The Dark Ages [Dark Data]

[Madotsuki]

Finally. It was over. But now there was nothing left to release her pent-up energy on (and there was no way she would attack her friends just to ease the pain) The dreamer fell to her hands and knees, her wings wrapped around her body like an eerie veil. She took long, deep breaths, trying to focus her mind on something other than the burning sensation (which admittedly was starting to ebb away).

"Hey, M? You okay?" Asked the ronin, kneeling down to examine her despite being unable to see her form underneath the glittering appendages.

Madotsuki lifted a wing so Hiro could see her face. 'I... think so. I just need a minute.'

"Looks like some sort of energy overload," Shinnah commented, not having to crouch because she was only two feet tall. "I recall a group of demon hunters that did basically the same thing-- except that in their case, it was more of a voluntary thing and it was fel energy. Just try to rest and it should work its way out of your system."

'It burns,' was the reply. It wasn't an angry or sarcastic counter to say that it was really hard to relax when she was in pain; it was just an objective confirmation of her current state.

"Sorry, there's nothing I can do," said the gnome, fingers fiddling with her staff. "Warlocks aren't exactly the best at healing magic."

A few moments passed. Slowly but surely, the half-baku's wings began to dim and flicker. Just as they were about to fade out, they retracted back into her shoulder blades. The countless, abyssal scars that ran the gamut of her skin stitched themselves back together, save for the one that was originally inflicted near her right eye. And now the pain was just a memory. She took her time in pushing herself to her feet, testing her muscles to make sure she was still in working order.

"You sure you're okay?" Her samurai friend asked, standing up.

'I am.'

An awkward silence followed before the warlock spoke up. "How about we check out the alchemist? Looks like he dropped something neat."

The dreamer nodded, currently in an almost blissful state now that the overwhelming pain was no longer there.

Okor and Samus were already examining the spoils when the three arrived. When the gnome had the chance to get a good look at the melon-shaped object, she smirked and glanced up at the digital ronin. "Still think that this group is just using superior technology?" She asked, the slightly-annoyed glint in her eyes confirming that she had not forgotten the samurai's indirect insult from earlier.

"If it is," he replied, running a hand along its black surface, "then they need to work on making it more mobile."

"It's possible that the power contained within this thing is too strong to be contained in something as small as a Dark Chip," suggested the bounty hunter.

"You don't say." The ronin watched the crystal intently, with Madotsuki know kneeling by his side. "You thinking what I'm thinking, Mads?"

'It definitely could be useful, but how are we going to channel it? Would it even be safe? The gauntlets were made for the chips, not...' she lightly rapped on the object, '...whatever this is.'

"There's only one way to find out," Hiro replied, lifting up the crystal.

'I guess so.' She traced along a vein of glowing energy. 'Maybe we should start here?'

576 words. Madotsuki wants to take some Dark Power.