Fantasy RPG Forum - Standing Trials

Of all the places he had yet to explore the Spines was an enigma that Trevor slowly enjoyed, as he sat against the trunk of a tree with eyes closed and his mind introspective. The disturbing event in which he could only reckon the world truly did share still haunted him, as the loss of Emea's presence struck him deep to his very core. What he remembered seeing that night in the world of dreams... it was unclear what happened but one apparent fact remained, that event wasn't just a dream he experienced the night Emea felt lost. Not when everyone around him coincidentally shared it, and those with Sparks felt threatened by Emea's very absence.

Even Phelix seemed highly disturbed by everything and while Trevor wanted to help, the older mage sent his apprentice to resume practices in a safer manner. Though being out in the open world was hardly considerably safe, the fact his Sparks still actively existed meant he had to be careful. Supplementing his reserves of Ether would only go so far after all, therefore while Phelix sought out a way to prolong what seemed like inevitability; Trevor had to focus more on the mental discipline rather than the spiritual... or perhaps it was the other way around for him? Maybe a bit of both, or so he could have considered. Even so getting away from the local populace and enjoying nature sounded crucial, thus the Defier had taken to travel all the way out to one place in particular.

The Spines.

He didn't know what true dangers lurked here and while he was limited in Ether, Trevor trusted the winds of the area to grant any forewarning of potential danger. Thus when the barefoot mage found a spot worth relaxing at, he slipped off his shirt and rested his bare skin against the trunk of the tree. He'd been thoughtful to bring the saber and staff along, in the event he required their use to some extent, but overall rested completely carefree of the environment now. Probably because his mind wondered ceaselessly about what happened, and the answers he wanted to discover were ever so far out of his grasp for now. He detested this for sure and an obvious sign was the smoke, which was a constant fume emitted from his pores as the white trails dissipated into the wind. Truly if it were any hotter here, then he would've found it most uncomfortable trying to lounge around and unwind.

Just then a cool breeze wafted into his face, with a hint of moisture to remind him of what he came here for. "Yes, yes I'm well aware..." It was strange how often the wind felt like a parent, or some watchful guardian insistent on him remaining focused. That was what the gesture felt like anyways, as he'd allowed his mind to stray from the inner path. He couldn't help but exhale longingly through his nostrils, the plumage more grayer than before as he tried to ease his wariness. The Defier listened to the ambience all around much like he did before, letting the sound of nature fill his mind so that all else seemed far away. He felt tucked away with solitude yet again but this time, he appreciated it more than usual for whatever reason. The feeling of the oak at his back and the dirt under his palms, the sweat which trickled down his brow and off his shoulders while he lounged.

He felt the flames within churning and realized just how desperate he truly felt, and just how fragile the relationship between him and his inner fire became. "I know we're in a bit of a bind, but rest assured we'll find a solution to this." He spoke mentally to the fire in his blood, hopeful that they understood the intent of his words. If not those then certainly his will, as he would diligently expend as little Ether as possible. There had to be a solution out there, there just had to be otherwise... No. He couldn't let the thought sink in, if he did then surely the flames would react. He would spur a reaction he couldn't hold back, therefore starting a forest fire out here in the middle of nowhere.

Sure enough however the wind blew yet again, only this time it was a prolonged breeze that indicated movement. Something... was coming... The Defier opened his eyes and leaned up to a sitting position, his eyebrows furrowed as he looked onward ahead from the direction. Something was coming. "Drat! Well this won't do at all!" He muttered as he quickly rose to his bare feet, the staff the first thing he held as it felt most familiar to him. When he focused on the large creature running his way, Trevor took a deep slow breath and steadily exhaled; the plumage of smoke emitted from his skin thicker now. He had to be smart about this! If this beast were truly something dangerous to fear, then he'd have to spend just enough of his Ether to scare it away. He could probably do that already what with the smoke, if he were to burst into flames before the creature then.... maybe?

He'd have to do it only just enough to control the flames, without them burning too long to damage his skin from prolonged exposure. The amount of Ether consumption would be minimal at best, however if he were forced to continue then the risks grew exponentially. "Hopefully this works." Trevor prayed to himself as he allowed a fraction of Ether to course throughout his body, the essence ready to ignite the moment it reached the outer layer of skin.

At first glance it looked to be something massive and fluffy coming his way, with some sort of cart in tow behind it as the creature raced it's way up the path. Trevor hadn't any idea how successful he'd be in trying to stop such a stampeding thing, that is until others swooped in from above with one of them quick to drop in. A large and exquisitely fit individual who happened to throw himself before the beast, determined to stop it and the cart in their tracks as the others came to lend aid. But it just might not have been enough... If the mighty hound's size was anything to consider, then they could've very well been launched off the beaten path.

What Trevor once thought would be an act of self defense immediately became a provocation for assistance. The very air around him seemed earnest as he felt the breeze swarm him, as he could all but ignore the flying mount with the Ithecal creature riding above. Was that the same one he'd met upon his arrival to Yaralon? No... No this one was different, and now certainly wasn't the time to worry about acquaintances. These people needed his help and if the Elements were willing, Trevor could manage to provide some minor effort at the cost of his own reserves. He'd already focused enough to the surface of his skin, maybe that would be all that he needed. Thus the Defier knelt to the ground with a hand planted flatly into the earth, all of his Ether he'd planned to use earlier then channeled down the arm and into the dirt beneath it.

"Would you be so kind as to assist our troubled friends, I'm sure they'd appreciate the gesture more than you can imagine." He requested of the ground beneath him as the Ether seeped into it, slowly coursing through the ground towards both the hound and the cart in tow. After a couple Bits were spent steadily breathing and focusing, Trevor felt the earth beneath him hum and vibrate a little in response to the token of Ether he'd paid. When the Element finally heeded his request the very dirt around the cart's wheels loosened, churning as it coagulated from dust to mud so that it might ensnare it and hold the large animal in place.

As the change in the elements physical state became cemented he sure enough felt the toll, a minor loss of Ether as he intended but substantial when he considered his current predicament. There was no way he could regenerate it naturally as of now, and yet he'd allowed himself to be careless enough to act on impulse. Phelix would likely be upset but understanding well enough of the situation, and hopefully wouldn't chastise him for the act of helping others to begin with. Nevertheless the Defier opened his eyes and exhaled a slow and steady breath, a silent thought of thanks spared for the friend beneath their feet; now that the work was done and hopefully everyone was safe.

Trevor rose as the output of smoke from his skin lessened, his arms brought to a cross-over as he stared curiously at the newcomers present. "Quite the magnificent beast he is! I trust that'll keep him from getting too far ahead of himself?" He checked with the bulky man with a slight flash of a smirk beneath his moustache.

The ever so gracious presence of a fellow Defier was never something one could ignore, and so when the moment of tension passed and the beast of a hound calmed; the Ithecal at present was reciprocated with a welcoming grin nonetheless. Feeling the sensation of the breeze as it wafted from one Defier to another, therein lied a powerful sense of honor and brotherhood Trevor had almost never experienced. Yet there was also something much more innate, a deeper sense of regret over something that occurred recently... and an absence of something that once was also. These were just the faint impressions the humanly Defier picked up on, even so they spoke enough of the Ithecal in front of him as Trevor stood with a lean.

He had honestly not expected the toll to be so sudden, even if the cost of his reserves were minor at this point. A minor sense of exertion made him feel a little lackluster in comparison to earlier, however Trevor still felt fully capable of carrying out all regular behaviors nonetheless. "Please, no apologies necessary!" Trevor chuckled aloud with almost a vibrant grin on his face. "Better to be disturbed by him then some other voracious monster out here." The remark was of course meant as a modest jib and nothing more, as Trevor became explicitly curious as to just what provoked the large mongrel. The hound certainly possessed a high amount of intelligence if he could understand his master, and when the Defier heard what it was the beast normally tracked with his nose.

"Bones? Interesting..." It was a Discipline highly frowned upon where he grew up, but Trevor remembered reading just a little on Necromancy back in Lysoria. If he recalled correctly it was a magical practice revolving around the dead, something that disturbed his mentor greatly enough to where he was advised to never practice it. "Trevor D'ael, or just Trevor of course!" He introduced himself with a gracious bow after hearing Cervantez introduce himself, he had to admit the large man certainly beheld very alluring qualities. After introductions had been exchanged among all parties, a notice seemed to warrant Cervantez's attention moments later as the Defier moved to collect his things. Since he felt the winds softly usher for him to follow, Trevor felt that this wasn't something he should just mosey on out of. Especially when it called for a sense of adventure, which apparently his other Spark severely craved by now.

Thus when he finished redressing with his shirt worn loosely, and the saber tied to the belt at his waist, he followed along to see just what had been discovered moments later. Sure enough it was obvious; the large surface of a rigid dome seemed to be slowly excavated, as the hound eagerly sought to unearth his greatest achievement for his master. Quite honestly Trevor himself felt mystified to lay eyes upon it, as he felt the ground beneath his feet almost shudder in anticipation. What they'd come upon was relatively the shape of a skull, at least that's what the minor sensations felt beneath his feet told him. But what exactly did that skull belong to? And more importantly what did Cervantez plan on doing with said skull... now that he'd found it? "Whatever remains were buried here... they feel quite large and menacing." He admitted lowly with a disturbed look upon the exposed surface of the skull.