She laughed, at least that was just a tab better then the bad horror movie it had been up to this point.
"What do you find so funny about this dank pit of rot and decay?" Kain asked her sardonically while looking at the puddles with disdain. "Nothing?" Seras replied, "Just thinking about life. So who is this Nupraptor anyways?"
Kain sighed, "The Mentalist Nupraptor, the Guardian of the Pillar of the Mind, is renowned through Nosgoth for his tricks of the mind, telepathy and telekinesis. Pilgrims travel from all across the land seeking the comfort of his lies." He laughed darkly, "We seek not his wisdom but his life."
Seras rolled her eyes at Kain's melodramatics.
"Come on," she sighed as she began to walk forward, trudging through the ankle deep water in places, "Lets go."
Kain stood back and looked at her as if she were a fool.
Seras glanced back. "Whats wrong Kain, afraid of a little dirty water?"
Kain sneered and prepared to call her a fool, but stopped when he realized that he never did tell her about the water vulnerability of the local vampires.
"Do you know why those pesants poured water on you from above?" he asked.
She shrugged, "I have no idea but it was disgusting!"
Kain nodded, "Vampires… at least the local breed poses two true weaknesses. Water burns like acid and being impaled renders us helpless and unable to heal."
Seras blinked, "Okay, so let me get this straight… water is like acid to you?"
He nodded. "Yes."
"You've got to be bloody kidding me… the surface of the planet is what, two thirds water?"
Kain rolled his eyes dramatically, "Yes please Seras, please remind me that the world is covered in a caustic acidic substance that burns that’s touch burns with white fire…"
She winced, "Must suck when it rains…"
Kain smiled, "I am immune to the rain thanks to the power of the Blood of Ages. I can tolerate small amounts of water. Full immersion on the other hand is pure agony."
"Then how do you expect to get around this place?" she asked him.
"I will jump," Kain replied.
Kain's form shifted to that of a humanoid wolf, and he bound over the puddles with great ease.
"Bloody hell!" Seras exclaimed, "The only vampire I've ever seen change into a wolf is my master!"
Kain morphed back into his natural form once he'd past the puddles and looked at her. "Your master?"
She nodded, "My master, Alucard. He's…"
Seras paused as she felt something… icky. He foot began to go numb and looking down, she saw what looked like a transparent blob of green slime begin to move over her foot and up her leg. In response, she did the only thing natural. She screamed and began to dance around wildly.
Kain hissed as she stumbled around in the water, splashing him with the acidic liquid.
With a sneer, he hacked the slime. With is exterior membrane broken, the jelly creature lost its consistency and flowed away.
"What the bloody hell was that?!" Seras exclaimed.
Kain sneered, "A vampire, loosing her wits over a simple slime?"
"I've never seen one before… they'd don't have them where I am from… and how do you expect me to react to something icky I've never seen before climbing up my bloody leg?!"
Kain sighed, "I will take point. I think it will be the best way to avoid any more unexpected foolishness…"
He stepped forward and an arrow shot from the wall and hit kain in the neck.He roared in anger and pain, tearing the offending obnject out. The wound quicky close but he seems rather put off by the experience.
"So, not more unexpected foolishness, huh Kain?"
"Oh, shut up."
-------------
The duo stealthily entered the main retreat. They were able to swiftly tell the difference. Before the rooms were roughly made, carved directly out of the rock. Now they were properly made from stone, the walls masonry of the highest quality.
In the previous rooms they'd only had to dodge a handful of traps and deal with a few mindless slimes. Here they both knew the resistance would be more substantial.
"You dare intrude upon my sanctuary?" roared an angry voice. It came from nowhere at and the same time, everywhere. It was a moment before Seras realize that she was not hearing it with her ears. It was all in her mind.
"Can I not mourn in peace? Leave . . . leave and let my solitude be complete..." "I take it that is Nupraptor," Seras muttered to herself…
"Really?" Kain sarcastically replied, "You think so? I absolutely shutter in the face of your incredible deductive ability."
Seras shook her head in annoyance. "Goit."
"Goit?" Kain mouthed.
They entered what was obviously an magical laboratory of some kind. The walls were lined with bookshelves and on the tables sat brains in jars, unidentified potions, and strange magical devices of all shapes and sizes.
Seras walked over to one of the shelves and took a tome from its place.
"What are you doing?" Kain asked her with some irritation.
"I've always wondered how to cast magic," Seras replied as she opened the book.
"You may indulge your sense of wonder lust later," Kain replied, "For right now we have someone to kill."
Seras sighed and put the book on one of the tables. "It doesn't matter. I can't read it."
Kain glanced looked at the still open book. "Its in the Old Script."
"Looks like Runic…" she looked over to Kain, and asked, "Do you know any magic?"
He nodded, "Yes, I have learned a handful of elementary spells as well and obtaining several minor magical artifacts since I received this curse."
"Magical artifacts?"
Kain nodded and lifted a small throwing star off of the table. "Yes, objects such as this one."
"What is it?" she asked.
"It is called a 'Flay'. These curious devices hurl bolts of whirling energy and eviscerate my human enemies by stripping ragged flesh from bloodstained bone."
Seras paled. "How… lovely."
He nodded, "Indeed… If you wish, I shall teach you the spells I know."
Seras smiled brightly. "Thank you!"
"Do not thank me, for this is no altruistic act. As it seems we are to be traveling companions, it would be in both of our best interests if you were able to properly utilize magic."
Seras snorted, "Yeah, you're welcome too…"
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(Posted Fri, 11 Mar 2005 09:11)
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