Completed [Bronze Woods] Child's Play (Edrik)

[Fubuki Kouri]

Fubuki Kouri 8th of Bell, 40th of Spring, 513 AV "................." A translucent figure of a little girl was sitting on a tall tree branch on her favorite tree in the Bronze Woods. The tree where she stashed her belongings. The figure was silent and had a scared and confused expression on her face. "Who... what is he?" The ghost little girl named Kouri thought out loud. Last night on the 39th, she had met someone... someone scary at the Kabrin Road. The hooded man caught her stealing two merchants' wares after she scared them away from the traveler's shelter they were staying. Long story short, that man was able to touch her even though she was not materialized and that man did... something to her, she couldn't remember what it is... she ended up saving his life from a wolf's jaw though. Shaking her head, Kouri didn't want to remember about that event just yet, the experience was too scary for her. For now, she wanted to calm her mind down. She swung her legs back and forth from the tree branch. "Hm~ hm~ hm~♪" She hummed a happy song with her eerily haunting voice echoing in the area. Kouri closed her crimson eyes, immersing herself deeply in one of her favorite activities and one of the few things she could still enjoy in her unliving state. Her very long ethereal white hair swayed gently with the wind, a rather bizarre sight with the plants around her.

[Edrik]

Not a single sight. This part of Bronze Woods had been left by every birdsongs, animal breathes or woodcracks. Even the grass remained strangely quiet, without the wind whispering between the leaves. The only noise was Edrik's steps, walking peacefuly, looking for some rare plants to see. He had barely noticed the dead silence around him. When he finally did, Edrik stoped immediately. Wondering what happened, he felt the fear coming. "Be a man, Edrik" he said to himself "Man shall think and understand. There is nothing to fear but ignorance" He repeated as loud as possible his father's words, trying to fill the gap of the growing silence. Then, when he began to feel calmer, he finally saw it. From the distance, there was nothing to see, really. Only a strange shade of white or grey or whatever. Just like a silent vibration between the branches. "A ghost" Edrik understood, and at this very moment, only his undomptable curiousity enabled him to stay while all his body eagered from running. And soon, it was too late: the ghost had set its eyes on him...

[Fubuki Kouri]

Fubuki Kouri "Oh Lily of Chastity~♪" She finished her song and slowly opened her eyes. Gazing directly at the morning sun. "Ehehehe~♪" Giggling happily, she fell down on her back, laying on the tree branch. Her very long ethereal white hair dropped down from the branch like a silvery white curtain. "Uuuuun~" Letting out a cute moan, she stretched her ethereal body, as expected; no sounds of joints or bones snapping could be heard as if her body was a puff of moving air. I wonder what should I do today... Looking up directly to the sky, Kouri began to plan her activities for today. "Eh?" Suddenly, she heard something. It was faint, but there... footsteps? She heard the familiar rustling of grass and snapping twigs. "Ehn?" She lifted her body to examine the clearing in front of her tree. She only knew something was heading here, it could be an animal, an explorer, a patrolling knight, or others. "Ehehehe~" She giggled happily, being an extroverted and out-going little girl, Kouri loved the company of others. Her being a ghost even more so as most residents of the city viewed at her with fear and contempt and often stayed away from her. Her ethereal crimson eyes darted left and right to find this newcomer. Then... "Oh?" her eyes locked themselves into a figure... a boy, seemed to be her age. He had short light blonde hair and azure blue eyes that contrasted greatly with Kouri's crimson red. He was a bit taller than her, as usual with boys and girls around both of their age. Kouri was rather short compared to the usual humans, being a Vantha. His features were also quite handsome, her child-like mind already forming a crush for this blonde boy. She felt a blush coming to her cheeks and shook her head to get rid of the thought. She haven't even know him yet and she already liked him, that's very impolite according to her mind. "Oh hello~♪" She said in a sing-song voice and tilted her head to the side, beaming the boy with a happy grin. She leaned her body forward and looked at him curiously. What's a boy doing in the forest? Well... Akilia, her wolf Kelvic friend, did live in the Woods. Was the boy a Kelvic as well or perhaps he's just a lost child? She have to find out! Seeing that the blue-eyed boy was around her age, Kouri decided she didn't have to act polite or reserved like she usually did with adult strangers. She dropped from the tree branch, slowly floating down heading the ground. Her ankle-length hair billowing up, following her motion and she held the hem of her dress down. She looked like someone who was slowly sinking underwater even though she wasn't. Stopping just a few inches before actually touching the ground, Kouri made an elegant landing motion. Then she lifted her head, focusing her attention back to the boy. She then floated to him, carefully as she didn't want to spook him. This boy could be her new friend and she didn't want to ruin the chance. Stopping a few feet from the boy, Kouri put her hands behind her back and smiled at him. "Hello~ What brings you here~?"

[Edrik]

Edrik made great effort to not shiver with fear. The ghost was... floating over the ground, defying the universal strenght of gravity. How is this possible ? Edrik thought, and while his mind was wondering how such a thing was possible, the fear stepped back and the ghost moved on. The white shape was so close now that Edrik could see her frightening red eyes. However, no hostility was shining on this ruby-like eyes, only curiousity and the joy of the promess of a new friendship. Feeling that, Edrik relaxed and looked at the strange ghost girl more carefully. She should be his age, if ever ghost have any age, and he estimated that she was a little smaller than him. It was indeed a bit difficult to see as she was floating few inches over the ground. The ghost finally stopped few steps before him and smiled. Edrik suddenly realized how pretty the girl was, even with her pale and transparent skin, and retained a blush. Then, he heard her sweet, singing voice, charmed. "Hello~ What brings you here~?" Edrik hardly brought his thoughts together, disturbed by this strange creature. "Hi..." he answered gently "I- I don't really know why I'm here. I was wandering... I think. Anyway, I'm Edrik, nice to meet you." He hesitated to give her a hand - she was a ghost ! could she touch things? - but then he though it could be rude not to. So he smiled again, welcoming. But few seconds later, he could not retain all the questions he had in mind, so he began with the easy one "Are you... a ghost?"

[Fubuki Kouri]

Fubuki Kouri "Ehehehe~" Kouri giggled, part happy part embarrassed. Embarrassed because she finally found a boy her age who wasn't afraid of her and seemed to like her instead, his blush didn't go unnoticed by her. "Uhm... hehe, Edrik~ I see, hehe, what a nice name~" She put her hands behind her back and averted his gaze, her corpse-like pale cheeks blushed even more now. Oh no! He's going to think I'm impolite! She was nervous talking with him, it had been so long since she last met a boy her age... one that didn't scream "ghosts!","'phantom!", "Aaaaah! M-m-monster!" or various other curses before scramming with their tail between their legs. Shaking her head twice to get rid of her nervousness, Kouri looked him back in the eyes and smiled. "I'm Kouri! Ehehehahaha~" She didn't use her usual nobility-style introduction and merely stated her name. Kouri felt a tinge of sadness when he questioned her race, she looked down on the ground, confused on how to answer his question. "W-well... I don't like to be reminded of that..." She whispered in a low voice then she cleared her throat and spoke again, this time normally. "Uuhm... nope, I'm a Vantha... a Vantha... yes... w-well... I may not look like it now, but I'm truly a Vantha... at least I was..." She stuttered, part of her wanted him to believe that she was a Vanha while part of her didn't want to lie to him about her current state. She then slowly approached him closer. Because she was hovering a few inches above the ground, she could look at him at eye-level. She then materialized herself, "C-can... I... touch you?" She didn't wait for his answer and gently took his left hand with her right. His body warmth immediately felt by her. Aaah~ S-so warm... warm... A dreamy, kind-of-drunk expression appeared on her face. "You are so warm... Edrik..." She continued rubbing his hand, giving her chilling frost touch in return for his warmth.

[Edrik]

OOCSorry, it's a bit difficult for me to write more for now.

Edrik regretted his question few seconds after he asked it. Kouri seemed to be hurt. However, she blushed and answered. But when she was answering, Edrik just half listened. He heard about the Vantha, but what really interested him at the time was that the ghost - cause he was now sure she was a ghost - did blush. How is it she blushed ? he thought. Blush comes from blood... Ghost have no blood, have they ? But he had not the time to answer his own question. The ghost girl finally touched the hand the boy had given. And Edrik hopped during a second that she never had. Her touch was cold, ever more than that, frozen. Deathly frozen. "So warm..." he heard. So warm indeed, but he felt just like Kouri was taking the warmth out of his body. As gently as possible, he took his hand back. "Er... Kouri... Er... so, you're a Vantha, right? Wh- Whant is a Vantha, exactly ? Er... are every Vantha so... transparent? " Edrik knew how rude it could seem, but he had no real choice. Moreover, he really meant the question, as he really did know nothing about Vantha.

[Fubuki Kouri]

Fubuki Kouri OOCIt's alright, Edrik. "E-eh? Why are you pulling away?..." Kouri's whisper was quite disappointed, she wanted more of his warmth. She already knew the answer to her own question, her touch was chilling to the living. It's not like you will die... Chilling and uncomfortable, but it's not deadly... yet. She noticed that her ability to materialize herself grew stronger each time she used it. "...." Kouri put her right thumb to her lips and bit it, resisting the urges of tackling Edrik down right then and there to wrap her whole body around him. To suck all of his body warmth... "Uuuun..." She was getting agitated and close to actually executing her actions if not for Edrik's stuttered question. "A Vantha is a... uhm... name for the native people of the Northern Taldera region. Our city is called Avanthal, the beautiful gem of the north. Ehehehe~ And oh! Our leader and Goddess is Queen Morwen. You should meet her! She's very kind, gentle, and loving! Ehehe... ehehehe~" Kouri excitedly explained her race, she's very proud of her heritage and always glad to satiate other people's curiosity about Vanthas. Happy and proud expression filled Kouri's face as she did so. "............." Edrik's next question was answered with deafening silence. Kouri's delighted mood abruptly vanished and she stared at Edrik, looking at him as if he was a fool. "No... No Vantha is transparent... why do you think that?" She edged closer to him, their face now separated by a mere few inches. "Is it because I'm transparent?" Kouri whispered in his ear, her haunting whisper echoed around them.

[Edrik]

Kouri was obviously not comfortable with all the boy's questions. But Edrik wanted to know the truth, and he felt that somehow Kouri had lied to him. She was a ghost, and he wanted her to admit it. Was it so difficult ? However, he was glad to have the opportunity to learn more about the Vanthas and was really concentrated when Kouri talked about her queen. But what Edrik had not expected was the sudden strange behaviour of Kouri - if ever a ghost behaviour could be called "normal", he meant of course "strange" in comparison to "usual". Suddenly, she turned even more transparent and seemed to be angry against the boy. Edrik understood his mistake. "I'm sorry Kouri. I didn't mean to hurt you. But you told me you were no ghost but a Vantha, so what could I think about that? I just wanted to know more about you." Edrik sighted. He felt he had nothing more to do there. "Maybe it's better that I go, now." he said, turning his heels.

[Fubuki Kouri]

Fubuki Kouri "N-no! No! Don't leave!" Kouri immediately held out her right hand and grabbed his left to stop him. "Please..." Her voice was pleading. "Please don't leave..." She had just gained a new friend, losing that friend in just mere moments after they introduced each other was out of the question; especially since the friend was about her age. "Uuuun..." She looked down to the ground in guilt. She realized her denial was giving her nothing but misunderstanding, as much as she hated to admit it; she was not a Vantha anymore. She wasn't even human, she only looked like a human. "I... I'm sorry... a-actually... y-yes! I... I'm... a... a g-g-g-g..." She struggled to say it, oh how she hated the term, why can't people just accept that she's a Vantha? Living or dead, it doesn't matter. "G-ghost! There! I'm a ghost! A spirit, phantom, dead soul, monster, abomination!! Are you happy now?!" Kouri shouted the various names and calls she heard when people scorned her. She released her frustration and satiating the boy's curiosity at the same time. "Hmph!" She crossed her hands, looked to the side, and puffed out her cheeks in annoyance. "M-meanie..." But in truth, she didn't want him to leave; she wanted Edrik to stay with her. P-please don't go...

[Cloud]

From the sky falls your reward!

Kouri :

Experience
Skill | XP Earned
Materialization | +1

Lores
• | Lore Earned
• | Edrik (Acquaintance)
• | Admitting You're A Ghost

Misc. :

Nothing to add.

Question marks to be made? Exclamations to declare? Feel free to send me a pm and we can tend to any concerns you have.