usefulanalysis | Cerealia Inbox

O-Oh...

[Her words catch a moment, and she nods in understanding. Power does corrupt, but only people who abuse it.

She gets up then, and crosses the space between them in a heartbeat, bending and grabbing him into a tight hug.]

I'm sorry. That must be a terrible weight to bear. [A faltering pause, and she doesn't let go.]

It's...so sad when good people are so blind.

[ It's unexpected. It's utterly unexpected, yet at the same time it shouldn't be. He hasn't known her long but Ema has always shown kindness and understanding. She's intelligent. She gets it when he says the truth about how his world probably isn't as ~magical~ as the tales tell.

And she's warm.

The hug is so warm. ] Twenty years ago many sorcerers used their power for evil, I understand why things happened like this but... I wouldn't say he was good either. Arthur is completely different to him.

[He's warm too, and he's kind too, and she just doesn't want him to hurt. She knows not everything is some big, happy game. It's something Gant had stolen away from her, and Cerealia's damaged that further. Magic is something marvelous, but...she understands how a bad person can abuse something good, now.]

So you think the King is part of the problem? But Arthur can be part of the solution?

[She pulls back a bit, taking a seat next to him just for solidarity's sake.]

[But Gant just wanted to go swimming-- No, really though it's a hard lesson to learn. It's weird to talk about it in this way though. Simply because he doesn't really want to ruin the illusion either. ]

When I first met him Arthur was a prat. When I heard he was my destiny, I was certain they got the wrong prince honestly... but he changed over time. He... He's a good person, and I believe in the Kingdom he'll create. But he's not ready yet.

Up.

[It was the only direction that made sense. Down would lead them further and further underground, and there was only so much underground before one became trapped. Up meant above ground. Open space in which to run in any direction made available to them. Even if both were a trap, their chances were still better with Up.]

It's moving slow. If...we can get close enough that it stops, then make a run for it in the direction it came from, we might have a chance.

[Even though the thought of what they were about to do still frightened her.]

[Ema nods and reaches for his hand, giving it a tight squeeze.]

Well, isn't that how people are? They change over time. Why should he be any different? I mean, I'm sure he'll grow up into a fine king. And all that ridiculous stuff will stop, you know. You just have to be a good example!

[Ema nods quickly and starts the direction of the creature, moving at a brisk walk and making sure Iris isn't lagging. The woman was so graceful and elegant that she seemed to move like liquid...but that didn't ever really appear to move that fast.]

Alright then. We should approach at an angle and be ready to bolt past it then.

[Getting set...]

Ready?

[ He squeezes her hand back, though it's interrupted as her inspirational speech brings a laugh out of him. ] I'm not sure if I'm the person to ask to be a good example. But it's true. The Great Dragon was the one who told me I was destined to aid Arthur, at the time I was certain he had the wrong Arthur.

Arthur was an ass.

[She nodded.]

[Her steps until then had been slow and nearly silent as she walked alongside Ema. Keeping an eye out for any sudden movements.]

On three.

One...two...three!

[The last time she'd needed to run, she'd been...ill equipped. The outfit, plus the shoes, had made it almost impossible to move properly, let alone take off at a speed that would bring her to safety.]

[This time, however? She was in her own clothes. Her own footwear. And when she ran, she ran.]

That doesn't mean he'll always be one though!

[See? Sunny Side!]

Hnghm. [ He shakes his head slightly, pulling a face that says he disagrees a little, but it's with a slight laugh. Hopefully that tells her it's a bit of a mix. ]

It could be worse?

It could be. But it isn't. so...don't think like that!

[And born on wings of panic, adrenaline, and teenage energy, Ema books it alongside Iris. Zoom zoom!

Her feet pound on the flagstones and soon they're well past the monster that was slowly turning to try and catch up to them. Operative word being slow, too!]

[She stumbled once, if only because of the unevenness of the ground beneath them, but caught herself and kept running. The echoing sounds of additional footsteps told her Ema was close; a single glance through her peripheral vision confirmed it.]

[If her veins hadn't been flooded with adrenaline right then, she might have felt a stronger sense of relief.]

Is it chasing us? [She looked back.] ...it's chasing us.

[Though they had a decent start; beyond the time it took to turn around, its speed was too slow to catch up. Unless one of them slowed down or fell.]

[Ema's feet slow just a little bit...and she pulls out another vial, lobbing it at the things legs.]

And that'll keep it busy regenerating!

Right... right. [ She's certainly more optimistic than he is, but that's fine right now. It's helping. ]

I'll try to remember that in future when Arthur is dumping water over my head.

[She didn't slow down, but she did turn just long enough to shoot Ema a curious look.]

How many of those things do you have?

One more! So let's hope we don't need it!

[Huff, huff! Ruuunnnnn!]

[...okay, she supposed that made more sense. For a time, she had started to wonder if the girl possessed some sort of infinite supply. The way she always seemed to have one to pull out in moments like these.]

The slope's getting steeper. But...I think I see a turn just up ahead!

[Hardly! Just what she can make in her spare time...]

Good! We're going to make it just fine then!

[So close! They were all of a few steps away--]

[When the ground shook, knocking Iris off balance. She tripped. Fell. Only to glance behind her as the ground shook again. What she saw was the...creature. Still slow as before, but taking wider steps now. Heavier.]

It's catching up!

Get up get up get up!

[Ema grabbed Iris's hand and started hauling her, trying hard to pull her along. she's got noodle arms...but Iris isn't particularly heavy!]

[No. She's not. Though the subsequent stumbling probably didn't help either their cases...she did manage to eventually scramble to her feet and break into an even faster run.]

Hurry!

We need to...to hide somewhere!

[At this rate, they weren't going to make it before the creature caught up, but...if there was any nook at all that might shield them from its sight...]

[They book it, and this time Ema takes out her last vial, lobbing it up and at an angle. And into some stonework. It explodes, and rocks fall down behind them, onto the creature's path...causing it to stumble.]

Go! Gooooo!

[SHE WAS GOING! SHE WAS GOING!]

[Still desperate to look for a place to hide, but at the same time...that light was so close...just a little further....]

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