NationStates

"That is..." Praxis trails off as she sees Gilja exit the room across the commons, signalling the woman to come over. She turns to Jessica and Cairbre as the Faerie flies back into Sofya's room. "It would seem that my presence is required in the other room. You kids stay out of trouble, okay?" Without waiting for a reply, she leaves the room and silently enters that of Sofya and Midori. Gilja whispers rapidly into the woman's ear, filling her in on who's who in the room (she's apparently not overly fond of Shane, thinks fairly highly of Reidi, his hand, and his work, and is utterly fascinated by the talking, flying cat. Praxis asks about the sleeping girl, to which Gilja answers that she had been asleep the entire time, and she had learned nothing new about that girl, besides that her spirit energy appears to be mostly Human, but with a structure and form she had never seen before.

"Fenmönilſö höſ-lömelʃinzœ, afœ'mel," begins the Faerie, telling Praxis why she called her over, "kön föe œfœ'inkrip-pilʃin. Fenmö-palœſ, œfœ'inkrip-ſlipzœ. Söfja fe'grüʃar, aber fe'œʃnil mil, kön fœ-fenſe fe'œʃnilʃin. Afœ œfœ'kelnü fœ'œmelſœ kö-giſpaz fe köʃi Midörœ'rœmön.^[1]"

"I understand," replies Praxis, who moves to stand near the man with the mechanical hand, ignoring for the moment the boy holding a drawing. "I do not believe we have had the pleasure of a formal meeting. My name is Praxis, Human ward to the Eireann Fae Minister of Magick, Gilja," she gestures to the amber coloured Faerie that stands now on her shoulder. "She informs me that the girl Sofya has been shot, and that you now watch over the girl as she sleeps to ensure that no harm befalls her. She also informs me that you feel hunger, and have expressed a wish to dine. If it pleases you, I can watch over the girl while you leave to sup - I require only one meal a day, and have it in the morning. I assure you," the woman adds after a few seconds, realizing that she is standing there barefoot and in a simple white gown, "I am capable of making sure no harm comes to the girl. If you continue to deny yourself sustenance, you may not be up for the task yourself." She says this last bit a little dryly, but the warm smile that now graces the woman's face shows that she merely said it in jest.

After her greeting to Reidi, the woman looks down at the winged feline relaxing on the bed near Sofya. "Hello."

¹ Pronounced, "fen-moh-nil-soh hohs-loh-mel-shin-zee, ah-fee-mel, kone foh-eh ee-fee-in-krip-pil-shin. fen-moh-pa-lees, ee-fee-in-krip-slip-zee. sohf-yah feh-gru-shar, ah-ber fe-eesh-nil mil, kone fee-fen-seh feh-eesh-nil-shin. ah-fee ee-fee-kel-nu fee-ee-mel-see koh-giss-pahz feh koh-shih mi-doh-ree-ree-mohn"; Translated, "The boy's spirit is chaotic, so you know, and I have trouble reading it. The man is more organized, very easy to read. He is concerned about Sofya, but he is hungry, and doesn't want to leave her alone. I thought you could watch over her until he or Midori gets back."

Praxis gently eases herself onto the bed, sitting next to the sleeping vampiric girl. She softly reaches over and runs the back of her fingers across Sofya's cheek, quietly whispering, "What are you, little girl?" Gilja, perhaps unnecessarily, given the boy's quiet nature, looks down at Cairbre and holds a finger to her lips as he enters, asking him to be quiet so he won't wake the girl. She then lays on the bed, laying on her stomach with her chin supported in her hands, and begins to study Sofya's unique spirit energy. Even in her dormant state, there was clearly a great power to her Spirit, laying just beneath her subconscious.

"Well, nice hanging out talking cat dude. But hunger is calling my name. Catch you later. Tell Miss Sofya i said hi when she wakes up."

He sauntered back to his room, humming an odd little song to himself as he did. He dug around his bag, pulling out a blue shirt. He tossed the blood stained one he was wearing aside. No one was there to see, but his torso was covered in burns and scars. Remembrances of his failed spell casting. He quickly threw the new one on, put his jacket back on, and quickly made his way to the meal hall.

"I hope they have pie. I like pie."

"Sure, uhh... " Happy bid goodbye as the two left, waving his paw back at them, "see you at dinner! Save some fish for me!" As he saw the two depart, he could not help but scratch his head. "I have a name, you know..." he whispered, embarrassed over his names. "'Happy Cat'? 'Cat Dude'?" he thought, "well, beats being called 'おまえ' (Phonetics: Omae; Translation: You) all the time..." A word his mistress liked to used a lot at everyone.

"Uhh... Hi," Happy stuttered awkwardly at the woman in the white robe, figuring that he might as well just talk now before his mistress rip him limb from limb, "I'm Happy... I mean, 'Happy' is my name... Yeah..."

Looking over the woman's shoulder, Happy looked queerly as the strange woman inspected Sofya. He did not know what to say."may I know what you're doing? Just checking here."

Gilja spoke before Praxis could reply, her soft voice rising like tiny bells into the air. "Fenmœnil-kifen melſœfœ-afeſö ka? Hargilʒa-höſzœ-fœſö... wilʃin...^†" Her eyes never leave the sleeping Sofya's chest while she speaks, peering deeper and deeper into the girl's spirit.. Praxis turns to face the feline friend of the sleeping girl, and offers a translation into English, "Is there something special about Sofya? Gilja her tells me her spiritual energy is quite different from a typical human. Of course," she adds, smiling, "it takes an atypical person to hang out with an atypical cat."

^† Pronounced "fen-mee-nil-kih-fen mel-see-fee-ah-feh-soh ka? har-gil-zhah-hohs-zee-fee-soh... wil-shin..." Translated "What sort of girl is your master? Her spirit energy is... different."

"You don't say," Happy replied, "to be honest, I don't really know myself. I kept my eyes shut while the whole ruckus occured, but from what I could tell, Sophie did sound... different at one point. She wasn't her usual gentle self. She sounded more... savage. But I thought vampires are supposed to be well... I'm not sure about Sophie really. She's a real kind girl. I can't imagine her acting like the worst of her kind.

But Mr Tzult and the guy who calls me 'cat dude' (Shane) should know better than I do. Or maybe you should ask my mistress, Midori. She's been sent here to protect Sophie by her father, Minister Katsuga. She should know better-"

"I think you should stop there, Happy," a girl's voice interrupted as a figure moved inside the room. Happy let out a sudden gasp.

"M-M-Midori," he stuttered, "I-I..." he was sure Midori would be mad, but...

"I'll take it from here," she told Praxis and Gilja, looking unusually dazed, stepping aside for them to leave, "you guys go prepare for the dinner. I'll explain everything then."

Praxis rises and Gilja takes flight, both turning to face the new arrival. "Until later, then, Midori." Rather than go to dinner, however, the pair return to their own room, to speak amongst themselves about what they just saw. They converse quietly in Fe'rœſ Fenſaför, discussing their observations and opinions on Sofya, the cat, and the rather rude Midori. Gilja stares steadily at one part of the wall - through two other walls is the spirit signatures of the vampire girl and her care-taker, both of which the Spirit Faerie keeps a close eye on.

Shane strolled down the hallway, staring off at nothing in particular.

"Man, i should have come to this place years ago. Its weird. Talking cats, assassination attempts, cute girl...cute girls who can kill me...cute girls...i think I'm off topic here. And off course. That balcony thing should be this way. I hope. Don't wanna get lost. Here we are."

Shane arrived at the feast area, giving his usual slack jawed stare when he saw the food.

"Sweet mother Saraya. They weren't kidding about this being a feast."

James Looked around And Saw Shane
"Ah, One of the People I wanted to see" He said, smiling in a was that showed all his teeth

"Huh? Oh hey fox dude...i mean uh..."

He pulled a piece of paper from his pocket

"Furby guy, hot alien chick...ah fox dude. James, right."

He stuffed it back in his pocket.

"Whats going on James?"

"Nothing much" James Smiled "I just want to Apologies for My Rudeness Earlier, Whilst there was no excuse for it I was Miffed due to Being Outright Ignored by the King when I wished to speak to him"
He Sighed
"Being what I am I should be used to it But it still grates with me"
He shook his head shaking away the thoughts
"Anyway, What's been Happening with you, Though By the Smell of you You've Been covered in Blood and Shot at"

Gilja interrupts Praxis's joke about the winged cat and flying fish as the Spirit Faerie holds up a hand, and concentrates even harder on the spot of their bedroom wall she had been concentrating on since entering their room. "Harœſnil-Söfjaſö fenmö'rœmönü az. Efœ'winmönlü?^†" Praxis considers for a moment, then shakes her head. "Not just yet," she replies, looking to the door anyway, and wondering with Reidi was doing back so quickly; Midori hadn't even had time to eat yet herself. "Let us see if he will stay a while. I told Midori I would ask her about Sofya at dinner, and if she still intends to go, that is when I intend to talk to her." The Faerie nods her understanding, but keeps an eye on the two Human, one cat, and one special Vampire spirit signatures beyond the walls of their dorm.

^† Pronounced "hah-rees-nil-sohf-yah-soh fen-moh-ree-moh-nu ahz. eh-fee-win-mohn-lu?"; Translated "The adult man has returned to Sofya's room. Shall we intervene?"

"Well your nose doesn't lie. Though i wasn't the one being shot at. That honor went to Miss Sofya. She is still recovering in her room. I think i chased the shooters off, but its all a little fuzzy. Anyhow, apology accepted, and enjoy. I'm gonna get me some food."

He gave a halfhearted bow, and shuffled off, fixing himself a huge plate of food, finding a table, and promptly dug in.

As he turned his eyes back to his mistress, Happy asked queerly, "What's wrong, Midori? You look... confused..."

Watching the girl sit down on her bed, facing Sofya, she replied rather bitterly, "it's nothing. I need to call Dad..."

---

Ilyushian Quarter, Saint Olivie, Night
It was a cold, bitter dusk as the snow set lightly on the stone floor. Deep in the heart of the Ilyushian Quarter, towering mason structures stood around - a testament of Wolfenium's colonial past. As a lone figure, dressed in a full white cloak, marched through the ankle-deep snow, a ringtone chimed through the darkness from his back pocket.

Reaching for the ringing handphone and pulling it to his right ear, the figure answered, "hello? Midori-chan?"

"Dad..." Midori answered over the phone, "remember what you told me about Sophie?"

"It happened, didn't it..." Kuroi answered calmly. He had expected as much from a Colonel's daughter. But then again, targets for assassins usually involve far higher ranking officers and not their family members, "how much did you find out about the assassins they're dealing with."

Hearing a pause in her words, a message popped up in his PDA as she continued. "You should see this," she stated in an eerie monotone. As Kuroi pulled his PDA out with his left hand, a holographic screen appeared, showing a web page from her school, detailing the St. Alexander School Massacre.

"How ironic..." he muttered in jest, "they're from your school?"

"They were," she grunted, "they've been dead for ten years. I'm not sure of the details, but they called themselves the Shadows of the Past."

Kuroi remained silent. It was just as he feared. For years, he had been the one source of resistance against the Wolfen military machine, a power in the political game. Many of Wolfenium's true rulers are not the lawmakers of the Reichstag, but the generals and officers of the Imperial Defence Force. The only thing standing between democracy and a military junta in place was the Kaiser, whose control of the military is absolute, but even he feared a coup against him. It had happened just months earlier, and he was fortunate the bulk of High Command had more sense not to support a deserter. But with anger over the ceasefire rising, he needed agents of his own - agents like Kuroi who could counteract the military's influence.

"Midori..." Kuroi finally responded, "whatever you do, do not let them get anywhere near Miss Kalinina. Too many had died already. I fear the Amythysians may not take it anymore."

"What's happening there?" she asked.

"..." Kuroi could not bear to update her. If she knew there was more to this than meets the eye, she may not be able to face Sofya again. "It's nothing," he lied, "just keep her safe. I have to go. Love you, girl."

However, just as he cut short, his attention turned into the darkness. With deathly calm, he confronted the shadows in the alleys. "Show yourselves. If you want me dead, I suggest we settle this now."

"Sharp as always, Kuroi Katsuga," proclaimed a husky voice in the darkness, as several hooded figures materialized from the shadows, "you truly are the heir to the Silver Gust. Too bad it had to end here." Decked in full inky black, the figures wore iron masks.

"Too bad," he calmly quipped, "I always thought that the people of this country hated my clan. At least those from the east."

"Snide, aren't you," the leader commented, "I'll return you those words in kind. Prepare yourself. Judgement shall be upon you. For your father's crimes against the state, we shall exact with brutal retribution."

Sporting his everpresent smile, he jested, "You are not one to exact justice, Schatten. The Reichspolizei will get to the bottom of this. You will not plunge this peaceful nation into war again. Too much blood had been spilled already. I... no... we will not allow you to have your way." As his killing instinct spiked, a kodachi materialized in his hand, solidifying like a reverse film of a mound of dust blowing away into the wind. As the 'shadows' raised their swords, all of Germanic design, Kuroi's smile slowly faded. With one last quip, he questioned aloud, "now then... how shall I dispose of you thereafter..."

---

As Reidi knocked on the door, a familiar young girl opened the door.

"Oh..." Sofya groaned, clutching her forehead as she tried to shake, "may I help you sir?" In all intents and purposes, Sofya was back to normal. She was with Reidi and the others at the infirmary, but she had already lost consciousness before she got a good look at the others. Other than Shane, she had never met any of the other students. At least... her normal side did not.

"Sofya," Midori called from inside the room, "if you're tired, you should rest some more. You don't need to push it."

"It's OK," Sofya replied, turning her head back, "I'll be right with you. So Sir," she asked Reidi, "may I know your name?"