Nothing
Security staff patrol the compound thoroughly, checking every dark corner for their "intruder". Ben is brought to the main offices after having his face stitched up. He knows it will scar, much like his father's, as even healing magic is unable to mend such utterly sundered flesh. He's taking a smoke before debriefing his superiors when an owl swoops onto a branch nearby. He leers at the creature and it peers into his eyes in return, twisting its head eerily as Ben finds himself in a daze. His head spins but he cannot look away from its peculiar, hypnotic gaze, broken only as a door swings open nearby. As Modeste steps outside, the owl slips back into the night. |
We're ready for you. Modeste informs him |
Ben puts out his pipe, tapping it out against his boot before following her inside. The Marshall and one other are waiting for him within a grand, imposing office, the second woman dressed in a blue uniform. His eyes leap from one person to another, clearly still unsettled by his experience. |
Take a seat Beatrice half offers and half orders, gesturing to an armchair opposite to her own And try to relax. |
Beatrice is settled behind her desk as if it were a throne, a portrait of the king at her back while Modeste and the other woman flank Beatrice on each side. |
Instructor Claire is here to help us see what you've seen. Beatrice explains, following his nervous gaze Go on, Joyce. |
Joyce is a gentle woman with sharp intelligence softened by a timid smile and eagerness to please. Somewhat elderly and overweight, a shock of light blonde hair curls about a face padded by puffy pillows of flesh and brightened by clear blue eyes. She seems she could be anyone's doting grandmother or schoolteacher, kind and knowledgable in her blue uniform, pearl necklace and brass round glasses. She pads quietly to Ben's side and offers her hand with a simple gesture. Ben looks between Joyce and Beatrice once more before grasping her hand, cloaked in white lacey patterns as she activates her form. |
Walk us through what happened. Modeste instructs |
We were changing shifts Ben begins haggardly |
As he speaks, Joyce's other hand flourishes a frail wand like a conductor, bringing to life an illusion of the memory he recounts in startling detail. It displays not only what he saw but what he heard and smelled, overlaying the entirety of the room! |
But there was something strange. his voice is still touched by fear, peering carefully at a nearby shadow as it noticeably bends and darkens And then she emerged! |
A girl, at first crouched over, rises to her feet in a manner that resembles hovering. Shadows cloak her face and body, shrouding her appearance and seeming to have a life of their own. Even as the torchlight wavers, these shadows do not fade yet the girl herself is disturbingly torpid. Her stillness makes his skin crawl, repeated again before his eyes through the illusion. |
We tried to surround her Ben narrates breathlessly and they hear the echo of his voice order her to stop |
The ghosts of the other two staff flank her, circling around cautiously and quietly while Ben draws his sword to keep her attention--she pays them no attention. In fact she remains deathly still up until Ben readies a small orange orb in his left palm. As the it forms, the girl stirs and locks onto it with wide gleaming eyes! |
But when she attacked... Ben's voice wavers Th-there was nothing I could do! |
Shadows begin leaking out around her, snuffing out the torches one by one as the darkness expands. For a brief moment, she seems preoccupied with something unseen between her hands and he gestures to aim the orb at her. Then, abandoning all hesitation, her movements and posture take on a vicious, sinister nature. She gestures back at him and Ben's orb detonates inexplicably in his hand, disarming him and sending him stumbling backwards! His back collides with the stone wall of the gate and he flounders to regain his balance.
When Ben opens his eyes, he freezes in sheer fear and disbelief, the girl horrifically face to face with him. She brings her arms together gradually, one to each side of him, gripping unseen weapons which rend the stone to her whim. They carve away without offering any resistance and Ben instantly recognizes the danger he is in. His coworkers attack the girl as he falters but their weapons meet invisible, impenetrable barriers, unable to impede or even approach her. Yet she doesn't acknowledge or even perceive their presence. Her focus is wholly on Ben and he realizes he is utterly helpless![/justiy] |
Then she just.... stopped. Ben continues numbly |
They watch as the inky wool peels away from her face and she glowers at Ben nose to nose. |
I... Ben squints at Tia, her features seeming familiar I thought I knew her when it was happening but... |
Modeste and Beatrice share a glance but wait for him to continue. |
No he huffs, the memory of the girl he chased up the mountain evading him. He scowls at his shaking hands. I thought I'd die by my father's blade... but that beast appeared and I was able to slip away. |
Your father's blades? Modeste questions, not fully familiar with her newest employee |
She knew Ben was demoted to this position but Modeste prefers to keep politics out of her division. Many staff within the program use their employment here to escape the trappings of nobility. Ben takes a breath before gesturing to the cuts in the stone. |
She was using void blades Ben's voice becomes grim, a hand finding its way to his wound You can't see them without one of Vokda's blessings but... I know that cut. |
The illusion continues and they watch as a creature, exuding tentacle-like shadows to conceal its form, leaps between the girl and the other two. As she looks to him, her expression morphing into desperation, Ben slinks down and rolls out of her sight. Finally, the beast jumps into her and they both sink into the darkness. Then, nothing. |
[br
Roll it back Beatrice instructs. With a winding gesture from Joyce, the projection moves in reverse until Beatrice motions for her to stop again. She points to the fruitless attacks of security staff as she continues Joyce, what's going on here? |
Well... Joyce pipes up eagerly Shadows are relatively harmless but void has many effective and devastating applications- |
Focus, Joyce Beatrice repeats in a harder tone. Joyce clears her voice, flashing an apologetic smile. |
It looks like Vokda's Skin, ma'am, Joyce states plainly, a bit deflated Only... expanded? Perhaps an Aura instead...? |
I will ask you one more time and you will answer plainly. Beatrice speaks slowly, growing irritable What is going on here? |
Joyce considers carefully before speaking again. |
While void blades can rend anything, expanding or cutting into the emptiness existing between all materials. Joyce explains as simply as she can muster Concentrated void , sometimes called void shields, instead make it impossible for matter to pass through or penetrate the space it occupies. Th-these were the Dark King's sword and shield! |
Why can't we see anything? Modeste questions in response. Joyce blinks at her before responding. |
They... they consist of void Joyce emphasizes Void is nothingness itself! |
Nothing did this? Modeste snaps with furrowed brows, gesturing to Ben's face |
Joyce nods to her tentatively and Modeste lets out a dissatisfied huff, pressing her lips together and falling silent. Beatrice gestures for her to continue the projection and has her pause again as Tia glowers at Ben with her face exposed. Beatrice and Modeste step before the illusion, scouring Tia's true face, a face to attach their superstition to. |
Wielding both shadow and void... Beatrice notes and ambition sparks in her eyes White hair and a dark beast. This is the one his majesty wants! |
We won't be able to overpower her easily Modeste speaks plainly And she can escape far too quickly. |
We're going to have to be clever. If we spook her, that's it. She's gone. Beatrice agrees with a sigh. A moment of quiet consideration passes as she contemplates. Then, finally, she turns to them with her orders We keep this under wraps! I don't want any of the recruits overhearing what happened tonight. Everything moves forward normally. |
Normally? Modeste questions, inflecting harshly |
Normally Beatrice confirms clearly We act as if she's escaped. Let her settle in with us. If we're going to capture her Beatrice looks at Tia again with narrowed eyes We need to play the long game. |
Wyrm flits by them in the form of a moth, fluttering back out the window to return to Lily with the good news. He knew already how delighted his master must be! |
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