ocean-life WM [96] Breaking a Few Rules
WM [96] Breaking a Few Rules
WM [96] Breaking a Few Rules
Without hesitation, she tested what they had unlocked together. Drawing all the water back from Bjorn’s body, she held it in a single orb above her palm. It shimmered under the faint light, pure and clear. Then, she activated the Poison Infusion. Like all of her other communed skills she knew them on an instinctual level as if it was always a part of her. The water bubbled and churned, turning black and viscous. The magic pulsed with something dark and caustic, and Tanisha’s brow furrowed as she studied it.
“This... isn’t normal poison,” she murmured, holding the orb closer to examine it.“I think this can actually affect the constructs.”
The seiðr itself seemed alive, toxic in a way that felt otherworldly. She frowned, instinctively recognizing its potential. With a flick of her wrist, she dismissed the water orb, letting it dissolve into nothingness.
Her gaze shifted back to Bjorn. “You got hydromancy?”
Bjorn tilted one of his heads, his expression unreadable, and then opened the mouth that normally unleashed torrents of fire. Instead of flames, a sphere of water formed in his jaws, swirling with quiet intensity.
“Water breath,” Tanisha said with a small nod.
She tried to smile, but her lips trembled slightly. She looked down, her hands tightening into fists at her sides as emotions welled up. She tried to suppress them, but it was futile. The realization hit her harder than she expected: she was about to let him go. Into the most dangerous situation imaginable. Into chaos and uncertainty and she couldn’t do anything about it.
She wasn’t his mother, who she was fairly certain was furious with her right now. She wasn’t capable of going with him, wasn’t strong enough to protect him better than he could protect himself. She wasn’t even sure if she could say goodbye the way he deserved.
He was her True, her best friend, her partner in crime and they were literally bound soul deep. He had defended her, chosen her as family, stood by her when the Queen of a Thousand Heads questioned her place in his life. They had been inseparable since the day he was born.
She wouldn’t cry, though. Not here, not now. He didn’t need to see her weakness, didn’t need the weight of her fears on his already burdened shoulders. He had a mission, and she wouldn’t hold him back.
A soft chime broke the silence, followed by Doxy’s monotone voice. “User Tanisha. User Bjorn. Laxy has requested your presence.”
Tanisha took a deep breath, forcing a steady tone. “We’ll be right there. You ready to try on your new armor, Big Man?”
Bjorn stood, his form casting a shadow over her. One of his heads nuzzled her gently, the affectionate gesture pulling a small laugh from her. She didn’t expect what came next. With a flick of his tail, he wrapped it around her waist and hoisted her onto his back before she could protest.
“Hey!” she yelped, clutching at his scales to steady herself.
As the last piece clicked into place, the armor seemed to come alive. The runes pulsed in a synchronized rhythm, and the technological components emitted a soft hum. Bjorn shifted his weight experimentally, the armor moving with him as though it were a natural extension of his body.
“How does it feel?” Aurelius asked.
Bjorn’s heads turned, each testing the range of motion. “Light,” Laxy translated his hisses. “And strong. This... this is perfect.”
Aurelius let out a low whistle. “If I were a monster in that hurricane, I’d run the other way just seeing you.”
Tanisha loved the armor but not what it meant. She forced a smile, but her eyes were clouded with sadness. As much as she was proud of Bjorn and the strength he represented, the armor symbolized a journey she knew he had to take alone.
Laxy broke the moment demonstrating the rune pattern again. Bjorn repeated and the armor shimmered before vanishing into his inventory. He performed the pattern again, and it reappeared just as seamlessly.
Tanisha stepped forward, her hands clenching and unclenching at her sides.
“Bjorn...” she began, her voice barely above a whisper. “Just... be careful, okay?”
Bjorn lowered his main head to her level, and Laxy translated. “I will, Tanisha. I promise.”
Tanisha nodded, but her lips trembled. Without thinking, she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around his neck, burying her face in his scales. The room went quiet, the weight of the moment settling over them all.
“Come back to us,” she whispered. “No matter what.”
“Well lets see him off with food.” Aurelius said .
Fuyumi stepped closer as well, “And drink, I have already reached my limit but you two can give me your share for today.”
“That is not allowed, Fuyumi.” Laxy cleared her throat.
“Doxy said punishment protocols are off.” Fuyumi said with a wave of her hand. “So it is not like anything will happen from breaking a few rules here and there.”