12-22-2017, 05:31 PM
In mid-chase, he had stopped. Mid-stride, his momentum had died.
Cassock billowing about him, dust blowing past him from the speed of his own momentum, blood dripping from wounds to stain the grass under his shoes.
Slowly, his eyes turned. Sweeping across the field before him, as if searching for something. He had felt it, more than anything else. Not detected it with his senses, something he had heard or seen or even smelled, but something deeper. It wasn't in his immediate vicinity, not within this area at all. But something...something, somewhere, was drawing his attention. Like in the past, when some figment of His will had been delivered unlooked for and unexpectedly to the mind of the old battle-priest. He knew not what it was, or why it had come to him now, but it was unmistakable.
His aimless wandering here and purge of this fool of a thief could wait.
With a quickness to his steps, he turned away from his pursuit and back toward the road. Out of the grass and weeds, through the shrubbery, and back onto the hard-packed earth. Littered with craters, blood and bodies, it would leave a grim scene for whoever happened across it next, no doubt. Such a thing was not for him to worry about, nor was it his business to be here when they came across it. Much as it pained him not to be able to even offer a proper burial, or burning for the fallen, there was an urgency that he could not ignore, and could not spare the time for even such an important thing.
It had been said to him, when he first arrived here...that with this 'omnilium' substance, he could have anything he desired. What he desired at the moment was haste. More speed than his weary body could provide him with. He closed his eyes, setting his mind to the task as he slowly ambled down the road. He had no idea how to go about the process, but...as his mind worked toward it, understanding blossomed. The knowledge just grew as he needed it, as if it had always been there. The process was easy, just requiring time and focus. One of which he had in abundance, the other precious little of. A grimace crossed his features as he worked with all due haste.
With his eyes closed, he did not witness it firsthand, as the shimmering omnilium gathered up around him. Gleaming and sparkling through the shreds and tears in his cassock and suit, dropping from his wounds along with blood. Flowing like water, and then like mist, swirling up in his wake. The loose, bedraggled streams of the rainbow matter-stuff slowly worked together, falling into a shell at his side. Spreading up, solidifying and taking shape. Filling out, growing into a more clear, distinct picture.
Minutes passed by, at least, before there came the stamping of hooves. The snorting of the large beast tramping alongside him came soon after. The eyes of Alexander Anderson cracked open, turning to survey his work. A great horse, strong and powerful. Already saddled, ready for its purpose. It would do.
Whether it was minutes or hours later, he couldn't tell. But he stormed through the ring of stones atop the grassy hill, and through the portal. Back from the countryside, through a dizzying kaleidoscope, and into the pristine, endless white void of the Nexus. There were nine major landmarks in this place, and one of them would provide a clear view of the other seven which he cared for. Somewhere... It was somewhere here. What he was looking for. He never slowed down, spurring his beast of war forward at full gallop across the blank expanse, toward its central point. Toward the fountain.
Ten minutes and some, at a guess, to cross from gate to fountain. A great ornate thing, spilling clear water into a pool at its base. No time could be spared for its appreciation, however. A moment of scouring the area alerted him to the form of a figure. Clad in armor, and wearily, slowly trudging forward toward one of the distant gates.
The Crusader needed only a few seconds, watching and letting his mind work feverishly, to reach his conclusion. He spurred his horse onward, after the weary knight. Slowly gaining on them, until he drew close enough to speak. "Hail to ye, stranger," he spoke up, giving a tug on the reins of his steed to slow pace as he drew nearer. "What's got ye lookin' so down and exhausted? And where're ya headed to? Perhaps I could offer a lift, to speed you on yer way."
Cassock billowing about him, dust blowing past him from the speed of his own momentum, blood dripping from wounds to stain the grass under his shoes.
Slowly, his eyes turned. Sweeping across the field before him, as if searching for something. He had felt it, more than anything else. Not detected it with his senses, something he had heard or seen or even smelled, but something deeper. It wasn't in his immediate vicinity, not within this area at all. But something...something, somewhere, was drawing his attention. Like in the past, when some figment of His will had been delivered unlooked for and unexpectedly to the mind of the old battle-priest. He knew not what it was, or why it had come to him now, but it was unmistakable.
His aimless wandering here and purge of this fool of a thief could wait.
With a quickness to his steps, he turned away from his pursuit and back toward the road. Out of the grass and weeds, through the shrubbery, and back onto the hard-packed earth. Littered with craters, blood and bodies, it would leave a grim scene for whoever happened across it next, no doubt. Such a thing was not for him to worry about, nor was it his business to be here when they came across it. Much as it pained him not to be able to even offer a proper burial, or burning for the fallen, there was an urgency that he could not ignore, and could not spare the time for even such an important thing.
It had been said to him, when he first arrived here...that with this 'omnilium' substance, he could have anything he desired. What he desired at the moment was haste. More speed than his weary body could provide him with. He closed his eyes, setting his mind to the task as he slowly ambled down the road. He had no idea how to go about the process, but...as his mind worked toward it, understanding blossomed. The knowledge just grew as he needed it, as if it had always been there. The process was easy, just requiring time and focus. One of which he had in abundance, the other precious little of. A grimace crossed his features as he worked with all due haste.
With his eyes closed, he did not witness it firsthand, as the shimmering omnilium gathered up around him. Gleaming and sparkling through the shreds and tears in his cassock and suit, dropping from his wounds along with blood. Flowing like water, and then like mist, swirling up in his wake. The loose, bedraggled streams of the rainbow matter-stuff slowly worked together, falling into a shell at his side. Spreading up, solidifying and taking shape. Filling out, growing into a more clear, distinct picture.
Minutes passed by, at least, before there came the stamping of hooves. The snorting of the large beast tramping alongside him came soon after. The eyes of Alexander Anderson cracked open, turning to survey his work. A great horse, strong and powerful. Already saddled, ready for its purpose. It would do.
Whether it was minutes or hours later, he couldn't tell. But he stormed through the ring of stones atop the grassy hill, and through the portal. Back from the countryside, through a dizzying kaleidoscope, and into the pristine, endless white void of the Nexus. There were nine major landmarks in this place, and one of them would provide a clear view of the other seven which he cared for. Somewhere... It was somewhere here. What he was looking for. He never slowed down, spurring his beast of war forward at full gallop across the blank expanse, toward its central point. Toward the fountain.
Ten minutes and some, at a guess, to cross from gate to fountain. A great ornate thing, spilling clear water into a pool at its base. No time could be spared for its appreciation, however. A moment of scouring the area alerted him to the form of a figure. Clad in armor, and wearily, slowly trudging forward toward one of the distant gates.
The Crusader needed only a few seconds, watching and letting his mind work feverishly, to reach his conclusion. He spurred his horse onward, after the weary knight. Slowly gaining on them, until he drew close enough to speak. "Hail to ye, stranger," he spoke up, giving a tug on the reins of his steed to slow pace as he drew nearer. "What's got ye lookin' so down and exhausted? And where're ya headed to? Perhaps I could offer a lift, to speed you on yer way."
![[Image: kUpgBYg.gif]](https://i.imgur.com/kUpgBYg.gif)