Arc 2 - I Will ( Not ) Lose Something Important.

2 - 1. Like a Flightless Bird, Drowning.

Nyx’s eyes snap open. Her right hand slides over her eyes. Swords and animal people and princesses - that had been some dream indeed. Scoffing under her breath, she sits up on the couch. Stretching her hands out in front of her, Nyx stares at the floor of her dwelling. Her eyes slide to the right, then to the ceiling. Her eyes clamp shut as she holds her head in her hands, then runs her fingers through her hair.

Slipping out the door, she adjusts her tunic and glances around her cave. Nestled behind a small outcropping of rock is the translucent sphere of nighttime, her dungeon core. With a small wave of her hand, the ball of stars vanishes and settles back on her neck in the form of a choker. She frowns slightly, tugging at the accessory and its now familiar weight - she detests that it’s a familiar weight.

Running a hand through her hair and ruffling her bangs, she grimaces and steps out. The blue moon is up, so it’s past midnight but not yet early morning. She’s gotten used to that now, splitting the day into six parts by whether or not the blue moon is up and where the sun is. Staring at the moon, she crosses her arms, then pinches the bridge of her nose. Her feet carry her from the mountain as her chest tightens up further and her stomach churns. Sand drips off her shoes as she leaves the territory of her dungeon. One step, two steps, three steps, each heavier than the last.

“Summoner, where might you be going?” Jun’s low, rumbling voice fills the otherwise empty night and she feels the blue glow of his eyes upon her. Looking over her shoulder, she offers an apologetic grimace and continues walking.

“My Lady, I was thinking just the same thing.” Nyx’s nose wrinkles as Noel’s gentle voice catches her. “The lands beyond your dungeon are inhospitable. Surely you have noticed that magic drains away in a matter of moments? Lady Nyx, venturing further is unsafe.” She had not noticed, actually. Noel’s explanation is so sincere, however, that she feels she might just pretend to have known and turn back around. Her lips form a thin line and she keeps walking. Nyx lets the ‘your dungeon’ comment slide for the moment, then walks a little faster.

Noel raises an eyebrow, then shrugs and vanishes. With a little grunt, Jun disappears as well, leaving Nyx alone once more. Her steps slow for a moment as she bites her lower lip, brows furrowed and eyes burning a hole in the ground. She hasn’t had a chance to really talk to either of them, nor does she have any intention of forcing her will on either of them, but… The space around her feels a lot more empty than before. She huffs and hurries down the hill. The thought that magic drains away rapidly unsettles her.

Her feet do not kick up even a single particle of sand as she makes her way into the nearby ruins. With brows creased tightly and a hand nervously scratching at her temple and mussing up her hair, she follows her guilty conscience to the well.

Nyx grabs the rope, climbs down, and watches her hand phase straight through the plant creature. The Alraune, she remembers it is called. It’s still dying. She could confirm the fact by checking its status, but she doesn’t have to. It’s dying. Nyx moves her hand helplessly through the creature again, then sighs and sits back against the side of the well.

Noel’s words hang in the air. If the lands beyond her dungeon are inhospitable, perhaps she can claim this place as hers? A quick swipe of her hand brings forth a disappointed sigh. Resting the back of her head against the well, Nyx stares up at the night sky and grimaces. Zero points. She has zero points. Her eyes narrow as her gaze falls on the humanoid plant. If this creature were part of her dungeon, then there was a chance she could bring it into her home. She scoffs as her hand passes through the plant again.

・

The red moon rises with the sun above the well and Nyx, squinting up at the hole, begins her climb out. The Alraune had not deteriorated much overnight. The thought doesn’t bring her much relief. Steeling her heart, Nyx pulls herself out of the well and trudges back to the mountain. There isn’t anything she can do. Biting her lower lip, she reminds herself of that and hurries back.

“Welcome back, Lady Nyx.” As she walks up to her cave, Noel walks out and waves at Nyx. Raising an eyebrow, Nyx places her hands together and one cheek against them.

“Hmm?” Noel looks on, somewhat confused. “Well, it’s good to see you nevertheless.”

“She’s asking why we weren’t sleeping, Noel. To answer, it would be because you took the house with you.” Jun lifts his skeletal hand in greeting, his brusque voice sounding somewhat accusatory to Nyx’s ears. “Though I do not sleep,” he adds, scoffing derisively.

“Ah, yes - she did do that. So we had a look around your dungeon, Lady Nyx. It’s... ” She leans a little closer, then smiles apologetically. “It’s a little lacking, isn’t it? The view from atop the peak is splendid, however.” Nyx raises her hand in protest, then shrugs. That was a nice way of saying it was a dump. She puts her hands on her hips and frowns, wrinkling her nose.

Her silent indignation, however, is met with equal silence. As she stares at Noel, watching those red eyes of hers and calm, drooping, elegant expression of hers, Nyx’s expression cramps slightly. Although Jun’s skull and burning blue eyes are harder to read, he seems to be staring at her indifferently. Turning around, she walks down the hill, glancing over her shoulder to make sure her two colleagues are still with her. Noel glances at Jun with a look of mild curiosity.

“Don’t ask me,” Nyx hears from behind her. Scratching the back of her neck, she stops just at the edge of her dungeon. Turning around, she takes two steps backwards as her body grows heavy and her stomach churns. She was familiar with the sensation, the weight in her chest, the grip on her shoulders, but she had put the blame elsewhere.

“Lady Nyx, we are creatures of magic. Both myself and our fair skeleton,” Noel begins softly, speaking over Jun’s rumbling laugh. “If you insist, we will follow you, but…” But? Noel’s indirect and gentle way of speaking was often soothing, but right now, Nyx was finding it irritating. She rips her eyes away from the succubus and instead puts her hands on her hips, staring at Jun.

“I would not last ten minutes. The land itself drains away magic.” Nyx glances over her shoulder at the broken settlement and the well, then back to Jun. Nervously, she points at herself and cocks her head to the side.

“My Lady, we’re both rather surprised you’re fine after spending the night outside. Mayhaps you are less magically bound than we.”

“Or you have more magic.”

“Eh? I don’t think even the king of demons would be fine out in this desert though?” Nyx looks back and forth between her two companions, then crosses her arms. “I could last a little longer than ten minutes, if you insist,” Noel continues, but Nyx shakes her head. She isn’t going to force them. Biting her lower lip, she looks between the skeleton and succubus, then dips her head down in apology.

“Oh, um. Mm. Please raise your head.” Noel’s hand stretches forward, then hesitates and retracts. “If you bow your head to us, then we have no choice, do we?” As Noel steps forward, misunderstanding her apology as a plea, Nyx shakes her head again and steps forward with her hand outstretched. Nyx’s hand brushes against Noel’s shoulder and pushes her back slightly, away from the boundary line.

As Noel shifts away from Nyx and tilts her head in confusion, Nyx stares at her own hand. Then, nervously, she places a trembling hand against the fabric of Noel’s sleeve. Her other hand extends towards Jun, pinching the deep purple of his robe. Both her companions shy away from her touch slightly, but she doesn’t let go. Biting the inside of her trembling lips, she restrains herself from grabbing either of them directly.

“Summoner?”

“Nyx, my dear…?”

Nyx’s vision swims as tears drip down her cheeks.