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Post by Deleted on Jul 19, 2015 6:24:22 GMT -6
"Iron Dragon's Roar!" Hecate opened her mouth, letting out a loud shout. Rather than a simple shout, a beam of iron came out instead, crashing straight into the monstrous boar. If it was in agony before, it most certainly was injured now, or dead. Hecate hoped for the latter... Until the boar gave a roar of anger. For a moment, nothing seemed to have changed as it snarled and slobbered. Then, it collapsed, closing its eyes almost peacefully.
What in the world is that boar doing? It's... Sleeping at a time like this? Am I missing something here?
Hecate looked at Leone with questions in her eyes. She glanced back at the peaceful-looking monstrosity. And then, that's when it happened. It was subtle at first, but a vile, black aura appeared at the bottom of the boar. It wrapped itself around it like a veil. The boar stood up, murderous eyes glancing at all of them in rapid succession. Hecate couldn't help but get a bad feeling about this. Before they knew it, the boar was sending a powerful roar in their direction. The earth cracked, debris spinning in every direction as the tree behind them was uprooted. The ominous aura was still present, and if possible, its already crimson eyes were actually glowing just as ominously.
Hecate grimaced as the wind suddenly picked up. Apparently Abnormalities don't die so easily after such attacks. She could have sworn the creature has grown a few sizes after the mysterious aura. The Abnormality let out another roar—this one more of a screech—and snarled at them. Yep, its tusks had definitely grown larger...and sharper.
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Post by Golurkcanfly on Jul 19, 2015 7:58:35 GMT -6
"There is one thing:" Grigori finished the last bit of cider in his glass before taking a deep breath and curling his shoulders a bit. "I'm still a member of Pergrande's Dark Guild Extermination Special Operations Unit until Eden has her trial for her former membership in Siren Scale. She and any other former members, barring myself and a few others, are all wanted criminals. She's going to need the closure that her trial will give her, and until I'm cleared from service, I'm not allowed to officially join any guild unless its part of my mission as an agent of DGESOU."
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Post by Neo on Jul 19, 2015 9:57:49 GMT -6
"I see," Zalia answered, all trace of humor leaving her expression. "I assume this 'trial' will only be a formality, correct? Perhaps, in time. However, I'm afraid I cannot allow that at this time. Given my granddaughter's emotional state, and the recent events, what she needs right now isn't closure. What she needs now is time to recover, and to be with her family. Once everything has calmed down, and she's back to normal, then I will allow it, if that's what Eden wants."
Zalia quickly finished setting up the tables for the party, then walked towards the stairs to the second floor. She stopped in front of the stairs briefly, and turned back to Grigori, smiling knowingly. "And don't worry about your superiors, child. I'll go ahead and call my friend Garon, and together, we'll get it sorted from the top. If you want, you can be free of any obligations to Pergrande's government by tomorrow. Give it some thought."
With that, she disappeared up the stairs and went to find Cenric.
-------
Orion stayed at the pier for a few minutes longer, after Cenric's telepathic message went out to all Silver Chimera members, telling everyone to come home. That it was time to celebrate. Home. Celebrate. They were such alien words to him.
Another couple minutes passed while Orion simply enjoyed the feel of the ocean breeze against his face. Then, finally, he got up to leave. He took his time walking back to the Guild, and by the time he finally walked back through the doors, he was the last one to arrive. Only Lucian, Ryner, and Jurian were still absent.
Velia was up and awake, and seemingly just fine, and she was sitting around the end of the left table, along with Cenric and Eden. Rhys was serving as waiter, while Zalia manned the bar, as always. He noticed the Jester- What was his name again? Grigori?- sitting a little too close to Eden for his comfort- a few seats down, but still- but Orion pushed the thought aside. He was far too tired.
He sat down at the bar, unclasped the flask of Dragonsbreath at his waist and, in a move that would impress even Zalia, he downed the whole thing in a single gulp.
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Post by SummerCrow on Jul 19, 2015 10:32:47 GMT -6
"Oh, dear. That's... Interesting," Leone says. "Think, think, thinkthinkthinkthinkthinkthinkthink... Ah! Rondo of Courage, Muse's Dance of Flame..." Leone sheathes het blade.
"Memory Combination! Aria of the Soul!" Golden chains appear, entwining around Leone's waist. Music springs to life, seemingly from nowhere, a simple, yet uplifting, orchestral arrangement. Leone begins to dance, twirling to the music's rhythm. A clumsy mimicry of her teacher's form, but still a graceful, inspirational performance to the untrained eye.
The beast roars again, and the phantasmic music crescendos to drown it out.
"Whoa... I'm feeling pretty fired up!" Atticus calls out. "Alright, this guy doesn't look so tough!"
Atticus rushes forward, quickly striking the beast's back twice with his whip. The boar tries to turn those viscous tusks back around. Atticus doesn't stop his charge as he lashes out, wrapping his whip around the monster's front left paw. At the last instant, he slides, sinking into the ground. Most of the whip comes with him, leaving the boar on a very short tether.
Aldous draws his short sword. "Now's our chance, Hecate!" he yells, rushing at the pinned boar. "Let's take him out before he reveals any other nasty tricks!"
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Post by Deleted on Jul 19, 2015 12:36:19 GMT -6
They're really counting on me to do this. I can't believe their trusting a new recruit with their lives. That's foolish.
Hecate narrowed her eyes. "Iron Dragon's Dance: Icarus!" She called out. She was ready for the back of her shirt to be ripped open as wings of iron sprouted from her back. She grimaced, but nonetheless took flight, the powerful black wings launching her high into the air. As of now, all she could feel was adrenaline from the battle. Maybe it was the excitement; maybe it was the knowledge she could mess with her next technique. A dark grin spread across her face as she called out her next technique.
This never misses, you damned boar.
"Iron Dragon's Eye: Gungnir!" She paused to extend her hand. Slowly, but surely a long spear formed in her hands. Hecate took the time to spin around twice before hurling it at the back of the Abnormality. The spear spun before lodging itself deep into the tough skin of the boar. The Abnormality roared, doing its best to move with something so deep stuck into its spine. Its legs began to buckle in defiance to its body shutting down.
"You'd better move!" Hecate shouted down to Aldous.
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Post by SummerCrow on Jul 19, 2015 18:14:31 GMT -6
Aldous skids to a halt, lowering his sword and raising his shield, a barrier quickly expanding from it as the boar begins to roll towards him.
Leone unleashes a dramatic orchestral sting as the boat crashes into his barrier. It holds for a moment, then the weight of the boar knocks Aldous over. In the end, he's left pinned with the boar laying over the bottom half of his body.
"I'm OK!" he assures everyone, struggling to free himself. "No problem here! Just gotta... Mmph... Push this thing off me!"
Leone finishes her performance and concludes with a curtsey. She calmly walks over and unwraps the whip from the boar's paw, tugging it in a rhythmic code. It loosens, again phasing through the ground, and she begins to pull Atticus out.
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Post by GX1997 on Jul 19, 2015 19:17:54 GMT -6
"Orion," Eden's voice came from behind him, having snuck up on him while he was glugging down the contents of the flask, "Aren't you going to eat? You need to if you want to recover your energy. And I haven't even stolen any of your food this time!"
She walked closer until they were side by side, and then her tone went from the previous joking one to a more genuine tone. "Would you like to sit next to me at the table?"
It wouldn't feel as uncomfortable for me if you would sit between me and Grigori... I'm just as comfortable- if not more- around you as I am around the others, and I really need that right now...
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Post by Deleted on Jul 19, 2015 19:41:46 GMT -6
Hecate could describe the feeling after the adrenaline rush as tired to put it simply. Her wings faded once she was a safe distance from the ground—so her legs wouldn't break—and she let herself fall to the ground, landing in a crouching position.
As silent as ever, she headed towards her guildmates with a curious expression on her face. Still having not said a few words, she took in the wounds of the boar, and then nodded in satisfaction at the gaping hole in its back. She had to resort to her secret technique to kill the thing. It should have been honored. Not many could make her do that... And lose a jacket as well.
Ignoring the warm draft on her back, Hecate watched Leone drag Aldous away, and just in time, too; as the blood of the boar hit the spot he once inhabited. Maybe she was being stiff, but their mission was over. They had hunted their target. For a weak guild, her guildmates were strong.
Looks could be deceiving... She had learned that the hard way years ago. She stood idly by as if awaiting Leone's next words.
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Post by Neo on Jul 19, 2015 19:55:49 GMT -6
Orion started to tell her he wasn't hungry, but abruptly stopped as realization slowly dawned on him. ... She just needs the company, that's all. And knowing her, she's probably still worried she hurt me... Alright. For her, I'll smile again. She's been through enough, and I need to be there for her... No matter what I'm going through personally.
He nodded, and managed a smile. "I'd love to, Eden."
He joined her back at the table, not surprised in the least to see Velia already on her sixth drink and not slowing down in the slightest. Noticing Eden's own plate had been hardly touched, he turned to her and smiled, absentmindedly reaching over to brush a stray bang away from her face. "You should really learn to take your own advice, love."
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Post by SummerCrow on Jul 19, 2015 20:04:40 GMT -6
Leone drops Atticus just clear of the boar's blood, then runs over to Hecate.
"Uh... still stuck over here?" Aldous calls out. "I... um... OK, I admit I'm not strong quite enough to lift the giant boar by himself. ...Guys?"
Atticus stands there and shrugs at him.
Leone clasps Hecate's hands in her own and stares into her eyes. "Hecate, that was amazing!"
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Post by Golurkcanfly on Jul 19, 2015 20:11:30 GMT -6
Grigori just stared at Orion inconspicuously, hiding both a look of fear and of disgust.
Why him... What's so special...?
He turned away and stared at his empty glass, clenching what was left of his teeth.
This "Demon King"...
You can't trust him.
You shouldn't trust him.
Grigori suddenly stood up, scooting the stool that he sat on backwards before walking behind the bar to speak with Zalia again.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 19, 2015 22:58:53 GMT -6
Aldous continues to struggle, shaking his head under the boar's weight. "C'moooooon guys! Leone, Hecate?! Seriously, as much as I approve of two girls having a relationship upgrade, don't do it when your friend needs help!" Aldous complained. He glanced at the blood bearing his body. Oh lords...
"Reflection Magic: Aegis!" Aldous muttered. There was slight humming sound before a golden shield was erected in front of him. This stopped the toxic blood from touching his clothes or skin. Sighing in relief, Aldous glared at his twin. "You're a real bro, you know that?"
Atticus fixed his clothing. "That I do; that I do. Hecate, dear, could you please lift my brother from that boar before he loses his cool? Thank you." The calmer twin said. Hecate laughed. In reality, this gave her an excuse to move away from Leone. The proper elder woman had gotten too close for her comfort zone. "Hold on." Hecate mumbled, closing her eyes. She really needed to eat some more iron soon.
"Iron Dragon's Might: Titan Strength!" Hecate called out. Her legs turned into steel, and she reared her leg back, kicking the boar. It effortlessly flipped on its other side, although Hecate felt the pain reverberate through her legs. Aldous sighed as he got to his feet, then flashed a smile at her. "You know, there is something about a woman with super strength."
Hecate walked right pass him and headed towards the woods. Aldous sighed and shook his head. The rest of Alicorn Wing followed Hecate and Leone. They were finally going home to Harborshore Town.
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Post by SummerCrow on Jul 20, 2015 2:56:40 GMT -6
As the group approached the guild hall, the doors swung open on its own. A woman with lavender hair wearing a pink-and-white tutu greets them, her arms crossed. Her face is impassive. "So. How many of you were poisoned?" she asked coldly. "None, Vallory!" Atticus answered. "...Oh. Really? Well, that's excellent news!" Vallory's expression softened significantly, and she tried to hide the vial of antivenom in her hand behind her back. "No problems, then?" "Hecate was incredible!" Leone announced. "She destroyed that monster before Aldous even got a slash in!" "Mmph. Yes, well. As I said. A woman that's both beautiful and deadly is-" Aldous begins. "Yes, yes, Aldous," Vallory shushed him. "Hurry in and the see the old man. He's been waiting for you." The group walked into the main hall. "Where is everyone?" Atticus asked absentmindedly. "Oh. We had some time-sensitive jobs pop up while you were gone and we ended up sending... everyone else," Vallory explained. "They'll be back in a few days. In the meantime, let's all just enjoy some nice, quiet time." "Man, quiet's no fun," an old man calls out from a chair in the center of the room. He was stretched out on a chair, a guitar slung across his lap. His graying hair is worn long and free, and his eyes are hidden behind sunglasses. He wears a plain white shirt with a light blue vest over it. "So, the big bad boar bit the big one?" "Basically," Atticus said. "Wait, is that a yes or a no?" the old man asked. "Er. Yes. Sorry, I was trying to think of another 'B' word," Atticus apologized. The man strummed a chord on his guitar, and various instruments hanging from the room erupted into a sudden fanfare.
Everyone looked around surprised. "Like it?" the old man asked. "I've been working on it the whole time you were gone." Vallory sighed. "Guild Master Sounders..." "Marsh," the old man answered. "Sorry. Harland. Was that really necessary?" "Is anything necessary, Val?" he retorted. "Eh. Anyway. So, Hecate, how was the first mission? Everything go OK? Get along with your team?" |
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Post by Neo on Jul 20, 2015 8:12:38 GMT -6
Zalia watched Grigori's reaction to the closeness of Orion and Eden, studying him carefully as she sipped from the bottle of whiskey in her hand. When he walked around to the back of the bar, presumably to speak to her, she raised a single eyebrow.
"If you'd like to talk my boy, this isn't exactly the best place to do so. Nor the best time. Would you like to accompany me back to my office?"
-------
Zalia wasn't the only hyper observant one in the Guild. Orion too noticed the Jester's reaction, and his expression darkened, ever so subtly.
I don't know what they told you, or what your relationship to Eden is... But if you endanger my home or those I care for, or attempt to poison their minds with mere speculation on things you have no understanding of whatsoever, purely out of petty jealousy... Then I swear, on my very name, Grigori Vasya, I will obliterate you.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 20, 2015 8:30:28 GMT -6
"Yep. Everything went fine, Guild Master. The boar wasn't too much trouble, and all we had to do was strike its vital points for a quick kill. It wasn't as dangerous as the reports say these Abnormalities are." Hecate said.
She took a seat at one of the nearby tables. After traveling back, she could say she was tired. She rested her head on the table, but saying anything else. Her response to the Guild Master had to be her longest string of words yet.
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Post by Golurkcanfly on Jul 20, 2015 9:11:45 GMT -6
"That would be best." Grigori quietly answered, and now that he was turned away from Orion, he loosened his tight expression into one of clear worry.
She's going to be coming after me too...
They're monsters, literally.
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Post by GX1997 on Jul 20, 2015 10:31:28 GMT -6
Eden's eyes were downcast, and she picked at her food, mostly just moving it around her plate. The animosity in the air was clear to her, but her own feelings were much more complicated. Grigori's presence in the guild was unnerving for her, and she was hurting and a little scared. Trying to come to terms with her past and everyone else knowing about it was hard, but having Grigori around just made it more complicated. Still, it wasn't completely negative. If the others could accept Grigori, she knew they had already accepted her. And Zalia wouldn't have allowed him to be there if it was going to cause more harm than good. And it was that blend of positive and negative that she was struggling the most with.
After pondering those things for some time she took a bite of food and with great effort swallowed it. As she began to speak her words came out barely above a whisper. "Everyone, I'm sorry for not telling you the truth. And more than that, I'm so terribly sorry for worrying you so much and causing you all such pain. Forgive me..."
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Post by Neo on Jul 20, 2015 12:33:00 GMT -6
Zalia guided Grigori into her office, closing the door behind them. She sat down at her desk and snapped her fingers, setting up a soundproof barrier over the room. "I've set up a barrier, Grigori. Anything you say will be just between us. No one can listen in. So, what do you need to talk about?"
From the way she asked that question, it seemed she already knew the answer. Or at least suspected it.
-------
Orion immediately softened. He reached over and took Eden's free hand into his, holding her hand under the table, where no one else could see. "There's no reason for you to apologize," he said softly. "We're family, Eden. It's only natural for us to worry about each other. And we all have our secrets. Our fears. Don't punish yourself for that, Eden. No one is mad at you. So smile for me, alright? I miss seeing your smile."
"Your boyfriend is right," Velia adds, smiling. If the color of her cheeks was any indication, she was finally starting to feel all those drinks. "You need to learn to stop beating yourself up. You're such a silly human."
Orion and Cenric shared a brief look of amusement. Orion had heard Velia tended to think she was an actual dragon when she was drunk, though he had never seen it personally. Usually, she was always reserved. In all his time in the Guild, he had never seen her drunk before.
"There's a lot of things we don't tell each other," Cenric says quietly. "But that doesn't mean we don't trust each other... I know everyone else has said this multiple times, but... It's the truth, Eden."
Rhys smiled as he refilled everyone's drinks, and gently patted Eden on the back. "You're forgiven, darling. Now, why don't you try to enjoy tonight, hmm? Not everyone is so fortunate to have a family that loves them. You should spend this time treasuring your family."
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Post by GX1997 on Jul 20, 2015 12:44:00 GMT -6
"Okay. Tonight we will all celebrate! All of us, including the unflappable and never embarrassed psychic, the world's most masterful poet, our resident dragon, my boyfriend, and I, the most innocent and modest of us all!" she said, laughing all the while. She then picked up her glass with her free hand. "Would someone like to make a toast?"
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Post by Golurkcanfly on Jul 20, 2015 12:58:11 GMT -6
"It's about Orion, and what I was told during the investigation in Aboleth Tentacle." Grigori looked behind him just to make sure no one was there. "Hypnos, and Nebilim, are 'interested' in him. Abyss was told to measure the strength of this guild at all costs. Hypnos, the guild behind Aboleth Tentacle, also gave me specific instructions to assassinate Eden in order to awaken 'The Demon King'. Were you ever told the full extent of what Orion did when Aboleth Tentacle stole the Staff of Aeolis...?"
Grigori paused strangely, realizing he had flubbed the name of the scepter again.
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