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Post by Lute on Aug 21, 2018 18:01:43 GMT -5
Lute channeled healing energies into his broken and twisted limbs. Steam rolled off of his flesh as it accelerated the cellular regeneration. Shattered ankles and broken kneecaps righted themselves like balloons being filled with water. His elbows, wrists, and shoulders blades snapped back into place with sickening snaps. Meanwhile, most of the platform in front of Lilth had been turned to scintillating glass. The hot plasma from her vaporization technique had done the trick. Nothing was left of Prince Uno. The wind took the ashes and flakes of remains away with it. Lute had heard Lilth's rebuttal at him lending her energy. But, he didn't mention it as he clamored to his feet, still pure agony from the broken ribs. Those were a bit more complicated of a healing job, with a few risks if he didn't approach it properly. Later he would take time for a full healing trance, so he could concentrate on the subtle nuances of mending his internal organs that were punctured at the same time. For now, he didn't want to waste any more of Lilth's time. Shuffling over, he wiped blood from his mouth and leaned carefully fighting the red hot iron of pain that shot from his chest to the top of his head. He rested a hand on Marte's back. Half of the teen's shirt has been burned away and left him with blackened patches of sizzled flesh. Lute had no idea how he had been slain, but it didn't matter. He touched Marte and infused additional healing energies into him. Marte resumed consciousness after a minute or so and rolled over, a bewildered look on his face. Lute didn't bother chastising him for losing. He too had succumbed to the assailant and wasn't that much of a hypocrite. The events of the past few minutes were the first thing Lute needed to find out. He had witnessed none of it in his catatonic state. "Guy was dressed in a weird get-up," Marte explained, surveying the glassy ruin where their foe once stood. "All chromed out and gaudy as hell. He said he was from the Hidden City and he couldn't let you keep interrogating spacers.""Damn," Marte whispered as he ran a finger along glossed duracrete. He couldn't even look Lilth in the eye, clearly wary of her. "Marte. I do not wish to waste anymore of Lady Nevermore's time. I'm going to take her to the prisoner. I want you to clean up the rest of these bodies. Loot for anything of value and load them into our waste receptacle. We'll dump them into the nearest star. Make sure the security footage is erased too."There were cameras all over the platform area. He was quite surprised that none automated alarms had gone off. Then again, Lute had paid a handsome sum for explicit privacy. He gusseed the Port Authority took that arrangement seriously. Still, Lute needed to think up a good reason for all the damage. Perhaps he blame it on some sort of engine malfunction. The ramp to the ship was messed up from Prince Uno's spell. Lute concentrated for a moment and restored it to its previous state using a variation of Magic Materialization. Turning, he gave Lilth a curt nod before ascending into the bowels of the ship. He led her to the cargo hold. Inside the yellow skinned xno prisoner sat in the same chair, slumped forward. He was out like a light, no doubt from the exhaustive questioning and torture the past few days. Lute slapped his face for a few times, waking him. "I've brought someone who would like to have a word with you."After the xeno was coherent, Lute stumbled over and lleaned against a cargo crate, wincing from the unbearable pain in his chest.
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Post by Lilith Nevermore on Aug 22, 2018 3:19:00 GMT -5
Even as the foe vanished into eternity, Lilith’s thirst for violence was only barely sated. She could still feel every last bit of it... The hate that numbed her mind, the rage that burned in her muscles... And the vivid taste of blood in her mouth. A sickly cough escaped her lungs, painting the air red. No... Not now. She didn’t have time to deal with this. There was work to do. Ignoring the duo assessing the damage, she took the moment to regain her breath and composure. To find her mask again. She straightened her back and brushed the stray strands of hair back into order. There... Much better. Only perfection was acceptable.
Following the Namekian into the cargo hold, the young witch voiced something of a small concern. "Since I had to spend my second strongest dispel on saving you, I’m going to have to... improvise." As it had come to this, she decided to share a tiny detail, a miniscule secret, something that was only relevant right now. "The Nevermore Shattering cannot be cast by a single witch, a safety restriction to ensure it would never be used by one family member against another." Yet she didn’t sound even the slightest bit worried. "However... Such restrictions mean very little to a genius such as myself." Because she had a plan. She had been saving a portion of her strength for this exact situation.
The young witch gathered her focus, trying to clear the rest of the scorching hate from her mind. "From Hell’s heart I summon thee..." She flicked her wand at the floor and an infernal symbol formed on command. "Come forth, o’ honored grand witch, Lucia Nevermore." In a flash of flames, a spooky sight appeared before her. It was a translucent woman glowing with a spectral light. With a deathly pale visage, shining crimson eyes and flowing mauve hair, she shared an eerie resemblance to Lilith. Though she was clearly a bit taller and more... erm... mature. Her voluptuous figure was wrapped in expensive, yet bloodstained dress, while a deep stab wound in her chest seemed all too fresh. It was as if she had been suspended in the moment of her death...
After a brief glance around, the ghostly witch smiled gently at the summoner. Though her painted lips didn’t move, her haunting voice drifted in the air for everyone to hear. "Ara ara~ I do hope you have a good reason for summoning me through a servant portal, darling." Lilith bowed her, a bit deeper than just a normal nod. "Yes, mother. I wish to cast the Nevermore Shattering spell." The sense of reverence was clear in her voice, a rare tone reserved for the select few she considered higher in hierarchy than herself.
However, the mother in question had already drifted over to Lute. Taking a good, long look at his frame, she brought a hand to her cheek. "Ara~? Have you found yourself a thrall already? And such a handsome, strapping lad too~!" The daughter shifted awkwardly. A hint of red painted her pale cheeks as she muttered through gritted teeth. "Mother..." Her mutter was cheerily waved aside though. A translucent hand reached to trace a cold touch over the man’s muscles. "It’s quite alright, darling. Honestly, I don’t mind the race as long as he is capable of providing-" By now the budding blush flared into a furious flush. "Mother! Can we please focus on the task at hand?!" Raising her voice so suddenly left her coughing afterwards. Red droplets stained the hand quickly covering her mouth. It worked at least. "Hm~ If you insist, darling." She offered the alien a warm smile, just a little too warm actually, before drifting away.
Lilith walked up to the prisoner and pressed her left hand against his misshapen excuse of a head. Her mother floated behind her and placed hands on her shoulders. "Sir Lute." The young noble extended her right hand for the alien, offering a warning as well. "I’ve been told this memory transfer spell is not exactly a pleasant experience. I’m sure you can manage it, but just so you have time to prepare." The last thing she needed now was the wounded acquaintance dying on her...
Once the Namekian took the hand, the process could begin. Ancient symbols appeared on the bound alien’s skull. "By the dark powers bound to my clan I command thee... May all locks open, all binds shatter and all secrets be known. Nevermore Shattering." A sound reminiscent of breaking glass echoed the joined minds. Surges of raw mana singed the air. "Memory Siphon." It was like a wild vortex, draining knowledge from one pool and jettisoning it into another. By the end of it, the prisoner had been reduced to a drooling husk, barely even alive anymore. Hopefully the Namekian had a stronger mind than that. Words: 826 [Total = 5671] Lute
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Post by Lute on Aug 22, 2018 15:49:06 GMT -5
It was everything the Namekian could do to remain conscious as Lilth worked out another spell. He closed his eyes for a second, separating his mind from the very real suffering of his body. It wasn't easy to meditate in such a haphazard way, especially when he felt an icy chill course over him. It spurred him back to reality. His lids had been closed for far longer than a second, that was clear. He backpedaled back a few steps in surprised as a spectral witch drifted close and began her examination of him. Being a Namekian, Lute didn't quite know how to respond to such obvious advances. He knew well enough Earthlings and many other species with multiple sexes found pleasure in intimacy. But, his people did not. The flirtation fell a bit flat. Still, it was clear this woman recognized his well honed physique, something he was rather proud of. All it did was boost his ego even more. However, she said one thing that irked him a little. "I am no thrall, spirit. I am Lute of the Demon Clan and I shall soon become the next Demon King."That was the first time Lute spoke out loud of his real ambition. It was very threshold he felt he needed to cross before he could dream about taking on the gods. The words leaving his lips felt a bit hollow and sparse though. He was compensating for his lack of accomplishment. Sure, he had been an assassin for years. But, more so he had lived as an outcast and a criminal. There was little for him to hang over his mantle with that. Pride was often a folly, and he realized that. Still, it was a part of his nature that he had a hard time correcting. Lute went to Lilth and accepted her open hand. His own was at least double the size, engulfing her small pink fingers completely with green. The warning appreciated. Lute however had little worry. Despite his injured condition, his mind was sharp as ever. Years of meditation and focus during his Dragon Clan training more than prepared him for such tribulations. As if detecting the arcane symbols surrounding his head, the xeno woke. He jerked back in the chair, eyes wide with horror. No doubt the last thing he had been expecting was some witch probing his mind. "No, no no," he muttered. "Oh gods please." Lute sneered. "The gods won't save you. You should have been strong enough to save yourself."Lilth put the final punctuation on the spell and the memories bowled over Lute's psyche with the force of a freight train. He grunted, his grip going slack on Lilth's hand. Thoughts, emotions, and images all foreign and very real flooded his thoughts, drowning out any other ones he may have. It was the equivalent to hundreds of petabytes of information being uploaded into his mind all at once. Reeling, he let go and pinched the tip of his of his nose, eyebrows drawn into a deep furrow. He stumbled a few steps and leaned against the bulkhead with his forearm as dizziness and pain coursed through his skull. The memories would take a while to sift through with plenty of deep meditation. Lute had to at least see his guest off for now and show his appreciation for her help. Within a moment, the suffering ceased and he regained composure. Meanwhile, the xeno was left a catatonic state, all of the intelligence and fear gone out of his eyes. Both of his eyes stared off down the tunnel of nothingness. He would no longer be smuggling anything, let alone spilling secrets. Lute righted himself and shuffled along, escorting Lilith back outside. Marte was following orders, tossing bodies across the platform. He looked up at his master, hopeful. Lute only nodded back at the teen to confirm the deed was done. "I am wholly impressed," Lute said and folded his arms. He locked his dark eyes with Lilth's own crimson ones. "And have earned yourself a powerful ally. I remember the favors those have done for me and also I take my word seriously. This city, Hollow, has lost one of their princes thanks to you. No doubt you have made it easier for me to capture it for my own. I will send for you once I do and you may peruse their libraries and secrets free as you wish."He paused for a second as a tossed Aetherguard body landed rolled. "However, fear that their secrets will pale in comparison to what you already know," Lute said. Perhaps that was the risk she took in helping out. "If I can be of assistance in any other way, I'm sure you can find me."
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Post by Lilith Nevermore on Aug 23, 2018 4:06:21 GMT -5
As the spell’s effects faded away, so did the caster’s strength. She collapsed to her knees, gasping for air. Each breath stung like a shard of glass digging into her lungs. The spirit was quick to take note of the summoner’s wavering health. "Darling...? Is there something you wish to tell me?" Yet still the prideful daughter waved the worries aside. "I am fine, mother... Just a little tired..." Naturally the mother wasn’t buying the lie. "Hm, obviously. You know, there is no shame in asking for he-" The mere mention of the word had the girl tensing up and raising her voice. If only briefly. "Mother! Please..." The spirit could only shake her head silently.
Following Lute’s lead, Lilith gingerly stepped outside. She was trying her hardest to hide the pain behind the cold mask. "As you rightfully should..." Still she puffed her meager chest with pride. Yes, the Namekian was absolutely correct with every last shred of praise he could spare. She offered few nods to the explanation. "Sounds fine to me... I shall be looking forward to hearing about your success..." She didn’t even bother considering failure as an option. This strange man... Lute of the Demon Clan, the future Demon King... He wouldn’t stop until he had what he wanted, would he? She could respect that.
Meanwhile, the ghostly witch had taken note of the hardworking teen. Coyly she approached from behind, seeking to wrap him into a soft, yet cold embrace. "Ara~! Aren’t you a cute one~? Oh my, and strong too~!" She turned her gaze to the daughter and called out oh so innocently. "Darling, how about this one? I foresee he would make a fine fat-" Again the questionable suggestion was shot down. "Mother! Please leave the reprobate out of this!" The ghost blinked, surprised but not really disappointed. It was more the opposite in fact. "Ah, well, if you’re not going to enslave him..." She licked her lips, eyes shining with predatory anticipation.
Lilith wasn’t having any of... whatever this was about to become. With a wave of hand, the same infernal symbol appeared on the ground below the spirit. "Oops. My concentration is wavering. The spell is coming undone. So sorry, mother." Her deadpan delivery may have slightly undermined the supposed sincerity. Not that the mother seemed to mind. Even as the Hellish energies started pulling her back down, she merely smiled. "Hm, it’s quite alright. Everyone dies eventually. And I have nothing but time these days." She gave the boy one more glance, wagging a beckoning finger. "Do try to die and come to Hell soon, boy~ We can make it a date~!" And in a flash of flames, she was gone. ...Much to the embarrassed girl’s immense relief.
With the business concluded, for now, the young witch turned to leave. Her broom rose from the floor and swiftly zoomed to her side. Taking hold of it, she paused to ponder for a moment. True, the hidden secrets might not be any match for her brilliance. But then again, what was? "As for... any other assistance..." A twinge of pain stopped her. She had to cough into her palm, desperately trying to cover the crimson droplets. "I... shall consider it..." If she didn’t die before that. Was it bad that she saw death as a preferable alternative to asking him to ease her pain and maybe even save her life? Hmph, no matter. Just deep breaths... "Now if you excuse me... I need a long bath..." Sitting on the broom, she quietly drifted through the doors and vanished into the night. Despite all the pain, exhaustion... and embarrassment... this encounter would hopefully prove very valuable. In time... Words: 630 [Total = 6301] Lute
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