[Adventure] (Open!)

[bearshermark]

Who: Eleven, Hendrik, and OPEN
When: April 26th
Where: Magicademy > Docks
What: Adventure! The Empress's Package

Most people, by now, know to make themselves scarce when Headmaster Birony emerges from her office to walk the grounds. Unfortunately for you, you practically walked into her coming around a corner.

"Oh, hello!" she says, immediately shoving a box into your hands. "Take this to the docks and have them take it to the Empress of Noa. Thanks!"

And just like that, she's gone.

The package is light, fortunately, though the weight of carrying it will be heavy indeed -- a family of Ghostwalkers, Noa's infamous thieves and assassins that clearly have nothing to do with ninja at all, has already infiltrated the Magicademy looking for that very package. They'll stop at nothing to claim it!

---------

"Oh.."

Eleven stared at the package, then glanced back up and around with a question on his lips, but it was too late. He hummed a short, inquisitive note, then shelved his plans for the weekend. The Headmaster had given him a task, and he knew the Empress personally. Surely he could deliver it for her.

Matter settled, Eleven tucked the package under his arm and turned toward the Promenade with idle thoughts and casual steps. He walked for all of a few minutes before a creeping awareness rose in his shoulders and fluttered anxiously in his stomach. Casual glances about revealed flickering shadows that seemed to follow him at a steadily decreasing distance.

Not again, he lamented, steps speeding up until he was forced to break into a run. Why am I always being chased?

But running a zig-zagging pattern through the school grounds revealed that his pursuers weren't fellow students this time. Their silent pursuit and shadowed movements spoke of formal training that sent his pulse skyrocketing.

Yggdrasil above, Hendrik was going to make him train until he dropped after this was over and he'd be lucky to have enough energy for his homework ever again, but it didn't look like he had a choice.

Eleven veered off toward the courtyard, praying the knight would be there.

"Hendrik!" he called, stopping only for a moment to catch his breath. He wheezed through the rest. "Pursuers- don't fight. Package. Docks!"

And without further warning than that, Eleven zipped away toward the main gate, heart in his throat and trusting his protector to follow.

Comments

[perfectenn]

Anastara is a city of ever-changing circumstance and fantasy, and Tenn has come to expect the unexpected: chimeras on the docks, questionable items in market stalls, unwarranted spells fired by rogue wizards, to name a few. Even by those standards, the sight of his normally easygoing colleague hurdling through the streets is enough to make him freeze in alarm.

But one does not live as a celebrity in a big city and end up a fool. Under the guise of following a peddler, Tenn breaks off his route to cross the street. He gazes up the way Eleven came. There doesn’t appear to be any further commotion. A stalker? Sundered antagonism? Another cart rolling by lends a hiding spot before Tenn ducks in to check on his schoolmate huddled in a shadowed doorway.

"You’re in a rush." Tenn’s tone is brisk even as he keeps to a whisper. This is not one of Eleven's casual runs or training exercises. He’s never seen him this frightened before, and the worry echoes on Tenn’s features. "Is someone following you?"

[bearshermark]

A friendly face. His shoulders relax by degrees, but he keeps the package clutched tightly to himself. Not for the first time, he wonders what it even is.

"I don't know who they are," he confessed, though really, that only made them all the more threatening. "But they have training and they're definitely hunting me. I think they're after this. ..I'm supposed to have it delivered to Noa."

[perfectenn]

That only raises more questions, though Tenn doesn't doubt Eleven is telling the truth as he understands given the circumstance. "How did you end up with– never mind. Where are you taking it?"

With business-like efficiency, Tenn reaches into his sleeve to retrieve, not his wand, but a slender set of bracelets with little bells. He spares a glance over his shoulder - the street is busy with pedestrian traffic, so they have time. Whether these mysterious people are chasing the box or the boy, they only need one solution for both, right? "I can create a decoy to buy time, but you must hold still."

[bearshermark]

"The docks," he answered with a nervous glance around, then answered his classmate's partial question as well. "The Headmaster entrusted it to me."

Eleven eyed the bracelets, briefly worried their tinkling might attract attention.

"Okay," he agreed, stilling. "..A decoy of me?"

[perfectenn]

"Yes." Tenn slides the bracelets to rest on the heel of his left hand. The jingling is soft, lost under the street noise. Starting a steady beat to a song held in mind, he focuses his full attention on Eleven.

This is just like memorizing choreography. It has to be perfect. The colors, shapes, the way things move... an audience won't believe an illusion without any substance in reality. He takes in Eleven’s wind-blown hair, the way his clothing rests and the shadows in the folds, and his tight expression, all with the professional scrutiny of an artist.

There is a ripple in the air beside Eleven... manifesting into another Eleven. It blurs and sharpens, wavers and steadies... it's taking more concentration than he thought, but it’s an acceptable replica. He'll have to be especially careful when navigating the street.

"I'll go ahead." Breaking eye-contact for just a moment, Tenn glances up the road. "There's a wagon train coming this way. Hide behind it and follow it as long as you can."

[bearshermark]

The tightness in his jaw softened to surprise as he took in the doppelganger beside him. He'd believe it, if he weren't himself, but that meant Hendrik would too. ..He'd have to find his protector and alert him somehow.

Eleven followed Tenn's gaze, taking in the plan with an apprehensive flip in his stomach.

"Will you be okay?" he asked before he could stop himself.

But he would have to be, because there wasn't time for assurances if Tenn was going ahead while he took to follow the wagon train. He cast a final glance at his classmate before they parted, then moved with all the deft swiftness he could muster.

[perfectenn]

"I have some experience dealing with stalkers." Tenn says with a wink. (Hopefully, Eleven won't ask questions after this is over.) Before he can process his own rising anxiety, he moves into action.

As the wagon train approaches, Tenn sends his projection ahead of him; illusionary Eleven hurries down the street in the same manner Tenn observed shortly before. But never more than several yards from Tenn who steps out to resume his stroll to the Third Ring. After years of wearing costumes with all manner of accoutrements, walking in just the right way lends steady chiming from his bracelets to keep up the mirage.

If all goes well, he can maintain the spell long enough to throw off pursuers. If not... he has a few more tricks up his sleeves. Tenn takes a deep breath, focuses ahead, and leaves his classmate to make his escape.

[bearshermark]

It's amazing magic. Eleven marvels at the realism of his illusionary self, and moreso that the shadows flitting around follow it. He doesn't know how long it will last, but if he can make it to the Third Ring without being pursued, he has a greater chance of reaching the docks before they realize it's a false lead.

Eleven throws a grateful smile to Tenn's back and makes a note to return the favor somehow later.

In the meantime.. Eleven casts a fruitless gaze about for his protector. He's lost Hendrik in his desperate flight through the Second Ring. He hopes the man doesn't fall for Tenn's little trick as well. But Hendrik knew his destination and he doesn't have time to search for him for long.

He waits until he's somewhat sure that his false self is away before breaking off from the wagon train and pelting his way toward the Third Ring from another direction.