@Lenglon/Griffionday"...She's gone."
"N-no. It can't be-ahh..."
The two of you find each other solely by your voices, and realize that everyone else is still knocked unconscious by the power of the blow. Your only light source comes from what seems to be a fluffy torch suspended midair, like a chandelier without a chain.
"My leg. It hurts."
"It's badly bruised, but not broken. Glad to see we're all here. Whatever that thing was, isn't following us now."
"I'd not want to doubt Vector's power, but she's still not here."
"Hm, alright Mr. Tamer. Tell me one thing, why do you think magic is not permitted to be used inside the upper section of the Aerie?"
"Because of the wards in place, obviously. Anyone who does cast magic, unless it is outside w-"
"Yes?"
"Will be instantaneously shifted to the dungeon to await sentence for violation against the element of air."
"Correct. Now, I believe we should do our part before everyone wakes up. Vector is safe, that's a good thing. The other thing I'd like to show you, is this."
He holds up a whistle shaped in the form of a short flute as well as a winged key.
"If it all comes to plan, then we're taking off in style."
"Then this leaves only one thing. Protect those we know would still be a threat. Err, no offense to the rest."
"Why can't you just shove all of them into the trapdoor anyway?"
"It's a chute, and the mechanism of the drop only works safely for one person. The 132nd order of the King states protection using magic, so every trapdoor only works once. Beats thieves anytime."
"Right. Err."
"What?"
"Who're we saving?"
"griffinpup, of course."
"Oh. Right. You go do that, I'll just sit here. Not moaning in pain."
And then griffinpup was sent free.
"Now to bring all of you into the hall. We can't stay out like this. Have to check what she gave me in a safe area."
"Goodluck carrying me then."
@griffinpup
Another night, another target. However, you've encountered a moral dilemma; you are unconscious!
You feel someone dragging you by the ankle, and feel your head hit some kind of hard rock as your body turns around that axis.
It hurts.
And then you fall.
The feeling of gravity, pulling you down.
It feels like forever until you hit something solid, and awaken.
Identify items? [Y/N] | @Vector'What is the first thing to do when in danger?'
Your instructor's voice echoes in your mind as you hear his students' footsteps scurry off into the distance. Technically, everyone who has passed through the Aerie's doors are his students, but with one exact and current difference. You are now their teacher, and you will lead by example despite all their forthcomings. You are their guide. You are their shield, their light, their key.
You are their sword.
You take a swift breath, and exhale sharply, calming yourself for the battle ahead. The spider looms into view and orients itself towards you, with several beady eyes forming on where its 'head' should be.
"Not today, you abhorrent spinner." you say, using the words as a guise before you prepare one of your customary formulae, calculating how strong and from what origin you are going to summon wield your powers from.
Yet it doesn't respond. Quite rude for an amalgam of dark magic. Yet you can sense fear in the air. Not your own and...not the creature's.
You flick your fingers, and a tiny spark appears in the air, illuminating the area with pure light and the lack of heat, and see the spider for what it truly is. An emaciated creature: its exoskeleton being the only tangible parts available, and its 'fleshy' parts formed from what seems to be a mix of nebulous darkness and grayish, elriche bands. A part of you wishes that it would bend over and die easily so you can return to the rest.
It raises its forelegs and shoots a glob of the black substance at you before charging. You quickly deflect the projectile, seeing its acidic properties as it burns the stony corridor and fills it with acrid odors. There is no way you're fighting this thing in an enclosed space.
It skids to a stop as you dash in its direction, aiming to catch you with its body. You utter the first sequence of your spell, and manage to evade it entirely with a force-propelled leap. It doesn't let up as you run towards the Sunwell. It is determined to chase you down until you are too tired to run or you fight. In either case, death is one thing you don't want happening.
But then a thought comes to mind. The tablet. The light. Perhaps if you could just subvert its energy and...
"Hey four legs! Can't catch me!"
Your footsteps fill the hall with their frantic rhythm, but this brings peace as you are sure that no other pair can be heard. With the thought of your students safe, you push onwards, determined to see this through either way.
Reaching the door, you quickly utter another phrase and hear them swiftly close in. The pit-pat of spindly legs across the walls tell you that your foe has entered the room. Perfect.
You complete the phrase, and turn to see the doors slam shut with a tortured groan of metal. The sunwell is lit only by the torches around you. The whole scene seems like one of the tragic plays you've seen in your childhood, but with you being the hero.
Another flick of the fingers put the room into full light--whatever the Keeper said about the room's restrictions would be damned anyway if you died. The spider is nowhere to be seen, something you use to rethink your strategy. You back away slowly towards the still-active tablet, taking a glance to see multiple figures in the griffon roosts, and shudder to think what the poor beasts may be experiencing at their hands.
A glint in the corner of your eye. Expected. Attacked. You release the remainder of your spell in a barrage of taunts and swears, pouring your stress onto the creature, knowing that this in itself makes up half of the battle as the figure comes into view.
It dodges, weaves and drops. Wounded by the blows, evident by the signs of decay and deterioration in its body. Fatigue touches you, and you remember that though magi wield powers which no mundane man would ever dream to have, it comes at a cost. Despite that, you grin and continue your taunting, positioning yourself between it and the tablet.
"If only you could see me now, Professor. I may join you one day. Over tea, perhaps."
The creature twitches, and rights itself without any difficulty. You are sure this will be the moment of truth. Death, or life.
It charges one final time at you, and you leap. You leap into a roll perpendicular to its strike, and manage to evade it by inches as it smashes right into the tablet.
A faint humming sound is heard, growing louder and louder by the moment. You turn to see the spider getting absorbed into the scrying tool, and its mystic energies reaching an imbalance.
"...This just isn't my day."
With no other alternative, you resort to utilizing all your pent up energy for one last spell. A spell that many magi fail to perfect, despite it being the most simple and basic of spells in the curriculum. Sort of an addition equation that most fail due to its simplicity.
The Aegis.
You kneel and cross your arms, bowing your head as a penitent man does, and begin focusing your thoughts on one thing that matters most to you. Who you should protect. Who you deem your reason for continued existence despite any harm or evil around you.
Friends.
Family.
Loved ones.
...People.
You close your eyes as you feel the warmth of the shield emanating from you, and the light blankets your vision from the outside world.
You are at peace. Whether alive or dead, nothing bothers you anymore.
Until familiar voices ring in your mind.. |
Author
Topic: BM XLI: On Wings of Haven -- Scum Victory! (Read 100069 times)