"C'mon, ya'll are too fucking slow." Groaning, Drew spun on the heel of his boots as he raised his arms to lace his hands behind his head, walking backwards. His eyes fixed on the other two trailing behind him, lazily displaying a grin.
"You're the one who's going too fast, Drew." Arianna chimed in as agitation webbed into her words, the sound of hurried footsteps beating against the parched, sunbaked earth - filling the otherwise silent and stale air.
"It's not our fault you agreed to this on our behalf. Now we have to travel to the middle of bum-fuck nowhere because of you. And for what?" Roderic voiced his opinion as he made no effort to increase his stride. Sweat beaded at the top of his brow before trickling down his temple, slowly making its descent to trace his jawline before dripping off. "A stupid rite-of-passage to join a dumbass club." He continued as he drew his foot back, kicking a lone pebble and sending it skittering down an uncoordinated path.
"Hey, do you guys see that?" Lifting her right hand to point ahead with a steady index finger, the girl directed their gaze to follow into the distance where strikes of indigo lightning flashed wildly. Their eyes widened as they blinked in disbelief, wondering if the heat was prompting unwarranted hallucinations - but quickly realized they were all seeing the same surreal sight. "I've never seen anything like that before." She stared - both in morbid curiosity and fear - quietly wondering what on earth could be provoking such an otherworldly display.
"Only one way to find out." Drew casually shrugged, seemingly unfazed by the phenomenon as he began to walk towards the unusual storm without hesitation. Arianna hesitated before peering over her shoulder to give Roderic a regretful glance before scurrying to walk alongside Drew, not wanting to be left behind. Roderic let out a long and weary breath as he slipped both hands into his pockets, trudging after them with reluctant steps.
It took the trio nearly twenty minutes to reach the edge of the indigo storm, noticing that each step forward prompted the air to grow more volatile. It was thick with tension and static, as if the atmosphere itself had transformed into a living electromagnetic field. The fine hairs that riddled their bodies began to bristle, their nerve endings flaring as an instinctive urge coursed through their veins - to run. Rocky debris began to levitate off from the ground, suspended in defiance to the gravity that bounded this world as arcs of purplish-blue lightning crackled against the eerie sky.
"Uh… I don't think this is normal." Arianna voiced the obvious as her head whirled around in each direction, searching for anything that made sense in the area. Her hands curled into fists as she clutched them close to her chest - as if physically attempting to hold herself together.
"No shit." Roderic spat out as irritation barely veiled the unease that creeped beneath his skin. The closer they approached, the more surreal the landscape became, noticing a fissure coming into view as its depths lined with glowing crystals, writhing lightning, and clusters of levitating rock that suspended into the electromagnetic air. Crystal-like formations jutted out from the jagged cracked earth, rising as if they were unnatural spires. The fracture around the indigo quarts pulsated within its depths, as if thumping like a heartbeat. Its eerie light throbbed in rhythmic waves, the unnatural sight rooting the trio in place - a silent agreement passing between them that this was no ordinary storm.
Drew began to sway from side-to-side as dizziness was beginning to settle, while Arianna absentmindedly scratched at her arms - skin tingling with an unusual sensation she couldn't explain. Neither of them voiced the changes they were experiencing, being too focused and drawn into the unusual circumstance as they ventured closer. Roderic, who once trudged along with boredom, now stood on the edge of the crack as his eyes glinted with eager excitement. Leaning his upper-half forward his eyes locked onto the pulsating orb nestled deep within the laceration. "Woah, look! I wonder how much that would sell for!" Childlike wonder erupted from his voice as Drew stepped up beside him, curiosity overriding the caution he should've abided to.
"No way!" Drew laughed in disbelief as he ran his fingers through his hair. His eyes skated over the massive cluster of the very resource they used in Elaris to power their tools and gear - everything that their technology relied on a daily basis. "I need to get a reading on this, there ain't no way…" He mumbled as he reached into his pocket to pull out his scanner. As his fingers danced over the power button, the screen distorted before the device sparked - dying within his hand. "What… it short-circuited." Turning the device over in his hand, he inspected it from every angle before hurling it into the pit in a fit of frustration. "Damn it, I just got that thing!"
The sound of liquid splattering against the ground reverberated in the air, causing Drew and Roderic's attention to be drawn to the sound in an instant. Snapping, their heads whipped around to the sound, only to find Arianna hunched over and retching violently as the contents of her lunch spilled from her opened mouth. The putrid scent of stomach acid quickly filled the air as the girl spat the remnants out, her nose wrinkling from the scent. "I don't… I don't really feel so good, can we head back?" The girl used the back of her hand to clean the liquid off from her lips, her cheeks flushing with heated embarrassment for vomiting in front of them.
"Dude, we just found this gold mine, ain't no way we're leaving without taking something." Roderic didn't register Arianna's discomfort as his attention was solely consumed by the glittering trove in front of him. Bending down, his fingers gripped along the jagged edge as he was preparing to squeeze into the narrow fissure when a faint flicker of light caught his eye. Pausing in mid-motion, his gaze drifted towards his hands, watching as a faint eerie glow traced the veins on the back of his hands. They pulsed in rhythm to the crystals below, causing the man's entire body to go rigid - the thrill he once experienced now shifting into something horrific.
"Uh…" Drew stumbled back a few steps as a sinking realization began to take shape, his vision still swimming in a sea of dizziness. His eyes darted between his friends as unease sharpened in his gut, making him want to vomit with Arianna. "Guys. We need to leave. Now." His tone was assertive, leaving no room for argument. "I have a feeling it's this place… something about it is messing with us. I don't want us sticking around to see how much worse it gets." Leaning down as he reached for Roderic's arm, he urged him to stand from the fissure's edge, the man not resisting as his gaze remained locked onto his glowing veins. Arianna quietly trailed behind as a lone hand pressed against her mouth, fighting back another wave of nausea.
By the time the trio made it back to Elaris, the radiation had already taken root. Drew continued to stagger due to being unable to find his footing as waves of dizziness grappled his head. Roderic's veins pulsated with an unnatural neonglow beneath the skin's surface, while Arianna's arms shimmered with crystalline scales, slowly spreading like frost over flesh.
Fear and uncertainty grappled the trio, and out of fear for their lives they sought out a local doctor. Stunned by their condition they wasted no time in reporting the incident to the Accord Division, who then quickly spread the word to travel up the chain, making it reach the ears of the Lumen Circle itself.
Reluctant at first and hoping they could keep the discovery to themselves, the trio eventually had to reveal the location of the fissure. Their confession set off a chain reaction of activity, where teams of scientists, engineers, scholars, and other specialists were dispatched off to investigate the disturbance, aiming to uncover the source of the anomalies. The trio themselves quickly became test subjects, studying their symptoms while offering a rare glimpse into the unknown phenomenon’s lingering effects. Through them, they could better understand how it altered the body, how long the mutations lasted, and what risks it posed to others that would be studying it on site.
Since the discovery, Elaris officially designated the site as The Fracture Zone, while the radiant orb throbbing within its center was named The Core. Quickly it became clear that proximity was a major factor in accelerating the stages of mutations, prompting researchers to quickly develop specialized suits that warded off the Core's volatile energy in order to investigate the source. In spite of the dangers, there was also a remarkable breakthrough that the Core provided. It managed to power equipment with unprecedented efficiency, and in rare cases, was able to grant individuals unique abilities without any visible side effects.
Word traveled fast as it reached the shadowed depths of Virelow, where many saw opportunity in an attempt to claim a piece of the prize for themselves. Violent skirmishes broke out as many scavengers and opportunists attempted to ransack the Fracture Zone, only to be repelled by Elarian soldiers - declaring control over the territory. For a time the chaos was relentless, but eventually the conflict began to simmer down.
Rumors continued to travel as whispers spread through the undercity and Elaris. There was talk that someone within Elaris was secretly funneling gragements into Virelow, while others stated that a new fissure opened somewhere within Virelow, having access within their own borders. Whether it was truth or myth, one thing was certain…
That the line between risk and reward began to blur, and was beginning to evolve into a promise of untapped potential if they played their cards right.
"Tyr, can you pass me the Quantum Flux Stylus?" Luneth asked with a calm but focused tone, examining a fragment held delicately within her thumb and index finger - sheathed in resonance gauntlets inside a sealed glass chamber. The shard pulsed faintly within her grasp as her SpectraScope Lens Strapped against her head flickered with data, reading back the intensity.
Once the stylus was passed over to her, she slipped out of the gloves to place it into the chamber carefully before wielding it inside. Her fingers began to work as she etched careful symbols with precision into the crystal-like surface. Each mark shimmered faintly under the watchful lens - a coded system for the Lumen Council to later identify, categorize, and safely disperse according to its properties.
"Annnnnnnd, done!" The Noctari girl scooted her chair back as she let out a satisfied ground, stretching her limbs outwards as if attempting to shake off the weight of the entire day in the single movement. "That was the busiest day yet, phew…" Slumping back into the seat, she exhaled dramatically. Relaxing for a fleeting moment, a soft thud filled the air as her boots found the floor again, her hands quick to gather the tools and returning each one with practiced ease to its proper place on the workbench.
"Mind getting the fragments into the transfer bag for me?" Casually she asked Tyr as her eyes focused on organizing the area rather than waiting for a response. "I'm seeing mom today so I can drop them off myself this time around." Her tone was easy, almost hinting that she was absent-minded - yet her hands moved with intention.
Once finished, Luneth happily took the containment pouch form Tyr, feeling the fragments shift and rattle inside - like marbles clashing against each other in a cloth bag. "Honestly, I still don't feel great carrying this, even with the protective pouch." Her voice was tinged with caution as she admitted Her concern, knowing all too well that despite the advanced technology with the Core, there were still flaws that could arise due to how new it was.
"Whelp, I'll be off then! See ya later in class or in the lab. And, if you need anything, don't hesitate to message me." With that, she spun on her heel and headed for the door, her steps purposeful with each stride as she made her way towards the Lumen Circle headquarters - within the heart of the Apex Spire Forum.
Walking inside of the building, the young woman offered polite nods and brief smiles to those she crossed, many of them being people she'd known and grown up seeing since she was little. Despite her history with her mother, the Lumen Circle headquarters felt like a second home - its towering halls filled with history and purpose.
Before she approached the stairs, a familiar figure caught her peripheral vision. "Hey, Augus!" Calling out, her free hand waved enthusiastically, jogging over to close the distance once their eyes met. "We got a lot done today, I was dropping these off with mom so you guys can start distributing them in various sectors." Augus was no stranger, instead he was someone she had crossed paths with plenty of time growing up, especially since his late parents held positions with the Lumen Circle. Their shared history made conversation seamless and natural, even amidst the high-stakes work surrounding the Core.
"One quantum flux stylus." Tyr replied, relaxed and observant as he'd watch Luneth's diligent, near tunneled work. Her focus to the task was admirable, even if there was idle, haphazard spoken bander involved. In a way, that was the charm of his classmate, especially during lab work. It made otherwise mind numbing days go by quicker, which was always a relief. As Luneth worked, he'd jot down the neccessary filing, and ledgers of the production, all legally necessary for the production and transfer of fragments such as these.
Well ahead on the matter, Tyr listened to Luneth speak her mind, brewing a pot of coffee that left an ambient aroma of the fresh brew floating about the room. He'd pour some into a mug, taking a sip, his eyes clearly showing some fatigue. When she finished with a cheer and stretch, Tyr set the mug down, beginning to gather the fragments into a transfer bags. Each one gave him a rather... 'peculiar' feeling before they were sealed. It wasn't the usual ambiance of such, the spark of it's odd energy, but oddly, almost indescribably, a feeling more equivilant to a when you know somebody is stood behind you without looking.
With the bags and case prepped, he'd put the paper work into a sleeve for Luneth to take, setting a travel cup with coffee nearby for her. "See you later. Don't forget, they're doing a fragment Ambient Field Test tomorrow. It'll look good on a resume." He'd say nonchalantly, taking his mug as he'd wave her off. Once Luneth left, Tyr exhaled, sipping his coffee, then sat in her seat, pulling out a pair of gloves, before reaching under the table for a fragment he had hidden in a bag under the table with some tape, then pocketed it in his coat, downing the coffee, then walking out the lab.
Crossing cities was usually done during fixed sunlight hours, at least, for the general populations. Of course, one could attempt to sneak in, smuggle themself in, bribe a guard, or apply for a pass that allowed travel at any hour, though the least trouble was a simple daytime transit. Less attention, less likely to be suspect. With the fragment in tow, Tyrphanis entered Virelow, dressed in rags and robes fitting the city's aesthetic. Then, it was a matter of waiting at the Havenwall for his contact's blackmarket doctor, chemist, mixed bag. Whoever he recommended, they better be good, and willing to experiment on a core frag.
"To think, it's already been a year since we lost you." ɴᴏᴡ ᴘʟᴀʏɪɴɢ: 2ʜʀꜱ+ | ᴛᴏʙɪ ʟᴏᴜ
"What a waste of liquor." Hidden well away from the general chaos of Virelow's streets was a crack in the wall that held a secret behind it: The grave of a father rusted after months spent decaying in the dark. Two siblings had stood in front of a metal headstone. One of them, a white haired woman in a lab coat, poured a bottle in respect to the man who gave up so much for them. The other, a white haired man dressed in his urban, gang-colored streetwear, crossed his arms while leaning his back against the metal walls of the solemn resting place. To him, there was never anything of value inside the makeshift grave. To him, his father was only good at two things, bringing tragedy to his children and being a piece of shit father who was never there when they needed him most.
"Summer," Her brother called out to her. "No point in wasting good drink on the dead, especially on some worthless asshole like him. Fucker couldn't even die right. Had to die in a shootout out of all things." The warrior was bitter over the fact that his father's mistakes alone were the reason why his life had ended up like this. Once a reputable soldier for Elaris who had the world to gain, his ties to his father was what ultimately made him end up in this shithole of a living space. While he was able to make a living here once again through contracts with less than well-meaning characters, it was a far cry from the glory and status he won over on the surface. All the sacrifice he made serving people he would've preferred breaking the jaws had all become a waste. "Besides, we need to get a move on. Didn't you say we needed to meet with some egghead noctari from the surface?"
"Winter. You know he's more than that to us. More than that to me." Unlike her brother, Summer's intelligence was a product of the sacrifices her father made to protect his influence. Due to his service as an influential captain of the Elarian guard, working with noteworthy scientists like their late mother from the G-12 labs to protective sensitive information and classified documents, she had a rare opportunity to learn from some of the best minds that Elaris had to offer, leading to her influence with some of the major gangs and cults of Virelow growing into the way it did. "If it wasn't for him, we could've been born here or born poor in Elaris. Sure, was he perfect? No. But did he give us opportunities to grow? Absolutely. If only mom were here to talk to you." She grew quiet near the end, understanding that Winter was different. His birth was the reason why his father was widowed in the first place. "She would know what to say."
"Well, she isn't here now is she?" Shoving his hands into his pockets, Winter walked towards the crack in the wall that led to the outside. "Make it quick, yeah? I'm not..." He paused, being careful with his words. If it were anyone else, the veteran wouldn't have minded tearing into them with his truth. However, Summer was his only family and she was the only one who he felt could truly understand his situation. "... I'm not going to pull you away, but we got better things to do than cry over someone who isn't here anymore." Leaving her to her lonesome to smoke outside, Summer placed the half empty bottle right beside her father's grave. "Don't be angry at him dad. He's trying his best, like I am. Here, I got you your favorite liquor too. Say hi to mom for me. I'll talk to you again when our job is done."
Making her words quick and concise given their time constraint, Summer muttered a quick prayer before returning outside back to Winter's side. "Finished? Heard that there was a bar that opened up near the Havenwall. A half decent one too. Should be open by the time we get there." Looking at his scrap watch, he adjusted the hands towards that of the neon lights of buildings in the distance. Depending on the time of day, different stores were open, giving him an approximation as to the right time using Summer's formulae.
"Hope he doesn't get somehow wasted before he pays us."
Sitting across each other at an open air bar that sat at the exterior of a strip club near the Havenwall built to capitalize on those who wished to lose their sorrows, Summer had offered a light for the cig sitting in Winter's mouth. Despite his attempts at feigning strength when surrounded by death, she was aware of the signs that his past was getting the better of him: One of the most obvious being that of forgetting that a cig was in his mouth to begin with. As he leaned towards the spark of fire in her hand, once he felt the warmth extend closely to his mouth, he inhaled the special concoction formulated by his sister to help him deal with the aftereffects of his trauma.
"When is this fuckface gonna be here already?" His knee shook anxiously as his foot continued to tap at the floor rapidly. The area around there was not owned by his gang or that of allies. In part, it was this combined with the generally gloomy surroundings that made his mind regretful and bitter. "If he died or got nabbed before reaching us in the first place, its not our responsibility." Sighing, Summer herself took a sip of the alcohol they ordered, finding a sense of calm in the same flavors her father and her shared back when he was alive.
"Relax Winter, just trust me. You think I would just work with anybody from Elaris?" Somewhat returning to her ordinary personality, the cockiness she had donned as a shield had returned to her once she had drink in her system. [The man coming from the surface is much more than any ordinary student. He has possession of a fragment.] Speaking in hushed tones, she whispered directly into the magical implant embedded in his ear, communicating at a frequency that only they could hear.
"Don't think I haven't done my research, Winter. Most who know of me up there aren't likely to want to get involved with me unless they have something important on the line." Swirling her glass, she eyed some of the memorials scattered nearby the ruins of the wall. "Give him a bit more credit and lets focus on our drinks. No point in wasting the opportunity after spending money already."
Lifting her glass, she clinked it against her brothers before getting a read on the locals nearby. Her brother was far from the only guard she had in her employ, though there were still many strangers about. "Who knows? Maybe after we get paid, with your cut, you might find yourself a nice Elarian girl to date... Or take home." She chuckled, teasing Winter to pass the time and change his mood.
"...You're a fucking dumbass, Sum. Which girl would be dumb enough in Elaris to get involved with someone like me?" Turning his eyes towards the barely dressed women and men that served drinks around, he pointed a finger towards the staff passing nearby. "My odds at romance are better here with some stripper, thief, or killer on this side of the border rather than some noble girl above. Besides... I tried that already. It didn't work out when they died." His hand gripped his drink. "... Let's move on from this and focus on the job, yeah?"
It didn't take long to locate the contact's doctor. Havenwall square had it's prying eyes, but that's what Tyrphanis was using, narrowing their focus to a pair, likely related, with striking white hair, the ones he was looking for. Approaching the table, he'd pull a empty chair over, placing it at their table, and casually taking a seat. He'd knock on the table twice, then raised a hand with a coin between his fingers. A server approached, a young man, doing likely his best to earn some semblance of a honest wage. Tyr then spoke, his voice was shallow, deep, and unnervingly calm. "Three." He'd say laconically. The waiter then nodded, took the coin and moved past, only for the raised hand to tug the server as he held the coin. Raising his left hand, Tyrphanis showed three more coins. "The bottle, block of ice, and an ice shaver." The server looked confused, but after a moment's hesitation, the sight of such a generous tip was too much to spare. He'd nod, take the coins, avd run off. Tryphanus reached over, unraveling his tied wraps of a scarf, grabbing the sides of his hood to lower it, allowing piercing gray eyes to look back at them. Initially, he appeared anything but intimidating, but it didn't take long for one to notice the cold, soul piercing, removed gaze subconsciously about him, as if he could see through them, at the things they held dearest and closest to their hearts.
The server arrived, setting a wooden board upon the table with a bottle of dark red port, three classes, and a block of ice perhaos just shy of sitting into one glass. The server then left, leaving the ice shaving knife for Tyrphanis. Tyr took the blade, then tilted the ice with his free hand, slowly moved, then suddenly shaved off an entire side of it, the blade chopping against the board suddenly. Then, again, another side. "It is said ice is hard like stone..."
chop
"And yet, with enough practice..."
chop
"It is sliced like butter."
Tyrphanis tilted the ice, chipping the bottom of it as he rotated the ice, then scooped it into a glass, collected the shaved parts on the flat end of the knife, and dropped them into the glass before taking the bottle of port, pouring some of the liquor strength, cherry and blackberry wine known as port, with hints of brandy from being aged in a barrel used for such prior, into the glass, pushing it into the center of the table, then slight towards Summer.
"I need someone who can, in a manner of speaking, take a small bit of the ice off the top, and amplify it's reactive.... flavor. I'd recommend no more then pebble size, shaven off the whole, done where nobody will see, and where you can keep your distance, should things get interesting. Findings written, of course." The empty glass near Winter had a package in it, that almost seemed to... shimmer under it's wrappings.
"Naturally, safety first. I can't pay corpses, and concidering you're each other's next of kin..." Tyrphanis paused, a light glance between them, a silent 'I know'.
His own glass was dull of cash, and slid over with the bottle. "When you get results, trice the reward. Bottle is on the house." He'd stand at that, pausing as rain began to fall, slowly, then all at once. His dark hair dangled in a wavy, curly mess as it got wet, but even through that, when he looked back, his dagger like eyes landed on Winter. "Oh, and I'm not the egghead. Just the hand playing my game of chess." Turning to leave, he'd lift his hood, then stop. "Soldier's fight for states. Warrior's fight for something greater. If you are no longer one, are you the other?" He'd ask, not looking back as he'd leave.
The walk back was uneventful, and with the sun setting, Tryphanis made his cross back to Elaris, donning student clothing for a evening course. "Hmm, Elarian's in Virelow, and a Virelowen in Elaris." He'd mutter to himself, lean against the hallway wall, a simple chuckle at the idea. "What's next, I wonder?"
Without so much as a greeting, the urban warrior's attention had drifted from his drink towards the sound of metal chair legs scratching against the floor to towards their table. A hooded man lacking any form of allegiance on his body sat across from them, causing his hands to lower towards his scrap sword unconsciously. Upon feeling his hand touch the familiar leather, he felt his sister grab his arm. "I said, take it easy."
Raising her voice, his sister had summoned a conscious effort within him to lower his guard. Hearing her words spoken too, those nearby that were under her payroll had eased their grip on their weapons upon seeing her signal. Whoever this dark haired Noctari was, they were a guest, not a stranger alone. "My, my. To find out that one of you were brave enough to meet me in person." Offering Tyr a smile to ease the tension in the room, she leaned over the table, tracing her finger in a circle across its surface while she got ready to handle discussions. "And here I thought you would choose to reach out through a local rather than coming here yourself. Would that be your mistake, I wonder? Or are you trying to leave a good impression on me?~" Teasing the "student", Summer crossed her legs and leaned back while he called the server over through the knocking of a coin on the table.
"Three. The bottle, block of ice, and an ice shaver." The sight of him producing more for a tip was not only noticed by the server but also the thief, the doctor, and several around as well. While it was known for Elarians to be more wealthy than Vilerowens on average, to present signs of wealth so openly and obviously must have meant her guest was either naive or confident in his own strength. At the least, if he was able to offer this much to an ordinary server, Winter understood that he would be able to afford their services. As the two saw what he hid underneath the hood, Summer feigned attraction. "A handsome face to go with strong eyes... You're no ordinary student are you?"
To Winter, his eyes lacked warmth. They were not seen to be humans in his eyes but rather tools. 'How typical of you Elarian types. To see anyone that isn't one of you like an animal, no... An object. A lesser than.' He thought to himself, crossing his arms to avoid having them reach down towards his weapon. Once presented with the ice, instead of responding directly to the pair, he spoke in symbols. "It is said ice is hard like stone..." The first incision into raw ice hinted at precision and purpose. "And yet, with enough practice..." The second spoke of refinement. "It is sliced like butter."
Offered a drink, Summer reached out and examined the fruits of his labor. "I need someone who can, in a manner of speaking, take a small bit of the ice off the top, and amplify it's reactive.... flavor. I'd recommend no more then pebble size, shaven off the whole, done where nobody will see, and where you can keep your distance, should things get interesting. Findings written, of course."
While Summer looked down at her muddled reflection in the ice, Winter used his sleight of hand to discreetly reach out for the cup which held the package, encasing it in a container his sister designed for it specifically before loading it in his bag. To be seen taking anything from an Elarian by one of the gangs or cults separate from money alone was a major taboo, one that invited chaos and violence. However, to the two siblings used to that life in Virelow, some risk was necessary in order to do more than just survive. "Naturally, safety first. I can't pay corpses, and concidering you're each other's next of kin... When you get results, trice the reward. Bottle is on the house."
Taking a drink of her glass before lifting her gaze once she had an answer, for a moment, the confident posturing she displayed had swapped with that of serious business as she acknowledged the Noctari as a business partner instead of a stranger. "Consider it done, but with a few caveats of course. Before I relinquish my findings, I need half of what you're offering in payment. Can't have you leaving with all my hard work that easily, now can I?" A little push and pull was needed to ensure that she would be compensated for the risk.
"It will be at a location of my choosing; This place is as far as we go in doing you and your lab favors." Only wishing to work in a world where she held the advantage, the doctor refused to give Tyr any more power over her. "As long as you can promise us that, then we'll keep in touch~" Sliding in return an invention that could be used to communicate discreetly between the two, she seemed content with the opportunity.
Rain fell through the cracks from the world above, hinting at a storm brewing. As others excused themselves inside, the man had grabbed Winter's attention as he turned to the brother. "Oh, and I'm not the egghead. Just the hand playing my game of chess. Soldier's fight for states. Warrior's fight for something greater. If you are no longer one, are you the other?"
As he left, the pair of siblings stood themselves up and donned their hoods. "I'll give it to him. For an Elarian, the asshole has some guts." Watching the cloaked man turn into a blur in the distance, others had approached their side donning similar colors, checking around for any signs of trackers or magic. "Bringing out coin like that in front of us. If it wasn't for the fact that we were working with him, I would've run his pockets myself."
[Got the package?] Summer checked in to ensure the safety of the parcel first before scanning her surroundings. With a nod of her brother's head, she sighed in relief. [Good. What we're working with is volatile. Much more than anything I worked with before. Let's be careful with it on the way back to the lab. I'll begin work once we handle all the other visitors for today.] The black market researcher was busy. While the payout for this job was nice, there was never a guarantee that it would end up turning out well in the first place. As such, she never placed all of her hopes in one job, keeping true to her reputation as a busybody that served as a boon to Virelow's underground organizations. "And Win..."
"Hmm? What is it?"
"Thanks for watching my back."
"...Anytime. Someone has to watch your back anyways. Who better than me?"
It had been nearly three months now since the night that Charles and Octavia Atwood had been murdered. Three months and still no answers or found killer. Leaving behind a fortune, a business and a council chair to their only son Augus who had gone through all the tribulations and requirements of him to prepare him for this day. Restless nights and tired mornings he was left with in their wake and vengeance burned his core as unbridled venom pointed towards Virelow, believing the scum of the city to be responsible for such an action within Elaris. With the appearance of the core and testing on the fragments that were being mined, Atwood Firearms being part of the council and the company that supplied Elaris with all things military and police funded were given crucial research data while they perform their own experiments and designs to further improve their products for on-field use. Shortly after his parents were killed and now he was in charge.
The masks of Elaris were a game to be played. Merchants, Noble houses and council members all offered up condolences while also probing for information on what Atwoods stance was on the core, what they planned to do. Contracts, manufacturing, sales. He worked with snakes in the grass looking to profit off of his demise.
Looking at his own reflection in the bathroom mirror. The soft sounds of bustling activity outside of the locked door. He was cleaning himself up for the council meeting that would begin shortly in Apex Spire.
Tired eyes looked back at him while he ran his fingers through his hair, sweeping back the lingering strands that had fallen down his forehead when he hunched over the sink to wash his hands. Fixing his hair and adjusting his glasses he would adjust the blazer he wore and emerge from the bathroom where he would begin his ascension back towards the hall in which the council would convene. On his way there he heard a familiar voice call out to him as he would turn to see Luneth approach him. A woman he was familiar with back during his short time at the Academy and from knowing her Mother who sat on the Council.
Turning to greet her, the tired eyes and face of his wore a mask as he smiled and held a positive light in his eyes. "Greetings, Luneth. I'm happy to hear the report and I'm sure your Mother will appreciate the work you have been doing for her in the lab at the Academy." He sounded full of energy and not that of someone who only had a few hours of rest last night after extensive testing of his own in his own private lab back at the Atwood Firearms.
"Care to join me? I was just about to head up to the hall, members of the Lumen Circle are gathering for a meeting today to discuss quarterly reports and about the Core itself." He gave a gesture with his eyes and head, directing her in the direction of where they would convene. Just a short walk away from where they currently conversed as he began to walk with her at his side since they were going the same direction, they could keep each other company for the time being until she had to depart and leave the council to its machinations.
"Tell me Luneth, what do you think of the Core and its fragments. We have had them in our possession for roughly five months now, studying and testing while also learning about the volatility of its power. The mutations that it caused to the group who had first found it, and even to our own excavators even with the measures we have taken to prevent the radiation of the fragments." Some on the Council believed it to be a weapon thaat needed to be buried and forgotton about once more while many wished to harvest its power. The potential for what it could bring for Elaris was limitless, it could advance Elaris even further than what they were capable of without it.
"I think it has caused a great deal of trouble since discovery. I just hope that whatever we can gain from it outweighs the cost." He had his own company working on ways to develop weapons from the fragments, to enhance the potency of Elarian weapons or even now dipping into building suits that were powered by these fragments to give a soldier more protection and work almost like power armor.
Wisps of smoke lazily lifted to cling to the ceiling of the alleyway like a thickened shield, the air burning with the scent of cheap cigars as neon lights flickered against the hazy atmosphere. Faintly the back door to the Flickerhive buzzed with energy, the rusted hinges on the door shrieking in protest as it swung open, revealing the woman they would never dream to keep waiting.
Heavy boots thumped against the floor as Kaelira stepped inside, her shoulders squaring naturally as she slithered inside - almost as if she owned the place. The low buzz of chatter promptly silenced from the weight of her presence, their eyes drawing towards her swaying figure.
Mama Nox is what they called her within the depths of Virelow, her name being whispered either in warning or prayer - all depending on who you were and what you owed her.
Black clothes clung onto her figure like a second skin, as if telling stories without the need for words. Her knuckles were scarred and calloused as gold rings adorned her fingers, knowing they had seen and felt blood. The only color that glinted against her darkness was the red enamel on her lighter as her fingers motioned for it to combust. Placing her cigar against the flame, she inhaled sharply to begin the chain reaction, finally blowing out a trail of smoke that curled upward like a smirk.
“Tell the Baron I’m here, and to not keep his mother waitin’.” Her voice was smooth and coarse all at once as she kept her cigar perched within her lips, a half-smile lifting in silent amusement. No one dared question her, the security guards nodding their heads in acknowledgment before following orders.
Moments later, the Flickerhive’s upper lounge door slid open with a low hiss, revealing the steady pulse of bass vibrating against the floorboards. Kae’s golden orbs attentively locked onto The Baron himself, watching as he lounged like royalty with a half-empty glass of something expensive.
Kae skipped past the pleasantries - the two knowing each other too well for that - as she sauntered over slowly with an aura of confidence. Dropping herself into the seat across from him without a formal invitation, she’d tilt her chin toward a nearby staff member. Within moments a chilled glass of bourbon was placed within her grasp like clockwork.
“I’ve got my hands on something interesting, I think you’ll be quite pleased.” Her eyes narrowed as she watched his neon skull tattoo pulse in tandem to the club’s flickering lights and bass. Her right hand darted into the inner pocket of her coat, producing a small plastic bag with faintly glowing contents that resembled a fine powder - as if stardust was trapped within a daydream. Leaning forward to set it on the table between them, she’d allow a moment of silence to linger before leaning back with her drink in hand, one leg perched over the other.
“My guy's been cooking up something new with this… Core that’s been going around. It’s been making its rounds, and I think he struck gold.” Raising her glass towards her lips, she took a long and unflinching sip. No pause or wince. Just the smooth burn of aged whiskey meeting someone who’d long stopped feeling the fire. “They’re calling it Lucent… “ The newfound word rolled off of her moistened tongue as she leaned forward to shed the ashes of her cigar before placing it back into her mouth.
“It’s still quite new, but I figured you’d want a look before it starts flooding the streets... Hell, it might be worth seeing how it plays out in your hive before you dive in yourself.”
"Greetings, Luneth. I'm happy to hear the report and I'm sure your Mother will appreciate the work you have been doing for her in the lab at the Academy."
"Care to join me? I was just about to head up to the hall, members of the Lumen Circle are gathering for a meeting today to discuss quarterly reports and about the Core itself."
For a split second her body betrayed her, subtly flinching at his words as if he had just landed an invisible blow. Her expression twisted with something raw before smoothing back into her well-rehearsed smile. Luneth would never admit it to anyone, especially not to another member of the Lumen Circle. The truth was far too complicated, and far too fragile to say out loud. Sure, she still called Seraphyne her mom - still playing the part when needed - yet, she never once felt warmth from her mouth as she spoke each syllable. It didn’t feel earned, not even in her younger years. There had always been a quiet emptiness between them - something where tenderness should’ve lived, replaced by something hollow.
“Sure, I’d love to.” ‘Softly she responded as she fell into step alongside him, her ears twitching as he spoke of the Core fragments and requesting her opinion on the matter. His question lingered in the air, allowing a thoughtful silence to settle between them as she carefully weighed her opinions on how to answer best.
“Let’s see… I’m still uncomfortable around them, given their nature and seeing the consequences first hand.” A chill that spread like frost traveled against her spine, her mind revisiting the haunting visuals of those unfortunate Elyrians. Images of their twisted, unrecognizable bodies from the Core’s influence crept into her mind, prompting her head to shake - removing the intrusive thoughts out of it. "But, there's no denying its possibilities if we continue to play our cards right." Luneth reflected back to the powers that some had gained through the Core, and the way it undeniably supercharged their equipment - making their systems run smoother, faster, and more efficiently. There were undeniable advantages mixed within the bad with this strange, new energy source.
Yet, no matter how promising the Core appeared, a quiet unease relentlessly lingered in the pit of her soul. The Core didn't feel natural, and it surely didn't feel right.
They continued walking as their voices gently reverberated off the walls that encased them - the building seemingly swallowing each word as if they were spilling secrets. Their destination was now just ahead, prompting the young adult to suddenly turn the question back onto him with a curious glance. "And you, how do you feel about it? You're stating facts, but not your own opinions."
The Flickerhive was a notorious social club draped in the atmosphere of eternal celebration. The booming party anthem infected the bones of eavesdropping ears and possessed them with the undeniable urge to groove to the rhythm. The beats hummed and shook the walls. It’s a miracle this old coal factory even remained standing. Smart carts frolicked about the tracks as if happily delivering people, smuggled goods, or food and drugs. Storing goods had never been easier. The walls came alive as neon danced more passionately than scantily clad girls from the jiggle joint and entertained as if showcasing a rudimentary motion picture. The liquor was heavier, morals were looser, and the bliss was high. Thus is life in the oasis in this lawless land.
The Baron sat at the highest peak at the club. A retrofitted control room now served as the office to the master of this domain. A finely crafted wood desk sat in between a comically large sofa capable of fitting a family of ten while a set of chairs sat on the other end. The Baron sipped a glass of his Dark Horse rum while taking care of remedial work affairs when the lack of white noise thwarted his concentration. He didn’t like when his club fell silent.
The Baron grumbled before arming himself with his cane and rising to his feet to handle the snake(s) that had entered his garden. Enforcers who were enlisted from neighboring gangs suddenly informed him of who had arrived just as he readied to investigate. His lips pursed into a smile before permitting Kaelira entrance to his office. He found a comfortable and lax spot on his sofa with his wingspan nesting on the headrest. The light evaded him as he found comfort in the shadows while waiting for his honored guest.
As the Street Saint waltzed in her golden optics focused onto him. His white neon skull glowed along with a pair of two red dots in place of pupils while the outline of the Baron cryptically settled in the darkness until she sat across from him. She never needed to ask. She knew that. Kaelira had been so reliable she’s earned a seat at his table no matter the occasion.
He bursted forth like a specter exorcised from the shadows and stepped into the light of his dimly lit room. “Mama-Nox~” he greeted with a jovial tone as if seeing a long lost friend. “To whom do I owe the pleasure of your, sublime, presence?” he gestured to the open air between them as if an imaginary friend was responsible for bringing her to him. His devilish smile adorned his lips while she answered where his thanks needed to be directed toward. The flicker in the unreliable power caused his tattoo to shimmer in the brief darkness before she unveiled a new drug.
The Baron gasped before setting his cane down and gingerly grabbing the bag before cradling it close to his cheek, “Pleased indeed I am. Don’t think I know what you’re doing. You’re trying to get me hooked on a new fix, Mama Nox. And you know what I say to that,” he licked his lips as the buzz from the phantom touch of her black kiss came to mind. “It’s working~” he purred while caressing the bag with his cheek.
His eyes then slightly narrowed, “But why is it all…ethereal?” he inquired after sobering up.
Then she dropped the c-word. The Baron tossed the bag back to her side of the desk as she took a nonchalant sip of her whiskey as if she didn’t just bring a minute amount of highly unstable element force into his club. “Why the hell did you bring that shit here, Kaelira?” he asked in a record scratching serious tone so sonorous one would assume it came from someone else’s vocal cords. Years of smoking had deepened his tone yet he used lighter inflections until the gravity of the situation warranted for his more serious and cynical nature to show itself.
The Baron’s cane slammed on the worn floorboards as he slowly became enveloped by the darkness again with only his legs and hands grabbing the top of his cane showing his presence along with the iconic skull. She talked. He listened. When she finished he sighed and picked up his rum before pouring himself another glass. “Lucent, huh? Is it safe? Or are you trying to see what happens to my club members and use me as your scapegoat if it proves to hold dire consequences?” he countered.
“You remember what happened to those three kids, right? I thought I told you I only connect clients with suppliers of the core or sell equipment to work with the core. I don’t actually do anything with it.” He reiterated before tapping his fingers on his cane as if pensively debating on changing his stance now that the Trojan horse was here.
The man took a sip of his drink to calm his nerves. He fell silent before taking a deep breath. “Ok, ok, mama Nox. How about this?” he beamed with a more upbeat tone like before. He slithered back into the light with a grin, “Why don’t we try some. Here and now. I trust you and know you wouldn’t wanna hurt me or my business. But I’ve gotta know if it’s really a good investment and who better than to try it with than the supplier?”
"I know a spot around here where we could hide out from the rain." ɴᴏᴡ ᴘʟᴀʏɪɴɢ: ʀᴜꜱᴛ | ᴇʟ ʜᴜᴇʀᴠᴏ
As the rain began to pour outside, the two siblings ran through Virelow's streets on the way to their next destination, passing many others who quickly sought shelter underneath a solid roof. Rain on the surface of Elaris played little danger to those who knew the sky. However, to those who lived down below, the spilled water absorbed all sorts of contaminants as it dripped through the cracks, falling down as a liquid more akin to acid than something harmless. Gas masks and tailored, weather resistant clothes that covered the body were a common sight on those well equipped to live underground where pollution had welled. Though even with the added protection, the light burns of droplets on exposed skin had reminded the residents of the world underneath that this was their sobering reality; Their world was second class compared to the glimmering city above.
"What, you worried that I'm gonna greet the Baron with a sniffle?" His sister chuckled, treating the situation lightly while being careful to avoid being exposed to the rain for too long. "Of course; Its a bad fucking look for a doctor out of all people to get sick." Finally finding a small shack to wait out the torrent of rain for the moment, Winter punched Summer's shoulder lightly, causing a feigned overreaction. "Ow~ Such a bully. Winter, you're much more dangerous than the rain could ever be." Another tease escaped her mouth as she played the role of a hurt princess. "Such a barbaric brother! Whatever can I do? Surely, the Baron and his men would be concerned seeing one of their trusted suppliers bruised and-" Flick. "Eh?" Falling back onto the makeshift bench inside, the doctor crashed with a thud.
This time, instead of punching her arm again, Winter flicked her in the forehead before speaking in an exaggerated tone. "Sorry, princess. Didn't take you for the gentle Elarian noble type. And here I thought your skull was thicker than reinforced plates. Looks like my hypothesis has been proven false." Giving her a smile of his own after throwing a joke, the two began to share a laugh with each other once the mood lightened after spending some time on business, only to be interrupted by the sound of wind pushing hard against the rain. "Damn, would be a shame if our client ended up getting washed down the drain. You think we could sell the fragments and still be paid if he drowns?" Scratching his chin at the thought, Summer chopped his head from behind lightly.
"He's not gonna drown, idiot. A man who could get his hands on something like this is not a man that will die that easily, as much as you might pray for it." Rolling her eyes, Summer wiped off some of the rain from her jacket with her sleeves, letting the toxic solution spill onto the ground before reaching into her bag to grab a couple masks. "Now come on, Winter. Put this on. I don't want you getting sick from this either." Tossing him one of the masks, as they both donned them on, a cloud of purified mist had escaped where they exhaled. Grinning underneath, Winter raised his voice as though he was at an awards ceremony, similar to the times of old where he and his father attended her university functions. "Award of the year to the scientist who overengineers everything goes to~"
"Oh shut up, asshole. Don't make me turn on the mute function of that mask." Standing herself up from the bench, she looked outside the shack's front door to see the weather clearing up for the moment. "Looks like we have some time to move. What's the ETA before we get home?" Pulling out a mask from his bag, Winter glanced over the drawn symbols of each hidden location nearby, starting from the shack's shape and using the distance marker to approximate the travel time.
"Fifteen minutes before we make it back to the lab. Thirty if we want to head over to the Flickerhive instead. With the rain looking the way it does, I give it twenty minutes or so before it starts pouring again. What's the call?" Joining her side, Winter hopped to take off the excess water from his sleeves as he adjusted his mask. "Well, we can't experiment without tools, now can we? If there's anyone that could "procure" what we need on this side of the wall,"
It was a bit of a nuance, if anything, a necessary one, but blending into a roll required his physical presence, meaning often, his clandestine efforts were left to what amounted to time away from the Academy, or in short, his 'free-time'. Not that Tyr had much use for such. He held no close friends, but maintained a small selection of peers, to avoid suspicion. That's actually how Tyrphanis ended up entangled with Luneth in laboratory work. It, of course, benefited his efforts, giving unparalleled access to freshly studied core fragments, as well as the means to write off a short frag or two occasionally, as he'd always take care of the paper work.
With class out of the way, Tyrphanis headed for the Tranquil Promenade. There were plenty of shops about, an assortment of engineers too, all tinkering away. The weather seemed to calm down temporarily, though it was of little concern up in Elaris, that was, if he was here for a simple workshop visit. Working his way into a surveillance blindspot of sorts in one of the shops, Tyrphanis entered. The damp class and wooden frame door with hints of gilded brass to add to it's allure pushed open, tripping a bell, sending it's ring gently though the shop. With the door closing behind him, Tyrphanis pulled down his hood, running fingers through his slick, damp dark hair to better see the middle aged man behind the counter. He was a human, with short dark hair that grayed near his ears on the side, as well as in patches on his beard. Looking up past his glasses, forest green eyes lazily glances to Tyrphanis. Laid before him on the work counter was a simple pocket watch gear system opened up with the brass panel laying nearby. Small intriquet tools rested in his hands as he returned to work. "And here I thought I had a customer." He'd mutter, tinkering away as Tyrphanis stepped around back, into a supply room, then pulled a crate from one of the corners, revealing a metal grate door with a handle, and a ladder that headed into an old protest tunnel, hidden under the prying eyes of Elarian surveillance to a small room under the road with a convex brick ceiling and walls. Tryphanis knocked once, waited, three times, then waited, then spoke. "Aura."
A small slate in the door opened, and a pair of dark brown eyes glared his way, then the slate closed, followed by mechanical gears shifting, depressurzing, and hydraulic moving something behind the otherwise simple heavy metal door, away. Lastly, a manual metal bolt was turned and pulled away, allowing the door to open outward.
The room had a set of old style lifts, both leading down to the Sector G-12 Labs. This, wasn't persay, the main entrance, but one that belonged to the Elarian Intelligence Service or the E.I.S.
Sub-level 7, where Tier 1 Core Resesrch was underway. That of the apparent psycho-phasmatic augmenting ability of core fragments on select sensitives. Needless to say, Tryphanis, or rather, Theodore wasn't in class anymore. He'd watch from a floor above, through oneway glass at a white room below where a young Noctari man sat, laid upon the matted floor, holding a similarly white block up, with some sides exposing a core fragment to the subject. Stood beside Theodore was the man from the shop, now in a dark suit and hood. "Director."
The man gazed at the test subject below. "Another sensitive, this one volunteered, believe it or not. One of ours. It's a shame, really. Though a sensitive, his body is already experiencing radiation effects. We'll pull him out shortly. It seems we can not replicate the genetic marker for core exposure tolerance... yet." Pausing a moment, the man folded his arms behind his back, then spoke once more. "You went to Virelow." Theodore rose a brow to this.
"Don't seem so suprised, this is the E.I.S. Of course we knew." The director reaffirmed. "Then again, Vandervelde, you are free to do as you wish. On that note, I have a... request. Visit with that new councilor, Atwood. We need to begin Project Stahl, now that Project Aura is... for the moment, unproductive. Can you do that?"
Theodore side eyed the director silently, then looked back to the Noctari in the room below. His nose began to bleed as he sat up, noticing the drip. "Uh, I think I don't feel so good, guys." Theodore nodded. "I'll get it done. But just know I haven't given up on either project. Both may become necessary for the genesis of something greater. Also..." Theodore turned to walk away at that. "That hair dye and contacts freak me out. Makes me actually look like your son."
"And are you not?" The director asked quizzically. Theodore would stop his pace halfway down the hall, then glare back coldly at the director with a glance that seemed to bore right into his very soul, before turning to briskly trudge off. "Hmmp, son? No, not by any natural sense of the word." He'd mutter to himself, heading to the surface in search of the last Atwood.
He was watching her with keen interest for only a moment before turning his eyes towards the hall they walked down. He had a feeling she was intimidated by her Mother, just like many members of the Council was because of her years of service to Elaris. Augus however wasn't afraid of the woman or her ideals. Everyone on the Council was looking for the future of Elaris and for the future of themselves, many of them lining their own pockets or looking for new opportunities that would benefit them and put them over others for generations to come. Many of them saw him as that new opportunity and he was aware of their schemes and plots to use his wealth and company for their own gains to cement themselves and future generations in the history of Elaris, for as long as the Atwoods survived they would be the leading visionaries in protecting Elaris with its weapons and designs. Without them their soldiers and police would be ill-equipped and unprepared for the cruelty of Virelow.
"Very astute and of sound mind. They are indeed dangerous, we still know so little of them but many in the council are pushing for product to go out the door for the advancement of Elaris and to line their own pockets. You already know my company is charged with honing the power of these fragments to further improve our defenses and weaponry but I've so far not provided anything since the founding of the core. If we are to employ these in the field, proper testing must be done first -- and I do not wish for Virelow to get their hands on my product." Already several prototypes of various designs were locked away safely in Atwood where extensive testing was being performed.
"For how I feel about it. They are just another means to another end. The power they possess is incredible and if we can properly harness it then the sky is the limit. But greed will expedite the danger of this unknown source." Merchants saw this as nothing more than money ready to line their pockets full as they sold it to the masses of Elaris and for them to make undercover deals with Virelow.
"I'm unsure if your Mother has told you, Luneth. Perhaps she hasn't since it hasn't been secured but I will let you know now. She is looking to set an arranged marriage with me, using your hand as a bargaining chip and the Vitelli name. As you are aware I currently have no wife and no heirs. No siblings to inherit the Atwood Fortune, just branch members that would tear everything apart in litigation and in the courts of what they are due." Augus had come to a stop, just before the gilded doors of the Lumen Circle Council Chambers, turning to face the young Noctari woman.
"I haven't given her an answer yet. While I don't believe in arranged political marriages, especially one that would secure the Vitelli's line more than my own -- her offer has helped keep the other vultures off my back for now. Smaller houses that don't have as much to offer are waiting for my answer before they begin to flood me with more offers. I wanted you to know, since we have known each other for years." He still wasn't sure how he wanted to answer the offer made by her Mother. He knew why she was making the offer and how it made sense from her point of view, and the importance that if he was to pass then the Atwoods wouldn't be dismantled by the greed within its own pathetic branches.
Still he didn't like being used, and he saw it as nothing else. If he was to agree it would secure the Vitelli's even more than the Atwoods and future generations. He was only human, he would pass before Luneth would look like she was in her thirties and how could he trust that his future children would focus on the core principles that he was raised on and now changed to work in the way of the Vitelli's
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The Flickerhive was a notorious social club draped in the atmosphere of eternal celebration. The booming party anthem infected the bones of eavesdropping ears and possessed them with the undeniable urge to groove to the rhythm. The beats hummed and shook the walls. It’s a miracle this old coal factory even remained standing. Smart carts frolicked about the tracks as if happily delivering people, smuggled goods, or food and drugs. Storing goods had never been easier. The walls came alive as neon danced more passionately than scantily clad girls from the jiggle joint and entertained as if showcasing a rudimentary motion picture. The liquor was heavier, morals were looser, and the bliss was high. Thus is life in the oasis in this lawless land.
