Complete Zakaden Crystal Souls

[Crimson Ruby]

Ruby frowned staring at what Kyra was doing. Whatever sort of blood ritual the other girl was attempting, Ruby didn't consider it to be the proper time, all while struggling to keep the creature down despite being under it.

Whatever Kyra did, the creature focus shifted again, and its weight soon left the top of her while it charged toward Kyra.

Blood spilled out of Ruby's sides, revealing the wounds the crystals on the creature's body had left on her.

"Grrgh-" Ruby grunted, getting herself on her feet after a struggle, noticing Kyra rolling on the ground while the creature seemed to chase her down.

Erupting her energies, Ruby exploded into speed using her Dynamism, catching Kyra on the ground and darting off while snatching her out of the way of the crystal monster, staggering because of the pain but eventually reaching a crystal wall dozens of feet away from the creature, giving them a few seconds to recover when Ruby placed Kyra back to her feet.

"S-So it is actually someone... N-No wonder it has a soul-" She gritted her teeth.

"A soul... Similar to that girl." Ruby said with a frown, side glancing at Kyra while breathing heavily, wondering if she knew what that implied.

The monster, however, didn't waste any second. As soon as it realized the girls new position, it charged, even with the severely wounded form it now had.

@Kyra Vashtana

 

[Siondhe]

Kyra Vashtana

220 / 220

Kyra looked at the girl who had once again carried her away from danger. This is becoming a habit. If I keep this up, she's going to carry me to some place that I've never been before.

Her eyes drifted down to the wounds, taking in the blood that seeped from Ruby's side. Her hands moved, words mumbling as she began the recognisable chanting that was her passion in this world, a passion driven by some sort of weird desire, need to heal those around her.

"I give unto you this energy, this connection...to close that which seeps, away the life of the one whom it touches..."

A quick grunt of pain and the spell was over, the wounds closing over just as Kyra realised the creature was barrelling down on them again.

"Oopsthat'snotgood..."

She leapt to the side, pushing Ruby the opposite direction as she went, before rolling on her shoulder painfully and getting to her feet. The chain of the scythe clattered behind her as she scurried away, trying to draw the creature towards her at the same time.

"Hey! Ugly thing! Over here! Come pick on someone your...own...err...slightly smaller than you in size!"

Her feet pounded the ground as she moved, hoping that it was chasing her, hoping that Ruby would have an opening. Hoping that she hadn't just done something extremely stupid, that would cause her very first death every in this game.

No worry like the present ohshitineedtogofaster worry!

@Crimson Ruby​

 

[Crimson Ruby]

The healing was more than welcomed, and Ruby struck a grateful glance at Kyra when it was done. "Thank you..." She breathed, glaring daggers at the creature before she was pushed aside by Kyra, nearly stumbling before she picked her balance back and stared intently at the approaching monster.

Shifting its attention to Kyra, the creature once again averted her attention from Ruby, giving her room to prepare herself for another attack.

Her legs and feet sparkled with mana, crackling with pure Dynamism energy while she braced herself, holding onto her sword and having her shape distorting for a moment before she exploded into speed once again, circling the creature that threatened Kyra. Her legs roared, moving in an overwhelming speed while phantasmagorical copies of herself escaped from her body, mirroing her image using both speed and spiritual illusion.

❰ Danse Phantasma ❱

One 'Ruby' after another, they struck the creature with attacks coming from all directions. All of them charging in a beautiful and deadly choreography, making the shimmering black blood spill and scatter around, with her blade crashing and cracking the crystals that composed the corrupted creature's body.

Strike by strike, soon the creature felt itself staggering.

Eventually, the copies unified once again, and with one body slam, Ruby threw herself against its back, trying to throw it out of its balance.

"Kyra, now!" She called.

@Kyra Vashtana

 

[Siondhe]

Kyra Vashtana

220 / 220

The call ripped her attention away from dodging and attempting to stay alive. She turned back to find the creature held, torn into by her companion as it stumbled and tried to stay on its feet. It was all Kyra needed, know to know what to do.

Half-closing her eyes, she drew upon the magic again, summoning the blood magic and pulling the blood up to run the length of her sycthe's blade. The blade shimmered as a layer of blood slid across it, coating it in a liquid surface that quickly seemed to disappear from sight.

"May you return to the peace of the afterlife..."

She slashed out with her scythe, a simple underhand slash that cut upwards and away from Ruby's form on the back of the creature. As the blade skittered across the hard surface, the blood that soaked it seeped outwards, impaling the hard stone in every crevace and open spot that it could find, before expanding outwards and tearing into the creature's armoured hull.

It didn't take long for the outer plating to be pulled aside enough that Kyra could see the husk beneath. Swaying in a wide circle, Kyra brought the sycthe around and slammed the tip into the husk beneath the stone armour. A scream, sounding both distant and somehow in her head all at the same time, echoed off the cavern walls, before the creature suddenly began to spasm.

Kyra leapt backwards, hoping that Ruby would do the same - making sure to put distance between herself and the clearly dying creature. She paced, watching it in its death throes, before it finally collapsed. A soft release of breath, before she looked for Ruby.

"Ruby? Ruby? Are you okay? Ruby!"

@Crimson Ruby​

 

[Crimson Ruby]

The body slam against a creature made out of crystals soon proved to be a terrible idea when Ruby's adrenaline lowered. A stinging pain chilled through her bones, and she got herself on her knees while gritting her teeth in pain. Her eyes fiercely focused on the crystal creature that slowly found itself collapsing with Kyra's final blow.

A long, deep breath made Ruby's lungs sting, making her gasp for a moment and hold her side with a scowl. "Y-Yes... Yes..." Ruby nodded, looking up at Kyra with a faint expression. "I am okay... Tackling it was a terrible idea though-" She coughed, blinking twice and looking at the fallen creature with a frown.

Her eyes flickered, once again glowing in the negative color as she pursed her lips. "... I see... So you are still there..." She said, to no one in particular before she looked at Kyra.

"That creature... Its soul is persisting there... Please, help me to get there..." Ruby said, struggling to stand and trying to get closer to the creature.

Whenever she neared it, she would sink her blade into the ground and touch the crystal that held the skull intact. Her eyes closed, and with a mutter and the cast of a spell, a faerin man in a phantasmagorical state slowly materialized in front of both of them.

@Kyra Vashtana

 

[Siondhe]

Kyra Vashtana

220 / 220

Ruby wasn't looking good - she was swaying on the spot, her words came in stuttered gasps, as if something was hindering her ability to think and speak. Kyra reached out, placing a hand on the girl's shoulder in order to steady her - but also so that she could look the girl over more thoroughly.

"Do you...feel any pain anywhere? In your torso? A headache coming on? Anywhere specific?"

She continued searching, even as Ruby continued talking, explaining about the soul. Kyra helped the girl over to the body - knowing full well that Ruby would crawl over if she didn't provide the support. She watched as the girl pulled forth yet another spirit, this time of a male Faerin. Her brow furrowed, wondering what the chances were.

"Ruby you don't think...? Could it be...?"

Her eyes hovered over the male Faerin, connecting dots slowly. She doubted their luck could be that good, but...What are the chances? Hesitantly stepping forward, she looked the Faerin's spirit in the eyes, speaking slowly.

"Uhm...hello...do you...do you happen to remember...why you're here?"

She glanced back at Ruby, giving a slight shrug. She wasn't sure where to start with this, or even what they were going to figure out from this individual - if anything.

@Crimson Ruby​

 

[Crimson Ruby]

"I'd say... Torso..." Ruby said, looking at Kyra's worried expressions and questions, taking a deep breath and trying to reassure the girl with a gentle rub on her back. "I... I am fine, don't worry." Ruby said. "A small rest after this will be enough for a recover." She insisted, slowly peering up at the man that soon materialized in front of them.

Kyra's question already implied something, something that Ruby already was suspecting for a while.

"There is no doubt... His energy. It isn't much different from hers." She said once again, trying to get a better look at the faerin, and waiting to hear what he would respond to her friend.

The faerin man held his face, scowling and shaking his head before he muttered, nearly growling. "Elva... My dear Elva... Where... Must be... Somewhere..." He squeezed his face, gritting his teeth in anger, too distracted to notice Kyra's question right away.

@Kyra Vashtana

 

[Siondhe]

Kyra Vashtana

220 / 220

Her heart sank a little bit at the realisation. Ruby had confirmed what Kyra had already guessed at, knowing that this was the man whom they had been sent to find. So close to the original point, they had been so near each other - and yet so far away.

"We...we met her...just before we encountered you...I think."

She glanced over at Ruby, unsure of what to even say. Telling someone who was still alive, that their significant other was deceased was...well, not easy. But saying the same to someone who was also deceased? Where did one even begin with that?

"Uhm...do...do you remember what happened...before you..."

Her eyes again left the Faerin, turning to look at Ruby, and mouthing a single word. Help.

"Uh...and Elva...Elva was a Faerin woman right? You came here looking for her? But...but never found her? We...we might know...where she is...maybe..."

She was stumbling, losing track of what she was trying to do. Emotions welled up in her, a sorrow for the events that had led to this poor souls finality. Kyra couldn't help but forget the dangers they were in still, so concerned with fixing what had been wronged for this one individual.

@Crimson Ruby​

 

[Crimson Ruby]

Ruby noticed Kyra's hesitation and issues to speak the truth to the man, and the felis could understand it perfectly. If she was honest, she didn't know how to tell him either, which was why she had no intentions on telling him anything.

"It is alright. We did see her. She told us her name too, it is Elva, and she told us about you as well... You are Luke..." Ruby said, looking at the faerin and holding onto Kyra a bit tighter despite the wounds. Slowly, she turned their bodies phantasmagorical once again, attempting to keep them protected with the last bits of energy she had remaining.

Her eyes shifted to look at Kyra, showing her a very faint smile. Yes, she had no intention of telling anything... Instead-

"... Let's show him. I'm sure she misses him as much as he misses her." She said, still feeling the strains, but both of them being mutually ethereal, it allowed them to keep their contact.

The faerin looked at Kyra and Ruby with hopeful eyes, brimming when they told him about knowing the whereabouts of his beloved.. "So you know where she is... Thanks Rhiannon, I will finally see her. After so long..." A relieved smile crossed his lips and faces, with his eyes softening.

 

[Siondhe]

Kyra Vashtana

220 / 220

Kyra didn't like it - the way that Ruby handled it all. She couldn't argue with the outcome, it was obvious that the sight of what was to be seen would have more of a real impact on the poor man, and yet...

And yet...it feels awful in some way. As if we're leading him towards a hope, only to smash it apart later... There was nothing to be done though, as they led the man onwards, or rather backwards, towards where they'd found the first Faerin.

As they hobbled along, Kyra placed a hand on Ruby's ghostly side more firmly, calling up her Spirit Magic as she muttered to herself, transferring her own soul energy into healing the few wounds and harms that had been bothering the other girl - phantasmal or not, she could still feel the spiritual connection that was always there.

"I give unto thee this gift...an energy, once given willingly...may it graft that which was lost, that which was damaged...make it whole once more, so that it may rejoice..."

She wondered, often times, where the words came from - they were never the same, and yet they always worked without fault. It was as if they truly didn't matter, so much as the action of casting did. A curiosity for another time...focus.

She glanced again at Ruby as they got closer, leaning in to whisper in the other's ears.

"Is...this right? I mean he's going to be in for a shock, once he finds out...do you think...do you think he'll accept it?"

She was worried they'd have another conflict on their side, this time against something that she wasn't even sure she could properly defend them against...but she trusted Ruby to pull them through safely, as she had before.

@Crimson Ruby​

 

[Crimson Ruby]

The words and spells soon brought the energy Ruby needed to recover from the pain, which added to her phantasmagorical shape and allowed her to maintain proper walking. Her posture straightened for a moment, and when Kyra moved closer to whisper, Ruby's ears twitched and the felis looked at her with a mix of curiosity and doubt.

"He will be in shock, yes. But it isn't a matter of accepting or not anymore." She said. "He is dead."

"We are just strangers. We can't prepare him for such news, nor comfort him if he needs. Only she can do it." Ruby said, frowning her lips.

"Or maybe even she can't do it... But honestly, I'm not sure who else would manage if she can't." A sigh escaped from her lips, then, her eyes shifted back to Kyra, looking at the girl's eyes before Ruby questioned:

"Do you have another idea?" She slowed down, to make sure they would still have time to change paths if Kyra had a better plan.

@Kyra Vashtana

 

[Siondhe]

Kyra Vashtana

220 / 220

Kyra followed silently, listening as Ruby gave her piece. She didn't entirely agree - given enough time, she thought that maybe they could console the poor man. Sure, he was dead, but that didn't mean that he wasn't sentient anymore. It just took the right words, the right amount of comfort...

Except that's the issue - it takes time...and we don't have time. Not the time we'd need...not here. She knew that, in the end, Ruby was right. As much as it vexed her, the girl was right - there was no time to spare here, consoling some poor Faerin man who wasn't alive anymore, who may disappear at any moment. There'd be no resolution...

"No...no...you're right...you're right. There's nothing else we can do...I just hope that she's able to do something. Otherwise...what's the point?"

She kept alongside Ruby, falling silent as she seethed inwardly - not at the other girl, but at her own inability. This was what she did, and yet here she was, unable to do anything. Just sit back, and watch as a man's only hopes and desires were dashed into nothingness.

"I don't like this cave...it's much, much worse than the minotaur..."

The whispered words left her lips before she could stop herself, and although she didn't look to her side, she knew that Ruby would've heard them - the girl's hearing was as good as Kyra's own.

@Crimson Ruby​

 

[Crimson Ruby]

"If she can't do anything, then everything was fated to worse from the beginning," Ruby said, returning her pace to normal and marching forward without as much restraint as before. It was a terrible situation, a terrible fate, but unfortunately, she couldn't think of another solution...

The only thing they could do was to help them to move on. Not even Ruby, who was now ready to bring vengeance on the behalf of the dead, could do anything about it. After all, this death was no one's fault.

It was just a tragedy.

Ruby sideglanced at Kyra, approaching slightly and muttering closely. "I am sorry." She apologized, a bit vaguely since there was so much to apologize for.

Soon, they would be near the previous crystals pillars, the ones that held the group of faerin locked in their dire destiny. Ruby slowed down, already noticing the female phantasmagorical figure resting by the crystals, perhaps waiting for some news from the two beastfolk girls that decided to help her out.

When the phantom's eyes met each other, there was a moment of surprise and denial.

"... Luke..?" She called, standing from her sitting position and looking at the other faerin with a bittersweet expression. To see him again, was enough to bring her joy-- But to see him in the same state as her, parted her heart. Even if she didn't have one anymore.

"... Elva..." He gritted his teeth. "... D-Damn it... I was too late. Way too late..." Luke held his breath, not daring to look at her eyes as he averted his face in guilty and regret. "I am so sorry. I-I told I would protect you, and still-" His form flickered, turning vaguely redder like the scarlet crystals that had grown on his frozen body.

Elva grimaced at the pain Luke tried to burden, being quick to take steps forward before nearly lunging him in a hug, for his surprise, tightening the hold, enough for it to be suffocating if they were still alive. "The only thing you have to apologize for is for not taking care of yourself... You shouldn't be like this, Luke." She said, burying her face in his shoulder.

@Kyra Vashtana

 

[Siondhe]

Kyra Vashtana

220 / 220

Kyra's ears flattened atop her head at Ruby's words. She couldn't believe the other, the lack of concern, the lack of focus...the lack of desire. To make things right. It was as if she was giving up, before they'd even attempted anything. Providing an excuse that it was meant to be, simply because it felt too hard, too impossible, to make things right.

[COLOR=#red]I am sorry.[/COLOR] The words struck Kyra's mind suddenly, and it took her a moment to register that the other girl had moved closer, whispering the words to her even as she cast about an apologetic look. The anger, the frustration, all of it swept away in a moment at that look, at those words. She didn't give up...she wasn't careless...she just recognised that this was the only way. As you would have realised after wasting too much effort on it...

"You've got nothing to apologise for. If anything, I'm the one who should be sorry. I...I wanted to help, too much. I knew that we couldn't and yet, I still...I'm the one who's sorry. Can you forgive me?"

She breathed a sigh of relief, leaning in towards the other girl before remembering their current forms. She would have to make it up to Ruby later - but for now, there was someone who needed to be reunited.

---

It went about as well as Kyra, and possibly Ruby, could have predicted. She waited off to the side, listening awkwardly as the two had their piece. Sighing, Kyra moved towards Ruby, realising that the Faerin had all but forgotten their presence.

"So...shall we head further inwards, or have you had enough adventure for one day?"

@Crimson Ruby​

 

[Crimson Ruby]

Ruby's ears lowered, side glancing at Kyra and shaking her head. "You have nothing to apologize for. Wanting to help others is the right way to do things." Her eyes averted, focusing on the two faerin that were now embracing each other, pouring the feelings that in life they couldn't exchange, flickering and slowly fading away as they finally managed to find the bliss beyond life, to finally get rid of the guilty and regret they held in their minds.

"It is just how your heart is, Kyra. You are just kind like that." Ruby muttered, then looking at the girl once again, but this time facing her.

"I find it admirable. As impossible as I think it is sometimes." She said, pursing her lips. "It is people like you that makes miracles happen."

Unlike her.

Ruby's eyes then shifted to the outer tunnels, holding a breath.

"Enough, I'd say. I don't think we can find a cure here. There will be other chances." She sighed briefly.

@Kyra Vashtana

 

[Siondhe]

Kyra Vashtana

220 / 220

Ears popping up to twitch about nervously, Kyra attempted to avoid Ruby's gaze. Her face had begun to heat at the compliments - or at least, what sounded like compliments. She wasn't entirely sure if they were meant as such, but she preferred to think of it in that way.

"Really...? You're giving up, for now? I must say I'm surprised at the Great Whistler just...choosing to head back, so soon."

She giggled at her own joke, before continuing on. She didn't doubt that Ruby was right - they likely wouldn't find a cure here, not now at least. Perhaps another time. For now, they should take their luck and escape while they still could.

"Come on...maybe I'll help you find another cave to explore in the near future, where we can find a cure. Or, you know, perhaps we can just go out and have some dinner together and relax like there's nothing bad going on in the world?"

She made her way towards the tunnels they had entered through, humming softly as she went - not in song, simply in a content manner. They'd managed to survive another exploration, without any sort of life-threatening conflicts. That was a win in Kyra's mind, even if they hadn't found what they had originally set out to find.

Perhaps we can return one day, with a larger group of people. Give this place a true once-over and see if we can't find anything worthwhile...

@Crimson Ruby​

 

[Crimson Ruby]

Ruby squinted at Kyra and her joke, quickly slashing her blade in the air and sheathing it before glaring at the fox girl intently. After a moment, a brief and faint smile crossed her lips. "Right? What a shameful Whistler." She said, tightening her lips again and turning to move, wrapping her tails on Kyra and tugging it softly as a gentle gesture to move before she began marching toward the exit.

"Dinner for now. I'm hungry... And later on... Later on we can think about another cave, or another spot to explore. This world is big enough to have plenty of those anyway."

Ruby continued to move, not looking behind any longer.

Near the crystals, the spirits that once were there, no longer existed. Instead, the cave was now brimming with sparkles that floated around like fireflies in a night forest. Despite the terrifying sight of the permanently frozen faerin, the aura of the place was now soothing and strangely comforting.

It was as if, despite everything, there were no regrets lingering in these realms anymore.

@Kyra Vashtana