>>39714283

You viciously fling blue flame after blue flame at her, to the point that you’re only a few feet away the barrier, feeling the cutting heat wash over your body as slam repeatedly into it.

It’s working. The pale yellow flames around her begin to wane, forcing her to put up both arms to maintain it. But her eyes are no longer the calm amber of the shy girl you know, but a caustic yellow, burning almost white hot.

“Enough!” Matthias roars out from behind you, snapping both you and Aya out of your demonstration and back to reality.

The flames disperse, leaving only a few charred and smoldering spots on the grass as sign there was a fight at all.

Matthias points proudly at Aya. “That is what your flames will be capable of one day, boy. Even the great Sophia wasn’t able to get through them.”

You grit your teeth and restrain yourself from directing your still lingering anger at Matthias.

Ugh, all that work and you can hardly even break through one of Aya’s shields.

Matthias crosses his arms and turns to you. “You won’t be able to teach the boy anything. Your styles are just far too different.” He sighs and scratches his chin. “I’d be fine with letting him become Aya’s apprentice.” He shrugs. “They seems to like each other anyway.”

You look over to see Izu invoking one of his small flames in his hands, Aya pushing and pulling at various parts of his body to improve his form.

Relinquishing control of instructing the boy would be practically admitting that there’s an aspect of the Occult you lack in, but if what Matthias says is true, he’d never reach his full potential as your apprentice. It all leaves a bitter taste in your mouth, regardless of what you end up deciding.

>Allow Izu to become Aya's apprentice.

>Keep trying to teach him yourself, for now.

>Write in.

>>39714333
She can teach him pyromancy. I'll teach him delving. Sounds appropriate?

>>39714333
>Allow Izu to become Aya's apprentice.

>>39714333
I'm going to back this>>39714372

He's still our kid.

>>39714333
>>39714372
Seconding this.
Heya Auri!

Hello again, everyone!

>>39714372
>>39714473
>>39714500
Everyone we know seems to want the boy as an apprentice.

>Writing~

>>39714550

You flip your hood over your head. “I’ll send him over every few days for pyromancy instruction. Everything else, he’ll learn from me.”

Matthias uncrosses his arms. “Sounds fine.”

Time to go home. You motion for Izu to follow you, which after bidding farewell to Aya, he obediently returns to your side.

“Don’t take it personally, Soph.” Matthias calls after you, as you walk away. “She’s just in a league of her own, neither of us can do anything about that.”

For now.

“I’ll see you around.” You leave his backyard without another word.

Izu energetically waves one last time to the both of them before running to catch up with you.

After a few quiet moments of walking, Izu chimes in something.

“Are you angry?” The boy turns his green eyes up to expectantly.

You wouldn’t say you’re angry, it’s just that viciously compelling feeling you’ve experienced for as long as you can remember. Your body physically won’t let you stand for that inadequacy.

“Not at all, just a lot on my mind.” You reply emotionlessly.

“You want to know something?” The boy asks nonchalantly.

You’d know everything, if you could.

“What is it?” You respond patiently.

The young boy looks towards the distance in front of him with a smile. “From the first time I woke up, I knew who you were.” He looks toward his open hands. “I knew what I was too.” He turns his eyes back to you. “I guess, I just wanted to say, even if you sold me to that weird man, I would’ve found my way back to you, someday.”

…

“You’re a weird kid, you know that?” You laugh lightly as you give him a light push.

[1/2]

>>39715240

~

“Look, Sophia.” Ellie excitedly points to the numerous packages in front of her. “Food, more clothes, and look look!” She holds up a few small pouches. “Seeds! I only bought them once from the market. How did she know?”

It’s very unsettling that Ali is pretty much privy to what’s happening in your backyard.

You shake your head of the thought when Ellie holds up a familiar little tome.

“I’m guessing this is for you?” Ellie smiles lightly. “Must be nice to have something to study…”

You snatch the thing out of her hand. “Make sure everything gets put away properly…”

You head upstairs with your nose firmly buried inside of the tome.

You read the original authors words.

“…so that my followers may better serve…advance techniques developed by yours truly…An outline of interplanar travel, seal creation and breaking, and intermediate spatial transport.”

A small note in the margin written in pen.

>”Sounds scary…”

Exciting is far more accurate. Where should you even begin?

>Interplanar travel.

>Seal creation and breaking.

>Intermediate spatial transport.

>Write in.

>>39715283
>Seal creation and breaking.
Sounds interesting.

>>39715283
I feel like a kid in a candy store!
>Intermediate spatial transport.

I'm going to guess that this or interplanar travel was what she used to nom that guy.

>>39715283
>Intermediate spatial transport.
Teleport? Teleport.

Give Ellie the necromancy tome to study.

>>39715283
>Intermediate spatial transport.
Fuck me, I want to teleport.

>>39715283
>>Intermediate spatial transport.
>>Write in.
Get Ellie in on this, too. She needs to gid gud, and we need a guinea pig.

>>39715332
>>39715350
>>39715369
>>39715403
Teleporting time!

>Writing

>>39715487

You’ve never been a fan of transport by foot, plus if intermediate spatial transport is what you think it is, the applications of such are practically endless.

You flip to the appropriate page and see another pen written note at the top.

>”Maybe I’ll be better at this one?”

“Most of our enemies are baffled when I….”

You skip to a small incantation, hardly more than a sentence supposed be thought only.

“The foremost guiding principle of this technique is perspective. You must imagine seeing yourself from the point of which you wish to go, separate from yourself. Your mind must be fluid when acting, a rigid and stubborn mind will find themselves going nowhere, and those going nowhere will NOT serve under me for long. Firstly, attempt to shift yourself no more than the distance of one of your strides, a failure from overstepping may see you more vertical than you may want. Remember, perspective.”

>”Teleporting in front of a mirror is bad…”

“I use this technique to easily cover the distance of Impel Palace in a blink of an eye. Practice rigorously, and maybe you’ll be able to cover half that space, I personally wouldn’t count on it. Be sure to have a clear open space, with softened ground, you will be failing, I assure you. Repeated teleportation will wear on you, very quickly, so be prepared to be tired. ”

[1/2]

>>39716096

>”Don’t know where Impel Palace is, but it must be huge. Teleported to some empty field, took me a few hours to find my way back. My feet hurt…”

The rest goes into improving your technique after successful teleportation, so for now, time to get started. This room however, will not do at all.

You head for the backyard.

There, Ellie tends to a few of her budding plants.

You call out to her. “If you’re looking for something to study, go give the Necromancy tome a try.”

You suggest, not at all wanting her interfering with your own practice, at least for the time being. But you’re confident you’ll have this down in no time, so your apprentices will soon follow suit.

Her face winces. “You mean with the rats and stuff again? I’ll pass for today…” She returns to her plants.

You already said that she was free for the day, so no sense in forcing her. Her loss.

You look over the incantation one last time and set the tome aside. If Impel Palace is the palace you saw in your delve in the inner realm, then the humble author is capable of shifting several hundred yards. You sure as hell aren’t going to let yourself be passed up for long.

You are more capable than the average person, so you could probably start practicing with a more than a few feet to start. You focus directly at the stretch of grass ahead of you. Whatever the case, you’re shifting there, no matter what.

>Attempt one stride of distance.

>Attempt several strides of distance.

>Write in.

>>39716121
>Attempt one stride of distance.
If that goes well try two. Baby steps. Hate to end up in a fence cause we got cocky. start small and then get progressively larger.

>>39716121
>Attempt several strides of distance.

>>39716121
>Attempt one stride of distance.

>>39716121
>Attempt one stride of distance.
For the love of god, stop focusing so hard on what's in front of us.

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Hello Auri!
>>39716121
>Attempt one stride of distance.
Telefragging is BAAAAAAD

>>39716164
Good.
>>39716198
>>39716199
Bingo.
>>39716208
Hello there!

>Writing

>>39716266

Well, maybe you shouldn’t start off with such a large distance, after all it would be humiliating to fail in front of that apprentice over there who may be watching you.

Watching you…Not your perspective…

You remember what the author wrote and stop concentrating so intently on the patch of grass in front of you, and begin to imagine yourself from the space you want to end up.

The small chant needed passes through your mind in a flash and you find yourself no longer where you once were.

Actually, for the briefest moment, you’re not sure where you are exactly. Then you realize, you made it to where you wanted! Only you’re upside down…

Your head impacts roughly with the ground, disorienting you greatly.

“Whoa! Did you see that? Did you see?!” A familiar young voice can be heard from the house.

Izu trots up next to you as you’re still recovering. “How did you do that? Can you show me how?”

You’re certainly no stranger to this throbbing and pounding in your head, but you’re not quite used to having a child yell at you during.

“Go away.” You attempt to rub your temples free of the pain.

That’s a start, but not anywhere close to what you want. You have to keep practicing.

The boy starts again a little more energetic than to your liking. “Can you do it again? Marissa didn’t get to see so-“

You shoot him a hostile look. “Go away!”

Marissa gently pulls the boy away from your side. “Come now, she needs to practice. I’m sure she’ll show us later.”

Again.

[1/2]

>>39716919

You unwisely concentrate on a patch of grass a few feet further than the first.

The words once again flash through your mind, and once again, you end up where you wanted to go. You get there upside down, unfortunately, but even worse, you’re a good bit higher off the ground. At least this time around, you have the chance to tuck in your head, so your back takes the worst of it.

This goes on until the sun is nearly set, teleporting and falling, over and over again. By your last attempt you’re making it about three feet and managing to land on your butt consistently.

You’re sweating bullets, exhausted, and feeling like you’ve taken several beatings.

You slowly trudge your way back to the tome, to check if there was anything you missed about a first successful teleportation. You see nothing of the sort, but your eyes stop at the bottom of the page.

>”This stuff was super easy! Today I teleported half a mile backwards to Ali. I still need to work on the landing, but I’m sure I’ll get it in no time.”

You’re too tired to feel frustrated, but a sinking feeling grows in the pit of your stomach, and it won’t go away.

~

You quietly watch Izu as he idly flips through some of the new books Ali sent over. He’s yet to speak to you since you lashed out at him.

Not moving at all gives time to think. He’s only a young child, perhaps you were slightly harsh earlier.

“Are you angry?” You ask the boy.

“Hmm?” He looks up to with his bright green eyes and a slight smile. “Why would I be?”

Well if he’s fine, then no sense in worrying over a problem that isn’t there. But then again, what does it mean to be opposite in disposition than you? Does he have the same capabilities to mask his true thoughts?

>”Forget I said anything.”

>Bring up the earlier matter of yelling at him.

>Write in.

>>39716947
>>Bring up the earlier matter of yelling at him.
I was frustrated at messing up. Mad at myself not at you.

>>39716947
>"Forget I said anything."
Izu probably has forgotten about anyway
But holy crap is vicki talented at teleporting

>>39716947
>Bring up the earlier matter of yelling at him.

>>39716947
>”Forget I said anything.”

>>39716947
>Bring up the earlier matter of yelling at him.

>>39716947
>Bring up the earlier matter of yelling at him.
>I don't like losing

>>39716961
>>39716996
>>39717036
>>39717037

>Writing~

>>39716947
>Bring up the earlier matter of yelling at him.
Apologies. No loose ends!

>>39717105

You sigh heavily and look back at Izu on the floor. “When I yelled at you earlier… I wasn’t angry with you. I just don’t like failing.”

He nods to your words as if he already knows them to be true. “I know.” He flips on his back and is quiet for a long time before speaking again. “Sometimes, I know exactly what you’re thinking. Or maybe it’s like a feeling? I dunno.” He intertwines his hands above him. “It was there since I first woke up. Even with that, I still mess up and do something dumb. Sorry…”

What in the world is this kid exactly? Sometimes you feel like everything would’ve been simpler if you just took the damn ring instead.

“I’m sorry too.” You break the silence.

Izu props himself up and walks over to you with a grin. “No you’re not.” He pokes you in the cheek. “I know that.”

You’re not, but he doesn’t seem to care in the slightest that you’re not. He’s perfectly content to sit here and…

“Stop poking me.” You attempt to swat him away as he begins to poke your sides.

“Make me.” He jabs harder, right into your kidneys and then runs off upstairs.

Damn kid… You painfully rise from your seat and slog after him. “You better not be in my bed again!” You yell after him.

~

[1/2]

>>39717740

You awaken forced to the side of your bed by the covered lump next to you. You’re fully expecting to be almost too sore to get out of your bed, but to your surprise, only your joints give a minor ache as you rise.

Why would you ever go back to being human?

You eagerly rise from your bed and get dressed for the day. Another delve, and…

You dreadfully remember where you left off with your teleportation practice yesterday. Fortunately or unfortunately, you’re not quite sure, you won’t be able to practice as much as you did the day before. You have to be capable to defend yourself during a delve.

Your breakfast has quite a bit of variety thanks to Ali’s gift, a pleasant way to start the day. Even with Laurent sitting across from you brooding. He’s been keeping to himself as of late, you wonder when you first hired him, if he ever had the slightest clue what he was getting himself into.

You remember all that building material Ali sent over, but you’re not even sure where to begin with this place. The roof is patchy, the foundation has well begun to rot away, and the garage…You haven’t been in the garage for years, for fear of the whole thing collapsing on you if dare set foot into it.

Not like it has anything of worth in there. Just a bunch of your grandfather’s old stuff.

You finish off your breakfast. Well, you have all the morning, so you’ll continue practicing from the tome, unless there’s something else you want to see to.

Firstly Laurent.

>Have him focus on general repairs around the house.

>Have him focus on repairing the garage.

>Ignore him for now.

>Write in.

And yourself.

>Continue practicing teleportation.

>Practice something else. (Write in what.)

>Write in.

>>39717758
>>Have him focus on general repairs around the house.
>Practice something else. (Write in what.)
Seals creating and breaking them

Maybe we can get wards from that.

>>39717758
>Have him focus on general repairs around the house.
Have him also look for places to put traps or mark escape routes.

>Practice something else. (Write in what.)
Seal creation and breaking.

>>39717758
>>Write in.
Ask him what he thinks of everyone. Sayuline most certainly got everyone into a lot of trouble. That other guild helped stop the monsters, but let's not forget what they did to us. You could argue that the cultist hunters were right to track Sayuline down, but they didn't exactly care how much blood they had to shed to do it, did they?

And then there's Ali, who has kept the peace and even got this town flourishing. But it doesn't feel safe, does it? Maybe for the normals, but not to you, and not to me.

>Have him focus on general repairs around the house while he thinks about it.

>>39717758
>Have him focus on general repairs around the house.
Primary facility repairs is the most highest priority.
>Practice something else.
Try out one of the other two new tricks we found out. See how it's like. Preference over seal thingys than delving.

>>39717758
>Have him focus on repairing the garage.
Grandpas stuff might be good
>Continue practicing teleportation.

>>39717758
>Have him focus on general repairs around the house.
We should look through the garage before he repairs it

>Practice something else. (Write in what.)
Shifting forms. Try and unlock that inner realm one.

>>39717780
>>39717802
>>39717822
I'll try to include as much as I can of this
>>39717824
>>39717868
Looks like general repairs and seal creation/breaking.

>Writing~

>>39717900

It would be better not to take a beating before your delve, so you think you’ll look into that seal breaking and creation.

But first to take care of this brooding little weapon…

“Laurent.”

He looks up in surprise, he obviously didn’t expect you’d want to talk to him.

You push aside your dishes and focus on him. “A lot of things have been happening in this town as of late.”

He nods, almost begrudgingly.

“I want to know what you think. Sayuline has stirred up quite a bit of trouble hasn’t she? Got the other Occultist order involved with her monsters, as well as the Occultist hunters, and of course, us...” You wait expectantly.

He stares at his large hands for a moment before speaking. “Everyone is doing what they believe will bring about some peace…Mostly everyone.” He looks to his side. “They’re all headed in opposite directions, wrong directions.”

“Peace, hmm?” You think for a moment. “Ali has kept the peace rather well around here, even got this town flourishing. But something about it doesn’t feel right, does it? Mayb-“

“She’s the only one that’s actually looking out for the normal people.” He states, interrupting you. “Damn all the guilds and orders, she’s even getting people work, paying work to buy food that she provides at a fair price. She’s actually helping…” He shakes his head heavily, not saying anything else on the matter.

You don't like being interrupted.

You stand from the table. “Put those building materials to use and see what needs repairing around here.” You head back to your room without another word.

“Understood.”

~

[1/2]

>>39718612

The lump from your bed is gone, thankfully, so now you can studying in peace and quiet.

You flip open the tome to the section on seal creation and breaking, and find something unsettlingly bizarre.

Most of the words have been redacted. You read through what’s left.

“I---------seals are at their most fundamental, a guard against potential. That’s----- there exists multiple types of seals, like--- A lock of potential requires a strong willpower, the greater the potential the more forceful the will must be, it-----multiple --. As my servant, both the creation and breaking of seals are very likely techniques needed in your repertoire, trust me---. So we begin with one of the most fundamental seals, stopping the tipping glass. Complete mastery of this will be needed before moving onto the next practicum, sealing a bird’s flight.”

The incantation for arresting movement still here, but it seems that someone was very careful to remove all of the author’s tangents on the subject of seals.

No matter, all the important things are still legible.

>”I can’t get this. The floor is wet and full of glass, and I’m stuck on my chair because my shoes are on the other side of the room.”

The notes in the margin are all still here.

Arresting movement…You can think of one little boy you’d like to practice this on. If you can seal his movements, you’d be well beyond the level of sealing birds. Damn, first time you actually wish he was still on your bed.

>Start with the tipped glass.

>Find Izu and experiment on him.

>Write in.

>>39718655

>Find Izu and experiment on him.
WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO WRONG

>>39718655
>Start with the tipped glass.

>>39718655
>Find Izu and experiment on him.
I think this is something we're going to be good at.

>>39718655
>Start with the tipped glass.

>>39718655
>Start with the tipped glass.

Izu would be hard to stop, plus he has magic.

>>39718754
>>39718828
>>39718832
No milk will be spilled in the practicing of this skill, hopefully.

>Writing~

>>39718870

You better make sure that you get it right before you go off trying to seal Izu’s movements. Fail and he might not ever let you near him to practice.

You head back downstairs, like hell you’re going to start spilling things in your room.

~

Glasses of water of varying volume are all set up along the edge of your kitchen counter. You aptly decided to recruit the help of Marissa to tip the glass, to help make sure you master the timing properly.

The incantation for sealing movement is even shorter than the one for teleportation, but it certainly reads more like a command than any sort of chant.

“We just got these, so you better not let them hit the floor.” Marissa informs you as she adjusts the final glass. “Ready?”

You nod.

Immediately Marissa shoves all the glasses off the counter with a fell swoop of her tail.

Like hell you’re about to let all that glass shatter on your kitchen floor!

You’re not actually sure when you said the incantation, but you can certainly see its results. Suspended in air, five glasses all at various heights, even the water spilling out of most of them is static in the air. Truly a inexplicable sight.

The two of you stare with mouths agape at the almost piece of art in front of you before Marissa finally speaks up. “Uhhh, can you put them back on the counter?” She asks trying to move one of the cups, which is firmly locked in place.

“I don’t think so.” You reply honestly. “Why did you drop so many?!”

“Because you set them all up!” She crosses her arms. “Now what?”

You place your hands under two of the glasses. Depending on the will of the sealer, the object won’t move until the seal wears away, or is released outright.

You nod to the other three cups which Marissa grabs in her hands and tail. You release the seal and only the water comes spilling to the floor.

That was too easy… You look over the tome to see if you set up something incorrectly

[1/2]

>>39719698

“Start with stopping the glass before any of the content inside spills out. Sealing fluids is an advance technique to be attempted only once all other practicums are successfully completed first----“

You grin wildly to yourself. This is certainly a more enjoyable experience than crashing on your butt repeatedly. You quickly look around for the boy, but find him nowhere to be seen.

He knows.

He can’t hide forever. You spend the rest of the day sealing whatever fancy: birds, a large dog, you were well out of the area before you released the seal, and even took to sealing all the individual leaves of a tree.

It all freezes to your will.

You stop only when you start to feel a bit of exhaustion, and spend the rest of your free time leisurely, while keeping an eye out for Izu.

~

“Are you sure you don’t want to come delving with me, Izu?” Marissa asks the boy while undressing for the ritual. “I’ll make sure it’s a lot of fun.”

He continues to light the ritual candles. “Don’t wanna. I want to read one of my new books.”

You’re thankful for that. The amount you can during a delve while taking care of a young child is sure to be extremely limited. Maybe he knows that...

Ellie is also unusually quiet for a delve set up. Normally by this time, you’re ready to tell her to shut up.

“Awww.” Marissa bats at her eyes while stepping into the tub. “Will you miss me?”

“Nope.” The boy finishes with the candles and scurries away to his books.

With your compass secure around your neck, dagger and ritual candle in hand, you step into the tub. Your confidence has been surging with your success with sealing, so you feel like really investigating some new things this time. Perhaps even paying a visit to this “Paradise?” Then again, you still have the matter of Grievermillion’s request to investigate

Your options are open.

>Direct your delve to the palatial city.

>Direct your delve to “Paradise.”

>Write in.

>>39719731
>>Direct your delve to “Paradise.”

>>39719731
>Direct your delve to "Paradise."
It's go time

>>39719731
>Direct your delve to the palatial city.

>>39719731
>Direct your delve to the palatial city.

>>39719731
>Direct your delve to “Paradise.”

>>39719755
>>39719779
>>39719832
It is indeed go time.

>Writing~

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>>39719731
>you still have the matter of Grievermillion’s request to investigate
Wait, which one?

>>39719948
You know what, you're right. I misspoke. It should be, you still have the matter of Grivermillion to investigate. Weird mistype...

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>>39719876

You have your goal in mind. No particular sight in mind, but the sounds have always been clear enough for you to go off of.

No soothing voice to welcome you this time, strangely enough, only those screams that stick with you even as you slip underneath the blood into the comforting darkness.

~

It’s warm.

But it's not any sort of warmth you receive from the sun or a flame. It comes with a humid, almost oppressively strangling air. You feel something course and throb with life beneath you, but all it feels like is meat.

Meat.

You open your eyes to the new world around you. Every single one of your senses is assaulted at the same time. Your skin feels the sticky heat of the meat surrounding you, a hot air, almost a breath washes over you periodically.

The smell is pungent and sour and sticks to the inside of your mouth. Not enough to make you vomit outright, but given some time, who knows?

The screams are everywhere, but nowhere to be found at the same time, they exist almost as fundamentally as the stifling air.

Your eyes bear witness to the sickening endless tunnel of flesh before you. A dull red light illuminates only a few yards ahead of you as you stare upon a horrifyingly alien, but perturbingly familiar sight.

It almost looks like a railway, human built, the architecture resembling nothing you’ve seen before while delving. A hard metal beam under your hands confirms it, this was once a railway, long before it was ever this...

A cold chill runs down your spine, as you still have trouble breathing. You turn back in hopes for the security of the portal back home, but you see nothing.

You look to your compass, as it slowly swivels toward the seemingly endless dark path in front of you.

~

>>39720276
Okay, that where I'm going to end it for tonight. Lot's of things happening this thread, and I want to thank everyone that had the chance to play! As always, if you have any questions or comments, please feel free to post them in the thread and I will do my best to respond to them.

If not, then I wish you a good day/night, and hope to see you again next time!

>(Twitter)
https://twitter.com/QM_Auri

>>39720314
Glad we figured out sealing. SO how badly fucked are we?

>>39720386
This is a place that you not only would've eventually ended up coming here someday, you were invited here by someone who knows you on a name basis. If you keep your head on straight, not very.

>>39720314
thx 4 runin budi gud thred
paradise doesn't seem very paradisey

>>39720276
Spooky and gross. Thanks for running Auri!

>>39720432
>If you keep your head on straight, not very.
Otherworldly Arboretum flashbacks intensify.

So how good is our sealing?
Would the third discipline of magic in the book been hard for us to learn prior to this delve?

>>39720480
You're very welcome! The inhabitants must have a strange sense of humor.
>>39720484
You're also very welcome!
>>39720490
If you're referring to interplanar travel, you wouldn't have been able to master it before this delve.

I'll be stepping out now. Until next time!

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>>39720539
thanks for running!