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Post by Lilith Nevermore on Aug 29, 2021 5:41:29 GMT -8
Sun blazed high in the cloudless, blue sky. Playful breeze pushed foaming waves towards the shore. Pilaf Land’s largest beach was bustling with life. Swimmers, sunbathers, volleyball players and a whole variety of beach bums enjoyed the wonderful weather. The line to a big ice cream stall reached far like a lazily coiling snake. Laughter echoed across the pale sands. It was quite difficult to be solemn or surly on such a beautiful day. However, one frigid soul was dead set trying anyway. Sitting on a broom, a grim silhouette floated above the heads of the people populating the sidewalk. Every now and then, curious eyes turned towards it. Or her, rather. Dressed in long, dark robes and a wide-brimmed hat, the pale girl’s attire clashed harshly against the barely dressed beachgoers. Mauve hair cascaded down her back and shoulders, while a single crimson eye peeked past the long, side swept bangs. The eye was full of silent contempt. Icy air drifted around her in white wisps, fighting back the sweltering heat. As the clock slowly crept towards noon, Lilith quietly contemplated how she had even ended up in this situation. Admittedly, it had all been on a whim... Originally she had no intention of sharing any of her wisdom with a stude... a mongrel creature. However, she had made a promise... Perhaps to remain in Queen Ty’s good graces? Yes, that was a sufficient excuse. And her word was her bond. She would see this tiresome affair through even if it killed- “gck!”Approximately two seconds later, the witch found herself face down on the ground. Stars twirled around her wobbly vision. Pain pounded against the back of her skull. She had gotten sand in her hair, mouth and places not proper to even mention. Nearby, a stray volleyball rolled away, like a guilty kid trying to sneak away. Several burly figures surrounded the downed lady. A voice resembling rocks rattling in a barrel apologized profusely. “Oh geez, oh man, sorry about that kid! Are you hurt?” She could only groan in response and coughed out a puff of sand. Huge hands hovered above her, frozen in hesitation. In the corner of her eye, she could vaguely make out some manner of orange, sleeveless pyjamas... Words: 376 | 376 Natural PL at start: 16,723 Tags: Arashi
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Post by Arashi on Aug 30, 2021 8:42:03 GMT -8
Arashi made his way to the beach as his... Teacher... mistress..? Had demanded of him, or ordered him. Not that it mattered which it was really. He had intended to come, not just because Ty wanted him to, but because he was actually interested in what he could learn from the dour woman. He was quite surprised when he had spotted her, only to watch her hit the sand from her broom like a moth swatted to the floor. His eyes widening in some concern but then relaxed, realizing that as serious as the situation looked from a distance, she was a powerful individual. A small fall like the one she just went through had no chance of harming her... He did however fear the damage to her pride might put her in an even more sour mood than she had been in the previous day, and if that was the case she might just decide to take her frustrations out on him! He hoped she would not be that petty, as to take her frustrations with life out on him. But he approached anyway, looking up at all the large men surrounding her trying to offer a hand. "You should step away and forget what you've seen. Go back to your game, I'll help her." He said speaking up to the people, Arashi had his hands tucked into the pockets of his sleeveless pajamas. He wasn't too worried himself, though he was curious if Lilith would freeze these people to death than risk the story of what just happened to be spread and staining her supposedly prestigious authority with silly stories of her being knocked down and coughing up sand. They might not have believed him being so small capable of helping her, but he wasn't exactly a normal kid. His horns and wings were small, but even just from yesterday to today, he'd grown inches in a single night. His growth was accelerating, his power swelling, and his body rapidly maturing as a result. He moved to her side before lifting a hand from his pocket, the air around them growing frigid as he summoned a slab of ice to ride from under the woman, raising her to her feet before letting the slab fall back and melt away onto the sand in an instant. "Are you unhurt, Lady Nevermore?" He asked politely, his face serenely bland. Not for lack of care, so much as insecurity about how he should feel. Should he be more concerned for her? Scared for himself and the suffering he may endure? The situation was amusing, but he had little desire to laugh at or mock the woman right now. If she was to teach him then he would try to respect her, even if bowing and scraping to the woman would cause chaff against his own pride as a dragon, a creature that should bow before no one. And yet, he considered that if she had something to teach him, even if he had to bow and scrape, he should be willing to listen and learn. Knowledge was power, and with power came control should he master his abilities. This woman as cold as she was, could certainly be someone to help him unlock his potential, to grow faster. She was a potential key to the locks of doors that hid power within him if only she could assist him in turning the keys. WC: 572 Natural PL at the start: 8,585 Tags: Lilith Nevermore
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Post by Lilith Nevermore on Aug 31, 2021 0:28:50 GMT -8
As another voice entered the scene, the dazed witch suddenly froze. Oh... No... No no no, she couldn’t not let him see her like this. Sputtering out a mouthful of sand, she managed to wheeze a venomous mutter. “Gh... your hands off me...” From beneath her robes, shadows slithered like snakes. Before they could lash out, however, a slab of ice pushed her back onto her feet. Lilith held her aching head, trying to shake off the dizziness. Her glare focused on the gang of men wearing those ridiculous pajamas. Martial artists... The mere thought left a bad taste in her mouth. Well, it was either that or the sand. Their gaudy, orange uniforms carried a white symbol of sorts. Savvy travelers would recognize the sign of the Turtle School, but the witch who cared not for such trivia only wondered where she had seen that before... Meanwhile, the burly men shared a look of concern. “Oh, okay, if you say so, kiddo.” They took their ball and hesitantly walked away. However, even as they gathered around the volleyball net, they kept casting glances at the short woman. The accident had kind of killed the mood, no doubt. The Wicked Witch finally recovered enough to catch the dragon boy’s questions. Taking his tone and expression as mockery, she glared back daggers. “What does it look like, you dolt?” Without giving him space to answer, she clicked her tongue. “Tch, never mind that.” No, she was not unhurt, but refused to admit that. Had her magic been protecting her, a mere ball would’ve never disgraced her like this... But without it, her physical condition was... lacking. Lilith pushed the thought aside and took her wand. With a wave and a spark of magic, the offending sand fled from her robes. Another wave, like tugging an invisible string, pulled her fallen hat back onto her head. The wisps of icy air returned, pushing back the unbearable wave of heat trying to suffocate her. Ah... Much better. Beneath the icy surface, however, the noblewoman was positively boiling with rage. How dare those mortals assault her?! They needed a lesson... As that thought simmered in the toxic cauldron of her mind, her ominous glare slowly shifted back onto the boy. Oh yes... They all needed a lesson, as did he... And she knew just the kind of lesson to teach. There was a chill in the air, something far more sinister than a mere drop in temperature. Sharp instincts might recognize the shivers of pure killing intent. “Follow me, servant. It is time to begin your first and most important lesson.”With that cold command, the witch sat onto her broom and drifted over to the volleyball net. Her approach was noticed by the martial artists who paused their game. The biggest of them walked up to meet her, offering an apologetic smile. “Ah, look, kid... I’m really sorry about knocking you out. How about I buy you an ice cream to make up for it?” Sincerity shone even through his rough voice. Too bad it was hindered by his extremely poor choice of words. Lilith answered the offer by brandishing her wand. Pointing the prongs at him, she uttered an icy incantation. “I call forth the wrath of winter... Frost Hex.” A blue bolt shot at the man, nailing him in the chest. He tumbled backwards onto the sand. A layer of ice started creeping across his skin like a slowly spreading disease. He shrieked in a less than manly manner. His friends immediately rushed over. However, when one of them tried to break the ice, the curse spread onto him as well. The rest staggered back in shock. “W-what’s the big idea?!”The witch ignored the burly man and turned to her student. “Pay attention, now. This will be on the quiz later.” Yes, there would be a quiz. Hopefully the boy had brought a way of taking notes. She gestured her wand at the spreading curse. “Look beyond what your eyes can see. Take note of how the magic takes root and spreads from one central point. This basic principle applies to all spells, both benign and malicious.” Her calm tone set a chilling contrast against the growing panic of the martial artists. Suddenly, one of them ran off... And those who could run soon followed... Words: 725 | 1101 Natural PL at start: 16,723 Tags: Arashi
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Post by Arashi on Aug 31, 2021 1:12:18 GMT -8
It looked like she had eaten sand, but he didn't say that of course. It was obvious she was irritated, much as he had expected. And while he might have been more eager to antagonize her yesterday, it was a new day with new goals. But it was clear enough that she wasn't going to let the grudge of being knocked from her broom die so easily. She was going to teach these men a lesson, that much was clear, and judging from the chill that filled the air, it might be the last lesson the men ever received. Ultimately though, Arashi didn't do anything to stop her. He just watched as she cast her hex on the shrieking man and gave her lesson. The man slowly freezing, and anyone that touched him soon collected a spreading frost as well. It would probably kill them, but Arashi did little more than passively taking notes as a notebook appeared in his hand from a capsule. He might have been able to just create it from magic, but the capsule case Ty had given him was a gift he didn't wish to leave unused when she expected him to make use of it. He tucked the capsule case away while writing down her explanation. He also considered what it meant; Magic takes root and spreads from one central point. This basic principle applies to all spells, both benign and malicious. Although perhaps it was because his knowledge of magic came from a different source, the mind of his blood mother. He wasn't sure if there was anything wrong with what she was saying, just that it seemed an odd restriction for magic. Like, what if he inversed that theory? Rather than spreading magic out from a central point, he created an implosion of magic? The magic itself in theory would be contained in a single needle-sharp point that would not spread out but would continue to affect things around it without necessarily being touched by the magic so much as causing a distortion, a destructive ripple that sucked everything around it into its center like a black hole. In this case, magic would still have a core point, but would not spread out as Lilith suggested. Still, he did study the man as he froze, humming to himself as he watched it spread. The spell itself didn't seem terribly complex. Focusing magic at a single point she allowed it to spread out and slowly freeze the man. So long as the core of the hex held enough energy the man would eventually be frozen solid. Otherwise, the hex would run out if it didn't have enough energy, and didn't have a method of continuing to gather energy in order to spread. With that in mind, he imagined there were three potential methods of feeding the hex. First was that Lilith used a small amount of her own magic to attach the hex to the man, and from there the hex acted as a leech feeding on the man's energy to continue spreading, thus Lilith would have likely used little more than a drop to activate the spell. The next option would be that Lilith had packed the spell with enough energy on her own that it didn't need to rely on any external source beyond itself. The man would freeze solid, and the spell would end, or it would pause based on how much energy Lilith had fed it beforehand. Or a third option is that the spell fed on the ambient energy of the world around them to continue growing, requiring no energy from the man, or Lilith beyond the simple act of activating the spell. With this in mind, Arashi also made notes of his theories involving the casting and feeding of magic. Internal, and external. Simple ideas, but the energy feeding the spell either came from Lilith directly or from a source beyond herself. From what Arashi knew of magic from the memories he held there were three main ways to obtain magic. Internal, external, and universal. The first two were easy enough to understand. Internal being your own source of magic. External often meaning to form a bond or contract with something that would provide you magic as a focus for that power. And universal being more in the realm of gods, though as far as Arashi knew, in the world his mother came from, this was something like lost knowledge. It was unknown because mortals were not supposed to touch the universal powers being that it brushed with the realm of gods, and thus was often more powerful than a mortal could handle. Harmful and self-destructive if a person should accept the energies of the universe within themselves. Thus the knowledge was lost, and possibly forbidden for its often self-destructive nature even if it was considered the most potent and rawest form of magic. Even dragons could not use such powers without a steep cost. Once Arashi took his notes he looked to the man, and then to Lilith, then back to the man. Waiting to see if she would end him, or spare him in the end. Arashi had no real opinion either way, beyond some small pity for the man that had been caught by the witch's wrath. WC: 883 Natural PL at the start: 8,585 Tags: Lilith Nevermore
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Post by Lilith Nevermore on Aug 31, 2021 6:27:00 GMT -8
Much to the teacher’s silent surprise, the student actually summoned himself a notebook. She briefly considered scolding him for using technology, rather than magic, but... That device was most likely a gift from the Queen. She had been given an identical one herself... With a hollow sigh, she suppressed the urge to get stuck on details. It wasn’t easy, but somehow she managed. Even if her pride protested the very notion. Figuring that the boy clearly had nothing to say, Lilith decided to fill the silence. “Since you seem curious, this curse is rather simple by design, but ingenious in execution.” Of course it was, for she had designed it after all. She had no qualms about patting herself on the back. “It feeds on the target’s life force, or ki if you prefer. Thus it takes a mere spark of my own power to cast.” She gestured at the struggling men who were slowly turning blue. “Be it from hypothermia or mere exhaustion, it will not stop until the target is dead.” Or it got dispelled, but she considered that common sense. “Speaking of which...”The Wicked Witch eyed the dying fools impatiently. “You two certainly are taking your sweet time, desperately clinging to your pathetic lives.” All she got in response was defiant stares. Trying to conserve their energy and body heat was smart enough. “Hmph, no matter. All this is only preface, mere supplementary material for the actual lesson.” She maintained a chilling sense of calm. To them, these might’ve been their final moments... But for her, this was just an ordinary day. Lilith turned to Arashi and held up a single finger. “Today’s lesson is about the most important rule of life... Trust no one. Not your friends, your peers and especially not the so-called heroes.” The finger aimed a dismissive point at the soon-to-be corpses. “Lest you wish to end up like them, helpless and useless.” She lowered her head and the wide brim of her hat cast a grim shadow over her features. The single crimson eye burned like an ember. “When you are lost and alone... no one will come to save you.”However, no sooner than the witch had said that, a mighty voice boomed across the beach. “HOLD IT, WITCH!” A towering figure stormed to the scene with enough force to send sand flying everywhere. As the dust settled, the details were revealed. He was a bald man built of bulging muscle and old scars. His wrinkled features seemed permanently locked into a fierce squint. A mighty moustache looked like a brush beneath his nose. He too donned that ridiculous orange pajama. Behind him stood the cowards who had fled earlier, wheezing weakly from running. And behind them was a small army of pajama-wearing men. Twitches of irritation tugged at Lilith’s eye. “Lovely... They are multiplying...” Sarcasm dripped like venom from her tone. First the fools ruined her day and now they were trying to ruin the lesson too. She scoffed at their foolish bravado. “No matter... Struggle all you like. In the end, every last one of you shall succumb to death’s cold embrace.” Either her threat went unheard, or it was simply not understood, but there was no response. The fighters were too busy huddling around their comrades. ...The silent treatment irritated the woman more than she cared to admit. With an annoyed huff, the lady turned her attention back to the dragon. “Untimely distractions aside, my point is that as a caster you can only rely on your own ability. Your spells must be something that utilize your unique strengths, be it power, control or something else.” While it pained her to admit, no one could master every aspect of magic. Not even a prodigy such as herself. Her own shortcoming would always be stamina. Thus she had to be sparing with the use of her own mana. “Now tell me, what would you consider your greatest strength as a caster, hm?”Words: 664 | 1765 Natural PL at start: 16,723 Tags: Arashi
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Post by Arashi on Aug 31, 2021 9:49:42 GMT -8
Arashi nodded in response to the confirmation that she was indeed using the man's internal ki to destroy him. He also noted some of his thoughts concerning the technique. It was a conservative spell, relying on the use of an enemy's energy to become the source of their destruction, aside from the initial sparks used to cast the spell of course. However, while the technique was smart in its conservation, the flaw of the technique revealed itself. Because she was using the energy of the man she had cast the spell on as the source of the spell's fuel, the man was able to resist it to some degree. Arashi expected this meant that the more control someone had over their ki the more resistant they would be to a technique like this. Perhaps as a martial artist, this man had been taught to manipulate or conserve his ki to some degree, or perhaps he even had some small drop of instinct to manipulate his internal ki to try and resist. When she asked him what he considered his greatest strength as a caster he considered it. "I think... Intelligence and experience beyond my years. My blood mother's memories are a boon few would have the opportunity to make use of. It's harder to say what my greatest strength is beyond those features. Perhaps... Creativity?" He mused. "I believe it's been said in the past that the greatest practitioners of magic were not the ones who perfected their ability to destroy, but the ones who used their abilities to create, and practice their skills in everyday life. Though I suppose this is only something my mother heard in her world, and not something I have heard in this world." He hummed. "I'll reflect on my skills more in the future, I don't imagine my answer at the moment was very satisfying. But I've been alive less than a month. Before I met Ty I was a wild child living in the woods, I killed a bear so that I could feed myself for a while. But then Ty and Cayle took me from those woods into their own home to feed and care for me..." He shook his head. "I hadn't expected such kindness from anyone... I expected human and beast alike to hate me, that every step I took would be one filled with struggle... My mother's memories warned me to expect as much... And yet the path I am experiencing is so, so much different from the one she walked herself. It seems that though I expected a harsh world, a cruel world, a world in which it would be difficult to survive, I have become someone lucky. Life at the moment is easy... And I'm not sure what to think or expect. It's so much different from my expectations." He said lifting a hand to gently scratch his cheek, looking up at Lilith. "When you are lost and alone, you don't expect to be saved... But sometimes there is an unexpected light at the end of a dark tunnel." He hummed. "And sometimes things seem fine when tragedy strikes. An accident has unintended consequences, and suddenly your life is on the line." He said looking towards the freezing man. "You make the wrong person angry, and you are punished for it..." Then looked back to Lilith. "If I may ask a question, Lady Lilith... You said that I should trust no one, lest I end up helpless and useless. I suppose that means that if you ever had trust in someone, that they betrayed that trust in some form or another. I also suppose that means that despite the fact that you serve Ty as you consider her your Queen, you do not trust her... So, I am curious. My question is this. Are you happy?" He asked while looking up at her. The question was a simple one, and yet it might not be an easy question for the witch to answer. Perhaps it was a meaningless question to the witch, maybe happiness didn't matter. But if that was the case... What did the ice witch live for? WC: 692/2,147 Natural PL at the start: 8,585 Tags: Lilith Nevermore
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Post by Lilith Nevermore on Sept 1, 2021 2:35:55 GMT -8
When the boy presented his answer, the witch mulled it over. Well, he wasn’t exactly wrong. “Hm, not very satisfying, no...” She finally agreed coldly. Yet in the same breath, she offered something vaguely resembling praise. “...But it is better than being proud of your power or anything equally boorish.” Dragons were prideful creatures, often confident in their raw power alone. It was very fortunate he was still young and hadn’t developed the superiority complex so typical to his kind. Unfortunately, in its place seemed to be some penchant for philosophy, of all things... The noblewoman’s cold mask cracked, revealing a quizzical stare. “Does this tale have a point...?” She assumed it did. It had better have a point, lest he wanted to be punished for wasting her time. Slowly, the puzzled expression shifted to bitter disappointment. Light at the end of the tunnel? Tch, how foolish. She gritted her sharp teeth, barely keeping her temper in check. Those idiotic muscleheads... This was all their fault. Due to their pointless struggling, her student had completely misunderstood the lesson. There was no light. Lilith scoffed at the strange query. “Such a foolish question... Only a child could ask something so insipid and ignorant.” As she leaned closer, looming over the boy, her tone held all the gentle warmth of a blizzard. “Do I look... happy?” A rhetorical question, really. She didn’t give him a chance to embarrass himself with an answer. “Of course not. My happiness was robbed from me by these disgusting mortals.” The word was spat out with venomous contempt. However, before the wicked witch could elaborate further, a shrill shattering sound interrupted her. Suppressing an irritated groan, she aimed a sharp glare towards the source. What now?! There stood the mighty martial artists and his pupils... With a pile of rapidly melting ice shards at their feet. The two victims were mysteriously free of their icy curse, gasping weakly for air. Their apparent leader flexed his hand and some manner of green energy coursed through it. Lilith blinked. Once. Twice. Her usual icy expression had gone completely blank. As the initial shock passed, her eyes darted between the remnants of the curse and the posturing fool. A hundred questions raced through her mind, with ‘what’ and ‘how’ leading the pack. Swiftly, an imaginary broom swept them all aside. No, none of that mattered right now. She needed to deal with this before the whole lesson got ruined. The Wicked Witch brandished her wand and directed all her calm fury at the martial artists. “Would you worthless fools kindly stop derailing my lesson and just die already?” Some of them started backing off at the threat, having seen her power first hand. Others were preparing themselves for a fight, stretching and flexing. She couldn’t stand it... That look in their eyes that still held a spark of confidence... Snuffing it out would be her first priority. However, their leader neither retreated nor took a stance. Instead, the steadfast veteran stood his ground. “I CANNOT DO THAT!” He swept a dramatic gesture towards his fellow fighters. “MY STUDENTS TELL ME YOU ATTACKED THEM. CURSED THEM WITH MAGIC. I AM HERE TO FIND OUT WHY.” ...Evidently even his normal talking voice was like a booming drum. Not exactly hostile, but definitely overbearing. Lilith cringed at every word that assaulted her delicate ears. She was not going to dignify that with an answer. Instead, she cast a glance towards her student. “Servant, it is time for the practical portion of today’s lesson.” She aimed a sharp, commanding point at the group of musclemen standing before them. “Use what you have learned thus far to get rid of these idiotic apes.” If his claims of intelligence and creativity were true, then he had the potential to cast interesting curses. Words: 636 | 2401 Natural PL at start: 16,723 Tags: Arashi
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Post by Arashi on Sept 1, 2021 14:31:38 GMT -8
Arashi wasn't entirely sure what he expected from the woman, he supposed he had not expected a positive response given the lessons she was trying to teach him. But even so, there was quite a bit more doom and gloom to Lilith than Arashi had anticipated. She wasn't happy, and he'd been rather certain that would be her reply, but the follow-up to why she was unhappy was a little more confusing to understand. Did she mean she wasn't happy now because of the muscle heads that had recently annoyed her? He supposed his question was a little more vague than intended because he hadn't meant to ask if she was happy at this moment, that much was obvious. What he had meant to ask was whether she had "ever" been happy. A day in her life where she could honestly say she had smiled and enjoyed herself with total satisfaction? Arashi had experienced a day of total satisfaction himself, the day he met Ty and Cayle, bringing him into their home, fed as much as he could stuff his face with, bring given a bed, being read a story, curled up with the fox lady Rosemary. His mother too had days where she was satisfied and happy. When she had met and accepted her mate, and when she had given birth to the egg that held Arashi. These being two highlights in her memories among a few lesser memories. This whole situation with these martial artists seemed like such a pointless waste of time. He could understand Lilith's annoyance with them. But he had to admit that by this point considering the situation, he was impressed by just how petty she could be. And he was even more impressed with just how patient the leader of these martial artists was. Even now being threatened by Lilith he wasn't resorting to attacking her even after she had pretty well made it clear that she was trying to kill one of his students. Arashi could not help but feel a certain kind of respect for the man and his temperament. In the man's position, Arashi wasn't sure he would have such patience. Having his students attacked and nearly killed, and being threatened by a small angry woman. Did he know how strong Lilith was? Did he even care if he did know? He at least had the power to remove the spell she had placed on the student to kill them. It showed some level of wisdom if not intelligence that the muscles the man possessed, which might have surprised anyone who believed he was incapable of calculated thought. When Lilith ordered Arashi to step forward and get rid of these men, Arashi considered briefly what he should do. Frankly, he had no desire to kill these men in the slightest. If Lilith wanted to kill them herself that was her choice, he had no real bond beyond some small semblance of respect. These men were stronger in ways beyond their simple muscles. Their minds and spirits were also being forged into something greater. He decided that he knew how to get rid of these people, but he didn't think Lilith was going to like his solution. She expected him to try to curse and kill these people probably, and he thought he probably could. But... It felt like such a waste. He intended to do as she asked him, but he probably wasn't going to act in the spirit of her intended request. He sighed stepping forward, expecting that he was likely going to be punished, scolded, and otherwise reprimanded later. Perhaps Lilith would even abandon him as a lost cause unworthy of her lessons. The thought made him sad, but he resolved himself anyway. Hoping that if his plan worked that at least he would not need to feel disgusted with himself for causing needless violence, and death. So he stepped in front of Lilith looking up at the tall bald muscled man. "Lady Lilith is a cold and petty woman. Intelligent but quick to anger especially in matters concerning her pride. This situation arose because she could not forgive your students for a perceived insult to her pride after accidentally being knocked from her broom to the sand, or so I believe at least. Your students tried to apologize and help her up, but it's unlikely their attempts had any effect on her beyond angering her further." Arashi sighed and thought for a moment before shaking his head. "If you wish for any chance be forgiven, then I doubt any act less than groveling and begging forgiveness would make her consider it. My opinion, if it matters, is that you should take your students and leave rather than continue to try and deal with this situation further. You've already saved your students cursed by her magic from what I can see. If you stay, the situation will likely just become further escalated. I hope that you will listen to what I have said, accept it, and leave." Arashi paused a moment to clear his throat. "I would appreciate it if you left now. That way I can say that "I have gotten rid of those idiotic apes". Although, personally I do not feel you or your students have done anything especially idiotic. And so calling your group "idiotic apes" is something of a misnomer." Arashi mused, before waiting silently for the large man's decision about what he would do. Arashi had given the man what he wanted. Telling him why she had attacked the man's students, and even suggesting a course of action. He also hoped that the man would consider Arashi's desire and appreciation for them to leave, rather than escalate the situation and put Arashi in a more difficult and less pleasant situation than he was already in. Arashi would be surprised if Lilith didn't punish him later, perhaps putting him in a cage for what could be perceived as insubordination. But he hoped to lawyer his way at least partially out of any such punishment by having done what she asked, even if it wasn't done with the intended nature she expected him to act with. WC: 1,030/3,177 Natural PL at the start: 8,585 Tags: Lilith Nevermore
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Post by Lilith Nevermore on Sept 2, 2021 8:30:00 GMT -8
When the boy approached to explain the situation, the martial arts master gave him an oddly intense stare. “IS THAT SO...?” It was the only question he asked, though he didn’t seem to expect an answer. Rather, he took everything told to him and silently pondered it. Meanwhile, Lilith was... honestly speechless. She had expected nothing, yet the boy had still found a way to disappoint her. Truly astonishing. If looks could kill, Arashi would’ve been dead a thousand times over by now. Fortunately for him though, she settled on glaring daggers at his back. Cold killing intent coiled around him like a viper preparing to strike. She seriously considered just summoning a tornado and tearing them all apart... However, the martial arts master moved first. He shifted his eyes from the dragon boy onto the witch. Slowly his hands balled into firm fists. “I SEE. THEN I’M LEFT WITH NO CHOICE...” Faster than most eyes could follow, he leapt into the air. His body was a mere blur as it twirled. Landing in the narrow gap between the dragon and the witch, he came down knees first. His fists and head followed immediately after. ...As he slammed them against the sand in the deepest, most respectful bow a warrior could muster. Like a hammer against glass, the booming voice soon shattered the stunned silence. “I, HOIHOCHI MASHPOTATOES, HUMBLY APOLOGIZE FOR ANY INSULT AND INJURY MY STUDENTS HAVE CAUSED WITH THEIR CARELESS ACTIONS!” Even his groveling was carried out with overbearing spirit and presence. “I UNDERSTAND YOUR ANGER AND ONLY ASK THAT YOU DIRECT ALL PUNISHMENT ON ME. I TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY.” No hesitation, no bravado. He had the aura of a man who stood behind his words, no matter what. The students rushed to their teacher’s side, making a futile attempt to pull him back onto his feet. “M-master...?! But she tried to-!” However, their roared protests were shot down by a single, armor-piercing question. “HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN THE TURTLE WAY?” Their only answer was hesitation. As good as ‘yes’. But a good teacher didn’t fault the students for forgetting, no. He would teach it again. “WE DO NOT LEARN MARTIAL ARTS TO PICK FIGHTS OR TO IMPRESS GIRLS. WE MUST MASTER THE ART OF PEACE AS WELL AS THE ART OF WAR.” Fighters familiar with the history of the school would recognize that as one of the key teachings, supposedly spoken by the original master himself. Since the students still hesitated, the teacher took it upon himself to lead by example. “SO, BOW DOWN AND APOLOGIZE LIKE YOU MEAN IT! ALL TOGETHER NOW...!” Following his orders without any further questions, all the fighters dropped to their knees and bowed their heads. “WE ARE DEEPLY SORRY! PLEASE FORGIVE OUR RUDENESS!” In unison they shouted, loud enough to make sand billow and ears ring. For the first time in years, Lilith found herself... hesitating. The wand was already in her grasp, but the words to spark the spell escaped her mind. She had gotten exactly what she wanted. So why did it feel like she had lost the initiative entirely...? As the tense seconds of silence ticked by, she became acutely aware of all the bystanders staring at them. At her. Finally, after a small eternity, he lowered her wand reluctantly. “...Tch, get out of my sight, mongrels.” The command was spat through gritted teeth. A smart man would take this victory and lea- “I REFUSE.” The lady’s jaw dropped. Her icy composure shattered for good. “...What? Why?!” Much to her growing dismay, the warrior helpfully clarified. “MY CONSCIENCE WILL NOT ALLOW ME TO REST BEFORE I HAVE EARNED YOUR FORGIVENESS.” She couldn’t believe her ears. “Do you actually want me to say, ‘I forgive you’ or something equally foolish?” She couldn’t even begin to fathom what the idiot hoped to achieve. “YES.” “You cannot be serious.” “I AM.” Lilith’s head drooped with a frustrated groan. How did it come to this...? Her lesson had gotten hopelessly derailed. Worse yet, her so-called student had openly defied a direct order. Clearly, he had already been corrupted by Queen Ty’s naivete. This entire situation had been a giant waste of her time. And it would only continue, unless... “Very well... In the light of your remorse... I forgive you.” It was soft and quiet, a mere whisper. Her expression froze over again with the cold contempt. “Now begone, before I change my mind.” Her icy glare locked onto the dragon boy next. “That includes you, mongrel.”Words: 754 | 3155 Natural PL at start: 16,723 Tags: Arashi
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Post by Arashi on Sept 2, 2021 15:20:32 GMT -8
Arashi was honestly surprised that things went so well in the end. As much as Lady Nevermore boasted of her accomplishments and willingness to kill people, he had not been expecting her to forgive these people regardless of how much they begged and scraped. But apparently, his recommendation to do so had been taken in good faith and proven effective at forcing Lilith into submitting forgiveness to the bunch. And Arashi could not help but feel his respect for these men swell all the more. The master in particular was a pristine example of someone worth following. He lead with a powerful example of honor even at the cost of some of his dignity. Arashi was rather ashamed at the thought that he likely would not have done the same. He wouldn't even be here with Lilith if not for Ty insisting that Lilith would be a good teacher for him. And she was a good teacher, her knowledge of spellcraft was nothing if not complete. And while Arashi might be able to draw upon his mother's memories as required, he could not sort all the memories out at once. They came one at a time as reference required, or when his thoughts drew out a helpful or related memory. However, Arashi hadn't expected to get away clean, so when Lilith told him to leave as well, he hung his head and sighed. Perhaps he should have felt more pride in helping these men in attaining her forgiveness. Yet her dismissal of him still stung. He'd known what she wanted, what she expected, and he'd acted with her words in mind, but not with the intention behind them. He wasn't sure he could call it a betrayal, but he'd acted in a way that was not in line with her expectations. However, he decided that he wasn't satisfied with this result. Turning to face Lilith he stepped before her and looked up. "If you want me to leave then punish me first. I appreciate your lesson and am ashamed to have let you down like this. You expected more of me and I did not live up to those expectations... Strike me, curse me, kill me. Whatever satisfies you, I'll accept it." He said letting his gaze drop before closing his eyes. "I just did not think that killing these men was required to follow your orders. It seemed a waste, especially now that they were willing to put their pride and anger aside to beg for your forgiveness. These are good people, and I cannot force myself to feel any malice against them. I'm ashamed to have failed you, and I would even follow the example of these men and beg to continue learning from you... But if you must turn me away, then please at least punish me properly and tell me what I did wrong so I can learn from my mistake, tell me why I am a failure to you..." He said before gently lowering himself to his knees, and then his head to the sand at her feet. He felt many conflicting and confusing emotions at that moment. Shame, pride, joy, sorrow. Shame that he would bow his head to her, a pride that he would follow the example of the men behind him, a joy that those men would get to live, and sorrow that he had failed and disappointed Lilith. It was enough that in spite of himself a few tears leaked from the corners of his eyes, hitting the sand as icy pearls. WC: 591/3,768 Natural PL at the start: 8,585 Tags: Lilith Nevermore
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Post by Lilith Nevermore on Sept 3, 2021 5:43:19 GMT -8
The Wicked Witch gripped her wand and broom tighter, until her knuckles turned, erm, whiter than usual. “What you did wrong...? It would be faster to list what you did right, you worthless wretch. That list remains empty thus far.” Him taking notes had been on it, but ever since the incident escalated, he had stopped doing that as well. “I did not ask you to think, I commanded you to kill these pests.” She swept her wand at the martial artists, causing some of them to cower. “Yet, what did you do instead?”As had been the theme so far, Lilith didn’t give the boy a chance to answer her rhetorical question. “You disregarded my lesson, disobeyed a direct order and insulted me in front of these drooling reprobates. And then you have the absolute nerve to ask what you did wrong.” There were limits to what could be considered ignorance. He had clearly picked a side. And it was the wrong one. The lady went on to list off the insults thrown against her. In some cases, she didn’t even fully disagree. “Cold? I was born that way. Quick to anger? In annoying company, certainly.” However, one detail she could neither overlook nor forgive. “But petty...? You wound me. Not once in my life have I been petty.” She pettily insisted. Showing no signs of stopping, the noblewoman continued her lecturing. “There are rules, decorum, societal conventions going back thousands of years.” In the heat of the moment, she dropped some more pieces of the puzzle that was her moral code. “Those who do not defend their honor deserve none. Likewise, those who do not uphold their honor are not fit to have it.” In the modern world, it may have been a very archaic and old-fashioned mentality, but it was the only one she knew. Lilith gestured furiously at the martial artists, who were finally daring to get back up from the sand. “I did not spare these fools because I want to, but because I am obligated to.” Had she killed them after the lengths they went to in order to apologize with such unbearable sincerity, her social standing would’ve plummeted. In stark contrast to the cold and cutting words, a warm and massive hand suddenly slapped against the boy’s back. For what was supposedly a comforting pat, it sure packed power. “WELL SPOKEN, LAD.” The booming voice held similar fatherly encouragement, albeit in an excessive amount. “SHOWING KINDNESS AND COMPASSION IS NEVER WRONG.” His very aura was like a friendly bonfire radiating selfless warmth. Lilith’s eye twitched. “Why... are you... still here?” The venomous words slithered like snakes from her lips. “Begone, I said. This no longer involves you.” Her sharp teeth gritted together when the fool had the nerve to disagree. “I FEEL INVOLVED NONETHELESS.” She silenced him with a wicked glare. This was all their fault to begin with! She didn’t need them filling the boy’s head with more nonsense. There was a chill in the air... White wind whispered... Slowly, creeping frost painted a snowflake beneath the frigid woman. “The only reason you still draw breath is because you are under the King and Queen’s protection.” She let out a hollow, tired laugh. “Punish you? Hah... Idiot. If I did, what would happen to me, hm?” She wasn’t foolish enough to try, for she had seen first hand what those two were capable of when angered. “Can you even fathom what those two monsters would do to me?”Words: 586 | 3741 Natural PL at start: 16,723 Tags: Arashi
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Post by Arashi on Sept 3, 2021 14:16:22 GMT -8
He slowly lifted his head to listen to Lilith as she spoke. He sighed lightly when she got to work telling him what he did wrong. "I'd like to note that you only told me to get rid of them, and the only reason they are still here now is that this big man is kind enough to continue supporting me. Even though his "fight" at this point is already done. He's loud, but in a way, his kindness and warmth remind me of Ty." "As for your lesson... I paid attention to the magic you were teaching me. Magic takes root and spreads from one central point. The curse you cast fed on the energy of the person you cast it on, leeching its required energy strait from the target." Arashi said remaining on his knees. "The rest of what you said throughout the lesson though... These life lessons you have been trying to impart upon me. How can I believe them when it seems like each time you want to prove something the exact opposite seems to happen. When I am lost and alone, no one will save me? But Ty and Cayle did." He chuckled. "You wanted these men dead because they hurt you in some manner, minor as the interaction was. Because they accidentally hit you with a ball and knocked you from your broom... I'll apologize for calling you petty. But I feel like perhaps your reaction was a little exaggerated. If you are allowed to kill these men over an accident such as that, then wouldn't anyone else be allowed to attempt to do the same to you for any matter they felt was equally violating?" Arashi questioned. "It seems to me that in this case, your actions could spiral easily into a vortex of endless violence. Perhaps that is of little concern to you, but even enough ants can take down an elephant. And with every person wronged, several others may consider it their duty to avenge their comrade. This big loud man, Hoihochi, is a noble soul in my mind. More so than the nobles that would claim that title by any sort of divine right, or bloodline. He's embodied the spirit of the word, if not the definition of it." "Honor..." Arashi mused tasting the word as he looked to Lilith. "What is honor to you? Is it so fragile that you feel you must defend it because of an accident by killing these men?" He asked with a small hum. "I think in this case there was more honor in forgiveness, than in the act of defending it against the perceived slight. And there was more honor in these men asking for forgiveness, rather than attempting to exact justice for the attack made against them, even though doing so may have put their lives in danger, bowing their heads to someone who would attack another person over such a slight provocation, even attempt to kill them over it." When it came to the question of Ty and Cayle defending him from Lilith he tilted his head. "So you would kill me for wronging you then? I suppose that I expected that to some degree. But I'm not sure I can imagine Ty would do anything too horrific to you, she seemed to care about you a lot." He considered. "I'm less sure about Cayle. He was nice, but I've only gotten to spend a little time with him. Perhaps his methods are crueler than I would expect when he spends his time with Ty." After that Arashi sat thinking for a moment. He wasn't entirely sure how to resolve this situation. He wanted to understand, but he wasn't even sure what he wanted. He respected Hoihochi for his approach, but could Arashi do the same? Did he want to be that kind of person? He didn't think he could be the kind of person Lilith was or wanted him to be. It seemed like the universe was giving him a chance to see both sides, a contrast between two "noble" souls. The kind of noble who cared for no one. And the kind of noble who cared for everyone. It was such a strange contrast to be near these two people. But eventually, he reached a conclusion. "I don't know what to do... I don't know if there is any fix for this situation. I just..." He shook his head, frustrated. "I don't think I can be like you, Lilith... I respect your abilities. You are powerful and knowledgeable. And if I had met you first before Ty, I certainly would have done as you asked, I would not have cared about these men at all if that were the case, regardless of how noble they are... But that isn't the case..." He sighed. "I suppose that in a sense, I've been infected by Ty's brightness. Her kindness... I don't want to disappoint you, but I don't want to disappoint her either. And it seems like I can't live up to both expectations of me..." He said sadly. WC: 848/4,616 Natural PL at the start: 8,585 Tags: Lilith Nevermore
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Post by Lilith Nevermore on Sept 4, 2021 5:24:25 GMT -8
Somewhere, a teapot forgotten on a stove whistled furiously. Oh, wait, it was just Lilith’s blood pressure rising. “Do not presume to lecture me on nobility or honor, you mud-blooded mongrel.” Her voice darkened, rumbling like distant thunder. Grim. Threatening. Heralding a storm... “My heritage elevates me above common rabble. All of you are beneath me.” How quickly these mortals had forgotten the terror her family name was supposed to instill. It was high time to remind them. The teacher found it infuriating beyond anything that her so-called student dared to disregard her lessons. “I have been trying to teach you some semblance of self-reliance and decisiveness, but clearly you are too young and naive to understand. The King and Queen will not be around to save you every time.” Saying that set off a strange twinge of pain in her chest... But she elected to ignore it. When Arashi brought up killing, Lilith scoffed at the very notion. She hated repeating herself. “I would kill you if I could, but...” But then Ty would be sad, a small voice reminded her. She grit her teeth, forcing the thought back down. “...But then, King Cayle would take my life. He is violently protective of those who he deems his own.” The emphasis on her words came from experience. She feared no man. But... That thing... It scared her. The noblewoman tugged the brim of her hat further down. Her features were swallowed by the grim shadow. “For once in your life, you are right. Pleasing everyone is impossible. We all have to choose a side. And since you are so keen on joining them... So be it.” Her lips curled into a small smile. Most smiles showed happiness, or at least cheer, but this one only showed a glimpse of sharp teeth. “I cannot punish you... But I can punish everyone around you.”Savvy on all things combat related, Hoihochi suddenly shuddered. He spun towards his men and gestured furiously towards the other beachgoers. “SPREAD OUT! EVACUATE THE BEACH IMMEDIATELY! MOVE IT!” Leading by example, once again, he sprinted towards a nearby family and yelled that they needed to get out. Something bad was coming. The lady paid them no mind. Instead, she brought her hands together. “Awaken, o’ Tome of Nevermore, and share thy wisdom...” In a puff of smoke, a big, dark tome appeared in her grasp. She leafed through the pages, speaking idly. “When we first met, you claimed to be a storm dragon. Domains of ice and lightning, was it?” Yes, she remembered every word. Ah, and here was the one she was looking for... “Then you should find this next spell... educational.” Her eerie tone promised nothing good. The Wicked Witch floated higher and raised her hand towards the heavens. Her voice rang clearly across the area. “O’ dark spirits, The Heir of the Clan Nevermore calls upon thy power... Embrace thy hatred, unleash thy rage, let thy curse consume all in its path...” Those with sharp or supernatural senses could see, even feel, the magic surging from her hand like a pillar of light towards the sky. Thick clouds gathered overhead, darkening as the spell spread through them. It fed on both her power and the ambient moisture in the air. “Freeze the rains and crush the lands... Hailstorm.”True to the chant, it began as frozen droplets drumming the ground gently. Icy winds wailed solemnly. The storm quickly grew in size and intensity. Chunks of ice the size of golf balls started hammering the beach. Each one carried concussive, bone-cracking power. Dodging them was difficult, not because of any accuracy, but because of the sheer volume. The sands turned white. People screamed and ran. The martial artists were desperately trying to protect the civilians. Some struggled to deflect the storm with flashy techniques. Others simply sheltered the weaker with their muscular bodies. Their master was the only one to combine both. Showing off strength and technique beyond mere humans, he fought back with a storm of fists. Donning a smile on his face, he bellowed how he welcomed this challenge. A strange fellow. Only one safe spot remained, a small circle around the witch herself. With calculated precision, the dragon boy was kept within it as well. She let out a sigh of white mist and lowered her trembling hand. The spell had taken a lot out of her... But she refused to let her exhaustion show. Much. Lilith shifted her cold focus on the dragon. “Look around you, boy. See how the mortals scream and run? This is all your fault.” She aimed a sweeping gesture at the chaos around them. “From now on, every time you disobey me, the people around you shall suffer.” Her words were full of poison, aimed like daggers at his heart. “And they will continue to suffer until you either learn to behave, or grow strong enough to stop me.” He had chosen his side. If he wanted to be one of the heroes that badly... Then he didn’t need a mentor... He needed a villain. “Do you understand?”Words: 853 | 4594 Natural PL at start: 16,723 Tags: Arashi
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Post by Arashi on Sept 8, 2021 5:49:32 GMT -8
Being called a mud-blooded mongrel was almost more than he could stand to hear. There was nothing impure about his blood, and to imply otherwise filled him with a cold fury he wanted nothing more than to vent right at the woman. But whatever anger he might have felt was set aside when she began to cast her spell. It didn't take much for him to identify the element she intended to use. Thinking fast he started to form a spell, but not once he intended to direct at her. If he aimed anything at her she could probably counter it anyway, rather it was a spell for the people she was aiming the spell at. He could not save everyone, he probably could not even save most of them, but he was confident he could save a handful, and the handful he intended to save might make the biggest difference anyway. He could not directly contest her spell, so he didn't. Using what he learned from Lilith he prepared something of an inverse to her original lesson. Almost a blessing more than a curse. A spell designed to help those it hit live through her attack. "It doesn't have to be this way! Ty showed me that just because we are born from darkness, doesn't mean we cannot step into the light, become it even! She didn't need to save me that day, but she did, she wasn't wandering a tunnel in search of light, she was the light at the end of the tunnel! She saved me just like she's probably saved dozens of people!" He grits his teeth as the spell formed and shifted in his hand, like a series of icy knots twisting and trying together to form the spell, before almost seeming to turn the spell inside out, being the best way he could describe it. Doing his best to copy the spell that Lilith had created, and then inverting it to suit his needs. And then he split and sent his spell out, attaching it to HOIHOCHI and his students since they would take the longest to kill anyway, and they were the ones he wanted to live most. The spell that Lilith had used on the men before had been one that drew on the energy of the host to create ice. So inverting the spell as Arashi had he created a spell that drew on ice to create energy that would be fed into the host. This meant that rather than hurting the men with her storm, she would be empowering them, slowly fueling them with energy as the ice would instantly evaporate on contact with their bodies. This would leave them virtually unharmed by any ice-related effects and making them stronger over time, the longer the storm raged. Assuming this worked, Arashi would begin to shape the spell once more, and spread it out to attach to every person who was alive and in his sight. He could not be sure how well his ice blessing would work to counter a larger more focused attack. But for this ice storm at least he was confident in its effectiveness to resist and feed on the ice. WC: 535/5,151 Natural PL at the start: 8,585 Tags: Lilith Nevermore
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Post by Lilith Nevermore on Sept 9, 2021 2:06:38 GMT -8
During moments of despair, people showed their true colors. In adversity, true strength could finally bloom. When the dragon boy was pushed to the brink, he would naturally retaliate. Lilith had expected that much. It was the method of retaliation that had piqued her curiosity. Rather than rage against the storm or seek shelter from it, the boy tried to turn it to his advantage. She watched silently, as he carefully crafted a charm to protect against her magic. So, he was capable of learning after all. However, as the boy continued spouting his senseless drivel, the witch let out a tired sigh. Another white wisp carried the words. “Hmph... Still cling to your childish dreams...” Her eyes narrowed. A cold frown crept upon her lips. “How predictable.” The rot of hope had gotten deep. Unsurprising, considering the source... But irritating nonetheless. At this rate, the fool would miss the point of the lesson yet again... And she absolutely hated having to repeat herself. Lilith allowed her gaze to wander on the fleeing fighters and civilians. Now that the charm had empowered them, they were making far better progress. Those who could run were shielded by the biggest warriors. The rest were carried to safety. Within moments, the area was empty. Only the howling wind kept them company. To think it took the combined force of several men and a magical dragon to even flee from her. Pathetic. Then again, it was to be expected. None of them could stand against her. Despite the numerous chances and ways to stop the fleeing mortals, the witch... did nothing. Instead, she let the storm rage around them. “You are missing the point.” She commented coldly. “That which you see as light is merely your mind playing tricks on you, trying desperately to deny the harsh reality.” She lifted her hand, aiming a sweeping gesture at the now empty beach. “Now that the mortals have wrung all the benefit they can from you, they have abandoned you to your fate. You are all alone.” She was intimately familiar with the feeling. “There is no light here.”Now that the beach was finally clear of the disgusting mortals, the wicked witch closed her tome. No sense in wasting mana any further. With the source of the spell cut off, the storm started subsiding. In seconds, the freezing hail shifted to soft snowfall. The entire beach was white with ice and frost. Tomorrow, the localized weather anomaly would have the local news buzzing. Watching the snow drifting in the air, Lilith gathered her thoughts. Her silence didn’t mean the fury had passed. No, she simply had a lot of conflicting material to consider. On one hand, her student was a bitter disappointment, failing to understand even the most basic ideology and magical theory. On the other, however, he had proven capable of analyzing, formulating and casting new spells under pressure. It went completely against his claims of intelligence. Rather, this seemed like instinct and natural talent. Was this what they called an idiot savant? She shifted her attention onto the boy. “I expected better from you.” Cold and callous, as usual. Words: 526 | 5120 Natural PL at start: 16,723 Tags: Arashi
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