Upon hearing the Chancellor's declaration, Ace turns his attention to the man to blame for all of this, "Fei, Ghalen, if he refuses to undue this mess, I have a way of extracting the information we need. I am absolutely *loathe* to use it, but if we have no other option, I will do it."
The guard hesitated, unsure if he should obey the chancellor or not, but he never had a chance to make a decision as his knife arm was yanked away from Tyrrin's throat with a sickening crack. He dropped with a scream as Jaiye grabbed his knife away from him and pressed it to his throat instead. "Do it, Ace," she said in a hard voice. "I know this song," she said, nodding towards where Ehos was strapped into the machine, his beautiful singing voice filling the cavern. "It's a farewell. We don't have time to do this the nice way."
"Oh rot." Anthony swore as he saw the feline coming up the try after him. He pushed away from the trunk and and ran along a branch briefly before jumping, barely making it to another tree and dropping down hurriedly.
Midori reaches Dacamara-senpai's branch just as he leaps away. She grumbles in a kitty-voice. The whistle had to be blowing soon, all she had to do was keep their best archer focused on her. And maybe that meant sacrificing herself to buy some time. All that matters is the mission.
To that end, Midori charges down the branch and jumps towards Dacamara-senpai, sailing through the air directly at him, but now with no way to dodge or manuveur incoming arrows. He HAD to focus on her now. Hopefully there were other team members still alive to finish the win...
Ace nods grimly at Jaiye's words, squares his shoulders and walks over to the chancellor. "Fei, can you render him immobile? Like fully paralyzed? What I'm about to do works best if he can't fight back at all."
If Fei is unable to, Ace will first cast a paralysis spell .
Assuming either is successful, Ace shifts his staff into a dagger, and he holds down the elf by the throat. "Your life is mine now." He says darkly, then slices open the chancellor's head, and extracts his brain, which he consumes. He then perfectly duplicates the form of the man he just killed.
Ace nods grimly at Jaiye's words, squares his shoulders and walks over to the chancellor. "Fei, can you render him immobile? Like fully paralyzed? What I'm about to do works best if he can't fight back at all."
The nanoswarm Fei placed on the Chancellor earlier freezes him where he stands, temporarily rendering his own clothing into an immovable shell...
Ace shifts his staff into a dagger, and he holds down the elf by the throat. "Your life is mine now." He says darkly, then slices open the chancellor's head, and extracts his brain, which he consumes. He then perfectly duplicates the form of the man he just killed.
....which then promptly ceases after Casilkasheyith murders the helpless elf in cold blood, cannibalizes him in front of everyone in the chamber, then takes on his appearance.
The defiled corpse collapses to the floor, the wet 'thud' of its impact masked ironically by Ehos' melodic singing.
The young monk gets ready to deal with the remaining guards, in case they mean to muster some final retaliation to their martyred leader's demise.
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Midori reaches Dacamara-senpai's branch just as he leaps away. She grumbles in a kitty-voice. The whistle had to be blowing soon, all she had to do was keep their best archer focused on her. And maybe that meant sacrificing herself to buy some time. All that matters is the mission.
To that end, Midori charges down the branch and jumps towards Dacamara-senpai, sailing through the air directly at him, but now with no way to dodge or manuveur incoming arrows. He HAD to focus on her now. Hopefully there were other team members still alive to finish the win...
Anthony did his best to get away, but he was not as fast as a large feline and when he looked back and saw her he swore he swung his bow back like a club to try and swat Midori away.
Having been visited by The Traveler in his dreams in the past, Ace can guess that he's in the presence of a powerful being. He bows respectfully to the woman before him. "I'm always willing to listen to an offer, especially one of mutual benefit." He was wary, of course, as many a devil or demon often made similar statements. Having just recently helped Ginni with her demonic troubles, Ace wasn't about to to blindly agree to something that could cost him his soul or otherwise damn him.
Ace is quiet for several long moments as the weight of what was just asked of him sinks in. "You want me to help you end all of creation?" He asks in a small, quiet voice.
Ghalen takes a step back as Ace moves forward, then for the first time in a while is taken aback by what he sees. This snaps him completely out of his rage, and he turns a worried eye toward Tyrrin. Seeing Tyrrin free of her captor gives him some relief, as he moves to take up a defensive position between her and any one who could harm her.
"I suppose so..." Lily replies in asn even tone, leaning in a little closer to examine Hestia's plumage carefully. "Would it be alright if I took a feather? I'd like to have a reference if I am going to do some research."
hiesta's voice is, as usual, chipper, even over telepathy. >>eh, a little challanging, but there are lots of ways to make fire without magic.<<
"I don't see why not."
Ace nods slowly. "Alright, I *think* I understand, more or less. What exactly are you offering, and what do I need to do?"
Moves about the school, looking here and there, but ultimately getting frustrated with no clear place to be. She is reminded of her encounter with Sadie, and moves to try to find where these "sim" rooms are. After a bit of searching, she decides to approach a student in the hall and ask for directions...
Ace carefully considers Fate's words. For he had figured out who had been speaking to, or at least he was pretty sure. "You're one of the so-called Patrons, right? Like Death, Light and the rest? I'm definitely interested, but you all don't exactly have the best reputation where I'm from."
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Moves about the school, looking here and there, but ultimately getting frustrated with no clear place to be. She is reminded of her encounter with Sadie, and moves to try to find where these "sim" rooms are. After a bit of searching, she decides to approach a student in the hall and ask for directions...
Lucas was walking down the hall twirling a small metal rod, likely a wand in a similar method to how many bards twirled drumsticks when Helena approached him "hm? Yes. Can I help you?"
Ace considers Fate's words and offer carefully, though in the end, he made the only decision he could. For if he did not accept, they might offer this mantle to one with far fewer scruples and morality. "Yes, I agree."
Moves about the school, looking here and there, but ultimately getting frustrated with no clear place to be. She is reminded of her encounter with Sadie, and moves to try to find where these "sim" rooms are. After a bit of searching, she decides to approach a student in the hall and ask for directions...Lucas was walking down the hall twirling a small metal rod, likely a wand in a similar method to how many bards twirled drumsticks when Helena approached him "hm? Yes. Can I help you?"
“Ahh, yes. Where are the ‘sim rooms’ located please?” she asks politely, though she seems irritated.
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Lucas smiles "ah there's the trick of the question, the sim rooms, like most of the rooms here move around the school and don't have a specific location, moving based on... I'm not actually sure what. Regardless I can lead you to them anyway" he says before tapping his wand to the wall and producing arrows leading towards the room.
She gives him a look, somewhat stern, trying to determine if he was serious or not. After a pause, she gives an annoyed smile.
"Then how can you be sure you're leading me in the right direction?" She teases. She sees the arrows light up, and nods slightly as if she gets it now.
"In an ever-changing layout, I suppose this becomes necessary, doesn't it?" indicating the arrows. The petite girl gives him an approving look, and reaches toward him, expecting him to offer her his arm.
"Lead on then, kind sir."
He does indeed offer it, seeming somewhat bemused "I take it you are new here? My name is Lucas Svarog, I came here after my family... and well my species had to move off of the sun" he offers while trying to prompt her to say a little about herself
"I am new here, yes. So you're a firebird, then?"
Upon arriving back in the present, Ace is rattled by what had just happened, and it takes him a few moments to adjust to his current surroundings. Then he spots the dead chancellor, and remembers what's happening. He looks to his friends. "There's no off switch, as once he started this, he didn't want it stopped. I also don't think tampering with the machine or controls is a good idea. However, the roof is designed to retract and I know where the switch is to make it open. I'm not sure what good that will do, but we're running out of time and options."
Suddenly, an idea hits him. He had basically just traded places with the chancellor so maybe swapping places with Ehos would work. He voices this aloud to the others "What if I traded places with Ehos via teleporting myself into the device, and teleporting him away? Obviously this won't work if the thing is protected from such magicks, but it's all I got left."
Fei's senses are momentarily distracted by the newly-revealed presence of another Champion, but his contemplation of this is ended by Tyrrin's words...
The helm of his nanosuit retracts, while the nanites still on the Chancellor's body reconfigure to form a 'shroud' of sorts to cover the remains.
"Please do what she says," he finally states to Casilkasheyith, then looks back to Jaiye and Ghalen and the remants of the Chancellor's followers. "Then this room should be cleared, just to be safe."
Turns and looks at Tyrrin for a long second.
::Whatever you're about to do, which it seems I won't like, just know that I love you.::
He then returns to his stoic self, and resumes guarding her, awaiting whatever is about to happen.
"Then this room should be cleared, just to be safe."
Ghalen nods at Fei, then looks to the chancellor's men still in the room.
"Leave." he simply says.
Ace waited until the room was cleared of the Chancellor's men, then turns to his best friend. "I know you're about to do something that is most likely 'stupid'. If this goes the way I expect it will, know that I'll miss you." He then gives Tyrrin a quick hug, before going over to wherever the level was, and flipping it to open the roof.
Jaiye looks panicked, glancing back and forth between Tyrrin and Ehos as comprehension dawned. She rushed forward, intending to stop this, but stopped when Ehos shook his head, tears running down his face. She fell to her knees, unable to stop herself from interfering any other way.
"Ow," she squeaked, peeling herself off of the now splintered wall. Trees weren't meant to withstand crashes with dragons traveling at supersonic speed. Not even magically reinforced elven tree fortresses. "Fei," she said, recognizing someone she knew could help, "help her. Quickly! She needs medical attention!" She winced as she popped a shoulder back into place, her body naturally healing its injuries on its own.
Ghalen smiles. but doesn't look at Tyrrin when she says she loves him. He only turns as she streaks into the sky, not wanting to miss a single second of his brave love's sacrifice. He can feel his heart break as the flash happens, and as he is about to slip into despair, Ephebe's arrival jostles him back into the now.
He looks on in disbelief as Tyrrin is there, again...all he can manage to say is..
"...how...?"
"Time travel, b~*~#es!" Ephebe says, as she stands up on wobbly legs, still a little loopy from the concussion that hadn't healed yet. And then she sobered. "But I got it wrong. I was supposed to be here half an hour ago. I arrived too late. I barely had time to grab her and jump back inside the atmosphere. I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry," she said, her eyes filling with tears that she wouldn't let fall until later when she could talk to her mate. This was her fault, her mess. She'd put them in this position. She didn't get to vent her emotions here. Not now. "It wasn't supposed to end like this. This wasn't the plan. He wasn't supposed to die."
Ace watches as his best friend does exactly what he expects her do to, sacrifice herself for the world and those she loves. It is, without a doubt, the bravest thing he has ever witnessed. He's in true awe of her courage.
For several brief moments, he thought about having to explain all of this to Ginni. Everything crashed through his mind at once, much like a herd of elephants on a rampage. The ceremony, the attack, hunting the renegade elves down, the battle, using his power to devour the chancellor's brain and assuming his identity, the meeting with Fate, and finally Tyrrin's sacrifice.
And then, suddenly, there's a massive sonic boom as Ty's broken and beaten form crashes into the floor and a dragon collides into a wall. Which ends up being Ephebe. Who had apparently saved Tyrrin.
He stares dumbfounded, frozen in shock as to what just happened. Then Ephebe calls out for aid and medical attention. He rushes to Ty's side and looks her over quickly before healing her and Ephebe some.
The young monk, both relieved and crestfallen at what just transpired, gathers back the nanoswarm he brought into the chamber with him as he strides forward and kneels beside Tyrrin, quickly determining how gravely injured she still is.
Quickly but carefully placing an arm around her shoulders, he pulls her closer to him as he pours as much healing energy into her wounded body as she can safely take. As he does so, the nanites around him close in to cover Tyrrin's form to bolster his efforts (and preserve her modesty). Fei's own nanosuit starts to change color as his eyes glow with silver-white light.
He knows he can do nothing for his love, in as much as Fei and Ace are better at healing. He listens as Ephebe explains what she had done. At first, he is overly happy at the thought Tyrrin could survive this, then his shoulders slump, feeling what Tyrrin was likely to feel, and what Jaiye is most likely feeling in a rare display of empathy.
"Oh no...poor Ehos..." He lays a hand in comfort on Jaiye's shoulder.
"Gods...I'm so sorry, Jaiye."
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He does indeed offer it, seeming somewhat bemused "I take it you are new here? My name is Lucas Svarog, I came here after my family... and well my species had to move off of the sun" he offers while trying to prompt her to say a little about herself"I am new here, yes. So you're a firebird, then?"
"indeed I am, and I take it you are human? I've not met many of your kind until the past week or two"
"I am, more or less. Your people are taking refuge here now, I take it. Interesting. I am told that even the weakest student here is a force to be reckoned with. Perhaps firebirds will be well sheltered."
While Fei and Ace's healing abilities knit together Tyrrin's body, she likely got a non-negligible dose of radiation from her unprotected space flight, and being ground zero to the explosion.
Consciousness floods back to Tyrrin and she ungracefully curls into Fei and coughs, vomiting on the nanosuit. Her long raven hair is tangled and soiled. She looks around blearily and panicked: "Wha?"
"I don't see why not."
"I suppose so..." Lily replies in asn even tone, leaning in a little closer to examine Hestia's plumage carefully. "Would it be alright if I took a feather? I'd like to have a reference if I am going to do some research."
Lily carefully searches Hestia's plumage and gently uses her fingers to pluck a feather close to molting. It was a long time since she'd preened anyone but herself. It was strangely intimate. She held the plucked feather aloft for a moment, before stowing it in her desk. "Thank you Hestia. I believe I ought to seek out my brother soon and apologize for worrying him."
Ace sighs in relief when the healing does the trick and Ty comes to. "A lot's happened, and we can all fill you in later. However, right now, I'm guessing you've gotten a decent amount of radiation sickness and poison affecting you right now. Unsure if Fei can help you there, but if he can't we should probably get you back to Avalon asap."
Ghalen moves to Tyrrin's side, brushing the hair out of her face.
"I'm glad you decided to come back after all." he says playfully, but with a slight quiver to his voice. At the mention of getting her back to Avalaon, Ghalen motions to Ace that he would like to carry her.
"I got her." He says.
Consciousness floods back to Tyrrin and she ungracefully curls into Fei and coughs, vomiting on the nanosuit. Her long raven hair is tangled and soiled. She looks around blearily and panicked: "Wha?"
Being in Avalon's Infirmary has inured the young monk to most violent biological...events, so he appears unfazed by her bout of sickness.
"It is alright, Tyrrin - you are back with us," he says with a reassuring smile as he stands up, keeping her cradled in his arms in such a way as as not to be soiled with her own vomit.
"But Casilkasheyith is correct - you need to go to Avalon's Infirmary immediately. You still have radiation poisoning that I cannot treat here. Ghalen is taking you there now."
Fei patches into Ghalen's communicator as he carefully hands Tyrrin over to him. He uses his neural lace to transmit so only he can hear:
Nods in a combination of thanks and acknowledgement at Fei as he takes Tyrrin, and activates his return token. Upon arrival, he takes her straight to the infirmary. To the first member of staff that he sees, he says "This student has been exposed to radiation, and needs immediate care."
"perhaps, though it's a bit chilly for many of their tastes though" he nods as they approach the sim rooms "what brings you here to this school?'
She sighs. "I am here to be safe and lay low. It goes against every fiber of my being not to be aggressive, but the powers that be say otherwise. It is what it is." She looks and sees the sim rooms, and says "Thank you for the escort. Have pleasant evening Lucas."