The girl stared at the heated pool a moment before she moved closer to it. With barely any hesitation she placed her hand in it, then withdrew it, not sharply, but her hand had quickly turned rather red, luckily it wasn't scalding enough that the brief moment of touching the water had affected her, though she stared curiously at Gin and Matthias,
"Is.. Is it meant to be hot..? I can sort of smell how hot it is.. But I cant feel anything.." She stated, her ears pulling back again. Matthias stared at the girl quickly, it wasn't even her mind, it was her body, she couldn't feel pain, anyone else would have had the good sense to draw their hand back sooner, or would have reflexively considered the water too hot to touch,
"I'm afraid to say something has happened to you, Young Salome, though I know not specifically what, I imagine it hurt you so much that your body simply cannot feel pain anymore." Matthias replied rather grimly. The girl seemed momentarily stunned but then smiled with a simple,
"Okay."

It was Matthias turn to be stunned. He half expected her to turn out rather distraught by this news, yet she seemed so accepting. The girl had taken to tentatively pawing at the water with her fingers, sniffing at it as the vapors eased away. He wasn't entirely correct though, she could feel aches and pains in her body, every movement would have put most girls her age to tears, but she was too confused and stunned to let the internal hurts register.

Matthias grabbed Gin by the shoulders and turned him away from the scene as the girl finally stripped herself of her ragged clothes and slipped into the water. Her back and arms in particular held an armies worth of whiplash scars. his own attention focused upwards as well but the man chuckled softly,
"Tis beyond my ken why many a fool would dare tread the empty hollows of the upper ruins. The only entrance that they might seek by foot, but their deaths remain assured, the guardians will see them delayed, tempting as it is to go see how they fare. The traps too will eviscerate who remains. We shall leave by a different route." He replied, glancing at the entrance that Gin and Salome had taken to enter the ruins in the first place,
"You and Young Salome entered by the true path, reserved for royals and their kin, there is a true entrance, a false entrance and a true exit. There are other mysteries to this place though."

Salome's ears perked up as she brushed herself with her hands, looking over her shoulder at the knightly Matthias and Gin, though the ears once again lay flat, she didn't know as much about this place as she would have liked, she had vague memories of being taught about these places butt hey seemed scattered. Dirt and grime washed away from her, gently flowing away with the rest of the water to vanish outside. She could feel the initial warmth but it would eventually turn cold,
"C-can we just.. leave..?" She asked softly and Matthias chuckled,
"Well, of course," The vampire replied calmly, smiling to himself, "It might be a good time for me to step out into the light and see ow the world has changed.."

Matthias turned only slightly so he could stare at Gin,
"And what of you, Young Gin? Do you intend to protect Young Salome?" He questioned curiously, rather interested int he man's response, he'd already done so much for her, did he intend to do more or simply part ways?

"She was in prison, for heaven knows what," Gin stated to Matthias with the hopes that the girl wouldn't hear him. "From the look of her and all the others I saw, they abused the living daylight out of all their guests." Turning his nose up at the situation, Gin just shuffled back and forth impatiently as Salome rinsed off the filth that had become her skin. For just how long has she been forced to endure such living conditions? A simple head-shake followed before his amber orbs fell back on Matthias. "The truth path? Reserved for royals and their kin?" Gin moved in closer to Matthias to the point of being just inches from the man's nose. A look of worry plain as day on his face. "Royals? Nobels? Are you mad? I'm not of royal desc-" his head snapped to the cat-ear girl. "Wait, you don't..." he had to stop himself. He was talking crazy right now.

Drifting back to Matthias for a moment, his ears flickered toward the girl. She wanted to leave. With a smirk, he knew why. She wasn't pleased with the activity above their heads. He had to admit that he too was uncomfortable with the situation.

"I have no idea what I walked into but I cannot walk away from this. It would feel... wrong." With a sigh, he stepped forward and bowed slightly before Salome. "Afraid I can't just part ways with you yet, Miss Salome." Eyes looking up, he smiled at her before he stood erect and looked over to Matthias. "I take it you know the true way out of here so we don't... well, fail?"



((Sorry about the short post and lack of color. Since I changed locations, can't use color as it's not something this version of Mozilla is equipped with. I stripped all images, too. Much safer to roleplay with now.))

Salome's ears continued to shift, pulling back but lifting a little, while she didn't quite have the keener ears of an elf, she still had good hearing. His words to Matthias made her stare across the water as she continued to clean herself, reaching up with her hands to pour water over her head. She couldn't imagine how it was possible, prison? She was having difficulty remembering but something about it rang true in her. The world alone made her quiver internally, the thought of abuse made sharp images return to her mind briefly and she covered her head momentarily, fighting off the estranged feeling it game her. A voice in her mind repeated; cling to those good memories, the ones you love, the ones that do not hurt you.

When Gin almost figured out on the spot exactly what she was, Salome felt a shiver go up her spine, she wanted to yell out no, but she didn't want to give away that she'd been listening the whole time, besides he seemed to cut himself short, though she wondered if she should be relieved just yet. Matthias meanwhile had quickly come to the same conclusion, however he could not confirm or deny it without Salome's admission, all except for that trinket around her neck. There was another, suicidal way of finding out, after all, drinking the blood of a royal from Lithquinn more or less equated to drinking Sanctified water, except ten times worse.

Asking Gin for a little blood was out of the question too. The longevity of a species meant to live for a greater deal of time was like poison to Vampires. A strange contradiction considering they could live indefinitely on the blood of others, but they weren't actually alive, so the powerful life force of an elf was nigh-on poisonous. He would have to suffice with what little power remained until he could find a worthwhile victim.

Salome looked over her shoulder sharply when Gin approached, gasping slightly, after all, she had only just stood up, revealing not only her petite figure, but another feature, her lengthy red tail that swiftly took to tucking itself under her whilst she hugged her chest,
"H-hey!" She started before Matthias pulled Gin around and faced him away,
"Good grief, boy, be patient," He chastised the young man with a smirk, "But at least you're well intentioned," He complimented. Matthias reached over his own shoulders, grasping the red cloak that hung from his armor, yet as he pulled it away, it seemed to metamorph, taking on a new shape, twisting in the middle slightly and growing arms, the front seaming itself close. It had become a makeshift red dress at roughly the girl's size. He placed his hand over his eyes and turned towards Salome, holding out the cloak-turned dress with a smile,
"This should suffice over those rags, Young Salome, for the time being at least. The material should be light, there's not as much available however.." He held back the fact that the cloak represented his power visually, the fact that it was light and only capable of taking on the shape of a dress for Salome meant that he only had so much energy to give. If he and Gin were to come to blows, he would have lost.

She took the dress and slipped it on quickly, the left side of the skirt was split, at least her movement wouldn't be too restricted, though with no shoes she would have to be careful where she walked. The girl used the sleeves to dry her hair but worried not for the rest. However after a moment she reached to the back of it, just above her rump,
"Uhm.. M-mister Matthias.. C-can I have a hole for my tail..?" She asked, Matthias removed his hand and smiled,
"Of course, Young Salome." He responded, the dress shifted, opening the requested hole, her tail lifted in the dress and threaded through, the cat-tail flicked and twisted a few times before settling behind her. She allowed it to move freely before staring at the both, but then more directly at Matthias again,
"S-so like Mr. Gin asked, there's a true way out?" She asked and the Vampire smiled,
"Indeed, we'll leave that way," He replied, staring up into the ruins, at the stairs leading up from where they stood. He confidently strode towards and up the stairs, the metallic boots making a surprising lack of sound on the slab-stone flooring as the runes within the ancient palace lit up with their passing. The vampire didn't pay much mind to the fact that the lights following them were centered on him, simply walking up and along the hallway that soon followed.

The hallway led to yet another grand hall, stairs led off to the side and into a helical path leading to the top of the ruins interior, pillars at various intervals kept it all in place whilst the very bottom of it where they stood had an almost arena-like feel to it with a grand set of doors at the far back, however Matthias looked up as they walked. There were explosions above, magical combat, there were mages involved, not the mention the traps that awaited them would no doubt be dangerous enough. Salome stayed close to Gin, gripping her arms around one of his as she looked up too, her tail drawing closer to herself and wrapping itself around her leg as she quivered in slight fear,
"No need to fear, they wont have to time." Matthias smirked, quite sure of himself, with good reason, not that he wanted to admit how he knew this. He waited for Salome and Gin to approach the door, holding his right hand out towards it,
"If you will, Young Salome, try to open this door, I'm sure you have it within you."

Salome stared at Matthias in a confused fashion before looking at Gin for confirmation,
"Wh-what does he mean..?"

Oops! Perhaps Gin had forgotten about the nudity of the female washing in the water he previously heated. Funny how such a thing could so easily slip the mind, but it was clear the tundra elf wanted to do more than just stand around. As safe as this place appeared, he knew better than to trust what the eyes could see. Often times, eyes lied. Nose and ears, they spoke truths to him. He could hear the hellish wrath of the prison guards. He could hear the cries of those who lose loved ones to his... explosive decisions. He winced at that and scolded himself for being so reckless. There were always better ways and he didn't heed his own morals.

As the vampire removed his cloak and created a dress, Gin found himself smirking. Fancy that, the guy's a seamstress, he noted internally. There was no point in riling the male over such a tease. Besides, he didn't know how Salome would take to such mockery. Right now, or at least based on how she seemed so naive and doll-like, he didn't want to give the woman any doubt.

With her request completed, Gin looked down at the woman with kitten features. Just how old was she and how long has seen be in there? To have forgotten all this and to lose her voice? Well, things were starting to make sense. A bit.

Upon her request to leave, Mathias complied. He lead them up and up, until they were in a room that seemed to have odd ceiling and visions. Gin wasn't sure if it were real or laced with illusion, so he kept his slate clean and clear. Often times he heard rumors of how magic bewitches the weak-minded who prey on false realities. He had no desire to be sucked into magic. Besides, there was something about this magic that rubbed him the wrong way. He was more about the magic of life rather than destruction. Of course, this made him smirk. Was he not using fire? Was that not destructive?

A gentle touch came to his hand and Gin allowed it to happen. Holding Salome's hand, he hoped it would ease the woman's worries. Walking on, much slower due to the gawking and fear, the trio eventually landed before a door. As Matthias spoke, Salome turned a curious face to the elf. She was confused, as was he. But knowing that he was who she put her faith in, Gin decided to walk himself through what the vampire requested.

So that he no longer towered over him, Gin dropped to a knee and rest his hands on each side of her petite frame. Smile on his face and hope in his eyes, he beamed up at the young miss. His hand of fire warmed the arm he touched, not so that it burned, but so that it gave her a warm, cozy feeling (assuming she still was without feeling).

"Only those of true heart and courage may make this door open. As Matthias is of-"

He needed a good word. What word, what word. Vampire. Darkness. Hell. Nope, those wouldn't do! Royalty, psh yeah right. Kindness. Chivalry? Ah, ha! That's it!

"Of noble kindness, and I, of a sacred race, both of us can enter the door. To ensure you will go unscathed, erm unharmed, we want to have you unlock the door. When you do as such, think of happiness and the future you wish to see bestowed upon the world." He gave her a light squeeze. "Just think happy thoughts and smile. It's really easy! And," Gin was grasping at straws now, "and whoever has the biggest smile gets to the winner!"

Was it enough to get the girl to open the door? He sure hoped so!

Salome stared quietly at Gin, watching him lower to a knee at first, her eyes watching his hands as he placed them on her shoulders. Then she stared at him again as he spoke. His first words alone made her stay so still and breathless that he had time to finish before she eventually breathed in softly. Matthias was standing off from them, staring in a similar, yet more dumbfounded way at Gin before having to cover his mouth, he was almost laughing, though he managed to keep it in, even biting down on his knuckle, eyes shut tight as he reflexively held in his laughter, trying not to break the strange illusion Gin was trying to cast.

Of course it was pointless as Salome's ears flickered faintly and she tilted her head, smiling nervously,
"That.. Sounded.. Really weird, Mister Gin.." Her ears pulled back a little as if afraid of repercussions, but also in instinctive reaction as a loud noise came from behind her. The loud noise in question? Matthias bursting out loud with laughter, even the girl had identified how asinine his phrasing was, what had he been thinking? She turned her head alittle, her tail swaying behind her softly for the moment before she smiled at Gin, "I-it's okay if you don't really know how to open the door.. I-I was just.. Hoping you might have an idea what Mister Matthias meant.."

She reached up with her hands to his warmer hand, though she couldn't really feel much of that warmth, the girl turned softly still holding on to his hand and watched Matthias as the armored vampire knight continued to laugh. The strength of his voice seemed to carry up the spiraled stairs of the room and made an ominous rumbling,
"M-mister Matthias, what did you mean.. Exactly..?" She asked, the Vampire managing to control himself after a moment, still grinning,
"Ahem.. The ancients used magic linked to desire and emotional state. Some believe an event that caused despair or great rage saw them vanish as a result. I suspect you have some of the remaining bloodline in your vein, this door will respond to your desire and open."

The girl stared at the door then looked at her hand. She felt as if she understood what he had been talking about, there was certainly no time like the present to try it as she eventually let go of Gin's hand. Approaching the doorway with tentative steps, meanwhile Matthias stood closer to Gin with a broad smirk on his face,
"Of noble kindness.. A sacred race..? Think happy thoughts and smile..? Whoever has the biggest smile gets to be the winner..?" The vampire mocked softly, chuckling to himself again, "Is the world full of raving lunatics just like you, Young Gin? I fear I may risk the grave a second time by dying with laughter.. Not a terrible way to go, I suppose.."

Meanwhile Salome reached her hand up, holding it out to the door, all the while thinking of the desire to leave, to escape. Escape.. That word.. That feeling.. It meant more to her than she realized as her heart trembled with terror, tail dropping. Her ears lowered as the feeling over took her, yet she couldn't identify why. Light spread across her arm, blue streaks of energy dancing through the air and touching the door before it began a beautiful dance of complex mechanisms whirling and twirling, twisting and turning, slipping open and eventually pulling apart from it's center.

The area beyond the door looked more cave-like, yet much of it still seemed carved into place, though there were crystalline structures apparently growing from the floor and walls, sharp, almost needle-like, broken scattered pieces littered the floor, lighting up in a rainbow of faint colors that marked their path, though if Salome were to walk through this place no doubt her bared feet would be cut to ribbons.

The girl's arm dropped, but she didn't move from where she stood as tears streamed down her face, she choked back a sob, raising her arms to wipe her face. She didn't even know why she was crying, but everything inside her was hurting again, her body remembered a terrible pain that she had forgotten. Matthias watched a moment but then nudged Gin forward, giving him a far more solemn stare, he wasn't the comforting type himself, and she seemed attached to Gin regardless.

Sounds really weird. Mister Gin. Those were the two things that were starting to weigh thin on Gin's mind right now. He had to fight his sudden urge to rattle off some witty retort. In fact, he had to fight with himself not to burn the girl who dared mock his genuine gestures and phrasing.

His brow twitched ever so slightly as he rose and step away from her. Oddly silent, he just wore a straight-laced face that was free of expression. There was no point in playing into their antics of mockery. They would only pick him apart until he unleashed his fiery pride upon them. No point in singing his... were they friends? No, more like travel buddies. As far as he was concerned, his ties with them would be cut the second he returned the kid to her parents. That is, assuming her parents were still around.

He cringed. She better have parents. There was no way in hell he was going to raise her. How old was she? She looked sixteen. Maybe fifteen? He supposed she could be older, but she was far too naive and innocent to be above the age of eighteen.

Ruffling his own hair, he looked over to Matthias. As the door opened, the world beyond it came into his view.

There was a sigh of relief. At least it wasn't a giant fire ball or their untimely death. Whatever this speak of a true exit and ancients and magic talk was seemed to be working in their favor. Of course, Gin had his suspicions, but decided not to speculate or make grand comments. It was too soon to reveal that hand.

As the vampire nudged him forward, Gin complied. Though he did have to wonder why he was the 'chosen one' for caring for the young miss. Father's intuition? He sure as hell hoped not! The thought of a kid at this age was beyond him. He would wait until his mid-thirties to think about bringing a kid into this world. Until then, a free bachelor he would remain.

Lightly tickling the woman's ear, he dropped to a squat and took Salome's hands in his own. "You've nothing to fear, Salome. Good ol' Gin is here to guard and protect you. Whatever hurts you now will never hurt you again." Holding her chin for a second, he released his hand and bopped her on the nose. "Just think of me as your knight and you a pretty princess. I'm sure you know the stories of brave knights defending their beautiful princesses. Just think of that and you'll never need to worry or cry again."

He stood now and let his hand dangle beside her hand. If she wished to hold his, she could. If not, he would merely keep it there for future use.

"Now then, my princess," his voice was more serious and forced. Clearly, he was trying to be more knightly. "Where shall we go." Head over his shoulder, he winked at Matthias. All would be fine, he hoped.