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Post by Polaris Stormwrath on Jan 13, 2008 2:56:30 GMT
Polaris rose slowly from the chair in which she was seated in, gulping softly as her wide eyes concentrated on the drake's. Taking a daring step forward, her features were lit and exposed as a gust of heat was expelled from the flames.
Her eyes quickly darted to Mikael, as if looking for an escape, though she foolishly assumed he wouldn't help her. Taking it onto herself, she stood strong and answered in a confident voice, not wanting it to pick up on her fear. "Polaris Stormwrath of the house Ravenclaw, hailing from Norway."
A few beads of sweat formed on her brow and exposed skin as she stood infront of the flaming giant, flinching slightly from it's booming roars as she awaited it's next words.
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Post by Mikael Handel on Jan 13, 2008 3:04:24 GMT
The drake considered her words for a moment, making a low rumble from its throat as it thought. It then turned to Mikael, who had his arms out to the sides as if crucified, and was murmuring to himself, keeping the invocation going.
...AND YOU, MIKAEL HANDEL. I KNOW YOU WELL, AS DO MY BROTHERS EIGHT, THOUGH THE LAST IS STILL A MYSTERY TO YOU, THOUGH YOU ARE NO MYSTERY TO MY MIGHTIEST OF KIN..ARE YOU PREPARED TO ALLOW ME TO REJOIN WITH MY KIN?...
Mikael nodded slowly. "I am, Great Drake..." his eyes slowly darted to Polaris for a moment, and he felt proud that she was able to keep her resolve at a time like this.
The drake grunted, swinging its gaze back to Polaris.
...VERY GOOD, MIKAEL. I BELIEVE THE CHOICE REMAINS, THOUGH, AS TO WHETHER YOU SHOULD CONTINUE TO HOLD MY BROTHERS AND I. I DO NOT THINK YOU WILL HAVE THE POWER TO WITHHOLD ALL OF US, LET ALONE MY FINAL OF KIN...BUT THIS GIRL, POLARIS STORMWRATH OF HOUSE RAVENCLAW, SHE HAS POTENTIAL THAT NOT EVEN SHE KNOWS...
The drake brought itself face to face with Polaris, its eyes boring into her own, and spoke in a calm, almost tranquil voice, only audible in her mind.
...Polaris Stormwrath of House Ravenclaw, do you seek power?...
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Post by Polaris Stormwrath on Jan 13, 2008 3:10:12 GMT
Darting her gaze back to Mikael, she furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. She didn't want to take what he had summoned, for the fear of resentment if not pure hatred. Though, Polaris did seek power..
Turning her gaze back to the Drake's, she answered quietly within her mind, just as he did to her.
.. Great Drake, I do seek power, though I do not wish to take what was Mikael's..
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Post by Mikael Handel on Jan 13, 2008 3:14:24 GMT
A soft laugh emitted in Polaris' head, and the drake responded lightly.
...No, Mikael is just a boy. He holds domain over other creatures, but to allow him to take me within him, he will die. His mind does not yet hold that kind of power; yours does. I have read this. If I enter your soul, as will my kin leave Mikael's body and enter your soul. As will you be responsible for the final summoning, with the help of Mikael. He has an understanding mind, and as I have read, and as my kin have spoken to me, as they are in tune with his emotions right now. He will help you, aid you in this, Polaris, but the choice is yours...
Still, Mikael held himself, holding the invocation, knowing there were seconds to finish it.
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Post by Polaris Stormwrath on Jan 13, 2008 3:24:53 GMT
Polaris' eyes widened slightly in panic, her eyes darting to Mikael once more. Nervously she nodded, accepting the Drake's words.
.. I will accept your proposition as long as he is spared. I will do what is neccessary and what you wish of me..
She was scared. For the first time in years, Polaris was actually scared. Keeping her features as calm as she could, she closed her eyes and took in a deep breath.
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Post by Mikael Handel on Jan 13, 2008 3:35:56 GMT
...A wise choice, girl...spoke the drake. Slowly, it descended to her.
Mikael looked over at her, well aware of the situation, having been told by the drake souls now ready to leave him. He felt a pang of disappointment, a surge of confusion, and felt as though he should hate this girl, but that, he did not feel.
Slowly, the eight soul fragments within him left, and he subsequently collapsed to the floor, eyes shut, passed out from exhaustion, and the souls now hovered in a circle around Polaris, slowly closing in until they passed through her cloak, and into her flesh, leaving no marks but making sensations both burning and freezing surge into her body all at once.
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Post by Polaris Stormwrath on Jan 13, 2008 3:50:29 GMT
Polaris' body tensed at the sensations as she clenched her eyes shut tightly. Gasping and taking in a sharp breath, her body shuddered as the fit of temperatures rose and dropped within her. She feel to her knees and clenched her hands tightly into fists.
"Mikael.." Polaris whispered softly as she outstretched a hand to his fallen, unconcious body before she herself, fell unconcious.
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Post by Mikael Handel on Jan 13, 2008 20:58:55 GMT
A couple of hours later, Mikael stirred, feeling a searing pain on his right forearm, and a bone-chilling cold, the kind that always seemed to sweep over the body after extreme heat had faded. He made to push himself up by using his arms, but his weight and the pain in his right arm failed to lend any sort of credence to this attempt, and he fell back down on the ground, banging his face on the cold, hard floor. Groaning, he rolled over and faced the ceiling, cracking his left eye open, then the right. The room was dark, and night had fallen fully over the castle, moonlight seeping in through the windows of the classroom. Slowly, he brought his head up, and then, with much effort, brought himself up into a sitting position.
He looked around, first at the desk. Good... he thought to himself. The glass candles were still there. A huge scorch-mark had been left in front of the desk, however, where the wall of fire had been erected. He reached inside his cloak for his candle-holding pouch, but soon realized that his cloak had been singed in most places and was tattered and torn in the others.
Well, this is just typical... he frowned. The searing pain in his right arm was beginning to fade, though it was being replaced by a sort of throbbing agony that he had scarce felt before. Dreading what he would find, he lifted his arm up and squinted through the darkness.
The sleeve of his shirt in that area had been completely torn to shreds, and the bracer he had concealed on his arm was all but annihilated as well, the metal having seemed to explode and tear from the inside out. The bracer had been two-fold in its usage, protecting him in combat from any blows to the arms, and also, more importantly, neutralizing the fragments of the drake souls in his body.
Beneath the bracer, he noticed, was the source of his pain. A scar, roughly six inches from end to end, but no more than an half an inch thick. That scar had previously not been there.
Must have been from one of the drake souls... he thought, then swung his attention over to Polaris, remembering in full what had happened.
How?How did this...this girl out-do my own power? How did she manage to convince the soul of Fidduccius to use her as a host for he and his kin? What on earth IS she? Slowly, his thoughts turned from curiosity to both concern and harsh bitterness. He had spent the past two years learning how to harvest the soul fragments of the great drakes, and now they had been torn from him, all because he had invited this girl along to witness it. What kind of friend would have stolen two years worth of work from him?
Or had she had a choice? Had Fidduccius not forced himself upon her, as was easily within the confines of power of the great drakes? Despite his bitter feelings, Mikael had to admit to himself that in taking the great drakes within her own soul, Polaris had lifted a huge weight from his chest, one that she would now carry, possibly for the rest of her life. Did he owe it to her to help her?
Sighing, he stood up, slowly regaining his balance and pulling off his tattered, burned cloak. He collected the now cold and extinguished glass candles, putting them back in the pouch, which he placed at his belt, next to his wand. He looked over at Polaris again, frowning.
Well, I could just as easily leave her here...his own thoughts made him feel slightly disgusted with himself. Why, though? He had never given a damn about what had happened to others before now...
This girl is not just any person, though. She has the power to harvest the souls of the great drakes, and possibly to withstand them...Such a girl warrants admiration, at best; but for the very least, I should aid her, or at least watch her...
Shaking his head at his thoughts, Mikael strode over to Polaris, nudging her shoulder with his boot. "Polaris, wake up..." he hissed, sharply.
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Post by Polaris Stormwrath on Jan 13, 2008 21:35:53 GMT
Dreams of flames and hell were induced upon her mind with the shapes of nine spectral drakes soaring through different elemental planes. Polaris' breath was heavy as she lay unconcious on the cobbled floor, though not motionless. Her body was twitching on occasion, sending her tossing and turning with the feverish dreams tormenting her.
At the feeling of something prodding at her, Polaris awoke with a jolt and scream, her eyes snapping open immediately. Once she saw Mikael's shadowed form standing over her, a deep snarl was emitted from her throat as she scuttled quickly to the opposing wall, pressing her back to it heavily. Wide, feral eyes stared at Mikael wildly in confusion and panic, her breath still heavy.
"Mik.. Mikael..?" She inquired softly, her words ladened with confusion.
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Post by Mikael Handel on Jan 13, 2008 21:40:44 GMT
Mikael nodded slowly, eying Polaris with caution. He knew that glimmer in her eyes, having seen it in muggles that felt intense fear, witches and wizards that had the ability...no. No, why would this girl have such a powerful ability? He sincerely doubted it, but did not rule out the possibility, thus making a mental note of it.
"Yes, it is me, Polaris. Do you recall what has happened to you?" he asked in a sharp tone.
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Post by Polaris Stormwrath on Jan 13, 2008 21:44:30 GMT
Eying him cautiously, Polaris brought a hand up to her head, rubbing it lightly. "I just remember you lighting the candles and telling me of the spell... Then I fell asleep. I guess we were up here to late?" She asked, her head tilting to the side. "Though, I did have a horrid dream.."
Standing slowly, Polaris rested her back heavily against the bricked wall and caught her breath.
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Post by Mikael Handel on Jan 13, 2008 21:51:33 GMT
Mikael spun around, grunted savagely, and grabbed his wand. A second later, he sent a chair flying through the room, letting it land next to Polaris. "You're going to want to sit down for this," he said, somewhat savagely. He himself then strode over to the desk he had used for the rite, and leaned back against it.
"Polaris Stormwrath, sixth year student of House Ravenclaw. You had a horrid dream indeed. Let's see if I have the gist of it. You came up here with me, I lit some candles, and then a great wall of fire erupted between us. Right there, in fact..." he trailed off, flicking his wand in the direction of the large line of ash and scorch marking that spanned almost from wall to wall.
"You then came face to face with a great drake of fire, of the name Fidduccius. That sound about right, so far?" he eyed her, gauging her reaction.
"And then, of course, Fidduccius asked you if you would accept he and his kin into your body, to take in fragments of their power, to further your own power. And you accepted. And then, eight soul fragments escaped MY body," he lifted his right arm, revealing the sundered bracer, "and circled you, before dawning down and entering your soul. After that, I collapsed, as did you. That sound like your nightmare?" he asked, frowning, his dark eyes searching hers.
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Post by Polaris Stormwrath on Jan 13, 2008 21:56:32 GMT
Polaris frowned, kicking away the chair. "Yes, it does! But I didn't want to, he told me that you would die if I didn't take him and his kin in!" Her voice was growing louder with each word. "Do you think I want you, my friend, to die?!" She quickly huffed out and turned her head, folding her arms across her chest.
Slowly, her eyes fell to the floor and she stood quiet. After minutes of silence, she spoke softly. "I didn't want to take what you earned away from you.. I just didn't want you to be hurt, let alone die.."
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Post by Mikael Handel on Jan 14, 2008 1:04:56 GMT
Mikael tilted his head to the side.
"Die? I suppose it would have been possible. You yourself may not be able to hold the tenth drake, Polaris...though I suppose we'll have to find out. You've not a choice in the matter--the drakes will tear at your mind until you unite them with their last of kin..."
He pressed his palms to the table and gently pushed himself off. He offered Polaris one last look before striding over to one of the windows, gazing out at the moon.
"If you do wish to summon the final drake, you'll need my help...and we won't be able to summon it within the castle. Even the smallest fragment of the soul of Valbrandr would not be held at bay by the walls of this castle..."
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Post by Polaris Stormwrath on Jan 14, 2008 1:14:38 GMT
Polaris walked slowly and hesitantly towards Mikael. "I suppose... and is it neccesary? I mean.. well.. I don't know.. I'm still so confused.."
She sighed softly. "I'm sorry for taking the Drake's in and stealing all of your hard work, Mikael.."
Resting her hands down against the window sill, Polaris looked out to the scenery below, the moonlight causing her eyes to shimmer a softly as she concentrated on the many thoughts running through her mind.
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