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"So I hear you're into the Arcane."
Arturo smirked as he sat on a stool beside a woman dressed in dark shrouds. Her sweeping gown seemed to float on its own, the high cuts up her thigh revealing her pale skin. His eyes lingered a tad along her legs before raising to look into her eyes, dark from her eyeliner and eyeshadow. After long chats with many from The Underground, he was more than pleased to take a break with this mysterious young woman. "Depends who is asking." Her eyes traveled along him, noting where the light reflected off of his leather clad body. The water mage had posed himself on the stool in a way to flex and provide himself to be as visually pleasing as he imagined he was. Arturo ordered a drink when the barkeep swung over like a hawk sighting a new prey. His hands wrapped about the glass and he took a drink. "I am. I'd like to get involved." His eyes observed her in a manner to reveal it wasn't just the dark arts he was aiming his interest toward. Her lips curled into a smirk. "I see." "I'm just a novice. I converted just awhile ago." Arturo took another drink and ordered more, one each for the two of them. "Lucky for you, there's going to be a meeting." She drained the cup before rising. The sweeping material brushed his legs, giving him chills once they made contact. He expected her to leave without saying more, but she touched his shoulder. Cold rushed through him. Leaning in, she whispered into his ear a password, place, and time. The water mage closed his eyes, collecting himself. He would eventually need to get used to the freezing aura those of the Arcane possessed. Exhaling, he opened his eyes, finding the woman gone. Wetting his lips, he hoped to get accustomed to the cold quickly. Very quickly. Glancing at the skies outside of the tavern for how many hours he had before the meeting, he judged himself to have a handful. Making his way back to the inn, he planned his day out. A nap, the meeting, and finding out what it would take to help his little friend. |
Emma had to admit that she was curious as to what Arturo might be up to when she returned to the room with her brother for lunch and the mage was still not back. They sat on the bed they'd shared the night before, nearly silent despite the fact their day hadn't been so bad, neither of them knew what to say to each other without bringing up the previous day.
Honestly, Emma regretted not getting Denzell out before she went after her brother, but he'd been so injured... Surely they wouldn't have gotten out so unnoticed if she hadn't left him there. It just wracked her mind with such grief. After lunch they agreed they'd go back out for a while and make the best of their day still. She'd not seen Tavri around that day, she wondered if the man had been the one to turn her into the Tribe, if he'd somehow known how to tell she was not normal. If that was the case, she hoped she'd never see him again, because she couldn't promise she'd keep her temper in check and when she was angry she was very capable of killing a man. "I wonder what he's up to. He's been gone a while. I hope he realizes I cannot keep you as safe as he can." Dominic mused sadly about Arturo's whereabouts. He'd heard them talking that morning, and Emma wasn't to be left alone, but she might as well been in the care of her older brother. He was no match for the Tribe and it frightened him. Emma's hand on his shoulder reassured him things would be alright if they kept together, but he still didn't quite understand what was going on anymore. It all had happened so quickly. |
Arturo entered the room and navigated his way between the two siblings to his bed. The bed caught his weight, letting him bounce a little before settling. Smiling back at the two, slightly tipsy, he kicked off his heavy boots. Feeling through his hair, he caught onto their expressions.
"Ay, why so serious?" |
Emma and Dominic looked up as Arturo entered and made his way over to the bed. She smiled a bit, glad to see Arturo in a rather fine mood. She'd offer to take Dominic for a drink, but he doubted he'd agree, for fear of being drunk and allowing her to be taken from them again. In fact, she assumed Dominic might have been a little upset with Arturo for being buzzed at all at a time like this, though he didn't let it be known. She could feel the way his energy changed with the man's presence.
"It's nothing. What've you being getting into, Arturo?" Emma asked with a small smile, moving from the bed she shared with Dom to sit gently on the edge of Arturo's and look down at the flushed mage. |
"Nothing much. Just mischief, little lass," Arturo teased. He rubbed his chin, thinking some. "In a few I will have to attend a congregation. If you would like to join me, you'll have to promise to stay very close." Stretching he yawned. "But I do want to know something, Emma..." His dark eyes observed her seriously, wiping away the cool easiness he had about himself only moments earlier.
"What is it that you really want right now? To be Theodore once more?" |
Emma chuckled faintly at the teasing, she knew Arturo was up to something. He wouldn't have left her alone had he not had something he felt important to do. "Mm? Alright..." Emma nodded as Arturo invited her to come along later, raising a brow at the sudden change in the mage's mood. He was so serious now, it almost surprised her.
"I... I want to be strong, Arturo. I'm tired of being a liability and a nuisance; a burden. If becoming Theodore again will do that, then yes. That's what I want." It was somewhat obvious he wasn't sure. He was growing fond of being 'Emma', perhaps not fond of the bodily functions that came with being a woman, but he'd been raised like a woman, so the idea of being Emma the rest of his life wasn't so horrible, so long as she could take care of herself. |
Arturo nodded as he listened. "I'm looking for a way to make you Theodore again," he said softly. "It's a forbidden method, but why not? I'm not just out here for traveling, but for some adventure too." He winked playfully, breaking the tense atmosphere.
He fell back onto the bed, folding his arms behind his head. "Tonight a congregation of the Arcane will gather. It's going to be dangerous, but like I said, stay close and I'll take care of you the entire way. Or, you can wait here." He looked over. "I won't force you. But I am warning you...the Arcane are a little..." Arturo looked up at the ceiling blankly as if grasping for a word. "Different." |
"Haven't you had enough adventure?" Emma teased gently, smiling a bit once more. She listened to him explain about the gathering that would occur that night, and she could tell that Dominic was uncomfortable with the idea of her going, but for the moment she ignored him.
"I want to go. I think it will be safer if I'm with you at night." She explained, though she was also curious about the Arcane. Different? It sounded like this would be an adventure she'd be interested in. |
Sitting back up, Arturo threw his arm around Emma's shoulders, pulling her against himself in a playful hug. "Good, good, I have my date and I don't doubt that Dominic will find one for himself." He sent a wink to the brother shifting uneasily in his seat.
"If you have anything to say, lad, you ought to speak up," the water mage said, almost goading him on to challenge his invitation to Emma to the Arcane's meeting. |
Emma couldn't help but giggle a bit as Arturo called her his 'date', looking at her brother who was trying hard to not show how displeased he was. He was her brother, he wanted to be the one to keep her safe, but he had no special power, no unnatural strength, he was just some average guy. Maybe better looking than the average guy, but nonetheless.
"I don't like it." He retorted finally. "Do you really have to go? I don't see why you can't just stay with me and let Arturo go. We can keep in the public--" "And put others in danger? Once night comes there won't be big enough crowds to keep the Tribe away. As soon as they see an opening they'll take it, even if it costs the lives of others. Dominic, you should know this by now!" Emma sighed out gently, shaking her head a bit. "Besides, I think that this will keep my mind from dwelling on the past. So don't worry about me, Arturo won't let anything happen to me. Go have fun tonight." Dominic didn't like that he'd lost this argument, but he couldn't think of any comebacks. He knew she was really safer with the mage, how annoying, he couldn't keep his own sibling safe! "Fine, I'm going to go down to the bar then." He waved somewhat dismissivly as he stood to head out for his night of 'fun' a little early. He needed to cool his head or he'd just sit there and argue with her all night. |
Rubbing the back of his neck, Arturo sighed deeply. He had seen the look so many times from the faces of the young children who gazed upon the gifted with jealousy. Their families were disappointed in them once they discovered that they lacked the talents to be accepted into the rigorous training and gain all of the prestige. But Arturo knew they were truly the lucky. They would get to live out their lives normally with their families. And have families.
He shook it off and lay back down. "I'm going to nap, kid. I suggest you do the same. It might be a long night for the both of us." |
Emma sighed a bit, she knew how frustrated her brother was. When Arturo told her she should take a nap as well, she slid from the side of the mage's bed to pull back the covers on her own and lay down now as well. "Rest well, Arturo." Came her gentle voice as she closed her eyes, blond curls bunched up around her as she curled up to fall asleep until the man would wake her to leave.
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Knowing the girl had numerous wounds, but not aware of their location, Arturo gently laid his hand upon her shoulder and rocked it slowly. If she would not waken, he was ready to gradually increase the volume of his voice calling out her name until she did.
"Emma, lass, it's time to go." |
Emma jolted awake slightly at the touch. Her body ached, back still wounded from the rough treatment she'd received in the Hidden city, and even the slightest shaking of her body triggered the pain.
"Arturo?" It took her a moment to comprehend he'd told her it was time to go and nodded, sitting up and throwing the covers gently off of her still clothed body, getting up to pull her shoes back on so they could leave. |
The mage looked over her hair as she slipped on her shoes. With a knife from his boot, he cut a strap from the many that laced his jacket closed. Reaching over, he raked his fingers through her hair and tied her hair up high with the leather strap. A few stray curls brushed her face, but otherwise, it was clear of her blond hair.
"Alright, let's move out. Stay behind me at all times." He headed out first and exited the inn. |
Emma's freckled cheeks flushed over, surprised at the sudden touch from the mage, but she relaxed as the man simply bound her hair so it would stay out of her face. "Thanks." She murmured and as Arturo moved out, she moved to follow after him now that she was ready.
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The air was surprisingly chilly. Arturo blew out his breath and watched a cloud of white escape his lips. He raised a brow. The touch of the Arcane woman came into mind, the searing chill she possessed. If the atmosphere had dropped this much, there must be many in the area. He wet his lips to warm them.
Having any kind of relation with the Arcane was a punishable offense under King Aviar's rule. He and his advisers had long deemed to agree with those of the past. The Arcane were dangerous. Not only was the magic they possessed a threat, but they lived according to their own rules. Their own morals. Their own beliefs. With such freedoms, they expressed disdain toward any kind of control. Why should they relent though? Each and everyone had given up their lives for the powers they wielded. None of the beings contained a soul. They had paid the ultimate price to go from being normal human beings to become special like the Elementals and other mystical persons. By associating with them came the risk of becoming tempted to become one. There was some kind of lure they exhibited. If they entered a small town, every man and child was seduced into their wonders and the Arcane's numbers grew. Only one Elemental in the past had been plucked away. "If you ever have an urge to sell your soul, Emma...run. Just run as fast as you can. I'll be right behind you." |
Emma shivered faintly at the air outside, breathing out slowly as she wrapped her arms around herself. "Do they make it like this?" She asked quietly, she had to admit she knew little about the Arcane. She knew it was a punishable offense, but outside of that, there was little she'd learned. There'd been no need to learn about such things growing up; as Theodore had been meant for a quiet lifestyle, nothing like this.
Walking along after Arturo, she watched him as he spoke to her, warned her or the rather condemning urge that could befall her. "I understand." She replied, rubbing her arms slowly as she began to adapt to the cooler atmosphere. "Jeeze it's cold." She whispered, licking her lips slowly. |
"They don't make it cold on purpose. It just...emanates from them," he murmured, keeping his eyes alert for their surroundings. If there was one thing he never learned, it had to be how people were lured into becoming the Arcane. The mystery motivated him to learn their methods to try to avoid it.
"Come here, kid," he said, swinging his arm around her shoulders to bring her against his side for warmth. |
Keeping her arms around herself, Emma stepped up to be side by side with Arturo, allowing the mage to pull her close to his side, welcoming the body heat he offered her. Toying with the ring on her right ring finger, she glanced down briefly to it. She'd forgotten about it for a moment; Denzell had given it to her just before things fell apart because of the Tribe.
Shaking her head faintly, she knew she couldn't let Denzell fog her mind, not at a time like this. She needed to be alert too, clearing her head quickly. "Thank you." She murmured as she realized the man's arm around her shoulders actually had begun to warm her up a bit--she was no longer shivering any at least, that was pleasant. |
Arturo glanced at her distressed expression and exhaled some, a cloud breezing from his cool lips. "No need to suppress it, kid...It's okay to cry sometimes. Doesn't mean you're weak. Just when the time's right, just let it out." He rubbed her shoulder gently.
"He's got like nine lives anyways." |
Emma blushed faintly and sighed out slowly, she wouldn't cry now, but perhaps later. She knew even she couldn't hold it in forever; even those of the Tribe felt emotional distress over losing someone they cared about.
"What do you mean?" She furrowed her brow a bit at the mage's comment. Was he being sarcastic? She'd slowly been coming to terms with the fact that Denzell could very well be dead. |
The mage looked at her carefully. "I'm just saying...it seems to be very hard to kill that man. Denzell is...he's something else. He was in that dungeon for an extremely long time without food or water, and he still managed to survive. Either he's got a little something special about him...or he's got a guardian angel watching over him." He chucked over the idea.
"I'm very skeptical about him dying until I see him in pieces or something..." |
Emma pondered that for a moment, biting at her lower lip gently. "I suppose you're right. He could still be alive." That seemed to cheer her up some, though she was still skeptical of his survival just as the mage doubted his ability to die.
"I wonder if we'll ever know if he survived or not? When I went back... it was just blood, he was gone. I just assumed he'd died when I went to free Dominic and they'd disposed of him." Would she ever see Denzell again? And even if she did, would he recognize her? especially if she became Theodore again... she wondered if he'd even show any interest in her then. Emma was quite fond of Denzell, and she felt that he might have been slightly fond of her had his past not seemed ot get in the way of even the simplest forms of romantic affection. Emma wished he'd have allowed her to understand what he'd had going on in that head of his. |
"Was there a trail? Bloody footsteps or a drag mark of red?" he asked. No matter how quickly a body was disposed, the activity could not escape leaving a mess behind if the man was bleeding that much.
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