[open]The Chase, Escape from Lindblum

[Zaxton Books]

Chase Theme: Chase of the Highway - Advent Children

James bounded effortlessly across the wide street, from one rooftop to the other. His feet moved in the air as though running against a different substance, something solid. After a few moments, he came to rest against a high wall of the church, standing against that perpendicular surface as though it was the ground.

"Good. I think I-" his eyes suddenly widened and he rolled sideways onto the roof. Less than an instant after he got out of the way, a thick spike of ice impaled itself in the sandstone wall of the cathedral. Behind a protective gargoyle statue, he breathed a short prayer of thanks to Matteus.

After a moment, he rolled again, clear off the side of the roof, running down the wall a short distance before giving a powerful leap that caused a slight flash from the psychic energy involved. He landed on the other side of the square, low against the face of a temple to Addralemech. This time, a hail of ice spears met him there, and, though he escaped direct harm to his body, his black, cape-like cloak was pinned to the wall, causing him to spend precious time removing himself from it altogether. He rolled under another volley, his dull gray armour no impediment to his agility due to the large gaps between plates.

He came to his feet, surrounded by his usual violet aura, and held his hands up at an angle, interdicting the next set of spears with a wall of his own will.

"Come out and fight me like a man, if you be one!"

The mage who emerged from the shadows of a temple doorway was short, but definitely male. A human, with tanned skin and white hair, contrary to his apparent pre-teen appearance.

The boy glared at James with his pale blue eyes, "Are you James Mineav-Derrida?"
"Not now kid, I'm busy."
"Yes, I know." The boy held up a hand almost lazilly, and a burst of the spears came at Derrida, this time from all sides. James countered by causing a small explosion of his Aura, melting the ice, "I am your opponent. Are you James Mineav-Derrida."
"Yes, I am."
The boy turned to face James properly, "I am called Malvolio. You killed my brother. Prepare to Die."

[Sol the 1337th]

(Princess Bride reference?)

[Zaxton Books]

(ooc: Now that you mention it, yes.)

[Sol the 1337th]

A man dressed in black with what looked to be a heavy gunbelt was taking a stroll through the streets quite casually enough, until the remains of an icicle bounced off of the wide-brimmed hat he was wearing. "Eh, what's this?"

He looked up at the nearest buildings' rim, and saw several chunks of ice about to fall off of it. "Mysterious. I don't remember there ever being magically constructed hail about the rooftops."

With a shrug, he walked on, but after several feet came to a complete stop upon seeing a piece of cloth pinned to a wall by larger-yet chunks of ice. He gave both the building and surrounding area a sour look, but kept walking on, unknowingly towards Malvolio and James (all the while whistling a happy tune).

[Zaxton Books]

By now, Malvolio and James were in the thick of it. James, slightly aglow, hovered a noticeable distance off the ground, floating in circles around Malvolio while he dodged further ice attacks.

"Your name is Malvolio Coultier. You are 12 years old. You have two parents, Juanita and Vincent. Juanita is a white mage, father is an Arch Hunter. You have two living siblings, Edward Coultier and Alexis Coultier, of some fame. You think that Edward is dead but are confused about how little news there is on the subject."
"SHUT UP!" Malvolio alternated his attack plan to lightning, but it made no difference.

James eyes glowed with the same fire as his aura, and he floated as though in standing prayer, from his posture, "You are jealous of both siblings because you want your name to be as well known as them. Though you have no allignment in the Triad War, your tendencies lean toward the Legalization Corps and its College of Judges, since their philosophy inspires you. You don't know Locke LeCruset personally but you've eaten at his resertaunt once. You had White Wine with Roast Chicken, potatoes, leeks and carrots, a traditional dish that reminded you of the dinners your families maidservant used to cook. You had Creme Brulle for Desert, with a chocolate sauce."
"HOW DO YOU KNOW THIS!?" Enraged, Malvolio started a practical starfall of fireballs, all of which seemed to be absorbed as they came too close to the psion.

"You have a crush on Malta Kursk, but hide it from your family because she is nine years younger than you, albeit significantly smarter, and you are afraid of what they would think. You like basketball and fencing, but never have time to do either because of your studies. Your favorite sibling was Edward because he always tried to understand what you were saying."

"SILENCE!" Malvio was nearly insane with anger at this intrusion, and the city seemed to tremble as he gathered up the power for another attack.

No sooner did the triple-elemental attack leave his hands, than James was suddenly close enough to embrace him. The two locked eyes, and Malvolio's mind went blank.

"Most of all, though, you are not angry at me. You know your brother is Alive, and that he is at the Hall of the Azulor in Jagd Nekroun. You will go to visit him, starting your trip in three days. You have never heard the name Mineav-Derrida, specifically in reference to me, and you are not aware of any 'Agency Division'."

James landed on the ground, walking in the coincidental direction of the black-clothed man, "When you wake up, you will wake up on hearing the word orange. However, if you hear the word rainbow, you will immediately cast a permanent silence spell on the person who says it. The next time you see Malta Kursk, you will tell her "Richard of York Gave Battle In Vain."

He stopped turning around, "When all of these things have come to pass, you will go to Tererra City Hospital and wait in the Blood Alchemy Department waiting room. Do you understand these commands?"
Malvolio's voice was strangely hollow, "Yes, sir."
"Alright. You are now hungry for a mandarin orange."

Malvolio blinked several times, and ran over to James, "Excuse me, sir, do you know where I can find a fruit seller?"
"The market is just a little to the east, kid." James smiled, "Have a good trip. Look out for strangers."
"Yep." Malvolio ran off in the direction indicated.

[Sol the 1337th]

Var leaned against a wall as Malvolio passed by him, watching James with an expression between vague interest and confusion. "Well, that was certainly interesting."

Of course, having just seen what the mental mage had done, and not wanting to lose any of his memories, the gunslinger kept the arm crossed over his left at the ready to draw and shoot.

[Zaxton Books]

The mage rose an eyebrow, "Conflict resolution at its finest. Who needs to kill when you can just diffuse?"

He nodded to the gun, "Nice piece. Assassin?"

[Sol the 1337th]

"Oh, no. Killing isn't my forte. Mostly for show, but I know how to use it."

Var took himself from the wall and stepped forward. "You spoke of the Legalization Corps while confronting young Malvolio. Tell me, do you know of a soldier by the name of Haka Leone?"

[Zaxton Books]

"A Vigilante if ever there was one. Quite a shot, actually, though his aim leaves something to be desired if he can't even hit me. I'm told he's a rather good shot, though, so maybe I'm faster than I feel."

James put a hand on his hip, "Rival of yours, I see."

[Sol the 1337th]

"Quite. Now, let's get down to business, if you don't mind me referring to it as such. I would like to join the Legalization Corps. I understand your current situation denies me immediate entrance, and surely you already suspect me of espionage."

He spread his arms as a sign of peace. "Search my body or mind if you do so require."

[Zaxton Books]

James wouldn't have needed the invitation, but he nodded to an alleyway, "Over there, if you please. I don't mind doing that sort of thing in public, but I'd prefer to do it somewhere quieter, if you please."

[Sol the 1337th]

Var walked towards it, still somewhat wary and constantly assessing the situation. Of course, James would have him cornered in the alley, and once in his mind, it would likely be incredibly difficult or very impossible to repel him should the mage's intentions prove less than positive.

[Zaxton Books]

James gently warded the alley to prevent accidental intrustions, and then carefully layered himself into the others mind.

Okay, let's start easy. Name, age, hometown.

[Sol the 1337th]

Varamplemhoodeejinakopher Banoit, 19, I was born in Daianis, Omastria.

[Zaxton Books]

I'll call you Van.

James started talking about plants with his voice, "I like sundews mostly, they're really..."

Ignore what I'm saying out loud, there's a bunch of monks walking around in the square. Tell me about all the contact with any of the clans in the Triad War, including the Shining Alliance.