04-09-2015, 09:31 PM
The powers coursing through the soil below branched a thousandfold from their epicenter, like the ever-reaching splits of tree roots. On one hand, the sensations that vibrated back to their source echoed loud in his mind. He was more accustomed to delving miles beneath the surface; still and silent as the grave while doing so to decipher the undulations throughout the underworld. However, these forces splayed their fingers through loose soil mere meters underfoot. The vibrations thrummed hard in his mind to be so close, but the distinctions were less obvious. The crude sludge that was the basis for oil was like holding silk in his hands compared to the sandpaper of slabbed stone sandwiching it in place. The difference between bone and dirt was much harder to sense, but after a few minutes, twelve distinct pockets of the remains hovered like crumbling stars across the ceiling of hell.
Now that each grave was located, he took the study of each in turn to seek for the presence of hard metal - gold, if he recalled correctly. He was on the second of twelve such investigations when a ripple of power pricked the foundations of his focus.
He paused the work, and tilted his cheek toward the hill that lifted behind him like the crest of a mountainous throne.
"Someone is coming,"
he said, voice calm, in warning to his agent. "An ascendant,"
he added, "with active power."
Although the specific directionality was difficult to pinpoint until the man actually used his power, Nikolai gestured generally up the hill. From the corner of one eye he saw Simon immediately spring into action. He had a firearm in hand in the span of a second and moved efficiently to place himself between Nikolai and the unknown assailants where he waited until they revealed themselves.
With a sigh, although slightly curious one at that, Nikolai paused his work to turn and face those whom had stumbled upon this coincidental encounter. He drew further upon the power that thrummed through his body in preparation - there was room to draw more, but with what he already held, he could bring the mountain down upon them if he so desired.
Three individuals crested the rise. From behind the shades of sunglasses attuned to snow-glare, he deciphered the identity of the ascendant from among the two men, before shifting his gaze to the woman. For their sakes, none were obviously armed and none approached with the speed or intent to threaten, but Nikolai had not survived twenty-five years of Atharim attacks by assuming every encounter was innocent. Still, it was impossible for anyone to have known he would be upon the ruins of this old datsan that day. There was no explanation but coincidence, yet what brought three people out to ancient ruins in the middle of winter? Especially ancient ruins that doubled as the lost graveyard of the Atharim.
The ascendant was a boy in every sense of the word. From his peacocked posturing to the youthfulness of his face, the foolishness of holding onto his meager power as he approached a literal supernova of energy by comparison spoke to his lack of wisdom. Unfortunately, foolishness alone was not enough to warrant a death sentence.
"Do not kill them yet, Simon,"
he spoke to the agent whom stood in full defensive mode, firearm aimed. Nikolai raised his voice, amplifying it on the silvery wings of power as it rode over snow and wind. Yet simultaneously, cords of Flame and Firmament silently stretched around him, crawling across the surface of the snow as they formed the press which would sizzle it into steam in moments. "Make not a move, especially those of you who have powers at your fingertips, and state your business in this wretched place if you wish to walk out of it today."
His voice was orderly, but beneath the enforcement of his tone was the pressure of compliance demanded only by those of regal bearing. Before the command was finished, the press of power had fully sublimed the frozen snow into sheer steam. The white of which quickly evaporated into the air and dispersed on the breeze. The ground beneath was frozen, but dry for a wide perimeter around him and Simon that also encapsulated the three newcomers with sure footing.
Nikolai gestured wide around them. "Try anything interpreted as a threat and a storm of military force will rain immediate death upon you."
Thus was his warning delivered. Standing on the graves of his dead enemies, he was little inclined toward trust, but he was not a monster. He would give them a chance.
In his warning, he implied the presence of greater forces just out of sight, perhaps not in an outright lie, but it was reasonable to assume the Ascendancy would travel with heavy security. But more accurately, they would be crushed by fire so hot the ashes of their bodies would pile pure white and disappear in the snows of this hillside. By the whim of his own hand they would cease to exist. Yet not without provocation.
"Speak your answer, and if you can, stand down your powers, son."
If he could not, the volatility of such lack of control did not bode well for his immediate future.
Now that each grave was located, he took the study of each in turn to seek for the presence of hard metal - gold, if he recalled correctly. He was on the second of twelve such investigations when a ripple of power pricked the foundations of his focus.
He paused the work, and tilted his cheek toward the hill that lifted behind him like the crest of a mountainous throne.
"Someone is coming,"
he said, voice calm, in warning to his agent. "An ascendant,"
he added, "with active power."
Although the specific directionality was difficult to pinpoint until the man actually used his power, Nikolai gestured generally up the hill. From the corner of one eye he saw Simon immediately spring into action. He had a firearm in hand in the span of a second and moved efficiently to place himself between Nikolai and the unknown assailants where he waited until they revealed themselves.
With a sigh, although slightly curious one at that, Nikolai paused his work to turn and face those whom had stumbled upon this coincidental encounter. He drew further upon the power that thrummed through his body in preparation - there was room to draw more, but with what he already held, he could bring the mountain down upon them if he so desired.
Three individuals crested the rise. From behind the shades of sunglasses attuned to snow-glare, he deciphered the identity of the ascendant from among the two men, before shifting his gaze to the woman. For their sakes, none were obviously armed and none approached with the speed or intent to threaten, but Nikolai had not survived twenty-five years of Atharim attacks by assuming every encounter was innocent. Still, it was impossible for anyone to have known he would be upon the ruins of this old datsan that day. There was no explanation but coincidence, yet what brought three people out to ancient ruins in the middle of winter? Especially ancient ruins that doubled as the lost graveyard of the Atharim.
The ascendant was a boy in every sense of the word. From his peacocked posturing to the youthfulness of his face, the foolishness of holding onto his meager power as he approached a literal supernova of energy by comparison spoke to his lack of wisdom. Unfortunately, foolishness alone was not enough to warrant a death sentence.
"Do not kill them yet, Simon,"
he spoke to the agent whom stood in full defensive mode, firearm aimed. Nikolai raised his voice, amplifying it on the silvery wings of power as it rode over snow and wind. Yet simultaneously, cords of Flame and Firmament silently stretched around him, crawling across the surface of the snow as they formed the press which would sizzle it into steam in moments. "Make not a move, especially those of you who have powers at your fingertips, and state your business in this wretched place if you wish to walk out of it today."
His voice was orderly, but beneath the enforcement of his tone was the pressure of compliance demanded only by those of regal bearing. Before the command was finished, the press of power had fully sublimed the frozen snow into sheer steam. The white of which quickly evaporated into the air and dispersed on the breeze. The ground beneath was frozen, but dry for a wide perimeter around him and Simon that also encapsulated the three newcomers with sure footing.
Nikolai gestured wide around them. "Try anything interpreted as a threat and a storm of military force will rain immediate death upon you."
Thus was his warning delivered. Standing on the graves of his dead enemies, he was little inclined toward trust, but he was not a monster. He would give them a chance.
In his warning, he implied the presence of greater forces just out of sight, perhaps not in an outright lie, but it was reasonable to assume the Ascendancy would travel with heavy security. But more accurately, they would be crushed by fire so hot the ashes of their bodies would pile pure white and disappear in the snows of this hillside. By the whim of his own hand they would cease to exist. Yet not without provocation.
"Speak your answer, and if you can, stand down your powers, son."
If he could not, the volatility of such lack of control did not bode well for his immediate future.