[GFD] The Lost Girl & The New World

Well this wasn't any good. Not good at all. The Heartless activity in the area had steadily grown over the course of a singular week here on this world which was cause enough to get a Master's attention. They had to make this quick and return to Scala Ad Caelum as there were no Wielders around to give this call any attention. Moreover, a strong Light had been detected here and they had to investigate. Normally, these sorts of missions would be taken by an Ally or a Wielder but Master Ignia was in the area and decided to handle it on her own.

The Heartless influx was easily handled with a spin of her keyblade as magic erupted from it, cascading into a sparkling curtain that surged forward. Eventually, they would be dispelled. She sighed. The Heartless were getting bolder these days and it worried the Master. This sudden Light was both a good sign and a bad one. For one, it meant another was to be added to their ranks. The bad, it meant things were only going to get more challenging for them from here on out.

The young lady finally managed to arrive here and as if sensing their presence, something would nudge against Lucille's shoulder though it remained unseen. Lucille would undoubtedly hear the distinct footfalls from Ignia's classy foot wear as she descended into the cavern. She took the time to admire the markings on the walls which gave her pause. This...couldn't be what she thought it was, could it?

Then when she could smell the burning wood, Ignia immediately knew someone was down here. This Light. They were by themselves and she had to tread lightly. The moment she reached the bottom, she'd spy Lucille and smiled softly, equally as such greeting Lucille "Hey..." she stood at the bottom, not mvoing and instead letting Lucille see her. The most notable thing Lucille would notice...was the weapon in Ignia's hand.

What was this girl doing by herself? It was dangerous out in this wilderness but she got the feeling that the shrine was protecting her from the Heartless so she could forgive that much. Ah. She started to piece together the clues before her very eyes. She was alone. There was a Heartless influx. She looked like she had been surviving on her own during the course of this breakout. Civilians just didn't stand a chance against even the weakest Heartless, especially in these numbers. She was a survivor, most like and it was starting to become a common sight these days.

She squatted down and smiled, retaining a gentle tone. "They're gone now. I made sure of it." she assured. Then she remembered she had come here for the Light she sensed...which was around this girl. It was all around her. Ah. Now it was making much more sense and it gave the Master pause. She looked pained, looking upon Lucille and seeing a story play out in her head. She could take a good guess as to what happened but would hold off on asking that. For now, it was better to ask another question.

"I'm Ignia. What is your name?" she asked with an offering hand.

Her hand is slightly calloused, warm to the touch. This language she spoke, she was aware of the wide expansive amount of them spoken on Humanity's Haven and this one was french. How melodic! But she was getting ahead of herself. "Twenty of them, you say?" she looked surprised, especially when she got a closer look at her appearance. She found it hard to believe but with a Light that shone this bright, it wasn't totally impossible. "That is rather impressive." she remarked, standing up.

"But yes, they are relentless. It will require a bit more to quell them in this area." she murmured. She looked upon the cavern walls and then the pool. They certainly did exude some kind of protective aura and it resonated with Lucille quite well but there was something else. She wasn't certain but she felt there was more to this Light than met the eye and Ignia was determined to find out what it was.

"Do you want to come with me? I'm sure it would be much better than living out your days in a cave like this."

The force that had been hovering about Lucille would gingerly nudge her toward Ignia as if insisting on taking up Ignia on her offer.

Ignia smiles and nods. "Well the little ones are generally easier to deal with. Shadows aren't that strong to begin with but if you let their numbers accumulate..." she stopped herself with a grunt of apprehension. This girl probably didn't need to hear that. She was already well-aware of what they could do first-hand from the way she carried herself. A week of hiding out in a place like this? That was unheard of. "Nevermind." she'd put a cork in that line of thinking.

If she stayed here, more Heartless would show up. Overtime, something even worse might rear its head and darken the entryway for this cavern. There were plenty of places in Humanity's Haven where heroes resided but none of them were close enough to contact or leave Lucille in their care. Moreover, this Light of hers was still the main focus. It felt similar to a Wielder's Light but she got the feeling Lucille might not have that element. No. She'd be made aware of it quite clearly. Whatever this was that let her deal with Heartless was something that needed protection. In a place Heartless couldn't touch.

She handled the uniquely-shaped Keyblade up in a gracefully manner, vertically to her face with a single hand. Then gestured at the pool with it by pointing. "Well, Humanity's Haven is a place that is far too dangerous for you to remain in and therefore, a change of venue is in order." The tip of the weapon sparkled and gleamed as ribbons of light circled the point of light that emerged. "My dear Lucille, there is a place where Wielders call home and others that train alongside them to become great warriors. It is also a place that I rule over." She gave a quaint smile as a slim beam of light zipped out from the point and collided in the space above the fountain. As it did, a great whooshing noise erupted and a bright keyhole-shaped flat figure emerged. Eventually, the light inside the keyhole would gain depth and a new sight emerged.

A vast ivory town with a vast ocean upon its horizon with silky white cloud above.


"Scala Ad Caelum" she'd simply sa. She twisted her wrist as if to throw away the Keyblade but it would simply evaporate in a shimmering mist.

The barrage of questions leaves the young woman chuckling nervously. This one was still young so of course curiosity was brimming within herself quite fiercely. She had somehow made Lucille forget about her plight. That wonder in her eyes, Ignia had to keep that feeling alive and so she'd add in. "Well, not exactly a princess or a queen but someone very important nevertheless." she playfully smiled as she toyed with the notion in her head at the idea and what Erst might think. "Though I guess a princess isn't TOO far off base."

She let Lucille get closer and listened to the child go on about books. She was one of the dreamers with a bright and wonderful imagination. Something that was needed in this day and age. "Indeed it was though I don't cast lightning from my hands. From my keyblade, yes. And teleporting is quite fun." She stood behind Lucille, looking at those eyes brimming with wonder and feeling hope grow. She faced the portal again. "I'm here to tell you; Magic is quite real. It is both a tool meant to amaze and one to protect with. Your storybooks only tell half the tales. it is...so much more."

As she said this, her joy slightly falters as she looks down to the side with a sigh. She inhales softly and composes herself. "Lights like yours are precious."

That look. She knew it well and seeing it come over the face of one who had just been filled with wonder was heartbreaking and she couldn't bear to look at it directly. She steeled her heart and took a deep breath. Lucille needed a place to stay and Scala Ad Caelum was a great place for this. However, it was more than that. So much more.

"It is a place of guidance and direction. Where others from various worlds gather to train and learn from the best. Other Keyblade Wielders also train here and the knowledge accumulated here is just as vast." she explained. "You will have a place to stay. Someone to look after you. And if you so choose, a place to learn." She strode past her, standing before the gate with a hand held out. "Only you can make the first step."

Ignia looks at her and softly smiles as her hand takes hers. It was a relief to have her on the same page at least. She was determined to find out more about Lucille's circumstances but for now at least she could at least let her see a new world.

To Lucille, it was her story and that was something Ignia could appreciate in terms of a viewpoint. Books were interesting things like that. Opening a whole new world just by words alone. It allows those to experience something all within the comforts of their own homes that would otherwise be impossible. To look into the minds of those with a clear goal in mind they need to accomplish. Playing along with that mindset, Ignia would simply state. "My dear, you're just opening the cover and looking upon the first page."

Ignia swore she felt something settling between herself and Lucille but couldn't describe it. It felt familiar yet completely new at the same time. Said force would scamper between them before settling down upon Lucille herself in an attempt to get her relaxed and filled with joy. Ignia looked on, letting Lucille take one last look at the place she had called home for the past week. And then stepped forward with Lucille in tow.


The moment they stepped through, there'd be a gentle breeze of lightly salty air coupled with an uplifting sensation. Lucille would immediately feel the difference. It was like stepping into a place straight out of her books that welcoming her into its embrace. The ivory sights of the expansive city would overtake her senses. The grass she stepped upon was crisp, far different than home's and twice as vibrant. The temperature was comfortably mild. In contrast with the white structures, the blue skies above would be wide and seemed to stretch on beyond the horizon. Windmills lightly spun upon their structures with the breeze that carried them. Above, vehicles traveled upon wires no doubt filled with people going from one place to the other. In the distance, others moved about with a gracefulness while mystical energies flowed through their hands. They were laughing, putting in effort, enjoying a break on the nearby benches, reading in a group of others, and some were even stepping into portals much like the one they had just come through.

The sights were a cornucopia of color, vibrancy, and delight. Before them laid a fountain lazily spewing water from its orifices that danced across the surface of the water itself. The statue depicted showed three armored figures wielding various Keyblades. One of which was Ignia's which showed to Lucille exactly what kind of armor Ignia wore.



But even further above was a tall, enormous structure that Ignia herself looked upon with no short amount of pride and comfort. It was a prominently featured tower with various gears and parapets at its apex. On its center was a golden eight-pointed star-like emblem embossed. On the side were more windmills that graciously spun in the high winds far above. The shape of it all would look reminiscent of a heart but such a sight would be mere coincidence, wouldn't it?

Ignia let Lucille take in the sights and let her imagination soar just as the portal behind them would inevitably fade.