Falling apart (Trente, Semi-moderated thread by Paragon)

[Nai'shee]

She was half aware of walking while Trente held her and getting downstairs. She knew he was right, they need to get downstairs and be safe, she wanted to go, but her mind wouldn't listen. It seemed like she passed her limits. However, she walked pulling out every last piece of will she had. She was glad when Trente sat her down and went to find some light. She tried to tell him she heard, but she only lift some noise. What would happen to her if she wasn't at University? Despite her knowledge of Zeltivan corners and holes she didn't know any place to hide good enough to stand this storm. Only tons of luck got her trough this. Or at least she hoped so. They are trapped here until storm ends, which can be any moment - now or in a week. And she won't stand much more because of using Flux so much. God, she had to eat and drink. But what can she find here? She looked at the bag she always brought. I probably have something. It was torn, but not enough to go to waste. She opened it and checked for the map she stole a while ago. She didn't finish that job, she couldn't give away this treasure. It was her new hope for becoming a sailor. She found about a quarter of bread and bottle of water. Empty bottle of water, she found out desperately. Few worthless Mizas too. Money - the thing that ruled the world - was completely worthless in situation like this. Her hand dropped. "Trente... Come here, forget it... We will deal with the light later..." She felt unfamiliar with her own voice. She had no idea what would have happened if he wasn't there. "Make me eat", she murmured, already sorry for talking that much, "don't let me fall asleep". It was her strongest wish at this point. But she knew she won't wake up for days if she doesn't renew her resources. Djed won't be able to form again and she will just be asleep until it takes little pieces of energy found around her body to reform. And middle of the storm wasn't perfect time for being asleep for days. She only then realized how much they depended on each other. It was madness not to find some groups and always move together since they found about the storm. She could have brought some Kelvic or something. People young and without much skill like themselves really should have moved in groups. Her eyes almost closed. She hated this feeling: being able to think properly and knowing she will fall asleep even if she shouldn't while she isn't able to do a thing. She only prayed for Trente to realize the situation in time.

[Trente]

Nai'Shee's soft breathy words slipped through the blinding darkness as a soft whisper beneath the howling roar of stormy air above. Sensual, and pleading were the tones of her speech. Trente responded to the sound instinctual, stopping his unguided steps, redirecting his focus from his hands, searching the cold stone walls, and listened intently to Nai'Shee as her request faintly brushed against his ears, before fading into the shadows, ground into nothing by the storm's muffled might. He heard the words, but with an unsure mind, through the aching of his body. Unsure if the words were a demand, or a request. And, if either, what request or demand it might be. Still, he redirected himself, carefully inching back through the gloom to Nai'Shee's side. Composed as he could manage, a soft grunt of pain at the end, he sat down beside her on the last step, legs out before him, one for stability, the second lay mindlessly against Nai'Shee's in recline. He thought on her words, how she must feel. And, he remembered what she had done for him minutes before. An unseen smile crossed his face as his free hands searched out, touching her aching arm. He ran his fingers, searching downward, till he found the pack her could hear her rustling through. Warm skin, with a layer of quickly cooling sweat; then thick parchment, smooth and wide; cloth, a rough weave; then the water skin, dry as a bone. After several moments, frustration at his injured arm still baring through the back of his mind, Trente's hand found the bread. He leaned in closer to her, so he could speak softer. Both for fear of the storm above, and a desire that dictated more personal words. He was not addressing a crowd of faceless people, as he did at the ball. In this moment, his only audience was Nai'Shee, the wild women who had saved his life. And, for this, he refused to speak at her. He would speak to her, intimately. He would not waist one of his words. "Nai'Shee, you saved us. The storm would have my life in it's power. Would make me a victim." His own words now slid carefully, intimately from his lips, to her soft ears. "You used your unique magic, and your warrior spirit to champion our survival. And, for this alone, we will survive. And," He gave one of his rare pauses, before bearing onward with his hushed speech. "So my life is in part yours. I owe you such as you have given me, my champion. I will never forge-" His words cut off abruptly as he realized an unseen shift beside him. Perhaps a change in her breath? "Nai'Shee?" He asked, suddenly a bit more clearly. She didn't respond right away, and he wondered if he had spoken too much, too long. If something had happened to her. "Nai'Shee!?" He said loudly, a short moment of urgency in his voice that which Nai'Shee could not recall him giving before, as Trente's good hand wrapped firmly around her arm and gave her a shake. With luck, she stirred, and Trente relaxed his grip in relief. Now silent, he took his duty more seriously. He finally tore off a small fragment of bread from the whole, and searched in the darkness for Nai'Shee's face. The back of his finger's brushed against her chin, and cheeks first. Then, softly, his thumb pressed against her lips. "Part your lips." He said again intimately, this time with more focus. "You must eat." And, if she would allow, he would feel her lips part, and with care place the piece of bread upon her tongue, then continue the process, allowing all of the bread to enter her, not taking a single bite for himself despite his own fatigue. Selflessness not a continuous thought on his part, the act of stealing a piece simple unallowed by his own focus. He felt some guilt for the time he wasted speaking his vow to her, and was unsure if the young Svefra women even heard them. But, weather she knew or not. He felt no guilt over the words, and would keep to them forever. She had saved him, and he would save her. They were bonded, and Trente had seen what he wanted from that first glimpse of vivid red dress at the ball the night they met. That strong Svefra goddess that he would forever pledge alliance to. The one he promised to help her discover. The one she deserved to be.

[Nai'shee]

She was barely aware of the things happening around her. It took Trente way too long to find her and her mind was fighting against her body with her last strength. She heard him speaking, she vividly recalled hearing his words, as if they were everywhere around her. Just his soft voice. Promising his life to her. It would bring a smile to her face, but she couldn't move a single bit. She didn't know if her lips were shaking in response to her command or that was just her imagination. He was there, speaking, but everything felt so unreal. She didn't see anything, just darkness, and not the one filling air around her, but the one filling her mind, slowly taking it over. Nothing but his voice, echoing around. Later, she never knew if it was just a dream or has it really happened. She wished it did. After that darkness erased his voice and everything was empty. But she wasn't aware of those moments of darkness, because before her body even became numb and useless she felt somebody shaking her. Her head hurt, and for the rest... Just vivid numbness, as the rest was less important. She was aware of her heartbeat, but it didn't calmed her down, it was just echoing around causing even more pain. Her lips were completely dry and her eyes refused to open. She felt bread touching her lips softly, as if it begged them to open. She heard Trente's voice again, but this time completely serious. This time pain and numbness told her that this was real, and she slowly responded to his request. She couldn't even process his words, but she was sure what he was asking her to do. She barely parted her lips, but just enough to take a piece of bread he gave her. She thought she won't be able to chew it, but as she felt familiar taste on her tooths she began to chew faster and faster, without much effort. Her body asked for food and it's reaction was automatic. This was repeated for a long while and she felt as if she strengthened a bit. Trente fed her in silence, for almost half of an hour, if she even had a sense for time in this condition. She was confused when her repetitive moves stopped. They sat in silence for a moment. She just succeed to murmur "Thank you" in really dry, deep voice, quietly, it almost felt like a whisper. Pain in her head almost disappeared and she felt almost normal, but insanely numb. Yet, she knew that she shouldn't use a little of strength she has been given for silly things that were in her mind. She knew that she could sleep peacefully now, but decided to stay awake and see what are they going to do. She wasn't completely aware of Trente's presence, she knew he was there and she really wished to thank him once more or to say anything, anything, but her mind was just completely concentrated on herself and her own condition.

[Trente]

The humid darkness clung to them like thick molasses as Trente fed Nai'Shee, a testimony and uncomfortable reminder of the storm which still raged above. But still, as the last of the bread slipped into her exhausted frame, Trente could feel her heat seeping out. Her skin was cold and clammy, though slick with a warm moisture, almost sticky. With no more bread, and no water to fill her needs, Trente carefully moved to the step behind Nai'Shee, letting her fragile head fall against him as he pulled off one glove at a time, clumsily applying them to Nai'Shee's freezing hands. It felt as if some spark in her ha dwindled, and now just glowed in the darkness like a dim ember, begging for fuel. Fuel Trente had run out of, and now he just hungered to help preserve what little heat she still had. Nimbly his fingers undid his vest, setting it aside as he began pulling off his under shirt, disrupting Nai'Shee recklessly as he did so. Her nearly limp form leaning against him as he stripped his shirt giving an indeliberate groan against the movements. "Nai'Shee." He said clearly, concern seeping through his focused tone with a sweet as honey after taste. This wasn't lost on Trente either, churning his tongue in his own mouth a moment as he realized there was something in the air. The thickness and visceral humidity literally tasted of honey as he spoke, and this more than put him on edge. The storm was still reaching them, effecting them. And Trente wondered to himself what lasting effects such air would leave he and Nai'Shee with. Retaining focus he shifted awkwardly about the dark some more, balancing Nai'Shee's light frame against himself as he underwent the long, and rather painful process of fixing his own large shirt over her for warmth, despite his aching shoulder. When done he spent several minutes leaving his shoulder to rest, the pain filling him, nearly throbbing at this point. His other arm lay wrapped around Nai'Shee, his own shirt pressing back against him. This left him with some regret, mostly over the smell. She smelled like him now, his shirt on her, that smell wrapped around her. It almost seemed suffocating to a beast which meant to be so feral. Just the same, she needed it. So he left the shirt wrapped about her, and lowered his head, inhaling near her hair quietly. Her natural smell distracted him from the pain for a moment, and freed his mind for other thoughts, like water. She needed water, and unless he wanted to brave the storm outside he would need to find some in this dungeon that had run themselves into. That the storm had forced them into. Another loud crash from above, churning Trente's stomach further, and spurring him into action. He too was tired now, he too wished to curl up with Nai'Shee and sleep. Even for several days seemed inviting. Still, there was a strength in the deadly storm above, and he was learning to tap into it. As sick as it made him feel. Gingerly setting Nai'Shee aside, he knew she would fall asleep. He hoped he could wake her again once he found water. It was odd though, as she floated off into her slumber, and he hoisted himself up, trying to cradle his injured arm, he could feel some incorporeal force draining from the storm above, mixing with Nai'Shee and fill the room. The heat again turned to chill, and what would be honey turned to a metallic taste on his tongue. Now standing he turned and looked to where he would see Nai'Shee, were there any light, and to his utter surprise he did see light. Much like the dull glow of a red ember he had seen before, he saw a light in the darkness. Where Nai'Shees heart was pulsed a faint bright ember in the darkness, beating through her chest, and her shirt, and his upon her. "Nai-" Only one syllabil escaped before the air of the room suddenly compressed and released, accompanied by the sound of splintering wood and slamming from above the staircase. Wind struck them both, wrapping around them a moment in a vicious embrace before tossing Trente of his feet once more. A painful screech came from Trente as he landed squarely on his injured shoulder, protect ripping through his body and mind as the wind whipped unbridled about them. Trentes specialty was no physics, and the idea did not come naturally to him. He could not tell what had happened, how a lack of pressure in the room as caused the superioior pressure outside to come bursting in. Likewise, Auristics was no specialty of his, so he could not see what had happened, and certain could not predict what would happen next. He was unprepared, but that wouldn't matter, not for long.

ChallengeImprovisation test go!

[Nai'shee]

When Nai'shee was woken by heavy wind she thought she didn't sleep at all, but she knew it was at probably a while since she fell asleep, mostly because she felt a little better. She felt somewhat weak, but this time it was because she was sleepy. She slowly stood up, she couldn't balance her body properly from recent sleep and wind didn't help her. "What's going on?", she asked, almost screamed. Trente didn't seem like he knew much more than her. It seemed like Trente didn't find solution to light problem, or at least that solution was blown up by wind. "We must hide!", she yelled again, not sure if he's able to hear her weak voice. They will have an escarpment on their way out soon enough judging from her shoes gently trying to leave the ground again. Their only way was probably to go deeper into those libraries. Suddenly the door flew all the way down the stairs. It made enormous noise and it was breaking piece by piece before it even reached the room they were in. It smashed into a wall, sending sharp pieces of wood at them. She instinctively covered her eyes, so she only got few scratches. Too much, after all those pieces of stone up there. She pulled little piece of wood from her leg, angrily, and a bit of blood leaked. It was just luck that they choose the right wall to lean on before, even with her reflexes and Flux she was pretty sure that door would smash them into the wall too. She couldn't even sight, noticing that stupid door took away her attention on solving the hiding spot problem. She turned back to Trente, asking for an escape plan with her whole heart. She might was good at escaping if somebody was chasing her, but weather chasing you... You can't simply fight nature. And her hopes were lowering by every new challenge, her mind refused to accept that she's in dangerous situation and that she must hold still with her guard on. She only wanted to rest. But she was taught long ago, by life itself, that you can't get everything you want. She remembered her lesson well, and she was now already awake, ready to cling to any piece of plan Trente might had.

[Paragon]

Like rats, they ran underground. Above, the city was buffeted by calamity. The explosive force of Ivak's release sent shockwaves across the whole of Mizahar. The initial blast was physical, exploding windows, crumpling buildings, felling trees. Severed towers and spires tumbled. Even below in the magecraft labs they could hear the screams. And the footsteps. So much movement. Trente and Nai'shee remained still for a moment following the implosion of the room. As the sounds abated above ground, it was clear the physical impact had come and passed. Who knew what horror awaited them if they headed back up? With the storm came the wild djed though, lashing the ground, writhing across the land like a snake. It crept through the city, pouring out of the storm clouds and falling into every crevice and gap. The magecraft labs housed all manner of magical equipment, and it was this that drew vast amounts of wild djed into the room. Trente and Nai'shee would feel a tingle, but little else. Then the djed pooled in points, collecting into shapes. Numerous. They were legion. The small creations of the djed would appear like an army of spiders. Thousands of them. Beings of magic. They apparated into existence, and then scuttled towards the pair, moving in synchronicity. The excess djed that still floated about would simply put terror into their hearts. The monsters of the storm had come.

[Trente]

Trente stood wide eyed, enthralled by the rare moment which stunned him. His wit failed him as the air about him condensed, leaving this muggy pockets of unbreathable mist pooling about the height of the less than lofty space. He wanted to swear in helplessness, but feared wasting air he had no promise would remain for long. And, not when he knew even less of what strange thick mist stole the space. He drew in what air he could, then held it, lowering to a crouch on the ground as he observed his environment. They were coming, with a mind and cruelty of their own. Trente felt at home at sea, as monsters would take toward a protected hull, but on land he felt no safety. What saved him was Nai'shee's words, giving plea. His eyes twitched to her, tumbling and shaking in their icy hue, only dimly visible from the glow of djed twirling and altering in the darkness. She had saved him, he saw that, and that she would not be doing it again. Without action they would both parish this time. He wasted no time with speech, but let a firm and hurried hand forward to grasp Nai'shee's arm, and a second to her about the waist before pain command it back with a howl, as he progressed on with one hand sparing no strength in directing her in a hustle from the legion of vermin set upon them. He moved destined for the door. It was little more than wood and metal, wavering in thick air, and mysterious darkness. It promised nothing, particularly not safety, but it trumped by leagues exposure to the top side, and even more so the djed creatures. And so, he struck at the door with his foot, but won no response. It was barred, or it hoped the opposite way. He pushed Nai'shee into the wall beside the door, perhaps harder than necessary, no pangs of guilt over the harshness as his now free hands felt for the cool hinges in the dark. A searing prick of a latch which seemed to burn with heat caught him, bulging on the outside. He drew his hand back quickly, and dis missed the pain. It opened inward, and without thought he grabbed for the heavy iron ring upon the door. It burned as well, and Trente felt at once thankful for a horrid past, for the glove upon his hand. He ignored the searing heat, and yanked, putting strain on his still good arm. Trente was not a strong man, and the pressure of the room was great, but with a braced leg to wall and disregard for later consequences he allowed the door open somewhat, and without hesitation beckoning Nai'shee through, then himself were the creatures not upon them both by then. He thought not on weather to seal the base of the door or not, or what he would find in the next room. He knew not why the creatures pursued them, nor what dangers might lay deeper into the labs. And most of all, he tried whole heartedly, not to think of how they were slowly corning themselves into the darkness, entombing themselves into their own cold catacomb. He was unabashedly glad Nai'shee was there with him.

[Nai'shee]

She heard horrible sounds above them. She still shook, now in horror too. With few breaths she gained control over her movement again and she stood still, waiting for response from Trente. What paused him was probably obvious lack of noises. Storm was, seemingly over. They survived? Just like that? But then she felt little uncomfortable again. Weird tickling all across the body, not seeming to be real nor unreal. It is Djed, she realized. She wasn't Aurist or anything, but she could recognize the feel. For a moment, she felt beautiful. Being overpowered by magic, life energy around you was a rare occasion and she did enjoy it. But Djed didn't remain still. Soon she realized that it was forming dozens, hundreds of creatures. Soon enough she was sure she wouldn't be able to count to the number of creatures that appeared before her. This was evil Djed, possible or not. And that feeling stuck underneath her skin, cowering her. Trente woke her up by an immediate reaction, which still seemed like eternally long from her statement. He caught her arm and pulled her to the door he tried to open by kicking. She was pushed against the wall while he fought the door. Terrible creatures approached in huge numbers. Spiders were dark, probably black, with some ardently colored parts and they seemed hairy. Nai'shee was never afraid of an animal as much as she was now, including big predators and angry snakes. This legion of spiders shined with evil energy, intent to kill. They weren't going to kill for simple survival instinct, for food, safety. They, unlike other creatures, wanted to kill them just for killing. She had no idea how she knew all of this or was she just imagining, but she was glad when Trente finally unblocked the door and they could run. Looking at the door which closed in front of her, leaving last trace of light behind, she panicked. "What are we going to do now? They will be able to follow us. We need light. How will we know when it's safe to go out? Where are we?" Trente seemingly didn't held much more confidence for their future, but she hoped he would calm her down. She starved for attention, for somebody to just hear how horrified she was of those creatures. She thought she never saw something as cruel and ugly as those spiders back there. Did it have anything to do with Djed they were made of? She had no idea.