ENDLESS JOURNEYS (O/A)

[Rikki Tikki Travi]

Nova Blancke

Nova raised his eyebrow and Trinity's intrusion and question.

"No, Necromancy requires a puppet and a puppeteer. I am both. Should the puppeteer fall so will the puppet. The moment something interrupts tries to wrestle control away from me over my own body that balance is gone and so will I. So yes he could try and take over if he wishes but it will be for naught. Besides...nothing is that powerful. He would need to be nearby to try and control me."

Alec took a deep breath after Trinity stormed off and looked back to Nova.

"How long can you sustain this? Is there anything we should be doing or prepared for?" he asked.  

[Nova Blancke]

It was hard not to hear Trinity's outburst. He sighed and focused on Alec again.
The kid was doing good. Focusing on future complications and now to deal with them.

"Indefinitely in theory. I suspect my over power has diminished since I am actively keeping myself bound. If it comes down to it and we do actually meet the Necromancer and I even suspect he is trying to control me I will incinerate myself so you would not have to fight me. A corpse can only be brought back once. But it is just to be on the safe side of things." Nova continued." Other than that.....resuming your studies. Study...and learn all there is to know. Live life while you can. That sort of thing."

Nova barely noticed Lexi coming up from behind for a hug. "That woman has issues. Feeling guilty for what she can't control. I know something you could do for the wolf. Take off his leash. Wolves should be free to chose to stay in a pack. Not forced."

Nova nodded." Do you want me to remove that curse, Alec?"  

[Rikki Tikki Travi]

Alec's eyes went wide why surprise.

"Can you? I thought only one of the Fox-kin could remove it? At least, it would keep outsiders from attempting to free us of our duty to our charges. The Fox-kin, save for Kerana, don't give us up easily."  

[Nova Blancke]

"Yes of course. I'd need to take a closer look at it but I should be able to do that. Unless of course your spirit is also bound to you using that same seal. In which losing the curse would also mean losing your spirit. But as I've said before...I first would need to take a closer look at it." Nova explained.  

[Rikki Tikki Travi]

Alec shook his head and explained, "The covenant between the us and the Great Wolf Mother predates the time we were...shackled."

"As for the specifics of the curse...Kerana, what do you think?" he asked the distracted fox-kin.

Nova Blancke

Kerana

 

[Kerana]

BeaMichelle

Then she heard Trinity shout from the other side of the house. That moment of distraction weakened her enough be put in a bit of discomfort by the diminutive dragon-kin behind her.

"Ah! Alright, you've won. I yield." she laughed.

Kerana heard Trinity and looked toward that direction. She looked back to Ruby and Keleth. "Good job Ruby!" She cheered. "I'm going to check on my friend…"

She followed where the sound came from and the scent.


She found her there sitting against the wall looking as if she had lost all faith in humanity.


"You okay?"


"I'll be alright. Just another hurtle I have to face for being the 'chosen one'." She didn't want to share the details if the news of Nova's death since it upset her so. There was no telling how upset Kerana would be and now was not the time to find out.


The fox girl recognized that she didn't want to talk about it right. "Okay, if you want to talk. I've got a good pair of ears for listening." She said twitching her ears.


Trinity smirked, "Very well. I'll keep that in mind."


She went inside to find herself listening to a different conversation. Nova could lift the curse? "I'm not sure. No one has broken the curse though one way is through death. If I knew how I would have removed the curse a long time ago despite being exiled. Though I think the spirit is connected to the seal. To ensure the fox kin's protection she blessed the wolf kin to become the best guardian they can be for the fox kin. Blessed them with a spirit of old with great wisdom and fighting ability.

He may not realize his full potential without it. But if you're okay with living with the possibility of that then I will support that decision."

"Unfortunately with the elders who knows what they'll do when they find out. They will want to make an example of us, that's for certain. Either through exile or death."

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Nova Blancke

Rikki Tikki Travi

Raiko Belgor

BeaMichelle

 

[Nova Blancke]

Nova nodded as he listened. He was in deep thought. Lexi gave a kiss on the back of his head and left the house.

"That does not add up Kerena. The wolf goddess blessed her creations with her children to be guardians to the foxkin. And yet they are shackled with a curse that leads to death should the foxkin deem is necessary. No, Alec is right. The curse has nothing to do with their spirit bond." As Nova finished he noticed his wife was no longer around.

"I said it before Kerena but...the world is a vast place. There is no need to return there.And besides...I will be the one to remove the curse. If Alec did his job of protecting you despite his shackles being removed would they still make an example out of him? Out of someone who did his duty despite no longer being bound to them? If anything the example they would make of him would be a positive one. But this conversation is going nowhere. This talk about what if's." He focused on Alec." Do you want it removed? Say yes and I will. We both know you will still stay with Kerena."

As Lexi left the house her daughter jumped her. With one fist she knocked her to the ground but she quickly got up with a smile. "Mommy I won!" Ruby said while beaming. Lexi returned the smile." That's great little fireball. Now go along now...you can play at the river if you want." Without any response Ruby just shot of towards the river. Her mother hardly let her play there because she always returns with torn dirty clothes.

After a while she found Trinity. Looking down on her she grabbed her arm and yanked her up." You don't get to look defeated here. I'll show you why he left to find you." Lexi said as she pulled Trinity after her by the arm. She would not accept a no.  

[PixelMuse]

Nova Blancke

After a while she found Trinity. Looking down on her she grabbed her arm and yanked her up." You don't get to look defeated here. I'll show you why he left to find you." Lexi said as she pulled Trinity after her by the arm. She would not accept a no.

"What?" She questioned softly. Show me why he left to find me? She was planning on phasing here arm out of her grasp by using her shadow manipulation but decided against it. "What would drive a man away from his family to help a stranger? He's happy with you and Ruby why give that up?"  

[Kerana]

Rikki Tikki Travi

Alec shook his head and explained, "The covenant between the us and the Great Wolf Mother predates the time we were...shackled."

"As for the specifics of the curse...Kerana, what do you think?" he asked the distracted fox-kin.

Nova Blancke

Not knowing of Nova's condition Kerana rolled her eyes in annoyance, "Ofcourse once more Nova knows everything. Why bother asking the fox girl about her own culture? I'm telling you what I've learned through books and first hand. I wanted to remove the curse but needed to know what the consequences are before attempting to. I did a lot of research on this matter because I didn't think it was right especially for Alec. Despite all that, oh yeah I'm wrong."

"Let me guess you were a wolf kin or a fox kin in a previous life and er go trumps anything I say. Again why ask me anything? Nova knows it all." She folded her arms and looked away.

"Why not ask your spirit? Oh right Nova knows more than him too." Kerana was riled up it doesn't take much for Nova to upset her especially when it came to her own culture.
 

[Nova Blancke]

"You do not decide what is right for him. And I strongly believe that you did all the research you could on the matter. You will go all the way to save someone you care about. And that is fine. But Alec just now stated that they are not connected. Yet you say you think they are. But yes I have lived those lives. Just as I do know his spirit."

"But let us ask his spirit. And if it does turn out that I am wrong then I apologize. But if it does turn out that he could lose his spirit..."He turned to Alec." Would that be the price to pay for freedom?"  

[Nova Blancke]

Lexi didn't answer but kept walking until they reached a river. She let go of Trinity's arm and folded her arms. "That is his reason." And no sooner than those words left her mouth Ruby jumped out of a tree into the water. Laughing as she did it. Literally crawling up land before getting up and climbing back into the tree.

"His reason is one of the oldest and most simple of them all. It's nothing as noble as wanting to save the world. It's to save her world. To make sure that her smile remains in this world. That she can keep on living."  

[Rikki Tikki Travi]

The wolf spirit whispered to Alec. "Bring me before them so that you may hear what I have to say as well. I will tell you how."

Alec went silent for a few seconds as he listened to the instructions. He then nodded and held his hand, palm up, in front of his mouth. A small collection of wind gathered in his palm, and he gently blew on it. A small and gentle whirlwind made it's way to the floor in front of the three of them and took the form of a small wolf. It shook itself and looked up at Alec.

"Well done, though I am a little small." he commented.

Alec blushed and shrunk down a little. Zephyr took a seat and look at Nova and Kerana.

"You're both right." he stated. "When the pact was first made, it was without the use of curses and shackles. The act of a wolf-kin being paired with a fox-kin was a joyous covenant, not an assigning of service. The fog of time has hazed the old intentions, and has given way to the desires of those who wish to hold power. It is not entirely the fault of the fox-kin. Many of the wolf-kin have relished in the thrill of battle, and the spilling of blood for the ones they are to protect."

"So now, we spirits are bound to the cursed rune that enslaves the wolf-kin. To undo it would mean tearing my being from Alec's, and killing him in the process."

Alec sunk in his seat and lowered his eyes in defeat.

"However, there is a way to circumvent the curse...at a price. Do you wish to hear it?" he asked them.

Alec looked back up, swallowed hard, and nodded.  

[BeaMichelle]

Keleth had quickly gotten back up to follow Lexi and Trinity. She stayed a ways back so as to give them some room, but she stayed close enough that she could hear what was being said. She was curious as to the motivations of her new group.  

[Nova Blancke]

Nova raised his eyebrow in surprise. It seemed he was wrong.
"I apologize Kerana. You were right. Centuries of living can sometimes blind me to the perspective of other people. I am sorry." Nova said earnestly.

"Passing the effects on to someone else?" Nova asked.  

[Rikki Tikki Travi]

Zephyr shook his head and said, "A good idea, but one that has been tried before. No, the only way to be rid of the curse is to over power it with a more intense enchantment. I speak of the Dragon's Heart Covenant. It is a spell that mirrors the act of love and friendship between a dragon and a mortal."