forum Elementals Chapter 4: Celestial Tides (OPEN)

Started July 16, 2020 by Deleted user

tune

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Ignis let out a massive charge of energy, spreading far about the temple. Pillars and walls crumble slightly to the heavy shake. Ignis didn't feel the slightest weaker, but Ignatius grew furious. Withing the shockwave, several outlines were made out, clear enough to know the illusion was still in effect, "Astra! Do something!"

Arcanis realized what had happened. He ran towards Ignis and the seal, "Enough of this! I am going to get what I came for!"

"Freedom…" a voice shivered with glee. "Oh, glorious freedom…"
As Arcanis made for the seal, a rush of wind and smoke intercepted him, throwing him aside. The smoke dissipated to reveal Astra, their eyes glowing silver and with utter, simultaneous, delight and rage.
"Ohhh illusionist," they breathed, mad laughter twinging their voice, "Think this place is your little playground? Is that it? Think you can send your little minions to surround my children like wolves to the lambs?" Curling their hand into a fist, they stole the air from Arcanis's lungs, asphyxiating him, and not allowing any more air to enter. "How interesting. You forget who I am, what I can do. It would do you well to remember, if you want to live."

Kali curled up her fist, staring down at it. She willed it to have flames of darkness, anything better then being stuck like this. She yelled out as she couldn't see anyone else, she saw how things around her were being manipulated, she knew something was going on that arcanis did.
She just didn't know how to break it.
She took a deep breath, and focused, she..saw her darkness growing before disapearig again. She looked around, before seeing arcanis and …who? Was that air?
She looked around and saw the others, before they went away.
come on!
She summoned a ball of darkness, and aimed it at arcanis. She threw it at him and as soon as it hit she ran over to ignis,
"Ignis!" Her panic shot up when she saw his condition, she willed herself not to panic too much bit she was so worried about him, what had happened.

Evan noticed as the illusion started to fade and he saw alister and Noel, his eyes widened when he realized what he had been squeezing had been alisters hand.
He looked over and saw the same person he had noticed earlier.
"Alister! Noel!" He yelled for them, hoping with the illusion starting to fade that they could hear him and see he hadn't abandoned them.

Ignis felt the hands of Kali, he embraced her in relief. The aura he gave faded, and the wounds had finished healing. Something in his eyes showed the fear in his heart, Could he be…? Shaking off the thought, Ignis stood up and approached the seal once again, "Astra, remember that I released you out of my own will. I alone have no quarrel with you, nor the others. This hatred was passed down by memory, none of which I experienced. Remember you do not know me, therefore I am no enemy." He sat above the seal, performing the protection spell again, "Grant me your element, so that I can assure only your children can open this seal."

Arcanis only smiled at Astra, further mocking their existence, "I do not answer to you. Your time is past, and ours is beginning. We will take our place in history, as the elementals you have created." He held out a smooth stone, with a rune engraved. His eyes flash purple, and then he was gone. Physically gone.

Teleportation, Ignis thought, His level of mana control must place him a descendant of a prime elemental, but which one?

Suddenly, it was like Alister had pushed through a heavy curtain. Evan's hand and arm became visible, real, just after he saw a faint outline of it. And then came is voice. His voice. It was loud, and Alister couldn't help but flinch, but soon his eyes filled with tears. Despite wanting to, he couldn't say anything, and just pulled the other boy into a hug. When he pulled away, his hand reached up to Evan's cheek.
"Are you okay? I'm here now, do you need water?" His eyes glanced aside. "Noel!"
She glanced to him. He wasn't gone. Relief shook her bones, but she had seen Astra looming over Arcanis, and the smell of the sulfur dioxide still invaded her nose. She allowed some of it to fall away as Ignis came over to the seal.

Astra looked down at where Arcanis had vanished. They seemed to frown for a moment, but it was gone quickly. They dissolved into fog, then reappeared at the seal. A slightly unhinged smirk spread on their lips.
"Well, little flame," they drawled, "You look just like him, you know." They then looked to Noel, and gave her a nod. Looking a little shaky, Noel carefully collected the sulfur dioxide so that no one would inhale it, then inhaled it herself. Though to most, it looked like she was simply moving her hands and then breathing deeply for no reason. She coughed, her throat starting to burn again, and seeing this, Alister rushed over and put his arms around her.
Turning to Ignis, Astra raised their arms a little, letting wind swirl around the seal and Ignis. "I promised that I would bring the illusionist to you, Ignis, in exchange for my freedom. Since that clearly cannot be accomplished now, I grant you my element instead."

Feeling the air shift around him, his spell lit up bright. The seal started to glow, and a symbol appeared on Noel and Alister's forearm. Once the spell faded, and the seal dormant, Ignis approached the two with a tired but satisfied smile, "The alchemical symbol for air. From now on, only you two and Astra can open the seal of Air." Almost completely drained, he began to walk away, "My visit was outstayed, I believe it is time for me to return home…"

Evan embraced alisted, hugging her close and letting warm tears fall down his face and onto alisters back. He was so glad to have him within sight and just he was there.
He hadn't left.
Neither of them have.
He was so glad to see their faces again.
He let alister go as he rushed to his sister, and he watched them both exhaling and wiping his eyes.

She embraced him back, squeezing him without trying to hurt him.
She watched as everything went down, and she rushed towards him, supporting him and helping him walk.
"Ignis! You can't walk stupid, let me help you alright?' She wasn't gonna take no for an answer.

Still holding each other close, the siblings studied the symbols on their arms before Noel started rubbing her eyes. The coughing had subsided, but nausea and exhaustion now set in. Alister let her lean on him, though rather tired himself, and turned to Astra. "Thank you."
Astra blinked, then looked away, as if they didn't know how to respond. "I have given you your inheritance. You see why it can be a burden now. That is why one must carry it, one must manage it. Use it well." Then they called after Ignis. "You better believe it's time for you to go! Everyone, out, out!"
A rush of fog overtook the area, and when it cleared, everyone found themselves at the entrance to the temple.

Without further argument, Ignis walked away towards the direction of the tower, "I am not quite in the mood for…social interactions. Ignatius isn't the happiest right now and…I don't want any of you hurt."

The silence in Ignis kept him from noticing any attempts of attention from the others. His body numb from the repeated injuries, not even the healing kept the pain away. Ignatius was furious, the body they shared strained and stretched. His fire dim and calm. As they walked, Ignis mumbled the spell for teleportation. It took a while since his concentration was set on something else entirely. His migraine overcame his focus. Eventually it worked. Ignis walked towards the tower in front of the others. The tower was more of a tall building, several floors. A hotel building renewed into a private complex. Invisible to any unsuspecting eyes, the building was perfect for living, and keeping plenty of guests. Ignis opened the doors, only to feel an empty void. No barks? Where's Yin in Yang? Where's Amara?
Nonetheless, Ignis knew he needed rest. He'd find them later. With a firm nod, he retired to an open room, unoccupied. Of course, he failed to notice the cold chill within the building.

There hasn't been anyone around….not for a while…

Kali felt like the farther he got away from her, the farther they felt in relationship. Like a Gap was slowly opening up in between the two of them. He had rejected her help, hadn't even addressed her personally. She understood he was tired but all she wanted to do was help.
Why couldn't he just accept her help? They finally had a chance to relax together and he didn't even want to do anything together. He didn't seem to want her.
Evan noticed how kali looked after ignis after he dismissed them, he went over to her and put a hand on her shoulder.
"Hey, I'm sure he didn't mean anything by it."
He spoke softly.
She just shrugged his hand off,
Her voice harsh, "i don't want to talk either. Don't try and comfort me like you know me.'
She walked off towards the house with a hardened exterior.
Evan sighed, slumping slightly. He just wanted to be friendly with her and maybe have a sister, but clearly she didn't want that.
When they got back to the hotel kali saw how ignis looked at the place.
i bet he's missing her…I wonder if she will ever come back. Though she dosent deserve it, she left him. Kali stayed. so why did she feel so insecure about the idea of Amara coming back?
he…he wouldn't leave me to look for her right? They wouldn't get back together right?
She secluded herself in a room.
he does love me..dosent he?
Evan just stayed with alister and Noel.
"I guess that's that huh."

The siblings walked as though through a dream, or underwater. Alister vaguely heard Ignis and couldn’t help but think, But there are so many things still left unanswered… and you’re the only one who can answer them.
What happened while they were separated in the temple while Ignis and Kali stayed behind? Why had he mentioned that Astra had seen him as an enemy at one point? Why had Astra been locked away in the temple? Had Arcanis been right, even if just a little? Was Ignis hiding or lying about something? What had been going on with him before they found the seal? And so much more.
But he was tired. Noel had ended up dozing off again, so he had once again gave her a little piggyback ride as they approached the building. As they entered, Alister noticed the strange coldness in the air. It was also at this moment that he realized that Astra was nowhere to be found. Though he was unsettled, he could only think about eating something or going to sleep.
His gaze drifted to Evan, and he walked over and leaned in his shoulder. “Mhm… I hope they can figure things out, at least. Are you hungry or sleepy?” He asked, adjusting his sister’s position on his back.

Evan sighed, shaking his head. He offered a tired smile to alister.
"I don't think so, I might just get some water and then relax. Is there anything I can help you with?'
He talked quieter as too not wake up Noel on accident, despite how tired he was he didn't think he would be able to sleep, or at least sleep.for very long.
He looked around the area, he had barely been here before they had decided to leave.

Alister lifted his head and nodded. “Sure. Uhhh…” He hesitated. “No, but I would…” he paused again, suddenly a little nervous. “Um, I would like to join you, if you— if you don’t mind. I just… have to get this one in bed.” He inclined his head to Noel. He yawned, and and turned to walk away, but he stopped. “Um, like I said, I don’t have to if you mind. It’s okay.”

Ignis lied in his bed, unable to sleep. His false memories finally being cleared by truth. He was tired of being used as a placeholder for Ignatius. Always being possessed, told what to do. A voice inside his head screaming at every corner. Realization draws back, like the state of the building. It was cold, desolate. No barking from Yin or Yang, no sounds of Amara upon coming back…. of course. Amara took their dogs and left. One after another recollection, realization, and guilt begin to fill Ignis's mind. Astra was kind and protective, not the murderer Ignatius made them out to be. Noel and Alister aren't ready for what is coming. Evan doesn't even know what's coming. it was all flooding back, it was hard to keep straight. Kali…she tried to help but Ignis was…Kali. Ignis jumped out of his bed as almost immediately as he got in. He rushed out of the room, "Evan! Where is she?" He knew nothing would make it okay, but he hoped he could right the wrongs he made that day.

Evan nodded to alister,
"don't worry, go ahead and help your sister I will be down here, take as long as you need." He smiled tiredly at alister as he disapeared down the hallway to the siblings shared bedroom. He wanted them to rest as much as possible after what they went through in the air temple.
He tensed up when he heard ignis call his name, he turned to ignis and saw him in a slight panic.
"Which she ignis? I know two females.'
He had his arms crossed, he was pretty sure he knew which one but he was extremely tired and wasn't really happy with ignis..

Kali was in the same room she had always been everytime she had a break down, she was curled up in the corner of her room and holding her knees as the darkness floated around her. Almost like a phsyucal representation of all the negative energy and thoughts that swarmed her.
She sniffed, wiping her eyes. She had long since cried from how much she felt the idea of ignis leaving her for Amara had hurt her.
Sure it hadnt happened yet but…one couldn't be too sure.
She saw the way he looked at the empty house, she knew he was bound to miss her.
She could perhaps…convince her not to go after her?
If she wasn't with them then she didn't need to worry about ignis leaving her for Amara.
They didn't need her anyway
Amara ran, she had her chance and she ran.
That wasn't Kalis problem she was weak minded.
Talk about weak minded…
Neither of them really deserved ignis, but they were all messed up. She would like to think that she would be better that Amara would, she certainly proved herself by staying.
She didn't know what to think, she was sure ignis loved her but she still wavered for whatever reason.
She sighed as she sunk to the floor in her room.

The door creaked slowly with the sound of knocking, "Hello?" Ignis opened the door and saw Kali's sad state. He didn't know how to help, he didn't even have a plan when he opened the door. But there was no turning back. He simply sat next to Kali, "I…am not usually…I'm sorry. I know I wasn't the most pleasant person in the temple." His words came out low, little more than a whisper. He rubbed his temples in pain, but he tried to overcome it.