05-20-2017, 02:21 PM
The Sage breathed a sigh of relief and sat back, clasping his fingers shut over his bleeding palms. He willed the ink to close the slices as he glanced around at the surroundings. They were out of the masked man’s mind and back in the astral realm… at least it appeared as much. Luci’s eyes were opened and her breathing had slowed to a normal pace, which was some mercy, perhaps the girl would pull through after all. He reached up to touch the silver thread that hung limply from the side of his head, and it dissolved into mist at his touch. Rash and foolish actions seemed to follow him like a shadow.
The Sage glanced a short distance away, where the Haunter’s corpse sat unmoving on the cobblestone. The purplish blob was almost sad at this point, a decrepit shadow of its former self. The hollow eyes were vacant and unmoving, the tongue that had so thoroughly incapacitated him moments ago lolled motionless against the translucent asphalt of the Astral Realm. A poisoned mind. He thought to himself with a mirthless laugh, A ghastly reminder indeed.
To his left Luci was starting to stir, the jagged gashes on her stomach knitted together with his ink-like blood. Truly the astral plane was a strange place. The kaleidoscopic being struggled into a sitting position, the colors dancing across her face a faded sheen. She was clearly not yet recovered from her delving. Once the Sage was sure she was cognitive he spoke, his tone was not hostile, but it lacked the genial nature he had previously displayed.
“You have looked into my mind, without my knowledge nor consent.” Luci watched him, but did not interject as he continued, “I understand your goals, and I thank you for them. For this reason I will forgive your transgression.” The Sage locked gaze with the swirling pools of color that were Luci’s eyes, “However, you will not enter my consciousness again. It is not a place for idle curiosities, and I will not be held responsible for what you find in there.”
Because not even I always know… came the unbidden thought.
Luci nodded, wincing painfully and putting a hand to her stomach, “It was the only way I was gonna get you out of that coma you know.” She said with the slightest hint of offence. The Sage did not respond; he was staring intently at a nearby wall. Luci followed his gaze with some confusion. There was a crack of thunder from the sky above, as the Sage got to his feet and approached the section of wall that had so claimed his attention. A spider web of water was tracing its way down the faded impression of the brickwork. The Sage inspected the lattice curiously, it almost looked like cracks were forming where the water flowed.
Luci staggered to her feet and started to make her way over as rain yet again peppered them from above, not blood this time the Sage noticed with relief, although it tasted sharp and unpleasant. It’s salt water? he realized with alarm as he began to put the pieces together. He turned to Luci as the wall of the street blew apart, a torrent of water rushing through the hole. It swept right around Luci without so much as tugging at her, but hammered into the Sage all but swiping his feet out from under him and pushing him off towards whatever its unknown destination was. He planted his feet, leaning against the current that tore about his legs. The real world was calling him back, and so soon after awakening the Sage would not be able to stand firm against the water's force for long.
“It would appear that my time in this place is drawing swiftly towards its conclusion.” The Sage called towards Luci over the rushing of the water, “If that bounty hunter is causing trouble, do not hesitate to call on me.” Luci nodded and the Sage allowed the tides of the Vasty Deep to carry him away from the Astral realm.
The Sage glanced a short distance away, where the Haunter’s corpse sat unmoving on the cobblestone. The purplish blob was almost sad at this point, a decrepit shadow of its former self. The hollow eyes were vacant and unmoving, the tongue that had so thoroughly incapacitated him moments ago lolled motionless against the translucent asphalt of the Astral Realm. A poisoned mind. He thought to himself with a mirthless laugh, A ghastly reminder indeed.
To his left Luci was starting to stir, the jagged gashes on her stomach knitted together with his ink-like blood. Truly the astral plane was a strange place. The kaleidoscopic being struggled into a sitting position, the colors dancing across her face a faded sheen. She was clearly not yet recovered from her delving. Once the Sage was sure she was cognitive he spoke, his tone was not hostile, but it lacked the genial nature he had previously displayed.
“You have looked into my mind, without my knowledge nor consent.” Luci watched him, but did not interject as he continued, “I understand your goals, and I thank you for them. For this reason I will forgive your transgression.” The Sage locked gaze with the swirling pools of color that were Luci’s eyes, “However, you will not enter my consciousness again. It is not a place for idle curiosities, and I will not be held responsible for what you find in there.”
Because not even I always know… came the unbidden thought.
Luci nodded, wincing painfully and putting a hand to her stomach, “It was the only way I was gonna get you out of that coma you know.” She said with the slightest hint of offence. The Sage did not respond; he was staring intently at a nearby wall. Luci followed his gaze with some confusion. There was a crack of thunder from the sky above, as the Sage got to his feet and approached the section of wall that had so claimed his attention. A spider web of water was tracing its way down the faded impression of the brickwork. The Sage inspected the lattice curiously, it almost looked like cracks were forming where the water flowed.
Luci staggered to her feet and started to make her way over as rain yet again peppered them from above, not blood this time the Sage noticed with relief, although it tasted sharp and unpleasant. It’s salt water? he realized with alarm as he began to put the pieces together. He turned to Luci as the wall of the street blew apart, a torrent of water rushing through the hole. It swept right around Luci without so much as tugging at her, but hammered into the Sage all but swiping his feet out from under him and pushing him off towards whatever its unknown destination was. He planted his feet, leaning against the current that tore about his legs. The real world was calling him back, and so soon after awakening the Sage would not be able to stand firm against the water's force for long.
“It would appear that my time in this place is drawing swiftly towards its conclusion.” The Sage called towards Luci over the rushing of the water, “If that bounty hunter is causing trouble, do not hesitate to call on me.” Luci nodded and the Sage allowed the tides of the Vasty Deep to carry him away from the Astral realm.
If history is to become legend, it first must be recorded.