grinding luke hartz's bones

[02:47] The day had long been a trial of multiples. From the new Lost who had wandered into the tower and emerged as the new cloth of Naysien; to the clash betwixt two sectmates, their own egos getting the very best of them.

Surely, there was a time to wind down for something less arduous.

Upon the main throne room would Noel lead the Dragoon upon the edge of the stage. Not the most ideal space for work, yet the droll of the forge was too hot, while the appeal of the desk was too boring.

"Okay, I just hit an incredible new ide- no, I've foreseen it!" An exclamation that burst with a unanimous clamor. "I've started to read more of the tome I talked to you about. I think I'm going to begin using it as a notebook myself."

For once, she had grown fond of the book she had previously loathed. Surely, this was an improvement! "All I need is special ink to write on it. And I wanted to show you what I planned for it."

"Tell me, y'can keep a secret, right?" From her pouch, she pulls forth a small cloth folded over each other. An interesting piece which hid something far more sinister underneath. "I'll show you what's in this, but y'gotta promise me you'll tell no one."
(Noel Serpente)
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[02:51] Well.

She had done her best to pick the absolute best man to hide her secrets, even as idle hands pick upon his nails and the familiar stench of blood hang over them? All manner of interest he could garner from within himself had now shifted upon Noel.

Demanding a young and still fledgling sin keep a secret, ever energetic as it contrast with his own lethargy.

"... I've no reason to speak about your things on a whim, you should know that is something I've not yet partaken in." Exchanging whispers and hushed secrets, keeping them and even speaking them was something which was all too draining.

Regardless, all her demands would always come with a stipulation. Hiding something from one who needed to know all.

"I promise, so long as Lianne does not question me." Silver within his sunken back and lifeless gaze now focused, looking upon that common pouch as he continue to linger alongside Noel.

Just a watcher andno more.
(Foster)
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[03:00] "Maybe she wouldn't mind it. But hey, I can never be too sure." As such would the esoteric nature of her actions finally reveal itself.

Slowly, the cloth is pulled back. Within her grasps would like an incredibly aptly cleaned set of ivory; lined perfectly as if acquired from the very freshest place of harvest itself.

Faint cracks and bends were clear upon its figure, along with discoloration for what one could assume were marks of blunt trauma.

For the first few glances, nothing was amiss. Yet after a few blinks would its true nature reveal itself.

The faintest pinks rotting into blacks signify sinew and flesh in the midst of necrosis, the cracks grows more similar to battle scars and fractures, and the interesting shape what some might mistake for ivory grows more skeletal in nature.

Was she holding... human bones?

"After the great sacrifice, I went into the pit and picked out the few things the wyrmlings didn't consume. Don't worry! I made sure these were things they didn't plan to consume at all." An explanation and an assurance. Such a dangerous task to descent into the pit and emerge with the spoils of sacrificed bones. How she survived at all was a mystery. "These are ripe full of leftover essence. That man we sacrificed, the chronomancer? Y'know, I figured it was such a waste of talent for his stupid heretical moves, so..."

"I figured to take what he had for myself. Even if it was just a bit." But then again, magi bones were notorious for being quite an item amidst alchemy. Surely, these ones would be of use for her initial goal of... what was it? Oh yeah. Ink making.
(Noel Serpente)
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[03:05] Ahn..?

Human remains and bones were far from foreign to these young dragons, having sent many to their doom and even more having been crushed beneath their boots. Seeing excitement within Noel as she produced them, watching as she tried so desperately to justify her actions.

Waving his hand, brushing aside whatever notions had filled her mind.

"You are a black priestess, Noel. You have no need to justify your actions to me in the slightest." She would answer alone to both Naysien and Lianne, none others needing to hear so much as a single excuse.

Should she have desired, Noel could have taken that man for herself. Gorged upon his body rather than the children which continue to laze about so far below.

So long as she had an excuse.

"Even so. I find such a use more grand than rotting away, our hatchlings have no need for leftover bones. Your genius continues to shine through amongst our ranks." Compliments rarely suitedhim, that usual sullen and dull tone taken al the same.

"Use them to your hearts content. Ink? Decoration? Paper-weight? You have earned that right."
(Foster)
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[03:17] She nods, a relief. "Good, good. My only worry was that this might be seen as me takin' from her children. I would've tossed all this back in if it were." Yet, surely bones do not digest well within a dragon's stomach. The beings would have not have simply gnawed out the flesh and left the bones if they did.

Ergo, the plan continues.

For further within her pouch bore mortars and pestles, tools used to turn what was solid into powder. Such a tedious process, yet one Noel seemed to have been more than willing to undergo.

"These... would've withered away and become useless fertilizer if we had left them at the bottom until the end of time," she explains. "So I'd figured that it would be a good waste of delicious essence if we did that. So then it hit me..."

"With this, I can bring out the exhibited time magic he had..." She motions over to the bones, slowly placing a chunk of a clavicle intothe mortar as her hands grip upon the pestle with a growing sense of control. "...and take it in for myself."

Immediately would the grievous sound of grinding bones glide amidst the silent throne room. The paganistic act bringing forth a multitude of actions that had slowly curled a hungering smile upon the priestess' countenance.

As if his approval alone had finally allowed her to do what she had been wanting to do.

"With this... I can improve on the book. I can write everythin' that I learn and bring more to the praise of Naysien's flock." Was this an explanation or a chant? Such was hard to discern as, slowly, she had begun to turn what was once Luke Hartz into a mound of white powder, brimming with metaphysical prowess.

Finally, a slow turn pitters to face Foster. A composed and appeased expression brimming upon Noel's features. "Maybe after all this, you'll see that I did keep my promise to you. I never felt so motivated to somethin' like this in forever."
(Noel Serpente)
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[03:24] Mana, which had not been her own.

Useless bones being given purpose was something any could agree with, even Lianne and her throne sported skulls plucked from the very same depths of that pit. Whatever doubts she may have held pushed to the side, broken by that ever blunt demeanor of a young Foster.

As she spoke?

He listened.

"... Siphoning magic from those much stronger than you? Gorging yourself upon such whilst you use his bones to ink your pen?" Had he so dared show emotion, his lips would have no doubt curled into something of a smile. However, Noel would be left with a stir beneath his gaze.

While she continued to impress.

Continued to do as she pleased, crushing and breaking bones before the insomniac.

"I could find no better use."

Assured as his gaze flicked to the numerous tomes of which Noel carried.

"Regardless. Do you believe this will put you any step closer to understanding riftmancy better?" Head tilting as he spoke, unbothered by the sounds of a craftsman at work.

"To... Assuring we have a much more elegant means of travel across Esshar?"

Her promise still clear upon his mind.
(Foster)
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[03:35] The tedious process continues its paced drag onwards. Had she planned to make an incredible amount of ink or was this simply therapeutically pleasing to her remains to be unknown. Such was the barbaric yet poised motions left upon the grounded dust that slowly grew in accumulation.

From the mound would bits of such be moved to a much easier to bring plate. Here the collection rises, now becoming as big as Noel's balled up fist.

It would seem she had frivolously made sure not a single piece of the body had been left behind.

"Perfect. I figured if this works on much better than I hoped... maybe it'll be worth doin' a whole lot more." Perhaps she had acquired a taste. A glimpse into what could be in the acquisition of what was others, the potential consumption for it herself.

It had been a thrilling revelation, perhaps to both Foster and her.

When questioned of her own studies, she had been hoping such would have been broughtup sooner. For, she herself pauses her work, all to provide ample attention to him when she began her own anecdotes of exploits.

"Oh ho, y'know it," she assures. "I have a vague idea of how it'll work out, how it works."

"I mean, I haven't tried it myself, but I think I'd be more than ready to try somethin' out whenever it's best." The year had not gone by without progress it seems. And, finally, would it be apparent that the Therian was more than willing to begin true practice, surpassing the boring steps of study into the much more appealing action.
(Noel Serpente)
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[03:40] "... Sooner, rather than later."

The belief of trials soon approaching was something exciting. To bleed through the cracks of the lifestream and wander about this world however they so pleased, such a grand goal was one he could share alongside Noel.

Casual in his demand, while she hurried along with work and the destruction of all that remained from one man.

"I believe we may soon have a need for escapes in the near future. Should our plans ever fall apart and our land sieged, causing even our mother to roar in frustration?" He dared shudder such a thought, dared tremble at the idea of loss once more.

One brow raising just ever so slightly at that notion, confidence never having been something he was known for.

"... That remark remains between us. Regardless, I am willing to assist whenever you so need." Steel gaze now drifting towards what remained of those bones.

Watching as her work continued on in bewildered silence, allowing for response.
(Foster)
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[03:42]
{LOAD GAME}

[03:49] "The sooner, the better," she echoes. Long had Noel been on the faster lanes of life. And though they might be of different stances on such, this could have only benefitted them equally.

After all, amidst the clamor of multiple plans, goals, and expeditions would this surely be a boon to have on their side.

An escape. An out. An option.

The prospect of failure had yet to cross her mind. Perhaps the delusion of success riding upon the wings of Naysien's following had brought her a hefty assurance, only to be cracked by the reality check imposed upon her.

"Oh," she hums. Though her ability to glance upon the future was only as short as the few seconds prior to its occurrence, she had long kept clear on her sights on the bigger picture.

This merely becoming another state where she had been pit against the harsh possibility of reality. A fate she could not fully control.

...fully control.

"Let's hope we don't get to that point," she answers, nigh immediately as the grind of the pestle continues amidst a short burst of silence. "Because I won't be lettin' us get to that point."

To let fate once more take the wheel from you. Oh how spiteful and irritating such could be.
(Noel Serpente)
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[03:54] "... I am many things. Wanting for an Esshar of which can grant me rest, willing to wallow in stagnation and be bound to our one goddess." He dared speak as Noel had been left to ponder any prospect of failure.

With each passing hour such an idea continued to burn away within his mind. Anxious was an unrested mind, filled with doubts and thoughts that need not belong.

"I wish to see us succeed alone. However given how horrendously our most faithful were beaten and battered?" An almost audible silence persisted between them now. Seconds taking their slow crawl into minutes all whilst both had been left to ponder.

Alone.

Within their minds.

"... Well. Let's do as you said and hope it won't reach that point." Nodding along as his attention looked upon the work of Noel, his mind having long overstayed its vocalized welcome.

Looking much more like a fool than a proud Dragoon who burned with power.

"Are you... Almost done?"
(Foster)
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[04:04] Perhaps fate was not kind to them. After all, despite her readings, the resulting clash upon Osrona's march into the mountains be nothing but an utter failure on their end.

Even that she did not need foresight to foresee.

"Maybe there'll be a turning point eventually." Wishful thinking, perhaps it was more harmful than good. Yet what bad could optimism bring this early into the game?

"A time where they finally realize how big of a mistake getting the most vengeful lot in all of Esshar to turn against them." A somber yet gritting tone encapsulated her statement. "Maybe then they'll see. When her wings stretch over the continent, they'll all see."

With one final pulse, the monotonous task would be found at end. In actuality, it had been finished a few minutes earlier. The pressured grind of the chronomancer's hand had only continued on out of mindless continuance; only broken by Foster's reminder of completion.

"Oh," she answers, "Yes. I think this should all be enough."

Whatever remains would be poured ever farther into the pile. The size had now grown by the triples, a prepared set. Soon, the ink would be infused by the chronomancer's bones, assuring for a stronger metaphysical scribing to be written keenly upon the book. "Thanks for the company. I think this'll be useful for us. Trust me, you'll see it when I'm done."

"But speakin' of seeing it." She slowly stands, clear upon her disposition as she dust the remnants of bone dust off of her clothes. "I'm gonna begin practice on riftin' like y'said. Whenever you're free again, I'll make sure you're the first that'll see."

Whether it be a cheering success or a harrowing failure is yet to be within her sights. Yet it was clear which of the two outcomes she would be rooting for.
(Noel Serpente)
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[04:14] He could do no more than hope, hold hope for a future which regarded these young dragons as grand.

Someone as optimistic as Noel deserved no less than the absolute best. She who had stuck by these young dragons and continued to see them through to their end, all he could bring about was an audible sigh which beckoned forth his anxious mind.

All such means of doubt, all his turmoil would not amount to a passing name in the annals of history.

"I've no doubt once her wings spread that we can achieve victory. No doubt that we can see her glory spread across all of Esshar and engulf this continent whole." Hopping down from their platform of thrones, stood just a little bit taller as he did so.

Just what ailed his mind that yearned for rest?

"... Reaching that point seems a difficult end goal than we originally believed, is all." His words still spoken as one who had been more devoted than all. Cautious in his continued optimism for this future of which they dreamed.

"Even should we fail, however? I won't allow a single one of you to die." Not those which had been with him originally. The sounds of stone cracking with each stride echoing his own escape.

Noel, Ysorra, Lianne. None could be their next Micheal.

"You're welcome. You'll have me for whatever you so need in the future, Noel."

Assured as much.
(Foster)
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[04:27] She nods. "As someone capable of seein' the future..." She opens, the faint flash of green upon her eyes that, by now, she was quite synonymous to. "...I can see success. It is within the possibilities, that I'm sure of."

"It's just a matter of graspin' for it by any means necessary."

Once more, the motif of control lies predominantly upon her ideals. The wells of power she sought grew more as this mindset festered within.

Yet his own promise to uphold the well-being of the remainder of their sect, such would draw the unwavering respect she had for the Dragoon into a solidified stance.

"Y'know I'd do the same if it ever came down to it," she answered. "I'd rather fall protectin' Naysien and her people than rot away like a coward."

By all means, she had remained stagnant on this specific stance. And, it would seem, that she was not planning to change her mind any time soon. "I appreciate your support. I won't forget this."
(Noel Serpente)