Know Thyself

The Shattered Mirror: A NiGHTS RP Blog

[yourfracturedreflection]

Deep in Nightmare...

[yourfracturedreflection]

Selph nodded to the praise and new excitement, failing to notice Chamelan’s excitement. The other maren’s emotions were difficult enough to decipher on her inhuman face, and now Selph was becoming too distracted with the task at hand to pay enough attention. Her childish facade was fading, but at least her true nature fit in with the idea of ‘student’.

With a new set of commands, she put out her hands and closed her eyes. Focus. When the sparks came, they weren’t pure, and they were in the wrong colour. Blue primarily danced with red and yellow, with the occasional spark of green interfering. As she tried to get a handle on it, blue shifted to yellow and the green disappeared, and then yellow became red. Red! The other sparks lost frequency, and for all of one whole second she had it, but then had to release, tired by the effort.

[cackling-chamelan-deactivated20]

"That’s very good!" Chamelan could see that Selph was getting tired. "I think we can conclude today’s lesson, and I think I can give you somethin’ to practice with" Chamelan dug into her jacket and pulled out an Ideya fragment.

It woulds be a good starting point. The small fragment couldn’t carry a huge charge and it’s healing properties were useful. It was also unlikely to catch anyone’s attention.

"It’s a shard of purity. Don’t worry, it was from an Ideya that shattered before I could get to it. I turned in the rest of it to Wizeman… Still you might not want Mantle to see it. He wouldn’t understand, and if he does find out, tell him I gave it to you."

She handed the shard to Selph. “I want you to try practicing two things; ‘Change’ the signal so that it ‘feels’ like a different Ideya and enhance it’s signal so it feels stronger. When you’ve mastered this and hold the signals for a full minute, come back ta me and I’ll show you the more advanced stuff.”

[yourfracturedreflection]

Selph relaxed slightly at the knowledge that the lesson was over, easing her grip on her own personal Ideya flow, allowing energy to flow naturally through her. She accepted the fragment and turned it in her hands as Chamelan spoke. It was acceptable that she wouldn't tell Jackle. It wouldn't be the first thing she hid from him. Even better, this she could blame on another. Tasks given, she nodded. "Okay. I will. Goodbye, Chamelan." The meeting was over. She tucked the shard under her arm and picked up her staff, then flew off toward the door, leaving her trail of Twinkle Dust behind her.

[yourfracturedreflection]

A brother lost.

He was only ever extra parts.

Never meant to last.

Will she endure?

[yourfracturedreflection]

Deep in Nightmare...

[yourfracturedreflection]

Selph looked at her hands and nodded. A single failure did not deter her. She nodded to the new instructions and closed her eyes. Focus. She located and channeled the energy again, this time trying to direct it to the mirrors that were so integrally connected to her. First, sparkles, then the lights. There were more of them now, and this time, they jumped and sparked a bit off the surface. On the chair beside her, the mirror on her staff now also sparked with the lights. Again, she held it for several seconds, then released, looking to Chamelan for judgement.

[cackling-chamelan-deactivated20]

To say that she was stunned would be an understatement. Selph’s mirrors were simply amazing. It was now no wonder why Wizeman had made so many versions of ‘Selph’. The sheer complexity that had gone into… Chamelan realized she was getting a bit ahead of herself.

"You are an interesting one. Maybe we can try the trick using your mirrors as a focus instead of the hands." Chamelan thought for a moment, "either way, you did great! We might even be able ta start on a few basic tricks today!"

"Let’s try to focus on one colour… Like red. Draw the energy like you just did, but focus on the red signal." Chamelan flew a bit further away. "The red sparks can hurt me, so I’m gonna hang back."

[yourfracturedreflection]

Selph nodded to the praise and new excitement, failing to notice Chamelan's excitement. The other maren's emotions were difficult enough to decipher on her inhuman face, and now Selph was becoming too distracted with the task at hand to pay enough attention. Her childish facade was fading, but at least her true nature fit in with the idea of 'student'.

With a new set of commands, she put out her hands and closed her eyes. Focus. When the sparks came, they weren't pure, and they were in the wrong colour. Blue primarily danced with red and yellow, with the occasional spark of green interfering. As she tried to get a handle on it, blue shifted to yellow and the green disappeared, and then yellow became red. Red! The other sparks lost frequency, and for all of one whole second she had it, but then had to release, tired by the effort.

[yourfracturedreflection]

"Keep it together, Sis."

[yourfracturedreflection]

Deep in Nightmare...

[yourfracturedreflection]

Selph beamed and brought her hands up under her chin when Chamelan consented to teach her. Perhaps it was a bit over the top of a reaction, but it was as proportional to her honest interest as her usual projected emotions were to her honest apathy. Her expression quickly cleared as the explanation began, however, and she concentrated on the other maren’s words. She nodded.

Closing her eyes, she put her hands out in front of her and concentrated. The seriousness of her face would almost seem silly relative to the childish facade she put on if she didn’t wear it with such regality. She turned her focus inward and sought out her fragments, feeling among the sharp and ethereal substance of her own self.

As soon as she found them, she latched onto the energy and pulled it forward, but without enough guidance to change its natural course: Rather than the sparks emerging from her fingers, the mirrors on her body glittered, and the coloured lights appeared darting just beneath the surface.

She pinned the energy there for a few moments before releasing and relaxing, opening her eyes. “Did I do it right?”

[cackling-chamelan-deactivated20]

"Not quite. You need to be able to express the energy though you hands." She floated to examine Selphs mirrors. "They look like they’re trying to use the magic."

Whatever the reason, it appeared that the mirrors could use the magical energy. An odd idea occurred to her. “Sweetheart, try using the trick through your mirrors.” She backed away in case anything too big happened.

[yourfracturedreflection]

Selph looked at her hands and nodded. A single failure did not deter her. She nodded to the new instructions and closed her eyes. Focus. She located and channeled the energy again, this time trying to direct it to the mirrors that were so integrally connected to her. First, sparkles, then the lights. There were more of them now, and this time, they jumped and sparked a bit off the surface. On the chair beside her, the mirror on her staff now also sparked with the lights. Again, she held it for several seconds, then released, looking to Chamelan for judgement.

[yourfracturedreflection]

Deep in Nightmare...

[yourfracturedreflection]

Selph didn’t have to feign her interest in Chamelan’s explanation. She didn’t quite see how controlling the internal frequencies would cancel  out the external one of the shard, but the explanation did spark a couple other questions with regard to her own abilities. If she became NiGHTS, would she be able to create a signal that matches his? How much control would she have over the signal? Would it be possible for her to transmute it into another, if she so wished? They were experiments and questions that would have to be tested and answered at some later point, when she was alone and without disturbance.

She accepted the glass of milk and sipped at it as Chamelan talked, closing her eyes briefly to appreciate the cream on her tongue. It was good to know there was nothing of real importance in that box. She just wished she could have gotten to those reports sooner, before they had been desecrated. Downing the rest of the glass, she nodded to Chamelan. “Kay.” Sure, she would give the files to Jackle. After she finished reading them and made copies. Though they lived in the same lair, they both tended to keep to their own rooms. She would hate to lose access to the papers.

As she put the glass on a nearby table, she smiled at Chamelan. “Thanks for answerin’ all my questions. I think yer Ideya theories are neat, by the way. Kin you teach me more about em?”

[cackling-chamelan-deactivated20]

"Thank you?" Chamelan was surprised. None of the other maren, outside of Jackle of course, were at all interested in her thoughts about Ideya. Selph even wanted Chamelan to teach her!

It was a tad risky, but telling selph how to use ideya fragments for little things wouldn’t hurt. Besides, maybe some of them would help the children if they got into trouble.

"I suppose I could teach you a few things." She thought for a moment, then snapped her fingers. "I’m gonna show you a little trick, and I want ya ta try and repeat it. Don’t feel bad if you don’t get it right the first time."

She held her hands out. “Just ‘feel’ around for those Ideya fragments I was talkin’ about,” Her finger tips started to sparkle, “channel through them and… presto!” Small colourful lights danced and swirled about her hand.

"This is the first trick you need ta master before I can teach you how to use Ideya."

[yourfracturedreflection]

Selph beamed and brought her hands up under her chin when Chamelan consented to teach her. Perhaps it was a bit over the top of a reaction, but it was as proportional to her honest interest as her usual projected emotions were to her honest apathy. Her expression quickly cleared as the explanation began, however, and she concentrated on the other maren's words. She nodded.

Closing her eyes, she put her hands out in front of her and concentrated. The seriousness of her face would almost seem silly relative to the childish facade she put on if she didn't wear it with such regality. She turned her focus inward and sought out her fragments, feeling among the sharp and ethereal substance of her own self.

As soon as she found them, she latched onto the energy and pulled it forward, but without enough guidance to change its natural course: Rather than the sparks emerging from her fingers, the mirrors on her body glittered, and the coloured lights appeared darting just beneath the surface.

She pinned the energy there for a few moments before releasing and relaxing, opening her eyes. "Did I do it right?"

[yourfracturedreflection]

Deep in Nightmare...

[yourfracturedreflection]

"That was a very generous offer on the part of the Master…" There was something missing in this equation. Selph’s eyes drifted away from Chamelan, down to her lap, catching glints of the mirrors on her forearms. Reala wanted his position back; he wanted to come home, of that much Selph was sure. So what was stopping him? Most likely it had something to do with the traitor, and they did have that history together. Then there were the rumours. Selph hadn’t seen evidence of this herself, but it was treated quite near to fact that NiGHTS and Reala were an item. Was love truly that powerful, to keep Reala from his home? Of course, Reala wished for his old life. Wizeman’s offer did not guarantee that. Perhaps the lesser offer in tandem with whatever convoluted sense of attachment Reala had was just not that tempting.

Her expression grew contemplative as she thought, but her attention perked back up as Chamelan moved onto the topic of what she and NiGHTS had talked about. It seemed Selph hadn’t made an impact after all. Oh well. She shrugged in response to Chamelan’s words.

She tapped her chin at the offer. “Kin I have some milk, please?” she asked as she shifted a bit in her seat to watch the other Nightmaren. Resting her elbow on the armrest and her cheek in her hand, she added, “I do have a couple more questions. I thought NiGHTS was s’posed to have an Ideya signature, but I couldn’t sense it. D’ya know why? An’, Reala took somethin’ from his lair and burned some papers…” She frowned slightly as she looked off to the side, as if actively pondering their contents. “Whaddya think they coulda been?”

[cackling-chamelan-deactivated20]

Chamelan nodded, “Milk it is.” She switched the Cabinet and started pouring a large glass of milk.

Selph’s question regarding NiGHTS’s lack of his ‘signature’ was not unexpected, but it still made Chamelan mentally groan. Once more she considered telling Selph what had happened. She wouldn’t understand. Until she got the new twins together to teach them a little bit about the trick, a good lie would have to do.

"I don’t know all of the details how NiGHTS can hide his shard, but I have some theories. I think it might have to do with a polarity shift or phasing of his internal ideya fragments. If he did it just right he would be able to cancel out the signal of the red ideya shard on his chest."

Chamelan groaned with the realization that what she had said wouldn’t make sense to a layman. “What I meant is that nightmaren have small bits of ideya in them from when they were created. They’re not very noticeable normally and don’t have much power left in them. They broadcast a very faint signal. I was thinking though, that if you coordinated them, that you would be able to control their frequencies… Ah heck kiddo, I could chew your ear off wit’ this stuff. Let’s get to your other questions.” Chamelan laughed.

She delivered the glass of milk to self and sat down. “Now you said that Goldie was burnin’ papers when you saw him?” Chamelan grumbled, “I’m gonna slap Mantle n’ Bunny. There shoulda been nothing in Goldies place.”

"To answer your question though, Goldie brought back a small box. It was probably the flute that Mantle gave him. The papers he was burnin’ were probably notes n’ reports he made when he was general." She leaned towards Selph, "Kiddo, if you found anything while you was there, you should bring it to the General."

[yourfracturedreflection]

Selph didn't have to feign her interest in Chamelan's explanation. She didn't quite see how controlling the internal frequencies would cancel  out the external one of the shard, but the explanation did spark a couple other questions with regard to her own abilities. If she became NiGHTS, would she be able to create a signal that matches his? How much control would she have over the signal? Would it be possible for her to transmute it into another, if she so wished? They were experiments and questions that would have to be tested and answered at some later point, when she was alone and without disturbance.

She accepted the glass of milk and sipped at it as Chamelan talked, closing her eyes briefly to appreciate the cream on her tongue. It was good to know there was nothing of real importance in that box. She just wished she could have gotten to those reports sooner, before they had been desecrated. Downing the rest of the glass, she nodded to Chamelan. "Kay." Sure, she would give the files to Jackle. After she finished reading them and made copies. Though they lived in the same lair, they both tended to keep to their own rooms. She would hate to lose access to the papers.

As she put the glass on a nearby table, she smiled at Chamelan. "Thanks for answerin' all my questions. I think yer Ideya theories are neat, by the way. Kin you teach me more about em?"

[yourfracturedreflection]

Deep in Nightmare...

[yourfracturedreflection]

Selph’s wide eyes stared and stared during Chamelan’s story, drinking in every word. At least Chamelan was being honest, but she was being vague. All of that Selph already knew, up until what Chamelan did upon return to Nightmare, but that much she could have guessed. It was at once reassuring and uncomfortable to know that Master Wizeman wasn’t receiving any Visitors, though, especially one on such an important mission. It meant her scrying block probably wasn’t directed specifically at her, but it did beg the question: What was her Master up to?

It was not a question she had any intention of pondering at the present moment. When Chamelan reprimanded her, she quickly looked away, ashamed, and pulled her staff close as she shifted in her seat. NiGHTS definitely seemed to be as ruthless as the rumours said, but she couldn’t help but wonder if her little act had had any effect on NiGHTS. Probably not any sort that would be viable upon their next encounter—which was hopefully a ways away—but perhaps a similarly shy persona would prove useful. She would have to wait and see until that day came. As for this day, she nodded. “I do… Thank you, Chamelan.” She offered the second-level a smile. “Kin you tell me more about yer mission and what you and Reala and NiGHTS talked about?” She leaned in a little, eyes glinting with an actual honest curiosity. She wanted details.

[cackling-chamelan-deactivated20]

"Well…" She adjusted herself while thinking over what she wanted to tell Selph. "Well I guess I could go over what my message ta Goldie was. It’s not like it’ll be a state secret long."

"Se kiddo, my mission ta tell Reala that he could come back home ta Nightmare. He couldn’t have his job back and Wizeman was goin’ ta punish him, but he’d be accepted back home. He didn’t take the offer though. He chose to stay with NiGHTS." Chamelan quietly stirred her tea. "I don’t know why."

She looked out the balcony of the lobby. Chamelan had switched the view to overlook a vast stretch of Nightmare. “I wish Wizeman or the general had been available.”

"As far as what I talked to NiGHTS about… I found out we shared a common liking for alcohol and We talked about you and your brother for a bit. Mostly me trying ta convince ‘em that you weren’t worth killing right now." Chamelan shook her head. "I just don’t understand why he’s so much more loyal to his dreamers than he is to us."

Of course there was that enchantment that she’d taught NiGHTS. She considered telling Selph for a moment. It was probably a bad idea though. Selph would get the idea that Chamelan had betrayed Wizeman. This was not quite the case. She had taught NiGHTS the enchantment to make sure he continued to be a distraction, but she had ways around his spell. It only made him undetectable to traditional nightmarens, not to certain… things that Chamelan’s modified minions could do.

Chamelan took another sip of her tea, only to find it empty. She sighed and lifted from her chair. “You want to know anymore while I’m gettin’ another drink? And do you want anything sweetheart? I can get you most any treat you want.”

[yourfracturedreflection]

"That was a very generous offer on the part of the Master..." There was something missing in this equation. Selph's eyes drifted away from Chamelan, down to her lap, catching glints of the mirrors on her forearms. Reala wanted his position back; he wanted to come home, of that much Selph was sure. So what was stopping him? Most likely it had something to do with the traitor, and they did have that history together. Then there were the rumours. Selph hadn't seen evidence of this herself, but it was treated quite near to fact that NiGHTS and Reala were an item. Was love truly that powerful, to keep Reala from his home? Of course, Reala wished for his old life. Wizeman's offer did not guarantee that. Perhaps the lesser offer in tandem with whatever convoluted sense of attachment Reala had was just not that tempting.

Her expression grew contemplative as she thought, but her attention perked back up as Chamelan moved onto the topic of what she and NiGHTS had talked about. It seemed Selph hadn't made an impact after all. Oh well. She shrugged in response to Chamelan's words.

She tapped her chin at the offer. "Kin I have some milk, please?" she asked as she shifted a bit in her seat to watch the other Nightmaren. Resting her elbow on the armrest and her cheek in her hand, she added, "I do have a couple more questions. I thought NiGHTS was s'posed to have an Ideya signature, but I couldn't sense it. D'ya know why? An', Reala took somethin' from his lair and burned some papers..." She frowned slightly as she looked off to the side, as if actively pondering their contents. "Whaddya think they coulda been?"

[yourfracturedreflection]

Deep in Nightmare...

[yourfracturedreflection]

Chamelan was a difficult person for Selph to read; she was training to understand emotions as expressed by humans and—by extension—the more humanoid ‘marens. While some features functioned the same, so much was an unfamiliar landscape. Chamelan’s voice, however, held just the same cues as anyone else’s. She would have to rely on that more for her reading; a bit unfortunate, but necessary. At least she would get the practice.

As she listened and watched Chamelan make her drink, she flopped onto the arm rest of her chair—allowing her to get a more direct view of Chamelan—and pouted. “But I wanna know." Chamelan had seemed to respond positively when she had acted like a child before, so why not maintain the facade now? Nothing in her behavior so far barred this interpretation, especially since she had yet to interact with Chamelan on neutral terms.

She sat back, getting off the armrest, when Chamelan sat with her, and was quiet for a few moments while she considered the offer. The only caveat, truly, was honesty. “Well… okay. I was out explorin’ when I saw Reala fly by, so I followed him. I’d heard so much about ‘im and I just kinda acted on impulse; I know it was stupid…" She looked away as she spoke, pulling her staff a bit closer, seemingly embarrassed over the incident. It wasn’t completely untrue, if one called her scrying a sort of exploring, and it was something of an impulsive move, at least by her standards. “I wasn’t expectin NiGHTS or you to show up." She looked back to Chamelan and blinked a couple of times, now apparently expecting his side of the story.

[cackling-chamelan-deactivated20]

Selph seemed to be telling the truth. Chamelan took another sip of her tea, “I guess I need ta keep my side of tha bargain huh? To give ya a bit of background, I was on a mission ta give Goldie a message. At the time you saw me with Sparkles I was pretending ta rebel so I could get it to him."

"After we left you, I had a small discussion with them and gave Reala the message. He ran off to think it over and I had a bit of a talk wit’ NiGHTS. Mostly stuff ta pass the time while I waited for Goldie to make up his mind." Chamelan gazed into her tea. “Goldie came back with his answer and then I ran back ta Nightmare to tell Wizeman. When I arrived he wasn’t answering his door. So I left him a message and came back to the Pentaideya to manage it until Wizeman sends for me."

She gave Selph a serious look, “You should feel lucky I was with NiGHTS. I had briefly mentioned you to him and the first thing he said to me was that he was going to kill you and your brother. If I hadn’t been there… Well there was a reason I put myself between you and him."

While the implication was that she was using herself as a shield, Chamelan had planned on backfiring the enchantment she put on NiGHTS. Doing so would have made him light up like a flare, alerting every nightmaren for miles. This would have blown her cover and failed her mission, but saving the children was worth the cost.

[yourfracturedreflection]

Selph's wide eyes stared and stared during Chamelan's story, drinking in every word. At least Chamelan was being honest, but she was being vague. All of that Selph already knew, up until what Chamelan did upon return to Nightmare, but that much she could have guessed. It was at once reassuring and uncomfortable to know that Master Wizeman wasn't receiving any Visitors, though, especially one on such an important mission. It meant her scrying block probably wasn't directed specifically at her, but it did beg the question: What was her Master up to?

It was not a question she had any intention of pondering at the present moment. When Chamelan reprimanded her, she quickly looked away, ashamed, and pulled her staff close as she shifted in her seat. NiGHTS definitely seemed to be as ruthless as the rumours said, but she couldn't help but wonder if her little act had had any effect on NiGHTS. Probably not any sort that would be viable upon their next encounter--which was hopefully a ways away--but perhaps a similarly shy persona would prove useful. She would have to wait and see until that day came. As for this day, she nodded. "I do... Thank you, Chamelan." She offered the second-level a smile. "Kin you tell me more about yer mission and what you and Reala and NiGHTS talked about?" She leaned in a little, eyes glinting with an actual honest curiosity. She wanted details.

[yourfracturedreflection]

Deep in Nightmare...

[yourfracturedreflection]

Selph sat in one of the lounge chairs, tracing her fingers along the curves of her staff. She was growing bigger, but her legs still weren’t quite long enough to touch the floor, so her feet swung off the edge of the seat. She shook her head slightly to the hope Chamelan offered; she hadn’t been kept waiting too long. In fact, she was glad Chamelan had taken as long as she did. The ache in Selph’s head had begun to dull in that time, now a mere, faint throbbing. She could think more clearly now. “What happened after you left?" she asked. Straight to the point, as always. Formalities were such frivolous things.

[cackling-chamelan-deactivated20]

Chamelan mentally raised a brow at he child’s forwardness. Already trying General are we, she thought. Perhaps Selph was just curious but  being suspicious was second nature. Instead of immediately answering Selphs question, Chamelan glided across the lounge to her drinks cabinet.

She set it to teas and opened it. Pouring herself a Chai, Chamelan spoke to her guest. “So you want to know what I was doing dear? Well… I’m not sure I’m supposed to tell anyone but the General or Wizeman. The mission I was sent to do is very important." After she finished making her drink, Chamelan floated to a large round lounge chair in the center of the room.

She curled on it and took a deep sip of her tea. Chamelan smiled at Selph, “Sweetheart, lets make a deal. You tell me why you were in Reala’s lair in the first place and I’ll tell you what I was doing after I left."

[yourfracturedreflection]

Chamelan was a difficult person for Selph to read; she was training to understand emotions as expressed by humans and--by extension--the more humanoid 'marens. While some features functioned the same, so much was an unfamiliar landscape. Chamelan's voice, however, held just the same cues as anyone else's. She would have to rely on that more for her reading; a bit unfortunate, but necessary. At least she would get the practice.

As she listened and watched Chamelan make her drink, she flopped onto the arm rest of her chair--allowing her to get a more direct view of Chamelan--and pouted. "But I wanna know." Chamelan had seemed to respond positively when she had acted like a child before, so why not maintain the facade now? Nothing in her behavior so far barred this interpretation, especially since she had yet to interact with Chamelan on neutral terms.

She sat back, getting off the armrest, when Chamelan sat with her, and was quiet for a few moments while she considered the offer. The only caveat, truly, was honesty. "Well... okay. I was out explorin' when I saw Reala fly by, so I followed him. I'd heard so much about 'im and I just kinda acted on impulse; I know it was stupid..." She looked away as she spoke, pulling her staff a bit closer, seemingly embarrassed over the incident. It wasn't completely untrue, if one called her scrying a sort of exploring, and it was something of an impulsive move, at east be her standards. "I wasn't expectin NiGHTS or you to show up." She looked back to Chamelan and blinked a couple of times, now apparently expecting his side of the story.

[thytrueselph-deactivated2015091]

Selph is shocked at the smaller ones answer.

I have a replacement?

“so you are also us… I see… ” Selph stands up straight again; he looks down at the younger Selph. “I guess I should welcome you then, Selph.” he looks around her quizzically, he is comparing himself to her and wondering what makes this nightmaren better. He looks at her reflective eyes; they are very different from his.

She was made better, wasn’t she.  Wizeman didn’t know how to make us, and now he does. “But that does make us even more curious as to why you are here little one.”

Selph morphs into the smaller one, the white of his eyes turning the metallic color of Selph’s but his golden iris still emblazoned on them.  It feels strange to turn into Selph; he can tell she is similar to him, much more than any other Maren.

“You seem too small to get rid of us if that’s why you’re here…”

[yourfracturedreflection]

Selph nodded to his conclusion and gave a polite smile for the welcome. The expression lasted only a few moments before slipping back to her usual blankness. She stared up at Selph as she was examined, memorizing him in turn. If she excelled, then where did he fall short? When he shifted into her, however, then she understood. He was indeed imperfect; his shapeshifts were flawed. He must be a very old Nightmaren indeed. Her master must have struggled for a very long time to create her. She could only hope that she would live up to his expectations. “I don’t want to kill you; you serve your purpose still, don’t you?" She shot a glare back at the Murtle. “I was led here on acsident."

[thytrueselph-deactivated2015091]

“Yes, we do.” He sounds slightly unnerved by the question. He glances at the Murtle, now recognizing it as a babysitter for the little Maren. “I see.” He morphs back into himself. “You might want to get that one a map.” He gestures at the Murtle. Selph looks at the exit to his lair then flies into the shadows. He reappears closer to the exit and bows slightly, his arms toward the way she came. “I suggest you move along before you outstay your welcome.”

[yourfracturedreflection]

"Good." What did she care if he was flawed? If Master Wizeman deemed him worth keeping, then it was not her place to say otherwise, especially if he still did his job. She looked again at the Murtle. "Maybe I will, or maybe he'll be the next to be replaced." There was a casual coldness to her tone that almost seemed vaguely threatening, or perhaps insulting. It would depend on the listener, really. The Murtle merely shrunk into his shell, opting for a very overtly threatening interpretation. Selph, however, paid it no mind and watched Selph gesture to the exit. Acceptable. She had no other business here. Turning, she climbed onto her Murtle, and it took her to the exit. "Till next time," she greeted as she passed. "Bye, Selph."

[yourfracturedreflection]

Deep in Nightmare...

Selph’s head was aching. The only portal she could use was the fountain, but it gave her no view of the action. Most of the words came through jumbled, scarcely intelligible through the burble of water. She endured the beginning; she knew that she and her brother had been a topic of conversation—though she was unable to speak of the specifics—but now, it seemed to just be NiGHTS and Chamelan discussing drinking games, or some other inane thing. She could stand it no longer.

With a soft whine, she allowed the image to fade and dropped her staff so she could rub her temples. She would have to wait and learn the results of Chamelan’s efforts upon his return, along with whatever else he had decided to share… She couldn’t even peer through Master Wizeman’s hand to hear that report. Her staff treated it as if it didn’t exist, but that couldn’t be right; he must be blocking her out somehow, but he hadn’t yet reprimanded her, so she could only assume it hadn’t been that much of an irritant to him.

Regardless, the reason for that would not solve her current issue. Taking her staff in hand again, she scooted off the edge of the bed and flew off to the Pentaideya Grand Theater. There, she would wait.

[cackling-chamelan-deactivated20]

Chamelan with Quirky in her arms flew into the Pentaideya’s lobby. From the moment she entered, she knew something was wrong. Vern was there to greet her.

Placing Quirky on the ground she spoke, “Aren’t you supposed to be working on the mess on Stage Four?

"Sorry Mam," Vern shrugged, “but one of the first levels arrived here."

"Which one?"

"Selph I believe. She matches the descriptions we’ve heard."

Chamelan Nodded, “Where is she?"

"I showed her to the lounge to wait for you. I hope you don’t mind Mam."

Chamelan shook her head. “I’ll go there and meet with her. You and Quirky get back to work on that mess." She walked past Vern and Quirky.

She flew to the lounge to greet the First Level. Chamelan bent her head in a small bow as she entered, “Good evening Lady Selph. I hope I haven’t kept you waiting too long."

[yourfracturedreflection]

Selph sat in one of the lounge chairs, tracing her fingers along the curves of her staff. She was growing bigger, but her legs still weren't quite long enough to touch the floor, so her feet swung off the edge of the seat. She shook her head slightly to the hope Chamelan offered; she hadn't been kept waiting too long. In fact, she was glad Chamelan had taken as long as she did. The ache in Selph's head had begun to dull in that time, now a mere, faint throbbing. She could think more clearly now. "What happened after you left?" she asked. Straight to the point, as always. Formalities were such frivolous things.

[yourfracturedreflection]

Deep in Nightmare...

Selph's head was aching. The only portal she could use was the fountain, but it gave her no view of the action. Most of the words came through jumbled, scarcely intelligible through the burble of water. She endured the beginning; she knew that she and her brother had been a topic of conversation--though she was unable to speak of the specifics--but now, it seemed to just be NiGHTS and Chamelan discussing drinking games, or some other inane thing. She could stand it no longer.

With a soft whine, she allowed the image to fade and dropped her staff so she could rub her temples. She would have to wait and learn the results of Chamelan's efforts upon his return, along with whatever else he had decided to share... She couldn't even peer through Master Wizeman's hand to hear that report. Her staff treated it as if it didn't exist, but that couldn't be right; he must be blocking her out somehow, but he hadn't yet reprimanded her, so she could only assume it hadn't been that much of an irritant to him.

Regardless, the reason for that would not solve her current issue. Taking her staff in hand again, she scooted off the edge of the bed and flew off to the Pentaideya Grand Theater. There, she would wait.

[yourfracturedreflection]

((I wanted to draw you, so here you are.))

((Omg, thanks! It looks great! 8D))

[redideyanightmare-blog-deactiva]

Tick Tock

[redideyanightmare-blog-deactiva]

With his hand grabbed, NiGHTS continued to look at the child, wanting to interrogate her farther. However, it seemed Chamelan wasn’t going to let him. His other hand gently touched the stone of courage fused with him. How irritating. 

An eye perked at Chamelan’s orders to the child. He would have to ask who the new general was later, as well as how he knew the other Selph. He had never met that one until recently.

Starting to move closer to the portal, NiGHTS’ feet teased the entryway, body slowly sinking down to wherever his twin was. “Tell the new general and the other Selph I said, ‘Hello’, while you’re at it.", he smiled lightly, waving more playful and teasing goodbye as his waist was eaten away into his new destination.

[yourfracturedreflection]

Selph listened to the banter between the pair without a word, only offering a bashful smile at the comment about her meeting with her prototype. She listened when he made the comment to NiGHTS, and nodded to the orders, backing away with more purpose. NiGHTS’s request, though, gave her pause, and she hesitantly nodded and waved back. “Bye…"

[cackling-chamelan-deactivated20]

Chamelan waited for NiGHTS to leave before turning to Selph once more, “I’ll see you later Sweetheart. Goodbye." He waved and then slunk into the portal.

Now he needed to prepare for a barrage of questions from both of the twins. Hopefully he could work out a way to talk to Reala alone.

[yourfracturedreflection]

Selph waved back. "Bye, Chamelan."

She waited until the portal closed to drop the facade. Her expression cleared; any hint of that frightened little child fell away from her posture. Her staff returned to her side. Well, that was informative.

Flying up to where Reala once stood, she reached her hands into the compartment and collected the files it held. They had been tampered with, but they would make an interesting read nevertheless, if only to get a better understanding of the Nightmaren who penned them. Arms full, she left at last and returned home.

The files were set aside. She was back on her bed, as she was before this all began. The mirror on her staff flicked through reflections as she sought to find this trio of rebels. She would be watching.

[redideyanightmare-blog-deactiva]

Tick Tock

[yourfracturedreflection]

Selph floated back just an inch when Chamelan neared and eyed him with caution, listening as he spoke. Hesitating a moment, she ducked her face and shook her head in answer to the last question, appearing to still be nervous in his presence.

NiGHTS did not help the matter; her gaze shot up when he spoke. At least now she no longer held any doubt as to this Nightmaren’s authenticity. She recoiled again when NiGHTS joined Chamelan, and did so much more strongly this time, floating back a couple of feet. When asked if she had harmed her prototype, she shook her head rapidly. “I… I didn’t do anythin’ ta him… He was really nice ta me…" she spoke at last, letting some of her childishness slip back into her voice. Little turns of her head again indicated how rapidly she was looking between them, and very incrementally, she was floating back, away.

[cackling-chamelan-deactivated20]

Seeing that the child was uncomfortable, Chamelan kept his ground. He did not want her to feel more threatened than she already did. “Okay Selph, I understand." He continued to smile warmly at her.

Chamelan repressed a groan. “NiGHTS! I thought I told ya to run off with Reala." NiGHTS was going to get Chamelan in more trouble than he already was and if he harmed little Selph…

NiGHTS’s question further irked him, but this was no time to argue. The young maren needed to get out safely. At least NiGHTS was being more reasonable with her. “Selph was really nice ta you, huh? You know, your predecessor isn’t known for being sociable. It’s nice to hear that he was friendly."

Chamelan stood up and grabbed NiGHTS’s hand. “Sparkles, we need ta go." He nodded to Selph. “The others will be lookin’ for her soon and ya shard ‘ill become visible in a few minutes."

Hoping that Selph would understand, he said to her. “Why don’t ya go and tell the general ‘bout this?" He knew that his statement would get him questions from NiGHTS later, but Jackle would be able to explain the situation to Selph and Chamelan was already working on a cover story.

[redideyanightmare-blog-deactiva]

With his hand grabbed, NiGHTS continued to look at the child, wanting to interrogate her farther. However, it seemed Chamelan wasn’t going to let him. His other hand gently touched the stone of courage fused with him. How irritating. 

An eye perked at Chamelan’s orders to the child. He would have to ask who the new general was later, as well as how he knew the other Selph. He had never met that one until recently.

Starting to move closer to the portal, NiGHTS’ feet teased the entryway, body slowly sinking down to wherever his twin was. “Tell the new general and the other Selph I said, ‘Hello’, while you’re at it.", he smiled lightly, waving more playful and teasing goodbye as his waist was eaten away into his new destination.

[yourfracturedreflection]

Selph listened to the banter between the pair without a word, only offering a bashful smile at the comment about her meeting with her prototype. She listened when he made the comment to NiGHTS, and nodded to the orders, backing away with more purpose. NiGHTS's request, though, gave her pause, and she hesitantly nodded and waved back. "Bye..."

[redideyanightmare-blog-deactiva]

Tick Tock

[yourfracturedreflection]

Selph wasn’t entirely sure what to make of Chamelan and NiGHTS’s relationship at this point in time; she supposed she would just have to watch, wait, and see. For now, she would have to trust him.

She shrunk under NiGHTS’s disdain, almost literally. In lieu of literal shrinking, she looked away, averting NiGHTS’s gaze, and put up her staff, as if it could form some sort of barrier between her and the other Nightmaren. She squirmed a bit as she floated back, as if that would let her hide better.

At the request for her name, she looked up, eyes wide, but before she could say anything, Reala answered for her, and her gaze dropped, seemingly resigned to the designation. “Bye Reala," she called, without any real hope for a reply. Little motions of her head indicated when she looked up at the two remaining Nightmaren, clearly expecting that they would follow.

[cackling-chamelan-deactivated20]

Chamelan thanked every second of his unintended wisdom. If he hadn’t come… He didn’t want to think about it. The child dying would have been terrible enough, but the consequences to Jackle and Puffy would have been dire.

She was beautiful. Her silver eyes reminded Chamelan of his mepian hive child Sügav and his many entity’s eyes. The way NiGHTS had looked at her was infuriating, but not unexpected. Reala’s contempt probably stemmed from the realization of who she was and what she meant. Still, the fact that the twins held such scorn for someone they’d never met was… disappointing.

"NiGHTS, go with Reala. I’ll catch up in a moment." Chamelan glided to the young maren, carefully making sure he was still between NiGHTS and her.

He knelt down and gave her a warm smile. “Hello sweetheart. I think I met your brother the other day. Your name is Selph, right? You wanna tell me why you was here?" And why wasn’t Bunny keepin’ tabs on you? Thought chamelan angrily. Jackle at least had the excuse that he was still ill. What was Puffy’s?

[redideyanightmare-blog-deactiva]

NiGHTS blinked with Chamelan’s statement, staying behind and listening to the starting conversation. They couldn’t keep the portal open forever, especially in Nightmare. 

His eyes narrowed in confusion at the name the lizard’s lips called the young one. “Selph?", he spoke aloud, thinking back to the other one he met. “Hold it, you’re Selph too? There’s two? What about the other one? Where’s he gone?", child or not, this sparked some curiosity. 

Flying around Chamelan, he drew closer to the child, lowering himself down to her eye level. He failed to really notice the protectiveness the other was displaying, wanting to figure things out. “Did you get rid of him?", NiGHTS asked quietly, hoping Wizeman hadn’t ordered something like that already. Any trace of initial hatred was vanishing and turning into a more gentle questioning; his voice had smoothed itself over as it did when speaking to very young and frightened Visitors. "…Did you know there was another you?", a different question was spoken, just in case she wasn’t aware of his existence yet. NiGHTS hadn’t seen him around in a while, and he hadn’t been the one to finish him off.

[yourfracturedreflection]

Selph floated back just an inch when Chamelan neared and eyed him with caution, listening as he spoke. Hesitating a moment, she ducked her face and shook her head in answer to the last question, appearing to still be nervous in his presence.

NiGHTS did not help the matter; her gaze shot up when he spoke. At least now she no longer held any doubt as to this Nightmaren's authenticity. She recoiled again when NiGHTS joined Chamelan, and did so much more strongly this time, floating back a couple of feet. When asked if she had harmed her prototype, she shook her head rapidly. "I... I didn't do anythin' ta him... He was really nice ta me..." she spoke at last, letting some of her childishness slip back into her voice. Little turns of her head again indicated how rapidly she was looking between them, and very incrementally, she was floating back, away.