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Chapter 10 - Fading Crossroads

In the doorway to a closed off office stood Volun Sarek, the man who prevented the extortion of a little bird not too long ago. He motioned for Leek to accompany him.

When he entered Leek noticed that little decorated the rooms walls. They were only occupied by the torches used to create light. 

Stepping foot through the door you would be greeted by a desk on the right, with a window behind it. Oddly enough, with no curtains you still saw near to no light coming into the room from it.

Moving to allow his guest to enter Volun pulled a seat for his guest, sitting him in front of the desk, atop which was miscellaneous items that had no perceived value outside of sentimental.

Though, catching the eye was a glass encasing, angled about forty-five degrees. A gleam could be observed coming from them even if Leek did not look at them directly. 

Inside of this case was about five dog tags, the type soldiers would wear around their neck when in service to a military. These were fairly polished yet still had a deep undertone of dirt, giving peek at the sheer amount they had, at one point, gone through.

Something about the tags drew directly at Leek, his memories even. He shuffled through any potential indicators in his head as to why he felt connected to the items on Volun's desk.

-Volun Sarek: Patiently he had given Leek his moment to view the tags, as he seemed wholly interested. "So, have you come to apply for a permit to accept Adventurers Quests?"

It took a moment for Leek to properly acknowledge the man, and his question. His gaze strained to forsaken the tags in option to give his attention to Volun.

-Leek: "Uhh... no, not exactly. I need to reapply for them I believe." Doing so, as to not forget, he pulled the card Elle had given him earlier.

Taking the card as presented the man quickly examined it. His abnormally slow blink had crept closer to halting completely, moving no more than a twitch.

An audible breathe passed Leek in a smoothe motion. The distance it travelled was abnormal, as was its temperature. The air blown by Volun had sent a shot of pain up Leeks spine, aching the many joints holding it together. 

His face would contort as the discomfort he felt was barely shy of being fairly painful.

-Volun Sarek: "Belvirian, huh... I would not expect to cross interests with your kind outside of the ruins." Unease blanketed the expression on his face. "Do you seek blood, or brethren?"

Condensation began to drip from the window behind the desk, which faced away from Volun. It did not fall to the ground as it had frozen in place before it could travel far.

As his breathe had been exhaled Leek could see it, floating tangilby through the room. It remained strung just out of reach, mocking his attempts at scarffing down the sharp air.

Suddenly he could feel the blood coursing throughout his body, and each beat that allowed it to do so, colder than the last. His ability to regulate his own heat had become more of a hopeless cause with each second.

-Leek: With his throat having closed up he struggled to get words out. "What ar... why is-cold?" Panic settled in his mind as he lost a bit of his leverage to his subconscious.

He readied his dagger as the progressively heavying feeling of malice/bloodlust compressed his body, restricting most movement.

"I..I have n-no need for bl-blood." The pattering of his teeth cut his words into sections; the winter slurring them.

The rooms temperature had changed exponentially, falling to a dangerous level. The sweat previously moisturizing his body stopped completely, and froze over. 

In the same fashion the cracking of his body under pressure jumped. He could not bring himself to take a proper breath, as it brought more pain than not.

His eyes struggled to lift themselves. When he glanced at Volun for answers he was met with a figure of nothing but incomprehensibility that had taken the form of a man, faking its approachability by reducing its visual presence to that of a small man.

"J-jus.." Unable to take the situation for a moment more Leek jumped from his seat, his eyes squinting closed, and plunged his blade into Volun's throat.

When his eyes shot open to witness his actions he realized he had not moved from his seat. The weapon he brandished did not get the chance to taste a foe, or even move freely.

His hand shook from resistance, as he put all his strength into taking Volun's life. But preventing him was the man himself, feeling closer to a presence than person, he had his left hand lapped over Leeks.

-Volun Sarek: He towered over Leek in dominance, with the hilt of Leek's dagger under control. "Well, I have no reason to not believe you. I will reinstate any of your previous permits, and or licenses; disregarding time since expiration." With each of his words the burning air lost more of its edge.

The change rapidly brought back reason to the room, but the cold did linger, dispersing rapidly into the walls once holding it in.

Malice from Volun had dropped instantly as he returned to the human he was just so little ago. Even with the forced hold he had Leek under, his body language reverted back, though more reclusive.

-Leek: The ice in his windpipe had defrosted enough for him to let out a coherent sentence. "What the FUCK WAS THA-T!" His voice scratched him, leaving him to cough hoarsely.

-Volun Sarek: "I, for a moment, lost a bit of control over myself." He bowed his head as he said this, his hand retracting from the dagger as it had lost its temper. "Out of apology, and with consideration to your exhibited capability, I will ensure your membership and reinstatement to our Guild."

Dumbfounded by everything that occurred since he stepped into this building his mind went into a makeshift autopilot.

-Leek: He remained dumbstruck to prevent him from lashing out, as he refused to acknowledge all the abuse he's been subjected to under this roof. "Uh-huh. Whatever gets me out of here the fastest."

He coughed once more.