dev 4 - energy of yggdrasil

This place was deemed strong enough in terms of spiritual connection. While it would mostly befall upon the shaman and his own work to ensure that this would be seen through as success, he believed that picking something fitting- with many living and many dead, as a natural ecosystem of the jungle- would be the best choice. Besides.. the Lifestream energies linger somewhere in the wild, just like most Fae pretend to do, and Yggdrasil is their home.

A good coincidence there's access to such areas.

"I finally finished device I was meaning to create. It wasn't tested yet, but I believe it's properly attuned at this point." What he shows her is a tiny 'construction' made of soulsteel, mythril and orchilacum, with runes and appropriate casing all over it. There's an odd crystal right in the middle of it, seemingly humming with a strange, peculiar energy..

"It's time to test it."

"Our destination is Yggdrasil. Provided we reach it without any real trouble, I want to tap at the intersection of Lifestream energy and store them within spirit shards. We will not perform the ritual to... 'merge' this essence into me right there, because that can turn out very poorly." And becoming weak anywhere in the Spirit Realms could also mean death sentence.

"Instead, after we've retrieved necessary essence, we will return home. I will perform the ritual later to merge this essence in me, and, well.." A pause. "Hopefully, it'll work and my transformation will happen." Before activation of device, he turns his gaze to Ashalle, awaiting.

"Are you prepared to travel Spirit Realms?"
(Keitaro)

It might not be a good idea to allow the sin to travel through the lifestream. In moments such as this, she wonders what kind of affects it would have upon her frame - especially, since she was so innately against it within this particular moment. Every single fiber of her being, every single ounce of it aimed to reject the normal standards of life...So much so, that if it were not for her holy magic, the realm around her might rot to nothingness. However, this is the woman that he had chosen to stand beside. To be behind through the good...And the bad.

Within this particular moment, being out this far seemed to be rather daring for her. Swollen, terribly so. As if at any moment, she could quite literally burst...And yet, there was nothing to be said. Instead, she merely nods. "...You...Creating the teleportation device?" Her words are nothing more than a mere whisper, only audible to the drakanite that she stands beside...Her gaze drifting towards the crystal in the midst of the construction..

"...Life." Yggdrasil. There is a moment where her fuchsia gaze would widen. When her lips would press together, if only briefly in idle curiosity before continuing onward. "...Don't worry, I understand...I could possibly help you with the storing, if need be. The runic gold is good at doing it.." Laced with star dust and more...She imagines that she'd be running low by now..

But perhaps, there's just a tad bit more left within the runic set.

"I'm ready." Shemoves closer towards him. A hand raising slightly, landing upon his shoulder as she prepares herself.

"...I've never been to the spirit world." There is a silent thrill. As if biting into the first piece of succulent fruit. A devilish grin says it all.
(Ashalle)

He was already aware of her being on more Chaotic spectrum, of how Lifestream could potentially reject her; still, it was something that he dared to do nonetheless, knowing that Sin is nowhere as bad as something like Necromancy in such regard. Even then.. unfortunately, he would not allow her too close to intersection of Lifestream - perhaps a surprise she's yet to find out when they actually reach the place.

Aside of that? Her talents could be used.

To help him stabilize the mana in those spirit shards, to begin with.. the shards that she was responsible for in embedding within his chest. Though, despite the potential of what can happen, thankfully, Yggdrasil was more or less 'safe' realm, belonging to Fae and the convergence of Lifestream. Perhaps, she might even feel relief to a degree - just the slightest one.

"What I personally need from you is to help me store this energy. Once we're done, we'll leave immediately. We will not linger for long, because.." Because the Wardens could literally attack her upon noticing.

".. because it can get dangerous over time." Partially, a lie. Yggdrasil was never meant to be dangerous.. except for people who were inherently Chaos-inclined.

"Really? Why you've never told me so? I could show you." It's almost ironical. To stand beside a practiced Spiritmancer, someone who can actually access such places.. and yet claim you've never been there. "Consider this your first trip, then. Let's go."

Steadily, he places a hand atop her own over his shoulder. The spiritual energy is carefully channeled into device, bringing the runes to life.. they hum and glow, and the teleportation device grows warm to the touch. Clearly, something is happening, and..

A ripple. They're consumed by something ethereal, where nothing makes sense- an endless, but bright nothingness, with images of distant lands they could not comprehend. It all swirls and swirls, forcing the manifestation to be all more bizarre. Everything begins to fade into blue and green colors..

They're travelling through, but it takes time.
(Keitaro)


"I see.." She is no stranger of storing energy within a hollow shell. Her magic made her capable of filling each different crystal with an intent...Sometimes, the urge to protect what belongs to her arising forth. Other times, the need for overwhelming power arises. And many of the times when she is battling...It is not uncommon for her to but attacked before she could consume such a thing...But that's because they know. Crystal magi are the ones that should be feared within this realm. Not because of their battle prowess. But their innate ability to make these impossible, brilliant constructs.

"..Understood." For she knows that she cannot linger as much as she'd like. She understands that the wardens themselves would seek her out...Destroy her, no matter what reasoning there is to it. But...This curiosity is something that cannot be helped. Nevertheless...While many others might believe that it isn't on par with necromancy...

Some say that it is.

After all, sins tend to burn for longer, extended periods of time. And it takes a sin much longer to go through the process than a regular soul...Sometimes, even causing plague because of the damage- but...Such doesn't need to be spoken. And for the most part, Ashalle doesn't know of this fate...

She never knows too much of the cosm above.

But it's fine, because ignorance is a bliss. Nevertheless though, the woman would nod. "I didn't think it'd be necessary. I've never really 'had' a reason to go but now-...Now I do. I think I know what I might want." She goes silent, if only briefly..

"That is..If I go to a different realm- but...yes..Onward." In the end though, the woman with sigh gently. AS the ripple ensues...She finds herself growing silent...For this was filled with much more wanderlust than what she could expect.

Curious. Sincerity. Like a child in the amusement park, the woman seems to turn about to get lost within the swirling colors. This is...Nice.
(Ashalle)

While the two converse, the transportation ensues.

The swirling colors become everything. Almost like they're stuck on the large carnival, you can't see anything beyond the blur of everything that happens around you, myriad visions almost enough to cause one headache if they're not prepared; while for Ashalle it might be something exceedingly strange, it became a normal thing for the likes of Shaman beside her. After all, this was his forte.

Nothing makes sense to her. What she bears witness to is seemingly infinite world in every direction; the laws of physics change on a whim as they're transported, and at times, she finds herself levitating off the ground, only to be held down by Keitaro. The time and space becomes distorted, and even as they seemingly travel through it, sometimes, they end up in infinite loop.. only for just few moments.

Geographies, locations and everything she sees morphs on a whim. Mountains change their shape, rivers turn different colors, the sun rises and sets within mere moments- to many, this much sensory could become overwhelming. Until..

Until she's in an odd realm, with everything being green and blue.

A trail of odd energy surrounds them, clear as day. That trail shifts from silvery to golden lines, fluctuating colors. Suddenly, she feels Keitaro carefully tug her away from it, almost instinctively- she isn't allowed to interact with it by the Shaman, and he speaks out to her.

"...Welcome to Spirit Realm. We're currently in.." A look around. He spots the massive tree somewhere in the distance, surrounded by an even more powerful flow of such leylines.

"Yggdrasil."

There's an evident pause. Theymust be quick.. because if they linger for far too long, something terribly bad can happen - not to him, but her. And he wouldn't forgive himself if that were to become the truth.

"Follow me closely. Do not go anywhere unless I tell you to." This sounded commanding, but.. it was commanding for a reason.

She could get herself in trouble otherwise.
(Keitaro)

She never could equate herself to the night. But there are moments when she does. When there is so much night about her that she wonders why she could never get lost within the stars herself. When this flesh and shell are more than enough to the point of where she could not ever imagine herself dying. Not when she is this great...Not when she is this good. For she frames herself to be like the cosmic that sweeps by- that swirls within the patterns of blues and greens and purples....Or perhaps, like the tiny rivulets that drip during a rainshower within the dark. While this frame holds power, it holds intimacy....Beauty. Respite.

The fluctuation of such a thing makes her contemplate any decisions. Such as getting entangled within the realm and it's affairs. Such as her true feelings regarding the alliance with the others...Knowing that eventually, it will more than likely falter...

With Briar Locke going with it.

For she did not play too nice with others. Or perhaps, what remains within her thought is the hand placed atop of her own. She normally does not look at him so...But she does in this moment...Her lips parted, as if she could say something and yet-...She does not.

"It's beautiful." A smile. Yggdrasil. The grasses that seem otherworldly. The brilliance that comes with each step...Even the air here was strangely fine...

"...No worries, I'll be right behind you." But the temptation is daring. For these fingers cannot help but to pluck and pick at what there might be. Only for now, there is restraint...
(Ashalle)

Like the tower of Nature itself, the Yggdrasil shines somewhere far in the distance.

It stands impossibly tall, reaching far beyond the skies and heavens, seemingly almost never ending.. it was difficult to say just what spirits could be possibly guarding it, or what they could potentially encounter if they come too close. Thankfully, they didn't need to pluck at the tree itself, merely one of the points where the Lifestream intertwines and makes a gathering of powerful energies. Nearing the Tree itself, the two of them could see strange creatures all around..

Some represent hybrids between animals, while some appear fairly normal. The mixes between eagles and hares, or foxes and badgers.. strange essences that do not appear like any known creatures, some humanoid and some not, and yet the occasional flutter of a wisp is seen. They're in the place where Life itself comes to bear its fruits without any restrain. Even the forest is lavish and rich, the trees and the grass greener than green.. with not-so-distant dots in the skies, representing by identification of stars.

"It's pretty here, isn't it? And we're just exploring the tiny part of Spirit Worlds."

He leads her around by a hand, almost like a child. It's not that he thought her to be weak or clueless.. but in these places, he didn't know just how she could react, or how curious she could become and run off to see something. Their steps feel lighter, like the gravity here is much less.. with odd temptation to just take off the ground and float on the surface of nothingness, but they're bound by their mortal coil.

A coil that's all too tempting to shed. Yet, in the distance, there's a shimmer of odd light, and Keitaro inevitably drifts towards it. Though, before they near any closer, he can't help but glance back at her - the instructions follow.

"Do you see the light ahead? It has to be the convergence of Lifestream. One of many." A pause. His explanation continues. "I will tap into it, but.. you will need to be at the distance. Once I carry its essence back to you, help me solidify it within spirit shards."

"But.. please do not approach any closer where I leave you, okay?"
(Keitaro)

Doesn't it make you sick? Knowing that you can never be good enough to belong to a beautiful place such as this. Knowing that your affliction- no, blessing -has not place within a world such as this one? But despite such a thing, it is very clear that she is somewhat mystified within her own endeavors. For if it wasn't for the hand pulling her own, she would've went elsewhere by now to wander about. It is only on occasion does she stop to glance...To see the odd mutations within the hybrid animals. Perhaps...Wondering that this is how the spirits are when they consume their prey. Their memories become one..Part hare and part eagle. Part snake and part rodent. Part Lion and part doe. It would make sense...

For the world runs off of quid pro quo...and there is balance in the prospect. She imagines...That this is why Yggdrasil flourishes though. Because life is not just ran off of one spectrum. It isbalanced...So it cannot be too overbearing or too underwhelming. Here...It is much, much different.

"Is this where Thera retired to?-...She can just casually live in the spirit world with little to no problems?" Disbelief is only brief. But it is shown within her gaze. A moment that comes with the silent furrowing of her bran..

Not quite envy.
Not quite jealousy.

But something else. Hmh.

Still, bringing her here is dangerous and that much could be seen. As if it is the sin's intent to start toying with things. As if she had something new within her hand...And her fingertips could possibly 'break' it within the instant and yet...She stands still.

Dangerously so.

"Of course, Keitaro…Just be carefu." Her hands move carefully. Still unease...Drifting about her abdomen in thought. Hm, hmm, hmmm..
(Ashalle)

The beauty of spirit world was enough to overshadow anything else in this world.

It was enough to inspire one to sing about its beauty, or to prompt another to explore it further and beyond, never quite stopping, no matter how far they go. It's all too tempting to simply indulge in this adventure.. but they came here for one exact goal- and when they walk closer to the light, he occasionally glances back at her, speaking out.

"That's correct. Thera has retired to spirit realms, but I believe that she wanders many other realms, not just Yggdrasil." A pause lingers, and he continues. "Yggdrasil is one of major realms, but there are eight major realms total. As for minor realms... thousands and more."

Nobody could count how many are out there. In that regard, the spirit world was infinite. So long as there would be someone who can create more - there will be more, simple as that. And yet.. when he finally turns to look away from her, there's a sudden realization. They're much closer than they expected to be.

Why? Because Lifestream converges at the trunk of Yggdrasil tree itself. And where they thought they walked just for a bit, the geography of spirit realms can be often tricky and deceptive, fooling even experienced travelers into thinking they walked a certain distance, when it's clearly different.

"...Hm. I didn't expect this." Before they near any closer, he carefully lets go of her hand, not allowing her to step closer to Lifestream's convergence with him. Instead, when he begins to walk, he shoots a glance back at her.

"Please stay over there and do notmove. It... seems geographical coordinates can be fairly tricky around here." Because he thought that they didn't walk for long, and he assumed this light is very close.. how very wrong he was.

He should've kept it in his mind how unpredictable spirit world can be, and never get distracted.

"I'll tap into its essence and we'll leave shortly."

Steadily, his gaze turns back to the beaming light of Lifestream weaving as he approaches. The hum of spirit shards in his chest was becoming apparent, so much so that it was glowing through his garments; it was willing to taste the 'fruit' offered, one of the final steps to make Keitaro into something different.

A step to becoming half-spirit.
(Keitaro)

"Oh...That's nice." There is something different about the voice. How she seems to contemplate her future actions despite the whisperings within her mind. The thought of attacking the convergence of life is something that she imagines...But she is certain that there are many things gathering at the base of the tree. And because of that...She says nothing. Instead, this dark entity still remains very still while looking about the world. Uncertain if she were still in awe. Or if she had felt some type of way about never being able to enjoy it's contents despite being so rightfully deserving..

"I would like to go to one of the ones...That are like me. Perhaps, another time to explore." For if there is a good. There is an evil. But...There should be one where there is more than just that as well. For she is beyond the 'two' alignments themselves...Hating the fact that the gods could've possibly created something so complicated...But still, despite such..

"I already said that I won't move. I have restraint, you know." Only when it comes to certain things. Such as dealing with headaches and meetings. Or perhaps, in situations that might lead to one's death...Albeit, she's still terribly, terribly reckless in those endeavors.

But to digress.

Restraint isn't lacking. Unless it comes to him. "Careful." For he, too, possesses something that is unnatural. That is, unless it's gone...But, it makes her wonder..

For she hadn't examined him in quite some time.
(Ashalle)

When there is a wonder such as this, he imagines there would be those willing to destroy it.

Perhaps, someone like her as well. Yet, when she asks him of something that could be 'similar' to her, he can't help but purse his lips.. because the only options he could offer are the lands belonging to certain Elements - and the Helheim itself. It would be almost insulting to offer her to go to Hel, because it would imply that she's damned. Though, as a spiritmancer, he already knew that..

"I'll let you know where we can go." For now, he didn't want her to feel a different type of way about this endeavor, for he knew how volatile in reaction she can be sometimes. When she remarks of her own restrain, he can't help but shake his head with a smile.

"I know. Never hurts to be sure." Besides, she's repeating for him to be careful, isn't she?

Despite the swirling mass of essence he took upon himself before within those spirit shards, he steps closer; this movement is careful, and the approach to Lifestream's convergence is almost on alert, like he expects something to 'attack' him for daring to even tap into its essence.. even if by large margin this is practically nothing, since all he takes is its nature - something it could always regenerate, nor it would suffer from.

A single hand dips into convergence. Where the spiritmancer steadily immerses himself into this essence, seeking to draw some upon himself; the golden and silver lining of Lifestream extending upon his hand, carefully soaking his arm in it due to involvement of the magic he wields, until there's almost a clear 'hold' of it. It seems to be striving to be locked into spirit shard.. and while it's something Keitaro could potentially do on his own, it's best when powerful essences have several people working on it.

To subdue someone like Synmael and his essence, it took several magi. Only after that was it possible to tap into the powerful spirit's essence, his dark nature, and ingest what would be essential to change him in the future.. much like that, he planned to stabilize the Lifestream's energy within himself as well.

The Pride standing in the back becomes a witness to golden light enveloping him, with silver tones mixed into it. While this cannot be seen in physical realm, in spiritual realms the presence of Lifestream is clear as day. This energy is strong, pulsing with potential. Only when he takes the necessary sample, he carefully walks back to her..

This light becomes almost unbearable to look at from up close.

Basked in its glory, the Shaman appears before her. A careful craft of essence manipulation was used for this, and where she expects this energy might react wrong against her.. it's seemingly restrained, albeit, only that which remains upon his form.

"Now, I need your help."

"Help me lock these energies within the spirit shards. We'll work in tandem."

She was right when she said the light can blind - this one feels exactly like that.
(Keitaro)

So much light. It causes the palm within her hands to twitch. Fingertips bending - turning into what seemed to be fists without realizing such a thing. In essence, the whispers within her mind speak of the purge...But how could it possibly burn her when she possesses the same magic...Is it because she cannot be cloaked? Is it because this sin is impossible to hide or is there much, much more to the statement than what she would've desired? In the end, she watches as he dips his hand carefully...

He becomes enveloped...Slowly swallowed by the radiance of it all and yet, when he inches closer towards her...She almost has the intention to not touch him. To not allow him to come close to this power...Perhaps, due to the more selfish reason. Or perhaps, because she imagined that this light would change everything for him...

-In the end, it is not necessarily pursued. But it is given. For when his hands reaches towards her own...The hollow shell of crystal could be seen upon her hands...And in moments such as this, he would notice how it first closes over the spirit shards. It envelopes them whole within this hand...Carefully, allowing the melding process to begin as she speaks..

"I don't like the feeling." For it is filled with potential. Something other worldly. Something painfully, painfully familiar to another event within her life that she cannot put her mind on it.

All she remembers is the light.
The burning.
The screaming.

Her grip upon the crystals tighten...And tighten. And tighten. But they cannot be shattered. Instead, she focuses her might upon the project despite the gentle mumble. Going easy- allowing him to perform his tasks as she aims to lock the energies withinlayer and layers to not allow easy escape.
(Ashalle)

This was a necessity for him to become a proper manifestation of both aspects. Because the Spirit Worlds were never as simple as embracing single side - just like the spirits of this place are completely alien to something like Helheim, the same way spirits from Helheim are alien to this place.

Keitaro never intended to be just the embodiment of light or evil, but a bridge that serves to understand both sides and maintain the proper balance, and cure the wrongs whenever he sees them. To become a zealot of one side would be a fatal mistake.. because the darkness could corrupt and wreak havoc, while the light could always burn.

"I know you don't. Bear with it please, we'll be leaving soon." An encouraging thought. As much as it was beautiful in here.. he imagines this experience wasn't likeable for her at all. And yet, when he feels the surge come to him as resultof her actions, his lips steadily part, almost in a wonder..

It feels odd. To have the swivel of both energies come to take place within spirit shards. Embodiment of each struggles against another, but it is thanks to her effort it becomes bearable; his own effort comes in nestling those essences properly as a spiritmancer, where the experience with each becomes the absolute to handle them simultaneously.

Even now, the spirit shards hum, almost in protest. The essences of opposite struggle, but steadily, they're coaxed down by the shaman to rest within, locked in dormant state until the ritual begins. By extension, the light around him seems to disappear- and only for the briefest of moments, Keitaro grits his teeth.. almost in pain.

Until his expression relaxes. This was merely the beginning, and they remained dormant. So long as he could tap into it safely later.. then it should be fine. He felt his mana taxed, first signs of fatigue coming upon him, but..

"...I think it's settled." This sounded more hopeful than confident. Still, it shouldn't take long to simply transport essence quite literally 'from his hands' into spirit shards like this, should it?

"We can head home."
(Keitaro)