become one being. An aspect of the primordial void, a hungry nothing. We would start to fulfill our new nature. I would eat the world. Maybe there would be a way to stop that, but what ever happened it would match and exceed Rabbit's most dire warnings about what this place contained. Now, if you threaten me again in my home, I will kill you. And if I fail, then I will kill everyone."

"Now, Miss Eliza, you should speak."

[Luminesa]

Catherine de Sanguine Vivere


Catherine responded to Michel's look in kind, easily matching the cold of his glare.

"Let's hold on that thought for a second, assume you can kill me here. That's a hell of a leap but we'll assume it for this little thought experiment."

The room grew darker around them. A chill with out a breeze.

"Have you ever seen the movie Dr. Strangelove? It's always been one of my favorites, since I was old enough to understand it. So I'll take a note from it. A doomsday weapon is of no use if you don't tell anyone. So I'll tell you. That apocalypse that Rabbit mentioned around this place is very real. My death would cause it. First of all, this place would smash into the earth at what ever speed we're moving now. Millions would die from the impact. But, that would be the start. Erebus is bound to the sanguine blood, my blood at this moment, and nothing else. You kill me, and his chains drop away. We would become one being. An aspect of the primordial void, a hungry nothing. We would start to fulfill our new nature. I would eat the world. Maybe there would be a way to stop that, but what ever happened it would match and exceed Rabbit's most dire warnings about what this place contained. Now, if you threaten me again in my home, I will kill you. And if I fail, then I will kill everyone."

"Now, Miss Eliza, you should speak."

"Dr. Strangelove was a classic maybe...oh, I dunno, 20 years before you were born? That's like asking me if I knew who Elvis was, of course I know who Elvis was. Died like 3 weeks after I was born, but my mother had his records and everything. Though...that's beside the point, I suppose. So relax, I'm not actually going to kill you, given you're not actually connected to Mrs. Satan. And given your situation is a lot worse than I initially figured, I'm not enough of an imbecile to bring about the end of the world," Michel answered, rolling his eyes as Catherine finished her warning. He did not disbelieve her explanation, as he knew the Magic that dwelt in this castle was unlike anything he could possibly imagine. He did roll his eyes, however, as he found her counter-threat of being able to kill him annoying, but while he wanted to add more, he knew well enough to let that strain of the conversation settle before it exploded. He turned and looked over at Rabbit, who had completely stopped eating as he heard Catherine reveal what the castle was capable of causing.

Rabbit had heard enough legends of the Obsidian Towers, as he knew enough esoteric stories and myths to be a library, but had not considered that Erebus, Catherine, and the Towers were all one force, intrinsically and inseparably connected. The grave revelation of her hidden ability to destroy the world had caused a screaming silence to fill the Dark Mana Being's ears, and he blinked as he stared into nothing, his mind running away from him. Her death, much like Artosh's or Aria's, would cause a sort of destruction which would break any barriers between the Magical and Mundane worlds. No innocents would be able to prepare themselves for the innumerable murders, the inexplicable withering of life on earth, the rivers of blood...Stop. You need to stop. Nobody is going to die here. Nobody is going to harm anyone. The fighting is over here. All we're doing now is just...conversing. Yes, just conversing. About what could have possibly been the ruination of all that we know exists and does not exist...Stop! Stop! Stop thinking about it. Just...try to be calm...try to act normal...Don't scare your student...You promised you would protect her...

As Catherine turned the conversation to Eliza, who most likely was perplexed and as shocked as anyone by the Sanguine girl's exhortation, Michel eyed Rabbit, who seemed to space-out during the argument. Reaching over, he placed a hand on his shoulder. "...Hey..." he whispered to Rabbit, who did not return his gaze, "...Are you alright? Is the food bad?..." He tried a joke, but realizing that it fell on un-receptive ears, he added, his voice a little quieter, "...I promise, I'm not going to hurt her or anyone else here. Alright?...Look, I'm sorry I started a fight. I know you came all this way to protect her. I got aggravated. I didn't realize she was-"

"Of course not. But...please...I know you did not know entirely...what sort of evil is possible in this place..." He put a hand on Michel's, as if to assure the latter that he appreciated the attempt at consolation. "...I just need to sit silently for a moment. I will be fine. And the food is delicious, I wish my appetite was better. It's rather unfortunate that the food has gotten cold and none of us are Fire Mages to warm it back up." Rabbit attempted a smile from behind his mask, uncomfortable with removing it in front of Eliza or Rene, and he hoped that Michel would sense the smile without seeing it.

[Luminesa]

Soleil - Mana’s Infirmary

Soleil remained with Allistor as he laid in bed, sitting still next to his bedside. He was not used to being the one comforting another person, as they lay in bed. Perhaps he was paying his dear friend back for comforting him in Paris. The opportunity had presented itself, after all, and Soleil had decided to grasp it, not thinking too closely at first about how their circumstances had aligned. For Allistor to have been injured so soon after coming home from war, anyway, was a good enough reason to keep watch over him.

He was not alone in this task, but isolation surrounded him as he remained, a sentry watching out for the Prince of House Abendroth. Nurses floated to his side and checked his vitals every now and then, but most of them paid no mind to Soleil. In return, the Wind Mage only managed passing glances as they happened to stand by him. Both parties seemed to understand that each wanted to do their work, and did not want to be bothered in their work. John tried to motion as if to ask Soleil if he was well, but when he noted how stationary the boy was, he left him alone.

Allistor’s smaller friend put a tender hand on his arm as he slept. He was cold, given he had been stripped to be checked for any deeper gashes in his body. Even when he was clothed, however, he felt as though the clothes could never warm him. The boy had no way to warm him, and was continually confused as to how he could be so chilly while having warm blood. His suspicion that Allistor was not entirely human seemed to gain more weight with each passing moment. He forgot how long he had sat at his friend’s side, and his eyelids began to grow heavy. He slumped over, and stared at the crisp, white blanket, imagining that it was the crackling, glittering snow outside.

Every story had a beginning and an end, but not always in that order. Soleil did not know how this thought had wandered into his mind, or how it had wandered into the fabric of his dream, but before the images of his dream began to form before him, he heard a silent echo of these words in his mind. When he opened his eyes within the dream, he was cold, lying on tiled floors, and staring up at the familiar phantom which had haunted him in his long series of nightmares. Allistor was crouched down over him, his own clawed hands pressed on the tiled floor, his garnet-colored eyes gazing down at his captured prey. Their noses were inches apart, their breathing in the same rhythm.

Soleil did not quite acknowledge what was happening in the dream until a few moments had ticked by. Time, after all, did not seem to be a solid concept in his dreams, in which his only possible action was to run. Now he could not run. He was in the castle at the edge of the field, and if he left nothing would offer him shelter. He gulped, and Allistor’s eyes narrowed knowingly. Neither of them seemed to know where the plot would bring them now.

“...Where is Shaun?”

“...Exactly where I left him,” Allistor replied softly. “...You’ve lost. And this time, before we even started.”

An ironic, hollow laugh escaped Soleil’s throat, an unusual sound for him. “...It seems I’m not good at much else these days...” he murmured. He reached up for the Ice Mage’s face, and held his cheek. The space between them was so close, and yet also so far.

“...You wanted him to say something different, didn’t you?” Hearing the voice refer to Allistor as a separate person sent a chill through the room, but Soleil endured, and remained quiet. “...Heheh...how should I kill you this time?...Does it matter to you this time?...” A clawed hand shifted off the ground and moved to his own cheek, and Allistor pressed his weight forward. His elbow hung just above Soleil’s shoulder, and the boy tried to push himself away by pulling up one of his legs. “...Ah! No more running. Listen, let’s just talk. Did you want to love him, or did you want him to chase you?...I’m rather hurt, honestly. I thought we were having enough fun, but you like being hurt.”

“No...that’s...that’s not it!”

“Oh? It’s not? It’s not? Well, then, why on earth would you throw yourself on someone who would never, ever love you back? In every timeline, in every possible occurrence, even when you force your hand and try to push your way into his sight! Yes, in other worlds you are probably braver than you are here! And yet it never happens! So what do you hope? For Shaun to die? Is this your fault?”

“NO!” The scream echoed, and outside the dream, John began to move to Soleil’s bedside.

“No?...Then give me your best shot. Prove to me you can love, and not simply be an object of pity. Prove to me that you are not the self-hating, pathetic boy I found in those fields. Perhaps it will warrant you a reward, even as you die.”

Soleil did not know how to proceed. The being wanted him to prove...what? He wanted him to prove that he was not all the things the boy told himself he was. And yet if he kissed the figure, he would not receive any sort of prize or reward, or even affection. It was an exercise in agony, and the boy felt his hatred for the sinister being rising. “...I WON’T. I WON’T WASTE MY TIME. ANYMORE!”

“Sol? Hey, Soleil! Hello?” John shook Soleil’s shoulder, watching him with worry as he noted how the boy had flopped over on Allistor’s wire-covered chest. He moved his head, and then continued to try and move him to awaken.

The monster masquerading as Allistor gave a sad, wicked smile. His face seemed demonic, and yet also stunningly beautiful. He heard a creaking of wood, and then echoing steps, from the far side of the room. “...Then your hope will slowly siphon away...just as it does in everything else...”

“...It...it doesn’t...matter...” he murmured, before his eyes flickered open to see the snowy blankets once again. He also caught a glimpse of John’s hand, and Allistor’s skin, and he slowly sat upright. “...Uh?...Uh?” An aching blink, and Soleil looked at the nurse. “...H-Hi...”

“You okay, buddy? The dream’s over. It was just a dream. Come on, why don’t you go back to your dorm and rest? Want one of us to walk back with you, make sure you’re alright?” he suggested . John had no idea what sort of dream Soleil had this time, but given what he knew about his nightmares, the vision could not be anything short of dramatic and painful.

Soleil looked down at Allistor, stroking his hair for a moment as he thought. He wanted to hug his body, to make him warm, to somehow convince him that his emotions were not some passing difficulties. Yet he did not even know himself whether or not his feelings for Allistor were truly love or truly from loneliness. With some reluctance, he stood, and he looked for his jacket. “...I um...I might go...yeah...go rest...” Rest was the last thing he wanted, but he wanted to make the nurse happy. Maybe he was bothering Allistor by remaining, he thought.

After getting bundled, he walked back out into the snow, the cold lashing his nose and making him shudder. John could not keep him from walking out alone, but Soleil would hopefully go right to his dorm to rest. Thus the nurse walked back inside, wondering why Artosh still had not come into work. In the meantime, the Wind Mage walked down the path in silence, until he noted a figure standing out at the edge of the beach. Shaun, his figure taut and alone, his hair being tickled by the chilly breeze.

Knowing that perhaps some conversation and an apology was in order, Soleil took a detour. Pacing through the crunching snow, he hurried until he reached the softer sands, and he moved toward his dear friend. Who frustratingly enough also made his heart feel pain, though he knew that maybe he was not going to explode inside by being in his presence. “...Sh-Shaun?” he started, his voice a tiny whisper, “...C-Can I come...talk to you?...A-Are you...still angry with me?...”

[Saldinado]

Shaun Calhoun

Sitting down on a large rock at the bank of the lake, Shaun enjoyed the soft crashing of the waves against the shoreline. He wished that it wasn't as cold as it was now. But alas winter did arrive. The sight of a light fog transpired along the top of the body of water as the warmth and frigid air collided with each other. The breeze coming off of the lake came along shore and gently grazed Shaun's face and body. The sudden bursts of coldness causing his body to tense up and shiver every now and then. It was enough to create some sense of peace and serenity within him.
Although his mind tried to fight it by forcing him to replay everything in his head. The battle, the blast, seeing Allistor collapse on the ground, carrying both him and Soleil to the infirmary. All of it was so sudden; yet at the same time, everything seemed to just slow down. It wasn't until later on that his train of thought was broken by the sound of someone calling his name. Although he could already sensed their presence before they even opened their mouth. An aura of anxiety, meekness, and fear crept up against his body.
He stood there in silence for a moment, thinking about what to say. Soon a heavy sigh with the sight of his breath rising in the cold air broke the silence as he spoke.

"If you want, you can come and talk with me. And to answer your other question...I don't know. I'm just...irritated. With the both of you."
Shaun said without even turning to face Soleil. Although he scooted his body a little to the left of the rock almost making a sort of gesture for Soleil to come and sit down. Sniffling from the cold, he spoke again. "I don't think that's what you wanted to hear, but I can't lie about this this time."

[Luminesa]

Shaun Calhoun

Sitting down on a large rock at the bank of the lake, Shaun enjoyed the soft crashing of the waves against the shoreline. He wished that it wasn't as cold as it was now. But alas winter did arrive. The sight of a light fog transpired along the top of the body of water as the warmth and frigid air collided with each other. The breeze coming off of the lake came along shore and gently grazed Shaun's face and body. The sudden bursts of coldness causing his body to tense up and shiver every now and then. It was enough to create some sense of peace and serenity within him.
Although his mind tried to fight it by forcing him to replay everything in his head. The battle, the blast, seeing Allistor collapse on the ground, carrying both him and Soleil to the infirmary. All of it was so sudden; yet at the same time, everything seemed to just slow down. It wasn't until later on that his train of thought was broken by the sound of someone calling his name. Although he could already sensed their presence before they even opened their mouth. An aura of anxiety, meekness, and fear crept up against his body.
He stood there in silence for a moment, thinking about what to say. Soon a heavy sigh with the sight of his breath rising in the cold air broke the silence as he spoke.

"If you want, you can come and talk with me. And to answer your other question...I don't know. I'm just...irritated. With the both of you."
Shaun said without even turning to face Soleil. Although he scooted his body a little to the left of the rock almost making a sort of gesture for Soleil to come and sit down. Sniffling from the cold, he spoke again. "I don't think that's what you wanted to hear, but I can't lie about this this time."

Shaun had such a gentle visage, almost portrait-like as he sat on the shoreline of the beach. The water was freezing, and the rocks and sand were also dappled with ice and snow, but the image that lay before Soleil was so serene that he hated himself for walking into it. He felt he was trespassing into a work of art. Maybe that was his problem, that he was too caught in the beauty of a moment to remember he was interacting with people, not images. Or maybe he was still half-asleep, with his mind on his frightful dream.

He sat down next to Shaun, and a few moments passed once again in silence. Soleil felt his stomach twist a little, when Shaun said he was still irritated. His voice offered no comfort or sympathy. Of course, he had done little to help his friend’s anxiety today, confessing to him suddenly before going and fighting a near-fatal spar against his boyfriend. He lowered his head as he sat, and gazed at the icy water. A dive in it would wake him up, but would also land him back in the infirmary with hypothermia. Again.

“...I’ve ruined your day, I know that much...I dropped so much into you...and...I’m part of the reason...Allistor is so hurt...I...I think he’s fine now, but...I left because I...because I felt I was bothering him...by staying so close to him...He needed to rest...” Soleil thought on the words of the monster in his head. Show me. Show me you’re not the self-hating, pathetic boy in the fields of lavender. And while Shaun was not the one to whom he needed to give proof, he felt that burden fall onto his shoulders. He had left Allistor’s room because he hated himself, because he hated what he had caused for both of his friends, and yet now he was with one looking for forgiveness.

“...I-I’m sorry, Shaun...um...I said a lot of things that...I should have just...locked away...I didn’t know how to talk about them, and now you’re angry and confused...instead of happy with your family all here...” He did not look up to glance at Shaun, to gauge how his words had settled into his friend. He just hoped he would not get slapped and reprimanded, but Shaun had every right to do so, he figured.

[Saldinado]

Shaun Calhoun

While listening to the meek and nimble response of Soleil's explanation, Shaun continued to stare out into the lake. He knew that looking at Sol would just create a weakness in him; like scolding a puppy. And he couldn't just forgive and forget that easily. It hasn't even been half a day yet. Although hearing that Allistor was going to be find did make him feel at ease a lot more. And in response he silently exhaled a deep feeling of relief. But then came the apology.
This time, Shaun turned his attention to Sol and closely listened to the words he said. His tired eyes observing his body language. Soon a small frown came across his face and then shook his head before speaking.

"No...As much as it was...abrupt and awkward and unexpected...I still appreciate you coming to me and saying what's on your mind instead of bottling it all up. Although I will be honest, if this were to be someone else that you would propose such feelings to...I don't know what type of outcome might happen. It probably could've ended a lot worst than it did now." Sighing for a bit, Shaun turned his attention back to the lake; the fog slightly clearing up and the silent crashing of the waves quieting down now. Perhaps they too were interested in what was going to happen next and anxiously waited for an answer to this conflict.
"And yeah...I am confused and just...awkward about the whole thing. Maybe a little vexed, but not angry. And let's be honest. I can't be happy all the time. Regardless of who I'm around and what I do. Things happen and sometimes that feeling of happiness just goes away. But...I can't really complain. Its just the way life works."

And without missing a beat, Shaun placed hand on Soleil's shoulder and gently rubbed it with a slight grip as a form a reassurance before speaking once more. "I love you. I really do. But, that love is just...different from what type of love you have for me. I'm not mad that you feel this way. In fact, I should apologize if I did anything to lead you on or make you feel this way. It was never my plan and I hope you can understand. I don't want things to become awkward and uncomfortable between us to the point where we should just avoid talking. So if there's anyway to fix things, I would like to talk about them with you. So we could prevent something far worst from happening."