Mistwoven Healer

Akari gives the blade from the Mercurials an experimental swing, listening to the air part around it as small black sparks flicker around the bare steel. Even without actively channeling her dominion art into this new katana, it's already sparking and crackling with dark power.

"And you're certain this one won't break," Akari asks, standing before the Mercurial messenger in the small antechamber right outside the home she shares with the Solace's.

Getting a new weapon is a must for her to feel confident in facing whatever might be required to get Serena the help she needs. However, she's had far too many blades that look just like this snap in half when things really matter. If she's going to part with her money and credits, she needs to be sure.

The young woman standing before Akari bows, adjusting the golden trim of her dress. "As requested, Ma'am. This weapon does little other than act as an excellent conductor for your powers, but I dare say you could drop a building atop it without a scratch."

Akari nods her approval, finding a surge of respect for the merchant organization currently robbing her blind for this emergency purchase. However, she needs quality fast, and the Mercurials can be trusted to deliver — for a price. She's not yet sure what she'll need the blade for, but Shinara isn't in a good state right now. Akari isn't about to reduce her own combat effectiveness out of some naïve misconception that fighting won't be required. Besides, what she needs right now is information on where the point of power that will save Serena is, and if she has to, she'll go about getting it the same way she did things in Nagano. She was more than willing to leave a trail of bodies when finding Candice, and Shinara is far from ready for the chaos she's willing to reap in order to save her girlfriend.

Standing beside her, Micheal Solace watches Akari test her new weapon with an odd look of approval on his face. Something that Akari never would have expected from the inordinately kind man. Yet, she can see why normal rules might go out the window when his daughter's life is on the line. Ever since Felix took Serena, her father has been in problem-solving mode. Both he and Akari are willing to go to any length to protect the one they hold most dear.

Finally, Akari places the sword in her inventory with a crackle of dark lightning, returning her — now permanently — violet eyes to the Mercurial delivery woman. "I thank you for your haste with this delivery. Payment in full will arrive before nightfall."

The young woman bows again. "Thank you for your business, Ma'am." With that, she turns and departs the antechamber in a swish of elegant skirts.

Her new weapon taken care of, Akari nods to the guards on duty at the door and moves back into the main living area, Serena's father trailing after.

"What's next?" the older man asks, his face hard and his spine straight as a steel beam.

"We need to know where to go," Akari says, beginning to pace before the comfortable couches rather than sink into them. Now is far from the time for comfort. The clock is ticking.

"And?" Micheal asks, tone hard.

Akari pauses in her pacing, turning to look up at him with eyes that burn violet. "And I don't know where that is. I'm willing to bet the other members of the Nine know, but Vyrannis never took the time to speak with me, even before I died. Whatever Serena did when reviving me severed our connection anyway. That means that I need to get in contact with one of the others: Baylee, Claire, or Haruto. Trouble is, they're on assignment, and not even Karma or Prof can get me a meeting until they're off-duty tonight."

"Understood," Micheal says, beginning to pace himself. "So, we do the next best thing until that time. What is that?"

Striding to the window to gaze out at the Shinara skyline over the coast, Akari considers. "Two things are important: mustering our troops and trying to find the point of power through other means. I have connections with various sentinels in the GDF, many of whom would be willing to help us retrieve this point of power if it's in a hostile location. Stars, there are… what, four A Rankers in Shinara right now? Felix, Nightsong, Audrey, and that other one… Dancer. Any one of them agrees to help us, and we will have that point of power the moment we know where to look. Failing that, there's Team Firestorm, Asumi, and me. I will handle our offense. You find where to point the sword."

"I will make it happen," the older man says, stroking the beginnings of a beard that grew in on his chin. Apparently, this stress hasn't been good for his self-care routines. "And what do you recommend for other methods of finding this point of power?"

That actually gives Akari pause for a moment. If she knew how to find the point of power, she would have already gone and done it. However, there might be something they could try.

"There are three major magical organizations in Shinara," Akari says, ticking them off on her fingers. "The GDF, the Sanctum Collective, and the Mercurials. Serena and I have collected quite a bit of money over our time as sentinels, and I'm willing to bet that we could motivate some or all of those organizations to help us look. Mobilize everyone you can, have them look for strange magical readings, and pay them whatever they need to get it done now. The GDF and the Sanctum Collective are your best bets, but pull every grieving father card you have. I'll dump you all of my contacts, so you have somewhere to start."

Micheal nods again, "Let's go."

For the second time in her life, Asumi finds herself within the Hub of the GDF, and this time, the strain of the recent war is even more apparent. As before, all of the sentinels around her look like normal young men and women. However, now that she's paying closer attention, their collective burden is even easier to see. More sentinels limp than walk normally, and bandages are so common she might have thought it a fashion statement. More than that, though, she sees far too many haunted expressions, vibrant eyes turned down, and necklaces sporting one or even two or three soul gems. Teammates, friends, perhaps even lovers, lost in this unending war.

While Asumi understood why Serena would want Akari back, she never quite understood the collective hope that such a revival offers to the GDF and sentinel ranks as a whole. Serena was willing to go to such great lengths, not only to bring back Akari, but to prove that revival is possible in the first place.

The sentinels here… they're just a group of people her own age, thrown headfirst into a war they're in no way ready for. Casualties are an inevitability, and everyone seems to have lost at least a few friends. What Serena did with reviving Akari could be a turning point in the war — both for morale and for their numbers. Now, they just need to save her so that she and Felix can do it again.

Striding ahead of her, Akari hardly seems to notice any of that. Ever since her girlfriend collapsed, Akari has had her mind set on only one thing. Asumi finds it a touch silly how the two effectively swapped places, but only in a grim sort of way. She can see why they like each other so much. For as different as Akari and Serena are, they are also much the same.

No, Akari doesn't pay attention to any of the other occupants of the Hub other than what threat they might pose and what aid they might be able to render. A practical sort of outlook, but one that Asumi herself couldn't share.

Asumi has always found herself to be a bit of a dreamer. After getting caught up with Serena and this whole sentinel lifestyle, she has a hard time imagining herself wanting to go back to her family's restaurant. There's a whole world of magic out there that she's only ever seen bits and pieces of. And now, according to the sentinels, she's a part of it. Foolhardy or not, she wants to be a part of this world of magic and excitement. Although perhaps in a safer way than the poor sentinels here have been experiencing.

Both Akari and Serena have assumed that Asumi is capable of more than she's been letting on thus far, and they are at least somewhat correct. Asumi can feel the magic within her, like an icy beast lurking in her very soul. Yet, trying to poke that slumbering monster terrifies her. What if it just makes her even colder than she is now… what if the change is permanent? She's just barely getting back to functionality again, and the risk feels great indeed.

However, poking the monster is exactly what Akari and Asumi have come here to do. Akari needs every asset mobilized for her hunt for the point of power, and she is grasping every connection she has to make it happen. Tenuous as her connection to Akari might be, the deadly sentinel is more than willing to help Asumi practice if it means having another piece on the board.

Despite their similarities, there is also a lot that is different between Serena and Akari. From Asumi's perspective, Serena has always been a soft, kind presence. Even on her worst days, Asumi never truly believed that Serena might hurt her. Akari… is different. Being near her is like being near a naked blade, always willing to cut. While Akari is still a good person at heart, all that means is that her blade is aimed in the right direction. However, if one found themselves on the wrong side, Akari would not hesitate nor feel a hint of remorse for killing them.

Perhaps that isn't a fair perspective. Asumi is certain that Akari could be a genuinely kind and caring person at times. But with her girlfriend on the verge of death and no sign of the point of power that could save her, Asumi is certain that the sentinel would torture the information out of anyone she thought might have it. It might have been a better idea to wait for Serena to be healed and have her train Asumi, then be trained by the remorseless Akari. However, she isn't willing to just sit back and wait, assuming that Akari will succeed. If her new friend's life is on the line, she will do everything she can to contribute.

Moving together, Akari and Asumi make their way through the Hub to a large, gymnasium-like structure that seems mostly abandoned by the other sentinels. With the massive amount of actual fighting going on right now and fieldwork not being held back, there isn't a one of them that feels like wasting their active assault state time on practice. Not when mana toxicity is becoming a problem for even the most cautious sentinels.

The inside of the large gym reminds Asumi somewhat of a rock-climbing gym her brother went to from time to time. Except, instead of fake plastic rocks, this place has actual rocks surrounded by actual sand. Everything is laid out to make it look like a real environment, with hills, boulders, and rocky outcroppings. All of it is lit in natural light as the back of the gym is entirely made up of reinforced windows that look down on the city far below.

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"I've never done an incursion in a desert environment," Akari murmurs as she strides smoothly through the sand. In the way of most sentinels, Akari's movements are effortlessly graceful, even in her rest state. For her part, Asumi nearly slips every other step in an attempt to keep up.

When they are in the center of the desert landscape, Akari stops, waiting for Asumi to catch up before speaking once more.

"Okay, we're here. You can begin whenever you're ready," Akari says, producing her phone from her inventory — which begins to buzz incessantly as pending messages begin to be received.

Asumi swallows, watching the sentinel check her messages with apprehension. "W-What do you mean I can start? I thought you were going to show me how?"

At this, Akari shrugs, her thumbs tapping her screen rapidly as she coordinates everyone else, she's brought in to help look for the point of power.

"Most magic is instinctual," Akari says, not bothering to look up. "Things like inscriptions and so on take effort to learn, but the type of magic sentinels have, the type of magic you have… it just works. It's like moving your finger. I'm certain you can feel the magic within you and can feel how it wants to be used."

Asumi frowns. She does know what to do, but… so far, whatever power she might have has done nothing but harm her. If she's being perfectly honest, she's more than a little bit afraid of it. It's silly, Florina isn't afraid of her power, and Akari certainly isn't. However, they don't have to deal with the constant cold. That feeling of never being able to get warm, no matter how hard you try.

Asumi has bathed in scalding water, put her hand in fire, and done literally everything else she can think of to get warm. Nothing works, and the mere idea that the freezing temperature of her body might get even colder is horrifying.

"Akari…" Asumi says, her voice just short of a whisper. "I-I don't know if I can."

Asumi's eyes are down, watching her cute pink sneaker as she draws circles in the sand with the tip. She can't do it. She can't take that risk. Despite wanting to be amongst these sentinels and see the wonders that they do, all she can think about is that moment with her hand in the flame. The bright tongues of flame danced all over her pale hand and left no burn nor hint of warmth. Just that ever-present cold, seeming to mock her as she broke down and wept over the stove's burner.

"Asumi," Akari says, some of that hard edge in her tone slipping away. "You don't need to be afraid of your magic. In fact, if I had to guess, I'd say that suppressing who you are now is making things worse instead of better. I'm no healer or doctor, but proving to yourself and your power that you are the one in control seems like just the thing you need. Don't be afraid of your power. Use it, dominate it, become it. Who knows, maybe all you need is control and you'll feel warm again."

Asumi frowns, lifting her eyes to meet the burning violet of Akari's. So far as Asumi knows, most sentinels' eyes go back to a more normal state when they are in their rest states. However, her revival seems to have done something odd to Akari's eyes, as Asumi can only see the burning power beneath instead of a veneer of normal human eyes.

"You think I can? Feel warm again, I mean?" Asumi asks, wringing her hands.

Akari nods, "Sure, your power seems somewhat related to temperature control. And you were locked in a freezer when you gained the ability, right? What if your power just locked your default temperature to the temperature that you had when you got it? Practice and control could allow you to manually change that default temperature to something more… comfortable."

"You say it's instinctual, but I've tried just wanting to not be cold anymore. If it's as simple as wanting it to happen, then it should have worked, right?" Asumi challenges, refusing to believe that she's been suffering the cold for so long if a solution is in easy reach.

In response, Akari makes a so-so gesture. "Eh… kind of. Take moving your finger again, just wanting it to move doesn't move it. You have to… I don't know, move the finger. You can feel it within you, right? For me, it feels like electricity in my veins. That burning power and ability to push beyond. Find that core of power within yourself, and make it do what you want."

Akari looks as if she's going to say more, but her phone buzzes again and she turns back to texting. "Just try some things," she says, waving her hand in Asumi's direction. "I'll do my best to save you if you do something wrong."

For a moment, while she's certain Akari isn't looking, Asumi glares at the sentinel and her unhelpful advice. If just willing it away was going to work, she would have been free of the cold ages ago when Serena suggested something similar. However, neither sentinel seems to understand the fact that if she messes up, she could make it worse instead of better.

However, Akari did say to try some things, and there isn't going to be a better chance to practice in the future. She's literally standing in a sentinel training room with a real live sentinel to watch over her — kinda — while she practices. Asumi literally couldn't have asked for better conditions. If she is going to try using her power at all, now is the time.

If I don't try to change my own temperature, it should be fine… right? Asumi considers. But what else can I try doing?

Glancing around, Asumi finds a nearby boulder in a patch of sunshine from the window. Swallowing, she steps up to the boulder and lays her hand against it. She imagines that it's probably nicely warm, having sat in the sun for so long, but she can only feel the standard cold of her condition.

As she rests her hand against the smooth stone, she hesitantly reaches out toward the icy power resting within her. Asumi feels like a little girl, reaching out a trembling hand to a frozen wolf — growling and ready to take her hand off. Yet, she manages to touch it, nonetheless. And, as she does so, she thinks of the nice warm boulder below her hand. How nice it would be to take its warmth for herself. Crack!

A sudden burst of warmth floods Asumi's veins, her eyes going wide as the constant cold within her lessens even as the boulder under her hand breaks into fragments. Instantly, little ice crystals begin creeping along the frozen fragments of stone. However, Asumi hardly cares. Blessed warmth… she closes her eyes and just enjoys the sensation of not being so cold anymore. Yet this much isn't enough. Asumi wants more.

A beaming smile on her face, Asumi sprints, tripping and falling several times, from stone to stone and boulder to boulder, shattering them all. With each stone, more heat enters her body until she begins to feel normal again. Even then, though, she keeps going. Until she begins to feel hot, then very hot.

"Temperature control," Akari says, making Asumi jump back in surprise at her sudden appearance beside her. "You're taking the heat into yourself?"

Asumi nods, grinning with excitement. Damn her overcaution to the void! She never thought she'd feel hot again in her life! Even her body looks better, her skin having gained a healthy tan, and the white locks she's slowly been getting used to having turned golden.

"Try releasing some of the heat you gathered," Akari orders, her tone brooking no room for argument.

Asumi might have argued back anyway, but… she's feeling really hot. Bending down, Asumi lays her bare hand against the sand and reaches out for the power within herself. Instead of ice, now it feels like a roaring flame. With an effort of will, Asumi pushes that fire out of her body and into the sand, rapidly turning the grains into blackened glass in a ring spreading away from her. The glassy plane snaps and pops, cracking along its surface at the incredibly rapid temperature change. It happens so quickly that even Akari is forced to dart backward a few steps to avoid getting burned.

Looking up, Asumi finds a smile on Akari's lips as she watches her. "Well done. Keep practicing and see what else you can do. Try not to hurt yourself, though. I need to take a call."

Akari strides to the other side of the practice room, gliding easily over the sand and watching Asumi over her shoulder with a hint of amusement. Like Serena and herself, the girl was running around using her power like a golden retriever with the zoomies. Her hair flashes from white to golden and a neutral grey — like burnt out embers — in-between. Even her eyes shift from pale blue to bright, burning orange as she rapidly shifts the temperature within herself.

While Akari briefly wonders at the extent to which Asumi's control and ability will develop, she has a hard time focusing on her completely. With Serena in her current state, and with the call with her teammates just moments away, her mind is far away from her surroundings.

Arriving at the edge of the room, she puts her back against the glass back wall and watches Asumi laugh and run about. She will need to keep an eye on the young woman to make sure she has help if she hurts herself.

Squaring her shoulders, Akari taps on Baylee's contact and presses the call button on her phone. The other woman picks up on the first ring, and from the chaos of familiars and Claire happening in the background, Akari assumes that she's on speaker. Akari flips the setting on her own phone and holds it out before her, letting the invisible Liora — leaning down from her perch atop Akari's head — listen as well.

"You got my message?" Akari asks, not wasting time on pleasantries.

The chaos on the other side of the line stills as Baylee replies. "The points of power?" Baylee asks in the newborn silence. "Yes, we've been trying to get the information for you. Our patrons are either unresponsive or unwilling to tell us. Apparently, something Serena did pissed Althia off something fierce. They aren't willing to cross her without good cause, and they don't care about Serena dying."

"So, we make them care," Akari snarls. "With your connections intact, you should still be valuable assets for the Nine. If we threaten to sever those connections entirely, that might make them listen."

"Tried that!" calls Claire from the other side. She sounds slightly out of breath for some reason. "Dragon dad still didn't give a shit!"

Akari rolls her eyes at the nickname for one of the most powerful beings in existence. However, she does wonder if all of the Nine used the form of dragons, or if only some of them do.

"Okay, what other leverage do we have?" Akari asks, unable to keep the frustration from coloring her tone. She tries to keep her relaxed posture, watching Asumi in the distance, but ends up starting to pace beside the massive glass window instead.

"We're working on that, and we're trying to get back to Shinara. I'm tempted to just leave now and help you search, but that would be abandoning hundreds of evacuating civilians to their fate. We're two, maybe three days out at our current rate," Baylee explains.

Akari shakes her head, growling. "We can't wait that long! I need to know where to go today! The week timeline is only a prediction. The truth is that Serena could die at any moment, and we've made no progress in saving her. Give me a direction! Anything to go on!"

"We don't have that, Akari," Baylee says, somber but firm. "We're not holding out on you."

"I know that, but…" Akari's voice breaks. "I… I-I can't lose her, Baylee. I just… can't."

"You won't," comes Haruto's deep, smooth voice through the connection. "I… will make sure that you won't. My job is to protect you all and… I've been failing at my duties."

"And how will you do that!?" Akari demands, hot tears leaking from her eyes.

A long silence stretches as everyone waits for his answer. Nearly a minute of silence later, Haruto replies.

"Promise you won't ask me how I know," he says, for the first time… he sounds genuinely afraid.

"I swear on the stars!" Akari says instantly. "You help me save Serena, and you will never hear a word of doubt from me."

Another long pause, "And the rest of you?"

One by one, confused voices echo their assent, Haruto even making the familiars swear — although not his own. Finally, once everyone is agreed, he speaks.

"You are looking for an item called the Dawnseeker. Its very nature is to burn away all impurities. I admit that I don't know exactly what it is or how it works, but it is the item Althia believes will cure Serena. You should be able to find it somewhere in the forest between Shirakawa village and Mt. Ningyo. Look for abnormally tall trees."

As promised, Akari doesn't speak a word of question. "Any other details? What else do I need to know?"

"You won't be able to move the Dawnseeker without bonding to it, so you will need to bring Serena there," Haruto explains. "It won't bond to just anyone, but… if Althia is to be believed, it should bond to someone with Serena's personality. Don't allow anyone but Serena to touch it — even indirectly. If it bonds to someone else, all of this is for nothing."

Akari pauses for a moment, considering, then nods. "Understood, anything else?"

"That's all I know," Haruto says, and from his tone, Akari can guess the looks the others are throwing his way.

"Thank you, Haruto," Akari says, turning her nervous gait back toward the practicing Asumi. "Leave the rest to me."