Beneath an Astral Sky

"Beneath an Astral Sky" is a [SEASON NUMBER] thread written on [IRL DATE].
==Summary==
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==Full Text==
The morning after the village of Temple Gate had been cleansed, the Warden stood from her nightly guarding position on the foothills of the nearby mountain and stretched her body, being careful to protect her burned arms. Kendra had taken to bandaging them up like she would treat a human’s injuries, which Nala appreciated, but she knew deep down that there was no cure. Her sister, the Shaper, was long gone, and her stitchers had mostly broken down into dysfunction as well. She searched the dawning island with her watchful scarlet gaze, and then she picked out a now-familiar mind among the growing population of Haligan, and gave it a friendly brush with her own consciousness.
Arbiter? Would you be willing to take some time with me?
The Arbiter was caught slightly off guard by the mind brush as it was not an action he found necessary to perform too often. He allowed his black dust to spread as he spoke to the other demon.
Of course, Warden. Is there something you would like to discuss?
Many things. She sent him an image of her location, in the forest above the crashing waves. Come.
He turned to face the direction of the image she had sent and as quickly as he could, he leapt into the sky and began making his way to her. He was using a mixture of running on the ground and gliding to get to his destination. As he ran a small cloud of his dust followed. He approached the warden’s whereabouts and slowed himself down, almost trotting up to her.
Warden, greetings.
She gave him the mental equivalent of a smile and spread her wrapped arms in a welcoming gesture, bowing slightly at the waist. We do not properly get to see each other these days, do we? Always an emergency in the background of our lives. Always, the world tipping this way and that, ready to lose balance. But for now, there is calm. She directed her attention back to the ocean, which was indeed rather still under the new sun’s rays. How have you been faring?
Hu returned the gesture as best he could and gently bumped his head against her. We do not. Which is unfortunate. Looking after humans is much busier than I belived it would be. Luckily as you say, there is calm. He looked over the ocean with her, and pondered. I have been well. Much better than I expected. how about you? Have you been faring well?
I have seen better days, she said honestly, though not with too much acid. I will take the racket we have been experiencing over another Ragnarok, though. I am more curious in regards to your well-being as a demon. As I recall, this is still a rather new experience for you.
That it is. He answered, considering the demon he was stood next to. As a Human I would be considered in or possibly past my prime. As a demon I am barely even a toddler. A youngling who knows near naught but his name and title. He took a few moments to think of himself, and what he was. It has been an interesting change to get used to. My powers still grow and I am yet to see my capability.
I would be highly interested in testing the limits of your power, if you wish it as well, she said, turning her attention fully to him. Though I am still young myself, I have the advantage of being born as I am. You were made into what you are, and that is both mystifying and…rather exciting. Having been turned into this at the hand of Hel herself, you could hold untapped potential beyond what we could think of. What have you tested of yourself so far?
As far as I am aware I can change my physical form, though so far it has just been my size and looking like a human. I have the ability to search for energies and creatures as such. I do know that I have the power of possession, though I dont use it much. He pondered aloud. he looked out at the ocean and then towards Nala. There haven’t been a great many situations where I have needed to be aggressive. So there is still something to learn there. He had reached the limist of the powers he could thing of, though he was sure there was something else he may have done. 
Hmm… She followed his gaze, and tapped a fragile finger to her face thoughtfully. Have you much experience in leaving your body, at all? It can help you, but it can also inhibit you from true power.
I have not. It seems like an idea to try. My one question, would it permanently inhibit me? He questioned
No, not at all. As long as you know where your body belongs, you can return to it. She took a wider stance, broadening and lightening her mind. But there is certainly only one way to find out.
Her long legs sprinted towards the cliff, but it became suddenly clear that it was only her astral form moving; her porcelain body stayed behind. Her scarlet form took a flying leap from the edge of the island, and she spread her arms in a huge swan dive, falling towards the ocean and then dissolving into a streak of nebulous energy, hitting the surface of the water without disturbing it and billowing like ink underneath it.
He watched with interest as she moved. and followed her form to the edge as she jumped off. He watched as she decsended to the ocean. He was stunned with what she just did. He could tell it was difficult to know however it was a useful skill. He wanted to ask how he could learn and was about to before he realised that he didn’t know where to direct the question other than ‘to nala’
That was a sight to behold
She surfaced and floated easily in the waves of the ocean rolling in and crashing against the sharp rocks of the island, looking high up at the Arbiter and speaking out to him encouragingly. Being a demon means taking many risks that humans are unable to even comprehend. This is both the fear and the rush of letting go of your chain to the physical world. She lifted a hand towards him. Try it. I promise I won’t let you drift.
He sat in silence and focused. Trying in his mind to separate himself from his physical body. He was sat for some time before a dark purple haze slowly moved to his side, taking wary and cautios steps as he nervously stayed close to his physical form. He looked down at the warden.
Is this correct?
Nala folded her arms on the water like it was a solid surface, nodding up at him. Well done. Take whatever shape feels most natural to you. She mentally helped him maintain a thin anchor to his body while he experimented. How does it feel?
It is… Strange. He clumsily made a few steps around as he figured out how he would look, he eventually settled on something with a close resembalence to his other body. Without a physical form I feel exposed, yet somehow, more protected.
At times, in order to survive, you may have to avoid any kind of physical manifestation. Learning to live as little more than a spirit is essential, because it is in this form that you are most dangerous to beings that can truly cause you harm. The immortal, the magical and the divine are your true enemies, and you cannot fight them on the land. You must use what is at your disposal. Yourself.
She briefly played back to him the fight of herself and the Eir that had attacked Vox and Treepelt, showing him their mental sparring, Nala’s use of possession to gain an advantage, and the mental deathgrip that had almost destroyed half the dungeon with its buildup of energy.
But even beyond fighting, experiencing the world through senses that most other beings are not equipped with is…incredible. It is a gift, and one you should not squander.
He nodded and thought about the battle that he had just been shown. Thank you for showing me this, it will take some time getting used to. However if the situation should arise, it shall come in very useful. He looked to his body and then to The Warden. Is it possible for my physical self to be harmed while I am like this?
With time, you can be aware of potential dangers while you are gone. But harm to your body will be an inconvenience at most, and will not affect your true form. Protect it. Learn to hide it. But think of it as a tool to use, not as a part of you.
Thank you, Warden. He looked down to the form in the ocean. I shall use this often to get a handle on it. He gave the mental equivalent of a smile and walked a bit back from the edge. He took a moment to calm himself before he ran and leapt off the edge. He twisted himself in the air before hitting the water with notably less grace than the Warden. 
The Warden laughed, and it was a rare, unusual sound. She ducked beneath the water and flowed through it as though it were nothing, swimming right up to the Arbiter and taking his paws. Good work. The two of them drifted downwards until they stood on the sea floor, which was rippling with dim sunlight, and then Nala pushed herself backwards in the water, sizing him up. Now, how well do you know how to fight?
He watched as the ocean rose above them, he looked around them as the warden looked at him. He backed up a little bit and took a moment to consider The Warden.
I believe I can hold my own.
Then show me.
The ground cracked at the Warden’s feet and a cloud of boiling bubbles started simmering upwards from the hot crevice, and she leaped a distance away and from both her arms, two molten swords slid out of her very essence and into her hands, forming into twisted, glowing blades. Hit me with everything you’ve got.
He widened his stance and crouched down, digging his claws into the ground and allowing his wings to unfurl. His horns grew out and he paused for a moment. He knew he hadn’t generally done much fighting, much less with another demon. He shook with a mixture of excitement and fear as he faced the warden, he knew she was powerful, and he hadn’t seen her in battle.
He stared at the Warden, almost calulating his first move. He used all his power to throw himself at Her, turning his body before he made contact and tackling her.
Nala kicked herself up and back with a foot, just barely missing his charge, and as she turned and fell, retaliated with a swipe of her sword, only using the flat side of the blade as to not cause immense amounts of damage. But there was still quite a bit of force behind her blow, to show him that she meant business. She wanted to see what he could do.
The Arbiter winced as the blade made contact, causing him to stumble as he landed. He turned to face her again, thinking about what he should do for a moment. He began to charge again but before he came to the warden he jumped and grabbed with his winged claws.
As they made contact, a hot mental blade stabbed into the Arbiter’s mind and twisted, throwing off his focus, and she raised her sword to block his claws, holding them both in place for a moment. The water around her blade was boiling.
Use your mind while you strike. Fight me back. Distract me. 
He fought back against the mental blade, pushing at it with all his will. Through his disorientation he raised his head and brought it to collide against the Warden’s before pushing himself back, using his weight to pull her arms down.
There was a muffled thump and a warping disturbance in the astral state that they both existed in, and the Warden’s blades dissolved into ash as her probe folded in on itself and struck backwards through her own mind. She was shocked. She dissipated and flooded backwards several yards before re-forming, the swords morphing into long, bladed claws at the end of her fingers. Her eyes glowed with admiration. Now that was something, she remarked, crouching and readying herself for his next attack. Hit me!
He allowed himself a moment to feel pride from the warden’s compliment.
He readied himself. Looking at the warden’s claws. Trying to figure out how to fight against them.
He circled the warden, remembering what the mental blade felt like and trying to recreate it.
He jumped towards her, stopping just short of hitting her before jabbing the blade to her mind. It was most likely weaker than hers was, but he was hoping it was enough. He spun himself and struck at her with his tail.
She blocked his attack with her wrist, and their point of contact caused a hot wave of force to radiate through the water. Above them, the waves shifted gently due to the disturbance. And if Nala had vision or hearing, both would have been blurred and ringing. She knew, in her core, that the Arbiter was much stronger than he let on. Whether he knew that or not, she couldn’t tell. She locked her consciousness around his mind and slowly tried to pry his attack away from her mind so that she could think straight. Physically, she rushed him and dug her arms under his belly to flip him and try to pin him, crying aloud with the effort.
He tried to counter the warden’s movements and fight back, but found himself overwhelmed and on his back. He quickly used his wings to grab her hands as he lay on his back.
His blade was pushed out from her consciousness before he prepared himself for another mental attack. Fortifying a small defense around his mind and he pushed against her.
Nala pushed back. The water thickened and darkened around them, and the ground cracked again as she slung her consciousness around his and tightened it like a lasso, rather than trying to stab inward with it. Her faceless mask morphed into a fanged mouth and she growled, pushing him, testing him.
He fought against her as much as he could, but with his mind being squeezed and his body pinned down. He looked at the warden, seeing her fangs and hearing her growl, he felt a mixture of fear and anger that he wasn’t fighting well enough. He clenched his jaw as this feeling of hatred towards his weakness overcame him.
His body began to pulse with a faint light. His mind hardened and expanded suddenly as he threw the Warden to the side, using the momentum to pull himself to his feet. Small rocks turned soot black and swirled around his feet as he glared, primed for another attack.
Nala was exhilarated.
Good! she laughed, getting to her feet from where she had been tossed and baring her claws again. Good, Arbiter. Don’t fear what you are able to do.
He acknowledged the warden. Readying himself to go for another round.
His mind made several tendrils as his body emitted pulses of light. He quickly zig-zagged towards her and started to lash with his mental tendrils. He swept at her legs with his tail and quickly turned around to hit her with his wing while she was trying to avoid his tail.
They lashed quickly across her mind. Experimentation. Fear. Determination. Apprehension. Fashioned into searing weapons that assaulted her senses, one after the other. She bashed most of them back, but she was driven to her knees by his attack and she finally managed to grab a hold of his wing and pull it to the ground, holding a hand up and pausing, both of them frozen in battle. Good. That’s enough. She didn’t want them to start hurting each other.
He nodded and his energy calmed and settled down. He slowly sat as she let go of his wing. Are you okay, Warden? He asked, gently nudging her with his head.
Nodding graciously, she got to her feet and withdrew her claws, her face molding to be as blank and expressionless as before. Of course. It takes more than a few little bumps and bruises to rattle me. That was quite impressive for your first true sparring with a demon. You should certainly rest after that. She gestured up towards the ocean waves, where above on the cliffside, both of their bodies waited, motionless and hollow.
hookedhookless 
He looked up to where she’d gestured, noticing how the sun was unmoved by the harsh waves. Thank you, Warden. Apologies if I went too far. He thought of the best way to get up as he reflected on their battle. Though if I should need to employ what I have learned, I will need to be less controlled. So to speak.
demon-in-the-dungeon 
Absolutely. Your enemies will never hold back; it is a dangerous world we live in. I want for you to be prepared, especially with the upcoming battles we must fight. Nala began rising upwards and stretched a hand out to him, inviting him to do the same.
hookedhookless 
He took her hand and rose through the water alongside her. The best thing we can do is be prepared for what may be inevitable. He responded as they reached the waters surface. The thought back to what she had shown him, realising that battles like that would most likely be in his future. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with me today 
demon-in-the-dungeon 
She took him back to their bodies and gave him an unnecessarily deep bow, her tone of mind indicating a little bit of jest in the action. Thank you. Next time I leave to feed on the mainland, you are free to accompany me.
hookedhookless 
Perhaps I shall take you up on that offer. He gave her what would equate mentally to a smile, bowing back with the same jest. He gave his body a look over before melding himself back into it. Gently and slowly moving parts of himself, pawing at the ground and turning round.
demon-in-the-dungeon 
You should get acquainted with the rest of Haligan, Nala advised. I have been socializing with them for years. I doubt many of them even have a clue of who you are or why you have come.
hookedhookless 
He thought for a moment. That is true, I do not wish to cause alarm should someone spot me. Let alone for anyone to think I mean harm.
demon-in-the-dungeon 
Well then, don’t let me keep you, Arbiter. She nodded her head at him, and her core swelled with something warm. It was different than what she felt towards the rebels, another species that she knew would die within a fraction of her own lifetime. It was motherly affection. A desire to teach and protect. Maybe something like this…wouldn’t be so bad to have.
Category:BOTGD 2
Category:Events
Category:Act I
Category:The Warden
Category:Fiendal Hrothgar Hookless
Category:Firkugaan