Anastasia Pascal

She tried her best to copy the normalcy everyone was treating the fights with monsters. To confront the abominations with the same stoicism or excitement that they showed on their faces. Tried her best to show anything other than the terror she felt. Her hands trembled while their hands moved smoothly in action. They’re all loonies, thought Anastasia. And that crazed redhead has dragged me along with the most bonkers party.

Malachi’s party was currently preparing to take down one of the vomitous Ratsin that waddled along the edges of light and dark. They looked completely diseased, nothing bothered them and the Sixty had planned to follow suit. Unfortunately, this one couldn’t be left alone. Those bloated creatures couldn’t be risked wandering into a party in the middle of a battle. They were the sort to be happy to devour whatever they came across. Fungus, dead, or the living.

The redhead grinned and nudged her again to give the spell a try. Grimacing, Anastasia focused on the sore-covered monster. Tried her best not to think about what happened to Leon. Whoops, groaned the blonde in her head. That was now all she could think about. Even bleeding from several orifices, the barrier acolyte had calmly insisted that after healing he was good to continue. Malachi hadn’t bought a single word and sent Leon back to the Hall to rest.

The result had been twofold, group formations had changed and Anastasia had gained a new wonderful dread. Instead of just being terrified of being ripped apart by monsters, she was now also worried about being torn apart from the inside because of the misuse of Mana. All of this is frankly preposterous, grumbled Anastasia to herself. I didn’t want to waste away waiting on others to do all the work. Forced to worry a pace or two into the floor of my room would have been hell! But! This expectation! The expectation that something is most certainly going kill to me… whether a slobbering monster or my fool self… that expectation might just really kill me! Of the three options, I couldn’t say which would be worse.

“Yo, girlie, let’s get this show on the roooaaad,” whined the pouting Clarissa. “We’re all ready to do some monster slaying... and I’m getting bored.”

“I, I, I’m um getting there!” flushed Anastasia. She straightened her back and by side glance tried to emulate the archer. Then she realized that Damian would be a better person to reflect. Blushing to herself, she changed from a side stance to facing forward towards the target. A rat thing that was messily eating another Ratsin. Her stomach roiled in rebellion.

While taking a deep breath, Anastasia tried to focus on all the people protecting her in this moment of insanity. There was of course Malachi’s supergroup. After watching several battles, she could be confident in the five of them. Julia to block for her, Malachi to lead, Harken to heal, Damian to bring out the magic, and the crazed redhead to cackle as she made pincushions of monsters. It wouldn’t end there either, comforted Anastasia. I’ve got the Sisters and Reuben making sure the young Ratsins don’t join in the middle of battles. Phelain’s party now has Vincent to help with any backup we need. I am not going to die… I am not likely going to die... The blonde woman took one last calming breath and her tan skin returned to its normal shade. Focusing on what she needed to do, Anastasia chanted her spell.

“Show Me The Truth,

Uncloud My Vision,

World’s Face Revealed,

Discerning Sight!”

Her Mana swirled around her and focused in on her like a blue halo. Anastasia’s normal sight allowed her to see Mana, but the spell allowed a deeper look. Time seemed to slow down while she saw the workings of Mana. How the spell took shape or how a Form flowed. She believed that either that Discerning Sight either gave access to outside knowledge, or a greater connection to her subconscious. The results being that what she saw, the blonde understood better. Even Damian's highly developed Mana was visible to her during the duration of the effect.

Before the spell caused a headache or blood from her eyes, she peered into the bloated Ratsin. To her sight, the circulating Mana was a poisonous green that pooled at the mouth, claws, and diseased areas. There didn’t seem to be any extra protection from the Mana, but the foulness of the monster was definitely enhanced. Her eyes flickered about to bring in the scope of the Mana flow and then cast her next spell.

“Slow,

Constrict,

Lessen,

Diminished Flow”

An invisible cloud of Mana flew from her towards the rat thing. It struck with no noticeable effect to those without Mana sight. To Anastasia, it was a miniwar as her spell lashed out at the internal Mana of the Ratsin. Slowly it bound the enemy Mana and slowed the flow. The diseased monster gave out a strangled cry and tried to shake off the effect. When that didn’t work, it decrepitly sniffed at the air. It was a slow, agonizing moment for Anastasia as the Ratsin seemed to trace the spell back to her. Its milky green eyes locked on hers. Even half-hidden by fatty flesh, she could feel the stare. The rat thing screeched in rage. It stumbled but charged forward in lurches of speed. Julia stood in the way with the shield ready, but the angry eyes glared through to her

“Um, uh, eek!” squeaked Anastasia. “Why um is coming after uh me?”

Rolling her eyes the redhead gestured at Damian, “Come on now, you know why and what to do next. They can sniff out Mana. Now juice up the magic man!”

Green fluid leaked from the monster’s sores and boils as it charged. On the edge of panic, she recited the spell in a high-pitched voice.

“Hasten,

Surge,

Enhance,

Amplify Effect!”

The spell struck Damian and he gasped. His Mana surged like a river threatening to break its banks. To her eyes, the obsidian man’s Mana was a bright violet energy saturated with stars. It circulated through the acolyte’s body like a frame of circuitry. Her effect merged to raise the speed and thickness of the energy. To Anastasia, he was bright enough to look like a bonfire of violet light. Damian’s spell chant echoed clearly across the cavern.

Large shards of violet starlight shot silently away from the party. Glinting by their own internal light, the spell homed in on the Ratsin. Blood and pus spurting into the air. The star shards impaled the monster to the ground like staking a tent. Some of the flabby flesh was sheared off from shards that almost missed. Pinned in the spot, the bloated Ratsin violently shuddered trying to rip free. Its focus rapidly changed between the party, an escape, and then drooling over its own flesh with gluttonous snaps. The entire time it screamed.

Anastasia only had eyes for Damian. It wasn’t only for a distraction from the ugly sight. She felt the shape of his spell for an instant. The blond woman leaned into the knowledge and she almost had the words on her lips. A spike of pain drove through her temple. With that sensation came the end of Discerning Sight and her grasp on the spell form. That’s alright, thought a dizzy Anastasia. My part of the plan is over.

The fight continued while she held the painful ball that was her head. Malachi and Julia moved in to finish off the pinned monster. They were forced back by fits of coughing. The foul blood and pus of the Rastin reacted violently where they met. The air rippled where vapor rose from the chemical reaction. The blonde woman felt panic rising from her gut as she watched the two front liners on their knees hacking loudly. The fear dulled the pain, but it was still very present.

Harken moved over to the two sickened teammates as Damien maintained the star shards. Anastasia could hazily remember that the structure of the spell would make this difficult. Sweat poured down the obsidian man’s skin as he forced the spell to the limits. Many of the shards had already dissipated, only the impaling shards held there by the caster. Cracks formed as the spell was pushed beyond the frame of intention. A whisper cut through the noise as Harken prayed.

“I Beseech Purpose,

Alleviate Our Pains,

Return us To The Path,

Shepherd's Restoration!

Golden light shone down upon them as if from the sun itself. Malachi and Julia both took in a deep clear breath. Under the heavenly light, their features were elevated. Even when the shaft of light disappeared there was a lingering glow to their form. The two of them stood up fighting ready. When they took a step forward the Ratskin began to scramble to get free. Damian fell to a knee and his spell shattered into fading dust. The frontliners paused in anticipation of an attack. The monster dove on its own disconnected flesh with zest.

Frozen in horror, the party watched as it consumed every last bite. The Ratsin howled as its body quivered and twitched. Wounds rapidly sealed up, but mutated. A lost arm was replaced with a blocky bulb of flesh. The new limb was made more for bashing than the threshing of the original. The tears across the torso shrunk to strange barnacle-looking sores that were oozing a yellow substance.

I’m going to die, thought Anastasia with a laugh. Clarissa gave her a concerned look, but only briefly. The archer’s attention was on where the next arrow would go. I’m going to die, she repeated the phrase to herself like tasting a new wine. These damn things are just going to get worse and worse… I fucking hate this place… A shiver was rolling through her body. Her mind was lashing at her with images of being devoured by rats. “I… I don’t want to die,” she said listlessly. “Why... um, am I even here? In this damn uh place…”

A warm hand fell upon her shoulder. With a strangely warm smile on his gaunt face, Harken answered, “For a Purpose. I know that doesn’t take the sting of fear from your heart. It is hard to accept what has happened to us. It takes a leap of faith, for better or ill. There are horrors and trails ahead for us, but there is also joy. We have entered a world of miracles.”

“You’re um crazy,” replied Anastasia with a twitch. “This is uh a world of death!”

“Death is its own miracle,” proposed Harken mildly. “If you will not find assurance in my words or this world, then find it in them.” The priestly man gestured to the rest of the party. They were moving warily into position. The Ratsin was getting to its feet after the rapid change. “We haven’t gone far yet, but this isn’t the first monster to fall. Nor last, my friend. Let us aid our comrades.” On the last word, Harken turned towards the battle and opened his mouth to cast.

“Aegis of Purpose

Bolster the devoted

Stronger together

Reinforce”

Translucent energy formed around everyone, including Anastasia. He didn’t look at her, but she felt like it was an invitation to join. The blonde woman squirmed with indecision. Fear only wavering before a sense of social duty. Fuck! grumbled Anastasia. I don’t even know what I can do to help, but I guess I’ll have to try to do something… at least the headache has faded some. Continuing to grumble to herself, the acolyte stepped up beside Harken to think of something. The priestly man glanced at her, but said nothing. They both kept to their own thoughts.

Malachi opened the renewed attack with a salvo of Fire Blast. It exploded upon the brutish limb that the Ratsin raised in defense. The new flesh seemed more durable as the limb was reddened rather than charred. Though it did successfully burn away the poisonous vapors. The air around the monster became clear while the bodily fluids dried or turned to ash. Next came Clarissa assaulting the monster with a series of arrows. A few clattered uselessly on the defensive limb, but the archer still got some hits in. An eye was gone in a splash of dark blood. The hind legs collapsed under the bloat weight of the Ratsin with arrows in joints. Most importantly, it gave the frontliners time to move in. To keep it distracted Damian called out Star Shot. The arcane shards impacted in spurts of blood with the hope it would delay the monster another handful of seconds.

Julia kept ahead with her shield up while Malachi chanted lightning into his sword. The Ratsin twitched in their direction with a snarl. The nose dragged its attention away from the wounds. The rat thing pivoted with an awe-inspiring toss of its body using the large limb. Now the broad side of the monster's torso was facing them. The barnacles shook and a spurt of yellow shot out of all of them. A barrage of gelatinous yellow rained down on them. Just before impact, the shield maiden raised her shield and there was a flicker of light.

Anastasia couldn’t contain a gasp as the yellow ooze splattered. Almost immediately the substance hardened. The surprise came from when instead of two yellow statues there was a dome shape. As if huddling in a hut, Malachi and Julia could be seen from an opening on the backside. The brutish limb slammed down on the yellow substance. It shattered like gravel to reveal a shell of blue Mana concaving from the blow. Cracks were forming as the Ratsin hissed with anger. The limb hammered at the failing forcefield as it snapped slavering jaws at them.

Fear threatened to overwhelm Anastasia. She closed her eyes with a fervent wish for something to change. Reopening over and over to see a change that would not come. Fuck, fuck, fuck! she screamed inside. Indignation started to flood over the fear. I don’t deserve this! Damnit! Her eyes locked onto the lightning playing along Malachi’s sword. Almost yelling the words, she enabled Discerning Sight. “Um Malachi!,” she screamed to the best of her ability. She blushed for the outburst as much for the knowledge that the other was unlikely to hear a slightly raised voice.

She took in a big breath before trying again. The ginger man’s eye flickered to her with a raised eyebrow. “Um, get ready!” she called out. “Boost coming to you!” He nodded and adjusted his grip on the sword. While Malachi whispered to Julia, Anastasia recited Amplify Effect. This time the target had Mana like a river running completely sure of its course. There was an equal measure of courage and dedication guiding this flow of Mana. The image of a sword crossed with a rose appeared in the stream.

When Malachi activated the spell in the sword, she didn’t feel any different. There was only the distance knowledge that a spell was being used. The blonde woman decided it was like seeing something familiar, but missing the steps to understand how it could happen. On the opposing beat of the hammering limb, the shielding field dropped. Stepping in together, Julia shielding and Malachi attacking, the sword thrust into the neck of the Ratsin. There was a flash of white and a boom followed. When her vision came back, everything had finally changed.

Malachi and Julia had been thrown away from the Ratsin. Both looked quite frazzled as they sat up from the stone ground. Anastasia herself had only stayed on her feet thanks to Harken. Somehow the priestly man had kept his feet while also holding her steady. A new sense of respect grew for him despite the teary grin he was giving her. Like a skull trying to be cheery. Best of all was the stiff corpse of the Ratsin. It was still in the pose from before the blink of white light. Trails of electricity passed through the body, following charred paths created by the enhanced Lightning Blade.

They all quietly watched the monster statue. When it collapsed a few moments later, it was paired with sighs of relief. That it started to rise again brought shock. Gurgling a cry, the Ratsin shuttered up onto the normal arm while grasping about with the bulky one. Blindly it seemed to shift about in their general direction. Nose sniffing aggressively towards them.

Everyone was rolling shoulders or shifting into a ready position. Anastasia was now mad. The indignation had consumed the fear, so from her moment of relief came only anger. With a snarl, she directed her Discerning Sight into the Ratsin. The Mana flow was spurting and weak. Barely circulating. I can do something with this, thought Anastasia. She reached towards her Heartsong. Ignoring the ball of thoughts that was Diminished Flow. It wouldn’t do enough for her desire. Listening as hard as she could, the right tune came to mind. Confidently, she spoke the words.

“Sunder My Foe,

Break Their Will,

Shatter the Flow,

Chaos Injection!”

Pale purple needles appeared in the air. They jerked in place as they flew into the Ratsin. Like acupuncture, the needles struck at key points. The monster bucked and began to scream. To Anastasia’s eyes, the rat thing’s flow became erratic as the needles slid deeper in. Internal Mana began to lash out at the body. Scouring organs and flesh with random effects. To the rest of the party, the Ratsin was seizing up as the needles disappeared into the flesh.

It was a painful way to go and the blonde woman was shocked by the effect. These spells are a reflection of ourselves… considered Anastasia. I didn’t think I had something like this inside me. I wanted it to die... not me… but this is horrible.

“Better it, than you,” said Clarissa as if reading her mind. “Let’s see if I put it out of its misery though. I think I got something to bring me back into the game. You all with your crazy spell shit and I just have these arrows. Gotta get good, right blondie?” The archer raised her bow with an arrow. A second passed and light, like a reflection on the iron arrow, grew brighter. It was tinged green and burst into life as the arrow flew. A streak of green passed through the head of the Ratsin. The silence was immediate.

No one moved or made any sounds for several seconds until the monster began to powder. Then everyone relaxed. Anastasia sat down and rubbed her head. She doubted that this headache would go away anytime soon. Still, it’s good I didn’t die this time, thought the acolyte.