#Vertaux Zairot

[empires-of-athos]

October Nishi Drabble 04

Post Heavensward, pre the end of the Dragonsong war, Nishi was at a very ugly place (more so then he usually is). Like Sef I need to get around to writing up stuff about Vertaux as well. Also you can’t tell me that the Ice chandelier doesn’t put off a cold chill. Also danced around directly mentioning a CERTAIN EVENT in MSQ that...well he’s still coping with that, but most people who’ve played through Heavensward content can pretty well guess what that is.   Word of the Day: Spell Word Count: 987 Nishikurag’a was never one fond of relying on magic, but when the need came he wasn’t adverse to looking for answers even if there were none to be found. He was even less fond when people interrupted his search.

His room in the Free Company was colder than most of the house. Once upon a time he'd loathed the cold but over the long time they spent in Coerthas and Ishgard proper he'd become not only accustom to but more comfortable in a slight chill, hence why his room was lit by the gentle glow of enchanted ice that danced the soft blues of magic across his room and had the added bonus of keeping the temperature relatively low.

Albeit for reading the lighting was poor and required an extra lamp at his desk but that was hardly an issue. Such was how Nishikurag'a could be found more often than not when he even bothered to be around the Company house these days. Alone in the quiet cool solitude of his room, pouring over tome after tome, tale after tale and myth after myth. Taking down notes, references, looking for answers.

The means to which healers of all variety applied their magics - when the fallen fell it restored their strength and will little of it had to do with their true health hence the worlds continued need for chirurgeons despite their magics. That which did often healed the soul and not the body or vice versa. The dead could be reanimated but not brought back.  Primals promised sweet words the could not commit to. Alexander could turn back but what had occured couldn't be changed. The ascians only presented illusions and shadows -

Magic was full of an insufferable amount of half answers to the problems of this world. He'd already exhausted what books he had. The library again perhaps. If he could sneak back into the forbidden section again-

His ears set back in annoyance at the knock at his door, giving little more then a grunt of acknowledgement over his mug of cocoa (he'd learned long ago that coffee was awful for his nerves and he couldn't brew a tea that wasn't bitter to save his soul) to who ever it was that was intruding now, pointedly sticking his gaze back down into his books refusing to glance the persons way.

"Ah Kuraga-"

"What do you want Vertaux?" Now he DEFINITELY wasn't going to look the other's way. The -last- person he wanted anything to do with at the moment...okay the last person that he wouldn't stab on sight that he wanted nothing to do with at the moment was the arrogant elezen who decided to bother him.

"Why Kuraga, I'm hurt! Can't I just, stop by to see what one of my allies is doing?"

"You could. But you don't. You wouldn't be talking to me if you didn't want something now spare us both and get on with it."

"Well you're no fun." The faux pleasant voice dropped as Vertaux shook his head shrugging. "If you must be that way I need help with a little project of mine and you're just the person for it."

He finally looked up at him, staring Vertaux down with a glare that screamed of how little he bought that chocoboshit excuse. He'd be better off saying the twelveswood was on fire.

"Alright look, H'isiri is traveling with Sef, Titania is still in Ishgard dealing with...something, and you're the only person whose actually in the guildhall right now, so you're the best I have at the moment."

Closing the tome he had in his hand his glare didn't ease at all as a heavy sigh escaped him. "What are you working on that's so damn important you can't wait for one of them to come back?"

"Well after some matters involving my peers-" Other casters got it. "I realized I could be doing *vastly* superior spellcraft then what I've been allowing myself and I need a test subject for some of my casting."

"....and why do -I- care and why should I help?"

"Care?" Vertaux laughed proudly shaking his head again. "Kuraga I'm not asking you to care or even understand. As far as why you should help..." Humming in thought as he glanced around the room, his eyes resting on the portrait hung not far from where Kuraga sat. "I mean- helping people who need it wasn't that his whole-"

The look that Nishikurag'a shot Vertaux threatened to drop the temperature of the room even further. For just a moment his eyes let off a bright blue glow that was starkly noticeable in the dull light of the room. Lip curled back in a sneer, baring fang. "I suggest you use that brain of yours to actually think of the next words you choose to utter."

Insensitive perhaps but stupid he was not. Not by a long shot. Hands up defensive though he shrugged it off. "I mean the guildmaster. Isn't it our duty to help people in need by his say in things? Besides its not good for you to be brooding and miserable all the time."

He knew damn well that in fact NOT who he'd been initially talking about but it wasn't worth having to explain to W'kaixen why he murdered the resident black mage for running his twelve be damned mouth. Taking in a heavy breath as he stood from his desk. "Its noted that you seem to remember that only when you're the one in need. Likewise it should be noted while you may be right about my brooding - being in your presence will do little to none in the ways of aiding it. Fine i'll help you on the condition you don't bother me for the rest of the week. You don't talk to me, you don't come see me, and if we wind up at the same place at the same time you keep your mouth shut and leave me alone."

"Really that's all it takes? Why - I'd do that anyway. Done." He laughed in that half mocking way that Vertaux oft did. He really hated magic.