Fantasy Astral Synthetica: Evernight Conflict - Volume 1

[ERode]

Some Random Forest, Dragnyr

Code by Serobliss

•

Amaryllis Evenings

•

Silverlight Noblesse

•

Female

•

25

•

CS

Amaryllis

A blizzard.

She could imagine it as such. A blond man, wielding the condensed force of a blizzard, swinging it upon a being of shadow as freely as one did with a mere twig. T’was an onslaught of mythological force, surpassing even the full ferocity of Astrid’s own gargantuan weapon. So this was a knight of millennia long past, warriors from whom fantasies were born.

Warriors who, nevertheless, were forgotten, all traces annihilated, by the time the world would be known as Terra.

Corbin fired his shot, ever the soldier’s instinct when faced against the incomprehensible. Raijin remained the military exemplar, possessing the dignity and discipline that the young Anomaly did not. Seconds elapsed within the fury of the snow storm, yet neither blood was shed, nor shadow dispersed. The brilliance of the sapphire blade was enough only for stalemate, and the Felbishop, that terrifying monstrosity, that inhumane commander, that beast possessed by rationality and unfettered by empathy, had not yet countered.

And if both commanders of exceptional power were locked in mortal combat, the tides of the battle would be decided by those that remained. The hordes of Felbeasts advanced, greater examples of corruption rising, their substance superior to their predecessors. The armored knights did as well, emboldened by duty and example, steel glistening in the dying light. Yet in darkness too, it was clear who held the greater numbers. Clear that in a mission of annihilation, the multitude of shadows could simply bypass what they could not easily slay and descend upon a town still evacuating.

Then there was Sieghardt, speaking of retreat, subterfuge, and food.

As if starvation and dehydration weren’t longtime companions for any of them, signs that they still numbered amongst the living. Amaryllis chuckled alongside him. Hardtack while half-buried in sand. Worms dug out from rotted trunks. Vomiting after drinking from a stagnant stream. Shivering after eating dirt-specked snow. Soldiers got rations, and civilians got less. And of course, smiling past all that, because your desperation was just a symbol of your determination.

She would smile through this too, her domain of silver chains and rusted rose extending further and further, an umbral eclipse that washed over hundreds of meters of woodlands. The Knight of Rose could see it, clear as a deity over the world in which they presided, and with a simple pinching of her fingers, she folded the beginning and the end together. The fabric of space rippled. The distance of the battlefield became the distance of one step.

“The deed is done. Take the step you wish.”

Whether backwards or forwards.

Whether into the fray or out of it.

Regardless, the rising Moon would grace all.

 

[Malphaestus]

Unnamed Forest in Dragnyr

Fredrich Alexander

•

Skypiercer

•

Male

•

27

•

CS

Fredrich

The warriors of the past rushed past his own silhouette at the wake of the knight’s heroic charge, war cries to symphonicate their struggle against the umbral tide which assailed them all from every front. It was a sight almost dreamlike, though not one which he was, himself, touched. Though it was framed in the brilliance, and the idealities of the idolising, combatants bannered in justice and in purpose oft lacked the necessities of final victory. His nationality rooted deep, he cared little for the sight, eyes locked instead on the figure upon which his eyes were lased.

The phantasmal commander, wielding the power and the opportunities to both command and combat the opposing force, remained inactive, idle. Though several answers existed, most of them required little thought; simple things are seldom true, spurring complex resolutions. Its refusal to act, even as the roaring band of oathsworn soldiers rolled on and against their opposition, could mean nothing but weariness at the hands of the phantoms. And as the blonde hero at last connected his axe, obscuring Fredrich’s until then unperturbed vision, a thought grew in spontaneity with his ferocious swings.

It would seem that they had met someone quite important, whose appearance alone swayed the field of battle. A mental chuckle spurred him on, having lived predominantly in a military and age where individuals were made collective, and heroes became obscurities. Were it not for the relics of the ages past, the Synthetica with which the future was staved- if mere weeks-, he doubted the existence of heroes would have basked the battlefields of the future.

However, seeing the battlefield shift, and the frontlines advance, allowed his breath to stabilise, and his focus to once again return towards his comrades, soldiers all, yet perfectly incapable of their duty save for the utmost few. The faint faith in which he’d placed upon their union, displaced by the unsightliness of the battle they had performed; roiling chaos, uncontrolled and forceful, masterless, butting against the unknown in vainglorious splendour, utterly meaningless. Though they had gauged their skill, and measured their foe, fighting against the unknown was as foolhardy as giving a thief one’s own weapon, confident in the skill to one’s frame.

So disheartened he was, deep within, that when sense at last prevailed, and the order to retreat came from Sieghardt’s own mouth, he could hardly believe it. Every word uttered, sensible and with reason. Though he would hardly expect others to comprehend, Fredrich was as fumeless as can be, the expenditure of his power long since having metabolised all he could have consumed in the prelude to their battle against the Euclideans, what felt like merely moments ago. Though he was none to show, inside he had long since been despairing, though for more reasons than one.

As he turned around, his eyes passed upon their gang of miscreants. Fate, truly cruel. His eyes emblazoned with the internal fumes of limitless fury, spiced in anguish, though outwardly stalwart. He allowed time to pass, seconds as they were, closing his eyes and wishing for deliverance. The temperance and patience needed to hone a fine, yet blunt blade far beyond his own capacity for tolerance. They would need either fathomless power, or the merest modicum of discipline, coordination, and unified battle tactics to accomplish the goal which, perceptibly, they had found all so easy: saving the world. He was not up to this task, his hands reached for his collection of magnets in pursuit of comfort, fewer accompanying his collection than was necessary to soothe his domineering worries and ever-triumphant fears.

In the briefest moments, he was relieved at their imminent departure, and all manner of deceit brewed in his mind. But in that fleeting moment, so too, did he recognize a notable absence throughout all of what had been unfolding.

His eyes shot wide open as he heard the distant, yet hitherto unnoticed sound of orchestral bashing. As Amaryllis began to raise her hand, so too did his own blood boil in anger, his mouth widened to maddened smile as vast as the continents, for as his whole form shifted towards the then yonder distant of the frontline, he spotted the gnomish visage of an egocentric beyond fathoming.

Though his actions in the following moments would lend him no pride, defying the commandment of stealth in which their whole route was veiled, he had no choice. For beyond him, and beyond them all, especially Amaryllis’ reach, stood a ‘Warrior Queen.’

Nervous fibres roared their orders, as the streaks of lightning fury spread through his every muscle tissue, a heart beating beyond capacity for mere moments as in one vengeful step he appeared behind the yet battling Lucille, drunk on the opportunity to play her part in battle, devoid of the obligations of her station, or the cause in which they all must act in unison. Though she did not face the Commander, her brilliance relinquished instead to the pummeling of the meaningless masses of the unending tide, nonetheless her apparent obligation to moral virtues displacing her from the rest by great margin.

As he had recollected her presence, before having committed himself to what he was, in split moments, about to do, the thought of placing Corbin with this task had come to mind. Though, with what he had shown him, trust was as solid as the air he breathed, rendering the concept dismissable with the same swiftness as he now darted towards the target of his invisible anger.

When next he sat down his feet, he was already behind Lucille, locked in ceaseless combat with which end was beyond sight lest death or victory approached her. Stressed beyond comprehension, in matters both mental and physical, he nonetheless reached his grasp around her form, her face confined beneath the domineering prison of his all-encompassing palm, and her waist surrounded by his lengthy arm. He lifted her through brute, the sound of the force of his lightning-charged movement not yet reaching the frontlines.

As he turned back, and spotted Amaryllis’ movements, mere moments remained. And as he shifted his steps, and prepared to leap once again, he knew that the difficulty of his task now approached even greater effort. Through calculated deployment of his abilities, making sure not to accidentally charge the subject of his panicked action with truly mind-boggling degrees of electricity, he focused the whole of his power into his feet, and only when his heel reached the ground did he discharge, and as his sole touched, and extended, and kicked out from the earth, the energy was gone. All that was left was the force in which he had now sent himself flying into Amaryllis’ reach.

He passed the sound of his own thunderclap, from when he had initiated all this frantic manoeuvring, and left in his wake yet another which would in instants later reach the town’s soldiers in their fight against the umbral fiends. But, at least, as he flew into the domain of the darkest dimension, he had made it. And as he was spat out, through both time and space, like the bullet he had been as he entered, he fell to the earth. His form scraping against the grass, out of breath and tired senseless, managing through miraculous and unmeaning effort to somehow shield Lucille from the brunt of their crash landing.

Mind, thereafter, blank. Only through the sound of his comrades’ movements did he return to his senses, the hilarity of the occurence in and of itself soothing his prior panic. Silent, he let go of Lucille, doubtlessly filled with all manner of fury surpassed in proportion only by his own, and stood up.

Stoic, he surveyed his surroundings, making note of the grass which he had flattened as he scraped against the ground, looking thereafter upon his own uniform. Surprising even himself, as he merely dusted himself off, taking immaculate care to remove even the most embedded of grasseous fibre from his attire. The whole of his body feeling as if on fire, his profused sweat steaming off his frame like smoke to his flame.

They were now closer to the destination upon which their eyes had all been glued since their arrival: the town. If only to abide by appearances, and uphold his reputation, he blurted out obligatory reason: “though those soldiers said they evacuated the town, it would be best to go around,” looming as he spoke, just beside the woman who perfectly accentuated his own height in the instance they found themselves at present. “They probably still have guards stationed here, either way. It would make no sense to abandon a settlement unless defeat was obvious.”

His hands fell against his hips, and through his arms did he hold his own back straight, and his head high. The vicious ridicule in which he desired to spew at the ensamble impossible to voice, his mouth incapable of explaining it, shackled by his absolute tiredness. Gazing instead at the sky, he gasped for the adequate amounts of oxygen which his lungs would need in order to recuperate the strenuous act he now found himself rehabilitating.

Too tired to think, his words spun from the absence of deeper logic and simple common sense, he rested his gaze upon Sieghardt in anticipation for yet more sensibility to escape his tongue. Though hope for food and rest was all which his reptilian brain could pray for now, ideals beyond the compute of his mind.

 

[Monday]

Unnamed Forest in Dragnyr

Code by Serobliss

•

Corbin Marino

•

Insolent Wrath

•

Male

•

22

•

CS

Corbin

"Tsk! That didn't work," Corbin muttered irritably as he holstered the gun at his hip. Not only had the grim reaper thing not been phased at all by the bullets, but there they were, glimmering on the ground, having halted midair as if blocked by some invisible force. Go figure. Now the knight was shouting at him, echoing the same train of thought. Yeah. Guns don't work. No shit. Come to think of it, he hadn't seemed too surprised by the appearance of a modern firearm. ...Should he have thought of that before using it? Seighardt had wanted to keep a low profile, but wasn't that kind of out the window? Well, there was nothing he could do about it now.

Invisible armor? Huh. Apparently sharp bladed weapons were needed. Not that he had much more confidence, given the general trajectory of events, in his other weapon than in his sidearm, but prompted by the reminder he scanned the forest floor until he spotted the pale smudge of his vibroblade and swapped it with a leaf at his foot. Then he picked it up and deactivated it, uncertain of his next course of action. A flash of light- the sun's last rays glinting off the honed edge of the knight's battleaxe- caught his attention, and he watched the other warrior's movements with a hungry fascination. That was an effective weapon, and its bearer wielded it with power, speed, and efficiency to match- all of which far surpassed Corbin's own skill.

I want to do that. Other soldiers had joined the battlefield, but his interest remained fixated on their commander, absorbing every detail he could and committing it to memory as one powerful movement blended into another in a relentless onslaught, almost too fast for his eye to follow. Staring in awestruck jealousy, he licked his parched lips and tightened his grip on his sword, a promise that it- or some replacement- would taste blood yet. Then and there, he committed himself to learning all he could of Dranyr's arts of warfare. He had a notepad on him somewhere; now there was a use for it. How did such a large weapon appear weightless in the knight's hands as he swung it with enough force to make the commander of Felbeasts falter under his blows? What power was in the weapon itself, and how was it made? Did magic play into this? Could anyone learn magic?

So many questions.

But, for once, the answers were in reach!

Then he glimpsed a familiar silvery distortion out of the corner of his eye, and looked to his comrades. Words were exchanged, and though he was too far away to hear, it was clear that they were preparing to disembark. With a heavy sigh of utmost reluctance, he sheathed his weapon. These guys seemed to have it covered, and he did at least have the sense to know that he would only get in the way if he jumped back into the fray. It looked like Amaryllis was going to transport them away from the battlefield using her domain ability. But something seemed off... Wait a minute. Where's Lucille?!

Scanning the forest frantically, he finally caught sight of her some distance away from the others, hammering away at a crowd of Felbeasts, seemingly oblivious to everything else. Though she was holding her own admirably, she was isolated from help and completely exposed. He knew firsthand the myriad of ways that could go wrong. Quickly he snatched up a pebble and prepared to throw it, but it seemed Fredrich had had the same idea at the same time, appearing behind her in the blink of an eye and scooping her up like a runaway child. Despite the severity of the situation, the amusing parallel to his own escapade earlier, and the incongruity of the ever-dignified Lieutenant Colonel carting the self-proclaimed Warrior Queen like a sack of potatoes, were not lost on him.

He cracked a small smile- soon erased by panic, as another thought struck him. Crap! They're gonna leave without me!

The pebble intended for Lucille's rescue sailed instead toward the ripple in space, displaced, at the last moment, by a yellow keychain ornament, enfolded in the domain and whisked off to who-knew-where. Maybe his person was slightly more important than the trinket, but he didn't want to loose that, either. It had lights inside that flashed when it was squeezed, and the battery was still good. It also had a smiley face on it. It was one of his favorite items. A bullet shell followed the same trajectory as the the pebble, replaced just a little too early by Corbin himself, who fell into the domain like someone jumping into a swimming pool to be expelled quite inelegantly on the other side, sprawling flat on his back just behind Fredrich and Lucille.

"Whew! Made it..." he breathed at the sight of the clear evening sky above. Something poked his back, and he reached underneath to retrieve his beloved smiley-face ornament with a matching smile of relief, then sat up and stashed it in a pouch on his upper arm- reserved for particularly important items- before getting to his feet and dusting himself off. He heard Fredrich doing the same after a slight delay, and glanced at him when he spoke. He suggested they go around the town to avoid whatever guards might still be stationed there, but the words registered less than the heavy sound of his breathing and the sweat streaming down his face.

Though his stance was erect and his face unreadable as ever, Corbin sensed his weariness with a fellow soldier's intuition. It was there in the set of his jaw, in the emptiness behind his eyes. Like the rest of them, perhaps even more so- his ability seemed particularly taxing to use- he was trying his best to hold it together. "Are you... alright?" he asked, head cocked in a solicitous attitude, realizing only after the words left his mouth that someone trying to portray strength might take offense to that question.

"Err... what I mean is..." he stammered, flustered, averting his gaze and tugging at the velcro of the pocket on his sleeve as he recalled what has fingers had brushed against moments ago. "Would you be interested in this?" He offered the final magnet in his collection, a flat, flimsy rectangle meant to be stuck on a refrigerator, emblazoned with an advertisement for a real estate company that no longer existed, in a city that no longer existed, in a time that had not yet come to pass. An insignificant thing, in itself. But it was one of his last pieces of home.

There was no need to be so sentimental about it now that he stood a chance of gaining everything back. Maybe Fredrich could make use of it.

 

[Skyswimsky]

GARDEN OF DRAGNORAS, ARCRESTIA

Code by Serobliss

•

Lucille von Helden

•

Radiant Force

•

Female

•

21

•

CS

Lucille

At first, Lucille held back as they were supposed to stay in formation, letting the Synthetica do their thing. As it stood, the young Queen had to be certain of her new limitations before joining the battle anyway. Or at least that was what she had told herself as, once again, she followed the commands of a superior. Instead, taking note of the strength of the old, yet new, adversary they were facing.

They did not seem to bleed, and it was hard to tell if they were travelling under the safety of the fog, or if the fog was part of them. Or maybe even both. Nonetheless, every now and then, the young woman did find herself stepping forward and delivering a simple straight, or raised kick. Dissipating the clouds of darkness as she was greeted with hollow disappointment in place of satisfying impact. Yet, as endless as they seemed, their efforts did seem to pay off.

Cracking her knuckles, Lucille spend only a moment at the thought of them being just one being, or maybe an endless source that was being summoned, and instead decided to break formation. ... Or maybe her formation had simply been compromised? Regardless, one way or another, they had to move forward. And whatever the source did not matter.

Fighting the horde of shadows did indeed not seem too taxing, for the time being. Fodder at best, as long as Lucille made sure to guard herself at least in some form other than letting her regeneration take care of it. Be it by felling a tree and pressing against it, or stomping the ground hard enough to shake the earth, simple evasive manoeuvres and focusing on defence when she had taken too much damage seemed effective too. Of course, even Lucille's stamina wasn't endless and much less so under the current circumstances. Thus, ultimately her fight was one of endurance; and while she did not go berserk like Corbin, the Queen of None found herself more and more focused. Likely even fun, as the singular Felbeast only proved to be dangerous in numbers of a Legion.

As Lucille was in her own little world, more-or-less holding down part of the front, she only noticed parts of what was going on around her. Too small to even look over the wall of shadows surrounding her, it was maybe even her little height that made the Felbishop ignore her. There was an argument to be made if Lucille was defiant, or had simply put enough trust into her allies to take care of the rest. At least until, sometime, Sieghardt commanded them to retreat.

There really was no point in arguing, or wondering, if Lucille had even heard him. For the outcome would not have changed. With the Knights of this World now also engaged, abandoning anyone was out of the question. And, ultimately, Lucille had to be taken by force by the lightning reinforced Synthetica. "Wha-" Surprising and overpowering Lucille as he retreated just as quick as he came.

---

Unlike Fredrich, Lucille landed quite soft as they went through Amaryllis void. Quickly getting up from Fredrich as she took a few steps forward. "You..." She murmured under heavy breath, as various wounds all over her body slowly closed. "Did we just..." And the adrenaline in her body decreased, subconsciously registering that they were now in less danger than 'now-but-a-few-seconds-ago'. "How dare-" Out of words to really throw at Fredrich's head.

Lucille took one long, deep, breath. Before eyeing Fredrich. "While I do not appreciate what you did, you have my thanks." Before turning her gaze upon Sieghardt, her eyebrows furrowing. "How dare you?!" She simply threw at his head.

---

---

---

 

[Arkangel]

Unnamed Forest in Dragnyr

Code by Serobliss

•

Sieghardt Hauss

•

Azure Will

•

Male

•

27

•

CS

Sieghardt

As previously ordered, Amaryllis released the effects of her domain and dropped the crew to the furthest area from the war zone, hoping that the blonde knight from earlier could buy enough time for them to escape. Though against his ideals to abandon those who stood side by side against the common enemy, this was the necessary action that Sieghardt knew he had to take. How dastardly, he would often murmur at himself. However, survival was their greatest priority. What reason would they have come this far if it meant they'd die this early into the mission? It would be utter nonsense. Thus, when Lucille expressed her anger, he merely responded impassively.

"I'm sorry, but we can't risk it any longer. It's clear that we're not ready for this world, and that skirmish proved that we're in no condition to help others. Until we figure out a way to obtain strength and properly blend in with the civilizations of this time, we will not risk our lives for others other than ourselves." Sieghardt replied with severity in his tone, marking the end of that conversation.

Sieghardt nodded to Astrid's concern and simultaneously responded to Friedrich's comment as he led the group with his footsteps, "That's what I had in mind. We have no choice but to gamble by aimlessly walking past the town, avoiding suspicion from the guards that could be surrounding the place. Our next best option would be to find the nearest establishment and get a roof over our heads for the night. It'd be unwise of us to venture through the forest in complete darkness." He would mention the darkening horizon, indicating that they had less than an hour to find a shelter.

Having noted this prior, Sieghardt picked up the pace, heralded the crew to do the same, and led them into the depth of the unknown forest.

.　.　.​

In the midst of traversing through the harsh nature of the forest, the group would observe several anomalies compared to that of Terra, that would more or less surprise them as they attempted to find shelter. One of the most common abnormalities would be the animals that occupied these neverending fields of trees. A deer with crystal blue eyes and illuminating sapphire horns that shined before the darkness of the forest, munching on berries the size of an apple. Or... was that just a blue apple? Regardless of its specifications, the hungering Sieghardt found it rather appetizing but knew better than to chew on foreign fruits.

However, what caught the eye of Sieghardt and the others was not the animals of this era. After an hour into their expedition into this strange forest, when the skies were dark and the moonlight barely assisted with their vision, the group stood before a gigantic waterfall surrounded by cerulean trees, giving off its beautiful aesthetic.

What's more, the water, albeit it seemed crystal clear and safe to drink, was laced with strange strings of blue lights that made it look ethereal. Sieghardt was the first to cup water from the river with his bare hands, studying its composites closely, only to realize that the water's strange elements reacted to his touch.

Instinctively, his thirst took over his judgment for a second as he lifted his hand and drank the water from the river, feeling the freshness enter his throat as his thirst was quenched. Its taste remained bland, compelling his hands to go for seconds, and then a third. He felt his spirits being lifted shortly after, realizing that he might have just been saved, after nearly losing his sanity to his thirst.

"Incredible," Sieghardt spoke and sat on a stone nearby, sitting close to the river but distant to the waterfall. "I've never seen or felt something like this before, I must admit. Terra's nature was destroyed before I was even born, so I suppose it'd be difficult to know if places like this existed during the time."

A soft chuckle escaped Sieghardt's lips, gesturing the others to take a seat alongside him. "We will set camp here until tomorrow morning. I suppose we can satisfy our stomachs with fish from the river and other... 'edible' resources from the forest, though I can't be too sure about whether or not they're safe to consume. Anyone confident enough to be our taste tester?" Sieghardt partially joked.

Note: Those with the [Elemental] affinity will see the constellation marks in the waters, but when they attempt to cup the water, the markings will disappear and the water will turn normal. Those with the [Astra] affinity on the other hand will be the opposite. Whether or not they view the water from the river or from their hands, the constellation marks will appear, making the water appear radiant and bright blue.

 

[Malphaestus]

Unnamed Forest in Dragnyr

Fredrich Alexander

•

Skypiercer

•

Male

•

27

•

CS

Fredrich

As Lucille climbed up from the grass, her barrage was imminent. Her determination to speak her piece was spearheaded by every movement which she performed, and he could feel her mind swelling as she began to address him. Her confusion as to the progression of events merely served to spur his own anger, however, well-contained and sealed within his own heart as it was. But the exhaustion did not make it easy for him to act as he should.

When at last she finished, her torrents of meaningless phrases amalgamating in the sole portrayal of functional speech she could utter in an instance such as this up until now, he sneered his own brief response: “you better.” All the whilst breathing his mouth dry, his voice rasped by the parchedness of his throat. His own mind: a jumble. If not a labyrinth devoid of direction, his whole self operating on what may as well be called ‘auto-pilot.’

Unappreciative? She worked for higher ideals the moment she signed her soul to the collar and the ribbon; militaries do not operate on such flawed logic. Or, at the very least, those who still maintained functioning ones certainly did not. He could not fault the world for it’s peace, until the era of the Euclidean emergence, but whichever land she came from must have been as clueless as the rest who were annihilated in the immediacy with which the Euclideans touched down. Not that it had ultimately mattered much, seeing as his own country’s rigid militarism staved the tide no longer than any other major geographical territory. But, her behaviour irritated him; his virtues, values, and whole concepts of thinking, dismissed- proven by time as they had been- by some impertinent noble with delusions of grandeur. Praise the stars, the Gods, or whatever needs to be praised, that his homeland had undergone the revolution: not a noble in sight, there, anymore. Though, he supposed the nation, certainly, was beyond sight at this juncture. Too exhausted to form coherent thought, his mind grumbled instead.

In some manner, he was thankful, and in another he was in imperceptible rage, at the sight of Lucille. She made him think of home, of the better world in which he once lived, but she was also the beacon of what he did not represent. Though, at the very least, she thanked him. Perhaps, in some primal nature, she knew what she had done wrong, but could not explain it, or be conscious of it; a bit like him, in a way. Stuck here, as he was, without wanting to.

His temper mellowed out, as the Colonel began his retort to Lucille’s admittedly weakly worded vengefulness. Fredrich delivered a brief nod towards Astrid, all the whilst, in affirmation of her own agreement to his obvious recommendation. His breaths, as deep and as cumbersome as mere moments prior, his whole body numbed by the excursions he had undertaken, and the accumulated stress of numerous battles without sustenance weighing heavily upon his shoulders. He could tell that the journey towards their hiding place would be torturous, filled to excess by cramps and muscle pains. But he had to soldier through, there was no other option, as the likelihood of them having alerted the warriors engaging in their battle were far from null.

As he contemplated his pace, and his own body, Corbin appeared to have done the same. His own voice rang into Fredrich's ear like the gunshot he had blared, contempt showing through Fredrich's eyes as he began speaking, his own gaze snapping against the visage of his comrade. He saw Corbin’s complexion shift, stumbling upon his words as he did, attempting to salvage a discussion he himself had initiated. No doubt, Fredrich’s eyes, burning its vision upon Corbin’s skin, tempted the man to display the last trick up his sleeve.

As he procured the last of his treasures, hidden within the deepest, darkest pockets which a uniform could possibly retain. Until then, Fredrich had fought the urge to clobber the man, a surprise strike would serve his intentions well to beat the man’s iller tendencies and unruly behaviour, in the very least, to the step of inwardly contemplation. But as his eyes glanced upon the majesty of yet another holy rock, his temper soothed, and his eyes cleared. The muscle imbibed within his skull relaxed, and the steely mask loosened, if but briefly. Surprised and rejoiced, if for moments. Before they returned to their proper place, serving their deed to maintain his poker face.

His hand reached across Corbin’s own in magnanimity, and took the offer without word, before shoving it into his own pockets confined by his splendorous attire, and well-maintained regalia. Due to the circumstances in which the world had found itself, the militaries which remained, and the soldiers there-in, wore the colours and the suits of the militaries which they had come from. No time, nor resource available to design the uniformity needed, in his own eyes, for the well-functioning of the united nations’ military.

His eyes shifted towards the distant, the direction of which Sieghardt had, moments prior, confirmed they would travel, and his voice, hoarse, loosened, as he spoke to Corbin. “I’m strained, and somewhat anaemic.” Matter-of-fact, perhaps merely more of what could be expected of him in the eyes of those who were, in fact, not him. But they were words uttered in honesty, as opposed to the veil which he otherwise presents. Though his mask had returned, his mind was soothed by the hand which remained rooted in his pocket, fumbling about with the magnets contained within. Though a member of his merry band of stones had fallen, their number had been reinforced by the reserve corps contained within the pocket of another comrade.

He felt conflicted, unaware of whether he should chastise the group for its insolence during the engagement prior, or merely allow it to slide, not wanting to let go of the potential which the magnet hoarder has shown.

Supposing that the Ecliptic Swordstress, and her powers of the void, would manage to return competently to their rallying grounds, he could stave off his inevitable ridicule for a later, more agreeable, moment. Though he remained displeased with the general level of discipline amongst the group, and some manner of coordination nonetheless had to be exercised regularly, so as to train the troop in basic teamwork.

He turned to Corbin, and Lucille. “As we march, stay close to me,” he said, poignant and with nonchalance, an order as opposed to a request. Though he doubted Corbin had the mind to disagree, he nonetheless needed to veil it in some manner of reasonability for the ever-independent ‘Warrior Queen’ to collaborate, and so he did: “I might not be able to walk upright for the entire stretch, and we will need to maintain a solid pace to avoid pursuers.”

Then they set out, and the moment he took his first step, he could feel the cramps and the aches beginning to root.

He hated this, all of this, very much. His mind a blur, the pain of over-exerting his capabilities a true toll to his constitution. But he knew better than to show it. He kept it well-locked within him, adhering to the first principle of command drilled into his every fibre of being by the Military Academy: that when weak, one must display strength, lest others grow weary.

But he hated all of this…

His anger, at the reality he lived, at the unfairness of circumstance, showed through the wicked grin his mouth constructed. The pain was aggravating, and the exhaustion debilitating. He couldn’t wait to eat anything.

---​

As the troop emerged from the thickets of the forest- more likely to be confused for jungle than anything other, veiled by the darkness of night as it was- they were met with a near ethereal beauty encapsulated within a near-mythical display of unbridled nature. Flora and fauna existing in nigh-magical harmony, insinuating something more at work than mere ordinary ecology. Considering the existence of literal magic at work during the era of Dragnyr, the possibility that the waterfall was a nexus for some manner of naturally-occuring arcane landmark being far from implausible. Tempting his caution.

He touched the ground right beside Sieghardt, his eyes distant, and his vision blurred by the pain and the exhaustion he had until then accumulated. And as Sieghardt lost himself to his own thirst, Fredrich measured his reaction as best he could, before taking the plunge himself, and witnessing the splendour of the waters.

As he looked at it, truly, for the first time, his own vision grew radiant, and the display, in its fullness, registered within his mind as if its simple existence itself relieved his stress. As if a mirror, the night’s sky appeared upon the texture of the waters, undiluted and pure, streaks of light forming within. As if connecting and forming faint shapes upon it, the sky reflected upon its surface, as if cosmic mechanisms hidden from human eyes could be seen through the arcane.

At some point, he couldn’t contain himself, as he scooped a handful, contained within the grasp of his shaking hands, splashing it against his throat, immediately quenching his immeasurable parch. Though he had not noticed, focused more on the drinking than the water, as he merely continued to relieve his ravenous thirst, over time, he recognized that the water appeared normal the moment it was disconnected from the waterfall and its stream, and within his hands…

Truly extraordinary, though it ranked little higher than a party trick in his mind. He simply needed to drink enough so as to return his body to typical operating standard, leaving him nigh-entranced as he merely drank and drank again.

Though it had taken an eternity within his cognizance, in reality, little but seconds would pass before he’d had his fill, and regained some semblance of comprehensible functioning. With one matter taken care of for the immediate, another matter remained gravely urgent: he needed to recuperate the energy he had expended in the two battles prior to their present moments of tranquillity, before any emergencies rear their heads at them from amidst the thickets. For as it stood, he ran the risk of grievous injury should he have to battle something for any semblance of time.

As if clairvoyant, Sieghardt immediately referred to this, the prior words he’d uttered muffled until this very moment by Fredrich’s need for water. It would not take long for the Lieutenant Colonel to announce his own wants, a marvellous opportunity to gamble: “Sieghardt, your leadership should not be gambled away, even if it is just eating.” Though Fredrich presented a compelling case, it was veiled in his own selfishness. If someone was to be relieved of life through chance, it should most definitely be him. “We can’t be too sure of how things work here, after all; anything could be poisonous.” Though it sounded like an affirmation of Sieghardt’s implied, yet unvoiced concerns, it was in truth Fredrich cajoling the others to agree with his own desire to take the plunge.

“I’ll do it, I need the extra energy to become combat effective anyway.” An apparent act of self-sacrifice veiling his true intentions of taking every possible chance to gamble his life away, after all, it was one of two options: combat effective, or food poisoning. Either sound agreeable, at that point, to his mind. One would fuel the other, and the other would fuel his ultimate desire. But regardless of all of that, he just needed to eat. And eat a lot. His primal urge could do little to temper his wants now.

Regardless, he could not move anymore. The exertions he’d done up until now, assisted or otherwise, had left his legs numb and immobile the moment he connected with the ground.

He had a few questions for Amaryllis too, which he needed to ask when the opportunity arose.

 

[Monday]

Unnamed Forest in Dragnyr

Code by Serobliss

•

Corbin Marino

•

Insolent Wrath

•

Male

•

22

•

CS

Corbin

Even though he sympathized with her frustration, it was a little funny to see Lucille splutter with indignation over her rescue at Fredrich's hands. She did take herself a bit too seriously. Unfortunately for her, her lack of stature somewhat undermined what dignity she probably thought she possessed even when standing on her own two feet. Heh. Not that he was one to talk, really. Some people- Amaryllis, Astrid, or Fredrich, for instance- were able to maintain a constant poise, and he was most decidedly not one of them. Ah, well. That was too much work, anyway. Not everyone was gifted in that way, but maybe that was harder to accept for someone of royal lineage. Some also found it difficult to accept help, but, disgruntled as she was, the staunchly honorable Warrior Queen did express her thanks.

A pang of sympathy accompanied her jab at Sieghardt, but he understood why they'd had to retreat, and nodded his agreement with their leader. It would all be for nothing if they wound up dead. They would live to fight another day, learn what those people knew and grow stronger, and then they'd be back. It must've been a tough position, wrangling such a strong-willed crew while trying to keep everyone alive, and he didn't want to make things any more difficult for him- one of several reasons there couldn't be a repeat of his performance in this fight. Still, if he were ever in a position to help someone weaker than him, he couldn't promise that he wouldn't get involved.

Right as he decided to change tack, Fredrich glanced down at him sharply, displaying the exact reaction to his concern that he had feared. In addition to his unwelcome inquiry, he was probably still in the metaphorical doghouse thanks to his earlier escapade. The full force of his glare was very disconcerting, and he was glad to turn away from it. At the appearance of the magnet, however, his manner relaxed for a moment, and he accepted the offering without a word, clutching it along with the entire collection inside his pocket. By now, it was becoming clear that he took some sort of comfort in the gesture. Corbin also relaxed, relieved to have evaded a lecture for the time being. Not that he didn't deserve one.

Then he frankly relayed his condition, to Corbin's surprise. Interesting. Based on what he did know of the Lieutenant Colonel, this was a practical decision, meant to convey variables that might impact their next course of action. His subsequent order confirmed this assessment. "Sure thing," he agreed, positioning himself at the other man's elbow, only too happy to assist. Maybe it was a good thing, after all, that he had taken the initiative, if he wouldn't have thought to ask for help otherwise. Then again...

Then again...

Was it odd that he had asked himself and Lucille, the two who had been actively getting on his nerves, for assistance? Why not someone he considered more reliable? No way. Was he actually just trying to keep an eye on them? Corbin eyed him suspiciously as they began to walk. Yeah, he had to admit that seemed equally plausible. Well. If it were true, it was honestly a bit irritating. He wasn't about to go wandering off in some strange forest!

Still, he had just learned two very interesting things, which kind of made up for it. First was that magnets were like an instant "chill out" button. If he happened to find any more magnets when he had occasion to turn all his pockets inside out, maybe he could save them for the next time he got in trouble. Not that he planned on it, but somehow trouble always found him whether he planned for it or not. He had also learned that Fredrich's stoic demeanor was a front, and it cost him.

Right now the expression on his face epitomized the saying "grin and bear it"- quite literally. It was the utter antithesis to the spontaneous smile he had flashed when Corbin first offered him magnets. To some extent he understood the burdens of leadership. Seighardt, for example, had always kept his spirits up even in the face of certain defeat, and Astrid always portrayed strength, no matter how beaten down she was. Amaryllis' regal manner never faltered, and General Berthier's determination had never yielded. Corbin was just a grunt, but even he had forced himself to be cheerful to keep others from despair. Fredrich's strength was of a somewhat different kind. He was like a stone wall- steady and firm, never changing, never rushing in, but never giving ground. Every move he made, every word he spoke, was careful, calculated, and correct.

It was cool. Corbin genuinely admired his sacrifice of staying strong for his comrade's sakes, of refusing to bow to pain or fatigue. But it was also sad. That hint of angry determination, visible in moments like these, spoke of the true depths of the pain he refused to share. It must have been lonely. Corbin knew he could never do it- he was always exactly what he appeared on the surface. You're among friends, he wanted to say. You don't have to be strong. But he couldn't muster the courage. Maybe here in Dragnyr, with more time, more rest, and more victories, he would be able to relax a bit. Corbin certainly hoped so.

It occurred to him that he owed Fredrich thanks for snapping him out of whatever fit had come over him before. He had no idea how it would be received, but it would bug him to say nothing at all, so, after mulling it over for a few moments, he cleared his throat and said, "Um, thank you for... uh, for getting my attention back there." It hadn't saved him from his near-death experience, but had he not tried to rejoin the circle, he might have been beyond hope of rescue. "I shouldn't have gotten carried away. I won't let it happen again. But seriously, thanks. I owe you one." Until now he'd been staring straight ahead, too nervous to meet his eyes, but now he glanced up to see his reaction.

~~*~~​

Forests had always held a sense of novelty for Corbin, growing up as he had in a maze of concrete boxes, his experience of nature mainly derived from public parks and a single beach vacation. They belonged to ghost stories or fantasy epics. He couldn't have guessed that someday he would find himself in a real, honest-to-goodness fairytale forest. Everywhere he looked, there was something new and exciting to see. Was that a deer with glowing antlers? At the sight of the blue fruits it was eating, he began to salivate, and his stomach growled audibly. Several times he crouched down to examine some strange plant or other before trotting to catch up with Fredrich again, and once he nearly ran off after a luminous, silvery moth before remembering his instructions.

Most impressive of all was the glittering stream of what looked like liquid light pouring from the rocks, surrounded by- were those blue trees? As thirsty as he was, he halted in his tracks for a moment and exhaled gently, dazzled by the sight, before approaching the waterfall. Seighardt drank first, apparently judging it to be safe, so Corbin knelt down beside him and scooped up handful after handful of clear, cold, delicious water, gulping loudly and spilling a sizable amount down his front in his haste. When his thirst was finally quenched, he sat back on his heels and took off his helmet, placing it beside him, then splashed some water on his face and ran a hand through his matted hair. After years of rationed water and constant grime, it felt like coming alive again. He shook his head, spraying droplets into the air, then leaned over the river again to investigate the weird lights.

Aw, man! Disappointed to note that the lights disappeared when he cupped the water in his hands, he let it dribble out between his fingers. That hadn't happened to Seighardt! Still, he managed to amuse himself by chasing them around with his fingertip, creating little swirls on the river's surface. This was just freaking cool. Meanwhile, Seighardt suggested fishing and foraging for sustenance, even though he wasn't sure what they found would be edible. Fredrich volunteered to be the taste tester, on the grounds that, as their leader, Seighardt was too important to take those kinds of risks. Plus, he needed energy to fight.

There he went, being all stoically noble again. "If anyone's going to be the guinea pig, it should be me," Corbin said, getting to his feet. "I have a pretty strong stomach. Seriously, you wouldn't believe some of the stuff I've eaten. I can tell you what fourteen types of bugs taste like." They all had some experience of consuming the questionably edible by virtue of the apocalypse, but his dated back to a childhood of poverty and bizarre dares among friends. It was probably a wonder he hadn't grown two heads or something. "If probably-radioactive catfish from the most polluted river in North America didn't kill me, I don't think these guys will. Don't worry, I'll give you first dibs if I don't die." He flashed a smile at Fredrich. "So, should we do it the old bait-and-hook way," he pulled a paperclip from his sleeve cuff and bent the end outward to form a hook, "Or should we try spear fishing? I always thought that looked like fun."

 

[Arkangel]

WORLD EVENT

ERode

Leonhardt / Mysterious Felbishop | Unnamed Forest in Dragnyr

The Felbishop's struggle was observable from the viewpoint of those who remained in the abyssal domain. Nimble movements supported by his thunderous strikes, the Commander of the knights forbid the creature from escape. Its crimson gaze occasionally shifted at the group, only to return its focus to the blonde who was simply too bothersome to ignore. His battleax, coated with intense magical energy that empowered its strikes, were deduced too deadly to be parried by its hardened claws.

Leonhardt carried on without a care in the world, deliberately planning his strikes to stagger the Felbishop from leaving his front view. Unaware that his strikes caused ripples to echo throughout the domain, he focused on a single lethal force after confounding the Felbishop, unexpectedly striking from above, after cornering the Felbishop into the edges of the abyssal domain.

In an instant, before the only other fighter in the domain could react, Leonhardt swung his axe to the floor and shattered the domain below, barely grazing the Felbishop's cloak that left a cerulescent wound on its dark torso.

Its wound, although seemingly sparse in the eyes of an observer, was enough to persuade the Felbishop to arrange an escape for itself. The wound seared, scorching its body from within, enough to cause the Felbishop to lose its balance for the first time. Knowing that such a slim laceration would never exorcise the demonic soul, Leonhardt imbued another splash of holy essence onto the blades of his battleax and struck from the side, never minding that the domain was about to shatter from his previous attack.

Again, the strike became a blunder, as the domain beneath their feet fractured before the attack could meet its target.

An escape route was formed when the domain perished, leaving Leonhardt to take a second to assess the situation. In that split-second, when he lowered his guard to check on the others, the Felbishop disappeared into the shadows and swiftly retreated back to its territory, where the mountains hid the descending the sun, blocking the sunlight that weakened the abyssal creatures.

The Felbishop's cowardice influenced the Felbeasts to follow suit, as the majority turned their backs to retreat from the battle, knowing that their leader had started the withdrawal.

Leonhardt growled and gritted his teeth in annoyance, knowing that a chase would be futile. He ordered his knights to cease their movement. "Halt! No soldiers are to chase the Felbeasts when the skies are dark! Regroup and assist the wounded!" Leonhardt observed his surrounding, unaware that the civilians from the prior had made their move long ago. From the distance, he could hear the faint voices of his dear sister, Cosette, as she rode on her horse and spoke unintelligible words that he could barely hear from his standing point.

Then he had remembered the group of civilians that stood their own against the horde of Felbeasts. Having recalled his previous plan to evacuate the civilians, he looked back, only to be disappointed that they were long gone.

However, his memories remained fresh. Along with their faces and physique, and the alerting fact that one of them could utilize the Abyssal Arts to the point of materializing their own domain.

 

[ERode]

Some Random Forest, Dragnyr

Code by Serobliss

•

Amaryllis Evenings

•

Silverlight Noblesse

•

Female

•

25

•

CS

Amaryllis

A most curious compulsion!

Certainly, the intent had been there. The intent to assist in battle, and then to introduce herself afterwards to the axe-wielding paladin. There were questions and answers to be exchanged from the both of them, after all. How could horses be trained to move at speeds surpassing humanity’s most high-tech land vehicles? What power emanated from the axe, that shone with such a splendid light? And, most importantly, what on Earth was the source of that man’s strength, so potent as to rend a constructed space as a secondary consequence of missing his strikes against the Felbishop?

But it was perhaps something of an affliction, a twisting unsteadiness, a disorientation that a revenant took advantage of. And when the beasts retreated into the shadows, the threat of an invasion stemmed, so too did Amaryllis, slipping into shadows as she became but another sliver of light amongst the light-dappled darkness of a forest caught in twilight.

Night would fall, and the prospect of these Felbeasts grew more frightening for it. Conversely, though they could withstand the sunlight, they still cowered beneath it. That made it simple.

She will collapse a star within her Silverlight, and then freeze the instance of supernova into eternity, if that was what it would take to slay the Felbishop.

But for now?

It was a forest, she could not outpace one of this era’s horses on foot, and Siegfried would doubtlessly find no value in convening within civilization under current circumstances, judging by his previous aversions. A river then, would be her priority. A river to travel down, and perhaps a town or village to stumble upon.

Hah.

She had walked a wretched world for a decade, shepherding those she vowed to protect from wasteland to shoreline, from valleys to mountains. But this was...

“A road trip.”

How pleasant.

Night fell and the stars shone.

Alone in the woods, the Knight of Rose strode through fantastical foliage, a song in her throat, a dance in her mind. And, closer, ever closer, was the gurgling of a crystalline river, promising familiar faces and perhaps even a palace made of lashed-down branches and bundled up grass.

 

[Skyswimsky]

GARDEN OF DRAGNORAS, ARCRESTIA

Code by Serobliss

•

Lucille von Helden

•

Radiant Force

•

Female

•

21

•

CS

Lucille

"This will not be the last time." She threw a glare at both Sieghardt and Fredrich, not intimidated at all. Though realised that now, she had missed her window of opportunity and anymore arguing about what happened in the past was a waste of time. Instead, she had to look forward.

Nonetheless, as Sieghardt explained the reason for doing what he did, Lucille could actually not keep silent. "I disagree." She added right after, as they started moving through the forest. "What point is there in subterfuge against this common enemy? It's not just about a silly war between nations. We're talking here about humanity's fate! And considering everything else going on, it's not too far fetched to believe we are from the future." Just a while ago she had considered the whole noble from a distant land schtick. And in a way, it wasn't even too far fetched. But really, she couldn't see anything going wrong in just being honest. "If we want to work with the people of this realm, we will need their trust. For them to trust us, we have to trust them first and..." She sighed in frustration. None of them were really listening to her anyway, right?

"Also I don't know if you've noticed. But our Amaryllis is missing. But I'm sure she'll find us just fine." Somewhat worried, Lucille looked back, before finally giving it a rest and following in silence.

The scenery of the forest reminded her of the castle's gardens. Just more natural, and wild. Certainly more beautiful as compared to the artificially created greenery from her old home. Back then, these things were a rare commodity. A luxury, in fact. Yet, here? It seemed like if they weren't careful about their steps the foliage would drown them any second.

Sooner or later, the group decided to camp near a very clear river. "Woah!" Upon getting closer, she wasn't too sure if it could still be called clear. But certainly beautiful and, without giving it another thought, Lucille also started drinking.

As Sieghardt asked for volunteers to do some taste testing, Lucille also volunteered despite the other two already doing so. "It would make the most sense for me to do that, no? Not like any food would do me in the first place. But, you know. My ability and all that." She shrugged, before noticing from the corner of her eyes- "Amaryllis!" With a smile, the white hair approached the Synthethica joyfully. "I'm sorry for leaving you hanging like that. Someone dragged me off. But I knew you'd make it!"

 

[Arkangel]

Unnamed Forest in Dragnyr

Code by Serobliss

•

Sieghardt Hauss

•

Azure Will

•

Male

•

27

•

CS

Sieghardt

Sieghardt felt his mental health deteriorating as the lack of rest and energy was absent from his body. Although the trip through time and space had somehow recovered his health and injuries that he had suffered prior to the manipulation of time, the immense stress that was starvation could not satisfy his hunger, as his body demanded energy after that disastrous occurrence with the Felbeasts. How exasperating. It was nothing new, as he had suffered similarly in the aftermath of the battle previously, but this was taking it to another level. For reasons unknown to him, the usual optimistic Sieghardt was absent within him, after the realization and doubt that leadership did not suit him as well as he had formerly thought.

He gritted his teeth in anger. Not at anyone in particular, but more so because of himself. He was practically useless in that last fight, as unlike the others who held powers that could be considered divine, he held an ability that was inherently worthless. The ability to store Synthetica energy, but for what reason? All he could do was store it and nothing more. He believed that this power would develop after years of preparation, but it was for naught. Even after countless life and death situations that threatened him to death’s door, his body refused to save itself until another came to his rescue. Sieghardt knew his weakness better than anyone. That was why he decided that if he was going to be worthless, he would at least be of use by using his keen sense of leadership.

That was why he made the decisions he did. Whether Lucille knew of this was not on his list of interests. He understood to a certain degree that many had criticisms regarding his methods. However, as of right now, he didn’t want to think about it.

“You saved us all, Amaryllis. Welcome back. We were planning to set up camp near the waterfall.” Sieghardt welcomed the blossoming knight, having already known that Amaryllis would track their route without a problem. She was a wielder of a Synthetica, after all. One of many abilities documented about the wielders of Syntheticas was heightened senses and the ability to locate nearby wielders.

Sieghardt cleared his throat after quenching his thirst, being able to speak once again after a drink. Despite Amaryllis’ return, Sieghardt knew better than to ignore the short princess. “If you are so adamant in gaining the trust of your fellow medieval brethren, then I suggest you do a thorough exploration of Dragnyr before you claim with certainty that they will accept us with open arms. Our deaths will be the end of our operation. The operation to save this world from its impending doom, unless we locate the threat before its emergence. If not us, who will prevent the end? When we are dead, who will deliver the message of the Euclidian wrath? Gaining the trust of those knights would certainly be of use to us, yes. I agree. But as of right now, it is a risk. A risk not worth gambling on. And if they know that we are from the future, and if possibly the messing of laws of time is forbidden within their culture, an arrest warrant and possibly a bounty on our heads will be unavoidable.”

Sieghardt sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “It’s a shame. If things go positively for us from now on, we’ll meet someone we can trust and depend on for their guidance. Specifically, their guidance in combat. As far as I know, the United Nations of Terra’s brightest minds concluded that their knowledge of Syntheticas was less than 10%. Other than their artificial method of installing the damn enigma into people’s bodies, if that percentage were to be taken literally, then we're fucked if we do not immediately find a way to hold our own."

The last sentence had made him bit his lips out of anger, as he knew that his statement was about depending on the other half of the group for their strength. But it was not out of his obvious weakness. It was the truth. As the Syntheticas were the weapons of rulers, it would only make sense that Amaryllis, Fredrich, and Astrid could become the equivalent of a god if they received proper guidance from someone of knowledge in that field.

He shook his head, “Anyway. We should hold that conversation for when we’re all ready for an intelligible conversation. We’re all fatigued, and I’d rather not expand my thoughts more than I have to.”

A moment to take a deep breath and reassess the situation at hand, Sieghardt chuckled at Fredrich’s statement about his importance, slightly flattered that he would even care about his position as the commander. He had a point, certainly, but it wasn’t like others could replace him if he were to succumb to the mighty poison within those fruits, if it contained any. Corbin then came in volunteering as a guinea pig, explaining that his stomach was made of iron, able to take on anything that nature had to offer. However, this particular nature was different. An ant could wield a bite as deadly as a funnel-web spider, or a fruit could contain poisonous elements that made pufferfish look like child’s play. The same could be said for Lucille, who enlisted in the stead of Corbin. And he honestly wasn’t certain about leaving that to her, considering her… size.

“I… was joking, if any of you couldn’t tell. But uh, I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to try. If you guys are so inclined. It would help us a bunch, considering that some of us are literally about to fall and pass out.” He chuckled and then responded to Corbin’s comment, “If only I had taken fishing class. Why not try both? Unless spearfishing is too physically demanding for any of us to handle.”

Admittedly, scavenging for food wasn’t the easiest. With the difficulty reaching new heights as this was in fact a foreign land with foreign nature, he wasn’t so confident in them getting consumables any time soon. Their best bet was to find a village and hope that they are kind enough to offer food for starving wanderers. It was stressful, being so pessimistic when his natural order of things never allowed him to falter to despair.

He lightly tapped his cheeks to regain his focus, as his mind slowly faded into the realm of sleep. Though he was not immensely drowsy, his body demanded otherwise. Almost as if it was an internal threat, Sieghardt pulled himself together and took in another round of deep breath, collecting himself mentally before laying out his plans to the group.

“With Astrid’s flames, we’ll set up a campfire and rest here until sunrise. I’ll remain here with Astrid in preparations while the rest of you search the forest for anything edible. Anything that isn’t tree barks or a fucking patch of grass will do. If it looks like it contains nutrition, just put it in the basket and deliver. I’ll attempt to catch a few fish for us.”

With orders given and made clear of their last mission for the night, Sieghardt prepared to dip his feet into the river by raising his pants above his calves, and took out his combat knife that he had previously used to slaughter the Felbeasts to sharpen the nearby branch that he had found earlier. Its durability seemed reasonably strong, though he was merely hoping that it could hold on its own.

Sieghardt kneed onto the ground and started shaving the branch to form an edge sharp enough to pierce through the common fish. On the side, he noticed the lethargic Fredrich maintaining his sluggish posture to the best of his abilities.

“Fredrich,” Sieghardt called out, receiving the attention of the person from whatever he was doing at that moment, “you’ll remain with the two of us. We’ll need your lightning-fast reaction when Astrid inevitably burns down the entire forest.” He chuckled, “I jest. Rest and recover your strength. Corbin and the others will be enough.”

 

[Monday]

Unnamed Forest in Dragnyr

Code by Serobliss

•

Corbin Marino

•

Insolent Wrath

•

Male

•

22

•

CS

Corbin

"Hey, Amaryllis! You're almost in time for dinner, if you feel like potentially risking your life," Corbin chimed in as the others greeted the arrival of the Cerberus Synthetica. Despite his fixation on the mysterious lights in the river, he managed to follow along as Sieghardt answered Lucille's objections to his modus operandi. At first, he had been inclined to agree with her. What was the worst that could happen if they simply told the truth? Not being believed? Getting laughed out of town? Apparently, the worst that could happen was their capture and execution... in which case, he had to admit Sieghardt had a point.

Corbin sat back on his heels and sighed. After committing the last five years of his life to fighting inhuman monsters, it was... weird to see other humans as potential threats. Not to mention depressing. So he chose not to think about it, and to be optimistic about encountering someone who could help them. Politics might not have been his strong suit, but making friends had always come easily to him, and he was certainly no stranger to fast-talking when the need arose. To him, that undiscovered 90-plus percent of the Syntheticas' secrets suggested limitless potential at least as much as their immediate peril- and held the key to rising above it. His own potential, along with Seighardt's and Lucille's, was less certain, but that just meant it was up to them to seize every opportunity to grow. That blonde knight didn't have a Synthetica, or the others would have sensed it. If he could be strong, so could they.

It was a leader's job, he supposed, to keep track of potential dangers, so he couldn't entirely fault Sieghardt's dour attitude. The strain also seemed to be getting to him. Corbin, being free from the burdens of leadership, was also free to look on the bright side, and hopefully lighten the mood for everyone. He wondered if he should offer his two cents, but agreed that it would be better to save this discussion for when they were fed and rested. On that topic, Astrid expressed a preference for bait-and-hook fishing, and when Lucille also volunteered as a taste-tester in light of her healing factor, he almost expected Astrid to jump on the bandwagon, but instead she pleasantly surprised him by agreeing with his rationale, and offered him one of the blue fruits she had picked up earlier.

"You really think so? You know, I would always tell my mom that the greatest human discoveries started with a guy trying something weird just to see what would happen, but I still got grounded. Sergeant Baruzzo didn't appreciate it either." He bent down to scoop up the fruit and held it up in front of him like a stage prop. "Okay! Here goes nothing." With more ceremony than entirely necessary, he closed his eyes, bit into the flesh, chewed, swallowed, and raised his hand like he was halting traffic. After about ten seconds passed, and he didn't turn colors or stop breathing or keel over and die, his hunger overtook him and he devoured the rest in a few large bites, threw away the large seeds left behind, and wiped the juice from his chin. Officially, the plan had been to save some for Fredrich, since he'd promised him first dibs, but maybe this was for the better after all. The more he ate, the sooner any side effects would appear, right?

"After rigorous scientific examination," he said around his last mouthful, then swallowed and continued, "I have concluded... that it tastes like fruit! It's weird... the texture's a bit like an apple, but it doesn't taste like one... more like a giant blueberry. Definitely fruit, though." He looked down at his stained hands, disappointed to find them empty, and resisted the urge to lick them clean, swallowing the saliva pooling in his mouth. The beginnings of a headache jabbed at his temple. All the fruit had done was stimulate his appetite, driving home how hungry he really was- like that saying about your stomach sticking to your ribs. It felt exactly like that.

Meanwhile, Sieghardt laid out the division of tasks for the evening. "Anything nutritious except grass. Got it!" In spite of his encroaching headache, quenching his thirst and hunger even slightly seemed to have given him a second wind. "Oh, if you're going to be fishing, I'll leave these here," he said, placing a ball of string and the bent paper clip on the bank beside their leader. "You'll still need bait, though... Hey, you know, a really long time ago, when TV was still a thing, I saw these two guys zap the ground with a defibrillator, and then, I'm not even kidding, a ton of worms came crawling out. Like, hundreds. It was crazy! Maybe Fredrich could... haha, nevermind, that's a terrible idea," he laughed, rubbing the back of his head. "Don't listen to me! Just dig like a normal person."

At this point he realized was just running his mouth for the sake of it. "Right. Foraging duty." He shook his head, recalling the task at hand, then took a deep breath and placed his hands on his hips. "Okay! Lucille, Amaryllis, looks like we're battle buddies for this exercise. Collecting stuff is kinda my specialty, if I do say so myself, and Lucille could probably shake all the fruit off the trees, and if we run into trouble Amaryllis can warp us back to camp. We're the ultimate scavenging team!" He playfully pumped his fist in the air. Aside from any stated reasons, separating Lucille and Sieghardt for a bit would help ease the tension between the two, and spending time with her friend would probably put the Warrior Queen in a better mood. A nod to her abilities also couldn't hurt. "We shall return with a feast, My Lord," he said, effecting an old-fashioned accent and bowing in Sieghardt's direction. "I think I saw more of that fruit over here." Then he turned around and headed back into the trees, expecting the other two to follow.

Yeah, he thought, looking up at the faint glimpses of stars shining between the leaves and folding his hands behind his head, We'll be alright.

 

[ERode]

Some Random Forest, Dragnyr

Code by Serobliss

•

Amaryllis Evenings

•

Silverlight Noblesse

•

Female

•

25

•

CS

Amaryllis

“There was little need for your concern,” Amaryllis replied, smiling at the ever-vigorous Queen. “In matters of retreat and subterfuge, I have become long-proficient, even before my ascendance into an existence surpassing humanity.”

But considering what she had witnessed, perhaps such ascendance was once the norm for the world. A world in which anomalous powers existed alongside monstrosities that inspired the myths and mysteries of the now-future era. How else could that knight’s power be interpreted, if not rooted in a ‘magic’ that the modern man could only access through artifacts mined for in lands forgotten and untamed? If she closed her eyes now, the blizzard and the sunburst remained bright, as did the condemnation of the dead for allowing the Felbishop to escape. The Deathless writhed beneath her skin, chill touches upon capillaries.

She roused herself from the past. The road trip was over, and now, the Knight of Rose was back at work. Charming though, that Sieghardt once again made an opportunity to be as alone as possible with Astrid as he could. This was quite a charming place, one filled with beauty that easily matched those golden years. The water flowed crystalline, mirroring the nobility of the stars as the night breeze pulled in a cooling mist perfectly at odds with the campfire that crackled and sputtered. There was a legend that every spark from a flame enticed the advent of a mosquito and, in a moment of whimsy, Amaryllis reached out and caught an errant spark.

A kiss of heat, and then nothing remained.

“If not the subsistence of the burdenbeasts, Sieghardt, mayhaps the essence of the earth would better suit your palate. I’ve heard tale of equatorial nations and their culture of indulging in hearty clays,” Amaryllis gestured, weaving her fingers through the substance of the night. “In such a natural paradise, it must certainly be a greater delicacy than the hardtack of our end times.”

Fruit was preferable though. Meat would be luxurious, if there was enough to share. And frogs? It was a tragedy that she had heard not yet the mating calls of those godcraft beings, with their glistening skin and their juicy legs.

“And,” the Knight of Rose spoke, her head tilting towards the excitable Corbin, “as the Marino youth has suggested, in the absence of a grand feast, a rustic meal of water-boiled worms would make for an enjoyable time too, garnished with the acid of an unripe fruit.”

Mad, perhaps. But when canned goods ran out, what could one do but make do? So long as it wasn’t cannibalism, anything was fair game…though some may choose to starve over consuming such fare. She smiled either way, then stepped after Corbin, motioning for Lucille to join them.

And by the time the three were in the thick of the brush, scrounging for edibles, the statuesque woman spoke to dispel any shadows that may have formed.

“The knights drove back that horde and their bishop, without having expended anything more than a modicum of their strength. In matters of base monstrosities and shadowborn predators, the humans of this era are well-equipped. Though, pray tell, how did you escape the pursuit of that maiden with flaxen hair?”

 

[Malphaestus]

Unnamed Forest in Dragnyr

Fredrich Alexander

•

Skypiercer

•

Male

•

27

•

CS

Fredrich

Sat upon the edge of such a fantastical sight, bearing witness to the arcane flow which surrounded them unseen, he felt remarkably at ease. It disturbed him, being placed within the eye of their disastrous storm, and feeling none of the stress which he should; observing the same ease within the demeanour and mannerisms of his compatriots, he grew suspicious. Suspicious of the tranquillity: ominous quietude, expectations of danger encapsulated within every sight he drew his vision towards as he scanned their surroundings from his seated posture.

He heard the movements of wings in the beyond-visible- within the darkened encompassment of the mysterious forest- and his mind constructed all manner of dangers which could be found within, returning his briefly vacant stress. Worrying was more natural than the absence of danger, and considering the development of the conversation past his own utterance, his stress was the only companion he could put much faith in, amongst the abhorrently ignorant. After all, his carefully crafted reasoning appeared to pale before the undaunted buffoonishness of the jaw-droppingly willful, Corbin derailing his own bid for taste testing with such eloquence befitt of jesters, yet miraculously sensible in no way dissimilar from the existence of Sunfish.

Though Lucille would apply her own bid for the position, her reasoning paled before the miraculous power of the ludicrous. As he, himself, had begrudgingly witnessed, and accepted. Yet, a part of him was impressed by the development. Though he could not unify them through assisting him during their travel into the forest. Astonishingly, they were unified over food instead. Perhaps a fine testament to their instinctual personalities, their subconscious drives more important than their teamwork. Though he could undoubtedly construct a manner to salvage such natures, in his current exhausted state, his mental capacity paled in comparison to what he could conceive at his best. A realisation which drove the man silent, suspicious that Corbin may have gleaned too much based on his spoken word.

His guard was raised taller than it had ever been during their tenure upon the mythical lands of Dragnyr, all because of the apparent peace which they, at present, found themselves. Memories of toil, struggle, duty, and sacrifice all too prevalent within his mindscape, impossible to derail or make absent as things stood. Their situation was critical, and in no manner decisively important. If they continued to struggle at the starting line, then there was no future, or reason, for them.

Forcefully ejecting himself from his pessimistic introspection, what appeared like hours had already passed, yet the brief respite between Corbin’s proposition to himself, and Lucille’s tailing interjection, had been but moments. Though somewhat tardy, he responded to Corbin, exhaustion having delayed him noticeably: “don’t get carried away,” he sighed, exasperated by the toll of it all, every word spoken like daggers to his temple, lingering headaches developing into tremendous migraine. He could really use a bite, after all.

Though he had hoped his message was received, during his delivery, the last remaining participant had returned, Amaryllis, from her trek to their position, spurring his own retrospection upon the events as they had played out. Her tendencies to single action alarmed him gravely, all insubordination did, yet it was not of the same variety. One could not classify her as an insubordinate soldier, she was rather engrossed in her own world, easily distracted by her own flow. Or so he saw it. A boon, if sufficiently handled, though until now he had feared she would prey on her own nature and interact with the foreigners they had been entangled to, but her swift arrival, in relative terms, hinted towards the opposite. Perhaps the winds still blew, in some strange manner, their way.

The warriors of Dragnyr were certainly competent combatants, but their manner of approach highlighted an unsophisticated awareness of battle, combat, and warfighting. Though he could not be competent in his deduction, the Hero who had challenged the Commander in Darkness should retain some acclaim and standing. Yet his manner of displaying such was limited to the brunt of his swing, and the might of his charge. Certainly not impressive, yet perhaps he was forced by the situation. Honour, maybe, forcing his hand. Saving civilians.

As he pursued his own train of thought, he struggled to keep his posture. Relieving his back, as he planted his hands behind him for support. He hadn’t stopped sweating since they began to move away from the battle, stress keeping his fatigue aflame, and his worries fueled: though Lucille had not thought of it in the moment, her sense of mediaeval honour too strong, there were many dangers associated with revealing their situation. Many of whom he recollected in the same instant as Sieghardt began to utter them in retroactive response.

In-between sating his ever-returning thirst, and intermittently listening to the ebbs and flows of conversations all around him, he recalled their march away from the battle after having been transported by Amaryllis’ world-defying powers. Lucille was adamant in her defiance of the group’s best manner of approach, considering what was known, defying both his team-building exercise, and Sieghardt better judgement. Her brief display of apologetics disowned by her unchanging nature, a sight which he would forever remember. Yet, what had disappointed him was equalled by what had surprised him, at the time anyway, for Corbin would show signs of improvement.

Walking had been agony, in truth, everything had been, and presently remained, agony. Yet, there was camaraderie in their exercise, precisely as he had hoped. Though its effect was limited by an absent party, its presence was recognizable nonetheless. The words Corbin’d uttered during the start of their journey, then, had delivered him brief calm, his grin taking on a more solemn nature as he heard the man’s vocalised thought: his appreciation well received. Though he could do little about his pained grin, his flame raging within his mind calmed, and his atmosphere loosened. Though it could not be seen, it could certainly be felt, as he had offered his own words to him then: “Start by helping me walk, then we’ll go from there,” he said amongst intermittent panting, “I hope to count on you,” he had finished after briefest pause.

Though it would be wrong to say that he had high hopes for them, he had been surprised by many people, the tenacity of people, throughout his life. Struggle bred the mighty, and what better struggle was there than an apocalypse to be thwarted? As he returned to lucidity, turning his head towards the ensemble with the slightest spark of hope which he could hold on to, his eyes laid themselves upon a man engorging the lastest remnants of alien fruit. His hopefulness immediately swallowed, and his migraines returned. It would appear that the exhausted Raijou would remain empty for a few hours more.

Dejected, he finally responded to Sieghardt’s attempts at humour; though undoubtedly humorous, he was beyond the mind to reciprocate. An acknowledgment instead uttered, “as per your orders, Colonel,” his stature worsened by the mental and physical exasperation. At the very least, were one to shovel and dig for reasoning to be positive, as he did in the present moment, Amaryllis had handled herself well. Though he could not be certain as to how she did. A scolding remained a future matter. For now, he would leave disciplining to the commander.

As some had previously attested, should all else end up fortuneless, he could expend the last of his reserve, and bleed himself dry, for insects. Though consuming crawlers was nutritious, it had a psychological toll to the inexperienced. Though they were well-versed in desperation, considering the looming hopefulness of his compatriots, he feared their spirits would be lowered regardless of what others may think. Not to mention the dangers to himself. He could not expect others to understand the strains which his Synthetica placed upon him, he was different from the rest. Having no drive for futures he could not see, and no belief in the accomplishment of the impossible.

Before he found himself alone with Astrid and Sieghardt, before the rest had wandered into the thickets, he warned the others of the dangers which they still found themselves within. Regardless of what supernatural peace and calm which their environment brought them beneath. “Remain on guard, people could be after us, and creatures could lurk in the forest.”

He likened himself to driftwood thereafter. Though sad, he was somewhat proud of the comparison, in a strange way. Though he was observant of others, aware of their actions and their words, regardless of where he had been in his life, he had always felt strangely distant. Only the military had given him worth, his escapades in Brevet always performed under an apparent absence of something which he could never have felt before joining the Military Academy. Though he felt complete during his initial tenure as a Synthetica, as others joined his ilk, and made their own mark, even there he felt a gradual loss of something. All these feelings, and an inability to handle them. It frustrated him, gradually breaking the man in ways which he could barely comprehend, yet was painfully aware of.

What was it that built this perception of foreignness amongst equals, amongst those who shared his destiny? Was it defeat? Could it be so simple? It couldn’t, he was smarter than to be ruled by something so abjectly ambiguous. After all, he had slaughtered the shadow-spawn mere hours prior, yet felt no better.

Whatever it was, he would have to figure it out later. “Colonel. When catching fish, intercept them; they’re faster than the ordinary hand, so predict their movement,” he said, hunched back as he was on his hands. Though Sieghardt was no doubt too preoccupied to hear it, his stomach had been growling throughout the entire period of his solipsistic departure from reality. "Though you may know how to do it, it's always best to try out a new target's abilities before going for the kill." After having provided his expert advice- no foreigner to the hunt, especially with the spear- he scanned their surroundings, as if expecting the worst from every corner he surveyed, before landing his gaze on Astrid.

She held many secrets, and when he could feel she was predictable, she would surprise and upturn his expectations. Her past made him curious, though he was smart enough to recognize when people should be prodded, and too tired to deal with the fallback of posing the wrong questions. Yet, the fact that they had spent so long as Synthetica, yet her past remained sealed from him, did irritate the man. He was a person who enjoyed control, directly as much as indirectly.

Alone with the two of them, he felt rather uncomfortable. Though perhaps it was simply because it was so peaceful.

 

[Skyswimsky]

GARDEN OF DRAGNORAS, ARCRESTIA

Code by Serobliss

•

Lucille von Helden

•

Radiant Force

•

Female

•

21

•

CS

Lucille

"We shall return..." Lucille gave a slight nod to the three remaining members in the camp, not quite sure if Astrid and Sieghardt were listening. In fact, Lucille was quite welcoming to the change of scenery, and instead be with the two people she guessed were the easiest to get along with. Though, in the long run, a Queen had to serve all her people. And the entire group was ultimately on the same side.

"Gigantic blue apples and anything else fruity it is then. Better than worms, for sure." She commented offhandedly, following quickly after Amarayllis and Corbin. "I guess hunting one or the other animal can't hurt either. As for the battle, we were holding our ground quite well, no? Though, I do not believe we've had any sort of pursuers. Should we?"

As they continued on. "You know, Corbin, I wholeheartedlyagree with you. We ought to do things, not just brood and plan. For we're going to be held accountable for our actions, not words. My late father liked to talk, a lot." She shook her head. "But I digress, what I meant to say is. We shouldn't leave any stone unturned, should we? Roots are edible, too! Like potatoes. I am sure this forest is full of food! We just have to find it. And whatever you're unsure of, I can probably handle it. You simply have to believe..."

 

[Arkangel]

Astral Synthetica

•

Evernight Conflict

•

Volume 01

World Event

​

Arkangel Malphaestus Khocolatte The sound of silence accompanied by the ambiance of nature had made for a soothing break for the three that were left to set a base near the waterfall. Although the darkness of the forest surrounding the trio had made them feel uneasy, the overall atmosphere was blissful, as the fantastical forest provided elegance and limitless stars in the night sky. From the clear waters to the usually attractive scent that came from the trees, Sieghardt considered this forest to be the ideal place to collect one’s mind, which he did in the absence of sound—silently without disrupting the other two.

A chaotic mind was his greatest weakness, and his awareness of his faults had made him a better man overall. Perhaps that was why his fate had altered. Perhaps that was why he was chosen as the commander of this team, as requested by the ambitious general.

Regardless of the distant past, Sieghardt gripped his makeshift spear with a tight grip and concentrated on his target and reminded himself of Fredrich’s advice, and successfully pierced through one of the hundreds of sea creatures using the technique the Lightning Synthetica had provided. Certainly, the act of predicting the movement of wild aquatic vertebrates was difficult and seemed rather impossible. Their unpredictable nature had made it difficult. However, after doing what Fredrich had recommended, it didn’t feel so difficult.

Despite believing that his talents were limited to organization and commands, the simple act of hunting and becoming successful had made him smile without control, as he began to even tear up slightly at the sight of his accomplishments.

“Son of a bitch…” He snickered, finding his emotions to be idiotic. “Get a hold of yourself, man. We’re only getting started in this god-forsaken world.”

The size of the meal wasn’t too impressive, but it could certainly feed at least one stomach with satisfaction. A slight smile accompanied Sieghardt’s face as he left the river with the spear pointing to the sky, the tip occupied by a fresh fish. He would like to return and catch another, but his strength was beginning to fail him. The adrenaline rush was not doing it either. While his mental mind remained awake and sharp, his physical body was beginning to demand rest.

“You sound like you hunted for a living in the past, Fredrich. That is an advice I didn’t expect to hear from you. Astrid, can you do us the favor?” He asked the white-haired warrior and provided her with the spear and the fish, expecting her to know how to cook using her powers. “And give it to Fredrich. He looks like he needs it more than us.”

Monday ERode Skyswimsky The woodlands remained redundant as the trio ventured further into the wild, meeting the unwelcoming gaze of the animals that they had previously seen before the waterfall. Rabbits with sharpened horns and other magical entities lurked beneath the shadows of the trees, such as even sentient slimes and what seemed to be illuminating felines, staring at the foreigners from the distance as they swiftly retreated to their home before any one of them could come closer. Their nimble movement and spacial awareness had made particularly difficult to catch, but in the darkness of the forest, their glowing marks on their fragile bodies made it easy to hunt them visually.

Strangely enough, the forest was no stranger to life, and lots of them at that. Not many seemed hostile, thankfully, as most escaped the moment the chance was given. Afraid of lifeforms larger than their own, it made it difficult to hunt, given that anyone had the right equipment and discipline to do so.

The fruits and berries on the other hand were enigmatic at the best. The cerulean apples remained the dominant fruit throughout their trip, as other fruits were infested with strange fungi, surely grossing out the few that saw them. Strangely enough, the blue, fresh apples were the only edibles that seemed fresh enough to consume. If one were to take a raw bite of it, they would find that while the exterior seemed hard and crispy, the contents of the apple were actually filled with turquoise liquid, invading the taste buds like no other with its sour taste.

And through the forest, as they walked deeper ambitiously into the woodlands, one of them would inevitably come in contact with a faint light in the distance, catching the gaze of a short individual holding a lantern, only to realize that the person in question was no more than a child, with the possibility of a teenager.

However, as young as they were, fear did not set in the young girl’s eyes. Instead, she stared and closely analyzed whoever had managed to find her first, and then the others before she would look back to get the attention of the others.

“Grandfather! Grandmother!” The mysterious child would get the attention of her elderly nearby, “There’s a lost kid and her parents in the forest! I think they need our help!” exclaimed the blonde, obviously guessing the appearance of the three foreigners as a lost family.

From her appearance alone, one could deduce that they were on the wealthier side of the hierarchy, fashioned with decorations that only the rich could entertain. The ornaments on her attire had made it easy to gauge her wealth, including the abnormal black eyepatch that covered her left eye.