#the time mage ; in disguise

[atimelesslullaby]

Now go home, @wolfvirago Regain your lost time! Home... Where you are supposed to be... The way you are supposed to be...

Carefully, the cloaked woman gathers ingredients. On her left arm, was a basket. In her right hand, a book. Given that the princess in disguise was still learning how to brew potions, she needed the extra knowledge from a witch's own handwriting to understand the effects of what an ingredient may or may not do.

It certainly was more work than she'd originally anticipated. But there was so much good to be done, by learning how to brew potions.

Though this was the Lost Woods, she could hear the spirits singing. That was why she didn't truly get lost. Saria had done well to teach her about navigating what could turn into a dangerous situation of being completely lost in a maze of trees. Blue cloak waving in the breeze, 'Elizabeth' is on the move again.

Never did she expect to see anyone else here. She near never did, other than the small spirits that sang to those who listened for them. What a bad time to be caught without her scepter. Though she could summon it at will, her hands were kind of full right now, and no way she was putting down the rare mushrooms she had found during this endeavor.

"Are you lost?"

The last she could do was be courteous. She sounded much lower pitched than the princess. A magical ability only granted by her piece of the Triforce. Without that piece, she'd never have such a magic.

"This can be a dangerous forest. It may be best you allow me to guide you back towards that which is more open. I am certain you know how friendly the Kokiri can be."

[hyperions-light]

what even is Dorian Pavus’ life lmao THE most improbable man in Thedas. He:

> helped invent viable time travel magic in college

> left home bc his dad tried to turn him straight

> joined the Southern organization that took down an ancient Tevinter Magister trying to achieve godhood

> returned home to claim a seat in the Magisterium

> found out the Magisterium was a bunch of bs politics and helped found an underground resistance movement to end slavery in Tevinter

> which was then joined by. The Pope in disguise???

> lived through the sky opening and dumping demons on everyone a SECOND time

> lived through a blighted dragon attacking Minrathous

> lived through an incredibly powerful ancient elven mage calling himself a god attacking the city, killing thousands of people, and turning it all into a fucked up blighted mass

> became the ARCHON OF TEVINTER

like damn. truly the guy that Everything Happens So Much to. hope he catches a break soon

[avelera]

"A face and look that is immediately rage-inducing for much of the population"

what did s1 jayce do to all these people lol. i wasn't in the fandom at the time an this seems insane to me, he was always cute and earnest!!

I think it was a combination of people ascribing League Jayce “Giopara” personality to Jayce (unfairly) and the fact that Arcane Jayce is sort of set up to seem like a privileged douchebag who ignores Viktor and falls in love with the power and prestige of politics.

It’s all one big fake out, a subverted corruption story. But the plot of Arcane does a lot of sleight of hand with Jayce to make him seem like a jerk and then flips it on you in S2 when he dodges his corruption arc and becomes totally focused on Viktor, whereas Viktor ends up headlong into a true corruption arc that’s disguised as looking like a good thing at first (with the healing and the cult I mean).

I’ve said many times that Jayce is one of the most fascinating characters in Arcane because he’s the ONLY one whose character design contradicts his inner life. Everyone else looks like who they are. Vi looks tough and she is tough. Silco looks like a villain and he is a villain. Viktor looks like a consumptive Victorian scientist and he IS a consumptive Victorian scientist.

But Jayce looks like a football player. He looks like Prince Charming crossed over with Superman. He is upsettingly handsome and upsettingly muscular and he gets in front of a crowd and gives a big flashy speech that betrays his ideals and his partner and then he appears to soak up the audiences applause after. He plays the corruption game and he gets manipulated into attacking the Undercity, where a kid dies, and he’s got the kind of face that reminds you of every popular guy who ever beat you up in school, or the magazine model who you could only hopelessly compare yourself to who made you feel small.

But that’s not who Jayce is and it’s so WILD how much his appearance is a contradiction. He the opposite of the skinny kid who wants to be an athlete. He’s built like an athlete but wants to be a nerd taken seriously for his research. He’s not a jock, he’s a blacksmith, a tinkerer who happens to tinker with things that build muscle. He’s more at home in the lab and Viktor is the center of his whole life and he just wants to help people the way a mage once helped him and he gets dragged around by more powerful forces while trying to do that. He’s ready to kill himself when he shames his family and has his life’s work, his ability to help others, taken away from him. He’s ready to sacrifice his whole career when Hextech puts people in danger if it means protecting Viktor. He’s ready to literally OVERTHROW THE GOVERNMENT if it means saving Viktor’s life and he tells a bunch of rich asshole councilors to fuck off when they think they can keep exploiting Zaun while also ignoring it.

He’s such a wild contradiction and S2 really brings it into focus, though the hints are there in S1. I’m obsessed with him.

[pippin-katz]

Edwin’s Magic

Alright, this has been on my mind since I watched the show over a month ago. Why the fuck doesn't Edwin actually use magic??

I'm not including mirror hopping or the disguises because that's something both he and Charles do. I'm not talking about the alchemy he does either. I'm referring to spells and incantations.

The reason it drives me crazy is because the show sets Edwin up to be a magic user, but he really isn't. I can count the number of times he uses magic on one hand.

Ep. 1: fire spell, magic lasso Ep. 2: nothing Ep. 3: nothing Ep. 4: nothing Ep. 5: nothing Ep. 6: nothing Ep. 7: nothing Ep. 8: magic lasso

During the boxing scene, Edwin asks when he'll need to hit someone. Charles specifically lays out a scenario where there's a murderous ghost that he needs to save a client from, but specifically says: "and your magic doesn't work". That phrase implies that Edwin regularly uses magic as his go-to skill during cases. In fanfics, Edwin uses magic constantly, because people got the same impression, yet we barely see him actually doing magic!

Give me Edwin the Sorcerer! Or the Wizard, or Mage or whatever title he wants, just let him use magic!!

(ko-fi)

[yuri-is-online]

Daytime TV Dreaming (A Fyuuture Kid AU Drabble ft. Heartsabyul, Savanaclaw, and Octavinelle)

While camping in the mountains during Camp Vargas, you encounter a monster exactly like the one you fought off with Ace and Deuce at the beginning of the year. While trying to fight it off again, a strange portal opens up in the mine and a person jumps out of it to your rescue. He says he doesn't remember much, but it's clear when you bring him to Crowley that this boy is also from your world, despite being a mage, and until the headmage can think of a better solution, he assigns "Yutu" to your dorm.

Something a certain someone has an opinion about.

notes: When I was re-working my masterlist I deleted a fic that I meant to be the start of a series where Yuu’s child travels back in time to try and prevent the destruction of Twisted Wonderland and their parent's untimely death. For some reason I wrote that child as having been born after Yuu was forced to leave Twisted Wonderland with modified memories, so he doesn't actually know that much about his dad until he gets iseakaid just like Yuu did to attend Night Raven in a much more dystopian setting. Anyway if I ever go back to that concept I'll probably re work it, but I thought it would be fun to share my notes about the guys reaction to this newcomer who gets sorted into Ramshackle Dorm. They/them used for Yuu as always but they are implied to be afab, "Yutu" is not meant to be the child's real name, and he is meant to be wearing a disguise to make his identity less obvious. Actual fic can be found on my masterlist.

Heartsabyul

Ace- is legitimately worried about the intentions of this weird newcomer but it comes off as him being a jealous brat so no one takes him seriously. Look, something just doesn't feel right about this! Your world doesn't have any mages but now one shows up? And he's weirdly familiar with you? Cmon someone other than him start asking some questions please! Tries to have "a talk" with Yutu, who is trying really hard to understand what his parent saw in his dad and... just not getting it at all. RiP Ace you have been assigned cringe before the kid has even been born.

Deuce- only concerned with making a good impression because if this person is from Yuu's world then they might value his opinion on.... things. Also an honor student would try to win over his crush on his own merit and not by intimidating potential competition. Actually ends up befriending Yutu and really liking his vibes, which gives the boy a lot of guilt because he knows his dad would probably feel very guilty if he knew what his son's life has been like.

Trey- he is slightly worried about how Yuu will handle having to take care of an actual person and not just a monster, but he also feels like it is none of his business so he doesn't pay too much attention. But then Yuu mentions that Yutu is a pretty talented baker and that's why they haven't been bugging him for sweets as much. Well isn't that just ADORABLE??? Trey isn't upset about this at all nope, not one bit. He's extremely upset and Yutu is stirring the pot because he thinks making his dad angry is funny.

Cater- oh look, another person who won't be a part of his life eventually. He doesn't get any weird vibes from Yutu so he doesn't worry about what his appearance might mean too much, but there is something about the way the newbie insists on trying to be his friend that reminds him a lot of Yuu and isn't helping with this whole "denial of the crush" thing he is trying to do. If he didn't know any better he would think Yutu was doing it on purpose.

Riddle- immediately starts butting into Yuu's life more to give them advice about being a proper housewarden. Not that he didn't already see them as one, it's just disciplining a human student and disciplining Grim are a bit different and no he is not using this as an excuse to spy on the Prefect how dare this brat suggest his intentions are impure?!?! (Ah but you see Riddle you can't just take Yutu's head off in front of their Prefect because you want them to liiiike you and he is so going to use that against you.)

Savanaclaw

Leona- understands that something is not quite right as Yutu's explanation of who he is doesn't quite pass the sniff test. Literally, the brat smells like Yuu with his magic and since Leona was one of the people who got a good look at the portal Yutu came through he pieces things together pretty quickly. Not that he immediately goes and pulls a Vader on the kid, he just makes it clear he knows there is some time travel involved and demands to know what his goals are. He can leave the family shit for after he's secured the kid's existence.

Ruggie and Jack- while they have different opinions on the new kid, Leona's sense of smell still tells him Yutu's identity and as their dormleader he feels the need to take them aside and mention what he knows... sort of. He tells them that he's pretty sure time travel is involved and that Yutu is related to Yuu, but he neglects to mention the whole bit about who he thinks the father is... which drives them insane in completely different ways.

Ruggie thinks that since you clearly have a thing for beastmen anyway he would be stupid not to shoot his shot. He doesn't give two shits about whether or not Yutu is his kid, time isn't real so he can just rewrite it a bit.

Jack is determined to treat Yutu fairly and protect him since you are his friend and that's what friends do for each other's kids. Has a full blown panic over whether or not this might give the kid an identity crisis and takes him aside to reassure him he doesn't want to replace his real father, and that he will be happy as long as Yuu is happy. que the world's most awkward conversation

Octavinelle

Azul- Oh? Ramshackle has a new dorm member? And he's a mysterious mage... allegedly from the same world as Yuu... something doesn't make sense here but while he is figuring that out. Capitalism ho! This is a great money making opportunity he is observing and scheming and thinking about the perfect contract to get Yutu to spill all his secrets. Unfortunately, Yutu seems to be afraid of him for some reason? Not Floyd or Jade, just him. He can't say he dislikes it... but it is a bit odd, at least it gives him something to talk about with you???

Floyd- Also saw the portal that Yutu came through and thinks something must be up with how close the guppy seems to want to be with Yuu. Starts calling him baby shrimpy as a joke because of how clingy he is to you, but he really really hates it. He can't fight baby shrimpy because that will make you not like him, and he can't scare baby shrimpy off with a deal because he's weirdly smart with those sort of things. He also seems to really look up to Floyd... like that one spiderverse meme, and Floyd hates it! he already had a hard enough time getting Yuu alone when Grim was around he doesn't need a second baby unless it's actually his >:CCC

Jade- a new mage? How delightfully unpredictable. He's probably the only one genuinely happy Yutu is around because of how funny the story of his arrival is. The only upsetting thing about this is that he wasn't able to go camping with Yuu himself. Like Azul he senses something is wrong with Yutu's story, but he doesn't intend to press him until he has the new kid's trust. He's just here to help after all, there's nothing to be afraid of so long as there is no need for him to be jealous.

[dailyadventureprompts]

Adventure: Grasping for Answers

Throughout their early adventures the party come into conflict with the agents of the mysterious mage known only as "The Ravelling Hand", a villain of uncertain identity who seems to have lots of schemes and no qualms using violence, trickery, and unexpected magic to get what they want.

Adventure Hooks:

The party first become entangled with the hand's minions when they're asked by an innocuous travelling merchant to deliver a small wrapped parcel to the wizard living one town over. The wizard isn't open to receiving guests, and after sneaking or charming their way in, the party will find out why: her apprentice has been kidnapped, the parcel contains both of the boy's index fingers as well as a note explaining that she can have the rest of him back in exchange for several dangerous texts in her collection, delivered by the party to the same intermediary who hired them. A brawl is likely to ensue as the wizard suspects the party is in on the blackmail, but if they can talk her down maybe they can figure out a way to work together to get the boy back before any more harm comes to him.

Most thieves know better than to try and rob a magic item shop, but most thieves aren't armed with dispel magic infused salt grenades to neutralize the shop's ubiquitous defences. A rash of these attacks across the duchy has shopkeepers worried, and one hires the party to stake out their store for the night when they suspect someone is casing it. Do the party trail the robbers back to their hideout, or interrupt them mid heist only for combat to delay them long enough for those indiscriminate defences to start turning back on?

Spoiler Alert: The mage is in fact an arcanely gifted lesser kraken by the name of Dlexx who seeks to avail itself of all the magical knowledge amassed on land. Sure the deep has its own mysteries but there's a thriving trade in spellscrolls and arcane tomes that don't make it below the waves. Using an old lighthouse as a disguise for its massive form while on land, it uses telepathy and sendings to direct its minions without ever revealing its true nature. Imagine the party's surprise when they roll up to the villain's lair expecting to bully some crusty nerd with a ratty beard and instead the lair sprouts tentacles that drag them into the crashing surf.

Challenges & Consequences

Finding Dlexx is an adventure in and of itself. When questioned, most of the mage's minions admit to never having met their employer, and those high ranking enough to have been summoned to a place called "saltbite tower" in dreams only to later have their memories muddled. Careful interrogation and study of local maps will have the party realize that the tower is infact an abandoned lighthouse, which will narrow their search as they comb the costline for their enemy's lair.

Actually defeating the Ravelling Hand might prove too much for early level adventurers, as in addition to being a powerful mage the kraken is literally in its element, able to breathe and move while the heroes flounder. Dlexx will toy with them, throwing unconscious foes out of the water the way a fisherman throws back a catch that is too small. When the battle is over and it's proved it's point the kraken will collapse the tower and leave into the wide ocean, telepathically taunting them with their inability to follow.

Though the Ravelling Hand will not resurface for some time, the destruction of the tower and Dlexx's retreat into the deep is partially a bluff. The kraken chose that particular lighthouse because it was a short distance away from the coral reef into which it scribed its arcane learning the way a wizard records spells in a book, coiling arms etching formulae into hundreds of yards of living stone. Dlexx must periodically return to the reef to add spells to it, and sightings by locals (or the occasional fish manifesting with magical talent) might clue the party into the reef's existence.

A pair of merfolk siblings named Crashing-Tide and Arcing-Mirror serve the Ravelling Hand as apprentices and scribes, having promised seven years of utmost loyalty in exchange for the chance to bring the arcane knowledge of the surface back to their community. They tend to the reef, and allow the Kraken to borrow their eyes from afar so that it might study the spells scribed there. Several years into their pledge, Crash (the sister) has come to idolize Dlexx and the power it wields above and below the waves, wishing that the whole of their shoal to come into its service. Mirror (the brother) is skeptical, well aware of the kraken's manipulations and distantly suspicious of the conflict that it invokes. Perhaps if the party can intercede with these two they can learn more about their enemy's plans, though doing so will take some careful diplomacy.

Artist

[hs-transfusion]

> NEPETA LEIJON

HEMO: Violet (#6A006A) TROLLTAG: aquaticCatfish [AC] SIGN: Aquale, Sign of the Relaxed STRIFE: macekind MODUS: Bubble LUNAR SWAY: Prospit MYTH. ROLE: Mage of Life LAND: Land of Lilypads and Xs

AC: 83 < bubblubblubBLUUUHHHH cant i dew that some time tominnow???

Nepeta is all about the easy life. The easy life, coincidentally, is quite easy to achieve when you're a SEA DWELLER and all of society practically bends over backwards to accommodate you. She loves LOUNGING AROUND, purchasing COPIOUS AMOUNTS OF STUFFED ANIMALS and basically doing as little in life as physically possible.

She enjoys ROLEPLAYING ON THE INTERNET, particularly adopting a lowblood persona (either out of a sense of morbid curiosity or as a very elaborate bit). Unfortunately, she has since formed a SERIOUS MOIRALLEGIANCE with Equius, who believes she's an OLIVEBLOOD. It's gone on too long for her to bear to spill the beans now.

Nepeta's BUBBLE Fetch Modus allows for effortless depositing and retrieval of items... But there's only SO MUCH ROOM in her sylladex. If the bubble bursts, her ENTIRE INVENTORY WILL BE DROPPED.

Nepeta's lusus is classified as the LUMINOUS SINKSAC; an anglerfish-catfish hybrid that lurks DEEP BENEATH THE SURFACE and lures in prey with its ATTRACTIVE BULB. Like most things in her life, her lusus SPOILS HER ROTTEN with treats.

The Land of LILYPADS AND XS is a primarily aquatic planet full to the brim with TREASURE CHESTS along the seafloor. Retrieving them is no problem IF YOU CAN SWIM... unless you consider the VICIOUS UNDERWATER SERPENTS a problem. HEMERA doesn't seem to wait to bother with those that STOP AT THE FIRST OBSTACLE.

Nepeta's ancestor is known as HUNTRESS MASCHERA, a devious bounty hunter with a KNACK FOR DISGUISE. She's amassed a VAST FORTUNE from killing for the highest bidder, occasionally HUNTING ANIMALS FOR SPORT as a hobby. An anonymous bidder hired her to execute The HIVEMIND undetected.

[mentalpolaroids]

Wolf's Home

(Part I)

Geralt of Rivia x female!Reader

Summary: Geralt takes Ciri to Kaer Morhen and reunites not only with his family of witchers, but also with the person that makes him feel at home the most

a/n: this is sort of rewrite of S02E02. Sorry for the use of (y/n) but couldn't really think of a name for the reader. Also, this is my first try at writing for The Witcher so be nice to me please!!

.................................................................................

She woke up that morning expecting to face another routine-repeating day, possibly with an occasional healing of one of the witchers coming back to Kaer Morhen from a hunt, or coming up with a new excuse as to why she didn’t want to eat whatever crap Lambert cooked for them. His turn on food duty was always a dreadful one.

Her days were never too adventurous, not since Vasemir had insisted on a more permanent stay at the keep two years ago, when she was dragged through the Blue Mountains by a silver haired witcher, both injured, after fighting and killing a monster together. An encounter she still couldn’t really understand to this day, how they happened to be in the same place, at the same time, looking for the same creature, but she knew better than to question Destiny. 

Even with her own wounds to take care of, she still healed Geralt of Rivia first, who fell under her natural charm like a trap. He wondered if it was a spell, the way he so easily was put at ease in her presence. She was a mage after all. But as the days passed, he concluded that there was no spell besides the one used to close the gash on his abdomen. That woman was simply a caretaker by heart, one that somehow remained open and pure even knowing of the existence of nasty beings out there in the Continent. Everyone else in the Fortress seemed to be as mesmerized, and so, she was welcomed with open arms to stay, and heal, and fight with the witchers. 

The ropes were starting to burn the palm of her hands from all the knots she had conquered in the last hour, but she definitely didn’t mind because it was at least keeping her hands warm as she stood outside, light snow falling over the already white ground. 

One of the few advantages of the icy weather was that they could hear when someone was approaching, the crunch of the footsteps over the snow being hard to disguise. She heard those in the distance, but it was of a horse. (y/n) dropped the rope and grabbed her sword, preparing herself for the sight of the intruder before making her own known. But, the sight wasn’t at all what she expected. She didn’t know what to expect at all, but it sure wasn’t a familiar brown horse carrying Geralt of Rivia accompanied by a blonde girl, who (y/n) quickly convinced herself must’ve been a princess, if not for her looks, for her posture. She looked like she didn’t belong there, nor next to someone with the nickname The Butcher of Blaviken. 

The girl got down from Roach and looked around curiously. Her dress blended with the snow, from afar, (y/n) wondered if she was even real. Her gaze didn’t last long on the girl when Geralt got down from his horse too, the mere sight of his face barely visible under his dark cloak sent a shiver of excitement to her stomach. He had always had that effect on her, but it seemed the longer she went without seeing him, the stronger the sensation got after meeting again. 

The witcher and the princess shared words (y/n) couldn’t really hear from where she was still in the hiding, and as they started to walk towards the main entrance of the Fortress, the mage put down her sword and walked towards them. 

“You sure we’re safe here?” the princess asked Geralt, who walked in front of her. (y/n) was not close enough to hear the question, not yet to be noticed. 

“Safer than out there.” 

Her voice seemed to echo in the silence of their footsteps coming to a stop, both turning their heads to their right, finally acknowledging her. Geralt’s lips curved into a brief smile, his yellow eyes softening when they locked with hers. (y/n) smiled back, the shiver in her stomach was now climbing to her chest and for a moment she forgot he could probably feel her heart beating faster. Good thing she didn’t mind him knowing how she felt around him. 

Three steps away from coming face to face with the witcher, she slowed her pace, planning to walk past them. 

“Well, well, well, if it isn’t my dearest friend in all the Continent.”

“It’s great to see you.” 

“Oh I’m afraid I was speaking to my best girl here.” (y/n) approached Roach, caressing the horse over her nose and planting a light kiss on her short fur, “But it’s great to see you too, Wolf.” she walked towards him again, for a second forgetting it wasn’t just the two of them there. The way Geralt followed every step of hers, his gaze warm even in the middle of a Winter day. (y/n) opened her arms to him, “Welcome home.”

The man embraced her tightly against him and it felt like getting drowned in memories of his days with her. He had forgotten how much he cherished her affection, and holding her reminded him how nice it was to let his guard down for a brief moment. It all felt like he had never left. 

“I missed you.” he murmured, unrecognizably self-conscious. He surely didn’t enjoy showing this vulnerable side of him, especially in front of someone else.

“I’m sure you did.” (y/n) let go of him, casting him a warm, welcoming smile, before looking to the girl standing behind him, now more curious about the pair’s dynamic than the Fortress, “And who’s this poor thing having to deal with your company?” 

“This is Ciri.” 

“Ciri.” (y/n) tried the name on her lips. She walked towards her with the same welcoming smile, but a different fondness in her eyes, “It’s nice to meet you, Ciri.” she said as she extended her hand to the girl, “I’m (y/n).”

“It’s nice to meet you too.” she spoke softly, clearly wary of meeting a new face, but the shadow of a smiling curve on her lips showed potential trust as she accepted the handshake. After all, the woman was obviously someone dear to Geralt, “I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“Is that so?” (y/n) smirked, hoping the cold outside cooled the warmth spreading across her face. She turned to Geralt, who watched the two girls interact, but the words were directed to Ciri, “I’m sure I have a lot to hear about you, too.” It was a warning to the witcher: an endless night of chatting was to come, questions needed to be answered, stories to be told and his whereabouts to be known. 

As if reading Ciri’s mind, (y/n) squeezed her shoulder and tilted her head towards the entrance, “Don’t worry, you are safe here.” 

“Keep up.” Geralt told the girl, and both followed (y/n). 

They both pushed the heavy wooden doors and walked into the main room of the Fortress that was occupied with chatty men and the smell of burning wood and ale. (y/n)’s words echoing through the wide space caught their attention. 

“Look what the snow dragged in, boys.”

All eyes turned to the mage and the murmur came to a stop when everybody noticed the figure standing behind her. Her attention turned to Geralt as well, in time to see him remove the hood of his cloak and finally getting a decent view of the face she missed so much. She also checked on Ciri, who looked uneasier than before, standing in the middle of a room full of men. (y/n) winked at her, hoping to reassure her everything was alright. Geralt noticed, and he too turned to the girl and nodded at her before moving to stand beside (y/n) as Lambert stood from his seat and walked towards them. 

“Where the fuck have you been?” 

“We thought you got lost.” Coën followed Lambert, “Or killed.” 

(y/n) rolled her eyes. Geralt smiled tenderly.

“Not yet. Sorry.”  

The mage elbowed his side. She had always hated when he implied the possibility of his death at any moment, considering what he was and he did, in reality it wasn’t a massive impossibility. Still, even a simple joke triggered a non-existent grief that resided in her chest everytime she had to see the witcher leave and go long periods of time without hearing a single word from or about him. In his presence, (y/n) pretended he would stay forever, and if he didn’t stay, he would come back. Everytime. 

Geralt caressed her back and brought her in for the embrace Lambert had already initiated. He then went on greeting and hugging the other witchers and, more than ever, Kaer Morhen felt like a real home. The family was back together. 

“I guess I’m back to being second favorite now that you’re back.” Lambert complained to Geralt, referring to (y/n).

“Who said you were even a favorite in the first place?” 

Geralt laughed. 

“I hope you’ve all been treating her right.”

“We do, but she’s a mean one. Lucky for her, we don’t dislike her cooking.” 

The banter was interrupted by Vasemir, who entered the room already smiling at the sight of the silver haired witcher. 

“Wolf. You’re home.” the elder joined the commotion, “Finally.”

Ciri, still feeling out of place, placed herself visibly between Geralt and (y/n).

“Yeah. I had to make a few stops.” the witcher replied, referring to the princess next to him. 

“He’s home!” 

Once again, the commotion grew around Geralt as they kept celebrating his return. Ciri smiled shyly watching the content interactions.

“Come on,” (y/n) extended her hand for the princess to take, “I’m going to introduce you to everybody.”

When everybody settled enough for the mage to be able to order everyone to be nice to Ciri, the men were somewhat curious about the unexpected guest. The girl seemed less vigilant as she was offered a seat and cup and conversation started flowing as if both her and Geralt had always been there. 

(y/n) stood next to him, a sigh leaving her nostrils as she crossed her arms and discreetly nudged the man’s broad figure. 

“Yeah, I know. I have a lot to tell.”

“Yeah. You do.” 

Geralt looked down at her to meet her eyes and, with a soft motion of his hand, uncrossed her arms. He smiled, in a way she knew he was promising to stay for a while. She couldn’t tell what he thought her eyes were saying, but whatever it was, he felt the need to hold her hand, hidden behind his cloak, caressing the cold skin of her knuckles with his thumb. 

“I’m home.” his hoarse voice, along with the softness of his touch and stare, nearly warmed her up on the spot. 

In the back of her mind, there was a voice telling her he would eventually leave again, but for once, she shut it down. 

.................................................................................

Part II soon!

[bethanythebogwitch]

My favorite magic system from a game I haven't actually played is from Mage: the Ascension. It kind of fits as both a hard magic system and a soft magic system at the same time because there are some hard rules, but its mostly very open. To become a mage you have to realize that reality is not what it seems. In MtA, reality is whatever the majority of people believe it is, known as the consensus. The consensus in modern days is pretty uniform everywhere, with small variations based on where you are, but it used to be wildly different based on the cultural beliefs of the local people. A mage is a person who realizes that the consensus isn't true reality and gains to power to act outside of its rules. Any given mage's abilities come from their own personal view of reality, known as their paradigm. A mage's magic can do basically anything, as long as it is accounted for in their paradigm. So a mage who's paradigm includes the classic Aristotelian elements can perform magic based on that, but if their paradigm doesn't include animistic spirits then they can't commune with those spirits even though other mages could based on their own paradigm. The problem with this is that the consensus doesn't like it when you go around breaking its rules and will punish mages by slapping them with an effect called paradox. Paradox can be anything from a spell failing to getting shunted into your own personal pocket universe. Nothing generates paradox like being seen doing magic by sleepers (people who are not mages and still live fully within the consensus). Most mages either only use magic around other mages or, if they need to cast around sleepers, will disguise their magic as a mundane effect. Someone throwing a fireball from their hands will generate major paradox because the consensus is that people can't do that. However if a mage holds a lighter up to a spraycan before casting their fireball, the sleepers can rationalize it as something that exists within the consensus and not as much paradox will be generated.

In the dark ages, magic was part of the consensus and mages could openly rule over the sleepers because everyone believed in magic and therefore magic was part of the consensus. In response to the tyranny of the mages, a group was formed called the League of Reason, who wanted to introduce a new form of magic to the consensus that everyone could use. This form of magic was based on logic and reason and was called science. This led to the ascension war, where the League of reason sought to remove magic and superstition from the consensus and a very loose coalition of mages called the Council of Nine Mystic Traditions want to keep magic in the consensus. And the League of Reason won. A mostly rationalistic, scientific worldview has become the consensus worldwide, forcing the Council into operating underground. The League of Reason has become the Technocracy, a worldwide secret organization ruling the world from the shadows and trying to stamp out magic and any other form of "reality deviants" to keep humanity safe, even if they have to suppress basic human imagination to do so. Notably, the earliest books for the game very much said "Traditions good, Technocracy bad", but later books went for a much more grey approach to the conflict between them, making it clear that both sides really are doing what they think is in humanity's best interest even if their ideas for how to do so are fundamentally incompatible.

What's really interesting is that science and technology really are a form of magic and technocrats are mages, even if the Technocracy would vehemently deny this. Technology is a form of magic that everyone can use because its part of the consensus and science doesn't discover new facts about the world, It creates those facts and applies them to the world. The Technocracy's super-advanced technology creates paradox just as much as magic does because personal anti-gravity suits and mass-produced clones violate the consensus just like throwing around fireballs and conjuring demons does.

Mage: the Ascension is a super fun setting because just about any fantasy or sci-fi trope can exist here. Classic pointy hat and wand wizards can battle cyborgs armed with self-replicating nanotechnology. Anti-authoritarian punks can hack your wallpaper to spy on you because they believe all reality is part of a unified mathematical whole that the internet gives us access to. A group of spacefarers can ride the luminiferous aether to mars only to encounter Aztec shamans who asked the spirits to carry them there thousands of years ago. A powerful mage can create a time loop by convincing their younger self to obtain enlightenment through the power of sex, drugs, and rock and roll. Two people can have an argument over whether the guy they just met was an alien from Alpha Centauri or an elf from the Norse nine realms and both of them can be right. Animistic spirit-callers can upload themselves to the internet to combat spirits of malware. And an angry mage might just teleport you into the sun because they believe distance is just an illusion and therefore have the power to make anything go anywhere with a thought. It's a wild ride.

[ohnoitstbskyen]

Since Riot Forge has been offed by management, what other characters and storylines would you want a game about?

Honestly, not even necessarily champions. You know what would be cool? An honest to god Stardew Valley style farm simulator where you're, like, trying to run a farm in the Demacian hinterlands. All the usual mechanics: growing crops, mining, crafting, maybe some light combat, lots of dateable NPCs, your grandad's ghost appears and judges you if you haven't gotten laid by the end of year 4, all the usual normal stuff.

But then also there's a mage or two who lives in town, one of the villagers who helps you out, that hot NPC you're trying to date. Maybe the kid you'll eventually have with your spouse could be a mage. And the Mageseekers come around every few years looking, and asking questions, and taking people away from your community, and you need to make some decisions about what you're going to do about that. Do you sell your fellow villagers out to the authorities, in return for rewards, or do you find a way to resist?

Like, that kind of a thing. Or a 4x or Total War style game where you play as a Noxian commander trying to expand and colonize the Valoran continent, pushing against the borders of Demacia and the Freljord. Crusader Kings-like set in Shurima where Azir is trying to unite his new empire.

Heartless Frostpunk-style management game where your goal is to help your Freljord tribe survive an especially harsh winter. Tavern management game set in Bilgewater where you're trying not to run afoul of pirate gang politics. Visual novel where you play as a tormented soul on the Shadow Isles trying to escape from Ruination by finding the Hallowed Mist manor from Legends of Runeterra.

This is one of the things that frustrated me about Forge, that it was still stuck in this "THE LEAGUE OF LEGENDS CHAMPIONS ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF OUR UNIVERSE!" framework that League of Legends itself is stuck to, rather than trying to profile and expand the universe itself as an interesting setting that people might love all on its own, the way people love Middle Earth whether or not Aragorn happens to be there, or the Star Trek universe regardless of who's captaining the Enterprise that day.

Oh, also, dating sim set in Piltover and Zaun where none of the dateable options is a champion, but every playthrough, one of them is randomly selected to actually be Evelynn in disguise, and if you can't see through her act in time, she kills you in agonizing (horny) ways.

[atimelesslullaby]

Now go home, @truly-quirkless! Regain your lost time! Home... Where you are supposed to be... The way you are supposed to be...

"I hope your travels are safe."

In both hands, held at rest, was her golden scepter. She'd remain on guard for now, she wasn't sure about this person. But it was important that she watch out for those in Hyrule, even when she was disguised as Elizabeth. It didn't matter if they were travelers, citizens, or otherworldly beings. As long as they weren't causing trouble, it wasn't her place to step in.

A master of time magic was best to understand that you weren't to mess with the time stream unless as last resort.

The blue clothed woman, whose near entire face was covered in shadow, held a gentle frown. It was mostly all she said, her voice much lower pitched than the princess. She used magic to change the tone of her voice, otherwise she'd be immediately discovered by anyone who had met Princess Zelda.

"Monsters roam the fields. I find myself battling often, but it's nothing I can't handle. Do you need an ally, or can you handle the monsters as well?"

[ysrwii]

Gods and Goddesses from Wakfu

Goddess Cra, her followers are archers (read "Cra" backwards and you get "Arc", French for "Bow")

God Ecaflip, his followers are gamblers (read "Ecaflip" backwards and you get "Pilface", French "Pile ou face" means "Heads or Tails")

God Eliotrope, God-King Yugo. His followers use portals. His followers are not actual people, they are his mirror images created through incident, through time warp during his fight (read "Eliotrop" backwards and you get "Portoile", French for "The Portal")

Goddess Eniripsa, her followers are healers (read "Eniripsa" backwards and you get "Aspirine", French for "Aspirin")

God Enutrof, his followers are obsessed with treasures and gold (read "Enutrof" backwards and you get "Fortune")

Goddess Feca, her followers are great "tanks" ("Feca" is an anagram for "Café", French for "Coffee". She was named after 1 of 3 favorite snacks of creators. Another version is that battles of Feca goes for so long that you need several coffee not to fall asleep during it)

God/Goddess Huppermage, its followers are mages who can use all 4 elements, plus Light (it's a not an actual God/Goddess, but some mysterious and invisible force called Krosmic Balance)

God Iop, his followers are warriors/brawlers ("Iop" is a reference to "Yop", brand of yogurt drink from Yoplait, 2nd of 3 favorite snacks of creators)

God Osamodas, his followers capture and summon creatures, they use whips, and can transform in semi-dragons (read "Osamodas" backwards and you get "Sadomaso", an acronym for "sadistic masochist")

God Ouginak, his followers can transform into werewolf-like dogs ("Ouginak" is a reference to dog food brand)

Goddess Pandawa, her followers are martial artists who love to drink ("Pandawa" is an anagram for "Padawan", Jedi apprentice in the Star Wars. Another version - short for "Panda Warrior")

God Sram, his followers are stealthy assassins (read "Sram" backwards and you get "Mars", a reference to 3rd of 3 favorite snacks of creators)

God Eugor, his followers are bandits who use guns and bombs (read "Eugor" backwards and you get "Rogue". He is Sram in disguise)

Goddess Sacrier, her followers are brawlers/berserkers ("Sacrier" is a reference to "Sacrieur", French combination of "sacrifice" and "crieur" - "a person that shouts", they used their own blood for attacks in Dofus and some of their attacks damage them back)

God Sadida, his followers are tree people, who use dolls (read "Sadida" backwards and you get "Adidas", a reference to shoe and sportwear brand. Full name of class is "Sadida's Shoe", but funny thing is that Sadida followers don't wear any shoes)

God Foggernaut, his followers in Dofus are humans, in Wakfu they are robots with human souls. But it is speculated that only part of them are robots and they are atheists, while some of them are still humans and worship the God (its name is derived from Phileas Fogg and The Nautilus)

God Xelor, his followers use time magic (read "Xelor" backwards and you get "Rolex", famous expensive watch brand)

God Masqueraider, his followers use various masks (their name comes from "bal masqué" (masquerade ball), which participants attend wearing a mask, like Masqueraiders do)

[angelsbless]

Hiii, could you do a mashle Innocent Zero x reader (maybe how they met?!)

Well well well i actually didn't expect to receive an innocent zero ask, this is quite interesting actually it took me time to think about it. ( Can't blame you tho he's fine hehe). here you go dear i hope you like it 🤍.

.

Innocent zero x reader |( how you met)

As you know innocent zero is a great mage and is looking for more power and perfection to be the ultimate creature and the non-defeatable. As he was on his journey to obtain power while disguised he met you, you were a class S mage and an archaeologist interested in old great magic and magic history and books. So it was the greatest opportunity for him to take advantage of you.

He introduced himself as a new archaeologist needing help so you could offer him joining you and that's exactly what you did. He was surprised at your welcoming and charming smile because he never actually saw anyone smiling at him like that. As your journey continued he started observing you more and more, the way you got excited over the little details and your excitement whenever you found some old magic books or a new spell graved on a stone. He thought it was annoying, how could someone be this stupid? Why are you excited? it's nothing but magic and books, he wanted to get rid of you right away, he was trying to give the same energy back but it was hella difficult. Even if he thought so, it didn't bother him to see your smile and hear your giggles " just a little more " he said this to himself every day while being your company, until one day he found himself smiling at your gestures thinking you're kinda amusing, he liked it whenever he teased you and actually enjoyed your company?

To think that someone will be this comfortable around him and taking care of him was impossible, you were just too kind and too gentle while dealing with him, he never wanted to admit that but he liked it, he was delaying his plans and his priorities and convincing himself that it's too soon, just to still receive your sunlights. He hated the idea that he should stay away from you after that.

So when he decided it was time to leave he just took your hand and finally showed you his real self and then said " i never thought I'd ever say this but you should keep annoying me, you're not going anywhere else but near me, and no one is allowed to see that smile of yours. " He said and then kissed your hand. He was taken off guard when you told him that you knew who he is and that you don't mind, he just smiled a bit of mischievously and said under his breath " what a woman i got myself involved with ". HE WAS AMAZED !

[weirdsht]

Disillusioned 15 . Limelight

a/n: ngl I'm starting to hate this, it's just that my writing style doesn't seem fitting for a series. maybe next time I'll stick to one-shots lol

also I'm so so sorry for the late update. I'm so busy I haven't slept for like a week now. However, I found some free time to write huhu.

tags: injuries, blood (it's cale what did you expect), self-doubt, war

English isn’t my first language so there will be grammatical errors

Pls don't repost my work anywhere without my permission

Constructive criticisms and any kind of interaction are more than welcome

Requests are currently closed but my ask are still open (read pinned)

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Navigation Masterlist prev . next

_____’s time in Vegas City had been relaxing. There’s no way it wouldn’t be when everyone, mainly Cale, made sure it was. And the healer is grateful to all of them. It gave them time to think and lament over the devastating news they had received.

In turn of that kindness and space, _____ made sure to recover after they left the Caro Kingdom. It wasn’t easy, all they wanted to do was lay on the bed all day and cry. Getting energy for the slightest task, even eating, was so hard. But they still pushed themself, because war was approaching.

The battlefield is calling and its first target is their new home.

So the healer pulled themselves by their bootstraps. Even as everyone tried to assure them that it was fine to not be okay they still spared no effort to recover from their depression and be back to normal.

“Basen-nim will handle communications. The Count and Countess will be on the battlefield. Lily-nim is too young.”

Currently, Cale and _____ are having a disagreement.

“That doesn’t mean you’re the only option left. The Henituse have a lot of retainers and people we can use.”

“But can you really go all out if it isn’t one of your direct people guiding the citizens?”

Cale could only furrow his eyebrows at that retaliation. The two are currently disagreeing whether or not _____ should be in charge of leading and guiding the citizens once the Paerun Kingdom attacks. 

Silence lingered for a few seconds. Cale knows that _____ is right. Especially after that northeastern nobles meeting… Cale can only have peace of mind if the one in charge of the citizens is someone he knows. Someone he trusts

_____ reached out towards the redhead, holding his hand to show their resolve.

“Cale, I’ll be fine.”

The healer can feel Cale squeeze their hand back.

“Fine…”

Cale pauses for a moment and _____ thinks they are nearing the end of the discussion.

“But let Raon cast magic on you for disguise.”

Apparently _____ thought wrong.

No way are they allowing the young dragon to cast and maintain magic on them when they need his mana to maintain the barrier. It would also be dangerous to ask another mage for a disguise when there’s always the possibility of their enemies bringing mana disturbance tools.

“Cale you know we can’t do that.”

“Yes, that’s why you better just stay inside the castle walls or beside me and Raon.”

“I can’t do that either. I promise I’ll be safe, plus I’ll be wearing my hood and mask. There’s no way anyone would recognise me.”

Cale sighed as he used his free hand to push his hair back. 

Honestly, everyone listening in (the kids averaging 8 years old) doesn’t know why the young master is fighting this losing battle. If it had been anyone else Cale would’ve agreed in a heartbeat. 

Plus sooner or later they know he’ll give in to the healer’s wishes.

He always does.

True enough, Cale’s resolve did not even last 5 minutes before he agreed to _____’s request. It’s now official that they will be leading the citizens towards safe zones. They would also be the first line of defence in case enemies get past the barrier and start attacking the city. 

Of course, if Cale or someone else from their side gets injured then _____ will run immediately to aid them.

The other people who didn’t listen in on the conversation didn’t even have to ask how it went. Results were obvious from the way _____ was humming on their way out with Cale sighing and petting On and Hong.

“Knight-nim please check if there’s any people left on area d. If you need me I’ll be double-checking our inventory and supplies.”

It’s been a few hours after Cale and _____’s talk. Right now the healer is making sure that everything is in order while their friends are fighting the Indomitable Alliance.

As the Medicus sees Choi Han and the others attack they remember a conversation they had with Cale last night.

The two are the only ones in the room. Well, the only ones awake. The children are with them but Cale has forced them to sleep because they need the energy for tomorrow. A serving of blueberry crumble paired with jasmine tea is being enjoyed as they talk.

“I plan to create a new history. To bring new heroes forward.”

“And I assume you won’t be part of those heroes?”

_____ asked in a joking manner as they refilled both of their teacups.

“Of course not. I only want to win this war and then go rest at the underground villa peacefully.”

Cale stopped speaking to take a bite out of the dessert.

“I’m telling you this because I want to ask you if you’d like to be part of that history. This battle would be a good opportunity to show everyone that you are alive.”

“I… thank you but it would be unneeded.”

The healer’s immediate answer made Cale look at them in confusion.

“Hmm well, that’s a shame the crown prince was also thinking of giving you the Perduellio’s assets as all of them have been found guilty.”

“Is he? I didn’t know such a thing.”

Of course _____ didn’t. Only Cale and Alberu know of such a thing. They're also the only ones who know the sorry state that family is currently in.

“But still… While I do agree with you that this is a good time to do that I still don’t want to do it. My time in the spotlight was not a good experience for me. It would be enough for me to see our friends be known and bask in that light.”

_____ sipped their tea before continuing.

“There’s also the fact that my adoptive family had committed a grave sin. I don’t think it’s right for me to strive for fame when I am still legally part of that family. I will reveal myself, but it won’t be now. I hope Cale and the crown prince can understand…”

Cale nodded in understanding. He's not cruel enough to force someone to do what he wants just because he wants to hide in the shadows. There are already more than enough heroes that he can push into the spotlight.

“I understand, I’ll inform the crown prince don’t worry about it.”

_____ snapped out of their daydream to focus back on their task. 

At least tried to.

Right about when _____ is about to talk to another knight they saw Cale bleed. The healer would have left it to the priests and healers near the field if it was just Cale’s normal bleeding. But it wasn’t.

Cale is bleeding from basically every orifice of his body.

And his too far away for _____ to accurately see if he's okay.

“I’ll leave the rest to you knight-nim, I must assist our Commander.”

So the healer runs. 

They run the fastest they’ve ever had in their entire left. _____ ran so fast they got there before the healers could.

“__– healer-nim you shouldn’t be here.” 

Countess Violan made sure that the healer’s hood and mask were still intact. The fabric on their face had been removed to aid catch their breath from running. Good thing the hood was still intact so it’s unlikely that anyone has seen their face.

“Countess Violan It’ll be fine. Our priority should be the Commander right now.”

_____ has no way of knowing how at that moment, the Henituse’s respect for them grew even more.

The healer turned to Cale to see him talking to what seemed like the air. That must be why his parents are even more worried right now. It looks like the redhead is hallucinating.

Good thing _____ knows the truth. They know that he isn’t hallucinating and that he isn’t talking to thin air. Good thing they know that the words the young master was uttering are directed at a certain invisible dragon.

"It's fine now, I'll be supporting too."

Those words may seem like it was directed at the Countess and Cale but it was directed towards Raon. It's the healer's way of saying that everything will be fine so Raon better follows Cale's instructions.

_____ can’t see Raon nor can they hear his voice in their head, but they’re sure that the dragon has quieted down since Cale had stopped muttering

“Does healer-nim need help?”

The territory’s healer finally arrived. Meanwhile, _____ has not only aided Cale’s vitality of the heart, but they were also healing Choi Han while supporting Mary.

“Yes please.”

Short responses are the only thing _____ can form right now. They must focus all their strength on supporting three people. Choi Han is especially hard to heal. It’s because the Medicus had only known long-distance healing in theory and had never tried it in person.

The far away and moving Choi Han proved to be a difficult patient but _____ is certain that his recovering little by little from the wounds they are slowly absorbing. 

Drip

Drip

It’s a good thing the colour coding for this event is black. Even as blood drips down their sleeves no one would notice from far away.

But not the people near the Medicus.

Cale’s hand that had been holding onto _____’s arms tightened at the blood dripping down the ground. On the bright side, they are now certain that Choi Han’s shoulder wound is getting better.

Meanwhile, supporting Mary is easier but still proves to be a bit of a challenge. The Medicus has to support her as stealthily as possible to not give away her location. Usually whenever _____ uses her ancient power droplets of water would appear. Then they would cover those droplets with their light ability. 

But they can’t do that right now.

Both would be too flashy and would reveal the necromancer’s location.

So they did the next best thing. Which was making their power travel through the cracks of the ground and the wall.

Doing this while doing long-distance healing and supporting the Vitality of the Heart made _____ use more power and energy than they usually would.

“Leave some of the work to the healers and priests.”

The still pale, but doing much better now, Cale whispered. _____ looked at him to assess his condition using their power. 

“I’m okay Commander, and it looks like you’ll be okay soon too.”

_____ heard Cale sigh but ignored it. Seeing that his being ignored, Cale proceeded to gather himself so he could stand up again.

And that made the healer relieved.

Sure they knew his fine. _____ knows that the young master has a regeneration power. But seeing him being in commission again made it feel real. Especially after seeing them bleed that much.

That relief was short-lived.

Because tell _____ why was the first thing Cale did was use his powers again. The healer swears that one day Cale is gonna give them a heart attack.

Fortunately, the healer and the redhead have similar temperaments. Both can work well under immense stress and pressure while making it seem like they aren’t breaking that much sweat. Thanks to that _____’s composure didn’t falter and they were able to do what they needed to.

Choi Han is still a problem though. Because of the distance, the healer can’t fully heal him.

‘If only I was stronger’

_____ tries to push unnecessary thoughts away.

‘If only I was a saint’

Just as _____ was about to get pulled in by their thoughts, they felt a familiar chubby paw on their shoulder.

“Kind _____ hang in there a bit more, we’re close to winning! I’m going to go help out Choi Han now okay?”

Raon’s bright voice had served as a wake-up call for _____. Thanks to him the healer can fully focus on their task until the very end.

“I didn’t know you could do that.”

“I didn’t know I could too.”

Cale and _____ are currently on their way to the underground dungeon. Both of them are pale and their clothes are covered with blood but they are walking as if nothing’s wrong.

“When you were at the Paerun Kingdom I started thinking of my powers in a different light, and this was the conclusion of that.”

“But doing this is harder for your body right?”

“As if, you’re one to talk.”

_____ laughed as they saw Cale scrunch his nose at the comment.

“Yes it’s harder but it’s very useful at times like this. It's all thanks to the anatomy books Ron bought for me. Having a more in-depth idea as to how our bodies work allowed me to assess them even from far away.

It’s good to know that as long as someone is within my eyesight I can heal them. Haaa, but I must say, healing Choi Han-nim while he was riding those flying bones is hard.”

Both of them stopped at the entrance of the underground dungeon.

“Since it’s hard and you overexerted yourself, does this mean you’ll leave Choi Han in the hands of other healers?”

The healer laughed again as they waved goodbye. There’s no way Cale is allowing them to enter the dungeon and they have better things to do.

“No promises Cale.”

And if one of those ‘better things to do’ is healing Choi Han, then Cale can find out for himself later.

[tired-truffle]

Even the Gods Cry For Us

A Viktorxfem!reader fic

Chapter Word Count: 6.3k

Part 11/17

Tag list: @im-just-a-simp-le-whore @potatointhedirt (if anyone else would like to be tagged with future updates let me know!)

Warning: Dream sequence involving dead body

Masterlist

Be back soon, stay calm. 

-M

You’d spent hours - had it been hours? You could no longer remember - thinking of what to write before you’d settled on the simple sentence. He’d written it to you when he’d gone to get medicine from Piltover, and now you’d written it to him as you left to seek an answer to your…predicament. 

You’d only gotten worse, every second spent in fear, your magic reacting accordingly. It was a small miracle that you hadn’t seriously injured anyone, but you knew you couldn’t stay locked in your room forever. You needed to regain yourself before your baser instincts consumed you completely. 

Heimerdinger had helped you the first time you’d needed it, had given you information on Motus Mages and provided you with a safe place to stay. He was a genius with centuries of knowledge, maybe he could find a way to tame your wild magic and bring it under control. Or, if there was no solution, he could construct a cage to contain you. Viktor would never resort to such measures, even if it was necessary, even if you begged him. But Heimerdinger was less emotionally involved and had always been pragmatic. He would see it as a mercy. Better to lock you away than put you down like a rabid dog, right?

The only problem was that you had no idea where he was. He’d disappeared when he’d been ousted from the council, and you haydn’t a single clue as to where to begin looking for him. Luckily, your visions did. Night after night they showed you; Heimerdinger surrounded by a group of small children as they eagerly displayed their homemade gadgets to his delighted surprise, Heimerdinger with a young dark-skinned boy, his hair styled in stark white dreads - concerned as they stared at a leaf splattered in a pastel rainbow-coloured pattern, a bat-like man stood off to the side, watching them with thickly muscled arms crossed over his chest.

All your dreams took place in a clearing, sunlight streaming through a thick canopy of leaves, a massive tree trunk spiralling up the centre. Art adorned the walls, a mural of those lost and symbols of the Firelights - Zaun’s freedom fighters. You’d heard whispers of them from the newcomers at the commune - when you’d been able to be among them - and an understanding tickled at the back of your mind. They were important, and the people spoke highly of them. Yet their whereabouts remained a mystery, leaving their supposed connection to Heimerdinger feeling inconsequential and irrelevant.

That was, until that morning, your magic-addled mind providing yet another vision as you paced your room. A crowd gathered around a weathered stone statue of a man long dead; Vander, a fighter for Zaun’s separation from Piltover. A woman with a metal arm concealed beneath her cape stood at the front, dark hair crowding her tired eyes, her jaw set with fierce determination. But it wasn't her that captured your attention. It was the bat-like figure lurking within the crowd, surrounded by several others dressed similarly. Firelights.

This vision would happen today, and you needed to be there. How hard could it be to find such a unique statue, especially if there was a large group of people heading that way?

Escaping the commune wasn’t particularly difficult either. With a cloak disguising your form and the sparks snuggled in the folds of your clothes, the hood pulled up to mask your features - and hide the commune members from your vision lest your mind decide to conjure up more hallucinations - you walked out of the front entrance without any issue.

Your cloak billowed behind you as you navigated the labyrinthine alleys. The acrid scent of chemicals and steam filled your nostrils as your feet carried you swiftly, driven by desperation and the fading echoes of your visions.

As you rounded a corner, you caught sight of a small group moving with purpose. Their faces were set with resolve, and you hoped they were headed to the rally. You fell into step behind them, careful to maintain a discreet distance. The group weaved through increasingly crowded streets, the buzz of excitement growing louder with each block.

There it was - the weathered statue of Vander, looming large and imposing - so familiar from your vision yet startlingly real.

Remaining at the back, your magic pulsing beneath your skin like a living thing, you scanned the gathering crowd. There was no sign of the bat-like man you sought, but that didn’t stop your brain from filling in the gaps. 

Sky stood at the centre, her chin raised in defiance, her messy bun spilling down her neck. She’d been from Zaun, and though you’d only known her as a Piltovan, the Undercity never really left any of its citizens. As she turned her head towards you, you were taken aback by the faint white scars crisscrossing her face, adorned with silver hoops and piercings that gave her a sharp edge. Her usually subtle makeup was now bold, with thick black streaks framing her eyes and accentuating their deep, earthy colour. A mischievous grin spread across her face, like a cat who had just caught its prey, as she waggled her fingers at you. 

Had she stayed in Zaun, would this have been who she’d become? Hardened by the harsh reality of living in the Lanes, but still unwilling to give up the fight for what she believed was right. 

“It’s no secret we’ve got history. Blood spilt on all sides,” the woman from your vision began her speech over the murmur of the crowd, scattering your vision of Sky and sending a pang of longing through your heart. It wasn’t her, not really. She had died, and her spirit…well, you didn’t really know what happened after death here. You’d freed her from the Hexcore, and even though warmth bloomed in your chest whenever you thought of her, your guilt over not saving her in the first place threatened to tear apart every good memory of your time together.

“Focus,” you hissed to yourself, drowning out the mechanical-armed woman’s speech. You had a goal to accomplish, and as much as you wanted to help with their plight, you were no use to anyone like this. If anything, you were only a danger. 

You scanned the crowd, heart pounding in your chest, until you spotted him. His bat ears twitched where he stood, alert and watchful at the front of the crowd. Relief flooded through you, tinged with a spark of hope. This was it, your chance to find Heimerdinger and maybe, just maybe, find a way to control your magic.

You started to make your way over, gently pushing through the throng of bodies. "Excuse me. Sorry, just trying to get through." Your magic hummed beneath your skin, responding to the heightened emotions. You clenched your fists, willing it to stay dormant.

As you navigated the sea of faces, a flash of blue caught your attention. You stopped, tilting your head to see where it had come from. On a balcony overlooking the square, a young girl stood proudly on the railings, arm outstretched, holding aloft a torch wreathed in vibrant blue smoke. Despite her size, she radiated a fierce determination that seemed to captivate the entire crowd.

The girl raised the torch higher, and all around you, people thrusted their fists skyward, faces alight with passion and hope. The cheer swelled, a tidal wave of sound that washed over you, threatening to sweep you away in its fervour.

You were caught in the middle of it all, your senses overwhelmed. The sharp smell of the smoke mingled with the press of bodies and the cheering. Your magic pulsed in time with the crowd's energy, and for a moment, you were terrified that you'd lose control.

You blinked hard, trying to focus through the sensory overload. The woman with the metal arm raised her fist triumphantly, but as she opened her mouth to speak, time seemed to slow.

A glint of sunlight off metal caught your eye. Your gaze tracked it instinctively, breath stuttering in your throat as you realized what it was. A spear, its wicked point gleaming, arched through the air with deadly precision.

Before you could even think of shouting a warning, the weapon found its mark. With a sickening thud, it pierced the woman's upraised metal arm, the force of the impact driving the spear clean through and embedding it in the statue behind her. The sound of metal scraping against stone made your teeth rattle.

For a heartbeat, silence reigned. The woman's eyes widened in shock, her mouth forming a perfect 'O' of surprise. Then chaos erupted. Screams tore through the air as people scrambled in all directions, a panicked tide threatening to sweep you off your feet.

Your magic surged within you, responding to the fear and confusion that saturated the space. You spun around, heart clamouring in your throat as enforcers - shields raised and weapons brandished - started closing in. 

“You’re all under arrest,” a burly man clad in red clothes and silver-hued armour announced, straightening to his impressive height. 

The enforcers advanced, and magic crackled at your fingertips. 

The burly man cut all who ran or attempted to fight down with a lazy swing of his big fist, the enforcers catching the rest and pining them to the ground. 

You backed up, but there was nowhere for you to go. An enforcer, his shield held sturdy in his grip and his face hidden behind his gas mask advanced on you, resolution in the strength of his strides. 

“Please,” you begged, raising your hands, “I don’t want to hurt you.”

But he didn’t hear your words. All he could see was the darting lightning of your magic jumping between your fingers, and the pink shimmer that ran through your veins. You were a threat, and he would take you down. 

He lunged, and you tried to hold your magic back, but you were terrified, and your control was almost non-existent. It had been the whole reason you’d come here, to find a solution to your fraying restraints. Instead, you’d been plunged into the very situation you’d been trying to avoid. 

From your palms came a wave of force, your arms raising to cover your face as you braced for an impact that never came. Breathing hard, you watched in horror as the enforcer was thrown across the courtyard, his body colliding with a stone wall and embedding in the rock. He slumped, dropping his shield and baton. 

Your heart pounded in your chest as you stared at the motionless enforcer as he slid to the ground. Oh God. Oh God, oh God, oh God. What had you done? Time seemed to slow as your mind raced, panic clawing at your throat. Had you just killed him? The thought made your stomach lurch violently.

You stumbled backward, magic crackling wildly around your trembling hands. Pink light pulsed beneath your skin, your power threatening to break free completely. You couldn't breathe, couldn't think. The world spun around you as guilt and terror battled for supremacy in your mind.

A flash of movement caught your eye, dragging your gaze away. And there, standing in the middle of the pandemonium, was a sight that made your blood run cold. Singed. The man who’d used Shimmer to bring you back from the brink of death and trap you in this cycle.

You froze, rooted to the spot as his piercing gaze swept over the square. What was he doing here? Your mind reeled, trying to make sense of his presence. Was he behind this attack? Connected to your predicament somehow? The questions swirled, each more horrifying than the last.

As if sensing your attention, Singed's eyes locked onto yours. He tilted his head, studying you with a detached curiosity that made your skin crawl. You wanted to run, to scream, to do anything but stand there paralyzed by his gaze.

You never got the chance. A sharp pain exploded at the base of your skull, and the world tilted sideways. Your vision blurred, darkness creeping in at the edges. The last thing you saw before consciousness slipped away was Singed's impassive face, watching your fall with clinical interest.

Merciful oblivion claimed you, and you knew no more.

Flames rose from the desecrated grounds, flickering their malcontent as they consumed more and more of the commune. Smoke obscured your vision and tightened like a noose around your throat. Coughing did you no good, unable to catch your breath, you waved your hand in a useless attempt to clear the air. Eyes watering, you squinted into the inferno, arm raised to shield your face. 

What had happened here? 

Taking a careful step forward, the blurry outline of a figure amongst the flames came into view. As you got closer, the unmistakable soft brown locks, slim shoulders, and metallic limbs had relief filling your chest. Viktor, thank the gods, he was alive. 

“Viktor,” you called to him as you headed his way, coughing as you breathed in yet more acrid smoke. “What’s going on?” 

His head bent as though he heard you, but he did not turn around, hands clenched into fists at his sides. “You abandoned us,” he spat like the words were poison on his tongue. 

Your foot caught on a jagged beam, sending you lurching forward. Your lips parted in surprise and your eyes blinked rapidly as you tried to comprehend his words.

“What? No, I didn’t, I came back. I-I didn’t know this was going to happen.” 

He raised his hand, and your heart pounded in terror as you heard the deep scorn and disappointment laced in his voice. “You left when I needed you most, when we needed you.”

With a single flick of his hand through the smoke, he dispersed it like a macabre curtain. Bodies materialized all around you, emerging from the haze like ghosts made flesh and blood and sinew. Your eyes darted frantically from one fallen form to the next, recognizing faces and names. The virulent stench of burning flesh assaulted your nose, making your eyes water.

But nothing could have prepared you for what lay at your feet.

Charlotte's lifeless eyes stared up at you, her face frozen in an expression of terror. Her greyed hair was matted with blood, splayed out around her head like a gruesome halo. The delicate fingers that had once knitted for hours on end now lay limp and useless at her sides.

You stumbled backward, a strangled cry tearing from your throat. Your knees buckled and you hit the ground hard, hands scrabbling in the ash and debris. Bile rose in your throat, your body shaking.

Charlotte, who had always greeted you with a warm smile and a kind word. Charlotte, who had nothing but patience and kindness for everyone. Charlotte, who had shared you with stories of her daughter.

Charlotte, who lay dead on the burning ground because of your absence.

“This is your fault.” Viktor had only ever been gentle with you, sweet beyond what you’d ever hoped for. Never had he spoken with such hate for you, his words cutting like daggers.

"You did this," Viktor snarled, finally turning to face you. His muted-rainbow eyes, once so warm and full of love, now burned with an icy fury that chilled you to your core. "Your cowardice, your weakness - it killed them all."

You shook your head frantically, tears streaming down your ash-stained cheeks. "No, please, I didn't mean to—"

"Didn't mean to what?" he cut you off, his voice razor-sharp. "Didn't mean to abandon us? Didn't mean to let your fear turn you into a liability?"

Each word was a dagger to your heart. You crawled towards him on your hands and knees, leaving smears in the ash and soot. "Viktor, please," you begged, your voice cracking. "I love you. I was trying to protect you!"

He laughed, a harsh, bitter sound that bore no resemblance to the gentle sounds you’d once cherished. "Protect us? Look around you! This is what your 'protection' has wrought."

You reached for him, desperate to touch him, to make him understand. But your hand passed through him like smoke, and he dissipated before your eyes.

"No!" you screamed, clawing at the empty air where he had stood. "Come back! Please, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry!"

You collapsed into a sobbing heap, your body wracked with ugly, heaving cries. The stinging smoke filled your lungs, choking you, but you welcomed the pain. You deserved it. You deserved it all.

With a jarring jolt, you were ripped from unconsciousness and forced back into reality, gasping for air. As your vision cleared, your surroundings came into focus - a large, metal container with walls pressing in on all sides. The air was thick and oppressive, filled with the pungent scent of sweat and fear. Bodies were crammed together, the space feeling more and more suffocating by the second. You were among them, slumped against the wall like a discarded doll, your limbs limp and weakened.

The container swayed and you realized with a stomach-churning clarity that you were moving. To where, you didn't know. But as the faces of your fellow prisoners swam into focus - their eyes wide with terror and resignation - you understood that wherever you were going, it wasn't going to be pleasant.

Your head throbbed, and you tasted blood in your mouth. The events in the square came rushing back - the speech, the attack, your loss of control. You squeezed your eyes shut, willing it all to be another nightmare. But the press of bodies around you and the ache in your bones told you this was all too real.

The container swayed, and nausea built. There were no windows, and the smell of sweaty bodies cramped together was not helping.

You pressed your palms against the cold metal wall, trying to ground yourself as panic scraped at your chest. The container lurched again, and bodies swayed around you like a human tide.

This couldn't be happening. You squeezed your eyes shut, your magic stirring within you, responding to your distress. The pink light of your Shimmer pulsed beneath your skin, growing brighter with each ragged breath. You clenched your fists, desperately trying to keep it contained. "Please," you whispered, "not now. Not here."

But your pleas fell on deaf ears. Your power surged, crackling along your arms like lightning. The people nearest to you flinched away, their eyes wide with terror. You wanted to reassure them, to tell them you meant no harm, but the words stuck in your throat.

You curled into yourself, trying to make yourself as small as possible. But there was nowhere to go, nowhere to hide from the storm brewing inside you.

A light, almost imperceptible tap on your elbow jolted you from your thoughts. You lifted your head slowly, trying to suppress the waves of nausea and panic that threatened to overtake you. Your eyes landed on a young girl, no older than ten, with vibrant blue hair tied back in small double braids. Her small helmet was askew on her head as she knelt before you, her amber eyes wide with curiosity. You frowned, recognizing her as the same girl from the rally.

Having caught your attention, she pointed at the sparks that swirled around your body, buzzing with agitation. Your frown deepened, eyeing her warily, but she only watched them move with such child-like wonder, unconcerned with the magic sparking over you. A knot of tension uncoiled from below your ribcage began unfurling, calmed by her innocent fascination. But your magic was still restless, and it surged, filling your lungs and crawling up your throat, begging to be released. Flinching, you exhaled deeply and squeezed your eyes shut until the pressure abated slightly - though never completely.

The girl pursed her lips, glancing around her like she could find the answers she needed in the pockets of the adults who were doing their best to stay away from you. 

You watched, transfixed, as a wayward spark drifted from your fingertips, lazily floating through the stale air of the container. The girl's eyes widened, tracking its meandering path with rapt attention. As if in slow motion, the spark alighted on the very tip of her button nose.

She went cross-eyed, trying to keep the glowing spark in view, her face scrunching up in concentration. You giggled, small, though unexpected given your dire situation. The girl's eyes darted to yours, a mischievous glint sparkling within them.

Quick as lightning, her hands shot up, cupping around her nose. When she pulled them away, you saw the spark nestled in her palms, pulsing gently like a tiny, captured star. She carefully transferred it to a small, clear container hanging from a cord around her waist.

The spark bounced and ricocheted off the walls of its new prison, leaving trails of light in its tracks. The girl held it up to her eyes, peering inside with amazement written across her round features. For a moment, you forgot about the danger, lost in the simple joy of her fascination.

A prickling sensation at the back of your neck shattered the moment. You looked up, your eyes locking with Singed's cold, calculating gaze. He stood at the far end of the container, watching you with predatory interest.

Without thinking, you reached out and gently grasped the girl's sleeve, tugging her closer to your side.

"Hey," you whispered, trying to keep your voice steady. "Why don't you come sit over here with me?"

The girl looked up, startled by your sudden movement. Her eyes darted between you and Singed, confusion evident on her young face. You forced a smile, hoping it looked reassuring rather than terrified.

"I could use some company," you added, patting the space beside you. "And maybe you could tell me more about how you caught that spark?"

She hesitated for a moment, then nodded, scooting over until she was pressed against your side. You positioned yourself so that your body shielded her from Singed's view, your magic humming protectively beneath your skin.

As the girl settled in, you kept one eye on Singed. He remained motionless, his expression unreadable behind his half-mask. But you could feel the weight of his stare, heavy and suffocating.

The container lurched, and you instinctively wrapped an arm around the girl to steady her. Your fingers tingled where they touched her shoulder, your magic reacting to the proximity of another person.

As the container lurched once more, this time coming to a sudden stop and throwing you and the girl forward. Your arm tightened around her as shouts echoed outside. Heart pounding, you braced yourself for what was to come.

The doors flew open with a deafening bang, flooding the dark space with harsh light. You squinted, eyes watering as enforcers swarmed in, their faces obscured by masks, voices muffled as they barked orders.

"Out! Everyone out, now!"

Bodies pressed forward, and you stumbled out onto the platform, shielding your eyes against the harsh glare. As your vision adjusted, you stilled. Looming before you was a monstrosity of stone and steel - Stillwater Prison. You’d seen pictures of it but they hadn’t done it any justice.

The fortress raised from the mist-shrouded waters, its walls a patchwork of weathered stone and gleaming metal. Towering smokestacks belched noxious fumes into the perpetually gray sky, casting long shadows across the choppy waves below. You craned your neck, taking in the full scope of the structure. It seemed to go on forever, a labyrinth of walkways, bridges, and guard towers stretching as far as the eye could see. Barbed wire coiled along the ramparts like venomous snakes, a warning to any who might consider escape.

The girl pressed closer to your side, her small hand finding yours and squeezing tight - to which you responded in kind.

Guards herded your group forward, their batons raised threateningly. You shuffled along, careful not to lose your footing on the slick metal gangway. The prison's entrance loomed before you - a gaping maw of darkness, ready to swallow you whole.

But pink light flared beneath your skin and sparks swirled around you, marking you as different, as a dangerous other. The guard nearest you recoiled, immediately raising his weapon.

"We've got a mage!" he shouted. "Containment team, now!"

Rough hands seized your arms, yanking you away from the girl. She clung to you desperately, her small fingers digging into your shirt. She whimpered, eyes wide and bottom lip quivering.

"It's okay," you said, trying to keep your voice steady. "It's okay, I'll see you again soon. Be brave."

You gently pried her hands loose, even as your heart shattered. You couldn’t allow her to get hurt on your behalf. A guard pulled her away, her arms still reaching for you. You watched her disappear into the crowd, hoping that your promise would remain true.

"Move it, mage," an enforcer growled in your ear. “Use your magic and you’re dead.”

You were shoved forward, stumbling as they marched you away from the others. Your magic surged in response to your fear, crackling along your skin. If you let it free, you imagined you’d be able to fight back and escape. But without control, you weren’t sure that ‘fighting back’ wouldn’t mean eviscerating everyone in a twenty-mile radius, other prisoners included.

They led you to a small, circular chamber with glass walls and runes etched into the stone ceiling. How long had it been since they’d last used it?

As they forcefully shoved you through the threshold, the air grew heavy and oppressive, weighing down on every inch of your body. The door slammed shut behind you with a whoosh of hydraulics. Just as the last lock clicked shut, an excruciating pain shot through you, as if every piece of your soul was being crushed under a mountain of pressure. Your magic writhed and protested, struggling against the invisible restraints that forced it back inside you. It was like being suffocated from within, your spirit screaming in agony as it was forcibly contained.

You collapsed to your knees, the force of your cry ripping through your chest like a hurricane. Your body curled in on itself, trembling as waves of agony crashed over you.

Lying on the cold, unforgiving metal floor, every nerve ending alight with pain, Viktor's face swam before your eyes - his gentle smile, the warmth in his loving gaze. A sob caught in your throat. He had no idea where you were or what had happened to you. All he had was a shitty note written by a woman half out of her mind.

"I'm sorry," you whispered, your voice barely audible even to your own ears. "I'm so sorry, Viktor."

This had to have been your stupidest idea yet.

You pictured him pacing the commune, worry carved into the lines of his face as he searched for any sign of you. Would he think you'd abandoned him? The thought made your chest constrict painfully. You hadn’t meant to, you had only wanted to find some way to halt your descent into madness. You could see the way it ate at him, that no matter what he tried he couldn’t break through the barrier your Shimmer-infused blood had placed.

The memory of his arms around you, his soft voice murmuring reassurances in your ear, felt like a cruel taunt now.

As another wave of pain washed over you, your mind drifted to the little girl with the blue hair. In your mind's eye, you saw her again - round eyes wide with wonder as she captured that errant spark of your magic. The image tugged at something in your memory, a half-forgotten conversation flickering to life.

Viktor's voice echoed in your mind, clear as if he were standing beside you: "These sparks, I wonder if there is more to them than we initially thought."

You gasped, could the answer to your problems have been buzzing around you this entire time? The girl had contained a spark, but perhaps…Were they more than just a manifestation of your magic, but rather a container waiting to be filled? If your magic had come from a Gemstone - sucked out like well-seasoned bone marrow - theoretically, there had to be some way to re-contain it, to focus it.

Could it really be so simple?

Your eyes snapped open, a new determination burning within you. You concentrated, gritting your teeth against the pain as you reached deep within yourself. Your magic responded sluggishly, fighting against the oppressive force of the chamber. But you pushed harder, drawing it up from the core of your being.

A tiny spark flickered to life in your palm, weak and wavering. You cupped it gently, pouring every ounce of focus into nurturing that fragile light. Sweat beaded on your brow as you willed more of your power into the spark, imagining it as a vessel, expanding to contain the torrent of magic within you.

The spark grew, pulsing with a vibrant blue glow. You felt a shift, a sudden lightness as your magic flowed into this new container. The pressure in your chest eased, the pain receding as more and more of your power transferred into the glowing orb.

Encouraged, you created another spark, then another. Soon, you had a small bushel of sparks hidden in your arms, each one a repository for your volatile energy. The runes on the walls flickered and sputtered, struggling to contain a power that was no longer there to be suppressed - at least, not inside a living being.

You staggered to your feet, ears ringing and vision blurry. But you felt lighter, freer than you had in weeks. The sparks orbited you like tiny planets, humming with barely contained energy. You took a deep breath, centring yourself as you prepared for what came next - drowning out the cries of warning from your captors.

With a fierce cry, you thrust your hands forward. The sparks shot towards the ceiling, each one detonating in a brilliant explosion of light and raw magical force. The runes shattered like glass, their pieces raining down in a glittering cascade.

The chamber's oppressive aura vanished in an instant. Your magic surged back into you, filling you with a wild, exhilarating power. The door buckled and warped and you stepped forward. With a single, focused blast, you blew the door off its hinges. Alarms blared as you emerged, but you didn't wait to let them aim their weapons. Siphoning your excess magic back into the sparks, you ran, using your magic to propel you at inhuman speeds.

Your feet barely seemed to touch the ground as you raced through the corridors of Stillwater. Alarms wailed all around you, red emergency lights casting eerie shadows on the walls. But you were faster, slipping past confused guards and panicked inmates like a ghost.

You took turns at random, relying on instinct and the pull of fresh air to guide you. Up staircases, across catwalks, through maintenance tunnels - you were a blur of motion.

Shouts echoed behind you, but they grew fainter with each passing second. You burst through a final set of doors and suddenly, you were outside. The misty air hit your lungs like a shock, but ultimately welcome. For a moment, you stood there, gulping in great lungfulls of the toxic atmosphere as if it were the sweetest perfume - freedom, at last.

But something wasn’t right. As your eyes adjusted to the dim light, you noticed figures huddled against walls, cowering and staring in horror at the bodies littered about. Confusion washed over you. These weren’t enforcers or prison staff - they were ordinary Zaunites, the ones you’d arrived with. You looked around for the little girl, but she was nowhere in sight.

Your eyes darted frantically from face to face, searching for a glimpse of blue hair or the glint of a tiny spark-filled vial. A group of inmates huddled near a crumbling section of the wall, their faces twisted with hope and terror as they eyed their potential escape route.

You lurched towards them, your heart pounding so hard you could feel it in your throat. You wanted to ask them if they’d seen the little girl, but before you could, a bone-chilling howl split the air. You turned, your blood running cold as a massive, bestial figure launched itself towards you.

The monster was huge, a hulking mass of muscle and matted fur. His lupine features contorted into a snarl, revealing rows of razor-sharp teeth that glinted in the low light. Saliva dripped from his jaws, sizzling as it hit the ground. His eyes, a sickly yellow, burned with a primal hunger that had you feeling like a rabbit with its foot caught in a trap.

Massive claws, each as long as your forearm, extended from his powerful hands. The metal augmentations fused to his body caught the light, a grotesque marriage of flesh and machine. Tubes filled with a glowing red liquid pumped the substance directly into his veins.

Without thinking, you thrusted your hands outward. A shimmering barrier of magical energy erupted from your palms, expanding outward in a half-dome that encompassed you and the nearest group of people. The beast slammed into the shield with bone-jarring force, his claws screeching against the magical surface.

The impact sent tremors through your body, but you gritted your teeth and held firm. He snarled, his yellow eyes locking onto yours, filled with a terrifying intelligence that belied his bestial form.

"Run!" you shouted to those huddled behind your shield. "Get to safety!"

They didn’t need to be told twice, and they left as quickly as their feet could take them, heading for the shelter of a prison transport container. As the beast hurled himself at the barrier again and again, you felt the burning strain of maintaining the shield. Sweat beaded on your brow, your arms trembling with the effort. But you couldn’t let go - not yet, not while there were still people scrambling to safety.

Each impact from the beast rattled your teeth and threatened to buckle your knees. Sweat poured down your face, stinging your eyes as you struggled to keep the barrier intact.

The magical dome flickered, its once-vibrant surface now dim and wavering. Cracks spiderwebbed across its surface, spreading with each thunderous blow. Your breath came in ragged gasps, lungs heaving as if you'd sprinted for miles. A coppery taste filled your mouth, your nose trickling blood from the immense effort.

You couldn't hold out much longer. The beast's yellow eyes gleamed with triumph, sensing your weakness. He reared back, muscles bunching beneath his matted fur as he prepared for one final, devastating assault.

But, he froze, his ears perking up, his massive head swivelling towards the main entrance. He sniffed the air, nostrils flaring. In a split second, he had turned and bounded away, disappearing into the mists of Stillwater with surprising speed for a creature of his size.

The shield collapsed as you fell to your knees, gasping for breath. For a moment, you could only kneel there, your limbs felt like lead, your entire body shaking from exhaustion.

A distant shout snapped you back to reality. You scrambled to your feet, muscles protesting as you forced yourself into motion. Following the fleeing inmates, you stumbled toward the container that had already been pushed off the platform.

Your eyes darted frantically among the crowd, searching for a glimpse of blue hair or a small figure. But there was no sign of the little girl. You told yourself she must have already escaped and that she was safe on the mainland. The alternative was too painful to consider.

You jumped over the distance, barely reaching the open door, but you managed to hold on with the last of your strength and pulled yourself inside.

You slumped against the cold metal wall of the container, chest heaving as you struggled to catch your breath. The container swayed and lurched as it made its way across the windy expanse, each motion sending fresh waves of pain through your battered body. But beneath the physical discomfort, a newfound sense of control burbled within you.

The sparks of your magic danced lazily around your fingertips, responding to your will with a fluidity you'd never experienced before. For the first time, your power felt like an extension of yourself rather than a wild, unpredictable force.

Time seemed to blur as the container continued its journey. The low murmur of voices around you faded into white noise. You closed your eyes, letting the rhythmic motion lull you into semi-consciousness.

A sudden jolt snapped you back to reality. The container had arrived, its doors creaking open to reveal the docking station. People pushed and shoved, desperate to escape the confines of their metal prison. You tumbled out with them, blinking owlishly in the dim light of the Undercity. The crowd scattered like startled birds, each person darting off in search of shelter or escape.

With a deep breath, you set off towards the commune. It didn’t take long for you to reach the outskirts, your magic guiding you home, relief and anxiety swirling in your gut. The familiar sights and smells of home beckoned you forward, even as worry gnawed at the edges of your mind. How would Viktor react? Would he be angry? Disappointed? The thought of facing his potential rejection made your steps falter.

What if Viktor wasn't there? What if he was gone, searching for you and thinking you'd left him? Or worse, what if he was there, but couldn’t forgive you for leaving? The thought of his iridescent eyes being cold with disappointment, made your stomach churn.

No, you told yourself. Viktor wouldn’t do that, you couldn’t allow your anxieties to colour your views of him. He loved you, and while he may be upset that you’d left, he would not forsake you. Of that, you were certain.

Next Chapter

A/N: Isha saw the pink eyes and jitteriness and went: …you are mom-shaped?

I hope you enjoyed the action! How do you think Viktor will respond?

I’d love to hear what you think so far!

[snivyartjpeg]

last time i did a PMD au, so now it's time for a pokemon au!

more lore under the cut:

yuma and makoto are kinda like the subway bosses - a challenging post-game double battle duo. yuma's pokemon focus on status moves and support while makoto's are sweepers. they compliment each other perfectly

mimikyu used to mimic pikachu, but after befriending yuma's pikachu, it has decided instead to take creative liberties with its disguise

yuma and makoto's team on the doodle page are not battlers. theyre just pokemon that chill with them

yakou is a retired professor! the stoutland actually used to be a lillipup belonging to his wife.

tatsugiri is known for hiding from danger inside dondozo and plotting from within. yakou felt a little solidarity with the guy and brought him into an extra sturdy "dondozo" (submarine)

for protection, yakou gifts yuma a pichu when he first enters the NDA. eevee was already yuma's (or, well, no.1's) partner because im basically borrowing the idea from pixelatedraindrops's au, but it isnt much of a battler (yet)

halara is the strongest trainer of the bunch and takes competitive battling seriously. just like them, their xatu can see into the past with perfect clarity by covering the eye that sees into the future.

yes they're still allergic to cats. alolan persian is simply worth it. just look at em! this was also inspired by loremaster's pokemon au bc alolan persian is such a good pick for halara's favorite

fubuki's celebi isn't technically hers- it's a longtime friend of the clockford family that was sent to look after her

she has a frosmoth bc her name means Blizzard! also that moth looks like it owns gucci. she has a delphox because she's a huge JRPG fan, and i think she'd love the mage class. only second to the hero!

yomi's malamar and gengar join in on the fun whenever he's torturing prisoners, but his houndoom sometimes seems sad about it.

vivia doesnt put effort into catching pokemon. he just tends to... attract them... whether he likes it or not

shinigami is an actual duskull, but in the labyrinths she turns into her humanoid form.

desuhiko seems to have a pawmot and nothing else? how does he get around during investigations so fast?