In this world, Magic is Everything. All people, all races, are granted with the power to perform mystical and magical feats via grimories, mystical tomes granted to each and every child on their 15th birthday. Those blessed by the mana can have their names written down in legend.
Shattered Grimoires is the work of the mind(s) of Ardere & Shattered Grimoire's staff. All characters and content are copyright their creators, and may not be replicated without their creators' permission. Black Clover is owned by Yuki Tabata and published by Viz Shonen Jump. All images belong to their original owners. The theme you are currently viewing was made by Eliza of ElizaCodes exclusively for Shattered Grimoires.
Hans found himself sitting in front of the clear water of Sivert Lake. It was a peaceful afternoon with almost no clouds in sight. The sun shined down hard from the blue skies while birds chirped and flew by every now and then, some of them landing within trees. The atmosphere here is relaxing with a gentle aura. If anyone wanted to get away from it all for just one day, this area was certainly a good place to try. Unfortunately, Hans was not there for such a thing. Even in a place like this, there was still work to be done for the sword wielding mercenary. This job however isn't something he normally takes.
Earlier, Hans was contacted by a woman who lives in a town nearby this place. She has suspicions of her husband going out to see other women behind her back, and that he normally takes them to Sivert Lake on days he claims that he's going to work. The woman seemed very worried about this, and could barely keep herself together when speaking to Hans. This sort of work was actually a first for Hans, and he was tempted to refuse it, but then he took notice of the woman's baby who laid peacefully in her arms sound asleep. Despite his tough and distant exterior, Hans has a bit of a soft spot for children. He believes that kids are the only living things in the world that come close to being pure and that they should not have to experience great pain or fear. This stems from his own childhood which was mostly just his father beating him and his mother. The idea of this baby being raised by a dishonest man bothered him a bit. With that, Hans ended up taking the job. Normally, he does not take any of his missions personal, and is just out there for the money, but part of him couldn't help but take it personal even though he is trying his hardest to contain it.
The mercenary continued to look at his reflection at the lake while a small object rested in his lap. It was a device that works similar to a camera which runs on mana. The woman wanted him to use it to gather the information. He looked down at it a bit, fiddling with the device a little. Hans is much more use to taking jobs that involve violence...not this. It was strange...but in the end this is still what he does.
The man slowly lifted his head up as he heard the sound of others. The lake was beginning to get a little populated by others, mostly couples. There were already a few here, but now it was getting obvious. Hans just scanned the area, looking for the man that matches the woman's description. At the last second, he'd notice someone heading deeper into the forest that surrounds this lake. He managed to catch the face, and it appeared to be his guy and with a woman wrapped around his arm no less. With a sigh, Hans got to his feet and headed in that direction, clutching the device in his hand while making sure to make it obvious that he wasn't following. This was the beginning of an experience that Hans will not forget.
To activate this attack spell, Suna will strike up a quick series of notes, loud and sharp like the patter of winter hail. Her pure aura will morph into white flint-like arrowheads (2in by 3in) that hangs above the enemy, and her sound will make those arrowheads fall down in an circular area of 10 meters. The density of falling arrowheads will depend on her ability to play in polyphony, a musical texture consisting of two or more simultaneous lines of independent melodies, as opposed to just one dominant melodic voice.
To sustain the barrage, Suna must keep her tempo above vivace (lively and brisk tempo, 156–176 bpm) and play a series of tremolos, which is repeating a specific note or notes as rapidly as possible to produce a quivering effect. Apex Predator gives this spell an additional +3 power stack-able buff caps after 5 attacks or +15 to the enemy. At Suna's current junior level, it cannot be sustained for more than three motifs (three posts, not including the post when the spell is cast); then the piece must be started again from the beginning and the spell must be recast.
This spell is not limited to which instrument she uses, it is only a musical form type.
[Optional] Summoning An Instrument: If Suna does not already have an instrument on hand, she may summon her guzheng by humming a G (392hz). Her guzheng is 64"x12.6" / 162x32cm.
For this attack spell, Suna shapes her aura into spears (ammo) that float stationary next to her until she plays sudden, accented notes, which will then launch themselves out in a cone-shaped area all at once. Each spear is 60in / 152cm in length and 2in / 5cm in width, with the tip being slightly wider 3in / 7.6cm. The maximum number of spears Suna can use is 1 + (Control/5). Apex Predator gives this spell an additional +3 power stack-able buff caps after 5 attacks or +15 to the enemy. This spell does not sustain, as it launches all its spears out at the same time. The more spears she has, the wider the cone.
This attack spell is not limited to which instrument she uses to launch the spears, as the technique is the same.
[Optional] Summoning An Instrument: If Suna does not already have an instrument on hand, she may summon her harp by humming a C (262hz). Her harp is 33"x19"x6" / 83x48x15cm.
To activate this restraining spell, Suna plucks out the melody on her right hand while tampering the full sound by lightly muffling the strings with her left hand, indicating its restraining effects. As the music flows from the instrument, the sound takes form of a small flowing stream that is 1 meter in width. It snakes towards the enemy and spreads in a circle (1 meter in diameter) beneath each target's feet. When in contact with its target(s), the aura spreads upwards to bind movements and to slow down their speed by -2m/s. This will only affect the first [1 + (Control/5)] targets in contact, one additional target will have their speed debuffed by -1m/s, and any other targets will not be affected.
This binding restraint is an AoE effect. The spell only physically affects the enemy, and cannot restrain any spoken or verbal spell castings of retaliation. Vampiric Magic's mana drain will only be applied to the two targets of Suna's choosing. To sustain the bind, Suna must keep playing in ritenuto, the tempo gradually becoming slower and slower. The slower and calmer her music is, the more effective the bind. Any distractions to her state of mind will affect success of sustaining the spell. The restraints have the health of junior rank spells - if dealt damage that are equal or above the spell's rank, the restraints will dissolve and be dispelled.
This restraining spell is not limited to which instrument she uses, as the technique is the same.
[Optional] Summoning An Instrument: If Suna does not already have an instrument on hand, she may summon her harp by humming a C (262hz). Her harp is 33"x19"x6" / 83x48x15cm.
Tightly Bound: Restraining based spells may now deal damage without the need of an offensive spec. The damage they are capable of dealing is the rank of their spell minus one.
Vampiric Magic: Once per post, a single spell (cast by the wielder of this perk) that comes into contact with magical targets may siphon mana from up to 2 of those in contact with the spell. If more than 2 targets are in contact, then who is siphoned is up to the caster. These can be NPCs and magical creatures as well as players, regardless of if they have a mana pool or not, however, it will not work on your own creations/golems. You will sap a total of 5 mana [+5 mana per target's rank above junior] from each of the 2 targets, and restore your own mana for an equal amount. At grand rank, this may be used twice, by casting two different spells. This perk does not have to be included in the spell itself to be utilized.
"Hmm hm hm hmmmmm hm hm..." A lithe figure sat by the famous lake, swinging her legs in a carefree manner and humming happily to herself. Her white and blue clothes blended well to her background, the shimmering blues and whites of the lake. It was not often that the elf would turn her steps towards the Forsaken Region, but when she did, she always seemed to run into some sort of adventure. Every day, her eyes were opened to some type of beauty. Today, she has discovered this beautiful plot of land, this area known as Sivert Lake.
She remembered the first time when she ventured out by herself. She almost died that time. Well, almost. She was just strolling through the meadows, minding her own business, when a pitchfork came flying out from the side and narrowly missed her. She had whirled around, and came face to face with a little ruffian, no more than seven years old from the looks of it. He had another weapon in his hands, and she had held her hands up in surrender. The little boy apologized after seeing she was not going to fight back, saying he thought she looked like a witch who would turn him into a frog.
She had almost laughed if it was not for his serious face. She had asked him why, but he only muttered something under his breath about a new witch in town and something about luring his father away. She knew that some witches had to deceive in order to accomplish their missions. However, if it meant tearing apart a family… There were some methods of the Forest she did not agree with. Thankfully, she had not been sent out with that sort of mission, otherwise she would have some moral problems.
Recently, however, she has met some Magic Knights, and while they all came from different walks of life, they all had some degree of honor. That was something she looked up to. However, since witches seem to have an overall negative reputation, she has been careful to keep that part of her identity a secret. Back at that time, she only patted the little boy’s head, telling him that not all witches were bad, and that he should keep practicing his aim so he can hit his target next time. Little did she know how that past incident might possibly resurface again.
A warm breeze blew across the cherry blossom trees, sprinkling a pink shower of petals. There were more and more people coming to the lake now. Couples, specifically. She would have left a long time ago, if it was not for someone that caught her interest. She has been discreetly observing one particular figure. First, he was sitting by the side of the lake, alone. Second, he was holding something strange. It was an object Suna has never seen before, and she did not know what it was for. He looked like he was looking for someone, and several times she barely averted her gaze in time when he turned towards her direction. She had also drawn in her aura so she would be less noticeable.
Thankfully he did not notice her. However, he did not stay there for long, and the next time the elf looked up, he was gone. What? Like heck she would let him disappear like that. And besides, she wanted a closer look at the object he had. She had a dangerous curiosity for the unknown, and whatever that object was, she wanted to know so she could research it. She got up quickly to her feet, brushing away the pink petals that have fallen on her lap.
Where did he go? She quickly scanned the area. There! He was moving fast, so she would have to hurry. Odd... He seemed to be going towards the forest. Without delay, she followed him, keeping her footsteps light and quick and her aura contained. It would certainly raise questions and suspicions if she was found following a stranger, but all she wanted was a closer look at the device he had...
WC: 686 ⊹ TOTAL WC: 686 ⊹ MUSE: 9/10 ⊹ TAG: @morty2 NOTES: Oh boy, there are kinks in her history that will need to be addressed xD
The forests surrounding the lake was quieter than the lake itself. It seems that when people come to this area they tend to stick around the water which made sense. That area was open and beautiful which a lot of people seem to flock to, or at least that's how Hans sees it. The romantic theme of this area is something Hans fails to see since it is something that he has absolute zero experience with. Fortunately, Hans was not here to get caught up in any of that. Still, what he was really here for gave him knots in his stomach. Hans is no stranger to doing things more unethical like killing or tailing targets for other reasons if the job calls for it, so why was this not easy?
So far, Hans was doing a good job of keeping his distance from his target. He watched as the man held the woman tight, the two laughing among themselves while talking about things Hans couldn't decipher from this distance. There were still the sounds of birds chirping and noise from other wildlife around. This worked in Hans' favor as well since it made him less likely to be heard. Little did Hans know that he was being tailed as well.
After a bit of walking, the man and woman finally stopped at a clearing. It was similar to the main clearing around the lake, but smaller and without a lake of its own. The cheating man danced around with this woman, cheering and laughing. Hans peeked at them from a tree he's hidden behind. It was a strange feeling for him to watch these two. They acted like an ordinary couple who were happily in love. One would not expect either of them to be committing adultery...if they have already went that far that is. Hans took one more look at the device in his hand. Something that could capture other's images. With one press of a button, he'd have the evidence that his client wants. The merc shook his head as he lifted the camera up, aiming it at the two lovebirds. Just as he did that, the two stopped dancing and were now looking at each other lovingly. The two then kissed, causing Hans to freeze up a bit. There it was, the proof needed, and it made Hans sick. Sick that someone who is a father could do this. Still he managed to press the button absentmindedly which caused a click...and a flash that he wasn't expecting. This caused Hans to drop the device by mistake. The couple immediately stopped and were now looking in the merc's direction.
"Who's there!?" the man yelled out, his happy expression now more menacing. In comparison to Hans, this guy was pretty athletic looking as well, but a tad on the slimmer side. He also had a grimoire that was now floating to his side...
Against his best nature of trying to stay hidden, Hans decided to step from behind the tree while picking up the device. With all that just happened, there was really no use in stealth.
"Who are you...and where did you get that?" the man questioned, looking angrily at Hans then the device he dropped. He recognized it. He knew it belonged to his wife, and that scared him. The woman he was with was now hiding behind the man, not sure what was going on. Hans remained quiet which was normal for him, but in all honesty he had no idea what to say. This job was already new to him and not easy, but this made things more icky. "I see. So this is what it is." The man added, finally putting it together. "That bitch..." he muttered, referring to his wife. "You think I'm going to let you ruin what I have with my family, y-you homewrecker!?" the guy continued on, being very hypocritical. "I have a kid. If he sees that...." Those words caused Hans to gasp lightly. He already knew that this man has a child, but he was not expecting him to be worried about them. "No...I'll just make sure she never sees them." The guy took a step forward with his grimoire flipping a page. The woman tried to stop him by tugging on his arm but he yanked it from her grasp, distracted more by the merc in front of him.
"Take this!" As he yelled that, the guy shot a bolt of lightning which was quickly racing towards Hans. Another light gasp escaped Hans' mouth as he adopted a more serious expression. Luckily there was enough distance between the two, enough for Hans to react in time. His four leafed grimoire floated from the strap on his waist and it opened to a certain page. A dark aura surrounded it as the merc raised his palm up in the direction of the incoming bolt. A black sphere formed in front of the merc's palm before shifting into a miniature black hole. Instead of hitting Hans, the bolt of lightning was absorbed into this spell, catching the other guy by surprise. "Sorry, but I have a job to do." Now this was something the merc was more use to.
Name of Spell: Darkness Magic: Black Hole Elemental Type: Dark Rank & Spell Type: Junior - Defense Creation Range & Speed: 23 meters - 10 m/s Mana Cost: 10 (Initial) - 5 (Sustain) Stats Effected: N/A Applicable Perks: Quick Shot, Skilled Sniper Description: After landing on the correct page, the user creates a small black hole that floats idly beside them which they can control up to twenty-three meters around them. Other spells of the same rank or lower that come into contact with the black hole will be absorbed so long as the user has +5 Durability over the opposing spell. Anything stronger than this spell will destroy the black hole. An additional black hole can be formed for every ten control the user gains. (Spell gains +5 Durability)
To activate this attack spell, Suna will strike up a quick series of notes, loud and sharp like the patter of winter hail. Her pure aura will morph into white flint-like arrowheads (2in by 3in) that hangs above the enemy, and her sound will make those arrowheads fall down in an circular area of 10 meters. The density of falling arrowheads will depend on her ability to play in polyphony, a musical texture consisting of two or more simultaneous lines of independent melodies, as opposed to just one dominant melodic voice.
To sustain the barrage, Suna must keep her tempo above vivace (lively and brisk tempo, 156–176 bpm) and play a series of tremolos, which is repeating a specific note or notes as rapidly as possible to produce a quivering effect. Apex Predator gives this spell an additional +3 power stack-able buff caps after 5 attacks or +15 to the enemy. At Suna's current junior level, it cannot be sustained for more than three motifs (three posts, not including the post when the spell is cast); then the piece must be started again from the beginning and the spell must be recast.
This spell is not limited to which instrument she uses, it is only a musical form type.
[Optional] Summoning An Instrument: If Suna does not already have an instrument on hand, she may summon her guzheng by humming a G (392hz). Her guzheng is 64"x12.6" / 162x32cm.
For this attack spell, Suna shapes her aura into spears (ammo) that float stationary next to her until she plays sudden, accented notes, which will then launch themselves out in a cone-shaped area all at once. Each spear is 60in / 152cm in length and 2in / 5cm in width, with the tip being slightly wider 3in / 7.6cm. The maximum number of spears Suna can use is 1 + (Control/5). Apex Predator gives this spell an additional +3 power stack-able buff caps after 5 attacks or +15 to the enemy. This spell does not sustain, as it launches all its spears out at the same time. The more spears she has, the wider the cone.
This attack spell is not limited to which instrument she uses to launch the spears, as the technique is the same.
[Optional] Summoning An Instrument: If Suna does not already have an instrument on hand, she may summon her harp by humming a C (262hz). Her harp is 33"x19"x6" / 83x48x15cm.
To activate this restraining spell, Suna plucks out the melody on her right hand while tampering the full sound by lightly muffling the strings with her left hand, indicating its restraining effects. As the music flows from the instrument, the sound takes form of a small flowing stream that is 1 meter in width. It snakes towards the enemy and spreads in a circle (1 meter in diameter) beneath each target's feet. When in contact with its target(s), the aura spreads upwards to bind movements and to slow down their speed by -2m/s. This will only affect the first [1 + (Control/5)] targets in contact, one additional target will have their speed debuffed by -1m/s, and any other targets will not be affected.
This binding restraint is an AoE effect. The spell only physically affects the enemy, and cannot restrain any spoken or verbal spell castings of retaliation. Vampiric Magic's mana drain will only be applied to the two targets of Suna's choosing. To sustain the bind, Suna must keep playing in ritenuto, the tempo gradually becoming slower and slower. The slower and calmer her music is, the more effective the bind. Any distractions to her state of mind will affect success of sustaining the spell. The restraints have the health of junior rank spells - if dealt damage that are equal or above the spell's rank, the restraints will dissolve and be dispelled.
This restraining spell is not limited to which instrument she uses, as the technique is the same.
[Optional] Summoning An Instrument: If Suna does not already have an instrument on hand, she may summon her harp by humming a C (262hz). Her harp is 33"x19"x6" / 83x48x15cm.
Tightly Bound: Restraining based spells may now deal damage without the need of an offensive spec. The damage they are capable of dealing is the rank of their spell minus one.
Vampiric Magic: Once per post, a single spell (cast by the wielder of this perk) that comes into contact with magical targets may siphon mana from up to 2 of those in contact with the spell. If more than 2 targets are in contact, then who is siphoned is up to the caster. These can be NPCs and magical creatures as well as players, regardless of if they have a mana pool or not, however, it will not work on your own creations/golems. You will sap a total of 5 mana [+5 mana per target's rank above junior] from each of the 2 targets, and restore your own mana for an equal amount. At grand rank, this may be used twice, by casting two different spells. This perk does not have to be included in the spell itself to be utilized.
As Suna trailed the stranger, she was thrown back to the earlier days. When she was younger, back before her fifteenth birthday and receiving her grimoire, she would often watch people from the side. Others may call that stalking, but it was not with any ill intentions, though. She would watch how her witch sisters interacted, and observed their facial features to understand their true intentions. Though she was an elf, her observation skills did not come from her sensory abilities or magic - it came from years of careful inspection and information. She thanked those skills now as she followed the man.
After a little while, he stopped and hid behind a tree. Suna followed suit, curiosity mounting the longer she trailed him. She noticed that he had a grimoire, and it gave off a powerful aura. Ah, so he was also a mage, a magic user. What was he following? And what was he doing? Her questions were partially answered when she caught sight of a happy couple. Huh… Why was this guy stalking a happy couple? Did he have a love interest with the woman? Or was he a jealous boyfriend who was about to find his girlfriend cheating on him?
The elf crept closer, watching both the mage and the couple. However, as the woman’s laughter floated over the clearing, it stopped Suna in her tracks. No way...there’s no way... She risked peering a bit further from the tree she was hiding behind. Azure eyes narrowed, then widened in recognition. W-Wait, isn’t that...isn’t that Vera? Her eyebrows furrowed. What is she doing over here? And with that man? Her mind raced back. She was not familiar with the witch, but she knew a little about her. All she knew was that the other witch was a loose woman, for lack of a better term.
Although witches were technically not allowed to be in a relationship, they were sometimes sent on missions that require deception through seduction. Suna knew that this particular witch, this Vera, was well-known for her beauty...and for successfully breaking any man that got in her way. Not in the physical way, but in the mental sort. If she met any good-looking males around her, she would flirt her way into their hearts, deceive them into thinking she recuperated their feelings, then use them mercilessly until they came out penniless and broken-hearted. Or enraged, depending on the man. She would then retreat back to the safety of the Forest, laughing with her circle of witches about her latest conquest. Yes, she was well-known for her side ‘hobbies’, as she herself called it. Those men means nothing to her - they were merely another trophy for her to boast about in her long line of conquests.
For the blue-haired elf, she had heard much of Vera’s conquests, as the brash witch would always talk about them at any chance she could. But this was the first time Suna saw the infamous witch in action. A little part of her was envious of how natural and easy the witch made it seem. In truth, seduction is an art, and Vera was well-versed in it. Of course, there were some moral problems when it comes to this ‘art’, but Suna knew skill when she saw it. However, there were some boundaries she had set for herself, and causing an adulterous affair was outside the line.
She watched as Vera put her arms around the guy, and-- Yikes. Suna averted her eyes briefly, not wanting to see the kiss. Whoever the man was, she felt sorry for him. Once under Vera’s spell, it was difficult to see clearly until it was too late.
A sudden click and a flash. Suna’s eyes darted towards the original man she had been following. The device had fallen to the ground, and the couple was now looking at his direction--and hers. She ducked behind the tree, heart hammering. She heard the man call out to the mage, his tone angry and dangerous. To her surprise, she heard the latter step out of his hiding spot. Her shock only grew as she caught some words from the other man, like ‘homewrecker’ and ‘family’ and ‘kid’.
"Vera," she muttered to herself, barely audible, "what have you done now, you shameless witch." She peered around the tree again, just in time to see the man shake off Vera’s hand and cast a spell. This could be trouble... She hummed a middle C, summoning her harp. It materialized in front of her, and she grasped it, quickly scampering over to a closer tree and getting into position, about eight meters away. She started plucking a few notes, but as she did so, she saw the bolt of lightning being shot. It was too late, she was not going to be able to cast her spell in time.
However, another grimoire glowed, and the elf gawked in fascination as a mini black hole appeared and swallowed the lightning whole. "Wow," she breathed. She gave a silent cheer, but there was no time for celebrating just yet. The lightning mage was purple with fury and shame. Fury that his spell had just disappeared like that, and shame because he did not want to look weak in front of his woman. Or what he thought was his woman. Suna saw a small smirk appear on Vera’s face. So the stories were true, this other witch loved nothing more than seeing two men fight because of her.
"Vera, you homewrecker..." Her fingers moved across her harp, and sound magic began to ripple around her. The music spilled out like a river, streaming towards the couple. Upon contact, her Ritenuto spell would pool underneath their feet, then flow upwards and wrap itself around their legs. This would restrain them, if the spell landed. At the very least, it would slow the man’s speed down. As for the woman…
Suna turned her sights toward Vera, who had caught sight of her. They were eight meters away, but the other witch had seen her and her magic. However, she did nothing as Suna’s restraining spell caught her, and did not even try to escape. She merely crossed her arms and cocked her head, the smirk still on her face. Her whole body language said that she was enjoying the show, and it was getting on Suna’s nerves. But first, the man.
The blue-haired elf kept her slow music going. She would keep her restraining spell for as long as the other mage needed. Right now, she only cared about stopping the raging man. They had to somehow stop him or snap him out of Vera’s influence. The former would probably be the quicker option, though.
WC: 1,124 ⊹ TOTAL WC: 1,808 ⊹ MUSE: 10/10 ⊹ TAG: @morty2 NOTES: Went a little overboard lol
After the successful absorption of that lightning spell, the miniature black hole floated up towards Hans' shoulder where it idly floated. The dark wielding mage stepped further away from the tree he hid behind, gently pushing the device into some bushes right beside it to keep it hidden and unsheathed his katana. Dark Edge, a blade gifted to Hans by his guardian all those years ago. There was nothing special about it other than how much it meant to the guy. Although it has no magical properties to it, Hans is still capable of harnessing some of his spells through it in a similar sense to a wand. During his younger days, Hans had trouble controlling his magic, and the sword is what he needed to get a grip on them, like training wheels. Now Hans is capable of pulling off his spells with or without the sword, but still it was difficult for him to just stop using the weapon.
Hans watched the enraged man carefully. At first he was very worried about his wife and kid finding out about this secret life of his, but now the cheater was thirsting for more than just that lady. He was thirsting for blood.
"I'll kill you, you hear me!?" Lightning started to crackle around that man's grimoire, and Hans braced himself for whatever was about to come this way. Just as that happened, Hans heard another voice from behind him which sounded feminine. With a small gasp, he quickly turned his head just as this blue stranger conjured a spell with a musical note. The music this woman had released flowed past Hans and surrounded the couple, restraining them. Hans was at a loss. Where did this elf come from and how did he not pick up on her before? Perhaps he was just too caught up in his job? This was just further proof that Hans didn't have his head together like in other jobs. He was normally more aware than this, but he still has his faults. If it were anyone else, Hans could've been dead right there without ever knowing who did it. Fortunately, it looks like he wasn't the target of this harp wielding elf. But why was she here? Did she have something against these two?
"Where did yo-" Before Hans could finish his question, the other man roared, quickly catching the merc's attention. There was now lightning sparking around his body, buffing him up to the point that his shirt ripped off, revealing his chiseled features. The lightning mage struggled at first, but managed to break free from the restraining spell or was no longer immobilized by it. He started running at both Hans and the elf who were eight meters away. Due to the reinforcement spell the guy used, he was stronger now, and would've been faster if it wasn't for the elf's spell so fortunately he was still moving at normal speeds. Hans' grimoire flipped to the next page and as that happened, the blade of his sword was coated in darkness, turning the clean silver color into a pitch black. Slicing at the air horizontally in front of him, Hans conjured up a dark orb that shifted into the shape of a human skull with a dark aura surrounding it. Then with a vertical slash, the skull went flying at the rampaging male at speeds faster than his own. Before he could even react, the skull exploded on his face, stopping him in his tracks with a grunt. "I-I can't see! Shit!" The man yelled as a smoke of darkness surrounded his eyes. He tried rubbing it off, but to no avail.
Taking advantage of that successful hit, Hans' brows lowered as he rushed at the struggling lightning user. Once the gap was closed between the two, Hans shifted his katana around and struck the guy with the butt of his sword, aiming between his eyes. The impact knocked the guy to the ground, leaving him unconscious, his muscles shrinking back to normal. After exhaling out his mouth, Hans looked over to the elf who appeared to be more focused on the woman who Hans was now right beside. With the arrival of that blue woman, Hans found himself even more confused about all of this.
Name of Spell: Darkness Magic: Chaos Skulls Elemental Type: Dark Rank & Spell Type: Junior - Attack Creation Range & Speed: 23 meters - 10 m/s Mana Cost: 10 (Initial) - 5 (Sustain) Stats Effected: +4 Power (Battle Knight) Applicable Perks: Battle Knight, Quick Shot, Skilled Sniper Description: After flipping to the desired page of their grimoire, the user makes a slashing gesture with their sword (or arm) coated in darkness which will then conjure up an orb of darkness about the size of a baseball that then shape into a human skull. The skull will float idly around the user until he fires it off with a slash of his sword (or arm). Upon impact, the dark skull will explode, causing minor bruises to opponents, destroying weaker objects/structures, or leave a few cracks and scuffs on stronger ones. If this skull explodes on a target's face, it will leave behind a dark smoke that temporarily blinds the target for one post if the user's power is +10 over the opponent's sensory. Every ten control, the user can conjure up an additional skull. (Spell gains +5 Durability)
Name of Spell: Darkness Magic: Black Hole Elemental Type: Dark Rank & Spell Type: Junior - Defense Creation Range & Speed: 23 meters - 10 m/s Mana Cost: 10 (Initial) - 5 (Sustain) Stats Effected: N/A Applicable Perks: Quick Shot, Skilled Sniper, Self Repairing Description: After landing on the correct page, the user creates a small black hole that floats idly beside them which they can control up to twenty-three meters around them. Other spells of the same rank or lower that come into contact with the black hole will be absorbed so long as the user has +5 Durability over the opposing spell. This spell still follows the Defense Creation health and spell clashing rules. An additional black hole can be formed for every ten control the user gains. (Spell gains +5 Durability)
To activate this restraining spell, Suna plucks out the melody on her right hand while tampering the full sound by lightly muffling the strings with her left hand, indicating its restraining effects. As the music flows from the instrument, the sound takes form of a small flowing stream that is 1 meter in width. It snakes towards the enemy and spreads in a circle (1 meter in diameter) beneath each target's feet. When in contact with its target(s), the aura spreads upwards to bind movements and to slow down their speed by -2m/s. This will only affect the first [1 + (Control/5)] targets in contact, one additional target will have their speed debuffed by -1m/s, and any other targets will not be affected.
This binding restraint is an AoE effect. The spell only physically affects the enemy, and cannot restrain any spoken or verbal spell castings of retaliation. Vampiric Magic's mana drain will only be applied to the two targets of Suna's choosing. To sustain the bind, Suna must keep playing in ritenuto, the tempo gradually becoming slower and slower. The slower and calmer her music is, the more effective the bind. Any distractions to her state of mind will affect success of sustaining the spell. The restraints have the health of junior rank spells - if dealt damage that are equal or above the spell's rank, the restraints will dissolve and be dispelled.
This restraining spell is not limited to which instrument she uses, as the technique is the same.
[Optional] Summoning An Instrument: If Suna does not already have an instrument on hand, she may summon her harp by humming a C (262hz). Her harp is 33"x19"x6" / 83x48x15cm.
Light cerulean eyes darted back and forth between the two men, watching the fight. Thankfully the lightning mage did not have his attention on her, and Vera apparently was not going to do anything in this skirmish - this would give her the freedom to aid the dark mage if needed. However, it seemed like he got everything under control. He had put the device away from harm’s way, and she took careful note of where it was. She was still curious as to what it was, exactly.
Then he pulled out a katana, and all her attention shot to the blade. Her mouth formed a perfect ‘o’ - she has always had a fascination for swords, those beautiful blades that can cut and slice through things. However, she had always kept a healthy distance from them, as she knew how dangerous and deadly they could be in the right hands. In the wrong hands--like herself--they would only injure herself and others.
Her soft and lilting melody continued to flow towards the couple, but it was shattered when the lightning mage roared and broke free from her restraints with a buffing spell. The elf frowned, delicate eyebrows furrowing. Her restraining spell has been broken through too many times recently, was she losing her touch? Well, she has been facing more difficult opponents recently, but still, this would not do. She needed to get stronger and faster soon, or else how would she survive in this world of strong magic users?
The lightning mage was bellowing his challenge, and the blue-haired woman was ready to cast another spell. She looked up, and for the first time, Suna made eye contact with the dark mage. A light gasp. Oh... He had such mysterious yet powerful eyes, dark eyes that made her want to keep looking in deeper. She did not get the chance to keep probing, however, as he had already turned his gaze away and was starting another spell. She could only watch, frozen, as he handled the raging man with a skull bomb of sorts and his now-darkened sword, knocking the guy out cleanly and efficiently. Judging from the blunt of the impact, it was unlikely the guy would wake up for another half day or so.
Suna was not the only one watching the dark mage, though. The other witch had also been watching him. Her smirk had turned into something deeper, something more fierce and possessive. After her former ‘lover’ was knocked out, Vera stepped over the fallen body to stand next to the victor. She had put on a relieved look on her face, hands clasped together. "Thank you sooo much for rescuing me from that brute!" Her face held a note of disdain as she referred to the unconscious man. "He was going to force himself on me, but thank the stars you came just in time!" With a flick of her hair, she angled her body so all her good body features were put in display of her savior’s direct view. The beautiful witch was as close as she could be without actually touching him. "How can I ever thank you?"
Suna had to admit, Vera had the skills and guts to put on such a brash yet impressive display. However, this poor guy was going to be ruined if she did not step in and do something about it. "Vera," she kept her tone light and nonchalant, "I see that you’ve picked another one off the side. Which one was he? Number seventeen?" She was speaking plainly in the vernacular human language. She was going to try letting the male mage see who Vera really was, but she was not sure if talking was going to be effective. It did not hurt to try, though.
The other witch was not dumb, though, and immediately switched over to the witches’ tongue in stride. It was slightly different from the human’s language, and for those who did not understand, it could sound like birds chirping. "Twenty," Vera corrected, glancing slyly up at the man by her side. "Which would make this one twenty-one." She would let her bare arm brush briefly against the man’s chest, slowly circling him. "He’s a handsome one, this boy. Easy on the eyes, and not to mention that he is also powerful."
"Powerful? Of course he’s powerful."That Suna did not deny, but she failed to see the point. "Vera, don’t you need a break from all these conquests of yours?" She purposely emphasized the word, hoping that the guy would get an idea of what she was trying to do.
Vera gave a light laugh, her laugh twinkling in the air like silver bells. "Look closely, little sister," she motioned towards his grimoire. "Do you see now? What a delight this one would be, to break a platinum mage, one of the most powerful and blessed ones of all! Oh!" She did not even bother to hide the glee in her voice. "Then I can say that none can stand against me. I’d even forgive that disgusting loaf over there - he was much too easy, no challenge at all, and that’s boring." She waved her hands in the air, waving the thought of conquest number twenty off like an old garment.
So far, Suna had not noticed the witch casting any of her aroma spells just yet. That was good. She had to keep talking to buy time, time to think of a plan. "No one is yours to claim, Vera. You can’t just claim someone like he’s yours--"
"He’s mine!" She hissed, then catching herself, put her mask of docile sweetness back on. "Sister dear, I trust that you’re not going to try to steal him away from me, hmm?" Even though her smile was still there, the other witch’s eyes narrowed and turned menacing. "I don’t know you personally, but as a fellow witch, I’ll extend my grace to you today if you turn around now and leave us alone."
Suna hesitated. She could not just leave the dark mage alone like this. She did not know just how strong he was, but she knew of Vera’s abilities. Yet, she herself did not stand a chance against the other witch, who was a powerful witch and had immense influence in the Forest. If they crossed paths, Suna would be the one on the floor begging for mercy. What could she do?
The blue-haired elf put her hands up in surrender. "All right, I’m leaving." She said softly, backing up to where she was originally standing. "Good luck, Vera." She glanced once more at the dark mage. I wonder how fast he is. With one swift movement, she leaped over to the bush where he had hid the device. She snatched it and took off running as fast as she could, clutching the object to her chest for dear life.
WC: 1,152 ⊹ TOTAL WC: 2,960 ⊹ MUSE: 10/10 ⊹ TAG: @morty2 NOTES: Gosh this muse is amazing!
The dark coating on Hans’ blade has faded, but it was still drawn. There was still the woman the lightning mage was with that he needed to worry about and now this blue elf as well. She may have assisted him just now, but the merc still wasn’t aware of her true goals.
Hans was once again looking at the elf, not sure of what to make of her being here, but he didn’t dwell on that thought for long as the other woman started to speak. “Hm?” At first, the sword wielding mage was taken aback by the woman’s sudden change in personality. Part of him was already skeptical of her words because of how happy she looked with the married man. But his skepticism was briefly tossed to the side as the woman started to advance on Hans. He briefly looked down at her figure before focusing his eyes back on her own in an attempt to not have them wander again.
It was then he noticed how close she was…
“U-uh…” Hans took one step back, but it still felt like the woman was in his personal space. Having zero experience in this department, Hans couldn’t think of anything to say or do in this matter. He was almost like a deer caught in headlights. The black hole that floated by his shoulder even disappeared as he was having a difficult time focusing on the spell. “But y-you were just...I…” Hans started rubbing the back of his head as he tried to gather the words. If this were fighting...or literally anything else it would’ve been a lot easier. Thankfully, Hans was spared of this as the blue elf chimed in, taking both his and the woman’s attention away from each other, but now the elf was saying something that peeked Hans’ interest. “Picked another one off the side?” “Number seventeen?” What was the elf on about. Unfortunately, Hans couldn’t get the full conversation as the woman beside him started speaking a different language, one the merc was not familiar with.
Hans tried to follow along through the elf’s words alone, but they weren’t enough. Was this woman trying to conquer something? All the merc could really tell was that these two knew each other to some degree. As the woman gestured to Hans’ still floating grimoire, the man nearly backed away again, thinking it was another one of her attempts to get close. Poor Hans just wanted to get away from this. All he was supposed to do was snap a quick photo and bring it back to the downed man’s wife. Now he was caught up in this mess. The elf then raised her hands up as if she were surrendering and claimed she was leaving….but not before sneaking something from the bushes Hans was previously at and running. With how lost Hans was, it took him a few seconds to finally realize what she scooped up from there. “Wh-hey!” The man went into a full sprint after the elf, bumping his shoulder against the woman by mistake. His mind was completely off the deceiving lady and was now focused on the thief. Were these two working together this whole time!?
It was a rash decision, certainly a brash move, but it was the only thing Suna could think that might possibly work. Regardless of what the man was after by trailing the couple, anything that was tangled up with Vera meant trouble. And now...now she must have incurred the other witch’s fury and eternal vengeance. She was sure of it. Not only had she intruded in the witch’s space, she had lured her target away. What started as a beautiful day was quickly becoming a headache of a mess. She had done well all these years keeping a low profile, but today, in one hasty move, she has shattered all those years of peace. This was not going well.
When the dark mage sprinted after the blue-haired femme, Vera’s pretty face had turned deadly, her aura instantly cycling through various shades of red and purple. "B---h!" She spat. "You little thief! How dare you? He’s mine!" Her hands were clenched in tight fists, teeth gritting. "I’ve already memorized his scent, so he can’t hide from me!" The aroma witch threw her head back, letting a loud, spiteful laugh. The transformation was astounding, if either the sound mage or dark mage had seen her now. The soft and docile woman had changed into a glowering and frightening figure. It was through no transformative magic, but the pure nefarious emotions of a woman scorned.
Fortunately for the two running away, the other witch had not brought her magic broom, and she knew she did not have the running speed to catch up to them. However, Vera was not one who would give up so easily. "Yes, run, little sister. You cannot run forever! No one can escape from the fury of Vera and the Forest!"
Suna heard none of this as she sprinted through the trees, bursting out of the forest with all the speed she had. She ran over small rolling hills, back towards the lake. The only thing that comforted her was that the dark mage was not under Vera’s influence. At least, not yet. Once that tigress got her claws on him, there was no knowing what she would do to him. But for the moment, she had someone on her tail, and that someone would be mad at her now.
The elf was panting heavily now. Even though she has been training, she still had a long way to go before she was completely fit. She leaned against the tree, catching her breath for a quick second. Oh dear, he’s fast. She was sure he could easily catch up to her, but she could not let him catch her here. She had to get to somewhere more populated, for safety reasons. Back there when she threw her harp back into her grimoire, she thought of the perfect place to go. She would go back to the lake. Plenty of people there. He would not think of killing her there, would he? She had seen a glimpse of his power - there was no way she could go against him, a four-leafed grimoire holder.
Glancing over her shoulder, her guesses were confirmed. Immediately the elf was on the run again. This was the first time she was on the run for doing something good. First time running away from anything, actually. But she did not know how she was going to convince the dark mage that all she wanted was to help him escape from Vera’s grasp.
She was reaching her limit. The elf staggered down to a slow walk. Knowing that he would be right behind her, she turned to face him, extending the device like a peace offering. "H-Here, you can have it back." She was still panting, and was bent over with one hand on her knees, the other holding out the object. "Be careful of Vera. She probably marked you already, but as long as you change your scent or something often, she should not be able to find you so easily."
How could've he been so careless!? Hans silently prides himself in being able to get the job done with little to no problem, but the moment he took up this job, things started going south real quickly, and this was from a job that sounded simpler than anything else he usually takes. The man should've known by now that these things were never easy, but it looks like he was going to learn today.
Before leaving Vera's field of view, Hans heard her shouting out, but again he couldn't decipher what she was saying. He could tell from her tone however that she didn't seem too pleased about something. This made the mage glance over his shoulder as he watched the woman getting further and further from his view. She was nothing like that innocent woman who had her arms around the married man moments ago. Even that laugh of hers ran chills down the stoic man's spine. There was something about that woman that was unhinged. She wasn't Hans' primary concern at the moment however. He had a thief he needed to chase down.
Turning his head back around, Hans could still see the thieving elf. She continued to run, barely increasing the distance between the two. She wasn't that fast, but she seemed pretty athletic and flexible as she maneuvered over various obstacles in her path. Hans was able to keep up however, jumping over stones, sliding under low hanging branches and avoiding other things in the way. With the life he decided to take, Hans needed to make sure that his body was fit and his reflexes good in case of fights, needing to retreat, or in cases like this, give chase. Without that device, Hans won't be able to complete his job, something that has yet to happen.
He had his katana still drawn out, using it to cut down things such as vines that were in his way. That's not the only reason he still had it out however. He could tell from before that this elf is a mage as well, and wasn't sure what she was fully capable of. If he has to, the dark mage will resort to violence to get the device back.
The pursuing merc was starting to close the distance due to the brief break the thief took. His grimoire started to glow again and along with that the blade of his katana grew dark. He was just about to unleash a spell with his sword risen in the air, but his eyes would widen a bit as the girl turned around and stopped with the device gestured outwards. With his boots sliding on the ground to slow his momentum, Hans came to a stop in front of the woman and lowered his blade. He watched the elf while she spoke, his midnight colored eyes focused on the woman's blue ones. He'd then gently take the device from her and inspect it. It appeared intact thankfully. Hans looked over the elf's shoulder and noticed just how close they were to the main lake. Was she planning on leading him to the open to prevent him from hurting her? With all that has happened now, the last thing Hans needed was more problems so that would've been a clever move if she made it. "Vera..." the man repeated quietly before looking back at the woman. His eyes were fixed on hers once again, quietly thinking of something for a few seconds. He'd then look towards where they ran from. "I'm guessing that's her name." he added as the dark aura from his katana faded, placing it back in its sheathe.
"Tell me more about her." he said while walking over to a nearby tree, leaning his back against it with his arms crossed and device still in hand, making sure to keep it with him this time. He wasn't really worried about being "marked" as the elf claimed, for now at least. He knew something was off about that woman the moment the elf intervened. He was thinking more about that married man. Perhaps he was more of a victim in all of this then he originally thought.
wc - 704 twc - 3,385
Last Edit: Jun 10, 2020 11:09:47 GMT -5 by Deleted
As she held the device out, Suna felt a pang of fear. She did not know what was going inside the dark mage’s mind, but as long as she was not going to die today, it should be all right. Perhaps. That is still yet to be known. Her rash move was uncharacteristic for her - she was the type to move forward only when she has a solid plan and backup plan. It was unusual and rare for her to act so hastily. Well, things happen, and this was one of them. There had been no time back there to weigh the pros and cons; it was Vera getting her claws on the man sooner or later. For now, it was later, but it was going to cost her something.
The elf heard the man skid to a stop in front of her, and she breathed a little sigh of relief. Her head was still intact. For now. She slowly raised her gaze, a little afraid to meet those eyes again, but civility demanded, and so did her curiosity. To her surprise, he was gentle when he took the object from her. He had inspected it carefully, and seemed satisfied that it was not damaged. Suna cocked her head slightly, trying to wrap her head around this strange behavior. Others would have ripped it from her hands, and she would have thought nothing of it. It was the unexpected gentleness that bewildered and confused her.
"What does it do?" Finally, her curiosity overcame her shock and fear. "I’ve never seen anything like that before. What is it called?" Suna clapped a hand over her mouth. What was she doing? A few minutes ago, she was about to be sliced in half, and now she was asking questions about a strange object? What was wrong with her today?
The dark mage seemed to understand a little of what she had just blurted out a few moments before, and thankfully, he put away his sword. Suna could breathe a little easier now. "Yes, Vera was that woman back there. She’s a powerful aroma mage, she can memorize and remember scents from years ago." She hesitated. It would probably not be wise to mention that the woman was a witch, just like herself. She would tell him later, once she knew of his perspective towards witches.
The blue-haired elf watched warily as the man made his way over to a nearby tree. Her shoulders sagged down slightly in relief. At least there was some distance between them now. It was a stark contrast from the other witch, who was all about physical touch. "I don’t know her personally," she admitted, "but she’s well-known where I’m from. She loves seducing men and keeps count of how many she’s ruined. As I’m sure you heard back there, that guy you knocked out was conquest number twenty. You’d be her twenty-first one, and let me tell you," she cocked her head to the left, appraising him carefully, "She never leaves her men untouched and intact."
Although Suna could not see any traces of the witch’s aura on the man, it would not hurt to be careful. "At the very least, she must have memorized your scent already." Her eyebrows scrunched up together as she frowned. "You sure you feel all right? Everything is working right?" She circled him, checking him up and down. "Are you thinking clearly?" That would probably be the most tell-tale sign. Once under the aroma’s influence, it was difficult to shake off its effects. However, this was a powerful mage she was talking to, so technically Suna had no cause for worry. Right?
"Did you know the man she was with?" Now it was her turn to ask for information. She thought it odd that a man like him would be following a couple. Since he obviously did not know Vera from before, he must have some connection with the knocked-out fellow. She also wondered how the object was connected to all this. "What were you doing following them? Is he a rival of yours or something?"
While he was inspecting the device, Hans quickly looked up at the blue woman as her curiosity got the best of her. Again he was quiet, unsure of if he she answer her, not that he knew much about the thing anyway. "Not sure. It uses mana...to capture photos." Hans claimed as he went back to inspecting it. Normally, Hans wouldn't just give up information like that when related to a job, but there was something about the elf's eyes that put the merc to ease despite the previous chase. She didn't seem to be up to anything that would put his mission on jeopardy. Still, Hans didn't elaborate on the device any further, just in case he ended up being wrong about her.
Now, the man was leaning there listening to the elf quietly. He had his eyes trained on the blue woman to make sure she didn't try anything funny. She may have gave him the device back, but that does not dismiss her of being up to something. Hans was raised to never let his guard down, something that comes with taking on the role of a mercenary as well as having to fend for himself. Though he showed a brief moment of weakness back there with that couple as he was treading on territory he's never set foot on before. Judging by the elf's words, that lightning mage was the victim in all of this, under Vera's seductive trance. Now apparently, Hans was marked by this seductress, but that was far from his mind still. "I see. So that's why you were behind me back there." Hans claimed...despite that not being the reason.
While thinking about this, Hans flinched as the elf started to circle him, getting a little close. It was unlike the merc to get put off guard like this, but never has he had a lady invade his personal space like this other than Vera not too long ago. "I-I'm fine." he added, clearing his throat while now trying to avert his eyes away from her. It almost felt like his encounter with the seductress, but not as tensed. Unlike the straightforward approach of Vera, the elf seemed more...gentle which was the only way Hans could put it in his mind. He'd begin to calm down as she asked her next question. The merc looked back at her and was once again debating if he should answer. Another question closely related to the job, but after the information she gave to him, Hans felt a little more trusting, but that was mostly because he wasn't thinking of this as just a job anymore.
"No." He once again looked back at the direction where he and the elf left from. "I was...tasked to follow him, and use this..." he lifted the device up before fiddling with it once more. ..to gather information on-" As he continued messing with it, a small piece of paper printed out from the bottom of it, catching the merc by surprise. "Hm? He took it out and looked at it. It was the picture he had taken earlier, of the married man and Vera kissing. Hans looked at it silently. His once stoic expression turned into a slight frown. He completed his mission, and got what he needed. All he had to do was give this to the wife, and just be on his way with his payment, not looking back just like with any other job he takes. But this felt different, causing his stomach to go into knots.
Hans looked at the elf once again, his mouth a bit open as if he wanted to say something, but decided against it. Instead he looked back at the picture and a small sigh escaped his lips before turning around, heading back to where the cheating couple was. The merc had something on his mind, and it wasn't the job.
"To capture photos?" The elf’s blue eyes brightened in unmistakable curiosity and interest. There was nothing like that in the Forest. At least, none that she knew of. "So it runs on mana? Fascinating..." She eyed it, but made no move to touch it or take it back. "Is that yours?" Then it hit her. "I'm sorry, you don't have to answer that if that's confidential information!"
Suna just realized that she had been standing too close to him, dangerously trespassing his personal space. "Oh!" She jumped back a little, her face turning to a deep shade of pink. She did not mean to do that intentionally - she was so caught up in trying to find traces of Vera on him, she forgot herself for a second there. "My apologies." She bobbed quickly, flustered.
It was also now that she got to actually study him. He was good-looking, there was no doubt about that. His dark eyes were beautiful, and complemented nicely with his dark element. He also wore no colors, so she would assume he was not part of any Magic Knight squad. However, that did not rule him out from being a part of any faction. She doubted he was an ordinary citizen. After all, what kind of powerful mage would not take up a cloak? There was no way he could go unnoticed and untouched by higher powers. It was how the witches’ system worked, and she assumed it was the same here.
Ah, she was staring too long, and his attention was still on her. Her hands flew to her cheeks. They felt hot. This time, she twirled her entire body away from him, so he could not see her embarrassment. She was confused as to why she was feeling this way. Her heart was also pounding, and she did not know why. Perhaps it was from the run from before. Yes, it must be.
However, she turned back to face the handsome man when he was answering her question. "Ah, I see." Her attention was disrupted when he pulled out the piece of paper from the device. "Huh?" She leaned in slightly, then gasped. It was a picture of the moment she had not wanted to see. Back there in the forest, she had averted her eyes. But now, she has seen the image captured in print and could not unsee it now. She immediately pulled back. What’s wrong with you, Suna? Get yourself together! She still felt uncommonly flustered, and not just because of that picture.
"So..." her voice was slightly faint, as if she was thinking somewhere else and not from shock, "I suppose your mission is done here?" She did not understand the entire situation, but it seemed like a heavy one, considering the other mage’s facial expressions. He looked like he was about to say something, but no words came. Without another word, he turned around and started going back where they had just come from.
The elf automatically moved with him, then paused. What was she doing, following him? Why was he going back? And what if he did not want her to follow him? "May I come along?" She asked mildly. If she was going to follow him, at least she was going to do it with his permission, not like her shady stalking from last time.
This elf was a nosy one there was no denying that. She sort of reminds Hans of that Ravencrest elf he met a while back, the one blessed with a similar grimoire as his own, but wielded the light element. Only difference was instead of nosy, that younger elf was...noisy. It didn't mean that this woman wasn't talkative as well, but she seems more gentle and sensitive.
Despite how awkward he was feeling with the woman circling him, Hans was still able to get a better look at her. Her blue hair, the blue attire she wore, it made the woman look bright and lively in comparison to Hans' darker features. Her face appeared soft and void of any blemishes. She looked cute, an idea that once passed through Hans' mind made him avert his eyes, trying his best to keep up that neutral expression of his. "You're fine." he'd respond to her apology while avoiding eye contact. Never has Hans had have to stop and given the time to look at someone before, especially a woman. Only time he's ever been close to doing that is on the battlefield and it was never for admiring. Plus he has the social skills of a turtle, taking him a bit more times than others to understand certain things on the subject.
Hans was now starting to head his way back to the "scene of the crime" but he came to a stop as soon as he heard a pair of extra feet along with his own. Turning around, Hans noticed that the elf was attempting to follow him. He wasn't really sure what to think about it, assuming she'd just leave after the stuff that had just happened. Hell, Hans was not exactly sure why he was going back, and had no actual plan which is unlike him. After she asked the merc for permission, Hans turned back around to face the forest and said, "...Please do." Hans wanted to do...something about this. What? Not even he was sure about. He felt that maybe if the elf accompanied him, she could help the merc figure something out. Plus there is also the danger of that Vera person still around, and Hans still did not know the full extent of her power.
The merc quietly walked back down the familiar path with the elf most likely following him. Hans was never bothered by the so called "awkward silence" that most people dread. But he had this urge of wanting to say something even if it was just a single word. "Hans." is what he chose to say out of the blue. "That's my name. Hans Walker." the merc elaborated. Whether the elf wanted to introduce herself or not didn't really matter to Hans. If she wishes to keep her secrets then Hans can't blame her. He has a few of his own as well.
As they drew closer to that small opening, Hans' eyes would lower with his hand on the hilt of his sheathed blade. He needed to be prepared in case that woman was still around. The closer her drew, the sound of a male sobbing would grow louder. Making it back to the open, there would only be one person there, that electric mage. He was on his all fours with his face towards the ground as tears dripped from his eyes to the surface. "Uh-um." Hans looked at the elf, his face reading that he was not expecting this. After a bit of hesitation, the merc walked forward until he was standing in front of the mage.
The crying mage was now looking at the dark mage's boots before slowly moving his head up. "O-oh...i-it's you two..." he said, his tone no longer aggressive but sad. "I have been...been seeing that woman for months. Sh-she approached me, a-and suddenly I couldn't think straight. I gave that evil woman everything. My...my wife...how could I...why would I...?" The mage was now sitting up, trying his best to contain his tears, but with every word he spoke, his tone continued to crack. "We had...we had a beautiful baby together." Hans silently watched the crying man as if he were judging him, but deep down the merc was feeling sympathetic. It was very easy for someone to lose themselves, lose everything in a matter of seconds, something Hans was no stranger to. "H-how did she take it?" the man suddenly asked, causing Hans to make a questioning expression. "My wife. How...how did she take the news?" It was then Hans remembered he was still holding that picture.
He looked upon the photo once more before facing it in the man's direction. "She hasn't seen it...yet." Hans added. This gave the man some hope, but the moment he put his eyes on that picture, it caused him to frown once more, shaking his head a little. "No...It's for the best if she sees it. So that she can see me for the pig I really am..." "But you're not a..." Hans tried to jump in, but hesitated. He was not great with these situations. He quietly looked at the sobbing man and then turned towards the elf, his eyes almost pleading for her to know what to do. This wasn't easy, even for Hans.
After giving her permission to follow him, Suna fell in step behind him, but was careful to leave a safe distance between them. Having that space did help, as her heart had stopped pounding so hard. She figured it must have been from the run. Yes, that must be it. She has yet to place her embarrassment as an interest towards the other person. She only knew that she was glad, glad that she was accepted and allowed to shadow this powerful mage. Perhaps she could also glean some helpful knowledge and information on fighting.
All in all, the elf was fairly pleased with herself. Her recent training had paid off. She had been able to keep a decent speed for longer than usual. It was all thanks to the Crimson Lion vice captain. After that courtesy training, she had made up her mind - she was going to leave the Forest and her witch past behind. However, she would still have to figure out how to do that. One simply did not just leave the Forest without stirring something up. That is, unless she managed to slip out without attracting any attention. She would have to figure that out.
Silently trailing the dark mage, she appraised his form from the corner of her eye. Tall, dark, and handsome. Wait, what? She shook her head, trying to shake herself back to normalcy. There is something wrong with her today. Did Vera put something on her instead of the other mage? That idea made her pause, but she dismissed it quickly. The aroma witch was too skilled and experienced in her magic, there was no way she would make an accidental slip like that. Right? Right. She determined, and left it at that.
Suna did not mind the silence between them. After all, there was nothing to say. That was what she thought, until the man broke the silence by offering his name. She thought he was more of the quiet type, a man of few words. "Pleasure to meet you, Hans Walker." She had not been expecting that, but it was good to finally put a name to the face. She may have her secrets, but her name was not one of them. "I’m Suna Hoshi, at your service." She automatically bobbed her head as she did a little curtsy, a well-trained motion out of habit.
A comfortable silence fell once more between the duo. It continued until they journeyed back to the clearing. Suna had noticed that Hans had his hand on his sword and was looking around warily, and she followed suit, eyes carefully scanning their surroundings. She doubted Vera would still hang around, but she could not be too sure. She may know about the witch’s abilities, but not of her tactics. Nonetheless, it would be better to be safe than sorry.
As they entered the clearing, Suna’s eyebrows shot up at the sight before them. The knocked-out man must have been hardier than she thought, as he was already up. Not only that, he was bawling his eyes out. Hans seemed surprised, too, and looked at her for a brief second, showing his hesitation, but immediately stepped forward towards the man. She was impressed at his decisive moves, even if he knew nothing that was going on.
She drew near the man as well, who did not seem threatening anymore. In fact, he seemed deeply distressed over his actions. Hans was looking at her like she knew all the answers, and she panicked for a second there. "Ermm..." What should she say in this weighty situation? She bent down and sat on her heels so she was eye to eye with the weeping man. This would make her look less imposing. "Hey, hey," her voice was gentle and sympathetic, "let’s calm down first." The real question was, should they tell the man about Vera? If he knew, maybe he could become an ally. It could also offer some comfort to the man. But then again, that did not excuse the betrayal from his vows. One had to take the consequences of their actions. Her mind quickly weighed all the options, and found them all unsatisfactory. There were no easy answers, and Suna did not know what was the right thing to say or do in this complicated situation.
"How about this," she said finally, "we’ll hold on to the picture for now, and you go home and love your wife and child like never before. However," she waved a finger at him, "you have to be honest with her about what you did. Regardless of what that wit--erm, woman did, you still have to own up to your actions. And you say you want her to know what a pig you are? Then be a man and explain it to her how you are one!" She knew she was using his words against him and being stern, but this was a grown-up man she was talking to, not some immature hormonal teenager. "She deserves that much, don’t you think?" This last part was said much more gently.
"Now, get yourself together and be a man. And if you ever see that woman again, run for your life. Got it?" She tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Also, if you do see her again, contact us and let us know." She looked back up at the dark mage. "Is there some way he could contact us in the future?" She still did not have a solid plan, but this man would be useful as an informant, if it came to that.
WC: 932 ⊹ TOTAL WC: 5,804 ⊹ MUSE: 9/10 ⊹ TAG: @morty2 NOTES: This was such a struggle to write gah xD
It wasn't like Hans to turn to others for help. He was more use to handling things on his own since he had no other choice. Now, he felt completely helpless in front of this sobbing man. Comforting others was something the dark mage has never done. He was usually distant, and cold. All the more reason he wanted Suna to come with him. He only just met the elf, but the aura she gave off was a lot more calming. He had a feeling that she'd be better qualify for this, but he still felt a little bad and embarrassed for having to rely on another person, and feel useless.
Hans swallowed his pride and stepped back a bit as Suna crouched down in front of the sobbing man. The lightning mage wiped the tears from his eyes and sniffed as the elf started to speak. The guy's teary eyes widened some at Suna's suggestion, causing Hans to gasp a little as well. There was now a hint of hope in the crying man's eyes while he listened. Suna appeared to have a way with words, which was something Hans quickly took notice of. The dark mage couldn't keep his eyes off of her as she calmed the other guy. She was stern yet caring which even caused the merc to smile a small bit. Hans' smile faded shortly after as he finally came up with something to say.
"If you do intend on telling her...do not do it in front of the kid." Hans added, causing the lightning mage to look up at him as well. The dark mage looked away from the two and continued. "Spare them of your mistakes. Let them only see the good." It was not on par to what Suna had said, and was more of him piggybacking on her words, but the merc still meant it. The lightning mage's child whether they are old enough to understand or not should not have to witness something like this. For some it's inevitable, some are bound to witness the dark sides of their loved ones, but if this man is strong enough, his child will not be one of them.
"Y-you're right." the man said, looking at Suna before looking up at Hans who was still looking away. "You're both right. I'll tell her myself..." the man slowly got to his feet, wiping away any remaining tears. "Whatever happens afterwards, I'll have to live with it, but I love her, so she must know. My precious daughter...I'll make sure she doesn't have to witness this. As far as the man being able to contact the elf and merc in case of another Vera sighting, Hans had something at least for himself. "I'm a mercenary. Hans Walker. Just poke your head around in the right places, and you'll find me....for the right price." he claimed with a shrug. Hans was back at being secretive again...also promoting himself a bit there. Though that information didn't sound really helpful, it seems to work well with others seeking out a merc. It worked with the man's wife after all. "E-er, okay." the lightning mage nodded before turning towards Suna to get her info. Whether he manages to get it or not, the guy gives a more reassuring nod to the both. "Well then. I'll be on my way. Thank you, both of you. I...I'm not sure what'll happen next, but at least I know where to begin." With that, the man was about to leave until Hans finally turned to face him. "Wait." the guy stopped and turned around to see Hans holding out that device to him. It belonged to the guy's wife after all, so might as well return it now. The guy nodded once more and took the device before heading off out of the forest, his figure growing smaller the farther he went until it was completely gone.
A heavy sigh of relief escaped Hans' lips as he looked back at the photo once more, specifically looking at Vera. "Hm, guess I won't be getting paid." the guy said to himself with a tad hint of snark in his tone, different from his usual stoic behavior. This would be the first job the merc has ever failed, yet he didn't seem too bothered about it. Was it the elf's influence, something deep within himself, or perhaps a combination of both? Despite Suna saying they'd hold onto it, Hans decided to rip it into smaller pieces.
Hans' attention then went back to Suna but as soon as his eyes fell upon the elf, he quickly averted them, rubbing the back of his neck. "...Thanks." he said with a nod. A simple "thanks"? Hans could've done better than that. A more heartfelt thank you for helping not just that man, but the dark mage himself would've been the right thing to do. Oh how differently this could have all turned out if Suna weren't here on this day. It wasn't much, but thanks to the elf, Hans was beginning to feel more sympathetic. Hans appeared like he was about to say more, but once again stopped. He instead looked at her once more before proceeding to walk past her. It wasn't until he took a few steps that he'd stop with his back still to the elf. "See you around...Suna." He'd then continue to walk, leaving the area of the small opening.
Suna was an interesting person. Someone the dark mage would certainly not mind coming across again one day, especially with the threat of Vera still looming.
