Welcome to Gaia! ::

Hanabi nodded. She flipped through the pages until she found an illusion spell. She read it once, then read it again, out loud.

The area around them seem to shimmer. Then they were in the ocean. It looked like they were actually in the ocean, with fishes and other sea creatures swimming by them. This only lasted for a moment, because then the illusion faded away.

"Was that okay?" Hanabi asked Fatal.

At this, Reed turned. He needed to try and find Kasai now, and tell her what was happening. An apprentice! Could you imagine it? Reed tried to sneak, but in his hurry, kicked a stone, which of course caused a noise. Then Reed broke out into a full sprint, towards that strange stone.

Fatal had heard nothing. He glanced out of the window (there's a window, right) and saw Reed. Almost immediately, a pulse of black lightning sparked across the ground. Reed was electrocuted, and fell.

Reed turned with his revolver and fired blindly. Six shots.

Fatal flicked his wrist. The stone flooring rose immediately--and blocked Hanabi from taking three bullets in the chest.

"You see?" Fatal cried. "Lethal, demonic humans. Can you take this person down, Hanabi?"

Being the expert gunman that he was, Reed had already reloaded his revolver--and fired again. This time, the bullets did not reach their mark either, but it was not clear just how. Lightning struck Reed again, from Hanabi this time... and Reed convulsed. Trophyfied.

It sounded like he was trying to same somebody's name as he trophyfied.

Fatal didn't catch it, however.

"Good... let's see just who this person is," Fatal murmured, stepping out of the shrine and striding over. He bent down and placed a hand on Reed's trophyfied forehead--not releasing him, not freeing him, but performing some type of magic, most likely.

Fatal's eyes were closed, screwed shut. He was concentrating very deeply. Invading a trophy's mind was not an easy task, and it was not helping that every time he attempted to probe... the image of this one woman kept appearing, coming forward amongst thoughts.

Love--undying affection, really... was one of the most trying of human emotions to overcome. Fatal himself had overcome such a trifling hindrance long, long ago--but it still posed a difficulty when his victims obtained such. It hindered his dark magic.

This was one of the reasons why Fatal had not and never would attempt to bring Ninian--the object of his fascination--back from the dead. To do so--the girl was a wellspring of love and kindness. Fatal had no doubt that she would overcome him, if given the chance. And with that watching glass of hers, up there... no doubt, she already knew of Fatal's doing in Arelia thus far.

"I am... attempting to read his thoughts, or what used to be his thoughts," Fatal replied. "It is not working. The only thing he thinks about is one person. I can't tell anything from him."

To penetrate the barrier of one's thoughts was a powerful magic indeed.

"But you did well. That lightning seemed to come natural to you."

Fatal stood. "Just leave him. Reviving him would be... bad," Fatal said hesitantly, "but we can leave. His allies will find him and revive him eventually, but we won't be within revolver range by the time that happens. Tell me, Hanabi, have you ever been to the ocean?"

"Because, I would like to show you a... ship. It is a very special machine that can sail the waters... or the skies. Unless you easily become seasick, or the like, would you like to board it?"

Fatal was now walking a few steps away from Reed's trophy. He wasn't leaving immediately, but just felt like sitting down over by the Shrine again.

((It has steps, correct? xD))

"Okay...." Fatal tapped his forehead, thinking.

After a moment, he nodded, agreeing with himself.

"It's underwater and sunk," Fatal told Hanabi, "and I can resurrect it, but this must be done alone. It could take... up to an hour, before the structure is drained of water and can rise to the surface. It's also a submarine, you see. You can stick around this village while I'm gone, although I... wouldn't," Fatal suggested, "or you can return to your home. Or wherever else you wish to go. But I must depart for a time. Will you be safe by yourself?"