Re: The Test of Bonds
Posted: Mon Mar 01, 2021 1:44 pm
Thread Title
The way Arcas had taken the wolf's hands, how his thumbs rubbed gently between his fingers... There was no denying it any further. Every little bit assured Rickter of the fact Arcas spoke true, that they were one and the same, even when the shorter man brought their foreheads closer together. "It... really is him." The excitement that would've so profoundly existed there, could only be filled with that sense of peace brought on from his Bondmate. All the other feelings rushing through him, the thoughts that plagued him before, they were a subsided echo now that he'd felt the presence... now that he acknowledged it for what it was. There was hope in light of this after all, a thread or even a sliver was enough to keep him going.
To keep Rickter focused on what he needed to do, even if it were just to listen to what Arcas had to say. But those words about fate, had it really been so kind? Had all the suffering not just Rickter, but Talon and Aoren, Telion and Hannah, even everyone else like Fawn... Lyra... There were so many others that somehow felt tied into this, perhaps by some other slight tether or strand of fate. After everything that everybody had been through, everything that had happened to lead up to this moment. Was it really kindness? Perhaps. There had been a lot that had taken place between the start of Ash and now, so much in fact that the wolf hadn't fully stopped to think about it. But if it all built up to this sole moment, then that had to mean that every step of the way... was a step within the right direction. Every moment spent to get here, a moment worth cherishing for what it brought.
Somehow Rickter felt a sense of unity within himself understanding this, an affirmed sense of belonging as though he were just a piece of the puzzle; now fitted into the proper place he was meant to be. Yes. There were many questions to be had, questions he would've loved to ask right now, questions that would have to hold on until the important things were brought to light. For when Arcas took Rickter by the hand he turned it over, revealing the scar upon his left forearm moments after. The wolf watched curiously as the Draegir pressed a finger into the mark, Rickter furrowing his eyebrows as he felt it react to the presence of Arcas. Gentle light filled it with a soft illumination afterward, the presence of divinity felt within his arm as the wolf lightly cleared his throat. Was this for real? Did he just inherit the power of a God? Essential God at least? Arcas described it as Eminence, and that those who possessed it were allies that would notice one another.
"So... there are others out there who'll have this power as well." He could only wonder who those people were, and how connected they were to Arcas, or rather how connected the wolf was to them in retrospect. What's more Arcas described what to expect with Talon in the future, how he'd have a difficult road ahead of him from this point on. What was it that Sahfri said before? “This will not be an easy road for you, Wolf.” And at that time he'd just been a lowly hound, hardly worth wasting time over as he was nothing. A blank canvas. Was this what was meant to be painted for him? Arcas pressed on the matter by expressing one thing, believing that he had the strength to overcome the trials ahead. He didn't have it back then, whereas now it was all he had.
No that wasn't right. He had more than just the unwavering courage necessary to face the chaos ahead. Rickter had the love of his Bondmates and his friends, the support of those he would call his comrades in the future to come. It would be just as Telion said, through whatever darkness that plagued them, their trust in one another would see them through. This was no different. It was all the more proof in how Arcas and Tiberius exchanged looks, the thoughts shared between them knowing from their past experiences together. "I'll never let it consume me again." The wolf agreed firmly as he held onto that belief, that determination to become the line that kept comrade safe from entropy. But then came the next part, the destiny that was to be his in the days to come.
At this Rickter raised his eyebrows, never having believed in some grandiose role he'd have to play. But look where he was now, in the presence of a Draegir and a past incarnation no less. Two of them technically, if he did count Arcas as that as well. Rickter watched with diligence reminiscent of Tiberius himself, a fact that made the grizzled old knight grin a little wider as he watched. But then that grin faltered at what was to come, the levity of purpose in this tale felt when Arcas projected two particular objects. A pair of swords hovered beside him, the one on Rickter's left glistening with a profound radiance akin to the sun... maybe even perhaps the stars. It was a truly marvelous blade to gaze upon, the silver runes brilliantly shone along the pure blade, with wings unfurled from the center of the crossguard as the golden hilt and pommel radiated more light.
Oathkeeper... The name stirred something within Rickter when he heard it, a gentle reminder felt in the beat of his heart over a promise made centuries ago. A promise made in the name of a great sacrifice, a promise that was never quite fulfilled at the time it was meant to. A blade of light and hope, one meant to bring justice within the world. Already he felt as though it called out to him, the faint name of the one he'd heard before echoing in his thoughts as he did. "Alistor..." There was something in particular about this name, this particular person who felt connected to the weapon itself. The same could be said for the other weapon, the malevolent blade shrouded with a darkness, unlike anything Rickter had seen.
Oblivion... Another weapon with a name that felt familiar, it's power delivering unyielding destruction to enemies, promising to deliver only pure and wretched chaos to those who possessed it. Something about how Arcas gazed upon the blade itself left Rickter to wonder, an innate pain felt in his own heart as he too started at the blacked blade. It was a sword much like Oblivion, the blade itself stained so black that it looked to be made of pure obsidian, while the crossguard bore a storming black gemstone between the pair of chains wrapped around the hilt. The shadows themselves didn't cling to the blade, but rather, they were exuded as though something wretched and terrifying were housed inside. Another name. Though it did not rise to the surface just yet for Rickter, only the feeling of somebody close being tied to the blade itself... and a feeling of loss that lingered within the shadow of his own heart.
Arcas elaborated on the fact things had been set in motion on this day, that time ticked forward toward his destiny as he'd have to seek these blades out. Tiberius looked firmly at Rickter as he were told these things, as it was stressed that long ago there had in fact been a promise made. A promise that Rickter alone didn't make necessarily, but a promise he inherited from his forebearers centuries ago. What's more death lingered on the horizon still, if the wolf could not in fact uphold this promise. "What promise!?" The thoughts were wracked with insurmountable fear for his loved ones, Tiberius grimly fixed on Rickter with an empathetic curve found in his lips. Arcas rested his hands on Rickter's shoulders, the wolf looking down into his silver eyes, as he was told to move with haste in regard to finding the weapons. Somehow... he felt as though the promise revolved around them, around the one that was connected these two, more than Tiberius seemed to be given how serious he gazed to Rickter.
So it really did fall to him to carry it out then.
"All of us!?" The wolf's eyes widened as he almost wanted to step away, not because he feared what Arcas told him, but because he feared for Arcas and everyone close to him. Everyone. All the people that he loved and cared about, they would all be taken away from him if he failed? He'd thought Talon gone at the beginning of all this, unwilling to let go of the presence he missed so dearly before. Now though... He was torn between wanting to release them all, and then holding every one of them close to his heart. How could he protect everyone? What did this promise require him to do? Seeking the weapons didn't seemed more like a quest or a solution, not the promise itself as some may think, what on Ransera did the wolf have to do when he finally came to possess them?
Clearly set in his way even if he feared the possibilities, Rickter grit his teeth with a clenched jaw before slowly nodding in a firm manner. "I'll do it," He promised Arcas just as another did once before, "I promise I'll seek them out." He'd do it for all his comrades, all the people he loved and cared for. Rickter would not rest until he was ready, and knew exactly what he needed to do to locate the first one. Oathkeeper. It was clear this would be the weapon he needed to seek out first, if he ever wanted to stand a chance against the other one... Oblivion. Something about that one felt mired with twisted irony, and the shadow of Rickter's heart still ached at the memory of its depiction.
Timestamp
To keep Rickter focused on what he needed to do, even if it were just to listen to what Arcas had to say. But those words about fate, had it really been so kind? Had all the suffering not just Rickter, but Talon and Aoren, Telion and Hannah, even everyone else like Fawn... Lyra... There were so many others that somehow felt tied into this, perhaps by some other slight tether or strand of fate. After everything that everybody had been through, everything that had happened to lead up to this moment. Was it really kindness? Perhaps. There had been a lot that had taken place between the start of Ash and now, so much in fact that the wolf hadn't fully stopped to think about it. But if it all built up to this sole moment, then that had to mean that every step of the way... was a step within the right direction. Every moment spent to get here, a moment worth cherishing for what it brought.
Somehow Rickter felt a sense of unity within himself understanding this, an affirmed sense of belonging as though he were just a piece of the puzzle; now fitted into the proper place he was meant to be. Yes. There were many questions to be had, questions he would've loved to ask right now, questions that would have to hold on until the important things were brought to light. For when Arcas took Rickter by the hand he turned it over, revealing the scar upon his left forearm moments after. The wolf watched curiously as the Draegir pressed a finger into the mark, Rickter furrowing his eyebrows as he felt it react to the presence of Arcas. Gentle light filled it with a soft illumination afterward, the presence of divinity felt within his arm as the wolf lightly cleared his throat. Was this for real? Did he just inherit the power of a God? Essential God at least? Arcas described it as Eminence, and that those who possessed it were allies that would notice one another.
"So... there are others out there who'll have this power as well." He could only wonder who those people were, and how connected they were to Arcas, or rather how connected the wolf was to them in retrospect. What's more Arcas described what to expect with Talon in the future, how he'd have a difficult road ahead of him from this point on. What was it that Sahfri said before? “This will not be an easy road for you, Wolf.” And at that time he'd just been a lowly hound, hardly worth wasting time over as he was nothing. A blank canvas. Was this what was meant to be painted for him? Arcas pressed on the matter by expressing one thing, believing that he had the strength to overcome the trials ahead. He didn't have it back then, whereas now it was all he had.
No that wasn't right. He had more than just the unwavering courage necessary to face the chaos ahead. Rickter had the love of his Bondmates and his friends, the support of those he would call his comrades in the future to come. It would be just as Telion said, through whatever darkness that plagued them, their trust in one another would see them through. This was no different. It was all the more proof in how Arcas and Tiberius exchanged looks, the thoughts shared between them knowing from their past experiences together. "I'll never let it consume me again." The wolf agreed firmly as he held onto that belief, that determination to become the line that kept comrade safe from entropy. But then came the next part, the destiny that was to be his in the days to come.
At this Rickter raised his eyebrows, never having believed in some grandiose role he'd have to play. But look where he was now, in the presence of a Draegir and a past incarnation no less. Two of them technically, if he did count Arcas as that as well. Rickter watched with diligence reminiscent of Tiberius himself, a fact that made the grizzled old knight grin a little wider as he watched. But then that grin faltered at what was to come, the levity of purpose in this tale felt when Arcas projected two particular objects. A pair of swords hovered beside him, the one on Rickter's left glistening with a profound radiance akin to the sun... maybe even perhaps the stars. It was a truly marvelous blade to gaze upon, the silver runes brilliantly shone along the pure blade, with wings unfurled from the center of the crossguard as the golden hilt and pommel radiated more light.
Oathkeeper... The name stirred something within Rickter when he heard it, a gentle reminder felt in the beat of his heart over a promise made centuries ago. A promise made in the name of a great sacrifice, a promise that was never quite fulfilled at the time it was meant to. A blade of light and hope, one meant to bring justice within the world. Already he felt as though it called out to him, the faint name of the one he'd heard before echoing in his thoughts as he did. "Alistor..." There was something in particular about this name, this particular person who felt connected to the weapon itself. The same could be said for the other weapon, the malevolent blade shrouded with a darkness, unlike anything Rickter had seen.
Oblivion... Another weapon with a name that felt familiar, it's power delivering unyielding destruction to enemies, promising to deliver only pure and wretched chaos to those who possessed it. Something about how Arcas gazed upon the blade itself left Rickter to wonder, an innate pain felt in his own heart as he too started at the blacked blade. It was a sword much like Oblivion, the blade itself stained so black that it looked to be made of pure obsidian, while the crossguard bore a storming black gemstone between the pair of chains wrapped around the hilt. The shadows themselves didn't cling to the blade, but rather, they were exuded as though something wretched and terrifying were housed inside. Another name. Though it did not rise to the surface just yet for Rickter, only the feeling of somebody close being tied to the blade itself... and a feeling of loss that lingered within the shadow of his own heart.
Arcas elaborated on the fact things had been set in motion on this day, that time ticked forward toward his destiny as he'd have to seek these blades out. Tiberius looked firmly at Rickter as he were told these things, as it was stressed that long ago there had in fact been a promise made. A promise that Rickter alone didn't make necessarily, but a promise he inherited from his forebearers centuries ago. What's more death lingered on the horizon still, if the wolf could not in fact uphold this promise. "What promise!?" The thoughts were wracked with insurmountable fear for his loved ones, Tiberius grimly fixed on Rickter with an empathetic curve found in his lips. Arcas rested his hands on Rickter's shoulders, the wolf looking down into his silver eyes, as he was told to move with haste in regard to finding the weapons. Somehow... he felt as though the promise revolved around them, around the one that was connected these two, more than Tiberius seemed to be given how serious he gazed to Rickter.
So it really did fall to him to carry it out then.
"All of us!?" The wolf's eyes widened as he almost wanted to step away, not because he feared what Arcas told him, but because he feared for Arcas and everyone close to him. Everyone. All the people that he loved and cared about, they would all be taken away from him if he failed? He'd thought Talon gone at the beginning of all this, unwilling to let go of the presence he missed so dearly before. Now though... He was torn between wanting to release them all, and then holding every one of them close to his heart. How could he protect everyone? What did this promise require him to do? Seeking the weapons didn't seemed more like a quest or a solution, not the promise itself as some may think, what on Ransera did the wolf have to do when he finally came to possess them?
Clearly set in his way even if he feared the possibilities, Rickter grit his teeth with a clenched jaw before slowly nodding in a firm manner. "I'll do it," He promised Arcas just as another did once before, "I promise I'll seek them out." He'd do it for all his comrades, all the people he loved and cared for. Rickter would not rest until he was ready, and knew exactly what he needed to do to locate the first one. Oathkeeper. It was clear this would be the weapon he needed to seek out first, if he ever wanted to stand a chance against the other one... Oblivion. Something about that one felt mired with twisted irony, and the shadow of Rickter's heart still ached at the memory of its depiction.
"Every side attacks you, when you don't take sides."
