Forum Thread

Aiden grabbed the others by the shoulder and teleported to the school, "Ok help find Ayran something is wrong I can feel it." He rushed through the school in search of Ayran.

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"You can feel it? Ok I guess." Sobble runs through the hallways trying to find Ayran. "Calico, can you feel anything?"

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Cath stared at Ravenor, her mind spinning at ninety miles an hour. A demonstration… In an ideal world, Cath would prove three things. First, the Scarlet Lily can heal people, including curing the plague. Secondly, the Scarlet Lily was safe to consume. Thirdly, the Scarlet Lily helps those possessed to fight and find their own mind again.

The first part was the easiest; Ravenor had to have at least one plague-ridden person in his camp. The second part would be harder to prove, but if Ravenor saw that the test subject was absolutely fine, his worry would likely be alleviated.

The third though… No one knew when the next blood moon was, but the principle of the resulting shadow possession was fairly simple. As a shadow mage, and an expert at suppressing emotions and memories, Cath was the obvious test subject. She could allow Ravenor to possess without giving access to her… secrets, and fight off his presumably more powerful magic with the help of the Scarlet Lily. The Kitsune Flower.

So Cath said just that.

"King Ravenor, Queen Lily, your majesties. I may have a solution to appease both of you. A plague-ridden individual will die in seven days should the plague be left untreated. This is a fact. Should King Ravenor, as the interested party, present one such plague-ridden individual, a single petal from a Scarlet Lily should prove that it cures the plague. That cured individual's continued survival would attest to the safety of the plant. If other members of your number have grievous injuries, we might also show you the Kitsune Flower's effectiveness upon the Queen's discretion." She bowed in the direction of Queen Lily.

"As for the subject of possession…" Cath paused, meeting the Dark King's eyes. "We do not know when the next blood moon is, nor can we afford to wait. I would be willing to act as a test subject. I invite you to attempt surface level possession, similar to that of the blood moon. As the Lord High of the kingdom of dark magicians, your power almost certainly is greater than mine. There is no reasonable way that I would be able to escape your influence. You may search me for talismans and other bits of external magic if you doubt my word. But I will prove to you in a second test that the Scarlet Lily, the Kitsune Flower will aid in your people's freedom from the blood moon."

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"Hello? Ayran?" Sobble and Calico look around. "Dang it, I don't think this is working."

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Shadow walked behind Sobble sadly. “Why did she get to beat up all those baddies. Trained all night for that.” Shadow sulked as he searched.

Atticus froze at the idea of Cath getting possessed. He was a purely light mage, a weak one at that, and a possessed dark mage looking for violence would end him. He walked over to Cath and whispered urgently in her ear. "What are you thinking? You could kill m- someone! You're already too powerful to comprehend and now you want to get possessed? I wish I hadn't come on this mission with you, you don't think of other lives and you already stated that you had no emotions." He hissed the last part, "I used to think you were wise and smart, but now... now I only think of you as abrupt and irrational."

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Before Ayran officially left the campus, he need to go look for the new Headmistress, and Her Majesty.

Ayran decided to go to the headmistress first because, he needs to prepare himself first.

As Ayran walked towards the Headmistresses office, he looked at the other students who are in peace, oblivious to the storm brewing in the darkness.

He felt a pang of sadness, just for a moment, before he quickly concealed it. He knew he has to be firm about his decision.

Knock Knock

Ayran knocked the Headmistresses office door, waiting for his approval to enter.

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Aiden decided to run over to the headmistress to ask if she'd seen Ayran but saw him outside the door looking very sad, "Ayran what you saw wasn't what you think!" He gasps for air and says, "That guy challenged Scarlett to a game of pool while she was waiting for you, I was there because I was told by her mom to protect her, but she trapped me in a house for a bit then released me in the bar, so I was making sur-" He gasps for air again, "I was making sure the guy didn't try anything!"

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"I feel disturbances in the universe, you feel it too right Calico?" Calico nods. "We need to go investigate."

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"What are you thinking? You could kill m- someone! You're already too powerful to comprehend and now you want to get possessed? I wish I hadn't come on this mission with you, you don't think of other lives and you already stated that you had no emotions." He hissed the last part, "I used to think you were wise and smart, but now... now I only think of you as abrupt and irrational."

Abrupt, irrational, cold, wise, smart. Powerful. She could handle all those labels. But Atticus's words hurt more than she expected. They proved that he didn't trust her.

Her smile froze on her face. The stab of pain she had felt evaporated instantly. Logic trumped emotion. "I see. Your complaint has been noted, and promptly ignored. If you don't want to be here, ask Her Majesty to let you leave. I'm sure the headmistress will react appropriately when you come trotting back to school without completing the mission…" she trailed off, narrowing her eyes. "But by all means, go. A bad grade should be the least of your worries."

Was he even listening when she detailed her plan? The Kitsune Flower could stave off possession, Scarlett and Ayran had both proved it. And this would be no different. Besides, she knew more than Atticus did. Ravenor wouldn't hurt her. Ravenor couldn't hurt her. Resonance frequencies of magic would work to her advantage. And Queen Lily was literally right there.

Nothing happened without sacrifice. Nothing happened without risk. Cath had always known these two facts. From the moment she had understood the words her mother was speaking, from the moment she had taken the oath and the flame, from the moment she had been bound in chains and lied to the person she thought had cared about her.

She turned away, unable to even look at Atticus. "Maybe you're right. You are just a weak little light mage who doesn't understand how the world works. Try living in the shadows, try learning the magic of bone and blood. Then get back to me." The Queen would likely have overheard their conversation, but Ravenor would not be able to.

"Your majesties," she said, her voice stronger. "Do both parties agree to this little demonstration? I will take all precautions and consent to all reasonable limitations suggested by both of you."

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"Hello? Hello? Calico, use your cat senses and see if you can find something." Calico looks around and walks somewhere. "Nice Calico, I should try be more like you and maybe heighten my senses by meditating sometime."

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Queen Lily's face was pale. Najomi looked as though she might lose her stomach. King Ravenor grinned. With a flick of his wrist, a girl, no older than 12, was brought before the group.

"I agree to these terms." King Ravenor said.

Queen Lily seemed frozen. "You are far more worthy of my crown than I am." She whispered to herself. Louder, she said, "If Lady Cath is okay with this, then I will allow it." Najomi looked terrified.

Ayran slowly turned his head to Aiden, he looked at the guy in front of him, he didn't know Aiden very well, but he knew he meant well.

Ayran smiles politely and nodded understandingly, "Thank you for clarifying that for me Sir Aiden.. But that isn't the problem here."

Ayran paused, "It's more of a matter of trust."

He frowned, he didn't want to speak of this topic further, but seeing Aiden wasn't going away, he sighed before continuing, "The fact that Scarlett went off on her own, just meant that she didn't trust me.. She was afraid.. I could tell." Ayran smiled sadly.

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"Then let us begin. Your Majesty, a failsafe circle, if you will." Queen Lily was nervous. Hopefully a light magic barrier would prevent any ill effects. Her eyes flashed, as her gaze met the shadow king's.

She took the first Kitsune Flower from the pot that Queen Lily had grown earlier, and knelt down next to the girl. A few diagnostic spells confirmed that she had no underlying conditions or curses. The King was not trying to fool them. "It's going to be okay," she whispered to her. She was sick and scared. "I promise."

The girl's symptoms immediately began to clear up. Cath straightened up, dusting off her hands. She peered back at the pots by the Queen's steed, and then glanced back at the Fryvern diplomatic party.

No regrets.

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Calico goes to an area and then stopping. "Calico, why did you stop?" Sobble finds Aiden and Ayran. "Ummmm, this is awkward."

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Queen Lily was pale, but seemingly stronger. She cast a light circle encompassing the group - did her hand just shake?

"Whenever you two are ready." She nods.

"Maybe I should be going." Calico tugs on Sobble pant break. "What Calico? Something you need?"

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Atticus smarted at the comment. "Fine." He spat at Cath as the ritual began. He spun on his heels and walked out of the forest. Beforehand, he had bought a map and he knew where he was. He brushed his hand on as many trees as he could as he walked away, draining them of their power. The white and grey path withered behind him. Have fun. He thought.

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"Umm hello?" Sobble wonders if he is interrupting the plotline. "Maybe I should go now?"

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Rin spoke up. She didn't know what Ravenour and Cath's relationship was. She just knew that Ravenour's high dark mage, her brother, said in his letter that Ravenour is not to trust. "If I may, Umbra here," She glanced at Ravenour, knowing that he could no longer overpower Umbra, since Rin ate the Scarlett Lily, "Will regulate the 'possesion' of Cath. I am unbiased, as I am a light and dark mage. And I am certainly strong enough," she grined, "As I am one of the last Alchemists."

Rin already knew that the Kitsune Flower could fight off possesion. That's why she could controll Umbra. Honestly, aside from limiting ravenour, Rin wanted to see inside Cath's head. "And to prove that the scarlett lily works, Cath, it would be fair if there were no protective enchantments." She knew that Cath would never agree to that. Or maybe she would, but not actually stay faithful to the rule. Either way, it would help Rin accomplish her goal.

She didn't actually want to burn the world. She wanted...well, her goals were unclear to others. But her cr*ppy parents were certainly a reason.

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