The Machine [Open/Accepting]

[lil_lollypop1]

"I don't know." Vincent admitted.
"About a week, I guess." Valkyrie finished.
"Why?" Vincent asked. "Are you going somewhere? Is the new headquarters finished being furnished?"  

[Ayame-Yuura]

snuggle89

(( Saiyu is red, Kyrell feels blue. I miss my Snuggles. I hope she misses me too :< ))

At that, Kyrell looked at the priestess, gaping. He appeared as though he was going to say something but cleared his throat again and immediately went into repenting sinner mode... Which he only ended up using around his mother. He often fought his father and the others. "I'm sorry. I know I shouldn't be here. I repent. Forgive me?", he said in a pitiful and almost charming tone as he looked up at the priestess, flashing a forced smile.

((OOC: ))  

[lil_lollypop1]

"Perhaps, but that doesn't answer my question, does it? But I know the sound of someone who's desperate, and that of one who's lying. How about a different question. Why did you do it?" She asked.  

[Ayame-Yuura]

snuggle89

(( Saiyu is red, Kyrell feels blue. I miss my Snuggles. I hope she misses me too :< ))

Kyrell didn't quite know himself what compelled him. Finding himself with lack of a direct answer to the priestess' question, he forced a laugh and repeated. "Why did I do it?" His thoughts then seemed to slow as he tried to figure out what to say. He then dropped the act and said looking away from her, "I was curious"

((OOC: ))  

[lil_lollypop1]

The priestess let out a small sigh. "Well, come along. Time for you to work on your penance." She ordered, taking the book he was reading and flipping through the pages to think of an appropriate punishment.  

[Ayame-Yuura]

snuggle89

(( Saiyu is red, Kyrell feels blue. I miss my Snuggles. I hope she misses me too :< ))

Kyrell felt inside his heart the need to retaliate but he closed his eyes with a chuckle and took in a deep breath, trying to brush it away. After all, that wild temper that had caused people problems was not to be a part of his life anymore. "I'm also curious about that other thing", he said, hoping she would know what he meant.

((OOC: ))  

[lil_lollypop1]

"So you did come here looking for information about the war machines." She sighed. "I was afraid of that. If it's revenge you seek, that is a small and bearable burden compared to the destruction you could unleash onto this world. Those books were forbidden for a reason, and I told you to stay away from them. Back home, you may have done forbidden things and gotten away with it, but not here."  

[Ayame-Yuura]

snuggle89

(( Saiyu is red, Kyrell feels blue. I miss my Snuggles. I hope she misses me too :< ))

"N-No. Not at all", Kyrell said, waving his hands in front of him. He muttered, "About the conference." He then lightly scratched his head. Unprincely, yes... Blame Saiyu being around him too often. He sighed and continued, "Then again, I'm sure you already know this. As a child, my father told me the story of how Helmshire won against its foes way back when at a time just like this, when seemingly, there was no hope. My great grandfather uncovered a book from far before his time with the symbol of the dragon, the sword, the isle and the river. That within it is an image of a woodland faerie so beautiful and captivating that it gave him the courage to fight when all was lost. That she is the guardian of Helmshire and that as long as she protects the forests, Helmshire will always belong to the Helmshirish" He laughed at himself after telling the fairy tale. Then a somber expression painted his face soon after.

((OOC: ))  

[lil_lollypop1]

"Kyrell, you're brave, but I am no faerie, nor elf, nor anything that fantastic. My job is to keep peace in the world, and so I have, and so I must. I'm sorry, but there's nothing I can do. Blackrose is a powerful and dangerous man: one who came from nothing and keeps consuming everything. All I can do is hold him back as long as possible. And, thankfully, he is so in love with himself that he doesn't go after anyone who doesn't feel the same way. Or at least, that's what he has led me to believe. That alone makes him easier to deal with, but not by much. If you want to fight that dragon so badly, fight him on your own terms, not on mine. I have very few political trump cards left, and I have to plan my steps very, very carefully."  

[Ayame-Yuura]

snuggle89

(( Saiyu is red, Kyrell feels blue. I miss my Snuggles. I hope she misses me too :< ))

"I'm sorry, what?", Kyrell asked in a puzzled way. He then understood that Lianne thought she was the faery and he began to laugh almost boisterously. "Hoo-!", he held his hand to his stomach as tears started to well up in his eyes. He tried to straighten himself out, wiping his eye before looking at Lianne. But before he could speak, he let out the uncontrollable laughter again. When the laughter died down though, he began, "You? Helmshire's woodland faerie? I'm sorry, high priestess but even if you are beautiful under that veil, nothing and no one, living or dead, could possibly compare to the sheer beauty and determination of Helmshire's protector. And the last image of her is rumored to be in that book"

((OOC: ))  

[lil_lollypop1]

"It was a metaphor." She replied simply. "And that image you so desire..." She said, flipping to the page, showing the image of the faerie. "is right here. Now, are you done?"  

[Ayame-Yuura]

snuggle89

(( Saiyu is red, Kyrell feels blue. I miss my Snuggles. I hope she misses me too :< ))

Kyrell froze when he saw the image of the faerie. His expression mellowed as he felt his heart begin to break, just looking at the image. Suddenly, several generations of Helmshirish peace and warfare flashed through his mind as he beheld the picture in his eyes. The soft expression, the hopeful eyes, the sword in hand, the snow white hair and the golden lyre. And of course, the sunlight streaming in the forest background. She was the defender of Helmshire. No! She was Helmshire. It brought him to his knees. It struck him like lightning. The image appeared so luminous in the dark halls. As though the spirit of the faerie was in the book as well.

((OOC: ))  

[lil_lollypop1]

The priestess closed the book and tucked it under her arm. "That's enough. Now come along. This is no place for you to be." She told him.  

[Ayame-Yuura]

snuggle89

(( Saiyu is red, Kyrell feels blue. I miss my Snuggles. I hope she misses me too :< ))

Kyrell smiled to Lianne who had closed the book when he was taken out of that trance. She probably knew that the book was stolen several times in the past because the Helmshirish would be mesmerized and obsessed with the image of the faerie and wanted to keep it for themselves. It warmed his heart to know that the book would be safe here as he closed his eyes, trying to save the image in his mind as he got up and took a few steps towards Lianne. He just looked for a while before a curious expression appeared on his face. Why had she even thought to compare herself to the image? He wondered when by some unspeakable involuntary force, he had lifted her veil to sate this curiosity. She was beautiful, heartbreakingly beautiful. But she was not Helmshire but one dedicated to an unseen god. "There you are", he said and gave her a warm smile, letting go and stepping back, trying not to be mesmerized for too long as he looked away, a light blush forming on his cheeks. But he knew that there was someone he loved and that those two beauties he saw today were not to sway his heart.

((OOC: ))  

[lil_lollypop1]

"Like these books, there is a reason I keep my face hidden. If such beautiful things are given to the unworthy, they will be destroyed before you know it. Do you understand now?" she asked simply with some well hidden irritation. She let out a sigh and turned her veiled face away from Kyrell.