Complete Private Pormont Excuse me! Anybody home!?

[Chako]

After ending today's performance in Pormont, Chako decided to explore the surroundings a bit. Surely there was more than just empty fields in this place, right? Like... Yeah, seeing the first ones was cool, but... They got kinda repetitive after a while? Chako was hoping to see something different today.

So... She started moving! Walking around, trying to use echolocation to hear about anything that sounded cooler than what she saw so far.

Took a while, but eventually... She heard something that seemed to be like some small buildings? Was there maybe a village nearby?

Chako decided to go take a look... And she found... A camp? What even was that?

"This looks interesting..." Chako mumbled. She wasn't hearing any steps right now, so it should be alright to explore it a bit.

Tent, tent, tent... Was this place abandoned in a hurry? Chako looked around. A lot of things were just thrown all over the place, so it maybe the owners had to hastily evacuate it... But nothing seemed to be destroyed at the same time... "This is so weird..."

Chako picked up a random vase that looked old... "Why would this just be out here in the open...?"

She didn't seem like she had any intention of stopping her rummaging for the time being.

@Lucia Mierz

 

[Lucia Mierz]

Logging in after such a long time... was difficult for Lucia. Seeing things that had happened to her friends, the people she cared about, the ones she loved was tough for her.

She hadn't expected to come back to a functioning camp. All of her subordinates would likely be asleep, dormant and resting. Though Lucia went to great lengths to ensure they could be self-sufficient they rarely had any desire to continue without her. Even now looking through her dusted tent that didn't have a speck of dirt she could feel the warmth of their consideration as things were well maintained even if they were abandoned.

But.... Even now she could feel it....
Even after so long.... They still waited....

It brought a sad smile to her face that even now, these dutiful companions still lurked and waited in places beyond sight and sound. As always, they simply waited for the call that started as it always did for Lucia.

Standing in the middle of the largest tent, with a hand to her chest she cleared her throat with a brief cough.

"Ah... Ah-Ah-Ah~"

She tested her voice, as charming as ever, the low tone of a regal woman more fit for a crown and a ballroom then the nomadic life she lived for her subordinates.

It was just as she remembered it....
It didn't take long to work out the kinks before beginning....

She started with a song. Though Lucia was no singer amateur or otherwise, for someone who saw themselves as a Saintess it was always the best way to reach 'her people'.

"As you wake up in a cold sweat, little girl, what goes on in your head?~"

The reaction was immediate. As if it had been anticipated, desperately and eagerly the ground began to tremble as her interface opened to show her her progress on Animancy. Like threads reaching out to the earth and the air the energy stretched out grasping hold of her subordinates to pull them out from their silent motionless vigil.

Skeletal hands fighting through the earth for freedom, clawing at the ground for escape. Bones of all kinds coming together beneath the soil to return to the work they'd put off for too long.

"All this 'Envy' in your heart, yet, I mourn the most for all the things I never did~"

As the Skeletons continued clawing themselves free, she made hand gestures as the song continued. With each gesture her interface adjusted to match as a golden line was drawn from Animancy to Summoning. In reaction it wasn't merely skeletons.

An armored hand forced itself out of the soil as the corpse of an knight with Elf-like features began rising, a pair of ghostly wraiths began to solidify, a small child began to crawl unnaturally from one of the tents.

"Don't make me go through this again, you're all real I can't pretend~"

The undead continued to free themselves as Lucia's song and gestures continued. It was only when that golden line on her interface was drawn from Animancy and Summoning to Dark Magic that the camp erupted in sound. The skulls of the skeletons ignited with soul fire as the malevolent curse drew their souls back into the bones and the cries and shouts of undead could be heard.

The Elf knight's eyes burned as rage filled her face, the wraiths laughter echoed as their ghostly forms became distinct and solid, the little girl's limbs struggled for dominance.

"The story was over, they ripped out the end... So tell me, Who am I?... And--~"

The screams of struggle and suffering from the dark nature of the curse didn't stop Lucia. Soon that golden line connected Dark Magic and Divine Magic twisting the curse further. What was once pain and mournful screams became shouts of exertion as the relieving nature of divine magic balanced with the malicious nature of the curse to create peace.

Now, the undead merely shouted to exert force in an effort to rise and stand that much sooner. To answer the call they'd waited so long for with passionate hearts that only beat metaphorically.

"What have they done to us~ What have they done to us~!!!"

As the undead rose to their full heights Lucia concluded the song with a louder, firmer tone. The last golden line connected her 4 masteries to Astramancy, like a circuit as her undead's chests filled with cosmic energy. Like beating hearts the light pulsed with something different from life to fuel their existence.

The Elven knight dusted herself off taking her place amidst the Skeletons organizing them.

One dapper suit wearing wraith adjusted it's porcelain mask before making an effort to begin making coffee.

The other wrath in a long cloak and naval uniform tightened it's hood to conceal it's lack of a face before finding a bottle to get lost in.

The small girl finally rose to her feet and took on the semblance of an innocent child observing the others at work idly.

As the camp came back to life after so long, Lucia exhaled a peaceful sigh. "We're back again..." She murmured lost in the nostalgia.

---

Among the chaos of the Camp's revival, the horrid scene straight of a movie would take place. The once silent camp would return to activity as undead rose from the soil to return to work.

Chako would get caught in some of the worst of it as Lucia's piles of antiques were places most frequented by the horde who were used to her high standards of decorum. Each time they moved camp, her tent would be populated with different antiques to keep things fresh. The piles she sifted through were merely part of the rotation not currently in use.

Of course, whether she tried to hide, run or fight the skeletons wouldn't have much interest in her so long as she wasn't striking first. If she was passive enough for the undead to react first it would be one of the Wraiths who would find her first. The dapper suit wearing Wraith, complete with a fine hat and long tail coat that waved freely without legs to restrain it. The wraith made an effort to approach after realizing there was something that didn't quite belong with the camp.

 

[Chako]

Chako was simply rummaging things, seeing if there was anything interesting that could give her an idea of what this camp was all about... She was an explorer, but she was no pillager after all, so she had no plans of looting the place!

... Especially because she would probably be scolded by one of her senpais if they caught her pillaging an abandoned camp anyways, so it was just exploration time right now!

Except... What was that song!? She started hearing someone sing, but Chako hadn't heard anybody here before... It's not a ghost, is it?

What came next made it very obvious... It was absolutely a ghost!!!!

The dead started rising, as the song kept talking about a little girl, "I-I'm so sorry for having touched your antiques! I-I'm not envious of anything!!!" Chako screamed.

Technically speaking, she was envious of people with functional legs in Earth, but this was this and that was that... And I should stop running from reality and start doing something! Chako reminded herself.

As a corpse started getting up from the ground right next to her, Chako jumped in place, "Nyaaa!?" Then tried finding a place to run to... Except all places were filled with undead!!!

"I did not do anything to you! I came in peace!!!" Chako screamed as she ran and jumped on top of one of the tents, which somehow didn't crumble under her tiny weight. She kept looking around to try finding a way to escape this hellhole that she awakened, Why wasn't there any scary giant cave mouth telling me that I should only touch the lamp and nothing else of the forbidden treasure when I got here!?!? Chako continued trying to run from reality... It wasn't helping.

Then, the worst happened... One of the undead noticed her! A wraith was coming her way! A wraith is coming my way! "Nyaaaa!! I'm innocent! I didn't steal anything! It's all still there! You can check it yourself!!!" She desperately tried to argue with a being that most likely couldn't even hear her... To think that this is how I'm dying... Chako closed her eyes, tried to make herself as small as possible and waited for the inevitable.

@Lucia Mierz

 

[Lucia Mierz]

Originally it had simply moved noticing that there was something that didn't belong. While the undead weren't exactly hostile to outsiders it didn't mean they could simply allow any unknown entity to trapse through their leader's camp without some kind of vetting process.

What it hadn't expected was the sudden acrobatics display, from the pile of antiques to the top of the tent it felt a headache brewing. The jumpier they were the harder they were to calm down and talk to sensibly. The wraith continued it's pursuit without too much difficulty. Unlike Chako, the wraith didn't have legs and instead casually floated along with her as she climbed the tent with only billowing smoke beneath it's waist as it followed.

"My my, quite the episode there me ami, but I can't quite accept the boot prints on the tent's exterior." The voice was aged, like a kindly elder's. It gave the impression of a diligent and tidy service worker in some upper class industry. Of course, no matter how small she huddled, Chako couldn't exactly disappear under the wraith's gaze.

Of course seeing her huddled as if waiting for some kind of killing blow was a familiar sight for the wraith, once it was clear that she was accepting her fate the wraith could only exhale a burdened sigh. "Au Contraire, stealing certainly not but there is a certain level of vandalism that comes from trapsing across the tops of Tents isn't there? While this isn't exactly the most horrendous of crimes I must ask you to at least carry out your cowering from the safety of the ground tout de suit." The wraith continued.

It made every type of attempt it could think of to try and de-escalate things for no other reason then to make sure Chako didn't accidentally collapse the tent and create some kind of mess. If it did manage to successfully calm the girl enough to make it to the ground it would end up removing it's hat in something of a gentlemanly bow. "Je me presente, I am my lady's steward Mortimer-- There's really no need to be so flustered I implore you." It continued trying to ensure Chako didn't suddenly bolt and cause some kind of avalanche of tents or antiques.

 

[Chako]

Chako opened her eyes after she heard a voice talking to her...

Then she blinked a few times... Was she hallucinating? Or was this what Arcia's heaven looked like?

No, that doesn't look like a heavenly guide, it's more like a hellish guide... Hey, come on! I didn't do anything bad! I shouldn't be sent to Arcia's hell!

Well... The wraith was still talking, and it said some pretty ridiculous things, "Look, it's not my fault that I was surrounded by all sides! What was I supposed to do if not try finding a high place!?" Calling it vandalism was absurd! Getting killed for trespassing into some ancient burial site of grudgeful undead? Sure, Chako could understand that, but she was not going to let the vandalism slander slide!

... Though for an evil spirit that just rose from its grave, the wraith was very calm in its demeanor... It was so weird that it made it hard for Chako to actually be scared of it... And well, it did help that it was not holding a ghastly cursed sword in its hands or anything like it for sure.

"Uhn... Yeah, I think I can get down... Probably." Was she actually able to? Jumping up here was more instinct than anything... Okay, come on, you learned how to use these legs by now... Chako carefully changed her posture, going from a cowering kitty to a predator ready to jump at its prey... Or well, that was her best imitation of the cat she had in her home in Earth at least. That was how it positioned itself when it tried catching a bug.

Three... Two... One... Go! And she jumped! A surprisingly smooth jump if Chako may say so herself! The tent barely wobbled from it!

... The landing on her butt could use some improvement, but Chako wasn't used to doing that, so she figured she shouldn't worry too much about it. It was a learning experience, like any other.

Getting herself up, and dusting her dress a bit, Chako replied to the ghost's introduction, "Uhn... Hi, Mortimer, I'm... Chako?" Why was that a question? "Nice... Nice to meet you? Was your lady the singer...? She... She had a..." Chako tried thinking of any random flattery that would actually sound genuine, something that would help her not get killed here, "A pretty nice voice, I guess?" She silently cursed her own musician ears that could easily detect that someone wasn't using to singing in the first place.

@Lucia Mierz

 

[Lucia Mierz]

Mortimer only continued observing Chako's 5 stages of confusion with the patience one might expect of a steward. Of course when it came to talking about being surrounded on all sides, the wraith didn't really understand, mistaking her anxiety for something else. "Is it a fear of crowds then me ami? Would you be so agile in your escape in your usual busy market or main street?" It was struggling to follow her line of logic, to the wraith undead weren't any different from people unfortunately.

Of course, if asked, Mortimer would hardly consider him an evil spirit. He was a wraith certainly but Divine Magic was as a part of him as Dark magic was. Outside of the beat of astromancy in his core the wraith didn't see himself as particularly abnormal.

Seeing her struggling to jump though... was new.

Not only new, but very ironic for someone like Mortimer who now had no legs but was once quite well known for legs in life. The awkwardness did not get missed by him who now lived an existence without them.

"Tres bien, Chako, it's better then staying on the tent at least, no boot prints, no tracking dirt. The landing though was perhaps a little pas bon, a pounce perhaps or maybe some kind of joke?" Though relieved about her no longer being on the tent he couldn't understand the reason for her stumble from such a height. With little options it wondered if it might be some kind of fun joke it had missed as it was one of Lucia's summons that had the longest gap between death and undeath.

The flattery though was understandable. While Lucia was one to enjoy the finer things, she wasn't a singer, in this life or her real one. Singing for her was more of an outlet then it was any kind of talent or skill. "It was indeed. My lady is... Not a woman of talent or skill... But she would appreciate your kind words." Mortimer chose his words carefully, not for fear of upsetting Lucia but out of worry that he might fail to articulate Lucia's outlook on herself.

 

[Chako]

In response to the question, Chako thought of the last time she was in a busy market street, "No, I would be too dizzy to try making an escape." Stupid overwhelming smells... "Especially if people were shouting to try selling stuff. That would definitely get me down." Chako felt like there was something else she was forgetting to answer though... What was it...?

Oh, right! "No, no fear of crowds though. Just fear of dying to a swarm of vengeful undead raising from their graves surrounding me after I touched some ancient cursed artifact, yanno? Usual stuff." The exact vengeful undead that she was talking to right now, in fact... Which actually felt very weird when considering they were just having a random conversation about being scared of crowds.

The other undead in the surrounding also didn't seem to care, which was even weirder. Chako really had no idea how to take in the current situation.

Then Chako blushed a bit when the wraith decided to comment on her landing... I can't believe I'm getting embarrassed by a ghost's comment... What's going on here? "A pounce? Yes. A joke? No. Moving my legs is hard, okay? I'm still getting used to the finer details of how I'm supposed to handle them, alright?" Truth be told, it had been a while since the last time she just openly talked about not knowing how to move her legs properly, as she had gotten a better hang of it now, but... Kind of a waste that this conversation was being held with someone who wouldn't understand the implications behind it.

... Well, okay, the talk with Fina wasn't that long ago, but before that it had been a while since she last mentioned it.

Crap, he caught on to the fact that I disliked the singing, Chako was a bit frustrated that this ghost seemed to be sharp, and could understand what was left unspoken... No use worrying about it now though, so she just sighed, "So uhn... Anyways, what does your lady even want? I'm honestly weirded out that I'm still alive, so like... What? Does she require a sacrifice or something? Or a favor to let me leave with my life after trespassing or whatever?" Chako was really unused to this kind of conversation... It was so strange to talk about her own life like it was a given that she should be dead by now, but... That's kinda what the situation calls for, isn't it?

@Lucia Mierz

 

[Lucia Mierz]

It took a minute for Mortimer to understand the fear of undead. As long as creatures weren't hostile they were no different from any other creature as far as the steward was concerned. In the end, chalking it up to a difference in societal norms, he could only make a helpless gesture. "Pas besoin, the undead here mean no one harm. As cursed as we may be, fortunately we're only 50% cursed, artifact or not." Mortimer chuckled at his joke, but if it didn't land he could only hesitate and try to explain the joke that they were 50% cursed and 50% blessed, it was all a part of Lucia's process.

Of course the concept of having fresh legs was unique for Mortimer who himself also wished for his legs back. A longing sigh came from the wraith's mouth as it shook it's masked head in response. "Ah~ Still getting used to them? How blessed. What I wouldn't do to have mine back. I suppose we play with the cards we are dealt though... C'est la vie, it would be best to get a firm grasp on them while you can, you may not always have them." Mortimer tried to offer some inspiration unaware of her struggle in reality. As far as the wraith was concerned she was just a little clumsy and unused to physical activity. There was no way for him to know the reaction such words might provoke.

Of course, Mortimer's knowledge of her genuine opinion wasn't quite as keen as it seemed. Instead it came from his understanding of Lucia more then anything he gleaned of Chako. However refined and elegant Lucia was, she always self-depreciated herself. Looking upon others as special while discrediting herself as 'normal' or 'average' almost painfully so. The steward was very familiar with Lucia's struggles and perceived failures to unearth any kind of talent for anything.

If there were kind words said about her abilities they were flattery.
If there were cruel words spoken about her failures they were exaggerated.

Lucia, in her own eyes would, never escape the label of 'Average'. It was a pain that bled into everything she did, her summons included.

Of course, talk about Lucia's desires were amusing. For Mortimer this meeting was more of a call to help a lost creature who wandered into his miss's yard. "Hm... I surmise that depends largely on you me ami. You wandered into my lady's camp, sifted through her collectables but didn't steal anything. No crime so no punishment but no greeting therefore no meeting.... but then if not for these reasons why are you here?" Mortimer explained why nothing was happening to her, why this conversation was going on. If she didn't come to loot or cause trouble and didn't come to meet Lucia or see undead the wraith didn't quite know what to do with her.

At an impasse, Mortimer also couldn't simply leave her to recklessly dash through the undead while shouting and climbing on tents either. All he could do was find out Chako's intent and then move from there.

 

[Chako]

"Oh, only 50% cursed! What a relief!" Chako exclaimed in the most sarcastic tone she could come up with... What does 50% cursed even mean!? Aren't you just cursed or not cursed!? How can you be half-cursed!? This makes no sense!

It was nice that he tried saying they meant no harm though... Until Mortimer got back to talking, which made Chako start trembling and jump backwards, "I-I-I-I-I-I'm not letting you t-t-take my legs! I-i-i-it's only by lady Uene's miracle t-t-that I have them! I-I-I'm not giving them away!" Was it lady Uene that allowed the Starcalled in? Chako wasn't sure, but she was fairly certain that it was a divine blessing that brought the Starcalled to Arcia, and she was fine with assuming that it was lady Uene's choice until she got more information on the matter.

Then, while still cowering away from the so-called 50% cursed wraith, Chako continued listening to what he spoke... "N-no greeting therefore n-no meeting?" She tried to parse through that and understand it, but she was honestly lost on what this meant. What exactly even amounted to a greeting in the first place? Wasn't saying 'hi' a greeting anyways?

Still, she tried to answer to see if she could get away in one piece... Worst came to worst, she could just try hitting her head against a wall really hard to see if that sent her back to a temple. The first death would be better than losing her legs for sure, "I-I just found a curious place a-a-a-and I started exploring it b-b-because it was interesting! T-that was it! I-I didn't expect to a-a-awaken a bunch of v-v-vengeful spirits! I-it was an accident!"

@Lucia Mierz

 

[Lucia Mierz]

"A relief indeed. Were we 100% cursed this type of second life would likely be very unpleasant. Fortunately, our Lady's power is born of Envy and also Hope, the divine nature of virtuous magic blunts the malicious nature of the curse and--" Mortimer ended up on a long tangent on the nature of magical powers. It was only upon glancing back at Chako that he hesitated to continue. After all, as proud as he was of Lucia's efforts to keep them all alive and active, to some this explanation may end up quickly turning into white noise. "--well, desole, I suppose that's more of a topic for those interested in magical endeavors."

Instead it seemed there was another misunderstanding but Mortimer couldn't quite understand why. Despite the wraith's best efforts he could only try to calm the girl once more. "Now now me ami, one mustn't become too frantic please. We have no interest in legs that are still attached to someone." He tried his best to set her at ease unaware that this may only cause further confusion.

Despite his best efforts to explain though it seemed the poor girl was either still confused or too distressed to sift through the information he was presenting. In the end he could only adjust his hat and collar as he tried refining the explanation.

"Normally, when one approaches my Lady's camp they do make themselves known. A simple hello, perhaps a question of what goes on, of who we are followed by some type of inqury for our Lady or task for us as her charges. Upon which one will normally escort the guest to their destination and things proceed in as they would..."

"Alternatively... When one comes with intent to steal, then the hunt is on-- as it were, in order to preserve our Lady's honor and ensure everything is in it's rightful place."

"You, for better or worse, have done neither of these two things, it seems you're not here for any given purpose towards which I can lead you nor are you the villainous scum that would begin a festive hunt for us-- Which leads us to our current predicament."

Mortimer explained with a patient and servile tone as always. Though he brought his hand together with some kind of expectation that Chako would help him understand how to carry on from here.

"Shall I lead you to my Lady and announce your visit as a guest? Would you rather be taken out?-- Surely the third option of being hunted is unfavorable but I'm afraid I'm not how I am to be of service and to what extent my services are required."

He ended up being forced to admit with great confusion unaware the term 'taken out' might have a double meaning.

 

[Chako]

Chako was honestly impressed at the fact that Mortimer was very good at grasping what was left unsaid, but was also terrible at understanding sarcasm... She didn't really understand the spiel about what 100% cursed would mean, but she knew that there was definitely nothing divine about the being she was looking at.

Bloody hell. Chako really needed to run. The wraith's words made it very clear. She couldn't stay here.

The fur of her tails was standing on its end. Her pupils were dilating... It was a feeling she was fairly used to, but it was the first time she felt it while actually talking to a non-wolf being.

She tried moving her eyes right and left to find an escape route, but she was still surrounded no matter where she looked... Did she really have no choice but to force a first death? Should she just bite her tongue and stay silent for the rest of the conversation until she bled out? Should she try the 'hit your head really hard' plan?

Hunt. That was the only word that Chako could clearly process at this point... They were the hunters, she was the prey, they were just binding their time to strike... Just like the wolves in- Deep breaths. Chako forced herself to breathe... She couldn't afford to go back to that clearing. Not now.

... The ghost was still talking... Calm down... Listen. Chako told herself. Trying to actually find a way out of the situation, Breathe... No hunt is on... Not yet.

Her head cleared slightly, the desperate instinct to run being suppressed by the last sliver of logic within her that told her that she still had a chance to survive this if she actually listened. There was a reason why the ghost was still talking.

"... Lady. Guest." She managed to reply to the last few sentence he blurted out. She didn't know what would happen then, she had no idea what else the ghost had said, she couldn't even formulate a proper sentence anymore... Chako just felt like this was the only real choice to her... Taken outside? Yeah, as if hunters would let go of their prey that easily. She wasn't buying that one.

@Lucia Mierz

 

[Lucia Mierz]

Mortimer struggled to wrap his head around the girl as he talked, but all the poor wraith could do was try it's best to clarify the strange nature of the circumstances they were in. All told he thought he was doing well considering what Lucia's other summons might have done in the same situation, few matched his patience and work ethic. Still, until she responded he remained uncertain if he was getting through.

"A guest then, is it?" He repeated relieved that they'd managed to settle on something. "Then, I'll take it upon myself to escort you through." The Wraith performed a practiced bow before gesturing for Chako to join him deeper in the camp.

Through the camp they'd pass by numerous skeletons, unlike Mortimer they were a lot more uniform in look and design. It might be hard to tell them apart from one another with just eyes or ears alone. They all busied themselves with some kind of task whether it was chopping wood for fires or trying to restore other antiques that may have been damaged over time.

The scene was busy but ultimately it quieted down the closer they got to the largest tent. The structure itself was wide and accommodating, an aged military tent used for maps, tables and meetings was renovated for a single person's use. It had elaborate bookshelves, fine tables with different flowers or fruits arranged on top and shelves with different trinkets on display that glittered and shined in the right light.

At it's center sat Lucia, turning the page of a tome as if she were reading casually on a park bench somewhere. Legs crossed on a plush and regal looking chair that, despite not being a throne, still did look very expensive. It was only when she reached for a nearby glass of wine that she glanced up to notice Mortimer and Chako in toe.

"?" Lucia's initial reaction was confusion. Her camp wasn't exactly hidden sure, but it also wasn't close enough that she thought people would come across it at random. Certainly Lucia had expected some, like Luna or perhaps anyone who knew her undead well enough may pass by to check on things but Chako didn't exactly raise any bells as far as acquaintances went.

"Are you here for a quest dear? Or in need of some help?" She asked, closing the book briefly as a sign of respect. Her voice charming, her demeanor warm and inviting. She'd at least asked under the impression that Chako sought her out intentionally for help.

 

[Chako]

Chako followed the ghost. Each step feeling like she was stepping deeper into the lion's den. Each movement from a nearby skeleton made her jump in place, terrified that it was aimed at her, and not simply an unrelated movement... The pattern repeated a few times, until eventually... Eventually they reached the largest tent.

Chako could not believe what she was seeing... "Human?" She muttered as she stared at the lady in front of her. She was expecting a lich, a vampire, a gigantic wraith... But a human?

Chako's eyes filled with tears... "Waaaaaah!" Before she realized it, she was running towards the lady ahead and jumped at her... Hugging the lady and burying her face on the lady's clothes.

How long had it been since Chako last cried like that? She really had no idea... Maybe back when Magi saved her? That strange cry of relief that finally allowed all the built-up tension to escape her body, "I was so scared..." She muttered while sobbing.

A small bit of rationality within Chako was able to come to the conclusion that this woman was probably a necromancer, but... Just knowing it wasn't a vengeful spirit or anything like it was enough to set her at ease... A necromancer probably wouldn't care much about the living anyways, so she could finally find some safety in here.

@Lucia Mierz

 

[Lucia Mierz]

The crying... was an unusual response for Lucia. At first a little unsure how to take it, in the end could only bitterly laugh as the poor girl found some comfort in a living person. "My was it that bad? And here I thought kids these days saw spookier things on the news." She chuckled thinking all she could do was chalk it up to a difference in aesthetics. Lucia even found herself questioning if she had grown up an edgy child to think that this would have been exciting for her in her youth. Unfortunately it was quickly dismissed, Lucia was someone too 'normal' for that sadly.

Of course, Lucia did try to be supportive the best she could despite being caught off guard. Gently patting Chako's back with a kind hand, pushing her glass a bit further across the table just in case. Lucia wasn't exactly someone good at comforting young ones-- Women might be another story, but children even younger teens did create some sense of unease and discomfort in her as she didn't really know how to talk to or treat them. She had never been much of a maternal person at least.

"Now now dear, look, a little spooky perhaps but no one's here to harm anyone. They're all my people here, some of them I even made by hand. They're not so different from normal people, I promise." She tried to reassure. For Lucia who saw herself as a saintess for undead, it was an argument only she could really make and assert but she still tried to spread that belief regardless.

While Lucia did her best to try and coax Chako into calming down, Mortimer remained not far. Ever the faithful Steward the Wraith tried to remain in position to offer aid if it was ever needed but tried not to interfere overly in this process of stopping the water works. God forbid the poor Wraith step in and cause more misunderstandings.

 

[Chako]

Chako's sobbing continued for a while... But she found comfort in the woman's embrace. It wasn't quite the same as her mom's, who was better at calming her down, but it was still effective. She could feel the fur of her tails slowly going down, and her sight, while now blurred from tears, was no longer distorted by her dilated pupils... She could finally think properly again.

She could finally reply properly again, "I don't watch the news... And the news don't happen right next to me." She meekly muttered. She didn't want to be rude, she was just trying to be honest... She knew that the news were basically tragedy on top of tragedy, which was why she didn't bother with watching them, but even in the rare cases she did watch... It was still about someone else at the end of the day. It wasn't scary like this.

The lady's words about them not being out there to harm anyone were a bit more believable than the ghost's, but it was also something Chako couldn't fully trust... The lady said it herself that she made those monsters... She wouldn't like it if word of this place spread and Falderen knights went after her. Even if her intention was truly peaceful, she might want to silence witnesses... It was scary.

But Chako also wanted to believe her... It was more comforting to believe her... And she didn't want to be pushed back to the undead horde... So for now, she tried replying, "I don't... Handle hunts comfortably." Wolves hunted. Chako's whole body trembled just as she thought that, "Threats to take my legs away are scary too... They're a precious divine gift. I can't perform for lady Uene without them." Not like Chako felt comfortable enough in her dances to dedicate them to a goddess yet, but it was a goal she had set for herself after visiting lady Uene's church.

Although... She didn't know how much the lady in front of her knew about the conversation with the wraith... Would anything she just said even make sense for the lady? Chako didn't know... "I really... Really can't lose my legs." She muttered as the sobbing restarted. Just imagining it terrified her... And also, she didn't know if she could get them back if she died. Chako didn't really know much about how revival worked in Arcia. She couldn't risk it. She couldn't be bound to a wheelchair here too.

@Lucia Mierz

 

[Lucia Mierz]

Lucia nodded along understandingly, who wanted to watch the news at least. For her herself, it was nothing but news about a world that was rotten and poisoned, but it still made her chuckle a little at the thought of just how different people could be. It almost felt like a threat to the eerie normal-ness she suffered through.

Unfortunately though Chako's words weren't much different from gibberish for her. Hunts? Losing Legs? She couldn't really understand what happened to her, her undead didn't just rip people's limbs off needlessly. The fact that she was alive she wasn't some kind of thief or psycho that needed to be hunted down and killed after causing some kind of trouble. It was a real mystery for her, she unfortunately had nothing to glean from Mortimer either who returned her confused look with a helpless shrug of his own.

In the end Lucia could only bitterly rub her temple with one hand as she tried patting Chako further to try and halt the sobbing that turned back on. "Now now dear, I think you're getting the wrong idea about them and us you know? As the saying goes, weapons can only ever be as evil as the people who use them. I like to think the same applies to magic and even my friends here. I don't exactly know what kind of woman you take me for sweet heart but I'm not some kind of sinister leg snatcher." She tried to explain. She wasn't a good comfort provider in these situations, the best she could do was pitch a metaphorical fast ball and hope the other party caught it.

There was one bit she could lock onto fortunately. Uene was the goddess of the moon and beauty? There was some bits about her being jealous and spiteful? Lucia couldn't exactly remember all of the details of a Goddess that wasn't her own, but it was something?

"I understand that well." Lucia said, a warm tinge of empathy in her voice and a touch of nostalgia as well. For a moment her gaze swam through her memories pleasantly as she spoke. "You probably had a tough time... enduring a lot until they turned it around for you right? And the gift they gave you was legs?" She asked, her tone not mocking at all but understanding.

If Chako seemed interested, Lucia would nod along and explain. "I also have a Goddess I support. Like you I received a very special gift too-- A very unique gift. I can understand never wanting to part with that piece of you that makes you special." Lucia tried her best to establish some common ground hoping that would calm Chako down a bit more.

 

[Chako]

As the lady spoke, Chako realized that this lady definitely did not hear the conversation between her and the ghost... And it was also really obvious who would be believed if Chako said something and the ghost contested it.

Still... It really didn't seem like the lady wasn't planning on harming her at the moment. Chako felt like she could believe her when she said she meant no harm in principle... She just didn't know if that stance would remain in place when Chako decided to leave... But for now, Chako felt like she could trust this lady.

Which helped her calm down a bit... Helped the sobs subside... Then, Chako tried wording her thoughts in the most non-confrontational way she could think of... It was very rare for her to actually think before she spoke, but she really felt like she should be careful with her words here, "I think... I think it would be nice if... If you could tell your ghosts to not threaten prey with hunts... It's scary... Being hunted is... I don't want to ever be hunted again." The memories came flooding in. The sobs returned regardless of Chako's wishes.

The embrace helped her stay in place though. Helped her head properly set a line between what was memory and what she was experiencing right now... She couldn't help that instinctual fear, but at least she wasn't being lost in those terrifying memories again.

So, she could keep up with the conversation... Sort of. She was kinda lost at what the lady said, but... Well, this lady mentioned the news before, so she was probably a Starcalled... Then it should be fine to speak more, right? Chako had always spoken openly about her disability to people, but after staying a while in Pormont, she understood that what she had previously heard about the hate towards Starcalled in Falderen, outside of the direct surroundings of Honeyhome, was not an exaggeration, so... She was being a bit more careful with talking about herself these days.

Still... It should be fine with this lady, especially because she already replied to the news comment, so she kinda outed herself already anyways, didn't she? "I am... Not sure of what you mean with they turning it around for me... I mean like... It's a divine blessing that people like us can live in Arcia, isn't it? Most Starcalled don't seem to think too much about it, but... Well, the fact I can move these legs here while they're useless in Earth... I can't attribute that to anything other than lady Uene's blessing!"

Then, the next words made Chako look up towards the lady and smile from ear to ear, completely differently from the terrified visage she had a short while ago, "You do!? For real!? That's so wonderful! It's so hard to find other Starcalled" she was a Starcalled, right!? "who actually pay any attention to the gods! Never mind one who has an actual gift from them! What is it!? What is it!?"

Then, Chako took a small pause and remembered that she was supposed to have manners, "I mean, like... If you don't mind sharing, that is..." She fidgeted a bit... But she was really curious. What could this lady even be considering as a gift!? Was it an abstract gift like Chako's chance of moving her legs? Or was it more like, an ancient artifact that she found in some ruins? Chako was dying to know more.

And since she was already asking stuff, she figured she should ask one more thing, "Oh, and uhn... What's your name?" Calling her 'lady' in her thoughts was becoming a bit bothersome to Chako, "I'm Chako."

@Lucia Mierz

 

[Lucia Mierz]

Lucia was a bit sympathetic, as much as she could at least. She didn't understand the focus on the word hunt in particular but it was unfortunately a word she used often as someone who played the game like an RTS rather then an RPG. Sending her subordinates out for a wild hunt wasn't an uncommon order but she didn't want to further disturb the poor girl.

"Starcalled mm?" She mused, it was a foreign term for her. One that perhaps came to be after she left. "A player? Yes, I suppose I am. I was one of the first to reach out to them even. That might be why I'm being watched over as closely as I am." Lucia explained with a touch of pride and a warm smile. Synra had been with her for a long time, never far, though it might be a bit egotistical to call herself a favorite child, she was certainly the first, that much she knew for certain.

When asked what the gift was though, Lucia grew a bit bashful. With a gentle hand she tried to guide Chako's sight back towards the entry way of the tent pointing out everything going on outside of it. "They were my gift." She explained, not minding talking about herself, no if anything it was a rare instance where she could feel the privilege of being special. Though she was worried Chako might misunderstand her gesture and tried to tell her story hoping the girl would understand.

"A long time ago, Masteries didn't work the same. Back then one couldn't just become an Animancer through a choice in the interface. You had to find a Necronomicon and go on a journey to prove yourself. When I started, I was just a simple Archer who knew some curses going out on a journey through the first dungeon with Aster and a few friends. There, in a statue I found mine but I had to trade my life for it. It was a trade I made easily and Synra was there ferrying me across the river personally. Since then, my friends outside have been my treasure and my gift."

Lucia explained with a charming smile despite the silliness of dying for something people could now get so easily. Even if Animancy was now common and easy to acquire, that didn't make the gift Synra gave Lucia any less valued to her. No matter how many people wielded the power, it was one offered to her by the Goddess personally.

"I'm Lucia Mierz though dear, the first Necromancer, Synra's little Saintess I suppose." She teased in her introduction. She couldn't see herself as a queen of the undead because she wasn't undead herself to qualify as their ruler. Likewise she couldn't see herself as a Duchess despite Aster giving her the title thanks to her help. Instead, she was satisfied with 'Saintess' as her title, for playing a role in guiding undead to their future.

"But what about you dear? You seem to be hard at work too aren't you? How did you come into this type of role?" She couldn't help asking wondering how Chako got mixed in and why legs of all things.

 

[Chako]

Chako was a bit confused by the lady's reaction... The usage of the word 'player' annoyed her a bit though. It reminded her of her encounter with Trinity, and gave off the idea of this world being just a game... Still, it was the kind of thing she was used to by now when dealing with other Starcalled, "... Did you never hear the term perchance?" Chako decided to ask, it was a bit strange to her when considering it was one of the first things she heard of in Arcia, "It's because a shooting star soars over Eastern Brisshal whenever a new Starcalled comes to Arcia." Chako hadn't really seen her own star, as she wasn't really paying attention to the sky when she came, but she did see a fair number of them come as time passed. It was always a happy sight as far as Chako cared, even if it meant that people putting their life at risk here, it also meant that more people were being able to see this wonderful world for themselves... And Chako could only be happy at that.

She then looked towards the entrance with the lady's guidance and... "Eh?" They? She means... The undead? Chako wasn't sure what she was expecting, but this wasn't it.

But then the explanation continued, and by the end of it, Chako was in awe, "Wait... You met lady Syndra yourself!? F-for real!? H-how was she like!? Did she smile at you? Did she tell you something like, 'go with my blessings and spread my word, child' or something!?" She didn't know it was even possible to meet the gods directly, that... That was so amazing!

There were some other questions in Chako's mind, like who was Aster, or why was it so easy for this lady to throw her life away when it brought her closer to losing her life on Earth, but Chako decided to not ask those. The former was not very relevant to her, and the latter one was a bit too personal to be worth asking.

Chako then nodded multiple times in agreement to Lucia's words, "If anyone would disagree with you being a saintess after meeting lady Syndra directly, then they're absolutely crazy!"

The next question made Chako pause though, trying to understand what it meant, "How I came into this role...? Like, the role of a worshiper of lady Uene?

"Well... One thing just led to another, I guess? I first came to Arcia to run from my disability. I figured every Starcalled would be running from a disability back then... Which is actually pretty far from the truth, as I ended up finding out." Which was still kinda confusing to Chako, as she didn't quite get what people's motivations to come here were even after she had them explained to her... It just didn't enter her head.

"Either way, I just wanted to dance and see pretty sights on my own when I first came here... Yanno, do the things that were impossible to me on Earth.

"And then, well... As I spent more time in Arcia, I realized that there was no way that this was an artificially created world. It just wasn't possible for everyone I met here to simply be part of a computer, or the experiences I've been living through all being fake... This is real, all of it.

"And yanno... I got really really tired of praying back on Earth to never get any responses, so... It was pretty easy to convert here in Arcia, a world where I know the gods can actually listen to me! After that it was just trying to study a bit more about the gods, and learning who I wanted to worship... And lady Uene just felt perfect for me! I've been trying to dedicate some of my harp performances to her recently, and I want to eventually get good enough at dancing to dedicate ceremonial dances to her too!

"I even came to Pormont to visit the main church of lady Uene, you know!? It was really exciting to see it with my own eyes!" And it felt amazing to be able to get there herself and walk through a church with her own two feet... Sure, Fina did help her while she was on the way there, and she did need protection against the goblins she found, but... Chako still loved being able to move, wherever she wanted; whenever she wanted, with her own two feet.

"I do feel really thankful to lady Syndra too though, it's by her will that we can actually keep living here even after our first death, isn't it? It's something I can really appreciate, because... Well, I'm not that good at taking care of myself. Every time I go explore, I go with the knowledge that I might die if I get ambushed by a group of goblins... Or worse, wolves." Her entire body trembled at the mention of the word, "So uhn... Well... It's not like I want to be hunted" another shiver went down her spine, "or anything, but I also wouldn't be able to see any of the wonderful sights in Arcia if I didn't try exploring, right?

"What I'm trying to say is... Well, without lady Syndra's blessings, I think I might have not ever gotten the courage to go out there and explore on my own! The courage to live through this wonderful independence that I can only experience in Arcia! That's why I'm super thankful to her!" Chako concluded.

Then, she got a bit bashful after she finished saying all that, "Sorry, I think I rambled on a bit too much... It's just really rare for me to have a chance to talk about those things... I mean, not about me being paraplegic, which a lot of people know about, but about what I feel towards Arcia and the gods... I can talk to Landers about it, but it's just not the same as speaking about it to someone who also understands what it's like to live in a world with a deaf god." Either that or a dead god, but Chako preferred to believe in the former.

@Lucia Mierz

 

[Lucia Mierz]

Lucia shook her head in thought. "I've never at least. I wonder if it's new, or if it was just something I missed." Lucia couldn't help a hum at the thought. She wasn't exactly exposed to others terribly often after all, even when she played a lot of the time she circled around the exteriors of settlements with her camps instead of immersing herself in them. It was a new term to her who always knew players as players for the game.

When asked about Syndra though, it brought back fond memories of that first gondola ride, the second one much later, even the time in the Ant hill when Syndra had to step in to save them and Zeus. Each time they met it was usually for business sadly otherwise maybe Lucia would have some more fun stories but it did make sense. What kind of divine being would stop by for tea or something more casual or fun right?

"I only saw her smile once. I've not really seen her outside of some large situation though but at least it seems like it's not so easy for them to appear before us despite being divinity otherwise it would happen more often mm? Usually she's helping me out of some kind of trouble or saving my friends and me... I'm a spoiled girl I suppose aren't I?" She teased with a charming smile as she gave the impression of being a mischievous little girl despite being an adult.

Though when Chako talked about her disability and her struggles and rebound from it she'd find Lucia's expression shift. It was a peculiar look, one that Chako may have worn herself when looking at others, but one that she might not be used to seeing others wear when looking at her.

Though still charming, her smile curled at the corners, rich with Envy. As Chako kept talking about doing things that had been impossible for her, about finding light and hope in this new world. That vibrancy Lucia heard in her voice, the hope and light of someone who had been born with a bum hand rising above the cards they were dealt as they shifted hands.

Such a beautiful story.
A story fit for a main character.

Someday Chako would fly higher, supported by friends like bright and dazzling wings as she took off to the stratosphere. Weaving through trials and tribulations, higher and higher with the cheers of those who saw her at that low point and wished for her happiness.

... But people didn't bless others who were 'average'.
... Nobody watches those who were 'normal'.
... There was no vibrancy and light for the 'plain'.

It took a lot of restraint.

Lucia's eyes listed away briefly as she subdued that grief and those scars that tempted dark thoughts to the surface. She reminded herself Chako did nothing wrong, nothing to deserve any kind of Ire. It was clear from how much she praised Syndra and tried to assure and validate her, Chako was just happy to find someone she felt was a peer.

And yet, that somehow stung more.
She loved and hated it at the same time

"I'm glad. It sounds like you've been having a lot of fun."

Lucia offered trying her best to restrain any sense of edge in her tone for the girl who didn't deserve it. She pushed those sinister feelings deep, burying it under the self-loathing hoping it wouldn't be found.

"You don't have to apologize to me dear. We have a lot in common and it's only natural to be excited finally having someone who can understand right? But I don't think you should be so quick to judge others... People come here to run from many different kinds of things."