[action for people in dali.]

[for-ephramad.livejournal.com]

[The blackheart is lying unconscious -- by now dragged to the room he was given by Raine. He is dead to the world and not breathing; though one merely has to watch the thrashes his body experiences infrequently and listen to his delirium-induced words to see that he is not dead. He's dreaming -- or in the midst of a nightmare is more accurate. Even more accurate is the fact he is currently holding council within his dreams with his lord and master -- the god of darkness and death, the dark divinity Odin. Who by the way, is amused at Luzaf's attempt to rejoin him in the halls of Valhalla by giving the life he bestowed upon him to someone alike Raine.

Odin is a knight first and foremost that values courage above all else. He applauds Luzaf's action -- even if popping into this world for the vision is slightly draining on the old energy reserves.

Waves of darkness enshroud the corsair turned summoner; a firm warning to any of the household that care to watch not to wake the admiral. This is precisely alike the last vision he received from the dark divinity. He can feel the crushing weight of many leagues of water bearing down upon him... This is exactly alike the death he suffered at the hands of the empire upon his world. He feels as if he is drowning.

Luzaf's responses are audible to any onlookers. Yet the lord knight Odin's words are not.]


Thy knight...
Thou has't proven thyself problematic...
Much I have journeyed. Much experienced, mighty ones many proved...
In strength of spirit, thou has't surpassed all.
Granting life at consequence of yours for one who is fit to die. For no reward... No honour...
Speak unto thee, thy knight. What is thy wish?

...
Aphmau--

...
My wish... is the same..
To return to the halls of Valhalla.. and serve you in the Underworld, my lord...
For all eternity, in exchange..

Thy appeal is heard. In all things, there is order.
Thy pact remains unfulfilled. One star from the heavens falls, and another is birthed in stead.
Thou'st cannot seek any more without completing thine bargain.
Thou'st sought to nullify thine pact upon Vana'diel.

My lord! You mean for me to accomplish my task here? I do not understand...
Your enemy...

Alexander and thyself art divinities. There art many worlds.
Alexander's destruction here shall serve fitting repayment for your past discrepancies.
Thou'st wish not for the age of Judgement upon Vana'diel.
Thy shalt become mine incarnation here, with no bonds...
And mine enemy, Alexander...
He shall be utterly destroyed by our hand, as agreed.

Merciful Odin...

Ahahahahaha!
Thy true desire is granted, and thine own as well.
Rest and then rise with life anew, my knight!
Thou shalt serve me well this time... lest the bonds of thy successor be wrought from thy entrails.
Seek thy coffin.

...Yes.
This...
It will protect her.

...
It is the only way...

Aphmau... forgive me.

Comments

[livelyangel.livejournal.com]

[Rinoa hears a voice, which prompts her to check in on him. What she sees frightens her. Is he having a fit?]

Luzaf?

[for-ephramad.livejournal.com]

[In a way it is a fit. Luzaf has never slept easily since the fated events of that day -- wraith or otherwise. Still enshrouded in darkness- a warning to not disturb him, his eyes are open. Yet they are distant. He cannot see anything save for the murky waters of the cyan deep-- the place where he died a miserable death back then. He does not respond.]

...

[livelyangel.livejournal.com]

[This whole thing is just creepy. Rinoa stares at him with a mixture of horror and curiosity... and curiosity wins. She moves forward to stand beside him and extends a trembling hand to his forehead. Maybe she can sense what's going on...]

[for-ephramad.livejournal.com]

[It totally is. Curiousity doesn't quite pay off in this case-- if Rinoa has any ounce of Sorceress left in her she should feel herself at the place where the Blackheart's body truly lies; at a filthy area of reef off the arrapago reef in the world he hails from. Just an illusion, an outstretch of the corsair's eternal nightmare -- but in feeling at least, real.

...It's cold. it's very cold. And it is dark. The weight of water is crushing. There are corpses all around; some in a terrible state from gunfire and such, and some not.

Such was the state of all who hailed from the lost kingdom of Ephramad. The crown prince, the admiral Luzaf no different from any that bore the same heritage.]

[livelyangel.livejournal.com]

[Rinoa is very much still a Sorceress and thus the moment she touches his skin she feels an odd swooping sensation like she's falling - and then she gets a glimpse of what Luzaf is experiencing, the cold water, bodies strewn around her-

She reels back with a cry and stares at him, horrified. Right now, she's too shocked to do anything else. What's happening to him?]

[eidolon-soul.livejournal.com]

[Rydia's on her way down the hall, when she hears a familiar name.]

...Odin....?

[Curious, she pauses and peers into the room.]

[for-ephramad.livejournal.com]

[And thus Rydia should hear one end of the conversation. After the council is apparently over he remains motionless-- save for a few movements more akin convulsions. As his lord master commanded, he is resting; the dark energies filling his wraith-like form slowly with life anew and thus unconcious still.]

...

[eidolon-soul.livejournal.com]

[Okay, she doesn't quite know what to make of that--any of it. Even so, his state concerns the summoner. Her eyes widen as she looks him over, uncertain if he can hear her at all.]

...hello?

[She sighs, not really expecting a reply. What should she do...? Glancing down the hall, she calls out.]

Ellone? Rinoa?

[winhillstime.livejournal.com]

[She pokes her head out from Slai's room, where she was keeping the girl company for a little.]

Rydia? Do you need something?

[eidolon-soul.livejournal.com]

[Rydia looks over apologetically. She doesn't want to put more stress on Ellone.]

It's your other guest. He...doesn't look well.

[winhillstime.livejournal.com]

[Story of her life by this point. She frowns.]

I'll be right there.

[She disappears to make sure the other little girl in the house is okay before reemerging and heading over to Rydia.]

What's wrong?

[eidolon-soul.livejournal.com]

[Rydia gestures inside, to where the guest is laying.]

He was having convlusions and saying something, but most of it didn't make any sense to me. Now, he's so still....

[It doesn't even look like he's breathing, does it? That just makes her more alarmed, upon suddenly realizing that.]

[winhillstime.livejournal.com]

[That's definitely worrying. Ellone frowns and peeks in.]

I don't know what to do for him. I mean... he's still alive isn't he?

[She'd never considered that it might be a trade. One life for another.] Have the healers looked at him yet?

[eidolon-soul.livejournal.com]

[Rydia shakes her head.]

I just found him like this a moment ago.

[winhillstime.livejournal.com]

[She looks worried.]

I don't know... I'm not a healer. I've never been able to cast until I came here and even that's not much. He doesn't look... I mean, if he'd died, he wouldn't be here, would he? He'd be turning up at the Iifa Tree in a week, right?

[eidolon-soul.livejournal.com]

I'd think so, but still...he doesn't look at all well.

[She crosses her arms, sighing.]

I could go get someone....

[winhillstime.livejournal.com]

We probably should. After all he's done for Raine, I can't leave him while he's hurt.

[eidolon-soul.livejournal.com]

I'll do that, then.

[She rakes a hand through her hair, then backs out of the room to search for someone who might be able to help.]

[winhillstime.livejournal.com]

[She calls after Rydia:] Thank you, Rydia!

[knighted-lion.livejournal.com]

[It's only after some consideration that Squall wanders in. Not out of ungratefulness, oh no. He's quite glad that this stranger stepped in for a woman he barely knew. It's just... how do you thank someone for something like that?

He's even less sure of what to make of what he hears when he comes in.]

[for-ephramad.livejournal.com]

[And thus Squall should hear one end of the negotiation, and finally the silence after. He remains silent and motionless for a good few hours -- while Odin's most recent boon is working it's magic to restore him.

It's obvious this state is not fading anytime quickly.]

[knighted-lion.livejournal.com]

[Squall just sort of watches for a moment longer before murmuring a soft 'thanks' and heading back out.]