#[Sivel -drabbles-]

[soulsxng]

@arcxnumvitae and @fatestouch replied to your post:

WHAT?!

👀👀👀

"It is not an issue of having grown tired of my position, or anything of the sort...though it would likely be a lie if I were to say that I were not feeling somewhat drained."

There's a small hum, and Sivel finally lifts his gaze from the mage pools to regard Ranadi and Alsina, who had eventually begun with a steady (albeit nervous) stream of questions. Why he had brought this up. When he had begun to think about it seriously. Would it be temporary, or permanent? Who would replace him, and what he would be doing, instead?

...What had happened to make him want to abdicate in the first place?

"I love Vasyri...I do. And I love my people just as deeply. But over these past few years, I have come to wonder if, perhaps, I have done all that I am able to for them. Vasyri deserves someone with a fresh outlook on things. Someone who does not look at potential alliances and associations that could benefit us, or end up overly focused on how things might go wrong. Someone that does not feel compelled toward the need to do things on our own, even if we do have allies, so as not to potentially open ourselves up to further threats."

"I think about my home, and I think of what I need to do so as to not fail them again. How I do not think I could stand to see any of my people suffer as they did in the past. And no matter whether I realize that or not, I am never able to shake myself from being almost as overprotective of them as I am of all of you. Of my family..."

"That makes any growth or evolution difficult, if not outright impossible. I know that, and yet...I find that, more and more, I am unable to justify the risks necessary to see much worthwhile change take place. So...while I do not necessarily believe myself to be a poor leader, I feel as though things have grown to be stagnant."

"And all of that is without mentioning the ire that so many outside of Vasyri view me with. I worry that, as long as I am Luminary, the stigma attached to myself and my deeds will continue to weigh Vasyri as a whole down, as well."

He talks through everything in a soft, even tone. It's obvious to both Ranadi and Alsina that this is something he had put a good deal of thought into, since a year or two ago, when he had commented half-jokingly about it to the pair of them.

"Besides...I miss it. How things used to be, when we were younger. Being able to go wherever we fancied at a moment's notice. Exploring and experiencing things with our claim-- something that I have never had the opportunity to do with Ania or Cyrus even once. It feels like, by becoming Luminary, I somehow came to believe that I had to give up so much of myself that, even in my earlier years of ruling, I would never have imagined doing. As if I gave up a part of my culture, pieces of who I am, moments with my loved ones...I look at the person I have become on occasion, and oftentimes, I do not like what I see. What I turned myself into, simply because I thought it was for the best of everyone involved. Because I thought that people would be more impressed, or more intimidated."

"...I do not intend to leave Vasyri forever, nor is this something I intend to rush. I want to be sure that whoever I pass this title onto, they are going to be the right fit. I still want to be around here and there to offer my support and assistance, and to teach people where I can-- both the new Luminary, and whoever else may want to learn from me. And when I'm not doing that, I think I would like to start by going along with Ania, Cyrus, and Sivan on one of their expeditions. After that, maybe I will take them on a trip to some of the spots that mother and father used to bring us when we were younger, with Naya and Nesimah...perhaps Quella. Both of you as well, if it is something you would be open to? It would hardly be the same, otherwise."

"Going back to my abdication, however. As I said, it is not something I intend to rush. I...am coming closer and closer to the conclusion that it is simply my time to take a step back, is all."

[thewolfisawake]

So, Balmoral has that 'd/sney princess' in him that he can talk to something that really should not be able to talk to him. In this case, it is bugs. Although, following his penchant, moths are the most common. There are some that Balmoral keeps around as some semblance of 'pets' but they more serve as a different sort of communication.

These moths are technically regular moths but have been steeped with Balmoral's magic that they are certainly stronger and have a few quirks that are not normal. Their life span for one since they have been alive for centuries (though Bal has certainly lost some through his centuries and legit gets bummed when he loses one). The communicator thing probably being the biggest. This originally stemmed from them being bonded with Bal so they could correspond to him not vice versa. But he decided to try and figure out the reverse. And they can serve as conduits for him although it does risk them.

I do have a few that do have names and the like:

Coorie: First mentioned with Sivel but quickly became my favorite. She's really lazy and a cuddlebug, thus her name, and most likely to be hiding in Bal's hair or clothes. She's based off the silk moth (so she's basically all white) but is odd because she is not domesticated, thus she can actually fly.

Valiant: First mentioned in the drabbles of Mhoirbheinn's reaction to Bal's disappearance. They're, unsurprisingly, very brave. Mainly noted as one of the few moths not afraid of Mhoirbheinn. They're based on the cinnabar moth (red and black) and Bal likens them to his love. Although seemingly named for bravery, it was mainly because they survived a battle that would've eviscerated any other.

Thistle: Mentioned in Solanine's bio. The name was more arbitrary than others but it is stalwart in its endeavors. They're based on the erebid moth (brown but can have blue and purple coloring under some lighting). Generally more chill and one of the longest lived ones.

[cxrsedland]

ϚìѵҽӀӀҽ էąց ժմʍք

[soulsxng]

"So let me get this straight..." JJ watches his father sigh, hands raking back through dark hair with a crease between his brows that told of the stress rising in the Ahnian king's body.

"People have somehow been corrupted by a Creationary Being that isn't one of you three, because that would be impossible." Jaspern pauses, gesturing to Ippuru, Sayek, and Nuro. Turning to nod at Siffo as he began to speak again. "But also wasn't you, who is supposedly the only other Creationary Being in this existence. Something that, again, you three say you can guarantee, because...you would be able to sense any others the moment they got in."

"Your sarcasm and lack of respect toward Us, as always, forces me to question why We have not taken your tongue yet, Lierik. Though your words irritate me, they are the truth. The Creationary Being that is doing this is a rather cunning one, and would appear to have taken no small amount of their own remaining energy-- as well as a large amount of energy gathered by one of Our creations without our knowledge-- to force a crack in the same area of Zhrun that Siffo was allowed entrance via by your careless actions, Ber."

The holder of Nuro's core rolled his eyes, arms crossed over his chest with an indignant huff. Notably to JJ though, he doesn't retort. Maybe the seriousness of the situation, and the worry after his father, Lerato, is enough to have him holding back any of his usual sharp remarks.

"While this means they will not have nearly the amount of energy that Siffo does to sustain themselves with, it does mean that, while their form has yet to garner entrance to this existence, they have gained themselves a manner in which to alter it. Their objective, judging by their aggressiveness, We have determined to be wresting this existence from Us."

There's a long silence, as everyone let Ippuru's words sink in. It seemed that many of them-- JJ included-- were thinking similar, but it was Sivel that was first to voice the concern.

"I take that to mean the restoration done to the veil Siffo broke through was ongoing? Or would it be safer to work under the assumption that said area will always be lacking, now that it has been torn through once? If that is the case, then what are the chances that we will soon have more than Siffo and this unknown Creationary Being to contend with, as well? To have this issue so soon after the first, the now thinned nature of the veil there would seem to be rather apparent to those Creationary Beings that have been displaced from their own existences."

"...The likelihood of that's pretty high." Siffo replied, when Ippuru, Sayek, and Nuro looked to them. "When I was wandering out there, my energy faded fast, but even with that, and the veil between there and this existence in a normal state, it was still strong enough that I could feel it when I got close enough. It being thinner now might mean that what was once more a solid wall is now closer to...well, like you've been calling it. A veil. A solid one, but still easier to find than it would have been otherwise."

[soulsxng]

After a day of arguing, scrambling about in a frantic rush to discern what exactly was suddenly going on across the realms, a disturbing conclusion had finally been reached. It didn't take long after that for the Creationary Trio to determine that a meeting should be held, so as to decide what should be done next...which is what ultimately led to the gathering that was currently taking place.

Ippuru, Sayek, and Nuro. The Creationary Trio themselves. Where the former two had been around since the beginning, Nuro's body was but another construct of theirs. One using the remnants of their former counterpart, Benion. Where once the three had been at odds, they've since seemed to grow used to each other. To working together.

Siffo, the Unknown. Though those in attendance today knew were among the few that knew their true identity as a member of another existence's creationary set, most simply believed them to be similar to Nuro. Another creation of Ippuru and Sayek's, that incorporated some piece of their former trio member. The Trio had been teaching and including them in various things lately, so while it wasn't necessarily a surprise that they were there, they seemed somewhat unsettled. More-so than the three, at the very least.

Quella, Kikei, and Nubeas. Three of the four "Pillars of Creation", otherwise known by the names Nereius, Lassis, Bralis, and Innaius, respectively. They are beings tasked with upkeeping some of the most major aspects of existence; life (Utzil, the Lifestream), death (Zhrun, the Void), magic and the elements, and lastly, time and fate. JJ didn't know why Lerato wasn't in attendance, but it was for that reason that his own father was-- as well as the other leaders from the original realm, Brinnela.

Jaspern, King of Ahnia, and Speaker of Innaius.

Fekik and Kamiiaria, Overseer of Setia, and Speaker of Lassis, respectively.

Sivel, Vasyri's Luminary, and Speaker of Nereius. (Though rumor said that the latter title was likely to soon be passed to he and Quella's daughter, Ania, instead. JJ wasn't sure how much truth there was to it yet.)

Netherin, Kadios, and Adikae, three of the foremost Pack Leaders of the Aifaen, with Netherin being the Speaker of Bralis.

And then there was the group that JJ fell into.

Himself, his sister Tiiaria, and Lerato's son, Ber. The holders (or perhaps thieves would be more appropriate in he and Tiiaria's case) of Creation's cores. Aside from being made immortal, and being able to use some small portion of Creationary energy, it didn't mean much for them. But to the Trio, it meant that they had a sort of check and balance system. After all, destroying a Creationary Being's core seemed to be the only way to actually kill them (Which is what JJ and Aria had originally stolen them for in the first place, now that he thought about it. How times changed.). Any other method led to little more than a short-lived stasis.

The group was quiet for a long time-- most of them hardly even speaking amongst their own respective groups, let alone to anyone else. Once it had become evident that the Trio and Siffo were the only ones that were aware of what was going on, everyone had more or less fallen into an expectant silence. Waiting patiently for everyone to arrive, so they could finally learn what in existence was going on.

A short while passed, and eventually the last of them (surprisingly enough, Sivel, who was usually among the first to arrive when Creation summoned him) appeared. Multicolored eyes taking a quiet moment to survey the others in attendance, before turning to regard the Trio.

"So everyone was called, I see. It must be something rather pressing, if that is the case. I assume we are waiting for Lerato, before we begin?"

"No. As the situation originated with him...with Zhrun, he assisted Us in our recognition of the problem which resulted in Our summoning of you. Because We are trying to prevent it from growing any further, we opted not to include him today...and for the time being, he should not be approached by any of you, for any reason. The same could be said for Zhrun, as well as the outer branches of the Void."

The ripple of murmurs following that information didn't last long. Though it was, in part, to avoid gaining any unnecessary ire from the Trio, it was even more-so because they wanted Ippuru to go on.

"With that being said...We would prefer that this be explained sooner, rather than later, so that We may see the situation better controlled, studied, and monitored. Listen well, for We will not be pleased in the event that We must repeat Ourselves a second time."

[soulsxng]

"...First of all, I would know who you are, and where you are from. Why you were in Vasyri at the time of the attack, as well. Once that is out of the way, you may share with me whatever it was you requested my presence for."

When Sivel had first entered the room, the being laid in bed looked surprised to see him. Relieved, it seemed, though confused as to why he was there.

It took a bit of time to explain who he was, but once that had been done, he was met with a laugh. A quip about how of all people to be saved by, it was the one that she had been trying to find in the first place. Which had left the pair here.

"My name is Sahrin, Your Majesty-- or should I address you as Luminary?" The ruler's head shakes, and he waves a hand as if to say that he had no preference either way, so she continues on. "Then, I'll just call you by your name...it's less nerve wracking, that way. My name is Sahrin. It's a pleasure to officially meet you, Sivel. I'm a nephilim, originally from the Zental Port in Gaea, the mortal realm, and like I said before, I came here to find you. To warn you, more specifically...though I feel like I was a little late with that..."

"Originally from Zental Port?"

"Mmhm. I was abducted from there some time ago, by a group that called themselves Ma'ilach. We were held somewhere just outside of Wilacri. Recently, I managed to get away, but...I heard a lot of things during my time there. Plans that they were making."

Ma'ilach (Or, 'Dragon's Eye', as it could be roughly translated to from Wilacrian) was a well known, and long standing group that once (and arguably still to this day, though that was primarily speculation and rumor) had the single largest hold on the interrealm's black markets. Smugglers and traffickers, able to get their hands on anything and everything...for the right price, of course. There was a long while that they were even known for their experimentations on all different species, with their research being used for the development of a great many horrendous inventions and concoctions.

It was a group once run by someone that Sivel had been acquainted with for some time now...Helai. A dragon whom, from what he had told Sivel, not only stepped down as the group's head, but disbanded it altogether. That had been at the time when Wilacri's current ruling body all but single-handedly destroyed the entirety of the black market's existence in the realm.

"It was my understanding that Ma'ilach ceased to exist some few hundred-- or even thousand-- years ago, now." Sivel began, only to stiffen before he could ask Sahrin for some kind of proof. His gaze grew distant, and mouth fell open slightly as if to gasp.

Gasp, ragged and sharp, as he'd felt Iomhar do. But he managed to hold back.

As though he were in excruciating pain, soon every one of Iomhar's breaths that the Vasyrus could feel against his own chest burned. He was screaming. He was hurting. Being hurt.

His air was coming short, searing, and it took everything Sivel had in him to keep from rushing back to Seelie. Alsina was there. Alsina was with Iomhar, and she could keep her cool much better than Sivel in a situation like this. Being close to Iomhar now would only make things worse for him.

"--el? Sivel!"

Sahrin was out of bed now, and at the king's side, but he didn't seem to notice it at first. It wasn't until he felt a few taps on the chair he was seated on that he seemed to come to his senses enough to finally look at her.

"Oh! Oh, you're alright! Thank the gods, I thought for a moment that I would have to call for the healers to help you. You scared me!"

"It was...it was nothing, please return to your bed. I apologize for startling you so suddenly. I was being...called by one of my advisors about something rather serious, so we will need to hurry this along. What did you say?"

"I was only going to show you the mark that they put on me...I had always heard Ma'ilach had dispersed as well, and though these people could have just taken up the name...I don't know. I'm only telling you what I heard in my time there. The specifics are something I think you would be better suited to looking into, than I would be."

Gritting his teeth through the distraction, Sivel took in the marking that seemed to have been branded around Sahrin's wrist. It was something he recognized from having seen on Helai a handful of times, as well. Nearly identical, even in the layout of the runes embedded in the skin to prevent it the mark from fading away with the original wound.

...He would have to meet with the dragon, later. After this, and after he saw Iomhar again.

At least now, he could contact Ranadi to give him a more specific criteria for his search.

"The things you heard while you were trapped by them...I assume that is what you wished to speak with me about?" She nods in response to the king's question, and he motions for her to go on. Iomhar's breathing had returned to normal by now, but it was so sudden...he must have lost consciousness. Sivel's hands were clenched so tightly in his lap that he couldn't hide how it made them tremble...though at the very least, he was able to keep his wings from reverberating in the frantic rhythm that they so wanted to. "...Go on, then. You have my attention."

Or as much of it as possible, given the circumstances.

[soulsxng]

The moment, Sivel assumed, that Iomhar entered the room where the meeting was taking place, he could feel the fae's breathing quicken ever so slightly. ...Of course. Two steps in, and he was already agitated, no doubt.

"Stubborn fool..."

The king thought to sit-- it was likely that he would be in this room for some time, after all-- but found himself pacing, instead. Wings moving in a whir at his back to further display his aggravation and anxiety toward the situation.

To say that it was frustrating, not knowing what was being said in that room, was an understatement. To not have the chance to defend himself or Iomhar, and instead left to stew in this lavish room that still somehow managed to make the king feel trapped.

He should be in there, as well. If the fae's dealings were intended to be in equals, then Sivel should be there beside Iomhar.

"It is a matter of the Seelie, now. You did nothing outside of being present for that sorry bastard's nonsense, and if you try to force yourself into matters, it will only serve to complicate things." Is what Alsina had said before he and Iomhar had departed for the castle. Meant to dissuade him from doing anything that may inadvertently make things worse for Iomhar.

And yet, all that seemed to stick in his head was "You did nothing".

It was the truth-- he had been so taken aback by what the former Lord Arasgain had said to him, that he had been rendered speechless for a moment. So much so that he had even recoiled somewhat when hit with a particularly strong wave of disgust and discomfort that came with the gentry reaching forward to grab Sivel's braid. Likely as he had seen Vasyri's ruler leaning in to happily welcome from Iomhar a few times prior.

Before he could actually make contact, Iomhar had moved in to stop him. And instead of straightening up and giving the offending noble what for, as Sivel typically would, he instead found himself unsettled, and shifting slightly behind Iomhar.

"Just get rid of him already, please...!"

Sivel hadn't intended to encourage Iomhar to kill him, though he didn't regret the death itself. In fact, if Iomhar hadn't acted, Sivel himself would have been the one to raise a hand to the former gentry...and perhaps he should have, if it spared Iomhar from punishment.

"Creation...just let this meeting end quickly."

[soulsxng]

"Sivel."

The Vasyrus was just in the middle of his discussion with the Seelie king, when Alsina's voice met his ears. She wasn't present in the room, but instead had called to Sivel via a communication rune that he shared with she, Ranadi, and the rest of his family.

"I know you're yet dealing with the situation concerning Iomhar, but I just received word from Ahnia concerning the hunters. And as though that weren't already enough as it is, our little stranger has not only awoken, but has since been demanding to speak to Vasyri's king concerning the hunters."

Let them wait, Sivel wanted to say. If he were to return to Vasyri the moment he was asked after each and every time, he would never leave the throne. And he knew that if word from Ahnia was truly urgent, Jaspern would have come to him personally, or sent Jawyr or Tiariia to do so in his place.

"...I told them that you were presently taking care of other matters, believe me. They still aren't entirely coherent after the wounds they sustained, it would seem, but some of the things that they've been saying are...concerning, to say the very least. If you want me to, I can trade places with you to await Iomhar, but for the moment, you're needed in Vasyri."

Silence, as the king's eyes flicked momentarily back to King Camhlaidh before him, and immediately, he was stuffing his frustrations down. Burying them for the time being, so he could focus on what needed to be done for his people, and his home.

After all, whatever else he could do for Iomhar at this point would only make matters far, far worse. If he was being forced to wait as it was, then he may as well do something useful in the meantime.

"...Very well," came his eventual response, switching to speaking Brinnela so as to prevent any unnecessary eavesdropping. "Ask that they are made as stable as possible for our meeting, and I will return immediately. I assume Jaspern sent Rourke? Have him meet me at the Grand Archives gates, and he can give me his message on the way to the healer's. If you could come to Seelie in my place..."

"As soon as you arrive, I'll go. I'm worried for him too, after all."

And with that, it was silent again. Sivel's face back to its typically unreadable facade as he addressed the ruler before him once more.

"...That will not be necessary. As it so happens, something presently requires my attention in Vasyri, so I will be leaving for the time being. If Iomhar inquires after my whereabouts, I would appreciate if you could, at the very least, let him know that I will be returning for him first thing tomorrow morning."

He didn't give the other the opportunity to respond. Instead choosing to teleport himself immediately back to Vasyri to deal with these new matters.

Hopefully he would be able to keep himself from being too distracted by his concern for Iomhar's wellbeing as he did so.

[soulsxng]

🎥 Alsina

@thewolfisawake | 🎥

When she agreed to let her introduce her to the Eszenra's, after her own family had essentially cast her out, she hadn't expected to be met with a Claim so...large. Most Vasyrus traveled alone, or in pairs. Maybe groups of three, or occasionally four. Her family was even considered odd, in that they tended to travel a set path. Each smaller Nyra Claim meeting with another at what were more or less set intervals, to trade information and such.

She had heard the Eszenra's were especially strange in how they traveled...or, more accurately, how little they traveled. Maybe it was because there was already seven of them. Eight, on occasion, considering her uncle had mentioned that it wasn't uncommon for him to travel with them, as well.

...So Alsina herself would make nine. Would they really be willing to do such a thing?

While her uncle spoke to his friends-- evidently the elder two Eszenras, Temiron and Sevinya, a young man approached her. His wings thrumming in a way that was meant to be disarming. Likely because her own were buzzing behind her in a far more anxious drone.

"I know you are nervous, but...try to relax. I have yet to hear the full story, so I admittedly do not know yet what ails you. However, I can assure you that whatever it is, all of us will do what we can to help you...for however long you choose to stay with us."

"...If I'm allowed to stay with you in the first place, you mean. That is what my uncle is discussing with your...parents, I assume?"

"Hm? No, they discussed that a few days ago. If anything, they are already working on the plans for how to help you. Or catching up. Morastalla has been close with my parents a long time now, so they have a habit of getting carried away talking when he is with us. It may take a while, so...why not let me help you settle in? My name is Sivel."

He went on to point out each person, and teach her their names. Tell her a bit about them, and what she could expect from them. Patient and kind, when she still had trouble settling down, and sharing stories with her to help calm her down. Ranadi did the same, when he came over-- and Nesimah, shortly after.

Soon, Naya and Quella joined them as well, and before long, Alsina found her own voice joining with theirs. Sharing stories and experiences of her own. Talking about anything and everything that came to mind.

Though she seemed to click best with the first two that came over-- Sivel and Ranadi-- they were all easy people to get along with.

Perhaps this wouldn't be so bad. Perhaps her family forcing her away had turned out to be something good, after all?

She supposed only time would tell...but at least now, she could be hopeful.

[soulsxng]

🎥 Sivel

@arcxnumvitae | A moment in the life... | Accepting!

The last thing that Sivel fully remembers, is that weight on his chest. White hot pain, as his body writhes and jerks against the weapon pinning him to the ground. His strength fading along with his consciousness.

He was aware of things after that, yes...after the moment of his death by the hand of Setia's king. But it was more akin to...a dream, perhaps. A memory of something that had already happened. Perhaps because it was an experience of his soul, and not so much Sivel, himself.

When next he "awoke", he didn't have any idea how much time had passed, or what had happened since his untimely demise. Others had been here before, but he couldn't remember their faces, or what they had done-- only that they had been there.

"O-oh gods, what did I do. Aaaah, it's stuck to me! What do I do? Okay, Cy, it's...it's gonna be fine, it'll be okay! Just...just undo whatever you did and-- oh no, it's moving...! It's gonna eat me, I'm gonna get eaten!"

Sivel had noticed the child before him by now...with its incessant babbling, it was hard not to, even if he couldn't for the life of him understand what it was saying. The way it was pacing about though, it appeared to be either excited, or...panicked. Likely the former, considering the fact that it yelped when the Vasyrus lifted his hands to look himself over.

See-through, mostly. As if he were little more than a shadow, or apparition. It made sense. This was likely all that the grimoire was able to give him, with the energy it had. And if this child was...somehow the one that had completed the ritual to awaken Sivel, that meant the remainder of the energy necessary for him to fully regain his own body would come from it.

Before he could confirm whether or not that was actually the case, however, the child took off running. Sivel had planned to let the palace steer it back around to the throne room again, but he soon found himself-- or, more accurately, the grimoire that he had emerged from-- being dragged across the ground after them. Connected to the fleeing youngling by their shadow.

And unfortunately, the clattering and thumping of said grimoire, and of Sivel trying fruitlessly to grab onto something to stop himself from being dragged about like a toy on a string. Only to quickly find that his body seemed to pass through anything he tried to contact. The only sensation he could really feel at the moment, was of being dragged across the floor...of what was happening to the grimoire, it seemed.

"...You, child! Enough, already! Stop running, we are attached...--!"

It took a bit of time, but eventually the child seemed to hear his shouts, and slowed to a stop. Golden eyes locking onto the king...and the grimoire on the ground, as if trying to figure out if the voice he had heard was his imagination, or not.

"Finally...! I have done nothing to you, and yet you still panic enough for such dramatics! You probably do not understand a thing that I am saying, do you?"

His words hang between them for a few moments, before the child lets out a huge sigh, and says something more ("You talk! So you're not one of those Anguished spirits!") that Sivel doesn't understand. He's about to make an attempt to communicate with the other-- whom he was now sure was none other than the person who completed his ritual-- when they continued to speak.

"That must mean that you're a Vasyrus, right?" Wait, he understood one of those words. The ruler's ears giving a small, curious flick, a wordless confirmation of his recognition. When the boy switches to speaking a language Sivel understands-- albeit a fairly broken version of it, he can't help the way his wings trill hopefully at his back. "You talk Brinnela? A little understanding!"

That was better than nothing. Far better than the Vasyrus had thought that he would be getting, really.

"Cyrus. Cyrus Kles'ro!" The child-- Cyrus, it seemed-- gestured to themselves. Head bobbing up and down when Sivel repeated it...it seemed like they were pleased? Either way, they pointed to him, next. "You?"

"I am Sivel Eszenra Vasyri. It is...a pleasure, Cyrus." He responds, body tensing when he notices the child's eyes going wide again. Please, do not start running again--!

"Sivel? You?" Now that the Vasyrus had a better look, this expression seemed to be...different from the one before. The one that had apparently indicated fright. Their mouth is spread wide, and curved upwards, and they gesture at the area around the two of them as they move to cautiously pick up Sivel's grimoire. They were trying to think of a word, from what he could tell.

"Sivel Eszenra Vasyri, um...oh! Vasyri's King! You are Sivel, you are the king?"

...Well, then. Maybe this wouldn't be quite as difficult as he had originally assumed. An affirmative buzz of his wings...followed somewhat belatedly by one of those odd head bobs that Cyrus had done before.

This was good. After all, they had much to discuss, as it were.

[soulsxng]

Though the brand in and of itself was enough, in Sivel's opinion, to warrant looking into Sahrin's words, she still provided him with further evidence before sharing her information. Evidence that would be a simple feat to prove true or not, which he would be sure to do, as well.

As for the information, itself...

"They said...that they were trying to help "sir" get his hands on someone specific. Someones, though nobody seemed to know who, exactly. Maybe because they weren't important enough to be told? Or...to prevent word about it from getting out, maybe. That's pretty much the same thing though, I guess. Sorry, I shouldn't speculate-- you just want the information."

She had began to list some of the things that she had heard over her time in captivity. Needing a way to block powerful telepathy was where it began, as well as a way to interrupt protective magics. As research continued, it seemed rumors had reached the ears of someone higher up in the group that the Aifaen were naturally resistant (or in some cases, completely impervious) to telepathic influences.

"That was when the plans for their hunts started, was when they found that out. It didn't sound like it was a big thing at first-- not anything like what's happening now. They most likely wanted two or three, to start their experiments on. That...that was the way it usually worked with them, from what I noticed..."

It was likely that Sahrin, herself, had been a victim of these, though she never expressly admitted as much. The one time Sivel had asked, Sahrin had gone pale; and though she had tried to hide the fact, the way her breath had hitched and quickened hadn't escaped his notice.

To him, it made her having heard these things more believable. It was likely that the "researchers" conducting the experiments were much more loose-lipped than those in other aspects of Ma'ilach. Their subjects were likely delirious, seemingly unconscious, or in some other state that would have taken away from any threat they might have otherwise presented if they heard some of these things.

After that, they needed magical energy. As pure and concentrated a source as they could find, evidently. That was around when Vasyri was added as a target, considering they were in the ancient realms, anyway.

The realm of Irekol was mentioned often. Sahrin thought there might be some kind of meeting place, or hub for the group somewhere in the realm. She didn't know where.

What Sivel assumed was the device the hunters were using to disrupt the magical energy in an area was apparently one of many versions. The one in particular that he had seen being the type they ultimately decided to test. Sahrin remembered them saying something something along the lines of the device needing to be capable of handicapping "that deity".

There was more...Sahrin had a good memory for detail, and though some of the information came from some speculation on her part, Sivel had to say that he was impressed.

Some more specific plans, potential points of interest, and names to look into. Apparently, though their devices were determined to be effective, both they, and some of their other experiments-- particularly those pertaining to the telepathy-- weren't lasting as long as they wanted.

Which meant more subjects were needed. The main portion of the group took interest when the "scraps" not needed in the experiments had sold for apparent fortunes, and that was when the scale of the hunts was decided to be increased.

Ugh...he had managed to look into much of the extra information given to him already. Shared it with the Ahniri, Aifaen, and surprisingly, the Setana, who had been urged by both the Ahniri and Aifaen to help handle the situation. None of them were happy with how complex the situation was turning out to be-- threads connecting places, places, and things in a seemingly random tangle that was proving frustrating for everyone involved to attempt unraveling.

There were still a few more people Sivel had to contact, and he was waiting on results from Ranadi, Alsina, and Sivan so the plans for how to proceed next could be determined. His head was starting to hurt though, and his eyes felt as though they were beginning to strain. Sitting for so long left him sore, and despite the fact that he was still fairly tired from maintaining the barriers around the Gathering City in Vasyri, it would probably do him well to move around some before he threw himself into anything more.

"Still...at this pace, we should be able to start making moves of our own, soon."

[soulsxng]

"...The nerve. If I had been near him another second, I would have combusted on the spot and fully welcomed it."

"As funny as that would probably be, you did goad him first this time, Sivvie. But hey! You must not be in that bad of a mood if you're able to be so dramatic, so there's always that. Small wins, yeah?"

Ranadi is appearing beside Sivel in the next moment, and despite the ruler shaking his head, there was an inkling of a smile on his face.

"I am hardly dramatic. But that aside...I want you to look into that 'underground' aspect that Jaspern mentioned. I will leave it up to you to decide, but I feel as though starting in Hell, Ennirem, or even Gaea would be smart."

The former two had areas well known for their so called "black market" populations, and the latter...though their market connections were smaller, hunters of the supernatural were much more common. Bits and pieces of those such beings, or even entire corpses were rather abundant finds in that community.

After all, it was easy for one to simply disappear there, if they so chose.

"Yeah, leave it to me. I was going to stop in Irekol first actually, but I'll probably head to Ennirem after that. Give me a couple of days, and I'll have something for you."

"...I appreciate it. Try not to push yourself too hard."

"Yeah, yeah, I got it. See you soon!"

A single nod from Sivel, and Ranadi was gone as quickly as he'd appeared. Likely back home to gather some of his things for the trip.

Which left the Vasyrus alone, for the moment, as he tried to more carefully survey the area. The wounded had been tended to, and the hunters that they had captured were being escorted to a holding cell. All that was left was making sure that there was nothing that had been missed.

Unfortunately, there wasn't much to be found. Sivel was just considering heading back, when a shout from nearby caught his attention. Shouting for someone to "get down!", followed by the sounds of weapons clashing.

Even with the devices the hunters used to disrupt magical energy destroyed, the effects were still dissipating. Even if the king himself had more limited abilities than normal, that meant most Vasyrus who may be caught up in whatever this was would be even worse off.

With no time to waste, he hurried toward the source of the noise, and sprung immediately into action. A hooded figure was fending off three or four assailants to protect the group behind them, but two more hunters still approached from behind, in the direction Sivel was coming from.

Even with their magic repelling armor and weaponry, it didn't take long for the ruler to dispatch them. Turning to assist the stranger (who he had to admit, impressed him with their skill with the large blade they wielded) with those that remained, until none were left standing.

"Thank goodness...you arrived just in the nick of time."

Sivel was just about to reply, when the figure staggered to the side. Their hand pressing to their side with a hiss, and coming away covered thick with blood. Shaking their head and starting to say something-- trying to assure him that they were fine, it seemed like, though they didn't get that far before their body went limp and they began to fall.

In one movement, he was catching them, and lowering them carefully to the ground. Gaze flicking from them to the other Vasyrus, checking if anyone else was wounded.

"I need all of you to come close. I will be teleporting us back...the sooner we are able to get out of this area, the better."

[soulsxng]

"I don't understand what their goal would be in luring both of our sides here, in the first place. I would normally chalk it up to disorganization, but having dealt with this group before..."

"Mm. More likely, it was to make an attempt at disorienting us. It is difficult to see or sense things clearly through the rift connecting Vasyri with Ahnia and the Plains, so with proper communications, they may have thought their attack would be more successful if they continuously bounced between, as they did. Or perhaps it was to give them a better chance of escape, considering how many of them we have been capturing in past assaults."

"On that topic, their numbers are greater than we originally anticipated...it's making me think that we may be dealing with a major group in one of the larger underground circuits. Otherwise, what need would they have for a 'steady supply', as some of them have been hinting at? I've had people looking into it, but so far, nothing substantial has turned up."

Even in the hushed tones they spoke in, it was obvious to everyone still at the site of the skirmish that the two rulers were irate, at best.

With an attack having gotten so out of hand though, who could really blame them? The hunters were getting bolder by the day, and even with Ahniri having gotten involved, they didn't seem dissuaded in the slightest. The only real relief was that, so far, there had been few casualties overall.

...But with things growing more and more serious by the day, how long would that last?

It was a question that neither Sivel, nor Jaspern, or any of the Aifaen's pack leaders knew the answer to.

"...I will simply have to look into it myself, in that case. There is a good chance that whoever you have been relying on for the job is inept, after all."

"Oh, because you would make sure it was done right, I'm sure. You so obviously have this entire situation completely handled on your own, Sivel, you're absolutely right."

Glassy wings vibrate together with a decidedly threatening hum, and Sivel's lips curl into a condescending sneer. Jaspern leaning forward with his own wings flared, ready to meet the Vasyrus head on, should it come to it.

Thankfully, Kadios was there in the next moment to push the two apart with a growl.

"Would ya two knock it off already? 'S this really the time for your bullshit? Right after a fight, when there's people hurt, 'n a million other thin's that need doin'?"

The only responses that were given to the pack leader was a scoff from Sivel, and an eye roll from Jaspern...but at the very least, they seemed to have reigned it in a bit more.

"Great, tha's all I ask. Now...Jas, Alteo had somethin' he wanted ya t' take a look at. Said it could be helpful, but I didn't get a chance t' go checkin' it out, myself. He's back by the edge 'a the forest."

"I'll find him. Thanks, Kade." There was a moment of hesitation as Jaspern started to walk off, where he paused. Shooting a look over his shoulder at the Vasyrus ruler. "...Are you coming, or not? I'm not waiting up for you."

"Please. What do you think I am, your assistant? If it truly does turn out to be something important, then I trust you are at least capable of alerting the rest of us in a timely manner. Until that is determined, however, we would be better off dividing our efforts to more quickly deal with the aftermath. I will be staying in Vasyri, to help with the wounded, and to ensure the hunters we captured are dealt with properly."

"...And thank Creation for that."

It was all Kadios could do to not pull his own hair out. As if the situation wasn't stressful enough without those two butting heads.

[soulsxng]

Sivel can’t remember the last time he had stopped to look at himself. Not to imply that he avoided mirrors, or had let his appearance slip, or anything of the sort-- he was still as meticulous with his self care as he always had been.

But as he stood before the mirror in his chambers now, he found that there was so much about himself that he simply...didn’t recognize, anymore. Because he never bothered to really see himself beyond his immediate appearance. There was no real reason for him to. No real time for him to.

A change in how he carried himself from how he used to. Not meek, per say, but certainly not with the amount of vindication and fearlessness as he had when he was younger. 

The light shadow of tiredness in his eyes that was surely from too long without sleep for a myriad of reasons, both good and bad. 

Hands rougher than they used to be...a telltale sign of all the work he’d done to get to where he was now.

Ghosts of lines on his face that came from the myriad expressions he’d come into the habit of making since being revived. Vasyrus never made expressions to convey intent or emotion, and he recalled all the confusion that had resulted over the beginning of his relationship with Cyrus. A young boy that was so overly expressive with the faces and gestures he would make, and the ancient king with his ears twitched back ever so slightly; wings fluttering in a periodic buzz--  obviously (to him, anyway) perturbed with what he was seeing.

...That aside, though, there was something about those changes that were...comforting? Reassuring?

Sivel couldn’t say he necessarily disliked them, anyway. They were just surprising when he first noticed.

The only thing that really bothered him was...

Multicolored eyes settle on his left shoulder. Taking in the unsightly mess of fresh scarring, and what appeared to be crumbling, splintering glass with a hum of distaste.

It was what remained of his binding to his once wife, Quella. With their union now broken, the magic that kept it together over the ages was gone...and so it was falling away. Healing, as it were, to the normal skin that it had been before.

He hated it. The sight made him itch. His fingers curling and uncurling in their desire to...he wasn’t sure. Part of him still ached at her leaving. It wanted to try, desperately, to piece it back together. To try to repair what was already lost. Another part of him was angry. Was tired of feeling the way he did about their split. It wanted to dig into the remains of the marking. To pick, and scratch, and peel away, until there wasn’t a trace of her color still left on him.

But the King did neither, for neither would do him any sort of good.

As much as he disliked it, he would simply have to be patient. It would heal eventually, given enough time.

He would just have to focus on the rest until then.

[soulsxng]

Do you have any other verses you like using?

I do! I would say I have 4...technically 5 that I use most often/have the most built up, including the main verse. So I'll talk a little bit about those!

Main verse: What it says on the tin. Current day stuff for all of the muses, that progresses bit by bit as I write little drabbles to further their stories. I default to this, unless otherwise specified! *slaps the blog page* I can fit all kinds of stuff in here honestly, and I swear to you that I have lore for DAYS that I will hit you with if you're interested.

Past verse: This can technically be split into two different AUs, but I usually just refer to them as the same thing. One is just...literally what it says. I like to use this with some of the older muses, and exploring relationships they had with people when they were younger, different people. And then moving into how that would effect them current day, eventually. I usually have two or three different spots in the older muses stories that I'll look into starting interactions for this verse-- usually after different major occurrences in their lives. The other way, is more like a past life verse. Some muses, such as Jaspern and Jawyr, Orin, Ezra, Niesal, and Zeqyabin have at least one other lifetime before their current one. So it's mostly just exploring how another muse would fit into their pasts, and see how it would have changed things for them. Maybe it's building up to one of those "Muse A and Muse B are drawn together in each lifetime", or "Muse A and Muse B were close friends/family/lovers in Muse A's past life, and before they died, Muse B promised they would find them again in their next life." types of things. I really like doing past life/past verse stuff, if you can't tell. It's a lot of fun seeing how it changes the muses stories, and even how it might effect them when they're reincarnated again.

Mafia/crime verse: Does this mean a human verse? Hahaha. No. No, it does not. For some reason, I'm literally incapable of keeping my muses human ever, I just like the whole fantasy vibe, I dunno. But, things are limited to the human realm, and a lot of the muses are MUCH younger, and less powerful. Some of them even have different species. Essentially though, all of the muses are part of a more underground type scene. For example, the angels and demons form the Cielante crime family, who have their hands in everything from politics, to law, to medicine and pharmaceuticals, all to keep their status and keep their less savory business practices hidden. Jaspern and JJ run a sort of mercenary group with their family, Sivel and the Eszenras, Kadios and the other Aifaen, and Fekik and the other Setana. And yes! They actually all get along here! Shocker, I know. But they're essentially a for hire company that can and will do anything from protection, infiltration, hacking, weapons manufacturing, spying, procuring specific goods or information, murder, kidnapping...pretty much whatever, tbh.

Royalty verse: Gonna be honest, for some of the muses, this is going to be a tweaked version of their past verse. For the most part though, It follows a handful of different kingdoms-- generally I just stick to the realms that the original four species are from, Ahnia, Setia, Vasyri, and the Aifaen Plains as the main ones I use.

Story essentially follows the royals and rulers of these lands, as well as the people close to them. A lot of stuff I use this verse for is like...the arranged marriages/forbidden love, or war time stuff, or knight sworn to their king/queen/leader, muses that got banished from a kingdom, and are trying to get revenge sort of plots. I have fun with this one because some of the drama that can pop up is just hilarious to me, as well as being the most heart wrenching thing ever.

[soulsxng]

Something I find a little funny that I wanted to share with the class. I've been trying to work on the next little drabble in the series to post tomorrow or the next day, and Jaspern/the Ahniri, and Sivel/the Vasyrus are literally only giving me "No. Tired."

Generally, that type of tired usually get Shilo poking his head in, but in this case, he's taking the biggest step back. Like "Yes, I heard. No, I'm not so insane that I would even want to attempt targeting either of those two."

tl;dr: Shilo is afraid of the Ravi family and the Eszenra family, and that alone has saved their asses from potential (and likely very lengthy in some of their cases) sleepy time.