|
Post by hoodwink on Mar 13, 2023 20:27:11 GMT -5
((OOC: Digging that touch of the smells with the magic…and also was dead at the tea-party with Sir Rockington )) Vasch rolled his eyes as Machiko had a tea-party. Though he was glad to woman wasn’t too depressed, it made him nervous to see her not taking things seriously. His wishes were granted sooner than he thought, making him re-evaluate his wants as the skater seemed to contemplate his words over her tea. “I get it, I think.” Her smile had fallen, the goofy facade she’d been playing at broken. There he was, ruining a good thing again. Why did he always feel the need to do that? Straightening a bit as Machiko mentioned being consumed by darkness, as well as a stranger in a black robe, Vasch eyed the mysterious woman carefully. It couldn’t be them, could it…!? He’d heard of trouble-makers fitting that description in the past from the Committee, long before his time as an Odd-Jobber and even a Merc. Long after the tragedy that had befallen his own home, while he’d been stuck in that place… ”Where did you—?” He was about to ask her where she’d met them, this shady stranger…but just as he was fixing the words, a POOF! of blue fog exploded in the room! “Ah, Vasch! Long time—cough!—no see! Thanks for the package.” A man even older than the ex-Master appeared from the cloud, draped in a long blue robe and sporting a white beard just as long. He wore a ridiculously long pointed blue hat that matched blue slippers, giving him the appearance of someone ready for bed, rather than a powerful wizard. The only thing that even hinted at the later was the long wand they carried in their hand, still crackling with magic! Tch—he always has the worst timing… Sighing a bit as he scratched at the back of his head, Vasch frowned in response to the wizard’s greeting. ”Merlin…your place is always so out of the way. Can’t you collect your own packages with your magic, or something?” Already though the mystical coot was ignoring him, stumbling over a pile of books and eyeing the skater and red panda with a look of curiosity and excitement. “You must be Machiko and Rocker! The Fairy Godmother filled me in on my way over…I’m Merlin the wizard! It’s a pleasure. Just a pleasure!” Rolling his eyes a bit as he watched the introduction, Vasch crossed his arms and tapped an armored foot. “You’re here for some training, yes? Interested in magic, are you? How exciting! Young people nowadays don’t appreciate the arts enough, if you ask me. Not at all!” Huffing a bit at the last comment, Merlin seemed to be losing his train of thought for a moment… ”We aren’t here to listen to your complaints…” Vasch grumbled and flashed the wizard a warning look. "Machiko’s new in town. She can handle herself well, but needs some more training if she’s going to last against the Heartless for long.” While the Odd-Jobber spoke, Merlin was walking around Machiko and Rocker with a curious expression. The wizard had poofed! up a spying glass, scrutinizing the woman and the red panda as though trying to check for cracks or damages. “You’re always so focused on the Heartless, my boy! Magic can be studied for its own sake, I say…” Mumbling to himself a bit, the wizard huffed a bit more before straightening up and dusting themselves off. Nodding in approval at their own inspection, the spying glass disappeared in another puff! of smoke as Merlin waved their wand. “Now, tell me, Machiko—what spells do you know already? I can tell you have an above-average affinity for magic…especially for someone without the Keyblade. A rare talent, indeed! Usually, average folk can only learn spells based on their natural affinities, but you seem to be able to learn an array of natures already…” Vasch rolled his eyes before leaning against the desk. Merlin always got carried away when it came to magic.
|
|
|
Post by Machiko Tetsu on Mar 13, 2023 21:03:11 GMT -5
Machiko had been expecting the old wizard but she even jumped when he appeared. The blueberry smelling smoke filled the room and she got something of a starry gaze. Sipping her tea cup intently as Rocker chewed at some biscuits on the table. Rocker flopped into the bowl at some point to begin munching on all of them, he seemed pretty hungry. She'd beam as Merlin introduced himself, taking his hand and shaking it firmly even if he didn't offer it.
"Heya! Nice to meet you Merlin!"
An enthusiastic set of nods followed the query of training.
"Oh yeah! I got some minor magic but like, kind of base honestly. Some might even say mid."
Machiko would lean back a bit from the scope being narrowed upon her face, what was he looking for? Her eyes moved to the top of her head as she held out her hand and counted fingers.
"Thunder, Fire, Water, and Cure. Not a whole lot, but it's the basics, y'know?"
Rocker ate every last bit of biscuit, he'd fall off the table with the bowl covering him.
|
|
|
Post by hoodwink on Mar 13, 2023 21:56:51 GMT -5
Merlin seemed pleased with Machiko's response, nodding along as she listed off the spells she knew. "Indeed, a strong foundation! Very good, very good..." Smiling at the skater and tugging on his beard, the wizard chuckled as Rocker toppled off of the table after devouring the biscuits that had been left out. "It's fine if the spells themselves aren't in their final forms just yet. Raw power isn't everything, when it comes to magic—control and finesse are just as important!"
Vasch raised a brow. Sure, Machiko handled herself well on her board...but after seeing a few displays of her clumsiness, just how much 'finesse' was she expected to deliver here? "Alright, Merlin...how about you quit with the theories and start with the training." Gesturing towards the roof above them, the Odd-Jobber flashed a look of exasperation at the wizard.
"Ah, yes, yes...right this way! Oh, but Vasch..." Pausing for a moment, Merlin gave the ex-Master a concerned look, glancing at Machiko for a moment and seemingly deciding to say less. "I'll start Machiko's training. You head down to the Waterway...I've brought someone along hoping to speak with you." A pit formed in the armored man's stomach. Grimacing a bit, Vasch nodded, shouldering his Keyblade and giving Machiko an apathetic look.
"I'll be back up in a few...try not to torch the place, will you? I got enough bills to pay." He already had a sinking feeling he knew exactly who was waiting for him below. Waving his wand, Merlin poofed! away the table, chair and nourishments hosted on the center platform in the center of the room with a cloud of blue smoke. In its place, a section of the roof slid down smoothly from above, exposing a room hidden before on the second story.
"This way, Machiko!" Tapping with his wand, the wizard stepped onto the platform, gesturing for the skater to do the same. Within moments, they'd be floating up as Vasch was heading out of the Hut and back down towards the Waterway...
He glanced over his shoulder briefly, remembering the other times he'd been to Merlin's Training Room.
The Training Room was simple but vast. With a sturdy hardwood floor and ceiling space that betrayed the size of Hut itself, the walls were decorated with stars and moons and the circular room was filled with an odd array of furniture. Wardrobes, tables, chairs, beds and more were all scattered about, untouched and waiting. The platform Machiko stood on floated up and filled the hole, seemingly leaving no sign it had ever been there.
"Here is my Training Room! In this room, your magic powers will remain replenished and your health and stamina untouched!" Merlin puffed up a bit, seemingly proud of himself. "None of the targets will attack, but they'll all move freely, so prepare yourself!" Waving the wand he carried, the wizard began to glow with a radiant energy as the entire room seemed to come alive.
Sparks of magic began to shroud the furniture in the room, the candles adorning the walls flickering for a moment before all of the inanimate objects suddenly came alive! Wardrobes danced, tables hopped around while beds flew and teapots spun! Suddenly the room was a chaotic symphony of dancing objects, all moving in circular motions contrasting one another in step as they flew across the hardwood.
"Feel free to incorporate other skills, as well as magic!" Merlin seemed excited. "Show me what you can do, before I give you any advice." Was the old wizard really energetic about training newbies, or were they just always this carefree and hyped to use magic?
Maybe it was both?
|
|
|
Post by Machiko Tetsu on Mar 13, 2023 23:38:03 GMT -5
Machiko tilt her head, who was it that Vasch dreaded on speaking to? She'd turn to look over to Merlin, smiling and nodding as she stepped onto the platform. She'd look down to Vasch again, somewhat concerned until they were up and in the training room. Meanwhile, Rocker actually moved to skid onto the bowl and follow Vasch, eventually leaping up and onto his shoulder. He was now full and sleepy, but he stuck around.
------------------
Training! This was what she needed, something to hone her skills! Although her primary problem was she had to have a catalyst, she'd look to Merlin with something of a weak smile.
"So, here's my predicament. I have the magic, yeah? All the mabobs that make it all go but...I can only channel it into objects. I don't know why, but it's kind of annoying. But I supplement it!"
She'd produce her cans, taking out two red cans and shakings them up and pressing down on both of them to spray the furniture with flames. Although with the current effects going on, the flames would never stop. She'd blink and let go, then she'd press them rapidly which caused them to launch small fireballs at the chairs. Grinning she'd shake an intense amount and then upon pressing a blast of fire rose from her cans almost akin to flares, but not quite.
"Whoa this is crazy!"
|
|
|
Post by hoodwink on Mar 14, 2023 0:31:33 GMT -5
As Rocker leapt onto Vasch's shoulder, the armored man sighed a bit and rose their hand to tuck the red panda beneath the collar of their haori. "Oi, don't get too nosy now...stay down and stay quiet. He won't appreciate an unfamiliar face..." He didn't need Merlin to tell him who the 'visitor' was. Making his way into the Waterway, the ex-Master prepared to meet with someone he had his own history with.
Someone who he'd fought beside and against many times, but in the end had agreed to help in exchange for their residency in Traverse Town...
"So here's my predicament..." When Machiko explained to Merlin about needing objects to cast spells, the wizard tugged at their beard thoughtfully while nodding.
"Not to worry! Most that use magic need a catalyst of sorts. The type of catalyst can vary, of course, but the important thing is to find one's that you find come naturally to you!" Merlin seemed to want to reassure the skater that there wasn't anything wrong with their approach, prompting them to get started.
Watching Machiko start by spewing flames at the furniture that danced around the room, the spectacled wizard clapped and hooted with excitement. Despite the burning heat from the skater's spells, the wardrobes, beds and other furniture wouldn't remain on fire. Instead, they would recoil and clatter on the floor before returning to their hopping or floating positions. It seemed the room would be safe!
"Great work! You're handling the control of the Fire spell well. You've made a steady stream and repeated projectiles...now try and see if you can spread the spell to take out multiple targets all at once around you!" Merlin waved his wand once more, beginning to control the furniture now.
Tables, chairs and clattering dishes were beginning to circle around Machiko, steadily closing in...!
|
|
|
Post by Machiko Tetsu on Mar 14, 2023 1:04:29 GMT -5
Rocker made sure to listen and tucked themselves into said collar and made sure to stay silent. Due to being somewhat of a sentient type of beast they would listen to any kind of command; they could understand him after all. There was silence for a moment, as Rocker knew from Vasch's demeanor he was rather tense with the person he had to meet.
"I do hope everything goes well, you seem rather stressed about this meeting. I will remain silent, this is your conversation after all."
----------
So it was normal? Well, that was a relief; Machiko somehow felt she was not as good at this magic thing as she was lead to believe. As the furniture began to close in around her, she had an idea that didn't entirely feel like her own. Taking each can of flames, her dagger slipped from her sheathe to float between her hands as she slammed the cans against the weapon. In a brilliant flash of flames what was produced was a glaive with a blade on each end, they were coated in flames. Instinctively she span the weapon above her head as flames began to coalesce and flick across her arms and wrists, causing light burns as she winced; orbs of fire formed with each spin that began to rotate around Machiko.
Tapping the bottom of her weapon onto the ground once the orbs expanded and jettisoned outward in all directions, exploding into wreathes of fire. The force behind it wasn't as impactful due to the splash effects, but it had done as was designed, taking out the adversaries around her. Glancing down to the weapon, she tilt her head; why did it seem so familiar? A hiss of pain would follow as she remembered the burns on her wrists, moving to take out a green can to spray it with her cure spell. Just what was this thing exactly? Not to mention that familiar keychain of the serpent devouring itself was there again, dangling from each blade.
"I̸̡̹͇͇͊̓͑̐̋̎̈́̂͐̈̏̅ň̵̡̛̩̫͇̂͒͑͂́́͊͛͠c̴̯̭͎͚͕̙̠̮̟̲̹͇̗͍̐̏̑̆̏͊̃͌͛ą̵̛̭̪̘͎͈́͋̏̑̈̑̈́̾̐̀͛n̸̢̢͔̙͉̫̭̗͇͈̟̦͐͂͒̈̎̓̈́́ͅͅd̵̝͉͓̠̄̀̾́̇̕͘͝͝͝è̴̢̖̤̬̼̓̾̽̅͌̒̓̒͘͜͝͠s̶̙̄̓̊c̶̢̨̠̬̰͚͇͍͇͍̄͌̽͊̍ḝ̴̟̘̯̻̩̲̻̻̰͕̳̺̅̀̇̄̌̄͜ͅn̴̨͕̻̭̦̤̞̹̙̻̜̙̯͂̒̐̌̓́́̕̕͜t̴̡͓̤͍̪͕̍̓ ̸̨̨̢̧͚̗̝̗͇̹̙͈̪̠̹̀̐͑̔͛͌S̶̡̢͎̜̹͕̹͎̭͕̻͖̪͚̽̔́́̆̌͒͘͜͠͠p̴̭̻̫̘̔͆̀̆̓͌̏͗͝a̵̼̹͚̹̪̼͆̄͋̈́͌̏́̆͐̿͒̈́̑͝͠ŗ̸͕̻͍̺̗̝̻̖̘̟̻̙͈̼͊k̴̻̠̔̽̇͐̀̍ͅ"
The same static that came from her voice as she spoke, as if she knew what it was, yet it still eluded her. She'd turn to look to Merlin, giving him a sheepish smile.
"Uh, kind of a fluke, sorry never been able to do that before..."
|
|
|
Post by hoodwink on Mar 14, 2023 1:43:27 GMT -5
Stressed didn't even cover half of it. As Vasch stepped onto the mossy stone shore of the Secret Waterway, the grip he had on his shouldered Keyblade tightened. "There you are, Branco." The familiar voice echoed throughout the cavern, causing the ex-Master's body to stiffen and grow tight.
"Squall." The 'visitor' was a man he knew well, one who'd been fighting for Traverse Town before returning to their home, Radiant Garden. Leaned against the rocky cavern wall by the water was Leon, arms crossed and scarred face fixed into a scowl as Vasch addressed him through grit teeth.
"Bastard. You know I go by Leon, still." Pushing off from the wall, they turned to face the ex-Master, both hands in the pockets of their black leather jacket. "We have business to discuss..."
Protecting his eyes from the explosive flare in the center of the room, Merlin felt something stir. "Machiko—?!" Peeking out from between their hands as the light dimmer down, the wizard would be stunned to find that the skater was wielding a flaming glaive! Had they summoned it, or transformed their seemingly normal dagger?!
"A weapon transformation...?!" For her to already be at such a level...the spectacled geezer was stunned. It wasn't until Machiko began to spin the flaming weapons haphazardly, summoning large orbs of fire, that Merlin picked up on the direct danger that was narrowing in!
As wreaths of flame exploded out from the skater, Merlin would summon a powerful Reflect spell around her. Shielded by a translucent rainbow sphere of energy, none of the flames would backlash on her as they washed over the room and furniture targets alike! All of the furniture that had been dancing around Machiko clattered and slammed to the floor at once, spent.
"Kind of a fluke, sorry..." As everything calmed down, Merlin's protection spells disappeared and the flames in the room vanished. Merlin gaped at the glaive in Machiko's hands for a moment before shaking his head and composing himself. The furniture clambered back up and began to slowly hop around again. Machiko was no longer surrounded, but the room was chaos as the targets all began moving again.
"Why, that was marvelous! Dangerous, yes, but marvelous, too!" Indeed, the wizards eyes had lit up as though he'd just finished watching a show or movie. "You need to focus on your control, though...the power is still too much for you." Tapping at his bearded chin, Merlin seemed to come up with an idea. "You seemed to lose control of the fire when you tried to harness it with the spin...you said you aren't used to that weapon..."
Snapping his finger, Merlin waved his wand around in an '8' shape. "You can't be afraid of your own catalyst, after all—it's an extension of yourself. Think of it more like a dance partner, than a tool of violence! Weapon transformations signify a telling of the wielders soul...but only one piece of the whole."
Was it a wizards job to speak in riddles?
|
|
|
Post by Machiko Tetsu on Mar 14, 2023 2:01:06 GMT -5
Machiko looked to the blade then back to Merlin, an extension of herself? Is that why it felt so seamless to hold it like she did? Her hands grasped onto it, it almost felt like she was watching someone else holding this weapon. That's when it absolutely hit her after doing such a flourish of power, all of the memories and movements of the blade and how they were supposed to be held. Maybe it was her weapon that was special and not so much her? All of her energy was nearly expended after such a devastating display of prowess, the glaive diminishing back to its dagger as she began to heave and pant. Luckily, her energy was coming back quickly form the stamina he had provided via the room. Extension of herself.
She'd huff and jabbed the blade forward then turned it almost as if it were a key, a single spark began at the edge of her blade. It seemed quite paltry, then she'd begin to weave it left to right, making the symbol of infinity as gusts began to form around Machiko. Eventually it all came to a head as she span the weapon again but this time slammed it onto the ground. After which a heavy gust of magic exploded from the glaive but seemed to entirely focus on the spark and as it did so a massive cone of fire erupted and washed over half of the furniture away from Merlin. The orange lights reflecting off of her shimmering form due to the sweat conjuring from her workout of a sparring session.
"It's...so strange. I don't remember fighting like this. Ever. Something tells me I can only do this in this room too...like...maybe I'm able to do this later reliably?"
Machiko panted and heaved as her resources were expended again and began to replenish as he looked over at the wizard.
|
|
|
Post by hoodwink on Mar 14, 2023 11:01:34 GMT -5
”Tch—I can’t believe you. So, what...you came back here to give me half-baked theories and act like some protector again?” Vasch openly scowled at Leon, more tempted to use the rusted weapon resting on his shoulders by the second. The man in leather had no shame. Everything he’d just said…it was starting to piss him off.
“Why do you always get like this? Just because you’re older doesn’t mean you know everything…I'm trying to help Traverse Town, here.” Shaking his head, the long haired brunette sighed, crossing his arms and looking over at the mural painted on the far wall.
”You were the one that abandoned Traverse Town! Just because you found your home again…” The words hurt, as he said them. Vasch had lost his home, his everything. What he wouldn’t give to be able to go back…but he would have never left to begin with, if he’d had a choice. ”Heartless or not, you should have gone down with it if you were just going to be like this.” Leon began to stomp towards him, raising his voice.
“Don’t talk to me like you know me! You don’t know what we all went through there!” He stopped in his tracks as the White Dwarf was pointed at him. The two had crossed blades before, but this was hardly the place the 'visitor' wanted to do so...
”You aren’t the only one’s who’ve lost!” Interrupting him, Vasch’s face showed anger, but not the blind rage he’d had in the plaza. This was a cold, clear anger. ”Most fight for their home until they themselves are lost with it—or sent here by force! You took your friends and fled with Cid in that damned ship…going back the moment you saw an opportunity. You’re all just a bunch of cowards.”
It was one of the few times Vasch’s heart wasn’t feeling weak at all. No…he felt sure and strong in this. This is why he and Leon could never get along. The guy was too proud and quick to ask for favors when he didn’t have a leg to stand on.
Merlin stroked his beard thoughtfully as he watched Machiko explore the new weapon in her hands. The glaive seemed to unlock new potential in the skater, unleashing raw power that was difficult to control. It’s almost as though it’s been slumbering for some time… The wizard wondered just what had unlocked the transformation, but was pleased to see Machiko take instruction quickly. Following his advice, she had soon erupted forth such powerful magic that most of the furniture targets dancing and flying across the other half of the room had blasted back and clattered to the floor!
“It’s…so strange. I don’t remember fighting like this.” So, was his hunch correct? Or was it simply a case of amnesia? Vasch, were you really so neglectful you hadn’t inspected this woman’s heart? Though no longer a Master, surely the wavy haired man still had the skill to examine the state of others clearly, no? Waving his wand in the air, Merlin would soon have the furniture in the room straightened out and pausing in its erratic dance, noting how much Machiko had pushed herself.
“Careful now, Machiko. Though your magic and stamina are replenished here, I don’t want you pushing yourself too hard. If you don’t feel like you could reliably utilize a power outside of this room, there’s little use in calling it forth, for now.” He’d have to have a stern talk with that wishy-washy Odd-Jobber when he was done speaking with Leon. Speaking of which, the wizard hoped that was going well. He'd only brought the Committee Leader along because it was urgent...but he knew those boys didn't get along well unless it was for some grand sake. “Your weapon’s transformation is powerful, yes…but it clearly takes too much of a toll on you to be a reliable skill, yet. Here, let’s take a tea break!”
On one of the nearest tables that now rested on the hardwood, a teapot flew over after prompted by Merlin’s wand. Filling up with piping hot tea instantaneously, two teacups appeared beside the pot on small saucers, chairs floating over next to the table as the old wizard took a seat himself.
“I’m sure you’re eager to practice, but there’s little merit in it if you hurt yourself.”
|
|
|
Post by Machiko Tetsu on Mar 14, 2023 15:00:18 GMT -5
"Listen to his heart, Vasch. You know that he cares for you, desires some form of collaberation. Why not hear out what he wants of you? You can always deny it, but it is better to know than to completely wall him off."
Rocker spoke within his coat into his mind, seems Vasch developed some form of conscience.
-----------------
Tea! For some reason she really enjoyed that thought, settling into her seat and wrapping her finger around one of the loops. Gently blowing on the piping hot fluid and taking a slow sip. The taste was just right, the correct amount of sugar, the right amount of herbs, it was delightful. Although now she was even more confused as she set it down onto the table. A hand settled onto her chin, elbow up on the furniture as she pondered.
"I just don't get it. Why am I able to do this kind of stuff right now? Is it because of the room or...am I just remembering things? But I don't even know if I'm remembering, because...they don't seem like thoughts that pertain to me. Every time I think on it, it slips from me and I get a splitting headache..."
Machiko glanced down at her hand, even the webbings of her palm seemed unfamiliar to her. What was going on?
|
|
|
Post by hoodwink on Mar 14, 2023 16:10:29 GMT -5
"Listen to his heart, Vasch." Rocker's voiced echoed in the armored man's mind, only deepening his scowl. Why was the panda acting like some external conscience all of a sudden? Don't take his side...you heard him. He only has hunches and theories. I've got my hands full here as it is. Leon had mentioned the Heartless activity in Radiant Garden spiking in a way that had caused the Committee concern. After some investigation, the group had even found traces of Nobodies, an old enemy believed to be defeated and chased off from the world after an old Organization had been destroyed ages ago...
But it didn't prove anything. They hadn't found any evidence of the Organization's return or activity.
Vasch and Leon glared at one another, silence falling over the Waterway. The leather-clad visitor had once been a local to this world, leaving it to return to a home once lost to them. In the process, they'd taken many of their friends who had acted as protectors with them—leaving Traverse Town in a state of vulnerability. "When I found this world, it had barely been restored from a slumbering state...you know what that means, right?"
Leon didn't say a word, his jaw tight. Instead, the scarred man simply turned away, looking once more at the moon mural sprawled on the far wall across the water. "It means Traverse Town was almost lost to the darkness, Squall! You and your friends abandoned this place and as a result, it was almost devoured." His anger was still icy but growing. How had Leon still refused to take accountability here?!
"I don't know who cleaned up your mess for you...but I stopped picking up after you and your crew when I stopped being a Mercenary. I'll watch out for my town how I see fit. I don't need you butting in whenever you feel like it...”
Settling into their seat and sipping at their own cup of tea, Merlin studied Machiko, who seemed to be deep in thought. Something about the woman sitting in front of him, the power she used...it all seemed so familiar. He couldn't recall why, or when, but somehow, he felt it wasn't the first time they had crossed paths. He really was getting too old for his own good, being a timeless wizard who had watched countless worlds rise and fall. "I just don't get it. Why am I able to do this kind of stuff right now?" It seemed the skater was confused about the power they'd drawn out in the Training Room.
"It sounds to me, based on how you're feeling, like there are a few possibilities..." Clearing his throat a bit, the wizard straightened himself up in his seat and leaned forward. "Though keep in mind, I'm by no means an expert in matters of memory, or the heart. That is a topic better discussed with Masters, such as the King, or Vasch..." He laughed a bit. "Though I suppose he rejects that old title, still."
Shaking his head a bit and stroking his beard thoughtfully, Merlin tapped at the table while gathering his thoughts. "My theories are: #1. You had your memories tampered with. Either by force, or by choice. There are certain powers and technologies among the worlds that are able to erase, implant and even rearrange the memories of others. It could be that this power and the memories attached with it are indeed your own, you simply aren't able to recall it yet due to the fact that something, or someone, has tampered with them..."
He didn't like starting with such a dark theory, but after hearing about the witch, Naminé, he had to bring it up. "Theory #2: This power was not your own, but something you either inherited, took, or acquired externally at some point. Sometimes, when one acquires abilities beyond their means, their minds and hearts try to protect or shield them from it...if that was the case, it could indeed explain why you can't recall such things."
Merlin paused, sipping at his tea. "My third and final theory: there are more than one hearts within you. This...is surprisingly more common than you'd believe." He chuckled a bit at the last comment, thinking back to past events he’d either witnessed or been told about. "As to how such a thing can occur, well...that's trickier to theorize—as it's something far beyond my realm of expertise."
Finishing his tea, the wizard glanced around the room, stroking his beard in thought. "As to why this room drew out such dormant powers...well, truth be told, I'm not sure! It could simply be the raw magical energy amplified the slumbering powers within you...or perhaps, it’s your heart recalling something your mind cannot?” He eyed Machiko curiously over the rims of his spectacles. He’d had his own nagging suspicions for some time…but, she didn’t look familiar, just felt familiar. “Perhaps your heart is trying to tell you something your mind has shut out, or been pushed away from?”
Brushing himself off as he stood up, Merlin smiled at Machiko and tapped on the table with his wand, though nothing happened. "I'll leave you to ponder that for a moment. Let me know when you'd like to resume your training."
|
|
|
Post by Machiko Tetsu on Mar 14, 2023 16:43:02 GMT -5
"He's listening to you, Vasch. He hears your heart, how it cries out in the pain of loss and potential despair. You know he has felt it too, he decided to make a life for himself back on his own home. If your home had just come back from the brink of shadows, would you not also want to rebuild? To have the life you once had?"
Rocker placed a paw onto Vasch's chest, where his heart might be.
"Your anger is justified, but you harbor so much self-resentment and turmoil. You need to let go."
------------
Machiko sat within the room pondering all of Merlin's words, every single theory he had seemed to make sense. There were possibilities and they all were interwoven in some regard. Was there any merit to the memory altering? Maybe, she didn't remember a lot of things and some portions were thrust to the forefront. Although it didn't explain how she remembered her name, somewhere deep in her heart she knew that was the one truth she had. The other was obtaining her power through inheritance or externally, this seemed likely but she didn't remember grabbing any kind of crazy weapon or enchanted item. The last one was really strange but could be true with all of the memories that were leaking into her mind.
That was when the room suddenly went dark, although the table remained where it was. Dark robed figures moved to sit down in three different seats, one of them propping their legs up onto the table. The other sat politely, even moving to sip onto some tea as the last crossed their arms and stared at Machiko.
""Come on, Spark. You already know that she's never gonna get it unless we spell it out for her."
The voice was feminine, it sounded similar to her own yet there was an inflection she didn't quite understand. The figure that spoke was the one with their legs kicked up, withdrawing their feet and placing a single finger onto the table.
"She hasn't even figured out our names!"
Was she supposed to know these people? They seemed so familiar, but she couldn't place it. It was on the tip of her tongue, glancing over they'd nearly glare at Machiko.
Ỳ̵̧̧̪̭͚͎̼̯͖̗̒̍̃͂́̕̕͜ͅǫ̷̞̥̺͒̎̇̐̂͂̎̓̊͠u̴̱̱̥̥̙̺̝̺̚ͅͅr̵̛̛̟͈̳̤͉͉̘̝̱͇̥͑͒̃͝ͅ ̸̡̪̐̄̋̌̆h̷̛͕̲͙̼͔̤̭̺̬̪̝̼̜̿͒̃̋͗͘e̸̳̖̫̟͇͕͉̰͎̍̆̔̐̄̑͘͜͜͝͝ạ̴̤̈̉̄͗̐̏̽̍̔͝ŗ̸̲̰̫͔͓̗̺̙̳̞̺̿̚t̸̺͙͉͚͎̫͔̖̄͛̑͐͌͜ ̵̢͇̩͍̹͈̭̦̞̬̹͉̉͗ͅͅĩ̷̡̥̮͖͍̺̤̎̃̎̐̋̑̄̿̓̃͠s̸͓̺̓́̏̾͌͑̏̋̽͗̚̚͠ ̵̨̛̥̪̭̯̙̘̦̫̯̜̺͉̜̀̏͆́̃̉͒̓̚̚ͅa̵̲̹̣̪͓̓̃̂͂̃͘ĺ̵̡̻̳̦̪̣̖͝l̸̛̟̳̼̠̄͗̔̏̑͜͠͝ ̴̡͇̖̪̟̱̗͈̤͆̈́̃̍̂̂͠͝d̵̡̲̺̣̅͝ë̸̡͕̯̤̾̀v̵͇̀̐͝ǫ̷̰̪̣͙̪̠̖͇̻̻̟̱̂̽̍̎͆̉͊̑̂͂̈́͑̚u̶̥̭̓̂́̍́͑̓̈̍́̈́̿̀͜͝r̴̨̦͎̘̺̩͚̱͕͕̱̳͉̟̾̈́̾̏͑̊̌͜͠ị̷̳̎͆͊̈́̊̕n̶͙̈́̉g̸̗͇̘̪͖̟̱͇̦̒̓̎̓̀́̏̀̔͠.̶̡̘̖̗̞͎̪̠̟̄́ ̴̢̨̛͖̣͉͍̖͌͌̅̓̉̉̍́̄́̚͝Ä̴̪͈̼̬́͗͑̋̈́͐͐͑́̋̀̾̊̕̚ͅ ̴̬͑͐̄̈́͝t̴̛̬̩̯̖̦̩͓̙̭̻͔͚̺͇̺̀̆̕̕͝r̴̢̢̡̜̱̥̗̜̰͖̟͚̬̙̞̓̒̽̔i̸͓̤̻̮͇͍̇̓͛̏́͑̈́̋̏̂͘n̷̡̧̡̢̯̖̘͈͓̳͇͚͋͊͛̚i̷̢̹̜̫̟̗̫̼̘͙̻̭̻͛͗̽̀̊̒̾̂̅̈́͜͝ţ̷͖͔̱̣͈͌̃̈̿̕̚y̴̛̹̻̬̗̝̱̙͗̊̓̽̑̇̂͒͘͝͝ ̸̡̗̳̺͑̄̐̄̆́̏̏͐̕̕͘͘̚͝o̶̧̫̦͔̖̖̮̰͇̜̅͑̊̅̅͗̚͜f̸̳̱̪̝͕͑͛̀̎͗͑̀̔͌͑͋̋͑̚ ̷̼̳̳͔͚̽̈́̑̏̉͒p̶̻̞̜̪͚̳̜͊̌͐̀̽̊̕ơ̷̡̱̱̻̝̬̥͇̗̟͍̺̤̽͝ẅ̷̹̱͖̤̥̲̱̖̝̣͓̤͒̈́̑͗̃̂͌͋́̈́̚͝ͅȩ̵͎̺͙͈͒͑̿̃̉̍̔̊̾r̸̪̝͙̤̪̮̱̼͖͉̜͕͌̈́̈̍̈́̎́͝ͅ,̷̨͎̣̖̲̭͉̱̔͗͒̈͒͒̑͑͒͗͠ ̴̡̨̦̳͙͇̟̼̠̦̺̌̍e̶̛̻̱͓̙͉̓͐̂̍͊͑̐̀̀̈͒͝v̷̡̛̦̦̹̝̼̰͍̫͉͚̈́̇̀̀̐̚ẻ̴̛̱̩̞̺̭̱͙͎͈͉̱̍̋̍̏̇͒͆͐̿̕͜r̵̢̘̠͚̩̞̼̳̅̒́̄̈́y̴̛̰̭̺̟̜͖͈͌̍̅̓̕͝ ̶̬̉̌͂̈́̐͑̈́̄̂͛̿̅̕̚ȧ̴̮̂̈́͆̈́͗̉͐̀̚g̵̺̻̟̹͓̬̣̬̳̳̯͊̉̉͊̓̌͒̕͘͜͝ȩ̶̡̲̥̹̤͖̤͈̑̀̌͗̄͆ ̸̡̣̙̻̠͍͇̠̀̾̀̎́̆͒̚ͅt̴̢̛̟̣̰̲̙̹͎͈͔̥̤͇̞̭̐̉̍̄̌͗͐̈͂̾̉͋́h̷̨̝̺̹̱̬̬̥̜͕͋̇̀͒͋̇͋͝ͅë̷̛͖̦͎̜̻̝͓̱̤́̊͆͐̑͊̇̿̓͝ ̸̼̱̝̺̼̞̗͙̳̬̮͉̔̇̅s̴͔̘̈́̄̈́̋̆͊̀̇͠͝͝͝ņ̵̘͚̲͉̈̀̓̌ą̷̼͍̲͔̩͖̫͇̱͎͓̂͋̎̍̏͝ͅk̴̨̢̛̖̯̹͖̜̒̋̊̄̇͒̀͜ę̷̢̡̢̗͙̬͕̬͍̲̹̱́̈́̑̽̾̕͜ ̷̧̨̲̳̭͚̦͖͚̊̋͛̍͒̄̅̃̀̑͝͝ẉ̸̨͉̣͍̬̭̻̮̹͈̮́ͅi̴͙̾̒͐͑̓̈́̽̀̆͝l̶̳̬͚͗̆͂͌͆̀͋͠l̵̡̛̦͖͍̯͍̯͙̼͕̭̾͜ͅ ̴̢̘̩̠̟̜̱͙̝̽̀́̿̿͆͌̚b̶̼̮̥͈̺͚͓̱͉͓̯̻̩́́̏̍͛͐͒́̔̈́͝ĩ̶̧͎̖͍̝̰́͌̉̕͝t̴̘̗͗͛̔̐̂̇̒͋̔̏́͑̄ë̴̥́͑̓̕ ̴̨̺̫̮̮̅̕̕̚̚͜ͅͅī̵̞̘̜͉̩̿̆͌͛̈́̓̉̆͑̀̀̽ẗ̷̮̥͉́͒̅͋́́͗͆́̋̈́s̶͓̑͌͒̀͆ ̴̧̱͍͍̹̝̝͉̯̖̫̞̾̎̈́͋͐̓̀̌͌͘͝ͅt̴̨͍̼͍̗̍̓̅̄͘ͅa̴̖̎̏ǐ̸̖͍̠͖̹͍̘̦̘̻̓̔͌͊l̷͔̤͈̥͉̟̜̻͖̺̣̘͍̂̀̎͌͂͂͌̃̊̉̇́͝ͅ ̴̟̲̫͔͚̻̰̤̤̗͙̻̭͇̋̇̋̀͘a̷̢̢̡̖͔̱̲̮̭͔͕͓̔̌̓̆͋͌͌͘͠n̶̨̨̢͔͓̰͈͚̫̮͇̒̊̇̋̕͘͜͜͝͝͝͝d̷͙͎̟̀̾͌͒̇̎̍̽͂̄̐̔̌̿͝ ̶̪͔̜͖̙͍̜̭̞̬̭̫̦̥̪̈́c̶̨̧̢̛̞͚̖͚̥̠̬̙̳̏́̐̿̓͑̒̃͠o̸̻͔̠̭̲͙̲̗̣͉̤͇̻̗̓̉́̓͆͠n̸̘̙̺͑̉͋͗̀̀s̸̙̥̑̽͒̓̉̌͐͗̕u̵̡͓͔̦̻̝̪̱͕̼̓̀̆̌͂̔̀͛́̽̽̐͘͜͝͝ͅm̷̼̦̩̍̄̓̐͑̊̌͊̆̎̋͛e̶̤̰̘̬̘͈̟̥͎̭͔͋͒͗̐̋̊̿̇̆̇̌̍̚͝ͅ ̸̝͔͍͉̩͙̗̙͈̩͇͒̈́̄̑͘̕ą̴̡̢̢͉̩͚͈̺̭̐́͜͜ņ̶̨̱̳̬̮̰̪̫̲̼̱͒̃̾̓͜ͅď̸̨̧̯̫̻̦̰̲̟̯̥͍̉̀́̋͗͆̃̑̂̇̓́͌ ̵̢̢̡̢͇̩̼̘̬͖͔͍̔̀̍͜͝r̴̻͖̤̙̤̻̟̯̒̓́͑͋͒̇̈̈́͂͋̉̄̊͜͝ͅe̵̯͖͋̒̽͗͆͌͆̕p̵̰̘͔͈̮͎̹͔͖̲̬̜̏̒l̴̤̟͉̰͎̃̔̏̍e̷̖̹͉̻͑̊̅̆͆̕n̸͕͎̟͗̓͋̉̂̂͌̏i̴̛̥̜̘͎̪͓̞̓̆̉͑̇̉̏̐̓͋̍̈́s̴̢̪̯͇̮͓̱͚̲̩̫͑͌̈́̽ḧ̵̢̡̨̩̫̗͈̖͉̫̲̲̃͆.̴͓̬͕͈̫̮̘̬͈͇̟̇̍͜͜͝͝ͅ ̴̡̡̟̗̠̘̬̩͉͙̼͕̖̘̋̂̀̈́̈́͑̊́̀͛̊̈͘͜͠Y̴̧̠̻͕̤͈̓̽̒̋̿̃̓̏̎͆̆̿͛ǫ̷̧̧̢͉̜̟̜͓̱̟̖̻̈́u̶̧̒̃͒̽́͊̿͒̐̃ ̴̳̼͙̩̐͐͋̄͆̋̔̆̏̑̀̂͒͗a̴̳̟͈̘͎̻̪̼͌̍̀̋͜͝ͅr̴̨̥͙̎͊̀é̸̪̭̺͈͈̿̏̌̏̐̆̄̀̎̀ ̵̛̝̹̺͉̥̟̳̞̦͖̰͊̀̊͌̌̃͋̓̐̐̏̑̕̚a̸̦͈̎̌̔̓̅̓͐̍̈́̃̕͘͠ͅń̴̼͙̦̞͖̱̦̩̫̤̖͜ͅ ̴̡̛̣̫̣͇͇̭̪̱̥̯̀̒̓̈̒̍̾͌̃̒̇̅̄ͅƠ̴̯̙͎͎͓͔͉͔̄̏͝ų̴̝͓̳̞͓̙̣̗̭̳̞̬͋̋̾̕r̸̥̳͒͑́́̇̔̌͋̈́̊̍͒͠o̵͓̤̊͗̓̈̈́̎̀̍͌͒̕ͅb̴̢̧̼̱̦͉͓͇̳̥̤̈́o̷̡͙͔̬̺̘͈̍͗̎̽͑̌͒́͘̕̕͠r̸̝̩̭̊͌̈́̋̓̽͠o̶̰̯͂́͆͌̑̎̀̒͐̚̚͠͠ṵ̵̡̨͕͕̦̪̮̠̯͚̭́s̴̘̖͙̠̩̗̾̅̀͂̍̋̓͌̄̃̕͠.̴̡̛͍̗̟̫̳͚͚̮͔̮͖̥͐͑̋̑͂͌̀̈́͆ ̸̢̺̘̜̙͍͙̈́́̉̂̋̏͑̏̕͘T̷̡̮̣̭̪̭͕̺̖̝͖͍̔͒͌̀̉͜ͅi̷̗̙̬͇͇͕͆͂̇͐̍̓́̐͜m̴̛̦̯̬̰̳̗̗̽̊͗̾͐͆̃͊̎͠͠ͅę̷͔̲̯̰̥̻͕̈́͐́̌͋͝ļ̷͙͍͖͛e̴̩̟̥̘͙̦̲̽̃̈̓͒͗́̒̋̾̔̅̌̒̊ṡ̸̡̳͕̺͕̫̺̭̥̼͍͎̾̃͆̽̂̓͜͜͠s̵̫̈́̾͑̔̃͌̈́͑̏.̸̛̘̲̽̀̂̓͒̈́̋̈́̐̈́ ̴̻̼͕̬͍̟̙̰̻̗͎̩̘͒Ę̸̧̳͎̹͉͇͚̻̭̥͈̥͓̄́̑͝ͅń̴̨̡̢̛̥͕̪̥̏̑͋̈́̂͋̎͑͋̓̓̍̏ͅd̷̢̢̧̫̜̠͙̯̘̝̣͌͋͊̆̾̏l̶̡̡̢͚̻̥͓̹̱̈́͌̈́̆̓̓͒͑̒̇̾̌̔ͅͅë̴̡̢͖͓̬̬́̐̂̂̄̀͌̂͗̓̅̊͐ş̸̡̛̭̞̮̣̙̋̀̀̐̓̔͗̓̋̑͆͐͗s̸̡̥̞͙̗̘̦̜̘͈͈̯͇̒͜.̵̨̦̯̤̦̠̜͙̙̊͒̆͂ ̶̧̰͚̰̮̱̂̄̅̽ͅY̷̳̮̠̗̳̝͙͎̯͖͛͊̾͘ǫ̶̢̙͎̳͖͔̼̜͇̙̊̈́͌́ͅų̷̧͙̝͉̙̪̼̺͔͙̤̹̰̃̅͆̃̋̐̊̏͛̕̕͝ ̸͈̤͔̫̋̌̒͝ͅå̴̛̫̿̔̋̓̃͌͜r̶̰̜͕̤͍̙͌é̷͎ ̸̞̤̽̽͗̔̾͛̔̍å̴̢̛͇͎̤̤̺̮̱̮̆̎̿̂́͛͌͜l̷̬̭͉̮̜͖̻̯͖̈̊̿̓̌l̵̡̡̦͉̣̼͓̫̃́̍͒̆̍͝ ̶̩̗̳̦͎͈̹̿̔̎o̶̩̟͈̝͕̰͉̓̂̏͆͗͜͜f̴̨̪̮̟̜̞̝͚̲̺͔̯̜͍̏̃̇̂̚ ̶̩͉̪͍̬͓͉͓̣̤̎ư̴̧̻͖̺͎̬̖̝͙̐̓̀͒͒͜s̴͕͕̙̣̘̼̰̣̱͎̈́̇̃̄̀͜͜͝ ̶͉̰̦͚̹͓̲̙̼̾̉̅͋̀͊̌̒͆̚a̸̡͉̩̙͚̗͖͓̒̏͒̋͗̒͊̄͌͌̎̓͝n̸̡̨̨̺̰̭̳͕̝͖͚̰̅̀͋͛̋͛̏͌͋̀̄͐̚͘d̶̨̪̱̯͂́̈́̊̔ ̸̨̯̮̳̠̰͈͍̝̻̣̩̫̂̃̀̆̆̊͝ǎ̷̡̯̭͇̺͓̩̱͕̯̮̪͗͑ĺ̴̛̝͙̱̔̎͆̈̈̈͛̉̀̚̕͝s̷̢̺̗̗̽̾͐͗̕͝͠ǫ̴͉̻̗̱͖̬͓̹̺̝͓̋͂͗́̑̑͜͠ ̵̗̰͎͔͓́̇͛̈́͋̃̈́̇̽̀͘̕͝ņ̵̫̙͉̹̼̯͔͈̣̗̥̖͚̉̄̈́̾̋̐̇̉̾͆͌͜͠͝o̸̮̘̥̩̻͙̅͋̂̑̍̾̓̋͝n̴̨͔̬̪̭̝͎̠̩̖͕̏͐̓̐̇͝ͅę̶̩͓̓͆͗͂͐̇̐ ̵̬̼̲̱̈͒̕o̶̫̮̼̹̳̗̾͐́̆́͌͘͝f̵̮̲͕̝̋́̓̐̚͠ ̵̛͕̻̪͙͔̝̙̿̃͂̾͛̌͒̏̈́̎̋̚͝ư̵̡̧̮̳̳͈͇̼̖̲̺̫̇̎̽̀͐͊́͌͛s̶̳͚̝̩̫̐̈́̏̉ͅ.̸̢̢̱̫̭̠͕̺̲̻̠̞̳̼̈́̉̀̃͒̌̀͋͌̊̓͛͠
Her head hurt from how this one spoke, it was scrambled but she somewhat understood each syllable.
"Stop talking in riddles and tell me who you are!"
Silence took them all as the trio stood and all of them formed keyblades within their hands. One of them was a sickly and sharp blade which seemed to have icicles clinging to its base. One was coated in electricity, jagged and laced with magic. The last was of flames, she remembered seeing this in her memory once before. Locking them together and pointing to Machiko.
"We are the cycle. The endless spiral of fate. W̶̧͇̣̟̙͚̙͎̤͙̍͝͠ȩ̷̖̿ ̸̡̬͔̥͋̕a̶̦̣͖̒r̷̢̼̭͇͎͒̓̅̾̍̉̌̕̕ę̸̫̞́͆̀̓̎̐͐͌̔̎ ̸̨̼̱̟̦̤͉̙͎̲͛̌n̵̛̠̣̝̮̞͑̍͒̓͘͠ō̷͖͆̐́͘͝t̵̼̗̝͖͓͖̺̥̔̊́͜h̷̥͒̽̍į̶̜̞̮̤̰̗̀̕͝n̵͔̣̘̿g̷̫̤̘͍͙͊̈́̇̉͜ ̴̜̝̥̪͋̾a̵͎̖̪̘̗̭͂̃͊͒̓̽̐͂͜͜͝n̷̢̧̡̨̖̑̿d̵̦̔̋́̀͌̏̅͂̎̚ ̷̹̂̉͌̊́̈́̕e̸͔̰̠̜̞̗̭̻͙̣͑͗͒̎̍̈́͝͝v̸̜̹̺͐̉͛̋̽͌e̵̟͖̳̣̰̜͖͐̈́̏̒͆͘̚͜ͅr̵̛̫͕̪̈̀̑̒̋̍̃̄ý̶̡̧͙͕͍̪̳̳̤̾̅͋͆͆̕͜͝t̷̡͖̞͉̾͌̔̓̀͘h̵̢͇͚̫͌͐́̐́̀́͜͝͠ͅͅǐ̸͔̞̪͛͐̚͝n̸̮̟̥̣̈́g̸̢̨̳͖͉͍̜͔̥͋̐̏̏̊͛͠ͅ.̸̰̟̰͋̌̈́̂͐̓̔̇"̸̞̩̱͐͗̏"
"Helvaeŕ̸̞͙̆͜͜͝ǫ̸͓̗̼͊͂͆̅̔́͜͠͝k̴̮̖̹͖̩̫̙͉̫̃̈́̀̊͛̏͝͠"
As they spoke the room would return to what it once was, all she had were more questions. Although the symbol they forged was now solid and settled onto the table in a silver insignia of a serpent devouring itself.
|
|
|
Post by hoodwink on Mar 14, 2023 19:07:43 GMT -5
"If your home had just come back from the brink of shadows, would you not also want to rebuild?" Vasch couldn't blame Rocker for their sensible words and heartfelt approach, but the panda's words hurt, too. "You need to let go." It was all easier said than done. His resentment came from his own weakness and failures. Those couldn't simply be undone.
I wouldn't have abandoned my home to begin with, if I had a choice. He and his crew fled to save themselves... Leon had finally turned back to face the ex-Master, walking across the mossy rocks and giving them a stern look.
"Listen, Branco...I'm not telling you what to do, I'm just here to warn you. Radiant Garden's balance has started to skew. Cid's been reviewing the defense system. It looks a lot like it did back when the Organization was causing trouble...that's all. Keep an eye out." Sighing a bit, the brunette scratched the back of his head with a sigh. "I knew this was a waste of time. Aerith and Yuffie forced me...they're still grateful to you for protecting this place and helping us out in the past, you know."
Shouldering his Keyblade once more, Vasch snorted and turned his head. "Like I care. All of you were only good for the paycheck, as far as I'm concerned." He didn't need Leon to tell him about Heartless activity or Nobodies running around Radiant Garden. He'd protect Traverse Town and his business by himself, like he'd been doing the past three years. Grrrr...BOOM!
Above them, a sudden rumbling caused Vasch to stagger and ready his Keyblade. "Hmph...suit yourself. Go find out what that is then, why don't you?" Leon shot the snarky remark at the Odd-Jobber before turning his back, heading towards the tunnel exit the a water led to. "I'm leaving. The Fairy Godmother's waiting for me outside. It's been a pain, Branco..."
Ignoring the sarcastic goodbye, Vasch already turned and ran back towards Merlin's. Just what was going on upstairs!?
Darkness fell over the Training Room, the candles on the wall going out—their flames extinguished suddenly. Shouting out in surprise, Merlin held up his wand as a bright light began to illuminate the tip of it so he could see. "Machiko—!" His voice caught in his throat as three robed figures emerged from the shadows...
They all sat at the table, as though they'd been invited. Who—?! Just as the wizard was about to prepare a spell, he paused. The energy these three gave off...something was all too nostalgic about it. Yes, he knew these three, he was sure of it—even if he couldn't see their faces!
Curiously, he watched the exchange that occurred, recognizing the voices coming from the hidden figures despite the distortions. Ah, I believe I'm beginning to understand... Keyblades that were displayed seemed recognizable to him, a name mentioned at the table triggering a memory in Merlin's mind. Indeed, he was piecing together who Machiko was—why she seemed so familiar to him. The room rumbled as the darkness faded, the figures disappearing as quick as they'd arrived.
Light returned as silence fell. Merlin's eyes widened as they fell on the snake Sigil etched on the table...
|
|
|
Post by Machiko Tetsu on Mar 14, 2023 19:53:36 GMT -5
Merlin was about to elaborate, only for the sigils to all rise up into the air and connect above the table. As they did so the enchantment within the room actually began to all siphon into the sigils. Power rippling throughout the room as Merlin covered his eyes, all the while Machiko looked up to what was transpiring. An explosion of magic caused Machiko to stumble and fall onto her back, Merlin used a reflect spell to prevent any real hard from happening to himself or her, but found himself pushed back to the entrance of the room. A barrier formed, a mighty fierce one as well that kept him out as what sprouted from the sigils. Darkness also took the room, flooding in from the gap made to meld with the sigils.
A robed figure with a crimson grin and eyes, in each of their hands darkness conjured then coalesced into each sigil within its body to sprout serpentine heads. One coated in electricity, the other ice, and the last flames as it looked over Machiko. Was this some kind of heartless? It seemed like it, but she didn't have the enchantment to draw power from, the being had absorbed the entire thing. Each of the serpentine heads took deep breaths and spewed torrents of electricity, flames, and ice across the ground that she was skating away from frantically.
"Old man! Can't you do something about this?!"
"Machiko! Try and hold out until Vasch returns! I'm certain he will be here shortly and then I can form an opening for us to assist you!"
Merlin cried out, Machiko sighed, this was really annoying. Then a stray torrent of ice came toward her, she attempted to take a can of flames and spray it but her reactions were far too slow, wincing as her hand was suddenly stuck to the wall. Frantically she took her blade and began to chip away at it as the beast loomed closer.
|
|
|
Post by hoodwink on Mar 14, 2023 20:41:08 GMT -5
Clang! Clang! Clang! Vasch's armored boots banged against crates and stone as he made his way with Rocker back to Merlin's Hut from the Secret Waterway. What the hell is going on?! Pushing his argument with Leon out of his mind, the ex-Master was clearing his mind to focus on the energies of the world around him. He was rusty, due to how long it had been since his official titled really held any relevancy, but...
"Shit...what the hell, Merlin." Grumbling to himself as he finally made his way into the first floor of the hut, Vasch could feel the heavy presence of darkness that overwhelmed the Training Room above. He'd trusted the wizard to look after Machiko during his absence, as well as the old coot's power to handle anything that may have shown up—but the presence he felt was steadily growing! Why the hell isn't he doing anything?
Was there a chance the wizard had been indisposed? Clambering into the room, Vasch whipped his head around until his eyes fell on the spot on the ceiling that normally would be lowered and act as an elevator to the second floor...it was sealed still, though he could feel the darkness radiating through the ceiling to the point it felt like humidity.
"Merlin! Let me up! What's going on?!" Readying his Keyblade, Vasch decided there was hardly any time to lose. Taking aim at the spot that normally would have lowered automatically for him, the ex-Master's weapon began to shimmer in a bright light before it released a burst of energy! Releasing his Intrepid Stars shotlock, a cone of spiraling stars cascading forth from the tip of the White Dwarf, a flood of silver, blues and greens as it hailed towards the ceiling.
SMASH! The ranged attack ruptured the ceiling, crumbling the section that normally acted as a lift. In the gaping hole that remained, Vasch cursed as he saw a barrier instead of the room above. He couldn't make out the enemy or what was happening yet, but he knew whatever was going on upstairs was bad news. "Merlin! Machiko!"
Unless the wizard was able to create an opening, the Odd-Jobber would have to rely on his unreliable weapon to create an opening...
|
|
|
Post by Machiko Tetsu on Mar 15, 2023 2:19:28 GMT -5
"ᴄₒₘᵖˡₑᵗₑ ᵗʰₑ 𝒸ᵧ𝒸ˡₑ, ʰᵤₛₖ."
An eerie and loud voice echoed throughout the room as Machiko tugged at the ice surrounding her hand. Frantic and crying out, Merlin had been rushing and looking through various texts and eventually found a spell that he hadn't used for some time. Flowing against the barrier, he'd press it against the barrier; it'd meld into it and with a flourish of his wand the bottom portion of the flooring where Vasch had been attempting to enter opened large enough and long enough for him to leap up and into. Machiko finally managed to remove the ice from her hand and dive forward as a blaze of flames roared above her head. Huffing she'd take one of the cans of fire and sprayed it quickly toward the head surrounded by ice, causing it to writhe in agony, the being itself held out one hand and as an ominous purple began to form the shadowy grip formed a fist large enough to hold Machiko suddenly.
Yelping as she'd kick her legs, wiggling and trying to get free as it began to squeeze harder, crying out in pain as she tried desperately to get free from its grasp.
(Enemy) - Triad Aberration (5/5 HP) Lightning Head (2/2 HP) Ice head (0/2 HP)(Recovering in two rounds) Fire Head (2/2 HP)
|
|
|
Post by hoodwink on Mar 15, 2023 7:14:57 GMT -5
Vasch began to see odd shadows and frost through the gap in the ceiling, though the barrier distorted his view. Just as the ex-Master was contemplating his next move, Merlin cast a spell that created a hole in the barrier big enough for him to leap through! Despite the distance, the armored man did a standing jump directly up into the second floor Training Room, rushing to finally see what was going on...
"Didn't I leave her in your care, you pajama wearing—?!" Growling out an insult he didn't get to finish, Vasch barked at Merlin as he saw the many headed enemy currently battling and grappling with his 'employee'. Using his Flash Step ability, the wavy haired man was a streak of silver as he blurred across the room—slashing out with a powerful blow and slicing through the shadowy tendrils that held Machiko, freeing her!
"This isn't the kind of training I had in mind, you know." Stepping between the skater and the crimson eyed figure, the ex-Master assessed the enemy before him. An elemental hubris...most likely, I need to take out all of the heads at once? It reminded him of the Hydra he'd fought with in the Coliseum, many years ago. Thankfully, it looked like Machiko had already taken down one of the heads, the one shrouded with ice magic, for now.
"You did good, kid. Hang back for now, would ya?" Sighing a bit as he readied himself for what would come next, Vasch leapt into battle! Rushing forward with lightning speed, the Odd-Jobber was a flurry of motion as his rusted Keyblade lashed out at the enemy. Striking with swift and decisive single-handed attacks, Vasch used his gauntlet to protect himself and guard incoming attacks. It was as though the man was a moving wave, overwhelming in force and fluid in movement.
The armored man's main focus would be quick slash attacks aimed at the targets body and limbs. He'd leap in and out of reach between blows, using his speed and reach to his advantage while trying to find openings for his real strategy...
He'd wait until the remaining two heads were aligned before delivering one powerful finishing blow!
|
|
|
Post by Machiko Tetsu on Mar 15, 2023 12:05:31 GMT -5
Machiko collapsed onto the ground as soon as she was relinquished from the monster's grip. It seemed to be just about as fast as him, moving around the room in a levitating fashion. Raising its hand to guard against frequent attacks, although one slipped through to leave a gash on its leg. It didn't seem to respond initially, but it was clearly in pain from how it hunched toward the afflicted area. Each of the heads still active actually turned to the incapacitated frost head and actually began to snap and bite at it, taking portions down and swallowing. The lightning head formed some amalgamation of ice as its breath became thick clouds, aiming its head toward the ceiling as it spewed out frigid air with a mixture of electricity.
Thunder bolts crashed around the room and with each impact it left a patch of frost, they were attempting to box Vasch in. All the while the fire-frost head opened its maw to fire a harsh jet of steam from its mouth, it would move in a horizontal wave across the area. All the while the injured figure thrust out its hand toward Machiko, beginning to form darkness around her unconscious state. All the while Merlin kept working on the barrier.
(Enemy) - Triad Aberration (3/5 HP) Lightning/Frost Head (4/4 HP) Ice head (0/2 HP)(Deceased) Fire/Frost Head (4/4 HP) Merlin joins the battle in one round.
|
|
|
Post by hoodwink on Mar 15, 2023 14:12:59 GMT -5
Its's eating itself!? Vasch had been planning on taking out the remaining heads at once, but he hadn't thought they'd devour the fallen ones and absorb their power! As the other heads tore into the third, they seemed to become infused with its frosty element, becoming a maelstrom. "Fine—let's see what you've got..." Grimacing as he focused, the armored man rolled and jumped as bolts of lightning cascading across the room, noticing the patches of ice left behind. It's trying to trap me, huh? A few of the bolts had managed to singe him as he bobbed and weaved, though thankfully he managed to avoid getting stuck in place for now...
It was crafty, he'd admit that much. As a wave of fire and frost washed over the room, Vasch slide across the floor, using the freshly formed patches of ice to his advantage. The heat from the wash of steam was intense, singing him as he slid beneath it, but it was minor surface level damage—nothing he couldn't handle. "Not so fast!" Seeing the shadowy figure try and reach out for Machiko once more, the Odd-Jobber aimed their Keyblade with a look of determination at the looming enemy as they slid towards the passed out skater. "Halt!" A bright light surrounded the tip of the rusted weapon, a bright triangle outlining the ground below the crimson-eyed menace...
Shiiiiing! A large pyramid of light erupted from the ground, surrounding the opponent and severing the shadowy hand that had stretched out for Machiko. Vasch had cast his Pyramid spell, a light-based magic that trapped enemies within the triangle shaped prison! "I'm your enemy, here..." Rising up from his slide across the floor, the man in the dark haori readied a low stance. Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes, focusing.
A faint aura wavering between silver and gold hues surrounded him and the White Dwarf, his body impossibly still. It was weak at first but grew bright quickly. Whoosh...SNAP! Like a lightning strike, Vasch was there one second and gone the next. SMASH! The Pyramid shattered as the ex-Master attacked through it, slashing out with two impossibly fast and powerful strikes aimed at the enemy's necks as he released his hidden technique: Zantetsuken 'X'. Though the attack could only go in a straight line, it delivered a devastating cross-slash attack faster than most would be able to track with their naked eyes.
Paired with his imprisonment spell, it was deadly.
Emerging behind the shadowy figure, Vasch straightened from his stance, the glowing aura around him fading as he followed up the mighty attack with a combo 'finisher'. "Shatter!" Using his Fragment spell, the shards from the broken Pyramid would suspend before lancing all in the same direction towards the enemy, seeking to impale them with their light-based magic!
Vasch remained vigilant, waiting to see if it would sustain the sudden flurry of blows...
|
|
|
Post by Machiko Tetsu on Mar 15, 2023 14:31:37 GMT -5
The beast turned to Vasch as the hand was severed, still it did not react. Although the pyramid worked its charms in isolating the being and following with two hefty strikes. Each of the heads pulled from the body of the heartless that had embodied the amalgamation. The barrage of strikes causing both heads to reel backward, although they began to manifest dark forms themselves. Growing legs and tails as they stomped about in the room, although the lightning drake tucked in its legs to begin to spin and rush at Vasch with a high velocity.
The flame and frost drake turned to Machiko, opening its maw to lay out a patch of flames and ice only to be impeded by a barrier. Merlin had made it to the fight, waving his wand about as he waved his wand to slam the beast with a ray of white magic. It'd roar out toward him, maintaining its stance but seeming to be on its last legs.
(Enemy) - Triad Aberration (0/5 HP)(deceased) Lightning/Frost Drake (2/4 HP) Ice head (0/2 HP)(Deceased) Fire/Frost Drake (1/4 HP)
|
|