04-12-2015, 06:07 PM
The immediacy of their threats quickly resolved itself: the young man among them relinquished his powers unto the universe once more. However, if he were so easily able to release them, Nikolai had to assume he could summon them as smoothly. Meanwhile, Nikolai's own senses ached with the the surge of power flowing through him, whispering the need to be used, like the ghosts of the dead begging for purpose denied their formless souls.
It was the girl whom stepped forward. Nikolai found himself surprised she was the leader of the trio, if he were inclined to recognize such emotions; moments such as these were void of such trivialities like emotion.
She wisely provided names to the three, and upon identification, each in turn earned the weighty gaze for which Nikolai famously judged others. The results of his judgement remained a mystery for the intensity of his attention was unchanging between the three. Until proven otherwise, he would assume all three could wield powers similar to his own, although he had yet to experience the presence of a female with such abilities. They were poised vipers in that regard.
The girl, Aria stumbled through an explanation for her presence. Again, her judgement proved wise by providing answers to the Ascendancy's questions so quickly. However, she was either a skilled actress or sincerely intimidated by the coincidental encounter.
Godling was perhaps an apt term for young Nox; however, Nikolai found the lack of respect offensive. Michael was no godling; Valdir either. Yet there were souls blessed with powers that paled in comparisons to the mighty for whom Nikolai had no term. Demigods seemed most appropriate, yet he referred to each as ascendants nonetheless. The disdain in Aria's term was condescending. Why did Nox put up with it? She was clearly his leader, yet the affection with which she described Lucas suggested a personal loyalties lay elsewhere. It was only a passing thought.
The gist of her confession lacked specifics. She referred to a handler like he were a superior, and researching him by feeling the remains of a ruined temple. Her fear of dying was clear, as it should be. If Nikolai were not entrusted with moral imperatives, he would have allowed Simon to take his shots and they could join the grave he was soon to exhume.
Finally, a few rays of clarity penetrated her statements. Nikolai pieced the puzzle together the moment she referenced a mission, and the taste of his mouth filled cinderous: ashes of the dead that lined his path to ascension. And it seemed Michael Vellas was poised to join the ranks. Yet Nikolai did not deem a man's acquaintance with a random woman to be grounds for execution - Michael earned more than that - but neither would the admission go dismissed without investigation.
She was hardly the first person to be sent to kill him. Although how the Atharim thought she might succeed when their best spies and assassins failed, Nikolai did not know. "A new approach for the Atharim to send a diminutive woman, although it is impossible for you to have anticipated my presence today. I will accept this encounter as coincidence; however, I am not inclined to leaving Atharim with missions to kill me wandering free in this world."
Nikolai had to consider what to do. Killing each was easiest, as he could not trust the three to walk away unwatched.
Thus, a moment's consideration, and he knew exactly what he was going to do with her, but first, he had work to complete.
"Despite appearances, I am not here for nostalgia. I came for something I buried in this ground long ago. You three will sit and wait while I find it, alive, or you can lay on the ground dead where you will be left behind. If you agree, now is the time to sit, out of reach of one another. I will resume my work and Simon will guard you in the meantime."
He waited for their compliance, or dissent, either way was little difference to him. When men chose death in the face of an alternative, he did not mind dealing it to them.
However, should they sit, he would take the motion as a sign of consent and wrap each with ropes of Essence in which they would be bound until he willed their release.
It was the girl whom stepped forward. Nikolai found himself surprised she was the leader of the trio, if he were inclined to recognize such emotions; moments such as these were void of such trivialities like emotion.
She wisely provided names to the three, and upon identification, each in turn earned the weighty gaze for which Nikolai famously judged others. The results of his judgement remained a mystery for the intensity of his attention was unchanging between the three. Until proven otherwise, he would assume all three could wield powers similar to his own, although he had yet to experience the presence of a female with such abilities. They were poised vipers in that regard.
The girl, Aria stumbled through an explanation for her presence. Again, her judgement proved wise by providing answers to the Ascendancy's questions so quickly. However, she was either a skilled actress or sincerely intimidated by the coincidental encounter.
Godling was perhaps an apt term for young Nox; however, Nikolai found the lack of respect offensive. Michael was no godling; Valdir either. Yet there were souls blessed with powers that paled in comparisons to the mighty for whom Nikolai had no term. Demigods seemed most appropriate, yet he referred to each as ascendants nonetheless. The disdain in Aria's term was condescending. Why did Nox put up with it? She was clearly his leader, yet the affection with which she described Lucas suggested a personal loyalties lay elsewhere. It was only a passing thought.
The gist of her confession lacked specifics. She referred to a handler like he were a superior, and researching him by feeling the remains of a ruined temple. Her fear of dying was clear, as it should be. If Nikolai were not entrusted with moral imperatives, he would have allowed Simon to take his shots and they could join the grave he was soon to exhume.
Finally, a few rays of clarity penetrated her statements. Nikolai pieced the puzzle together the moment she referenced a mission, and the taste of his mouth filled cinderous: ashes of the dead that lined his path to ascension. And it seemed Michael Vellas was poised to join the ranks. Yet Nikolai did not deem a man's acquaintance with a random woman to be grounds for execution - Michael earned more than that - but neither would the admission go dismissed without investigation.
She was hardly the first person to be sent to kill him. Although how the Atharim thought she might succeed when their best spies and assassins failed, Nikolai did not know. "A new approach for the Atharim to send a diminutive woman, although it is impossible for you to have anticipated my presence today. I will accept this encounter as coincidence; however, I am not inclined to leaving Atharim with missions to kill me wandering free in this world."
Nikolai had to consider what to do. Killing each was easiest, as he could not trust the three to walk away unwatched.
Thus, a moment's consideration, and he knew exactly what he was going to do with her, but first, he had work to complete.
"Despite appearances, I am not here for nostalgia. I came for something I buried in this ground long ago. You three will sit and wait while I find it, alive, or you can lay on the ground dead where you will be left behind. If you agree, now is the time to sit, out of reach of one another. I will resume my work and Simon will guard you in the meantime."
He waited for their compliance, or dissent, either way was little difference to him. When men chose death in the face of an alternative, he did not mind dealing it to them.
However, should they sit, he would take the motion as a sign of consent and wrap each with ropes of Essence in which they would be bound until he willed their release.