Welcome to Gaia! ::

((Yus! Get well soon. x3 I haven't had a cold in awhile- I guess it's all the garlic my mom's been feeding me. But I've felt like I'm about to vomit so many times lately, eww. I guess that's also because of all the garlic my mom's feeding me? xD;;

By the way, Minatsuki didn't take the hand Lamen was offering her and got up on her own? ;^; *so ignored* xDD ))

Lamen watched as Brantalis and his healers activated the gate magic- so, they weren't all that tired after all. Gates were a draining magic themselves, even when several people joined together in casting. They were good healers, as those appointed to a sage should be- able to accomplish so much healing and then this in such a short amount of time, without rest.

Meanwhile, Simurgh figured she could go keep Tura company during the flight to the city. She communicated her intentions to Lamen, and the little flock took off, the sound of the spell's command muffled by the sound of thirty small pairs of flapping wings. At higher altitude, the flock swirled together in an impressive array of colors as the giant avian reassumed her original form and glided below Tura so as not to shield the gryphon from the sun.


--

Lamen waved discreetly to Kusanagi's son, intending to visit him later, and returned Brantalis' invitation with a nod of agreement. "That would be good. Thank you. I am eager to see the famed Dragon Festival this year... and to meet the skilled mages you have gathered here. Well, then... I have never used a portal before, so this will be... interesting. See you later." Upon that, she stepped in and winked out.

((Aw... s'allright. And thanks. x3 Just eat tons of garlic and you MIGHT be fine soon! 8D [/failedadvice] A lot of people are getting colds lately. surprised ;; ))

((Is it okay if I say Asako and Mina went through the gate? I'll change it if need be.))

Vilya gave up with a shrug and a shake of her head, then followed after Lamen and disappeared through the gate.
Immediately she felt as though her body was being taken apart and then put back together again all in the course of a few seconds. When she appeared in the courtyard she nearly fell over. Her head spun as she stepped away from the seal.
"Tura wasn't kidding." She felt sick as her vision crawled steadily back to her. When she had taken a few moments to recover she saw Brantalis along with Kusanagi and Lamen a little ways away.
"I don't think I've ever been through anything quite like that." She remarked as she stopped beside the dragon sage.

"It affects some worse than others," he replied with a slight chuckle.

Tura slid sideways and flew lower so she was just above the great bird's right wing.

For a moment she lifted her head to the warm air, enjoying the afternoon breeze as it played on her face.
The sun caught her feathers, making them shimmer in brilliant blue and purple hues. Suddenly Tura noticed a vague spotted pattern on her wing that the sun betrayed on every down stroke.
Blast, the dye is fading.
She kept this to herself though, turning instead to Simurgh.

((Sorry for the delay, all. I had absolutely no time yesterday. I got up and went to work, then I went straight from work to my girlfriends grandmas place about 50 miles away, then from there to her moms which was 24 miles back the way I came, then I went home, then I went to bed. Long day...))

Sai stepped through the gate with Stratus right at his side, as soon as they did Sai regretted it. His vision shattered and then reassembled itself as he felt the same being done to his body. He thought he could have taken that in stride, but he had forgotten that he had not removed the crystal from Stratus' ankle. While his own vision shattered he could also see the same happening through Stratus' eyes. Their bodies reassembled on the other side and Sai dropped his staff and fell to his knees. His stomach heaved, but he was able to contain himself before he made a mess of the courtyard that he had barely glimpsed before doubling over.

Stratus asked.

Sai responded, his words sounded labored even in his mind.

Stratus pulled the tie on the crystals band while Sai took his staff in his hand from where it had landed next to him. Sai hauled himself back to his feet and stepped out of the way, leaning heavily on his staff for support, Stratus stepped beside him, ready to reach out a taloned foreclaw and catch him should he fall.

The day was bright and the road was easy as Damiano made his way toward the village which harboured the Sage of Dragons. He had been travelling for a year now and not once had he visited this far north from his own home town. His staff tapped the ground oddly, as though keeping up with an unsung tune as his own steps slowly turned to hops and skips. A laugh broke out from beneath his mask as good humour filled his spirit. The day was so brilliant and a most festive air could be sensed. He had heard a rumour from passing merchants of some ‘festival of the dragon’ that was supposed to happen soon. Barely able to contain himself, Damiano broke out into song.

"Your one true love's a sailing ship that anchors at our pier. We lift her sails, we man her decks and scrub the portholes clear; and yes, our lighthouse shines for her, and yes, our shores are warm; we steer her into harbour, any port in a storm. The sail-" interrupted Arkanathalasana, the dragon spirit which had been resting in spirit form deep within the mask that both contained him and hid Damiano's face from the world.

The interruption had caused Damiano to completely forget what he was doing. Standing still for a moment, he pondered his own actions and, after a long moment's thought, blushed red beneath his crescent mask. "I was singing, Ark. I would have figured you could discern that for yourself," Damiano replied teasingly. He knew very well that Ark, with his vast draconic knowledge, could understand that much. the dragon's chuckles were easy to hear in his mind. Despite his best attempts to let it pass, Damiano still got a little flustered by that comment. spoke the dragon within Damiano's mask before his companion could get a word in, <...Is why you are singing so merrily?>

Damiano was forced to pause. The dragon could feel through their empathic link that Damiano was going to react badly, and for interrupting the negative outburst of emotions on such a beautiful day, Damiano thanked his comrade. "Ah, well there is a festival in the town ahead of us. A festival honouring dragons, from what I heard! I was just trying to get in the mood," he said cheerfully as he continued his steady walk toward the village. He didn't want to be late for the festivities, if there even were any. At the very least, there had to be a few mages he could challenge or learn from. Either way, it was an exciting prospect that he simply couldn't resist.

Arkanathalasana said, ending their conversation as he drifted off to sleep once more. Damiano chuckled and began to hum the cheerful tune of the song he had been singing moments ago.

"I'm okay," I'm just not used to gates I suppose, that was my first time. She then realized who she was speaking to.
"Oh. My name's Vilya." She recovered quickly, holding out her hand in a warm greeting. "I'd introduce my partner Tura, but that'll have to wait I guess.

Brantalis smiled at the two before summoning one of his servants to his side. He whispered a few short instructions and sent the boy running off.
By this time most of the entire party; dragons healers and all had made their way through the gate and were already beginning to return to normal duties.
Lessir, along with Quellar, Svalin and Chi-linn took their leave to recover in the caves not far from the sage's castle. Only Kusanagi stayed.
"The festivities will start at sunset," Brantalis raised his voice so he would be heard. "They will be held here, in my courtyard." Once this was said he turned to the group of combatants who; only hours before had appeared here as hopeful challengers.
"Combatants, stand before me," Brantalis' voice suddenly became regal and strong. He stood tall, holding his head up and adopting a formal mask of professional indifference.
"Come and take what you have fought for, and rightfully earned." He put his hand back without turning his head. The servant boy appeared around a corner with a worn oaken box and carefully put it into the sage's weathered fingers. It was clearly very old. Bits of gold leaf clung feebly to it's gnarled edges and there were impressions where once precious gems may have been placed.
Brantalis drew the box around, opening it's lid carefully and waiting for the combatants to gather.

Tura shook her head slowly, still feeling the strain the battle had put upon her.

The gryphon angled her wings to take her lower, they were almost upon the castle now and she looked forward to a good long sleep in the shade of a tree.

It was just after midday when Damiano finally reached the Dragon Sage's village and he thanked the gods he had. The morning sun wasn't difficult to travel under but after noon his black robes served to attract the heat he had no desire for. Now that he had finally reached the village, he could attempt to find a place for lodging or at least get some well deserved shade. He had been somewhat unfortunate to find himself caught between the shade of a few trees and the plains that held no shade which marked the last stretch to the village when the sun had become strongest. Sweating lightly, Damiano made his way toward to first establishment that remotely seemed like an inn or a tavern. Now that he thought of it, he could really use a drink as well.

he said telepathically to his companion. Damiano could hear the mental projection of a yawn which brought a smile to his face. he asked his draconic companion as the dragon's presence within him started feeling stronger (a sign that the dragon had actually awakened). replied Arkanathalasana in a groggy manner. The dragon had overslept, again, thought Damiano to himself. He made a mental note to keep his companion from getting too lazy. This wasn't a vacation, after all.

Damiano was about to say something to his companion when he felt the urge to look around. Usually one to obey simple urges such as that, he made a quick sweep of the area only to realize that he had lost the ability to see with his left eye! Rolling his right eye, Damiano understood what this was. Ark was looking through the amethyst eye-slit of his mask, perhaps to get a better view of the village they were in. No more than a few seconds later, the dragon began to speak again. the dragon inquired. Damiano could tell that Ark was expecting more for a festival that honoured dragons. exclaimed the black-robed mage as his stomach made its hunger sounds. Both he and the dragon laughed as Damiano made their way to a prominent building that, to him, seemed to be the local inn.

((Pokes Mythee. Can't do much with Vilya or Tura until Lamen replies I think, I'll focus on other bits then.))

Kusanagi watched the sage calmly, his wounds had been properly seen to and he was enjoying the warm sun on his back as he lay carefully about the fountain. Lessir came up to him silently, a worried look in her deep blue eyes.

At first the great dragon did not seem too concerned.
Lessir shook her head.

Kusanagi thought for a moment before rising slowly.

Meanwhile the young dragon plodded gingerly down a narrow side street of the town. Through almost every window he could see people preparing for the festivities of tonight. He had been looking forward to the festival for months, and the sights, smells and sounds of the town only fed his excitement further.
It was his first time going about the town un-escorted and he reveled in his newfound freedom. He recited to himself the meaning of each different symbol he passed, hanging above doors and outside windows: The blacksmith, the cobbler, the butcher and so. Finally he came to a prominant stone building with a large blue sign. On it was painted a young woman and behind her an elegant green dragon. He could not read yet, but his father had told him that the name of the inn was "The Damsel and Dragon"
He had just turned to go when he caught sight of an unusual figure dressed all in black.
The little dragon studied the man more carefully and concluded that he must be another combatant, but where was his partner?
Without a second thought he trotted off to intercept this newcomer.