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Post by Metroid Life on Sept 14, 2013 15:28:03 GMT -5
Hakkyou blinked in confusion. "You're... letting me go? Just like that?" She let go of her unconscious hostage, knowing would be no help to her now. Her replica vanished, since it was obvious she couldn't fight her way out of this. She was completely at their mercy, and she could only hope Blade was being honest.
Keine certainly wasn't happy with the idea of Hakkyou getting away without punishment, but she knew there wasn't anything she could do either, except try to clean up the mess that had already happened. She already had her plan figured out: Her powers would allow her to remove the history of the man who was eaten, so that no one knew he was there at all. Thankfully he was something of a recluse, having no real friends or anyone who would wonder at his disappearance from their lives.. As for this family, it was enough for them to know that a youkai had been stopped, and nothing needed be changed.
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Knell
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Post by Knell on Sept 14, 2013 16:07:07 GMT -5
"Let's go Hakkyou." Blade said as he exited the house and beckoned her to follow. "I'll let you get your revenge soon." He would say in a quiet tone to her. "I've discovered a way to allow you to increase your power, if you'd let me show you."
River sighed. "Awww, and here I was looking forward to an old fashioned tussle." He rubbed the back of his head. "Sorry about the hole in the wall, I get excited sometimes."
"If you excuse me, I'll be on my way." Ling said as he took his leave, vanishing in a whirl of speed.
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Post by Metroid Life on Sept 14, 2013 16:25:19 GMT -5
Nervously, Hakkyou followed Blade. She didn't exactly trust the creature, but she didn't have much choice. "Very well, show me. Where are we going?"
Keine watched as everyone left. She comforted the children, made certain their mother was ok, and ate the history of the murdered man. No one would know of his death, except herself and those who saw him this night. She sighed guiltily, remembering all the other people she had to make vanish like this. Hundreds? Thousands? She had lost count over the centuries. She taught all the humans in the village ever since they were children, and she knew there were some things they simply couldn't afford to know. If they knew that the village wasn't truly safe, they would panic, and the lives she had been trying to save would never trust her or anyone else again. Better that they live in ignorance than in fear, she told herself. It was a flimsy justification, it wouldn't save her from the nightmares she knew would come, but it was the truth... wasn't it?
She made her way back to the school, hoping to get back to the papers she was grading, and pretend this never happened. Shoki was waiting for her there.
"Miss Keine, is everything ok? Is the youkai gone?"
"Yes, Shoki. You can go home now."
"Ok. And... Miss Keine?"
"Yes?"
"Do you know anything about magic?"
Shoki fell into bed, disappointed. Keine knew nothing of magic, meaning Shoki would have to find it for herself. "Someday soon," she told herself. "I'll be a magician, and no youkai will be able to hurt me again..."
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Knell
Founder
"Silence! Think before making baseless claims!"
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Post by Knell on Sept 14, 2013 16:49:18 GMT -5
"So, you wish to know of magic?" Spoke a man's wispy voice from the foot of Shoki's bed, standing there was the same white cloaked man from before. "You seek strength, do you not? The power to protect yourself from danger. Magic." He held out his right hand and a ball of fire appeared hovering over it. "It is indeed a mysterious power, not many know of it's origins. I was once like you, a mere human afraid of everything around him." He began hovering into the air. "But I did not give up. I discovered the roots of magic and became what I am today. A dimensional wizard, who holds infinite power." He chuckled softly. "If you so choose, I can reveal it's secrets to you."
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Blade stood at the edge of a cliff. "Hakkyou, do you know why I'm so powerful? I know that you have also lived a very long time, you've seen things change around you, and yet, you lack power." He turned to her. "That is because you rely on humans to gain strength, you rely on the very beings that you call weak. In order to become powerful, you'll need to find another source. He looked downward into the valley. "Behold, my army of fairies. Kill them, eat them. They'll infinitly return, with this strategy. You'll not only get better at combat tactics, you'll gain an immeasurable power of strength. Humans are nothing, they will give you nothing and going after them is merely a waste of time." He pointed to the fairies. "Go, your power awaits."
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Post by Metroid Life on Sept 14, 2013 16:56:48 GMT -5
Shoki jumped out of bed, her face the very picture of desire and longing. "Yes, please, I'm begging you, teach me!"
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Hakkyou stared down at the fairies, drooling slightly as her hunger started to raise again. She instantly dived into their midst, tearing them apart and devouring all she could. Some of them had enough sense to fire at her, but they lacked the power to do any real damage, and the crippling fear reduced those around her to trembling sacks of food. Some of the ones outside her range were preparing some kind of attack, but it didn't concern her. She would get to them soon enough.
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Knell
Founder
"Silence! Think before making baseless claims!"
Posts: 141
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Post by Knell on Sept 14, 2013 17:32:24 GMT -5
The cloaked man laughed. "You surely are an eager one, very well." He snapped his fingers and a dimensional gate opened behind him. "The adventure awaits." He entered it, waiting for Shoki to follow him, when she entered, she would find herself in a great castle, the place the man called home.
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Blade simply watched the spectacle. The truth was, he never used this method, but it would work for someone like Hakkyou, who was driven by instincts. A fairy floated up and stood beside him.
"I can't believe you're using us as food."
"Oh get off it, you'll just come back anyways."
"That's true enough, but it's still painful."
"Look on the bright side, you're under my protection. At least you won't have to get eaten like those down there, after all. You're my general."
"Thank god for that." The red haired fairy said as she lay back onto the ground. "I gotta thank you though, us fairies aren't very strong and if you didn't look out for us, we'd be dying a lot more than we are now."
"Heh, just think of it as my sole good deed."
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Post by Metroid Life on Sept 14, 2013 17:48:22 GMT -5
Hakkyou ate until it was obvious that she simply couldn't eat anymore. She thought it would make her feel stronger, and it had, but now she simply felt sleepy. She floated by up to where Blade was, along with another fairy. Just looking at it made her nauseous. "Thank you, but I can't eat anymore... I'm gonna lie down now..." She fainted on the spot.
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Shoki ran into the gate eagerly, all thought of sleep gone. The castle loomed over her, but to her it didn't look sinister, just promising. Soon she would have everything she ever desired: safety, peace, and power. Soon she would get her revenge for what had happened to her, and that youkai would pay.
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Knell
Founder
"Silence! Think before making baseless claims!"
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Post by Knell on Sept 14, 2013 18:49:49 GMT -5
Blade sighed. "What a glutton." He leaped down to where the fairies were regrouping. "Great job today, you have the rest of the week off. I know I would if I was turned into a buffett." The fairies dispersed instantly. "Now to wait until miss lazy wakes up."
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The man floated in front of a great book case, with books of many types. He picked one up and levitated it down to the girl. "That book holds the basics of magic, how to fly, create basic fireballs, etc. It's good for a starter." He landed gracefully on the floor. "I must urge you to be patient, you will not be able to become a master like myself over night, but do not worry, I will make sure you understand the secrets of magic. No longer will you be helpless."
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Post by Metroid Life on Sept 14, 2013 19:01:13 GMT -5
Shoki took the book gingerly, as though it might shatter if she held it wrong. She quickly found a chair and sat down, getting ready to read, when she realized something. "I just realized, you never told me who you are."
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Knell
Founder
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Post by Knell on Sept 14, 2013 19:21:38 GMT -5
"Me?" The cloaked man merely chuckled. "I guess I should work on being more hospitable." He removed his cowl to reveal long and beautiful blonde hair. His red eyes complimenting it. "You can call me Tasuki." He smiled. "Expecting someone older? I bet you were, after all, when you become a true wizard, you stop aging. I bet that's something you didn't know." He snapped his fingers and a book appeared in his hands. "The world of Gensokyo is truly a blissful place. Do you know why?" He poofed the book away. "It is because if you have strength here, there is nothing you cannot do. You are safe from danger, able to live the way you want. That is why I wish all humans would follow the path of magic, no longer would I have to watch them die pathetic deaths." He pointed at her. "Do you know why I chose you? It is because you have the will to be more than just food for someone else, you have the will to fight for your own survival. That is why I chose you." He laughed. "That and you interest me. You think of more than just yourself, I can see it in your eyes. You not only want power to defend yourself, but to defend others. If you wanted power for solely a selfish reason, I'd have left you to your fate. Since even now, don't you have someone you wish to protect? Someone who is dear to you? The power of feelings, the resolve to protect, that is the true origin of magic."
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Post by Metroid Life on Sept 14, 2013 19:41:12 GMT -5
As Shoki listened to Tasuki's speech, she realized he was right. She wasn't just scared for herself, but for all humans who cowered from the power of the youkai. They were people, not cattle, and didn't deserve the horrors that were inflicted on them. She would learn, not just to become stronger, but to make everyone stronger. "Thank you. I promise, I will be the greatest student you could ever have." Some day humans would be free from the youkai's evil, and she would be the one to make that happen. With this glorious vision in her head, she opened the book and started reading.
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Hakkyou woke up on cold hard rock. She felt much stronger than she had before, and her old nagging hunger was nowhere to be found. Finally, she was free from that curse... she got up and took note of her surroundings. She was standing on the same cliff she had fallen asleep on, but now it was daytime, and the fairies were nowhere to be found. Blade was still there, though, watching her nearby. She wondered if he had stood there the whole time she was asleep. "Thank you for the wonderful meal, Blade." She bowed in gratitude. "What happens next?"
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Knell
Founder
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Posts: 141
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Post by Knell on Sept 14, 2013 20:33:56 GMT -5
Blade took a deep breath. "What happens now is we gain allies. Do you have anyone that you consider a personal ally or friend? We have to look out for eachother, I mean, I wouldn't call us evil or anything like that, but we're certainly not loved by most of Gensokyo. For now, we've gotta get a solid alliance going with other youkai that feel the same."
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Tasuki watched carefully as Shoki started her studies. She would indeed become a powerful sorceress one day, one that could ensure the safety of Gensokyo. He opened a dimension gate and reached his arm into it, when his arm exited it, he was holding onto the magician known as Patchouli Knowledge, with her familiar, Koakuma, clinging to her.
"What is it now, Tasuki?" She said as she quickly made herself at home at a table. "You always do what you want, just because we studied magic together when we were younger."
"I actually want you to look out for this girl." He pointed to Shoki. "I can't be here all the time, but you'd be the perfect supervisor for her. She wishes to become a mage and I've decided to take her under my wing."
"A mage huh? I suppose...it's not like I have to do anything hard. Very well, I'll accept your offer on the condition that you expand your library, it's awfully small."
"I will do so."
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Post by Metroid Life on Sept 14, 2013 20:51:51 GMT -5
Shoki glanced at Patchouli from over the top of her book, hoping the magician wouldn't notice. She had heard of Patchouli as the reclusive magician and librarian of the Scarlet Devil. Though everyone feared Remilia and Flandre, joked about Hong Meiling, and whispered to each other in awe of the supposedly human maid Sakuya, no one knew much about Patchouli, and still less about her assistant Koakuma, except that she was supposedly a succubus, though her clothing suggested otherwise. Getting to know them would be... interesting. But for now, it would be better, she thought, not to ask questions and annoy her. She turned her attention back to her book, which was starting on the basics of flight.
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Hakkyou considered Blade's question. "I do have some old friends, yes. I'll see what I can do to get them on our side... as soon as I know what exatly we're doing. I'm not going to lead them into a death trap, I owe them that much."
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Knell
Founder
"Silence! Think before making baseless claims!"
Posts: 141
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Post by Knell on Sept 14, 2013 21:32:26 GMT -5
"So Tasuki. What possessed you to choose this child over the many others?" Patchouli asked as she looked at some of his books.
"You know me, I work in mysterious ways."
"I suppose you do. Koakuma, would you mind creating a study area for that girl?"
"Right away, Patchouli-sama!" The red haired devil said as she scurried to work.
"As loyal as always eh?" Tasuki observed.
"Servants will be forever loyal to you if you treat them with kindness."
"True indeed."
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"What we're doing." Blade said as he rummaged in a bag that he had dragged out of the grass. "Is ensuring our own survival. That is the first and most important objective. Do you know why I befriended the fairies? It's not because they're immortal, but because they number in the highest, with them, I can outnumber any opponent. I am also slowly training them and soon." He smirked. "They will evolve into youkai themselves." He held out his arms. "Imagine, an army of immortal youkai at our command, doesn't it just sound, beautiful?"
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Post by Metroid Life on Sept 14, 2013 23:38:07 GMT -5
Hakkyou briefly imagined what an army of youkai could do, and cackled at the thought. "Alright, I like where this is going. I'll get my friends to join us soon enough." With that said, she flew off, looking for their first recruit. She started her search in in the Forest of Magic. As this was where she lived, most everyone knew her in some way or another, and she knew how to get in touch with them. She snatched a firefly out of the air. It struggled briefly, but she spoke in a odd buzzing noise, and it stopped, ready to hear her out. "Tell Wriggle to meet me here, and bring his friends with him."
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