Welcome to Gaia! ::

((I am trying, but its so hard when there's such an interesting story being told. If this was a book, I'd have read all the chapters by now. sad ))
Nuria had just turned when she saw the fox smile at her kindness. What followed, however, alarmed her greatly. Still, she seemed reluctant to share her burdens, so Nuria decided to give her time.
She stepped into her nest and nudged some branches aside until there was a hole large enough to serve as entrance for the kitsune. "Before you step inside, I must say this... I have opened my home to you, recognizing your grief and pain, so that I may offer any comfort I can. You are well traveled, and a friend of many races. However, we know nothing of each other, which causes mistrust.
"I will not demand answers. You are free to give as much as you feel comfortable with. Just know that until we can trust, I may cast you off this cliff at any time." And with that, Nuria bowed her head respectfully.

The fox nodded.

There are secrets I must keep, for to reveal them would to cause more terrible things to happen. But I mean no harm. My name is Rakia.

She stripped off her blade, which was tied to her waist, and she propped it up against the entrance. Just enough inside to be sheltered by the elements, and far enough away from the nest to hard to reach. She also dropped her bag next to it.

She turn, turned, and bowed in the traditional Japanese fashion; hands together, eyes turned down, before stepping into the nest and looking about.



Rak nodded and helped her get used to her legs. When she was sturdy enough to stand and walk, Rakia looked upon all the bodies and rubbed her chin.

Rakia pulled out a long red and black cloak from her bag and slid it on, clasping it shut with a rose for a clasp. As everyone looked on, strange things started to form out of odd, ethereal energy. After a while, they seemed to be carts, made of blue ghostly like energy, decorated with designs of various things, mostly of Minos at forges, and armor.

The carts formed around the fallen bodies, and seemed to be pulled by strange hunchbacked imps with pieces of paper over their faces. The pieces of paper had different Japanese characters painted on them.

It was then that the Kitsune looked to the city in the distance. They'd want to be cremated in their own city, she knew. But how to get there and back without getting horribly lost? The maze was their first defense. Minos had no problem with Mazes... everyone else, not so much.

She rubbed her chin as she thought upon this, her tails waving about lazily.

It is tingly. She replied. I feel so full of energy! Like I've eaten too much sugarcane. I feel like I could run and jump and dance forever. She giggled, before running over to the teapot. It was a rare tea that was hard to get even in Japan, as it came from Africa. Came from the Rooiboos bush. She liked it with Cinnamon, nutmeg, and a bunch of other spices in it.

She settled next to her Sensei and her tails waved about. She had not noticed, or at least not mentioned, that she technically should have only three tails... currently she had four. The little Geisha doll jumped off of her back and started dancing about on the table. She was happy to get her teacher's praise.

Rakia sniffed and wandered over the Sybil. She peered at the necklace. It was a design of a Minos, with his eyes closed and his ears drooped, a look of serene thought on his face.

Looking at it carefully, she gently held out a hand. May I?

((Yes! Isn't it great?))

Finita continued to gently heat up Helena with the water. The Minotauress sighed when she could move and talk and cry again; though the unusual sorrow of her tears confused the Minos woman.

What is wrong? Did you have a dream? No... normal dreams don't have such effects... A vision? Please, tell me what transpired! There must be more to this then the ice!

She looked down and pat the woman gently on the back, before carefully hugging the sobbing Gorgon (being careful to not squish any of her snakes). She was terribly confused, and she didn't think the sudden change from her room being tropical to icy was the cause of it. Upon seeing the snakes searching for something, the Minos woman gave a small smile and pulled the topaz lotus out of her pocket and presented it to the snakes. It looked so tiny in Finita's large four fingered hand...

~~~

Shikoba wandered into the large lab, looking over the flyer she had been given. Her eyes flicking over the paper, she wondered what this Project Mythos would be. It sounded exiting!

Striding up the the counter, she noticed the shy woman with the mousy grey hair and the very... drab clothing. She was standing on tip-toe and was trying to talk to the woman behind the receptionist's counter.

Shikoba strode up, dressed in a very bright colors. She stood a good head taller then the little mousy woman; Her long hair was a bronzish color in the light and was tied back by a bright red ribbon. She had big brown eyes. Her vest was argyle in style, though the diamond patterns was in black and the points were bright red. She was wearing a basic white shirt under it, and a pair of black pants with some red and black checkering up one leg. Under it she wore some white boots. Around her neck was a dream catcher, and she wore a beaded bracelet around her wrist.

I'd like to see if this is the right place as well. She piped up. Project Mythos, yes?

The receptionist was a Italian woman with a big chest and sharp dark blue office garb. She had been organizing what looked like a ton of notes away into a folder, before she looked up at them both.

She smiled. "Yes, of course. This is the place for volunteers for Project Mythos."

Unearthing a pair of clipboards from under a mountain of papers, she handed them both a contract.

"The basics of the contract is this. For participating in the research, you will get food, wage, and a roof over your head. We also provide medical care if needed. We only ask in return that you keep the Project.... well, Top Secret. If you decide to leave before you get a chance to participate, we will not force you to say. We only ask that you don't tell anyone." She said with a wink, putting a finger to her lips. "If for some reason you end up hurt we will take care of you."

Shikoba flicked through the pages, reading the contract before signing. The contract was vague on the subject of the research, but had no hidden fees or anything of the sort written in. It provided food, housing, and money. Shikoba found it to be risky with few details on the actual research to be conducted... But with the kind of rewards involved, how could she say no? Maybe she could even get the lab to fund her going to collage! With a smile she picked up a pen and signed her name.

Maybe I will end up with some cool powers or something.... She shook her head, a grin at the thought. Naw. That only happens in Comic books.

((Tektek of Shikoba! Now I just need to make a profile for her. xp ))

It was morning time in Alex's room. He was just stirring when he heard a knock on the door.

"Alex!" It was the black haired scientist who had helped him out yesterday, who had the longish hair and black glasses. "Alex! I can't find Ratchet and I saw Finita charging about the lab with Helena covered in Ice! I need someone to help me see if the rest of the girls are okay!"

(( Tek tek of this random scientist that I keep using. I can't decide if I want to call him Micheal, Marzell, or Marven. I'm geting an M vibe with him.))

Merlin smiled warmly patting her head. This girl was so adorable and he laughed happily at her response to the magic. Watching her geisha doll dance about he had never been filled with so much joy!

"Yes it does! Though if you aren't careful thunder magic will give you a shock! It's cheeky like that." he mused happily stroking his beard. Once the sound of the tea pot began to whistle, he snapped his fingers and two tea cups flew over to them as the pot began to pour the sweet tea into the cups magically.

Merlin would teach her how to move objects like this soon, once she could fully transform into a human that is. She had four tails though, Rakia was full of so many surprises.

Yet in the back of his mind Merlin was frustrated. Over the months he had gone, with her, to visit the other races to see if he could learn how to use their trait powers. Again and again he was told it was impossible for him to learn, and that really hurt his pride. He was an all powerful Wizard! Surely something like having a stone gaze, or a hypnotizing melodious voice should and would be easy for him to learn! He was getting fed up with them some, and was still trying to seek out ways to manipulate that power.

He was failing, and slowly he was starting to get fed up. Rakia's sweetness melted his heart though and Merlin wanted to put his whole effort into is apprentice.
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Alex grumbled a bit. He wasn't a morning person and it was obvious. "Five more minutes mom..." he grumbled in his sleep but felt the scientist shake him awake. Staring at the man with tired eyes he was half paying attention to him while trying to wake up.

So he was needed? Rats he wanted to sleep a little more. Oh well it couldn't be helped. "Alright I'm getting up." he said to the man and gave him a nod. After showering and drinking at least three cups of coffee, Alex was awake.

Not really sure what he should be doing, Alex headed out to the main entrance and noticed a short and timid looking girl standing at the counter. She looked like some kind of book worm but, this girl was cute. Walking over he smiled to her warmly.

"H-Hello there. Are you one of the girls who's one of the volunteers?" he asked somewhat shyly. This girl was so short, so cute, he had the sudden urge to just hug her and cuddle her. Though from the way she was clutching everything, she appeared frazzled some. "I'm Alexander by the way, call me Alex. Are you alright? Do you need anything while you wait? I could get you some coffee or water or something to drink if you wanted Miss." he politely asked.

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The moment a few beams of the morning sunlight entered the ritual viewing room, the medium sized flower bloomed. Laying in the center, on her side, was the cute little Olivia who oddly seemed a bit chubby now. Though one would hardly notice unless they looked close enough.

Sitting up she yawned and looked down. Frowning she poked her tummy. "W-What!? Oh no! Don't tell me that fruit was fattening!!! My figure!!" she groaned then gasped clutching her hands over her mouth.

Her voice! Why did it sound like she had been sucking helium? Wait why was everything so big! Standing up she felt her wings flicker and the woman began to panic. Though it was then that the memories of taking the ritual and everything flooded into her mind and she stopped to sigh. That's right, she was a fairy now. An adorable chubby looking fairy to be precise.

Poking her pudge again she frowned. "I need exersize! Time to fly around a bit!" she said with slight annoyance. Closing her eyes she moved her wings and began to hover yawning and flying around some.

Of course the thought of fruit made her drool and her stomach growl. Strange, Olivia didn't get this hungry. Fairies weren't supposed to be fat were they!? She hoped not, that would be so embarassing!

Flying out of the room she began to hover about the facility. Curious she began to explore each of the rooms, kind of looking for the lunch room. Breakfast was on her mind now, her stomach wouldn't stop grumbling!

((Understandable. Even with the power of a phoenix, she wouldn't have all the experience that one normally had.))
"Perhaps... Not nearly so clean as one of your's, but I'm rather proud of it. I took me a few lifetimes before I was attuned enough to the flow of magic in this world to study its eddies and currents. Even around you, I can sense how it embraces you." Nuria nodded gratefully.
She turned and spread her hands wide and a table appeared laden with food of all kinds and from many lands. While it may not fill her stomach, Nuria's inner flames were being projected in such a way as to flood Rakia's body with nourishment and health.

With a smile, Rakia sat down at the table and started to eat. She pulled over a dish of Curry with rise and pulled out a pair of chopsticks which she ate daintily with.

I have not had the ability to be blessed enough to see the currents of the magics. She said. But I studied under Merlin Alfer. My knowledge of the energies are more intuitive. Are you... Familiar with him? She asked. She wondered, hoped even, that the phoenix knew of his possession, but she doubted it. Her Infinite sight was completely blocked when it came to him in this time frame, possessed by that... thing. She doubted the Pheonix knew of it.



After a moment of Alfer steaming the bleeding in her nose, the fox finally lowered her paws and blinked wearily. A few moments later, the geisha doll appeared on the table again.

I saw things, Alfer Sensei. I don't... I don't understand them. I didn't get a full view of them. They are scary and frightening, all shadows and strife. I feel... it has something to do with your quest of learning the different powers of the different peoples of this world. Please, Alfer Sensei.... please, don't continue perusing it... please... The geisha doll was on it's knees, begging in fear, but the fox just lay on it's side, it's tails still and eyes clamped shut.

~~~

Micheal smiled weakly for a second, before thinking.

If I get you food, will you help me with something, Miss Olivia? I tried to ask Alex, but he completely gaffed me off. He said, holding out a hand for Olivia to perch on.