Moonlight Reflection (Open)

[Lon Grenweld]

Lon had been at the schoolhouse until recently, when he was transferred to the academy at the age of 13. He'd seen his parents every so often, and kept up good relationships with them. But granted, even after that incident three years ago, he was itching to kill some Darkness. They said they'd let him go when he's ready, but he's felt ready for at least a few months now. The boy sighed and flicked his fox tail back and forth. Looking at it, he smiled. This is the scar I was given... he thought as he absentmindedly scratched behind his fox ears. Now, at 17 years old, he was near graduation and he still hadn't gone out fighting yet. Bored out of his mind, he did whatever he could to occupy himself. Speaking of...

Lonrei stood up on the ledge of the rooftop of the school. He'd done this several times, but never got tired of the rush. Pulling a piece of gum out of his pocket, he chewed it up a few times, blew a bubble and put it back in the wrapper. As his feet shifted his weight forwards and backwards, he teetered over the edge of the building, waiting for the right amount of breeze to combine with the moonlight. He should be up in his dorm right now, but he didn't really mind. He hadn't been caught yet, and he wasn't fooling around with anyone. Why should they worry? As a low breeze circled around the building and rustled the boy's dark hair, he leaned forward and fell. Feeling the rush of air against his face, he opened his eyes and used his special talent. Speculum Luna, he called it; The Moon Mirror technique. With his hands glowing a purple aura, he waved his hands as he fell, creating a round disc that he landed on with ease. He'd done this game six times already, now it was time for the lucky seventh. Leaning his weight, he glided forward on the disc and made it larger and lighter to slow the descent like a parachute. Moving more and more, he was able to pull up and glide upwards past some trees on campus. His mirror disc shone with the moonlight, and reflected upon himself. He loved this feeling, and wanted it to last longer... But then, gravity kicked in.

Jumping off of the disc as he made it vanish, Lon quickly activated his powers again, this time flashing in and out of the air in a violet flash. One. Two. Three and... Lon knew that his limit was four flashes. Any further and he would lose control of his acceleration. The fourth flash managed to get him back to the roof, a total 20 meters away from his starting fall. Landing with a graceful "one-two" foot landing, he landed softly on the roof with no injury, the remainders of his flashes fading away with small amounts of lavender particles. He yawned and sat on the blanket and pillow he left on the roof when he took off and decided to take a small nap. His sleep cycles were always out of whack, but he managed to do well in school anyway. With that, he curled up in his blanket, tail covering part of his body, and left his ears up in case someone arrived at the roof while he rested, the moonlight shining on his fair skin.

[Viktor Angelus]

He could feel the air move in and out of his lungs with each deep breath he took. He could feel his slow but strong pulse throughout his body. His eyes closed but he could still see as invisible tendrils grew from his body to slither over the area surrounding him. He lay in the grass just outside The Academy, enjoying the night air, which he loved dearly. It was peaceful out, and he was also at peace within. He could feel the energy inside him pooling like a great body of water. It could become a deadly force at a moment’s notice, but there was no need. The Darkness had no hold in the surrounding area, this close to The Academy.

Something else caught his attention, though – a small whoosh of air tickled his ear. His eyes opened up and he looked to the sky. His eyes narrowed on a small figure jumped off the roof of The Academy. In most situations he would be concerned for the wellbeing of anyone jumping off the roof; however, he could discern a purple glow emitting from the figure – magic of sorts. From here, he could even feel the power’s energy. It would seem the individual was in control of their fall. It was intriguing to watch. While Viktor was capable of incredible feats, he always enjoyed watching others perform theirs.

Regardless of his wonder, it was still after curfew, and if this was a student, they needed to be in their room – not wandering and jumping around campus. Calmly getting up and walking over to The Academy wall, Viktor began walking up it as if walking on a sidewalk. His magic held him to the wall, allowing him to defy gravity. It was a small feat that he had learned at a young age… When his parents were still around.

When he reached the roof, he found a small individual with a tail curled up in a blanket. While Viktor appreciated sleeping outdoors, students were supposed to be in their rooms – not under the night sky.

”Young man, I believe your bed would be a much comfier place to sleep.”

The senior Chaser towered over the petite figure as his steel grey eyes regarded the boy, waiting for some sort of movement or response.

[Lon Grenweld]

"Mm?"

Lon mumbled as he sat up and rubbed his eyes. He thought he'd just dozed off for a moment, and then he opened his eyes to see someone standing in front of him. He was tall, with glasses and white hair that shone quite brightly in the moonlight. He fully awoke to see he was a senior Chaser, although the man had the sort of posture of an adult that had a full-time job. As Lon perked his ears up and turned them to listen, he couldn't hear any others in the vicinity. Only the soft breeze of a summer night. He yawned while covering his mouth and stood up. As he thought about the man's question, he figured his bed might be comfier. Looking directly at the man, Lon replied, "I suppose that's true. I wanted to work on a technique I had been practicing and then hit the sack, but the dorms tend to get really hot during the summer..."

Stretching his back, he stretched his arms and tail towards the sky. After stretching, he looked at the moon for a second or two and then continued, "I guess I've been doing this so many times that I didn't really think it was that much of a problem since I was still on the property. But I see your point. Anyway, before I head off to my room, do you mind telling me your name? I'm Lon."

As a way of greeting he bowed slightly with his arms out slightly to his right and his tail pointing in the same direction. He sometimes did this if he felt like being a proper gentleman instead of just a regular gentleman. He stood back up and awaited for a response from the silvery-haired man.

[Viktor Angelus]

As his grey eyes moved up and down the young man, Viktor appreciated the other’s unique features. He possessed ears of a fox that perked with the slightest sound. Glimmering purple eyes that held a sense of wonder and youthful energy. Behind him was a smooth-looking tail with a purple tip. Viktor could imagine there was an interesting tale behind such rare traits. A tale for another time, perhaps?

”You are not in the wrong by doing extra training. Control over one’s abilities is essential when it comes to fieldwork. And, I can understand the dormitory situation… I am not a fan of the heat.”

Viktor loathed the sticky feel that was a result of warmth. It made him feel congested. He preferred winter or rain – both of which were refreshing and invigorating.

”My only concern with this situation is you are out of your room past curfew. There are rules in place for a reason. This rule is more so for your health – a good night’s rest gives the mind time to recuperate after a long day of training… Which makes the next day easier as your mind has recovered and is ready to learn once again.”

The senior Chaser was a stickler for rules and obeyed them without fault. While he was not necessarily cruel when it came to enforcing them, he did make certain that rules were understood and why they should be followed.

”Here, I’ll accompany you back down,” He gestured with his hand to the rooftop door that led back to the dormitory. ”My name is Viktor Angelus. It is nice to make your acquaintance, Lon.” As he spoke, he bowed his head slightly out of respect. His glasses gleamed for a moment as they caught a moonbeam in their reflection.

[Lon Grenweld]

"Nice to meet you, Viktor, and I accept your accompaniment," Lon replied as he moved forward towards the door leading downstairs. He paused for a moment and looked at the bespectacled man. Looking into Viktor's eyes he could see they were not emotionless, but merely strong-willed and determined. He felt a certain aura from this fresh acquaintance, but it felt more spread out over the area. Strange... he thought. With powers that dealt with manipulating a moon aura, it also required him to be able to sense other auras in the area. Looking around he couldn't feel any other presences in the area, and then looked back at Viktor.

Tilting his head slightly, Lon looked intently at Viktor's face, trying to see if he could sense any vibrations from the eyes. There was something faint there, but again it was more spread out and subtle, as if not trying to be too obvious. Letting his head down he backed away and continued walking towards the door. But then he asked a question as he turned his head, "Do you emit any energies? I keep on feeling something spread out over the area and you and I are so far the only ones that are here..."

[Viktor Angelus]

The Chaser noted the young boy’s pensive gaze as if the fox was trying to analyze him. The boy had keen eyes and a knack for perceiving hidden auras - an impressive feat indeed. It was an ability that would be useful in tracking Darkness out in the field. Despite only meeting this boy moments ago, Viktor was becoming intrigued. This apprentice contained great potential. With a little further assistance and training, his capabilities could be quite extraordinary. Viktor would search up the boy’s records at a more reasonable time of day. He was interested in how the boy faired in the academic field.

The boy had struck gold. Viktor was not against sharing information about his power and what he was capable of doing. Since the boy had taken notice, he had no issue with indulging his curiosity.

”I am emitting quite a lot of energy, actually. I am gifted with the power to manipulate any form of energy. Typically around The Academy, I leave pools of energy in order to call upon it easily in times of need. Usually, my abilities go undetected; however, you have quite the sharpened sense – and I’m impressed.”

"Right now, to best describe it, you can say I have that The Academy encased in an invisible field of energy.  At any point, I may manipulate that field for defensive or offensive purposes - should anything threaten the campus."

He gave the boy a small smile as Viktor began to analyze him. Viktor had a similar ability to reading auras – he could read energy. He could discern patterns of energy and was knowledgeable on the traces different sorts of energy left. He was quite skilled at identify a person’s gifts.

”By what I can sense, you have control over a specific form of matter which allows you to perform a variety of feats, like spatial manipulation and offensive manoeuvres. Am I in the ball park?”

[Lon Grenweld]

An entire aura field over The Academy. That would do it, he thought as he notice the reciprocity now being Viktor analyzing Lon. Hearing his inquiry, he nodded. "You're definitely in the ball park. I call it Moon Mirror manipulation. It lets me control mirrors made out of my aura and then modify them at will. I can also see through them as a form of clairvoyance. Other than that, I can do short versions of teleportation. I am impressed that you were capable of narrowing my abilities so precisely."

After explaining his own powers, he was interested in the "offensive-defensive" abilities that Viktor possessed. The affinity that this man had for energies was astounding. Even if Lon's field of control was limited, he was able to read nearby auras, but he hadn't gotten so precise as to be able to distinguish the specific type of abilities a person possessed. As he reviewed what he learned about Viktor, one thing stuck out from his description.

As he pondered about this, he looked down at the ground and then at Viktor. "You said that you leave pools of energy that can be used offensively or defensively. What do you mean exactly by using it offensively? Do you convert it into a form of matter, or something more simple?"

[Viktor Angelus]

Viktor’s walking pace had slowed as he became more enthralled in the conversation. He remained cool-headed, but all the same, he enjoyed discussing power. Despite his calm demeanour, his greatest sin was pride – he was arrogant at times. Yet he tried to contain himself. As a senior Chaser and mentor, he hoped to teach students not only about their powers, but themselves personally as well. He hoped to educate them on the rights and wrongs of the world, and how to behave properly. Gloating was not suitable conduct.

”Not only do I go on missions to handle The Darkness, but I also help out the local police with cases involving lawless Gifted. There have been circumstances where I have needed to know what I was dealing with in order to manage the situation appropriately. Energy gives away more about a person than one thinks. Discerning one’s energy has become a skill honed with time.”

Lon had donned the contemplative look that Viktor was already becoming accustomed. He enjoyed the boy’s inquisitive nature. Questioning the world and all in it was a healthy habit that most had lost with age. Viktor had no issues with answering questions.

”There are many different ways I could use the pools. I mostly use them as an external energy source that I may draw upon, so I do not need to use anyone of my own internal stores or create excess energy. It saves time when time may not be what I possess. I could also use them to create traps that do not need my presence to be triggered.”

Remembering the note he made early about the boy, he decided it was time to ask a question of his own.

”Like I’ve said, I can sense and read different energies. I can also sense origin of energy – if that makes sense? Upon first regarding you, I noted that your powers were from a darker source, yet could not discern much more than that. May I ask where or how you developed your abilities?”

[Lon Grenweld]

Listening to his method of utilization was interesting. Lon had thought that most abilities required the presence of the master source. To have energy manipulation from outside sources as well as internal reserves was impressive. Listening further with the previous mention of assisting local police forces, he smiled. He had thought about assisting the police in slightly indirect ways, such as leaving unconscious criminals with photographs of their crimes taped to their heads at the front door. With that, he also heard the question about his origins of his abilities. Lon's smile faded slightly and looked a tad downward as they walked at a slowed pace.

He thought of the best way of describing it, and figured it would be best to just say it in a straightforward manner. "My abilities," he started, "were triggered partially by Darkness. A light in the dark, so to speak..." Lon's eyes had become slightly softer and more sorrowful, remembering the unpleasant experience.

"I was ten years old, and I went on a camping trip with my mom and dad. I was having a lot of fun. We went hiking, had a picnic, set up the tent and the campsite...it was a fun time. And then, my curiosity got the better of me and I went into a nearby clearing with a flashlight and whistle as it got dark. I found a little creature, and it dragged me deeper into the forest. I was surrounded by more of them and...they started attacking me. Scratches, sticks, feet, teeth...anything they could to try and break me, really."

Lon laughed bitterly at the memory, "so I curled up into a ball and tried to endure it for as long as I could and then I blacked out. I woke up with this incredible pain in my stomach and saw this large monster pouring shadows into my body. I guess it was trying to make me a Darkness or something...anyway, I kept on denying it from taking my body and mind, and then it kind of left me in this huge flash of light and I went unconscious again. I woke up in the hospital a week later with these," he twitched his ears and flicked his tail, "and then I learned how to use my powers. My parents thought it best for me to go to The Academy, and I went so no one would get hurt like I did."

Telling people that story did feel nice, since he didn't feel so alone, but it wasn't the greatest thing either, since people were usually pretty depressed by it. "Pretty sad story, I know. But that's how I got them. And I'm doing better now, so please don't be too sad about it."

Lon looked back at Viktor and awaited his response...

[Viktor Angelus]

Viktor listened patiently and intently as Lon dove into a pool of memories. The story he regaled him with did have some sad elements, but not necessarily a totally sad story. Viktor’s story had a slightly more tragic undertone, but that was a story he kept to himself.

”I do not believe it was a sad story,” he said calmly. ”Yes, there were elements of sadness in it; however, from my interpretation, it is a story of strength.”

Viktor let that comment hang on the air for a moment before he continued.

”You endured The Darkness no matter the pain it put you through. You denied it until it didn’t end up breaking you – rather you broke it! From the experience, you acquired unique attributes with which you can display your strength with pride. You also developed a power with which you can fight The Darkness more aggressively.”

”Lon, that is no story of sadness. Rather a story of triumph. You have conquered The Darkness and have become stronger because of it. You are a true Chaser.”

[Lon Grenweld]

Hearing Viktor's comment Lon blushed with embarrassment of flattery. His ears drooped slightly and he scratched his cheek, "Thank you for saying so. I guess I am a Chaser, but I merely endured what I could. Heh..."

Not knowing what to say to the man's kind words, Lon scratched the back of his head and laughed. He laughed a little bit more and then composed himself with a smile, "Thanks for listening, Viktor. It's nice to tell someone these things instead of just keeping it a secret."

Lon's tail flicked about a little bit in happiness, and they continued to walk. As they got closer to the door, Lon turned to Viktor and stopped for a moment, "I'm getting this feeling that your story has a bit more sorrow than mine, so if you don't want to share I understand. But all the same, it's really nice to know you, Viktor."

[Viktor Angelus]

”That may be a story for another time,” Viktor said grimly, staring off into the distance.

Decimation… That was all he could recall. He had so thoroughly repressed his memories of that dreadful night that the details were lost to him. All he could remember was the nothingness he left in his wake. Not a living thing survived for a mile around. Everything turned to ash and dust…

Viktor shook his head gently before looking back to the purple-haired youth before him. He put a small smile on and apologized, ”Sorry, lost in thought for a moment.”

They had arrived at Lon’s room, and now it was time to part ways for the night.

”It was a pleasure meeting you as well, Lon. Please, if you ever see me around campus, feel free to come and talk.” He bowed his head to the young boy before turning and walking away.

Turning his head, he called out light-heartedly, ”And one more thing… Don’t leave your room past curfew.” He chuckled casually and carried on his way.

[Lon Grenweld]

What a mysterious gent, he thought. As he heard the farewell, he looked to see a grim look for only a moment when he spoke about a story for another time: Looks like I was right about that one...

As Viktor left, he spoke, "Thanks Viktor. I hope to see you around."

Thinking about the comment about curfew, he laughed a little. He might obey that rule a little more now, but then again he was relatively chaotic anyway. Continuing down the stairs, he went down to the ground floor and headed for his dorm. What a nice visit that was, he thought, I'm sure this will be an interesting year...