Welcome to Adventu, your final fantasy rp haven. adventu focuses on both canon and original characters from different worlds and timelines that have all been pulled to the world of zephon: a familiar final fantasy-styled land where all adventurers will fight, explore, and make new personal connections.
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year 5, quarter 3
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It was just that. Caius meant what he said. And he had said what he meant. At least, he was pretty sure it was what he meant. He'd been around her so long, more than just about anyone else, that it was difficult to describe what she was to him.
But they had a job to do, and the job came first. Caius took his place in the formation and the group continued on, ignoring Mateus as he would complain about his position in the back. It just meant he wouldn't be there if someone engaged with a frontal assault. Now if they were going for the stealth route... Well, maybe he'd complain less with an arrow up his arse. Or complain more. Probably more. He seemed like the sort of lad that would raise high hell at the most minor of inconveniences.
The cold continued to bother him, but he was better bundled than Celes and he was more concerned that she was going to freeze in this weather. Her arms and her legs were both exposed for the most part, and while Caius didn't see anything wrong with that or really give any attention to it of the kind that she would hate, he was unsure of it's practicality in this weather. While it most likely allowed for better flowing movement on Celes' side, the cold would likely balance out any benefit from that with the discomfort of the cold, possibly even to the point it wasn't worth it.
But Celes had assured him earlier that her powers would keep her warm enough that she wouldn't freeze to death or have the cold be a serious hindrance to their progress. He supposed he'd just have to take her word for it.
When it came to the chiming, Caius would unzip his jacket a bit to let Vordun poke his head out after he'd begun shifting about. Mateus would break formation, and decided to head off on his own. Shrugging his shoulders, Caius looked to Celes and then followed suit. Mateus would stop the chiming, but it didn't take long for them to realize they had company. Their company though, didn't appear to be harmful in nature. At least, not at the moment. Mateus immediately wanting to get into the formation that he was biting about earlier made Caius chuckle a bit in amusement.
"Oh, you don't want to go first in case the big guy suddenly has a problem with us?" Caius would tease in turn, but otherwise with another shrug would take the lead. Most likely, the one leading them wouldn't attack, but Caius wasn't intending to take any chances either. Celes seemed to echo his sentiments, caves tended to be dens for beasts. One couldn't be too careful within them. And there was always the chance one would try to catch them from behind.
They would be led to... Well... Caius didn't know what to think when the cave walls expanded out and they were met with what seemed to be a large cave village. It was... Breathtaking, to be quite honest. He couldn't help but stare at it until Celes would break the silence, urging them to get to the elixir then find a place to stay so they could get back to work.
"Aye, we'd best hurry" Caius would agree. He sort of wanted to explore but... It wasn't like this place was going anywhere, was it?
"Should we ask for directions or anything? Or just try our luck?"
Matues fell to the back of their procession as they followed the hooded figure into the tunnels of the mountain. The man quipped about something, but Mateus was more unsettled by the fact that Celes had seemed to compliment him, and not even backhandedly at that. His lips pursed and his eyes narrowed as he shot her back a look as he marched behind her trying to figure out what game she was playing or if this was a joke between her and Caius. He highly doubted that she would ever give him his well deserved praise sincerely when she hadn't been able to do so before. Still, he said nothing perhaps she was finally seeing what an asset he could be, and the momentary silence was a blessing in and of itself.
The wound their way down a rather straight forward path deeper into the mountain much unlike the twisting labyrinth he and Celes had escaped from last time they had braved its depths. Mateus did his best to keep one eye over his shoulder making sure that their threesome did not turn into an assault from a hidden passage that they may have walked past and missed. Fortunately they were not jumped as they rounded the last bend and came across the village proper.
"It certainly is here," Mateus responded as Celes wowed him with her blunt statement. The rows of stone huts and tents seemed to be alive with the smoke and makeshift lights inside them but something felt off as he stared across the village into the wide open ended sky and sheer drop. "Before we rush to our deaths," he said calmly peering up towards the lines of the huts near the top of the cavern. He had invaded too many towns to not be wary of signs of life but no people. "Where is anyone? I'd say they probably aren't accustomed to visitors so why is no one out and about?. Are they hiding in fear or in ambush?"
Mateus hmmed to himself as he put a finger to his chin in thought. If he had designed a city and didn't want visitors what would he have built? He turned away from the other searching for something to taste his theory. Approaching a pile of stone in front of them, Mateus plucked one from the pile of a significant weight and lumbered it over to the staircase where he promptly dropped it on the first step. As the stone hit the stair, it sank and a slit in the wall opened almost instantly as a spear shot at where one of their ankles would have been. "Well, there lies our answer," Mateus called waving the other two over to see just what traps may lie in wait. "If you think it could be a trap, it will be. The real art is making just enough false alarms to lull one into unease."
Use your own eyes, and see for yourself which side I'm on.
It was the emperor who once again spoke up with a good idea. He pointed out that the cave was oddly quiet and not a single villager was to be seen. In her awe of the cave as a whole, she was ashamed to say she hadn’t noticed -- at least not at first. Celes looked to him in begrudging interest. It seemed they both had experience laying siege to cities.
The man looked thoughtful for a moment before picking up the heaviest stone he could find and dropping it down the stairs. As soon as its pressure hit the top step, the wall in front of them opened and a spear jutted out in a deadly strike. Celes felt her mouth drop open. No matter what caution she’d taken, she wouldn’t have thought to check for traps.
”You...How did you know?” For once, she looked to him with something like respect. ”I’ve never seen anything like this, and I used to deal with capturing cities and rebels.” It wasn’t a proud part of her history, but it seemed the most relevant. ”That was smart.” She hesitated before adding, ”Thanks.”
How far would he gloat at a single instance of praise? Undoubtedly he’d think this proof that he was better than her. The idea made her bristle all over again.
Celes turned to consider the village. They didn’t want to be found -- that was obvious from the village’s location -- but she hadn’t realized the full extent of their hostility towards outsiders. Had the black-cloaked figure merely been leading them to their deaths? It was impossible to say.
She glanced to Caius. ”I don’t like it, but we might have to use force if necessary. We shouldn’t go in swords swinging, but if they make it a fight…” She bit her tongue. She was invading their space. It felt wrong, and yet that elixir was too valuable to leave behind. She’d do what had to be done.
”So we know what to look for,” she said. ”The next question is how to avoid it.” She scanned everything from the stairs to the landing to the quiet tents beyond. ”If they’re using pressure plates, I could cast float to avoid touching them. I also know how to make you invisible, though that carries its own problems.”
She smirked wryly. She’d learned Vanish not through magicite, but by the magic that chilled her blood. For some reason, the spell had never quite worked properly, but it at least did its job. It was at least worthwhile to consider if they hoped to avoid combat altogether.
She looked to them for agreement, and once achieving any sort of it, she clasped her hands together and muttered the incantations. As soon as the float hit her, she rose in a familiar hover over the ground. It was always hard to control her motion, but at least they wouldn’t trigger any similar traps this way.
Once they were all defying gravity and invisible, she turned to where she thought they were. ”We’ll meet here once we’re done. The magic shouldn’t last long, but I can dispel it if I need to. We should get the elixir and get out as fast as possible. We don’t need to turn this violent.”
It took him awhile but it appeared that Mateus was beginning to prove useful instead of being just a loudmouthed liability. It was he who had first noticed that there was no villagers around whatsoever, which was strange considering that this was an isolated cave city. There should be no lack of people, as it was unlikely that many of them traversed outside of it by what Caius guessed. It should be bustling right now... Which indicated to Caius that they knew they were coming. But it was also then Mateus who would then discover the trap on the staircase, dropping a stone on it and watching the trap activate. Caius quirked a brow, but he wasn't overly surprised either. Something had been off about this whole thing, and now it was very much clear that they were expected - and likely about to potentially deal with a fight. He supposed it was pretty clear now just why nobody had been able to get the cure before now.
Celes and Mateus were going back and forth on the matter, and while Caius made a mental note or so on a few things - including...
- The resourcefulness of their ally - The likelihood that they would hear his boasting for some time on the matter - Ponderings on if the hostility would cease now that each were presently pulling their weight
... Caius was less focused on the social cultures of the matter, and more focused on how they were going to proceed. It was clear to Caius that this cloaked figure they had been following had very well been attempting to lead them to their deaths. There was zero social contact whatsoever. No attempt to even turn them away. They simply led them there, silently, emotionlessly... It was very likely they were merciless, potentially even cruel. Sadistic was a likely trait to expect from them. Sociopathic was a for sure thing if they didn't even attempt another method, or try to handle things peacefully. They wanted them dead. That was clear to Caius. They could not trust these people. That was clear to him.
Celes would ask him a few questions, and he pondered it a moment. "I don't like the idea of harming people that are likely just protecting their village. But it's very likely they're not going to leave us any choice" He would point out. "They've already attempted to kill us once without any attempt whatsoever of a more peaceful resolution. I would still prefer to be non-lethal if it comes to it, but I'd still prepare for anything.
Giving his silent agreement to Celes' plan, Caius would watch as his feet would leave the ground. Making a note of the meeting point, he looked down at himself to see his body had disappeared, his hands and feet included. He needed a moment to control his motions, but he was likely a bit more used to mid-air movement than Celes or Mateus considering his fighting style. Finding his centre of gravity, Caius would mutter "Boo" to nobody in particular, perhaps hoping to get even the slightest of smirks from Celes as he would make his way up the stairs. Or well, float above them anyway.
Matues felt a haughty smile stretch across his face as he was finally was given the credit and praised he deserved. If it weren't for him, the would have found themselves ambushed at best, and at worst with a spike driven straight through their shins. The satisfaction of imagining the headstrong weakened by something so easily avoidable was enough for him to wave a disinterested hand at her thanks even though it felt like something she should have been doing since their first meeting. Thankfully, the man remained quiet and observant rather than say something else smart to soil Mateus' good mood.
"Do as you wish," he said turning his back to their conversation of reluctant violence. If these people wanted to keep their secret and had no qualms with killing to protect, then Mateus had no qualms killing right back if need be. Still something about the idea prickled in his chest, and he pursed his lips at the odd feeling. If he was able to get this elixir back to the city perhaps the stone of guilt sitting in his stomach would finally dissolve. To save many lives for the one he hadn't seemed to be able to. Lost in thought, Mateus didn't really realize he had begun to float until he turned to demand they start searching and felt his body sliding forward involuntarily.
"What?" he said concerned as he swayed forward to catch his balance only hearing their voices instead of seeing them. He was going to complain that he hadn't meant for his statement to mean this, but she was right it was time to act and get out. He looked up at the highest level of the village eyeing to see if he could see any archers trying to take aim at them but saw none. He hmmed as he too began to work his body up the stairs only to run into one of them. Mateus let out a a sound of disgust as he pushed away from them causing him to be propelled forward as a result. Not being able to brake, Mateus floated straight through the opening of a hut. Expecting an altercation, Mateus lifted his hand to conjure magic, but was surprised to find no one in the home.
"They've congregated somewhere I'd gather," he mused as he started to get the hand of it not knowing if he was talking to them or to the emptiness around him. "Let us go to the top of the village. I'd dare say with their traps that's where they'd think themselves most protected." Mateus began floating towards the next set of stairs tutting all the while. This was damnedest sensation, and he wondered how long it would sustain before it'd drop them all into a pit or trap.
