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Post by shiningdrake on Sept 21, 2009 13:09:39 GMT -7
Shara opened her eyes when she realized she was in the new world, and looked around. She seemed to be in a fancy room, reminding her of the times she'd visited the castle back where she was from. But where was Brian? Why wasn't he there with her? Had he not come yet, or what? He shouldn't be left alone, he got scared so easily, and he wasn't that great at fighting by himself if something happened.
Shara decided to try and look for him, and opened the door to the room and walked out, calling, "Brian? Where are you?" She got no answer as she continued to search the halls, looking for him.
"Where... Where am I...?" wondered Brian aloud. "Shara? Where are you... Shara?!" Brian was so afraid... He felt so alone... He looked over at the door to the room he was in, and began walking toward it. However, just as he was about to open it, he heard that horrible voice... You're planning on opening that door? But just imagine what might be on the other side~ But what happens if you're discovered somewhere you're not supposed to be? This looks as if it's in some kind of castle... If it's owned by a cruel king, he'll execute you. And without Shara, you can't fight your way out...
Its attempt to scare him worked. Brian was suddenly too terrified to think of that he would likely be found if he just stayed put as well if such a thing were the case. He backed away from the door, and sat in the corner on the opposite side of the room, shivering. Oh, how he wished Shara were here... He felt so pathetic, too scared to do a thing without someone protecting him... But that didn't change a thing. He was too scared to go on and try to find a way out of here... It didn't help that the voice was going into gruesome details of various tortures that might happen...
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Post by Schala on Sept 21, 2009 13:19:01 GMT -7
It was a spontaneous decision to make, but then again, that was Saeryin.
Just that morning, the idea had popped into her head. Go to the Palace of the Earth Spirits and find some gems to adorn her katanas.
She made her way to the door Brian was behind. What was in here? Something good?
She opened the door and spotted a young man in a corner. Judging by his apparent fear she guessed he was an outsider.
"Hello!" she said enthusiastically. "My name is Saeryin. Welcome to Gensokyo!"
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Post by ataru on Sept 24, 2009 17:24:05 GMT -7
The underground... It was only a natural choice for the Grimoire to search there for energies. The sun could not shine its overly bright light and shadows were plentiful and deep among the halls of the palace.
Despite his preference for the locale, the Grimoire was still very nervous. His knuckles were white with strain as he gripped the book close to himself. He had managed to hear a few rumors about the strong youkai living in this place. On the one hand, this was good since strong youkai meant lots of energy to draw in. On the other... it also meant the Grimoire could be in grave danger.
He took deep breaths and tried to calm his head. As long as he had the shadows and darkness and his speed he would be alright. And he wouldn't go right for the boss. No, he aimed to wander along some of the side halls and deeper passages looking for weaker youkai serving in the palace that he could start with.
He had almost gotten used to the Spell Cards, though he felt restricted by them. He knew there was deeper powers hidden within the book, but he didn't have enough energy to pull them out. If he could just collect a little he could become much stronger...
No! He shook his head back and forth hard. All the energy he got would be used to give everyone else material forms. He couldn't let himself get greedy even if he was successful.
And so it was, deep in thought and dreaming of winning lots of battles and returning to his master's tower victorious that Grimoire almost ran right into the back of Saeryin as she stood in front of the door she had opened.
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Post by shiningdrake on Sept 28, 2009 17:46:35 GMT -7
Brian heard a creaking sound as the door opened. He looked up, and saw a girl there. She said hello to him rather suddenly and enthusiastically, intrroducing herself as Saeryin, and welcoming him to "Gensokyo" Brian replied, startled, "G-Gensokyo? Is that what this place is called?" And then, "Wait, h-how did you know that I'm not from around here?"
Brian was clearly still terrified, even as he shakily got to his feet. He didn't want to get caught off guard if she attacked... While she did seem friendly, that only made Brian slightly less scared, he was still afraid that something else might happen. He also thought he heard the footsteps of someone behind her as well...
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Post by Schala on Sept 28, 2009 18:07:37 GMT -7
Saeryin just smiled.
"Well, you seemed to be a scaredy-cat, and most people raised here are not, so I just guessed, but it was a good guess."
She turned to see the Grimore standing next to her.
"Hi!" she said before turning back to Brian.
"Anyway, I only came here to get jewels for my katanas, but if you want to get out of here, I know the way. Follow me!"
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Post by ataru on Sept 28, 2009 18:48:39 GMT -7
"Eh... Eh!?" The Grimoire took a moment to recoil as he was greeted and then brushed off with equal deference. Even though it was a surprise to have almost run into the girl, to be completely overlooked was an even greater shock.
He was young, in both spiritual and human terms, but he was at least old enough to have a little selfish pride, and to be overlooked in such a fashion. Maybe if he had attacked first they would have paid attention. Grr.... The Grimoire tightened his grip on the book and gritted his teeth a little. Maybe these two were really weak, that's why they didn't want to face him. Or maybe they were running back to report his presence to the great spirit who lived in the castle (regardless of the girl's words).
Whichever! He wasn't about to let them just run off! His first chance at prey, and in such an advantageous location!
Bounding through the shadows The Grimoire passed the two and skidded to a halt in front of them, spreading his arms in dramatic display.
"STOP! Don't think running away will save you! Your opponent is me, the master's Grimoire! I'll defeat you both and take all your energy back to the tower for my friends! Draw your cards or I'll strike you down where you stand!!"
Of course he was in such a hurry that he hadn't drawn his own cards either... but oh well. A look of stubborn determination was on the youkai's young face and he looked like he wouldn't budge without a fight of some kind.
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Post by shiningdrake on Sept 28, 2009 20:35:12 GMT -7
She'd assumed that he wasn't from here solely because he wasn't a scaredy cat? Either something was seriously wrong with her reasoning, or this was an extremely strange world he'd ended up in... He wasn't sure which was worse. Suddenly, a young boy with... Cat ears...? appeared in front of both of them, then threatened them.
When Brian recovered from the shock just enough to speak (still having no idea what the boy had meant by cards) he stuttered, "Wh-what?" The boy seriously looked like he wasn't going to leave without a fight. "I guess I'll have to fight then..." he said as much to himself as anybody else.
Brian held his right hand out to his side, clenched into a fist, and concentrated. Darkness came out, and then form into a long pole with a blade at the end, his naginata. He held it out shakily in front, between him and this strange boy, then did his best to focus through his fear and cast a spell...
A small glyph appeared directly under the cat-eared boy, and in just two seconds, a beam of powerful dark energy would erupt from it. Hopefully the "Grimoire" as he'd called himself wouldn't notice it...
Shara was getting tired of continuing to shout, and so she'd began simply opening doors checking to see if Brian was behind them. As she kept searching, she thought she faintly heard a voice in the distance, echoing through the halls. It said something like "stop" but it wasn't clear from this distance... However, it did sound like a shout, and that might mean some sort of conflict... If it involved Brian...
Shara quickly began running toward the direction she'd heard the sound from, making her best guess whenever the hall branched in two different directions. Her metal boots clanged loudly with her hurried steps as she ran through the halls, echoing and letting anybody nearby that she was there.
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Post by Schala on Sept 29, 2009 13:11:01 GMT -7
Wow. A threat from a small boy. That was extremely inpolite, especially considering Saeryin had greeted him nicely enough. Okay, it might have only been for a quick bit, but she had had a conversation to get back to.
Saeryin did not want to be attacked, so might as well explain.
"I'm sorry...I was in the middle of a conversation with scaredy-cat boy here, and when I saw you I thought I would greet you politely, so I can't see why you threatened me. I mean, how strong can a kid like you get?* This place isn't safe with the youkai living here and all, but I know what I'm doing. You don't."
She didn't notice Brian's spellcard.
(*You haven't seen anything yet, Saeryin.)
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Post by ataru on Sept 29, 2009 14:06:16 GMT -7
The Grimoire calmed down a little as Saeryin explained to him... and in doing so failed to notice the glyph despite it being dark-elemental, which would normally be his forte. After Saeryin finished the Grimoire shrugged and looked away with a sullen expression.
"Apology accepted but... I have a promise to keep, so I would fight you either way!"
With renewed determination he held up one of his spellcards and prepared to use it. However, it was at that very moment that Brian's spell went off. Due to his reflexes the Grimoire managed to escape the full effect of the blast, but even slight damage was enough to shake the young spirit. With wide, white eyes he stared at the spot where he had just been standing.
"H... He... Hey... That's not fair..." he said, his ears wilting a little as fear and shock made him shiver. It took him a second, but soon anger filled the cold space left by the fear and he glared at the two in pain and anger. "That's dirty! You weren't really apologizing! You just wanted to distract me so your partner could hit me with his spell! I'm definitely gonna defeat you both now!!"
Focusing, he called the power of the deep shadows of the underground to his hand.
"Shadow Seal! Black Saber!"
Once the energy was gathered he swept his arm around in a cutting motion, creating a blade of dark energy that he sent flying at the two.
"Say your prayers!!"
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Post by shiningdrake on Sept 29, 2009 15:48:02 GMT -7
A promise to keep? Brian didn't know what that meant, but he'd already activated the glyph, and he didn't have much of any choice anyway... His attack barely hit the boy, but it apparently still had enough effect to cause visible fear. His darkness had that effect on people it hit, which was a good thing considering how scared he normally was as well...
The boy said something about fighting dirty, accusing Saeryin of apologizing just as a distraction so Brian could attack. Brian shook his head, "I... I don't even know her... You attacked us... I... Why are you attacking us?!"
Unfortunately, the Grimoire wasn't listening. He'd cast a spell, and had just sent a blade of darkness toward Brian. "AAH!!!" he cried out. He knew he'd freeze up if he was hit by that... When he was struck by dark magic, his fear would be so magnified that he wouldn't be able to do anything...
He needed to do something... He hadn't frozen up yet... Brian focused power through his naginata, dark power enveloping the blade right before it sliced right through the blade that was coming toward him. This had to work... He was shaking (as usual) as it was, if that thing hit him...
Where was Shara? Brian almost thought he could hear her voice now...
"AAH!!!" Shara heard a cry, a bit less distant than what she'd heard before before. It sounded like Brian. "Brian?!" she shouted, and then forced herself to run even faster in the direction she'd heard it from. Her steps rang even more loudly through the halls...
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Post by Schala on Sept 29, 2009 16:01:23 GMT -7
Saeryin just looked in awe at the blade of darkness coming for her.
"Pretty..." she said.
Then the scaredy-cat sliced it.
Then it dawned on her. She was being attacked!
The glyph from earlier must've been the young man's work, as she could do nothing like that. She also knew where the kid was coming from, but how was she supposed to know that scaredy-cat had cast a spell?
Well, it was fight or flight, and Saeryin picked fight.
"Katana Sign--Phantom Spin!"
Saeryin's katanas were out, and she spun around faster and faster until she looked like a little black whirlwind. Partly from her dark hair and skirt, and partly from the weak black magic that was also included in the crazy pirouette. Saeryin of course was immune.
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Post by ataru on Oct 1, 2009 16:39:47 GMT -7
The Grimoire gritted his teeth as his spell was rendered useless against the two. Even though he had all kinds of shadows to work with he hadn't counted on the narrow quarters being so hard to negotiate. There were no tactics available to him but straight, obvious shots in these tunnels.
He was just about to gather the shadows for another spell when he heard a voice calling out behind him. His ears flicked, and he looked over his shoulder quickly.
"Reinforcements? Already? This... isn't good..." he spoke to himself aloud (conversation was still new to him, of course). He then spent a few tense moments looking from his two opponents to the dark tunnel behind him. If he left it like this he would be caught in between. He had to think of something fast...
Suddenly he looked up. The ceiling wasn't too low... he should be able to make it if he was quick enough. He drew in a deep breath and gathered the shadows into energy again. He then took a running start and leaped into the air. As he attempted to vault over Brian and Saeryin he shot off another blade of darkness down at them, just in case they decided to, you know, knock him out of the air or something horrible like that.
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Post by shiningdrake on Oct 1, 2009 17:19:21 GMT -7
Yes! The blade of darkness had stopped when Brian sliced it! Then, suddenly, he heard a voice "Brian?!" That was.. "Shara?!" he called back, hardly believing it. Yes! She was here! He'd be alright! The Grimoire on the other hand, didn't sound too happy, even outright scared at the thought of reinforcements.
Brian didn't feel nearly as scared anymore, and he was thinking more clearly now. His opponent was distracted... He could probably end this fight right now! He began casting a more powerful spell this time, hopefully enough to knock the other boy out, or at the very least get him to try and stop attacking.
The spell he used had beams of darkness come from ten different directions above, then all join together and go straight down. However, as focused as he was on casting the spell, he didn't notice when the Grimoire started moving... Or threw the blade of darkness. Brian activated the spell immediately before he was hit. Inexplicable, incredible terror washed over him as he was struck by the dark magic, and he slumped to the ground, simply shaking, too terrified to move.
The beams of darkness would shoot out from about the level the Grimoire had jumped to. Even if he wasn't at the center, it was quite a possibility that they would strike him, though the smaller streams weren't as powerful as the center one.
Shara heard Brian call back, extremely close now. Not much further... She soon reached the room he was in, and saw a cat-eared boy sending a blade of dark magic toward Brian... No! Shara knew the effects it had on him... This wasn't good...
She didn't understand why the one attacking Brian looked so young, but she couldn't just let this happen! She focused, and unleashed a fairly wide, but weak, wave of flames toward the boy. While she was doing this, his attack had hit Brian. "No!" she cried out, as she drew her sword and charged toward the cat-eared boy.
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Post by Schala on Oct 1, 2009 19:25:07 GMT -7
Saeryin's spell was obviously ineffective, so she stopped.
The insanity dance died down, and soon one could see the figure of Saeryin and her katanas, then all the black magic faded, and they could be seen clearly.
Just then, she saw a bolt of darkness coming toward her. Aaaaa! What to do--
Then some new beams of darkness started attacking the catboy. Must be scardey-cat's work. That was when she noticed Brian was about to get hit, and instinctively stepped aside.
Oh my. The beam did manage to partially hit Saeryin, but not enough for a serious wound, thank goodness. It was also challanging her beliefs about strength. Perhaps kids weren't so weak after all.
Suddenly, a new face. A girl, in fact. She had screamed "No!" and charged at the kid. Saeryin drew back, clutching her hurt side. He had attacked them, but he was still only a kid*...
"Stop!" she cried.
(*Total lunatic proven. One moment she doesn't care what his age is, the next moment...)
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Post by ataru on Oct 2, 2009 18:39:55 GMT -7
In mid-air the Grimoire found it impossible to dodge, so one or two of the beams from Brian's spell managed to graze him, thus throwing him off his original 'flight path'. To make matters worse the wave of flame followed him. As he saw it, as he flew through the air, it seemed as if time slowed down. The fire hungrily reached for him, catching up to him. Desperate fear grew in his chest. His reactions locked and he was unable to gather his energy for any kind of defense. He was helpless.
The flames managed to catch up with him just barely before he completed the arc of his jump and 'landed' on the other side of Brian and Saeryin. He landed hard, on his back, but that was the least of his worries. Since he was not yet disconnected enough from his original form the flammability of an old paper book still remained with the boy. Though there was very little flame it caught on him easily and part of his cloak and arm began to burn.
"F... Fir... Fire! Not fire! Not fire not fire not fire not fire iyaaaaaah!" the Grimoire's desperate cries echoed loudly in the tunnel. Clutching his book protectively while still trying to hold it away from the flames he dropped to the ground and began to roll back and forth in an attempt to put it out, but the fire seemed to only grow stronger as it took advantage of the Grimoire's weakness. "P- Put it out please! Please!"
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