Frost 69th
Rising between misty peaks, two pairs of eyes could see the domed structure as a foggy glimmer upon the horizon as they descended down the valley. Boots thudded around the bend, a familiar thunder the pair both ignored. Armored men led by a singular soul upon horseback each clad in armor and baring the heraldry of their House marched on by, a few of their heads turned towards the strange foreigners advancing upon Nardothis. The man on horseback held up his fist and tugged the reigns, stopping there. He shouted something in the native tongue, Gentevarese, and the men each suddenly stopped.
“Rathorais, quelle est la raison de votre intrusion?”
Aeraku stopped and regarded the man, then looked down to Nuraku. “We are orphans of Tyrclaid, Valran of House Garamont” he said truthfully. “This one is a mage of many Runes including Animus, and I a Necromancer and Transpositionist, a scientist seeking to study for the Daravin Empire. We wish to become students at Nardothis, and are under orders from our Valran.” Fishing into his pocket, Aeraku presented a stamped envelope as such, offering up documentation to the Halamire.
Reaching up, the knight pulled free his full helm, sweat glistening upon his brow as long, damp hair poured onto his shoulders. Nuraku saw the familiar Brand of Transposition just above his eyebrow. He leaned forward to peer over the pair as the knights behind him shuffled in their boots with ordered impatience. “This is indeed her seal. However, you will be interrogated before enrollment,” he stated. “This is procedure for foreign mages. Considering how recently you were made Valran, you will be treated with suspicion.”
Whistling, the man shouted commands in his foreign tongue, assembling a mere pair of men to guide the mages onward. The each of them leered down at the Rathor, and Nuraku offered a toothy, angry-looking smile that looked much like a snarling wolf. Her face relaxed, and she began to walk with Aeraku, weary to utter a single word. These are the types I typically piss off.
The last order of knights I dealt with ran me out of a city!
“They are eager for more mages,” Aeraku said as they walked, braving the fact that these Halamire could hear him. “Daravin is fighting a war upon at least three fronts, as well as within. It is a country of chaos. They need more blood to replace that which has been shed. I suspect they will admit us despite being somewhat destitute, such is their need for more Halamire.”
Nuraku nodded. “Is there a polite way to address our escorts?”
Aeraku looked back and shrugged. “Maybe we best not test them. They will be interrogating us after all. We need allies, for this is not our culture.”
“You’re beginning to sound like Vesta, that old bat,” muttered Nuraku.
Behind them, one of the knights took off his helm. The face beneath was rather young, and again Branded, this time with something Nuraku did not recognize as she glanced back at him. “Tyrclaid, huh?” said the knight. “You’ve come a long way.”
Nuraku and Aeraku looked to each other. “We have...” said Aeraku.
Slowing her trot to look up to the knight, Nuraku looked up to meet his gaze. “My Quirk has denied me my true form. I’m here to pursue an Ascension so that I may undo the mutation keeping me from my body. I am loyal to the country who helps me achieve this goal.” She looked to Aeraku, who shrugged.
“I’ve had a mind for magical sciences ever since I was small,” he said, swallowing back the saliva. “I want to make the world a better place.”
He’s salivating. Will they be able to tell he is afflicted?
The younger knight seemed satisfied with the response, shrugging with his shoulders. “A troublesome Quirk,” he agreed. “I hope you find the mercy you seek within the halls of Nardothis.” He looked to Aeraku. “Perhaps do not mention your loyalties to the world at large. Nardothis is a place for those loyal to the Empire of Daravin, not philanthropists.”
“Ehm...” Aeraku’s voice dwindled, again looking to Nuraku. “Thank you for the advice. I am in your debt.”
“Pay your debt by serving the Empire, and you will earn its love,” said the knight with a smile. His partner tapped him on the shoulder, and they exchanged a few quick words before the younger one donned his helm.
“Candor,” Aeraku remarked to Nuraku. “A Halamire cannot be seen to be assailable, or else his peers and superiors will vilify him with verbal lashings or worse.”
“You seem to know a lot about our culture,” came the muffled voice behind the pair. “Yet not enough. Travel through the country often?”
A loaded question. “We are Rathor,” Aeraku shrugged. “Travel is in our blood.”
”We can settle if doing so aligns with our Purpose,” he clarified.
“Such is your way,” shrugged the knight.
“We will share as much as you wish during the interrogation,” Nuraku said, earning a glance of disapproval from Aeraku.
“Best not mention something with negative connotations off-hand,” Aeraku muttered.
”The people here like to be formal.”
”Though I am one to talk about etiquette... not my strong suit either.”
“What would I do without you?” shrugged the wolf walking upon all fours. Her eyes narrowed down the path as they neared a crossroad. Cobbled stone rose up from the earth with mossy, grown-over stones descending deeper into the valley. They were getting closer.
“You will be taught Candor as part of the curriculum. And the language. Do either of you plan on becoming Halamire?” asked the knight with genuine curiosity.
“I’ve wondered about becoming a knight,” said Nuraku.
Technically I already am one.
Lifting her nose, Nuraku strutted her stuff with a flick of the tail. “I am a rather accomplished Summoner of two Patrons.”
The Halamire was silent, but a slow laughter crept up from the depths of his chest. “How do you even form the symbols? With your tail?”
Nuraku bowed her head low with irritation, looking back with a certain indignant disgust. “The Symbols are more difficult in this form, yes. Does it stop me? No.”
”I am also a Transpositionist and Illusionist!” she stated proudly with a snort.
“Impressive. Four Brands,” remarked the friendly-ish Halamire. “Perhaps that is why your Quirks have become so vicious, but I would not know. You must be brave to gamble your life in such a way so many times.”
Four is impressive, yet I have five? Nuraku wondered. “Yeah...” she said.
“You aren’t generally meant to be so open with your Brands. I only stated as much due to our foreign accent,” Aeraku told her. “You are being rude.”
“Me? Rude?” scoffed Nuraku.
“He’s right,” said the Halamire coldly. “Talk as you do now in court, and you will be mocked at best, abused at worst. Speak with your actions.”
Nuraku nodded sternly. “I will learn,” she told them both.
“As will I,” shrugged Aeraku. “Though I hope it will not consume me; I would much rather focus on science.”
“There exist people like you within the Manufactory, so absorbed in their work yet so disenchanted with politics,” said the Halamveir. “Few like their company, and yet they produce the most magnificent Golems,” he stated. “They keep their heads down and ply their craft, and I expect you will fit in...” He looked to Nuraku. “This one, though... he-”
“-I am a woman,” said Nuraku quickly.
“Ah, apologies. Uhm. You will not make it very far without proper etiquette,” said the Halamveir. He looked up to the great dome before them. “Well, we’re about to cross the bridge... keep your noses clean and your heads high. Have your honor about you.”
The until-now silent Halamveir also escorting them finally spoke. “Best of luck to you Rathor. I’m curious to see if you will survive Nardothis. The place can be... dangerous. Have your wits about you.”
“Thank you,” said Nuraku.
“The reputation of this place precedes it,” mentions Aeraku. “We know the risks.”
“Then maybe our paths will one day cross again,” remarked the knight with a shrug. He stopped before the bridge, speaking with a few more knights in their language. “The guard will take you in for interrogation,” he mentioned. “I must return to my troupe.”
“Farewell,” said Aeraku.
“Perhaps having friends is possible after all within this place,” shrugged Nuraku.
“That remains to be seen. Shall we?” Aeraku offered her a pat of his paw, but Nuraku dodged it.
“I suppose,” she grunted at him. He merely chuckled in reply, the pair following these Halamire across the bridge towards that Clockwork fortress far in the distance.
