[ Verim feels the surface of Piper's thoughts. It's inevitable to a point with her deeper in his mind. She's studious. Taking in what she's seen and felt with careful study. He'd not expected that outcome though perhaps he had had allowed for hope. He's tried many times to explain these things to his landen friends only to find it an impossible task. Words simply couldn't convey it.
Still, there's more to what she intuits, he thinks. An understanding that a landen, if Verim could show these memories to one as he does with Piper, still wouldn't fully reach. He will not pry now, but some other time, he resolves to ask. ]
Then we continue.
[ The scene lurches into motion again and tension in Verim - both now and in memory - is unmistakable. In one heartbeat, he's found the Queen for whom a part of him has always searched. In the next, comes pure fury at the men threatening to take that gift from him. The world doesn't paint itself blood red and Piper's thoughts do not grow chaotic or rabid.
Oh, no, not at all. The fury, real and fierce, sharpens the world as her body relaxes. There's no turmoil. No wondering about if they should die or not. Death is, after all, the only option and Piper knows it be true. She knows every building and extends her awareness to encompass them as well just in case there might be another lurking in the shadows.
Wrapping the female in layers of Gray shields isn't easy, but he pushes that power around her holds it though the muters fight him, requiring constant upkeep to the shields. That's fine. He has plenty of power to spare. More than enough.
The men turn and when they see Piper, shock and fear both ripple across their expression. They realize the same thing Piper knows - she is outside of the area affect of the muters. She is the Gray Jeweled Prince of Draega.
One of them lifts a Breaker, leveling it at Piper's chest. But there's no need to worry for in that instant, her plan unfolds. Craft shaped into lethal intent. The effect hits them all at the same time. Invisible hands that push past skin and wrap their hearts. A constant flow of power keeps the muters from dissipating her Craft for the less than a second it takes to crush each of their fetid hearts.
The bodies drop to the ground.
But it's not enough. There are so many people in this city that would hurt her, harm her, and Piper could with a thought, with a single blast of Gray, eliminate - ]
Prince.
[ It's her. Piper's Queen calling to her. A light touch lands on her arm that commands attention without demanding it. ]
I am well, Prince.
[ She says and that potent, burning rage starts to recede. She's safe. That's what matters. All that matters. The sharp edges of the world start to soften.
As the raw instinct wrapped in fury abates, Verim gently lets the memory fade out, yet he doesn't end their connection. Instead, he keeps it steady and keeps his shields in place to give her the space to come back from being in another person's body if only for a little while. ]
Take slow deep breathes at first. Settling back into one's own skin can take a minute or two.
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Still, there's more to what she intuits, he thinks. An understanding that a landen, if Verim could show these memories to one as he does with Piper, still wouldn't fully reach. He will not pry now, but some other time, he resolves to ask. ]
Then we continue.
[ The scene lurches into motion again and tension in Verim - both now and in memory - is unmistakable. In one heartbeat, he's found the Queen for whom a part of him has always searched. In the next, comes pure fury at the men threatening to take that gift from him. The world doesn't paint itself blood red and Piper's thoughts do not grow chaotic or rabid.
Oh, no, not at all. The fury, real and fierce, sharpens the world as her body relaxes. There's no turmoil. No wondering about if they should die or not. Death is, after all, the only option and Piper knows it be true. She knows every building and extends her awareness to encompass them as well just in case there might be another lurking in the shadows.
Wrapping the female in layers of Gray shields isn't easy, but he pushes that power around her holds it though the muters fight him, requiring constant upkeep to the shields. That's fine. He has plenty of power to spare. More than enough.
The men turn and when they see Piper, shock and fear both ripple across their expression. They realize the same thing Piper knows - she is outside of the area affect of the muters. She is the Gray Jeweled Prince of Draega.
One of them lifts a Breaker, leveling it at Piper's chest. But there's no need to worry for in that instant, her plan unfolds. Craft shaped into lethal intent. The effect hits them all at the same time. Invisible hands that push past skin and wrap their hearts. A constant flow of power keeps the muters from dissipating her Craft for the less than a second it takes to crush each of their fetid hearts.
The bodies drop to the ground.
But it's not enough. There are so many people in this city that would hurt her, harm her, and Piper could with a thought, with a single blast of Gray, eliminate - ]
Prince.
[ It's her. Piper's Queen calling to her. A light touch lands on her arm that commands attention without demanding it. ]
I am well, Prince.
[ She says and that potent, burning rage starts to recede. She's safe. That's what matters. All that matters. The sharp edges of the world start to soften.
As the raw instinct wrapped in fury abates, Verim gently lets the memory fade out, yet he doesn't end their connection. Instead, he keeps it steady and keeps his shields in place to give her the space to come back from being in another person's body if only for a little while. ]
Take slow deep breathes at first. Settling back into one's own skin can take a minute or two.