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 Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2011 4:25 pm
Cyrus chuckled at Miusa's remark. "I don't think you could ever be obese." he said. But even if she could, he believed she'd still be beautiful. He pushed up his glasses a bit. It was always a mystery the way they slid down his face. It wasn't as if his nose was too small...
As she placed her hand on his cheek, he clenched his teeth ever so slightly. Oh world, why must you torment me so, he thought, somewhat jokingly. He held his breath, as if unwilling to even catch scent of her wrist or exhale on her palm. When she patted his cheek and laughed, he joined her, offering his own nervous chuckle.
"Shaving everyday is such a hassle, especially when there are students in my office with burnt eyebrows and summoned creatures gnawing on their limbs." he said, trying to ease the nervousness he felt by speaking. As quick as students learned these days, there were always. Always. those who made mistakes. Syracuse was always keen on lecturing them in safety, though.
"Besides, it makes me look more of a man" he said, stroking it slightly and stiffening his shoulders in a pathetic attempt to look manly. Being the school nurse didn't exactly give him a masculine image. His tendencies to be very emotional didn't help either.
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Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2011 4:49 pm
So talk of the instrument strikes a chord with him, Salem thought, without the least bit of irony directed at the pun he had made, without even an internal chuckle at the shamelessness of it. That was good, that was fine indeed, for it set Orpheus at ease, or at least moreso than before, and he saw the tension that bound the boy unwind like so much piano wire slackening, and his posture became much more relax. The eye still saw, though, even if it slept, and the wariness that radiated from Orpheus out was not lost on Salem.
Careful, always careful.
“It is your everything, then, yes? Of course it is, for you just told me so.” He flicked his eye down upon it again, a hungry glance, an almost... greedy glance. He... the thing transfixed him, for some reason he could not understand. It was alluring in the way only an unfamiliar object can appear, full of mysteries and secrets that begged to be unraveled and known. He wanted to... to touch...
“Me? Oh, no, I play nothing, never touched such a thing before.” He smiled, glancing back up at Orpheus, who was no doubt becoming concerned with his admiration of the thing. “So no, no bands, I am sorry to say. Though maybe, if I were to learn, I could take you up on your offer!” Salem glanced back down at the guitar, quickly, though, catching himself, pulling his gaze away.
“Surely you'd never let a stranger hold your everything, attached as you are to it, but I suppose it can't hurt to ask, can it?”
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Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2011 5:48 pm
The dueling stage was quiet for now, the opponents having stepped down momentarily. Around it, the students milled about, some talking quietly to one another, some silent as they eyed the stage with a wary apprehension, their anxiety over dueling betrayed in their eyes despite their desire to act nonchalant. Several teachers were also present; one in particular with pale, creamy hair seated on a plain wooden bench, her long, slender legs crossed. Another was a dark haired man beside her, leaning in to speak with her.
And yet still another was standing with his back against a nearby lamppost, arms folded across a black clad chest. Blue-black raven hair was pulled back into a somewhat messy ponytail at the base of his neck, the red streaks clearly visible as a few scarlet strands fell across his face. He was quiet; there was no heckling or sarcastically amused comments coming from his direction (a surprise, for he usually had issues keeping his mouth shut), and red eyes swept out across the event, taking in as many details as he could.
There was a soft hiss by his feet; he bent down, fingers brushing against silvery scales as he lifted the creature to set against his neck, Hyde's tail curling around his shoulder, the snake's tongue flickering in his hair.
"Hello, beautiful," came the low, rumbling voice. Professor X looked back towards the stage, tilting his head so that he could feel Hyde's cold scales against his face. A feral grin appeared, teeth clicking together with anticipation.
"I wonder who will fight next..."
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Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2011 6:18 pm
The Lichbone, as he was called, was the guardian beast created by several witches long ago, when Makai Royal was first founded. He was, in essence, one of the first (and largest) alchemia to date, near fifty feet in length and and thirty feet in height. Much of his form was skeletal, held together with spectral, glowing "flesh" that swirled like a blue mist amidst more defined, actual-fleshy parts. His head was just a skull with glowing azure spheres deep in the sockets, and now, those eyes settled on the growing crowd far below the tower. Though grand and old, this creature loved to delight and thrill with his blue flames that he spewed from his mouth, that erupted from his dancing claws.
A sudden sound caused the Lichbone to start, raising his massive cranium to look around the tower-top in which he was curled contentedly. Someone was there, a person he'd never seen before, approaching without fear. Too soon it was too late, and as he sensed danger, there was pain in his heart, and he felt everything slipping...all his memories, his duty as the guardian..all were suddenly replaced only...only by....
Rage.
Everything had somehow been so quickly torn from him, except fathomless rage. The Lichbone reared, screaming and thrashing wildly atop tower, causing shingles and stone to go raining upon the ground and those below. Those...below. The Lichbone felt he had a new task now, a task to exercise his newly-found rage. Giving a hungry, monstrous cry, the giant of a creature leaped down onto the ground, cracking cobblestone under its feet. He couldn't control his suddenly lust for violence, even if this was the precious place he had to protect, even if it meant tearing these students and innocents limb from delicious limb.
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Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2011 6:27 pm
"It's maybe a little soon to ask, yes. But I have other guitars you could try out," Orpheus offered, patting his guitar lovingly.
That was about as far as he got in answering Salem when the lichbone began to rampage. "I haven't been here very long, but I don't think it's supposed to do that, right?" Orpheus cringed and flipped his guitar over his shoulder again so it wasn't in his way. What the hell was going on?
He was newly graduated, it was true, but a lot of the others here were still students. With part of his attention, he focused on the lichbone. With the rest of it, he searched the crowds quickly. Where was Miusa? She had been there for the duels, surely she would help-- but the Lichbone was enormous. Hardly a creature one could fight alone. Could they?
Orpheus shook his head, flustered. He should do something. In stories, wild beasts could be tamed by music. He doubted that would work on the Lichbone, but he could at least use his magic on the students, to try and make them flee for safety. It would be easier to evacuate if they were calm. So he looked at Salem and said, "I'm not going to let them all get slaughtered, I've gotta do something," and then ran off.
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Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2011 6:51 pm
Salem was about to express his disappointment, which was rather unfounded as he knew for himself, given how precious the thing was to Orhpeus, but he never got the chance. The construct of massive bone and gently glowing magical tissue was screaming and soaking up all the attention.
Salem had glanced at the thing briefly when it appeared, dismissing it with the thought that it seemed benign and was probably part of the festival, and had paid it no further mind, was far too focused on Orpheus and their conversation to do so. “No, no, not supposed to do that at all, I don't believe.”
The creature far above, this Lichbone, threw itself from the tower and connected with the ground, becoming all at once significantly less benevolent than before. A horrifying cacophony of sound, of creaking bone and shattering stone and screaming festival-goer, followed the landing, rippling outward among the people. For the people were the ones scared of the Lichbone; this wave of terror merely rolled off of Salem. He watched the thing with a sort of dull fascination, Orpheus' guitar forgotten for the moment.
But then Orpheus was leaving him, jogging off with his instrument slung behind him, towards the snags of people that cowered and quivered at the sight of the Lichbone, unable to act on their own like the cattle that they were. All at once Salem felt robbed of his time, gaze hardening upon the massive, glorified alchemia. To interrupt him? To interrupt SALEM during his palaver?
The thought that the thing might be out for blood rather than just fear spurred Salem into action. This thing would kill all the choicest witches and witchlings! A witch is no good to Salem, or any other Majin, when its heart doesn't beat! “Oh, no, no, absolutely not, that most certainly will not do.” The sigul upon his hand pulsed almost gleefully as Salem strode forward, for it knew as well as he did the time for passive observance had ended. Time for action had come.
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Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2011 7:14 pm
In the midst of their cheery, casual conversing, hell ensued. For a moment, Miusa had thought the fireworks had began, but her heart sank when the massive, skeletal figure of the Lichbone pummeled from above, thrashing about as it stormed through the street.
"His heart is gone." she said stonily. It was true. The thing had a magical heart, and a magical heart only, unlike humans and Majin, and it was gone -- taken. "Someone has taken his heart." Her concerned gaze fell towards Cyrus, and then to the students, focusing on Orpheus and Salem. Sudden fear gripped her. What were they thinking, charging in after it?! "No, you must not approach it! Are you out of your heads!?" She looked to Cyrus again. "We have to stop them, they're going to get themselves killed!"
--
Ruria
had been feasting away her personal woes of losing her first duel in a festival booth when she heard the crash, the crackle....the screams. Whatever she had expected to see definitely not the image that met her eyes. Rocks and rooftop were falling from above, about to smash her, crashing around her. In a moment of instinct, she threw her hands over her head, surrounding herself in shadowy thorns that rotated around her with speed, crumbling to pieces the stones that attempted to smash her to death. Still, she was in shock. Wasn't the Lichbone supposed to be a guardian, a kindly beast who loved those it protected?
She screamed as it crashed down near her, but it didn't seem to notice her yet, but she saw that it did notice the two boys running towards it. Wasn't that the one she just fought?
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Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2011 7:23 pm
The commotion around the school had been loud and rather irritating, in Theo's opinion. But what did he expect? After all, it was the midusmmer festival. He had come up from Moonfall for this, and he supposed the festival had already begun, or at least, the duelling had, by the sounds of it. He slunk through the crowds, tring to avoid the pushing, swarming mass until the spires of the academy could be seen. Then it hit him. Why were they all fleeing from the academy? Shouldn't they be gathering around the academy? A loud roar interrupted his thoughts, alerting him to the fact that something was terribly, terribly wrong.
He fought against the crowd until he finally got to the academy. The Lichbone was... utterly terrifying. But he couldn't not help. This had been his school, it was still Phil's, even if he had recently graduated. But still. He couldn't not do anything to protect it from the raging Lichbone. But first, everyone had to be ushered to some form of safety, especially since there wasn't any right now. Muttering curses under his breath, Theo tried to assess the situation a little more before abandoning the attempt and summoning his magic. Maybe he wouldn't be able to do much, but at least he could help some.
The blue flames in his hands were eeriely similar to the ones that surrounded the spectral creature, making Theo smile grimly. He'd seen it around before, but really, what had triggered it into a rampage? Usually it was a gentle creature but now... It was anything but gentle. It was downright terrifying. He started towards it now, his own safety irrelevant.
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Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2011 7:24 pm
Turning to Orpheus as he passed, Shea gave a nod to his wave. Koray of course ignoring the, "Hey kitty," he had gotten from the male altogether. Shea had made her way towards the snack booth picking up a few delicious treats for herself and a few for her fuzzy companion. Popping a chewy treat into her mouth the Ars Lilium turned just in time to see people running and stone crashing down to the ground before, a vibration from the impact of it shook her, but what really startled her was hearing the monstrous cry of the Lichbone. Shea knew something was wrong with the creature in an instant, it was the protector of this place.... not the destroyer. She had to do something, most of the people around were students! Most of them were already in screaming panic, there was disorder and it disturbed her greatly, on a level she'd not yet had the privilege of dealing with."Koray! " She called loudly, even though the familiar was already at her side.
Her feet pushed her towards the beast, the Lichbone was enormous as she got closer, the fact was only further proven. She couldn't kill it, no. And to be honest she wasn't even sure anyone else for that matter could, at least not alone? Koray was in disbelief, not sure this was all it appeared to be but knowing they needed to do whatever to keep the other witches safe that were weaker. Holding out her hand, Koray in a blink of an eye transformed into a double-bladed staff, the Ars Lilium quickly taking a hold of the weapon and looking for the best and safety way up the monster if she could get close enough. Maybe just maybe she could work her hypnosis magic on the creature and lead it away from the large gathering of people, or at least use an illusion to distract it while they escaped.
Shea was as close as she was comfortable with at the moment, peering about and spotting Orhpeus and another Witch running right for it, herself having ran then moved to the side to be able to think. Shaking her head, attention going back to the Lichbone, clutching the weapon in her hand tightly she thought as quickly as possibly. They were going to be killed how could she help !? That's it ! It might be a stretch but it was time to put her magic to use, summoning all her courage she closed her eyes tightly, upon opening them the blues of her eyes shinned brighter than they ever had before, the creature had noticed the boys, so now there was only one hope, Shea put out her hands and with a few skilled symbols and a shake of her bracelet, two perfect replicas of the rushing pair appeared and started to run right in behind them, then ahead, then they broke off to try and distract the creature from the real witches. Maybe she could throw the beast off, though she hoped they'd take a hint and run as she was quite sure this illusion wouldn't last long...
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Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2011 7:40 pm
Cyrus noticed the sudden change in Miusa's expression and looked in the direction she did. His smile melted away as well as he saw what unfolded before him. Miusa's narration only spread the fear in his heart further. Panning the festival, he felt a pang of panic. All of these people were in danger...
And some were running right towards it! "Syracuse, fly ahead and try to talk them out of it before they reach the Lichbone. This isn't a time to play hero!" he said, and the dove nodded curtly before taking off, able to fly a little faster than he could run. Taking Miusa's hand, he led her through the crowd towards the boys, yelling at the students and visitors along the way, "Get to safety! You've got to leave! B-but don't panic too much and trample each other....Just go!"
He felt like everything was in a rush, swimming against the current like this. But there were two young witches that had no idea how in over their heads they were, and no matter what, he had to do something.
Syracuse managed to reach them and perched herself right on top of Orpheus's head. "Just WHAT do you think you're doing, young man. You turn your tush around. This. Instant." she flapped, her voice reminiscent of a worried grandmother.
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Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2011 7:43 pm
Salem turned as Miusa called, a grin splitting his face. Any vestiege of sanity he had given as a facade had fallen away, and the smile and frantic eye of a lunatic stared back at her. She had seen him before, oh yes, she had, had seen him and known all too well what he was, for he had seen the recognition upon her face. To her, he called, “Utterly and completely out of my head, yes! Come! We will vanquish this thing!” With that, Salem turned back on the Lichbone, thrumming and itching and nearly screaming with nihilistic glee, all common sense and caution thrown to the wind. And it wasn't so bad, was it? He could always stitch himself back together!
And even as he made his approach, Salem saw that he wasn't alone. Others were filtering through the crowd, a man Salem recognized as a Majin, decked in blue, and an Ars Lilium, her familiar scampering beside her. Accomplished mages and witches, like himself, far beyond the skill levels of the students.
Students like Ruria, who sat in Salem's path (for he had not rushed straight at the thing, as Miusa had apparently assumed), cloaked in thorns and cowering like the mewling babe she was. Standing over her, just out of range of the jagged vines that shrouded her, Salem said, almost conversationally, “Miss, you hide in an extremely poor place, yes indeed! If I may attempt to be the voice of wisdom and reason, I would suggest you crawl out of those brambles and make a beeline in any direction that's not the way I'm going!” With a wink and a cackle, Salem moved on.
Now, however, Salem was moving towards the thing, and as he walked, he called out, “Who had a hand in this thing's creation? Who has intimate knowledge of its making? The time for its UN-making seems to be at hand!”
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Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2011 8:37 pm
"How dare you presume that I am hiding, of all things!"
ruria fumed, clearly offended. "Do you not know the difference of hiding and protecting one's life from large, smashing objects that plummet to the earth with clear violent intention?"
The rocks around her shuddered slightly with her raise in temper, dully scraping on the cobblestone. One thing she learned today was simple. She had very little control of her temper when she began unleashing magic... a side-effect of the darkness she so loved to delve into? Not that she truly cared, honestly. She always maintained her senses, at least. "You're going to get yourselves killed!"
she shouted after them. Still, she couldn't bring herself to run away. She was inexperienced, still had much to learn, and yet she felt an odd sense of responsibility to stay there, to help if she had to. Stay she did, standing there resolutely as the Lichbone turned its gaze onto her.
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Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2011 8:50 pm
The Lichbone eyed the still-standing, pink-haired girl who had eyes locked with his. She seemed to share part of his anger...no need to bother with her, surely she was a kindred soul. Yes, yes...that was it. After a long moment, the Lichbone turned its gaze from her, refocusing it on the two boys who dared, with all the audacity of youth, to challenge him. His bones creaked and his illuminated flesh flared as the great guardian let out a screaming roar in their direction, smashing a five-foot long clawed foot down in front of them, cracking the street beneath it.
"D..o NOT... be...lIEV...E..... I wi..LL NOT..... CRRRRRUNCH YO...UU...." came his guttural voice; an awful sound that was accompanied by grinding bones and sizzling flesh. He could see the boy's doubles cast by the Ars woman, and the gravelly, grumbling voice boomed with monstrous laughter. "I w...on...'t ....be fOOLED...by TRRRRRRRiiii..cks...I will....CRRRUUNCH...the...se... TW..OO...." The great creature opened his maw wide, preparing to gobble up the boys before him.
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Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2011 8:59 pm
”I care not what pretense you use to justify your cowering!” Salem called over his shoulder at the girl, who was now standing, indignant at what appeared to Salem as him stating the truth. “If you mean to fight, then fight! If you mean to run, then run!” This yelling and cautioning, first from Miusa and her companion on the bench, and then from a student, was beginning to wear thin on Salem's nerves. What did they expect to happen if everyone ran away? Did they think the problem would just... go away? That some third party would drop a massive fist upon the thing and it would disappear into a cloud of ethereal smoke?
If only life were so easy.
But then the Lichbone, bucking and rumbling, turned its icy blue gaze upon him, and Salem sprung. With one of those vicious filed claws, the one that ended off his index finger, he made a thin slit upon the palm of his hand. Blood that was more like black ichor oozed out, and, dabbing his finger-tip into it as a painter would his palette, Salem drew the shape of a ragged black eye in the air, where it hung, suspended. The blood was there, as was the proper sign, and the sigul upon his hand glowed bright in agreement. With dark, low, guttural incantations, Salem called up an old spell he knew, a hex that impeded vision, though how well it functioned on a magical construct he knew not. To be safe, Salem danced back several steps, no retreat, not by far, but out of lunging distance of the thing. His hand oozed and dripped, and the viscous substance that poured out leaked slowly onto the ground.
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Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2011 9:17 pm
He was excited. The usually quiet town of Makai Royal was nothing like it's usual serene self today. You could feel the light atmosphere around the town as everyone prepared for the festivities to come. Lycander had been ready for days now. So much to do and so many new faces to meet! Of course he was all but vibrating with his excitement. His step was almost airy and bouncy as he made his way down to see the duels that were to occur. He wanted to watch them, see some of his fellows or the young witchlings in action. Maybe even jump in there himself (probably not; he was too easily distracted).
Upon noticing the growing crowd, Lycander moved right in among them, smiling and offering small hello's to anyone he bumped into on accident. He watched one of the duels with interest until distracted by some thing or another. And then an even bigger distraction in the form of shouting people and...oh what was that?
The redhead's gaze was instantly drawn up towards the creature that let out a roar of rage. His eyes widened, not sure what exactly it was. He'd never seen it and had not heard mention of it's name yet. Wait. He had heard it's name before. That was the Lichbone, wasn't it? Lycander stared at it. It was quite impressive. And terrifying and...why were there people running at it? Wasn't it supposed to be a guardian of sorts? He was confused. This was not how the festival was supposed to go. Lycander tried not to get run over by those running while searching for a familiar face among those fleeing.
Wait...that scent...emerald eyes darted around until he found her. "Shea!" The Ars Lilium would be able to tell him what was going on, right? It was the best he could think of. Maneuvering through the throng of people, he worked to get closer to her as he she worked her spell. It was some sort of illusion, he realized. Nothing like what he did, but the same idea. "Shea, what's going on? What can I do to help?" He didn't want to disrupt her concentration, but the redhead had at least figured out there was definitely something wrong now. Are they trying to attack the Lichbone? Why? Lycander was determined to get some answers and help in whatever way he could. He was a witch after all, wasn't he? He could damn well do something to help! And just what the hell was that spell he could see forming? Too many questions. Not enough answers. The golden bracelets around his wrists began to heat his skin as he prepared to use his own magic. Right after he figured out what he was using it against.
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