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Post by Golurkcanfly on Jan 31, 2014 19:55:34 GMT -6
"Pearl!" Arcturus continued calling as he walked uphill towards the business district. "Where are you?"
Wonder where she could be?
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Post by SwordMasterEX on Jan 31, 2014 20:06:21 GMT -6
"Jam will do! Nice to meet Elia." Arcturus voice rang down the alleyway. "Pearl!"
"That new master now. See later then." She smiles as she dashes out to meet Arcturus. "Yes Master?" She happily looks up into his eyes awaiting orders.
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Post by Golurkcanfly on Jan 31, 2014 20:17:00 GMT -6
"You know, you don't have to call me master. Arcturus is fine." he told her as he put his hand into her palm. "Anyways, we're heading home. We have to talk to my father."
I really hope he isn't too mad...
He began to walk back downhill towards his house with Pearl in tow, careful not to go too fast and upset her.
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Post by GX1997 on Jan 31, 2014 20:18:12 GMT -6
As Jam ran off Elia was left in the room, her hand and arm stretched out as far into the alley as she could reach.
I- I had a chance, and I didn't take it. What's wrong with me!?
Elia just sat there, her arm still reaching toward the girl that was no longer there. It was then that she broke down crying, but was unable to make a sound. No one would be able to hear her and help her then. She was alone again.
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Post by SwordMasterEX on Jan 31, 2014 20:29:10 GMT -6
Pearl smiled the whole way home. When they got to his house, she saw Arcturus angry father slumped in a chair. "Hello beard man. Jam not find Natasha."
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Post by Golurkcanfly on Jan 31, 2014 20:36:17 GMT -6
"Find Natasha?" Arcturus' father's tears stopped as he lifted his head up and looked at Pearl. "YOU KILLED NATASHA! AND ARCTURUS, WHY ARE YOU WITH THIS WOMAN!"
"Uhh, dad, this is Pearl." Arcturus sheepishly pushed Pearl forward to introduce her. "She's going to be staying with us."
"WHAT!?" his father shouted as he bolted up from his chair. "YOU'RE GOING TO LET THIS WITCH STAY WITH US AFTER KILLING NATASHA!?"
"Natasha is his prized lance." Arcturus explained to the dumbfounded Pearl as his father continued raging. "The one that's cut in half and stuck in the ground over there."
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Post by SwordMasterEX on Jan 31, 2014 20:58:04 GMT -6
Water began to form in Jam's eyes. She teared up as she fell to her knees. Through heavy sobs she cried out, "Jam mess up again. Jam just try practice for defend, and she kill Natasha. Jam meet mystery cloak and need money. Jam see cell girl and no help. Jam useless." She takes several deep breaths. "Please tell Jam how she help mister beard man!" Then her body reminded her of what started the chain of events, a grumble from her stomach and Mr.Fuzzballs. "Umm, but if Jam can eat first maybe?" She looks up to Arcturus unsure of what to do, and reaches out to Mr.Fuzzballs But all those lances look the same to me. I feel really bad about it, but still. What do you do when you screw up this bad?
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Post by GX1997 on Jan 31, 2014 21:14:34 GMT -6
Elia fell asleep in the floor by the window before long, but she woke up when the door opened. She kept her eyes shut, not wanting to face what ever was going to happen.
"Elia, are you awake?" a familiar voice asked softly, and kindly.
Is... is that...?
Elia opened her eyes, and quickly rushed toward her visitor.
"Jacob! You're okay!" she said as she wrapped her arms around him. "I was worried about you."
"Elia, listen to me," he said, gripping her shoulders tightly. "We need to play along with things for now. Someone in the Cleatian Empire has arranged all of this. We're going to be sent to some academy here, and be taught about magic."
Jacob stopped and let that sink in, before pulling Elia out into the hallway outside the room, closing the door behind them.
"I'm not sure why they're really so interested in this, but as long as we just go to the academy, they've promised to leave us alone. They'll even let us talk to each other if we just cooperate, Elia."
"Did they send you here to convince me to follow orders? And do you believe them?" she asked, looking directly into his eyes, simply happy to see him again.
"Yes, and we have to believe it. Alright Elia?"
She shook her head yes, and Jacob smiled.
"I'm so happy to see you safe and sound. And... I'll do anything as long as I get to talk to you. Together, we'll get through this. Me and you," he said.
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Post by Golurkcanfly on Jan 31, 2014 21:26:09 GMT -6
"Fine." Arcturus' father's voice dripped with embitterment. "I will prepare you some food and let you stay here. However, in return, you must collect new elemental steel to reforge Natasha."
Harsh...
His father's scowl turned to face the stove where he pulled out a pan and lit the wood with a flint and steel.
"Hey, Pearl." Arcturus tried to comfort the weeping nymph by wrapping his arms around her shoulders. "Do you know where to get elemental steel?"
I don't want to be the bearer of bad news...
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Post by SwordMasterEX on Jan 31, 2014 21:35:33 GMT -6
Thoughts float around in her head. She remembers something one of her sisters told her as a child. "There some back home. It in cave where Jam supposed to do tail ritual this year." She then remembers the mark on Arcturus head. She pushes back his bangs and looks at the curse mark. "But Mr.Alucard there. He try hurt Master again if we go."
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Post by Golurkcanfly on Jan 31, 2014 21:41:38 GMT -6
"And do you know the other source of elemental steel?" Arcturus prayed to an unknown god as he asked her. "Also, what's this tail ritual that you speak of?"
Does she grow a tail? Does she summon tails from the abyss? Anyways, I really hope she can fight those things.
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Post by SwordMasterEX on Jan 31, 2014 21:53:59 GMT -6
Shaking her head she replies, "Nope. Mr. Alucard only use some to build Jam bow. Tail ritual done when Nymph go in cave to unite with Mother. If mother accept Jam, then Jam have tail when Jam water. Jam youngest of Nymphs, so I no have tail yet like sisters. Water tail sign of womanhood in Jam's people. Ritual suppose happen one month... but Mr.Alucard might not allow."
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Post by Golurkcanfly on Jan 31, 2014 22:17:22 GMT -6
"Elemental steel only has one natural source." Arcturus explained as he hung his head. "Metal Golems. They're dangerous, given an A rank by the Hunter's Association here in Shaldra. They can be found in the caves south of here, but those caves contain more than just Golems. They are inhabited by werebats, dangerous metahumans who are fairly weak and fragile, but tend to gang up on prey in large groups. That's why they have been given an S rank by the Hunter's Association."
"Father," Arcturus pleaded at his dad who had apparently gotten a slab of pork from somewhere and was cooking it in the pan. "Do we really have to get elemental steel? Couldn't normal steel work just fine?"
"You know how elemental steel works in a forge." his father replied as he stabbed the piece of meat viciously with a small knife. "It does not bond very well with other metals. It's the only thing I can use to fix Natasha, and I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if I just forged a new, inferior Natasha."
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Post by SwordMasterEX on Jan 31, 2014 22:42:01 GMT -6
"So then Mr. Alucard fought Golem before. Explain much why sisters not mention steel till after him. Jam fight monsters for master!" A sudden knock prompts Pearl to get the door. Upon opening it she sees the girl Alucard drained standing with her former weapons: Steel Bow & Ice Arrows with a Mithiril Trident. Pearl almost screams but manages to keep her cool. the unnamed girl drops the weapons. She disappears like nothing was ever there. Jam walks back in with her weapons, a look of horror etched in her face she places the weapons on the wall and sits down dead silent.
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Post by GX1997 on Jan 31, 2014 22:42:13 GMT -6
They continued to speak while standing in the hall, as they told each other what had happened to them. Even though the door at the end of the hallway was obviously locked, just being able to see her friend and have him there to reassure and support her made the whole thing somewhat bearable.
"So Jacob...," Elia said, after they had caught up, "do you really think that they'll only ask us to go to this academy?"
"Elia, you know I can't say for sure."
She sighed, of course he wasn't going to give her false hope.
"Is this part of why you're scared? Because of being a Type-1 mage?" he asked her.
Even in my worst nightmares, I never would have imagined being... being kidnapped, and held prisoner. Not for something so simple as magick.
"You know I've always been scared of what lengths people would go to, as long as they wanted me to use my magick. But this, this is just..."
Elia just shook her head in disbelief, as she leaned against the wall.
"Just stay strong, Elia."
Jacob took Elia's hands in his, and looked right into her eyes. As he did, Elia began to feel better. The world around her seemed to fade, and she could hear Jacob's words echoing, resonating, with her in her mind.
We need to play along with things for now. I'll do anything as long as I get to talk to you. We need to play along with things...
I'll do anything...
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Post by Golurkcanfly on Jan 31, 2014 22:53:57 GMT -6
"What, the hell?" Arcturus froze upon seeing the girl leave and slowly turned to the horrified Pearl. "How did she-what is she?"
Those cold eyes... It's unnatural, an abomination.
"What are you talking about?" his father asked as he was too absorbed in his cooking to notice the girl. "Who is this 'she'?"
He didn't wait for an answer before turning back towards the stove and stabbing the meat.
"It's ready!" he announced with a jovial laugh unbefitting the current situation as he skewered it and placed it onto a gigantic platter. "Don't worry, Pearl, I'll let you stay for today. However, you must retrieve the ore before I let you stay again. How did you even meet Arcturus anyways, and why have you been calling him master?"
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Post by SwordMasterEX on Jan 31, 2014 23:12:12 GMT -6
"Th-thank you." She says to his offer of letting her stay. She turns to Arcturus, "Mr.Alucard use unholy type-1 spell. Me see once before with girl, but body always get destroy. M-maybe you explain to beard man story? Pearl not feel so well." She begins slowly picking away at the pork chop, only losing most of her appetite not all.
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Post by Golurkcanfly on Jan 31, 2014 23:23:44 GMT -6
"Okay." he assured Pearl before sitting down at the table. "You know that trip that I was going on with Professor Rhynn? Well, it was to a place called Nivian Lake. It turns out there was vampire who lived there by the name of Alucard Van Halen. She was one of his nymphs that he used to lure travelers into his dominion..."
Arcturus continued to explain the story to his father, carefully noting Pearl's worsening condition.
"Anyways, I'm off to bed." he finished the stroy to his now half-asleep father. "Pearl, you don't look so well, maybe you should retire for tonight too."
He slowly got up and walked up the stairs to his room.
I hope he buys that lie about the mark just being there to ward off evil spirits. The last thing I need is for him to be worried for me.
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Post by SwordMasterEX on Jan 31, 2014 23:35:15 GMT -6
He lied about the mark. He must not want this man to know about his death. I'll keep up the lie for his sake. She finishes the meat, pausing to thank him before following Arcturus to bed. She climbs in, telling him, "Jam more tune in with nature than human. When around unnatural, Jam get sick. Mr.Alucard know many secrets like that. Master, you know person who always in cloak?"
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Post by Golurkcanfly on Jan 31, 2014 23:39:37 GMT -6
"Someone who's always wearing a cloak?" Arcturus tilts his head up towards his pillow. "No, I don't know anyone like that. Anyways, get some sleep. You're coming to school with me tomorrow."
Hopefully I can find someone brave or stupid enough to help us.
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