Private - Indulgence

Stars darted the barren night sky. A simple slew of sparkles casting the faintest glows upon those silly enough to walk in the darkness of night. One such fool, walking the cobbled streets of some unknown town, bore the clothes of a noble; fitted in raven-like colors and golden seems. Crimson eyes crowned the shadowy silhouette, darting back and forth with each step as he rounded the empty alleyway and pressed into the night. The youth's thoughts bounced between what he knew and what he wanted to know. The random musings battling between myth and fact with little to no evidence of either. Moreover, he was conflicted. His choice in masteries being the subject of an internal debate he all to often found himself in.

"Tch."

So many things I don't understand. Even more, are the things I can't control. I still have a ways to go. "Tsk tsk." Perhaps I should have made a better plan when traveling. Norforva has been a trip I've made twice now and yielded no results regarding Elwora... or any of the Tora for that matter. The temples Zaveid spoke of remain yet to be seen. The rumors of them roaming the land proving false despite Vivian's claims. It seems I am just at a lost for all of this.

A hand pushed apart his bangs as soft exhale rolled from his chest; a puff cold air tumbling from his lips with each breath. Tugging the edges of his coat, he attempted to retain what little heat the thin cloth offered as he made his way down yet another alley. The soft glow of single lantern lit the darkened path; showing any that approached that the cobbled corridor ended with a stone building housing a small wooden door. The nearly faded sign reading "Atna's Librarium" to those that could read past missing ink from the name.

I wonder if this place holds the key to what I seek. The yladian mage from Dormont seemed pretty keen on learning all he could from this place. His words being that this place offered an expansive amount of knowledge and those who seek it should be wary of what they learn. However, I fear no novel. Spells and knowledge only prove to be an advantage, hopefully I can make use of it.

His steps softened as neared the entrance, only pausing as his hand grasped the knob. Turning slightly behind him, he glanced to a shadow not much further back.

"Care to reveal yourself? Or would you rather I pretend you don't exist?"

@Aurelia

 

The only light shining down in the dead of night was the twinkling of stars as if they were diamonds in the sky. The moon was in the stage of non-existent which made a certain cloaked figure quite elated to see. The dark of night being the only barrier between those that had malicious intent and those that flitted to the light side. At least that was the mindset that the specific cloaked figure held deep within their mind. The hood of the cloak seemed to rather eat away at the face of whatever was inside. It cast a rather long shadow across the opening in the hood, the only image that was produced through the shadow was that of a pair of 'glacier' eyes. They seemed ice cold, one would determine that they held no warmth and that they never shared an ounce of love. Yet, the hottest fires always turn blue. With that heat, the cloaked figure would prove that it was unforgiving and unforgettable.

The silence in the night had at once been interrupted, the cloaked figure taking a few steps to the left, taking to an alley way and hiding in the shadows that the building produced. The sound had been simple enough, as if someone had let out a sound of annoyance. The footsteps against the stone pavement were proof that the sound had indeed existed, if not then but now. A rather tall man, almost being two feet taller than the cloaked figure walked past. Only two things had become etched inside the mind of the cloaked figure, one being the way that the man dressed. He held about an air of arrogance and pride. As if he were of noble birth or of royal decent. The second thing that had driven its way into the mind of the shorter object of interest was that of the burning color that had glowed in the light of the millions of stars. The simple way to describe the color had been red. The color of blood, the color of the bloodshot eyes when someone where to have been done crying, the color of the heated cheeks as one were to tease another. The color red seemingly taking the shape of two eyes. Crimson orbs that glowed a path through almost every substance. Eyes that held malicious intent, much like the eyes of the cloaked figure. Yet contrasting at the same time, one remaining the color of fire, and one remaining the color of ice.

The general path of the unknown man seemingly had been heading towards the same destination that the cloaked figure had been. Towards "Atna's Librarium".. The palace of knowledge. The exact location where the cloaked figure would have been able to gain as much knowledge as they wanted on the Tora, and the path that they would have to take to gain contact with one of the deities of pure evil. Having been called out for the half-ass attempt that the figure had made in hiding their presence, rather than stepping out of the shadows the voice spoke, clear into the night. As if the chill of ice were biting into the air.

"Reveal yourself first, for then you might be worthy enough to gather sense of my pure presence."

@Oikawa Seijuro

 

The hair beneath his bangs but above his eyes furrowed. The quizzical look he achieved producing an air of arrogance surrounding it. The chilled voice of a woman pierced the cold blanket of night. Echoing ever so slightly off the stone canvas around them. His crimson orbs glowered, nose wrinkled, as she seemingly dodged his question and placing it below her own.

"Worthy?" The tall dark figure nearly chortled. A condescending smirk placating his features as his gaze pierced the shadows from which the voice hid. "Given your ego's 'pure' presence, it's safe to say that you are in fact a player and might I add that ladies go first."

Oikawa had much more to say to the cloaked figure, but given they new nothing about each other aside from genders, picking a fight with someone of an unknown level could surely prove to be a grave mistake. That said however, he would not standby as this stranger spoke obscenities from her lips.

More wisps of chilled air spiraled from his breath. Slipping into the air and dispersing in ghostly poofs as he drew in more of the frigid night. The lantern flickered throughout their exchange, flickering as his words bit into wind. For the moment, it remained still, only briefly flickering to life as he spoke once more.

"Well go on. Reveal yourself or hold your tongue. I will not ask a third time." The noirette grew impatient. On the one hand, he could be completely wrong in the fact that the woman was targeting him specifically. Years of paranoia told him otherwise. However, on the other hand, he could be right and confronting the tracker head on would be the most effective decision.

Light illuminated along his fingertips, his hand growing slightly warmer as the magic coursed through him. He made no sudden movements, but made it clear that if she so dared, he wouldn't hesitate in attacking her. Glancing to the shrouded woman, his blood colored gaze beckoned for her to answer or to act. Either option would suffice, though the consequences for each vastly differed.

@Aurelia

 

The very excuse that rolled off the tongue of the man was one that could be deemed the oldest in the book. Dating back to the creation of woman and man, the cloaked figure let out a scoff. "Tch." The very excuse having been that of a gentlemen, yet the eyes that had previously scanned the man seemed to make out that he was far from a gentleman. He seemed more the type of an evil villain. "Based on your own words you may be deemed a player as well." The eyes that glowed in the starlight narrowed lightly, taking note of his aggression, their location, their surroundings.

The breath of the man appeared in front of him, signifying how cold it actually was. The air biting at the cheeks of those who had not come prepared. The stone being a great help to the wind that seemed relentless, brushing across the cloak and causing it to sift ever so lightly. The source of light beaming with a light orange hue, one that the figure knew all too much.

"And neither will I. I have a purpose set forth, and I do not wish to entertain anyone despite who they may think that they are. Now, if you wish to stand out here fighting, feel free to. But I wish to not entertain these antics, I would rather indulge on the information I have set out to secure." The air surrounding Aurelia, the cloaked figure, seemingly vibrated as she spoke. The tips of her own fingers, revealing themselves ever so lightly, so that the man who still had to identify themselves could see the power that pulsed through them, at least powerful enough to see. The tips of her fingers, had a light glow, one that seemed of dark intent A type of glow that would overpower the light in any given situation. The magic that Aurelia had shown forth surged through her body, ready to take action if necessary. The icy, unforgiving eyes seemingly glowing darker with each moment that passed by.

At this exact moment, one might say it was a battle of pure supremacy.. Pure assertive behavior. Pure dominance. Between that of a tall male and that of a short female.

 

Frosted air swirled around the faint glow of the man's fingers. The small wisps of frigid wind dancing back and forth as the magic pulsated from within. The same dispersion could be seen at the hands of the cloaked woman. Though dark energy swirled where light manifested in his. He knew the coloration well enough to note that the woman was a user of the dark arts. Malefimancy, a mastery he too wielded, though he used it for far more controlling spells. Though the use of it as just pure energy wasn't too uncommon.

The sight reminded him of the time he met Vivian. Her insight on how players, such as the one before him, used the mastery in such mundane ways. She preferred the less practical and more hands-on use of the magic. Embellishing and indulging in rituals far beyond any normal malefimancer as well as casting hexes and rots that would even cause his own bravado to turn and leave. Needless to say, the noirette had seen scarier users of the arts and felt no compulsion to stoop to her demands.

The light dimmed around his hands. The vibrating hum of light suddenly snuffed out as he re-adjusted his cloak and showed his back to the woman.

"You claim to seek knowledge," he spoke into the wind. "I too seek knowledge unknown and seeing as how we are just outside the place offering such information, killing you would not only be a waste of time, but a setback nonetheless. If you are adamant about not giving your name, I will not reveal my own. However, I will grant you passage into the shop ahead. I can respect the pursuit of something bigger than yourself and for that reason and the ones I mentioned before, your darkness was spared the reach of my light."

Pushing forward, he pressed lightly against the wooden door. With a soft creak, the oak swung inwards and offered dim light from within. His crimson glance opened back to the woman. "Are you coming or will you instead entertain the winter night?" While he seemingly didn't care either way, he was curious as to what the woman intended to study. He had yet to see her in her entirety, so he couldn't judge based on appearance at least. However, she may very well be attempting to learn the darkest of magic and that was something worth watching out for.

Shrugging the notion off, he watched to see what she would do.

 

As the man let the magic slip from his own fingertips, Aurelia did not do the same, ready for if he would change his mind. For one does not entertain the retreat of a serpent that may strike at any moment. They must be on their toes. Instead she retired her hands back to under the cloak, a motion that proved useful as she kept her magic at ready. Instead of dispersing her magic she neatly altered it and tucked it away to inside of her fingers, so that no dark magic would seep out and slip away unless she gave the approval.

"I neednt need your permission to grant myself passage to the world beyond." Stepping forwards ever more, she began to walk past the man, seemingly never letting her gaze fall off of him, even while turned around, three of her five senses kept tabs on where he was and what he was doing, as her eyes closed. "My own darkness can never be snuffed out by the light from the likes of you. It is driven by the fuels of passion, power and desires beyond what you may know to be evident."

The small patter of her steps in the stone pavement were the only sounds as the candle flickered as if it were trying to stay away from her. The hand of the girl reached out, muttering a simple prayer to the deities of darkness. Despite her never-ceasing passion for their reign, Aurelia had a different path she wished to follow. One that was most likely different than the likes of the man whom had yet to reveal himself to her. She would become one with the demons that plagued the world. Her own goal, unknown to others who may be onlooking.

Now ignoring the man as he was of no significance to Aurelia, she pushed forward. Her cloak still hiding her figure as the dim lights flickered. Once again trying to get away from her reach. Glancing around the room, Aurelia focused in on a specific person. Walking gently and carefully over to the person of her interest. Perhaps, this man will know where I can find the information I seek within this palace of knowledge...

 

Frozen words cut through the wind before allowing the woman to cross the threshold into the tomb of knowledge. Her words caused the man to chuckle. He had gathered from the amount of energy she seemingly put out, she was no more a threat than himself. Her inflated ego fueling the bitter but empty words she spat at him earlier. Her claims of darkness being stronger than the light amused him. Though as a user of both he felt compelled to prove to her that in the presence of light, darkness can only recede into something as insignificant as ones shadow. Though given his previous statement, today wouldn't be the day to indulge in such thoughts. Sighing, he watched as the cloaked woman, who still had wisps of energy ever so slightly leaking from where her hands were, moved with purpose o some figure near the back of the library.

Curious, the noirette followed. She had seated herself at a table housing one other individual. The mage paused, staying just enough within earshot, but just far enough to be taken for indulging in the readings of the books lining the darkened wooden shelves. Though not focusing to hard on the woman, he glanced over the titles occupying the shelves. He scanned through them. History I: The Court, History II: The Divide, ...The Elysid, ...

..."The Tora," he read softly aloud.

Plucking the dictionary esque tome from the wall, he began sifting through its contents. He kept his ears perked up for the woman and the man occupying the table. Perhaps I can learn more than what I initially came for. Scanning the pages, he quickly realized that most of its contents were written in a language unbeknownst to him. The symbols and characters forming a breed of text he had never seen. Occasionally he could pick out familiar terms or concepts judging from the pictures but ultimately the book who prove little use to him until he discovered the language and what it all said. Tucking the book beneath his arm, he turned back to the cloaked woman. Focusing now on their conversation.

 

The older man that Aurelia had seated herself next to, looked wise enough as they come. Her eyes only flickering every so often to look at Oikawa. Her eyes befalling the title of a book he had pulled out of the shelves.. The Tora.. Interesting.. Aurelia turned her attention to the man who had thus asked her what she was there for. "I wish to delve into the arts of Demonomancy. Can you be so helpful as to point me in the right direction. Or at least speak of what you know on the subject, or lead me to someone who might?" The old man seemed to think for a moment before pointing a shaking finger in the direction of a book shelf. "The book you seek is over there.. But be warned. It is of the demon language. You will need to be able to read that.. If you do not, learn it.. If you cannot learn it, seek out a man by the name of Arcedilus. He will be of great help to you. But be warned. Seeking out his help, will be of great concern. Those who do, are either deemed unworthy and killed on the spot, or deemed worthy in which they owe him grand favors." Aurelia rolled her eyes lightly before standing to her feet.

The sound of the chair scrapping the wood sounding as footsteps followed. Her cloak flowing as she walked. Her eyes befalling on to the bookshelf. Her icy gaze landing on the specific book she had been seeking.. Demonomancy...

With her hand extended she scooped the book from its slot, opening to the first page. The markings of the unknown language filling her vision. Letting out a small curse as she held it in her hands. "I would like to take this book." Pulling out a pouch of gold, Aurelia offered it to the man. He shoved it away. "You just bring it back when you are finished with it.. I do not want your gold."

With a small scoff, Aurelia put it back in her inventory. "Where can I find this.. Arcedilus?" To her question the man shrugged his shoulders. "He will find you.. One way or another.. After all.. You yourself have the book that he wrote. He already knows that you picked it up with the intent to read it and understand it."