Elementals Chapter 4: Celestial Tides (OPEN)

Noel froze at the sound of the voice, and her normal sass suddenly kicked in. "I think the fact that you're talking to me negates all of those half-formed arguments," she said.
"Oh, for the love of all that is sacred," a different muffled voice cut through the stillness. Noel blinked. "This is ridiculous."
Noel finally looked back, but managing to keep the gas in place. She let out a whimper upon seeing the empty meadow, but her eyes soon came to the forest. It seemed that Astra was successful. The fire was gone, but a good portion of the forest was now burned and blackened. Thick, dark smoke rose from behind the trees.
You can have the smoke if you want, child. Their voice spoke into her mind. Could be useful.
Noel blinked again. The smoke seemed to gravitate towards her, like how the mist from inside the temple liked to curl around her wrists and ankles. At first, she was confused, but then she got it. Noel inhaled deeply, and the smoke entered her body. Soon she started coughing, but she seemed to be handling it better than last time.

Almost losing consciousness, Ignis let loose the flame. Too tired to move or think, his options were limited…until the smoke moved. It could just be Arcanis, manipulating the vision to further worry his panicked mind. However, the movement of the smoke seemed different, "You aren't…gone. So…I will…continue…to fight!" With a vast quickness, a rising heat surrounded himself. As hot as fire, as complex as wind. Channeling the aura around him, he managed to burn his attacker.

Arcanis mocked everyone in their minds, saying things that ultimately made one message clear: Ignis is a murderer, a liar, and dying coward. He spoke to each within their own hallucination, attempting to lower their guards. All the while his followers closed in on each, preparing to fight. However, the screams of the lackey near Ignis prevented any further attack. As they tried to save their comrade, Ignis made something clear, "I don't know where you are…But if you hurt them…especially her, I'll kill you…" Smiling, Arcanis manipulated the message so that everyone heard his final words, "…I'll kill you…"

Ignis attempted to heal himself once again, thankfully the process was faster. He couldn't allow Arcanis to keep his illusion any longer, but he didn't know how. He knew a little about illusion magic, but not enough to override Arcanis. His friends were still here, but how could he save them? Anger filled his entire body, more like frustration. He couldn't just sit there, but he couldn't do much either.

Arcanis taunted everyone with glee. He approached Ignis, "Pitiful. The one elemental who had any chance at seeing through my power, is now reduced to embers. How much fire can you use? You could swing a solar flare, now you can only snap a spark."

So he hadn’t been imagining it. Alister squeezed back, holding on to the pressure as tightly as he could. Though he didn’t want to, he started crying. “Evan… oh, I’m sorry,” his voice warbled.
Then several things began happening very quickly. As he tried to wipe his tears away, he noticed the smoke rising from the forest, and then… descending into the meadow? Which must mean that someone was controlling it, right? Then there was Astra’s sudden voice, too… Then an intense heat rose somewhere near him, as if he was suddenly right next to a bonfire. He leaned away from it as he heard a voice, which despite his initial hope he soon realized was Arcanis. He frowned, deciding to focus on the tingling against his hand and his grip around it. The heat seamed to increase, and he felt the tingling in his hand tugging away from it. He backed away as well. Then, Ignis’s voice came to his ears. What? It was one thing to hear Arcanis ramble on and on about it, but how could Ignis speak himself? He had disappeared along with the others, and if this was Arcanis’ doing… ah. Arcanis. He was the one in control.
Suddenly everything made just a little bit more sense. Taking deep breaths, he tried to calm himself again and think rationally. Taking the tingling sensation, he brought his other hand to feel the area around it, trying to see if he could detect Evan’s arm.

Noel was on the ground, coughing and hacking. It was strange, and painful, but at least it wasn’t three poisonous gases that made you feel nauseous and like your throat was on fire.
Breathe, child. Just breathe, the voice said. Though muffled, it managed to overpower Arcanis’ voice. Gradually, Noel’s coughing slowed. She blinked. I didn’t pass out! I consider that a win.
Plumes of smoke still rose in the forest, but she had absorbed a good amount for herself. Suddenly, she felt a fiery heat ignite somewhere near her. She moved away a little, but out of worry, she glanced at the sulfur dioxide surrounding the seal. It was beginning to diffuse, the perfect dome becoming fuzzy and encroaching. Noel quickly reformed it again as she heard… Ignis?
“Wow, that was quick,” she said aloud, trying to smother her anxiety with her humor and indifference. “You had plenty of chances to kill me before then, you know.”
The more she thought about it, the more she realized the voice might not be real in some way. A seed of anxiety and fear had still taken root in her though. There was a feeling that something was coming, something bad.

Ignis smiled, If I can somehow find him, I could create a tear in his illusion. Ignis, with his heat aura still in place, sat down and chanted, "Astra, prime element of air and the wind, I release you from your prison. Now free as the wind, now free from illusion…"

Arcanis backhanded Ignis, with enough force to render him unconscious. He was too late, Astra was freed…

(What exactly does this mean for Astra? They should be able to locate Arcanis, right?)

(Astra is immune to Arcanis's illusion. Now that she's free, she can create a humanoid form, leave the temple, and Noel and Alister should be a little more powerful.)

(Ah I see. Btw, I had the idea that Astra uses they/them pronouns, so that is how I’ve been referring to them this whole time)

(Oh sorry. I'll make sure to use those pronouns from now on)

(👌)

Ignis let out a massive charge of energy, spreading far about the temple. Pillars and walls crumble slightly to the heavy shake. Ignis didn't feel the slightest weaker, but Ignatius grew furious. Withing the shockwave, several outlines were made out, clear enough to know the illusion was still in effect, "Astra! Do something!"

Arcanis realized what had happened. He ran towards Ignis and the seal, "Enough of this! I am going to get what I came for!"

"Freedom…" a voice shivered with glee. "Oh, glorious freedom…"
As Arcanis made for the seal, a rush of wind and smoke intercepted him, throwing him aside. The smoke dissipated to reveal Astra, their eyes glowing silver and with utter, simultaneous, delight and rage.
"Ohhh illusionist," they breathed, mad laughter twinging their voice, "Think this place is your little playground? Is that it? Think you can send your little minions to surround my children like wolves to the lambs?" Curling their hand into a fist, they stole the air from Arcanis's lungs, asphyxiating him, and not allowing any more air to enter. "How interesting. You forget who I am, what I can do. It would do you well to remember, if you want to live."

Ignis felt the hands of Kali, he embraced her in relief. The aura he gave faded, and the wounds had finished healing. Something in his eyes showed the fear in his heart, Could he be…? Shaking off the thought, Ignis stood up and approached the seal once again, "Astra, remember that I released you out of my own will. I alone have no quarrel with you, nor the others. This hatred was passed down by memory, none of which I experienced. Remember you do not know me, therefore I am no enemy." He sat above the seal, performing the protection spell again, "Grant me your element, so that I can assure only your children can open this seal."

Arcanis only smiled at Astra, further mocking their existence, "I do not answer to you. Your time is past, and ours is beginning. We will take our place in history, as the elementals you have created." He held out a smooth stone, with a rune engraved. His eyes flash purple, and then he was gone. Physically gone.

Teleportation, Ignis thought, His level of mana control must place him a descendant of a prime elemental, but which one?

Suddenly, it was like Alister had pushed through a heavy curtain. Evan's hand and arm became visible, real, just after he saw a faint outline of it. And then came is voice. His voice. It was loud, and Alister couldn't help but flinch, but soon his eyes filled with tears. Despite wanting to, he couldn't say anything, and just pulled the other boy into a hug. When he pulled away, his hand reached up to Evan's cheek.
"Are you okay? I'm here now, do you need water?" His eyes glanced aside. "Noel!"
She glanced to him. He wasn't gone. Relief shook her bones, but she had seen Astra looming over Arcanis, and the smell of the sulfur dioxide still invaded her nose. She allowed some of it to fall away as Ignis came over to the seal.

Astra looked down at where Arcanis had vanished. They seemed to frown for a moment, but it was gone quickly. They dissolved into fog, then reappeared at the seal. A slightly unhinged smirk spread on their lips.
"Well, little flame," they drawled, "You look just like him, you know." They then looked to Noel, and gave her a nod. Looking a little shaky, Noel carefully collected the sulfur dioxide so that no one would inhale it, then inhaled it herself. Though to most, it looked like she was simply moving her hands and then breathing deeply for no reason. She coughed, her throat starting to burn again, and seeing this, Alister rushed over and put his arms around her.
Turning to Ignis, Astra raised their arms a little, letting wind swirl around the seal and Ignis. "I promised that I would bring the illusionist to you, Ignis, in exchange for my freedom. Since that clearly cannot be accomplished now, I grant you my element instead."

Feeling the air shift around him, his spell lit up bright. The seal started to glow, and a symbol appeared on Noel and Alister's forearm. Once the spell faded, and the seal dormant, Ignis approached the two with a tired but satisfied smile, "The alchemical symbol for air. From now on, only you two and Astra can open the seal of Air." Almost completely drained, he began to walk away, "My visit was outstayed, I believe it is time for me to return home…"

Still holding each other close, the siblings studied the symbols on their arms before Noel started rubbing her eyes. The coughing had subsided, but nausea and exhaustion now set in. Alister let her lean on him, though rather tired himself, and turned to Astra. "Thank you."
Astra blinked, then looked away, as if they didn't know how to respond. "I have given you your inheritance. You see why it can be a burden now. That is why one must carry it, one must manage it. Use it well." Then they called after Ignis. "You better believe it's time for you to go! Everyone, out, out!"
A rush of fog overtook the area, and when it cleared, everyone found themselves at the entrance to the temple.

Without further argument, Ignis walked away towards the direction of the tower, "I am not quite in the mood for…social interactions. Ignatius isn't the happiest right now and…I don't want any of you hurt."

The silence in Ignis kept him from noticing any attempts of attention from the others. His body numb from the repeated injuries, not even the healing kept the pain away. Ignatius was furious, the body they shared strained and stretched. His fire dim and calm. As they walked, Ignis mumbled the spell for teleportation. It took a while since his concentration was set on something else entirely. His migraine overcame his focus. Eventually it worked. Ignis walked towards the tower in front of the others. The tower was more of a tall building, several floors. A hotel building renewed into a private complex. Invisible to any unsuspecting eyes, the building was perfect for living, and keeping plenty of guests. Ignis opened the doors, only to feel an empty void. No barks? Where's Yin in Yang? Where's Amara?
Nonetheless, Ignis knew he needed rest. He'd find them later. With a firm nod, he retired to an open room, unoccupied. Of course, he failed to notice the cold chill within the building.

There hasn't been anyone around….not for a while…

(Haha, Sorry, but basically the same way they got to the air temple. magic. I'll edit the details in)

(Yeah they weren’t teleported that far)

(Pffft)

(I edited the last entry)

The siblings walked as though through a dream, or underwater. Alister vaguely heard Ignis and couldn’t help but think, But there are so many things still left unanswered… and you’re the only one who can answer them.
What happened while they were separated in the temple while Ignis and Kali stayed behind? Why had he mentioned that Astra had seen him as an enemy at one point? Why had Astra been locked away in the temple? Had Arcanis been right, even if just a little? Was Ignis hiding or lying about something? What had been going on with him before they found the seal? And so much more.
But he was tired. Noel had ended up dozing off again, so he had once again gave her a little piggyback ride as they approached the building. As they entered, Alister noticed the strange coldness in the air. It was also at this moment that he realized that Astra was nowhere to be found. Though he was unsettled, he could only think about eating something or going to sleep.
His gaze drifted to Evan, and he walked over and leaned in his shoulder. “Mhm… I hope they can figure things out, at least. Are you hungry or sleepy?” He asked, adjusting his sister’s position on his back.