Fantasy For my Family

[Twizinator]

Mythia couldn't immediately respond as the truth dawned on her. Why had she never considered that? The reason she hadn't was simple. She had seen Ryrax grow more personable in all the years she cared for him. She had started to forget how horrifying he could be, how he had been. Still, what could possibly have driven him to slaughter his entire clan, save two members? As much as I don't want to agree, Gerza...that may be exactly what happened, she replied, a little shaken. He was only thirteen when I found him, but he had such power even then, it's not impossible...but why? What could have driven him to such horrible action? And why spare two?


Mythia had an idea why Lily was not on the list. She had heard Ryrax mutter her name in his sleep. The two siblings were probably close, and he seemed troubled whenever he dreamt of her. Mythia thought it unlikely that he killed her. Tyron, however, she had no explanation for. He was the Omeraan leader, maybe he had just been too powerful for Ryrax to beat?

 

[Ninja_Onions]

Maybe Tyron was protecting Lily from Ryrax? Gerza suggested after a pause. Either that, or something happened between Ryrax and Tyron that would have made Lily leverage, which Tyron capitalized on, and made Ryrax go berserk? In either case, I would figure that where Tyron is, Lily isn't fair behind, if they survived for all this time, and vicea versa of course.

 

[Twizinator]

It's worth noting that Ryrax's parents apparently died when he was still an infant, Mythia added. He was raised by Tyron, his grandfather. I've never heard Ryrax speak of him, though...granted, he never says anything about his past. Obviously I can't just ask him, he's never told me before, why would he say anything now? Mythia was a little saddened by that fact. Maybe someone else could get him to open up...

 

[Ninja_Onions]

But who? I can't imagine that anyone could get much closer than you have to someone like him. He seems to push against people knowing him, rather having people know /about/ him instead... Gerza sighed. I have a suspicion that most if not all of the answers lie within Ryrax's mind, or at least his past. This language I can work on more, but everything else is just a theory unless he tells us what happened and why.

 

[Twizinator]

Mythia thought of her relationship with Ryrax. He was a son to her, and she was his mother to him. But despite that, and despite their years together, Ryrax had never opened up regarding the past. Mythia then thought of Cerys. Though the hadn't met but days ago, they were very close. Unfortunately, she was currently dueling Odom. That strange young man would not a quick fight make, and Mythia couldn't shake the sense of urgency she had towards solving this.


"Ma'am?" A subject under Mythia said from the doorway.


"Mm?" Mythia opened an eye, "Yes, what is it?"


"Estelle has awoken."


Mythia suddenly realized what to do. She nodded to the servant, dismissing them, and addressed Gerza once more. I see what I must do. Thank you so much for your aid, Gerza. I will allow you to rest now. Come to me when you have recovered: we have much more work ahead. With that, she broke the psychic connection and left, intent on asking a favor of Estelle.

 

[Ninja_Onions]

Gerza felt the connection break and settled into his mind, still thinking about everything he had learned. So many things that were lost to time because one group of people just vanished. I'll have to ask the librarian for more history on any and all declared clans within the last multiple decades when I wake. If there is this much to be discovered from the Omeraan, who knows what other secrets are hidden in time?

 

[Cyrionessa]

Coran left Estelle's side, knowing that she probably just needed rest. He wished that Cerys hadn't had a duel so that she could be there to maybe bring a smile to Estelle's face. Estelle probably wouldn't be walking for a while because of the amount of damage. A half-smile crossed his face at the image of Cerys wheeling Estelle around since he knew that Estelle would insist on getting out of bed.


Estelle laid in bed, looking up at the ceiling. Punishment would come and she knew it. Her body was in tatters and her mana was unstable again. She really didn't see how this could be worse. But a satisfied smile covered her face when she realized that Valk's recovery could be years in the making. Perhaps by then he would see that with great power comes great responsibility.

 

[Twizinator]

Not long after Coran left, the door opened and in walked Mythia. She closed the door behind her and strode over to Estelle's bedside. "Greetings, Estelle. My name is Mythia; I think we have not been formally introduced." She sighed. "As much as I would love to lecture you, I know it would be pointless. You and Gerza both did what you thought was right. Besides, that's not why I'm here."


She drew a breath as she chose her words carefully. "Cerys is indisposed with a fight, and I have questions that need answered imperatively. He will not open up to me in this matter, but I think he would to you, if you played it right. I need to know about his grandfather, Tyron; his sister, Lily; and the relationship between them and Ryrax. I need to know why the Omeraan clan has only three surviving members. Take it slow. Ask about his past, his family, build up to it. From what I know of you, you have the patience to not rush things. And given your closeness to Cerys, I think he'll trust you."


Mythia cracked a small grin. "Don't worry about waiting on him; I've already handled that."


-----


Ryrax had just left the arena, having received notice that Estelle was awake and wanted to speak to him. He was irritated that he was being dragged away from the duel between Cerys and Odom, but he was surprised that Estelle asked for him. It must have been important if she asked so soon after waking. What could she want?

 

[HilgenHoffer]

Odom's internal smile just barely creeped into the corners of his lips as his plan began to unfold. Rather than block or counterattack his diving opponent, he simply stepped backwards, admiring the subtle shine of the displaced pebbles on the ground beneath his feet. He wondered if the cat had ever considered that everything he or his weapon had touched this match was now his ally? She probably hadn't--none of them ever did. And, despite his continued participation in the annual events, his games were always forgotten by the time he returned . . .


He slid backwards easily, waiting for the cat to maim her own pretty little paws. The real game was about to begin. 
Rudd thought that maybe, just maybe, he was catching onto the habits of the Trevastos warriors.


He thought this casually as he swayed just barely to the side of a bulldozing fist, likely as large as his shoulder and moving with the force of a large animal, and stuck his foot out slightly in front of him. The hulk of a man bowled over on himself, his face sliding into the stone beneath. Blood and dust marred his beard as he quickly stood up, pivoting to face his smaller opponent.


"You're too uptight. Tension is the enemy; loosen up a bit!" He chided the lumberjack with just a hint of a smile, resting easily on his feet and bouncing lightly back and forth.

 

[Cyrionessa]

Her senses told her that the ground that she was heading towards was not safe. It was too late to pull back. This was going to hurt but there was something about her that very few people understood and there was no way that Odom could know. Pain was fuel; blood was a steroid, even if it was her own. Bring the pain, because the more she felt, the farther her power could climb.


The palms of her hands hit the ground, tearing skin away. Blood poured from the wounds and she pushed back onto safe ground. Those around her stared at her hands; would she surrender? Who could fight with those hands?


"That hurt." Cerys stared down at her hands before a dark chuckle escaped her lips. "That....." She raised her hand up to lick the palm, tasting her own blood. That taste was like a powerful drug to her. "That really hurt...." She wondered if somewhere in the crowd, Jaeger was watching as always. In a voice low enough so that most could hear but she was sure that Jaeger could, she said. "Stop me if I go too far."


With the roar of a panther, she charged, using her senses to find safe ground. Wherever mana flowed from the ground, she avoided coming close. She zig-zagged through on the safest path. So he channeled mana into objects that he touched? He couldn't touch everything in the arena and she could find the safe path. Wordless growls rumbled from her body as she began to change. Her claws grew longer, as did her teeth. Her body shook as muscles contorted to something fiendish. Something demonic. Looking more feral than human, she finally saw a safe path that led close enough to attack him. Racing through the twisting, turning labyrinth of mana controlled objects, she closed in, claws out-stretched for the attack. Or was it the kill? Cerys blinked and quickly cleared that from her mind. This was only a tournament. No one died. She was pushing herself farther into the demonic state. She had to hurry. She had to end this. With a piercing yowl, she lunged for him.


----


Estelle opened her eyes when she felt someone approach. Mythia, was she still there? Of course not; she had left her with a task that she really didn't want to do. A person's past was their own business and no one's business but their own. But Mythia seemed to think that this was urgent. She sighed and her quiet voice escaped her lips.


"Who is Cerys fighting?" She figured that it was better to lead up to it instead of immediately say it.

 

[HilgenHoffer]

Odom let gravity embrace him again. He felt claws nick at his chest even as he fell, drawing a hint of blood, but as he stood up, he laughed. In his hand, which he waved teasingly at Cerys, he held a small patch of black fur.


He could feel her tense at the sight through the chain attached to his scythe, held in his other hand. The weight at the other end had wrapped itself thoroughly around his opponent's ankle. Wherever she went now, he was bound to be able to catch her. Not that he had any reason to believe she would go any direction that wasn't directly towards himself.

 

[Twizinator]

"Odom," Ryrax said as he entered the room. Mythia was long gone. "Probably gonna take a while." He sighed as he took a seat next to Estelle on the floor, his head level still a few inches above hers. He was on her right side so that his uncovered eye could look at her. "Ya wanted to see me?"


Beside them, Oliver was still resting soundly.

 

[HilgenHoffer]

The lumberjack accepted Rudd's wisdom without comment, charging in again, but this time with more ease. Rudd stepped aside again, this time grabbing the man's wrist and spinning on his heel until he was pinned in a very awkward position, bent beneath the torque of his own arm. "So aggressive! I'm a man, not a tree! It'll take more than violence to chop me down!"

 

[Cyrionessa]

Cerys felt the chain encircle her ankle. It could seem like a no-win scenario. If she tried to escape, she was sure that he was going to attempt to stop her and probably succeed. That left having to stay in the chain....her mind flashed with one possibility. The chain was attached to him just as much as she was attached to it. A soft smirk covered her face as she jumped up, flipping that leg backwards over her head as she tumbled into a back flip. If he held on, he was going to travel with her. If he let go, she was free.


----


"Yes." Estelle sighed. He was far too literal and to the point to fall for the flow of words that she was going to attempt. "It's something that I sensed before when I healed you." This was not a lie; she had noticed just how abnormal he was while healing him. "Normally, I wouldn't bring it up. But someone...." Estelle wished that Mythia could hear what she was saying. "Someone wants me to find out for them."

 

[Twizinator]

Ryrax raised an eyebrow at her. His head was only a couple feet away from hers as he leaned it against the wall behind him. "Go on."


-----


Mythia was back at her house, poring over more Omeraan documents and tomes. She trusted Estelle to handle the task she'd...well, shoved onto her. She felt a little guilty taking advantage of someone who couldn't even move but she could feel that time was not on her side.

 

[HilgenHoffer]

Odom wondered, as he stared down his furry foe, what move she would make next. Would she move her pawns? Castle her king? Attack with the bishop?


Ah. She pulled out the queen.


Odom smiled to himself. This eventuality was had the greatest margin for error. It meant that his opponent was seasoned and intelligent--and it meant that this battle really was going to be fun. As Cerys pulled against the chain, Odom tapped his toes against the ground and willed himself to follow, flying willingly with the weight of his weapon and directly into the mouth of danger. As he approached, he held his hand--with the fistful of black fur--before his lips. Hanging airborne, now face to face with his enemy, he opened his fingertips--and blew.


Needles had never been so thin, so sharp, or so black.

 

[Cyrionessa]

A few of the needles slammed into her shoulder, though most were blown off by the completely random arc of being pulled through the air by a chain. They gouged, but there was no major damage. The more that Cerys moved, the more that her skin became the resilient hide of the Demon Cat. They were face-to-face, still in the air. A crooked grin teaming with serrated teeth appeared. Pain. It was just a faster way to gain more power. Her claws slashed outwards but she knew that the arc was too random to hit accurately. She realized that they would most likely descend soon. Just as her feet touched the ground, she pushed off again into a vertical jump that sent her out-stretched claws into his chest and made him airborne again.


----


"I know little about who you are or where you come from." Estelle could barely move her head enough to look at him. "Or, the more specific question that has been asked, where your power comes from." Her eyes pierced into his, staring him down. "I noticed the abnormalities of your aura when I healed you. I just want to know where those abnormalities come from."

 

[Ixidor92]

Within the Naejor hall, the messenger would have been greeted by a rare sight. The Naejor head sat cross-legged on the floor, seemingly meditating. Around him, no fewer than 24 glass orbs lay floating in the air. More intriguing, within each of the glass orbs was another, smaller glass orb, also floating. The head did not seem to acknowledge that anyone besides himself lay within the hall for almost five straight minutes. Then, he opened his eyes with a sudden flash, and a grunt escaped from his form. All the glass orbs within other orbs were instantly shattered, but the orbs that held them lay perfectly whole, fragments of glass clinking lightly within them. The Naejor head put out his hand, the orbs each coming to rest upon a pedestal in front of him before he stood up.


"I see. Bring her into the Naejor estate as soon as possible. Carry her if needed."


-------------------


Jaeger was sitting on the edge of his seat, a bit of blood red seeping into his irises as he watched the fight. He was watching Cerys like a hawk, waiting for too much of the cat too take over.

 

[Twizinator]

Rryax laughed. "You sure you want to know?" He shrugged and lowered his voice. He jabbed a thumb at his right eye. "This thing is my wild card. It's a furnace of hellish power. And its fuel...is Fell One meat and bone. I eat them. Every battle. With each one I consume I get more powerful. But it isn't always a good thing. I keep it covered with this special patch because I can't control it well for long periods of time. Y'know how Cerys goes feral? Its like that. Probably worse, but I've been careful enough not to lose control...yet..." he ended his speech with downcast eye. For once he was serious. He knew just how dangerous his unstable power was.

 

[Cyrionessa]

"O-of course sir!" The man bolted out the door. There was one thing he knew; there was no way that the Naejor Head was not upset about what Estelle had done. He grimaced a bit; Coran wasn't going to want Estelle leaving the infirmary but the Head's orders were clear...


----


".....makes sense, now." Estelle wasn't even shocked at this revelation. Cerys' strange powers were along the same lines. "But where did this power come from? What is its origin?" She needed to get to the question soon; there was no telling when they'd be interrupted.

 

[Twizinator]

Ryrax narrowed his eye and leaned ever so slightly towards her. "Why are you asking that?" he asked furtively, his voice a bit quieter. He was being uncharacteristically defensive. "It's just another one of my abilities. I've had it all my life, I was born with it, just like my ice artes."


He is lying, Mythia whispered psychically to Estelle. I don't know when he got that right eye of his but it was extremely recent at the time I found him. He was thirteen years old then. He is lying to your face.


In order to eavesdrop in on their conversation, Mythia was...borrowing Oliver's sense of hearing. Not that she strictly asked his permission, but he was so far unconscious that he was unlikely to interfere.

 

[Cyrionessa]

"You're lying." Estelle showed no visual response to the voice in her head. "What I sensed when I healed you was something that did not match the mana markers in your genetic code. This is something from the outside that warped your entire genetic structure." Estelle's mind was racing a bit to find a plausible reason as to why she would suspect him of lying. "This warping hasn't been there since birth since there is some DNA left in your body, albeit very little, that is seemingly normal. At the rate of spread, I'd say that it was something that happened when you were 12 to 13 years old."

 

[Twizinator]

Ryrax blinked and turned his head to face her. His lips parted slightly in his surprise. "How did you...?" he muttered in his moment of weakness before he shut his mouth as if that would undo what he'd just said. His brow crinkled as he glared at the hospitalized woman before him. "Yes. something did happen. The entire Omeraan clan - my clan - was destroyed in a single night when I was thirteen years of age."


And he's the one that did it, Mythia added solemnly. We're very close, Estelle. But he lied again...not all of the Omeraans died. His grandfather, Tyron, and his sister, Lily, are missing. I found no bodies for either of them. That leads me to believe they are very much alive, and I'm certain he knows that. He might even know where they went, but that's a bit more of a stretch. You're doing an amazing job, Estelle - keep up the offensive.

 

[Cyrionessa]

"I've done my research on you, Ryrax, since you got close to Cerys." Estelle's eyes narrowed. "You just lied again. From what I've gathered, the entire clan was not destroyed. No bodies were found for your grandfather, Tyron, and your sister, Lily." She wished that she could get up and move, perhaps examine him more with her mana abilities. Anything except lay here waiting.

 

[Twizinator]

Ryrax went totally still. His lips pulled back in a snarl and his hand curled into tight fists - not that Estelle could see that. "So because there were no bodies, they must be alive. Is that right?" he growled.


Mythia faltered. What was Ryrax saying? She wondered this as she decided to investigate the Omeraan records about Tyron and Lily. She still could find nothing about Ryrax, though.