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Post by Drei on May 7, 2017 12:30:23 GMT -6
The only time Drei had definitively seen combat applications of dark magic beyond his own in recent months was his encounters with Althea. Though their styles and combative uses were different, he did enjoy seeing how she wielded it. Handled it. Sculpted it. She commanded it expertly and it was something he could appreciate. Though he might've relied more on technical skill than her stronger magics, there was a small difference barely detectable. For while his technicalities were more pronounced in the abstract assault angles and methods of his own magic in battle, the sheer amount of fine control required to sculpt or shape and channel the larger well of power she possessed spoke for its own behalf.
Perhaps upon the very initial realization of this he might've felt a bit bothered by the definitive evidence that Althea seemed to simply command more raw power than him. However upon further elaboration on her precise methods in his idle time Drei'd come to realize that, as the example of his parents had been shown, true strength magically was shaped over time and experience. Magic was so vast and complex that sheer power while a merit was not the only asset, and his talents were better focused on his own strengths. It was a marvel really. Despite often being associated for its raw power, Elder Magic could very so heavily from practitioner to practitioner.
Drei's palm lifted and he expelled the burst of dark magic. The tendrils swiftly expelling before coiling into a larger one, once again. However this time he swept it in a broader ranged slashing strike to knock aside two bonewalkers to the left of Robert. While the brute bludgeoned and flailed about like a floundering fish the Shaman focused his magics and tried to maintain it. This time he utilized their endeavor to maximize his stamina magically and the ability of persistence. If he could focus further on this then he could benefit from this combat. Ever searching to improve as it were. Though his tone was restrained in his efforts to maintain control while he spoke, he did address Althea who he was far closer to proportionally at that moment.
"I am glad my reference was not lost onto you. I should quite believe I will remember that experience for quite some time."
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Post by Althea on May 7, 2017 17:19:29 GMT -6
Letting out a controlled breath as she focused on regaining her balance in the wake of her exertion, Althea spent a moment focusing on herself rather than the battle, and certainly not on any magical casting. She still needed these... breaks between casts, doubly so from larger exertions, a problem that she now recognized as something she needed to remedy. The problem was not her ability to amass power, or her total magical reserves - both seemed somewhere in the vicinity of normal, at least as far as she could tell. The issue was transferring between one and the other. Whether that was a biological failing in her body, or simply a question of inexperience, was a fair question - but not one that she knew how to learn the answer to in short order. Thus it fell to her to at least attempt to remedy the issue through practice and dedication.
...It was an interesting departure from the norm for her, the shaman reflected in a moment of clarity. She had never really thought of herself as a dark mage, exactly. Not as a major part of her identity. She was, but it was just a description of her job. She was also a researcher, but it didn't completely define her either. She used it as a tool and little more. So to realize that over time she had grown to see it for its own values - recognizing some level of pride in her craft, in the idea that she ought to improve as a magician for its own sake rather than for some greater purpose, was still strange. Not bad. Althea found that, surprisingly enough, it didn't actually bother her as she had assumed it would. This journey was simply changing her in unforeseen ways. How much of it was Eris's doing and how much of it was entirely her own decisions? And how much did it matter? It wasn't like she was getting weaker, more helpless, less of herself. She was - MORE of herself than she ever had been before. Still perfectly emotional, still sane, just stronger.
"You certainly use Ruin in unique ways," the shaman noted to her male counterpart in the wake of his attack. Somewhat... similar and opposite to her own approach. Where she had launched a nearly liquid torrent to sunder the ranks of their foes, he had used solidified Nether to perform the same act. Different methods, similar approaches. "There are so many beliefs as to what the Nether is, how it can or should be used. It is strange that so many think it is simply bolts of dark energy."
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Post by Drei on May 7, 2017 20:46:42 GMT -6
"You certainly use Ruin in unique ways,"
Though he was still lifting his hand and guiding it through the air as he puppeteered his tendril of death, he felt his lips instinctively crack into a smile. Drei's free hand arcing and his opposing hand consumed in darkness internally sculpting the flow of eldritch magic as he sent it flowing freely with a powerful punch of energy bolstering it once he swept it around for another blow to once more knock back the two bonewalkers he'd already struck for. As long as he occupied more than one he was making up for his presence efficiently. In his mind, equating it to a proportional numbers game. As his mind willed the magic, the tendrils lashed out to bind both bonewalkers arms together, utilizing this embrace to force them to the ground.
In that momentary opening created the shaman turned to address Althea directly. Pondering briefly upon her statement before replying, though needing to take no time to formulate an instinctive answer. Though still speaking in leveled words he did so with a levity that most might've found simply out of place on the battlefield. At this point, he associated it with the growing comfort of being in repeated situations of combat with Althea. Their similar talents also helped establish a point of common ground that made him inherently more comfortable with her to converse so casually.
"To be quite frank I am simply pleased that I've been able to develop my magic lately to this caliber. Though you are indeed correct. There are a multitudes of small fanatical faiths and speculations on a more scholarly level all equating the complexities of elder magic into a simplistic generalization as simple projectiles of dark magic. It is quite honestly enjoyable to see the talents utilized in more creative manners like the ones you've used."
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Post by Althea on May 7, 2017 23:04:34 GMT -6
Phew. Feeling a little better now. She didn't know if she could repeat that last beam immediately though, at least not without consequences... though it wasn't like she could just stand here and chat with Drei, either. While their initial assault had definitely had significant success in tearing apart the bonewalker backline and provided the defenders with a much needed respite, there were too many of the creatures to dispose of just between the two of them - three with Robert - and they hadn't done enough damage to break the lines entirely but were already starting to attract attention. Which was KIND of the idea, but not quite that quickly, and ideally immediately followed by a massive counterattack from the defenders - which had definitely not materialized yet.
So they either needed more force or more time, and quite frankly Althea didn't think she could pull off 'more force' exactly. Repeated force maybe, with time and effort she could pull off that beamowar thing again, but not as just some casual basic attack - she was pushing her magic as far as she could take it already. And even if she didn't understand HOW severely it was, the shaman knew that she was using it inefficiently - not mastered - which would take time and practice to remedy.
So that just meant time - glorious repetition - spent attacking the monstrosities. Althea sighed and began channeling her magic again, slightly annoyed that things hadn't been sorted out as quickly and cleanly as she had hoped. This time though, since they temporarily had the benefit of range and relative freedom, she tried experimenting a bit more. Inspired by her dual attack on the bonewalkers earlier, an orb of nether began to form in each hand, certainly not individually as large or imposing as the previous but reasonably sized apiece. Trying to focus on both rather than just the one was a necessary step forward in her development, the shaman was coming to believe - her magic was reasonably strong certainly, but the absolute necessity of two-handed casting and immobility introduced too many weaknesses in variable range combat. She needed to learn to - branch out, figure out how to manipulate her source matter more effectively. It fit in well with what Drei was saying.
"It is... gratifying," she admitted quietly, almost as if she wasn't sure how to feel about that. Mostly because that was exactly true and Althea had all the bluffing and deceptive abilities of a wet towel. She was also a bit frustrated that she hadn't quite been able to find the most... ideal form, or rather state, of Nether for use. Everything she did was just too damn slow. But at least she seemed to be able to balance the two spheres, and with a thoughtful step forward Althea launched the one in her right hand forward, almost as if throwing a ball though more magically propelled than physically. Nonetheless the orb flew through the air at reasonable speed, not particularly impressive but better than nothing, splattering as it struck one bonewalker and almost simultaneously detonating in a consuming swirl of writhing shadow that carved and caved through anything in the immediate vicinity before dissipating. That one had actually done some fairly serious damage to the bonewalker, but unlike most of her attacks it was much easier to dodge once launched - just better area-effect once it landed. "And likewise, Drei. I've never seen anyone use those tendrils the way you do. It continues to convince me that there is still much to be learned about our school, no matter how ancient it may be."
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Post by Drei on May 8, 2017 15:19:06 GMT -6
Drei retracted his tendril. Shifting and condensing the orb of void magic between two palms again. Maintaining the precise spell wasn't proving the difficulty that he'd imagined it would. To this end he realized that it was more of a matter of the conjuration that he'd be better testing. The act of giving it physical form and shape and stimuli on a physical medium to interact with. Propulsion. Resistance. Momentum. These traits were what signified a physically animate object. He'd have to grow accustomed to to these aspects.
At this point his thrashing spike had drawn quite the ire of the undead. A bonewalker turning after it'd been smacked around a few times before rising up steadily and turning its head to gaze with sunken hollow sockets towards the ashen haired shaman who sculpted his nether orb. His gaze briefly lit as darkness sprawled within and he tapped into the full conduits of power once more. Fell winds gathering around him rose up, and the essence of darkness manifested with a series of thin tendrils twining around the globe afloat between pale palms. Pulsating deformities marked the previously smooth flawless surface as it sprawled and spasmed. The clanking of bones rattling as it lifted it's blade and began running forwards grew louder opposed to clangings of metal and wood and blade to bone. Shouts and cries.
"I guess its time to further test the waters.."
Drei figured he would test himself. What COULD his power branch into? When he focused on raw might. How strong could it get. At this point he was simply utilizing this entire fight to test himself. Had he picked that up from someone or just acquired a more wanton abandon for his own safety? It was nearly impossible to tell. However the pulsating faint circle that lit the ground beneath his feet signified his determination to try. Condensing the weight and pressure within the hardened orb until he could feel the force of repulsion at inability to do so further nearly pushing his palms apart. His purple robes fluttering while he spread his legs slowly, inching them slightly along the earthen floor. The large orb altered as a single slightly smaller point began to manifest and exude outwards towards the bonewalker slowly. Like a loaded trap cocked and ready to be propelled by springs.
The creature lunged forwards, and Drei let his magic lose. The pulse of it flailing his robes before it ejected outwards with powerful force. The tendril punching straight through the front portion linking the chest cavity and catching against the spine while it sailed outwards, sending the bonewalker backwards for the ride until it was smashed into the ground with the tendril impaling through the spine and into the dirt below. That...didn't stop the arms from moving a it tried to recover. Right. Not people. Could still endure that. Smart...
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Post by Althea on May 9, 2017 17:38:54 GMT -6
You two look like you're having fun.
-Probably should have seen that coming.
Just casually chatting away while people die. Since when did you care? I don't, really, but you do.
Somethign about that was - wrong. The way Eris had said it. Althea could tell she hadn't been quite forthcoming there. It was more of a gut feeling than an obvious falsehood, but for whatever reason the irascible spirit was not enthusiastic about it.
I am acting to save as many as I can. What concern is it of yours how I use the spare time in between actions?
Silence reigned for a short time. Althea hefted the other orb of darkness, charging it further in the pause, and launched it too at the foe - missing her initial target but splattering against another bonewalker, ripping it and a nearby victim apart in the detonation. Assembly line murder. The bonewalkers were only now locating the threat as a whole; they had seemingly assumed that their comrades at the back of the caravan had been successful.
You're not asking for help?
And there it was. The slightly hesitant, querelous question. As if there was a question that wasn't. She had seen the... terrifying power that Eris could unleash. The village had been far larger than this caravan and it had still been annihilated beyond existence, not just destroyed but scoured from the earth with ruthless efficiency. Not even intentional, she assumed, simply so much destructive capability that the ruined village had been an unwilling witness and unwitting victim. She could ask Eris for help. Even though the spirit had claimed to be out of 'juice' some time back, she had definitely been more active recently, and in truth she still didn't completely trust Eris... for obvious reasons. Well meaning or no, dark magic spirits and people usually didn't mix well.
But that wasn't why she hadn't said anything.
...It doesn't mean anything if I don't do it myself. ...
Approving? Disapproving? She couldn't tell.
I will save them myself. And prove that I do not need to be protected. What about Drei and soldier guy? They are allies. Drei is a friend. But I... need to contribute. I have spent too many adventures allowing others to fight for me out of cowardice and laziness. I will not allow it to happen again. Even if you die? ...
Now it was her turn to not have an answer ready to sling back. Althea wasn't sure how to even arrive at one. She had already been asked that question - in that burning village - and knew that the coward inside her had already answered. Was she still that woman? Was she still that weak? She didn't know. She couldn't know. Not unless it was tested, and she didn't want to test it. Perhaps she was still weak.
Eh, whatever. Have fun. By the way there are a couple coming in from the right.
...Wait what.
"Um, Drei, not to be alarmist but, er-" Yes, there were three of the bloody creatures circling in from the side, possibly split from the main group or from elsewhere, closing in with the sort of awkward shambling speed that looked a lot less intimidating than the realization of how fast they were actually moving. "...We've got trouble!"
Even if she was still a bit distracted by the Eris convo bomb, Althea was still not a COMPLETE idiot so she had the presence of mind to start consuming magic at a rapid rate to form another spell, but she wasn't sure if she could take them all at that speed. It had been A LOT easier when the bonewalkers weren't sure where the attacks were coming from and were, er, a lot further away.
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Post by Drei on May 9, 2017 18:21:30 GMT -6
Right. So the good news was, he was really getting the hang of his father's magic. Perhaps years of aspired emulation were legitimately paying off. He felt the drain lessen as time went on and he could perform greater feats with more apparent ease. The Shaman's honey shaded gaze observing his work. Sure he might not've vanquished the bone walker. But it was now so little a threat in its current state that it was worth dismissing for a time. So he could begin recalling his tendril as he channeled magic to his right palm once more. Until..
We've got trouble!
His head was already whipping to the side when he heard his name. A brief scan later and he saw the monsters approaching. Right. So that was definitely trouble, and bad. His wrists and forearms clapped together abruptly, silken robe sleeves rustling as the shaman lifted his palms into the air. Each hand cupped with fingers extended as the orb grew in size between the two. Dark magic rushing to it and forming a solid mass as it spun in place, swirling like a center point to a singularity trapped within a vortex. Darkened essence infusing within from seemingly the air around it, creating a misty nebulous image while he let himself strive further to command the spell. As his palms lowered, Drei let them fall to either side. The orb splitting into one within either palms grip. The void's power channeling from finger tips to the hardened globes of shadowy mass before they swiftly erupted into powerful spears that blasted outwards with thunderous force. Propelled by the might of unyielding will, he lashed out to swiftly disincline two of them from approaching. However the burst of magic was short lived, and he felt the spear's slip from his grasp as they burst into streams of harmless blackened miasma before sinking into the ground moments later.
Was his chest heaving? Why yes. It was! When had breathing become difficult? Right. So, he had to focus. Inhaling through the nose slowly and ensuring he exhaled adequately as he began to slowly acrew magic once more. Speaking in a heightened volume with slightly less reserve than normal.
"So, I don't know if I can keep this up forever. But I should be able to give the other two something to thing about while they try to close the gap between us and them!"
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Post by Althea on May 9, 2017 19:35:55 GMT -6
"Right." That was the trouble with magic, after all. It wasn't like a sword or a bow. You couldn't just keep using it as long as it didn't break or you didn't run out of arrows. Magic had costs of its own; mana, prana, magical energy, essence, qi, chi, ki, spirit, aura, there were a thousand and ones names for that nebulous concept of 'magic' that flowed through a mage and twice as many ways to use it. The problem was that, even if it regenerated, there was a finite quantity of it. Something like arrows for a bow, but more nebulous. You could never truly say "I have three spells left in me." You couldn't say 'I can cast Flux twice.' Given the variance in how much prana each individual cast of Mire might take, or the difference in a simple orb of Flux compared to a larger airburst or holding a Ruin tendril steady, there was simply no true consistent parameterization of magical input-output.
It was no different for her. Althea was somewhat winded. She was aware of that. But what did that translate to? One spell? Three? Five? It depended on how big each one was, and how much time she gave herself between each cast to recuperate. Something else to track. Hmmm... the middle of a life and death situation wasn't necessarily the best time to experiment, but then again it was also arguably the best time to experiment with pushing one's self. So she could make an argument either way. These... bonewalker, the undead creatures, didn't seem very bright or well sighted, only witty enough to fight and to kill. But if she could keep them immobile, or at least predictable, for a moment... "Please do that again, Drei." Light turned to shadow in her hands as she brought them together once again in their typical casting position, partially for comfort but mostly for practicality, her magic turning to black energy as she tried to focus. This was going to take... a lot of focus. But hey, they tried things.
Sometimes they even worked.
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Post by Drei on May 9, 2017 20:23:58 GMT -6
More time. Restrain. That, he could manage. Magic detonated within his palms as Drei clasped his hands together for a moment before separating them as energy began to flow from hand to hand until they condensed into twin orbs once more. The font that was his body bursting as essence surged from the conduit and coiled around his fingers. The center of each orb had traces of darker hues as it rushed inwards, like a sphere within a sphere. This time he curled his fingers to further condense it. Channeling and focusing inwards entirely with eyes slowly closing. Steady breaths making his chest rise and fall, he began to get into his second wind.
Amber gaze snapped to the two he'd knocked back before. This time, when Drei lifted his palms the tendrils not only ejected with a faster crack but snaked slightly. They curved skywards as they lashed outwards before puncturing through and entwining around the rib-cages and spines of the bonewalkers. Dark chain like tethers circulated from the palms up through and betwixt Drei's pale fingers before coiling back around into the orbs. As if they were directly guided and sculpted in motion by his gestures and movements. The Shaman rose his hands as the solidified magic responded to his will. Ascending with the bonewalkers in toe, the tendrils curved upwards before crashing back down. Puncturing into the ground while binding the bonewalkers to it. Struggle though they might.
He could feel the steadily accumulating cost of his spell beginning to tax his last reserves. For the immediate moment though he could maintain it, and would buy Althea as much time as possible.
"Go for it. Their pinned for now!"
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Post by Althea on May 9, 2017 21:32:32 GMT -6
As Drei clearly began to channel his own magic in response to her request, her gaze registering his reaction and seeming assent, Althea moved to her own task, trusting him to do as asked - not thinking about what it meant that she had done so. Far too focused on her work, carefully drawing her hands apart as the orb destabilized. Not too much. Having it explode in her face would be... less than ideal. But carefully shaping it, vivisecting it, injecting her magic between the partially formed spell's mix of magic and Nether. Not... ripping it in half, exactly. That was too crude. But in truth what she was doing WAS crude, at least by the standards of what she would consider effective magic.
As she focused the orb mutated, warped into three smaller ones, her focus taxed sorely at the triple simultaneous actions but the results palpable. She felt rather than watched Drei's actions, even with her eyes painted in that direction, registering only the lack of motion as some of the bonewalkers ceased to move - calculating the distance, the drop, their remaining mobility; compensating for struggles - and without warning all three orbs detonated nearly simultaneously, sending streaking lances of the blackest magics aimed at each of them. The first struck with some effect, crushing through part of the creature's ribcage, but the diameter of the ray wasn't particularly high - a few inches tops - it did some structural damage but not enough to kill the creature. The second ray, aimed better (worse?), struck another bonewalker in the skull, drilling through and warping the bone as it passed, leaving the creature limp within the grasp of Drei's ruin. The third, detonated just slightly after the first two, went wide, missing entirely, cutting a small hole in the ground before dissipating.
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Post by Drei on May 9, 2017 22:33:05 GMT -6
Drei felt the sudden drop in resistance as the second bonewalker was reduced to smoldering bone-meal. Though he could've dissolved the spell entirely, the ashen haired shaman transitioned it as the initial target managed to remain in-tact. The swerving arc of the tendril causing a bit of strain upon the shaman's forearms briefly before he willed it further, curving the tendril while he sent it crashing into the absent rib-cage and against the spine of the bonewalker. Crashing it into the nearly un-harmed one before converging the spell into a far more dangerous mass as it hit with thunderous force.
The twin hardened tendrils now further exerting crushing force upon the undead fiends. Drei's breathing had gotten heavier. Were they trying to fight back? His fingers curled inwards as the magic rushed about his palms. Condensing and snaking around the twin skeletal warriors, the tendrils crushed them further. Squeezing them tighter as he tried to capitalize on the opening presented by Althea. The spears pressed further into the ground as the wider mass began to drive further through them. Bone splitting, cracking and yielding to the oppressive force as the physically manifested energy further compacted and grind away at the bones. The first one he'd grabbed was far less injured in this assault, but the one already weakened by Althea was already structurally weaker. It's body submitting to the force after a few moments as various parts of it began to split, snap, and shatter. The shaman's body briefly reeling as he spurred on further, shifting his focus from the maintenance of twin spears to now maintaining the one that restrained the still animate bonewalker. Staring to it first then scanning his surroundings as if to keep away for just a moment longer.
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Post by Althea on May 9, 2017 23:16:34 GMT -6
That - crap. It hadn't been BAD, exactly. But it had hit her right around the spell finished that the kick hadn't just been the cost, more realizing that she was reaching her limits, once again before Drei, once again before the battle had actually ended. She wasn't quite out of juice yet but the shaman belatedly realized that she had been so focused on the fight, and her casting, that she hadn't even thought to track her reserves recently while repeatedly casting larger scale magic than she was used to. It was a rookie mistake. A STUPID mistake. She was no master of magic but by now even she should have known better. It was - frustrating, honestly, that she still had so much to learn even about herself much less the magic in general.
-But this was also far further than she had ever pushed herself before. Just two casts of Mire had nearly killed her back on the boat, though granted one of them had been pretty stacked as far as magic nukes went. So to be able to pull off several, some of them arguably nearly as powerful, with much less strain and far superior battle focus overall, was in fact a significant leap forward. That said... it was still clear that she had a great deal more work to do. Althea felt as though she was gradually getting closer to grasping the Root, understanding the Nether on some more fundamental level than she had previously. She didn't quite understand how, but it was as though she were on the verge of some kind of breakthrough, something that filled her with both hope and frustration - gratification at the progress, anger that it was just barely out of reach but imperceptibly so.
Casting Flux felt almost like rigmarole now - rote magic channeling, pouring a part of herself into the spell, calling on the Nether to help provide the mass and energy to forge it from raw magic and casing into an actual attack. The orb sank into the ground and emerged beneath the remaining bonewalker, blasting it apart in a burst of dark energy, its weakened frame already clearly strained by Drei's magic. It was almost a bit underwhelming honestly, the creatures seemingly almost immune to visual damage until they were already about to break apart, the dark magic animating them dissipating as the cause of 'death' rather than real damage per se. But at least the immediate issue had been dealt with, to some degree or another.
"...Thank you... Drei," she managed, pausing between words to breathe as Althea struggled to find her center. Ugh. The burn was kicking in all over, her body as conduit strained as was her mind. But she wasn't done yet. The battle wasn't done yet. It would just take a miracle, or time, to pull off total victory. She smiled tiredly at him, caught in the moment and not quite as reserved as usual - whether because of the flush of success, or Eris's turbulent thoughts, or the Nether wrecking her emotions, she had no clue. "We do... make an interesting team... don't we?"
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Post by Drei on May 9, 2017 23:49:29 GMT -6
Was he supposed to be inhaling magma? That was normal right? Completely standard and par for the course? No? Right.
The last vestige of his ruin spell pattered away into non-existence. Drei's hands lowering as the darkness surrounding his palms vanished entirely. At this point his hands felt about as heavy when he was using his spell, without. Lowering to one knee as the shaman's palm pushed to his upper thigh and he knelt quietly. Chest heaving, robes shaking slightly from his ragged breaths. His head was starting to ache again. He kept his peripheral vision lined up to see most of the combat even as he turned to the snowy haired girl. To this end, as she thanked him he would reply with a nod. Too busy lapping up air with fatigued inhales to audibly reply. Though the faint smile upon her lips inspired his own to twitch into a small grin in response.
If they hadn't been in imminent danger he might've turned to face her entirely. Had that idea not been absolute and utter suicide in almost every potential outcome. So for now he leveled a single amber hued eye in her direction and gazed at her before nodding once more. This time, he could respond verbally after a fairly steadied inhale. The ashen haired shaman taking note of her own baring and visage while he affirmed his own thoughts positively towards her statement.
"I believe...so as well. Our styles seem...ah...to compliment each-other with a high... synergistic value."
Though he paused for a moment, he decided to remark openly an observation he'd made through out their conflict together.
"Your ability to control and guide your magic has..gone up by magnitudes. I see now...the extent. It is very impressive. You are very talented."
His lips sealed shut after that compliment. Normally far less open and verbose, he tried to finish steadying his breathing while leaning on his knee to continue catching his breath.
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Post by Althea on May 10, 2017 1:16:49 GMT -6
Well, it did make her feel a bit better that Drei wasn't just casually standing there at full power wondering why she had stopped working. Not that she wanted him to flub out right now either, but it felt as though she had partially closed the gap between them to at least some degree, even if he still felt... ahead of her. It was new that that would bother her at all. For most of her life it certainly wouldn't have; she was used to not being the best by any stretch of the imagination. It was only of late that the idea of being... 'better' than anyone at magic had really come to mind. Althea still wasn't sure what she felt about that. It didn't disgust or excite her, it didn't feel like she was betraying everything she had ever known and loved or that she had ascended to a new level of supremacy over all society. It just kinda... was.
The struggle at the wagons had seemingly exploded in their temporary absence, the defenders finally beginning to break out for better or for worse - whether because their rear defenses had been shattered, or because they were winning, remained to be seen. While she would definitely see to their defense soon. Right now... Althea kind of just wanted to stand there, hands hanging at her side, head inclined upwards, staring upward with closed eyes as if trying to see what it was she could not see. Unsurprisingly it didn't help too much with the whole cosmic realization angle, but it was at least relaxing and helped her center herself for a time, even if she was going to be feeling a HELL of a sore body and a lot of magic exhaustion later. Though that did not mean she was deaf to Drei's comments or unfeeling of his thoughts.
"...They do, don't they? The last few months I've met a number of unique individuals. Been saved by magi, shamans, strongmen." She still couldn't quite... comprehend Jalid. Not as an insult. But simple astonishment. His physical ability was so far beyond human it boggled her mind even more than his thinking and speech... though that wasn't to say she disliked him, either. "...But found none as trustworthy as you. I am glad that you came to my side today."
What a far cry they had come from, when she met him on the ship and her first thought had been that his jumping around while using magic looked sorta silly and inefficient. They had saved each others lives several times that day, and today again. Not to denigrate Circe by any means. But she wagered that her and Drei had managed some pretty impressive feats in terms of synergy so far, both magically and in personality, such that the difference in their relationship had been... incredible despite the relatively short time she had known him. And even she could see that. Althea was not the type to open up to people. Or at least, that was what she had thought. In the wake of all the good people she had met of late, she wondered if she had not simply drowned that part of her for a... time, a long time, since loss first took her heart away from her. But whatever the case, Drei certainly stood out more than most.
And she seemed to be afflicted with diarrhea of the mouth. And mind, if she was even thinking of mentioning Eris to him at all. For now, much wiser to focus on the task at hand though. "I couldn't have improved as I have without you, Drei." Okay. Enough ms. nice girl. Game face on, boots on the ground, time for murder. "Now, what do you say we finish this? I am certain that you will be welcome to ride with us to the dig site afterward if you are so inclined."
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Post by Drei on May 10, 2017 16:58:06 GMT -6
The shaman's lips persisted in that rare form. That slightly curved shape that almost resembled a half crescent. It was bound to fade. To lower and dip back into a shape less inclined towards any form of expressiveness. In spite of this eventuality of it fading, Drei maintained it for a moment or two longer at the sound of her praise and kind words. It was..rare that he ever truly felt accepted in this world. Rare fleeting moments. Mila had provided such to a lesser degree at times and the verdant haired swordsman had definitely made him feel more welcomed than the average Elibian citizen. His strange apparel often gave him away as either a vagrant simply assuming through speculation that he "looked like trouble" or simply "no good". He lacked his father's abundant charisma and open nature. He'd grown up on the stories of a lone traveling shaman setting up wooden stands with candles and performing feats with dancing shadows as the origins of the circus he knew to be home. Drei...could not be so open.
This was made worse by the recent surge of beings assuredly aspected with the void. Creatures of an abominus nature linked to the nether or with an origin relating to Elder Magic. A panicked and xenophobic mentality that was fairly contagious. Drei wanted little to do with it in part and was accustomed to going entire journeys with minimal human contact. It had..effects on him however. Perhaps out of an instinctive longing from his upbringing being so explosively jubilant quite reliably, and accepting, but he legitimately felt like he harbored a quiet suppressed wish for simple interaction. Or perhaps humans simply naturally were social creatures, and an inability to escape this root need for interaction was proof? Maybe it was both.
"I...feel the same in regards to yourself. You are...hm...very easy to trust. I am..unaccustomed to this."
Right. He still couldn't precisely people well. However if he was honest then he had little to fear right? Though the affirmation that he'd assisted in her growth left him feeling...happy? Excited? Proud? He couldn't precisely put his finger on it, nor could he adequately identify an emotion at a steady point between the three. Still. The odd sensation internally had been acknowledged and now he could blatantly suppress it into oblivion like he did most. The Shaman's palms rubbed to his knee and the ground as he stood up. Right. Enough attempting to understand emotions. Now it was time to go back to killing things. Er...attempting to re-kill things? Murder undead? That was far too complex to figure out so instead he'd settle for obliterating stuff.
"Right. Let us see, if we can push one another to further limits."
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