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#151
Old 10-21-2014, 02:53 AM

"Certainly." Hecate responded, grabbing the other plate and glass and bringing it over before setting it down calmly in another place for Kiernan, not far separated from his sister. This was his cue to stand straight up and walk back towards the kitchen area. He had examined the basics of the meal, however he did not believe it was enough, the girl had seemed reluctant to use more ingredients than a basic meal entailed.
He disappeared into the store room, reappearing with some red apples, a small paper bag and a clear glass tea-pot with a filter. He grabbed two more plates, setting them aside and filled the teapot with water. His next action, however, was to place his hand over it. Several pinpricks of light appeared on the underside of his hand and soon the water was bubbling and boiling within seconds.

He emptied a little of the paper bag into the pot at first and it soon started turning a pleasant honey brown. Simple tea leaves. However he was no finished. His left arm shifted, a seam appearing along the fore-arm as it split apart. He now had two arms on the joint, albeit smaller, one gently stirred the tea with a spoon whilst the other aided the right hand in gently carving the flesh off the apples. He placed the sliced skin of one into the boiling water, in order to give it some sweetness and flavor, left arm sealing into one again as he went about slicing the remaining tow apples neatly into several pieces.

After a little while he split his right arm instead, grasping a pair of cups and pouring tea into them smoothly and calmly. The sweet smell of the apple tea filled the cottage and he grabbed the two plates of sliced apples in a similar fashion. The machine comfortably made his way to Kiernan and Cara again, setting down the plates and cups of tea, with nothing in his hands they all rejoined neatly,
"A balanced intake of various foods are important to your bodies. Please do not limit yourselves too much out of courtesy. In order to regain your energy properly, you must be willing to eat more." In a sense, he was almost scolding them, but the polite tone he stated it in was more like gentle chiding from a concerned parent. He turned towards the kitchen once more, he would have to tidy up. He had plans to make a better meal at some point, this meal was a little out of place with a schedule but he was used to adjusting his timing.

It was at about the time the two finished their lunches that the door to the cottage opened once more, Ixera stepping in calmly and staring over at Cara and Kiernan a moment. The more severe look on her face had vanished momentarily. She spotted Zed asleep on the couch and folded her arms, sighing a little,
"That boy.. He can fall asleep anywhere but in his own bed." She stated with a slight sigh, though she sniffed the air a little and stared over at Hecate, "Aaah, the herbal tea.. You did something to it,"
"Yes, Mistress Ixera. I flavored it using apple slices," He replied calmly and Ixera smiled,
"Not a bad thought." She then glanced at Cara and Kiernan again, "Well then, you two. Numira will awaken soon, come with me, I imagine you have questions. If you didnt; I'd consider you both idiots and throw you off my mountain."

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#152
Old 10-21-2014, 05:07 AM

"Thank you," Cara chimed gratefully, setting her own plate down before sitting beside her brother. The two began to eat in relative quiet, both of their gazes once in a while trailing to Hecate and what he was doing, particularly when light began to shine from his general direction. Blinking, Cara stopped mid-bite to turn head to to see what he was up to. "Making tea?" She murmured quietly, her eyes shifting to Kiernan to find him shrug carelessly. Whatever it was, it didn't seem to be of their concern. Except, of course, when it was later revealed that his actions had indeed ben for their behalf. Blinking in surprise at his explanation and scolding tone, Cara stared up at him as his arms rejoined. Her head tilted slightly, finding that strange, but after a few moments she remembered her manners.

Rubbing one of her cheeks in a shy fashion, she nodded. "You're right. Thank you."

Chuckling, Kiernan nodded his agreement. "Yeah, I appreciate it." He accepted the plate with a grin, not hesitating to go ahead and give the warm tea a try.

The two resumed eating at a casual pace, both thoughtful and relatively quiet as they looked about absent-mindedly and tried to digest the happenings of the past days. It was all quite a bit to take in. Cara's being warned and sent home, meeting Kiernan with a woman (of all things), meeting Zed, the attack on Shilf, seeing Asleen, receiving help from these strangers... It all seemed like a string of intriguing coincidence to her. Kiernan dwelled on his chance meeting with Numira quite heavily, reviewing what she'd told him, what he now knew. There was so much to to find out for both siblings, much left unanswered and many ties not yet realized. They both stirred from this state of calmed thought as the door again opened.

Kiernan stood abruptly, not loudly, but certainly swift to act as his gaze caught Ixera. Numira. The image of her flashed in his mind and his muscles tensed in anticipation as he forced himself to silence as she instead chose to address Hecate first. Biting his lower lip quietly, he refrained from asking any unnecessary questions until they were addressed. So, now it was alright? Blinking, he allowed his muscles to relax again. She would be awake soon; Numira would be alright, after this. Letting out a sigh of relief, he was soon joined by Cara who only now stood after they had been spoken to. Smiling hesitantly as she moved to her brother's side, she patted his shoulder once, encouragingly.

"There are... too many, really." She spoke calmly, admitting to the flurry of questions hovering over both of their heads. Which to address first was the difficult part, at this point. Dare she broach the same topics Zed couldn't speak of? Certainly Kiernan had some too, but would he ask of Numira before she woke to answer what ones he had himself? Cara watched Kiernan rub his neck troubledly as the two moved to follow after her.

"We really appreciate the help, first of all. Numira is precious to him." Cara spoke up before allowing too much silence to pass, wishing to at least come across as grateful after having seen her and her brother come to a rough start. Kiernan said nothing of it, the fact already having been confirmed by this woman earlier. Then, hesitantly, she piped up again, "Can I ask just where this Kiranes is? Also, what the Iskander is?" They were at least the basics, in terms of those not tied too personally to Numira. "Why does she not react well with magic?"

Kiernan remained quiet for now, just glad to accept Numira's health for the moment though he did listen to his sister's questions.

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#153
Old 10-21-2014, 07:07 AM

"Never fear having too many questions," Ixera responded plainly to Cara, it was something Ixera remembered form Master Yu, it was a staple phrase meaning there was always something to learn about, her earlier comment about considering them idiots if they had no questions followed a similar principle to Yu, although his treatment of those unwilling to learn was likely a little less harsh. The woman stared back at them a moment but then chuckled to herself,
"You have it all wrong dear. I didn't heal Numira for Kiernan or you. I healed her for me." Ixera smirked, resting her hands upon her hips as she walked, "She is more precious than either of you know. Although I might consider this a blessing, since she was taken down by such a strong attack, her Titan was not summoned.." The woman mused to herself but then half turned to look back at the two again.

Hecate had begun to follow them, closing the door behind them before padding calmly along at pace, his arms hung at his sides whilst he walked in the same smooth, relaxed way he always did,
"The Iskander is a ship." Ixera responded to the latter of Cara's questions, "It flies above the sky and beyond the boundaries of this world for other worlds. Worlds like Kiranes where I was born. It is technology, if you have heard the term, far beyond what should be witnessed by the common person of this world." She tried to explain it simply. If anyone was smart enoughto understand, it was Cara, although she knew a prosthetic like Kiernans was sometimes referred to as magic technology, or magitech.

She stopped briefly and turned towards the two of them, though she reached for the side of her jacket and underlying shirt, pulling it aside to reveal her neck where the same patterns Numira had could be seen, they cycled through their colors gently, much the same to their companion,
"These markings are also the sign of advanced technology. They heal us, protect us from disease, let us speak languages we would not understand otherwise among other benefits." She let go of her coat and smoothed it out, turning to walk once more, making her way into the cave as she spoke, "But it is technology so advanced that it is not properly protected or treated against the energies of this world, and so it can be damaged or destroyed by the mere presence of magic. Numira is a particularly extreme case of a body relying on advanced technology since it courses through her entire body to greater or lesser extents. The only reason she survived was because her body has already been half-treated, though she may not have been aware of it."

As they approached the ship, she stared up at the grand vessel, resting one hand on her hip, the other swinging calmly at her side,
"To think she would come here, of all places.. She is as reckless and stupid as I was at her age." She reached her free hand up to her face, throwing her head back in laughter again, "I don't know whether to be proud of her or angry! Either way, I must repay Draskone in kind for their hospitality towards her. It is only the polite thing to do." She grinned, again the look of a trickster overcoming her as once before. She climbed into the ship, waiting for Cara and Kiernan to enter along with Hecate. Numira was still asleep int he medical bay, but the scattered, broken lights on her markings had stopped, instead they gently cycled through their colors once more, just as with Ixera.

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#154
Old 10-23-2014, 03:11 PM

Cara blinked with some surprise at Ixera as she stated so plainly one of Yu's most basic lessons; there was always more to know. She wasn't sure why it surprised her, she did suppose that she was also once a student of Yu's and therefore must have heard just as often as she now did. However, it seemed as if she were looking at the other in the manner of how she was different from the man. It was her means of trying to understand the woman, though perhaps she had taken the wrong approach. There may just be enough of Yu in her to start understanding her through how she acted similarly to him. Tapping her chin thoughtfully, Cara nodded in easy agreement. "I only fear lacking the means to answering them." She replied calmly, understanding that the circumstances they were now in were very abnormal. The books she had read of ancient magics and the lessons on spirituality and technique from Yu didn't assist her in comprehending what Zed alluded to, what she saw in the ship and Hecate.

"What do you mean by that? How is Numira precious to you?" Kiernan questioned from beside his sister, unwilling to remain quiet after having heard that. It troubled him, in a way. Yes, whatever it was had lead Ixera to helping them, but it sounded as if she got something out of this. Something more than what she had yet spoken of. "What's this Titan?" He then added, confused as his sister now quietly digested information. In her quiet, Cara noted Hecate's presence, turning to see him and sending a grin his way.

Technology. It was a word Kiernan had briefly encountered when he received his prosthetic, and perhaps at a time once before that, but Cara had delved into what bits and pieces of it had been available to her. In the capitol there were no such advancements as metal people like Hecate, or ships that could supposedly find other worlds from the sky... though Yu had seemed opposed to any mention of such a subject. Naturally, this inclined Cara as his pupil to look into it. Yu had even been inherently against Kiernan getting a prosthetic to begin with when he had met the siblings initially, knowing the strain abnormal enhancements could have on magic energy. As it was Kiernan hardly had any stores of it remaining. What he did have moved his hand, which now held itself naturally slack as a normal one, by his side.

"What energy does it run off of to be able to accomplish that?" Cara spoke a tad breathlessly, wonder-stricken as she marveled over the possibility of the Iksander's capabilities. If she wasn't mistaken, it would take quite a bit to even move a large mass such as that. If nothing else, moving matter was one thing she knew plenty of as a specialist in energy manipulation. It was something she took into account even in menial tasks, in order to delegate energy storage. As the woman showed them the peek at her neck, her gaze moved with the curiosity of a child's towards it to study the markings. Then, calmly, it moved to Kiernan. How much of this did he already know, she wondered.

Kiernan's gaze moved briefly to peek at the skin of Ixera's neck before averting his gaze. It was quite a bit to take in, and a bit harder for him to accept. The thought of another world, of their being travelers from it, was difficult to grasp. Numira was really from so far away, from a people so different than their own? It didn't seem unlikely now after considering her confusion and curiosity, though it still troubled him. Another thing troubling him was the mention of this... technology. He could've sworn he had heard the term prior to their entry to Austaros, but its origin in his memory eluded him. Rubbing his head troubledly, it was his turn to quiet as Cara piped up again.

"So, the magic of this world is essentially the equivalent of technology in yours, not the same, but not meant to coexist... though not incapable of cooperating? I assume you are capable of magic?" She pressed on, trying to grasp the concepts. "Technology feeds from a different source of energy?" She connected that to her question of the Iksander, wondering if she had begun in the right direction. "Kiernan's prosthetic runs on magic energy, but it is produced in the same manner other... 'technology' (she noted a difference in what Ixera referred to and Austaros' capabilities) from the capitol would otherwise be." She said as an explanation for her thought process. As the woman mentioned repaying Draskone, from the devious look on her face, a small smile overtook Cara's. It would be interesting to see what she had in mind.

Kiernan tilted his head with some curiosity as the two followed Ixera into the ship, not so much paying mind to her thoughts on Numira's coming here as he did her mention of the Draskone. His gaze caught sight of Numira. A grin passed over him as his eyes fixated on her form, now seeming rather peaceful as her markings glowed in their various, gentle colors. They had done this to her. He lifted his prosthetic to look at it for a moment again, tightening it into a fist as some anger welled within him. Then, he released his fist. Something clicked. "Technology was something the Commander spoke of, before we left." He spoke suddenly, perhaps a bit off-topic now, though it caught Cara's attention. Her gaze swept to her brother.

"What do you mean?" She questioned, understanding his sentiment with the Draskone Commander, but unsure of how technology tied in there.

"I deserted before a raid on one of our own villages, what was supposed to be a practice drill..." He recalled for Ixera's understanding, with a scoff now, not having understood the meaning of the term at the time. It had been practice for a larger scale invasion. The military had a strict presence there, but it had not been so cruel up until that point. Kiernan had once been proud to be a soldier. "The Commander was wishing to test what he called new technology, they were importing it from somewhere." He shook his head, "I don't know where from, and I didn't stay long enough to see its effects." His eyes took on a tense edge as he looked between Cara and Ixera. If somehow this meant something to Ixera or Cara, to their understanding of Draskone weaponry, then it was worth its mention. He didn't grasp the concept quite as well as his sister had seemed to begin to, but he was making the attempt to.
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#155
Old 10-23-2014, 08:26 PM

Ixera smirked at the girl, it seemed she really was learning from Yu if she understood that, though her reply made the woman's smirk disappear briefly before she smiled a little more simply,
"Sometimes; you are better off not understanding." Her eyes switched over to Kiernan and she smirked again, "Clean your ears out, I said she was precious, but not to me specifically, though you could say I am rather attached to her." She paused then chuckled, "Oh how time flies.. It doesn't matter, it is an old story not worth telling yet. I highly doubt she even remembers who I am or what I look like, nor does it affect present circumstances, so drop that subject." Ixera stated bluntly, she was rather adamant about it being left alone.

As Ixera walked she heard Cara's question about how the ship was powered, but she chuckled again,
"My dear sibling student, pure power alone does not lift the Iskander, let alone does it control every aspect of how it moves, it is the management of power to many different parts of it that all function in their own way. And if I even began to explain a single part, it would take weeks of explanation in terms of science and technology. While I am sure you are gifted in magic, this is not your field." The woman rested a hand on her hip, staring around her ship briefly before looking at Cara again, "Though if I had to make a simple comparison, the core of its power is strong enough that if it exploded where it is currently rested, it would level this entire mountain and leave behind a crater, likely setting the nearby forests ablaze and raining destruction across Austaros. It is because of things like that we have laws about not revealing too much about technology to worlds like yours."

She waved her hand lazily a little but then folded her arms,
"Magic is no different to technology, it all depends how you use it and why. I admire healers, those who use their power to help the land, those talented smiths who enchant their weapons, those tailors who give their dresses and garments subtle and beautiful properties. But there must always be people like us, who can use our power to defend others, or to destroy our enemies." She stared at Kiernan as Cara mentioned his prosthetic more directly, once more she took up his false arm, more gently this time, there was no force or strength behind her grip, "What I've done the last decade or so was find ways to mix magic and technology into something more profound. I already have many devices and many theories for grander designs but my resources are also limited at times. Where I am from we have fully functioning replacements for limbs, and many of our inner organs. They require no magic. But they would also not have functioned in this magic environment. I have already experimented with this manner of technology, if you want a new arm that does not stunt your capabilities, I can craft it. In fact you could be the first to use such a device, if you are also prepared to protect the secret of the technology behind it." Her eyes gleamed as she stared at Kiernan with a smirk,
"I would also consider it a prerequisite for trusting you with protecting Numira."

She dropped his arm and rubbed her chin curiously, her thoughts turning to the mention of that Commander and the imported technology,
"Perhaps, however, I am not the first to come up with this idea.. I will need to see for myself, I suppose." She shrugged calmly, folding her arms again and turning her head towards where Numira rested, though Ixera paused briefly then looked at Kiernan, "Ah yes, Titans, I forgot to mention. They are similar to what Zed described.. Large Metal Knights? However built from our technology. They were designed to protect high ranking members of our society. Useless on this world. As Hecate found out." She glanced at Hecate, the machine, glanced towards her then to Cara and Kiernan,
"My original body was estimated at ten feet tall, however when Mistress Ixera was in trouble, my attempts to save her were thwarted by the disruptive power of magic over technology. She has since refitted me in the same manner she has described to you. My failing cost her the use of her left arm."
At this, Ixera pulled up the left sleeve of her outfit and pulled off the glove. In its place was a smooth metallic replacement, several shifting plates and sectioned fingers. Its movements were practically natural though. She slipped her glove back on and lowered her sleeve,
"Up to the shoulder. An unpleasant experience, but a valuable lesson to learn from." She stated simply, though her head turned towards Numira again.

The figure in the bed stirred, shifting a little before she eventually sat up. Her head hung low at first as she dizzily tried to get her balance. It was nice to be able to move again at least, but she still felt heavy. Yet at the same time, there was a strange new sensation in her, she didn't quite recognize it yet. Her bleary red eyes stared around the room. She was strangely surprised, this wasn't some backwater planet. It was a solid place, a ship maybe? a medical bay.
Had she dreamed it all? Had she cried her heart out to an imaginary being? Had she sung for no-one. These doubts faded fast as she looked up and spotted Kiernan. Cara.. A robot..? And a woman..?

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#156
Old 10-23-2014, 09:31 PM

Kiernan frowned slightly with the answer he received, but remained quiet instead of pushing the subject. Instead he crossed his arms before him and sighed softly, continuing on following the two women. He could manage being quiet for now. If Numira would be healed, and Ixera meant her no ill will, then it would all work out just fine. This he had convinced himself of.

Noting the smirk on Ixera's face, Cara lifted an eyebrow in her direction but did not question her logic. There was probably good reason beyond her statement. It did have an everyday application, she supposed, as well. Some things were better just left unknown, or not fully understood. Mysteries were fun in that manner. In any case, her attention shifted to what she was told of the ship's power. It wasn't much of an explanation, but the bit about the strength of its power source was something for her to marvel at. While the words were over destruction, Cara's eyes still glimmered with curiosity. Smiling after a moment, she nodded in acceptance. "Fair enough!" She chimed happily, glad that the woman was at lest entertaining her questions. She had collected quite a few, so it was nice to have someone explain things for once since they'd left Thirsten. She was again left thinking as her thoughts were granted as partially true-- magic was no different from technology. Tapping her chin lightly, her gaze then drifted to Kiernan as Ixera grabbed his hand again.

Blinking in surprise with her move to grab his hand again, Kiernan's eyes narrowed in on Ixera with mild distaste. It was not anger, but certainly an edge of annoyance. He did not her lack of force this time, but that hardly meant anything to him. This being said, he allowed her to look it over this time with complaint. His features otherwise remained calm, thoughtful, as she granted him something of an opportunity. To use magic again, after so long... did he even wish to? His brow creased slightly, thoughts trailing behind him again as somber nostalgia washed over him. He had at once loved the medium, but it's sheer destructive power could be otherworldly in the wrong hands. He was snapped from his thoughts by a harsh yank of reality. "Who are you to state the prerequisites for protecting her?" Kiernan replied coldly, the harsh edge of annoyance in him slipping towards anger.

Cara gently grabbed his forearm, earning his attention and softening him just a tad. He had to remember where they were, who was helping him. Regardless of whether he enjoyed her attitude or not, Cara saw them as in Ixera's debt and under her care. Kiernan seemed to read this in his sister's calm posture as she disregarded his gaze altogether. "It does appear that would be." She stated sympathetically, though she didn't further try to console their hostess. Normally she may have, but in this instance, she thought coddling this woman was perhaps in poor taste. She certainly had a something of a... presence. Kiernan moved from her grasp so swiftly that she hardly noticed him gone at first. Closing the hand that had been holding his arm mid-air, her gaze followed after his form as he moved swiftly to Numira's side.

Kiernan's heart jumped and stirred in his chest, his mouth again feeling dry as one of his hands ghosted over her back, to balance her if needed. "Numira, how do you feel?" He questioned gently, voice much softer than it had been but moments earlier. His gaze swept over her in a mixture of surprise and great relief. She was alright. She was alright. For now, that was all that mattered. Regardless of his prior attitude towards Ixera, he then had the mind for an instant to turn his gaze towards her. Some sheepish grin of gratitude lingered on his face for a moment before he turned back to facing Numira. The hand behind her gently pressed to her upper back, steadying her if needed as his golden gaze remained fixated on her. He didn't want to startle her, to ask her too much as she just woke, but his worry for her would remain evident in his features.

Cara, smiling rather cheerfully now, shook her head a little at him. "Couldn't wait a second, huh?" She murmured, looking to Ixera with amusement for a second before following her brother over to see her. She maintained her distance, though, stopping at the end of the bed Numira now sat in. "Good to see you're up and at 'em." She spoke warmly, letting out a small laugh of relief.

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#157
Old 10-24-2014, 08:15 PM

Ixera only grinned at Kiernan as he snapped back at her,the woman was not fazed by his distaste for her, his reaction was more or less what she had anticipated of him, the predictable behavior at least showed an honesty that she herself prized. The woman simply twisted her face into a knowing expression, she had more up her sleeve that she wasn't revealing yet but still, perhaps it was time to give him a little boot of harsh reality that he probably already knew himself,
"Ah yes, because with the arm you currently have, you did a fantastic job of protecting her. Didn't you, boy? If you become a burden on her; you will get her killed." She replied, her face taking on a darker expression as she cracked her right hand's knuckles calmly, "At which point I will use my considerable power to crush you," The woman added, if anything for being a fair bit shorter of Kiernan she would have seemed much taller, the very essence of her magic rising up around her. It wouldn't have been difficult for Cara and Kiernan to see that she was no slouch in terms of power,
"I might tell you the other reason why I get to state the prerequisites after I get back. But I certainly wont take backtalk from a barking young pup at half my age." She added, her expression changing again to a simple grin. The threatening power had vanished rather quickly as she turned on her heel,
"Hecate! Gates of Thirsten!" She announced, walking several steps out of the infirmary area before rings of lights surrounded her and she dematerialized from the ground up, still walking, or rather floating forward until her body had vanished completely.

Numira stared at the woman a moment, she was hearing the words, in fact the woman was speaking very clearly, but her focus shifted to Kiernan again as he got closer. When he asked his question, she continued to look at him, a little bewildered. It was only natural to be a little groggy considering how long she slept. How did she feel? Not in pain any more. That was a good answer she supposed. Her attention turned to Cara. Hearing her words, Numira wanted to smile. Was a smile a good answer? It wasn't exactly very wordy or direct..

Numira felt a twinge in her stomach as it turned a little before it began to grumble quite audibly, loud enough that even with the soft humming of the ship around them, it could be heard quite clearly. Numira's face turned a little red with embarrassment and smiled at Kiernan nervously,
"Hun-gry..?" She replied finally.
"A reasonable answer." Hecate responded at the door to the infirmary, "I will prepare a meal for Young Mistress Numira." He looked between the three of them then smoothly turned away, walking away from the scene at a calm pace.

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#158
Old 10-25-2014, 06:47 PM

Kiernan merely tensed in response to Ixera's jab at him. It was harsh indeed, but nothing he hadn't already considered himself. As someone who had said they would protect her, promised they would do their best, he had failed. Kiernan had failed and left the battle practically unscathed. His throat dried at her further threat towards him, jaw tensing as his gaze hardened on the woman. Even so, if he had been able to form an answer, it would have probably been lost to her. She was powerful indeed, that much was clear to even him as she released what she had into the room before turning to leave them. Was she now grinning? As she finally left, he found some relief. Ixera was proving to be something of a headache to him, regardless of his strange sense of gratitude towards her. In the back of his mind, he truly did wonder over what she could do for his arm, though that was not of importance now.

Smiling warmly down at Numira, patiently awaiting an answer. Her stomach then growled. He blinked in some surprise, but said nothing of it, only grinning as he found the blush crossing her cheeks rather cute.

Cara, on the other hand, actually let out a small laugh. "Very reasonable. You've been out for a while." She replied light-heartedly now, only to earn a wary gaze from Kiernan. Looking between the two for a moment, some playful note rose in her voice. "I'm headed outside for a bit, to meditate. See you a bit later!" She waved at the two dismissively, the assumption that they may wish time alone left unsaid. A devious smile lined Cara's lips as she departed, humming softly as she exited the Iskander to do just that. She even took to a slight skip to do so, her attitude an improvement after yesterday's attack, though she did still feel quite wary. She felt the need to speak with Yu-- this would be her way of doing so. It didn't take long to find a quiet spot among a cluster of trees, not far from the cavern but enough so that she wouldn't be directly in the sight of the others. Finding a quaint enough patch of grass, she sat upon it casually, crossing her legs and drawing in a deep breath. The trance took her quicker than sleep had the previous night, smooth but quick to whisk her away into what Yu called the spirit lands.

Kiernan, however, only looked after his sister a bit dubiously before sighing softly. This left him with Numira, alone, and with the full weight of his guilt still resting on his shoulders. At least she was awake now, but what if Ixera hadn't assisted them? His gaze returned to Numira seconds after his sister's departure, his brow creased slightly as he considered what to say. Rather, was it even the right time to be making apologies? One of his hands gently rested on the bed, its fingers curling slightly to grab the sheet there while the other moved to run through his hair thoughtfully. "Are you in pain any longer?" He then managed, almost afraid of that answer. He had been certain the attack she had felt itself had been a searing pain, but to assume that during her unconscious state the pain continued was only a cause of his watching over her. She had never seemed comfortable, never at peace with that fever. Remembering her then drew his gaze to avert her, almost feeling quite unworthy to do so right now. Facing her was more difficult than he had thought it may be, and she had hardly said but a word so far.

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#159
Old 10-26-2014, 04:33 PM

Numira's faced turned into a slight frown as Cara left, she even pouted a little, but she supposed it was for a good reason, her red eyes turned to Kiernan again. Though she was seeing his behavior, there was something tense yet gloomy about him now, she couldn't say she liked that feeling, even as he asked his question. She didn't answer right away, still trying to ascertain what was going on with him. She fidgeted with the bedding herself, but then he averted his gaze and so she frowned again,
"I am not, but you are." The young woman replied, reaching both hands over to his chest and pulling at his shirt to urge him closer, close enough that she could wrap her arms up under his arms and behind his shoulders,pressing her face against his chest, "I worried you. I am sorry."

--------------------------------------

The trek towards Thirsten had been rather difficult for the troops, an initial stop for camp had to be made for the night, which in and of itself had cost them time to catch up to the fleeing civilians, but as morning broke and the rain from the previous night had muddied the road, marching had become a little troublesome, though they grew nearer to Thirsten, there was tension among the foot-soldiers.
But now they were closer to Thirsten, close enough that smoke could be seen coming from above it, but with the morning came a fog that was slowly growing around them. This made the men confident that they could launch a surprise attack. Spurred by this turn of good fortune, they grew confident.

Kain had been bringing up the rear, guarding their flank, but with their approach he soon shifted to move ahead of the pack in the long strides of his golem, the machine noticeably catching up to the front line where Benoit was eagerly anticipating being the first into fray once again. The problem was that his unit was specifically designed for long range combat, being the first into the fight was not exactly an effective use of its power.
Kain's machine turned to look at him, then toward Veila at first, however on the second turn, he spotted something ahead of them in the mist.

It was a figure, a woman's figure, clad in a red outfit, armguards, her black hair tied up behind her. It was almost an animalistic instinct that made him hold out the hands of his unit, blocking the path of the other two golems as a sign to stop before he raised his right arm in a fist. The rest of the troops came to a halt. He had gotten an uneasy feeling the moment he spotted that woman.

"My my.." Ixera smirked, "Rudimentary models but.. Those are Titans.." She stated to herself with a grin. The mist was slowly beginning to swirl around their feet.

Last edited by HC-Gal; 10-28-2014 at 11:41 AM..

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#160
Old 10-27-2014, 03:25 AM

Kiernan's gaze remained lowered upon his hands as his muscles tensed, trying to conjure the words he needed to make things right. He needed to apologize, of that he was keenly aware. For his lack of skill in combat to cover her, his inability to defend her, his lack of knowledge of how to help her as she recovered... Her arms moved around him as she instead made an apology towards him. His eyes widened as he drew in a slight breath, but he slowly returned the embrace. Letting out a deep breath, his arms folded so one could rest gently on the back of her neck while the other caressed her back. Holding her firmly yet gently to him like so, he quieted for a time and savored the embrace before a grin took his lips.

"There is no need to apologize to me, Numira. I was worried I had lost you, I was terrified..." He admitted openly, backing up a little bit though his arms remained gently looped about her. Kiernan's golden gaze swooped down to fixate on her own, genuine and calmed as he now formed an apology of his own. "I am only sorry I could not protect you as I'd promised." His eyebrows furrowed slightly as he tried to form more words, thinking them through before speaking up again. "I will do whatever it takes to avoid further harm coming to you." He managed after a few moments, voice firm as he looked at her with determination. Then, looking own to his prosthetic, he frowned a little bit as eh thought back to Ixera's words. "I'll become stronger to protect you." He promised, a grin then tugging at his lips as he found one of her hands to gently take a hold of.

~ . ____________________________ . ~

Veila had taken up a position near the middle of the troops, needing to have more care over not crushing people than she'd like to deal with, but their march was more than slow enough for her machine to keep up with this. She had taken towards boredom at this point in the day, only noting a change in atmosphere as they approached the coming mist and Kain moved on forwards in their formation. Taking curiosity in the movement, she herself pulled ahead a bit, though not quite advancing as far as Benoit or Kain dared. Then they came to a halt. Frowning where she stopped to stand, she too spotted the figure in the mist. "Huh." She remarked, turning for a moment to where the commander rode within the head of the troops in question.

Arnoult rode on to the head of the formation within a few moments of the troop's pause, stopping up just behind the Golems. "Who in the hell told you maggots to-" He barked, pausing only as he came to see Kain's fist extended. Drawing his gaze to the horizon beyond them he too spotted the woman there, one of his eyebrows quirking up with curiosity. "And, who's this bitch? Find out, give her a try!" He yelled with some enthusiasm, a sort of twisted smile playing across his face. The ground troops began to advance, leading Veila to drawing one of the large sheathed blades from her side. If he insisted. Focusing herself, the blade was soon alit with flame, crackling and held high above the troops as she moved on forwards curiously.

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#161
Old 10-28-2014, 12:48 PM

Numira stared up at Kiernan once she could again, though his apology brought a frown to her face once more, saddened a little by his words. She understood what he was saying, but still she didn't want to consider him at fault, not for that, though if it gave him determination to get stronger, she wouldn't deny him a little guilt, if only a little. She pulled her free hand back and placed it gently over his chest as she held his other, cupping the area over his heart as she replied,
"The pains of the body can heal. The pains of flesh can heal. But pains of the heart are harder to heal and hurt much more than any thing that can hurt your body, enough to wish for death. It is more desirable than pain of the heart." She slipped her hand up around his neck and embraced him again, resting her head under Kiernan's chin,
"My heart does not hurt. If it had while my body hurt.. I think I would have given up.. I would have been happy to die at one time.. But not any more."

---------------------------------------------------

Ixera stared constantly at the small army in front of her, still smiling away. She could see the apprehension, the look of surprise on some of the faces up close.The words of the commander barking orders carried over clearly and she only grinned further. Try her out? Interesting choice of words. He wanted to test her to see if she was a threat then? At least he was cautious, but he hadn't the instinct of the larger Golem that had held them back. That one had considered her a threat the moment he saw the woman on the road. She wasn't walking int he opposite direction, after all. She was waiting.

She didn't move as several soldiers rushed her, the closest was a tall, brawny man, the others falling behind pace as the fellow swung a great sword overhead, bringing it down on the woman. At first there was a spray of red, it looked like she had been obliterated by the strike, however the red scattered in the air like smoke as she reappeared next to him, reaching up to whisper into his ear,
"Well well.. Aren't you on fire..?" She questioned. The man looked at her briefly before he noticed his shoulder was alight. He reached over to it quickly to try and bat at the flames before he found the flames beginning to spread and course over his body. Soon he had dropped his sword and was dancing around on the spot, beating at himself, screaming in terror and pain as flames licked his body.

He continued to dance away from Ixera, for to anyone else, it would have looked like he was trying to hit imaginary things off his body, though the terror in his voice was real enough as she looked at the other two. She pointed at another man that was closer between two of his friends, her finger waggling gently,
"Be careful, dear! You have monsters on either side of you!" She warned, though she smiled as the man looked to his left first. What should have been an ally was some hideous creature. He turned again, his other ally was gone,another beast in his place too. He screamed and charged one, striking his ally down before turning towards the other, blade readied.

Ixera grinned again, in their rush, the adrenaline had pumped the morning mist through their system. The weak of will were particularly susceptible to this poison. She rested a hand on her hip and raised her other to smoothly run it over the top of her hair, an almost mocking gesture, at least until she spotted the golem with the blades,
"Marvelous.. Fire enchanted onto a blade for a titan.. Whoever managed this feat.." She shifted only slightly, moving her spar air up and holding it out to the golem that had prepared itself. She turned her hand up, curled all of her fingers closed gently then motioned for the golem to approach with no more than her index finger, once more grinning broadly, "Come, little toy."

"That bitch.. She's mocking us..!" Benoit growled, prepared to moved forward, but instead Kain grabbed him by the shoulder. Benoit wasn't level headed enough to fight some-one like this,
"Wait," He stated simply, though he knew he wouldn't be able to stop both Veila and Benoit. He believed it was better to let the latter go forward, he stared aside at Benoit again, "She is mocking us because she is not an easy target. She has an advantage unknown to us. Perhaps several. It merely took her speaking and pointing at our men to stop them." He wanted to add that if she took control of Benoit in the same way, there would be serious problems, but that would likely only have riled the other pilot up even more.

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#162
Old 10-28-2014, 03:33 PM

As her free hand moved to his chest, Kiernan felt his heart thrum pleasantly with the contact. As she spoke of pain, he listened calmly, allowing his own guilt to slip as she moved in for another embrace. A small smile ghosted over his features as he moved to return the embrace, his arms folding gently around her as he rested his head gently over hers. For a moment his eyes closed, some peace finally coming to him again as he relished the feel of having her in his arms again. Hearing her speak of matters of the heart settled his inwards conflict for the time. It was oddly calming, to hear that she no longer felt heartsick, as she had claimed to have been at home. Adjusting his chin a little, he moved just enough so to plant a firm kiss upon her forehead. Then, parting slightly, one of his hands moved to gently brush across one of her cheeks thoughtfully, tucking a strand lock of hair behind her ear.

Kiernan simply looked her over for a quiet moment before speaking up in softer tones, "I am happy to hear your heart no longer hurts." A smile graced his features, then, as he hesitantly worked at forming the right words. "Mine would have been in pain for quite a time if I had lost you. It's quite enthusiastic that I did not." He admitted with a slight chuckle, acutely aware of how quickly it now thrummed in his chest. A slight tint of embarrassment took his cheeks as he raised his other hand to rub the back of his head. He was, more or less, now back to his boyish way of acting.

~ . ____________________________ . ~


Veila came to a pause as a few among the ground troops initiated contact with the woman, watching calmly as the first fell to instead batting imaginary beings from himself and the other turned so quickly on his comrades. "Monsters?" She wondered aloud, hesitant to draw conclusions here. It would appear she certainly had some kind of control of them, at least with her words. The fact that she appeared to have regenerated was more than curious, as well. Veila's brow drew together slightly as she considered the possibilities here. She heard Kain and Benoit speaking, but nearly glazed over their words as she tried to figure out this woman for herself. Perhaps attempting to engage her would be their only option, is she was to remain in their path. It appeared that the woman's attention had been drawn to her, after all. The hand grasping her golem's blade tightened, leaving the other sheather for now as she slowly stepped over the men seemingly dancing about at her feet.

Casting a glance in Kain's direction as a measure of hesitance, Veila let out a low sigh as she positioned herself into a calmed sort of stance. "My energy will wear down if I'm uneasy of my circumstances. If my flames go out, feel free to take me down." She spoke in a casual manner to the other pilots, thinking of how this woman had already turned one comrade against his friends. Veila left her other blade sheather, not as a confident gesture, but one of caution. If need be, an extra limb to assist in movement would prove to give her more options if this didn't go over well. She'd been called a toy, a marvelous play thing the other seemed to wish to inspect-- her insides curdled at the thought. Perhaps that was not far from truth, in some regard. Arnoult shouted at her to get on with it from below, but she merely drowned out his voice. It was surprisingly easy to cut the strings she felt controlling her in his presence, especially in such a machine. Her first move was calculated, simple, a means of simply testing how they should handle this woman; Veila's golem swept forward in a long, quick stride, blade sweeping before her to leave a blazing trail of fire in the earth as she curled her weapon towards the woman.

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#163
Old 10-30-2014, 02:54 AM

Numira continued to smile at Kiernan, her sensitive fingers could feel the gentle thundering in the man's chest. She found it comforting in a sense, also the idea that it had indeed been him who her hand could feel when the rest of her senses could barely function. Yet now, now everything felt.. Lighter.. Like a heavy weight had been thrown off her back entirely. Every inch of her felt that little bit stronger. And something more.. Still she could not put her finger on it.

But then her face got serious and she frowned again, face dropping a little,
"I was unable to defend that place.. Your home.. I am not strong enough yet.." She lowered her head a little. She wasn't quite upset, though the images in her head were unpleasant, she was lamenting her weakness, but determination was soon coming across her face, "I must get better.. And stronger.. So next time.. Next time I will not see good people hurt like that." She stated, looking up at Kiernan and smiling, "We can do better. I can do-"
Her stomach growled loudly again and her face turned red once more, "-but maybe food to start." The girl smiled sheepishly, lowering her freed hand to her stomach and looking around at where they were for the first time,
"A ship..? Is this.." She paused thinking of that woman she had seen, "It belongs to that woman..?"

----------------------------------

Ixera smiled as the one with the blades finally approached, the one behind her was making a smart choice to hold off his comrade. Of course all this encounter boiled down to was delaying the Draskone, but Ixera wasn't about to let that fact spoil a good bit of fun at their expense. The woman didn't shift as the large mechanoid struck the first blow. In fact, the blade literally struck, however as it hit Ixera she seemed to scatter like smoke. the blade however was halted by a loud clang as it clashed with something solid. A strange blade roughly the same size of Veila's, decorated with glowing lights and made of a silver-like metal mixed with obsidian accenting, more importantly, it was simply floating in the air. However it had caught the weapon of the golem with enough ease that it suggested something large and strong was holding it too, however nothing more than a trail of energy surrounded it. A blue flame had sparked in its wake, burning in the air briefly but still keeping alight where the two blades had made contact.

Ixera's body reformed a little ways away from the smoke, however this time she was accompanied by something more than herself. several more blades like the first hung in the air to the left of her shoulder. Their shapes and connected energy between them gave them the appearance of a floating wing. They hovered next to a spherical crystal that glowed a deep purple color, but it was surrounded by metallic structures and shapes on her right side that gave off the impression of a large right arm, however the arm ended in a hollow opening with another crystal embedded deep inside, several knuckle like structures around the mouth of the weapon. And from the bottom of the crystal extended a lengthy, multi-sectioned tail that swung and twitched in the air, sending sparks of lightning to the grown below it,
"Are you being serious? You need to attack me with more than that! Dont insult me like that again, soldier of Draskone, or I will kill you during your next half-assed attack." She threatened darkly, practically barking it like an order at her opponent with a voice that could easily make even large men tremble, the kind of voice a harsh wife would need to subjugate a rowdy husband.

Ixera folded her arms and the left wing of blades shifted suddenly, all four aiming their points at Veila's unit, blue flames gathered around them and they vibrated rapidly, as if raring to impale her then and there. However she shifted one hand, a finger lifting. One of the blades stopped moving and struck forward, past Veila and along the ground towards the troops. It carved through the dirt, splitting a small rift along it, the weapon cut through the ground like a hot knife through butter before it twisted violently around. A coaxing finger from Ixera had the blade surging towards Veila again, swinging wildly as the one blocking her initially also shifted to attack as well. Two blades to two. This would be an interesting test of one of these creation's ability to move and fight.

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#164
Old 11-01-2014, 08:34 PM

As her lips came to a frown, Kiernan's eyebrows drew together slightly. Shilf hadn't been her fault, but here she took blame as if it were hers directly. She had tried defending his home when it wasn't of any tie to her, to save the innocents there that she hadn't personally known. A grin came to rest on his face, though it did indeed pain him to think again of Shilf. The place had been leveled, even with their attempts. Even so, as she smiled and claimed she knew she could do better, how could he argue with her? Chuckling a little, he nodded. "We can both do better. You did your utmost, though. I am sure everyone present was appreciative of that." He spoke calmly enough even after her stomach's growl, then smiled a tad playfully as she mentioned food.

"That should be coming soon enough." He promised, trusting that Hecate would probably be back soon. His brows furrowed slightly again as she questioned their surroundings. Kiernan held many questions-- questions for Ixera and Numira, though he knew not how to ask yet. His gaze swept away from her as he let out a heavy sigh. "A ship she called the Iskander. It's... a part of a cave not far from Shilf. Hidden." He explained what he knew, though he was still unsure of what exactly this ship was. Rubbing his neck, he frowned slightly. "It is that woman's. Ixera's. She claims to know who you are, find you valuable... I don't know." He lifted his gaze, a bit wary. "Do you know her?"

~ . ____________________________ . ~


As it appeared that her stroke followed through, Veila's attention was drawn to where the woman had stood. Something was off here. Suddenly there was a large blade parrying her from where the woman had been, with no figure to be seen holding it. Veila's eyes narrowed on the scene. Was this magic, or similar technology? Seeing the blue flames burst from its own energy, she frowned. Perhaps it was a mix, as were her abilities. Veila's gaze trailed up along the structure, half in awe and half to try calculating just what it was. It became apparent she would need more than one blade, even if that gave her more control. There was nothing she would do to parry several blades with only one of her own. Shifting backwards, she lead her golem into taking a few swift steps backwards, towards but not pressing into the troops. It moved like she may herself, swiftly with that lean frame, and with care as she drew out her second blade. Gripping the both of them, the fire along their edges blazed brightly as the archaic words etched into hers, too, glowed.

"Tch. Don't get cocky, we're just beginning." Veila called in response, some amusement lingering in her tone as she eyed the woman carefully. Was this really okay to approach on her own with the troops behind her? Arnoult was quiet-- either distracted, bored, or intrigued. Picturing the dull look on the commander's face drew anger from her form, her own body heating as her golem took another stance with ease. She didn't need to wait long. The floating blades seemed to tend her now, their points shifting as she locked her attention on them. How well could she block attacks like her own in this? A wicked grin passed along Veila's face. She hadn't any clue.

Stepping with nearly as much grace as its human counterpart managed on her own, her golem swung around with enough ease to put a stop to the blade carving into the earth as it twisted towards her, half turned as she slipped her blade from the other's edge, sparks lighting the air. Catching sight of the other two hurtling towards her, she lead her golem into taking two swift bounds forwards away from the one she'd stopped to meet the other two. She met the first with the middle of her blade, firm and steady, while the second she parried with her blade's hilt. Her golem stepped under both of them carefully, its own blades yet in the air as it danced further from the troops and closer to this crystal. It seemed more important than its tools. Parting each of her blades from those they blocked, she kept one free near herself defensively while sweeping forwards to send a blow towards the crystalline structure.

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#165
Old 11-02-2014, 06:54 AM

Numira thought about it for a moment as he asked if she knew Ixera. At first, the name meant nothing to her, she thought about it some more, but then looked up at the ceiling, frowning a little as she tried to figure it out,
"Ixera is the name for many on Kiranes.. But not many special people with that.." She paused, then looked at Kiernan, perhaps with knowing, or at least a possible idea, "I know of an Ixera.. She is.. Or was one of our greatest.. Um.. Creator of weapons..? But she left.. Almost two decades past..?" She thought hard on it once more, trying to remember the pictures she had seen,
"I can just vaguely recall an image like her face, from a book I once did read.."

"Ixera Tuvai. Chief weapons specialist of the Kiranes Imperial Military. Abandoned Kiranes seventeen years ago in order to research the darkness." Hecate's voice could be heard as a nearby panel shifted, an image of light appeared in the medical bay, it looked like Hecate himself but his face was instead a humanoid blank plate, it stood straight but turned its face towards them,
"She designed the first of the Titans that currently guard the royal family, she also created me and two unnamed biological projects. I am not permitted to discuss the unnamed projects." He added, the door tot he ship hissed and opened, Hecate's original body stepping in smoothly with a tray, a cover rested over the food he was bringing. The holographic image scattered and he approached,
"Young Master Kiernan. The Iskander can be considered my body. This body you see in front of you is merely something I control. Young Mistress Numira should understand,"

Numira watched the robot walking into the Med Bay but then looked at Kiernan with a smile,
"I have a ship too. Not quite like this, but similar. It also has a machine like.. Um.. What is your name?" She stared at the robot as it set the tray down before Numira. a platform of light formed there to hold it,
"I am Hecate. A pleasure to meet you, Young Mistress Numira. Please, enjoy your meal. Should you need anything, you need only say it and I will hear."

-------------------------------------------------

"That is the fighting spirit I would like to see!" Ixera stated witha smile as Veila drew her othe rblade. It was fascinating to see such a rudimentary model move so well. If anything the amount of reinforcement on it should have made it slower and weaker than it was, yet it was working quite well. Ixera couldn't help but admire the work, in fact if anything was a sign of sheer talent, it was being able to make something extraordinary with limited resources. However adding in the magic of the unit.. Hecate would never have stood a chance without upgrades. But now instead, his parts were her tools.

The two blades that had gone after Veila were indeed held back as she struck for the crystal just behind Ixera. The woman didn't shift, even as the blade struck through the crystalline core and it seemed to shatter at first, however once the weapon passed, the magical energy holding the crystal together pulled it together again and sealed it over.
Ixera turned her head however as another of the three Golem's appeared at her side, it was Kain's unit, he had circled around to the side Veila had struck, attempting to rush the woman, however the long sectioned tail-like structure whipped around and she finally moved from her spot. She floated in the air as the tail wrapped its arm around a thrusting palm from Kain's unit and tugged it across, between herself and Veila, sending the unit crashing to the ground, the tail quickly unwrapping.

"Nice, an attempt at my blind side," Ixera grinned, eyes keeping on Veila, however she held her right hand out to the opposite side, the weapon arm opening up in the direction she pointed. A blast of lightning crashed into her right side, however it all fell into the crystal within the cannon arm itself, being absorbed, "Nice, I had a feeling that would give me a power boost."She stated as the three spare blades she had on her left wing bore down on Kain's unit, not piercing it directly, however they pinned him to the ground, though she could hear the unit of the third man approaching her right side. He lacked the stronger melee prowess of the other two units, but his golem had a pair of claws. Yet even as he bore down on Ixera, she opened her right hand fully and a blast from the cannon threw Benoit's golem off its feet, leaving Veila once more, whom Ixera continued to intently stare at,
"I believe you are my favorite, you move that machine so well.." The tail whipped behind her once, the sections of the tail closest to the tip lining up then interconnecting tightly, turning into a sixth blade that scored the earth behind herself again, "How well is your breathing in there? Can you still see everything correctly? Or is it starting to take effect..? Is there anything you want in this life, young lady?" Ixera questioned with a smile, she was sure by now that it would begin, she couldn't afford to play around with them too much longer.
No matter how brilliant she was, Ixera had her limits, worst of all her magic. As finely tuned as she had created her own magic, she didn't have the capacity for a prolonged fight. Not like Zed or Shina. That girl of Yu's showed promise, that Kiernan too..
Strange that these thoughts would bother her now. Especially memories of Master Yu.

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#166
Old 11-03-2014, 06:26 AM

Kiernan's head tilted slightly as Numira spoke up at first, curious now that she didn't seem to recall the woman initially. Had Ixera not actually known here, but known where she came from? No, she seemed to know more than this. She had made mention of royal guards, of how it was curious the circumstances she was in. His eyebrows furrowed slightly as his gaze rested on Numira. The thought occurred to him that she may not wish to fully explain even if she did know her, but at least Numira would say if she did, right? Now that he knew of a few things Numira had seemed to avoid speaking of earlier, he wandered just what else she had held off on telling him. What else there was to the mystery of her being here. Rubbing the back of his head as some tension rejoined his body there, he let out a soft sigh. This was all rather difficult to understand.

His brows furrowed further with the image that was displayed, as well as Hecate's words. So, Hecate was also what they stood in? A creature, in a way? Maybe it was a creature and form of transport, but somehow magically created a human-like body? "Oh man," he murmured quietly under his breath, averting the gaze of Numira as he tried to reign all of this information in. How had Cara understood it so well? He sighed again. Well, she was a smart, studious woman with an eye for new, curious things. Of course. Lifting his gaze after a moment, he instead focused on something he thought to be more important. "So, this Ixera... designed weapons in Kiranes. How is it that she knew who you were right away, though?" He questioned, at least following how it was possible they knew each other up until this point. As for the ship and the technology-- that passed over his head.

~ . ____________________________ . ~

Veila felt almost... disappointed as the crystal was indeed breeched by her blade. Was it that easy? A slight frown passed over her face, though she knew relief ought to be more along her line of thought. She should have been happy to have felt success. Yet, the success wasn't real. Her gaze caught the crystal's reformation in a moment of awe, her eyes drawing wider at the sight. Magic, indeed-- this had to be, right? It appeared like it may be, though if it were, it were a higher level than she could manage. Most of Veila's technique was merely a compliment to her swiftness and way with blades.

As Kain's unit appeared at the woman's side, Veila herself lead hers to step backwards carefully, wishing for a bit more distance from those blades to better watch them. Also, to grant him some room to use with her. It appeared his approach was for not, though. Seeing him sent crashing into the ground, she froze in place for a moment, Veila's teeth gritting from inside her golem. He should've stayed back. He was not alone, however. They should have stayed back. Even as her muscles tensed, her golem took a fighting stance once more as she eyed Ixera. Now wary as she noted that she was the last pilot standing, she did not move, however. Even as the woman spoke, only discontent stirred in her gut. Why was she here, toying with them? The grip her golem held on its blades tightened, shifting tensely as her human hands would. "Go to hell," she responded briefly to the notion of being called a favorite. It didn't sit well with her in the least.

"I'm not some play-thing, experiment!" She then responded coldly to the questions, finding some understanding in them, but not finding this situation suitable. This woman held ill will for them, why question her when fighting was obviously the thing to do here? Why question what she wished for in life when they stood at opposite sides? Veila's golem slid back from the fighting stance slowly. Why push forwards when she was the last pilot left standing for now, when they needed to fall back in wake of this woman for now, when Veila had something to live for? The picture of the little boy she used to hold on her shoulders danced through her memory, the two playing across a field underneath the gray skies. The grey skies of Draskone had grown all too turbulent to remain by his side. "What are you getting out of this?" Veila instead questioned, staring down the woman warily. Her spirit hadn't budged, obvious as it could be from the venom in her voice, yet fighting didn't seem like the best thing to continue in this circumstance. She could run herself out of energy, and the woman had already shown she could one-up the other two.

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#167
Old 11-04-2014, 07:50 PM

"I am not sure.." Numira rubbed her head a little, "I don't.. Recognize her..? Yet.. Something about her face.. Something familiar.." Numira pondered on it further, though she then looked at the platter in front of her. She wasn't surprised that a meal could have been made so quickly. Rather than doing it manually, Hecate had probably used a fabrication unit. It still smelled good. She opened it up, to a hot meal, the food colors might have been strange to Kiernan, but to Numira this was actually a normal meal. It even came complete with a neon blue drink that seemed to glow ever slightly. It had a fruity scent that mixed in the the meat and sauce of her platter.

She quickly managed to scarf down a few bites of the meal before swallowing hard and pulling a face that could only mean she'd overdone it already, though she smiled again,
"Maybe Ixera can help us.. Those big machines at Shilf do not belong here. If Ixera can help me get stronger, I can stop them." Numira stated, thinking about it a weapons expert could improve her weapons, especially the designer of the Titans, "Kiernan..?" She asked briefly, glancing at him, curious, "What have I missed while I was asleep?"

--------------------------------------------

Ixera folded her arms with a chuckle as Veila demanded to know what she was getting out of it, the woman simply smiled then,
"I'm watching fascinating machines at work. Where I come from I was a.. Hmm.. The closest words are scholar, or inventor in your tongue. Needless to say, seeing such magnificent creations at work is a certain kind of beautiful to me." She shifted one arm, however as she did so, a figure took form at her side, it was the same young boy that she had been thinking of, the misty environment around them becoming slowly clearer, open fields with blades of grass, event he fresh scent of springtime flowers from Draskone.

However there came a mighty roar as lightnign crackled across the fields. The illusionary environment taking damage as ones mind could imagine it too, Ixera and the boy seemingly engulfed in it too. Benoit could be heard cackling form where he stood, yelling proudly,
"I did it! I got her! I got her!" He howled with delight, "More! More! I'll take you all on! I'll burn you all to ashes!" He called out, turning on the spot and firing randomly at the environment, shooting imaginary targets with cries of laughter and insane joy, "You're next! All of you! No-one survives! No-one!"

"Oh my," Ixera's voice could be heard reverberating through the air softly, "He's certainly a handful, now isn't he..?" She chuckled again, this time she was floating int he air beside the Commander, staring him practically in the face, "And you, who are you? Everyone is falling apart around you and you seem all the calmer for it.."

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#168
Old 11-05-2014, 06:00 AM

Kiernan frowned slightly as Numira affirmed that she wasn't sure how Ixera knew her. Perhaps that woman was someone to be wary of, after all. Yet, she had helped Numira out... Rubbing his neck again, his eyes trailed along the equipment present in the medical area here. Much of his surroundings seemed otherworldly to him. Just standing in the Iskander made him a bit wary, to begin with. "Maybe it's a coincidence, then." He brushed the topic off for now, but that didn't stop his mind from wandering. What all had Ixera gone on about earlier? There were guards involved, Numira was foolish to leave. Still, he felt quite out of the loop. Blinking and stirring form his thoughts as Hecate brought Numira her meal, his gaze moved over the food suspiciously. It smelled perfectly appetizing, but the look seemed just wrong. His eyebrows scrunched slightly. "This is... What you eat on Kiranes?" He questioned, gaze locking on her glowing drink in particular. Kiernan would've undoubtedly shied away from such a liquid.

His eyebrows knitted together with a mixture of confusion and worry as she mentioned Shilf, and wishing to further protect others. It was a concept he understood, and he did not seek to hold her back, but not she seemed to have a name for them. Machines? She was familiar with this... technology? Frowning slightly, he left out a soft sigh at her question. "The vast majority of the city was able to flee. Zed distracted the giant... machines, and Cara gave them a bit of a road block so that we may run, too. We rode to the next town inland, Thirsten, and briefly stayed with a friend of Cara's while Zed traveled back here for Ixera's assistance. In the morning, we three traveled back here with him and Ixera." He explained calmly enough, though he yet struggled to wrap his mind around all of it. "You are familiar with those... things that attacked?" Kiernan mentioned after a moment, gaze drawing to her with a mixture of curiosity and an ounce of wariness. Whatever they had been, such destructive weapons should not exist.

~ . ____________________________ . ~

Veila felt her muscles clench and shift uncomfortably under the weight of Ixera's words. So, she was here to watch them work? Like a play thing, indeed. However, her anger from this statement was all but swept out from under her as the vision of the little boy appeared at her side. "X-Xander..." Veila murmured, staring in awe at the face of her little brother. Her thoughts of him returned to her in full swing, the grasses and springtime blooms of Draskone clouding her vision and sense of smell as she was swept under by this image of him. Memories of running through the fields with him at her heels, past the grounds of her family's small farm, no one else in sight, passed her by. Suddenly she wasn't wearing a golem-- she was in but a simple cotton dress, grass-stained without a care in the world. "Xander!" She cried, taking a stride towards the figure as lightening entered her vision, striking out at the little boy. Hot tears streamed from her eyes as anger welled within her chest, but this pain of loss was all too familiar. Oliver was already dead. The startling realization hit her as she moved, already poised to attack Benoit, but something in her stance shifted as she came to.

Oliver wasn't here, Benoit hadn't seen him, and she needed to take him out now. "Wait! Wake up!" Veila yelled, stepping in between the ground troops and Benoit as he began to fire at seemingly random locations. She darted towards him, one blade pointed in his direction as she neared. The point was no longer to cut him, though, but to stop his attacks. Fire spread wildly from the tip of her blade in his direction, encircling him and roaring high as within her golem, Veila struggled to stem her flow of tears. Oliver was gone, she was not in the fields of Draskone, and they were not at peace any longer. She may still be seeing Draskone, but her thoughts had shifted to her purpose here and now. It was an internal struggle against her desires to relive her old life, but it was one she was determined to fight. Veila couldn't have her old life back.

Commander Arnoult stood by with a relatively calmed, blank expression. It was an abnormal expression for the man unless in peculiar combat scenarios, which this indeed was of its own sort. His eyes skimmed along the motions of Veila and Ixera as the latter seemed to dance about the rest of them in a rather carefree manner. His gaze narrowed in on her. Even so, as she dissipated, his gaze wandered about slowly, as if yet attempting to trace her form. Her voice flittered through the air seemingly evenly, his mind in some sort of... haze... As he was addressed, his gaze slid to find the woman's form now before him. "Handful, he is. What a punk." Arnoult spoke in a smooth, low voice, purple gaze glazed over with some sort of cold amusement. Then, a smile returned to his face. It was a wicked, curled thing on his lips, a cold yet curious gleam in his purple gaze. "Ahh? Calm?" He then questioned as if thoughtfully, one of his fingers rising to tap his chin as a swirl of purple aura circled his other arm. The sleeve hanging about it was already shredded to mere bits from earlier, but with this new surge of power, the fabric remaining there further scorched and ripped away as the hand itself morphed. A blade-like structure protruded from where his hand had been, the skin and flesh of it itself disintegrating.

"Consider me a bored soldier." He finished with a devious grin on his face. Yet, he made no move to attack. Arnoult's gaze instead remained focused on her, the same aura flaring up around his arm, enlarging slowly.
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Last edited by Arc Angel; 11-28-2014 at 03:11 AM..

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#169
Old 11-06-2014, 11:35 PM

Numira gave Kiernan an odd look at his comment about the food, but then smiled a little,
"Fundamentally it is the same as meals from here." she replied, "Perhaps a little different in look, a little in flavor, but a meal is a meal." She caught him staring at the drink for a moment then smiled again, tempted to offer him some, so he could try it for himself, but she thought against it, instead listening to him as he spoke again, telling her briefly of the happenings since she had fallen unconscious.

Part of her wished she cold have been awake, to meet this friend of Cara.. But hearing that Zed had gone out of his way to get Ixera and help her.. She knew she would have to thank him at some point, not to mention thanking that woman as well. She owed so many people already.. Numira glanced at him a moment, thinking about those machines, then pulled a slightly unsure face,
"Well, we have the Titans on Kiranes. They protect us, they can be made to build, to fight, to protect. They are highly adaptable machines. Those machines looked like them.. But different.. Still.. They were more advanced.. Too great a technology for this world to have.. To give any society not prepared for it a tool that can cause that level of destruction can only end as you saw there.. Or at least it is the most likely end. It is a terrible thing to use such beautiful creations for such ugly means.."

----------------------------

Benoit stopped only briefly at the rising fires around him, but this only made him cackle even more loudly, reveling in the delight of what he saw, the idea came to his mind that the fires were his own doing. Widespread destruction was all he saw and it delighted him to no end. Kain sifted on the ground, reaching his golem's arm back to grab one of the weapons, pulling it away, it was solid, so she had indeed pinned him. But as he was witnessing, sensations, sights, sounds, any of it could be an illusion. What were the words she had spoken?
How well is your breathing?
Can you still see everything?
Taking effect?

Breathing, taking effect, seeing. It was a poison of some kind. She had somehow poisoned an entire platoon of soldiers. The breathing made him think it was likely gas.. Or-he looked around-the mist? This strange fog around them..
That had to be it. It didn't seem fatal, at least unless some-one was making a foolish mistake or falling for her tricks. Benoit was succumbing to his desires, clearly it affected that sense. Even as he pushed his machine up and looked around, he could see the image of his friend, wherever he stared, Kiernan was there, staring right back at him. It wasn't possible.. He couldn't allow himself to be lost to that desire.

"Oh?" Ixera didn't even follow the movement of the man's arm, nor did it's transformation garner much interest from the woman, instead she took on a mocking smile,
"Bored..? I didn't realize it would addle speech too.. Boring is the word you are looking for.. Boring.. And doomed.." She smirked once more, "A sad fate for you indeed.. Sat there, barking orders, yet the end for you will not have you recognized, you will change little, even while desperately clinging to the chance that your actions will be remembered for all time. An immortality of never being lost to the pages of history.. No.. It is to a beast you will be felled.. You will be consumed and then.. Forgotten." Her last word was whispered, yet it was louder than anything else she had stated and whispered even more closely to Arnoult, the sound entering his ear on the opposite side of his head though.

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#170
Old 11-28-2014, 03:37 AM

With his gaze yet fixed on the odd vibrance of the meal that had been prepared for her, Kiernan grinned sheepishly with the explanation she gave, as well as the odd look. Perhaps this was how she felt when she had first landed here, learning as she had? Rubbing his head thoughtfully, his gaze moved from her food to linger on the rest of the room, accepting of her response. "It's strange... to think you are used to something so different." He admitted after a moment, his thoughts encircling this principle in more ways than one. Food was not the least of the differences between each of their lifestyles, so it seemed. This was clearer now than ever before to him. Some part of it actually dug at Kiernan in a soft spot. She understood all of this that floated right over his head. She knew of technology, and ships, and a different way of life entirely. Cara seemed to grasp some of those concepts, but Kiernan felt quite... unacquainted. As he had been slow to understand the Austarosi when he first came to Shilf as a refugee, now he was certainly slow to some to understand all that had been spoken of as of late. Cara's ability to adapt and accept new concepts so easily, even if she seemed to learn of them at the same pace as he, left him feeling a touch isolated here. He was somehow behind, as he had always seemed.

"Machines?" His eyebrows once more knitted themselves together lightly. A word he'd now heard, but one he wasn't quite aware of. It meant metal, moving, and presumably violent. It meant Titans, those things that attacked Shilf, and death. Rubbing his head with a soft sigh, he frowned slightly. "If you are aware of something similar..." He paused, taking into consideration what she'd said. These were things this world shouldn't be handling. Was it that they were not capable of such? If so, when was a world ever capable of controlling such foreign beasts? "Then, surely you may know some about them? Weaknesses, how they work?" He questioned, sticking to what he would understand. What he knew. What he believed may come in best use, if he was able to understand only one thing clearly, then it should be how to take these things down. Of this, he was certain as his golden gaze hardened as they fixed on Numira. They were focused, darker-- Kiernan looked more a soldier than ever now.

~ . ____________________________ . ~

Upon seeing Benoit's halt, a breath of relief warily released itself from Veila. This woman... Her gaze shifted hesitantly around the three golems, the effect taken no the troops. She was certainly trouble. They had caught her eye, and it appeared that meant there was some hell to pay. Yet, even as she stood still, daydreams of her family's peaceful farm brushed past her. Wind blew tall grasses into swaying gently everywhere around her. She heard her pa and ma speaking pleasantly out over the hill by the barn... Closing her eyes, she took in a deep breath. They'd lost this-- whatever it was, it was apparent to her that it had been lost. "Illusionary magic?" She wandered quietly aloud, frowning as she struggled to focus yet. For a moment, she tottered, but quickly shifted to right herself. Illusions or not, this had to be put to an end before further problems arose. With some relief, she noted the attention of the woman seemed to shift to Arnoult.

The man was cruel and lacked much respect, but had earned his title through sturdy means. Vienna herself held some respect for him, if only for his rank. In many ways, she felt obligated to find something admirable in her direct superior. It gave her some sense of self while acting as his play thing in many ways. The grip she held on her sword tightened with these thoughts as Arnoult's head tilted slowly to the side. That damned twisted curiosity of his. While the woman's words did little to jilt him, what did was the mention of a beast. A beast. He imagined a great beast of his own, staggering towards him and rearing its ugly head as if to take a bite of him. Something in his demeanor shifted again. From sitting there barking orders to business, it appeared; in all but one moment, his eyes narrowed and the childish twist of his smile dampened. Instead, a dulled look replaced his amusement as he stared onwards at the illusion. "Tch." Waving his hand before him dismissively at first, it paused in the air before him. Then sweeping it forwards in a more sudden movement, a condensed wave of energy was produced from the blade-arm he now wielded, swirling with a crackling purple aura. The ground beneath the troops shifted a bit, knocking a few from their feet as some of their horses also shuffled in discontent. From where she stood, Vienna felt the ground shift beneath her, but stood her ground fair enough to take care to not stumble. The energy blast swept around the golems and into the mist, an attack that proved useful at times, though now it was only to dispel the image he saw. The beast did indeed disperse, leading him to calmly lay his hands down. The blade-arm reverted to its normal form slowly.

"Do not be shaken by the illusions of this witch. They are mere folly. We are to regroup here. Clean yourselves up." He spoke in a calm, deep tone now that rang out clearly. The orders were not barked quite as harshly as normal, instead a thoughtful tone taking to them as he himself turned as if to dismiss further problems if they were to arise. Walking further back into the troops to look over what effects occurred with the rest of the ground troops, Arnoult would disappear in the crowd.

Vienna stood still yet, the fire encircling Benoit yet to be safe. Looking warily on around them to await further taunting from this woman, she was left with frustration with the commander.
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#171
Old 12-01-2014, 10:29 AM

"Well.." Numira considered it a moment between bites of her meal and considered it for a moment, "They are fundamentally similar, but their construction is.. How do I put it..? It is like the difference between a bridge made of steel versus a bridge made of bricks..? Where our titans are made with the newest metals and manufactured in advanced factories, these ones were probably pulled together in a makeshift facility.. Whoever made them has to at least have a portable fabrication unit and a large workforce dedicated to building them by hand.. And the designs have weaknesses. Like the face plate; it is just a shaped sheet of metal, but weakened enough, I was able to kill the pilot inside one of them. Which takes one out of the fight. Titan's are a lot harder to break in the same way.. And they don't necessarily need a pilot.." As she explained this she thought about what she had been able to see, "They had exposed joins.. If you could severely damage a joint, you could immobilized whatever is attached to it.. And they have limited vision, facing forward all the time, so they have to rely on instinct if an enemy gets behind them.." She wondered if that last part could really be considered a weakness on this world though. Could a person with magic simply sense their environment and fight accordingly? That made the idea of sneaking up on them considerably less appealing.

Numira stared at him a moment, she caught that look on his face, however she then frowned a little, almost withdrawing at first, before she turned towards her food, picked a small dollop of a mushy yellow and slightly sweet-smelling substance up in a spoon then turned to him swiftly, applying it to his nose with one quick press. The look of mischievousness had come to her face again as she grinned at him. She didn't want to say it out loud but his more serious expression had unsettled her a little, she would do anything to see it change. If she could get a smile, or a look of surprise, something other than that hardened stare, she would have accomplished her objective.

--------------------------------------------

"Illusions?" Ixera chuckled, her voice echoing round them as she reformed in the place of the creature he had tried to repel with his attack, impressive enough, she had to admit and it did disperse the mist but the effects had already taken hold and wouldn't vanish for a small while yet. She laughed again, "This is the figment of your imagination, brought about by some rather interesting toxins you have been breathing in this whole time whilst I examined you and your machines. It is not so simple as that to dispel."
Ixera chuckled again in place, the sound reverberated across the air as she vanished from her spot once more,
"But illusion or not, the beast is coming.. Be ever wary of what looms over your shoulder, because one day, in your apathy, it will consume you and you will none the wiser until it is far too late.."
That laugh came again, echoing and fading out as she retreated from the ears of her victims. Many of the men had been bowled over by their commanders actions, however the terror for some only raised. They could all hear those words, the thought of a beast, it hung over those closest, the stared about wildly in their terror to look for the creatures of their nightmares, their paranoia rampant.

Some even pointed accusing fingers at one another, some jumping at the slightest touch or sound, especially at the creaking noises as the blades that pinned Kain's were lifted. He pushed himself up, staring towards the panicked soldiers, even towards Benoit. One woman alone had turned them inside out and toyed with them. It was a humbling realization that some-one smart enough could pull the ground from underneath them like that. He could see the image of his old friend, it haunted him but as much as he desired to speak with it, he couldn't feel the presence of Kiernan. The mist wasn't taking root in his mind, perhaps it was his size, like any drug or alcohol, it took more potent mixtures than for a standard human to truly affect him.
Kain stood tall and gazed around. He couldn't see that woman anymore, but her laughter, her words. Even he felt a lurching in his gut at the words she spoke. whether it was the effects of the toxin in the air or the imagery conjured by the words she spoke.. He could not help but feel that tinge of mortal fear.

Last edited by HC-Gal; 12-01-2014 at 10:55 AM..

 



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