Void Communion

A wave is thrown as Hatsu hailed down Sors, approaching from a bit of a ways off. Given the growing distance, Hatsu would appear to take large bounds, fueled by explosive bursts of wind to propel him across the way! Acrobatically landing some ways off, he'd skid before the young man.

"Greetings! I've come up here in search of proficient Cosmic Magi, that could potentially guide me a bit. My name's Hatsu, and I was directed to find a 'Sors', and you look sort of like them. Do you think you could offer me some suggestions on whom I should direct advanced cosmic questions to?"
(Hatsu Wvelven)

The report had been submitted in the capital building and Sors soon turned away. The trio of shambling bodies followed after the tanned teen as he moved through the city streets. Before he moved to the nearby caves, an explosive gust was felt and someone appeared in his way.

"Huh." He smiled, the vacant grey facing Hatsu. "Rite, ya was told ta find a 'Sors' by who 'xactly? An' ya', I'm Sors. What are ya questions?"
(Sors Ultovex)

Great! He was definitely making progress in the ways of his studies, and he didn't even have to screech more than once. Dusting himself off lightly, Hatsu would take the opportunity to take a step back, only for his expression to grow a bit more solemn. "Well, to summarize it cleanly, I realized that I still have a long way to go. I've reached my limits, so to speak, and I wish to go beyond them. I've been informed that I could do just that with cosmic magic, utilizing a technique of sorts. It involves overcharging my body with the energy from the cosmos, yadadada. Apparently one or two folks up here can do that, so I'm asking cosmic magi around here to point me in the right direction."

 That was a bit longer than he had intended to explain, but he stops himself short of that, at least. "Uhh..I think the guy's name was Noel, who referred to you, actually. If you can't help me, that's fine, too. I just need to keep following the chain."
(Hatsu Wvelven)

"Rite rite. Ya jus' got ta overcharge yaself wit' cosmos energy. Sounds like ya know already what ya need ta do. So ya jus' need ta get ya strength up ta take it." His shoulders rose and fell as the Trio of shambling forms drew closer. They reguarded Hatsu with a couple of inhuman sniffs.

"Ain't sure I can help ya 'xactly. Ain't a normal cosmic mage. I ain't focus on 'em stars. But there's abysses between 'em in tha' sky, ya? Dark things tha' can give ya an' extra push. Tha's what I use. Ya can try ta too.

Mite make ya able ta overcharge a lil' mor' ya? 'nd I see. If it's Noel.."
(Sors Ultovex)

Huh, now was this a bit intriguing. Hatsu's gaze drifts toward the figures that hovered around Sors, observing them with a hint of interest. A smile soon creeps upon his face, only to re-address the floating figure with a bit of curiosity. The folks up here were certainly interesting, at least, and their magic capabilities were just as much a mystery. "The abyss, you say? I've been Helheim twice, and I've seen stars that were pretty similar to that. It uses the power of the night, instead of the day to use that sort of stuff, if I'm right? I've also heard about plague stars, or a few darker options but those weren't really elaborated on to me. How do I go about trying to use this abyss, like ya' - you mentioned?"

 The lad's way of talking was infectious, but he caught himself as his arms unfold from one another. The youth lightly scratches at his chest, careful not to remove the flower that hovered just above his heart. "What are these figures around you, anyway? Spirits?"

(Hatsu Wvelven)

The three figures looked at Hatsu. There was no breath drawn from their noses, no heat to their bodies. Empty vacant eyes stared at the Wvelen. "They're Hoof, Spider, an' Hawk." Not much could be seen from them underneath the cloak but they definitely felt wrong.

"Think o' the abyss like helhiem o' ya plague stars then, ya? Stuff that uses tha' nite. In tha' end they're all kind o' tha' same thang. In fact, tha' abyss mite jus' be one o' 'em big plague stars by another name, ya?" He smirks.

"Try ta call on those? They may be mor' offerin' then others, ya."
(Sors Ultovex)

Ah, the entities themselves didn't give off the impression of being spirits, and he gently squinted at them as he was more curious than horrified. Being around literal sins and undead creatures sort of jaded him to most of the less immediately lethal folks. Even so, it was a surprising realization as he did recall one of the older ladies informing him about the practice that went down here. "Oh! Necromancy, is it? That's interesting, for sure. But, uh..How would I go about calling upon the Abyss? It'd make sense that I haven't been able to find a star as of yet, if that's the case. Maybe the abyss is what's in store for me, since I'm biased towards the night, anyway." He explains, his hand coating itself in a swathe of frost.

 Naturally, he was pre-disposed to the darker side of things, but there was a distinct lack of information or guidance in the previous areas he's traveled through. Sors certainly appeared to know what he was speaking about, however.

"Ah..you might be busy, right now. I can bother you about it later, yeah? He inquires, as if just now realizing.
(Hatsu Wvelven)

"Ya, Necromancy." Sors nodded. "An ya call on the abyss by thinkin' o it. It's like a star. Jus' reach inta what ya mite see as a void rite now. Reach inta the emptiness and pull real hard until ya find somethin' tha' gives ya the mos' power. Then use tha'. Make a pact wit' it or steal tha' power from it if ya got ta.

Ain't real matter how ya do it in tha end." The Necromancer turned, looking back towards the caves. "Gon go on patrol. Ya can find ma later. Jus' try what I told ya for now an' don't care what calls, ya?"
(Sors Ultovex)



Vee's hovering along soon finds the same hill that they'd previously spoke on top of, from memory - it just... takes a fair bit of pacing around and wandering.

As much as she claims otherwise, it's fairly clear that she's not entirely back to normal. Still distant, scattered, but at least she isn't screaming.

"I think this is - actually the highest spot in the plains? That's sorta funny, if you think about it..."

She sits herself down at the cliff's edge, letting out a quiet sigh.
(Vee)

It takes a few moments of realization to completely understand where they had wound up, surveying the night sky as a gentle smile formed. This had been the same spot where they had spoke at length, a fond memory buried beneath the horrors that always threatened to drown it. Even so, it shined in accordance to the clarity of that moment he found so precious. Akin to the moon, it often guided him through times of hardship, and Vee had been on his mind when he had fought desperately for his life.

"This is the same spot where you took me, last time. This place is truly beautiful, and I think it's even more so at night." He speaks, his tone sounding muted as his voice had subconsciously lowered. Sitting beside her, he would lightly pull her toward him as he appears to visibly relax.

 Ironically, he appeared to be more at peace when it was the night-time. Tension melted off his body as he breathed in her scent, burying his face into her shoulder as his eyes drifted toward the sky. He had little idea as to how to commune with the abyss, but he felt that it would be best to do so under duress, or combat.

 Neither of those would suit being near Vee for, however, which leaves him to wonder if there was another way.
(Hatsu Wvelven)

As comfortable as she felt, Vee also knew that he did come out here to achieve something, rather than just relax against her for a while.

And so, her mind gets to thinking. The figurative gears start spinning, probably making weird hissing sounds, before she finds herself at something of a loss.

"...I'm not very useful when it comes to learning magic the proper way. For me, it's been more about - "

She frees one of her hands, and sparks of electricity jump between her fingertips for a few moments.

"Uh. Relearning things. Finding old reflexes again."
(Vee)

He studies Vee curiously as his features are briefly illuminated by the sparks that expel from Vee. There's a moment of clarity as his eyes drift toward the sky shortly after, his right hand extending outward as he attempts to metaphorically reach out to the expanse. "Ideally, I'd want to commune with the abyss through combat, but I think I've done my share of such recently. I merely have to focus upon diving my hand into the abyss, and ripping out what I desire." He states quietly, rehearsing the words that Sors had offered to him.

 He had to allow himself to plunge into the ice-cold expanse that separated the stars. His hand drifted through the cold, silent darkness as his eyes gently closed, shutting out the world around him. He did not require a star - his own personal star was right beside him, and Vee shone more brightly than any of the one's that hovered in the air. What he required was morestrength, to be able to properly call upon the strength that he had felt fuel him in the harrowing battle against the genocide machine known as the 'Wraith'.

 He felt a pull upon his hand as the darkness offered itself to him, welcoming him as he searched within. He had never thought to look here to begin with, but only through trials and tribulations did he manage to truly understand what he desired.

 Strength. He -needed- more power in order to protect his shining star, and he would be the abyss that surrounded her. He would be the dark expanse of the night that enabled that star to appear so bright and inviting, and he would acquire the strength from the abyss to accomplish just that. His hand wrenches back steadily as he could feel the pulsation of mana being dragged down to him, illuminating him as the energy of the cosmos radiated around his limb.

 He continued to draw upon that power, intent upon coaxing it to him as his eyebrows knit together. He would make it his own strength, and the abyss would serve as a catalyst for his growth.
(Hatsu Wvelven)



He's focused. He's clearly very, very focused - and Vee herself was focused on trying to figure out some way to help him.

She held onto his intent, his drive, his 'hope' - as she likely would've summarized it, and attempted to solidify it.

It's her magic of choice, isn't it? Hope, given form, a bright, comforting light. She took in a single, deep breath, and began to glow.

His star, twinkling in the abyss, surrounded by the light of an exorcist.
(Vee)

It felt easier to accomplish when he could differentiate between warmth and cold. The warmth that stemmed from Vee made it all too clear what he was seeking, and she had managed to grasp upon the concept that he had sought so desperately.

 He sought to not make a pact with the void that he waded through, but to make their power his own. They had no voice or consciousness, but had a bounty of power that could be considered his own to acquire. He felt as if he was trudging through a sea of ice, but that was what felt more natural to him, didn't it? His star was just right beside him, and in her warmth and the glow she cast, he could rip through the darkness that surrounded that light. In his mind, he was drawing upon the darkness that lurked around that singular light that was his ultimate focus. Rather than take power from that light, he would yank abruptly - with the intent to make that abyss his own strength.
(Hatsu Wvelven)

Vee was hardly able to know the exact details of the cosmic struggle Hatsu found himself in. She had hardly a connection to the stars above. But she was able to realize that she was helping, somehow.

Even if she wasn't aware of the particulars. She was someone's guide, somehow, and she knew that much.

She just had to keep the light burning around her, and give him something to push forward towards. Beyond that, she was silent.
(Vee)

His experience had led him to this point, battling against demonic beings in the spirit realm, and even against people of his own homeland. He had survived a massive battle against a triple-spire-shard powered wraith that decimated the Chieftain of Gehenna, and left many others dead. Somehow, he had made it through each of those excursions, only time and time again realizing his lack of strength. What he desired more than anything at this moment was that very power, the power to keep that star shining beside him alive. To keep it protected from the threats that continued to run rampant along the land, and to crush his enemies that threatened his way of life.

All he had to do was coax that abyssal power toward his hand, feeling t sure and gather within the center of his palm. He made it his own with each of those harrowing battles and near-death experiences. He -earned- this power on his own accord, and the scars and trauma he endured reflected such. He rips through the void to acquire the power of that cold, harsh darkness and makes it his own. He felt the strength gathering into his palms, only to have it surge throughout every portion of his body.

 Hatsu's eyes snap open as he lightly stumbles back, lookin toward Vee as if realizing she had been beside him this entire time. His expression softens from its bewildered state, and he looks down at his hands with curiosity. What he lacked had been confidence, and the paranoia that racked his mind would be discarded. There was no sense in fearing what the world had to offer, if he had the ability to combat it, right?

 He inhales deeply, as if to recycle his negative thoughts and replace it with the expanse of the void he had consumed. The power that he had made his own. He would be reborn, to become the man he knew he had the potential to become, and with the reassurance of the void, he felt as if he was capable of taking on anything that the world would throw at him next.
(Hatsu Wvelven)