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 Posted: Sun Nov 30, 2008 9:52 pm
Kaien shook his head sadly "I hesitate to ask even those I brought here for the specific purpose of protection, but nevertheless it is their duty and they will comply." He sighed, thinking of Sebastian's stoic willingness and Evangeline's penchant for following orders to the letter. He hated pulling them into the conflict as the wounds of their pasts were only beginning to heal.
"I certainly hope we will have no need for them, as I may perhaps be able to close a small rip on my own." He sighed, glancing sidelong at Arondis before continuing to the group as a whole. "people have indeed died closing and erecting gates. They always require a sacrifice proportionate to their size and strength. Providing fuel for that sacrifice is an imprecise art. Masters wanting to close the gate and using some sort of animal may find themselves substituted instead. Those wanting to sacrifice other things, non-living things, may find their entire vicinity stripped of life, leaving nothing but a bare moon-scape. I have not yet found the proper mix, but it is something that has been my life's work."
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Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 4:46 am
"I came to serve the school and offer protection. Once the location is found, with whatever group sets out, I would like to be a part of it." A strong fighter and protector, Pyralis wasn't one to be left out of this excursion once it came about. There was also the simple fact that if Anna went, he would go.
"This is not a trip to take alone, Kaien." Arondis would have liked to go and keep him as safe as possible, the school needed him, but not everyone could go. There had to be someone to stay and guard the school and it's students. It would be foolish to have everyone trek off to seal a rip only to leave exposed what they were protecting. "When this is underway, I will put up extra protection around the academy. I'll keep watch over the school. If you wish."
Setting down her cup, she glanced at the paperwork he still had to get done. "I suggest you get to finding the proper mix soon. No risky, heroic acts." She wasn't being stern with him, just trying to make sure he would at least try to keep himself safe. Life's work or not, Arondis didn't want him, or anyone, doing this kind of work with guesswork. "If I may help you with this, I'm sure some of your time will be freed up." It was an option at least.
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Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 7:03 am
Anna watched and listened carefully, as was her custom when she had nothing to add to the discussion. Somehow she always felt smaller than the rest of the group when they were all brought together; each person, it seemed, had some remarkable role in keeping the school safe. Kaien, mortal he was, still had incredible knowledge and a vital role to play in this gate business. Pyralis, who may not have been directly assigned to keep the peace as his mother had, was in his existence alone a vision of strength. Beside him, Anna was a delicate elven woman, gifted in healing and in knowledge. If the school was ever under direct attack, she doubted she could hold her own.
But that doubt would have to be cast aside if that time ever came, that much she knew. Annabelle was prepared for it.
It was the present she had to focus on, she told herself. The Now, with Pyralis' hand in her own, surrounded by friends.
I admire your mother very much, Anna said softly to her love's mind. You must be proud of her.
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Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 6:41 pm
Kaien sighed, "I do not think this is a journey for many people to take. Pyralis, for lack of a better term, I consider you a knight protector of this school as well as a valued instructor. I would like to have you by my side, but I should think that your strength would be better used to defend the school. As I close the gate, it will undoubtedly cause our own to fluctuate wildly, attracting anything close enough to come through - good and bad."
"Arondis, I will undoubtedly rely upon your ability to safeguard my students. You have powers that I....I have never encountered, and there are some I am probably not even aware of. If there is any pair better suited to ensuring the safety of my charges, it would be you and your talented son.}
"But don't misunderstand me, your part will not be small, half the battle will be fought on this side. Everything will be out of balance. You will need to be near the Mortal side of the rip because it is necessary I travel to the Other Side to repair the damage."
He looked to Anna, sitting quietly. She was looking interested in the conversation, but he realized that all of the work so far had been issued upon himself and the two dragons. She, of course, would have an important role to play as well.
"Anna, you I would prefer to have with me if Pyralis doesn't mind. Part of the mending is...well...a crude sort of healing, and though Sebastian's skills on the Other Side are incredible, no one understands the theory of healing quite like you do. You'll perform as a sort of...Nurse...to my Surgeon."
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Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 6:59 pm
Pyralis smiled softly in Anna's mind. I am. She's seen and done much. She was his mother, as well as his teacher, it was hard for him not to respect and admire her.
"I thank you for your faith in me. We will guard this school with our lives. You have my assurance." Arondis would honor her word. She would make sure of her son's compliance as well. Normally, it was far from an issue, but with his love involved...
Pyralis clenched his jaw, but the sharp reprimand mentally from his mother stopped any remark he was going to make. Reaching out for the comfort of Anna's mind, he took a deep breath and nodded. "Mine as well. The school will be well protected while you are away." There was no way he could keep Anna at the school with him. Though Kaien had kindly interjected a chance for Pyralis to protest, his love wouldn't be one to listen. She was one to be useful. If Kaien needed her skills, she would go and he would have to let her. It wouldn't be quite so bad with the mind link the two shared. He would stay connected with her through it all. That eased his mind a little...a very little.
Her son's reply satisfied her. He would never go back on his word. So it would be Kaien, Sebastian, Anna, and..."What of Evangeline?" The female fallen angel would compliment the skills of those going with her fighting skills.
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Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 7:06 pm
Anna had nodded after Pyralis' agreement to give her own. "Of course. I'll be there for whatever duty calls." But she could feel the tension from Pyralis like a faint web crawling along her skin. Surely he loathed the idea of her being away in a dangerous situation, and who could blame him? To reassure her dragon that everything would be alright, she upturned her hand so that their palms were touching, and with her petite thumb, began to slowly rub his. Everything would be alright, especially with their minds.
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Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 7:14 pm
Kaien shook his head. "I have told neither the Fallen nor the Grigori about this. They have had enough trouble merely being comfortable on this side of the Gate, I could not hit them with such a troublesome request so soon."
He finally poured himself his own cup of tea and leaned back in his chair. "Besides, I have not completely investigated my assumption that there is another rip, it is merely a potential cause for our Gate's instability. There could be another reason altogether." He had worked up an elaborate hypotheses on potential theories for the wavering of the Gate, but the only viable one had been a rip. He certainly hoped he had been wrong.
With twinkling eyes, however, he could not help prodding Pyralis and Anna over the rim of his tea cup. "Of course, If it is the case that I do not need Anna, you two will have plenty of time to plan together." His slight chuckle in his cup meant that even though he had not suggested which plans he had in mind, they were precisely the type of long term Romantic plans many couples made together.
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Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 7:30 pm
Arondis nodded. On that she did agree. It would be best if nothing came of their plans, but time would tell as Kaien further investigated his findings. Afterall, something was wrong with the gate. It hadn't gone unstable for no reason.
Taking the proding with good humor, Pyralis laughed and stood, offering his hand to Anna. "Then I must take my leave and bring Ms.Anna along with me for the time being. Plenty of time or not, planning can take it all up in the blink of an eye. I do hope you'll excuse us, and a very pleasant day to you both." He inclined his head to Kaien and then Arondis as he spoke his farewells.
Returning the gesture, the older dragon grinned. "Then you'd better hop to it." It was cute to see the two together, and it would only continue as time went on. She was glad her son had found his true match. It had been important to her that he do so.
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Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 7:34 pm
Anna couldn't help but laugh and smile away all of her previous embarrassment. At least they weren't seen as a nuisance to their two higher-ups, which would have truly put a damper on their desperate efforts to stay together despite the professional environment.
"Yes, good day to you both. It was lovely seeing you again!" The elf allowed herself to be escorted out by Pyralis, who she looked to with a look that said, thank goodness! No more playful ribbing. She never had known how to respond to that sort of humor, other than to succumb to it.
Together they walked from the office, leaving Arondis and Kaien alone.
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Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 7:46 pm
Kaien watched to two leave and couldn't help but notice the relieved look on Anna's face. "I think, perhaps, it is all still very new to her." He said gently to Arondis. "He will be good for her though. He has seen much and knows much and will temper her gentleness with his strength. It is a good match, I think."
He was considering the change that such a union would bring about in his Keystone students. Perhaps it would mean that they could finally feel comfortable enough to be themselves when they saw someone else. He hoped that it would bring a little optimism and light to campus where only darkness was falling.
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Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 8:01 pm
Arondis smiled softly. "You may be right. She tames the beast in him without trying." It would be a relationship of give and take on both sides. That would serve them well.
Such a relationship could be good for the school. Times ahead weren't the brightest, but they would all have to keep their spirits up somehow. Just maybe...
"Forgive me Kaien. I don't want to put more on your plate, but I believe this can be managed even without your attention." Pouring herself another cup of tea, she smiled again, a bit of her old mischeif behind it. "The students could use some excitement. We are well staffed. I have been wondering if a ball might be in order."
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Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 8:16 pm
Kaien looked surprised for a moment. "A ball? That would be an interesting activity." He considered her request. He hadn't thought about the growing need for his students to understand each other better, but there was undoubtedly a growing number of them who have never even met. A ball would certainly be a good way of introducing people to each other and ensuring that it happened in a controlled environment.
"My only concern would, naturally, be the interaction between humans and non-humans. I'm afraid that many of the human students still have no idea that beings from the Other Realms walk among them." He sighed, tapping his fingers on his cup. "You know, it might be a good idea. We can introduce them in a controlled environment and intervene in any misunderstandings." He definitely wanted to avoid another 'vampire' situation, and the best way of doing that would be to be there in person.
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Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 8:25 pm
As Kaien mused over her request in his head, Arondis watched with an amused twinkle in her eyes. It had been something she had wanted for the students for some time, but had wanted to be sure of a well-equipped staff.
"It may be a shock for some, but they all attend the same school. The human students will have to acknowledge the keystone students at some point for what they are." She took a sip of her tea. "As you said, we can intervene if there are misunderstandings. A light-hearted atmosphere could be the best solution." The humans would find out about the others soon enough, but if they could make sure to get all the awkward species questions out of the way at once for the students, things could run more smoothly. Each student had something to offer and it was time for them to appreciate one another.
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Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 8:34 pm
((I'll edit this with a proper response tomorrow xd I'm getting too sleepy to post properly. I really want to be tip top for the planning of this thing!))
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Posted: Mon Dec 01, 2008 8:42 pm
((Probably a good idea xd I'm heading off in just a minute anyways. Good night!))
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