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Kasumi Roseglimmer Captain
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 Posted: Sat Oct 07, 2017 9:59 pm
She relaxed when he said imps weren't that uncommon. But more worry came when he said hell hounds were.
She kind of figured demons were uncommon anyway but it would have been comforting to know that demons were just commonplace magical creatures around these parts and nothing suspicious or dodgy was going on.
Brutus asked when the incident at the library was, then paused, possibly to communicate with his linked partner. Larissa and Poff both spoke up saying "Last week" "Last week!" simultaneously. They fell silent when Brutus said the librarian had told Lilian. "Lilian Abando? The Defense Against Demonics teacher?" Larissa pondered aloud.
Poff nodded "Makes sense that any news about demons, harmless or not, would be conveyed to her" The green feline said. "She keeps her finger on the pulse, meow"
They thanked Brutus for his offer to walk with them the rest of the way to the bus stop and both girls walked in silence along the wet road as drizzle began to fall from the sky. Looks like it was going to rain again. Larissa and Poff were both thinking to themselves about what just happened.
When they reached the bus shelter, Brutus couldn't fit inside and lay down next to it.
Larissa approached him nervously before suddenly crouching down and hugging the tiger. "Thank you. I'm sorry. I had the wrong idea about you. But today you changed my mind" she said softly, pulling back a little. "Poff and I are not combat mages, by any stretch of the imagination. I didn't realise how dangerous it could be though. With school, and everything else...I forgot about the cursed scroll that started all this"
Poff frowned "Oh, you mean...that scroll? I guess I should have seen that coming" she said. "My powers aren't really the kind that can be used to attack an enemy. They're more like helpful buffs. I guess I'm a weak familiar" she said softly. "Maybe I could protect you better if I trained"
Larissa stroked her. "It's okay Poff. I don't expect you to take all that on yourself. And we are training together, and that still counts! I never wanted to really learn attack spells either. Except the ones Lilian taught us for in case demons happen. And...I guess I just thought no demons were going to show up. And now they are..." she lowered her voice for the last part, sounding troubled and afraid.
Poff tilted her head "Do you know why demons are after us? Meow. Maybe it was just a coincidence that one turned up here. Maybe someone's been summoning them and setting them loose in the forest?"
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Posted: Sat Oct 07, 2017 10:36 pm
The tiger gave a deep growling purr when Larissa hugged him. "Indeed, she does." In reference to his mage. "She and the headmaster take care of any big demonic threats that come against the school and it's students. As her familiar, I help as well."
Brutus gently nuzzled Larissa; his fur was very warm compared to the chill air. "I did not leave a very good impression of myself at that time. Misunderstandings happen, after all." He squeezed his eyes. "Generally, self defense is always a good thing to learn. I can understand why one would not want to learn combat..." He trailed off after a moment. "But the world is a dangerous place. If you keep finding demons, you may want to invest some time in it. Perhaps with Garnet." The tiger suggested. "She should be able to teach you to move well and how to strengthen your magic. Though... if what I heard about Garnet's tutoring style... it will not be easy, and I am not certain she will be gentle. But learning any type of self defense can be a wonderful boost to one's self esteem."
Brutus looked from one to the other as they spoke about the scroll. It didn't take much for the tiger to guess what the two were talking about. He didn't make a comment on their conversation, as with a familiar's commentary about their powers. Usually it is the mage who is best suited to soothing that doubt.
"As for why demons are after you..." He turned to peer at the pair. "You have an angelic aura, Larissa." He said. "Either they are simply attacking because they see you as more of an enemy then the normal person next to you." He looked back over the road, watching the road and the forest and the few school buildings visible through the trees. "Or the person who set that scroll is sending them after you on purpose. For what purpose, I am not certain..." The tiger trailed off. He seemed to be thinking.
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Kasumi Roseglimmer Captain
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Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2017 2:51 am
Larissa smiled at the purr, after she recovered from the initial shock that Brutus was purring. It was loud. As loud as Garnet's probably.
Larissa had backed off and was now just talking to him while waiting for the bus to arrive. It wouldn't be here for a while. "That's good" she said. "I don't imagine that would happen often but it's good to know someone can handle things if such a threat arises" she said, stroking Poff, who was slowly deflating back to her normal, unfluffed size. The cat purred softly at the petting, comforting herself quietly.
Larissa scritched Brutus around the back of the neck and behind the ears. She hoped she wasn't being too invasive but it seemed like the best thing to do when you had a friendly giant feline right in front of you. How many times in her life would she ever get a chance to pat a tiger? Not many. She stopped scratching him and looked embarrassed and shame faced when he mentioned misunderstandings. "Yeah. Sorry. I'll try not to judge people so quickly next time. I have a quick temper. Um...kind of an anger problem. And hormones make it worse" she said awkwardly.
He went on to talk about self defense, combat...Poff nodded "Yeah, if demons keep attacking us it doesn't really leave us much choice. We either have to get a bodyguard, or learn how to defend ourselves. At least to give us time to call for help or run away. I don't know any combative or offensive spells but Larissa knows some"
Larissa frowned "Uhh...well, I guess we could train with Garnet but...I don't know, that sounds like it might put a strain on our relationship if I don't like the way she trains us. I have a feeling Poff wouldn't like it either. But Sapphire said something similar about the way you train familiars, so maybe that's just how people learn to do offensive spells. It sounds unpleasant but we'll do it if we have to" she said sincerely, stroking her familiar again out of habit. "We'll do our best, anyway" she mumbled. Poff nodded along, "We will" she said.
Larissa felt her face grow hot when he said about why demons were after them. "Y-yeah. I know..." she fidgeted. "Someone cursed that spell scroll or changed it to impregnate anyone who tried to use it. The spell affected me and Garnet, on one of our first classes here, when Garnet was still a boy named Leo. I think you are right. Whoever tampered with the scroll is likely the one sending demons. But it's terrifying to think about. I hoped the imps last week in the library were just a misfired spell or something..." she trailed off, sounding dismayed.
Poff added on "But they weren't. Or so it appears. The hell hound was after us today. But things might come after Garnet as well. But...well, we're the weak ones, when it comes to combat and attack magics". Poff hadn't learned Claw Scratch Flurry yet. She would if she trained though.
Larissa added on "Someone gave us a stasis spell for the pregnancies but we're removing it soon. Since the attacker seems to know who we are now. We don't know who they are or what they want"
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Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2017 3:11 am
Brutus just squeezed his eyes. "The question then, is if you do not wish to train with Garnet... who would you train with? Who else would you trust to be able to defend yourselves? You can go to a teacher, perhaps. Her or a teacher."
Once Larissa finished petting him, Brutus squeezed his eyes and started licking his paw as he started to groom himself. But he still listened intently to what Larissa and Poff said.
"I can be harsh but I seek to bring out the best of my students. Remember that if you do seek to get tutelage from Garnet; her motivations will be the same. If tougher and stronger demons come after you, and you do not have the company of Garnet or Isabella, Liliana or myself, you will need to be at your best to fight back or flee. She will also likely teach you how to blend the charms Liliana has taught you with your spells." The tiger said. "Those can be very effective in at the very least stunning and slowing down demons."
"I can't argue with how scary it may seem." The tiger said. "If you would like for me to accompany you until you reach your destination, I will." He squeezed his eyes. "I will warn Liliana. She will seek out Garnet, so that your friend will not be taken by surprise."
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Kasumi Roseglimmer Captain
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Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2017 3:35 am
Larissa thought about that. Who else would they be comfortable with? She cycled through their list of options in her mind. "Umm, actually" she looked at Poff.
Poff nodded, able to sense Larissa's emotions and thoughts. "I agree, Garnet is our best option!" she said with a wave of her neon green tail.
Larissa chuckled. "Oh well, she's the only one I can think of who would know how to handle a temper flare up or an argument from us. We may as well take her up on it" she said.
She and Poff listened to Brutus as he spoke about training with Garnet.
Larissa sighed, resigning herself to the fact that no matter what, the pair were going to have to do some sort of uncomfortable and/or unpleasant combat training. "Sounds tough. But I don't think we have a choice. I don't want to be killed by demons and I don't want Poff to either, or whoever is growing inside of me" she blushed, hand resting on her belly briefly. "So...I'll do my best to learn what I can. Poff will too" she said. "Besides, learning how to combine divine magic with offensive spells does sound interesting. It's what we've been learning it for after all. I just hoped we wouldn't need to use it!" she half groaned.
The pair looked at Brutus when he offered to accompany them. But Larissa shook her head politely "No. Thank you but I think we'll be okay. You've done plenty for us already" she heard the sound of a vehicle and looked up. "The bus is coming down the road. So we should be fine! We're just going to the jewellery store in the mall. I'm planning to give Garnet something special. Something that would tie us closer together" she explained. "And thank you for going to warn Lilian as well. That would be great. I'm sure Garnet can handle herself against most demons, but I don't know about all of them. Anyway, we better get going. Take care, teacher. Thanks again"
With that, the two girls got on the bus, showing the driver their prepaid ticket.
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Posted: Sun Oct 08, 2017 1:34 pm
Brutus rumbled and sat up, as the bus came down the road. "Well then, you two. Stay safe." He said. "Be alert and be careful. Good luck."
And with that he watched the two climb into the bus and the vehicle drove off, and he vanished into the trees heading deeper into the school.
Meanwhile...
I was practicing Shadow magic with Thomas. He was an interesting young man, with short, dark brown hair that was always tousled to one side, and his eyes were a dark blue. He also had a tendency to wear thickly furred armor most of the time, as he was always jumping in and out of the shadows for one reason or another. He was helping me cast the Umbra Steel spell when Lilian came bursting into the room.
"Garnet!" The half succubus said, paying no mind to the stares she was getting from the other students. I looked up from the shadow Rapier I had just finished making, glancing over at her.
"Yeah, teach?" I said as she hurried over.
"I just got word from Brutus. Larissa just got attacked by a Hellhound." Lilian said. "She's not hurt, but Brutus warned me that you may be next."
I let out a long breath. Okay. "Thanks for the warning, Lilian." I said before glancing around warily.
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Kasumi Roseglimmer Captain
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Posted: Sat Oct 14, 2017 8:50 pm
Larissa and Snow Poff went to the mall and hurried into the jewellery store where they had bought gifts before. Certainly there were other stores that sold jewellery but this one was familiar and trustworthy and the prices were reasonable. The staff here was nice too. Larissa took her time carefully browsing before choosing a ring band, picking the same rose gold that Garnet's earpiece was made out of. It would look pretty against her purple starry scales.
She placed a custom order with the shop staff for the band to be fitted with a gem holder in it. Larissa then asked if she could go into the back of the store. She was going to supply the gem herself, she said, but it would take a spell she had learned only recently. The witch took out her wand and asked her familiar for help.
Poff blinked once and nodded before she started to glow. The hair clip in Larissa's side ponytail glowed softly as well, and the witch drew out her wand and pointed the tip at her chest, right where her heart ought to be. She let all of her feelings for Garnet rise to the surface and fill up her heart with a warm, steady glow. She began chanting the words for the spell, beautiful language that flowed off the tongue. Slowly, something began to materialize. Wisps of glittering pink and soft pink magic flowed out of her chest and into a spot just in front of the wand tip. The spot began to form into the shape of a glowing heart, and soon, with a stunning flash of light and glittering magic, a heart shaped gem floated there, in the air. Larissa put her wand away and held out her hands, palms cupped underneath. The soul gem slowly floated down and landed in her hand. Larissa now looked pale and worn out, but she was smiling triumphantly.
The staff clapped and congratulated her "That's the first time I've seen anyone summon a soul gem in a very long time" the shop assistant said. "You must be serious about the person you made it for. I wish you both all the best" She smiled as Larissa handed over the piece of her soul and slipped it into a tiny velvet bag. "We will have it set into the rose gold band for you in a couple of hours. You can wait here in the store if you like, or go and come back. We'll send you a text when the ring is ready" she smiled. "And of course the gem is priceless, so you'll only be charged for the cost of the band"
******
There was indeed another demon on the way for Garnet. A foul vulture like humanoid with the scent of death and decay, it was coming towards the school, honing in on its target. It could sense the divine magic of the dragon girl, just as its partner had sensed it in Larissa. And it knew what its mission was. To destroy what stood in its master's way.
The Vrock winged over the school, high above, where it looked like simply another large bird in the air. It was waiting to strike, hopefully when Garnet was alone, isolated from others. Maybe it could pick off some of her shiny gem scales, it mused, keep them for its personal hoard. The Vrock clacked its beaklike mouth and made a small croak of glee. It kept watching over the school, planning the perfect moment to attack. Its greed for Garnet's hide was mixed with a passionate desire to have fun killing and feasting on her flesh.
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Posted: Sun Oct 15, 2017 12:45 am
 Lilian put her hands on her hips, and sniffed. I sniffed too, before turning to glance up towards the ceiling.
There, the scent of hellfire. This wasn't Lilian's hellfire, which I had grown used too. This was different. The scent made the half-formed shadow in my hand fade into wisps of black.
"Well, what are you going to do?" Lilian asked.
I shook my head. "Fight."
She looked concerned. "Do you want help?"
I smiled. "I have a pretty good idea of what I'm capable of. If I need help I'll call for it."
The room was still silent. I got the impression not a lot of people know Lilian, know her or of her existence. I closed my eyes and cast the spell once more, and a whip made of shadows formed in my hand-- but I used a divine charm to bless the weapon as I cast it.
"Whoa! Garnet, how'd you do that?" Thomas asked, peering at my weapon. I opened my eyes to look. It's texture was like that of soft, strechy leather, while incredibly cold to the touch. The tip bore a diamond shaped blade at the end-- and the weapon seemed to be made of black starry void-- like the night sky. "I've never seen an Umber weapon with stars before!"
I smiled.
"That's what happens when one weaves a divine charm while casting Umber Steel." Lilian said. "That is a weapon of Sacred Darkness."
"And this is what I will use to fight whatever is coming after me." I said, looping the long whip over my shoulder like it was a coil of rope. "And Sacred Darkness. I like that."
Lilian smiled. "Keep blending light and dark and you may get the nickname Eclipse." Said the succubus.
I smiled back, wryly. "That's not a bad nickname."
I turned and headed out the door, heading up towards the roof. I stopped at the entrance, my hand on the door handle. Thomas and Lilian had followed me.
I looked back t them. "If I need you I'll call."
They nodded. "Right."
I stuffed the whip into a endless pocket on my bag, and headed out onto he rooftop. I glanced around, sniffing, before glancing up-- seeing a suspiciously large bird up in the air...
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Kasumi Roseglimmer Captain
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Posted: Sun Oct 15, 2017 9:42 pm
Larissa wandered her way to a combined tea store and book store on shaking legs. She slumped down in a comfy chair and lay there bonelessly, pale as snow. Poff had walked by her side instead of on her shoulder because it looked like Larissa might keel over if so much as a breath of air from a butterfly's wing touched her. Poff placed their orders for them, getting Larissa a frappe with lots of sugar in it and several cupcakes. "You look like you might faint at any meowment" Poff said, both amused and concerned. The cat was sitting on the table as usual.
Larissa smiled weakly "Yeah, that took more out of me than I thought" she admitted, her voice weak and breathy. She swiped a stray piece of fringe from her eyes and sighed as she closed them.
Poff lapped at the saucer of warm cat milk she had ordered and nibbled on a plate of cat treats. "Well you just took out a piece of your soul. I'm surprised it wasn't painful, but I guess since it was willingly given and not ripped out, then maybe that's why" The cat licked Larissa's limp arm. "Eat your cupcake, you'll feel better. You're scaring the cafe staff"
"Oh" Larissa giggled then picked up the cupcake and started to eat little bites and take small sips of the frappe which was blended forest fruits with ice cream and a swirl of cream on top with a cherry and edible sprinkle hearts. This cafe was known for being pretty cutesy. "Thank you Poff. This is delicious. I wonder what Garnet's up to right now. Hopefully she's safe"
"Want me to get us a magazine?" The cat asked.
"Yes please"
******
The dim witted vrock saw Garnet step out onto the roof. She fit the description its master gave and it drooled with greed at the sight of her glimmering hide. It might tear off her wings and wear them on its body.
The vrock headed downwards, folding its wings to plummet down straight for her. It banked and flapped them, making leathery wingbeats as it hovered in the air above her and let out a loud screech. "Mortal! Give me your scales!" it croaked, its ugly beaked maw snapping the words. A foul odour poured off of it. The vrock screeched again and then lunged towards her, trying to rake with its talons and stab with its beak. "I'll take them!" it crowed.
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Posted: Sun Oct 15, 2017 9:58 pm
The large bird-ike figure up above sure enough saw me and screeched at a piercing pitch-- diving down towards me, screeching about my scales and likely drooling over my sparkiliness. I dived out of the way f it's first swoop at me, putting my ears back at it's loud screech-- ow. I pulled my hand out of the bag, and with it my starry whip.
"How about no?" I said, watching the creature dive at me a second time, this time swinging the whip, hoping to meet it's attack with the diamond-shaped blade at the end of the whip.
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Kasumi Roseglimmer Captain
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Posted: Sun Oct 15, 2017 10:12 pm
The demon was indeed drooling greenish slime from its greyish black maw, spit spraying out when it screamed and screeched. Anticipating munching off her flesh and tearing off her scales.The screeching sounds hurt the ears and threatened to deafen nearby hearers, especially up close. But it hadn't used its stun attack yet.
As it dove in to scratch and bite at her, Garnet was able to avoid its ripping talons and sharp beak. It noticed her ears go back and let out more screeches, first one, the another, gleeful at causing a nuisance to its target. The vrock wasn't expecting Garnet to materialise a weapon and the whip caught it by surprise on its dive, catching it on the right side of its face and its chest, leaving a nice slash.
The vulture demon recoiled, flapping its wings wildly and screeching in pain. It flew backwards, out of reach of the whip, and launched straight into its next attack. It shuffled its wings hard as it flapped them and clouds of noxious green spores furled out like a handful of dust thrown in water. The air currents and winter wind caught the spores and spread them around even more, clogging the air with poison and a terrible stench. The vrock cackled loudly and let out some harsh caws. While Garnet was choking on poison it would look for a chance to attack her again with talons and beak. It was wary of the whip though. But vrocks were dimwitted and it hadn't put together the fact Garnet had wings which therefore also meant she could fly.
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Posted: Sun Oct 15, 2017 10:29 pm
It wasn't happy about being struck like that. I shuffled backwards as it started to beat it's wings, green plumes of what looked like spored came pouring off of it. I covered my mouth and nose with my hands, before turning and jumping off the side of the building.
I fell into a smooth dive before swooping up into a loop de loop, bringing myself above the winged, vulture demon. I was well out of range of it's sporish attack, and that was good because it smells aweful, spores or no spores. I twisted around and lashed out downward at the vulture, aiming once more for it's head, before I banked and flew higher into the air, circling.
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Kasumi Roseglimmer Captain
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Posted: Sun Oct 15, 2017 10:40 pm
Blackish green blood oozed out of the slash wounds Garnet's starry whip had caused. It was a neat slice since the whip and diamond end were so sharp. The demon's blood even reeked of putrescence though, adding to the rotten flesh smell. The vrock saw Garnet turn and jump off the building and it flapped after her, to the edge of the building to see where she was. But as it was searching the ground for its opponent, Garnet flew quickly above it. She was behind the creature before it could react and it got another lashing with her dark and light whip. This time across the back of its head, its wings and back.
The vrock screeched loudly in pain as the whip seared its flesh and blood splattered out in a spray. It turned sharply in the air and its head whipped around to see where its attacker was. It spotted her and, still screaming in pain and rage, the vrock beat its wings harshly, trying to gain height and fly straight for her. The vrock opened its mouth as it took in a deep breath and as it neared Garnet it let out an unearthly screech, something combined between a vulture's harsh cry and some animal being tortured. Anyone within 20 feet of it that wasn't a demon stood a great chance of being stunned by this horrific, blood curdling scream. The vrock played nasty. But vrocks hardly cared for fair rules in a fight. It wanted a meal and some treasures and it would kill to get what it wanted, as always.
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Posted: Sun Oct 15, 2017 10:53 pm
Oh, I hit the thing all right, if it's screeches of rage were any indication.
It flew after me, climbsily with its injuries, and I was getting ready to strike again when it let out this bloodcurdling sound that nearly knocked me out of the air at the sound of it. I hovered a moment as the creature approached, my wings faltering, before gritting my teeth. Focus! I thought, my wing beats getting more steady.
"STOP IT!!!!!" I screeched back, louder in hoped of my own voice drowning out it's noise. I threw the whip, my mind grabbing it and snaking the whip towards the vulture Demon. "SHUT UP!!!"
The whip reached it and went to snake around the demon's neck to strangle it-- choking off the air it would need to keep screeching and hurting my ears. I then readied a dark bolt spell, woven with a divine spell...
Black fire, flecked with pale points of light rushed out of my hands, to engulf the demon who was hopefully struggling with my whip...
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Kasumi Roseglimmer Captain
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Posted: Sun Oct 15, 2017 11:16 pm
Garnet, being a dragon, did have a loud voice, and the vrock likely never expected to be screamed back at. It flinched at Garnet's reply, faltering in mid air. But it continued to emit the screech, since it was trying to stun its target. The only thing that made it stop was a sudden snaking length swirling through the air one second, then wrapped around the vrock's throat the next. The creature gasped and struggled, clawing at the whip, trying to tear it off with its talons as kicked and squirmed. It was making horrible sounds as it choked and gashes of blood streaked down its neck and body from its own talons and Garnet's attacks with the whip. Its skin was pouring out thick disgustingly smelling smoke too as the divine weapon burned it like holy water.
Finally, the finishing blow, black fire with white stars lighting it, burned the agonized vulture demon to nothing, it's form searing away into rancid green dust and black ash. The winter wind blew the ash and dust around, starting to clear the air of the horrible smell and the poison spores from earlier. The demon was gone. It wouldn't be able to return.
Waiting for Garnet were Thomas and Lilian below.
*****
Larissa was traveling home via taxi back to the school. She had a small velvet box inside the pocket of her robes and she looked happy. Poff was snuggled on her lap for the journey back and they were listening to the song on the driver's radio. They'd be back at Aria soon. Larissa had wanted more exercise but she wasn't going to walk back along the deserted road through the forest again. She hoped that Lilian and Brutus had put some defenses along it or some spells or guards. Something anyway.
Poff purred as Larissa petted her "So, when are you going to give it to her? The ring?" She meowed. Larissa chewed her lip in thought "I don't know. Maybe for Christmas? That would be nice and romantic wouldn't it"
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