>>43491134

A lot of thought was put into making sure you'd enjoy what adorned your quarters, and the satisfied grin plastered on the young boy’s face speaks volumes enough, but there's one question that sticks out in your mind...

"Why the confetti?" You pluck several pieces from your hair.

"That was for me!" He answers happily, cracking open another of his barriers to shower you with some more. "Now..." He holds up a hand. "I've prepared plenty of fun stuff, but first it’s time for your present!"

That word, along with the word gift, has taken on a whole different primary meaning in your mind, but you do your best to push it aside, as Izu seats you in front of a small table.

A small and simple wooden gift box is placed directly in front of you, and as much as you try ignore it, a small flicker of anticipation run through you. However you do wait for Izu to give you the go ahead before reaching for the box with inquisitive fingers.

You quickly slide off the lid of the box.

A humble dark colored hairpin delicately lies before you, but as you pick it up, it becomes more than that. The complex shape is expertly crafted and the edges of its surface are polished to a fine sheen. A small unassuming red gem lie in its center, but strongly reflects back to you the many lights of the room.

“I know you got the other one back, and it has actual powers to it, but this one matches you a lot a better I think…”Izu explains, uncharacteristically bashful. “I couldn’t find anything else that would really impress you so I went with my gut. “ He continues to ramble, still nervously waiting for your reaction.

You turn to him, and stare into his unhidden emerald eyes.

>”Thank you.”

>Write in.

>>43491172
>”Thank you.”
brb have to cry a lot

>>43491172
>"I hope this thing can take a beating"
Because I'll wear it into battle.

But obviously not spend effort to protect it if Usurper keys in on it and thinks she can distract me by aiming for it.

>>43491172
"Thank you."
Would it be too much to ask for a hug scene?

Hello and welcome back to another thread, everyone!

>>43491213
>>43491234
>>43491260
Simple words...

>Writing~

>>43491333

In a strange and atypical moment, you find yourself at a loss for words, which only seems to make Izu even more nervous. But after watching him fluster about and continue to explain, a small smile forms on your face.

“Thank you.”

His rambling ceases and he turns to you in surprise. “What?”

“Nothing.” You respond with a grin and go to the mirror to properly place your gift over your right ear.

He follows after you. “No, no, no. I heard what you said.” He stops at your side. “Say it again…”

“This matches my armor perfectly…” You continue to make adjustments. “I hope it can take a beating because this really completes the look.”

He pouts over the fact that you won’t repeat yourself, but all of his worry has completely vanished. Hardly a beat later, he pulls you back to the small table as if trying to make every precious moment count. “Okay, I prepared dinner, but let’s get you started with some entertainment, so first…”

The night starts with you laughing at Izu’s myriad of jokes, both the crass ones he learned from the Impel soldiers and the lame ones that he himself created for this occasion. You eat with him, as he fusses to make sure that everything is to your liking, totally oblivious to the mess he has on his own face. You listen to grand stories that Izu has read; about heroes, villains, and many others in between. You even act out his favorite stories, taking advantage of the rooms lighting and taking on all sorts of roles in your two-man plays. And finally, you pull a cover over his sleeping form, as finally, after much yawning resistance, he falls asleep.

“Thank you.” You say again.

~
[1/2]

>>43492107

You walk through the quiet halls in the early morning, set on a quick briefing with Ali, and then heading over to Grievermillion to begin your mission in Kyraen’Asils. As you turn the corner, you run into a familiar face, laden with a small piece of luggage, and a single pale child companion.

“Ahh, Sophia.” Justina calls out as she spots you. Once she reaches you, she looks up at your hair. “I like it! It gives off a cute and a don’t mess with me vibe at the same time.” She points to the other side of your head. “The confetti is terribly gauche though.”

You pluck off the last lingering pieces from your hair. “Early business?”

“Following a hot lead on something I’ve been looking into for a while. But that’s personal…” She turns back to her companion who’s tugging on her sleeve. “Look! Isn’t she perfect? I made her using the blood tablets as an energy source.” She leans forward and whispers. “It lets me mix and match parts that normally don’t belong.” She pulls back. “But! There’s a large drawback about those tablets that I don’t think you know about.”

You impatiently signal for her to continue. “Which is?”

[2/3]

>>43492142
blood isn't fresh?

>>43492142

“It’s hard to explain, because I don’t know the full effects, but the blood made from the blood tablets ceases to contain any special properties.” She sighs. “It’s not that the blood itself capable of doing most anything, but the blood of certain individuals lends itself to certain rituals much better than others.” She pulls her doll into a tight hug. “But it didn’t stop me from creating this work of art.”

Then all the blood you’ve gained from the blood tablets has been a type of generic human blood. Then what makes a certain person’s blood potent?

Justina sighs again, looking toward the rising sun in the window. “Time for me to go, I’m afraid. I’ll be gone for at least the rest of the day, so unless you have something now, your payback will have to wait. But don’t make it wait any longer than that, cause if this lead turns up something, then I just might leave here for good.”

You think on her words for a moment and wonder if there's anything you want from her at this moment.

>Hold off on the favor.

>Write in.

>>43492189
>Hold off on the favor.
Maybe she'll decide to not kill us in the future or something.

>>43492189
Understanding of blood magic.

>>43492189
Something like chaff made out of zombies?

corpses and flesh bits that serve mostly to act as meatshields for seal attacks.

>>43492189
>Hold off on the favor.
Best to know as much as we can before deciding

>>43492227
>>43492344
Banking the favor again.

>Writing~

>>43492227
>>43492344
FYi in Auri gives us a 1 written option or write in, it's usually a sign to write in.

>>43492377
FYI I don't metagame.

>>43492368

“I’ll hold off on the favor, so be sure to come back alive.” You finally decide.

“That’s a hell of a way to say good-bye.” Justina shrugs. “I guess it’s just like you.” She slides the doll ahead. “Come on, we have to be careful or else we can’t pay back our debts…”

With that, the two of them walk away, and then disappear from sight.

After a few more minutes of walking, you arrive in front of Ali’s office, and then knock to see if she’s there yet.

“Come in, Sophia!” She calls out from beyond the door.

Given the sheer mess of papers in her strewn across her desk, and the many nearly imperceptible imperfections in her appearance, she’s been here the entire night.

You take a seat across from her and she smiles at you when you do. “That’s a very interesting piece.” She points up to your hair. “I always thought your hair was lacking that little extra something, and it looks like you’ve found it.”

You agree with her thoughts and then fill her on the previous day’s events.

“I would never have pictured that girl to have been suicidal.” She says solemnly after you finish.

“Neither did I.” You reply quietly.

She shakes off the mood and continues. “There is something interesting in what you’ve reported, but first, let me fill you in on what I learned.” She shuffles her papers into neater stacks. “As you might have noticed, Vicki has been absent since you’ve last seen her.”

[1/2]

>>43493186

“She’s on an assignment, I assume?” You watch as she’s already organized everything on her large desk into orderly piles.

“Correct. I sent her to teleport across the great distance of this realm and The Maw in order to keep tabs on our former leader’s activities.” She points to one of the stacks on her desk. “And this is her first report.”

Having to manually teleport across distances that takes weeks to walk across must be brutal, and then to have to be skilled enough to keep out of sight of her…

“All in all, it just reports that the army is getting restless for a fight or to return home, and based off what Vicki reported to have seen, I say that we have a week at the absolute most before our former leader coaxes the information out of The Dreamer.” She finishes.

Meaning that you have that much time to figure out a way to beat her to her goal, or you will have to deal with her personally.

“It also doesn’t help that we’re going to have the army of Kyraen’Asils breathing down our back at any day now.” She sighs heavily.

“That’s something I intend to see to today.” You state flatly.

A look of intrigue flashes across her face. “And that’s something I would greatly like to witness. You stopping an entire army.”

That wouldn’t be a first for you, but you don’t have the luxury of certain powerful weapons to help you this time around.

The briefing stops as Ali goes to answer a knock from the door. A cloaked figure passes her a note and then hastily pulls away.

Ali quickly skims through the note. “And now we have those things that live underneath the palace threatening action if that thing they worship isn’t returned to them soon.” She crumples the note. “Shame that you don’t have the time to deal with them…”

At this point, you really don’t, but you try to think of an alternative that might also work.

>Assign the palace guard to clean them out.

>Write in.

>>43493230
this is about IpSuran, right? We can just tell them that Usurper has it, and they'll need to get to HER if they want it back.

Maybe get something out of them in exchange for a passage to the Maw.

>>43493230
>>43493281
This

>>43493281
also you know, ask on tips on how they sealed Ipsuran and how to counter its powers.

so our fragment can avoid those weaknesses

>>43493230
>>43493281
Backing.
Gives the army a fight and cleans up the trash. Win win

>>43493323
They weren't the ones who actually sealed Ip'Suran in the first place, they only watched over the integrity of the seal and worshiped it.

>>43493281
>>43493299
>>43493337
Your god went that way...

>Writing~

>>43493394

While it won’t buy you any extra time, you found a way to make sure that you won’t have to waste any resources on this new problem.

You cross your arms. “If they really want their god back, then point them in the right direction. Just make sure that Vicki doesn’t accidently run into them.”

She leans back to think about your proposal. “Easy enough…Although, I will have to be the one that speaks to them to ensure that they are properly motivated.”

“That solves that. You said earlier that you found something interesting in my report?” You ask.

Ali adjusts herself. “I did, however, now that I know that you’re going to be sufficiently busy today. There’s not much either of us can do about it.”

“Doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t tell me about it.” You state frankly.

She sighs quietly. “It’s only a suspicion, but in my short time in the human camp, I saw a lot that made me question this supposed Chosen One. They were extremely subtle signs, only visible to the trained eye, but I’m almost certain that they were there.”

“In what way do you question him?” You ask, curiously.

She waves her hand. “I don’t want to prime you for any ideas, I’d rather you reach your own conclusion and then we confer about our findings. It may be that important…”

If it’s as important as she makes it seem, then a visit to the human camp after your business in Kyraen’Asils might be in order.

“Then I’ll see to it myself if time permits.” You say and then stand from the seat.

Ali stands as well. “Hopefully we’re both successful today…”

~

[1/2]

>>43494101

You find Grievermillion poring over numerous ancient tomes in the empty palace library.

“Empress…”He bows swiftly upon detecting your arrival. “My search has turned up small pieces of information.”

“Then report.” You order firmly.

“The name Azalie primarily shows up in writing pre-dating the founding of Impel proper, and even then only a scant few times.” He picks up a piece of parchment with numerous notes written on it. “An Azalie was mentioned appearing to help build up the first settlements on this realm, another few times mentioning her gathering material of some strange sort, and once the times settled enough for history to be properly recorded, her name appears no more other than once in an old fairy tale. Visiting those old settlements might bring more light to this.”

A very lacking report.

Grievermillion seems to realize the disappointing quality of his report and continues. “However I did manage to find out more about the history of the human Dreamer.” He picks up a different note. “A human referred to as the Scar of The Dreamer was mentioned several times as a sort of secret prisoner kept very early in the Impel’s history. The reason for keeping that prisoner was never mentioned, but given the time differences between the notes and the changes of referred gender, the Scar of The Dreamer has been dozens of different humans in history. Perhaps a lineage.”

A human scarred with part of The Dreamer, likely a result of sealing away all of those beings, but can this help you?

He bows once again. “I apologize, I know time is precious, so how would you have me continue?”

You think very carefully about what Grievermillion reported to you before making your decision.

>Focus the investigation on information about Azalie.

>Focus the investigation on information about the human Dreamer.

>Write in.

>>43494129
okay, to that other anon, maybe Ellie DOES have something to do with the Dreamer.

>Focus the investigation on information about Azalie.
maybe mention this Dreamer stuff to Ali.

>>43494129
>Focus the investigation on information about the human Dreamer.
I can't imagine us finding anything more on Usurpy if that's all he's come up with so far.

On that note I have to leave early today, so a preemptive thx 4 runin budi gud thred to you Auri.

>>43494170
Then I'll give you a preemptive thank you very much, and I hope you have a good rest of your day!

>>43494129
>Focus the investigation on information about the human Dreamer.

>>43494170
>>43494238
Turning focus toward the humans.

>Writing~

>>43494287

If the Dreamer is the key to the Hidden Seal, then perhaps there’s a spare of some sort.

“Turn your entire focus to learning more about these human Dreamers, and nothing else.” You promptly order.
“Understood, my Empress.” He bows to your command.

“Now…”You lightly clap your hands together. “That wasn’t the only reason I came here. It’s about time for me to visit Kyraen’Asils.”

“Excellent.” He replies happily. “Then let us not delay here any longer.” He moves to exit the library. “Come, I’ve prepared the ritual in the outside of the city.”

~

You and Grievermillion stand in front of a small muddy pond surrounded with numerous drawn ritual circles and carefully placed rock pillars.

“The answer lied in an ancient text written by one of the first overseers of Kyraen’Asils. He wrote of a secret channel that was put in place in case emergency escape was ever necessary.” Grievermillion holds up a knowing hand. “As it wasn’t necessary for most of its history, this secret had been forgotten about, but now will serve the new ruler.”

He steps toward the end of the pool and motions for you to enter, which you do.

“This ritual will circumvent any seals placed upon the realm, and if the writings are to be believed, you’ll find yourself on a small discrete path well within the capital city.” He opens a small dusty tome. “Come back safely, Empress.”

He begins a long and methodical incantation, and soon after you can feel yourself slipping deeper and deeper into the pool of mud, and you carefully place a hand over your new hairpin. Once your head crosses the surface of the mud, you’re lost into a cold void.

~

[1/?]

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>>43494958

You awaken surrounded by a heartening warmth. You open your eyes to find yourself lying upon a small rocky cove. The blinding whiteness of the sand, and the sheer blue of the seemingly endless sea is completely unlike anything you’ve seen before in any of the realms. The slow tolling of a bell catches your attention and you turn to gaze upon the true part of Kyraen’Asils.

An immense pearly castle stretches high into the blue sky above and shines light upon its surroundings like another sun. The city proper surrounds the grand structure in several layers, and all of it lies upon towering sheer cliffs. While many of the things you’ve seen in the inner realm have been greatly impressive, this is the first to have an undeniable beauty to it.

You’ve finally made it into Kyraen’Asils.

[2/4] (Weird division because of pictures.)

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>>43494985

A small path in a heavy state of disrepair begins next to where you’re standing, and seems to lead all the way upward into the seemingly insurmountable heights. As much as you’d rather fly the distance, you follow the path on foot.

As you ascend higher and higher, more of the city proper comes into view. The citizens go about their business with a great enthusiasm, and the various boisterous calls echo far, reaching even where you are. The modest architecture of the many white stone buildings are interlaced heavily with greenery, giving the city a type of balance that you’ve never quite seen before.

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>>43495003

After a great deal of walking, you find that the path has abruptly ended just short of actually entering the palace. You’re about to fly the rest of the short distance, when you spot the outline of small passage leading upward. You push against the stone, and find that it gives with some effort.

The sound of a pot crashing into the ground surprises you, and you quickly surge upward and find yourself in a small patio. The crashing sound came from a potted plant you had turned over in your ascent.

“Who’s there?” A strangely familiar woman’s voice calls out.

You quickly turn to see an older woman sitting next to a small table surrounding by many beautiful plants. Her eyes are firmly shut, and it appears that she’s trying quite hard to pick up on any other noises. Her soft features seem familiar, but you're quite certain that you've never met before.

“I know someone’s there, I’m not upset that you broke the plant.” She calls out gently.

It quite clear that she can't much to stop you, even if she starts screaming you could just put a seal on her, so perhaps you ought to be on your way.

>Sneak past the woman.

>Write in.

>>43495043
Talk to her, we can mind scrub her after if need be.

>>43495043
"I lost my way in the castle, I was sent here for the first time on assignment for the army. I'm really sorry about the plant.
Try to learn more about who she is.

>>43495116
>>43495123
A little bit of information gathering.

>Writing~

>>43495183

You’re sure to let out a quite audible sigh of relief. “I apologize for breaking the plant. I’m on an assignment for the army, and this is my first time in the castle, so naturally I got lost.”

She laughs softly. “I understand your pain, there was once a time all of these rooms and halls were new to me as well.”

You think you see an opening to gather some information about this woman.

“I shouldn’t complain, it must’ve been quite rough on you.” You reply timidly.

A nostalgic smile forms on her face. “Not all the time, my best friend often led me around. I don’t think I’ve ever met someone kind enough to insist on an untrained blind girl being her handmaiden.”

Her words run through in your mind, and you quickly surmise just who she’s referring to.

She suddenly stands during the short pause. “Oh, I shouldn’t bore you with stories about the past. If you’d just hand me that broom and dustpan there I’ll clean that mess for you.”

You step forward, and settle her back into her seat. “You weren’t boring me, and I’ll clean up the mess myself, don’t worry about that, so please, continue.”

She nods in response and points to the vacant chair across the table. “I’ve been known to ramble, so you might want to get comfortable, and don’t you go trying to sneak away from me.”

You settle into the seat. “I won’t, I promise…You were talking about your friend.”

“Yes. She was the first princess of this family that I attended to, and let me tell you…”She leans in toward you. “The females of the royal family are the most stubborn creatures to ever grace the world.”

The amount of experience riddled in her voice is almost tangible.

[1/?]

>>43495829

“Anyway, we played together, studied together, she’d drag me along to every formal event that she herself was dragged to, we grew up together, and still she insisted on keeping me along.” Her hands carefully flow along with her words. “She was always the favorite and the best in all things, and I always struggled to keep up with her, in more ways than just one. But we were always together, and she always radiated the same warmth.”

Her face visible grows more sullen. “Even after that terrible war began, and countless of our kin and the Caelumnites were slaughtered, she remained steadfast in helping her family lead. Even when she fell in love with someone she surely should not have...she did her best to live both sides of her life with the same warmth she always had, and no one was the wiser, but me…”

She looks toward the direction of the sea. “It wasn’t until she had become pregnant, that I felt her flame flicker for the first time in my life.”
She fold her hands in her lap. “The halfbreed child of two of The Usurper’s greatest enemies; that child would surely live a life with a target on her constantly, and at those times it would’ve been impossible to keep her safe if anyone knew of her existence.”

“So she ran.” You state simply.

[2/3]

>>43495849

The woman nods. “And she took me with her.” She says, humorously. “To a palace where we were both strangers, and where we had to do our best to hide ourselves, but we persevered.” She smiles. “Months after, the child was born, and I never felt her flame radiate more warmly than in that moment.” She pauses to remember before continuing. “In the following years I took care of the child when her mother could not, and…”She shakes her head fervently. “In those four years, I must have aged twenty. There has not been a single person in all of history more willful, more cunning, more stubborn that child. The schemes I had to lay for that girl to listen, it felt like I was dealing with an intellectual equal even when she was only two.”

You straighten yourself out in your chair, trying to respond to her comments.

“And to think, even now I have to go through all this trouble just to get her to admit that she’s who I'm speaking to now.” She shakes her head knowingly.

Her comment catches you off guard. “I’m not sure what you’re referring to.” You quickly reply.

“Come now child…” She points to her eyes. “My condition has gifted me with special abilities, and I could feel your flame from a mile away. Anyway, where was I…?”

~

>>43495878
Okay, that's where I'm going to end it for today. It was certainly a more upbeat thread this time around, and I want to thank everyone that played! 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 as always, I wish you a good day/night, and hope to see you again next time!

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

>>43495907
Thanks for running, how panicked is Sophia?

>>43495923
You're very welcome! She's more surprised than anything, in the end if Sophia had to stop her, it would be quite easy.

>>43495907
Thanks for running auri, is the op pic supposed to be the castle?

>>43495985
You're also very welcome, and that's exactly right!

Okay, I'll be stepping out for the night. A thread this Saturday is highly doubtful, but if there's no thread, then perhaps at an unusual time during the following week. Until next time!

>>43495878
badass grandaunt

We should ask if Matthias is doing okay. If grandaunt can detect flames at a distance, maybe she can sense his flame.

Also if Aya even wants to rule.

>>43495878
That lady was totally in love with sophias mom.