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.
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Post by Genesis Fantome on Aug 26, 2020 0:27:27 GMT -5
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Genesis Fantôme
La Poste
Genesis shaded her eyes with a hand, squinting against the bright sunlight. “Ah, there it is...” She murmured. Before her laid a scattering of towns, separated by forests and natural hills. Then, there was the capital. From her height, she could see the glittering contrast of the royal city in comparison to the other towns around it. It was much bigger in terms of size, but it also looked more structured and well-to-do overall.
What were those white lines? The redhead narrowed her eyes, trying to see what it was. Apparently the streets were lined with pale cobblestones? And all those things that glittered under the bright sunlight… Her eyebrows were lifted, duly impressed. Growing up in the smaller town of Kiten, she was used to massive walls and imposing atmosphere of the fortified town. Yet, the walls here in the noble regions were far more massive and majestic then she thought. And right there, in all its glory and finery, was the royal palace.
From what she had gathered, the Grand Archives was near the palace, if not partially joined to it. Something stirred within her, something akin to...hope? Perhaps in there, she would be able to find something about her parents. It was a long shot, but it was possible. There was a general plan of how she wanted to go about looking for information, but she would need to be smart in asking the right people in the right places. Otherwise, her trip here could very well be futile and frustrating. However, for now, she felt confident that she would be able to find something. She was here on a mission, a personal mission.
The red-haired mage had been standing and balancing on her magic broom. Now, as she neared the bustling city, she steered it down. She circled a little ways before finally landing near the gates. Immediately, her senses were assaulted with all different types of things. Just beyond the main city gate, she could see a multitude of people, milling in and out and jostling like a busy marketplace. Only, this was a hundred times—if not more—people than what she was used to seeing. All the smells and sights hit her, and down here on the ground, the walls looked even higher and even more imposing.
For a brief moment, her mouth dropped open in astonishment, then she snapped them back up. Though this was her first time at the royal capital, it did not mean she should gawk at every single little thing. No, she needed to get a grip of herself. Besides, her experience told her that where there were crowds of people, there were bound to be some not-so-pleasant ones. She would have to watch out for those thieves and pickpockets.
On that note, she tied the bag of yul around her belt more securely, and used part of her cloak to cover it. She still had that sack of coins the Golden Dawn knight gave to her the week before. Speaking of which, she had told him that she would meet him up here in a week, but did not mention when or where. Well, he should not be too hard to find, as long as she could find the Golden Dawn base. She seemed to remember seeing that while she was still up in the air. Even if she could not find the knight, the Grand Archives should not be too hard to find.
Right?
Notes & Stuff
Used her magic broom to travel to the Royal Capital, -8 mana
Rank & Element: Junior | N/A Class & Type: Magical Trinket | Imbued Magic Specializations: Supplementary Creation Appearance & Lore: This appears to be a basic broom. The broom was payment in exchange for services rendered for Kikka's once famed broom maker. Abilities: Flight
Type & Uses: Flow | 3 Active 2 Overheat Rank & Specialization: Junior | N/A Mana Cost: 8 | 4 Range & Speed: N/A | 10 m/s Stats Affected: N/A Description: This broom allows one to fly on it from one place to another. While doing so they may carry up to one other person with them. The broom may be up to 5 meters away from the wielder and still be able to remain in the air.
[attr="class","textie"]It had been almost a week later, and just as the man had promised her he was waiting to meet her at the gates. Though she didn't know that, but this was the most likely location for her to find him, and for him to find her. She had disappeared to quickly last time before he could tell her where he would be, but that couldn't be helped now. All morning he had been waiting for her to arrive simply because he didn't know how long it was going to take her to get there. It was almost noon when something caught his attention out of the corner of his eye. Someone had just landed on a broom nearby, and a flash of red hair alerted him to her presence. Not to mention the familiar sense of her mana despite his abysmal sensing capabilities he could still tell people apart as long as he was close enough.
Striding up to her as she neared the gates, he was taller than most of the people here so he was easy to spot, long silver hair, and a tattered Golden Dawn robe. He had been offered a new one, but he disregarded it, this was the one that he wanted, this was the one that he had worn on all of his adventures, and he would never part with it. For him it contained valuable memories that he would rather not leave behind. Despite his robe however he seemed much better dressed than last time, as the clothing underneath his robe was no longer ripped to shreds, and instead seemed fine. Black pants, and a white long sleeve button up shirt adorned his body. Dangling from his neck was a locket, and those teal eyes with slitted pupils appraised her form from afar.
"I am glad...You seem to have made it okay..." he spoke to her in that measured tone, that held almost no emotion. If he was being honest he had been a bit worried that she would be attacked by bandits or mana beasts along the way. But that seemed to not be the case, nodding at her in greeting, he gave a slight bow to her. "Welcome to the Capital...Tell me...Would you like some food, or drink before we go to your destination?" It was a simple question, and he knew many places in the capital that had a nice atmosphere, with sweets, and tea.
In fact there was on place in particular that he often went because they had sweet biscuits that his spirit liked.
"I only ask because...The journey is long...It would be good to relax. If not I can take you to where you wish to go..." his voice that strange mixture of dispassionate honesty. Folding his arms across his chest as he waited for her answer. He didn't seem like he was in a rush, but considering he had no clue as to what she wanted to do, or if she had simply come at his invitation he didn't know what other way to act. He just assumed she had come for a reason other than him, that is what made the most sense, he was a stranger after all.
Post by Genesis Fantome on Sept 1, 2020 1:57:06 GMT -5
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Genesis Fantôme
La Poste
Out of the corner of her eye, the shadow mage caught sight of a somewhat familiar figure. Or rather, felt the mana signature. It was hard to miss someone like the Golden Dawn knight, with his tall stature and silver hair. She was a bit curious as to why he did not change his robe, though she supposed he had a good reason not to. She would not be one to ask, however, and made her way over to him.
“Took the shortcut and flew here,” she gave a little careless shrug and flicked her long crimson hair back behind her shoulders. “Of course I’m okay.” It was a poor way to greet someone who had been waiting on her for the better part of the day. Not that she knew. Nonetheless, Genesis returned the slight bow, although she did not really know the reason why he did not in the first place. Not that she had done anything worthy of thanks. Or was this the way they greeted people here in the capital?
She had arrived in the same outfit as when she had first met the knight, her usual attire of all black, almost every inch of her covered except for her arms and midriff. Her clothes were also form-fitting to give her the most optimal freedom of movement if necessary. The last thing she wanted was to be restricted by her clothes if she was to get into a fight. Although hopefully nothing like that would happen here.
The young woman would definitely stick out like a sore thumb if she was thrown into a courtroom with well-dressed and well-mannered nobility, but at least here on the streets, she did not stick out too much. All around her, different sorts of people milled in and out of the city gates, vendors and merchants and folks of every type. There were several curious stares and raised eyebrows, but for the most part, she seemed safe. So far.
That aside, the knight had cleaned up well and seemed more at ease now that he was in his element, or perhaps he had found his connections. Whatever the reason, she was glad to see him, even though she showed no inclination of that in her body language. “Would you happen to know where the Grand Archives are? There are certain things and names I want to look up.” Her parents, to be exact. It was a long shot, especially when she only had a rough idea of how to find it, but she would make do.
The tall knight had also mentioned food and drinks… “Uh, I would but—” She started. As if in response, her stomach growled, and Genesis had the decency to look slightly embarrassed. She had been flying for two days now, so food and drinks sounded like heaven to the traveller. “Erm, sure. What’s good in there?” She glanced around, peering into the bustling capital. She was not picky with food, as long as it was filling.
Assuming that Vulkan would be leading her somewhere, the redhead would follow, her eyes darting here and there as she took in all the sights and sounds of the famed city. As they entered into the capital, her jaw would drop open in a very unladylike manner, slightly overwhelmed with everything that was happening around her. She would catch herself and close her mouth, but would then forget and repeat the process.
Since her attention was continuously distracted, Genesis would have to hurry and catch back up with the silver-haired mage on multiple instances. “So, did you find anything else about your mother?” Then, as if remembering her manners, added in hurriedly, “Uh, I’m not taking up your time, am I? If I am, you can just point me towards the Grand Archives and I’ll be out of your way.”
[attr="class","textie"]Did she think he would invite her all this way, and not guide her around, or show her the places she wanted to see, or had never seen before. Tapping his cheek he wondered if he gave off that kind of impression, but she was here now. So it was the Grand Archives she wanted to look at, well that would be easy for him, he spent an awful lot of time in there back when he was just starting out as a Magic Knight. If that was all she wanted then this would be a simple trip, and afterward he extend an invitation for her to come to some places with him around town. It would be nice to have her along again, though if she declined he wouldn't be bothered by it either. For whatever reason she had come here, he didn't want to intrude to much.
Though when her stomach growled, and answered his question about food honestly, he tilted his head at her his eyes glinting playfully though there was still no smile on his lips.
"It appears your stomach is more honest than your tongue..." he stated to her in his usual emotionless tone. "Come I know of a cafe where the Tea is good, and the food is better..." was all he said, and he extended a hand to her, though he didn't quite understand why. His body just sort of formed this reflex for him. Had he done that before? "The Capital is much busier than Kiten...If it does not embarrass you I would prefer to not lose you among the crowds..." he said the words softly to her. Had he ever done this before?
He tried to remember if he had ever offered someone a tour like this before holding their hand along the way, but he couldn't so why did he do that now, and why did it feel so natural. Like his body was remembering something that he had forgotten? It was probably just because he was a Magic Knight, at least that is what he was going to tell himself.
"And do not worry about paying...This is my treat...And I will not have you argue about it..." he stated to her firmly pressing the point further home. He had invited her to come here, she had shown up, so he would treat her as a Knight would.
That is at least what happened in the stories that he read as a child. The Knight always took care of the Princess, and while he wasn't a Knight like that, and she wasn't a Princess in that sense of the word. Perhaps those little details, and teachings had left more of an impression on him than he had originally thought. Still patiently he waited for her to take his hand so that he could lead her to their first destination, and then afterward take her to the Grand Archives. This would be a rather relaxing day for the two of them, or so he hoped.
Post by Genesis Fantome on Sept 3, 2020 1:59:21 GMT -5
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Genesis Fantôme
La Poste
The red-haired woman was slightly puzzled at the thoughtful way the knight was acting. She had grown up fairly independent, relying on no one besides herself to take care of her aging adopted mother in the latter’s last days. There were no friendly eyes or generous hands that helped her all these years—why would one suddenly start now? Hence, she was caught off guard by the show of kindness, especially when he extended the offer to take her to a cafe with tea and food.
A cafe? Even back in Kiten, she had never been in one, preferring to spend her time in the wild forests and quiet woodlands. She never did understand what made people want to dress up all fancy like in those uncomfortable and scratchy clothes, squandering away an entire afternoon indoors and exchanging meaningless small talk. Nobility and their behavior was something that the young woman did not understand, and
She cocked a suspicious eyebrow at the proffered hand. “Do I look like a lady to you?” If she was any other well-bred female, she probably would have accepted it without another thought to the gentlemanly gesture. Unfortunately, she was nothing of the sort. The last time a guy grabbed her hand, Genesis had whipped out her knife and pressed it against his throat, making it very clear that she did not appreciate the attention and action. In fact, the only person she had willingly allowed any type of physical contact was her adopted mother. But besides that, she usually kept her distance from people, both male and female alike. The shadowy forests were her playground, and bustling cities such as this capital city—they were like a foreign planet.
“Embarrassed? If anything, I should be the one asking you about that.” From what she had observed, the Golden Dawn knight had acted much like nobility, though she could not be really sure. He certainly had the manners and aura to match, but if he really was a noble, he would not have gone into the bar back then to ask for information. At least, that was what she figured.
He did have a point. If she got lost here, she would be wasting precious time. Not only her time, but also his, if he had to go out looking for her. But still… She chewed the bottom of her lip, hesitating. The red-haired femme knew he meant well, but any type of physical contact made her uncomfortable. Besides, she was a shadow mage, tracking people came easily to her.
“Don’t worry, I’ll follow right behind you. You’re pretty hard to lose, y’know.” She tossed him a small smirk. With his height and the shock of silver hair, it was highly unlikely that she would lose sight of the man. Another female would have at least said something of the well-meant gesture, but unfortunately, she was not trained in such arts, and left it at that.
There was also something else. There was no possible way was she going to let him pay. Besides, she still had the small pouch of coins he gave her last time. But she held her tongue. She could not say she was surprised at his kind actions, she had suspected it would happen, but it would come to a test of pride later on. But for now, she did not argue. For now.
Her stomach growled again. What a traitor. “So, uh, what’s good at that cafe?” Assuming that he would start walking, she would follow closely behind, making sure she did not go back on her words of getting lost.
[attr="class","textie"]She had refused his hand remarking that he was pretty hard to lose, and at first he didn't understand what she meant. That was when he remembered the constant heat that he always gave off, the aura that marked him as a threat to enemies, and an ally to friends. It was a fair point so he retracted his hand, and began to weave his way through the crowd. Though he quirked a brow at her when she asked him if she looked like a lady. For the first time since they had met Vulkan looked actually perplexed at the notion that she was not in fact a lady.
"But...You are a woman...Another word for that is lady, yes?" he spoke the confusion obvious in his voice, her body indicated by all features it possessed that she was in fact a woman. Was she using transformation magic to merely appear as one? "Are you not female?" the way he asked the question made it quite obvious that he was incredibly confused by the statement. Though when she asked him what was good at the cafe they were headed to, he tapped his chin lightly.
"I am fond of the tea, and sweet biscuits...But they have pie, muffins, and other assorted sweets...I figure for your first time in the capital it might be good for you to get something sweet...It is also my favorite place, or well it was." he spoke in that soft emotionless tone. "I have been gone for a very long time...I doubt they will even recognize me...Without him..." the last two words of that sentence were barely a whisper, and the memory of the spirit who came with him here tore through his mind for a brief moment. It was enough to make his eyes water briefly before he shook his head.
"Regardless...If sweets are not something you like...They have other kinds of food, sandwiches, soups, and other kinds of baked foods." he shrugged a bit aimlessly. The rest of their menu was something he wasn't familiar with since when he came here it was always for a treat with Abraxas. Though he had remembered seeing things like that on the menu at this place, so he was sure that they existed. Or perhaps he was incredibly wrong considering that he hadn't been here in over a year, hopefully that wouldn't be the case though.
Still he continued on through the path of the capital, this was a path that he had traversed countless times before he disappeared. She would note that the further he lead them in, the buildings would become less imposing, and become gradually smaller in size as they got closer to the market district. Soon they came upon the little cafe that he had been talking about, and it was just as he remembered. The women were all dressed up in maid outfits serving customers, an outside sitting area with umbrellas above the tables to shade from the sun. It was still here, and his heart sang with joy though he didn't let it show.
"It is still here...I am glad..." was all he said as he snapped himself out of the moment, and went to sit at one of the tables outside without a drop of hesitation. It would be a few minutes before one of the waitresses would come to him, but that didn't mean he had to stand the entire time.
Post by Genesis Fantome on Sept 13, 2020 20:26:48 GMT -5
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Genesis Fantôme
La Poste
"But...You are a woman...Another word for that is lady, yes?"
Genesis snorted. Very ladylike. “I meant a noble. Like a noblewoman, that kind of lady.” She ran her hand through her hair, combing up her tousled long hair. “But yes, I’m a woman, bust and butt and all.” Her statement was frankly given, with no change to her outer demeanor. Some others might have blushed at her blunt words, but she found nothing to be shy about.
She herself had no qualms or misgivings about her femininity, though she definitely did not act nor dress like the usual figure of her gender. The female simply preferred to wear clothes that fit her lifestyle, which demanded freedom of movement. As for the lacking areas in her nature—those would slowly be refined by her interactions with others. For now, however, her companion was unfortunately stuck with some rough edges in her personality.
At the mention of biscuits and sweets, Genesis’ ears perked up and her steps unconsciously quickened. “Oh?” She struggled to keep the excitement out her usual cool tone, but failed miserably. “That sounds great!” More than great, more like amazing. Wonderful. Right down her alley.
She barely caught the last words the man whispered. “‘Without him’? A friend of yours, I’m guessing?” As the knight was in front of her, she did not see any of the emotion that he may have had, and thus continued walking on, blissfully unaware.
As they ventured deeper, Genesis continued her surveyance of her surroundings. Buildings were more spaced out now, and the crowd had thinned out more. So caught up in looking around, she almost accidentally bumped into the knight when he stopped in front of the mentioned cafe. Almost, but thankfully did not. Following his lead, the red-haired woman trailed behind him to the table he chose and slipped into the seat opposite him. Upon seeing the waitresses in those maid outfits, she raised an eyebrow, but said nothing. At least, not at the moment.
One of them came over and flashed them a bright smile, though it was directed more to the man. “Welcome!” She said in a cheery tone. “Here are the menus for you, unless you have something in mind already? A drink, perhaps?”
Genesis would wait for whatever Vulkan decided to say, then when the waitress turned to her, she hesitated. “Err...” She glanced down at the offered menu. Too many words and too many options, she was going to need some time to look it over. “Can I get a glass of water for now?” Honestly, she did not really care what she ate, as long as it would quiet her stomach. But now that she had the opportunity, she wanted a good look at what this cafe had to offer. It was her first time, after all, and she was extremely curious.
The waitress nodded and left. As soon as she was out of earshot, Genesis leaned forward and spoke in a low tone, the menu momentarily forgotten. “Those clothes look awfully uncomfortable.” She observed, referring to what the waitresses were wearing. “All those unnecessary ruffles and bows and ribbons! They’ll just get in the way in a fight.” For her, practicality of dress was on top of the list for her, and another reason why she stuck out like a sore thumb in this refined establishment.
“The short skirts...those could work, if it’s their intention to catch their enemies off guard with their bare bottoms.” The first few words were spoken in a doubtful tone, but turned into more of a bawdy jest at the end. “But then again, they’re not fighting anything soon, so I guess it’s okay.” She shrugged nonchalantly. Leave it to her to start their conversation off with an analysis and opinion of other people’s clothes.
As if it was not enough, she threw the topic in question his way. “What do you think? I know some men like those maid outfits. Do you?” She flashed him a smirk, then turned back to the menu, wondering what she should get.
[attr="class","textie"]He listened to the womans musing at the outfits of the women at this particular cafe, but there was simply no change in his personality, or outward demeanor even at her teasing. For someone who radiated so much heat, he was awfully cool most of the time. There wasn't even a twitch at the edge of his lips, though perhaps there should have been considering what she had been saying the entire time. The silver haired mage tapped his cheek thoughtfully as he thought about what he wanted to order when the waitress came back, and about the things that Genesis had asked him about.
"A friend...Yes something like that...There was someone that use to be a constant companion to me..." he said forcing his body to steel itself so the crumbling feeling in his heart didn't consume him at the thought. "They are gone now..." he gave no other information, and he transitioned topics with her with an ease that he didn't know he possessed. "I suppose that is one way to fight...Losing clothes to distract an enemy...Probably not very effective in the long run, since there is a limited amount of clothing that one can wear, but who knows." he shrugged a bit almost as if he didn't understand the joke she was making. Or maybe he was just lost in his thoughts.
"I do not have a preference for what kind of outfit a woman wears..." came the almost automatic response as if he was a thousand miles away right now. "I've never been with a girl seriously before...So I suppose I don't know what my preference is." he shrugged a bit to her, and he seemed to snap out of his listless nature for a moment at that admission. A low sigh leaving his lips before he went back to how he usually was. "Being a Magic Knight...There is not much time for personal relations to really form...I spend all my time either training, or going on missions...Not to mention I could simply die...I do not wish to break someones heart, or have mine broken." he explained his logic.
"With me always being gone, they would have to travel as well, or constantly feel lonely." another shrug on his shoulders, he didn't know why he was talking about this right now, the words just wouldn't stop. Maybe he was just trying to justify his little confession. He didn't want her to think he was some kind of weirdo, but why did he care?
"Abraxas...What would you do if you were here..." he mused silently in his own thoughts.
"Though...My friend the one who is gone...Would always try to find women for me...One time he tried to set me up with an assassin who had tried to kill me." for just the briefest of moments the right corner of his lip twitched up into a gentle smile. "He said...It was because she could withstand my heat...It was amusing..." Remembering this tiny little memory he simply just stared off into the distance, that tiny little smile still on his lips, until it faded. "But obviously...I had to turn her in..." he explained.
Post by Genesis Fantome on Sept 29, 2020 2:21:18 GMT -5
[googlefont="Lobster"][googlefont="Be Vietnam"]
[attr="class","boxas"]
Genesis Fantôme
La Poste
The shadow mage pursed her ruby lips, eyebrows slightly tilted upwards. This knight was an interesting specimen. He seemed too sad and preoccupied in his past to be affected by what would usually capture male’s attention. At least, in her experience. Or perhaps he was not interested in women? That could explain why his demeanor seemed so emotionless around her. Or was he some type of undercover spy? That could also be a reason why nothing seemed to capture his attention. Her imagination ran wild, but it all ended up in question marks.
But just as well, as it was one less thing for the redhead to worry about. At least she could breathe a sigh of relief that he was not like the other men who were always flirting and hitting on her. Ugh, how she hated those types of attention. There was one particular knight that got on her nerves. Not only did he try to get close to her, he even tried to grab her hand without her permission. Just the thought of that experience was enough to make her bite down on her bottom lip in annoyance. Such a shameless and disrespectful action, it was enough to make her want to slip something open...
At his admission that he has never formed a relationship with the opposite sex before, Genesis only shrugged carelessly. “So what? Fighting is so much more fun.” She leaned forward as she emphasized on the last word. A spark came into those clear grey-green eyes of hers. Even when he explained more about his position, she nodded at his words, not finding anything wrong with his reasonings.
“Makes sense. I’d rather not commit to something then not being able to follow through or fulfill it.” In her perspective, the adrenaline that came from fighting and battles were much more interesting than the stuffy and mushy stuff in relationships. She would gladly take a jeweled blade over a jeweled ring any day. It was not because she was not interested in forming a more serious relationship later on in the future, but her mind was not fixed on such matters at the present. For now, the lust of battle was a stronger call.
The waitress had come back with her water and whatever drink the knight may have ordered. “Your friend sounds like quite the character.” She remarked, then she drowned the entire glass of cool refreshing water in one take, and motioned to another nearby waitress for a refill. After a few minutes, the waitress would came back again, ready to take their order. “Uh, whatever he orders.” The red-haired femme waved a hand at the man sitting opposite to her.
The brief interruption did not deter her, and she jumped back into the conversation like there had been no pause. “So, an assassin, huh?” A smirk. “What kind of illegal things have you done, I wonder?” It was a rhetorical question, and her tone was clearly sarcastic. But since the topic seemed like a downer, Genesis switched tracks. “So how did you join the Golden Dawn squad then?”
[attr="class","textie"]He caught the inflection of her use of the word "fun" when she had been talking about fighting. The way her eyes lit up almost as if there was an inferno caged within her. He found that curious, but he didn't press her about it at the moment instead the waitress had come back, and Gen deferred to him. As he sipped his Honey Chamomile tea looking over the menu he thought for a moment. It had stayed relatively the same as far as he could remember, and he was thankful for that. It was around lunch time, and if they gorged themselves on sweets he knew they'd regret it later.
"Bring us two sliced chicken sandwiches, extra tomato for me, after that a basket of sweet rolls with enough sugar to make it look like morning frost." he tapped his cheek lightly as he tried to think about if there was anything else that he wanted to go with their food. "My friend here has had a long journey as well, so bring us out the soup of the day with our sandwiches as well, I don't wish for her to be famished on our tour." his tone never changed, though the way he ordered it as if he had done this hundreds of times before. Turning to Gen he tilted his head. "Anything else you wish to have?" he asked her.
"My my...You certainly know our menu well, have you been here before?" the Waitress asked him with what could be considered a flirty wink, though he paid the notion no mind.
"Once upon a time, yes..." he said simply to her, and when she left after taking any extra direction from Gen he turned his gaze to the red head once more as she asked him some interesting questions. "Well...As for illegal things I don't think I've done anything strictly speaking that is illegal...I am forbidden from using some of my magic within cities. I have to limit myself..." he sighed a bit as he remembered the village he almost destroyed by accident. "So there is that..." still his tone was that same listless expression.
"The Assassin in question...Was a redhead like you...My companion had a knack for sniffing that particular kind of woman out for me..." he sighed a bit, but his eyes twinkled for just a moment as he remembered. "He said red meant fire, and my magic is like fire...Thus it was a good match, he was...Exasperating..." he spoke the words, but it was obvious that he felt the opposite. "So when I got ambushed by an assassin once, he set to work trying to get me to hit on her...She was confused, I was uncomfortable, and in the end I bound her, and dragged her here to the Capital..." He shrugged a bit, it wasn't a very impressive thing for a Knight in his opinion. There were others that were stronger than him.
"Oh...How I joined...Mmmm I took the exams much like everyone, that year out of all the applicants there were only three of us that got chosen by Captain Arthurius. Zaven Blake, Sylvester Vista, and myself..." he seemed almost fond of those memories. "When the three of us started to work together we gained a name, we were called the Golden Trio. Zaven was the sword, Sylvester was the shield, and I was the strategist..." meeting her eyes evenly as he spoke, he betrayed no emotion.
"Zaven is the current Captain of the Golden Dawn for now...And I have heard he has trained someone else to be the Vice Captain, but he knows that in the end I will take my spot as Captain. It was a promise I made to him once...So I will keep it." he nodded to her, but for him it was more to affirm to himself that he was going to do it.
"Now I have a question of my own...Why do you like to fight?" it was a simple question, nothing deeper than the surface, but something told him that if she answered it he would learn more about her, than any other way.
Post by Genesis Fantome on Sept 30, 2020 2:11:56 GMT -5
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[attr="class","boxas"]
Genesis Fantôme
La Poste
Seeing how it was lunchtime, she was not surprised when more people came in and out of the cafe. The hum of conversations and buzz of activity provided the perfect cover...from what? Nothing. It was just her mind always thinking of covers and escapes wherever she went. True, she was in an unfamiliar setting, but she really needed to stop doing that, otherwise she would be completely exhausted before the afternoon was over.
Her stomach grumbled as he gave the order. Sandwiches, sweet rolls, and soup...she could definitely use those right now. Maybe those would help take her mind off of her usual wary caution. The femme was also a little surprised when he got tea. Honey chamomile, it was. But then again, she knew nothing about him, besides the fact that he acted like a noble.
At his question for whatever else she wanted, Genesis only shook her head. “Non. Those are good.” She had caught on to that flirtatious wink from the waitress, and Gen had to stifle an amused smirk. As the waitress left, a plan was forming in the back of her mind, but she would have to wait for the right moment before she would put it in action.
The Golden Dawn knight was actually answering her rhetorical question about illegal activity. “I see...but I think magic is overrated.” The redhead stated, simply and bluntly. “But your physical skills?” She curled her fingers up one by one until they formed a fist, then let go. “They can be trusted.” But little did she know that she would have to swallow her words, how much she would have to rely on magic soon, in a certain shadow-enshrouded town.
“Well, your friend and I would have to fight if he was here.” She nodded to herself, though she had no idea that the ‘friend’ Vulkan was referring to was actually a spirit. On some days, she just wanted to dye her crimson hair black so she would not attract as much attention. However, she has yet to go through with that action yet. “He seems to like making things uncomfortable for you. But hey, you did what you had to do and turned her in.”
She leaned back on her chair and crossed her legs. For her, it was merely him doing the right thing, and thought his friend quite an amusing companion. “Don’t worry, I won’t be killing you any time soon...unless I have a reason to.” She smirked. The young woman had no doubt he could easily overpower her and drag her off to the capital prison if he wanted to, but she doubted there would be a reason for her to kill him.
Now he was explaining how he joined the Magic Knights squad. This she listened to earnestly, though her posture was seemingly relaxed. He had listed a name that she recognized, though only due to his fame. “Ah, a promise to become captain, huh?” She raised her half-empty glass, as if to toast him. “Congratulations. In advance.” And finished the rest of her water.
"Why do you like to fight?"
“To survive.” She shrugged nonchalantly, but her clear grey-green eyes gleamed. It was a simple answer. Selfish, but honest. “To protect myself. To have control. To feel powerful.” In these terms, she could be seen as self-centered and narrow-minded, but she had no loyalties or ties with anyone. She was not bound in any way, and was free to go wherever she wished.
But at the same time, because she was so free, the female did not have a clear goal in life—she only had herself to look after. Ever since her adopted mother passed away, she was free of obligations. Hence, she took up odd jobs and such to sustain herself. Being scorned and shunned in her village, she became a perfectionist in polishing her skills, training herself to be the best that she could be. For what? No real reason, besides the fact that she would control what she could.
In a way, it was also perhaps to make up for her obscure and shady background. She had no desire for fame, but as long as she had power, she would also have respect. At least, that was how it worked in her mind, though it may very well be a short-sighted perspective on life. Genesis shrugged again. “What about you? I mean, being a Magic Knight and all, it’s required of you, right?”
[attr="class","textie"]She mentioned that she would have to fight his friend if he were there, and that thought amused him, only because he tried to imagine someone fighting the little dragon that he called his companion. It was humorous to say the least, imagining how Abraxas would handle it if a female assaulted him. Knowing the little dragon though he'd probably enjoy it, and then brag to Vulkan about how he had a girlfriend while he didn't. That is almost exactly how it would go, he could picture the scenario now, but he said nothing on the matter. She had some interesting thoughts on things, and he wondered what kind of environment she grew up in, in order to reach those conclusions. After all everyone was just a by product of their environment in his eyes, it was why he did his best to not judge others to harshly.
"I see...I do not think Magic is necessarily overrated if you use it properly, though your physical abilities are what matter yes. It is why I use my magic in the way that I do..." Not that he had a choice in the spells that appeared in his grimoire, but they seemed to fit a mold he had noticed as he got older. His dreams, and wishes to be a Knight who saved everyone had manifested in various spells that created knight like weapons, and armor for him. "To use both in harmony is what separates a true warrior from a novice..." he explained to her in the simplest of terms.
Though when she gave her reason for fighting he had to admit he was both surprised, and not at the same time. It made sense to want to feel powerful, to know that no one could harm you, or take things from you. To know that you could protect what was most precious to you. It made perfect sense to him, the only reason he felt conflicted on it was because he didn't think she was that type of woman, but everyone had their own reasons. Of that he knew all to well, instead he just listened, and when she asked him her counter question he had to think for a moment. Their food would be a while so they had plenty of time to just talk. Did he like fighting, or did he do it out of a sense of duty.
"On that I am not sure...I do not think I enjoy senseless fighting, fighting without purpose is boring to me..." he explained to her though that wasn't all there was. "If I am forced to fight it means I may potentially have to kill someone as much as I do my best to avoid that. Killing people is not something I make a habit of..." his voice still in that machinelike tone as if he felt nothing as he spoke. "I think I fight to protect others...I grew up reading stories about Knights who would fight dragons, save Princesses, and banish evil..." Some of the frost from his voice warmed briefly as he recounted this. "I wanted to be like those Knights...To wear armor, and wield a sword that could end evil in one strike...To be the strongest there was, and protect everyone...Those were my dreams as a child, and I think to a lesser extent those are still my dreams even now..." He should feel embarrassed admitting this, and perhaps at one point he would have.
"I've always wanted to be strong enough...Strong enough that none could stand against me, an absolute power that deters evil with my mere presence...That is the kind of power I hope to achieve one day...You could say that becoming Captain of the Golden Dawn is just another stepping stone along that path. I have to aim for something beyond the realm of possibility...I have to make the impossible, possible..." The conviction that flooded his voice at those words completely contrasted his usual emotionless tone. As if this was precious to him, something that could suddenly unthaw his frigid emotions, and force them to surface no matter how briefly. "I think by doing that I will be able to truly protect everyone..." His teal eyes focused their gaze on her grey hues as he stated that.
Post by Genesis Fantome on Oct 6, 2020 3:19:40 GMT -5
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Genesis Fantôme
La Poste
Genesis nodded to herself. This man could withstand her veiled insults, and her respect for him grew a little bit more. It was not completely true that she believed magic was overrated, though she tends to lean more towards that side. That particular statement was more like a test to see how the Magic Knight would react, how he would respond to that blatant claim. In her book, he had passed.
Come to think of it, it was much like what Gen did with another shadow mage, in a modelling job she had been forced to do. Back then, she had stated she hated nobles, though with a more jesting manner, just to see his reaction. He had been the only other person who had taken it with a gracious manner. One of the few, in fact. It was no wonder she did not grow up with many acquaintances, with a tongue and personality like hers.
What he said really struck with her, though, especially about using both the physical and magical in harmony. It was true, that once the two could be mastered and used side by side, could result in some serious power. Now, if only she could figure out how to balance the two elements to achieve the perfect and complete combination...
He had continued to talk about his reasons for fighting. Or rather, why he did not. It made sense, as nobody started off wanting blood in their hands. At least, hopefully not. Gen also knew of the dangers of fighting. Once in, it could either draw and consume one whole, or leave the individual broken and scattered beyond repair. Right now, the young woman was still at a delicate balance of experiencing both, and what she would become has yet to be seen.
Ah, so he wanted to be like those brave knights of stories and lores, of dreams and myths. The femme could not say that she was surprised to hear that, although she was a little intrigued by his change in tone. So that was one of his ambitions. “A worthy goal.” That much she would admit. It was a good one, and it gave him a sense of direction. Unlike her. But she could now see why he joined the Magic Knights, and why the Golden Dawn squad fit so well with him. It was about upholding the high standards of their kind, and bringing back the noble aspects of chivalry back. There was nothing wrong with that, and Gen had to admire that life philosophy.
“I’m sure you’ll get there. Though personally, I think you’re plenty strong already.” She smirked. She was about to follow that up with another sarcastic remark, but was then caught a little off guard at how passionate he sounded about wanting to protect everyone. To that, she had no words for an answer, and could only nod in acknowledgment.
The conversation was broken in by the overly bright and cheery waitress. Gen raised an eyebrow at the latter, but promptly forgot about it as the food was set on the table. Steaming sweet buns, hot soup, chicken sandwiches... She could die happy now.
[attr="class","textie"]When the woman said that she thought he was plenty strong already, he thought for a moment. Compared to many people he was strong that was true, there were only a handful of mages in the Kingdom that were as strong as him, and only a handful more that were stronger. When had he gotten so strong? How long had it been since he had started training for that absolute power that he craved. He suppose it had started when he was a boy with Alphonse constantly beating him in the yard during their mock battles, the one man Vulkan had never defeated no matter how hard he had tried. Though Alphonse was also the proudest of him if you didn't count his mother. Like a doting uncle Alphonse was the first to brag to everyone in Kiten when Vulkan had gotten into the Golden Dawn.
"I suppose I am strong...But not strong enough...Not yet." he stated to her as their food was brought to them, and the waitress had a skip in her step.
"Well I do hope you both enjoy your time here at our cafe! Please do call me if you need anything else, alright handsome?" it was obviously directed at Vulkan, but he either didn't catch the flirting tone, or didn't care. So he opted to just nod at her, brushing a strand of silvery hair from the front of his face.
"I will make sure that I do..." was all he said before he began to dig into his food. For all of his appearance of being a noble. All the manners he had exuded up to this point, they immediately disappeared. His stomach had been aching this entire time, little did Genesis know he had forgotten to eat breakfast, then he had waited all morning for her. All manner of grace disappeared as he devoured the sandwich in front of him as if he were starving. The waitress giggled as she walked away.
When the sandwich had disappeared he drained the contents of his soup almost immediately. Gulping it down not even noticing the heat that was steaming from it. Apparently he had been ravenous, and the smell of the food had been intoxicating to him to such a degree that he could no longer stand it. Wiping the remnants of the soup from his lips he looked down at his now empty plate, and let a sigh of contentment leave his chest. In a matter of minutes he had eaten everything on his side of the table, the plate of lightly sugared sweet rolls sitting invitingly between them, but he made no move. Instead he picked up his cup, and sipped the tea that was within it for the moment.
"My apologies...I had forgotten how hungry I had been...Good conversation will do that to me..." he mused to himself. Setting down his drink he took a soft breath, and just let the moment wash over him. It was a good day, he was at his favorite cafe, sharing it's delightful food with someone new. Afterward he would take her to the Grand Archives so she could search for whatever it was she desired to find. "I did want to thank you for indulging me in coming here. I know it is a bit strange, but it is my favorite spot in the entire capital." That measured, almost emotionless tone was back now.
Any sign of potential vulnerability was now closed up tightly as he let his gaze rest on the red head opposite him. There were many things he wondered about in this world, many things that caught his eye even though he never let it show. Right now he found himself curious about the female near him, what kind of life had she lead up to this point. How she had gotten her scars, among other things, but as she had not pried into his past he would not pry into hers. At least not right now.
Post by Genesis Fantome on Oct 11, 2020 23:20:59 GMT -5
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[attr="class","boxas"]
Genesis Fantôme
La Poste
Gen could only imagine what kind of past the Magic Knight must have had, or what kind of experiences he might have gone through. Perhaps strict training and some prodigy-like magic skill, since she knew that those in the Golden Dawn were pickier than most squads about what kind of mages they admitted into their ranks. But she has yet to see the male mage in action, and she doubted it would be any time soon.
As the waitress came with their food, the young woman watched on in amusement when she tried to flirt with the man. He barely even looked at her, even when she wiggled her hips in a far too obvious manner. After hearing about his friend who often tried to ‘help’ him in his relationship endeavors, the previous idea from before resurfaced. Ça va être amusant. This will be fun.
Before the waitress turned to leave, the redhead motioned for her to come close and bend down. “My friend here thinks you’re pretty.” She whispered in the waitress’ ear, then righted herself and said out loud. “Could I get more water, please?”
Vulkan probably did not see the momentary interaction, nor the reaction on the other female’s face, seeing how intent and focused he was on the food. The blond’s eyes had widened at Gen’s whispered words and her aura practically glowed in pleasure. She giggled. “I’ll be right back with your water!” Now she looked more favorably upon the redhead, who only smirked and sat back on her chair. It was only some harmless fun, and if the knight noticed anything amiss, she would only feign innocence and start to attack the sandwich before her.
Like the man before her, Gen barely held on to some degree of manners as she ate. But only barely. The sandwich she devoured like a wild animal who has not eaten for several days. Like him, she went in with her fingers, not with any of the utensils that were laid by her plate. Nay, the fastest way for the food to enter her mouth is with her fingers, not by cutting and eating it elegantly with the silverware. Indeed, she doubted she would use those fancy things at all. Heck, she could just drink the soup from the bowl itself without use of the spoon. The next set of people who are going to use their table could just use those untouched utensils. Of course, that was not how things would work, but she did not know that.
For any onlooker, they would make quite the comical scene, stuffing their faces with barely any outward displays of polite social behavior. The shadow mage had not stopped to eat anything on her way here, and little did she know that this was also the first meal the knight is having that day. Regardless, their consumption was almost silent, saved for Gen’s somewhat noisy chewing. She was having the time of her life right now, so who cared what she looked like?
In between her large bites of the sandwich, she washed it down with occasional gulps of soup, since her cup of water had been long drained. Thankfully the soup was not too hot, otherwise it would have made her choke and sputter her food everywhere. All the bursts of flavors and textures and warmth—when was the last time she had eaten so well? In the other’s perspective, perhaps this was just a simple luncheon, but to Gen, it was a feast. As Vulkan finished the things on his side of the table and started sipping his tea, she finished off the last of the sandwich and the soup.
She had nodded in acknowledgment at his comments, but did not reply back right away. “Délicieuse...” She sighed in contentment, and patted her stomach. Usually, she did not eat so much, but today was different. Maybe it was the quality of the food. Maybe it was the good company. Maybe it was the long trip over to the capital. Whatever the reason, her stomach has been sated. The red-haired femme was now reaching for one of the sweet rolls, though she ate much more slowly now, peeling off bite-sized pieces before stuffing them in her mouth.
When the waitress came back with a pitcher of ice water to refill Gen’s glass, she would find that the two had polished off most of their meal in record speed. “Here you are.” She said as she filled up the water glass. “Anything else I can get for you two?” She turned to the tall male and batted her eyelashes. “A little dessert? Or something sweet?”
Across the table, the redhead only sat back in a lazy lounge position, blinking nonchalantly at her companion as she watched the scene before her. “A dessert sounds good.” She injected. “What’s good here, Vulkan?” She purposely said his name, for the sake of the waitress, whose eyes lit up at the additional piece of information. The latter now waited expectantly for an answer, while Gen finished off her first sweet roll and brushed her fingers clean from its crumbs. She, too, waited to see how the man would act, though she covered it up discreetly with mock naiveté.