[Episode 4] The Worth of a Soul

Archives of Occultus Magica's beginnings, ten years prior to the current story.
CadetNewb
Posts: 296
Joined: Fri Dec 24, 2010 12:59 am

Re: [Episode Four] The Worth of a Soul

Post by CadetNewb »

The little six year old girl quailed in her seat.

As the older woman railed at her, Coco merely sunk into her seat with a fearful 'Meep!' at the sudden outburst of terrifying, mind bending horror! It all went as quickly as it came however, as the Caxton Matriarch did nothing more than turn her back on the girl as though she suddenly stopped existing, belittling her even further. The girl's hands clung onto the little matching newsboy cap she wore upon her head, pulling it down as though to try and cover herself with it. Coco's legs were quickly drawn up into her seat as she huddled there in the classroom's seat, slowly starting to come to the verge of tears.

"I didn't mean," she sniffled " - like that."
User avatar
Kokuten
Posts: 1258
Joined: Sat Dec 25, 2010 11:06 pm

Re: [Episode Four] The Worth of a Soul

Post by Kokuten »

Clangka clang clicka clang! The soul chains rattled in the air as they curled over the heads of the children. Every link seemed to be drug towards the chalk-board to the head of the class. Their lengths began to circle and clamp to the wall, dragging all the way to the floor. For a few seconds, they simply sat there, before the back drop of a black-board faded into that of an image of your typical western home. Riley would recognize it as their living room, still tidy and clean from earlier in the morning.

Clap! Clap! Clap!

"Okay, children! Pick up those feet!" commanded Elizabeth, quite sure they had nothing better to do. She spoke in that sweet motherly tone as she began to step through, "No time to grab things, we must be expedient! If you don't start using your legs, I'll make sure you'll never need to use them again!"
User avatar
Kai
Site Admin
Posts: 701
Joined: Mon Dec 20, 2010 4:18 pm

Re: [Episode Four] The Worth of a Soul

Post by Kai »

Miyuki didn't know why, but she didn't resist or complain about Elizabeth's instruction to get a move on. Wordlessly, almost thoughtlessly, she got up from her seat, leaving her bag where it was, and walked toward the portal. It wasn't like she had any real reason to object, or to take her bag, anyway. it wasn't that far, and she had no doubt that walking through what should have been the wall would take her to that living room. Hopefully Percy was there, and she could help.

Raiko followed suit, taking only her Parasol, and leaving the bag behind. She glanced back at Ruarc, and motioned with her head that he should follow, giving him a bit of a grin. "Let's go help our friend, shall we?" she asked, rhetorically.
User avatar
Mr. Blackbird Lore
Posts: 722
Joined: Fri Dec 31, 2010 1:48 pm

Re: [Episode Four] The Worth of a Soul

Post by Mr. Blackbird Lore »

Emilia rose to her feet, walking toward the front of the class with a curious look at the portal. She had never witnessed a mortal conjure one although the immortal was aware it was possible. This was just one more way Mrs. Caxton was blowing Emilia's mind and earning all of her respect. After several seconds of scientific study and scrutiny, Death's daughter smiled at Elizabeth. "How do the surfers say in America? ...Cowabunga!" Then she leaped through the portal with a small smile, eager for the adventure and anxious to discover Percival's situation.
Kalshion
Posts: 78
Joined: Tue Mar 27, 2012 8:47 pm

Re: [Episode Four] The Worth of a Soul

Post by Kalshion »

"Huh?" Sakura blinked when Elizabeth had placed her finger over the are aof her face that had been hurting and suddenly noticed that the pain was no longer there. She couldn't feel the slightly swollen gums nor could she feel the hurting teeth, it was all gone... "it... doesn't hurt anymore?" she was slightly confused, although her mind clicked a moment later when she realized that it was a healing spell of some kind. But, why would an adult go out of their way to help someone? she asked herself curiously.

When the teacher gave the order to get up, she didn't see any reason to refuse it and followed the others as they entered the portal; although she stopped just briefly to stare at the walls that flanked the sides of it before crossing the rubicon.
User avatar
Straken
Posts: 1211
Joined: Fri Dec 24, 2010 4:40 pm

Re: [Episode Four] The Worth of a Soul

Post by Straken »

“Yup yup,” Ruarc said in agreement as he picked himself up out of his chair. Anticipating a need for them, the lad checked the runes in his pocket, and grabbed a few extra from his pack just in case. Then after stretching a bit the Druid made his way towards the portal with his familiar perched casually upon his shoulder. “Ah do suppose Ah owe Percy a favor er two.”

Once Ruarc reached the portal he turned and waited for Raiko, at which point the taller Irishman offered her a hand to help her through. “Ladies first,” the Druid said.
CadetNewb
Posts: 296
Joined: Fri Dec 24, 2010 12:59 am

Re: [Episode Four] The Worth of a Soul

Post by CadetNewb »

Coco rubbed her eyes vigorously.

They were all going off now, to save Percy. Usually, she noted, that she would have been cheering, but this time, she sullenly went in silence with the other, older kids she found herself sometimes teaching in Duncan's stead. Her guts, though long 'cold' from death, churned with discomfort. Talking to so many people again, being happy, and sad, was quite an experience. Right now though, it wasn't about her, that was true she realized. Still, it didn't help the little 'Mahou Shojou', as she dubbed herself, that Elizabeth's tongue hurt like a poisoned stinger.

Still, off she went with them, the venom sinking all the deeper.
User avatar
Kokuten
Posts: 1258
Joined: Sat Dec 25, 2010 11:06 pm

Re: [Episode Four] The Worth of a Soul

Post by Kokuten »

The Caxton home, as they could assume by the pictures upon the walls, was very quaint in its design. There were earth colors everywhere, making the world around them seem like a permanent fall, unlike the contrast of the outside world which was painted white with snow. A small fire kindled in a fire place under a television that appeared to glitter on its trim with enchantments. The couch looked soft, inviting, especially as it seemed to churn gently on its own, constantly fluffing its own cushions and presenting a lighter than air surface. The floor was hardwood, though a strange material that seemed to eat the dirt off the shoes of those entered into the home; were they to look down, they'd see their soles cleaner than the day they bought them. As if to add to all of the mystical decoration, little signs were etched all over the house, all of them giving off a faint green glow on their inscriptions, the handwriting on each one childish in its script and very obviously done by an amateur inscriptionist.

W.C.

Mummy and Daddy's Room

Kitchen

My Room

They were all hung proudly on the doors, and by closer inspection, were spirit chained firmly to prevent removal. All of them were signed by the same artist, in the same way.

Percy C., Age 6

Despite the life and love that could be felt in the home, there was a cold atmosphere that trembled over the entirety of the place, something that was new, even to Riley. The feeling was similar to that of what was felt after a tragedy, and even Elizabeth's energetic pose seem to stiffen into something more austere as she approached Percival's door. The portal back to Miller's class room slowly shrunk before the chains burst away from each other, and slowly fell into nothing, like leaves falling from a tree. There was only forward now, seeing as their way home was robbed, and Elizabeth had already made it firmly clear that to cross her meant also crossing the executioner and her chopping block. The air was almost choking at that moment with a certain tenacity that even the warmth of the house could refute.

The woman gripped the door handle to the room labeled 'My Room', and held her slender fingers on the knob. She turned, looking over her shoulder with a sharp stare to the rest of them.

"This is the point of no return, children. The moment you past this door, you're in this situation until the end. If you've no stomach for commitment, I suggest making your way to the door, there's a little sign over it." said Elizabeth with a half-measure of pride and doleful exasperation. "Those you meet past this door are a kind few people ever even come to meet, and for good reason. Once you step in, you'll be pulling back a veil that even rests over the eyes of mages, and that veil is something you can never pull over your eyes again."
Luca
Posts: 65
Joined: Fri Dec 24, 2010 5:12 am

Re: [Episode Four] The Worth of a Soul

Post by Luca »

The teacher was the last person to move through the portal, and he felt his skin tingle as his dual souls passed through it. He remained silent, and his suspicions of encountering resistance were quashed by the pleasant home's atmosphere. It felt 'lived in'.

And yet, there was something in the air - some sort of looming dread underscored by Mrs. Caxton's tension; the mention of another revelation making itself known was starting to become a frequent occurrence for the teacher. To Mr. Miller, this was like unravelling an endless onion. He remained quiet as the Caxton Matriarch waited for replies from the magelings.

Few mortals, few mages, few truths. It was all starting to blur...
User avatar
Mr. Blackbird Lore
Posts: 722
Joined: Fri Dec 31, 2010 1:48 pm

Re: [Episode Four] The Worth of a Soul

Post by Mr. Blackbird Lore »

The home was... soft was the first word that cropped up in the mind of Death's daughter. Everything was pleasant and comfortable and friendly and nice. It was a sacred, hallowed place. She immediately felt uncomfortable by virtue of the residence's inviting nature. It was lovely and alien and safe and strange. For the first time since birth, Emilia's gait was timid, her eyes wary. She hugged herself, gripping the Academy sweater and wishing it was her Cloak. Thankfully nothing absurd, like 'making herself at home' or 'relaxing,' was asked of Venezia; she was able to rely on the imperious Mrs. Caxton to guide her around this foreign abode.

The warning was not ominous, nor foreboding, nor anything of the sort. Quite to the contrary, Emilia yearned to throw the door open and shout, "Enough already!" All this secrecy and foreshadowing seemed silly and wasteful to a girl who had been raised to ration time with efficiency and care. Still, she held her tongue out of respect and remained motionless in spite of her anxious energy. And Emilia thought, without knowing she thought it that, There can't be anything I don't know about behind this door; my mum is Death incarnate; I speak to Immortals and command satyrs; I've witnessed the judgment of mages, mortals, and the disembodied. Nothing can surprise me.
Post Reply