Seeds of Discordia

Liam and Val sat on a couch across from Lady Bell while Jungle Mimic and his crew stood to the left of Liam. Lady Bell, Jungle Mimic, and his small group listened as Liam told Lady Bell what Lady Arachne had informed him about the rumors she had picked up on. He left out the parts of the letter that he didn't want her knowing and wasn't prevalent to the conversation, the information he did tell her and the other people in the room was enough for them to take what he was saying seriously.

Lady Bell brought a hand to her chin as she took it all in and processed what he had informed her. It was a lot to take in. From mysterious snake-like beings seen exited the rumored islands that had some weird effect happening to them to islands being hit by those same magics or whatever they were heading in their direction. She understood why Liam was adamant on speaking to her on this before she sent people out. If there was a chance these events were heading to this island, especially when the Sea Ritual was happening…they needed to make sure there wasn't a chance that would happen.

Lady Bell looked at her internal clock. Irritation was on her face as she noticed how close to the start of the ritual it was. Her eyes suddenly landed on Jungle Mimic and his group. During her deep thoughts she had forgotten the group of Lizard-folk Beast-kins were there. She was about to tell them to leave when she remembered why they were there in the first place.

"Does any of what Phantom Cat informed us fall into what you wish to tell me?" Lady Bell inquired.

Jungle Mimic didn't reply right away. Instead he looked at his companions who were already staring at him. With a nod from them, Jungle Mimic turned to look back at Lady Bell and said, "Surprisingly…I believe so."

Lady Bell looked slightly surprised at his words and was about to ask him to explain, but didn't need to as he continued, "I say I believe so but at the same time I am not entirely sure if what we are about to say matches the people Phantom Cat informed us about. While we pride ourselves in gathering information, what we saw and discovered…we don't have everything…at least we weren't sure if what we saw was real. However, after listening to Phantom Cat and what Lady Arachne told him. I am sure what we saw after what we discovered was real."

Lady Bell's eyes narrowed. She didn't like the way he was rounding about and not saying it straight. While she had heard about Jungle Mimic and his group before, this was the first time he had appeared in her neck of the woods. If this was how he turned in information then she was going to have to question those who praised them. "Jungle Mimic please get straight to the point we do not need you back tracking. Please tell us what it is you wish to inform us."

"Yes Lady Bell," Jungle Mimic said as he continued with resolve. "Last night around the northern part of the island we saw a boat docked. What brought us there was a strange feeling we all had. We weren't sure what it was we were feeling so we decided to check it out. However, the closer we got the more uncomfortable we started to feel. Our senses were picking up something that was causing us to feel a sensation similar to pins and needles pricking our scales and skin. It got so bad that we had to stop and turn around because our Danger Sense suddenly triggered. It told us if we continued forward then something dangerous was going to happen."

Lady Bell stared at them with a raised brow. She wasn't convinced that what they were saying had any ties to what Phantom Cat was talking about. However, it was concerning that they had felt something like that. Maybe a strong monster had somehow found its way pass the barrier? Or maybe it was already within the parameters of the barrier when it was placed? Either way maybe she'll have someone check it out later after the ritual and this new problem was handled.

Lady Bell turned her gaze to look at Liam and when she did she noticed he was staring right at Jungle Mimic was such…seriousness. The look he had in his eyes made her think that maybe what they were talking about wasn't something that shouldn't be overlooked. However, at the same time, she also didn't know what made him look at the Lizard-folk so hard. She was about to ask, but didn't get the chance as Jungle Mimic continued, "Now I know what you are thinking. That what I just said doesn't sound like it has anything to do with what Phantom Cat just told us. However, as we escaped the area as fast as we could we saw several figures swimming through the water tunnels around the area closest to where the ritual spot would be taking place. The figures we saw matched what Phantom Cat's mentor, Lady Arachne, had said. snake-like people that could go underwater."

Val's body twitched as she heard what Jungle Mimic just said. Liam, feeling his body slightly tense a bit, kept his outer appearance as calm as he could. He tried to keep a steady tone as he asked, "When did you see these beings?"

"Around three or four in the morning," a member of Jungle Mimic's group answered.

Liam looked at Val as she looked back. It was Lady Bell who said what was on both of their minds. "That was around the time you both stopped that theft attempt wasn't it?"

Liam and Val nodded as Liam stated, "If that's the case then what we thought might be going on might actually be what is. Lady Bell, we need people searching for any traces of dangerous items those beings might have placed."

Taken aback by Liam's suddenness, Lady Bell stated, "Now hold on. We don't know for sure if those being Jungle Mimic and his group saw could be the very same Lady Arachne mentioned…"

"I mean no disrespect to you at all Lady Bell; however I don't want to leave that to chance," Liam swiftly interjected. "I know this is your branch, but I trust my gut and my gut is saying those beings are the one and the same as what my mentor Lady Arachne informed me about. If I am wrong I will take any punishment you are willing to give me for being rude and pushy about this, but I will not take a chance and say it was a coincidence and not further pursue it. Not when lives are at risk here."

Lady Bell stared at Liam. Their eyes locked and she could feel the resolve and desperation in them as he held her gaze. She wasn't sure why but seeing the way he held her gaze and the way his body language demanded she listen to him and do as he said. It was then she understood something. He was the apprentice of both Wild Card and Lady Arachne. To be such a person one needed to be bold. One needed to take the risk to make a superior listen when they themselves weren't sure. However, it was his resolve to take responsibility if he happened to be wrong.

These qualities were the very same as the Wild Card and Lady Arachne. While these things made her think of them, there was something else that nagged at the back of her mind. His actions, his careful and chosen words, his body language. All of these and his demand for her to take action to protect others at the risk of him getting a punishment he probably didn't know he would get…He resembled a person who left a lasting impression in her that she could not get out of her mind even to this day. It was because of that she decided to go along with it.

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"Very well," Lady Bell started. "I will have small groups of three spread throughout the island looking for dangerous items and these snake-like beings." She looked at Jungle Mimic and ordered, "Jungle Mimic, can you and your group bring Phantom Cat and Toxic Songbird to the spot where you saw those beings. Maybe they can see if they can spot anything unusual around there."

Liam put a hand up as he said, "Please bring Toxic Songbird. There is a different area I need to investigate."

Confused they all looked at Liam. Lady Bell then asked, "What warrants your attention more than…"

"That area you spoke of. The one where your Danger Senses started to flare up. Where was it?" Liam asked.

Confused by the question, Jungle Mimic asked, "Why would you want…"

"Because there is a high possibilities that that feeling you felt belongs to one of the magics that caused a few islands to slowly start to fall apart."

Everyone's eyes suddenly widened as they heard this. It was Lady Bell who spoke first before the others could say anything as she asked, "How would you know this?"

Liam looked at her and responded as calmly as he could, "Because I was the one who reported the findings on that magic through surviving the night when one of the islands was hit by it. If it is the same magic then I would know it is and if it is then there is more going on here than just those snake beings. We need all the information on what is going on as we can get. We need to know if that magic they felt last night is the one and the same. And if it is then a lot of people will be in trouble. That magic is dangerous."

Once again Lady Bell could see the seriousness in Liam's eyes. She wasn't sure if what he was saying was true, but with how convicted he sounds and sure of himself she couldn't help but believe him. With a nod she said, "Fine, but inform me the moment you find out the truth."

Liam nodded as he responded before getting up and leaving the room, "Yes ma'am."

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"Tell me why again we're going out to the middle of nowhere on this island?" Roman questioned as he, Artem, and Ariyana made their way through the forest full of water-like plant life.

"I told you," Ariyana started. "Ever since I was able to start using my Fae Passive Racial Benefits I have been able to start feeling the plants around me. While it's not a strong feeling I can still sense something akin to emotions from them."

"And what does that have to do with us making our way away from the city, you know…the area we were meant to look around?" Roman inquired once again.

"Well, shortly after we got close to the edge of the city's border I felt some of the plant life feeling…scared?" Ariyana replied. Her last word came out more as a question as she thought about it. She wasn't entirely sure if what she felt from the plant life was fear especially with how far she was from the actual plant life sending her the emotions.

She was still new to all of this. Her Nature Fae Passive Racial Benefits were still not fully understood since she was still learning how they felt and work. For example, the plants currently around them were quiet, but farther away from them she could feel something that made her want to hurry and see what was going on.

She was using the feeling of emotions as a guide. If she strayed from the right direction the feeling she was getting would dim, if she stayed on the right path the feelings slowly started to grow. Where they currently were the feeling of emotions the plant life she was trying to find had grown, but at the same time it was still faint since she didn't have proper control over it.

"We're going out to the middle of nowhere because you feel some plants feel scared?" Roman questioned. "Seriously?"

"Dude you're a fox guy who utilizes sand to protect your shins and you have a hard time with this?" Artem jumped in trying to defuse any fighting Ariyana and Roman probably would start having.

"I'm not having a hard time believing it. I just…," Roman started to say until his ears suddenly perked up. At the same time Ariyana suddenly felt a wave of dread wash over her as the faint feeling of fear she had felt intensify.

"What's wrong?" Artem questioned as he swiftly brought his shield up and scanned the area around them. He didn't have the same type of senses as the two around him did, which made him feel a bit useless since he was supposed to be the defender of the group.

Roman didn't respond as he kept his eyes focused forward while slowly reaching for the ground and using his earth sensing ability called Vibrant Earth. He had worked on this ability and was able to get it to spread out quite a bit. As he did this Ariyana responded as the feeling of emotions that hit her just moments ago dampened, "That feeling I was mentioning earlier. It just hit me hard. I don't know what had the plant life so spooked, but the waves of emotions I felt from them were intense for some reason."

Artem felt his body tense for a moment as he kept scanning all around them. He didn't hear nor see anything, but he knew that didn't matter. With people able to use Illusion Magic or the like it was easy for someone to hide themselves or many others depending on their level in the Field of Study. With a calm and steady breath, Artem asked, "Anything Roman?"

"No," Roman replied. "My Vibrant Earth ability isn't picking anything up, but…I could have sworn I felt something strange in the air."

Artem was about to say something, but as his mouth opened something swiftly dropped from the sky and crashed down right in front of them. All three of them felt their bodies involuntarily jump before swiftly turning their attention to see what had fallen not too far away from them. As they looked at it their eyes widened. It was Gimmel's Illusionary Bird Puppet that had been following them.

Before any of them could react, Roman felt tremors ripple through the ground at a fast pace towards their direction as the emotions Ariyana felt crashed back into her. At the same time Artem felt a powerful wave of power suddenly appear as five cloaked individuals appeared. Artem could feel his skin start to form goosebumps as he stared at them. it wasn't all five that he felt the strange wave of power come from, but rather the one in the middle.

From what he was able to tell the person had a slender figure and was almost as tall as Blair, but still shorter than him. However, the glaring eyes he felt from the hood told him that this person was anything but frail.

Roman's ears and tail stood on up; his Danger Sense was ringing as he stood in a defensive stance. Ariyana winced but readied herself as she tried to lessen the distraction that was trying to convince her to run away. Artem, however, stood proud and ready as he held his shield out in front while he stared at the group in front of them.

The middle person took a step forward and with a husky feminine voice stated, "I don't know who you three are, but you don't look like the ones we are searching for. If that strange bird was meant as a tool to spy on us then you failed to keep it properly hidden." She then growled as she suddenly demanded, "Regardless if you do or do not belong to group we are searching for…you have five seconds to convince me why I shouldn't kill you three on the spot."

Before Artem, Ariyana, or Roman could reply a familiar voice called out, "It'll only take a second."

A new figure suddenly dropped in between the two groups. Artem, Roman, and Ariyana felt relief as they recognized who it was. The other group, however, readied themselves to attack. The middle person raised a hand up as she stared at the newcomer.

Liam stared at the leader of the group and said in a friendly manner as he held his Web Watch out for them to see, "We meet again, Champion of Atrophy, Wielder of Decay Magic, Lolita."