|
Post by Renathan on Jul 21, 2023 18:05:32 GMT -6
The russet mammalian shivered as he stood beneath the looming facade of the great steps. He'd seen them so many times before, and each time that he saw them he found new depths of anxiety that could be reached with only the sight of the premises. One would think that perhaps he'd stop doing this due to these rather unpleasant side effects, but perhaps there was something about not quite remembering but also having the ghost of a memory of the sensation that made the experience somewhat... Addicting perhaps. Or maybe he was finally starting to lose it a little. Renathan wasn't quite sure which it was. Still, that morning he had set up the spell so that he could leave Auburn at home (she most certainly didn't need to 'see' this process) and gotten everything together for the trip. Now, he stood beneath the shadow of the great stairs, looking up at the top with a bit of trepidation mixed with excitement. [Renathan is using Sever Bond. The Mind Crystal and Remnant Crystals are from Twilightclaw. The Healing Berries are mine.] [1]
|
|
|
Post by Renathan on Jul 21, 2023 18:16:08 GMT -6
The magic of this continent was ever strange, and Renathan couldn't help but feel its strangeness even as it coursed through his very blood. Even now he could hear its odd song as he held the pouch of 'ingredients' in his palm, fingers curled protectively around the fabric of it. After the moment's hesitation, he began the climb up the stairs. Despite the relative ease at which he found himself exercising often, the mammalian could not help but shiver at the hint of calf soreness by the half way mark. Climbing up such hard steps was difficult, and despite their ruggedness they were sometimes quite slick and smooth in some parts. He couldn't help but wonder how many other people had been up and down the steps- and how long ago it could have been.
The steps were quite narrow in some places... Did any of them trip anyone up in the past? He managed to escape such a fate himself each time, but it was only due to his own care taken.
[2]
|
|
|
Post by Renathan on Jul 21, 2023 18:23:59 GMT -6
Most of the previous times that Renathan had made this rather anxiety-inducing trek, he had done so with shards of his own element being among the pieces being taken with him. The first time that he had done this- he had done it out of desperation to be able to break his red drake, Phoenix. The next time it was more of a curiosity. Then, he had began doing it as a job... And perhaps it was a job that he should second-guess. Even as he managed to get to the top of the steps (without even a twisted ankle, though the steps themselves didn't seem to help in that endeavor much) he shuddered and half considered going right back down again.
However, he was already there. At the top of those steps, looking at the strange silent watchers from behind his own pale-white mask with his soft pink eyes. He takes a deep breath... And then lets it out. As he does so, he moves forward; the first true step perhaps.
[3]
|
|
|
Post by Renathan on Jul 21, 2023 18:36:17 GMT -6
In the past, Renathan knew that he had tried his best not to think about the altar. This time, he affixes it with both eyes shining and determination flickering somewhere inside of him. He had endeavored to leave his fear at the tip top of the steps, behind him now moreso with each step he took. On either side of him, the watchers. Ever watching, of course. It had been cold last time that he had done this- but he felt the heat of the summer sun on his shoulders this go around. How time managed to sneak by, almost like a snake...
The altar was as resolute as ever. He tried to match it in state and stance, grounding himself against the stones of the building itself even as he walked. Soon enough, he was practically upon it. He places the little pouch on the altar to unwrap the contents as quickly as he could so that he couldn't second-guess himself again before completing the process.
Three clear crystals twinkled brightly on the stone. He arranged them around the oblong mind crystal that had been provided to him. He held the small trio of berries in one of his hands, and affixed the dagger with his gaze.
[4]
|
|
|
Post by Renathan on Jul 21, 2023 18:45:41 GMT -6
"Remember the steps." He'd repeated it like a mantra a year ago, and he felt like it had been much longer than that as the words left the tip of his tongue. Remember them he did, it was hard not to at this point. The ingredients were arranged on the altar, he made sure that they were before he did anything else. He kept his eyes on the berries in his palm as he reached for the dagger, which was most definitely the same one that he had used before (and that always made his stomach flop most unpleasantly).
After a quick second to steel himself, Renathan popped the three berries into his maw beneath the mask. They were always so perversely sweet. He never had the time to harvest enough to use them in cooking or for anything else other than this purpose, so they always tasted so sweet but certainly gave him a sense of dread.
Directly after chewing the berries, he knew that he couldn't dally. The russet mammalian drew the blade across the top of his forearm, where it would be less likely to hurt (though ironically, he knew that the worst pain came after this part) and then he dripped his blood across each piece- oblong crystal, and three shining clear shards. Once each piece had a drop of blood on them he allowed his knees to buckle to kneel before the altar.
He never really did like this part.
[5]
|
|
|
Post by NPC on Aug 8, 2023 19:36:30 GMT -6
Node creation: success! Cooldown period ends on July 21, 2024
|
|