In the days after their excursion into the Maw of the Elementalia Magica, The mage in the group that was arguably the strongest had been in fact feeling quite weak. Though Miyuki had been able to will her way through a great many situations, had seen wars and battlefields firsthand that the others bound to Safeholme had only heard of, she seemed unable to shake this one off. She had been injured before, pierced, wounded, battered, bruised, but never before had she been truly beaten. Even now, they had not lost the battle and her intervention saved a life that would otherwise have been lost. Despite this, Miyuki had lost her arm. At first, the shock had taken over, and she had been able to joke with Percy that they were now a matched pair, but now whenever she was out of her presence her mind could only dwell on the wound and the drastic change it had made on her. While the battle-hardened Ice Mage's connections had allowed her to find a suitable replacement- A magical prosthetic which functioned through the power of her own magic- and she could hide the injury from her family and the public, she still felt a loss from the incident like a hole in her soul.
Percival's proposal, while expected, had been a huge relief and something that buoyed her sinking spirits. Still, the raven-haired Mage had lost a lot of her confidence, of the cockiness and surety that had gotten her through so many awful situations in the past. And, It loomed. A final task, a job she had taken a contract for, that she could not simply shirk off. Miyuki had always pulled through and fulfilled every task, every promise, every contract she had made, and never let down anyone who counted on her. But now, she had let herself down, and it had become apparent that she had lost her faith in herself.
[Aside] One Last Journey
Re: [Aside] One Last Journey
Miyuki arrived at the apartment building turned dormitory that belonged to Safeholme academy and made her way inside, seeking out the Resident Attendant. That person was of course her fiancee, Percival Caxton. She strode through the halls, feigning her usual confidence. Since she'd had it for so long, at least her muscle memory could keep up appearances though her heart was no longer in it. One foot after the other, the low heels tap-tap-tapping down the hard floors until she found the door she was looking for. Reaching toward it, she paused for a second, and then sighed, as she wasn't sure she should be asking Percy to come with her. At this point, however, she was unsure if she could complete the task without him around.
Taking a deep breath, and then letting it out slowly to calm herself, the Japanese woman knocked on the door, tapping out a simple rhythm that would be familiar to the occupant of the room.
Taking a deep breath, and then letting it out slowly to calm herself, the Japanese woman knocked on the door, tapping out a simple rhythm that would be familiar to the occupant of the room.
Re: [Aside] One Last Journey
The door was mildly different from the others in the building, the sound of Miyuki's knuckles made a solid wooden noise, as if there was no hollow space on the other side. What trouble her heart felt would be her only company for a few seconds, before the door's handle began to turn.
When it opened, a puft of fiery orange hair poked out with pair of similarly orange eyes. This little doorguard gasped when she saw who had been knocking.
"Ms. Kagami!" Jakku squealed, rounding out to throw herself into the woman's chest, hugging her. The outburst seemed to summon more of a ruckus within, and shortly after, Percival Caxton came through the doorway. Much like with Jakku, Miyuki's presence seemed to inspire warmth in him. He had that big, dumb smile on his face, one that she had been familiar with since high-school.
There was a pair of goggles over his eyes, that he pushed up to reveal blast-lines of soot.
"Mi-chan," he said, still smiling like a fool, "I don't normally see you out here at the lab."
He fished around in his vest pocket and pulled out a watch, "I'm not missing something am I?"
When it opened, a puft of fiery orange hair poked out with pair of similarly orange eyes. This little doorguard gasped when she saw who had been knocking.
"Ms. Kagami!" Jakku squealed, rounding out to throw herself into the woman's chest, hugging her. The outburst seemed to summon more of a ruckus within, and shortly after, Percival Caxton came through the doorway. Much like with Jakku, Miyuki's presence seemed to inspire warmth in him. He had that big, dumb smile on his face, one that she had been familiar with since high-school.
There was a pair of goggles over his eyes, that he pushed up to reveal blast-lines of soot.
"Mi-chan," he said, still smiling like a fool, "I don't normally see you out here at the lab."
He fished around in his vest pocket and pulled out a watch, "I'm not missing something am I?"
Re: [Aside] One Last Journey
Miyuki gave the little sprite a warm embrace, cupping Jakku against her chest with her right hand before suddenly letting the Faerie go and settling her right arm along her side, the hand nervously playing with the pleats of the skirt she wore. "No, no, of course you aren't missing anything," she responded, holding onto her right arm with her left hand- The arm felt cold to the touch, powered as it was through her Ice Magic. "I just, uhh, I wanted to ask you something..." She seemed, nervous, an emotion which she could suddenly no longer hide, and which would be obvious to Percy through her body language. Before continuing, she made her way into the laboratory, closing the door behind her and taking a quick look around the room. Here, it was much warmer and less dreary than the cave that Percival had holed himself up in for nearly three years, and from whence Miyuki had rescued the Welshman not altogether too long ago.
"I wanted to ask, that is, if you would be willing to accompany me on a business trip of sorts. or rather, I have one last contract I signed up for prior to... well..." she trailed off, her eyes glancing at her arm, normal though it looked, before darting away and locking with Percy's eyes for a moment. "In any case-" she started, trying to shake off the awkwardness- "I was wondering if you could come with me, perhaps? It shouldn't be as dangerous as a lot of my jobs have been, but still." Once again, Miyuki exuded awkward, nervous energy, the likes of which Percy had never really felt from the pillar of strength and power that he had known since high school. She would never admit it, but, she was acting- and feeling- Vulnerable, for once.
"I wanted to ask, that is, if you would be willing to accompany me on a business trip of sorts. or rather, I have one last contract I signed up for prior to... well..." she trailed off, her eyes glancing at her arm, normal though it looked, before darting away and locking with Percy's eyes for a moment. "In any case-" she started, trying to shake off the awkwardness- "I was wondering if you could come with me, perhaps? It shouldn't be as dangerous as a lot of my jobs have been, but still." Once again, Miyuki exuded awkward, nervous energy, the likes of which Percy had never really felt from the pillar of strength and power that he had known since high school. She would never admit it, but, she was acting- and feeling- Vulnerable, for once.
Re: [Aside] One Last Journey
"Of course."
He said it without thinking, but the words came out more naturally and more enthusiastically than his usual drone. More than that, he could feel the odd vibe that Miyuki was putting off, and that drew him up. There was not much consideration to the fact that he hadn't been 'on a contract' in years, if ever. Percival was not the field work type, if the lab of a dozen on-going experiments around them was any indication. There were a few new hydroponic experiments that Miyuki hadn't seen before, along with a bubbling tub of strange, yellow liquid.
There was also another faerie in the room, a silvery creature with crystalline, icy hair.
He had dark orbs for eyes, and took cover behind Percival's shoulder, looking at the woman from a safe distance. The man didn't seem to mind the fae, until he raised a hand over his shoulder, which the fae understood, grabbing the fingertips of the safety glove Percy was wearing, and letting the one-armed man pull it off.
Fingers free, Percy scooped up Miyuki's nervous hand, and held it tight, as if to impart strength. "What's the job? I might have something useful in here."
He said it without thinking, but the words came out more naturally and more enthusiastically than his usual drone. More than that, he could feel the odd vibe that Miyuki was putting off, and that drew him up. There was not much consideration to the fact that he hadn't been 'on a contract' in years, if ever. Percival was not the field work type, if the lab of a dozen on-going experiments around them was any indication. There were a few new hydroponic experiments that Miyuki hadn't seen before, along with a bubbling tub of strange, yellow liquid.
There was also another faerie in the room, a silvery creature with crystalline, icy hair.
He had dark orbs for eyes, and took cover behind Percival's shoulder, looking at the woman from a safe distance. The man didn't seem to mind the fae, until he raised a hand over his shoulder, which the fae understood, grabbing the fingertips of the safety glove Percy was wearing, and letting the one-armed man pull it off.
Fingers free, Percy scooped up Miyuki's nervous hand, and held it tight, as if to impart strength. "What's the job? I might have something useful in here."
Re: [Aside] One Last Journey
Miyuki smiled, feeling the warmth from Percy's hand in her own, and gave it a squeeze. She gathered herself for a moment, just taking in a bit of the sensation as a support for her unusual nervousness. "Well, we aren't deposing any warlords or trying to bring down any mad sorcerers, so at least it shouldn't be that crazy. However, I have been asked to escort someone to Japan from the middle east, which isn't exactly my expertise, as the person in question is supposed to be a child. I figured you had more experience with that, having Riley as your sister and all." Miyuki chuckled a bit after this, an unexpected bit of warmth, though the feeling went away soon after, as she began to take in the fact that in addition to Jakku, Percy now had an Ice Sprite hanging about his person.
"And who might this new little one be?" she asked, taking an interest in the minuscule blue Fae.
"And who might this new little one be?" she asked, taking an interest in the minuscule blue Fae.
Re: [Aside] One Last Journey
Percival was still mouthing the words 'Middle East' to himself when the faerie found himself the target of the Ice Queen's gaze. Bashfully, he buried his blue face into Percy's shoulder, cheeks turning a dark blue color.
"See," said Percival to the small fae, "She's very beautiful, I told you."
The head of ice shards nodded, still buried into the shirtcloth.
"Come now, be a gentleman," encouraged the Alchemist, taking his hand back to offer the sprite something to stand on. Hearing the cue, the sprite pulled himself up and bounced into the offered palm.
Carefully, the frost fae spoke in practiced, but still poor Japanese.
"Wa tashee Zippo," greeted Zippo, before bowing in a traditional fashion, "Konba-... Konbawah."
"Jakku scooped him up after Ruarc had a run in with the Boston Fuzz," answered Percival for Zippo, who seemed a little more brave now that he was in the limelight. "He's been staying with me, helping with my experiments. Now... About the task at hand..."
Percival arched a brow, "Are we flying? Or taking the Portal System? When do we leave? I can arrange a substitute for the potion classes."
"See," said Percival to the small fae, "She's very beautiful, I told you."
The head of ice shards nodded, still buried into the shirtcloth.
"Come now, be a gentleman," encouraged the Alchemist, taking his hand back to offer the sprite something to stand on. Hearing the cue, the sprite pulled himself up and bounced into the offered palm.
Carefully, the frost fae spoke in practiced, but still poor Japanese.
"Wa tashee Zippo," greeted Zippo, before bowing in a traditional fashion, "Konba-... Konbawah."
"Jakku scooped him up after Ruarc had a run in with the Boston Fuzz," answered Percival for Zippo, who seemed a little more brave now that he was in the limelight. "He's been staying with me, helping with my experiments. Now... About the task at hand..."
Percival arched a brow, "Are we flying? Or taking the Portal System? When do we leave? I can arrange a substitute for the potion classes."
Re: [Aside] One Last Journey
"He's just so precious!" Miyuki commented to Zippo, bowing back to the small fae creature and introducing herself in return "And I am Kagami Miyuki, it's a pleasure to meet you!"
The little greetings over, Percy got right to business asking what the plans were, which took back every bit of relaxation Miyuki had built up in the short exchanges with the two sprites. She took in a deep breath, trying to slow down the barrage of questions from her Fiancee, registering each one in order to try and figure out how she should answer. "Whoah whoah whoah, slow down a bit, dear, one at a time..." she asked, to give herself some more time- a stark contrast from her usual quick and decisive self.
"I usually take specific port stones to the locations, though this one is in Israel, where magic travel is very strictly controlled so we'll have to take more... pedestrian transport within. We have about a week before we have to go, so get prepared for a trip in the desert, and make sure you're ready for almost anything."
The little greetings over, Percy got right to business asking what the plans were, which took back every bit of relaxation Miyuki had built up in the short exchanges with the two sprites. She took in a deep breath, trying to slow down the barrage of questions from her Fiancee, registering each one in order to try and figure out how she should answer. "Whoah whoah whoah, slow down a bit, dear, one at a time..." she asked, to give herself some more time- a stark contrast from her usual quick and decisive self.
"I usually take specific port stones to the locations, though this one is in Israel, where magic travel is very strictly controlled so we'll have to take more... pedestrian transport within. We have about a week before we have to go, so get prepared for a trip in the desert, and make sure you're ready for almost anything."
Re: [Aside] One Last Journey
"Ready for almost anything?" Percival quirked a brow as he watched his future wife uncharacteristically speed her way through a bunch of questions. He could see her starting to get overwhelmed with the details. This was Kagami Miyuki, a woman who rarely bothered to worry about details in the first place, much less lose any sleep over them. This was the woman who shattered Amaterasu's mirror without a second thought, who would answer the call to arms before it even rang out.
Miyuki was the action hero of the group, a bonafide star in the field and recognized across the world by many different titles. The Wrecking Ball of Kyoto. The Frost Tsunami. The Star of Osaka. The Unstoppable Soldier. The Japanese Blizzard. The Occultus Hammer.
The Ice Queen.
Percival had glimpsed her service record and there were a ridiculous number of sorties and assignments completed under her name. Raiding the realm of Heaven to go find him had looked more like a vacation from the usual operational tempo instead of a great undertaking. By the Alchemist's estimation, Miyuki had achieved more in her short time as a mage than most natural born mages in their whole lives.
It was hard seeing her like this, especially knowing that he was part of the reason, but he was in this for better or for worse. For Miyuki.
"I've got a couple of things I can whip together for an anything goes sort of experience," commented Percival, going over to his table to slow down the percolator and lower the burn on some of the heat-plates. He looked back at her his one hand doing the deft work of two, "You had anything to eat today? I can whip something for an anything goes kind of dinner, too. Jakku's been bugging me about it for the last couple of hours."
"Nuh-uh!," blushed Jakku over Miyuki's shoulder, "Ms. Kagami I only asked about dinner once, honest!"
"And Zippo's staring at you so much, he might be contemplating eating you."
The blushing Zippo had indeed been staring, and shook his head wildly, "N-N-N-N--Nuh-uh! I would never!"
He looked back at Miyuki, entranced by her, before his flushing face fell down in embarrassment.
"I'll be here all night!" said Percival through a set of pans.
Miyuki was the action hero of the group, a bonafide star in the field and recognized across the world by many different titles. The Wrecking Ball of Kyoto. The Frost Tsunami. The Star of Osaka. The Unstoppable Soldier. The Japanese Blizzard. The Occultus Hammer.
The Ice Queen.
Percival had glimpsed her service record and there were a ridiculous number of sorties and assignments completed under her name. Raiding the realm of Heaven to go find him had looked more like a vacation from the usual operational tempo instead of a great undertaking. By the Alchemist's estimation, Miyuki had achieved more in her short time as a mage than most natural born mages in their whole lives.
It was hard seeing her like this, especially knowing that he was part of the reason, but he was in this for better or for worse. For Miyuki.
"I've got a couple of things I can whip together for an anything goes sort of experience," commented Percival, going over to his table to slow down the percolator and lower the burn on some of the heat-plates. He looked back at her his one hand doing the deft work of two, "You had anything to eat today? I can whip something for an anything goes kind of dinner, too. Jakku's been bugging me about it for the last couple of hours."
"Nuh-uh!," blushed Jakku over Miyuki's shoulder, "Ms. Kagami I only asked about dinner once, honest!"
"And Zippo's staring at you so much, he might be contemplating eating you."
The blushing Zippo had indeed been staring, and shook his head wildly, "N-N-N-N--Nuh-uh! I would never!"
He looked back at Miyuki, entranced by her, before his flushing face fell down in embarrassment.
"I'll be here all night!" said Percival through a set of pans.
Re: [Aside] One Last Journey
Miyuki was easily awed by the adorable antics of the two sprites, but she was brought back to the present by Percy's Joking comment. "Just make sure you're ready by the time we go. And perhaps we should leave these two in safer hands. I wouldn't want any harm to come to them while we're away." she was of course referring to the two minuscule Fae with this.
"I trust your judgment in both preparing and figuring out which of our friends can handle these two the best," Miyuki said, turning on her heel and heading toward the door. "Oh, and, I love you, dearest. Let's grab some dinner before getting ready, okay?"
*********************************
After the week had passed, Miyuki and Percival met atop a small rise in one of the forests nearby the grounds of Safeholme, and upon this rise, they found a clearing. in the center of the clearing were a number of stones fashioned in a circle around a traditional Shinto shrine, each stone tied together with a ceremonial rope. Miyuki, dressed in earth tone and rather light and airy clothing, with a light scarf wrapped around her neck and head was carrying a heavy-duty duffel bag which appeared to have quite a few miles on it. She led Percival around the clearing looking for a particular stone and, finding the one she needed, made a quiet wordless exclamation before going back to the shrine and gathering a piece of incense and a blank paper talisman. Upon the talisman, she scribbled a few words, before lighting it ablaze with a quick bit of magic from the Babylon Ruby and using it to light the incense. The two burning objects, she then placed carefully atop the stone, allowing them to burn away slowly before she grabbed Percival's hand, squeezing it tightly, and then touched the stone with her other hand.
Immediately, the world around them turned into a blur, swirling, racing, everything around them changed color so rapidly they didn't really have time to process it all, with shapes, smells, sounds, and even the temperature around them coming and going as if the entire world had been sped up to many thousands of times faster than it should have been. Then, as suddenly as it started, it stopped. it felt as if it had been hours, and yet felt like no time had passed at all. the part of the world they were now in, was earlier in the day than Osaka had been, the sun behind them as they were facing west at the moment. Around was, instead of the greenery of southern Japan, an arid desert, rocky soil with a multitude of hills, mountains, and rough terrain, with a few parched looking plants breaking up the monotony every so often. Miyuki's hand rested on an altogether different rock, and the evidence of the incense and talisman were nowhere to be found. Nearby sat a small offroad vehicle- a dust-colored Suzuki Jimny that had been outfitted for excursions in rough desert terrain such as what they found themselves in now.
Miyuki produced a set of keys from her pocket, and unlocked the vehicle, throwing her duffel back in the back. "Well, are you coming?" she asked, looking amused at the look on Percy's face.
"I trust your judgment in both preparing and figuring out which of our friends can handle these two the best," Miyuki said, turning on her heel and heading toward the door. "Oh, and, I love you, dearest. Let's grab some dinner before getting ready, okay?"
*********************************
After the week had passed, Miyuki and Percival met atop a small rise in one of the forests nearby the grounds of Safeholme, and upon this rise, they found a clearing. in the center of the clearing were a number of stones fashioned in a circle around a traditional Shinto shrine, each stone tied together with a ceremonial rope. Miyuki, dressed in earth tone and rather light and airy clothing, with a light scarf wrapped around her neck and head was carrying a heavy-duty duffel bag which appeared to have quite a few miles on it. She led Percival around the clearing looking for a particular stone and, finding the one she needed, made a quiet wordless exclamation before going back to the shrine and gathering a piece of incense and a blank paper talisman. Upon the talisman, she scribbled a few words, before lighting it ablaze with a quick bit of magic from the Babylon Ruby and using it to light the incense. The two burning objects, she then placed carefully atop the stone, allowing them to burn away slowly before she grabbed Percival's hand, squeezing it tightly, and then touched the stone with her other hand.
Immediately, the world around them turned into a blur, swirling, racing, everything around them changed color so rapidly they didn't really have time to process it all, with shapes, smells, sounds, and even the temperature around them coming and going as if the entire world had been sped up to many thousands of times faster than it should have been. Then, as suddenly as it started, it stopped. it felt as if it had been hours, and yet felt like no time had passed at all. the part of the world they were now in, was earlier in the day than Osaka had been, the sun behind them as they were facing west at the moment. Around was, instead of the greenery of southern Japan, an arid desert, rocky soil with a multitude of hills, mountains, and rough terrain, with a few parched looking plants breaking up the monotony every so often. Miyuki's hand rested on an altogether different rock, and the evidence of the incense and talisman were nowhere to be found. Nearby sat a small offroad vehicle- a dust-colored Suzuki Jimny that had been outfitted for excursions in rough desert terrain such as what they found themselves in now.
Miyuki produced a set of keys from her pocket, and unlocked the vehicle, throwing her duffel back in the back. "Well, are you coming?" she asked, looking amused at the look on Percy's face.