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Post by DornKoon on Oct 5, 2024 16:05:48 GMT
Sun Nao blinked and looked at Bai; what was he on about? Thankfully, Jun cleared it up quickly enough by asking her two questions.
"I meant I do not feel keen to mess with time," he replied, "Weird time, as in... weird time, since I am currently in two very different flows of time, one here, and another at my father's mountain. This place is normal compared to what it can be for me. I'm not leaving yet; I just got here..." He grinned slightly. "But, I don't mind offerings if you have something in mind."
After giving Jun a wink, he strolled after the sorcerer, stopping to pile more food on his plate as he passed that table. Since awakening his powers, he had started eating a whole lot more, and his body used up a lot more energy than it did before.
"And yes, Doctor Strange," he decided to answer Jun's question. "He's the current sorcerer supreme and my teacher. He's a mighty sorcerer and lives in a Sanctum like this but in New York City. That's also where I live, at least part-time. I walked in by accident, looking for ice cream, which is a long story in and of itself, but I did end up getting ice cream with peach flavour, my favourite kind." As he said this, it could come to them that Sun Nao was giving off a scent of fresh peaches unless they chalked it as being part of the festivities.
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lvsphinx
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Post by lvsphinx on Oct 6, 2024 3:45:27 GMT
Bai blinked at the other two as they cleared up the confusion, feeling his features flush somewhat from embarrassment as he realized his misunderstanding. "Ohhh...my mistake," he said with a sheepish smile, scratching the back of his head. While he was a bit embarrassed now after his mistake, Bai was still happy to hear that Sun Nao was not planning on going anywhere anytime soon. For a moment, Bai was worried he had bored a demigod away from a party.
Since Sun Nao wasn't leaving, Bai didn't need to give him a party favor right now, but the sorcerer's gaze still lingered on the table of mystical trinkets. For guests like Jun and Sun Nao, who didn't live at the Sanctum, he wanted them to leave tonight with something memorable.
"Hmmm...Well, we don't have peach ice cream, unless you don't mind one of us trying our hand at conjuring some. But as for an "offering"," Bai picked up a small ornate vial. "How about some Dream of Morpheus? It's the Mists of Morpheus spell distilled and added to a mushroom tincture. The effects from drinking are a psychedelic, waking dream-like state that lasts about an hour before a very deep sleep. The psychedelic part is especially powerful, so it's only for adults."
Bai blinked for a moment, and then asked Sun Nao, "Hey, how old are you, by the way?" There was no reason he needed to ask before, but Sun Nao looked quite young. Bai wasn't sure whether there were consequences for plying an underage demigod with alcohol, but since Sun Nao had been drinking with them and appeared fine, it seemed appropriate for the occasion.
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Post by darkkon on Oct 6, 2024 23:33:00 GMT
- ”I meant I do not feel keen to mess with time. Weird time, as in... weird time, since I am currently in two very different flows of time, one here, and another at my father’s mountain. This place is normal compared to what it can be for me. I’m not leaving yet; I just got here... But, I don’t mind offerings if you have something in mind.” - ”Ohhh... my mistake.” - Relief. She was glad that was his intended meaning, and she wasn’t alone. There was still much she’d love to know. A soft amused smile crossed Jun’s as Sun Nao gave her a wink before walking after Bai, and piling more food upon his plate, which looked like a rather good idea come to think of it. Though, part of her was rather curious as to what kind of party gifts would be given out at such an event.
- ”And yes, Doctor Strange,” - ”Hm?” Nao’s voice drew her attention, pulling Jun from her hunt for a salted egg yolk mooncake beside the youthful demigod. - ”He’s the current sorcerer supreme and my teacher. He’s a mighty sorcerer and lives in Sanctum like this but in New York City. That’s also where I live, at least part-time. I walked in by accident, looking for ice cream, which is a long story in and of itself, but I did end up getting ice cream with peach flavour, my favourite kind.” - Current Sorcerer Supreme and his teacher? That seems fitting, she supposed, but she still wondered if Strange was his actual name or a title.
Though, Jun wondered, if they both lived at the New York Sanctum, was that where he met Wonder Woman as well? If so, New York City sounded like the right place to get her bearings on divine and mystical matters. - ”Hmmm... Well, we don’t have peach ice cream, unless you don’t mind one of us trying our hand at conjuring some. But as for an ‘offering’, how about some Dream of Morpheus? It’s the Mists of Morpheus spell distilled and added to a mushroom tincture. The effects from drinking are a psychedelic, waking dream-like state that lasts about an hour before a very deep sleep. The psychedelic part is especially powerful, so it’s only for adults.” -
Presuming Bai was speaking solely to Sun Nao, Jun went back to looking over the assortment of mooncakes in front of her, trying to remember which kind Nao had mentioned was salted egg yolk. Failing, she decided to just grab a small plate and take one of each design. That said she was still listening. Curious as to what the Mists of Morpheus spell entailed, a sleeping spell she imagined considering the namesake. Psychedelics weren’t something that interested her, but she knew of sages that used them to induce vision quests and seek spiritual guidance, as well as their more harmful use. - ”Hey, how old are you, by the way?” - Bai’s question definitely piqued Jun’s curiosity, though, drawing her attention back to the two.. She had wondered the same thing since Nao had introduced himself.
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Post by DornKoon on Oct 7, 2024 9:48:59 GMT
Sun Nao curiously looked at the vial Bai showed him. Dream of Morpheus? That sounded like it would pack a punch for most people, but he was not sure how the effect would be on him. "I'm 17," Sun Nao replied with a bright smile. "Not sure you'd want to give me that, even if you already supplied me with alcohol." He grinned, "But don't worry too much about it, Bai. I'm largely immune to poisons, which... turns out alcohol counts as one, so this is just water for me. For good and ill, I suppose. Now, a mortal would be wasted just sniffing the stuff my father drinks." The realm of the divine did make their brand of alcohol, and it was more of a punch, so Sun Nao was staying away from that... at least until in a few months when he turned 18.
He took a bite from a soup dumpling, slurping the liquid from inside before downing the rest.
"Good, there is a lot of food; since my powers awakened, I find myself hungry all the time," he explained, " Father said something about my body needing a lot more energy than before, which I suppose makes sense. I'm not complaining; I like food, and nothing like dumplings and rice to improve the day." Sun Nao was a big fan of Chinese food; sure, he could have pizza, but nothing could ever beat a traditional course from home.
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Post by lvsphinx on Oct 7, 2024 23:44:04 GMT
When Sun Nao said that he was 17, Bai nodded and withdrew the vial of black liquid, pocketing it for later. "17, good to know. I'll give you something else later then." Even if Sun Nao was a demigod largely immune to poison, Bai decided to err on the side of caution when it came to offering teenagers drinks that were brewed by bored sorcerers, just in case. However, he was curious to see how the drinks they made at the Sanctum fared against the drinks of the divine realm.
Watching Sun Nao try to sate his appetite and eat so enthusiastically was making Bai feel hungry himself, so he joined them over at the table and took a small plate, immediately filling it with fried dumplings. "That's something we can agree on: food makes almost anything better," he said before popping a dumpling into his mouth. It made sense that Sun Nao needed a high calorie diet to maintain his abilities; it sounded similar to how some metahuman abilities and superpowers worked.
"So when and how did your powers awaken?" asked Bai curiously, refilling his drink. "You're saying you didn't always look like this?"
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Post by darkkon on Oct 9, 2024 19:48:10 GMT
- ”I’m 17,” - He was as young as he looked? And possibly his father’s only child? Why now? Jun couldn’t help but shake the feeling that something big was on the horizon. - ”Not sure you’d want to give me that, even if you already supplied me with alcohol. But don’t worry too much about it, Bai. I’m largely immune to poisons, which... turns out alcohol counts as one, so this is just water for me. For good and ill, I suppose. Now, a mortal would be wasted just sniffing the stuff my father drinks.” - ”17, good to know. I’ll give you something else later then.” -
Huh, was that why she didn’t get tipsy during celebrations at home? Admittedly, she never drank enough to really test the waters, but she kept pace with her parents and they were usually a bit lightheaded by the end of the night. The sound of slurping drew her attention, and a slightly amused look as she nibbled on a lotus seed cake. This boy sure could eat. - ”Good, there is a lot of food; since my powers awakened, I find myself hungry all the time. Father said something about my body needing a lot more energy than before, which I suppose makes sense. I’m not complaining; I like food, and nothing like dumplings and rice to improve the day.” -
A look of curiosity crossed her face, since his powers awakened? His mystical powers or his demigod nature? - ”That’s something we can agree on: food makes almost anything better.” - Jun nodded, a faint ‘mmm’ of agreement through a full mouth. Though, something did strike her as odd. Sun Nao’s body demanded more food for energy as he grew into his power, but hers less? - ”So when and how did your powers awaken? You’re saying you didn’t always look like this?” - Bai’s question once again piqued Jun’s ear, and she turned to Sun Nao with an inquisitive look. He beat her to it, she’d have asked the same thing were her mouth not full.
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Post by DornKoon on Oct 10, 2024 12:39:32 GMT
Sun Nao was not upset about Bai changing his mind about the weird potion. Instead, he downed a few more dumplings.
"My powers? Well, that's a story and a half," Sun Nao replied, and after looking at the curious look on Jun's face, he cleared his throat. "I used to be a regular kid. I was not that well-trained and did not assert myself or talk to people. You'd have never recognized me. I got a job waiting tables at this little tea house, and they had a garden with this beautiful peach tree. Yet, there was nothing with peaches on the menu, and no one seemed to notice the tree."
He leaned against the table as he told the story, piercing a dumpling with his claws before eating it.
"Yet, I could never stop thinking about those peaches. Then came the fight. I had a terrible fight with my mother; she wanted me to study at University, and I was tired of school. It was... bad. As I left work later that evening, I was overcome with an impulse to break into the garden." He paused, looking at Bai and Jun. "So, I did. I stole several of the perfect peaches, and when I came home, I ate all of them in my room. I became violently ill and only managed to go to the wastebasket before I had to throw up, and what came was this black sludge."
Sun Nao took a few more bites to let the words sink in.
"I passed out, waking up at my Father's place. It was a lot to take in, especially when I found out I had this," he waved at them with the tail. "It was not that Sun Wukong did not know he had a son. It was just that he had conveniently forgotten about it for the last few years. Dad felt so bad he gave me a new name, Sun Nao, and decided I needed training. I don't know how long I was there the first time, but it was days upon days of training, fighting, eating, sleeping, and starting over. I ate with Wukong in the evenings and slept wherever I wanted; the nature of Father's Mountain is a haven for monkeys. Finally, when I managed to land a hit on my father, he said the first lesson was done and dumped me back into my room, where just a few minutes had passed." He chuckled dryly. "It was a challenge to hide that I had suddenly gained abs over a few minutes, not to mention the tail."
As he was done, he refilled his plate with more dumplings.
"Thankfully, Nai Nai found me first, and she told me about... everything. By eating the peaches of immortality, I had awakened my divinity, and the sludge was all the toxins from my body, impurities that the divine blood washed out. Turns out my Grandmother is a witch, and she had known about my father all along."
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Post by lvsphinx on Oct 11, 2024 17:59:55 GMT
Bai listened with rapt attention to the origin of Sun Nao's powers, the sorcerer trying but failing to remember hearing anything about divine peaches of immortality in his studies. This was simply a tale he had never heard before. Bai liked the picturesque beginning with the idyllic tea house and peach tree.
Bai couldn't help smiling at Sun Nao's little admittance of theft in his story, finding the teenager somewhat mischievous like the monkey spirit he held within himself. Sun Nao's bodily reaction to eating the peaches was curious, however. Bai wondered if those peaches made every eater sick, or just special cases.
How Sun Nao spoke about his father was also curious, alternating between using "Wukong" and "Dad". From how Sun Nao had been speaking tonight, he didn't seem particularly close to his father, though perhaps occasionally preoccupied with thinking about him. The story about Wukong's absence and treatment helped illuminate why. At least Sun Nao got to live in a divine realm. A bountiful mountain where someone did nothing but train, eat, and sleep sounded like a type of heaven for Bai at least. Bai took a shot of Hennessy at the thought.
Bai smiled again when Sun Nao mentioned that his grandmother was a witch. "Thank the heavens for magic users in the family. My parents are also sorcerers. It's through them that I'm part of this Sanctum," said Bai before asking, "So where is this tea house that you worked at? Is the peach tree still there? I would love to study these divine "peaches of immortality", you said they were? I wonder if they have cleansing properties for anyone who ate them, and not just demigods."
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Post by darkkon on Oct 11, 2024 21:42:35 GMT
”My powers? Well, that’s a story and a half. I used to be a regular kid. I was not that well-trained and did not assert myself or talk to people. You’d have never recognized me. I got a job waiting tables at this little tea house, and they had a garden with this beautiful peach tree. Yet, there was nothing with peaches on the menu, and no one seemed to notice the tree.” Jun listened intently, using Nao’s pause to eat a dumpling to finish off the cake she was working on. So he was old enough to have a job on his own before they awakened, that must've been pretty recent since she’d only ever seen younger kids working at family owned businesses in modern culture. ”Yet, I could never stop thinking about those peaches. Then came the fight. I had a terrible fight with my mother; she wanted me to study at University, and I was tired of school. It was... bad. As I left work later that evening, I was overcome with an impulse to break into the garden. So, I did. I stole several of the perfect peaches, and when I came home, I ate all of them in my room. I became violently ill and only managed to go to the wastebasket before I had to throw up, and what came was this black sludge.” University... She’d heard that term several times before but was nonetheless in the dark as to what exactly it was beyond a place of study, a specific place of study? Regardless, Nao’s description of what happened after he ate the peaches quickly pushed that question out of her mind. These peaches... were they? ”I passed out, waking up at my Father’s place. It was a lot to take in, especially when I found I had this. It was not that Sun Wukong did not know he had a son. It was just that he had conveniently forgotten about it for the last few years. Dad felt so bad he gave me a new name, Sun Nao, and decided I needed training. I don’t know how long I was there the first time, but it was days upon days of training, fighting, eating, sleeping, and starting over. I ate with Wukong in the evenings and slept wherever I wanted; the nature of Father’s Mountain is a haven for monkeys. Finally, when I managed to land a hit on my father, he said the first lesson was done and dumped me back into my room, where just a few minutes had passed. It was a challenge to hide that I had suddenly gained abs over a few minutes, not to mention the tail.” His name wasn’t always Sun Nao? Fascinating, Jun couldn’t help but daydream about what Fruit and Flower Mountain looked like. How close were the paintings? And spending what was possibly weeks there lasted only a few minutes? That must be quite the strain between here and the clone in his father’s realm. Did Sun Wukong control the time dilation or was it constant? Not to mention the training; Sun Wukong was a warrior of legend, those must’ve been quite the lessons. Especially seeing as they were thrust upon him rather suddenly. - ”Thankfully, Nai Nai found me first, and she told me about... everything. By eating the peaches of immortality, I had awakened my divinity, and the sludge was all the toxins from my body, impurities that the divine blood washed out. Turns out my Grandmother is a witch, and she had known about my father all along.” - ”Thank the heavens for magic users in the family. My parents are also sorcerers. It’s through them that I’m part of this Sanctum. So where is this tea house that you worked at? Is the peach tree still there? I would love to study these divine “peaches of immortality”, you said they were? I wonder if they have cleansing properties for anyone who ate them, and not just demigods.” - So, they were, the Peaches of Immortality. They were not there by happenstance. Jun was a little surprised Bai hadn’t heard of them, considering their mythical nature. ”I’m... not sure they would appear to anyone else.” Jun would start, tone polite, setting her empty plate aside for a moment to speak. Hopefully, they wouldn’t mind her chiming in a little. ”The Peaches of Immortality are gifts of Yudi-sama and Xi Wangmu-sama, created to grant immortality to the divine of their realm. Your father is their guardian, yes?” She’d ask, turning to Sun Nao. ”That is what our records say, at least.
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Post by DornKoon on Oct 12, 2024 9:52:43 GMT
"I'll drink to that," said Sun Nao with a wink, sipping at his drink, " and I don't know the details, and the tree was gone next time I went to look, and like before, no one seemed to have known it was there."
He looked at Jun as she was talking, explaining the nature of the peaches. Sun Nao did not interrupt her; she did not seem the most authoritative person, so giving her room to explain was polite. He nodded at a few places to confirm that she was correct; it was the least he could do.
"My grandmother is a follower of Queen Mother of the West." He explained, "And my Father was the guardian of that garden for a while, in an attempt to control him by giving him an official task, but... that did not turn out so well because he ended up eating most of the peaches." He shook his head with a chuckle, "Suppose I am my Father's son in that way."
Sun Nao took a few more bites, giving himself space to think before he continued. He did not mention his theories that Xi Wangmu planned for him to eat the peaches in the first place; it was nothing he could prove, but Grandmother must have known about him from somewhere, and she did work for the Queen Mother of the West. It was not that Sun Nao thought it was something done out of evil, but his experience with the Chinese heavens and the court of the Jade Emperor was that they were very... organized.
"Nai Nai thinks the peaches would grant immortality to a regular person, but to me, it also awakened my divine ichor. Don't think a regular mortal would have had the same... volatile reaction to it as me, and if I had one now, I don't think it would happen again."
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Post by lvsphinx on Oct 13, 2024 19:25:55 GMT
"Hmm..." Bai stroked his chin thoughtfully as Jun expanded the explanation of the peaches, appreciative that she was here to cover gaps in his knowledge. If this was one of the mythical peach trees, Bai wondered how and why it appeared in the mortal realm, although seemingly to Sun Nao only. "Curious that the tree has vanished. Maybe that is for the best," said Bai, though he was still curious about studying one.
Bai smiled when Sun Nao chuckled at the story of his father. He imagined that Sun Nao had a strong resemblance to his father in both appearance and personality, if the story about his father's mischievous appetite was any indication. Bai nodded at Sun Nao's hypothesis on another person eating a peach, chewing on a dumpling as he thought. "So your powers were dormant the entire time. I wonder if a different type of trigger would have the same or similar effect of awakening your powers..."
Bai then turned to Jun. "How about you, Jun? Did you also puke before you first recreated the sun?" he teased before popping another dumpling into his mouth, but having spoken with sincere awe in his voice. He could only imagine the applications of channeling a sun goddess' power, but seeing firsthand like tonight was a different experience.
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Post by darkkon on Oct 13, 2024 23:25:06 GMT
- ”I’ll drink to that. And I don’t know the details, and the tree was gone next time I went to look, and like before, no one seemed to have known it was there.” - ”Hmm…” - So it was like she suspected, someone wanted him to find those peaches, to awaken his divinity. Xi Wangmu seemed the most likely culprit, but Yudi would have that power as well. Jun was glad to see some of their information was accurate, with a few affirming nods from Sun Nao during her explanation. - ”Curious that the tree has vanished. Maybe that is for the best.” - Jun nodded in agreement, a soft ‘hm’ escaping her lips, though she decided not to mention that it likely vanished because its purpose had been fulfilled. It wasn’t her place to say.
- ”My grandmother is a follower of Queen Mother of the West, and my Father was the guardian of the garden for a while, in an attempt to control him by giving him an official task, but... that did not turn out so well because he ended up eating most of the peaches. Suppose I am my Father’s son in that way.” - That made sense, considering her knowledge on what happened. It’s a good thing Sun Nao had her to look out for him, that would’ve been a rather confusing thing to go through alone. Jun giggled a bit at the idea of Sun Wukong being kicked off guard duty because he ate what he was supposed to be guarding, hopefully she’d remember to update their records next time she visited home, but she didn’t know how long that would be.
- ”Nai Nai thinks the peaches would grant immortality to a regular person, but to me, it also awakened my divine ichor. Don’t think a regular mortal would have had the same... volatile reaction to it as me, and if I had one now, I don’t think it would happen again.” - Jun nodded in agreement, not that she had any experience on the matter but it was a solid theory. There were legends of mortals approached by Xi Wangmu and offered a peach, Emperor Wu of Han was one if she recalled correctly, but nothing like what happened to Sun Nao. - ”So your powers were dormant the entire time. I wonder if a different type of trigger would have the same or similar effect of awakening your powers...” - Perhaps... Jun pondered the question to herself, necessity can be a significant trigger...
- ”How about you, Jun? Did you also puke before you first recreated the sun?” - Bai’s inquiry pulled Jun from her musing, smiling and shaking her head a bit at his teasing. ”Thankfully, no.” She started, bringing her left hand up in front of her chest palm to the sky. In front of her three small figures of light would appear, simple yet intricate in their own way. People, faceless with skin of white light wearing traditional gi’s of yellow, orange, and red hues. The one in the yellow gi was smaller and separated from the other two, a child compared to the man in orange and woman in red, whom were mid combat sparring with staffs of yellow light. The child in yellow cheering on the man in orange.
”Nothing so special, it just kind of... happened. I was six, it was the first time I was allowed to watch my father spar with other...” Jun paused for a moment, the light theater continuing with acrobatic displays as she thought of an appropriate term. ”Warders. I got so swept up in the match that I just...” As she spoke, the child in yellow began to mimic the moves of the man in orange, then simply manifested her own staff of yellow light and began to swing it around. At this the other figures would stop and watch the child in awe, more manifesting from the sidelines and approaching the now confused child. Then, the light would dissipate.
”In time, we’d learn my light was different than the magic my people use. It being an extension of me, taking shape as I will and only burning when I want, while they must take great care to stabilize energy in the form of solar plasma without harming themselves or bystanders.” As Jun explained, another miniature sun would appear above her palm, smaller than the last and more unstable in appearance. Then, to emphasize the danger, a small solar flare would burst forth between Bai and Sun Nao almost hot enough to singe an eyebrow, then the sun would dissipate.
”As for my connection to Amaterasu, my parents and the elders were aware long before I, though not to what extent. I... would be willing to show you how if you wish.” She’d finish shyly, a blush upon her face as her hand returned to rest at her side, suggesting that said tale was a bit more personal in matter. Which it was, but it was only fair that she offer since Sun Nao shared his tale of discovery. Her wording also implied it would involve another light theater, she often found narrating a display could impart meaning better than she could with words alone.
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Post by DornKoon on Oct 15, 2024 6:58:01 GMT
"I could not tell you," Sun Nao replied. "But yes, that is the likely scenario. Sun Wukong was always my father, so the powers would have awakened sooner or later, whether it was done on purpose or by accident. I could not say."
He looked to Jun when Bai asked about the awakening of her powers, and she quickly confirmed that she had not been puking as part of getting her abilities. This was good for her, as the experience had not been pleasant and could still make him shiver. Still, he did feel very good afterwards, so it did some good, at least.
"I think that is a recurring thing; at least someone always seems to know more about us than we do," he commented, slightly morose. He brightened slightly when Jun offered to show them; now they were talking! "Sure!" He said, now excited, before clearing his throat, going slightly pink around the cheeks. "I mean, uhm-- that would be nice."
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Post by lvsphinx on Oct 16, 2024 20:20:53 GMT
Bai watched curiously as Jun created figures of light, quickly enraptured by the theater of light Jun employed to tell her tale. Six was a fairly early age to discover magical talents, but not unheard of. What was more curious and impressive was Jun's level of control over her innate abilities at that young age. The mage society that Jun came from also sounded fascinating. Bai wasn't familiar with mystic communities outside of the Sanctums and Kamar-Taj.
Bai nodded in agreement as Jun described the difficulties that came with conjuring plasma, capable of reaching the heat of the stars. As an Evocation specialist, Bai had naturally tried his hand at creating plasma through magic. Trying to contain and maintain a miniature nuclear engine with nothing but your wits and spellwork was just as tricky as it sounded. Several attempts by Bai in the past to maintain something like Jun's mini-suns had been...explosive.
"I would love to see too, if you wouldn't mind," said Bai at Jun's offer to show more, eager to learn more about her origins. Bai certainly felt that these two guests had much more interesting backgrounds than his own, one that he mostly considered characterized by years of practice and study. Aside from the fact that he was a sorcerer, Bai was starting to feel pretty normal.
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Post by darkkon on Oct 17, 2024 8:20:17 GMT
- ”I think that is a recurring thing; at least someone always seems to know more about us than we do.” - Jun nodded sympathetically, though she did not share his seemingly morose opinion of the matter if his tone was anything to go by. It may have been better to know sooner, but at least someone had answers for them when the time came. - ”Sure! I mean, uhm– that would be nice.” - A touch of surprise would grace Jun’s visage, her blush deepening ever so slightly as his cheeks flushed in turn. She did not expect quite so eager a response, perhaps he was just as curious as she about others of their kind.
- ”I would love to see too, if you wouldn’t mind.” - Jun’s gaze would shift to Bai, a soft ‘hm’ dancing from her lips as she nodded in acknowledgement. Both of her hands would raise this time, palms to the sky, left hand cradled by the right as one might hold a cherished memento. Two figures would form before them, more detailed than the last with hair of deep gold and accents of pale yellow to highlight their facial features. A man in the same orange gi as before but with finer detail, a woman in a white kimono with red trimming and early with child. They stood in partial embrace, rotating slowly, staring happily down at their growing offspring.
”I am a sort of miracle child, I suppose.” She’d start, tone shy but not hesitant. ”Before the events that made me what I am, even. My parents had given up hope on having a child when they conceived me, fifteen years they had gone without. As far as they could tell there was no divine intervention on this part. Our sages could not sense it. My flesh and blood is theirs, both of theirs, and theirs alone.” She’d pause for a moment, her words implying a DNA test of sorts.
As she spoke her mother’s pregnancy slowly progressed, then, late in the third trimester, she would crumple forward in pain. Her father quickly exiting off an invisible stage, returning with another woman similarly dressed as her mother. A physician, of sorts, who began to examine her. ”Something went... horribly wrong.” She continued, tone somber. Another physician rushed in, male, as the first began her treatment. Light, a pale golden yellow, an attempt to heal. Desperation deepening upon their faces, her mother crippled by pain, their healing did not work. Her father and the two physicians lifted her mother, carrying her across an invisible stage.
”Nothing they did worked, so they took us to the purifying pools to induce labor.” A stage formed beneath the figures as they ran, a path of smooth cut stone, a ring of stairs descending into a pale white translucent light that rippled like water with their entry. Her mother was floated on her back, her father holding her by the shoulders, the female physician prepping for forced labor, the male exiting to get more help. ”A sacred place that cleanses pathogens and dark magic alike.” Jun explained as the male physician returned, followed by several older robed figures teleporting in with bursts of light and quickly joining the rest in the pool.
Above the scene, by several feet, a small sun would appear, hovering as the scene played below. ”The elders were fetched to lend aid and I was born, but...” Birth, a baby of crimson light, still, lifeless. ”I did not greet the sun alive.” Her father and the two original physicians pulled her mother to the side, handing Jun off to the elders, who formed a ring around her and collectively poured their efforts into bringing her back. Desperation grew upon their faces, sorrow upon her parents’, it wasn’t working.
”For whatever reason, Amaterasu saw fit to intervene that day.” Jun’s gaze shifted upwards, a glimmer of golden light dripped from the sun like a lone tear, and fell slowly upon baby Jun. The pool gleamed brightly, Jun was purged of crimson. A bright pure white, she began to move, all around her staring in absolute wonderment. Then, the scene would fade, she’d close her hands and bring them close to her heart. ”That... is my story.” Jun would start, tone wistful as she stared at the ghost of her display. But, she’d take a quick breath, shake off the teary look upon her face, and don a warm smile for her companions. ”To hear them tell it, at least.”
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