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Post by Sparky on Apr 6, 2020 10:56:12 GMT -5
Zacharias sighed internally at Leon's hushed words, wanting desperately for her to know and understand. Perhaps she did know, but was simply refusing to believe that Zach would ever lose control in such a way... in such a way that he might seriously endanger them. But if she thought that, it was a mistake. The fire that danced upon his palm was controllable, yes, but his pyrokinesis as a whole was unstable. It was guided by fear and unpredictable at best. The security of knowing that Leon would protect the others if he lost control completely would be nice to have.
Yet here she was, telling Zach that she trusted him, and was going on to say that most magic was untamable- not meant to be commanded in the first place. This has nothing to do with trust.
"Please," he begged, his voice ringing with emotion at the memories that had invaded his mind. He needed to feel secure. He needed to know that Leon could protect the others against himself. "Just promise me, okay?"
It hadn't been a happy conclusion to the conversation, but it was a necessity nonetheless.
Zahavi took the lead, followed by Zach, who needed to be somewhere in the middle to provide the most light to all of them. As they trudged on, backs against the cave wall, Zach concentrated on the flame. Its brightness magnified, allowing each of them a clearer view.
"Zahavi!" The worried utterance of his name came instinctively after the young prince momentarily lost his footing. He noted the prince's words, paying closer attention his footing along the slippery ledge.
After having widened considerably, the river's current had lessened to a much safer pace. And though falling into the frigid waters would not prove to be a fun experience, it wouldn't prove deadly either.
A glint shimmered beneath the surface of the water, catching Zach's eye. As the group slowed, he outstretched his hand over the water, allowing the flame's light to reveal better what lay beneath the water's surface.
A long, thin structure swayed slightly beneath the waves, curving to a tip at each end.
And then Zach recognized the shape very distinctly, cursing himself for not seeing it sooner. "A boat," he breathed, glancing back to catch Leon's expression. Surely they could pull it out of the waves somehow.
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Post by ƤαƖƖαѕ ✧ on Apr 6, 2020 10:58:46 GMT -5
I’ll get replies up soon)
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Post by ƤαƖƖαѕ ✧ on Apr 6, 2020 12:21:27 GMT -5
Isabella couldn’t say she thought the prince taking the lead was exactly the best idea. He was the member of the group that it was probably the most important to protect, considering he was, you know, a prince. But even if she could have stopped him he went ahead before she or the others had the chance. Deciding it was more important to let Leon and Zach go ahead of her, since Zach needed to provide light, she stood back to let them pass. Besides, she was the oldest of the group and so she felt like she ought to be responsible for the teenagers in her company; she was better placed to keep an eye on them from the back.
So she brought up the rear, picking her way carefully along the path. Isabella too had called out as Zahavi fell, worried he might have gotten hurt. They could do without any injuries in this group. And she watched as Zahavi touched his shoulder, and for a moment seemed to be in real pain, biting his lip to keep from crying out.
“Your shoulder,” Isabella pointed out
But there was no time. They could look at it later when they were in safety. Unfortunately they didn’t have Drusilla there to help them but Isabella figured that if there was anything they could do for Zahavi’s shoulder the group could find it.
But Isabella stopped along with the rest of the group when Zach held his flames over the water, revealing the shape of a boat.
Isabella wasn’t sure how to feel about that.
“It’s a little creepy that there’s a boat just down here waiting, and I don’t trust it,” she began “but it’s a good sign, right? At least it means there’s something down here, which makes it more likely there’s a way out. Plus, a boat seems kind of fun. I’ve never been in one before.”
Isabella had never left her city, never mind gone canoeing and sailing. And she was all about trying new things, so this definitely seemed like a fun opportunity. Even if the boat waiting there seemed like it might not be the good thing it seemed, she didn’t exactly see another option.
“How are we going to get it up, though?” she commented
It seemed perfect, almost too good to be true, provided they could get the boat out of the water.
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Post by 𝕊𝕙𝕒𝕕𝕠𝕨 on Apr 6, 2020 12:39:30 GMT -5
”I can’t, Zach,” Was what she responded, a foreboding feeling in her stomach. “But I can assure you I can try, and you can assure me the same.” She commented, falling silent. She didn’t like how grim and untrustworthy he was of himself. But now he was opening up to her, and she was hiding, because she was scared. Scared of how he could face his fears, when he obviously had issues in the past, and scared that she was too cowardly to do the same. But she could, she decided as she let him walk before her, that she could try to follow his lead.
Then the price got on the shelf, and she internally groaned. The most important person in the kingdom right now was playing heroics, he was going to get himself killed.
When Zahavi hurt his shoulder, her eyes widened. She wasn’t as panicked as her companions, but she had her doubts about the prince going first. A stupid idea, really, but he seemed to be fine. They could check it soon, it wasn’t an immediate thing that needed all had to warm up too, but they could do that on the boat.
On that note, there was indeed a boat in the water. One that she noticed with a small smile, though it seemed kind of shady. Her doubts lol lifted at once, everything was silly. “This must have been the actual path!” She concluded, not meaning to sound as excited as she had, or as relieved. If this was the path they were meant to take, maybe they ended up in the caves due to fate. That meant that everything was some weird freaky accident, and she hadn’t done anything wrong! “There’s a boat, it’s here for travelers. How else would anyone get in here?”
She almost laughed from her relief. Well, she really hoped she was right, anyways.
Though Zach was expectantly looking at he, as if for some kind of answer, and she glared back, raising an eyebrow in his direction. What was he plotting, or thinking about.
Oh yeah, they had to get it out of the water, and her eyes widened, “Oh. Oh.” She looked between the two of them, before deadpanning, like she knew what Zach was thinking, crossing her arms, “Uh, no. If you want me to go in the water, again, it’s not happening,” she snapped, “I’ve fallen in too many bodies of water today.”
She sat in silence, pondering for a moment, before grinning at Zach, “You have telekinesis, why don’t you use that?” She suggested, making sure to face him, and lifting a hand. She still didn’t want to reveal her magic. Words weren’t trust, actions were. She would trust the others when she saw reason to, but it was a silent offer to help him lift the boat with her own magic too. Though, knowing Zach, he could probably do it alone.
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Post by 𝓗𝓸𝓷𝓮𝔂 𝓑𝓮𝓮 on Apr 6, 2020 14:50:57 GMT -5
While the pain was intense, it lasted only a few moments before it ebbed away into a constant, dull ache. Persistent, but bearable. The prince gaveIsabella a soft smile over his shoulder. “I’m alright. It doesn’t hurt too bad if I don’t touch it. Which means I should probably not touch it.”
The question was: what was wrong with it? He didn’t know the difference between the pain of an injured muscle or a broken bone. It could be sprained, twisted or broken and he would never be able to tell. Figuring it out would have to wait until they reunited with the rest of the group.
“Oh, a boat!” Zahavi exclaimed as he angled his head to get a better look down at the dark waters below. He wasn’t keen on getting wet—well, more soaked than he already was—but perhaps the boat was their ticket out of here. It did seem a tad bizarre that there was a boat coincidentally right where they needed one to be, but he chalked that up to mostly good luck and fortune.
The slight suspicion Isabella shared wasn’t unwarranted, but he made a hum of disagreement. “It might be a fisherman’s boat. If it somehow lost its tether, it could have drifted down here from the outside. It is a bit strange, though.”
While the two were arguing over who should bring the boat, Zahavi pondered it with his own idea. “Can’t you two do it together? Is that possible with magic? |
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Post by 𝕊𝕙𝕒𝕕𝕠𝕨 on Apr 6, 2020 15:16:28 GMT -5
( Wait how does he know that she has magic?Leon: This is spelling out for some humour.) |
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Post by Sparky on Apr 6, 2020 15:36:00 GMT -5
In the flickering blue light of the fire, Zach's annoyed expression towards Leon was easily read. Why did she refuse to reveal herself, even after it was clear that Isabella and Zahavi were no threat? They accepted Zach, and were likely to keep his secret from the witch hunter. That is, if they were even successful in getting back to the rest of the group.
He gave a worried glance towards Zahavi, but then reminded himself that the prince wouldn't be here if it weren't for his idiotic actions earlier. Truthfully, he appreciated the prince's split-second attempt to save him, but it had been in vain. Just another person to starve to death with. Who knows, though, maybe some creature would put them out of their misery before such an ill fate fell upon them.
"Alright, I'll do it by myself," Zach said, insinuating that Leon was able to do so as well. He wasn't actually mad at having to do it himself, he was mad at Leon's ability to remain secretive.
Zach closed his eyes, and the fire blinked out of existence. Good. Now he could focus on the task at hand. In the pitch-blackness of the cave, a resounding chorus of foaming water filled their ears. And though everyone's sight was temporarily rendered useless, Zach knew that the vessel was emerging from the depths of the river.
With a snap he had reignited the flame, and the canoe-like craft was revealed before them. A small tug of telekinesis kept it from being dragged away by the current.
"There," He said, giving Leon a look. Happy?
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Post by ƤαƖƖαѕ ✧ on Apr 6, 2020 15:37:50 GMT -5
(Okay I’ll try and reply here before I go to bed but I might not get to until the morning
I’m holding off on Eldred until the morning though)
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Post by Sparky on Apr 6, 2020 15:55:20 GMT -5
 the options:Ellis Carpenter Kajsa Holloway Azeban(Abe) Duffy Atreyu(Trey) Parsons [ i'll die before i choose honestly ] |
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Post by 𝓗𝓸𝓷𝓮𝔂 𝓑𝓮𝓮 on Apr 6, 2020 16:17:53 GMT -5
[[ lmao zahavi is catching on to their conversations and finally putting his brain to use (he thinks she’s magic because she was giving Zach a kind of pep talk about magic). Or he has a suspicion, really.
awww I really atreyu parsons! ]]
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Post by ƤαƖƖαѕ ✧ on Apr 6, 2020 16:26:55 GMT -5
look at Zahavi having big brain time
Okay I love Atreyu Parsons too
Also I think I can’t reply until the morning so if you need to move on without me please do)
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Post by 𝕊𝕙𝕒𝕕𝕠𝕨 on Apr 6, 2020 16:56:22 GMT -5
”Well,” Lyra commented, “He’s been pampered. I think this journey will cause him to think of his subjects. To regard their struggles rather than his own. He’s already started taking some steps towards it.” She meekly defended, working her way slowly down the inclined, following the exact steps Drusilla had.
She swallowed her fear, following after the girl, refusing to look down. She wasn’t as talented as the older woman, but she also wasn’t clueless. While it took longer, she was able to get down.
“I know he’s not a good leader yet, I’ve dealt with him for many days.” She groaned softly, sighing, “But it’s my duty to him and his family to get him home safely. This journey presents an opportunity for him to learn.” She commented, finally getting to Drusilla’s point and overlooking the river below, eyes wide. It was a breath taking view, but it would be a while still to get there.
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Post by 𝕊𝕙𝕒𝕕𝕠𝕨 on Apr 6, 2020 17:25:26 GMT -5
She froze at Zach’s expression of annoyance. But Zahavi was smarter than she accredited him to be. Had he been listening to her? Had he caught on?
“I mean-“ she started, baffled for a moment. She hadn’t done anything to give herself a way. Though her hesitation obviously activated Zach.
He went and did it by himself, and her gaze snapped into a glare immediately. She’s offered her help, she just didn’t want to be an idiot and out herself by accident like him. Zahavi might have thought he was smart, but he couldn’t hide secrets at all. He admitted so to Eldred when she eavesdropped! He read books about it at night, and revealed that just because he got excited! If she told him, he would blabber off and tell everyone, she couldn’t chance it. But he also seemed willing to be accepting, and he was her ticket to a better future. Plus she was getting some ideas about payback. She always used magic for mischief, and this group could use some humour.
Zach’s snappy remark earned him another glare, “Wow, congrats, you did a simple telekinesis spell,” she sarcastically started clapping, “I’m so proud of you, now can we go?” She tersely replied. He was trying to out her! His wording proved it. She kneeled down, ready to go in the boat, an agitated look on her face. Though it morphed rather quickly as her hand skimmed the water.
Well, now that Zahavi was on to her, there wasn’t really a point in hiding simple things, he’d owe her too much in the end anyways. Plus, she was hoping Isabella would have a similar reaction as before. So she, childishly, grinned a bit, raising a bit of water into her hand in a small orb that hovered, before launching it at Zach, snorting slightly, aiming for his face in particular, “I couldn’t help but notice you looked suspiciously warmer than the rest of us. Figured I’d amend that, asshat.”
If she was mad or not would probably be an unknown, she didn’t dare toy with the flame any. Instead, she hopped into the front of the boat, immediately putting her hand in the water, “I can try to control the current, no promises though. I kind of suck at it.” Came her simple reply.
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Post by Sparky on Apr 6, 2020 17:32:33 GMT -5
[ testing ]
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Post by 𝕊𝕙𝕒𝕕𝕠𝕨 on Apr 6, 2020 17:38:48 GMT -5
(I want to see my little boy!
I’m very excited to see him!)
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Post by 𝕊𝕙𝕒𝕕𝕠𝕨 on Apr 6, 2020 17:43:11 GMT -5
look at Zahavi having big brain time Okay I love Atreyu Parsons too Also I think I can’t reply until the morning so if you need to move on without me please do) (Zahavi is a big brained individual. Leon essentially gives up on everything once someone starts to find her out to any extent at all. It’s like, someone questions her motives and she’s like ‘yes, that’s right, not I’m going to stop caring again’. And then she freaks out because of mud.) |
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Post by Sparky on Apr 6, 2020 17:52:13 GMT -5
[ oh my lord Leon xD ]
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Post by 𝕊𝕙𝕒𝕕𝕠𝕨 on Apr 6, 2020 18:08:42 GMT -5
(I don’t honestly know how she’s survived sometimes.)
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Post by Hawkeyes258 on Apr 6, 2020 19:31:53 GMT -5
(Willpower and spite!)
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Post by Sparky on Apr 6, 2020 20:11:49 GMT -5
[just wanted to get this up b/c hilarity, not tryna advance without anyone x3 ]]
Leon's sarcastic observation towards Zach's use of telekinesis brought upon an even greater flash of annoyance to his expression. Not because of her words exactly, but because he had expected nothing less. Then again, he wasn't about to go on and 'become the bigger person' in that moment. "A little help would have been nice, is all." He said, tone dripping with sass. The sentence was yet another addition to whatever doubts Zahavi or Isabella had about the girl. Give up.
To say that Zach was surprised by the sudden splash of water would be an understatement. He hadn't expected the stubborn girl to drop the facade so quickly, even if the prince had already correctly suspected that she were a magic user. Maybe it had been because of his words, which had essentially confirmed her abilities, but with that action Leon had wrenched back control. By acting sooner rather than later, she had revealed to their companions the truth about her relationship with magic.
Zacharias gasped at the cold shock of the water, but any drop in temperature along his skin was quickly remedied by his heating emotions. "I didn't choose to be-" he cut himself off, wanting her to understand what he was trying to say while not explicitly stating it. "Warm!"
There.
He begrudgingly stepped into the boat, glad that Leon had succumbed to revealing herself to the group. Here they were, trapped underneath hundreds of feet of solid rock. It was more than likely that Zach and Leon would either be killed or starve to death... and even in this situation the two didn't refrain from their constant bickering. Hopefully the prophecy hadn't mentioned anything specific, and that they were simply there to ramp up the number to the destined ten.
Because surely the fates of the king and queen were doomed if they rested in the actions of either one of these squabbling teens.
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Post by 𝕊𝕙𝕒𝕕𝕠𝕨 on Apr 6, 2020 20:12:31 GMT -5
(Never have two things been so true XD.) Also we have a Discord: discord.gg/MrPkMp) |
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Post by Sparky on Apr 6, 2020 22:36:21 GMT -5
[[ lmao thank youuuu, I love all of our collective babies we have here. I’ve been trying to think of a way to explain Zahavi’s slightly unexpected fascination with magic, because I kind of wanted to incorporate it in a bigger way. Like he is physically unable to help being entranced by magic, it captures his attention way too much. But I don’t plan for him to ever be a magic user himself, so that’s definitely off the table. ]] [ he's gay. magic is pretty. need i say more? but on a more serious note... what if Zahavi had become extremely sick at one point during his childhood? Like, to the point where his life was very much on the line, making the king and queen desperate. So desperate that they were willing to turn to magic to heal him, and it worked? ] |
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Post by 𝓗𝓸𝓷𝓮𝔂 𝓑𝓮𝓮 on Apr 7, 2020 0:06:37 GMT -5
[[ lmao you right
Ooo, I love that idea! It certainly sounds like it could have happened. He got sick so often as a kid that he was rarely out of bed, so I can see him having fallen really ill and nothing else working but magic
also I’ll reply later, I didn’t get the chance yesterday ]]
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Post by 𝕊𝕙𝕒𝕕𝕠𝕨 on Apr 7, 2020 0:31:30 GMT -5
(You’re fine Honey!
I’ll be busy this week, and I may not be as good with replies.)
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Post by ƤαƖƖαѕ ✧ on Apr 7, 2020 3:23:26 GMT -5
Isabella watched as the two teenagers argued, And when Zahavi spoke up about them being able to do it together with magic, Isabella knew he’d been having thoughts about Leon too. The conversations between her and Zach, though she hadn’t heard half of them, were suspicious. Not to mention the fact that Leon hadn’t seemed surprised at all that Zach had magic, and that she’d said she’d never seen fire magic before but hadn’t said anything about magic in general.
She had magic too.
Suddenly Isabella was staring into darkness for a moment as Zach’s flame went out. Not being able to see again was a little strange after getting used to the light that had guided them thus far, but she didn’t really mind if too much. The light suddenly returned, though, and when it did Isabella could see the boat had been risen to the surface of the water.
Cue more arguing between Zach and Leon, which Isabella watched with mild amusement. Until Leon formed an orb of water in her hands.
Was all magic strangely beautiful like this? Zach’s blue flames had been so pretty, and this perfect orb of water was too. It cast pretty reflections on the wall as the light from Zach’s flames hit it. Isabella have a small gasp, both out of slight surprise that Leon has just chosen to show her magic as soon as Zahavi gave the impression that he was onto her, but also of the beauty of the magic. There was no freak-out this fine, not since there had been some warning.
And before Isabella could really react to that magic, Leon had thrown it at Zach’s face, which prompted laughter from Isabella, though she hid it behind her hand because Zach didn’t look happy and she wasn’t about to make it worse.
And then more bickering. With a sigh, Isabella got into the boat with the two teenagers.
“Alright, while the irony of two people with fire and water magic arguing is not lost on me, let’s not argue. We should focus on the journey ahead,” she suggested
But Zach’s words about not choosing to be warm were also not lost on Isabella, and she mentally logged them away. Zach was clearly talking about his gift, and it seemed to Isabella that he didn’t want magic, that it was a burden to him. Which didn’t surprise her, as sad as it was. Magic was hard to control, hard to hide, and very illegal. And of course one couldn’t choose to not have magic. You were just born with it. How could you make a whole group of people who couldn’t help the way they were illegal? Isabella had always thought magic was dangerous, but she was seeing even in this small encounter that what she had been taught might be wrong.
As Leon talked about being able to control the current, or at least try to, Isabella spoke up, addressing both her and Zach.
“I’m sorry that I freaked out a little before,” she began “I was always taught about magic being bad or dangerous, and I’d never seen magic before. This is all new to me. I don’t want you to think I’m scared of you or your magic.”
Truth be told, anything Isabella couldn’t defend herself against unsettled her. If she couldn’t fire an arrow at it, she was a little scared of it. But Leon and Zach didn’t seem bad or dangerous.
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Post by ƤαƖƖαѕ ✧ on Apr 7, 2020 3:36:59 GMT -5
“Well, that’s good,” Eldred responded with a nod “I’m glad you take this seriously. We need that.”
At Zander’s comment about how much the ruling family had done for him, memories flashed through Eldred’s mind. Memories of Eldred being allowed to live when he’d been caught with his magic. A much more recent memory from after Eldred had gotten his tuberculosis diagnosis. He’d known this tuberculosis could not be cured by magic, it was magic. Some deep part of him knew that. The payment was finally being taken for the magical rite he’d performed years before. His one and only use of dark magic.
He’d told the king and queen in strictest confidence; they were the only ones in the palace who knew about his disease. He’d told them he would secure for them another advisor, someone he trusted would guide the king and queen following Eldred’s death. He had hoped that before he fell gravely ill, Eldred would be able to accelerate his teachings for Zahavi, try to impart everything he knew.
The king and queen had been co concerned for him, had offered him anything he might need.
“I owe that family a lot too,” Eldred agreed “they did a lot for me. I owe them my life, and if I have to repay that debt to protect their son and help find this cure then I will.”
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Post by ƤαƖƖαѕ ✧ on Apr 7, 2020 10:24:26 GMT -5
Eldred had known Helena his whole life.
They had both grown up in a small village, and their mothers were friends from many years ago. So Eldred and Helena has been best friends from being very small. Eldred was seventeen, going on eighteen, and he had been in love with Helena for maybe two years now. He had not dared to tell her; he didn’t want to ruin their friendship. And besides, their mothers already joked about the two of them getting married one day and Eldred didn’t want to give his mother the satisfaction of being right on this issue.
In fact, Helena’s mother made a comment on this very topic when Eldred went to get Helena up at her house so they could spend the afternoon together.
“When are you going to marry a nice boy like Eldred?” Helena’s mother questioned from the doorway as Helena stepped outside
“Well that depends,” Helena replied innocently “do you mean a nice boy, or a boy like Eldred?”
She laughed, and Eldred nudged her with a chuckle
“I’m afraid my standards are rather too high for you, Helena,” Eldred teased in response
They continued like this as they walked away from the house, Helena’s mother closing the door with a knowing smile. The two teenagers headed down to their favourite spot just outside the village.
It was a beautiful summer day, and so golden sunlight kissed the grassy bank that Eldred and Helena liked to call their own. It was covered in delicate wildflowers of a rainbow of colours, and a crystal clear river with glassy water ran lazily nearby.
Helena had insisted on walking through the grass barefoot, it was her favourite thing to do. Once they got there, the pair spent a good few minutes submerging their bare feet in the cool water of the river, and of course splashing one another, their laughter carried off in the light summer breeze.
They lay down side by side. Helena’s inky black hair spread around her head. Most of her hair was left loose, but some had been delicately braided around her head, the plaits wound prettily with ribbon. Helena had always said she would take advantage of being a young, unmarried woman and leave her hair as loose as possible whenever she could until she got married and would have to use a more modest style. Both teenagers turned their eyes to the brilliant blue sky, watching the clouds drifting slowly above them.
“You know,” Eldred said after a moment “I think I know everything there is to know about you, Helena.”
“Is that so?” Helena questioned with a mischievous smile “I think you ought not make claims like that unless you’re willing to prove it.”
Eldred just smiled, glancing at her briefly before turning his eyes back to the sky.
“Your favourite colour is lavender,” Eldred began “your favourite flower is the buttercup, because you don’t think it should be a weed, but it’s tied with forget-me-nots. You love running barefoot through the woods, and getting soaked in the rain. You broke your pinkie finger once when you fell out of a tree. You bite your nails but you like to pretend you don’t. Your favourite season is spring because you love to watch the flowers bloom, and it makes you sad when they die in winter. And I can tell when you actually think a joke is funny because when you’re genuinely laughing you wrinkle your nose.”
It was silent for a few moments as Helena looked at him, seemingly searching his face for a moment.
“Okay, you win,” she smiled as she sat up “but first, what colour are my eyes?”
Eldred sat up too, and Helena covered over her eyes, laughing.
“Well, they’re grey,” he said “and when you’re angry they go dark like a stormy sea, or like steel. But when the sunlight hits them they’re pure silver, like moonlight.”
Helena was silent again as she removed her hand for her eyes. They looked at one another for a long moment, and Eldred could swear he felt some kind of pull, like a magnet. He could feel the electricity.
And suddenly he leaned in and kissed her. He immediately realised what he was doing and pulled back.
“Did you just kiss me?” Helena asked
“I’m sorry,” Eldred replied “I shouldn’t have done that, it was stupid, I-“
Before he could say anything more, they were kissing again. This time initiated by Helena. Everything else sanded away, and everything was perfect.
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Post by Sparky on Apr 7, 2020 17:35:20 GMT -5
[ note that all the lore in this is purely theoretical and has to be okayed by Chaos. But I did a oneshot thing :3 ]
Alexandria was a maze of knowledge. The shelves soared up to become towers in the sky and dug down as trenches within the earth. Bridges and staircases of foreign architecture gave one access throughout the library, but you could never dream of so much as touching each book within the seemingly infinite collection. Daring to do so would result in becoming astray within the labyrinth of wisdom, eventually leading to either insanity or starvation.
Because even though not a single particle of dust lay upon its treasures, Alexandria was eerily void of life. Not a single living soul wandered the skyways above or trenches below.
Until today.
Footsteps pierced the silence of the library, echoing against the halls. The rhythm was purposeful yet ever-so-slightly hurried. A man on a mission.
The cloaked figure rounded a corner of the maze, clinging a book desperately to his chest. Somehow this man had learned beforehand the layout of the maze, and he was navigating backwards to the entrance with his prize.
“Silas Crane.”
The voice thundered around him, seemingly omnipresent. Silas froze, tightening his grip around the precious item he carried. No, no, no, no…
Silence.
“W-who’s there?” He called out, eyes flitting wildly across the landscape. The entrance must’ve only been a short sprint from where he stood, around the corner and to the left, and his gaze drew towards it longingly.
“Did you really believe I would let you leave this place?” A woman rounded the corner, blocking his escape. She had a fair complexion, magnified in great resemblance to the white, flowing dress that draped over her delicate frame. Platinum blonde hair fell in waves across her shoulders and down her back.
She was enchanting, really, and her voice melted over Silas like liquid silver.
“I suppose…” He began, though he dared not finish the sentence.
“Not?” She asked with a soft smile.
“Yes, I-I suppose not.”
Her right hand idly reached up to the shelf, brushing past decades of knowledge as she stepped closer and closer to Silas. “I am the guardian of this place,” she informed him, “Here to protect the vast collection within these walls.”
Silas’ eyes fell to the book in his hands, but determination flooded his mind upon reading the title. It was a book of medicines. He needed it. “Surely you can make an exce-”
“Give me the book, Silas.”
“No.” Desperation filled his voice.
She shook her head disappointedly, but did not make any more advancements towards the man. They were standing several yards apart at this point. “Throughout history, knowledge has remained to be the most powerful gift one may receive. Those who possess it in excess also possess the rare ability to conquer without dilemma.” A sigh escaped her lips, and she continued, “Even rarer, however, is the amount of people willing to do so.”
“What do you mean?” Silas asked, relaxing slightly. Maybe he could convince or bargain with her somehow. Anything to leave with the book in tow.
“The most doctored professors, most appraised philosophers, most gifted individuals -all of whom have obtained immeasurable power through their findings- are wrought. Their minds all corrupted by a similar notion: that such power is to be shared.
“Through knowledge, they said, a more equal world may exist. One where peasants and kings alike could understand the clockwork of the universe.”
Her speech rang throughout the library, and Silas understood quickly that she was telling it’s history. So he played along, listening to her words and asking a question when his interest was piqued.
“Is that so bad?” Silas asked, but this only received another shake of her head.
“One wouldn’t be surprised to discover that such a notion is uniquely human. Blindsighted by the knowledge they possess, humans don’t understand that their hunger for equality will never be satiated. They don’t understand that the idea of equality is just that- an idea. Pure fantasy!”
“Should we not strive for it, then? Because of its… fantastical nature, as you put it?”
Another sigh. “You don’t understand your own history… but you will.” She pulled a book from the shelf and began to flip through its pages. And as Silas peered closer, he began to see glimmers of red drift from it, forming images in the air around the book and the guardian. “Greed and corruption entered their hearts, fueling the hunger. They began to steal from Alexandria. Blood was spilled on massive scales lest they starve from the abyss in their stomachs.” The streaks of red poured from the pages, morphing into miniature soldiers and battle lines. The wars she spoke of played out around her in excessive detail. “It was then that humans uncovered knowledge never meant for them: magic. It stampeded through their race, staining each drop of blood with unearned gifts.
“Alexandria had no choice but to retaliate. And so, after decades of abuse by the humans, the library and all of its knowledge was sealed away. Forever.” She punctuated the sentence by shutting the book violently. The deep red particles that had once filled the air vanished within its pages once more, and she repositioned it leisurely upon the shelf.
“All humans possessed magical abilities?” Silas asked, intrigued by her stories of the past.
“Nearly,” She responded tersely.
“But then how come-”
“How come it isn’t that way today?” Her words finished his own, and she continued. “Simple, really. From then on, an elite task force was mobilized to seize back all of the knowledge that humans had stolen. Over generations, the operation proved largely successful. Fact became legend. Legend became myth. Myth became forgotten.
“Alexandria was effectively wiped out from human memory, and those that know it’s tale believe it only to be a myth. That same fate is being carried out for magic. Through the recapturing of knowledge and human forgetfulness, the stain within the blood of the human race has all but been wiped clean. Only few contaminated individuals remain, and as their numbers dwindle they’ll start to see their own kind turn against them.” Silas thought of the illegalization of magic. How such people were feared and hunted by their own kind. His brow furrowed, and this drew up a slight smile to the guardian’s lips. He was understanding.
“The task force. Is it still in use today?” Silas asked, peering into the woman’s alluring blue eyes.
“It doesn’t need to be,” She stated simply. “Don’t you see? This is why I can not let you take a single page from one of our books. If humans receive any knowledge from this infinite collection, they’ll want more. This is why it is forbidden for your kind to walk these halls. Humans are enthralled and bound to their endless greed.”
“No, please,” Silas begged. He opened the book and flipped around, eager to find what he was looking for. “I-I won’t even take the book. I just need something for one person.” Emotion rang throughout his voice as he haphazardly searched its pages.
“If anyone like you were to get away with a piece of our knowledge,” She said calmly, “Alexandria would be forced to make a choice.”
Silas froze. He stole his gaze away from the book, fear wild in his eyes. “What kind of choice?” It had been only a whisper, but she heard him clearly.
“A choice that would protect the world from being thrown into chaos by humans ever again…” She answered. “Burn the books, which hold millenia of information... Or...”
“Or us.”
A smile crept across her lips, “And you already know what we would decide, don’t you?”
Silas nodded. “I-I’ll put the book back, I’ll leave, I’ll never speak of-” His flustered words were cut off by the clicking of the guardian’s tongue.
“By stepping foot into this library, you had already condemned yourself to death.” She said. And with those words, her form began to darken. A darkness that spread from the roots of her hair and glossed over her eyes, leaving them as black holes- devoid of any life or soul. A shadow fell over her dress as skeletal wings ripped themselves out of her back, resounding with the various cracks! of bones as they unfurled.
Silas did the only thing he could do in that moment: run.
He swiveled on his heels, storming away from the demon and deeper into the maze.
“And besides,” it’s voice called out after him, though it was mangled and scratchy, much unlike the smooth, silkiness that it had been. In mere seconds the guardian had taken to the skies and swooped down, tackling him to the ground. Black talons dug deep into Silas’ skin. The demon had pinned him to the ground, and a dizzying amount of blood began to seep from his wounds.
The creature on top of Silas opened its mouth, revealing arrays of inky-black blades of teeth. But he was unable to focus on its mouth. Instead, Silas found himself paralyzed by the guardian’s eyes as it spoke the last words he would ever hear.
“You know too much already.”
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Post by 𝕊𝕙𝕒𝕕𝕠𝕨 on Apr 7, 2020 17:45:51 GMT -5
”What can I saw?” Leon has responded to Zach’s comment about not being helpful, an impish grin on her face, “I’m not exactly all that helpful.” So odd, that she could make something sound so mischevious and snarky, but also bitter. Though, if she were to be honest with herself, even if she didn’t destroy the cave entrance which she did do, she still set off whatever caused it. Even if her powers of destruction had come to a momentary close, she still put them in danger by exploring the mark.
The mark.
In the midst of danger and escaping death, and bullying Zach as well, Leon had forgotten it. Her clairvoyance only acted a few times, it always had something to do with the mark, something baring it, it was like it drew her. Well, that was a lie, there was the once with the armlet, but that was different! She was worried about Zach at the time, and it had technically been a gift from him!
It faded from her mind, as she looked at Zach, snorting with a small bought of laughter, “Did you almost say something else there?” She questioned, noticing his hesitation to say warm with an overly mischevious intent. “I mean, to me it sounded like you were going to say-“
She stopped, catching Isabella’s gaze, and remembered that they indeed had company, and that teasing and bullying Zach maybe wasn’t a nice thing to do, not that she cared. Zach had teased her endlessly for her showing concern, she would do the same in regards to anything she could get her hands on.
Well, in the boat they all went, though she snorted at Isabella’s interpretation on their magic, “I didn’t know he even had fire magic, and I doubt he knew I had water magic.” She commented, before offering a snicker, “Guess we’re mortal enemies now.”
Her hand was in the water, feeling the current. They were all ready to go, so she tried to nudge it, move it so the boat could glide quickly but safely. Magic took focus, and she closed her eyes.
”Listen carefully...”
She screwed her eyes tighter, trying to block out the voice. The waves seemed to nudge slightly against the boat, calmly, but a bit more forceful.
”I’m sorry you see her future possibilities in such a manner...”
Almost, she almost had it. A link was sustained, though she couldn’t get the image of a little girl out of her head, big blue eyes, long dark hair, a crooked tiara on her head, and two dreary figures. With a bit more of a forceful hit, the waves started to push the boat.
”...there’s no changing it. Fate is fate, and if she’s to die-“
“What?” She questioned aloud, flinging her eyes open. Why was the vision bothering her so much. The waves calmed, the link erased. Did she really just hear those voices when she closed her eyes?
Why? They didn’t sound the same as before!
Her hand slapped at the water in frustration. She was just remembering that stupid vision. Though she frowned, this was a miserable thing. None of he magic could possibly come in helpful, “I can’t do it,” she huffed, “Like I said, I’m not good at this, all I’m good at is decep-“ deceptive magic? How would this now accepting merchant and prince take to the fact that she used her magic to quite literally steal from them? To enter their galas and markets, take their things, and laugh about it? She couldn’t quite say that. “Is deception. Keeping my magic hidden, type stuff. I don’t really use it that’s much,” it was a lame lie, but a good save. She did use her magic quite often, usually little spells that got her things she wanted.
And dark magic? She couldn’t quite say she practiced it. Not like one could even choose to practice it. It was wildly uncontrollable, not quite like fire, where it had a mind of it’s own, but with the intent to suck life from victims. She never opened that can of worms other than a select few times. That’s why she had the gloves, to protect from disastrous consequences. A healing remedy, perhaps.
“I mean, I made it further than Zach, but that’s not saying a lot. He revealed himself by playing with a knife.” She commented, snorting, though she seemed almost apologetic to a degree, “If he knew this magic, he could probably do it with his eyes closed.”
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Post by 𝓗𝓸𝓷𝓮𝔂 𝓑𝓮𝓮 on Apr 7, 2020 20:16:31 GMT -5
[[ Aw, I love both those little short stories! Reading about Eldred’s past is great and I love the world building in yours, Sparky!
Also I’d love to join the Discord server, but I think the link is expired?? That’s what it kept telling me when I tried yesterday.
Sorry I haven’t gotten I reply up, I’m drowning in homework. ]]
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