Dreadlords Graduation

[Meredith]

Sable looked defeated, sounded defeated. Meredith wanted to go to him as his shouts were ignored. Yet, there was Noel. Fret creased Meredith's brow, and tears welled in her eyes. Dysfunctional as it was, this was her family and it was being torn asunder.

Threats of a broken nose did nothing to dissuade her from her decision. Noel could not die like that, not if it could be helped. Meredith started towards her, as Noel shouted her destiny at Gilram. Meredith had no doubt the girl would one day succeed.

A tentative hand reached out to touch Noel's shoulder, and Meredith cleared her throat softly. " I'm sorry Noel, but we need you." She knew she'd pay for it, but it was worth it to her.

The wall crumbled as her family did, they were gone. All that was left was to deal with the aftermath, and Sable was already rushing in to help. "Noel, I think you should sit down for a while. Can I do anything to help?" Concern was etched in her voice, and she was certain she'd get a bitter angry response for it..and a broken nose. "Please?"

 

[Liliana]

"Yes, it is." Liliana whispered, her gaze flickering over to Kalix for a brief moment before glancing over towards Delaney and Gilram. I've lost enough pawns today.

She thought bitterly.

The emotion almost immediately wiped out as Everleigh deposited Zael with some of the other peasant Initiate's and came running over. Satisfaction filling her as she and Kalix both came over to her. "I'm so glad you made it through."

Liliana said softly, touching Everleigh's arm with her free hand. A small smile drawing on her lips.

"We're leaving." She told the three of them even as the Archon began to speak again. As the mongrel hulk shouted after him and those stepping into the shadows.

"I've had enough of this nonsense." Liliana said, motioning towards the forest. "And I don't want to find out what the remaining Proctors will do when he goes."

Some were still standing after all, and she had no intention of finding out if their spines were still intact.

 

[Trix]

"Don't -" Trix held out her hand like one might towards an overly excited dog intent on licking your face, and fixed him with a glare to seal the deal. "Touch me," she said, quite firmly, and then pulled herself upright with as much dignity as she could with blood still trickling from a thousand different wounds. Lili practically spoke over the top of whatever speech the Archon was giving now and Trix was rather glad of it. She didn't have the patience to listen to a madman and all but turned her back on those who stood with him.

It was only when she stumbled after the first step that she begrudgingly let Kalix take her other arm to support her.

"If you mention this to anyone else..." she half-heartedly threatened and glanced in his direction with a slight, pained smile. If either of them could mention anything of what had happened here today to others it was a miracle. How many Proctors had there been intent on seeing children die? 10? More? They should have all been dead - would have been - if not for the Archon and his honey-slick words. Whatever side they chose, they did all deserve to live. Even Kalix. Even...

"Fuck," she muttered. "Wait," she winced as she crouched to the ground. Zael was perhaps even lower down in her estimations than Kalix was, but... Concentrating she closed her eyes and focused on the different seeds and specks of life below, searching for the one she needed. From between her fingers grew an unremarkable plant with yellow flowers which she pulled out at the roots. With Kalix and Lili's help she stood and then whistled shrilly before putting the last of her strength into throwing it.

"Use the leaves," was the only advice she gave but most of the initiates would know the quick blood clotting benefits of yarrow. Especially when it had been given a little boost.

 

[Davi]

The wolf's head snapped round at the sharp whistle and caught sight of the flowers sailing through the air. With one leap he caught it gently between his teeth and pinned his ears back with a glare to Trix. From the smirk on her face before she turned away, Davi suspected she'd whistled deliberately knowing he would be quickest to react.

Gently, he gave the plant over to Ralene.

 

[Noel]

Every syllable that slimed its way out of Gilram's throat made her sick. Each word a new manner of lie, every time his tongue pressed against the roof of his mouth to form a new sound Noel thought of nothing more than making this deceiver pay.

No matter how much flowery language he used, how much he promised them, their so-called freedom would require the deaths of Anirians. It'd require them to fight against people like her.

Her knuckles went several shades lighter as she clenched her fists. Gritted her teeth. If not for this damn wall she'd have already charged, or more likely limped, across the field and plunged her sliver of metal as deep into Gilram's face as possible.

Then the bastard had the nerve to use his vile magic to whisper his pathetic lies into her ear.

Noel's demeanor shifted though at the after the end of his speech. As Edric called out his intentions. She nodded, thinking back to their harrowing trial in Sene and Teaobo. Was he truly...

The wall collapsed. Her gaze settled on Edric's just as he turned and left. "No," she said to Meredith, "I'm not sitting. I'm going back to the academy.". The Guard needed to be informed, the few Proctors who hadn't engaged in this madness needed to be notified.

"If you want to help me," chestnut eyes locked in on Meredith's face, "get stronger."

After today they'd all be Dreadlords. After today they wouldn't be chasing bandits or dealing with Cortosi rebels. They'd be fighting their own, they'd need to take down an Archon.

 

[Samantha Black]

Supporting Zael while Sable tended, Ral looked up in time to see Trix making her own offering of aid and took the flower from the Davi, stripped the leaves and passed them to Sable. Zael's blood had soaked through her leather armor and the material of her clothes, and the hand she lifted to stroke over the withered wolf's form left a streak of dark red across his charred and singed coat.

"Meredith," Ralene looked over finally to the pair of girls, her tone strong and hoarse from her fight with Charon, "get back to the Academy and find the Healers. Send them out here to meet us. Go. NOW."

Zael didn't have much longer by the looks of it and the faster a Healer could get to him, the better. By the time Sable finished applying the entirety of his medkit and the Yarrow leaves to what injuries he could, Ral moved to kneel by Zael's body and carefully scooped him up in her arms, "You've done all you can Sable. The rest is up to Zael. Stay with us in case any of the rogue Proctors are still out there. I'll need you to watch our back."

Grimacing through the pain of her injured shoulder, she mentally braced against it and found that, without even having to hiss the activation spell, her runes ignited to numb the pain away. She gently adjusted Zael so his head rested against her and then pressed off across blood-soaked earth to make way for the Academy.

 

[Alistair Krixus]

Alistair watched the others go with sadness, and a little bit of annoyance. He heard Edric's words to Noel and he hoped that was a good sign since he did not have the context to know what that meant. Instead, his eyes turned to the surrounding area as Gilram and his new recruits left.

First, he did a head count. Who was left? Who could walk? More importantly, how many proctors were left that might do something stupid once Gilram left?

There were injured, but many were too far gone. Was that Zael? Shit, he did not look good, but others were already working on him. Alistair had so much energy still left. He had to help somehow. Ralene took up Zael. He would provide support.

Alistair moved over to Ralene as she started to run, his own runes activating to keep up with her and provide some more strength and stamina.

He looked back at the others, most were beginning to move, but he yelled out to anyone who still might be in a fog.

"Everyone! We are leaving. Let's go."

Al expected snarky retorts back at him. None of the initiates liked being told what to do. The fact that he did not receive as many as he expected said how serious the situation was, and how many lives had been lost.

 

[Kalix]

Kalix was, perhaps due to the grim circumstances that had befallen the academy today, quiet. There was a melancholy seriousness that made him hold Trix up but not push any of her buttons. Strangely enough, despite his calloused hands, his touch was firm but not rough. She was beat up enough, he didn’t want to add further injury, but more importantly he didn’t want to add to the pain she was already feeling.

A minor kindness for plenty of others, but a major sign of growth for Kalix.

“Who would I tell? At least… two-eighths of the class is dead. That’s like twenty-eight percent.” Kalix said, following after Liliana and keeping Trix upright once she stood back up after growing the yarrow for Zael. “I just think carrying you is faster. You got little legs. That’s all. Wasn’t even thinking about your injuries.” A lame lie on Kalix’s part in an attempt to save Trix’s pride from needing a bit of help.

Trix Liliana

 

[Everleigh Ebersol]

Everleigh looked at Liliana, shivering at the touch. Liliana’s fingers were somehow cool, but it was welcoming at that moment. It kept Everleigh steady, drying her watery eyes and making her look forward. She couldn’t look back.

She could hear Sable’s raucous voice as he shouted Zael’s name, easily hear Trix’s offer with the yarrow, and heard Ralene tell Meredith to get running. She could hear Alistair as well. Everyone was doing something for Zael.

Everleigh’s hands turned into dirty fists. On one hand she was thankful for everyone making such a effort to help Zael, after all what a testament to his character that so many would rally to his aid, but on the other, a selfish desire mixed with a shattering realization on Everleigh’s inability to take care of Zael completely.

Unforgivable. But, if Zael lived, she would do better. If only to not have to rely on someone else to care for her own selfish desire.

“We need to get back.” There was a pause and she looked at Liliana. “You especially.” After all, Everleigh figured an important cousin would need to know of today’s events. The sooner the better.

 

[Meredith]

It was almost a slap in the face, when Noel turned to Meredith. Honestly, her words stung more than any hit Noel could have given her. It was a wake-up call, and Meredith nodded in response. She realized just how weak she was compared to the other intiates. She should have died here, and yet here she stood, still a disappointment.


Ralean's voice calling her name, snapped Meredith from her internal battle. Her head snapped to attention and she spun on her heel to do as she was bid. This was more important than her right now. Zael was dying. She darted back through the trees, not as fast as others, but training still lead her to be athletic.

Meredith had a fear of running into an enemy, but there was naught to do but try her best to reach the academy. She could see the spires through the trees, and it bolstered her onward. She could see the training fields in front of her, open space to run as fast as possible.

It seemed time slowed down the closer she got, and her breaths became pants as she tried to keep her stamina going. Finally, she burst through the doors of the academy, sprawling onto the stone floor in her haste. She scrambled to her feet, her first objective was the infirmary, there was bound to be someone there that could help.