Jump to content
pudding

Black and White [IC]

Recommended Posts

Preoccupied with the fruits, Candide hadn't noticed the little exchange between the stranger and his fellow Disciples.  He heard something about cabbage and his attention quickly swiveled over however.  The seller seemed a bit irritated, and there appeared to be a mild tension about Julius and Cyrus that Candide was just missing.  The girl however- she looked rather shaken.  Perhaps she was easily frightened.  They did give off a slightly unsettling vibe and with those clothes- being surrounded by those pious worshippers probably made her sensitive to things that were considered... not so holy.  Still, there was a bit of recognition between the girl and Cyrus.  Must be someone from his pst or something.  Unfortunate.  Candide silently drew his eyes back to the cart.  Might as well cover that apple and come back to get fruit later.

 

A melodic tone flowed with Candide's voice.  The emotion in it was intended to calm the sour mood of the merchant, at least slightly.  Candide made an attempt to lean against the cart to better talk to the cart worker, but the wheels were unstable.  The slightest pressure and-  down came most of the cabbages and Candide.  His footing twisted as the cart leaned, so he ended up slightly coated in the rolls.  Admittedly, they were all soft and rather nice to be surrounded by.  Unfortunately they did not fall under his shoulder, which smacked into the ground.  No harm came from it, but it certainly was inconveniencing.

 

"Don't mind me.  I can handle this."  Candide said to himself in a stale monotone.  He sat up fruit falling to the sides of him.  Seemed he needed better people skills, as his ears were soon filled this hostile ranting about soiled food.  Candide stood, brushed himself off, and began putting the undamaged cabbage back on the cart.  The ones that fell on the first layer were totally fine.  A little ruffled, but fine for sale.  If anything it made them look more lively.  Candide made sure to point this out as he put them back.  Sure was nice to hear the complaints slowly dying down.

 

"Friends," Candide turned to the others, smiling a bit. "I am hungry now.  We should not waste time here.  Can we go to one of the restaurants Julius mentioned?  We can get something- fast.  I haven't had something fast in a while.  Do you want pizza?  I could stand it right now."

 

With a slightly more forced smile, Candide reimbursed the cart manager for the items he apparently 'ruined.'  He made a mental note that if they did level a town this man would be tied between two horses and pulled apart.  His yelling would be much more tolerated as screams.  Once that was taken care of, Candide noted a small figure in the distance.  Another friend of Cyrus...?

Share this post


Link to post

Damaris had to withhold a laugh, his eyes smiling for him. "Give up? I don't believe that phrase is in my vocabulary," He countered, pulling a few of the arrows out with some force of effort. Must have really lodged them, to think of the damage they could inflict on a Beast instead of a target. "I'm glad you take fancy to some of my skill, though my speed isn't something to scoff at either." He turned on his heel as he paced across the arena floor, stopping short just a ways from Sonya. A single finger held up, tapping at his forehead near the space next to his eyes. "I could shoot one straight between the eyes before it could get the chance. Given the opportunity, maybe I'll show you." 

 

The banter was lighthearted and entertaining while it lasted. Before another quip could leave him, Damaris found himself silenced by the mournful cry of a violin. His once held composure seemed to deteriorate, amber gaze unable to tear itself away as he stared at the blind Apostle with something akin to awe and sorrow. Expression so intense as if it would have pained him to avert his eyes, even his chest felt like it was tightening. What was this? Was this his weapon's capability? To stir the masses and influence the heart of others...what a power this was. The way Matt played with such heartfelt sincerity, how his hands flawlessly guided the melody for the music was his to command- Damaris found himself moved to pieces. Another Apostle to succumb to the will of the music. 

 

Eyes glassy with threatening tears, he blinked to keep them at bay. He wouldn't breakdown here but oh what a challenge it was to remain composed. Occasionally he'd steal a glance around the room just to see how others reacted, confirming that same hollowness, a haunted sadness that ghosted over them all. How could someone resist? Only person that could, he thought, would be someone who ceased to feel a single emotion at all. 

 

Thanks to the Cardinal's demands however, Damaris was next to recover from his trance. Had to rub at his eyes for a good moment just to clear away the moisture but he was gradually coming back around again. Sonya was right, this needed to end and quickly.  Clearing his throat the Apostle made as if to say something, anything but he quickly shut his mouth. If he was to speak his voice would surely crack and not a single person would take him seriously. Let alone hear him above the showstopper that was Matt's violin. His knuckles were near white from gripping his bow a little too tightly and only when he looked down did he think to ease up on his hold. It was just too much all at once, how was he expected to spar when he felt so terrible, so torn inside? He couldn't, not so long as that song hung in the air. 

Share this post


Link to post

"Enough,"

 

Matt hardly even noticed as the Cardinal spoke, too enveloped in his work to realize the change in the room. It would be easier, perhaps, if he could see the faces of those around him. 

 

"Stop playing, right now." 

 

It was only when she raised her voice did the young man stop. He turned in Sonya's direction, a look of both dismay and confusion on face his face. Sweat beaded at his brow from the effort of keeping his weapon present, and his face looked weary.  The instrument in his hand dissolved in his grasp; just like that, the heavy feeling in the air faded. Matthew winced, a hand coming to hover over his bandages. His burns stung from tears, the salt making his wounds throb. He...had been crying. He hadn't even noticed. 

 

"I...I'm sorry." He whispered. Matthew's lips hardly even moved, the words he spoke were barely audible. He had messed up. At this point, he was used to being scolded. But it didn't hurt any less. 

 

---

 

Just like that, the tension in the air snapped. The cart filled with produce toppled over, said produce spilled into the street. Cyrus jolted alter, head snapping to the cause of the commotion. Immediately did he drop the crushed fruit in favor of shuffling in his pockets. Producing a wallet, he shoved a fistful of bills into the merchant's hand. There. Now he could-

 

Spinning around, he realized with a shock that the girl had vanished. Her supplies, however, sat right where she had stood. The Disciple grit his teeth, hands clenching into fists once more. Dammit! He needed to find that girl. She knew him. She knew Matt! 

 

---

 

Back against a brick wall, Aspen panted. She had dropped her rations and ran as soon as she realized she was in danger. Only after weaving through several alleyways and making a fair amount of distance did she decide she could rest. Her arms were wrapped tightly around herself, fingernails digging into the skin of her forearms. Those weren't people. They-they were, but weren't. Something terribly wrong had happened to them. Matt had said he saw his brother tear his own chest open. That man bore a horrible darkness in his chest, and it spread like a disease outward. The other two...they were just....just wrong. They had become that darkness. They weren't beasts-no. They were something far, far worse. 

 

The girl sucked in a shaking breath in an effort to calm herself. Tears stung at her eyes as the shock of the situation finally began to fade. She had just stared death incarnate in the face, and lived to tell about it. 

 

She had to get back to the Fortress immediately. 

 

Aspen sucked in a shaky breath in an effort to calm herself. 

Share this post


Link to post

Julius glanced away for maybe half a second at most to stare at Candide as he had somehow ended up on the ground surrounded by fruit. He raised an eyebrow, but quickly looked back towards the girl only to find she had vanished. That was a bit worrying. If he knew Cyrus’s brother, that meant he was alive. But he could have sworn Argus had told him the Baron had taken care of that loose end. With a frown, he took a long, contemplative drag of his cigarette before dropping it to the ground and grinding it into the street with his shoe, extinguishing the smoldering remains rather effectively. 

 

“Candide is right,” He replied smoothly, gesturing all of them away from the belongings the girl had left behind. If she recognized Cyrus’s brother somehow, it was probably best to steer clear of this area. The town was big, fortunately, so it shouldn’t be all that hard to get them somewhere else and avoid crossing paths with her again. Not that it really mattered, since it wasn’t like Cyrus’s brother knew what had happened to him, right? No, the real trouble was making sure Cyrus didn’t run after the girl and do something dramatic preemptively. They had to let the Beasts take charge on everything and take the credit for their actions to avoid being discovered themselves.

 

The Baron insisted on that above all things.

 

“Let’s go get some pizza, go shopping, and then we can do what we actually came here to do, right?” They needed to get back on track and he wasn’t about to go running off after Cyrus just because someone asked about a very common name, and he actually wanted to do some shopping. If he could get some good ingredients he could make a good dinner for them all later on instead of having to deal with the honestly poor shopping that the Beasts did, if it could even be called that. There were only a few that could disguise themselves as humans and they didn’t really have the intelligence to make good shopping decisions. It was fine, but after a while he got tired of them always showing up with twelve heads of cabbage and nothing else and thinking that would work.

 

— —

 

Varian turned down a few streets, intent on taking the fastest route to the marketplace. This involved a couple of back streets that were usually empty aside from a bit of trash. When there were people there, they were always people that he knew since it wasn’t more than a couple minutes from his house to the marketplace, and this side of town tended to all know each other.

 

But when he started to go down this back alley, he found the way blocked by someone he didn’t know. Peering over the large box he was holding, he paused for a moment before nearly dropping it when he saw that there was clearly something wrong with her. “Oh!” He called out, carefully placing the box on the ground before hurrying over. “What’s wrong? Are you alright?” He didn’t know who she was which was a little weird, but he wasn’t going to look away when she was obviously upset.

 

— —

 

 

“No more of that,” Sonya said firmly with a frown. That was dangerous, and it was not something that she was going to tolerate in the Fortress. Not, at least, around other people who could be influenced by it’s apparent power. If making people sad was the violin’s power it wouldn’t be of much use anyway. All it would do would be make them sob during battle. 

 

“Not here, anyway. If you’re going to practice, only do it around maybe one person. I’m not going to tell you you shouldn’t practice at all, but doing it in public places like this is not good.” She sighed softly before turning back to Damaris, her lips pressed into a slight frown. "Are you alright?" Actually, now that she looked around, there were a lot of people inside the training hall. That could be problematic if they were all going to suddenly get emotional. They couldn't deal with disheartening the troops. Not when she was still sure something was going to happen. "You know what, everyone is dismissed," She suddenly barked, motioning to the people inside the hall aside from Damaris and Matt. "Morning schedules are cancelled for everyone here. Go get lunch and take a nap and come back when you're all together."

Share this post


Link to post

The intensity about Cyrus's curiosity distracted Candide slightly.  That girl had darted off, but in a tracable direction.  Recognized... something ought to be at least done.  Perhaps a little encouragement to forget?  No- they couldn't just play around.  Big city or not, none of their abilities were exactly subtle in effects.  Probably due to the degree they were linked to the Baron.  Too much to hide when in open use.  That girl though- she gave off a strange feeling.  Candide's eyes betrayed his assumed visage of disinterest.  They kept flicking to the direction the girl went.  Leaving quickly was the best option- it would help clear the air, and hopefully their heads.

 

Right.  Mission first, personal quests later.  Or- food first rather.  In order to encourage Cyrus toward the rest of the day, Candide moved in front of where the girl had darted off.  He held his hand up as if to push Cyrus closer to Julius to be lead away.  He would rather not touch him if he was emotional though.  Tended to get chilling.

 

"We can have our fun later," Candide drew his hand back.  He walked past the two of them towards what he assumed was food courts.  Little tables with umbrellas over them usually meant stop-and-go services.  He turned on his heel, walking backwards.  "Don't want to go on an empty stomach, right?  Would be a shame to get tired and have to just quit on a day out."  A little thrum to his words would have been more enticing, but Candide wanted to preserve everything for their fun.

 

So much to choose from as well!  The town was doing nicely.  Lovely sturdy buildings tucked against each other for convenience.  The occasional lamppost with the Church of Light's insignia lightly painted on to it.  It was a popular thing to graffiti as people were less likely to remove something in tribute to the Lord.  Worship came in many forms after all.  Candide pondered on law regarding removing these symbols.  Would it have to go through the Church before official removal?  Or did the authorities have the blessing to remove unneeded works?  Being up-to-date on the legal processes of the cities was rarely on the agenda... perhaps it would be good to catch up on that.  Wouldn't want to do something illegal on accident.  Was saying thanks to the Lord required before eating a meal given life by her hand?  Would someone notice that not happening?  Why was eating a simple meal so complicated?  Best to watch what others did for meal preparation before progressing with a purchase.

 

"I'm not that creative with these things," Candide looked over to Julius.  "What sort of things do you want on this?" There was a vegetarian selection Candide was eyeing, though he wasn't for getting something large for himself.  It would make for a nicer exchange if they could share the food.  Then again- a king's share sounded lovely to fuel an eventful day of planning and shopping and whatever else they decided to do.

Share this post


Link to post

Catching ear of Sonya's voice, Damaris slowly trailed his eyes over to the Cardinal. A small smile edged at the corners of his mouth but it fell as quick as it came. "I'll be fine, honest." The bowman offered whilst biting on his bottom slightly. Something he usually did when dwelling on something. As much as he wanted to sound convincing there was a hesitance lacing those words, a fraction of doubt. Truth be told he was still trying to shake off the music's effect. "Nothing that can't be recovered from at least, I'm still ready for action if that's another concern of yours." Even though the Cardinal had dismissed the rest of the Apostles, he felt obligated to stay behind. The fortress still needed some able-bodies running about, couldn't have everyone napping the time away. 

 

Exhaling, the archer slipped a reassuring hand across Sonya's shoulder before stepping his way over to Matt. Though most of the Apostle's features were concealed beneath the bandages he wore, it was evident that the blind man was distraught. If it wasn't his voice that gave it away then his composure certainly did. Damaris allowed his weapon to vanish in a glimmer of light, his hand coming around to lightly run along the troubled fellow's back. Voice gentle as he softly began to speak. 

 

"Hey, there's nothing to apologize for, alright? None of us could have anticipated for that to happen." Gradually his once hollow smile shifted into something much more vibrant, warmhearted as he offered a comrade due comfort. "Mistakes happen all the time, if anything, that was far from a mishap." Damaris flicked his amber eyes over to Sonya as if seeking assurance, his head lightly tilted towards Matt's direction before he settled back onto working with the Apostle again. "I thought what you did was amazing- granted it was a little too deep for my liking but it was quite a display for sure. Maybe change your tune, work with something a little lighter and your music will be better received. At least we're aware that you have a powerful sway over emotions, I'm sure that counts for something." 

 

After giving Matt one final pat he withdrew his hand from the Apostle and granted him space. Just because everyone felt a little under the weather didn't mean the man had to suffer for it. He was just doing as he was told. Feeling much better in contrast to before Damaris sighed, his hands on his hips as he glanced around the now rather vacant room. Sonya really could clear a place when she needed to. "Well, now that we have the room to ourself and a good portion of the place is on break, what do you suppose we do now, Cardinal?" He said as he rubbed at his chin. "Though I do believe Matt could use some rest, looks as if he exhausted what energy he had for the day." 

Share this post


Link to post

Matt sat in silence as the remaining soldiers shuffled out of the room. Aside from the sound of footsteps, the whole room was completely silent. No one but Sonya seemed inclined to speak. He hunched over slightly, screwing his face up in a half-flinch. Cyrus never yelled either. But the meaning was still there. He messed up. It was a movement beside him, and then a hand on his back, that shook Matthew from he thoughts. He stiffened slightly until he recognized who was speaking. It was Damaris. The guy seemed to come running any time something happened. Which, was okay...He supposed. 

 

"I'm...yeah. I'm kind of tired." He admitted with a small shrug. This was the longest Matt had been up and about for quite some time now, and it showed. The usage of his weapon didn't seem to help much either. He was honestly surprised the nurse girl-Aspen, he was pretty sure-hadn't already come to drag him away. In fact, it was odd to not even hear her around. As her parents were Apostles, it wasn't like she ever went out. It made him wonder: what was that girl up to?

 

---

 

A plot formed in his mind. That girl had been wearing Church clothes, and likely worked-if not lived-in church territory. The average person didn't wear such clothing, after all. Which meant she was tied to the Lord of the Living somehow. Knowing his luck, she was an Apostle. Now if he could just find where the child had run off to-

 

Cyrus's thoughts were interrupted as Julius spoke. He turned, eyes narrowing as his companions. They were right, of course. Couldn't make a scene. Not yet, anyways. That was for the beasts to do. Brown eyes drifted to the ground, where the partially crushed apple lay. Curling his lip up in a sneer, he dug his heel into the already destroyed fruit. It buckled easily under his weight, squishing into the cobbled road. The newest Disciple lowered his head and shoved his hands in his pockets. It was best just to follow the duo. Maybe get something to eat. He could come up with a solid plan later. 

 

---

 

Too distraught by what she just witnessed, Aspen didn't even notice when a child entered the same alleyway. It was only when he spoke did she startle, eyes going wide. 

 

“What’s wrong? Are you alright?” 

 

Her brown gaze flickered to the child, going even wider behind those dark lenses of hers. Something...Oh dear. She opened her mouth to speak, but a soft, startled sob escaped her mouth instead. Aspen crouched, a shaking hand coming to hover over the boy's small frame. Her other hand grabbed for his other wrist, carefully turning his hand over. No white mark... 

 

"Y-you..." She stammered, peering down at the child. Something with wrong with his aura. It wasn't like anything she had ever seen before. "Are you alright?" She managed. He had too much. Too much energy for such a little body. A spike of fear ran through her as a thought struck her. This could be a beast. But Beasts weren't smart, and certainly weren't empathetic. No...This was just a child. It had to be. 

 

Aspen inhaled deeply, the whole breath making her body rattle. She slowly let go of the boy and stood once more. "I...Sorry. You just startled me." 

 

 

Share this post


Link to post

Julius allowed himself to be steered towards a row of little stalls filled with prepared food. It wasn't any pizza, but any thoughts of that was quickly and promptly pushed from his mind as he sniffed the air. This entire area smelled wonderfully delightful as the different scents of food mixed. But his gaze was drawn away from the many vendors towards a specific one Candide was looking at. Mostly vegetables by the look of it. Not exactly his cup of tea, but he could understand. The first time he ever stumbled across a group of Beasts feeding, he had sworn of meat for a few months. But that was many, many years ago, and he long become desensitized to that sort of thing. Maybe Candide still had some lingering attachments, or maybe he was thinking of Cyrus, or hell, maybe he just didn't like meat. It wasn't his place to judge.

 

"I'm not sure," He admitted before glancing down at his gloved hands. "Something with a fork?" He suggested tentatively. He didn't want to get his gloves dirty, or for that matter the rest of his outfit. He wasn't dressed up all that much, but it was still more classy than his regular outfits were and he'd hate to ruin it with something messy. It was his best coat, after all, and sure he could just turn intangible but why go through all that effort just to eat food? Especially when he was sure there was something they could eat here that wasn't going to be messy. 

 

"What about you, Cyrus?" He asked, turning to look at the third member of their group. "Anything you fancy here?"

 

— —

 

"What do you mean?" Varian asked, his hand tensed up slightly when it was grabbed by his wrist, but he didn't jerk his hand away in favor of leaning forward and trying to see what she was looking at. "There's nothing there," He replied with a slight frown, wiggling his fingers as she eventually let go of his hand, giving him the opportunity to stare at it again. Nope, still nothing. It was just his own hand. 

 

"Are you sure you're okay?" He asked, the box long forgotten at this point. "You seem really....nervous."

 

— —

 

Sonya took a deep breath and released it after a few seconds of pause. Fine, fine. She was fine. Everything was fine. Except when it wasn't. All they had managed to do was unnerve everyone in the training area and not get anything productive done. Her gut still insisted something bad was going to happen, and at this point there was clearly no trying to resume training.

 

"Do whatever you want," Sonya replied, moving towards the entrance of training hall herself. "I'm going to look at the map again." After all, that was going to be the most productive thing to do now, since she still hadn't figured anything out. 

Share this post


Link to post

It wasn't that Candide disliked the occasional feast of flesh and muscles; he merely got caught up in the bounty that was this displayed harvest.  While Julius focused on Cyrus, Candide moved a little closer to the food.  Seemed they were just going help themselves later, so Candide went ahead and ordered three salad wraps.  Nothing like grilled chicken meshed with caesar salad mixings.  The first one was quickly taken care of, and the second was half gone by the time he looked back to see if Julius and Cyrus were ready to select something for themself.

 

There was something of a chill running up Candide's spine, and he immediately looked over toward where the fortress was laid up rather than his companions.  Felt like eyes were coming from it.  Could the Lord be watching the land closer than normal?  Or perhaps it was just a brisk wind.  Best to get on with their business- something felt awfully strange about the air.  The Disciples knew the basics of their goals for the day, but it felt like something was- wrong.  Probably just the result of being surrounded by the Lord's marks and lands.  Normally the air didn't feel so heavy though.  Did something happen to damper the populous's mood?  Perhaps all the Apostles picked off were starting to trouble the people- that is if the Apostle's let the people know such things were happening.  Only the Apostles themselves could know what they were withholding from the public eye to maintain the trust people put in them.  Would the people even think to ask about omissions of facts?  Oh, what peace ignorance spawned, and what easy prey it made.

 

Candide smiled a bit as he chewed.  Wandering thoughts made for positive feelings far too few instances.

Share this post


Link to post

Damaris held his breath for a moment before he exhaled, running a loose hand through his hair. Seemed everyone was left to their own devices again. With Sonya gone he looked to Matt as he passed the Apostle, he too taking his leave as he made for the doors. "Rest up then, who knows when you'll need your strength again. I'll be going for a walk or a patrol, have yet to decide but what I do know is that I won't be here." Tension was still evident in the atmosphere and the archer wanted nothing more than to ease it away. What could be a better way to do that than to clear his thoughts with a stroll? Being out and about always made him feel refreshed, perhaps it was just the cure he needed for his ailments. First things first however, he needed a wardrobe adjustment so the initial place he headed to was his dorm. 

 

Altering his attire wasn't something Damaris was too thrilled about doing for his trip but if it kept him in a low enough profile then it would have to suffice. It was times like these where he didn't want to be recognized, didn't want to appear to be on active duty. So much needed changes were going to have to be made accordingly. Gloves and a coat were a must and with some effort he even managed to tie his hair up in low hanging ponytail. Admittedly it wasn't his best craft but it would hold rather nicely- even if he was going to take it back down sooner than later. He looked himself over several times once dressed before nodding his approval. This would do well, the bowman thought to himself as he snatched a few items that were resting atop of the desk in his room. Some spare currency and a small dagger that he stashed away underneath his clothing. Never know when any of those items would be of use. 

 

Set and ready to go Damaris left his quarters. He walked into the lobby and slipped out as swift as he arrived, facial expression set as if focused on a mission. Though in honest he just wasn't in the mood to dawdle. He had a place to be and who knew when he'd get the spare time to take a leisure walk again. Outside the air was crisp, fresh even as the Apostle took a moment to drink in the sun's light. Clouds appeared to be rolling in from the distance but they seemed relatively harmless, for the most part that was. Even so, he couldn't be bothered worrying about the weather yet. Nothing was astray and showed no indication for concern so why should he? Tugging at his coat he huffed a silent sigh as he began his trek to the town. Might as well take a look around first before taking the liberty of his time off. Last thing he needed was to miss an important call, surely the Cardinal would fillet the Apostle if he had. 

 

Just as anticipated the town was crowded and busy as ever, though certainly not the worst of times to be out considering it wasn't late noon yet. Damaris simply dreaded those hours considering everyone would be free from work around then. The Apostle much preferred more tranquil areas so it was no wonder as to why the place made him a little uncomfortable. Still, he tried to put on his best face when interacting with the locals. No reason to be sour all because of nerves. 

 

An audible grumbling stole Damaris's attention and after a moment of bewilderment did he realize that he had forgotten to eat that day...again. Sometimes he'd get so sidetracked that meals would be skipped, other times he just never felt the need to make anything. It was a strange thing that occurred every now and then but he tried to make a conscious effort to maintain proper meals when it did happen. Judging from his standings he seemed to be off at a bad start of it already. Figuring something light would be enough the Apostle paced around the marketplace and vendors with curious eyes, hoping that something enticing would catch his attention. Something with fruit or vegetables sounded the most appealing, perhaps a fruit salad- yes, that would be wonderful. Now all that was left to do was to find someone selling one that he liked, which sounded like a feat all on its own. He always did have a particular palate when it came to those things. 

 

Looks like the Apostle would be sticking around longer than intended after all- unless there was an option to take the meal on the go. Damaris wasn't too entirely opposed to the idea but he figured that a salad would be best enjoyed when fresh, not to mention he should at least take the time to eat before hurrying off to who knows where. Exhaling, he placed himself in line for his order, rocking on the balls of his feet as he waited patiently. Hopefully the wait wouldn't take too long. 

Share this post


Link to post

            All things considered, it was a beautiful day.  The sun above, clouds for shade, creatures shifting between legs like snakes on a vine.  Days like this had such fond memories tied to them- basking in the sun's rays.  Resting with family and friends on a blanket, not worrying about beasts or burden.  Inside sturdy walls, safe and living in a fantasy.  Casting an illusion that is to trick the mind in order to get sound sleep at night.  Nights of ignoring screams and crying and lamenting for the lost.  Dead-eyed smiling and clean teeth that are clenched tightly.  Potential lives broken off the family tree by unnatural means.  Yes.  That is what beautiful days brought to mind.  In these memories, lost in their dimming glow, Candide held his last meal of the day in his hand with a coiling grip.  His eyes held a distant fog from the ideas merging with the grief that came from time.  Though the grief would slowly become pleasure, as the mental reel turned over on to a new second.  Bits cut out to avoid doubt and sorrow.  Everything was in its place and so very disorganized.  Nothing could be called upon without days like this to remind him.  What useless memories, though.  What did the past have to do with his new life?  Holding on to what once was would only educate him in what it was to feel hollow.  Grounding himself in the present he could feel filled.  Completed.  His scars sealed with permanent power and the promise of a forge.

 

            There was an air of impatience that brought Candide out of his own head.  He turned his head to glance over his shoulder and found he had to tip his gaze down further.  Seemed someone needed a meal more than he.  Candide turned halfway and held out his meal, eyes remaining distant, and smile receding.  "Want this?"  Not exactly tactful, but it at least got the message across when curt.

Share this post


Link to post

Cyrus curled his lip up at the smell of food, his displeasure clear on his face. He was hungry, yes, but this? It was facetiously civil. A calm before a hurricane. He just wanted to grab food and return to the castle. "Just order me what you're getting." He declared with a sigh. Cyrus wasn't a picky eater. Besides, he had better things to do than order food and chat with the Lord's worshipers. Like sulk. Although he would never admit it, he was feeling pretty tired. It had only been a couple of weeks since he was empowered, and as such, he still had a good bit of healing to do. The walk into the city had been a long one, and exhaustion creased into his face.

 

Brown eyes flickered to a stranger that fell in line behind Candidae. Cyrus was a naturally distrusting person, and he didn't like people. As such, the stranger received a brief, scathing glare before the twin looked away. He was tiring of being in the city. With everything that had happened today, he just wanted to retire back to the castle. 

 

---

 

Eyes locked on the unfamiliar child, Aspen forced herself to breathe slowly. A couple deep breaths, and she was already calming down. That had just been a terrible fright, was all. Being upset like that only made people worry. And it was not her job to make people worry. Worrying townsfolk could devolve to an outright panic in no time. She would have to report her findings to the Fortress quickly and quietly. Without any children to eavesdrop and gossip. 

 

"Yes, I'm quite alright." Her gaze drifted to the boxes beside the boy. Oh, was he running errands as well? Those were sure a lot of boxes for a child to carry. She stepped forward, hefting a few easily. "Here, let me help with those." She had abandoned her own goods in a fright. Besides, it was the least she could do to help some little kid. "Where are we headed?"

Share this post


Link to post

Trying to find out what was wrong with the stranger was quickly forgotten when she bent over and lifted up a few of the boxes he had left on the ground. Just as easily as he had forgotten all about his chores, he suddenly remembered and scrambled to pick up the remaining boxes. Oh geez, he was going to have to hurry or his parents were going to get worried. Or worse, ground him for running around and not working. 

 

“Uhhhhhhh,” He said, balancing the stack of boxes on his knee as he looked over the uppermost box. Now that he remembered about his chores and the potential punishment on the line, he was practically bouncing off the walls of the alley trying to get going and back on track. “This one goes to the nice old man who sells cabbages,” He said, quickly scampering down the alleyway in the direction of the food carts. “I think he has three different orders in total. We can sort it out when we get there, come on!” With that, he took off. As long as she was offering help, he wasn’t going to deny it if it meant potentially getting back on schedule. 

 

 — —

 

“If you say so,” Julius replied with a shrug before turning to the vendor with a warm smile. For someone who hadn’t been human for an awfully long time, he sure was good at pretending. “Can I please have two of the wraps with avocado and chicken?” He asked, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a fancy, leather wallet. Not his, of course. Well, not his originally anyway. Most of his belongings had been salvaged one way or another, but it served its purpose as he fished out the appropriate amount of money any exchanged it for the two wraps before stepping out of line to allow the next person to order. 

 

“Here, eat up,” He said, turning that warm smile towards Cyrus as he offered out one of the wraps. He paused for a moment before his smile faded ever so slightly and his lips pressed together into a more serious line. “Are you feeling alright? If you aren’t up for this I’ll walk you get home. Or, ah, get someone to escort you back.” Someone, obviously, being a Beast. He didn’t want to miss out on the fun but Cyrus was at a delicate stage for more reasons than one. He wouldn’t want something bad to happen to him.

 

— —

 

Argus blinked as he wove his way through the streets. Goodness, where on Earth had those Disciples run off to? The Baron was going to get awfully worried if they were all loitering around the town, especially one practically nestled at the base of the Fortress. It was one thing of one of them watched from afar as some Beasts ravaged a town, but all three running off at once? And right into enemy territory? Whatever happened to keeping a low profile? It was practically asking for something to happen, especially since Cyrus had vanished as well. Those older two should've known better than to include him in their mischief since he was still vulnerable at this stage.

 

Huffing slightly to himself, the black cat sniffed the air leapt up onto a windowsill before bounding up onto the roof of a nearby building. Maybe he'd have better luck spotting them from above. Honestly, there were so many humans in the way it was impossible to see anyone, especially given he was working with only two eyes right now.

Share this post


Link to post

The cabbage vendor? Aspen couldn't help but feel afraid at the mention. After all, that's where she had dropped her supplies and fled. As much as she needed to keep an eye on this strange child, was it worth the risk? She was unsure. But the Cardinal would certainly want to see this boy. It was a risk she had to take. This child was too different to be ignored. Steeling her nerves, the teen jogged after the boy ahead of her. Carrying all those crates, it was hard to see where she was going. So Aspen ran while leaning to the right quite a bit. 

 

"Hey! That reminds me! You never told me your name!" She shouted after him. "My name's Aspen!" 

 

---

 

What was left of the horse-like beast had been devoured. The edible bits, at least. Nahia wiped her mouth with the back a furred hand, her red tongue swiping across her lips. Beasts did not taste good, no, but they were food. And, more importantly: they were power. She could already feel it settling her body. She felt stronger. Faster. And for a short period of time, the unbearable pain that came with her existence faded to a dull throb. It was like a drug, that soft relief. It was shocking how clear her thoughts were when the pain wasn't so prevalent. Speaking of which...

 

She was running low on supplies. She was stocked well enough in firewood, but water and something to start a fire with was just about empty. Not to mention there were...personal things she would like to pick up. rising from where she crouched, the large Beast fastened the muzzle back into place and returned to her campsite. It was small, but it was what she needed. Mostly. And a disguise was one of those things. 

 

Was it wrong, morally, to steal clothes from dead people on the roads? Maybe. But it wasn't like they were going to use them. It didn't take much to have her looking like a socially acceptable and not at all Beast-like. All she needed was a long skirt, a scarf, and a cloak. All three of which she looted (stolen?) from the myriad of dead between the cities. 

 

--

 

Head kept low, Nahia stalked the city in silence. She only needed a few things. And luckily, she had traversed the city before. Was it dangerous to venture into a city nestled at the foot of a Fortress? Oh, for sure. But she had no other options to get what she needed. Not without visiting the castle again. So...this was her best option. At least her disguise panned out. Sort of. Her astounding height was the only thing that really stuck out, and that could be camouflaged with a slouch. Sighing, Nahia pulled her cloak tighter around her shoulders and turned down an alley. The sooner she finished shopping, the faster she could leave. 

 

 

Share this post


Link to post

Last thing the Apostle would have expected was for someone to offer a meal to him. Damaris stood for a moment with silent bewilderment as he had to process just what this stranger had asked. He blinked, head tilted upwards with an almost unreadable expression. His amber gaze flicked between the offered salad wrap and the man's faded green eyes before he looked past himself to make sure he was, in fact, being the one addressed here. While it wasn't entirely uncommon for a stranger to offer or pay for another's meal, the Apostle found it strange that someone would do such a gesture for him considering he'd never seen the man a day in his life before, and he the same. Still, he was rather hungry and the insistent growling in his gut told him otherwise. Guess there really was only one answer for this.

 

"Ah, if you wouldn't mind sparing it I'd much like to have it, yes." A hesitant hand rose to take the wrap when Damaris paused briefly, looked up to the stranger as if reassuring that it was alright, then took the meal. Despite the man's rather placid exterior the Apostle found himself smiling with delight, eyes beaming with gratitude. "I can't thank you enough for your generosity, is there anyway I could repay you by chance? Maybe even owe a favor to?" In honest he did feel a pang of guilt for taking the food but it certainly beat waiting by far. So, he figured that offering some form of compensation would suffice to make up the difference. Couldn't just take without giving back after all, his conscience would swallow him alive had he of done so. 

 

Looking past the man, wandering eyes happened to catch the unfortunate gaze of another stranger. This one much less approachable than the one in front of him now. His expression was tilted into that of a scowl and Damaris couldn't help but swallow hard, a chill running along his spine which forced his attention elsewhere.  He hadn't done something wrong had he? Perhaps he was just displeased with some other matter and the Apostle just caught him at the wrong time, no big deal. He still couldn't help but shiver even after the fact however. Because if looks could kill- the Apostle would of been dead right where he stood.  

Share this post


Link to post

Offering food to someone didn't feel like something that required compensation, but Candide wasn't about to turn down something that might come in handy at one point.  He could, for example, ask for accompaniment into the forest.  This fellow had the feeling of- light.  Without seeing his hand it couldn't be confirmed however.  Perhaps he could bring it up with a subtle mention of his- virtuous ambiance.  Yes- and that could lead to other questioning.  A warm smile broke on to Candide's face.  His eyes remained indifferent though, or perhaps he was merely tired.  "I wouldn't mind giving back to the protectors of the cities."  Candide tilted his head slightly.  "You sort of- stand apart from the townsfolk."  His eyes flicked over Damaris.  "Surely the Goddess has taken someone as lovely as yourself under her wing?"  His words were flirtatious, but his tone was only barely expressive of this.

 

With a distant stare towards the woods Candide continued, "If you are one with the Lord, surely you could help my friends and I get home safely.  Our way here was rather tense," Candide flicked his gaze to Cyrus and said in a private voice to Damaris.  "Some of us can get a little snappy from the long walk. It would be nice to have extra hands with us."  His voice returned to normal levels.  "Not much activity with those monsters, eh?  Seems like things have been settling down.  Maybe the Baron's wearing out?  We shouldn't have much trouble with you with us."

 

Julius was probably giving Candide some form of disapproving look for his advances, small as they were.  The Disciple ignored this possibility in favor of holding Damaris's gaze.  What strange amber- it seemed foreign to this region, though admittedly Candide was too.  He left his homeland to be with the Baron, as strange as it was to be in a new place.  Well- he left his homeland and then went to the Baron.  Perhaps it took a change of scenery to really solidify his thoughts.  Being in such a Lord-centric place filled his head with idolization, but this place was one of relatively free ideas.  He felt safe enough to think for himself.  Whether that was for the better seemed obvious to Candide.  He couldn't have been happier renouncing the Lord.  Too constrictive in her cities- which was most cities.  Nice color scheme though for he followers.  Really got the positive association down when it came to humans.  Good manipulator.

Share this post


Link to post

"Oh, sorry!" Varian replied, slightly breathless as he made his way as quickly through the crowd as possible. This wasn't any good. Waiting so long meant that everyone was running towards the market to get lunch, which meant more people he had to shove past to get where he was going. But it was okay, he could see the cart just up ahead. "My name is Varian," He added, making the final push to where the cart was and setting down the boxes he was holding on the ground with a sigh.

 

"Hello!" He called out to the merchant as he sorted through the boxes. "I've got your orders here!" Picking out the topmost box from his pile, he held it out to the merchant as the man crossed out in front of his stall filled with cabbages.

 

"So you're the delivery boy today, Varian?" The merchant said with a smile as he accepted the box and pried the packaging open to reveal a clock for the wall. Only, this was no ordinary hanging clock, as the entire thing was fashioned to look like a cabbage. "Don't go getting into any trouble, alright?"

 

"I won't!" Varian replied with a wide smile before turning around to look at Aspen. "I think he's got two more orders. Can I see those boxes you've got to check?"

 

— —

 

Julius took a thoughtful bite out of his wrap as he observed the person Candide was chatting with. At first glance, he seemed just like any old person. Just waiting in line for lunch from a local vendor. Nothing suspicious or weird about that, right?

 

That being said, he could feel something...off about the man Candide was talking to. It was probably only because they had so much of the Lord's power in their bodies and it was such a big part of their very being, but standing nearby sent a shiver up his spine. It wasn't anything definitive and could easily just be from being in the town for too long in the shadow of the Fortress, but it did put him at least a little on edge. They should probably get going soon. 

 

Tuning back into the conversation just in time to catch Candide saying something about the low activity of Beasts recently, Julius frowned and aimed a sharp but subtle kick at Candide's leg. That wasn't something normal folks would know much about. Sure, there wasn't a chance of them being linked to the Baron since nobody knew the Baron had human followers, but it was just bad practice to mention any possible ties anyway. Especially things they shouldn't necessarily know. Especially if this one somehow got away from the impending slaughter. "You're right," He interjected with a frown. "We really should be going. We need to get back home so I can feed the cat." Not that Argus actually had to eat or anything, but it was a better excuse than nothing, right? Hopefully Candide caught the message well enough.

Share this post


Link to post

A creeping blush dusted Damaris's cheeks as he flushed with embarrassment. Normally he would have revoked the man's words and say he was a normal citizen like any other but this fellow really knew how to play his cards. Or maybe he had been too obvious in appearance? Either way, lying certainly wasn't in the Apostle's favor. "I- you don't have to flatter me so, I'm not that admirable." He mused, rubbing at the back of his neck albeit sheepishly. His eyes were transfixed on the ground before he mustered the nerve to look back at the stranger and he couldn't help but crack a smile. Wasn't often someone handed out compliments so freely but even so he couldn't help but find himself drinking in the man's words. Surely he didn't mean anything else by this? Clearing his throat, the Apostle stood a little straighter, holding the wrap more securely in his hands. "I suppose you've caught me red-handed though please, don't let anyone else know. This is sort of like my break time and I'd much like to enjoy it while I can. I'm sure you can understand."

 

Darmaris was about to decline the offer of an escort when the man motioned to his rather unenthusiastic friend. Something about that brute really rubbed his skin the wrong way but just hearing the sincerity in the man's voice he found that he couldn't say no. What kind of Apostle would he be had he of? These men seemed worn from travel as it was and while Beast activity had been less rampant one would never know when they'd strike again. Exhaling a long sigh, the Apostle shifted in place. "I'm sure I can manage an escort for you if your company would wish to have me- all of you that is." He added, a frown tugging at his lips. Had word of the Beasts retreating already spread so rampantly? How could they let their guards falter so easily? "I wouldn't take the Baron so lightly if I were you. I may not have encountered him personally but I know that god is no force to be reckoned with, a being with that much scale of power- I doubt he's wearing weak." His gaze swept around the crowd carefully to ensure no one was eavesdropping. Speaking like this would certainly earn him a scolding yet he found that honesty would serve better than empty truths, fallacies. Turning back to the stranger, he continued. "Still, I wouldn't mind accompanying you and your party. Oh, and word of the wise- be careful when you speak of the Baron in these parts. Folks aren't always pleasant when you bring him to mention, y'know? Personally I don't mind it but I'd hate for it to bring unwanted attention." 

 

Before the conversation could travel further one of the stranger's friends seemed intent on leaving, who could blame him? Despite that however, Damaris felt that the nudge of his foot as a little unnecessary for his taste though it wasn't his place to say anyway. Glancing between the two, he offered a nervous smile. Suddenly he didn't feel as welcomed as before. "If you'd rather travel on your own I can completely understand and won't insist that I come along with. The choice is up to you but do let me know your decision, wouldn't want to keep you guys held up if you're in such a hurry." While he wasn't certain if they'd let him tag along, the Apostle seemed content either way. It didn't make much difference to him and if anything an escort job would do him good to get out more. Then of course there was that looming anxiety of Beasts running about, what if they got attacked in his absence? Rough decision as it was he hoped the group would make the right choice. Better to be safe than sorry. 

Share this post


Link to post

Aspen smiled as the boy-Varian-introduced himself. He seemed like a sweet kid, running errands for her family. She did that a lot now, as she wasn't instantly recognizable like other Apostles. She trotted behind the child, stopping beside the...ruined produce stand. It seemed like most of everything had been cleaned up, but stray cabbage leaves were scattered about the ground. With a small huff, she lowered the boxes back onto the ground. Glancing around, she could see her own crates of supplies not far away. And...

 

She saw that group again. Except her friend was with them The teen stiffened, hands curling into fights. Damaris didn't know. He didn't know what was wrong with them. 

 

"DAMARIS!" 

 

She closed the gap between herself and the other Apostle, a hand reaching out and grabbing his wrist. Hard. As soon as she had a hold of the older man, she began to tug him away. They couldn't stay here. Those men were dangerous in ways she couldn't describe. "Please, we need to go." 

 

---

 

Cyrus frowned, a hand coming to rest of his forehead. No, he wasn't feeling very well. In fact, he was feeling quite awful. What had originally just been exhaustion had spiraled into lightheadedness. He stumbled slightly, the world shifting violently to the left. Thankfully, he managed to clutch onto Julian before he fell over. . "I...I just need a moment." He needed to sit down or something. 

 

---

 

Stalking through the alleyways, Nahia paused. A familiar smell hit her nose. Several, in fact. Anxiety and fury churned in her gut, burning hot in her blood. The Disciples were here. But more importantly, so was Argus. That slimy cat creature could be anywhere. And out of all of them, he was the most likely to notice her. Pulling the hood of her cloak down further, she continued walking. 

Share this post


Link to post

Having someone pulled away from him felt- insulting.  Candide wasn't the most frightening of the three- if anything they weren't to be concerned about yet.  Once the Baron put them into place then they would earn fear, but for now they were as fine as they could be.  Surely that girl was- different.  The kick Julius gave should have come earlier.  Candide had already gotten curious.  His hand shot forward, curling around the stranger's wrist.  It was naturally not the hand with his star, but it probably sent a static nonetheless.  A soft hum left Candide's smiling lips.  Just a little encouragement to blur memories from then on.  Not for that girl though.  If that girl said something, she'd need to sound crazy. Talking about people that weren't even in the market... silly imagination.  Must be stress getting to her!  What a shame.

 

There was a slight shift that was in the corner of Candide's vision. He released the Apostle's wrist and went over to his comrades.  Playtime was over- Cyrus needed to get home for rest.  With a casual glance at Julius, Candide moved slightly down and swept the Disciple off his feet.  He chuckled, saying something about "the heat getting to his friend" like that was totally normal and moved to follow Julius.  They had gotten their meal- it was time to go home.  Seemed they'd made a small impression- eyes were starting to stick to them.  The longer they doddled the more they just seemed- out of place.  Their demeanor was a bit peculiar- or the other two were.  Julius was skilled in slipping into crowds like an average citizen.  Candide got- awkward too often.  He'd usually end up tripping on his feet and messing up something like with the merchant-

 

Candide blinked a few times.  Wasn't that girl toting goods?  She just left them there.  No one was touching them.  No one was claiming them.  They would- go to waste- if someone didn't take them.  Cyrus could even rest on them or something.  If they didn't make more of a scene- they could just walk off with the goods.  With a perfectly calm smile, Candide walked past who was near and set Cyrus down on the goods.  He could use a break.  With a hollow smile at Aspen, Candide strolled off, toting the goods.  He smiled more genuinely at Julius and walked on.  Good day, goods day, good day, goods day...

Share this post


Link to post

Oh well now this was super awkward. That girl from earlier was back and she seemed to be awfully crazy, since now she was trying to pull away Candide's little friend. Weird. As much as he wanted to get going and push things along, especially because Cyrus wasn't looking so good, being interrupted like that was just plain rude. Normally, he wouldn't actually care about something like this, but the most important thing about Julius was how absolutely petty he could be. Fortunately, Candide seemed to be a few steps ahead, since as soon as he turned around to start something that would no doubt be particularly awful, he caught sight of Candide picking up some random boxes off the ground and carting them off like they belonged to him. He wasn't exactly sure who they belonged to originally, but before Candide picked them up he swore he saw a sign on the side that said 'Fortress'. Well, that was petty enough for him.

 

"Bye," He said with a smile, waving towards the man and the girl as they walked away. "It was nice meeting you. If you still want to escort us you're more than welcome to walk us back to our home, but if you're too busy with your friend that's alright." Either way, they wouldn't be long for the world. As soon as they made it out of sight, he was calling for his favorite Beast to wreck the whole time. Of course, more would come when he whistled, but he had a special place in his heart for that big lizard. It was like a cute little dog.

 

— —

 

"Excuse me," Varian said as he passed by three men and their collection of boxes. He had finished giving his stuff to the cabbage vendor, but now he had a lot more boxes to deliver. Only, he had turned around to find that the girl who had been helping him had suddenly vanished, forcing him to gather up all his clocks and carry on deeper into the area of vendors. Hopefully it wouldn't take too long and he could make it back home fast enough his parents wouldn't get worried.

 

— —

Finally, he spotted them. Argus stared down from the rooftop of a nearby building, watching as Julius, Candide and Cyrus made their way down the busy street. With a frown, he turned his attention towards the two people they seemed to be walking away from. Apostles. Clearly Apostles. His teeth bared and his tail flicked from side to side before he turned away and melted into the shadows of the roof, vanishing from sight. If they were leaving town, it was time to gather up forces. The Baron had given him some orders, after all.

Share this post


Link to post

Someone hollering his name stole Damari's attention and before he knew it he was being dragged away by the wrist, a little bit painfully might he add. Before he could even register the initial shock, the tug Aspen gave him was enough for him to lose his grip and drop his gifted lunch. Had that not of happened he probably would have been softer to the younger Apostle but without a good reason for her behavior and running on an empty stomach the archer was far from pleased. 

 

Excusing himself for a moment, he wrenched his wrist free from the Apostle's grasp with a gaze as rough as stone. Amber eyes glaring with disappointed as his posture gave way to this- arms folded over his chest and his brows narrowed. Boy was she in for it. "That is enough." Damaris hissed through his teeth as he tried to keep his voice leveled to a whisper. There was no need to attract anymore attention than Aspen had already gathered. With an outburst like that, she could have sent the whole town into a panicked frenzy. "I don't know what you're rambling on about here Aspen but it has to stop and it will stop now.  Do you have any idea that you just made the biggest scene and all for what? Strangers that are probably foreign to this place? Is that how we treat citizens- with false accusations?" 

 

There was a moment when the Apostle had to stop and collect himself with a drawn-out exhale. A hand running through his hair as Damaris tried to settle his nerves. By the looks of it Aspen was probably just stress ridden or exhausted. She was no where to be seen all day and judging by her composure she certainly could use a long rest, or a vacation. Giving her one last look over he sighed. "Look, they have a friend that needs help and its our job to assist those that need it. All I'm going to do is give them a quick escort and I'll be back before you know it, alright? Nothing is going to happen." He offered a slight smile before patting her shoulder. Couldn't help but feel some sympathy for her, he had been a little too rough and with that came guilt. His conscience was just too good for his own. "Head back to the fortress and take a load off, maybe get some rest. You look like you could use it."

 

Leaving it at that Damaris turned back to the small group and nodded his head to the eldest of the trio. "Its quite alright, I'm actually not that busy at all. I'd be more than happy to escort you, terribly sorry for the trouble this may have caused you." He smiled as he fell in step just behind the group. Curiously his eyes flickered over to the goods they possessed and he almost thought nothing of it. Seemed they were supply runners by the looks of things, or perhaps they came to pick up a much expected delivery. Was no wonder they wanted an escort home, had more than just Beasts to worry about. 

 

— —

 

 

From within the Beast infested forest something shifted in the dense foliage at the sound of a distant whistle. At first the creature stirred, cracked an eye and raised his head up as if imagining things, until he heard it for the second time. He was calling to him. 

 

Suddenly it was as if the ground sprang to life as Raghnall rose from his slumber, taking up a slow walk as he moved. It was hard to be discreet when trying to hide such a massive body but he found camouflaging while laying dormant proved to be an effective use of concealment, and for springing the element of surprise. He hissed and snapped at any Beast that dared to stand in his path and had he not of been in a mild hurry he would have killed a few along the way. But alas he didn't, his energy needed to be preserved for better things. Julius needed him and while it was uncommon for the boy to call him away from home he couldn't help but feel some nervousness. What if he was attacked or injured? Just the very thought made his second maw open with irritation and spit a stream of acid at the nearest object, melting it into an unrecognizable pile of goop. He'd tear apart anyone who dared to hurt the Disciple. 

Share this post


Link to post

Shocked, Aspen stared at the older Apostle in disbelief.  He never treated her like that. Her initial fear melted away then, quickly replaced with anger. She took a small step backwards as Damaris wheeled on her, scolding her like some kind of child. Like she couldn't handle herself. As he wrenched his hand from her grip, she scowled. 

 

"You aren't listening to me!" She spat, advancing once more. Couldn't he feel it, that danger coming from those strangers? Not to mention one of them looked exactly like Matthew! That wasn't suspicious at all? Damaris was a nice guy, sure, but this was ridiculous! Aspen was considered one of the most trustworthy in the entire fortress, and she was being shrugged off like a child!

 

"Head back to the fortress and take a load off, maybe get some rest. You look like you could use it."

 

That's it. She'd had enough. Aspen wheeled on the older Apostle, blocking his view. With a snap of her fingers, the glasses on her face vanished, only to dematerialize on Damaris. Her voice in a soft hiss, she grabbed him by the shoulders and spoke.

 

"Look at them, Damaris. Something is wrong. Something is wrong with them. To follow them alone would be suicide."

 

---

 

With some sort of commotion going on, Nahia had a decent excuse to walk into the marketplace. There wasn't much room for staring at her with...whatever was going on a little ways away. She busied herself immediately, buying a lighter with what currency she had looted from the dead beyond the city's walls. She would have to stop at the city's well next and refill her canteen-

 

As she stalked by the carts, she stopped dead. Something tugged at the back of her mind, rattling waves of pain in her skull. One of them, the souls. They were quite insistent. Nahia turned slowly, carefully. Pain radiated behind her eyes, sharp and insistent. The green one, although usually silent, was putting up quite a fuss. 

 

Yellow eyes rested on the scene the-ugh. The Disciples. She'd rather not deal with that. And it wasn't what the green soul wanted, anyways. God, it hurt. Whatever the green one wanted, But how was she supposed to pick out a dead soul's fickle needs among all the clutter of a city? Unless...

 

 Of course. She needed to get away from the Disciples. Them seeing her was all kinds of bad mews balled into one little action. Placing a hand to her head, Nahia grimaced beneath her muzzle. Shoving the lighter back into her pockets, she turned swiftly and darted back into an alleyway. The pain receded quickly after that, dulling so she could focus. 

 

Nahia sighed, slumping against one of the walls. She was trapped within the city until they were gone. She couldn't risk being noticed by them. 

 

---

 

A woosh of air and the scrape of talons, and a rather large creature landed on a sizable rock. A corpse, unidentifiable as to what it once was, sat before the feathered Beast. Clicking its tongue softly, the Harpy-like create was careful to tuck its wings back in order to eat. Dirty feathers were a nuisance, and the Disciples didn't like him dirty. In fact, they didn't care for his gifts of food. His original intention had been to gift it to the Disciples, but they didn't like his gifts whatsoever. Not of food, anyways. He fluffed up a little just at the thought. With the new Disciple healing, Julius and Candide never went anywhere! Somebody had to get them something to eat! But they were picky, apparently, about their carrion. Magnes, however, was not picky. He tore off some meat, chewing thoughtfully. Not great, but not bad either. It would keep his stomach full. 

 

A movement to his left caused the Beast to stop, turning its sharp yellow gaze on the potential danger. Beasts weren't picky creatures and had the tendency to prey after one another. Magnes was by no means a large Beast, and as such, was on alert at all times. Bristling, a loud hiss escaped his fanged mouth. It was only when he realized who, or what it was did he calm down. A wide, bloody smile spread across his face, revealing a mouthful of serrated teeth. 

 

"Argus! You scared me!" The harpy greeted, smoothing down his feathers.  He shuffled to make more room, talons scraping against the rock. "You must me hungry. Come, eat! There is plenty to share!" 

 

Edited by shadow_claw

Share this post


Link to post

"I certainly didn't mean to," Argus replied as he slunk out of the shadows, glancing around the treetops but finding the area mostly deserted aside from himself and the feathered beast. Well, the two of them and the poor chap Magnes seemed to be in the middle of eating. He was telling the truth though; he hadn't meant to sneak up on the other beast. But he also didn't feel like walking all the way back to the woods to search for some Beasts, and it was far more efficient to melt into the shadows and appear near-instantaneously somewhere else. 

 

"But," He said, looking at the deceased beast lying across the rock with a slight frown. Approaching the rock, he cocked his head to the side and pushed a part of the unidentifiable body a little further away from him with a paw before looking up at the harpy. "I'd rather not spoil my appetite. After all, I've just received some very special orders." His face split into a wide, toothy smile as he gestured his head towards the town nearby. "It's time to show our neighbors some fun. I'm sure you'd much rather eat human, wouldn't you?" There was no question that every Beast craved the taste of the living. They ate each other not out of necessity, but out of want. After all, Beasts were technically dead already and the dead didn't need things like food and water. But when faced with the living, an almost uncontrollable ache filled their very being. An emptiness like they were not complete, but devouring what was in front of them would make them whole. Even the most intelligent of them could hardly resist the desire to feed. 

 

— —

 

"We'd be delighted to have an escort," Julius replied with a sweet smile that only just hid his distain. Fortress. There was no question of it now, this was an Apostle. But if that was true, his companion was likely also one too. Interesting. Very interesting. But he seemed incredibly dismissive of her despite her attempts to keep him away from them, and that would be his undoing. 

 

Suddenly, the girl snapped and a pair of glasses appeared on the man's face. They didn't look like normal glasses, per say, and the more he looked at them the more revolted he felt. Like he wasn't looking at glasses at all, but rather a large pile of vomit. He knew what they were, and he didn't need them magically appearing on the man's face to give it away. "Those are some nice glasses you've got there," Julius said as he paused and stepped closer to the man. The repulsion was obvious, but all it would take was a touch. Just one touch and he could force the Baron's power up and into the glasses. One touch and he could break the unbreakable. 

 

"Are you an Apostle?" He asked, leaning down slightly to look at the girl as he forced his gaze away from the glasses. It was tempting, but not here. Not yet. "I didn't know they made them that young. How old are you, 12?" It wasn't meant to be condescending, but rather an honest question. The Lord was bringing a bunch of children out to fight them. With glasses. That was absolutely adorable.

Share this post


Link to post

When Aspen obscured his sight, Damaris nearly recoiled. He whipped his head around to face her only to have glasses placed onto his face. Just what did she think she was doing? As stern hands guided his shoulders the Apostle had no other option than to do as he was told and to be honest, he wasn't sure what he was suppose to be looking for. The trio of men seemed completely normal when viewed through the lenses, in fact, everyone appeared normal to him. And that's when realization hit him- her weapon was useless to him just as it would be to any other Apostle aside from herself. Guess they both had allowed that little detail to slip their minds. 

 

Heaving a tired sigh, he flicked his gaze to the younger Apostle. "As I said before, there is nothing wrong with them. If something truly is astray with these folks then it’s my decision and mine alone to choose whether I follow them or not and in this case, my stance remains the same." Removing the weapon, Damaris handed it lightly back to Aspen. Though he did try his best to offer some form of a smile. "Besides, I can handle my own well enough. Just leave the situation with me and I'll look into it if it makes you feel better but please, stop worrying yourself so much." In truth he didn't want to pester the men about such a personal affair but he knew a proper apology was in order for when they depart. It just wasn't like Aspen to act so out of sorts, maybe it was the stress getting to her head after all. Being one of the younger Apostles, it wasn't difficult to make such an assumption. 

 

Damaris turned to the older man, his expression twisting into a mild frown as he approached. Something about his gaze set the Apostle at unease but whether it was from his imagination or not couldn't have been said. Probably could have been to Aspen's little outbursts, was really hard to tell. "Thanks, but they're not mine," Damaris countered lightly with a straightened posture. Something definitely seemed peculiar about this one. 

 

Without hesitation the older Apostle stepped in between the two. Only the sound of him clearing his throat was the evidence to his displeasure, no one talked down to an Apostle like that. Sure he might have been a little rough on the girl but this was something entirely different. This man appeared to be mocking her the way he saw it and that wasn't about to be tolerated. "That I'm afraid, is matters that don't concern you," Damaris said coolly, drawing the attention back onto himself. "Her age is not of concern and to answer your question I had hoped it wouldn't have been as obvious. Most Apostles prefer to blend with the people to keep the crowds calm, our apologies for not properly introducing ourselves sooner." The main priority at hand was to prevent the outbreak of a brawl, last thing they needed was to get in trouble with the townsfolk. Sonya would be far from pleased if she found out. He couldn't even begin to imagine how livid she's be over something so trivial. 

 

He looked to Aspen with an apologetic look and pulled her aside for a brief moment. His voice hushed to a whisper to prevent the man from overhearing. "As much as I want to take your word for it I just don't see what you do about them," Damaris sighed, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. "However, if what you say is true and they are as wicked as you claim I'll go with them and investigate. If we let them slip away now who knows what could happen, right? If we brought reinforcements we'd risk putting innocent lives in danger. So, the best course of action is for me to escort them and you to report this, its the safest and most discreet approach." Ruffling her hair the Apostle grinned. He had to convince her somehow and if risking his neck for the sake of others was the way to go then so be it. "I promise you I'll come back safely, you'll see." 

 

Training his attention back onto the man, Damaris gave Aspen one final look before he nodded his head, joining the trio once more. He hoped to the Lord he had made the right decision. "Sorry for keeping you waiting, had to sort some things out with her. I truly apologize for her behavior but with this whole thing cleared up shall we take our leave?"  

Share this post


Link to post


  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.