Crystellation

[Channelknight Fadran]

Just now, The Ookla's Guard said:

"Bet'cha we could get away with it if we offered Val to Tarne's care while we are there. Tarne has always had a sot spot for young and timid folk."

@Vapor

"I guess that's the best hope we have right now."

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

Just now, Ookla the Channelknight said:

"I guess that's the best hope we have right now."

Pior nodded, looking satisfied. "Well, let's hope that we can make t work. After you hot eyes."

[Channelknight Fadran]

Just now, The Ookla's Guard said:

Pior nodded, looking satisfied. "Well, let's hope that we can make t work. After you hot eyes."

"Come on." Aerith says to Concerto. "We're going."

@Ookla the Grammatical

[Condensation she/her]

4 hours ago, Ookla the Channelknight said:

"Come on." Aerith says to Concerto. "We're going."

@Ookla the Grammatical

"All right, whatever you say," drawled Concerto with a smirk.

Vivace looked up, Chorale wasn't happy about being controlled again. "Wait, what? Where?"

[Channelknight Fadran]

4 minutes ago, Ookla the Grammatical said:

"All right, whatever you say," drawled Concerto with a smirk.

Vivace looked up, Chorale wasn't happy about being controlled again. "Wait, what? Where?"

"Somewhere safe."

[Condensation she/her]

Just now, Ookla the Channelknight said:

"Somewhere safe."

"Well, that narrows things down considerably," Concerto said.

Vivace glared at him. "Act your age for once, will you? And thanks again."

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

1 hour ago, Ookla the Channelknight said:

"Somewhere safe."

"Safe, that's not the most applicable term."

[Condensation she/her]

"Well, a safe place is the best kind of place to be right now." Vivace smiled tightly. "So here would be fine, or wherever you're planning."

[Channelknight Fadran]

"We'll get some sleep, first. We leave at first light."

[Condensation she/her]

"Sounds good to me, I guess." Vivace lay down just inside the cave to catch a cat nap.

Concerto lay down outside the entrance, all the better for whatever ended up happening.

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

On 11/28/2020 at 5:58 PM, Ookla the Channelknight said:

"Very well."

Kuno nodded once more.

"You are welcome to carry on then Maestro, unless you have questions."

[Channelknight Fadran]

Just now, The Ookla's Guard said:

Kuno nodded once more.

"You are welcome to carry on then Maestro, unless you have questions."

"Very well."

With that, the Maestro vanished.

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

7 minutes ago, Ookla the Channelknight said:

"Very well."

With that, the Maestro vanished.

Arminio shuddered. Why him? Whatever this Concerto knows cannot be that important.

Kuno shook his head. "If my informants are right once again, then Concerto has knowledge about the amal process, and more importantly, crystals. You know how much I desire information like that. Besides, I hear that this Concerto is a clever one, and no one has every managed to escape the Maestro before, so there was only one way to be sure."

Arminio sighed. If it is your wish, then it is mine.

"Excellent, now I must speak with Captain Nelision about his progress."

Arminio nodded. He shouldn't be far, the Chosen were particularly mobile after all.

Edited December 1, 2020 by The Ookla's Guard

[Condensation she/her]

Quote

Can I just assume that everyone else has fallen asleep?

 

[Channelknight Fadran]

Just now, Ookla the Grammatical said:

Can I just assume that everyone else has fallen asleep?

Quote

Sure

 

[Vapor she/her]

Quote

yeah

 

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

Quote

Makes sense. Unless someone is standing guard.

 

[Condensation she/her]

Once everyone else had fallen asleep, Concerto opened his eyes. He always had been good at acting, although being motionless was harder now. It was surprising that they had let him sleep just outside the cave. Sloppy. He grinned and stood up, padding softly across the clearing. Before he left, he turned back to see Chorale one last time. Her spot - it was empty.

Vivace heard Concerto get up and rolled her eyes. Men could be so predictable. While he was looking away, she got up and moved behind him, barely avoiding his gaze as he turned back to look at the cave, then froze. She grinned and grabbed him from behind, quickly getting him into a hold. "Stop right there," she hissed. "You think I'm letting you leave?"

Concerto groaned silently. Of course she had been awake and keeping an eye on him. He decided it was best to trust her. "Vivace, let Chorale out. There's something she needs to know."

Vivace, surprised, released the hold. "You know? You... you've known all along."

Concerto rose and spun to face her. "Yes. I've known her all my life, she hasn't changed much. You need to work on your acting. Let her out now, and maybe I won't tell her how to control you."

Vivace glared at him and let Chorale beat her down, back into that eternal blackness. No sight when you don't have a body.
Chorale smiled ruefully. "Thanks, bro. What do you need to tell me?"

"The reason you can use your powers. I need to go, there are some things I need to do. But someone else needs to know this and I think you're the best choice."

Chorale gasped. "You - you don't think..." she trailed off.

"No, and I'm hurt to hear you don't think I can protect myself." He grinned and lowered his voice further. "I'll be fine, but I might not be back for a while. To create an Amal who still has their powers, you need to find an extremely rare animal. It doesn't matter which animal as long as they have amber eyes. This is a recent mutation, and I still don't know why it works. It does, though. I've been working to get them out of others' hands, and you need to keep doing it. If they get their hands on them..." he shuddered. "I don't want to think of the consequences. Don't tell anyone."

Chorale nodded. "I promise. Are you sure you have to go?"

"Yes. It's vital. Stay safe, keep moving. Keep yourself out of Kade's hands and you'll be fine." He smiled, baring his teeth in a sudden grin, and slipped into the underbrush. Moments later, he was dashing through the forest as a cheetah. The speed was exhilarating, one of his few joys left. Tonight, he had work to do.

Chorale stepped carefully over to the cave and lay down, changing to a clouded leopard to sleep. She drifted off imagining that she could see Concerto speeding through the forest, intent on his moral duty. A smile tugged on her lips and she finally slept.

[Channelknight Fadran]

When everyone inevitably woke up in the morning, Aerith had no idea where he was.

"Where the heck...?"

[Condensation she/her]

Chorale stretched and yawned, blinking the sleep from her eyes.

Quote

 

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

1 minute ago, Ookla the Channelknight said:

When everyone inevitably woke up in the morning, Aerith had no idea where he was.

"Where the heck...?"

Pior snored until he stopped suddenly, snapping into an upright position looking slightly bleary eyed. "Is this what it's like to wake up without a hangover?"

[Vapor she/her]

Val stays sleeping peacefully, not woken by the others.

Quote

Spoiler

 

for visualization

 

 

 

Edited December 1, 2020 by Vapor

[Condensation she/her]

Vivace shifted back into a human, thoroughly refreshed. "We're in... Vivace's cave, remember? And you really don't know what it's like to wake up without a hangover? That's... kind of sad, actually."

[The Ward's Guard he/him]

10 minutes ago, Ookla the Grammatical said:

Vivace shifted back into a human, thoroughly refreshed. "We're in... Vivace's cave, remember? And you really don't know what it's like to wake up without a hangover? That's... kind of sad, actually."

Pior kept blinking and groaned once. "I don't think that this is much better. Are we . . . down a guy?"

Edited December 2, 2020 by The Ookla's Guard

[Condensation she/her]

2 minutes ago, The Ookla's Guard said:

Pior kept blinking and groaned once. "I don't think that this is much better. Are we . . . done a guy?"

Quote

*down

Chorale looked over, then plastered a shocked expression on her face. "Where'd Concerto go?" Then she burst out laughing. Wow, I feel ridiculous lying. "Yeah, he left last night. He told me he had some stuff to do."