<Cennarian`> <<nightmare realm has no morning>>
<Aleksii> << lemme get my lizard out. >>
<Cennarian`> <<that just sounded bad>>
<Aika`> << It was meant to. >>
<Aika`> << alright... >>
<Cennarian`> <<LOL. so, it should be about six or seven hours later>>
<Aika`> |start|
* Aika` opens his eyes slowly and gazes at the ceiling of the tent for a long while, trying to gather his thoughts
<Aika`> ....
* Cennarian` is still sitting in the middle of the room, the candle before him still burning bright.
<Cennarian`> I am flame, flame is light. I am fire, fire is sight. Flame. Light. FIre. Sight.
<Cennarian`> {Mack...... Mack, please show me where you are in relation to where we are.}
* Aika` sits up in the bed and draws his legs beneath himself, watching Cenn quietly
* Cennarian` sees the same castle of darkness, and a large canyon and a range of high mountains, all crawling with creepy monsters.
* Rapture` sits up and twitters
<Rapture`> {You're gonna try to snap master Cenn out of his trance, aren't ya?}
<Aika`> {{{ ...he needs his sleep, Rapture... }}}
* Aika` glances at the bird, then back to Cenn before sliding out of the bed and padding quietly over to his side
<Aika`> ....
<Rapture`> {He needs to figure out where we are going and how we're gonna get there}
* Ambiel opens his eyes slowly as he suddenly realizes he's alone in the bed
<Ambiel> ....?
* Aika` nods a little
<Cennarian`> I am flame, flame is light. I am fire, fire is sight. I am flame, flame is light. I am fire, fire is sight. Flame. Light. Fire. Sight.
<Aika`> {{{ ...tell me when he's found it. }}}
<Rapture`> {he's in that part of the trance right now.... I can see it, but it's fuzzy}
* Aika` nods and watches Cenn quietly
* Cennarian` sees several dark lords in varying parts of the land, the largest power reading in the castle with others ranging from large to small spreading outward.
* Rapture` shudders and fluffs her feathers out to make herself larger
<Rapture`> {he's seeing creepy things now..... lords of darkness}
* Ambiel rests his head on his paws and stares at the candle
<Aika`> ....
* Aika` sits down slowly next to Cenn
<Cennarian`> Flame. Light. Fire. Sight
* Cennarian` sees their own power levels in accordance to the levels of the dark lords, then at Mack's dwindling power and shudders
<Cennarian`> Mack.... he's getting weaker.
* Aika` perks up a bit and gazes at Cenn with a concerned expression
* Rapture` squawks suddenly and darts behind Cenn and AIka
<Rapture`> {There is something creepy at the entrance.... it got through the magical barrier}
* Aika` blinks at her and reaches out to gently stroke her back
<Aika`> Shhhh
* Cennarian` snaps out of his trance and leaps to his feet
<Cennarian`> I feel it. I feel the power in the area
* Aika` jumps and stares up at him, wide eyed
* Aika` pulls himself to his feet and touches Cenn's arm softly
* Cennarian` doesn't feel a thing except for a burning desire to kick some monster butt
<Aika`> ...Cenn...
<Cennarian`> Aika, protect the critters. This one is MINE!
<Aika`> ...where is it?
<Cennarian`> |A flash of lightning in the distance illuminates a very large, very deformed creature with glowing red eyes just outside the door|
* Aika` gasps and clamps a hand over his mouth to muffle a scream, stumbling backwards
<Rapture`> {See... see..... it broke through the magical barrier... we're all doomed!!}
<Cennarian`> Aika, protection spell. This one is gonna get CREAMED!!!
* Aika` works his jaw a few times, staring at the creature for what seems like hours before words finally come to his mind. He quickly activates the strongest protection spell he can think of, short of Black Beast
<Cennarian`> Dis..... FRANG!!
* Cennarian` sends his shadow towards the creature. The shadow becomes a large dragon which rears its head back and screams
* Ambiel darts underneath the pillow
* Aika` lifts Rapture into his arms and carries her back to the bed
* Rapture` hides behind Aika
* Ambiel scrambles out as soon as Aika's sitting down with Rapture and hides in his shirt
<Aika`> {{{ ...don't be afraid... have faith in Cenn... }}}
* Cennarian` nearly falls over from the shere power of the spell. The dragon tears its way through the tent's material and attacks the being. Unfortunately the being slashes through the shadow dragon, dissipating it
<Cennarian`> It....... it's too strong
<Aika`> ...I have to try...
* Aika` stands up slowly and begins the hand movements for Goddess Strike
<Cennarian`> Aika, save your strength.
* Cennarian` begins to perform the motions for a fire spell.
<Cennarian`> Rune FLARE!!!
* Aika` stops and bites his lip a bit
<Aika`> ....Cenn...
* Cennarian` fires off several large missiles of fire, all of which converge on the single target and hurl it backwards into the magical barrier
<Cennarian`> Scatter BLEED!!
* Cennarian` fires off a multitude of spheres which explode in massive waves of energy
<Cennarian`> I don't know how many more spells I can fire off before I run out of power
<Aika`> ...I can heal you.
<Cennarian`> save your power
* Cennarian` draws his sword and channels dark power into it
<Cennarian`> (I get one chance at this, and then either we're all toast or I prove my power)
<Cennarian`> Darkness beyond blackest pitch, deeper than the deepest night...
* Rapture` leaps from Aika's arms and evolves to the firebird once more
* Aika` blinks
<Aika`> Rapture!!
<Rapture`> {relax mister Aika, I can handle this..... Cenn needs time to fire off his spell. I plan to buy him that time}
<Aika`> ....
<Rapture`> Bu.... buru...... Burst FLARE!!!!
* Rapture` fires off a beam of energy which strikes the being, hurling them through the magical shield before detonating into an energy dome
* Aika` clings to Ambiel and stares at them helplessly
<Cennarian`> One golden lord floating endlessly upon a sea of chaos. I call upon thee and swear myself to thee. Let the fools who stand before me be destroyed by the power you and I possess.
* Cennarian` feels the energy growing unstable as he tries to maintain it
<Cennarian`> Aika..... help me... please
* Aika` quickly begins channeling energy to Cenn
<Cennarian`> no.... not like that...
* Cennarian` screams as a black thunderbolt tears through his body
* Aika` blinks a bit and stares at him
<Aika`> ....Cenn!! What can I do?!
<Cennarian`> try.... your goddess spell.... hurry
* Aika` nods and quickly starts the motions
* Cennarian` points the blade at the advancing creature and channels all of the energy into a central point
<Aika`> ....White life, pure of heart, pure of soul, purist thoughts... White light, pure of origin, pure of faith, purist shean....
<Cennarian`> Demon......
* Aika` parts his palms somewhat and small globe of energy forms, growing bigger with every second
<Cennarian`> RAGE!!!!
<Aika`> ...Goddess life, gentle fate, quickest death, soon at rest....
<Aika`> Goddess.... STRIKE!!!
* Cennarian` launches the dark energy at the monster. The dark energy strikes and summons multiple demons to attack the monster. Cenn keels over a moment later, dark energy flowing from his body
* Aika` hurls the attack at the disgusting beast, unconsciously pleaing with the Goddess for power as he does so
* Aika` drops to his hands and knees and trembles furiously, looking somewhat ill
<Rapture`> ga.... ga.... GARK RUHAARD!!!
* Aika` bites his lip and crawls slowly over to Cenn
* Aika` gently rests his hands on Cenn's chest and begins casting a healing spell
<Aika`> ....
* Rapture` sets the air before the tent ablaze with an energy wave, blasting the weakened creature into oblivion. She reverts back to being a bird before fluttering down to Cenn and AIka
<Rapture`> Is..... is he ok??
* Aika` 's hands glow a soft lilac colour that seems to seep slowly into Cenn's body
<Aika`> ....
* Cennarian` mumbles something
<Cennarian`> "ateku...ra-zu-omu... ranaku-tsuraku... izu peku naomu... FUREIMU BURESU!"
<Cennarian`> <<that stuff in caps means FLAME BREATH!>>
* Aika` squeaks and scrambles out of the way
* Cennarian` rolls over and begins to snore lightly
* Aika` sighs and lifts up Cenn's top half, then drags him to the bed with a good bit of difficulty
<Aika`> I'll be damned if I let him sleep on the floor...
* Cennarian` mumbles something about Mack and how much they miss him and hope he's ok
* Aika` rests Cenn's top half on the bed, then manages to somehow get his legs up there
* Aika` kisses his cheek softly, then climbs into bed next to him and cuddles up
* Aika` drifts slowly off to sleep
<Aika`> | a few hours later|
* Cennarian` tosses and turns in his sleep. Flashing through his mind are images of Mack being slaughtered by the lord of darkness and his friends and himself failing in their task
* Aika` opens his eyes, awakened by all of Cenn's flopping around
<Aika`> ...Cenn...?
* Aika` shakes him gently
<Aika`> Cenn, wake up
<Cennarian`> Mack..... Mack...... MACK!!!!
<Aika`> ....
* Cennarian` sees Mack be slaughtered several times over, each time he gets closer and closer
<Cennarian`> Mack.... I'll save you. Don't worry. I'll save you. I will save you..... Mack.... MACK!!!!
* Aika` shakes him a little harder
<Aika`> Cenn!!
* Cennarian` sees himself looking out and something stabbing through his chest and a very stunned Mack standing before him
* Cennarian` curls up in a little ball before his body goes rigid and relaxes
* Aika` stares down at him for a while
<Aika`> ....Cenn
* Rapture` perks her head up and stares at her master
<Rapture`> Cenn??
* Aika` shakes Cenn again lightly
<Aika`> ...Cennarian, wake up.
* Cennarian` sighs and opens one eye tentatively
<Cennarian`> AIka? Rapture? is that you??
* Aika` leans over a bit and stares down at him
<Aika`> ...are you alright?
* Rapture` chirps in response
<Aika`> You were talking in your sleep and tossing around a lot.
<Cennarian`> I was? I was having a nightmare..... We didn't make it in time to save Mack, then I was the one who got slaughtered just feet from Mack
* Aika` stares down at Cenn for a moment before lying back down next to him and wrapping his arms tightly around him
<Aika`> ...don't say things like that.
* Cennarian` sighs
<Cennarian`> I'm sorry.... but I dreamed that
* Aika` looks up at him
<Cennarian`> Aika, we need to go and save Mack right away. Every minute we delay he gets weaker and closer to.....
* Cennarian` shudders
<Aika`> ...what good to Aika will we be as tired as we are?
<Cennarian`> We need to move on.
* Aika` slides out of the bed and nods somewhat
<Aika`> ...you sound so sure.
<Aika`> . o O ( ...but I'm still so tired and don't I matter too? ...stop thinking like that... Mack's in terrible danger. You can sleep later. )
* Aika` shakes his head to clear it and kneels down by his bag to find a change of clothes
* Cennarian` floats out to the bathing room, tossing his clothes off as he goes
<Cennarian`> (a nice bath will refresh me and clear my mind)
<Cennarian`> <<a brain rinse and fluff>>
* Rapture` plops down on a pillow and goes back to sleep
* Aika` lies the clothes out on the bed and follows him into the bathing room, stopping at the entrance and undressing in a neater fashion
* Aika` slips into the water and sighs deeply at it's warmth
* Cennarian` dives into the bathing pool, emerging from the other end with water streaming from his hair
<Aika`> ....
* Cennarian` adds an ice spell to his end of the pool to cool it down
* Aika` ducks under the water to get his hair good and wet, coming back up with a few messy strands in his face
<Aika`> ....T_T
<Cennarian`> (This is soooooooo refreshing)
* Aika` brushes them away and goes to find the scrubbing sand
* Cennarian` sinks into the water up to his nose and sigsh
<Cennarian`> <<sighs even>>
* Aika` lifts up a small bag of Scrubbing sand after a short hunt and pours some into his hand, then begins scouring his hair with it
<Cennarian`> (Don't worry Mack, we're on our way. We will defeat all who oppress us and save you)
* Cennarian` closes his eyes and sinks under the water
* Aika` finishes with his hair and ducks underwater, trying to block out any thoughts he possibly can
* Aika` washes all of the sand out of his hair before returning to surface to scrub his body
<Aika`> ....
* Cennarian` rubs his fingers through his hair, trying to get all the knots and kinks out of it
<Aika`> . o O ( ...I'm not going to think about any of it... I'm just going to pray that everything turns out all right.... but what did he mean about Mack getting weak? )
* Aika` watches Cenn for a few moments
<Cennarian`> (I am flame, flame is light. I am fire, fire is sight. I am flame, flame is light. I am fire, fire is sight)
<Aika`> ...he's going to be okay... We all will.
* Cennarian` emerges from his end of the pool, water streaming down his body. He shakes his head, water spraying everywhere before he resumes a sitting position in the pool.
<Cennarian`> Time compression
<Aika`> What?
<Cennarian`> nothing.... random thought
* Aika` looks at him for another few seconds before returning his gaze to the water
<Aika`> . o O ( ...Cenn's terrified and so is Mack, he has to be... Rapture and Ambiel, too... and... I... I'm trying so hard not to loose it, but this place terrifies me... it reminds me too much of everything that happened before, in my past... that was a Nightmare Realm, too, wasn't it? )
<Cennarian`> (time compression.... if we could compress time then everything would either be really messed up or all fixed)
* Aika` bites his lip hard and finally buries his face in his hands, letting out his fear and angst in a fit of bitter tears
* Cennarian` looks up and sees Aika crying
<Cennarian`> what's wrong??
* Aika` shakes his head, not removing his face from his hands
<Aika`> ....
* Cennarian` inches towards Aika the best he can
<Cennarian`> c'mon, tell me what's wrong. I'm here for you.
* Aika` wraps his arms tightly around himself
* Cennarian` moves next to Aika and puts his hands on Aika's shoulders
<Aika`> ...everytime I'm happy, something goes horribly wrong and I miss Mack so much and I hate being here... I just want to find Mack and leave.
<Cennarian`> hey, I want to find Mack and leave as well, but I can't exactly blink in and out like I used to
* Aika` stares up at him with tears streaming down his cheeks and his lip trembling
<Aika`> ....
* Cennarian` bites his tongue
<Cennarian`> (damnit..... my blink ability had to choose NOW to go on the fritz)
* Cennarian` wipes a tear from Aika's cheek
* Aika` wraps his arms tightly around Cenn's neck and clings to him, calming down a bit
<Aika`> ...I miss him so much
<Cennarian`> C'mon, let's finish getting cleaned up and rest.... in a few hours we're gonna start the longest leg of this trek, and we're gonna need ALL of our strength.
* Cennarian` hugs Aika close
<Cennarian`> I miss him as well, but together we can save him
* Aika` nods a little but doesn't let go of him
<Aika`> ...please just hold me for a few minutes... please
* Cennarian` holds Aika close
* Aika` hides his face in the crook of Cenn's neck
<Cennarian`>  TO BE CONTINUED...|