Light blossomed like flower petals into the waning sun's illumination in the sky, spilling over the forty-foot stone walls, the tops of which themselves were blocked from sight by the angled protrusions of its edge. Noise filtered lazily through the air as the now-quartet shuffled to the massive wood and steel gate blockading their only path of the entrance to the city within.
"Alpens! Mordrok! Melios!" An echoing voice, commanding attention, and respect emanated from the leader of the group, prompting the loud cracking of the ancient wood to shift in place, slowly turning inward and allowing enough space for them to enter. "See, they saw our hands, so they didn't attack." He smiled at his compatriots, turning back to the slice of light focused on them.
"Pretty sure that was because of the codewords more than anything man." A man, looking to be about the same age as the leader and donning an ashen leather jerkin followed his pace, stepping beyond the gate's threshold, followed by a slightly smaller boy and girl, both looking a few years young than the other two.
Jace shrugged and kept moving on. "Whatever's the case, it's all the better to be cautious." As the four entered the doors creaked shut, slamming behind them, surprisingly quiet given their size. "Welcome, to Speza, the wildlands frontline."
The group walked through the main streets, Nell and Agni eyeing the numerous heavily armored guards patrolling at every turn until they settled in front of a building eerily similar to the Hunters Association branch in Rueka.
"What are we doing here that we couldn't back home?" Alkir surveyed the brick and stone building, its large, smooth glass pane windows giving sight to polished wood and lush carpeting within.
Jace tilted his head in Alkir's direction. "We need to inform them of the situation, Rueka is further in the explored zone, so will have fewer sightings, but Speza is right on the forefront of the unexplored territory, you all wait outside and I'll be right out." He said nothing further and entered through the ornate double doors, leaving the trio standing on the side of a not-so-busy street.
They all took the temporary downtime to wordlessly scan the surroundings, the city was pretty much the same as Rueka in terms of composition, however, it was significantly small and more spread out, with it being more of an outpost than a true city there was less of a focus on shopping and restaurants, with more weapons and housing than anything. In all, it took about five minutes for Jace to return, now directing them through a maze of side streets and wide alleys before a two-story wooden inn, not the most elegant construct, but more than sufficient for the short stay they were making. He further rushed them inside and paid for a room, in a manner of moments they were settled into a sizeable room with two beds, not much decorated its interior, soon to change with the amount of packed gear they relinquished for much-needed rest.
"Okay then, now that we got that all done with." Jace turned to face Agni, who was sitting cross-legged on one of the beds. "We should get some of the basics out of the way before we set out tomorrow, the woods at night may call for some self-defense." He didn't miss the fire that ignited in her eyes. "First, we learn to use the Aether."
"Aether? Ooh, sounds mysterious." She leaned forward. "How do I do that?"
"Step one, drink this. It's Muga extract, Alkir can vouch for its ability to open up your conduits." Jace produced a vial of reddish-brown liquid, holding it out to Agni, and at his mention, Alkir indeed nodded as he worked on sorting his pack, for nearly the hundredth time since the trip started. Nell on the other hand looked just as curious as Agni did. Now that I wonder, how did he acquire his talents? No, time for that comes later, first, Agni. She gingerly took the vial, popping out the green stopper and downing its contents.
"Okay, now what?"
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"We wait." She looked slightly down at that, but leaned back and followed his words. Alkir took about thirty seconds, I wonder- None had to wait long, although Jace was the only one to truly perceive it, a ripple in the air around Agni's frame gave rise to a smile on Jace's lips. That is close to a new record.
Agni looked disgruntled, and perhaps a little bit concerned, "Are we waiting for the whole pins and needles thing, 'cause if so it's happening." She looked intently at Jace, obviously wondering what now?
"Perfect, perfect indeed, now, focus on the epicenter of that feeling, find where it is strongest, where it is coming from, and imagine it as something like a valve, a gate, a door, something you have control over."
She closed her eyes, a looked of concentration adorning her face, entering a state of deep focus, the slight pulse of distortion around her still occurring. Jace focused on these distortions, waiting for them to still and desist. He didn't notice the way that Nell seemed more awestruck by the space around Agni than anything else, all his focus on the invisible around her. All the while Alkir kept on sorting and painting his equipment, paying the others little mind beyond the occasional glance to monitor their progress.
Three minutes, is not bad at all, well done Agni. The film stabilized and settled over her like a second skin, prompting her to open her eyes, greeted by Jace's smile and Nell's agape look of astonishment.
"I think... I think it's done, right?" She looked and sounded exhausted, lots of mana had been used in that exercise after all, and her words came out in panting breaths.
"Yes indeed, well done, What you now have control over is the metaphorical gate connecting you to your space in the Aether, otherwise referred to as your 'mana-pocket' which contains your mana and so-called skills." As Jace rambled off his explanation he realized that perhaps all that would be better said when she had more energy, so he held off until tomorrow. "But now, you should rest, I figure you get the bed, Nell gets the other, and I and Alkir use our packs, everyone fine with that?" Nell nodded, looking mainly to Alkir first to gauge his approval, who had finished re-packing his stuff and nodded as well.
"Seems, fine, we've got the sleeping stuff anyways. And Agni." He sent a glance her way. "Well done." She gave Alkir a thumbs-up and collapsed onto the bed, falling asleep in moments. Nell followed suit, bidding the others goodnight before laying down and passing out with ease.
That's a true Hunter for you. Jace gave a slight wave to Alkir, setting up his roll of thick fabric, popping it into existence from nothing, and laying down, twisting to face away from the others, his eyes closed, yet his mind wide awake. Can't even escape damn nightmares.
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> A large cliff face stood before a duo, the smaller of the two was hunched over and breathing heavily, while the larger one turned to face the rocky plains behind them. A large, beige creature shambled forth, it large maw slightly agape, dripping clear fluid that sizzled ahgainst the rock as it fell. The sound of its scales sraping against one another as it moved, a canvas like film connected to its body from its front arms, forming jagged wings. A drake. The bigger figure, a man, turned and said a few words to the smaller one, facing the creature once more, materializing a glittering blade and thrusting it skyward.
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Stop, run, get them out of there!
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> A beam of pure white shot from the heavens, enveloping the swords double-edged blade and nothing more, the man lowered it to the ground, the tip tapping agaisnt rock, the beam of light stayed upward despitre the changing angle of the sword, still connected to the clouds above.
>
> "Astral! Division!"
>
> He swung the blade in a cicular motion, arcing its edge out in the direction of the lumbering giant of a lizard, the beam of light had ceased, leaving the blade still covered in that uinnatural white, which rocketed towards the drake after the swing, hurtling for its neck. The creature scrambled to the side, its vitals untouched, yet now having one less limb to work with. Half of its front right leg was gone, its wing ripped to shreds, the wound steamed in the brisk air, acrid smoke rising skyward.
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You dumbass...
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> As the man readied his sword once more the smaller figure started to run, prompting the drake to rear back its head, a deep rumble protruded from its throat, resonating with the stone beneath its feet.
>
> "Run! Run damnit!"
>
> The man pulsed with an aura of ethereal light, leaping fortth at unnatural speed, the lizard opened its mouth wide, at the surrounding area was enveloped in a blinding cacaphony of colors, devolving to pure light before subsiding to a void of black...
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A tear ran down Jace's cheek as light snores filled the inn room, his face slightly illuminated by the low moonlight poking through the cracked windows.
This is going to be a long night... I'm sorry...