Serena soon got out a small, neatly carved wooden box. She used a small key she had on her to open the box. The item that was inside was a… wooden horse? It was small and did not look like it had any other purpose than to be placed beautifully on the side of a drawer.
”It isn’t much but you know my brother” Serena smiled as she handed the horse sculpture to Hinata, followed by the small box.
(Immediently thinks of ways this might end up important later on)
"Oh wow," Hinata admired, smiling as she took the horse and box from Serena.
"It looks amazing," she commented to herself quietly.
(Good start :P)
Serena smiled when she saw Hinata’s reaction to the item.
She was, though, frowning slightly. She coughed a bit but did not make a note of it. She shook her head just subtly before looking back at Hinata.
”Kasai, Kori—“ the female scientist had called out to the foxes as they turned towards her ”—could you two take Hinata to the Gardens? He should be there, you know who” the sister stated to her brothers’ comrades. They nodded but the icy fox turned to the Balance Keeper before they left.
”Any questions you want to ask Serena before we leave?”
(Leave immediately?)
(What’s with this ‘horse’?)
(Who is ‘he’?)
(Are you alright?)
(What exactly are the Gardens?)
(Where are Hinata’s parents?)
[Special Option]
(Ask the foxes: What’s with your plan?)
”I know you’re not completely satisfied with how we say the things we say, but there’s no actual way we can figure out everything and every variable regarding the test subjects. Perhaps it is their behavior and not the chemicals reacting to them but we can’t be sure” the scientist shrugged and shook his head with a sigh. He then took the document back, waiting for Kye’s awaited reply. He was sure the visitor had something to say.
Kye sighed and shook his head. Not knowing what exactly to say at that moment. His eyes were drifting kind of aimlessly around the room. Then he looked at the person next to him, and leaned forward resting his elbows on his knees. "A word of advise, for you and the other Knights here. Before you decide that it is worth it, think about if it really is," and with that Kye stood up and walked to the door. Getting ready to leave.
The scientist cleared his throat.
”Before you leave, I need to tell you something…” the scientist seemed a bit hesitant of whether or not they should say what they wanted to. After a moment, they sighed and shook their head just subtly to themselves, looking Kye straight in the eyes.
”Just… be careful out there…”
Gelion appeared next to Kye. "If you knew anything about this kid you would know that he isn't careful if he were walking on a rope over a pit of lava. He'd be like, 'Is that a cool looking rock down there? Oh, let me lean way out over the lava to see.' Or, he'll see that something he said has gotten under someone's skin and is pissin them off, so he keeps going. It's a wonder this kid has gotten as far as he has in life."
Kye rolled his eyes. "I have said it before, I will say it again. If I die, it is not my problem anymore."
The scientist made quite an unreadable expression except for his clear frown. It was a slightly slanted one though.
”I can’t tell if you were being sarcastic, but I don’t like the attitude you’re giving to a stranger. Unlike your friend here, you aren’t so… you know what, sorry, forget it” the scientist massaged his temples before he gestured an opened hand towards the door.
”I wouldn’t want to waste any more of your time. If anything about any of the Knights strikes you as confusing or perhaps interesting, you’re welcome to come talk to me anytime. I’m rarely out of the lab so you’ll most likely find every time you stop by” the scientist stated before putting his hands together in a clap-like way.
”The name’s Chris, by the way” he said before picking up the crow mask and leather hat from the table and putting them on.
"Ah, actually, I was wondering if you knew where my parents are? I figured that I might drop by for a visit since I'm here." She smiled a bit, hiding her apprehension about this situation quite well. She needed to see her parents, more than anything, but she wouldn't show that.
”Hmm? Oh, unfortunately no. None of us know actually. Since the last time Matthew brought you here, we kinda expanded by a lot so it’s hard to even find a Knight outside a Knight-only area” Serena stated before she coughed again, this time it seemed to be a bit more severe than last time.
The foxes noticed this but turned to Hinata and guided her to the door.
”Thank you for having us Serena” Kori said as the female scientist sent the group a small wave as they left.
The fire fox seemed a bit nervous when he saw that his master’s sister had coughed.
"Oh, okay then," Hinata said. She noticed Serena coughing, and was about to say something when the foxes lead her to the door.
"Bye," she said, pondering what was going on. Still, she put her hands in her pockets, finally letting Tatsuo go back to resting,
You used up too much energy.
I have food.
And if we get in a fight?
I've eaten while fighting before.
The messy blonde haired man smiled when Jade jumped back.
”What’s the matter, did I shock you?” the figure asked with a smirk before they jumped straight at Jade again, attempting to do the same thing for a second time.
Jade had gotten her bearings and dodged this time and putting a shield spell up then attacking with water and earth incantations
The scientist made quite an unreadable expression except for his clear frown. It was a slightly slanted one though.
”I can’t tell if you were being sarcastic, but I don’t like the attitude you’re giving to a stranger. Unlike your friend here, you aren’t so… you know what, sorry, forget it” the scientist massaged his temples before he gestured an opened hand towards the door.
”I wouldn’t want to waste any more of your time. If anything about any of the Knights strikes you as confusing or perhaps interesting, you’re welcome to come talk to me anytime. I’m rarely out of the lab so you’ll most likely find every time you stop by” the scientist stated before putting his hands together in a clap-like way.
”The name’s Chris, by the way” he said before picking up the crow mask and leather hat from the table and putting them on.
"If you were about to call me impatient or rude, after you've been around for a few billion years you start to just not like lot of people," Gelion finished Chris' earlier statement. Kye glared at Gelion with a side look, but his head moved just enough for Gelion to know exactly what he was doing. "I'm just sayin', I'm not the nicest person in the universe."
"Noted," Kye's cold one worded answer was all Gelion needed to hear before disappearing. Kye then turned to Chris. "I apologize for his rudeness. He says it is because of how long he has been around, when really he just has a hard time understanding somethings, like emotions. He never admits that, but he never had to feel emotions before. I make him use his emotions though. So he is, still learning. My name is Kye by the way. Thank you for your help I hope to meet you again later on."
(Just putting this out, Serena’s more innocent here than I initially wanted her to be… but I like this)
The foxes guided Hinata out of the research building where Kori would bump against a coated figure.
”Hey, sorry” the icy fox said to the coated and hooded figure.
From Hinata’s angle, she would see that the figure had sharp, menacing, and glittering garnet-colored eyes. They looked as if they just killed someone before passing by, judging from the bloodstains on their cloak. They eyed Kori again but slowly stepped away without saying a sorry or even a word. His actions, though, left the foxes speechless.
The electric mage transformed himself into a current-like form, phasing through the water.
”Conductors? Not ideal to fight me actually” the mage said as they managed to get a grasp on Loki, but not yet coursing levels of voltage into her.
Chris nodded before he went out the door and travelled deeper into the laboratory.
He got out something from his coat, something that looked like a bloody knife.
Kye would’ve seen this from where he was standing.
(Leave the Lab?)
(Silently follow the scientist?)
(Explore the Lab?)
Hinata raised an eyebrow at the person, seeing their eyes and not liking this. She glanced at the bloodstains, seeing how fresh they looked.
W-Well then, Kagami muttered quietly, never one for blood.
Well, they haven't tried to kill us, so that's nice.
The thing that peeved Hinata most about the situation was the lack of etiquette. A simple sorry would have sufficed, but noo, they just had to be deep and brooding. Hinata was about to make a remark on this when she saw how Kori and Kasai were reacting to the situation.
"Everything good?" she said, keeping her calm demeanor.
The foxes looked at the cloaked figure who walked away one last time before turning to Hinata.
”Yeah—“ Kori said before looking down ”—…yeah…” he answered softly.
The fire fox shook a bit but nodded after. They seemed nervous.
Chris nodded before he went out the door and travelled deeper into the laboratory.
He got out something from his coat, something that looked like a bloody knife.
Kye would’ve seen this from where he was standing.(Leave the Lab?)
(Silently follow the scientist?)
(Explore the Lab?)
Kye had to do a double take when he saw the bloody knife. His curiosity sparked and ignited causing him to take a few steps after the knight.
Don't you go after that dude!
Why not?
Why not??!! He was holding a bloody knife!! That doesn't raise red flags?!
I mean, it does… but…
I hate it when you say but.
But, if I follow him I might be able to learn more about him. And besides, he locked the door behind us, so if we get caught I can use that excuse.
…I fucking hate you right now.
I know, we are going now.
He started silently down the hall after Chris, grateful for his soft leather boots making no sound on the hard floors.
As Kye would travel deeper into the lab behind the scientist, he would have seen some weird things. The hallway changed color from a soft white to a clean black without him knowing when, the hallway seemed longer with every turn he made, the temperature dropped slowly but frequently, and the scientist who was in front of him was flipping the knife he had in his hand in the air as he walked down the hall. His other hand was in the lab coat’s pocket.
Soon, the scientist stopped and opened the door straight in front of him, not closing it fully. The room was dark, it was hard to see what was going on inside without heading in.
(Enter the room?)
(Leave the scientist?)
Kye moved silently towards the door, pausing briefly just outside of it, to listen to anything going on inside. he kept close to the shadows, a comfortable place for him. A place that he spent most of his days, something that he welcomed. An easy place for him to hide without fear of being found unless he wanted to be found. Or by some other reason.
Putting shield up because I don't trust this situation.
Yeah, that is probably wise. Pity the shield part only keeps me from getting stabbed or cut. Punches still hurt.
Which is why I always tell you to put up the full thing in an actual fight. Otherwise you'd be hurt a lot worse.
After the dragons… I honestly can not see how it could get worse.
From where Kye was, the sight of the Knight with someone on a bed can be seen with ease. The scientist looked down at the figure for a bit before holding the knife tightly with their right hand and stabbing the person’s heart to which the person reaction was just a simple flinch with low amounts of fresh blood stuck to the knife.
”Trial 22, subject does not respond fully to pain though the added vessels seem to be working just fine…” the scientist made a quick note to themself as they looked down at their watch.
”Three more hours until the next trial…” Chris murmured before he grabbed a clean cloth, wiping the knife clean. He then slipped the knife back into his lab coat and left the room.
(Follow the scientist?)
(Examine the ‘person’ on the bed?)
The foxes looked at the cloaked figure who walked away one last time before turning to Hinata.
”Yeah—“ Kori said before looking down ”—…yeah…” he answered softly.
The fire fox shook a bit but nodded after. They seemed nervous.
Bull, Tatsuo said.
Shush. Hinata looked at the two fox brothers, placing a hand lightly on their shoulders.
"What's wrong?" She rephrased gently, not liking seeing them like this at all.
”Th-That man… I feel like I’ve seen him before somewhere…” Kasai struggled to speak what he wanted to.
”If I remember correctly… Matthew told us about a person with sharp, dark pink eyes… not sure if it’s that man but if so—“ Kori added before turning to face Hinata fully.
”—he’s a multidimensional wanted person”
Hinata pursed her lips, slowly processing this new information.
"I see," she said. If that person had indeed been wanted by several dimensions, and she hadn't caught onto it… this wouldn't be good. She glanced in the direction the man had disappeared to.
You're not as sharp as you used to be.
Neither are you, Hinata retorted. Tatsuo gave an undignified huff, but stayed quiet.
The two foxes returned to their fox forms, each one standing on one of Hinata’s shoulders.
”I don’t know, I don’t feel like we should follow him…” Kasai suggested.
”But if we don’t, how can we make sure that he’s not doing anything wrong?” Kori countered.
(Agree with Kasai?)
(Agree with Kori?)
Hinata put her hands in her pockets, listening to what Kasai and Kori said.
"He could be dangerous," she started, "And following him could lead to complications. However- if he really is the wanted man, letting him go could be even more disastrous." She sighed a bit. If she had let a wanted man just walk away from her, it could definitely hurt her position. That in turn could lead to many, many complications for a lot of people.
The electric mage transformed himself into a current-like form, phasing through the water.
”Conductors? Not ideal to fight me actually” the mage said as they managed to get a grasp on Loki, but not yet coursing levels of voltage into her.
Jade had pulled herself from his grip and used an Earth spell next "I wasn't trying to halt you that time but this time I am" she had infused the electricity that she had taken from his touch and infused it into the spell