Re: On a Quest for the Angel of Ice [Hero Quest Mission]

Thu Dec 31, 2015 3:19 am

Throughout the majority of Elysia's personal suffering and doubts within her mind, she was entirely absent of the Angel's own troubles haunting their mind and attempting to pry attention away from something that could be fatal to a human such as Elysia. She had no idea the struggles that Cirno had faced before this current issue, and had no hints or warnings as to the fact of past failures she may have had. This was a first in Elysia's life, but she had given her full trust to someone who was not herself. She had given something she held dear and sacred away to a person she had only recently met, a person who had shown pure kindness to her... But what if it were a trick? A ploy to get her at her weakest and to force the beast to change? To be corrupted and to further tear away at her soul until she became a puppet once more? What was there to stop Cirno from simply allowing this?

Faith. These were not Elysia's thoughts, but rather doubt... And fear. Fear of being betrayed once more, fear of being trapped once again, and fear of being alone. These were things that fueled her, just as much as her determination to find the woman she could call her mentor. They fueled her to keep running and fighting, to fuel her to lash out against those that bring harm and enslavement to others, to fuel her to give her all to those she meets in order to form bonds with people, and to fuel her to be able to defend herself against those with no trust or a single loyal bone in their body. These fears were what brought her far enough to even survive the taxation that the Juin brought upon her frail body, one not originally made for this much stress. What was a human to do?

It was not like she was the only one with doubts that she had to fight... Cirno had her own, those that questioned her beliefs and purposes, her reasons for even attempting this. Elysia was blind to all that was not the pain she had felt at this moment... But she did accomplish something extraordinary for her. Something that normally would never have been done. She trusted another being with the entirety of her life, despite the same fears that fuel her warning her of the fact that she can be reduced to what some kids became in the pits. A puppet. Devoid of life, meaning, or purpose. But... Was that really the end of the story? Of course not, this trust would not only bring fear to Elysia, but hope. Hope that the world was much better than it seemed, and that there were people who strived to help and assist those in need. There were being out there that wanted to help and do good, to bring companionship to those who needed, to lend a hand when needed, and to help fight against unjust causes and those that wish to bring harm.

If this human could steel through her own personal problems, then Cirno could dance about without a care, and luckily enough, that seemed to be what was happening. Elysia was unaware of the change that had been taken place within this Angel besides her, but it was enough to tell her that she wasn't the only one fighting through this horrific scourge upon her soul. She was unable to hear the faint whispers given to those high above; the screams of her soul and body blared them out. Her mind was being assaulted with her body and soul. It was painful... But something seemed to change within the Angel besides her, and it was beyond Elysia's reach to understand just what that change could have been.

Pained eyes attempted to stare upwards at Cirno's form once more... But all that Elysia could see was a blob of white and blue, with a faint hint of red near the center. Her vision was not only blurring, but obscured due to tears starting to flow freely from the corners of her eyes. Crying due to pain was... Was a thing viewed as weak and pitiful, something that would lead to beatings and worse punishments from the higher ups. Luckily, Elysia lacked a higher up at the moment, but the fear of being seen as weak took a hold. It was something that made her heart sink, one of the fears that did not fuel her to do better, but shackled herself closer to the pits from which she came. She was scared of being seen as weak and pitiful, and all at once, she was reminded of the fears that took hold of her mind when no one was around.

Not one of these were true... But they were all that began to flood Elysia's mind, perhaps a by-product of the Juin, or of her stressed mind... But she felt horrible at the moment, more so than physically, but emotionally. She had to be seen as weak now. She was crying from the pain and unable to rid of it herself. She had to get someone to take it out because she couldn't deal with it personally, and now she was crying to the one who tried to help her, how pitiful. Why would a disgrace as herself ever be thought of as strong or powerful? She had lost almost every fight she had gotten into... Moonie had to have taken pity on her and gave her a bit of power so she didn't curl up and die in some ditch... Hell, Hayden's present to her was a piece of armor for her shoulder, some metal to protect her fragile body because no one could deal with the corpse when it came in. The same corpse that had been thrown away by parents that never loved her, ones that had sold her to the same pits that had taken many unwanted children for profit.

It was sick and disgusting... She was sick and disgusting... How would she ever matter anything? Well... There was one beacon of hope. Something that still remained strong enough in her hear to fuel her past these moments. A red-haired woman that had led her unto the path of freeing herself and others from the clutches of those who abuse power for self-gain. What would she say? She... She wouldn't call Elysia weak, no, she would wipe away the tears and tell her that it'd be alright. Why... Why would Cirno do differently? This angel was just as kind and giving as she was.

Elysia was not known for keeping a cool head, but she was known for always falling on the right path. Self-doubt followed by self-loathing could be felt by this human, but her mind would always work through it in some way, shape, or form; just as she had done now. The Juin was doing greats amount of harm to her being as a whole, making her think thoughts that could get her to kill herself in an act of defense, trying to get her to falter so this ritual would fail... But Elysia was just a bit more determined than that, determined enough to even stand when everything around her seemed to be falling apart. The human's greatest flaw was the inability to recover from a blow that forced her mind to remain at it's weakest point, and it was something she had to work to fix.. This was a prime example of why she needed to fix it.

Tears continued to flow from the corners of her eyes as she still seemed to be in horrific amounts of pain and suffering, but a faint glimmer seemed to reveal that she would be alright at the end, that she can do this. Others have suffered worse, so why should she fall here? She may not be the strongest, but she always bounces back. She may not be the smartest, but even old dogs can learn new tricks... She may not be the most important, but she will damn well do her very best to be important to the one person that matters. Pain began to grow and grow within her body, forming at the core of her person and slowly traveling upwards. Soon, this pain began to well up within her chest, just near her heart. People seem to confuse the physical heart with the belief of one's core of faith. A heart was to keep the body alive, but a heart when normally spoken about it what keeps a person's soul and mind running, powering through. Even though this might not have been the true reason as to why this pain welled up here... The human thought it to be one final clash against what she wanted, and what the Juin wanted. Freedom versus enslavement... Purity over Corruption. Elysia over Kamui's twisted tricks.

One last howl of pain erupted forth from Elysia's bleeding lips, echoing out through the area as her body twisted, chest rising as she was left kneeling. A thick, powerful beam of pure light and energy erupted forth from her body, zooming towards the skies above to show what had just happened and the achievement accomplished only due to the hand of the Angel of Ice. A dark, twisted force that only wished to gain for itself was purged from the human's body, and a curse was seemingly lifted from the weakened soul of the spiritually aware being. The Juin was gone... But for a moment, Elysia felt empty. Hollow. Lacking... It wasn't painful but... It wasn't pleasant, a feeling that could not be described as so much power was ripped forth from her being, even if it never belonged.

Despite this odd feeling, Elysia would always prefer this over what the Juin could have done... But something new began to take place. Something else was taking hold within the empty part of her soul that the Juin had once laid claim too. It was... It wasn't evil, or sinister... Or even selfish. It was something Made purely out of kindness and care, traits that were hard to come by within this world. Traits that seemed to take a hold unto Elysia's own soul, even if she had different ways of showing her more loving side. This energy wasn't just Cirno's... No, it was something else, something that even Elysia could tell. It was herself. A part of herself was being put back into the empty void the Juin had created. It was her willpower, her ability to stand strong through odds that stacked against her... It was her love to doing what was right, and following in the footsteps of those before her who walked this path.

This was something good. Something that would leave Elysia feeling content in the future, and remind of that the world isn't so bad... It'd remind her of Cirno, a being that deserved so much more simply due to the fact that she cared enough to give Elysia so much. A human with nothing to her name other than a few people she met, a being that could be wiped out by those of Cirno's level... Just a human. But she was given so much, and these kind acts would be something that Elysia would hold in her heart for as long as she lived, and perhaps even change her for the better. To make her more akin to the woman that she strived to be, loving, caring... And just wonderful.

The pain was gone. All of it... It was just gone. There wasn't any pain to be felt anymore, but rather, peace. Peace not only in her mind, but within her soul. It was finally able to rest... Reiatsu no longer flaring outwards, but resting peacefully, accompanied by the Chaos Energy of Moonie. Elysia was getting better, no, she was better. Tears began to turn into a small trickle, what was once tears of pain now turned into tears of joy falling down her cheeks. Her vision slowly began to return to see Cirno standing before her with a smile. A smile that... That she's never gotten once in her life. The one she strived to become had smiled at her before, but... The reasons for thses two smiles were different. Elysia's idol was due to knowing that Elysia could make and and do great things... Cirno's was because she cared about Elysia's well being... And she was happy that Elysia was alive.

She couldn't quite tell what was so different, she looked... Older, no longer like a child but a young adult. It was an odd thing, but Elysia didn't mind it so much. Sensation and feeling returned to her body, not of pain but of a gentle touch. Fingers rested upon her cheek, fingers that belonged to Cirno. Elysia remained still for just a few moments, hearing a question posed to her. Was she alright? It... It took a bit to think of an answer, but soon, she had it. A small smile began to form upon Elysia's lips, corners of her bitten and bleeding lips curling upwards as a single hand of her own began to raise upwards. Every slight movement led to it shaking from the stress put unto it just moments ago, but soon, it touched Cirno's own hand gingerly.

It rested upon the Angel's hand, the same one upon her cheek as Elysia slowly nodded, smile only growing as tears continued to flow down her cheeks. The human looked... Happy. Not like earlier as giving a smile due to a kind act, or smiling from a nice meal, but happy. Happy with life and herself. At peace.

"I'm okay."

Coding In Template By: [THEFROST] Template By: Lio the Lion

Sat Jan 02, 2016 6:14 am

[PLEASE READ THE OOC NOTES IN THE POST]

THE FRIGID HEROINE'S POST

Artist: Porter Robinson - Song: Goodbye To A World - Word Count: 1250

[Note: since the song is copyrighted, I'm going to ask that you open the link to it and listen to it while reading the post. It really helps the atmosphere and I don't normally make notes like this, but it's needed.]

[ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2TE0DjdNqI ]

Heaviness.

That was the only thing which was felt in the chest of Cirno Iramasha when the storm washed over. However, this was not a bad heaviness. No. It felt -- overwhelming. Overwhelming in the fact that she managed to actually save someone. That, despite her shortcomings as an angel, the power which laid within her heart managed to actually reach another and rescue them from the abyss.

To succeed in that goal -- was beautiful.

Enough to make the tears of her true self begin to overflow and drop down on bare body of Elysia with further volume than before. As each droplet of melancholic happiness cascaded upon the bronze woman, pangs of hurt gushed over the soul of the celestial as she experianced an indescribable amount of bliss, heartache and release from this lone action of saving this lost human from this world's darkness.

For, deep inside her embodiment, the core of Cirno's being was intended to be a messenger of heaven itself. A creature of warmth whom spread the will of compassion, kindness and guidance of the light to those who were filled with shades of shadow that spread seeds of isolation, hurt and confusion within their minds and spirits. And, from this nature, the spirit of The Angel could only find enlightenment by staying true to her origins.

So, perhaps, it took her ventures through the planet of earth to awaken, understand and empower herself with that pain. In doing so, maybe, just maybe, she could share that sense of emphatic charity to others and spread further love within the world through comprehending such anguish.

That thought was cold, yet so fulfilling. It cleansed the body of The Angel and the world around her quivered to such feeling in response. The stars of the night twinkled in such rich shades of light; gleaming with marvelous hues of illumination which pierced through the infinite blackness of space. And, as this sublime aura showered the island, mist of ocean and orchid colors conjoined in the heavenly atmosphere above them.

All the while, vortexes of seraphic fog danced around The Angel and The Human in a soothing motion; beaming feelings of elation and completion to the two as she held Elysia in her arms with such tender care. As, most of all, Cirno acknowledged that these were the sentiments of her essence bleeding out into the world in a sublime manner. Her heart was oozing such strong emotion that she felt it was pointless to try and cover such a thing. Since, at this point, it was almost impossible to stop because it took seize of her whole being.

This growth of the inner angelic self within had awakened. And, in doing so, the keys to Cirno's inner heaven were unlocked. With the help of Elysia's plight, this dilemma was the crux that was needed to allot the celestial the blessing of inducing her own paradise in the world for this moment. Even if it was confined to such a small area of the globe for a finite amount of time, the journey which these two walked down was worth this temporal sense of ungodly relief in a world of pure dismay.

Hence, the eyes of The Angel became devoured in such holy whiteness. It was a light which she searched for quite a time and it was a light that she desired not to let go. As to achieve this state of serenity, even in her matured form, was a grace. And this was not grace she yearned to spoil and let rot. Therefore, when Elysia uttered that she was alright, The Angel of The ice smiled and understood her duty was fulfilled for this evening.

"If that is true...I'm...alright as well, then. Thank you. Thank you so much."

There was no shred of her childish inflections at this point. The voice of The Iramasha became infused with a sense of sullenness and placid felicity which came with growing up. For there was no need to adorn such a form when such self-evolution brought contentment. Even if she was apprehensive and fearful of this earnest ego, Cirno would let it shine and bask in it's glow.

Which is why as her tears became clear and pale in color, they represented the unleashing of such negative thoughts, emotions and distortions within the heart of Cirno. As, with this heavenly release, those dreadful beliefs were becoming purified and purged. And, what was left, was something new and whole.

It was terrifying to undergo this shift in her persona, but Cirno would accept it and let it run it's course. No longer would she fight that change, but embrace it and learn to endure the alterations which may come in her life. As, through these mishaps and morphs, her inner light within could shine and absolve the pain of herself and others within it's soft embrace.

So, without any further words needed, The Iramasha would let these pellets of light which fell from her eyes turn into energy. First, a halo of silver energy formed above the head of The Iramasha. And then, around the two, these lights of energy would extend into the sky and make the darkness of the night all the more brighter.

For, in that moment, she understood that this island would be seen as a beacon of hope to those whom found themselves consumed in the dark. And, with this impulse of desire, the adrift spirits of this world could perhaps begin to find their inner peace as well.

That was a holy desire which was right. And with that pure desire, maybe she could give birth to a world -- that's her own.

Ergo, as they were surrounded in this ethereal cloud, Cirno would close her eyes and simply enjoy the moment for what it was. Periods such as this were hard to come by in a life filled with strife, so it was best to savor it, rest and store these vivid memories of hope within the mind. For, when the hand of darkness comes in the distant future, these were going to be the pieces of recollection which would help each of them bare the storm of this world's despair.

And, in that moment of absolute darkness, perhaps these memories could be used to once again save another soul and let a miracle take place.

That would be nice.

For now, though, it was time to simply loll in their own miracle....

[OOC NOTE: I would like to conclude Cirno's activity in this htread on that note. It will be up to you if you want to make a similar conclusion for Elysia. I'd prefer it since there is still an Astral Link between the two, Elysia would begin to understand these feelings as well. And, I'd assume she would rest with Cirno as well until the morning. Which, at that point, they'd begin the second phase of training.]

Sat Jan 02, 2016 7:43 am

A heart has been cleansed, one that has had years upon years of a human life's worth of struggles thrown unto it without a second glance. Ever since this being's birth, no, this child's birth, she had been thrust into situations that would normally break any others who were forced into them. This hurt human was still a child in this world, filled with those who are ageless or simply do not die until centuries have passed... Elysia herself had barely experienced life, but at the same time, had experienced so much in her short life. The core aspect of her very being was defiance against the wicked, all for a reason that had haunted her for years and years.

Her parents had never loved her, and sold her as a small girl. To her, she had thought that she was being kidnapped, snatched away on the streets away from the ones she loved. Everything she once knew was ruined as this small girl barely able to speak was soon forced to work for her life. Dark, dirty, infested dungeons were her home now, filled with many others trapped as she had to cook, clean, and tend to the injured. Horrific stories were told to her from the injured, people who had to fight for their life for the amusement of those watching, that a girl like her wouldn't last five minutes and would be torn to shreds. Soon enough, that day came where all she had to hold unto was a single person.

This one person meant so much to her, it reminded her that she had a family back home, and a will to escape this horrid place. This was the only beacon of hope within her life, and it was snuffed out when it suddenly vanished without a trace. She was alone in the Pits once more, forced to fight every day for survival. Each fight brought her closer to the edge, until her soul finally lashed out and slaughtered those that corrupted the children, those that wanted this, those that had ruined her life and torn her heart into pieces. At the end of it all, she was free, free to go home after releasing the others, after finally putting an end to this mayhem.

It could be said that Elysia was cursed, since not even she was able to find a happy ending. The parents that she had worked so desperately hard for didn't even want her. When her heart was bursting with joy to see them, their own cruel, tainted, twisted hearts were filled with malice and disgust at her existence. Her entire world was shattered, being told that she was never wanted, that she was an accident, that she was better off dead and that she was sold. The same heart once full of joy was now shattered, anything positive in Elysia's life fading away as she was all alone once more... She was not innocent herself, for those that had birthed her had met the same fate as those who forced the children to fight.

This woman almost seemed like a small child now, a girl in the fact that she was finally happy once more. Only one thing had kept her going, her idol, the being that reminded her that she could keep going, that she would find something happy... And she did. All of the pent up anguish and sorrow held within her heart felt so distant now. The thoughts of what had happened years back no longer stayed within her mind, she felt almost pure at this point. A young soul had been shown the light, not one of independence that she had been following before, but one that led to a path that she was destined for. One that would bring her peace and joy to her being. She no longer fought simply to obtain a better future for others, but to fight for those that the world needed. Her soul now strived to put it's all into saving not only those that were innocent, but to protecting every kind soul that would ever show her a shred of mercy. A single hint of joy or even just kindness.

Elysia wanted to protect the few things that pushed her to live any further, she wanted to protect those that had made her feel this way, she wanted to stay happy... No matter the cost, even if it took her life, she would wish to stay this way. This feeling, the strong emotions within Elysia could be felt by Cirno. The Angel could tell a great amount about Elysia just from the smile she gave towards her, by how her heart had began to open up. Elysia learned how to love, not the kind that anyone can experience from attraction... But the love of keeping those around her safe and happy. For years to come, Cirno would play a heavy role into how this young soul would react to the world around her. She wanted to help others feel the way she does now. Happy.

This love for others in this world would carry her much farther than she ever could by herself. The love she felt for Selia, the love she felt for Ash, the love she felt for Hayden, the love she felt for Moonie, and the love she felt for Cirno... It would be what guided her in this cruel, twisted world that lacked the amount of love it needed. The feeling of love within Elysia's heart had been there for a long time, hidden, crushed and entombed by the experiences she was forced to face before. All she needed to do was for someone to show her how to express love, a love that meant something, that could carry the world on it's shoulders, that could mend any broken soul. Elysia finally understood, she began to understand why people cared so much, and why she tried so hard for her goals. She loves those who she has bonded with, and never wants their lights to be snuffed out, wanting them to spread that same care they gave her to many many more.

But... Something else seemed to be happening, happening with Cirno. A bond was formed between the two, and much greater than the bond their shared over partaking in this endeavor... One that let Elysia feel a bit of what Cirno felt within her own heart. The words that came forth from Cirno's lips were comforting for her, letting her know that Cirno hadn't harmed herself and was grateful... Grateful for something that Elysia just seemed to know simply by being within the angel's presence. She was grateful for this experience... One that many others might dismiss as a chore or something that was only a hassle to them, but Cirno was grateful for it...

It was difficult to tell all of the emotions the angel was feeling apart, as Elysia was still filled to the brim with her own, tears still flowing down her own cheeks, running past Cirno's hand which was still gently held by her own. Cirno seemed... Happy that she was able to help, overjoyed that this worked and that she was okay, that this one human out of billions was alright. What was once an emotion discerned from Cirno's smile felt much stronger through the link that bound the two souls together, much more powerful than a simple emotion one might experience at any time of the day.

Cirno was happy that she could banish the darkness, be it from Elysia... Or her own personal doubts and disbeliefs, or memories of trying times in the past. This plague that once was the scourge of Cirno seemed to be lifted through this one act, one act that lifted Elysia's own troubles away from her heart, even if inevitable violence in the future might replace it... It was gone for now, and the two of them were left with this odd moment, one that Elysia wasn't used too. They both were happy in such a cold place... Happy enough that Elysia was unable to notice the changes around the area.

Stars only seemed to become all the more vibrant as time passed with the atmosphere around them almost changing from the mood that was elevated due to their efforts. Not only were the stars more vibrant but Cirno's eyes seemed to be following the principle. Through the tears, Elysia was able to see the angelic light that shined forth from them... It was powerful to the human, reminding her just what type of being Cirno was and how she had put so much effort into making others happy... Using her powers for good, to be the best that she could, and to work through the pain and suffering in life to bring forth the joy not only in herself, but in others.

Tears streams down the Angel's face, her cheek soon matching Elysia's own as the two remained still. At first... Elysia thought she was seeing things that weren't true due to the strain her body was just put through, but surely enough, silver energy began to gather above Cirno, creating a halo above the Iramasha's head. It was... Amazing to see something so brilliant and beautiful, a sight that Elysia was positive that she'd never see again in her short life time. This halo soon began to grow, shining over the both of them to remind Elysia just how important this moment was not only in her own life... But the being that was helping her.

Slowly, Elysia brought her free hand upwards towards Cirno, being as slow and gentle as possible. The stres sput unto her body from earlier still showed, wrist shaking slightly... But soon, a single finger gently slid underneath Cirno's eyes, wiping away the tears to let her see freely, to let her gaze upon this miracle that she had made around them. The beauty created from her act of kindness, the beauty made in the stars, the snow, the halo... And themselves. The young soul had always wanted to have a soft moment like this, with no stress of the world around her present, and she had finally received it...

"Don't cry... You did great, just look at how beautiful you made everything... Just look at how beautiful you made yourself, your halo... I've never seen it before, but it suits you. Please... Please never change. You've... You've made me happier than I ever have been in my entire life, and... And... You deserve so much more.. Please... S... S m i l e..." A twinge of pain flashed within Elysia's eyes, not emotional.. But physical. Her body had reached it's limits. Fingers slowly trailed down from the Angel's cheek and unto the cold snow, the hand grasping Cirno's own following as the young soul's eyes slowly closed. Her body didn't fall but rather... It rested in what could be called peace, head ever so gently leaning against Cirno's hand as she was barely kept up through her kneeling position. Her chest began to rise and fall slowly, in tune with each breath as she had fell asleep. She was full of life, joy, and love... Her soul and mind was in the best condition they could ever be, but she was only human. Her body needed rest, and when the time came, she would awaken... Hopefully to Cirno, hopefully in a place she felt welcomed than the stone cold walls of her nightmares. No, her mind should wonder about such things in her sleep... She was happy, and she found a person that wouldn't cause her harm. She can rest easy now.

[May The Bronze Adventurer rest easy as the thread has ended.]

Coding In Template By: [THEFROST] Template By: Lio the Lion

Sat Jan 02, 2016 9:43 am

«THIS MISSION IS NOW COMPLETE»

And with that, this part of Hero Quest is over. We will create a new thread and continue training on the next day!