Pretzel Heart
Afterimage of Broad Daylight
۞ Chapter O N E ۞
Wherein the Star Scouts receive their calling and explore the limits of their new powers.
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۞ Chapter O N E ۞
Wherein the Star Scouts receive their calling and explore the limits of their new powers.
Pretzel Heart
Afterimage of Broad Daylight
۞ G E N E S I S ۞
Mitya woke up still on the fading fringes of his headache. The deep humming in his temples had become an expectation, but at least, usually, sleep helped.
[COLOR= rgb(83, 198, 169)]Seriously?'[/COLOR]
He glanced at the square clock from a bygone era near his head. It was already past midnight. Which meant he had spent another day asleep.
He sat up as if in slow-motion, his body still not quite adjusted to the strangeness of waking to the depths of evening. The thick thrumming of cicadas outside was the only discernible sign of life. Unsurprising, given that both of his grandparents, Ivan and Hanako Pasternack, were early sleepers. Mitya sighed at the thought of them, feeling a bit guilty. Surely it had been another uneasy dinner for his grandparents, spent wondering if their ward would make an appearance. He could almost reconstruct the conversation passed between hushed voices as if the sleeping boy would be able to hear. 'Something's wrong with him.' 'It was a mistake taking him in.'
Another day wasted, another day sent home early from school; only two weeks into the semester, and it was already his fifth time reluctantly trudging up to the nurse's office because it had become impossible to concentrate on anything over the frothing turbulence in his head. Not that a change of scenery provided much in the way of reprieve. The pounding white noise echoed on regardless. Pulling him, pushing him towards something, not that he had any idea what it might be, and he was too scared to be called insane to try and broach the topic with someone else to find out.
Perhaps he really was going mental. After all, wasn't it just a bit too coincidental that the headaches had started around the time the spaceships first arrived? And wow...that was already two months ago. Of course, back then his symptoms hadn't been as strong nor as persistent. And the Pasternacks, like the rest of the world, were too caught up in the hype over possible extraterrestrial life to think about much else. The closest of the spaceships, called 'Dounachuu" by its fans, loomed over downtown Tokyo, specifically the Shibuya district, or so he had heard. The nickname had come from a popular Twitter artist who designed a cute and charming mascot for the vessel, creating an internet sensation that had apparently evolved into actual merchandising in certain districts. But that was all very far away. Rumor had it that on clear days Dounachuu's faint outline could be glimpsed from the top of Inubousaki Lighthouse. Regardless of the report's verity, visits to the observation deck had tripled in the first few weeks after the Arrival. At least that's what his grandpa, who often worked closely with the museum staffers, had said.
He had also said that Mitya's headaches could be solved through a slew of home remedies and store-bought cures, though no amount of pills nor dietary alterations did anything to quiet the buzz. Eventually his grandma had forced her view of the situation, taking Mitya to a local doctor who just prescribed more pills that did nothing to alleviate the irritation. If anything the headaches only got worse. And Mitya began to wake in the night shouting from strange and inexplicable dreams he could scarcely recall.
'It's likely due to stress from adjusting.'
'He's experiencing severe homesickness.'
'Culture shock.'
The doctors' diagnoses did nothing to assuage his fears. It was scary to think he was subconsciously wasting away his own body. But he couldn't deny that the move to Japan had been less than quixotic.
After a bumbling debut towards the tail end of spring semester had left him largely unnoticed and alone, Mitya had been determined to use autumn to turn things around. And yet...two weeks in, and progress on making friends was literally zero.
Even on the days where his condition enabled him to go to club he found it harder and harder to drum up the energy. It was awkward slinking in as if every meeting was his first, all eyes on him as he tried, as quickly as possible, to become a part of the scenery and quietly join in whatever activity. On the surface it was such a simple thing; just choose a group and begin to knit himself into the threadwork of the inner community. Everyone seemed so friendly with each other, joking about this or that mindless occurrence or unloading their woes. Making friends had always been second nature to Mitya. With a pretty face and good manners, he didn't have to do much more than smile and nod along to get people to like him, or even be drawn towards him. But now that he had to actively think about how to approach others, it was suddenly the most difficult challenge in the world. Just being in a crowded room prompted an exhausting routine of mental gymnastics, and even though he was supposed to be finding a new calling in life, club meetings were just a joyless pressure cooker of social calisthenics.
Instead, he found himself continually drawn towards the tennis courts, where he'd slip over the hoodie he always kept in his bag because, despite being Russian, he got cold with the slightest draft, and the uniform policies were ridiculously strict about bring out blazers before their welcome. Skulking under the hood and behind his glasses he would quietly watch the flow of the players batting the ball back and forth in a kind of hypnosis, transporting him back to the sunny fields of his childhood behind their tiny Vladivostock apartment. Even if he was still too shy to play, just watching the simple ebb and tide of the games soothed him like a reassuring touch that could even wipe away the headaches, if he allowed his daydreams to float him far enough. Every time he found himself lingering on the outskirts of those courts he would think [COLOR= rgb(83, 198, 169)]' Honestly, what's the problem? You'll have more fun if you join in. ' [/COLOR]But it was a pernicious thought that repelled him as much as it attracted.
As luck would have it, there was an up-and-coming movie star and model in Mitya's class. Most of the time it wasn't an issue, but once in a while, he would attract the presence of paparazzi poking around the school gates. They would stand there, smiling dangerously with their heavy black-box cameras and windowless vans, snapping as many photographs as they could before SHIS staff escorted them away. They terrified Mitya. The light would glint off the leering lenses like steel daggers, and he winced as every flash of their bulbs stabbed him with a jolt of electricity straight to a beating heart urging him to flight like a panicked deer. Most of the reporters were foreigners, perhaps taking the train out from Tokyo to try and catch a glimpse of the reclusive film star, or perhaps playing with downtime in-between stalking some other celebrity in Japan for a filming or tour. But every time he saw them waiting, Mitya could only think that the time had come, that this time he was the scoop they were after. All it would take was a single photo uploaded online, and the Internet would do the rest. His own reclusive life would be over before he even had a chance to figure out how to put it to good use.
[COLOR= rgb(83, 198, 169)]It really is best, being where nobody knows your name...[/COLOR]
[COLOR= rgb(83, 198, 169)]...nobody......knows your......name.........[/COLOR]
He flopped back onto his pillows, clutching them for the last remnants of warmth they had soaked from his own body. Of course, the headache was still there. He eyed the blur in the dimness where his desk sat and his laptop loomed. It was childish, but he suddenly felt like digging up some old episodes of Mr. Poe and Yogul. The zany adventures of the ill-fated duo never failed to amuse him, simplistic as they were. Every episode a happy ending. Anything to try and distract himself. Well, anything but the growing packets of missed classwork piling up. He briefly wondered if, at this rate, he would be held back a year.
Before he could make the final push from the comfort of his blankets towards the computer desk, however, the headache gave a mighty roar. In a mixture of anguish and frustration Mitya threw the blankets over his head, embracing the stillness until he could practically hear a steady beating so loud that he couldn't tell if it was his heartbeat or his throbbing brain. Remembering one of the tactics the doctor had suggested, he tried to hum a song, focusing on the uneven melody over the pounding rhythm in his head. For a few moments it seemed to work, relaxing his consciousness from registering pain just long enough to recognize the tune he had subconsciously chosen. It was "Impossible," one of the hit songs off the second Hi/Rez album.
Angrily he threw away the blankets, trying to smother himself into his pillow instead.
[COLOR= rgb(83, 198, 169)]Why don't you just go away?[/COLOR]
[COLOR= rgb(235, 112, 71)]Not until you fulfill your destiny.[/COLOR]
The words were spoken in a cool voice that shot ice through Mitya's spine. He sat up once again, slowly looking around him. With his bad eyesight and the darkness of night he couldn't make out much, but he was sure he was alone.
The voice...had come from within. And yet, it wasn't unfamiliar......
An image flashed over his eyes, blinding him with the gravity of a camera flash. Though it appeared only for a moment, its strength and clarity left an afterimage floating hazily across Mitya's memory. The image had been of Gyokuto Crater, a local tourist spot his grandparents had showed him over the summer holiday. It had been a particularly nice afternoon, just the three of them and their dog, Pucchi, enjoying the sunshine after several days of rain. They had decided to go on a spur-of-the-moment picnic, and luck had cleared away the short hiking trail to the crater lake just for them. Ivan had gone on and on about the site's strange history, but Mitya had only half paid attention as he allowed his mind to drift happily through the tangles of branches overhead. The crater had left a good impression on him, and he'd been meaning to go back, though he had admittedly put it off in the hopes of being able to bring along a friend.
Oddly enough, as he thought upon that day at the crater, he felt as though the headache began to subside. Was it a coincidence? Or the placebo effect of the doctor's trick? As the warm rays of that golden afternoon began to fade, however, the tide of the headache washed back up against the shores of his mind, threatening to consume him.
[COLOR= rgb(83, 198, 169)]Okay, okay...so maybe...it is...the crater.[/COLOR]
There was that time, too, about a week ago, when his grandparents had caught him wandering outside the house, though fast asleep. Luckily Pucchi's barking had awoken them, or who knows where Mitya could have ended up. Having no history of sleepwalking before, and no known records of it in his family, it was this anecdote that had most stumped the medical professionals.
But maybe...could it be......?
It was logically ridiculous, but somehow, it felt...right. And if there was even the slightest chance that he could do something to end the infernal headaches, he would take it. His school life depended on it!
In only a few minutes he had slipped on a sweatsuit and his glasses, though changing was barely worth the effort when his new ensemble was hardly more presentable than the bedclothes he had been lounging about in. He scribbled out a quick note to leave on the kitchen table in case his grandparents woke up; he didn't want them to worry that he might be sleepwalking again.
As Mitya leaned over the counter to jot out his goodbyes, he felt a nudge at his shins accompanied by a low whine. He looked down into the fur-draped eyes of Pucchi, who was excitedly circling around his sneakers, as if she knew the fact he was wearing them meant he was readying for a walk. Truthfully, what he was wearing was about the same thing he put on when he took her out, and though he had offered to cover dog-walking duties since moving to Choshi, his availability had been greatly diminished by his burgeoning invalid status.
"[COLOR= rgb(83, 198, 169)]Fine, I guess I can take you.[/COLOR]" It was impossible not to smile while watching the serpentine dances of the frenetic pup.
The walk to Gyokuto wasn't far, since the modest house where Mitya's grandparents lived was on the edge of town bordering the forest. Since it was so late and Mitya didn't want to look suspicious, he had brought with him a flashlight. Most kids didn't use them anymore since cell phones had a built-in feature that could suffice, but these days Mitya would rather touch a viper than anything that could connect him to the Internet and its hoards of anonymous strangers. Besides, there was something pleasantly disconnected about walking into the desolate forest. And as he got closer to the crater, he really did begin to feel that the headache was diminishing, actually dying, for the first time in weeks.
But that all changed at the lake.
As soon as his feet hit the regularly trampled earth that signified the path to the crater, the pounding of the headache returned, full-force. For a moment Mitya felt like sinking to his knees, hands over his head, begging for it to stop. But as he walked and the throbbing worsened, he got the growing sensation that it was only so painful now because the end was in sight. Before he realized what he was doing, Mitya had broken out into a run. He could barely register Pucchi's barks beside him as the peppy poodle embraced the fresh change of pace. And suddenly, they were there. The full pool of the crater glistening before them like a fairy's secret. Though hundreds of years had grown a thick canopy above the crater's head, somehow it reflected the full of the moon with its glowing blanket of silver stars, like a love letter back to the shimmering void out of which, thousands of years ago, the meteor had plummeted.
But the lake wasn't the only thing shining with the power of the stars. The small shack housing some artifacts and informational placards was also alight, as if someone had forgotten to switch something off before leaving.
"[COLOR= rgb(83, 198, 169)]Hello?[/COLOR]" Mitya timidly called, adjusting his glasses to make sure he wasn't just seeing a strange reflection off the mirror of the basin. But no...there was definitely something aglow inside the miniature museum.
Feeling like he was intruding on a painting, the youth slowly made his way to the shack's window, trying to peer inside. It wasn't a very well-kept building, and the windows were obscured by dust and cobwebs. But after coming such a long way, Mitya wasn't about to be deterred. Something had brought him here tonight. Something was compelling his curiosity. Perhaps it really was nothing, and all he would get out of the evening was a jaunt through the woods when he should have been catching up on homework. But on the other hand...
Walking around to where the entrance was, Mitya tried the door only to get the rattling of a padlock in response. Without really knowing why, he found himself examining the chain. It was old and rusty, as if it hadn't been replaced since the building was first resurrected many years ago. It wasn't exactly a well-known tourist joint, and most of the locals were familiar enough with the stories to not need to go inside. According to his grandpa the shack was rarely staffed, and had been closed on the afternoon of their visit.
Pucchi scratched at the door, and Mitya admired her determination.
"[COLOR= rgb(83, 198, 169)]Sorry, girl. Can't help it. Guess we'll never know.[/COLOR]"
It suddenly felt a bit silly, having come such a long way on an absurd hunch. Perhaps the wild sleep cycles were getting the best of him. Perhaps he really was wearing himself thin with stress, ironic given the reasons he had retreated to Japan in the first place.
Besides, with the full moon ahead casting dancing swirls of shadow around the desolate forest, the scene was beginning to feel a bit eerie.
But as Mitya turned to bid the crater farewell, another vision caught his eye, freezing him to the spot.
A spectral image of his own ghost bent down to pick up what may have been a good-sized rock, beating it against the chain on the door, before floating inside. Mitya blinked, sure that what he had just seen was impossible. Pucchi panted up at him expectantly.
"[COLOR= rgb(83, 198, 169)]B-But that would be illegal.[/COLOR]"
[COLOR= rgb(235, 112, 71)]It's not a crime to take back that which is rightfully yours. [/COLOR]
"[COLOR= rgb(83, 198, 169)]блин![/COLOR]" He cursed, this time whirling around at the sound of the voice, even though he was once again sure the source was somehow coming from inside his own brain. The desparate movement caused his glasses to clumsily tumble from his face onto the forest floor. Pucchi was jumping around agitatedly, and Mitya distressed at the thought she might accidentally break them. As he felt around for the frames, however, his hand landed on a firm, moss-covered rock.
Moments later, with his glasses back on his face, Mitya picked up the stone to examine it with better detail. It was quite heavy, sharp. Just the right size to maybe break a weak and rusty chain.
He glanced back at the locked door of the shack. Was what he had just seen a hallucination? But could he really just write off the voice, the visions? The headaches that had been plaguing him for weeks? The shadowy flashes in the corner of his eyes, the times he had woken up screaming, the time he had woken up having broken out of the house......?
The headache beat against his temples more wildly than ever, a caged animal trying to burst out. Mitya felt like he was on the edge of a cliff, being forced off by the betrayal of his own body. Held hostage to himself.
[COLOR= rgb(83, 198, 169)]This is just what I need[/COLOR], he thought, though his feet were already leading him back to the locked door, rock in tow. [COLOR= rgb(83, 198, 169)]Get caught for acting like a maniac in the middle of the woods late at night. Then poof, cover blown, maybe even deported back to Russia, and--[/COLOR]
The rock fell from his hands, the rusty coil of the chain around it. The entire memory of smashing it open was missing, like a jumpcut in the movie of his life. Mitya blinked, scared of himself for the umpteenth time that night. Pucchi whimpered. The light inside was filtering underneath the door, beckoning them.
Swallowing his apprehension, Mitya felt that there was no way out but onward. Holding in a deep breath he nudged open the door. As it was his first time in the building he needed a second to look around and situate himself. He fished his half-forgotten flashlight back out of his pocket, allowing its beam to play around the sepia photographs and pages brimming with kanji he couldn't understand. Trying to focus in on any meaning from the foreign script just made his head spin into fragmentations of the few easier characters he was able to pick up. 'Stone' 'House' 'Earth.'
It was then that he finally saw where the mysterious blueish light had been emanating from. The crown jewels of the tattered shack, the reason why it had been constructed in the first place, was a glass-protected wall display housing the twelve mysterious artifacts that had been uncovered from an archeological dig around the crater years ago. His grandfather had described them as small oval objects that looked like rocks but were made out of ominous alloys the scientists couldn't comprehend. He didn't know much else about them, but even so, he was pretty sure that there had never been any mention of them being able to glow. Stranger still were the emblems that the light had shaped onto the artifacts. Each of the twelve had a different symbol. More remarkably, each was a symbol Mitya recognized.
"[COLOR= rgb(83, 198, 169)]Aren't those like the Zodiac signs?[/COLOR]"
He thought he could name a few of them, though he hardly knew much about astrology, other than his sister liked to read up on it in her magazines.
Cautiously he edged closer and closer to the glass, feeling that same unsettling prickling all throughout his body compelling his fingers to outline the glowing shapes. Without understanding why, he closed his eyes, laying his face against the cold barrier. When he opened them, he was standing a few feet away in a circle of shattered glass. The rock he had used to smash the padlock also lay like a fallen soldier beside him. Just as before, Mitya had no memory of what had happened. The pounding in his head was suddenly replaced with clarity. It wasn't a headache, it was someone trying to tell him something. The voice had been faint, unintelligible...and then barely audible...and then began to form into perfect coils of Russian syllables rustling in his subconscious ear. Mitya had effectively lost control of his body, but the horror at such a realization was instead replaced by an overbearing blanket of calm. Expressionlessly he reached out between the jags of glass towards one of the glowing symbols. Contrary to its cool metallic exterior it felt warm and familiar in his hands. Just like before, he could feel his vision being clouded by a bright light. Brighter and brighter it shined, forming blurs that quickly transformed into shapes.
Transformed into clouds and sun.
Mitya lowered the arm which he had been using to shield his face, the numb sensation of before now replaced by a sense of wonder and awe. He was standing in the middle of the sky.
A sharp bark from behind him caused Mitya to start, dropping the glowing artifact to the floor. The dirty stone and wood of the little makeshift museum returned. The vision was over.
Pucchi ran up to him licking his hands almost neurotically.
"[COLOR= rgb(83, 198, 169)]It's okay, girl. It's okay. We're fine.[/COLOR]"
He looked quizzically over at the portentous artifact. Its glow seemed to have dimmed.
[COLOR= rgb(83, 198, 169)]Why did I pick it up? And what was that...that vision, just then?[/COLOR]
Now more fascinated than concerned, Mitya crawled over to the artifact's spot on the ground, carefully picking it up once more. At the touch of skin upon metal the blaring light returned, making Mitya question if what little sight he still had would be gone by the end of this encounter. But there he was, kneeling in the middle of the sky on a bright sunny day. He looked down, and he could see that he wasn't just standing arbitrarily in the middle of the celestial sphere, but rather on a luminescent pathway hovering in the air. It was translucent, so he could see twisting signs of civilization miles below...what could have been towering metropolis buildings intertwined with curled mounds of earth and color. He put his face to the path to try and make out clearer shapes, but staring at the miniature curves and lines only gave him vertigo. So he righted, and along the path he began to walk.
Only to smack head-first into a wall. An invisible wall, there on the path. But he could feel it, and it felt like the rough wood of the shack back at the crater lake.
"[COLOR= rgb(83, 198, 169)]блин![/COLOR]" He called for the second time that night, pulling his finger away. The invisible wall had given him a splinter.
Having an idea, he put the artifact back into his sweatshirt pocket. Again, the vision vanished in a blur of light. And, just as predicted, he found himself face-to-face with the shack's wall.
[COLOR= rgb(83, 198, 169)]So touching this thing gives me a vision...but I don't actually go anywhere.[/COLOR]
Well, there was nothing else but to continue experimenting. Muttering worriedly to himself, Mitya sighed with resignation tipped with excitement and crept out of the shack. For a second he thought perhaps he should try and run far away before someone arrested him for breaking and entering. But curiosity and the impulses in his brain compelled him otherwise, and instead he found himself in an open area next to the lake where the picnickers gathered, to try once again. His last thought before he entered the vision was that he could hear the sound of rustling in the forest, and perhaps he wasn't alone. But it was too late to stop.
This time he made it to the end of the path. As he walked he noticed little bursts of floating flames illuminating his progress. There were also levitating pools through which strange silver and gold speckled fish-like creatures swam, though there were no discernible tanks to hold the water. When they wanted to, the fish could leap between the pools gliding on bright projectiles like wings that opened from the sides of their bodies. Mitya paused to gander at them for a few moments before pressing onwards. The end of the path was in his line of vision.
It was a magnificent building composed of great looping spheres of a pure, hard white. The pools increased in rate near the entrance until they formed a complete lake over which the airy path glided. The steps up to the entrance were solid, being composed of the same veiny marble-like material of the rest of the building. A pair of statues of unrecognizable beasts stood guard, and etched over the archway were the same symbols he had seen on the artifacts. There was a space in the middle that looked slightly different from the rest, as though it might have been more recently paved over and carved, bearing what could have been a flower instead of the strange symbols like the rest. As he drew closer, he could see that in fact every inch of the building was covered in more and more minute and intricate details fractalling their way into the solid-looking shape. If he stared long enough, he could feel his eyes melting into a kind of kaleidoscope, picking out deep colors he didn't even know existed, which couldn't possibly exist, buried down deep into the heart of the white.
[COLOR= rgb(83, 198, 169)]Is this a dream...?[/COLOR]
But even as he questioned it, he knew there was no need. Something subconsciously inside him told him so, just as it told him that this building was a temple, though to what or whom he conveniently did not know.
Mitya entered.
The inside ceiling of the main dome lit up with pinpricks of light that he eventually realized were meant to represent stars. And they weren't just painted on the ceiling, but hovering all around him, as if the room itself was a microcosm of the great living, thriving organism of the universe. He was reminded of the Harry Potter movies his sister had taken him to see, where there were buildings which could echo the outside sky. But this wasn't a cold projection on a distant screen. It was a breathing mechanism shimmering all around him.
"[COLOR= rgb(235, 112, 71)]Welcome.[/COLOR]"
The voice that greeted him was the same one that had appeared inside his head. A cool, crisp, friendly voice that could be trusted to offer firm but solid advice in times of need. Walking towards it into the heart of the room, Mitya could make out a raised platform lined by more clear blue waterways. Atop it were twelve shimmering beings, shining with a light so impossibly bright that Mitya couldn't make out any details of their features, and once again felt the need to shield his eyes from the glare. But one of the burning figures stepped forward, dimming so that he may recognize her, and without her having to say anything, Mitya already knew she was the possessor of the voice.
She was tall, towering above him on a body half a glistening, pearly red that contrasted lovingly with the clamshell of water she commanded from the pools to escort her from the platform. Like a lotus flower the water gently petaled to cup her scaled mermaid body, unfolding into smooth ripples as she reached the place where he stood. Though Mitya had seen many beautiful girls and women in his life, none came even close to comparing to the jeweled face of this individual, even if her pinkish hair was pulled into a style so outlandish that she might have been some new-wave pop star. For a bizarre moment Mitya felt sure she was about to sing. She didn't, though her voice as she spoke was as melodious as any song.
"[COLOR= rgb(235, 112, 71)]If you are watching this virtual recording, it means that you have been chosen to become one of the Star Scouts, champions of the Council of -Twelve-.[/COLOR]" When she said the word 'twelve' there was a slight delay, as if there might be a glitch in the so-called 'virtual recording.' "[COLOR= rgb(235, 112, 71)]From this moment on, the Zodiac Charm you now hold will allow me to imbue you with a portion of my people's power. You will need it in the days ahead, as the activation of the Charms can only mean one thing: Your planet, indeed the entire universe, is in grave peril. It will be up to you to defend against the cruel enemies of the Council as they threaten to take over and destroy your world. One by one they conquer civilization after civilization, and only the Twelve and our noble Star Scouts are left to resist that darkness. With the Charm in your grasp, no deed is too great, no act of heroics impossible. Remember, you have been chosen for a reason. Out of all the myriad people on your planet, the Charm has selected you to be its Champion. Its powers are yours and yours alone, warrior and Charm bound in soul and body. As my Champion of Cancer, may you uphold the shelter of the healing shield, and may the gentle tide of water guide the compassion in your heart. Best of luck, my Champion. We are counting on you.[/COLOR]"
Even though Mitya had been trained in show business, and his heart cynically solidified against pandering movements, the smile the woman gave him as she called him ' My Champion' buried its way deep into his chest to light a warm fire. He felt a sudden strange impulse to leap out and embrace her. In that moment, he would have given every breath of his life to help the woman. But...
"[COLOR= rgb(83, 198, 169)]I'm sorry, but I'm not who you're looking for. I...I don't...I can't do anything to help the world![/COLOR]"
The mysterious woman made no reply. Instead the scenery of that solemn temple began to become oversaturated with the burning bright light emanating from the other council members' bodies.
[COLOR= rgb(83, 198, 169)]Not again! [/COLOR]
Mitya instinctively closed his eyes against the glare, shielding his face with his arm though with the other he blindly reached out towards the woman. But when he had opened his eyes, she was gone, and the scenery had already settled back into the slippery cool night forest. Mitya slowly, cautiously, uprighted his body. He and Pucchi were no longer alone.
۞ So You Think You Can Star Scout? ۞
* It's finally time to post! Whoooot! Your op definitely doesn't have to be as long as this one, but please try and include the following:
-Your character's reaction to the physical effects of the soul-bounding and/or the spaceships' Arrival
-How and why they get to Gyokuto Crater
-Their obtaining the Charm
-Their reaction to the vision
-Meeting Mitya (and the others), for interactions' sake
* In the interest of timing, they can all arrive as close together as you would like. If they arrive slightly after Mitya, then they will be finishing their "visions" at about the same time leaving room for interaction (it's a bit sloppy but it was the smoothest thing we could come up with).
* The "welcome video" is the same for each Scout, with a few minor differences. The woman who speaks to each character is one of them, as is the flavor text that, in my post, is highlighted in bold font. Your character won't be able to make out anyone else on the Council but their greeter. The replacement variations for each character can be found below. v v v
You can describe your greeter's personality, presence, and entrance however you see fit, though do note that overall it should be a positive experience for your character. :smile3:
* Most importantly, have fun!
The Greeters! :
@wizard nibblers Nikola:
"As my Champion of Aries, may your blazing courage turn your enemies to ash and forge a path to victory. Fight well, my Champion."
@Pretzel Heart Mitya:
"As my Champion of Cancer, may you uphold the shelter of the healing shield, and may the gentle tide of water guide the compassion in your heart. Best of luck, my Champion."
@Idea Aurora:
"As my Champion of Capricorn, may the unity of your unyielding ambition and noble sense of responsibility be ever fruitful. Be always prepared, my Champion."
@Spanner Arthur:
"As my Champion of Leo, may your unwavering confidence burn brightly in your heart and inspire your power and the powers of your allies. Fight with pride, my Champion."
@TheForgottenDoll Sakura:
"As my Champion of Gemini, may you carry two times the strength to uplift your allies, and the adaptability of the ever-changing wind. Well wishes, my Champion."
@Otakuyaki Dedrick:
"As my Champion of Libra, may you guide the winds of change to manage to maintain balance in your heart. See with clarity, my Champion."
@ScatteredStars Delia:
"As my Champion of Pisces, may you grant the pure joy of fantasy to all those around you. Become the ripple that grows into a wave of inspiration. All the best, my Champion."
@Jefferson Riley:
"As my Champion of Sagittarius, may your fiery optimism kindle your strength and ensure that your journey ends in triumph. Travel safely, my Champion."
@Shelter Akemi:
"As my Champion of Scorpio, may your quick-witted resourcefulness keep you as fluid and flexible as the tides. Keep your mind about you, my Champion."
@Veradana Manami:
"As my Champion of Taurus, may your path stay sure and steady, and let your disciplined beliefs stand as firm as the foundation of the earth. Keep ever faithful, my Champion."
@animegirl20 Eruna:
"As my Champion of Virgo, may your stalwart determination drive your joy and with your pure heart cause goodness to prevail. Good luck, my Champion."
Mitya woke up still on the fading fringes of his headache. The deep humming in his temples had become an expectation, but at least, usually, sleep helped.
[COLOR= rgb(83, 198, 169)]Seriously?'[/COLOR]
He glanced at the square clock from a bygone era near his head. It was already past midnight. Which meant he had spent another day asleep.
He sat up as if in slow-motion, his body still not quite adjusted to the strangeness of waking to the depths of evening. The thick thrumming of cicadas outside was the only discernible sign of life. Unsurprising, given that both of his grandparents, Ivan and Hanako Pasternack, were early sleepers. Mitya sighed at the thought of them, feeling a bit guilty. Surely it had been another uneasy dinner for his grandparents, spent wondering if their ward would make an appearance. He could almost reconstruct the conversation passed between hushed voices as if the sleeping boy would be able to hear. 'Something's wrong with him.' 'It was a mistake taking him in.'
Another day wasted, another day sent home early from school; only two weeks into the semester, and it was already his fifth time reluctantly trudging up to the nurse's office because it had become impossible to concentrate on anything over the frothing turbulence in his head. Not that a change of scenery provided much in the way of reprieve. The pounding white noise echoed on regardless. Pulling him, pushing him towards something, not that he had any idea what it might be, and he was too scared to be called insane to try and broach the topic with someone else to find out.
Perhaps he really was going mental. After all, wasn't it just a bit too coincidental that the headaches had started around the time the spaceships first arrived? And wow...that was already two months ago. Of course, back then his symptoms hadn't been as strong nor as persistent. And the Pasternacks, like the rest of the world, were too caught up in the hype over possible extraterrestrial life to think about much else. The closest of the spaceships, called 'Dounachuu" by its fans, loomed over downtown Tokyo, specifically the Shibuya district, or so he had heard. The nickname had come from a popular Twitter artist who designed a cute and charming mascot for the vessel, creating an internet sensation that had apparently evolved into actual merchandising in certain districts. But that was all very far away. Rumor had it that on clear days Dounachuu's faint outline could be glimpsed from the top of Inubousaki Lighthouse. Regardless of the report's verity, visits to the observation deck had tripled in the first few weeks after the Arrival. At least that's what his grandpa, who often worked closely with the museum staffers, had said.
He had also said that Mitya's headaches could be solved through a slew of home remedies and store-bought cures, though no amount of pills nor dietary alterations did anything to quiet the buzz. Eventually his grandma had forced her view of the situation, taking Mitya to a local doctor who just prescribed more pills that did nothing to alleviate the irritation. If anything the headaches only got worse. And Mitya began to wake in the night shouting from strange and inexplicable dreams he could scarcely recall.
'It's likely due to stress from adjusting.'
'He's experiencing severe homesickness.'
'Culture shock.'
The doctors' diagnoses did nothing to assuage his fears. It was scary to think he was subconsciously wasting away his own body. But he couldn't deny that the move to Japan had been less than quixotic.
After a bumbling debut towards the tail end of spring semester had left him largely unnoticed and alone, Mitya had been determined to use autumn to turn things around. And yet...two weeks in, and progress on making friends was literally zero.
Even on the days where his condition enabled him to go to club he found it harder and harder to drum up the energy. It was awkward slinking in as if every meeting was his first, all eyes on him as he tried, as quickly as possible, to become a part of the scenery and quietly join in whatever activity. On the surface it was such a simple thing; just choose a group and begin to knit himself into the threadwork of the inner community. Everyone seemed so friendly with each other, joking about this or that mindless occurrence or unloading their woes. Making friends had always been second nature to Mitya. With a pretty face and good manners, he didn't have to do much more than smile and nod along to get people to like him, or even be drawn towards him. But now that he had to actively think about how to approach others, it was suddenly the most difficult challenge in the world. Just being in a crowded room prompted an exhausting routine of mental gymnastics, and even though he was supposed to be finding a new calling in life, club meetings were just a joyless pressure cooker of social calisthenics.
Instead, he found himself continually drawn towards the tennis courts, where he'd slip over the hoodie he always kept in his bag because, despite being Russian, he got cold with the slightest draft, and the uniform policies were ridiculously strict about bring out blazers before their welcome. Skulking under the hood and behind his glasses he would quietly watch the flow of the players batting the ball back and forth in a kind of hypnosis, transporting him back to the sunny fields of his childhood behind their tiny Vladivostock apartment. Even if he was still too shy to play, just watching the simple ebb and tide of the games soothed him like a reassuring touch that could even wipe away the headaches, if he allowed his daydreams to float him far enough. Every time he found himself lingering on the outskirts of those courts he would think [COLOR= rgb(83, 198, 169)]' Honestly, what's the problem? You'll have more fun if you join in. ' [/COLOR]But it was a pernicious thought that repelled him as much as it attracted.
As luck would have it, there was an up-and-coming movie star and model in Mitya's class. Most of the time it wasn't an issue, but once in a while, he would attract the presence of paparazzi poking around the school gates. They would stand there, smiling dangerously with their heavy black-box cameras and windowless vans, snapping as many photographs as they could before SHIS staff escorted them away. They terrified Mitya. The light would glint off the leering lenses like steel daggers, and he winced as every flash of their bulbs stabbed him with a jolt of electricity straight to a beating heart urging him to flight like a panicked deer. Most of the reporters were foreigners, perhaps taking the train out from Tokyo to try and catch a glimpse of the reclusive film star, or perhaps playing with downtime in-between stalking some other celebrity in Japan for a filming or tour. But every time he saw them waiting, Mitya could only think that the time had come, that this time he was the scoop they were after. All it would take was a single photo uploaded online, and the Internet would do the rest. His own reclusive life would be over before he even had a chance to figure out how to put it to good use.
[COLOR= rgb(83, 198, 169)]It really is best, being where nobody knows your name...[/COLOR]
[COLOR= rgb(83, 198, 169)]...nobody......knows your......name.........[/COLOR]
He flopped back onto his pillows, clutching them for the last remnants of warmth they had soaked from his own body. Of course, the headache was still there. He eyed the blur in the dimness where his desk sat and his laptop loomed. It was childish, but he suddenly felt like digging up some old episodes of Mr. Poe and Yogul. The zany adventures of the ill-fated duo never failed to amuse him, simplistic as they were. Every episode a happy ending. Anything to try and distract himself. Well, anything but the growing packets of missed classwork piling up. He briefly wondered if, at this rate, he would be held back a year.
Before he could make the final push from the comfort of his blankets towards the computer desk, however, the headache gave a mighty roar. In a mixture of anguish and frustration Mitya threw the blankets over his head, embracing the stillness until he could practically hear a steady beating so loud that he couldn't tell if it was his heartbeat or his throbbing brain. Remembering one of the tactics the doctor had suggested, he tried to hum a song, focusing on the uneven melody over the pounding rhythm in his head. For a few moments it seemed to work, relaxing his consciousness from registering pain just long enough to recognize the tune he had subconsciously chosen. It was "Impossible," one of the hit songs off the second Hi/Rez album.
Angrily he threw away the blankets, trying to smother himself into his pillow instead.
[COLOR= rgb(83, 198, 169)]Why don't you just go away?[/COLOR]
[COLOR= rgb(235, 112, 71)]Not until you fulfill your destiny.[/COLOR]
The words were spoken in a cool voice that shot ice through Mitya's spine. He sat up once again, slowly looking around him. With his bad eyesight and the darkness of night he couldn't make out much, but he was sure he was alone.
The voice...had come from within. And yet, it wasn't unfamiliar......
An image flashed over his eyes, blinding him with the gravity of a camera flash. Though it appeared only for a moment, its strength and clarity left an afterimage floating hazily across Mitya's memory. The image had been of Gyokuto Crater, a local tourist spot his grandparents had showed him over the summer holiday. It had been a particularly nice afternoon, just the three of them and their dog, Pucchi, enjoying the sunshine after several days of rain. They had decided to go on a spur-of-the-moment picnic, and luck had cleared away the short hiking trail to the crater lake just for them. Ivan had gone on and on about the site's strange history, but Mitya had only half paid attention as he allowed his mind to drift happily through the tangles of branches overhead. The crater had left a good impression on him, and he'd been meaning to go back, though he had admittedly put it off in the hopes of being able to bring along a friend.
Oddly enough, as he thought upon that day at the crater, he felt as though the headache began to subside. Was it a coincidence? Or the placebo effect of the doctor's trick? As the warm rays of that golden afternoon began to fade, however, the tide of the headache washed back up against the shores of his mind, threatening to consume him.
[COLOR= rgb(83, 198, 169)]Okay, okay...so maybe...it is...the crater.[/COLOR]
There was that time, too, about a week ago, when his grandparents had caught him wandering outside the house, though fast asleep. Luckily Pucchi's barking had awoken them, or who knows where Mitya could have ended up. Having no history of sleepwalking before, and no known records of it in his family, it was this anecdote that had most stumped the medical professionals.
But maybe...could it be......?
It was logically ridiculous, but somehow, it felt...right. And if there was even the slightest chance that he could do something to end the infernal headaches, he would take it. His school life depended on it!
In only a few minutes he had slipped on a sweatsuit and his glasses, though changing was barely worth the effort when his new ensemble was hardly more presentable than the bedclothes he had been lounging about in. He scribbled out a quick note to leave on the kitchen table in case his grandparents woke up; he didn't want them to worry that he might be sleepwalking again.
As Mitya leaned over the counter to jot out his goodbyes, he felt a nudge at his shins accompanied by a low whine. He looked down into the fur-draped eyes of Pucchi, who was excitedly circling around his sneakers, as if she knew the fact he was wearing them meant he was readying for a walk. Truthfully, what he was wearing was about the same thing he put on when he took her out, and though he had offered to cover dog-walking duties since moving to Choshi, his availability had been greatly diminished by his burgeoning invalid status.
"[COLOR= rgb(83, 198, 169)]Fine, I guess I can take you.[/COLOR]" It was impossible not to smile while watching the serpentine dances of the frenetic pup.
The walk to Gyokuto wasn't far, since the modest house where Mitya's grandparents lived was on the edge of town bordering the forest. Since it was so late and Mitya didn't want to look suspicious, he had brought with him a flashlight. Most kids didn't use them anymore since cell phones had a built-in feature that could suffice, but these days Mitya would rather touch a viper than anything that could connect him to the Internet and its hoards of anonymous strangers. Besides, there was something pleasantly disconnected about walking into the desolate forest. And as he got closer to the crater, he really did begin to feel that the headache was diminishing, actually dying, for the first time in weeks.
But that all changed at the lake.
As soon as his feet hit the regularly trampled earth that signified the path to the crater, the pounding of the headache returned, full-force. For a moment Mitya felt like sinking to his knees, hands over his head, begging for it to stop. But as he walked and the throbbing worsened, he got the growing sensation that it was only so painful now because the end was in sight. Before he realized what he was doing, Mitya had broken out into a run. He could barely register Pucchi's barks beside him as the peppy poodle embraced the fresh change of pace. And suddenly, they were there. The full pool of the crater glistening before them like a fairy's secret. Though hundreds of years had grown a thick canopy above the crater's head, somehow it reflected the full of the moon with its glowing blanket of silver stars, like a love letter back to the shimmering void out of which, thousands of years ago, the meteor had plummeted.
But the lake wasn't the only thing shining with the power of the stars. The small shack housing some artifacts and informational placards was also alight, as if someone had forgotten to switch something off before leaving.
"[COLOR= rgb(83, 198, 169)]Hello?[/COLOR]" Mitya timidly called, adjusting his glasses to make sure he wasn't just seeing a strange reflection off the mirror of the basin. But no...there was definitely something aglow inside the miniature museum.
Feeling like he was intruding on a painting, the youth slowly made his way to the shack's window, trying to peer inside. It wasn't a very well-kept building, and the windows were obscured by dust and cobwebs. But after coming such a long way, Mitya wasn't about to be deterred. Something had brought him here tonight. Something was compelling his curiosity. Perhaps it really was nothing, and all he would get out of the evening was a jaunt through the woods when he should have been catching up on homework. But on the other hand...
Walking around to where the entrance was, Mitya tried the door only to get the rattling of a padlock in response. Without really knowing why, he found himself examining the chain. It was old and rusty, as if it hadn't been replaced since the building was first resurrected many years ago. It wasn't exactly a well-known tourist joint, and most of the locals were familiar enough with the stories to not need to go inside. According to his grandpa the shack was rarely staffed, and had been closed on the afternoon of their visit.
Pucchi scratched at the door, and Mitya admired her determination.
"[COLOR= rgb(83, 198, 169)]Sorry, girl. Can't help it. Guess we'll never know.[/COLOR]"
It suddenly felt a bit silly, having come such a long way on an absurd hunch. Perhaps the wild sleep cycles were getting the best of him. Perhaps he really was wearing himself thin with stress, ironic given the reasons he had retreated to Japan in the first place.
Besides, with the full moon ahead casting dancing swirls of shadow around the desolate forest, the scene was beginning to feel a bit eerie.
But as Mitya turned to bid the crater farewell, another vision caught his eye, freezing him to the spot.
A spectral image of his own ghost bent down to pick up what may have been a good-sized rock, beating it against the chain on the door, before floating inside. Mitya blinked, sure that what he had just seen was impossible. Pucchi panted up at him expectantly.
"[COLOR= rgb(83, 198, 169)]B-But that would be illegal.[/COLOR]"
[COLOR= rgb(235, 112, 71)]It's not a crime to take back that which is rightfully yours. [/COLOR]
"[COLOR= rgb(83, 198, 169)]блин![/COLOR]" He cursed, this time whirling around at the sound of the voice, even though he was once again sure the source was somehow coming from inside his own brain. The desparate movement caused his glasses to clumsily tumble from his face onto the forest floor. Pucchi was jumping around agitatedly, and Mitya distressed at the thought she might accidentally break them. As he felt around for the frames, however, his hand landed on a firm, moss-covered rock.
Moments later, with his glasses back on his face, Mitya picked up the stone to examine it with better detail. It was quite heavy, sharp. Just the right size to maybe break a weak and rusty chain.
He glanced back at the locked door of the shack. Was what he had just seen a hallucination? But could he really just write off the voice, the visions? The headaches that had been plaguing him for weeks? The shadowy flashes in the corner of his eyes, the times he had woken up screaming, the time he had woken up having broken out of the house......?
The headache beat against his temples more wildly than ever, a caged animal trying to burst out. Mitya felt like he was on the edge of a cliff, being forced off by the betrayal of his own body. Held hostage to himself.
[COLOR= rgb(83, 198, 169)]This is just what I need[/COLOR], he thought, though his feet were already leading him back to the locked door, rock in tow. [COLOR= rgb(83, 198, 169)]Get caught for acting like a maniac in the middle of the woods late at night. Then poof, cover blown, maybe even deported back to Russia, and--[/COLOR]
The rock fell from his hands, the rusty coil of the chain around it. The entire memory of smashing it open was missing, like a jumpcut in the movie of his life. Mitya blinked, scared of himself for the umpteenth time that night. Pucchi whimpered. The light inside was filtering underneath the door, beckoning them.
Swallowing his apprehension, Mitya felt that there was no way out but onward. Holding in a deep breath he nudged open the door. As it was his first time in the building he needed a second to look around and situate himself. He fished his half-forgotten flashlight back out of his pocket, allowing its beam to play around the sepia photographs and pages brimming with kanji he couldn't understand. Trying to focus in on any meaning from the foreign script just made his head spin into fragmentations of the few easier characters he was able to pick up. 'Stone' 'House' 'Earth.'
It was then that he finally saw where the mysterious blueish light had been emanating from. The crown jewels of the tattered shack, the reason why it had been constructed in the first place, was a glass-protected wall display housing the twelve mysterious artifacts that had been uncovered from an archeological dig around the crater years ago. His grandfather had described them as small oval objects that looked like rocks but were made out of ominous alloys the scientists couldn't comprehend. He didn't know much else about them, but even so, he was pretty sure that there had never been any mention of them being able to glow. Stranger still were the emblems that the light had shaped onto the artifacts. Each of the twelve had a different symbol. More remarkably, each was a symbol Mitya recognized.
"[COLOR= rgb(83, 198, 169)]Aren't those like the Zodiac signs?[/COLOR]"
He thought he could name a few of them, though he hardly knew much about astrology, other than his sister liked to read up on it in her magazines.
Cautiously he edged closer and closer to the glass, feeling that same unsettling prickling all throughout his body compelling his fingers to outline the glowing shapes. Without understanding why, he closed his eyes, laying his face against the cold barrier. When he opened them, he was standing a few feet away in a circle of shattered glass. The rock he had used to smash the padlock also lay like a fallen soldier beside him. Just as before, Mitya had no memory of what had happened. The pounding in his head was suddenly replaced with clarity. It wasn't a headache, it was someone trying to tell him something. The voice had been faint, unintelligible...and then barely audible...and then began to form into perfect coils of Russian syllables rustling in his subconscious ear. Mitya had effectively lost control of his body, but the horror at such a realization was instead replaced by an overbearing blanket of calm. Expressionlessly he reached out between the jags of glass towards one of the glowing symbols. Contrary to its cool metallic exterior it felt warm and familiar in his hands. Just like before, he could feel his vision being clouded by a bright light. Brighter and brighter it shined, forming blurs that quickly transformed into shapes.
Transformed into clouds and sun.
Mitya lowered the arm which he had been using to shield his face, the numb sensation of before now replaced by a sense of wonder and awe. He was standing in the middle of the sky.
A sharp bark from behind him caused Mitya to start, dropping the glowing artifact to the floor. The dirty stone and wood of the little makeshift museum returned. The vision was over.
Pucchi ran up to him licking his hands almost neurotically.
"[COLOR= rgb(83, 198, 169)]It's okay, girl. It's okay. We're fine.[/COLOR]"
He looked quizzically over at the portentous artifact. Its glow seemed to have dimmed.
[COLOR= rgb(83, 198, 169)]Why did I pick it up? And what was that...that vision, just then?[/COLOR]
Now more fascinated than concerned, Mitya crawled over to the artifact's spot on the ground, carefully picking it up once more. At the touch of skin upon metal the blaring light returned, making Mitya question if what little sight he still had would be gone by the end of this encounter. But there he was, kneeling in the middle of the sky on a bright sunny day. He looked down, and he could see that he wasn't just standing arbitrarily in the middle of the celestial sphere, but rather on a luminescent pathway hovering in the air. It was translucent, so he could see twisting signs of civilization miles below...what could have been towering metropolis buildings intertwined with curled mounds of earth and color. He put his face to the path to try and make out clearer shapes, but staring at the miniature curves and lines only gave him vertigo. So he righted, and along the path he began to walk.
Only to smack head-first into a wall. An invisible wall, there on the path. But he could feel it, and it felt like the rough wood of the shack back at the crater lake.
"[COLOR= rgb(83, 198, 169)]блин![/COLOR]" He called for the second time that night, pulling his finger away. The invisible wall had given him a splinter.
Having an idea, he put the artifact back into his sweatshirt pocket. Again, the vision vanished in a blur of light. And, just as predicted, he found himself face-to-face with the shack's wall.
[COLOR= rgb(83, 198, 169)]So touching this thing gives me a vision...but I don't actually go anywhere.[/COLOR]
Well, there was nothing else but to continue experimenting. Muttering worriedly to himself, Mitya sighed with resignation tipped with excitement and crept out of the shack. For a second he thought perhaps he should try and run far away before someone arrested him for breaking and entering. But curiosity and the impulses in his brain compelled him otherwise, and instead he found himself in an open area next to the lake where the picnickers gathered, to try once again. His last thought before he entered the vision was that he could hear the sound of rustling in the forest, and perhaps he wasn't alone. But it was too late to stop.
This time he made it to the end of the path. As he walked he noticed little bursts of floating flames illuminating his progress. There were also levitating pools through which strange silver and gold speckled fish-like creatures swam, though there were no discernible tanks to hold the water. When they wanted to, the fish could leap between the pools gliding on bright projectiles like wings that opened from the sides of their bodies. Mitya paused to gander at them for a few moments before pressing onwards. The end of the path was in his line of vision.
It was a magnificent building composed of great looping spheres of a pure, hard white. The pools increased in rate near the entrance until they formed a complete lake over which the airy path glided. The steps up to the entrance were solid, being composed of the same veiny marble-like material of the rest of the building. A pair of statues of unrecognizable beasts stood guard, and etched over the archway were the same symbols he had seen on the artifacts. There was a space in the middle that looked slightly different from the rest, as though it might have been more recently paved over and carved, bearing what could have been a flower instead of the strange symbols like the rest. As he drew closer, he could see that in fact every inch of the building was covered in more and more minute and intricate details fractalling their way into the solid-looking shape. If he stared long enough, he could feel his eyes melting into a kind of kaleidoscope, picking out deep colors he didn't even know existed, which couldn't possibly exist, buried down deep into the heart of the white.
[COLOR= rgb(83, 198, 169)]Is this a dream...?[/COLOR]
But even as he questioned it, he knew there was no need. Something subconsciously inside him told him so, just as it told him that this building was a temple, though to what or whom he conveniently did not know.
Mitya entered.
The inside ceiling of the main dome lit up with pinpricks of light that he eventually realized were meant to represent stars. And they weren't just painted on the ceiling, but hovering all around him, as if the room itself was a microcosm of the great living, thriving organism of the universe. He was reminded of the Harry Potter movies his sister had taken him to see, where there were buildings which could echo the outside sky. But this wasn't a cold projection on a distant screen. It was a breathing mechanism shimmering all around him.
"[COLOR= rgb(235, 112, 71)]Welcome.[/COLOR]"
The voice that greeted him was the same one that had appeared inside his head. A cool, crisp, friendly voice that could be trusted to offer firm but solid advice in times of need. Walking towards it into the heart of the room, Mitya could make out a raised platform lined by more clear blue waterways. Atop it were twelve shimmering beings, shining with a light so impossibly bright that Mitya couldn't make out any details of their features, and once again felt the need to shield his eyes from the glare. But one of the burning figures stepped forward, dimming so that he may recognize her, and without her having to say anything, Mitya already knew she was the possessor of the voice.
She was tall, towering above him on a body half a glistening, pearly red that contrasted lovingly with the clamshell of water she commanded from the pools to escort her from the platform. Like a lotus flower the water gently petaled to cup her scaled mermaid body, unfolding into smooth ripples as she reached the place where he stood. Though Mitya had seen many beautiful girls and women in his life, none came even close to comparing to the jeweled face of this individual, even if her pinkish hair was pulled into a style so outlandish that she might have been some new-wave pop star. For a bizarre moment Mitya felt sure she was about to sing. She didn't, though her voice as she spoke was as melodious as any song.
"[COLOR= rgb(235, 112, 71)]If you are watching this virtual recording, it means that you have been chosen to become one of the Star Scouts, champions of the Council of -Twelve-.[/COLOR]" When she said the word 'twelve' there was a slight delay, as if there might be a glitch in the so-called 'virtual recording.' "[COLOR= rgb(235, 112, 71)]From this moment on, the Zodiac Charm you now hold will allow me to imbue you with a portion of my people's power. You will need it in the days ahead, as the activation of the Charms can only mean one thing: Your planet, indeed the entire universe, is in grave peril. It will be up to you to defend against the cruel enemies of the Council as they threaten to take over and destroy your world. One by one they conquer civilization after civilization, and only the Twelve and our noble Star Scouts are left to resist that darkness. With the Charm in your grasp, no deed is too great, no act of heroics impossible. Remember, you have been chosen for a reason. Out of all the myriad people on your planet, the Charm has selected you to be its Champion. Its powers are yours and yours alone, warrior and Charm bound in soul and body. As my Champion of Cancer, may you uphold the shelter of the healing shield, and may the gentle tide of water guide the compassion in your heart. Best of luck, my Champion. We are counting on you.[/COLOR]"
Even though Mitya had been trained in show business, and his heart cynically solidified against pandering movements, the smile the woman gave him as she called him ' My Champion' buried its way deep into his chest to light a warm fire. He felt a sudden strange impulse to leap out and embrace her. In that moment, he would have given every breath of his life to help the woman. But...
"[COLOR= rgb(83, 198, 169)]I'm sorry, but I'm not who you're looking for. I...I don't...I can't do anything to help the world![/COLOR]"
The mysterious woman made no reply. Instead the scenery of that solemn temple began to become oversaturated with the burning bright light emanating from the other council members' bodies.
[COLOR= rgb(83, 198, 169)]Not again! [/COLOR]
Mitya instinctively closed his eyes against the glare, shielding his face with his arm though with the other he blindly reached out towards the woman. But when he had opened his eyes, she was gone, and the scenery had already settled back into the slippery cool night forest. Mitya slowly, cautiously, uprighted his body. He and Pucchi were no longer alone.
۞ So You Think You Can Star Scout? ۞
* It's finally time to post! Whoooot! Your op definitely doesn't have to be as long as this one, but please try and include the following:
-Your character's reaction to the physical effects of the soul-bounding and/or the spaceships' Arrival
-How and why they get to Gyokuto Crater
-Their obtaining the Charm
-Their reaction to the vision
-Meeting Mitya (and the others), for interactions' sake
* In the interest of timing, they can all arrive as close together as you would like. If they arrive slightly after Mitya, then they will be finishing their "visions" at about the same time leaving room for interaction (it's a bit sloppy but it was the smoothest thing we could come up with).
* The "welcome video" is the same for each Scout, with a few minor differences. The woman who speaks to each character is one of them, as is the flavor text that, in my post, is highlighted in bold font. Your character won't be able to make out anyone else on the Council but their greeter. The replacement variations for each character can be found below. v v v
You can describe your greeter's personality, presence, and entrance however you see fit, though do note that overall it should be a positive experience for your character. :smile3:
* Most importantly, have fun!
The Greeters! :
@SP3CT3R Nolan:
Spoiler
"As my Champion of Aquarius, may the spirit of innovation guide you with the strength of the wind towards the service of others. Take care, my Champion."
Spoiler
"As my Champion of Aquarius, may the spirit of innovation guide you with the strength of the wind towards the service of others. Take care, my Champion."
@wizard nibblers Nikola:
"As my Champion of Aries, may your blazing courage turn your enemies to ash and forge a path to victory. Fight well, my Champion."
@Pretzel Heart Mitya:
"As my Champion of Cancer, may you uphold the shelter of the healing shield, and may the gentle tide of water guide the compassion in your heart. Best of luck, my Champion."
@Idea Aurora:
"As my Champion of Capricorn, may the unity of your unyielding ambition and noble sense of responsibility be ever fruitful. Be always prepared, my Champion."
@Spanner Arthur:
"As my Champion of Leo, may your unwavering confidence burn brightly in your heart and inspire your power and the powers of your allies. Fight with pride, my Champion."
@TheForgottenDoll Sakura:
"As my Champion of Gemini, may you carry two times the strength to uplift your allies, and the adaptability of the ever-changing wind. Well wishes, my Champion."
@Otakuyaki Dedrick:
"As my Champion of Libra, may you guide the winds of change to manage to maintain balance in your heart. See with clarity, my Champion."
@ScatteredStars Delia:
"As my Champion of Pisces, may you grant the pure joy of fantasy to all those around you. Become the ripple that grows into a wave of inspiration. All the best, my Champion."
@Jefferson Riley:
"As my Champion of Sagittarius, may your fiery optimism kindle your strength and ensure that your journey ends in triumph. Travel safely, my Champion."
@Shelter Akemi:
"As my Champion of Scorpio, may your quick-witted resourcefulness keep you as fluid and flexible as the tides. Keep your mind about you, my Champion."
@Veradana Manami:
"As my Champion of Taurus, may your path stay sure and steady, and let your disciplined beliefs stand as firm as the foundation of the earth. Keep ever faithful, my Champion."
@animegirl20 Eruna:
"As my Champion of Virgo, may your stalwart determination drive your joy and with your pure heart cause goodness to prevail. Good luck, my Champion."
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SP3CT3R
eepy
It was already past midnight, yet Nolan was still doing homework. He was sick for the last week or so, with a fever of 102°F, and it was horrible. Not to mention, he had "alien sickness", the rather inspired nickname given to the weird symptoms that showed up in several people along with those spaceships. Most of the cases resolved themselves in two or three days, but Nolan's was persistent. And much worse. Last week, his symptoms tripled in strength, and his temperature rose to unhealthy levels. Nolan was constantly tired, but when he tried to sleep, he had this weird recurring dream involving him going to that crater a few blocks from his house, but when he got to it, he woke up. And it got to the point where Nolan stopped bothering to sleep, and used his time productively. In this case, he was doing all the schoolwork that he missed due to being sick.
Well, at least until Nolan could work up the nerve to sneak out. He had planned to do so for a while, but had never actually done something like it before; being an introvert, Nolan was never too interested in sneaking out to go to a party. But this was different. Despite his abnormally high levels of cynicism, Nolan was convinced that if there was an answer of some sort, he'd find it at that crater.
Nolan put away his homework and put on his sneakers, which he'd brought to his room the previous night for this very purpose. He stuffed his smartphone into his pocket, just in case there was an emergency, and opened the window. The night was chilly, but Nolan couldn't care less. He stepped out onto the roof, and closed the window as quietly as possible. From there, he hopped from the tree, to the fence, to the handle of the gate, and to the ground. Nolan had used this path to get in and out of the house without his parents noticing for a long time. It wasn't like he was keeping secrets; it was just that the last thing on Nolan's mind when he came home from school was telling someone every detail about how it went.
Nolan knew the route to the crater by heart. He constantly passed the trail that led to it while walking his dog. However, this time, the crater was his destination. As if to prove this true, the second Nolan's foot touched the sidewalk, he felt his symptoms clear up a little. His head stopped throbbing as much, he felt a little less tired, and he stopped getting those weird fever chills. Nolan considered turning back around, since his symptoms were more tolerable, but they returned in full force before he could turn around.
I guess there's no turning back now, Nolan thought, heading for the crater. On the way, he saw someone walking their dog. At twelve o' whatever in the middle of the night. On closer inspection, he realized it was that Russian idol kid, Mitya. (One of Nolan's friends used to be obsessed with his band, and supposedly even had a body pillow of him, which she had never confirmed nor denied) Nolan heard the guy also had an elongated case of alien sickness, so he might've been in the same boat, but, Nolan had a rather unwelcome intrusive thought where Mitya was going to do something the dog for whatever reason. Nolan liked dogs, so, regardless of whether it was alien sickness or harming an innocent creature, Nolan decided against his better judgement to follow, and grabbed his phone just in case he could call the cops on this guy if it was, in fact, animal abuse.
Once they arrived at the crater, Nolan saw Mitya change his mind and start to turn around. But, then, he stared in horror at something Nolan couldn't see. Was this guy just really high and hallucinating or something? After a few seconds, he said something Nolan couldn't make out, and then said something in Russian. Mitya grabbed a rock and busted down the chain on the door to that little shack with those weird artifacts, and went inside.
Nolan was starting to question Mitya's motives, but what really sealed the deal was the sound of breaking glass. He had the number of the police department in his phone and had his thumb over the "call" button, but before he could push it, a strange light came from the shack. Mesmerized by the ethereal glow, Nolan put his phone back without really thinking about it, and decided to watch for a little while longer. Nothing major seemed to be happening, but then Mitya's dog turned around and barked in his direction. Nolan panicked and dove behind a rock. After about a minute, he heard another swear, and peeked out to see Mitya outside of the shack, with a suspicious looking, egg-shaped bulge in his pocket...owo whats this and glowing white eyes. Either Mitya was on a really weird drug, or having some weird vision.
Nolan went with the latter. After all, he had already made a bunch of bad decisions this night. What was one more? He took his chance. Coming out from behind the rock, Nolan went into the shack. Mitya's dog yipped up a storm, but he seemed too into the vision to notice. There were eleven different ovaloid objects inside a broken glass case, each one glowing with a different symbol. Nolan approached them, and as he did, one of them brightened and burned blue. It had two squiggly lines stacked on top of one another, like a crude drawing of a river. Nolan grabbed it, and a weird hologram surrounded him. He could still make out the shack, but it startled him, and he released his grip. The vision vanished. He tighened his hold, and it reappeared. Nolan stepped outside and began to mess with it. Eventually, he figured out that it was related to skin contact. The more of Nolan's exposed skin that came into contact with it, the more opaque the hologram was. Curious, Nolan pulled off his glove, put it in his hand, and let the vision take him.
Nolan was standing several miles above the ground, which was covered in the intricate patterns of a city. Up ahead was the entrance to a large building. It was beautiful, but Nolan didn't care about details at this point. Just because the alien sickness went away didn't change the fact that it was four hours oast his bedtime. He walked into the building without hesitation. Inside was a room that was pitch black aside from what looked like a bunch of stars. It gave Nolan vertigo.
"Welcome."
All of the sudden, twelve lights flared into existence, and Nolan had to shield his eyes. One of them in particular drifted towards him, and then the light faded to reveal the form of a woman. Her hair was bright blue, and rippled like water. Same for her dress. Nolan was tempted to say something, but he felt as if doing so would shatter the woman, and the whole palace. The woman's lips parted, and she spoke in a melodic voice:
"If you are watching this virtual recording, it means that you have been chosen to become one of the Star Scouts, champions of the Council of Twelve. From this moment on, the Zodiac Charm you now hold will allow me to imbue you with a portion of my people's power. You will need it in the days ahead, as the activation of the Charms can only mean one thing: Your planet, indeed the entire universe, is in grave peril. It will be up to you to defend against the cruel enemies of the Council as they threaten to take over and destroy your world. One by one they conquer civilization after civilization, and only the Twelve and our noble Star Scouts are left to resist that darkness. With the Charm in your grasp, no deed is too great, no act of heroics impossible. Remember, you have been chosen for a reason. Out of all the myriad people on your planet, the Charm has selected you to be its Champion. Its powers are yours and yours alone, warrior and Charm bound in soul and body. As my Champion of Aquarius, may the spirit of innovation guide you with the strength of the wind towards the service of others. Take care, my Champion. We are counting on you."
Nolan half expected to wake up in his bed at this point, but the woman continued after a pause, "My apologies about the quality of the recording. A former Champion, who shall remain unnamed, had dropped the artifact you now possess. Now, it has the peculiar trait of not displaying properly unless held firmly. Because it has yet to circulate back to me, I cannot repair it. Farewell."
As expected, the vision shimmered out of existence. Except instead of him waking up in bed with the artifact on his nightstand, he was still in the clearing with it in his hand. And Mitya seemed to have snapped out of it, too.
Well, at least until Nolan could work up the nerve to sneak out. He had planned to do so for a while, but had never actually done something like it before; being an introvert, Nolan was never too interested in sneaking out to go to a party. But this was different. Despite his abnormally high levels of cynicism, Nolan was convinced that if there was an answer of some sort, he'd find it at that crater.
Nolan put away his homework and put on his sneakers, which he'd brought to his room the previous night for this very purpose. He stuffed his smartphone into his pocket, just in case there was an emergency, and opened the window. The night was chilly, but Nolan couldn't care less. He stepped out onto the roof, and closed the window as quietly as possible. From there, he hopped from the tree, to the fence, to the handle of the gate, and to the ground. Nolan had used this path to get in and out of the house without his parents noticing for a long time. It wasn't like he was keeping secrets; it was just that the last thing on Nolan's mind when he came home from school was telling someone every detail about how it went.
Nolan knew the route to the crater by heart. He constantly passed the trail that led to it while walking his dog. However, this time, the crater was his destination. As if to prove this true, the second Nolan's foot touched the sidewalk, he felt his symptoms clear up a little. His head stopped throbbing as much, he felt a little less tired, and he stopped getting those weird fever chills. Nolan considered turning back around, since his symptoms were more tolerable, but they returned in full force before he could turn around.
I guess there's no turning back now, Nolan thought, heading for the crater. On the way, he saw someone walking their dog. At twelve o' whatever in the middle of the night. On closer inspection, he realized it was that Russian idol kid, Mitya. (One of Nolan's friends used to be obsessed with his band, and supposedly even had a body pillow of him, which she had never confirmed nor denied) Nolan heard the guy also had an elongated case of alien sickness, so he might've been in the same boat, but, Nolan had a rather unwelcome intrusive thought where Mitya was going to do something the dog for whatever reason. Nolan liked dogs, so, regardless of whether it was alien sickness or harming an innocent creature, Nolan decided against his better judgement to follow, and grabbed his phone just in case he could call the cops on this guy if it was, in fact, animal abuse.
Once they arrived at the crater, Nolan saw Mitya change his mind and start to turn around. But, then, he stared in horror at something Nolan couldn't see. Was this guy just really high and hallucinating or something? After a few seconds, he said something Nolan couldn't make out, and then said something in Russian. Mitya grabbed a rock and busted down the chain on the door to that little shack with those weird artifacts, and went inside.
Nolan was starting to question Mitya's motives, but what really sealed the deal was the sound of breaking glass. He had the number of the police department in his phone and had his thumb over the "call" button, but before he could push it, a strange light came from the shack. Mesmerized by the ethereal glow, Nolan put his phone back without really thinking about it, and decided to watch for a little while longer. Nothing major seemed to be happening, but then Mitya's dog turned around and barked in his direction. Nolan panicked and dove behind a rock. After about a minute, he heard another swear, and peeked out to see Mitya outside of the shack, with a suspicious looking, egg-shaped bulge in his pocket...
Nolan went with the latter. After all, he had already made a bunch of bad decisions this night. What was one more? He took his chance. Coming out from behind the rock, Nolan went into the shack. Mitya's dog yipped up a storm, but he seemed too into the vision to notice. There were eleven different ovaloid objects inside a broken glass case, each one glowing with a different symbol. Nolan approached them, and as he did, one of them brightened and burned blue. It had two squiggly lines stacked on top of one another, like a crude drawing of a river. Nolan grabbed it, and a weird hologram surrounded him. He could still make out the shack, but it startled him, and he released his grip. The vision vanished. He tighened his hold, and it reappeared. Nolan stepped outside and began to mess with it. Eventually, he figured out that it was related to skin contact. The more of Nolan's exposed skin that came into contact with it, the more opaque the hologram was. Curious, Nolan pulled off his glove, put it in his hand, and let the vision take him.
Nolan was standing several miles above the ground, which was covered in the intricate patterns of a city. Up ahead was the entrance to a large building. It was beautiful, but Nolan didn't care about details at this point. Just because the alien sickness went away didn't change the fact that it was four hours oast his bedtime. He walked into the building without hesitation. Inside was a room that was pitch black aside from what looked like a bunch of stars. It gave Nolan vertigo.
"Welcome."
All of the sudden, twelve lights flared into existence, and Nolan had to shield his eyes. One of them in particular drifted towards him, and then the light faded to reveal the form of a woman. Her hair was bright blue, and rippled like water. Same for her dress. Nolan was tempted to say something, but he felt as if doing so would shatter the woman, and the whole palace. The woman's lips parted, and she spoke in a melodic voice:
"If you are watching this virtual recording, it means that you have been chosen to become one of the Star Scouts, champions of the Council of Twelve. From this moment on, the Zodiac Charm you now hold will allow me to imbue you with a portion of my people's power. You will need it in the days ahead, as the activation of the Charms can only mean one thing: Your planet, indeed the entire universe, is in grave peril. It will be up to you to defend against the cruel enemies of the Council as they threaten to take over and destroy your world. One by one they conquer civilization after civilization, and only the Twelve and our noble Star Scouts are left to resist that darkness. With the Charm in your grasp, no deed is too great, no act of heroics impossible. Remember, you have been chosen for a reason. Out of all the myriad people on your planet, the Charm has selected you to be its Champion. Its powers are yours and yours alone, warrior and Charm bound in soul and body. As my Champion of Aquarius, may the spirit of innovation guide you with the strength of the wind towards the service of others. Take care, my Champion. We are counting on you."
Nolan half expected to wake up in his bed at this point, but the woman continued after a pause, "My apologies about the quality of the recording. A former Champion, who shall remain unnamed, had dropped the artifact you now possess. Now, it has the peculiar trait of not displaying properly unless held firmly. Because it has yet to circulate back to me, I cannot repair it. Farewell."
As expected, the vision shimmered out of existence. Except instead of him waking up in bed with the artifact on his nightstand, he was still in the clearing with it in his hand. And Mitya seemed to have snapped out of it, too.
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animegirl20
Ten Thousand Club
Eruna was tucked in bed and she was in awful pain. She had been having these terrible headaches and no one could understand where the heck they were coming from. She laid there moaning. "It hurts" Her parents were standing in her room staring at her with worried look on their faces. It was already passed midnight and she had been in bed all day moaning on and off. The pounding wouldn't stop, it just kept getting worse and worse when suddenly she sat up and yelled loudly. "Ahh! I can't take it anymore!...That's it it's over my life might have been short but at least it was a good one." She then fell back on her bed dramatically passing out. Her mouth was open and you could see a white spirit floating away. Her parents begin to freak out. "Ah! No her spirit quickly grab it!" Her parents humorously chased it around chasing it around her room. "Ah finally I'm free from the awful pain. Oh look I see beautiful light." Her sprit said happily. "Don't go to the light!" Her parents said in unison.
A few mins later...
Eruna was back to normal and was glaring at her parents. "Why couldn't you have just let me go so I could be rid of this horrible headache!" She fell back on her bed. Her mother sighed. "Now sweetie you really going to let a little headache beat you?" Eruna sat back up looking at her mother like she was insane. "Little?! This is no little headache!! This is the most-" Suddenly she cut off holding her head in pain. "..." Her parents looked at each other concerned but there was really nothing else they could do. So they headed out of her room. Before leaving her father said, "Try to get some sleep ok?" He then flicked the lights and closed the door.
Eruna was now alone in the dark trying to figure out what to do about this pain. She couldn't understand it. Why in the heck was this happening to her? "Ugh why won't you just go away!"
"Not until you fulfill your destiny."
Eruna sat up and looked around nervously. "Hello?" The voice was sweet, girlish, and innocent. Suddenly a thought came to her mind "Gyokuto Crater?" Why would she be suddenly thinking about that. The moment she did though her headache began to go away. "Huh? My headache....I wonder." She sat indian style and went into deep thought. Could it really be connected I mean that doesn't make any sense. Though mom and dad did catch me in a daze after school one day heading in that direction. She snapped her fingers as if she figured it out. "It has to be connected!" She stood up slipped on her slippers grabbed her a light jacket and headed out the door.
Eruna made her way to the forest and headed the Gyokuto Crater but while she was on her way there she realized 3 things she forgot to do.
First, She forgot to leave a note for her parents. Hopefully they wouldn't noticed.
Second, she forgot to change, right now all she had on was her BTS t-shirt she slept in, a light jacket and her slippers. Well at least she wouldn't run into anyone right?
Thirdly, she forgot to bring her phone or a flash light with her so now she was in the middle of the woods lost......
Yep that's right Eruna managed to get herself lost. "Oh wow kiiiiind of wish I stayed home now." She continued to wonder the forest but she was getting tired. "Come ooon! Where the heck is it?!" Just then she saw something in the distance. "Is that?....It is!" Her face went into a full size grin. "Alright!" She took off heading to her designation but suddenly her head began pound like crazy. She fell to the ground on her knees and held her head in her hands. She then looked up. She was so close. Come on get up! She got up and started running again.
Finally she made it. She stared at the lake it was beautiful. She then noticed the shack and it seemed something that was glowing from inside. She walked up to ii and it seemed like it was already open. She walked in not really thinking about it and saw what was glowing. "The artifacts." She walked up to them watching as the glowed. "How are these stones shinning?" She then turned her head to one of them, it felt like it was calling her. She reached over and picked it up. It felt so warm. Suddenly a vision began to form infront of her eyes. Her mouth dropped at what happening and she dropped her stone in the process. "Huh?" She blinked. "Oh!" She looked around. "Where did I drop it?" She then spotted it on the ground and she picked it up but the moment she did the vision came back. She found herself on a luminescent pathway hovering in the air. "Whoa," She looked around and started to walk but suddenly she stopped. "Wait a min....this reminds me of a movie I saw once." She took the stone and stuck it her pocket and the vison disappeared. She walked out of the cabin and headed further into the forest.
Once she found a clearing she stopped walking. She had feeling that she wasn't actually in the place she saw which met there was a good chance she would of walked into the wall of the cabin. "Haha who knew that would come in handy." She took the stone back out of her jacket pocket and the vison came back. She was right back on the path she had last saw. Feeling warm she took off her jacket and held it in her arm. "Well here we go." She headed off down the path curious to see what was next.
Finally she made it to this magnificent building composed of great looping spheres of a pure, hard white. She walked up the steps and headed inside. She looked around and suddenly heard a voice.
"Welcome~"
She heard the voice from before and tried to figure out where it came from. She then suddenly noticed a platform and on top were twelve shimmering beings, shining with the a light so bright that Eruna had to cover her eyes. One of the beings walked towards her and the bright light began to fade. When Eruna was finally able to see she saw a beautiful tall woman standing before her. She had long blonde hair and was in a flowing white dress. Eruna dropped the jacket she had in her hand and almost dropped the stone but she caught herself. Eruna felt totally ugly compared to her especially since she was in a t-shirt and had bed head. The woman began to speak again.
"If you are watching this virtual recording, it means that you have been chosen to become one of the Star Scouts, champions of the Council of -Twelve-." When she spoke the word 'twelve' there was a slight delay, as if there might be a glitch in the so-called 'virtual recording.' "From this moment on, the Zodiac Charm you now hold will allow me to imbue you with a portion of my people's power. You will need it in the days ahead, as the activation of the Charms can only mean one thing: Your planet, indeed the entire universe, is in grave peril. It will be up to you to defend against the cruel enemies of the Council as they threaten to take over and destroy your world. One by one they conquer civilization after civilization, and only the Twelve and our noble Star Scouts are left to resist that darkness. With the Charm in your grasp, no deed is too great, no act of heroics impossible. Remember, you have been chosen for a reason. Out of all the myriad people on your planet, the Charm has selected you to be its Champion. Its powers are yours and yours alone, warrior and Charm bound in soul and body. As my Champion of Virgo, may your stalwart determination drive your joy and with your pure heart cause goodness to prevail. Good luck, my Champion."
"You mean I get to be a super hero! No wait even better maybe a magical girl! Just like in all my manga and anime!" Eruna was just standing there talking to herself that she didn't realize that the vison had ended. When she realized it she looked around and noticed there were others. You could practically see the question marks popping out from around her head. She then realized something. "Wait a min." She recognized some of these people and was that her bestfriend? "When did she get here??" Then something else hit her she was standing outside with people around with only t-shirt and slippers. Her face went bright red. ( @Shelter ) She then ran over to Akemi. She had no idea if she had seen her yet. "Akemi!" Once she reached her she began to whine. "Akemi you got to hide me! There's a bunch of people around and I'm only wearing my t-shirt!" You could see the tears starting to whelm up in her eyes. (This is more funny then serious.) She had know idea if anyone had noticed yet but she was hoping they hadn't.
Misuteeku
The One Who Tries
Sakura
How long has it been for Sakura? For that was unknown to her as she treaded towards the location of the Gyokuto Crater. Her mind a mess, as the image of the Gyokuto Crater kept flashing into her mind. The image was like a huge headache, which never faded away. Her body felt like it was getting torn apart into two, as she struggled to deal with it. 'How did this happen?' She tried to think to herself.
She rememberd it all started out when the aliens ships came she suffered a major headache, and a painful feeling in her body. Of course her parent's didn't really care, which was really rude of them, and they deserved to be punched square in the face. She kept it inside because she was not going to wimp out of the feeling, but it started to take it's toll on her. It was on a night that she felt it ever increasingly. She put on a jacket, and some jeans, as she traveled towards the location.
Of course remembering what happened didn't not help at all as images of the crater kept buzzing into her mind. She neared by the location and heard a few people nearby, nor did her mind care to register who they were.
It was really dark outside, and she was lucky enough to barely seen through the darkness. She managed to spot a lake, and took a glance around to see the others heading towards the shack. With her mind buzzing crazily, she walked into the shack, and entered in seeing the lock broken. She arrived where a few people gathered towards a singular light. Curious she walked towards the artifacts like the others, and touched one.
A flurry of images flowed through her head, as she blinked twice, and tried to regain her thought process. She shoveled the stone into her jacket, and exited outside out of the shack. She followed down the forest path, and neared by the lake. She took out the stone and saw the same vision again. Taking a deep breathe, she slowly walked down the pat towards the location the vision wanted her to go.
Finding herself looking at majestic building of complete wonders. She walked up and entered in the building full of curiosity, and such. Walking up the steps, and exploring the building she heard heard voices around her.
"Welcome"
Sakura jumped and looked towards her speaker. Or rather speakers as two woman descended. By the gods they looked like as if one of them cloned for the other, but the significant difference was that one looked younger then the other and had different clothing.
"If you are watching this virtual recording, it means that you have been chosen to become one of the Star Scouts, champions of the Council of -Twelve-." When they spoke in unison the word 'twelve' there was a slight delay, as if there might be a glitch in the so-called 'virtual recording.' "From this moment on, the Zodiac Charm you now hold will allow me to imbue you with a portion of my people's power. You will need it in the days ahead, as the activation of the Charms can only mean one thing: Your planet, indeed the entire universe, is in grave peril. It will be up to you to defend against the cruel enemies of the Council as they threaten to take over and destroy your world. One by one they conquer civilization after civilization, and only the Twelve and our noble Star Scouts are left to resist that darkness. With the Charm in your grasp, no deed is too great, no act of heroics impossible. Remember, you have been chosen for a reason. Out of all the myriad people on your planet, the Charm has selected you to be its Champion. Its powers are yours and yours alone, warrior and Charm bound in soul and body. As my Champion of Gemimi, may you understand everything, and everyone around you with your changing adaptability, my Champion. We are counting on you."
As soon as Sakura just recovered from the information dump, she put a hand onto her face. "What in the actually helix just happened?" She muttered to herself as she placed a hand on her forehead. At least the major headache was gone that was good enough for her, but she looked around her. There were about a few people around her, and she had a few questions for herself as well. "Can anyone tell me what the hell is going on!" Sakura yelled out, as she was confused as all hell.
(So much for adapting to the situation)
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Shelter
gensokyo; eternity at the palm of my hand ♜
Akemi was sketching a mecha from one of her favorite manga with the design of a tarot card. Usually, she would feel calm and enter a state of flow that would last for hours if she didn't control herself.
Not tonight. Her head was on the thin line of full-on throbbing headache, making her sketches look rushed and amateurish. Not only that, she hasn't had a good sleep in days and her focus was waning by the minute. Nothing physically was preventing her from sleeping, her insomnia that usually kept her up late at night was on overdrive. That dream, that cruel dream. It was as if her past decided to taunt her after was trying to let it go, perhaps it was always there, waiting. Her family was sitting at the dinner table: her mother cooking okayu, her brother with his pregnant-looking wife, and father was reading the newspaper. Then Akemi enters the room and suddenly she's pulled away, she doesn't know where: here, there, somewhere, possibly nowhere.
"She just got better you fool."
"Do you want your family to be broken again? Do you want your father to be blamed!?"
She screams for her brother, her father, anyone to save her. Then her mother turns around with the same smiling face she hasn't seen since she was a child. "I'm sorry. No one will save you. We don't need you. I never needed you." Then darkness comes and she realizes she's in her room, she holds herself in a fetal position and prays for God to make morning come faster. Since then, she just focuses on completing her drawing and she refuses to sleep until it's done.
Her eyes start to droop, she reaches to the side to grab an energy drink (something that became routine after the spaceships came) and grasp empty air. Ran out again. She looks outside and sees the sun meeting the horizon, wait, the sun can't be seen anymore, is it sunrise? She laughs, these questions don't matter for the most part. Once you forgo sleep for a couple of days, even time becomes inconsistent.
"Oi, --. Are you still up? Can you buy some -- from the convenience ---? Thanks." Marugo Takejiro. To the rest of the world, he's a self-made man who managed to make a living by managing websites from home and online trading. To Akemi, he's the NEET uncle that refuses to go outside to the "normies" and indulges himself completely in internet culture. Don't get her started what the other relatives think of him. The pain in her head escalated, she couldn't hear what her uncle wanted but she knew anyway. Instant noodle cups. She could buy some more energy drinks there also.
Got up from her chair and stretched, her entire body felt so tight and constricted. She looked the mirror that was the length of the room She was wearing her SHIS uniform shirt and her underwear which was somewhat normal, but she had bags under her eyes and her eyes looked glazed. She even had a face that made her look like a delinquent. She wondered if she should invest in some concealer, she didn't want Koray and Eruna to worry about her.
She went to her dresser and pulled out a black skirt and capris running pants. After she put them on, she accompanied them with a pair of running shoes and a pull-over sweater. She didn't bother combing her and trying her ribbons, doing so will reveal her face more. She looked less scary now, she even passes off as a tired, college studying for finals. That thought gave her a half-smile. She splashed herself with cold water for extra measure.
She grabbed her purse and left her room, making her way to the main entrance.
"Uncle, I'm leaving." No response, but that was normal. She could hear the high pitched voice of magical girls followed by her uncle's laugh. She wondered how he found pleasure in prepubescent girls who wear revealing, magical clothing? She sighed and left the apartment.
She walked down a lonely sidewalk, the air was cool and still. Her body ached and felt like someone tied weights to her feet. Alone with only her thoughts, Akemi began to think the cause of this pain. Perhaps it's the rumored "alien sickness", the one where people get headaches and suddenly have aliens explode from their heads? No, that's something uncle read on his forums. She regrets not being informed on such matters, she promises afterward to start studying after returning home. Or she can pull out her phone and listen to the radio podcasts of the space ships, hard to tell which are legit and which are conspiracy theorists.
She clicks one with the name "Letters From Donut-Chan", a cute nickname used for the donut-shaped spaceship. This one is notorious for accepting any information given about the spaceships, from the accurate to the absurd. However, the speakers are well-informed and broadcast the wrong ones to disprove them. Akemi listens to them for a while, sometimes deep into the conversation of extrastriatal life to laughing out loud to the funny rumors that pop up. This is the best she felt for a long time but then she falls to her knees, covering her mouth of stifled screams. She starts dry heaving vomit, the pain returns stronger than before but ... this time it's different.
She looks around and realizes that she passed the convenience store a long time ago, in fact, she's near the crater. The pain disappears quickly when she finishes the thought, was that a sign? The pain intensifies again. "Ugh, this is so stupid. If it was a sign, why wouldn't they just speak to me?"
We were always waiting for you.
What? Akemi couldn't believe what she heard, is there really someone talking to her? "Uhm ... who are you?" The pain returns again and disappears, so annoying.
Proceed to the crater.
Seriously. She made her way to the crater, whoever these beings are can control the headaches and the pain, and may be the cause of them. Using her phone as a flashlight, she moves towards the crater with hesitation or fear, it's not everyday you're held hostage by a voice. Suddenly she hears people walking around, are there people stalking her? She considers turning back, what if this is a whole prank made by the robotics club or something? No, whatever they are will just make her head hurt and force her to continue. She starts waving her phone around trying to spot someone until she reaches the crater.
"Alright, I'm here, now what?" Silence.
"Oh, great. You made walk all the way out here for who knows what, and now you're leaving me helpless." She sighs, but she came here for a reason and she needs to see that through, it seems too strange to ignore it. Akemi notices footprints around her, someone was here. They lead to the building where people see the alien artifacts which clearly has been broken in.
A few people have gathered with dazed looks in their eyes, including Eruna!! "Eruna snap out of it!! Did a woman in your head threaten you too?!" No response. Akemi walks back to examen the situation. She looks around inside and outside the building, a few of the artifacts are missing. She never visited the building before but she notices they all look like zodiac symbols, and the one for Scorpio is glowing. No, it's calling for her.
"Is this what the voice wanted me to find? Is that why the others are here?" She holds the artifact in her hand and she was transported to a different world, or at least she thought she was. She drops ththe artifact and she returns to the shack. What on earth did she saw, it looked like she was over a city. She uses her sweater to carry the sweater and moved it outside. While walking, she noticed the details of the object. It was a dark purple-blue with the letter M she seened in her English class but with a curve at the end. She felt at peace holding the object, her headaches and the affects of the sleepless nights drained from her body. She held on to it tighter and she returned to that world.
She was in front of a building with hard white sphere where each of the zodiacs was etched on the pillars, symbolized by animals, and the enamored by endless light. It leads up to a room full of twelve, beautiful women each glowing as brightly as her artifact did, even the stars on the ceiling didn't rival their shine. The one that stood out the most to her was a woman with purplish skin, her body was quite revealing with a thin thong and a corset. Her hair was a transition of a sea blue to a fading purple, behind her was a scorpion tail that seemed ready at any moment to strike. But why is holding she holding a knife, didn't she know she could hurt herself? Then Akemi realized that she was staring at her the entire time but she didn't know because the woman was so mesmerizing.
Welcome, my champion.
"If you are watching this virtual recording, it means that you have been chosen to become one of the Star Scouts, champions of the Council of -Twelve-. "From this moment on, the Zodiac Charm you now hold will allow me to imbue you with a portion of my people's power. You will need it in the days ahead, as the activation of the Charms can only mean one thing: Your planet, indeed the entire universe, is in grave peril. It will be up to you to defend against the cruel enemies of the Council as they threaten to take over and destroy your world. One by one they conquer civilization after civilization, and only the Twelve and our noble Star Scouts are left to resist that darkness. With the Charm in your grasp, no deed is too great, no act of heroics impossible. Remember, you have been chosen for a reason. Out of all the myriad people on your planet, the Charm has selected you to be its Champion. Its powers are yours and yours alone, warrior and Charm bound in soul and body.
"As my Champion of Scorpio, may your quick-witted resourcefulness keep you as fluid and flexible as the tides. Keep your mind about you, my Champion." We are all counting on you.
Akemi had no words, she couldn't comment about the knife. She felt honored to be a hero, someone a person can rely on. That was all she ever wanted, but she remembered that dream with her family and what her mother said. If the alien sickness was a sign that led her to this moment then the dream must mean something also.
"Thank you, I feel honored that you chose me ... but I will only cause disappointment in the end." Still. "However, I promise I will try to not disappoint you!" She thought, did I really just said that?
The vision fades and finds herself surrounded by the others she met before, did they experience the same vision? She felt someone tugging her and she pulled herself to reality, it was Eruna @animegirl20. She was pulling on her, only wearing her BTS shirt and slippers. She smiled and laughed, not at her but she doesn't know it. She pulls off her sweater and puts it on Eruna. It looks very big on Eruna but fashionable. Knowing that within her lies a power to protect precious moments like this, it filled her with endless warmth.
Not tonight. Her head was on the thin line of full-on throbbing headache, making her sketches look rushed and amateurish. Not only that, she hasn't had a good sleep in days and her focus was waning by the minute. Nothing physically was preventing her from sleeping, her insomnia that usually kept her up late at night was on overdrive. That dream, that cruel dream. It was as if her past decided to taunt her after was trying to let it go, perhaps it was always there, waiting. Her family was sitting at the dinner table: her mother cooking okayu, her brother with his pregnant-looking wife, and father was reading the newspaper. Then Akemi enters the room and suddenly she's pulled away, she doesn't know where: here, there, somewhere, possibly nowhere.
"She just got better you fool."
"Do you want your family to be broken again? Do you want your father to be blamed!?"
She screams for her brother, her father, anyone to save her. Then her mother turns around with the same smiling face she hasn't seen since she was a child. "I'm sorry. No one will save you. We don't need you. I never needed you." Then darkness comes and she realizes she's in her room, she holds herself in a fetal position and prays for God to make morning come faster. Since then, she just focuses on completing her drawing and she refuses to sleep until it's done.
Her eyes start to droop, she reaches to the side to grab an energy drink (something that became routine after the spaceships came) and grasp empty air. Ran out again. She looks outside and sees the sun meeting the horizon, wait, the sun can't be seen anymore, is it sunrise? She laughs, these questions don't matter for the most part. Once you forgo sleep for a couple of days, even time becomes inconsistent.
"Oi, --. Are you still up? Can you buy some -- from the convenience ---? Thanks." Marugo Takejiro. To the rest of the world, he's a self-made man who managed to make a living by managing websites from home and online trading. To Akemi, he's the NEET uncle that refuses to go outside to the "normies" and indulges himself completely in internet culture. Don't get her started what the other relatives think of him. The pain in her head escalated, she couldn't hear what her uncle wanted but she knew anyway. Instant noodle cups. She could buy some more energy drinks there also.
Got up from her chair and stretched, her entire body felt so tight and constricted. She looked the mirror that was the length of the room She was wearing her SHIS uniform shirt and her underwear which was somewhat normal, but she had bags under her eyes and her eyes looked glazed. She even had a face that made her look like a delinquent. She wondered if she should invest in some concealer, she didn't want Koray and Eruna to worry about her.
She went to her dresser and pulled out a black skirt and capris running pants. After she put them on, she accompanied them with a pair of running shoes and a pull-over sweater. She didn't bother combing her and trying her ribbons, doing so will reveal her face more. She looked less scary now, she even passes off as a tired, college studying for finals. That thought gave her a half-smile. She splashed herself with cold water for extra measure.
She grabbed her purse and left her room, making her way to the main entrance.
"Uncle, I'm leaving." No response, but that was normal. She could hear the high pitched voice of magical girls followed by her uncle's laugh. She wondered how he found pleasure in prepubescent girls who wear revealing, magical clothing? She sighed and left the apartment.
She walked down a lonely sidewalk, the air was cool and still. Her body ached and felt like someone tied weights to her feet. Alone with only her thoughts, Akemi began to think the cause of this pain. Perhaps it's the rumored "alien sickness", the one where people get headaches and suddenly have aliens explode from their heads? No, that's something uncle read on his forums. She regrets not being informed on such matters, she promises afterward to start studying after returning home. Or she can pull out her phone and listen to the radio podcasts of the space ships, hard to tell which are legit and which are conspiracy theorists.
She clicks one with the name "Letters From Donut-Chan", a cute nickname used for the donut-shaped spaceship. This one is notorious for accepting any information given about the spaceships, from the accurate to the absurd. However, the speakers are well-informed and broadcast the wrong ones to disprove them. Akemi listens to them for a while, sometimes deep into the conversation of extrastriatal life to laughing out loud to the funny rumors that pop up. This is the best she felt for a long time but then she falls to her knees, covering her mouth of stifled screams. She starts dry heaving vomit, the pain returns stronger than before but ... this time it's different.
She looks around and realizes that she passed the convenience store a long time ago, in fact, she's near the crater. The pain disappears quickly when she finishes the thought, was that a sign? The pain intensifies again. "Ugh, this is so stupid. If it was a sign, why wouldn't they just speak to me?"
We were always waiting for you.
What? Akemi couldn't believe what she heard, is there really someone talking to her? "Uhm ... who are you?" The pain returns again and disappears, so annoying.
Proceed to the crater.
Seriously. She made her way to the crater, whoever these beings are can control the headaches and the pain, and may be the cause of them. Using her phone as a flashlight, she moves towards the crater with hesitation or fear, it's not everyday you're held hostage by a voice. Suddenly she hears people walking around, are there people stalking her? She considers turning back, what if this is a whole prank made by the robotics club or something? No, whatever they are will just make her head hurt and force her to continue. She starts waving her phone around trying to spot someone until she reaches the crater.
"Alright, I'm here, now what?" Silence.
"Oh, great. You made walk all the way out here for who knows what, and now you're leaving me helpless." She sighs, but she came here for a reason and she needs to see that through, it seems too strange to ignore it. Akemi notices footprints around her, someone was here. They lead to the building where people see the alien artifacts which clearly has been broken in.
A few people have gathered with dazed looks in their eyes, including Eruna!! "Eruna snap out of it!! Did a woman in your head threaten you too?!" No response. Akemi walks back to examen the situation. She looks around inside and outside the building, a few of the artifacts are missing. She never visited the building before but she notices they all look like zodiac symbols, and the one for Scorpio is glowing. No, it's calling for her.
"Is this what the voice wanted me to find? Is that why the others are here?" She holds the artifact in her hand and she was transported to a different world, or at least she thought she was. She drops ththe artifact and she returns to the shack. What on earth did she saw, it looked like she was over a city. She uses her sweater to carry the sweater and moved it outside. While walking, she noticed the details of the object. It was a dark purple-blue with the letter M she seened in her English class but with a curve at the end. She felt at peace holding the object, her headaches and the affects of the sleepless nights drained from her body. She held on to it tighter and she returned to that world.
She was in front of a building with hard white sphere where each of the zodiacs was etched on the pillars, symbolized by animals, and the enamored by endless light. It leads up to a room full of twelve, beautiful women each glowing as brightly as her artifact did, even the stars on the ceiling didn't rival their shine. The one that stood out the most to her was a woman with purplish skin, her body was quite revealing with a thin thong and a corset. Her hair was a transition of a sea blue to a fading purple, behind her was a scorpion tail that seemed ready at any moment to strike. But why is holding she holding a knife, didn't she know she could hurt herself? Then Akemi realized that she was staring at her the entire time but she didn't know because the woman was so mesmerizing.
Welcome, my champion.
"If you are watching this virtual recording, it means that you have been chosen to become one of the Star Scouts, champions of the Council of -Twelve-. "From this moment on, the Zodiac Charm you now hold will allow me to imbue you with a portion of my people's power. You will need it in the days ahead, as the activation of the Charms can only mean one thing: Your planet, indeed the entire universe, is in grave peril. It will be up to you to defend against the cruel enemies of the Council as they threaten to take over and destroy your world. One by one they conquer civilization after civilization, and only the Twelve and our noble Star Scouts are left to resist that darkness. With the Charm in your grasp, no deed is too great, no act of heroics impossible. Remember, you have been chosen for a reason. Out of all the myriad people on your planet, the Charm has selected you to be its Champion. Its powers are yours and yours alone, warrior and Charm bound in soul and body.
"As my Champion of Scorpio, may your quick-witted resourcefulness keep you as fluid and flexible as the tides. Keep your mind about you, my Champion." We are all counting on you.
Akemi had no words, she couldn't comment about the knife. She felt honored to be a hero, someone a person can rely on. That was all she ever wanted, but she remembered that dream with her family and what her mother said. If the alien sickness was a sign that led her to this moment then the dream must mean something also.
"Thank you, I feel honored that you chose me ... but I will only cause disappointment in the end." Still. "However, I promise I will try to not disappoint you!" She thought, did I really just said that?
The vision fades and finds herself surrounded by the others she met before, did they experience the same vision? She felt someone tugging her and she pulled herself to reality, it was Eruna @animegirl20. She was pulling on her, only wearing her BTS shirt and slippers. She smiled and laughed, not at her but she doesn't know it. She pulls off her sweater and puts it on Eruna. It looks very big on Eruna but fashionable. Knowing that within her lies a power to protect precious moments like this, it filled her with endless warmth.
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ScatteredStars
~I Wanna Be A Magic Girl~
.Delia.Olivia.Eriksen.
Delia tossed in her bed, squinting her eyes tightly in hopes of dulling the pain of her headache. Normally, she felt like she could soldier through the pain of her undiagnosable affliction, but tonight? Tonight, the pain was awful. She felt herself cringing as she pushed the palms of her hands against her temples, the tape and gauze on her forehead pulling at the microscopic hair follicles on her face. She was hoping the pressure would numb the pain, if only a tiny bit. Her head had been like this since the starships arrived, and there was no sign of it getting any better. She grabbed her phone off of her bedside table, taking care not to knock the now cold green tea over. She looked at the screen, wincing slightly as the bright light penetrated the darkened room, causing her pupils to constrict. 00:05. Delia whimpered a bit, wondering how much longer this was going to last.
Though she would never wish this pain on anyone, she felt a tiny bit of comfort knowing she wasn't the only person that felt this way. Many of the literary club members were also effected. The headaches had started with Koray. He never seemed to complain and hid that he was in pain rather well, but his subtle movements gave him away. He would wince slightly during literary club, something that she didn't realize then, but she would start seeing a lot of. Soon enough, Dedrick, and herself would all start to wince, rub their temples, and bend the rules a bit, bringing in bottles of pain relievers to help numb their pain. A couple people in her class were the same way, about four or five or so. It made Delia wonder how many others were dealing with this pain.
Despite this though, she soldiered through school the best that she could. She could hear her father now:
"Delia Olivia Eriksen. You are descended from a long line of strong and fierce viking men and women. Are you really going to let a little headache stop you?"
Normally, that little speech was enough to get her through some of her toughest ailments. She liked to imagine that if her numerous-amount-of-great grandfathers and grandmothers could handle being shot with an arrow, impaled with a spear, or crushed with a war hammer, she could deal with whatever was keeping her down at the time. It wasn't until recently that that thought stopped working, and the effects started to become more than she could handle. What she was experiencing felt like how her mother would describe her migraines. She experienced lightheadedness, dizziness, blurry vision, sensitivity to lights and sound, nausea and vomiting, and the throbbing pain of a headache.
Today though was the worst it had ever been. Classes had just ended for the day, and Delia was lucky enough to have the literary club room to herself. One moment, she was on her feet, holding her head in her hands. She had closed her eyes for just one moment, feeling a fire behind her eyelids. She felt her body relax, though the pain of the headache rang in her head like a siren. The next she found herself face down on the floor with a more centralized, but in comparison to her headache, forgettable pain on her forehead above her left eyebrow. She quickly picked herself up, and scooted back towards the wall, situating herself where the wall and the bookshelf met. She closed her eyes, and leaned her head up against the bookshelf. She tried to concentrate on the coolness of the wall while trying not to think about the unmissable pain. She wasn't sure how long she sat like that, but she woke back up as soon as she heard someone else's voice.
"Delia?! What happened?! You're bleeding!" Delia was sluggish to open her eyes. She looked up at the boy, whom looked genuinely concerned for her well-being. That was when she remembered the pain on her forehead, reaching up to feel the spot, which was wet with her blood. She looked at her hand and then at the table in front of her, remembering how she was slightly underneath of it when she woke up again.
"I think--... I believe I hit my head."
"You believe?!"
"Yes. I fainted, and I woke up on the floor," she answered matter-of-factly. The person looked concerned, much more concerned than Delia felt. A little bit of blood was the last thing she was worried about. The boy said something else, but all Delia really registered was the word "nurse" before the boy helped her up. That was when Delia tried her best to snap back to reality. "It's okay. You don't have to help me. I don't want to be a bother." This did nothing to put the boy at ease, his face still showing the same concern as before.
"I'm going to walk you there and make sure you get there alright, okay? I can't just let you go by yourself after this."
Delia nodded, giving the boy a half smile. "Thanks. I appreciate this." The walk to the nurse's office was a relatively short one. From there, the nurse cleaned up the girl's cut and called Ms. Iwasaki to come pick her up from school.
Delia could tell that Baachan was worried. Her host "grandmother" had never seen anything like this from Delia. She had taken Delia to the hospital just a few days ago, and she kept Insisting that the doctors take an MRI of her head, thinking it must have been a brain tumor from all the radiation the ship had to have been giving off. This was much to Delia's embarrassment, though when all tests they took came back inconclusive, she couldn't help but feel relief. Still, after Baachan heard that Delia had fainted and her ward hardly touched her dinner, saying she knew she wouldn't be able to keep anything down, Mrs. Iwasaki grew even more concerned for her. An hour or so after dinner, she made her way up to Delia's room, carrying a cup of green tea. "For your stomach," she spoke in Japanese, setting the cup on Delia's bedside table. She sat down next to Delia and stroked the girl's blonde hair, causing hot tears to form in the girl's eyes. Despite how long Delia had already been in Japan, her Japanese still took a bit of time to come to her, especially now with her headache blurring her thoughts. Still, she tried her best, squeaking out a single sentence.
"I just want it to stop."
"I know. Do you want to go to the hospital again?" Delia shook her head. She knew there was nothing the hospital could do for her other than give her stronger pain medications, an idea she wasn't particularly fond of considering the last ones did nothing to numb the pain. A frown formed on Mrs. Iwasaki's face. "I'll let you try to sleep this off, but if you still feel like this this tomorrow, you're going to the hospital. You cannot go around fainting in class." Delia hardly responded, the only noise coming from her was the quiet sobs as her tears ran down her cheeks. "Get some sleep, okay? Goodnight, Delia."
"おやすみ、おばあちゃん." That was when Delia rolled over and closed her eyes.
Now, it was six minutes after midnight, and Delia couldn't take much more of this. She sat up in bed, holding her head in her hands as she started to shake. Whether it was from the pain of the headache or the late time that gave her the shivers, she was not sure. Despite this though, she looked out the window, noticing a slight breeze blowing through the trees in the yard. She got up from her bed and walked over, opening the window, letting the cool air inside. It seemed to make sense at the time, only the shivering seemed to get worse.
"Delia~"
Delia blinked a few times, hearing a strange voice in her head. It was abrupt, but it was calm and soothing as it crooned her name. She tried to shake the feeling and was about to go back to bed when she heard the voice a second time.
"It's time."
It was at that moment that Delia felt a strong urge to go on a walk. It didn't feel like an impulse that was completely her own, rather one that was implanted into her brain. As unsafe of an idea it seemed to be, any thought of going back to bed was met with a sharp pain in her head. Soon, she gave in to the pain, and started dressing. She pulled on a pair of blue jeans, a white tank top, and an over-sized light pink cardigan. She brushed out her knotty hair, putting it in a low side ponytail before quietly making her way to the door, putting on a pain of light pink ballerina slippers, and creeping out of the house. Baachan was already fast asleep, and the chances of her waking up to finding her gone were very slim. Still though, Delia left a note just in case she woke up to find Delia's bed empty.
She wasn't exactly sure of a destination. Instead, she let her feet carry her where ever. She almost felt like she was on autopilot, only semi-conscience of where she was going. She thought about turning back a few times, though every time, her head would throb in pain. So, she walked on. It was when she found herself at a beginning of a trail that she wanted to fight her headache. This had took a turn into dangerous territory. A sixteen-year-old girl walking down a wooded trail in the middle of the night was just asking for trouble. She stood at the trail head for a while, debating about whether reducing the pain of her headache was really worth taking this risk. At least if she turned back now, she was certain she'd live to see another day.
"I promise, you'll be safe."
There was the soothing voice once again. There was something about the quality of it that made her feel safe and secure. In the end, she followed it. She shook as she grabbed her arms tightly and cautiously made her way down the trail. This was the worse idea she had ever had. They locked people up in hospitals for following the advice of the voices in their heads. Maybe she was going crazy, but the voice had been so soothing and comforting. Maybe she was doing he right thing. Her whole body continued to shake, though she was unsure of the cause. It could have been a side effect from the headache, the chilly wind, or how frightened she was at this point in time.
She soon found herself at the lake. Though she knew of the crater, she had never been to see it. It was something she never really took interest in, so she never bothered to visit. Why the voice decided to take her here, she was unsure, but the destination was not the strangest thing. The odd thing was that she was not alone. Other people had found their way here as well, though before she could really make out any particular one of them, her head started to throb again. She rubbed her temples as she looked over towards the shack next to the lake. Others seemed to be going in and coming out, each time the glow in the shack started diminishing by a fraction. They stood there motionless, unmoving, like people in a trance. It was the most bizarre thing she had ever seen, and honestly, it was kind of creepy. She walked over, recognizing Mit, Nolan, and Eruna from her class, the underclassman Sakura, and Akemi, an upperclassman. Each one held something glowing in their hands.
"Delia~"
This time, the voice didn't seem to come from her head, rather from inside the shack. She felt another throbbing pain, and began to walk towards the light in the shack, her arms still crossed over her chest. Her body still shook, though at this point she was unsure if it was because of the cold, her headache, or the stress of the situation. Once she was close enough, she saw that the lock on the door had been broken off. She was careful not to trip over the chain as she walked inside. From there, she could see the source of the glow. Seven smooth, metallic rocks glowed in the night. The one that she felt drawn to was one a light turquoise light with the Pisces symbol, her own zodiac symbol, seemingly etched into the surface. She felt her heart beat faster as she stared at the rock. She felt the same urge that told her to take a walk start to urge her to pick up the rock. She felt so drawn to it, and finally, she touched the rock.
Suddenly, Delia was transported to a different world. A pathway laid before her, with a large Parthenon-like building at the end. She only looked at it for a few moments before yanking her hand back out of the case. Her heart felt like it was going to beat out of her chest, holding her hands over it in case it decided to do just that. This wasn't happening. This couldn't be happening. This wasn't real. It had to be her imagination...
And yet, it drew her back again. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. For the first time that night, she was not shaking. She calmly placed her three center fingers on top of the stone. She saw the glowing pathway again with the Parthenon-like building at the end. She stared at the building for a few moments before taking her fingers off of the pebble. She pulled her cardigan sleeve over her fingers and grabbed the stone that way. She was surprised that it didn't transport her back to the walkway, but it made sense that there had to be some sort of skin contact for the rock to work. She took the stone outside and stood with the others, grabbing the rock again with her uncovered hand.
She was transferred back to the glowing walkway. She took another look at the Parthenon and began walking towards it. Tiny torches lit the path behind her as she walked. She wanted to be distracted by the iridescent fish swimming beside her, but something still called her forth towards the great building at the end. When she finally reached the building, it was like nothing she had ever seen before. It seemed to be made completely out of marble. She marveled at the grandeur of the building, feeling slightly intimidated by the towering and beautiful architecture. She looked all around her, noticing the indistinguishable statues and the symbols above, and then at the stairs in front of her. She smiled, feeling calm and curious all of a sudden. Something in this building was waiting for her, and she wanted to know what.
She began walking up the stairs and soon reached the entrance. She continued inside, and looked up towards the ceiling, which drew her vision. She looked up, realizing it was reminiscent of the night sky. No, the ceiling was the night sky. It's beauty kept her captivated for a few moments before she heard an all-too-familiar voice.
"Welcome."
Delia heard the calming voice again. It flowed over her like an ocean, making her feel just as calm as before. She looked towards where the voice was coming from. Up on twelve platforms were twelve luminescent bodies. She moved closer inwards toward the platforms, looking up at them, though she could only make out the features of one of them. The one on the furthest right platform stepped, or rather swam, down off the platform, making her way towards her. Delia stood motionless as the mermaid approached her, mesmerized by her beauty. The mermaid's tail was a scaly dark blue, like the waters of the North Sea. Platinum blonde tresses with light blue ends fell over her pale breasts with blue fins the same shade as her tail on either side of her head. Her arms were a dark blue like her tail, and there were distinguishable marks under her collar bones that Delia could only assume were gills. A blue tiara with the Pisces symbol in the middle glowed on her head, while two large fish swam circles around the woman. Her whole body shimmered as though it was covered in specks of glitter that reflected in the sunlight.
She was gorgeous, though the things that stuck out the most to Delia were the woman's large, innocent, light blue eyes. Something about them put Delia at ease even more than before and told her that there was nothing to be afraid of. Her eyes looked like those of a child and felt very non-threatening. It made the woman's next message seem all the more trustworthy:
"If you are watching this virtual recording, it means that you have been chosen to become one of the Star Scouts, champions of the Council of -Twelve-." There was something odd about that word, though exactly what, Delia couldn't put her finger on. "From this moment on, the Zodiac Charm you now hold will allow me to imbue you with a portion of my people's power. You will need it in the days ahead, as the activation of the Charms can only mean one thing: Your planet, indeed the entire universe, is in grave peril. It will be up to you to defend against the cruel enemies of the Council as they threaten to take over and destroy your world. One by one they conquer civilization after civilization, and only the Twelve and our noble Star Scouts are left to resist that darkness. With the Charm in your grasp, no deed is too great, no act of heroics impossible. Remember, you have been chosen for a reason. Out of all the myriad people on your planet, the Charm has selected you to be its Champion. Its powers are yours and yours alone, warrior and Charm bound in soul and body. As my Champion of Pisces, may you grant the pure joy of fantasy to all those around you. Become the ripple that grows into a wave of inspiration. All the best, my Champion. We are counting on you."
Delia listened to the message, taking all of it in. She was chosen. To defend the Earth-- No, the universe. It felt so sudden, like none of this was really happening, like this was all in her imagination. But at the same time, it felt real, almost too real. She felt scared, though It almost reminded her of a movie. It was scary, but exciting at the same time. When the woman finished, Delia blurted out, "I-... I won't let you down!" She knew there were other people that could probably do the job better than her, but she had to try. She had to be the best she could be. The woman smiled at her one last time before the illusion seemed to burn up in a great white light, finally bringing Delia back to reality.
When the illusion was over, she looked around her. There were more people now, though the ones before her had left their trance. She immediately noticed her headache was gone, relief flowing over her. She looked around. The people she had seen before she grabbed the stone were all awake now. Eruna was crying while Akemi covered her. Sakura was yelling, saying the things that probably most of them were thinking, while Mit and an international underclassman (was his name Nolan?) stood there. Finally, Mitya's dog whined up at his awestruck owner. Delia just stood in silence, watching as the others stood as silent as mannequins, most likely visualizing something. She grasped her chest, trying to take in everything she had heard and seen. She started to shake once again, though she knew exactly why this time.
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Idea
The Pun Tyrant
(Aurora´s POV)
"Woah, she´s scary! Who´s that girl?" The whispers would begin with the responsible stepping away.
"It´s that weird girl with the dog costume." Some would explain "But why is she carrying a baseball bat?"
"Where did she even GET a baseball bat?" Others would inquire.
They didn´t understand, they would never understand. I would turn behind quickly, making everyone either jump in place or quickly turn around. The teachers really didn´t like that I was walking around school armed, but considering what my club was and the fact I didn´t actually hurt anyone or broken anything thus far, they didn´t stop me either. It was just another thing on top of my attire. But they wouldn´t understand this feeling. It was such a strong feeling that it made my head hurt! It was a feeling of being observed, I was sure of it: I had a stalker. I had felt terrible, shaking, sweating even tears from being gazed at before. I knew how bad it could be, but this one in particular, this was just completely off charts, the sweating was nearly constant, and I felt so tired and weak that I feared I might pass out at any moment. More importantly, though, I knew their voice. Whoever it was was a real bad stalker, cause I kept hearing them, and their creep talk about fulfilling my destiny or whatever. I wasn´t quite sure how to interpret that: some kind of sex game? An otaku fantasy? A threat? Either way, all of those sounded like some serious sexual harassment to begin with.
"And it won´t go unpunished!" I swore to myself in a whisper, patting the baseball bat. It was a simple old thing from my dad, old and beaten and with a long autograph of some "Derek J...J...Jester"? or something. After years in a closet and me dropping it a few times, the signature was very hard to read, but I did remember my dad mentioning the name to me a couple times. I had to wonder what he and mom where doing right now. If they were well. If they knew about the weird spaceships that had appeared right over our town. Ok, of course they did, the media would never let something like THAT pass without going worldwide.... Though I heard of very little actually being done about it, which was quite confusing, considering how those people even meddled with business that had nothing important to it, right?
"Come, we await you." I heard those whispers again as I closed the door behind me. I would hear them everywhere and frankly, it was really starting to be too much. At first, I thought I was imagining things, then I started hiding, I started waiting at turns to see who came, but I was hearing it even at home, even in those long showers, everytime, all the time! What choice did I even have but to be frightened? Eventually I started to even come armed to school with the baseball bat I had salvaged from that closet at home. But frankly speaking, I had seen no one in particular. Not a single soul could be spotted anywhere. Yet the feeling, the headaches, the sweat, none of that would go away. I always felt the pressure of those eyes staring me down, creeping behind me, and as soon as I turned, boom, gone! If only I had a dog, a canine companion fierce and loyal that could keep me safe and let me hug it whenever I felt scared like this! Like when I was little... Like I used to. The time I was so incompetent I let such a friend escape my grasp never to return. My free fist closed as I leaned my back against the door and let out a growl. They wanted a fight, then? Well, they earned one!
I looked around the house, devising a plan as to how to catch the stalker, or stalkers. First, I couldn´t see too suspicious, nomatter what I took, the baseball bat was essential! Two, I needed to find a situation where escape was absolutely impossible, but only I knew of it. Fortunately for me, there was a location near the park where I could almost certainly achieve such an effect. As that was left was how to deal with the stalker once they tried to escape , and what to do if I caught them. For the first one, a stun gun and some rope should do the trick. As for the second, well, I´d leave that to my imagination and to whatever items I could find in the meantime. Whoever I was up against , though, they were skilled, so I better be cautious. I didn´t want to end up the victim of my own trap after all. Just to imagine some blackbearded creep in blue jacket and pants with a red baseball cap drooling in the moonlight as he stared right at me, with walls preventing either of our escapes... Just the thought of such a man approaching me slowly like a magpie going in to grope me viciously and...
I shook my head: No, I couldn´t let myself get distracted by such thoughts! Yet it was maybe a little too late, I was already shivering again, legs in particular almost trapped in a potty dance as my arms covered the fabric over my breasts and my reddened face stared down at the floor. I wasn´t even sure which part I should be more embarrassed about: the possibility of such an event occurring or the fact that only had I fully imagined it, I ended up in the state I was now due to it.
The first thing I went to get were the two items I had decided on , the stun gun and the rope. Next up, I picked some pepper spray, dipped some tissues in piripiri ,picked up a little disinfectant and took a bottle of soda out of the fridge. I decided to leave the swords behind since it would be bad considering I already had to carry the baseball bat anyway. With a spare key planted in the right place and after turning off all the lights and burying the alarm controller so that nobody else would be able to turn it off but it was still safe from being robbed in case I failed, I took off. I nearly fell to the floor again, instead falling on a single knee as the headaches invaded me again. So, I was being watched! I had to hide a grin, it was my turn to shine!
As I approached the location, however, something was off. Did they catch on to my plan? Was it ruined? Otherwise, why would the headache be getting lighter? Everything was so confusing right now... The headaches grew a little stronger again as I took another turn towards the direction for my plan. So they WERE still following me? I took a step back ,realizing the headache weakened again. That was odd. I had no idea what was going on, but if they did catch on to my plan, but there was a place in which they wouldn´t go, then I should at least go check out why. Making sure to look on every direction for the stalker, I darted ahead following the reduction of my headaches, this weird but amazing feel of relief flowing in me, maybe the cause of finally being free of...OW!
I fell face-flat on the floor after tripping on something hard and shiny. Shiny? I quickly unburied my face and stared at whatever it was. A rock of some kind, but where did it come from? Why was it glowing? And why was there glass around me? My eyes widened and I immediately got up, seeing the bruises, how awful! Fortunately, it only took a brief check and some disinfectant, as nothing seemed particularly stuck. I sighed, noticing I had dropped the bat next to the rock. Tiptoeing through it to avoid getting any further cuts, I slowly and carefully reached down to pick up the baseball chunk of wood, and only lightly poked with my thumb at the rock. My mind, however, was immediately invaded with some beautiful road, with all sorts of weird things, like these fishes and all those psychadelic colors and even a beautiful palace that looked further away than it really was, as I came to confirm drawn in by my curiosity. It was like some fairytale kingdom , but written by a sleepy teenage writer trying to copy something he didn´t quite understand. Someone was kind enough to open the doors to the castle for me, but not enough to turn off the bright lights coming from above, each approaching me, but one in particular not stopping until she stood right in front of me, not as a flash of light anymore, but as the more concrete thing in this sea of illusionary stars and symbols. At first, the figure was a huge puppy, a Jack Russel Terrier in a weird black and blue military garb. I blinked at the sparks that started emerging from the fur and from the humid spin of air around it, even the ground shook a bit with bits of dust flying into the animal, though only a silhuete could be seen now... But the cute (and still imposing) thing had turned into a gorgeous lady, a mermaid with innapropriately placed horns, but I couldn´t even think of that as I was so mesmerized by her tender look, her dignified breathing in and the message that was conveyed to me.
""If you are watching this virtual recording, it means that you have been chosen to become one of the Star Scouts, champions of the Council of -Twelve-. " I looked around to see if anyone else was there, pointing to myself and shaking as I realized she might actually be referring to me. "From this moment on, the Zodiac Charm you now hold will allow me to imbue you with a portion of my people's power. You will need it in the days ahead, as the activation of the Charms can only mean one thing: Your planet, indeed the entire universe, is in grave peril. It will be up to you to defend against the cruel enemies of the Council as they threaten to take over and destroy your world. One by one they conquer civilization after civilization, and only the Twelve and our noble Star Scouts are left to resist that darkness. With the Charm in your grasp, no deed is too great, no act of heroics impossible. Remember, you have been chosen for a reason. Out of all the myriad people on your planet, the Charm has selected you to be its Champion. Its powers are yours and yours alone, warrior and Charm bound in soul and body. As my Champion of Capricorn, may the unity of your unyielding ambition and noble sense of responsibility be ever fruitful. Be always prepared, my Champion."
I was awestruck, but a sudden flash of light prevented any questions from my part. With the rock now barely glowing in my hand, I walked around aimlessly as I tried to piece together what happened, only to find myself facing a group who also held such rocks as my own, but with different symbols on them.
"Woah, she´s scary! Who´s that girl?" The whispers would begin with the responsible stepping away.
"It´s that weird girl with the dog costume." Some would explain "But why is she carrying a baseball bat?"
"Where did she even GET a baseball bat?" Others would inquire.
They didn´t understand, they would never understand. I would turn behind quickly, making everyone either jump in place or quickly turn around. The teachers really didn´t like that I was walking around school armed, but considering what my club was and the fact I didn´t actually hurt anyone or broken anything thus far, they didn´t stop me either. It was just another thing on top of my attire. But they wouldn´t understand this feeling. It was such a strong feeling that it made my head hurt! It was a feeling of being observed, I was sure of it: I had a stalker. I had felt terrible, shaking, sweating even tears from being gazed at before. I knew how bad it could be, but this one in particular, this was just completely off charts, the sweating was nearly constant, and I felt so tired and weak that I feared I might pass out at any moment. More importantly, though, I knew their voice. Whoever it was was a real bad stalker, cause I kept hearing them, and their creep talk about fulfilling my destiny or whatever. I wasn´t quite sure how to interpret that: some kind of sex game? An otaku fantasy? A threat? Either way, all of those sounded like some serious sexual harassment to begin with.
"And it won´t go unpunished!" I swore to myself in a whisper, patting the baseball bat. It was a simple old thing from my dad, old and beaten and with a long autograph of some "Derek J...J...Jester"? or something. After years in a closet and me dropping it a few times, the signature was very hard to read, but I did remember my dad mentioning the name to me a couple times. I had to wonder what he and mom where doing right now. If they were well. If they knew about the weird spaceships that had appeared right over our town. Ok, of course they did, the media would never let something like THAT pass without going worldwide.... Though I heard of very little actually being done about it, which was quite confusing, considering how those people even meddled with business that had nothing important to it, right?
"Come, we await you." I heard those whispers again as I closed the door behind me. I would hear them everywhere and frankly, it was really starting to be too much. At first, I thought I was imagining things, then I started hiding, I started waiting at turns to see who came, but I was hearing it even at home, even in those long showers, everytime, all the time! What choice did I even have but to be frightened? Eventually I started to even come armed to school with the baseball bat I had salvaged from that closet at home. But frankly speaking, I had seen no one in particular. Not a single soul could be spotted anywhere. Yet the feeling, the headaches, the sweat, none of that would go away. I always felt the pressure of those eyes staring me down, creeping behind me, and as soon as I turned, boom, gone! If only I had a dog, a canine companion fierce and loyal that could keep me safe and let me hug it whenever I felt scared like this! Like when I was little... Like I used to. The time I was so incompetent I let such a friend escape my grasp never to return. My free fist closed as I leaned my back against the door and let out a growl. They wanted a fight, then? Well, they earned one!
I looked around the house, devising a plan as to how to catch the stalker, or stalkers. First, I couldn´t see too suspicious, nomatter what I took, the baseball bat was essential! Two, I needed to find a situation where escape was absolutely impossible, but only I knew of it. Fortunately for me, there was a location near the park where I could almost certainly achieve such an effect. As that was left was how to deal with the stalker once they tried to escape , and what to do if I caught them. For the first one, a stun gun and some rope should do the trick. As for the second, well, I´d leave that to my imagination and to whatever items I could find in the meantime. Whoever I was up against , though, they were skilled, so I better be cautious. I didn´t want to end up the victim of my own trap after all. Just to imagine some blackbearded creep in blue jacket and pants with a red baseball cap drooling in the moonlight as he stared right at me, with walls preventing either of our escapes... Just the thought of such a man approaching me slowly like a magpie going in to grope me viciously and...
I shook my head: No, I couldn´t let myself get distracted by such thoughts! Yet it was maybe a little too late, I was already shivering again, legs in particular almost trapped in a potty dance as my arms covered the fabric over my breasts and my reddened face stared down at the floor. I wasn´t even sure which part I should be more embarrassed about: the possibility of such an event occurring or the fact that only had I fully imagined it, I ended up in the state I was now due to it.
The first thing I went to get were the two items I had decided on , the stun gun and the rope. Next up, I picked some pepper spray, dipped some tissues in piripiri ,picked up a little disinfectant and took a bottle of soda out of the fridge. I decided to leave the swords behind since it would be bad considering I already had to carry the baseball bat anyway. With a spare key planted in the right place and after turning off all the lights and burying the alarm controller so that nobody else would be able to turn it off but it was still safe from being robbed in case I failed, I took off. I nearly fell to the floor again, instead falling on a single knee as the headaches invaded me again. So, I was being watched! I had to hide a grin, it was my turn to shine!
As I approached the location, however, something was off. Did they catch on to my plan? Was it ruined? Otherwise, why would the headache be getting lighter? Everything was so confusing right now... The headaches grew a little stronger again as I took another turn towards the direction for my plan. So they WERE still following me? I took a step back ,realizing the headache weakened again. That was odd. I had no idea what was going on, but if they did catch on to my plan, but there was a place in which they wouldn´t go, then I should at least go check out why. Making sure to look on every direction for the stalker, I darted ahead following the reduction of my headaches, this weird but amazing feel of relief flowing in me, maybe the cause of finally being free of...OW!
I fell face-flat on the floor after tripping on something hard and shiny. Shiny? I quickly unburied my face and stared at whatever it was. A rock of some kind, but where did it come from? Why was it glowing? And why was there glass around me? My eyes widened and I immediately got up, seeing the bruises, how awful! Fortunately, it only took a brief check and some disinfectant, as nothing seemed particularly stuck. I sighed, noticing I had dropped the bat next to the rock. Tiptoeing through it to avoid getting any further cuts, I slowly and carefully reached down to pick up the baseball chunk of wood, and only lightly poked with my thumb at the rock. My mind, however, was immediately invaded with some beautiful road, with all sorts of weird things, like these fishes and all those psychadelic colors and even a beautiful palace that looked further away than it really was, as I came to confirm drawn in by my curiosity. It was like some fairytale kingdom , but written by a sleepy teenage writer trying to copy something he didn´t quite understand. Someone was kind enough to open the doors to the castle for me, but not enough to turn off the bright lights coming from above, each approaching me, but one in particular not stopping until she stood right in front of me, not as a flash of light anymore, but as the more concrete thing in this sea of illusionary stars and symbols. At first, the figure was a huge puppy, a Jack Russel Terrier in a weird black and blue military garb. I blinked at the sparks that started emerging from the fur and from the humid spin of air around it, even the ground shook a bit with bits of dust flying into the animal, though only a silhuete could be seen now... But the cute (and still imposing) thing had turned into a gorgeous lady, a mermaid with innapropriately placed horns, but I couldn´t even think of that as I was so mesmerized by her tender look, her dignified breathing in and the message that was conveyed to me.
""If you are watching this virtual recording, it means that you have been chosen to become one of the Star Scouts, champions of the Council of -Twelve-. " I looked around to see if anyone else was there, pointing to myself and shaking as I realized she might actually be referring to me. "From this moment on, the Zodiac Charm you now hold will allow me to imbue you with a portion of my people's power. You will need it in the days ahead, as the activation of the Charms can only mean one thing: Your planet, indeed the entire universe, is in grave peril. It will be up to you to defend against the cruel enemies of the Council as they threaten to take over and destroy your world. One by one they conquer civilization after civilization, and only the Twelve and our noble Star Scouts are left to resist that darkness. With the Charm in your grasp, no deed is too great, no act of heroics impossible. Remember, you have been chosen for a reason. Out of all the myriad people on your planet, the Charm has selected you to be its Champion. Its powers are yours and yours alone, warrior and Charm bound in soul and body. As my Champion of Capricorn, may the unity of your unyielding ambition and noble sense of responsibility be ever fruitful. Be always prepared, my Champion."
I was awestruck, but a sudden flash of light prevented any questions from my part. With the rock now barely glowing in my hand, I walked around aimlessly as I tried to piece together what happened, only to find myself facing a group who also held such rocks as my own, but with different symbols on them.
wizard nibblers
( ﾉ• ω •)ﾉ ┻━┻
Before the start of the semester, the headaches were bearable. A bit of stress from the prospect of a bigger workload and a smaller budget, is all. Even the unusually vivid and gruesome dreams weren't too strange the first couple of times either, and were easily chalked up to the result of too many hours watching action movies, reading far fetched conspiracies about the new visitors in the sky, and a terrible diet. After school started, his concern grew as the nagging pain began to significantly distract Nikola's precious spacing out time in class, although his lack of awareness was relatively par for the course, and nobody noticed a change when he seemed to be a little less present than usual. Even he was not fully convinced something considerably serious was up until he'd awoken in the middle of the night by walking headfirst into his dorm door (with a rather loud thump, to the displeasure of his neighbors) and realized that perhaps the dreams were not so normal at all.
The most recent and perhaps most significant incident came when, at the first practice session of the season earlier in the week, his daze cost him a tennis ball to the side of his head at full speed. He took the (however wimpy) excuse to visit the infirmary, where he'd never actually been before. Once there, he brought the issue to the attention of the nurse- a woman already questioning whether or not this was an injury requiring legitimate medical attention- who told him his best bet was to get some rest and to try putting his head to a book instead of a ball.
On this particular night (a near restless one for third day in a row) he'd managed sleep, but the dream had done something new. No brutal scenes of fiery battlegrounds or vague godly figures mumbling with ancient voices, but merely the peaceful vision of a murky lake nestled in a forest. Like the other dreams, however, it felt eerily real, the chill of the evening seeping into his skin, every sound of the night crisp and distinct. A faint glow of light drew his attention to a run-down shack near the water.
"Fetch the charm..." a distant voice whispered, much like the one that had murmured to him many times before, sending a chill through him right down to his bones. As suddenly as it went silent, Nikola woke up, out of breath as if he’d been winded. Startled, he took a moment to still his heartbeat and gain his bearings, combing his hair back out of his face with his fingers. His hand fumbled around on his bedside table, cluttered with carelessly placed papers and remnants of snacks gone by. He found the switch he was looking for and turned on his bedside lamp, reaffirming that he was still in his room, and not anyplace else, thankfully. As his breathing returned to normal and he regained full consciousness, he realized with a heavy feeling of disappointment that he'd awoken after putting in so much effort to get a good night's rest. Sighing, he switched off the light and buried himself beneath the sheets.
"I said fetch it you imbecile." The voice from the dream manifested itself once more, and brought with it another fierce stab of pain.
Of all the things the dreams have done before, it had never done anything like that. He lay still in disbelief for a moment, unsure if he really heard what he thought he just did.
"Did you not hear me?" Another bout of pain like a kick to the head. "Get up."
He sat up in his bed, suddenly very much alert and awake, and scrambled for his phone, using the screen to light up the room in search of the source of the voice.
"H- Hello?" he whispered, pulling the sheets up against him protectively and feeling very much in no state to deal with a nighttime intruder with his throbbing headache and lack of appropriate pants. Perhaps it was a scantily clad space henchman, here for his chickens...?
"Gyokuto Crater..." Said the voice, and now that he'd been paying full attention, he realized that it had come from nowhere in particular, almost like the voice of a ghost. Now fearing the wrath of the unknown and possibly paranormal, all thoughts of sleep were cast from his mind. He pulled off the covers and got up slowly, still checking the room to make sure he really was the only (living) thing present. "Go to the crater and fulfill your destiny..." The voice said again, and the pain in his head began to ebb. Fulfilling a destiny, eh? Now that sounded much more his speed. Besides, wherever this strange being is, it must have control of his body, he thought, so if he wanted to stay alive, maybe he should just… do what it says.
"Uh, spirit," he whispered cautiously, "What exactly is my destiny?"
"All will be revealed... Hurry to the crater... Claim the charm..." spoke the voice.
"Crater?" He wondered aloud. He'd heard of a local spot, might've been a crater, or maybe it was a cafe. He hadn't heard much about it though. "But, uh, where is this crater?"
A ghastly sigh came from the voice. "Oh, for the love of-" another stab of pain- "Read a sign or something. Just go. There's no time to lose."
Fearful of angering the voice further, he wrestled himself into a pair of sweatpants on the floor, tossed on a sweatshirt from the desk chair, and went to leave before realizing that the dorms were locked at night. No matter, he'd just climb out the window. This, while a somewhat admirable idea in theory, was infinitely harder to pull off from the second floor than he first thought. He maneuvered himself so that his legs went out the window first, and ducked his head to squeeze his tall build into the small window frame. He reached out for a scrawny branch from a nearby tree, certainly not strong enough to hold his weight, but perhaps something to stabilize himself on the way down. However, while stretching to grasp it, he'd managed to push himself too far forward, and fell completely out of the window. He grabbed the branch on the way down, which saved him from any serious injury, and landed wobbily on his knees, then his hands as he let go of the branch. He toppled over onto the ground, certainly getting dirt all over his clothes.
The commotion had drawn the attention of the student whose room he'd so raucously landed in front of, and the disgruntled teen leaned out the window to ask what in the devil he thought he was doing. Nikola stood up on shaky legs and said with both fear and conviction in his voice, "These school's got some wild ghosts, man." With that, he jogged off into the night with dirt on his face and leaves still tangled in his hair.
As he neared the main path that headed out of the school grounds, he saw a sign listing the nearby attractions, but was at a complete loss when it came to reading the kanji. Left without guidance, he braved a shot at speaking to this voice himself.
“Say, eh... ghost, can you read Japanese, by any chance?”
"Ghosts aren’t real, you fool. How about you try using that empty head of yours?" Spat the voice. Not a ghost then. Weird. He stared dumbly at the sign for a moment, and stuck his hands in his pockets in thought. He turned over the phone in his pocket a couple of times, before it occurred to him that he had his phone with him, along with the translation app he used for homework. He pulled it out of his pocket with flair and a grin, showing off to the voice in hopes that it could see him. The response was another ghastly, exasperated sigh.
After a fair amount of sign reading and google translating, he found himself in front of Gyokuto Crater faster than he'd expected. It looked just like the dream, complete with glowing shack, whose light looked even more inviting in person. As he tiptoed through the damp grass towards the little building, it seemed as though there was a small group of people outside. He crept closer, wondering if they were real, or maybe even spirits themselves. He nudged open the door, less out of curiosity and more out of an odd transfixion. The people- very real, very alive kids from his school, by the looks of it- seemed mesmerized by the light coming from the objects before them. But he hardly took note of much else as he reached out for one of the objects himself, as he unconsciously felt pulled to do, and was met with a burst of brilliant light.
///\\\
Not even the dreams' glimmering glimpses of godly visions between the scenes of awe-inspiring battle could compare to the scene laid out before him. A building whose construction seemed almost impossible, gravity defying and spectacular. A pathway trimmed with beautiful displays that rejected the confines of physics. He found himself almost floating in midair, far above a fantastic landscape. He knelt down and began to poke and marvel at the invisible barrier between himself and the land below.
"Go ahead and sit there like an idiot. I’ve got all day." The voice said, apparently still present, and apparently still aggravated. He hurried up the pathway, through the arch of the building, and almost straight into a rising patch of fire. He skidded to a stop as a figure emerged from the flames; a graceful woman with hair of fire and a gaze that burned just as brightly. She opened her mouth to speak, and it was then that he recognized the voice.
"If you are watching this virtual recording, it means that you have been chosen to become one of the Star Scouts, champions of the Council of -Twelve-. From this moment on, the Zodiac Charm you now hold will allow me to imbue you with a portion of my people's power. You will need it in the days ahead, as the activation of the Charms can only mean one thing: Your planet, indeed the entire universe, is in grave peril. It will be up to you to defend against the cruel enemies of the Council as they threaten to take over and destroy your world. One by one they conquer civilization after civilization, and only the Twelve and our noble Star Scouts are left to resist that darkness. With the Charm in your grasp, no deed is too great, no act of heroics impossible. Remember, you have been chosen for a reason. Out of all the myriad people on your planet, the Charm has selected you to be its Champion. Its powers are yours and yours alone, warrior and Charm bound in soul and body. As my Champion of Aries, may your blazing courage turn your enemies to ash and forge a path to victory. Fight well, my Champion. We are counting on you."
Another flash of light, and he was back, faced with a room of now conscious and confused classmates.
"So...The voice got you guys too, huh?"
The most recent and perhaps most significant incident came when, at the first practice session of the season earlier in the week, his daze cost him a tennis ball to the side of his head at full speed. He took the (however wimpy) excuse to visit the infirmary, where he'd never actually been before. Once there, he brought the issue to the attention of the nurse- a woman already questioning whether or not this was an injury requiring legitimate medical attention- who told him his best bet was to get some rest and to try putting his head to a book instead of a ball.
On this particular night (a near restless one for third day in a row) he'd managed sleep, but the dream had done something new. No brutal scenes of fiery battlegrounds or vague godly figures mumbling with ancient voices, but merely the peaceful vision of a murky lake nestled in a forest. Like the other dreams, however, it felt eerily real, the chill of the evening seeping into his skin, every sound of the night crisp and distinct. A faint glow of light drew his attention to a run-down shack near the water.
"Fetch the charm..." a distant voice whispered, much like the one that had murmured to him many times before, sending a chill through him right down to his bones. As suddenly as it went silent, Nikola woke up, out of breath as if he’d been winded. Startled, he took a moment to still his heartbeat and gain his bearings, combing his hair back out of his face with his fingers. His hand fumbled around on his bedside table, cluttered with carelessly placed papers and remnants of snacks gone by. He found the switch he was looking for and turned on his bedside lamp, reaffirming that he was still in his room, and not anyplace else, thankfully. As his breathing returned to normal and he regained full consciousness, he realized with a heavy feeling of disappointment that he'd awoken after putting in so much effort to get a good night's rest. Sighing, he switched off the light and buried himself beneath the sheets.
"I said fetch it you imbecile." The voice from the dream manifested itself once more, and brought with it another fierce stab of pain.
Of all the things the dreams have done before, it had never done anything like that. He lay still in disbelief for a moment, unsure if he really heard what he thought he just did.
"Did you not hear me?" Another bout of pain like a kick to the head. "Get up."
He sat up in his bed, suddenly very much alert and awake, and scrambled for his phone, using the screen to light up the room in search of the source of the voice.
"H- Hello?" he whispered, pulling the sheets up against him protectively and feeling very much in no state to deal with a nighttime intruder with his throbbing headache and lack of appropriate pants. Perhaps it was a scantily clad space henchman, here for his chickens...?
"Gyokuto Crater..." Said the voice, and now that he'd been paying full attention, he realized that it had come from nowhere in particular, almost like the voice of a ghost. Now fearing the wrath of the unknown and possibly paranormal, all thoughts of sleep were cast from his mind. He pulled off the covers and got up slowly, still checking the room to make sure he really was the only (living) thing present. "Go to the crater and fulfill your destiny..." The voice said again, and the pain in his head began to ebb. Fulfilling a destiny, eh? Now that sounded much more his speed. Besides, wherever this strange being is, it must have control of his body, he thought, so if he wanted to stay alive, maybe he should just… do what it says.
"Uh, spirit," he whispered cautiously, "What exactly is my destiny?"
"All will be revealed... Hurry to the crater... Claim the charm..." spoke the voice.
"Crater?" He wondered aloud. He'd heard of a local spot, might've been a crater, or maybe it was a cafe. He hadn't heard much about it though. "But, uh, where is this crater?"
A ghastly sigh came from the voice. "Oh, for the love of-" another stab of pain- "Read a sign or something. Just go. There's no time to lose."
Fearful of angering the voice further, he wrestled himself into a pair of sweatpants on the floor, tossed on a sweatshirt from the desk chair, and went to leave before realizing that the dorms were locked at night. No matter, he'd just climb out the window. This, while a somewhat admirable idea in theory, was infinitely harder to pull off from the second floor than he first thought. He maneuvered himself so that his legs went out the window first, and ducked his head to squeeze his tall build into the small window frame. He reached out for a scrawny branch from a nearby tree, certainly not strong enough to hold his weight, but perhaps something to stabilize himself on the way down. However, while stretching to grasp it, he'd managed to push himself too far forward, and fell completely out of the window. He grabbed the branch on the way down, which saved him from any serious injury, and landed wobbily on his knees, then his hands as he let go of the branch. He toppled over onto the ground, certainly getting dirt all over his clothes.
The commotion had drawn the attention of the student whose room he'd so raucously landed in front of, and the disgruntled teen leaned out the window to ask what in the devil he thought he was doing. Nikola stood up on shaky legs and said with both fear and conviction in his voice, "These school's got some wild ghosts, man." With that, he jogged off into the night with dirt on his face and leaves still tangled in his hair.
As he neared the main path that headed out of the school grounds, he saw a sign listing the nearby attractions, but was at a complete loss when it came to reading the kanji. Left without guidance, he braved a shot at speaking to this voice himself.
“Say, eh... ghost, can you read Japanese, by any chance?”
"Ghosts aren’t real, you fool. How about you try using that empty head of yours?" Spat the voice. Not a ghost then. Weird. He stared dumbly at the sign for a moment, and stuck his hands in his pockets in thought. He turned over the phone in his pocket a couple of times, before it occurred to him that he had his phone with him, along with the translation app he used for homework. He pulled it out of his pocket with flair and a grin, showing off to the voice in hopes that it could see him. The response was another ghastly, exasperated sigh.
After a fair amount of sign reading and google translating, he found himself in front of Gyokuto Crater faster than he'd expected. It looked just like the dream, complete with glowing shack, whose light looked even more inviting in person. As he tiptoed through the damp grass towards the little building, it seemed as though there was a small group of people outside. He crept closer, wondering if they were real, or maybe even spirits themselves. He nudged open the door, less out of curiosity and more out of an odd transfixion. The people- very real, very alive kids from his school, by the looks of it- seemed mesmerized by the light coming from the objects before them. But he hardly took note of much else as he reached out for one of the objects himself, as he unconsciously felt pulled to do, and was met with a burst of brilliant light.
///\\\
Not even the dreams' glimmering glimpses of godly visions between the scenes of awe-inspiring battle could compare to the scene laid out before him. A building whose construction seemed almost impossible, gravity defying and spectacular. A pathway trimmed with beautiful displays that rejected the confines of physics. He found himself almost floating in midair, far above a fantastic landscape. He knelt down and began to poke and marvel at the invisible barrier between himself and the land below.
"Go ahead and sit there like an idiot. I’ve got all day." The voice said, apparently still present, and apparently still aggravated. He hurried up the pathway, through the arch of the building, and almost straight into a rising patch of fire. He skidded to a stop as a figure emerged from the flames; a graceful woman with hair of fire and a gaze that burned just as brightly. She opened her mouth to speak, and it was then that he recognized the voice.
"If you are watching this virtual recording, it means that you have been chosen to become one of the Star Scouts, champions of the Council of -Twelve-. From this moment on, the Zodiac Charm you now hold will allow me to imbue you with a portion of my people's power. You will need it in the days ahead, as the activation of the Charms can only mean one thing: Your planet, indeed the entire universe, is in grave peril. It will be up to you to defend against the cruel enemies of the Council as they threaten to take over and destroy your world. One by one they conquer civilization after civilization, and only the Twelve and our noble Star Scouts are left to resist that darkness. With the Charm in your grasp, no deed is too great, no act of heroics impossible. Remember, you have been chosen for a reason. Out of all the myriad people on your planet, the Charm has selected you to be its Champion. Its powers are yours and yours alone, warrior and Charm bound in soul and body. As my Champion of Aries, may your blazing courage turn your enemies to ash and forge a path to victory. Fight well, my Champion. We are counting on you."
Another flash of light, and he was back, faced with a room of now conscious and confused classmates.
"So...The voice got you guys too, huh?"
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Arne
Toplofty Aberrant
"I'm terribly sorry by such an inconvenience, but I am indeed unable to work right now." Arthur's melodious voice resounded responded by the large bedroom, obviously talking with someone important in the flashy blue colored smartphone that he held near his right ear, as he tried to act seriously in despite of his voice sounding dangerously tired as he voiced his apologize. "Y-you can delay the shooting for another week? Thank you sir. That's already marvelous. I'm sure I'll be better until then." He voiced the relieved words in a quick succession as soon as the other side replied, what made difficult for the other side to voice anything else after the initial affirmation, merely muttering a few other words before hanging up, apparently nothing bad as the boy sighed in a relieved way right after the end of the call.
It wasn't hard to understand why this simple call was already quite the reliving notice for him, as the fact that the male in the other side of the call, his produce, was good willed enough to ignore the constant excuses that the boy was giving since a few weeks ago and didn't insist on the matter, a show of good will when considering how shallow his excuses were.
Of course Arthur wasn't purposefully slandering the shooting of the move or anything like that, as in despite of his behaviour he was quite the serious person when it comes to working. In fact, even the boy himself was frustrated by being unable to participate in the shooting of the movie, but since the arrival of the strange ships his condition was deteriorating in a constant pace, with the headaches getting even more frequent and slowly making him unable to even resonate normally, to the point that he started to frequently ditch classes in despite of his position as a member of the student council, a behaviour that he would normally consider as despicable.
It has to be known that Arthur didn't exactly have that much of a healthy lifestyle, with the constant travelling and the not-so-regulated eating habits that were a perfect recipe for acquiring quite the number of small diseases whenever he travelled to shoot a new scene for the movie. Of course that contributed for his unwillingness to overreact to such a small thing as frequent headaches in the start, but since 4 weeks ago he couldn't possibly suppress the pain anymore, giving the excuse of being in need of supplemental classes to ask for a break in the shootings for a few days. While he would normally state the truth clearly to his producer, he felt that doing so would undoubtedly end with his parents being warned about the situation, resulting in a possible prohibition of participating in the movie's shooting for at least a year, thing that could be pretty much disastrous for him, resulting in the current situation where he couldn't even ask for help from anyone without possibly arousing a unfavourable situation, forcing himself to believe that he would be ok after a few days.
"Just a few more days... I'm sure." He muttered while massaging his eyelids in a regular pace, his own way of relieving the pain partially, when the whispers started. At first he thought it was just his mind playing little tricks as a result of the pain, as he hardly could discern what was being said, but it didn't take long before he started to think that he was slowly losing his sanity. "SHUT UP!" He finally screamed as the voice continuously messed up with his mind, clearly out of his usually collected self... And that's where the things started to go weird.
"Not before you fulfil your destiny"
A few minutes of absolute silence followed the answer, as Arthur balnkly stared his bedroom's wall from his position seated in the bed without uttering even a single mutter. "No way..." He finally managed to say after a few seconds, shaking his head in a temptative of erasing the last few minutes from his head. "I'm really getting crazy..?"
"Of course you're not crazy, you're just following your fate. Come to the Gyokuto Crater and everything will be made clear, child."
The second time the voice spoke was all the confirmation the boy needed to know that he was indeed not daydreaming, immediately getting up from his position and walking all the way to the door while wearing his pajamas. "Ok. Following the weird voice. That's a plan." He muttered to no one in special, quickly tipping what he expected to be the westernized version of the name he heard on his cellphone navigator with his right hand while unlocking the door of the apartment rented by his parents. Needless to say that he didn't just go while wearing his pajamas, as even while barely managing to retain his rationality he wasn't dumb enough to walk around while wearing nothing but the lightweight silk pajamas, choosing to put a beige overcoat closed over the pajamas to offer some protection against the cold before going outside, having the GPS as his sole companion while walking by the streets.
If someone asked how long did he take or how exactly he managed to reach the crater, Arthur probably wouldn't be able t oanswer even if he tried his best to remember, as all that he could remind from his walk before reaching the entrance of the crater were a few images of places that he knew and changes in illumination as well as the constant light of his cellphone screen, that apparently accompanied him during the whole travel. When he finally recovered from the trance that took over his body, he was already in front of the crater, slowly walking his way towarss the sole building that was constructed near it while watching the dream-like scene of a constant glow surging from the shack that acted as a museum, holding the artifacts found in the crater. As soon as he approached the shack could faintly discern the presence of others inside it, holding strange objects that emmited the light that he previously saw and somehow compeling him to do the same, and as soon as he did so, the world in front of his eyes suddenly changed.
The first impression that he had as soon as his eyes got used to the illumination was that everything was exceedingly white. He could faintly discerne how impossible the scene in front of him was ridiculously impossible, as everything, from the strange pathway to the magnificent palace and marble pillars looked so supernatural and marvelous that he couldn't even find the words to start describing what he saw, simply admiring the view, bewitched by what he saw. "You finally found your way, child." The voice that previously guided him sounded on his ears, making him unconsciously turn his head to look towards the voice, taking a glimpse of the woman that he would come to consider the most beautiful person he ever saw. If he was asked to describe her, the only word that would came to his mind is ferocious. That doesn't mean that the woman was barbaric or anything like that, as she looked extremely beautiful with her delicate features, pale skin and white hair that perfectly suited the simple attire she wore, but every single crane of her being exuded an aura of fierceness that was fitting for an emperor or tyrant, that completely suited proud tone that she used to talk with him.
"If you are watching this virtual recording, it means that you have been chosen to become one of the Star Scouts, champions of the Council of -Twelve-. From this moment on, the Zodiac Charm you now hold will allow me to imbue you with a portion of my people's power. You will need it in the days ahead, as the activation of the Charms can only mean one thing: Your planet, indeed the entire universe, is in grave peril. It will be up to you to defend against the cruel enemies of the Council as they threaten to take over and destroy your world. One by one they conquer civilization after civilization, and only the Twelve and our noble Star Scouts are left to resist that darkness. With the Charm in your grasp, no deed is too great, no act of heroics impossible. Remember, you have been chosen for a reason. Out of all the myriad people on your planet, the Charm has selected you to be its Champion. Its powers are yours and yours alone, warrior and Charm bound in soul and body. As my Champion of Leo, may your unwavering confidence burn brightly in your heart and inspire your power and the powers of your allies. Fight with pride, my Champion. We are counting on you."
That was all he heard before once more being confronted by a change of luminosity, as he returned to the shack that previously held the objects that he now recognized as Zodiac Charms, surrounded by more equally confused teenagers, including a few that he recognized as classmates or members of the student council.
Otakuyaki
I'm the salt master
"Dedrick, you good?"
"I feel like a mess..." Dedrick groaned as he slumped against the wall. Firmly pressing his face against the walls of the dance studio was not helping his headache at all. Could this be called a headache? It was more like his head was having wedges chiselled through his cranium while fingers rub apart his brain into a mess like crumbling apart a block of snow.
"Well... we know that." Dedrick's head swivelled, displaying a look of disapproval. Excuse me? He came out to have a good time, but now he was being attacked by both a head-splitting headache and his dance crew, "Come on, Dedrick. What's really wrong?" he hesitated for a moment. Even though they had barely begun practice, they had already noticed his lackluster performance. And here, he wanted to try and tough it out for another day, but he may have to draw the line here.
"Yeah, you're right... sorry guys." Dedrick apologised rubbing his temples and fixing his hair upon straightening himself up, "I've had a throbbing headache for a while now... and it's only getting worse." the enthusiasm was lacking in his voice, and his peers were stricken with worried glances.
"Listen, Dedrick, you should've just stayed home. If you can spin on your feet and slam your face against a wall, I think that's a sign that this is something serious."
"Yeah... yep. You're right, sorry. I'll just... uh... pack up." Dedrick sighed dejectedly, to which his peers profusely reassured him that it wasn't his fault; he ought to just stay home, rest, and recover, instead. This damned headache had been getting in the way of his daily life for the longest time now, around the time that those spaceships came out of nowhere. Maybe they are connected? Illuminati confirmed? Dedrick let out a small laugh as he quickly picked up his stuff and headed for the door. In spite of the palpitating pains in his head, thinking helped to ease the pains, and coming up with crazy conspiracy theories always cracked him up. Like lizard people... and the sneeple... Heck, maybe there are dog people. He's seen someone in a dog costume around these parts. In fact, she seemed to be pretty antsy these days too. He had spotted her earlier clutching a baseball bat close to her, mindlessly alert. Perhaps she was suffering like he was. Now, he was reduced to a thoughtless husk, mindlessly trudging the streets towards his home. His head was devoid of whatever thought, just to soothe its pulsing pains. He probably would have gotten ran over if not for his calm pace. And now, he stood in front of his door, not remembering how he'd even got here in the first place. The door opened with a creak that could claw his hurting head back, revealing the disorderly apartment within. Ordinarily, everything was spick and span, every nook and cranny clean. The black quartz countertop would have resembled the Men in Black headquarters, and one could have checked their reflection in the tiled flooring. But now, with his increasing fatigue, dizziness, and headaches, his cleaning routine was growing sloppy. There was laundry still left to be folded on a chair, and his yaoi was strewn all across the kitchen island. Most repulsive to him of all was his kitchen: with so many appliances and cabinets, it was easily the largest space of the apartment, and the most difficult to clean. Dust was beginning to gather between the columns of appliances, and dishes were piling up in the dish drainer rack. Well, at least he was home, and what better to soothe himself than with the pleasures of food? He quickly freed himself from his layers and tore off the tie that he wore from his neck, unbuttoning the top of his shirt to let him breathe and concentrate.
"Hmm..." Dedrick surveyed his kitchen inventory, filing through cabinet after cabinet, before sticking his head into the fridge. Oooh... That felt good. The cold air of the fridge enveloped his head in moist, misty tendrils, cooling his skin and helping the pain subside. In spite of how much his brain wished to break through the skull, his intense concentration seemed to easy away his pain, "Alright then!" he clapped his hands, and immediately recoiled. I should not have done that... He rubbed the stubbled sides of his head as he returned to the task on hand. Getting quickly absorbed into his work, his countertop was quickly growing cluttered with neat arrays of ingredients in cooking trays around him. Getting the prep work done was quick and easy, his broth was coming along nicely, the next step would be to prepare the kaeshi. All he needed was his weight sca--
"Aaagh!" the cook screamed as he stumbled backwards. He had only been fumbling through the cabinet to his side for the weight scale, and he had definitely felt the scale's clean, silver surface, but merely touching it only made his head throb harder.
"Damned headache, this ain't fair!" he muttered under his breath as he reached for it again.
"What is fair?"
Dedrick quickly spun on his feet, although that just made his hurting mind dizzy. What was that? There was a voice, but he couldn't catch where it'd come from. Had there been someone else here all this while? He'd only been home for barely half an hour, but he should've discovered them by now.
"Okay... now this ain't right." Dedrick sighed, talking to himself. He must have been hallucinating. Yes, that must be it.
"What is right? Where does one draw the line?" Dedrick hitched a breath, and he didn't breathe for a couple moments. The only sounds in the air was the bubbling of the soup. That voice had come from him! Or rather, from within him. Every word the voice spoke soothed his hurting head, but the pains immediately returned when the voice stopped.
"Okay... what in the world..." Dedrick began, "Is all of this?" Dedrick gestured to his head, but he wasn't talking to anybody. He had attempted to talk to the strange voice in his head, but it wasn't replying, and now he only felt like a fool, "Okay, you know what? This has got to stop..." Dedrick groaned.
"Not until you fulfill your destiny." Dedrick was at full alert once more. But even that could not help him explain why he was Gyokuto Crater across the city. Everything felt so real: the quality of the air, the sights of the crater... Best of all, his headache was gone! What was going on?
"Uhm... okay!" Dedrick's voice began to tremble a bit, "I accept you're here, bring me home!" as quickly as the scenery around him had changed, it quickly dissolved, and he was in his kitchen once more... Alright, it was a hallucination. But his head could only pound ever more violently now that the vision subsided. That vision of the crater had put his mind at ease... Dedrick hesitated for a moment, watching his soup boil, before he hastily turned off the stove. It was nighttime. He would need to change to be comfortable, and he sure as heck wasn't going to leave a stove on if he was going to leave the house.
"Breathe out... Breathe in..." the earbuds sang in the runner's ear as he panted, running along the streets of the town towards the crater in the distance, "We're still... forgetting..." he was dressed in simple running attire: a pair of shorts, a shirt that hugged his torso through which he could feel the cold night air, hidden from view by a windbreaker. The sensation of Dedrick's soles pounding on the hard pavement soothed the pounding in his skull with each step; the rigour in his legs shot up through his spine with every motion. This damnable headache was a distraction, but in his mission towards the crater, each breath he took reminded him:
That he'd never felt more alive.
"Breathe out... Breathe in..." Dedrick mouthed as he drew deep breaths of crisp, cool air, of the forests east of the city, "We'll be forgiven." being away from the city itself was ameliorating to the tensions in his head, and approaching the crater was noticeable alleviating the weights that hung heavy on his mind. And there it was. The crater loomed before him like a patch of brilliant night sky in the ground. Its placid waters were like a mirror's surface, and Dedrick admired himself briefly in it. Maybe he ought to have shaved this morning, a stubble was already visible along his jaw. Or maybe he'd grow it out. His reflection rubbed the stubbly chin, just like he did, but something about it was different. Wait... What was he holding? The reflection in the waters was eyeing something above him, and Dedrick stumbled back away from the waters, his senses brought back down to earth. The shack over yonder was alight, and his own reflection was still in the water, smiling at him as it gestured to the shack before dissolving back into clouds and stars. Getting up, he trudged over to the doors of the shack, past the broken padlock and chains, to peer in at the plaques, and exhibits, and the stones. The glowing stones. The shack should have been closed right now; what he was doing felt wrong... No. It felt like it should be wrong. Something about the glowing stones was just drawing him in, reassuring him that this is what it should be. The emblazoned insignia of the zodiac in them lit up the shack, and perhaps they could even light up the sky with their incomparably brilliant shine, "What is this..." he breathed a breath filled with wonder and curiosity as he approached the stones. Their cold, smooth sheen was akin to something metal, but it shot jolts of warmth through the fingers that hovered above it. He wanted to touch it, but he hesitated for a moment.
What was all this?
He had came to the crater to ease his troubled mind, and now he was trespassing and laying hands on a protected symbol of heritage. Every fibre of his body tugged at his soul, every thought in his brain wildly ran in loops. Should he be doing this? With a deep breath, he affirmed his resolution. He wanted to touch the stone. And it was wonderful.
With the stone in his hand, he was standing on a stream of stars in the night sky. The cityscape beneath him itself was like festering lights, moving in circuits around illuminated towers like a colony of fireflies. On and around the path before him, clouds coiled and twirled around him, taking on colours and resembling nebulae as they danced closer and closer around the stars that popped in and out of existence, lighting up the way before him in a myriad of vivid colour and lucid lights. The superlunary path was like an aurora, shimmering and waving in front of him like an ethereal wisp. He was speechless, he had been robbed of his breath with the beauty of the scene, and forgetting the stone, his fingers relaxed, dropping the stone from his grip.
The scenery before him dissolved, and a soft, mournful gasp escaped his lips as the shack returned into view. He glanced down at the stone with bleary eyes, only to quickly grab at it again, clutching it tightly as the scenery came back every more brightly. The aurora came back searing, blazing the trail he was to follow, and he gladly did. Each step he took cracked the sky in auroras of colour, and each breath he took was a gift of colour that he could only imagine in his wildest dreams. As he walked along, he'd ram into something invisible that he couldn't see... but nothing could distract him from the breathtaking, addicting display. He ran, and ran, and ran. The trail he'd left behind were like veins of running colours, flames burst all around him as he approached ever closer, and the nebulae around him had gathered into currents of colours resembling the rapids, coalescing in pools before flowing out in falls and leaps, within which fish with scales of gold and silver animatedly dived and flung themselves about. The end of the path was now in sight: a building of grandiose proportions, white as marble and perfect as the great looping spheres it was built of. The marble itself was a snow white, its black cracks shifting and twisting like stars and streams in its milky smooth complexion. The entire building beheld him with its pristine sheen and otherworldly architecture. A pair of guardian beasts made of the same material stood guard outside the entrance, and above the archway, the zodiac glowed intensely. Entering the building, he twirled and spun, pivoting on a foot to catch the beauty in his similarly pale pupils. The etched lines of the building's centre formed a flower in the wide, open platform. It was almost like an agora, or a planetarium! He was in a white nest with branches that were etched with strange symbols and fractal corners. Twirling around in the centre and staring straight up through the sky made him dizzy in delight as the white branches above twisted and molded into radially symmetrical shapes of all sorts of wonders. Light from the starry skies beyond the cage sifted through the moving branches in streams, reflecting and refracting off of the marble to form beams and spots of colours above that changed as he stared at it, like a heavenly kaleidoscope that heaved, and breathed. Surely, this must have been a wonder no man has ever seen before. Surely it must have been alive. But he knew it was a vision, what with the scenery's connection the stone he held onto dearly, and he could only feel pity that he was of flesh and blood, that he couldn't be a part of everything above him.
"Welcome."
The familiar voice reverberated throughout the building, bouncing off the white tendrils that snaked about to arrive at the centre, at Dedrick, in calming echoes. It came from further down the platform, where there was a raised platform, and he proceeded to stride towards it, only to be met with twelve titans, towering above him in a glorious pose, brighter than anything he could imagine. He raised an arm to cover his eyes, shielding himself from the glare as a figure stepped forward. Its bright silhouette dimmed as tendrils of light radiated from her body, wrapping around Dedrick in flares of warmth that could only be described as comfortable. Perfectly comfortable. He belonged here, and the figure in front of him reaffirmed that with a voice he knew all too well at this point.
"If you are watching this virtual recording, it means that you have been chosen to become one of the Star Scouts, campions of the Council of Twelve--" her voice glitched, along with the surroundings as she rode on her throne of constellations and nebulae towards him. Her perfect features were finally discernible as she approached, floating around him as she spoke with a voice smoother than honey. If she had a male counterpart, perhaps he would've n*t, "From this moment on, the Zodiac Charm you now hold will allow me to imbue you with a portion of my people's power. You will need it in the days ahead, as the activation of the Charms can only mean one thing: Your planet, indeed the entire universe, is in grave peril. It will be up to you to defend against the cruel enemies of the Council as they threaten to take over and destroy your world. One by one they conquer civilization after civilization, and only the Twelve and our noble Star Scouts are left to resist that darkness. With the Charm in your grasp, no deed is too great, no act of heroics impossible. Remember, you have been chosen for a reason. Out of all the myriad people on your planet, the Charm has selected you to be its Champion. Its powers are yours and yours alone, warrior and Charm bound in soul and body."
"As my Champion of Libra, may you guide the winds of change to maintain the balance in your heart. See with clarity, my Champion. Best of luck, my Champion. We are counting on you." Dedrick merely watched this scene unravel before him. It was only a moment, but this virtual recording he was in began to dissolve into a blinding light. He was now back in the forests where the crater was. A lone tear trailed from his eyes as the beauty died in front of his eyes. The lights and the marble were all gone, but now...
He wasn't alone.
"I feel like a mess..." Dedrick groaned as he slumped against the wall. Firmly pressing his face against the walls of the dance studio was not helping his headache at all. Could this be called a headache? It was more like his head was having wedges chiselled through his cranium while fingers rub apart his brain into a mess like crumbling apart a block of snow.
"Well... we know that." Dedrick's head swivelled, displaying a look of disapproval. Excuse me? He came out to have a good time, but now he was being attacked by both a head-splitting headache and his dance crew, "Come on, Dedrick. What's really wrong?" he hesitated for a moment. Even though they had barely begun practice, they had already noticed his lackluster performance. And here, he wanted to try and tough it out for another day, but he may have to draw the line here.
"Yeah, you're right... sorry guys." Dedrick apologised rubbing his temples and fixing his hair upon straightening himself up, "I've had a throbbing headache for a while now... and it's only getting worse." the enthusiasm was lacking in his voice, and his peers were stricken with worried glances.
"Listen, Dedrick, you should've just stayed home. If you can spin on your feet and slam your face against a wall, I think that's a sign that this is something serious."
"Yeah... yep. You're right, sorry. I'll just... uh... pack up." Dedrick sighed dejectedly, to which his peers profusely reassured him that it wasn't his fault; he ought to just stay home, rest, and recover, instead. This damned headache had been getting in the way of his daily life for the longest time now, around the time that those spaceships came out of nowhere. Maybe they are connected? Illuminati confirmed? Dedrick let out a small laugh as he quickly picked up his stuff and headed for the door. In spite of the palpitating pains in his head, thinking helped to ease the pains, and coming up with crazy conspiracy theories always cracked him up. Like lizard people... and the sneeple... Heck, maybe there are dog people. He's seen someone in a dog costume around these parts. In fact, she seemed to be pretty antsy these days too. He had spotted her earlier clutching a baseball bat close to her, mindlessly alert. Perhaps she was suffering like he was. Now, he was reduced to a thoughtless husk, mindlessly trudging the streets towards his home. His head was devoid of whatever thought, just to soothe its pulsing pains. He probably would have gotten ran over if not for his calm pace. And now, he stood in front of his door, not remembering how he'd even got here in the first place. The door opened with a creak that could claw his hurting head back, revealing the disorderly apartment within. Ordinarily, everything was spick and span, every nook and cranny clean. The black quartz countertop would have resembled the Men in Black headquarters, and one could have checked their reflection in the tiled flooring. But now, with his increasing fatigue, dizziness, and headaches, his cleaning routine was growing sloppy. There was laundry still left to be folded on a chair, and his yaoi was strewn all across the kitchen island. Most repulsive to him of all was his kitchen: with so many appliances and cabinets, it was easily the largest space of the apartment, and the most difficult to clean. Dust was beginning to gather between the columns of appliances, and dishes were piling up in the dish drainer rack. Well, at least he was home, and what better to soothe himself than with the pleasures of food? He quickly freed himself from his layers and tore off the tie that he wore from his neck, unbuttoning the top of his shirt to let him breathe and concentrate.
"Hmm..." Dedrick surveyed his kitchen inventory, filing through cabinet after cabinet, before sticking his head into the fridge. Oooh... That felt good. The cold air of the fridge enveloped his head in moist, misty tendrils, cooling his skin and helping the pain subside. In spite of how much his brain wished to break through the skull, his intense concentration seemed to easy away his pain, "Alright then!" he clapped his hands, and immediately recoiled. I should not have done that... He rubbed the stubbled sides of his head as he returned to the task on hand. Getting quickly absorbed into his work, his countertop was quickly growing cluttered with neat arrays of ingredients in cooking trays around him. Getting the prep work done was quick and easy, his broth was coming along nicely, the next step would be to prepare the kaeshi. All he needed was his weight sca--
"Aaagh!" the cook screamed as he stumbled backwards. He had only been fumbling through the cabinet to his side for the weight scale, and he had definitely felt the scale's clean, silver surface, but merely touching it only made his head throb harder.
"Damned headache, this ain't fair!" he muttered under his breath as he reached for it again.
"What is fair?"
Dedrick quickly spun on his feet, although that just made his hurting mind dizzy. What was that? There was a voice, but he couldn't catch where it'd come from. Had there been someone else here all this while? He'd only been home for barely half an hour, but he should've discovered them by now.
"Okay... now this ain't right." Dedrick sighed, talking to himself. He must have been hallucinating. Yes, that must be it.
"What is right? Where does one draw the line?" Dedrick hitched a breath, and he didn't breathe for a couple moments. The only sounds in the air was the bubbling of the soup. That voice had come from him! Or rather, from within him. Every word the voice spoke soothed his hurting head, but the pains immediately returned when the voice stopped.
"Okay... what in the world..." Dedrick began, "Is all of this?" Dedrick gestured to his head, but he wasn't talking to anybody. He had attempted to talk to the strange voice in his head, but it wasn't replying, and now he only felt like a fool, "Okay, you know what? This has got to stop..." Dedrick groaned.
"Not until you fulfill your destiny." Dedrick was at full alert once more. But even that could not help him explain why he was Gyokuto Crater across the city. Everything felt so real: the quality of the air, the sights of the crater... Best of all, his headache was gone! What was going on?
"Uhm... okay!" Dedrick's voice began to tremble a bit, "I accept you're here, bring me home!" as quickly as the scenery around him had changed, it quickly dissolved, and he was in his kitchen once more... Alright, it was a hallucination. But his head could only pound ever more violently now that the vision subsided. That vision of the crater had put his mind at ease... Dedrick hesitated for a moment, watching his soup boil, before he hastily turned off the stove. It was nighttime. He would need to change to be comfortable, and he sure as heck wasn't going to leave a stove on if he was going to leave the house.
"Breathe out... Breathe in..." the earbuds sang in the runner's ear as he panted, running along the streets of the town towards the crater in the distance, "We're still... forgetting..." he was dressed in simple running attire: a pair of shorts, a shirt that hugged his torso through which he could feel the cold night air, hidden from view by a windbreaker. The sensation of Dedrick's soles pounding on the hard pavement soothed the pounding in his skull with each step; the rigour in his legs shot up through his spine with every motion. This damnable headache was a distraction, but in his mission towards the crater, each breath he took reminded him:
That he'd never felt more alive.
"Breathe out... Breathe in..." Dedrick mouthed as he drew deep breaths of crisp, cool air, of the forests east of the city, "We'll be forgiven." being away from the city itself was ameliorating to the tensions in his head, and approaching the crater was noticeable alleviating the weights that hung heavy on his mind. And there it was. The crater loomed before him like a patch of brilliant night sky in the ground. Its placid waters were like a mirror's surface, and Dedrick admired himself briefly in it. Maybe he ought to have shaved this morning, a stubble was already visible along his jaw. Or maybe he'd grow it out. His reflection rubbed the stubbly chin, just like he did, but something about it was different. Wait... What was he holding? The reflection in the waters was eyeing something above him, and Dedrick stumbled back away from the waters, his senses brought back down to earth. The shack over yonder was alight, and his own reflection was still in the water, smiling at him as it gestured to the shack before dissolving back into clouds and stars. Getting up, he trudged over to the doors of the shack, past the broken padlock and chains, to peer in at the plaques, and exhibits, and the stones. The glowing stones. The shack should have been closed right now; what he was doing felt wrong... No. It felt like it should be wrong. Something about the glowing stones was just drawing him in, reassuring him that this is what it should be. The emblazoned insignia of the zodiac in them lit up the shack, and perhaps they could even light up the sky with their incomparably brilliant shine, "What is this..." he breathed a breath filled with wonder and curiosity as he approached the stones. Their cold, smooth sheen was akin to something metal, but it shot jolts of warmth through the fingers that hovered above it. He wanted to touch it, but he hesitated for a moment.
What was all this?
He had came to the crater to ease his troubled mind, and now he was trespassing and laying hands on a protected symbol of heritage. Every fibre of his body tugged at his soul, every thought in his brain wildly ran in loops. Should he be doing this? With a deep breath, he affirmed his resolution. He wanted to touch the stone. And it was wonderful.
With the stone in his hand, he was standing on a stream of stars in the night sky. The cityscape beneath him itself was like festering lights, moving in circuits around illuminated towers like a colony of fireflies. On and around the path before him, clouds coiled and twirled around him, taking on colours and resembling nebulae as they danced closer and closer around the stars that popped in and out of existence, lighting up the way before him in a myriad of vivid colour and lucid lights. The superlunary path was like an aurora, shimmering and waving in front of him like an ethereal wisp. He was speechless, he had been robbed of his breath with the beauty of the scene, and forgetting the stone, his fingers relaxed, dropping the stone from his grip.
The scenery before him dissolved, and a soft, mournful gasp escaped his lips as the shack returned into view. He glanced down at the stone with bleary eyes, only to quickly grab at it again, clutching it tightly as the scenery came back every more brightly. The aurora came back searing, blazing the trail he was to follow, and he gladly did. Each step he took cracked the sky in auroras of colour, and each breath he took was a gift of colour that he could only imagine in his wildest dreams. As he walked along, he'd ram into something invisible that he couldn't see... but nothing could distract him from the breathtaking, addicting display. He ran, and ran, and ran. The trail he'd left behind were like veins of running colours, flames burst all around him as he approached ever closer, and the nebulae around him had gathered into currents of colours resembling the rapids, coalescing in pools before flowing out in falls and leaps, within which fish with scales of gold and silver animatedly dived and flung themselves about. The end of the path was now in sight: a building of grandiose proportions, white as marble and perfect as the great looping spheres it was built of. The marble itself was a snow white, its black cracks shifting and twisting like stars and streams in its milky smooth complexion. The entire building beheld him with its pristine sheen and otherworldly architecture. A pair of guardian beasts made of the same material stood guard outside the entrance, and above the archway, the zodiac glowed intensely. Entering the building, he twirled and spun, pivoting on a foot to catch the beauty in his similarly pale pupils. The etched lines of the building's centre formed a flower in the wide, open platform. It was almost like an agora, or a planetarium! He was in a white nest with branches that were etched with strange symbols and fractal corners. Twirling around in the centre and staring straight up through the sky made him dizzy in delight as the white branches above twisted and molded into radially symmetrical shapes of all sorts of wonders. Light from the starry skies beyond the cage sifted through the moving branches in streams, reflecting and refracting off of the marble to form beams and spots of colours above that changed as he stared at it, like a heavenly kaleidoscope that heaved, and breathed. Surely, this must have been a wonder no man has ever seen before. Surely it must have been alive. But he knew it was a vision, what with the scenery's connection the stone he held onto dearly, and he could only feel pity that he was of flesh and blood, that he couldn't be a part of everything above him.
"Welcome."
The familiar voice reverberated throughout the building, bouncing off the white tendrils that snaked about to arrive at the centre, at Dedrick, in calming echoes. It came from further down the platform, where there was a raised platform, and he proceeded to stride towards it, only to be met with twelve titans, towering above him in a glorious pose, brighter than anything he could imagine. He raised an arm to cover his eyes, shielding himself from the glare as a figure stepped forward. Its bright silhouette dimmed as tendrils of light radiated from her body, wrapping around Dedrick in flares of warmth that could only be described as comfortable. Perfectly comfortable. He belonged here, and the figure in front of him reaffirmed that with a voice he knew all too well at this point.
"If you are watching this virtual recording, it means that you have been chosen to become one of the Star Scouts, campions of the Council of Twelve--" her voice glitched, along with the surroundings as she rode on her throne of constellations and nebulae towards him. Her perfect features were finally discernible as she approached, floating around him as she spoke with a voice smoother than honey. If she had a male counterpart, perhaps he would've n*t, "From this moment on, the Zodiac Charm you now hold will allow me to imbue you with a portion of my people's power. You will need it in the days ahead, as the activation of the Charms can only mean one thing: Your planet, indeed the entire universe, is in grave peril. It will be up to you to defend against the cruel enemies of the Council as they threaten to take over and destroy your world. One by one they conquer civilization after civilization, and only the Twelve and our noble Star Scouts are left to resist that darkness. With the Charm in your grasp, no deed is too great, no act of heroics impossible. Remember, you have been chosen for a reason. Out of all the myriad people on your planet, the Charm has selected you to be its Champion. Its powers are yours and yours alone, warrior and Charm bound in soul and body."
"As my Champion of Libra, may you guide the winds of change to maintain the balance in your heart. See with clarity, my Champion. Best of luck, my Champion. We are counting on you." Dedrick merely watched this scene unravel before him. It was only a moment, but this virtual recording he was in began to dissolve into a blinding light. He was now back in the forests where the crater was. A lone tear trailed from his eyes as the beauty died in front of his eyes. The lights and the marble were all gone, but now...
He wasn't alone.
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Veradana
Member
Manami woke up in a coughing fit. As it subsided, she looked around and, with a wobbling sigh, reaffirmed that she was still in her room. It was still pitch dark outside the small window, and the clock on her bedside table assured her that it was still in the very early hours. She let herself fall back into her pillow. Ever since the spaceships had arrived, she’d been feverish and nauseous beyond what anyone could call a bout of spring flu. Waking up like this was still better than when she’d woken up in the middle of the hallway, and her dad had nearly tripped over her while getting ready for work. There weren’t any worries about maybe needing to see a brain specialist over hacking up a lung in the privacy of your own room.
As she lay there, shivering, a small buzzing caught her attention. She shook her head, trying to make it go away so she could at least get a little sleep before morning. The noise just got louder, Manami groaning and covering her ears, when suddenly, the noise became a clear, low voice, and she could make out the words it was saying.
“Gyotoko Crater...
“You need to go to Gyotoko Crater,” it said, “There you will find your destiny.”
Manami forced herself to sit up, her headache fading the more the voice spoke. It continued its urging as she sat there, wondering how high of a fever you needed to have before you started hallucinating, and if cold medicine would make it be quiet.
“This is no hallucination. I am calling you to your destiny.”
“You shouldn’t call people in the middle of the night,” Manami mumbled, getting out of bed. It didn’t seem like this thing was about to leave her alone. She didn’t want to risk waking her family by turning on any lights, but she couldn’t go out in her pajamas. Just trying to sneak out risked her drawing attention. She dressed haphazardly with whatever she could find easily, pulling a jacket on over top, and left her room, creeping down the hall.
At the front door, she hesitated. It was still the middle of the night after all, and even in daylight, the streets could be dangerous. The voice took the opportunity to speak up again.
“You must go.” It said, “No harm will come to you, I assure you.”
-----------
There was a makeshift museum at the crater. Nearly a dozen other people stood within it. Manami barely noticed them, and they didn’t take any notice of her either. Her attention was focused solely on the objects at their feet. One of them shone brighter to her eyes than the rest. The voice’s urging pounded in her head.
“Take it,” it said, over and over again, “It’s yours.”
Manami reached out towards the shining rock, before pulling back, glancing around at the others. As she pulled back, the headaches and chills started up again.
“Do not worry. It is yours. It is your destiny to have it.”
Manami only took another second’s hesitation before reaching out and pulling the stone close to her body. All at once, Manami’s vision was filled with light. The light faded to reveal a scene of a massive temple, a strange woman sitting on the steps. She looked at Manami with warm eyes and smiled.
“Welcome,” her voice matched the one that had led Manami through the night. “I am glad that you have made it,
"If you are watching this virtual recording, it means that you have been chosen to become one of the Star Scouts, champions of the Council of --Twelve--" the recording seemed to stutter briefly, but it continued on as normal, “"From this moment on, the Zodiac Charm you now hold will allow me to imbue you with a portion of my people's power. You will need it in the days ahead, as the activation of the Charms can only mean one thing: Your planet, indeed the entire universe, is in grave peril. It will be up to you to defend against the cruel enemies of the Council as they threaten to take over and destroy your world. One by one, they conquer civilization after civilization, and only the Twelve and our noble Star Scouts are left to resist that darkness. With the Charm in your grasp, no deed is too great, no act of heroics impossible. Remember, you have been chosen for a reason. Out of all the myriad people on your planet, the Charm has selected you to be its Champion. Its powers are yours and yours alone, warrior and Charm bound in soul and body."
"As my Champion of Taurus, may your path stay sure and steady, and let your disciplined beliefs stand as firm as the foundation of the earth. Keep ever faithful, my Champion." The woman and the temple dissolved as she spoke the final words, leaving Manami holding the stone in a shack surrounded by ten other people. Whatever trance state they were in before seemed to be fading.
As she lay there, shivering, a small buzzing caught her attention. She shook her head, trying to make it go away so she could at least get a little sleep before morning. The noise just got louder, Manami groaning and covering her ears, when suddenly, the noise became a clear, low voice, and she could make out the words it was saying.
“Gyotoko Crater...
“You need to go to Gyotoko Crater,” it said, “There you will find your destiny.”
Manami forced herself to sit up, her headache fading the more the voice spoke. It continued its urging as she sat there, wondering how high of a fever you needed to have before you started hallucinating, and if cold medicine would make it be quiet.
“This is no hallucination. I am calling you to your destiny.”
“You shouldn’t call people in the middle of the night,” Manami mumbled, getting out of bed. It didn’t seem like this thing was about to leave her alone. She didn’t want to risk waking her family by turning on any lights, but she couldn’t go out in her pajamas. Just trying to sneak out risked her drawing attention. She dressed haphazardly with whatever she could find easily, pulling a jacket on over top, and left her room, creeping down the hall.
At the front door, she hesitated. It was still the middle of the night after all, and even in daylight, the streets could be dangerous. The voice took the opportunity to speak up again.
“You must go.” It said, “No harm will come to you, I assure you.”
-----------
There was a makeshift museum at the crater. Nearly a dozen other people stood within it. Manami barely noticed them, and they didn’t take any notice of her either. Her attention was focused solely on the objects at their feet. One of them shone brighter to her eyes than the rest. The voice’s urging pounded in her head.
“Take it,” it said, over and over again, “It’s yours.”
Manami reached out towards the shining rock, before pulling back, glancing around at the others. As she pulled back, the headaches and chills started up again.
“Do not worry. It is yours. It is your destiny to have it.”
Manami only took another second’s hesitation before reaching out and pulling the stone close to her body. All at once, Manami’s vision was filled with light. The light faded to reveal a scene of a massive temple, a strange woman sitting on the steps. She looked at Manami with warm eyes and smiled.
“Welcome,” her voice matched the one that had led Manami through the night. “I am glad that you have made it,
"If you are watching this virtual recording, it means that you have been chosen to become one of the Star Scouts, champions of the Council of --Twelve--" the recording seemed to stutter briefly, but it continued on as normal, “"From this moment on, the Zodiac Charm you now hold will allow me to imbue you with a portion of my people's power. You will need it in the days ahead, as the activation of the Charms can only mean one thing: Your planet, indeed the entire universe, is in grave peril. It will be up to you to defend against the cruel enemies of the Council as they threaten to take over and destroy your world. One by one, they conquer civilization after civilization, and only the Twelve and our noble Star Scouts are left to resist that darkness. With the Charm in your grasp, no deed is too great, no act of heroics impossible. Remember, you have been chosen for a reason. Out of all the myriad people on your planet, the Charm has selected you to be its Champion. Its powers are yours and yours alone, warrior and Charm bound in soul and body."
"As my Champion of Taurus, may your path stay sure and steady, and let your disciplined beliefs stand as firm as the foundation of the earth. Keep ever faithful, my Champion." The woman and the temple dissolved as she spoke the final words, leaving Manami holding the stone in a shack surrounded by ten other people. Whatever trance state they were in before seemed to be fading.
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SP3CT3R
eepy
After the vision ended, Nolan realized that there were a lot more people than him and the ex-possible dog abuser. He recognized three girls from his class, the spaz daughter of the owners of that crepe place, that British actor guy, and an upperclassman that Nolan totally did not have a crush on. There were three other people there who he didn't know at all. One was tall with long blond hair, one had her bright blue hair in pigtails, and the other looked like he was going for a run. The only person who spoke since when Nolan's vision ended was Sakura, whose voice demanded an explanation for what was going on.
Nolan turned to face her and said, "Either we just became defenders of the universe or we're all just batsh*t crazy. Take your pick. Wait, we did all have the same vision, right? With the weird alien girl saying that these things have powers and we have to use them to fight off the forces of evil or that nonsense? Or are these rocks some kind of drug? Like, a really advanced drug that makes you sick for months until you use it? Whatever. It's way too late, or, actually, too early to be thinking about this. I'm going back to bed. If any monsters appear, call me."
Nolan turned to face her and said, "Either we just became defenders of the universe or we're all just batsh*t crazy. Take your pick. Wait, we did all have the same vision, right? With the weird alien girl saying that these things have powers and we have to use them to fight off the forces of evil or that nonsense? Or are these rocks some kind of drug? Like, a really advanced drug that makes you sick for months until you use it? Whatever. It's way too late, or, actually, too early to be thinking about this. I'm going back to bed. If any monsters appear, call me."
Misuteeku
The One Who Tries
"I'll go for batsh*t crazy" Sakura said rather calmly from her tone earlier. She looked around, and identified everyone around her was unfamiliar. They all seemed to be rather older, except the girl with the dog costume who looked rather younger than a highschool student. "Also how are 'we' suppose to call you when we don't even your number anyway?" Sakura said as she waved him goodbye. She did a recount on everyone in her sights to count around her. So far there were supposingly eleven people. There wasn't a twelve nor maybe a thirteenth, included the Snake Charmer. "I guess this is based of the zodiac since stars, and caner have a close connection" Sakura said to herself as she looked around. She in turn looked at her palm in which she was holding the stone or rather the zodiac stone that she wanted to name it as.
Shelter
gensokyo; eternity at the palm of my hand ♜
"Oi! You walking away! Shouldn't we stick together or at least talk about what just happened?" This wasn't simply some weird trance, this was something that led a certain group of people -specifically high school students- to a certain spot. To her knowledge, they were the chosen defenders of this planet since the number of people here matched the description given by that woman. Whatever led them here did not want them to simply drift away. What if the so-called "enemies" attack them while they're vulnerable, they need a plan or at least some direction on what they should do. However ... she didn't really know him, and he had no real obligation to stay with her demand. She needed something to convince him to stay a bit longer while everyone is getting their bearings together. "Uhm .. I mean ... isn't there anyone here you want to check if they're okay?"
Orikanyo
Do you hear it? The screams of Gacha salt?
-Current location, currently nameless gang hideout-
Laying upon a futon within a large shack, somewhere deep in the woods, is our hero. A young man with a heart of gold, hidden under a great deal of gruffness, edge and an iron will. Along a great, great deal of stupidity. On this evening he lays in a hazy stupor, his pain had gotten so great that he had reached full circle and had fallen into a state of ennui. or perhaps was it due to the painkillers? One might never know. But now enters three of his number, dressed still in their school clothing the young lady of the group puts down upon a makeshift table a small pile of homework, much like a cat leaving a dead mouse upon the doorstep, and no less unpleasant.
"Boss, yea still alive?' the first young man asked, looking over their leader with evident worry. "No ssshit hesss alive, hessss shtill breathing!" said the second, with a snarky attitude to match his lisp, likely caused by his rather large bucked teeth. "I wasn't askin' you! Does he look okay to you!?" the first one shouted glaring daggers at the lispy man. "...Could you guys quiet down? If hes still alive he doesn't want to hear your stupid arguing." the young woman took control of the situation, before looking to their listless and quite out of it leader. The man was motionless, lost in his own diseased mind. "Should we even... be near him?' the first boy asked again, taking a few steps back from the rather... Peacefully sleeping man. "I don't know... But we gotta do something. Maybe... You two, go and get some cold meds or something from the pharmacy in town." the young woman ordered. "What? why ussh?" the lispy boy countered. "Because I need to stay here." she countered, but the first boy did not falter. "Why only you huh? Want some alone time with-" he smirked, but only jumped back as the veil of anger came from the young woman.
"Are you asking for me to beat your ass? Or are you gonna get those meds?" two cracked knuckles later the two men rushed out of the shack and down the path.
"Hmph,idiots." the girl scoffed, before looking back to their leader, who grimaced slightly in his daze filled sleep.
"Pfft, alone time with the boss, idiots.... Not like I can't get to him anyways... I already have enough hair for the shrine to... Though...Could use some more~!" she procured a pair of scissors and loomed over the man.
"...He might die soon...
I should take as much as I can~!
Perhaps some of his blood? I can't let that go to waste. Perhaps I can follow him into death if I drink it, I couldn't bare a life without my most beloved boss~!" she giggled with sanguine glee, finally, all alone with her prey.
It was that moment that a noise came from outside the shack. The sound of chittering and clanging as something had gotten into their trashbin. "Shit... Can't just. " she growled, angered at this distraction from her worship. "I'll be back soon boss~! Don't worry!" she spoke quietly to her listless boss before making her way outside to do battle with a raccoon.
A battle, that would take longer then she would've expected.
But we are not following her story, for we have our hero's to attend to, and his story is about to begin. Just as the two start their battle of trash covered beast versus a slightly more rabid one the unexpected began to happen. or at least, the unexpected for those not within the story. brendan, in his hazy listless stupor began to "sleep"walk. Climbing off the futon and dragging himself to the door he was being called by an unheard voice, a siren's song, a call to action for our foolish hero! A call that guides him to an unknown area for adventure and heroics!
Heres hoping he doesn't accidentally fall off a cliff eh?
A soft white light envelopes his mind, a radiant beauty beyond what he could describe. Was he asleep? Was he dead? Was he somewhere in between?
If this was heaven, he wouldn't mind staying here.
If it was hell, what must heaven be like?
In either case, a road laid out before him, to a grand display of artistry that almost made him cry from the meer sight of it! All the pain up until now, and this was to greet him on his way to the afterlife? Best not keep it waiting, he has an eternity to attend to now, best get on with it.
No matter what you do, you cannot return back to life right?
Wait, no, some folks have right? near death experiences? What if this was one of those?
Perhaps he was still clinging to life?
He had to make certain of what was happen, he had to move forwards!
He strode towards his newest goal, the area before him felt real to his feet as he marched up the way, continuing on and on until... She appeared.
[COLOR= rgb(152, 157, 160)]"[/COLOR]If you are watching this virtual recording, it means that you have been chosen to become one of the Star Scouts, champions of the Council of -Twelve-." When she said the word 'twelve' there was a slight delay, as if there might be a glitch in the so-called 'virtual recording.' "From this moment on, the Zodiac Charm you now hold will allow me to imbue you with a portion of my people's power. You will need it in the days ahead, as the activation of the Charms can only mean one thing: Your planet, indeed the entire universe, is in grave peril. It will be up to you to defend against the cruel enemies of the Council as they threaten to take over and destroy your world. One by one they conquer civilization after civilization, and only the Twelve and our noble Star Scouts are left to resist that darkness. With the Charm in your grasp, no deed is too great, no act of heroics impossible. Remember, you have been chosen for a reason. Out of all the myriad people on your planet, the Charm has selected you to be its Champion. Its powers are yours and yours alone, warrior and Charm bound in soul and body."As my Champion of Sagittarius, may your fiery optimism kindle your strength and ensure that your journey ends in triumph. Travel safely, my Champion.". We are counting on you.[COLOR= rgb(152, 157, 160)]"[/COLOR]
A moment of silence hangs in the air as the woman suddenly drops he prim and proper facade, looking much more disgruntled and unhappy, as if she was forced to do the earlier block against her will.
"Good luck, don't die. And try not to fuck everything up alright? Alight."
Brendan stood upon the stone structure, his mouth agap and utter confusion present all over his features. he had a million question, and so many damn things to say!
But the only thing the young man could force out was one simple phrase.
"What in the fuck is this shit."
It was then, he awoke.
-A little theme music-
To the others who saw the man, it looked like a big, incredably sick looking punk came dragging, yes dragging, himself through the nearby bushes, grabbing at tuffs of grass the slowly slide himself forward into the shack.
A light appeared.
He finally stood up and very eloquently shouted the last bit of dialogue you see above.
"What? Where? how in hell did I get here?" the suddenly lucid man gasped as his head turned into a swiel, trying to figure out where in hell he was. Was this a prank? Was he set up? Why the hell was he holding a rock? Why was there broken glass on the floor-
OOOOOOOOOH SHIT!!!
Oh boy!
Did he?!
Did he actually break into this place and steal shit!?
Hooooooolllllllllly fuuuuuu- wait.
There was other people, he could explain why he was here, or rather how he doesn't know why he was here or how he got here...
Stiffening up and placing the rock in his pocket he sauntered over to the other people around.. which was a good number of folks actually. Wait, they all had those rock things to! that means he wasn't the only one! thank god, maybe they were giving them away for free or something, or... maybe he accidentally joined a cult or something? he did suddenly feel better, maybe the cult promised to cure him?
Well obviously it worked, whatever this cult did.
"...So... uhh.... Whats up?" he asked the others with a raised eyebrow, pretty much forgetting what the hell went down back there, he WAS straight up confused and likely had a weird ass dream so it was easily explained. "...So... Who leads this cult?" he asked, pretty damn sure they were a part of a cult, pretty plain clothes, most of them anyways.. one girl only had a shirt on really, pretty cute though, couldn't go wrong with sleeping in a shirt, keeps you nice and cool-
Best he stop staring at her.
wizard nibblers
( ﾉ• ω •)ﾉ ┻━┻
Taking a better look at them all, they looked like quite the odd bunch. Most certainly all kids from his school, but never ones he’d seen altogether. They sure had a lot of questions. Come to think of it he could probably come up with a lot of questions too.
“I think you guys know as much as I do,” He said, running his fingers back through his hair to comb out the leaves.
“I wouldn’t write off drugs, but I dunno how we all got them. Can drugs work that way? Like, they do stuff to you before you take them?” He’d never really gotten around to drugs, and didn’t have much experience. He was a simple man with simple pleasures. In any case, he agreed with blonde kid. No harm done by going back to bed and dealing with it in the morning. Don’t drugs wear off with sleep? Sleep sounded good. Seemed like the headaches had gone away too, which means this was as good a time as any. “I don’t know about you guys but I feel better than I have in days. So If you don’t mind, I think I’ll hit the hay too.” He turned to leave, and paused for a moment.
“By the way,” he began, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly, “Is anyone going back to the dorms? I, uh, might’ve locked myself out.”
“I think you guys know as much as I do,” He said, running his fingers back through his hair to comb out the leaves.
“I wouldn’t write off drugs, but I dunno how we all got them. Can drugs work that way? Like, they do stuff to you before you take them?” He’d never really gotten around to drugs, and didn’t have much experience. He was a simple man with simple pleasures. In any case, he agreed with blonde kid. No harm done by going back to bed and dealing with it in the morning. Don’t drugs wear off with sleep? Sleep sounded good. Seemed like the headaches had gone away too, which means this was as good a time as any. “I don’t know about you guys but I feel better than I have in days. So If you don’t mind, I think I’ll hit the hay too.” He turned to leave, and paused for a moment.
“By the way,” he began, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly, “Is anyone going back to the dorms? I, uh, might’ve locked myself out.”
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Tonkatsu
𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘥𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘴
Aratani was convinced that her cousin was part of the Illuminati.
Everything rooted back from a couple months ago, when Aratani was sent to her relatives' house in Choshi, a picturesque city in Chiba prefecture. Her parents enrolled her in Sacred Heart International School where she could attend classes along with Sakura, her cousin. They didn't get along too well, since both of them were more often quiet to each other than not. It didn't help that Sakura always seemed to be angry at home, though it was mostly directed to her parents only. From a few of their conversations, though, Aratani found out that Sakura had been experiencing various headaches to the point that it affected her life. For Aratani this was serious, as the headaches left a painful sensation throughout her body, as Sakura described it. Sakura's parents, though, seemed not to share Aratani's view. Though Sakura clearly displayed dangerous symptoms of the headache, they did nothing, as if they didn't care for her at all. Everytime Aratani asked Sakura about the headaches, she only replied with silence, which attributed to Aratani's curiosity about the case. Feeling like she should look into this more, Aratani searched online about why someone could experience fatal headaches that would even leave a sensation of pain in the body, and she was shocked of what she found.
Though Sakura never complained about her headaches, Aratani could clearly see they were affecting Sakura's daily life. In just a second, a healthy Sakura could feel pain all over her body, and though Sakura never complains about it, Aratani can even almost feel the pain rushing all over her body through Sakura's expression. Aratani kind of pitied Sakura and wanted to help her, but how? Aratani was kind of disabled herself. Taking of herself was already a lot of work, so taking care of someone else was clearly out of the question. The least Aratani could do for her cousin was to observe her. Observe what she does in her free time, and maybe even get an answer regarding the matter that's been bugging Aratani for a while now; if Sakura was really part of the Illuminati.
Today was a normal day for Aratani. She was feeling tired like usual, mostly because her body can't take too much fatigue or she would collapse. Studying doesn't take much of her stamina, but running does, and today she had P.E. class. Despite the fact that Aratani can't overexert herself, she still tries her best in P.E. class, joining the games and run laps, though the routines were all toned down to match Aratani's level of fatigue-taking. She is just a little above mediocre in sports, yet she tries her best in order to keep her top 3 ranking in the school. Even if she doesn't get too good of a score in sports, she needed to at least try to make the teacher pass her in the subject. That way, she could still keep her ranking in the school-- at least in academics.
After going through another boring day and feeling exhausted, Aratani was just about ready to sleep with the lights turned off and all, only seconds away from the land of dreams when Sakura suddenly got out of bed and changed into a jacket and some jeans going out, Aratani felt like she should follow her, out of care and pure curiosity to where she would go. Aratani could only guess what Sakura wanted to do, going out in a time like that. The first thing that crossed her mind was that Sakura was going to an Illuminati gathering. Of course, Sakura managed to be oblivious to the fact that Aratani followed her, mainly because she didn't look back one bit. She just continued walking, walking, and more walking, much to Aratani's dismay.
What felt like forever, when Aratani's legs were just about to break due to exhaustion, she finally managed to arrive in some sort of tourism park after following her cousin. Somewhere inside the venue was a sign that read 'Gyokuto Crater', and Aratani remembered it was a meteorical site or something. It was dark, cold, and Aratani's feet felt like it would deactivate due to exhaustion. However, she decided to follow her cousin a bit more after she entered a shack of some sort. As Aratani peeked through the window, multiple individuals were gathered, each of them touching a stone of some sort. There was also a broken, rusty chain barely laying beneath the door. Aratani was convinced that they were cultists who held an illegal meeting. 'I knew it. This is probably a wonky Illuminati brainwashing gathering or something,' Aratani thought. Later, her suspicion would finally be confirmed as she saw each and everyone of them walking around with the same destination, but to Aratani, they stopped where there was absolutely nothing in front of them. It was as if after touching the glowing stone, they were seeing something that Aratani did not. Despite her strong thoughts that following them would not be a good idea, she followed them anyway for two reasons : first, she feared for Sakura's safety. Second, Aratani wasn't sure that she could come back home without fainting on the way back the way she is now!
Hoping that she would find a glowing stone for herself, Aratani walked inside the shack, and rummaged through it, hoping to salvage at least one stone. Of course, Aratani had no such luck. The were no more glowing stones after Sakura and the others took it, so Aratani decided to blindly follow them instead, reaching the same spot as they had earlier. She still saw nothing even if the others were starting to mutter some words to. . whoever they were talking to. Even Sakura, she stared in awe as if something was in front of her; but Aratani did not see anything except for trees and the ecosystem of the forest itself. It was not until everyone snapped back from their awestruck faces to a shocked expression that Aratani felt a stone in her pocket, and her vision quickly shifted.
What laid before her eyes now were bursts of flames no bigger than the size of her palms shining to guide her way. They glowed with an eerie white, some even gold gleam. Reaching the end of the path, a towering building of pure, hard white stood before her. Trying not to hesitate, Aratani pressed on, entering the building as she observed the beautiful, convoluted details of the massive structure. As she looked upwards, it felt like the entire stellar system was up above her. Aratani believed they were paintings, yet she knew that they were too good, too real to be one. Finally entering what seemed to be the main hall of the building, the first thing she noticed was the thirteen tall individuals that she couldn't quite make out the features of. Each of them glistened with a heavenly glow, as if they were each a godly deity.
After seeing this view, Aratani was quickly greeted by blinding light shining in front of her. Following the sudden burst of light, the thirteen tall individuals were now looming over her. She could hear them bickering something about an intruder and her being connected to one of the star scouts-- whatever that was. They stopped bickering after a bit, and two of the individuals, now with the heavenly glow weakened, were now in full view, just in front of Aratani. She could now see their red hair, their body covered in cloths that seemed to be changing colors as the minute passed, and their expressions, one kind, the other stern. Both of them wore jewelry that added to their elegance, and they were glowing with a rainbow hue. They looked like angels, if not goddesses.
"Welcome." They said in unison. Their voices overlapped with each other perfectly, creating a sound so beautiful, better than any sound any human would make. "If you are watching this virtual recording, it means that you have been chosen to become one of the Star Scouts, champions of the Council of -Twelve-." When they spoke in unison the word 'twelve' there was a slight delay, as if there might be a glitch in the so-called 'virtual recording.' "From this moment on, the Zodiac Charm you now hold will allow me to imbue you with a portion of my people's power. You will need it in the days ahead, as the activation of the Charms can only mean one thing: Your planet, indeed the entire universe, is in grave peril. It will be up to you to defend against the cruel enemies of the Council as they threaten to take over and destroy your world. One by one they conquer civilization after civilization, and only the Twelve and our noble Star Scouts are left to resist that darkness. With the Charm in your grasp, no deed is too great, no act of heroics impossible. Remember, you have been chosen for a reason. Out of all the myriad people on your planet, the Charm has selected you to be its Champion. Its powers are yours and yours alone, warrior and Charm bound in soul and body. As my Champion of Gemini, may you carry two times the strength to uplift your allies, and the adaptability of the ever-changing wind. Well wishes, my Champion." They spoke, one finishing the lines of the other, until they finally stopped. As the blinding sudden burst of light greeted Aratani again, this time, she was teleported to where Sakura and the others were, just shortly after Nikola said that he wished to leave. Running over to Sakura as soon as Aratani saw her, she immediately asked her cousin :
"Tell me that I'm wrong Sakura, but are you part of the Illuminati? And did I just unwillingly become part of it?" Only after she said it that Aratani noticed there were some of her classmates, and even club mates gathered. She could make out almost everyone gathered there, though some faces she hasn't seen at all.
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ScatteredStars
~I Wanna Be A Magic Girl~
.Delia.Olivia.Eriksen.
Delia looked around at the people standing around her, hugging her pink cardigan around her body. She had already dropped the metallic, Pisces stone into her pocket and she watched as the others talked. The one boy wanted to leave while the girl with hair like moonlight and the younger girl with pink hair tried to keep him from leaving. One other boy woke from his trance, who Delia recognized as Brendan from Literary club, believing they were all in a cult... That would explain a lot of things come to think of it. The last girl to wake was another underclassman who mentioned the illuminati
No, she was not in a cult or the illuminati. If anything, they were all having a collective hallucination, or who knows what? All Delia knew was that she was scared. If each person had seen what she saw, that meant...
That was when Delia's train of thought was interrupted by yet another person wanting to leave. "W-Wait!" Delia piped-up, her eyes pleading as she looked back and forth between Nolan and Nikola. "Please stay... Both of you. We-... We need to figure out what's going on here. I don't--... um..." She seemed to be at a loss for words, but then her eyes widened as if she thought of something she over looked before. She focused in on Nikola this time. "You're feeling better, yeah? Where you having headaches?" She turned to Dedrick and then to Mitya, "You two were having headaches too, yeah? So was I. The only thing I've taken is ibuprofen, and that was hardly strong enough to do anything. I also haven't eaten anything in the past day, so I-- I don't think it's drugs."
@SP3CT3R @wizard nibblers @Otakuyaki @Pretzel Heart
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Shelter
gensokyo; eternity at the palm of my hand ♜
Ah, forget it. Akemi decided to let him go, she can't force people to stay this late. After all, there are people that needed her! She turned around looking for the man that needed to go back to the dorms, she couldn't abandon Eruna to this random group of people ... or where they. She recognized Mitya easily, the man who can dance your heart away Dedrick, and ... OMG ... is that Mr. Deliquient with the Heart of Gold in the flesh ... and he's looking at Eruna weirdly. He will be dealt with soon. Ah, she found the man who needed to get back to the dorms, it's just Nikola. His hair dancing in the wind, beautiful and free, dreaming of escaping this cruel reality that tied it to such an empty man that never value it. She can hear it calling her, asking her to take the hair as her own, hold it, kiss - She rubbed eyes, I honestly need to get some sleep. "Hey, Nikola. I can call Koray if you need to get back to the dorms. "
@wizard nibblers
@wizard nibblers
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animegirl20
Ten Thousand Club
While Akemi was taking off her sweater Eruna scanned the area to see what everyone was doing. There seem to be a little bit of commotion which was understandable. She then noticed a new face appear she recognize him at first but when walked closer to the group she realized it was. Oh great it's Brendan. She saw him looking over at her but she wasn't sure why. She then realized something, she still hadn't covered herself up yet. Her cheeks went pink from slight embarrassment and she quickly let Akemi put the sweater on her and then she looked back at Brendan. "What are you staring at huh?" She then stuck her tug out at him. After that she turned to Akemi and gave her a hug. "Thanks Akemi!" She was just about to gush out to her how excited she was about what just happen but noticed people raising their voices. Akemi then tried to get Nolan to stay as he began to walk away. She watched the others talk as she thought for a moment. "Hey Akemi why don't we just get everyone's numbers and then plan to meet up somewhere?"
@Orikanyo
@Shelter
Misuteeku
The One Who Tries
[SIZE= 20px]Sakura[/SIZE]
Sakura immediately frowned when she heard her cousin's voice. Why was she here? Her condition was obviously not well, and she shouldn't bad at night at prolong times. When her cousin slipped out that she was in the Illuminati she was slightly confused. She got up, and stared at her cousin. "What is the Illuminati, and why are you here!" Sakura demanded. She was charged with her cousin's health, and she did not want her to get sick just from the cool breeze of the night. She started to grab Aratani's wrist, and started to drag her out of the current place. "You are so dead to me when we get back home" She said as she started to drag her out. She wasn't intentionally trying to be angry, but it was her personality that told her so. She looked around to register their faces, and decided she will meet them back at school.
@Tonkatsu
Shelter
gensokyo; eternity at the palm of my hand ♜
She turned to Eruna. "Eruna, I'm busy trying to- that's actually a pretty good idea, why didn't I think of that?" She squeezed Eruna tightly, she felt so lucky to have her around. "Don't ever change Eruna, my beautiful, wonderful kouhai!" Then she remembered she needed to call Koray to open the door for him and people she didn't know were leaving before she can implement Eruna's plan. It was alright, she didn't bother screaming for the people to stop. She was honestly on the edge of passing out and she was pretty sure that she would meet those people again since she can recognize some of them from school. She knew that sitting down in her current state was a bad idea, but at least it would reduce the risk of fall down if she were to pass out.
@animegirl20
@animegirl20
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Arne
Toplofty Aberrant
Arthur couldn't help but get confuse over the abnormal situation, clearly showing his thoughtful state by the distracted expression displayed on his face. He could somehow understand what just happened in despite of the exceedingly weird circumstances, as the explanation of the being managed to elucidate him to a certain extent, but even so it was really difficult to adapt himself so easily. He took about four minutes to get his mind in order, or at least partially functional, and start analyzing the situation, quickly moving his gaze to inspect his companions in confusion.
The first thing he realized was, of course, the odd group that was gathered in the crater. As someone with quite the diligence when it came to his objective of being somehow familiar to most of the students around his age, Arthur naturally recognized most of the individuals gathered there, a good omen amidst the completely absurd situation.
He quickly managed to identify the most familiar figure amongst the bunch, the vice president of the student council, Akemi Marugo, unsurprisingly near a figure that he recognized as that of her best friend, a girl from his class whose the name he managed to remember as being Eruna Tenka, quickly making his decision and approaching them. "Err... You two are Akemi-Senpai and miss Tenka, right..?" He asked, making a quick pause to assure the answer of his question using his own eyes. "Have you also presenced this scene or my somnolence is playing a trick on me..?" He continued, somehow managing to appear composed in despite of the situation, relying on his skills as an actor to hide not only his confusion but the awkwardness he felt for talking with the two girls while wearing nothing but his loose sleeping attire, and voicing the somehow ambiguous question, the only that he managed to think of that didn't end up putting him into an asylum if the scene that he previously saw was nothing but a delirium.
@Shelter
@animegirl20
The first thing he realized was, of course, the odd group that was gathered in the crater. As someone with quite the diligence when it came to his objective of being somehow familiar to most of the students around his age, Arthur naturally recognized most of the individuals gathered there, a good omen amidst the completely absurd situation.
He quickly managed to identify the most familiar figure amongst the bunch, the vice president of the student council, Akemi Marugo, unsurprisingly near a figure that he recognized as that of her best friend, a girl from his class whose the name he managed to remember as being Eruna Tenka, quickly making his decision and approaching them. "Err... You two are Akemi-Senpai and miss Tenka, right..?" He asked, making a quick pause to assure the answer of his question using his own eyes. "Have you also presenced this scene or my somnolence is playing a trick on me..?" He continued, somehow managing to appear composed in despite of the situation, relying on his skills as an actor to hide not only his confusion but the awkwardness he felt for talking with the two girls while wearing nothing but his loose sleeping attire, and voicing the somehow ambiguous question, the only that he managed to think of that didn't end up putting him into an asylum if the scene that he previously saw was nothing but a delirium.
@Shelter
@animegirl20
Current Attire:
SP3CT3R
eepy
The clearing was almost out of sight when Nolan heard Delia ask him and the tall guy to wait. He turned around, and despite his exhaustion, went back to the crater. Dammit, Nolan, he thought to himself. You are not going to let a little crush control you like this.
He did, and found himself on one of the benches circling the crater. Setting the artifact down next to him and spinning it absentmindedly, Nolan asked, "Headaches? Nobody here has gotten a fever? 'Cause I've had one for the past week."
Suddenly, Nolan felt uncomfortably warm to the point where, despite the weather, sweat started to form on his forehead. The sensation passed, but wasproceeded by chills that made Nolan regret not taking his hoodie. "Wait, nevermind. The fever's still there. And so is my exhaustion. If we're gonna exchange contact info, then let's get it over with."
He did, and found himself on one of the benches circling the crater. Setting the artifact down next to him and spinning it absentmindedly, Nolan asked, "Headaches? Nobody here has gotten a fever? 'Cause I've had one for the past week."
Suddenly, Nolan felt uncomfortably warm to the point where, despite the weather, sweat started to form on his forehead. The sensation passed, but wasproceeded by chills that made Nolan regret not taking his hoodie. "Wait, nevermind. The fever's still there. And so is my exhaustion. If we're gonna exchange contact info, then let's get it over with."
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