Where the sun never rises

[14:30] {NARRATION} The trip had been a long time coming.

Securing a willing boatman to take them this far north was hard, even with the wealth and influence that came with their nobility, but they managed it. Rumors enshrouded their destination, and the boatman was sure to regale them with tales of the place they were going.

"Ya know, they say this place only sees a sunrise once every seven years... and it's only for thirty minutes. The rest of the time it's supposed to be lit up by the northern lights."

Yet, as they pulled along the icy shores of their destination, these lights he spoke of were not present.

"Huh... that's odd. Well, ya paid me for a round trip, so I'll be awaitin' your return in my nice, safe and well-lit boat."

As the two departed from the vessel, and made their way into the darkness, a sudden SHRIEK pierced their senses. The whole world seemed to grow darker and darker.

Whatever lights they had were snuffed, and they couldn't find their bearings. Even the light from the boat was gone.

Their only guide was something new, a dim, single red light source that looked to be distant... but it gave them a sense of direction at least. Something to head towards.
[14:36] Coming prepared to an expedition in the colder ventures of the northern world, Bruno was wearing a snow jacket, all too ready for freezing temperature. Were it to only be cold it would be fine, but a boat trip up north? That was a promise for frigid temperatures. The Aertas ensured that his wife was up-close and unbothered by the frost, yet remaining far from too affectionate while upon the ship.

A simple nod is offered to the boatman as destination is reached, the darkness surrounding them both remaining uncanny — eerie. Though the dark never bothered him too much.

A shriek, however, was something to be wary of. Especially as darkness further engulfed them both. There was foul play, likely through the use of magic. A few words finally escaped him.

"I believe this place has great issues we were not aware of." He states towards Anastasia, only to find himself lost in the dark. Forward and backward both seemed to lead to the same pitch-black abyss, leaving Bruno to wonder how they would manage to even get out of there before his eyes caught a dim, red light.

A silent gaze is offered to Anna. And a nod.

It was the only place to move towards, wasn't it?
(Bruno pyr Aertas)
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[14:47] Anastasia listened to the man speak about their destination with a certain amount of interest, even though she had already investigated the place before hand and had heard everything, it was a valuable moment in which she could confirm her own findings against the publicly shared rumors. Whether they were worth lending credit to or not.

Of course, she didn't have much intention of sharing her own information. The man was brave, but hardly someone she would spend her time conversing with.

As they arrived, she nodded towards him then walked off the boat alongside Bruno entering the frozen landscape, the abrupt plunge into darkness was unsettling for her, enough to cause her to remove Glacies Adstricta from it's sling upon her back.

"It seems so." She says in quiet response towards Bruno as her eyes track along the blackness surrounding them, looking for some kind of shift within the shadows that she can register. However it wasn't the shadows that caught her attention, but the single red light that came from ahead? Behind? Off to one side? She wasn't quite sure, but it was certainly better than just picking a direction at random and heading into it.

However...

It wasn't exactly the direction in which they would need to move. They could use it.

"Or we could just keep the light on our right and continue on past it. Whatever issues this place has, it's not exactly in our best interest to resolve them. We could avoid the light." She presents the second option towards Bruno with thoughtful clarity, eyes still lingering upon the red glow in the distance for a moment, then she looks back towards Bruno.

"Still think it's our best option?"
(Anastasia pyr Aertas)
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[14:50] Bruno pyr Aertas says, "I do."
[14:50] Anastasia pyr Aertas says, "Alright. Let's go then."
[14:51] Bruno pyr Aertas asks, "You are not worried, are you?"
[14:52] Anastasia pyr Aertas says, "No. Just being cautious."
[14:52] Bruno pyr Aertas says, "Good."
[14:53] {NARRATION} Eventually, the two of them elected to move toward the dim, shimmering red light. Slowly, through the biting cold and the lingering darkness, they got closer and closer.

Once they had travelled for a fair amount of time, it was starting to come into view what exactly this red light was. A lantern, sitting on a windowsill of an old and decrepit looking cabin. The light that was burning was not made of ordinary fire... it shimmered red and purple.

The door to this cabin was slightly ajar. It wobbled a bit at the pressure of the wind.
[14:57] A bit of a trek through the snow led them to what could and should be a source of light: Someone's home. Or mere... cabin for more adventurous endeavors. Though judging by the light there had to be someone inside. Warm breath formed a small cloud of vapor before his lips as he approached the door that already seemed to be open.

Closing it would be suspicious, and so? Bruno opened it up further to try and peer inside, hopefully with his wife following behind.

"Our apologies. Your door was open."

Etiquette at the very least, attempting to usher his wife inside.

... to see whatever awaited them.
(Bruno pyr Aertas)
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[14:58] Anastasia follows her husband into the cabin.
(Anastasia pyr Aertas)
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[15:01] {NARRATION} The wood beneath them creaked as they continued to step in, groaning with the pressure of their weight. It was a testament to the age of the place.

As the two of them entered, they were left with a grizzly sight. The entire cabin appeared to have been ransacked. Tables, chairs, dressers, cabinets all turned over.

Even worse, there was blood spattered sparsely all over the wooden floor, and they were greeted with the foul smell of decaying flesh. It came from the bedroom, which seemed to have someone lying in it.

A piece of paper was clutched within their hand tightly, pressed against their chest.
[15:05] The creaking wood was more of a concern than the splattered blood or the foul smell that filled the air. A badly-built home was less common than a crime scene when it came to Bruno's life experience. No wonder the door would not properly remain shut. A glance is given towards Anastasia to ensure that she was feeling well despite the many complications and the horrible circumstances that occured on what should have been a simple trip up north for them both.

After a slightly apologetic glance Bruno moved on, holding his breath while he approached the corpse only to notice the clenched paper. Right against their chest. It must have been important if it was kept this close. The Aertas reached into his jacket's pocket, taking care to put on a glove before he reached out for the paper.

He was not touching the masses directly, even less deceased people.
(Bruno pyr Aertas)
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[15:09] Anastasia frowns as they enter the cabin, she had the feeling that this place wasn't going to be the brightest of locales, and she was proven right. A curious look across the wreckage of what remains of the place was enough to tell her that much.

The trident still held at the ready, she exchanges that glance towards Bruno and simply waves his unspoken apology away. If things had been too boring, she wouldn't have been very happy either. She did after all, have an adventurers heart.

"What does it say?"
(Anastasia pyr Aertas)
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[15:21] {NARRATION} The note is taken from the grasp of the deceased person, and it was now apparent that this was a male, judging by the face structure he once had. As the note was unfurled and read, it appeared to be a page from a journal of some kind.

"To claim the beautiful Aurora Borealis, those beautiful ribbons of light that dance across the northern sky for oneself, it requires a love unbreakable.

A blind faith, that most only hear about from fairytales and fables.
The two of us came here in search of it. It shined bright in the sky, guiding us to its source.

There was a wolf guarding a stone. He spoke to us, asking why we came. We told him the truth, and he said that while we could not leave with the Aurora, we could stay and bask in the beauty it held.

We did, for a time. Eventually, as the wolf's back turned, I reached for the source of the lights. I tried to take it, but it... burned. My hands felt like they would melt as I touched it.

The sky went black, and the wolf disappeared.

Ever since, my wife has not looked at me the same way. Like she no longer believes the words I say. I want us to leave this place, but it is so dark... I'm not sure I can find my way back to shore, let alone to our boat."
[15:26] Bruno's eyes move over the paper as he shifts away from the body. It was better not to stay in a room with the deceased; he'd gotten what he wanted from him and he was moving on to the next step: Answering his wife.

The Aertas opted to read the message aloud rather than showing her, it felt more... important to do so. When the subject of love came to life the man was not one to cut corners. Despite not being an emotional one he did manage to offer his own opinion after, even going as far as reaching out for Anna's hand.

"I want to see those lights with you."

It wasn't their first purpose, the reason they came here, but it was far more than enough of an idea to make a detour. Northern lights were not something one could catch at any lattitude.

"Where do you think we should start?" He asked.
(Bruno pyr Aertas)
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[15:36] Anastasia left the room as he read the letter aloud, following him out of the cabin if he went that far. The paper's contents was listened to intently, a curious nature unable to really not do so.

As Bruno held out a hand towards her, her own would shift over, allowing her fingers to intertwine with his. His desire to see those lights with him was an interesting one. She too had the desire to see them, even if they weren't strictly their purpose in coming here.

They had no timetables to meet really. So a short detour away from their goal wouldn't really hamper their trip. "It's strange. The sky is still black. Or at least, I assume so considering the darkness out there."

"Perhaps the wife is still alive? Where would she go.. Let's see if anything has changed first, and if not, we'll just have to pick a direction. Straight outwards, keeping the light from the lantern at our backs is perhaps the easiest choice to make."

A thoughtful look comes about her, then she nods. "Not the easiest. The best choice. If I were the wife described in the journal, I would want to get as far away from the man as possible. Leaving on a straight path directly away from the cabin makes the most sense."
(Anastasia pyr Aertas)
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[15:39] Bruno seemed to agree with his wife's words. Finding the wife was likely the best way to go. She may know a bit more about what happened, and more importantly? On how to get that light back up into the skies.

"Lead the way." He tells her, allowing her to lead him, much like he had led her.
(Bruno pyr Aertas)
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[15:44] {NARRATION} The description in the page's writing certainly did make the northern lights sound appealing. If only they were shining in the sky now, perhaps this journey would be easier.

As they head for the door, the shrieking noise from before rings out even louder this time. The door that they left open starts to seep through with shadow.

Shadow that was accompanied by a heart-wrenching thrall of occult. Instantly, the shadow starts to form into figures. Several creatures pour through the cabin, surrounding Bruno and Anastasia.

While the shrieking continues, ceaselessly, the shadows move in for their attack. They seemed to be mindless, only attacking and throwing themselves in with no regard for their own safety.

Perhaps these weren't living things, but instead magically conjured.
[15:52] The moment the pair of them made a move towards the exit was when the nightmarish outside reminded them of how dark and horrible it was out there. This place would be far greater under those amazing foretold lights, truly.

As the taint of occult rose through the air, so did Bruno's own. His presence was one that was far, far too menacing for lesser magi to face. He practically dripped with horrifying thoughts. And yet, composure and calm was kept upon his features.

There was a method to this madness of his.

Devastation would lay waste upon the land around them as he moved closer to his wife, his back pressing up against hers to watch every angle.
(Bruno pyr Aertas)
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[15:55] With their path ahead decided, Anastasia makes for the door to leave, only for the shrieks that they had heard earlier making the rounds again. Whatever it was, it seemed to have arrived, or maybe it had always been here.

She wasn't quite sure, but it didn't truly matter either. They would deal with them appropriately, regardless of what it was they had to face. "It seems they've found us." She comments idly as frigid, crystal clear water began to come up around her, the spikes on the trident in hand forming on their own through the weapon's own capabilities.

How convenient that little upgrade was.

The icy trident is held in front of her, and she sidles off to cover Bruno's back in the limited space of the cabin.
(Anastasia pyr Aertas)
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[15:56] {NARRATION} Wave begins in 30 seconds.
[16:04] {NARRATION} The shadows that came after Anastasia and Bruno were beaten back, and the darkness driven away.

For all of ten seconds.

Shrieking grew louder, and louder, and a set of hulking monstrosities burst through the walls, nearly tearing the place to the ground as they entered. These ones seemed to have some serious power put into their creation.

Whom or whatever was controlling them, seemed to be stepping up their game.

(FINAL WAVE)
[16:09] {NARRATION} The dust had settled, and the two of them had come out on top of the shadows that were sent after them, but the cabin was left crumbling. It was probably best for them to leave, before the place fell down on top of them.

That horrible shrieking was still going on... seemingly louder and louder as time continued to pass on. Their presence had been noticed by something, and it wasn't very fond of them, evidently.

Something would have to be done, if they wanted all of this to be over with.
[16:12] Shadows were no match for the combined strength of the both of them, coordinating their attacks and moving in unison in order to defeat the beasts that threatened them. By the end of it all their darkness overwhelmed the night's own.

A swift escape from the cabin was made as it crashed down to the ground, eyes shifting around, trying to peer through the pitch-black reality that surrounded them while his hand found Anna's once again. He wasn't vocal about his emotions but they would be obvious to her.

"We should move towards the screams." He suggests.
(Bruno pyr Aertas)
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[16:16] Anastasia fought off the shadows alongside her husband, a fine coordination between the two of them over honed over many years both on and off their many battlefields. The nights they spent dancing alone, it was no different now as they blasted, froze, or washed away all of the shadows that had come for them.

"I agree. It's possible that the shrieking is coming from the wife. It is difficult to tell gender from the screaming alone." She comments after having fled from the cabin through one of the many holes in the walls made by the large, lumbering shadow creatures.

With their decision made, Anastasia waits for Bruno for a moment before setting off without delay.
(Anastasia pyr Aertas)
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[16:20] {NARRATION} They make their way toward the shrieking noise. It was certainly coming from something.

When they draw near to the source of the noise, of course, it grows louder. Louder, too, does the sound of the howling winds become. They almost complimented one another in a sort of agonizing harmony.

Once they reach the spot it seems to be coming from, it all stops. Even the wind. Standing in a dim ray of moonlight shining through the clouds is what appears to be a small, feminine figure.

Her hands were stained with dried blood. Her hair looked unhealthy, unwashed. She'd been this way for a while.

This woman was facing away from the two of them, staring off in the distance somewhere. What would the two of them do?
[16:29] The closer they approached the scream, the worse it seemed to get. Louder. Colder. Angrier. Lonelier. It was an odd sensation, as if walking into the inner mind of a curse set upon the world. The man's attention was eventually drawn towards the single figure that remained under the moonlight's gaze. Silence. Calm. Things seemed to be far more quiet all of a sudden, as if forecasting a dreaful future. The young man's eyes laid upon the woman, though he spoke no words.

He believed Anastasia was better when it came to dealing with situations like these, this is where her true strength lied.
(Bruno pyr Aertas)
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[16:31] Anastasia peers towards the feminine figure, eyes narrowing slightly before she steps forwards. "You are her, aren't you? The wife to that greedy fool of a man in the cabin?" She asks her, tone calm and measured as ever. Yet her expression was one of curiosity.

"Is what you are now what happens when another doesn't act faithfully in this place?" What a strange land indeed, but not one she was incapable of believing to be possible. Her eyes track along the direction the woman was staring in, an attempt to see what it was she was looking at in the distance.

"What is it you are looking at, miss?"
(Anastasia pyr Aertas)
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[16:37] {NARRATION} She wasn't responding to the questions... but she did slowly turn her head. Once the woman had fully faced Bruno and Anastasia, they could see what had happened to her.

Gruesomely, the edges of her mouth did not stop until they reached her cheekbones. She had no lips, her teeth and gums were bare to see. Her eyes were bloodshot, and a perverse color of red overtook them.

The only sound she emitted was a low groan. Like she was constantly in pain now. Whatever curse she has befallen, it was one that twisted her beyond recognition.

It wasn't clear yet if this was the wife of the dead man... at least until she spoke the only word she knew.

"Liar... liar..."

Her eyes darted between Bruno and Anastasia.

"LIAR!"

The shrieking came back. It was not her who was making this noise... but the noise seemed to empower her, as an aura of raw darkness enshrouded her. It made what was initially an unimposing husk of a woman into something much more terrifying.

Her appearance twisted further, and she lurched forward.

The icy ground they were standing on started to crack. It threatened to give way beneath them. Whatever rage was building up inside her would need to be subdued fast if they were to hope not to fall into an icy grave.
[16:47] This dreaded feeling of occult magic crashing against his skin was one that uplifted his hair and left the young Aertas to feel the raw amount of pain, of vengeance, of sorrow that was being felt by a woman who was long deceased, or worse, far past her expiration date. Bruno's own red sparks grew in size and intensity when she leapt forward following Anastasia's attempt at reasoning with her. A shot was taken without hesitation from behind the woman's back, aimed to force away the one attacking his wife.

"I suppose this is all the answers we'll find." He states, hands already upon Final Answer, moments away from unleashing another wave of pain. He had to do it swiftly. The ground beneath was already breaking apart and it made him feel like Achyon's solid roads were almost a luxury judging by how horrible this place was.
(Bruno pyr Aertas)
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[16:48] Anastasia peered towards the woman curiously, her questions, demanding answers. Yet none would be forthcoming. A pity.

The couple's story was pitiful, yet she wouldn't let it distract her too much from her purpose. If they bring this woman down, the sky may just brighten once again. She had come here with that intent anyway. If it can't be done with reason, then they'll just have to kill her.

The trident in hand is leveled out towards the rushing bride. "Seems so. Let's end her heart's pain together." She says towards him before the spikes of her trident are fired out towards the oncoming emaciated woman.
(Anastasia pyr Aertas)
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[16:49] Bruno pyr Aertas says, "I do enjoy partaking in projects with you."
[16:56] {Won Restrained RPB against Cursed Bride}
[17:10] Anastasia watches as the woman rushes onwards towards them, a look of cold pity present as she stands beside her husband. The woman had chosen her life's partner incorrectly, and this was the price she paid for that mistake.

A harsh price.

Yet not one that she couldn't be freed from. The woman's corrupt, icy magic barraged them repeatedly, yet the Aertas Councilor wouldn't allow this fallen bride to stand in her way now.

The fight between them drew on for a minute or two before the opening was created, the woman's attention having remained mostly upon her husband, she circled around her to come at her from the side.

The trident, Glacies Adstricta, poised in front of her as she rushes forwards, striking out with a single-minded blow that pierces the woman's chest with unerring precision. The center spike of the trident, claiming the woman's heart as it pierces it through, the tip, bursting from the woman's backstained crimson.

"And now, your heart's burden is lifted." Anastasia says towards the woman quietly as frigid water begins to flood the woman's body from the trident embedded within her. The near freezing water is quickly frozen over, leaving her insides as a solid chunk of ice that was centered around her heart.

And then the trident's spikes are broken from the weapon, leaving them embedded in her heart. New ones, unstained and unblemished from use, are created within seconds by Glacies Adstricta's machinations.
(Anastasia pyr Aertas)
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[17:14] {NARRATION} As the trident's spikes pierced her heart, the shrieking grew to an ear piercing level. Perhaps even enough to cause one's eardrums to bleed. The crimson taint in her eyes vanished, and she fell lifeless as her heart was encased within ice.

She had one fist balled up throughout the entire battle, and as she drew her last breaths, her grip faltered. An extremely cold chain dangled from her fingertips, and upon its shattered end was a locket.

If one were to take it into their hands, they'd notice that there was a bit of paper poking out of the side of the locket. The frigidness of the air was amplified around the broken necklace. It was like it was made out of pure ice.
[17:16] Bruno witnessed his wife's rather expeditive killing method, one allowing the deceased to properly die amidst the loudest, most invasive scream in the world. The man found himself noticing the locket that fell down upon the cold snow, though he decided not to grasp it himself.

He'd taken the husband's belonging, after all, it was only fitting that Anastasia would find the wife's.
(Bruno pyr Aertas)
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[17:24] Anastasia's eyes closed as the scream echoed out, her proximity to the woman as the scream is issued caused her ears to bleed. It was only after her eyes opened up did she see the glitter of the broken necklace. She leaned down to take it from the woman, with a sigh.

"She must have been a sound mage with a voice like that." She comments idly. Perhaps an attempt at humor?

Anna looks over towards Bruno with the necklace in hand, then her attention drops towards the locket, eyes narrowing upon it as the slip of paper is poking out from within it. Both hands are brought upwards to get the locket open and read the paper that was hidden within.

Likely done so out loud for Bruno's benefit, he had done the same for her after all.
(Anastasia pyr Aertas)
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[17:25] Bruno pyr Aertas says, "A loud one."
[17:29] {NARRATION} As the locket opened, and she read the note, it was apparent what it was. A love letter from the dead man to the woman they had just slain.

"My dearest,

This is my gift to you. An attempt to earn your forgiveness, you could call it. I do not know what it is that has caused you to avoid me as you have.

We came here together, to seize the northern lights... was it really so low of me to deceive that animal?

You have not been yourself lately, but I hope that this gift will remind you of the love that we had. That we still have."

Once the letter was read aloud, the locket would start to rattle. Like the ice in it was being manipulated. Lightly pulled elsewhere.

A calling?
[17:33] After Anastasia had read the letter out loud the man could not help but feel as if the love those two shared was not one born out of understanding one another. There was no stability. No expectations. If he was to betray that wolf, then his wife should have expected it. She should have aided him and he, should have known she would.

Secrets were pointless and most inefficient when it came to relationships.

"It sounds as if they did not know or understand one another." Bruno states, offering his hand to his wife, once again.
(Bruno pyr Aertas)
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[17:36] Anastasia lifts the necklace up at the strange rattling, peering towards the locket, she let it drop from her fingers, to hang in the air. Does the locket lean towards any particular direction?

Whether it does or not, she can feel some kind of magic pulling on it, perhaps she could follow it to the source?

"No, they definitely did not. They came here to this place and disagreed with one another on the proper way to seek out that purpose. I pity them. They should have spent more time with one another." A thoughtful look is still placed on the locket, trying to ascertain if it truly could lead them in the direction of whatever magic was active in this frozen land.
(Anastasia pyr Aertas)
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[17:39] {NARRATION} If Anastasia really paid attention, she'd likely notice that the locket was being pulled slightly in the exact direction where the now-deceased cursed woman was facing when they came upon her originally.

They'd not yet found what they were looking for. Maybe this was their chance?
[17:41] Anastasia smiles slightly, looking over towards Bruno then, her free hand slips into his own as she holds up the locket in front of her still. "Regardless, their failure is our path forwards. We can follow the direction the locket leans towards whatever lies ahead."

"Shall we?"
(Anastasia pyr Aertas)
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[17:41] Bruno offered a nod when his hand was grasped and the question was asked.

"Let's."
(Bruno pyr Aertas)
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[17:48] {NARRATION} So they followed it. A path of darkness, illuminated only by the physical tug that was being made upon the locket.

It was a long path. A boring one. Though, as they got closer, that pull upon the locket grew stronger. Almost threatening to whip it out of Anastasia's hand, at one point.

Without realizing it, they started to tread on raw ice. A frozen lake of sorts, and upon nearing its center, the pull on the necklace had ceased. It now dangled without interference from Anastasia's hand.

What it was replaced with... was that harrowing shriek, and an equally unsettling sight.

It was as though a cyclone of pure shadows stood before them. The oppressive feeling of darkness lingering through the air. As they gazed upon it, their senses were both wracked by a message that permeated their mind.

The shadows spoke.

"Humans. Unfaithful humans."

Something strange overtook them as they were spoken to. Thoughts of betrayal, of disgrace... all aimed at their partner. Anastasia's mind was wracked with an image of Bruno as conspiring against her. Bruno's mind was filled with very much of the same for her.

"All you do is betray... betray... betray. The curse of mortality. To think of only what is easiest for you now. The most convenient and pleasurable."

Was this the source of the couple's dismay? Perhaps it wasn't something logical at all. Maybe they were on the same page, but this entity turned the wife against her lover.

"Consequences. No concept of consequences.

You've come for the Aurora, too... haven't you?"
[18:00] Traveling with the woman he loved more than any other human beings in this world, Bruno allowed himself to be guided all the way up on snowless ice. The patterns laid by beast and men alike scratching the frozen surface of what may have been a lake at one point were taken note of. His boots pushed some of the crystallized ice around as tiny scratches were etched upon its surface from the pressure of his and her weight.

Another shriek came, this one surrounded by mournegale and inspiring dread and madness within his mind without a break. His attention shifted towards Anastasia in that moment, the whispers guiding him to believe that she was against him, working behind his back — conspiring.

A deep breath was taken, and while the madman often lost all reason he knew this whisper to be naught but a lie.

For he had felt this way before. For he was convinced that after her vote against him to earn the trust of the rest of the council she was nothing but a woman who'd used him to get in a position of power. This was false, as made evident by the tears, the pain, the sacrifice she brought. The begging and the... truth of her heart in that decisive moment.

She was the Queen should he be King. She was the one who would sit at his side as he stood above the rest of humanity. They had promised eachother as much; he'd foreseen it.

And while that feeling remained in his heart he kept on trusting his wife. He knew that any feeling of that ordeal was to be cast away. For he trusted her wholeheartedly. He trusted her with his life.

And he trusted not even his siblings with his life.

"Humanity is weak. You are correct. But to assume the Aertas is anything like mere Humans would be... wrong. Betrayal is a tool to use against your enemies, not your nation. Not those you love."

A few steps are taken, eyes shifting, trying to find the source of that voice.

"Those who came before us were far from united. Had they been they would not have suffered any consequences."

A firm believe that even if it came to stealing the lights away from an area, allowing darkness to spread was no issue. So long as it was done properly.

Evidently, it had not been.
(Bruno pyr Aertas)
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[18:11] He had felt betrayed by her once before, she had done what she believed was the best for them at the time. It was only later that she realized the gravity of her mistake. She had sacrificed herself for his happiness in return, she had made things right.

Anastasia's expression soured at the thoughts of Bruno's betrayal of her overwhelms her, flooding her mind unbidden and unasked for. Eyes narrowed upon the shadows that spoke aloud to them, the oppressive darkness that still lingered in the area despite their progress.

An annoyed hum comes from her as she shook her head. "I suppose we are here for the Aurora, but we only came to view it, not to take it as the last man tried to do. What we are truly after, is something that is worthy of being made into wedding rings for the two of us."

"Wedding stones worthy of our family." She responds with simple words, stating their purpose here. To them, the Aurora was nothing more than a detour from their actual goal. Some landmark point for the two of them to look back on fondly once they return from their trip.

"Only fools have no concept of consequences however. Our getting involved in the previous couple's mess was a consequence of our desire for rings that were worthy of our shared name. Our coming here and looking for the Aurora was equally so."

"You'll find that the Aertas are not so weak of will." She claims directly as she moves forwards alongside her husband, the locket held in hand is stowed away for the trident to be taken in both hands once again.

"Stop hiding in the shadows please. I do not wish to delay for too much longer."
(Anastasia pyr Aertas)
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[18:20] {NARRATION} The swirling shadows let out another shrill shriek as the two of them had spoken their pieces. Then, they all came together, in one massive amalgamation of darkness, around what looked to be a glittering and beautiful gemstone.

It lifted into the air, and now what was once shadow took the form of a towering beast. A massive wolf with a large chunk of gemstone at its heart.

"...Hubris..."

This beast was faceless, but one could feel the malintent radiating off of it. What was once mere darkness was becoming constraining. Choking. Unbearable.

Beneath them, the ground becan to surge with a decadent energy, and red lightning surged around the monstrous form of this Aspect of Heartbreak.

"You will suffer the same fate of those before you."

Claws of shadow were bared, and the beast charged toward the two of them.
[18:26] {Won Restrained RPB against Aspect of Heartbreak}
[18:30] {NARRATION} The beast was being driven back by the combined might of the two partners. They were united perfectly in their battle against the beast, and it seemed to be struggling to keep up with their combined magics.

"Humans... humans!"

It started to grow in size, and that decadent aura that belonged to the monster was now tugging at the heart more ferociously.

The biting cold became colder, as well... a snowstorm was coming, and the two of them had to be ready for it.

"Hold no illusion... this ice field will be your tomb."
[18:33] As ferocious as pain could be Bruno faced it with a woman who meant the world to him. One who understood him, and accepted him completely. There was not a bit of hesitation in his motions. Not even one ounce of pain felt when he stood before her to stop spells slung her way.

Of course there would not be any smiling or flirting, he was not all that expressive but his love... would surely be felt.

As the storm grew the man moved closer to his beloved, his weapon held out - aimed at the beast.

"I do not plan on dying."
(Bruno pyr Aertas)
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[18:39] The cold never bothered her any, why would it start to do so now, while she was surrounding herself with frigid waters, structures made of ice. Pools of glacial soothing waters.

A snowstorm was coming however, just not the snow storm that was caused by nature. The wind picked up around Anastasia as an alabaster tide of snow and icy shards was kicked up around her.

"I wonder if you are a spirit." She comments aloud rhetorically, standing beside her husband as she faces off against the creature. "Tell me. Can spirit's freeze?" She asks, a small smile appearing on her expression as she levels the trident in hand towards the wolf.

"I will find the truth to this question now."
(Anastasia pyr Aertas)
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[18:45] {Won Restrained RPB against Aspect of Heartbreak}
[19:09] Anastasia surprisingly rushed forwards to start, thrusting and slashing with the trident against the wolf as it fought against them, the cloud of snow and ice that was summoned around her followed along with her, sending hundreds of small lancelets of ice littering through the creatures hide. None of them truly reach deep enough to draw anything more than a single bead of blood.

But how much blood was thousands of those beads? The frost sunk inwards alongside those small spikes of ice, driving the cold chill of her magic deeper and deeper into what she had assumed to be a spirit at this point.

"Hold it's attention Bruno." She asks of him, abruptly leaping backwards from it before spinning the trident around her once. The arc of the trident sends a slowly spreading gush of water from the crown of the weapon, an absurd amount of water gushing out from the weapon.

It isn't long before nearly Anastasia stands atop a pool of water, one that was rapidly spinning in the direction of the trident's curve.

The stead rotation continued, faster and faster as the pond water was sucked up, winds buffeting the area as the icy water carried with it several larger spikes of ice as it rotated around and around. Her magic wasn't quite ready to be unleashed by the time that she noticed Bruno going down to the wolf-like creature.

She couldn't wait any longer. Flying upwards into the eye of the typhoon she summoned, the twisting funnel of glacial water began to bend forwards as she directed it to follow along with her, shooting herself down towards the creature before it could do anything further to her husband.

The glittering glacial waters slammed into the creature at the same time that she did, the trident biting deeply into it's hide. The frozen spikes of water that were carried by the typhoon ripped through it, leaving holes the size of tree's trunk in the oversized wolf.

The deluge of water that crushed it to the side began to freeze over, leaving behind only a mangled mass of frozen wolf, encased within the prison of ice.

She doesn't wait to see if it could survive even that. She saw the amount of damage that her final magic wrought against it. It was dead for certain. Instead, Anastasia leaves her trident in the creatures side, the one place that wasn't covered in ice meters thick, and moves to her husband's side, an elixir of healing already being retrieved as she approaches. "Bruno, are you okay?"
(Anastasia pyr Aertas)
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[19:15] When it came to fighting with his wife she was the priority. The one to protect. It wasn't necessarily out of love, but rather a tactical advantage; if she was to fall first then her mending magic could no longer be used. Thus, when she made her request Bruno obliged, moving right up to the beast shrouded in darkness and snow and ensuring he would keep its attention.

Sharp ice and a flurry of cold wind struck him without mercy, launching him off his feet as the full-force of the storm crashed against him. With his back pressed up against the cold ice below blue eyes could do naught but witness Anastasia overcoming this enemy that was more than aggressive, it was plain annoying. To underestimate them as people, or even their love?

How laughable.

A smile finally traced itself upon the young man's lips as he watched Anna take down the beast, sealing it in a prison of ice after having treated it the way it had to be treated.

A small nod came from him as she worried.

"I'm alive." He answers.
(Bruno pyr Aertas)
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[19:16] {Item} You picked up Elixir Of Healing. Dropped by Anastasia pyr Aertas..
[19:23] {NARRATION} Anastasia sealed the raging monster in a case of ice. The two of them had triumphed over it, or so things had seemed. The block of ice stayed there, dormant for a few moments, before it started to crack.

The snapping of ice separating from ice was a cautious sound to hear, especially standing on top of a frozen lake as they were. Was this beast emerging to fight again, even with the trident lodged in its side?

No.

Once the ice had sundered itself, the two of them would see the sad visage of what was once a fearsome wolf impaled against the ice, lying next to a large gemstone.

The beast didn't look demonic any longer... it was an ordinary looking wolf, aside from its size. Perhaps the betrayal of the humans of the past awoke something dark inside of it.

What it was guarding was revealed to be their prize. The glittering Aurora Borealis was a gem. Flecked with watery blue pillars just as well as black stones of darkness.

As it was freed from this vengeful spirit's curse, the lights started to shine above them. First they'd see its reflection in the ice. A beautiful symphony of several different vibrent colors dancing in the sky over the lake.

All emanating from this one gemstone... directly into the sky.
[19:25] {Item} You picked up Aurora Borealis..
[19:29] It took some time for Bruno to rise back up to a seated position, though when he did he was welcomed not by his wife's gaze but rather the night sky shining brighter than ever before. His smile remained as he reached out to turn Anastasia around, to allow her to watch the northern lights with him. A few words were spoken.

".. We can stay here a while." He says, intending not to move, not to touch anything for some time. There was a need to admire this unique experience with the one he loved most. To hold her close. To keep her right up against himself, seated upon freezing ice.

It's only after a long, long time that the Aertas moved to reach out for the gemstone, taking a better look at it and saying the sacred words, the only words worth speaking of in that moment.

"I love you, Anna."
(Bruno pyr Aertas)
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[19:43] The gemstone that they were after from the beginning was the cause of the borealis? Hm. It's a bit of a shame to take the source of the lights away from this land, but if it was meant to be, then so be it.

They had come here for stones worthy of the family name to make into rings. If this stone was the only thing worth using in this land of ice and darkness, then it is what they shall leave with. The lights be damned.

Though she does pause as she looks down towards Bruno curiously, his hand turning her around so that she could see the light that had appeared above them. The sight of which caused her to stare.

This was the kind of thing that she wanted to find within the world. This was always what her goal had been. Uncovering it's mysteries, seeing the special places. It was her dream. To be able to do it alongside Bruno? It was pleasing. Satisfying.

Anastasia nodded towards him silently, looking up towards the lights that gleaming inthe sky above them both, having sat down next to him to lean against him in fondness, and in love.

There they would remain, until Bruno would move to retrieve their prize from an adventure well accomplished. "And I love you, Bruno."
(Anastasia pyr Aertas)
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[19:48] {NARRATION} With the northern lights illuminating a beautiful night sky, they could stay for as long as they like.

Eventually, they'd find their way back to the boat with ease, thanks to the darkness being lifted. They retrieved the gemstone they came for, and perhaps a bit more.

It may not have been as easy as they had hoped, but now Bruno could give his love the ring that he had promised her.

A ring worthy of their union.

(THE END)