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 Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2012 8:57 pm
Stars began to return to Dan's vision at an alarming rate, along darkness that teased at the corners of his eyes. Nella noticed the spot of light above his shoulder flickering and she fed him more power. However, instead of the power flowing smoothly the young phasmas hit a wall. Her grimm was simply too tired to keep using magic much longer. Time was running out.
The young mage was only partially aware when knight stood up and moved toward the exit. Only dully surprised when the door was blasted out and the pale light of day filtered into the cave wood and flames. Dimly he heard his name being called in an increasingly worried manner, the black and orange sprite of his plague buzzing around his head.
Smoke now pouring off his cloak the mage began to move, slow and stumbling at first but feet moving faster with each step, soon breaking into a limping run. Even in his current muddled state part of him recognized the he needed to get out of the building, and fast. The creaking of the ceiling increased and it was with this background that the corner of the cloak finally burst into the flame.
With the catching of the cloak Nella's body flared eye searingly bright, terrified at the implications of that one flame. Rocketing forward she dove into the one spot, curling up tight and using all her power to keep the fire from going any farther. "Go! RUN!"
Dan didn't need any encouraging. Seeing the daylight streaming in from the now opened front door he sprinted forward, just barely keeping himself from tripping over the door jam as he emerged into the cool air. It seemed however that with this last effort his energy was spent and only a few more steps were taken before he collapsed into the snow, Nella barely getting away from the cloak before the flames were snuffed by the frozen water.
The young mage laid there in the snow for a few moments, wheezing as residual smoke drifted up from his body and clothes. Turning his head he saw the knight and the girl laying near by, and he gave a crooked smile as the building came down, barely registering the sound. They had made it. She was safe. The light by his shoulder was now the size of a firefly, the dark a large and encroaching border around his eyesight.
"You know..." He said as he looked over the knight, words panted. "I don't think.... I ever got.... your name...." Dan gave a chuckle and the light at his shoulder died, the world turning to black.
With the light gone Nella's brightness returned to normal, a small swirl of darkness now seen in the center of her being instead. She watched as his purple eyes clouded over, hugging herself tight when the cataracts were complete. This was her first time seeing it, and she already hated it. It wasn't fair. It just wasn't fair. She didn't know how, but she swore none the less. Next time, she would do more. She would make sure that he wouldn't have to go blind for as long. And someday, she would stop the darkness entirely.
The towns people watched nervously, uncertain what to do. These were the people they had been rioting against, and then they had gone and done that. One man began to step forward, a plank clenched between his hands, but a hand came up to his shoulder, stopping him.
"I think they've already gone through enough."
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Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2012 3:51 pm
There were subtle whispers, words of uncertainty all around them. The mother sobbed into her daughter's hair, holding her close. Sloane's eyes fluttered open at the sound of the building collapsing and he lifted his head, grunting at his aching body. Everything was sore, each scrape and cut stung. He heard the young mage collapse near him and he let out a huff as he twisted himself to his side, leaning on one of his large arms for support. Dan rested similarly against the snow, dark trails of smoke trailing softly from his singed cloak. Breathing heavily himself, the two looked each other over and Sloane gave Dan a short, approving nod.
His voice croaked out weakly and Sloane's brow knit. Until then, he hadn't noticed the encroaching milky cover spreading slowly over the boy's eyes. The Infitialis' teeth grit tightly. Nothing like this had he ever been witness to, but something about it was strangely familiar. A sense of deja vu crept inside his mind while his chest rose and fell with the steady beat of his heart. "I don't think... I ever got... your name..." The cataracts consumed his vibrant purple eyes and behind their veil they looked strangely grey. With a muted sigh, the Plague's gaze was downcast and he reached a large hand out to press gently against Nella's back, a few fingers curling over her shoulder in comfort. Swallowing hard, the knight managed a reply -- his own voice hoarse from the smoke.
"Sloane," the pad of his thumb gently rubbed against one of Nella's shoulders, her heat masked beneath his gauntlets, "Estratus' Sword." Just as the townsfolk had cried out when they saw his face. Warily, his gaze drifted to the surrounding onlookers, "Plague Knight of the Fellowship."
At that, one of the men holding a makeshift weapon stepped forward. Perhaps he found the admitted status of both a Plague and a member of the Fellowship to be worth beating someone over. Sloane's lips raised in a snarl, readying himself for the blow, but another villager's hand reached out and grabbed the man's shoulder. They stopped their approach, whispering to each other as the sound of snow crunching underfoot came forth and a young boy passed through the gathered group holding a scuffed and slightly dented helmet. A woman grabbed at his shoulder as he approached, but he shrugged her off and knelt before the knight, holding the helmet out.
"You saved my sister. Thank you..." his voice cracked a bit and his fingers drew away quickly when Sloane's hand left Nella and he crooked the helmet beneath his arm.
The Plague's expression softened and he drew his fingers along the dent where he had been hit earlier. Looking up, the boy had backed up to his mother and sister, holding their hands. "Thank you," he offered, setting the helmet aside and pulling himself to his knees. With them no longer posing a threat, now he could tend to his ailing comrade without pressure. "What's happened?" his voice was quiet, meant only for Nella or Dan, whoever felt more up to responding. Once more, his hand went to the Phasmas. She looked so pitiful, torn up inside, but strangely knowing.
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Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2012 3:23 pm
"He goes blind when he uses magic," Nella said quitely, watching her grimm's chest rise and fall. A small smile had crossed his face when he had heard the name of the knight but now he was just barely conscious, unable to register the world around him. "He explained it to me earlier this week, the day after I was born. His ap...," she paused for a moment, trying to form her mouth around the strange word, "... his aperture is over his eyes. He told me that he can see so much while using magic, but afterwards he has to pay for it and that's why he goes blind."
She paused again, clutching her arms even tighter and the swirl of black inside her roiling violently. "He... he can't choose to turn off the extra sight. He always has to have it when he uses magic so he always has to go blind. There's never a choice."
Nella looked up to Sloane, shaking ever so slightly. "I'm able to help him a little. Dan told me that I'm a... foci for him, and that when I help him he's stronger and doesn't go blind for as long. But..." she said, her voice cracking, "He still goes blind. I help and it's not enough, he still goes blind and it not his fault." The lantern began to glow, voice picking up in volume as she continued. "I can't do enough. It still happens but he doesn't deserve this! I hate it, It's not fair, IT'S JUST NOT FAIR!"
With the last exclamation the wisp in place of her legs flared into a brilliant gout of flame, but it died as quickly as it came, the phasmas too exhausted by the earlier ordeal to maintain any sort of fire. Her body now only glowing faintly she buried herself into Sloane's hand, clutching the gauntlet and crying quietly.
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Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2012 4:20 pm
He couldn't tell just what the freshly blind young man was smiling at but the fact he couldn't offer a reassuring smile in return caused the Infitialis to grimace and offer a sympathetic hand to his shoulder. The other was still lightly draped over Nella, his index and middle fingers resting over her shoulders while his palm was nestled gently against her back. Her voice shook as she spoke and he felt his throat tighten at the sound. His eyes widened at her age -- so young! -- and his hand tensed, holding her closer.
Temporary blindness, an aperture over his eyes. Sloane was hit with a strange familiarity that pulled him away from Nella's explanation in the present so he could analyze that information. It was some months ago, he knew, where his Grimm had mentioned offhandedly a correspondence with one of Lord Yizhaq's contacts. Someone who went blind from using their magic. Without thinking, as he returned to the present, the knight mumbled "My Grimm knows yours..." but it did not overtake Nella's speech. He had heard before that some mages could use their Plagues as familiars or the like but never had he seen it employed and he certainly didn't know how it was done. There was a small crackle from her body as Nella's voice cracked and what followed caused the knight to momentarily loosen his grip and lean back to save his face from the harsh heat of her flame.
Just as quickly as it spouted, her fire died down and the warm, glowing Phasmas collapsed against his arm. Sloane sat on his knees, struck with a sudden helplessness that he was quick to correct. Gently, his hand wrapped around to hold her against his arm and he pulled his legs out from under so he could lean back in a sit with his legs crossed. Nella was pulled against his chest, cradled with both arms as Sloane hunched over, closed his eyes, and held her the best he could when she was as small as a doll. He cooed quietly, body rocking slowly.
"Hush, now," Sloane whispered, a clawed thumb carefully stroking the back of her dress, "That burden isn't yours to bear. Still, you're of use -- you have purpose, not only to your Grimm but to yourself. If now, so young, you can help him, please think of when you grow tall as a human and your strengths are as great. You can do so much for this man if only you give yourself the chance..." This poor creature, this distraught girl. Sloane wanted nothing more than to hold her in his arms rather than his hands for comfort but he was so grateful she were large enough not to be endangered by his size. So many of the others he knew would easily be injured or lost if he attempted to hold or comfort them in this way and it tore at him.
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Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2012 12:34 pm
Nella's hands gripped the metal of the knight's armor, head resting against his chest. Her trembling began to fade, washed away by both his stroking and his words. A small part of her said it wasn't right for her to not be angry right now, too many things had happened for her to not be upset, but the infitialis' words had struck chord somewhere. Someday she would be even more than she was right now, as big as Dan and just as strong...
She didn't know if she'd be able to wait for that day, but right now knowing that it would come was enough.
"Thank you..." the lantern said, words soft. She rested there, chest rising and falling as her body warmed the otherwise cold armor.
Dan drifted in and out of consciousness, the outside world a changing progression of background noise. Sleep whispered to him, and he was oh so close to accepting, but there was a feeling that there was something else. Something he was forgetting. He had gotten out of the house, he had seen the Knight, Sloane, and he was also alright. That was the last he had seen then, the last image before magic ended and black crept in. What hadn’t he seen? What... He sucked in a breath, eyes snapping open, unable to see but feeling the cold winter air against them. “Nella? Nella are you alright?”
The lantern’s head jerked up at the voice, her small body spinning around. “Dan!” Slipping out from between the armor and the hand she floated over, placing a hand against his soot covered cheek. “I’m okay...” Heavy breathing slowing somewhat, the young mage smiled, eyes drifting shut. “Thank goodness...”
His eyes didn’t stay shut for long however, him blinking at a realization. “... how are we going to get home.”
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Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2012 2:31 pm
The urge to rest his chin against the small girl's head was great, but there was no way for him to do so without discomfort to them both. Instead, Sloane merely cupped his fingers a bit tighter around her back and hoped that it was enough. Though he couldn't feel her warmth directly (perhaps for the better), the fact she was resting against him and relaxing to his words -- even appreciating them with thanks -- was enough for him.
Around them, the townsfolk still stood to watch, though they were slowly dispersing as things became more personal between the two Plagues and their worries eased enough that they no longer felt inclined to watch them like hawks. The group had thinned considerably, not that Dan could tell. And Dan, beside them, stirred subtly before croaking out concern for his companion. This relieved Sloane as well, though to say he wasn't disappointed when Nella slipped out of his hands would be a lie. His fingers were hardly jostled by her leaving and, in brief silence, he lingered in the same position while no longer holding a warm body to his chest. Only when the young mage's concerns were placed elsewhere did the knight adjust himself and turn to face them both.
Home. He didn't know where home was for Danylrein or Nella but they were surely natives of Shyregoed, for how used to the weather her Grimm appeared.
"Carriages," Sloane spoke calmly, "often pass through the lower villages. If your home is higher in the mountains, then we may need to look elsewhere but one should be able to get you out of here safely, if nothing else." His swirled eyes shifted between human and excito before he grunted and pushed off his knees to his feet. The dull sound of metal against metal sounded as he snatched up his helmet and adjusted it to his head. "Until then," Sloane then bent down, offering a hand for Nella to take so that he could pull her up to his shoulder. Once done, he rested a hand on Dan's, gave it a soft and hopefully reassuring pat, then set to work on pulling the mage to his feet and draping the boy's arm over his large shoulder as best he could. He could carry Dan along, help him walk, with ease though to keep their heights level the knight needed to bend forward some. "Let's get you off the ground and somewhere warm."
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Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2013 1:56 pm
Nella accepted Sloane's hand, coming up to his shoulder and watching as he helped up Dan, the plague wilting when she saw her grimm's exhausted state. Though really... she was exhausted too. Their beds would have a short greeting when the two of them got home today.
"T-the Everweld. My family's home is in the Everweld." Dan panted as he clung to Sloane's arm, grateful for the support. "Thank you..." They walked away from the site of the fire, towns people staring as they went, but it was only after several minutes that Dan realized something.
His staff. He'd never retrieved it.
Thoughts swirled in dismay, the young mage preparing to open his mouth, but he stopped. How important was it to him, really? He'd used it as an anchor for years, something to cling to with his worries about magic and as tool while blind, but things weren't the same now. He wasn't alone any more. He had Nella.
And when it came between Nella and a simple staff, there wasn't even a contest.
Though he couldn't see it himself, the little phasmas had begun to look around while on Sloane's shoulder, coming to a realization herself.
"... it's so different seeing stuff with someone tall."
Dan smiled. It seemed, in the end, he couldn't win every battle.
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