(Private) Resting up [Arriving at Spawn Pt 3]

Liam slowly paced around his bedroom. He was thinking about the story that Lai had told him a couple days ago. Her story was interesting enough to dig deeper into it. Certain of his new goal, he left to find his parents. He went outside and looked out into the cemetery. He saw his mother cleaning the tombstones, and his father raking up leaves. He approached his father bearing a stoic appearance. "Hey, dad?" Liam's father jumped, quickly turning around. He looked terrified, as though Liam were about to end his life. "Y-yes son?" he stuttered, his body trembling. "W-what do you need?" Liam was silent for a moment. He knew what he wanted, but he wasn't sure how to start. "Have you ever heard of a girl that was rescued by lions?" Liam asked, his expression remaining solid and stone cold. "Um... I-I believe I have, o-on the news once. W-why do you ask?" Liam's father seemed afraid to even ask 'why?'.

"I want you to find out more about that girl." he demanded. "Anything you can. It shouldn't be too hard since she's the daughter of somebody famous." Liam turned and began to walk back to their house, giving his father a small wave. "I'm looking forward to whatever you can dig up." Liam went back to his room and laid down on his bed. He wondered why he wanted to know about real world Lai. He couldn't figure it out. He simply just wanted to know. After all, knowing such a person in real life is much more interesting than just knowing them in a fictitious space. Liam smiled at the thought. He reached over to the NerveGear resting on a nightstand next to his bed and put it on. "Link start!" he said, starting up Terra Sphere and putting himself back in the place of Mortemer. He woke up, laying on his back on a more or less comfy bed. He groggily sat up and found himself in some sort of bedroom. He stood up, stretched, and got dressed. For a moment he stood absentmindedly staring at a wall, then went to sit outside by the door and take in some fresh air.

@Merkaba

 

A complete waste of time.

That was what Elizabeth experienced this entire day. A inspection team had been sent to Nexus Corp. and her division was forced to present a 'acceptably passing' environment for the inspectors. Why did Nexus' CEO simply pay them off to avoid this like he normally does? Nexus was one of the most powerful corporations in the modern world. It was not going to easily have it's policies altered by just anyone, including the government. Sadly she was not sure what always goes on at the upper levels. She was considered the mad scientist of the company so sometimes she was not included in things, even if her work was very beneficial to future Nexus Corp ventures. Having to disguise so many unsafe and less than ethical projects was a massive chore and now that the witch was off. She almost felt the joy of playing Terrasphere instead of her usual view of seeing it as a another dimension that required actual work as well.

Brisshal was a area with such weak opposition and lack of properly fit places for her to stay that it was probably not the best place for the Dark Lady. However today she swept through this region looking for a way to relieve her stress. Rarely did she feel the need to, but today she simply wished to find something to destroy at random. Just create something amusing to watch... maybe find a horde of animals or helpless weak members of the masses and just rot the flesh off of their bodies while watching. Yes, just a good relaxing afternoon. Merkaba stumbled across a village as she traveled. No weapon in hand, her wings making quite the statement as she entered it's gates. How the people shunned her, just like the prime dimension. Well, they should.... especially if they rejected her word.

Wandering the village some she hoped to find something or someone who might have some use, whether for long term or just a short period. Whether to use as a follower or as a victim....whatever would come today. The witch was seeking a more relaxed scenario today after all.

@Mortemer

 

Mortemer still felt a bit groggy and tired. He had misty eyes and glazed with drowsiness. He let out a big yawn, stretching out his body. He leaned against the wall and stared off into the forest in front of him. He heard some chatting from people and the noises of animals in the brush. He closed his eyes and blocked out the voices of the people around him, focusing on the sounds of nature. Squirrels were chattering, birds were chirping, and he thought he heard two animals fighting over something. At least, that's what he wanted to believe. He opened his eyes and saw a bird sitting on a tree stump. The bird hopped around on the ground looking for something to eat. Eventually, it found a juicy worm and flew up into a tree branch. For a moment, Mortemer watched the bird eat, contemplating the vicious cycle of life. Then, he took aim at the bird with his hand gun.

Mortemer aimed carefully, aiming for the head of the bird. After what happened to him yesterday, he wanted to improve his accuracy. When next his hand moved over the bird's head, he cast the spell "Finger Pistol." and fired dark energy at the bird. It had just barely grazed the bird. It flew away, still marked by the dark bullet he'd shot at it. "Hmm." Mortemer said, intrigued by what had transpired. He took aim once more and stared at the dark energy distorting his fingers. Once he had torn his attention from the dark energy writhing on his fingers, he watched the forest for any more animals to shoot at.

@Merkaba

 

Maybe this was not the best idea. Elizabeth could not help but be disappointed in herself for even thinking that this region would be anything but a waste of time. She would be better off rotting in the sewer or something than wandering this place. Merkaba was now in a small forest that surrounded the village. Not even a goblin.... just bunnies and squirrels. The witch was already yearning to return to Norfova. That place was so much more pleasurable then anywhere else she had yet been to.

After a short time wandering the woods and thinking maybe it was time to practice a ritual or two. Her dark visage in such a bright and nature heavy environment was a stark contrast. Merkaba stopped moving. She looked around one last time and with a look of mild irritation decided to head back to the ruin she was using as a temporary guild hall in Norfova. Maybe one of her followers had gathered some useful info into Cthulhu. That would be a good end to her otherwise unimpactful day.

A small surge of dark mana caused her to shift her gaze however. That was unexpected, seemed that dark arts users were attracted to this very unfavorable area today. Much like her encounter with Tharen some time ago, this one also seemed pretty low tier. It was always worth a quick investigation to see if a possible follower or even just someone she could convert in other ways was around. The witch would not have to travel far before finding a young man with a dead bird not far from his position. He was aiming his finger at the air. Cute....

"Such prey are not very entertaining nor worth the time. A regular pass time?"

Merkaba said without much emotion but remaining in a generally casual state.

@Mortemer

 

Through the misty corner of his eye, Mortemer had seen a small movement. He quickly took aim and shot at it. "Finger Pistol." he said sluggishly. He had just barely missed his shot, but he wasn't as close to hitting it his target as he was with the bird. After a moment of trying to figure out what he had shot at, He rubbed his eyes and cleared up the mist. Not very far away he saw a woman standing there looking at him. This was the woman he'd almost shot. Realizing this, he became alarmed and quickly stood, promptly beginning to apologize.

"I'm really really sorry about that! See, I was doing some target practice but I was still kinda tired, but then I saw something move and shot at it, but it was you, and anyway I'm really sorry about shooting at you!" once Mortemer had finished apologizing, he took a small moment to analyze the person in front of him. They were wearing peculiar clothing. He'd never seen anything like it in his entire life. Then again, she could have been a higher level than him thus being more experienced and have obtained more gear. Nonetheless, it was something he wasn't used to seeing, it being so out of what he'd consider normal attire, and lowered his expectations in the event he would see more like it. This woman didn't see to radiate any kind of positive or negative feelings. She seemed more bland to Mortemer than anything. Still, he couldn't assume that she wasn't still pissed about almost getting shot.

@Merkaba

 

The young man was... already proving to be unworthy of her. He had dark power but he certainly lacked much dark aura. His apology was not something needed or cared for. Merkaba did not make any effort to make any more effort to make idle conversation with the small time mage. She would steer this to the direction she wanted it to be. To bring to light her power and test if he took interest. If he had no desire for it... he would not get far with that magic no matter how many times he had target practice...

"It was no threat to me. If one is harmed by the casting of such magic it would be their own folly."

The witch looked at him. A simple looking man, why did he choose malefimancy as a magic? He had the choice from so many things. If he truly was after it's possibilities he could be converted with time. She gestured at the dead bird for a second and then outstretched her hand to the right. murmuring a small curse as she would emit a purplish aura that would shoot from her hand like a tendril. It wrapped around a nearby tree. The tree began to rot and decay as the tendril of shadowy mana slithered around it and up it's bark. It's leaves falling of and it's trunk turning a deep brown, then black as it bent and twisted. She would release the tree from her magic, now left as a single twisted site in this otherwise bountiful forest. All the while she eyed him as if what she did was just something you'd see everyday.

"What do see when you see that tree. little lamb?"

@Mortemer

 

Mortemer didn't have any immediate response. He watched bug eyed and his mouth agape in shock and awe at what had just transpired. He never thought that the magic he used could be capable of such a thing. It took a moment to collect himself before he was ready to begin thinking about an answer. "What do I see in the tree?" he thought. He didn't really know if he should be looking for anything. To him, there wasn't anything more in front of him than a dead and distorted tree. It made the stuff he was doing seem like childsplay. As to be expected of someone with more experience than him. Mortemer figured he'd give this woman some kind of answer.

"I mean... it's dead." he said, unsure of exactly what to say. "I don't really see much beyond that, but I mean... Shit..." he said, still a bit amazed by what he watched this woman do to the tree. "The way my magic is right now, I'd never be able to do something like that." he started scratching the back of his head, trying to think of other stuff he could say. He wasn't really sure if he was actually supposed to see something or if this was like one of those psych-eval tests his parents made him do from time to time. If it was, it was pretty elaborate. The only thing he couldn't figure out was why this woman would want to give him one.

Mortemer closed his eyes and thought hard. He thought very carefully about the dead tree in front of him. Then, he opened his eyes and stared at the tree. "It kinda looks like a corpse that stayed out in the sun too long and dried up like a spaghettified raisin, and got bent into a real weird shape." he said, tilting his head to look at the tree from a different angle.

@Merkaba

 

Merkaba smiled ever so slightly at his remarks, then nodded once. He needed to find a desire for more power. He realizes his lack of it which is a good start. The man had to be tested to see how he viewed the world and if it was at all compatible with her needs. His responses could have been better. Although he did seem impressed rather than afraid. Impressed by dark power meant he accepted it's use outside of just a emergency like some might. Well, time to push things a bit more and see where it goes...

"The question is not where your power is now but rather where it could go. You chose the darkness so how far into it you wish to delve will decide your prospects in the future.'

The witch approached the twisted and rotten tree that was her handiwork. she touched it with her pale hand and ran her fingers across the lifeless bark. Almost as if she was enraptured by it. She whispered gently to it "So beautiful and perfectly ruined..." before turning her gaze back to the young man.

"If you do not want to devote yourself to this power I recommend you flee it's embrace now. You may find that those you think you care for are but lies before the truth. There are many lies... many falsehoods. Once you come to understand that, there is no turning back.Even the dark gods of this thing you may think is a game are but lies before the truth."

She removed herself from the tree and seemed to grow tired of remaining here. She moved past the man to continue on her way...

"I am Merkaba. If you decide to follow the dark then seek me out, for there is no greater shepherd for this world's sheep and lamb.Until that time comes to pass, good day..."

Merkaba would then leave unless he said something worth her staying around for.

@Mortemer

 

Mortemer's brow furrowed at the 'I recommend you flee' remark. "I've never run away from anything." he muttered. "If anything, it's other stuff that's always ran away from me." he thought about the possible falsehoods in his life. He never once considered that his 'loved ones' would be one such falsehood. Although, if he thought about it long enough, he wouldn't think of anybody like his parents to be a falsehood. It's true that he's related to them by blood, but if anything he would think of them more as assets. At this point, that's all they are, anyway. He's having his dad figure out where some rich girl lives for cryin' out loud! He wasn't sure what he would do once he actually found out, or if he even will. What would his goal be after that? Be satisfied with the knowledge that a girl like that actually exists, or would he yearn for something more? He wasn't sure, but he'd find out sooner or later.

Mortemer had pulled himself out of thinking and just barely caught the woman saying 'if you decide to follow the dark'. He quickly turned towards her, a determined look in his eyes. "Teach me how to use dark magic!" he said, determined to learn by any means necessary. He'd already obtained a basic understanding of dark arts, but he knew it could become something more if molded by the appropriate hands. And who better to do so than the woman standing right in front of him?

@Merkaba

 

The witch would stop as she heard the young man ask the question she had heard many times before. Young ,inexperienced but hopeful dark practitioners have always in both worlds, came seeking tutelage from her. As if the darkness could be easily mastered simply by having another do all of the work for you. Mastery of this art required a strong solo effort. Especially in the realms of deep research, study, and risk to ones own well being. It would come as no surprise that the majority of the few that sought power from the dark would just want a easy entrance exam or something along those lines...

"This worlds false gods already granted you access to the power through the interface of this 'game'. There are two ways to proceed with your development. One would be to play in this shrouded false reality and watch your little meters rise from repeated tasks and other malarkey. The other is to see this reality for what it is.... a falsehood. Feel within you the true calling of the dark gods. Not the Tora that are but mere designs. The true dark gods that I follow as the one chosen shepherd to lead my flock to the eternal darkness that awaits."

Merkaba looked back at him as was fairly sure that he would give up now. Her ideals required only very special people to understand or to accept them. Any 'normal' person would immediately just write her off as a wack job and move along. Merkaba would continue.

"The Cult of The Black Star does not chase away those seeking truth. In the truth you would find dark power beyond that of anything you could fathom by simply basking in the true dark gods blessings. I care not to take in anything mediocre so consider that as well. You seem to be at home among this... beautiful woodland. With me their is only.. well the tree is enough of a example. Sigh... this place tires me. I shall take my leave. Farewell lamb."

Merkaba would then exit the area. Leaving the man to make his own choices from here.

@Mortemer