[attr="class","verenaver2scroll"]
So he saw. Verena said nothing as he undid his own magic on her. She was grateful that he did, but she did wish he didn't say anything. The last thing she wanted was hope. She knew better by this point. Nothing worked. Nothing ever did. But ... she also didn't want to curl up and accept her fate, either. An occasional display of defiance when confronting her own mortality happened on a whim.[break][break]
The woman claimed she was in Kikka to save others. That was a lie. It was to garner acknowledgment. Merit. So that she might have something to her name so she could save her family from themselves. And more than that, it was to establish connections with powerful mages. She was certain Ardere would be there, amongst others. He was known as a powerful healing mage. That connection was also used to try to meet Renfir.[break][break]
...But Verena realized as exceptional as his healing prowess was, it may not be enough.[break][break]
Lydia was an even greater healer, so she had heard. She joined Kikka with the assumption that she would be present as well, but the group was largely on their own until she showed up near the end. But her own healing magic lacked the fine-tuning needed. She could tell, even as weak as she was. It was exceptional, capable of performing miraculous feats. But it could not unwind ten years of hate that was causing her own body to fall apart.[break][break]
Of course, he wanted to talk about it. Satori placed his hands on his shoulders, as he looked her in the eyes. But she could not do the same. At the very least, he didn't think less of her. She tried so hard to keep this secret. Nobody knew about this. Nobody. She didn't want anyone to judge her. She didn't want anyone to pity her. She was here now, trying her best to make do with what she had.[break][break]
Verena didn't pout. She didn't cry. She just hung her head low, unable to meet Satori's gaze as he spoke. It was obvious she didn't want to talk about it... but she knew better.[break][break]
It wasn't until Satori referred to her as a 'friend' that she looked up, eyes widened as faint tears began to flow. It was obvious from her expression she was trying to keep herself from crying, bringing her damaged arm to wipe her eyes so he couldn't see her in this state.[break][break]
"
Thank you... Thank you!" she exclaimed, trying to keep herself under some control.[break][break]
But she couldn't. She couldn't do this any longer. She just... wanted to pretend everything was fine. That she could have a long life. That she could see the world and then some. She didn't want to leave this world... not like this.[break][break]
More than anything, she was just happy to have made another friend. One that had found out about her curse. But did not think less of her. He only showed worry. It wasn't pity. It was concern. The concern that only one who could think of another as a friend would show. From the depths of her heart, that was all she wanted. What she needed more than anything. To be acknowledged. To have friends.[break][break]
After taking a moment to collect herself, Verena took a deep breath. "
Focus."[break][break]
"
Focus."[break][break]
"
Focus."[break][break]
And so, she stepped forward into the next area.[break][break]
Floor 2, Room 4 -- Boss Room
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Two titans of history were fighting. She recognized both as the Joatl and Juvasaur respectively. She had little interest in fighting the winged beast, but she could probably manage if necessary. The Juvasaur, however, was going to be a bit more difficult, even if not much.[break][break]
She wasn't afraid of either creature, however. They were creatures of instinct. Ancient and powerful sure. But they were relics of the past. Verena might have been trapped by her past, but she no longer lived in it. She was trying every day to move past it. Relics of history that had long since been extinct, no matter how intimidating they seemed, could not compare to the terror that her father had imposed on her.[break][break]
Kikka was a life-or-death situation, and every choice and action that she made could have had dire consequences. But she learned much from that experience. It was not all terrible. Her father was.[break][break]
There was no daemon that could terrify her more than Renfir did.[break][break]
There existed no creature more terrifying than what her father did to her.[break][break]
And that was precisely why she was frustrated. She didn't want to die. Not so soon. She knew that death was natural. She didn't understand why she got so emotional when she realized how close her own was. But she didn't have time to think about that. The Juvasaur had identified Satori and herself.[break][break]
"
Summoner Creation Magic: Kikka," Verena calmly declared despite her frustrations. Her fear. Her anxiety.[break][break]
It was clear that, despite her own emotional state, she had a plan for dealing with the Juvasaur. The Joatl recognized that Verena's attention was solely on the apex predator, and seemed quite content on staying out of this.[break][break]
The bizarre flying golem manifested beside Verena as it was ordered into the air. Hit and run tactics were to be employed as it was to use its flight to its advantage. The Juvasaur was large and imposing, but it was just that. She could tell that the Joatl had managed to weaken it well enough to where just about any of her golems could drastically inflict damage on it with minimal effort.[break][break]
Kikka flew high above. Meanwhile, the Juvasaur came barreling towards Verena, aiming to strike her down with a powerful headbutt.[break][break]
"
Carbon Magic: Survival Instincts," she calmly declared, a wall of carbon rising up from the earth just in time to take the hit from the behemoth. Powerful as the beast was, however, Verena's structure remained standing as the carbon compacted tightly right where the center of impact was. It violently shook her structure, but it wasn't going to fell it. Not like this.[break][break]
Meanwhile, Kikka came in with a powerful swooping motion to tackle right into the Juvasaur. Its "feet" were clenched into a fist, allowing for a bizarre type of punch, momentarily dazing the beast. But Verena wasn't finished with her display.[break][break]
"
Summoner Creation Magic. Despair Billy."[break][break]
As she said this, the beast seemed to return from its stupor, and Kikka was once again back in the air. The beast opened its gaping jaw, tearing right through her construct, but doing so used up all of its momentum due to the equal nature. Verena didn't mind, however. Billy's hands caught the dinosaurs still gaping jaw and managed to wrestle it down to the ground at Verena's order.[break][break]
"
Finish it."[break][break]
Billy raised a foot up, and it seemed as though the dinosaur was about to launch one more attack, aiming to use its tail to try to get out of this situation it now found itself in despite the awkward positioning. But Verena was prepared for that[break][break]
Another Survival Instinct was brought up, blocking the tail with the same level of impact that the first was capable of. Billy's foot was lowered with all of its weight and momentum as it crushed the throat of the beast, ending it swiftly.[break][break]
It was over.[break][break]
Verena took a deep breath. The entire time she was scared. Uncertain. She was at her most vulnerable without Satori's magic. But... this was relieving. She never thought herself the sort to develop any sort of real satisfaction from fighting, no matter the feeling she might have been experiencing. She sort of understood why Bengal loved fighting now, but it was still largely not for her.[break][break]
Satori was presumably still watching, still nearby. He wanted an answer, most likely.[break][break]
"
...I dislike talking about myself, you should know this. But..." a deep breath.[break][break]
"
...There exists a mage in Clover Kingdom. A former Green Mantis, now a prisoner. He was known for his excessively brutal and gruesome magic in the Diamond War. Decay, as it was. His magic had a unique property that only made the sensations more painful. He would cause internal and external injuries on his victims as their flesh rotted from their bodies, the sensation being akin to it melting right off."[break][break]
"
...He was strict and very no-nonsense. He wanted acknowledgment more than any other Magic Knight, and despite being a Noble, was willing to work for it. He wanted status and influence because it would put him down in the annals of history."[break][break]
"
...That was Renfir Reinsberg, my... father."[break][break]
Verena eyed the extinct dinosaur, sitting on her knees as she curled up just a bit. "
He wanted to be known as the sole person in the family to be credited for bringing the family to prosperity. And because of him, my family's overall talent as mages did increase..."[break][break]
"
...But he did not like that I also received a four-leaf grimoire. He doesn't acknowledge me as even a human being... Supposedly, I only exist because of the Shattering. I don't necessarily disagree with him though. The Magic Knights did fight to prevent the Shattering from happening, so maybe my existence is wrong. But..."[break][break]
"
Either way, he got mad when he saw my grimoire, and... and..."[break][break]
Verena seemed like she was about to cry. She was trying so hard. She didn't want to cry in front of Satori. She wanted to be strong. She didn't want to be seen like this. She placed her glasses on the ground as she bit her lip, fighting her body's own natural desire. Her lip curled and she started crying. She couldn't help it. Six years she had spent holding this in. She couldn't stop it.[break][break]
"
Satori, I'm scared...! I don't want to die! There's so much I want to do! That I have to do! No matter what I've done, no matter what anyone's done, this curse is too strong...! I know I'm going to die, and I can't do anything to stop it, no matter how much work I've done or people who have tried to help me... I just..."[break][break]
She forcibly stopped herself, wiping her eyes.[break][break]
"
In a few years," she said with a pained smile on her face. Forcing tears back, but they couldn't stop flowing all the same. She was trying so hard to be brave. She was trying so hard to not get emotional. It happened to everyone. It was natural. She knew that. So then, why was she so scared? So anxious? Death could happen at any moment to anyone. Why was she so scared about her own? She didn't understand. She just knew she just... didn't want to leave. There was so much she wanted to do, and yet...[break][break]
"
I'm going to die."[break][break]
It was all going to be cut prematurely.
[attr="class","verenaver2scroll2"]
TL;DR -80 mana from int spells[break]
+25 mana regen[break]
65 mana
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Spells
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CARBON MAGIC: SURVIVAL INSTINCTSElemental Type: Carbon[break]Rank & Spell Type: Intermediate, Defense Creation | Restraining[break]Range & Speed: 40m, 20 m/s[break]Mana Cost: 20 | 10[break]Stats Effected: +6 DUR[break]Applicable Perks: Imprisonment of a God, Juggernaut[break]Description: Upon usage, Verena creates a wall that is 2x2x5 (length x width x height) made of pure carbon and as such is akin to a jet black in color. The wall appears as though it's constantly moving around, and this is in part due to [Juggernaut], as it is capable of, with limited usages, of strengthening itself in what would otherwise tear right through, or damage it to render that damage obsolete.[break][break]In addition, the wall is capable of shooting out a solid "rope" of carbon though reinforced via [Imprisonmont of a God], plus one additional chain for every 30 [CON] she has. These chains function in accordance to clashing rules, and cause strain on a person's ability to regenerate their mana, depleting it by 10 (though if their mana regenerative ability is lower, then it will reduce it by the maximum value without making it 0).[break][break]If the chains do not manage to catch a person, they are still capable of restraining a person's grimoire via Restraining Magic, and have a 50% reduction on the casting ability of a mage. The construct can withstand up to twice its rank in damage before being completely destroyed.
SUMMONER CREATION MAGIC: DESPAIR BILLYSpell Element: Cloth[break]
Spell Rank: Intermediate[break]
Mana Cost: 20 | 10[break]
Type of Golem: Balanced[break]
Applicable Perks: Puppet Master, Reinforced Golems[break]
Description: Visually, a disturbing golem. One that someone wouldn't have thought possible from someone like Verena. However, Kikka did have an impact on her aesthetic. To counter her own fear of the macabre, she decided that she would instead embrace it, to confront it, and ultimately tame it. And thus, Despair Billy was born. A golem manifested from her own fear.[break][break]Despair Billy appears as a giant patchwork doll--closer in design to a voodoo doll than anything else. It's body is crafted from various types of cloth of different colors. The bulk of its body is the same color as a burlap sack, whereas its right arm is colored a sickly looking yellow. This same yellow appears on the top right of its head, whereas the left half of its head is a lifeless blue blue. It possesses no neck, and from its right shoulder to the start of its left forearm, as well as its left part of its chest and rib cage is red. A heart can be seen stitched on on the opposite side of its body, albeit crudely attached on to it. It is easily taller by a considerable degree than a human being, standing at six meters in height.[break][break]Though the golem is capable of transporting up to two people, the speed at which it is capable of doing so is no more than [10 m/s]. "Billy" has enough power to knockback people when swinging with its arms to send them back four meters, plus an additional [5m] for every [10] in [POW] it possesses. Unlike Verena's other golems, Billy is suited primarily for attacking, though it still keeps up with Verena's primary objective of not killing, as the strikes from it are all blunt. It can cause great harm compared to her other golems, but it is still very unlikely to kill a person(s).[break]
| Type | Power | Durability | Sensory | Range | Speed | Health |
| Balanced | 35(+5) | 35(+8) | 35(+5) | 60m | 12 m/s | Intermediate |
SUMMONER CREATION MAGIC: KIKKAElement: Cloth[break]
Rank: Intermediate[break]
Size: Up to 6 meters tall[break]
Mana Cost: 20 | 10[break]
Type of Golem: Balanced[break]
Applicable Perks: Puppet Master, Reinforced Golems[break]
Description: Matching the theme of Billy, Verena took inspiration from the horrors of the town right down to the name. Tired of her own inability to fly, as well as seeking the freedom that came with experiencing that sort of rush of mobility in the Dungeon with Bengal, the heiress went to work on crafting a new type of golem, unlike any other she had so far.[break][break]It possesses an impressive wingspan that's roughly equal in size to its height, and if being used for transportation, then it can carry up to two people; however, its speed is decreased to 10m/s if it is being used in such a manner. In addition, she can make additional Kikka for every 30 [CON] she has, maxing out at a total of 4 additional golems to summon.[break][break]Though she still believes the human form to be more ideal for the purpose of crafting golems, this looks like a perfectly ordinary bird made from the purest of white cloth. Just... an exceptionally large bird. Without a beak. And talons that are surprisingly ...unsharp. Instead, the feet look more like... human hands, made from the same color that matches the face in terms of the color of cloth. Also, it lacks a beak; instead, it possesses an eerily resemblance to a human face, sewed on with large blue eyes so as to stare seemingly right into a person's soul. The color of the cloth used to replicate the face is very similar to Verena's own skin color.[break][break]When used for offensive purposes, Kikka's most notable approach to dealing with things involves using its feet(?) to pick up adversaries, then toss them or drop them, depending on how heavy they are. It also possesses a nasty headbutt. Both instances deal intermediate levels of damage.
| Type | Power | Durability | Sensory | Range | Speed | Health |
| Balanced | 35(+5) | 35(+8) | 35(+5) | 60m | 12m/s | Intermediate |
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Items
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Item Item Item
