PLEASE CLOSE ~ DEAD

[ValidEmotions]

"Behemoth, charge!" Atani summoned, her hand brushing her chest where the crystal lay hidden. As she swept her hand away, the monstrous Fiend materialized. A snarling hiss escaped its maw, tail sweeping across the ground. "Take out the crawler," she commanded, pointing at the caged monster.

 

Her Fiend rushed at the cage, lumbering steps audible. Its tail flicked forward, a brown glow illuminating around the lower quarter-section. With a sweep of the tail, darts shot towards the caged monster, striking in various locations and causing it to cry out with pain.

[Fortune86]

Arthur raised his right hand to his chin while he mused over this new information. Someone, or several someones to be more accurate, had drugged and kidnapped three Summoners. They had known they would not be able to take them by force, so had taken steps to ensure their capture. Holding a Summoner prisoner was a dangerous thing to do, there could be no thought of releasing them if they wished to avoid retribution. So they had been taken with the intent of being killed. There was also the concerning mention of Upmejeuh.

 

"You said your father has property in Tehgrimm Suda, but where were you when you and your friends were taken?"

[DragonSpirit009]

Bastian watched as Behemoth took on the monster and injuring it quite badly. The girl showed good head on attack but she was still a bit too eager in his eyes. After the fiend’s attack Bastian kept his eye on his students. He noticed something which might cause them to hold back in their train in the future.

 

“Well done.” Bastian spoke. “Now there is something I noticed in some of your expressions. Some felt sorry or even pitied the monsters while they were attacked in their cages. Other not so much.”

Suddenly a large red claw came down from above flatting the cage of the Withering Crawler. The monster was still whimpering from its previous wounds when it stopped after Areo crushed it within its cage.

 

“Monsters have no pity for us. They don’t care who they kill or they widowed or orphaned. Thus we show them the same cruelty.” Bastian spoke out loud. Areo then moved to the next monster crushing the bird like monster in its cage with his claw. “They were placed in this world to kill us and to survive we must kill them back.”

 

Areo continued killing each monster as Bastian spoke. Only one of the monsters were able to strike Bastian leaving his hand slightly burned from the water monster but it didn’t live long enough to strike again.

 

“Never pity a monster or think you can befriend one. Now class is dismissed.”

 

~~

 

Bella shivered from the cries of the Withering Crawler. It sounded eerie and knew it might give her bad dreams. The young girl was still watching the monster crawling up like a spider in pain when suddenly it was killed by Areo. Bella gasped a little and gave a little step back feeling a bit afraid. Bastian wasn’t the same man as two day ago. When he spoke of not feeling pity for killing a monster she couldn’t help but thinking that he might be wrong. She might not have seen much or have never been in danger but there must have been away to change all of this.

 

When he said class was dismissed Bella was a bit afraid to move. She was still slightly shocked that he killed the monsters without showing any emotion.

[Fortune86]

While Helios knew Bastian had a point, he still disliked what he saw as a petty display of power and authority. While monsters surely were the enemies of mankind, each and every one a killing machine, they could still feel pain and fear. Causing them undue suffering seemed wrong.

 

When Bastian dismisssed the class Helios tuned to leave. He noticed Bella standing nearby, her face pale and she looked on the verge of tears. Not wanting her to get into any trouble with Bastain for being weak Helios approached her and spoke softly.

 

"Come on. Let's go back inside."

[DragonSpirit009]

Bella was still looking at the now dead monsters. She wasn’t sure if she will be able to sleep tonight after that. She had never thought of things this way. Yesterday sure Beldor kill a couple monsters but they were fighting them but these were helpless. But like Bastian said they should not pity them but Bellas couldn’t help feel this way.

 

“Oh.” Bella said when Helios spoke to her. “Okay.” The young girl replied slowly now walking away with the boy.

[Fortune86]

Helios glanced back at the dead monsters and the wreckage of their wooden cages before walking after Bella. Bastian had not said anything about further lessons so he assumed that until otherwise told, the rest of the day was their own.

 

Back at the orphange Helios used to spend his free time helping with the smaller children, but here he was the youngest. Reaching up to touch the string of his bow he wondered if he could find somewhere quiet to practise. He'd have to leave the school grounds. He didn't want to risk anyone getting in the way.

 

[Evangeline]

Seraphina arched a single brow. Upmejeuh? That name seemed oddly familiar. Where was that? She could not seem to remember a place on the map named such. Her brows furrowed in thought, and she glanced up toward Arthur to meet his fleeting gaze. More importantly, who had the gall to drug and kidnap three summoners in front of other prying eyes? The prospect was troubling. The last incident hadn't been as showy... The perpetrators were becoming braver.

 

He wanted to leave. He was tired of the questions even though they had barely begun. He wanted to get mind-numbingly buzzed until the pain slowly welling within his damaged husk faded.

"Tehgrimm Suda. The outskirts. A tavern called The Horse's Hooves. An hour past sunset. May I leave now?"

 

"Soon, soon. We are grateful for your help, Mister Jia." Her palms rested at her upper thighs, and she pushed herself up from her chair.

"They were found West of the providence in the woods, from what the doctors told me." She remarked as her attentions flickered toward her colleague.

 

((Chases away typos))

Edited February 16, 2015 by evangeline5432

[ValidEmotions]

She cried out in shock, hands quickly covering her face. Sorana trembled faintly, eyes shut to block out the sight of Bastian's actions and trying to tune out the sounds of the crushing cages and dying monsters.

 

But she couldn't.

 

A sob broke free as the teacher gave his spiel about not feeling any pity or ounce of sympathy for the beasts. How could she not, though? They were helpless in this situation, taken from their home and whatever family they might have created.

 

Helios was trying to coax them back inside. Lowering her hands, she saw the other girl slowly agree and begin walking. Swallowing hard, she shook her head fled the training field, hurrying inside. "Miss Diana!" she called, rushing down hallways to try and find the female teacher. Bastian was atrocious and Sorana hoped that Diana could correct him. "Miss Diana, please!"

 

---

 

Atani snorted, watching the other students and how they reacted. She was in awe with Bastian's Fiend, entranced by the amount of power it possibly possessed. "Mr. Bastian? How many monsters have you killed?" she asked, curious. "Are you military? I've been considering joining the military since they see the most action and get to fight off the more serious threats."

[Kestra15]

Selena let her normally-pleasant expression drop for a moment as Areo stormed over the cages and wiped out the small collection of monsters, her eyes hardening as she glanced at Bastian. Yes, the monsters would show the humans no mercy and perhaps it would be best to have them killed afterwards to stop them from causing any damage back out in the wilderness. She had herself killed enough creatures - and sadly, the odd human and Fiend - to know exactly how hardened a heart has to become to make that choice and take that action. But she still believed in a sanctity of life, that death should be a final resort and not one just handed out at will. The callous display of death here may have served as a lesson to the younger students, an abrupt and arguably necessary one about the life they may end up living, but perhaps after the deaths of yesterday it was too soon. Especially given they had last seen this man taken away in chains for causing a fight than endangered lives publically it would serve only to undermine any authority.

 

Split between wanting to investigate the commotion and supporting the shocked students, Selena beckoned to Vulpis, who had sensibly moved when Areo charged the monster she had been guarding. Like her Summoner Vulpis displayed an expression of distaste and concern, her nine tails flared and the tips shimmering purple, making her seem much larger. Selena could easily have hidden among those tails and had done in the past for protection while healing a wounded soldier. She presumed that, despite the ruckus outside that had echoed faintly through the halls, all was in hand given the number of Military Summoners who had responded, and was curious as to how the new arrival fitted in. However she was loathe to let her curiosity take control when the emotional needs of the students would now need to be met thanks to the harsh lesson that had just been given.

 

Without having to talk, the two Healers went about their tasks. Vulpis dashed out of the room in a heartbeat while Selena walked over to Bastian. Her measured pace was unstoppable as she stepped easily over the splinters of wood and past the bloodthirsty student who had come up and practically fawned over Bastian's display of power. She paused in front of the taller Summoner and looked at him. "I will discuss this with you later," she said softly. It was no threat, but held all the certainty and strength of a Healer determined to care for her charges. The edge of a Military officer was clear in her words, and she simply walked on from Bastian without awaiting reply or dismissal.

 

Coming up behind Bella and Helios she dropped a hand onto their shoulders. "Would you like to have a hot tea?" she said, voice gentle. It was a question and they could both refuse, but there was something about it that made it feel closer to a careful request. She glanced over at Sandy. "And you Sandy - if you'd like a drink, you're welcome to join me."

 

---

 

Fast as Sorana was, Vulpis was much faster. The teenager was easily caught by the Fiend, but rather than stop her the vulpine creature simply nuzzled against her mid-stride and kept pace beside her, a questioning look on her face.

Edited February 14, 2015 by Kestra15

[ValidEmotions]

Something soft nuzzled against her and she gasped in surprise, stumbling in her hasty stride. Coming to a stop, she recognized the source of the touch as Miss Selena's Fiend. Collapsing to her knees, Sorana stared at the vulpine creature, seeing the questioning and the worry. "It's not fair...," she murmured, swallowing hard.

 

Wiping at her eyes, Sorana tried to keep from crying in front of the Fiend, lower lip quivering. "They were defenseless! He had no right to kill them like so! How would you feel, suddenly being taken away from your home, your family, and locked into a small cage to be attacked? All for the sake of some students to learn about elemental effects that they could have read about instead! How would you feel, being in a strange place, in pain, at someone's mercy who decided that your life wasn't worth a thing?"

 

Sobs interrupted her words, tears streaking her cheeks, and she curled into a tight ball. "What makes people think we have more right than another creature of the world...?"

[Kestra15]

Vulpis sat patiently a pace away from Sorana as she knelt and talked, her eyes soft and understanding as the student let her thoughts tumble out. Sadly the Fiend could not talk back to the human but she made it clear she understood everything the girl was saying, close enough to touch if Sorana needed it. As the teenager curled up Vulpis stood and took the one pace forward, nuzzling the girl's cheek as she sat next to the girl, soft white fur and luxurious tails providing the physical comfort she could not provide through words.

[ValidEmotions]

More nuzzling. Automatically, Sorana uncurled and wrapped her arms around Vulpis, hiding her face in the Fiend's soft fur. For awhile, she just cried, body trembling. Eventually, she was able to calm down and pull away, rubbing at puffy eyes and drying her stained cheeks. "Thank you...," she mumbled, head bowed.

 

She felt tiny again, embarrassed about losing her composure in front of someone else's Fiend. Tucking her legs against her chest, she rested her chin on her knees and remained there. "I'm sorry. I know fighting creatures is part of being a Summoner but I had hoped people were working to find better ways of dealing with them. Not something cruel."

[Kestra15]

Vulpis' response was to gently brush away the tears with her fur, surprisingly unruffled for a creature that just had someone wrapped around them sobbing. Vulpis had allowed the Summoner to melt against her and kept her warm and protected as she cried, a silent but caring support for the teen. As Sorana spoke Vulpis closed her eyes and nodded, doing her best to display understanding, before raising a forepaw to rest on the back of the girl's hand. The teachings of Vundiha agreed that violence should not be the first choice but instead the last resort when all other options had been considered and explored. But Vundiha had also created the Fiends in order to fight, and there were always going to be times where violence was the only way. Fighting the monsters, sadly, was one of them - if they couldn't be avoided then they were generally fought. Vulpis had hope for Sorana; if she continued to believe that there was always another option, she would become a respected and powerful Summoner.

 

Letting her paw slide to the floor Vulpis stood up and cocked her head, giving Sorana a questioning look as if to say "Come along?"

[na82008]

Sandor looked away as Bastian killed, no, butchered the remaining monsters. So direct, uncaring. Like killing a fly. No, worse, like he was simply walking on a dead leaf. "How can you know?" Sandor said, "how do you know they feel nothing? I-I'v seen people nearly as cruel to each other. Does that mean they have no feelings?" He didn't want to accept, though he knew it was probably true. Humans were prey to monsters. And nothing ever feels sorry for eating its prey, but he still wondered. What truly separated monsters from fiends? It seemed the same to him.

[ValidEmotions]

Feeling the paw on her hand, Sorana looked at Vulpis and frowned, trying to figure out what the Fiend wanted. It took a moment but she finally realized that the vulpine creature likely wanted her to follow it. Nodding, she briefly rubbed at her eyes again before picking herself up, taking a moment to dust off her clothes. "Okay, where do you want us to go?" she asked the Fiend. She hoped it wouldn't lead her back to Bastian. She'd rather not see that brute anymore.

[DragonSpirit009]

((Sorry for not including Vulpis to my previous post Kestra... I couldn't remember where she was again x.x))

 

Bastian watched the students leave knowing most of them weren’t very pleased with him. Even Selena approached him and said they will discuss it later. But Bastian merely stood with arms folded and his expression blank. In his eyes they needed to learn that these monsters weren’t put in this world to be played with.

 

When Atani questioned him about if he ever was in the military and how many monsters he killed, he could just stared at the girl blankly not sure how to respond nor what to make of her eagerness to fight.

 

“I was in the military yes but left a couple years after the titans were defeated.” He spoke walking over to the crushed crates. Areo started to scrap the broken pieces and dead monster together knowing that Sheridan wouldn’t be pleased with his mess. “There is no pride in how many monsters one has killed because there will always be many more to kill. Now get going. I don’t know if Diana will give another lesson later on or not.” He spoke gathering the smaller chipped wood and throwing it upon the pile Areo has made. “And Sandor don’t you think we have tried over the past hundreds of years to co-exist with these monsters? Don’t you think we’ve tried studying them, learning their ways and maybe try to train them? It all ended in failure and nearly wiped out our race. If one of the gods didn’t pity us and gifted us these amazing powers, then we wouldn’t be even standing here now. Monsters were put here to kill us nothing more nothing less.”

 

~~

 

Bella looked over her shoulder and saw Selena. She gave her a weak smile, happy to see the woman and knew she was there to comfort them.

 

“Yes. I think tea would be nice. What you think Helios?”

 

 

((Fortune I hope its fine that I've said that they did study them.))

 

[Fortune86]

((Yeah it looks fine Spirit. ))

 

"So you were taken from The Horse's Hooves in Tehgrimm Suda and your captors tried to deliver you elsewhere? When you escaped you tried to return to the city. Do you have any idea of where you were when you fled?"

 

Arthur had at this point two theories. Either Castian's abductors were going to take them back to their base or kill them and string them up for display as they had done to the Summoner girl in Niefir's town square. If they had been heading east from Suda that ruled out Dnortih Mdyhl and Khemm Bceurm. That left their destination as either Niefir, Zedih or Zurt.

 

~~~

 

Helios gave a small start when someone unexpectedly touched him on the shoulder. He gave a small sigh of relief to see it was only Selena as she offered him and Bella a drink of tea.

 

"I'm okay thanks" he replied. "There are some things I want to do."

[Evangeline]

Castian gazed at the questioning summoner unhappily, his head shaking in answer.

"No. I don't. It was bloody dark. Last thing I remember was the monster, and then I woke up to her talking to me. And a strange black-haired child was there."

He eyes lingered along the outline of Diana's form for a moment.

 

"Next thing I know, I woke up to her voice in a hospital before I slipped back into the darkness. Then, I ran after I woke up and I ran into the other guy, Wes. Anything else you damned offers need to know?" Annoyance lingered within his voice, even as his body began to warm near the fire.

--

 

Seraphina's thoughts lingered on the same information Arthur was pondering at that moment. Her lips pursed in thought before she took a step toward the other. Her voice was hushed though above a whisper as she faced him.

"It is possible that someone is trying to scare off the new students. Or worse."

Edited February 16, 2015 by evangeline5432

[Chicogal]

Diana quietly stood there, eventually leaning her back against the doorframe. She stared at the other side of the frame as her student talked, trying hard to piece together what was happening. Vaguely, she registered someone calling for her - a student. It didn't sound urgent though, and Castian was her top priority. He came to the end of his story, and it was then that she pushed herself up and away from the wood. "Worse?" she asked softly, bright eyes lingering on Castian.

[Kestra15]

((Spirit, don't worry about it ))

 

"Will you do us ladies the honour of escorting us at least?" Selena smiled at Helios. "I'm hoping to have Sorana meet us as well, have a cup of tea before I try and find the archery range." She indicated that they should head towards the infirmary - her office, for lack of a better description - and gave one last welcoming wave to Sandor before they disappeared from sight.

 

"Don't worry, it's not for a check-up," she assured them as they headed towards the infirmary. "But I do have my own chairs, fresh water and herbs for various drinks, so may as well utilise it."

 

---

 

Vulpis gave Sorana a grin, though with her fox-like features it did end up showing her teeth as well, and she let her tails brush over Sorana's arm as she indicated a corridor away from the training grounds and instead towards the mess hall and infirmary.

Edited February 16, 2015 by Kestra15

[earwig]

Wes nodded silently as the white-haired officer gave him his orders, and flashed a brief understanding smile to Diana as he turned to head toward the infirmary. He still knew the rough layout of the school, and he walked slowly and calmly, taking in the nostalgic sights and sounds. Through the commotion, he could hear that there must have been some lesson in progress. He had an almighty urge to poke his head in and watch, knowing the students may serve him, or even surpass his rank with enough time. He loved seeing each unique fiend and how creative a summoner could be to utilise their abilities. Unfortunately, he had more pressing matters to attend to, and it sounded as though the lesson was coming to a close anyway. He closed a fist and knocked it against the infirmary door a couple times, mentally preparing what he was going to say should someone answer. How does one explain the situation and not cause panic?

[Kestra15]

As the students approached the infirmary Selena slowed, recognising the man knocking at her door. Posted to the same garrison she had tended to the health needs of the man's regiment for many a year now, and while they were not exactly friends she certainly had a professional relationship and working knowledge of the man. She stepped past the students to talk to him.

 

"Captain Trason, how can I assist you?" she asked.

[Fortune86]

Helios wanted to just leave but Selena seemed pretty insisting. Inwardly groaning he walked into the school and down the corridor along with her and Bella, planning to escape the moment he possibly could.

 

It seemed the opportunity might arise sooner than he had thought. Another military type was standing outside the infirmary door. If Selena was needed elsewere, then he could skip out on the tea party and go.

 

~~~

"Is there anything else you can remember?" asked Arthur. "Did you see any of their faces, or what kind of clothes they wore?"

Edited February 17, 2015 by Fortune86

[earwig]

"Selena?" Wes turned, his eyebrows raised in pleasant surprise. "I didn't know you worked here!" the captain smiled briefly, it seemed as though he was running into many of his old acquaintances at the school. His lips suddenly turned downward as he remembered he had no time to chatter, and he cleared his throat.

"We need your help tending to a subject." he glanced down at the students behind her. "That is, if you are not busy."

[Kestra15]

Looking back at the other students Selena could only offer them a weak smile. "Duty calls," she apologised. "You can still use the infirmary for a drink if you want." At that point Vulpis came around the corner with Sorana in tow. "You'll see the stove and tea tray when you go in." Turning back to Wes she nodded. "I can assist; just let me grab my kit." She pushed the door to the infirmary open and stepped inside.

 

It was clear that after the attack by the Abomination the previous day Selena had used her down-time to prepare her new workspace. The infirmary was split into two sections by use of a simple hessian curtain. Behind the brown curtain were the beds for examination, surgery and recovery, the simple hessian shield offering a modicum of privacy and security should anyone need the beds. This side of the curtain a few simple wooden chairs and a table were set out in the corner opposite the door with a selection of cups and herbs for drinks, with a small stove next to them. Firewood sat ready in the simple stove and two metal containers of water - a small kettle and a large urn - were filled and on their respective rings. Around the room were cupboards and counters, most of which were locked. However one large waist-high cupboard labelled 'Emergency Supplies' had just a simple latch to keep them closed; clearly it was for anyone to access as required.

 

Stepping over to one of the counters Selena pulled a key from the small pouch on her belt and unlocked it, pulling out the leather satchel that was her equipment back. Slinging it over her shoulder she stepped back out of the infirmary, indicated to the other students where they could sit and where the flint-and-tinder was kept next to the stove. Then, with Vulpis at her side, she set off to where Wes wanted her to go.