Mystic Realms Arc

[Shukuen]

"Pardon, Lord Palanthas, but -- Would you mind telling me where the meeting will take place?" asked Reiko.

[Dracos]

OOC: First thing I  remember.....

IC:

"It will be held in the grand hall by the bazaar.  It is where all important meetings concerning the entire city are held."

Fearless Leader

[Shukuen]

"All right." Reiko sat up and bowed politely to Palanthas. "I'll be there first thing tomorrow morning," she said. "I hope you don't find me rude, but I think I'll return to the guest house now."

[Dracos]

"Oh.....of course Lady Reiko.  Reinhart, show the lady out."

Fearless Leader

[Shukuen]

Making sure that they were alone, Reiko sighed and relax as her hand came up to massage a headache.

"You still didn't tell them, did you," accused Aibari in annoyance.

"What did you expect? 'Hi! I'm really the idiot that was here earlier with that kender and I'm only pretending to be a girl because I already humiliated myself,'" retorted Rei.

Aibari growled in return, but didn't dispute what was said.

"So what should we do now?" asked Reiko, trying to diffuse the tension.

Aibari sighed. "Well how about that street they made us avoid? Seemed rather suspicious, it did."

"What's so suspicious? THey could have been fixing the road or something," countered Rei.

"...yeah right. It was a walking path. Do you think people are going to complain about a little dirt?" Aibari rolled his eyes, and added. "Besides, looked more like their hiding something to me."

"You're just paranoid, Aibari," inputted Reiko, sensing another conflict.

Aibari shrugged. "It's how I lived to be as old as I am."

Rei sighed. "You're not going to drop it, are you?"

"Nope."

With great reluctance, the others agreed to check out the area, just in case.

[Dracos]

Retracing her steps that morning, Reiko felt a perverting cold filling her bones as she arrived at where the butler had stopped her before.  The night air was particularly cold in Palanthas at this time of year.  Most the shops around here were curiously abandoned.  Well maintained, but they showed no other signs of being lived in.

The cold bit beyond the skin, chilling the bone and soul.  Almost supernatural.

Fearless Leader

[Shukuen]

"Okay, we checked," said Reiko, nervously glancing down the deserted street. "Nothing here. Can we go back now?"

Her eye twitched, signally a slight change. "Are you sure we're the same person?" asked Aibari, feeling slightly annoyed at all the latest twists in life. "Look, if you prefer, I'll check things out myself."

Feeling a nod, Aibari took over and entered the street, a feral grin on her face. The feel of andrenaline while facing unknown foes, going against the odds, living on the edge. Yes, it's great to be back in the element.

[Dracos]

As Aibari walked in female form down the empty streets, it became even more vivid.  The freezing cold.  The lack of any life.  Death reigned here.  He was not welcome.  Not Welcome at all.

Not even a rat was seen.  The place was completely devoid of life.  Turning a corner it was visible.  A beautiful groove of black trees standing as if silent guardians to something beyond them.  A rusted gate could just barely be seen deep within the forest, something clad in black hanging from the top of it's spiked gate.  The cold fear was overpowering.  Tearing at the soul.  Draining the will to live.

Magic was here...  and it was angry.

Rising from the very center of the grove was a magnificant tower.  It's stones the darkest night, only visible against the backdrop of the stars by the opaque nature of it's being.

Fearless Leader

[Shukuen]

A cold breeze wafted along the area, as Aibari rubbed her arms together to fight the biting cold. "Cheery little place," she muttered sarcastically, gazing up at the dark tower.

Strangely enough, she was almost expecting something like this. A city this perfect? No way in hades that it could be real.

Feeling her curiousity sated for the moment, Aibari left the area, making a note to ask about it, as she headed back to the guest house.

[Dracos]

After going to sleep, Aibari awakened to a knocking on her door.  Light streamed impacting against the fancy curtains in the room.

Fearless Leader

[Shukuen]

Reiko took over, rubbing the sleep from her eyes after the groups excursion the night before, and answered the door.

[Dracos]

The butler, Reinhart, stood at attention outside.  "Your morning meal is ready milady.  Additionally, milord Palanthas has provided garments for you to choose from for meeting with the guild heads."

Fearless Leader

[Shukuen]

Reiko nodded in thanks. "I'll be right with you," she said, stiffling a small yawn. She waited until he left (and politely decided it best not to wake Aibari yet), and got dressed. Afterwards, she ate the provided meal as the others groggily awakened.

Finished, she followed Reinhart to Palanthas's quarters.

[Dracos]

"Greetings Lady Reiko, I hope you slept well?"  Lord Palanthas met her at the door of his house.

Fearless Leader

[Shukuen]

"Oh yes, very well. Thank you." Reiko smiled and bowed in greeting.