Connection

[Kaden]

There was another concern gnawing at the young mage's mind. She had said the demons' dark magic would still be residing in the tree. Him Connecting to it would mean exposing himself to its allure. He knew his body was receptive to dark magic; he knew all too well actually.

"I'm ready." Kaden finally said. "I think I understand." There were still traces of water in the tree; scant traces, but they were present. While ice was his preferred state, his aptitude was such that he had control over all its forms. Taking a deep breath, he concentrated all his focus on one molecule. Taking in its composition, its placement, everything about it, and attempting to mentally shift it slightly. It wasn't a drastic shift in terms of makeup, but changing something into something else was going to be difficult regardless.

But he wasn't actually trying to change it, just to imagine it changed. It didn't take too long, before he felt it. Something pulling at him; at his very soul.

"Aazarah, I feel something." He said suddenly.

[Aazarah]

"Good", she sat back on her hunches once more and watched from the distance. "Now you need to meld that feeling into your magic, see it weaving around you and allow it, momentarily to become you. That space is your doorway into the Connection, Kaden, when you feel ready to step through, do not hesitate - when you are first learning this technique there is very rarely a second chance to enter the session".

She watched with interest, head slightly tilted to the side, so far he seemed to be handling the rush of magic well enough, but his power was still a little high for the fragile bonds he was attaching himself too. "Just take it easy, take your time".

[Jaira]

The sight of him hit her hard in the stomach, but the werewolf managed to keep her breathing straight. She felt the Oporan`s pulling on her soul, calling her back. She knew she had pushed it being this close to the scene. Not that Torrik or his companion would see her, or even sense her.

The last several months had been pure torture being stuck in the middle-world they had placed her within. She would rather they have killed her. Knowing Kaden was here again had appealed to her curiousity - and if she was honest, her heart. The Oporan Guards had delighted in telling her, knowing she could do nothing with the information. But still she had come.

They had believed just as the demons had wanted them to, through their woven web of half-truth. It appeared she was just in time to watch him and the witch fall into their trap.

[Kaden]

Her words instilled slight fear into him; having to allow the darkness back into his mind after toiling so long to purge it. It was never fully erased though, and this admittedly made this first connection a bit easier than it would have normally been. With a deep breath, he closed his eyes and released himself to it; letting it envelope his mind. The wizard could feel himself changing. Is this what she goes through every time she does this? He couldn't help thinking.

The transformation started to feel strangely good after a while; Kaden presumed that was because of his personal connection to the magic and emotional connection to Jaira. This quickly changed when he re-opened his eyes. There was a large pool of blood on the ground in front of him, but no body. And then there was the grotesque, amorphous blob of darkness hanging in the air. He could feel it, unnervingly, piercingly, watching him. It had no eyes, but the ice wizard could feel it glaring into his soul.

"You can see me." Kaden realized, whispering the words in hushed surprise.

"Of course. Did you think you were the only two capable of connection?" The darkness had no mouth either, but it was very clearly speaking.

"Two? What do you - ?"

"Yes, I noticed the other witch that was in here as well. She is much better at this than you are. She at least had the good sense to leave her soul outside. To piggyback in the wolf's body. But then again, that wasn't an option for you, was it?"

His teeth gritted at this darkness's throwaway mention of Jaira. But instinctively, he knew he needed to keep his temper in check. This was not the venue for a fight. Especially not one he couldn't win. So he said nothing.

"No, the dark magic that I made sure to leave in the marking was much too enticing for you. It dragged you in here itself pretty much, as I knew it would. It took you quite a bit longer to get here than I'd hoped. But you're here now, so no matter. Now...what did you see, wizard?"

"I don't know what you're talking about. I see plenty in my life."

"I wasn't actually expecting you to give me an answer. I plan to take it for myself."

"What? What are you - " Kaden's words were abruptly cut off. Much too quickly for his brain to register in this unfamiliar state, the darkness extended itself and reached into his mind. It wasn't his physical body, but his physical body definitely felt it. The symbol of Mayste flashed before his eyes, emblazoned on a jet-black background, just for a second before he was forcibly ejected from the connection.

His hand flew to his head, his teeth gritted in pain, his eyes watered. His free arm leaned his weight up against the tree, obscuring Jaira's name. "sh*t." Kaden spat. It felt like a hot knife was embedded in his forehead and wasn't coming out.

[Jaira]

Jaira watched the earth witch run to Kadens side and echoed the wizards last word with an even stronger vengeance.

So they had done it, they had embedded themselves in a living soul. The girl didn't have a chance, if memory of Torriks power did him any justice. She pushed against the dark squeeze of the Oporan magic, dragging herself closer to the scene. The pressure was agony on her heart, making every breath come harder by the moment.

"Do it and die, wolf", the words ripped through her entire body.

It was an empty threat, she knew, the demons needed her more than she needed them - it didn't, however, make the pain any less bearable.

Gathering as much strength as she could, Jaira took a running leap and landed hard in the witch's body. The girls body shuddered for a moment in confusion. She herself felt a thrill run through her as she felt the temptation of life flood over her once more. It was easy to see how the demons fell into their habits of possession.

"I am Jaira, I am not dead, but you are both in danger", she seared this into the girls mind.... Aazarah, she gleamed from her surface thoughts. "Let me talk to him".

[Aazarah]

She believed it, Kadens eyes had changed before her. Something was definately wrong. With only a moment to feel the full weight of the guilt of what had happened, she felt herself stand aside for the wolf.

"Thankyou, Aazarah, I will be quick...." .

Jaira took control of her hands in a movement that unsettled the earth witch, placing them around the wizards face.

"Torrik, look at me", her voice pattern changed, the words shooting quickly from her mouth. And then everything went black.

[Kaden]

The pain in his head was so intense, he didn't even feel the hands on his face. He only barely registered the voice. It was actually the unfamiliarity of it that caught his attention. It wasn't until he looked up at her that he noticed she was touching him. "This is - I don't know...I think it's inside me..." Even the words hurt coming out of his mouth.

[Jaira]

"It is the Oporans, Torrik, you have to reconnect with tree. I know it hurts right now... but you have to go back in. You still have time before they fully integrate into your mind. This is how they wiped out the city.... the weak willed succumb, the rest of us...." she realised he would still see her as Aazarah and stopped herself short.

"You need to go back to the symbol, find it in the tree and rip it from you. Do you understand me?", her gaze searched his through his pain.

[Kaden]

"No...I can't..." He did understand her, even through the haze in his brain, but the idea of going back in terrified him. What terrified him even more however, was being possessed once again. A scream of pain and frustration agonizingly ripped from the wizard's throat. Still, there was a problem. This agony was going to make it impossible to concentrate. "I'll need your help to...this time..." A sheen of sweat glistened his face, his eyes were bloodshot red, his breathing was way past ragged. He didn't know how much longer he could fight the demon; his prior experience was the only reason he lasted this long.

[Jaira]

"F*ck"... she reached for Aazarah and felt only the faintest pulse from beyond her conciousness, the girl was too good at withdrawing from connections. Still, just there on the edge she could feel the witch guiding them, faintly but persistant.

"Here", she guided his hand to the symbol, so that they both held it at the same moment. She focused on searching the elements as best she could - well aware she was out of her depth amongst two element mages. Disjointed images flew out at her and she knew this was not how it was meant to be. Aazarah was all but screaming that at her.

A moan from Kaden tore her attention from the Connection. He was getting worse by the moment. Honestly, she was thankful he had pushed this far, no others had lasted this long without resolution one way or the other. The thought spurred her on and she grabbed for the only other way she knew into the magic of the Oporans - straight into the magic they had injected her own soul.

[Kaden]

With the briefest lapse in pain he received (which was VERY brief), Kaden found the earlier knowledge and focused intently on it. Using the magic from his companion as a crutch, he shot himself back into the weaving on the tree. It was too quick, too abrupt, and his mind and body felt the toll. More pain, but it meant nothing; just added discomfort which wasn't much at all when compared to what he was already going through.

The good part was the fogginess right after. His sudden connection caused a temporary disconnect between mind, soul and body. This eased the pain for a short while, allowing him to think clearly. These demons use magic to latch into minds, so there was one recourse for the wizard; the only thing he could think of during the short time he could actually think. In one immense flash freeze, Kaden expelled every ounce of magic in his body. The entire mental forest froze solid, solid to the point that it would be frozen for years to come. The one thing that wasn't frozen was the darkness that was expunged with his ice. He could feel its malice.

"I've got what I needed"

This was all Kaden heard. The loss of his magic meant nothing to keep him connected, and he was forced back out, this time sans migraine. His physical body dropped to the ground finally, landing on his knees in sheer exhaustion.

[Jaira]

The experience had ripped through her entire body and, Jaira was sure, the witches also. As relieved as she was to see Kaden unaffected by the demons magic, she knew she had only moments before the Oporans surrounded the area. They needed to escape whilst they could.

"Get up and go, Torrik, take Aazarah with you and dont come back. This place is lost... for now, we are all lost", she caressed his cheek once more and withdrew herself to the edges of the witches conciousness, already feeling the withdrawal of the girls life force. 'You`re brother is here, Aazarah. I recognise him from your thoughts, he is one of us... give us time and we will meet again, with more strength. For now, you need to save eachother.'

[Kaden]

He could barely move. Magic and energy were one and the same to wizards, and the sudden and total loss of it made it excruciating to do much of anything. Still, he could tell urgency when he heard it. Forcing himself painfully to his head, against his body's insistence that he lay down and rest, he faced Aazarah once again. Her hand on his face felt both unfamiliar and strangely familiar all at the same time. He didn't dwell on it just yet.

"Alright, let's go. I know where our next stop is."

[Aazarah]

"Here", Aazarah found her own voice again, "Take these for the moment". She handed him her rings for any strength he might need and shot a quick look around the area.

Was the werewolf out there somewhere still? Was Nyk?

"You make the Ice and Ill keep watch", she called on any magical reserves left within her, tattered as they were, it was comforting to know she still maintained enough to help their cause.

[Kaden]

Putting on the ring that she said handled the magic supply, he felt a refreshing onrush of energy. It was frigid, a sensation the young wizard hadn't felt in a very long time. "Okay." He said in relief. "Let's go." With a snap of his fingers, the exact ice platform re-materialized near them on the ground. Walking on it, he gestured her over. "We've got to get back to Night World."