Chapter 1 'Beginning Embers.
"Text" - SpeakingSlash - Major / Detailed Action
Warning! - Chaldeas
"Oh no." - Inward Thoughts
A man walking towards the empty halls, hid appearance rough to most. A black shirt, white half cloak, similarly gray pants, with black boots, a sword right behind his back, strapped firmly. A faint scent of fire wafting over him. His white hair, and red eyes making the man almost seem like an albino. But the firm glow, and near unrelenting gaze never once even making for a meek sight. His body ripe with scars just hidden below the clothing he wore. His eyes narrowing slightly, even as he seemed to look through the empty halls…
"Alright… master canidates… 23? Yeah. Hmm, I think I'm running late…" he murmured more to himself, his Stark red eyes never once changing from the feeling of a fire bubbling inside him. No, it wasn't fire, that much he knew. Just something different. It was strange, yet as he gazed towards the fairly dull halls of chaldea. Not exactly paying much attention to what was in front of him. He ran into a slightly shorter, but still tall man, thst resembled a clock tower Noble in attire and demeanor. The man giving him a smile, as both of them dusted each other off for a moment, before matching each other's gaze.
"Mobius, correct?" The man said with a grin evident on his face, his eyes seemed wrong. Not exactly pleasant, no, he felt OFF. Just from being near this man.
"Yeah, and to you…?" He trailed off, realizing with some embarrassment that he wasn't quite sure who this man was. Instincts aside, he seemed alright. Even if the rumors around clocktower Magi still existing for a reason. Much less a free lancer from the East like him.
"Lev Lainur. Or you may call me Lev as you will." The man replied smoothly, finishing the small notches on his clothing, he rose a brow however as he noticed something. "Mobius, you are aware your more than late for the meeting centering around the others? Why even that one named Ritsuka wasn't this bad!" He chuckled with a grin that suggested he found something else amusing about the scene. Like an inside joke he himself only really knew.
"Shit…" the man groaned to himself, he was a bit prudent, but his head was pounding, there was something off… Wrong even. But he chose to ignore that, looking at Lev. "Aren't you supposed to be by the Animuspheres side yourself?" He questioned slightly, there was something he was finding wrong, incredibly wrong here. He didn't know it, but his own gut feeling told him something. Yet what was it?! Resisting to pound his head against the wall, he glared at Lev suspecting something about the man.
"Why I'm just trying to get a brief break here," the man simply smiled, that damned smile grating his nerves, even as the Noble began to walk past him. "Now hurry, your late enough as it is." With a slight shake of his head, the man went away…. His frown did increase as he could hear something he can barely just make out.
"Pyromaniac…" He murmured with just the slighest hint of a snarl. His red eyes shining in the ominous light. It felt wrong, but he knew what he was. Many may not, but a look towards his scarred, but still able hands… The smallest flicker, activating from his magic circuits converting such a thing into the ember before him. He found himself all but rushing towards the room where the meeting was supposed to go.
The meeting had come to a close. It was a debrief of the gathered master's of chaldea. The news spoke all on its own. Their own designation was to safeguard humanity, by the way of chaldeas, a grand scale of both magecraft and science, funded by Olga Marie Animusphere's father own Father Marisbury Animuspheres, a previous winner of the fuyuki holy Grail war. His own wish to gather funds for such a massive project, a pity given the man's own death. Or supposed so. Still the project had been completed, and his heir was left to pick up what was only expected of her.
"Tch, finally done. Most of these Magi…" She thought bitterly to herself, the debriefing had been as expected, the mages assembled we're rarely of note. Some free lancers, or distant cousin from at most a run down line. The occasional gem standing out, but nothing that could have really been taken in note. The only thing she could even say that was noteworthy was the arrival of the 48th canidate, and Mash Kyrielight shortly there after. There was only missing and that was…
"Where in the world is this so called 'Crimson Blade'?!" She half shouted towards an unfortunate staff member, the man looking more than nervous, as even they weren't quite sure where the man was.
"Ahh… Director, he's uhh, he's just running late!" He half shouted. Half yelped, Olga may not be a master canidates herself, due to not having the potential for it. But it didn't mean she was any less threatening, her usual gaze leaving more than anger in it's wake, and for any man who feared for their job.
"Late?! He was supposed to be one of the first here, what sort of good is that forsaken freelancer when hes supposed to be the few who knows what their doing?!" She all but ranted, there was a touch of worry entering her heart, a doubt that she couldn't even get some of the more… questionable staff in mind. But given the fact the man was missing, and late, it was enough to rankle her nerves. A perceived slight, and the fact he wasn't even around further cemented it.
"Aha. I think he was nursing a headache?" Vaguely the voice of the 48th canidate resounded in a clear attempr of calm, unfortunately enough for the young man, she was all but irate upon hearing such things.
"A headache?! Hes fooling no one with that sort of foolish act!" Taking in a brief introduction of air, she resisted the urge to show even more of her anger, turning sharply onto the established crowd, before drifting towards one particular member in particular. Mash Kyrielight. "Mash go out there and retrieve him, tell him the basics and more if you can, and expect him to meet me at my office when your done." She said sharply hiding behind any doubt, or fear, she might have had, if only due to the fact the man was a registered murderer in terms of the moonlit world. Reputation aside, she only hoped this wouldn't be to much of a pain, still she wouldn't let up on it even when pressed.
"Y-Yes Director!" The affornentioned young girl, wearing a light coat, glasses, with a short hair cut with a slight fringe, and a lock covering her eye, stuttered briefly, looking towards the rest of the room, before nervously headng outside of the room. So focused on heading out she didn't notice the man who she would run into, a familiar sight for the young girl due to the presence of Lev Lainur.
"Oh? Are you well mash, certainly i hope this wouldn't become a habit with people crashing onto my chest." The man said with a mild chuckle, already lifting the young girl up, even as she dusted her self off with a small blush of embarrassment. Looking down, and shaking her head again. The young girls eyes met the rather tall man, as he moved past her.
"It's alright Lord Lainur. i wasn't looking where i was going." She replied finishing her own dusting, while hoping her blush of embarrassment wasn't to visible, shaking her head, and remembering the task at hand. She looked up to him, "Lord Lainur do you know where the man known as Mobius is?" Hoping someone saw the white haired man. Give his attire, it would have been easy not to notice him, were it not for the distinctive red eyes of the man.
"Mobius?" The man muttered making a slight show with a hand on his chin, thinking carefully, before snapping his fingers as realization dawned on his face. "The 23rd master right? He was drifting towards the halls, I think he even got the location on. I assume you were called to look for him? If so, then he should still be there, give and take a new area he might have entered." The man offered, tipping his hat to her, before entering the same location mash had just exited from.
Shaking her head, the young girl looked towards him, offering a small "Thank you" before rushing out to find the man. It was better for someone else to handle Olga's rage for now. And it was somewhat justifiable at this current moment, given how late the man was. With her directions now provided, the glasses wearing girl quickly headed out. Intent on finding the man.
Boom!
The sound resounded throughout the entire facility, nearly shaking it off it's foundation. The very explosion making even the outside shake, we're it not for the bounded field that had been placed upon the facility it was unlikely that it could even handle the after shock near after, let alone the near collapse of the nearby mountain range. A fire that built up near the source of it, the staff turning frantically onto the source, trying to secure it all. The location of the explosion, unknown. The source of the tragedy unknown, yet to be unfolded.
"Fire…" there was so much of it. The man who walked through the halls with glazed near hypnotized eyes. This sight reminded him… 'Don't worry… I'm fine… I'm fine….' the phantom of the voice, he found his heart beat quickening. One would think it would be the smoke, which would have sucked out the air to cause more damage. Yet he only walked through it. Uncovering the source of the fire, the explosion seemingly not even phasing him. Walking through the area, it had been only mere moments ago. Just enough to tell the story surrounding such a thing.
His head began to throb, a man who seemingly suffered much in his life, yet his breathing quickened, his eyes losing focus, his face set into a grimline. It took all not to unsheathed the blade at hand, yet it mattered not. Even making his way through the area, where he was supposed to be. It had only been a late arrival that saved his li—
"H-Help! Please!" The voice, frantic, calling out to his heart… where was it? Seemingly around the rubble, where the presence of who it was made him wonder, but he tried to locate it.
"AHHH!!!" "Oh God, it hurts, please help!" "The fire… How did this even start?!" "Who would even attack us?!" The following voices nearly made him lose his footing. Yet he only looked around the area. Some where dying… others, there were nothing left. A few… Securing someone under him. Her brown hair, and eye patch making him question on who it was. He put a hand on her heart, uncaring of what it may denote. Thump the sound alone confirmed it… She was alive. A look towards her, numerous burn injuries and bruises… Yet even by his grim inspection, he didn't care. She was alive. Someone was alive. He had to look once more.
"Come on… where are you?" He murmured softly to himself, grabbing the unknown brown haired woman on his shoulder. Not even perturbed by such a prospect. He tried to look through the rubble, the faint echoes of, "Help!" "P-Please!" Seemingly heard throughout. He needed to find who this was. Even as the soot clung to him, even as the fire seemingly got worse around the edges. The man's eyes only hardened. With a look, he spotted something… or someone.
Mash Kyrielight, an experiment within chaldea, and the unofficial kouhai to most of these master's… Lying on the ground, rubble directly on her chest, the heavy weight making her breaths labored… Every single breath making her truly regret even doing so. The agony was hot, the fire coursing through around the edges burned at skin, the fire making it difficult, near impossible to breathe. Her head spun… It was so hard to breathe. She just wanted to die, to stop this pain, to try and find someone, anyone who can help her…
"Your not dying. Not today. I promise you that." A noble voice resonated within her mind. She wanted to believe him. Wanted to see what he meant. Tried looking around for who said it. Yet the only thing she could feel was a slight easing of her chest, the pain still blindingly hot, the rubble likely sticking to her stomach, affecting the internal organs, and possibly even more. Yet that didn't seem to matter, because she was so tired…. She would have just closed her eyes—
Slash, Crash! The two sounds resonated with one another, Mash could only try to look bleary-eyed as she tried to explain where it was… The only thing she could see was a flaming sword, it's black metal gleaming in the darkness, where only fire lit the way. Yet the piece of rubble that had stopped her from breathing… it was sliced in half. Briefly, in her delirious mind, she could almost hear a voice muse, "Sharp technique" said with some measure of respect. Yet she was saved…? The words she could hear were…. "Oh thank kami… another survivor."
The man looked through at the girl… she looked like death was coming to greet her. The rubble embedded within her clothes, the burn marks all around her. Feeling his heart sink, he pushed on. He tried to find more… But all were gone. None were even around. The only thing he could find was the corpses, or the remains of other members… still, crouching low, after sheathing his blade again, and looking at who this was. He only shook his head, gingerly grabbing her, an arm around her waist, and carrying now the brown haired girl, and this bespectacled one. He only sighed upon seeing the tragedy…
"Warning, System Chaldeas. Humanity's Incineration, interruption, status: Unconfirmed. Future, None visible after 100 years. Singularity… located. Searching canidates.,. Three found. Beginning rayshift… Rayshift adaptability, confirmed. Master potential, confirmed. Rayshift setup… Warning! System error. System error. System damage… internal, chaldeas, remaining. Rayshifting, beginning. Error, being located… Error, being fixed. Commencing Rayshift. 3… 2… 1… Done. Rayshift Commencing."
The mechanical voice of the chaldeas system coming to life. The area bathed in flames as it was. Yet the system remained. Searching for any canidate to fulfill the original goal, the system while confused on the status of two of the three. Still begun. First was ensuring their own aptitude for rayshifting, then their ability to be a master. The first test passing for three of them. Yet the second test seemingly failing. The now red globe of chaldeas stood unsute of hkw to proceed. Yet it only continued what was expected of it's duty. Commencing the Rayshift as it went.
The man stood unsure, the mechanical voice sending a shiver down his spine, the worry making look at the two girls he currently had secure… His head continued to ache. Vaguely, he can feel an itch, or tingling of his eyes… It didn't matter. For now, he had a job to do it seemed. Yet with two of these injured? He only wondered what was intended. Only hoping that what could be done, will be done. "It's beginning… yet Incineration of Humanity? Singularity?" The words only confused him, he wasn't sure what to make of it. But he nontheless powered through. Hoping against hope that it would be done.
His eyes only widening for a moment, a look of uneasiness spreading through his face. The light bathing him, and his companions. The swirl of blue azure light, it was nauseating as it was beautiful. The swirl shifting his world, it seemingly didn't care that he was carrying two of it's canidates. Yet that mattered not it seemed. Just like it didn't matter now, or before. He only continued his path. Hoping against hope that it wouldn't result in whatever that mess was. He was confused, not having any knowledge, and his eyes blurred. The small part of him mused that something had been tampered with… yet he only continued.
As the swirl continued, and the feeling of rayshifting came over him. He felt like it clung to his skin, the way it altered where he even was physically. It made him try and focus where, and what he even was. An introspection only caused by such a hazardous result. Briefly, he tightened his hold on the two injured women. His mind finally reeling back, telling him that he had two injured! He was going into an unknown location, unsure of where he was, with two likely to be dead- if there was no medical attention provided. Women. By the kami he hoped that he could at least do something about them… Even if the small voice mused once more. Something was amiss… His instincts made his stomach turn.
When the light died down, the feeling of rayshifting still new… He only hoped that he could explore, and find more about such a place. His heart beating erratically, vaguely he could feel panic strike. Why? The world was on fire… upon opening his eyes, he didn't see something new, but something familiar. The cries of so many… the feeling of suffocation, the way every ember danced with the light that consumed so many… people. He couldn't even remember stepping back, to look at the surreal scene, the way the maddened cries tried to call for help earlier on. Yet unlike earlier, he had time to prepare, time to know this wasn't… back then. But now? Only flames greeted him, only fire came to sing a greeting. The anthem of it's Incineration… His heart turned, and he only wondered where the hell he even was. If it was hell. Then he wondered why the two girls he carried were still with him.
Chapter End.