Patrick Frye!pR.BaFF/uk 22 Nov 2015 3:11:32 PM No.41156379>>41159742
>>41154694 'Very dedicated' to getting in my grill whenever she can, then. Things keep going like they are and I won't have any more stories to tell.
>Quickly finishing up the meal, practically downing it now that he was given that chance instead of being spoon-fed, it didn't take him long to devour what remained. Hell, he'd have licked the plate clean if it was an option - instead he'd have to cope with the bits and pieces that had spilled on his body while eating. That smell would probably torment him for a while - wait, tomorrow?
You really don't get out much, do you? Not that I should be complaining about getting decent meals, but why are you asking me for my boring stories when there's a mountain of books to be read out there?
??!aLEJudith. 25 Nov 2015 9:21:42 AM No.41159742>>41159765
>>41156379 She wouldn't be a good general if she didn't do her job. Which is to get into your face.
>Though he was right, if she didn't hurry he'll be out of that cell and out of her reach. She'll need to rush her preparations and be ready for the next day. A week or so ahead of schedule it would seem. >Trying not to get crossed out by Patrick gobbling down the soup, the girl locks behind her towards the stairs. Seeing as no one was coming, she replies in a hushed tone.
Because books can only give you so much of an experience. Once it's not enough, even as much as I love them, it's still a reminder of what I lack and desire.
>What that cryptic answer she stands up and makes her way out of the cell, shutting the door and locking it tight once more before heading back up the stairs to continue on with her day.
Patrick Frye / (Baff no trip) 25 Nov 2015 10:12:30 AM No.41159765>>41159788
>>41159742 >It wasn't as if the answer was wrong, but it still pissed him off. To be looked down on and slapped around as a mere petty criminal, the pressure and attitude had really gotten to him of late. Even if he managed to keep going with his snarky remarks and witty comments, if this kept up for too long he knew he would eventually break. No man was invincible, after all. If he didn't believe that, he wouldn't have made it here in the first place.
>Still, little gifts like a good meal served to rekindle a bit of hope. Stranger still, however, was her reasoning for doing so. Whilst it's true that he'd taken off from the island in search of great things, he never thought about measuring up to the grand tales of ancient heroes - it was more about collecting them and continuing to discover their great feats rather than making his own. Instead it was almost like she was jealous, like she wanted to make her own mark on the world.
She's a weird kid. Guess both of them have that in common. What is it with teens and that sort of mindset? Was I that bad back then?
Jeez, I'm sounding like an old man or something. Talking to myself, too. Maybe this place is making me go crazy.
??!aLEJudith. 25 Nov 2015 10:48:54 AM No.41159788>>41160174
>>41159765 >The next day... >It was early, very early, long before the sun itself was set to rise. As usual a guard was posted in front of his cell to make sure that, if by some miracle, he managed to escape his binds there would be someone to raise the alarm. Not so much stop him, they knew only the General could accomplish that so far. Instead of taunting Patrick like he normally did, he instead talked about all the nice soup he had in a container he was going to eat in front of the mage. Not long after he got half way through it, he was out like a light.
>And very soon after that, Patrick hears the sound of something shutting off on the room next to him. The constant hum and vibration of the backpack on his back ceases. Someone turned off the machine locking away his magic, but who? The answer came quickly as a figure only illuminated by the guard's candle lamp slides a key into his cell door and opens it.
>It was the girl from yesterday, Victoria's little sister, clad in attire suited for an adventurer instead of the orange noble's dress she had on the other day. She approaches him while putting a finger to her lips motioning him to be silent for the time being.
Patrick Frye!pR.BaFF/uk 25 Nov 2015 1:15:38 PM No.41160174>>41160243
>>41159788 >When you were stuck in a place like this, hanging like it was the last position you'd ever be in, sleep was your only escape from the cold reality. It wasn't easy to get, but it was a blissful distraction when it happened. Unfortunately for Patrick, that sleep was going to be interrupted.
>First it was the sound of something hitting the floor. His eyes didn't snap open, but his consciousness awoke, presenting him the blurry, dark visage of his cell. It was difficult to make anything out, but something had fallen and he wasn't sure what. Then, strangely, the sound of the usual humming started to dim down. Was his hearing going bad? Was he really awake?
>Then a click, and he was quickly knocked out of his half-asleep stupor. Crumpling forward, Patrick collapsed onto the cell floor, the ends of his arms feeling an incredible amount of release. His scarred, damaged wrists felt free; still painful, but free nonetheless.
What's going on...? Am I... Huh?
>A figure moved through the darkness around his cell, and now that he was awake, his senses immediately homed in on the source of the motion and noise. Once he realised who it was, his eyes opened wide in shock.
WHAT THE-
>And then she went and made the shushing motion, causing him to become conscious of what was actually happening here. To this sequence of events, he only had one response, speaking the words very visibly, if low in volume.
??!aLEJudith. 25 Nov 2015 1:32:41 PM No.41160243>>41160979
>>41160174 >Patrick's initial shout causes the girl to flinch and the sleeping guard behind them to snort mid snore. She thanked herself for putting a bit extra sleeping drug in his food the she thought was needed, kept him asleep even after that.
Shut up you fool! You'll get us caught before we can even try to get out of here!
>But after that, she reaches into her bag giving Patrick a flask of water and a package full of dried jerky.
Eat along the way, you're going to need the energy.
>Leaving him for a moment to check the staircase for any signs of other guards, she returns to explain what the her plan is.
We can't go up to the main floor, we'll be caught for sure. But at the other end of this room is door that'll get us out of here.
Patrick Frye / (Baff no trip) 26 Nov 2015 8:02:30 AM No.41160979>>41160983
>>41160243 >The water helped to restore his senses, being dehydrated for so long had really begun to wear on him. It also helped make the jerky not-unbearably-dry, so hopefully that combination would give him the energy to move. The very idea of all of this was crazy, he had so many questions, but all of them faltered in the face of being able to actually leave.
>With every ounce of effort, he attempted to stand. Stumbling, he could feel the iron chains at his ankles tear into him once again, and his shoulders weren't used to being able to take the weight of his arms. The single hour a day he was allowed to spend freely in his cell hadn't been wasted, but under all the other terrible conditions his body had withered somewhat.
I don't know... if I'll be able to walk out of here by myself.
>Sure, he'd been exercising when he could, but there was a difference between fairly static movements and managing to walk, run, move up and down staircases for any length of time.
Do you have the key to these things? I won't be leaving with them - Oh. Oh, right. Yeah.
>Moving a hand up from its lowered position, he attempted to concentrate on that old feeling in the back of his mind. Sure enough, a small flicker of flame sprouted where he wished it. It had been so long, the warmth of the flame washed over him like a revitalising meal, even if it was only a small one.
Ha... man... it's been way too long.
>Concentrating as hard as he could, it was difficult to manage the magic. It'd take a while for his body to get used to handling that kind of force again, but for now it was enough to burn through the metal chains if he worked hard. Sure enough, a couple of clangs later and the bindings lay on the floor, his ankles looking just as bad as his wrists.
Still... every step feels like I'll shatter my foot. Might've broken something, I don't know.
??!aLEJudith. 26 Nov 2015 8:59:15 AM No.41160983>>41160984
>>41160979 Yeah, give a moment.
>It seems the girl had a whole ring of keys in her pocket. She could probably have opened any door in the garrison if she wanted. And yet it was his she decided was worth the time. Hearing that he was having problems moving wasn't a surprise. Even if he had the resolve keep going, his body didn't and it would probably fall apart before his mind would under her sister's watch. Though at least he can claim that much where others can not.
I'll help you walk, but we won't be seeing a proper healer for a while. Not until I know we're in the clear and can take the chance to be stationary within the kingdom for a time.
>And the capital certainly wasn't the place to do it. Taking his arm and placing it around her shoulders, she gives him the much needed support to get where they needed to go.
Just try to stay off it for now and we'll do what we can with it once we get to the carriage.
>She didn't want to waste any more time in this dungeon though. They needed to by past the city walls before the alarm was raised or they'll go going no where.
Now come on, we need to get going as fast as we can manage.
>With that, she starts to lead him out of the cell and towards the other end of the dungeon where an thick iron door was situated. To think that what was on the other side could possibly lead to their freedom. So close to his cell, yet powerless to get there on his own.
Patrick Frye / (Baff no trip) 26 Nov 2015 9:20:54 AM No.41160984>>41160986
>>41160983 >A little bit of help made walking a hell of a lot easier, especially while he was regaining his strength. It wasn't far, they'd easily reach the door, it was the beyond that worried him, and how far they would have to go before he could truly rest. Worse yet, how far would he get before the ice queen caught on? Normally he wouldn't mind so much but right now he was a fish out of water.
Enclosed..? I don't really mind them but my hat keeps getting caught on the-
>And then it hit him
My hat!!
>Damn it, all of his clothes and gear! It was silly to think about it now that he was so close to leaving, but it also posed some real dangers - heading out without boots would be rough, and supplies wouldn't be easy without his bag. And, of course, the hat that reminded him of home.
We've gotta get it. I can't just leave without it... can I? Argh..
??!aLEJudith. 26 Nov 2015 9:43:39 AM No.41160986>>41160989
>>41160984 >She flinched again as she heard Patrick raise his voice once again. She would have punched him in the side to get him quiet if she didn't think she'd brake a rib in his current state.
Taken care of. My high standing and half truths saw to it. You'll have your things when we get through the tunnels.
Really, you should be thanking me.
>And she herself should be so thankful that Victoria sometimes counted on her to relay orders when she was too busy with other matters. It only took some twisting of words to get her hands on Patrick's things. She made sure to get everything in case it was of some importance sentimental or otherwise.
I had to rush everything far a head of time to get this all set up for tonight.
>She keeps taking him towards the iron door and once they get there uses the next key in her possession to open it. Very. Slowly. It had been rusted for a while and Patrick can hear the groaning and scraping of the metal on the hinges. Very slowly, very carefully though, the door was open and the sound of flowing water can be heard in the distance.
Patrick Frye / (Baff no trip) 26 Nov 2015 10:27:13 AM No.41160989>>41160995
>>41160986 Right... okay. That's good...
>As the girl explained her well-thought-out preparations, Patrick released a relieved sigh, calming down from his prior state. That made everything a lot simpler and lot less stressful on his body. Now that his mind wasn't panicking about that, it turned instead to a particularly curious matter that had made itself apparent since he'd first woken up. No, perhaps even since the day prior.
>After weeks of being cooped up in the worst place he'd ever been, he was now inches from getting out, all thanks to the help of his enemy's sister. What kind of fucked up divine providence had caused this kind of mess to happen? Why would she talk about 'rushing things ahead of time', 'setting this up', why would she bother to do any of that?
>Maybe it wasn't the time to ask. For now, they just had to get out. Patrick wasn't in the best state when they brought him here, so he had to rely on his impromptu guide to take him in the right direction from here on out.
How far is there to go, once we're through the door?
??!aLEJudith. 26 Nov 2015 11:20:56 AM No.41160995>>41161694
>>41160989 Two hour's walk if don't take breaks. Though it you need to we'll stop, I won't be able to carry your full weight if you push yourself too hard.
>That's all she said as she ventures inside and they truly begin their escape from the garrison. ======= >They were an hour into their journey. The tunnels they were walking though appeared to be some old water way under the city streets. The old bricks were illuminated by a oil lamp she lit along the way, their flickering image reflected in the water that still flowed through here.
>Now that they were a fair ways in, they could talk in a normal volume without fearing attention from the guard.
Half way there. If you have questions, ask then now.
>Better to get it all out of the way now when stealth wasn't needed.
Patrick Frye / (Baff no trip) 27 Nov 2015 9:19:14 AM No.41161694>>41161715
>>41160995 >It had taken a while for them to reach this point. Whether his escape had already been discovered or not was already something in the distant past. Hard truths were common on long journeys, and Patrick's most recent was simply that he owed this young girl his life. Who knew what the church would've done to him once his turnover date came up. They'd already been performing several tests he didn't understand, and Victoria's threat of the transfer was looming. She never told him exactly when. Maybe that was just to increase the tension.
Questions...? I guess there's a few on my mind... first of all,
>If there was one thing pressing on his mind in particular, it was this. He wouldn't rest until he had an answer.
-why the hell would anyone connect an underground set of tunnels under the city directly to what's supposed to be a secure prison? Isn't that completely counter-productive? What if some band of thieves stormed the place and freed all the guys inside?
And here I thought empyrean fortresses like this were nigh-on impregnable. It's a wonder it's even still standing...
??!aLEJudith. 27 Nov 2015 12:09:34 PM No.41161715>>41161885
>>41161694 >Well he wasn't wrong to think that. But there was a reason for it.
These tunnels are old waters ways that were made when Empyrean was first starting to expand into the city it is today. One of the oldest parts still in some use but very few people actually know if it's existence any more. New and better waterways have been made over the years and the only two other entrances here are to the front city gate and to the mines.
>Neither places many people would want to find themselves if they wanted to commit a crime.
Others were sealed off, the garrison was an older building remodelled into what it was today. If we waited another month or so, this section would have been filled with dirt and sealed off too.
>As they go, the path splits up ahead one going to the left and other continuing forward. Melody heads left and continues her explanation.
Only reason I know it exists is because I stumbled onto the old plans for it when I was looking though the city archives for something to read.
It is still a hole in the defences, so that's why my sister is there. If an attack was staged at that garrison, she'd be one of the people to contend with. And you should know first hand how daunting a prospect that is, your only saving grace was that you could melt the ice she encapsulates people in.
Patrick Frye!pR.BaFF/uk 27 Nov 2015 2:26:01 PM No.41161885>>41161970
>>41161715 >So that was it, huh? Tunnels so old that they were being filled in. Now that she mentioned it, it wasn't as though they were all that extensive, a lot of what looked like old paths simply weren't traversible anymore. The fact that they connected to the mines allowed the possible easy transport of crystal from there to other locations in the city, but perhaps they were done using this.
Sure, yeah, your sister's strong, I totally get that.
>Then the girl would feel a pressure on her shoulder as Patrick pushed away, stumbling for a moment but managing to hold himself on his own two feet. Once he got a feel for holding his own weight, he looked across at her and gave his trademark grin.
But I'm not to be underestimated either, y'know.
>It hurt his pride to keep being devalued like that, but what hurt more was that she was right, in a sense. So far out of two encounter's he had against her, she'd held the upper hand both times. Even his plasma bomb hadn't worked on her, and he couldn't do that anymore. If he had to attribute it to anything, it was her cold, calculating demeanour and that sword of hers. Those pinpoint slashes ended up doing more damage to him than the magic itself. Maybe he'd relied on his power too much?
>Still, if there was one other thing he had to comment on...
You're sister's not stupid, you know. I know you joked about being able to say I kidnapped you if she came after us, but we both know she won't fall for that. I was stuck in an anti-magic cell, and you're the only one who's had access to me when she sent you down to say hi.
For both of us to disappear like this right after the fact, she's going to know. You seem to look up to her a lot, so I guess my biggest question is why. Really. You're risking everything, even betraying your sister, not only to run away but to release her nemesis and show him the road to freedom.
Why?
>Admittedly the term nemesis was a bit much, but his pride couldn't allow any further devaluation of own merit. Even when being serious, he couldn't help but be a little bit of an ass, even if it was well hidden. Still, the question remained. Why throw what she had away just for this? What did she expect to achieve?