Complete Zakaden Crystal Souls

[Crimson Ruby]

Meeting Kyra in Zalra was the last thing Ruby was expecting... But her friend's list denounced the position of the girl, and Ruby, even though she initially intended to avoid many people she has left behind in her one month of disappearance, decided to call the girl to meet up. Remembering her from the first time they met was the main reason-

Could it be that the girl didn't know the dangers of Zalra? How did she even get there...

Without much explanation, Ruby spoke of her plans to explore a specific region of Zalra, only to be told by Kyra that she wished to follow along.

At first, Ruby decided to accept, but as they neared the destination, uncertainty started growing inside of the crimson cat's heart, peered to look at Kyra. "Are you sure you want to do this?" Ruby asked, looking at her friend with a serious and somber expression, one that Ruby has been unusually carrying with her lately.

@Kyra Vashtana

 

[Siondhe]

Kyra

It was more than a surprise to see Ruby once again, especially after the girl having simply...ghosted, for such a long time. Kyra had her hestiations heading along with the girl again - their original meeting still replayed in a dark corner of her mind sometimes, reliving the cavern they had explored.

That was a while ago, however, and Kyra had become far more confident with her own skills, and her abilities within Terrasphere. She had excelled beyond what she had been, becoming more capable - as long as there were no horses involved. She felt a cold shiver run down her spine at the thought of the beasts, and quickly turned her mind away.

"I'm sure. Besides, knowing your luck with things, you're going to need me along. How you ever survived this long without me is baffling in itself!"

She threw a beaming smile at the other, before turning her attention back to the area around them. Zalra was not what Kyra had expected. She'd heard the rumours, the descriptions, but laying one's eyes upon it was far more chilling than anything that could be spoken.

"Actually...before we go too far, what are you doing here? Exploring some new cavern, perhaps? Or is it something more...exciting?"

She glanced at Ruby as she finished her sentence, sticking her tongue out slightly at the final word's completion, meaning to accentuate the jest behind it.

@Crimson Ruby

 

[Crimson Ruby]

"I see, so you are here to keep me alive," Ruby said, looking at Kyra up and down, turning to face the cave's entrance for a moment, with her left ear twitching slightly. "I've survived this long because I know plently of people like you... I'd say I'm both the luckiest and unluckiest beastfolk alive, or something." She gestured Kyra to follow as she began marching through the entrance, considering the fellow beastfolk's confirmation of going with her to be the thing that settled the fact hey were going to venture together once again.

Of course, considering the way the girl reacted last time they explored together, Ruby expected some resistance or hesitation, but instead, it seemed like the other girl was really willing to go there... And judging by the words, only to keep her safe.

Ruby had to return this kindness someday.

"Exploring and doing exciting things, assuming the rumors are true. But even if they are not, you will be there, so there is still room for exciting things." Despite the playful words, Ruby's expressions were mostly serene, making it slightly tough to know if she was just playing with Kyra or talking seriously.

"From what I've heard, this cave has a strange variant of Zalrisis. Instead of being slow, it is speeded up immensely, to a point it can crystalize a whole body in a matter of a minute. On another hand, it isn't as lethal as the original one, since you can actually cure someone with this type of Zalrisis." Ruby explained.

"And it is said that the only way to not be affected, is to never stand still in this cave."

@Kyra Vashtana

 

[Siondhe]

Kyra

She listened quietly as Ruby explained the alternate form of Zalrisis that was found within the cavern, her ears perking up slightly as she heard mention that there was a possible cure for the crystalising curse that had plagued a few of her patients, something that she'd found disheartening in ways she couldn't describe.

Her curiosity shattered as she heard the final statement; the need to keep moving lest they find themselves under the effects of the chrysalis. She felt her head glance about, and her feet speed up slightly in order to catch up to Ruby's form, grasping out towards the other as she got closer.

"Err...keep moving? As in no breaks, or stopping? That...that seems like it could be...err...dangerous...or, y'know...a bad idea? I mean, what if we get tired? Or need to stop and consider a puzzle...or....or...what if we need to...you know..."

She let her thoughts fall aside, unsure of what other examples she could give, or what exactly her arguments were going to be. She considered there position, knowing full well that Ruby would continue forward regardless of any protesting that Kyra provided. It was simply who the other girl was.

"Alright...let's assume there's place to rest, right? Or...maybe we could set a marker trail so that we can find our way back out. That way if we need to escape, for a break or anything, we can follow the trail back out. Yeah?"

@Crimson Ruby

 

[Crimson Ruby]

Ruby actually halted her steps and turned to look at Kyra. They were still not deep enough into the cave for the strange Zalrisis variant to take effect, and Ruby kept her eyes and ears attentive to the other girl's worries.

"Yeah. We would need to be moving all the time." Ruby faced Kyra completely, resting a hand on her shoulder. "Don't feel forced to come with me. We can explore somewhere else if you would rather, and I can come back here another time... Spirits don't usually go anywhere else for a long time anyway." She tried to reassure the other girl, taking one step back and clearing her throat.

"There should be spots where the Zalrisis variant isn't under effect, but I wouldn't risk trying... But yes, the idea of keeping a trail would be wise. This is just a cave, so we won't need to worry about gates closing behind our backs to lock our way back." Ruby said, swaying her tail and waiting patiently for Kyra's reaction.

Was it a month ago, Ruby would have probably just gone with it. But after the Red Fever, things weren't so simple.

@Kyra Vashtana

 

[Siondhe]

Kyra

"Isn't that what you said last time? 'Oh we don't need to worry about it closing behind us'."

She stuck out her tongue, trying desperate to keep from breaking into a wide smile. It was fun to jest at Ruby, even if only slightly. She shook away the humour as she glanced ahead. She was sure that Ruby wouldn't lie to her, which meant there must be safe spots ahead, areas unaffected by the living stone. Worst comes to worst, she'd be putting her legs to work, trying to keep them alive.

"Alright. Trail...I have an idea. I think this will keep our way marked."

She ran her left hand along the blade of the scythe at her hip, a thin trail of blood beginning to fall to the ground - only to stop and hover as she pulled forth her hemomancy. Carefully, she began marking the wall to her left with the blood, burning an arrow into the wall pointing back the way they had come. Once she had finished, she turned back to Ruby with a grin, waving a hand at her work.

"There. Now we should be able to find our way out, once we've decided that we've had enough of the adventuring dangers, and want a nice snackie. Assuming we don't find another exit along the way!"

Without waiting for the other, she skipped ahead, hoping that the tension and fear in her spine wasn't visible to the other. She doubted her facade would keep up for long, and wanted to be on with the journey before she could let her doubts stop her from going - Ruby needed her, and a little bit of fear wouldn't stop her now.

@Crimson Ruby

 

[Crimson Ruby]

"Yeah, that... Was a minor miscalculation." Ruby responded to the teasing, knowing that the girl was only joking and then mustering a small smile at her. It was pleasing to have Kyra by her side, especially at this moment when there were still some hints of emotional fragility. Her eyes shifted ahead once again.

When she noticed what Kyra was doing, Ruby winced and shook her head in disapproval for a moment, but allowed the girl to continue since she had already gone ahead and wounded herself. "Don't hurt yourself like this, Kyra." She said, flattening her ears against her head. "But yes, this will be helpful. I don't plan to get us lost either, so we will be wary about any reference spot that we can use to find our way back." Ruby hummed, gesturing for a follow before moving on.

The entrance of the cave was still timid in terms of crystals. Zalra was known for having Zalra Crystals spreading in large quantities, and for a cave that was supposed to have a rapid variant of it, there was just one or another spot with said crystals. Perhaps, just perhaps, the variant Zalrisis wasn't in that spot yet, but it still made quite a sight, with the cave being wide and open, as opposed to the dungeon the two girls met, there were based on tunnel complexes.

"Seems like here we will have more options of where to go." She hummed, approaching the crystals, but not too much, hoping to see if there was anything in it.

@Kyra Vashtana

 

[Siondhe]

Kyra

Her hand rose, and her mouth opened - preparing to give words of warning as Ruby approached the crystals. Kyra forced the words down, letting her hand lower in pairing - Ruby knew what she was doing, and likely wouldn't simply reach out and touch the unknown. She's far more of an explorer, and knows the dangers, than you are. Worry about your own silly actions, Ruby can take care of herself - in fact she likely was doing so, before you even came along.

The nagging voice wasn't reassuring to Kyra, but it had a point. Snarling internally to herself, she turned her attention instead to the wall again, summoning the hemomancy once more in order to mark their return path, before spinning to glance around at the large area they had entered.

"Have to admit, there is a certain beauty to all of it...it's as if its, like, a hidden treasure lost to the ages. And we're the ones finding it. We're freaking tomb raiders."

She cast a beaming smile at Ruby as she moved towards the opposite side of the path, the wonder before her taking any feelings of danger away. She was careful to keep moving - she wasn't sure if they were in the danger zone yet, but regardless, she didn't want to accidentally fall prey to something that could be so easily avoided.

"So...see anything that seems different? Anything that stands out as what we're looking for? Oh...and, seeing as I'm here...do you mind if I take some of it - assuming we're planning on taking any of it. I, uh...have some ideas. That I want to test."

Her project came to mind, and she wondered - not for the first time - if there was something in the crystals that would help her otherwise-so-far-futile efforts.

@Crimson Ruby

 

[Crimson Ruby]

Nearing the crystal enough, Ruby reached with her hand, which soon turned into a spiritual consistency that allowed her to touch, feel and brush her fingers on it without bearing the usual danger it would usually have.

Ruby's tail swayed at Kyra's words, with her ears twitching as she turned to look at the girl. "Exactly, we are tomb raiders." Ruby said, murmuring something to herself before slipping out a bit louder: "Except we will be doing a bit more than just taking things from a tomb." She perked her ears up, approaching Kyra and tilting her head slightly.

"I don't really see anything different from the usual... So I suppose we aren't really quite into the real deal just yet." Ruby revealed, figuring that they would've already been feeling some effects if the strange Zalrisis condition was there.

"What sort of thing do you want to try? I will help you out."

@Kyra Vashtana

 

[Siondhe]

Kyra Vashtana

220 / 220

She smiled at the other's mention of being tomb raiders, her mind going to the now-ancient game of the same name. It was funny to consider how it still impacted things this long after it had gone out of style. Weird, how some things just stick around forever, always some sort of cultural impact.

"Ah...well, I'm working on a project of sorts...related to blood magic. I'm testing to see if it has any properties, or capabilities that would make it beneficial for medical purposes. Like, image being able to use it to tell if someone had some sort of...medical defect, or concern. Like internal bleeding would be a big one!"

She'd already gotten excited, her voice escalating in speed and rhythm as she began bouncing on her feet. Her tail swayed behind her, brushing against the rock wall behind her softly.

"I'm still in the very beginning of investigating it...well, actually, I'm still looking for a place to do any sort of research work, actually. Although I have a possible area lined up - just need to speak to the...err...bakery owner in Honeyhome. They uh...offered to let me use their basement, seeing as it's empty. Maybe I'll even nab an assistant there, as well!"

A bit of colour had come to her face as she realised how college student the entire situation sounded. Doing experiments in someone's basement, because she couldn't afford a fancy laboratory. Not that it really made much of a difference - if she was able to, Kyra would likely have attempted the experiments in the forests. Her only hesitation with that had been the cleanliness.

"I was thinking that this crystal stuff might be good for...keeping blood, kind of like a freezer, or cooler box, but more transportable and easier to use. I mean it wouldn't work as it is, but maybe with the manipulation...or..."

Her words cut off as her brow furrowed, suddenly lost in thought as she considered the possibilities. It would take some work, trial and error, but she thought there might be a way.

@Crimson Ruby

 

[Crimson Ruby]

Ruby listened to Kyra's study project attentively, nodding as the informations were delivered and pondering about it. "I happen to have some knowledge on blood magic. What you are trying to seek isn't too far fetched." She said, tilting her head at her friend.

"In fact..." Ruby swayed her tail. "I can do something remotely similar to the idea you are seeking. Though there is some Spirit Magic involved." She said, crossing her arms before finally elaborating about it:

"I can see and feel how close someone is to death, using their blood and spirit as reference. The name of it is deathwatch." Named after the famous spell, of course. It was fairly straightforward and self-explanatory, which made it the perfect choice.

At the mention of the crystal as a way to conserve blood, something intriguing.

"Hmm... Actually. Since I will be looking for people who became solidified by the zalrisis, we will be able to see if blood remains fresh. If this is right, it would mean zalrisis crystals are more efficient than freezers." Ruby couldn't help by agree with Kyra's idea, that was fairly solid as long as she managed to keep a good control of it.

@Kyra Vashtana

 

[Siondhe]

Kyra Vashtana

220 / 220

Kyra's body stopped moving, her tail standing straight out. The only thing that moved was the slight twitch of her ears as she stared at Ruby, taking in what the girl had stated. She could use Spirit magic, and was familiar with blood magic.Ruby I have plans for you.

She was just about to ask the girl a question, when a clattering came echoing down the tunnels, pulling Kyra's attention away from the other beastfolk and towards the areas beyond. There was no doubt in her mind that the sound had come from ahead of them, somewhere deeper in the cavernous expanse they were planning to explore.

"I'm getting some real minotaur vibes right now..."

Her hand drifted towards her scythe as she glanced around. She wasn't sure exactly what to expect, but there was one thing she knew for sure - Ruby was likely going to push ahead, with, or without Kyra.

"So...which way are we going?"

She smiled at the other, a slight wink as she waited for her friend to decide which direction they were headed. The Whistle was going to lead her further ahead, and no matter what, Kyra was going with her.

@Crimson Ruby

 

[Crimson Ruby]

"Minotaurs haven't been the best vibes lately." Ruby huffed, casting a glance at one of the many entrances they could move into.

"There." She said, firmly before nudging Kyra to urge her to move in a specific direction. As they rushed their steps, Ruby casted a glance to see whatever creature was roaming toward where they were before they started moving.

Soon, the sight of a zalrisis spider that was as large as a horse appeared. A chill ran through Ruby's spine, but her expressions remained mostly still, not wishing to break her stance just because of the presence of the creature. Taking a mental note of it, she rushed Kyra a bit more. "Alright. Of course this kind of thing would be in a place like this..." She frowned her lips.

"A spider... Spiders can get things stuck. If we are stuck we can't move and that's terrible news in here. It is only natural this would be an apex predator around this area." A scowl crossed her face.

@Kyra Vashtana

 

[Siondhe]

Kyra Vashtana

220 / 220

Kyra's eyes squinted at Ruby as the girl mentioned the vibes of Minotaurs. She figured the girl was making a joke, but the comment was offhanded, almost natural - and she wasn't sure, not entirely. Before she could ask anything though, Ruby had moved Kyra towards a new position, before pointing out the likely cause of the noise.

Kyra's eyes peered into the distance for a moment, searching for whatever it was that Ruby was pointing out. But as the other girl mentioned about the spider, Kyra's heart raced. Of course it would be spiders. We're in a cavern, underground, how could it not be spiders? Only logical. She glanced at the other girl, noticing the scowl on her face.

"Not a fan of spiders, I take it? I'd rather deal with a spider or two over that damned minotaur thing again...that thing was nasty..."

She shivered as she remembered the incident, which somehow seemed so long ago. Still, she was determined not to show fear in front of Ruby - she had chosen to come along, she couldn't back out now.

"If you're scared...you can hold my hand. I promise I won't leave you alone here."

@Crimson Ruby

 

[Crimson Ruby]

Kyra's question made Ruby let out a sigh. "Yeah... I'm not fond of them, especially here... If we get stuck by one of those thing's webs, we are done for." She frowned. "Besides, insects and arachnids haven't been my favorite kind of thing lately." Ever since the Red Fever, suffering under the merciless attacks of that swarm without being able to fight back or protect her friend, anything that had clicking fangs or remotely resembled an insect didn't get well digested by the cat girl.

Of course, spiders weren't insects, but...

Yeah.

Ruby glanced at Kyra, raising an eyebrow and huffing quietly. "I know you won't leave. You are just weird like that." She said, reaching for the other girl's hand and holding it gently. Ruby wasn't particularly scared, but being a tactile person, she never refused a touch, even if she wasn't in the best of moods lately.

"A minotaur would certainly be more deadly... But I doubt we will find one in these caves. Minotaurs prefer less orientating deals, this cave may be big, bit it is easy to navigate." She said, focusing on traveling further.

As the duo progressed through the cave, the crystals, despite still being low in numbers, began increasing in size, towering and extending all the way up to the ceiling of the cave, creating natural crystal pillars that expanded across the ground as well, making thin layers of shimmering flooring that was slightly slippery like ice.

From there and on, it wasn't hard to spot one or another poor creature that was completely overtaken by the crystals, including a boar that was completely stuck still inside of one, in an innocent walking position that showed that the crystalization process was probably immediate.

@Kyra Vashtana

 

[Siondhe]

Kyra Vashtana

220 / 220

Unease. That was what Kyra was seeing in the other girl, unease at the thought of the arachnids. Arachniphobia perhaps? Guess I shouldn't do the whole clicky-clicky thing...might set her off...hard to believe a brave whistler...do they call themselves whistlers?...a brave whistler is scared of anything. But I guess we all are, aren't we? A shiver as an image of a horse was quickly swept away.

"Look at them...all these poor things, trapped forever in an entombment that they likely never even knew was falling upon them...do you think they're still conscious, at all?"

She shivered at the thought. Stuck, unmoving but aware, until the day your body finally just...gave out on you. It was a torture that Kyra couldn't even comprehend. She averted her eyes from the nearest one, a thing that looked far too fox-like for her own ease of mind.

"Has anyone made it into, and back out, of this whole cavern before? Or is this entirely virgin, untouched by previous explorers?"

She was still curious what had dragged Ruby to the cave, beyond simple desire to explore the New. Kyra was sure there was some driving force, some interest there. Perhaps even some desire to find something, something that would be beneficial in the eyes of others.

@Crimson Ruby

 

[Crimson Ruby]

Ruby's fingers interweaved with Kyra's, squeezing her hand softly when the woman shivered at the thought of the creatures being stuck alive in the crystal. "This is one of the things I want to see," Ruby said, quietly while approaching one of the crystals. To make sure it was all good, Ruby tried to keep herself in movement, trying to not stand still for too long while her eyes brimmed in an eerie, negative coloring glow.

It took a moment, and Ruby tried to drag Kyra along to make sure the other beastfolk wouldn't stand still.

With a huff, Ruby nodded, letting out a brief sigh of relief.

"They are dead." Weirdly enough, these were good news. "That's nice. If we happen to freeze in this crystal, we will just die, instead of getting stuck in here forever or until someone decides to plug us out of the game." She said, being quick to drag Kyra along once again unless the woman resisted.

"I'd assume it is explored. I've heard of this place from a small group of Crystal Nomads..." Ruby said, looking at Kyra's eyes as she tried to keep going, walking past the towering crystals and trying her best to keep moving and not touch any of them.

@Kyra Vashtana

 

[Siondhe]

Kyra Vashtana

220 / 220

Kyra tried to consider the good news behind the fact that they were deceased - at least it meant no suffering, no agony that lasted far beyond what one would expect. It just wouldn't sit well with her, though. Somehow, it wasn't any better - even though it should have been better, if only slightly.

"Yeah...unless one of us happens to be on our Third. Or worse, if we're a Lander..."

Another shiver as she considered how many of the Landers had been caught in this. They weren't anywhere near as lucky as the Starcalled - they had one chance, a single chance at life. I sometimes wonder how it is they don't hate us through envy alone...

"I don't like this place. Not in the slightest. It has...an evil connotation to it, something that you'd expect to find in a nightmare."

She'd allowed herself to be dragged along behind Ruby, giving no resistance to the constant slight micro-tugs that kept her from being stationary. Her expression, although carrying a sense of distaste, held no fear of the area - she simply didn't like it.

"To think that something like this could form...either through natural development, or through someone's ideas..."

Her dislike wasn't going to change it. It was here, and so they'd have to deal with it. Still, that didn't mean she had to enjoy it.

"Hey...what's that?"

A glimmer of light ahead had caught Kyra's eyes, glinting in an iridescent manner that tore her attention away from how awful this place truly was...

@Crimson Ruby

 

[Crimson Ruby]

The mention of a third death made Ruby's throat close with a lump. Her hand squeezed Kyra's tightly, and she tugged the girl a bit more intensely. "It isn't evil," Ruby said, scowling slightly. "It is just how oppressive nature is around this place... Not everywhere is flowers and butterflies." She explained, looking around and only partially pausing when Kyra pointed something out.

A glimmer, one that was unexpected, bringing a colorful light that was just as eerie as the environment they were in.

She glanced at Kyra, letting the woman's hand go for a moment and reaching for her blade, holding onto it tightly while approaching carefully.

The iridescent glimmer eventually reflected on Ruby's face, and her eyes grew wide when she finally found the source: Three faerins, all of them stuck inside of a huge chunk of crystal, with expressions seemingly unaware of the danger they were going through. Inside of it, a torch had a still flame, still brightening inside of the crystal and making the beautiful effect the two women could see... And yet...

Ruby's ears dropped, saddened by the sight. For the first time since she met again with Kyra, her face turned into something more understandable, instead of a flat and unreadable expression.

Lowering her guard, but not halting her movements, she glanced at Kyra. "Look at this..." She gestured.

@Kyra Vashtana

 

[Siondhe]

Kyra Vashtana

220 / 220

Her tail had been swaying behind her, gently swishing as she'd followed Ruby through the maze of crystalised individuals. As Ruby's own interests in the glowing object seemed to change the girl - her expression, for once, seeming almost...human - Kyra felt her own tail suddenly stop.

"What is..."

The words were barely out of her mouth before she'd spotted what had the other beastfolk's attention. She came to a sudden standstill, her eyes going wide as she took in the three Faerin, the torch; all of it trapped within the crystals.

This could be us...could be Ruby... The thought flitted through her mind, almost as if a threat. The connotation far darker, crueler even, than what she was seeing before her. Suddenly, her scythe was in her hand, the chain rattling as she raised it, preparing to slash it downwards onto the crystal figure before her. She paused, weapon held above her head, an almost tearful expression on her face as she glanced at Ruby.

"We need to help them...right?"

@Crimson Ruby