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.
“When you spend so long trapped in darkness, you find that the darkness begins to stare back.”
With hand in hand, Hans returned a nod as well to his partner and started to walk, but not without glancing back at the scene he had made. One of the people most likely someone that noble guy knows had crouched down to the assaulted man's side and started to fan him with her hand while he continued to roll around in pain. Others were still talking, some looking in the couple's direction with a mixture of expressions. It was definitely the smart move for the two mages to get away from this location...
Hans continued to walk, getting further away from that scene he had made. Talks and whispers of what he had done were now being replaced by the usual various conversations being all mixed together, causing a sigh of relief to escape the man. "Hm?" Feeling Suna tug at his, Hans lowered himself a bit and listened to her, then shook his head a bit as soon as he felt the woman squeeze his arm. "You don't need to thank me." He then glanced back once again to where they had just come from despite being a little too far to see back there now. "I'm not going to let anyone talk that way about you." he whispered, his tone low but his annoyance ever so obvious. A bit of him was still surprised he did that, in front of that many people that is...but he had that ol' liquid courage currently coursing through his veins to thank for that...
"Ah..." For a brief moment, Hans forgot that both of them were going to dance...and that he was the one who brought it up again. Making it to one of the areas where dances were being held, Hans looked over at the others who were waltzing. It was just dancing, but to someone like Hans, it looked more like a foreign ritual being done, something far out of his comprehension. At least he was no longer angry or annoyed...but rather nervous. Hearing the sound mage speak to him reassuringly, Hans turned back to face her and was met with an equally reassuring smile. He still doesn't fully understand it...but there is something about seeing her smile that just puts the dark mage a little at ease. Hans did not say a word, but instead nodded, now with a hint of determination.
Feeling Suna's hand against his own once again, Hans clasped his fingers with her own as he placed his free hand on her back. The dark mage then glanced over to another couple to see if he were doing it right, and noticed that...he needed to get his hand a little lower. "Hmm..uh.." Hans was about to say something, but closed his mouth. His hand lowered slowly down the elf's back reaching as low as he could get...without wandering any further than he should...Still, it was enough to make Hans a tad flustered, but it wasn't really obvious since this wasn't his first time being so...close to her.
The dark mage had the position correct but still needed to figure out the actual dancing. Hans looked over at other couples once again, focusing more on their feet. They were following some sort of pattern, a rhythm. "Alright then..." Hans said, mostly for himself. He looked at Suna but his eyes went right back to the other couples, trying to figure a way to mesmerize these patterns. "One..." Hans stepped back with his right foot just as a male he was watching did. "Two..." the dark mage's left foot was brought sideways to the left. "Three..." His right foot then came next to his left. "One...?" Now he stepped forward with his left foot. "Tw-two." A forward sideways step with his right foot. "....Three." Then he brought his left foot next to his right.
Hans was beginning to get it despite not moving as fast as the others here. He continued to whisper those three numbers over and over as he repeated those steps as a way to help him remember. Assuming that Suna has been able to follow him fine, Hans would start to loosen up with his dark eyes now on Suna's bright blue ones as the two moved about, their bodies together, and turning with the rhythm of the music. Her little compliment helped further put the dark mage at ease, but all he could do was nod since he was still trying to focus. "One....two...three. One..two..three. Onetwothree...One..tw-" He continued to whisper until he felt a very familiar mana signature getting closer(Valo Stark✾).
Hans looked up to see the masked fire mage while still murmuring those numbers. If it weren't for his mana, Hans would most likely not have recognized him....He couldn't really say the same about the masked woman he's with, however(Alyssa Lilygate❃).
"Valo?" the merc would suddenly say as he and the sound mage got closer...causing the merc to lose his concentration and most likely step on the sound mage's foot by mistake. "I...uh..." If he did, Hans would immediately let go of Suna and raise his hands up apologetically at his date. "U-uhh...Sorry...I lost focus..."
POW
50
DUR
60
SEN
20
STA
23
CON
49
HEALTH senior
SKIN senior
MANA POOL 80/80
MANA REGEN 25 IC / 20 OOC
ITEMS Cosmic Blessing
NOTES Hans' outfit (He's also wearing a pair of fake fangs and white gloves.)
Wait, why did he jump into this? Roman asked himself that question only a few moments after he had joined in on these two womens conversations. Confusion over his own actions caught his attention for a moment as he thought over what he had done and why he had done it. He couldn’t even blame his sudden actions on alcohol, not that he should, because he hadn’t even had anything at all to drink. Or eat. The plate of food still sitting untouched in his hands, practically forgotten. Seems in the moment he had forgotten his manners. Maybe it was a panic that he would be seen as “that guy” who was standing around not interacting with anyone and who had only come for the food that prompted him to force his way into some strangers' conversations.
”That’s the one by Cynthia Goldbirch, right?” Roman asked when he was asked the question. ”I’ve read it as well, yes. I was wanting to learn more about Witch culture and happened across it. It’s certainly informative. I wouldn’t mind getting the opportunity to travel to the Witches Forest and seeing their way of life. But, you know, restrictions and all that.” Roman added with a little sadness. An entirely different “race” of people with their own culture and ways of life were what seemed like such a short distance away but getting to see them would almost be like climbing a mountain with no equipment. It was a little disappointing.
But what better expressed that emotion was the face that Eritheia was making at him when she finally registered what he was wearing. Roman flinched at her question. He chuckled nervously a little as he felt daggers of disapproval shoot into him from her gaze alone. ”Well that’s cus, uh, I wasn’t originally planning on being here… hah. Just one thing sorta led to another. I’m sorry.” Roman somewhat explained trying to get the judgemental gaze off of him. Of course, as was expected, a Squad mate not knowing his name was somewhat of an insult. At least in most cases it would be. He didn’t really mind it. He was new. A nobody. The lowest rank possible in the squad.
”I’m sorry for not introducing myself sooner. My name is Roman Hahn. And you’re Eritheia Silva, right? We’ve never met but I’ve heard about you and seen you around the headquarters.” he said rather politely, bowing his head as he did so. ”And it’s nice to meet you as well, miss.” Roman extended his greeting to Shizuyoro as well. Of course he heard Eretheia draw out the word squad, no doubt in reference to him, causing a very muted grunt from the man. This was what he wanted to avoid. The judgmentalness of the nobles. A Silva. He jumped into the conversation of a Silva. He, a literal commoner worm, was in the presence of the one of the royal elite.
Catching the chair kicked in his direction before it could strike his manparts, he seated himself across the table from his guests and placed his plate of food down. But when he was asked if he wanted a mask, he blinked and looked up at Shizuyoru. He blinked again. His green eyes seemed to light up a little. ”Could you really make me one? Your magic must be really amazing if you can make something befitting the atmosphere like it’s nothing. I’d love one if it’s no trouble.” he accepted with a nod of his head and a smile. ”Unless I just happen to be mistaken and you just have a spare one on you. That would also be accepted, haha.” he added when that thought crossed his head.
”But to answer your question about our squad. It’s true that the Golden Dawn is selective. Particularly so. I like to think of it as being the exact opposite of the Black Bulls in a way. If they accept any and all no matter who then ours only accepts the best. I believe talent, potential, and skill is what it is they’re looking for. I think the Golden Dawn looks for those that are looking to be greater than they currently are. That’s just my opinion though I could be wrong.” Roman explained as he lifted a fork and stabbed it into some of the food on his plate and brought it to his mouth. He took a few moments to chew before swallowing. ”Do you have any interest in joining the Magic Knights, miss…?”
Post by Valo Stark✾ on Nov 5, 2020 22:27:50 GMT -5
Valo Stark
"Don't need a reason to seek strength."
"Is it normally this easy for you to get your feathers ruffled?"
"Pshh no. I don't get ruffled." Valo replied quickly, in his heart he was still the tough kid from Kikka. He would always try to hold on to that, by acting cool and tough. She continued though giving him more advice, her words were similar to Artemis's. She stated becoming flustered, irritated, and angry can cause one to make mistakes. This was something he heard a lot, he was quick to anger and sometimes become lost in his emotions. But so far his time as a magic knight was teaching him how to keep his emotions in check. He wasn't really good at it yet, but he was getting there.
"Thats what my mother says." he responded to her comments about his full name. Every time she used it though, he would twitch he couldn't help it. He hadn't heard it in quite some time. Very few people used his full name, his mother being one of them. But he was starting to think maybe he should embrace his full name a little more. Though for now he still preferred, Valo.
He looked towards her, and noticed she was looking else for a moment. Was something wrong? Valo thought this for a moment, but anyone or anything would be foolish to attack this place now. There was way to many powerful magic knights around, so in his mind he quickly let this thought go. But his mind continued to race around, and he was brought back to reality when Alyssa flicked his masked forehead. He looked at her quickly seeing a serious look on her face.
She gave him a small lecture, usually he wasn't the type to listen to a lecture. But he decided to listen to her words instead, the fire mage was in need of guidance and encouraging words. What she said made sense, and he knew it too. Before Kikka he was never the type to let his head hang low, or lose confidence in himself. He knew better than to take an enemy lightly. These words would start to bring his mental back to how it was before. "My flames are pretty stubborn." he replied clenching his fist, and looking at his hand.
"Dancing is another way of fighting Lord Valorisse..."
These words would cause his eyes to widen in shock, the young magic knight loved to fight. He never thought fighting could translate into dancing. But he wasn't going to back out of it, like everything else he would tackle it head on. He took a deep breath and let Alyssa place his hands where they needed to be. "You want me to lead??" he said in surprise. "I mean I'll give it a shot. If you are really sure about it." he said readying himself. He would take a few steps back, starting a dance that was trying imitate the other people in the room. His steps were a little hard and rough, he was being careful not to step on the Blue Rose captain's shoes. But perhaps to careful, his eyes staring at the ground to make sure his footing was correct. He was nervous, but trying to fight through it.
Potential was there, but his movements a little forceful and nervous. But he was determined to get this right. He did start to sense some familiar mana signatures though, one he hadn't felt in what seemed like ages. The other was much more familiar to him, but as the moments passed they were getting closer and closer. Till that fist familiar signature caused his head to look up and around. He felt this mana before, he was sure of it. But with everyone in the room wearing masks it was so hard to tell who was who. But he heard his name being called eventually, from a voice he knew pretty well. Looking in the direction of the voice, his sensory letting him know who it was. Hans! "Hans?" Valo replied looking at him, he saw the dark mage lightly step on his date's feet. Valo's eyes turned towards her, and he looked shocked after realizing who it was. Suna! The blue haired elf he ran into months ago! "Suna?" he said in shock.
He honestly thought he would never see her again, remembering that time she pelted him with a tomato and took off. "Oh my-I thought I would never..." he started to say but stopped himself. Looking back and forth between Hans and Suna. His eyes widened again, looking back at Alyssa.
"Ah sorry Lady Alyssa I got distracted. These two are...my friends..." Valo said awkwardly rubbing the back of his head, trying to make some sense of the situation.
POW 110
DUR 000
SEN 025
STA 065
CON 064
WORD COUNT: 793 TOTAL WC: 2,726 ITEMS: Kolivan's Lantern火之迦具土 Hinokagutsuchi BATTLE: Valo started conversing with Alyssa. He started to lead the dance, but not very well. His movements a little to forceful, but he has potential. Running into Hans and Suna, Valo is now super confused trying to figure things out.
Post by Waylynn Ravencrest on Nov 7, 2020 20:02:45 GMT -5
Waylynn sighed but her brother was right, they really shouldn’t be so wound up if today was supposed to be of a relaxing sort. They could perhaps make their way into the rest of the festival and come back around later the party would last all the way into the night after all. ”Well let us go do just that then, I doubt he’ll have stuck around the dance floor after a half an hour or so. In the meantime we can show the common people on the street just how we have fun, yes.”
Waylynn was the one leading them back out towards the city, there was little she could do about traveling back through since they had gone out of a side door she wasn’t going to be the one to mess up her outfit doing something like jumping the bushes at the royal estate. She took a glance at the dance floor on their way out, and probably would have spit out anything she was drinking if she happened to have it with her when she saw Valo dancing with the Blue Rose capitan but instead choose to continue walking and maybe ask him about it later. She was controlled after all, her expression had only faltered for a moment, and especially so seeing how rough his dancing was. Instead they slipped out the front door, and indeed it seemed as though the musician had also moved on since they had taken a break on the tarress.
The path leading up to the Grand Palace was bustling of course with people coming and going, they were hardly noticed as they went out and everyone was in masks, besides the expensive clothing they really might have blended directly into the crowd. The white-blond looked at the various stalls and things set up, apparently there were actually games set up in these places, an entertainment value she supposed.
”Shall we play a game? I can’t imagine they’ll pose much of a challenge to us though.” She was dismissive but still just bragging about it wouldn’t exactly prove prowess, she was sure someone had heard too. Therefore Waylynn approached the stall and looked at how the game worked. A simple one it seemed, just use some soft wooden balls and try and knock prizes down, she of course had no interest in the prizes for herself, why would she when they were so simple. Still she could give them away if she got something she had no use for. ”I’ll take a shot, Michail would you like to compete?”
She offered the chance to her brother, unsure if he would bring himself to it but there were plenty of reasons of course to do so, she could see him rejecting it though. She wasn’t content to sit on her laurels though, if she was going to be better she’d always be ready to prove it. She picked up the wood ball, it was lighter than she thought it would be, curious but not important in her mind. Looking at the offered prizes she had a hard time picking something out that she wanted to try at, but eventually settled on a hand fan on a pedestal, it was thin so it was probably easy to knock over but harder to actually strike. She would be gentle this time pitching the ball without really putting her strength into it, only for it to fly wildly off course and miss the target completely from a strong wind that seemed to be blowing through the stall. She narrowed her eyes at it thinking that something might be up but then again she hadn’t put a lot of effort into it either way. ”Michail? Are you going to try or not.”
Post by Alyssa Lilygate❃ on Nov 8, 2020 13:30:50 GMT -5
[nospaces]
[attr="class","gentext"]
[attr="class","header"]Not everything is as it appears
[break] The captain of the blue rose's covered her mouth a little chuckling as to his reply, he must have been unaware of his own actions on how he came across to others. She knew that there were only four or five years between them but she saw that he still had much growing to do, she couldn't blame him for his actions however he was as passionate as his element was known for but still if that passion wasn't tamed someone was likely to get burned and she very much doubted it would be him. "You are quite unaware aren't you." she said calmly to him bringing down her hand as she looked him squarely in the eyes "Something done or said that you don't like or aren't use to and you get flustered and or angered..." she sighed shaking her head "What if someone you cared for was harmed inside Kikka? or you found out a friend betrayed you? or a rumour that painted you in an unkind light? Or someone gives thanks to someone or something they shouldn't because of aid they gave?" she asked him trying to help him understand what she was meaning "These are times you must keep level headed as hard as that might be or you will likely make a mistake that might not be able to be undone." her eyes softened just a little "These are times you must look at things from other angles and or look for related information so you can best act appropriately. Flames are a marvellous thing but without guidance and direction they will become wild and burn everything within their path." she told him, she had no idea of how he was taught but it was about time he got a few home truths, not everything was black and white, there was the space in between the murky unknown that complicated thing. [break][break] "Not everything is always as it seems Lord Veloriss, things that look pure can have the darkest motives behind them and things that look bad can actually be done for the greater good." She said calmly, she knew of the actions from the first time within Kikka and couldn't blame the former green mantis vice-captain for doing as she did, she personally found it foolish to make a pact with a daemon without knowing everything that would be expected over six lives when hundreds if not thousands more could have been affected by it. She knew Artemis's heart was in the right place and though she did a dark act it was for the greater good in her mind. "You will need to break the tough kid act sooner or later Lord Veloriss, such things have a time and place but you aren't that street thug anymore." she said the last part of her sentence in a matter of a fact kind of way "You are a magic knight and though we must have that strong exterior we show to the world at times there will be other times that it isn't appropriate such as dealing with many of the survivors of Kikka." she explained her tone gentle but held a sorrow within it "They will need a rock for support and compassion as they work through the trauma that they are currently gone through and for the latter tough kid doesn't cut it." she said looking back at him "Kikka is your home and my best advice to you is after it is all said and done, lower your defences, mourn and heal with them." She knew just how hypocritical that sentence was when she very rarely lowered her own defences but she knew when such actions were needed due to the connection with the area that she was raised within. When they hurt she was also hurt so expected it was much the same for him so he may return to the tough guy persona while it was going on as his way to deal with the catastrophe that was current day Kikka. [break][break] She smiled as he spoke of his mother "She seems like a wise woman with a strong son." her tone warm towards him, she knew growing up she disliked her full name being spoken but it was something that she had needed to adapt to and accept. Her name was part of her and to deny it was to deny part of herself. Over the years she came to understand that if people denied something as silly as the name they had been gifted upon their birth then there would be a good chance they would never reach their full potential because of it. The way she thought of it as if you denied something so simple then you weren't at peace with yourself and it was only when at peace could you think clearly at all times and unlock latent abilities still hidden dormant within yourself. She knew it was a strange way to look at things but she did become stronger when she accepted herself for who she was knowing that some things were just out of her control so why bother worrying about it. She took note that he too was looking around the area "Are you looking for someone?" she asked curiously, she had no idea he had seen her looking around and though she couldn't shake the thought that something was wrong she had no proof to support that this was indeed the case, besides, there was the wizard king, his advisor, two captains, a vice-captain, a bunch of magic knights and civilians of varying strengths at current within the palace ballroom anyone who dared would have to be pretty damn sneaky as to fly under everyone's radar. Still, she knew it could be done given the right training and conditions. [break][break] "Fire can easily be doused just as plants can easily be burned but if the conditions are right plants can overcome fire and fire can overcome water." She wouldn't go further into what she meant, she wanted him to try and figure out what she meant by her words. She didn't doubt his intelligence but not everyone would understand what those words meant but hoped he would or he would discover it as he continued to grow further within life. She chuckled once more as she noticed his eyes widen as he heard her words about dancing being like a sort of fight, she was right about him it would seem. He enjoyed fighting but this was one he was likely going to get frustrated about as she would show him what she meant about having to adapt and not lose control of a situation. "Yes, I want you to lead. Do you take issue with this?" she asked tilting her head just a little a gentle smile still plastered on her lips as she looked to him. "I am perfectly sure, it is normal for men to take lead in a dance after all." she added "Do your best and remember to keep your eyes up at all times." she finished as they began to dance slowly. She noticed him take a few steps back but brought him closer "No, stay close enough to your enemy so you can feel their steps, their weaknesses, their mana..." she instructed him her tone gentle but stern it was clear this was a lesson he was in, she realised that he was now trying to intimidate the room around them "Don't try and intimidate those around you or your enemy unless you know enough about them. You are liable to show your hand too soon and so they know your strengths and weaknesses and so will play to them." she continued. [break][break] "Is the enemy on the ground Lord Valoriss?" she asked calmly "Last I checked I'm in front of you so that is where your eyes should be." she stated allowing a petal to touch his forehead as she leaned into his ear "If I was an enemy you would be dead now." She whispered her voice was cold and stern the petal was nothing more than a warning as to what she had told him earlier, it was something she knew he knew as he had told her so. "Keep your eyes up, mistakes can be made but you can't fix them if you are dead due to not knowing everything around you." she explained to him "Last I checked you weren't a tree, feel the music like you feel your own flames." she said starting to take lead for a moment before passing it back to him "Flames are not rigid they are free-flowing even if they are the flames upon candles." she explained knowing that they move within the breeze of the air and hoped he understood what she was getting at. She paused for a moment as he started looking around before saying two names, she gave a curtsy as she was introduced to the pair "It is a pleasure to meet you both, as my escort has said my name is Alyssa." she said before standing straight once more "Perhaps we can talk some when the music for this dance stops." she offered not wanting for either party to be disturbed at this exact moment in time but was more than willing to wait to finish the dance if needed.
"I'm not going to let anyone talk that way about you."
Her heart fluttered and swelled with an emotion she could not name. Joy? Contentment? Security? Whatever the reason, it felt reassuring that someone had her back and was willing to defend her, even at the cost of making a scene. He sounded so sincere about it, and she appreciated it. On the other hand, though, the liquor likely played a part in his actions, because otherwise her mercenary was usually quiet and immoveable.
But now onto the dancing! Suna was practically glowing with excitement at this part. Back in the Witches’ Forest, there would be gatherings where witches would perform group dances. Regardless of rank or station, all would participate. But this would be her first dance with an actual partner—a male one at that. Just like in the storybooks. If the dark mage was nervous, so was she, though her smile never wavered. Even when she felt the hand lower to her waist, It was all too exciting to be shy.
As he looked over at the other couples to figure out the steps to the waltz, she followed obediently. If he started off slow, so would she. The elf stepped back when he stepped forward, and vice versa, attempting to match the distance of his steps. She could hear him counting underneath his breath, keeping the pattern of the dance steps. It was all so endearing and cute of how immersed and hard he was trying. She could only imagine what kind of pressure the poor guy must be under, trying to lead in something he was completely unfamiliar with. She applauded him for that, and would somehow make it up to him later.
But now they were getting into the flow of things, and Suna was thoroughly enjoying herself. Her eyes half-lidded, she swayed in time to the tempo, fully immersed in the music while following Hans’ lead. Everything was going smoothly, until the duo noticed the familiar mana signature around the same time. Cobalt blue eyes widened as her memory served the name to the mana signature. "Valo?" She had not expected to bump into the fire mage again, and here out of all places. (Valo Stark✾)
Then the mercenary called out his name, confirming her guess but also piquing her interest. First Charles, now Valo? How do the two men know each other? Was it because of Kikka? That would make sense, as well as his explanations of training in the Green Mantis headquarters. But was it a coincidence that her circle of friends all touched points in some ways or another? The world was indeed getting smaller and smaller. She quickly snapped her open mouth back together, embarrassed that it had been hanging wide open in a very unladylike fashion.
It had been a while, almost a year, so if it were not for his mana signature, she would not have recognized the tall masked man. Then again, it would be difficult to find anyone in this masquerade crowd. It had been an interesting encounter, helping a tomato vendor deliver his produce safely to town. However, she remembered the bandits not standing a chance against his fire spells and melee fighting style. As for what happened next, they had parted ways and their paths had not met...until tonight.
Then she felt a heavy foot on her and she winced, but only gripped her partner’s hand more tightly, not letting them go. "Keep going." She whispered, just as she heard the finely-dressed lady by Valo suggest talking afterwards, when the song was over. (Alyssa Lilygate❃) Suna respectfully dipped her head in acknowledgement at her presence, and also threw her a knowing smile. These poor men. If they completely stopped dancing now, they would disturb the dance flow and other couples would certainly bump into them. There was traffic in dancing as well, something the two leading males might have to learn. No matter what, one has to keep going until the music ends, or exit out safely when on the outer lane. They could not do either, so they would have to continue until the song ended.
As they were in a different ‘lane’, Suna and Hans would eventually move away from the other couple, but she kept an eye out for them, marking their positions so they could find them later. Assuming that they would somehow go back into the flow of the waltz, the elf would turn her attention back towards her dancing partner. "Did you two fight together?" She asked softly, not wanting to say the place name aloud. "Like with Charles?"
Notes & Stuff
Outfit: hover image minus the little hat (original)
Post by Eritheia Silva on Nov 8, 2020 18:22:49 GMT -5
Eritheia pointed at Roman as he named the author of the text. "A pretty famous Witch scholar as well. She's written a number of books in the hopes of educating others on Witch history and way of life." Holding out her class for yet another refill, Eritheia glanced over curiously at Roman. "You're free to go to the witches' forest. In fact, I hear they conduct tours like a museum. Maybe you'll find yourself in the thralls of a beautiful witch if you go at just the right time." She said humorously before taking a generous sip of wine. The wine was beginning to add more warmth to her skin and she could feel the lightest flutter in her mind. It was a relaxing sensation and put many of her worries to rest, if not momentarily.
The spirit was now coursing through her body and leaving her feeling more at ease. It was numbing and left her feeling as though a thin veil existed between herself and the outside world while having managed to maintain the majority of her faculties. With this hazy state of ease, she felt less compelled to pay any attention to her noble composure. "Yep, that's my name." She said while taking another generous sip of her wine. "A member of the famous Silva family. A family with royal blood and therefore destined for greatness. Blah, blah, blah." She added before popping a chocolate into her mouth and chewed it almost stubbornly.
A faint scowl formed on her face before dissipating. "Hahn." A vaguely melodic ringing began emanating from her glass as her diamond ring gently struck its side. "Oh, yes. Roman Hahn. I thought that name sounded familiar. Well, not Roman but Hahn. Hahn Meat Packing. I thought I smelled the vigorous aroma of ham and salami. This now makes a lot of sense. Whenever I walked in a particular region of the Golden Dawn headquarters I would get the faintest scent of smoked meat. I thought it was just the chef's newest dish but it was much too far from the kitchen to be smelling that. You should have your garments thoroughly cleaned to root out those defiant odors, a likely drawback from working alongside your family in that butcher shop."
Eritheia laughed at her realization and waved her hand toward Roman as if to put him at ease after outing his smell. "It is good to finally put a name with a smell. Ehm, I mean a face. A name with a face." She awkwardly sipped her wine and glanced in the opposite direction in an effort to ease any tension. She watched Romana and Shizu converse and couldn't keep herself from thinking about how he was dressed. Surely a mask wouldn't resolve this debacle. ”But to answer your question about our squad. It’s true that the Golden Dawn is selective." Eritheia nodded as her eyes scanned Roman. It was the nod before the storm, as it were. A storm consisting of sharp daggers in the form of words.
"They were bound to get it wrong eventually." She remarked with a wicked gaze. Even she couldn't understand why Roman was a member of the Golden Dawn. What could they possibly need with a commoner? Surely his magic was paltry compared to their own. It was an example of how even a seemingly perfect system can have its faults. "What compelled you to join the Golden Dawn? I figured someone like you would gravitate more toward the Black Bulls or even the Green Mantises. Being around others who share your mentality sounds more ideal."
shizuyoru chuckled softly as she noticed the ......enthusiasm with which he responded to her suggestion. She gently raised her hand and let her palm face upward. And let magic spill upward from her palm like a slithering ripple of water, drib bling upward as though in defiance of gravity, that clear magic slowly creeping into a blooming growth of wood. Long, sweeping strokes of wood like brushes of paint, molding and shaping a mask. A long, detailed snout with tufts of wood like a mane frilling the edges. Markings curving along the underside of the eyes, and the snout slowly twisting along the inside before finally she smiled and presented it to him. "Here you are! It's a mask! And an instrument! Similar to my own!" She smiled, handing it to him and then reaching up and sliding the mask more firmly to her face and then blowing into the chambers in the snout. A low RrrrrOWL! sounded out, as the chambers accurately produced the sound of a snarling panther, before she set it back a bit more loosely and then smiled brightly behind her mask. Just a hint of Sound magic to add that musical quality to it, as it excelled in helping her make instruments. She was quite proud of it~
All the same, her attention shifted back and forth between the two as the subjerct of their squad seemed to come up and she raised her brows behind her masks. For all of Erithea's talk of nobles being petty, she certainly seemed to have ....hints of it in her own personality. Openly voicing her disdain for a man she frankly didn't know very well. "Is implicated hierarchy through competition a key factor among squads?" She inquired lightly, one arm across her navel, rested beneath an elbow as she let her cheek rest against her palm as she watched the pair thoughtfully. "Does it particularly matter if his magic is superior or inferior to your own? You're allies, not rivals, after all." She noted with a tilt of her head as she took another bite of some grilled meat from her kebab.
It was becoming abundantly more clear that Erithea was being a little free with the alcohol, and so as she noticed the woman's inhibitions slipping, she in turn became a bit more talkative, and inquisitive. Roman....... well Roman seemed much more plain and straight forward anyway. She felt no obligation to be reserved about what or how she asked him something. He seemed....uncomplicated. And between the two of them, she felt she could garner a good amount of information about these Knight Squads. After all, they presented a significant variable that would be present in any of her research within the Kingdom. It would behoove her to know more about them. Right?
“When you spend so long trapped in darkness, you find that the darkness begins to stare back.”
Oh, how could someone like Hans have been so clumsy? He let a small distraction get the best of him and ended up stepping on the elf's foot by mistake. The merc looked over to Suna's wincing face and apologized with hesitance. He knew dancing was going to be a bad idea, and what had just happened confirms it...at least in the merc's mind.
Hans would've raised his hands up apologetically if it weren't for the sound mage's grip. The woman whispered, encouraging the dark mage to keep going. She didn't appear to be worried at all at what just happened, but one could tell on the look of Hans' face that he still had some concerns. "Sorry...I just..." He once again apologized and was about to try and explain to her why this happened while looking over to the fire mage again, who was currently dancing his way over with that silver-haired woman. It's then that the merc paused, recalling that Suna had called Valo's name out before he did. "Wait. Do you..." Hans looked back at Suna, but before he could continue, the other duo was near them. The fire mage acknowledged both of them...with Valo exchanging a few extra words to Suna followed by a shock expression.
Hans...wasn't sure what to make of this.
As Valo looked back and forth between the couple, Hans just looked at the flame mage, trying to process stuff as well. He blinked a few times before looking back at Suna with an expression that was...hard to tell.
Opening his mouth a little, the dark mage looked like he wanted to say something, but then stopped as he heard the woman Valo was dancing with speak to him. The silver-haired woman seems familiar...but Hans couldn't put a finger on it, probably because of the dress and mask. He doubted that he personally knows this woman...but perhaps Hans has heard of her somewhere?
Thankfully, Hans didn't have to wait long to get his answer. As Valo introduced her, the dark mage immediately recognized the name and his brows widened a bit under his mask. Alyssa...as in the captain of Blue Rose Alyssa? Sure this could just be some other Alyssa, but her appearance, and that strong mana...
Hans of course was able to contain his shock and did a partial bow in return. The dark mage was also not expecting Valo to call him his...friend. The dark mage views him as a trusted ally of course, especially with what they had to go through along with their current training. They've learned some things about each other, and Valo is currently one of the very few people Hans could let most of his guard down around...but never has he thought of the possibility of them being friends even if it seems obvious from time to time. But this is because Hans is a pretty closed off person...but he has been slowly opening up. Does this make Charles his friend as well? The way he interacted with him earlier made it seem as such. Could the same be said about Genesis as well? Suna is a different case however....
Alyssa then suggested waiting until the music stops to continue, and if those two decided to start dancing again, then Hans would watch them silently for a bit before looking back to Suna who appeared to be doing the same, but it kind of concerned him, but why? All she was doing was looking at Valo...no, Valo, and Alyssa.
He felt a hint of this...unsettling feeling back when that one noble caught Suna, but it was quickly replaced by the dark mage's anger at what happened afterward. But...what is it?
Suna then looked back at Hans, catching the dark mage a bit by surprise. He then looked behind her to see that another dancing couple within their 'lane' was heading their way. The merc took that as his cue to continue dancing.
Back to the waltz, Hans didn't seem to need to count anymore to keep up the pace...at least not out loud. He wasn't moving as fast as the other dancers, but not slow enough to cause any of them to bump into him or Suna. His mind was also still on that strange feeling, but he quickly snapped out of it as the elf spoke up. "Hmm?" It took a few seconds for Hans to process the question. "Ah..." he gave a light nod. "We did...Along with Charles." Hans answered. He still didn't bring up that it was Kikka, but at this point, he wouldn't be surprised if Suna brought it up. "He's one of the people I've been training with."
Hans once again looked over in Valo's direction, fortunately not stepping on any of the elf's toes this time. He thought a little about his training along with that red-headed shadow mage...but his mind immediately went back to how he reacted to Suna...and that strange feeling returned. "How do you two know each other?" Hans asked, sounding a bit like he was interrogating her? "I..I mean...How did you two...meet?" Hans quickly added as he looked back to Suna, just now realizing how he sounded.
He didn't understand why he was feeling this way. This didn't happen with Charles earlier...so why now? Again he found himself looking over to Valo. As he was trying to make sense of this, Hans was beginning to notice how tall the fire mage is...as well as recalling how powerful the fire mage is among other things. This just furthered Hans'...envy? Is it envy? It feels sort of like that, but not quite...
....Perhaps it's something else?
POW
50
DUR
60
SEN
20
STA
23
CON
49
HEALTH senior
SKIN senior
MANA POOL 80/80
MANA REGEN 25 IC / 20 OOC
ITEMS Cosmic Blessing
NOTES Hans' outfit (He's also wearing a pair of fake fangs and white gloves.)
Post by Michail Ravencrest on Nov 9, 2020 6:16:04 GMT -5
Michail was quite pleased that Waylynn had decided to agree with him. Well, not that there was many reasons not to. It wasn't even his own arrogance at work here--not that it would be the first time that his own high opinion of himself would lead him to such a conclusion. This was, after all, a festivity. One meant to distract from the horrors at work at Kikka. The entire kingdom was in a down mood; thus, it only made sense to be willing to actually do something to try to improve the mood as best as one could.
Michail himself paid little attention to the surrounding as they left, seeing no reason to. However, he did notice something seemed to catch Waylynn's attention. Was everything okay? "Hmm... I may pry later," he mused to himself.
There was no reason to poke about it right now, especially given it might have just been his imagination. Perhaps another time. Upsetting his sister on a day of festivity seemed counterproductive to what both of them agreed upon, after all. He might have been outspoken on some things, but this Ravencrest also knew when to hold his tongue. The Family Head had saw to that some time ago.
Michail paid very little attention to the coming and going of others as the siblings passed them by; if anyone got too close to himself or his sister, he was ready to fight as a just in case, but thankfully that wasn't the case. As long as there were no pick pockets, things would truthfully be fine. Of course, if anyone dared approach Waylynn in a shady manner, Michail was more worried about the number of spectators that would bare witness to excessive force.
Waylynn approached a game stand that seemed like it was target practice of some sort. Of course, the younger brother was more adept in something like this. Unlike Waylynn, he was much more adept in accuracy. He might not have had to physically hold his spells in hand to throw them; however accuracy was still just as important. Still, he recognized that there was a certain difference in it that was dependent on one's own physical strength in this particular instance. Michail only did the bare minimum so as to not put on weight, but his genuine physical strength was basically non-existant.
"I shall spectate, dear sister," Michail said with a raise and wave of his left hand, while moving his right arm behind his back.
And spectate he did. The "younger" brother observed the elder sister's technique. How she tossed the ball with an over arm toss, the way her arm moved at the last minute, as well as the wind that knocked the ball away. How suspicious. That wasn't lost on him. But if that was how it was going to be played, then Michail would play a little trick of his own. He might have been clueless, but he was also a bit of a gambler. So he knew when the house was trying to make things more difficult on the players.
...Not that Lydia or Waylynn actually knew about his gambling.
"Michail? Are you going to try or not?" his sister asked. It was obvious she was annoyed.
Michail simply let out a small shrug as he smiled. "Of course dear sister. Accuracy does happen to be the name of the game after all."
A wooden ball was handed to him, and Michail tossed it at the very same fan without too much force. About the same level of energy Waylynn had managed to use. However, though the ball was still sent flying of course, it was... still suspended in air, and moving to its proper target, striking the fan and knocking it over. There was no sign of anything suspicious being used, but Waylynn likely noticed a thin red coating on the ball as Michail tossed it.
"May I take that fan my good sir?" the Silver Eagle asked. "I believe that is my prize."
Rank & Element: Junior Class & Type: Accessory Magic Specializations: N/A Appearance & Lore: The Magic Knight Mantle is an Item in which Magic Knights wear to show the Squad that are in. Each Squad has a different color Mantle along with their own squad logo as well. When these items were built they were made out of a special material. A material that allows them to be unbreakable from any sort of attack, but does not block the wearer from any attacks. Magic Knights of the Clover Kingdom has worn these Mantles for Hundreds of Years. Abilities:
Post by Valo Stark✾ on Nov 11, 2020 22:11:01 GMT -5
Valo Stark
"Don't need a reason to seek strength."
"I'm aware...of things...sometimes" Valo replied to her comment about him not being aware. But in honest truth the young fire mage was not aware at times, nor did he care to be at times. This was something he heard a lot though, his mother, his old teacher, neighbors. He was aware of that much.
"These are times you must look at things from other angles and or look for related information so you can best act appropriately. Flames are a marvellous thing but without guidance and direction they will become wild and burn everything within their path."
"I-I'm working on it." Valo replied honestly, his voice softer than usual. And this was the truth, trying to keep calm even in the most dire of situations was something he was working on. To many times in the past he would find himself getting in trouble again and again. Be it rival gangs, towns guards, a big fight. He was always able to rely on his emotion and punch his way out something, punch his way to victory. But being a magic knight he couldn't continue to do that, and he that know. If he questioned it before, after Kikka he did not question it again.
Valo was deeply trying his best, to be the best magic knight he could be. He didn't like to halfass things he set his mind to, once he made that decision to become a magic knight he was going to see it through with the best of his ability. Her comments about him not being a street thug anymore, hit him in a eye opening kind of way. What she said was indeed true, he wasn't that street thug anymore. No longer that tough kid from Kikka, who could brawl with the best of them. He was a magic knight and that meant so much more to him especially now. "Kikka is your home and my best advice to you is after it is all said and done, lower your defences, mourn and heal with them."
"I understand." He replied simply, a focused look in his eyes. He understood every word she said and took it to heart. He grew up a thug, but didn't grow up being ignorant. He was rather open minded most times, he wouldn't discard honest good advice when when he heard it.
They would begin dancing soon enough, and already he was making mistakes. This being his first time doing this it wasn't surprising, she brought him in closer when he tried to back away making Valo a little nervous. "Right." he replied to her comments about feeling an enemies steps, weaknesses, and mana. This was solid advice though, even in a fight Valo tended to rely to much on his own ability instead of feeling and taking notice to his opponents flow.
He tried to look at the ground, to make sure his footing was correct another mistake! She corrected him and he looked up, his face nervous behind the mask but determined. He was going to get this down! This was indeed a training session rather than a regular dance, her comment about him being dead by now confirmed it. He probably would be dead, he needed to focus more. It was bit by bit, but the fire mage was starting to get the hang of it little by little. He had a natural rhythm and good body control, his fighting style was more physical so this helped. But he wasn't quite there yet.
A small encounter with Suna and Hans, broke his focus for a few moments. He stopped and started to introduce them, but Alyssa was adamant on continuing the training dancing routine leaving Valo little time to wrap his head around seeing Suna again. He remembered she used sound and aura magic, magic he had not seen before. He went on one job with the blue haired elf and she left quite the impression on him. He was a beginning junior rank mage back then, a pure rookie in the field. It made him realize how much time has passed since then. He found himself looking back at the two as they continued to dance. It was obvious they knew each other, they were dancing, and unlike him and Alyssa they seemed really comfortable being close to one another. Were they dating?? Valo's eyes widened for a second behind his mask.
He quickly continued his dancing with Alyssa, no longer trying to intimidate the other dancers, and no longer looking at the ground. But this time at the Blue Rose Captain, his rhythm and footwork getting better, he wasn't moving as fast as everyone else, but more in his own pace. "Sorry about the distraction. It won't happen again, I wanna get this down." he said to Alyssa. When it came to training and learning something new, Valo would mostly always apply his full focus on it until he got it. This was just how his mind worked, he knew when it came to his grimoire he was supposed to be another common foot soldier. He didn't have a five, four or even a three leaf clover grimoire. He wasn't deemed to be special, or anything rather. His father deeming him a mistake.
But all this just caused him to work harder than everyone else, if he was going to be a captain one day he had to work twice as hard as the others. He began to whisper to himself. "Feel the steps, weaknesses, and mana." he said again and again. Feeling for the Blue Rose Captain's mana, steps. Leading the dance, and keeping up in rhythm.
POW 110
DUR 000
SEN 025
STA 065
CON 064
WORD COUNT: 942 TOTAL WC: 3,668 ITEMS: Kolivan's Lantern火之迦具土 Hinokagutsuchi BATTLE: Valo was caught off guard by Suna and Hans. But started focusing on the training and dancing lesson given by Alyssa. He started to enter his focused mindset when learning something new.
[attr="class","florencetext"] Lydia would listen as her captain spoke first to her and then to the other younger female mage that was originally talking to Ard. I would take it that far after all I was holding back a bit. As the other women started to speak again Lydia would listen of course the gazes the other pink haired mage was giving Lydia didn't go unnoticed. If the vice captain had to guess the mage was wondering how Lydia would actually react to what she was saying to her captain. Which was fair however Lydia didn't really care after all she trusted her captain to make smart choices about things. How could she call him her captain if she didn't? Of course if it became and actual problem Lydia could simply just get rid of the girl without at a problem at least at this current moment. [break][break] It seemed however the talk was interrupted by another mage Lydia knew a little about from her times at the black bulls base. The mage of course being Charles the laziest of the black bulls from what she could tell. However the kind seemed different and if Lydia remembered correctly he did fight in Kikka which could have explained the change. As he asked to speak to her captain Ardere would take his leave. Lydia would then turn to face the other mage. If you were looking for my thoughts on what you were saying it doesn't matter to me. I trust make captain to make the best choices to him and the squad. However if it ever comes to you causing troubles for the lions I will deal with you myself but please don't take that as a threat it's more of a heads up and you have nothing to worry about. [break][break] It was then that Lydia got the feeling something was wrong with her brother. It was more of motherly instincts from basically raising her brother. I'm sorry to cut our talk short but a family matter needs my attention at the moment. The glass mage would use her sensory to find Hania which didn't take her long. He was in a corner by the door more than likely trying to leave which she could scold him for later. As she was heading towards her younger brother she could grab a glass of wine for him as she didn't prefer the kind the had at the party. As she reached him she would hold out the glass of wine. Drink this it will help dull your mind and make dealing with what's bothering you easier. The vice captains tone of voice made it clear she wasn't giving him a choice this time but it also had a hint of worry in it. As she was waiting for him to finish the glass she would look around the room spotting Suna and Hans dancing she also spotted the captain of the blue roses Alyssa along with what seemed to be Valo but it was hard to tell. You can tell me about what's bothering you later if you want for now there are some friends of mine I'd like you to meet. [break][break] Assuming the other Ravencrest was fine with that Lydia would lead him to the group of four mages who would more than likely spot them. Hania the lady in the pale green and white dress is the new captain of the blue roses Alyssa Lillygate. The blue haired elf is Suna the man with Suna is Hans. Lastly the kid dancing with Alyssa is Valo he's a green mantis mage. It's nice to see all of you here tonight. Lydia would let her brother introduce himself her focus would shift to Alyssa who she would speak to briefly in elvish. yes's mára ana cen- tye mime nur manen have tye been?
[break][break]
[attr="class","florencelabel"] pow
[attr="class","florencelabel"] dur
[attr="class","florencelabel"] sta
[attr="class","florencelabel"] sen
[attr="class","florencelabel"] con
[attr="class","florencelabel"] speed
[attr="class","florencetag"]240
[attr="class","florencetag"]0
[attr="class","florencetag"]210
[attr="class","florencetag"]60
[attr="class","florencetag"]220
[attr="class","florencetag"]30 m/s
[break]
[attr="class","florencelabel"] mana skin
[attr="class","florencelabel"] health
[attr="class","florencelabel"] mana regen
[attr="class","florencelabel"] mana pool
[attr="class","florencetag"]archmage
[attr="class","florencetag"]archmage
[attr="class","florencetag"]70 ic // 85 ooc
[attr="class","florencetag"]505/505
[break]
[attr="class","florencextra"]COMBAT SUMMARY
[break]
[attr="class","florencetext2"]yes's mára ana cen- tye mime nur manen have tye been? = It's good to see you my friend how have you been? [break][break] Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum. [break][break]
He blinked rather sheepishly when his statement about the Witches Forest was corrected. He sucked his lips between his teeth and let his eyes drift to the side, before quickly leaning his head to the side and shrugging. ”My mistake then. I wasn’t aware. If I ever get the opportunity then I’ll go though not with the intent of getting snatched up by a woman of the forest as you put it.” he stated with a slightly nervous chuckle, scratching the back of his head a little bit. She really was sucking down on that wine. Was she gonna be okay? Could she hold her drink or was she looking for an opportunity to get inebriated? He didn’t mind drinking. Heic, he would go get some after putting in his hours but he wouldn’t think to get himself wasted at such a festive establishment. But hey, nobles were allowed to do what they wanted.
He blinked, confused though, when she seemed to dismiss the importance of her own household name. One would think she would be beaming and gloating about being a Silva but instead she seemed rather lax and uncaring about it. But his attention was distracted from the drinking Silva to Shizuyoro. He watched as from her outstretched hand wood began to grow as if from the forest floor. His green eyes watched with wonder and interest, blinking, as the created wood shaped itself into a mask as promised. With a long snout, intricate markings decorating the length, it was animal-like in its appearance.
”Thank you so very much.” he said with heartfelt gratitude as he took the mask into his own hands and investigated its design thoroughly with his fingers and eyes. ”It’s wonderfully made. The craftsmanship is incredible.” he remarked before finally putting it over his own face and was glad to find that he could both see reliably well and that he was able to breath just fine. No hot mask breath. He felt a lot more comfortable wearing it though. Made him feel better being here. Of course it didn’t do anything for his outfit, but, it was the little things after all. Of course Eritheia wasn’t as happy about it as he was. Instead she was picking apart the familiarity of his name.
The man paused and turned his attention back to the noble when she claimed that his family was… a meatpacking family? Ah, that was right. There was a family that shared his name, with no relation, here in the capital. A family of butchers and meatpacking. That was right. He chuckled to himself behind his mask. ”I’m sorry but I don’t belong to that family. Mine is that of farmers. We lived out in the country. Sure we had livestock at times that we took care of ourselves for food but… no we weren’t in the business of selling meat.” of course now he was grateful for the mask he was wearing because Eritheia decided to comment on how he smelled. How he smelled. Roman’s eye twitched behind his mask as he nervously tried to find his words.
”Well, that’s… I like to practice cooking. Trying out meats, herbs, and spices you only find in the capital. I want to give my family a good meal next time I return home. I’m… sorry that you happened to catch whiff of my hobby and that it’s lingering on my clothes… I will have them better cleaned.” he replied sheepishly, not really sure what else to say to that. He wasn’t aware that his clothes carried the scent of his culinary experiments. He wasn’t even wearing what he cooked in… maybe the scent was attached to him? Oh he didn’t like the sound of that. Maybe it was his hands that were carrying the scent of meat, oil, and spices. He did chuckle in response to her little slip up though. Mostly out of obligation but also cus it was kinda funny.
Though he did groan a little bit behind the mask when she mentioned that the Golden Dawn had “gotten it wrong” with selecting him. There it was. The reason he avoided the nobles. The same attitude that they all had about him. His eyes lowered themselves in the mask as he leaned back in his chair. ”Well, the Black Bulls and Green Mantises attract the sorts of people that I… didn’t really wanna be around. Problem people and former criminals, y’know? I like the color green but that’s not enough of a reason hah. And those two squads don’t really have what I wanted.” Roman explained. Sheesh. It would seem she really wasn’t fond of a commoner like him being in the squad. He made a mental note that it would be best to avoid her, or do better to not earn her scorn.
Shizuyoru’s question proved a much appreciated distraction. ”Well, yes. Competition can be a good thing. It pushes people to get better. But being able to cooperate when the time calls is just as equally important. So some instigation is fine.” he explained before hearing the comment about magic. ”My magic is rare. It’s not particularly great but it’s very rare. I suppose that’s why I got selected. It was between the Golden Dawn and Purple Orcas and… this squad helped aligned more with my goals.” Roman explained as he thought of a way to get the conversation off of him. ”What kind of magic do you the two of you have? I saw you make wood, Miss Shizuyoro. And your magic must also be amazing, Miss Silva.”
WC: 931 TWC: 4110
Last Edit: Nov 16, 2020 12:50:00 GMT -5 by Deleted
I don't know where the future[break][break] will take us,[break][break] But we will blaze it together.[break][break]
wc: 459
twc: 2737
@spiritball
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[attr="class","ardereescroll"]A smile crossed the Crimson King's pale lips, his mind fixated on the idea of losing another student. A small but powerful flame lit his heart with passion--the dragon within him eager to quell his worries. Things were different now. He did not dwell on his mistake, but rather lived for the future. Too many mages depended on his resilience and strength, no matter how much he liked to forget it. There was a power building inside of him, unlike anything he'd ever possessed before. His amber eyes moved to the young man's as he replied with a simple nod. Alright then. Meet me at the Crimson Lion base in two weeks. There we will begin our journey. Our destination will be...a surprise. So bring some rations and survival gear with you. It was imperative the Black Bull heeded his advice, lest he be unprepared for the journey that lay ahead of them. It was one the Lion aimed to make 'fun' but also a proper learning experience. For at the end of this journey was a reward few mages sought to acquire. [break][break] Inhaling sharply, Ardere felt the burn of whiskey throughout his throat. His words were not coarse, nor was his heart. The fire mage chose to step up onto the platform where the Wizard King and his advisor stood. If I may, your majesty. Assuming the King approved, he would address the masses with his impowering voice. Tonight they would hear his words clearly. Hello everyone. I hope you've been enjoying your evening. I know I have! A few words of advice. No drunken broom flying or carriage driving and....keep your spirits high. His voice went from loud and exciting to somber and compassionate. Even in these tough times, we must hold our heads high. We're the mages of Clover aren't we? So enjoy your night. Relax. You all deserve it. We've been through enough. I know it, the King does and that's why amidst all this darkness it is our duty to press on. The light at the end of the tunnel might seem far when you're surrounded by darkness, but often all you have to do is reach for it. So thank you all for coming. Please, enjoy the rest of your night. And drink up, yes?! Laughing and smiling, he held up his glass of whiskey. So here's to Clover. Cheers. Giving a toast to his kingdom, the Captain chose to retire to his squad base. But on his way out he said his goodbyes to his Vice and those he had conversed with before. It was a good end to a good night. He needed his rest. There were battles ahead unlike anything they had ever seen.
If he wanted to perform the best and not find himself caught off-guard by Captain Ardere's intensive training. Charles was fully aware of Ardere's reputation as the Captain of the Crimson Lions. He wasn't going to make the training for him, chances were that it was going to be much harder than the training back then. Considering the circumstances he and the rest of the Kingdom found himself in. The best the Black Bull could do was prepare himself mentally for what was about to come, as he didn't have such a chance to do that when he faced the Daemons. He could only imagine the type of challenges and tests Ardere was going to put him against, test him physically and mentally. It was too late to back down, his only option was to keep pushing forward and break his limits. That was the deal he made with him, after all. [break][break] "Crimson Lions base... In two weeks... Alright, got it. I assume this journey wouldn't a short one, considering all you're telling me." He had a strong feeling that the journey was going to be the toughest journey in his life for sure. The Captain of the Crimson Lions was telling him to get supplies. Fortunately, the silver mage counted with the means to transport the required supplies for the journey without much of an issue. Might as well spend those two weeks Ardere gave him looking for the supplies and survival gear he will need, a good time to spend his money on rations, supplies, and the best equipment he could get. Bringing along his sword and ring that would likely help him out if he finds himself in a pinch. "I'll take my leave then. Thank you for your time, Captain. I'll see ya' in two weeks then." The Black Bull took a step back after the Crimson Lions' Captain seemed to make an announcement right after he headed out. [break][break] The Black Bull remained there to hear out Ardere's brief speech, thanking everyone for coming tonight. Despite the circumstances, the Clover Kingdom found itself in and the challenges up ahead. They couldn't submit to the fear from the Daemons, as that's what they desired. Fear was a powerful tool capable of controlling people with relative ease and there was no more effective tool for having everyone submit than unseen fear, something that nobody expected. Hosting a festival during these times was quite controversial, but this showed that everyone wasn't afraid of going against them and they were willing to give their best. As Charles made his way out of the large crowd he managed to spot Suna and Hans dancing alongside Valo and the new Captain of the Blue Roses by the looks of it. It seemed like they were having a conversation together and didn't really feel like interrupting. Charles looked over at his ring and activated it. Focusing his attention on contacting Suna with his ring to tell her goodbye and tell her to greet Valo who was also with them for him. "Yo Suna. I'm using a communication spell, so only you can hear me. I'm going to head out now. I saw you were with Valo, the guy beside you and Hans. Do me a favor and send him my regards. Anyway, see ya." Cutting the communication between the two, the Black Bull stretched his arms before heading out of the palace. It was already getting a bit late. It was now time for him to head out after a productive night. If you could call it that. [break][break] Starting from today Charles had two weeks to prepare himself for the intensive training. He could only imagine what was in front of him, some sort of strange and effective method of training was something that came to his mind. Tough challenges were up ahead and the self-proclaimed lazy magic knight had to do something, even if it means to stop being lazy even for a moment. [break][break] [Exit] [break]
