Himari AF Dev 2

[15:49] Himari Kurokaiyo asks, "I think here will do. What do you think?"
[15:49] Alyssa cos D'Arnette says, "Seems fine to me."
[15:51] Himari Kurokaiyo asks, "So what did Aki say we have to do?"
[15:55] She reaches into the folds of her cloak, removing a small mushroom she had stashed there before leaving. Black-shafted and a crimson underbelly, the top was laced with silver gills but was otherwise blue.

"We're supposed to ear these.. and meditate here to attune with our spirit guardians from before. It's supposed to aid in enhancing our illusionary abilities..

And it's supposed to be just as hard as the last I believe.."

Thinking to her shadowy aspect she had chained away, that darker part of herself.

"So.. are you ready..?.. It may kill us but in the end it's what we must do I suppose."

She waits.
(Alyssa cos D'Arnette)
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[16:01] Himari looked over the water with the calm sound of the water passing by and falling over the cliff soothing her ears. She honestly thought this was the best place to do whatever. As Alyssa began dipping into her clothing, Himari would gaze towards her awaiting for the item that she assumed she was receiving.

"Mushrooms. Those don't even look safe to eat are you positive that we're suppose to eat them?"

The green-haired girl was reluctant on eating a randomly colored mushroom. You already had to be wary of regular mushrooms but this one was over the top in weird.

"Kill? Oh lord, here we go again. If I die, I'll pass on a favor for you to do."
(Himari Kurokaiyo)
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[16:05] She calmly takes a seat at the bank, close enough she could feel the cool air carried by the breeze from the mountain's water.

"Eating odd mushrooms tends to kill people but.. Aki did it.. so I can too."

If her love could do it, she had to do it. Another chance to prove to herself she was worthy of the one she idolized as perfection.

"I pray you don't... and that I don't either.. but same to you if it happens."

With that she pops the mushroom into her mouth and begins to chew.
(Alyssa cos D'Arnette)
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[16:11] They were really about to do this and it wasn't really going well with Himari. She almost died during their first phase of this training and now here she was eating suspicious mushrooms and meditation. She'd sigh in defeat.

"Right, I don't think I can forgive myself if I don't do it but you do and end up perishing. If the off chance we do which, we won't. I'd at least like to do it together.

Here, hand it over."

Himari held her hand out, waiting for a mushroom to be plopped into her palm. Once she was given it, her ambers hues would stare at it with a creeped expression. Her hand trembled and hesitated to eat the mushroom but with enough effort, she'd toss it in and begin chewing it quickly. "Alright, here goes."

The Kurokaiyo would sit right next to Alyssa and take a meditate stance as she sat.
(Himari Kurokaiyo)
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[16:26] * You have been awarded 4 Roleplay Points! *
[16:32] As she began to chew she passed Himari her own mushroom, settling into her meditative position.

"I have faith."

She slowly began to focus on the sounds around her, the water moving down the fall a short distance away. The birds in the trees.. she used the music of nature to center herself.

She could almost feel the mushroom as its toxins began to flow through her.

Aki's words running through her mind, she began to try and focus on her 'spirit guardian'. The outline of her mother forming in her mind as she began to drift off once more.. though the setting was entirely different.

It was as if she was in the forest not far behind her, the tree line fading into an indecipherable blur past a certain point.

That soft glow was beginning to return, her mother.. nothing but an outline to be seen.

"Mother..?"

She would step closer, one hand lightly outstretched. Though it felt as if gravity had multiplied, her body weighed down by so much.. she fell to her knees beneath the weight.

She could see nothing... there was no one holding her.. but it had to be something.

Guilt.

She felt it in her chest. The guilt she felt her entire life as irrational as it was. Her mother dying bringing her into this world, she had thought herself to blame. She still did.

"I'm sorry... It was my fault.."

She was already beginning to cry. Her mother did not speak with her mouth, but she could feel her intentions none the less.. almost telepathic in nature.

'It wasn't your fault.'

But it was... was it not..? It was the beginning of her life that marked the end of her mother's.

'Even if it had been a choice, I would have chosen you..'

Was it true..? Was she worth that..? After all she had been told over the years? Called worthless, her father even refusing to call her by name most days.

'I love you Alyssa.'

She cracked inside, a red mist leaking from her in this dream-like trance. The weight slowly beginning to lift as she stepped forward.. to grab her mother's hand.. her guilt finally lifting.

"I love you too... I always wanted to talk to you.."
(Alyssa cos D'Arnette)
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[17:14] It tasted funny and it seemed the effects were a bit quick. The moment its juices were swallowed, she'd start to feel funny.

"Then I will too."

A gulp from the nervousness that Himari was going through and the swallowing of the mushroom. The toxins entering her body with swiftness. Surprisingly, it had little to no pain.

She figured that what Alyssa said before was what she was going to have to prepare herself for and expect during this meditation session. To look out for her spirit guardian. Just like last time.

Soon, the landscape around her would change accordingly when her eyes began to shut. The temperature changed and so the did the air around. It felt lighter and there wasn't a hint of malice.

Suddenly, an individual that possessed the same face as she did would appear because, it was her face. Her twin brother stood in front of her as she sat and Himari would only stare at him without a word.

Nothing could really explain-

"Where were you? Why don't you love me?"

A loud heartbeat ran through Himari's head. Her eyes kept open and stared at him. The air got lighter to the point it was becoming hard to breath. Sweat ran down her face just as quick as they appeared. She was soon to be hyperventilating. Guilt and Blame was taking over.

But, she wouldn't give up.

"I tried my best as a sister but, don't you worry. I will soon rid of that suffering that you're stuck in. It is the only way."

She spoke with confidence. The sweat beginning to dry and her breathing beginning to return to normal as she herself controlled the air around her. She felt a grip on her shoulder and she would look to her side. What she saw surprised her completely. Her spirit guardian. It changed in the forms of those who were by her side constantly and helping her out. This is what she needed to continue on and a single tear would shed from her amber eyes. She needed to realize that she had those around her that truly and dearly loved her. Her brother was already lost and despite their bond broken, she still loved him and wanted to end his pain.

Aiyamari would soon turn away and dissipate. Himari could've sword she'd finally see a smile on his face. It was too long to tell.

However, this was going to only get harder.
(Himari Kurokaiyo)
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[17:23] She was coming ever closer to grasping the hand of her mother, to finally know what that touch felt like. She could feel that darker part of herself, trying to push negative thoughts into her mind.

Though this time her will held fast, repelling the darkness within as she would finally grasp that glowing palm. That glowing power began to suffuse her, igniting her body in a display of white light for a moment before it seemed to convert.. melting away into inky shadows that sank into her flesh.

'Take it.. and learn.'

Her mother releases her hand.

"..Please don't go.."

Then the light began to slowly fade.. until all that had been left was the memory, and a thrumming within her body.

Though the vision didn't end, and her body remained undisturbed in reality. She could only assume this was not the end...
(Alyssa cos D'Arnette)
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[17:42] Himari felt the tension release. Maybe it was because she knew that one day that she could possibly acquire one of her many goals.

She didn't know but she could sense it. When she whiffed away the words that Aiyamari sent at her she felt a slight relief like she didn't have to no longer worry about being blamed for not being there when he needed her.

And now it was time for another obstacle. She felt confident and the mushroom's toxins showed no signs of lethality. She was doing just fine without a care in the world but she kept her guard up.

There was a time and place to release those feelings this was that time. What came next was herself. A dark version of Himari, shadowing over her with a disgusting grin on her visage. It had evil intents but, Himari should no signs of distress when they came closer.

They came closer, splitting their lips to begin to release words and shoot them towards Himari with ill intent however, a sudden force of nature struck at their gut with such force it had them bending on their knees. It seemed like Himari's gravity was taking effect.

"Nice try, but I've already predicted what you were going to say. I'm no longer the depressed girl who wanted attention. As much as I'd like it, I have more important things to focus on."

Another would strike at them and another. Their spirit guardian hovered over Himari with approval. It seems she was getting the hang of this meditation. This felt way too easy, though.

She had to keep her guard strong.
(Himari Kurokaiyo)
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[17:57] Standing in the forest, just waiting for what was inevitably to come. A final test of some sort, something to show her where she was wrong. Show her some even darker aspect of herself she had yet to see..

It would feel as if she waited for hours, nothing happening as time began to pass. What was this..?

She was left to wonder, what sort of test was this..? Had she actually died..? Forced to remain here as some strange effect of the mushroom?

She moves to strike a tree only for it waver beneath her punch, her hand and arm passing through it. The one thing her father had ever taught her about illusion magic.

'The greatest illusions, are those that contain reality.'

She was the only thing real here, and everything around the illusion.. the fake place. Slowly she sits, that darkened miasma of shadow emerging to surround her as slowly she began to focus on reality.

On the sounds of the waterfall, and the song of the birds as they began to grow in volume.. after a time her eyes slowly opened. Her body thrumming with this newfound strength, a light offered by her mother turned to darkness.
(Alyssa cos D'Arnette)
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[18:33] With the darkness fading, it seemed that they were getting towards the end of their phase and session. She felt her circuits taking on a calm.

She was gaining a sudden affinity for her spiritual energy within her and that was a plus and a sign that her progression was paying off. Functioning her senses while the darkness continued to surround her.

Himari never had much training in the Illusionary magic as she was never really taught by her uncle unlike Aki and never tried to learn it herself like Alyssa. She admired those two and now they were together within a relation ship. She envied them slightly and wanted to grow just as much as them but couldn't really guess why her progression kept coming to a halt.

"Why do I feel like I'm alone?"

Himari definitely wasn't alone but the feeling was there. She had her family and friends and many more people that she has met on the way. She's lost some and ended up feeling emotions she never thought she would've but here she was erasing those very emotions by letting go through her meditation. It was the only way to do this for her late Uncle. To master their elite fighting style.

There is a reason for that. You lack the necessary hatred to gain allies.

Himari heard a voice but she couldn't tell where it was coming from. Her heard looked around without opening her eyes and utilizing her senses. Mana grasping at her surroundings before she gain the ability to respond back.

"You're wro-"

Another heartbeat.

Himari felt her abdomen collapse under a sudden force that quaked her whole body. Her body being sent off in a quick motion and slamming against something that she guessed was a tree. Her head hanged to the side feeling exhausted from only one strike. She felt like she was on the brink of death.

The mushroom's toxins were now taking full effect and she expected this to happen entirely. She knew it was too easy.

Her eyes opened, seeing a blurry silhouette of her Uncle.

You're nothing like my children. Fodder. A weakling. All you'll ever be is a shield for them just like your damned brother.

"N-No.."

Her body being held up in the air. Where was her spirit guardian? Was she going to die?

"No!" In a flash, Himari's eyes would completely open. Her body still feeling lifeless, however her screams of courage continued. That scream being amplified by her spirit guardian that came rushing in to send a death blow into the dark Kirai. Her body droppedonto the ground, gaining its strength back.

"I'll never be like that. There are other ways than hate to gain allies. Love, trust, and compassion. I'll never be like you, Uncle."

The confines of darkness soon fade but it wasn't going to be that easy. She sat back into her meditative position and grew on her mana. Channeling it throughout to crush the darkness that surrounded her.

Did she finally get through?
(Himari Kurokaiyo)
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[18:37] She sat that way for a long time, just a simple meditation. A time to reflect as she awaited Himari's emergence, to see if she too had made it through safely.

She focuses on that strength she had been given, absorbing it into her bodies natural well. Merging herself with it.

Just awaiting for a sign that her friend had made it through alright.
(Alyssa cos D'Arnette)
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[18:41] Himari opened her eyes from that noticeable long but also short session that they just had. It seemed that she sweat a lot throughout it but seemed fine all together.

Looking to her right, she noticed that Alyssa had already came to. It seemed they both got through it without any trouble.

"Let's.. head back I need something after all that," she states, standing up onto her feet and holding out a hand for Alyssa to take and get up herself.
(Himari Kurokaiyo)