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Post by hoodwink on Feb 13, 2019 20:14:25 GMT -5
Fields of tall green grass stretched out for miles on end. The only thing disturbing the sea of green was a single winding dirt path that ran through it. It was on this path that a single man was walking. His features were shrouded beneath the hood of a knee-length steel blue jacket, unbuttoned on his tall and broad frame. The sky was a bright blue, dappled with clouds that shifted and swirled playfully. It was neither hot nor cold here. The man was humming a tune that sounded a little off-beat, marching one foot in front of the other steadily.
Three days ago he had arrived on this world.
Three days he walked. Still he saw no sign of what he was looking for.
The Vagabond groaned from beneath his hood, his hands flying to his head as he shouted loudly. "I'm so SICK of walking!" He slumped over with a frustrated cry of defeat, resting his hands on his knees. For a moment he stayed like that. Then he took a deep breath. "Okay... okay... I'm cool. I'm cool." He shook the frustration off.
He was searching for information to aid his research. Rumor had it that an old and powerful organization, one that no longer existed by the sounds of it, had once used this area for a base of operations. Sure enough when he had first arrived on this world he had felt it, the stale presence of a forgotten darkness. It was that scent that lured him down the path he was currently walking. There are answers here, I'm sure of it. It was just a feeling, but a strong one.
It was after that thought that the Vagabond saw a faint shape in the distance. Hope jolted through his body faster than a raging flame, gripping his limbs as he suddenly began to run down the path he was on. By the time he got close to what he had been searching for, it was nighttime.
He was able to make out the features of the silhouette he had seen. It was a looming, towering castle, one that looked ancient. The overgrowth beginning to run up the sides of the pale walls betrayed how long it had been unattended. The stain glass windows that freckled the wide and looming towers were covered in dust and grime, unable to be seen through. The castle was tall and wide, jutting in many different directions. It was guarded by a lone, tall gate which hung open, gently swaying in the light nighttime breeze.
Shadows played harshly against the features of the castle, contrasted by the bright moonlight that poured over the scene. For a moment, the Vagabond was struck in awe at the sight. He removed the hood that shrouded his features, dull green eyes emerging from beneath disheveled hazelnut hair. He quietly walked through the open gate.
Once in front of the large looming castle doors, the man looked upwards and his eyes widened ever so slightly. "I'm finally here..." He raised a hand to the door. It once must have been beautiful, but now creaked and groaned with neglect, the once polished handles now rusted over. How long has this been here...?
With a forceful push, the Vagabond opened the door to Castle Oblivion, unsure of what lied ahead.
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Post by JeY k on Feb 18, 2019 19:22:30 GMT -5
Sitting just inside such a castle was a girl in a mess of body armor - seemingly mixed plate mail and leather, strapped and segmented all over the place, with seemingly no coherent design. She sat on the floor with her back to the wall perpendicular to the door when it opened, which immediately caught her attention. "It-- it opened!" The girl gazed out into the dark sky.
A man standing on the other side however was a different story. Her wrist snapped out and a blade extended out pointed at the man's throat. She was too far away for this to be remotely threatening but the gesture to indicate she was armed and willing to cut first and ask questions later didn't need to be an immediate danger to the man. She merely wanted him to keep his distance. "But who are you!?" She was half talking to herself, the 'but' indicating she was adding to her previous sentence without caring whether or not the man heard her.
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Post by hoodwink on Feb 19, 2019 11:08:31 GMT -5
The large doors groaned and creeped with age as they opened. The light from inside initially forced the man to shield his eyes, immediately regretting taking off his hood. Blinded momentarily, raising a hand to shield himself, he heard a gasp of surprise. With a few solid blinks the Vagabond's dull green eyes began to focus. What he saw caused him to grow slightly slack-jawed as he inhaled.
The entrance was massive. The ceilings rose to what almost seemed like no end, the walls matching its vast white stone color. Everything was white. The pillars that rose to support the ceiling, the floor, the path leading down the middle of the large room, just as wide as it was tall. Up ahead was a small staircase, white of course, with a wide (but much more reasonably sized than the entrance) door. The door was the only thing in the room that wasn't white.
Well, other than the stranger, currently pointing a sword at him. She was more of a grey/brown type, with the mismatching disarray of armor she wore. Is she a guardian of some kind!? He had thought the castle was empty. His information must have been wrong. But it seemed this stranger was surprised to see him, making him think they hadn't been expecting anyone to come through at all.
When asked who he was, the Vagabond straightened and stiffens slightly, forming a grimace. He hated introductions. Of any kind, really. The sword on the other hand was putting a little more pressure on his response, though at this point in his life he was almost accustomed to it. Maybe I just have a really good face for stabbing... He was pretty sure someone had said that to him once... what was their name?
He hated names. The Vagabond raised his hands above his head, showing that he was not armed nor about to attack. His jacket was open, revealing that there was no weapon holster on his hip, either. He tiled his head to the side a bit, a brow raising beneath the disheveled hazelnut hair brushing into his face. "I was under the impression one didn't need an identity to enter this place."
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Post by JeY k on Feb 19, 2019 13:22:15 GMT -5
With bated breath, the girl eagerly awaited the response. She couldn't contain her anxiety of the situation, and the only release that could free her from her temporary torment was an introduction to her newest fate. She didn't get a proper introduction however, instead the guy that opened the door that he had his own business to attend to. "So... You have nothing to do with me?"
Perhaps it was rather irrational to believe that someone opening the door must mean they were coming for her, but in the girl's situation there was very little room to think otherwise. She drew her arm back so her elbow formed a sideways L, rotated her arm up, and the sword collapsed down to her wrist. Not because she trusted him, but because she had a plan.
"If you're not here for me, then... you don't need anything, but as someone who's been trapped here for far too long I can't help but say don't come in. Just..." The girl started to break down a little in her composure. "Please don't come in... I can't remember how I got here, but I'm lost and I don't want to be here. The door didn't open. I feel like I'm forgetting something, or my head is going to split open at any moment, or both."
She looked down. She was somber, but not calm, though not totally lacking composure. The only thing that prevented her from immediately leaving was the doubt she obtained of her purpose for being here upon immediately realizing she could finally escape. It was all she wanted a moment ago, but now she wasn't sure it was the right thing. Most importantly... why was this man who was so unwilling to cooperate doing here?
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Post by hoodwink on Feb 19, 2019 16:48:17 GMT -5
The Vagabond stood in the foyer of the large castle, stunned into silence. He hadn't thought there would be anyone here, as the rumors spoke of a forgotten castle in disrepair. Sitting before his eyes however was indeed a person, who looked just as surprised to see him as he was to see her. After a moment the stranger sheathed their weapon, causing the man to give a sigh of relief.
As the woman began to speak it seemed something was beginning to break within her. Perhaps she had steeled herself to isolation too long, he wasn't sure. Once she began pleading with him to not enter the castle the Vagabond's hair stood straight on edge. C-creepy... It was certainly an unnerving sight. Within the first moments of him entering this place, which he had been searching for for so long, he already was met with someone who seemed to be warning him of peril. Nothing's ever easy.
The thought was bitter.
There was one thing in particular that caught his attention, however. She had said she was 'trapped' in this place... but hadn't he just opened the door? Glancing over his shoulder he noticed the door was shut. He didn't recall shutting it... or did he? There was an odd fog entering his head, one he shook off quite literally.
Shaking his head a bit, he lowered his arms to his side. Since the woman was quiet now, he figured he might be able to approach a little easier. Taking a single slow step forward, the Vagabond reached a hand out, though the two were still far apart from each other. "What do you mean, trapped? Who are you? What are you doing here?" He stood a couple feet from the entrance, the woman perched on the steps up ahead still.
There certainly was something odd about this place, the woman adding a bit to the unsettling vibe. His face was determined, however, and he gazed at the woman with his dull green eyes. "I need to enter. My research depends on it."
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Post by JeY k on Feb 19, 2019 18:41:19 GMT -5
"I needed to be here too, and look how far I've gotten." She gave a cold and determined look back at the stranger who had come in. She never noticed the door closed, her own indecisiveness trapping her for another length of time she believed to be a second eternity. She didn't have as much of an opportunity to think about his original questions, easily distracted by his forwardness.
Upon thinking about them, something stirred. She didn't know what it was, despite asking her self a million times why she was here just before it wasn't until his voice that the question seemed to have any effect. She snapped her head down and clenched it with both hands as some memories came flooding back. 'Who am I? What am I doing here?' She repeated back to herself in her head, but in his voice. Yes, somehow she was free from her affliction. She slowly returned to a normal upright posture and addressed him once more.
The girl cleared her throat. She sounded far more stoic and reserved this time. "I am Evia Korhurst. I... I'm not exactly sure how I ended up here still, but I feel like I've been here an impossibly long time. I feel like I've been asleep, and watching everything unfold in a dream. You're the first real thing to happen." That was a lot to take in, even for the girl herself. She was confident. Her soul was repaired but her memories were not.
"I'm afraid that's all I can remember. You've woken me up, but I supposed I still have some searching to do. Whatever your reason is for being here, let me come. I don't think I can regain what I've lost on my own. I won't slow you down."
Swallowing hard after that last line, Evia managed to conquer her aversion to others in record time, but times were certainly desperate and she knows she's not infallible on her own. Someone who is grounded in reality could keep her awake and maybe if she were awake long enough, she could recover the rest of her essence that seemed to be lost to the castle.
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Post by hoodwink on Feb 19, 2019 19:42:12 GMT -5
There was certainly something off about this place, the Vagabond felt it in his bones. It nestled in beneath the skin, causing a lump in the back of his throat to form. At the strangers response of her own needing to be here, the Vagabond couldn't help but feel his skin crawl. She's still only in the entryway... Had she really been here that long? Wouldn't she have made it somewhere further into the castle?
There were a lot of questions the Vagabond had, though he hardly got to ask them as the woman began to have a monetary moment of what looked like pain, as she curled up and held her head as if someone had delivered a blow. It only lasted a moment, hardly long enough for him to even allow a gasp of surprise out. For a moment her expression was hidden beneath the bright veil of orange hair. The wandering vagrant listened to Evia's introduction, wondering exactly how long she had been in this place. He had marched right in hardly knowing anything about it, thinking it to simply be an old abandoned building. Where had he come from, again...? The thought escaped him as the warrior requested to come along. Hm... it seems she really doesn't recall her reason for being here. He was here to search for something, yet had no knowledge about the place itself or what lied ahead.
He crossed his arms for a moment, lowering his head in thought. When he looked back up at the warrior, he had a concerned look on his face. "Okay... Evia. I'm... uh..." The Vagabond scratched the back of his head, looking around almost as if he was searching for inspiration. Suddenly he snapped his fingers, looking up at the warrior while declaring: "I'm nobody, really, just a wondering vagrant of sorts." He wasn't entirely sure if this would be clear enough, but hoped it would suffice. For a moment his face was that of confusion, almost as though he had forgotten what he was about to say. "So, you're searching for something, too?" His dull green eyes showed no signs of sparkle, scanning the woman vacantly, his voice dispassionate. "Why are you still in the entryway?" He was rather curious. Apparently this woman had been here for some time, but hadn't apparently made it that far into the castle. Had she gone in and returned? How far in had she gone? These were many of the questions brimming on the Vagabonds tongue.
He waited to quell his curiosity, wanting to give the woman time to answer the first questions he had asked. It seemed she wasn't used to socializing, which the Vagabond admitted wasn't much far off from himself. Maybe it was best to take things slowly at first. Didn't want to rush anything too much, after all.
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Post by JeY k on Mar 4, 2019 10:01:18 GMT -5
"Okay, mister Vagrant, but if there's a more appropriate verbal reference I can use to identify you, that's the best you're getting." She wasn't a fan of the idea of someone so unwilling to give their name, or maybe they were already being affected by the castle and didn't want to admit it. That was a stretch and she knew it, but beggars couldn't be choosers here. It's obvious this person had nothing to gain presently from betraying her, so there was no harm in tagging along.
Well, if they would move anyway. Her new friend seem preoccupied with her own shortcomings to focus on moving himself forward. "I'm not sure, about searching. I'm here for a reason. I know I have to keep going. It'll come back, eventually." This definitely wasn't the time to dawdle on such futile prospects.
"And I imagine if that thought escapes me, there's nothing I can really do to answer your second question either." Oh, maybe that was too much. She covered her mouth and stood back slightly, looking embarrassed. She's not really used to this sort of thing. "Sorry..." was all that escaped her mouth after she released her hand. Though after a brief pause: "Shall we continue, then?"
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Post by hoodwink on Mar 4, 2019 10:25:36 GMT -5
As Evia admitted to having no memory of exactly what she was searching for, the Vagabond felt a sense of kinship. What he himself was searching for was rather vague as well, though not due to any effects of the Castle. As the woman who appeared to be... a knight? A warrior? Well, the armored woman prompted him to keep it moving, to which the Vagabond blinked a moment before suddenly jumping as if in surprise. "Ah! Right!" With introductions out of the way... well, as much as one could get introductions one without a name, it was certainly time for him to begin conducting his research.
"Hm... so this place tampers with memories, eh?" He wondered if it were similar to how ___ could craft and tamper with memories. Huh? Wait, why can't I think of their name? There was a creeping chill that snaked its way down the man's spine, a grimace forming on his face. He could think of her youthful face, full of life and brimming with that stubborn pride of hers, but he couldn't think of her name. Is this what she meant? Being an individual who already had fractured memories, the Vagabond was unsure whether or not this was the castle's doing or his own. He walked across the empty white foyer to where Evia was, near the steps. Walking past the armed woman, the researcher made his way slowly up the steps, his dull eyes scanning every inch of the doorway that loomed ahead.
Are there any traps...? He looked over his shoulder towards Evia, an unsure look on his face as his gloved hand rested on one of the large door handles. "Do you just...push it?" Without really realizing what he was doing, the Vagabond did actually push the door open, a blinding light emerging from the crack as it swung ajar. The older man gave a bit of a shout as he tumbled through the door, unable to see anything past the blinding light.
Sand and grit mixed in his mouth as the Vagabond finally registered the hard floor beneath him. His face was currently pressed against the dirt of a forest floor, littered with bushes, tall trees and lush grass. Sunlight speckled through the treetops, giving a soft light to the forest around him. Pushing himself up onto his feet, the Vagabond dusted off his jacket and t-shirt, wiping his face from the dirt he had fallen head first into. "Ow..." Rubbing his cheek, the man took in his surroundings.
He had no idea where he was. Wasn't I... just inside... a castle? There were no white walls here, no tall looming ceilings or wide banisters, only tall thick trees lush with green leaves and a gentle coast breeze. For all his senses told him, he was outside. "H-how...?" He spun around on his heels, looking for the woman he had met in the foyer. "I'm... outside?"
None of this made any sense to him.
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Post by JeY k on Apr 30, 2019 15:16:35 GMT -5
So that was it then. He was just going to press on, and the scared, utterly distressed girl was just going to follow like everything was still going to be okay. She had to believe it would be okay, or what was the point? Evia took a deep breath and observed for now, not moving until it was apparent there was no other choice. She was awake; that's more than she could say earlier. It would take years of self-assurance to get back to normal, though soldiers don't have that luxury, they press on no matter what.
Wait... Soldiers? The girl looked down. Her head was already pounding, but this new surge didn't help. She could defend herself! She knew that already, but somehow she also is only now realizing at the same time. What was going on?
Thud!
Her companion opened a door and fell flat on his face. "Oh!" She ran over to him, not realizing the scene shifting dramatically upon crossing the doorframe. He managed to get up on his own too. "What happened? Hopefully I'm overreacting -- nothing happened, right?"
After he admitted he was outside, Evia also looked around. "That's impossible... Are we on the other side of the castle already? The back? I swear the front was the other way, where you came in..."
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Post by hoodwink on May 7, 2019 21:35:17 GMT -5
Reeling in confusion, the vagrant lifted his gloved hand to his head, ruffling up the disheveled mop of brown hair. Sand fell from his hair and his clothing, crunching beneath the heels of his navy high top shoes, laced tightly to resist weather. "What happened? Hopefully I'm overreacting -- nothing happened, right?" The voice caught him off guard, forcing the Vagabond to whip around, his face expressionless and his matte eyes dull as ever as he gazed over at Evia. It seemed the woman was just as confused as he was. "That's impossible...are we on the other side of the castle already? The back?" Her voice drifted in the vagrants mind as his green eyes scanned the surroundings.
They stood on a small shore, cold wind and rough waters crashing against rocks and sand as a tall forest seemed to guard them. Rupturing into the midday sky, the tall trees cast large shadows to sever the beach, harsh lines of shadow and light contrasting heavily throughout the distance. Wait...I...know this place... It seemed like a far off memory, one he could hardly recollect. Somehow, the waves seemed familiar, though the beach itself seemed distant from what really lurked in his heart. "W-where...are...we?"
Taking a step forward in the sand, the Vagabond walked toward the tree line, away from the water. Thick with shadows and lush grass and bushes, the forest loomed before him with an odd sense of familiarity. What is this place to me? There was something nagging at him, in the back of his heart, though he couldn't recognize it just yet. Turning over his shoulder, his dull green eyes fell on Evia once more. "I don't think we're outside of the castle..." It seemed impossible... but the castle was nowhere in sight. If this truly was outside of the castle, wouldn't they have seen it?
Something isn't right... He wasn't sure what was going on exactly, but he knew something wasn't normal in this situation. "Are we..." His voice croaked out, seemingly in shock or surprise as he grabbed at his chest with a pale hand. "Still inside it?" How could such a thing work? A castle that within held multiple different areas, all seemingly their own environment? What on earth is this place?! Curiosity mingled with fear as the Vagabond's body jolted with excitement. Wherever they were, they would have to delve deeper to get further through the castle it seemed.
"Well...nowhere to go but forward..." He wasn't sure where the sentiment came from, though his feet seemed to move on their own as the Vagabond headed away from the beach, into the forest.
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Post by JeY k on Jul 18, 2019 19:12:22 GMT -5
No, You're right, we're inside. I... feel it."
Evia had to steel herself. Deep breaths. They only went one room, there was no danger yet. Everything would be okay. She had to be strong for both of them. She had to not be a burden.
They were in a beautiful world and if it wasn't for the crippling anxiety associated with her sudden amnesia, the metal-clad girl might be able to appreciate that more. Things seemed peaceful, manageable. After her friend was moving again she looked around some more and got a feel for the area. The landscape was breath-taking, in more than one way apparently.
The Wanderer began moving toward the forest. It seemed at that moment her safety was in jeopardy one more - the forest was a symbol of the unknown, the thing she was frightened with the most at the present.
"Are you sure? What do you think we'll find?"
Evia tried to remain optimistic. She trusted him, at a level where it only took a brief hesitation to begin matching his strides and also venture fourth; to the unknown.
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Post by hoodwink on Jul 21, 2019 21:54:09 GMT -5
”Are you sure? What do you think we’ll find?” Evia’s voice jolted the Vagabond’s attention away from the trees of the forest. Already he was close to the tree line, though he hardly remembered walking so far. It—almost felt like— Something was pulling him in. Calling to him. For a moment, his heart thudded in his chest as his eyes scanned the shadows on the beach, stretching and reaching towards the tide. His dull matte eyes fell on the Knight, jolting him out of the odd sensation he had just been feeling. ”Er—well, hopefully a way out.” It sounded pretty lame, if he was being honest, but it was the truth. ”I mean—if there's an entrance, there's gotta be an exit, right?” It was just him crafting a hypothesis, but it never hurt to have a theory.
He was thankful to see Evia beginning to walk with him. It seemed the Knight had steeled her courage. ”Besides, something about this forest...spoke to me.” That also sounded kinda lame, to be honest. Sighing a bit, the man rested his hands behind his head as the two walked side by side into the forest. The Vagabond smiled at Evia, though his eyes stayed as dull and blank as ever. ”And, unless you wanted to go swimming, I didn't think the ocean would do us any good.” He chuckled a bit as his eyes raised back towards the leaves forming a small canopy above them.
What lied ahead though, he wasn’t quite sure. He couldn’t even recall the name of this place. The path was slightly overgrown with small bushes and roots from the tall looming trees. Dappled in the midday sun, the shaded path spiraled through the thick forest. Though he was mindful not to go too far ahead, the Vagabond found his feet almost moving on their own. Why do I keep doing that? He had to stay vigilant about the speed of his pace. He continually found himself speeding up, having to force himself to slow down as they followed the overgrown path.
It was as though he were auto piloting towards something—something his mind had forgotten, but his heart remembered.
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Post by JeY k on Sept 23, 2020 18:00:27 GMT -5
Something was definitely beginning to awaken.
"No, swimming won't help. Let's keep going."
The girl examined herself. She remembered more and more now that she wasn't drowning in her own darkness. Evia was a soldier. As they walked, she raised her left arm and adjusted the metal crossbow limbs bolted on the bracers. She flexed her hand outward and then gripped tightly into a fist and the crossbow sprung awake with a bolt at the ready. She knew tilted her wrist forward would release the string and fire the bolt. Why did she know that? It was her armor; her weapon, why wouldn't she?
After relaxing her hand, the crossbow retracted back into a dormant state. She looked at her hand. It was lighter because there wasn't a weapon externally, but a weapon internally. Her wrist was still incredibly bulky. She could carry the weight though - she only knew how heavy it felt because of the gravity affecting its momentum. Lighter things would have less momentum. Was she equipped to defend herself, or was here on a mission of offense? It was impossible to tell now.
She totally forgot her friend was there in a conscious sense, however her brain was clever enough to keep her legs in pace and on the path and avoided obvious obstacles that may arise without her immediate attention.
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Post by hoodwink on Sept 26, 2020 14:10:45 GMT -5
As the two walked through the overgrowth, the Vagabond couldn’t help but notice Evia’s distant stare. It was as though she were entranced by the very fact she had a hand. I suppose it’s an effect of this place? The uncertain factor nestled in, burdening his sundered heart with a sense of urgency. As they took a turn in the pathway deeper into the forest, the Vagabond could make out a clearing in the near distance. Whoosh. It was just then that a familiar sensation came over the forest—one that immediately brought a foul stench to the man’s nostrils. ”They’re here?!” Spinning on his heels, the vagrant grimaced as their dull eyes lingered over the emerging Heartless.
Coming from the shadows themselves, yellow eyes greeted the two as the enemies began to rush out towards the path. Clanking armor signaled the Soldier’s haphazard gate while Shadows skittered across the forest floor. Though the enemies themselves weren’t too much of a threat, the Vagabond knew it was these creatures numbers that gave them strength. ”Hm…looks like we’re unwanted guests.” Preferring to avoid any needless battles, the coated vagrant simply began running. ”Come on, warrior!” Shouting over his shoulder and urging Evia to follow, the Vagabond’s expression remained bland and dull despite the threat around them. It was simply that the man was used to the presence of these demons.
Whoosh. More Heartless would begin to emerge behind them on the path, hungry for the hearts they sensed. If Evia chose to stick around to fight instead of running, she’d find the path behind them becoming increasingly blocked by the Shadows and Soldiers, a small group beginning to form. The Vagabond would make his way through the path, breaking free of the thicketed trees and bushes as he emerged in the open grassy clearing. A small home lingered off to the side, a humble single-storied building lined with stones and small pockets of gardens enveloping the space around it. ”Someone…lives here?” He found the fact astonishing—not having expected to find a house in such a secluded area.
Rushing through the grass and down the small foot-worn path that led to the haven, the Vagabond reached the red door, clutching at the handle with both hands as he yanked it open. ”Excuse me!” He didn’t bother to knock as he barreled through the entrance, stumbling into a small living space with simply crafted furniture and meager decorations. He would pause in the seemingly empty home before spinning to make sure Evia was behind him. If she had followed his fleeing, he would close the door and secure it by leaning against it, somewhat out of breath. ”Phew…” He wasn’t sure why, but the moment his eyes had seen this place, he had gotten a ‘safe’ vibe from it.
”So, they’re here, too…?” Then again…if they had been transported, perhaps this place was plagued with an imbalance. Were they still in the castle? Had they been transported to some other world? I could open a corridor… It would be easy for him to simply try and emerge back at the castle gates—though he wasn’t sure if his armored ally would be able to handle traversing through the darkness like he was. I can’t just abandon them here, after dragging them along… They were in quite a predicament, it seemed. He’d have to simply try to find the exit. If we came in…we should be able to get out. It was a half-hearted hope at best.
”Just what is this place…?” Though he seemed to be thinking aloud to himself, the Vagabond glanced over at Evia. The chances of her understanding what was happening were 50/50—as she had been through parts of the castle before (according to her), but seemed in such a state as to where she’d be unable to recall much. ”Has anything looked familiar to you, warrior?” The man’s dull eyes and blank expression waned into vague intrigue.
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Post by JeY k on Sept 27, 2020 23:52:26 GMT -5
There definitely was no forgetting this sight. Just like that, her muscle memory kicked in with a reflex - as she wondered why her wrists were so heavy, she flexed her pinky and thumb out on both hands and flicked her arms down in order to brandish two blades from just the top of her wrists, protruding from her armor. It took Evia a second to realized what actually happened. "Oh... Yeah, of course I've had these. How did I forget?"
The steel of her combat stance was automatic as well, while a great deal of information seemed to escape her immediate memory the tactics of engaging an enemy was not about to be one of them. She already calculated a course of action to maximize the efficiency of her movements. She was slightly confused how all of this seemed to be so easy, but knowing she was amnesiac helped her brush those confusions aside for now. There was a fight, and she knew how to win.
One minor miscalculation... her partner called out and started barreling down the opposite direction. "No, there's no need to be alarmed, I think I can handle this!" The vigor-filled girl would look back to the situation, only to see it getting worse. Much worse. 'On second thought, this is probably too much for just me to handle...' "Wait for me!" Evia flexed her hand and brought her arms up and the blades retracted with ease. Muscle memory sure is a godsend.
With the two of them out of harms way and into a little cottage, they could catch their breath. Evia was taking point at the window to keep active tabs on their situation. She wouldn't even look back toward him to acknowledge his question. "Nothing. I knew how to fight, that's for sure. Nothing relevant is coming back though..." A bit of her defeatist tone from when she was lost and confused crept back into her voice. She hated the uncertainty of everything right now. Her head was both pounding and totally without pain; she wanted to remember so badly.
"This is just all new." She keep vigil at the window still. She didn't want to judge her new friend too harshly but something didn't feel right all of a sudden. A bit of who she was started to seep back into reality.
"What are you look for exactly, that we couldn't take on those... things... back there?" Oh, great. She recognized them, she knew she was very familiar with what they were and what they can do, but somehow the name slipped entirely. Was that possible?
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Post by hoodwink on Sept 28, 2020 12:29:52 GMT -5
Finally catching his breath, the Vagabond slumped against the door with a sigh of relief—not that his face showed any expression of such. ”Nothing. I knew how to fight, that’s for sure.” Evia’s comment caused the man to pause as he blinked for a moment. Oh, right. He was so used to avoiding fights, he forgot he was traveling with a literal walking armory. ”What are you looking for exactly, that we couldn’t take on those…things…back there?” Her question caused his dull matte eyes to linger on her for a moment before he shook his head, pulling his steel blue coat hood back up to shroud his face in darkness. It seemed she knew little about the Heartless, based on her statement. ”So, you’ve had good luck so far.” The Vagabond finally straightened himself and stepped away from the entrance, not having heard any sign of them through the door.
”You’re lively, did something good happen?” Shrugging a bit, the man began to rummage around the small home as he talked, noticing the place was in a rather disheveled state. What modest furniture there was seemed to be dusty and beaten up, heavily worn out. Though there was a small kitchen blended into the room, it looked as though no one had used it for years. ”Unlike you, I’m not much of a ‘fighter’.” What the Vagabond was seeking would aid in his understanding of the Heartless. His true goal was one layered beneath such a grotesque subject, buried in the muck otherwise left alone in the back of others hearts.
Hm…it’s supposed to be in that castle…not some forest. The hooded man rested his gloved hand against his chin, apparently deep in thought for a moment as he stood still. It’s not in here, either. Though his hood shrouded the features of his face, the Vagabond wore a frown as he glanced at Evia once more. It’s no use…unless we can jog her memory, she won’t have any clues about the castle or what I’m after. It seemed their partnership was only beneficial on a superficial level, for now. That being said, the Vagabond knew little when it came to memory-work. Having fractured memories of his own even before entering the castle, the man would have most likely fixed himself by now if he had that level of ability at his disposal.
”There must be a reason we’re here…” Though he said it, no ideas came to mind. Deciding they’d get nowhere standing around thinking about it, the man gazed past Evia out the window, not seeing any sign of the Heartless. ”We should be careful. Though you might be good at it, I’d prefer to avoid any fighting if we can. The Heartless shouldn't be taken lightly.” Despite having fought them more times than he’d care to, the Vagabond never enjoyed combat against the demons. The means in which he was forced to rely on for it always left a sour taste in his mouth. It’s the smell that really gets to me, though. Making his way back towards the door, the researcher decided it was safe to move on once more. ”Are you ready?” He had seen the woman’s distant gaze during their walk through the path. It wouldn’t do them any good to have her spacing out now that he knew there could be enemies lurking behind any turn.
He waited, wanting to verify her state before heading out.
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Post by JeY k on Sept 29, 2020 19:37:56 GMT -5
Oh. He didn't really fight. What was he thinking storming into Castle Oblivion without the notion to-- wait. She remembered the name of this place. Her mind truly was coming back to her, along with some other tidbits. Nothing concrete, but her introverted tendencies began to return in tandem with the slow recovery of her memories. She wasn't helpless anymore, that's for sure.
Evia wanted to play this out with her realizations held closely to the chest for now. If it ever became the right time to share more information she would, but for now it was better to stay the course. "If you'll humor me... that almost-fight has done the most to fix what's going on in my head so far. I'd like to have at it for the next encounter... it might help. You can stay out of the ire of the monsters if you want, I should be able to handle it. I know I can."
Plus, he still didn't answer her question, but he seemed a bit out of sorts himself. Evia could feel the castle's grip on her mind slipping, but maybe now it was latching onto him. His implication to leave was welcome though, she silently agreed that they should keep moving.
"Let's go" she said, taking her gaze from the window for the first time since they arrived.
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Post by hoodwink on Sept 30, 2020 10:24:46 GMT -5
”If you’ll humor me…” Evia’s request caught the Vagabond off-guard, grimacing beneath the shadow of his hood. Heartless…helped her head? He didn’t really understand the how or why to that one. For a moment the researcher quietly contemplated the idea, standing before the door and tapping his gloved left hand against his chin in thought. ”Hm…the energetic type, ay?” With a hollow chuckle that didn’t sound nearly as mirthful as he had intended, he shrugged. “Alright, you can be like a bodyguard!” Come to think of it, why hadn't he ever hired one of those? Oh, right... He was broke. With the affirmation, he pulled open the door to the bungalow. The Vagabond decided Evia was right—they had spent long enough in the home’s safety.
Exiting the small hovel and emerging back into the clearing, the Vagabond began walking towards the other end, the side they hadn’t come from. His shrouded eyes lingered over the small garden plots that dotted the land around the bungalow as they began to depart. Why does it look so familiar? Though no memories were coming to mind, something about the garden made him feel like he knew this place. Finally reaching the other side of the clearing, the two would find a less overgrown path than earlier, this one even having the occasional marker on small signposts and trees in order to avoid people getting lost. There must be people somewhere… He’d rather avoid a town, if he could. Pleasantly shaded and with a steady yet soft breeze, the forest seemed peaceful as the two began to trek down the path.
After only a few short minutes of walking, the two would come upon a split in the path. Splitting into one downhill path towards the right and one uphill path towards the left, each path became less dirt and grass and formed steps crafted from well-cut logs. In the middle of the split were two small sign-posts. The left-sign red ‘Shrine’ while the right read ‘Middlebrush’, both words faded and the paint on the signs somewhat chipped but otherwise in good condition. ”Hm…” Crossing his arms, the hooded vagrant glanced down each path. So, there’s definitely a town. Grimacing in the shadows of his hood, the Vagabond glanced at the sign post that read ‘Shrine’. Come to think of it, if the Heartless are here…wherever ‘here’ is... Shrines were always places of power—regardless of their religious intent.
The fact of the matter was, energy harnessed around those types of places. Places that were the focus of gossip, rumor, or spiritual manifestation—all of them played roles in the important balance of world orders, as all of them held powerful emotions of the heart. ”I’d like to investigate the Shrine. It may help with my research.” Mumbling to Evia as he mulled over his thoughts, the hooded man began to walk absentmindedly to the left uphill path. The log steps were well-made and placed with care, providing an easier time for the two travelers. It could be that the Shrine holds some sway over this world's heart. Though, if this were really another world, there was even a chance for it to be the core. For a moment, the Vagabond’s thoughts were interrupted as a bizarre sensation fell over the landscape around them.
It was almost as though his eyes couldn’t focus on anything—the path ahead blurring and seemingly duplicating with after-images all at once. ”Urgh…wh—?!” Thrown off-balance due to being disoriented, the hooded man crumpled on the uphill steps for a moment, but not before seeing the image flash beneath the surface of the forest around him. White! The log steps he now collided with had been a pearly marble white. The green and brown trees sheltering them from the sun had loomed as white walls. Where the forest roof lay instead was a blank canvas of white ceiling. It had all lasted within the blink of an eye—before the forest scenery had returned. ”W-what the…?” Groaning a bit as he rose to a knee, a foul stench pervaded the man’s nostrils as a familiar presence rolled over the forest.
Whoosh. Whoosh. Whoosh. Small dark portals emerged as clanking Soldiers fell to the forest path, Shadows slinking out from the underbrush once more. It seemed like the group they had evaded earlier had continued on, hellbent on finding the hearts they had sensed. ”Always so opportune, aren’t you?” Grumbling at the dark creatures beginning to swarm their way towards them, rushing down the steps, the Vagabond finally pushed himself back to his feet. ”Ah—I guess it can’t be helped.” Glancing at Evia, the hooded man gave a nod and flashed a ‘peace’ sign—seeing as how she wouldn’t be able to see his face. ”Looks like it’s your time to shine, Bodyguard~” Having remembered what Evia said back in the bungalow, the Vagabond didn’t completely run away this time.
He did still backpedal, though, allowing Evia the ‘center stage’ on the stairs to greet the oncoming Heartless without being in her way. Tch—yuck. He couldn’t get the smell out of his nose. Glancing over at Evia, the man watched to see how the girl would respond—she had seemed confidant enough in her skills back there, now it was time to see them. I’ll only jump in if she needs me to. The Vagabond loathed combat, but it was sometimes necessary to maintain balance. Especially with demons like these.
[[ENEMIES: 4 Soldiers, 6 Shadows]]
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Post by JeY k on Oct 2, 2020 20:54:48 GMT -5
"Right. A bodyguard. I can... yeah, let's... yeah."
What seemed to be coming back right along with her memories is her crazy obvious awkwardness. She didn't deal with people often, usually a lone wolf mercenary for the right crowd. Not that she can't work with people, but the stress of being completely purged of a history and personality and then having it slapped back into your face in small increments wasn't going to help her regain composure.
A fight sounded promising though. They left, strolling right along into the forest clearing. Upon coming to the fork, the shrine would be the man's choice. She didn't feel a need to argue, nodding and trailing behind and keeping pace. She happened to blink at the wrong time though, not quite catching the castle's disillusioned slip. Only the aftermath.
"Hey, are you okay!?" While she wasn't big on other people, she did care about their wellbeing in some manner. Seems he wouldn't get the opportunity to answer, more monsters showed up. Heartless, she remembered. That name... it was so peculiar. They didn't have hearts? There's definitely more she's not remembering.
Not the time nor place. She tensed her hand and flicked her right arm out to brandish the sword, motioning with her left arm for the man to retreat behind her. At least he had that direction. 'Alright... bring it on.'
The soldiers wasted no time attempting to to crowd Evia, but it was a futile attempt - One powerful swipe to the rightmost soldier dispatched it immediately. She chained into a leg sweep on the next, and jumped into a lunge with her blade and plunged it directly through the helmet of the solider toward the left, causing it to fade. She gave a swift uppercut with her blade to the leftmost soldier driving it airborne and spun on her heel with a one-eighty turn to deliver a powerful slice and dispatching it.
As the last soldier was getting up as Evia gave it three more conservative slashes across, right, and down. One group down one to go; as the first batch was dealt with in seconds there was plenty of time for a few of the shadows to start popping up. The swift warrior raised her right arm up to collapse the blade, then snapped back and whipped off the protrusion on her spine and snapped it forward like a whip. Instead of cracking, it snapped into a perfectly straight spear at double its original length while sheathed.
Perfect for cutting down vermin a little close the ground. One sweep after another, the shadows were beheaded by a vicious display of a vertical spin followed by a tight grip and a slash barely visible to the untrained eye. Pop, pop, pop, pop. One by one they fell with ease. Pop. They were barely even a threat. Pop.
Evia finagled with the hilt of the spear a moment before it began collapsing again and being stretchy and bendable like a big metal-colored stick of putty. She slung it to her back where it snapped back into place on her spine. She rolled her shoulders and snapped her neck.
Her eyes darted back to the man. She wanted to tell him, but felt uneasy about their location. Maybe it was best to move on first, but she wouldn't leave him with nothing. "I won't discuss it here, but something very important came up - let's keep going, and I'll tell you in time."
"I remember why I was here."
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