Fantasy Delphinium (Closed)

[spacepirate]

Lennox wasn't waiting in the courtyard long at all. He'd barely had time to take in the gardens, enjoy a bit of the midday sunshine, before he spotted a few of the students openly gawking at him. The detective sighed. He supposed it was only natural for them to be surprised to see a non-wizard within the premises of the school, given that he was sure there wasn't the slightest drop of magical blood anywhere in his body.

But it was still rather awkward, wasn't it?

"Can I help you with anything?" He asked, perhaps a bit too irritably, to a particular redheaded mage who was giggling alongside her friends. The wizards in training merely continued on their merry way, not seeing the need to engage with someone who wasn't a peer or superior. It was all too typical. Perhaps that's why he had such bad fortune with Saropuff, he mused to himself. Things would have turned out very, very differently in that room had he thought to pull out the sigil beforehand. That much was certain.

Once Sterling joined him, Lennix nodded only slightly, face once more devoid of any tells. "Very well, then. When we get to the palace, you're to land before the main gates. I'll speak to the guards and arrange for your entry."

 

[TheGrandPygmy]

Sterling hopped up on Lucius's back. He frowned a bit, looking somewhat irritated. He tried to imply it in any way he could, so he decided to just come out and say it. "Y'know you'd loo a lot better if you didn't loo so stone faced all the time. Maybe in times where you have to loo that way but all the time?? Come ooon I saved you from a desk thrower! Are we not friends now? You don't have to be that way around me~" he batted his lashes at the other.

When the other got on, Lucius too to the air once again. This time the ride was much more relaxed than the last one. After the last time there wasn't much of a real point in trying again. This flight was a short one. The school's proximity to the castle made it easy. "Also don't worry...your secret is safe with me..." He was talking about the forbidden spell. If he were the one to activate it, his magic could be stripped from him and he could undergo quite the punishment, but he knew Lennox wouldn't get away either. After all he was the one who got the spell for him to use. It would be their little trump card. Just in case.

The closer they got to the palace, the more Sterling's excitement began to build. This was it. This is what he had been waiting for. The palace was large and imposing. It had an aura of power but also beauty and elegance. Generally most people would not dare to even think about breaking in. It was like trying to cross the ocean by swimming. Yet someone had crossed it. If the detective paid attention, it seemed the Magician had began to tremble a tad. He toos a deep breath to calm his nerves before they began to the descent. Just liwe instructed they landed at the gates. The palace guards immediately had their hands on their firearms. They were quite jumpy lately after finding out how many of their colleagues fell in the attac.

They seemed to be ready to drive the familiar away until they saw the person on the bird's back. "Detective...bringing guests in...?"

 

[spacepirate]

For some reason, the magician's antics didn't grind his gears as much as they'd been doing previously. Hopefully that wasn't just because the man seemed... sloppier than usual, Lennox grimaced. Once more, the duo were perched on the blue familiar, and one more, the detective had elected to tightly hug the other man's waist. Admittedly, flying was much more favorable than taking the gondola everywhere, or even worse- walking!

Still, mood literally lifted, as it was, he couldn't help but arch a confused eyebrow at the magician's comments. Well, he supposed the comments were to be expected, but it was the *manner* in which they were said that posted a red flag. Seriously, did Sterling go and take a couple shots in the few minutes they'd been apart? I don't supposed he could be hiding a flash underneath that coat of his, the detective considered. Oh, but he must have taken at least a few swings of *something*. Without me? Well, that's hardly what 'friends' did, wasn't it? Lennox thought, hiding a small smirk.

"I'm afraid even if you don't like my face, Mr. Somerset," he began, speaking at a volume above the wind. "Then that's simply your loss. For I can count a great many that have, and potentially still do. Counts and actors among them," the Phantom Detective grinned coyly, teeth sparkling in response to the blonde's adorable eyelash bat. At the other's allusion to his forbidden sigil, Lennox simply allowed his thumbs to rest above the magician's belt. "That's good to hear, Mr. Somerset. I always like to hear that my associates have... very tight lips," he whispered into the blonde's ear, more brazen than ever.

Then the palace came into view, the grand marbled jewel of Estros. As they landed before the courtyard, the detective braced himself for landing. Once they'd landed, noticing the blonde's nerves, he placed a hand on the other's back in a way he hoped was reassuring. Much as he'd hate to admit it, especially to Sterling himself, the detective probably wouldn't have left the lecture hall unscathed if it wasn't for the other's intervention. Perhaps trust was a commodity he couldn't afford, but there was at least some amount of understanding between the two of them, that much was certain.

Lennox's eyes lit up at the moustached guards, nodding at them in familiar greeting before hopping off the bird and crossing his arms brusquely as he stood before them. "Rivera. O'Donnell. Good to see the both of you looking well this afternoon." The detective smoothed his cloak. They would have to be presentable, even if all the nobles were off panicking somewhere else. "Yes. This is my associate, Mr. Somerset. I've enlisted outside help for the investigation, you can run that by the guard captain if you need to. But for now, we're headed to the vault." But the vault was off limits to civilians, at least without supervision. "Would one of you fine gentlemen be so kind as to accompany us, or would you rather look the other way, just this once? We won't be long."

 

[TheGrandPygmy]

He was so ready. SO ready to come back at him with some sort of sharp response about his face. Only to be stunned when he turned around. He must have looked like someone who just saw a ghost land right behind him. Had the world just stopped? Why couldn't he breathe? The words tried to come to him but nothing came out. He just muttered a shut up and turned back around.


Lennox had disarmed him with the skill of a boxer. First shock him with that smile. Then when he looked back ahead, completely immobilize any sort of comeback with that...comment. Sterling's body froze. What had gotten into him!? Why couldn't he respond!? Normally he would be ready for this type of flirting but now...now he could barely muster a sound. He might have preferred when Lennox was a stone faced wall. Not quite though.


As they faced the palace entrance, Sterling nearly started to shake more. It was an old habit he hated. He shook when he got too excited, emotional, or scared. Sterling hated how his shakes betrayed his emotions. In the past when he had gotten into a fight, he was terrified. However he tried to show as little of that as possible. But they all knew he was afraid by his shaking. He tried everything to get them to stop for good besides drugs. A hand on his back was a new one though. The man relaxed slowly, "Thanks..." He mumbled.


The two guards looked at each other for a long moment. Even if they didn't trust the newcomers they trusted Lennox. "Very well. If you feel this person can be an asset to the investigation then we won't stop you. Go ahead." The two opened the gates. This was it. This was really it. They we're really going inside. Sterling adjusted his clothes and Lucius quickly preened his feathers before entering into the courtyard. He paid little attention to it. His eyes were trained on the door. After the guards to the front door opened them Sterling stepped inside after the detective.

Upon entering the palace the magician was struck by its sheer amount of beauty. The place looked like it was from a different era and that's because it was. It was here before the rise of technology. Before the Delphinium. Before the discovery of magic. The floors and pillars were made of the purest marble, there was literal gold in the walls, creating beautiful designs. The school had taken a few design elements from this place. There was so much light thanks to the windows in the ceilings and walls. They were reinforced of course, and ever since the creation of blimps and planes, one could see out but not see in. Instead of paintings, statues lined the halls of rulers past, as well as their Grand Wizards.

This time when Sterling walked the halls he looked completely different than when he was darting around at the school. He was quiet, probably struck by the sense of awe. Standing tall he had an aura of someone more important than he actually was. The same that had drawn people to him as he traveled. There were few people besides workers moving about, but as they saw the detective and his guest they wondered if they had seen him before. Was he a young duke from one of the many families? A fifth cousin? The Magician soaked up the attention like a sponge.

"This is...even more beautiful than I imagined… I'm almost speechless. All this place is missing is a food stand~" he chuckled.


The vault to Delphi was not easy to get to. One needed knowledge of the location of a special lever that would open the hidden door. Then past the person would need to present their hand to an elevator with a spell cast on it. If they weren't authorized to enter an alarm would go off. Luckily for the Phantom Detective he was given said clearance when he was put on the case.

 

[spacepirate]

Truth be told, Lennox was already confident that the guards would let them pass. There were countless so-called investigators in the city, and everyone wanted to give their services to her majesty herself. But anyone could find a missing little boy or recover some dinky family heirloom. But could they recover stolen pieces of art that contained the spirits of some of Grisbane's worst souls? Was it in their job description to screen every ship docked in the harbor for caskets of Mirror Madness Elixir? Or, perhaps they thought it was child's play to find the last remaining will and testament of the Duchess of Argundille, even though their castle was built across several islands in the grand Argun Lake? He thought not!

No one could do what he could do, he reminded himself, there was only one Phantom Detective, whether the public decided to acknowledge him or not! Though the general public was unfamiliar with his visage, though, the guards and all who frequented the palce, from servants to courtesans, knew the man's dark and calculating eyes and knew that he meant business. It didn't matter, he scoffed as the pair stormed through the palace walls, Lennx not bothering to admire the masterful design after what had to have been the three hundredth time he'd walked these pristine marble hallways, it didn't matter because once he restored the Delphinium, no one in the city would be able to dine without thanking the Phantom Detective.

They'd build a statue to him, perhaps. Or dedicate a national monument, a park, a library! Even a prison would be impeccably fitting.

They'd turned a mass of winding hallways, before reaching what appeared to be a dead end. Lennox retrieved a black silk blindfold from his cloak pockets. "We'll be headed to the vault now. I don't technically have to blind you, but the queen trusts my methods for a reason, you know. He held it out to the man, before frowning and retrieving a smaller one as well. "This one's for Lucius. Don't... ask what I've used these for," the detective noted with his characteristic dryness. He didn't want any potential security breaches due to his negligence.

 

[TheGrandPygmy]

Sterling slowly glanced down to the blindfold in his hands. This man had as many things in his pockets as he did. First a parchment with bad spells now two blindfolds perfectly suited for both of them. He held back from making a less than professional joke. When Lennox mentioned to refrain from asking about the second, Lucius visibly reeled back from the blindfold, suddenly looking very worried. Sterling rolled his eyes and put it on him, "It's only for a few minutes damn bird. You can handle it."

In retaliation to his words he bit his finger. "Ow! Hey!" He growled, then wrapped his own blindfold around his head. After the initial panic wore off of being blind, he followed where Lennox guided him. Sterling found it strange how the detective's touch could calm his nerves and illicit such trust. Maybe it was because he was an official. Maybe it was because of his aura. Perhaps it was because he had no choice. After all he was blindfolded. Or how sure he was of the layout. Whatever it was it got on his nerves how utterly quickly it happened. Past the secret entrance, the hall was long and less decorated than the rest. It looked more modern than the palace itself, as it had only been built 300 years ago when Delphi was found.

When they reached the elevator, it opened in response to the detective's hand. They stepped inside, and it quickly went down further and further below ground. Sterling could feel it before they even got to the floor. The amount of energy he could feel made him gasp. The magic guarding Delphi was...something greater than any he had ever felt. It was like stepping into a stormcloud. Sterling felt like he could do any magic in the world in here. But there was a problem. It shouldn't feel like that. It should've felt like it did when they encountered Saropuff. Like the energy in the room experienced an exponential drop. It showed just how much power the seals let slip. Not only that something felt...wrong. Like a nagging feeling at the pit of his stomach that wouldn't let go.

After they stepped off the elevator he waited for the ok to remove the blindfold. When he did, he was nearly frozen in place. There, was the biggest door he'd ever seen, guarded by the biggest seal he had ever seen. There were three massive seals, each a different color and kind protecting the vault. They were beautifully and painstakingly drawn. It must have taken days, no weeks to get the amount of power into them. The Magician was stunned to silence. He stared at the scene like he was in a trance. Lucius cleared his throat and pushed him with a wing, snapping him out of it.

"O-ok...ehem. So, let's take a look here. This place...no doubt this place is amazingly protected. But...something is bothering me. I felt it coming down here…" he followed the feeling. It was leading him to a certain spot on the colossal door. Tentatively he placed a hand on the spot. In an instant he felt his legs nearly give out from under him. A feeling of pure terror shot through his body like a bullet. Terror and dread. The amount of wrongness in the magic here was nothing he'd ever seen on the street. Sterling stumbled backwards, nearly falling over, "Oh God...this is...really bad."

 

[spacepirate]

Once the magician and familiar alike were blindfolded, Lennox could begin the decent trek into the vault room. He took the magician by the cuff of the man's coat sleeve, and led him the rest of the way. The very first time he'd entered the vault was only yesterday, he thought as he pulled the lever to reveal the secret entrance, and a whole platoon of guards had to accompany him. Actually, Rivera, one of the guards stationed at the gates this afternoon, was among them. Of course, they'd already met several times before due to the plethora of services they required of him, but one's first time into the vault was always a milestone.

Even the detective, who lacked the magical aptitude of even the most inadequately trained wizards, could feel the energy crackling all throughout the room as soon as they entered. It almost tingled as he entered, the pure energy being given off the colossal seals palpable to even the most uninitiated of individuals. Still, he thought, face lit up in the three colors of the magical protective seals, one couldn't deny the majesty and raw power of this room. The vault housed the most important artifact of their people, and its hollowed state was the most horrifying scenario most of them could ever imagine.

Lennox removed his companion's blindfold, tucking the two pieces of cloth back into his pockets. It certainly seemed like his coat pockets carried far more than was possible, but he'd paid good money for the enchantments and talismans engraved into the lining of his cloak, so it had better work exactly like the enchantress promised him. "Something that's bothering you? About the vault room?" The detective echoed, arching a single eyebrow.

What could possibly have been more bothersome than Delphi being stolen? Or perhaps not more worrisome, but something significant enough for the magician to pick up on it. And if he had picked up on something, why didn't the other wizards who'd examined the room all day and night?

As Sterling stumbled, Lennox quickly moved forward and caught the blonde by the shoulders. He couldn't help but smirk for a moment, before quickly wiping the look off his face. "Why did you touch the seal?" He asked, confusion clearly painted in a spot behind his eyes. The magician was obviously quite the oddball, but that still didn't quite make sense. "They're here to protect Delphi. Obviously, they failed, but we can't take them down. Not about permission, the court wizards literally *cannot* take them down- not even Saropuff's team had the know-how to remove them, as all the seal notes were burned after they were put up. That's part of what makes the case so confounding," Lennox sighed, helping the magician regain his stability.

"But why touch the seal?" The man asked. "What's so bad, to have given you the look of a man who's seen the dead?

 

[TheGrandPygmy]

He shook his head, "N-No I'm not saying that at all. Of course we can't take them down. I just mean..." he peered back at the spot he touched. "That...isn't...right. That magic. It's like it's soaked into the metal like a cancer. In the past, I've seen examples of Dirty Magic used for more...well less notorious crimes. Maybe a theft, an occasional murder but this...this took time and planning. This wasn't done by some casual Witch or Warlock. Whoever did this was powerful. And knew EXACTLY what they needed down to the letter. I can feel it...the terror in the blood of the fallen soldiers. It's horrible..." he adjusted himself as he got back to his feet, nodding a thank you to Lennox. Why hadn't anyone felt this!? It was like being in a room with a dead body.

"Blood magic was used. No question. But...something else needed to be used in order to get through. These seals were meant to counter any type of one magic. But combine enough of them together and maybe..." he frowned. "Hmm..." he thought for a moment. What else did he feel in that spot? Blood. Steel. Acid maybe? It felt like one push would put his hand through the door, even though it was solid. "Portals. I think a portal was used. But there's only one place that can create portals this effective and that's...Lacroso." Each country had a sort of proficiency. A claim to fame as it was. Estros had seals. Gracia had healing. Lacroso had portals. Portals that could transport them over vast distances. This was the source of a humorous saying, 'Lacroso is never late'. If what Sterling was saying was true, then it would mean all the Queen's fears about their rival was true. And that would mean war. "But that also makes no sense...I mean, there's no way they would have enough knowledge from so far away. None of the kingdoms do. Unless there was some sort of spy here."

 

[spacepirate]

The magician's words were troublesome, and Lennox was sure his face betrayed as much. Actually, they were more than troublesome, they were catastrophic. Everyone knew that the two nations had a history of war and conflict, subterfuge and sabotage. The last time Esteos and Lacroso had openly fought, they'd decimated every city and town along the Atoran Warpath, an ancient trade route that had once connected the vast cities of the continent.

But the path had been constructed far before the existence of their modern empires, much before any of the Estrosi cities had been taken into the fold, and they were independent entities. Still, that was eons ago, and the kingdom had remained united, despite several local uprisings across the land. It appeared that regional sentiment was strong as ever, especially if war broke out across the two major powers of the continent. Lennox couldn't imagine what war would look like in this day and age, but he could certainly try.

Miss Coridian lived right beneath him, an old botanist of seventy-eight years. Sometimes, she'd invite him over for some herbal teas and talk about the old days, where she'd served as a battle mage in the Atoran Wars. They sounded just awful, they'd sent her great distances down the warpath with a relatively small band of battle mages and soldiers, and had her rain spells down on the opposing side. I'll never forget the stench, she told him on a particularly windy evening, the stench of flesh and muscle being torn apart by magic. The screams, their screams, will haunt me always, she whispered in between sips of Duchess Dark brew.

"You're saying that the Lacrosi royal family did this," he muttered, just above earshot. "You're saying there will be war on the continent. The lesser nations will be destroyed, and millions more will die." It appeared the detective's mouth was dry all of a sudden. But that was foolish! How could he believe the word of a single magician? When all the total wizards and all the court experts had told him otherwise? That was illogical, it was absolutely preposterous! But, a voice chided him, if you believed that, why the sweaty palms? Why have you lost your breath?

"You're jumping to assumptions," he concluded, face stern and solid. "Maybe you need to examine the seals closer. Even if there *was* a spy, there would be no way for us to find them." He shook his head, wiping his brow. Realization dawned on his features, and he fixed the magician with a dark look. "... unless..."

 

[TheGrandPygmy]

"Unless..." He repeated. He looked towards the vault. If this were true. If his theory was correct. Then this could lead to horrible things. Things that would affect many many people. He looked back to the ground, thinking for a while. If he were to do this and he was wrong...it could get him thrown away. Everything he worked for down the drain. Everything would be taken away. He didn't know if he could survive that. Inwardly he cursed himself for his cowardice. People could DIE you idiot. And you could've stopped it if you stopped being so foolish. He hated the thought of war. He definitely didn't want to fight in it. He'd rather flee. Wizards often didn't pay attention to magicians until it came to using them to kill each other.

He looked to Lennox with fear, but determination. "I'll...I'll do it. If we must then I'll do it. I don't want to think I'm correct, but if I am...then we have to do this for this for the greater good. We just need to find a safe place first. A place we won't be disturbed at all. I mean, here seems pretty secure but I don't know. Unless you know a place that may be better."

He couldn't actually believe he was talking about doing illegal magic. But what other choice did he really have? Even Lucius wasn't claiming just how insane this was. He simply kept quiet and listened. "If we do this you have a choice. You can go into the minds with me or stay outside and watch over my body. I think I'll be able to keep the spell going for thirty minutes. Even though the spell was forbidden, it wasn't exactly the hardest to do, nor did it take too much magic.

 

[spacepirate]

Hearing that Sterling was prepared and willing to use the forbidden sigil didn't quite bring Lennox the emotion he thought it would. Likely, it was just that any excitement or triumph he was feeling was irreparably marred by the looming threat of war. A seal that could be used for anything as dangerous as mind control, thought stealing, astral projection- their country was known for its fantastic magic circles, its symbols and glyphs, but what Lennox fished from his pockets was cut from a different cloth than what most folks saw on a daily basis.

Rather than adopting a conspiratorial whisper, the detective kept his tone level and motioned for the blonde to follow him. "This room is secure, but we might get a surprise visitor. I'm told this is an incinerating seal, so there won't be any physical evidence, but we wouldn't want anyone coming across our sleeping forms. That definitely wouldn't go over well if a patrolman finds us," he sighed, opening the elevator, and waiting for Sterling and Lucius to follow before hitting a red button on the dial. "That was an emergency stop. Unless the guards want to physically pull up the cage, we're safe in here- that should shut off the mechanisms to activate the lift. We're even safer in here, if you want to cast it." Hesitantly, Lennox held the sigil out- but refused to let it go.

After all, there was the popular belief that if you held onto the parchment or medium a seal was written on, it couldn't be used to harm you.

"I think I need to go with you. The way this spell works, it'll push us into the astral realm, but we need to guide our spirits physically to any targets. Now, forgive me for assuming, Mr. Somerset, but I don't believe you've ever been in the palace before. So you're going to need me to navigate for you, so we don't waste a second of our precious thirty minutes. That make sense?" The detective used his other hand to scratch at his chin.

"Now we just need to figure out who the best target would be, don't we?" He wondered aloud, thinking for a few moments. "Despite the seals doing most of the heavy work, the only people to come in and out of this room at any frequency are the guards stationed here. And a good portion of them were killed, so I doubt they're the spies. Well, that would be a perfect way for the Lacrosans to hide their tracks, but if that's the case, this spell is useless anyways. It's the royal guards who have access to this room, the guards and perhaps the custodial staff. But I wouldn't know who was assigned to this room..." je trailed off, before getting an electric glint to his dark eyes.

"But I know who'd be our best bet for the information. The royal guard captain. I know where his quarters are, if you want to start there. There's also the general, but he mans soldiers outside the castle. I suppose the castle steward would know the whereabouts of all the staff at any time- despite my services, I'm afraid I'm very much kept in the dark about most things." The Phantom Detective sighed once more. "I must ask, though, Mr. Somerset, are you content just with retrieving information? If we discern the identity of the spy, or even one of their conspirators, what then? I doubt that we'd be able to take on the force of an entire Lacrosan squadron, and we can't exactly say we found our evidence by entering someone's *mind*."

He shook his head. "There are... more applications to this spell, I'm sure you realize, ways to... neutralize the threat without direct combat, perhaps make them an asset to us. But it would be your magic, not mine, and I won't force you to do anything you don't imagine necessary for this case, or for the safety of our people." Lennox promised.

 

[TheGrandPygmy]

Sterling quickly followed him into the lift, wanting to have at least some barrier between that magic. When he stopped the machine Lucius landed on the ground, "I'll stay out here just in case I need to snap you out of it. While your souls are away from your body they can be vulnerable. Someone meeds to be here to pull you back."

"Thanks Lu. And are you implying I don't know my way around the castle? Come now I've been here for nearly an hour now I'm sure! I must know this place like the back of my hand," he chuckled. Even now he could joke about things. If they lost humor then they were truly hopeless. As he spoke he sat down criss cross style and motioned for him to sit in front of him. "Alright. So we'll focus on the captain first. Sounds like a plan."

The more the threat of what he had to do came forward, the more he shut it out of his mind. Killing a man. He was saying to kill a man in his mind. One of the marshall laws of magic, one of the great wrongs. He was just asked if he could break it. He was silent for a while, pondering. Finally he took a deep breath, "Lets...see what he's planning. Then I'll consider it. Now lets get started. You're already halfway there. Place your hands on the paper and close your eyes. Don't open them until I say so."

The lift fell silent, the only sound left was the subtle shifting of Lucius on his feet and the deep breathing of Sterling. The sigil began to glow, tingling under their fingers. Then in an instant it stopped. The silence was absolute. "Ok. Open your eyes." When the detective did so they were in a void. Endless darkness stretched out for eternity around them. They were in the space between the conscious and astral. Where their minds could meet and move forwards. Above them was a ring of light and inside was the ceiling of the lift. All they had to do was go through it. But before they did...

"Woah...this is different." Sterling stood and jumped into the air. Instead of gravity taking its course he stayed in the air, floating effortlessly. He ended up upside down , smirking at the detective, "This is fun! I should try this more often this Astral thing! Wait wait wait...I hear while you're here you can create anything you want..." Right before Lennox's eyes, a massive cake appeared. Then a roasted turkey. Then a baked potato. "Looks like I'm hungry...we should get lunch after this!"

 

[spacepirate]

Even through the elevator, the murmur of castle life wafted through the air like freshly baked bread. The white noise was a familiar friend to Lennox, who needed one more than ever before on this strange afternoon. How do you always find yourself in the largest of pickles? The detective found himself wondering, even as the parchment began to glow. If he'd only gone into bookkeeping, the detective supposed life would be a lot easier.

For one, he thought, holding his breath, he probably wouldn't have to commit any crimes- at least not to the degree he currently was. Sure, bookkeepers sometimes embezzled, or fudged the numbers a bit, but it was *never* to this scale. Did he know or hear of any accounted ever arrested for illegal magic? For memory theft, or mind control, or madness inducement? For murder? That seemed doubtful.

For a moment, Lennox nearly hesitated- considering their other options. He could just go straight to the queen, have her declare war and be done with it. Couldn't he and Sterling just storm the Lacrosan Arcaeneum, magic and weaponry ablaze? The detective scoffed at the thought.

Still, he couldn't afford to hesitate, not when so many people were counting on them to do right.

Before he could ponder the ethics of magical crimes for much longer, his skin went cold, and the murmur of the castle petered into total silence. Growing up in Grisbane, silence wasn't exactly a common commodity- even in the wee hours of morning and those few witching hours of the moon's peak, the groans of gears and steam echoed in every home, every business, and every street of their grand capital.

So the silence was rather unnerving, and as Lennox gazed around the astral realm that opened up around them, he could hardly believe it. The detective's eyebrows raised when Sterling... willed, was it? An entire meal into existence, but chucked at the mention of lunch. That was a concern for another time.

Cautiously, he reached out for a taste, gasping at how real the meat felt- and as he brought it to his lips, how real it *tasted*. "I..." he spoke not from his throat, but from somewhere both within and far beyond. "So this is what the spell does. I'd ponder why it was even illegal, but we've no time. Follow me this way, to the captain's quarters," he spoke, the sound echoing around them.

 

[TheGrandPygmy]

With a simple thought, they were inside the castle. Looks like they made it. Sterling could loo down and see his body sitting there along with his companion's. He also saw Lucius, staring right up at him. It was said that animals could see spirits. Or at least sense their presence. The bird gulped and subtly fluffed his feathers. It was something he did when he was nervous. "Good luck..."

Sterling nodded to him, then followed the other up the elevator shaft. Moving through the walls was like moving through air. It means nothing to their new forms. As they went down the hall they could hear the subtle voices of people walking by. Only they weren't moving their mouths. It was in their mind. Sterling seemed to be having the time of his life hearing what everyone was thinking. All he had to do was tune in. He could've sworn someone thought he was handsome. He floated along, not bothering to walk. He did loops in the air, grinning all the while. Silently he snuck up on the detective and poked his back. So they could touch each other huh. Shame. He was planning on messing with him by putting his hand through his chest.

"This castle truly is beautiful...I could explore it all day. I'm sure there are a bunch of things here to witness..." Sterling looked closely at sets of decorative armor in he halls. The portraits. He could fly all the way up to the ceiling! This was so fun! He heard monks could do this, though no mind reading would be involved. He needed to find out how they did it and fast.

Eventually they made it to their destination. Sterling finally set himself down on the ground, looking over the man in front of him. They managed to catch the captain in a moment of relative calm. While he was taking a break from the hectic work of dealing with the new shifts and funerals. Sterling could hear the amount of exhaustion that filled his mind. Thoughts of the faces of the people he had to tell, the guilt over the failure to train or save his men. The sight of them laying motionless by their posts. It was a horrible sight. Sterling ended up feeling pretty sympathetic. However even though he kept listening, he didn't hear anything that would suggest he did it, "Hmmm...I'm not getting anything that would be...well...bad."