Birds of a Feather [COMPLETED] | Page 3

Aaron cursed as the blade of his sword melted, leaving it essentially useless to him now. He nodded when Jack began to cast his spell. "It better work, it looks like it's our only hope, now!" He called back, tossing his now useless sword down on the ground away from him.

He frowned at the phoenix. He wasn't particularly familiar with any lore in which a phoenix was an evil being. It nearly always represented rebirth, hope, life. Everything a paladin should stand for. So why was this one evil and wicked? It had to be a curse. It had to be.

Jack did say to pray... were there gods in this world? Would they answer? It was worth a shot. "Light, gods, whatever force of good can hear me. We could use a fuckin' hand here!" Aaron prayed, perhaps a bit sacriligiously.

He watched as the phoenix dived toward Sagittarius even as Jack's spell was reaching it. 'No!" Aaron shouted, diving forward to put his own body in the path of the attack, protecting the doe in the process. He would sacrifice himself to buy the time needed to save them both, if that was what it took. He prayed it was not what it would take, but resolved in his heart that it was a price he would be willing to pay if he had to.

 

Still standing behind the creature as it began to shed its outer guise, the white magician would give his companion a look of understanding and a slow nod. Hopefully Aaron would understand that they were to strike while the iron was still hot. By this point Jack was at his limit regarding these charades. As the transformation was occurring, his fingers began subconsciously dancing through the in-game interface without even looking. He had had enough with these mind games, so much so that he hadn’t even waited for the creature to finish its short monologue.

"I'd bE morE IMprESsed if yOu—“

Without warning a pillar of holy light would cascade down from the creature, smashing into it violently with a ray of purification as it attempted to erase its existence from this plane. The beam would continue to bath down upon the monstrosity, burning away at its impurities. Should the enemy attempt to move, it’d find that the burning light would follow it with a hellishly relentless persistence. “Sorry mate, but I’ve had my fill of shenanigans for today. Do me a favor and just die already, will ya?”

@Aaron Marone

 

Aaron did indeed catch Jack's nod and subtle hints at what was to come. He too opened up his menu and prepared a smite-like spell. At the exact same time as Jack's spell launched, so too would Aaron's, a second pillar of holy light slammed into the evil creature, or whatever it was. "Really, I'm getting really fucking tired as shit of all these assholes fucking turning into something else once we defeat them," he said. He turned his head toward Sagittarius. "Uh, not you. You're fine. Well, I mean, the latest one was fine. The first time you changed, not so much. But also, I'm really tired of assholes just changing into different things in general."

Aaron would then open up his menu and cast the smiting spell a second time. "Really, I'm just venting now. I'm fucking pissed. Like, seriously. It happens one time, yeah, sure, cool twist. It happens a second time, okay, not too bad. It happens a third time? No. Three times is too many."

"Right then, Jack. I suppose next we need to find that phoenix girl, and the real one this time, so we can get that feather. As much as I'm not looking forward to that boat ride home, I'm getting tired of this island, fucking everything being a fucking shapechanger or cursed or some shit or another."
(@Lyre I'll be honest, I am loving this so far, just Aaron isn't haha)

 

Aaron blinked, very slowly. Briefly, he was wondering if perhaps the game was glitching, or if all of this was some cruel joke from a sadistic developer, or worse, a developer who'd found out he was about to be fired, and put something in to fuck with the people firing him. Sure, he knew that the NPCs were supposed to be fully autonomous, and not have external coding, but this was getting a bit ridiculous, he felt.

He barked a laugh when the creature said the phoenix could have been saved. "See, now I know you're just bullshitting," he said. "The magic that phoenix was hit with was a remove curse spell. No offensive capabilities, no damage in and of itself. The state of that bird right now is exactly how it should be had it not been cursed. That means you did that to the phoenix, not us. You. I'm gonna go with you have some weird fetish, needing to be in control of everything you can be, and anything you can't is part of some 'master plan' of something that probably doens't even give two shits about you. But I'm gonna particularly go out on a limb here."

Aaron pulled up his menu and activated a defensive spell grant him defense against unholy magic, and then took a step forward so that his boot was touching some of the black goo. "Most psychopaths do what they do because they think they have some form of connection to their victim. A lot of times, it's romantic. I think, in some twisted part of your mind, you were in love with the phoenix. Or at least, who you thought she was. Maybe you didn't know she was a phoenix during that time, and it was learning the truth that she wasn't human that did this to you? I don't know, I don't care. My point is this - I want you to know something. You traded someone who actually might have loved you for something that is using you as a tool to do nothing but destroy and corrupt. Love doesn't hurt people. Love is patient, it's kind. It's slow to anger, but most importantly, it's quick to forgive. Love and hope are two emotions pretty closely tied together, you know."

Aaron smiled. "I've remembered something. Do you know what the phoenix is the symbol of? Hope. Almost every culture in history has had some legend of a being that could die and be revived, and quiet often that being was a benevolent one. And every single time that such a creature was good, it was said to bring hope, and be drawn to hope. Some even to the point that it's very powers came from hope." He pointed toward the pile of ashes. "Hope. Hope is a powerful thing. Because wherever there is hope, there's life. That's what the entire story of the phoenix is about. Hope. Love. Life. Look closely at that pile of ashes. Do you regret anything? What would you do if you could see the phoenix again? I believe that everyone, somewhere inside of them, desire forgiveness for the sins they have committed, above all else. Some of us have to earn that forgiveness. Some of us need to ask for that forgiveness. And others of us, to be forgiven... need only hope."

 

Frustration was literally the only remaining feel that remained in the lad as he continued to watch the game toy with their emotions. Just what on earth was wrong with these game developers? Did one perhaps have some sort of fetish with regards to shedding layers? Perhaps one was a fan of onions and had opted to mimic the physical structure of one in the form of a story board. Either way, things had gotten a bit ridiculous the more he began to think about it.

Jesus Christ, what’s next? Is that damned thing gonna shed another layer and turn into Cancer the Crab? Because that’s literally what this story line is giving me. I wonder if the game has a “report bug” feature so they can look into this defective thing…

Though perhaps a bit harsh this internal train of thought accurately reflected his current thoughts on the matter. His mind would quickly snap back to reality however as Aaron’s immediate retort had snagged his curiosity. Perhaps he was right. The logic was sound enough considering the magic used and the current state of the phoenix. Had the enemy simply been bluffing them all along? As much as he’d hate to admit it, Jack had already bought into the dead phoenix. Considering the flames were doused and all but alive, chances were fairly high that perhaps the bird actually was dead.

One thing was clear however, the phoenix’s state, whether alive or not, would most likely not save them. Rather than relying on purely theoretical chance, the magician had already slowly recovered from the previous surprise assault and had already begun to take action of his own. His fingers slowly dancing about the interface once more, he’d watch the creature’s reactions in response to Aaron’s provocations very carefully. Were any signs of faltering to appear, he’d take advantage of the distraction and unleash yet another spell (Remove Curse) at the deformed monstrosity in hopes of perhaps reversing his condition as well. After all, most black magic was of the negative ilk. Should something end up empowering a creature, more likely than not it was just another curse disguised as a blessing.


@Lyre

 

"Did you make Lina suffer? Did she beg for mercy?" Aaron asked the wretched creature. "How long did she suffer before she died? Did you torture her? Or did you kill her swiftly, some part of that twisted mind of yours wanting to spare her as much as you could?" Aaron took a step toward the creature once again. He held his arms out wide and stared the creature in the face. "Did you even mean to kill her?" He asked. "I know what it's like to kill someone you didn't mean to. To take a life when all you intended was to get the fighting to stop. I don't know if that's what you did. But taking a life is a terrible burden, especially when you don't know if you had to take it. When something still could have been done. When you could have still rejected the path you were on. Sometimes, the sacrifices and mistakes we make become chains that drag us down. We tell ourselves so much has already been pain to walk this path, it would be a waste to turn from it now. But I don't believe that's the case. The people we've loved are always with us, always inside of us. Their memory, if nothing else, urges us to turn back, to let their loss not be a burden that drags us further into darkness, but a reason to stop and turn back to the light."

Aaron sighed and shook his head. "No, you won't hear me beg. You won't hear me ask for mercy. Sure, maybe you will make me suffer. But I will stand here. I will take every slash of your claws, every bite of your tooth, every arcanal blast of your magic. Maybe you'll kill me, just like you killed Lina. But I want you to know something - I will be back. I'm not a phoenix, like Lina. I won't revive in a blaze of glory and fire. But you will see me again. Every time you close your eyes, you'll see me. You'll see yourself clawing into me, and you will know what you did. You had a chance at redemption, at turning back, and you threw it away. And in that moment, you proved you were never worthy of Lina's love. So go ahead. Strike me down. Become whatever it is that this 'synra' wanted you to become. You'll never have peace again. The only rest that will come to you will come with such an ache in your chest, because then you will know what you had feared all along. That you never deserved Lina." Aaron rolled his shoulders. He grinned viciously. "Then, one day. You'll see something out of the corner of your eye. Maybe he's just another adventurer. That's probably all he'll be - just enough regular man like myself. But I promise you, something about him will remind you of this moment, of me standing here like this. And you'll hesitate. You wonder if this is a -third- chance for you to do the right thing. But here's the thing - we don't get third chances. You will hesitate, and that time you will die, and not even Syrna will be able to bring you back."

 

A soft snort sounded from the magician as he’d listen to the creature rave on about how his new form was a blessing rather than a curse. Although he personally didn’t buy it, the fact that his magic had been unsuccessfully showed that perhaps there was a bit of truth to the insanity behind the monstrosity’s words? It was then that the monologue had started. For whatever reason, Aaron had again gone off mouthing at the creature rather than simply handling it the good ole fashion way with fire and brimstone or whatever other holy nonsense there was to be had. He couldn’t technically hold the man to fault however considering that his taunts seemed fairly effective and thus in turn spared Jack of a much more painful fate. This opportunity wouldn’t go to waste as his fingers continued to browse through the game interface as he searched for a specific spell he hadn’t tried before.

The dark haired man would add his side quips however along the paladin’s speech, simply as irrelevant commentary. No, you won't hear me beg. ”Good for you buddy.” You won't hear me ask for mercy. “Yeah… that might change in a bit.” I will take every slash of your claws, every bite of your tooth… “Please don’t do that. I’m the healer…” I will be back. “Shoulda done that in a terminator voice.” You proved you were never worthy of Lina's love. “Aaron used taunt! Super effective.” Maybe he's just another adventurer. “Poor guy…” And you'll hesitate. “He’s already hesitating man.” …and not even Syrna will be able to bring you back—“Oh hey! I found the spell!”

With a soft exclamation of delight, he’d gleefully mutter under his breath after finally scrolling to the correct entry he had been looking for. Perhaps it took longer than it should since he had accidentally swept past it the first time around. With the simple press of a button, a strange trickle of holy light would flow out from the man’s finger and swarm around the creature as if a mist (Dispel Magic). Slowly but surely it’d begin eating away at whatever magical traces remained in his body. Sure, perhaps it wasn’t a curse, but clearly this gift was some form of boon that could be eaten away at, right? "BY THE POWER OF GREYSKULL, AWAY WITH YOU!"

@Lyre

 

Aaron groaned as the beast rent into his flesh with its attacks. The first few hits had been spared him by his armor, but it didn't take long for the attacks to reach his body. He shouted in pain, but refused to let himself form words from his suffering. He dropped to his knees, lacking the energy to stand, even as the creature licked his blood with its tongue.

He could only watch as Jack's spell brought the creature's attention away from Aaron. He could only watch as the beast became even more deformed and twisted, yet somehow still didn't die. He could only watch as the creature prepared a spell that even looking at made Aaron's heart sink, made a tiny fear egg it's way into his heart that he would never see light again, looking at that darkness. And he could only watch as, shrouded in flames, a phoenix came to save the day. Not Lina, but her sister, Molly.

Aaron forced himself to stand, shakily. He took a step toward the wretched creature and opened up his spell menu once again. Wracked with grief like it was now, there was no way this thing would be able to avoid a spell of any kind. "Go to hell," he spat, slamming his finger on the button to cast a smite spell at the beast. Holy light would fill the room, as powerfully as the shadows had before. Every trace of those shadows left the room, dispelled by bright and powerful light, which would slam toward the abomination like a divine hammer. But for Aaron, and perhaps for Jack, had the shadows affected him, the light was warm. It was peaceful. Something within the light seemed to whisper out to them. "Do not give up hope."

With the last of his energy spent, Aaron would fall forward, face first unto the ground. The light of the room faded peacefully into the shade of unconsciousness.

 

The mage’s eyes watched on coldly as events had begun to unfold. Understanding that perhaps he’d register his character’s first death, a soft exhale was made as he’d shrug and look towards his companion with an “it couldn’t be helped” look. If the quest simply desired to off him that badly, who was he to argue against the laws of this world?

Fate seemed to have a different ending in mind however as an even more cruel twist had unwound before his very eyes. With the interception by yet another familiar figure, Jack found himself unscathed. But at what cost?

Fist clenched and eyes simmering with a barely bridled wrath, he’d follow suit with Aaron and dive into his interface. His fingers trembled with each button press as he’d finally stop upon the same spell his counterpart had prepared. It seemed as though they were of the same mind for once. “To hell with you, and to hell with your sob story. There’s nobody to blame but yourself.” He’d mutter under his breath angrily while slamming against the last portion of the interface to confirm the cast (Smite).

As if the system had read their intentions, yet another bright and powerful light almost identical to Aaron’s would slam toward the abomination like a divine hammer. As the light began to subside, he’d strain his eyes to bear witness to the aftermath. Was it finally over?

@Lyre