[ We find Our Heroes experiencing a time paradox! Well, maybe a space paradox. It's hard to tell, here. ] (Maybe a single dock?) ( you can't have a paradock. ) (I dunno, if you put a bunch of parachutes on a dock and threw it from a plane, couldn't it be considered a paradock?) [ On one side, they each walk alone into the only gate into Kyuden Togashi, the High House of Light. On the other side of the gate, they all six emerge simultaneously, all of them generally looking worse for wear to some degree. ] ( No. ) [ Except Kenji and Patrick, who fall dead on the spot. Guess their players should've shut up when the text started in. :P ] [ Hint, hint. ] [ On the other side they behold a vast, low, and astonishingly fertile hill covered in orchards and fields, with even a pasture of grazing sheep. At the center of it all is a vast monastery made of some uncertain but radiant material. It all looks very impressive, and nothing like you'd imagine the top of a mountain. ] [ Immediately before you are a collection of standing stones, with a ring of stones for sitting inside that; the stones have small cushions on them. In the center of the inner ring stands Togashi and Bahamut, whom most of you have already met. ] [ Another unfamiliar figure - a large and strong young man with a sword at his hip - is currently accompanying Alcinoe. Otherwise, everyone here is already known. ] [ Session Start! ] * Tia is bawling, and while she attempts to mop up her tears with the corner of her blouse, there seem to be too many tears to soak up in such a small bit of cloth. * RKenji hasn't changed much, if at all. He obviously hasn't been crying, though he looks just as tired and sweaty as you'd expect after climbing a frikkin hyooge mountain. Something looks kinda off, though, like something's missing. * Seylin looks tired. Her eyes are red, like she's been crying, but finished before she arrives. She stares somewhat numbly at the others, and seems to be having a hard time looking straight at Patrick. * Alcinoe walks in, guided gently by the man immediately behind her. She's trembling, eyes cast downward, and she doesn't look like she wants to move any faster or farther than she absolutely has to. Outside of that, she doesn't look badly off; her kimono's a bit torn, there are some scrapes and bruises on her, and her hair's a mess - probably because she just climbed up a mountain. * Patrick walks in confident, if a bit tired from the trek up, and a genuine smile on his face. He doesn't look like he's been crying, but he does seem more honest than he was before. * WillS seems to be doing alright, besides having bloodshot eyes and two distinct bumps on his head. He does try to put a good face to things though, and smiles at seeing that all his friends made it to the top of the mountain. * Patrick looks relieved to see everyone there. It means they've all made it up... although most, if not all, are worse for the wear than he is. [ Bahamut nods to everyone in turn, in no particular order. "Please, have a seat, all of you." ] * RKenji watches Alcinoe, and takes a seat right next to her. * Seylin looks over at Patrick and gives him a tentative smile. * Alcinoe starts a little at Bahamut's words. She blinks at him, then goes to sit down... when Kenji sits next to her, she looks over at him. * WillS grabs a seat and sits down also. * RKenji gives Alci a Look. [ The large fellow stands behind Alcinoe. ] * Patrick smiles back at Seylin and takes an open seat, leaving one open next to him. * Seylin sits down next to him. * Alcinoe looks back, puzzled for a moment before something dawns on her, and then she looks even more puzzled. Or worried. She tries to dispell it and gives Kenji a shaky smile. [ Tia sits on the ground, since none of the stones are big enough for her. Her crying is dying down a bit, now. ] I wish I could see the other guy. * Alcinoe asks, softly, "Th' other guy?" The one you got in a fight with. * Patrick pretends like he didn't hear that. * Alcinoe winces and looks away from Kenji - and everyone else, for that matter. "Ah'll tell ya 'bout it later." [ "Your attention, please," says Bahamut. ] * Patrick smirks slightly at Bahamut as he gives the god his attention. * Seylin immediately turns to look at Bahamut. * Alcinoe bows her head towards Bahamut, not looking back up. * RKenji watches Bahamut carefully. * WillS looks worriedly at Alcinoe before turning to give Bahamut his full attention. [ "I called you here for one reason," he begins. "As you currently stand before me, you cannot complete your quest. You will die in the Shadowlands, and return to conquer the empire, and possibly the lands beyond as well." ] [ "And nobody wants that, of course. So we're going to take a bit of an alternate track here." ] * Seylin looks confused. * Patrick raises an eyebrow. [ "With training from experts assembled here, you will be better prepared to confront the horrors of the shadowlands, and other, darker places. Through study and discussion, you will learn vital information for your quest, and you will have your hearts refined. Training will be different for each of you, and you will, for the most part, each engage in it alone." ] [ "First, however, I'm sure you all have questions for me." He smirks. "And I'm sure that in itself is something of an understatement." ] * RKenji looks around at everybody. "I think they're in shock." * Seylin nods semi-numbly. [ "Ah," says Bahamut. "Lucky me." He smiles. Togashi says, "Way to dodge the bullet, Bahamut-sama." ] * Alcinoe takes a breath, lets it out, and then asks: "Why didn't Ah fall?" [ "Because you kept climbing," says Bahamut. "And no, I don't mean the mountain." ] * Alcinoe twitches a little, but she doesn't respond. I'd ask how does all this work, but I don't think you could explain it so I'd understand. Or would really want to. * WillS breathes a sigh of relief at hearing Alci's alright. [ "I'd love to explain it, actually," says Bahamut, "But I cannot, no. It's the sort of thing that's nearly impossible to understand without going insane or becoming divine." ] [ "Similarly, the ability to manipulate environments such as this come with the same conditions." ] * Alcinoe blinks a few times, and she looks up at Bahamut and Togashi in vague confusion before she glances back at the man behind her. * Patrick nods. "Thought so." [ The man behind her nods. ] * Alcinoe furrows her brow, and she turns back to the conversation. Who are these experts? [ "You, Kenji, will be training under a kenku swordmaster." ] * RKenji blinks. * Patrick thinks. "Is that a good thing?" [ Togashi smiles. ] Most of the Kenku have been practicing swordsmanship for almost a thousand years. The people they train usually go on to be legends. Probly won't break th' trend, Kenji. Your confidence is gratifying, but probably undeserved. If I have to do things that make me legendary, it probably means I've done something wrong. [ "Others will be practicing with people more reflective of their talents, of course." ] * Patrick snickers. "What you did to that dragon was pretty impressive. So what kind of expert am I expected to train under, then?" Tsuruchi himself, if my own teacher is any indication. [ "Actually, the elf Tsuruchi learned archery from." ] * Patrick whistles. I knew that fool of a failed Lion couldn't have created all those techniques on his own. That's what we call in the biz, a burn. * Alcinoe snerks a little. She can't help herself. [ "Similarly, Tia will train under the barbarian angel Gwynharwyf, Seylin will train under a Malakim, and Alcinoe here will train under the young man behind her, Galahad." ] * Seylin turns and gawks at Galahad for a second, then regains her composure and looks back at Bahamut. * WillS raises his hand in a confident manner. It looks a bit awkward though, and shaking ever so slightly. "What about me?" Mmm, good question. * Alcinoe starts at that and turns to look at Galahad, this time totally shocked. * RKenji looks up at Galahad, and nods, obviously satisfied. [ Bahamut smirks. "You'll be training under the most brilliant scholar ever to live. I do hope you retain your sanity afterwards." ] * Patrick gives a thumbs-up to Alci. * Alcinoe doesn't notice. She's too busy being stunned. [ Galahad smiles down at Alcinoe. ] Once you've finished training with him, I need to work on training your prognostication abilities, Alcinoe. You should have seen that one coming. Wha- Ah- [ "Maybe your grammar as well, dear," Bahamut says. ] * WillS takes a loud gulp and shakes his head as he realizes that's not the emotion he should be feeling. "I'll do my best, my lord." * Alcinoe blushes and turns quickly back around, giving Kenji a glance. [ Bahamut continues to smile. "That is all I ask, Will." ] * RKenji laughs silently at Alcinoe. You really -should- have seen it coming. He's right. You should have. Heck, *I* saw it coming. * Alcinoe nods, a worried expression crossing her face again. "Kinda... thinkin' 'bout stuff now." This place has that effect on people. We need to talk before we leave. Yeah. * Patrick looks at Seylin. "I'm sure we'll all want to talk before we leave." * Seylin looks back at Patrick and nods. [ "If that is everything, then? When you are ready, you can go to your rooms for some peace, quiet, and good food. Don't worry - you'll know where to find them." ] If find that we have any more questions, will we get the opportunity to ask them later? Yeah, I think there are a few things that'll come up that some of us will want to ask. [ "Of course," says Bahamut. "Finding I or Togashi will not be difficult. Nor will finding Will be, and after the first leg of his training he will have a great deal of knowledge learned." ] * WillS nods excitedly at that last part. [ "Then, I will be off." Bahamut stands, and walks off, splitting into three duplicates of himself as he does so; each heads in a different direction. ] * Alcinoe watches him go, and she rubs at her eyes. * Seylin blinks a few times. Man, being a god has got to be so cool. Gotta be a headache. Kenji, can we talk? Yes. Let's go. Assuming your mentor is willing to leave you alone with a dirty ronin, anyway. * Alcinoe nods, her expression worried again. * Seylin looks confused, and like she almost wants to say something. * RKenji stands and holds his hand down for Alci. [ Galahad smiles. "Well, as long as you've got your kootie shot, ronin." He pats Alcinoe on the shoulder. "I'll see you later, daughter." And then he's just gone. ] ...what, exactly, is a kootie shot? * WillS blinks. "Did he just call you daughter, Alci?" [ Tia giggles at that line. ] * Alcinoe reaches up and takes Kenji's hand. "Ah dunno. ... An' yeah, he did." * RKenji helps Alci up. As far as I know, he was speaking metaphorically. * WillS looks confusingly at Kenji and Alci and nods slowly. "I see." ... Oh come on, you remember the kooties? Back when you were a kid and afraid of boys? * Alcinoe is helped, and she stands. She doesn't let go of Kenji's hand, though, as she looks at Pat. "Nope." Ah was never afraid of boys. * Alcinoe grins a little - the first time since she got there! I was afraid of girls, but only because they beat the hell out of me on a regular basis. * Patrick thinks for a moment. "Heh." Growing up around the Matsu is a humbling experience. See, you 'n' me woulda gotten along jus' fine. Probably just different ways of being raised. Yeah. Your mom was definately um...special. My mother is a living legend. The mere mention of her name makes Cranes all across the empire shiver in unconscious terror. I'll say. * RKenji nods to Alcinoe and starts off toward the castle, still hand- in-hand with her. * Alcinoe walks with Kenji. * Patrick takes a deep breath and turns to Seylin. "Shall we?" He holds his hand out to her, half-expecting her not to take it. * Seylin puts her hand in his, though she hesitates for one second. "Yes." * WillS watches Alci walk off before waving goodbye to everyone else. He heads off towards his room as well. [ And everyone went more or less their own way, for now, and then... moooooore research! ] [ Session End. ]