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 Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2022 9:14 pm
Princess Ganymede, Senshi of Lust, Mauvian Lucasta, Valhalla, Transcended Knight of Jupiter, Ephesus, Squire of the Moon, and Amarynthos, Squire of the Moon guard the Core of Alastor’s world. It was not an easy task for him to ask of them, but Ganymede and Valhalla and Lucasta were trusted, and it was the safest place for the boys. They traveled into the Hall, where it was safest, and most dangerous. The Chaos would come for the Core, but it was in the center of everything, with groups on all sides of the Hall to defend it as best as possible. They traveled into a dark room, down a spiral staircase, and into the cave below the Hall. The large, glowing orb burned brightly, and flecks of gold and light still lined the walls from its previous explosion. Fireflies of pure energy leapt from the swirling Core occasionally, only to dive back in a second later. The room radiated with power, but there was something sad and lonely about it–even if the roots of a great tree kept it hugged in a loose shell. And yet, safe as they were, something ominous grew in the dark corners of the room. The stones vibrated with something dangerous. Something unstoppable. Something coming. Quote: This roleplay is a fast roleplay, which means posts will come ~every 24 hours. If you need to be skipped for a round or need a little more time to post, please let me know! Otherwise expect another post in about two days. If everyone has posted for a round before the 48 hours expire, I may post before the 48 hour mark to introduce the next prompt. Because of the fluctuation in energy in the air, magic can manifest in slightly different ways here than it might ordinarily manifest on Earth; if you want to try something special with your magic that is outside of its current approved parameters, please let me know! Characters can take any form they have unlocked; Mauvians can play in their humanoid form, and characters with other special forms can access them if they prefer. This roleplay may have clues for what tasks you might need to accomplish, but if you would rather OOCly know what needs to be done instead of working it out ICly, please let me know! Chaos manifestations will appear a few posts in; if you are playing your own, information about them will be posted when they come into play! Please make sure to include your character’s name and a link to their journal at the top of your post!
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Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2022 9:29 am
Valhalla, Transcended Knight of Jupiter“Stay close,” Valhalla quietly instructed both Ephesus and Amarynthos as they waited. Waited for the darkness to come for them.
The Core itself was beautiful. The video monitors didn’t do it justice. And although he’d never been there before, and he knew Serge had never been there, there was something familiar about the roots of the tree that dug down into the cavern to protect the Core in a gentle embrace. The roots didn’t look like they were trying to suffocate the Core, but guard it instead.
“If you need us to get out of the way, just tell me,” Valhalla said to Ganymede, reaching for her hand so he could lift it to his lips to kiss. It wasn’t the right time to get sentimental, but he was always in awe of her when she was using her powers as a Princess.
“We’ll be okay.” Ephesus, Squire of the MoonEphesus was very in awe of Ganymede. And he gaped wordlessly at her beautiful dress and huge wings. He had Lucasta on his shoulders again, but also held tightly to Amarynthos’ hand. He’d almost slipped down the spiral staircase already, so he was still a little shaken, but uninjured.
And even if he had been injured, he could have used his magic, probably! Oh, but he was saving it for everyone else.
Just as beautiful as Ganymede was the Core. It was bright, and there were streaks and flecks of light covering all of the walls and roots around them, but he still couldn’t help but stare.
He gave the Core a little wave with his free hand, and then held his hand out to offer it to the little fireflies that seemed to jump out of the Core. He didn’t try to stop them from going back into the Core, but he wanted to see if it felt like anything.
“This looks like Michael’s necklace,” he observed, gently turning his hand a little to see how the lights would interact -- if they did at all.
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Posted: Thu Oct 06, 2022 6:00 pm
Princess GanymedeGanymede assumed her more powerful form once they were below.
The awe did not go unnoticed, but she thought it undeserved and so did not react to it. When Valhalla took her hand, she smiled, but it was a small, brittle thing. Though she was certain Liesel had never been to Alastor before, the past still lingered — so close, and yet so far.
“Just make sure the boys don’t get themselves into trouble,” she told Valhalla.
She, too, gazed upon the Core. She had no memory of ever seeing Ganymede’s Core, not in this life or the last, but she thought she knew the feel of it — the steady beat of magic, like the beating of a heart, often in time with her own.
Ganymede eyed Ephesus contemplatively.
“I’m surprised you’ve seen his necklace,” she said. “He spent a lot of time keeping it hidden. He’s kept a lot hidden,” she added, with a note of disapproval in her voice.
The darkness along the edge of the room made her anxious, but Ganymede held herself steady.--------------------------------------- Guardian Cat LucastaLucasta looked upon the Core from Ephesus’ shoulders, giving his ear a gentle n** when he reached for it.
“Best not to touch,” she determined for him.
The Core seemed strong, and stable enough at the moment. Nevertheless, Lucasta thought the Core of one’s world must be an intensely personal thing. Alastor had placed a great deal of trust in them by stationing them here. They should treat it with the utmost respect, and protect it as if it were their own.
A moment later, Lucasta made a careful descent from Ephesus’ shoulders. She prowled around, keeping a careful watch. The Core might be the safest place for the boys, but it would not be without its dangers. Lucasta could sense it.
“Be on your guard,” she warned the boys.
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Posted: Fri Oct 07, 2022 7:21 am
Amarynthos, Squire of the Moon
The strangest thing about being in the Core was how it didn’t really feel strange at all, for him. Amarynthos felt great reverence for the room; he’d been anxious when they’d entered, and then he’d felt calm. It was beautiful and captivating, but it didn’t take his breath away. It seemed familiar, in a way he couldn’t really place, and it wasn’t until Ephesus spoke that he decided it must just be because of how similar it was to Michael’s necklace.
He frowned when Lucasta encouraged them not to touch it, not because he was upset that she was giving them solid guidance, but because she made a good point and he had to talk himself out of playing with the Core, too.
He looked at Ephesus apologetically, because even if he hadn’t gotten to stick his hand in the Core, he’d been glad that one of them could have tested it out.
And, the Core had responded.
The lights churned at the same easy, comfortable pace, but the little golden lights seemed to twist around Amarynthos’ hand. Sometimes they tried to jump through it and disappeared in a burst of glittery light that splashed back into the Core, sometimes they moved around him.
The sensation was warm and welcoming–but Lucasta was right; the Core was very personal to Alastor. Maybe it was more lenient with him because it didn’t have the energy to act out, or maybe it understood how important Ephesus was to him, but it continued to churn in the same gentle, predictable way it had since they’d first come down here.
Amarynthos’ eyes kept darting up to Ganymede, because she was beautiful, first of all, and she was glowing, and she had wings, and she was so powerful. He wanted to do right by Valhalla, and Lucasta, and Ephesus, but something about her made him really want to bring his best. Alastor or Sessrumnir had trusted them, he didn’t want to let them down.
They listened to Valhalla-they stood close. They listened to Lucasta–they were on guard.
Amarynthos squeezed Ephesus’ hand but turned to Ganymede and Valhalla again. “Why does he keep it hidden?” he asked, because he couldn’t help but pry. He was used to seeing the necklace, but then again, he was around Michael’s house often enough that it was hard to notice. “Are there any secrets we should worry about?”
He could imagine, sort of. And, he respected Michael, despite his own curiosity. He looked up to him, which was part of the reason he was worrying about him so much now.
Especially because it was getting harder to ignore the way something seemed to slither through the walls.
The thunder rumbled above them, and there was a strange, collected energy–a spark that they couldn’t see, but the stones hummed with it.
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Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2022 9:17 am
Valhalla, Transcended Knight of JupiterEven if the boys tried running into danger, Valhalla had convenient enough magic that would keep them from doing so. At least convenient in this case.
He frowned when Ganymede mentioned how his brother kept secrets. It was true, and there were a lot of things that even he didn’t know about. Peter had unearthed some secrets a few years back, but even that was met with resistance and more or less ignored.
As far as he knew, those secrets were reburied and the trauma that came with them went unresolved.
“I don’t think he likes others knowing when he needs help,” Valhalla said to Amarynthos, but offered him and Ephesus a reassuring smile. “But there aren’t any secrets that are bad.” At least not that he was aware. “Just ghosts that haunt him.”
It felt wrong for him to tell them more about Sessrumnir when he wasn’t there to defend himself, but he wanted them to at least know Sessrumnir was a good man, no matter what his secrets were. Ephesus, Squire of the MoonReluctantly, Ephesus lowered his hand when Lucasta nipped at his ear, but gave the Core another little wave before he turned to face the others. He held onto Amarynthos’ hand and frowned sadly at the thought of Sessrumnir keeping secrets and not wanting to let others know when he needed help.
A part of him felt guilty. Alastor was so open and welcoming that of course Ephesus gravitated to him. Sessrumnir seemed a bit intimidating, but he was slowly starting to realize that maybe it was just a front. Besides, Elliot liked him a lot, so he had to be good.
The thunder made Effie jump, and he grabbed onto Amarynthos with both hands. Not just because of the sound, but because there was something moving.
“Hello?” he called out to whatever was slithering around. Whatever was forming in the collected energy.
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Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2022 1:16 pm
Princess Ganymede“Some people aren’t as interested in the past as others,” Ganymede added to Valhalla’s answer. She didn’t sound as if this troubled her, though she herself bore some attachments to the life her starseed lived before. “Sessrumnir had no reason to care before, but… he had some sort of attachment to the necklace even before Alastor showed up. Maybe it didn’t sit well with him that it should matter, so he kept it hidden.”
The distant thunder didn’t startle her, though there was certainly danger in it. Whatever the source of it might be, the sound of thunder was a comfort to her, even here. The spark of energy struck her as the more immediate cause for concern. Ganymede shifted forward on glass heels, placing herself in front of the boys.
Her fingers twitched, ready to call upon her magic at a moment’s notice.--------------------------------------- Guardian Cat Lucasta“Some of us aren’t fortunate enough to have seen enough of the past to know what should matter and what shouldn’t, or why either should be the case,” Lucasta said. “Some things speak to us regardless.”
She walked in a protective circle around her companions, hackles rising. Though she knew from what Ganymede was willing to share with her about the past that she, too, should be well acquainted with storms, Lucasta nonetheless found the sound of it irritating. Where there was thunder, there was lightning, and often rain. Below, they were protected from the worst of it, but the others above wouldn’t be so lucky.
Whatever slithered through the walls certainly wasn’t helping matters. Lucasta made a cautious approach to investigate.
“Will you greet Death so sweetly?” she asked Ephesus. (She half expected he’d burst into tears at any mention of Death, but perhaps with enough exposure to the concept, and the possibility, he would hearten himself against it — at least enough that he could face it with some manner of stoicism, even if it always rent his heart.)
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Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2022 6:33 pm
Amarynthos, Squire of the Moon
“Lucasta,” Amarynthos huffed, but only because he didn’t want Ephesus to get inside of his own head. He didn’t want him to doubt himself, or think that he had to approach the world with resistance and restraint. He pulled him close after the thunder struck. “We’re not going to have anything to do with Death, thank you. And if he comes by, we’re busy.”
They promised they were going to be safe and they were going to take it seriously.
They stood behind Ganymede and Valhalla, close to the Core. It seemed safe, and it burned brightly enough, and had lasted for long enough, that he thought it would be wise to keep it at their back.
For a moment longer, things were still. Maybe a slow, steady stirring, but nothing attacked.
A false calm descended on the room, and Amarynthos found himself with so many more questions than he had time to ask.
A part of him felt the need to defend Sessrumnir, but nothing Valhalla said was with malice. Parts of it, Amarynthos could agree with, anyway. He didn’t think Michael liked asking for help, and he knew that there was plenty he didn’t know about him. But, he looked up to him, anyway. He didn’t hold the secrets against him. He just wanted to help, if he could.
He wanted to ask about the past. Wanted to ask about seeing it, and how they knew, and–
His head was already swimming, and he already felt strange. He didn’t need to be distracted by curiosity. He could ask, later. But now, he was focusing on the here and now.
Especially because something dripped from the ceiling.
One drop. Two. Three, all from different corners.
An inky blackness oozed from the ceiling and gathered in small puddles on the ground.
It didn’t stop; the dark droplets clung to the ceiling until they grew fat enough to fall to the ground.
And then, on the floor, the puddles started coming together, too.
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Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2022 8:16 pm
Valhalla, Transcended Knight of JupiterValhalla kept his staff at the ready as the calm fell over them. He didn’t know what to expect, but he didn’t like the way the shadows were dripping from the ceiling.
“Should have brought a mop,” he mumbled under his breath, although he wasn’t really amused by his own observation.
He took the flashlight he had and shined it into the corners, hoping it would be enough to get the liquid shadows to disburse before they could get too strong. He was glad the boys were behind him, and not for the first time he was cursing his brother for letting such young Squires get involved in something like this. Ephesus, Squire of the MoonEphesus sucked in a sharp breath when Lucasta questioned him, and quickly blinked away the heat that started to gather in his eyes. But Amarynthos was already pulling him close, and Effie didn’t hesitate in ducking his head against Mary’s shoulder. Just for a little bit! And he wasn’t going to cry, even though he really, really wanted to. It was difficult keeping himself from crying.
He knew they needed to stay focused, so he pulled back (but not that far) and straightened up so he could help by shining his own flashlight in the corners of the room.
“What is it…? Chaos?” he asked, feeling embarrassed now that he realized he probably shouldn’t have tried getting its attention.
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Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2022 8:54 pm
Princess GanymedeGanymede gave Valhalla a wry look, but couldn’t blame him for wanting to ease the tension.
“At least if we had a mop, I’d have a weapon,” she conceded, joining Valhalla in shining her flashlight into one of the corners. “If all else fails, at least I have my shoes.”
She studied the dark drops, watched them fall, and observed the puddles that grew in their wake. For a moment, Ganymede thought about using her magic on one of them, just to see how it reacted, if it would even react at all. But magic was finite; she didn’t want to waste it, especially if this was only the beginning.
Instead, Ganymede pulled a dangling jewel from her wrist, yanked it free, and tossed it experimentally toward one of the puddles. It sparkled in the light from the Core, pristine against the shadows.--------------------------------------- Guardian Cat LucastaLucasta took Amarynthos’ huffing in stride. One day, they would grow used to her dry humor.
Or perhaps she would learn that she had a terrible sense of it and would no longer make an effort.
One of the dark droplets fell near her as Lucasta prowled the room. She hissed on instinct and put some distance between herself and the quickly forming puddle, wending between ankles as she retreated back toward the Core. (She spared a moment to brush against Ephesus in something like comfort, though her expression did not soften.)
“Surely it’s nothing meant for this room,” she said.
Lucasta bent low to the ground, ready to pounce, emitting a growl so quiet it might have gone unheard. She bared her teeth and readied her claws, though she didn’t know what good either would do against puddles.
“Ephesus, stay behind everyone. You’re the only one with us who can heal. Amarynthos, try to hold off on testing your magic until you have no other choice but to use it. We don’t need any surprises.”
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Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2022 4:24 pm
Amarynthos, Squire of the Moon
Amarynthos kept his arm around Ephesus; in his left hand, he kept the flashlight. In his right, he maneuvered his weapon. On its own, it was a long-stemmed mister. When he turned it around, he had a metal rod with a big glass bulb at the end, and if he was going to protect anyone, he was pretty sure he could hit it better like this.
He gave him a quick, reassuring squeeze before he moved back, and took his position slightly in front of him.
He didn’t like the look of the droplets, and was all too willing to shine his light on them as soon as they started falling from the ceiling. But–more than that, he was worried about how much of it had already collected on the ceiling. He shined his lights up there to try and better see where they were coming from.
The unfortunate answer was–everywhere.
Black droplets were collecting at various points across the whole ceiling, and there didn’t seem to be any single location that was allowing them to slip through. There didn’t seem to be any immediately above any of the torches in the room, or near where the floodlights were brightest, or by the roots of the tree or the Core–but an inky black haze was rapidly covering the ceiling.
Some of the smaller droplets dissipated when the lights came into contact with them, but others only seemed to steam a bit before trudging along through it.
It wasn’t clear if they were Chaos, but judging by the sickening tension filling the room, whatever it was, it wasn’t good.
The puddle nearest to Ganymede's crystal tried to draw it into itself, but the light it reflected was too bright.
So the puddle got bigger. Darker. And then, it tried again–and this time, it swallowed it up.
Thunder shook the whole room this time and an electric hum vibrated behind them from the tree roots, and while the Core flashed a little brighter, the black droplets seemed to benefit the most from this. A whole layer of them fell from the ceiling, dripping onto everyone below. They were cold and stretched over each of them as much as they could, like the darkness was trying to swallow them up, too. It wasn’t fast enough; they were slowed by all the lights, and the could be brushed to the ground, new darkness had replaced the ceiling and another layer of droplets was collecting, ready to add to the pile on the floor. In the corner, some of the Chaos had gathered and dripped to the floor slowly–a sticky, baseball sized droplet that wriggled as it descended to join the puddle beneath it.
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Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2022 6:54 pm
Valhalla, Transcended Knight of JupiterValhalla frowned as he watched the light shine off of the sparkling jewel Ganymede threw towards the puddles, cringing as the puddle got bigger and -- swallowed the crystal. He didn’t think he had to say that it probably wasn’t a good thing.
“Do you think you could try purifying… whatever this is?” Valhalla asked Ganymede, not sure what her magic could do, but if this was Chaos, then theoretically she should be able to get rid of it. “Or… you were able to destroy youma with your magic. Think it could do the same with this stuff?” he wondered, although didn’t sound too confident about it.
He shined the flashlight above them, and glanced behind him to make sure the boys were as close to the Core as possible. The shadows seemed to avoid it and the roots for the moment.
Or they were probably trying to swallow up the light, a little at a time…
“Be careful, Lucasta,” he warned, not liking how the puddles seemed to move. Ephesus, Squire of the MoonEphesus knew he wasn’t a good fighter. They’d practiced! They’d trained and tried learning how to defend themselves, but other than maybe hitting something with his honey dipper, he really didn’t have much to contribute.
Reluctantly, he let Amarynthos move slightly in front of him, but when he did so, Effie reached out to gently rub at Mary’s back in reassurance. He wanted to make sure he listened to Lucasta and Ganymede and Valhalla. He wanted to stay and help, and he couldn’t do that if they were going to tell them to run or go home or to the Moon.
And then jumped with a squeak of surprise when the thunder shook the whole room-- and shrieked again as the black droplets fell over everyone. He swatted at the drops that he could see on himself, before reaching over to brush them off Amarynthos. He knew he probably shouldn’t be touching them but it would probably be worse if the drops stayed on them!
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Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2022 9:33 pm
Princess Ganymede“I’m sure I could try,” Ganymede said. “Whether it would work or not is another story.”
Maybe it would. Chaos was Chaos, though clearly it came in different varieties. The problem was, she’d only ever known purification to be a redemption. It wasn’t a weapon. She couldn’t attack with it, or hadn’t been able to thus far. Whoever benefited from it had to want it.
She didn’t know what it would do against pure Chaos, if it would do anything at all. Ganymede was too uncertain to try it straight away, wary that she might leave herself powerless in the aftermath.
Thunder crashed and cold darkness fell. Ganymede brushed it off of her arms, her chest, her hair, using her glowing scar as a threat. If it didn’t like the light, perhaps it would think twice about trying to coat her again.
She swore under her breath and pulled her tiara free. It formed a disc of light in her hand, warm and golden, not nearly as powerful as her crystal, but worth an attempt. Ganymede threw it toward the ceiling, where another layer of darkness was forming.--------------------------------------- Guardian Cat LucastaLucasta shook the fallen droplets off of her. She felt a bit like a mangy dog shaking water loose and detested the whole thing. She released another low growl, eyes caught on a nearby puddle, growing in size by the second.
Ganymede threw her tiara. Lucasta considered using her forehead beam, but she, too, was wary of expending too much energy at once. The black droplets and expanding puddles seemed threatening, but it had done no damage that she could see. They should bide their time, conserve their strength, see what became of it rather than act too hastily.
But… there was a chance they were being too conservative. Lucasta looked at the boys, then toward Valhalla and Ganymede. She looked over her shoulder at the Core.
If she were the sort for inelegant curses, Lucasta would have followed Ganymede’s example. Instead, she hissed again, then swiped out at the nearest puddle with her claws bared.
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Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2022 6:48 pm
Some of their efforts worked. Ephesus was able to scatter some of the oily drops before they could soak into Amarynthos’ uniform. The drops seemed to struggle to cling to him, but some of them absorbed into his skin. A dark spot grew; his fingertips blackened. Veins and arteries turned dark beneath his skin. It tingled, but it didn’t hurt.
Lucasta was able to swat away some of the droplets; they splattered the wall, but the darkness seemed like it felt pain. For a moment, it slunk away, but suddenly it was back, rapidly trying to collect. It grew like a stalagmite, rising towards the ceiling.
Ganymede’s magic was the most effective; the darkness scattered as if it had been burned, and it recoiled a few feet from her tiara. The Chaos could be hurt–but it was strong, and it wasn’t willing to give up yet. Before her tiara could return, a shadowy tendril shot out and grabbed it, pulling it back into the dark sludge.
The Chaos was going to do everything it could to weaken them–and then, the droplets descended from the wall. A sickening smell covered the room, like a haze of sulfur. The droplets that got too close to the Core burned away, but it was trying.
The floodlights did a bit to keep them at bay, but it seemed like it was channeling all of its strength into this.
A wall of black fell around them all, suddenly. It dripped like molasses from the ceiling, and then slammed down on the floor. Whatever skin it touched, it stung. For a moment, the fumes were so strong that it was completely disorienting. It felt like being violently shaken awake, stepping out of a dream into an uncomfortable reality.
And then–they were alone.
They couldn’t see each other in the room. The shadows had all but disappeared–or so it seemed.
The room looked realistic, just empty, but the Chaos had stretched walls between them thick enough to obscure sounds. Energy signatures fluctuated and it was hard to tell who was where. To each of them, it looked like they were the last one left alone on the room, like the shadows had swallowed up the other and left only them.
But, something moved by the stairs–like someone had just run up, or like someone was coming down.
Valhalla and Ganymede had been torn apart, and no amount of handholding or closeness could have kept Amarynthos and Ephesus together. The Chaos had violently dragged them away so it could separate them in separate, but similar illusions. Each of them, and Lucasta, were surrounded by a churning chaos that looked so real, it was impossible to tell that it was all an illusion.
Ephesus was not alone for long; the movement by the stairs took form almost immediately.
Alastor walked down; he was wet, exhausted, covered in blood. He was alone. He wore Michael’s golden necklace. Quietly, he made his way to Ephesus, but he couldn’t look at him. Briefly, his eyes were on the Core, but even in his fatigue, he hurried to the boy and wrapped his arms around him.
He held him tightly, like his life depended on how tightly he could squeeze him. A few seconds passed, maybe a moment. Maybe an hour. His voice was no more than a raspy whisper when he spoke. “I thought I lost you all,” he said, with a finality to it.
Like he knew Sessrumnir was gone. Like he knew Amarynthos was gone.
Like he knew everyone was gone.Quote: The shadows have arrived in the form of a Chaos Manifestation; Another prompt will be posted in ~48 hours; if players post before then I’ll try to write more interaction with the Chaos Manifestation trying to manipulate them; if players are interested in this, please feel free to DM me! If you have any questions or requests, please let me know! Otherwise there will be two more prompts featuring the Chaos Manifestation; the manifestation should be weakening or nearly defeated as of the prompt on the 14th; there will be one prompt after that on the 16th and the 18th is the estimated close date and lead into the closing ORP!
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Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2022 9:04 pm
Valhalla, Transcended Knight of JupiterValhalla hissed as the drips of black fell onto his arm, and he quickly worked on rubbing it off his skin, feeling disoriented by the smell.
But when he looked up --
“Ganymede?” he called to the empty room. His eyes narrowed on his surroundings, because this wasn’t right. They were all just there a moment ago. The shadows were gone, too.
And there were footsteps.
Someone -- or something -- was coming.
He held his staff out in front of him, his hand gripped tightly around it.
“Hello Valhalla,” a mocking voice came from the young man with curly hair. A General King -- although he looked very similar to the last time he’d seen Jet. Black and teal. The large bladed weapon was held out casually by his side.
Valhalla immediately channeled some of his magic at Jet -- causing him vertigo and if he moved from his spot, he would physically be forced in the opposite direction.
But Jet just laughed and didn’t move.
“That’s all you’ve got? This is why we had a simple Lieutenant fight you, you know,” he sneered at Valhalla, who frowned back.
“You killed Empyrean --”
“The old man? He was boring me. Why? Was he your dad or something?”
Valhalla grit his teeth and charged forward to swing his staff at Jet to try and take him down. Ephesus, Squire of the Moon“Mary?” Ephesus sniffled and folded in on himself a little as he looked around the strangely shadowless room. He anxiously tucked his hair behind his ears, but didn’t move from where he stood.
“Mary!” he called again, tears already in his eyes. He’d just been holding Amarynthos’ hand. Where had he gone? Where was Ganymede and Valhalla and Lucasta? The Core was there, as beautiful as ever but--
Suddenly the movement caught his attention, and his hands shook as he held his honey dipper in front of him. But it was Alastor! He was okay! He was back!
Is that what happened?? Alastor defeated the Chaos and that was why all the shadows were gone? It… it made sense. Except there was a strange haze in Ephesus’ mind. Like he wasn’t… he wasn’t quite remembering something.
When Alastor put his arms around him, Ephesus hugged him back just as tightly as sobbed against his chest. He was so happy to see him but… just as he was going to ask where the others were--
I thought I lost you all--
“What do you mean?” he choked back a sob, looking up at Alastor with tears still falling. He was wearing Michael’s necklace… and he was covered in so much blood. But… Mary had been right there.
“They can’t be--” Tears filled his eyes again, because why would Alastor lie to him?
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Posted: Tue Oct 11, 2022 4:05 pm
Alastor didn’t answer; his eyes were far away and he didn’t have the strength to look up and face Ephesus. There was an empty expression on his face; he was harrowed and weary.
He looked distraught and as though he was barely holding it together.
“Effie,” he said quietly, and held onto him desperately. It wasn’t quite crushing, but it was clear that he wasn’t going to let him go. “...Ephesus.” Gentler, “Atticus. We need to go home. I don’t have the strength. I tried.”
His voice broke. He slumped a little, but he didn’t release Ephesus.
“I thought–I thought it would have been easier. I didn’t realize–I didn’t know…”
He couldn’t complete the thought.
“I can’t let something happen to you, Ephesus. I need you. You’re the only family I have. I need to take care of you.”
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