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Post by Nolza on Jun 26, 2015 1:49:06 GMT
The lake gleamed in the late afternoon light. The sun, more orange now between the trees, reflected rich scenery that contrasted with the deep, dark nature of the lake. Ciel walked barefoot toward the lake, shoes hidden in the bushes behind her. Clinging to her bo staff, she solemnly stepped to the very edge, toes just barely touching the water. Ciel stared down into the waters with a distant gaze. At the moment, her pain was bearable, but she knew the waters would sooth her aches nonetheless. Her journey would benefit from a soak. However, the last time she had allowed water to alleviate her pain had been back in her hidden kingdom, just before she had fled from her people.
A deep sigh escaped her lips, her eyes glazing over with sadness. She missed her people. But she would not go back. Not to the legacy dictated for her. Her eyes turned upward, unconsciously searching the sky for the subtle patterns of her father's race. With sluggish movements, Ciel unclasped her cloak, allowing it, and her scarf, to drop to her feet. With only her bo staff, lavender dress, and hidden weapons, Ciel took a step farther into the shallow waters of Lake Losh's shore. Her scales glinted in response to the waters, and the Skeirn lines marking her ghostly skin glistened with each subtle movement. Her long, silky hair fell free from its constraints, mimicking the curling movement of Skeirn wind.
For the moment, Ciel did not care who saw her. The lake was dark, and soon few would believe her presence at the lake, as ghostly and other-worldly as she was. Tired, weathered, and slow-minded, Ciel simply found it hard to care. The waters beckoned to her and she took another step, a sad little smile on her lips.
"Be careful, sister, the waters are deep." The voice startled her out of her strange reverie. Ciel turned quickly, wincing when the sharp movement triggered more pain. Hair wild around her, she searched the trees lining the Lake, suspicious of the shadows they held. If a Scathé found her here, as vulnerable as she was, this venture to the lake may well have already decided her fate.
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Post by Rin on Jul 12, 2015 22:59:36 GMT
(OOC: I've been meaning to respond to this for a while--sorry I took so long!)
Ciel the Slaughterer. One of the Scathé's greatest enemies. Alone, vulnerable, and mere feet away. And Iskandei had nothing with which to engage her.
You see, dear king? she thought, leaning against a birch in the surrounding forest. A bitter smile flickered on her lips. Do you see? This is what happens when you cut off your own hand. Dead fingers have no power to grasp opportunity.
A hard, heavy silence smothered the lake, pressing on Iskandei's ears as she stared. Incredible, she thought, letting loose a soft "ha" of exasperation. I could have summoned every shadow from the Losh's depths to my aid. I could have turned the White Woman's world into a chaos of darkness. I could have saved my people from the wrath of their destroyer, carried her body back to the Raknaza to be hung like a victory banner from its spires. But no.
Iskandei buried her fingers in her hair. Your people will bleed for this, Luciar, she thought.
Wind stirred the trees; Iskanei didn't feel it. The shadow woman stood perfectly motionless, numb to the world, staring fixedly at the Destroyer's pale face. Beautiful child, she thought, watching the day's last light play on the creature's scales. She smirked wanly. To think someone so peaceful-looking could have thrust so many innocent souls into darkness.
Seconds of stillness later, Iskandei shook her head. There must be something I can do, she thought, gathering her shadows toward her.
Power chilled the air. Iskandei pushed her shadow tendrils forward, skin going numb as power flooded her veins. She watched her shadows snake across the lakeshore, oozing over the rocks like oily vipers, poking at the Destroyer's discarded clothing and slipping silently into the Losh's glowing waves.
A tendril touched the White Woman's skin. Iskandei shivered. I was powerful like you once, child, she thought, clenching her jaw as she plunged a shadow viper into the woman's eye.
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Post by Nolza on Jul 14, 2015 6:14:06 GMT
Attuned to the powers of the world as she was, Ciel felt the chill just before she felt the shadows move. Pain followed soon after, shadowy daggers to her eyes. Her vision consumed with shadow, Ciel gasped in surprised pain, hands automatically coming to grasp at almost tangible shadow. She cursed herself for her momentary lapse. A shadowy lake should have been a beacon to stay away from, though some part of her had hoped that it would be a place no Scathé would look for the very enemy of shadow. Obviously, she had been wrong.Despite her immediate danger, Ciel did not summon her power, nor did she reach for her weapons. Instead, she breathed deeply, taking the acute pain in more moderate stride. "If you think you can inflict more pain than I am already capable of bearing, you are wrong," Ciel whispered without venom, knowing the shadows would carry her message to whomever controlled them. Deliberately slowing her breathing, Ciel implemented the most basic technique against pain she knew. She became more aware of the shadowy pain, yet she also became more aware of everything around her. The water that lapped against her knees, her Naiad clothing that moved pleasantly against her skin, the slight breeze that innately followed her movements. The living shadows that now infested the area. Ciel felt much more panic at her seeming end than she would have predicted, but she also felt more . . . relief. It may very well be over for her. Finally. True, she doubted the Scathé would kill her quickly, but was it not better than slaughtering yet more of their kind at the bidding of her own? The wind turned her head toward the viperous source, though her eyes still could not see. And Ciel mindfully waited. (OOC: You are just fine! Thanks for replying  )
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Post by Rin on Jul 16, 2015 23:41:48 GMT
"If you think you can inflict more pain than I am already capable of bearing, you are wrong."
She desires a parlance, Iskandei thought. A smile slithered over her lips. "My ambitions extend beyond the mere infliction of pain, child," said she. "But you already knew that, didn't you?"
With that, Iskandei thrust her shadows deeper into the Destroyer's body, groping about for the monster's bile-pumping heart. If it even has a heart, she thought, chuckling joylessly.
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Post by Nolza on Jul 17, 2015 0:31:45 GMT
"My ambitions extend beyond the mere infliction of pain, child, but you already knew that, didn't you?" The cold, female voice chuckled. Ciel still could not see her attacker, but she faced her blindly nonetheless, eyes dyed black with shadow.
Barbed shadows thrust themselves toward her heart, and despite years of biting back pain, the attack shocked her into a reaction. Her body spasmed as the shadows invaded unrelentingly. Something coiled itself around her heart, and Ciel's now uneven breathing hitched, a knot in her throat. Her eyes wide, Ciel struggled for breath, but found none. It was as if the shadows suppressed her very soul.
Ciel lurched forward, one hand clutching uselessly above her heart, the other hand finding solid support on the surface of the water. That's odd, she thought distantly, her mind approaching irrationality as her breathelss body struggled against shadow. Still, she didn't reach for her magic, at least, she didn't think she did. She forced breath back into her lungs through shear strength of will. Gasping, Ciel bore the pain around her heart, mentally retreating to give herself respite from the unrelentingly pain. It worked, to some extent.
A disturbing smile willfully lit her face. "Do your worst, then, Scathé," she found herself saying, letting the smile drop from her face. She pushed herself up, muscles shaking only a little. This pain was different, and much easier to bear. Ciel gazed toward her attacker with calm, sightless eyes. "I will not fight you."
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Post by Rin on Jul 19, 2015 19:35:42 GMT
A low growl rose from Iskandei's throat. Though the Destroyer refused to fight overtly, a bright, natural power emanated from her body, searing Iskandei's shadow limbs so profoundly she feared permanent injury. But she couldn't stop now. This simpleton girl was practically begging to die, and Iskandei was in an obliging mood.
Just a moment longer, she promised herself, clamping around the woman's heart with all her strength.
A spear of crimson sunlight escaped the trees, slicing through Iskandei's shadow tendrils like a newly-fired sword. Iskandei screamed, releasing her grip on the Destroyer and staggering backward. The forest floor slammed into her back--she'd tripped on a root--and she lie there, chest heaving as pain tore like lightning through her body.
Gods damn you, she thought at the woman, closing her eyes.
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Post by Nolza on Jul 21, 2015 4:15:04 GMT
A growl reached her ears, and soon after such pressure filled her chest Ciel thought she might break. Then within seconds, the pressure lifted, causing Ciel to stumble. The water rippled riotously around her skirt as Ciel fought for balance. Her hand shot out to catch herself against the water's surface, and again it met with solid aid. What? Ciel thought, but she didn't let her thoughts linger in confusion. There were more pressing matters to worry about for the moment.
Ciel's eyes snapped up, searching the shadows where her shadowy attacker had last stood. Her eyes only met with a stark ray of light that blotted out her vision of the living shadows. Her eyebrows furrowed--how had that happened? Her legs were moving toward that ray before she could think. Though her wet clothes--Naiad in making--did not hinder her movements, her health did. This time, her stumbling met with solid, muddy ground a few inches under water.
Wincing, Ciel gasped in pain. Her muscles and bones ached and strained more than they should from just that attack--though the attack had been strong. Then, why--? Ciel stopped her thought process sharply. Her blood was burning a very distinctive, acidic burn. Almost panicking, Ciel let go of the active, subtle power, cold shock a stone in her stomach. She hadn't reached for her power, not knowingly.
Closing her eyes, Ciel breathed a calming breath. She would have to think on this later. For now, she reached for her bo staff in the mud, then slowly forced herself up. The mud and water slid off her Naiad dress as Ciel retreated from the water and toward her attacker. Each painful step made her movement sluggish, and she knew she could not run. So, instead, Ciel made her way toward the deep shadows cut by light. Once closer, she could just make out a breathing, shadowy mass on the ground.
"Let me help you," Ciel proffered her power's use, standing in a different, farther ray of light so as to have some level of protection. No matter how temporary, the light made her Skeirn blood sing throughout her battered body, and she was grateful for that small measure of relief.
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Post by Rin on Jul 24, 2015 5:05:01 GMT
Iskandei, eyes squeezed shut, listened to the Destroyer make her way through the trees. "This is a noble death," she whispered to herself. "I die in battle with our enemies. I die in defense of my people. There is a place for me in World's Center. I'm sure of it."
You let the Destroyer live, said a voice in her mind. She shoved it away.
The Destroyer stopped moving. Iskandei braced herself.
"Let me help you," said the woman, her voice soft with compassion.
Iskandei's eyes shot open. Help me? she thought, scoffing audibly. "Don't toy with me, child," she said. Her voice trembled. "The gods await me in World's Center."
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Post by Nolza on Jul 28, 2015 2:05:41 GMT
With a long-suffering sigh, Ciel abandoned the comfortable circle of light to collapse next to the trembling shadows. "I'm not a child," she said simply as she consciously summoned her magic. "I've killed thousands, suffer more pain than the oldest of our races, and seen more devastation in a decade than most have seen in centuries."
Calmly, Ciel laid a hand on the shadowy woman's forehead. Up close, the woman looked nothing like Elpha, but Ciel couldn't help but make the comparison. She hadn't seen a Scathé up close since her sister was taken from her over a decade ago. Sure, she had killed only Scathé for almost a decade, but she had never been close enough to see the shadows twist patterns beneath their pale, translucent skin.
"I had a shadowy sister once," Ciel whispered conversationally to the woman in a soothing tone. Breathing becoming more labored as she allowed her magic to flow over the woman, Ciel barely managed to continue her whispering. "We both were outcasts before the war, she more than I. She came back from her training injured more than half the time, but she wouldn't let me heal her."
Ciel's magic continued its work, knitting shadow and blood to heal the burns, allowing soothing shadow to mend whatever damage Ciel's unsupervised magic had done. As she did so, her eyes began to dull and her vision darkened. Her skin ached, but she determinedly kept her hand on the woman's forehead as she tried to distract the woman from the overwhelming healing process.
"Nonetheless, I learned her anatomy, knowing it would be necessary at some point . . . I just didn't know that knowledge would be used for other purposes, too." Ciel finished the healing, blindly placing her hand on her lap. Her eyes blinked unseeingly, and her muscles trembled from exhaustion and pain. Ciel leaned carefully back against a tree, wincing as her tender skin met harsh bark. Now she was at the woman's mercy yet again, but she hardly cared, her pain consuming all. Exhausted beyond sleep, Ciel waited, silently hoping her magic had healed successfully. Ciel was beginning to learn that when her magic came into the picture, nothing was ever certain.
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Post by Rin on Aug 18, 2015 2:07:30 GMT
OOC: Ciel has given me permission to do what I'm about to do. "I'm not a child," the Destroyer breathed. Iskandei tensed—the woman was sitting right next to her. "I've killed thousands, suffered more pain than the oldest of our races, and seen more devastation in a decade than most have seen in centuries." A good way to die, Iskandei reminded herself, trembling and gasping in agony. Or was this fear? She’d always found the idea of death soothing—an eternity of perfect darkness, perfect numbness. But the idea was no comfort now. As the White Woman placed her hand on Iskandei’s forehead, she found herself close to weeping, a thing she hadn’t done since she was a child. A thing only the weak would do. Have some decency, her mind spat, and she squeezed her eyes shut. Relief. It took several seconds for Iskandei to identify the feeling. Akin to pouring water over a fire, the White Woman used her power to soothe Iskandei’s pain, leaving Iskandei feeling heavy, and whole. A thousand feelings filled her all at once, but none escaped her eyes. A thousand thoughts crowded in her mind, but none touched her tongue. She lay still. "I had a shadowy sister once," whispered the Destroyer. She spoke like a gentle nurse to a dying patient. "We both were outcasts before the war, she more than I. She came back from her training injured more than half the time, but she wouldn't let me heal her." The Water Shadow, Iskandei thought. Elphame. "Nonetheless,” the Destroyer continued, “I learned her anatomy, knowing it would be necessary at some point . . .” The woman lifted her hand from Iskandei’s forehead, wincing as she reclined against a tree. Her voice trembled. “I just didn't know that knowledge would be used for other purposes, too,” she finished. Her eyes were closed. She’d left herself completely exposed, perfectly susceptible to whatever Iskandei might do. The shadow woman stood. A long, tangible silence filled the trees as the sun disappeared beneath the horizon. “Idiot child,” said Iskandei. She lifted a rock with one of her shadow tendrils and slammed it against the Destroyer’s temple. The woman collapsed. OOC: This thread will be continued in another destination board! I'll post a link here once the next post is up. |
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