learnspells

[learnspells]

ʚїɞ - "Is the master that I have to wake up, dress, do the hair of, and pull out of mimics really calling me too spoiled."

"Is it really propaganda if it's true? There's nothing wrong with it, I only think it should be in moderation, or else you'll be too spoiled."

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ʚїɞ - "Shoot them... with this gun?" The mage raised the weapon, careful not to point it at the stranger for one very good reason. "...Is there ammunition inside? It feels pretty light." She had been worried about accidentally firing it. Wolfwood had taught her well. Fortunately, she didn't really need to worry about any of that.

Would she be okay wielding one of these? Well, if she considered it a tinier version of her staff, then maybe? There was only one way to find it. She didn't really have a choice anyways.

"On the bright side, this might allow me to preserve my magic during this encounter. How is your aim, Miss...?" Oh, names. "Sorry. My name is Fern." Better get introductions out of the way before the confused Glitched became less confused.

Well, At leas this 'modifier' leveled the playing field just a bit. A mercy, considering her bad luck traversing the city safely... As she looks over the equipment, she's suddenly approached! "Oh, Um. Yes." She responds awkwardly. Right, not everyone came from the same modern world.. Now how can she best explain a game she herself never played?

"I've never played myself but if I understand correctly, you have to 'Shoot' the target on the enemy's vests to score points. Or, um, I suppose defeat them in this case..?" ...Wait, does that mean these kill the zombies!? Oh dear She's not sure she's ready for that.

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ʚїɞ - Fern knew that in trying times like this that she had to work a little harder. Not when it came to fighting, that she could do just fine. But she had to try and be a little better at reassuring others. She gave Nier a little smile as if to say "it'll be okay", but she immediately questioned if it actually came off like that or if she'd just come off as slightly unsettling instead.

If Nier wanted to come along, that at least made things a little easier. "Then why don't we try and hold out there for now? There's food and water, and apparently the librarian has fortified it. She's just waiting for me to show up." They could check and then leave too, but she had to think about the erune's safety.

She stopped and looked back at Nier's face again, though. "There could be a potential problem, though. If these things are gathering where people are, they could be outside. I know of a tunnel route in, but there's also no guarantee we can slip in unseen." They'd need to seal it once they passed through, too.

"I don't have the best luck in this place..." she sighs. "It wouldn't surprise me if some of them were still here..."

There is a part of Nier that thinks it might be cathartic if the pixies are corrupted; no one would think twice if she cut them down then. The last time she tried, someone caught her in the act and she felt poorly enough about it that she stopped. Not out of guilt, of course, she's just not fond of witnesses. But at least they won't have to worry about any massive glitched beasts tearing out from the trees. Nier half-expected to hear roaring from somewhere in the forest, not Fern's assurance that they wouldn't have to worry about the librarian.

"Oh, well... That's good, at least. I'm happy we can have a little good news, though we're not exactly safe yet..."

There's something about Fern's words that put her on edge, because it sounds like she's planning on abandoning her at some point. "Oh, um, I'm not going to get in the way or anything like that, I promise... Even if we can't use it all the time, my magic is strong, so I wouldn't be a burden..."

She steps a little closer, clasping her hands together. If nothing else, she just doesn't want to be left alone, and having someone give her direction is a relief. "I can come with you to make sure she's safe... And after that, we can... go north, I think? It's safer that way, that's what I heard someone say... And wouldn't it be safer to travel together?"

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ʚїɞ - Oh. It could talk. Fern wasn't sure if that was good or bad just yet, but only because she was exercising reasonable caution as a mage that had almost been eaten by a dragon on at least one occasion. He said some interesting things, though. "Do you really think they aren't alive? It feels more like... I don't know. Like they're possessed." There were monsters that could do that where she came from, at least.

And they did seem irate. What is an effect of the mist? Would the mist follow them? She didn't really know. And when he offered giving her a ride, she eyed his body cautiously.

"Normally I can fly using magic, but that was one of my first spells to weaken substantially." So this would be the second time someone had flown her to safety in the past week. Something she was quickly learning, though, was that safety was temporary. "Erm... Would that be okay? Where... would I sit?"

when malchior had first arrived in spirale, he had played the part of the archmage. now, with his powers draining, it was harder and harder to maintain that guise- and so in his attemtps to save his strength, he simply allowed himself to be what he was from the start. the last of the great fire drakes of the north. malchior the magnificent, chiefest and greatest of calamities. a being stronger than these undead- surely-

can you communicate with me, comes a voice, and malchior's attention turns to a new companion. someone alive. of course i can communicate, he says, although he knows it must be a little unsettling to hear a voice from a mouth that did not move as human mouths did. you are alive, unlike these things, he continues, a swift motion of his tail knocking some aside- there is no need for me to hurt you. at least, not now. perhaps not ever. things were different in this day and age, the age of the city of spirale. and he was not forced to fight for causes that he did not believe in ⎛ not like before. every day he cursed the brotherhood, because that was not the person he wanted to be. sometimes, he cursed herald too, for sending him so far away ⎠we are fighting for the same cause, yes? to lay the undead to rest once more- so i will not hurt you. of course, the same could not be said for the undead, could it?

something is wrong here, he says, wings outstretched to beat against the fog- which seemed to return as quickly as he'd banished it- they are ... agitated. more than i have seen before. i will fly us far from this place if you so wish it.

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ʚїɞ - "Like a meal?" That comment took her off guard for a second, until she thought about how birds tended to hunt for food. If Fern hadn't been able to fly on her own, she probably would have been a little more cautious about the solution proposed. But she took the harpy's other hand and pulled herself in to practically cling to the woman.

It probably looked silly, but this wasn't really the time to care about that.

"Do you do this often? Carry people around like this, I mean. I remember when we first met, you offered to give me a ride before."

"We should not have to worry about me losing my energy for flight." As far as she was concerned, powers and such that were taken away from Stars were the ones that could drain.

Fern grabs one hand and voices her concern. Yumine smiles, "i wouldn't let you dangle like some meal." It's a playful tone really. Still, she uses her other hand to hold Fern's other one. "I didn't want to hold onto you with my talons." For one, there was a possibility that Fern's outfit should rip from the shoulders and then there was the uncomfortable factor. Damn, she should have brought her bicycle!

"I'll hoist you up. Please use your legs too also hold onto me." Once Fern is situated, Yumine takes them up higher.

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ʚїɞ - Fern thoughtfully tapped her chin at the mention of informational packets. "I know there are some brochures detailing the branches and wards at the front desk." The draken librarian liked to hoard them since she often found visitors were looking for information on the city itself.

The mage led him deeper inside with a tilt of her head. Grass and trees had sprouted within the library, a stream running between the shelves. "My name is Fern, by the way." She added a polite introduction as they walked.

"Hm... What genre is it? A lot of modern books are more likely to be found in the modern libraries in the other wards, but I won't say there's no chance it's here."

“Believe me, at this point i would be satisfied with informational packets and instruction manuals. It has been a long time since I was able to read anything.”

is this woman the librarian? … well, librarians tend to be the only reliably decent humans in their handful of experiences. Chara relaxes… a little bit.

“I am not looking for anything in particular … but do you perhaps have Banana Yoshimoto’s Kitchen? It is a favorite of mine, and I would so very much like to give it a reread.”

[learnspells]

ʚїɞ - A plan of action was essential in that moment. If they proceeded too haphazardly then they risked putting themselves in danger. More danger than they were technically already in. "You don't need to carry me, I know a flying spell." She whispered her reassurances, bad added onto them. "I'm an S-class mage. I know power offensive and defensive spells too."

She wouldn't add that she used basic spells to do this. She was just really good at them.

"That's fair, though. I'm the type of person that pulls her own weight. I don't necessarily need to stand back and be protected." Or float back, in this case. "But this might be our chance. They aren't looking this way."

"Normally I can't but seeing as our powers seemed to have returned to us I should be able to without much hassle."

But Fern did have a point. They were all on the surface level at the moment but that didn't mean one of these modifiers could very well be something as absurd as "they fly now". Which basically meant the two of them were choosing between two big evils...

"I could carry you myself." Mélusine said almost as forward as possible despite their situation. "Not that I can't defend myself if someone does attack. But if my abilities do wane then you can take over. That way neither of us are being a liability towards the other as we find somewhere to go."

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ʚїɞ - "Sometimes the truth is harder to believe than fantasy, I guess." Fern didn't really know how else to describe it, but that saying made sense for her. Coming from a world that other would call "fantasy" meant that her own definition of "fantasy" was a little different.

She eyed the wall, where she noticed some of the brick was already slowly being restored. "I guess what you consider to be fantasy depends on what you know as reality in the first place." The city of Spirale felt more like something out of a fantasy book than say, a dragon to the mage.

A slight smile was offered. "All we can do is support each other in this unfamiliar situation. Did you have any other questions?"

Upon seeing firsthand at how brazenly the young girl took her staff and shot out a blast breaking the wall, being fixed up in mere seconds Rapi had more then all the proof she needed that things here just were almost completely incomprehensible. It was one thing to understand there might be a world out there without the ever constant threat of creatures. But self-repairs, emergencies that seemed to happen on the regular, and plenty more rubbed her in ways she couldn't begin to understand.

The only thought that ran through her mind now was just what kind of hellish situation did she of all people manage to end up in...

"Even if I did ask you how I don't think I'd believe it." The proof was right in front of her after all. Trying to fight it would just cause her more confusion then answers. "Still thank you for the demonstration. It does help clean at least some things up at the very least..."

[learnspells]

family core

I love them a lot

[learnspells]

ʚїɞ - The pixies were quick and tricky. If they'd been corrupted then would those talents carry over? Without seeing one in person it was hard to say, but she thoughtfully nodded when Nier mentioned "Death" taking care of them. She just assumed the erune was planning on killing them without knowing "Death" was something else entirely.

"Its also possible the pixies have left the forest, assuming they... aren't in their right minds." Assuming they'd maybe chased some regular people out. She still had her magic for now, so Fern wasn't that worried.

"The draken woman? She's fine." Fern was quick to dismiss Nier's concerns by pulling out her phone. "I've been texting her. She's locked herself in one of the store rooms for the time being. The reason I wanted to come out this way in the first place was to check on her, but we should get you somewhere else first." The mage maybe spent a little too much time in that library.

Fern's warning still floats at the forefront of Nier's mind. Both she and Death had been using their powers and weapons with abandon now that they actually had reason to use them, but Nier had thought Death's comments about the sharpness of her blades was little more than an offhand comment. These Glitched were hardly an obstacle for the pair right now, but if the days wore on and their magic grew weaker and weaker, then what lay in fate for them?

Not that death was much of an obstacle, either. Still, Nier would rather not have to worry about that particular power losing potency.

"Mmn, the pixies...?" Her thoughts bounce in slow arcs from each concern to the next; planning like this was never her strong suit. "I sure hope not, but... They probably were. Death can take care of them, but I'm not..."

She's been to the forest a few times, in search of the library. She's been there a few times as well, and the warnings to follow the rules still ring strongly in her mind. Because every visitor knows what happens if they disobey.

"Um, Fern, have you... Have you ever been to the library in this forest before? Do you... know about the librarian? I was just thinking that... Maybe this isn't a very safe place to be..."

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ʚїɞ - "I'm not sure how it works, but these modifiers affect the circumstances." Like most of these incidents there was always something that made things feel more like a game than not. Nothing was every as simple as "don't die", there was something else to it. Were they being testing on this occasion, or were they basically dancing for the Stars?

Either way, they had to survive.

"You're not wrong, but will it be that easy? Can you fly? Are there any guarantees some of the monsters can't?" It was too early to say.

"Completely blind? Just like that...?" Every time one of the new "modifiers" managed to hit the area Mélusine seemed more and more impressed at how quickly things could change. An advantage they have might very well be turned upside down without a second thought. Crazy to think about, especially with how their powers degraded quite easily now.

"If they can only really respond to sound then we can easily escape somewhere higher up for a reprieve if need be. They won't know where to climb, even if they manage to pick up our voices."

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ʚїɞ - Yumine had promised her a flight once upon a time, so it seemed like this was as good of an opportunity as any to cash it in. "Right." Whatever was happening in the city, it didn't seem to be beneficial to take every fight. Fleeing was just as valuable so long as you could get away in time.

Even with the looming danger, her expression became nervous as a mere hand was held out to her. She took it apprehensively while voicing her doubts. "Do I need to hold on like this? I'm not sure my grip strength is very good if I'm going to be dangling by one hand..."

She could use magic if she fell, she supposed.

"It's located in Cotes." It was a long way away, but Yumine didn't seem too worried about that fact. "I'll fly us both over there. We should be fine!" She had enough energy to at least do that much.

The corrupted creatures are closing in around them. They aren't too quick, but if they wait any longer, they'll be swarmed in no time.

Yumine is already lifting off the ground, but she holds out her hand for Fern to grab hold of.

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ʚїɞ - They had been looking for it? She supposed it was advertised on the forest outskirts and in the town section of the ward. You could definitely hear about it if you were paying attention. The child appeared to be rather shy, though. Fern offered a slight smile, which was the most she could muster with the difficulties that she had expressing herself.

"Hmm... Well, a lot of the books in this library aren't very eligible. Is there a genre you're looking for in particular? I know it pretty well at this point." So if there was something specific, she could at least point them in the right direction. "Otherwise, would you like a tour?"

The mage had nothing else to do, so she might as well make herself useful. ...She really should ask for a wage.

The library is actually much closer to their treehouse than they had expected. It’s a delightful little surprise— especially knowing this place could have any number of books that aren’t ripped or soaked in garbage water or old enough to be turned to dust.

Chara is practically shaking with the excitement of it. They look up to the woman, swallowing lightly, before looking back at the ground— shy, maybe, or perhaps anxious. A hand twists their sweater sleeve.

“I had been looking for it,” they admit, though their voice goes a little low, “I have not been able to pick up a good book in some time.”

Frisk was never really interested in reading — only glancing at the books in the libraby.

[learnspells]

@pavlovianpoet

ʚїɞ - Fern eyed the small weapon that had ended up in her hand as well as the vest strapped to her chest. She recognized the gun. Wolfwood had taught her about them, though the one she was wearing didn't look very real. Was it a toy? Eyeing the Glitched in the distance, they were wearing the vests but fortunately didn't have the guns.

Laser tag? That was what the modifiers spoke of, but she was from a fantasy world.

"Excuse me. Do you know what "laser tag" is?" There was fortunately a girl nearby. Maybe she knew what it was and could help?

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@grymfared

ʚїɞ - Fern had been forced to reckon with some preconceived notions about dragons at the start of this bout. From what she knew, Spirale didn't have things like dragons natively. The Glitched didn't appear to have any monsters among their ranks aside from the few species that lurked in Cotes, too. So the fact that there was a dragon in her midst meant it came from another world, right?

They were already over a week in, and it had become clear how the mechanics worked. The crimson mist she'd encountered was one of the "modifiers". The problem was that she was at the point that her power was waning from overuse.

"Can you communicate with me? You're not... about to hurt me, are you?" Dragons were terrifying monsters in the world she came from. She had to make sure.

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@deathreversed

P IS FOR POISON

ʚїɞ - "They're still slow, but they're poisonous. Let's try to avoid getting into physical range." This was Fern's fourth or fifth encounter with a modifier now. There had been enough cycles now that she'd figured out her magic was weakening the more she used it, and she had passed that knowledge on to the erune girl that was following behind her as she navigated the Forest of Airaisal in Cotes.

But it was dyed crimson now. They had to pass through it to head north, but...

"If whatever is causing this has already spread this far, do you think it infected those annoying pixies? That might pose a problem."

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ʚїɞ - "Six." The mage quickly reaffirmed that what she'd heard was correct. Her confusion about the state of the city made sense. It wasn't really easy to understand until you experienced it yourself. "They happen roughly every other month, and the type of emergency tends to be wildly different each time. As for the damage..."

Fern raised her right hand and her staff appeared out of thin air. She briskly pointed it at a nearby wall and fired off a blast of magic. Enough to chip away some of the wall and leave a scorch mark.

"If you give it about five minutes, that will completely repair. Its like how the human body heals... but it's a city. Don't ask me how though."

"Six?"

She wanted to believe something went wrong with her hearing for that brief moment but she couldn't find any problems pop up upon hearing the word. Somehow despite there being any real destruction from what Rapi could see the idea of it being so consistent had wrapped around her like a blanket. An foreboding feeling of things to come for sure.

"Well everyone has their work cut out for them here don't they..." For better or for worse. Though somehow she felt it was leaning more towards the later with how she said it. "But then why call them "major"? Judging from what I've seen so far there doesn't seem to be any lasting damage. Unless I'm not seeing it in the area surrounding here."