Nina stares at the intense-looking Ciri in conflicted silence for several seconds. Eventually, she feels resignation take over, and she sighs in exasperation.
"He's a recent transplant of Azazel's...humanoid, but not human." (Nina)
Ciri's eyes gleam with curiosity.
"What kind of humanoid?" (Ciri)
Nina bites her lower lip, knowing that she can't simply push the Nephilim story – Ciri will sense the lie. Nina thinks that a Nephilim is the closest description of Mizuki, but she's also under the impression that he's not actually one. At the same time, despite what Mizuki may think, she's convinced that he has to be a different species than the 'humans' of Azura and her home world.
She shrugs.
"I'm honestly not sure. He looks essentially human, just far smarter and more powerful...and more handsome. Fufufufu. He's calling himself a Nephilim." (Nina)
Ciri's back straightens, a small, excited smile forming on her lips.
"Nephilim...how fascinating. Hmm...I want to meet him. Where is he right now? Your nest?" (Ciri)
Nina purses her lips thoughtfully, steeling herself for the impending theatrics.
"You two aren't meeting, Ciri." (Nina)
Ciri frowns, her voice turning slightly irritated.
"Why not?" (Ciri)
Nina rolls her eyes.
"Because I know you, and I know him. You're going to bother him. You're going to try fighting him." (Nina)
Ciri smirks.
"Just a little bit...I want to see how a Nephilim fights. What's the big deal? I'm not deranged – I wouldn't kill your mate." (Ciri)
Nina shakes her head, unable to stop herself from chuckling at Ciri's confidence. Deep down, as much as she knows it's a bad idea, she wants to enjoy Ciri's rude awakening far too much to keep her mouth shut.
"I'm not worried about you killing him, Ciri. I'm worried about you bothering him. If you make yourself too much of a nuisance, you might be the one who ends up dead." (Nina)
Ciri's eyes widen in disbelief, her voice plainly skeptical.
"You really think there's a chance he could kill me if we fought all out?" (Ciri)
This time, Nina can't restrain herself. She smirks, her tone practically dripping with smugness.
"Fufufu...fight? Ciri, there wouldn't be any fight. That implies you stand a chance, that you could struggle for your life, but neither is true. He can level entire countries with a single attack, teleport anywhere on the planet, kill you within a crowd from across this continent. He may as well be Azura's second god. If he decides to kill you, you'd just...die. " (Nina)
Ciri falls silent, her face going slack. For almost a minute, she stays that way, until Nina starts to wonder if something is wrong with her. Then, Ciri turns without a word and begins walking towards the door. Nina's expression twists in confusion.
"Ciri? Where are you going?" (Nina)
Ciri pauses, glancing at her over her shoulder. Her voice is steady. Casual.
"To your nest, Sister. Him and I need to fight before I can become his mate." (Ciri)
Nina's pupils constrict to pinholes as she stands abruptly. She yells, her voice practically cracking with incredulity.
"Mate!? Are you insane!? You've never even met him, and he's already Bonded to me!" (Nina)
Ciri shrugs, continuing to walk as she responds.
"That's why I'm going to see him. I don't mind being his second." (Ciri)
Nina falters, torn between calling her insane again, and pointing out that Ciri would actually be his third. Or his fourth, if she counts Mizuki's quirky shadow, Alto. Before she can decide, though, Ciri pauses again, turning to face Nina. Ciri tilts her head inquisitively.
"Sister, what is our mate's name? That seems important for making a good impression." (Ciri)
Nina's eye twitches.
"My mate's name is Mizuki. Your mate is all in your head!" (Nina)
Ciri hums thoughtfully.
"Mizuki..." (Ciri)
Then, she turns around and walks out the door as though Nina doesn't exist. Nina blinks.
'Oh gods...Mizuki is going to be so mad.'
However, then something else occurs to her, and she pales.
'But not as mad as Ilina...'
¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬
Nearby, just earlier...
High in the air above the northern ice continent, a man appearing early-20s hovers stoically, observing a familiar ice dome below. Light from the evening sun filters through his sandy-blonde hair, causing it to gleam like fine strands of gold. His eyes shine almost unnaturally, like gemstones resting on a staging light.
His posture is lazy, irreverent, his hands tucked into the pockets of his black joggers. He's wearing a plain white tee shirt that leaves the thick layers of muscle across his stomach, arms, and chest all too clearly defined. He floats in the sky, a picture of ethereal beauty that Mizuki would find almost comical if he were here to witness it.
Alas, that wouldn't be possible, since the man is currently invisible. Not just to traditional sight, but to Mizuki's magic senses as well. In fact, despite being a nigh-immortal himself, he's even hidden himself from the mystical detection that Nina used to track Ciri after arriving on the continent. An arrival that the man was here to witness.
Even now, Nina's unexpected appearance irks him.
'Why did she come here? I wasn't accounting for that, and it doesn't make any sense. Did my little note to that moron have an effect I wasn't anticipating? Give her some reason to come here, maybe?'
At the reminder of said moron, he scoffs to himself. Both from the disdain he has for the moron, and from exasperation over the moron ironically calling himself a Nephilim. Pushing those thoughts aside, he refocuses on the issue of Nina's presence.
He can't imagine any connection between his note and Nina's arrival here, but that doesn't stop him from worrying about the possibility. Nina getting entangled with Ciri would be...problematic, for him.
The man's thoughts are interrupted by a sudden eruption of light below him. His eyes widen as he watches Ciri transform into a dragon and promptly take off south at breakneck pace. Before he can even take off after her to maintain his reconnaissance, Nina emerges from the ice dome and transforms into a dragon as well, hurriedly following Ciri.
The man lets out an exasperated sigh, bemoaning the inconvenience to his plans. Then, he takes off after the two Elder Dragons.
¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬¬
Back in the fox-kin city, Central Tail...
My eyes snap from Teyla to the horizon, as the earth around me begins to tremble. I'm already tracking a shocking magic signature closing in on our location – a mid-5 power level, elemental class with all affinities.
Despite the fact that this person is clearly a walking catastrophe...I allow myself to breathe a sigh of relief. Fighting my equal was always a worst-case scenario, but I couldn't get the possibility out of my head. Seeing that they're only on the level of a weak Elder Dragon, and have finite affinities, I'm confident I can subdue them while protecting Zara.
However, just as I take a ready stance, my eyes locking on the area of the plaza it looks like they'll emerge from...
ROARRR!
A stunning roar rips through the area, and a massive four-legged creature comes leaping over a nearby building to land inside the plaza, stopping about twenty meters away from me.
It looks kind of like a fox, but with five tails and more wolfish features. It's bristling with night-black fur, and the size of a large horse. It locks its big, purple eyes onto me, hanging its head close to the ground. Then, it begins to growl, slowly circling towards me.
Yet, all I can do is stare, stupefied. For one, because...why the fuck are they keeping this thing in the middle of the city? But also, this is the magic signature I was sensing – a fact that immediately causes me frustration.
This...creature, is clearly not the Otherworlder I have potential beef with. Not unless fox-wolf-horses have suddenly started using swords and complex, spoken language. Which means, I don't have any reason to beat this thing senseless for answers. Hell, I don't even know what its intelligence level is...it could be like Junior for all I know. Unfortunately, this also means the fox-kin's Otherworlder is MIA, or worse...able to hide from my magic sense.
"M-Mizuki!" (Zara)
Zara's mildly alarmed voice snaps me from my introspection, and I notice that the creature is closing in on us. Zara is eyeing it warily, moving closer to me as she draws her sword.
I guess I should take care of this situation first, then I can interrogate Teyla about their Otherworlder.
"Don't worry, Zara, I've got it." (Mizuki)
Without delay, I snap my fingers dramatically, summoning an invisible, latticed forcefield box around the creature's location. Almost immediately, the creature's face slams hilariously into the box's wall, stunning it. It begins looking around in bewilderment, clawing and growling in every direction aimlessly, before locking its eyes onto me again. I feel a twinge of guilt for treating it like this, since it probably doesn't know any better. Remembering how I could kind of communicate with Junior via telepathy, I figure it's worth a shot.
[Hey, little doggy. You can relax, I'm not going to hurt you or any of your friends here. Just wait for a little bit while I talk to this woman, and then I'll let you go.] (Mizuki)
For good measure, I layer my telepathy with calm, sympathetic feelings and mental images that I hope get my intentions across. Teyla and I hugging, me petting the creature affectionately, running my fingers through the fur along its back. Almost immediately, the creature stops growling and clawing at the invisible cage, and it seems like its mouth is even hanging open for a moment. I raise my eyebrows, but then remember I have more pressing matters.
I turn to Teyla, who is looking between me and the creature with a gaze that's equal parts stunned and horrified. I step towards her, my voice firm.
"Turns out I was too hasty, so...I'll need you to answer my question now. Where is the fox-kin's Otherworlder?" (Mizuki)
My voice seems to snap Teyla from her stupor, and her crimson eyes lock onto me, wide as saucers. Her expression is bewildered, her voice flustered and uncertain.
"You...I don't...he isn't..." (Teyla)
I watch the stuttering fox-kin woman with a deadpan expression, my patience worn thin after all the excitement today. Before I can hurry her along, though, a masculine voice interrupts, clipped and final.
"Dead...he's dead. For well over a century now."
I snap my head towards the voice in shock, instantly alert. However, I notice two things of importance immediately. The first is, the 'little doggy' from before has vanished into thin air. The second is, in its place, there's a mid-20s looking man.
He's leaning against an invisible wall casually, arms crossed, with a mildly annoyed smirk on his face. He has olive-toned skin like Zara's, jet black hair and bright violet eyes, a handsome, angular face, and a body so shredded it manages to elicit a twinge of envy from me. However, that's quickly replaced by discomfort and shock...because he's completely fucking naked, and I can see five black tails sticking out of his lower back.
I stare at him in stunned silence, until my thoughts slip out.
"You're...that creature?" (Mizuki)
The guy rolls his eyes.
"A Ketsu. I'm also the protector of the fox-kin, and the best friend of the dead Otherworlder you're losing your shit over. Oh also, my name is Xian...not 'little doggy'. Now, how about you dispel whatever kinky spell this is, and we all go have a nice, civil conversation. I have lots of questions, and I'm sure you do too. Our wives can bond over tea or something." (Xian)
Yeah...not even sure where to start with that.
"There's nothing kinky about that spell..." (Mizuki)
Xian gives me a skeptical look.
"I just experienced some very vivid imagery of you touching me inappropriately that begs to differ." (Xian)
I blink, but a shrill voice interrupts.
"I've told you 'no' a thousand times, jackass! I'm not going to be your wife! And put some clothes on, you degenerate!" (Teyla)
I glance at Teyla in surprise. Catching my gaze, she quickly collects herself, a touch of color rushing to her cheeks. She smiles hesitantly.
"I'm, uhm...not his wife, he's just delusional. I'm single." (Teyla)
I open my mouth, then close it. Zara arrives by my side, clearing her throat. Her voice is matter-of-fact.
"Ehem...I am also not Mizuki's wife, for the record. We are just friends." (Zara)
I close my eyes, sighing internally.
"HELLOOOO! Genius, handsome playboy in need of assistance here! Testicle sunburns are no joke!" (Xian)
I rub my temples, feeling a migraine coming on.