Bewildered, Allen blinked astonished by the statement. Standing stupidly in the hall where they had happened upon each other, he replied tentatively, “What do you mean?” “She betrayed Chiri.” Rika answered absolute in her certainty on this matter. Motioning that they should move their conversation elsewhere, they progressed down the corridor once more. Turning into another a minute later, that was lined intermittently with doors and windows. They walked side by side as Rika divulged more of her explanation, “Chiri was always set to become the next Director of the Day Gate, until Annaliese took that title for herself.” She continued, still in a hushed tone. The conspiracy sounding too unbelievable to him, Allen massaged his temple tiredly. Already worn out by the vastly different account of events, he almost wished in that moment to never hear the name of Chiri Krane again for the rest of his life. “That’s impossible, Rika.” Allen rebuffed. Shaking her head so
Gawking upwards, Allen’s head tilted back as he followed their mild glow. Continuing skyward until they appeared as small as stars, he could not even begin to guess at how many crystals decorated the tower’s walls. “34,295.” Rika stated. “Sorry?” Allen replied quizzically, not understanding the significance of the number. “That’s how many crystals are in this room.” She explained, guessing at what he had been thinking. Astounded, Allen asked, “What are they?” “Accounts.” Rika responded, already beginning to home in on a particular area, “Some are of events or trials, and others are personal.” She elaborated helpfully. Sliding a ladder over, to the spot Rika had identified. Allen recovered a crystal, roughly the size of an apple, from a shelf marked fourth from the bottom. After descending its steps, they retreated to a small room. Hidden by a dark curtain, it was no bigger than a cupboard. Furnished with a circular table covered by a l
Delivering this judgement, all within the court seemed to extract a cruel sense of glee as a thin metal wand was brought out. Placed on top of a tray, an elderly wizard in robes proceeded towards the convicted felon at the center of the room. Reaching to take it up, Chiri stopped him. Gently touching his hand with her fingertips, the links of her chains rattling as she did so. Outraged by the action, he exclaimed indignantly, “You dare to interfere with the sentence of this court!” Smiling ruefully in response, she retorted “If the court would allow it, I would prefer to see this part of my sentence through myself.” After a brief look in the Judge’s direction, Elder Crouse permitted the request. Saying with a casual wave, “It’s of no use to her now anyway, the Court will allow it.” This verdict passed; the tray was then extended towards her. Regarded the object somberly, Chiri picked it up. The wand rejecting her instantly it hissed and burned her skin in protest. He
Made weak and exhausted by the magic constraints, Chiri sat on one of the luxurious leather sofas in the Elder’s office. Feeling their constant draw on her magic, constraints were oppressive and suffocating objects for any witch to wear, let alone one who was still recovering from multiple injuries. Flexing uncomfortably under the weight of her restraints, the links of the chains clanged loudly in the silent office. The many eyes of its previous inhabitants staring down upon her judgingly from their portraits. Chiri muttered disdainfully towards them as she slouched further into her seat, “Give me a break, I don’t want to be here either.” The many aches and wounds painfully reminding her of their presence with each movement of her body. Chiri could only rest her head on the sofa back, as she awaited the unbearable arrival of Elder Crouse. Frankly, after the dark spell she had cast during her last mission; Chiri had not anticipated ever setting her sights on him again and was not keen
The morning training session coming to an end, trainees began to clear from the outdoor area. Soon to receive their final assignments, required to promote them into Gates. Practices were combined and had become more intense than before.Their breath hanging heavily in the late autumn air as they puffed tiredly, Allen exhaled solemnly as he regarded the woman standing at the sidelines. Thrown off in his stride by the sight of Chiri observing them from the edge of the training grounds. Allen, as well as several others, had been reprimanded at various intervals by Captain Armistice. Reproached multiple times during practice for their lack of concentration, their suffering was only added to by the rewarding of additional penalty exercises.Loitering near to the exit, most gave her a wide berth as they had to passed. Many still wary from rumors spread about the recent incident with the changling, they gave Chiri unfettered stares of suspicion. Although he could understand t
Moving past a window in the Night Gate, Chiri paused. Looking at herself in its reflection, she turned her head from side to side, sizing up the cut on her face. Wiping at the dried blood smudged across her cheek, Chiri accepted the minor injury was placed too conspicuously to escape Cazer’s attention. Releasing an exasperated moan at the prospect of having to explain herself to him again, she was grateful that at least it was small enough to not violate the terms of their previous agreement. The sparring session confirming Chiri’s prior conjectures about Allen’s nature. She was bothered by the question of whom he might choose to partner with in future. Even the prospect of being the root cause of another Pierce man's demise, weighed too heavily on her conscience for Chiri not to be perturbed by the outcome of Allen's selection. Acknowledging that a good partner would make the difference between life and death for Allen Pierce, Chiri had not been able to resist inter
It had been lying out in broad sight on Cazer’s desk. The assignments list for the first batch of trainees. The document might have been concealed from her amongst the pile, had it not been disturbed by Cazer’s previous engagement. However, once she had spied the familiar name drawn across it plainly in black and white, was all that Chiri had been able to think about since leaving the Director’s office. Prior to stumbling upon it, Chiri thought that there was only one trainee she needed to concern herself with. But after days of deliberation, Chiri had finally arrived at the irrefutable conclusion; she was wrong. There listed amongst the other insignificant names, was that of Morose Akena’s. Her instructor over the past month, Chiri had observed firsthand Miss Akena’s magic to lend itself poorly to conflict situations of any type. Although the Akena’s were not one of the most renowned magic noble families. They had produced a few great earth mages throughout their hi
Chiri stared at the bleak gray stone walls of the mansion. Awaiting her at the end of a long straight road, guarded on either side by a crop of dark and foreboding trees. It revealed itself from behind a shroud of fog. The darkened windows on its face leered menacingly back at her, Chiri loathingly progressed nearer to the structure’s wretched visage. It was no secret that there was not one soul within the Alliance who did not dread making the annual regulatory check at Vasmere Manor. Its gloomy exterior alone, enough to unsettle any inexperienced mage. The task had consequentially led many to abort the mission. Even those more seasoned individuals amongst them, were disinclined to enter into its walls. Primarily for the very plausible reason, that it was filled the brim with vampires. The Four Gateways Alliance entrusted with the task of making sure all complied with magic regulations, mandatory checks on known entities fell under their jurisdiction. Carried out at
The office filled with the serenity of the subtle white noise of each person’s solitary or otherwise mundane activities. It was the frustrated sigh which stood out amongst them as Chiri stared at the black and white squares of the board in front of her. The mild amusement that her opponent as he derived some enjoyment at her expense, evident by the sly smirk on his face. Chiri finally plucked her bishop from the board, her brow furrowing as she placed the piece in the last movement available to her, she slouched back onto the soft leather couch in resignation.Aware of her defeat without him having to state it, Cazer still smiled as he declared smugly, “Check mate.” Sulking as she sustained another loss, Chiri crossed her arms in front of her chest as she muttered back at him sourly, “I hate this game.” The smirk of confidence he possessed from beating her repeatedly at chess that morning, unrelenting as he continued to stare back at her. The expression would have irked her more had s
The smell, like death and decay condensed. It seemed to cling to the walls of the tunnels and hang in the air as repugnant as one might find a corpse which still swayed in its noose. The heinousness of the scent, only becoming more egregious as they continued further into the catacombs beneath the bustling streets of Ineset, Allen found that each breath he drew provoked a repulsed churning in his stomach.A rat, made fat by feasting on the bones of the deceased and the other hapless creatures that might live within them, brushing past his foot. Allen released a mild gasp, before recoiling back against the wall of the tunnel in disgust. Already traversing the morbid labyrinth for at least an hour now, he began to hope for any sign of the rogue mages’ hideout to be uncovered soon. Whilst acknowledging that their unlit corridors and seclusion were perfect for those who did not want to be found, Allen could not fathom how it was inhabited by any member of the living for long.Their route,
The small wooden frame of the bed moaning as someone shifted on its lumpy twin mattress, the noise prompted Chiri’s eyelids to flutter open slowly. Awoken from her deep sleep, she rolled onto her back to observe the person who sat on the edge of the bed they had shared. Her long hair tangled beneath her, she watched his broad back silently as he pulled on the few articles of the uniform that had been scattered about the floor during the night. Her gaze, apparently felt by him after a while, Allen Pierce turned. Greeting Chiri with an affectionate smile as she blinked the sleep away from her eyes, the skin around his blue gray irises crinkled from the extent of the contentment within this moment. The springs of the mattress displaced again as he leaned towards Chiri, Allen cupped her cheek tenderly in his hand to say gently, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you.” His thumb caressing her cheekbone lightly as he spoke, Chiri smiled back at him tiredly from the pillow. Her hand, rising
Amidst the forgotten streets and the forlorn inhabited who were relegated to their drenched cobblestones, was a place that remained far removed from the eyes of the public. The location of the business, only known to the few who required specialized or otherwise illicit magic items, Allen was perplexed to once again discover himself at the threshold of Ekral Manstein’s shop. The dismal weather, causing the gray steps that led down off of the street to become slick beneath his feet. Allen descended them cautiously, before finally arriving at the door. Issuing a knock, he passed a long minute or two out in the persistent drizzle, before the little compartment on the door slid open. A pair of dark and tired eyes revealing themselves to him, they scrutinized Allen, whose hair and clothes had come to cling damply to him as they grumbled, “What brings you here?” A few drops of rain from the mantle of the door, falling to slide down the back of his neck, Allen shivered as he replied, “I need
The final weeks of summer saturated by a persistent drizzle, it left gray pools on the footpath. Branching out into different avenues between the headstones, Cazer did not pause to consider the names etched on each nor did he become weighed down by solemn reflection as he progressed past them determinedly. The patent leather of his shoes, marred by the dirt of the cemetery as he entered into the more ancient part of the Alliance burial grounds that was shaded by the gnarled branches of a few mature trees. Cazer proceeded past the mossy and worn graves until he came to the one he sought.A sandstone mausoleum to one of the Alliance’s founders, Regus Sieg. The foreboding bars, clamped shut over the structure’s hollow opening, were only made more grim by the effects that time had over its once pristine stones and columns. Weathered and darkened by centuries of dreary days, such as this, Cazer mounted the few steps that led up to its gates. Placing a hand onto its cold metal, there was a
The room, silent, aside from someone tapping out an odd stunted interpretation of time with their fingers. Allen discovered himself in the company of an unusual assortment of friends and acquaintances he had never once expected to encounter. All there under the reasonable assumption of what joined them together, Tristan Hurst, Morose Akena, Horus Crouse, and Lance Armistice eyed each other awkwardly from their varying positions amidst the office. Unsure of whether to broach their purpose for being there or to feign normalcy by engaging in small talk as they awaited the final members of their group, Allen found that his foot too now drummed along to the peculiar rhythm set within the room. The anxious wiggling not ceasing, he contemplated the wisdom of joining these diverse characters together in their mission. Although operating seemingly well in their exasperating partnership, Cazer and Allen acknowledged that their plans to launch an more offensive strike on the Moon Gate mages wou
The rank smell of decay and mildew immediately enveloping her, Chiri knew that she had rejoined the dark catacombs where the cohorts of the Moon Gate’s malicious hoard gathered. Hissing as her form solidified again in the tunnel, Chiri again grasped at her side. Unsteady, the weight of her body found some stability as her back slumped onto the damp wall beside her. Expecting to be met with some snide remark in regard to her injury instantly upon her arrival, Chiri was to discover instead that her entrance had hardly been noticed amidst the affairs that had preceded her. Voices heard in the large junction between the tunnels, Chiri turned her head lazily in their direction. Leaning wearily against the dark tunnel, her eyes pinched together mildly as she squinted at the figures in the opening. Most of them the usual suspects that collected around Ryker Crouse, there was one amongst them that was only vaguely familiar to her. The woman’s hair matted and clothes dirty and torn from the t
Hurried steps and panicked voices arising from outside the Dawn Gate, the source of their alarm was indeterminate from what corner of the empty ward Chiri occupied. Disinterested by the distant sounds of their mingled unease faded into a buzz of unrest as she closed her eyes against the persistent pain which plagued her. Clutching the saturated fabric more closely to the gouge at her side, Chiri grimaced as blood oozed out from between her fingers and onto the pestine floor beneath her. The wound, not having cut deep enough to touch any vital arteries or organs. It only posed the immediate threat of blood loss as she remained a solitary entity amongst the empty cots of the infirmary. The injury’s presence, no less vexing in the least, this was to be the reward Chiri enjoyed from another one of Ryker’s misguided assignments. Reclining against the wall slowly, she hissed an embittered curse through gritted teeth, “Sodded slug suckers!” Fortunate enough to find that no one else should b
“Those damn toothy bastards can burn in Hell for all of eternity!” Cazer roared, the doors slamming shut behind him in order to punctuate the vehemence of this outburst. They were then battered again as he landed a ferocious kick onto the barrier of the office. The eruption of his fury causing the solid doors to shake, Cazer barely regarded the man who sat observing the dramatic display from his position on the couch.Allen’s eyes following him warily as he stormed into the room, Cazer found the silent pressure of his judgemental stare of little consequence as he marched over to his desk. Breathing agitated and his hair disorderly, he jerked open a drawer on the bureau. Withdrawing a half-full decanter and wiping the rim of a glass on the desk that had previously been used for water, Cazer poured himself a sizable portion of the spirit. Not offering any to the Hunter, he waited for Cazer to down the drink before asking, “No luck, I take it?” In too foul a temper to accept the smugness