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[raiga zero]

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[raiga zero]

Quote:

ＰＯＫé ＭＯＮ ＫＩＮＧＤＯＭＳ

The esteemed warrior was nothing short of sour.

It had been too long since he had last seen his king, as the snow-haired man had left the palace to visit Mazarine. Although Alaois had originally been tempted to drown his loneliness with peoples’ shrieks in the warzone, he had other duties that took precedence over senseless slaughtering. One such task was to meet with his friend and tutor the man in swordplay. If it had been any normal soldier or servant of the Darkness Kingdom, the paladin would not have hesitated in cancelling their duel. However this person was too valuable. Callenne was a friend and an asset to the Kingdom; someone who could somehow ease Luscious’ agony. It was imperative that the Kingdom’s dear Aura Guardian was capable of defending himself in the event that Alaois, Ophelia, or any other trained fighter could not assist. The man glanced down into the trees, taking note of how close he was to their destination.

He had history with this forest, and although it was somewhat dark, Alaois had learned to savour all memories. Some time ago he had visited this region to study the disappearance of several children. He had discovered their corpses and delivered the news to their families, but their tears did not have a lasting impact on the man. The presence of a certain Chandelure did however; Lueur’s cool if not disinterested attitude had influenced his choices many times over, preventing a state of nonchalant bloodlust. For better or for worse, Lueur had saved lives – and they, most of whom were foolish nobles – did not even know. Alaois was a soldier, but was lacking in both trust and respect for those who dared to compare themselves to royalty and, more namely, Luscious. Imbeciles! Sidling to the king and whispering sweet nothings in his ear would not gain their individual house more power.

Far from it, in fact; for if they hissed the wrong words Alaois would cut them down in the halls. And who would stop him? He was his king’s right hand, Luscious’ closest friend and most precious individual. Those who had spent a significant amount of time in the palace knew this well. Only Luscious held true control over the stoic Paladin, and although there were several others who could draw kind murmurs from beneath his dark plated helmet, they could not hope to equate to the King himself. No one shared Luscious’ gentleness and love. No one could match his desire to protect others, and his mental strength was unparalleled.

Alaois absently shook his head, freeing his mind of the King’s handsome face and gentle touch. He had somewhere to be; now was hardly the time to be getting absorbed in his own fantasies.

No doubt Callene was already waiting for him outside of their usual meeting place, armed with that ridiculously big sword. Despite Alaois’ advice to start with something both smaller and lighter, the Aura Guardian had been adamant in mastering this particular weapon. Not the smartest decision the auburn-haired male had ever made, but it was ultimately his to make. If it allowed Alaois to slip in a few extra strikes, each powerful enough to leave a welt, then it was perhaps a good thing. Even Alaois could only take so much of his friend’s taunting. He raised a gauntlet and tugged firmly on the reins connected to Furie’s large head, not at all surprised when she rebelled and snarled. He repeated the action twice before she at last obeyed, slowly descending towards the trees.

And Ophelia wondered why he wasn’t a knight.

The beast blasted its way through the thick canopy of branches rather than trying to manoeuvre through, snorting proudly at her display of power. The dragon pulse had travelled much further than the blanket of wood and leaves however, blasting a deep hole in the earth. As her strong wings guided them down to the smoking pit, Alaois found himself sighing. “Well if any Pokémon were planning to sneak up on us, they certainly won’t be doing so now,” he murmured. He did not earn a reply from the beastly dark-type. She hovered across to a patch of grass, a surprisingly considerate gesture. The paladin accepted it quickly and gracefully, stepping down and releasing the pommel of her saddle. “Follow,” he ordered, immediately making his way towards the location of the house. She grunted aggressively at his back.

Both Lueur and Bravoure had remained at the palace. The Nidoking had been stationed at the throne room, given the command to watch the hall and the adjoining war and council rooms. The Chandelure on the other hand would be scoping the hallways, phasing through walls and looking out for spies in more private areas, such as Luscious’ personal quarters. Regardless of whether the king agreed or not, Alaois did not trust anyone else to keep precious information safe when both he and the Altan man were away.

It was not long before he came across the small clearing where the building was located. Unsurprisingly Callenne was already present, sitting comfortably at the base of an ancient and gnarled tree. He beamed at the paladin’s approach, and Alaois found himself returning a small smile, despite the plate of metal that concealed his face from view. “It’s tolerable,” he replied coolly, glancing up towards the unmoving boughs. The area was completely silent.

The Aura Guardian’s movement recaptured his attention, watching as the man had mildly difficulty raising his claymore. The weight of his two own one-handed weapons abruptly became very noticeable; instinctively he grasped the handle of one, unsheathing it and twirling the blade several times in a lazy effort to prepare his muscles. “What makes you say that?” he questioned, still focusing on the sword in his hand. “Is it that you’re confident about our practice? Or are you referring to something more nebulous?”

[raiga zero]

Quote:

ＰＯＫé ＭＯＮ ＫＩＮＧＤＯＭＳ

Oh, how quickly everything was falling apart. Rune might not have cared so much if it weren’t for the fact that he had ultimately been the catalyst to fray this relationship between Kismit and Galehot, even though it had been forged through letters and that this was apparently their first face-to-face meeting. He had been the one to insist on joining her, and it was his fault that Isaac now stood here with Silbern. Honestly; the Pokemon’s presence was not desperately required. No doubt his father had only had the creature delivered to him because of its shielding capabilities, and the fact that the Aegislash would not surrender to pressure like Freiheit would. Even the Abomasnow’s presence seemed to be ignored by the sword.

If he had only stayed back in the Earth Kingdom with his father, this would not have happened. Then again, Dimitar would not have seen any benefit in sending Kismit alone and probably would have escorted her back to Lurra himself. If it weren’t for him, Galehot would not be undergoing such a cruel twist of emotion and Isaac would not be in harm’s way. The statement made by the senior archer made Rune flinch and drop his gaze like a scolded dog. The dark-haired man was an inspiration to Rune, just as Kismit and his father. He was strong, cunning and seemed sure of himself – all traits which the prince admired. It seemed that their circumstances had damaged their friendship to a point, and Rune honestly could not blame him. “Sorry to have troubled you,” he murmured. Isaac’s struggle with the weight of the Pokemon was obvious, but the dark-haired male didn’t move forward just yet. Rune followed his gaze towards Galehot, whose temper swiftly took a turn for the worst.

The offer to have the archer removed was troubling, and although the Ice King decided against it, it did little to ease Rune’s nerves. Something felt very wrong. He had abruptly become very aggressive, for reasons that were understandable, but …

‘But’. It was always that word that entered the Prince’s mind, stirring his thoughts and causing him to doubt himself, yet also have hope in situations where others saw nothing but reasons to despair. The Eade boy’s warm brown eyes lingered on Galehot’s darkened face, disturbed with what he saw; emotions so familiar to those of his father. Behind the veil of anger and hotheadedness was concern for the people he oversaw. As a ruler, it was the fair-haired man’s responsibility to do all that he could in order to keep his people safe and well. Unfortunately his anger was warping his common sense; rather than simply giving a command for the trio to leave, he threatened them.

”It is clear that none of you, nor your own kingdom, wish to settle this peacefully. There is no point in allowing this meeting go any further and waste any more of my time. All of you get out of my kingdom and crawl back to your king! You have asked for more bloodshed, and I will gladly grant it to you!”

Rune’s blood ran cold at the cruelty of Galehot’s words, and his bones trembled from the anger they contained. The situation felt surreal and nightmarish; much like a dream, even his own movements felt as if they were out of his control; movement was suddenly much more laborious, but he managed to drift a few steps backward towards the paladin who called himself Acel, Isaac, and most importantly Silbern. As per usual, the sword appeared to be unaffected by the Prince’s distress, tassels still locked around the older archer’s arms like a vice. ‘I ruined everything,’ Rune thought in anguish. ‘Arceus. I just gave father another war to deal with …’

He suddenly wished that he had simply followed his father’s example, keeping himself distanced from the other rulers of the nations. Regardless of the danger they were now in, it was ultimately Dimitar that would pay the ultimate sacrifice as the Earth Kingdom’s leader. The paladin seemed equally horrified by his King’s ruthless decision, moving forward to murmur quietly in the man’s ear. The voice was too soft for Rune to make anything of the conversation; instead he allowed himself to silently panic over the wetness in his eyes. His vision had become blurred from anxious tears, his face becoming heated with embarrassment in turn. Unfortunately by this point the salty drops had already formed and were overflowing, rolling soundlessly down Rune’s reddened cheeks.

This was all too much; the agitation of having only caused harm to his own father, the disturbing resemblance this had to the circumstances his mother had been faced with, and his own deplorable weakness … he was the son of Dimitar, one of the most powerful men – if not the very strongest – within all of the four nations! So why couldn’t he speak? Why was he such a coward?!

And then Kismit’s voice broke the silence. Her words held a surprising strength in them that he had not seen during her conflict with Dimitar, but more importantly, they reflected her pain over his decision. She highlighted Rune’s own interest in finally having peace between their nations, and then moved on to the fact that they had all lost someone precious in the war, using her old mentor and previous lover as an example. Rune had never met the man, and yet the tone with which she spoke caused his heart to ache.

She was correct, of course; they had all been wounded in some way by the violence spreading from the mainland and out to sea. It had been two years since the Queen had been taken from them, but the agony of her loss was still fresh to both Rune and his father. Perhaps his inspiration had not purely been about helping Kismit and bringing a new age of serenity to the Earth Kingdom – perhaps, as foolish as it now sounded, it had been a subconscious attempt to become closer to someone who was long gone.

When the Earth Aura Guardian at last looked away from Galehot, Rune dared to wipe his tear-streaked face. He felt the urge to focus on the Archeops at his side, whose claws were hooked into his leather jacket possessively. Yet he was unable to draw his gaze away from the Ice King and his quiet paladin; if war was their choice, then he needed to see their filthy emotions – cruelty, selfishness, bloodlust – for himself. He needed reason to despise them. It was a terrifying prospect, but his father would not rule forever; the duty of eliminating people like this could very well be passed down to him.

“Please Galehot,” he murmured softly, brushing what he hoped were the last of his tears away. Despite also being of royal blood, it was a risk to speak to the King of a neighbouring region so straightforwardly, but perhaps … just maybe, speaking to the Ice King in such a personal manner would evoke a more human reaction.

[raiga zero]

Quote:

ＰＯＫé ＭＯＮ ＫＩＮＧＤＯＭＳ

Dimitar had not appreciated the arrogance of the Sea Kingdom soldiers. He had often been told as a youth that an army was a reflection of its King; in this case this proved to be fairly accurate. The foolish outsiders did not even bother to communicate with the village guards, who held their crossbows up at the ready. Had Kismit not been so quick to answer their calls, blood would have been spilled. He had lost lives due to uncouth trickery before at the hands of the Darkness Kingdom, with many of their spies entering his territories under a guise. Who was to say that Galehot had not reverted to similar tactics? Dimitar had heard of his intelligence, but that trait did not promise wisdom or honour.

He observed from a distance as his Aura Guardian and son approached the men. A moment later the woman was crawling onto a Lapras’ back, her Mawile in tow, whilst Rune had opted to fly the distance with his Archeops. As their figures dwindled with the growing distance between them, Dimitar found his gauntlet resting over his heart. He had become somewhat accustomed to the sharp burning sensation of stress, but of course this did not mean he enjoyed it. In fact he refused to even acknowledge the pain, grunting a small sound of disapproval and turning back towards the gates from which he had arrived. The King’s bright eyes sank to the dusty earth of Brighthill’s main street. He could not promptly take his leave without at least speaking to the captain assigned here, regardless of his desire to do so; there were rules, self-inflicted due to personal morals, which even Dimitar could not ignore.

“Your Majesty, are you well?”

The voice pulled Dimitar out of his reverie, causing him to redirect his ruthless glaring to one of his scouts. The poor woman seemed to immediately regret her choice, shrinking under the weight of his stare and bowing. “I hope I did not cause offence by asking, Your Majesty.”

“None taken,” he muttered instinctively, although Dimitar took a moment to ponder on the truth of his reply. He had never liked having others question his strength or wellbeing, even when he was clearly unable to care for himself. In this situation he found it unnerving that his discomfort was so plainly evident. He let his hand return to his side, drawing a slow and careful breath. It exited his lungs in a tired and aggravated sigh. “I am fine,” he added after a moment, narrowing his eyes at her. “But my health is not your concern. Focus on the task I have given you.” She nodded timidly. “Now, where is the captain?”

The scout hurriedly left to find him, her anxiety as clear as crystal. Dimitar could not help but feel somewhat relieved that she had been turned into a subject of attention for the others in the area instead. As a King, he was accustomed to being constantly observed, even in his own home. He would take this momentary relief to draw another breath, placing one hand on his hip. Gewalt growled quietly in his direction, earning a frosty scowl from the Earth ruler. “Don’t worry,” he murmured, unable to be completely untruthful to one of his most loyal companions. As he spoke, his thoughts returned to Kismit and Rune.

“What a bother …” The anxiety he was experiencing was more than simple paternal concern; he had not felt such terror since he had been notified of his wife’s decision to approach the Sky King on her own.

The captain approached him a short time later, and the pair deliberated on the town’s safety. Although behind the borders and fortified with soldiers, the vulnerability to attack from both the Darkness Kingdom and Sea Kingdom was straining the occupants. Who was to predict that the Sky Kingdom wouldn’t also attempt a strike? With their many airborne Pokemon, the Earth Kingdom’s ground-types would be at a great disadvantage. “Have no fear,” he told the man calmly. “I plan on visiting the camps to the east before returning to the capital. I will ensure the soldiers stationed there are in healthy condition and that there are no vulnerabilities in our defences. As for the shoreline, I will work to have more defences organised by winter.” He did not voice that they were ‘apparently’ negotiating with the Sea Kingdom, still bitter that he had been oblivious to the fact until just recently. The captain thanked him, and a few moments later took his leave to continue with his duties.

He did not take note of the archer’s presence until the young man halted in front of him, greeting him with his usual politeness. The King responded with a simple nod. “Isaac,” he uttered, already aware that there was nothing to be concerned of – in his own realm, at the very least. The dark-haired man was not the kind to withhold information. If there had been a subject of importance, no doubt the straightforward pair would have completed the discussion already. “Good.” He studied the young man’s expression, appreciative of the stoicism being shown. The silence was a welcome change.

Unfortunately, the peace did not distract Dimitar enough. Movement behind the archer caused the king to unconsciously straighten, earning a similar reaction from his Aggron. “What … oh for the love of Arceus.” While the words themselves were quiet, his tone was venomous. He sidestepped Isaac and strode over to the emotionless Pokémon hovering nearby. Silbern was reserved at the best of times, but it was clearly lost and searching for something. With one hand, Dimitar reached down and pet the creature’s pointed head. Typical Rune, rushing off into a dangerous situation without taking the time to ensure he was properly equipped! Just because he was attending birthday celebrations, it did not mean that Galehot was going to be ridiculously kind!

“Isaac, I have a task for you,” he stated, turning to face the raven-haired male. “Kismit informed me that she has been communicating with the Sea King. They have organised face-to-face negotiations, and Rune chose to accompany her. It seems he forgot his guardian though.”

He reached down, grasping the Pokemon and hefting it up. It weighed as much as a small woman, but it didn’t seem to perturb the skilled warrior. “I want you to go to Trovito, the Sea Kingdom’s capital, and deliver Silbern to Rune. Once you are there, stay with them.” He frowned grimly. “Make sure you all return to Earth Kingdom territory tonight. Use any means necessary. I would be a liar if I said I completely trusted any of them in this situation.” Kismit would try her hardest to see things through and to earn back Dimitar’s trust; the King did not believe she would not spend an extra day with Galehot if it was necessary to attain peace. As for Rune, the boy was far too curious and irresponsible. “I’m relying on you.”

The statement was spoken in a softer tone of voice, but if anything, it granted him more of an edge. There was no room for failure.

He held Silbern out at arm’s length, waiting until Isaac took the heavy Pokemon from his grasp. “The rest of the convoy and I will be heading west to the warzone, so just head straight back to the capital once you’re done in the Sea Kingdom.” He paused, his serious expression giving way for a tired gentleness. “Be careful.”

[raiga zero]

Quote:

ＰＯＫé ＭＯＮ ＫＩＮＧＤＯＭＳ

Rune spared another soft yawn as the group below him shuffled across the sand at a steady but comfortable pace. The warmth of the sun beating down on his back drew his energy away like a softly whispered lullaby, even as he sat upright in Freiheit’s saddle and felt the wind toy with his soft silver hair. Many people, mostly nobles seeking approval, had complimented the boy on the pallor of his locks. Apparently it was ‘tasteful’ and suited a king-to-be. He instinctively went to rub his tired eyes, but his fingers were repelled by the glass of his goggles. “Oh,” he muttered languidly, resting his rejected hand back onto the pommel.

He assumed his regal face and hairstyle were undone by his attire, then. Unlike his father, Rune did not dress in suits of heavy and impressive silver armour. He did not carry a greatsword as if it was a mere table knife, nor did he have the glowing physique that drew the eye of so many women in court. Instead Rune opted for more casual clothes, including a leather jacket, trousers and hardy boots. All were comfortable and easily fixed if damaged, which tended to happen fairly often to the boy.

Freiheit cawed at him suddenly, tilting its head down towards the convoy. Dimitar raised an eyebrow.

“Another check? … geez. I guess we’ll just have to circle then.” He scoffed at his partner’s heavy sigh, feeling the Pokemon’s golden body feathers tickle his knuckles. “No, we’re definitely going to wait this time. Remember what happened at Anyo?”

Now that was an event worth remembering. It had been of their more recent stops as they travelled the Earth Kingdom and advanced upon the border to the unclaimed land his father eyed so often. Rune had not waited with his father, Kismit and the soldiers accompanying them; he and Freiheit had ‘carelessly’ gone ahead and entered the town before the scouts had the opportunity to stop him. The King had not handled the situation too smoothly, in Rune’s honest opinion. Heavens forbid a prince should enter a village within his own nation, without having all of its inhabitants searched for weapons first.

Rune shook his head as if trying to expel the sarcasm souring his mood, gently nudging the Archeops’ sides with his knees instead. It seemed that Dimitar had received the news he wanted, because the men and women on the ground were moving once again. Travelling in the air had both advantages and disadvantages. Thankfully for Rune, it was a nice solitary exercise and did not involve much discussion, unless he was giving commands to his Pokémon. Unfortunately for the prince even he seldom desired human contact. It did not occur enough to merit walking with the remainder of the patrol. Arceus, no, he might go mad if he was subjected to that.

At least from his position it was easier to both avoid the enemy and loose bolts. It had been his father’s reasoning for Rune to fly with Freiheit, rather than remain on the ground where Dimitar could protect the boy himself. ‘Thank Arceus we’re not going to the battlefields then,’ the prince pondered. He had no desire to bloody his own hands in the conflict as well.

The reptilian hissed softly as they approached their destination, its eyes directed beyond the town.

“The ocean,” Rune murmured softly. He had only seen it once with his mother, many years ago and long before he had met Freiheit. It made him wonder if the Pokémon had ever laid eyes on the shimmering blue waters. “We can visit there after we’re done in town; let’s …” He yawned again, eyes watering. “… let’s go.” He crouched in his seat and braced himself for the dramatically steep fall, his own sleepiness swept away by a rush of adrenaline. The Archeops was a naturally clever species, and yet Freiheit continued to surprise him each day with its shrewd personality. It had observed his lethargy and, to spare him from Dimitar’s stern and disapproving expressions, had done its best to wake him up.

Unsurprisingly it had worked. Rune’s legs were trembling and numb as he clambered off, almost immediately losing his balance due to the heavy weight on his back. It was far from the first time that he had ever flown so extremely with Freiheit, and yet his body never seemed to adjust. “S-Silbern,” he grunted as he clutched at the leather straps of Freiheit’s saddle. His held breath escaped in a huff when the Aegislash’s long arms released his torso. The Pokémon almost matched him in weight but did not seem to care about the effects that would have on his spine. The Ghost-type levitated away, watching as the last of the convoy passed through the gates. “Just in time,” Rune murmured, before pointing Freiheit towards the coachman and Aurorus nearby. “Wait here.”

It did not take long for Rune to locate his father and Kismit, the kingdom’s Aura Guardian. Although Dimitar’s tension was normal and somewhat to be expected, the prince was taken by surprise when it came to Kismit’s nervousness.

“Trembling auras?” he repeated softly as he approached the pair, overhearing the last of their conversation. “Is something wrong?”

[raiga zero]

He had been reluctant to leave the solace of the temple, but duty always took precedence over his own personal desires; much of his life had been a tribute to such values as he exiled himself for the safety of others. With Rika’s health failing her and the concern over the rebellion affecting them all, Aiguo had to behave accordingly and do what was best for the majority of those involved. He had to be strong when others could not. The temple’s large wooden doors opened for him as he approached, held by a pair of young priestesses. Their gowns were humble in design, but vibrant in colour, and he felt a small smile pull at his lips. The warm tones of orange, gold and green had summoned much-loved memories of an old friend. As always, the joy in his expression was quick to fade and he nodded his thanks towards the pair. When they wished him luck at the council, he grunted moodily and continued on.

If Aiguo had ever held positive thoughts on being a member of the council then he had never shared them. Although he appreciated the influence his voice now carried, he often questioned if it was the best for his own wellbeing. Zekrom and Reshiram were proof that not all individuals would see eye-to-eye. The volatile atmosphere that claimed the council room when discussion was taking place had been taking a toll on his soul recently, draining him of his self-control. In a few rare instances he had even abandoned the debate altogether. He could not allow his emotions to gain the upper hand – Aiguo could not hurt those he cared for through his own animalistic rage. It was for this reason that he had been spending more of his hours at the city’s temple, meditating within its dark rooms.

His red eyes rose to the skyline at the rumble above. Dark clouds were forming with unnatural speed, swollen with the dangerous power of nature. This was not a normal storm by any means, an opinion that changed into fact when the looming tempest disappeared as quickly as it had come. Aiguo tensed, his gloved hands clenching into fists. ‘Damn it, Rika.’ No doubt had the anomaly been due to her shifting emotions.

His frustration stemmed from concern for both the Arceus and for the gijinka she now oversaw. If she could not control her feelings, then joining in the council’s discussion was the very last thing she should do. Unfortunately she was too controlling to ever consent to such a proposition. He was certain that past events involving the humans had caused her to develop such a trait; more than that, the legacy of hatred they had left behind probably had injected her with the same sense of fear and anxiety that Aiguo himself wrestled with each day.

The Lugia’s travel became brisk in pace, urgency fuelling his steps. While most gijinka went on with their usual tasks, some were obviously shaken by the display of power. Their nervousness upset him. Once this council meeting was over, he would pull the Arceus aside and warn her; regardless of the stress that Rika was struggling with, she could not allow herself to risk bringing harm to others. To remain resilient and calm in even the most trying of situations – that was what made them legendary.

At last he was moving gracefully up the steps and into the building assigned to the council. To his joy, he did not come across anyone as he made his way to the room where they would meet. He had been greeted by servants before, many of whom had been eager to brighten Aiguo’s face with a smile. Although he had admired their kindness, their constant presence and chatter had been exhausting. Why did so many aim to make him happy? He had done nothing to earn their generosity. He internally sighed once he reached the room containing two other legendaries, aware that the rebellion would agree with his mental statement. He had not merely acted out of respect for Arceus, like a soldier with an obligation, but because he had desperately desired it. He had savoured the chaos and destruction far to a truly disturbing level.

Aiguo cleared his mind upon entering the hall, observing the Pokemon with reservation. Both Rika and Akira were present, the latter still standing. The God Pokemon was eating at the table, apparently tended to by Kimiko, one of the council’s more experienced servants. Nodding to the pair, Aiguo moved forward, closing the door behind him. “Hello,” he murmured, and that was it. He strode past the pair and to the back of the vast room, the heels of his boots clicking rhythmically upon the marble floor. From this particular window he received a beautiful view of the ocean. The sight ignited a small spark of warmth somewhere within his chest, a fond smile appearing on his pale face.

The expression faded as he turned back towards the others, recalling his annoyance. His discussion with Rika would have to wait until they were alone; Akira did not need to hear this.

[raiga zero]

Aiguo was often somewhat early to the council meetings; the lack of a permanent job made his routine flexible, and he preferred the lack of stress involved when he purposefully arrived a few minutes too soon. In the weeks beforehand he had enjoyed listening to the idle chatter of whoever was present, but today cast a grim disposition over the Lugia. How could it not …? The rebellion did not weigh down on Arceus alone; he too felt the pressure stirring from their quiet rioting. Perhaps it was a result of him having not only participated in the genocide of the human race, but also because he had enjoyed the act. It had satisfied the carnal instincts that Cipher had ingrained into his mind; traits that Aiguo had since buried beneath layers of meditation.

But, true to his own curse, he had hurt many more than he intended. This backlash was to be expected, but the fair-haired man would be blatantly lying if he dared to tell another that he was unaffected. The guilt made it difficult to respond to criticism of Pokémon who still cried over their lost friends, but Rika had been dealt a worse hand. She had been the one to ultimately make the decision, and so it was she who received the majority of spite over the event. The exhaustion in her face was obvious even with the distance between them. Aiguo nodded to acknowledge her wave as he gracefully moved to the window, glancing at her over his shoulder when told about the curtains. “Thank you.”

His response was quiet, but his appreciation was genuine; the view of the ocean had helped him in maintaining his temper more than simply once. He lifted his crimson gaze when Kasai entered the room, her expression surprisingly calm. Her carefully chosen words – if the message behind them was indeed intentional – lifted the Lugia’s spirit and he made his way back towards the table. He was as straightforward and honest as he was quiet; he had not even considered such a casual approach, with the statement itself being directed at no one in particular. That seemed to work, as Rika accepted the blame for herself, admitting her problem to the rest of the room.

That explained the dark rings around her eyes and her inability to stifle her own emotions. Just how depraved was she of rest? He wondered if she was well enough to focus on the discussion ahead, but she seemed to be handling the current topic fairly well. He would simply have to trust Rika’s confidence in herself and provide a shoulder for her to lean on when it became too much for the Alpha Pokémon. He turned his attention to the two members of the Tao Trio present. The two were a unique pair, and it was evident that Akira was not satisfied with the equal power between them. It was a dynamic that remained foreign to the Lugia, for he and Ho-Oh were the only duo who did not go out of their way to injure one another; in fact they were close friends, with the legendary Fire-type being one of the few Aiguo trusted whole-heartedly.

Pandora was the next to enter the room, and she voiced her curiosity as to Rika’s condition. Of course the Darkrai would aware of the Arceus’ ailments. Their leader described the gory details of her nightmares, her fear displayed in the posture of her body. “As much as it pains me to say this, the results we have received show that the ‘eradication solution’ you speak of was not a solution at all. It was a decision that ended one problem and created another.”

He stood behind his seat, his slender fingers gripping the wood as the door opened once again. The little Shaymin’s entrance caused Aiguo to tilt his head in a gentle nod. He watched as the youth took his place upon the table, his face bright with amusement. The words spoken caused Lugia to raise an eyebrow, looking to Akira as he gave his calm response. “I was not aware something had taken place.” He nodded in agreement with the Zekrom. They required the assistance of the police force. “Not only that, but our cooperation with the police has made us a united front,” he murmured softly. “I am willing to believe that those who spread the whispers of the rebellion would attempt to use our status as legendaries against us. To work hand-in-hand with the department represents our willingness to assist any and all Pokémon, following that they obey the laws set for them.”

The fair-haired man looked back to Rika and the rest of the council. Aiguo’s tail was swaying uneasily from side to side, a tell-tale sign of his inflexibility on the offer he was about to make. “That is why I wanted to suggest that I meet with them privately and speak to them myself. I doubt they will come to us with an offer, and one of our two groups must make the first step towards peace if this is to ever stop. If I approach them as an individual, I feel they would be more willing to speak with me; my solitude will no doubt make them feel safer, and therefore they may be willing to make choices that show a level of trust.” And if they tried to use that against him, they would swiftly realise their error he was sure; for his sleepy expression and shyness, Aiguo’s company held a promise of extreme danger if his anger was roused.

[raiga zero]

Quote:

「☂ RISE & FALL❜

What a bother.

Nikolas had never been a fan of abysmal storms such as this one. The rain was torrential, distorting what he could see of Century City through the large glass windows of the headquarters. The sky itself was dark, barely distinguishable from the skyline, which had become a dark grey silhouette with the misty downpour. Although the level of offences was generally lowered during intense weather such as this, there was nothing to say that the team would have a quiet afternoon, regardless of how much they had earned it. From Void’s personal experience, it was the criminals whose behaviour was erratic and unpredictable who provided the greatest challenges.

‘And if I may be honest,’ he thought to himself, ‘I am sick of those.’ He had satisfied his desire for adrenaline years ago; if he did not have the responsibility of guiding the Alliance, he might have retired from all things supernatural and focused on his talents as a doctor instead. Perhaps the quiet life of a small town clinic was for him? Ah, no. Who was he kidding? He didn’t have the patience for the sorts of people there either; underage mothers demanding pity, children claiming to be sick to avoid school – and then there were the ones who actually were corrupted with some kind of virus, leaving germs in their wake.

Egh. At least in his current job description it was acceptable for Nikolas to ram his fist into people’s noses.

He glanced to the clock on the wall above the television, noting the time. With the clouds obscuring almost all light from the sun, it certainly did not feel like early afternoon. Carlisle was nowhere to be seen either, which suggested to the older man that his nephew was still dozing in bed. It was difficult for the doctor to comprehend the psychic’s upturned sleep pattern when he himself was an early riser – not because he wanted to be, but because he had to watch over the younger heroes. Individuals of their age, regardless of whether they were metahumans or not, were often instilled with a sense of invincibility. That, coupled with naivety, was bound to result in mistakes; a risk that Nikolas himself was not willing to take.

Yes, his students had to learn their life lessons just as any other. But he had to ensure that they did so in a safe environment. It was not a decision he made based off love, but one of logic. The human brain, for all of its willpower and tolerance, was still a fragile thing with all of its sensitivity and emotion. Corrupting the mind of a youth was not a difficult thing to do. This was how supervillains were produced.

An abrupt flash of white light caused him to wince, instinctively lifting a hand to shield his eyes – but by then it was already far too late. The lightning had come and gone, leaving resounding thunder in its wake. The sound seemed to cause the foundations of his own body to shake with its power. He felt the tension seep out of his muscles a moment later, his lips twisting into an annoyed frown. “… tsk.” He turned away from the window and moved quietly around the kitchen’s island counter, retrieving his trademark cup from the sink.

The glass was perfectly transparent, much like the people he spent his days helping the police department collect. He didn’t need psychic abilities to read the faces of such lowly scum to know just how worthless they were to society.

He turned to his attention to the living room’s television. It was one of the few appliances he allowed to have on at all hours, given that it was set to the news channel. The Guardian Headquarters had more than one recreational room where the younger heroes could socialise with one another, but the main room was for individuals of all ages. Being an area with a fairly open floor plan, it sheltered not only a living space adorned with a couch and other electronics but also a kitchen and dining area. There had even been a beautiful fish tank built into the wall by the main table, but it had been removed when their pets continued to disappear – no doubt a continuing game of Chimera’s.

The newswoman was making her report on the weather, having moved into one of Century City’s main department stores for shelter. “As you can see Harvey, the rain is falling extremely heavily,” she stated. “We caution drivers to take the roads easy, or to option for using the subway instead. What is causing this sudden phenomena is unknown, and many are treating the event as suspicious, possibly being related to the Guardian Alliance, their predecessors the Sentinels, and others like them.”

“Wench,” he muttered under his breath as he prepared his tea. He could not believe that the network was allowing this kind of question to be aired. Really; they would drive a rift between the community and the individuals that kept them safe to lift the number of viewers? It was an idiotic choice on their behalf. With the benefit of his public identity, he could later voice his disappointment to the rest of America and the world. He simply needed to wait for the right opportunity.

Speaking of waiting, the experienced hero was beginning to grow impatient. Where were his students?

[raiga zero]

Quote:

「☂ RISE & FALL❜

The peace was disrupted by a loud and very familiar voice, one which caused him even more shock than the lightning had moments ago. “For God’s sake,” he grumbled, putting his glass cup down. He didn’t need to drop that and have more of a mess to deal with. Rather than going out of his way to reprimand the pyrokinetic Nikolas turned away from the colourful screen in front of him and focused on making his tea.

His solitude didn’t last for long; a moment later Asya slipped into the room with what appeared to be some lunch. That must have been why she had gone to the effort of shouting for Chimera; perhaps she had been planning to offer him something as well. “Afternoon, Miss Relique.” He lifted and tested the weight of the electric water boiler, taking a moment before deciding to refill it at the sink. “Not for anyone in particular. Wonderful weather, isn’t it?” The question was asked with obvious sarcasm. He plugged the device back into the nearest socket and flipped the switch, moving to the cupboard while he waited for it to heat.

What flavour …?

He grasped a small box labelled ‘Bright Night’ when asked another question by the young heroine. “Probably in their rooms,” he replied calmly, twisting the object in his fingertips to study the description on the back. Nikolas had been a fan of herbal and floral teas for many years now, and this one seemed especially promising: a refreshing blend of peppermint, lavender and rose petals. Maybe it would give him just enough energy until dusk. As a hero who regularly fought criminals of all descriptions and danger levels, Nikolas was a fit man whose trench coats did not do justice for the sculpted body beneath. However, even he struggled to maintain a paternal watch over so many teenagers. Michael certainly was of no help and Andrei’s presence was not constant.

His sharp eyes travelled back to the television. “Can you believe this?” he murmured, glancing toward Lilliana as the girl spoke up. He had hardly noticed the strawberry blonde, as graceful and quiet as ever. The young woman appeared to find amusement in his words, but then went on to defend the reader. “You know her?” he murmured in slight curiosity. He returned his attention to the pixels, his lips reverting back to their original frown. “Even so, she’s willingly communicating a message which damages our reputation. It takes a lot more time and effort to build something up than to destroy it.”

He had never held a high opinion of the media, despite granting them his true identity. It had been a gambit on the man’s behalf and one that had worked excellently so far. With a face and name to match the supernatural powers, he had been allowed to work more intimately with the commissioner of the CCDP, forming an unofficial alliance with the man to slow the rate of crime throughout the city. There was only so much a hero could do when feared by the public. Although his original motivation was to gain police information without relapsing into a life of law-breaking, he understood and respected that now.

However, sacrificing anonymity could also be dangerous. It was for that reason he had placed a considerable amount of effort into advising the younger Guardians otherwise. With today’s technology, it was far too easy to find personal details such as phone numbers or house addresses. If they hadn’t mastered their abilities and, more importantly, solidified their respect for human rights and the laws of the city in which they lived, then it was a recipe for disaster.

The electric kettle whistled at last and he turned it off. With elegant and practiced hands, he poured a small amount of the dried flowers and herbs into the inbuilt strainer of the glass teapot. He then repeated the process with the hot water. Immediately the liquid became a warm but clear brown. He fixed the lid back onto the pot and waited for the remaining flavours to set in, dividing his attention between the television and the two women with him. Lilliana’s statement caused him to raise his eyebrows with mild surprise. Then, perhaps to the shock of his company, he gave them a tense smile.

“Yes. It is very strange,” he murmured, looking back to the large glass windows. “I have never seen a storm of this magnitude around Century City before. Tell me ladies, what do you know of electrokinesis?”

It was an unpredictable and dangerous ability even in experienced hands. Some of the most threatening enemies he had ever stumbled across had used electrokinesis against the Sentinels; ironically one of the league’s leaders had mastered it as well. Without the proper knowledge and equipment, defeating such an elemental was made an extremely difficult task. He wanted his students to be prepared if they were ever forced to confront one, whether it be this afternoon or ten years into the future. As he tucked a lock of platinum-blond hair behind his ear, he sensed a familiar psyche travelling closer to the group.

:: Hello, Andrei. I wasn’t expecting you. :: Nikolas returned to his tea, finally pouring the drink into his cup. It had turned a rich ruby-red colour, fragrant with subtle sweet scents. :: I don’t suppose you could tell me anything about this storm …? :: Whatever reason the empath was visiting them for in the first place would be dealt with once he was indoors.

[raiga zero]

Quote:

「☂ RISE & FALL❜

Apparently one in the afternoon was the new eight o’ clock; everyone was leaving their rooms at last. As for one of them, Nikolas almost wished he had stayed there. Why did he have to take such a grotesque form? He eyed the giant toad with suspicion . Rashiel was tolerable as a human being, but as an animal? … well, the only pets Nikolas had owned throughout his lifetime had been horses back at the Beckett Estate in Cambridge. They had been mild-mannered creatures, broken and tamed. He doubted ‘Chimera’ would ever be so sweet hearted; even though he took the form of a toad, it seemed the teenager would always have a carnivore’s instincts. Suffice to say his behaviour often grated on the hero’s nerves.

Nikolas felt himself straighten when the frog’s thick tongue shot out from its gaping mouth. His natural urge to protect Asya clouded his mind for the briefest of moments, but – somehow – he stopped himself. Perhaps he wanted to see what the pyrokinetic would do with the challenge. She certainly seemed to be handling the situation better than Raven, who had screeched like a banshee. To his horror, she’d gone so far as to throw décor at the shape shifter as well.

He took a step forward. For a moment his body was consumed by a familiar sense of pain his body, clothes and carried items – including the tea in his gloved hand – were dematerialised. When his senses returned to him, he recognised the familiar clean interior of the living room. Asya still had a firm grip on her plate and Lilliana had just cast a protective barrier around the pale hulk, who was now beside him. It was only a small jump, yet still toyed with his wits; the abrupt alternation had also changed the direction in which he was looking. Moments like these were not at all like gazing onto a screen, unbothered as edited film showed characters from different perspectives; it was, quite literally, a little bit too much for his humble human brain to handle. Teleportation in battle was therefore even more of a struggle. It was through sheer willpower that he ignored his body’s fragility.

“Raven, control yourself.”

All of this took place in the blink of an eye; the vase bounced off the shield harmlessly and Nikolas stooped a little to catch the object in his free arm, his other still carrying the hot rose tea. Asya successfully overpowered Rashiel’s tongue – something he didn’t want to think about too much – while contesting him for ownership of the plate, yanking it away. “Well done Miss Relique,” he told her calmly, nodding his thanks to Lilliana. He glanced to Echo as she greeted him and answered his question. He watched the quiet girl’s expression as she spoke in a short but efficient manner.

Both older girls gave responses as well, opting for more descriptive replies. He moved back to his original location behind the island counter, gingerly placing the vase onto its surface. He would have to find somewhere else for it … or perhaps just get rid of it altogether. Didn’t this lot call themselves a group of ‘young adults’? Why did he feel as if he had been forced back in time, to an age where Carlisle was still in diapers and each room was cordoned off with plastic gates?

“Those are all excellent answers,” he replied, taking a sip of his drink. “As for your question, Miss Greenway, I cannot say. As unordinary as this weather is, we won’t know if someone dangerous is the cause until they choose to reveal themselves. Until then we just have to assume that the conditions are natural and that the afflictions being caused are being dealt with by the government.” He raised the cup to his mouth again, savouring the sweet taste again.

:: Agreed. Remind me to find their contact details when the kids are distracted. :: Andrei was swift to explain his presence at the headquarters, the communication between them causing Nikolas’ stormy blue eyes to narrow in thought. :: Another one? :: He felt like a stay-at-home mother. :: Of course. I presume you already have the data with you. Also … do you have plans tonight? :: Perhaps the empathy could help him remedy his emotions, but more importantly … how was he going to accommodate for yet another student? He only hoped they had reasonable control of their abilities, unlike the hydrokinetic boy who had been admitted to one of the city’s major orphanages. He had not been listed for adoption of course, but his primary caregiver had been unable to tame the boy’s brutal temper. Despite his best intentions to keep all parties safe, stable and healthy, it was still considered kidnap if Nikolas took a superhuman back to the Guardian base against their will.

“Back onto the subject of electrokinetics, they are indeed very dangerous. Asya, you were right in saying that they have many potential abilities. You’ll find that some technopaths also have electrokinesis; perhaps due to the similarities, much like how Carlisle specialises in psychic powers. As well as charging objects, skilled electrokinetics can use abilities such as the electric pull to scale vertical surfaces, electroportation to for swift travel, the ability to manipulate electromagnetism, and electrocommunication to converse with certain species and to detect environmental conditions.” He finished off his tea, rinsing out the glass and putting it into the dishwasher.

“Even if completely prepared, there is no perfect counter to any human, meta or not,” he continued. “Remember to rely on your intellect when it comes to winning a battle; use your humanity to judge how it should end.”

He listened to the banter travelling from Lilliana to Asya. “Well I had originally been hoping to take you all outside and test your orienteering skills, but I don’t believe now would be a very good time to be traversing the streets of Century City. Mr Sergov has just arrived with some lunch for you all, so take some time to enjoy yourselves. I’m sure we have the equipment for some ridiculous fitness regime Michael planned for you in the gym downstairs.” He glanced up as Andrei entered the room, tailed by a fair-haired boy. “Hello,” he murmured, repeating his greeting for both his own satisfaction and for the sake of etiquette. “Not at all; we just finished. Besides, it seems these smart young heroes already knew everything I was planning to speak to them about. Please, make yourselves at home.”

[raiga zero]

Quote:

「☂ RISE & FALL❜

Despite the incredible display of power in the sky and the accompanying percussion of thunder, Carlisle remained soundly asleep in his bed. It wasn’t that he was sleep-deprived, or that he had exhausted himself the day beforehand from rigorous activity; in fact it was quite the opposite. He had grown accustomed to resting long hours, and yet it didn’t seem to have much of an affect. He was tired from the moment he would finally, sluggishly, clamber out of bed to the moment he would crawl back beneath the covers. A young master of the psyche class or not, ‘Horus’ as he was referred to by his fellow heroes was not sure what caused such a state. Perhaps it was the fact that there was just nothing to do.

The psychic awoke with a petty groan as he was trampled on by big, clumsy feet. “Ugh! Kai, watch it ...!” The resounding ‘bang’ as the dog collided with the floor made him cringe beneath the blanket, but apparently Rashiel felt nothing, as an instant later he had left the confines of Carlisle’s large, spacious room. Then sweet silence. Napping or cuddling with certain forms the beast-morpher took was something he enjoyed, but being walked across by a large canine; that was something the fair-haired boy would have declined, if given the option to begin with. Carlisle groaned upon catching a glimpse of the clock on his bedside table. Already so late … but it looked dark and cold outside. Although his curtains were drawn, the light drifting in around the silhouetted fabric was a miserable shade of blue.

Perhaps now would be a good time to get out of bed.

It took him several long minutes to stumble over to his chest of drawers and get dressed. Due to the conditions outside Carlisle opted for a hoodie over his usual ensemble of a button-up shirt and jeans, wearing slippers in the place of shoes. It was already clear that they wouldn’t be going anywhere; this was not exactly picnic-perfect weather, nor did it seem appropriate for criminal activity either – he therefore felt it was safe to assume he wouldn’t be travelling beyond the confines of the base. The psychic lazily stretched his arms before moving after Chimera, his soft gaze falling to the floorboards as he made his way through the corridor. The moisture on the floor suggested that Rashiel had already gone to the effort of changing forms. He yawned and closed his eyes.

He must have fallen asleep again, because soon enough (all too soon, truth be told) Raleigh called out to him from the other side of the door. Then sweet silence returned. The fair-haired male slowly processed what information had just been shouted, clawing at a pillow and pulling it his chest. Pizza? He supposed he was a bit hungry. But Horus had swiftly learnt that he was not the only person attracted to food. When it had been the Sentinels living in this building, leaving his room had been more bearable; the adults rarely engaged him in conversation and seemed more interested in completing their own menial tasks. Teenagers, on the other hand, encouraged socialisation – something he just could not handle.

He had barely pulled himself into a sitting position by the time Chimera returned, barking inanely from the corridor. “Calm down …” Carlisle muttered under his breath. The psychic sluggishly exchanged his pajamas for a long-sleeved button-up shirt, jeans and some sneakers. “Kai …” He at last reached the door, opening it for the agitated canine. “What are you doing?” he demanded quietly, watching as the Akita paced. “… I’m not really in the mood for pizza, and I told Sebastian I’d see him.” As he spoke, Carlisle questioned whether or not he and the mutant had arranged a time. If he had forgotten, he only hoped he hadn’t slept past it. “Do you want to come with me into town?”

The psychic would take that wagging tail and blank stare as a yes.

Evading the lounge seemed to be the wisest option; escaping their attention would be difficult, and he knew that his uncle disapproved on outings that were not planned in advance. “I’ll drive. Let’s take the way to the garage.” There were several elevators that gave access to the cars; the building was designed to face emergency situations, after all. They swiftly reached his car, a silver Ford sedan, and soon were making their way towards the city. :: This rain is getting really strong, :: he communicated to the shapeshifter. :: Your dad didn’t say anything about it, did he? ::

[raiga zero]

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tab ❥ A P P L I C A T I O N
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❥ ALFRAY HALFHART, GUARDIAN OF THE FAE ✦ FORTY-FIVE ✦ M

He has been tasked with protecting all of the chosen members for this arranged
marriage. He feels vexed about the treaty between S'yleon and the Fae Clans.
His abilities include inhuman strength, berserker state and swordsmanship. He has served as a
guardian for the Fae Clans for twenty-nine years. His friends would describe him
as stern, weary and protective.

u s e r n a m e : raiga zero

╔════════════════════╗
tab ❥ O T H E R - S T U F F
╚════════════════════╝

01 IMAGE CREDIT : Fjord (bearded) by Ari
02 SAMPLES : Link to your sample thread or sample post.
03 TIMEZONE AND AVAILABILITY : AEST; on discord a lot
04 NICKNAMES : Raiga / Bekky
05 WELLNESS CHECK : Good~ emotion_rainbow
06 ROLE : I immediately knew I wanted to play an orc, but I thought it'd be even more fun to play an older character whose life has been majorly impacted by participation in the war. I wanted him to be a tired but distrusting veteran, perhaps with some notoriety for the battles he fought in, just to really rub the salt in everyone's wounds.

“xoReina”

[raiga zero]

Quote:

「☂ RISE & FALL❜

The youths listened to his monologue, most of them paying careful attention to what he had to say. Some of them, such as Raven and Rashiel, seemed slightly distracted by their own interaction. It was Ginivieve’s reaction that stirred Nikolas’ blood, causing him to raise his eyebrows at the violet-haired girl in a somewhat sceptical fashion. Had she misunderstood the term ‘humanity’? According to the English language, the word was synonymous with ‘compassion’, ‘kindness’ and ‘consideration’. Perhaps she had developed her own definition while learning of their species and the conflicted history mankind had created, all in the blink of an eye. Violence, greed, corruption. He frowned. Was this how the newest generation received the word ‘humanity’ …? With images of carnage and horror?

“It’s not my place to value lives like an economist values resources,” he replied calmly, lifting the rim of his glass to his lips momentarily. “Every individual is different, and therefore no situation you face will be exactly the same. It won’t always be possible to attain the kind of ending you want – and even if you do, you must look to the future. However you must remember this: we are heroes. We defend the innocent and enact justice. Tell me, if you could not stop a rampaging creature without slaughtering them, would you let them go or commit to your role as a defender? Or say you exhausted a particularly powerful and ruthless metahuman – one that would easily escape jail or holding.” He sighed softly.

“To let them live is no burden to you, but it is an unnecessary risk to the staff of those facilities. One that would potentially create more problems by releasing other villains. Sometimes, the weight of a threat – a mere possibility that may or may not come to pass – will outweigh our need for a clear conscience. Ultimately it will be your choice to make Echo, but understand that every action – and in this case inaction – will bear consequences. Even with a mask, those who dare to call themselves ‘heroes’ accept responsibility far greater than simply ending a bully’s tyranny. We have to make difficult situations, sometimes without the time to carefully consider. It is something you will all have to face at some point or another. Whether or not you choose to continue your careers after such an event is something else entirely.”

He glanced at Andrei as the man joined his side, accompanied by little Keagan. The boy seemed to be in awe of the headquarters, despite this being one of the more humbly decorated rooms; it was not a training facility or information centre, just a living room. The boy’s attention quickly honed in on the interesting creature in their midst.

“Raven!” he snapped, his tolerance quickly diminishing. “Do not talk about your peers so disrespectfully. That’s exactly the kind of behaviour that will see your membership revoked and you sent home.”

Teenagers. Despite ‘knowing-it-all’ and being ‘invincible’, nothing could save them from Nikolas’ wrath. If she thought she was a vital member of the Guardians, her fate sealed with theirs, then she would be wrong. Certainly she had admirable skill; mastery which the tutors looked to in moments of crisis. However if she could not bring herself to work with a team, it would undermine all of her ability and potential. There were no lone wolves among the Guardians. They would work as a unit and that was final.

Honestly, it was difficult for him to sympathise with a girl who was so quick to ignore the feelings of others.

Andrei’s small, pale shadow glanced up at him then. Nikolas returned the gaze, almost choking on the last of his tea at the question that was blurted so easily. Of all things to show curiosity in, it had to be the subject of his name! The telepath’s expression darkened as memories stirred in the recesses of his mind; old and vague, but he did not need detail to recall their gruesome nature. The name ‘Void’, associated with words such as ‘empty’ and ‘vacant’, had been attached to him in his mid-to-late twenties. At that time he had been serving as a ‘neutral’ serviceman to several of the less moral groups across the world; mafias and gangs, and occasionally even villainous organisations.

Early into his ruthless investigations of the human brain, he had discovered just how badly the stress his powers stirred would affect his subjects. If he was not careful or particularly swift, Nikolas would inflict severe damage – particularly to the amygdala, hippocampus and frontal cortex. Once he had been the cause of an individual undergoing psychogenic amnesia from the trauma he had inflicted over days of prying. Perhaps worst of all, if granted the time and energy, he had the potential to recreate the infamous procedure known as lobotomy, without the requirement of piercing the skull and poking at connections to and from the prefrontal cortex. His powers were more than simply emotion-rattling. In the correct circumstances, they were utterly brutal.

Decreased cognition. A lack of initiative and inhibition.

Void of consciousness.

“That’s a story for another time,” he said reservedly, moving to rinse out the remainder of his tea. He couldn’t stomach the drink after having his own memories agitated; perhaps it was the fact that the words had come from a child, so innocent and naïve. Damn it. Nikolas’ fingers slipped on the wet glass as his grip tightened, his chest tightening with uncomfortable anxiety. In the company of his students, he couldn’t resort to drinking from the bottle to relax; nor could he make … better use of Andrei’s company. He felt his phone vibrate in his coat pocket and reluctantly set the cup down in the sink, drying his hands before checking the message. Vegan? Why … oh.

:: Andrei, you mentioned a ‘new face’ -- ::

Lilliana’s exclamation caught him off-guard and he wheeled around to face her, eyes widening at her terrified expression. The original request was perhaps too hopeful; he was perhaps more like their stern ‘mother’ figure than some of the other tutors, but that didn’t mean he carried her personal belongings around with him. He did however have his own notepad and pen. He filled a clean glass with water and made his way over to the couch where Asya had laid the woman down, each of his actions speedy but calm. It seemed his well-practiced doctor’s nerve was kicking in, his nervousness swept away by adrenaline.

He placed the paper and pen on the leather seat beside Lilliana’s pale hand, moving the glass to a more secure location on the coffee table. After a momentary pause, he glanced up to their guests, smiling at the smallest of the pair reassuringly. “Don’t worry,” he murmured to Keagan. “This is related to her powers.”

[raiga zero]

Quote:

「☂ RISE & FALL❜

It didn’t take a telepath to know that Alec was not a fan of school. Considering his background, he probably should have appreciated the education more than most other students; after all, things could only get better for him from this point onwards. If he focused on his studies and achieved respectable grades, he’d probably even be able to sweet-talk those pretty-boys up at ‘Garbage HQ’ into getting him into a university. Society was pretty twisted place if you needed a degree to get about smoothly.

But the high road had never suited him.

So he continued to abandon the resources given to him and focus on what was far more real; the streets of Century City and all their secrets, wonderful and filthy. No number of questions could amount to the experience and understanding of the world he had attained from the alleys of this rat-hole.

If it wasn’t for this insane weather, Alec would have avoided the institute altogether. The rain was something of a risk for him considering he lacked a mask or, better yet, any control of his abilities. Keeping his identity a secret would be difficult if he happened to experience emotions such as shock, fear or rage while surrounded by torrential downpour. In the end, perhaps school wasn’t all bad … his blue eyes reluctantly moved across the classroom to a petite acquaintance, who sat at her desk like a precious angel. Her timid and calm personality suited her face. Did that even make sense? It was cute, and graceful. Could facial features be described like that way …? Maybe it was the roundness of her face, her cheek and feminine jawline being perfect for his hand. He wanted to touch that.

‘Don’t be a ******** dumbass, Al.’

Today Colette seemed distracted by something, her large blue eyes lingering on the droplets of water that clung to the windows. Was she okay? Maybe there was something troubling her. Alec ran a hand through his haphazard black hair, torn between perhaps speaking with her once class was over or just leaving the issue alone. Wait – why was it suddenly an issue? Damn it, this had nothing to do with this, whatever ‘this’ was. Usually he would have no problem with leaving someone to struggle with their own lives, but Colette was different somehow. And why was that? It wasn’t as if they were friends; she was far too introverted. Perhaps he was equally difficult to talk with. Although he would prefer pain to admitting his own flaws, the hydrokinetic was a lot better at pushing people away with his vicious attitude than he was keeping friends.

He swallowed a growl of frustration as their teacher announced a project for which they needed to pair up. Future planning? Now that sounded pretty shitty. Whatever. For all he cared, Mrs Smith could saunter up to the principal’s office and suck a –

Wait, was Tristan moving for Colette? No way was he going to get his grimy little paws on her!

The direction of the rain altered abruptly, returning a second later to the windows with a loud ‘smack’ as thousands of droplets collided with glass. If anyone noticed the phenomenon, it was not commented on; just as no one said anything as Alec wriggled past Tristan with the determination of a Spartan warrior. Unfortunately, all of his courage seemed to dissipate when he reached Colette’s table. “Uh.” He really hadn’t thought this through, had he? “Let’s be partners. Coline, right?” Of course he knew he had muttered the wrong name, but he didn’t want to appear overly eager.

Once everyone else had found a partner, Mrs Smith announced that the class would be relocating to the library to make use of the computers and pamphlets there. “Time to do some research on possible future careers. Is everyone excited?” she chirped as they exited the classroom. All the while, Alec was focusing on the distance between him and the sheepish blonde he had partnered with. She looked as if she would be an author or an artist; something dainty and creative, much like Cerah. Though she was much quieter than the university student as well …

He glanced at Colette briefly, mostly absorbed in rejecting the urge to pat her soft blonde hair. She was so withdrawn, she almost seemed sad somehow. “We should break off and do this elsewhere. No way would Smith expect this to be done by the end of class; we can hand it in tomorrow.” Alec did not want to try and get to know the girl with invasive classmates hovering around. “How about the journalism room? They have computers and sh- stuff,” he murmured in a flustered tone.

[raiga zero]

Quote:

ＰＯＫé ＭＯＮ ＫＩＮＧＤＯＭＳ

“Prince Rune … you cry over some mere words?”

Galehot’s voice seemed gentle enough, but Rune could sense the man’s disappointment, even as his figure across the table blurred with the boy’s tears. For an instant, Rune wanted to shout. Why did everyone seem to expect something from him, supposed enemies included? He had not asked for this so-called role of entitlement. Of all the people throughout the four kingdoms, and somehow he – just a simple boy who desired nothing more than to remain explorative and innocent – had been born with a silver spoon in his mouth.

But, more importantly, the King’s words in particular struck a nerve. Mere words …! The sounds that had rolled off his tongue had held much deeper meaning than most things; so much so it had weighed the poor prince down. He was not strong, and he did not care for power, but only a fool would assume that these traits led to a prince who did not love his people at all.

“You … your majesty.” His voice was hoarse, and for a moment he considered making eye contact in order to make up for his weakened voice. He found himself unable to. As well as his usual emotions of concern and a lack of self-worth, he was experiencing something else; a characteristic of all humans that he rarely dealt with at all. He was angry; actually, he was furious. “With all due respect, those were not mere words. You threatened my people, your own, and the lands I hold dear to my heart … perhaps it is a sign of weakness to weep. But I would rather shed a thousand tears than a single drop of blood, regardless of who it belongs to.”

Perhaps he had become too poetic, but it was the truth. He did not doubt his mother would have felt the same about the situation. Rune was only thankful now that Dimitar hadn’t accepted his last minute offer to accompany them. The Earth King did not cry over anything.

Killing was another matter.

Though perhaps … perhaps his father had been right in all of this. It had been a foolish gamble to approach Galehot and hope that the Frozen King would accept their offer of peace. How could people be so selfish?! There was more at stake than some petty pride! No king could possibly be gratified with turning away an age of serenity for their people!

His rage and confusion was at last dissipating, swiftly replaced with sorrow and loss. ‘Sorry, father.’ And then, rather abruptly, the group was intruded upon by what seemed to be a panicking Froslass. He watched the Pokémon as it explained that something, obviously, had gone wrong. Then a roar resounded through the palace. Freiheit screeched, anxiously digging her claws into the prince’s thigh and subsequently drew a few more tears.

As he pried her from his leg, Kismit was confronted by the paladin. A moment later he had moved to allow her to pass, something that both confused the boy and left him in an awed state. Kismit was showing that fire once again, so similar to his own father. The unwillingness to bend under the pressure of others; that was the Earth Kingdom way. Some might have called this stubbornness, but that was surely incorrect; refusing to not help was the right thing to do in any situation. Although it was something that the prince struggled to uphold himself, it did not mean he admired the trait less.

When he went to follow the guardian and king, he was stopped. He glanced up towards Isaac, surprised by the sudden intervention. “… sorry about that. Everything’s fine now. Let’s see if we can help King Galehot.” The archer’s stare was slightly unnerving; Isaac had always been difficult to read, especially for the poor prince, who idolised him. He exuded strength and indifference, and his role as an archer made him even more respectable in the prince’s eyes. But even Isaac’s biggest fan couldn’t stop himself from laughing as the unfortunate man tried to shake Silbern off.

“He really seems to like you,” the prince said huskily, oblivious to the deadliness in the gaze he received. He smiled as the man at last wrestled Silbern away from him, the weapon hovering a few inches off the ground and lethargically gliding over to its master. Again the prince paused as Isaac addressed him, brown eyes large with interest.

What.

It was a good attempt, but Rune was certain that the man was wrong following Galehot’s terrifying tantrum. Nothing good could come out of rage like that. Perhaps the prince was more thrown by the way that Isaac seemed to nod to himself; now that was familiar. Actually, it was the same thing Dimitar had done upon avoiding a conversation about women several weeks ago. He strode after the archer, wiping the blood from his gauged leg with his glove.

“Hey, Isaac?” he murmured as they followed the others to the raging Pokémon. “… thank you.”

Kismit appeared to have the situation under control as they arrived at the scene, but Rune felt his hands clench into fists at the sight of her so close to the livid Pokémon. Although she had faced similar situations before, it did not make the environment any less dangerous. The prince forced himself to wait from a distance. Even if he did try to intervene, what could he possibly do? He wasn’t a fighter and he doubted that he had the kind of fortitude his father had, one that would make almost any Pokémon halt, including Gewalt.