A King's First Lesson [Training/Travel/Garret/Altair/Asisiak]

A few days had passed since the dungeon, an event that still had Azix's mind reeling. It had just begun to sink in that he had obtained a great power, something he had sworn to use to protect those who weren't strong enough to protect themselves and to spark a change in the world. After lingering on what his first steps should be, Azix had set those thoughts aside to focus on a more important topic. What kind of power did the Djinn leave him with? The rooms of the dungeon had varied between swampy landscapes and a decayed city. They had been inhabited by sprites, winged rats, owls, tentacles, ghouls and snakes. If that was anything to go off of, Azix imagined that his newfound power would be deadly. He would have to be cautious when using it.

Since Azix wanted to be away from people when he tested his power, it took some time to get the chance to be alone. He had to catch up on how the Opportunity workers had been doing while he was gone, as well as meet with Chief Asisiak to gift her a large portion of the treasure from the dungeon. The Imuchakk Chieftain had been very welcoming, a good host, and had also let him in the dungeon, albeit at Altair's request, so he felt obligated to share his winnings with her. The rest he planned on splitting between the Opportunity fund and the Grumptoes. It didn't feel right to sell it for his own personal gain when he had earned it fighting for reasons larger than himself. Cimeies had called Azix 'King'. A heafty responsibility which was starting to make him question his own worth.

Finally, he found a chance to get away and ventured out into the wilderness to the east of the iceberg. He traveled until he came across an empty hunting hut at the base of a mountain. Taking the shelter as a sign, Azix decided to set up camp there. To either side of the shack lay large patches of forest, the trees, void of leaves, stretched into the sky with jagged angles and spiked points. He sat on the long cot inside, shaped to fit an Imuchakk somewhat comfortably, and started to set out the equipment he had brought along. He draped the magical carpet on the floor by his feet and set his Slicing Caress glove on one end. It was a magical tool he had only used a few times, but he did like it, not only for its appearance but also its ability. So far he had determined its power was to cut your enemy with only the slightest touch.

Next he removed his God's Necklace from around his neck and set it nearby the glove. A magical tool that had been very useful thus far, saving people from the death, including himself. A very useful power to have in your back pocket.

Third came his Weather Maker necklace, it was a magical tool that he had taken from Zhi. Azix had yet to learn its power something he decided he should do while he was out here. The orange magician placed the tool around his neck once again and his fingers found the last necklace which he pulled out. He wrapped his hand around the dragon pendant and smiled at Cimeies' metal vessel. This was the reason why he was out here, to learn its power.

For now, he tucked it back into his shirt and grabbed his Staff of Refractions, which he then set on the carpet. The staff was his oldest possession having been with him for years. Through thick and thin, the staff had been there since when he had learned magic and during the countless hours spent practicing his craft.

He came to the final piece of equipment, a new addition to the mix. From a hidden pocket within his cloak, Azix produced a Rod of Pestilence. The sickly green tinged wand had a curved handle which formed into an odd-shaped skull with fangs, with a thin drill-shaped point coming from the top. A stinger dangled off the end of the wand, with two green feathers attached along with it. Azix had found the the wand mixed in with the treasures that had been transported with him. He found it curious that he had found a wand, something he had desired since getting involved with wet work. A wand was much easier to hide than his staff and weighed a bit less.

Azix slid it back into the pocket within his cloak, having decided on what he would take with him. After taking a moment to think, Azix grabbed his God's necklace just in case before wrapping the carpet around the rest and hiding it underneath the bed. After making sure he was bundled up, the orange magician started towards the door when he realized he had forgotten to grab his journey book. With all that had gone on, Azix had failed to check it before he left. He hoped Ariella was alright and wasn't too worried.

His mind drifted towards warm thoughts of the yellow magician when he heard a yip at the door. Azix arched a brow and opened the door to find the wolf-rabbit pup, Shevika, that Botolo and Jubjub had given him. He had left it with the Imuchakk while he was in the dungeon and had planned to get him before he left. Apparently Shevika had grown impatient and had set out to find the magician herself. Azix chuckled, squatting down to pet the pup.

"Silly girl, well, since your here, might as well follow me. Come along." Azix smiled and gestured the wolf along.

She followed Azix along as he walked along the edge of the woods until he came to a stop a distance away from the shack. He had gone over all the tools at his disposal to reflect on their uses. If he was to be a King and defend people, he needed to know his full potential. He pulled out Weather Maker and fed a trickle of magoi into the magical tool. Upon activation the red gem that hung from the chain sparkled before the wind started to pick up and a small cyclone appeared several meters away from him. As the wind threw his cloak back, it faded and the weather changed to snow, before settling into rain.

When Azix stopped feeding magoi into the tool, the weather calmed and went back to normal, though he was still drenched. 'Crap! Second time I've gotten soaked in this godforsaken cold wasteland!' He cursed to himself and tucked the necklace back under his shirt. Azix ignored the biting cold and pulled out his new wand. He had to test if his magic performed differently with a new medium, it was something he had never tried before.

With Rod of Pestilence in hand, Azix began muttering a series of commands to the Rukh. Just like with his staff, he felt the magoi flow through the wand and conjured two long shadow tendrils with his Kage Youshiki spell. He directed the tendrils around for a bit before dissolving the spell and drifting into thought. As he worked with the wand, Azix thought he felt an untapped power within the medium. He couldn't explain the feeling, it just seemed familiar to when he worked with a magical tool, there was something more to the wand.

A white rabbit scampered out of the treeline and across the snow. Azix wouldn't have spotted it without the pup bringing his attention to it. The orange magician aimed his wand towards the rabbit and fed magoi into it. The Rod of Pestilence seemed to shimmer with a sickly green light and he watched magoi travel to where the rabbit was running towards. When it got close, a patch of vines began to rapidly grow, entangling the furry creature. It finally broke free and scampered off, but slower than it had previously. After several steps it stopped moving and began making a weird noise.

Azix cut off the stream of magoi to the vines and approached the rabbit. As he got closer, Azix realized the rabbit was vomiting a colorful mess into the pure white snow. He took a step back and caught Shevika before she could try to eat it. Whatever that spell had been, the orange magician realized it had made the rabbit sick.

"If this came from the dungeon," Azix spoke to himself as he stared at the wand, "does that mean this the power of the Djinn?" Azix felt relieved he had thought to come out here to experiment with the metal vessel if that was the case.

After returning the wand to his cloak's pocket, Azix pulled the dragon necklace over his head and held it in his hand. Ever since Cimeies had vanished in that bright light, there was now a magical circle on the pendant. Taking a deep breath, Azix prepared himself for whatever would happen next. When he exhaled, he began feeding magoi into the metal vessel and waited for something to happen. Seconds passed by without anything happen and Azix tilted his head in confusion. Why wasn't it working? Every other magical tool just required magoi to activate, did this require something different?

Azix spent a few more minutes trying to feed the metal vessel with magoi without any luck before giving up. He was wet, cold and hungry so he went back to the shack. He started a small fire to warm himself up, draping his soaked clothes around the fire pit and stared at the dragon pendant. Shevika curled up at his side and fell asleep while he went over the problem in his mind. To stave off his frustration, Azix twined the chain around his wrist while holding the pendant in both hands and began to slow his breathing. If playing with magic had taught him one thing, it was that meditation was helpful to solving the intricacies it presented.

He meditated deep into the night, letting his mind subconsciously work out the problem while he focused on emptying his conscious thoughts. Slowly, he started to turn the concept of the Djinn's power over in his mind. Normal magic tools required a simple input of magoi in order to activate them and produce various effects, or spells depending on how you looked at it. That was somewhat different than how magicians managed to produce spells of their own. Magicians required magoi, true, but they also had to give commands to the Rukh as well to harness control and manipulate the magoi.

That thought sent a lightning bolt of realization through Azix, unlocking the power of the Djinn might require a spoken command too. While that concept may well be the key to do so, it presented another obstacle. What was the command? The possibilities of what it could be left the magician vexed. Surely, the Djinn could have told him that before vanishing. Azix remembered sheepishly that he had bogged Cimeies down with a bunch of questions. How could he have forgotten the most important question? How to use the power!

With a sigh, Azix decided to go to bed and figure out the question in the morning. Azix wrapped himself in his magic carpet and curled up with Shevika before dozing off. Throughout the rest of the night, Azix's dreams were filled with memories of the dungeon and his obligations back in Reim.

The wolf pup woke him up in the morning with a yip and the sound of her pawing at the door. Azix grumbled to himself as he woke up and pulled on his now dry clothes. He wrapped his fur cloak around his body after snatching up his full assortment of gear. When everything was in its spot, Azix kicked open the door, "Alright already, let's go." He wasn't really upset with Shevika, this was just all the playfulness he could muster after a restless night.

He found the spot he had started to practice at while Shevika did her business and pulled out his metal vessel once again. If the power of the Djinn needed a spoken command and he didn't have it, Azix would have to find one that worked. A command that felt...natural to the orange magician. Something that fit the Djinn's personality and dungeon. He understood Cimeies was lonely and had populated the dungeon with Sprites, companions. Sickly green light was also a common feature, further leading Azix along the assumption that the Djinn's power involved sickness.

Latching onto the idea of sickness, Azix searched his mind for something that fit. 'Disease...poison...pestilence...whooping cough....hmm...illness...' Words rushed over the tip of his tongue as he fit each one to the puzzle, but found them each lacking. Finally, it came to him and he laughed, it fit just right. With his metal vessel in hand, Azix began feeding magoi into it and raised it into the air with a shout. "Spread, Cimeies!" Like a deadly sickness that infects everyone it touches, Cimeies power would spread like a wildfire.

Green light flared out from the tool as he felt a surge of power and the pendant expand. When the green light flared down, Azix saw that the necklace had become a long silver sword. Foreign script glowed with a sickly green tint along the blade. An intricate design was carved down the hilt of the sword and crept down part of the blade itself. Azix stood with his eyes wide as studied the sword. It seemed masterfully crafted and it hummed with power when he swiped it through the air. 'This is the power of a Djinn!'

Shevika began barking at her side and Azix turned to see someone familiar approaching.

[3007/4000]

Spoiler:

The days had passed in relative peace since they had conquered the dungeon. He sat back and relaxed in his makeshift home, staring off at a wall as a strange feeling of ennui overcame him.  What had he done since he had come to the Imuchakk lands? Very little, to tell the truth, other than exploring the land a bit and recruiting a new member for his organization. ... The dungeon, as well, I suppose... Garret idly rested his hand upon the green shield that had been given to him by the Djinn of that very same dungeon. His thoughts turned back to the situation in Reim, and the listless feeling changed to one of subtle dread. It manifested itself within Garret's gut as a combination of unease and distaste. Sato was in Reim, with free reign over the continent, preparing who knows what.

Garret looked back to the sleeping form lying in his bed. His watch was almost over, and it would soon be time for Yua to wake up and take charge of the building. She hadn't run off with any of his things, even after Garret had brought back the treasure from Cimeies. He understood that this was likely due to her not having a way off of this island, at least not easily, and that she had little choice but to be honest. At the very least, he believed he could trust her for now.

Azix had been busy, Garret knew. The Magician had shared a portion of his gains from the dungeon with Asisiak, which honestly wasn't much of a surprise to Garret, but something seemed to have been on his mind as of late. Perhaps... I should see if he requires any assistance... Resolving himself to check up on the man, Garret noted that Yua had begun to stir. He gathered up his equipment; it was time. Just as she sat up, Garret began walking across the nightingale floor, leaving only a passing comment to the woman. "Watch the place for me while I'm out."

She rubbed her eyes with one hand while lazily waving to him with the other. "Sure thing, Boss." She stretched out, yawning and getting ready for the morning. She looked through a cabinet for something to eat while scratching the top of her head. Glancing out to Garret's back as he was walking out the door, she called out to him. "Food stores are getting low, Boss, don't forget to bring something back."

Garret made no motion to acknowledge her request, but he had heard what she said. Hmm, I might as well also stop by the blacksmith to see how far along he managed to get. I think everything should be ready. After having discussed the items with the smith, who said they would be ready momentarily, Garret informed the man to have the objects sent to his place of living if he did not come back on time. He left the building and, by chance, saw Azix making his way out of the village. He paused, weighing his options briefly, before deciding against following the Magician. Perhaps the man wanted some time to himself?

Garret went to barter for some food down at one of the shops. Once that was complete, he brought it back to the make-shift home that he had created, stocking up on food for the next few days. There was no discussion between Yua and Garret when he returned, and the Magician once again felt that sense of ennui. Maybe he's just looking to get away from the normal duties his work requires of him. I should go and check up on him. He spoke to Yua, briefly explaining to her that the blacksmith may be by shortly, and that he would be bringing both an umbrella and the hair ornament that she had requested. He still found it strange that she had requested such a thing, but she seemed to be in a good mood when she learned that it would be finished by today.

Azix had a large head-start, but Garret would still be able to follow the man via the footprints left behind in the snow. He began tracking them, and it looked as if there was a small set of footprints that followed Azix. Garret knelt down besides the marks and noted that the smaller set seemed more fresh than Azix's, and looked to be the marks of a quadruped, and a small one at that. Uneducated in the different types of beasts, that was all Garret was able to garner from examining the marks. The Blue Magician continued moving forward at a steady pace until those marks seemed to have disappeared. It seemed as if some sort of storm had washed the marks away, which was a curious sight to see. Luckily for him, Garret had no longer any need for the footprints; Azix was straight ahead, and it looked like he had some sort of dog with him. It began barking when it noticed Garret's presence, and the Magician huffed through his nose in amusement. His fist met his hand as a quick salute, but it was likely the most lax salute Azix would have ever seen from the Magician. Something more akin to a respectful yet informal greeting. He took note of the blade in Azix's hand, and immediately recalled Altair's form on the battlefield from the  Battle of a Thousand Swords.

"I see you're training, already working on learning how to use your Djinn. I actually watched Altair closely, during his training for his Djinn. Though at the time I didn't know what strength it truly held, I believe I can provide pointers to you in regards to this... And, of course, help you test out the true strength of the Djinn." Garret looked down to the puppy, raising an eyebrow at its presence. He wondered as to why it was here; he certainly did not see it leave with Azix earlier. Shaking his head, he looked back up to Azix and awaited a response.

OOC:

Training Sink Hole Word Count: 1021/1000

Battle Rules:

Azix waved at Garret when he saw the Spymaster approaching, "Quiet Shevy, that's just Garret. He's a friend." He looked back up at the blue magician and smiled. "Looks like you found me. How are you doing?" Azix was glad to see that the man was in better condition than he had been after the dungeon.

He arched a brow when Garret revealed that the man had gained insight watching Altair's training. It would certainly have saved Azix a lot of time if he had gone to his friend first. Of course, Azix also did wonder how well the Spymaster knew Altair. In his experience, training was usually a private experience, it was generally smart to hide your abilities from potential enemies. Was it because Altair trusted Garret? "I'd glady accept the help. It's taken me this long to figure out how to activate it." The orange magician swiped his metal vessel through the air a few times to test the weight. "It has been quite some time since I last used a sword."

Azix turned to the blue magician and held his silver sword in front of him, "Let's see what this can do." The King Candidate had seen his friend in action with a blade and hated to admit it, but once again the Spymaster had surpassed him. Garret had dedicated countless days perfecting not only his magic, but his fighting prowess too. Azix could still remember the days when Garret primarily focused on hand-to-hand combat, but after seeing the Spymaster in the dungeon, it was apparent the man had expanded his horizons. Maybe one day Azix would have time to dedicate to training, for now he would have to take the small windows of opportunity that presented themselves, like now.


OOC:
Training to Knight: [3305/4000]

Garret nodded to Azix’s acceptance of his assistance. "The days have been passing by, slowly, it seems. A very peaceful feeling, though one I do not expect to last."

He did not find himself surprised that the Magician took a bit of time to understand the power completely; while Azix had an intuitive grasp of magic, Garret had noted in their last spar together that he did not rely much on close combat techniques. Garret did not doubt that there was a disconnect, as the Magician attempted to focus and control the magoi in a manner that was specific to warriors. Little did he know that the primary thing that had held Azix back was the discovery of the chant of the weapon, and not the control of the magoi. He pulled out his blade, Desceld, and got into a readied fighting stance. ”The control of a Djinn’s powers is very much similar to Magoi Manipulation. I believe I explained the basis of it, though I do not think we discussed it in detail…” Garret’s blade was readied just as Azix had taken his own stance. ”Ready?” Garret would wait for the man to notate that he was, in fact, ready.


The Magician/Warrior ran forward to meet Azix in a clash of blades. He would begin with a simple vertical slash, testing out the strength of Azix’s blade; how strong was the material? What would happen when their blades collided?

OOC:
Training Sink Hole Word Count: (1021+245) 1266/1000

Battle rules: Clashing weapons against each other does not deal weapon hp damage agreed upon.

"I recall you mentioning magoi manipulation before,  but I don't remember the explanation." Azix gave an apologetic look before nodding that he was ready. He exhaled sharply before kicking off the ground, his blade held down and to the side, in a run as Garret did the same. While Garret swung Desceld downwards, Azix raised his metal vessel upwards at a slant to meet the man's blade. The resulting chime of ringing noise prompted a yipping bark from Shevika who mistook the two magicians fighting as hostile.

When the two blades met, Azix noticed the glowing words on his sword begin to streak towards Garret's sword and up his hand. What he and Garret would soon find out is that the King Candidate's metal vessel had a Pestilent Touch which would send a plague along anything it came into contact with. The plague was harmful to living creatures, seeping into the skin's pores and causing an infection that creates large boils.

If Azix was able to witness the effects of the resulting clash, the orange magician would look at his sword in a mix of awe and horror. The power of Cimeies was a dangerous power, probably the most easily able to be abused out of everything in his arsenal. Azix would turn to Garret, "I didn't realize it would do that...this power is terrifying."

A memory rose to the surface, unbidden, of a time many months ago, when he and Garret had assassinated Manius. A time when Azix had cursed his fate and felt joy at crushing the happiness of two people. He also remembered the darkness that lingered at the edges of his conscious mind, it wasn't too long ago when he had to fight to keep control when using shadow magic. How was he to be expected not to use this power corruptly? He could inflict anyone he wanted to with a disease to cripple them. This was not a power to be taken lightly. Now more than ever, Azix would need the support of his friends to keep him on track.

[(3305+346)3651/4000]

Spoiler:

As the two magician's weapons clashed, Garret only saw the appearance of a green mist, which proceeded to run up his blade and settle upon his body. Immediately setting in, the boils rose on his skin. The pain instantly spread across Garret's body and the irritation forced Garret to pay a portion of his attention towards it. The Blue Magician grit his teeth under the duress as the light pounding of a headache began to settle within his skull, dulling his thinking as well. His immediate desire was to use Desceled in the hopes that the spell would be able to lessen the extent of pain that he was feeling, yet there was a strange thought that came to the Magician's mind, as if guided by the Rukh; the shield he had received from Cimeies.

Garret grasped the shield from his back, wincing as one of the boils popped  and the icy air of the Imuchakk lands sent a chilly wind across the now-open sore. He began to pour magoi into the Spritely Plague Shield intuitively. Three familiar creatures appeared, shortly thereafter; Antha, Vix and Shel. Upon surveying the scene, Shel sighed as if she half-expected this to occur. Vix caressed the skin that had the boils, looking at Garret while doing so. Antha glared at Azix before trilling something in her language. The three of them began the familiar dance around Garret, slowly dissipating into Rukh and imbuing Garret with their powers. Slowly the boils began to fade, and Garret's headache dissipated as well. There was small damage to Garret's epidermis, which he healed with the assistance of Desceld.

As the final golden fragments of the draconic-shaped mist settled within the Magician's body, Garret looked to Azix. "You're going to want to learn how to control that, certainly. It was... Uncomfortable." An understatement, to be sure, but nonetheless true for what it was. As Garret opened up his mouth to say something to Azix, a beast came running towards the two from their side. Garret narrowed his eyes and focused on its speed and direction, sheathing Desceld and retreiving his wand, Kuroi Shimo. Pointing it towards the space the beast would soon be walking over. The water beneath the earth shifted, causing the dirt and stone to wash away underground. The rate at which it did so was incredible, creating an artificially induced Sink Hole which caught the creature within its hold.

Turning back to Azix, Garret spoke. "Magoi Manipulation is using the magoi within your body, and controlling it. Instead of telling the Rukh what to do, you are using your own body's power. You should be able to have complete control on that... Cloud thing..." Garret trailed off. "Not sure if I want to encounter that again. Also, in order to break through the next wall, you're going to have to do the same thing you did with your weapon, but with your body instead." Garret explained to Azix what he recalled of his training with Altair, in which he had carefully observed Altair's movements.


OOC:

Word count for training Sink Hole: 516+1266 = 1782/1000

Abilities Trained:

Spoiler:

Desceld:

With a brow arched at the three familiar sprites, Azix watched as Antha trilled something hostile by the glare she gave him. 'So, that's what Cimeies meant...' He thought to himself and continued to watch the little dudes dance into a procession of Rukh that healed most of Garret's wounds. The smalls wounds that were left, the Spymaster healed with a dragon-shaped mist, a spell Azix hadn't seen before. When Garret commented on the experience, the orange magician nodded in agreement, the Djinn's power was one he would have to learn to control.


The man was interrupted as a beast burst forth from the woods to attack the two magicians. Garret quickly reacted with his wand, calling forth a flock of blue Rukh that created a pit underneath the creature. Azix couldn't hold back a smirk, as soon as Garret had seen that the creature would be trapped he had continued as if nothing had happened. 'Efficient as always..'

While the blue magician explained the concept of Magoi Manipulation, Azix walked up to the pit and gazed over the edge. He still listened, interested in what the man had to say, but the creature had piqued his curiosity. With the head of an elephant, minus the trunk, and its hind legs, the creature also featured four arms. He peered closer to notice it had three digits on each hand, including an opposable thumb. A strange creature, that was for sure and one that made him wonder if it would be of any use to Roark.

Stepping back from the edge, Azix turned back to Garret, "My body? Interesting... He released his weapon equip and the sword changed back into the dragon pendant. With one hand he rubbed his belly, "First, let's eat." Azix would lead Garret back to the shack to eat some nuts and berries.

The next two weeks Azix spent in training, applying the advice Garret had given him. He found the Spymaster's observation of Altair's training very informative. At first, Azix focused on controlling the Pestilent Touch that would leak from his weapon. Once he had accomplished that, Azix turned to concentrating on applying his weapon equip to his body. Unfortunately, he found it easier said than done. After coating the metal vessel in magoi, Azix would compress it and chant to activate the weapon equip, yet with his body he stumbled. The trick that had Azix stuck was compressing the magoi around his body, or so he thought.

The nights were spent conversing with Garret if the man stayed around. Azix would finally open up about his relationship with Ariella and fill the Spymaster in on everything he had missed. Things about the workforce program, Kios, the Grumptoes, and the jobs he had taken. It would be an odd experience for Azix, sharing experiences with a friend. While he had considered Garret a friend for a while now, Azix had rarely ever been so open about his life.

After weeks of failed attempts, Azix finally unlocked the secret to harnessing the next step of the Djinn's power. He had completely covered his body with his magoi and was compressing it, when he felt something tickle at the back of his mind. A phrase came to his mind and without thinking, he repeated it. "O' Djinn of Plague and Pestilence, create a catalyst of change that infects corruption. Lend me the power to purify the world anew. Spread, Cimeies!"

With the chant spoken, he felt a surge of power wash over him with a bright flash. He emerged lightly armored on his chest, shoulders, wrists, and legs, with a belt of chains. His body and clothes were tinged a sickly green. He looked down at his hands, to see the silver sword in his hands. His nails had grown long and sharp as well. He toyed around with his weapon and after leaping into the air for a downward slash, he found he had the ability to fly. To his surprise, he could fly faster than he could with his magic.

With this new Djinn equip form, Azix decided he had spent enough time training. Besides, he still had the workforce to look after. With Shevika, and Garret if he was still around, Azix headed back to the Imuchakk village to catch up on any events that had transpired.

[4000+/4000] [Djinn Equip Trained]

Garret nodded in agreement to the food, eating together with the Light Magician and the pet. He couldn't help but notice how much more relaxed Azix was over the next few weeks. He spoke to Garret about his relationship with Ariella, Kios, the grumptoes, and all other manner of discourse. In turn, Garret explained to the Magician all that had transpired in his confrontation with Takahashi Sato, and how the Spymaster had known Azix's father in the past. Halfway through the first week, Garret excused himself. He had a new employee, whom he had picked up in Imuchakk, which was relying on him to get food for. He had only gotten enough for a few days for two people, and it would probably be wise for him to restock.


When Garret returned, with additional stores for Yua, he found that the woman was diligently watching for intruders. She wore upon her hair the ornament she had requested, and smiled as Garret came back. "Heya, guy. Thought you had left me here by myself." Stretching, Yua stood up and pointed to the drawer to the side. Leaning against it was the umbrella that had been commissioned. "There it is. Let me grab the food for you. How long are you going to be staying? How long are we gonna stay in the Imuchakk lands?" She gave Garret a side-long glance, judging his reactions.

He shook his head, grabbing the umbrella and twirling it in his hands to check its balance. The thing was heavy, and would be awkward to fight with, but its craftsmanship was superb. He looked to Yua when the questions were asked and shrugged. "Just stopped by to make sure you had food. Don't worry about being seen anymore, if you're out of food and I'm not back to go to the market. We'll probably be leaving shortly. I've finished what I came here to do." Her manner of speaking to him had become even more informal, but Garret paid it little mind. She was useful in her own ways, and he would simply have to watch out for any signs of betrayal. Garret made his way back to Azix, who was still training out by the solitary cabin...

During a portion of that training, Garret had worked alongside Azix when he believed he had the control of the pestilent ability of his weapon firmly in hand. There were few mishaps, of which were easily healed and restored by the shield and sword that Garret owned. The sprites, after having been summoned several times, had gotten used to the antics and treated the matter as a daily process for them. Through this training, Garret began to learn the skills of defending against attacks with his shield.

The skills were simple, truth be told, yet required a refining of the fundamentals of clashing. There were moments for hard and soft movements; muscles were soft during the movement of the object, allowing a faster movement of the technique. Then, at the moment of impact, the muscles tightened in order to keep the shield from being blown away by the skills and power of the opponent. It was similar to how he moved when striking, yet the defensive techniques of bracing for that attack were a bit foreign. Garret had gotten skilled enough to perform a Veteran's Block.


When Azix had finally completed his training, and had mastered the ability to transform into the Djinn Equip, Garret followed him back to the Imuchakk Village.


OOC:

C-Tier ability Training word count: 585/500

Abilities Trained:

Asisiak smiled at all the celebratory faces around her. The fight with Altair had been invigorating and had put the entire village in good spirits. With the help from the Workforce Program, their villages were being rebuilt and a flood of supplies were coming in. She had been worried about repaying the debt of the supplies, but when the news arrived of Azix defeating the dungeon also came the news that he was giving her half of what he had brought out of the dungeon. She was not sure if he realized how much this would help towards her debt to his country, but it would pay for all support received thus far and a great deal more. She hoped the man would stop by before he left so she might offer him thanks in person. In the meantime, she intended to enjoy the party.

Altair took a little time after the fight to simply recover from his expense of Magoi. While neither one of them had been able to land a solid hit on the other, Altair still sustained injuries from Magoi Exhaustion. He was sitting in a booth at the bar, patting himself with a damp cloth, with a large mug of Himejojo's excellent arctic lemon brew in front of him. The alcohol took the edge off, allowing Altair to simply sit and enjoy the flavor of the beer. Himejojo came looking for him a short while later. "My friend, i knew you were strong... but that was incredible. You went blow for blow with Asisiak! And you both came out without a mark on you. I'll probably never see the likes of it again." Altair smiled. "You're too kind Himejojo. Despite what Asisiak said, my inability to keep up makes me the the loser of that fight. But someday, i'd like to come back when i'm stronger to try again. Now THAT will be a sight to see."

When the feast started, Altair was bombarded with questions from those who watched the fight. Where did he get his power? What exactly did it do? How long did he have to train to get this good? Etc. Altair tried to answer the questions as best he could, and this time, he didn't spare details like he would have previously. Instead of lying and trying to keep the origin of his power a secret, Altair loosened up. He told them of the dungeon, and his adventure through it with a Fanalis named Diego, and his partner Trixie. How the Djinn had originally not wanted to choose him, and how it was difficult to learn to wield his power. This change in tone came with a newfound respect for himself. His fight with Asisiak had done more than help him politically, it had also bolstered his confidence that he could face most threats that his alter ego "The Sovereign" might attract. He made sure to apologize to Garret, who was also there, for lying to him in the past. He had been afraid, and the man had shown himself at a very vulnerable time for Altair. He wanted to make sure there were no hard feelings.

Azix came back to the Imuchakk Village in time for a great feast. While he headed to his quarters to settle in before joining the festivites, Azix overheard excited chatter about a fight between Asisiak and Altair. He arched a brow, but continued along, eager to change his clothes and wash.

After getting cleaned up, Azix retrieved the Journey Book that was a twin of Ariella's and relaxed on the bed.

Azix,
Checked in with Wei Tenji, the new school erected in the slums looks fantastic and is filled with learning children. It seems to be a success!

Now for the less pleasant part of the update. After investigation, with the help of Garret’s security team, we have managed to narrow down the suspects in the assassinations. They are being done by a pair called Father and Lilly. Unfortunately, I have had a run-in with Lilly, who turns out to be a sadistic, psychotic little girl with a very sharp knife. Someone has leaked that I was investigating the murders and she had a trap set up. I was able to escape relatively unharmed, but my shock at the assassin being a small child prevented me from capturing her.

It would seem that they are responsible for the disappearance of my mother. Though I have no confirmation, I fear my mother has been killed. At the very least, she has been harmed. I do not know who revealed my investigation to them, but the only ones who were aware I had gotten anywhere were Carmen and my father, though King Lagi had granted me permission to look into the case.

I have been very careful to make sure not to visit the farm, for fear of leading someone there. I promise to be careful going forward, but felt I had to tell someone I could trust about what has happened so far, just in case. Please be careful on your return to Remano, as I am not sure how much information has been shared or by whom.

Thinking of you ~Ari

Azix shot straight up out of bed, slamming the Journey Book closed. He gathered his fur cloak and burst out of the small hut in search of Garret. As he stepped outside, the cheery sounds of the feast came to life. Azix realized that if he walked around in a panic, it would cause a scene and took a moment to calm himself. After a few deep breaths, he plastered a smile on his face and began looking for the blue magician.

While he had confidence in Ariella's abilities as a magician, Azix was still concerned. She was getting involved with assassins good enough to get past Garret's detection at the Ball. His relationship with Ariella further increased the sinking feeling in his stomach. Once he found Garret, Azix would sign for the Spymaster to follow to a quiet place. Once they had excused themselves, the orange magician would frantically sign the news with hurried gestures. 'I need to go and I need your help. Ariella started looking into the assassinations and got in over her head.'

Azix shoved the Journey Book into Garret's hands so the Spymaster could read the message. While Garret read, Azix paced back and forth trying to form a plan of action. It seemed like the workforce program was secure here and the dungeon had been a success. With both goals accomplished it was probably time to leave anyway. Leaving by boat or waiting for Madam Trixie to return would take to long. They would have to take the magic carpet.

[327/400] [Travel]

Garret was surprised to see a feast occurring in the village when they returned. He returned to his shack and had Yua join in the festivities; it would almost be a crime to not allow his subordinate to enjoy something as grand as a feast. It turned out that the whole festive mood was celebrating Altair's skill in combat, as he had went up against Asisiak and fought on even grounds. It looked like the match had ended with neither truly winning the fight. Garret listened to the stories in curiosity, hearing about how Altair was using his weapons in an attempt to break Asisiak's; it was a battle he was, in part, sad to have missed. He would have liked to have seen that.

Garret simply took joy from eating the various foods spread out while listening to the stories told around the table, including Altair's. Garret chuckled when Altair apologized, waving it off. "There is no need to apologize. I could tell there was something you were hiding, and all men have their secrets. There is a time, place, and people that must be met in order to feel comfortable revealing those secrets." Garret searched himself for the reasoning behind why he has been keeping his own strengths a secret from all he could. He finally decided that it was the belief that there was someone out there, stronger than him and able to overcome him, that drove him to avoid speaking much on the matter. The thought sunk to the bottom of his conscious as he turned back to eating, enjoying the festival for what it was.

Yua seemed to be fairly happy as well, digging into the feast in a manner similar to a barbarian. Garret stopped to watch it for a short while, as if in sick fascination, before focusing back on his own food. Where are her table manners? I didn't imagine, from our times eating at the hut, that she behaved in this way. He wasn't openly associated with her, however, so he did not feel any social stigma from her eating. During this time, Azix grabbed Garret and had him go out of the hall with the new King Candidate. Yua noted the two leaving, and began to finish up her own food; she would be stalking them shortly.

When they got out of the hall, and Azix had taken him to a more quiet section of the village, the Light Magician hand signaled that he needed to go, and that he needed Garret's help. To make the matter go by faster, he gave Garret the Journey Book that the man had mentioned during the Djinn training they had together. Halfway through reading, Garret rubbed his temple. Garret signed back to Azix after he had finished reading. Okay. Calm down. It couldn't have been Carmen who tipped them off. I left orders for them to help... Oh. Shit. Azix, remember how I told you that Sato wanted to use me as the headpiece of the Kou Empire? I told him I would prefer to follow you... You don't think he knows you have a connection to Ariella, do you? We need to move. Fast. Garret felt a pang of guilt, and was partially worried at how Azix would react to what he had said. Unwittingly, the Blue Magician may have put Ariella in danger. The Spymaster of Kou had shown a clear distaste for the thought of having Azix on the throne.

It was at that point that Garret heard a clack on the rooftop due to his sixth sense of the hunter and the hunted. "Who's there?! Show yourself." It was at that point that Yua jumped down to the ground from a nearby rooftop, and Garret sighed. She looked curiously between the two, and Garret explained who she was to Azix. "She's a new hire. Good timing, too. We're leaving, get the stuff from the hut ready."

Yua nodded. "Sure thing." She took a moment to look between Azix and Garret. As if sensing the urgency from the mood, she took off towards their place of residence, backed by a magoi manipulation technique.

Garret turned to Azix. "Was there anything else you needed to do?"

OOC:

Travel Thread word count: 714/400

Azix's face paled at Garret's suggestion, but he held no ill will towards Garret. For the moment he was more concerned with Ariella's safety and the consequences of getting involved in the Spymaster Feud. He was pulled from his thoughts with the non-sneaky entrance of Yua. Instead of a normal bow of respect, Azix idly tipped his head in greeting.

"I didn't believe Carmen would be one to tip them off. I should probably find Asisiak first and give her a formal farewell. I am a guest after all. Cursed formalities. I should also thank Altair. Go get ready if you need, I'll go back in there and speak with them before I pack." Azix exhaled and let the emotions slide from his face.

Heading back into the festivities, Azix would find Altar first. He smiled as he greeted the man before his face grew grim. "Congratulations on your fight. I heard you fought well. I'm sorry I didn't greet you earlier, but I just learned a friend is in trouble back in Reim. Before I left I wanted to thank you. Asisiak told me that you passed up the dungeon in favor of me. What made you do it?"

Azix would listen to the man's reply and thank Altair once again. "I apologize, but it's important that I go as soon as possible. If we cross paths again, I would like to buy you a drink. Stay safe, my friend."

Next, he would find Asisiak and politely approach. "Chief Asisiak, I'm sad I missed the fight. I was training out in the wilderness." Once the pleasantries were out of the way, Azix's tone would become urgent. "I appreciate your hospitality and opening your home to strangers. I believe the next group should be arriving soon. I wanted to let you know I would be leaving shortly. I learned someone important to me is in trouble and I need to be back in Remano. I hope you understand why I won't be able to stay and join in one the festivities."

[400+/400]

Asisiak looked up as Azix approached her, glad the man had stopped by. At his hurried words, her brow creased in worry, but she gave a nod of acknowledgement to his words about the workers.

"You have my thanks, and that of my people, for the assistance in speeding along our recovery process. We will handle the next batch much as we did this one. And thank you for the gold. It will help greatly with the repayment of our debts to Kou. You did not have to do that, but I appreciate it. I will have the cook prepare you some supplies for the trip while you make preparations. I am sorry you will miss the festivities, but best be gone before the drunken brawls start."

She chuckled before grabbing the attention of a nearby cook, giving out quick directions that were quickly followed. When Azix went to leave, he would find Asisiak had made sure he had a good store of salted meat and dried fruits and vegetables for the trip as well as a heaping bowl of hot food. The man's success in the dungeon made her proud to be associated with him, and his goals for the future were important. She would give him a final farewell before seeking out Altair to congratulate him again on doing so well in their battle.

After talking with Garret, Altair was approached by Azix. The question that Altair knew he would be asked came up. Why did he do it? Why give access to the dungeon to Azix? It had been something that he himself wasn't entirely sure of at the time. "Azix, though i have known you only for a short time, i can see that you have a good heart. You want to help people, to see them succeed. And you move to help them without asking for anything in return. That alone would have been reason enough for me." Altair's smile turned more serious. "But it wasn't. While i share your need to help others, i am preparing for something of a much grander scale. Have you even been to any of the wandering tribes south of Magnostadt? There are hundreds of them, each ranging from hundreds to thousands of people who call it their home. They are being destroyed, Azix. Destroyed by Kou. The so-called "Empire" thinks it can simply kick people out of the homes they have called theirs for generations. It isn't right. These people, MY PEOPLE, need someone to step up and lead them. And that person is me. I allowed you to enter the dungeon in my stead because i may need to call on you for help someday. I will not require it of you, i have no power to make you do anything, but when that time comes i hope that you answer my call. Now, what is this about a friend of your in trouble?" Altair asked, when he was suddenly picked up by Himejojo and carried away on the man's shoulders, many cheering his name. Altair looked back, to say he was sorry, but Azix was gone.

As the party began to wind down, Altair was approached by Asisiak and again congratulated on his performance. He thanked her, and asked for luck in his coming endeavors. He left the party feeling good, energized by the congratulations of the villagers. He would be leaving soon, but it was nice to know he had a kind of family here.

Azix nodded, acutely aware of the seconds that passed as Altair explained his reasoning for passing up the dungeon. Like he expected, Altair hadn't done it just to be kind, but to secure a favor at a later point. It seemed the man had troubles in his homeland and yet again, Kou was in the center of it all. Azix wondered if there was anywhere he could go in the world that wouldn't have been impacted negatively by Kou.

The orange magician was of a mind that he would have paid Altair a favor anyway as a gesture of gratitude. At least Azix knew exactly how he could pay that favor. Before he could speak to express his thanks and confirm that he would assist Altair in the future, an Imuchakk interrupted, stealing the shepard away. Azix spared a small smile before heading to Asisiak.

To Asisak, he waved off her thanks, "No it is I who am thankful. You have taken in strangers and given them a chance. You believed in me. The gold is hardly enough to pay back what you have done for me." He accepted the stores of food she offered to provide. In is rush to leave, Azix had not taken the time to think of gathering food supplies for the journey over sea. Who knows how long they would have lasted without Asisiak's quick thinking.

Once he was finshed speaking with the two, Azix made his way to his hut. Along the way he found one of the workers and informed them he would be leaving. Instructions were left to tell the others to do their best and that Azix would see them when they got back. Within the confines of his hut, Azix quickly packed up his possessions before making it to the dock. The food Asisiak had sent was already prepared and packed for travel. All that was left was to wait on Garret and Yua, before a rushed journey back to Remano.

---

Azix,

Lost two military officials to Lilly while following Chuge Don. Kou troops beginning to arrive in Portsmouth. Informer likely to be someone in the councilors’ offices. Sorry for short note, exhausted. Will try to write more when rested.

Thinking of you fondly,
Ari

It was several days into the journey and their food stores had dwindled down, not that Azix was eating much. The orange magician had given Garret control of 'driving' the flying carpet so he could continue practicing on his Djinn Equip. Judging the small islands they passed, they would be arriving in Remano quicker than they would have by boat. When Azix read the latest note from Ariella, he sighed in frustration. He had written Ariella several messages and this was the first reply.

Azix would sign to Garret the news he learned, still not quite sure how much he could trust Yua. He also asked if he thought Sato would make a bigger move now that Kou's forces were trickling into Reim. Kou's buildup of forces was Azix's main concern, the fact that someone had infiltrated the Council was of no surprise. Anyone with a mind for politics would have done that since day one. If Kou was looking to make a move on Reim to consolidate power though, that was problematic. He had much going on in Reim and he had too many people that counted on him. A military conflict with Kou on a large scale and Azix wasn't sure he could keep everyone safe.

[exit]

While Azix was finalizing his farewells with Asisiak and Altair, Garret had returned to his home that he had been sharing with Yua this entire time. When he had arrived, he noted that the thief had managed to get everything in order. The two of them worked on carrying the remaining objects that they had which they would be needing to take back with them. Though, to be honest, that did not amount to much; their equipment, the valuables from the dungeon, and the remaining food stores for two or so days that they had leftover. He already had spoken to one of the Imuchakk construction crews about the building, when he first requested permission to get it built; once he was gone, they had free reign of anything left behind, so as not to waste any of the resources.

---

For the most part, Garret drove the carpet while Azix slept and for a majority of the rest of the ride. Yet, on occasion, when Garret needed to sleep as well, he had given instructions to Yua on how to steer the thing. Garret knew enough about the stars to get a good, general feel of what the correct direction to move off in would be. They were running low of food stuffs, yet Garret knew that if push came to shove they could always hunt for fish and the like. He continued to keep in touch with Azix while using sign language during the ride, and Yua pretended not to watch them...


-exit-