05-04-2021, 11:53 PM
Their eventual progress allowed some time for Nikolai to process everything. He hated that he underestimated the grotesqueness of this errand. He hated that he had to be reassured by a subordinate, an infant in power and age compared to himself. Yet he accepted Marcus’ statement with an agreeing nod.
Moving away from the site of their first defeat, the remnants of fire and ash faded to the cool humidity of the underground. It was like two competing domains: where light and smoke mixed with the dark and wet. Something about the conflict was both soothing and enraging. He shook his head as if to dislodge the vague déjà vu. He hated being forced into the dealing of death but was simultaneously good at it – as he was at all things. Yet it was a job that was beneath him.
While walking, Nikolai took to lightly probing the underworld with his power. It kept his senses sharp and his eyes aware of their surroundings. He disliked the glasses Nox provided and left them hung folded on the top button of his shirt for now, but would use them if necessary.
The reserves that Nox presented was well-planned. Everything was waiting as intended, although their first skirmish was not. At least they would be better prepared for the next. Jay and the others looked at him as if to suggest their dear leader would be better off safely hovering on the surface: far from harm’s way and far from them.
Nik’s response was swift, his stride sure.
He took the assigned gear and moved aside to change, stripping out of the formal attire in exchange for the tactical. For someone 34, let alone 64 years old, he was in great shape. The daily swimming left him with a narrow waist and the dim light played on the slender lines of muscle.
Moving away from the site of their first defeat, the remnants of fire and ash faded to the cool humidity of the underground. It was like two competing domains: where light and smoke mixed with the dark and wet. Something about the conflict was both soothing and enraging. He shook his head as if to dislodge the vague déjà vu. He hated being forced into the dealing of death but was simultaneously good at it – as he was at all things. Yet it was a job that was beneath him.
While walking, Nikolai took to lightly probing the underworld with his power. It kept his senses sharp and his eyes aware of their surroundings. He disliked the glasses Nox provided and left them hung folded on the top button of his shirt for now, but would use them if necessary.
The reserves that Nox presented was well-planned. Everything was waiting as intended, although their first skirmish was not. At least they would be better prepared for the next. Jay and the others looked at him as if to suggest their dear leader would be better off safely hovering on the surface: far from harm’s way and far from them.
Nik’s response was swift, his stride sure.
He took the assigned gear and moved aside to change, stripping out of the formal attire in exchange for the tactical. For someone 34, let alone 64 years old, he was in great shape. The daily swimming left him with a narrow waist and the dim light played on the slender lines of muscle.