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.
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.
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 the 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.
Out of all the places she has been, the Common Region was one of the areas where the blue-haired elf has not often crossed. As of late, she had been spending a lot of time in the forsaken sections, and had been through many adventures and met many interesting individuals. But today was one of her free days, and she found her steps turning towards the opposite direction. She had heard much of the region’s beautiful woodlands and streams, of how commoners and nobility lived together in harmony. Growing up in the Witches’ Forest, she was naturally partial to her home, and wanted to see how it held up compared to other places. In some ways, she wanted to prove that her home forest was still the best, but was still curious about the possibility that there may be other spots in Clover kingdom that were just as beautiful.
Some of the townspeople had given her directions to one of their local attraction spots, which happened to be on the top of a forested hill. It was on this winding path up that the sound mage leisurely strolled, stopping every so often to look at a plant or flower that caught her eye. The trees around here were all healthy and strong, and Suna breathed in, enjoying the scent of dense foliage and wood sap. There was even a slight trace of sweet honeysuckle in the air, which was different from the rich pine smell back home. Different, but still good. The sky above was clear and blue, the sun was out in all its glory, the birds were out making their usual racket - all was right in the world.
That is, until astute elven ears picked up a low snarl from the thickets nearby. Without missing a beat, the blue-haired woman softly hummed a middle C, and her harp materialized in front of her. She immediately swept slim fingers through the strings, starting a quick and lively piece for her Capriccio. Whatever was in there, she was going to flush it out first. Her pure aura took on the shape of flint-like arrowheads, hanging above the area where she assumed the creature was. With a few loud and sharp notes, her sound caused those arrowheads to fall down like hail. There was a hiss, and the mystery creature leaped out onto the middle of the path, its yellow eyes glittering in animosity.
Suna immediately switched to a slow and graceful tempo, and her left hand tampered with the strings, muffling some of the notes for Ritenuto. Her sound magic spilled out from the instrument, flowing towards the creature. Upon making contact, her magic swirled and wrapped itself around the feline’s legs, restraining the beast’s movements. It yowled and struggled against her restraints, but they held on. Azure eyes glowed as the elf tasted its mana from her Vampiric Magic. It tasted wild and different from any of the other mana beasts she’s encountered, but it was not bad. So caught up in siphoning the mana, she did not notice that she was not alone...
WC: 516 ⊹ TOTAL WC: 516 ⊹ TAG: Bryn Halcyon NOTES: Excited to see Bryn in action!
Actions Taken - Used ignite to boost strength (-10 MP) - Delivered a chain of uppercuts (junior and Int Damage) with gust step (30 MP).
- Recovered 20 MP
post
The loud footsteps echoed from the deep behind the elf! A second howl, with a pitch all too similar to the first. It, along with the rustling of the local greenery, were the curtains being drawn open as a second mana beast trampled into view. The fiend, roaring in a frantic tone, took a single gander at the blue haired spellcaster binding its brethren. Yet the expression was that of fear, as the reason for the feelings came into view shortly enough.
The creature was being pursued by a young woman. Her hair a dark raven black and flowing freely behind with a large red bead tied to the back. She lacked any sort of armaments at first glance, but there was a grimoire attached to the waistline of her black skort. A distinct contrast to the blue haired elf was Bryn's ruby red eyes, shining in unison with the kindling embers that coated her hands and feet. As the lady approached, the second mana beast turned about and howled at its pursuer. Bearing its fangs, the mana beast opened its large mouth and leapt high off the forested floor for a chomp. Or it would have been if the beast's mouth could close. The newcomer now had an extra set of arms that were considerably longer and noticeably translucent. To those that also bore the same element would recognize the magic as pure aura. These aura arms held each jaw in one hand, forceably keeping the mana beast unable to clamp down.
"That was rather rude don't you think? No biting on the first...." Bryn retorted, immediately slacking on her resistance and dropping to a very low squat.
"...DATE!" she yelled after quickly shooting her actual fist right at the bottom of the mandible. The impact caused the mana beast to stagger upwards from the uppercut. Bryn would keep the assault up, with her legs pushing off the air as if it were solid ground. A second uppercut from the opposite hand struck the beast's jawline once more. A devilishly fired up look was all over the pugilist's face, stepping once more on the air to let one of her aura limbs take a crack at the creature. The beast was being pushed back onto its hind legs from all the uppercuts, with another push from Bryn causing the creature to be reeling back. It was at this point that the woman now hovered above the tipping point for the creature, primed to bring about its fall. She seized the opportunity with her feet, spiraling with an acrobatic display and twirled downward until passing just past the head feet first. An intentional miss that had her arms gripping firmly as she passed by.
Calling upon the unfounded strength in her tiny frame, the woman used a mixture of gravity and her aura magic to bring down the mana beast with her. As she would land on the ground, Bryn would lean forward into an over the shoulder toss. Except the whole sight looked absurdly goofy with an average height woman flipping a beast five times her size. The act occurred all the same. Bryn's aggressive assault slammed the second mana beast onto the other restrained by the other magus's spell, bringing silence to the area once more. Neither creature moved, though Bryn's experience with these fiends made her believe they were simply incapacitated. An opportune moment to catch her breath and converse with the other party.
"Sorry about the rough entry. These beasts are like wilder big brothers to the wolves in the area. Bigger too." she joked, before offering a handshake, "I'm Bryn Halcyon. Would-be nosy do-gooder of the area. You?"
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 the 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.
Suna shapes her pure aura into a silver topaz-set ring that may be worn by herself or the target of choice, increasing the wearer's power stat by +4. If the ring is thrown at an enemy, it will burst in a singular aura explosion and deal intermediate damage to its target. Additional targets are buffed with +2 Power. Apex Predator gives an additional +3 Power stack-able buff caps after 5 attacks or +15. Buffed allies must stay within the spell's range, otherwise the ring will dissipate.
At the sound of another creature trampling down the path from behind, the elf had quickly stepped to the side, off the well-beaten path. And not a moment too soon, as another mana beast joined the scene, although it seemed to be on the run…
Suna risked a quick glance behind her shoulder. Wait, wha-
...from something. Or rather, someone.
A young woman had burst into view and onto the fighting stage, black hair flying and a stunning sight to behold. She froze, momentarily thrown on balance at the newcomer but also curious as to what this female was going to do. She saw the girl keep the beast’s jaws open with one of her spells, and her jaw also dropped. It was almost transparent, and looked a lot like pure aura. She could feel the same magic stirring within her, identifying it as similar, if not the same. Azure eyes widened at the realization. She had not met someone else with the same element as hers, who is using it with such efficiency and power.
Sustaining her restraining spell, Suna watched the red-eyed girl make quick work of the creatures, even lifting one up in the air like it was nothing! The force of the beast coming back down to earth caused a slight tremor in the ground, and it had also knocked her prisoner out. There was a brief moment of silence, which the other girl quickly broke.
"No worries!" The blue-haired mage shook her head at the girl’s apology, and waved her hands dismissively. She was fascinated, to say at the least. "That was really impressive, what you did just now!" She took the offered hand and shook it enthusiastically. Though Suna was an elf, she was a short one at that, and had to lift her head to meet the other female’s eyes. "I’m Suna, great to meet you, Bryn!" A slight pause, then a light laugh. "Uh, I’m just your normal citizen who came to enjoy the scenery but got interrupted. Say, what you did back there, is your element really aura--"
Before she could finish her sentence, there was some shifting from the creatures. They had come back to their senses from the beating, and were now getting up to their feet. Suna quirked an amused eyebrow at her new companion. "Fight now, talk later?" She swept her fingers through her harp, again laying out the foundation for the second round. Though she had always thought of herself as more of a defensive mage, she recently found that she did not mind joining the battle every once in a while. However, it did not seem like she would need to in this instance, since it seemed like Bryn was perfectly capable and strong enough to deal with the creatures without additional help.
Assuming that the other mage would go in at some point, Suna shaped her aura into a ring for Crescendo. If Bryn would allow it, the ring would form around one of her fingers, giving her a slight power boost on whatever she decided to do. "I’ll back you up!" She called out over the sound of her harp, keeping the slow and graceful melody that allowed her sound to flow and encircle the hissing creatures.
The two beasts had banded together, eying the two girls with undisguised feral heat. Even if her Ritenuto restraints did not completely hold the creatures down in place, at the very least it would slow their speed down, as if they were wading through a miry bog. The one that had gotten caught in her spell before was a little more wary, and backed a little away from her magic. It was not dumb, and was not going to get caught in the restraints again if it could help it. The creature bent down, haunches up in the air, preparing to pounce over Suna’s incoming spell. With a low growl, it leaped up and at the two girls.
Actions Taken - Maintained Ignite (-10 MP) - Performed a spinning corkscrew slam with Haunt for Int damage (-10 MP). - Delivered two kicks for junior damage and KO'ing the mana beast. - Fired a shoony spell at the other mana beast for junior damage (-10 MP)
- Recovered 20 MP
post
A lesser person would have dodged with no regard for their peer. A better person would have dodged into their peer to push them out of the way. A Bryn however, beaming with strength and confidence, stood her ground and began making small adjustments to square up with the incoming mana beast. Grinning from ear to ear, her red eyes locked eyes with the beast's even as she began to curl her arm up. Winding back with a slight twist at her hips, Bryn trusted upwards to seemingly punch the air. The phantom arms from before removed itself from their resting position and imitated Bryn's motion. The effect was grabbing the mana beast straight out of its dive, crushing the momentum it had generated.
The second arm found its hooks into one of the mana beast's limbs, currently dangling helplessly as it was held up by the other of Bryn's haunt arms. Gripping tightly, Bryn jumped up into the air and began to twist her entire midsection. Following suit with gravity, the girl and the captured mana beast spiraled to the ground with a loud impact. Bryn kicked up to her feet and performed a series of backflips towards the disoriented mana beast. Her assault ended with a reverse foot stomp right on the creature's head, followed up with a powerful roundhouse to the head. Each blow, compounded onto the lasting damage from before, proved too much for the mana beast to maintain its shape in the realm. After being grounded by Bryn's combination attack, the fiend's form began to disintegrate into thin air.
Bryn turned to face Suna, who now became the target from a slowly recovering mana beast. Awakening from its stupor, the beast snarled and furiously charged at the blue haired elf. That is, until a single aura sphere smashed onto its right eye and caused the creature to let out a howl in agony. Thinking that was likely an exaggeration for merely pissing off a big beasty, Bryn found herself to be the new target for its aggro. She called out to Suna as it turned to charge.
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 the 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.
Suna shapes her pure aura into a silver topaz-set ring that may be worn by herself or the target of choice, increasing the wearer's power stat by +4. If the ring is thrown at an enemy, it will burst in a singular aura explosion and deal intermediate damage to its target. Additional targets are buffed with +2 Power. Apex Predator gives an additional +3 Power stack-able buff caps after 5 attacks or +15. Buffed allies must stay within the spell's range, otherwise the ring will dissipate.
For this attack spell, Suna shapes her aura into multiple spears 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 cones of spears Suna can use is 1 + (Control/10). Apex Predator gives this spell an additional +3 power stack-able buff caps after 5 attacks or +15 to the enemy. She may choose to sustain the spell and hold back on launching all her cones.
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.
There was nothing Suna loved more than watching others in action. The sights, the sounds, the smell of battle - not much could beat that type of adrenaline rush as fighting. It was even more enjoyable with an ally fighting besides her. Indeed, the pure aura girl was a sight to behold, twisting this way and that, and flipping all over the place as she landed blow after blow on the mana beast. It was all she could do to sustain her Ritenuto, trying to concentrate on keeping the slow melody going while still trying to track and analyze the other female’s movements. She found the aura mage fascinating, since she had not met another one with the same element as hers.
With one beast down, the other one had raised its ugly head, its aura wild and thirsty for revenge on its fallen companion. It had its attention first at the elf, but at one of Bryn’s flying spells, it focused on its new attacker. With its attention diverted, Suna quickly shaped her pure aura into spears, and with a strong twang! on certain strings, those sharp weapons shot out. Straight and true they flew, embedding themselves deeply into the creature’s hide. With a crazed cry, it reared and writhed in agony at the protruding spears. The elf was almost tempted to let it struggle a bit longer as she sapped more of its mana, but then decided to end its life swiftly. No reason for letting it struggle in pain for its life.
With a quick movement, Suna formed another ring from her Crescendo and threw it at the beast. The ring would then explode, knocking the creature back and dealing intermediate damage. As the dust settled down from the aura explosion, she could just make out the dim outline of the creature, which then disintegrated into a sparkling show of mana - the only sign that it was ever there.
For a few moments, Suna allowed things to settle down in silence, then turned to the other girl. "Your spells were so incredible!" She made her way over to the dark-haired girl, blue hair bouncing. "Cool moves too," she added, then sighed. Even though she herself was not the type to go into the thick of the battle, she truly admired those who could and did. Besides one singular melee spell, all the others were long-ranged. There was also the problem of not having a single target spell, as most of hers were all over an area. The blue-haired mage made a mental note to herself on that matter.
"This is only my second time here, and—" she laughed lightly. "—I had no idea how beautiful and exciting these forests were. Say, what brings you out there? Are you from around this area?" Depending on where the other was headed, she just might join her. "I heard there’s a popular tourist area up ahead, but would you know if it’s worth the hike?" Her bright azure eyes glittered in jest. She was raised as a witch, after all, and traveling through the forest was like a walk through her backyard. "If there are more mana beasts like the ones we just fought—" she made a motion towards where they had defeated the creatures, "—would you be up for it?" In other words, she was offering Bryn to join her, if the other girl did not have other plans in mind already.
"Hey hey. Slow down a moment Suna. I think you're misunderstanding something here" Bryn quickly chided Suna, seemingly hinting she was going to reject the offer to follow her.
"I'm not looking to exterminate these beasties unless they're causing some havoc in the area. If we find them, then cool! Elsewise, it would be very flattering to join you in checking out the hill. I've been doing nothing but jobs and restoration work in the area around here, so sightseeing hasn't really crossed my mind.
Her initial expression softened, as Bryn's eyes drifted upward above Suna's head. A drooping flower, seemingly too wet from the morning dew, found itself being separated from its mother branch and would have plopped harmlessly onto the blue haired elf's hair. That is, if Bryn's aura arms suddenly extended out with the speed befitting a punch. The spell went high and opened up to catch the falling flower just as it was above Suna's head. Retracting the aura spell and then dismissing it, Bryn caught the little flora and shook off the excess water. She tucked a bang that dangled in front of Suna's forehead with the flower behind the individual's pointed ears. Flashing the witch a proud grin, she opened up to speak,
"I don't think my magic is all that special. It really is simplistic and designed to attack. Probably a reflection of the grimoire holder huh, seeing as no matter how hard I try...getting a majestic sort of spell like yours just ain't possible. Best I can do is create various sorts of coats to wear. Well, not in a literal sense. You saw my aura change colors right?
Using her hands to illustrate her thoughts, some of Bryn's magic element leaked out to leave a wispy aura trail as she moved about. This girl got her all self-conscious about what sort of spells came up on the grimoire. Everything seemed to be revolving around her body. Thinking about everyone she had encountered thus far, Bryn had to admit her magic style was definitely more hands on than most would often consider to be normal. Bar the strange boy from the dungeon, perhaps it would be worthwhile to exchange some thoughts with Suna. They had wildly different interpretations for the element and neither seem to be compatible with one other's depiction. This bothered the pugilist somewhat. While not actually stupid, to not have even an inkling of understanding for how flexible her element could be definitely hurt the pride she carried. All the same, Suna was not at fault for this realization. It was merely a sign proving how much Bryn still had to learn from her travels.
"My spells always involve my body. So things like the green aura heightens my speed and red is like a strength booster. I seem to dish out a very noticeable difference in power with it active. Everything else sort of flows with my hand to hand discipline. Making that follow my strikes, having additional limbs, I think the only long range spell I have is the shoony-err my aura sphere. So I suppose we aren't so different as you think! Mwehe?"
She then realized that all this time explaining about her magic, Bryn had ignored Suna's earlier questions about where the girl hailed from. Correcting this error, she changed the subject to suit the question.
"My village is closer to the fringe, ways away from the royal capital. I'm somewhat of a nomad I think, going about to smaller towns and seeing if they need any help reconstructing from the daemon assault a few months back. Times are tough, so it's good to help out your peers if possible. What little or much you can do, or so I think it should be. Family blessed me with a strong body and a good work ethic, so finding good work isn't too difficult."
Bryn began walking towards the proposed tourist spot, or so she thought it was. Truth be told, the ravenette was not confident that Suna and her had the same destination in mind. She had heard from the locals that there was an open meadow within the forest booming with flowers in season. Especially tulips. It would explain the colorful array that lined the windows of houses on the main strip in the nearby village. She looked over towards Suna and gave her some small talk to break the silence.
"How about yourself? It isn't every day I come across an elf so deep into the common region or their own forest. I'm kinda clueless bout your race otherwise."
"Ah, I see. So was that one you were chasing was causing trouble around here?" The blue-eyed elf tilted her head curiously, trying to understand what was being implied. She felt like she was missing something here. "Don’t worry, I don’t kill them unless in self-defense." She said reassuringly. As much as she liked tasting mana from various mana beasts, she usually knocks them out instead of exterminating them completely.
"Oh? Jobs and restoration?" She had also done a few jobs here and there as well, though she guessed the other girl had seen much more than she had. In truth, she had not been out of the Forest for long, but Suna had picked up a general idea of how Clover Kingdom ran. It was different, but she found herself enjoying it more than her old way of life. As for restoration, it could only be referring to the daemon attack just a few months prior.
She was a little taken aback with bewilderment when Bryn seemingly punched the air above her head, making her flinch a little. For a split second, she thought the other girl was catching a fly or something, but it all made sense when the elf saw the flower in Bryn’s hand. Her mouth dropped to a perfect ‘o’ when the girl brushed her hair aside and tucked the blossom behind her ear. The ‘o’ curved upwards to a beaming smile, and her eyes sparkled. "Thank you!" She gingerly touched the flower, making sure that it would not fall. Even though the gesture was small, the elf was truly grateful for it.
"That’s the first time I’ve heard my spells called majestic," she lifted an eyebrow. "If anything, I think I’m pretty weak." It was the truth. She was pretty weak, and she knew that. All the people she has met, she has walked away impressed...and painfully aware of her own weaknesses. Why, even those junior Magic Knights she had met impressed her with their abilities. Training with a certain squad’s vice captain had confirmed that as well.
She shook her head, brushing it away like a fleeting moment. "I’ve just never met anyone else with the same element as mine, and I was really curious how you used yours." Listening to the young woman explain how she worked her aura really enlightened Suna and gave her some ideas. Back in the Forest, she was considered the odd one out, and did not have a mentor to help hone her craft. Thus, she was still quite naive as to the extent of both her sound and pure aura powers. The former she had more experience in, but as for the latter--it was something she was still discovering. "Interesting. Mine only changes in various shades of blue, that’s all." She did wonder what made the other girl think that they were contrasting, however. "No, we’re not too different, we just use our magic differently in ways that suit our fighting styles."
They had started walking, and she went along with it. She listened to Bryn describe her background. "That’s good! Hard work will always pay off in the end." It was her belief that it is through hard work that one achieved greatness, and was glad that her new companion thought the same. However, she balked a little when she was asked about herself.
"About me?" She echoed. While it was true that she had grown up in the Witches' Forest, she felt no real connection or kinship with her fellow witches. Her childhood was all right and she was treated like any other normal witch. However, once she blossomed into womanhood and received her gold grimoire, she became the object of envy among her peers. It had not been a pleasant time during her teenage years, and she would rather forget about those quiet and lonely years. Nonetheless, it was not like all witches were bad, but they seemed to be ill-received by the general public. At least, that was what Suna thought.
"Ermm..." She hesitated, trying to find a way to come up with a satisfactory answer without giving too much away or making others sound too bad. "Let’s just say I had a very quiet and unsociable childhood." She doubted that would satisfy the other girl’s curiosity, however. "But you’re right, I am an elf, though I was raised up differently." Then more cautiously, she ventured out, "Say, what are your thoughts about witches?"
There was a small twinkle in the young Halcyon's eye, traced from the sudden perkiness her posture chipped to at the words 'elf' and 'witch.' How could she not be giddy? Such entities were but stories to the people at the fringe, oft faced with the reminder of why life so far from the capital's eye proved to be difficult. Beyond mana beasts and the occasional pack of goblins, most other 'fantasy' creatures were just that to the child Bryn. Getting a chance to meet one in person was truly a noteworthy event and she was practically beaming.
"You're a witch AND an elf? Wow! That's like, super bonzangas cool Suna! Color my eyes an even deeper shade of red for jealously!"
There was a moment of danger for the young elf, as Bryn suddenly set her eyes upon the ears of her blue haired friend. Curiosity begged for release from its torment. Elves, from the stories, were told to have ears that could move much like how certain feline companions could. How easy it would have been to forcibly tickle the base of Suna's ears to test the lore's accuracy, but the fit woman let out a long sigh. She was getting far too ahead of herself and doing so without permission was a major disrespect to a fellow magus that had been nothing but courteous. The shame of taking advantage of her kindness would be too much to bear, so Bryn dropped her hands and recomposed herself.
"Gettin' back to what you said earlier, yeah. I really do think your magic is pretty majestic. Kinda like, when you have a pot of tea. It's super easy to do, but the leaves mixture and temper of the fire really can alter the difference in flavor. My magic pretty much is an extension of my body. Yours is more like, taming a wilder element into becoming your friend. I think? Not very good at this explaining my thoughts business."
Scratching her head, she hastily added, "Gah! Forget I said that. It doesn't even make sense now that I think about it. I think I'm just flustered and flabbergasted nobody would want to be your friend despite your obvious talents for music.
There was the kicker. Suna made no mention of her like or dislike for the arts, but Bryn went out on a limb for this guess. This element, in her experience, was an expression and extension of the user's own psyche. Or what they were good at. Bryn, from the furthest point her memory could recall, was always an active child. Sports, combat, and physical activities always came naturally to her. Her mother was often made a joke how her daughter was every bit a boy as the rest of the men in her life, yet the youngest son enjoyed every little feat of nature. Remembering this made the fighter connect that the weaponizing of raw energy was attached to the affinity of the caster more so than other elements. Some required discipline, others unleashing their emotions. The pure aura took the form of shapeless feelings, desperately begging to materialize in reality.
"I meant it beyond fighting. It's not like my spells only can be used as tools of violence, but they're like...unable to simply stay stationary." Bryn tried to explain, invoking her gust step spell.
As she walked, a puff of blue energy kicked up and allowed her to seemingly walk on air. Or so it was as long as the woman remained in motion. Once Bryn tried to stand mid-air, the spell was undone and she came back to the ground with a slight thud.
"It's a weakness of mine personified. Guess it's what Pure Aura is good at: using us as a template to express ourselves in spells. I'm the type that needs to push forward. Trail blaze a path for others, so many of spells are single motion expressions. Yours, at least from what I saw, carries a lotta different waves and lengths; which you could manipulate at will. "
"A constant stream, like how the river flows with water! Yeah! That's it! It seems simplistic at glance, but contains many moving parts to allow it to work. Really amazing if you ask me and I can't really see why you'd think yourself weak. That's purdy darn difficult to do. After all....strength doesn't always mean flexing your muscles!"
Suna was totally unprepared for the overly positive reaction from the other girl. "Uh..." In truth, she had not even admitted to being a witch - she had only asked what Bryn’s thoughts were on the witch race. However, the femme had assumed correctly that she was both. "You’re not wrong." She had her hands spread out in front of her, shoulders up in an amused shrug.
She noticed that her ears were under close scrutiny - which was not surprising, since she had often experienced that kind of attention ever since she was young. In the past, it was always seen as an object of jealousy and scorn, but now, judging by excited reactions from the dark-haired woman, it was more of something to be admired. The envy was still there, though it seemed to be in a more lighthearted way. The elf saw the human female struggle with something, and could not imagine what it would be about. Was there something on her hair? Was it about being a witch or an elf? Or was it something about her ears? Guess she would never know, as the other girl sighed and changed back to the topic from earlier.
"No, I understand what you mean." Suna nodded emphatically. "The elements of tea leaves, water, and heat are all the same, but depending on the brewer, the tea can vary widely in taste and aroma." Whether Bryn knew it or not, she was an avid tea drinker, and the figure of speech she used perfectly explained it for the elf. It made sense how the duo also had slightly different ideas of how to use their aura element - it also depended on their personalities and fighting styles. She was intrigued by what the other had said about her style - one could never learn too much. After all, knowledge is power.
At the mention of why she had no friends, the blue-haired woman only waved her hands, like warding off a pesky fly. "Don’t think too hard about it. ‘Tis all in the past." In fact, it was because of her lack of acquaintances that made her work on her music. Back in the Outer Forest, when she was shunned for her grimoire and her outward appearance. Her witch sisters were terribly jealous and gossiped whenever she walked past. Even now she could recall their hateful eyes and hurtful words. Those who said words do not hurt were obviously deaf. Deaf and dumb. Unfortunately, Suna was neither, although she wished part of her was at the time.
But that was all in the past. She simply stopped meeting and hanging around with those shallow witches and withdrew to the comfort of practicing her musical instruments. Her harp and her guzheng - those were her true friends, the ones she could always rely on. For that reason, she had concentrated primarily on fine tuning her sound element over aura, though now that she has met someone else whose primary was pure aura, she might expand her horizons on her secondary element. It was a fairly flexible one, unlike other elements that may have natural restrictions. All in all, she could count herself blessed that she had received those affinities.
"I see." Suna watched Bryn perform one of her spells, and almost gasped as the other female seemed to walk on air. But as soon as she stopped, she would fall back down to earth. Despite what she had previously claimed of not being able to express herself and her thoughts, the elf thought she was doing a fairly good job at it. "Thank you kindly," she said sincerely. It was not often she got noticed for her uncommon abilities. "Different types of strength, ay?" Since they were on the topic, Suna asked further, wishing to learn more from her new companion. "What else can your aura do?" Azure eyes were brimming with pure curiosity, like when she has found a new and undiscovered piece to learn on her harp.
They were nearing a flatter area, and it seemed to be a tulip meadow full of bright hues. "Is this the place?" She wondered aloud. It was a little different from what she imagined, but then again, the townsfolk had not named anything specific. Suna was not sure whether it was or not, but she would be glad to enjoy the scenery for a bit. Picking up her speed a little bit, the blue-haired elf ran into the lush meadow, her arms outreached and fingertips brushing the tops of those blooms. A bright and content smile was on her face, and as she twirled around and around. It was a beautiful sunny day, and the warmth of the sun's rays felt good. Then she turned back to her companion, assuming that Bryn was there behind her. "What is this place?"
She felt like this next answer was going to disappoint Suna, who thus far was brimming with curiosity about a different expression to an element she controlled as well. Bryn simply didn't have that wide of an arsenal to draw upon. Everything was tied to enhancing the core to her fighting style: the body. Beyond her first spell, the Shoony, everything was attached to her by some manner or form. "Not much else I'm afraid. My discipline is more of an up close and personal sort. Magic helps me handle my problems in an area that is most comfortable to me. Auras that improve myself, extend my reach or spread, helps me to hit airborne targets. I'm kinda trying to figure out where to branch forward next. Long range combat really isn't my thing and I haven't quite gotten anywhere trying to turn this element into some sort of sensory spell.
Thinking rather expressively with her body, she gently plopped her curled up left hand into the cusp of the right and thought outloud, "Maybe make a spell that grants others the same ability to walk on other surfaces too? OH! Maybe have it so that I can fly and hover without moving my legs? No. That seems childish."
The simplistic view on spells perhaps was Bryn's charm. Each one had some sort of purpose and flexibility. She needed tools that could serve multiple purposes rather than scores of filled pages. Perhaps similar to Suna's music background? Besides music books, Bryn knew nothing of what it took to become an accomplished musician or even a remotely decent one. Bryn would then ask Suna a question to get another take on the quantity versus quality discussion.
"If it's all the same to you Suna, what inspires you to make music? Do you listen to others or get inspired by stuff around you? I kinda do the latter to figure what I need, but my stupid brain wants to make sure everything I have can be used to its fullest potential. Shiny new toys are cool, but I never grew up with much you know? Everything has to be used." Bryn rambled on again, stopping afterwards to let the blue haired elf have a chance at replying.
They entered the clearing with the tulips and noticed it was every bit as colorful as the villagers said. Big, spacious, largely untouched by visitors. Nodding as Suna asked if this was the spot, the pugilist took care so as to not trample any young sprouts trying to grow into the beauties being marveled. It was a beautiful scene, with the colors coming together much like every soul within the kingdom. Resilient and a piece to a grander image that perhaps only the Wizard King could ever fathom. Suna's existence proved that there were even citizens that cohabited the space and never received the acknowledgement by the masses. If they even wanted it. Just like the ecosystem they were visiting today.
A part of her died inside upon realizing some of the natural world lessons from her village's school actually had relevance in life. She dared not to think about what else could be right.
"You'll excuse me hopefully for butting in Suna, but what made you come to a life outside of your forest? Really. I can't seem to wrap my head around it."
"Ah, so you use your aura primarily to enhance your physical abilities." Seeing how the other female liked to go into the thick of where all the action was—Suna could make more sense of it now. It was definitely different from how she used it, as the elf favored long ranged spells to get rid of the enemy before it could have a chance to get near and hurt her. It might also stem from her past of keeping others at an arm’s length. Whether it came from that or from her personality, she was glad to know that the same element could be used in different ways. It breathed new life into what she thought of her magic, and gave her some new ideas on what she could try in the future.
"What inspires me to make music?" She echoed. She was a little thrown off at the question. No one has ever asked her that before, and she had not expected it. "Well, at first it was out of necessity. That was the only way I knew I could tap into my sound magic. My musical instruments are my weapons—kind of like how a sword is to a swordsman...or a bow to the archer." At the moment, the blue-haired mage primarily only used two instruments: the harp and guzheng. She has really only utilized the harp, as it was more portable and was not as limiting. On the other hand, if it was a full-fledged battle, she would definitely summon her guzheng, as it gave her more range and more control over her sound. So far, she has not had an appropriate time to whip that out, however.
"I get inspired by what others do with their magic, and it gives me new ideas about what I could try on my instruments. Practice is the most important part, though. Personal training and a disciplined routine, in other words." Slender fingers went through a series of motions, plucking invisible strings as if her harp was right there in front of her. "Reading music is like reading books. You could read all the words you want, but if you do nothing about what you have gathered, it’s merely head knowledge." Suna’s eyes had grown a little dreamy, and her eyes stared off into space. "Same thing with music. I can read all the musical scores written by great composers, but if I never sit down and play them, they have no life and mean nothing. At the same time, one has to be loyal to the composition while still bringing your own flavor into the performance."
She gave a little wistful sigh. "’Tis a bit difficult to explain, but it’s mainly about the application of what you have learned, and of perfecting your skill until you can do it without a second thought. And yes, everything has to be used. All of my sound spells work on any instrument I summon, as they are all techniques. It is like a swordsman being able to perform the same moves but using different weapons. Have to make sure they can have multiple purposes, yes? Otherwise it would be such a waste if a spell could only do one thing." A pink tint suddenly shaded the elf’s fine features. She was not used to talking so much, even less about herself and her music.
It was a good thing that the field of flowers came into view right then, so the elf had quickly ran ahead to hide her embarrassment. She took in all the beautiful sounds around her—the gentle flutter of butterfly wings, the hum of busy bees, the swish of the breeze blowing across the meadow. "Hmm?" The dark-haired girl was saying something. "Ah, well..." Suna hesitated. This was still a somewhat private part of her, something she was still trying to figure out. But seeing how her companion was so blunt and honest with her, she figured she could do the same in return. "I didn’t have a very easy life in the Forest," she confessed. The elf hung her head, letting her blue hair cover a little bit of her face. Her voice had also grown quieter. "The other witches looked down on my sound and aura magic, but at the same time, they were envious of my gold grimoire, so I often escape to my music so I can’t hear their laughter." These were not memories she liked to revisit.
Looking back up, she brushed her stray hair behind her ear. "My being an elf was also something they picked on, so I never really saw it as a positive thing. But I just thought it was about time to leave." She gave a little shrug, then tried to clear the somber atmosphere with some cheeriness. "I really like how Clover Kingdom runs their system, though! More variety of races and classes, and it doesn’t seem as strict as back in the Forest." She paused a little, then decided to throw the question back at the crimson-eyed female. "Why do you fight?" She asked curiously. "What’s your goal? I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t be doing all those restoration jobs without a good reason."
Bryn stopped herself there, realizing those words rolled right off the tongue. People looking down on another for something as menial as looks or jealously was petty. Petty actions to petty people. Seems the reclusive witches shared more with the local populace than others in the Kingdom. She saw that Suna's outlook and how she conducts her magic had taken shape by the actions done from the petty witches.
"Ah. I mean, it's good to keep in mind when and where stuff happens. Kinda like you wouldn't take a shower in the middle of town. Would be rather embarrassing if you ask me. You strike me as a pretty well-set individual. Good looks, two elements, flexible style, intelligent, and set to travel. Nobody said you had to be the most popular kid to have meaning in your life. If they don't want to acknowledge who you are, find someone who will. Bet you there's plenty of 'em out there. Even if you don't find a whole entourage, a few really good people would do. Heck, I'd like to be one if given the opportunity."
Suna's next question didn't come as a surprise to Bryn. It was the demon that she didn't want to deal with. What drove her to do what she did. A rather simple and selfish desire that fueled all the bravado and confidence her combat style exulded. Still, she pegged Suna for questions. Fair is fair and it was time Bryn pay the piper his fair due.
"My reason isn't something noble. I just want answers. My family were all magic knights in service of the kingdom. I also had a younger brother. We lived at the border between clover and diamond kingdoms, so war and strife was nothing new. What really changed matters was the coming of the devil. Wrecked a lot of towns, caused a lot of death and destruction, probably isn't done either. No way that sort of entity is a one and doner."
Shrugging, she found a nice rock to plant her rear on. Bryn's red eyes looked up at Suna and likely betrayed the calm demeanor she had. They held not the flame of pride that her fighting style conveyed. It instead look like the eyes of blood. Drenched with the sorrows of the people who lived through horror and weary of searching for an answer they did not wish to see. All the same, there was still a flicker in those sad eyes. A flame, the one that struggled to light the path during a rain storm.
"I do what I do because there are people who suffered. Everyone needs a hand getting back on their feet somehow. I still feel the empty void of what the devil did to my life that day. How my family, the Halcyons, all but vanished that day except me. No records or death announcements. Nor will it probably come. That's what comes from living at the fringe you see. Yeah, the kingdom is big and diverse, but the eyes of the wizards can't cover every one of its properties in times of strife. My village is just one of those casualties of a tragedy. I work and try to live the ideals my family did in their life. Even my little brother, who did nothing wrong except steal a sweet from the jar every now and then."
Taking a breath, Bryn continued with a heavy heart.
"Part of this is just me running away. I can't face the reality that I lost my family, so I cling to the chance that they're alive. I work till my hands bleed. I train till I cannot stand. I sharpen myself to be a magic knight that won't forget the villages like this one. Protecting the small wonders and beauty that we have. So that maybe one day, I can pretend to have enough strength and integrity to face the likely truth. It's probably the reason why I can't conjure any defensive or healing spells. Like I said before, the aura magic is a reflection of one's self. In more ways than one."
Suna was touched at the other girl’s words. In her own way and style, she was trying to encourage the blue-haired elf, and the latter could see that. A wry smile appeared on the sound mage’s face. "Thank you. Funny how you are saying that, as I think you’re the one who is cool." She stretched out her hands in front of her, a futile motion trying to show just how much she admired the dark-haired girl. "You’re strong, you have cool moves, you know your magic well, and you aren’t afraid to go in and get your hands dirty—now those are truly impressive."
As for the female’s hint of supporting her, Suna would have thrown her arms around the girl and thanked her with a hug. However, she did not know if that action would be misunderstood, so she made do with a beaming smile. "You’ve already done so." Even for those optimistic personalities, they also need their dose of encouragement, and Bryn had certainly filled that need. She sincerely appreciated those reassuring words of support, and could only hope she could return the favor in the near future.
She was not prepared for what the other was saying, and could only nod solemnly as the latter opened up. Though Suna never really had the experience of being in a family, she could sympathize with the loss and hurt that had come from some unforeseen circumstance. The devil had definitely left behind a trail of destruction and wounds, and some of the deepest pain were not physical. The feelings of injustice and being torn apart—it had not been easy for Bryn, and her heart ached for the girl.
Suna laid a hand on the other’s shoulder. "What you’re doing is great, and you’re definitely on the right track." Her tone was gentle, while still being confident in the words she was saying. "I know that your family would be extremely proud of what you’re doing now. Everything that you’re doing will not go to waste. You’re helping others build their lives back up, and that is commendable and honorable. That is going above and beyond, and you don’t need a mantle to prove that." The elf bent down to sit on her heels, so she could be eye to eye with the dark-haired woman.
"I’m sure that when the time comes, you’ll be ready to handle whatever the truth is. Whether you think you’re running away or not, all I know is that you’re not selfish. If anything, this has only made you stronger. You’re pushing yourself to become better, not for fame or glory, but because you want to protect others from experiencing the pain you have gone through. If only some of the Magic Knights could learn from you, I think Clover Kingdom would rebuild itself even faster, and its ideals would change to help and empower common people like us." Suna patted the other’s shoulder. "And if you ever need healing, I have your back."
She stood up and held out a hand, offering to help the girl get back up if she chose to do so. "But if you need defense, I’m afraid the best I can do is to be a human shield." She said lightly, poking fun at herself. What Bryn had said about her aura being a reflection of her—it made sense, and Suna could see it in herself. Though she could lead if she wanted to, she prefers to support others from the back, boosting her teammates who were out in the frontlines. That probably explained why she has such a strange mix of attacking, restraining, and healing spells. The elf was a paradox, and her abilities certainly showed that.
"Do you mind telling me about your family? I’ve never had one before, and I’ve always wondered what it’s like." Despite what it seems, her searching words were more of wonder rather than regrets over the absence of that element in her life.
WC: 662 ⊹ TOTAL WC: 4,832 ⊹ TAG: Bryn Halcyon NOTES: Such wholesome convos...
"Sometimes ignorance can be bliss you know." Bryn quickly responded to Suna's harmless question.
Witches didn't have families? Then how in the world did they even come into fruition? Born from the trees or something? She looked over her and wondered exactly how the reclusive group of people managed to keep their numbers up. Something to ask after these birds and the bees talk.
"Well, smarts wise a family usually happens when people get together either by marriage and can make some kids. Usually a woman and a man, but I don't see why you can't do with two of the same or even one. Really, it's just a bunch of people super close and they could also be descendants. Closer than friends and more substantial than just lovers." she clumsily explained.
"My family were a bunch of magic knights for the kingdom. Mom was with the Blue Roses, Dad was a Bull, and my older brother made it as a Purple Orca. As a daughter from a lineage of knights, I wanted to follow in their footsteps. We lived out in a village near the edges of the Kingdom. Small sort of place and nothing like the big city capitals. Everyone had to pull their weight somehow and probably why I grew up being A-OK with physical labor. Dad's spells were always physical based and gave Mom a hard time whenever she tried to get me to use my brain more. They sorta succeeded. I'm not a total meathead like my Dad and have some semblance of being a lady with a brain."
Pointing at Suna momentarily, Bryn had a dirty grin on her face.
"It's like me looking at you. You're the thing a lot of the gals back at home want to be. Maybe not iwth the pointy ears, but I think they're adorable. We come from a town of workers and me seeing you with the style and grace is what a bunch of the ladies wished they'd have. You don't have to be a shield or whatever. I've come to terms with my flaws and hopefully... Bryn said with a sigh. "...will be the same way whenever that time comes. I dunno. Too much thinking about stuff that really doesn't make a difference to me at the moment.
Rolling over and plopping down onto her belly, she turned to face her friend with a face of expectation.
"My turn. You got to hear some of my baggage, now unpack yours. Tell me about the witches and the bitches who were a bunch of jackholes to you. No good keeping it close to your ample chest. Trust me on this."
Ah, she was starting to understand the concept of family now. It was not the problem of how witches came into existence—as that was something not yet established nor known in detail—but the idea of having supportive people around her. As for Bryn’s comment about ignorance being bliss, she knew that oh too well. Coming out of her hermit state in the Forest, the elf had been shocked and appalled plenty of times by what she has heard and seen in her trips around Clover Kingdom. Yet, at the same time, she knew that knowledge was power, and that was something she had sorely missed in her early years.
"Your parents and brother all seem deeply engaged in the Magic Knight squads and their system." Light blue hair bounced as the owner nodded. She had not gotten a chance to really interact with knights from the Blue Roses or Purple Orcas, but she had gotten perfectly well with the Black Bulls she had met. "I think it’s great that your family came from different squads. More variety, and you get to experience them all." She laughed a little when she heard of Bryn’s description of herself. "Yes, you have both the brains and brawn! I mean, those punches back there were amazing!" Here she tried to mimic the girl’s earlier actions, though it was a terribly weak and laughable attempt.
Suna was taken aback when she pointed at her and started sprouting off the good things she saw in the elf. "R-Really? Goodness, just hang around longer and you will see just how clumsy I actually am." It was interesting how jealousy could sometimes be mutual—Suna had not thought she had anything worthy of interest. But now, hearing the other girl’s words, perhaps, just perhaps, she could start looking at herself a little bit differently. It was a beginning.
Fair was fair. If her new friend had been willing to be so upfront and honest about her past and struggles, Suna could not give her any less. She bent down and sat down on her heels. Where to start? Then a few memories surfaced...
-----
"...speaking of which, did you hear about Suna?"
"That weakling? I’m almost surprised she hasn’t joined the covenant as a nun yet."
"Yeaaa that one! Heard that she got a gold grimoire last week!"
"Ha, much good it would do for her. She’s still just as quiet as a dead tree, and dead trees aren’t pretty!" A few more giggles. "Curious though, since her element is sound, after all."
"I know! Seriously, that should’ve been me! At least I could’ve put it into good use for my plant magic. But no, here I am stuck with a bronze one while that gold grimoire is being waaaasted on her!"
"I agree, it would’ve been better if it was you. She may be an elf, but she’s still just a nobody."
"Exactly! But heh, whatever. Did you hear about what Loren did yesterday..."
A few meters away, crouched down behind a tree, a blue-haired girl buried her wet face in her arms...
-----
"Hello, my name is Suna." Another hand shook hers energetically.
"And I’m Nayla!" Another hand shook hers. "So, what’s your element? Can I see your grimoire?"
"Umm..."
"Come on! Show me some of your spells!"
"O-Okay..." A harp. A soft melody.
"What’s that? Sound? Huh, isn’t that kinda useless though?"
"I-Is it? But look, it can even do this—"
"Nobody here has that, and it’s so weak. I doubt that pathetic magic can even stop a fly from running into you!" A scoff. "Look, you seem sweet and all, but I can’t be friends with anyone who isn’t strong enough to stand by me or even support me!" Footsteps walking away.
A sigh. Drooped shoulders. "Why am I so useless?"
-----
"...there were a few more instances like that, but you get the gist." Suna bit down on her lip. She did not want to elaborate too much, but it was not because she did not trust Bryn—it was because she hated revisiting those negative memories. Hurtful words can cut deeper than any physical wounds, and the pain can last for years and in some cases, for a lifetime. Thankfully, the elf was coming to terms of her self-worth, albeit slowly. But at the moment, they still hold some of their string.
"I hope you don’t think all witches are bad," she said hurriedly. The last thing Suna wanted was to give the entire witch race a bad name. "I’m sure there are some out there who are friendly."
WC: 764 ⊹ TOTAL WC: 5,596 ⊹ TAG: Bryn Halcyon NOTES: Sorry for the wait! ^^;
