*Trigger Warning - Blood*
The gang are all waiting on the red brick steps of Dixie's front door.
Cillian:
"No, you've got it all wrong man, I promise you the new one is better."
Kayne shaking his head:
"I don't know what to tell you, Sancho's french onion was way fucking better before the change. The new one lacks a shit ton of salt, I don't care if you think they add more cheese to it. More doesn't always equal better."
Rolling his eyes, Cillian exhales:
"You don't get it, it is not just more cheese, it is more of SANCHO'S cheese."
Outstretching his hands with his palms facing the sky, Kayne shrugs and says:
"It's not that special."
Sean gasps and interjects:
"You bastard heretic!"
Interrupting the arguing, Sean waves to Dixie who is coming out of the house when suddenly, sirens impede on the group's plans to gossip.
"This is not a drill! Monster essence has been detected in this area! Seek shelter immediately!"
Hard to even notice, a faint glass-like translucent crack appears just about a meter from Dixie's back. Stepping out of the crack is a tall creature. Intelligently, the monster pauses to assess the new environment. Giving the group a moment to observe, they notice that the creature has long black arms with small palms and elongated claw-like fingers. Its torso is tall and skinny, seamlessly turning into a neck-less head. The head looks like that of an anglerfish. It has long legs that look like a cross between a human's and a coyote's. Every inch of the monster is covered in thick black scales. Glowing above its head, a name can be read: "Tyraax, Disaster of the Dark." The atmosphere darkens and saturates with panic.
Sean, horrified, screams:
"Dixie dive forward!"
Dixie lunges forward, narrowly escaping the black claw that was thrust forward in her direction. Air could be heard whistling behind her head. Kayne pulls a dagger out of his bag. This dagger was entrusted to him by his father. The dagger is an essence weapon he got during his trials. Humming in his hand, a green acidic slime starts from the palm and creeps its way up toward the tip of the blade. This slime is proof of the danger in front, the dagger is preparing for battle. Cillian lets out a powerful shriek. Kayne's eyes snap over to gaze at the source of the sound. The monster had seemed to teleport. Cillian is standing there with five large claws piercing the center of his chest, bloody foam dribbles from his mouth. Tyraax must have an active ability for mobility. It fully steps out of Cillian's shadow and withdraws his claws, causing Cillian to slump over. Cillian remains there, motionless on the asphalt. The monster appears from the shadow behind Christina, and in one swift motion the monster disconnects her torso from her hips. Organs wash to the pavement floor. The turrets are trying their best to make wounds on the beast's abdomen but unfortunately dodging in and out of the gunfire is easy given the monster's ability. Dixie begins to sprint towards her door, but the monster materializes from a shadow at the entrance to her house. Biting down on her head, a pink mist explodes into the air.
Black beads form in the corner of Kayne's eyes… then it consumes his vision entirely.
[ Welcome to the First Trial - Squadron Size: 3 ]
Kayne exhaustively closes his eyes again, forcing out any memory that will help him navigate his current state of confusion. He can vaguely detect a feeling of water on his skin.
'I don't understand what is going on, this is all too much.'
Sometimes, Faded aspects can be awakened and transported to the Trials by coming into contact with any type of essence, not just Aetherite which always awakens them. The purpose of the choosing ceremony was to gather any capable fighter who has come of age and force them to come into contact with Aetherite. By doing this, all aspects with faint essence would be awakened and funneled to the trials expanding the human unnatural forces in an organized fashion. All faded aspects awaken eventually, so this tradition is mostly in place for the semblance of order it provides and to give an expected time for someone to randomly vaporize, which can be pretty shocking to witness.
At the surface of Kayne's mind, memories begin to appear. First a trickle, now a flood. Familiar voices scream as they're disemboweled, punctured, and ripped apart. The monster, teleporting to each of their shadows, quickly made work of the untrained kids. Kayne briefly remembers seeing the blood, fats, bone, and organs of his childhood friends. He remembers the monster scratching his arm and then… nothingness.
Kayne passes out.
Jessica watches over an odd boy, he has been mostly asleep since arriving in the starter pool. All Trial locations start with a pool that repairs any wounds inflicted on the body. Sometimes the tall, black curly haired boy would violently jerk in his sleep then open his eyes for just a few seconds before quickly shutting them and returning to his rest. It almost appeared as if he was weeping in his brief moments of lucidity but given that he was floating in a body of water, it was impossible to tell. Jessica is unsure of how to proceed, she's just met these two strangers and one of them is clearly experiencing some medical problems.
"Hi there, I am Byron."
Jessica analyzes the unknown person. He has light brown hair that is kept slicked back and cut short on the sides. His eyes, light brown as well, carefully watch her.
"I'm Jessica, you can call me Jess."
Snarkily, Bryon points towards the asleep stranger:
"Clearly we got a dud of a warrior Jess"
Jessica wonders for a moment and then rejects the idea:
"Don't make this an us versus him thing, you're a stranger to me too. We don't know why he's like this. He's in the pool and yet he seems to still be having some sort of a medical problem. Give him some time."
Putting his hands up in the air and with arms bent at a forty-five degree angle, Byron affirms:
"You're right, you're right, my bad."
Frustrated, Byron stands up. His head tilts in the direction of Jessica:
"However, if you want to watch the sleeping beauty, be my guest. I am going to go explore the area."
*A few hours pass and Byron returns*
Kayne rises from the pool and startles the other two. He lifts his head toward the ceiling and zones out for a second. With focus returned he observes the area. They seem to be in a cave covered in bioluminescent roots, moss, lichen, and flowers. The fractured remains of some ruins can be found semi-encapsulated by the glowing organic life. Kayne lowers his head and faces the other two. His face was mimicking stillness, yet hints of violence could be detected by even the less observant.
'I should have taken control over my future, if not for me than for those I loved. I tried to live a "normal" civilian life despite knowing how cruel this world can be. I was so close to someone who could mentor me, my dad lives and breathes this planet's violence, yet I ignored my chance. I wanted pointless things like a "normal" childhood. Normal this, normal that. Normal people protect NOBODY. I could have been training, I COULD HAVE FOUGHT. My friends would still be alive. The universe has come to correct my transgression, I understand that. The only thing that truly possesses any real value is if one can impose his will. This time it is my fault, and the final time. I can't ever forgive myself for this. You are a dumb fucking bastard.'
"Who are you two?" Kayne said coldly.
Flustered, Jessica stuttered:
"I'm– I am Jessica"
Kayne pivots his head and finds Byron's face:
"And you?"
Byron, subtly raises his chin and directs his gaze downward to meet Kayne's:
"Byron"
Tension between these two is already being felt. Both silently acknowledge it. Byron breaks the silence:
"You didn't seem to give us your name, buddy."
Kayne frowns:
"It is Kayne, stranger."
Kayne's and Byron's eyes linger in each other's focus. Both are in a deadlock stare and frowning at each other. After a few seconds they decide to break eye contact and look away.
Bryon paces back and forth:
"Everyone has learnt about the Trials I presume, you all know we must discover the key to make it to the next one. Well, there is only one entrance or in our case, exit out of here. Firstly, I think we should scout what lies ahead. We still don't know how safe this room is or how safe the surrounding area is. All we have discovered at this point is that in the corner over there, there is a ruined mantle with a big ol' chunk of Aetherite sitting at the top. Jess and I…."
'Jess? It sounds like these two already know each other. To be using nicknames like that they must have known each other in the real world. I will likely be cast as the odd one out, I need to be careful.'
"Have already touched the stupid rock and seen what our aspect names are. We, individually, know what our abilities are."
'Individually? Perhaps I was wrong… I still need to figure out what I missed while I was out.'
"You, Kayne, need to figure out your abilities. After that we can make a battle plan and organize in a structure that will give us the greatest chance of survival. I'll relinquish what my aspect is, my aspect is the aspect of the observational arcana. I, unfortunately, have a utility aspect. Luckily, it helps us with monster detection. I should be able to lead us all to safety if there are dangerous, avoidable situations."
Jessica steps up:
"My aspect is the aspect of vengeful light. I am clearly a combat aspect, you can count on me to keep you boys safe."
Kayne idles for a moment then offers:
"Let me go take a look at mine."