He looked away from alister "Yeah …okay." he wasn't expecting the hug, he hugged back until ALISTER decided to hug back, he smiled slightly as he gripped Alister's hand.
"thanks..you too.."
He smiled back, though a bit tearfully. He could feel Noel breathing steadily on his back, which he supposed was a good sign. In fact, as they went down the stairs, Alister realized she was sleeping. He was almost jealous, wishing he could lie down and take a nap at least.
As they continued down, the air became colder and colder, the passage darker and darker. Alister tried to keep calm, tried not to remember the days inside that basement, pleading with anyone, anyone to let him out. It was difficult. Sometimes he heard his father screaming at Noel while he was stuck in the dark. Sometimes the siblings switched roles. Sometimes they were in the basement together. He tried to tell himself what he told Noel. Breathe, breathe. He was sure Evan could feel his hand go clammy and shaky. The weight of his sister on his back was both a blessing and curse.
Ignis could feel Kali's pain. So once he stepped inside the temple, he waited for her. I don't want to hurt any of you. But i will not leave Darkness again….ever.
Once Kali entered she was looking down, she bumped into Ignis. She looked up at him before looking down again and stepping back a bit. "Hey…" She wanted nothing more then to embrace him, and never let go.
She didn't know if he wanted to embrace her, she bit her lip.
"Your….you…wouldn't hurt us….arcanis is just trying to get into your head….i would know…"
She let out a sigh, still holding her arm.
(* Me waiting for them to exit the air temple to introduce Earl *)
"That's…just the thing." Ignis found it hard to speak, "He did get in my head." He then smiled, turned, and lifted his shirt. There was no scar, no wound, no sign it ever existed, "But he didn't get far enough…"
"I didn't mean phsyically get in your head dork…" She huffed, but moved closer to him, she put a hand on where his scar used to be feeling it before removing her hand.
"i still meant what i said, you won't be our downfall. I'm glad he didn't get far enough in, i knew he wouldnt."
She kinda kept to herself even though she wanted to embrace him badly.
He looked away from alister "Yeah …okay." he wasn't expecting the hug, he hugged back until ALISTER decided to hug back, he smiled slightly as he gripped Alister's hand.
"thanks..you too.."
He smiled back, though a bit tearfully. He could feel Noel breathing steadily on his back, which he supposed was a good sign. In fact, as they went down the stairs, Alister realized she was sleeping. He was almost jealous, wishing he could lie down and take a nap at least.
As they continued down, the air became colder and colder, the passage darker and darker. Alister tried to keep calm, tried not to remember the days inside that basement, pleading with anyone, anyone to let him out. It was difficult. Sometimes he heard his father screaming at Noel while he was stuck in the dark. Sometimes the siblings switched roles. Sometimes they were in the basement together. He tried to tell himself what he told Noel. Breathe, breathe. He was sure Evan could feel his hand go clammy and shaky. The weight of his sister on his back was both a blessing and curse.
Evan sqeezed his hand tight enough to let him know that he was there for him no matter what, he could sense this was a soft spot for him and he wanted to be there to support the both of them. "Hey Alister, I'm right beside you this whole time alright? We can do this."
Alister squeezed back. "Thanks. It's just… this reminds me of things I'd rather forget. I… I'm glad you're here." His voice quivered slightly.
The ground leveled out, and only the faintest of light was left. Alister could barely make out Evan's figure beside him. The air was still, freezing. He shivered, his arms were riddled with goosebumps. It felt like they were inside the temple's belly, as his last few words echoed as they entered a larger space. Even down here, there didn't seem to be walls to define where the temple ended and the underground caverns began. It was quiet too, so quiet that Alister's mind had an easier time imagining and remembering his father's screams and sister's whimpers, much to his dismay and anxiety.
Just then, what little light there was went out. Alister stopped in his tracks. He caught the faintest scent of something like incense before it was gone and the temperature dropped ten degrees. He moved closer to Evan for warmth.
A breathy laugh drifted through the dark. The voice had returned, though not pained and desperate like before. Now it was calmer, sounding more amused and curious than anything.
"The girl must carry my burden, and the boy… he must manage it…"
Ignis put down his shirt and his smile was lost. He wanted to hug Kali but his mind was still troubled. He wasn't yet sure of his capabilities. "Kali, we are not safe. I especially. I am hated by the other elements. My element is an element of havoc due to it's history. After you…Darkness died..I wasn't exactly nice."
"But it wasn't you was it? It was ignatius, and darkness had just died. They had been close…you can't think that someone's gonna react in a appropriate way if someone they care about just died…and i don't care who hates you, im still going to be by your side no matter what."
She moved forward, reaching for his hand to grab it and hold it in hers.
"I'll protect you.."
Alister squeezed back. "Thanks. It's just… this reminds me of things I'd rather forget. I… I'm glad you're here." His voice quivered slightly.
The ground leveled out, and only the faintest of light was left. Alister could barely make out Evan's figure beside him. The air was still, freezing. He shivered, his arms were riddled with goosebumps. It felt like they were inside the temple's belly, as his last few words echoed as they entered a larger space. Even down here, there didn't seem to be walls to define where the temple ended and the underground caverns began. It was quiet too, so quiet that Alister's mind had an easier time imagining and remembering his father's screams and sister's whimpers, much to his dismay and anxiety.
Just then, what little light there was went out. Alister stopped in his tracks. He caught the faintest scent of something like incense before it was gone and the temperature dropped ten degrees. He moved closer to Evan for warmth.
A breathy laugh drifted through the dark. The voice had returned, though not pained and desperate like before. Now it was calmer, sounding more amused and curious than anything.
"The girl must carry my burden, and the boy… he must manage it…"
Evan huddled up to Alister' as well, though he wasn't bothered by the temperature drop as much as Alias her was, he put his arm around him. When he was in the foster care center they had horrible heating, and the ac was always on high. So he felt familar to this cold.
"we got this Alister'…" He Sqeezes his hand, offering a smile.
( @Story_Creator would Air be able be able to sense Kali and Ignis’ presence?)
(Yes. Once they stepped inside Air could sense them )
Ignis avoided Kali's hand in hesitation.Then took her hand gently. Ignis's fiery eyes looked at Kali. He saw every memory of them together, it made him smile. "I…I.." He mumbled, "…thank you."
When he pulled away from her hand, it made her scared and even more nervous but when he took her hand I'm his. It made her more confident then before, it made her feel a lot better to have some sort of touch.
"of course ignis, Always." She offered a smile smile.
(Alright just making sure)
When they entered and as they talked, the mist surrounding them became more and more agitated. It swirled and drifted, rising upward and curling around their limbs, as if inspecting them. Eventually it came to the point where the way they had come and they way they were going was shrouded in the churning fog. Faint whispers seemed to rise from it, murmuring among themselves.
Evan huddled up to Alister' as well, though he wasn't bothered by the temperature drop as much as Alias her was, he put his arm around him. When he was in the foster care center they had horrible heating, and the ac was always on high. So he felt familar to this cold.
"we got this Alister'…" He Sqeezes his hand, offering a smile.
The temperature continued to drop. Alister squeezed back, unable to see Evan’s smile, but greatly appreciating that he was here with him. There had been no AC in his father’s house, so Alister remembered many burning summers, a few of which had days spent in the basement. Those were the hottest days of Alister’s life, and he was quite unused the cold. But being here in the cold reminded him of the winters, and that was what he was really focusing on at the moment. There would be moments where he really contemplated the possibility of dying from hypothermia.
And to think you could die right now. The voice was inside Alister’s mind now. He inhaled sharply, and the freezing air was invigorating, yet it seemed to freeze him in place. Suddenly he got his wits about him and realized what was going on. The temperature was still dropping, lower and lower. They had no way of finding the way out of this place. They could very well die here. This place was the basement. Alister started hyperventilating.
Enough, I will have none of that, boy. The voice wasn’t sharp or loud like his father’s. It was gentle, almost motherly. You have spent far too long being manipulated by your surroundings, going in circles, circling, circling…
I had to go in circles, Alister replied. I had to or I would be punished.
You were not meant for that confined cycle. What was done to you should never have to be endured by anyone. The fear that is circling in your system needs to go.
But maybe I deserved it. There has to be a reason why that happened to me. It must be my fault. Another part of Alister’s mind was concerned by how quick and automatic his replies were.
The reason it happened had nothing to do with you. It had everything to do with him. He planted those dark seeds in your heart. He made you believe you were something subhuman, a monster. That you didn’t deserve kindness, or love. You know this. You know that these are lies.
Alister shuddered, and not just because of the cold. He spoke aloud, though his voice was barely above a whisper. “I do.”
He lied to you.
It was as if it was the magic word. Something snapped inside of Alister, and blood roared in his ears. Something he hadn’t felt in a long time was rushing, circling in him. Rage.
Evan was breathing just fine, he was.
The cold hadnt bothered him, even the "life threatning cold" didnt phase him. he could be wearing shorts and a tank top and he would still feel like he was wearing full layers.
it was just the fact of the matter,he grew up in cold temperatures, ever since he spent time in the foster home, adoption centers, they always blasted the ac.
The heater was always broken, and during winter if the heater actually worked it barely helped in the long run.
So he was doing just fine.
he gave alisters hand another squeeze of comfort, even if alister couldnt see his smile he could feel his squeeze.
Ignis turned to the room, observing the fog that had surrounded them. He didn't let go of Kali's hand. "Kali, what do you feel? The fog I mean. There's something odd about it."
She just tightened her grip on ignis's hand,
"I think Air knows that were here, don't worry I got your back if anything happens."
She looked around where they came from to see the fog.
"i can….hear whispers..'" she looked around, trying to listen in on what they were saying.
Ignis smiled and kissed Kali on the forehead, almost by instinct, "I am a master of magic and wielder of the Eternal Flame. There's nothing that I can't handle." He turns quickly to the interior, "Yes voices. Voices here and there. Loud voices. Distant and loud voices. Voices of those not many recognize."
