It was snowing outside.
Attracted by the playful music of a flute, locals who had the time to spare and money to spend had been pretty constantly gathering inside the few inns present here.
Christina was no bard though and having spent almost a month cooped up in this place harbored that desire for a change in scenery.
Appropriate attire for the occasion was pretty much the only mandatory reason for staying and so her time here had been spent getting properly attired and enchanting these winter clothes. The wild yeti and snow cat leather had pretty much cost a small fortune but that investment would be well worth any prize.
She had obtained enough of it to make very flexible gloves, yeti hide boots and a pretty well trimmed white coat to repel harsh winter cold. Even enchanted them with patterns of heat and wind for that extra protection whenever she would require it. By now she was only distinguishable from the rest by virtue of being taller, having darker skin, long blonde hair and pointy ears.
Chatting and pulling returning hunters to side of the table with a few drinks and minor spells of persuasion had become commonplace, giving them incentive to talk about their hunting tracks around those areas where she desired information.
She had maps too but they were larger than what is useful once out and about.
Her fortunes where not that great either, every day this week the cards said for her to wait and every day she. Today's prediction was that her fortunes would change but most of the day had passed already, staying put at the inn, sipping brew and playing dice with herself seemed to be what would take place until nighttime. Plow the cards, she would leave tomorrow even if the prediction was death.
There were many things that annoyed Marius but not many that annoyed him as much as this goddamn weather, Much to Cold and way too windy. Luckily he had ways to counter theese things, Namely Ignis who were providing him with a personal shield of warmth. And since he had Ignis help him with the cold and the wind he had not bothered to put on Appropriate clothings for this enviroment and instead wore his normal clothes. He had recently gotten to the village where upon entering he had gotten many wierd glances for his choice of clothing, he had of course just ignored the people and marched straight towards the village inn where he stopped right outside the door.
-"You sure that your sibling should be around theese parts?"
He said and looked sideways at Ignis who appeared in it's small form besides him. Ignis nodded briskly and gestured towards the door with smiling eyes. Marius glared at Ignis briefly before putting out his hand and slammed the door open and walked into the inn looking around himself with an searching gaze and then stopped when he reached the counter and looked at the bartender standing behind it.
-"You there, Do you know of any highly spiritually areas or places in theese parts?!"
He said with an strong and loud voice to be heard over the sounds and alike.
"Highly spiritual?" The short yet buff innkeeper Valtera had come to know as Duval stroked his mighty beard and had a curious expression on his face. The man like every owner of an inn ever, had a mouth and loved using it.
The warlock found herself wondering what he might say to the young mage. Because only mages would ever wander in this cold weather with clothes that gave no obvious protection.
How did this man keep warm? and could he do so indefinitely? Only some really advanced spells could throw away such basic principles. Must have been taxing if he arrived by boat. A standard trip usually takes two weeks and then there was teleportation to circumvent that but as many mages often find, they cannot teleport to places you have not seen before.
The teleport stone slab she had used was an ancient contraption circumventing that but then he would have arrived at the basement of this inns cellar.
"Always a pleasure to see new guests arrive at me inn. Tis fine establishment in fact is a highly spiritual place. For just five Pips I could even share some of my finest brew, that can lift the spirits of any fellow regardless of what unfortunate circumstance he might find himself in.
Afterwards you might fancy that there Madam Sacqaws hot spring. Many a monk or paladin doing some spiritual journey take a bath there before headin out in the wilds. Must be something highly spiritual within the water."
" I tell you all off that fer free, but If non oh dat strikes yer fancy. You might try yer luck in the left corner. Reserved for returning hunters and fools lookin fer highly dangerous spiritual places. Though they usually charge for their information."
He had pointed to the right side like the Oaf he was and directly at her. Clearly he meant Christina Valtera Aard, Sixth generation Warlock and escaped Heir of Glass Charon was one of those fools but he meant no harm.
The man saw no good in having people of higher standards chase their fortunes in these lands. Dangerous enough for common folk he had said when the warlock had burst up from the basement and explained her situation to him.
He was almost like a worrying father trying to keep his silly boy at home rather than have him off soldiering.
Marius waited patiently for the innkeeper to start talking but when he actually did Marius sighed heavily with an annoyed expression and started to tap with his foot on the floor impatiently.
-"..."
When he started to actually say what he wanted to hear he nodded briefly and turned towards the woman who sat in the corner and walked towards her without giving the innkeeper a second glance and stopped in front of the table the woman sat by.
-"Unless you're deaf i asume you heard that, so answer my question Are there any highly Spiritual Areas around here?"
He said with an monotone voice and expression while he sat down on a chair on the opposite side to the woman. a faint wind blowed when the hot air around Marius dispersed and spread out in the large room. He calmly leaned back at the backrest of the chair and looked at the woman with an slightly bored expression.
It was expected that this punk show up at her face with an attitude as if he was king of the world. Magic can do such things to mages, unless you humble them early in their development.
Chewing on some really tasty meat that she had found in the bowl of stew
It was hard to do so, he stood out and was practically waving himself at her face so it did not take long before she glared back at him.
" How long can you hold that heat shield?"
A stack of large intricately designed cards landed on the table. The design was simple, a red background with the white skull of a goat weaved into a tribal pattern that ended up in a set of black dice spread across the edges. Her hand now above the deck as it shuffled itself.
Three cards flew out.
The magician represented this idiots past, confident and born with mastery of his own fate. Then the Fortune wheel representing present time. Two of cups signaled a relationship would form in the future. A union of two people.
She sighed and uttered a silent curse while truth dawned on her. As a result the door slammed into the wall. Snow and wind entered the small Inn and many got up from their seats struggling for some minutes to lock the door again.
Finally the door was shut again and things quieted back down.
"There are several places I could guide you to, give me more specific." A snap with her fingers, drew the barkeeps attention. Like a hawk he was in regards to the hunters. He held everyone here in high regard but this corner especially. He only served stew and Vodka here and she had already eaten. Hopefully the point got across.
-"...Long enough"
He simply answered and looked at the woman calmly, when the cards started to move he looked at them loosely and had an non caring expression. He raised his eyebrows when the woman sighed and when the door flew up he simply glanced over at the door and the people tring to close it.
-"I'm searching for The Great Spirit of Ice Glacialis"
He simply said and leaned towards her and looked at her calmly while his aura went back on again. He smiled slightly and looked at the woman sizing her up.
-"You think you can Find the place where it is?"
He said with a calm smile and a somewhat expecting gaze. "She looks capabel enough, I hope she is" He thought for himself and smiled a bit more.
"Long enough to do what? survive one of the many blizzards here while fighting off a few frost wraiths? Many a mage have perished in this cold. What makes you so impervious to it that you can spit mother nature in the face and think yourself the victor? This place is paradise for hunters of many kinds yet so far only fools or experienced tomb raiders have ever bothered trying. "
Valtera put the cards back in the chasing before pulling out the map from her bag. Everything on the table was quickly pushed to the sides and picked up by the innkeeper as he placed that nice bottle of vodka next to her.
Angry as she was at her future prospects, she gulped this mind numbing liquor to make a deplorable situation slightly more bearable. Gently while sipping more of this vodka her hand moved across the entire map.
First in the pattern of a hexagram then in the pattern of a whirlpool and back into the hexagram. Practiced movement from years of recital, she could do it in her sleep flawlessly. The map began glowing and her scribbles popped up on the map like weeds.
"There are plenty of ruins where Greater spirits could make a home for themselves. Do you know more than his name?"
-"...I can hold it however long i want to... Because i have a force of nature at my disposal."
He simply answered and smiled somewhat amused at the woman. He looked at the map where woman started to preform some sort of magic, probably some divination type of magic. "That could be usefull later on..." He thought to himself and smiled wider and looked at the woman.
-"Not much is known about Glacialis except it often take a snow white wolf like form with three tails."
He explained with a somewhat friendly tone and smiled calmly at the woman. "Her powers are needed, i should get her to follow me through this journey" He thought to himself and continued to smile and looked at the bartender who were at their table.
-"I'll have one of those bottles too, I'm parched from this tedious travel"
He said and looked at the barkeep somewhat neutral and waited for him to response.
A force of nature on his side? Perhaps this idiot was not so useless as she first had assumed. One would wonder why such a thing would ever side with this kind of mage though.
"you intend to draw power from your spirit for weeks just to stay warm? Seems like a waste of his powers."
Powerful entities usually demand more of their host than other alternative methods. Insight into what he had done to have such a spirit serving him would be interesting to hear if only to pass time but now was not appropriate. They would have to get more comfortable with each others company first.
Her finger landed on the map, giving her goose bumps and sending chills down her spine. Apparently this great spirit was at the epicenter it all. Inhabiting what had once been a great city but was now in ruins.
The intention had been to explore that place by herself but now there was a reason to have this bafoon tag along. Sure he might prove incompetent or really nice to have around, given the magnitude of what was currently under his control.
She shifted her weight, imposing herself more in his direction.
"Two weeks by horse into no man's land, If the weather is great. Only one village between us and your spirit, where we can fill water and get more food. I could get a more accurate location if you wish but then we need equipment that currently resides within my room."
"That is unless you plan on heading out with no guide and just a vague sense of what direction you should head in." She took another mouthful of Vodka, extended her hand out to Duval with coin for his hospitality and the vodka.
Packed the map back inside her coat and took both his bottle and hers towards the second floor where she had rented his biggest private room. A natural swagger in those hips as the alcohol took hold of her.
Valtera was many things but not a heavy drinker to say the least and the men naturally avoided her, giving way fast and not sending a single comment her way. They did fear her presence still.
-"..."
He seemed to pay no mind to the womans comment but instead looked at the map she had before her. He looked straight into the womans eyes the whole time smiling sligtly, His Hawkish yellow eyes followed the womans movements when she packed down the map and rose from her seat.
-"Heh... No i think your company will be quite entertaining"
He said and rose from his seat slowly following the woman casting a glance to her swaying hip and grinned somewhat. "Hmmm strong will and a sexy sway? I think this woman could prove to be very entertaining" he thought to himself and looked back up now with his normal smile again.
-"...What is your name?"
He then asked looking at her with a curious smile and looked at her waiting for an answer and an reaction.
Valtera stopped thoughtfully before turning halfway around so she could see his face. No matter his name he had shitty timing on everything except showing up in time to fulfill a prediction. Not at all well versed in manners was he?
Hopefully he would prove to not a brute in every sense of the word.
"Your name first."
This game could continue out of range from prying ears so she carried on up the stairs and opened the door to her room with speed and grace befitting those of fae ancestry before he could utter a response.
Her room was just like she had left it. Like a small study a few open books and paper scrolls lying on both the large bed intended for two people and some half more mess spread across the table.
A compass, some drawings of various monsters and whatever books or scrolls with written information of the land lay spread across the fairly large room. It even had two giant shelves obviously meant for books and a rack to put scrolls yet it seemed empty for some reason.
The giant carpet had been rolled into a corner revealing various patterns carved into the wood, patiently drawn over with charcoal. The pattern almost like one giant complex entity and yet pieces of it looked separate enough to be used on its own.
A large royal staff of oak, enhanced with a large and several small dark green jade crystals gave its greetings when a prematurely placed spell of security faded. Like the deafened screams of a thousand angry souls.
She put her coat on the coat hanger next to the staff, placed the bottles of vodka on the table and headed for the wardrobe to fetch three giant copper tinted mirrors for a spell of accuracy she would perform later this night.
-"Ah..."
He were taken aback somewhat by her reply and smiled somewhat more intruiged and followed her up the stairs.
-"I guess that's only fair, My name is Marius Wynter the current head of the House of Wynter"
He said with a wide smile as they entered her room, He looked about the room noticing the many books, scrolls and general mess in the room. He closed the door behind them and turned back to the woman looking at her with his usual smile.
-"So Now what is your name?"
He said while his cape lifted from his back and were hung on the coat hanger as if a ghost had done it. Some seconds later A small flame appeared in the air besides Marius and formed into the small form of Ignis who made itself visible. Ignis simply floated in the air looking at the woman with it's large green eyes while small cinders floated in the air around it making it look like Ignis had a glimmering aura around itself.
-"This is The Great Spirit of Fire Ignis my Spirit Champion"
Marius Simply said and gesticulated towards Ignis who looked at Marius slightly before looking back at the woman with an empty glance.
((Hehe Ignis can't show much emotion XD))
Focusing on the task at hand, she hardly batted an eyelid his direction until he insisted so rudely. He could not even wait for a lady to take her time?
Whoever raised him to become head of their house must have been the most airheaded folk in the world. So she abandoned the mirrors almost like a dancer abandons a partner to once again stare into the eyes of Lord Marius Wynter while smiling at the thought of her being the tallest of the two.
" Elen síla lumenn' omentielvo* sire. I am Lady Christina Aard, heir to house Valtera of Jadenshine. May I inquire where the lands you govern are located?" She finished the sentences with a slight courtesy. Showing him the proper etiquette he had denied her.
She gave him his bottle of vodka back before acknowledging the spirit too. Inspecting it more closely but quickly lost interest in just observing. "so you are championing the Great Spirit of fire Ignis? What are his intentions with this travel?"
Did they intend to bring back Gaia the elemental overlord? She wondered once again what kind of deal had been made between the two and to what exactly Marius knew about these spirits. She took another mouthful of the alcohol. Each sip making the situation more tolerable and pleasing to the mind.
* =A star shines on the hour of our meeting
-"Pedich Edhellen?*, Ah in La'Marri."
Marius said somewhat suprised by Christina but shook his head briefly and looked at her with a somewhat friendly smile and took the bottle of vodka she offered back to him.
Marius:"Hantale,** Then i guess Chris will do for a nickname?"
Ignis:"Don't you think you should at least show her some respect?"
Marius:"Oh will you shut it?... Fine Christina then"
Marius and Ignis argued and looked at eachother before looking back at Christina when she talked to Ignis who looked sideways and looked somewhat annoyed and embarassed while Marius laughed a bit at Ignis reaction.
-"Ignis has no reason other than following my path and will"
Marius said with a twisted smile while Ignis gazed at him with a somewhat angry look but quickly looked away when Marius looked at Ignis. He shook his head again and took a sip of the vodka he had and looked back at Christina with an almost friendly smile.
-"So what do we have to do to locate Glacialis?"
He asked and put away the vodka bottle on the table while looking at Christina with an intruiged expression.
*=You speak Elvish?
**=Thanks
" Tancave*, I have not had the pleasure of venturing that far west but I am sure you could tell me all about it if we ever end up taking shelter from a blizzard.".
Valtera almost spat out her next mouthful of alcohol when he shortened her name but managed to restrain herself elegantly and then wished she could hide surprise when he outright admitted to enslaving a Greater spirit. To her this was unheard of and rather silly.
He had to have been starving for more power to even debate fighting one and now that she had been caught in surprise there was no reason to remain civil. She put the bottle away for now, with news like this there was no need for more drink. Less would actually be preferable. This drink was the devil in disguise.
"You enslaved a greater spirit of fire?"
It was absurd was it not? Was he a master magician? "How on earth did you manage that?"
She wished to shake the answers out of his corpse right now, but was met with that half smile and an impatient voice asking for how she would track down the other spirit. Glacious so she went back to her mirrors and circles of power.
." Most spirits are connected through the realm of energy, that energy can be directed to find and track down its every inhabitant." So she danced and weaved patterns of light that lingered on in the physical realm before being drawn into the mirrors.
The dance was pretty complex so she had closed ears, ignoring anything on the outside until everything was finished. The circle now ablaze with light as if it was the sun. She as the only darkness here, an intruding Moon. Snowflakes and harsh wind rushed out of the mirrors threatening to break the spell but she held her stance
"Now you may enter the circle and grab hold of me while looking into the light! if you wish to confirm its existence with your own eyes!"
It was a sight to behold that was certain.
* = Yes.
Marius smiled even wider when he saw the suprise in her eyes and he even laughed a bit. She she stated what he had done and then asked how he did it he smiled more slyly and looked at her.
-"Well i guess you'll se how when i enslave Glacialis"
He said and gaze at Ignis who turned it's head away from him, Whe she started to talk about how to locate Glacialis he looked back at her with a very interested gaze.
-"..."
When she started dancing and weaving a spell he looked at her with an amused expression and tried to measure her curves with his eyes. "I think i could get used to this woman, Maybe i should take her with me on the two other trips as well" He thought silently and looked at Christina with an very intruiged gaze. When she told him to enter the circle he smiled wickedly and took determined and bold steps into the circle and grabbed hold of Christina and held on tight while looking into the light.
All around Christina was an illusion of the real world. The angry wind and the cold snow. An impressive sight that she let linger waiting for Marius and when their hands met a warmth of sorts could be felt.
Yet it was just physical warmth, she had wished for a warmth that could penetrate this chilling darkness falling directly upon her exposed soul as it followed the strings of another soul.
That of the spirit named Glacialis.
This was not the first time she had brought with her an observer, many times during her stay in The Furnace she had been subjected to milder forms of torment and pleasure while finding the soul of her choosing so it was not like she worried too hard about him interrupting the process.
"before the curse of Fell ravaged the lands this might have been a great city once. Nature now tears at it with every waking hour. A sight to behold if you ever take the time to watch these decades of her work."
She moved her around observing from a distance. Getting used to the feel of this place and the cold before descending into the ruined city.
It was a ghost town in every sense of the word. Wraiths even gathered out in what could only have been a courtyard or marketplace to howl with the wind and shriek their damned hymns.
They did not dally around for long, quickly they where guided into one of the few towering buildings left standing and then a set of unstable stone stairs. On the bottom of those stairs an endless set of icy corridors greeted them.
They could see large lumbering Yetis wandering the place, sleeping in a few of the corridors or vanishing behind corners and spent more than a moment wandering around trying to locate their prize.
There He was, a large three tailed wolf playing with the Yeti offspring.
Blessed by the spirit realm itself this beast should eventually notice them and so her mind began entering an unbreakable trance while slowly moving forward.
"This is Glacialis and its essence is being conveyed through these mirrors. Our souls will merge and we must fully connect to track him down in the physical realm." Was the few last words she could afford to speak before completing this mental preparation that was mandatory in order to perform a proper soul collision.
A state of mind had now been formed where mere seconds would feel like hours and the world as we know twists until your very own soul can be freely manipulated, only connected to the real world and the physical self with a set of overly complicated magical chains.
She could see every detail in all of its splendor. The whiteness of Glacialis and his fur flowing in the wind, while playfully tackling one of the yeti children. The impact shaking the very foundations of this ruin and the two creatures shaking along. Like watching an earthquake.
The spirit eventually rose back up and barked playfully, obviously paying her very little heed but that would soon change.
-"..."
Marius looked about in the "Illusion" with a slight amazement of the size of the ruins and their carvings. His open mouth soon curled into a wicked smile when they started moving towards the ruins. "So this is where we will be going? Looks like some good fun." He thought to himself and looked about on the many Yetis before a chill went down his spine and he frowned irritated. He exhaled heavily and a strong heat surrounded them both as blue transparent flames started dancing on their clothing and skin. The flames did not burn but they were warm, not too warm but pleasantly warm.
-"Ah, thats better..."
He stated and looked at Christina for a moment when she talked again and then looked towards Glacialis and now again a wicked smile crept upon his face. He stared at Glacialis with a frightening gaze and let go of Christina with one of his hands that he reached out with and held it so that from his point of view it looked as if Glacialis stood on his palm.
-"Hold your freedom dear as long as you can, because i'm comming after you, and i wont fail in enslaving you"
He said with a very frightening voice almost as if he were possesed by an evil demon. He lowered his hand and took hold of Christina again while still keeping his eyes on Glacialis.
-"Wait.. Connect? oh well if you say so, well then will this do?"
He said and looked at her when he remembered what she had said and shifted himself a bit placing himself before her and then placed his lips on hers kissing her in a experienced manner.
The two souls had circled each others like a whirlwind until ending up in the eye of the storm. His soul like a white desert landscape filled with raging storms and hailstorms. Nature in her full glory faced her head on and she plunged into it like an arrow sent from a longbow.
Glacialis howling at her had begun breaking past the point of insanity, but the crash was inevitable and she was merely observing it happen. The world exploded in the full spectrum of a rainbow, a breathtaking scene where she became a drop of rain plunging into the vast ocean, causing ripples large and wide enough to flood the lands of this monstrosity.
She was drowned in his greatness and could not help but awe while the world around her exploded, shattering into tiny bright rainbow fragments.
The world around her grew dark when she grabbed hold of one such fragment, like ice it melted into her, they both now shared parts of each others.
Having done the deed a return to the physical realm was forced upon her by the strength of a long forged magical rope. Pulling the soul back to its body with quite the speed.
Coldness was her first sensation as the trance began fading.
It was unique in a sense that her body felt incredibly cold so the room felt burning hot. Obviously smacking her soul right into a frost spirit with this immense a power would leave more than the usual markings. Their souls crashing had given her part of his powers or at least she sensed a wildness rummaging inside her that had not been there before.
She felt like an icicle, melting away in the warmth of another body.
"Mmm??" Instinctively she had tried draw breath but instead nearly bit off her own tongue, battling for control over it with an intruder.
What was going on?
Nostrils ablaze with sudden desperation for air she shoved him away while tripping backwards. Not wanting to fall she kept dragging Marius along for a weird tumble.
Twisting like a snake, even with these weak knees, refusing to give into gravity when every ounce of it called the both of them towards the floor.
The smoothing kiss broke but rather than let go in an attempt to regain balance a pincher hug clamped his head into her chest like a cat not wanting to get wet. "What in the reapers name is going on?"
Heaving for air the warlock finally caught her bearing somewhat and managed to utter the sentence.
Gravity finally decided enough was enough and sent the pair towards the ground with no way to escape. A crash landing ensued.
Marius held the kiss a long time before he suddenly were shoved back by Christina, He instinctly tried to turn in the fall to reduce the fall but he were pulled back again by Christina but this time he fell with her instead. He now found himself with his face buried in Christina's breast and despite it being a quite comfortable place to be he found himself trying to free himself from her grip, but as he realized the comfort in her chest he relaxed and before he knew it they were lying on the floor with him on top of Christina still with his face buried in between her breasts.
-"Don't know but i find it Comfortable"
He said with a grin on his face and tried to look up on Christina but decided not to and just stayed as he were.
-"So do you know how to get to Glacialis? ...I don't mind if you wanna stay like this for a while though"
He then said and nuzzled himself a bit closer between her breasts. Ignis who still floated about looked at the two when they fell out of the light and tilted it's head to the side in confusion.
Ignis:"So did you find my Siblling?"
Marius:"I think she did."
He smiled when he heard Ignis voice before slipping out of Christina's grip and now sat astride her looking down on her with a amused smile on his face.
-"They're Nice"
He simply said and looked at her for a reaction still with the same smile on his face.
"Comfortable?"
Christina uttered in surprise, she had just used him as a shield against the ground and now he was nesting neatly underneath her like a bird making its nest. So she let him, there was no harm to be done here yet.
"Yes I can track him down for you both. As for how we get there I can only offer horses. It will take at least two weeks even if the weather is with us."
Finally he begun moving, yet he only made it worse, now looking down on her.
Her nymph heritage had always been kept in tight check, this suppressed part of her blood had always made her question and doubt what part of her was actually her and what part was inherited instincts from decades old blood so she had sealed it away. Yet every time such desires appeared the seals would show up. Red glowing tattoos spread themselves across the warlocks body.
"And you are an expert on the subject I take it?"
Laughing lightheartedly she stared back at him, eyes now shimmering with a purple glow, trying to fight back her own blood and heritage.
-"No but i don't think that's a requierment for giving a compliment"
He said with a somewhat simple voice and looked down on her raising an eyebrow when seeing the red glowing tatoos that appeared on her body. He casually reached with his hand and put two fingers on one part of the tatoo examining it somewhat interested.
Marius"A seal? for what?... let's see here.."
Ignis:"Desires..."
Ignis simply answered and looked att them both, Marius looked up on Ignis for a second before looking back at Christina with an amused smile.
-"Thinking naughty thougths are we?"
He teased and placed both of his hands on the floor on either side of Christina's head looking down on her with a wide grin. The flames still danced on both His and her bodies and still spread the warmth through the room, but slowly the began shifting into a slightly red colour.
-"Well i would not mind obliging to that desire if you just asked nicely now."
He said in a teasing tone while looking at her with an very amused expression while softly stroking one finger across her lips.
The red tattoos began to form a mist, invading the air in a blood colored fog, her body was weakened still and he was strong, firm and had already weakened these barriers significantly by kissing her.
Embarrassing that he would identify the seals. Only intended to remove the nymph part of her blood and if she ever went beyond touching those would start faltering. She feared this part of herself greatly.
Her mother had enthralled her father into a slave to these passions for years and her mother belonged to an ancient sect of nymphs. Residing within her blood was this ingrained set of instincts from the mother.
She clasped her hands around his neck, dragging his head downwards her. The warmth around them was making her uncomfortable. Like a puddle of cold water trapped inside the desert and now enjoying the unforgiving heat of a sun.
"Can I have a kiss Conqueror?"
-"... Well if you ask so nicely who am i to deny you"
He said with a wide grin and a amused voice, Conqueror? heh he sure didn't mind the flattery, not at all. He smiled somewhat wicked before grabbing hold of Christinas clothes and pulled her closer placing his lips over hers, a bit rough but not that bad. He kept the kiss for a while before breaking the kiss and looking at Christina and stroked his hand over her chin teasingly.
-"Enjoying the heat?"
He asked and grinned widely looking at her with an very amused expression. he softly placed his other hand on one of her mounds and started to fondle it a bit rough.
He was a delicate kisser, this Marius and now that their bodies where now closely entwined. The heat and alcohol had made it difficult to focus, making it impossible to think straight.
"It feels like I am melting."
Her seals had now become so shallow that she could taste the bottomless pit of sinful emotions. It was like a raging torrent giving her both ideas and the power to carry them out. She could feel her bust and body begin transforming to match his vision of an ideal woman, a trait shared by all nymphs.
It did not have to be this way yet she had led the both of them this far down the road.
nudging him over, toppling mount Marius and now sitting astride of him like he had with her just moments ago and unbuckling her large waist belt.
It was a hard battle with conflicting emotion, desire and curiosity winning out. She had never been intimate with a man outside of her mother's sphere of influence and having this edge on him might be usefull later on.
The leather and under tunic was quickly pulled off with ease, revealing her bare chest to Marius. Around her navel was a power circle akin that of the sun with the mark of a palm imprinted on it. Guiding his hand she wished to put it there.
"If we go beyond this my seals will break."
-"Heh That's what i like to hear"
He said with a cocky expression and voice while looking at her with a wide grin. He were just about to close in for another kiss when she toppled him and turned the whole thing around now having him underneath her. He looke up at her with a slghtly supprised expression but i soon changed to an amused grin.
-"Not bad not bad!"
He laughed out and looked admiring at her body with the same grin as before. He traced her curves with his hands delicately and grabbed hold of both her breasts with an appreciating whistle before smiling widely. When she took his hand and guided it towards her belly he saw the center of the seal, He quickly looked up at her before grinning wickedly like a demon, His blood were coursing through his veins with corruption sparking to life as his pupils became slitted like a reptiles and his teeth grew to a point making him seem more demonic than before. He pushed his palm against the mark on her belly without care he even let a jolt of his energy course through his palm and onto the seal.
-"Then let's really break the barrier!"
He shouted with a demonic grin and pushed his lips onto hers a third time and kissed her somewhat roughly while running his hands over her skin in seducive motions.
Daylight huh? Not often you see the sun here. They had been at it like starving creatures on a feast and quickly lost track of time. He was impressive, most definitely her equal in bed and just as tireless. Was it his now revealed demon blood that gave him this endurance?
Valtera did not care anymore. For every hour spent here like a raging forest fire she garnered great strength and power. Not that she did not have to work for it but he was certainly a willing subject.
You would think they would keep at it in this room until years had passed and sadly they would have been able to afford it too. If that was what they wished.
She finally found a pause reasonable enough as Marius transitioned into being a hungry baby again. His fasination with Valteras well endowed chest seemed to have no end.
"Not to sound unreasonable." she whinced.
"don't you have a greater spirit of ice to conquer? I am quite sure we could celebrate that kind of occasion at a larger resort with more space to play."
Nestling comfortably between Christina's breast Marius smiled satisfied until she started to talk, He then looked up at her and rose off from her and rolled over to the side of the bed. He yawned loudly and slowly tilted his head to the side while his neck made slightly cracking sound and then he tilted his head to the other side with the same effect. He looked back at Christina with a neutral expression on his face while sitting up and moved towards the edge of the bed.
-"...Yes yes of course Glacialis would be the main objective here."
He said and rised from the bed and Looked back at Christina while Ignis appeared from thin air and started to hand Marius his clothes. A loud rumble came from his belly and he casually looked down on it before putting on his pants while looking at Christina.
-"Well first things first i need something to drink, and seeing as we ran out of vodka hours ago... So unless those breasts of yours can produce something to drink i belive we should get some food from the innkeeper before going out"
He said with a wide grin on his face and a very small glint of hope in his eyes on that his earlier statement were true. Ignis sighed somewhat tired and handed Marius his cloak as the last piece of clothing left for him to put on. Marius looked at Ignis for a second before putting on his cloak and looked back at Christina.
-"And if you're itching for a party or celebration that could be done at the mansion after i've chained Clacialis down and bound it to my will"
He said with a confident grin on his face, The demonic traits he had under the act were now nowhere to be seen but he still had that sense of demonic presence around himself almost as if he were a real demon.
At least Marius did not turn into a mindless husk like some of her mother's slaves where. She could see the hardened wood around her had turned fertile once more and bloomed into leaves just by being close and as if she was the sun they were turned to face her.
This hungry perverted monstrosity called Marius was already hard to keep up with his one great spirit being at his side. Why did he need more? How big of a power up would be get from more?
or could it be that the power would stay the same but he would have some versatility in what powerful spells he could cast? She had never bothered reaching that high towards the heavens. Perhaps it was time to change?
Ignis looked tired, oh? Not so limitless after all was it? a short moment of triumph but this was still an arctic setting so that might have something to do with it.
"Milk? It is still to early after breaking the seals for my body to start producing at my lovers request."
They definitely shared a connection now, or at the very least the seeds of one had been planted. If the cards where right it would be an ideal relationship. Hopefully he would be just as predictable in the future but for now all she had to do was observe.
"Right, food. And you will need a horse or do you have one capable? You seemed to underprepared back when we met."
She rose from the sheets, feeling lighter and very powerful. A look in the mirror was in order.
"Honestly, I sealed THIS for a reason." Pointing at her naked self emphasizing the now larger more bouncy bust and was she growing taller?
Compared to their meeting in earlier on and even during bed she looked infinitely more beautiful now.
Like a rose in the process of blooming, her long slender blonde hair had grown large golden curls, dead furniture springing to life around them and birds had flocked around the window to chirp and sing. "Its just starting to show now because you stopped kneading the dough."
Embarrassed she fetched it from a hidden pocket inside her tunic. A small gold sacrificial knife with elaborate golden animalistic design on the sheath and a large jade gem to grip around. Not meant for anything but shallow cuts and direct stabs.
-"Tch.. I don't need a horse, I got here without one so i shouldn't need one now"
He simply said as he observed Christina as she got up from the bed his eyes focused on her large breasts.
-"Well if you sealed if for a REASON why did you make it so weak then?"
He said while looking at her with raised eyebrows and now he noticed that she looked a bit diffrent from when he first met her, then again she were naked so it could be that also. When she used the phrase "Kneading the Dough" He almost bursted into laughter but he held it in but he really looked like he wanted to laugh at her, Which he seconds later started to do.
-"Well i cant really understand why you're complaining"
He said and smiled very amused before he looked at the window where he now saw a cluster of birds, he looked at Ignis for a second before grinning widely and wickedly.
-"Ignis have yourself a meal of those birds there"
Ignis looked at Marius for some seconds before looking at the birds by the window and in the next second all of the birds were encased in flames which consumed them quite fast, and as the last bird were reduced to ashes the cinder like glow on Ignis skin returned while Ignis seemed to become just a tiny bit taller.
-"There now that's out of the way... Is that a butterknife?"
he said looking at the small knife that She had just took out from her clothes. "Hmmm it looks like some ritualistic knife... Does it have something to do with the seal?" He thought to himself while looking at the knife, He then shook his head briefly before looking back at her breasts with a appreciating smile.
"What is that supposed to mean? Ease of removal only means that when I need to remove it I can easily do so!" Valtera was angry at herself. Even with all those precautions she had easily fallen into the same ways her mother abused to no end and she had done the same so willingly. "The whole thing is a mess to explain so i would rather not."
Just looking in the mirror she could see the resemblance, it was frightening.
Wanting to reapply the seal right away the knife had been pulled out. The rationale had been to restore some semblance of dignity back but that ship had most certainly sailed and Marius undoubtedly liked this form better so he would be easier to influence.
Hopefully with Marius at her side it would all work out besides this perverted brute might just end up breaking it again tomorrow. How utterly troublesome.
"yes a human butterknife." While laughing at her own joke the newly awakened furniture rushed over silently, helping the nymph dress as if they had become extensions of the mind.
"WAIT? you don't ride horseback? What do you do then?"
-"If it's sealed for a reason it often means it shouldn't be broken at all..."
He said while looking at the new "Help" that Christina had gotten with a slightly suspicious expression. Ignis looked somewhat hungry at the furniture that were helping Christina. When she asked about how he traveled he grinned widely and crossed his arms over his chest while looking at her mischievously.
-"Well you'll just have to wait and see i guess"
He said and walked over to the door out but before opening he looked back at her with a somewhat serious expression and the demonic taint in his eyes showing very clearly.
-"I suggest you redo that seal before you come down"
He said very determined and looked at her with a somewhat fear inducing gaze for some seconds before opening the door and walking out of the room closing the door behind him. Ignis floated about looking at the furniture in the room before fading out and following his master unseen to others.
"You don't prefer this body?"
How dare he command what she do? Did he even know how the seal was applied in the first place? And what was with his cold stare?
So she met his eyes in defiance and then Marius vanished downstairs, closing the door on her.
"UGH FINE."
This was a mistake, no, she should keep the seal unsealed. Marius would fall under her sway if she stayed this way.
Standing in the large circle she cut her wrists. The entire floor lit up with a glowing wine red color while she recited in Demon tongue. The blood stopped flowing as the seals where seared shut and she could feel the spell take effect.
Pain, waves of pain crashing into her when the body changed back to her old self. It left her immobile and wanting to scream at the world but she kept quiet in an experienced almost trancelike manner.
Weak, she felt weak once more. Curse her mother. Even the blood of her ancestors could affect her judgment to this degree. Leaving the seal open? stupid, stupid and even more stupid.
The coldness from having collided with a greater spirit of ice growing stronger and that human fragility. Drawing deep breaths she pulled her staff close for support in this weakened state.
She found Marius again downstairs, feeling faint from just stepping down a few stairs. "It is done. I need to eat." The place was near empty and breakfast was long gone yet she knew Duval kept the cauldron heated in chase of emergency or potential clients.
"Duval, I need your Stew!" As if she had run a marathon Valtera sat down, dropping her staff and satchel down onto the floor.
"Aye lass." Could be heard from the kitchen. The burly man entered and put down a small cauldron on their table and two wood bowls.
"Eat til yer heart is content."
"Thank you.."
"Ye stayed up there for so long, Is only natural you would be hungry."
She laughed at the man, admitting some weakness for the innkeepers mannerisms. He was honorable, fair, and not one to ask around or inquire. A father figure that she could appreciate.
With shaking newborn hands she poured a serving and began eating.
He ignored her comments when he left the room and went down the stairs calmly and sat down at the table that they had sat at when he first met her. He looked about some before glancing to the side where Ignis appeared and were about to say something but Marius interupted it.
-"You can leave the town for now, Get something to eat. But you cannot travel to far from me."
He said with an annoyed voice, Ignis simply nodded and dissapeared again. When he heard Christinas voice he opened his eyes looking at her smiling somewhat.
-"I see you're back to your senses.."
He said with a cocky smile and looked at her when she shouted for food. He noticed how exhausted she seemed and decided to not Tease her too much. He looked at Duval when he came out from the kitchen carrying the cauldron with stew. When Duval mentioned about her staying up in the room for so long he laughed a bit before pouring up a serving to himself and taking a bite of the stew, He immediately stopped and looked somewhat supprised before chewing on what he had in his mouth and then swallowing what he had in his mouth and looking at Duval with a slight smile
-"Duval was it? I must say that this is one hell of a stew."
He said and looked at the burly man before he began eating the stew again savouring the taste with each bite.
"Ash and brimstone, this seal gets worse every time it breaks, I need a better way to seal this... bothersome side of my bloodline." Swallowing desperately Valtera regained some more warmth and semblance of self while Duval received his dues.
He had that look again, having seen people frozen alive plenty of times before. It was not fear, just a combination of respect and a grim concern for any adventurer braving the cold weather.
"I ave spare skins that can be filled with soup if yer headin out. Those always come in handy. Saved loads 'er lives that way."
Waving his large hand and pointing at the two as if he knew they were up to no good.
"Matter of fact, I won't let you lot leave without. Climate took a turn fer the worse about a week or so ago, shaman says the spirits are angry and neither Arlax nor me wife wouldn't rest easy if I did not pack double rations fer everyun and dats final. Yer ave got no say in the matter."
Then he went back to the kitchen and Valtera stopped eating with a sigh of relief. Her stomach would not be able to accept more.
-"...Well really i won't complain about having food, Especially if it's as good as this."
He said with a wide grin and poured up another serving for himself and began eating. Some minutes later Ignis came back floating through the wall looking much more energetic and lively.
Marius:"Were the meal Good?"
Ignis:"Some Ram's had separated from their pack so i devoured them"
Marius:"Good now rest we are leaving fast as we get the rations"
Ignis nodded briefly before fading out, Marius took another bite from the stew and looked at Christina.
-"Well if you want help with that seal i'm sure my library have some tomes regarding the subject"
He said with a somewhat teasing tone and grinned a bit amused as he looked at her.
"Library. So you promise that then? I get to browse the Conquerors treasure chambers. How romantic.."
She tried to put on a more relatable face with what she said but still felt too tired to bother much with it.
It was fine anyhow.
An important rule of a Warlock is to not to show people your true faces often. They might just pick up on them and Marius was one of those people who would definitely have picked up on them fast.
Rather than face him she kept her head turned towards the kitchen. Conserving her strength until Duval appeared with four well sized skins brimming with more of the stew they had just eaten.
"two for each of ye, they last an awful long time if ye ration it out. Either way I ave done what can be done from a man of my standing and can rest easy."
He then pointed at Marius while wearing the look on his face as if he did not quite know what to say or if anything he did say mattered at this point.
Then he abandoned the project of finding words suitable, throwing his hands up in the air before storming off with renewed energy.
"I have only got room for two of these in my satchel and even that is pushing it. Ive got some spare room in the saddle bag if you dont have anywhere to put them." Valtera uttered after pushing her second serving inside the satchel. Still curious as to how he would traverse the snow and ice.
-"..."
He simply Smiled at Christina's reply and kept on eating the stew with an very satisfied expression. When Duval once more came out with the Skins he smiled somewhat friendly at the man and when he Pointed at Marius he were somewhat supprised but were very good at hiding it.
-"Thank you for your kindness"
He said right before Duval left for the kitchen again and looked at Christina when she told him that there would be some lack of packing space with theese large Skins.
-"...Well if you're offering you're welcome to carry them"
He said with a mischevious grin as he gulped down the last of the Stew in his bowl.
"Whatever. Just don't abandon your gifts right after accepting them." Valtera said it while embracing the cold chilling sensation bubbling up from within. It gave the words a very cold alien tune even in her own ears.
She could feel it fully now that her body was done repairing the damage recently inflicted on it. Taking a look on her hands she saw a blue cool aura. Taking a deep breath she picked up her coat, wrapped it tight and picked up the staff dropped previously.
Obeying the will of its owner the staff glowed for a few moments, its jade core sending out a green beam of condensed light in the direction of Glacialis.
The satchel was not very light anymore but she would manage, taking its strap over the shoulder. "Let's go. Conqueror."
-"Nah i just don't think the skins would hold up to my way of traveling"
He said an rose from his seat and pushed the bowl away from himself, He looked at Christina looking like he were trying to figure out something but he shook his head and grinned widely. When the staff Christina had shot out a beam of light he raised an eyebrow and looked at the direction of the beam before shaking his head and pushing the door out open, and at the same time his heat shield switched on making the cold wind blowing against him blow off from him.
-"Yeah lets go.."
He said and to a step outside before walking of to the side of the tavern and pulling out an wide polished and groved wood board with small holes on both sides of the board, i had been buried under the snow ever since he had gotten to this tavern.
-"You ready?"
He said an looked back at Christina lazily.
Christina looked to the two leftover skins they had left at the table and then back towards Marius who had begun digging for something. Shrugging her shoulders in a forgiving manner while tasting the weather, it felt nice to be outside now.
The melting sensation greatly diminished almost instantly and granted the warlock more power.
However when Conqueror pulled out a wooden board she could not help be disappointed. This man really had no concept of transportation.
Had he seriously not expected having people weaker than him tag along or was he simply oblivious to the amount of preparation he would need to actually carry out an expedition? Did she dare ask?
As far as she could see the bastard had one spirit, a spirit of fire. Fire is naturally weakened greatly in frost environments and he was going up against a spirit that might be equal to the fire spirit if given a neutral environment right?
Did he intend to use Ignis for everything, waste her energy and then meet up with Glacialis underprepared?
Fine, fine if he dies he was just a stupid fling that meant nothing to begin with. She should do like her mother and throw away useless men, their partnership was only here as a distraction anyhow.
They where only united for now because he did not now the location of his target.
This entire train of thought made her feel dirty inside but it couldn't be helped.
"Fine, Granazzar will carry everything we got so, just have Ignis bring those skins along and put them in my saddle bag."
With that said she entered the stables next-door hoping he would not be unresonable and refuse such a light request.
It was not that large a stable, only meant for eight horses to begin with and usually reserved for hunters rather than guests. So in essence the only horse present was her black haired stallion.
He looked up at her with such a bored expression, stomping impatiently on the ground.
"Don't be so impatient, a lady takes her time."
She looked at the box containing everything she had brought with her from Jadenshine. The black carpet carrying her family sigil, the silver tree with jade coins. The dark brown saddle with silver embroidery and metal gargoyle design and then began outfitting her steed.
A horse rider that cant saddle her own horse is worthless. Or at least that was a standard she had decided upon. Mother had called it childish.
Marius looked at Christina when she stepped out, he saw the dissapointment in her eyes and raised an eyebrow to it before looking at the board and then at Christina again.
-"I Guess the diffrence in travel speed would be to large"
He said and let go of the board letting it fall down into the snow again making a large puff of snow blow up into the air and then being covered with snow again very quickly in the blizzard. When she asked him to get the two skins in from the inn that he had left behind he simply snapped with his fingers and Ignis appeared inside the Inn lifing the Skins and floated out to Marius who looked at Ignis before walking into the stable and Looked at Christina.
-"That's some horse"
He said and walked up behind Christina while looking at the Horse with an calm expression before looking at Christina and waiting for her to finish saddling the horse. He then took the Soup Skins from Ignis and looked at Christina smiling somewhat.
-"So where do you want these?"
"He is family and like me he longed for a change of scenery. So we partnered up and left."
Fastening the saddle with a tight pull she could not help sigh a relief that Marius was not totally unreasonable and she had done this pretty quick with a satisfying result.
Granazzar on the other hand had begun stomping the ground and giving an angry wince as if he had just been insulted by Marius and wished him to apologize.
Marius coming into the stable with his share of the soup gave her some courage to ask questions she would not have asked before. He might appear selfish and arrogant but at the very least he wished to travel with her.
"If I may ask, Why you did not bring anything except Ignis with you from Serendipity?" She still had problems imagining his way of travelling. Did he fly that piece of wood like a witch? Unlikely, it would have had to be really fast for him to traverse all the way over from his home, like a shooting star. Those kind of speeds did not come cheap like teleportation.
"The left saddlebag is pretty much empty, though I want an even distribution of the weight. Having food at the bottom just gives us more work later on So just let me move some stuff from this one first."
So she began taking a few things out of the bag she had left on the floor. Fist sized leather pouches, filled, twisted and then the top turned against its bottom for extra protection before being tied with a blood red string for double the protection.
She put those at the bottom before pulling out skins that contained solid material. Some had several sharp parts trying to poke a hole into the leather and the others had small round balls but all of them where making the same clinking and rustling sounds.
"There you go. Now we can put the food on top."
Now that both saddlebags where half full it did not take long before hers where tucked onto the opposite side of the saddle, extra tight and doubly secured from falling off just like it`s cousin.
Marius raised an eyebrow when she asked why he had only brought Ignis with him and then shrugged his shoulders and smiled somewhat.
-"Simple I don't need anything else if i need a fire for the night it's easily fixed and fire to cook freshly caught animals is no problem either, Ignis is extremly usefull for many situations."
He said and put the soup skins in the saddlebag fitting them into it snuggly, He then looked at Granazzar for a bit before he turned and began walking outside and looked at Ignis who had dug up the wooden board and held it in the air towards Marius.
-"Oh, i didn't even have to ask"
He said with a wicked smile and and grabbed hold of the board and looked back at Christina and tilted his head and smiled a bit.
-"I hope your friend isn't afraid of Fire"
"Granazzar? He doesn't fear anything." Once she sat on the saddle, the horse began trotting forward, he was impatient and Christina could feel it.
"Just until we get outside the city. We would not want to cause any incidents that gives us more attention than what we already have been given."
Resisting the wind as it tore into their faces the warlock looked towards Marius. "Lets get going."
Marius smiled as she mentioned attention and began walking towards the direction that the warlocks staff had pointed out while laughing a bit muffled.
-"the Attention does not matter to me but if you say so"
He said and shrugged his shoulders and walked onwards as the wind tore against his clothes, he snapped with his fingers and a enormous aura of heat countered the wind and he no longer seemed bothered at all by the wind nor the cold.
-"Ah... that reminds me, are we not in danger of contracting the Fell in those ruins?"
"That old curse? Contained within a single city ruin by some priestesses. Not ungrateful but, priestesses? I have my doubts about the whole ordeal though never dared to check their scriptures for a thorough look on the subject."
She waved at a bypassing citizen, hiding her envy for Marius. Killing the cold with a snap of his fingers like a magician, or demigod. No, demigods did not need to snap fingers. He was not there yet.
"Goes with being a wielder of practical magic." It did not take long to reach the city boarders. She patted Granazzar while fielding the staff. "No further questions before later when night settles across this country of white?"
-"...Well i have never cared for it so i would not know"
He answered very arogantly before he kept on walking alongside Christina while smiling as she asked him if he wanted to inquire something else.
-"Well not a question but i must commend your talents and stamina in bed"
He said with an amused smile and an appreciative tone as he walked on over the snow and grinned widely and somewhat perverted. Just some seconds passed and the heat field extended over Christina protecting her from the cold and the strong wind.
Her cheek`s burned, for a moment all she could do was glare not rightly knowing what to do. "So were you." The small utterance was more or less used as an excuse to run away. With a crack Granazzar was spurred into motion.
Time and place, By the goddess Marius did not know anything about either thing. How dare he just comment on her performance out of the blue like that? Caught her completely off guard, she would not look back for him. He`d either catch up or stay left behind.
With the light on the tip of her staff to lead the way her horse spurred on. His hooves not entering the snow. Riding the wind light as a feather, strong as ten stallions.
-"So were you? what kind of answer is that?"
He said and looked at her before he began walking alongside her and her horse before he drifted of the ground as small flames spread across his body giving him some kind of flight, and before long he was encased in somewhat transparent flames making him float through the air besides Christina at the same pace as she held.
-"Anyways How come you were up here in the mountains to begin with?"
He asked and looked at her with a curious expression as he drifted through the air besides her.
"It's the answer you get. What did you expect details? You want to listen as I talk high and low about sex like some of my siblings? You'll get no such thing from me." and she was not going to be impressed of his surfing of the air with hot fumes bellowing from his cape.
"I had to get away from my mother, and any influence my family holds. That meant getting out of the province, and I wanted to practice my magic. That meant going to a place were lost or lingering souls would be common-place. Plenty of Wraiths here, and I was planning a trip out into the wilder areas to find more potent souls. Reapers, or blessed animal spirits that form their eating grounds around ancient shrines. Is that efficient use of your spirit?"
She felt curious as to the reason for his careless disregard of mana, and the concept of trading it for power. "Energy isn't endless you know."
Marius floated next to Christina and looked at her as she speak and shrugs his shoulders as she suggest how she could explain it before looking out over the frozen landscape with a distant look in his eyes.
-"When you have a force of nature at your disposal Mana is a much smaller problem than otherwise"
He turned in the air facing Christina looking at her with a somewhat curious look.
-"What kind of family do you have?"
"Nothing big really, Just a small, insignificant, lineage of magic users that nearly got lumped in with Necromancers during the great purge of Serendipity. My family is awfully boring." The warlock replied.
She really did not wish to regale to him the full family recipe, and needed time to think about what to tell Marius. "How about you tell me about your's first?"
They were making the trip in good speed, but Granazzar seemed to dislike the arctic cimate. The warhorse growled angry into the howling blizzard, foam running from his mouth already, but the spirit inside of the horse pushed the body on.
-"Well The Wynters have a very very long linage of Spirit Mages, We were very connected with the royals until someone from the Branch families murdered the family head and his wife."
He shrugged slightly and floated around Christina while adjusting the heat around them both while looking at her.
-"That would be my father by the way, of course i was on a trip to Yoreqi at the time"
He gestured against the flames danging on his body with a wide grin.
-"Also the same place i bound Ignis to my will"
"Yoreqi, so you travel to foreign places often?" The young warlock, having only been in Jadenshine, and Serendipity before travelling to Hyoite feels another sting of jealousy, but is determined not to let it ruin the mood.
"Spirit mages?" The trip would take them time, a lot of time, fortunately it would be comfortable and they had soup, plus this Marius was getting interesting. "So you deal with spirits too or just elemental spirits?"
-"Yeah i had heard of many strong sprits in Yoreqi, But the most interesting was of course Ignis"
He said with a wide grin and looked at Christina as he floated through the air listening to Christina when she talked.
-"As a spirit Mage i deal with any kind of spirit, I can weave the very spiritual energy of the spirits into almost anything"
He simply said as he looked at Christina.
-"Ghosts Wraiths and even poltergeists are nothing more than tools to me, Though Elemental Spirits are much harder to work with as they are so strong, You have to deal with them in a much diffrent way..."
"Go on."Christina let him talk, especially interested in him now that their magic seemed very much alike. Yet they had obvious differences.
To appear less infatuated with him, Valtera refused to stare back except in small stolen glances. Then again the horizon that this frozen wasteland presented to them was beauty in it's own right, so not staring at the boisterous elf was easy enough.
Marius had experience in dealing with what her mother rarely ever talked about, and that intrigued her. "You should tell me the whole story of how you captured Ignis. Really I'm awfully boring in comparison."
They continued on, and there was little need to rest the first night. Granazzar was in good mood, and she had confidence on his strong back. The runes on his saddle ensured the rider would never fall off, even in their sleep.
Marius looked at Christina with a grin before looking towards the horizon like her.
-"Well why not Let's see here, it was about seven years ago on Yoreqi when i heard from the locals about a very powerful spirit of Fire that had made the deeps of their largest volcano into it's home since very long ago"
marius smiled to himself as he remembered the days he spent in Yoreqi also pain stung his heart when he remembered his parents but he did not show his pain to Christina, he then looked back to her and resumed his story.
-"I knew this were great opportunity to get myself a powerful spirit Champion, It took some time to get the locals to show me a way into the volcano and to the shrine they made for the Spirit"
He Paused a bit as he looked at the horizon looking like he were reminded by something but he shook it off and continued.
-"I met Ignis for the first time that day, of course he was not going to come with me willingly so i challenged him for his power. But he did win the first day and many days more he won but one day i found something very interesting... But this story will have to wait because you will figure out the rest when capture Glacialis"
He said with a mischiveous grin and looked at christina.