MOD EVENT #001

[oblivium]

A CHAOTIC RESPITE

It isn't rare for the seasons in the Netherworld to be a little erratic, though many days have passed now without much of a hint of its typical mercuriality, a good and a bad omen all at once. This respite is commonly referred to as the proverbial "calm before the storm", but it also marks the beginning of merrier celebrations. The Moons above are gilded silver, the twilight sky edged with faint pink and orange -- a sunrise phantasm, spilling over the horizon. It's an infrequent spectacle, accompanied by a dulcet breeze and light drizzles that seem to encourage growth nearly everywhere. Unfortunately, under its influence, people seem a little on edge, quick to anger, but no matter; around Stygia, Restless have begun hanging decorations and ornaments on trees and windowsills, left to catch the moonlight and give off marigold and ginger glows, warmly lighting up the city. Rather than fish, the smell of freshly ground spices permeates the air in the Harbors, Mirth keeps its doors opened to all, but just before the festivities officially begin, a cacophony of chimes resounds all over, a transmission difficult to ignore.

On the screen of your cellphone, nothing; only a voice, ragged, out of breath...

“The woods... Oakwoods! They've come alive! O-One minute he was complaining about the water seeping into his boots, and the next he was... he was being yanked up into the trees! We didn’t see what happened to him, but we heard... the screams, ohh, the screams. Please! Come to Serene, I beg you. This is our safest sanctuary, and the lan... oh, no... wait, no, please... please... NOOO--”

...and the feed abruptly ends, a dull chirr of static. Will you ignore the stranger's call for help and feast, or venture into the woods?

► I. KNOCK ON WOOD (OH PUCK, HE'S HOT!)

When you cross the gates of Serene, an old woman welcomes you, palm flat against her chest and disquiet in her eyes. Myrtille, her name. Oakwoods loom dense and dark in the distance behind her, groaning low as leaves rustle without wind. The Mourning Lantern was stolen, and malevolence rose in turn, dooming them all.

“It was once kept here, a sacred Artifact crafted from the bones of Serene's first founder, who gave her heart’s blood willingly to the woods in an act of contrition. It's the absence of the lantern that is contributing to the wood’s unusually active malice, and if you lot cannot retrieve it, then we must sacrifice another. Go! Take these torches and go, before Oakwoods swallow us whole.”

So you've decided to be brave. Commendable, or foolish? The wood is dark and shrouded in mist, and the trees crowd around you, an absent wind somehow whispering foul nothings in your ear as dead leaves rustle around your feet. Your Shadow basks in the murmurs, sensing the malign presence in Oakwoods as a faint, garbled scream echoes in the distance. You wander deeper and the canopy thickens, thin streaks of moonlight peppering the woods in deep patches of darkness. Behind you, a creature you can't see hisses, and a fluttering of wings nearby alerts you to the arrival of snickering harpies lurking on branches. “Dead,” they croak, in a sing-song chorus. “Dead as daylight.” Oddly enough, they seem content to just watch and stalk you, perhaps expecting you to die quickly, an easy and effortless meal.

It's a frustrating errand if you've ever known one. You barely know what you're looking for, and your Shadow thrives in the dark, taunting, coaxing. You hear it then; a haunting melody, the silhouette of a boy on a fallen tree trunk, strumming. “Come,” he says, with a voice that shimmers like the sun on moving water. If you remember what that's like. “Rest a while. Forget your troubles.” For anyone familiar, you'll recognize him as a Puck, famous prankster, and from his hand dangles a lantern.

► If you attempt to take the lantern from him, he'll immediately drop it to the ground, causing it to break. You may choose to kill him and offer his blood to the woods, or let him go and bleed in his stead. Myrtille should be able to repair what's left of the lantern once the offering's been made.
► If you politely ask to return it, he promises that he will... if you indulge him for the night.

No matter what you choose, you will come across camps, either on your way in or on your way back: pitched tents, most moth-eaten, and some containing vestiges of prior expeditions such as putrid corpses or rotten food. You've been wandering for a while, and sleep sounds terribly inviting. Unfortunately, a wind finally picks up, and leaves begin to blow around you. A nick, then a cut, then a slash reveal the leaves to have razor sharp edges. Sleep well yet? If you've spared the Puck, he'll encourage you to sit with him around a campfire, where he'll sing and tell stories. Or are they. Perhaps you've heard of Bloody Mary before. Slenderman? The Devil that'll make you dance until you die? While the lantern remains in stranger hands, the thread between reality and fiction narrows; protagonists from the Puck's legends come to life, and the only way to rid of them is by quenching the flames of the fire.

Your journey unfortunately doesn't end there. The Puck has a riddle for you: I am a word that is hardly there. Remove my start, and I'm an herbal flair. What am I?

If you fail to answer correctly, he'll vanish before you, and you can bid the lantern goodbye. You'll be forced to gather the bones from the corpses scattered across the woods, and feed it your blood -- or a friend's -- before you escape and return to the woman. The offering will leave you drained and exhausted, weak on your legs. If, on the other hand, you do answer correctly, the lantern is yours, and you'll be teleported out of the woods with a boon in your pocket: a piece of parchment invites you to visit your home in the Shadowlands. There, you'll find an object (or a pet) that belonged to you in your world.

the answer to the riddle is sparsely! it's up to you whether you'd like your character to fail.
legends told around the campfire can be any of the ones mentioned above or any other that might strike your fancy! go wild, have fun!
remember that if you pick an item from your character's world as their boon, it'll eventually disintegrate unless reforged with a soul.

.

► II. GO BIG OR GOURD HOME

Welcome to the Frightful Harvest, a festival that marks the beginning of the Respite, a temporary period of tranquility between seasons. It acknowledges the blessings offered and the role that both good and evil play in the Netherworld. It is a time to give thanks, but more importantly, it is a time of reflection and warding. Warding against not only the darkness of the next seasons to come, but of the nefarious creatures and struggles that will undoubtedly follow.

Carved pumpkins and straw bales are placed everywhere around the city, and streamers and banners are hung from every home and storefront. Decadent cakes, candies, and pastries are made in over-abundance in order to accommodate everyone, and from the lush gardens of Radiance, an elderly, dark-robed man addresses the Netherwork. You'll learn by eavesdropping on nearby Restless that his name is Doran, the oldest among you and loved by all. His smile stretches kind, and while not an official member of the Hierarchy, it's clear he has certain privileges -- well-deserved, or so you hear.

“Let us gather, feast, dance and celebrate. Let us hold our glasses high for those who heroically perished, for goodness, and for the Ascended. May their journey inspire us to change our lives and the lives of others, to resist evil, and to triumph. To you, dear friends!”

And without further ado, let the festivities begin!

► BARDIC BLITZ
The bardic blitz is a friendly competition that pits talented musicians against one another in an attempt to win over the affection of the crowd through festive melodies or personal compositions. Although it can be hosted just about anywhere, the bardic blitz is normally held in a large canvas tent directly in the heart of Mirth, though smaller crowds also gather in Serene and the Harbors around bonfires.

► FEAST
Although all cultures around Stygia bring their own tastes and specific flair to the celebrations, there are a few staple trade goods that you can find at nearly any celebration of the holiday throughout the city. Many producing the various cakes, beverages, and cookies also use the time to test and perfect their recipes, teaching others or using them as guinea pigs.

► Firstdawn Tea: This revitalizing crimson tea soothes the mind and body and is brewed from the roots of the dawn flower, which only sprouts during the Respite.
► Grablenuts: These fist-sized brown nuts have a hard, stippled outer shell and soft, delicious spicy centers. A single bite will slightly lower your inhibitions, and you may find yourself seeking proximity and warmth.
► Elysium: A nonalcoholic beverage that smells and looks as bad as it tastes. Only those with the strongest will manage to gulp it down. Once drunk, the person experiences true bliss, which seems to last for hours; in reality, it's only a few minutes.
► Will-o-the-Whiskey: Whisky with minor hallucinatory effects, visual and auditory.
► Sundrop: A pound cake coated in a sugary lemon drizzle. No side-effects, just delicious!
► Shadowfell Candy: Chewing on this candy will grant the character a deep and rejuvenating sleep, during which they will appear dead to anyone.

. ► HARVEST HUNT
The harvest hunt happens in a corn maze located in Mirth's amusement park, specifically created for the occasion. Because of the labyrinthian horrors dwelling in the Tempest, some find the terror-free replica a little inappropriate, yet participants still abound every time. A favorite seasonal game of the exuberant and athletic, characters take on the role of either hunter or prey, racing through the maze to either corner their quarry or escape the hands of their pursuer. As long as Shadows behave, it's a relatively safe activity. Friendly spars sometimes occur, picnics, and star-gazing.

► THE PARADE
The parade is the activity most looked forward to by younger Restless. Citizens clad in colorful costumes walk the streets to the rhythm of festive music, and according to tradition, it helps ward away any lingering evil that might try to hide in the community. For reasons unknown, incidents where Restless unwillingly swap bodies sometimes occur.

► III. WAYWARD SUN

The Warding Ritual is a private affair, a behind-the-scene execution on the last day of the festival as you dance and feast and frolic, blissfully unaware. Something goes awry. First, a shriek in the distance, and soon, birds flying away in apparent surprise as the landscape rustles with the sounds of creatures and Restless alike fleeing. A vague sense of dread knocks the air out of your lungs, an iron grip around your throat. And you see it then, a headless figure shrouded in a black veil of cloth, sword in one hand and a bright flaming pumpkin in the other. Its head. It thunders through the night on its skeletal horse, its blade flashing in the moonlight in search of prey. Heads fall. You might get injured during the chase -- collateral damage. 10 members of the Hierarchy won't ever rise again, and the rider eventually charges into the Tempest, leaving behind bloody puddles and a slather of confusion. If you opt to help clean up the mess, you might come across stained sheets of paper on the ground, a painting of a white scorpion in the middle. Otherwise, it's time for you to go home.

---

ooc note

► Welcome to Nightfell's first event! If you'd like additional, more casual prompts, the Notice Board is right here! New prompts will be added next month, if you've already had your fun with them!
► You'll find some answered questions here, but if you'd like to ask something else, please comment below!
► For a little spooky ambience in the woods.

Comments

[nagano]

[ While soaring across the campsite, silver light bleeds out from Kaito's open hand. A thousand thoughts blur together in his mind, from trying to predict the wyvern's attack patterns to considering how he can best facilitate Hibiki's magic.

Amidst the monsoon of possibilities, one stands out. Kaito decides to pull the trigger. His spear melts away.

By the time he lands on his feet, the wyvern is mere yards away. He whirls around to face it, staring directly into the jaws of death—and the beast's talons shear through his midsection with little resistance.

Little resistance save the water that clings to its nails. Quietly, Kaito's Shadow exhales a sigh. Is that relief or exasperation?

It doesn't matter. That glowing aura in his hands has disappeared. Or rather, relocated. High above the makeshift arena, a giant gunbai materializes. Kaito swings both arms from left to right, and the construct sends a strong draft towards the ground.

It lacks any actual destructive power... but someone else can take care of that. ]

[windsongs]

[ Much like the wyvern hurdling toward Kaito, Hibiki doesn't get much time to react before things start getting Really Stupid. He's lucky that she's some level of precog, because while she doesn't know the exacts on what he's doing, she knows what she needs to be doing in response. Bounding toward the clash, she feels the subtle shift in airflow even before she notices the gunbai in the sky and taps into it.

Quite literally. As soon as she breezes past, a hand cutting through the downdraft as her brows knit in deep concentration, the downward pressure exploding as one gunbai swing drives the beast into the ground with the force of a freight train. Poor Puck this shit I'm out's fairy circle looks more like a donut now, with the impact creating a sizable crater perfectly in the middle.

Sliding to a stop, the small blonde whirls around to face the wyvern attempting to climb out of the hole. The tears in its wings don't look any larger, but considering the odd angle at which one of them is bent, it won't be taking off any time soon. ]

Why didn't you tell me you could do that?!

[ What 'that' is she talking about? Go ahead and pick one, Kaito. ]

I believe that that, as they say, should be my line.

[ A familiar voice calls from the comfort of his log, which is currently floating (with fae sitting on it, of course) from the top of the tattered tent. The bottle from before hovers in the air, while he continues to hold the lantern in his hand. How long has he been there? Doesn't matter. Time is a lie and he's here now. Look, he's even waving hello with his free hand.

Hello down there, how are you kids doing? Having fun yet? ]

[nagano]

[ Kaito whistles as her handiwork sends the wyvern into a conveniently placed crater. It's impressive, but he's also relieved that she managed to do anything—he would have been a sitting duck for the next attack otherwise.

A̴s̵ ̴i̶f̴ ̴y̶o̸u̴ ̷d̴i̷d̷n̵'̶t̸ ̷h̶a̴v̴e̴ ̷f̶i̶v̸e̸ ̷m̴o̶r̴e̸ ̴p̴l̸a̵y̴s̶ ̷t̴o̷ ̸r̴e̸s̶p̵o̶n̴d̶ ̴w̸i̸t̸h̷.̴

When she turns to confront him, he merely shrugs. Right on cue, Puck resurfaces. The giant fan still hovers in mid-air, and Kaito maneuvers it to the ground before hopping on and gesturing for Hibiki to follow.

Once she's on (she will join him on this stupid elevator, right?), they're lifted to eye level with the fae. ]

Un-life's no fun if you spoil the whole book. In any case, I do believe we've trounced your current champion.

[ And that's as far as he gloats. Kaito isn't looking to invite any unnecessary extra work on the pair. ]

[windsongs]

[ As soon as he gestures, Hibiki hops on without hesitation, trusting that the fan-elevator will hold their combined weight. Once at eye level with Puck, Hibiki offers a faint shrug before her gaze briefly flicks toward Kaito, long enough to catch his. Her attention directed back toward the fae, she puts on a small smile. ]

And gave this story a proper conclusion, even if it was a little over-the-top.

[ Yet judging from the tone of voice, she doesn't sound remotely bothered by that. Whatever that was that just happened was beyond insane, but now that they don't have the threat of (another) death looming, she seems almost proud. But they did just take down a bargain bin dragon, so she has every right to be.

The fae grins right back--but not before boosting himself up slightly higher. They can be at chin level. Holding the lantern up near his face, the flame floods his features with an eerie light. ]

Ah, right you are! I must say, there have been a number of creative storytellers joining me at the fire, and you two certainly did not disappoint. Would you care to join me for another tale? I promise, this one will be far grander than the last!

[ Hibiki doesn't miss a beat, her eyes locked on the fae. If this asshole makes them fight something else... ]

[nagano]

East meets West, and it made a crater.

[ Oh, you little shit.

Kaito doesn't care much for Puckity Puck's lift, so a subtle waggle of his fingers lifts the pair back to eye level. Again. ]

We'll be passing on that, too. The wyvern's tale has reached and end, and so too should our gallivanting. There are many more guests to entertain.

[windsongs]

[ Oh, Puck knows. Which is why he will once again boost him and the log he sits on higher. How does shoulder level sound? Is that good for you, Kaito? Because it's great for him. This is fun!

Only he doesn't maintain the higher "ground" for long, as a swirl of wind sweeps under both gubai riders' feet, boosting them up and leveling the height difference. The smile on her face stays the same as she holds a hand out. ]

We would like to take the lantern back now, before the next set of guests arrive.

[ The fae purses his lips in thought before heaving an over-dramatic sigh. All right, all right. ]

Aye, I will need some time to clean up the mess you two have made of my camp, so I suppose it is time for us to say our goodbyes. But first--

[ Y̵e̵p̴,̷ ̸s̸h̵o̸u̶l̶d̸'̴v̶e̶ ̸l̸i̶s̶t̵e̵n̶e̴d̴ ̸t̷o̸ ̶m̷e̸.̴ ̵G̶o̷d̷,̶ ̴h̷e̵ ̸j̷u̷s̴t̷ ̴w̶i̵l̴l̶ ̴N̷O̷T̷ ̵s̷t̷o̴p̷ ̶t̸a̵l̴k̸i̸n̷g̸!̶

Ugh, she thought she was done dealing with this. Come on, Pucker, just let them leave with the lantern... ]

An oldie but a goodie; a riddle that I have not told in centuries! Answer correctly and I shall relinquish the lantern and send you two children on your way. But should you fail to give the answer I seek, there will be consequences most dire!

[ Swinging the lantern back and forth, his form begins to disappear once more, even as his voice lingers; ]

"I am a word that is hardly there. Remove my start, and I'm an herbal flair. What am I?" Do answer quickly, I bore quite easily. You would not want me to lose interest in this game.

[nagano]

[ This little shit—

Oop. Before Kaito can spitefully lift the fan again, Hibiki's beaten him to it. Golds glimmer as he steals a glance her way. ]

Remind me to high five you later.

[ Back to this Puckass. Kaito's expectations are so low that he can only sigh when the fae spits out another stipulation. A riddle, at that.

O̵n̷E̴ ̵n̸O̴t̵ ̸T̸o̴L̵d̶ ̷I̵n̴ ̶C̷e̴N̴t̵U̵r̸I̴e̷S̷.̷.̶.̷.̷.̵ ̴W̴h̶a̴t̵ ̸a̶ ̸l̷o̴a̵d̸ ̶o̸f̴ ̸s̴h̴i̵t̷.̵

Again, he's inclined to agree with his Shadow, but... after a moment's frustration, the empath's features brighten considerably. ]

Gee, Puck. Do you push all your riddles so eagerly on your playmates? We've sparsely any time to respond.

[ Float aside, you shitty fairy. It's the demi-god's human's turn to wear that shit-eating grin. ]

[windsongs]

[ She's tired, this voice is still echoing in her head, and This Pucking Guy keeps throwing in more stipulations. Momentary cheekiness aside, Hibiki wants to get out of this forest, preferably before her shadow decides to start tearing into everything and everyone around.

Thankfully, someone has their head screwed on right and happens to be good at corny riddles. As soon as Kaito delivers his answer, the floating lantern in front of them does a mid-air march toward them, bobbing up and down as if walking toward the pair. ]

What a clever pair you are! Or I suppose one of you is!

[ Hibiki's smile pulls thin at the corners with that comment, trying not to be personally offended by this asshole fae. Her shadow has more than enough to say on that matter anyway.

As the lantern stops in front of them, it sways back and forth as Puck's voice chimes in once more. ]

Please, take it. But do try to do so at the same time; otherwise, I cannot be held accountable for what will happen to you!

[ Turning her head to look toward Kaito, she waits for his signal before reaching out to grab the lantern. As both grab hold, the world around them goes pitch black, the wind swirling beneath their feet dying as they fall about a foot, landing at the far edge of the Oakwoods. Voices call in the distance and torchlights dance as more search parties appear to be filtering in.

They made it out in one piece, with lantern in hand. ]

[nagano]

[ 'Fucking finally.'

Kaito doesn't wait. A nudge to Hibiki's hand is his tell, and they snatch the lantern simultaneously. Good riddance.

When they emerge from what's likely Puck's teleportation (or whatever it is), Kaito's hand is visibly trembling around one of the lantern's handles. He quickly recomposes himself and lets go.

Back to business. Golds are leveled to blues as he straightens up. ]

You okay? Looks like we're not the only ones who made it through.

[windsongs]

[ Hibiki fully expects to be transported somewhere else entirely, given what (little) she knows about fae. So when she sees the familiar treeline, her first instinct isn't to let out a sigh of relief but to make sure that she isn't alone.

Once she sees a gloved hand still holding on to the handle, she relaxes a little. She sees it tremble, but she's shaking a bit herself, so she won't tell if he doesn't. Catching his gaze quickly, she uses the voices of those search parties in the distance as an excuse to look away. ]

...Yeah. Yeah, looks like.

[ A̵n̷d̸ ̶y̵o̶u̸ ̸w̴o̵u̶l̵d̷'̸v̷e̶ ̶b̶e̴e̸n̶ ̷o̶u̷t̵ ̶j̴u̵s̵t̸ ̶a̴s̸ ̸q̵u̴i̷c̸k̶ ̶i̸f̷ ̷y̷o̸u̸ ̷l̶i̷s̷t̵e̴n̴e̴d̵ ̸t̷o̴ ̷m̵e̵ ̵i̶n̶s̶t̸e̴a̸d̸ ̵o̵f̷ ̶t̴h̷i̷s̶ ̸g̵u̴y̴.̶ ̵S̴o̴ ̷w̸h̴e̸n̴ ̶a̶r̵e̵ ̵y̷o̵u̷ ̴g̶o̷n̶n̶a̷ ̸d̷i̶t̵c̷h̷ ̴h̸i̵m̶ ̴a̷n̶d̴ ̴g̸o̶ ̷b̶a̸c̷k̴ ̵i̴n̶,̸ ̴h̷m̵m̵?̵ ̷I̵'̴l̷l̴ ̸w̸a̵t̷c̷h̶ ̵y̶o̴u̶r̸ ̵b̸a̸c̷k̸ ̸t̷h̶i̶s̴ ̷t̴i̷m̵e̸~̶!̶

Taking a deep breath, her grip on the lantern tightens, as the blonde avoids his gaze. Of course her shadow knows she wants to make her way back in, to try to secure as many fragments as she can. But there's a clear internal struggle on the methodology. If there are multiple groups going through, at least a few of them must have brute forced their way through, right? Maybe that really was a viable option...

Turning to look toward Kaito, she puts on the best smile that she can muster. ]

I'm gonna go drop this off. ...Make sure you don't get yourself into any trouble out there, okay? [ She assumes he's also going to try to help others through the woods if he can. ]

[nagano]

[ The question was almost rhetorical. Despite his little scare (he's never feared the dark, not before...), Kaito's attention is almost entirely on the blonde. As she diverts her gaze, his own just settles deeper. It's his curse to read the emotions of everything around him. It's his gift to focus that curse on a singular aura and take in every facet of its emotions.

So when she speaks, he closes his eyes and shakes his head. ]

You have no plans of simply departing to hand over the lantern. Even if you did, I'd be coming with you.

I'm not letting you out of my sight until we're either back in town or at your Shroud. In your current state, you worry me too much.

The adrenaline is dying down.

That means all those intrusive emotions are going to flood back in. Your Shadow's probably bitching up a storm. And above all else... I know I wouldn't be satisfied with just one lantern piece. You aren't, either.

[ Golds flit open, and a gloved hand finally lifts to settle on her shoulder. Kaito will not mention the instant regret (and nausea) that comes from a stronger link to her aura. ]

Let's go back together, Hibiki.

[windsongs]

[ H̴o̷l̴y̷ ̵s̸h̸i̵t̵,̵ ̷s̶t̶o̷p̸ ̶t̶r̷y̶i̴n̷g̸ ̸t̴o̷ ̸b̸e̴ ̶a̷ ̴h̸e̶r̶o̶ ̸a̵n̶d̷ ̵l̴e̷a̶r̸n̴ ̵t̷o̸ ̸r̸e̵a̴d̶ ̶t̷h̸e̸ ̸r̵o̵o̸m̷.̶

Her grip tightens on the lantern as Kaito sees right through her. It's true that she feels more than a little frayed, but she isn't as fragile as he's making her out to seem. And even if she was at the moment (she's not), Hibiki wouldn't say a word. He isn't wrong, she can feel that high quickly draining from her and her voice in her own head growing louder. Now that she isn't in an immediate fight or flight situation, Hibiki knows it's only going to get worse.

She sighs as he puts a hand on her shoulder, and while she would like to toss a reassuring smile and a few words his way... she can't. He's going to see right through it anyway, right? Pressing her lips together as she tries to cobble something together, she quits halfway through.

Heaving a heavy sigh, Hibiki finally looks up at him again with tired eyes. ]

I think... I think I just want to sleep this off.

[nagano]

[ That's better. Well, maybe not better, but it's a relief. Kaito's hand falls to the wayside. Fragile or not, he isn't letting her out of his sight. He's overprotective like that. ]

Then let's drop off the lantern and get the hell out of Stygia. I think I've got enough gas to try a portal.

[ He doesn't need to harp on if she's willing to cooperate, so he just grabs the other handle and lifts his foot... before pausing. Turning to meet her gaze, he murmurs: ]

I can only imagine how tough you had it tonight. We can talk about it later if you want, but regardless...

I'm glad you didn't cross that line.

[windsongs]

Yeah, sounds good. Let's do that.

[ Part of her feels like she should ask about what he means by a 'portal,' but in the short time that they've known each other, Hibiki has learned to just go with the flow. She'll probably learn one way or the other soon, and more than anything she just wants a bed.

A bed and some alone time to contemplate a few things.

As he turns toward her before speaking low, Hibiki has to force herself to keep her eyes on him, an awkward and uncertain smirk attempting to surface but not quite making it. That's not something she wants to think about, even if she understands why Kaito would mention it. ]

Thanks... for making sure I didn't. I owe you.

[nagano]

[ Forced or otherwise, Kaito looks satisfied with that response. A brief tug of the lantern is her cue to start following him. ]

Pay me back with a good night's rest. I'm sure you'll be deep in your thoughts later, but for now you deserve a break.

[ He doesn't have much else to say as they trudge their way back to Serene. Once the lantern is dropped off and they've cleared some space in a nearby garden, the empath's eyes begin to spark with that familiar blue glow. ]

Alright, let's see if I can manage this in one go.

[ Kaito drops to a squat and plants his palms on the grass, gripping as if he intends to tear the soil out of the ground. There's a rumbling noise accompanied by what sounds like droplets impacting with another body of water.

Heaving and grunting, the empath suddenly jerks to his feet—and a set of glowing torii gates rises some ten feet in the air. Through its boundaries, the Shadowlands and many Shrouds can be seen.

The conjurer peeks his head out from behind his portal. ]

How's it look? For whatever reason, these things can only be entered from one direction.

[windsongs]

[ How is her sleeping supposed to pay him back for that enormous favor? Whatever, Hibiki will have to come up with something suitable once she's managed to get some rest. Following his lead, she stays relatively quiet as they head back toward civilization to drop off the lantern. In that time, fatigue has begun to seep into her muscles as the adrenaline rush fades.

The fact that Kaito stops before they make it into the city proper confuses her a bit, but again, it's him. She isn't going to question it right now. Even as he squats down, eyes alight with that familiar blue glow, the blonde seems more confused than anything, what is he doing-- ]

Oh!

[ That's a whole gate he just yanked out of the earth. Well, she's definitely awake now, staring up at the portal in wonderment. That's what he meant?! How did he do that?! He's going to teach her how to do Cool Shit like that, right? ]

I can see the Shadowlands, and some of the doors too! That's so cool...

[nagano]

You think so? I don't actually have to do the whole "tear the portal out of the ground" thing. I was just trying something different.

[ Kaito raps his knuckles against one of the gate's posts. His hand nearly sinks in. It is water, after all. ]

This construction's kinda weird, too. My portals usually aren't so... structured. Admittedly, it's my first time trying that out since arriving here.

Well, whatever. Let's get the hell out of dodge. After you.

[windsongs]

[ Her attention momentarily pulls away from the gate to look at Kaito with quiet awe. Wait a minute. ]

...That was you just winging it? Didn't you say you were pretty much tapped out?

[ It was clear that he was good after the fight with the wyvern, but summoning a portal like this as if it's nothing is on a whole other level. ]

Yeah, you're definitely showing me how to do a few things. I gotta be able to keep up.

[ L̶i̷k̸e̴ ̵y̸o̸u̴ ̶e̵v̶e̶r̸ ̶c̸o̷u̵l̵d̵.̷ ̷H̸a̶v̷e̶ ̵f̵u̵n̸ ̶w̴a̸s̶t̶i̴n̶g̷ ̴h̴i̴s̵ ̶t̸i̶m̸e̴.̷

It's a little easier for her to ignore that voice, but not by much. Especially when it tells her something she already knows is true. But instead of trying to acknowledge that, Hibiki walks up to the portal, puts her hand in before walking through. ]

[nagano]

[ Snickering, Kaito waits until she's through before crossing over himself.

The other side of the portal is just an oval-esque gateway wrought from water. True to his word, there's no rhyme or reason behind its shape. There definitely isn't any structure. It closes behind him. ]

I wouldn't say I was winging it... More like improvising on something I already know how to do.

[ His smile is tired but genuine. ] And I haven't forgotten my promise. I'll do my best so you can have agency over your own skills. If tonight was any indication, your prospects are good. Maybe even better than mine.

[ Y̶e̵a̵h̵,̶ ̶b̷u̶t̸t̴e̷r̷ ̶h̷e̸r̶ ̷u̸p̷.̷ ̵I̸t̸'̴l̵l̸ ̶m̵a̷k̴e̴ ̸f̴o̶r̴ ̶a̶ ̵g̸r̷e̸a̵t̸ ̵e̶x̵c̷u̵s̸e̸ ̷t̵o̸ ̵f̵a̷l̷l̷ ̵b̵a̷c̴k̷ ̴o̴n̶ ̴w̶h̶e̴n̵ ̸y̸o̷u̵ ̸f̸a̵i̶l̴ ̵t̵o̵ ̴b̴r̸i̵n̷g̸ ̸a̸n̴y̵t̸h̷i̶n̸g̴ ̶o̶u̸t̵ ̶o̶f̶ ̷h̶e̴r̷.̴ ̷Y̴o̵u̶ ̸d̵o̶n̵'̷t̵ ̵e̵v̶e̷n̵ ̸k̴n̸o̶w̶ ̸y̶o̵u̵r̴ ̸o̶w̸n̷ ̵m̴a̵g̷i̶c̶.̷ ]

Now... Which way to your Shroud?

[windsongs]

[ As soon as she is through the portal, Hibiki steps out of the way before turning to watch. He's right, it does look completely different. Interesting. Is it because the portals he makes are all one-sided?

Mentioning the promise pulls a small, quiet smile out of her. So he didn't forget, and he is still going to try. Even the compliment seems to hit her harder than usual, a bit of an embarrassed flush clinging to her cheeks. ]

Honestly? I think I was just lucky. Sure, I've tried a few things, but nothing quite like that.

[ Gesturing with her head for him to follow Hibiki takes a second to do some wayfinding before making her way toward her door. ]

But seriously, don't sweat it if I'm not able to do much. I kind of expect it to be honest. But I appreciate the want to help me learn.

[nagano]

Luck or not, progress has to start somewhere.

[ Lanky strides bring him to her side in a few paces. ]

You say not to sweat it, but I'm already sweating figurative bullets. How do you teach someone to tap into their own magic? Do you know how many schools of spellcraft exist in my Earth alone? What about yours?

It's a daunting thought... but I'll throw my gloves away if I can't get you to at least replicate that sick high jump.

[ That's apparently worse than being damned, to him. ]

[windsongs]

I don't know, I've never thought to ask.

[ That's not the type of response she expects, as he very clearly voices his own insecurities, revealing yet another thing that she's sure he'll kick her ass if she ever tells anyone. Her expression smooths as warmth touches her features. Looking over at him, Hibiki shrugs her shoulders a bit. ]

Sorry, I didn't mean to put all that pressure on you. But I trust you; we'll figure it out together. And hey, no throwing those away, or you'll be getting an even nicer pair from the glove fairy.

[ It's her, she's the glove fairy.

Turning a nonexistent corner, Hibiki breezes by a few doors before stopping in front of hers. Staring at it briefly, she begins to wonder whether she should just invite him in for a bit. It's been a long... well, night isn't necessarily accurate, but it's close enough. But it might be okay--

A̸r̴e̸ ̸y̴o̸u̶ ̴n̴u̵t̸s̷?̶!̷ ̵W̸h̷a̴t̵ ̶h̸a̶p̴p̸e̴n̷s̵ ̶w̸h̸e̷n̵ ̴h̶e̴ ̶w̴a̷l̸k̷s̸ ̸i̷n̷ ̴t̴h̴e̵r̶e̵ ̴a̷n̵d̷ ̷s̶e̵e̵s̸ ̶t̵h̵o̷s̶e̸ ̶t̶h̷i̵n̸g̶s̴?̴ ̴Y̸o̸u̷ ̵t̸h̴i̵n̴k̸ ̷h̸e̶'̶s̸ ̸g̸o̶n̵n̶a̴ ̷j̶u̷s̷t̷ ̵a̵d̴m̴i̵r̷e̴ ̴t̷h̸e̶m̵ ̴a̴t̴ ̸a̵ ̴r̵e̶a̸s̴o̸n̶a̸b̴l̵e̸ ̶d̷i̸s̶t̴a̷n̸c̷e̸?̶ ̷G̵o̶d̴,̴ ̵y̷o̸u̶'̷r̴e̴ ̷l̴u̸c̸k̵y̶ ̵y̶o̶u̶ ̵h̷a̷v̴e̸ ̵s̴o̵m̸e̵o̶n̸e̷ ̶l̴i̴k̵e̸ ̶m̷e̸ ̴i̸n̴ ̵h̸e̷r̷e̶,̵ ̸y̷o̴u̴'̵r̴e̸ ̷w̶a̷y̶ ̸t̶o̵o̷ ̴t̷r̵u̵s̷t̵i̴n̶g̷!̶ ̸S̸e̷r̶i̸o̶u̸s̸l̴y̷!̴

With a brief exhale, she looks over at Kaito. ]

Well, here's my stop.

[nagano]

You didn't put any pressure on anyone.

[ There are thousands of Shrouds sitting in the Shadowlands, but Kaito makes sure to commit the path to hers to his memory. He might tell her some other time that his portal popped them out right in front of his home. ]

The glove fairy had better be ready to supply the highest-quality thin, breathable leather gloves. I will accept nothing less.

[ When they come to a stop, he places a hand on his hip. Looks around. Looks back at her. ]

Your door looks about five percent less grim and gloomy than the rest. [ They all look exactly the same. ]

Not to be pushy, but are you sure you don't want me to help you get settled? Make you a snack? I don't think either of us were wounded, but...

[ W̸o̸r̴r̴y̴w̷a̸r̶t̷.̷ ̶U̷g̶h̶.̵ ]

[windsongs]

Actually, you might want to give the glove fairy a month or two to save up, just in case. And to find out if they have anything other than "take what you can get" leather where she lives.

[ Can't believe this man is about to bankrupt this poor fairy. Kaito must really, really hate fae.

As he looks over the space around them before beginning to fuss, Hibiki reaches out before gently placing a hand on his shoulder, putting on a somewhat tired smile. Even if she doesn't realize it, she's placed herself between him and her door. ]

I̷t̴'̶s̴ ̸f̴i̵n̴e̶,̸ ̶y̸o̷u̸ ̸w̶o̴r̴r̶y̵ ̷t̷o̶o̸ ̷m̶u̵c̴h̵.̸ ̸G̵o̸ ̶g̵e̶t̷ ̸s̵o̵m̷e̵ ̵r̵e̶s̵t̷.̷

[ Leave. ]

[nagano]

[ Kaito cracks a smile at that. ]

I suppose I can allow the glove fairy that much leeway. This economy is pretty rough.

[ His smile slowly fades as he notes the subtle shift in positioning. The hand on his shoulder. The desire bleeding through her words.

He nods quietly, taking a step back and lifting one hand to wave. ]

Alright then. I'll see you later.

[ With that, he turns and takes off—or at least takes a few steps before pausing. A pivot brings him back to face her. Soft words carry across the distance. ]

I will see you later.

Please don't vanish on me.

[ One last smile, and then he takes off for real. ]