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."
Hans just sat there and listened to the conversation between the two about this Faust person. Whoever he was, this person sounded pretty interesting, kinda making the dark mage want to meet this mystery guy. As far as he can remember, Hans hasn't run into anyone like that before, but it doesn't seem like he will be any time soon according to what Verena said. The guy just up and vanished not once but twice it seems. Suna brought up something similar when she went through the Hollow Nest dungeon causing the merc to raise an eyebrow. So she tried going through that dungeon prior to their attempted run with Lydia? Was that dungeon responsible for Faust and this other person's disappearance then? If so, the couple and Lydia...or well mostly the couple were lucky to have gotten out of there then...Not that it has dissuaded him from trying to go in there again one day.
This did make Hans think back about a few folks he met that seemingly disappeared. He wondered what became of them...hoping that they are still alright.
The merc noticed how quiet the summoner got after his...poor response, and it started to make him feel a little bad...and awkward. He wanted to say something, but the right words were almost as elusive as his skills in romance....
Should he apologize? Apologize about what exactly? Maybe patting her on the shoulder will work? No, that seems a little too...extreme. Maybe he should actually talk to Verena about the weather...but wouldn't that come off as a jab about her height? Hans was indeed hopeless in this situation...but fortunately for the dark mage, he fell for someone who actually has good social skills.
The topic of how Suna's mana felt was brought up, and this also piqued Hans' curiosity. His head perked up a bit as he turned to look at the summoner. Her answer made Hans place a hand under his chin, pondering a little about it as the sound mage spoke. "Hmm, you don't need to be able to feel mana to know that....or taste it." Hans claimed before looking over to his lady...that last part sort of slipping out. "Er what I'm trying to say is that...Suna is...gentle...yes." Just like that, Hans' smoothness appears to take a plummet when others are around.
Fortunately, the smell of cookies was enough to rip Hans away from this moment...for the most part.
Like Suna, Hans picked up on Verena's stomach as well but decided not to acknowledge it to save her from more embarrassment...Not like he'd be in any position to tease her anyway. Hans instead picked a cookie up and inspected it. The musical note design was so...Suna. Hans wasn't surprised at the least by this and instead chuckled softly at it. "Thank you, Suna." Hans nodded before taking a bite, making the guy nod softly again in approval. "These are good..." he mumbled before taking another bite...then another until it was gone. He then picked up another and was about to bite it before glancing over at Verena. If she hadn't already taken one, the merc would stop then gesture to the cookies.
"You should try some." He gave the woman a gentle smile before looking up at Suna. "Don't worry about washing any of the dishes later. I'll handle it." he claimed before finally devouring that cookie whole. It was the least he could do for Suna in return for such a good tasting snack.
Then as he tried to sink his teeth into yet another cookie, Hans paused as Suna brought something up, something he very much wasn't expecting.
"You...kept those papers?" Hans asked with a hint of concern for the elf in his tone. The merc would not have minded this if those papers weren't from the same person who that snake piece belonged to...and the couple both know how all of that turned out. Who's to say that the same thing won't happen again, that...she'll come for those papers? But then again, Hans has literally kept the sword itself so he couldn't talk...but in his defense, it was a sword!
Then again, Hans was still curious about how this thing works...how it was supposed to work. The various research papers speak of how the sorceress and her group were trying to channel Summoner magic through a medium, "borrowing" elements from various mages to do this. It speaks of how it is successful at summoning a golem now, but it is unstable and not able to keep its form for long. Among that is a bunch of other things that as Suna said are hard to decode...but maybe an actual Summoner could shed some light on this research.
"U-uh...Yeah, if you don't mind." The merc said as he looked at Verena, letting his curiosity get the better of him. Hopefully, this won't result in another encounter with some creepy little girl....
Post by Verena Reinsberg on Feb 10, 2021 15:54:07 GMT -5
[nospaces]
[attr="class","verenaver2image"] [break]
POW
DUR
SEN
STA
CON
007
34
10
032
030
[break]
MANA SKIN senior
HEALTH senior
MANA REGEN 25 IC // 20 OOC
MANA POOL 110/110
[break]
[attr="class","verenaver2scroll"]
Suna explained how she had met Faust in a dungeon. The Hollow's Nest. Verena frowned as she recalled that experience. It was far too fresh for her still. She began sweating profusely, as her mind raced through the experience. Her own weakness was not something she wanted to be reminded of right before going into Kikka. Her own fears. There was no way Suna could have known this, however.[break][break]
So with an incredibly pained smile as she tightly gripped her hands placed on her lap, the woman nodded accordingly. "Ahaha... yes, it was quite a strange sight... he worked more like a machine than a man, something I haven't seen from farmers yet..."[break][break]
"Stop thinking about it. Stop it. Don't let fear swallow you whole, Verena. You're with Suna. You're not supposed to worry her..."[break][break]
Verena had since stopped talking and was struggling to even listen, but she just decided to let Hans and Suna talk while she tried composing herself, to return to a state of normal. She wasn't able to listen to the specifics, but she was able to pick up on the difference in the two's way of responding to her comment on Suna's mana. Suna expressed a sort of gratitude, whereas Hans awkwardly stumbled about trying to say that it didn't take any sensory ability to note that.[break][break]
Suna confirmed that she had made some cookies, something to go with the tea. Ah, right. There was tea! Verena went to grab the cup but quickly had to move her hand back--thankfully she didn't spill any. It was still a little too hot for her to grab right now, but there were cookies being brought out now at least.[break][break]
She helped herself to a cookie, however--mostly at Hans' own encouragement to her. The tea wouldn't need too much longer to cool down, at least. She took a few bites, before Suna spoke up, asking her a question. "Huh? O-Oh? Of-Of course! I'd be delighted. I do uhm..." Verena paused, thinking about what she was going to say next.[break][break]
...That was right. This was the last day. Any further, and she would miss it. She would cause a massive issue if she lagged behind, surely. She had to make up for her own slowness somehow, after all, so...[break][break]
"Sure! I don't have too much going on after all."[break][break]
"Liar. Liar. Liar. Liar."[break][break]
What was she supposed to do? There was no way Suna wouldn't try to stop her from going. But ... she had to do this.[break][break]
"It's okay to just want to hide away here. You finally have a friend. Do you want to lose that and everything?"[break][break]
Of course, she didn't, but...![break][break]
"It's okay. Stay."[break][break]
...No. It wasn't. She had a responsibility.[break][break]
"Uhm... when we finish eating, may I see them? I'm quite curious..."
[break]
COMBAT SUMMARY
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[attr="class","verenaver2scroll2"] TL;DR yo i want cookies now too. this isn't related to the post, i just thought i'd share. i still want cookies btw. also verena has existential dread as she remembers the dungeon. also fights with herself about staying or going to kikka now that she's signed up. [break][break]
Both eyebrows were raised in a completely bewildered expression at Hans’ response, though it was more upon hearing him admit it with someone else in the room...in “public.” Nonetheless, Suna still flushed, understanding the implications. He really was such a dear, and she smiled sweetly at him. That little exchange was perfect in diverting the two’s attention away from the summoner, who seemed to be struggling with an internal fear—something that Suna did not pick up, fortunately or unfortunately.
At least they both seemed to be enjoying the cookies she had been making. "Help yourselves!" She repeated, pushing the plate towards the two. They were plain sugar cookies with a thin glaze on top, decorated with little musical designs...just because she could. And because why not? Sure, the cookies would have tasted the same, but having those little extra touches made things just a tiny bit more interesting and whimsical.
As for Hans telling her to take one for herself… "I know what they taste like...but I guess I can snack with you two." She had a sweet tooth, so it did not take too much effort—if any—to convince her. However, she shook her head at his offer to help with the dishes. "Just a few pots and pans, no need to worry about them now." Her hand instinctively reached out to pat the top of his hand, before reaching out for...another cookie.
The conversation flowed in and out, and the elf was perfectly at ease, being hostess to her two close friends. Though, the term 'friends' was an inaccurate reference to these two. They were closer than just friends, and close in different ways. She could just sit there and prop her elbows up on the table, listening and injecting in as necessary...which she did, though not the elbow propping part. Not today.
"You...kept those papers?"
"Yes, I did." Suna reassured him. "Don't worry, I hid them well." It was not like the greatsword, which could be more easily tracked. Over the rim of her cup, she threw a sideways look at Verena, trying to gauge how the other girl took to this new bit of information. "They're just paper," she explained, though her eyes flickered back to the mercenary, wondering just how much she should disclose. "Just the event in which we received them was...strange. But on the papers themselves, there is nothing magical or harmful on them. None that I can tell anyways. Just some scribbled handwriting and lines… parts of a graph or chart maybe? I'm not too sure."
Hans seemed all right with letting the other female mage see it, so it would be fine with her. Suna finished the second cookie and took a tiny sip of her tea. It was in the perfect temperature now. "Mmm..." She murmured, appreciating the fragrant aromas of her favorite beverage.
"Uhm... when we finish eating, may I see them? I'm quite curious..."
"Of course!" Suna delicately brushed the crumbs off her fingers and rose from her seat. "Let me go get them. One moment." Washing her hands quickly at the kitchen sink, she dried her hands on the back of her dress before making her way towards her little library. This left Verena and Hans to get along however they wished, the elf not knowing that they had something else in common that would be coming up very soon.
Regardless, Suna crouched down and pulled out a large encyclopedia. She had 'hid' those notes within its pages, right in the section where it talked about anti-magic—painfully little on that, as she was sad to discover. The blue-haired woman brought the large and heavy book back over to the dining table, nudging her teacup aside as to make room for it. Now she opened it and loose sheafs of paper fluttered. Only two were complete pages, while the others were in shredded pieces...courtesy of its travels through spatial portals and void magic.
"As you can see, these are quite in pieces...like a puzzle, almost." She motioned towards the said papers. "These two pieces seem to be from the same page...and these two here...and some random ones that do not seem to be from the same page." She laughed lightly, then moved aside if the other two wanted to get a closer look at them. "Two fresh pairs of eyes should be able to spot something that one has missed, yes?"
NOTES & STUFF
OOC: Just making stuff up as I go, don't mind me lol
"When you spend so long trapped in darkness, you find that the darkness begins to stare back."
Hans couldn't help but get a little flushed as well by Suna's silent reaction. It was just a gentle smile, but it was still enough to make Hans glance away and rub the back of his neck. That elf had some kind of effect on Hans...making him act in ways that most others would never see. But he didn't hate it....She brought out the best in the dark mage, and he hoped that he could do something similar.
But as he did glance away, Hans was now looking a bit in Verena's direction...where he noticed that tight grip the summoner had on her lap for a split second. That flushed expression on Hans' face had vanished, and he furrowed his eyes a little, not enough to be too noticeable. Was something troubling her? With how she talked about this Faust person a little earlier, she didn't seem too out of the ordinary from what Hans has seen so far of her. The merc didn't dwell on it for long though since he didn't want to make Verena feel uncomfortable so he brought his attention back to the sound mage.
Hans nodded as Suna decided to join them. "The more the merrier...as some people say." Hans brought up, a little sheepish with his words on the last part. He wasn't much for crowds, so that saying wasn't something the dark mage is all too fond of. A small group of three wasn't bad though, especially if one of them is Suna, and so far, Verena has been good company to be around...even with her little outbursts. He could certainly see why these two are friends. "I'll help you wash them later then." Hans added with a light smile just as Suna went for another cookie.
He wasn't doing this just to be a gentleman...but also because the dark mage wanted to spend time with her...before going back to Kikka. It's part of why he brought that gift as well. He barely made it out of that daemon ruled town the first time, and knowing how dangerous it is, he was planning on going back...even if it means that he may not be so lucky this time around. He was finding it hard to gather the words to tell the sound mage the truth as well, not wanting to worry her. Despite enjoying Verena's company, her being here wasn't helping much with his issue...completely unaware that she is in the same boat.
But then the conversation shifted to those research papers, putting Hans a bit more on edge. "Yeah, but still..." Hiding those papers didn't exactly put Hans' mind at ease....especially with how well that sorceress was able to track down the snake piece. But then again, if it were anything like last time, that blonde woman would've done something by now to either one of them. Perhaps she really was gone...torn to shreds by the very rifts and portals that ironically saved the couple....So why did Hans still feel a bit worried?
Despite his concerns, Hans allowed this, honestly a bit curious about these papers as well. Seems like Verena was on board with this, and with that, Suna went off to find those papers.
Hans watched as the elf walked off, smiling a little, but once she was away from his view, his smile faltered, forming into a bit of a frown. The dark mage had stopped eating the cookies and clasped his hands together, head lowering slightly. Again his mind was wrapped around Kikka, and how he should go about telling Suna. These could very well be his last days, and the dark mage was worried more about leaving his beloved than losing his own life. But...he had to go. What started off as him just being in the wrong place at the wrong time formed into something personal. He made mistakes the last time, mistakes that he wanted to fix. Hans has come a long way from being that no-name mercenary who rarely gave a damn...and he had people like Suna to thank for that.
With all of this thinking, Hans nearly forgot that the summoner was still in here. He glanced over to her, a rose his head up a bit. "Uh..." He looked over at her and was about to say something, but kept his mouth shut. His expression faltered again before turning his head away once more. A light sigh escaped his lips before he started to talk again. "You two are...really good friends, huh?" Hans asked, smiling once more, but it was weaker and probably not something that the summoner would see. "I know we barely know each other...but...but can you do me a favor?" He then placed his hands on his lap as he tried to get these words out. He wasn't fond of asking for favors, especially something like this.... "If something were to...happen to me...can you..." be there for her...be that shoulder for Suna to cry on? Those are along the lines of the things Hans wanted to say. But then he heard footsteps and the elf's voice...
Hans rose his head up in Suna's direction, trying to look as if nothing was wrong. She placed that large book onto the table, revealing various familiar and shredded pieces of paper. "Right." Trying to get his mind off of...Kikka Hans focused on these papers and pointed at one of the graphs. "Think this one is monitoring the growth in...power of the golem formed within the sword?" It was just a guess since there wasn't too much to go on. His dark eyes scanned another piece, making him furrow his brows. "I glimpsed at this one before. It said something about "extracting" the elements from test subjects, but I can't make out what else is being said...." Hans continued to read through whatever he could. It appears that the sword was close to being finished, but still had some issues....which might be why it can only summon one golem...and is only channeled to the merc's element.
Post by Verena Reinsberg on Feb 16, 2021 15:19:16 GMT -5
[nospaces]
[attr="class","verenaver2image"] [break]
POW
DUR
SEN
STA
CON
007
34
10
032
030
[break]
MANA SKIN senior
HEALTH senior
MANA REGEN 25 IC // 20 OOC
MANA POOL 110/110
[break]
[attr="class","verenaver2scroll"]
It went without saying that Verena had no issue with Suna joining them. She was surprised at all that Suna showed any hesitance at all -- at least, with her words. She was the one who made the cookies after all. It was only logical that she joined the two.[break][break]
Verena knew Suna well enough to know that she would decline any help with the dishes. She would offer to help, and she hoped Suna knew that as well, but she knew she'd be turned down. Admittedly, however, Verena did not know how to clean dishes that well anyway. It was a secret of hers. Growing up as nobility, there was always someone who did that regardless. It wasn't that she didn't try, of course. She had tried cleaning her own dishes in the past. She was just... awful at it. She always missed some spot.[break][break]
While Suna explained some information on the paper as well as the fact they were hidden, Verena's eyes widened. It seemed that these papers were quite... valuable. Enough to where they should be hidden. Not just that, there was some strange event that had taken place to receive them? And the fact that there was even a possibility that some sort of curse could have been imbued in these papers? Suna was just keeping something like that here?[break][break]
This naturally earned a frown from the brunette, though she hid it as she took another small bite from her cookie. How delicious it was... she wished she could sit here forever at this moment. Even if she was worried about Suna, right now everything was peaceful. Serene. It was like the calm before the storm. Did either of them know about the reclamation effort tomorrow, she wondered?[break][break]
Suna finished eating first, but Verena was still on her first cookie. She was an exceptionally slow, but incredibly clean eater. However, it was worth noting that as she held the cookie her arm shook slightly. Unlike before, this didn't seem like it was out of fear or anything. How strange.[break][break]
Verena's eyes glanced over to Hans when he spoke up. He seemed to be struggling with something, and it was obvious from his tone he had something heavy on mind. His particular choice of words seemed to indicate that he was thinking he could die soon... wait. It couldn't be... No, there was no way.[break][break]
She wanted to ask him. She wanted to confirm if he was going, too. But not with Suna here. It seemed that both of them had the same idea of not bringing Kikka up around Suna. However, she did not feel comfortable leaving his request unanswered. Not to a request like that.[break][break]
Suna had brought the papers out, showing them to Verena as the brunette combed through the pieces of the puzzle. She explained that two pieces seemed to be from the same page, as did another set, but there were others that made it difficult to figure out where it was at.[break][break]
Hans further explained what was being discussed, mentioning the growth of the power of the golem, as well as 'extracting' the elements from the test subjects. ...How dreadful. But it was no wonder that the experiment had failed.[break][break]
"...I see why this project failed," Verena said, running her hand over her temple as she furrowed her brow in disgust.[break][break]
"Putting aside my obvious distaste that there are individuals sick enough to use Summoning magic in this method, it's not an element that you can simply pluck and go. Effort must be put in to learn the element; not simply taken. Summoners are more closely connected to mana--to the elements--than any other branch of magic. That's why my golems will usually be slightly better in quality than the average mage's own golems," she began to explain. "That's probably why it was also trying to monitor the growth of the golems."[break][break]
Verena's eyes darted to the information before an idea popped in her head. She looked to Hans as she sorted this information together. She couldn't outright answer his request with Suna here, but she could implement a bit of wordplay--he was hopeful that he would catch on.[break][break]
"I'm afraid that's not something I can do. No... it's more accurate to say I should not fulfill this request. My doing so could not have the same effect. However..."[break][break]
Verena glanced at the papers. "I think if you truly care about this, then you'll find a way. No matter what." Her tone did indicate a different meaning, something she hoped Hans would realize, even if it likely would confuse Suna.[break][break]
She continued to read through some of the documents despite what she had said. "...I admit, it makes my blood boil knowing that there are people who would do something so heinous. Summoning magic creates. It does not take. It does not reuse. Why anyone would be so foolish to try to channel its power in such an inhumane manner is as nauseating as it is depressing."
"Hans, if you find an experienced enough blacksmith, or if you yourself are, I would happily work with you on creating something that is capable of channeling my magic. But... I would prefer it not to be this weapon. I would prefer not to have any association with it... I hope you understand."
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COMBAT SUMMARY
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[attr="class","verenaver2scroll2"] TL;DR verena really hopin that hans is capable of picking up on dual meanings in conversation. [break][break]
Out of the three individuals in that room, the elf was the most clueless of them all. She did not know anything about an upcoming event, an impending doom that hung heavily over not just a specific town, but on the hearts of those who were called to deliver the captives. Well, she would come to know about it eventually, but until then, it was probably a good idea that she did not know of the two mages' intentions. Otherwise, she would probably have tried to convince them not to go...or be worried to death. Secrets are never a light burden.
At least she was not worried about the research papers that she had carefully saved. It was not like she would get rid of them, not when they had looked important. Of course, she knew nothing about the intricate makings and intentions of that woman or the laboratory, but it was all so strange, it could not be innocent experiments like the ones the Coral Peacocks were known for—though their experiments were also by no means 'innocent.'
Now, as she laid out the bits and pieces of documents, Suna merely stepped back to let Verena and Hans get a better look at them. She had not heard any of what Hans had said to Verena in those brief moments, nor did she pick up on the peculiar expressions that the two exchanged. Blissfully unaware, as some would see it.
"Think this one is monitoring the growth in...power of the golem formed within the sword?"
Her eyes traced the graph that the mercenary was pointing at. "Looks like it, though I am more curious as to the 'why' of this strange project. Were they trying to make a weapon that is imbued with various elements and powers?" She tapped her chin thoughtfully. "It was not a pleasant place, that laboratory or whatever it was. So many different individuals were there..."
Not just individuals, but animals as well, if the boar was a true boar and not some weird hybrid of some sort. Just thinking about it also brought back to mind the scarred face of a certain witch. She and Hans had 'defeated' her a while ago, but seeing the damage that she had done...Vera had become a mere shell of what she was before. It was as if that woman had been...drained of her magic and life somehow. But she was not sure, as she did not get a chance to speak with the witch.
"...I see why this project failed."
"Oh?" The sound mage now turned her rapt attention to the brunette, who then proceeded to explain more about how summoning magic was wrongfully used in this situation. The elf had seen for herself how much effort and control it had taken for the summoner to learn her sound magic, and there was no doubt that nothing came without time and practice.
"I'm just curious as to what their purpose is? Is it to make an all-powerful weapon?" Suna wondered aloud. Then Verena went on to state something that seemed odd. Fulfill a request? What request? To look at these documents? Suna looked between the two, very much confused. But she simply chalked it up to a manner of speaking that she was not familiar with.
"I think the strangest part was that snake." Here her delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly, and her finger now tapped the table as she continued on. "None of my magical attacks did anything to it. It was almost like it...somehow absorbed my magic and mana? It was some type of anti-magical being."
Even now, the idea sounded foreign from her mouth. In a world that revolved around magic, something that so starkly went against the essence itself seemed impossible. Yet, she had witnessed it before her eyes, as did Hans, who was also there at that time. It was just such a shame that she did not have that sample piece of snake skin anymore. It would have been helpful if she could have had more time to experiment on it, but alas, that little girl had found it and taken it away with her, and it was probably lying somewhere underneath a mountain of rubble in a faraway land.
According to Verena, the very method of this project was also inhumane, and though the elf did not know much about these types of things, she was highly disturbed by the fact that people were locked up in cages and being experimented on. Those behind this did not seem to have any moral boundaries, not when it came to human life. Beasts she could understand, but what about that boar-man creature? She shuddered inwardly just thinking of how it might have been created.
But now, Verena seemed to be offering to help Hans make something akin to her summoning magic. Suna was a little surprised by this, as the two had just met. However, she supposed that her female friend could also get something in return from this. She had seen that light in Verena's eyes when she learned that the mercenary had dark magic, and if she knew her, there was no way she would let this opportunity pass. It was a win-win situation, and Suna saw no harm in it. It was also understandable that Verena would not want to work with this particular greatsword, not when it has been tainted by immoral practices.
"I know of a blacksmith nearby," Suna offered, "though I don't know if his expertise is in making weapons or not..."
"When you spend so long trapped in darkness, you find that the darkness begins to stare back."
After explaining a bit about those papers, Hans continued to silently read whatever he could about this. The merc was no researcher so he couldn't really make anything else about this. The little information that was presented wasn't enough to go with...at least that's what the dark mage thought.
"...I see why this project failed,"
Hans immediately looked up at Verena just as Suna did, looking a bit surprised by this comment. The merc was impressed at how the summoner was able to come to a conclusion with this little information and was definitely interested in what the woman has to say.
The summoner made it clear that she did not like how this project was being done, and the dark mage could not blame her honestly. The merc could only imagine what inhumane experiments went on to extract these elements from the poor souls unlucky enough to get caught by that witch. "Ada..." the merc muttered in annoyance. He really hopes that woman met her demise along with the rest of her facility...but the man did not feel at ease about this...not one bit.
Hans listened closely to how Verena was explaining all of this, breaking it down for the couple. Verena was a summoner so it made sense that she knew what she was talking about. Hans was able to keep up with the explanation, looking down at those papers occasionally as he did. This all didn't explain why the greatsword is only channeling Hans' dark magic now, but that didn't really matter to him. The more Hans heard about the sword made the guy feel a bit bad for even using it. For all he knows, those stolen elements were probably still in the weapon, locked away somewhere to never see the light of day again...just like the poor individuals that had their magic robbed away from them.
The merc still had his eyes on the papers when Verena looked over to him, so he didn't notice her until she spoke up again. What she was saying now...it didn't make sense to the dark mage. He furrowed his brows a bit and turned to look at the brunette in confusion. Was he...missing something? As Verena moved her attention from Hans back to the papers, the dark mage was still looking at her, tilting his head slightly. Her tone was a bit off compared to her earlier explanation. Hans ran what Verena said through his head again, taking it slowly until his eyes widened slightly. She wasn't referring to the papers...was she? This was about his...request, and she responded to it in a way so that Suna would hopefully not pick up on it. She was just as concerned about worrying the elf like he was...Verena really did seem like a good friend.
Hans smiled weakly before looking back at the papers as well. He didn't say anything for a few seconds but ended up nodding softly. "Yeah..." was all he'd say before briefly glancing over at Suna. Whatever doubts the merc had in his head had vanished...or at least slipped away into the shadows where they belong. He had no intentions of dying, not to daemons...not to anyone....Not while he has someone as wonderful as Suna in his life. He was going to make it back to the sound mage, safe and sound....
"The snake?" Hans' attention was fully on Suna now, having nearly forgotten about that creature. "Ah...right." The snake that seemingly erased any magic that it came in contact with. "Are we certain that was really anti-magic?" Hans asked before looking at the papers some more. "It could've been just absorbing it in some way." the merc added. The idea of anti-magic sounded almost ridiculous to the dark mage now that he has had time to think about it since then. Was there even such an ability...to erase magic? Whether it really was anti-magic, or some absorption trick, a creature with such an ability was dangerous...especially in the wrong hands. How Ada was able to form such a creature may never be known...assuming she's dead.
With his attention back on Verena, Hans listened more about the woman's distaste for this experiment...but then his head perked up a bit at the summoner's offer. "Y-you'd do that?" the merc blinked a few times, a hint of enthusiasm in his voice. But the two barely knew each other...Would she really be willing to share her magic with the dark mage? His attention then went to Suna once more, claiming she knew a blacksmith. "Y-you do?" Again that same hint of enthusiasm. If talking about magic is what gets Verena all excited....swords have a similar impact on Hans even though he does not show as much expression. He was honestly looking more forward to the sword itself than the magical properties. What type will it be, how will it look...and most importantly, how will it feel while he's wielding it!?
But....the man was getting a bit ahead of himself. "Oh, hmm..." He cleared his throat before looking back at the summoner. "Y-you really don't have to go through the trouble..." He rubbed the back of his head. But if they really do go through with this, the merc intends on paying the summoner back somehow.
Post by Verena Reinsberg on Feb 22, 2021 23:10:20 GMT -5
[nospaces]
[attr="class","verenaver2image"] [break]
POW
DUR
SEN
STA
CON
007
34
10
032
030
[break]
MANA SKIN senior
HEALTH senior
MANA REGEN 25 IC // 20 OOC
MANA POOL 110/110
[break]
[attr="class","verenaver2scroll"]
Verena had an answer to Suna's question as well. "Mages are bound by one element, rare instances of two. That element becomes their greatest sword and shield, but also their greatest weakness. There is no element that is stronger or weaker than another, as each element has its own limitations and an affinity that makes it weaker to something else."[break][break]
"This project was done in an attempt to mitigate that weakness. As I said, my golems will be a bit stronger than the average person's golem of the same element. Now, effectively take away the weakness a person might have with their own element? The advantage would be incredible. Not just that, by locking it to a weapon, you remove the 'weakness' Summoners have. At least, as far as I can tell. Any magic I use that isn't pertaining to golems is through my Carbon magic."[break][break]
Verena took a sip of her tea, letting out a small sigh. This conversation was tiring. She didn't want to talk about such negativity. Not when she was heading out to Kikka tomorrow. Verena thought about it for a moment. If something were to happen to her, she would have no way of telling Suna this. Similarly, she wasn't sure if Hans had the same issue, but there was no way she could say it out loud. There had to be a way to tell him without telling Suna. It seemed as though the Dark mage was able to pick up on it on his own response.[break][break]
"Anti-Magic?" the woman curiously mused. "That should be impossible. Are you sure you aren't confusing it for mana absorption? I've heard stories of such a magic existing... though I suppose it doesn't exactly cancel it..."[break][break]
Verena thought long and hard about what they were talking about. She was intrigued because she knew there was no way they were lying. But at the same time, the idea of something possessing the ability to completely nullify magic was so absurd she could not wrap her mind around it. If such a being did exist, then their very existence was a pitiful one. But this was the product of an experiment if she was to guess. It might not be impossible for an artificial being to be made that way...[break][break]
After everyone had their fill on the conversation at hand, the conversation switched to her own suggestion-- that she would be willing to work with Hans on such a weapon. She was mostly caught off guard by Hans' own surprise, but most importantly, his own enthusiasm. She could tell from that look in his eye that weapons were something he quite enjoyed. She wasn't sure if she could share that enthusiasm or not, but she wasn't going to knock it down. In fact...[break][break]
"It's no trouble at all. I fully intend to have you teach me your magic at some point, when you feel more comfortable with the idea at least. What're your favorite types of weapons?" she asked with a cheerful smile, curious to see if he would have a similar response to her own earlier.[break][break]
Verena was not the sort of woman who cared for them, but she wanted the topic to be a more jovial one. Perhaps it would be best if nobody knew if something were to happen to her, in truth. Right now, she was happy that Suna and Hans had one another. If anyone found out anything about her if she was to perish and Suna found out... Verena would feel terrible. She would rather the elf hate her than to mourn her.[break][break]
"A Blacksmith might not be a bad idea, but ..." her enthusiasm died down a bit, as she smiled. "I'm in no rush. Besides, moving around much is a bit... difficult for me anyway. I'd rather enjoy the company here right now. I hope that's okay with both of you."
[break]
COMBAT SUMMARY
[break]
[attr="class","verenaver2scroll2"] TL;DR idk what im writing i had muse and then i was like "woah idk what i'm saying" and then i went to delete it but i was like "yeah but this makes sense" and as you can see i am overthinking but if there's any issues pls let me know. sorry about the shorter post than usual ;-; [break][break]
Suna nodded slowly as she absorbed all the information that Verena was sharing. It helped that the girl was an expert in her field, and had such a large mass of knowledge to offer. It made sense that each element had their own strengths and weaknesses, so on the barest level, none was really better than the other. With the right pairings, any magical elements could be countered—or strengthened.
Elven ears perked up at the mercenary's muttering. Specifically, of a name. So he did know her, whoever that scientist woman was. She had thought to ask him about it, but had forgotten about it until now. Though she did not voice her concerns, she cast a dubious look at the man. She would ask about that later...
She was also confused at the conversation that seemed to be about the topic at hand...or was it? It was all very mysterious, and didn't they just meet? But whatever, must be some type of jargon the elf was not familiar with. Then came the topic upon the strange snake, and she shrugged, just as clueless. "I don't know if it's anti-magic or some type of mana absorption. Likely the latter, though there's no way of actually testing it out." She was not even sure if the piece of skin could still do what it had done, even if she had it. Would it have worked even if its host was presumably dead? When she had retrieved it, it felt like any other ordinary snake skin—smooth, scaly, and deadly cool. Nothing out of the ordinary, she thought.
"If it was anti-magic, that would be going against the core of...well, everything..." she mused aloud, though more to herself than anything, "If it was mana absorption, then it would need somewhere to channel the collected mana to, wouldn't it? That would be dangerous, harnessing such large amounts of mana within itself..." Was it the source of powering those cells that they were kept in? Though she did recall seeing a large crystal on the entrance of the prison area. She supposed that there were just some things that they would never find out.
It was a welcomed change of pace, however, when Hans brightened up and looked enthusiastic about the weapon that Verena offered to help him make. Though he turned bashful again, saying that he did not want her to go through the trouble. She nudged him on the arm. "Come on, it's a perfectly fair deal, isn't it? You teach her your magic, and she helps you make something. Ah, by the way," the blue-haired mage turned back to the brunette. "Have you learned any other elements since the last time we've met?" She doubted that this summoner would be lax or uninterested if anyone along their way offered to teach her.
It seemed like Verena thought they were going to go visit the blacksmith right this second. "Oh no, no. Not right now!" Suna laughed, shaking her head as she did so. "In the future, whenever both of you are free." Besides, she was also enjoying the company she had right now. So of course, she had to ask if this happy occasion could somehow be prolonged or carried over.
"Are you two free tomorrow? It's a pity that I don't have any food in the house right now, otherwise I would offer dinner." She apologized, but continued on, completely unaware of the other two's concerns. "I'm going grocery shopping tomorrow morning, so anything in particular you two like to eat?"
NOTES & STUFF
OOC: Ahem time to 'fess up...or dodge the question :eyes:
"When you spend so long trapped in darkness, you find that the darkness begins to stare back."
Hans had to admit, when it comes to elements and magic, Verena sure knew her stuff. The dark mage could certainly see what Verena meant when she was talking about the intentions of this weapon's creation. One of the things Hans noticed when first using the sword was that the dark magic formed from it moved faster than his natural magic. It felt easier to control and cast. Just the thought of that same effect being on other elements if the sword were completely felt almost terrifying if in the wrong hands...but the merc would be lying if he said he wasn't at least a little interested in wielding a complete version of this sword. But still, his morals were outweighing his curiosity, especially now fully understanding how much suffering went into the creation of this greatsword.
The summoner's brief talk about holding two elements also got the dark mage's attention. A rare occurrence that happens to some mages. He is already aware of Suna's Sound and Pure Aura elements, but Verena's talk of also having Carbon piqued Hans' interest. He was curious...curious about how and why some people are born with such a gift...questioning if there might be a second magic...lying dormant within himself as well.
The conversation then shifted to that snake piece. Hans said his piece, but whether that snake contained some magic absorption...or some kind of anti-magic was still on the table. Hans was just as unsure about it as the other two were, causing him to place a hand under his chin as he pondered this. Magic absorption made more sense...but the way both his and Suna's magic reacted to that creature when it was still alive, it looked like it was breaking their elements down...erasing it. It didn't look like absorption...at least not to Hans....but that didn't make any sense. He closed his eyes, trying to wrap his mind around that event, but shook his head lightly as he wasn't able to come to a conclusion. "Well, it's dead now, so it doesn't really matter anymore..." Hans added, but whether it's dead or not, the fact that it existed at all was troubling...especially if it does turn out to be anti-magic. Who knows what other experiments that Ada might have worked on involving that...and now with her facility in shambles, those experiments could be out there if they haven't been destroyed...
On a more positive note, Hans was taken completely off guard by Verena's offer. She was really willing to make a new sword...for him!? Deep down, the merc was happy to hear this, already thinking to himself what kind of sword it might be, focusing more on the weapon itself instead of the element. But of course, he couldn't just have her go through the trouble of making something for him, especially since they barely know each other, only connected by their mutual relationship towards the sound mage.
"It's no trouble at all. I fully intend to have you teach me your magic at some point, "
But of course, this wasn't going to be a one-sided thing. "My...magic?" Hans knew what Verena was referring to, and he had no problems with it...but he had one little concern. When it comes to combat, Hans is a pretty decent teacher...but to teach someone how to use his own magic...He could already tell how awkward this might all turn out. But he did also want to see firsthand how Verena does it.
He felt Suna nudge him, and the merc turned his head and listened to her words of encouragement. It really does sound like a good deal...but the only thing Hans wasn't confident about is whether he'd be able to teach her well enough....
But of course, those waves of doubt subsided the moment he heard Verena's question...
"What're your favorite types of weapons?"
Oh boy...
Hans looked back over to Verena before opening his mouth. "Swords." is what he said...but it didn't end there. "I'm fond of a...wide variety of swords in fact..." He then rose his greatsword up a little and smirked. "I've been using this for some time now, but I also have a katana...It's not the strongest in comparison, but it makes up for that with its swiftness." He then started to stroke his chin. "I have yet to try a rapier, but the design of their hilts are quite interesting..but I prefer the blade of a bastard sword more." he nodded, his eyes closed as he continued to stroke his chin. "Though, I will admit that a rapier has a better reach, especially when comparing it to something like a Falchion." He added as he rose a finger up. "This isn't even going into full detail about my preferences to eastern or western swor-"
The merc finally opened his eyes and noticed that he was rambling...a little. He slowly lowered his finger and glanced away. "Er...swords..." He was now rubbing the back of his neck. "My favorite weapons...are swords..." He muttered embarrassingly.
Now he knew how Verena felt....
There was a hint of disappointment on Hans' face after hearing that they weren't going to the blacksmith now, but he quickly changed his expression a little a nodded in agreement. Looks like the sword was going to have to wait.
"Are you two free tomorrow?"
But then the merc winced a little at the question. "Tomorrow..?" he muttered once more as Suna spoke. He did not make eye contact with her.....He couldn't. A lot of what she was saying was starting to be drowned out by thoughts of Kikka, about him intending to go back.
Why did it have to be tomorrow...?
"I uh...won't be...available...tomorrow." He rubbed the back of his neck again, trying to find an excuse. The last thing he wanted was to worry his lady. "I'm going to be...busy...and...uh...will be out of tow..." Hans clasped his hands together, tapping his thumbs against each other. He glanced over to Suna...which was probably a mistake. Now he couldn't get his eyes off of her, making it even harder to make something up. He was silent for a bit, and managed to look back down...but his attempts at hiding the truth were now broken. Hans wasn't an easy person to break...but when it comes to Suna, he is practically a fragile piece of glass...ready to tip over and shatter at the lightest of breezes...
"I..." He let out a sigh. "I'm heading back to Kikka....tomorrow." He still could not make eye contact. "I couldn't find the right opportunity....or words to tell you...and I didn't want you to worry." He said, finally able to shift his attention back to the sound mage. "So I came here to spend some time with you...since I have no idea when I'll be back..." He wanted to also say 'if he'll be back' but then the dark mage glanced over to Verena, remembering the subtle words she had told him. "But..." he looked over once again to Suna. "I will come back....I promise." If she was close enough, the dark mage would attempt to place a hand on top of the elf's own. "So...don't go worrying yourself about it...Okay, Suna? You can berate me as much as you want for not telling you sooner when I return." he added with a little smile, trying to lighten the mood.
Little did Hans know that he wasn't the only one in this boat....
Post by Verena Reinsberg on Mar 3, 2021 2:10:36 GMT -5
[nospaces]
[attr="class","verenaver2image"] [break]
POW
DUR
SEN
STA
CON
007
34
10
032
030
[break]
MANA SKIN senior
HEALTH senior
MANA REGEN 25 IC // 20 OOC
MANA POOL 110/110
[break]
[attr="class","verenaver2scroll"]
Verena was finishing her tea at this point, drinking it in moderation as Suna and Hans discussed the matter in a bit more detail. This anti-magic idea was... it couldn't exist. If it did, it could topple entire kingdoms if weaponized. It would bring about the end of this modern era as all four kingdoms knew it. More importantly...[break][break]
"...If anti-magic did exist and was successfully weaponized, that leads credence to the possibility of it being mass distributed to foreign powers or being used to create an empire by dominating the other kingdoms," the brunette said calmly taking a sip. The topic bothered her immensely, and so she wanted to put an end to it the only way she knew how. "The world at large is largely unprepared for such an assault. It is not a stretch to say the world as we know it could end if such a power was weaponized by a foreign militia with sufficient skill. Thus, it does not exist, because we cannot afford for it to exist. It isn't a logical argument, but the reality of it isn't any less true." she said without so much as a stutter.[break][break]
Verena's eyes looked away from the group as she said that, frowning. No, this wasn't it. This wasn't what she wanted. What she needed. She just wanted... peace. Calm. This conversation at large was everything she did not want. And that was precisely why she transitioned the topic to Hans and what his own passion was. She listened with interest as he went onto talk about the different swords.[break][break]
Similar to herself, Hans was quite knowledgeable when it came to his passions. He seemed a little happy when talking about it, evident with that smirk. Katana, rapier, falchion, bastard swords. He was well versed in the topic; at least, enough to talk about his preferences. It seemed he preferred larger blades to slimmer ones if that was the case.[break][break]
That made sense though, she felt. He was a user of Dark Magic, and broader swords allowed for more coverage. When reinforced with dark magic, it allowed for higher levels of protection, but also for more offense. He could protect himself or others more easily with Dark Magic. That was the general vibe the merc gave off. He was a little intimidating, but... his mana. She might not have been a sensor, but ...he was gentle. Honest. Himself.[break][break]
Verena's own expression darkened a bit when Suna talked about what was going on tomorrow, but Hans had brought up Kikka, confirming her suspicions. ... Changing the topic now would be wrong. This was an issue for these two. She knew she shouldn't butt in on this topic. But his honesty was on full display, being unable to lie to his beloved about something as severe as this.[break][break]
...She envied that. She really did. Verena wished could she could do the same. She wasn't a good liar, but she had to be. No question neither of them expected her to be in Kikka, nor to survive if she was. And she wouldn't fault either of them for thinking that, as she herself had little reason to believe that she would survive the event. But at the very least, this allowed her to avoid the suspicion from either.[break][break]
"...You aren't even a Magic Knight, yet you're going?" Verena asked, slight concern present. "...That's pretty noble... a Magic Knight I met before coming here tried teaching me Silver Magic, but he had to leave per a call from the Black Bulls. Charles, I-I uhm... think his name was... even he's not willing to go back. He told me that he was part of the original group..."[break][break]
"...If you die, I won't forgive you. Because you'll hurt Suna. But..."[break][break]
"...If you care enough about her, I don't think you'll die. I think... it will only make you stronger. And love her that much more. I think... you'll learn a lot about what it means to be alive in Kikka. And that will let you cherish the people closest to you that much more. I can tell you're strong. I may not be a sensor, but I've been paying close attention to your mana. It's confident, reckless... but it feels like it finally found a purpose. Hold fast on that purpose Hans. For Suna's sake. Please?"[break][break]
Verena seemed to be pleading to Hans with this request. She didn't want any harm to fall this man. Not because she knew him that well. But because she valued Suna from the bottom of her heart. Of course, regardless of the matter, she wished no harm on this man. She genuinely wanted him to return alive, as she wished for everyone else to do so. She wanted order to be restored in Kikka, as it had been lost two months ago. It was vital.[break][break]
Once Suna had gotten it out of her system, assuming that Verena's words and request to Hans had calmed her down, Verena gave a bit of pause, wishing to change topics. "...I want to give you two some time alone. I think it's important I do so." she said, glancing out the window. Evening. If she left now, she'd be early, but that was fine. She needed to leave around midnight to make it on time.[break][break]
At least she wouldn't have to answer what she herself was going to be doing like this.
[break]
COMBAT SUMMARY
[break]
[attr="class","verenaver2scroll2"] TL;DR ya'll can we get some fkn tissues this is so sad, alexa play decpacito. verena's stressin because it's a depressing topic @these experiments, shuts it down by asking hans about swords. kikka is mentioned, and verena is worried now that her worries are confirmed. tries to comfort hans and suna both, before offering to dip to give them some alone time. [break][break]
To be honest, Suna would be interested to see what kind of golems Verena could make out of Hans' dark magic. Golem users often had very creative ideas when it comes to shaping their creations. The summoner's spells certainly showed that, as well as some other enemies that she had fought before that took on various forms and shapes. Of course, some were more bizarre than others, but most had looked fairly tame in nature, more helpful than scary. She could only imagine what kind of abominable-looking golems could be made...
"Swords."
Suna was brought back to the present with the mercenary's explanations about swords being his favorite weapons—it was probably considered a ramble for him, but she was all for it. Just like with Verena, they merely had to touch upon their area of interest and they were off. That was much what a hostess does, not only entertaining her guests, but also helping them find middle grounds and building connections. These two in particular were her favorites, so it was such a relief that they seemed to get along so well. Everything was going on so well...until she asked about their plans for the morrow.
"I uh...won't be...available...tomorrow. I'm going to be...busy...and...uh...will be out of tow..."
The elf looked at him, a little concerned...and suspicious...though for reasons that were not related to whatever he was to explain later on. "Oh?" Her first initial thought was that maybe he was hiding a good surprise from her. But then she also glanced over at the other female, but noticed that her expression had also changed. The elf was confused and did not know why. What was so important about the next day?
The sound mage turned back to the mercenary, but he was not meeting her eyes, and it definitely did not look like he was trying to hide something good. Immediately, her heart sank a little. Was it her worst fears coming true? Was he going to be busy because he was meeting up with someone?
But since Verena was still present...she would try to be understanding about his absence. "That's okay. How about the day after? Will you be back by then?" She was just about to offer Verena the same thing if she was also not available as well, but the mercenary finally looked up, and for once, she was afraid at what she saw.
"I...I'm heading back to Kikka....tomorrow."
"You're going back to Kikka?" She echoed, a little dumbly. It took a second for her brain to register what he said, but as soon as she did, her eyebrows shot off her forehead. "B-But...why?" Her voice definitely squeaked at the end there. "Why?" At least it is not because he found another pretty girl, right?
"...You aren't even a Magic Knight, yet you're going? That's pretty noble..."
Even Verena sounded concerned. Noble or not, it did not help when she also mentioned that Charles had decided not to go back. Suna had ran into the silver mage just a little while ago, and the young man had definitely borne the mental marks of that shadow-infested place. But why didn't Hans tell her sooner? And why in the world would he want to go back?
"I couldn't find the right opportunity....or words to tell you...and I didn't want you to worry. So I came here to spend some time with you...since I have no idea when I'll be back..."
For once, the elf was struck speechless. He did have a point, as if she had known earlier, worry would be eating her alive by now. But still, another part of her was hurt that he did not trust her enough to share this with her earlier. Such an important thing, and he did not think she had almost a right to worry about him? Sure, he may have had good intentions about not worrying her, but the way she saw it, he did not think she would have been able to handle the weighty information.
Either way, even if he had told her earlier, she would have tried to talk him out of it, so there would not have been any win on either side. But she was less concerned of that now, not when she was too preoccupied with the current hurt. It both stung and saddened her, and even though his visiting her should have been a slight comfort, it did not...especially when he said he did not know when he would be back.
"So..." She chose her words carefully, slowly. "If I hadn't brought this up, were you going to just leave for Kikka tomorrow...without ever telling me?" Her tone was soft, dangerously soft. She had an idea of what his answer would be, but regardless, she knew he would go back. Whether by royal order or some other reason, there was no way she could move him now.
"...If you die, I won't forgive you. Because you'll hurt Suna. But..."
"Verena..." Suna whispered. She should be glad that her friend was trying to comfort her by 'threatening' Hans and taking her side, but at the same time, it was reminding her of the very real danger of her beloved dying out there. Dread settled all over her features and aura.
"But...I will come back....I promise." She felt his hand on top of hers. "So...don't go worrying yourself about it...Okay, Suna? You can berate me as much as you want for not telling you sooner when I return."
Like it would be that easy. Some things were easy to heal, like cuts and bruises. But things like this? "E-Excuse me..." She stammered and pulled her hand out from underneath his hand, blue eyes cast down on the ground. "I-I..." Without another word, the elf flung the front door open and was out of the house, running blindly into the deep recess of the surrounding forest and the gathering twilight...
NOTES & STUFF
OOC: STORM ALERT! Welcome to a little glimpse inside a woman's complex and nonsensical mind.
"When you spend so long trapped in darkness, you find that the darkness begins to stare back."
Hans still held a hint of embarrassment over his little...outburst over swords. The merc could not deny his fondness over bladed weapons...or maybe he could, but he certainly wasn't expecting to ramble. It was almost like he's turning into his late mentor, Barrett. That man taught him how to wield a sword and was sort of a sword nut himself...maybe a bit more so than Hans. The thought of slowly turning into his mentor both intrigued...and terrified Hans. He just hoped that he wouldn't inherit Barrett's...drinking and gambling problems as well.
The mood was just starting to turn lighthearted...until tomorrow was brought up. If Hans was being more observant, he'd probably pick up on Verena's equally darkened expression as well which certainly would've got an eyebrow raise out of Hans...but right now, he was focused more on his own problems. One way or another, the merc knew that this would happen. There was no way that he could've kept this from Suna for long...He just hoped that he could've found a better way and moment to explain. Instead, Hans found himself stammering his way into a poor attempt at making an excuse. Hans had no problem with being blunt when it comes to most people, or even lying when he felt it was needed, but around Suna, both of those felt near impossible to pull off...especially with a subject like this.
Without even looking at the elf, Hans could feel Suna's suspicions pinning him into a corner of guilt. He could not lock eyes with his lady, but her words although trying to sound understanding, still leaked of uncertainty. Hans couldn't keep this up for long...and finally brought himself to look up at the sound mage, giving her the answer she rightfully deserves. Hans told Suna the truth...that he was heading back to that daemon-infested town, something that only a fool would do. The merc barely made it out the first time...but he intends to go back in!?
Suna's next words...her hurt questions...that disheartened look on her face, it was all hard for Hans to look at and listen...but he wasn't going to rip his eyes off of her...not again. Verena did have a point, however. Hans is no magic knight so he is not bound by any duties to return...but he was bound by his own guilt. As the Summoner brought up Charles, Hans glanced over to her before looking down. He could understand completely why the silver mage did not want to go back. The terrible things the two mages witnessed...the poor children that they hurt due to that twisted illusion. Hans understood completely why Charles wouldn't want to relive any of that...Hans didn't want to either, but he couldn't just sit back and do nothing. He needed to make up for the sins he committed and intended to do so for Charles as well.
Hans continued to try and explain himself...but it didn't look like his words were reaching to his beloved. Still, Hans continued to try, placing his hand onto the sound mage's as he did.
"So...If I hadn't brought this up, were you going to just leave for Kikka tomorrow...without ever telling me?"
The merc flinched a little at that question. It wasn't just because of what she said...but how she said it to...her tone. "Suna..I-I..." The merc stuttered before shaking his head. "I...I would've told you..." Hans claimed...but would he really? At this point, Hans was lying to himself, and couldn't find a clear answer. The merc opened his mouth, wanting to say...something, but his mind hasn't caught up. Verena then spoke up again, making a little threat to the dark mage that he completely understood. Hans would not have forgiven himself too if this happens. Seems that Verena was about to say more but...
"E-Excuse me..."
Hans could feel Suna's hand slipping away from his own, causing him to look quickly back at her. "S-Suna?" Now it looks like that she couldn't make eye contact with the dark mage.
"I-I..."
Then there she went...flying out of the front door without another word. Hans' hand was still out as he had a look of disbelief on his face. "Suna..." he said once more as if she were still there. His hand lowered slowly back to his side as h continued to stare out of the opened door. His hands slowly balled into fists as a saddened look formed on his face. "Suna....I..." He couldn't blame the woman for what she just did. He was practically about to do the same to her tomorrow...run off to Kikka without much of a warning. He couldn't begin to fathom how hurt...how betrayed the elf must feel about this news....
Assuming that Verena would continue her speech. Hans would look down at the ground as he listened. The Summoner was right, Hans is a very confident person...but he is reckless. The merc always thought himself to not be the reckless type..but it appears that he does not know enough about himself than he thought. He may not be reckless in battles for the most part...but it was clear that he was reckless in other things...such as this. Still, Verena's words were enough to slowly regain Hans' faltering confidence. "Verena..." he then glanced back at the summoner with a weak smile. "Thank you..." With a nod, Hans ran out the door to find his beloved.
He needed to hold onto those words...hold onto his confidence...and most importantly hold onto his love...
"Suna!?" Hans ran into the forest where he last saw her head. Assuming that he couldn't find her right away, the merc stopped running and started to slowly walk, looking around for the sound mage. "Suna, please..." This felt almost like a repeat of the couple's last...moment but it only worried the dark mage more. "I shouldn't have kept this from you, I know..." Hans continued to try...not knowing if his words were reaching her. "I didn't want you to worry, and I made a stupid mistake. I should've been honest with you from the start instead of thinking that it would be all okay if you didn't know." He was quickly reminded again of that previous moment back in Aries Garse, and sighed a little.
"I told you that there would be no more secrets...yet I went back on my own promise...." He stopped walking and just stood there. "I'm a fool....No apology will make up for how poorly I tried to handle this...but I am still sorry. I am sorry that I'm making you go through this...I really am...." His hands once again balled into fists. "But...I have to do this, Suna. I need to help correct the wrongs that I've made...avenge the people...that I've hurt." Hans claimed before taking a deep breath...and looked up.
"I won't die, Suna....not when I have you to return to." Hans then placed a hand on his chest as if he were pledging himself to her. "You are my Wayfinder, and with you, I will find my way home after all of this....You have my word."
Post by Verena Reinsberg on Apr 17, 2021 11:24:36 GMT -5
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POW
DUR
SEN
STA
CON
007
34
10
032
030
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MANA SKIN senior
HEALTH senior
MANA REGEN 25 IC // 20 OOC
MANA POOL 110/110
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She said too much. Why did she say too much? Her attempt to try to make the situation better worsened horrifically. It was no secret (to her, at least) that when she was under stress, it became that much harder for her to focus and think about others. It wasn't that she didn't care -- it was obviously the opposite. She cared so much and that was why she had to help, even if she wasn't in the best of positions to be trying such a thing.[break][break]
It was illogical of her, and the consequences of that act were now on full display. Every word she spoke was intended to make Hans higher, but she said things that unquestionably made things worse. She knew that from the moment Suna ran out of the house. Her house that she had lovingly been taking care of and working on. Without much help from anyone else. She ran from it, just so she wouldn't be seen crying.[break][break]
...It was her fault. She didn't make things better. She only made them worse. It was probably for the best that Hans didn't say anything on the matter, of course. But she wasn't going to blame him. This was definitely something that shouldn't have been kept secret between the two, either. Still, as much as she wanted to pass the blame, she knew she was just as guilty. Perhaps even more so. For keeping her own attendance in Kikka a secret. And for being unable to comfort her friend.[break][break]
Verena did not finish her speech when Suna ran out. Instead, her eyes just widened with surprise, before meekly staring at the ground. "...I'm sorry..." was all she could weakly say before bringing her hands to her face.[break][break]
Why? Why did she have to hurt Suna like that? She was her first friend. Verena had an obligation to comfort her. Yet she failed. She failed. She failed, she failed, she failed. When it mattered most, she failed to try to comfort the person that she cared for the most. The first friend she had ever made. It was so pathetic she wanted to cry, but she held back those tears of frustration while Hans was still here.[break][break]
Hans raced out to try to talk to Suna, but what could she do? She had no right to butt in on that moment. She had already made matters worse. There was no place for her in this conversation. It was between two people in love. But even still, she had caused harm. So then... what could she do? She was going to Kikka to try to get over her weak self. That was what everything up until this point was for...![break][break]
...No, if that was the case, then there was only one thing she could do. If she couldn't talk with Suna right now, then the best thing she could do was...[break][break]
Verena glanced around the room, trying to see if she could find any pen and paper. Eventually finding some, she brought it to the table where she was sitting previously and began to write.[break][break]
Dear Hans and Suna,[break] I ... do not think I should remain present. Not with that looming over. Even still, I did not help matters for Suna. Part of me feels I should have went with Hans to check on you. I'm not sure if I'm deluding myself into thinking 'this is for the best' or simply running away. But given my track record, it's probably the latter...[break][break]
...I cannot begin to express how deeply sorry I am, Suna. You're the first friend I've ever made, and yet when it mattered most, I only made things worse. Hans is strong, so he'll be fine. And there will most likely be even more powerful mages around him. I'm sure of that much. His mana gives the impression of being steadfast and reliable, albeit uncertain. But it seems relaxed. And I assume that's because of you. He's not going to go anywhere, I'm positive of that. Not when he has someone whom he wants to protect, love, and cherish.[break][break]
I should have said all of this from the beginning. Instead, I made things worse. And I cannot begin to apologize enough for that. But with things as they are... I feel it best that I take my leave. It would likely be for the best that you two have some alone time regardless. Is this cowardly of me? Leaving when my best friend is hurting instead of trying to comfort her? ...Probably. I understand if you'll hold this against me. But... I'm not a very brave person. I just hope that you'll forgive me.
Sincerely,[break] Verena Nicole Ruhm Reinsberg
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"...There. It's finished." Verena said as she stared at the letter.[break][break]
Her penmanship was immaculate. It was precise, yet it carried an exceptional elegance to it, as befitting of a noble. It was clear that this wasn't her first time writing something. That was at least something Verena took great pride in; her penmanship. Leaving it on the table, Verena glanced around to make sure that the two hadn't yet come back in. It was probably for the best that she left sooner than later...[break][break]
Verena made her way out of the home, and ultimately out towards Kikka if nobody spotted her leaving the house. It was a bittersweet conclusion, but...
As she was confident she was out of sight, Verena glanced back towards the house. "...I'm sorry. I wish I was a better friend. You deserve better," she murmured before she cast a golem and vanished as the sun was beginning its descent.
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COMBAT SUMMARY
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[attr="class","verenaver2scroll2"] TL;DR a timely post from sps as always. yup no way this is way overdue. absolutely not. *sweating*[break] also O O F. [break][break]
Suna was running blindly into the darkening woods, unaware of where she was really going...nor did she care. A dangerously reckless and emotional move, especially when she was without her grimoire, but she was too overcome to think with a clear mind at the moment. Trust was ever so beautiful and strong, yet at the same time, could be so fragile and easily broken. She was not free from all fault either—she could have been more understanding and patient to hear his side of the story, to listen to his reasons why he was going back to that daemon-infested place. Yet, she had jumped into conclusions and ran off before she allowed the dark mage to explain himself.
She has failed.
Not to mention, she had just run out of her house and left her dear friend Verena in an awkward situation. When will she ever learn to be more considerate? She had unwittingly roped an innocent bystander into her problems...she could have done better, so much better.
"Suna!?"
She could hear her name being called, and regardless of what she was currently feeling, she could not run from her beloved's voice. The elf merely slowed her run into a walk, then into a standstill. She bowed her head, burying her face into her arms. She could hear his footsteps behind her, coming towards her, but she still had not turned around. This was eerily familiar...he used to be the one running away, but the roles have flipped—he was the one running after her now.
As he continued to speak, Suna stood there, quietly listening. It was clear that he was sincerely sorry, and that he did not want to worry her with that piece of information. Would she have overreacted even if he had told her earlier? Most likely. Would she have worried? Definitely. Either way, there would not have been an easy option...and here she was, giving him a harder time than he needed. He had done what he thought was best, and she had overreacted. He had a good reason to go back, a noble and worthy cause. He was the one going out there to fight—what would she give to go as well...
Was she really so selfish as to tie him down when there was something greater he had to deal with first? Was she becoming a heavy chain that was dragging him down instead of being a supportive companion? There were some things that she should not fight, and this was one of them.
"I won't die, Suna....not when I have you to return to."
She sniffled and hastily wiped at her tear-streaked eyes. "Promise?" It might be a vain promise, especially with all the uncertainty of what might happen in Kikka.
"You are my Wayfinder, and with you, I will find my way home after all of this....You have my word."
Suna took a shuddering breath, then turned around and flung her arms around him. "You better come back!" She whispered fiercely, "Or I'll never forgive you." The woman buried her face into his chest, slender arms still tightly wound around him like a vise, like she was never going to let go. Then in a much softer, almost plainative, tone, "Just come back to me...I don't know what I'd do without you..."
She did not know how long they stood there, but she relished those quiet moments with him. The sun had already set, and the stars were slowly coming out in their nightly course. She would hold him as long as she could before she had to temporarily let go. Of course, she still feared that something bad was going to happen to him, that she would lose him. The future was so unclear, so bleak and unknown. But he had assured her that he would come back...so she would trust him and clung onto that promise. For now, his word would be enough.
It was later back in the house that she found Verena's letter on the table. As she read through its contents, Suna was again struck with remorse. Sorry? She was the one who was sorry, especially at leaving her closest friend to figure things out by herself in the wake of her rash emotions."I'm sorry, Verena..." She whispered to the empty air. What a terrible friend she was.
It was she who had made things worse. All the things they could have avoided, if only the elf did not act the way she did nor ran out like that. It was only natural that the brunette would want to leave the tense situation—for that, Suna held nothing against her. The next time they met, she owed her friend a proper apology and explanation. She still had so much to learn about relationships, in both friendship and in the romantic. But until then, she could only pray for the safety and await the return of the mercenary...and unknowingly, the summoner as well.
