"Saved by the door," Izzy breathed, getting up to use his peep hole. Beyond the wooden slab he could see four or five Enforcers and the elders themselves standing. He jumped back, agitated, and smacked open his window. The others in the room stared at him in bewilderment until one of the Enforcers barked a warning.
"Get up," Izzy commanded with power. Dracynos was the first to his feet and the first out the window, flying down as a bat to land gingerly on the small ledge. Izrael turned and helped Morwen through first, as she was the second to the window. He threw her out with strategic aim, and was pleased when Dracynos caught her effortlessly. After Adria was down as well, he forced his Nécrux through the wall into the ledge and beyond, solidifying it and expanding the standing space by a good twenty feet.
"Back up, Morwen," he called down and she obeyed instantly, watching uncomfortably as he perched precariously on the sill. Badly articulated words thundered through the door once more, and this time the enchantment Izzy had on his door sputtered out and failed. He cursed loudly and leapt off as the Enforcers crashed into his room for the second time in two weeks, angrily chasing his shirttail as he dropped.
"Smart choice," Dracynos commented sarcastically, putting Adria down. "What now?"
"Uh. I guess I really didn't think it through all that much," Izzy mumbled, scanning the cliff face and the vast expanse of air beyond the ledge. Morwen stared at him with an annoyed expression.
"Well... you could always make us a path or something to get down," she suggested. "Like how you made the ledge bigger?"
"I suppose I could, but to do that unfortunately I have to either use my damned eye or retract what I used on the ledge already. And I'm leaning towards the latter."
"You're kidding. We can't all stand here long enough for you to do that," Dracynos argued. "You really are upset about that aren't you?"
"Yeah, I am. Stand on the grass."
Dracynos didn't hesitate. He stormed up and slapped him clear across the face, sending him flying backwards into the stone wall. Izzy regained his feet and brought a hand up to his burning face.
"What the hell was that for?" he demanded, indignant.
"What? Now you can use your eye without having to worry about anyone. I did you a favor," Dracynos replied calmly. "Your face should stop burning shortly. And then it'll look normal and everything that I promised earlier."
Morwen looked at Dracynos with surprise, sneaking over to Izzy to pull his hair away from his eye. Sure enough, the scar remained over it but the eye itself had become white sclera-ed and green iris-ed, like its mirrored twin. Izzy swatted her hand away as her touch burned even more so, and he knelt to the ground. Pawing his way out onto his makeshift ledge, he took a deep breath and pounded his fists into the solid magic. In a moment's time, a wide, glowing staircase was shooting down towards the distant mountain range below.
"Stairs? You made stairs? Not like a slide or something easy?" chaffed Adria, taking a few steps forward.
"Would you shut up? I didn't do that on purpose," Izzy replied in annoyance. "Besides, let me mess around with this for a while. It might come in handy later, to know how to work this, right?"
"Speaking of, where are we going after this anyways? Are we going to make our way back up to the Bastion?" Morwen piped, getting over the sudden transformation in Izrael's face.
"Maybe. Or we could just wing it," answered he, grinning. "And.... a slide we shall have," he replied with another immense gush of power that turned the staircase into a long half-tube. "Who's first?"
"Not me. I'm going to fly down," Dracynos said pointedly, crossing his arms.
"What? But can't you just teleport--or phase, whatever it is that you do-- back into your lair, without having to deal with our shenanigans?" Morwen asked.
"I can. But I won't. I haven't been out of that cave since well before the Bastion held an academy of any sort. Do you know how long that is?"
"No... and never mind. I don't really want to either. No offense intended."
"None taken whatsoever." he smiled and began to dissipate. Adria jerked her head in that direction, confused by the instantaneous disruption in her vision. Dracynos fluttered by her as a bat, wings intentionally slapping Izzy on the head as he flew by.
"Alright then. I guess I'll go first then," Izzy said, turning to the girls. "I'll catch you guys as you come on down, okay?"
As Adria nodded her approval, Morwen forced a small amount of her magic into her fingers. "Yea, that's fine, but first things first," she reached up and sliced off the section of Izrael's hair that covered the right side of his face. "You should be able to see," she added triumphantly, obviously pleased with her accomplishment. Izzy gave her a look and jumped into the slide, disappearing from view. Adria followed him seconds later, and finally Morwen went down, thinking about what kind of anything could and would possibly befall her and her troop.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Friday, May 13, 2011
XVII
Izrael stood, staring at Dracynos with the purest annoyance. He was raging all over the hall, and Izzy was having problems extending and recracting his barrier that he'd made to accomadate for the deity's movements.
"Hey, what the hell? Quit that," he scoffed at him, obviously not loud enough. The black beast continued to rave at Khamryn, who looked as though she was struck dumb by his immense appearance.
Dracynos began to curse her out in the ancient tongue; Izzy lost track of his words in translation because he was talking so quickly. Instead of trying, he pulled a rune out of his back pocket, filled it to the explosive point, and slapped it onto Dracynos's face. On impact, his body ceased swelling with the dark energy he was creating and began to diminish in size and power. Dracynos debated turning on Izrael, to discipline him for standing against him, but changed his mind. Rather, he tore the rune out of his forehead and reverted to his human form.
"Izrael," he began quietly, without turning from the stricken Khamryn. "I apologize. To you and to Morwen. But as for you, Khamryn, I demand that you let these two accompany me for the day. Is that understood?"
"Y-yes.. sir." she gasped, recovering herself. Khamryn bowed deeply and hurried off down the hall in the direction she'd come, though not before
she walked into Izzy barrier.
Morwen lay unconscious where she had stood, and Dracynos picked her up effortless ly and began on the path to the boys' dorms. Izzy trotted along behind him, thankful for the excuse to be out of classes but dreading how the elders would react when they found out that Dracynos had chosen him over them. He prayed he wouldn't have to be in the Bastion to see their reaction.
******************************************************
Back in his room, Morwen layed on Izzy's bed, recuperating. Adria sat beside her, with one hand occasionally reaching forward to check for a fever. She'd found an incantation in her memory that gave her 'sight', almost like sonar. It was a permanent enchantment that once casted, would last until the death of the caster with no magical cost whatsoever. It made one's aura pulse outward as far as possibly could, and would become agitated with it reached something, returning to her the 'image' of whatever was hit. It offered fuzzy distinction, of shapes and distances, but no colors or details, and in no way was effected by whether or not her eyes would be able to see it.
"It's very useful," she'd told Izzy when he returned. "Not only can I see, but it's like I can see better than I could before-- in a way. I can see all angles at the same time, but no colors or details."
"No colors or details? How do you know what you're seeing then?" asked he, slapping a rune on the wall and making a chair pop out of the stone.
"Well, it's like I can see in balck and white only... but it's fuzzy. I can see shapes and that kind of thing."
"I see. No pun intended," he replied, kicking his desk chair out and offering it to Dracynos before taking the stone chair for himself.
"Right. Anyhow, who's this?"
"This is Dracynos. Dracynos, this is Adria. I think you already know each other though," Izzy said statically.
"True.. I do know her," Dracynos said in acknowledgment.
Adria glared in his direction angrily, without speaking. After a few tense moments, she opened her mouth to comment as a force beyond the door attempted to break it down.
"Hey, what the hell? Quit that," he scoffed at him, obviously not loud enough. The black beast continued to rave at Khamryn, who looked as though she was struck dumb by his immense appearance.
Dracynos began to curse her out in the ancient tongue; Izzy lost track of his words in translation because he was talking so quickly. Instead of trying, he pulled a rune out of his back pocket, filled it to the explosive point, and slapped it onto Dracynos's face. On impact, his body ceased swelling with the dark energy he was creating and began to diminish in size and power. Dracynos debated turning on Izrael, to discipline him for standing against him, but changed his mind. Rather, he tore the rune out of his forehead and reverted to his human form.
"Izrael," he began quietly, without turning from the stricken Khamryn. "I apologize. To you and to Morwen. But as for you, Khamryn, I demand that you let these two accompany me for the day. Is that understood?"
"Y-yes.. sir." she gasped, recovering herself. Khamryn bowed deeply and hurried off down the hall in the direction she'd come, though not before
she walked into Izzy barrier.
Morwen lay unconscious where she had stood, and Dracynos picked her up effortless ly and began on the path to the boys' dorms. Izzy trotted along behind him, thankful for the excuse to be out of classes but dreading how the elders would react when they found out that Dracynos had chosen him over them. He prayed he wouldn't have to be in the Bastion to see their reaction.
******************************************************
Back in his room, Morwen layed on Izzy's bed, recuperating. Adria sat beside her, with one hand occasionally reaching forward to check for a fever. She'd found an incantation in her memory that gave her 'sight', almost like sonar. It was a permanent enchantment that once casted, would last until the death of the caster with no magical cost whatsoever. It made one's aura pulse outward as far as possibly could, and would become agitated with it reached something, returning to her the 'image' of whatever was hit. It offered fuzzy distinction, of shapes and distances, but no colors or details, and in no way was effected by whether or not her eyes would be able to see it.
"It's very useful," she'd told Izzy when he returned. "Not only can I see, but it's like I can see better than I could before-- in a way. I can see all angles at the same time, but no colors or details."
"No colors or details? How do you know what you're seeing then?" asked he, slapping a rune on the wall and making a chair pop out of the stone.
"Well, it's like I can see in balck and white only... but it's fuzzy. I can see shapes and that kind of thing."
"I see. No pun intended," he replied, kicking his desk chair out and offering it to Dracynos before taking the stone chair for himself.
"Right. Anyhow, who's this?"
"This is Dracynos. Dracynos, this is Adria. I think you already know each other though," Izzy said statically.
"True.. I do know her," Dracynos said in acknowledgment.
Adria glared in his direction angrily, without speaking. After a few tense moments, she opened her mouth to comment as a force beyond the door attempted to break it down.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
XVI
Morwen glared at Dracynos until she couldn't bear to keep a serious face any longer. He had a truly happy expression painted on his features, and an authentic smile accentuated his already handsome appearance more so. Seeing both he and Izrael side by side was almost shocking; all the similarities in their attributes were so easy to pick out--even their posture was similar. As she recovered from the trance she was in, Morwen finally realized the seriousness of the situation.
"You... you're here. Not there? In your lair? Why? Wha.. how?"
"Hm?" Dracynos's smile faded as his brow furrowed. "Am I not allowed to come visit? I was planning on staying for a while, too," he teased with a feigned pout. "Besides, who better to assist you in studying for history than I?"
Morwen's face reddened in annoyance and embarrassment. "That's okay. I don't want to keep you away from... whatever... it is that you do."
"You mean nothing? Yea, I pretty much serve no purpose whatsoever besides to be the source of power to the Mages." he sighed slightly. "It's so boring down there. Can you imagine? Seven centuries with no contact to anyone? No. Don't try, it's terrible. I can't stand it anymore. So I figured I'd come and stay with Izrael for a bit if he's alright with that?"
"Woah, what? You know I have classes, don't you? And anyhow, I have Whatsername to deal with already. I can't fit you in there too. The room's too damn small," Izzy said in protest.
"You know, if you just don't want me to stay with you, you can just say so."
"I didn't say that. I didn't mean that. I just--"
"Tell you what," Dracynos cut him off. "I'll help you get Miss Adria out of your room if you agree to let me stay. I'll get her enrolled in classes to get her out of your hair. I'll even negate the effect on your eye enough so they're only accessible if you voluntarily activate them," he said, his voice pleading.
Morwen giggled despite herself. "You sound so desperate. Can't you just brainwash him or something?"
"I could, but I don't want to. My intentions aren't to use such magics." he replied, looking up as if startled.
Izzy stared blankly at his pale face. He took a breath and went to speak, as Khamryn came from the opposite direction, interrupting him.
"What are you doing out of class, you three? Izrael. What a surprise. I think you'd do best to allow me to escort you to the elder's office. And you, who are you? I've never seen you around before," she scoffed at Dracynos, entirely oblivious to Izzy's signals of 'NO'.
"You'd better turn around, now," Izzy whispered to Morwen as Dracynos's eyes lost all emotion. She looked at his face fearfully, and when she looked back to Izzy his eyes were both green and soft. "Now," he repeated, and this time she obeyed. Behind her, she felt an immense pressure being released from no where, and a terrifying aura erupting. "Do not, Morwen, do not turn around," Izzy commanded. She closed her eyes tightly and held her ears even though she knew it would do no good.
"You must be joking. To not know me should be what you call a sin. How dare you speak down to me, you irrelevant flea! I should destroy you where you stand! Or cower, I should say. At least have a miniscule amount of dignity!" a satanic voice boomed from behind her. Certain undertones in the vowels reminded her of Dracynos's cheerful tongue just moments before. Morwen cringed involuntarily, and she began to feel dizzy. She cracked her eyes open and turned slightly to where Izrael had been, and saw him standing as tall and indifferent as ever. If anything, he only looked annoyed.
How... why does someone like him waste his time to hang around someone like me... he could run the entire Bastion in a heartbeat.. and yet he chooses to be mediocre and to spend his time with me? Morwen's thoughts became muddled and confusing to even her as Izzy's voice joined the mix, thundering as loudly as it could have possibly gotten. The last thing she noticed before she fell unconscious was the thick magical barrier that was erected silently around them that had quite obviously blocked all sound from escaping, as to not disturb the classes going on around.
"You... you're here. Not there? In your lair? Why? Wha.. how?"
"Hm?" Dracynos's smile faded as his brow furrowed. "Am I not allowed to come visit? I was planning on staying for a while, too," he teased with a feigned pout. "Besides, who better to assist you in studying for history than I?"
Morwen's face reddened in annoyance and embarrassment. "That's okay. I don't want to keep you away from... whatever... it is that you do."
"You mean nothing? Yea, I pretty much serve no purpose whatsoever besides to be the source of power to the Mages." he sighed slightly. "It's so boring down there. Can you imagine? Seven centuries with no contact to anyone? No. Don't try, it's terrible. I can't stand it anymore. So I figured I'd come and stay with Izrael for a bit if he's alright with that?"
"Woah, what? You know I have classes, don't you? And anyhow, I have Whatsername to deal with already. I can't fit you in there too. The room's too damn small," Izzy said in protest.
"You know, if you just don't want me to stay with you, you can just say so."
"I didn't say that. I didn't mean that. I just--"
"Tell you what," Dracynos cut him off. "I'll help you get Miss Adria out of your room if you agree to let me stay. I'll get her enrolled in classes to get her out of your hair. I'll even negate the effect on your eye enough so they're only accessible if you voluntarily activate them," he said, his voice pleading.
Morwen giggled despite herself. "You sound so desperate. Can't you just brainwash him or something?"
"I could, but I don't want to. My intentions aren't to use such magics." he replied, looking up as if startled.
Izzy stared blankly at his pale face. He took a breath and went to speak, as Khamryn came from the opposite direction, interrupting him.
"What are you doing out of class, you three? Izrael. What a surprise. I think you'd do best to allow me to escort you to the elder's office. And you, who are you? I've never seen you around before," she scoffed at Dracynos, entirely oblivious to Izzy's signals of 'NO'.
"You'd better turn around, now," Izzy whispered to Morwen as Dracynos's eyes lost all emotion. She looked at his face fearfully, and when she looked back to Izzy his eyes were both green and soft. "Now," he repeated, and this time she obeyed. Behind her, she felt an immense pressure being released from no where, and a terrifying aura erupting. "Do not, Morwen, do not turn around," Izzy commanded. She closed her eyes tightly and held her ears even though she knew it would do no good.
"You must be joking. To not know me should be what you call a sin. How dare you speak down to me, you irrelevant flea! I should destroy you where you stand! Or cower, I should say. At least have a miniscule amount of dignity!" a satanic voice boomed from behind her. Certain undertones in the vowels reminded her of Dracynos's cheerful tongue just moments before. Morwen cringed involuntarily, and she began to feel dizzy. She cracked her eyes open and turned slightly to where Izrael had been, and saw him standing as tall and indifferent as ever. If anything, he only looked annoyed.
How... why does someone like him waste his time to hang around someone like me... he could run the entire Bastion in a heartbeat.. and yet he chooses to be mediocre and to spend his time with me? Morwen's thoughts became muddled and confusing to even her as Izzy's voice joined the mix, thundering as loudly as it could have possibly gotten. The last thing she noticed before she fell unconscious was the thick magical barrier that was erected silently around them that had quite obviously blocked all sound from escaping, as to not disturb the classes going on around.
XV
"Damn. I knew he'd find her quickly, but not that fast..." Dracynos mused, abandoning his now empty receptacle. "Perhaps now, I should take it upon myself to involve myself directly in their lives once more... a good long visit with Izrael should be good to start me off," he snickered deviously, sauntering off towards the door. His light-hearted laughter echoed through and died in the cave that was finally emptied after so many centuries as he strutted up the path. His feet left smoking marks on the unenchanted floors, and he made note to fix that later as he changed form into a bat. For a while, he fluttered along contented until he noticed the billowing wisps of black smoke that emanated from his leathery wings with each flap. Despite his best efforts, even he, a supreme being, was unable to do anything because of the very nature of his being. His entire path could be traced easily by even the smallest child, for no matter how high up he flew his thick smoke would sink down to the ground where it would glow purple and mock him. And so, Dracynos flew along in obvious displeasure. Unfortunately for him as well, he'd forgotten his way around the Bastion over the last seven centuries, so not only was he in high annoyance, but he was also lost.
**** A few days later. ****
Izzy had found it hard to sleep with Adria in his room, and because she was there he was unable to leave for very long.
"Morwen, this isn't a funny situation, you have to take her to your room," he pleaded one afternoon as he walked her to her class after lunch break.
"Why? You too seem to get along so well," she teased as they rounded the corner. "Besides. It's too risky. The Order Enforcers are out so much more recently for some reason, the chances of us getting caught are too high. Who knows what they'd do to her?"
"So don't get caught," he mumbled. Stepping in front of her and leaning against the doorframe, he added, "Just think it over, okay? It's not like she can stay in my room forever. And we can always use the secret passages if you're too worried."
"You make it sound like I'm a pansy. If you want her gone, move her yourself, and preferably now, when everyone *except you* is in class. Regardless, move before I have to make you account for my lateness to class," Morwen retorted as the professor walked past.
"Nah. These are important matters we're discussing here. No chance you'll get in trouble, ain't that right, professor?" Izzy said smoothly, cracking a slightly lopsided smile to the teacher, who looked flustered.
"No I suppose not, if they are important matters. Have her in shortly though," answered she, ducking into the door as the bell went off.
"There, see? You're fine. Now-hat the hell?!" Izzy broke off as a large bat smacked into the wall between them. It sank to the ground where it ceased motion and appeared to smolder. In one quick motion, Izrael bent, snatched the bat, grabbed Morwen's arm and leaned into the classroom. "Morwen just got attacked by a bat so I'm going to take her to the healer." he called casually and swept off down the hall and around a corner, dragging an upset Morwen along behind him.
"You're lucky my exam in that class isn't until tomorrow. Now you have to help me study," she whined in an unappreciative tone, snatching her arm back.
"Yeah whatever," he replied, holding the bat to eye level. To his dismay, the cloud of smoke enveloping it was immediately attracted to his right eye, and he swiftly moved his hair so it wouldn't be dyed. Morwen, who had never seen his scarred, discolored and demonic looking eye was taken aback at the sight.
"Uh... Izzy? I didn't know your eye looked like that..." she stammered uncomfortably, unable to avert her gaze. She was even more shaken when both eyes looked up and met hers unwaveringly. The black vine-pattern within the iris twisted and churned violently with the absorption of the purple smoke, and the red glow of the iris itself slowly intensified. The only emotion that she was able to pick up in his right eye was deep, burning hatred and searing pain. The combination of the two made her want to scream and cry and beat something insanely; Morwen ripped her focus off of the cross-scarred eye and to his other, where the spring green of his original eye color held nothing more than an apologetic undertone and blankness.
"Sorry you actually have to see it. If you ever wondered why I wear my hair like I do, here's you answer." he said softly, emotionless. "This is what happens when you come to the Bastion as an orphan during a war, having just been released from being a hostage and they decided to gouge out your eye, and Dracynos decides to 'fix' it for you in exchange for part of your mortality." he said flatly. When Morwen's eyes widened in shock, he smirked playfully. "I'm only kidding. I still have all of my mortality and my soul. All he took was the damage done to my eye. Of course, it had its conditions--this damn eye is now the most terrifying weapon I could ever use against anything... and if I don't focus on it at all times... it can kill someone just by looking at it... so I'd really appreciate it if you wouldn't look at me right now," he added with a small, forced laugh.
Morwen was speechless. She was unable to do anything besides gape at him for a few more seconds and turn numbly away. That can't be his real eye... no... he's always so cheerful, isn't he? she thought, racking her memory. To her shock, she realized that in every memory she had of Izrael, his eye had been happy on the front, but looking back, deeper, she could see now that beneath the thin layer of joy there had always been the icy wall of impenetrable metal that guarded his true emotions. I.. had no idea for all these years... No. I had an idea... I just always denied or ignored it... Jeez, I'm an idiot... before she knew, she found herself crying silently for herself and for Izzy. Morwen suddenly felt two different fingers on her cheeks, wiping away the hot tears before they could roll away.
"Crying doesn't become you at all, my dear," Dracynos said in a canorous purr.
"He's right, you know. What's the matter?" Izrael said in a matching voice, placing his long-fingered hand on her head teasingly.
She pouted through her tear-filled eyes and red cheeks, shaking him off. "Nothing. Wait, what? When the hell did you get here?!" she demanded of Dracynos, who pointed to himself stupidly.
"Who, me? I've been here the whole time! I was the bat," he said with a clever grin, as if to say 'Oh yes, I so tricked you!~'
**** A few days later. ****
Izzy had found it hard to sleep with Adria in his room, and because she was there he was unable to leave for very long.
"Morwen, this isn't a funny situation, you have to take her to your room," he pleaded one afternoon as he walked her to her class after lunch break.
"Why? You too seem to get along so well," she teased as they rounded the corner. "Besides. It's too risky. The Order Enforcers are out so much more recently for some reason, the chances of us getting caught are too high. Who knows what they'd do to her?"
"So don't get caught," he mumbled. Stepping in front of her and leaning against the doorframe, he added, "Just think it over, okay? It's not like she can stay in my room forever. And we can always use the secret passages if you're too worried."
"You make it sound like I'm a pansy. If you want her gone, move her yourself, and preferably now, when everyone *except you* is in class. Regardless, move before I have to make you account for my lateness to class," Morwen retorted as the professor walked past.
"Nah. These are important matters we're discussing here. No chance you'll get in trouble, ain't that right, professor?" Izzy said smoothly, cracking a slightly lopsided smile to the teacher, who looked flustered.
"No I suppose not, if they are important matters. Have her in shortly though," answered she, ducking into the door as the bell went off.
"There, see? You're fine. Now-hat the hell?!" Izzy broke off as a large bat smacked into the wall between them. It sank to the ground where it ceased motion and appeared to smolder. In one quick motion, Izrael bent, snatched the bat, grabbed Morwen's arm and leaned into the classroom. "Morwen just got attacked by a bat so I'm going to take her to the healer." he called casually and swept off down the hall and around a corner, dragging an upset Morwen along behind him.
"You're lucky my exam in that class isn't until tomorrow. Now you have to help me study," she whined in an unappreciative tone, snatching her arm back.
"Yeah whatever," he replied, holding the bat to eye level. To his dismay, the cloud of smoke enveloping it was immediately attracted to his right eye, and he swiftly moved his hair so it wouldn't be dyed. Morwen, who had never seen his scarred, discolored and demonic looking eye was taken aback at the sight.
"Uh... Izzy? I didn't know your eye looked like that..." she stammered uncomfortably, unable to avert her gaze. She was even more shaken when both eyes looked up and met hers unwaveringly. The black vine-pattern within the iris twisted and churned violently with the absorption of the purple smoke, and the red glow of the iris itself slowly intensified. The only emotion that she was able to pick up in his right eye was deep, burning hatred and searing pain. The combination of the two made her want to scream and cry and beat something insanely; Morwen ripped her focus off of the cross-scarred eye and to his other, where the spring green of his original eye color held nothing more than an apologetic undertone and blankness.
"Sorry you actually have to see it. If you ever wondered why I wear my hair like I do, here's you answer." he said softly, emotionless. "This is what happens when you come to the Bastion as an orphan during a war, having just been released from being a hostage and they decided to gouge out your eye, and Dracynos decides to 'fix' it for you in exchange for part of your mortality." he said flatly. When Morwen's eyes widened in shock, he smirked playfully. "I'm only kidding. I still have all of my mortality and my soul. All he took was the damage done to my eye. Of course, it had its conditions--this damn eye is now the most terrifying weapon I could ever use against anything... and if I don't focus on it at all times... it can kill someone just by looking at it... so I'd really appreciate it if you wouldn't look at me right now," he added with a small, forced laugh.
Morwen was speechless. She was unable to do anything besides gape at him for a few more seconds and turn numbly away. That can't be his real eye... no... he's always so cheerful, isn't he? she thought, racking her memory. To her shock, she realized that in every memory she had of Izrael, his eye had been happy on the front, but looking back, deeper, she could see now that beneath the thin layer of joy there had always been the icy wall of impenetrable metal that guarded his true emotions. I.. had no idea for all these years... No. I had an idea... I just always denied or ignored it... Jeez, I'm an idiot... before she knew, she found herself crying silently for herself and for Izzy. Morwen suddenly felt two different fingers on her cheeks, wiping away the hot tears before they could roll away.
"Crying doesn't become you at all, my dear," Dracynos said in a canorous purr.
"He's right, you know. What's the matter?" Izrael said in a matching voice, placing his long-fingered hand on her head teasingly.
She pouted through her tear-filled eyes and red cheeks, shaking him off. "Nothing. Wait, what? When the hell did you get here?!" she demanded of Dracynos, who pointed to himself stupidly.
"Who, me? I've been here the whole time! I was the bat," he said with a clever grin, as if to say 'Oh yes, I so tricked you!~'
XIV
Morwen casually opened Izzy's door, strode in, and sat down on his bed.
"Oh shit," he said, flattening himself against the wall and raising his hands in defense. "Before you kill me, remember that I did come back alive, and that you said you didn't care if I left or not."
"I know. I wanted to apologize for overreacting earlier. Anyways," she bounced up, her regular self returning. "What's this thing?"
"Uh. It's a... thing. I'm not sure what it is yet. Maybe you shouldn't shake it like that though..."
"Why not?" Morwen pouted, setting it on the desk. "Ooh, a button!" she poked her finger through a gap in the metallic shell hitting a button Izzy hadn't noticed, nor would he have even been able to press it if he had.
"Hey, don't press buttons that aren't yours to press. Especially not mine." he grabbed up his device. As he was inspecting it a portal-like structure projected itself into the room. Izrael dropped it out of surprise, but it hung motionless in the air, and the moment his hand left the surface, the portal snapped shut. That was that girl, wasn't it? The voice from earlier? She wants out? Now I know how. Izzy thought, climbing up on the table.
"Morwen, grab that thing and don't let go, alright?"
"What? Why? Oh no, I'm not letting you go to any other strange places. What are you planning to do in there anyho-"
"Just touch it, jeez," he said with feigned attitude. "I'll be right back, and this time not only do I mean it, but you can see me."
"Fine. But wipe that smirk off your face," she replied pretending to be annoyed but satisfied. "Don't let yourself get stuck in there."
"That's your job, not mine. That's why I said don't let go," he said as the portal opened again with its bass-heavy hum.
From his perch on the desk, Izzy could see the girl's hopeless posture curled up in the corner. He sighed and threw himself forward through the tear in reality. A moment later he'd landed on the oddly warm floor, and felt his right eye burning as it had earlier. For a few brief seconds, he was frozen out of blindness despite how bright the room had seemed from his desk. As his Nécrux kicked in and blocked out whatever foul magic was placed there against any living thing, he thought about how useful his 'deformed' eye had become over the years. I'm still bitter over this though. He could 'fix' my eye itself, but not the scars? Heh.
"Oh, right. Girl, come on and stand up, we're leaving." he commanded blankly. Reaching out to grab her arm, he realized she couldn't hear or see him. Izzy growled in frustration at whoever had made such a cell and grabbed her arm anyway. Her head shot up in shock and she wrenched her arm free of his purposely loose grip. Oh, great. I've never been very good with patience.
She stood cautiously and he kept his arm right where it had been. Meanwhile, Morwen was watching from back in the Bastion and was confused to all hell.
The girl reached forward shakily and her fingers landed on Izrael's arm, which he used to guide her closer to him. Her expression grew inquisitive, and he made the inter-realm symbols for peace and freedom into her palm to calm her nerves. He figured it worked, as she seemed to trust him more, but it still took a bit of coaxing to get her to walk with him in the direction of the open gate. As one would expect, he climbed out first to help her over and onto the desktop. However, the sudden disappearance of his aura had obviously startled the girl, and she took a few steps back. Izzy climbed back through the portal in annoyance and snatched up her hand. This time, he didn't let go when he went through, but motioned for her other hand. She seemed reluctant, with expressions of confusion and distress flitting across her face, but she never once tried to speak.
I'll bet she knows we can't hear each other yet, because of that room, he thought, making a sign for escape into her fingers again.
"Oh would you please just hurry up and pull her out of there already!" Morwen said, breaking the tense silence.
"I can't," Izzy replied calmly, motioning for her other hand again. She extended it eagerly, and he grasped her forearm. Izzy pulled up on her arms gently to let her know that it would be helpful if she jumped up and forward, and the girl nodded hopefully.
"Seriously, just--" Morwen began again, but stopped short as Izrael heaved the thin girl through the hole in the air. He'd made sure to pull hard enough so she'd land on the desk too, preferring that she didn't fall and he snap her arms or something. She still looked surprised at the sudden difference of setting.
"You should consider yourself lucky," Morwen teased, "To be rescued by and to land on the famous Izrael H.!~" she released the metal contraption and it sank slowly to the floor.
"What? Who?" the girl remarked in a flustered tone, still unconsciously clinging to Izzy.
"Me," he replied, shooting an unappreciative glare at Morwen, who grinned humorously. The girl jumped back in surprise at his voice, and nearly toppled off the desk. "Careful. No dying on me after all my hard work now, you hear?" he laughed mischievously.
"Smart move, standing on the desk," Morwen giggled, her voice drenched with satire. She helped the girl down and over to the bed, where the two sat down.
"Who are you?" inquired the girl uncertainly.
"Morwen Reiri, and he's just some guy who's kind of a friend of mine," Morwen replied.
"Izrael Haedhen at your service." Izzy said, hopping off the desk. "I'm not just some random guy, either. This is my room," he glared at Morwen. "And you are?"
"I'm Adria. Uh, Adria Sonycard. I-- oh, hell, is that... is that food I smell? Is it free?" Adria said enthusiastically, turning her face in the general direction of Izzy's door. The two noticed how her vacant eyes stayed facing forward indefinitely.
"Oh shit," he said, flattening himself against the wall and raising his hands in defense. "Before you kill me, remember that I did come back alive, and that you said you didn't care if I left or not."
"I know. I wanted to apologize for overreacting earlier. Anyways," she bounced up, her regular self returning. "What's this thing?"
"Uh. It's a... thing. I'm not sure what it is yet. Maybe you shouldn't shake it like that though..."
"Why not?" Morwen pouted, setting it on the desk. "Ooh, a button!" she poked her finger through a gap in the metallic shell hitting a button Izzy hadn't noticed, nor would he have even been able to press it if he had.
"Hey, don't press buttons that aren't yours to press. Especially not mine." he grabbed up his device. As he was inspecting it a portal-like structure projected itself into the room. Izrael dropped it out of surprise, but it hung motionless in the air, and the moment his hand left the surface, the portal snapped shut. That was that girl, wasn't it? The voice from earlier? She wants out? Now I know how. Izzy thought, climbing up on the table.
"Morwen, grab that thing and don't let go, alright?"
"What? Why? Oh no, I'm not letting you go to any other strange places. What are you planning to do in there anyho-"
"Just touch it, jeez," he said with feigned attitude. "I'll be right back, and this time not only do I mean it, but you can see me."
"Fine. But wipe that smirk off your face," she replied pretending to be annoyed but satisfied. "Don't let yourself get stuck in there."
"That's your job, not mine. That's why I said don't let go," he said as the portal opened again with its bass-heavy hum.
From his perch on the desk, Izzy could see the girl's hopeless posture curled up in the corner. He sighed and threw himself forward through the tear in reality. A moment later he'd landed on the oddly warm floor, and felt his right eye burning as it had earlier. For a few brief seconds, he was frozen out of blindness despite how bright the room had seemed from his desk. As his Nécrux kicked in and blocked out whatever foul magic was placed there against any living thing, he thought about how useful his 'deformed' eye had become over the years. I'm still bitter over this though. He could 'fix' my eye itself, but not the scars? Heh.
"Oh, right. Girl, come on and stand up, we're leaving." he commanded blankly. Reaching out to grab her arm, he realized she couldn't hear or see him. Izzy growled in frustration at whoever had made such a cell and grabbed her arm anyway. Her head shot up in shock and she wrenched her arm free of his purposely loose grip. Oh, great. I've never been very good with patience.
She stood cautiously and he kept his arm right where it had been. Meanwhile, Morwen was watching from back in the Bastion and was confused to all hell.
The girl reached forward shakily and her fingers landed on Izrael's arm, which he used to guide her closer to him. Her expression grew inquisitive, and he made the inter-realm symbols for peace and freedom into her palm to calm her nerves. He figured it worked, as she seemed to trust him more, but it still took a bit of coaxing to get her to walk with him in the direction of the open gate. As one would expect, he climbed out first to help her over and onto the desktop. However, the sudden disappearance of his aura had obviously startled the girl, and she took a few steps back. Izzy climbed back through the portal in annoyance and snatched up her hand. This time, he didn't let go when he went through, but motioned for her other hand. She seemed reluctant, with expressions of confusion and distress flitting across her face, but she never once tried to speak.
I'll bet she knows we can't hear each other yet, because of that room, he thought, making a sign for escape into her fingers again.
"Oh would you please just hurry up and pull her out of there already!" Morwen said, breaking the tense silence.
"I can't," Izzy replied calmly, motioning for her other hand again. She extended it eagerly, and he grasped her forearm. Izzy pulled up on her arms gently to let her know that it would be helpful if she jumped up and forward, and the girl nodded hopefully.
"Seriously, just--" Morwen began again, but stopped short as Izrael heaved the thin girl through the hole in the air. He'd made sure to pull hard enough so she'd land on the desk too, preferring that she didn't fall and he snap her arms or something. She still looked surprised at the sudden difference of setting.
"You should consider yourself lucky," Morwen teased, "To be rescued by and to land on the famous Izrael H.!~" she released the metal contraption and it sank slowly to the floor.
"What? Who?" the girl remarked in a flustered tone, still unconsciously clinging to Izzy.
"Me," he replied, shooting an unappreciative glare at Morwen, who grinned humorously. The girl jumped back in surprise at his voice, and nearly toppled off the desk. "Careful. No dying on me after all my hard work now, you hear?" he laughed mischievously.
"Smart move, standing on the desk," Morwen giggled, her voice drenched with satire. She helped the girl down and over to the bed, where the two sat down.
"Who are you?" inquired the girl uncertainly.
"Morwen Reiri, and he's just some guy who's kind of a friend of mine," Morwen replied.
"Izrael Haedhen at your service." Izzy said, hopping off the desk. "I'm not just some random guy, either. This is my room," he glared at Morwen. "And you are?"
"I'm Adria. Uh, Adria Sonycard. I-- oh, hell, is that... is that food I smell? Is it free?" Adria said enthusiastically, turning her face in the general direction of Izzy's door. The two noticed how her vacant eyes stayed facing forward indefinitely.
XIII
Izrael sat awkwardly alone in the cave. He eventually stood, grabbed his 'gift', called a good bye, and left. To his dismay, he forgot to use his shadow shield on his trip back, and found himself being confronted by Khamryn for carrying the strange device so openly.
"You don't know what it is, you say? Well, I'm sure the elders will have some insight to grant," she scoffed, snatching at it.
"Uh, no." he replied and held it high above his head where she couldn't reach. She gave him a glare and huffed, and when he arched an eyebrow humorously, she turned and began to walk away. Izzy smirked, satisfied and started off in the opposite direction. Suddenly, Khamryn flew by him, snatching his contraption eagerly and storming off towards the elders. He stared down at his empty hands for a moment, his expression unchanging. He then proceeded to sprout a rageface, yell after her and sprint for a short cut.
"OH WHAT NOW!" Izzy screamed, exploding around a corner in front of Khamryn as she ran along. She skidded to a stop in front of him, looking like she'd just had a heart attack. He stood in an athletic fighter's stance, an evil, crazy-like expression painted on his face. She glared back at him, regaining her composure and making a dash for the opposite side of the hall. He caught her easily with one hand, retrieved his possession with the other, and concealed himself. In his invisibility, he tried a charm Dracynos had taught him on his second visit—one that scrambled the frequencies and origins of one's voice.
"Silme hir glina en lîn amarth," he stated, priding himself in the effect of the charm. Khamryn stared fearfully around the corridor, having been struck frozen by the elvish threat.
Yeah, mess with me again. he thought darkly as he continued back to his room. A few hours had passed, and he was glad to find his door untouched and the chamber unoccupied. Izrael placed his device on his desk and sat down to stare at it until he figured out what to do with it. "Does it open?" he whispered to himself, poking at things that looked like they might have been buttons. To his surprise, it spoke back to him.
~'It?' What is 'it'? Wait. It must! How else could I have gotten in here! OPEN IT!~
Izzy fell back out of his chair in shock, creeping cautiously back up to it. The electronic-like voice spoke again. ~Hey! Are you still there? Who are you? Can you at least tell me where I am?~
"Ohh my God." He gasped "Got any cool experiments down here?" he recalled asking. Experiments… is this one of his 'experiments?'
"You don't know what it is, you say? Well, I'm sure the elders will have some insight to grant," she scoffed, snatching at it.
"Uh, no." he replied and held it high above his head where she couldn't reach. She gave him a glare and huffed, and when he arched an eyebrow humorously, she turned and began to walk away. Izzy smirked, satisfied and started off in the opposite direction. Suddenly, Khamryn flew by him, snatching his contraption eagerly and storming off towards the elders. He stared down at his empty hands for a moment, his expression unchanging. He then proceeded to sprout a rageface, yell after her and sprint for a short cut.
"OH WHAT NOW!" Izzy screamed, exploding around a corner in front of Khamryn as she ran along. She skidded to a stop in front of him, looking like she'd just had a heart attack. He stood in an athletic fighter's stance, an evil, crazy-like expression painted on his face. She glared back at him, regaining her composure and making a dash for the opposite side of the hall. He caught her easily with one hand, retrieved his possession with the other, and concealed himself. In his invisibility, he tried a charm Dracynos had taught him on his second visit—one that scrambled the frequencies and origins of one's voice.
"Silme hir glina en lîn amarth," he stated, priding himself in the effect of the charm. Khamryn stared fearfully around the corridor, having been struck frozen by the elvish threat.
Yeah, mess with me again. he thought darkly as he continued back to his room. A few hours had passed, and he was glad to find his door untouched and the chamber unoccupied. Izrael placed his device on his desk and sat down to stare at it until he figured out what to do with it. "Does it open?" he whispered to himself, poking at things that looked like they might have been buttons. To his surprise, it spoke back to him.
~'It?' What is 'it'? Wait. It must! How else could I have gotten in here! OPEN IT!~
Izzy fell back out of his chair in shock, creeping cautiously back up to it. The electronic-like voice spoke again. ~Hey! Are you still there? Who are you? Can you at least tell me where I am?~
"Ohh my God." He gasped "Got any cool experiments down here?" he recalled asking. Experiments… is this one of his 'experiments?'
XII
My room. I'll go hide out there. Izrael thought, taking a turn and another, following his mental map. No. Crap. Of course she'll expect me to go to my room. Hmm… he stole a left and traced back a hall parallel to the one he was in before. With a swift right turn he found himself through the wall and stumbling down a steep decline. "Oh hell yea, my map is still entirely accurate!" he said to himself, his playful grin flitting across his face. Before long, he exploded out through another wall into an echoing cavern-Dracynos's lair.
"Hey!" Izzy called loudly, dropping his cover and looking around. "You turned the lights on. I'd almost forgotten what it looked like in here."
"Oh really?" a familiar, deep, demonic voice boomed. "And I see you're utilizing my secret passages again."
"Huh. Yea, I use 'em all the time. Told a few people too. Just not about any that lead here, or how to find them on their own." Izzy added casually, striding forward. "Got any cool experiments down here?" his finger poked out, sending a bright streak of magic for the center or the chamber, causing a sparkling explosion on impact and revealing the monster of black that was camouflaged there. He was all black; every feature was illustrated with and accented with a different hue of black. He even glowed black. His piercing purple eyes glared down on Izzy, and he felt his scarred right eye searing.
"Oh Izrael, you're even more talented than I remembered," Dracynos said, releasing his other form and striding towards him as his usual handsome, human-like self. "You're just full of surprises aren't you? You've even grown considerably," he added with a chuckle. Izzy grinned as Dracynos grasped his shoulders affectionately.
"And yourself," he replied. "I see you've modified your human form since I last saw it. It's good, believable, but looks a hell of a lot like me, don't you think?"
"Well yes. I actually looked like this as a person way back when, you know. That's why you look as you do. You thought my leopard was truly your familiar? Do you honestly think you look like a saber fanged jungle cat?" he laughed heartily. "No. So technically, you look a hell of a lot like me," he continued in a mumbled response. Tossing up his arms with the flash of a smile, he turned into his chamber, waving to a nearby table set. "Have a seat and stay a while," Dracynos called nonchalantly as he rounded a corner. Izzy obeyed, looking around in awe at the sheer immenseness of the cave. Where the hell are the lights in this place… it's so damn bright, but not a single light. He mused, taking a seat. A moment later, Dracynos returned with a rather curious looking device.
"This, my son, I give to you."
"What is it?"
"You shall discover, with time," he replied, an unreadable but obvious expression bubbling up in his eyes. With that, his body dispersed in a shimmer of purpley-black smoke.
"Hey!" Izzy called loudly, dropping his cover and looking around. "You turned the lights on. I'd almost forgotten what it looked like in here."
"Oh really?" a familiar, deep, demonic voice boomed. "And I see you're utilizing my secret passages again."
"Huh. Yea, I use 'em all the time. Told a few people too. Just not about any that lead here, or how to find them on their own." Izzy added casually, striding forward. "Got any cool experiments down here?" his finger poked out, sending a bright streak of magic for the center or the chamber, causing a sparkling explosion on impact and revealing the monster of black that was camouflaged there. He was all black; every feature was illustrated with and accented with a different hue of black. He even glowed black. His piercing purple eyes glared down on Izzy, and he felt his scarred right eye searing.
"Oh Izrael, you're even more talented than I remembered," Dracynos said, releasing his other form and striding towards him as his usual handsome, human-like self. "You're just full of surprises aren't you? You've even grown considerably," he added with a chuckle. Izzy grinned as Dracynos grasped his shoulders affectionately.
"And yourself," he replied. "I see you've modified your human form since I last saw it. It's good, believable, but looks a hell of a lot like me, don't you think?"
"Well yes. I actually looked like this as a person way back when, you know. That's why you look as you do. You thought my leopard was truly your familiar? Do you honestly think you look like a saber fanged jungle cat?" he laughed heartily. "No. So technically, you look a hell of a lot like me," he continued in a mumbled response. Tossing up his arms with the flash of a smile, he turned into his chamber, waving to a nearby table set. "Have a seat and stay a while," Dracynos called nonchalantly as he rounded a corner. Izzy obeyed, looking around in awe at the sheer immenseness of the cave. Where the hell are the lights in this place… it's so damn bright, but not a single light. He mused, taking a seat. A moment later, Dracynos returned with a rather curious looking device.
"This, my son, I give to you."
"What is it?"
"You shall discover, with time," he replied, an unreadable but obvious expression bubbling up in his eyes. With that, his body dispersed in a shimmer of purpley-black smoke.
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