Welcome to Gaia! ::

Tanessa cringed. "Going to Ylos was not how I wanted to spend my summer," she complained. It seemed as if Cedric was fine--at least not able to cause any problems right now--so she could take a break from the responsibility, or at least, that was what Tanessa must be thinking.

Inside the chamber, however, Cedric was huddled against a wall, shivering. C-cold....

Tanessa gave Irwin a knowing look. "I've been to every city on this continent. I've experienced a heck of a lot of ways of life, and if there's one thing I know about it (life), it's that if something bad can happen, it will happen. Irony is just one of fate's many ways to keep us humble. It always fails with me, however."

Then Tanessa noticed the cloaked man. With a single hand, she grabbed the back of his cloak, holding firmly onto the hood. "And what do you plan to do with Cedric, my good sir?" The hold was like a death grip; Tanessa wasn't going to allow anything to happen to Cedric unless she knew exactly what was going on.

~

Bael took his hand away from his face and blinked, staring at Mali, uncomprehending, as if his mind had gone blank momentarily.

"Mali," he replied. "That is correct, your name is Mali. I suppose you can take stock of this city's entire populace, looking for anyone with any Mindbreaking potential."

Bael had been lost in thought and was eager to return to it.

~

Cedric shuddered as his breath became visible, as vapor. It was much, much colder than the surrounding room--Cedric's face began to lose color, becoming a pale white, before his teeth started chattering.

((Ephlas waiting for Clem.))

Tanessa rolled her eyes as she walked around to stand in front of the man. "Don't kid me. You're going to do something to Cedric--Ced-er-ic--in that chamber in there. Why? What is it you plan to do to him? I won't let any of you do anything unless you tell me why!" Tanessa was almost to the point of screaming, now, which would undoubtedly attract attention from anyone on that floor, drawing looks of amusement and contempt. Tanessa did not care.

~

Cedric heard the shrill tone of his cousin, and stood up to walk to the door.

((Could I have a description of the 'chamber' he's in? Dimensions, material the floor, walls, etc. are made out of... etc.))

He banged on the door. "Tanessa. Calm down. I am perfectly f-f-fine." The chill caused his voice to chatter.

~

Ephlas shrugged; they would manage, somehow. Or they would die. He wasn't worried, however. Although, admittedly, the sorcerer was interested in watching the Nesk run alongside them. It's allegiance simply swayed by food and water.

(It's a cylindrical room, about ten feet high. the glow comes from two blue decorations set in the floor and ceiling in the center. the walls are made of stone, which has been runed to absorb magic. there are also some pillows in the room, which are magic-immune. It's about 40 feet in diameter.)

"I'm not going to that room! I'm headed upstairs to tutor!" Alphonse said, then stopped. He'd nearly said who he was going to tutor...

(I'll post for clem later.)

"The Archmagus would be wherever he told you he is!" Alphonse replied, eager to have this girl off him, "and if he's in that room, he's most likely a high priority! I have nothing to do with this! I merely teach magic..."

"Erm... Tanessa... I don't think the Academy would let him leave until they know it's safe..." Irwin said quietly.

---

Clem gripped the reigns of the beetle, keeping it on course, "I wonder why it refers to itself as a group... It might be a hive mentality, but then it would have more with it... Maybe the name Ne'galash is it's hive?" Clem theorised, "because if it's truly the last of its hive, then it would be Ne'galash..."

The Nesk kept pace by small leaps, though at times it would do a horse-like style of running. The carapace weapons still equipped, it seemed as though the Nesk were build for fast speeds. The beetle on the other hand, was a continuous locomotion of legs moving at fast speeds. the large footpads of the beetle allowed it to treat sand like the sturdiest ground. Were they not cold-blooded, the large herbivores would be at home in the snow.

It was one of the things keeping the beetles from being absorbed by the Horde. While they had a thick carapace, they lacked any offensive power other than speed. Content to simply graze on short grass, they tended to gather on the northern end of Rantuinne. The area behind their heads was a perfect mounting place, and the seams in the exoskeleton allowed the insertion of the bars that, when moved, made them move as if chased. The sand beetles were pretty harmless, but they made excellent riding creatures.

Alphonse hastily went down his path... Elysia was about to begin her lessons.

Irwin shrugged, "They're the authority on all magic and science... they have no loyalties, but they're dedicated to the betterment of civilization. They have a building in every country, and they have access to places that normal people can't go to..." He paused, "They're also the only non-elf group that has excellent relations with Ylos. They apparently work closely with the elves on understanding the nature of magic. They also store the most valuable items of the past for safekeeping, and often run operations to find out more about past societies and new magics. That's all I know..."

---

(yes they should. I will be offline for a while until my calculus is done. q: )

Clem didn't look back, keeping his beetle steady over the dunes.

Perrault climbed out of the caravan, in his hand a very long strand of rope.

"Here it is, Raedou!" he said, "How exactly do you use it?"

-----

Raedou took the Wrapcoil and unrolled it. He then gently tossed the end the rope at the sand skiff's bumper. The Wrapcoil did nothing for a few seconds, put then began to wriggle and squirm. It then wrapped itself around the bumper, coiling oround the handle-like protrusion and tying itself in a firm double-knot.

-----

Perrault just smiled. He loved Ganzis.

-----

Raedou pulled the skiff toward the caravan, and looked at the others.

"Would you all mind helping me with this?" he asked, "It's quite heavy."

-----

Diine grew silent, but Emerelda did not.

"W-What are you gonna do to us?" she asked, terrified by Valthere's menacing blade.

-----

The Duke stared at his map, trying to think of where the Grand Bishop could possibly be hiding. Suddenly, a dark man stepped into the room. He was clad in a midnight-blue armor with golden lining, and a long, dark cape flowed behind him. Horns extended from his helmet, shoulders and knees. It was the Royal Marquis, Ibijias.

"Your Grace, the Council has gathered." he said, "Will you be joining us?"

The Duke nodded and signaled for him to leave. Ibijias then bowed, and quickly left the room.

"Helena, we are about to hold a meeting concerning the Baelta incident." he said quietly, "Would you like to come? You were a member of the Council, were you not?"