escordvi | closed ⚡🪶 and forevermore, i'll be chasing the storm we had.

[Did Ixions bushy lightning tail wag a little bit? Maybe. There's definitely a look of pride as it neighs.

...

Seriously whose egi—

Cid furrows his brows as he steps closer to it, edging around the circle.]

But not even its hooves? There's not a scratch or dent to it.

Edited 2024-01-26 16:28 (UTC)

[Her egi now—

"It has been trying that for so long... but could never move or break it," the sprite explains as it shakes its head, watching where Cid's feet walk with wariness.]

Either the horse is weak, or there is something preventing it from breaking it.

[Whatever that means, she has no idea.

But as her eyes scan the blood on the ground, she remembers that she'd tucked something away into her satchel. Her free hand reaches down into it and pulls out the bone knife she'd discovered in the other room, turning it over so that the red jewels shimmer in the light.]

I found this, too.

[Cid inspects the broken alter a little more closely. Black rock... Obsidian?

He then looks over and eyes widen a bit.]

I found a dagger as well, but made of something different. Reckon they were used here?

[Knives and daggers are often used FL for rituals, which this is looking more and more like, and not unheard of to have different ones for certain purposes...]

This is no ordinary dagger.

[She holds it out to him, keeping Ixion carefully balanced in her hand, and he will see that the blade itself is not made of steel, but of carved and sharpened bone.]

I would assume so. [Her nose wrinkles.] Given the blood on the floor.

[He's returned so he can take a closer look.]

Bone, eh? And likely from a particular beast.

[Hmmm.]

This is the one I found.

[He pulls out the silk cloth bundle and reveals the dark blade, it also showing blood stains.]

I'm not an expert, but this must have been some kind of blood ritual. For what, though, not sure I want to know. Didn't seem to end well for them.

[A jerk of his head to the aged remains.]

[A beast... Well, that's a much more optimistic way to look at it compared to what she had been thinking... Blood rituals tend to be as dark as they come. The kind of magick that she would not want to dabble in.

But it's when she sees the blood stained onto his that her breath finally catches, the disgust twisting tight in her stomach. She knows exactly what these must have been used for, and the evidence is laid out pretty clearly around this altar.]

Clearly the horse didn't like it either.

[She shakes her head.]

I've a feeling there is more to this all, but I would rather not stay to find out.

[A wary nod as he wraps the dagger again and places it back in his bag.]

There are bound to be researchers looking into this, assuming they can get past the horse. Better let them deal with figuring out the mystery than us.

But first... Come here, you.

[He reaches out to pluck Ixion from Benedikta's hands. There's a small whinny of protest before it pouts at Cid. It seems reluctant to disappear, but after giving one last longing look at Benedikta, it poofs with a flash.]

Going to drain the aether out of me that one...

[Oh, she kind of liked having him sitting there, even if he made her hair follow wherever he went. She won't ever admit it aloud, but the miniature form was kind of...cute.

And when the egi disappears, her eyes move down to the dagger in her own hand.]

Are you going to give that dagger away?

In all honesty, I'm worried there might be some curse on it. Never know what kind of magic was used on it.

Better let someone else deal with that problem.

A perfectly good knife...

[She snorts under her breath, because he's probably right, but she would have gladly taken it if not for that. She's just... going to pocket this bone knife and decide what to do with it later...

As for the rest of it...]

I am not touching that altar, so let's just get out of this room before it places a curse on us.

[He knows those scholars will pay a high price for it so he's quite content with the payout.]

We've gotten all we can, anyway.

[But as he takes a few steps forward... He notices the little fire sprite following.]

Edited 2024-01-26 18:06 (UTC)

[Well, maybe if she knew that there was a high payout, she'd consider parting with it, but she also has a ton of jewels and coins, too... Hm.

Still, she can't help but feel that twinge of disappointment again that, although they came out with what promises to be a lot of gold in the end, they didn't come out with a single damn thing related to that relic. She really should not have gotten her hopes up, but even a hint would have been enough. It would have been something... a single step, or even half a step closer to finding it. Every moment that they waste not searching for it is a moment closer to the rifts taking one or both of them back...

A thought that she tries not to mull over too deeply, remembering his words in that room, when it's interrupted by the sound of the crackling that follows behind them. She stops, turns, and arches a brow at the sprite that is right on Cid's heel.]

I don't suppose you'll be going back where you came from?

[The sprite quivers. "Well, I... I was wonderiiiiiinnnng......"]

[But what is she going to do with a bone dagger—

A slight arch of the brow.]

Did you want something we picked up?

["N-no!" And yet it still fidgets.]

[It's lightweight and sharp and very throwable—

Benedikta mirrors his arched brow with one of her own before she continues walking back in the direction they came. She just wants out of this room before it kicks them out for them.]

Well, best of luck, then.

["W-wait...!" More fidgeting, and the coin drops to the ground. "I don't want to stay down here anymore..."]

Edited 2024-01-26 18:42 (UTC)

[Also very tacky.

Cid just stares at the sprite... And be gets the feeling he knows what it's getting at.]

Are you forced to live down here? Can't you go out and travel on your own?

[It won't be so tacky when it saves her ass—

"Well, no. Not really... As long as there is a way to keep burning, then we don't have to stay. It's not hard, though!"

Benedikta looks down at the sprite as if it's grown another head.]

So then why not just go?

[The sprite fidgets with the coin, and then fumbles and drops it again. "I would still need someplace to go back to... a fireplace or kindling, or lava!"]

There are plenty of fires around Nogard. And Eltrut.

[It turns its big eyes on Cid, hoping that he is picking up on what it implies, if only because Benedikta doesn't care enough to. If the sprite wants to leave, then it should just go find someplace else?]

[He can hear it clear as day... And he can't help but be amused.]

You know, I've been curious. What can a little fire sprite like you do?

[Also let's just pretend they are still walking further away from the altar.]

[The sprite clears its throat.

"Besides helping you find the treasure room—!" It helped, and the ends of its flames surge a little with what can only be assumed to be pride. "I can light fires, keep them going, give heat, and cook things! I'm not as good as the older fire sprites, they can do all kinds of things like become bigger, but one day I'll be able to be as big as them!"

Benedikta arches a brow. Older sprites?]

So, you are... a child?

[What even is this right now.]

[This is a little amusing, and the little fire sprite lowers its head a little shyly, its earlier bravado diminishing a little.

"Y...yes... I first awakened not that long ago..."]

That explains quite a few things. But why us? Surely you've seen other travelers and adventurers.

[The little sprite looks between them and then at the coin in its hands.

"Because... No one's given me anything before...

And and you two are so cool!!"

Why did it look like it's eyes were shining... And what a strange thing to say when he thought the thing had been terrified of Benedikta earlier.]

[It's Benedikta's turn to preen a little. Yes, she is very cool.

Only now does she pick up on what it's trying to say.]

So, you want to leave with us?

[It yelps in surprise, as if it had just been caught red-handed stealing again. "Y-yes, Windy Lady." Can a fire sprite blush? Because if it could, it would be right now. "That is... if you have a place for me..."]

[A wry grin as he glances at her before idly stroking his chin.]

Well... I suppose it would free some resources. Could find a place on the ship, if not my workshop. Depends if you'd like a crowded or quiet place.

[Why is he looking at her???

The sprite fumbles with its coin again. "Well, I... I want to meet more friends..."]

Human friends, or other fire friends?

[Because Cid sure does have plenty of the former. Bargaining with a fire sprite is weird.

"If they are like you two, then h-human..."]

The ship it is then. Presuming you promise not to burn it down?

[It squeaks. "NO!! Never!! I can control how my flames burn...most of the time..."

He's going to guess that's part of being a child, but that's an interesting little trick regardless.]

You also won't be able to stay for free—you'll have to earn your keep.

[It salutes at him. "Yes, sir! I promise I will be the best fire your ship has ever—oops!" And there goes the coin again.

Benedikta, meanwhile, rolls her eyes, though not without a slight quirk of her lip.]

Looks like you've obtained yet another crewmate, Cidolfus. You'll run out of room soon.

Just means I'll have to get a bigger ship—or a base.

[A wry chuckle. He really does have a habit of picking up strange things—]

But we're not heading back to the ship for a while yet... Can you make it there on your own or can you wait for us to pick you up later?

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