[20:02] Maria Malibu exclaims, "!!!"
[20:02] Miyumi S. Irontail says, "A written report on your fight with the Imperfect."
[20:02] Maria Malibu exclaims, "O-...okay!"
[20:02] Maria Malibu asks, "After....this?"
[20:02] Maria Malibu says, "We can...talk.."
[20:02] Ikonocles says, "I imagine our paths will cross soon enough, I'll make sure to find him."
[20:02] Kateto Espero says, "After this, yes, of course."
[20:03] Loramelian asks, "That reminds me. Talguth?"
[20:03] Miyumi S. Irontail says, "Good."
[20:03] Asia S. Irontail says, "I see."
[20:03] Maria Malibu exclaims, "Yes!"
[20:03] Sterling Montelione says, "Telepathy class."
[20:03] Talguth asks, "Yes?"
[20:03] Sterling Montelione says, "Begins."
[20:03] Miyumi S. Irontail says, "That is all."
[20:03] Sterling Montelione asks, "Guy, are you a telepath?"
[20:03] Guy says, "Hmm.."
[20:03] Lys'Ria asks, "Is Rika with you?"
[20:03] Lys'Ria says, "She was wanting to attend"
[20:03] Sterling Montelione says, "I don't think so, no."
[20:03] Lys'Ria says, "Where shall you be? I can tell people where to go."
[20:03] Sterling Montelione says, "My office."
[20:03] Sterling Montelione says, "West room in Talguth's keep."
[20:03] Lys'Ria says, "Got it."
[20:03] Sterling Montelione says, "Fare thee well."
[20:03] Ikonocles says, "Niaelyn."
[20:03] Maria Malibu says, "..."
[20:03] Maria Malibu says, "You are....on fire."
[20:03] Ikonocles asks, "May I borrow eight coins?"
[20:03] Maria Malibu says, "Put it out."
[20:03] Sterling Montelione says, "Ikonocles. Fire off."
[20:03] Niaelyn Bargiel asks, "Only eight?"
[20:03] Ikonocles says, "Eight."
[20:03] Maria Malibu says, "...Sa-..."
[20:04] Maria Malibu says, "Safety hazard..."
[20:04] Sterling Montelione says, "Thank you."
[20:04] Kateto Espero says, "We don't wanna burn down this place..."
[20:04] Niaelyn Bargiel says, "I would put it out, it's no real concern."
[20:04] Sterling Montelione asks, "How are you going to burn down the Mind Eater's keep?"
[20:04] Sterling Montelione says, "It's stone."
[20:04] Sterling Montelione says, "My books, however."
[20:04] Grit would go to stand where he did before in their previous lesson, a few months ago.
(Grit)
[20:04] Sterling Montelione says, "That is the concern."
[20:04] Maria Malibu says, "Oooh"
[20:04] Ikonocles says, "Build better books."
[20:04] Kateto Espero says, "Ikonocles will find a way...do not challenge fire magi."
[20:04] Sterling Montelione says, "Perhaps I will."
[20:05] Sterling Montelione says, "Now."
[20:05] Sterling Montelione says, "Ikonocles, train while I lecture."
[20:05] Sterling Montelione says, "Good, good."
[20:05] Guy asks, "You needed me for something Sterling?"
[20:05] Sterling Montelione says, "Come learn telepathy."
[20:06] Sterling Montelione says, "Welcome to the class."
[20:06] Guy says, "I rather learn of Psionics."
[20:06] Sterling Montelione says, "That is what I teach."
[20:06] Guy says, "Though this is a class of telepathy and not psionics..."
[20:06] Sterling Montelione says, "Ikonocles, focus."
[20:06] Sterling Montelione asks, "My telepathy -is- psionics, Guy-- where do you think you are?"
[20:06] Kateto Espero says, "That's some worrying thoughts..."
[20:07] Guy asks, "Hm?"
[20:07] Sterling Montelione says, "I am..."
[20:07] Guy says, "I am a bit confused..."
[20:07] Sterling Montelione counts on her fingers.
(Sterling Montelione)
[20:07] Sterling Montelione says, "The fourth best psychic on the continent. Maybe fifth."
[20:07] Sterling Montelione says, "All we -do- is psionics."
[20:07] Guy says, "I don't fully understand the scope if psionics, its just a word to me."
[20:08] Sterling Montelione says, "Ah, well."
[20:08] Sterling Montelione asks, "That's what you're here for, no?"
[20:08] Sterling Montelione says, "Hm, h."
[20:08] Sterling Montelione says, "...m."
[20:08] Rika says, "Appreciated."
[20:08] Guy says, "Oh there you are."
[20:08] Lys'Ria says, "Of course."
[20:08] Guy says, "I was about to message."
[20:09] Lys'Ria says, "I shall be returning to the square for now, I wish to see about having something made."
[20:09] Guy says, "Hmm, alright."
[20:09] Guy says, "I will be here."
[20:09] Lys'Ria waves a wing to the class.
(Lys'Ria)
[20:09] Lys'Ria says, "I shall let you know if I go elsewhere."
[20:09] Guy says, "Alright."
[20:12] Sterling's wings curl, and unfurl, and curl again. Indecisive between being folded up neatly, and fanning out to encompass the wall behind her in a tapestry of night and lights of gold that litter it like stars.
"Psionics.
Spoon-bending, mind-reading, levitating things with your mind, shooting force-waves, bending light, casting shadows, seeing through time, warping space.
The innate ties to metaphysics cannot be understated.
At its core, a 'psion' is someone aware of their spirit. They can engage with the world in such a way that is beyond corporeal, and thus, called, 'psionics.'
All of the things I mentioned, and more."
Horns gleam in the soft golden light, and she takes a deep breath- visibly reconstituted a little, under that very same breath. Your ''Plucked Pinion of Dreams'' injury has fully healed! +22 VIT.
"I don't ordinarily allow people to introduce themselves, as you'll seldom-interact in the course of class, but perhaps we'll try a group exercise.
In which case, it'd be good to know who we are, in this instance.
Feel free to introduce yourselves at any length."
(Sterling Montelione)
[20:14] An introduction to the class? How interesting. The Drakanite stands tall, her voice projected to the room.
"Mah name is Agne, Guardswoman of the Vigil and an Overseer of the Tribunal, under the Servant. Pleasure 'ta meet 'ya all. Interested in telepathy, I am!"
A short introduction, but no more was needed to be said.
(Agne)
[20:15] The shark child looks up at Sterling with wide eyes as she speaks. Talguth hadn't mentioned just how deep psionics was. Only that it would help her with something near and dear to her.
Regardless of her reason for joining the class the shark child steps up. She spreads her left hand out then raises it. Curling her left middle and ring fingers before placing her hand over her heart, right on her chest. "My name is Larithea, Lari for short. I live in the Traverse, and have for the past couple years. I'm thirteen and wish to learn psionics in order to restore the memories of my younger years that I lost due to physical injury in a really bad storm when I was eleven."
Her introduction she steps down and away, her hand dropping back to her side. Water passively swirling around the shark, ready as always, to form a protective bubble in case any blood was needed in order to avoid a frenzy.
(Larithea)
[20:17] Ikonocles stares forwards, eye unblinking, unwilling to face the visions that plague his mind when all is shrouded in darkness. The bodies, the blood, the visions of abject failure foisted upon him by Hak'tor. He betrayed nothing, though the visions of horror flashed through his mind.
But he would burn them all away soon enough.
"I am Ikonocles."
It was all that needed said.
(Ikonocles)
[20:17] It was funny, earlier in the same day, Niaelyn had informed Grit that the occurrence of these classes was rather infrequent, and to be prepared to wait. Still, another class was absolutely welcome, especially when it's been... an amount of years.
Quickly, she surveyed the room, seeing who she knew. Surprisingly, it's less than she thought, at least by name. The only people she truly knew were Ikonocles, Sterling, and Justia.
"Ah... Introductions, very near my least favorite thing. I am Niaelyn Bargiel, Knight of Umbra. I'm sure I've seen you all before, at least once or twice..."
With that, she coiled her wings around her midsection, leaning back against what was supplied. The idea of a group exercise intrigued her, it certainly wasn't like anything she had been taught before.
(Niaelyn Bargiel)
[20:17] Grit would have a lot on his mind at the moment (excuse the terrible pun), but, he knew he wanted to learn more from Sterling, despite the visions he had witnessed from his last lesson. Afterall, if he stopped just because of that, it would have made the whole ordeal for nothing. Besides, he had a genuine interest in learning Telepathy since, before he was a cambion, he was a mute, and the only way without his blood letters he could interact with others was through Sabrathi-el reading his mind.
So, with that in mind he'd look ahead, a determined gaze in his eyes, as he looks over towards the rest of the class...this time being told to introduce himself, "uh." The boy would say pausing for a moment, founding himself a little stunned from the idea.
"I'm Grit...Let's see, I'm thirteen, and as you can see I'm a cambion, but I'm working on that..." Grit would say, somewhat awkwardly as he would scratch the back of his head, looking confused as he struggles to find the words to properly introduce himself.
(Grit)
[20:19] The cat nodded along with Sterling's words as the lesson began. Whilst they weren't the most interested in psionic's as a whole, there were some aspects which may play into their own studies. They'd require all the information they could get.
"Suppose I'll sacrifice myself as well then for the sake of the exercise. Kateto Espero, alchemist, artificer, doctor, and, while not something I like saying aloud, former witch. I feel the more information we give the better for the exercise, right, Sterling?"
(Kateto Espero)
[20:20] The old timer had arrived only slightly late.
He had floated in through the door just behind Justia - who was leading him here.
Her office?
"Ah, - thank you. I probably would've been lost."
Was said to her with a nod - as he descended to the floor to step upon solid ground once more.
Moving up the steps he heard tell of introductions.
"Just on time. Stede Emeraldi."
He spoke aloud - before having slight pause as he observed a white-haired young lady who had been in the isles not long ago.
He made no weird looks to her, merely focusing his attention over to Sterling.
(Stede Emeraldi)
[20:20] Seeing through time, warping space into your purview and taking control of the very physics of reality?
The budding gunslinger had always had an interest in such things, ever since her studies involving Wayfinding, did she find her interest in the innate metaphysical to capture her eye. She was a natural at metaphysical magics, with the selfsame magics being employed in combat whenever she was whisked into the fray.
But what can one do when delving deeper?
Psionics. What had became a mere tool for her to speak, was now seeming to form into something more. A chance to further her understanding of the Metaphysical, and further her skills as a gunslinger.
Someone aware of their spirit, who can engage in the world beyond anything that was corporeal. Perhaps therein would lay Maria's answer.
Her truth.
She had to find her spirit, a process becoming easier and easier as time would flow.
"Mm?" Maria tilts her head. Crossing her arms as she listens to Sterling. She wanted them all to...introduce themselves?
Oh, she was at terrible at that.
Speech therapy and sound magic had allowed her to project her voice as of late, however. Her mana circuits were slowly cleansed, allowing for the further study of the metaphysical to aid in her magics. No longer did the shadows corrupt her, an opening for what she was truly meant to manipulate.
"...I am Maria Malibu." she says. She projects her voice successfully, enough that everyone can hear. This sentence would be said in full clarity, without the usual stutter or softness to her voice.
Perhaps she had said this alot during her therapy.
But what was she?
Still, she didn't know. She had no fancy title or bombastic line to say about who she was. She was still a nobody, really.
"..."
That was all she could say, wasn't it?
"I am..."
"A gunslinger."
"..."
It sounded silly, did it not? She changes her tone, instead offering a word much more suitable for her line of work.
"Mercenary." A nod, as she gazed around the room. But was she more than that?
She was an alchemist, artificer, and of course, a scholar in her own right.
Especially when it came to the metaphysical.
But for now, she'd hope this would suffice.
(Maria Malibu)
[20:22] Sterling encouraged a group exercise, introductions? Though it had been quite a long time since he had been in a class setting with them as the teacher, he remembered his first class about the same subject though perhaps 10+ years ago.
He would glance around the class, many familiar faces he saw from his wandering, though he would be brief and concise, "The name is Guy." he singular nod as he turned back to face the Sterling.
He wasn't much for the introductions and many of these people would less never see him nor interact after the fact anyways, it made no sense to try to relate.
His eyes shifted and glance to the others as they gave their introductions, some would find his gaze unsettling due to his stern demeanor, though he was simply observing and taking in the atmosphere.
(Guy)
[20:24] The occultic egoist made their introduction whilst glancing at several people in the room."Most of you know me. Some of you I've talked at length with, others I've fought alongside and went to dungeons or dens. Some of you have taught me before -- And the last few, we've fought against each other.
For those that have never caught my name, it is Rika.
Telepathy is one of the many things I plan on learning to aid me in my greatest goal. So far, I've learned occult magic, artificing, and medicine. I'm still in the process of learning fleshcrafting, vitamancy, alchemy, chaos magic and --"
She gestured around the room. Psionics was another interest she had in learning.
(Rika)
[20:26] Grit would look over towards Rika, just blinking...thinking to himself that's a...lot to learn.
(Grit)
[20:26] I am Ikonocles.
It brings a little smile to her face every time, that childhood nostalgia of the big burning guy with the stupid idea to weld a helmet to his head. Niaelyn, too, is warming to hear of- and returning students is always a good thing, the wide array from Agne to Rika, across the span of her gaze. Grit, too, seems to have returned- more than a 'passing participation,' eh?
"Fortunately, Rika, I know most of those things, at least in parts. But, other than that, for now, I welcome each of you. And- ahah, Stede.
Wonderful timing, let's see..."
Her gaze swivels about, and she aptly claps her hands twice, to demand attention- not that she needed to, really- for just a moment. Soft claps mind you. Very soft ones. She is polite and nice-toned indoors.
"Find a partner to pair with.
Since there are ten of you. I should see five groups.
Real, nice and easy little sorting you can do."
(Sterling Montelione)
[20:27] Sterling Montelione says, "And, no, Kateto; sharing as little or as much as you liked would have been fine, hah."
[20:27] Maria Malibu looks at Kateto!
(Maria Malibu)
[20:27] Sterling Montelione says, "But you are already a telepath in one function. I'll be sure to help mute that in the exercise, so you're... 'playing fair,' lets say."
[20:27] Kateto Espero asks, "Well too late to take things back now...anyways, Maria, I suppose we'll partner up?"
[20:28] Niaelyn Bargiel looks at Ikonocles.
(Niaelyn Bargiel)
[20:28] Maria Malibu exclaims, "Yes!"
[20:28] Maria Malibu ahems.
(Maria Malibu)
[20:28] Maria Malibu says, "Y-yes..."
[20:28] Ikonocles whispers something.
[20:28] Maria Malibu nods.
(Maria Malibu)
[20:28] Niaelyn Bargiel asks, "How many hammers am I to hear?"
[20:28] Sterling Montelione says, "All of them."
[20:28] Niaelyn Bargiel says, "Fantastic."
[20:28] Ikonocles asks, "How many does it take to kill a demon sage?"
[20:28] Larithea says, "Hey Guy."
[20:28] Kateto Espero says, "I do wish to learn how to properly use those circuits instead of whatever is going on in my head, so please do mute it without killing me."
[20:28] Sterling Montelione says, "One well placed one."
[20:28] Niaelyn Bargiel says, "That's a good question."
[20:28] Guy asks, "Partners in crime?"
[20:28] Larithea says, "Shore thing."
[20:28] Guy smiles
(Guy)
[20:29] Maria Malibu says, "...I will...try.."
[20:29] Grit would, take a moment to look around, a partner? Unsurre of who, he'd look to Rika and Larithea who he had already interacted with before...Though Guy would quickly close the space between him And Larithea so...
(Grit)
[20:29] Maria Malibu exclaims, "...!"
[20:29] Agne asks, "Mm, Stede? Shall we, 'ya?"
[20:29] Grit says, "Hi Rika"
[20:29] Grit says, "Yup"
[20:29] Maria Malibu says, "T-try not! T-to kill....you."
[20:29] Maria Malibu says, "No dying."
[20:29] Stede Emeraldi says, "I suppose so, mhm."
[20:30] Agne asks, "Kehehehe. Never too late 'ta start learnin', is it?"
[20:30] The cat giggles a bit as they take one of Maria's hands. "Don't worry I won't die. Got far too much to do to allow myself to do that. Just being a little sarcastic is all."
(Kateto Espero)
[20:30] Rika discreetly steals the hair dye jam.
(Rika)
[20:30] Stede Emeraldi says, "I am.. I have done.. learning in this regard before. "
[20:30] Stede Emeraldi says, "... Simply rekindling old learning, so to speak."
[20:30] Grit would just casually gaze over as his partner goes to pick up the jam from Sterling's table...saying nothing, and just looking forward again.
(Grit)
[20:31] Ophis whispers something.
[20:31] Agne says, "Ooh, I have not. There is quite 'tha specific reason I am learnin' this, but it probably shouldn't be privy 'ta 'tha public. Nothing nefarious, 'tho."
[20:31] Kateto Espero says, "Ah, I should probably send a letter back to Mom when I can..."
[20:31] Kateto Espero says, "Anyways, after this class though. Sterling, when you're ready."
[20:31] Maria Malibu smiles, happily taking Kateto's palms in her own.
(Maria Malibu)
[20:32] Stede Emeraldi says, "I am not one to take the easy road, it would seem. Nothing worth doing ever is easy."
[20:32] Sterling Montelione asks, "-- ah... don't tell me there's a new arrival- are you coming as a pair?"
[20:32] Grit would look over towards the two pinkies who just entered the room...both were unfamiliar.
(Grit)
[20:32] Xiao Amamiya says, "I'm just overseeing my daughter."
[20:32] Shiori Amamiya exclaims, "Mhm!"
[20:32] Sterling Montelione says, "Could I be bothered to drag you into this lesson? My 'group exercise' in pairs is ruined with -eleven- students."
[20:32] Xiao Amamiya says, "If, you insist."
[20:32] Sterling Montelione says, "The woes of the mother, I'm afraid."
[20:32] Xiao Amamiya says, "Suppose I never really dd try to learn-"
[20:49] "Mhm, alright, then."
She claps her hands, twice more. This time, she can sort of justify the little attention diversion, or perhaps attention attraction, in this instance.
"Grit, Rika.Larithea, Guy.Ikonocles, Niaelyn.Kateto, Maria.Stede, Agne.
I like these groups."
Her wings slowly stretch out, and she takes a deep breath.
"To the first-time arrivals, welcome, welcome to the Realm in Twilight. One of the Realms in Unreality Talguth is host to.
I am Sterling Montelione, the only psions who surpass me are Loramelian, Lirael, Fauste, and Talguth himself, I'm willing to bet money on.
Those are the only finer hands you could be in."
The windows, the light from the realm of Twilight outside of them, each glimmering star, are snuffed out. The room goes dark, but they can still hear her. From where? From which direction? It is unclear. They simply 'know.'
"[In the Mythic Era, when the spirit realm and ours were more closely connected, it was commonplace that all humans had the power to enact psionics. Telepathy, spoon-bending, future-sight, and a great many more acts.
But generations have passed. The circuits we all have that allowed us, once, to do this, have atrophied without use.
I can see them in each of you.
I can speak to them in all of you.
And sometimes, you hear the errant nerve signal through them.
Today, you will do nothing but that.]"
The room is dark, yes, but they can still feel where their hands are. They know that they are standing, or flying, or floating, each. They know that they are here, and they remember their position in the room. The towering Ikonocles of the east, the consistent wing-beats of Agne in the center, the distant and faint melodies of Larithea and Maria in the west. But those thoughts beginto wane.
If Talguth was like a god, and the realm was Its to control, this part of the keep, this office, was Sterling's very own demiplane.
And so, having been willing, each, to learn telepathy through whatever means, there was a silence that befell those thoughts. And they grew quiet.
Were they standing?Floating? Flying?Where were those landmarks again?You're sitting on the giant's head- or are you?Are you standing next to your mother?Weren't you by the altar, in the window light?
"[It is often spoken of in tales how the blind monk grows hearing exceptional enough to battle with. We will put this into practice, albeit, in a more drastic way.
I deprive you of 'the physical.'
The sensations therein; touch, scent, sight, sound, taste, proprioception, you cannot tell where your body parts are.The natural instincts of flesh are bereft of you.
And, so, in theory,]" she says, as if she hasn't tested this before, "[in this Place Most Removed, you should be able to hear as I do.
It will be as murmur and whispers.
But, you will hear.]"
A singular presence shines in the darkness. A myriad of eyes, beheld to a blanket of Darkness Beyond Black. It's Sterling, the anchor for the exercise, a golden eye spared to each of you.
And then, the person to your side- or below you, Niaelyn- faintly visible as an outline. A silhouette of how you remember them.
You try to 'speak,' and your mouth comes up dry. It is as if the organ was sewn entirely.
The intent, here, is clear. To use the 'atrophied circuits' that all your remaining senses buzz through, to 'speak.' And, at the same time, to 'listen,' to your partner.
First-time comers, this is going to be very difficult.
Returning students? Much easier.
Kateto is full well and capable of perceiving the world about them- as is Edwyn on the lower floor- but there is a full and unwavering gaze from Sterling in their surroundings. A 'knock, knock, knock' gesture with their fist comes next, tapping on an absence that resonates with Kateto.
And then it's back to a 'returning student,' for the witch.
"[You don't have to try to think of anything complex.
Mess around for a while. Try to feel out your body and your world through these circuits, try to speak, if you want. Listen, if you're so daring.
You, and your partner.
One, and two.
Black, and white.]"
Have fun stumbling around.
(Sterling Montelione)
[20:57] Bonbon goes over, sits on the floor, and leans against flyancee's legs as she picks here to nap.
(Bonbon)
[21:01] As strange as it is, being without sight, without sound, without taste and all the rest of her senses. Cast into the magical equivalent of a sensory deprivation tank, and left disoriented. All she can do at first is listen to Sterling through this weird part of her brain she wasn't aware of before.
Waiting on something to happen, as all she does is breathe once Sterling goes quiet. She thinks she's closed her eyes and takes what she thinks to be a deep breath. Before she tries to use that part of herself she had never used before. Casting out the thought of 'Guy and Lys Forever!' over and over again. On a constant repeat, faster and faster paced with each and every attempt until it all blurs together into one word. Yelling into the darkest, deepest depths of her mind to try and extend out toward Guy.
The struggle is epic, it is titanic. But does she manage to do it? Just barely, after what feels like several eternities. It only lasts for a fraction of the fast paced message "Gu-" And then her connection to that part of her crumbles as it fails to continue. Leaving her to struggle and start back yelling only this time, no matter how much she struggles, she just cannot connect once more.
(Larithea)
[21:07] Should the old captain wish to, he could simply set his mana ablaze.
His hair was once red - and for a good reason.
It would generate plenty light to illuminate the room.
But that would be too easy.
He was a master nature magi, and - considering there had been plants in the room?
He could feel those easily enough. Reference points.
No need to panic, no loss of surrounding.
Or perhaps the blood within each who was nearby.
But that was not the point of the exercise.
Wayfinding had given him a special connection, and a requirement of a great memory.
Little was left to the imagination.
Yet he had to focus outward. Without such.
And so he did, much alike the times before - with Ksceniya as teacher.
Practice with Grey.
Sterling even in the square of Goldlight.
A gentle reaching outwards.
A little tendril of his own psyche would search and find each to identify.
Sterling would no doubt notice this. He was a more advanced student.
Agne - if nothing else, being the closest? Might feel the slight touch upon her own psionic circuits, only briefly as the man scanned the room.
"[Hello.]"
Simple enough, best he not panic anyone.
After all.. this was meant to be a learning experience, eh?
Patience, as he would wait for Agne.
Or for Sterling to speak further.
(Stede Emeraldi)
[21:07] The woman's palms clasp against Kateto's. Their warmth echoes upon her skin, a calm radiating through her body as she squeezed. A direct connection between circuits, Kateto being able to hear Maria's deepest thoughts, just the same as their own...
"Better...not..." she teases. Her voice was becoming more and more alive as time went on. A raspy, soft and barely audible tone to something more bombastic and confident.
Whose idea was it to give the mute a voice???
"..."
She smiles, nonetheless.
Here in the realm of Unreality, where she felt so familiar and tender, would she learn the first step to manipulating it's embrace.
A light is snuffed, embraced in darkness, as the very stars that would shine give way for the darkest of one's thoughts. She hears the voice of Sterling, still grabbing tight to the cat's palms as she did so.
Was she scared?
The rubbing ofher thumb against theirs would say so.
Perhaps she was just excited.
"..."
Maria's circuits were potent. She can hear the errant nerve already, as if it were a spark, ravaging through her psyche. It was a gentle thrum, nerves firing, activating innate circuits. Kateto too, can feel the electric thrum against their palms, connected to the very circuits that were embedded in Maria's palms.
The thrum continues, as Sterling speaks. Her voice echoes upon her psyche, radiating through her skull amongst a darkened embrace. Maria's hands are locked with Kateto, a gentle breath, as she finds herself here in the present moment. A gentle melody radiating from her frame, a comforting song for those afraid and lost in this darkness.
A song for herself.
"..."
It is silenced.
Naught but the feeling of Kateto's palms in her own. Even if she opened her eyes now, she'd find nothing but darkness. The only feeling in her view, being that of those warm palms. Darkness reigns supreme, a unending silence echoing upon a vast nothingness.
A void.
Oh so familiar...
No sensation. No thought or feeling. Not even a faint numbness. Merely the voice of Sterling...
And that damn darkness.
Deprived of all sense, Maria finds herself...scared. It was an odd feeling, to be adrift in this void. And yet Kateto was there, still. Holding tight onto her palm, making sure she didn't drift too far into that void.
It was a good thing too. Something out there wanted her.
Something so comforting and familiar.
It almost felt parental.
"..."
Maria drifts, across this void of nothing. Again, does she find the presence of a smile in her purview, perhaps beading eyes, echoing into her skull to follow through. A wave of a woman's hand, beckoning her forth. Offering refuge and sanctity, offering a chance to embrace her shadows...
She hears as Sterling does. Mere murmurs and whispers. Mere thoughts, echoing upon Unreality. A desire for one's daughter, a chance to be reunited once again...
Their story was over now, wasn't it?
It was Maria's time to write her own.
She'd easily drift, if not for Kateto. Keeping her locked with her palms, still in this reality. An anchor, so that she did not lose herself in the shadows.
A myriad of eyes, one held to each, and grabbed by Maria. No sense of self, no sense of flesh.
Merely you.
["Kateto...are you there?"] A faint whisper, as she drifts across the starless sky.
["I can feel you..."]
She stumbles about, senses wavering to make way for naught but the circuits in her psyche. They buzz and hum, energies pulsing, looking to both listen and speak. Her body was nothing but these circuits, a window into her soul.
She can feel them, can't she?
Mere inches away...
"..."
["Who are you?"]
Another presence. Mere inches away. She can feel her too. The woman in black. A gentle presence, watching and waiting as she would drift in this abyss.
It doesn't answer.
["...Why are you following me?"]
Again.
It doesn't answer.
Maybe Kateto can feel her too.
Someone with a soul just the same as theirs.
A darkness Kateto once had, lingering in this one's as well..
A soul of a Witch.
["S-stop...following me..."]
"..."
(Maria Malibu)
[21:08] Slowly, the lights in the room winked out.
And slowly, the visions began, and the evening bell began to toll.
It began as but a subtle laughter, as nails on a chalkboard, and then the black turned to blood red.
The screams turned into cries of mercy.
Pleading faces appeared within the inky redness, followed by visions of mangled corpses upon spikes, with the grim face of the demon sage of ash behind it all.
But then, a tug from that little muscle he had first become aware of so long ago.
And a mental outpouring of flame turned the visions to mere cinders. His mind was not the plaything of a demon, it was his own, the authority imbued within his blood made it so. The flames could not snuff out the visions, but instead surrounded them, packing them into a tight ball, surrounding all of the gruesome images with a blanket of flames; a firewall of sorts.
Once it had been contained to his satisfaction, he slowly began to reach out with that little tendril that had been exercised so faithfully all these years with the thoughts of hammers. He drove those thoughts upwards, the purest image of the hammer he wielded thrust forwards into the inky blackness that now blanked his perception, towards the little blue drakanite atop his head.
This was but a fight, one that he had to win.
Powered by that tiny muscle the hammer formed of pure thought strained against the barriers around it, swinging to and fro, aching for release.
But it was not the hammer that was meant to be heard, rather the hammer simply provided room for what was to come, an opening to be exploited by the most intrinsic part of his being, that which he had come into the world with, and that which could never leave his side.
"[I am Ikonocles]"
The throught, thrust upwards towards Niaelyn, but who could say if it reached her mind.
(Ikonocles)
[21:09] Once again, Niaelyn listens to the explanation of the psionic muscle that all humans once possesed, something she had already learned to stimulate some time ago. It didn't matter too much, the repetition, she was glad to listen regardless. When partners were asked for, Ikonocles seemed the most obvious choice. They had known each other for nearly two decades- at the worst, Ikonocles would provide the most difficult partner to deal with, a welcome challenge. While most would likely burn at the prospect of sitting atop the giant, she seemed to be almost comfortable on her perch.
It was rather instant, the darkening of the room, the snuffing of their senses. It may have been cause for panic perhaps, but fear of the dark was not exactly one the Drakanite possessed, she had already had her fair share of psychic injuries after all. Still, it was odd- wasn't she just on top of Ikonocles a moment ago? She could hardly, if at all, feel the heat that radiated towards her.
Sterling's voice echoed through her head all the same, no different than the thousands of times any telepath had done before, and yet somehow, it felt louder, clearer. At the reappearance of the Psion, she shielded her eyes from the golden light, having grown accustomed to the infinite darkness. Beyond her, Ikonocles, barely visible below her, an orange cloud of energy somewhat resembling the man.
All things considered, Niaelyn didn't seem to be struggling too much, it seemed that breathing in the mists of unreality twice over had helped her build a tolerance to this sort of thing. Any attempt to speak was rendered pointless, the point of the exercise becoming rather clear.
The action of closing her eyes was rather pointless, focusing her will towards her head, stimulating the muscle as she had done many times before. Much like a transceiver, she opened the channel into her thoughts, access provided to Ikonocles via the contact they had previously. Although, she was not a telepathy, not quite yet. The message, although clear on her end, would perhaps only reach Ikonocles in sporadic bursts- like an old radio signal.
"[Ah, this is a new sensation, wouldn't you agree..? Do me a favor, think loud thoughts, I think it would help..!]"
A simple, rather mundane message, but she was unsure if Ikonocles had done the same mental training as she had, so to speak. There she remained, suspended in nothing, hoping that her message reached its way below her, towards the man she could scarcely tell existed.
(Niaelyn Bargiel)
[21:09] She tried to speak in response- but she couldn't?!
It was a beyond terrible feeling.
The will to speak, yet the lack of execution to do so.
The drive to move, yet the fear of her first steps tugging at her.
The desire to see, yet met with nothing but the cold endless void.
["This is really scary..."]
Her first thoughts flew to mind- thought she couldn't even express herself. What could she do? For a sheltered small child- the answer was depressing nothing. Crouching onto the ground, she soon realized that she had signed herself up for something far worse than expected.
["Mom-? Where...are you?"]
Shiori called out the abyss-
But no one answered.
In her head, her voice was like a plead. Without her mom, she was entirely lost. To her it didn't matter that the room was pitch-black or that her senses had been brutally robbed from her being. What matter was that her mom wasn't right next to her- the place where she saw her last.
Sure there was a gold light in the center of the room...
The teacher: Sterling Montelione.
But...it did nothing for her.
To Shiori?
Her mom was her everything.
(Shiori Amamiya)
[21:12] The Drakanite was intently listening to the voices in her head - she weirdly had a -lot- of experience of people talking to her via more.. direct methods. Regardless, sensory deprivation was not something Agne was used to, in the slightest!
Depraved of all her senses, she only had her Mind to listen to. And in some ways, that is the most terrifying thought of all. This was not comfortable, or even less than painful - it was very.. fear-inducing.
The task? Talk. Child's play, except they were in the most seemingly most massive sandbox, with blindfolds on, without hands or ears - just talk! Yeah, this was definitely going to take some time.
There was atleast one focus, however. That of the man that was beside her previously, a Stede Emeraldi. She didn't know the man well, only having had one conversation with him. But it was something, right?
An attempt to project her thoughts.
"[Hello?]"
To the man, nothing could be heard at all from the Drakanite - a deafening silence.
"[Can you hear me?]"
If the man could sense activity of Agne's psionic circuits, then there would only be a trickle of mana managing to reach it, though the upper half of her body was concentrated with more mana than usual. An attempt to force the withered part of her brain alive.
Maybe emotions were required? Even Agne knew nothing was happening. A fire trying to start itself would find itself stumped in it's efforts. The emotions would have to be organic, which she could not force herself - or could she?
Flashing images of her town ablaze flew through her mind - an attempt at self-trauma. It most definitely irked her, as a single thought escaped her mind.
"[Stop..]"
That mana managed reach her dead psionic circuits - lighting up for but a moment. It was unfocused.
(Agne)
[21:13] PM from (OOC)Sterling Montelione: INSANE MARIA LOREDROP?
[21:15] She looked down towards Shiori, thinking about how to go about this. Her brother and eldest son had been using telepathy, so she was entirely use to the concept of it all. However, it's never something she took seriously to learn. So, this would be a great chance for her to not only learn, but motivate Shiori to work hard as well!
Talking wasn't going to do anything in this moment, and it's not like she really could... So! She had to do this the only way they were allowed to. To try and control her mind, and allow her own spirit to speak in her place.
Xiao fully concentrates on Shiori before her, starring towards her as she tries to channel her thoughts into Shiori. Certainly, there had to be a way to do so fluently... or at least, being able to get a couple of words off.
She takes a deep breath, in and out...
"[You can... relax.]"
Another breath is taken in and out...
"[Relax your mind... your body...]"
Xiao herself was completely calm, and taking in the bits and pieces she can hear from her daughter. She had to remain a rock to her, as she kept her focus.
"[Simply... remain at peace...]"
(Xiao Amamiya)
[21:17] Grit would keep his gaze set on Sterling, his gaze unerring, atleast after he witnessed Rika's petty theft. Sterling would then call out their names of the people in groups, his head popping up a little as Sterling did. Grit, if he was being honest, already had a lot of faith in Sterling. Sure they haven't really had a heart to hear or any real deep interaction, but over the past eight-plus months he's been a captive he had seen how Sterling likes to help out and he already know his psychic abilities...the last lesson's visions of Unreality were proof of that.
After speaking the names of each group, Sterling would seemingly give a quick refresher on the history of Telepathy once more. Still, he'd pay attention to it all the same. His Determined gaze didn't change...though it was odd, it wasn't that long ago where the boy wasn't able to really express himself emotionally. Now, he can due to some of his more recent breakdowns...
Regardless of that, he would continue to wait and listen to Sterling, wondering what today's lesson will include...though he had an idea, given what the last one was.
And thus he found himself once more, in a realm familiar yet unfamiliar, seemingly hostile but no real threat, Dark but visible....Grit really didn't like it here, especially after what happened last time. It was seemingly nonsensical, just a void, not abiding by the normal rules of reality, or at least, that was his perception of it all.
Grit would find himself, in the dark realm once more...though, it wasn't as...hostile as before, not at first at least... Still he'd just look around, he'd be able to see, Faint outline of Sterling, he'd try to call out but nothing was said...His voice was dry. Grit's eyes would widen at the realization, but he'd quickly understand, Afterall...it's not the first time he couldn't speak...potentially not the last either. But he'd quickly disregard that thought.
Speaking of thoughts, that was his main way of communicating before his capture. He'd speak to Sabrathi-el through his thoughts, quite a lot, not because Grit himself was a telepath, but Sabrathi-el was. He's also constantly getting messages from Justia as well through his thoughts. After thinking about it for a moment, Grit would realize, this wasn't anything new for him. Still, besides Sterling's outline he was completely deprived of any sort of sense, so what should he do as he floats within a black void.
Just then, Grit could 'hear' though that might be the best worst for it, the lesson that Sterling would try to impart. It was more like he felt it, internally, and odd feeling.
But he'd turn around, or so he thought at least, and try to do as was instructed.
"[This is...different, not sure anyone can hear me, but, I will do what I can.]" Grit would think focusing his thoughts, focusing his being, not as if he was much of a being at the moment. Still, after he did, he could hear...something, though it wasn't meant, it was much like a static tv noise, were these other people, was it his own internal demons again? Grit didn't know, but it's not as if he had anything better to do given his current condition.
"[Were these the voices of the others?]" Grit would quiet literally think aloud, as he would try to focus more on them, more on these voices, and they would get clearer and clearer. Like this, Grit would continue to focus his 'hearing'. At this point he wasn't even thinking anymore, his entire being in this abyss-like void was focused entirely on listening to the these static voices of others. He could not feel, he could not hear, he could not say, but, he can be...wherever he is being at, right this moment, and though his being did he try to....almost absorb the voices, the static sounds, he'd try to encapsulate them, as traditional hearing was a no go.
(Grit)
[21:18] It was so peaceful here. Devoid of every sensation. Still floating, into nothingness. A natural response would be panic, but to her? It was comfort. The thoughts that weren't her own had stopped for once in her life. The voices could no longer be-
[What are you doing? Focus.]
The egoist still heard their inner voice. She was not experienced in perceiving others telepathically yet, but she had a different sense. That of mana. Everyone had that innate ability, even if it wasn't overtly trained.
And what better way to be noticed than to become a star?
Mana was channeled around her very being. If she wasn't able to sense the rest before - she was trying to now. By becoming a beacon of the most random thoughts and having a mana signature so concentrated that even those without telepathy should be able to at leastfeel that there was something there. Any telepath that has ever had a transceiver on a popular channel would know how annoying this would be. Especially when whatever was being communicated held no coherent structure.
But she didn't need it to have structure.
This went on for awhile until Rika got comfortable to be alone with her thoughts. Trying to scan for others-
Grit was close, wasn't he? Maybe the demon child could communicate with her. The random 'signals' of thoughts seemed to fade, but she still very much was the beacon of mana that every cosmic magi enjoyed being.
"[Grit? Are you still there?]"
She may not have known exactly where her partner was, but she was looking directly in his direction. Was it pure coincidence or was she finally beginning to use that atrophied circuitry?
(Rika)
[21:19] Listening to the Psion, Kateto lowered their head and closed their eyes to focus on the words being said. This time preparing for what was to come unlike last time. They would not make that mistake twice and be thrust into a breathless void.
As that blanket of Unreality was draped over them, tearing their sense of physical perception away, Kateto loosened his eyelids, evidently surprised to be able to perceive the environment before Sterling began that knocking gesture, the Cat nodding in gratitude to the teacher before their perception was drawn away proper as well.
That emptiness returned to their mind. A complete lack of sense, feeling, anything washed over their mind once more. But Kateto was familiar with this now, at least not panicking when they lost any sense. Though, that was not entirely true.
They felt an emptiness. Like missing flesh from a bullet hole which was filled moments ago, yet in a location they could not determine. Though, given the lack of senses they were forced into, trying to find that location in terms of the physical was a lost cause. That was the only concrete thing they could pursue in this spiritual form.
The power within that bullet hole was sealed by Sterling, but, it nonetheless had to be close to the part of the brain which Sterling spoke of. That atrophied circuit which had been awakened forcibly. More strung up like a puppet in it's current form rather than properly in use. Fed through the memories of others and a power Kateto had grown to despise.
It was the only thing they could reach out towards, focusing their mind upon that wound, and the area around it. Hoping to keep prodding until they hit the circuit. However, they soon heard Maria's voice break that void, that small presence they felt confirmed to be her's. They tried to pulse their mana to the area around the wound. The saturation hopefully sending some of the message out.
"[I...here...]"
The net cast was too broad, wasting much of the message, but it narrowed their efforts slightly. They had to keep prodding. Once more they pulsed their own energies, in a smaller area.
"[Ma...ri...a]"
The full message was sent out this time around, yet in parts. They were getting closer, yet something broke their concentration, that presence within the Malibu's own mind. Far too familiar to the former witch. The cat's mind pulsed again, more erratically as they tried to just press all the energy into a smaller location hoping it'd work.
Yet all it did was break their concentration. Shots in the dark seldom hit their mark, and they were returned to nothingness once more.
Progress...yet one which came at a worrying time.
(Kateto Espero)
[21:20] Stripped of his senses, deprived? Sterlings words touched his cerebrum, though was he truly affected, no, though he would play along, he could see clearly the threads of those in the room, ones that connected them, there was no mistaking that. He wouldn't move from where he originally was, simply to play along.
He would hear Larithea's constant thought being sent out over and over, almost like they were rooting for his relationship with Lys, he found it to be cute.
While he was necessarily affected, Sterling was putting on a show for the class, to better help them to come to terms with the process, he would cast a thought to Larithea, "["You know once is enough... Though I thank you for your support."]"
(Guy)
[21:44] Larithea's enthusiasm strikes the visual of Sterling's eyes. A bob of psionics horns is present, as while they are all limited to spiritual senses in this chamber of black, Sterling sticks out like a sore thumb. Lari stumbles over their own thoughts, trying to put a muscle they discovered only recently to use.
Stede, the captain, did well. Little to be said- he was a practiced student, after all, and he was put into a prime place to use his ancient circuitry, that he's already had experience using. He was a mute, nearly, when Sterling interacted with him. When that tunnel stretched out to meet him, but now? He was well and truly steady, firm, and speaking.
To Agne, only, but that was fine for the purpose of their exercise. 'Hello,' sent!
WHERE IS MARIA? Here, like everyone else, but the panic is slow, and daunting, and then oh-so real. Whatever inner turmoil that the scenariowrought in her was contained, at least, to two people. Maria, herself, and Kateto. Even if Sterling could gaze, she could not 'know.' Not in that way.Maria is scared.
Ikonocles has a lot more on his plate, granted, than anyone can really fault him for. The thoughts are murky, when nearly-alone and almost-isolated with them, the giant beholden to nothing but their most recent and all-encompassing failure. Their loss. And then- that focus, that swinging pendulum of effort made to 'swing' their way into an open window, and chase it. I am Ikonocles. Niaelyn can make it out, moments after her own words cleanly reached him. If not only for their proximity, for Niaelyn's… third visit! Or fourth? Her calmness and her proficiency made her Sterling's favorite student for no small reason.
Shiori got here a bit late. Didn't grasp the full situation that they were in. But, now they were here. But her thoughts are internal, they are simply 'known.' And that kind of raw intent finds its way to none other than her telepath-aware (but not practicing) mother, nearby.
Xiao, in kind, was the stone. A calmer mental fortress that selectively steadies herself, and stands as the grounding for Shiori in this moment. It is a good trait to have, when learning. And it bodes well for their budding knowledge beforehand. At least they're there for her. But one thing remained true.Shiori was scared.
Somehow, Agne had the brilliance to traumatize herself a little just to drive some kind of emotion up and out to respond to Stede's clearer message. Still, it's... its', okay, sort of, somehow, maybe it was the stable(?) environment and the particular attunement toward the learning process that she enabled. But Sterling's spotlight like gaze in the distance tilts, her head, with it.
Grit's pretty on the nose. 'TV static.' It suffuses and subsumes the world, of darkness and of no physical body image. They are a spirit, as far as they- or almost everyone- are concerned. An 'out of body experience,' albeit, far from actually being out of body. Sterling's not THAT good. Wrought with the perspective of the world, having imbibed that same mist of Unreality before, they are a little more keenly aware of the darkness that spans the distance.
And the Rika right next to him.
Rika, who aptly channeled their every bit of idle energy towards just... being loud. Sterling rolled her eyes- 'mana' wasn't the focus of a psionic lesson, but as if bashing your head on a chalkboard with chalk attached to it in order to write, they did get an iota of the thought across. More like a 'skthcsckshcskht' than a 'Grit? Are you still there?' But..! Well..! That's better than silence! And her circuits might remember the experience. Bitterly, but remember.
Kateto arguably had it the worst. The witch, who could already use telepathy, was a student in a telepathy course. Or maybe the once-witch. Still, they were nobody who underwent abscission, as Sterling very well knew (what-with her obsessive tab-keeping on the Ab-scissor's physical health), and so they were effectively compensating for that spiritual awareness by suffocating them.
Silence that felt literal. Stagnancy that pervaded.
But Kateto wasn't warded, or daunted, and they moved forward.
That was good. Even if the circumstances revolving around Maria seemed grim.
Even if stripped of sense- Guy wasstill here. That eye, one of hers, originally, cannot be so easily snuffed by its source. She cants her head at him, who sees clearly in the darkness, sort of killing the point of the lesson in a way, but, there are merits in that method, too. She waggles her fingers, and shrugs, masking a dead-silent chuckle with little more than fingers on the chin of a mask while Guy played along with the scenario provided.
It's not like he's not used to telepathy, what-with Lys'Ria.
(Part Two coming up.)
(Sterling Montelione)
[21:55] Oh, is that everyone already? Well, that's good. She's starting to show cracks in the composure, not particularly a façade, though, if she won't let it. Like Unreality, very similar, but not quite right, a black mark seeps through one of the dragon horns on the mentor's head. It starts from the tip, bleeding down in an ink towards the base at the back of their skull.
Shiori was scared.
Maria was scared.
Shiori and Maria see it, a mark on Sterling, irrevocable. They see tar. Streaks of grime that drip down the ivory and the psionic runes, that she doesn't seem to notice, until the thoughtless gesture comes to tap it with her fingers. Like blood, or like ink, it is taken into her prints, and looked at more closely through that black mask.
It paralyzes her, for a moment, and then it is flicked away and to the ground.
But they already saw it.
A piece of The Void.The great beyond. The corpse that separated worlds.The plane of mayhem- its touch.Sterling was scared, too, you know. You were, too.
The darkness that envelops the room slowly dances away and recedes, whilst light slowly pours through the windows again. Twinkles, at first, before the realm in Twilight is again allowed to illuminate the office. She does not speak, but their senses come back- one by one. The feeling of the spirit is fleeting.
It's your mother!
It's your friend!
It's the partner you partnered up with just this one time you just met!
It's-- it's a dragon, okay she's new, hi Ksceniya.
The influence of Unreality, and Something Else, ebb away from the psionic blanket that warded the office, and the participants in class. She lets out an uneven sigh, and her wings sink to the ground, draped along it like a cloak, cape, or robe, but not as the elegant symbols of Freedom that they were.
"...alright.
That's all.
I'm very sorry, I had an issue." Another check-up on the ink running down the left horn, confirms that it's still there, and a handkerchief, is lifted, and carefully drawn along the bottom of it (as to not snag and tear on the fractals). Mopping up the rest of that.
"That was not in the lesson plan. But it's fine.
Nobody underperformed," a glance passed to Rika, scrutinizing her method, still.
"Well, nobody gained nothing from this, at least.
I think you've all done rather well."
(Sterling Montelione)
[21:59] Stopping after she had heard Guy, a smile made of rows of sharp teeth spreads across her face. But then Sterling speaks again, and she claps her hands. The shark child clearly glad that she had even managed to be heard by her exercise partner. Giving Guy two webbed thumbs up, mouthing something to him 'Team Guy Forever.' Clearly supporting him and his relationship by extension.
Though once the light and her other senses return she blinks yellow eyes repeatedly. Then lifts her hands and claps for Sterling, giving her a wave and a grin of her own. "Thank you for the lesson, Miss Sterling! Whatever that stuff is, I hope it heals soon and well."
All in the all the shark child is happy, an exciting first lesson with hopefully more to come in the future.
(Larithea)
[22:02] Light came back, as well as that ever familiar awareness that they had gotten used to. The suffocation upon their spirit lifting as their eyes fluttered open once more. They didn't know what it was like for the rest of them, but like what Sterling had said earlier, complete deprivation birthed knowledge of that which their senses ignored. That hole in their head where the bullet of essence had awoken their circuit being an anchor for the cat to seek proper control over that circuit.
Yet, for now their mind was on Maria, and what she had gone through. Even if they could not know exactly what had happened, they still looked worried, squeezing her palms slightly. "W-we're back. Maria are you doing alright? I don't know what was happening, but I'm sorry I couldn't help you back there..."
(Kateto Espero)
[22:05] Agne's mind received the world from the storied man, as her senses eventually come back. She returns to Reality on her knees, kneeling. Her wings are crooked, not properly held up by intent - put into their lowest energy state, drooped to the ground.
Only two words manage to escape her throat:
"Oh dear."
That quite well summed up the experience - a spark invigorated in her psionic circuits. Not much, but -something.- Her head was spinning at this point, the flood of senses coming back to her leaving the Drakanite in a daze. Slowly but surely, she rose to her feet, coming to face Stede.
"I did hear 'ya, I don't suppose 'ya heard me. About excepted 'fa someone who neva did telepathy before, 'ya. But something happened, that's 'fa sure. Thank 'ya, Mista Stede."
Agne takes stock of the other people around her - Sterling obviously dealing with her own problems.
A large dragon, Ksceniya - had appeared. She seemed to be rather peaceful, so nothing of note there.
The rest are in some state of apathy, shock, sadness or understanding - had she come to a therapy session using sensory deprivation?
(Agne)
[22:05] A breathless, unending void. |
To be thrust into it without warning, to know nothing but that thrum in your mind, the only anchor to what was your real self admidst nothing but darkness.
Nothing. A lack of sense, feeling, or any thought that might waver into one's psyche. She felt as if she wanted to panic, if not for how oddly comforting that feeling felt.
Her atrophied circuit was awakened, calling out for Kateto. As if to ask to save her...
From what?
Someone please save her.
["Kateto??"]
She floats too the pulse, focusing on naught but that simple saturation so that she can find her way throughout the desolate void. Poking and prodding, until Maria can finally link her circuit with their own.
It would pulse, it would echo, yet as far as it would reach.
Something was interrupting the signal.
["...P-Please!"] she sends her own pulse through the void. The darkness splits, if not for a mere moment. Something beyond this reality, beyond this world, was trying to grab hold of Maria...
She felt it coming closer. Each step, an echo and thrum in the darkness. It was a familiar darkness. The very same soul of one that was born with it in their heart.
The cat's mind pulsed, and they'd find an anger within that darkness. Something wanted Maria, to pull her in to that desolate void and never bring her back again.
"Hah...hah..."
The outside of Maria's breathes were unfelt, but her physical heart would waver. Naught could be felt, except...
A hand reaching through.
"!!!"
["Kateto!"]
It grabs her. A tear in reality, reaching out from nothing like a desolate shadow, pulling Maria into her embrace.
Kateto's mind would work to pulse that familiar energy. Maria would continue to drift toward it's safety, as if she were swimming through nothing but a gauntlet of memories and echoes. Reaching out for something or someone to save her form this Void's wrath.
Where was Maria?
She was here, like everyone else.
But she was scared.
...Scared of what?
The panic continues. At first, a mere caution toward what would lurk in that void. Until her heart would rise, an inner turmoil that had caught the attention of someone or something out there in that blank nothingness.
She sees it.
"!!!"
It couldn't be described, nor deciphered. Not by any sense of the imagination. How can one's mind decipher something that was nothing? A concept that was both everything and nothing all at once?
She couldn't know or even begin to describe what it was she saw. Her mind might liken it to a smile, or the whims of a lost soul, begging for someone like herself to grant her reprieve.
But she sees it, the irrevocable mark. Streaks that drip from the psionic runes.
It was so comforting.
As it was frightening.
"..."
Maria simply accepts her fate. Whether it be to drift into this veil of nothingness forever. There was a point where she'd forgot what she was, finding both a delicate embrace and a relieving nothingness to it all.
Until it was all over.
She reaches out. Psionic pulses, grabbing onto Kateto's own pulse. She drifts and drifts, until she finds her hands clapped tight onto their own. The darkness of the room recedes, and open eyes would find...
Blackness, still.
But she could feel, at least. Senses come to light, as she would holding tight to Kateto. Arms wrapped around them as if she were to fall from letting go, her face buried deep into their chest.
Her breathes wavering and wary,
"Hah...hah...hah..."
She breathes heavy breathes, eventually pulling herself from Kateto's embrace. She was numb. Sloely, her senses begin to form. Sight, touch, taste, smell...
Until she was herself once again. She gazes at Kateto confusingly. It was as if she had lost her sense of self! Until...
It all came back in an instant.
Right, she was Maria Malibu.
She was here for a lesson in Telepathy.
And she was here.
"K-...Kateto..."
She turns, finding a familiar mark upon that woman's horn. A black ink, running down her horn and onto the floorboards below.
She tilts her head. Maria would want to stay and ask, to decipher what it was she had seen.
Was it anything at all?
But for now...
It was time to recover. At the very least, her psionic circuits had upgraded! More leeway to practice telepathy.
She'd only hope there was no cost.
(Maria Malibu)
[22:08] Grit would, continue to just try and understand the static, unable to do so, as well as he would hope. Still, grit was determined to see to try for as long as he was able. And so he kept trying, but no matter how he tried it just wouldn't work, it wouldn't go through, it was just the same static...
Soon, though the light would come through, would come back, he could see, touch, hear, taste, again. Though admittedly, he was a little disappointed. Not having succeeded in really listening to the other voices, just hearing static in an empty void.
Still, at least he heard that much, it wasn't just him and his own personal demons this time. Was that from the difference in lesson, difference in Grit, or something else? Grit wouldn't know, but either way he was thankful, and felt like he made at least some progress.
As he opens his eyes, he would give Sterling an affirming nod, "Thanks for the lesson sterling. I will be ready for the next one when you are." Grit would say with a slight smile. Though he says that, if he was being honest, it took quite a good bit of concentration and mental energy for him to try and focus in on the static noise, he wasn't sure he could do that again right this moment...he'd likely need some rest.
(Grit)
[22:08] An echo of the past haunts Sterling.
The murky darkness was more than just illusion.
The inky black running down her horn made sure of it.
Stede would make no mention of it.
Though he recognized a few of the signs.
It was nothing to play with.
There was no reason to panic, or make a scene of it.
Though the lesson was cut short? It would be no issue.
He would improvise. It would be fine.
A small ping would occur on his Transceiver.
"Ah, I am.. I suppose it is convenient.. I am being called home once more. Appreciated, Sterling.. even if brief."
He would turn to Agne, giving her a small grin.
"Though I could hear all you said - Agne..? Only the last of your efforts left your own mind. Do be careful, though - overstressing yourself will lead to awful headaches."
A nod followed - he would wait for others to say whatever they needed- before he would leave homeward.
(Stede Emeraldi)
[22:10] Shiori well certainly tried to compose herself. However, with a lack of mom, it was nigh impossible! The only thing she could look at in the room was Sterling. Who...actually managed to calm her down a bit. Mainly due to the fact that she forgot about her predicament- if only for but a few seconds.
Blink.
Was that...black tar streaking out of her horn? At first, Shiori didn't quite get it. Why would they be-. Was that the void itself? It wasn't a conclusion she came to naturally, but was more like an instinct whispered into her ears. She could just feel as though it was the concept of nothingness itself.
And yet, that too was scary.
The instant that her senses had returned and that the void was switched off- well. All the floodgates burst open for one. A teary-eyed Shiori immediately stepped towards the pink-haired individual beside- bestowing upon them a tight hug! Almost upon reflex, a word rose to the tip of her tongue.
"...Mom-!"
...
What an experience...
For now, she refused to speak- merely settling for a hug. It is said that there is no stronger bond than between mother and child. Perhaps there was merit to that statement in her actions.
(Shiori Amamiya)
[22:11] Rika couldn't hear anyone, only vaguely sense particular figures, but whether that was due to her telepathical sense sharpening or simple mana recognition remains unknown. At the very least, she sounded like an abused transceiver constantly going off before.. It had all come to an end. Rika still stared directly at Grit even after her senses had returned -- still glowing with mana! That's enough of that, no need to keep channeling herself as a beacon for the stars to resonate with. Nor be seen and sensed for little reason.
"Sensory deprivation at large. I can see how that'd be useful. Was that part of our 'unused circuits' or something else with the metaphysical?"
She remained completely oblivious to whatever that problem or issue happened to be. Surely she wasn't the one to cause it either, right? After all, if you're not scared then nothing scary happens.
(Rika)
[22:11] 'I am Ikonocles'
It came through, loud and a clear, the same proclamation she had been hearing for over half her life now. She would only assume at this point that her own message made it's way through, the drakanite pleased with herself.
However... there was more, wasn't there? A flickering imagine, yet not one observed with her eyes, but her mind. It was dangerous, perhaps ill-advised to seek it further. Her curiosity, however...
It was open to her, clear as day. The day the Citadel fell. Niaelyn, through matters of inconvenience or otherwise, was unable to make the trek north, nothing to offer besides prayers. Here, now, she could see the legions of demons- imperfects ready to bear down upon them.
Worse still- Ikonocles' own vision, the horrible doom inflicted upon him. She could feel his chill, the discomfort, the lingering despair- all of it as if it were her own. It crept up her spine like a shadow, chilling her to the bone.
"[Oh... Ikon...]"
There was little to the message, but it would come through clear with intent- a sympathy rarely offered. The image began to fade, the mountains of the north ebbing away from sight, as her sense proper began to return to her.
It wasn't long before she were whisked out of the infinite dark in it's entirety, finding herself in the position she had begun the lesson within. She peered downwards, still perched on top of the giant. A single pat was offered to the helmet, a small gesture of empathy.
He sight tore away from the giant, amethyst hues locking on the center of the office. The two were surveyed, a small hint of worry present at Sterling's condition. "Sterling- are you alright?" Of course, she wasn't aware of all that had happened, only what she could observe right now.
A low hum, as she peers up to the ivory dragon that had entered the room mid lesson, a short wave being offered. "And- Hi, Ksceniya."
(Niaelyn Bargiel)
[22:11] Maria Malibu says, "..."
[22:11] Maria Malibu was shivering...!
(Maria Malibu)
[22:12] Xiao was doing a great job at keeping focus throughout all of it. It was part of her mental fortitude of course! But the more important thing to her as maintaining that rock for Shiori. This was an experience that could be a little scary to start things out... and given the experience, she really couldn't blame anyone for feeling that way.
For Xiao though- she would not. She gained something from this, and that was a better understanding as to how to get better at this, and be able to do this consistently.
However... she keeps her eyes on Shiori as she realizes that they weren't exactly as thrilled as Xiao might have been at this point.
She envelopes Shiori into the hug, knowing how difficult this must be for her.
"It's all okay dear- it's okay... I'm right here."
(Xiao Amamiya)
[22:13] Hmm, his senses might've be stripped though his vision remained steady, his eye possessed the power to see clearly through even the most blinding of darkness, though too he is well versed in telepathy. He isn't one to set all his cards down on the table and why should he.
He played along throughout the class in hopes to learn something new and so he attended, he heard the voices of the others echoing throughout his cerebrum as their thoughts came to the forefront of their minds.
Their thoughts and experiences were made known to him, others would cause his gaze, his minds eye to come upon them while others made him narrow his vision, questions to be had, while others didn't grasp the concept fully though perhaps they would come to learn in time.
Sterling... hmmm...
His message to Larithea would have resonated in their cerebrum, he watched as her shark teeth grinned his direction with two thumbs up as they regained their senses, a smile came across his face as he gave them a singular nod returning his attention to Sterling once again, what exactly was that, what did he just witness...
(Guy)
[22:15] The dragon, newly introduced to the room, and perhaps not entirely sure what's going on, would lower herself into a frontal rest near Sterling, crimson slits staring down at her daughter as a small frown would cross her large maw. For as the fractals on her horns would shimmer into light, she would know what bleeds from Sterlings horns.
Void, black as the inky sky. The horns she created to contain these emissions and feelings from her mind. And they may seem to be slightly failing, albeit it is nothing she fears. She is a dragon, born from one of the beings that created the world from nothing, void the absence of all is yet something that can be filled.
Yet she still knows the horrors those inclined to the void can put upon the land. It killed, or perhaps was the assistant to her cousins lovers death/suicide after all.
"...Mmm." A slightly disgruntled rumble would flow from the dragon's maw as her head would lower to gently look over the ink covered fractals, ivory filling her horns as a bone born diagnosis would resonate with what she created, what was once her's. The seals should be holding, unless something has changed...
"...We'll talk a-bout thiss-ss later, honey."
A promise of a rumbled sort, kept to be held by a dragon's honor, and perhaps a mothers concern alike.
(Ksceniya C. Montelione)
[22:15] Ikonocles listens as well as he can for a man without the use of his ears at present. As he sends his thoughts to what he thought was upwards, so too does he attempt to listen with that odd little psionic muscle of his.
But whether it be his tyrium helmet occluding the transfer of thought, his nimble brain dodging all words thrown its way, or his simple thick headedness, the entire message didn't seem to make it through.
[Ah|||h|||I||||||||sens|||||||||||||||||||||||e|||||D|||e a||||||||t|||||||||||h|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||!]
An unfortunate error in communication.
His heart began to pound, visions of terror flooding his mind, and in a flourish he tore his weapon from its spot atop his back, his flames rising to full strength around him in a primordial inferno.
His blood was pounding in his ears, tearing through his veins as he was filled with adrenaline, striving to destroy that which terrorized even his waking mind. His great eye finally opened, ready to behold the form of the demon that had scarred him so.
But all that he beheld was the towering form of Ksceniya, the one who had reignited his own fire of hope, and though his heart continued to beat as if it were attempting to escape from his chest, he overpowered the feelings and forced them down, back into the wall of flames he had erected around them, and slowly the adrenaline too receded.
"I..."
The words broke in his throat, but he hardened his resolve, forcing them out through gritted teeth after a deep breath
"am Ikonocles."
(Ikonocles)
[22:17] "It's alright, it's alright." The cat's soft voice said as they were suddenly held onto tightly, unknowing of the aid that they had provided to the gunslinger through those erratic pulses they had made as a last ditch effort. Trying to calm her heart with their voice until she returned to her usual self.
Mayhaps she was dangerously close to ego death, or maybe becoming something else entirely, but for now, all that mattered was that she was still herself and here.
"Ah good...I was worried you weren't able to speak again. You don't know how much just hearing your voice eased my heart." They said with a light-hearted smile. It meant she was alright after all.
"You need a rest now, Maria? Admittedly I do think I pushed myself a bit too hard at the end there...head hurts like Hel."
(Kateto Espero)
[22:17] Maria Malibu says, "I felt..."
[22:17] Maria Malibu says, "...S-some..."
[22:17] Maria Malibu says, "Something..."
[22:17] Maria Malibu says, "...But I...h-heard you..."
[22:18] Kateto Espero says, "Something...so that wasn't just my own spirit I felt..."
[22:18] Maria Malibu says, "I d-don't..."
[22:18] Maria Malibu shakes her head! It didn't seem she wanted to talk about it!
(Maria Malibu)
[22:18] Maria Malibu says, "Th-thank you, though."
[22:19] Maria Malibu gives them a soft smile.
(Maria Malibu)
[22:19] Xiao Amamiya asks, "You're alright, yes?"
[22:19] Kateto Espero says, "It's fine it's fine. Don't push yourself, as I said before."
[22:19] Maria Malibu says, "Mhm-.."
[22:22] Idle nods are given to each, Rika inquires, and Sterling responds.
"Psionics are not necessarily metaphysics. Just very close. Think of it like training your body to do 'physical' magic, and your mind to do... meta. Physical. Magic."
There is an idle clack of horns, concerns from others waived, while the diagnosis was sought by The Montelione herself. The runes, fractals, the like...
They're holding up!
It's not as if something withered them in particular. It's just as if, for a moment, the 'bucket' designed to contain the infection was given 'a little too much water at once.' A surge in the subject, an 'overflow,' that dripped down.
That handkerchief was a right mess, now, though.
"Thanks, mom."
She slumps over whatever is the closest limb of ivory dragon scale available.
"[Class adjourned, thank you all for coming. You all did fine.
I told you it would be okay.]"
She just wishes that going from 'you are in the fourth best hands on the continent' to 'THE ROOM IS GONE' didn't scare people. It never scared her. Maybe she should reconsider her approach? Then again, one of them is a literal child, and the other has an emotional support Espero.
She'll re-evaluate her lesson plans when she has the energy.
For now?
Slump.
(Sterling Montelione)
[22:22] Yuki Akatsuki says, ". . ."
[22:22] Xiao Amamiya asks, "Shiori?"
[22:22] Sterling Montelione says, "Oh."
[22:22] Maria Malibu says, "Mm-.."
[22:22] Maria Malibu asks, "W-wanted...to talk?"
[22:22] Agne says, "Thank 'ya, mhm."
[22:22] Maria Malibu asks, "Kateto?"
[22:22] Sterling Montelione says, "Sorry, I lied. I'm the fifth best psion on Meranthe."
[22:22] Sterling Montelione says, "The fourth or third or so is downstairs."
[22:22] Maria Malibu asks, "About s-something...y-yes?"
[22:22] Kateto Espero says, "Oh right! Yeah yeah, been meaning to talk to you for a while now."
[22:22] Maria Malibu exclaims, "Okay!"
[22:23] Maria Malibu says, "Thank y-you...Miss Ster-...Sterling."
[22:23] Stede Emeraldi says, "Mmm.. "
[22:23] Maria Malibu waves!
(Maria Malibu)
[22:23] Niaelyn Bargiel says, "That was... an experience, to say the least."
[22:23] Sterling Montelione waggles her fingers at Maria.
(Sterling Montelione)
[22:23] Maria Malibu says, "Hi, Yuki."
[22:23] Maria Malibu exclaims, "!"
[22:23] Ikonocles wordlessly stalks out of the room, fire trailing behind him.
(Ikonocles)
[22:23] Stede Emeraldi asks, "Still, to be in the top ten, Sterling?"
[22:23] Yuki Akatsuki asks, "Oh. You can talk now?"
[22:23] Maria Malibu says, "Am learning-...to speak...n-now..."
[22:23] Stede Emeraldi chuckled lightly.
(Stede Emeraldi)
[22:23] Niaelyn Bargiel floats down to the floor.
(Niaelyn Bargiel)
[22:23] Maria Malibu says, "Sort...of..."
[22:23] Kateto Espero says, "Let's go find somewhere to rest first. The more time I spend in Unreality, the more I lose my grip on actual reality."
[22:23] Stede Emeraldi asks, "Speaks for itself, eh?"
[22:23] Maria Malibu says, "S-speech...therapy..."
[22:24] Sterling Montelione says, "There are..."
[22:24] Sterling Montelione says, "Not many."
[22:24] Sterling Montelione says, "Gloomlight is small."
[22:24] Grit says, "Again, appreciate the lesson Sterling, see you next time."
[22:24] Stede Emeraldi says, "There will be plenty more in time."
[22:24] Sterling Montelione says, "..I'd say..."
[22:24] Kateto Espero asks, "Ah, and hey there Yuki. Long time, no see. Has Nomul been well?"
[22:24] Yuki Akatsuki reached out with a small clawed hand, psi-flame licking at the air as she...Pet the Maria.
(Yuki Akatsuki)
[22:24] Yuki Akatsuki says, "Well done."
[22:24] Maria Malibu exclaims, "!!!!"
[22:24] Sterling Montelione says, "Symbiote-bearers and -extremely- advanced witches..."
[22:24] Maria Malibu says, "..."
[22:24] Sterling Montelione says, "Are roughly comparable."
[22:24] Sterling Montelione says, "Not many witches this time of year. Hahh..."
[22:24] Maria Malibu is patted! Her fate is sealed, for she can not escape!
(Maria Malibu)
[22:24] Yuki Akatsuki says, "He's been...Nomul."
[22:24] Maria Malibu says, "Heh..."
[22:24] Sterling Montelione says, "Of course, Grit. Thnk you."
[22:24] Ksceniya C. Montelione raises a arm to gently help Sterling slump against, bobbing her head.
(Ksceniya C. Montelione)
[22:24] Kateto Espero says, "Haven't heard from him in a while, so I was a bit worried."
[22:25] Niaelyn Bargiel asks, "Everything alright, Sterling?"
[22:25] Maria Malibu asks, "Talk l-l..l...later? Yuki?"
[22:25] Sterling Montelione says, "Ahh, Niaelyn, do you remember..."
[22:25] Grit he would wave behind him as he goes to leave, his eyes looking over at Maria as she dicuses therapy on talking...it seemed to have garnered his interest.
(Grit)
[22:25] Sterling Montelione asks, "Were you there, when Kakku got eaten alive?"
[22:25] Yuki Akatsuki says, "I haven't either. Something happened, I'm sure. But...Mm. Later Maria. Be well."
[22:25] Niaelyn Bargiel says, "I... cannot say I was."
[22:25] Yuki Akatsuki removed her hand slowly.
(Yuki Akatsuki)
[22:25] Sterling Montelione says, "Kakku got eaten alive."
[22:25] Sterling Montelione says, "I got mauled."
[22:25] Sterling Montelione says, "It was bad."
[22:25] Niaelyn Bargiel says, "I see..."
[22:25] Maria Malibu exclaims, "You-...t-..too!"
[22:25] Yuki Akatsuki nods.
(Yuki Akatsuki)
[22:26] Niaelyn Bargiel asks, "Is that what's ailing you now?"
[22:26] Sterling Montelione points at her head, trailing a finger along the Ksceniya-horn shaped horns.Like mother like daughter, apparently.
(Sterling Montelione)
[22:26] Maria Malibu says, "We go, Kateto..."