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[ Mathy ; Jenny ; Sayrike ; Anthony ; John ; Josh ; Melisandre : Narnia : Negator Room ]

Many of the others had no issues about trashing the Negator. John and Anthony seemed more than eager to do the honors themselves, and even Melisandre was eying the hovering machine with a predator's glare. Jenny was more apprehensive, looking between all the parties while biting her lip.

Kyle's outburst and Joe's vocalized concern did draw the attention of some, such as Josh, Matthew, Sayrike, and the sorceress. Sayrike was silent, but seemed at least aware of the situation, her masked gaze remaining in Kyle's direction. Melisandre's glare softened as she looked at the human, becoming more analytical, a brow raising in query. Matthew turned, and though he was also masked, an obvious wave of concern washing over him as he approached the dragoon, eager to offer support should he respond.

Josh's expression seemed hesitant, watching his brother with a look some might have identified as expecting. It looked like he wanted to say something, but wouldn't do so for one reason or another.

[Amy : Narnia : Negator Room]

"Alright," Amy said to Joe, still uncertain. "Go for it, then."

She backed away as some of the others were doing, and turned to check on the entrance to the room. She felt like a giant bolder was gonna roll down the stairs, or spikes were gonna fall from the roof, or something Indiana Jones like.

[[Narration - Golden Slaughterer]]

As the hammer fell and collided with the metal that should not have existed, it spat forth sparks and with a resounding boom it collided with the floor for a second crash. The negator sputtered for but a moment as though struggling to survive, before exploding. Fortunately, their magic had returned that very moment, protecting them from the mundane damage through the use of their dress spheres.

However, all was not right with the world.

Static shot through the air like rips in vision. Blurs and distortions ran through the walls and pulled apart bricks revealing pitch black abyss beyond. The small square room constricted and expanded, dimensions seeming to collapse in on themselves before something pulled it back together with a wining, screeching, scraping halt. The world grew still yet... flickered occasionally like a faulty connection.

Those within could feel a deep sense of Déjà vu, a minor headache, memories tickling the backs of their minds like spiders running up their spines. What was it? What could it be they were forgetting?

As these thoughts could plague their minds, footsteps rang down the staircase corridor. Uneven, stumbling, unhealthy steps approached. How long was it they stood their awaiting the figure to reach the doorway? Apprehension atop the rest of their growing confusion reached a climax as a hand reached through the darkened hallway and gripped the frame.

What came through the shadows was not a person, or, not what could be called one under normal circumstances. Certainly it had human shape, but with wisping trails of shadows being its only form besides a single reverse-teardrop shaped mask, pure white and featureless in absence of all but a pair of eyes and golden, jagged streaks like tears of gold running from each eye to the edge of the mask. This figure stumbled into the room amidst the gathering of earthlings. Though it looked at no one in particular, it seemed to make eye contact with everyone, it was staring down, a deathly gaze of black pits chilling to the core.

It was obvious to each of them that this thing standing before them, the featureless shadow, an embodiment of mystery, this was whatever, whoever was responsible for all the nightmarish acts on the floor above. Yet, despite any efforts to strike, maim, or kill this creature... even the most powerful spell at their disposal would all phase through it like the body-less ghost it was, barely tethered to the perception they considered reality.

In a distorted, unrecognizable voice, it breathed in like a hiss resonating with the small enclosed space around them causing it to vibrate, even tremor as though under the weight of a rushing train overhead- cracking of wood, shattering of windows, screeching, screaming, cries for help, a gurgling noise beneath the floor- It spoke with an almost tortured tone with a hint of exasperation begging for answers, "Who... am... I?"

[Joe: Narnia: Negator Hall]

The monk held up his arms, shielding his eyes when the negator exploded. With it gone, he immediately dropped the mace, hands instinctively grasping for his bo, which appeared instantly in his hands.

Joe!
Sylph!

He could once again feel the wind fairy buzzing about his head and heart, and Joe wanted to revel in the magic that was coursing through him once more...except Kyle was suddenly a lightbulb, and then suddenly on the ground.

"Kyle!"

Joe ran towards his friend, not really sure what he should be doing. Was it magical? Did he need more energy? Or would that hurt him more?

It was then he looked up, staring at the 'shadow' in the doorway, as it came into the room. He immediately flung out his hand, sending a wave of wind blades at the thing...which did nothing at it looked around the room.

And Kyle was on his knees...Joe was immediately defensive, standing between Kyle and the shadow thing, his weapon at the ready. With a cry of "Sylph!" he called on his summon, the two fairies appearing with a flash of light and a gentle breeze billowing through the group as they started circling the dragoon, always keeping him in between the two of them, wind flowing around them as a sort of makeshift barrier and possibly keep Kyle safe from...whatever the thing could do.

Not that he knew it would help, considering not even the creature seemed to know what it was.

[Nicholas <> Narnia <> Negator Room]

The Ivalician had remained quiet throughout this little adventure, lost in thoughts of his own. None of this had made any sense, the riddle being a rather strange twist to this murder puzzle. Now add the Negator in the basement hideaway, and the young man seemed lost and disappointed with the turn of events. As the Negator was smashed, the Host of Chaos expected the Esper's rage to flood into his mind.

Mana flowed through, but his summon remained silent.

Nicholas closed his eyes and tried to focus in on his summon. There was nothing but darkness in his view, no words, no colors, no sights. The only thing Nicholas could hear was a very faint sound of piano music, starting from the beginning as soon as the 'song' would end. He blinked, coming out of his apparent stupor in shock.

Chaos was sealed? But when could he have done it? And for what purpose? Did the other Earthlings help him? He looked around, ready to ask the blonde agromancer for help, but she was nowhere to be seen. Turning towards the Dragoon and the eternally angry monk, he opened his mouth to ask.

Alas, interruptions of the dark entity variety always seemed to show up whenever the swordsman needed exposition. He faced the gurgling shade, Garland's sword drawn into a battle stance in its default form.

{James : Narnia : Negator Room}

When Joe smashed the negator James felt it immediately. His body even shook slightly as his magic was restored. The last time they had experienced a negator he had been out of his mind when it's effects were removed so he didn't remember the sensation. The power coursed through his veins, returning energy to the deprived networks both regular and lunar. The corsair's focus turned to Kyle briefly as it seemed the return of his magic did not agree with him at all and he collapsed.

'Fenrir!' The corsair called out mentally, glad to once again feel the nudge against his heart by none other than his wolf summon. 'I hope that is the last we lose contact.'

'As do I, that makes the third time. I grow very tired of it... On your guard!'

James snapped to attention hexagun immediately called to his right hand and aimed at the doorway as the shadow creature stood there. A strange figment, the likes of which the corsair had not seen before screeching and wailing and begging the same question. 'Who am I?' This was the monster that had taken their loved one's hearts and as Joe proved with his attack, it seemed it could not be hit. The corsair had let his guard down once around a dark entity and had paid for it dearly. He wouldn't make that mistake again, he listened as the other Joe and Amy tried to reason with it. Something seemed off about the creature, like it was barely tethered to reality... a lot of things were starting to feel that way.

'Fen do you know what's going on?'

'Everything about this is a lie, Don't trust any of it. Beyond that I'm not sure,' The lunar wolf replied.

[Kyla: Narnia: Grand Hall]

Steven, a villain. Was that culprit responsible for this whole experience- and his apparent “role”?

As much as it was pleasing to solve such a riddle together as a group, the small victory was short lived, and over shadowed by Kyle inner plight. He was a person who didn’t like to reveal his struggles Kyla figured, but it didn’t take a genius to know he was suffering in some strange way. Just like back in the snowy woods when their groups split up. He was shouldering something that straining the confines of his self-control.

Just when she couldn’t resist the urge to ask any longer, she- along with everyone else, particularly Kyle, and Bobbi, felt drawn to a statue of the witch. It hooked into her senses, captivating them in such an alien way. Compelled like by a pied piper she moved towards it, and discovered the staircase.

Every step she took into the passage below made her stomach drop. Perhaps it was just the concept of sinking deeper into this situation, both figuratively and physically that bothered her. She could hear someone calling behind her, someone she’d have gone back for had her body not been on this strange auto pilot.

And that’s how they found it, alone in the empty room surrounded by stone- it was below their fete the whole time. That blasted Negator. At Last!
She should have been elated, happy, some small sense of accomplishment but just laying her eyes on it put her on edge. Kyla was surprised she wasn’t the only one suspicious of the thing. Even if it was earned, this victory felt like a trap as well. She wished she could converse with Carbuncle again.
When Joe stepped forward, Kyla made to speak up but her voice died in her chest. It tightened. Every time she felt her objections squish themselves down into her belly like some knee jerk reaction. She doubted her doubts, and suspected any good fortune. That’s not a good thing right?

But what else choice did they have open to them. Kyle was the one who screamed- a cry wrenched seemingly from his very gut it made the girl jump in place and drop her book. Fidgeting, nervous fingers collected her pen and book she other conversed. Sure getting their powers back was must- but despite all the evidence, it was all circumstantial- and it would mean nothing if all of this wasn’t real. Not even the victory. They could just be playing along with some bigger plan that would spring on them the moment they took the cheese- like good little mice.

But alas, what other choice did they have. Being powerless, mean they had no other options to utilize except just giving up- and no one here seemed keen on that front.

Kyla heard her heart pounding in her chest, harder and harder- a hand floated there, and she felt it banging against her rib change with the panic of a trapped bird. If only some things were like in the stories. An instinct, a sense… where was that moment days ago when she just ‘felt’ something and it was right. Her instincts used to always be right- used to be.
She braced herself, face half hidden behind the book she cleaved too as Joe began to smash the object-

And of course all hell broke loose.

Kyle …reverted with patterns on his body that resembled something very familiar to her. She didn’t like it, what this condition he seemed to be in continued to do. But could she really ask him about it? Now certainly wasn’t the time, even when he dropped to the ground. All Kyla could do was try and se eif he was alright- he certainly wasn’t, even if he said so.

His slight recovery was followed by the appearance of that ‘thing’ coming into the room. Kyla stared into its face, those large golden eyes freaky and familaiar. A theme of this world, this universe.

~ Kyla! Kyla Kyla can you hear me!??~

‘ Oh thank God Tyue, are you ok??!’

~ I’m fine, listen you- you erm.. you… …grrrrrrr…~

‘What?’

~ I don’t know, ..dangit I just don’t know!!! This- this isn’t right! Something’s wrong! I itch inside!~

‘ I think I know what you mean. This whole situation is convoluted… I don’t believe it. I refuse. I’ll wait to be proven wrong and so far…’

~ Your instincts may be righter then you think. Either way, I’m with you!~

Kyla- didn’t drop the original book, she slipped it into the pouch back on her dressphere as it shifted into its regular battle attire, and summoned her original book. “Alright spooky, let’s dance..” But when she tested a strike with a Meta slash, it passed right through!

“Damnit!” Maybe her power not really back? But that didn’t explain Tyue’s return to her mind, and she KNEW it was definitely her summon. It felt right- at least that part of it. It was her other half, Carbuncles presence slid into place in the back of her mind and back into her heart like a wall had moved out of the way. A touchless warmth she didn’t know how badly she missed until it returned.

The other had handled the barrier move next, what else could she do? Man she wished she had SCAN-… perhaps she could invent a spell like it? Now may not be a good enough time to test it. She’d have to figure out how to make it work first and right now she could try something else.

Maybe a portal? How much mana did she have left? “What’s the plan? If all else fails I could try getting us somewhere else? But that’s a one-time thing until a full recharge ok?” But where would they go? Upstairs? Outside the castle? Would that even help? Damnit she hated not knowing if this was real or not, that's why she found INCEPTION so ******** terriyfing!

“..assuming that even works..” she muttered while still keeping her eyes on the creature that had yet to strike. “…Steven?...” she repeated alone with Amy. “hmmm.. I doubt that would be all, to our so called Villain. It’s a bit underwhelming.. Famous last words..?”