._ Flatsale #1 Entries { Creative Prompt }

[Chronos Legia]

Quote:

Creativity Prompt:
Life is pain, Highness. Anyone who tells you different is selling something.
Prize: Chaotic Good Legian Creation Orb

This is a prompt of a slightly different sort. The situation is entirely your own, except there is one catch -- Aetas has chosen a list of words at random to describe your adventure. You must include each of these words somewhere in your entry. Your legian's personality, as well as creativity and grammar are important in this entry.

The Magic Words:

Ghost, Please, Melon, Slipped, Key, Afraid, Narrow, Marking, Theory, Dead, Disastrous, Bakery, Glass, Silk, Pandemonium, Wiggle, Attack, Suspend, Atmosphere, Periwinkle

Requirements:
1) You must use each of the words provided.
2) You must state what alignment and race your legian is.
3) Please bold each of the special words.
4) You can use any tense of the word, or combine the word with other words.
5) It has to be at least 700 words, but no more than 1,162 words.

tsu 5 e

((okay you crazy kids... have at it))

Seamus and the quest for the Periwinkle Melon Bread of Pandemonium

“It figures, just because I’m a tengu, I’m stuck marking the maps so people can complete this dumb quest to find some bread to help the magi keep control of the kingdom.” Seamus grumbled as he tried to navigate through narrow gaps in the vegetation that threatened to ensnare the scouting group. “Just because our ancestors were different does not mean that I'm not suited for more adventurous missions! Something where the air is heavy with battle cries and I’d give up everything for my lords of chaos. Instead what do they have me do? Mark maps so people after us won’t lose their footing.”

“You can’t be serious, Seamus!” admonished Felicity, the only other tengu that had been aligned with chaotic evil types alongside him. “It would be disastrous for our lord’s plan if the warriors were to fall off course… say over there where the rocks are uneven and loose – and not be heard of again.”

“That’s it!” Seamus exclaimed gleefully. “A chance for us to prove ourselves! First, we lead them astray off the path and they fall to their doom. Next step is to run back to the magi and say that while foraging, they slipped in some of the rotten fruit and fell, drowning in the bottomless pit of forgotten warriors.”

“That’s all well and good in theory, but honestly… how are we supposed to convince a magi that the most skilled warriors just don’t look where they go and end up drowned in a bottomless pit? Besides… how do you fill it with enough water for the warriors to drown if it is a bottomless pit? Seems like there are too many holes in your plan.”

“Remember? Magical kingdom? You have to allow some room to suspend belief somehow.” Seamus retorted at Felicity’s skepticism as they trudged back towards the castle. One way or another I will get the honor of retrieving the Periwinkle Melon Bread of Pandemonium for Aetas. Just as long as I don’t have to see him in his silk sleepwear, he thought, suppressing an inward shudder at the thought of Aetas in his skimpy nighties.

The next day, the plan was set in motion. There was no time to lose as invaders had supposedly started their attack on the other side of the kingdom, doing what they do best. Invading. Oh how Seamus wished to be in the midst of the fray, with his trusty fan and blade at his side, flying through the frenzied battle atmosphere where all the glory lay. However, his path was taking him further and further from that path, and more towards the Bog of the Dead.

“They say that even the bravest warrior can’t help but be afraid in a place like this,” Felicity whispered cautiously to Seamus, “There’s no shame in turning back. I mean… dangerous situations lie out here that adventurers better than us have not been able to wiggle out of. What hope do we have? Can’t someone else get that blue-ish specialty bread of utter chaos?”

“It’s Periwinkle Melon Bread of Pandemonium for the last time!” Seamus huffed, “and if you want to go back empty handed, that’s fine by me. Sure there might not be any shame in returning now, but I can assure you that there will be no honor as well!”

“Fine, fine,” Felicity complied, “but at the first sign of a ghost or anything, I’m turning tail and ditching you to wander around here on your own!”

Hey, at least she’s being truthful about her fear, Seamus thought to himself. In reality he kept moving forward to keep the uncontrollable shaking of his bony legs from being too obvious – and if it wasn’t for the fact that he hadn’t had anything to drink the entire day, there was a good chance his bladder would have dumped out its contents at the most inopportune time. Like right about now, for instance.

Breaking out of one final set of low hanging growth amongst the trees, Seamus and Felicity found themselves face to face with… a small unnamed building on the edge of the shopping district. People were bustling about them as they stared blankly at the glass display case showing the wares to passers by. Surely this is some mistake? A wrong turn somewhere? Seamus pondered as they pushed open the door to the bakery. Still, if this was to be the key for Seamus getting honored by the lords of chaos – not to mention the means to ensure the defeat of the invaders – then it couldn’t hurt to ask, right?

“Please, I beg of you sir,” Seamus was in near tears, “can you tell us where to find the Periwinkle melon bread of Pandemonium?”

The baker turned and looked Seamus squarely in the eyes before asking in a gruff voice, “I take it you’re questing for Aetas this time?”

Slightly taken aback, Felicity cut in, “You mean Aetas has sent others questing for this before us?”

The baker replied, “Oh sure, last month he sent people looking for the Azure Croissant of Divine Destruction and before that, the Ruby Bagel of Longevity. Why he’s promised many a high reward before. What did he promise you? Glory? Riches?”

“Please, sir,” Seamus voice was reaching the peak of patience. “The…”

“…Item you seek is over there. Payments have already been made.” The baker indicated at a barrel – cutting into what Seamus was about to say – and went back to work behind the counter.

Seamus snatched up the item and raced out the shop, barely pausing to shout “Thank you!” and raced all the way back to the castle and the Magi’s room. Knocking on Aetas’ door, Seamus bowed down low and said, “I bring you the Periwinkle melon bread of Pandemonium.”

“Finally!” Aetas, wearing a dainty sundress – the current fashion rage of Legia – looked up from the book he was reading. “I was waiting forever for this! Can’t start my day without these things.”

Seamus watched in horror as Aetas unwrapped the outer layer and began to chew the warm soft bread part. “You mean… you had me risk life and limb, just to run across town for only a breakfast roll?!?” He was beside himself in rage.

“Not just any old breakfast roll,” Aetas corrected, “the best melon bread in all the kingdom, made from scratch daily. I just can’t get anyone to go buy them for me without making up some fancy name – it’s not worth my time to send out minions like that.”

Storming out of the castle gates, Seamus swore that he’d see if he could transfer to the Reus’ command instead. Seamus’ voice could still be echoing through the halls, “Lazy fruity magi, ARRRRGHHH!!!.”

 

[Chronos Legia]

ceedabear

Chronos FS

Creativity Prompt:
Life is pain, Highness. Anyone who tells you different is selling something.
Prize: Chaotic Good Legian Creation Orb
Magic Words: Ghost, Please, Melon, Slipped, Key, Afraid, Narrow, Marking, Theory, Dead, Disastrous, Bakery, Glass, Silk, Pandemonium, Wiggle, Attack, Suspend, Atmosphere, Periwinkle

The order and form the magic words appear: slipped, atmosphere, pandemonium, bakery, periwinkle, wiggling, pleased, melon, ghosting, narrow, suspended, key, silk, disastrous, marking, glass, afraid, dead, attacked, theories
Final word count: 1,115
Alignment: Chaotic Good
Race: Kitsune

Ceedabear

Flicking her pointed ears back and forth in an effort to hear everything at once, Fiala fairly danced on her toes as she slipped through the crowded central courtyard. Everyday the pristine white cobbles were filled to the brim with the myriad of residents of Arris as merchants and consumers alike convened to partake of the chaotic dance of bartering and purchasing goods, needs, and wants. It was her favorite place in all of Arris to haunt. The bustling atmosphere catered to her need for ordered chaos and change, something she lacked in the ever orderly home of her guardian. But today she had no time for lollygagging, though she could hardly keep her keen golden eyes from slipping over the bright jewels, vibrant fabrics, and intriguing wares of the different booths and shop fronts. The silver bangles around her wrist jingled pleasantly amidst the cacophony of shouts and noises of the general pandemonium surrounding her as she reached out to open the door to the Sonrisas Dulces, café and bakery.

“Good afternoon Kalena!” she greeted the café owner cheerfully with another pleasant jingle as she raised her delicately clawed hand in greeting. “Is it ready?” she asked excitedly, her plush tail swishing back and forth.

“Perfect timing Fiala,” Kalena grinned and ducked down below the counter to produce a small, periwinkle pastry box, signature of the well known establishment. Fairly wiggling with excitement, Fiala carefully lifted the lid to look down at the perfectly decorated, small cake inside.

“Oh Kalena! Damek will be so pleased!” she exclaimed, bouncing lightly on her toes and then carefully she closed the lid again. She could not wait to get back home to see the look of surprise and maybe even the rare, warm smile that looked so pleasant on her guardian’s sullen, dark face. “Do you think that I might be able to beg for some of your famous melon punch?” she asked sweetly, batting her long lashes and tilting her head to the side coyly. Laughing, Kalena turned away and made quick work of pouring some of the iridescently green liquid into a large, lidded container.

After thanking Kalena and paying for the special treat for her guardian, Fiala filed back out into the bright afternoon sun. Blinking a few times, her eyes adjusted and she nimbly began to cut a path through the crowd, ghosting past the sales banter and enticing goods without a second glance. Humming to herself as she reached the far side of the large courtyard, she stepped into a narrow alley and padded softly through the mostly empty winding venues. Arriving at her familiar doorway, a filigreed sign with a feather quill and open book suspended precisely above it, she balanced the cake and container in one hand and produced her key from the pocket just underneath the waistband of her skirt. The long silk crimson ribbon that kept her key attached to her person at all times (as this would be the fourth copy to have come into her possession after losing the previous three) spilled out of her grasp as she aimed the key into the keyhole. Unlocking the door, she gathered the ribbon and key up in an unceremonious wad and slipped it back into the pocket of her skirt.

“Damek! I’m home!” she called out brightly as she stepped into the dimly lit shop. It was always dark as night within these four wall, no matter how much she berated him for being so staunch with his candles and lanterns. Half the time, she honestly could not understand how he was able to make any sales in such poor lighting. Closing the door behind her, she turned back amidst the stuffy smell of books, paper, ink, and old wax. As her eyes adjusted to the dimness after having been barraged by the bright afternoon sun, she noticed immediately that something was not right. Damek was a man of meticulous nature. Everything had its place. But instead of the familiar orderliness surrounding her, tattered books and papers, destroyed quills, smashed ink bottles, overturned shelves and tables assaulted her eyes. Freezing where she stood, Fiala held her breath and flicked her ears around to hear the slightest of out of the ordinary noises. Towards the back of the shop, she thought she heard something. Bringing her ears forward, she concentrated and she heard it again. A soft moan. Dropping the cake and container she had been holding so carefully, they clattered and fell with a wet thud to the floor as she rushed through the disastrous mess, nimbly hopping overturned furniture until she got to the door that led to the back offices and living quarters of the shop.

She nearly screamed, but the sound caught in her graceful throat and she pressed the pads of her hands over her mouth. Lying prone on his back on the floor, his arms and legs stretched out carelessly, Damek clung to the last few threads of life. Dropping to her knees, tears in her bright eyes, she crawled over to him. A dark red, almost black, pool of blood marred his crisp white shirt, marking the entry of the large shard of glass that protruded grotesquely from his chest.

“Damek…” she said weakly, dropping her hands cautiously to his still body, afraid that she had come back too late to find him dead. His eyes fluttered at the sound of his name and a small ray of hope seized her. “Damek… Damek, tell me… tell me who did this to you? Who attacked you?” she demanded softly, leaning over him and placing both of her hands on either side of his face. His eyes opened lazily and he peered up at her as if he did not recognize her right away. But the clouds of near death shifted and his rare warm smile spread across his lips. The exact thing she had hoped to see, though now it tore her heart to shreds.

“Fiala,” he smiled and lifted a heavy hand to her cheek. She slipped her own hand over his and held it tightly. She turned her head slightly and kissed his palm. His smile warmed one last time, and with a final ragged breath his eyes closed and his hand fell from hers. Hot tears rolled down her cheeks as tongues of angry flames flashed across her eyes. Lightening shook the small office and she slowly rose to her feet, the electricity in the air causing her fur and hair to rise. She had no theories as to who could have killed him so coldly and maliciously. But she would find out and her beloved guardian would be avenged.

 

[Chronos Legia]

Hikari Chou

A blood curdling scream echoed throughout the night. The owner of the voice quickly darting through empty streets, her heart racing, her legs throbbing beneath her. Yet she couldn’t stop. Not if she didn’t want to end up dead somewhere in the streets.

She refused to look back as she flew around a corner, as if the devils themselves were on her heels, too afraid she might only give her pursuer the advantage of her being distracted. Her legs felt as though they would collapse beneath her if she kept up the sprint she had been steadily holding. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she knew she wouldn’t last much longer at this pace, but she couldn’t give up either.

In a desperate attempt to buy herself more time, the elven female quickly shoved a cart full of melons down, narrowly avoiding the fruits herself. Please she begged mentally as she turned around another corner, a bakery coming into her sight. Please let him slip.

But, again, she didn’t give herself a moment to breathe. She pushed forward, racing through the streets- barely noticing the pandemonium among the townsfolk the tipped cart caused. Soon enough, however, the bakery came into sight and the elven teen let out a shaky breath of relief as she moved to open the door. Maybe someone inside would help her!

But those hopeful thoughts vanished into thin air as she quickly realized the damned shop was locked and closed for the night. “NO!” She let out a shriek of despair as she looked to where the fallen cart was, only to see her attacker coming towards her.

Had the towns people not seen him? It wasn’t like he was a ghost or something! Why weren’t they helping her?!

“Kiana...” The male spoke her name sending shivers down her spine. She desperately turned back to the door only to remember she lacked the key she needed. Propelled by the icy fear that dripped into her veins she turned to a nearby window and kicked in.

The glass shattered instantly upon impact and the young girl hurried into the building hoping to escape from her stalker. However, much to her dismay her silk dress snagged on one of the sharp edges of the glass remaining on the window sill. The snag caused her to fall to the ground against the shattered shards.

“UMPH!” was the pained cry as she struggled to her feet once more, ripping the periwinkle colored fabric from the melted sand’s grasp. Sadly, her movements were in vain, as the second she ripped the dress she was tackled back to the ground, her sudden fall giving her enemy the time he needed to catch up to her.

“NO!” She screamed once more, attempting to wiggle out of the mans strong hold on her.

“Kiana....” God, how she wished he would stop saying her name in that hiss of his! Before she even could register what was happening, he had grabbed one of the shards and was holding it against her throat in a threatening manner.

With thought that the end outcome of this would no doubt be disastrous if she didn’t do anything, Kiana lifted her knee, and watched as her attack to his stomach sent him doubling over to the side.

However, the movement didn’t come without its down sides. For you see, as the man moved, her ran his shard against Kiana’s throat, marking it with a deadly crimson line.

Not taking the time to notice her own wound, she hopped back up to her feet and fled to the back, where she assumed was the employee’s section. Still on a mad sprint, she found herself making her way up a flight of stairs, not entirely sure where she was going to end up. But she was too driven by fear to care much.

A second later found her throwing herself into a room she found at the top of the steps, the sound of her pursuer’s heavy foot steps on the stairs behind her reminded her she wasn’t yet out of dangers reach.

In a quick motion she slammed the door shut and locked it, the atmosphere around her seeming thick with her fear and apprehension. She was going to die. She was going to die. The thought seemed suspended in the air as she moved to a closet she found and hid herself in it.

Kiana willed her breath to slow down, pressing her pointy ears against her head. If she calmed down there was less of a chance he would find her, she was certain. The pounding on the door she had recently locked though, reminded her that there was little to no places to hide besides the closet and he was sure to find her soon enough, whether she remained perfectly silent or not.

It wasn’t long before the teen heard the door being broken down and the male walking into the room. Her breath hitched into her throat, her hands moving to her mouth as if trying to keep any and all words trapped in there, unallowed to give away her hiding spot.

But just as Murphy’s theory goes, she gave herself away by accidently backing into a box. What can go wrong, will go wrong. And it most certainly did go wrong. The next instant she found her closet door flying open to come face to face with a pair of strikingly cold blue eyes.

There was little to nothing she could do as she found his warm palms grab her neck and lift her off the ground. She fought valiantly, attempting to pry his fingers lose from his hold on her, but she quickly felt her life seeping out of her.

Those all too familiar thoughts of dying by the hands of this psycho rang through her head over and over, until he suddenly let go of her. Her body crumbled to the ground like a lifeless doll who’s strings had just been cut, and couldn’t find the strength to get up again.

Something was happening. Yelling? What was going on? She couldn’t tell, her mind was too much in a haze from the lack of oxygen. She did however, recognize the sound of a sickening crack and then the thud of a body hitting the floor.

Slowly, she felt her body being lifted up and eventually carried out of the bakery where she had caused such a scene. Was that it? Was it the end? She opened her mouth to say something but nothing came out. Instead all she could muster was a meek smile to her savors before she closed her eyes, deciding now was as good a time as ever for a ‘nap’. Now that is to say, that the townsfolk finally came to the young elf’s aid.

--------

Erk, I hope this was what you were after. Not really sure. But had to give it a shot, neh?

Hope the contest goes good for you guys!!!

~Hikari

Mistress_Ice

The sun glinted off of silver wings, rising and falling over the land below as they beat the air, pushing their burden higher. Azura squinted her eyes against the glare and watched Azterra glide off before climbing further into the atmosphere. The succubus high over head dipped and swayed on the currents, glancing back only a few times at her guardian who was sitting on a rock to rest her feet for a few moments. Turning on an air current, she beat her silver wings harder to keep her delicate form suspended in the sky as she surveyed the land beneath her. The only thing left of Azura in her sight was a moving spec of periwinkle crowned with a sea of onyx hair walking calmly down the road towards her.
The silvery wings beating the air began to tire and she glided back to her guardians side, narrowly missing Azura’s head in her landing.
“I couldn’t see much, just looks like a few rundown shacks to me.”
“Yet you said there was a lot of energy here for you.” Azura brushed her long black hair into place after it had been sent into a flurry from Azterra’s landing. Taking the waist length hair, she twisted it into a bun and slipped a piece of ribbon around it, tying her hair in place as she waited for Azterra’s reply.
“From what I’ve seen of their dreams, yes. I still don’t get why you came though…not very practical. Why didn’t you just stay home like a good noble?” The silver bat wings folded against her back as she finished flexing them and stared down at her guardian.
The motion caught Azura’s eyes and she turned to look at the Legian she had raised from an orb. The succubus was beautiful but even more strikingly so with her silver wings. In their town, it had become a theory it was because she had never killed for fun and had never caused trouble for them. She was good by alignment but rebelled every so often because of her chaotic nature. Only Azura knew what those charming green eyes and flowing red hair really hid for a man who crossed them. A white cropped silk tunic exposed a tantalizing amount of torso and the white skirt that was laced on both sides with rawhide rode low on her hips, ending at the middle of her thigh.
“You know I get uneasy when you decide to go on the hunt. Even if they deserve it.”
“You worry too much Azura. I know what I’m doing. I think you forget that I’m a succubus sometimes. This pretty face is for more then getting a free meal now and then.”
“The wings kind of give it away as well I might add.”
“Yeah, but men are stupid enough, or horny enough…not quite sure on that one, to really not mind. Now, let’s get going. I want to see how many I can ensnare before nightfall.”
Azura nodded and set off at a walking pace again grinning at her companion. Usually she detested the fact that Azterra drained men’s energy sometimes to the point of death but tonight she wouldn’t mind. Some female servants in her father’s household had been attacked on a run to the bakery here for a special order. Only one girl made it back, the youngest of the group, and described the disastrous event. Her face had been as pale as a ghosts as she told them about the six or seven men that had ambushed them. Azterra had seen a chance for vengeance and an excuse to kill these men, a chance to act as her nature dictated, Chaotic Good and succubus. Azterra had found them and entered their dreams, changing their thoughts from carnage to lust. By now, they would be infatuated and easier to lure into a trap.
“A part of you is going to enjoy this I think.”
“Of course it is. Are you really that stupid Azura? These men should be killed for what they did and I have no problem helping with that. This is the stuff I live for! Justice in the form of killing men. Yes, not only a part of me is going to enjoy this.”
Tendrils of onyx hair fell from its place in the bun as she shook her head with a nervous laugh. “All I ask is don’t give me the details. Please?”
Azterra laughed as well, her perfect crimson lips parting slightly. “You make it sound like I torture you with stories of carnage and pandemonium.”
“You do though!”
“Yeah, but that’s because I love to see you wiggle in disgust.” Grinning she spread her wings and launched once more into the sky. “I’ll meet you at the inn. You walk too slow so I’m going on ahead.” Speeding off, she didn’t wait for an answer as the air currents lifted her higher. Soaring high above the ground again, she could see the town more clearly. It was bigger then she had originally thought and with a few more people. Glancing back at the dot she assumed to be Azura she guessed she had a little over an hour to find these men.


Setting down at the edge of town, the silver wings folded back and Azterra enjoyed the glances of plain terror on the faces of nearby women and of awe-struck lust from the men. Striding at an easy pace she swayed her hips, enjoying the stares she got and searching for the men she had come here for. Passing the bakery the servants had gone too she decided it was worth a look to find out why Azura’s father had sent them all the way out here. Peering through the glass at the melon bread and other sweet tarts and pastries she thought that they were pretty and looked well made but it wasn’t anything special. Turning, she noticed a man with black markings running down the side of his neck…the same as that servant girl had described.
Moving towards the inn she walked confidently, concentrating on the thoughts of the marked man who was now following her. It was defiantly the leader of the men she was after, and the quicker she removed him, the better. Entering the inn, she walked to the delicately carved oak desk and asked for a key before turning to him with a grin. Making their way to the room she couldn’t help but to enjoy the moment when his expression changed from carnal desire to that of a man who is very afraid.

As the sun rose it found two girls wandering the dirt road towards the home, one with a look of grim satisfaction, the other, striding confidently and renewed with boundless energy. The sun’s rays also found a town in disarray at having found seven of their own, dead in the town square, all drained of life and energy.

 

[Chronos Legia]

Storei

.:The Wrong Room:.

Alignment: Innocent. XD Chaotic Good.
Race: Albino kirin

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“Eeeaaauuugghhh!!”

A white albino figure exploded from a double-doored room. Running clumsily, poor Eiyen stumbled through the colossal white hallways, lost in maze that he didn’t know how he got into in the first place. Behind him skittered a terrifying dusky figure, hunched over and gurgling with malicious intent, gracefully moving like the uncaring un-dead. Its claw-like hands reached and flexed for the fleeing white kirin before it, loping with the likeliness of a sick predator after a weak little animal and squelching its hunger. The usual white and peaceful atmosphere was tainted with dark urgency, malicious intent and absolute terror, making the air thick and hard to breathe. Twisting around a corner, Eiyen’s bare feet slipped out from underneath him, tangling into his white fluff-tipped tail, and he careened across the smooth marble floor into the wall beneath a window, slamming heavily into the wall. The breath was knocked out of him and Eiyen could only watch in fear as the dusky persona slinked closer, weakly pushing himself up from the floor. After breathing in his lost air, he began shrieking desperately for help, scrambling to pick himself up from the ground as the attacking figure launched itself at the fallen escapee. The black figure latched on with the likeliness of a bug, grappling with the squirming boy to grope and scratch him into submission. The kirin boy then proceeded to wiggle and scream, struggling against this horror with all his might as the beast remained on his back, marking red lines into the boy’s silk-like skin. The shady figure was hissing a throng of frightening noises and was trying to claw its way towards the kirin’s mouth, scratching the white legian’s soft white skin in the fight. With arms flailing, Eiyen was able to pry off his attacker and twist away, making narrow escape.

Just after the little boy picked himself up from the ground and threw himself in the general direction of the nearby stairwell, the black figure snapped its foggy arms out from the floor and latched onto the legian’s ankle. Shrieking in a state of pandemonium, Eiyen fell forward yet again as his legs were dragged out from underneath him and hit his head hard with a large thump against the edge of the stairwell. Giving a moan as he lapsed into a faint, his limp body slowly began to roll down the long spiral staircase, falling like a forgotten rag doll. As the kirin rolled lifelessly down several steps, the shadow-like being scraped its way up to the boy’s mouth and being to force itself in with a sickening squirming manner. Right as the wiggling dusky figure forced itself just a little inside the legian’s mouth, Eiyen’s eyes snapped open wide and he looked on himself gaping horror. The shadowy ghost was inside his mouth! It was stuffing itself into him! Almost as if a flood began to drown him, Eiyen felt a heat rise up in his entire body like the heat of bread cooking in the oven of an old bakery. His mind became light and dizzy, like a suspended piece of feather down. The sick feeling of nausea filled up his chest and he felt like he couldn’t take it anymore! He had to get this thing out of him!

The legian flung his hands to his mouth and began to rake desperately at the shadowy figure slipping into his mouth, but as much as he tried, the kirin could not pull out this disastrous intruder. With a vicious squirm, Eiyen felt the being slide down his throat like a lump of jell-o and he gave a surprised hiccup as he swallowed the thing whole. The sound of shattering glass exploded in his mind, and the legian convulsed with alarm. With amber eyes wide, Eiyen looked down at himself in disbelief. He was bruised, scratched, and sweaty. Giving another great hiccup, the young legian felt a well of sorrow bubble into his chest and he broke down into sobs, defeated by the frightening dusky figure.

Just then, however, a dark coated magi bolted up the steps, alarmed by the disturbing noises and shrieks as he ran errands downstairs. He had dropped his things into the arms of Remus, who was beside him and too puzzled by the noises to make the dash up the long spiral stairwell, and hastily scurried up the long ascent. Hopping up the steps to come before the orphan, Eiyen, Ergo tilted his head in concern and asked between gasping breaths, “Eiyen? What’s wrong? What happened? Why are you so hurt?”

Snapping his eyes up to meet Ergo’s, the legian jumped up from the stair and flung himself into the magi’s arms, hugging himself to the young man’s waist. “It came out of the mirrors! Please! Please, help me!” He whimpered pathetically, sobbing into Ergo’s stomach, “I’m afraid! It went inside me! It was like a shadow! It’s inside me! Help me! What is it? What happened? What’s inside me?!” The guardian-less legian begged, clutching onto the magi’s robes.

Ergo shook his white-haired head gently and tried awkwardly to calm down the frightened quivering kirin by petting his hair with a gloved hand, “Well, my theory is that…It’s your evil. All things need its opposite to be defined. Your innocence is defined by your evil, it is like a key, almost, like a key that unlocks the purity in your heart.”

“But…I don’t want to be evil. I’m frightened!”

“Shh, you’ll be fine. It’s a part of you and you are a part of it. It’s something that you could’ve never escaped. Besides, what were you doing in the mirror room anyways? I told you not to go in there.”

Pressing his white cheek to Ergo’s clothes, Eiyen muttered softly, “I wanted to see what was inside.”

Chuckling gently, Ergo shook his head in disbelief, “You opened a can of worms.” He warned jokingly. However good the magi’s intentions were, that comment did nothing but make the kirin’s amber eyes well up again with naive fear. Ergo gave a sigh and took the shoulders of Eiyen, prying him away so the magi could squat down and become eye level to the small legian. Giving a warm smile, he offered, “Come on, little one. Let’s go get yourself cleaned up and then, we can get melon ice cream.”

Eiyen nodded his head ever so slightly, wrapping his white tail around his leg as his little white hand slipped delicately into Ergo’s. Smiling again, Ergo began breathing in relief and began to lead the pale kirin back down the stairs.

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