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.
Post by Verena Reinsberg on Jun 9, 2021 8:24:11 GMT -5
[nospaces]
[attr="class","verenaver2image"] [break]
POW
DUR
SEN
STA
CON
048
120
012
062
070
[break]
MANA SKIN grand+senior
HEALTH senior
MANA REGEN 45 IC // 45 OOC
MANA POOL 215/215
[break]
[attr="class","verenaver2scroll"]
It was their first break. It felt like an eternity had passed until this moment. Though she wasn't going to complain, it was obvious her body hadn't completely adjusted. She was feeling the burning in her muscles for the first time in what felt like forever. Was this what it was like to build muscle? It was painful, but... this was a much more welcome type of pain comparatively.[break][break]
Without question, Lydia had beaten all of them thoroughly. It could barely be called "training" with how brutal it was. But Verena wasn't going to complain. She had to try harder. She had to push herself harder. However, as much as she wanted to right now, the brunette knew that everyone right now was not going to be able to continue. It would be an ideal time to rest.[break][break]
It was nice. It was nice being able to fight alongside Hania and Hans. It was nice to be able to give it her all. She couldn't move as quickly as either of them, and she wasn't sure if she would ever be able to. But she could tell that these aches were a healthy kind. Despite that, if it wasn't for Lydia healing them, Verena was positive that the group would just be laying on the ground unable to even think as a result of the pain.[break][break]
Even still, the brunette wasn't content. She had to push herself. She was definitely the weakest within this group, and that meant she had to push herself even further. She had to make up for her own weakness in any way she could. And that was going to be through her hard work. Hans was a much more experienced fighter than she was. Hania was a Magic Knight and Lydia's younger brother, as well as the heir to the Ravencrest family. She was just a Reinsberg who ran away from her responsibility.[break][break]
Sitting up, Verena glanced over to Hans. Her hair had since fallen out of the braid, and her glasses had broken. Because of this, Hans got to see the woman how she would normally look. One could possibly argue that she looked even better with her hair down then braided or in twin tails, giving her a look in between the youthful twin tails and the mature braided hair. Though of course, that was entirely subjective.[break][break]
"...Hey, Hans," she began to say, taking a deep breath. "...Don't tell Suna about that, please. Or what I'm about to tell you next."[break][break]
The brunette brought her knees up to her chest. "Lydia managed to create a potion that nullified it for a few months. But as you probably heard... yes, I am cursed. One that drastically shortened my life span. I'm going to die in a few years if I can't find a way to permanently undo the effects of this curse..."[break][break]
It was obvious that Verena didn't exactly enjoy talking about this conversation, but though she couldn't bring herself to ever tell Suna if anything did happen to her because of this, she could at least confide in the person closest to her. Did that absolve her of the guilt? ...Probably not. But she was too proud to let Suna try to help. Especially when she knew that it was unlikely to ever work. Perhaps if she let Lydia study the curse long enough... but the woman had already done more than enough for her. The heiress couldn't let herself rack up so many debts that could not be paid in a lifetime to a single person.[break][break]
"At any rate, that curse is the reason I've been so slow, and tire easily. But now... I think I might be able to keep up if I try hard enough. Even if for just a short while. So... while I have the ability to move my feet on my own terms, I want to learn. I want to learn so much more. And I'd want to learn more about your dark magic. I still intend to make use of it. You're much, much stronger than me. So there's probably no golem I can make that would be better than what you can make right now. But even still... I want to try."
"When you spend so long trapped in darkness, you find that the darkness begins to stare back."
As predicted, Lydia wiped the floor with her group. It hardly felt like training, but the only thing keeping it from feeling like just some brutal beatdown was the fact that the woman healed her team’s injuries afterward. With most people, they would probably try their best to steer clear of someone like Lydia if they were in the same situation, but Hans’ mind was on other things. The dark mage was standing there with his jacket over his shoulder and a hand under his chin as he thought back about the spar...or rather, beating. He wasn’t dwelling on previous injuries or how insanely powerful Lydia is. Instead, the dark mage was thinking on how to improve, so that this will not happen again.
Primarily, Hans was focusing on his defensive spells..and his “armor” spells. They were practically nothing compared to Lydia’s magic, showing just how unprepared Hans still was. He imagines that the Archdaemons will be on similar levels as the light mage which did not bode well at all. Before this...before even becoming a Royal Knight, Hans has been always trying to find ways to improve himself and his magic, but it felt like he hit his limit with spells like his Draconic Drive Armor. But after going against Lydia, the dark mage knew that this wasn’t the limit. He could go further beyond...but how? How could he go about this?
Just then, the dark mage heard a familiar voice, knocking him out of his deep pondering.
"Hm?" Hans turned his head to see that it was the summoner sitting down by him. "Oh, Verena." he said before listening. She then took a deep breath before telling the man not to tell Suna about something. For a second, the dark mage did not know what Verena was talking about, but before she continued, the man quickly put it together. Right...she was referring to her curse. But why didn't she want Suna to know?
As Verena delved deeper into her curse with Hans, the dark mage's eyes widened a little. It's...shortening her life span? According to her, the summoner only has a few years to live...unless a permanent cure is found. Hans did not need ki to know how uncomfortable Verena must be feeling bringing this up. The dark mage couldn't blame her. He figured from how Verena spoke with Lydia before that the curse was affecting her movement...but never did he think that it was this severe. To think all this time, the poor woman was burdened with such a thing...having such limitations put on her body...knowing how shortened her life is...Hans couldn't help but feel bad...and even a little guilty. One could even see a hint of those feelings in his expression.
Once Verena stopped speaking, Hans looked forward. "I see..." is all he said. A man of few words, but his mind was all over the place with this new information. The guilt Hans was feeling was enough to tell him why the summoner wouldn't want Suna to know. He could only imagine how the sound mage would feel, knowing that her closest friend was in such a state. She would do everything she can to try and find a cure for Verena. Work non-stop until she could find an answer. Although the situations are vastly different, Hans couldn't help but think back about how he tried keeping Suna in the dark about returning to Kikka. It was for a similar reason, he did not want to worry her...but keeping secrets did not help...not even close.
Hans was going to say something, but then the summoner continued. She didn't want this temporary cure she was gifted with to go to waste, and one of the first things it seems she wanted to do is learn the man's dark magic. That was enough to get the man to look back in her direction as she continued to speak. Her expression...the tone of her voice, Hans could feel the determination bleeding through.
The dark mage was silent for a bit as he pondered this. Hans decided to refrain from saying what he was going to regarding the curse and Suna...at least for now. It was clear that Verena wanted to focus on this instead. "Your golems are unique." The dark mage claimed before looking forward, crossing his arms. "Mine may be stronger...but you seem to be more in tune with your golems than I am....or rather, you're very in tune with your mana." Those very words had also made Hans think about himself. After all these years training with his dark magic, deep down, the man never felt truly in sync with the element. Even back in Kikka when that mana zone manifested, it amplified Hans' magic, but it also caused him a lot of pain at first as if the magic we're trying to reject him. He assumed at first that it was due to the daemon's influence...but now he doesn't believe that to be the case...Perhaps this is why Hans failed to teach Verena the first time...because he himself isn't truly one with his element.
Perhaps if he were truly in sync with his magic, Hans would be able to surpass his current limits...
"I will help you learn dark magic, Verena." Hans said, giving the woman a small smile. "But you're going to have to teach me how to truly sync with my mana...Deal?" The man would then hold his hand out in an attempt to help the summoner up.
It was time for these two to learn from each other...
[attr="class","hansheader"]N O T E S
Important notes here
[attr="class","hansheader"]S P E L L S
Cool spell descriptions here
[attr="class","hansinfobg"]
[attr="class","hansinfo"]
[attr="class","hansinfotext"]
WC 925 || TOTAL WC 925
TAGSVerena Reinsberg ITEMS Dark Edge, Cosmic Blessing PERKS List 'em here
Post by Verena Reinsberg on Jun 14, 2021 14:18:27 GMT -5
[nospaces]
[attr="class","verenaver2image"] [break]
POW
DUR
SEN
STA
CON
048
120
012
062
070
[break]
MANA SKIN grand+senior
HEALTH senior
MANA REGEN 45 IC // 45 OOC
MANA POOL 215/215
[break]
[attr="class","verenaver2scroll"]
It was a relief that Hans wasn't much of a talker to be honest. It meant that she didn't need to worry about him asking too many questions if she needed to worry about that at all. She didn't need to talk about how long she had, or how long ago it had happened. She didn't need to talk about who did it to her. She didn't need to think about anything that wasn't worth sharing, and she didn't need to answer anything that wasn't strictly necessary.[break][break]
His reaction when listening made sense though. It was a bit of a bombshell she was dropping on him, and part of her did feel guilty. But she felt that she had to tell someone who would be able to tell Suna if the worst-case did happen. Most of all, she didn't want Suna to worry about her. If she found a cure, then there was no reason for her to worry. If she didn't, then Suna wouldn't have had any reason to blame herself; there was no way for her to know, after all.[break][break]
"You don't need to feel bad or guilty. I didn't tell you this for that reason..." Verena said, her head hanging just a bit.[break][break]
"...I just thought it was important that someone know who knows I'm friends with her. I've been wanting to tell her for a while... but I'm not sure how she would handle it. I just don't want her worrying about me. If she was... I'd probably call all of this off. Suna is the first friend I've ever made, after all. I don't want to hurt her..."[break][break]
Verena let out a deep sigh, before returning her gaze back to Hans, explaining her desire to learn the dark magic. There was some silence that followed. He probably had a lot on his mind. It wasn't fair of her, she knew, to dump this on him. But he had already seen the curse, and it was clear that he had heard some things. There was no point in keeping it secret further.[break][break]
Hans noted that Verena was very in tune with her mana; at least, compared to him. Verena wasn't entirely sure if she would agree with the sentiment, but she was at least fairly confident in her usage of her magic. Given how reliant on it she was just to be able to survive, it only made sense that she would be compared to the average mage. However, it was surprising that as strong as Hans was, he didn't quite feel the same way about his own magic.[break][break]
Verena offered the raven-haired male a small smile. "Of course," she said.[break][break]
The deal was pretty simple. As one of the only people who was capable of communicating with mana itself (even if it was effectively barebones) in Clover, perhaps the world, this might have been something only Verena could help Hans with. It wasn't that nobody could help him with that, of course. Lydia almost assuredly would have just been as capable if not more so. The Summoner simply had a method that would be unique to her.[break][break]
"Before anything, show me some of your spells. I couldn't afford to give them notice earlier, tempting as it was."
"When you spend so long trapped in darkness, you find that the darkness begins to stare back."
Hans could very much understand why Verena wanted to keep this from Suna, but still, he didn't think it was right. The summoner was doing this so that the sound mage will not have to worry about this, to not hurt her...but he feels that keeping this a secret will potentially make things worse if she ends up finding out from some other means. "I won't tell her, Verena..." Hans claimed before glancing over at the summoner. "But if I may, I'd suggest that you at least consider telling her yourself." Hans said. Hopefully, Verena will see the potential issues of bottling this up. The merc can tell that this is a very touchy subject for the woman, so he wasn't going to dwell on it to spare her any more stress.
The topic has now shifted to Verena's desire to try and learn Hans' dark magic again, but instead of Hans only being the teacher, he was going to be taking on a student role as well. There is a certain harmony that the summoner appears to have with her mana, one that Hans would like to learn as well since he feels like he is lacking in a perfect sync with his own mana. There are other mages that Hans knows that could also help him out with this, his fiancee and Lydia to name a few. Those two are pretty in tune with their mana as well, but Hans always felt that Verena has a much more special connection with her own magic. Perhaps because of its nature of being able to control various elements, or maybe it is because of her four-leaf grimoire. Verena certainly has a special bond with her magic like none other that Hans has come across so far.
Now, it's time to train.
But just like before...Hans still didn't have a clue how to start this training off. Fortunately, Verena suggested he'd show her some of his spells. "Right...Good start." the man claimed before rubbing the back of his neck. Hans then backed up a bit and summoned his grimoire from its holster. A dark aura surrounded the book as it opened up. The grimoire floated in front of Hans so he could read it, thinking of which spell to show first. Of course, it made sense to start with his golems since that was the main purpose for Verena's training. WIth a nod, Hans snapped his fingers and a dark sword-like golem manifested next to him, floating idly. "Er, this is one of my golem spells, Hunter's Blade." Hans said as he gestured at the sword. "It is one of my balanced golems." Hans added. One could potentially feel the dark energy radiating from it. For the most part, it felt like most other balance-type golems, but it was a little slow compared to the others, and a bit more bulky, matching the overall nature of this element.
The dark mage's grimoire flipped to one more page, and another cloud of darkness manifested above him, taking shape into a large armored raven-like golem. The raven golem flew above Hans for a few seconds before slowly descending on the opposite side of the sword golem. "This is my Hunter's Guard, a guardian golem." Hans claimed, gently placing a hand on the side of its face before smiling gently at it. The golem like all other golems is lifeless, but the dark mage's gentle gesture would be enough to tell that he doesn't exactly think of golems as mere puppets. The raven-like golem stared at the summoner, its red eyes not at all looking threatening. It was a guardian, a protector so compared to Hans' other golems, this one came off as the least hostile, but its appearance was still enough to intimidate most.
"Is this...doing anything for you?" Hans asked, honestly not sure how this will help Verena. Trying to teach someone how to use his own element was proving to be a little more challenging than he originally thought. This gave the man a bit of an idea though.
"Uh, how about you show me some of your spells as well?" He asked, trying to see if he can pick up on that connection that Verena has with her mana.
Name of Spell: Dark Golem Creation: Hunter's Blades Spell Element: Dark Spell Rank: Senior Mana Cost: 30 (Initial) - 15 (Sustain) Type of Golem: Balanced Applicable Perks: Ease of Creation, Armament Description:
With their grimoire, the user summons a dark sword golem(s) that resembles a hunter blade. Being a balanced type, this golem has no specific specialties, but can be used for various purposes like attacking with its blade or ridden on as a mode of transportation (speed remaining at 14 m/s, and can hold up to two people). Unlike most other golems of its type, it only stands up to 2 meters, but that does not make it any less intimidating. If not careful, it can harm allies with its sharp blades. (Can summon an additional golem per 30 Control (Ease of Creation), maxing at three.)
Name of Spell: Dark Golem Creation: Hunter's Guard Spell Element: Dark Spell Rank: Senior Mana Cost: 30 (Initial) - 15 (Sustain) Type of Golem: Guardian Applicable Perks: Ease of Creation, Armament Description:
Based off of a spell the user had on one of their old weapons, the user summons a dark raven with menacing red eyes and clad in dark armor. This golem reaches up to 12 meters in height and is used mainly for defending purposes, using its wings or even its entire body to guard. Despite its specialty in defense, the golem can use its sharp wings, talons, or beak to attack those who get too close to whoever it's suppose to be protecting, but no matter how many attacks it does at once, it cannot exceed its current rank in damage. I can also be used for transportation (speed remaining at 7 m/s, and can hold up to three people). (Can summon an additional golem per 30 Control (Ease of Creation), maxing at three.)
Type
Power
Durability
Sensory
Range
Speed
Health
Guardian
90
110 (+10)
50
30m
7 m/s
Grand
[attr="class","hansinfobg"]
[attr="class","hansinfo"]
[attr="class","hansinfotext"]
WC 709 || TOTAL WC 1,634
TAGSVerena Reinsberg ITEMS Dark Edge, Cosmic Blessing PERKS List 'em here
Post by Verena Reinsberg on Jun 14, 2021 18:16:12 GMT -5
[nospaces]
[attr="class","verenaver2image"] [break]
POW
DUR
SEN
STA
CON
048
120
012
062
070
[break]
MANA SKIN grand+senior
HEALTH senior
MANA REGEN 45 IC // 45 OOC
MANA POOL 215/215
[break]
[attr="class","verenaver2scroll"]
It was comforting to have Hans' word on the matter, but... Verena's head lowered a bit. Her silence told the Dark mage everything that he needed to know though. She knew. She knew better than anyone that it would be for the best to tell Suna. It wasn't as if she didn't want to, but she didn't want the elf to worry about her. The last thing Verena wanted to be was a source of stress to her, after all.[break][break]
Hans agreed to show her some of his magic. His golems no less. That was the optimal way of going about things for sure. He cast two golems of two different types. It was an impressive display for sure. A balanced and guardian were the golems she was the most familiar with, being capable of relying on them for as long as she could possibly remember.[break][break]
The first one -- Hunter's Blade, was in many ways exactly as Verena expected. For starters, it was a literal sword. That was the most Hans-like spell she could have thought of. What better way to exemplify his love for a weapon than by creating a golem in its image? She smiled gently at the Balanced golem.[break][break]
The dark energy it radiated was... calming, in many ways. If one paid attention to the flow of the mana, the intimidation that it as well as Hunter's Guard possessed were practically rendered moot. But that was likely due to the fact it was a non-combat scenario. It could likely change at the drop of a hat. It only made sense, after all.[break][break]
Still... it was like this then, too. This same sensation. This feeling of... uncertainty. Insecurity. It was a feeling the brunette knew well. Verena moved to circle around the raven, gently petting it, gaining a feeling for it, though her head shifted to the blade.[break][break]
Yes, this was a good start for her. "...Hans, would you happen to be familiar with the Theory of Mana Identity?" she inquired.[break][break]
She didn't assume so, but rather than just letting her assumptions dictate the flow of the conversation, it was best to give him a chance to answer. If he didn't know, Verena nodded her head. "It effectively states that a person's element is chosen is based on their personality, and their potential to grow with that element. The grimoire, which is an extension of the abilities of the respective element or its full potential, is stated to be given to them based on how much they embody the element."[break][break]
The theory in of itself didn't explain everything. For starters, Ardere Kasai's grimoire was nowhere near as powerful as it should have been. At least, as far as grimoire rankings were concerned. There was no denying that he embodied that passion. One would think that it would make more sense for him to have nothing less of a three-leaf, perhaps even a four-leaf grimoire accordingly.[break][break]
"Though that theory might possess some holes, there is something that I feel that can be said about it. Just like every person is not black and white, so is the case with mana. Dark magic is associated in a somewhat negative light. Yet the role it's best suited for is for defense. Hans, have you ever thought why something as intimidating as dark magic is at its strongest when it's serving to protect someone?" Verena asked.[break][break]
Dark magic might not have had the same infamy some macabre elements, nor did it have the same torturous usage of Decay. But as it represented the dark, it had been condemned. Unjustly so. Verena never would be able to properly accept that.[break][break]
She could tell just based on how these golems responded. She knew what it was they wanted. What they needed. Truthfully, she was surprised Hans hadn't realized this for himself yet. Though she could just give him the answer, she wanted him to figure it out. This was, after all, a type of training for himself.[break][break]
She hadn't gotten around to summoning some of her golems yet, but she hadn't ignored the man's request. She wasn't exactly sure how that would help him though. Studying the way the mana in her golems worked wouldn't do much, but...[break][break]
Of her golems, these were the aptest at trying to assist the Archmage with what it was he needed to do. Though it was Ardere who had taught her fire magic, her time with Valo Starrk had greatly influenced this. Possessing the confidence of both, Verena made sure Bestimmung kept a static pose that was reminiscent of Valo -- if one was ever lucky enough to just see him standing around.[break][break]
Sonia, however, seemed to possess the impression of Suna. Though it was clearly not, it captured her idle carefreeness and calm disposition. Two people who were undeniably the closest to the dark mage. The mana from Bestimmung was in a constant state of excitement, vibrant. One could just feel that cool confidence emitting from it.[break][break]
"Is this helpful at all?" the woman inquisitively asked.
"When you spend so long trapped in darkness, you find that the darkness begins to stare back."
Hans just stood there and slid his hands into his pockets as Verena observed his sword golem. Despite his calm demeanor, the dark mage was a bit embarrassed about that particular golem, a little evident by him shifting his eyes away from the summoner. It brought back memories of how...overexcited he got about discussing swords back then. This only made him look even more like a sword nut...which he may or may not be. Still, a part of him was still proud of these sword-like golems. He always felt that they described the dark mage well, that they sort of felt like an extension of him. It's just a shame that he cannot wield them...but that did not make him any less of a swordsman.
The dark mage then asked Verena if she could do the same and summon some of her spells. He wasn't exactly sure what he could possibly gain from that, but it was still worth a try. It might be able to help with his mana issues in some way. But before doing that, Verena brought up a question that caught the man's interest. "No, can't say I am." Hans said before looking over at the woman. She then went ahead and started to explain this Mana Identity Theory, and Hans quietly listened. The dark mage understood for the most part what the summoner was saying, but he didn't fully understand why she was telling him this. Instead of interrupting the woman, Hans allowed her to continue.
She brought up a point relating to the man's dark magic, causing Hans to look forward as he pondered the question. An element with mostly a bad rep...but its main function is to defend...no, to protect. That's what differs dark magic from other infamous elements..since they tend to have abilities that are unethical. Hans never thought of it that way....but just as Verena asked, why is something like darkness at its strongest when being used to protect someone? The dark mage then let out a small half chuckle as this reminded him of something.
"When I was little...I used to sleep with my blankets covering over me." Hans claimed before looking away with a light smile. "I use to think that it would protect me from uh...monsters..." He then rubbed the back of his neck. It was clear that Hans was a little embarrassed about this as well...maybe even a bit more than he was about his golem. "I always felt safe wrapped around in the darkness of the blanket. To me, it felt like the safest place..." Besides his mother's arms...but he did not need more people to know how much of a mother's boy Hans used to be. "In a way...my defense spells feel the same...Especially the armored ones." Hans added. The dark mage quietly wondered if this was connected...if this is what Verena meant when talking about that theory. Still, it didn't feel like this was helping Hans much....perhaps because he does not have the full answer? WOuld whatever the answer to this help anyway?
As Hans requested before, Verena summoned two of her golems, one crafted from fire...and the other sound.
"Huh...Of course you would go with these two." Hans asked after Verena's question. He was not upset about this choice. He set it more as a hint of jest if anything. Hans couldn't help but smirk a little at the fire golem. It gave off a similar demeanor to Valo. He wondered if she learnt her fire magic from the guy, it wouldn't be surprising. Then his attention went to the sound one, causing Hans' smirk to soften into a bit more of a warm smile. It reminded the man of his beloved which made sense because she was the source of this element. Some fond memories he and the elf shared together ran through his mind all the way up to the proposal...but then his smile vanished. Thoughts of fond memories were now being replaced with self doubt, and fear...things that he had been keeping hidden not only from others...but himself.
'Why did you become a Royal Knight?'
'Why must you put your life in jeporady...?'
'You should be by her side...not here.'
'Perhaps you were never good enough to be by her side...'
'Why would she say yes to someone like you...?'
'You will eventually drive her away.'
'You are nothing but a danger seeker...'
'An emotionless warrior...'
'Selfish...'
'Just like your father...'
Hans took a step back from the golems, obviously looking a little...disturbed. "I-" Almost by instinct, Hans' body was engulfed in a dark aura that quickly formed into his Draconic Drive. "H-huh?" He looked down at his own armored hands, obviously confused by this. It was clear that he did not intentionally mean to cast this spell. Was his mana acting on his own...reacting to sudden stress he just felt? It was acting like a blanket...
Name of Spell: Dark Golem Creation: Hunter's Blades Spell Element: Dark Spell Rank: Senior Mana Cost: 30 (Initial) - 15 (Sustain) Type of Golem: Balanced Applicable Perks: Ease of Creation, Armament Description:
With their grimoire, the user summons a dark sword golem(s) that resembles a hunter blade. Being a balanced type, this golem has no specific specialties, but can be used for various purposes like attacking with its blade or ridden on as a mode of transportation (speed remaining at 14 m/s, and can hold up to two people). Unlike most other golems of its type, it only stands up to 2 meters, but that does not make it any less intimidating. If not careful, it can harm allies with its sharp blades. (Can summon an additional golem per 30 Control (Ease of Creation), maxing at three.)
Name of Spell: Dark Golem Creation: Hunter's Guard Spell Element: Dark Spell Rank: Senior Mana Cost: 30 (Initial) - 15 (Sustain) Type of Golem: Guardian Applicable Perks: Ease of Creation, Armament Description:
Based off of a spell the user had on one of their old weapons, the user summons a dark raven with menacing red eyes and clad in dark armor. This golem reaches up to 12 meters in height and is used mainly for defending purposes, using its wings or even its entire body to guard. Despite its specialty in defense, the golem can use its sharp wings, talons, or beak to attack those who get too close to whoever it's suppose to be protecting, but no matter how many attacks it does at once, it cannot exceed its current rank in damage. I can also be used for transportation (speed remaining at 7 m/s, and can hold up to three people). (Can summon an additional golem per 30 Control (Ease of Creation), maxing at three.)
Through the use of their grimoire, the user forms a suit of draconic armor made of darkness around themselves and/or others for defensive purposes, but that is not its only use. The armor also gives off a dark aura that increases the wearer's strength to Grand levels, allowing them to deal devastating Grand based damage to their foes and structures. When more than one armor is summoned, its Strength buff will decrease by one rank. (User can summon an additional piece of armor per 75 Control they have.)
[attr="class","hansinfobg"]
[attr="class","hansinfo"]
[attr="class","hansinfotext"]
WC 840 || TOTAL WC 2,474
TAGSVerena Reinsberg ITEMS Dark Edge, Cosmic Blessing PERKS List 'em here
Post by Verena Reinsberg on Jun 16, 2021 11:49:57 GMT -5
[nospaces]
[attr="class","verenaver2image"] [break]
POW
DUR
SEN
STA
CON
048
120
012
062
070
[break]
MANA SKIN grand+senior
HEALTH senior
MANA REGEN 45 IC // 45 OOC
MANA POOL 215/215
[break]
[attr="class","verenaver2scroll"]
While Hans was being embarrassed about showing off his sword golem, Verena was fascinated. Golems were the product of one's imagination. They could be anything. Most people only took the time to create bipedal, quadrupedal, or golems akin to birds of some sort. Verena was no different. They reflected what she held important to her. Companionship. Though as she grew in both experience and skill, her golems became more ferocious-looking, so too did her ability to understand others.[break][break]
Hans listened attentively as she explained the general concept of the Theory of Mana Identity. Though she could tell he was confused, she was positive he would catch on soon enough. Hans might not have been an academic, but he was quick to catch on when things mattered. This mattered to him, and so she didn't think it would be long before he caught onto what she was saying. That was just the sort of impression Hans Walker gave to her.[break][break]
Hans didn't seem to know how to quite respond to her question. Instead, however, he opted for a story. While Verena was examining his golems, she turned her attention over to him this time, listening. It was a surprising story, one that she wouldn't have expected from him. Of course, by no means did she view that as a bad thing, and she was glad that he trusted her enough to share this story with her. She didn't imagine this was the sort of thing he would just tell anyone, after all.[break][break]
Unfortunately, Verena could not exactly relate. There wasn't ever really a sense of comfort growing up. There was no sense of security. Even before things went irreparably south with her own father, there was always that feeling of negativity that surrounded everyone around her. That desperation that intertwined with obsession. That constant desire to need to prove oneself. The harsh training. Verena could not exactly say she had a happy childhood; she could not exactly say there was ever a moment she felt "safe". But she didn't fear any monsters under her bed or in her closet.[break][break]
Without thinking or realizing it, Verena clenched her arm. No... her monsters were very real. And they hadn't gone away with age.[break][break]
Hans' magic reacted suddenly, causing her to shift her focus back to the spell that suddenly manifested on its own. Hans had a troubled look, and it was clear that this was not by his own design. The spell had flared up on its own. It was at that point Verena realized that it actually was much worse than she thought. Not that it was impossible, of course. But it still wouldn't be easy.[break][break]
"Are you okay?" she asked.[break][break]
Something flared up that caught the Dark mage off guard. He was probably lost in thought the way she was. The difference between the two and why she had such control of her mana, however, was likely stemming from the fact that she directly confronted her own issues. She had confronted Renfir directly. She had made peace with many of her troubles, and though there wasn't anything that she could do for it entirely, she liked to think that it made a huge difference.[break][break]
She waited for Hans to answer, listening to anything that he had to say. Verena wasn't going to make any assumptions, though the two likely knew that she was already thinking on the cause. After listening to Hans, Verena nodded as she looked towards the sword golem.[break][break]
"As I'm just human, it never ceases to amaze me how mana is capable of finding the perfect hosts."[break][break]
"Flattery isn't going to fix anything, human. Your magic allows you some level of communication, but I know what you're after here. Trust isn't so easily earned. The human likes you. Has some level of trust in you. Why should I?"[break][break]
"An excellent question. One that I'm afraid I can't answer with words. But I've learned that words aren't usually enough to earn trust anyway. I've seen it too often. Human deception."[break][break]
"You give off a similar melancholy as the host. The same doubt. What makes you think you can help him?[break][break]
"Hans might have another human whom he would die protecting, but he is not good at talking. He's not going to get far on his own. And that will affect how much of your power he can draw out. Nobody likes to truly limit themselves. Similarly, his mood... it probably affects you too. You've been with him since he came into this world. Perhaps longer."[break][break]
"And? You still possess light magic. That self-righteous mana that believes itself superior to all. Not just that, you weren't able to protect him against someone who reeks of Light Magic."[break][break]
"I suppose you have me there. I did meet a Light mage and he taught me the element. But I'm a liaison between the host and Yourself, am I not? If I can guide Hans to what we both want, will you consider trusting me?"[break][break]
"...If that's even possible, sure."[break][break]
Verena couldn't help but smile outwardly. "Your mana is just as protective of you as you are of others," Verena said, glancing towards Hans.[break][break]
Moving towards the man, she grabbed him by the hand. "Here, here. Follow me for a moment," she said, moving her two golems so that Hans could stand directly in between them. "You might not be able to communicate with the flow of mana, but you have ki, right? You should be able to feel it. I said it before; a person's mana contains portions of themself. Valo might not have taught me fire magic, but his presence left an impression on me. If you focus with all of your might, you at least might be able to feel the way the mana is flowing. Compare that sensation to your own. See if you can find any abnormalities."[break][break]
Sonia's mana was... calm. Collected. It possessed an exemplary calmness and smoothness. The flow from it was very reminiscent of the person who taught Verena the magic. The magic seemed at ease more than anything. Though it didn't seem to resonate with Hans' own, the flow was steady. Her golems always maintained these traits from the time she had managed to acquire the magic in question. The traits that exemplified the teachers.[break][break]
In many ways, Bestimmung shared many similarities to Ardere Kasai. Even down to the flow of the mana. It would be harder to take notice of what traits would remind Hans of Valo as a result. Confident, fierce. Loyal, compassionate. These were traits that both men had but displayed in different manners. By paying close attention to the flow of mana, one's feelings could be felt through them. Cocky, cool, and competitive. If Hans looked for it enough, he eventually came across these feelings as well.[break][break]
These were not emotions that the golems themselves picked up. However, mana was just as much a natural thing as it was an extension of the user. Verena's elements were gifts from the people who took the time to teach her. It was only natural that extensions of themselves would appear in it. In Bestimmung's case, the golem itself was formed only after drawing inspiration from both men. To that end, it was less than it appeared in the mana, but more how it presented itself... with some "encouragement" from Verena (via her control of it).[break][break]
Verena waited a bit to allow the dark mage as much focus as he could muster. "Now with that done. Something a bit more tricky. Do that to yourself."[break][break]
The difference between the likes of Valo and Hans was simple. Valo was honest with himself. Suna was earnest. Hans felt that the only way to tackle his issues was to shut them out. To just look the other way. His friends did not hide their feelings. Either perhaps he was uncertain of how to do it, chose not to acknowledge the negative feelings, or whatever else, Hans was holding himself back. But in doing so, he was holding his mana back from its full potential. To achieve the happiness he needed, he couldn't hide from his insecurities and doubts. He needed to acknowledge them.[break][break]
"When you spend so long trapped in darkness, you find that the darkness begins to stare back."
Hans couldn't help but let out a light nervous chuckle from the story. Verena was the only person Hans told about this not counting his mother. He didn't even tell Suna this, mostly in fear of having her think less of him. Although they do not hold the same weight, Verena trusted the dark mage with an important secret so he felt like he should do so in return. Plus, he felt that this story held some weight to what the summoner was talking about. He then glanced over to the woman, and noticed how she clenched her arm. That small sheepish smile Hans had faded the moment he saw this. The summoner was troubled by something, that much was clear. Does it...have something to do with his story?
This only reminded Hans that he did not know much about Verena. The two were only acquainted through their different relationship with the sound mage. Those two are friends...but did that make her and Hans friends too? Despite having few people he considers friends, the idea of friendship is still something Hans does not have a complete grasp on. He also wondered how much Suna knew about the summoner. If she has been keeping this curse stuff from her...then what else could Verena be hiding?
No...This wasn't the time to be pondering such things...The man needed to focus.
The reaction that the sound golem caused was just as surprising to Hans as it probably was for Verena. The dark mage was still looking down at his own armored hands, trying to make sense of this. This was never something that happened before, one of his spells activating on its own. Perhaps he cast it without realizing it? No, that didn't make sense, and it's also not like that his dark magic did it on its own...right? Hans was so caught up in this that he momentarily forgot Verena's presence until she asked if he was okay. The question caused him to look up at the woman quickly almost as if he saw a ghost. "Y-yeah...It's just..." He then turned his head a bit towards the sound golem. "No...no, I'm fine." A lie, but who was he lying to exactly?
The dark mage lowered his hands, trying his best to look calm, but his armor spell was still active. He didn't try casting it away, but the dark mage wasn't sure why. Hans took a deep breath, then looked up at his raven golem. Much to his surprise, the raven was...looking back at him. It didn't look like a reaction from the dark mage looking at him...but that he was staring down at the guy this entire time. He could've sworn that it was looking forward, lifelessly waiting for a command to be given, but right now...it was as if it were looking straight into him. Was this in his head? One of the dark mage's fingers twitched before he slowly rose his hand up with a hint of hesitance. Was he aiming to pet it...or was he trying to seek out comfort from it?
Either way, the dark mage stopped as he heard Verena again. The dark mage looked over at the summoner then back up to his raven, and to his surprise, it was looking forward again, void of emotion. He then focused back on what Verena said, looking back at her. "What do you mea-" Verena then grabbed his hand, interrupting the dark mage. He did what she asked, and followed her to her golems. Hans was still confused about this, but it would start to make some sense once Verena explained.
"Uh...sure."
Hans looked up at both golems before slowly sitting down, folding his legs as if he were meditating. He lowered his helmeted head and activated his ki sensing. With his eyes closed, the only thing the dark could see is the ki around him. Verena, the various objects and furniture within a fifty-meter radius, Hans could see it all, the ki swirling around them, each different from the last. But then he put his primary focus on the ki signatures beside him.
Bestimmung.
Outwardly, it gave Hans Valo-like impressions mostly due to the element and the demeanor it gave off, but from its ki...it felt like there was more to it. Just as Verena said, this fire element wasn't from Valo...but its ki still gave off traces similar to him. There was a lingering confidence that burns just as bright as the fire itself. Although all golems are loyal by default, the loyalty resonating with this golem's ki was powerful which went well with the compassion and fierceness. This was a golem...a lifeless being formed from mana...but the ki within held a strong personality belonging to not be, but two people.
Sonia.
The difference in this golem's ki was obvious. Sonia gave off a sense of calm. It was carefree and comforting. THe ki coming from this golem was in perfect harmony...like a symphony of sorts. It felt almost as if the sound mage was right there with him. It was a lovely feeling....but it would also cause the faint dark aura surrounding Hans' armor to flare up a little. Something wasn't agreeing with this exactly...but the dark mage wasn't sure what.
"They feel...so much like them." Hans said before looking up at Verena. "The ki within their mana is steady..and just."
Now...it was time to look into his own mana apparently.
"To...myself?" Hans muttered. The dark mage has never looked into his own ki before...not entirely sure if that was possible. But he would give it a try. The dark mage lowered his head again, this time trying to focus on the armor surrounding him...
At first, it felt like nothing...but then the disharmony of his mana made itself known, quick and sudden. The flow of Hans' own mana was unstable, and all over the place. "The hell...?" Hans muttered once more. Then an ear-piercing noise could be heard only by him. "Ngh..." Hans dug his fingers through the ground, leaving some marks from his enhanced strength. His expression was pained but covered by his helmet. Through his head, Hans could see various not-so-pleasant visions. He saw his mother dying to Diamond soldiers...the town of Aries Garse in flames. He witnessed those he considers close turning their backs on him....He saw his beloved heartbroken and in tears....
He then saw him...his father with that sickeningly smug grin on his face.
'Stop...' Hans said in his mind...and just like that, it all vanished.
'As you command, Hans.'
Hans could hear a voice in his head. The dark mage was a little confused...but he was able to put it together. 'You're my...mana, aren't you?' Hans asked. 'That is correct.' it responded. 'I see...' Hans said before quietly looking around, assumingly in his headspace. 'What were those...visions I just witnessed?' At first, the visions showed things that had happened, such as the death of Hans' mother and Aries Garse being under attack by the Diamond Kingdom...but then it showed him things that clearly didn't happen. Hans' darkness was silent, but after a few minutes it would answer.
'Those....were your insecurities.'
'My...insecurities?'
'Your doubts, worries...your fears.....'
'I...do not have such thin-.'
'...and you have been lying to yourself, shielding yourself from them.'
'What...are you talking about?'
'Your armor creation spells...their origins lie within these emotions.'
'What are you on about? I created those spells to protect myself and others during combat.'
'There is some truth to that...but they were primarily forged through your insecurities, your armor spells growing stronger the more you push your fears away, afraid to confront and accept them.'
Hans paused for a moment, thinking about it..but still he denies it. 'This does not make any sense...'
'You're afraid of becoming like your father. You think by gaining more power, you will eventually be like him, and that you will drive your loved ones away. You believe that you are destined to become a war-drawn soldier who only lives to take others lives.'
Hans just remained silent, looking down. 'That's not...' True? Of course it was. Hans had such a heavy mental block on him, that it was keeping him from getting stronger. It was disrupting his connection with his mana, but his mana still tries its best to shield the man...but even it knows what Hans really needs.
'You are Hans Walker.....You are not, and never will be your father...'
Hans slowly looked up, wanting to say something, but he couldn't find the words.
'You must accept these insecurities if you wish to move past them. They are a part of you...You must take a hold of this darkness, and bend it to your will....Can you do that, Hans Walker?'
The dark mage continued to look up. "I..." Hans then stood up on his own too feet with his fists clenched. "Yes...I will do this..." A dark silhouette would then manifest in front of Hans...taking a similar shape to the dark mage. It held its hand out to Hans, causing the dark mage to look down at it before wrapping his own hand around it.
'Then it is a pleasure to truly meet you...Hans Walker.' The mana said before bonding with the dark mage..."fusing" with him. The moment they became one, all of the insecurities Hans had bottled up rose to the surface, flashing through his head rather quickly. It was all overwhelming at first...but then the flashes stopped and one by one, Hans was in the presence of people he knew. Mr. Matthew, and his daughter and granddaughter. Charles Constatine, Valo Stark...even Verena Reinsburg. Even his deceased mentor and mother, Barret and Drusila respectively were there.
Then as Hans turned around, he saw his dark silhouette...and Suna.
That's right...Hans didn't need to go at this alone. There were always people around to support him...and he needed to be there for them. This is what Hans was missing. Not the power born from grief and doubt...but the power formed from wanting to protect others.
Back in the actual world, Hans' dark aura flared intensely. He slowly stood up and walked forward from the two golems just as his armor morphed around him. The armor felt more commanding...and free. A dark smoke formed behind it, acting as if it were a cape. The mana coming off of this armor was intense...but it also felt more at ease.
Name of Spell: Dark Golem Creation: Hunter's Blades Spell Element: Dark Spell Rank: Senior Mana Cost: 30 (Initial) - 15 (Sustain) Type of Golem: Balanced Applicable Perks: Ease of Creation, Armament Description:
With their grimoire, the user summons a dark sword golem(s) that resembles a hunter blade. Being a balanced type, this golem has no specific specialties, but can be used for various purposes like attacking with its blade or ridden on as a mode of transportation (speed remaining at 14 m/s, and can hold up to two people). Unlike most other golems of its type, it only stands up to 2 meters, but that does not make it any less intimidating. If not careful, it can harm allies with its sharp blades. (Can summon an additional golem per 30 Control (Ease of Creation), maxing at three.)
Name of Spell: Dark Golem Creation: Hunter's Guard Spell Element: Dark Spell Rank: Senior Mana Cost: 30 (Initial) - 15 (Sustain) Type of Golem: Guardian Applicable Perks: Ease of Creation, Armament Description:
Based off of a spell the user had on one of their old weapons, the user summons a dark raven with menacing red eyes and clad in dark armor. This golem reaches up to 12 meters in height and is used mainly for defending purposes, using its wings or even its entire body to guard. Despite its specialty in defense, the golem can use its sharp wings, talons, or beak to attack those who get too close to whoever it's suppose to be protecting, but no matter how many attacks it does at once, it cannot exceed its current rank in damage. I can also be used for transportation (speed remaining at 7 m/s, and can hold up to three people). (Can summon an additional golem per 30 Control (Ease of Creation), maxing at three.)
Type
Power
Durability
Sensory
Range
Speed
Health
Guardian
90
110 (+10)
50
30m
7 m/s
Grand
[attr="class","hansinfobg"]
[attr="class","hansinfo"]
[attr="class","hansinfotext"]
WC 1,780 || TOTAL WC 4,254
TAGSVerena Reinsberg ITEMS Dark Edge, Cosmic Blessing PERKS List 'em here
Post by Verena Reinsberg on Jun 21, 2021 13:07:37 GMT -5
[nospaces]
[attr="class","verenaver2image"] [break]
POW
DUR
SEN
STA
CON
048
120
012
062
070
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MANA SKIN grand+senior
HEALTH senior
MANA REGEN 45 IC // 45 OOC
MANA POOL 215/215
[break]
[attr="class","verenaver2scroll"]
Verena and Hans were like-minded when it came to their relationship. They were acquainted through one Suna Hoshi (and soon to be Walker), but they themselves had never spoken much to one another. She didn't consider Hans a friend; an acquaintance, sure. She trusted him, of course. But if it wasn't for the events of the Royal Knight Exams as well as the fact that they were both on the same team, confronting the same archdaemon, she felt it appropriate to say that much.[break][break]
But more importantly... he was someone who needed help. Whether or not he knew it, whether or not he would acknowledge it, she could tell. And she couldn't just stand by when someone was plagued by something holding them back. The brunette knew all too well how powerful the past could weigh on a person. She did live with it, every day of her life, after all. A constant, agonizing reminder with even so much as a single step.[break][break]
They were confronting Asmodeus as it were. The daemon responsible for the Shattering. The very same one who used impossibly absurd magic: Time Magic. Admittedly, Verena knew that for her especially, getting hit by such magic would surely mean her own death. The potion Lydia gave her nullified the effects of the curse. But that didn't mean it wasn't there. And given that the effects would simply wear off in time, it meant that Asmodeus was an impossibly deadly opponent for her, even compared to the others present here.[break][break]
Almost seven years. Almost seven years had come and gone since she had been cursed. That meant she had three years remaining. Three years left to live. She hadn't achieved any of her own goals yet. Least of all becoming acknowledged by her family. No doubt news had reached their ears, but they still refused her entry back home. It wasn't out of jealousy though. It was out of resentment. And that would make it even harder for them to acknowledge her.[break][break]
Hans said he was fine, but... she knew better. He was not. Magic did not flare up simply 'coincidentally'. In fact, the more skilled the user was, the more 'natural' it became to use simply on their own without even so much as a mere thought. It was what allowed mages to respond to most things with astonishing reflexes. And of course, Hans was no different; he had triggered a spell of some sort. And he did so because something startled him.[break][break]
Still, it wasn't her place to inquire. It wasn't her place to dig. Not with something like this. There were any number of possible reasons to explain why his mana had flared up and donned him in one of his defensive spells, but none of them were worth bringing to attention. Hans was not "fine". But he was still in control. And that was all that mattered right now.[break][break]
Verena watched as Hans concentrated hard. Ki, as it was, was a simply phenomenal thing. She needed to learn more about it. If Satori wasn't occupied with things in his own land, then perhaps it might have been easier, but it was likely not going to be possible to meet with him any time soon. There were even rumors of the Ryuu moving off the continent, but she had no way of knowing for sure. In any case, she knew she wanted to learn.[break][break]
While Hans was concentrating on her own golems, Verena took this moment to glance over to Hans golems. The issue with dark magic, Verena felt, was that it was wispy as well as sturdy. So far, she had only ever encountered one or the other. Even as peculiar as light magic was, it still was not easily moldable. But because of this, Verena wasn't sure what the magic itself wanted to do.[break][break]
Verena took a deep breath, closing her eyes. She couldn't communicate with the mana right now. Hans was its focus. And she had already given her word that she would help him through whatever it was plaguing the dark mage. But that didn't mean she couldn't focus on her own training, too. She could, however, focus on the structure, the shape. The general way the mana flowed, and what it was seeking to do.[break][break]
To the touch, Hans' raven golem was ... cold? Not in a frightening way. But she supposed that made sense if one thought of darkness as the absence of light. One could not reasonably expect a literal warmth from this magic. Verena traced her hand down the wings, taking note of the feel of the "feathers". They didn't feel quite like feathers, however. More akin to the steel of a sword, yet closely connected. That was probably something Hans did of his own volition, however, rather than a property of the magic.[break][break]
Even still, it was surprising how sturdy it was. These ominous wisps that exuded didn't go that far, either. It was as if it was residual energy from the magic, leaking out. But why? Placing a hand under her chin, she needed to think about it. What purpose could the wisps serve? Verena moved over to the raven golem's face, taking note that the wisps seemed especially potent around its head, but also around its wings and talons.[break][break]
"Hm..." Verena thought.[break][break]
Ah. So that was it. It was a natural defense, an attempt to create darkness so as to try to make it more difficult to try to guess what attack it might do. With defensive magic, it must have also been to try to better allow to hide the user. It wasn't anything as effective as sensory magic, of course. But it was only natural that a magic that was quite literally made of darkness would want the protection that came from being in it.[break][break]
...In a way, the magic wasn't all that different than Hans was as a child. Seeking to hide away. Though she doubted it was something out of fear. Mana couldn't feel fear. Mana couldn't feel anything. It could convey emotions, but Verena had realized that those emotions weren't necessarily its own. Even with Vaile, it was not something as surprising as "protecting" its user. It was about being aware of what its host was bothered by, and how that impacted itself.[break][break]
Verena personally felt it was akin to an act of self-preservation. If you lived with someone who was unstable, it would bring a sense of unease within the house. Hans was struggling. He had been struggling for a very long time now. The brunette wasn't even sure if Suna was aware of the exact extent her fiancé had been bogged down by whatever it was he was going through. Verena wasn't, but it wasn't her place to do so.[break][break]
Verena glanced over to Hans, only to find him in something akin to a cold sweat. She didn't need ki to know what was going on. She didn't know how, but the Dark mage had done something that ordinarily would have been impossible as far as she knew. Indeed, she told him to use his ability to use ki on himself. But it was to detect his own mental well-being. Somehow, someway, he had ventured into a territory that she thought unique to herself.[break][break]
It should have been impossible. But, she supposed if the mana itself was desperate enough to speak to its user, all the other had to do was simply listen. She wasn't sure, however, if the Dark mage would be able to understand it. Mana didn't speak to its user using words. Nor did it possess a body. It ran through one's body just as though blood would. But it was still a force that governed the laws of the world, choosing people to wield it. It possessed some level of sentience, an instinct like any other animal. And animals were not incapable of communication, after all.[break][break]
There was part of her filled with the slightest envy. Not enough to bother her. Because communicating with mana was something that she had been able to do for all her life, albeit with some difficulty in the beginning, it had become something natural to her. And so she had lost the part of her that had made it so... special. So... unique. But for Hans? It must have been an experience unlike any other. To speak to the very force that allowed him to reach heights that not many others could say they have.[break][break]
Magic was not a right. It belonged to the world. Humans were simply lucky to have acquired it at some point. There might have been a point where there were more people like her, those who could speak to the mana. But at some point, humanity and mana grew separate. She wished there was more on the history of the topic. Though she was fairly certain it wouldn't be a happy one. But watching this right now...[break][break]
Even if there was a sort of envy knowing that she could never have the experience as Hans was having right now, she was filled with joy. The joy that there was someone in the world with whom she could share this experience with. One who could understand just how... joyous it was. It reminded her of one of her oldest goals. How she wanted to create a golem in the image of a human. A perfect resemblance. It was a goal she had managed to acquire when she ran away. A goal to relieve herself of her loneliness.[break][break]
...But she wasn't alone. She hadn't realized it then, or perhaps it had simply become too commonplace for her to acknowledge. She always carried pieces with her of the people she loved and cherished, as well as the wishes of the people who entrusted their magic to her. She was never alone. If that was the case, then... perhaps she didn't need to make golems for her sake. To relieve her of her own loneliness.[break][break]
...Instead, these golems would be honors. When she reached the apex that she sought, she would create golems in the image of every single person who made a difference. Who embodied the values of the magic she had been taught more than any other. Yes... that sounded quite lovely.[break][break]
Mana around Hans flared up, surrounding himself in a black metal akin to the armor of a knight. The dark magic enveloped him and around him, creating a cape of the black wisp. Heavy shoulder spaulders reinforced his shoulders with a breastplate that seemed to be impenetrable. The helmet that covered his face did not allow for one to see inside, but she could tell.[break][break]
Hans was happy. He was most likely smiling that small smile of his from inside that template.[break][break]
Verena beamed towards him. A smile that showed her own happiness for the man. "That's right, Hans. It doesn't matter what hurt you in the past. It doesn't matter what your doubts are. None of that matters. Because you have people who can take that on for you. You don't need to do everything alone. Human strength has never truly been about the individual. Why else would we be fighting Archdaemons in teams, even when Lydia is the strongest?"[break][break]
"It's because people are stronger together. Your burdens aren't yours alone. You've got people who care."[break][break]
Hans' grimoire suddenly enveloped the area in his magic of its own volition. Magic surrounded the two, completely obscuring them from the outside. Verena didn't show any signs of fear, however. She knew what was going on. She could feel it. Hans probably could, too. No words needed to be said. It was a sign that it was overjoyed. Pleased. The magic simply wanted to come out to express this excitement. It was a surprising affair for sure. If it possessed a body of its own, it might even try dancing.[break][break]
After a while of surrounding the two, it suddenly launched into Verena's grimoire. "Thank you."[break][break]
Rare magic was... surprising. She hadn't ever been thanked before by mana. Nor had she seen it so accurately try depicting its own happiness. Wishing to display its own happiness. She supposed that was what separated rare magic from common magic. Of course, the experience between Hans and Echo was likely a factor here; Echo was just a fledgling. His magic hadn't had time to grow, unlike the soon-to-be-groom near her.[break][break]
"...Your magic, Hans. It really is wonderful. Thank you."
"When you spend so long trapped in darkness, you find that the darkness begins to stare back."
At this moment, Hans could truly understand Verena's connection with her mana, and how she can bond with the element of others. Although Hans' magic cannot go that far, he now truly felt one with his mana. Before, he used to think that his mana was simply his magical strength, but thanks to the summoner, he was able to see it as more than just that. Hans' dark mana is his shield, his guardian, a part of him...It IS him! The missing piece that was always there with him...watching over the man. The dark mage did not know how disconnected he was, the inner turmoil that he was suffering from until now, but at the same time...he was at peace. Not only is his mana on his side, but also the many people he was lucky enough to meet. Hans was not alone...He never was.
Hans looked down at his armored palms, clenching them softly. He could feel the power...not just physically, but mentally too. His darkness no longer had a hint of angst as it was replaced with the peace that the man has found. The dark smoke-like cape danced about calmly as Hans' grimoire lit up. The dark aura surrounding it and Hans' armor spread out around the area, covering it in its dark embrace, but not in fear nor anger. It was all in gratitude. The darkness then launched itself into Verena's grimoire, Hans not looking the least bit phased by any of this. This was all new to the dark mage, but Hans still knew deep down what was going on. His darkness wanted to thank the summoner by sharing some of its mana with her. Hans could feel it, some of his dark magic within the woman's grimoire now.
As Verena complimented his magic and thanked hi,, Hans' armor faded into darkness, revealing the small smile on his face, his expression lacking any negativity. "Thank you, Verena." He said in return before looking down at his palms once more, hints of darkness still lingering. "It feels like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders...I feel so...light." The dark mage claimed before looking back at the summoner. "I truly understand my mana, no, myself now...and it's all thanks to you." Hans claimed, his peaceful smile widening a little. "You are a gifted mage, Verena....and an amazing friend." At first, Hans was not sure what to make of Verena even though Suna saw her as a close friend....
But now, the dark mage can say with certainty that they are friends as well, especially with the bond that they now share.
Name of Spell: Dark Golem Creation: Hunter's Blades Spell Element: Dark Spell Rank: Senior Mana Cost: 30 (Initial) - 15 (Sustain) Type of Golem: Balanced Applicable Perks: Ease of Creation, Armament Description:
With their grimoire, the user summons a dark sword golem(s) that resembles a hunter blade. Being a balanced type, this golem has no specific specialties, but can be used for various purposes like attacking with its blade or ridden on as a mode of transportation (speed remaining at 14 m/s, and can hold up to two people). Unlike most other golems of its type, it only stands up to 2 meters, but that does not make it any less intimidating. If not careful, it can harm allies with its sharp blades. (Can summon an additional golem per 30 Control (Ease of Creation), maxing at three.)
Name of Spell: Dark Golem Creation: Hunter's Guard Spell Element: Dark Spell Rank: Senior Mana Cost: 30 (Initial) - 15 (Sustain) Type of Golem: Guardian Applicable Perks: Ease of Creation, Armament Description:
Based off of a spell the user had on one of their old weapons, the user summons a dark raven with menacing red eyes and clad in dark armor. This golem reaches up to 12 meters in height and is used mainly for defending purposes, using its wings or even its entire body to guard. Despite its specialty in defense, the golem can use its sharp wings, talons, or beak to attack those who get too close to whoever it's suppose to be protecting, but no matter how many attacks it does at once, it cannot exceed its current rank in damage. I can also be used for transportation (speed remaining at 7 m/s, and can hold up to three people). (Can summon an additional golem per 30 Control (Ease of Creation), maxing at three.)
Type
Power
Durability
Sensory
Range
Speed
Health
Guardian
90
110 (+10)
50
30m
7 m/s
Grand
[attr="class","hansinfobg"]
[attr="class","hansinfo"]
[attr="class","hansinfotext"]
WC 444 || TOTAL WC 4,698
TAGSVerena Reinsberg ITEMS Dark Edge, Cosmic Blessing PERKS List 'em here
Post by Verena Reinsberg on Jun 22, 2021 22:29:18 GMT -5
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[attr="class","verenaver2image"] [break]
POW
DUR
SEN
STA
CON
048
120
012
062
070
[break]
MANA SKIN grand+senior
HEALTH senior
MANA REGEN 45 IC // 45 OOC
MANA POOL 215/215
[break]
[attr="class","verenaver2scroll"]
If one was to ask Verena what she took more pride in -- her ability to help Hans right now, or the ability to have acquired a second rare magic, she would not be able to give an answer. Both were equally important to her. After all, because she managed to help Hans, she had managed to earn the trust of his mana. But in that same light, if she had managed to earn the trust of his mana, she would have been able to help him out regardless. The fact was the two went hand-in-hand. Whether or not he knew it or not.[break][break]
For the first time since she had met him, he seemed... truly free. Free from the chains that he imposed on himself. She was, of course, happier for Hans than she was for herself. That sort of freedom was something she wanted, too, of course. But it didn't affect her mana. She was careful to not let it disrupt her flow. Or at least, she had tried to. There was one instance where it affected her. With everything that she had going against her, one could argue that it was probably inevitable. Especially since she didn't really tell anyone her problems.[break][break]
Hans called her a gifted mage, and an amazing friend, though Verena had to disagree with the former. "...Thank you, Hans. I appreciate it. But as a mage, I have a long ways to go," she said, pausing for a moment.[break][break]
"...And you're an amazing friend, too. I'm glad Suna and you met. For both of your sakes."
