❖ As Vulpecula started to heal the guy, he tried to resist and move away from her. She pouted, thinking she was gonna have to hit him before he settled down. He may have been a handsome man, but she tended to get violent when her patients tried to deny her help. It wouldn't be good for him or her, so the fox was pleased she could work how she wanted. "Don't you worry, I'll get you aaaaalllll fixed up. And then...maybe you and I can have a little fun" she winked at him. Rei would pretend to ignore the Celestial Spirit's antics, focusing on the young lady before her. In her distracted state of mind, she neglected to introduce herself properly, but it seemed she was already known? Well that was fair, considering she knew who the girl was already before hearing her name. Of course, the councilwoman made it her business to know of the mages in the legal guilds. Whenever a wizard joined a guild, they were "registered in the system", a system Rei spent a good deal of time studying and maintaining with her assistant's help.
Octavia would go on to tell her about the Dark Mage, Raine Valentine, a prominent member of Siren Curse by the sound of it. Mention of his split personality had piqued her curiosity, wondering if it was more than that. She had noticed something strange about the man in his fight with the "guild master". In any case, the brunette seemed to be well acquainted with him to know so much about the guy. For her sake and Sabertooth, the older woman hoped it was nothing more than that. Did this warrant an investigation? She pondered this with eyes closed, listening to the young wizard continue to defend the criminal, shortly after he spat his disapproval of prison. Personally requesting an execution, it was a bit much, wasn't it? This girl was going well out of her way to defend an acquaintance...she couldn't help but feel there was more to it than that. The woman held off on any comments, truly listening, thinking and deciding what to do. There was a brief moment of quiet until Octavia spoke again and broke her silence. "H-huh?! A fan?" she looked at her, eyes wide and a slight blush on her cheeks. She saw her as a role model? Wait, this was all so sudden for her! There were people who looked up to her! It was a strange but humbling feeling for her. The blush would only burn brighter as she thought about it. "I-I see! I'm flattered, really! And I'm glad I happen to inspire you" she smiled.
Just then, her assistant would finally catch up, panting and wheezing. "Miss Rei! *huff* Miss...Rei! *puff* Hold on..." Bethany would hold her knees, doing her best to catch her breath. "Ah, there you are Bethany. Miss Kane, this is my assistant, Bethany Langdon. Bethany, this is Octavia Kane from Sabertooth" she would introduce the two to each other. Adjusting her spectacles and standing up straight, the woman held out her hand to shake with a smile. Once they greeted each other, Rei would pull her assistant aside to give her detailed instructions. The aide would go right to work, pulling out her Archive and furiously tapping away while her boss went back to Octavia. "Sorry about that. Now, Miss Kane... The Magic Council must imprison any and all Dark Mages for their abuse of Magic and endangering the lives of others. It's the law" she would explain. It probably wasn't the answer she wanted to hear, but that was how the system worked. "...That said...I too wish to do something about these Dark Mages. For too long we've been locking them away with no recourse. How then, are they suppose to improve? There must be some sort of rehabilitation. For those who need it, don't they deserve a second chance?" she asked, curious what the girl would input. "Now on the issue of your 'acquaintance', I will have to detain him. He won't be going to prison, so long as he cooperates. As a member of Siren Curse, I have several questions for him" Rei stated firmly, shifting her gaze to the man on the ground. Vulpecula would sigh, raising her hands as her fire finished last touches to his injury. She would then proceed to give him an examination, much like a doctor would, such as getting him to turn his head or raise his other arm. "Oh! ...Is that all you?" the spirit asked with a playful smile, touching his chest. "...I apologize for her behavior" Rei groaned to herself, shaking her head.
Raine huffed at Octavia. She was rig but he wasn't about to admit it.
Vulpecula was unbearably cheerful and he felt like he was dealing with a flirty nurse. She was pretty but he drew the line at humans, plus she was associated with higher-ups in the legal system. Instead he grumbled and turned his gaze away."I'm not worried. I'm p*ssed off that I'm having to rely on the likes of all of you in order to get out of here alive,"he said, unable to shake the deep shame he felt,"Besides, what the hell kind of fun could I possibly have with the spirit of a councilwoman? Go flirt with someone who cares,"he frowned. He couldn't lash out physically so he'd go for the less effective route of unappreciative remarks. A short way away, Raine could overhear the two celestial wizards talking to each other. It was quite obvious who the subject was by the way they occasionally glanced at him and the hushed tone Octavia was using. He glowered at her, daring her to repeat what he'd told her in a half-conscious state one time. The silly girl couldn't keep her mouth shut. She was so desperate to help people that she didn't even realise how infuriating it was for someone like him. What really irked him was the councilwoman's reference to him as being an 'acquaintance' of the Sabertooth mage."Acquaintance? Really? Try annoyance!"he snapped,"She's from Sabertooth. I don't want to be acquainted, I want her to leave me alone. It's like she's some kind of stalker!"What impression was Octavia giving this woman?! His anger was building. He wanted to launch himself at her and keep her quiet for good. He tried to pull himself up but stopped,"Wait, I'm... I'm not going to jail?"he murmured to himself. Perhaps he should keep his own mouth shut for the time being. He didn't have much care for his guild when it came to unity. He had no friends, rarely made acquaintances unless he needed something and if he could have survived comfortably on his own without the good money job brough in he probably would have stayed independent. Questions wouldn't likely be difficult to answer. The rehabilitation however... he wasn't so keen on that idea. What on earth did these light mages think they could do for him? A 12-step programme to good behaviour? Not likely! He heard the fox spirit next to him sigh loudly. She was done already? Raine slowly sat up, wincing. He was bruised and his ribs were still cracked but they'd heal on their own. Rolling his shoulder back and forth and moving his fingers, he was surprised how well Vulpecula had done. It felt like new. He groaned upon being requested to move the rest of his body to see if it was in 'working order'. Being told to move his head, arms, wrists and hands, he indulged the fox simply because he didn't want to verbally thank her. He tensed when he felt her hand on his chest, running her fingers over the solid, scarred muscles and automatically grasped the spirit's wrist,"Yes, it's all me, now hands off the goods, I'm not your plaything!"he growled. The few people still left hanging around spoke among themselves. Mutters of ungrateful actions reached his ears and he released Vulpecula from his harsh grip. The councilwoman's apology surprised him slightly. Why would she care how he was treated? Then again, she seems to have a genuine concern about the treatment of dark wizards as a whole so perhaps that included basic manners as well.
OOC: Bad fox spirit, don't be running your fingers across people's six pack without asking!
MAGIC LIST:
◎◎ Main Magic: Blood magic ◎◎
BASIC SPELLS [These spells have no special requirements] » Blood Armour - the user hardens the blood under their skin to prevent deep wounds. » Pulse - the user creates a sensation in an enemy that their heart rate has sky rocketing, causing a feeling of panic [These spells require the user to have a medium open wound that is leaking blood] » Blood Dome - the user creates a dome of blood around themselves and others that provides protection from incoming attacks. » Blood Shield - the user creates a hardened disk of blood that they use as a shield against attacks. » Blood Trap - the user creates a large sphere of blood around the enemy that traps them inside. » Blood Sword - the user uses their blood to form into the shape of a sword and their forearm and hardens it to the strength of steel. » Blood Claw - the user uses their blood to form claw-like extensions on their fingers and hardens them to the strength of steel. » Blood Slice - the user creates small scythe-shaped blade of hardended blood to fling at the enemy in order to slice their skin. » Blood Bullets - the user levitates hardened droplets of blood to shoot at an enemy. » Capillary Net - the user creates a net using thin strange of blood in a complex intertwined weave [These spells require the enemy to have a small/medium open wound that is leaking blood] » Blood Clot - the user created a clot in the limbs of an enemy, rendering it useless. » Halt - the user stops the bleeding of a wound (can be used on themself as well)
ADVANCED SPELLS [These spells require the user to have a large open wound that is leaking blood] » Banshee - the user creates a swirling mass of blood ribbons around their arm with jagged edges that slice at an opponent » Blood Helix - the user creates a pair of ribbon-like waves of blood that swirl into a double-helix and shoots towards the enemy with sharpened points on the end. » Blood Cyclone - the user forms a cylindrical torrent of blood that is sent hurtling towards an enemy. » Blood Lance - the enemy hardens their blood and shoots it out in spear-like projections. » Blood Spike - the user causes the blood around the open wound burst into hard spikes, making the wound much bigger and causing an incredible amount of pain.
◎◎ Sub Magic: Shadow Magic ◎◎
BASIC SPELLS » Shadow Punch - the user covers their arm in shadows and punches their enemy. » Shadow Kick - the user covers their legs in shadows and kicks their enemy. » Shadow Spiral - the user traps an enemy in a spiral of dark shadows that slowly closes in on them. » Shadow Trap - the user covers the floor in shadows that consumes the lower half of an enemy, gluing them to the spot. » Shadow Tangle - the user summons shadows that wrap around an enemies body to hold them still. » Shadow Pulse - the user swings their arm in any direction, causing a blast of shadows to erupt from the ground in that path of movement.
ADVANCED SPELLS » Shadow Form - the user transforms their body into a shadow which grants them the abilities to move across different surfaces with ease. They are able to transition in and out of this form as they please. » Shadow Bomb - the user forms a ball of shadow energy in their hand before launching it at an enemy where it explodes on impact.
◎◎ Sub Magic: Heaven's Eye ◎◎
BASIC SPELLS » Long Distance Eye - allows the user to see across great distances. » Accurate Eye - boosts the users accuracy. » X-Ray Eye - allows the user to see through solid objects.
◎◎ Sub Magic: Curse [used in etherious form] ◎◎
» Necromancy - the user is able to 'revive' and reanimate the dead and possess them to do their bidding. This curse is only effective for a limited amount of tine.
◎◎ Ultimate Magic Attacks ◎◎
[These spells require the user to be around multiple bleeding or dead bodies] » Blood Rain - the user causes the blood of their enemies to Raine down upon them to replenish some of their magic energy.
[These spells require an open wound of any kind] » Anti-flow - the user comes into contact with the enemies blood and reverses the flow, causing blood vessels and internal organs to explode.
[These spells require the enemy to have a life threatening wound] » Heart Staunch - the user stops the blood flowing to the heart, ultimately killing an enemy.
» Shadow Army - the user summons shadowy forms that can lash out at enemies with tendril-like arms
Pisces the Paired Fish Cancer the Crab Perseus the Warrior Andromeda the Chained Lady Orion the Hunter Draco the Dragon Lupus the Wolf Phoenix the Fire Bird
☆Celestial Wizard☆Heavenly Body☆Maguilty Sense☆ ☆18☆Sabertooth☆ ★Location:Domus Flau★ ★Company:Raine, Rei, Bethany & Vulpecula★ ★Thoughts:"I might actually be able to save him."★ ✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯
Octavia visibly cringed. Raine was unbelievably rude. All Vulpecula was doing was healing and it wasn't even something small - it was his whole arm! Not an ounce of gratitude was on his face. He didn't even appreciate the playful flirting of the fox spirit. Though she dreaded to think what kind of things Raine would have considered 'fun'. Creepy. Her heart pounded when Rei began to blush over Octavia's clear admiration. She was so glad she hadn't come across as a weird fan girl,"Y-yeah, of course,"she said, speaking as though in disbelief that Rei didn't realise how popular she was,"I mean... you're so powerful and you have such a great bond with your spirits. I work on my skills every day to make sure the friendship I have with mine is always strong. And your sub magics are just as amazing. I even tried to use paper blizzard magic once but it backfired and I accidentally bound myself with Violet Dance for an hour,"she said, suddenly gasping,"I don't know why I told you that! That's so embarrassing. Please forget I said it,"she hid her face in her hands. Octavia gave Bethany her trademark beaming smile and returned her offer of a handshake,"It's nice to meet you! You must have the best job ever being an assistant for Miss Mikaboshi,"she said with an almost dreamy tone before snapping back to reality to listen to the older woman's words. She nodded solemnly,"I understand he needs to be dealt with,"she said. She wondered if Rei knew much about the blood mage. Admittedly, the only reason Octavia knew so much is because she'd sneakily coaxed it out of him while he was semi-conscious after being beaten to a pulp but what she did know was that he was an outright murderer. Or at least his 'other side' was. The celestial wizard was surprised that Rei wanted to know her opinion on the situation with dark wizards and how they were being dealt with currently. Did it matter what a mere A-class thought?"Well, I... I don't know. I guess maybe someone could put together a rehabilitation programme. I've thought about this before and I always wondered if you were to place a dark wizard under the supervision of a legal guild member powerful enough to keep them under control, they could show that person how much better it is to be a part of something good,"she suggested sheepishly,"I mean, none of them really know what they're opposing unless they see it for themselves, right? I think some minds can be changed. No one is inherently evil,"She continued, hoping that she wouldn't be seen as a delusional well-wisher who was daydreaming of an ideal world. She was horrified by Raine's accusations. How could he say that about her in front of her idol?!"I'm not a stalker, you jerk!"she exclaiming, panicking ,"Honestly, Miss Mikaboshi, I promise I'm not a stalker. Every time I've seen him it's coincidence, I swear!"She was so angry she wanted to go and break the blood mage's other arm but she put a lid on her temper and ignored him,"I know what you might be thinking but I promise there's nothing going on between us. I didn't even know he was part of a dark guild when I met him because he was unconscious in the street after picking a fight with some wizards from another guild. My spirits dragged him to a hotel room and I patched him up,"she recalled, remembering the bad shape he was in. Thought the injuries he had were nothing compared to losing an arm. She moved closer to Rei to speak more softly"The reason I'm concerned is because I think he's suffered a lot already. I don't know if it's my place to say anything but I'm pretty sure he has a history of being held prisoner. I know he has to cut himself to use his magic but he's covered in scars that are all at weird angles, as if someone else did them. And he talked in his sleep when I treated him and it... it gave me chills just hearing one side of whatever was happening to him in that dream,"she said sadly. She was set on getting the dark wizard help. She didn't want to mention finding him near a pile of dead bodies, covered in blood or when he attacked her for asking about why he was talking to himself in the bathroom of the hotel, begging someone unknown to leave him alone. Nor did she want to mention the weird change in voices he had when he held her against a wall with his hand around her neck. No. The sheer relief on his face upon hearing he wasn't going straight to prison gave her too much determination.
✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯✯ OOC:
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WhoGivesAFox
Youko Kenshi
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Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2018 9:33 am
❖ Rei listened to the girl's suggestion, interested in the girl's opinion on rehabilitation. Putting them under the guidance of a legal mage? Would that work? It seemed risky; especially considering the nature of most dark mages. A good many of them also started as legal mages before following the darker path. It was solution that might not work for most dark mages, but Octavia might have had the inkling of an idea. She definitely gave the councilwoman an issue to think about in the future. There was definitely something about this Raine to make a young girl believe he was worth saving. But she also had a few doubts, having seen his demeanor while fighting. In her questioning, she would discover the truth and then some. He could become a great asset in cornering Siren Curse, granted he was willing to comply. Going by how the girl spoke of him, despite her proclamations, it seemed he was a person she cared a great deal for. Rei would briefly put her hand on the girl's shoulder, hoping to put her concerns at ease. "It's okay, Miss Kane. I believe your intentions bare no ill will. I'm putting my faith in you that you're telling me the truth" she warmly smiled at the girl. Octavia didn't need to worry about being an accomplice to a dark guild; from their short conversation, the dark haired woman determined her to be good at heart.
Vulpecula gasped as Raine grabbed her wrist and looked at him in shock and awe. Then that awe would turn into a coy smile as she leaned in closer to the male. Her tail swished back and forth behind her; the fox's gaze looking into the redhead's. "Ooooh~! So feisty...and rough! I see, you prefer to have a pla-""Thank you, Vulpecula. That's enough" Rei intervened, holding her palm out to the Spirit. The celestial fox pouted as her gate was suddenly closed, sending her back home. Shortly afterwards, a group of Rune Knights would appear, having been called by Bethany. The Chairwoman nodded to them before approaching Raine to speak directly to him. "Listen well, Raine Valentine. These men will escort you and I suggest you behave. If you even dare to escape, you will go to prison. Do not mistake my lenience for weakness." With her warning, she spoke sternly and clearly to make sure he understood. Despite her actions thus far, she truly could not tolerate dark mages; those who abused the laws of magic to harm others. If they could be converted, it was a venture worth exploring all things considered. Dark times were upon them with more and more dark mages appearing over the years at an exponential rate.
After delivering her warning to the man, the Rune Knights would move in on command to restrain him. Rei took a step back where she would be greeted by her assistant, still tapping away on her Archive. "I've made known the damages to the coliseum caused by... 'That Man'. Repairs will be underway as soon as possible. Should I fine the repair charges to Fairy Tail...again?" she asked. "That remains to be seen. I'm going to follow our 'guild master' and question him. Can you handle the rest here?" Her assistant would reply with a Yes Ma'am and a salute, taking charge of the Rune Knights to get Raine to his feet and moving. They would be taking him to the Crocus Council Building where he'd be questioned by the Chairwoman later. As for the lady, once more she looked to Octavia and nodded to her, holding out her hand to shake. "It was a pleasure meeting you, Miss Kane. I wish you well in your studies to being a great wizard. Sadly, I have a prior engagement with the man who was just here. I would like to prevent such events from happening again, if at all possible. I bid you farewell, until next time."
Rei would then turn and summon another Celestial Spirit, this one being a wolf with bright pink fur. "Canes Venatici, I'm looking for a large man who was just here. Can you take me to him?" The wolf huffed and proceeded to sniff around. With the canine's eyes glowing, she could see the man in question and the path he had taken. "Yeah, I got 'em. Follow me!" Venatici took off in the same direction with Rei proceeding as well. However she would stop, almost forgetting to tell Octavia one last thing. "In the future with Paper Blizzard, try starting with only a few sheets of paper and work your way up. I found that origami can help too" she suggested, holding out her hand and flying a paper swan to the young wizard. Octavia had a bright future ahead of her as a mage and it was futures like hers that the Magic Council had a duty to protect. Who knew? Perhaps one day, she too would seek to join the council and fulfill the same role. Should that day ever come, Rei would remain hard at work keeping order to the balance of Magic. "HEY! You coming or what?!" Venatici barked, having stopped just at the exit. "Yes, I'm coming! Let's be off!"
It appeared that the fox spirit was not easily discouraged from her flirtatious ways and Raine was relieved when the councilwoman forced Vulpecula's gate shut,"Good riddance to that one,"he grumbled. Shortly after, the blood mage found himself surrounded by Rune Knights. needless to say he wasn't a fan. He'd evaded them numerous times before and on one occasion barged his way through a group of trainees, leaving most of them severely injured. He vaguely hoped none of those individuals were currently here or he might not be treated in a way he could deal with without getting violent. His stare was unwavering as the councilwoman that Octavia was gushing over spoke to him,"Wouldn't dream of it,"he said with a begrudged tone, still refusing to thank her for the opportunity to take another route besides prison. Ordered to get to his feet, Raine attempted to pull himself up but stumbled,"Damn it,"he muttered, holding his side and trying more carefully to stand. He immediately found his wrists bound in magic-nullifying cuffs and roughly grasped on both arms. He hissed in pain as he walked quicker than his body wanted him to. As he passed by Octavia, a lingering question was too much for his curiosity,"Wait,"he requested, stopping beside the small girl. He leaned down to her eye level, his golden orbs glaring into her emerald irises as if trying to burn into her soul"Why?"he asked,"Why help me after what I did? After all I've done..."He couldn't fathom the reason and he wanted to know. But he wasn't sure he'd get an answer before he was dragged away to be carted to wherever he was bound for.
BASIC SPELLS [These spells have no special requirements] » Blood Armour - the user hardens the blood under their skin to prevent deep wounds. » Pulse - the user creates a sensation in an enemy that their heart rate has sky rocketing, causing a feeling of panic [These spells require the user to have a medium open wound that is leaking blood] » Blood Dome - the user creates a dome of blood around themselves and others that provides protection from incoming attacks. » Blood Shield - the user creates a hardened disk of blood that they use as a shield against attacks. » Blood Trap - the user creates a large sphere of blood around the enemy that traps them inside. » Blood Sword - the user uses their blood to form into the shape of a sword and their forearm and hardens it to the strength of steel. » Blood Claw - the user uses their blood to form claw-like extensions on their fingers and hardens them to the strength of steel. » Blood Slice - the user creates small scythe-shaped blade of hardended blood to fling at the enemy in order to slice their skin. » Blood Bullets - the user levitates hardened droplets of blood to shoot at an enemy. » Capillary Net - the user creates a net using thin strange of blood in a complex intertwined weave [These spells require the enemy to have a small/medium open wound that is leaking blood] » Blood Clot - the user created a clot in the limbs of an enemy, rendering it useless. » Halt - the user stops the bleeding of a wound (can be used on themself as well)
ADVANCED SPELLS [These spells require the user to have a large open wound that is leaking blood] » Banshee - the user creates a swirling mass of blood ribbons around their arm with jagged edges that slice at an opponent » Blood Helix - the user creates a pair of ribbon-like waves of blood that swirl into a double-helix and shoots towards the enemy with sharpened points on the end. » Blood Cyclone - the user forms a cylindrical torrent of blood that is sent hurtling towards an enemy. » Blood Lance - the enemy hardens their blood and shoots it out in spear-like projections. » Blood Spike - the user causes the blood around the open wound burst into hard spikes, making the wound much bigger and causing an incredible amount of pain.
◎◎ Sub Magic: Shadow Magic ◎◎
BASIC SPELLS » Shadow Punch - the user covers their arm in shadows and punches their enemy. » Shadow Kick - the user covers their legs in shadows and kicks their enemy. » Shadow Spiral - the user traps an enemy in a spiral of dark shadows that slowly closes in on them. » Shadow Trap - the user covers the floor in shadows that consumes the lower half of an enemy, gluing them to the spot. » Shadow Tangle - the user summons shadows that wrap around an enemies body to hold them still. » Shadow Pulse - the user swings their arm in any direction, causing a blast of shadows to erupt from the ground in that path of movement.
ADVANCED SPELLS » Shadow Form - the user transforms their body into a shadow which grants them the abilities to move across different surfaces with ease. They are able to transition in and out of this form as they please. » Shadow Bomb - the user forms a ball of shadow energy in their hand before launching it at an enemy where it explodes on impact.
◎◎ Sub Magic: Heaven's Eye ◎◎
BASIC SPELLS » Long Distance Eye - allows the user to see across great distances. » Accurate Eye - boosts the users accuracy. » X-Ray Eye - allows the user to see through solid objects.
◎◎ Sub Magic: Curse [used in etherious form] ◎◎
» Necromancy - the user is able to 'revive' and reanimate the dead and possess them to do their bidding. This curse is only effective for a limited amount of tine.
◎◎ Ultimate Magic Attacks ◎◎
[These spells require the user to be around multiple bleeding or dead bodies] » Blood Rain - the user causes the blood of their enemies to Raine down upon them to replenish some of their magic energy.
[These spells require an open wound of any kind] » Anti-flow - the user comes into contact with the enemies blood and reverses the flow, causing blood vessels and internal organs to explode.
[These spells require the enemy to have a life threatening wound] » Heart Staunch - the user stops the blood flowing to the heart, ultimately killing an enemy.
» Shadow Army - the user summons shadowy forms that can lash out at enemies with tendril-like arms
Pisces the Paired Fish Cancer the Crab Perseus the Warrior Andromeda the Chained Lady Orion the Hunter Draco the Dragon Lupus the Wolf Phoenix the Fire Bird
Octavia was relieved that Rei hadn't misunderstood her relationship, or indeed lack of one, with the blood mage. Raine was handsome but not worth giving up her reputation for even at a push. Dark was dark after all."Oh good! And I am being truthful, I promise, I could never lie to you,"she said with a smile. Overhearing the situation between Raine and Vulpecula, the young celestial wizard couldn't help but be slightly worried. Did the spirit have no sense of danger being that close to him? Though, admittedly she was surprised that Raine turned down someone so pretty. But she supposed this was hardly the time to be planning dates when he was about to be taken into custody. She giggled as the spirit was sent away. Octavia was used to her own spirits being mischievous and inappropriate and she was glad she wasn't alone in that struggle. Hoping her palms weren't sweating from nervousness, Octavia accepted Rei's offer of a handshake gladly,"It was great to meet you too! I can't tell you how amazing it is to actually get to see you in person!"she beamed,"I understand you have a busy schedule. That man owes Raine an apology as well. Dark or not, he didn't deserve to have his arm ripped off,"she frowned. The young celestial wizard stared in awe at the wolf that appeared upon the councilwoman's command. She had to restrain herself from reaching out to touch its soft pink fur. She could have jumped for joy and squealed with happiness as the origami swan landing in her hands."Thank you, I'll remember that!"she said, almost unable to contain herself. The Rune Knights seemed to appear out of nowhere, surrounding Raine. Was it really necessary to have so many of them? He was severely weakened, hardly a threat. She cringed as he stumbled. She wanted to go and help him stand but she was sure that was the last thing he needed. The guards roughly pulled him towards the exit but allowed him to stop beside Octavia. She shuddered as his breath tickled her skin, asking her why. Why did she help him? She wasn't really sure what he hoped to hear from her but the truth is what she would offer,"Because... I think you deserve another chance after what you've been through. As for what you did, I don't blame you for attacking me. I know it wasn't you, not really,"she glanced at him,"I'm convinced you can do better. I refuse to write you off as a lost cause. Not only that, but I couldn't bear the look in your eyes at the thought of going to prison."Octavia moved her hand to brush aside a few red strands of hair that had gone astray,"I hope the next time we see each other, it will be a more positive experience,"she uttered. Once the Rune Knights marched away with Raine in tow, people began to filter out of the arena, still muttering about the events that had occurred. Where should she go now? She didn't really feel like sparring, the blood on the ground was too distracting. She sighed and slowly walked out. Maybe she could find something or someone that would help take her mind off of things.
The sun hovered near the horizon. Its mid-morning rays cast a warm light over the city of Crocus. They spread over the structures and roads of the city, stretching even unto the western mountains, alighting upon the large imposing structure of Domus Flau. The place where all mages went to participate in the Grand Magic Games. A place typically filled with cheers of excitement, grunts and shouts of exertion. Except for at the moment. With the Grand Magic Games still months away, the gray stone coliseum sat unused and empty. Only those individuals with express permission from the royal family of Fiore could hope to enter it. One such person stood at its gates, taking in the grand sight. “It’s every bit as impressive as I imagined it to be,” Mizuki whispered to no one in particular. She stood alone this day. Her newfound friend, the princess of Fiore, could not come with her to the area. The Eridani princess made not to pry into the discussion between Chloe and the Rune Knight, overhearing small bits here and there as she had explored the nearest rooms of Mercurius. It seemed as if the king required her attention for the day which left Mizuki to her own devices. After a short debate, with some input from her friend of course, she decided to ask after permission to explore Domus Flau. A once in a lifetime opportunity to visit without the deluge of crowds could not be passed over. Thus, she found herself on the cusp of entry. Missive from the royal family tucked securely in the pouch on her hip. Where to start? Perhaps a circuit around the perimeter first or straight to the arena? There was little argument to be made. The central most point of the coliseum was where she could truly experience the vast size of the place. Wishing to waste no time in her explorations, the teenager strode through the impressive doorway. Two Rune Knights promptly called her to a halt inside the lobby. A swift display of the letter given to her, however, left her with no concerns. She was given free reign of the coliseum for the as long as she desired. First, the arena!
As the young wizard explored the area, eventually she would stumble upon a small market area, selling any of a vast assortment of magical tools, weapons, armor, and baubles. One such salesperson had even negotiated use of an enclosed room in the shopping area, likely at great expense. The sign read:
Boggern and Brots Potions, Wards, Talismans, Keys, and Runes (No Love Potions!!)
Visible inside via the only window, sat behind a counter was a young man with slicked back, black hair in rather frumpy, informal clothing. He seemed comfortable, but bored.
Mizuki was correct in her assumption of how impressive the arena truly was. Its sheer size made her jaw drop in wonderment. Before entering, she could only have guessed at how vast it was based on its appearance from the outside. She had no real inkling of its true stature until stepping foot inside. While the outer portion hinted at the grandeur, it did not remotely convey the presence held within. The teenager had spent longer than she would have thought merely exploring the arena. By the time she finished, her legs ached from the exuberant hither and thither. Yet she was not done reconnoitering. Her initial circuit simply provided her a better idea of what Domus Flau kept behind its walls. Now was the time to act upon what she had observed of the coliseum. Shops of all sorts lined the outer edges of the space. From souvenirs to weapons, Domus Flau had a bit of everything for the few patrons who trickled through the hallways and byways. This time of year saw fewer visitors at the coliseum than others. Partly due to the restricted access but mostly due to the fact the Grand Magic Games were not in effect. Mizuki imagined these same halls with the odd tourist or two were filled to the brim during the weeks leading up to and following the games. The mostly empty storefronts would be bustling with a brisk business.
She held no doubt that the shops would more than compensate for their lack of sales the rest of the year. Their varied trinkets and wares were quite intriguing, to say the least. Mizuki intended to visit every shop she could before departing. Her twin siblings might enjoy a souvenir or two for their birthday. But where to begin? After perusing the different sections, one shop drew the princess’s attention from the others. It was on the smaller side but the only one which sat sequestered from the others, giving it the appearance of a proper shopfront. Teal orbs trailed up to the sign residing overheard. Dark with golden lettering, it read “Boggern and Brots: Potions, Wards, Talismans, Keys, and Runes.” The word “key” is what gave Mizuki pause. She had yet to garner the experience of purchasing a key from a market. All those she currently owned were either gifted to her or discovered of her own accord. The young girl often wondered what sorts of keys could be found in the marketplaces and shops of Fiore. Now, so it seemed, the perfect opportunity to have her curiosity satisfied presented itself. With a smile edging at her lips, she strode over to the quaint shop and slipped inside. “Hello,” Mizuki cheerfully greeted the man at the counter. Her eyes roved over the assortment of flasks and vials, of books and cards, and the many other items adorning the shelves and cases. I wonder where the keys might be? She had yet to spot the distinctive objects which so piqued her interest. “Excuse me,” she turned to the clerk once more. “Where do you display the keys?”
When the young blue haired girl walked in, the young man behind the counter quickly shifted gears from bored employee to attentive, focused, knowledgeable shopkeep with the speed and surety of someone who'd spent a few years in the service industry. "Welcome to Boggern and Brots!" He waited patiently for the girl to make a round of the store, watching her idly out of the corner of his eye: careful as only a minimum wage worker can be to not stare rudely or expectantly. When she asked about the keys, the boy's eyes lit up. "Ooooohhhhh... a discerning customer, are we? We keep them in the back to deter thieves. Would you be so kind as to wait here while I go get them from the safe? Oh, first, may I ask what level of keys you might be looking for? I have to be frank, they can be rather... expensive once you get to the stronger ones."
She moved closer to the counter. The shop was so peaceful and quiet that the princess felt her normal tone carried loudly about the room. “Of course,” Mizuki inclined her head in assent. “Keys are difficult to find. I don’t doubt thieves would gladly steal them if given the chance.” The corners of her mouth curved up in a knowing smile. This shop’s owner was well versed in protecting his inventory. Keeping the keys locked in a secured location was quite wise. “Hmm,” the Eridani teenager tilted her head back, staring up at the ceiling, deep in thought. There were many types of keys. Some stronger than others. Some rarer. Yet what the clerk stated about prices stood out foremost in her mind. While she was not inherently poor, she did not wish to delve into the allowances afforded to her by her parents. She also did not desire to spend the entirety of her earnings on a solitary key. “Would it be possible to see them all please? I have never bought a key before, so I’d like to make a good purchase. It will be easier for me to make a decision when I’ve seen them.” The young girl decided against setting a specific price range. It was the perfect opportunity to study their market value and form a base comparison for her next procurement. “But I am partial to gold or jade,” she added as an afterthought, wanting to make his job easier if possible. Those two sorts would be the ones she examined most. Of the keys she owned, silver were the majority of her collection, in addition to the one gold and one jade keys she possessed. She would be satisfied if she could leave the shop with a second of either.
When Mizuki spoke up about wanting Gold or Jade keys, the young man's eyes lit up with what could only be called glee. He fumbled with the key ring at his waist, pulling at a few feebly. "I-I-I-I've never met a mage who could use those! I've got a little bit of skill... b-b-b-but I can only use a single Silver at a time..." The boy excitedly pulled three keys from the ring: Corvus the Crow, Columba the Dove, and Grus the Crane. He seemed excited to the point of jitteryness, his hand shaking mildly. "I-I-I'm n-not supposed to do this b-b-b-but I'll give you a discount if you would pretty please show me your keys and maybe even summon one for me? Plllleeeeaaassseee?"
Mizuki blinked, taken aback by the sudden request. She had grown accustomed to people asking after her keys, desiring to ogle them, but she had never received the request to perform her magic. Even little children whom she encountered were more than delighted with simply getting to see and sometimes handle them. “I—,” the princess hesitated. It seemed silly to perform feats of magic at the behest of another. Yet it felt impolite to deny such a simple thing. Her indecisiveness was made all the more difficult by the fervency in the clerk’s demeanor. His eyes were wide as he begged a demonstration from her. Even going so far as to offer a discount. “Well, I don’t normally employ my magic unless during a job or while I train.” She screwed up her face in contemplation, considering the pros and cons of accepting his bargain. “But—” A discount did sound pleasing. While she may not be in dire straits for Jewel, she never overlooked a decent deal. “I suppose a small demonstration wouldn’t hurt anything. Some of them have been after me lately to stretch their legs a bit.” Mizuki muttered the last as if it were an afterthought.
Reaching to her side, she tugged the small satchel residing there free from its mooring on her belt. She unlatched the flap and tipped the bag slightly, providing him a brief glimpse of the contents. A mixture of silver, gold, and jade gleamed in the lighting. “Let’s see,” the teenager shuffled the keys around. Which one should she call upon for the short exhibition? Meng Zhang? Canis Major or his brother Canis Minor? “Oh! I know.” Her hand closed around a silvery key with a design of the moon embossed at its head. “Open! Gate of the Moon: Tsukuyomi!” There was a loud chime throughout the room followed by a flash of brilliant silvery-white light as she held it aloft. The light faded to reveal the form of a man possessing midnight blue hair and wearing flowing robes of blue and silver. “Hello, Mizuki,” he greeted her formally, though his features held a wide grin. “It has been awhile. I was beginning to think you had forgotten about me.” Mizuki laughed, returning the smile with a sheepish one of her own. “I’m sorry about that. I haven’t had much need to summon anyone lately. I’m certain the others are displeased by it as well.” Tsukuyomi tilted his head, the grin widened further. A signal that she was accurate in her assumptions. His shimmering pale orbs cast about the room, settling on the boy behind the counter. Eyebrows shot up in question as he looked back to the young girl. “He asked if I could demonstrate my magic,” she gestured towards the man. “I saw no reason to say no. While it’s not a fight or job, I thought you might like the chance to drop by.” Mizuki shifted her gaze to the shopkeeper. “This is Tsukuyomi. He’s one of my Silver keys, as well as one of my oldest friends.”
As Mizuki began to waffle between yes and no, the boy lowered his eyes in mild disappointment. When she settled on yes, however, he practically squealed in glee. He watched the blue-haired girl with rapt focus, as if trying to take note from her summoning style. The appearance of the lunar spirit in the room caused the boy to fall backwards onto his butt, still holding his own keys to his chest. "Stars and stones... he's amazing!!! Okay, thirty percent off. Half off if I can s-s-shake h-h-his and your h-h-hands for a second...?" He was well and truly giddy in an obvious way.
Tsukuyomi peered over at his summoner. His brows arched upward inquisitively, the unvoiced question plain. Mizuki merely grinned in turn. “What am I to say? He’s excitable. Maybe due to seeing another Celestial Spirit mage or something along those lines,” she shrugged, uncertain of any other explanation. She admitted that she too had felt a certain excitement upon meeting other wizards capable of the same magic. They were not exactly rare though they were not great in number either. She had, as of yet, not met any capable of communicating with their spirits telepathically as well. It intrigued her to know that, thus far, she was the only Celestial Spirit mage able to enact such a feat. The princess often wondered if this was due in part to her heritage, as had been assumed and iterated by her father on separate occasions. Once more, her curiosity on the matter spiked. It would not be a difficult task to inquire of the clerk, whose keys were clutched to his chest. A tiny voice in the back of Mizuki’s mind warned her of being so cavalier with her information. Although the boy seemed genial enough, there could be hidden dangers in revealing specific details of her connection to the Spirits. She was nothing if not cautious, especially in regards to her upbringing and status. “What do you think?” The bluenette posed the question to Tsukuyomi. The Spirit’s gaze had yet to leave the young male where he sat on the shop floor. “It’s…different. I’ve never received a request to shake another’s hand before. Unless you count children, of course.” She dipped her head imperceptibly in agreement with his silent assessment. While she had received the request once or twice from older individuals, none but the occasional child had encountered her Spirits, let alone touched them. That pleasure was reserved for battles more often than not. “Well, it will be a nice change of pace, right? A far cry from having to fight someone.”“True,” came the affirmation from her fellow. Her mouth curling with a smile, Mizuki at last inclined her head towards the shopkeeper. “I don’t have any problem with that. As long as it won’t cause you any trouble.” The boy had been nothing but proper in his dealings, and she did not wish to see him fired for offering discounts for something as trivial as a summoning and a shake of the hand. She stretched her hand out in front of her, awaiting him to either act on or disavow his offer. Tsukuyomi stood ready to follow suit for whichever action the man took.
