blackluster
06-21-2008, 09:15 PM
“Aircraft now disembarking…” chimed the artificially cheerful intercom voice. Passengers bustled in the busy airport, commonly jaded through long travel, or excitedly distracted by a voyage about to begin. Outside the rain poured, like a solemn omen, heralding the arrival of stranger. She brought the strange sense of eternity about her, the eternity of death.
Fell strode slowly yet purposefully through the crowd. She wasn’t someone who loved change a great deal. She usually considered it an inconvenience. This step was an ultimate in change for her, but one her clan, and she herself felt was necessary. As she walked, the events leading to this point played like a movie in her head.
“Fell, we are greatly pleased by your progress. We were uncertain when you took up that weapon; however, we have come to agree to its necessity. For the time being, you must be able to protect yourself. Understand that while we are lovingly aware of your affection for the clan and its purpose, you are most valuable to us, even more so than you can understand….” The clan leader spoke deliberately, almost as if in time with the ancient ticking clock in the Undertaker meeting hall. It was a place Fell had often visited, given her importance to the clan because of her mastery over their waning soul powers. The room perpetually smelt of incense and wood, an aroma which had grown on Fell.
She nodded her gratitude at the elder’s praise, before he continued: “We have obtained information from one of our brothers abroad…” he paused for a moment as glances were exchanged among the elders in attendance. “As you are no doubt aware, despite lacking the ability to channel soul powers, there are none-the-less some of the older clansmen who are able to faintly sense regions of dense spiritrons, something which our codex tells us, the shinigami referred to as ‘reiatsu’. In any case, the brother we mentioned has become increasingly aware of very strong reiatsu signatures in recent times. Some so strong that even he is able to sense them clearly. Such information points to the existence of spiritually aware beings in close proximity, and possibly even….. shinigami”.
Fell’s eyes opened a fraction, allowing her lifelessly grey eyes to shimmer dimly in the room’s light. The elder continued:”The presence of shinigami, or those who might know of them, is information we must attain. Since our brother can not see the spiritual beings, he cannot ascertain their identity, much less communicate with them. He has expressed concern to, over their alignment. He has noted foreboding, possibly even dark auras in some cases. This in itself warrants investigation, as we Undertakers by grand decree, cannot tolerate those who would disturb the peace of the dead.”
Fell nodded slowly, as it was becoming clear what needed to be done.
“This is a big step for you”, the elder continued, “You have been with us your whole life. It pains us greatly to send you from us, as it has been our great joy to watch over you and your development. This is however, the chance we have been waiting for. We know you will understand, and we have the greatest faith in your ability and judgement. There is certainly no one else who could complete this vital task. With that said, let me clearly state your mission. You will travel abroad and meet our clan brother. He will provide you with a place to stay, a job in his funeral home, and absolutely anything else you require. We have instructed him to follow your direction in terms of dealing with the situation, though we have also charged him with being your guardian. He will lay down his life to protect you if he must, and we are certain that his knowledge of the city and its culture will be invaluable to you. You are to investigate the sources of reiatsu present in the city, and if at all possible, make contact with the shinigami. Be brave, but do not idly throw your life away. Keep us apprised of the situation or anything you need. We leave it to you.” Without a further word, Fell nodded and departed their company. This was the culmination of her training and studies. She was not interested in failure.
She was jolted out of her memories and back into the present by a passerby who accidentally bumped into her. She apologized briefly, and reacquired her bearings. She passed by the checkpoints without much trouble. She had disassembled the Epitaph into its innocuous components, so there would be no problems with security. Approaching the exit, she began looking for her contact. With a thought, her Executor amulet activated (when it wasn’t assembled into the Epitaph, she wore it around her neck) immediately, she became aware of the unusually high spiritron density in the air. There was definitely something not normal about this city.
In the crowd of people waiting to pick up their friends, families and business contacts, she quickly noticed her contact. To her, he stood out clearly. The faded, tattered purple spirit threads hung limply all around him. It was a sight she had seen many times before, the dying soul powers of an Undertaker who could no longer summon his spirit powers. Those pale purple strands were all that remained of the once powerful abilities of their ancestors.
“Elder clansman Yamanagi Nue” greeted Fell as she approached the man.
“Lady Westwood” he replied respectfully, bowing deeply as he did so.
“Please”, Fell replied, “Call me Fell”.
He paused for a moment, somewhat surprised by her modesty. “As you wish, please, come this way.”
Fell strode slowly yet purposefully through the crowd. She wasn’t someone who loved change a great deal. She usually considered it an inconvenience. This step was an ultimate in change for her, but one her clan, and she herself felt was necessary. As she walked, the events leading to this point played like a movie in her head.
“Fell, we are greatly pleased by your progress. We were uncertain when you took up that weapon; however, we have come to agree to its necessity. For the time being, you must be able to protect yourself. Understand that while we are lovingly aware of your affection for the clan and its purpose, you are most valuable to us, even more so than you can understand….” The clan leader spoke deliberately, almost as if in time with the ancient ticking clock in the Undertaker meeting hall. It was a place Fell had often visited, given her importance to the clan because of her mastery over their waning soul powers. The room perpetually smelt of incense and wood, an aroma which had grown on Fell.
She nodded her gratitude at the elder’s praise, before he continued: “We have obtained information from one of our brothers abroad…” he paused for a moment as glances were exchanged among the elders in attendance. “As you are no doubt aware, despite lacking the ability to channel soul powers, there are none-the-less some of the older clansmen who are able to faintly sense regions of dense spiritrons, something which our codex tells us, the shinigami referred to as ‘reiatsu’. In any case, the brother we mentioned has become increasingly aware of very strong reiatsu signatures in recent times. Some so strong that even he is able to sense them clearly. Such information points to the existence of spiritually aware beings in close proximity, and possibly even….. shinigami”.
Fell’s eyes opened a fraction, allowing her lifelessly grey eyes to shimmer dimly in the room’s light. The elder continued:”The presence of shinigami, or those who might know of them, is information we must attain. Since our brother can not see the spiritual beings, he cannot ascertain their identity, much less communicate with them. He has expressed concern to, over their alignment. He has noted foreboding, possibly even dark auras in some cases. This in itself warrants investigation, as we Undertakers by grand decree, cannot tolerate those who would disturb the peace of the dead.”
Fell nodded slowly, as it was becoming clear what needed to be done.
“This is a big step for you”, the elder continued, “You have been with us your whole life. It pains us greatly to send you from us, as it has been our great joy to watch over you and your development. This is however, the chance we have been waiting for. We know you will understand, and we have the greatest faith in your ability and judgement. There is certainly no one else who could complete this vital task. With that said, let me clearly state your mission. You will travel abroad and meet our clan brother. He will provide you with a place to stay, a job in his funeral home, and absolutely anything else you require. We have instructed him to follow your direction in terms of dealing with the situation, though we have also charged him with being your guardian. He will lay down his life to protect you if he must, and we are certain that his knowledge of the city and its culture will be invaluable to you. You are to investigate the sources of reiatsu present in the city, and if at all possible, make contact with the shinigami. Be brave, but do not idly throw your life away. Keep us apprised of the situation or anything you need. We leave it to you.” Without a further word, Fell nodded and departed their company. This was the culmination of her training and studies. She was not interested in failure.
She was jolted out of her memories and back into the present by a passerby who accidentally bumped into her. She apologized briefly, and reacquired her bearings. She passed by the checkpoints without much trouble. She had disassembled the Epitaph into its innocuous components, so there would be no problems with security. Approaching the exit, she began looking for her contact. With a thought, her Executor amulet activated (when it wasn’t assembled into the Epitaph, she wore it around her neck) immediately, she became aware of the unusually high spiritron density in the air. There was definitely something not normal about this city.
In the crowd of people waiting to pick up their friends, families and business contacts, she quickly noticed her contact. To her, he stood out clearly. The faded, tattered purple spirit threads hung limply all around him. It was a sight she had seen many times before, the dying soul powers of an Undertaker who could no longer summon his spirit powers. Those pale purple strands were all that remained of the once powerful abilities of their ancestors.
“Elder clansman Yamanagi Nue” greeted Fell as she approached the man.
“Lady Westwood” he replied respectfully, bowing deeply as he did so.
“Please”, Fell replied, “Call me Fell”.
He paused for a moment, somewhat surprised by her modesty. “As you wish, please, come this way.”