dev 6 - necessary deed

With enough distance made from the city, now it was time to actually get dressed up appropriately; they wouldn't need to be recognized, and even if anybody spots them.. then at the very least, they wouldn't be recognized amidst the combat such as this. Considering that Nerin is actually a cadet too?

Even a wayward gaze of someone might ruin his career.

These troupes are frequented by merchants, citizens, lumbers and the likes, which is precisely why it's infested by bandits. Now, whether these rumors are wrong or not.. that's entirely different thing, something that they'd have to check on their own.

But now?

"Change into these clothes. Try to hide away anything that might expose you, even if it looks.. not exactly sightly." Truth is, he wasn't entirely comfortable with these clothes either, but.. without a further word, he already ventured to the closest tree to change behind them.

It doesn't take him long to get dressed in dark garments, enough to conceal his figure entirely. The cloak is steadily secured over his shoulders, and with the hood on, he walks back out, already prepared. Now, it's the matter of finding the location with the banditry.

And seeing whether the rumors are true.
(Nerin)

Zazulazona would lower the clothing to the ground, looking down at it with a sigh. It was made evident she didn't really like this plan at all, even if it were bandits. Because deep down she knew that everyone does wrong for a reason. These bandits might as well be one of her brothers, if they took a wrong turn, and she would want them to have a chance for redemption. So why wouldn't they?

Regardless, the harsh truths of the world has also taught her that its a dog eat dog world, and as such they have to do what they got to do to survive.

She reaches down, grabbing a hold of the garments which she pulls over herself, letting the oversized cape hang off her shoulders, concealing everything, as the hood also covers her facial features.

"Good to go."
(Zazulazona)

It's not that he was heartless, really..

As a matter of fact, he would rather ensure that they do not die; that whatever experimentation they'd have to be put through, he'd rather see them survive, and perhaps even let them loose - even if it threatens him in the long run. Of course, he could do this sort of thing while only remaining masked next to them, but..

Should he ever give them a glimpse? That's off the table.

And with Zula's sigh, he can actually tell how disturbed she is by this. If anything, he could tell that she doesn't like this - but there's one peculiar detail that may conform her a little bit. Something to make it seem.. not so terrible, after all.

"...Zula."

"I don't like this either. But.. I also cannot practice unless I'm allowed frivolous behaviour over human body. I need this.. I really do." A pause is made, and he adds.

"If it's any consolation.. I've been working on my technique, a lot. In particular, I was working on stabilizing it and making sure that it's not lethal. While they'll most likely feel pain from this.. by now, it's very unlikely that they'll actually die. They'd suffer, but at least this won't end their lives."

"Just.. just don't let them see who we are, okay? If our disguise is ever torn up, we'd have no choice but to make sure the witnesses don't remain - or we risk being backtracked this way."

"Think of it.. as them suffering pain, for the pain that they've done for others - but they won't die, at least."

After all, as horrible as pain can be.. it also teaches a lesson, and it may humble them. At the very least, it won't end their journey either- so perhaps, they could return home eventually and redeem themselves.

"Be on the lookout."

Andoff they go, beginning their search through the woods; his eyes and ears carefully tuned to spot as much as tiniest detail.
(Nerin)

He was right, the blue-haired girl did not like this at all. But there was something about her that washed it all away. A switch if it were, beneath the surface of her jovial persona, which she always displayed to celebrate life, even with all the odds against her, now made place for a stoic and stern demeanor. Cold and calculating--the intellect she displayed in her keenness to study, learn and absorb all facets of life now made physically in her demeanor and movements. Her mastery of the blade now properly explained, as it is the katana that serves as a blade that does not clash, nor negotiates with an enemy's armor, but goes straight for the neck, without warning, nor with mercy.

She had to, otherwise, what could possibly follow, would be the wavering of her heart, and the hesitation when it would matter. And this could mean her end, or her brothers. Something she could not allow.

"Let's get this over with." she said sternly, a coldness now in her words. The scabbard of her blade malforming, as steel slowly shifts to change shape, to further enhance their disguise. The manipulation of steel wouldn't even allow her to be identified by her blade's scabbard, now sporting different decorations and structure.

"Lead the way." she finally uttered, the last note of her song. As from this point on, she would be watchful and ready. And silent.
(Zazulazona)

He knew that this would most likely be unpleasant for her, but..

Honestly? He found this sudden switch surprising, perhaps the side to Zula that he doesn't witness too often. Something about her coldness that was made apparent in almost a flash, and yet something that he didn't expect in her in the slightest. If anything.. it looks like there's genuine surprise hidden beneath the cloaking features of the clothes that they were.

Pondering what exactly his chosen-sister is feeling right now.

"...Right. Let's go."

It shouldn't be difficult to find the camp of the banditry. The rumors were saying that they were stalking the roads.. particularly, targeting different merchants and the likes to rob or take their life; rather preferring to stay in a somewhat of a sneaky position, moving carefully through the woods to hide around the trees and the bushes, he scouts the area carefully.

Seconds pass..
Minutes pass..
Almost half an hour passes.

Until they finally see the light ahead of them; the light that could only suggest one thing - bonfire. The crackling laughing of men ahead, the cheers that come about with consumption of alcohol. Something that should tell them they might be right where they intended to be.

A single whisper reaches Zula.

"Think it's them..?"
(Nerin)

In a silent stride, she passes without a trace behind Nerin, moving on the tip of her feet, ensuring she doesn't even crack a branch. Her scabbard is carried in hand and her hood is down, moving through the forest in utter silence.

For the journey she does not speak, as a perceptive gaze remains on her surroundings, looking at the trees for marks, scratches, cuts, anything that could indicate human activity. She scours the ground to search for tracks and the like, and if she'd find them. She'd examine them to see how much they have been overgrown to determine their age.

Eventually, she'd notice a few fresher footprints, going to check them for the moment, bending over them. They would be mushy and wet, mud. And they would be slightly deeper than normal, which indicates armor of the sort, whether it be leather, chain-mail a half-plate, or a full plate. By this she'd discern it's more like leather, or studded-leather for that matter.

She'd realize it would probably be a footprint left behind by the bandits, and as such, they'd trail it deeper within the forest, until they find a campfire. Jackpot.

"Most likely." she'd state.

"No need to go gung-go on this. We wait until one of them needs to go take a piss. And we'll take him. We only need one, right?"
(Zazulazona)

Several tents scattered a little bit. Drinking company.

No doubt that one of them would need exactly that, to simply leave for a little bit - or perhaps, take something from their tent and return to their friends. As much as activity like this could go on for a little while, there's only so much drinking alcohol that one could be having until the nature takes its call. If anything, Zula's plan sounded good enough, precisely something that he's been thinking.

"Yes. One is enough."

"Let's hide and wait. Eventually, one of them will move up."

Patience is the key. If they were to rush in.. surely, they could actually end up defeating these bandits, as they do not look like magi; but what if they end up being injured, or perhaps take a wound that would otherwise take too long to heal? They would not want that exposure. Besides.. something was telling him that people would hear about this, eventually.

And what if someone connects the dots to their injury, that day?

There's never being 'too careful'. Instead, he keeps himself low in the growth of the bushes, waiting and waiting, patiently observing the cheering group of armed men with spoils surrounding them that just seem too good for someone like them. No doubt, it's been robbed from someone.

Minutes..
Upon minutes pass..

Up until one of them stands up after saying something to the rest, heading out to one of the distant tents; it's at that point Nerin gestures to Zula, beckoning her with him.

"Come. It's our cue."
(Nerin)

Zazulazona would nod to Nerin in response, her eyes locked on the individual that was about to part with his comrades. Her stride would remain as silent as the night, following Nerin.

She would endeavor to cover the flank, waiting for Nerin to take the first action before making sure the target is subdued.

For the moment, she'd focus her mana to call to the earth, reaching down to start gathering up little strands of the earths minerals, which is in a way sucked towards her hands as she strides over the grass, forming clumps in her hand.

She molds it and manipulates it's properties, turning it to solid steel, usefull for subduing a target. She'd wait for Nerin to take the first step, maintaining a constant mana flow to create more of the steel to be used in case necessary.
(Zazulazona)

The extent of Zula's magic was not entirely lost on Nerin.

Even though he wasn't fully aware of what she's capable just yet.. he did know that she's both a swordswoman and a metal magi; as such, she could create the necessary metal to subdue someone. Trailing after the man alongside with Zula, the two of them would eventually find him right at his tent, searching for something as he crawls inside.

The whispers ensue to his chosen-sister.

"..Here's the plan."

"The moment he comes out of the tent, I'm grabbing him and muffling his mouth so he doesn't scream or speak. Subdue him with your metal chains - and then we're bolting away, as far as we can."

This sounds like.. well, not the best plan of course, but solid enough to work. At least they could coordinate it that way; besides, it doesn't take the genius to realize that they could easily outrun the non-magi.

After they get this man and subdue him, it doesn't matter if they're spotted or not - they could just make a run for it and outrun the banditry nonetheless, without getting caught up to. So now, all they need is enough time to subdue him, nothing else..

With just a pause, he nods to Zula - the plan is to be set in motion.

Upon seeing the man walk out of his tent, Nerin darts forth to immediately grasp onto him, his arms made to subdue one of the banditry that was unfortunate enough to be caught like this. Another hand is put over his mouth to immediately silence him and prevent him from screaming as well.

If only rumors from city didn't spread so far..
Perhaps, they'd remain hidden.

"Now." He pointed the man towards Zula. She should have clear aim.
(Nerin)

Zazulazona would wait for her brother to ambush the man, hoping he'd be able to keep him in place long enough for her to restrain him.

And so it transpired. As her brother came from behind to ambush the man, restraining him with a quick grapple and the muffling of his mouth, she'd raise both her hands and shoots forth spears of steel, shaped by her mana, which she then weaves with her hands to follow a path around the man's physique, restraining him with binds of pure metal.

She then yanks him towards her by moving her steel, and downward with a abrupt movement. Hoping to knock him out by the sheer trauma to his head.

Naturally it would be so, and it prompts her to quickly command her steel to move towards her and away from the tent, hoping the brief noise would be regarded as just a natural occurrence.
(Zazulazona)

The man, thankfully, was held long enough in a single place for Zula to pull this off.

Seeing her shoot out the binding metal like this was.. surprising to say the least, meeting it with reaction of his eyes slightly widened; if nothing else, Zula seemed to handle herself perfectly fine, managing to knock out the man quick enough before he could cause commotion.

Since when she's gotten this.. capable?

He never thought that Zula had it in her, but perhaps, he was wrong; now that she was yanking the man away from the tent, he'd let her do so, following prompt- if only once they made feasible distance, he made for a run alongside with his chosen sister, his hands inevitably picking up the man on his shoulders.

Who was, no doubt, still restrained by the binding metal.

"Let's go. We gotta run before they suspect anything."

A dash is made. To the dark forests, far away, far enough to never be seen again - now, would follow the part which may or may not need Zula's involvement, depending on what she desires to do.

The actual experimentation.

But for now? They're on the move, running off as far as their eyes could see.
(Nerin)

Zazulazona would release control of the metal, thinning it for now to make sure it can still restrain the man, but would not hurt him too badly. She'd follow Nerin as he gallops through the woods, the man on his back.

She'd remain silent, her gaze ever-stoic, she'd follow him to where he planned to go. However, she was not certain she wished to stick around for what would come next. Yet at the same time, as a sister, she felt responsible.
(Zazulazona)

To the far they fled.

Truth be told.. when he remembers that this could hurt, perhaps, it's actually for the better if the man remains knocked out. Maybe it's better that he doesn't suffer this way, and never sees whatever happens to him. If anything, the fact that he's got knocked out like this sort of plays along with their intent.

His gaze eventually falls to Zula when they arrive.

And they arrived to a fairly distant land - the dark forest not far from the camp, with the corrupt touch of something malicious in the air. The reason he picked this place? It's because nobody would dare come here - and the more they advance, the more this land reeks of such energies.

Perhaps, a corrupted coven remained here at some point..

But he doesn't let such thoughts distract him. Eventually, settling the man down, he glared at him under the hood. All that he needed was just a push.. assurance that he'll be able to manipulate flesh on much grander level without any restraint. Healing minor wounds, or medium wounds, is one thing - so is attaching biomods of small degree.

What about drastically altering the body?

"--Thanks for helping."

"The next part is what you expect it to be, but I'm not going to force you to stay around. It's up to you if you want to, but I won't force you."

Purposefully, he doesn't mention her name.
(Nerin)

Zazulazona sighs, shaking her head, knowing he'd want her to leave for her own protection of sorts, however, she would feel responsible if something would happen to Nerin in the meantime. She would thus endeavor to stay.

She moves to the stairs, turns around and plops onto the staircase, her hands under her head to balance it, she'd look on towards Nerin.

"Do what you have to do. I'll remain here and keep watch. And I'll restrain him if he breaks free or whatever..." she'd exclaim, the ever-cold aura still evident within her demeanor.

"Let's get on with it."
(Zazulazona)

If she desired to stay..

Then he wouldn't necessarily tell her to leave. If anything, it becomes that much worse to actually remain alone - considering the fact that if the bandit was to wake up, he'd no doubt scream in pain as all of this happens to him. For this, he doesn't really bother waking him up.. figuring it's for the best if he remains unconscious and never gets to feel any of this pain.

"Very well."

The single notion he's spoken. Even now, he doesn't waste any time, his hands reaching down to the body of the man, his hues narrowing steadily to inspect it better.. with a single hand tracing along his torso, he feels the imprint of mana circuitry around, the technique that he's practiced time and time again.

Now? It was time to push it into overdrive.

Using the bone's mana circuits as the basis for his magic, as he's a Bone Magi himself, the effect upon circuits was apparent- something akin to a 'virus' began to spread out the moment Nerin invaded the man's mana circuits, glowing in myriad bleak colors of blue, green and even red, shifting about as the 'parameters' of the body are adjusted. There's no telling just what he's doing yet, but..

"..Since when did you get this good, Zula?"

"I didn't see you be this good with the metal, last time around."

Maybe he's asking this not only to entertain her, but also to distract her from the thought that Nerin is experimenting on the man right here. Outside of the odd 'web' that spreads on the surface of his skin, there's no other effect...

Yet.
(Nerin)

Zazulazona's gaze wanders, not feeling much like talking at the moment. However she'd occasionally look at what's going on, to ponder what's going on, while also contemplating why this was necessary. Nevertheless, she would not question, since by now she has accepted what was going on.

She'd idly answer;

"I've been training, and studying. Practicing both my magic and my artificing goes hand in hand." she'd explain.

"Can't stay behind forever."
(Zazulazona)

To know how to meld and shift the mana circuits was a necessity.

Which is precisely the goal here. It's one thing when you keep yourself 'modest' in such training and practice.. so much so that you barely affect the body as a whole, only showing minor effects that spring up here and there. As useful as it might be, it would never break the greatness that he aspired for.

It would never grant him the skill that he wants.

Because only the daring reach out far. One way or another, someone would have to be the tool that helps him ascend beyond his current limits.. someone to push the skill of budding Biomancer to wholly greater degree; as such, when the first changes of the body are noted, when the mana circuits are invaded through constant ebb and flow of the mana surging through..

At that point, something visible appears.

The man's body contorts. An acceleration to his power, to his strength and endurance, something that causes the 'pattern bleed' in which the mana circuits, projected as veins and arteries of the body.. they quite literally begin tearing on the inside. Purple shade overtakes in peculiar areas with the bleeding right under the skin, but Nerin doesn't seem to panic.

"That so?"

"You should probably work with Marisol. She's quite a talented artificer, and she's been working on different wonders. In fact, I think she might be studying metal magic just like you do."

"Perhaps the two of you could create something.. truly unique together."

Of course, the idle conservation continues. For now? He leaned in.. amidst his experiment, there's already blood, even if under skin, and he'll have to fix that - lest his subject dies.

How quaint.
(Nerin)

Zazulazona did not appreciate the idle chatter in these circumstances. She wasn't feeling okay enough to have small-talk, or talk of Marisol, or whatever they wished to speak upon. She just wanted it to be over. And as such, she'd hopefully bring the point across.

"Sure, but let's just focus on what's at hand here. Let me know when you're done." she'd state, going to gaze off into the distance.
(Zazulazona)

"--Ah."

A simple nod is given in return. With so much being done to the man, with so many mana circuits being bent out of shape and altered in the most ridiculously large manner.. there's no wonder that occasionally, for all intents and purposes, his body looks hurt - as a matter of fact, the most unusual thing is how there are wounds that spring up, with his flesh tearing itself on the skin and muscular level.

It's almost like it cannot handle this excess.

But Nerin is learning these limits. He's learning just how much mana he can imprint upon mana circuits, which would result in the alteration of flesh- just how much he can pump or reduce those attributes, and just how much he can play around with the subject's flesh before something goes off.

And it changes in so many ways.

By now, it would seem that even side-effects appear; the subject's shape of nose changes, the hair growth isaccelerated right before their eyes, and the shape of his legs and arms begins to change. This imprinting technique, in which he floods the mana circuits and allows that to alter the flesh.. it was most definitely effective.

Of course, Nerin also takes his time healing whichever he's caused.

The internal bleeding is steadily mitigated through the imprinting technique, particles of the flesh mended together as result of skilled craft. If it wasn't for that, if it wasn't for the practice he's put before..

Certainly, he would die.

"Almost done."
(Nerin)



[NOTE: Zula's player was too tired to post :( ]


It'll be hard to breathe for him.
But that's alright.

At the very last, the alterations for this body are steadily beginning to grow.. numb, smaller in the size; for any naked eye, whatever Nerin has been doing could qualify as nothing less but torture - surely, shaping someone's body in this way would not only be unpleasant, but extremely painful.

Something that he's very well aware about.

Which is why he never bothered waking the man up. These lacerations, this flesh that was parting its away from another, this internal bleeding.. all of these factors were steadily healed through the imprinting technique, in which Nerin puts in the 'parameters' upon mana circuits with his own mana - flooding the man's circuits, so much till he's entirely overwhelmed.

Left at Nerin's mercy.

At least, it imprints on his flesh correctly. These limits were tested, and now.. Nerin, perhaps, only required a small push - just a bit more practice until he could handle something so much more, until he could actually learn how to craft permanent biomods and heal the greatest injuries out there.

A great skill, indeed.

Yet, with sacrifices such as these made. In the end, the man's body would need recovery after this- no matter how much Nerin fixed him, the pattern bleeding is fairly brutal thing.. and he imagines that he'd need a while before he can operate properly again.

"We're done."

For now, he'd lead Zula back home; for now, they would return this man to his comrades.

Whatever they wonder is something else..
But they will never be heard of ever again.
(Nerin)