ismiracle:
It was a man. A man whose voice carried through chambered halls with a confidence rarely found on those who strayed from their paths. This was the voice of one who knew what they were looking for. Knew themselves and their abilities. He had come for Credence. He must have. It was just as Mr. Grindlewald had said time and time again - ‘ The world is cruel. They will revile you, dear boy. I’m all you need. I can keep you safe and help you. ’ He had been right and it was alarming. Horrible.
Black smoke twisted and writhed along the crevices of the ceiling, creeping slowly into the room. Shadows seeming to weave in and out of its opaque surface - all light devoured by the ichor that was the thing in him. The curse. The gift? The monster. Like a prey it seemingly circled from above as it watched.
One step. Another. Then another. From somewhere within his home a surprised giggle left one of the portraits. His only source of companionship. Enchanted items and heirlooms - a gift from his keeper. They were watching and it only served to send of a spike of fear and ire through him. Why had they not called to him? Told him someone was there? Did they not care.
“ You shouldn’t be here. ”
His voice carried from around the room - hissing softness and booming all in a garbled mess of his voice. The miasma form dripping bit by bit from where he hid. Defying gravity and floating just out of sight towards the door behind the man… Until it connected and slammed the imposing doors shut with thud of finality.
Standing before them was Credence. No longer an amalgamation of magic, he stood motionlessly with his back to the man. Hands pressed to the door and partially skewed by the unnatural darkness of his home. “ Have you come to find a monster? Hunt it for glory? Riches? That’s what the world does, doesn’t it? ” his voice was softer this time, fingers trailing down the door with a slow steady sweep, “ I can think of no other reason for someone to trespass. ”
The giggle turns his blood cold, but he hardly moves in response, steeling himself for what’s to come. The air itself seems to darken, before a voice finally can be heard resounding throughout the room. The thud of the doors no longer chills him as it might have years ago, at the start of his endeavors. Graves turns to face the castle’s master... the beast...? and what he finds appears to be merely human, though he traces remnants of what appears to be dark, magical fragments returning to the stranger’s form.
This boy emanates power. ❛ ..That is a thread all too easily found throughout this world. ❜ His words are uttered with ringing clarity. Honesty. But behind his tone lies the potential for brutality. He has not come here for riches, per say. He simply hopes to rid the neighboring towns of this threat. Graves intends to do what he must to ensure the safety of others. Nonetheless, he first recognizes the need to probe for information. He wishes to understand before he proceeds.
❛ ..Riches don’t captivate me.. as they do some. ❜ Slowly, he approaches the young man, each step calculated. This could be a mistake; a risk too great to take. Nevertheless, he dares not cower before such a threat. ❛ I was curious. ❜ Perhaps he will not need to kill the source of such troubles. Graves finds himself yearning to examine what lies within such a haunted abode. He wishes to understand the state of things in their entirety -- and to thus unravel whatever secrets this stranger withholds from him.
❛ You’re right, naturally; by all accounts, I shouldn’t be here. But it seems a storm’s about to begin, and with no shelter, I find myself in need.. ❜ Perhaps this is pushing his luck. But it needs to be done. He intends to see just how far this being will go before a fight breaks out.
Certainly it would not be wise to provoke someone so powerful. ❛ It would be greatly appreciated if you’d let me stay the night. ❜ His gaze remains steady. ❛ I would not bother a soul. ❜
