Removing his bone from my heart, he says, "Orb, don't you think you're using the helix battle arts more literally than figuratively?"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Orb battle arts aren't just a couple of techniques; they are styles of fighting. An example would be four beasts battle arts, the legendary fighting style made by King Charles to defeat the beastkin. Do you believe anyone who can use the forms can reach the level of Charles Animus?"
Looking upwards, I say, "I guess not. But wouldn't that come down to just spirit energy mastery, and physical strength?"
"Of course, those play a part, but it's not everything. The true reason for his superiority is due to his fighting style carrying the ethos of the four beast battle arts."
"It's ethos?"
"To sharpen your sense till they are just like a beast, giving yourself a sixth sense, and allowing yourself to mimic their movements and become their natural hunter. That's the underlying idea behind the four beast battle arts, its ethos to put it simply. A true practitioner of that fighting style-regardless of whether or not they are using the forms-will always be fighting like a hunter, their sense trying to adapt to specifically attack their foe, and their brain constantly taking in information from their surroundings to best kill their oppoenent. There is a saying in Molstoria that a master of four beast battle arts will always kill their opponents in battle; it is simply the only way they can fight."
"I see what you mean, not just the techniques themselves, but the core that binds them together into a fighting style. By understanding that I could take my helix battle arts to the next level."
"Exactly. However, that's a bit harder with rarer forms like yours. So Orb, what do you think is the ethos of helix battle arts."
Standing up, I put my head on the floor and start spinning my body. I say, "To become a spiral!"
"Why?"
"Because it's all about spinning, so wouldn't the end goal be to become the best spiral ever?"
"Is the end goal of the four beasts about becoming a chimaera?"
Falling to my back, I say, "But becoming a spinning top sounds so cool."
Laughing, Dragoste says, "It does, but it isn't the answer you're looking for. Most battle arts where born out a specific need. Despite how simple some forms may look, or how unconnected they may seem, I can assure you that whoever created it had put a large amount of thought into it, so try and figure it out."
Jumping up, I say, "I will do. Understanding people is my favourite hobby!"
"That's good to hear, Orb."
From the outside, a knock rings through the room, and the voice of a maid says, "Dragoste, the ministers would like you back at the Soarele blestemat. It seems more issues have emerged within the populace."
Dragoste sighs, and says, "Work never ends I guess." Turning to me, Dragoste smiles. "Sorry about this, Orb, but it seems our little day together has come to an end."
Bowing, I say, "No issues here, just get back to doing you're work, it matters far more than me."
Rubbing my head, he says, "You're a good kid, Orb. Though be careful out there, many people are under high tension today, so keep your loved ones close to you."
"I will."
Reaching into his pocket, Dragoste pulls out an amulet and says, "I gave this to Iancu and the others earlier, since I knew they were going around town, but given the situation, I think you should have one as well."
Taking the amulet, which has a blood red stone in the middle surrounded by gold in the shape of batwings, I say, "I will not abuse this power in the slightest."
"I expect no less from you. Now let's get your things and head on your way."
Dragoste starts walking towards the door, yet despite the news he had just received, not a single thing has changed about his body. His breathing is the same, his sniffles at the same interval, and even the number of blinks per minute has increased. Despite all that is going on, he can stay so calm. Your son really is just as cool as you are, Captivant. I guess I've got to try my best as well now!
I quickly follow after him and head to the door.
-Break-
Located: Cursed Land district, Grand Park of Renaștere
ΦIn the cured land district of Cadera Dracul lies a giant area filled with all kinds of plant lie, many of which being a series od black trees which produce shinning green feather that glow, and as the leaves fall and fly around aided by cursed bird that blow them off the trees, the glowing lights dance around the area.
Across the ground are large, deep man-made ponds within which many different aquatic animals and nightmares that can breathe underwater rush around playing with each other. Every now and then, within the pond, the water forcefully rises up and moves to another pond, creating a giant column of water that carries the animals, nightmares and even the pearls within the lake through the sky, adding to the scenery.
Within the sky, two sets of animals fly around, one a wonderbeast, one an animal, both cursed. The bird with a sharp and dynamic body flies quickly through the park, and the air pressure from its body knocks many of the leaves off the trees, sending them around the entire park for all to enjoy. And the wonderbeast which has a glowing spectral white body that is similar to that of little children though with six slit eyes across it's face draped in a glowing blue gown with an arms that is indistinguishable from a trumpet, start to glow red removing all of the blue, and then from the trumpet on it's arms it starts playing a triumphant sound throughout the area.
Many sit and play within the park, or have meals, enjoying the scenery that is amplified by the many different beasts moving throughout the area, and as he stares at the scenery in front of himself, Willow says, "Orb is really annoying."
Maple, sitting beside him, eating away at her food in silence, says, "YEAH HE REALLY IS!"
"He really can just get all up in your face, and has the energy of a hundred children wrapped up in the body of an adult."
Maple nods her head vigorously in agreement. "Though at times like this, I really appreciate him."
Maple smiling says, "A miracle worker, yet I need to punch some sense into him sometime."
Behind them a large tongue licks Willow head, and turning around he sees a giant lizard like wonderbeast that has a four large legs a long neck, a somewhat dragonic face, and a long tail. It is covered in scales that look like a giant mass of wheat that form small and large mountains on its back.
Sticking out its long tongue, it tries to lick Willow's fingers, causing him to say, "Are you hungry, boy?"
It nods, and Willow takes some of the kebab he has left and places it into the mouth of the wonderbeast. It swallows the kebab and makes a happy noise before turning and leaving the area.
Willow says, "I guess I need to frame this shirt when I get back. Do I stink, honey?"
"Sorry, but Ilus has completely wrecked my sense of smell, I won't be able to tell."
A smirk appears on Willow's face, and Maple says, "What is that look for?"
"Since I can't tell if I can smell or not, I guess I just have to find a way to cleanse my body."
Willow's face turns towards the lake where the aquatic cursed beasts roam around, and says, "I guess I just have to jump in."
"I think that's a bad ide-," but before Maple's words can leave her mouth, Willow runs forward towards the lake, and holding both of his arms out, he jumps inside.
While looking inside, he sees a series of large derpy cows with fish tails and gills throughout their body. Each one looks like the quality of their existence is in a lower definition than the life around them, as if compared to the detailed drawings of everyone else, they look like scribbles that children make.
The cows start to swim around Willow, and he rubs up on them, granting them as many kisses as he can. But then the water around him starts to spin rapidly around, and turning around, he sees something that almost makes him spit out all of the air in his lungs.
A giant bull with the bottom half of a shark looks down at Willow. In comparison to the cows, who look like they are from a simpler plane of existence, the bull looks like a being whose utter details are hard to capture in the world. Thus, the eyes of all those who look at it become strained.
Seeing Willow touching up against the cow, its eyes turn red with fury, and with one powerful swipe, it sends Willow up into the air, catches him and knocks him back down towards the water.
Willow, as he lands, tries to swim up to the surface, but the bull buts him in a bear hug from behind and tries to drag him down even deeper. With his arms on the edge of the pond, Willow looks up at Maple crouching at the edge, and says, "Honey, would you be able to help your lovely husband?"
She takes a bite of her kebab and looks down at Willow, then says, "Remember when I said that was a bad idea to jump into their?"
"No."
"Exactly. Looks like you should have listen to me. But I guess you're wife's words aren't as alluring as the idea of cows."
"You definitely are, far more so. I promise I will never act like you aren't ever again."
"I don't believe you. But I happen to be a good wife."
Maple crabs a stone and throws it into a different pond, and then from deep within it, something rises. Soon, a giant Crustacean rises from one of the other bonds, and in her hands, Maple waves her Kebab, causing it to drool and slide over towards them.
The crustacean with a snall like legs, tow large crab arms on it's shoulders, a sharp shrimp like face, a humanoid body, and a giant shell on it's back with spikes moves up to her, and as Maple points at the bull, the wonderbeast grabs the bull and then slams it right back into the pond freeing Willow. Then it happily collects Maple's kebab and slides away.
As Willow lies on the floor beside her, she says, "Now what do you say to your lovely wife?"
"You're the best, my queen."
"That's what I thought."
Suddenly, as Willow lies on the floor, a small, cursed squirrel runs up to him and touches his face. "Do you need something, my little friend?"
The squirrel with two horns on its head has purple and green fury, along with orange tattoos across its body that glow brightly. Taking some of its fur, it rips it off and places it in Willow's mouth, then runs off.
Soon after this, Willow stands up and says, "I can barely feel anything."
He starts moving around, and Maple says, "It is like when Cole gave you those anaesthetics."
Stopping Willow looks around and sees a series of squirrels, and says, "I guess these little guys help people who get hurt."
Staring at all of the animals, Maple says, "It's strange. I never thought animals could all work together and be like this. Usually in Fimbulwinter, they're all trying to hunt and kill each other. But I guess when giving the ability to work as one with people, they can be just like family to everyone."
Willow hugs Maple and says, "Are you falling into the hole as well?"
"I am nothing like you, but I guess it would be nice if we could form something like this with the animals of Fimbulwinter and Nialathrú."
"I think so too."
As the two stare at the area, a large voice says, "LISTEN HERE, MY PEOPLE! RIGHT NOW WE MUST UNITE AGAINST THE HUMANS!"
Their head turns, and a large group of nightmares stand on a shoddily constructed platform, shouting into a shattershell.