Shadows of the Past

*By now, Binah has disappeared into the Hall.*

L"Alright, I say we form groups, scout out the closest worlds first."

R"Aren't we kind of already in groups?"

L"I guess so."
==================================
N"Why bother? It's always nighttime here. Hm...you know, I don't think anyone actually lives in the city below. I wonder why that is."

Artexi:<We could go exploring...it'll be an adventure!>
---
*Monu nods*

<So myself, Lilith, Safian, Mortal and Taiyo in one group, Thiera, Roatha, Hitomi and Azuma in the other.>

Azuma: "And not only does it talk, it decided who goes with who."

"She didn't really decide anything," Mortal said, "Like... uh... the little guy over there said, we're already in groups. It just makes sense to stick it out like this."

--

"Perhaps it is dangerous," Noct said, "Or perhaps the rent is too damn high."

*Roatha folds his arms.*

R"Roatha. And I am not little."

L"Well, as long as we've got that settled, we'll head off in this direction, while you go that way."

T"But when do we report back?"

L"Well, that's the tricky thing. We don't want to be too dependent on Mother, but we do need to report important information. So I say we meet up after we're finished scouting out our first worlds, & go from there."
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*The Dark Corridor re-opens behind them. Out steps a woman, her curves & bust not completely obscured by the Black Coat. Her hood is down, so they can see that she has blue eyes, & silver hair that falls over her shoulders, braided into a sort of "crown" on her head.*

N"Oh, Keter, what are you doing here?"

Keter<I could ask you the same question. As it so happens, Senthose told me to find you. I just shared with him news from the Land of Departure.>

"Roatha," Mortal said, "Sorry, I meant no offense, I was just trying to describe you..."

--

"That news being?" Noct asked.

OOC: Monu was talking, not Safian. "Myself....Safian."

*A low growl emanates from Safian*

<I'm not an "it". I'm a "she", if you can't tell.>

Monu:<Makes sense. When should we report in?>
---
*Artexi waves*

<Hi Ms Keter! We're exploring. Does Senthose need us?>

"I said 'she'," Mortal said with a grin, "Don't worry, Safian, I've got your back! Also, didn't Lilith just say to report in when we're done with our first planet?" She looked to Lilith for confirmation.

*Safian rubs up against Mortal's legs like a huge cat*

Mortal d'aww'ed and began to rub Safian's head.

Azuma: "Anyways, when do we depart?"

*Lilith nods at Mortal, then summons her Keyblade, stabbing it in the ground. At this point, it glows pink & splits apart into tendrils of light, which grow as they unfold, until there's a large, metallic flower in front of her.*

L"Let's go now."

*She pushes a button on her belt, which begins to glow. The light spreads out over her, & when it fades, she's all decked out in armor. Roatha touches his pendant & Thiera the hairclip, & they become similarly armored.*
============================
*Keter gives Artexi a hard stare that lets her know that she isn't even worth the dirt on Keter's boots.*

Keter<As if Senthose would have need of the likes of you. He merely requested that I inform you of the Mark of Mastery exam taking place, & how it is to be an unstructured mission into the Lanes Between.>

Mortal taps her brooch, and is suited up as well, "Alright, let's get going."

--

"Thanks for the info, mom," Noct said, "Is there anything else?"

Azuma & Taiyo touch the buckles of their respective belts while Hitomi touches her glasses, suiting up before calling up their gliders.

Azuma: "I want to see the lion suit up."

Taiyo: "I'm kinda curious as well."

"Her name is Safian," Mortal pointed out.

*Monu touches his left glove to suit up, while Safian touches her left shoulder. Both then summon their gliders*

Safian:<Like this.>
---
*Artexi stares right back at Keter, since she couldn't care less about what Keter thinks of her*

<Thanks?>

*She points at them, & then downward, & thus they all fall to their knees.*

Keter<Know your place.>

*She turns back to the Dark Corridor, muttering as she disappears into it.*

Keter<Next time Senthose...insolent children...another thing coming....>

*When the Dark Corridor shuts, Nero lets out an annoyed sigh.*

N"You both just had to snark her, & then I get lumped in with it."
==================================
OOC: Shitty.

L"Someone needs to open the Lanes."

T""On it!""R

*They call their Keyblades & face opposite directions. Beams of light shoot out of the ends of the weapons, striking midair & essentially blowing glowing, crackling holes in space. They then throw their Keyblades into the air, which both glow, transform into Gliders, & float back down for them to get on. Roatha jumps on his & adjusts the throttle to stay aloft, while Thiera's comes down slow enough for it to touch the ground & she can get on it gently.*

*Artexi shrugs*

<Not my fault she exemplifies Beauty is only Skin Deep.>

*She stands up*
---
Monu:<Everyone set?>

*Safian curtly nods*

Azuma: "That was unimpressive."

Taiyo: "Ready!"

*Safian growls again*

<I didn't do it to impress you.>

Noct stood on the ground, now sitting, "I wasn't trying to snark her. Who knew she was so thin skinned?"

--

Mortal gets on her glider, and waits for the show to get on the road.

*Nero gets up & dusts himself off.*

N"I did. She basically thinks she's the most important member of the Organization, because she's the contact in the Order. And, let's face it, we are pretty unimportant."
================================
*Lilith leads her group through a purplish black void towards a world that's mostly water, but has a few large land masses. She stops to hover over it, then points at a coast line.*

L"If you look carefully, against the backdrop of the sun, there are wisps of darkness rising up from somewhere around there."
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*Meanwhile, the other group nears a similar world. Unlike the other one, its dark side is lit up by thousands of lights. As they pass over the twilight zone, an invisible barrier shatters below, throwing them all helter skelter. Roatha pulls back on his Glider to regain control while Thiera just tucks her Glider's wings in until she stops spinning.*

R"What the--"

*Before their eyes, the shattered fragments of the barrier take on new color & solidity. Darkness creeps in from the Lanes Between & then the fragments pull together, becoming a trio of [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]. They split off, flying around between the Gliders. One rams Roatha, knocking him loose, while another heads for Hitomi's side, & the 3rd to Azuma's behind.*

"No one is denying that," Noct said, "I just figured that she wouldn't flip out over something as small as 'mom'. How did she know that was even supposed to be derogatory? Anyway, now that we know that the Mark of Mastery is underway, shouldn't we do something."

--

Mortal looks, and tries to see what Lilith was talking about.

*Artexi looks down*

<Like what?>
---
*Monu looks in the same direction as Lilith, while Safian hisses at the water far below*

Taiyo looks toward the sun, squinting.

Taiyo: "Right there?"

She points at what may or may not be there.

===================================

Hitomi pulls her glider back and turns to take aim at the whatever and fires.

Azuma spins his glider back and advances, rising so the bladed edgenof the board is closest to the whatever.