Night 59: Staff Only Outdoor Patio
Renji stepped out onto the patio. It was nice to be out of the oppressive halls, but he didn't let his guard down. If it was a monster party, there'd likely be some nasty things outside
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"I don't care which it is, I'm simply glad the door is unlocked!"
Tolten listened with interest as Locke spoke, hiding a start as he described the situation in his own world.
"My world...something very similar happened. It all started with Magic Industrial Revolution. And there was a man who sought to harness all of the natural occurring magic energy, to gain something called the Throne of the Gods. Unfortunately not many of us realized what he was actually up to. Our own resistance movement was a sad, nomadic thing, but we won. And...peace returned to my empire and all of us left are striving to return the natural balance, at least when I left."
He shook his head in awe and curiosity as they stepped into the night. "It seems we come from somewhat similar places. I haven't met anyone else here who's world was even close to mine! Though...no one else from my world is here."
He realized, suddenly, it was the first time he'd been outside of the walls since waking up here. He knew they were in a hurry, but he had to pause just a moment to breathe in the air and look up at the sky.
He saw the thing almost immediately, circling above. Some sort of bird. He peered up and squinted his eyes, trying to identify it. But as it began to dive, the young king noticed the rot and unlikely proportions. It was a creature, like whatever had come after them in the hallways.
"Oh no! Inside!" His startled cry came just as the bird-thing spread it's wings and extended its wickedly curved talons. He hefted his pipe as he took a step back, bracing himself. The thing was diving right for him!
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Locke also couldn't help but pause and take in the outside air. Even if it wasn't much of a view and they were headed back inside in just a moment, it was strangely refreshing on some level. The thief had always preferred the outdoors and to be locked away from it for even just a few days had been unsettling.
Of course, nothing good could last in this place. His eyes snapped up to the creature just as it started to dive and he briefly wondered if he could kill it before it killed them. He had a feeling it would take something stronger than a low level fire spell, and they didn't have that sort of time.
Coming to a decision, he threw his hands up, willing the magic through his palms and into the air, surrounding the area immediately around them. The barrier wasn't strong enough to keep the bird...thing back forever, but it was enough to deflect it's first attack.
"We...gotta go..can't keep this up forever."
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"Get the door open!" Tolten called. He could at least hold the thing off with his pipe if the shield didn't deflect it. Of course, then he'd have to be right close to it and it was obvious the monster had set its sights on him!
Desperation kicked in. They were shielded, as evidenced by the creature battering against the shimmering area and bouncing back. It was...good god, it looked dead. And it was shaking itself and preparing to come back, and those talons were wicked.
It was time to pull out his emergency weapon. Tolten searched for a calm well within him, feeling time seem to slow and swim gently around him. He didn't have his lyre, but that was alright. He didn't really need it. And if he were forced to rely on his most embarrassing of skills, at least it was in front of Locke. He didn't quite mind Locke knowing about this - besides, the other man had given them this chance!
Squaring his shoulders and setting his feet apart, Tolten pressed his right hand to his abdomen and began to vocalize. He couldn't call to mind any words so he simply sang notes, high and clear and soothing. The creature slowed, as though woozy....
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He didn't really know what it was Tolten was doing, but he could guess there was some sort of magic in it. Which, really, he had no reason to be surprised about; it wasn't like Tolten had ever told him he didn't have magic, Locke had just assumed. A silly thing to assume when dealing with people from other worlds.
"Whatever you're doing, it's workin'." Keeping the barrier aimed against the monster he moved to the door, opening it with his free hand.
"Let's go."
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The young king kept up his vocalization, wondering if maybe it would work better with words. Or more emotion behind the tone. It was a gift he'd never quite understood, and no one had any interest in further developing. He was only glad it was actually coming in handy!
He could only nod to his friend, not wanting to risk lapsing in his song and losing the tenuous hold he'd managed over the beast. And without Locke's barrier, he wouldn't even be able to do that. The death bird screamed and beat its shedding wings at them, as though struggling and fighting for freedom. Even the stench of it, like the others, was rotten and dead.
Tolten joined Locke at the door and then turned helpless eyes to his friend. How on earth did they manage this so they both got inside before the thing took a piece out of one of them? Could Locke set the barrier for a moment or two, cover the door while they slipped inside and closed it? He found himself reverting to his previous role, and seeking help from one he judged smarter and more capable than he.
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But this thing didn't seem to have an interest in him at all, so that made Locke's decision a lot easier; all he had to do was get Tolten to safety. Of course, he wasn't interested in finding out if the thing would suddenly change it's mind about him once it's main prey was out of range, either.
"We'll have to be quick."
That was all the warning he gave before grabbing Tolten's arm and pulling him so that he was in first. Then he let the barrier down, already building up the power necessary for the strongest fire spell he knew and unleashing it on the bird-zombie.
He hoped the rules about zombie creatures and fire applied here too, at least enough to buy him enough time to get in and get the door closed.
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