Welcome to Gaia! ::

"My bond?" Brantalis echoed her with a smile, giving a mental call to those of his dragons that were near. Most were large enough that they could be seen anywhere in the courtyard and lifted their heads to give further hint to where they were.

"Quellar is by the fountain." The sage indicated a stout, short-legged dragon with obsidian scales and massive fore claws, enjoying the light melody that the minstrels had started on.
"Chi-Linn you can see on the balcony just above the main hall of my castle." A great, blue, serpent of a dragon with a sun-yellow main coiled happily around one of the turrets flanking the balcony Brantalis indicated. His bird-like feet gripped the red-clay shingles effortlessly.
There is Lessir, the water dragon and Kusanagi, my great green effort;" Here he waved his hand to the front gate where the two were mind-speaking quietly to themselves. Kusanagi dwarfed the smaller sky-blue dragon as he rose to the height of a two-story house or taller.
Came the deep throaty mind-voice of his since longest companion.
The sage answered Kusanagi softly.

Upon the short silence he received from the mage he added;
Brantalis received a mental nod from the green drake.
"So there you have it." He turned back to Aiva, "although My fifth, Svalin does not appear to be anywhere in sight, he's a fire drake and a handsome one at that." The sage did nothing to conceal the pride he felt of each of his dragon companions. He had worked long and hard with each, strengthening their minds, bodies and the soul bonds he had with them.
"You may feel free to speak with them through your own bonded, and ask any questions of them you like. I am sure they could also tell you every little detail about the festival." He summoned Quellar from his place by the minstrels with a quick thought.
"Forgive me lady Aiva, Vilya, Sai, but I must carry on with my festival duties. Let me--before I take my leave--warn you of the fireworks display that will take place just after sunset and promise that you will not be disappointed."
He bowed with a flourish of his wine-red dress robes and disappeared into the crowds.
Once away from the little group he made a b-line for the dragon combatant Kusanagi had spoken of, intending to inercept him before he reached Aiva and her companion.


The gryphon purred,
Tura herself had known no shade who would even consider a bond with a human (There not being many gryphons in that category either).

Tura was about to go on when something at the darker horizon caught her sharp eye.

Quellar the earth dragon approached Gryphon and Shade slowly as he was bidden by Brantalis.

((Sai, can I get Svalin to have seen the guard's advance and now comes to warn Brantalis?))

Damiano had blinked a moment only to find the sage had vanished. Slightly disappointed, he slowed his pace and continued his walk toward the group of mages. Hopefully this momentary loss of the sage would be just that, momentary. It was then that Damiano heard the thoughts of his companion, the young magus replied as he changed his course in order to meet with the sage. It wasn't long before he made a full stop in order to give him plenty of room for a proper introduction to the sage.

"Great sage of Dragons, I am Damiano Partigiano of the Maghi Anima here to enjoy the festival honouring dragons. I have brought with me my companion, Arkanathalasana, silver wyrm of the Shield. We are humbled in your presence," said the young magus, his tone of voice truly humble as he bowed low, sweeping his robes in a customary flourish as he did so. Ark bowed as well, his neck bringing his head low and his wings contorting in such a way that resembled a human's arms with one bent close to his body and the other thrust away. "We graciously accept your offer to stay here at your home during the festivities. We will try to live up to your standards as your guests," Damiano concluded as he rose to his feet again. His mask seemed to take in much of the sunlight, causing an unusual shimmer as he rose. The amethyst gem stood out against the silver-scaled mask in this instant.

((I'm a gettin'!))

"Maghi Anima?" Brantalis mused out loud before returning the sweeping bows of his new guests.
"I think I should also bear some humility towards your title, good Damiano."
The old sage admired the silver drake for a moment before adding. "I have never been fond of formalities so please, call me Brantalis."
The sun had almost completely set by this point (and it was certainly well behind the castle). Everywhere mage-crafted lanterns sprung up to supplement the dying light. They were no more than small balls of energy, shining in muted, pastel colors of blue, green, purple and gold. They hung idly about the tables of food, over the fountain, in the trees and all along the many courtyard paths. Some had even settled close to the music stand, giving further sight to the eyes of the players who now worked through a delicate serenade of ancient origins.
"You are welcome to venture anywhere in my castle, and your dragon will be treated as one of my own." Brantalis finished in a friendly tone. "I hope you find the festival to your liking?"
He did not have time to wait for an answer. Quellar's concerned mind-voice told him of Svalin and he looked up to scan the darkening sky.
He caught sight of the firedrake as the brilliant fire-orange blur came rocketing over the courtyard like a bat out of Hell. He was clearly very excited about something.
Guests scattered like fall leaves upon his landing and Brantalis hurried against the current of bodies to his youngest companion's side.

Vilya and her gryphon exchanged looks before following after Brantalis at a respectable distance.
Svalin made no effort to tone his "voice" down. In fact he probably intended for all the combatant's creatures to hear him.


He was breathing heavily from covering a great distance in a short amount of time.

The sage grew very quiet and put a hand to his beard thoughtfully. I had hoped those stuff-shirts in the capital would heed my complaint and prevent them from coming this year.


Brantalis composed himself quickly and turned to realize that half the courtyard was staring wide-eyed at him. He cleared his throat.
"No need for concern ladies and gentlemen, please, carry on."
The towns people obeyed slowly, but Brantalis knew he owed an explanation to the combatants, who would know what it was Svalin had said (And the worried tone he had said it in) via their own creatures.

Vilya listened solemnly as Tura repeated Svalin's words, she expected Stratus and Umbra to have done the same for their partners.
"Who are these soldiers in red?" she mused out loud, this was one of the rare occasions where her voice sounded truly serious.

((Wait, they're coming to investigate a crime right? Wasn't that the plan?))

((Damiano should get himself introduced to the other combatants soon too.))

"I've never heard of any soldiers that wear red." Sai said.





Only a few short minutes after Brantalis had spoken to his festival guests the small team of Guards arrived. They all looked identical to the casual observer with their bodies entirely concealed save for their eyes ans fingers.

Commander Aruhl Gregor zeroed in on Brantalis almost immediately. He had never seen nor met the man before. But his briefing on him had been thorough, he recognized him on sight based on the detailed description that he had been given. His men were able to distinguish him from their fellows easily based on him domineering personality, his commanding voice, and his piercing blue eyes as he was only man in their unit to have eyes of that color.

Aruhl led his unit directly through the crowd, which parted to either side to allow them to pass, up to the Sage so well renowned for his dragons.

As it should be. Aruhl thought in combined satisfaction and disgust as the villagers parted for them.

He came to a crisp military stop directly before the Sage. His unit members came to a stop as well, his second at his right hand and slightly behind, the rest slightly behind him and in a perfect double file line. He placed his left hand on his sword hilt and, contemptuously, gave an honorative bow. His unit did not bow, but stood stiff and still, at attention. Anything that was said or done by their commander was done in representation fro their entire unit, his single bow was enough for them all.

"Sage Brantalis, the General Eise Enhwer commands that this unit, Unit 0083 of the Royal Imperial Guards be permitted to observe your festival once again. He also commands that this unit be permitted access to your castle."

We shall see what he makes of these demands. I will not fail in my missions...

The crowds parted like nervous cattle before the sudden wave of red that poured into their midst. Brantalis remained perfectly still as the leader of the Guard approached and bowed curtly to him. Chin held high, the sage did not so much as tilt his head toward the man addressing him. His lips were pressed to a fine line and a look of mild impatience passed across his face before vanishing under a mask of polite calm.
He knew the General Enhwer to be a calloused old battle-veteran who seemed to hold Brantalis (or perhaps the dragons) in contempt. He had ordered the occupation the year prior because of a supposed "bandit hunt" his Red Guard were on. As he looked the unit's commander over quickly he came to the conclusion that his mind was closer to Enhwer's than the previous commander's had been. Nevertheless The Dragon Sage was not one to be intimidated by the bluster of Imperial militants.
"Provided you have ample reason, your unit is welcome to observe the town's festival just as the year before." He emphasized the last words to make it clear that nothing was going to change.
"You may stay as long as the townsfolk and my guests may continue their business un-harassed. And.." he paused briefly, staring right back into the hard blue eyes of the commander with a fierce expression to match his, "my castle will remained closed to all Imperial troops unless the appropriate paperwork is presented, signed and sealed by the Imperial council or the Empress herself."
His expression relaxed and for a moment he almost smiled.
Sending bureaucracy in the faces of over-confident warrior wish-they-weres usually deflated them in fairly short order. General be damned, they were not getting their way, not unless there was a direct threat to his people's safety if they didn't.

((*Bows to Stoic* the verbal ball is in your court.))

Vilya had parted with the rest, telling Tura to keep her head down and slip into the shadows in case there was trouble. Brantalis did not strike her as the type of man to bend to any sort of commands, official or otherwise.
She was rather taken aback as a new mage appeared at her side.
"You can call me Vilya," she said in a low voice after he had introduced himself. She had never heard of the Maghi Anima.
Damiano was right in his words though and Vilya felt comforted by having another ally (especially a mage) in case they did need to act. She noted that the majority of the Guard were in excellent physical condition, thoroughly disciplined and probably all seasoned fighters. Piling that with the fact that each of them had a creature stone, the little band of combatants were sorely out-matched, not to mention out-numbered.
Tura said decisively, sensing her companion's unease. Vilya was just not used to the "proper conduct" barrier being the only thing holding her potential enemies at bay.
"What do you think Sai?" She asked finally, wanting another opinion before making her conclusion about the guard (which was now leaning more towards enemies).

Minatsuki and Asako was busy chowing down on the festival commodities that the kind villagers piled up on them when they heard the mental message of Svalin, transfered from Asako to Minatsuki.




Scowling, she watched in the crowd as the red soldiers make their way across the departing people and encounter the sage, still nibbling on a bread.


<... I hope so, too, Mina-chan.>

Minatsuki scratched her head, remembering back to the third previous village that she was at before she had met her traveling companions, the part of the burnt down school. The fact that it was only a small village held hopes for her that they would not report her; it was an accident afterall.




((Please join Liar Game?? Q.Q))

"A pleasure to meet you both. A shame none of us seem to know anything about them. I'm not sure about either of you, but I'd at least feel more secure knowing what spirit companions they held," Damiano said in his hushed tones. His focus was on the contingent of soldiers though his mask hopefully made this harder to discern. He was trying to be as cautious as possible here. Drawing any unwanted attention wouldn't be wise. Figuring it was best to change his focus, if only for a moment, Damiano turned to look at the mage and her shade. They were probably not very pleased to see him. That was all well and good, they shouldn't be. He still had no intention of apologizing to the shade. The mage, however, was still a mage and deserved an apology.

Whispering a short pardon to Vilya and Sai, he took a step toward the other mage. They hadn't been properly introduced, so he figured it was best to start from the beginning, at least after the apologies. His piercing gaze softening, Damiano sighed and bowed his head slightly as he faced the female magus, "I must apologize for earlier, lady magus. I am not usually one to judge so harshly. I cannot take back what was said earlier, and I'm afraid I can't say in all honesty that I would. I ask you to understand that the sight of a shade is very unsettling to me. Perhaps, if the fates permit it, you will understand why at a later date." Recomposing himself, Damiano shifted his gaze to the shade. His eyes did not linger, he only looked at it for an instant. In that instant, he saw the beautiful darkness that was the shade. He hated the creature, with all his being, but its dark beauty could not be ignored. In such, the creature was able to attain a begrudged admiration from the young magus.

When his eyes came back to the lady magus he sighed once more. This was not a chore, nor was it dull. He had said all he wanted to say and did so in a dignified manner. He had only to introduce himself to the lady and hope she returned the introduction. "I ask another pardon, for I have yet to properly introduce myself. I am Damiano Partigiano, a magus of the Maghi Anima," he said with a flourished bow before inquiring while still bowed low, "May I know the name of the well-dress lady magus standing before me?"