Ephebe pulled out her Caster and loaded a make whole bullet before taking aim and firing at the broken sprinkler.
"No harm done. It's fine now."
"Huh?! I'm not...er..." The sylph seems to sort of wake up. A shine dims in her eyes and that weird stone in her forehead changes from a deep black to a confused sort of bluish purple. "I didn't...that...I'm...sorry, you guys. Did I make that?" With a dismissing motion, 'Sima causes the stormcloud to break up into littler clouds, and eventually evaporate. "I don't...remember that. Wow."
"Well, it's certainly a good thing he didn't try to hurt me... I would've been caught totally unawares." Vai is now slightly embarrassed by her outgoing reaction to a demon. What would her parents think, her talking to a fiend? Not that they even care if she's alive...
Vai's mood is a little dampened now.
From me, you have nothing to fear. And had I not learned from my former master what I did learn, I would not be here to converse with you. I would be in the Abyss, serving some other, more powerful demon. I cannot change what I am, but I can change my actions and my nature. Smiling broadly Phaezeriel says I thank you all for your kind greeting. I am unused to such, and it was not without some trepidation that I continued down this hallway. It seems I have found a place unique in all my travels.
Nasima looks up ruefully. "Boy that was a pretty good thunderhead, though. If I really did make it. ...I bet I could make a bigger one..."
"Huh?! I'm not...er..." The sylph seems to sort of wake up. A shine dims in her eyes and that weird stone in her forehead changes from a deep black to a confused sort of bluish purple. "I didn't...that...I'm...sorry, you guys. Did I make that?" With a dismissing motion, 'Sima causes the stormcloud to break up into littler clouds, and eventually evaporate. "I don't...remember that. Wow."
Are you well, miss?
"...I'm pretty sure, yeah. I mean, I feel...Oh hey! You're a devil! Or devil-ish, anyway. You're not, uh, related to the guy from yesterday, are you? I assume? If so, um, sorry about that?"
Nasima looks up ruefully. "Boy that was a pretty good thunderhead, though. If I really did make it. ...I bet I could make a bigger one..."
"Sima!" She gestured towards the sprinkler with the Caster she was still holding. "Destruction of school property isn't like you....and I do only have so many 'Make Whole' bullets that I can fix it with before it'll come to the attention of someone in charge."
"Should we go get Sifu Daiyu?" she asks, concerned.
'Sima's eyes are big as saucers. "I...I..." the stone in her forehead becomes suddenly completely clear, like a diamond or crystal or similar. She seems to sort of deflate. "...I...wh..." she gives an embarrassed laugh and her hair floats in front of her face, eerily reminiscent of Vai. "What were we just talking about? Sorry. I kinda spaced out there."
"...I'm pretty sure, yeah. I mean, I feel...Oh hey! You're a devil! Or devil-ish, anyway. You're not, uh, related to the guy from yesterday, are you? I assume? If so, um, sorry about that?"
With a slight chuckle, No, they were no relations of mine. And if you dispached a demon or two, I applaud you say keep up the good work. Preferrably though, not at this exact moment. Phaezeriel follows his last statement with an exaggerated wink.
"Heh. No, no plans on anything like that. I'm not...I'm not much of a figher." Perhaps realizing that statement makes no sense in the current context, Nasima adds "...it's uh complicated" somewhat lamely.
"Er, so, are you helping us move 'Phebe's stuff? We could certainly use someone else to carry things and you look strong and magical and stuff. Um. What's your name, again? I...missed it."
My name is Phaezeriel. I would be happy to lend whatever assistance I can, assuming your friends do not mind.
"You guys mind? Can't hurt to have another set of hands, right?"
Curiosity and concern suddenly get the better of Vai: "Hey Nas'... what's that gem on your forehead and why does it keep changing colour?"
"Um, sure, that's fine," she said, holstering her weapon and keeping a wary eye on Nasima. She wasn't sure exactly what was going on, but it seemed like Khoda was getting more than a little out of hand. Still, Sima seemed fine now, so maybe it was just a momentary thing.
"Nasima, what happens if Khoda takes over? Like 'he wins' take over?"
*shakes head* "I'm not sure, Vai, actually, and it freaks me out a bit. I had a dream, of sorts, where I confronted Khoda in his own realm, and he implanted this thing into my head. I always assumed it was some way he'd be able to use me to get over to the material plane, but so far...well so far it hasn't happened. So I don't really know what it is. I usually forget it's even there."
A little confused, Phaezeriel glances around to see if this 'Khoda' is nearby.
Seeing no one, he turns back to Nasima. These are the most friendly people I have met in over 50 years, I hope it lasts this time.
"I was trained in the Woodwakers School of Paper Arts, but as you may have heard that's closed recently. Nature spirits can be so..." she waved her hand, trying to think of the right word, "Tetchy."
"Well, I do believe you have the job. I can set you up with a room unless you have a place in town."
"I was trained in the Woodwakers School of Paper Arts, but as you may have heard that's closed recently. Nature spirits can be so..." she waved her hand, trying to think of the right word, "Tetchy.""Well, I do believe you have the job. I can set you up with a room unless you have a place in town."
"I do? Oh, that's wonderful! Oh, you won't regret this, probably, most likely," she said, giddy with relief.
"And yes, I could definitely use a room. I don't have anywhere in town. Landlords tend to want this thing called money, which as it turns out I seem to be rather short on at the moment," she said, grinning sheepishly.
"Nasima, what happens if Khoda takes over? Like 'he wins' take over?"
Nasima twists her mouth and suddenly gets very serious. "He starts eating the multiverse. Just like last time."
Khassar arrives at Mrs. Aananda's office and knocks.
"Let's see..." Ryo says as he look over a map on the wall. "There we go, is a room on the second floor okay?"
"Nasima, what happens if Khoda takes over? Like 'he wins' take over?"Nasima twists her mouth and suddenly gets very serious. "He starts eating the multiverse. Just like last time."
"Okay. So, long story short, That Would Be Bad, and we need to make sure it doesn't happen. Might be time for a little bit of research," she says thoughtfully.
Khassar arrives at Mrs. Aananda's office and knocks.
"Come in," she calls out from her desk where she is fighting a losing battle against the paperwork.
"Let's see..." Ryo says as he look over a map on the wall. "There we go, is a room on the second floor okay?"
"That's fine with me. Can't be any worse than the broom closet I had at the Woodwakers School...well, they called it a dorm room. But it really was a converted broom closet."
"You'll find that converting rooms is an amazingly simple thing here. Your room used to be a wall after all. Here is a map of the school. You can probably figure out the magic yourself, but you can follow the arrows on it to get where ever you go within the school. Welcome to Avalon Academy, Miss Reading, I hope you enjoy working here."
"You'll find that converting rooms is an amazingly simple thing here. Your room used to be a wall after all. Here is a map of the school. You can probably figure out the magic yourself, but you can follow the arrows on it to get where ever you go within the school. Welcome to Avalon Academy, Miss Reading, I hope you enjoy working here."
"Thank you, sir. I'm happy to be here. I'm sure the students will be happy to disabuse me of that notion shortly, but I figure I've got at least oh, two, three hours of happiness before that happens," she said with a wink as she took the map.
"Now, since I'm sure you're very busy, I'll get out of your hair and let you get on with dealing with all of this."
With a concerned look, Who, or What, is Khoda, if it is not impolite to ask?
"No, it's cool, it's cool. Um. There's a lot of mumbo-jumbo my dad says about him that now I wish I'd paid attention to. I guess I should go talk to him." Nasima gives Ephebe an apologetic look. "What I know is he was a god of lightning, a god of destruction. He killed all the other elemental gods not necessarily because he was strongest, but because he was meanest, most ruthless. Now he's banished to his home plane, the plane of storm, because he got too strong and tried eating the multiverse. He wants to come back, but he can't unless...well, unless he goes through me. Literally. I'm a gate. I'm his gate. The only one, I guess, he can go through."
The sylph gives Phaezeriel a pained look. "No one's really explained to me what that means, yet, they just say I can't ever let it happen. I...my dad wants me to control Khoda, to use his power so he can win his fight against the Efreeti. But I don't want that. At all. I don't want to fight. I just...I just don't want him inside my head anymore, you know? Or my spirit, or wherever he is." She sniffles. "Ugh. I'm being a downer. Sorry, guys. I guess I haven't thought seriously about this in a while. I'll help you finish moving, Ephebe, then I promise I'll see Sifu Daiyu to get myself back under control, and then...well, I guess I'll start tying to figure a way out of this. Long overdue, I suppose. I've just been going along with things, and his power is so addictive, you know? To be strong, finally, to have power. I gotta get that out of my head." She frowns. "Ugh I am being such an idiot."
Ephebe gives Nasima a hug. "Okay, Sima, but just remember I'm here and if there is anything, I mean it, anything at all, that I can do to help, you just ask me."
"Me too." Vai chimes in, "You've helped me so much, I think I owe you at least 2 now, maybe 3. And I don't think you're being an idiot Nas'."
With a sympathetic smile, or as sympathetic a smile as his demonic face will allow, I understand very well the temptation of power. But with a strong will, you can overcome that temptation and come to a place where power is attractive because of the good that you can do with it. If there is anything I can do to help, you have only to ask. I know you don't know me yet, but I am willing to do what I can to help you.
"Thanks you guys, you're the best. I promise if I need help, I'll come to you all. Thanks." Nasima smiles warmly, then address Phaez. "That was what I was trying, you're totally right! First I called Khoda, or at least a fraction of his self anyway, here yesterday to destroy some big devil that was threatening a bunch of the teachers and students, then I was using the control Sifu Daiyu had been teaching me to...to sort of borrow Khoda's power so I could try to help defeat this big, like, robot dinosaur thing that was squashing kids, then to help rescue 'Phebes, here. So I was trying to be good, to use that power for good, but it still let Khoda into my head to much, let him start to...I dunno, to do stuff using my body."
She pauses for a moment. "Ewww that's really squicky the more I think about it. Bleagh!" she shudders. "...and, so wait, so...this rock in my forehead changes colors? I didn't know that."
"Yeah, when you were zoned out just now it changed alot..." Vai says, ignoring the part about Khoda using her body. Too many dark memories on that subject. "Khoda... he's gotten alot more aggressive lately, hasn't he? I mean, first the fainting last night and now this? I assume that isn't normal Nas'?"
Khassar enters the office. "Good afternoon. I was told this is where I needed to go to get my class schedule arranged."
Well, Gustav, you said if there was enough noise....in addition to all the talking there was a lightning zap and a gunshot....is that enough noise yet? ;)
Gustav paused in his carving. The noise outside in the hallway had risen to a point where it was interrupting his concentration. Then he heard popping sounds. With a sigh, Gustav let his tools drop; the conjured awl and whittling knife disappeared back to wherever they came from.
"I have to meet everyone sometime." he told himself. Then he remembered the injured students at the healer's room. Gustav closed his eyes and breathed deep, even breaths of air into his lungs. He gathered the power within himself and held it, collecting it and squeezing it down to a single point. He held that point just behind his eyes, so he could focus through the point of energy and out into the world as needed. Energy types flashed through his head, and he chose sound, the thunder of the storm. Nobody was ever prepared for sonic attacks. His Inertial Armor still active, Gustav added his Energy Adaptation and Adapt Body powers as well.
Gustav went to the door of his room, and, thinking twice, added Force Screen, just in case. Gustav confidently opened the door and stuck his head out, looking up and down the hallway. "Who's making all the noise?" he called out loudly.
When the nearby door opens suddenly, Vai instinctively steps back, wondering how much of the conversation the young man had heard. She tips her body momentarily so that her hair falls to cover half her face and her bare shoulders. "Um.. sorry about that." Vai begins... unsure how to continue, looking at Ephebe and Nasima for help.
Well, no ONE is making ALL the noise....
"Ummm, sorry about that. Didn't mean to disturb you. Just a little....er....high spirits?"
Khassar enters the office. "Good afternoon. I was told this is where I needed to go to get my class schedule arranged."
"Yes, that's right. So....let's get started....I don't think I caught your name yet. Or I forgot in which case I profoundly apologize. It's been one of those weeks."
Phaezeriel hovers a little closer to the person in the doorway, Just friends being friendly, neighbor. My name is Phaezeriel, what is yours?
"Well, keep it down - some of us have classes." the black-haired, broad-shouldered boy said seriously. Act like the heir to the Hold. he thought to himself. Then a grin cracked the 16-year-old's face, and he said, "Ha! I'm Gustav, I just got here a few hours ago. I think I start classes tomorrow." Gustav looked at the...whatever it was, with a staff, and three fairly attractive girls, two brunettes and a blonde, and another...something. A guy was behind them all, pushing a load of equipment and bedding? Gustav stared at the shorter brunette . "You're pretty enough to make a statue." he unashamedly said. He was still dressed in his own clothing of green and silver, dust from the road on his boots.
Gustav looked at all of them again. "I was told to have an open mind here, but I've never seen nor heard of your...kind before. I'm from the mountains, where there were a lot of elementals and dwarves, but not a lot of other people." Gustav said, looking at the horned creature. "Are you allowed to fight in the halls?" he asked, interested.
"Oh, we weren't fighting. We just had some, uh, technical difficulties, while moving my stuff from one room to the other. Sorry that it got so loud and all. Anyways, welcome to Avalon, Gustav. My name is Ephebe," she said politely. His tone irritated her and she didn't much care for his attitude, but she was trying to be good. After all, the attitude was probably just because he was nervous.
"The flying creature is Phaezeriel....actually he's new too, just got here today. And this is Krays," she said, gesturing towards the kobold. "And that's Vai," she said, pointing at the blonde girl. "She's a little shy, but sweet...The girl you were comparing to sculpture is Nasima. And the guy trying to move this monstrosity of a contraption that we're using to move my stuff is Fei."
Nods to the new guy
"Lots of new folks these days..."
'Sima nods to Vai. "Yeah, it is weird that he's been so aggressive. It's my fault, too, I've been really careless. It used to be he could only...push through, I guess you'd call it, when I was really upset or just, you know, not in control of myself. But since I've started trying to take control it's like it's easier for him, like...hmmmm..."
She trails off as Gustav appears. Having been raised in Court at her mom's palace, haughty attitudes are second hand to Nasima, so Gustav doesn't really register in that regard, though she thinks maybe some of her friends are bristling a bit. Unfortunately, his compliment is similar enough to the countless empty blandishments she's heard laid at her mother's feet to also not register with her, as she's been given the lesson to beware silvered words enough times that she could totally like, recite it in her sleep.
Anyway, he seems okay. The sylph figures she'll bump into him again eventually and they can talk more then. In the meantime, she's pretty focused on the new Khoda developments. Vai was totally right about all the new, well, incursions.
In the end, she smiles nicely at Gustav and gives him a little wave. "Hi! That's very nice of you to say that about me, thank you!"