We All Fall Down {Kaydence/Salem Day Five}

[cameo]

~Location G of Silver Path~

The sound of frustrated voices whispering to one another intrudes upon the hearing senses before eyes even slant to an opening, let alone adjust to the misty surrounding. But eventually the environment does focus… unfortunately. Each Runner sluggishly resides within their own personal cage, captured even further by the Maze-Makers horrific imagination - they’re not solely accompanied by another Runner however. Within another larger cage three dwarfs are fuming over their own captivity. Before understanding can be comprehended the luscious voice of Layla’s startles the confusions.

“Good morning, our lovely Runners!” Layla sequels with excitement. “Now I’m sure you’re all curious by what’s going on - and the buttons each of you have in your cages.” The buttons reach attention, to brew more curiosity within Layla’s pause. “If you press your cage’s buttons, your friends will be released… HOWEVER, if both buttons are pressed - then the Grievers will be released as well, and a new battle will ignite.” Another break in words to allow absorption. “Will everyone be freed to fight? Or will some be left to die? The decisions are in your hands today Runners. Have fun!” The mic cuts, and the silence seeps.

Task: Runners must decide to press button in their cage or not, if all buttons are pressed they must fight The Three Dwarfs

[riddle]

Salem Fysco

Silence sits softly through the blood built dynasty. In the distance winds wriggle through freezing fronds and frost invades broken branches. The quiet quell of calmness creates certain serenity but only brews mistrust, Mazes were never peaceful or beautiful unless blood was soon to be called for in vast amounts. Worry wrinkles Salem's soft skinned face as his bright blue eyes trace the stars above. Wonders of how long he's been removed from society set in his head once again, was the Coven worried for him?

Creeping cold brings Salem's stare from the sky to the midnight mists slowly slipping through the trees. Caution warns Salem to say something but too quickly the darkness drains him of wakefulness and steals him to sleep. Its not calm or peaceful though, just long and drearily dark, death was drawing nearer. 

When light finally fills the fog of Salem's stunned sight, bars barricade any escape. Close by a button lies waiting with no explanation as growls glower from a nearby Griever cage. Tightness grips Salem's throat until he finds the single soul he has chosen to trust trapped ever so closely to him. 

"Kaydence, what's happening?" 

The young boy asks knowing all too well even the young blood bright victor sibling couldn't produce such an answer. Luckily Layla Locke does all the speaking of sorrowful secrets. Only when her voice falls away from some set of speakers nearby does Salem fully realize what is happening. He looks to Kaydence with lost eyes, broken beacons. 

"Don't touch your button... What, what should we do?"

Actions -- None Currently

[cameo]

Kaydence Aqua
D4 Female

Horrific memories flood back as if reality during my watching hours. My heart pounds rapidly upon the cage of my ribs, as I battle to remain a clench upon consciousness - and it’s as though the rapid waters of disaster are consuming me once more. It’s currently my duty to maintain widened, alert eyes as the others rest - yet it’s as though I’m clinging to the tree once more in efforts to safe my life amongst the swelling tides protruding the dry lands, with no knowledge of the Rescuers on their way… except Lightning and Chaos aren’t here to save me this time. And soon the mysterious effect of the fog swallows me into the realm of darkness without my permission.

Dreary eyelids eventually open, permitting back into the world of the maze. A circumstance beyond my imagination welcomes me - and perhaps I shouldn’t be surprised, as here the unexpected should be expected. Mistiness clouds my vision momentarily, to solely absorb the cage that surrounds me, but quite soon I’m capable of witnessing the entirety of the picture. The company is registered, while his voice of confusion startles me more then anything else.

An explanation echoes upon the bars of our imprisonment, and the trees past them. The monstrous Dwarfs mingle angrily in a volume I can’t make clear - though the situation surely is understandable now. Fight in low odds, or sacrifice someone.

Salem presses to not doing anything just yet, while my hands are surely not jumping to immediately decide. Anger twists at my face, mixing with the tang of turmoil and debate. Perhaps I may die within this Maze, while I certainly won’t without a fight - nor will I sacrifice a friend without one either. “We can take them, Salem. Let’s just kill them and get on with this.” I urge, though still my fingers don’t rush for the button. Hopefully the Genius has a plan.

[riddle]

Salem Fysco

Salem knows power when he sees it, and this is it. When someone has the complete capability to control another's actions, when you make another person feel utterly powerless. Up until now he's only known such a thing from being the powerful. He's seen seas of people split upon his arrival. He's heard songs sung and chants called in his dedication. He's seen statues rise with his face upon them. He knows that in this moment each and everyone of them is watching him, waiting for him to do something they know only he can do. 

His fingers fold around the vile of ashes he's held close all this time, used all this time to obtain even more power. He knows all the incantations and all the spells but he knows only one he believes suites this entire situation. For a moment he closes his eyes feeling the final flow of energy from his parent's separated souls as he hears the beat of his heart beneath his chest. When his eyes open he's far from a frightened little boy, he's the true Legionnaire of the Coven. 

His enlightened eyes turn to the blonde girl he now calls friend as his head shakes in simple refusal of her request. "No." He says soft but loud enough for her to hear. "We'll die. Both of us aren't gong to die here." His hand reaches for the button by his side. There's a moment of absolute silence, the calm before the final storm swell. His hand presses down releasing Kaydence Aqua from her confinement.

"You have your siblings to get back to. I told you blond bonds are incredibly powerful. Its best not to send them into sorrow by breaking them with death. Even if you are adopted." 

Salem stops for a moment breathing in deeply before making one last request of his friend. 

"I'm going to cast a spell. It will bring me peace and send me not to death, but to ascension. It will ensure this is not the last time we speak Kaydence Aqua. But I need your help, it takes two to cast it." 

Its a weird feeling which washes over the thirteen year old. He always imagined the days he would lead and teach every corner of the coven, he didn't realize he only would have a single student. Still, he has felt the power pure within her heart from the day they met. He knows beyond any doubt the abilities of the coven run within her veins. 

"I'm going to say the incantation and you just have to repeat it. But you can't just say it, you have to feel it. Feel the energy of everything around us, from us to the trees to the grievers. I know you can do it, you just have to believe it and believe me." 

Without another word the young brunette haired boy moves to the center of his cage. He closes his eyes and pushes his hands slowly forward in the figure of a diamond. His arms once fully extended close together and his fingers lock before slowly releasing and falling to his sides. 

"Aliis partibus animae una, et ducibus inciperent anchoras. Sol et luna columbae mittere praesidio inire perpetua una dormienda."

As the final words of the sacred spell leave his lips his eyes open and look to Kaydence. Before she speaks her portion he removes the necklace from him and throws it across to her.  A final gift of power from a soon to be ascended Legionnaire.

Salem presses his button

[cameo]

Kaydence Aqua
D4 Female

Rejection shakes my head from side to side. How could Salem possibly expect me to not free him? Lips part in desire to deny his claim of sacrifice, yet no words breath across my tongue. How could he do such, but how can I refuse him? My mouth closes in acceptance of my silence, piercing my bottom lip into the clench of my teeth. Solely one person may escape from this nightmare, and he’s pressing for it to be me. What if I disappoint him? What if I leave, purely to be slaughtered tomorrow? Torturing debate claws upon my unspoken thoughts, while I know better then to argue with him. Already I may have cursed wounds upon my Siblings’ hearts, I can’t do it further by dismissing the chance of living for them if only another day.

A nod transfers the maneuver of my gesturing head. Foreign words speak from my dear friend, to be followed with the peace of muteness. A necklace collapses into the palm of my hand, to ignite a sigh to rupture from my lungs in return. Somehow the identical, unknown chant flutters from my own lips, and with that I’m released from the captivity.

Eyes stare upon the tree line I must escape to, burning with the threat of salty tears. But instead of scattering, my feet are pulled to the outline of Salem’s cage. “I’ll never forget you. And if I die in here to, my siblings will always remember you to and what you did for me.” I promise him, pressing my lips between two bars to plant a kiss upon Salem’s cheek. “Wait for me in whatever’s to come. I’ll see you soon.” Is promised as well before I force myself to break away from him.

Hesitation travels my person to the discharge of this circumstance. Tears continue to flood the vision of my eyes, though no droplet collapses. There’s no telling how many steps pass before I gaze back, to see the demise of my choices. A cloudy fog surrounds where I just was, and a sole river trails down my cheek. “Leave in peace, my leading Wizard. Leave in peace. For you shall never leave the pieces of my heart.” And with a bowed head, I travel the path once more.