blood 1

[19:47] Agnimazud Ishwaratu says, "I guess this is fine..."
[19:58] Agnimazud looks around nervously, clearly paranoid at others possibly being around, or near enough to witness them. Eventually, he was satisfied enough with their location that he focused less on moving and more on actually showing Astelle what it is he had for her to see. This actually only served to make him more nervous, because he was unsure of how she would react or feel about it, but...

She had to see it sooner or later. Better to just get it over with. The teen Drakanite holds both of his hands up level with his shoulders, palms opened wide. He draws in a deep breath, and when he does, the air around him begins to feel... eerie.

It would be hard for another to really put their finger on what exactly they felt, but it just wasn't 'right', and if they had any experience with Daemons, they would definitely feel the very same presence sweeping in as Agni draws magic in toward his palms. The pitch-black eye sockets of his helm surge with lime-green light, signaling that his pupils are burning brightly. The charging of mana is brief, especially in comparison to what comes next.

An absolutely destructive assault of spheres of condensed, Occult magic. The amount of which was impossible to count at a glance, which was a testament to the power behind the spell. That short build up was all the Drakanite needed to launch a volley of daemonic magic from his hands, each of the spheres shooting out at decently high speeds over the water and then exploding at the end of their paths, resulting in a large black mass of mana that blots out the horizon until it clears away.

"I awoke to it."
(Agnimazud Ishwaratu)
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[20:05] 'I awoke to it.'

Astelle's eyes widened at the display, although she herself didn't know whether it was in anticipation, excitement, fear, anxiety, panic, or any of that. She just know she felt something, and that something was difficult for her to wrap her head around. She had never seen occult magic in person, and seeing it from the person closest to her was... odd, to say the least. There was a chance the two of them would never be able to look at each other the same after this, that Agni would soon be on the run, that she'd have to fight against him, fight with him, fight... who knows what?

Would she accept him with open arms? Would she reject him? Would she turn her head away in disgust? Run away in fear? Hide behind a tree? Or...

"Neat!"

No, Astelle would just respond like Astelle always does.
(Astelle Nora)
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[20:14] Agnimazud smiles at the reaction. A normal Astelle reaction. Though, one could never be entirely certain of what another is truly feeling, he chose to, at least for now, trust in her outward reaction to the infernal display of magic. He backs up from the edge of the cliff, turning to look at her.

"Yeah. This truly is my magic. Magic I was meant to wield. Magic that simply feels right in my hands. I've still only got the basics down, but... I can only go up from here."

The teen sounds genuinely happy, this was clearly something that truly did mean a lot to him. It was far more than just the aspect of the raw power of the Occult, or how much stronger he'd be with it. Beside all of that, it was as if someone was reunited with something once long lost to them. "It was because I was able to conquer my darkness."

He turns to face Astelle, placing his hands on her hips and turning her to face him so they were face-to-face. "And youhelped me become able to do that. I become more and more glad that I met you with each passing day, Asty. You're my light."
(Agnimazud Ishwaratu)
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[20:20] Astelle scratched the back of her head and stared blankly, trying to puzzle out whether or not what Agni just said about her being his light was a pun. That was a typical Astelle thing to focus on. After what seemed like a long time, the exact second before the silence would grow awkward, Astelle finally responded.

"...I get it!"

She wasn't sure whether or not she missed the point, nor did she really care.

"Just be careful using spooky magic like that in public, okay?"

She was almost tempted to learn a spooky magic of her own. Not occultism, but something similarly dangerous.

Hmmm.

"I'm happy for you either way!!!"
(Astelle Nora)
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[20:24] "You're such a dork, jeez... but yes, I already know--You have nothing to worry about."

He shook his head, but with a grin on his face. He shouldn't have expected Astelle to get what he meant by that, but... it didn't really matter. What mattered is that she was precious to him. What mattered was that he got to meet her, and got to know her as well as he did.

He inches a little closer to her, leaning his face in to give a brief peck at her lips if she'd let him, then rested his gaze on her eyes. "Anyway, anything you'd like to do today?"
(Agnimazud Ishwaratu)
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[20:27] Astelle Nora says, "Hmmmm..."
[20:27] Astelle Nora says, "I think I'm gonna try to learn a spooky magic of my own."
[20:27] Astelle Nora says, "Not yours."
[20:27] Astelle Nora says, "Just something else."
[20:28] Agnimazud Ishwaratu says, "E-eh? Hmm..."
[20:28] Agnimazud Ishwaratu asks, "Well, did you have anything in mind?"
[20:28] Astelle Nora says, "The spooky water one."
[20:28] Astelle Nora says, "Blood."
[20:33] Agnimazud Ishwaratu says, "I see..."
[20:33] Agnimazud Ishwaratu says, "Makes sense. We'll have to find a reliably private spot then."
[20:33] Agnimazud Ishwaratu says, "So we can both practice those kind of things together."
[20:34] Astelle Nora exclaims, "Mhm!"
[20:43] Ronyx listens to the words that Remei spoke, nodding. "Aye, it's inherent in the body of a Magi. Ain't exactly a doctor, but maybe regular folks have mana too, they just can't catalyze it into spells. One of the things I've always wanted to ask someone who knows more." He strokes his beard briefly in thought. It was nice to talk about magic at large, and not just... Particular spells, or special techniques. It makes him happy.

"Most people usually find they've got an attunement when they're stressed out. They get real emotional, and somethin' comes from it. Usually ain't controlled, maybe a puff of smoke for someone attuned to flames, or a strong gust of wind for a wind magi. That's why emotional magic is the first most folks use to cast with, aye? They call upon that emotion, and then they're ready to cast... But some folks live sheltered lives, 'n' never get there. If they ever find out, it's usually later in their lives, 'n' they have to study real hard to keep up with kids." He snorts. "But when ye learn young, ye have a real benefit. Ye can make mistakes 'n' none mind."

As they ask about his own reasonings? He hums. "Well, ye probably heard me before. I'm a Eunuch. Means I can't have kids, in prettier terms. I was made so, so that I could guard a young noble. I'd be their sole guard, 'n' they'd know there wouldn't be risk of my tryin' to make bastards." He grins, snickering. "As for water magic, that's jus' my family's magic. We've known it for hundreds of years. Most of 'em were Riptide Magi. The harsher waters. But I wasn't so blessed. So I took to blood magicks. I wanted to know everything I could about my body. How I could be just as efficient as any other magi. Just plain water magicks wouldn't cut it. But blood? Lowly, 'n' grimy, 'n' folks don't much care for it. Suited me fine."
(Ronyx Jelka)
[20:43] Agnimazud Ishwaratu says, "Wow, talk about coincedence, Asty."
[20:44] Actaeon says, "This is the only spot I actually know.."
[20:44] Astelle Nora says, "Mhm."
[20:44] Agnimazud Ishwaratu says, "Maybe you can learn from this person."
[20:46] Astelle Nora exclaims, "Nah! I'm not good at following instructions!"

[20:53] Agnimazud Ishwaratu says, "Well."
[20:53] Agnimazud Ishwaratu says, "I'd say this is a pretty remot spot."
[20:53] Astelle Nora says, "Seems kinda cold..."
[20:53] Astelle Nora exclaims, "My favorite!!!!"
[20:55] Agnimazud Ishwaratu says, "Oh? Well, I'm glad you like it so much. We'll definitely use it for training then."
[20:56] Astelle Nora says, "Mhm."
[20:56] Astelle Nora says, "This place really is my kind of environment..."
[20:58] Astelle Nora says, "Now lemme think..."
[21:01] Agnimazud Ishwaratu says, "Don't hurt yourself."
[21:04] Astelle Nora says, "I mean... it's blood magic."
[21:05] Astelle Nora says, "Of course I'm gonna have to get my hands a little dirty."
[21:08] Agni may or may not be a bit shocked at how literally Astelle meant that, because she almost immediately held up her wrist and presented it to Agni, asking him a question he'd probably be very, very uncomfortable with actually answering.

"Could you make a small incision here please? I don't have anything sharp on me I think, and it'd probably be easier to start this if the blood was outside of my body."
(Astelle Nora)
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[21:19] Agni immediately frowned before she even finished speaking. "...I don't want to hurt you. Mmn--" he glances over at her wrist as if debating whether or not to do it, or trying to encourage himself to fulfill her request...

But he just couldn't. The best he could do was reach over his shoulder and grab hold of his sword, whipping it from its sheath and handing it to her. "...You'll have to do it. I can't."
(Agnimazud Ishwaratu)
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[21:19] Astelle Nora says, "Fine."
[21:19] Astelle Nora exclaims, "Weenie!"
[21:20] Agnimazud Ishwaratu says, "Oh, shush. It's only because I have a soft spot when it comes to you..."
[21:20] Astelle Nora exclaims, "My intuition tells me that I could've said something funny if I had a dirtier mind, but I don't, so I don't know what I'd actually say!"
[21:22] Agnimazud Ishwaratu exclaims, "Maybe you should get one, then!"
[21:30] Astelle was gonna make Agni not regret doing it himself, because she had no concept of restraint. The girl inhaled, allowing frost to accumulate in her breath, as she began to channel ice magic, holding her arm out, and....

Causing a large icicle to jut out of the ground, cleaving a somewhat large gash in her own arm. Luckily, she missed any important veins or the like, preventing her from bleeding out, but it still caused her to wince.

"...ow..."

"...w-well... now I just gotta figure out what to do with this."

She didn't think she'd get this far, nor did she think self harm would be so easy.
(Astelle Nora)
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[21:37] The Drakanite's eyes opened widely in a panic. "...What the fuck?!"

Honestly, that was all he could think. All he could manage. What the -actual- fuck, Astelle? There really wasn't any telling in regards to what would happen with this girl. "You didn't have to harm yourself that badly! God damn it..."

Really, he had no room to speak. Like. None. He was perfectly fine with sacrificing his body, expending himself far beyond healthy limits, and everything in between. In fact, he considered similar acts for the sake of some kind of ritual or offering to further influence faster acquisition of his Occult magic.

But... that didn't count! This wasn't about him, it was about her. "And you don't even know what to do?! Figure something out! You can't leave that open in such a cold place for long..."
(Agnimazud Ishwaratu)
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[21:37] * You have been awarded 3 Roleplay Points! *
[21:46] Oh right. An open wound. In freezing weather. Huh.

She didn't think this through.

...the girl didn't think a lot of things through. But she was still as confident as ever!

"Think of it this way. If it's inside of my body, I might accidentally give myself a stroke if I mess with my blood flow in the wrong way!"

She... wasn't technically wrong.

Regardless, she knew what she had to do. Or rather, she had a very, very vague idea of what to do. Blood, for all intents and purposes, was just another kind of water, right? The fact that it was a liquid should make this easy... but alas, it didn't. Not at all. When she tried to manipulate the blood as she would normal water, it only managed to move a little, tiny bit.

"...I might be missing something..."
(Astelle Nora)
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Astelle's initial attempts at manipulating blood didn't go that well, but she did notice something rather odd with her attempts. Despite the movements of her hands being fluid and continuous, the blood itself seemed to have a rhythm. One that was hard to pin down, sure, but... hm...

Unfortunately, before she could really try anything else, her blood began to dry. Maybe she would have to manipulate the kind inside of her body, as risky as it might be. So, once she decided that she wasn't able to manipulate it anymore.

...she realized that she had an open wound, still.

"...I NEED A MEDIC"
(Astelle Nora)