∞ [voice] (note: retconned out of Luceti canon)

[chikaidestroyer]

Haha... Hahaha...


[ooc: Beware. Depending on his now unstable mood and your relation to him, Albert may summon something to attack you.]

Comments

[nowarstowin.livejournal.com]

Dammit Albert!

[chikaidestroyer]

[Albert all but falls over, the mirages fading even as the Pale Gate pulses on his forehead. His eyes are shut tight with strain.]

Caesar.

[nowarstowin.livejournal.com]

Al, hey ... that was close. Are you okay?

[chikaidestroyer]

[He shakes his head, the headache fading as the rune fades down a bit. It's still prominent to actually make it out, which shows it's still active.]

I-- Sorry. This isn't... We need to be careful.

[He reaches into one of his numerous pockets, pulling out what looks like a rumpled ball of feathers.]

[nowarstowin.livejournal.com]

Yeah. Yeah, we do. You about got me there.

[chikaidestroyer]

You need to ... run. I don't know what will happen if I know where you are. Don't tell me. Just run.

[He shoves the tiny owl into Caesar's hand. It's obvious Rune's wing is broken, and the owl looks pained.]

I just... I just snatched him out of the air. Like he was a book flying at my face.

[nowarstowin.livejournal.com]

Albert, we can do something. Restrain you somehow, I don't know -- I ... I can't let this happen again. The others were content just to talk. You ...

[chikaidestroyer]

If you think you can restrain a Pale Gate Rune, Caesar, please tell me how. [He sounds annoyed, tired, and more than a little impatient.] I don't know what's going to happen. It's like being possessed and being forced to watch. He must be... He must be laughing at me.

[He looks down at the injured owl, sighing.] You're the only one I've tried to attack like this. The others... Just toying with them. Taunting them.

[nowarstowin.livejournal.com]

I don't know; I'm not a mage ... can you cast without speaking? If someone had a silencing technique of something ... I ... understand. I'll go now. Let's try to keep it to just taunting, okay?

[chikaidestroyer]

It's a rune, Caesar... Have you ever seen the Flame Champion audibly chant to cast a spell? It's... It's... But the ritual. The ritual is spoken.

[He looks at Caesar, and his expression is close to desperate -- try as he might, he can't completely cover his fear.] Don't confront me. And if you see me, don't hesitate. The mirages-- they're fast. If I tell them to attack--

Stay with someone. Someone who can protect you.

[nowarstowin.livejournal.com]

I thought True Runes might be different.

[chikaidestroyer]

Trues Runes. Lower house runes. Element runes, animal runes, godspeed runes. It's the same. The strain of using a spell is just much less traumatic. The audible chant is a formality, used by those learning. Don't let him make his way here. Don't.

Thank you... Thank you. Hurry. Get going. The bird might be dying, too.

[nowarstowin.livejournal.com]

So it seems.

[chikaidestroyer]

[Weary as he is, Albert is still stunned by the action. He reaches an arm up and grasps Caesar's shoulder in an awkward acceptance hug, then shifts his hand to push the younger away.] Go. This isn't the end. I'll see you once this is all over.

[nowarstowin.livejournal.com]

[chikaidestroyer]

[And Albert is left kneeling in the glaring light of the burning library, his expression contemplative. And even from a great distance, it is terribly clear just how alone he is at the moment.]