Witching Hour

[amatsu]

After parting ways with the winged girl named Zephyr, Amatsu Mikaboshi had determined to find out just what sort of world he had discovered. With this goal in mind, he had spent the evening meandering through what was referred to as the First District, interviewing and questioning anyone who was not otherwise occupied. With his customarily debonair mien he had pried this world’s secrets from its inhabitants with relative ease. Now, as he passed through the doors that would lead him into the Second District, Amatsu sought the Hotel, where he could take his well-deserved rest.

As he entered the Second District, the first thing he heard was the somber toll of the bell tower. It was midnight, the witching hour, when the demons and ghosts of the old stories were said to be at their most powerful. Amatsu was not superstitious of these folkloric traditions so much as he was aware of their origins, so he wasted no time in walking toward the Hotel. But as soon as the twelfth chime had rung, he heard a scrabbling of claws against stone, a noise that was very familiar and very real.

The Heartless were upon him.

There were three of them, and Amatsu had raised his partisan just in time to deflect the furious swipes of their elongated claws. He had lost to that endless swarm on his home world because they were an unexpected anomaly; now that he knew what they were, he would not repeat that mistake. Their movements were erratic, undoubtedly, but Amatsu had previously mistaken this irregular behavior for unpredictability. Now that he had fully analyzed these Shadows, he needed only to follow the subtle patterns which dictated their every action, and he would come out the stronger.

Thus, Amatsu waited, blocking what attacks he could and teleporting away from the rest. And when they melted into the ground, he made sure not to overreach or to simply strike uselessly against the cobblestone. No, Amatsu held back, until that crucial moment when they were all huddled together. It was then, while their paths had intersected, that he reached into his inner font of strength, that reservoir of willpower called magic. Thought was given form, and the three Shadows were crushed against the ground, their amorphous bodies spread out like oily puddles. Having precluded both their mobility and their longevity, Amatsu rose his pole arm and swung downwards, refusing to stop until the last of them had vanished in a cloud of greasy smoke.

Yet that was not the end of them, for no sooner had he vanquished those three than two more appeared; but unlike the Shadows, these specimens were entirely new to Amatsu. They were armored, like soldiers, and before he could even react, the first one flew forward, landing a whirling kick into his stomach. Gasping for breath, Amatsu batted it away, only to be hit in the back by the iron boots of its companion. Swinging his partisan at the relentless duo, it was all Amatsu could do to keep the Soldiers at bay. As soon as he pinned one down with a Gravity spell, the other would bridge the distance and land another kick while his defenses were compromised. They were wearing him down, but if he was patient he would persevere.

And then a rumbling sound behind him sent a chill of mortal dread slithering down Amatsu’s spine. While he was distracted, the pair of Soldiers struck in unison, swatting his partisan out of his hands, yet the thudding noise behind him grew even louder. Before he could turn, however, a pair of monstrous hands wrapped around him, and he was lifted into the air like a child. He looked over his shoulder to behold yet another Heartless, hideously obese, but in its massy arms was an inhuman strength that could bend steel. With its prey firmly in its grasp, it began to squeeze, slowly crushing the life from Amatsu, and the golden-eyed man could swear that the jagged line of its mouth had contorted into a wicked smile.

Amatsu Mikaboshi looked upwards, beholding the vault of the heavens, and though he could no longer breathe he sent a silent prayer toward the celestial firmament. Surely somewhere, amongst those infinite stars, there was a god who would answer his plea. If not, then Amatsu’s soul would be amongst them soon enough.

[Ellie who has 0%]

"You lot are becoming more annoying as the light sinks away into night," a cold tone spoke once seeing the sight of the usual heartless cultivating to obtain any heart of its liking.

Jadis was previously in her hotel room contrmplating. Today she wasn't accompanied by her pupils or charge as she wondered about this Knight Sir Lucas. It wasn't why he came to her that she questioned; of-course if one was playing a game of chess, they would value their queen, the strongest piece of them all, and in this game of survival, having a powerful sage on the side of the light would only be benefitial. What intrigued her though was that he was sent out by another to form alliances. For quite some time, Jadis assumed the entire universe to be slow moving like the planet's rotations, since there were hardly any evidence of mobilizing figures to defend against the on slaught of the darkness.

There was the little kiddy club starting in Traverse Town where majority, well all of her pupils were involved in. She found it depressing that the young have to carry the weight of the outcomes caused by their elders. Now they're taking the iniative to atleast make an attempt to fight back the darkness. Many would call this act of chivalry stupid and senseless, since as mere children they don't wield the strength or mentality, but Jadis saw a growth in them, especially in the youthfulness of Drago, Mikael, and Antique.

Feeling that her chickadees would eventually leave the nest, Jadis had contemplated in forming some sort of community in Traverse Town. With Xavier as the seeker of strong hearts, the search was obviously slow, and not all people were motivated to defend, but live the bit of their lives they had left. Her brows narrowed wondering how safe would it be when there was a ridiculous clown nearby, one who may do whatever he pleases without a second thought.

Her thinking was disrupted once feeling the call of darkness, which led her to where she stood, outside of her room outside of the hotel in the second district looking at the heartless with annoyance and no amusement. With a snort, frost began collected infront of her before a sharp dagger of ice extruded from the chilling mist into the midsection of the Large Body.

A brow quirked, while gazing at the remaining heartless in a dare. It was a game of chicken, and Jadis was a mighty chef. Impatient with them, more sharp ice extruded from the ground tracking down the remaining heartless.

[amatsu]

As the Large Body continued to constrict its victim with a bone-crushing strength, the corners of Amatsu’s vision gave way to the black mists of oblivion, and as he lost consciousness he felt himself falling into an impossibly cold abyss, where the warmth of light could never reach him. He awoke just a few moments later, but while the shadows of death had retreated, the unnatural chill had not. There was an inexplicable frigidity in the air that made his bones ache, but when he saw his breath crystallize into whorls of hoary fog, Amatsu realized that this time, he was not imagining the cold.

Amatsu rose to his feet and took in his surroundings, finding himself amidst a garden of sharply-sculpted ice, in the center of which stood a woman, imposing in her appearance and regal in her bearing. Amatsu was a tall man, but this alluring figure—undoubtedly a noblewoman of sorts—must have been a full head above him; yet her Amazonian height did not diminish her beauty so much as it enhanced the imperiousness of her presence. Her brow was cocked quizzically, as if summoning this deadly display of harrowing hoarfrost had been a trifling pastime. The Heartless were nowhere to be found.

Amatsu thought back to his recent meeting with Zephyr, when he had mistaken a winged girl for an angel, or a valkyrie. He had been puzzled by the girl’s exotic appearance, but here, he was certain, was a being worthy of his awe. There was power lurking beneath the icy depths of her eyes, and a terrible wisdom far more ancient than the grace of her high cheekbones and snowy skin suggested.

“My Lady, you have my deepest gratitude. I am Amatsu Mikaboshi.” He bowed, bending his knee in the low and respectful genuflection reserved only for true royalty.

“And I am in your debt.”

[Ellie who has 0%]

With a low hum, her lids fluttered not spotting any heartless. A small smile twitched at the corner of her lips to see they had listened to her silent warning. The spires of ice flowed away in a stream of flurries before fading and becoming one with the air around them. Shaking her head, every step she took made a click against the cobblestone as she approached the fallen.

It didn't surprised her that the victim was mere child in her standards of-course. Compared to her pupils, he was infact older, but even so, he was taken off guard by simple heartless. It only prooved how delicate life was and not everyone was blessed with being invincible. She wondered who ever was. Before she contemplated on lifting him up to carry him into the Hotel, he awakened and rose quite quickly for one who was gripped by a Large Body.

Jadis was about to accuse him of staring, but he bowed uttering thanks and debt. It seemed wherever she went her regal aura had followed her, a lesson learned by the royals of Charn. She chuckled at the irony, "If everyone said that, then the world would be in debt to me."

"Now hopefully, the heartless didn't put enforce so much damage on you, or must we inquire such thing in my quarters?"

[amatsu]

Amatsu rose from his kneeling position as he watched the marvelous dissipation of the icicles, which evaporated into the crisp night sky as quickly as they had formed. The witch-queen then spoke, and under her sophisticated annunciations Amatsu detected a caustic wit, as cool and biting as the ice she had magically manipulated. She was an intriguing figure, indeed.

“I am new to these worlds, my lady, and though the lesser Shadows pose no threat, those advanced Heartless caught me unawares. Now that I have observed and noted the existence of those adversaries which bore so curious an emblem, external assistance shall be henceforth unnecessary.”

It pained Amatsu grievously to have been seen in a moment of such utter helplessness, but if he were one to boast he would have recounted that on his home world he had gained a reputation amongst his peers and followers as The Brilliant Male; for whether in the courtly games of fencing and jousting, or on the fields of war, Amatsu Mikaboshi never repeated the same mistake twice.

Yet Amatsu chided himself for such vain recollections, for this recent incident ultimately confirmed that here, the rules and laws all had been changed, and if he was to prosper he would do well to remember that the greater galaxy cared nothing for his past life, no matter how mighty his empire once had been. There was so very much left to learn—but, perhaps, he could begin here.

“As to my indebtedness,” Amatsu continued, “I was by no means speaking in jest. Before I speak of such matters, however, might I be granted the favor of my lady’s name?”

[Ellie who has 0%]

Jadis shook her head chuckling at his rush of servitude, "Now wouldn't it be rude of me to quickly bombard you with tasks, especially when I don't even know your name. As for myself, I go by Jadis, and well-verse with this world. As for now, I don't have many labors of errand in mind; I am quite a busy woman and many things calls for my personal attention."

She glanced at the Hotel and decided it would be more suitable to chatter for the meantime. Her eyes then looked over to the tower in the third district, but ignored that thought. With a breeze the hotel doors squeaked open awaiting for Jadis and guest to step in, "So you are new to this world."

"Hopefully you don't have the same plot backstory as many: destroyed world due to the heartless and even perhaps nobodies activities. If so, then it seems matters are only growing worse with more worlds falling apart. Come with me, it isn't everday where I get a new guest that doesn't ask of something. It would seem that I see the same people...well just about the same, everyday."

With a low blow, her room door creaked open immiting a chill. The room was coated with blue, which a splitted living arena of a living room, bedroom, and bathroom. "So how have you came to this world?"

[amatsu]

“Just so,” Amatsu said, though the affirmation was more in response to his own ruminations than to any particular question of the queenly entity known as Jadis. She was leading him into the Hotel, presumably where she had been before involving herself in Amatsu’s struggle against the Heartless. He followed her automatically, drawn by the effortless regality of her deportment, the very image of authority.

Amatsu listened to Jadis’ wry commentary with mild amusement, but when he followed her gaze toward the area referred to as the Third Distict, he felt as if a phlegmatic lump had formed in the back of his throat. He looked away and the thickness dissipated. It was an odd feeling, to say the least, but he quickly put it out of his mind, as he was now being led into Jadis’ quarters, a moderately sized yet richly decorated suite.

The room was, unsurprisingly, even colder than the open evening air, and as the chilliness reminded Amatsu of his ancestral catacombs. Jadis beckoned him toward a plush seat lined with royal blue, and after waiting for the queenly sage to seat herself, Amatsu gratefully accepted the chance to rest his wearied feet. It had, after all, been an exceedingly long evening, and intuitively Amatsu guessed that the night was far from over still. He inhaled deeply, then breathed out slowly as he prepared the words that were asked of him.

“If the wanton destruction of entire worlds is a mundane occurrence to you, then I am afraid my history shall prove quite ordinary. As I said, I am called Amatsu Mikaboshi, and though that is not the name I was born with, any memory of the man I used to be has been lost to the tides of darkness. I was only recently informed that this world is locked in perpetual nightfall, so I cannot say precisely how long I have been here, though I doubt it has been much longer than a ‘day,’ so to speak.”

Amatsu sighed, feeling along the soreness of his ribs, where he had been battered and beaten before Jadis’ intervention. He looked askance, trying to find some visual distraction, but the room was a cavern of blue, and the eyes were led inevitably back to the white contours of the resident herself. So instead, he looked at his hands as he clenched and unclenched his gloved fists.

“I understand you are a busy woman, yes? Then I shall be brief, and, with your leave, entirely honest. I am unaccustomed to the manifold dangers of this world, and it grieves me sorely to have been so painfully and publicly made aware of my own weaknesses.”

Amatsu looked upward and met Jadis’ eyes, those icy coals that burned with freezing flame, with his own glowing gaze of golden determination.

“I am a proud man, and I wish never again to be forced into so compromising a position. I want to learn how to defend myself from those monstrous minions of darkness, no matter what form they take.”

At last, Amatsu Mikaboshi was prepared to give form to the indefinite wish, the nascent need that for so long had lain dormant in his heart. He grabbed hold of the unspoken desire and shaped it into words:

“To be concise, Lady Jadis, it is power I seek.”

[Ellie who has 0%]

"Aaaah, now that all depends doesn't it." Sitting down on her lush blue chair, she tapped the table signaling him to join her. A silver vial was pulled from a sleeve; the cap was definately tight as it made a clear pop once unplugged. Jadis continued, while pouring silver liquid on the table as it stretched and hardened into a platter. "You see many seek out power, but it all depends on every person what that power means."

"Some seek power in number, power in friendship, power in love, power in knowledge, which can lead to sheer brutal power. Some even seek those that would be so unforgiving, while others seek out those that are the ultimate prizes and riches that could be deemed infinite," As she spoke the platter had developed and grew on itself intricate classic designs as more droplets fell on it. Two bled out in perfect circles before evolving into chalices.

"So I have a feeling from your emphasism, you don't care of what it is if only it is power and a strong one. I must say the desire for power always come with thick competitions. I wonder if you're ready for that. The heartless like those outside are worse: stronger and some even calculating. Also heartless aren't the only that dwells, so like any old sage, I would say you need to prepare yourself. Want anything to drink?"

"Even if some sources of power even the ones on the top of others lists, there are some that may be deemed minor, but can be easier to grasp, as in less competition. Like they all say, every world have its treasures."

[raiho]

"What a nice night"

It's been a long time since Reiho Kirasame, freaking badass detective, enjoyed the breeze of the chilly night in her face. Many events happened in her life that prevented her from enjoying the simply things of the life, namely that long coma-induced sleep, her eventual "awakening" and having to deal with the conflicting memories of her past, and that's not counting the time she stayed in her room, concentrated into feeling the sources of powerful energy, and the times out of home inspecting the entire Traverse Town too focused in research to enjoy even chitchat with other people.

Simply walking through the second district for distraction was enough to bring satisfaction to the new life she had started, but the icing of the cake was the unexpected burst of energy she felt from the hotel. It was a brief but powerful sensation of coldness that vanished as abruptly as it appeared.

"Could it be that I found her?"

She calmly walked towards the hotel, following the faint but still present energy and her pursuit leaded her to one of the rooms, from which a chilly sensation could be felt. Apparently whoever was living there was currently present in the room, enjoyed of being in places with low temperature and possessed a tremendous magical power. According to her research it could only be one of the two powers she was investigating: the Ice witch. She knocked the door to make herself noticed by the people inside and made a simple question.

"Is miss Jadis here?"

[amatsu]

Amatsu listened with rapt attention to Jadis' sermon on the sundry types of power. She had given him much to consider. If it was power Amatsu desired, what form of power would suit him best? And how could he obtain it?

"I recognize my present limitations," he ventured, "but while there are many whose temporal handicaps put me at a transient disadvantage, still you will not find a man more ambitious, more driven, more willing to learn."

Amatsu gazed with wonder at the plate and cups that had been summoned from a few meager drops from her silver vial, but he looked warily at the chalice that had been conjured on the summoned plate; after all, he had no idea what sort of drink he had been offered, and even the most basic folktales urged caution when accepting a gift from a witch. Was it poison, or perhaps a mind-altering potion?

Amatsu shook his head and realized that it did not matter. Though the enigmatic witch seemed to speak in riddles, Jadis had made him an offer of some kind, and Amatsu had come too far to decline this queenly cup.

"I need only to be shown the proper direction."

Lifting the chalice to his lips, Amatsu leaned back his head and imbibed the bewitched brew.

Amatsu placed the chalice back on the table when a muffled voice and a knock on the door broke Amatsu's self-inflicted spell of superstition. He raised a puzzled brow at his hostess as he rose from his seat, unsure of the meaning behind this unannounced visitor.

"Shall I get the door for you?"

[Ellie who has 0%]

"Yes you may, but please request for name and purpose. Sometimes we get girls scout selling horrific delicacies," Jadis replied in amusement as she sipped at her tea.

(gaaah this sucks horrifically...I will try to extend)

[raiho]

(Skiiip, not much to do when waiting behind a door)

[amatsu]

Amatsu nodded and rose. He walked over to the door and opened it, finding that Jadis' prediction was not too far off the mark. A young girl was standing there, wearing some kind of uniform. Amatsu sighed. He had so much to learn from this Ice Witch, the nobleman was loathe to act as a doorman to screen out urchins from the street.

"The Lady Jadis is not, at the present time, interested in purchasing manufactured confections. Good evening."

Amatsu had no time for these 'girl scout' snack salesmen, so he began to close the door in her face.