Night 11

[fifthreplacement]

[Awhile after night begins, and after Sync has spent some time talking to Sil about what happened, a new post appears in the journals. He still hasn't used this enough for most to recognise his handwriting, but those who do will realise it's a little shakier than normal]

The basement isn't safe, especially around the crafters rooms. I don't know if it's still there or not, but there was a monster hiding in the carpenter's room. It's already killed one person tonight.

[He doesn't write any more than that, no 'be careful' or anything. It's a warning, and that's all. Sync doesn't care what happens to most of the people here. But for those few he's beginning to realise he does...hopefully it will be enough]

Comments

[icebrand]

I would but I have taken up residence in the basement for the time being. I suppose you would have me leave my domain?

[ The place he wrote wasn't safe. Bold manner of creature this one is. ]

I care not for who reads my words. Who do you hide from, I wonder.

[fifthreplacement]

No. Should you think it safe, I will come to you. I need to find someone anyway.

I hide from the Lord of this castle and the vile creature he seeks to use. From those who could read the words here and twist them to use against me in the future. I'm not in the habit of sharing just how much I know about my enemies where they may find it.

[icebrand]

Fine.

The wash room. It will look as if a monster has taken it over.

[ There is no monster there. Only a distressed woman and what remains of Aymeric's dignity. ]

[fifthreplacement]

[It takes him a little bit of time, but he finds the ice in the hallway outside the room. Curious. Careful, as to not lose his footing, he knocks on the door, not opening it just yet]

[icebrand]

[ Opening the door, she stands there as if she were in her element and in truth, she was. The room is completely covered in ice so fine that every part of the room was reflected in some manner, creating a kaleidoscope of her image mirrored in every corner.

Though some of the ice has cracks in it, as though something had happened here earlier. ]

Does the lord of this castle truly waste his time with these books? If so, why are they used at all? [ What a greeting. ]

[fifthreplacement]

[Interesting. Sync examines the room with a mild curiosity, before looking back to her]

He himself does not, but there's no telling who does. Who would willingly sell the information they learned in them to the Lord because it benefited them, or because he compels them to with his powers.

[icebrand]

Compels them with his powers... as if they were a thrall of his? Interesting.

Mind your step. [ Turning her back to him, she steps back further into the room. If he looks closely, there is a path with enough traction for one to easily walk through, the mage having learned her lesson with the Lord Commander already. ]

There are several of us from different worlds. If I were to tell you what I'm capable of, would you think it odd or simply believe it to be a gift unique to my world?

[fifthreplacement]

Yeah. It's a gift of his bloodline, as I understand it.

[Sync follows, careful where he stands. He respects the icy surface and treads carefully, not wishing to fall over. The fur that covers his left arm, visible from the way the sleeve had been torn off the uniform he wears, stands on end in the cold, but he ignores it]

I'd call it a gift of your world. I've already learned of things that I previously would've thought impossible.

[icebrand]

Then I'll tell you. [ If she's bothered the sight of his fur or anything about him, she contains it. Her expression remains as icy as ever. ]

I have a gift that allows me to resonate with the souls of those around me. With this power, I can see glimpses of the past.

[fifthreplacement]

[Memory powers always sit badly with him, especially considering his world. But he listens, and he can see what such a power could be used for]

Interesting. And no doubt useful at times, in a place like this.

[icebrand]

Do you believe that? [ Clearly spoken as someone who wasn't on the receiving end of these visions. ]

A few days ago, there was an unsettling presence that lingered. During that time...

[ She saw something. ]

[fifthreplacement]

[Sync shrugs]

Everything is useful in some way. Pleasant, probably not. Useful, potentially.

[He tilts his head a little at her, listening. It's clear at least that he believes what she's saying]

You saw a vision of a shadowy creature.

[icebrand]

No, what I witnessed was a creature being consumed by something dark. [ If there was a way for her to share what she saw, she would have. All she can do is describe it in detail.

Though she remains cautious about doing so. ]

From what I have gathered, it was attacked by something and that something found a way to invade from within.

[fifthreplacement]

Hm.

[It made sense in a way. If it was the Vernacht, which had been miasma, perhaps it needed the form of others]

Did this happen to take place in a courtyard with a gazebo structure in it?

[icebrand]

With seven statues in the area surrounding it, yes. [ There's no other way to prove she knows of this gazebo's existence save for making mention of the finer details. ]

In a maze of sorts. If I needed to find it, I could though no good would come of me visiting such a place.

[ She was a vessel to a phantom once. Never again. ]

[fifthreplacement]

[Sync shakes his head at the mention of finding it]

No need. I've been there, and encountered the creature you're talking about. The Vernacht tried to break free of its seal last time it was night. I was there when it happened, with two companions. If it can truly take control of people...

[Then in a way, they got very, very lucky]

Thankfully it wasn't the creature that killed Spinel. We'd be in so much more trouble than anyone could handle if it had.

[icebrand]

[ The Vernacht. It has a name. ] If it found a way to the castle, we would have much more to fear.

What I witnessed was a fallen creature being consumed by it only to rise once more, stronger than it had been. It healed itself from a wounded leg and then walked around on it as though it hadn't been broken in the first place.

[fifthreplacement]

Its presence is still felt in the castle. The Lord wishes to use its power, no matter how much it corrupts him in the process. His personal servants bleed the same ooze that seems to be its blood, and have been corrupted by it. The castle itself seems to bleed the same ooze.

[Healing abilities, and taking the form of those it had consumed...they had been very lucky indeed. It had been trying to get Luke...the Vernacht doesn't need the power of hyperresonance at its command]

For now though, it's sealed within the maze in the garden. The seal is maintained by seven bloodlines; so long as they exist, the seal should be able to be renewed.

[icebrand]

Its power. [ Which is what exactly? The ability to take on the form of another? Immortality, in a sense, along with the healing. ]

Why would the lord of this castle concern himself with a beast like that when he can find a gem plucked from another world here among his workers?

[fifthreplacement]

Because he's unaware of where we're from. I don't think he's even aware that this isn't his own world, that the castle was pulled here as well like we all were.

[icebrand]

Is he that consumed with his conquest for power? [ That he cannot figure out what they have within a week of being here? ]

If so, that makes him easy enough to take down.

[fifthreplacement]

He's a fool, but he's a fool with power. His blood ties him to the castle and the seal, which allowed him to loosen its hold on the Vernacht. The castle is sentient after a fashion, and will report to him what it sees. His servants can sense magic and heal in a fashion similar to what you said you saw the Vernacht do. And when those who die here will simply revive after a time...

[Sync shrugs. They need to get rid of the Lord, but it's not as easy as one would think]

[icebrand]

Killing him isn't an option then. [ Keeping him captured, on the other hand, seems a bit more feasible. ]

Your companion... he'll revive?

[fifthreplacement]

Not a feasible one, no.

[He glances away a little at the mention of Asch. It still hasn't really hit him fully yet, but the feeling of loss is starting to get through the shock of everything that happened]

Yes, he should. It'll take some time, but he should be alive again before midnight.

[icebrand]

You're certain you don't wish for me to retrieve his corpse? [ It's a bit cold to phrase it that way but... she's surrounded by ice. Being cold seems to fit her naturally. ]

It'd be a shame if he were to revive only to be killed a second time.