dev 3 - the test of justice

Into the swamps of Agartha the young Elishevas and their friends went. Rumors of what sort of terrible things resided within had drawn them here, in particular a certain tale of a witch in the wood. Thalia had gathered her small force together and journeyed out and intot he wilderness.

The animals here were altered, changed to fit the nightmares this witch was known to create. Fish had limbs, some of the insects had grown in size and had far more 'humanoid' features. The deeper they went, the more unsettling it all became.

But trekking through the mud was the easy part.

Facing what might be out here is where things would become far more difficult...

About a mile out from their mark is where their story truly began, and it's here where the sun began to set in the sky.
[Narrate]

There's no doubt that all of this would be quite the nightmarish experience, perhaps so much that they would lose sleep over it for the days to come. Though he may not be the strongest, nor really all that powerful, Keitaro had one thing that nothing could take from him - a steely resolve and a mindset set in stone. Even he could not possibly imagine what can shake that.

As such, he walks boldly, without fear.

This, however, does not mean that he's not alert. If anything, he stands guards, with his eyes constantly looking about to make sure that if some danger were to be lurking nearby, he would spot it quickly. Occasionally, he returns his gaze to the rest of the group, only to give them reminder.

"Shout if you see something about to attack us. We might as well be watched as we walk."

Who knew just what sort of abilities this witch had? Considering the mutated animals, he very well assumed that some might be serving her. And thatwould mean their presence is likely already known. Still...

"Thalia, I assume you know where we should be going?"
(Keitaro)

Marching on through the swampy expanse, she would give a brief wave in front of her face, little plumes of smoke falling from the empowered gloves held to her skin. "Shouldn't be much longer," she says toward the others, and a glance is given upwards to the horizon that the sun was beginning to drift beneath.

Then, she would trail her gaze over toward the various, skittering creatures crafted of nightmares. It's only fitting that a small shudder comes to her form as she would catch them out of the corner of her eyes, but it was for the best to keep moving in their direction.

"Yeah, of course I do," she chimed outwards with a nod. Or well... She knew the general direction, as most people who trekked out did. Who knows what things could've altered in the time of hearing about this place, anyways?

"Just keep a look out, though. Never know what can be sprung up on us."
(Thalia Elisheva)

Going through mud wasn't something the Dryad was unfamiliar with.

It's basically second nature to him, in a way. Since he spent most of his free time farming as a stress reliever, he was bound to get dirty. Plus, well, Dryads just naturally loved to be out there in the thick of it.

And so, he trekked through it, caring not for the condition of his white-shirt, or his pants as he did.

Glimpses of the strange, malformed creatures were caught as he made his way through. His nose crinkling, just the sight of the things reminding him of his life back at the orphanage; and the kids who were put through strange things. Only to end up disfigured, or worse..

".. I don't like this place."

Growling out his words under his breath, the Dryad continued after his group!
(Ilui Elisheva)

Ugh. Darn it.

The frequent magical fevers Aurora had been going through lately have left the Elisheva with a blockage of magic-- but recently, it got worse. She hasn't been able to float above the ground, not even a mere inch. It made traveling in the swamp much, much less comfortable.

She had to walk through the mud, staining her shoes with its dirt.

"..Ew! Why is it so gross here?" At least these weren't the sewers. Right?

There were no rats- which was an improvement... But fish with limbs weren't much better either.
(Aurora Elisheva)

Swamps were moist, that was a good thing right? For a water magi like Sima it sure was. Stepping through the muck and grime he'd quietly mutter to himself... Following along unwillingly, armor haphazardly jostling about his form.

A fool walking into the depths of danger. surely.

The young Kang has to stop himself a few times as he watched a fish literally walk by. This was no place to fish, no place to let his mind drift off in.

The quaking teen swallows a lump in his throat, shaking what little fear he can from his form. At least others had joined in his hatred of what was to come.

"Y-y-yeah... Swamps kinda… Reek." It's all he can manage.
(Sima Kang)

As they neared, the group heard a shrieking cry, a fearful noise of something in panic. It wasn't a scream from a human, but an animal, a kind of sound that would make anyone's hair stand on end. Up ahead they could all see it; an upturned wagon half sunken into the bog's river.

Still lashed to it was a horse, one whose body was completely submerged save for the head and right front leg, that was flailing around, soon to be swallowed by the muck as well. Some reddening in the sludge near it indicated wounds, but the cuts that likely labored the body of the animal were underneath the water, bleeding out with unknown severity.

The horse's eyes were filled with pure, animalistic fear. It had heard the approaching people, and despite being nothing more than a simple animal, it was calling for them to help.

The wagon itself was void of people. Who had been driving it among this dangerous environment was unknown, but there were a few boxes in the back.
[Narrate]

That was a call to him personally.

Regardless of what group had on their mind, all life was precious to Keitaro, and he hurried to the source of the scream; perhaps, it is exactly his good heart and kind purpose that would send him right to the potential trap of the witch - although he rushed for help, in the back of his mind he kept the thought that this could be a trap.

He was heroic, but not stupid.

"We have to help it. Let's go, quickly."

Still, despite his hurry to that place, he didn't even wait for the group to follow; whether they would actually come along or not is entirely different thing, and even if they didn't come, he would rush to aid anyway.
(Keitaro)

In the midst of speaking, of course there'd be the shriek of... something. Shuddering visibly, she would twist around toward the noise, and through the slog of the swamplands, she'd move along. There was a need to find the creature attached to such a noise, and there was certainly a fear that droned within.

However, as she halted, the big creature would cause her brows to raise upwards. "Be careful of the hooves!" She called out, looking toward Ilui now.

"Can you use the mud around it and try to lift it out? Or part ways?" She inquired toward the Dryad as she grit her teeth together.

"If you can at least help to get part of it free, maybe Sima and I can use wind magic to lift it out together?"

To save the poor creature, that'd be for the best.

"Can someone make sure there's not still attachments to the cart on it, too?"
(Thalia Elisheva)

Aurora was not a particularly bright magi.

Much like Keitaro, there was no doubt in her mind regarding the house. It needed their help - and she intended to provide it! Yet, the first thing she thinks of doing? Is to allow some of that cosmic energy around her to concentrate into a beam, one that's only made for the purpose of lighting.

She tries to light through the mud-- see if the horse was stuck to anything, but, well. This was mud. Not water. Light alone wouldn't be enough to provide anyone sight down there.
Oops.

".. I didn't think this through," Aurora admits aloud, scratching her cheek for a moment or so. Thalia's instructions come next, and the brunette merely nods in response to them!

"I'll take care of that!"

The beam of light redirects, now, with the intent of cutting through any ropes that might have kept the horse attached to the wagon.
(Aurora Elisheva)

Nearly jumping out of his skin, the group would see Sima standing on the tips of his toes as the cry pierces the air. Where was that beating-- Oh, right, that's his heart in his ears again.

Visibly chattering his teeth Sima's eyes squint at the river ahead. A poor horse was submerging... With Keitaro rushing forth he'd quietly curse his stiff legs.

If he was going to get hurt, why not do it saving another?

The Kang follows the Drakanite, hot on their heels as he begins stuttering commands under his breath. A number of options were laid before them by Thalia, and with a bit of hesitancy he'd nod.

"I-I m-mean if this was more water... I co-could really help pull this poor guy up b-but uhm…"

There's no use in just stuttering what he could do. Withdrawing the staff from its sling he'd prepare to help out in what ways he could; Whether it be slinging wind to help push it up or halting the flow of oncoming waters.
(Sima Kang)

"-.. Hm!?"

Coming to a complete stop as the cry was heard, the Dryad's eyes narrowed in. Just expecting something to jump out and attack them. And yet, nothing came..

It was something off in the distance, a horse that had been hurt. Sinking down into the mud, and crying for their help as they made their way closer to it. People were freaking out, scrambling to try and save it. Yet, his gaze drifted down, catching sight of the red-tinted sludge that was around it's submerged half.

Crinkling up his nose, a single hand moved so that he could point out the blood,

"It's already hurt, isn't it..?"

Speaking in a soft town, his gaze drifted back towards the horse, frowning at the thought of trying to pick it up out of the mud.

"If you pull it up, you might end up putting it in more pain, you know? Shouldn't we just put it down instead?"

With his twin-bladed staff drawn, the Dryad makes no moves to clear the mud. Yet his staff was raised, for some odd reason. Simply waiting for his friends to respond before doing anything further!
(Ilui Elisheva)


Thalia Elisheva asks, "There's water inside of it, right?"

Sima Kang says, "I mean... It's both earth /and/ w-water. Maybe me and Ilui both could get it up?.."
There's a pause, and then she crinkles up her nose.

"We won't know if it's hurt beyond repair unless we get it up and try to see if there's anything we can heal." She states a bit coldly toward Ilui.

It seems like she had some bad experiences with 'mercy' kills, perhaps.

"But yah, there's water in the mud, right? Then maybe that can be used, too."

If they put their brains together, they could save this creature, riiiight?
(Thalia Elisheva)


Ilui Elisheva says, ".. Mn."

Sima Kang says, "I stop the flow you uhm... P-push it up, maybe? With the mud."
Glancing over towards Thalia, the Dryad's eyes rolled, scoffing as he lowered his staff.

Why was it raised in the first place..?

A few guesses could be made at what he was about to do, but he knew full well that people weren't going to go along with it. Time after time, argument after argument. Stolen staff after stolen staff; he had grown tired.

".. Stop the water, then. I'll push it up.."

Steadying his hands, he readied himself -- waiting for the waters to stop so that he could help push the horse up alongside the mud as he moved it.
(Ilui Elisheva)

Well, it's help somehow right? A mixture of earth and water was a tricky assortment for someone with just a bit of aquamancy at their disposal.

Sima's eyes drift from his party and towards the bog river. Pointing his staff towards the origin of the water's flow he'd draw in a breath. This was going to hurt a bit.

"Alright- The waters will stop their flowing in juuust a moment, I'll hold it right until it's out."

Gritting his teeth a flash of blue rolls over his form. It's an attempt at halting the river's flow to allow Ilui an easier push. The mud would pile on top if they just outright pushed it on out after all! With a white knuckle grip he prepares himself for the pushback.
(Sima Kang)

Keitaro wielded neither water nor earth to make sure that he could actually help to get the horse out of the mud. Though, there was one thing he knew, and that's calming effects of holy magic and the pain it can soothe. Once they get the horse out of the bog, they could actually treat it.

"I'll calm it down so it will stop thrashing."

"Get it out while it's calm. I believe we should free it from any potential harness, and then lift it up with water. It's only a swamp - the mud could be spread apart by powerful blow."

"Those that are water magi or earth magi could move this mud, too."

And the Shenlong channels holy magic towards the horse; it's intended to calm it down, perhaps even heal some minor wounds and soothe its pain. Unfortunately, he wasn't outfitted best for this sort of thing...

That's why he left the rest for his companions.
(Keitaro)

The water halted according to Sima's direction, and some of the mud sifted aside as Ilui had directed it, and still the horse shrieked. Its cry was piercing, horrible, a begging sound of a thing trying its best not to die in such a terrifying way.

Aurora was able to sever any ties to the wagon the animal had, and with them the larger vehicle sunk down lower, bubbles ascending in the grime in mere seconds before it was out of sight, along with whatever the boxes inside held.

Though as the water and mud was parted, the young magi could see a little more of the horse's body, its side completely shredded and torn away, revealing rib and muscle where the bleeding was coming from.

Keitaro's holy magic did what it could in terms of healing, but the horse still bled, still let out its screams of fear.

And yet there was still something off... something that only Aurora spotted.

Tattles whispers something.

The Elisheva didn't have a lot to contribute with at this time. After all, it wasn't like cosmic magic would've been any good in lifting an animal from a swamp--

But apparently, it does have its other uses.

Aurora manages to spot through the mud, when she shines on it with a bright beam of cosmic magic, one of the horse's legs. ..Where there are supposed to be more skin or hair that are natural for a horse, the brunette notices scales.

Like, fish-scales.
She even blinks a couple of times out of fear of imagining it.

"..Guys, I think... The witch got to the horse already," She states the obvious with a soft tone, "Its foot... Its covered with scales. I-I dunno if we can help it..."

Maybe Ilui was right? Maybe this was no different than the scientist's lab in Obsidia?
(Aurora Elisheva)

The grievous wounds of the horse caused Keitaro to physically cringe, but he pushed on to try and help it by at least soothing it with holy magic; he also knew that there would be no way he's going to treat that, nor he knew anyone else here that could do it...

Were they just prolonging the agony of a horse?

"I..."

"I also think we won't be able to save it... unless you have any very powerful healing magics that can keep a life support to the horse and even restore its side like that, I don't think it will make it..."

The Shenlong points to a completely shredded side. How else it would live, when it seems to be bleeding so much? Unless they actually had any potent healers, it would be impossible to save it. It also doesn't help that Aurora makes such comment.

"M-maybe it's best to put it to... sleep?"

But this was no sleep at all. Obviously, he referred to mercy-killing the horse; as it stands, they might as well be out of options and would only prolong its agony as it dies to the injury.
(Keitaro)

There's a pause now as she looks over at Aurora. The plan was... good, while they were trying, right? But... If the creature had already been snagged a hold of by the witch, then...

"...Do you think it was bringing supplies to the witch?" She inquired, looking at the sinking wagon. "Or they were already attacked by it?"

Oh gosh. Her hands lift and rub together as she mulls over the whole ideal of what happened in Obsidia. It made her stomach turn just thinking about it.

"What do you think we should do?" She asks toward the others quietly. She's seen it before, but she couldn't just relinquish the idea of being able to save something if they could. "Put it to sleep, uh...-- As long as everyone agrees and it's... quick."

Painless, was the hope. So it didn't have to suffer anymore. Eugh.
(Thalia Elisheva)

The staff the Kang hold jitters within his grasp, strings of commands muttered under held breath. Sima spares a momentary glance towards Aurora as a light huff escapes from him.

"What?.. So?" He'd reply, shifting his eyes back towards the water he was holding back. "If it can still move then... It deserves another chance, right? What if it still has all its hooves?"

More joined in it seemed, a look of defeat crosses his mug. While he didn't like the path they were taking he was the minority here.

Thus the Kang simply shuts his eyes, letting them go about their business to ease the horse's suffering. His focus remained on the water's flow.
(Sima Kang)

Aurora refuses to look when, and if the process of mercy-killing is performed. Much like last time, she didn't want to witness it. All lives were sacred, but some... Some she couldn't save.

She had learned that the hard way.

Instead, the brunette opts to go around the horse and walk a bit past it-- but not far enough to lose her group.
(Aurora Elisheva)

Aurora Elisheva whispers something.

.. It's actually worse than he thought it was going to be.

As the horse was raised out of the muddy waters that tried to claim it, and drag it down into its depths; the Dryad could see it. A shredded side, one that wasn't going to be so easily fixed. As he caught sight of it, his hands steadied, the earth beckoning to his call and pausing alongside them.

No longer pushing the horse up further.

It wasn't going to survive something like that, not out here. It probably wasn't going to be able to survive a broken leg, either, if it was left to just lie around in misery. A paint of pink eyes glance between his friends as they spoke, trying to decide the fate of the horse between themselves.

Without even giving his own input, a single hand moved, morphing the earth with his movements. Allowing for a sharpened point to be created, and with a single swipe--

-- The cries of pain were put to a stop. And the horse was put down, allowed a bit of reprise from the agony it had been wallowing in for who knows how long. A faint smile finding its way onto his features as he gave up his control, and allowed for it to once again start to sink into the depths of the mud.

If someone wanted to stop him..? They could.
(Ilui Elisheva)

Keitaro saw no other option before them.

What if they drag the horse out? How they were going to actually heal that side, and how it would survive? This is no flesh wound, where you can just seal it with some searing or stitch it; the entirety of the flesh was shredded and gone, with nothing left for them to do.

It was a hopeless situation. The most they could do is ensure that the horse passes on painlessly.

Still, while Keitaro didn't stop Ilui from doing that, he caught on with what he's about to do; instead, the soothing holy magic continued to channel upon the horse, only to make sure that the pain is reduced as much as he could possibly muster - and that it could have more peace in death.

And that's all he could so. Simply reduce the suffering before it would have to pass on. A sigh escapes him as he witnesses this.

"...I'm so sorry."
(Keitaro)

There's a movement of her gaze drifting over to Ilui now, and she crinkles up her nose.

"You don't have to smile about it, Ilui. That's messed up."

It's bitten out in a bit of an agitated manner. Why was he like this? She couldn't help but shudder visibly as she aimed to push forward, following along behind Aurora. She didn't want to witness anymore of it. Her stomach was rolling enough as it was.
(Thalia Elisheva)

The screams were silenced.

The body drifted back down into the mud and out of sight, leaving nothing but a trail of blood behind it. What mysteries Aurora had seen at its hind legs were lost with the wagon and the horse as well, and once more the swamp was silent, save for the croaking wildlife and the splash of the water as the kids moved through it.

The fog was settling in, along with the darkness of the night. They would have to move fast if they didn't want to be trapped within a pitch black hellscape.

It seems they were running out of time.

And that meant they had to fight where this witch is as quick as they can. Restraining her would be a lot more difficult if the night settled in, and that much he realized- after the scenery with the horse was over and they began to move, the Drakanite's eyes moved towards Thalia.

"I believe you said that you know where we should be going."

"Lead the way, in that case. And... hopefully we aren't going to encounter anything like that again."

It left bitter taste in his mouth to actually have to resort to this sort of thing. But unfortunately, not everyone- or everything- could be saved.
(Keitaro)

Perhaps they should've done something observationally, but they were worried, panicked kids, right?

Even then, she would glance around as she aimed to bring her hands upwards. A brief amount of wind would spin around them as she looked around, trying to combine both the fire and the wind to keep the fog at bay, and give them at least some bit of light.

"Come on, let's keep moving." She says as she glances around, trying to keep her eyes out for anything that would need to be observed or otherwise heeded.
(Thalia Elisheva)

"--.. Huh?"

Clearing his throat, the boy's eyes narrowed in, turning to tiny little slits as he glared at his cousin. Lips parting, ready to snap right back at her. And yet, he stops himself; opting to simply deflate a bit on the spot, his shoulders rolling into a shrug as he made his way forwards, and out of the fog.

Getting into an argument now was just going to result in him getting into another fight, which was going to result in another punishment.

So for now, it's better if he just continued on and tried to ignore it.
(Ilui Elisheva)

Sima visibly shudders as the screams are silenced. There's a faint bit of relief for the Kang given he's able to let go of the river, yet... He truly didn't enjoy that poor equine's end.

Opening his eyes he'd silently follow along with Aurors and Thalia, placing the staff back in its sling. The night was drawing closer which only brought more paranoia to the cowardly Kang.

Folding his arms across his chest, gripping the sides of either sleeve, he'd keep his wide-eyed gaze about them. He truly didn't need to say it out loud this time.

He hated this.
(Sima Kang)

Aurora, for the most part, remains silent. How very strange of her. She wasn't known to keep to herself... At all. It was only near death that she did. When she had to witness loss in her own eyes. She cared for animals more than most did - she refused to eat them ever since she was a very young child.

Demanding from her father to make her a whole new diet wasn't easy, yet, it was still done.

She kept the horse in her mind, sky-blue eyes peering down at the swamp she was walking through. The demi-angel had almost completely forgotten about the witch they were here for.
(Aurora Elisheva)

It was gross and filthy, and unless they had packed their swamp boots, the magis' shoes would be completely ruined, and they hadn't even reached their destination yet.

Luckily, up ahead was a single source of alight; a torch by the looks of it, connected to a building that stood up on a stilted frame over the swampland. The fog grew thicker still, and by the time the group had reached the exterior of the building and neared the fire near the front door, they could barely make out any of the trees that were no more than ten feet away and growing out of the water.

This side of what appeared to be a house was made of dark, black wood, stained by years of the humid weather, and dangling from its rafters were dozens of strange chimes that didn't jingle in the wind.

The front door itself had a face carved ornately into the design, one that stared out with unblinking eyes at the rest of the harsh environment, its mouth a thin line between oaken lips.

Of course she knew where she was going!(?)

Even then, they would trudge through and shoes would naturally be ruined by the motions as they would approach a house. Coming to a halt there, she would glance around those before them, and then she gives a short breath.

"We should check it out." She states as she moves forward, aiming to examine the door. She'd keep quiet, however.

"Does someone want to check out the chimes, too?"
(Thalia Elisheva)

Now, was the witch home? Or was it even her home to begin with?

It certainly looked that way, and that already prompted Keitaro to be on his guard. They could be ambushed from any side, or they could fall to a sudden trap, all of which would be very unfortunate fates for the group. Of course, none of this was desirable, and if he could help it, he would prevent it.

"Something tells me that just walking in through the front door might end up bad..."

"And she might be expecting us, so she could be hiding somewhere. But, uh... I could also be wrong, I guess."

He looked at others. Maybe they had some ideas?
(Keitaro)

Let it be known.
There was no one quite as dumb as Aurora Mukbang Elisheva.

When Thalia mentions that the chimes should be checked as well? Aurora eagerly nods, wanting to get the dead horse off of her mind. She needed to think of something else, she needed to do something else– she needed to hurl a couple of cosmic orbs at those strange, silent chimes.

Likely causing them to move, and perhaps even...

Jingle?

"That should do!"

She was no expert at hiding or sneaking around, of course. And today wouldn't be the day this changes.
(Aurora Elisheva)

Trudging through the muck and mud with a scrunched up nose he'd continue to silently curse himself. He had coin to purchase a new pair, sure, but the Kang family was poor. That was one less cheese sammie in his hands.

As they near their destination the quaking Kang cautiously looks about. Keitaro had to be right, there was no way this place didn't have guards. The witch kidnapped and ate kids, right?

Another shiver ran up his spine.

He'd mutter through chattering teeth, "U-uhm… Maybe someone could blow a chime with wind?-- Wait, no..." Shaking his head he'd quickly add in, "That'd... That'd alert her--"

There was Aurora to the rescue! With a silent scream rolling in his throat he now takes to whirling his head about, searching for anything that may have heard the chime.
(Sima Kang)

Okay, this was actually creepy.

Coming to a stop, the boy's lips drew to the corners of his mouth in a grimace. Giving the creepy looking house a quick look-over, practically doing a double-take as Thalia opted to just walk right up.

Well, she's the one that knows where they're going.

"I guess.."

Sighing softly to himself he reluctantly trudged forwards, aiming to check out the strange chimes. Trying to see what they were actually made of, and discern the reason that they weren't actually moving.

-- But, as he's stepping closer. An orb of cosmic magic was blasted towards the chimes. Great.
(Ilui Elisheva)

The chimes rang out,

a chaotic and shimmering sound.

And though the kids might have expected the witch or some other person to show up to answer their call, no one did. Instead, something shifted. Wood grated on wood until a voice near their feet spoke;

The face carved into the door.

It said a single word:

'Password?'

Of course it had to be a password.

But what can possibly be that? It could be a thousand things out there, and none of them could be right- relying on scoring some lucky word out of sudden was also silly. What exactly would they agree to say, anyway?

"Uhh…"

"Maybe the password is something related to... this place? Like swamp? Fog? Animals? Chimes? Woods?"

All were guesses, but he was sure that none were right.
(Keitaro)

The brunette's gaze shifts between the rest of the Elishevas-- and, well, Keitaro. He was there too.

She had a lot of dumb energies to spare, but truthfully...

Aurora sucked when it came to passwords. Even in ideas! She didn't mind letting them make the first attempt.

"..We can blast the door if we can't figure it out, guys!" Clearly, she was helping. She already gave them one idea they should avoid.
(Aurora Elisheva)

A blink here, a blink there.

One would've thought that Aurora's blast of cosmic magic would've spelled their doom, but... The motion of the door contorting caused her eyebrows to raise upwards.

Password, then...

Looking around, there's a bit of a bite against her lower lip. As if to not shout into the door's uh, face.

"Maybe it's... something like Wind?" She murmurs as she looks among the group. "Any ideas?"
(Thalia Elisheva)

.. Password?

Seeing as they weren't completely obliterated for walking right up to it, the Dryad shuffled over towards the door. Staring at its face, his eyes narrowing in as he barked out,

"Let us in!"

Yeah, that's going to work..

That's totally going to be the password.
(Ilui Elisheva)

The silent screaming of Sima continues as a voice below their feet spoke. What had the Kang gotten himself into? Why did he let Thalia talk him into this?

It was something about family, probably, but he didn't know that for certain.

Sima was never observant, his wide eyes darting about the swamp. Surely there was some indication of a password somewhere. Aurora's antics wouldn't be their best bet here he felt.

"... Open sesame?"

The Kangs weren't known for their brain, or at least Percy and Sima weren't.
(Sima Kang)

The door doesn't look at them, but maybe it was listening to what they were saying?

After they all tried something, or had begun deliberating, the door said,

'The password is 'Please'.'


Thalia Elisheva asks, "Please?"

Ilui Elisheva says, "Not doing it."
Thalia thinks.
(Thalia Elisheva)

Sima stares blankly ahead, the gears in his head had come to a screeching halt. Really?
(Sima Kang)

A carving above the door read:

'The password is 'please'.'

(The door didn't actually respond, omit last narrate)


Aurora Elisheva says, "I say. We blast it open."

Aurora Elisheva says, "Element of surprise."

Ilui Elisheva says, "I'm not saying that."

Thalia Elisheva says, "..."
Drawing in a breath, the girl would glance up at the carving above the door, and then she would roll her eyes.

"Please."

She'd do it.
(Thalia Elisheva)


Sima Kang says, "... Please."
They said the password.

The door didn't open.


Aurora Elisheva asks, ".. Can we try my idea now?"

Sima Kang asks, "Please let us in?"
He gave a scratch behind his head.

Was that information really truthful? More than likely it was some sort of sickening bait for those that would come around and say that word - and yet, with Thalia already saying it, he could only squint, and...

Nothing happens.

"So... maybe it's please but backwards?" The Drakanite clears his throat.

"Esaelp."
(Keitaro)

Aurora begins to prepare another orb of cosmic energy within her palm.
(Aurora Elisheva)


Sima Kang says, "Aurora I swear on the three braincells I have if you blow that door down."

Thalia Elisheva says, "The password is please."
Thalia does quotation fingers.
(Thalia Elisheva)


Aurora Elisheva exclaims, ".. It's smart!"
Ilui's arms fold across his chest.

Not out of defiance, no. But so that he could open his mind up to the galaxy, allowing for those boulders for brain cells that rested within his head to churn audibly.

"The password is 'please'."

-- Oh, wait.

Thalia beat him to it..
(Ilui Elisheva)

The door did not open.

But the door did speak.

'Pathetic children. Turn around and go. Turn around and leave. Turn around and die in the mud like all the rest.'

That wasn't nice.

Keitaro only sighed, but didn't really take it to the heart. It was... just a talking door trying to discourage them from doing whatever they were about to do, and he didn't really pay any mind to that. Instead, he turned to others.

"So... any other bright ideas?"

"Or are we resorting to simply tearing the door down?"
(Keitaro)

There's a visible frown that touches her features as the door begins to berate them.

This was terrible. Why was it so rude...?

"We aren't going to turn around and die."

Now, she was arguing with the door. "Open up!"
(Thalia Elisheva)


Keitaro says, "..."

Keitaro says, "Thalia, this is just a door."
Aurora turns around to shoot a glare at everyone.

"SEE?!"

Again, the one who tried to think least was the most correct. Well, in her mind at least. That orb of cosmic energy continues to charge within the brunette's palm, as she glances at Thalia who stood beside her, "..Mind using some of that fire of yours?" Although a question is asked - Aurora does not necessarily wait.

In fact, she at long last, releases that orb of cosmic magic. It's sent straight at the door! Or more precisely, its irritating face.
(Aurora Elisheva)

"Okay, we're busting it down."

Shuffling closer to his sister, the boy grabbed for his staff. Only to point it towards the door, his eyes narrowing as he readied himself, completely intent on blasting through it with her help.

And the help of anyone that was going to join in.
(Ilui Elisheva)

Sima's nose scrunches on up. Were they really about to devolve into barraging the home with magic? Muttering to himself he tries at least one last request.

"Please eat me."

The children all got ate, right?

His eyes immediately squint, maybe that was a bad choice of words. Glancing about with shifty eyes he watches as Aurora goes to her signature move: Blowing stuff up... With Ilui.
(Sima Kang)

Thalia squints at Sima. Eat him....?
(Thalia Elisheva)


Sima Kang asks, "... What, all the kids got ate?"

Sima Kang asks, "I... It's a shot in the dark, ok?"

Keitaro says, "Sima..."
'Attacking me will only harm you. Attacking me is a bad idea. Attacking me is wrong. The password is how I open, and the password alone will grant you passage. I will not let you pass.'

Its eyes moved now, staring up at Ilui who was preparing to blast it.

Aurora's own cosmic magic collided with it and bounced away.

'Pathetic.'


Keitaro says, "You're weird."

Ilui Elisheva says, ". . . Sima."
Sima lets out a defeated huff.
(Sima Kang)


Sima Kang says, "... Yeah, yeah."

Aurora Elisheva says, ".. Hm, hm."

Aurora Elisheva asks, "We need to please the door. Maybe through... A sacrifice?"

Aurora Elisheva says, "If Sima doesn't mind being eaten- then-..."

Sima Kang says, "What--"

Ilui Elisheva says, "Well, Sima gave himself up--.."

Sima Kang exclaims, "I didn't ACTUALLY mean ti!"
The kids may also all notice; there is no doorknob ont he door.


Sima Kang says, "... It."
Keitaro inhaled, deeply.

The password was 'please', and while others were getting offended by the door, he still paid no particular mind to it; he wasn't going to be affected by a literal talking object, and instead, he sought ways to get through.

"Please tell me the password?"

Who knows if this will work... probably won't.
(Keitaro)

Thalia looks around at the group, looking a bit shocked.

"...okay, how do we please the dumb door?"

Huff. This was weeeeird.
(Thalia Elisheva)


Aurora Elisheva says, "I think we'll be able to blast the door off together."
'Only the password will get you inside, only the key will open the door. But you do not have the key. You cannot enter.'

It huffed. Apparently there was no way of pleasing the door.

Thalia shifts, aiming to begin meddling around the windchimes as if to seek out a key, or something that would hold anything closely resembling a hint.

She couldn't keep arguing with the door.
(Thalia Elisheva)

Tattles whispers something.

Sima's eyes glance back towards the dozens of chimes upon the scaffolding. They didn't sway in the wind so... Oh, hey, Thalia's thinking the same. The Kang joins in once his staff is withdrawn, twirling it about to catch a few gales of wind. He'd jut it forth, hitting chime by chime in an attempt to discern any form of different musical notes.

It paid having a banjo-playing ghost as a mother.
(Sima Kang)

"Hmm..."

Sifting and searching around, she would squint toward the words that had been scrawled behind the chimes. Then!

Her fingers lifted upwards as she gave a steady rush of wind, allowing the chimes to begin sounding off, one after the other, disrupting the melody Sima was trying to create. It was a raucous sound that echoed through the area as she looked in the direction of the door.

"Let us in and I'll stop!"
(Thalia Elisheva)

'STOP! Stop!! No more chimes!'

The door said angrily. It didn't have ears, or even hands to cover them if it did, but it certainly heard the chimes blowing in the wind.

'No I won't! Make it stop! Make it stop!!'


Thalia Elisheva exclaims, "Only if you let us in!"

Sima Kang exclaims, "Want me to make a big ol' gale? Bet I could hit aaaall of them at once!"
Using the winds to make the chimes jingle?

This might as well work; though, now they had to possibly figure out what exactly sort of music the door would react to, and which sort of music- or collection of sounds- would prompt it open. Still, he physically cringes as the sound makes its way through the area, and peers at the door briefly.

"Seems to be working... even if this is horrible to listen to."

"Keep going."
(Keitaro)


Ilui Elisheva says, "Don't stop at him opening up, either. Make his ass say please for disrespecting us too."

Sima Kang says, "-- Ilui."

Sima Kang says, "Language."

The chimes' tune was unharmonious and rough to hear for any passerby, but the door seemed to hate it the most. Thalia and Sima kept it up, and Ilui's taunting actually did the trick.

'stop STOP!' it continued to yell, 'Stop playing them! Stop it, PLEASE!'

As it spoke the password, the face froze, and then went back into its inactive state, whereupon the door opened into the darkness of the swampy home.

"...Oh."

This was surely sudden. To think that Ilui's angst to further antagonize the door would actually pay off like this was unimaginable, but he would accept that much. Sparing a glance at the rest of the group, he spoke out.

"We should go in. Be careful not to walk into some sort of trap or... I don't know, get hurt by anything."

"I also think the witch might not be home at all. If she was, she could've heard us already - and either she would do something, or instead set up more traps and maybe even prepare to ambush us."

"So... be careful."
(Keitaro)

Thalia couldn't believe it actually worked.

It felt cruel, definitely, but... Why did the door have to be so rude to begin with? Her hands soon dropped as she gave an exhausted breath outwards once she found herself able to relax. "Come on, let's go!" She announced as she aimed to move forward into the building.

Hrghhh…!

"It'll be okay, let's go." If she knew, then... Well, uh oh?
(Thalia Elisheva)

Aurora's gaze shifted between Thalia, Sima… And most importantly, the pleading door.

If Aurora didn't know any better, she would have considered the door to be actually alive. How strange. Was this common around witches' houses? Regardless of whether if that was true or not, a small amount of sparkles parted from Aurora's wispy, cosmic aura. They morphed into a pair of floating orbs-- lamps, if you will.

They illuminate the way ahead, ensuring that the group doesn't lose their sense of sight inside the house.
(Aurora Elisheva)

Sima hated to admit it, but he was having a bit of fun. Like... An ounce, but it quickly dons back on him that they were actually going to progress now.

The witch was in there.

With what whirling gales he had about in his staff he'd release them back into the swamps behind them. Keitaro's caution was heeded, and he'd follow the group inside. As the Kang passed the door, however, he'd mutter, "S-sorry about that, but uhm… Yeah-"

Off he went, gingerly taking his first steps into the witch's abode.
(Sima Kang)

"We're not at home, you can curse."

Scoffing, the boy's arms folded across his chest. Grinning just about as long as life as the mean door was put through something he obviously didn't like. Honestly, that's what he gets for trying to make him say please.

".. Wow, it actually worked."

Giving a few firm nods of his head, the boy happily accepted the confirmation bias that his angsty antagonizing had been helpful, and that he should continue doing it. Forever and ever. Shuffling after the others as they made their way in, the boy wiggled his arm as he stepped into the door.

Allowing for a single Mandrake to pop out of his sleeve.

Giving a simple duty for its short-lived life; ring a chime if the door came back to life.
(Ilui Elisheva)

The entrance was opened, and into the home they all went.

Given how dark it had grown outside with the lone torch on what might have been considered the porch, the interior of the home was much worse. There were no lights at all, save Aurora's 'lamps' and what other magical auras the group was capable of using to illuminate the path.

And once inside the talking door closed shut behind them with a click.

They were in what appeared to be a living room, one covered in dust and dirt. Except there was a strangeness to it all; the walls were covered in paintings of nightmarish scenes. They were all done by some sort of talented artist, but each one depicted the sight of a murder, a battle, or something of that sort. One showed a woman plunging a dagger into her sleeping husband, another wolves tearing apart a hiker in the woods.

Across the room was a lifted altar of some kind, a thing made of stone and wood that was leaning against what might have one day long ago been a sofa.

Even to Keitaro, this looked a bit... almost too much.

There's only so much resolve that a child can have before getting creeped out; although this does not deter him from accomplishing his goal of stopping the witch with the rest of the group, it does send shivers down his spine when he looks at this sort of scenery.

"This place is horrible..."

"No wonder the witch is crazy and kidnaps kids. Anyone living in a place like this would be like that."

A small banter to lift up the spirits, but in reality, he was already looking about for what they must do around here to get to the witch; it didn't help that the door shut behind them, and it all felt only more claustrophobic and scary.

In some way, almost like there was no exit at all at this point.
(Keitaro)

Oh, now this was weird as hell, wasn't it?

With fire hazing delicately around her form, the would give a bit of a grimace as she looked toward the scenes there. "This is..." She mumbled outwards, looking back toward the others.

"...Awful." She mentions as she moves around to glance at the alter that had been left behind. Observing the room for anything that could've been properly used to lead the way, she would shudder all the while.

"Any ideas?"
(Thalia Elisheva)

The first sound that alerts Aurora when they enter is that of the door- it closes on them. Uh-oh.

That might prove to be bad later on.

It's no surprise that the dust that collected inside the house causes Aurora to sneeze as loud as she possibly could, likely alarming whatever might've laid inside. Oops. "T-There's..! So much dust!" At least she covered her lips with her hands before doing that, huh?

She doesn't notice the drawings until now, mostly trying to see where it was the least dusty... Just so she can spare her nose more sneezes.
(Aurora Elisheva)

Once again Sima nearly jumps out of his skin as the door shuts behind them. With what little light they had he'd peer back towards it; Would they be able to get out?..

He felt that the answer was a resounding no, and once more did the Kang lull into his cowardly state. Wide-eyed, chattering teeth, and gripping the staff like it would be his last breath.

Slowly scanning the room he'd find nothing but horrors. It added weight to his legs as he stifled a stammering whisper. This wasn't his element anymore - They were at the mercy of the house and the hungering witch within it.

Keitaro's comments are regarded with a shaky, half-hearted chuckle. Maybe the witch was... No, they were not misunderstood. They kidnapped kids.

"U-uhm… Ma-ybe the altar?.." Stammering, his shoulders barely lifting in what would be assumedly a shrug. The Kang weakly points with his staff towards the sofa.
(Sima Kang)

Once inside, the only thing that really bothered him was all the dust.

A single hand rose to cover himself as he let out a few sneezes. A pair of pink eyes glancing between each of the paintings, softly humming to himself. They were actually really creepy, super creepy in fact. Some of them were enough to make even the Dryad's nose crinkle up.

"Yeah, someone that'd live here.. Haha.."

-- It wasn't that bad of a place..

Shifting around on his heels, his attention was drawn towards the strange altar, his head canting ever so slightly to the side.

".. What's up with that thing anyway?"
(Ilui Elisheva)

Those who examined the altar found it, surprisingly, void of dust. It was ornate, even, and stood out in the environment. Along the top of it, an inscription read,

'Use your head to paint me red, inside of thee resides your key.'

It might have been only now that the group realized there was no pathway to any room deeper within the house, and the door that had closed may not open from this side, as so many had thought about.

A leather hide was stretched out across the altar, clean and bare.

How often had this thing been used...?

There's certainly a questioning that comes to her as she crinkles her nose up. "Paint it red... Does it mean blood?" She inquires as she glances around at the group.

Something about bleeding tonight didn't particularly sit well with her now, did it? Even then, she would touch along the leather hide after a moment, giving a shudder.

"Well..." It's the only real explanation she could find for it...
(Thalia Elisheva)

Sima scratches at the back of his head, standing before the altar. Did it really mean blood? He'd scrunch up his nose for a bit before taking a step on back.

Carefully using the bottom of his staff he'd attempt to lift the hide up a bit. Maybe they just had to paint something beneath the hide?

"U-uhm… Would anyone care to look about for some paint?.." He'd let that question hang on the air. Hesitantly leaning forward he'd try to see what lays underneath the hide as his staff lifts it gingerly up.
(Sima Kang)

...Or maybe there was red paint somewhere?

It was a naïve belief, because just like Thalia, he believed that the altar asked them to bleed all over it most likely. While he did not enjoy the notion of bleeding all over it, he realized that this might as well be necessary. And...

"Well, uh..."

"If... if there's no red paint or we have no alternatives, I guess I could..."

He didn't finish the sentence, but it's clear as day what the Drakanite was offering, exactly. Someone had to do it, after all.
(Keitaro)

"Seems like a sacrificial altar, hm."

It's a concept that wasn't completely foreign to him, that much was made clear as the Dryad shuffled closer, only to roll up one of his overly large sleeves. Allowing them all a glimpse at one of his usually hidden, scar-riddled arms. It wasn't as drastic as someone as old as Ohtli's own arms.

.. But, it's obvious that he was used to this sort of thing. Communing with the Spirits was one of his duties, and making sure that they were given proper sustenance was apart of that.

Grabbing into his other sleeve, a stone dagger was removed, and pressed against his palm. Turning towards the group before actually doing anything,

"I don't mind being the one to do it." A shrug of his shoulders, "Might need more than one person, who knows."
(Ilui Elisheva)

Thalia ...also looks around for paint, just in case haha!
(Thalia Elisheva)

There is, of course, no paint.

Aurora quietly looks towards Keitaro as he practically offers his blood. Hm. Strangely enough, it looks like she wouldn't be opposed to the idea that he'd serve as sacrifice.

.. Ilui, though? Not so much. The demi-angel was upset with him, but, he was still very much her sibling. "No! Don't! He already offered he'd do it himself, Ilui…"

If the Elisheva has anything to say about the earth dagger, then she'd likely keep it away from her sibling's grasp.
(Aurora Elisheva)

Thalia nods.
(Thalia Elisheva)

The Dryad didn't really seem to mind either way.

But, he does frown as his knife was snatched away from him.

".. You know I do this all the time, right?" Canting his head ever so slightly to the side, his gaze drifted back over towards Keitaro, his shoulders rising and falling into a shrug.

"It's pretty easy, or should be. Just cut your palm, and hold it over the piece of leather..?"

Sounds like he wasn't completely sure himself. Since he only made sacrifices to the spirits, and not part of any spooky witch ritual things.
(Ilui Elisheva)


Aurora Elisheva asks, "What if it's some type of a curse?"

Aurora Elisheva exclaims, "Let Keitaro try first!"
Sima's nose scrunches on up. No dice - Nothing underneath it. Drawing in a breath he'd let out a defeated huff, peering towards the rest of the party.

"I can uhm… Do it as well, then. I don't think one person bleeding on this I-is going to uhm… Be enough."

Now came two questions, however. Tilting his head lightly to the side he'd continue looking over the altar. "Now it could... Just be me, but what if we literally just have to drag our heads across the leather? What if it's uhm…-- Yeah, cursed or magical or something? I'unno."

The Kang's nose remains scrunched up, looking between the party. If Ilui and Keitaro were to step forth and paint it red then so be it.
(Sima Kang)

"Mmh,"

And then, a blade of wind cuts along the tips of her fingers as she steps forward, aiming to wipe her bleeding fingers against the altar.

"Nah."

...Alright then.
(Thalia Elisheva)

This would be quite unpleasant.

Thankfully, Keitaro prepared himself for this, and he walked up closer to the altar- a spark of lightning against his own palm was created, intended to pierce through skin and make him bleed. Though, it wasn't to an excess... but enough to paint the altar red, just as it seemingly demanded.

He does so in tandem with Thalia, squinting a little and furrowing his brows at the sight and feeling of doing so. But the sooner they would get this over with, the sooner they would likely find the witch.

"I hope this works."
(Keitaro)

Thalia and Keitaro's blood is smeared onto the leather and the altar. Together they are able to 'paint' it red as the inscription said. As soon as the leather is mostly covered in red, it snapped up on its own, and rolled into the air before them.

The altar didn't move, but the air in the space changed.

Part of the wall fell away, and something emerged from a dark hallway, something resembling an mixture of Keitaro and Thalia, only far more horrific.

The creature had Keitaro's face, but Thalia's limbs. It's form was made of what looked like ink, dripping black liquid falling to the floor with a smack. It was grotesque to look at, and amidst the paintings of violence and gore, it took the spotlight.

It stared first at Keitaro, and on its face, its cheeks opened up, and it tried to smile. With the lack of skin on the sides of its face, it was unnatural and vile, a demonic sort of look that revealed its sharpened fangs within its maw.

...and on Keitaro's own face, his cheeks began to bleed. It was as if the skin the side was attempting to scrape itself away. Little by little, bit by bit, the magic in the air was trying to make him resemble the shadow.

The reflection held out its hands, and where it had humanoid fingers one moment, long claws extended out from the tips and broke through the 'skin', dripping more ichor onto the floor.

Thalia herself could feel something protruding from each fingertip of her own, and looked down, she would be able to see the points of something trying to break free through the skin. It wasn't there entirely, much like Keitaro's own 'injury', but it was slowly working its way there.

The thing stared at them, still smiling, and then its eyes looked to Aurora next.
(Shadow Reflection)

Aurora doesn't seem to notice whatever it is that emerges from the hallway...

Frankly, she was too bothered by the sight and smell of the blood. She was not fond of it, to say the least. ..But the closer it gets? The more others begin to notice this strange mixture of her cousin and the Drakanite-boy.

Uh-oh. Did they become parents just now?

W-Why was it staring at her? She didn't want to become a creature's aunt so soon..! What did Thalia and Keitaro got her into?

"U-uhm..!"

The luminosity of the cosmic energies around Aurora's body began to shine slightly brighter, shades of varying colors swimming and drifting into one another...

This wasn't going to turn out well, was it?
(Aurora Elisheva)

Alright, Thalia did not want to be a teen mother to an abomination. This was actually incredibly creepy to her, and as she stared at it, she felt her skin beginning to contort now as she brought her hands up to stare at them. Then, she gives a pained hiss outwards as she shakes her head from side to side.

"G-guys," she squeaked out a bit roughly as her fingers flexed all the while. Fire began to burn at the tips as she attempted to cauterize over whatever was trying to get out. It hurt. It hurt a lot.

Along her skin, she would feel the pained sensation ride as she brought her hands up abruptly.

"STOP!!"

It's cried outwards as she allows a burst of wind to ricochet off the walls, forward and attempting to dismantle the 'shadow reflection' that was staring them down. The blast, however, seemed a bit weak in and of itself.

...After all, she was still suffering a bit of ablock in her circuitry.
(Thalia Elisheva)

This is not good.

What kind of a monster would create reflections such as these? Feeling it upon himself, the Shenlong couldn't help but physically cringe at the feeling of his blood escaping his cheeks, the reflection attempting to take on the form of Drakanite. But he wasn't going to surrender or back away, no- this would be something that he had to face anyway.

As such, the lightning around him sparked up to a whole new degree.

He knew the pain was coming. Feeling that the reflection somehow resembles him personally, he had assumed there's an empathic bond of sort, one that would mean he's going to get hurt if the creature will- and despite thinking that, he turned to the others.

"I will likely inherit any pain inflicted upon it."

"You can swing on the parts that belong to me without hesitation. I'll take it, it's fine."

"Just try to not go overboard."

As much ashe was ready to endure, he didn't feel like he would be ready to die... not like this. But he also knew, he had to attack- a lunge, one enhanced with the lightning of Shenlong, and the fight would break out.
(Keitaro)

Sima's brows rise high on his face. Blinking twice he'd squint for a bit, leaning forth towards the dark hallway as the amalgamation steps forth. Yeah, no, he had to be dreaming right now. Using his free hand to lightly rub each eye he'd spare it one last glance.

Nope. Not a nightmare.

As he goes to speak to his fellow adventurers he finds Keitaro and Thalia both affected similarly to the amalgamation. This was fine. This heart beating thousands of beats in his ears? Normal. Absolutely normal.

With nothing more than a face of pure, accepted terror his gaze falls back towards the amalgamation. With Keitaro outlining the events to come he'd pull in a wall of water about his own form.

"Don't... Don't l-let either of them touch it. I-I've... Got a bad feeling."

It wasn't the bile rising up in his throat either. Steeling his nerves the quaking Kang prepares for the worst; The Shenlong's first to jump into the fray.
(Sima Kang)

Oh, that's not okay.

Something was really off about this thing; not only because it sort of resembled both Keitaro and Thalia, despite all its dark inky bits. But because as it moved, it seemed to hurt the people it resembled.

Great..

Clearing his throat, the Dryad shuffled forwards. A single hand reaching back to grab hold of his twin-bladed staff, slamming it onto the ground as flowers began to sprout up around him. Vines wriggling up from the ground, and Mandrakes suddenly appearing, only to idly scurry around his feet as they awaited his command.

"Yeah, just hold back.. Don't go overboard-.."

Cutting his words short, the Dryad's nose crinkled up, his heart starting to beat a bit faster as he stared down the strange amalgamation. It wasn't out of fear, no; it was adrenaline coursing through those veins of his.

Yet, deep down, he was scared of something..

And that's not actually being able to hold back once he got into it..
(Ilui Elisheva)

The creature made her stomach roll, naturally. The form of an abomination showing itself toward them as she gives a short little shudder. Keitaro asked to go easy on it, but it had her limbs, too... She could feel it sprouting from her fingers uncomfortably as she tried to keep it under wraps, but...

It caused her a good amount of panic. As the wind bounced off of the walls, there's the look of gold that shimmers through it as she shifts around, moving through the area as she tries to will her proper magic into existence. Wind carries her feet and she aims to get around, to make her attempts at properly striking back at this thing, until...

Holding up one of her hands, there's a shimmering, gold sword that crashes outwards, cutting along the side of the amalgamation of shadows and more, cutting into it's side as she gives a heavy, shaking breath outwards. From behind her, there strains more swords shimmering in her backdrop, but she can't afford to stop now.

"Aurora, go!"

The voice calls out as she attempts to use a concentrated force of wind to assist her cousin forward to secure a victory against this monster.
(Thalia Elisheva)

The recent magical fevers, the blockage in her magic-- the inability of flight...

It all stemmed from the same thing. Even as the sparkles and shimmer around Aurora turned brighter, the wide range of colors bursting from the brunette's form all around - something still felt wrong. Strange, not correct, unnatural.

Her magic. It had been trying to speak to her, to explain... .. To make the demi-angel understand.

And even throughout the battle, as meteors rained from above, and glass is hurled towards the shadow reflection-- Aurora's magic circuits scream inside, pleading to be unlocked and used to their fullest potential. Just as it nears Aurora, when the creature is inches away from reaching her with its dark appendage...

Eden's light embraces the Elisheva, allowing her to take one deep breath - and her instincts take over next. Thalia's words of encouragement only fuel that fire within Aurora further. .. And finally, it snaps.

The blockage. The strain on her body. The unnatural feeling.
They all momentarily disappear when a wide array of glowing, golden swords are conjured in a circle around the cosmic-magi - all shooting in an instant.

"Just... Die already!"

They cleave through the creature's limbs, through its body, and finally, even through the middle of its skull.
(Aurora Elisheva)

They fought against the strange, inky thing with ferocity, each magi doing their part in pushing it back. Despite the whole house shaking about as if a great earthquake was toppling it over and the floor itself cracking into sharpened rocks and stones that were sent in their direction, they were able to come out victorious.

Aurora cut through its body, only to find it consisting of that strange, liquid state that it looked like, and while some of the injuries didn't seem to do much, the final one to the head ended it, and it collapsed into what first appeared to be a puddle--

and then vanished entirely.

What damange had been done to the house was no longer visible.

What mess the thing had made on the floor was gone.

But Keitaro's cheeks were still red with minor cuts, and Thalia's fingers had sores at the tips. Aurora's eyesight was a bit blurry, and Sima could swear there were some growing pains along his shoulders. Ilui would also feel the top of his head ache ever slightly.

But for now? It looked like they were OK, with a dark hallway now stretching out before them.

There's a brief shudder that exists as her gaze moves around. The thing had been cut down. Finally, it was gone. "...Good work," she says in a hushed tone of voice before her gaze levels forward toward the hall before them.

"We should keep going." She states as she nods her head, aiming to head off in that direction unless she was stopped here and now...!

They had to keep pressing forward diligently.
(Thalia Elisheva)

Whatever it was, Keitaro was glad that now it's gone.

Though, to fight your own reflection was something very unusual, something that he couldn't wrap his head around yet. What exactly was that apparition anyway? Some sort of flesh growth that could replicate others? Something akin to a mimic that could take form of others? Or perhaps, this was all just a very, very advanced form of illusion?

He wasn't sure if he wanted to know.

"...Finally."

Huffing and puffing after the creature was felled, he stared as the puddle was made, only to vanish entirely; despite the cheeks covered in blood due to cuts, he didn't pay much attention to it, other than channelling the holy magics upon himself. He might as well soothe the pain while he's at it, really.

"We have to advance further... I think the witch might be there."

Of course, he referred to the dark hallway before them; who knows what else this place had?
(Keitaro)

Once it's all said and done, the Dryad's staff was placed onto his back once more.

A single hand rising to rub at the top of his head, groaning slightly. Just why did that thing have to look at him, and giving him a headache of all things? That's actually not right.

"You sure we're not going to run into anymore shadow babies..?"

Scoffing out his words, the Dryad ventured forwards; right into the dark, expansive hallway that awaited them.
(Ilui Elisheva)


Thalia Elisheva exclaims, "Don't know!"
Sima's left panting as the battle draws to a close. Having twirled, leaped, and even slide-stepping his wintery gales about the inky monstrosity had been beat.

Or at least turned into a puddle.

The Kang's eyes look about the room for a time, scrunching up his nose as he peers back towards his shoulders. His dad had wings so maybe?.. Probably not. He highly doubted that. He was a growing boy after all!

Drawing in a shaky, post-battle breath he'd give a firm nod. There was still more ground to cover, and despite his shaking knees they had to press on.

"J-just uhm… Let's let others that didn't do the 'test' of sorts do the next few, right?" It only seemed fair to the azure-haired teen. With nothing more than an uncertain smile gracing his lips he'd press on if others stepped forth.
(Sima Kang)

Despite any sort of healing or soothing magic, the strange inflictions did not seem to go away. Their aching pains continued on, even if they weren't getting worse, the further the group went into the building. Their lights were still the only source of illumination, and eventually they find a creaking staircase that, surprisingly, leads downward?

Hadn't this house been built on stilts?

Still, it descends, and into the darkness they continue. Further and further downward until the boards begin to rot and each steps squishes water out from the dark wood. The walls soon become stone, wet to the touch, and the ceiling drips.

The descent had lead them into some sort of underground cavern, and where it empties out, they find a large room filled with...

oversized toys?

A teddy bear the size of Thalia rests against the far wall, its fur and stitching matted, one of its eyes torn out. A ball with a large, stained star sat idly near the center of the room. And most disconcerting of all, there was a long pole with a sphere attached to the end resting on its side. What sort of thing could that be?

An opening up ahead had, for once, a lightsource flickering down its walls, and from it the group could hear some humming.

They would head forward, and she would look around and a crinkle of her nose comes. Down and down...? It was odd that they were descending, but alas...

Coming to a halt there, she would stop at the strange toys that had been displayed here.

"What in the world..."

The mumble comes and goes as she shakes her head from side to side in rapid fashion.

"Do you guys think that's her? Down there?" She inquires quietly as she stares down the chasm. Maybe they should...

She didn't really know. These toys seemed to be cause for concern. A push of her wind magic would force the ball forward as she tried to see if anything would particularly come from it...
(Thalia Elisheva)

As they walk further to see what the rest of the place inhabited, there was naught but more creepiness; it doesn't help that these inflictions he suffered could not be soothed by anything of his caliber, and that only irritated him more. Though, steeling himself, he continued with as much concentration on the matter ahead as he could.

"It has to be her."

If this was yet another creature ahead of them, then... it seems they might have to overcome it as well. Whatever would await for them all, Keitaro was prepared, and besides, it might as well be the right time to end it all.

"We should be ready for whatever it is."
(Keitaro)

Kraus, his dang shoulders... His face remains scrunched up as they continue deeper into the home. Sima hated this dark, he hated the pain, he definitely did not like the fact he'd have to go home in mucky boots.

Upon reaching the stairs his brain enters a state of full halt. Wait why... No. He wasn't going to ask.

Proceeding forth into cavern he'd only stare at the oversized toys. When weren't his eyes the size of saucer plates within this place? Gritting his teeth, shaking in his boots, he'd only shake his head in response about the humming.

The Kang's eyes remained on the bear.
(Sima Kang)

A strange pain that just wouldn't go away..

It's annoying, that's for sure; but for now he was going to just have to deal with it, his eyes going half-lidded as a hand rose to cover his eyes from any lights.

Somehow they managed to descend down further and further, finding themselves within the cavern. Only to be met with oversized toys, and a light at the end of the tunnel.

"-- What the..?"

Canting his head ever so slightly to the side, his attention drifting on over towards the light.

"Hopefully it is, my head's killing me right now."

A bit of a whiner, but he carried on with the group!
(Ilui Elisheva)

From around the corner came none other than a woman garbed in black robes. Her skin was grey and clammy, and though her face was covered by a hood, her pale eyes could be seen peering through the shroud at the children who had traveled down into her domain.

She stared, and then let out a hiss, a sigh?

"More... Hmmhmm... I wasn't expecting more.... visitors today."

She stared, but didn't seem hostile yet, as she considered what to do next.

"More visitors?"

There's a whip of her head around as she attempts to see if there had been any sign of where those others could've possibly been. Her hand lifts and she touches against her chest as she grits her teeth a small bit. "Where are they?" She demands toward the woman that stood there. Hopefully they weren't...

You know...
(Thalia Elisheva)

Although Keitaro wasn't immediately hostile either, he was quite persistent in the things he was going to do- and considering the fact that the witch allegedly had done much of wrong, and in fact, they actually witnessed plenty, he spoke out with firm tone of voice.

"Lady."

"Please surrender peacefully so that we may investigate this matter properly. You've committed plenty of things that would be considered immoral, but though you can't change the past, it doesn't mean this has to continue."

"Come along without resistance, this doesn't have to get any worse."

He doubted she would listen, but already he was acting pro-active enough to set his foot down and demand her surrender. A try is a try.
(Keitaro)

Even with that blurry vision Aurora had, the witch's piercing stare had reached her. It struck true and deep within the demi-angel's heart, filling it with slight fear. .. Frankly, she felt as if that thing they encountered was only the witch's servant.

Now? Now was the real deal. Now they were going to face the creature of it-- the owner of this house... The witch they'd been warned about.

And although she didn't seem so hostile just yet, Aurora couldn't help but feel wary.
(Aurora Elisheva)

.. Some old lady?

Well, that's what a witch normally was. Clearing his throat, the Dryad rubbed his head a few more time; just seeing if he could stop it from hurting. Only for him to finally speak up,

"Hello there."

It's practically chirped out, waiting for the others to declare their intentions!
(Ilui Elisheva)

As a hissing sigh fills the air Sima lets out a yip of terror. His eyes, after all, had been trained on the bear. With a white knuckled grip on the staff between his hands he'd now place his unblinking gaze on the shrouded woman.

The Kang was expecting bony fingers, a warty nose, and the usual proceedings of a witch. Yet there she stood, old and crotchety like a cloaked thief.

With shifty eyes he'd scrunch his face up once more as if he'd licked a lemon. "Uhm… H-hello?"
(Sima Kang)

She watched Thalia speak until Keitaro made a demand of her. "This is my home... you are trespassers in my home... You will come with me and we can... talk."

The witch wasn't going to listen to what he told her to do, especially not in her own domain. From down the stony hallway she had emerged from came a cry. It sounded almost infant like, if it was not also laced with some sort of reptilian hissing. The witch whipped around and shushed down the way,

"Shhhshuuhshshhh… I will be right there! Mommy will be back soon... soon..." She looked back to the 'visitors', expecting them to follow or fight.
(Bog Witch)

There's a haunted bit of a chill that comes to her being as she looks toward the woman, hearing that cry. Almost like a baby, but it was... It was changed, it was shifted.

It absolutely wasn't right.

"I have a feeling if we were to go talk, we'd be..."

Yeah, she didn't really need to go on about it, did she? Her gaze moves toward Keitaro in worry, biting down against her cheek. She wanted to go toward whatever it was that was making that sound, she wanted to save it.

...But they couldn't with this woman in the way, could they?
(Thalia Elisheva)

The words were not convincing for Shenlong.

Just like any questionable individual, he expected her to try and talk her way out of this, or fall back to 'reason' in order to sway things her way. Unfortunately for her, Keitaro was strong in his conviction, and only insisted further.

"I'm afraid we cannot."

"We're here because of the people that were kidnapped, taken to be experimented on by you. This is not ethical. This is not moral. This has to stop."

"I will ask again - surrender peacefully, so that we may restrain you, and then continue our conversation. You've become a dangerous person, lady, and we cannot allow this to continue."

Where others may have some doubts, or try to listen to what she had to say for herself, Keitaro always would insist on his own way- he may have been heroic and merciful, but it's nigh impossible to sway him when he stands firm in his conviction.
(Keitaro)

Well I mean, sitting down to talk with a child-eating witch was probably a terrible idea all things considered. Yet, again, that thought began to cross his mind that it all may truly... Yeah, no, probably not rumors.

"Could... Could we perhaps ta--" Sima's reasoning is promptly cut short as the baby cries out, a reptilian hiss? The Kang swallows another forming lump in his throat, shaking his head.

Not any further.

"... Talk here. If that's... Ok, miss?" Pleading eyes look between the group and the witch. Lowering his staff a bit he'd try to not look intimidating in the slightest.

It's not hard.
(Sima Kang)

Keitaro says, "Do not bargain with her. She's a dangerous individual."

Something strange was going on here..

The Dryad's brow quirked as the cry was heard, his attention drifting over towards the rest of his group. Only to roll his shoulders into a shrug.

Shuffling forwards, his arms moving to fold across his chest. Softly humming to himself all the while.

She didn't seem super evil and witch-y like she had been described as. So, he doesn't really see any harm in checking out whatever was back there making all that racket. But, he stops himself.. Sighing,

"Surrender peacefully..?"

"If we're going to do this, if we're going to do this. We might as well not half-ass it.."
(Ilui Elisheva)


Keitaro says, "Questionable people always try to fall back on reason to justify their motives."

Keitaro says, "Do not let it get to you."

Sima Kang says, "Yeah but like... Let's just hear her side first? It's... Fair."

Keitaro says, "No, Sima. People will manipulate you like this."

Keitaro says, "They will always try and justify their questionable motives with reason."

Keitaro says, "Restrain them first and create safe environment. Then talk."

Ilui Elisheva asks, "Why don't we just kill her?"

Keitaro says, "Because that is not right."

Ilui Elisheva asks, "Seems like you're trying to justify your reasoning, hm?"

Ilui Elisheva says, "You've seen what she's done."

Keitaro says, "You're quick to assume people cannot return to do good."

Keitaro says, "You're also quick to assume that her knowledge can't help prevent things like this in the future."

Keitaro says, "To kill would only create perpetual cycle of violence. There would be more of her in the future."
A grating chime rang out, an echo of the ones that lined the porch, but even more out of tune and irritating to hear. The witch raised her hand up and more water began to sift along the floor, and her veins strained against her already nearly translucent skin.

She heard the threats, the demands, between Ilui and Keitaro going back and forth, along with Sima's seemingly nice offers to speak.

"You are endangering my baby... you are going to hurt him. You are going to hurt my baby."

She was panicking, preparing to fight. Shadows and illusions sifted throughout the cavern as she became more and more defensive.
(Bog Witch)

A finger lifts, then...

Ah, goodness gracious. Her baby, this that... Her heart drums a bit harder in her chest as she looks down toward the chasm, trying to figure out just... what it was. She wanted to know. Her curiosity was truly getting the worst of her in the moment, but shadows and illusionary tactics would begin to flood within the area as she brought her arms up defensively.

"You better decide now!" She calls out, fire spinning around her form.

They were in trouble if they kept it up like this...!
(Thalia Elisheva)

So they had little choice.

It would always end like this. But... was she even going to come back with them, even if they agreed to speak to her. There's always something else that can happen, something that none of them can foresee - and for that very reason, Keitaro sought to restrain her first before anything.

Only once she's restrained they could really speak in peace. Until then...

"We do not intend to bring you harm, but we also cannot allow to lower our guards down without making sure that you would not be able to lash out."

"I regret to say this, but... we will have to restrain you."

The lightning surged. If they had to make sure that she cannot bring harm to people, so be it.
(Keitaro)

".. Just listen to her, there's obviously something wrong with her."

Scoffing out his words, the boy shuffled forwards. A single hand raising, allowing for his small army of woodland creatures, vines, and flowers to rise once more.

Beckoning to his call, his brow furrowing slightly as he glared at the deranged woman ahead of him.

They were going to try and keep her around, but for what..?

It didn't make any sense to him.

.. But for now, he was going to play along.
(Ilui Elisheva)

All of this bickering between wanting to restrain and kill her made his stomach bubble all the more. Why was everyone so quick to jump the gun? It angered him to a degree, but more so just concerned him on how deep violence was rooted.

As the witch begins to pull at the shadows, drawing them in to form illusions he'd swallow another lump. Kraus, when'd his mouth get so dry?

Why was everyone so ready to attack over a possible rumor?

"We're not here to hurt your baby we're just here for children that have gone missing, possibly eaten!" Sima blurts on out, outright ignoring Keitaro's and Thalia's demands for surrender.

On the cusp of battle his heart continues to drum in his ears, his eyes pulling towards the shadows this way and that. Not again, not more shadows. Not more monsters that would erupt from them. With quaking legs, his breath quickly rising in its pace he could only prepare for the worse.
(Sima Kang)

The Bog Witch flew into battle with a shriek of her own, no longer waiting for the deliberation with Keitaro coming straight at her. She had no intention of backing down with some sort of maternal instincts for the thing in the back room kicking in. Her biomancy was put to use, and while the illusions assailed the Elishevas and their friends, she drew near to touch them, to grip their arms and make their blood shift and writhe in their veins.

To Keitaro, once she reached him, his cheeks were cut again, though this time the pain was more focused inside of his mouth. His teeth were elongated, some of them to a point. It wasn't all the way developed when Thalia threw a spell out to launch her away from the drakanite.

But again she came and descended on Sima. From a flank she gripped his shoulders, and from his bone and skin underneath, two sharpened points broke through his skin and stuck out on either side. It was painful, given it was bone that was sticking out, but it wasn't broken...

With a swirl and a kick to Aurora's chest, the witch's blood red current hurned about Ilui, and though she knew it would cost her a counter attack, she gripped his head with both of her hands. With eyes as pale as snow that the dryad could have sworn were blind, she forced the blood in his head to concentrate and shift upward. Where he had felt the pain atop his skull, something broke free from the skin and began to grow; two small horns made of wood...

It was here, however, where Ilui could deliver the final blow. For even though she managed to transform him, she left herself open.

Her fate was his to decide.

(Bog Witch has been defeated by Ilui Elisheva! They're unable to continue fighting.)

(These mutations are in place of temps and perms. You can rp them as you will, get rid of them or help them grow, it's up to you.)

There's a shift and a motion through the area, and as she forced the Bog Witch away from Keitaro… Then, she would stare in the direction of those around as they allowed the discord and more to take place.

Through the area, she would push forward and toward the sound of the reptilian sounding child she would break through, the battle having thoroughly lost her attention.

She had to know.

Could it be saved? She hoped. She desperately hoped.
(Thalia Elisheva)

This sort of pain would be anticipated anyhow.

So when it came about, he endured; he took it and pushed through amidst the combat, despite the apparent grip she's had on the young Drakanite. But no matter how much he tried to ignore that sort of pain, he would still find himself screaming in pain as something shifted within his mouth- something that he couldn't help at all, and the bleeding commenced.

Spilling from his mouth, he spat out some after he was released from the grip. Thankfully, the transformation was interrupted, and it wasn't lethal either. Although it hurt, he was certain that he would recover in time... probably.

"Mppfft-"

It hurt to speak. Trying to adjust to this new feeling within his mouth, he could only glance as apparently the witch is reduced to helpless being before Ilui, and he could not intervene in time, for he was briefly stunned by it all.

He could only hope he wasn't going to kill her.
(Keitaro)

Something about this woman really made him angry.

It's possibly because, just like at the orphanage, she was playing around with people as she pleased. Shifting and changing them to her desires, forcing things on them; just like what had happened to him, and his family.

As the fight went on, the Dryad's eyes narrowed in, trying his best to get in, and stay in. Obviously trying his absolute hardest to hurt the woman. Just like he had been hurt in the past. Sadly for her, she was going to be used as a replacement for the people who ran that orphanage in his past.

She drew closer, her hands grasping onto the sides of his head as horns began to sprout out of them. Crying out in pain, the boy's teeth grit together. She was so close, it was the perfect chance..

"G--.. Gah.. You stupid--"

.. And a pair of horns was worth being able to actually deal with her.

To actually feel relief, to feel as if he had gotten back atthe people of the orphanage.

Grasping tightly onto his twin-bladed staff, it's suddenly slammed onto the ground. Spikes erupting from the ground beneath his feet, impaling her. The Dryad grinning just about as long as life as he's left to fall back onto the ground.

A sigh of relief escaping past him, his heart practically skipping a beat.
(Ilui Elisheva)



Aurora was correct. This battle was harder on all fronts than the one versus the oozing shadow from before. The witch was tougher and more powerful - and it showed. She shrugged most of the Elisheva's attacks off, and...

Even with this blurry sight, Aurora could swear she could sense and almost see the witch focusing on her sibling, Ilui.

Why? What did he do? Why couldn't she just leave him alone-- why couldn't she focus her attacks on the person who was not a part of her family?

The worry drives the cosmic-magi to give more of her magic, to try harder - even as the witch kicks her away. While still laying on the ground, she brings her hand upwards, allowing a single golden blade to be conjured above... And through a narrowed stare, she sends it away.

It slashes through the witch's face, cutting through her face's skin and leaving her cheek with nothing but exposed skin.
(Aurora Elisheva)

Sima's hyperventilating, panicking mess of a fighting dance isn't graceful. It isn't practiced. It's a fight of fear and confusion, of panic and hurt.

What if they truly were misunderstood?

As he's descended upon by the witch the Kang only looks on with pleading eyes. They didn't have to do this, they could've sat down and talked it over - What if this was all just a trick of the eye?

His thoughts are cut short, shoulders gripped before two sharpened points break through skin and armor alike. There's a sharp scream from the azure-haired teen as he's taken out of the fight. There was no more fighting from the boy from that point forth.

Doubled over, attempting to catch his breath, the Kang watches on with teary eyes as Ilui claims victory... Hopefully not brutally. Thalia, however, was already on their way further on.

It's all for naught, however. Ilui was Ilui.
(Sima Kang)

The witch was met with a sudden upspring of stony spikes that impaled her body and lifted it up in a bloody end to the fight. Ilui had killed her, and with her final breath, she watched with tear filled eyes as Thalia ran down the direction to the back area.

Her notes and a vial fell from the witch's robes, and then she hung limply from the spikes, her blood dripping down into puddles beneath them.

In the back, another shrill cry could be heard, one that didn't stop, until Thalia came face to face with whatever the witch had called her baby. In truth, it could barely even be called that, as it appeared to be a mix between a giant toddler and a crocodile. Bones littered the floor of the 'baby's' room, along with half of the body of what might have been the wagon driver.

Throughout the back room there were shelves FILLED with blood vials, each one marked with some sort of note on mutation and transformation that it might cause.

The lizard thing cried, and its handful of sharp teeth were revealed to be covered with black ink and red ichor alike.

Without a mother it would starve, and it was now crying for its protector who would never come to feed it again.