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year 5, quarter 3
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Her worry continued to increase, a flicker of flame in her hands as she looked around desperately. If Lumina had come to serious harm helping her... that wouldn't be fair at all! It was only thanks to her she had been able to break through and get what she needed for those villagers. Eyes looked from tree to tree and saw nothing, atop the massive head... still nothing. Strange feelings gripped her, that fire in her palm grew.
"I...
Until... she heard it, the familiar voice of the partner, the friend who had helped her through this. And in an instant the flame was brushed away. Worry turned to a light smile. relief flooded her systems. Cuore wasn't a girl who understood emotions all to well, nor could she express them the best. But she knew this one, the feeling that Lumina was ok. The hurt she would have felt if anything had happened to her. She knew one of those she liked, and the other she wanted do without. She knew which one was preferable by what she had been willing to do to find her new friend.
"Your.... ok.. I'm... glad"
Hands pressed together, her smile growing a bit more. Some progress was better than none right? That expression wasn't nearly as mechanical as they usually were, more natural. *progress*
Even if right now her priority wasn't progress she couldn't help but note it. Such a flashy though, clearly this washer style. She was a radiant type of person it seemed. Perhaps she couldn't help but shine, whether she wanted to or not-though it certainly seemed to be a preference of hers. But still she frowned a bit as well upon getting a closer look.
"I'm glad your ok but.... your outfit, it is ruined... I'm sorry"
She nodded, affirming Lumina's statement.
"Correct, I only need to bring these herbs back to the villagers now, what did you want to discuss Miss Lumina?"
Where would she go? That... wasn't something she was sure of.
"Aside from that village I don't have anywhere to go, I have not.... had much of a path sense waking up here. Mother isn't around... Dad isn't ether... they usually help me... know what to do, I'm not sure. I don't really... think like normal people do Miss Lumina, I'm not sure what would be the thing to do is... I can say that your right, the jungle isn't safe. but beyond that I... don't know. I can't just go back home, I tried to see if I could. So... I don't know, Your right, my Summoning is exhausted right now. What to do.... I can't see a firm path"
It was something, the trapping of a logical mind, also trapped with the mentality of a child, Cuore had both. Perhaps would see that as a blessing, but when it came to Cuore's situation? No, two hard things didn't make a happy thing, or a good thing. It meant Cuore was missing parts from both. She didn't have enough maturity to go with the logic that was so natural to her. nor enough... 'humanity' enough of the sense of what a person just was to go with her childishness. She was playing with both aspects weighing her down.
With the knowledge that in the end, Miss Lumina aside, she just wasn't like other people.
Then came her offer, and Cuore tilted her head, eyes showing surprise.
"A job... a place to stay...? Your offering to let me... come with you Miss Lumina?"
A stray tear or two came from the girl's eyes, and Cuore rubbed them away in confused, staring at the wetness as she did so, trying to understand what that was for.
"I think... that that would be... nice... you've done a lot for me, I'm happy to help... and to help you, Miss Lumina. I accept... it is... very kind of you. This place, for me... is it far from here? Will we ride your dragon there?"
One could see a bit of light in her eyes, a twinging of her mouth. Oh, was that a bit of excitement showing? Why yes it was-Cuore shared her mom's love of Summons. The idea of riding a dragon left her as starstruck as someone like her could express!
She stood up to her tippy toes, and took Lumina's hand, shaking her head.
"No further thought required for this... I will come, I will assist-your offering me a place, a safe place and that... that is something I shouldn't, and don't want to refuse... thank you. I want to drop these off... and we can go"
Just hold my hand and everything will be fine, ok?
For a moment it felt like she could see her mom on Lumina, that same smile she was so used to, before the form faded away-revealing Lumina once more. But the child wasn't sad. No... it only made her decision more firm.
"Ok Miss Lumina... your a good friend, you remind me of my mom.... I'll be good for you, and I'll help you to"
And so it was one journey ended and another would begin, Cuore had found a new friend-as had Lumina. Both similar in what they were, so very different from other people. Cuore, even if she couldn't express it the best was so very grateful for Lumina. She knew she wanted to help her, with whatever she needed! She was giving her so much... it was the least she could do for such a kind person.
Such a kind, motherly, protective and kind person....
That was how the little Maenad felt. It was heart to explain the feeling it gave in her chest. She knew what it was meant for, mother had explained. Believing in someone.... There were many ways to it, but the way Miss Lumina meant was that... she knew she could reach her goal. She believed she could get through this and reach the herbs. It felt nice and made a sense of determination well up inside her. They just needed one last, final push. She wouldn't be able to maintain Fenrir's summoning for much longer, not with mother’s technique anyway-and she refused to use the method of her ‘sisters’
No she’d need to break through, Lumina made a spectacle worthy of her Uncle Cecil as she crashed down to the earth, she was worried for a moment-but the woman resurfaced atop a creatures head, she gave a grin in response to Lumina, both her actions and her earlier words.
”Thank you! I’ll be fast! Fenrir!”
The focus was on Lumina and her dragon, and that let Cuore dash forward on her summon’s back. It was close now, she was approaching the clearing where the herbs would be. Only one monster, a large plant creature brought itself up to block her way. The last one that didn't go after Lumina and her dragon, the last one blocking her way forward, it tried to charge her, it was quick- but she managed to chunk to spells down its throat, Fira And Blizzara gave it quite a tummy ache! A Thundra after made it stumble… and then finally.
”One more… just one last small charge… go…!”
Fenrir charged forth and with the last of the energy remaining in it’s summon it ripped through the plant like a raging wind, it shredded and it fell just as Fenrir dispersed into energy immidley after, the last of it’s time spent for now, It would be a while before Cuore could summon it forth again. More so with the amount of energy she had used even outside of it’s summon. But she appreciated his help, and she approached Lumina’s there help was the reason she now stood before what looking for, the herbs the village needed.
She smiled, taking a small bag from her side and carefully picking them-only the amount she needed of course. There was no reason to take more than was needed for her goal, and besides she wasn’t a big jerk that wanted to mess up there growth.
When she had gathered what she needed, preserved them with her magic, and put them away she ran back to the entrance to the clearing, now looking around for Lumina. She hoped she was ok… She had every intention of helping her if she wasn’t, her and the nice dragon-even if her own energy as exhausted at this point. She put to hands to beside her mouth to project her voice and called out.
”Miss Lumina we can go! Are you ok? Miss Lumina!”
Should she start a fire? That would certainly scare the monsters… but it would also burn down this place, the home and all the nice plants…. But Miss Lumina was important to…. Come on… Miss Lumina…
They fought. What they fought for was something she understood yet didn't. It was flawed and yet... it made her heart feel warm. They fought for an uncertain. They fought for something they could never know the end result of. It was illogical, it was flawed.
Yet... shew was glad they did. She wouldn't be with mother if they hadn't. And as odd as there world, as much as she could see the errors... she did like living there with her mom and dad. Now, in this new world... she didn't know, but she knew that if she was with her mother it was ok.
If she was not...
......
She didn't know, and she didn't want to think about it.
Here stood two dolls that had found new life, new purpose… but still struggled to find there place within it, to truly understand it.
She decided to focus on the fight before her, that was what needed to be done.
Lumina's dragon was a force that drew the attention of a lot of the creatures, some were brought down, some fled… some even tried to come towards the beast itself in an attempt to survive and bring it down, following the taunts of the pink haired girl. In any case it would allow Cuore herself a more straightforward run to herbs she was after. The only thing in her way in fact was now the plant-like creatures. Fenrir’s agility meant that with these being the only worry for them they were able to out pace a lot of them, Cuore’s shooting fire magic as they passed to keep them back so they could approach their target. Unfortunately one of these plant monsters was able to take them by surprise leaping upon Cuore and attempting to knock her off her ride. Cuore yelped in surprise. Holding it back with her rod as Fenrir growled. The Summon was clearly prepared to cease their advancement and rip the creature off her. There might have been some concern by her partner in all this as well if she was able to see her position.
However Cuore had a quick mind, as well as a determined spirit. She had no intention of stopping now for this creature that was getting in her way. It was messing with mission she needed to complete for her moms friends. This mission to prove herself to the village. No, she would not allow it to be ruined or sullied!
Cuore Was not a physically imposing figure, But she did have more power in her hands than one might assume. It wasn’t anything to the point she could brawl with her opponents like Ursula or Yang of course. But what she COULD do was hold that monster in place while it did something else.
And so just as Fenrir was about to halt Cuore would stop him.
”Fenrir… continue please… I will stop it, this opening…. I will not waste it”
Cuore looked almost pleading down at her Summon as the monster snapped around between them. The wolf pouted, but nodded, speeding its way towards the herbs.
And then came Cuore’s plan. As the being’s lash like vines pelted her Cuore focused, holding the monster in please. Focusing on getting through this. Her mother, her father and all their friends had been through much worse than this. She was their child, she would make them proud. She would cut down any foe between her and her goal.
Even if that meant draining the life right out of them.
That was where the magic came in, to be specific the Drain spell. She held the beast firm as the magic came from her, draining the creature's energy at first. It wouldn't be long before the creature and it had swapped roles with it now trying to squirm out-but Cuore had just enough force to keep it from breaking free from her.
”No…. You are gone, bye”
Cold, and efficient. Though it would continue to struggle Cuore would not let go, and eventually its movements would stop. It was only then the young summoner let go, and allowed the fallen monster to tumble off of Fenrir’s speeding body. It would likely be quite the sight for Lumina if she had been watching, perhaps even stirring the thoughts in her head.
She then looked back, gave a smile up to Lumina.... and began dashing towards there goal in earnest.
During their trip Cuore learned first hand what her mother meant by Leviathan’s differences here. The Sylph’s were different to a degree, sure, but that wasn’t as… harsh as this. Summoning the Sylph’s was summoning a group of people, you weren't always summoning the same fairies when you did so. As a result differences were harder to notice, had less of an impact even as confusing as it can be. It was different with her grandfather, errr… the person that looked like her grandfather that is. That was one being, her mother was not summoning others from a group each time. As a result the difference in personality was much more noticeable, more so when that person is considered your father figure-Or your Grandfather, as Cuore herself noticed as well This Leviathan was not rude, or mean… in fact he was similar to her actual grandfather but… it was different, there was an emptiness. That they were similar somehow formed a worse ache inside her. It confused her, familiarity should be good right? Yet… it only made the differences worse, the fact it wasn’t him worse. Was this how her mother felt? Was this strange pain what she was talking about? Part of her wanted more information on it, to understand it better so she knew what this meant. The easiest way to get that information would be to ask her mom about it but… no, that seemed… wrong, something in her said it would be wrong to prod mother about that information, at least right now. Would she make the ache worse? She didn’t know, but she knew she needed to follow that feeling, so she did not keep asking, maybe she would later but right now…. It would be wrong. So she put it in the back of her head, as the strange, confusing feeling it was.
Mother didn’t have much more information than her on the people of Torensten’s resilience.From what she could tell it was the normal way some humans were. Some were as fragile as glass, others were seemingly unbreakable under even the greatest pressure when pushed far enough. Like Uncle Cecil and his friends. Mother was like this too, in her own way. Protecting her, protecting her friends. She wanted to be like that to. To be able to protect her mother and… anyone she cared about. She wanted to be like the people of Torensten. Like Uncle Cecil and Papa Edge, like her mother. She was sure, that was the right thing, a proper path.
She just had to figure out HOW to do things.like that, she wasn’t sure on that part of things. She wanted to learn how, so she could be more useful to her mother, so that she could get rid of any of the bad things that bothered her, completely!
Cuore enjoyed the time she was having with her mother, traveling with her, going to the various attractions. Though Cuore was eager to meet the summoner, she was enjoying this time with her mother, being able to spend time with her again was amazing! Provo was much more… excitable than their previous location, and its people suffered through a rough time they had been through recently. She took her mother’s words to heart as they continued looking around. She explained to her that most people didn’t have magic, that she herself couldn't even use white magic anymore. Right, they were different, she forgot that sometimes. As a Maenad she didn’t have these issues. She had access to white and black magic, as well as summoning, even if her skills in those fields paled in comparison to her mother’s.Human’s did not share this ability with her kind. As she took hold of her mom’s hand her decision had been made:yes, she wanted to help.
”Yes mama! One person shouldn't do the whole town herself… her energy would prove inefficient and…. People could suffer in the meantime… I’ll help mom, let's go!”
So they made their approach, and on her mom’s word they waited for the person to be done with what they were currently doing before approaching them. It seemed mother was still having trouble with the fact she was her daughter. Cuore knew there was no malice here, but it still… caused an ache similar to what Grandpa made her feel, perhaps a bit worse if she thought about it. These feelings… .he didn’t like them, she wanted them to go away. Maybe if she focused on what she wanted to do here it would just leave her, right! She wanted to use her magic to help this woman, to help these people! That was what mattered here, that was what she wanted to do, yes! She offered to the older woman a smile, and a light bow of respect.
”Hi I’m…. Cuore I can help put them back together, like mom said with my white magic, I’m happy to help, if thats ok”
The other woman hesitated as well, Cuore was unsure why more magic would only benefit her right? Maybe this was just one of those ‘adult’ things she’d understand when she was older, because right now it only seemed silly to her. Regardless the lady was nice, so perhaps this was just her worrying too much like mother did at times. She smiled , nodding her head.
”You don’t have to thank me, I want to help, people being hurt is bad. It’s a sad thing that makes everyone worse, so I want to help, it’s better when people smile”
Yuna leaned down towards her, her words causing a light frown. Been through a lot… was that the normal way of things? She would look to her mom for understanding, but with her current memory issues she wasn’t an expert on her origin as she once was. She had told her mother what she was, but not what that entailed. The Maenid’s appearance and skills were based on Ryda’s own. While she, for some reason was not created with the same level of skill as her sisters, those skills did come naturally to her. She was born with these powers, though she did strive to improve in them, she had not as Yuna put it ‘been through a lot’ at least, not when it came to those skills themselves.
Still, it was nice of her to treat her like this, and she coudn’t expect every human to know her life story. So the frown became a smile, and she nodded.
”I’ve trained my magic a lot! I am not a master of White Magic… but I think I know enough to help, I want to help these people, they shouldn't hurt like this, people hurting like this… is wrong, I want to help make it go away”
The younger girl smiled, nodding at Yuna’s introduction. She seemed like a kind person, kind like her mom.
”It’s nice to meet you miss Yuna, please show me to anyone who needs help”
She wasn’t sure why she got a bow, curious. But… as to admitting they were offworlders Cuore looked to her mom for instruction, for what to do on that front. She was unsure of whether it was fine to to reveal such a thing or not right now. She would deter to her thoughts and follow as needed! Mother knew best after all right?
Cuore was enjoying the time she got to spend with her mother once more. She had started to worry she wouldn't be able to find her in this world they found themselves in. It was truly wonderful that she had… even if her mother was having memory issues at present. It was ironic, she still treated her the same.. She was just confused about things. She had been worried, but Cuore had no such concerns. Did she wish her mother could fully remember her? Of course, but it wasn’t as if she abandoned her due to her memory issues, they would simply need to forge new memories together now to fill in the gaps she had within hers, that was all. Such memories like what they were doing now on this trip. After making sure her mother’s friend was going to be ok. Her friend was confused at the time to naturally, which had made the young maenad giggle, it was a funny situation wasn’t it? She did look just like a child version of her mother after all.
Once her friend was recovered, they began planning for the trip they had thought about before, they would be heading towards a place called Provo, to meet another summoner that resided there. Cuore herself was interested to learn about this person. Did their summoning differ from their own? Was she from this world, or from her own as well? Mother had mentioned her ability to summon a woman made of ice, Cuore wanted to know what she was like as well…. It was all so interesting to her!
This trip had started by leaving the village itself, at least for now and going back through the forest. Aside from engaging the occasional monsters they luckily hadn’t had to deal with anything too dangerous yet. From there the pair had made their way to Torensten. Torensten had caused a sparkle in Cuore’s eyes. It wasn’t as big as the moon, but it was far more so than the Mist village she was used which only grabbed her interest more. A port city is what it was, apparently. Interesting to her was how much attention it seemed the place got. It was large of course but she more meant by… people in the situation they were in. Whether that be the bad guys! Or the good guys a lot seemed to funnel here from what she heard in their travels. It was impressive that they kept getting up after constantly being put down, most places didn’t come back from one razing, let alone several! The ingenuity the place showed marveled Cuore.
”How do they keep getting back up mama? Are they that durable? Why don’t they just leave, is it home like Mist is for us? Like the Feymarch?”
Had been questions she asked while they traveled, watching the sites. She asked with that samed bright eyed curiosity so typical of her, A reminder that despite how advanced the child was in several ways due to her origin, she was still just that:a child. Perhaps even more due to her origin there were just things that confused her greatly. People were complex! It was hard for her to understand why they kept coming back to a place that kept getting attacked, even devastated at times. Hopefully mother could clear it up for her.
In any case their travels continued! After considerably more traveling they would find themselves coming to their destination, passing by several farms at caught Cuore’s curious eye, the girl playfully pointing out the different animals on the farms as they went by. A few times she would try to go up to them, even try to ride them… Rydia probably had to stop the ladder if the farmers wearn’t ok with it! In the end however they would make it to where they needed to be.. Provo itself!
It was so huge! There was so much here! It both stoked her curiosity and her worry. How were they going to find the summoner person in all this?! Cuore turned to her mother, tugging on her dress a bit with a frown.
”Mama, where do we look for the ice lady summoner? Do you know what they look like? Do we wait for them to summon?”
The eagerness in Cuore’s voice was clear, she was clearly excited to meet this person, she had been for the entire trip! What would they be like, what was their summoning like? Were they nice like mama? She wanted to know everything!
It seemed that this place was going through a rough time however, it seemed some kind of natural disaster, a very powerful storm had come through. Though things were recovering, many were also having to be treated. The People themselves, naturally were still reeling from such a storm. Cuore frowned, looking up to Rydia once more.
”Why don’t they just heal themselves? Do we need to?”
It seemed obvious to her, just cast Cure! After all, it was that simple right? Cast Cure and feel all better! Of course it wasn’t as simple as that, but kids were kids right? Even other wordly origin kids!
”Oooh ooh! Like her! She's doing it right!”
Cuore tugged on her mom’s sleeve, eagerly pointing the direction of a brown haired girl in the distance.
Well the person was more than a healer, but Cuore didn’t know that of course.
”She should teach them so they can heal themselves, then they don’t have to worry right? Isn’t that more efficient mama, oh we should tell her let’s go”
Oh, Oh she was pulling on Rydia’s sleeve, trying to guide her towards the woman’s location with such eagerness…..
”It is… an odd event, to be sure… Why did you arrive with memory issues, and I did not? Or have I and I simply don’t know..? No.. there would be errors. I do not understand what or who did this… but I don’t like them”
Arms crossed she gave a childish huff at the thought. Messing with her mother, making her forget important things…. She wanted to burn them up! Freeze them! Float them into a boulder! Cuore did not like whoever had done this incredibly mean, and her mind ran through in quick succession all the things she wished to use to give them pay back.
Maybe if she could get Uncle Cecil to let her use their whale she could strand them on the moon, that would show them! …wait, no, the whale probably wasn’t here was it? Drat!
”You have the strongest memories with them,or.. Spent the longest time right? Maybe those memories stayed cause of how strong they are. You… didn’t know me as long, and I don’t THINK you did Mr.Edge and the others that long, right?”
Cuore at first perked up when Rydia mentioned being able to summon Leviathan, but that smile quickly turned to a frown as she finished. It looked just like him, moved and fought like him-but it wasn’t him. He was a different person in how he acted and who he was. Why? Did their summoning power draw from this world instead?
”It’s the same for the Sylph’s to… They offered me help when I came here. I thought at first it was just a different group of them that didn’t know me but… That’s not the case is it? Our Summonings so weird here…. I appreciate their help but… it feels so off, different”
She had worried she might be Summoning as the other Maenads had without thinking, control rather than kinship. But Fenrir and the Sylph’s still communicated properly, they could still express themselves to her. It meant she was summoning right, she was just summoning different beings. It bothered mother, that much was clear to the young Cuore. It bothered her to but…. The Eidolons WERE her Mother’s family, more than anything else. For her this must be a blow to her very heart, to summon what looks like her father and it… not be him. Cuore offered her small hands to Rydia. She couldn't do much but give a smile of understanding, but perhaps that could do something-knowing their was someone else who understand that pain, even if to different levels.
Cuore chirped up at the thought of being able to ‘teach’ her mother, a reverse of how things normally were. She could fill in the blanks! This time she could be the one to help her. Yes… she liked that. And even more than that she was offered the chance to learn about the other Eidolons of this world. So far she only knew of Fenrir and the Sylph’s… Leviathan to now thanks to what her mom had told her. Her eyes sparkled as she could barley could contain her excitement at the news, resulting in the small child buzzing with that excitement she felt, rocking back and forth.
”Really mom? You mean it? There's even more? I want to meet them all! And.. I’ll hlep you along the way to, I’ll tell you all I know! …..oh oh, what if there's a giant like mr titan? OR OR an old sage type like mr. ramuh?? I can’t wait!”
The girl’s excitement clear, her energy perhaps infectious. Doing this, and more so doing it at her mothers side was like a dream, it was something she adored the thought of! Could they go now? Yes! …Oh no, village first, other fun things needed to wait, her mother's friend was important.
On that subject it seemed she had done correctly! Good, this would be the most effective way to bring her back, without risking more harm coming to her. All they needed to do now was find the most effective way back to mother’s village, she was sure she would know how.
”Perfect!”
Her mother agreed with her use of magic, adding that you did sometimes have to use it to harmbad people and things. Of course, remove what's mad! Bad things only hurt after all, hurt her or what she cared about, they shouldn’t stay around in any capacity. She wanted to grow enough that bad things couldn't dare to hurt the things she cared about, what she treasured. So that when they tried she could just bolt them into the ground!
”Right! I’ll get strong enough mama, I want to, so that i can make anyone who tries to hurt us disappear!”
A confused head tilt came next. Mother thought her name was beautiful? Well, no she would hope she’d like it, she gave it to her, even if she didn’t remember doing so. Yet, she still felt a warmth at the complement despite her confusion. It felt nice to be told her name was thus. On the subject of help. Going over things in her mind Cuore was pretty sure she’d be fine. She had enough energy still for the trip, she shouldn't be completely exhausted before they got to their destination. Still, another thought came to mind-going back and forth with mom would be great bonding time! …Was that selfish though? Did it count as playing with her mom’s friend? She didn’t want to disrespect her like that. But…. mmmm….. No she was sure it would be fine!
”We can take turns! And… thank you mom. I’m glad you still like my name… please, lead the way. I promise I will follow your every move to our destination!”
The young Maenad followed on her mother’s heel, as she did Cuore also kept a close eye to her surroundings, it wouldn't due to be unprepared for any ambush after all, more so with already carrying a wounded party. It seemed they didn’t have a long journey to their target, but none the less it was better to avoid harm if they could. Along the way she would switch care of Rhen between her and her mother as needed, even if… she knew she probably didn’t need to.
There was something else she would need? Something besides what she was presented already? Cuore couldn't help but wonder what such a thing could be. Was it something she needed inside her? Or something she needed mentally? She had no idea, and she couldn't discern it from the grin her new ally was giving ether. She could only make out a distinct interest in that ‘something’ when it came to giving it to her, but she couldn't place the ‘why’ by any means.
Perhaps a normal person could have?
”That is… welcomed, more the reason to do well here”
Artificial being she may be, she still had that glow of childness mixed in with everything else. Along with that, a want to prove herself, brought up by Lumina’s offer of rewarding her for their work-it gave her a want even more to perform her best on this. Now safely atop Fenrir she turned to the direction the woman pointed out. Indeed the rainbow-like creatures were where she pointed, putting Cuore on alert. They were being cautious now in the face of Fenrir and the Storm Dragon, but that didn’t mean they should be underestimated. Cornered beings were just as dangerous, it was when they could fight back the hardest.
Her maker had learned such a thing first hand, she had no wish to follow suit due to foolishness.
”That is correct, we have an advantage right now, but we shouldn't underestimate them. Being cornered is dangerous… for both sides”
She nodded, her focus was upon their target now, to finish her mission and retrieve what needed to be.This showed her nature more, though it had already been made clear at this point. Part curious child, daughter of Rydia, part artificial being confused at the world, wanting to understand it. And then, that part that put a cold hand forward to complete her mission, even if it meant tearing through other living beings in the process.
She was a complicated circuit, but for her it just ‘clicked’
”Understood, yes we will handle the ground, we will break through”
Their herbs would be further in, closer to the feeding grounds, her goal was to obtain them. If that meant striking down the creatures in her way… so be it.
Lumina took to the skies, the booming surge of the dragon scared off various creatures, they scattered, they flew-and Cuore ran right through the opening that left. It was a useless practice to target those that kept fleeing, a waste of resources, of her energy. But indeed such actions did have their consequences. While the more easily frightened monsters would flee, the stronger would stay in protection of their territory, of what was theirs. Lucky for Lumina most of these weren't of the flying variety. For Cuore’s side however, as she kept riding atop her companion through the woods those stronger beings sought to strike her down in protection of what was hers. But Fenrir was as the wind, and swift as such. They were not dealing with the likes of giants, of behemoths or dragons, but the creatures were fierce none the less, fueled as the wre to kick these intruders from their home. But focused to were those very intruders. As a plant creature struck out it met the tip of a Fira spell to burn it away. If Lumina were to observe from the skies this is what she would see. This child effectively, if coldy selecting her spells to push her targets back, of course with the aid of Lumina and her own companion in the sky helping them on her way. With Fenrir’s wind at her back she had managed to escape harm, at least for now, and with Lumina’s support she was attempting to push towards the center, where the herbs would be, but so too, would the epicenter of the monsters grounds be as well..
Not difficult to acquire, was that… so? Did she mean in a literal sense, or a figurative one? She assumed a figurative sense. As the literal meant quite a bit more savagery, and from what she could assess would not solve her overarching problem. Yes, figurative made the, all the more as Lumina filled in more information. She claimed that a heart formed in absence, that is to say in the absence of where one should be. All it would need was time. If what Lumina claimed was true all she had to do was continue to wait, continue to do what she was already doing, and one would form. It seemed to that the right nutrition was required, things like the right to make a heart bloom within her. So…. emotional connections correct? Or at least that was what she could surmise by the way she worded things. She needed to form more bonds, grow… bit by bit, that was how she would get a heart it seemed.
Then that… was what she would do.
”I…. Understand, then that is what I will do, I want to be like that… This is where i thank you, thank you… for the advice”
She was still operating more like a system, more of a machine, but she was getting better day by day… if lumina was right, she wanted to believe she was. She put a hand to her face in thought of what she had said. Blossom… that was what she wanted her heart to do.
For now though, she would need to turn her focus to the herbs. They were the pressing and immediate objective, the thing she needed to return to the village. Though it seemed Lumina wasn’t the best when it came to blows. Cuore was the same, at least physically.. She could use her magic well enough, and she had to Summons who had chosen to aid her in this world. If it came to it she was sure she could get by.
”Violence is not preferred but… the beings here are dangerous, I’m not sure… if we can avoid it. But if we do have to… I have allies to, like mr Storm Dragon is for you, I’ll rely on you sir”
She gave that light smile once more, a lot like her mother, perhaps it was just easier for her to talk to Summons, or beings similar to such, given her connection to them. Focusing her energy a swirl of energy would bring the wolf shaped being known as Fenrir to her side, who upon his summon immediately began looking both the dragon and Lumina from head to toe, keeping a protective presence in front of Cuore. It did not however speak,prefering a more silent approach to things.
”It’s ok Fenrir… their friends, I need your help ok? We need herbs for the village”
Fenrir, naturally kept staring at the duo as Cuore talked, eventually relenting, closing its eyes and turning around, nodding. Cuore herself would climb on to it’s back, making her ability to search all the easier as she to began looking around.
”Oh miss Lumina, you should remember the dangerous beings around here are easy to spot, there of a rainbow like color… so that’s the main threat we have to watch… for”
Lumina seemed more than interested in the summonings she spoke of, more than that she claimed they fit her well. They were ‘right up her alley’ as she said. Of course that did make sense with how tolerant she seemed of monsters in general. This was…. Interesting to see to say the least. It was different. From what she had seen monsters were generally considered violent, to be struck down. But this Lumina seemed to like them as much as anything else.
Is that… so?”
Of course that didn’t mean she would also be tolerant of her. Monsters were still a natural thing. She… was not. Mother and her friends accepted her, but that did not mean others would, right? Logically it made sense, even if logically it also made sense to have something like her on their side. Not that… she wanted to be used like that. She was taught such a thing was wrong, that she should make her own choices.
That was… also difficult at times.
Yes, Lumina had no reason to accept her the way she accepted the monsters. Yet… she did, casually in fact like it was the most normal thing in the world to accept a forign entity like her. So casually… Was she just a similar mindset to her mom? Either way she was grateful to not be turned away as she had been expecting. No.. more than that, it seemed the older woman would even see fit to impart some of her own history upon her.
”We're both based on people… but… I wasn’t given any of mothers heart, perhaps i could express myself better if that had been the case…”
She put a hand to her chin in thought, with time she’d improve, mother had insisted. But… she wasn’t so sure. Would she ever be able to express herself as a normal human? Or… at least to a point she wouldn't be so easily figured out? Still this woman, Lumina… She accepted her. So easily, so readily. Maybe it was… ok for her to be like this? She was like this when mother found her after all.
Was it…. Ok?
”Thank you.. Miss Lumina, were… not so different I think”
There were a few differences, but the base was there. Their origins were not so different from one another. It made her wonder if other things were the same but… she wouldn't pry. It was hard for her to dive into these things, so she imagined it might be for her as well. Lumina had managed to get the smaller girl to give a small smile, she was feeling comfortable with her. They were two different kinds of creations… just living out their lives.
”According to the village, they will be in a clearing, typically surrounded by a few monsters who are attracted to them, we… may not be able to avoid conflict”
It would be preferable if they could, of course but sometimes these things were.. unavoidable.
Cuore tilted her head in curiosity at Lumina’s reaction to the monsters. She claimed to have something more than simply the power to deal with the beasts. It made her curious, did she have some experience taming or capturing them? Perhaps she had magic that could simply restrain them, or maybe she was just that confident in her partner. she wasn’t sure, perhaps she would get a display if they ran into any monsters while they gathered what was needed. Of course, she didn’t want her curiosity to cause them undue harm but…. None the less she did have an interest in seeing it. For now, she would let it lie, her objective more important than indulging in her curiosities. The village required her to finish this, and with new assistance It would be even easier to do so. When Lumina confirmed that she was in fact a Summoner Cuore’s eyes widened. The only Summoners she had ever known were her kin and her mother. To her knowledge they had been the only ones around. This place continued to astonish her, continued to show her new and magical things. How did her summoning techniques compare to her own? to her mothers? Cuore was unable to summon the large beings this girl or her mother were capable of, but two of the summons of this realm had given her there assistance-something she was grateful for. Lumina claimed her expertise lied in monsters, and that the being with her was one such being. It was strange to her, the being reminded her more of her mom’s friend and summon Bahumat from the moon. Though… she supposed ‘monster’ could be used to describe them and the other summons aside from her grandparents.
”I see… that’s…. not so different. Mom can summon… well she could summon Goblin’s and Mindflayers…. And others. Still… it does seem different, doesn’t it? Two summons here saved me shortly after I arrived, and they’ve stayed with me sense, I am grateful to them…. And thank you, it would be bad if you got attacked just trying to help, or if the herbs were ruined in the process ”
One might have gotten the impression Cuore was stating the two things as equal, more so with her neutral toned approach to both, but that wasn’t true. She was simply accounting for all that could go wrong. It was just how she was. Besides, that would also waste the effort Lumina had put in, and they’d have to start all over!
And then came the question that made Cuore flinch, noticeably, despite her usually robotic demeanor. She had not meant the question in a hostile or perturbed manner. If anything, she just seemed…. curious. That didn’t make things any easier for Cuore though, more so with all the effort her mother had put into raising her like a normal child. Was he a failure in that respect? No… mother wouldn’t say that… no, of course she wouldn’t, she was far to kind. The girl’s nervousness showed as she opened and closed her hand slowly on repeat, trying to think of what to say. Ultimately… she decided on the truth. She had already discovered something was up with her.
She didn’t have to tell her everything, she didn’t want to, but she could tell her something.
”I’m not human, I’m….. an artificial creation, you could say, not a machine but….. I wasn’t born naturally, my former Master created me, and my kind. I’m… were called Maenads” we were all modeled after…. My mom, to do something for our Master…. Not anymore”
She rubbed her arm a bit in her nervousness, her tone not reflected as well as what she felt, ironically when she got this way it was harder to express the emotions she had been taught as well. Only making her come across more robotic to those around her. Even if Lumina and her partner didn’t seem phased by it she couldn’t help how the worry made her feel. They took it easily, casually, she simply could not.
”I’m not… human…. Or even…. A natural being… Is that…. Ok? You can leave if… you need to, Mother said people might be afraid of things like.. this sometimes, I can handle it”
But that didn’t mean the thought didn’t still hurt….
