Multiple Settings Anima Studies

[Solirus]

Once
November Witch Tiguidi Yakov011001 Juju Verite Spoiled Bread Silent Child ​

With her determination now in full display and in fully force, the impassable barrier no longer hindered her path, "Alright, I'll let you go check on them, but just this once." Shortly after allowing Mariana passage back to the asylum, Cobalt would emerge with a nasty wound to the leg, asking if they had any healers. "I can't heal that, but I can at least stop the bleeding." Jaquie would quickly respond to the boy as the bleeding from his leg would suddenly halt. "Just be sure to go to the nurse for a more permanent measure."

Just like clockwork, more and more of the students exit the asylum, some appearing in far better condition than others did. Isaac remained quiet as Sophia was greeted by her canine companion. The boy was eyeing Crimson but remaining silent, his excessive anxiety acted almost as a blanket to hide any other emotions he might have had at the moment. Regardless of how the boy felt, Jaquie continued setting up the picnic so it'd be ready by the time the students finalized their period of worry.

A roar was heard from within the asylum, the chaotic maelstrom of the Rank II now resembled a far more controlled storm piercing through the miasma, which now seemed far thinner than it had previously been. The men surrounding the asylum all grouped up together discussing something, one of which turned to face Jaquie gesturing towards the asylum, to which Jaquie gave a simple thumbs up. With that thus settled, the men returned to discussing with themselves.

 

[November Witch]

Crimson/Mariana

Status: Annoyed & Worried/Confused & Relieved
Location: Abandoned Asylum - Outside
Interaction(s): Solirus Juju Yakov011001

Mariana almost tripped over herself as the barrier was suddenly nonexistent and her momentum carried her through where it used to be. With the only obstacle removed, Mariana started towards the windows where they had previously jumped out of the building, with Crimson keeping pace next to her.

“You should take charge like this more often you know. I like this side of you. It would be good for the others to see you like this too.”

Crimson told the girl who didn’t say anything in return. She didn’t care about that stuff right now. She just cared about making sure Marianne was okay. Marianne came to help Mariana and Crimson! If something happened to her because of that… She didn’t even know what she’d do or how she’d feel. However, once there at the window, she would look to her right and see people exiting the building. Among them was Marianne. Mariana was immediately relieved upon seeing her, but she was being carried. Did she get hurt worse? She felt incredibly guilty now and ran over to where Klaus set Marianne down.

“You’re okay!”

Marianna got on her knees and hugged the sitting Marianne for a quick, small moment before letting go.

“I’m sorry for leaving you back there! I was so worried it got to you!”

The whole situation had been taxing on Mariana. The whole test, seeing demons like this for the first time in person, having to actively fight them, and the mental toll this and worrying about everyone had put on her was starting to show as tears formed in her eyes. Only a week ago she was a regular civilian, but now she was in a whole new world that she was helpless in. The fact that she’d barely gotten 3 or 4 hours of sleep the night before, and everything culminated in Mariana starting to cry there in front of everyone. Mariana didn’t really know what she was, but the culmination of all the stress, fear, worry and everything else this test had induced on her was too much.

“Just when I was complimenting you on how you were carrying yourself…”

Crimson muttered to herself.

“I’m s-sorry! I don’t know why I’m crying.”

She said through sobs.

“Why are you apologizing? No one here is gonna be mad at you for crying.”

Crimson would then look over at Klaus.

“I’d never need some stupid party trick like that. Ask him if you wanna learn it so bad.”

She gestured with her head over to the teacher.

 

[Verite]

Valerie Vu - Asylum -> Outside
Interactions: Yakov011001 Tiguidi November Witch
Others: Solirus Juju

​

Valerie's pout only deepened as Nikklaüs spoke harshly to her and Marianne to quiet them down, though she silently acquiesced as she accepted that now was hardly the best time for idle chatter. With that, she followed him (with Marianne in tow) out of the Asylum and back into the light, letting a soft breath as she felt a weight lift off her shoulders. She'd had had enough of all that, and was glad to be done with all that already. Even as a distinct roar could be heard from within, the lack of the dark cloud that hovered over Valerie inside made it so that it was no more disturbing to her than a sudden crack of thunder.

Spotting Cobalt who managed to safely make it out as well, she eagerly jogged up toward him, stopping right next to Nikklaüs and Marianne with an eager smile. "Oh, there you are, Cobalt! Glad to see you made it out in one piece! No thanks to me, I guess. I really shouldn't have done that," she said with a sheepish chuckle, rubbing the back of her head. She'd gotten the message pretty thoroughly from her two fellow travelers that that was ultimately the wrong move to make, even if it was no harm, no foul in the end. After all, it could just as easily not be the case again next time. Holding her hand upright to the side of her face, making a gesture to look like she was sharing some secret, Valerie spoke again with an impish wink. "I'll think of a way to make it up to you, 'kay?"

However Cobalt would respond, Valerie would then proceed to gasp out with delight once Mariana came into the picture, seemingly closer to Marianne now after what Val could only guess was their own harrowing adventures in the building. "Mariana, there you are! I was looking all over for you!" She exclaimed with a delighted squeal, clasping her hands together as she had just remembered she had gone chasing after Mariana into the Asylum... and evidently went the exact wrong way when she did. Letting the girl have her nice reunion with Marianne, Valerie took the next moment she could to say her piece.

"You know, I just wanted to say, I think I've been really insensitive to you. All this time I was hoping to make friends with you, I literally didn't even realize you had like, someone else in there with you!" She said with another sheepish chuckle, as she seemed to be the last to even realize Crimson's very existence, and pieced together that that must have been the reason Mariana had felt so ostracized in the days past. How awkward must have it felt to have people talk to effectively only half of you? If that was how it even worked. "So lemme take this chance to formally introduce myself to Crimson!" Valerie exclaimed, leaning her face down closer toward Mariana's heart where she imagined Crimson probably was... oblivious to the awkward visual this might have given off as anyone else watching would get the wrong idea about where Val's eyes were lingering. "Hello, Crimson! It's nice to meet you!"

Then she heard Crimson speak, standing right next to them.

...

"What."

...

"W-Where did you come from?!"

 

[Tiguidi]

COBALT ULAR
Location: Outside the Asylum​

Cobalt blinked when he felt a tingle in his leg. Barely noticeable, yet it still prompted him to look downward at his now-stabilized wound. Everything Mr. Jaquie did always seemed so easy, despite how impressive the feat actually was. “... Right. I’ll do just that.” Though it looked like his teacher couldn’t quite do anything, as he was still instructed to head over to the nurse's office. Still, at least any urgency to get this treated was somewhat gone, though Cobalt most likely wouldn’t waste more time than he needed. The bleeding might have stopped but putting any kind of pressure on his leg still sent waves of dull pain throughout his body. And that was obviously a feeling he wanted gone.

He perked up at the sight of the others making their way out of the asylum, with some in better shape than others. “Looks like we weren’t the only ones with difficult fights.”, he idly commented, taking a quick moment to glance at Marianne and the state she was in. Despite her own injuries, the Montgomery twin seemed as fiery as ever, so she’d most likely be fine. Pursing his lips, he lowered his gaze onto his own wound. “I happened to be close enough to the exit when Mr. Jaquie announced the end of the quiz.”, he simply explained.

Cobalt paused for a few moments, searching for his words. “Hey, Nikklaüs? How’d you do it?”, he asked the swordsman, a subtle, yet noticeable dejected tone in his voice. “Keep fighting, I mean. I saw your wrist get fractured, yet you didn’t stop gripping your sword and you kept going. While in my case, getting my leg wounded more or less knocked me out of the fight right away.” He let out a groan of frustration. “I suppose I thought I’d be more useful. You all apparently were fighting the Rank II and I was too slow to even join and support you guys.”

He seemed lost in thought for a moment, his mind drifting once again to his memories of fighting the demon inside the asylum. He shook these thoughts away; he couldn’t exactly change the way he fought earlier. And fortunately for Cobalt, a bright light burned away the fog clouding his mind as Valerie came along, looking as peppy as always. She almost looked as if she had fun running around inside the asylum. Though she did seem to have some regrets over leaving him behind, but he brushed it off with a wave of his hand. “Don’t sweat it, Val, it’s fine. Everyone’s alive and relatively fine so let’s take that.” He was the one who suggested going after Nikklaüs in the first place so he had a bit of trouble understanding why Valerie wanted to make it up to him so suddenly. “You really... don’t have to.”, he awkwardly commented, scratching his temple with a finger. “Good on you for not having a busted arm or leg, though.”

---

Yakov011001 Solirus Verite

 

[Juju]

Scolded and embarrassed, Marianne could only scowl and cast her gaze to the side after Nikklaüs pointed out the risk of their voices attracting the demon.

“Fine.” She muttered tensely, feeling rather self conscious of how ridiculous it all was and how it had bothered her in the first place.

For the rest of the escape she was quiet, using her good arm to cling tightly onto Nikklaüs to avoid being a deadweight and keep her head from tossing around like a felt doll.

As embarrassed as she felt, the discomfort was nostalgic. The last time she had been carried like this was back when she was a little girl. Things were much simpler then, when being held had made her feel safe. Now she felt her hands trembling. She didn't like to be reminded of those days, but Nikklaüs had a way of tugging on things that had been carefully tucked away. He acted so similarly sometimes, even now with the chastisement and that determined focus.

She probably would have scolded her too.

Still, he wasn’t the same and so she couldn't understand why he went through so much trouble on her behalf. Normally she could just dismiss it as practical training as an arcanist, but this didn't end after class was dismissed. Over the course of her stay here at Anima Studies Nikklaüs had extended both she and Annamarie nothing but kindness.

Even Mariana, the girl who had been reduced to tears on the first day, had put herself in harm's way for the one who had spoken those cutting words. The hue of her anima standing defiant against the demon was still burned into her memory, even after it had vanished in the rubble.

Marianne just couldn't understand either of them. She couldn't believe them. One of the first teachings she had been taught was that empathy was as useful as the belladonna; beautiful to behold, yet a poison to partake. It was a weed that if left unchecked could usurp a garden, but even still Marianne couldn't help herself but admire it.

Such a confession of thoughts made her heart shudder, but not at the revelation that her lessons had failed. It was because she didn't deserve this. Why was it all wasted on her? Didn't they understand she could give nothing in return?

Shadow gave way to light as the four exited the Asylum. Compared to the dimness of those mouldering halls, the northern sunlight was harsh and near blinding. Marianne squinted against the sting, but there was also something pricking at the corners of her eyes.

‘Mari? Are you crying again? You're scared, aren't you.’

Marianne blinked hard to drive back the sunlight and invasive memories.

Soon she was brought over to the peculiar picnic and set down upon the blanket with surprising care. Marianne watched Nikklaüs carefully as he did this, measured in a look of muted astonishment. It was how she noticed the wince he tried to hide as her weight was shifted more to one of his wrists.

At that moment she realized he had also been injured. There was no blood or lacerations she could see, but he was clearly suffering from some internal ailment. A sprain or fracture perhaps? All she knew was that she had been nothing but a burden. Had she been in a better state then he wouldn't have had to do this. Another sin. Guilt sprung up, tangling into thick knots in her chest, but something still managed to escape.

“Thank you.” She murmured, just enough that only Nikklaüs would hear.

Her eyes were cloudy, but her words were soft and sincere, free of all the stubbornness. Then they flicked downward, minding the makeshift bandages that had been used to hold together her mangled legs. Disgust and shame rose up again at the ugly mess of it, but before her thoughts could turn sharp and ravenous, she heard a familiar voice call out to her.

It was none other than Mariana, whom Marianne was pleased to see was healthy save for a few minor scratches. Marianne had just enough time to sigh with relief before she was pulled into an unexpected hug. Her expression froze in shock, as did her entire body. She was completely rigid as her mind struggled to catch up with and process what was happening. Was she being hugged? Why was she being hugged? What should she do?

Annamarie began to stand up from where she had been seated beside her twin, but froze almost as abruptly as Marianne had once the hug was quickly ended. She then sat back down and impassively watched Mariana begin to sob and apologize.

As for Marianne, it seemed to be the only thing that knocked her out of her daze.

“No, no, you shouldn't be apologizing over that!” she exclaimed, her words scolding yet more gentle than usual. While she tried to use anger to mask it, the shrillness of her voice spoke more of worry and relief. “If anything, apologize for that stunt you just pulled! You could have died!”

Frowning lightly at the tears, Marianne reached a hand into her bag and retrieved a folded handkerchief. It was made of white cotton and embroidered along the corners with little thickets of red and white clovers.

”Here, take it.” Marianne muttered, turning her head to the side so that she was avoiding eye contact. “And don’t worry about giving it back. It’s yours to keep.”

The arrival of Valerie turned Marianne to silence once more. She loosely followed the conversation between the two up until the point where Valerie leaned down to stare shamelessly at Mariana’s chest.

“Oh, bloody hell. Really!?” Marianne gasped as she quickly averted her gaze and held a hand up to her eyes for good measure.
Yakov011001 November Witch Verite Solirus

 

[Yakov011001]

"Hey, Nikklaüs. How'd you do it? Keep fighting, I mean."

Nikklaüs' head shot up from where he'd laid down and mentally checked out of his surroundings. Having finally reached a trough in the intensity of the assignment, he'd finally had a chance to focus on that pain Cobalt questioned him on. Honestly it was the only thing keeping him awake next to the frigid air; this whole exercise having wiped him the fuck out.

“I suppose I thought I’d be more useful. You all apparently were fighting the Rank II and I was too slow to even join and support you guys.” Cobalt finished, and Nikklaüs could only chuckle at his concern as he sat up just enough to address it.

"Don't think much on it. We didn't fight it, I'm not so stupid as to try that. Besides, this is very different from that." Nikklaüs gestured to his wrist (this) and Cobalt's leg (that). "Besides it didn't do all that much—" Nikklaüs' words quickly became strained and almost rageful as he rotated the wrist in question. Yeah, I feel that plenty. "—damage."

He leaned back down fully to lay down again, clutching his wrist with his other hand.

"Fuuuuuuck," Nikklaüs hissed, his head turning back to Cobalt. He had thought of one thing to offer him. "If there's anything I've learned from my parents, it's that spite is ultimate motivator."

Nikklaüs yawned at that, incredibly tired from not only the assignment but also because one night of good rest last night didn't fix up what was almost a week without sleep prior. He closed his eyes and felt the tranquility of being among people that could may be considered friends; friends that hugged each other and felt their relief, and made exasperated exclamations from their ill-informed antics. The idle buzz of conversation between people, the slight rumble under him from the Rank II's seismic activity, the sound of the breeze rolling over the tall grass that seemed to stretch on indefinitely. It pushed on his consciousness, until it drifted away from the shore of reality and into the deep sea of sleep.

Tiguidi

 

[Solirus]

A Chivalrous Breeze​

Jaquie observed the students silently, dropping the basket onto the large cloth to prevent the breeze from taking it away. The students appeared to be doing well in general, but if Jaquie was content with the situation was unclear, as he appeared far more absent-minded than usual. It seemed as if the man was deep in thought, staring into nothing. While he remained in this state, Jaquie still took the opportunity to reach into the basket, pulling out what appeared to be a chicken wrap and taking a bite out of it. "mmmm, chicken" Jaquie mumbled to himself, seemingly regaining a semblance of clarity. "Feel free to grab something if any of you are hungry, I brought wraps, sandwiches… there's a salad here too, we have veggie options... drinks" Jaquie explained, continuing to list off other items within the basket.

Nikklaüs's comment on spite would catch Isaac's attention now looking away from Crimson, perhaps that was what he needed. But was he even capable of being spiteful when anxiety overwhelmed him constantly? Uncertainty spread, and his anima would flare again with anxiety. His anima would shift hue, instead of its typical bright pink, it would gain a tinge of violet. Maybe? Isaac would question himself, his anxiety still overbearing, but he felt less uncertain, he couldn't find out without trying, but now didn't seem adequate.

"… oh, didn't know we also had Bruschetta-" Jaquie's gaze would suddenly snap towards the standing door. Slowly creaking open, Percival Richter would step out of the door with three identical dark spheres hovering near him and appearing rather unscathed. The same could not be said about Roderick, which Percival held by the arm, dragging the unconscious student. Roderick was in a rather brutal state, his other arm had been completely severed, armor was covered in dents and slashes and his helmet appeared almost deformed with blood coating all corners of his body.

"Congratulations, he passed." Percival would sarcastically comment as he tossed Roderick's body near Jaquie's feet, staining the cloth with blood. "And for the record, I did not hurt him." Percival added before promptly exiting by closing the door before Jaquie could respond.

Taking a very deep breath, Jaquie knelt to the ground and gave Roderick a good slap to the head. Anima would flood out from Roderick like a broken dam as he would kip-up himself back to his feet, "Huzzah! I am become a MASTER. Besides the pain, This feels great!" Roderick would proudly exclaim as blood gushed out from his many wounds.

"You should heal yourself before you celebrate." Jaquie dryly commented.

"Oh but of course" Roderick would respond. His flood of anima would coalesce into a single point in his hand as he softly recited chants. The anima would disappear and from the earth itself a hooded figure with the attire resembling that of a cleric would claw themselves out of the dirt. "Oh most compassionate of healers, I am in need of your services." Roderick would announce to the figure, whose face remained obstructed by the shadow of the hood. With a simple nod, the figure would clasp both of its pale hands together in prayer as a soft but radiant light would illuminate the surroundings. The wounds of all near the light would begin to heal, fractures would begin to mend, exhaustion would flee the body, punctures would seal. Even the missing arm of Roderick would slowly regrow, first the bone, then the flesh, and finally the skin.

Eventually, the figure would end their prayer once all had been healed. "I thank you for your kindness" Roderick would thank the figure before it began to ascend towards the sky and fade into nothing. Though all students were healed, Crimson appeared to be the only unaffected one. "So how's your day going, years of the first?" Roderick would turn to face the rest of the students. His giddiness would be interrupted when he spotted the basket, "Did you bring chicken wraps?" Roderick questioned as he reached into the basket.

"Yup" jaquie would reply, taking another bite from his wrap.

"Brilliant." Roderick would take comment as he grabbed one for himself and took a bite, the wrap seemingly phasing through his visor.

 

[November Witch]

Crimson/Mariana

Status: Annoyed & Worried/Confused & Elated
Location: Abandoned Asylum - Outside
Interaction(s): Solirus Juju Verite


Mariana's sobbing face was covered by her hands and she seemed too emotional and distraught to really hear or notice Valerie talking to her unfortunately. When Valerie leaned down towards Mariana’s chest, she didn’t even manage to get a word out before she felt an inky black tendril lift her chin in Crimson’s direction.

“My eyes are up here, dork.”

She replied with a confused expression, essentially saying wtf are you doing.

“I don’t think she heard you, but I’ll relay your message, m’kay? Now give her some room, you’re much too close for her comfort. And I’ve always been here, thank you very much.”

Crimson gave a ‘shoo’ gesture with her hand, waving Valerie away, at least a bit.

It was only when Mariana felt some velvety soft cloth touch her hands, that she opened her eyes. She didn’t hear much of what Marianne said over her own crying up to the point she was told to take the handkerchief. However, it seemed this ‘gift’ only made Mariana cry harder.

“Marianne! Thank you!”

She cried, wiping away tears that continued to come.

As the following scene with Percival played out, Crimson would step between Mariana and the grizzly scene of Roderick’s body to keep her from seeing it. Which was probably unnecessary, as Mariana was still covering her face, and wiping it every few seconds. Once that whole fiasco was over, and Roderick was fully healed of his wounds, Crimson would speak up to Jaquie.

“Hey teach, you might want to check on her when she calms down. I can handle a little curse, but I don’t know how it’ll affect her.”

 

[Juju]

November Witch Solirus
Whilst shielding her eyes from Valerie's indecent mode of conduct, Marianne glanced sideways to where Nikklaüs now lay in repose. The sight of it was strangely reassuring. Despite everything he had gone through, he looked so peaceful as he slept, as if none of it had happened. Perhaps he was more exhausted than he let on. Once again, Marianne felt a stab of guilt at having placed the burden of her own failures onto him.

She shifted her eyes away, staring at the picnic blanket beneath her. Still, perhaps his exhaustion was an opportunity. Since escaping the asylum's wretched basement she had been anxious to speak to someone about her rather delicate condition. Now that Nikklaüs was asleep, she would not run the risk of him overhearing or asking questions she was not comfortable answering. He already had far too many unnecessary worries for her wellbeing, something that frankly still surprised her despite how long they had shared a dorm. The last thing she needed was even more of his tenacious concerns.

So far there were only two candidates who could provide the information she sought; Jaquie and Crimson. While perhaps an odd choice, and one she had never imagined she would come to, the best option between the two was the latter. A demon's insight was required for this case, and Marianne would be hard-pressed to find one willing to talk to her outside of Anima Studies. Of course, this all depended on if Crimson chose to cooperate. Their relationship wasn't exactly peachy, so it was likely she would just refuse.

Marianne at least had to try, and to find a way to speak with Crimson somewhere a little more discreetly. Throwing more worries onto Mariana would certainly not help the situation. Speaking of which, the first step would be calming down the poor girl. Once again, Marianne was faced with her pitiful skills in consolation.

The only silver lining was that Crimson had promptly settled the situation with Valerie, leaving Mariana to sob in peace. Marianne took a moment to glance sheepishly at Mariana, trying to find the right words to say. Facing demons in the darkness was somehow much easier by comparison.

“No need to thank me. I’m certain you would have extended the same gesture had the roles been reversed.” Marianne sniffed, growing a little confused at how her gift only seemed to make the tears worse. “If anything, I should be thanking you for your distraction back there. I still believe it was incredibly reckless but, well -- I appreciate it nonetheless. It was noble of you.”

Her expression softened at the admittance and she shrank a little into herself. Maybe it was just the wounds and the exhaustion, but she felt strangely exposed at the moment. It was an unusual and uncomfortable sensation.

Then a familiar irritating voice pierced through the peacefulness and Marianne was back on her guard. Grey eyes glared sharply at the man from afar, her lips twitching in disgust as Roderick was tossed down at them like a game carcass.

“When words are many, sin is not far...” Marianne muttered under her breath when Percival declared his innocence, already suspicious from the moment he opened his mouth.

Much to her relief, the man made himself scarce. All that was left was to care for Roderick, who was bleeding readily on the picnic blanket. A rich coppery scent had risen above the smell of food, ruining Marainne's already low appetite. Then Roderick sprung back to life, and Marianne could only watch in speechlessness as his Anima Art was displayed in its full maximalist glory.

Not only did Roderick fully heal his own wounds, but those of everyone else. Marianne unwrapped the bandages around her legs and was amazed to see that the flesh had fully mended, leaving not even a trace of a scar. Perfection. Chaos had been made into order. If she was honest, the pain wasn't half as bothersome as the mess. Now both had vanished.

“Incredible,” she whispered, feeling the tension in her shoulders loosen. The pain was gone, and even the exhaustion had been alleviated. Unsurprisingly, the foreign sensation in her anima had not changed.

Marianne looked back at Mariana, waving a little to catch the other girl's attention and draw it to her sealed wounds. “See, it's all sorted out. There's no sense dwelling on it now.”

To really prove her statement, Marianne stood up and gave a stretch, displaying her fully restored range of motion. Annamarie copied the gesture, even stretching in the same manner despite having no need to do so.

Marianne then gave Mariana a little nod, trying to look reassuring, “Now please, take a moment to gather yourself. It’s been a difficult day but it's not yet over. Just keep your chin up and eyes forward.”

She was unsure of how to open up the conversation with Crimson, but an opportunity presented itself when the demon mentioned a curse. It was something that caught Marianne by surprise. Was that the cause of Crimson's unusual state.


“Actually, Crimson, you should reserve more concern for yourself. Your anima is almost entirely spent. I had presumed you had been severely damaged by the Rank II, to the point of near death, but if this is a result of a curse then that is a whole different matter.”

Marianne placed a finger under her chin thoughtfully. Though she was loath to thank a demon, she could not deny Crimson's own efforts in protecting her and Annamarie. With a small sigh she added, “Also, I should thank you for your actions back there. Perhaps you are capable of more good deeds than I previously gave you credit for. While I still have my reservations, I fear that I judged your relationship with Mariana prematurely, and for that I must apologize. I realize that I know next to nothing about the two of you and I'd rather not make any blind judgments until I get a better understanding of you both.”

She shifted her feet uncomfortably, face flushed pink with embarrassment. Between Nikklaüs carrying her and apologising to Crimson, Marianne's pride was in a rather sorry state. To quickly change the topic, she cleared her throat.

“That of course, can be saved for a later date. In the meantime, I was hoping to have a word with you." She lowered her voice before continuing, "There is a matter I'd like to discuss and I believe you may be the only one here with the proper insight.”

Her eyes shifted to Mariana, Nikklaüs, and the others, “Privately, if possible."

 

[Silent Child]

The trip back outside was quiet, only Sophia's unconfident hopes echoing through Leo's mind. They walked out the door and Leo gave a lighthearted smile as he saw Taromaru, Sophia's dog, rush at her excited. He glanced back, noticing Mittens was still following him, so he stepped to the side and picked Mittens up once they came close enough. He hugged them in between his arms as he walked to where most people had already exit, noticing small crowds forming. "Is this a picnic?" He asked as he sat down on an unoccupied corner of the blanket. His attention shifted to the new arrivals- again, the same as last time apparently. "Oh hey, its Roder-" The state of Roderick was quite the surprise and Leander let out a slightly audible gasp. He simply watched as the entire situation unfold, the cleric type figure materialized entirely out of Roderick's anima, healing those around him. "Woah..." He muttered in amazement as he felt his fatigue lift slightly. He didn't have any injuries so he didn't feel the extent of it's effects. "W-wait... master? You were promoted?" He asked aloud to Roderick in a bit of awe.

 

[November Witch]

Crimson/Mariana Mirror

Status: Interested & Happy/Exhausted & Elated
Location: Abandoned Asylum - Outside
Interaction(s): Juju


Mariana’s crying had slowly started to come to an end. It was certainly still going, but the rate at which her tears and sobs came were slowing enough to be noticeable. The stress of the situation, her pent up emotions, and the fear from the situation were still all taking their toll on her. Add onto that the 4 hours of sleep or so she had actually gotten. It was just alot for the poor girl, who was now just holding her gifted handkerchief to her chest as if something tightly cherished and wiping her eyes with the back of her hand.

“I-It was nothing, I’m not a hero…”

Mariana mumbled through the tears, only to be momentarily interrupted by a sob.

“But I couldn’t just l-let you go it alone. W-wouldn’t anyone do it?”

The girl asked, meeting Marianne’s eyes for a moment. While she could see fear, and weariness from lack of rest, she also saw determination shining from somewhere deep within. She didn’t notice when her small cuts and bruises had been healed, as she was still in a state where trying to stop her crying was her biggest concern. Her wounds had also been relatively light, so she had barely felt anything in the first place. When Marianne spoke once more, the girl would simply nod.

“O-Okay…”

With that, she would lie on the blanket and close her eyes. Her ordeal and lack of sleep pulled at her mind. But she remained conscious for now.

Crimson would turn to look at the human who had started to initiate a conversation with her. That was rather odd in of itself. An eyebrow lifted in confusion as the other told Crimson she should worry about herself. That was unheard of. Someone else here was thinking about not just Mariana, but Crimson herself? She was even more confused as the other went on to apologize. She rubbed her ears, wondering if she was hearing this right. The demon crossed her arms, turned her head away from Marianne, but was a little unsure of how to respond.

“W-Well, since you’re the only one to respectfully speak to me, and you’re treating Mariana better, I guess I can accept your apology.”

Crimson herself seemed flustered by suddenly being talked to like she was someone worth the time of day. It was odd. She wasn’t used to anyone besides Mariana speaking to her in such a way, let alone even being concerned for her.

“And don’t worry, a little curse isn’t gonna kill me. I’ll show that stupid little bird that it won’t affect me in the slightest.”

But then, the girl asked Crimson for insight and to speak privately. She felt as if things couldn’t get any better. Her request thoroughly piqued Crimson’s interest. She would nod, but her gaze would flick over to Annamarie for a moment. She assumed this inquiry would probably revolve around the twin.

“Fine by me.”

She’d nod. Crimson wondered if this would be something discussed here away from the group, or once they got back and everyone had more or less dispersed.

 

[Solirus]

A Murder
November Witch Juju Silent Child
​

At the mention of a curse, Jaquie would switch his gaze between Mariana and Crimson. Curiosity would turn into confusion as Jaquie would remove his glasses, squinting his eyes as he inspected the both of them from a distance, "I don't see a curse…" Jaquie would comment, calmly putting back his glasses. "You're not the funny type, so I don't imagine you're lying to me..." he mumbled, "share with me the details about this curse later." Jaquie would request as he finished eating his own chicken wrap before reaching and grabbing a sandwich.

"PROMOTED?!" Roderick would exclaim at Leander's question, tossing his wrap far into the air dramatically. "Nay, 'tis no mere promotion, through rigorous and intense battle, I have earned the title of master and should the winds fare thee well, you all shall earn this title… in good time." The wrap would fall back onto the palm of the knight, thus resuming his routine of consumption. With his booming voice, Roderick had, inadvertently, startled a murder of crows which had been perched atop nearby trees, seemingly minding their own business. The crows, however, would soon perch themselves atop other trees, remaining idle but wary of the loud one.

 

[Juju]

November Witch Solirus
The shadow of a smile crossed Marianne’s lips as she glanced over to see Mariana resting soundly. Now that she thought about it, Crimson had mentioned something about Mariana being deprived of sleep. Something about staying up late the night before. Too preoccupied with confronting Crimson over her possession habits, Marianne hadn’t remembered any details beyond that.

Just like Nikklaüs, the sight of Mariana napping in the cool sunlight, free of danger, made her feel strangely at ease. As quickly as she realized this, she discarded the useless observation. What mattered was that both of them would be unaware if she slipped away.

Perhaps now is as good a time as ever.

She looked back at Crimson, who, to Marianne’s surprise, seemed unusually shy. The demon was avoiding her gaze as she spoke, which made Marianne wonder if she had improperly presented her apology. Now she was flustered as well. Just when Marianne was sure she had taken a huge misstep, Crimson accepted her apology and request for private discussion.

Relief rushed over Marianne, whose posture straightened and face cooled with the revival of her composure. She was certainly glad to have gotten that out of the way. Although she still had her doubts about Crimson’s intentions, for now she would observe before making any blind judgments. That, and gather what precious knowledge she could.

Marianne let out a small, silent sigh before she spoke, “Excellent. Now if we could ju--”

Roderick’s declarations drowned her words and shook her ears, forcing Marianne to stop mid-sentence. She pursed her lips and frowned deeply, silently conveying her disapproval to the completely oblivious second year. Honestly, she could not understand how anyone could bear to be around the boisterous student on a day-to-day basis. If she had to, she would no doubt lose both patience and hearing.

So much for silence…

By some miracle, Nikklaus did not wake from the shouting. She may not be so lucky with Mariana, but at least she was the lesser of two evils. Marianne still couldn’t believe she was confiding in Crimson of all people, but then again today had been filled with anomalies. Regardless, she could ill afford to pass up this opportunity, especially knowing how fickle Crimson could be.

"This way, if you would." Marianne uttered stiffly, her hurried steps betraying the nervousness she felt as she led Crimson and Annamarie away from the group of students.

She walked across the courtyard, legs stirring the tall, dead grass of what might have been a cheerful garden had it not been for years of neglect. Now dry vegetation crunched beneath her steps. The only true surviving greenery was a solitary oak tree, its bark and branches all tough and gnarled, like a stubborn old man refusing to leave a sentimental estate.

Marianne stopped under the shade of the tree, using its large trunk as an honorary barrier between herself and the distant picnic. Even though she was well out of earshot, she still flicked her eyes towards the party, as if they were somehow eavesdropping. Despite her best efforts to appear composed, she held on tightly to Annamarie's hand, as she so often did when anxious.

"Right then. Suppose this should do." She shifted where she stood, eyes lowered to the ground. "I'll try to be as brief as possible."

It still felt wrong to be talking to Crimson so earnestly, but now was not the time for second guessing. She took a steadying breath and then levelled her eyes with Crimson's, her expression full of a grim seriousness.

"Crimson... as a demon, you are a creature of pure anima, unlike we humans. Naturally, you are sensitive to things that may require rigorous study from an arcanist. That, and an unparalleled understanding of the inner workings of demons and their anima. I will require that knowledge, if you may, but I'll begin with a simple question."

She let go of Annamarie's hand and took a few steps away from her twin, ensuring their anima would be as separate as possible.

"Do you sense anything usual with my anima?"

 

[Tiguidi]

COBALT ULAR
Location: Outside the Asylum​

Cobalt raised an incredulous eyebrow as Nikklaüs compared both of their wounds. Cobalt’s definitely was more bloodied but the pain pulsing from Nikklaüs’ wrist was almost palpable. “Right, just a flesh wound.”, he commented with a hint of sarcasm, managing a small smile in response, though it slowly faded away after Nikklaüs’ following line. “... Spite, huh?”

“I’m not sure about that. I can’t say I like the idea of focusing on negative emotions and fueling my flames with those.”, Cobalt replied after a few moments of pondering. “I... wouldn’t want them going out of control and burning someone else by accident.” He let out a sigh as he heard an echo in his mind; the cry of pain Valerie had let out when she had made contact with his soul flames. He shook his head. No, no, he already apologized, and she wasn’t mad at him. Didn’t seem to be mad, at least... He may have to confirm at a later time...

“Thanks for the talk. I think I needed i- oh, he’s asleep.”

His mood seemed to immediately sour as Percival came into view, dragging a completely beat up Roderick along with him. “What the...?” Is this what he should be expected to look like once he becomes stronger??

There was a catch somewhere. Even someone as boisterous as Roderick surely would feel something after coming back with so many wounds -heck, he lost an entire damn arm!

Cobalt’s many questions were soon answered once his armored upperclassman used (presumably) his Anima Art, summoning a cleric-like figure. Following this apparition was a soft light that coated his body, as well as everything else near the figure. As the light dimmed out, Cobalt blinked as he felt a strange sensation in his injured leg. It took him a few moments to realize that this ‘strange sensation’ was simply a lack of pain as the limb got completely healed. “I... just like that, huh...?” Could wounds really be removed as easily as this in the arcanist world...?

“I can’t say the last hour had been going well, until you arrived and did... this.”, Cobalt spoke up to Roderick. “So... thank you.”, he added. Not to take any chances, he reached with his hands and probed his leg, where the stab marks had previously been. He really felt as though he had never been injured at all. “Was that your Anima Art?”, he asked, walking a bit closer to the basket to grab a sandwich.

---

Yakov011001 Solirus

 

[November Witch]

Crimson

Status: Interested & Happy
Location: Abandoned Asylum - Outside
Interaction(s): Juju


A sigh left Crimson’s lips as Jaquie replied to her. Wasn’t a curse a big deal? She knew he didn’t care about her in the slightest, but what about Mariana? Wouldn’t a curse warrant immediate attention? Again, she really, really didn’t like him.

Crimson would follow Marianne, and find it a little odd just how far from the group they were going. If she wanted privacy so much, wouldn’t it be better to wait a bit and go to her room once they got back to the academy? Either way, Crimson figured it was pressing if Marianne was doing out in the open like this. Her eyebrows raised slightly as she heard Marianne speak briefly about how the spot would suffice, and how she should be brief. Typical behavior by humans, trying in vain to put off things they don’t want to talk about, or distract themselves. Truly curious creatures.

So, it was about anima, and demons. Crimson honestly figured as much. Why else would someone want her opinion on something? Well, she also thought about the possibility of Marianne wanting to ask about Mariana. But it seems it was the former, not the latter.

When the question was posed, Crimson basically already knew the answer. She’d noticed it basically as soon as she cared to pay attention to Marianne on the first day. It was something that confused yet intrigued the demon. Something she wanted to find the cause to.

“It’s quite amusing, you know? We both want the answer to that question.”

Crimson replied with a slight chuckle, taking a few steps closer to Marianne.

“From what I can see, you have some anima in your soul that doesn’t exactly belong to you…”

The demon then reached out, placing her index and middle finger on the left side of Marianne’s neck. One reason was simply for amusement’s sake. She wanted to see the reaction of the other. But the other was to get a better reading on the weird anima within her. Her fingers then moved down Marianne’s shoulder and her chest until they touched the spot just above Marianne’s heart.

“Your anima seems to be in good condition… But there’s some sort of unfamiliar anima orbiting your own. It’s so attached to your anima, that it’s almost a part of you.”

Crimson would then pull her hand away. She was well aware how protective Annamarie was over Marianne, so she kept the contact between them short. However, she had a guess about everything right now. But she couldn’t be sure unless she could be a little more… invasive towards Marianne and Annamarie. She took a step back from Marianne.

“If you let me, I may be able to gleam more from your anima. It would require you to let my anima into you. Just a tiny bit of it would let me better see what is going on in there. Also, it would be helpful if you let me do the same thing to Ann because I have a feeling it may be connected to her.”

Crimson explained. Now, she was pretty sure Marianne wouldn’t let Crimson do something so invasive. After all, it would leave her vulnerable to anything Crimson wanted to do, like attack her. The demon assumed Marianne would never open herself up like that, even to a demon she trusted. Then again, this girl was full of surprises today.

“Oh, by the way, We’re too far from Mariana. I’ll disappear and return to her in about a minute or two. So make it fast, or we can do this another time, and you can give me your decision then, m’kay?”

–

Mariana, by this point, had also fallen into a deep sleep. The lack of sleep and her emotional and physical exhaustion were too much and she fell into a peaceful sleep.

 

[Verite]

Valerie Vu - Outside
Interactions: November Witch Tiguidi Silent Child

​

"Huh--?"

Valerie blinked dimly as Crimson, demanding no fanfare for her appearance as if she was always there and didn't care to make a big deal out of it, shooed her away so casually. She puffed her cheeks in a pout but found herself unable to do much about it. Alright, well, she's going to need a solid minute to process all that. It seemed like Marianne wanted a private conversation with Crimson anyway; whatever they went through together inside the Asylum really must have made them closer!

As Roderick would then appear and cast some sort of healing enchantment on all those nearby, the young woman let out a relieved breath as her scrapes were tended to nicely. She could feel a small weight being lifted off her shoulders as she was restored to tip-top shape, as though her wounds were more in her soul than her body, before she remembered where the brunt of her wounds were; inside her very soul, when Cobalt's flames accidentally burned her. She stopped for a moment, the excruciating pain returning briefly like an echo in her mind, before she shook her head as if to expel the last remnants of that pain out of her.

It was over now. She could just put that away in the box with everything else.

With that, realizing that Jacquie had prepared quite the sumptuous picnic for them, Valerie beamed brightly and jogged over to the basket laid out by him, looking over what might have been inside, before helping to herself to a chicken wrap. Taking a bite out of it, she squeaked with delight, savoring the taste, before looking over at Cobalt and Leander, who were both engaging with Roderick in conversation.

"C'mon, Cobalt, we gotta restore all the energy we burnt through earlier! I dunno about you, but I'm so hungry, I could eat a horse!" She exclaimed, eagerly taking another bite into her wrap. "... That's such a messed up phrase people made up, you know? What a weird thing to say. Even though I just said it."

...

Without another second of reflection, she stepped over toward Leo, shooting a smile toward him. "Well, looks like you weren't any worse for wear, even before that spell. Love to see it," Val said, before leaning forward toward Mittens. "Hey, kitty! I wonder if there's anything we can give 'em. Maybe some milk so they can get in on the feast in their own way too. Boop," she idly went on, playfully booping the cat's nose as she spoke.

 

[Juju]

(Collab with November Witch

Marianne’s gaze glimmered in curiosity at the mention of that foreign anima, but she held her tongue and allowed the demon to explain further. The discomfort she felt at Crimson’s approach was obvious in the stiffness of her stance, though she did well in forcing herself to remain firmly in place.

As the demon raised two fingers to her neck, she leaned her head to the side, as if in some shallow attempt to be as far as possible from the demon’s touch. Her eyes were narrowed and full of measured wariness as they locked onto Crimson’s own. The trust she had was razor-thin, but it was enough.

Annamarie was also on guard, but kept her distance until a signal was given. For now, she watched with an unblinking red gaze.

Marianne’s frown deepened with worry at Crimson’s analysis. She lowered her eyes, troubled thoughts hounding her mind. Nausea welled up in her stomach.

“I bested a Rank I in the asylum, and as its anima faded, I felt a pull. Like it was…” She paused, searching for words to describe the sickening sensation she had experienced as its anima was pulled into her. “Like it was absorbed in some manner. It reminded me of how demons cannibalize anima off one another, but of course, that should be impossible.”

Then Crimson suggested a closer look at her anima. Hesitation flashed across Marianne’s face at the offer, fully knowing the dangers of such a thing.

“That sounds dreadfully close to possession...” Marianne stated dryly, face dark with contemplation as she considered her options. The time limit certainly wasn’t helping. “Is there no other way?”

Now it was Crimson’s turn to think about the situation. She didn’t know this key information before. This sounded like something special that demon may have been capable of doing, as Crimson didn’t know anything about this. It was similar to how possession felt, but certainly different. To her, it seemed like a seed. Something to feed off her until it could bloom into… Well, something. But it was just her best hypothesis at the moment.

“It’s the most precise way to see your anima.” Crimson explained to Marianne, her voice matter-of-fact. “I’m not gonna try anything funny. It’s not exactly in my interest. Besides, if I have humans on my side, my odds of living increase significantly.”

Very slowly but surely, Crimson’s very being could be seen becoming transparent.

“If you want to wait to give me your answer, you can. We’ve got nothing but time.” Crimson pointed out. It was something they could do anytime. It didn’t exactly have to be right here and now. Besides, it seemed like Marianne was pretty split at the moment.

“No.” Marianne’s response was abrupt and short. It must have surprised even her, because she paused a little to choose her words a little more carefully.

Her thoughts were spinning too fast, her breaths racing with her mind. She needed to make the decision now, before she could reason herself away from the insanity before her. Waiting would be worse. The haze in her eyes sharpened as they glanced back up at Crimson, distilled with purpose, “I need to know exactly what this is. I refuse to let it fester enough to potentially harm others.”

If a creature was parasitizing her, would Crimson stain her soul any more than it already was? Strangely, an old nursery rhyme came to mind; one about an old lady who swallowed a spider to catch the fly inside her. She remembered thinking how stupid the woman must be. Now Marianne understood.

Marianne took a deep breath and gathered her courage. She quickly glanced in the direction of Mariana and Nikklaüs before looking back to Crimson. “Go on then, but do not touch Annamarie."

Crimson blinked in surprise, but only for a moment until she smiled. Satisfaction within her gaze. She liked how fast and decisive Marianne was being right now. If only Mariana could show some backbone and confidence like this every now and then. However, her focus on keeping it from harming others also sounded just like Mariana. Were all arcanists really this sappy? It was annoying.

“Oh please, she’s not nearly as interesting as the humans around. I give you my word I won’t lay a finger or tentacle on her, m’kay?”

Crimson said in a tone that was teasing, and batted her eyebrows at Marianne before putting her fingers back over Marianne’s heart. She wasn’t exactly sure how it would feel to a human. Would it be painful? Intrusive? Would it even be noticed? Well, there was only one way to find out.

“Prepare yourself, Marianne.”

Crimson warned, before a hair’s breadth of Crimson’s anima wormed its way into Marianne’s.

 

[Silent Child]

"PROMOTED?!" The word thundered from Roderick's lips, a clarion call that echoed off the stone walls. Leo, despite anticipating the outburst, felt a jolt of surprise ripple through him. In a dramatic flourish, Roderick's hand flung upwards, sending his half-eaten wrap spiraling into the air. Leo's gaze followed the wrap's ascent, almost in slow motion, as it reached its zenith and began its descent. Roderick continued, his voice a resonant boom that sounded as if the world should hear. "Nay, 'tis no mere promotion, through rigorous and intense battle, I have earned the title of master and should the winds fare thee well, you all shall earn this title… in good time."

Leander, still sitting only a few paces away, furrowed his brow in contemplation. He grasped the essence of Roderick's proclamation—there was a hierarchy to be climbed, a path of trials to be conquered. "What level must one attain to embark upon these trials...?" he murmured, his voice barely a whisper, lost in the labyrinth of his own thoughts.

At that moment, Mittens gave a gentle tug against his arms. The subtle pull drew Leander back from the trench of his own thoughts, his attention snapping to the present. Barely an arm's length away stood Valerie, her sudden presence a pleasant surprise. Her arrival went unnoticed until now, as she offered a warm greeting. A blush, soft and barely noticable , painted Leander's cheeks, a mix of embarrassment and delight that she had sought him out first. His smile, bright and genuine, mirrored the joy in her eyes. "Well, looks like you weren't any worse for wear, even before that spell. Love to see it," Valerie said, her voice carrying her usual vigor and excitement. "Y-yeah! I didn't do much, so I'm not really hurt, but you must've had a time, huh?" he replied, watching as her hand reaching out to Mittens with a tenderness that spoke volumes. Leo lifted the cat, bridging the gap between the two. "Hey, kitty! I wonder if there's anything we can give 'em. Maybe some milk so they can get in on the feast in their own way too. Boop," she gently tapped Mittens' nose, eliciting a slight recoil from the cat. Yet, curiosity prevailed, and Mittens leaned in, sniffing her hand before bestowing a delicate lick upon her finger. The simple act brought a broader smile to Leo's face. He placed Mittens down, watching with a fond gaze as the cat clambered onto Valerie's lap. His heart swelled with appreciation for her thoughtfulness. "I have no doubt Mr. Jacquie has something Mittens can have," he said, glancing towards the teacher. "But for now, he's preoccupied with his own food... Wait, can cats eat chicken?" He asked without much thinking in the first place about the topic.


Mentions: Solirus Verite

 

[Solirus]

• The Knight
• Slumbering

• 
  
  The Knight
  Silent Child Tiguidi Verite ​
  
  "Twas nothing" Roderick replied to Cobalt with a stuffed mouth as he finished his wrap, "'Tis the duty of a knight to serve those in need!" He proclaimed with pride, his anima brimming evermore. At the mention of his anima art, the knight's anima erupted further in anticipation and excitement, "Why 'tis only a fraction of my art, I could display all it's glory right this very instant!" Roderick explained with glee and eagerness, the anima within him continued to surge at a seemingly dangerous rate.
  
  "No need to show it off." Jaquie interrupted, having finished the sandwich and reaching into the basket for yet another wrap. "We don't want to cause mayhem." Jaquie further elaborated.
  
  Roderick's anima eased itself into an eager yet controlled stream, "Mine apologies, Great grandmaster, I was nearly swept away by my eagerness. Perhaps I could display something far more tame." Roderick would ponder to himself before noticing Jaquie's new wrap, "By the by, I hope you have brought enough food for the rest of the students. You are devouring the contents of that basket like a gargantuan scallop." Roderick exclaimed.
  
  Jaquie paused, befuddled by Roderick's comparison, "I get pretty hungry, but I brought more than enough."
  
  "Ah, very well then." Roderick replied, only to have his attention drift onto mittens, "Leo was it? Your feline friend is very..." Roderick approached mittens, almost unaware that Valerie was also next to the creature, "Funny looking. I have never seen such a... well, he's certainly unique."
  
  "I don't think you should be feeding Mittens any chicken... or anything really" Jaquie mentioned replying to Leo's questions.
  
• 
  
  Slumbering
  November Witch Juju ​
  
  Crimson's anima would slither its way through Marianne's without issue, attaining a far clearer picture of the girl's emotions at the present moment. Delving deeper still, Crimson would eventually find Marianne's soul, invisible yet perceptible through the motion of anima that flowed out of it. There orbiting the soul was the speck of anima, it's color and shape reminiscent of madness.
  
  However, looking closer Crimson would find the speck was not awake, it hardly appeared conscious at all, instead slumbering, dragged along by the soul. Crimson would be able to note distortions present near the speck of anima and on another spot seemingly bereft of anima. The speck did not appear parasitic, instead it appeared far more as a captive.
  

 

[November Witch]

Crimson

Status: Interested & Curious
Location: Abandoned Asylum - Outside
Interaction(s): Juju

The soul. The very core of every human’s existence. Crimson couldn’t exactly say she’d been welcomed into one like this before. Even with Mariana, it was more like being sucked into a vortex she couldn’t escape. But here, there was no resistance from either side. A mutual understanding of sorts. It was almost uncomfortable for Crimson. The only words she could use to describe it was intimate.

Madness… It seemed to be inactive. Incubating within the anima of Marianne. Somewhat similar to Crimson’s situation actually. Like it was a captive of Marianne’s soul. However, the main difference was that Crimson couldn’t leave her host. The demon wondered if it had something to do with their time in the asylum. It reeked of madness within, after all. She also felt as if it would be hard to overlook something like this. It must have been recent. However, there was also a spot completely devoid of anima. In fact, Crimson had never seen anything like this before… Perhaps it was missing due to this captive speck of madness consuming it?...

Or perhaps… Her gaze flickered to Annamarie. Maybe it had something to do with her… Though Crimson was well aware she’d likely get nowhere asking Marianne. Annamarie was obviously her prized possession. Speaking of Marianne, with Crimson being so invasive, she had access to her emotions passively. She wasn’t actively trying to be nosey, but they were just right there. Well, her attitude was perfectly understood now. If Crimson had to feel these emotions all the time, she’d certainly be uptight and sensitive to others. The girl’s actions started to make sense when put into perspective with these emotions…

But why was she so ashamed of the situation exactly? Was it what Crimson was doing? Or perhaps it was the very act of asking a demon for help? No, it couldn’t be the latter… She got help from Annamarie all the time. Emotional help, more often than not. But why then did it seem she had so much hatred in her? The most obvious thing was demons. But perhaps it was split between multiple facets? Surprisingly, at least compared to most, there was alot of anger and pity within. It was interesting to see such emotions, as she had gotten used to Mariana, and she had none of these.

Crimson would pull her hand away, severing the connection, and look down at the human before her. There was definitely a height difference between the two. At about 6ft, Crimson towered over the other.

“Well, the good news is that you shouldn’t really be affected in any negative way. At least, not anytime soon.”

The demon said, still slowly fading, losing her opacity.

“But it seems like something similar to me and Mariana. You have some sort of captive demon inside you. Just a speck. Barely noticeable. However, it seems you also have a portion of anima simply missing. I’ve never seen anything like it before. Maybe it has something to do with her?”

Her gaze flicked to Annamarie, then back.

“Or maybe some accident in your past? Either way, if that demon stays small, I don’t see it being a problem. The madness within its anima should affect you before the demon becomes a problem though, so you’ll know.”

She was silent for a moment, letting Marianne absorb all the information she was given.

“You have a real mixed bag of emotions in there. I can’t help but notice most of them are negative. You’re more similar to Mariana than I thought.”

 

[Tiguidi]

COBALT ULAR
Location: Outside the Asylum​

Cobalt nodded in accord with Valerie's comment about restoring their energy. He rarely exercised this much and, well, very rarely went through demon-filled asylums to fight for his life. Getting a break was well-deserved. And the food was good! “It’s probably a phrase that more or less means ‘I’m desperately hungry to the point where I’m willing to eat an animal not meant to be eaten.’”, he pondered, taking a bite out of his sandwich. He blinked as he glanced back at Valerie with a deadpan expression. “... Not that it was necessary to explain it...”, he added with a small sigh and pinching the bridge of his nose in mild embarrassment.

To make things worst, his head soon started pounding again at Roderick’s boisterous voice. Cobalt's eyes briefly widened in alarm as the anima surrounding the armored man started to rapidly flare up. “Whoa, no need to go all out there-!”

Still, Roderick’s words implied that he could do much more than healing. With how potent the healing light was, Cobalt had assumed that curing wounds alone was Roderick's power. Could Anima Arts really be that versatile? It felt at first that he and the other students would need to specialize in something; himself using area control, Nikklaüs being a strictly melee fighter and so on. “I wonder...” As the others' attention seemed to focus on Mittens, Cobalt quickly finished up his food and wiped his hands. He opened his palm, facing toward the sky, and conjured a small flame. The incandescent mote danced on his hand for a few moments as he pondered on its usefulness. This small flame could potentially burn away demons and anima -that alone felt incredibly useful, but surely there could be more to be done...? Something not as straightforward?

He should ask Nikklaüs if he would mind helping him train. After getting knifed, Cobalt felt some training in melee combat would do him good. ’Err, once he wakes up, that is...’

---

Verite Solirus

 

[Juju]

Marianne & Annamarie( November Witch )​

The sensation was anything but comfortable. Like some carrion worm squirming through dead meat, she could feel Crimson’s anima encroach upon her very soul. No matter how much she convinced herself of the necessity of such an invasion, it felt wrong. Her skin pricked, rippling with disgust and stifled horror. Now that she had allowed a demon access to her soul, there was little she could do to defend it.

It took all of Marianne's willpower to suppress the instinct to lash out or flee. She gritted her teeth and balled up her fists so tightly that her nails began to bite into the flesh of her palms. Grey eyes were steeled as they leered up at Crimson, watching her closely even if it made no difference. With their anima being so close, she could sense just as much of Crimson's state as the demon could for her own.

It was everything she expected; a mutual hate and an overbearing sense of superiority that made Marianne's skin crawl. Yet beneath it, she could sense things that were a little more surprising. For reasons unknown, the demon seemed relieved and, dare she say, happy? It was fickle, but it seemed a lot like hopefulness.

Probably smug at having talked me into doing something so heretical, Marianne thought blandly, paying no more mind to the emotional state of Crimson.

The examination was thankfully a short one. Once it was over with, Marianne sighed with relief, relishing the feeling of her soul being freed of its extra occupant. Even still, she could feel a lingering taint. She had committed two Cardinal Sins this day, and she was unsure of just how many hundreds of good deeds would wash it from her conscience. If it ever could be.

The more Crimson explained, the deeper the worry on Marianne's brow grew.

"Captive... demon?" she muttered, face blanched. She thought back to the way the demon's anima melted into her own, tugging along as if by a string. It seemed rather impossible, but not nearly as much as what Crimson said next.

Part of her anima was missing? She thought briefly of Annamarie, but then shook it away. Her eyes then turned to her twin as Crimson suggested her. The doll stared back, unconcerned by the events that transpired. In some ways it was comforting, and in others it was not.

Their fateful meeting was not the most pleasant one, but Marianne would never consider it to be an accident. Not for lack of trying, of course. Marianne tore her gaze away and threw it at the ground, jaw clenched as she listened to the rest of Crimson's diagnosis.

So it was going to grow then? She wondered just what was meant when Crimson mentioned the stowaway's influence affecting her, but part of her refused to ponder it at this moment. If she let herself think about it too long, she would truly feed into this madness. Already her poise was slipping from the dread gnawing at her every breath.

She took a few steps back, pulling at the hem of her sleeves. Her eyes were hazy, staring at invisible, faraway things. Thoughts pooled behind them. "I... I need a moment. Leave us, please."

It felt like a weight was crushing down on her, and it was becoming difficult not to show the cracks. In a way, it made her want to burst out into laughter. They were all right in the end. She was everything they said she would be and nothing but a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Slowly, she sat down in the shadow of the tree, back resting against its rotten bark and hands covering her face. She hoped Crimson was gone by now, but didn't dare check out of fear of revealing her face.

 

[Solirus]

• Excluded
• Cleaning Up

• 
  
  Twisting Memories​
  
  Through the ongoing picnic, Isaac had remained near a tree, contemplating at what was happening. Roderick's sudden and gruesome arrival had left him unnerved, a feeling which had washed off easily once the former appeared unbothered and swiftly rejuvenated himself and the others. Something he himself didn't benefit much from, as he'd remained unharmed through it all. Then everyone seemingly returned to normal, with the occasional explosion of the knight's voice. The students each talked to each other, while some took time to rest and even sleep.
  
  Isaac remained painfully aware, the memories rewinding in his head of all the events so far, bending from reality to exaggeration. Crimson's belittlement and the shame he felt, perhaps he shouldn't try to understand Crimson, just keep his distance. He recalled the close encounter with the Rank II, he thought he remembered it breathing close to him and Sophia as it passed through the room speaking in an unfamiliar tongue. He'd been quick to react, but had it truly not spotted them, what if it had let them go out of amusement? The thought tightened Isaac's chest, he couldn't been hurt, maybe he could've even died. Power, that was what he needed, he needed to become powerful enough so that nothing would threaten him, so that no one would look down on him, and so that he could attain the confidence he needed.
  
  "Heads up!" Jaquie would shout in Isaac's direction. Isaac raised his head to face the teacher, only finding a wrap approaching with speed and force. Without a second thought, Isaac would raise his arm, only barely being fast enough to catch the wrap before it crashed against his face. "Good catch." Jaquie commended as he reached into the basket, grabbing himself a whole loaf of bread.
  
  In that instance, Isaac felt no shame, only wonder. When he'd turn to face Jaquie, his movements had felt sluggish, everything felt slightly slow to begin with until the moment had passed, and he'd caught the wrap. "I wonder" Isaac whispered to himself before taking a bite out of the wrap. It was delicious.
  
• 
  
  Cleaning Up​
  
  "You all know the rules. One, who gets the short one, gets to deal with the big one." One of the men spoke, holding up 6 sticks and hiding the bottom with his hand. They'd already been given the go ahead to clean up the place after having to guard the place for a good while from any potential onlookers. The asylum, being as far from any city as it was, led to a small town being near it and causing even fewer people to even attempt visiting the relic.
  
  The rest of the men reached out to grab a stick and in unison they would remove it.
  
  "Shit" one of them would utter under their breath as at the palm of their hand they now held the short stick.
  
  "What scared of a little extra work? Scared of a two rank Elias?" one of the men playful commented, patting Elias's back. "If you want, I can take care of it."
  
  "You just want to bully the thing." Elias spat back, frustrated at his coworkers' attitude, not that he could blame him much anyway, he had to maintain an annoying attitude to maximize his anima art. Regardless, the man's attitude was difficult to tolerate, "I'll do it."
  
  "Bet you can't kill it in one minute." The man continued, adding bets to the entire thing.
  
  "Fifty bucks he can" A far more burly men responded, challenging the bet.
  
  "Bet's on then" the annoying man giggled.
  
  Elias would simply give out an exasperated sigh as he approached the asylum. A problem with working in lower level areas was the amount of anima that tended to leak, thus causing a miasma of sorts. However, with the examination of the students complete, the miasma had thinned somewhat, partly from demons being eliminated and incidentally from one of them fighting the rank II. He'd heard the screams and struggle of the demon as it absorbed more anima, he'd frankly hoped the demon would die from the exposure, but to his distaste, the demon had now grown stronger. "Alright, let's get this over with" Elias would mutter before reaching into the front pocket of his sweater and removing a simple cap which calmly put on.
  
  Walking through the main entrance, Elias would hear footsteps rapidly approaching his location, with terrifying motion the demon's blade would emerge from the wall, cutting through it like butter. Anticipating this however Elias had preemptively ducked the blade, this demon hadn't even attempted to hide itself, even if its strength was approaching that of a rank III, it still fought like a rank II.
  
  Smashing its way through the wall, the demon would continue its assault, each swing increasing in speed, yet each swing missing its target as Elias would convincingly dodge every strike. "So you speed up your attacks" Elias commented before swiftly backhanding one of the blades, shattering it. Without wasting another second, Elias would grab onto the demon's heel, tossing it through the main entrance like a rag doll, snapping the doors apart and kicking up dirt along the way. He'd been told to not worry about damages to the building, so he could deal with the demon without worrying about collateral damage.
  
  The demon would slowly recover from the ground, its blade would reform back into its body whilst it slowly grew a new pair of eyes, no being unable to see through the miasma. With its new vision, the demon would see Elias slowly walking out of the asylum. Turning his cap around, the arcanist's anima would all focus into a single point form and create a bright red yo-yo.
  
  With its anima, the demon attempted to summon its bell back. Yet in retaliation, the arcanist swung around his yo-yo, the impact of which would cleave off the demon's arm, exorcising it into nothingness. Maintaining momentum, the arcanist would wrap the yo-yo around the demon tightly, whilst a spark of energy would travel across the yo-yo string, detonating into an explosion when it reached the demon. The crows that had perched themselves near the picnic would become startled and fly away, wishing to remain undisturbed.
  
  With the demon reduced to nothing, Elias would unsummon his yo-yo and return to his group of coworkers, giving them the go ahead to clean up the rest of the asylum. The burly man in particular would appear rather upset, as Elias had just lost him the bet.
  

 

[Spoiled Bread]

Sophia

Anima: White aura calmly floats around with some red undertone​

---

Sophia had always been interested at how arcanists work in a group, and this was the perfect chance for her to observe. Taking a pair of sandwhiches from Jacquie's basket. Sophia found a good spot under the shade of a tree, she sat on it calmly as if she was in a picnic. One hand feed her shiba a sandwhich, and the other to feed herself one, all while watching professional arcanists handle the demons in the asylum. Granted, most the action was done inside the asylum so she must strain her refined vision to even get a glimpse it, but she could feel the demon's rage and desperation pretty clearly.

"That's what I want to do, Taromaru. A cool arcanist that can protect people from demons." She spoke to her dog and pointed at the asylum's entrance. The dog let out a weak whimper and folded his ears, not because the terrifying screams from the demon and the sound of battle, but at the thought of Sophia fighting one like that. If he could speak, he probably would tell her to consider another path, but as a dog, the only thing he could do was burying his head into her embrace. Noticing his behavior, Sophia chuckled and gave his head a thorough pet.

"Are you scared of demon, Taromaru? Me too, that's why I want to wipe every single one of them from this earth. So no one will suffer because of them anymore. No more people like us." ​

 

[Silent Child]

Roderick quickly approached the small group that had assembled. "Leo was it? Your feline friend is very..." Roderick then leaned towards mittens and Valerie. "Funny looking. I have never seen such a... well, he's certainly unique." Leo nodded and then shrugged. "I really don't know where he came from- Just sorta... appeared in my room a while ago...?" He didn't seem very bothered by it, but Roderick's fascination in his pet made him eerily curious about what was wrong. "I don't think you should be feeding Mittens any chicken... or anything really" Jaquie spoke up, and Leo couldn't help but frown. "Is he not a cat? Why wouldn't a cat eat?" he asked, feeling bad for Mittens already.

Mentions: Solirus