Post by Astrid Vess on Aug 26, 2022 0:57:35 GMT -5
OOC: Training for TTP for Soul Converter. I've got 60 TTP to work with already so I'm working for the additional 120 TTP.
Astrid slowly found herself waking up, still thoroughly worn out, but at least physically in one piece. . . And mildly comfortable at that. Having not yet opened her eyes, she didn’t know what exactly was giving her the comfortable feeling she was experiencing but she was confused. Still, she was tired enough that even though she had the mental alarm going off in her head, she was willing to let herself just remain still for a bit longer. If she was going to be killed, she’d have been killed by now. Especially considering that she’d just been fighting Grimdal in his released form. She groaned as her mind slowly replayed the events of that fight. It was going surprisingly well up until the point he released. Then shit hit the fan because from what Hetax had said there was a hydra involved with him. She hadn’t known that the hydra in question WAS Grimdal. Fuck that guy. Still, she did manage to finally kill him, but it took her bringing out every spirit she could manage to maintain and then killing them all at point blank to kill him. Or at least produce a wound that WOULD kill him.
Still even with her victory she was pushed to her limit and if she recalled. . . hadn’t she passed out? The more Astrid thought about it, the more she realized that yes. She had in fact blacked out after a certain point. She’d just managed to get to Samson and then the world went dark. So how. . . Astrid finally let her paranoia and fears take over for a moment and jumped up from where she was and onto the floor. Her glowing eyes took a moment to scour her surroundings and it brought both a growing sense of concern and an explanation for what was happening. She was in a hut, a clustered and hoarded hut. It had definitely seen better times, or it was just immensely dirty. There was mold and algae growing on the floor, walls and ceiling in different sections.
To add to the clutter there were cabinets galore with the shelves filled to the brim with seemingly random objects. Books, pots, bowls, jars of floating things, and spices? Though the spices and other plant life were also hanging from the ceiling on thin pieces of rope that had other pots or vessels holding the plants in the air. For once Astrid could be glad, she wasn’t too tall as she could vividly imagine many others knocking into them. And what had she previously been on? A bed. Arguably the nicest thing here despite the yellow-brown color of the mattress itself, the clearly unwashed pillow, and the ragged yet surprisingly thick blanket. With all this in mind, there was no doubt in Astrid’s mind where she was at. The hag’s abode. Specifically, Amori’s abode. Still just because she knew where she was didn’t mean she knew why she was there. If anything, she was trying to GET to Amori’s abode, yet here she was already.
None of this sat well with Astrid. However, her concerns about her current location suddenly got sidetracked when she realized something important. The hunger that had plagued her for so long was significantly weaker. She could actually feel more of “herself” present both in form and in mind. The most noticeable showing of this being that she could think and though she was hungry, she easily overpowered the deep desire to consume wantonly. If anything, she could almost forget about it because it was dulled so significantly that it was more akin to wanting to have snacks than it was to eat entire entities. “W-what? But. . . how? I’m . . . usually so hungry. . . Wait. . . am I. . . speaking?! That’s when it started to dawn on her. She could think well enough to actually string together words. Words she hadn’t realized she’d known prior. Words she didn’t think she could use or say prior. Yet now she was actually capable of considering and then speaking from so many words. It was honestly like her mind had just decided to consume a dictionary while she was unconscious.
“What in th-” Before she could start trying to speak and think through all these new words, sentences, and heaven forbid grammar that she effectively just “knew” somehow, another voice made itself known. One that felt more than sounded like chalk scratching into a board. It was shrill and female, yet it held weight to it. Power was the best way to describe the confidence in tone despite the voice itself sounding unpleasant and old. “Oh dearie you’re awake! Come, come! I’ve almost got supper ready. You wouldn’t believe who just fell into Hell today. Why it’s like we had just an absolute shitshow of pathetic souls, yet they were so fresh that I guarantee you that you’ve not had anything this good! Be quick or I may just eat the entire pot hahahahaha!” Amori cackled loudly for a few minutes before she finally fell silent and left Astrid to her devices. Astrid was on guard to say the least. This was the person she wanted to find but was also known as the “owner” of the Suicide Forest. Astrid couldn’t take her lightly.
Still having been unable to resist anything she did for god knows how long meant that if she truly wasn’t being affected by anything pointed towards a reason. Likely fucked up. Maybe even as weak as just “playing with her food” but regardless of if Amori had wanted Astrid dead, she’d have made it so. Especially by now. Still Astrid was nothing if not knowledgeable on the multitude of ways one could get fucked over in Hell. Thus, she immediately summoned forth ten hollow chicks, due to size constraints and so she could have as many eyes as possible around. The walk towards what could be assumed was the kitchen wasn’t long but fuck if it wasn’t arduous. This woman had shit literally just lying on the floor. Yet despite the mass minefield of god only knew what trinkets there no blood was to be seen or smelled. Which made Astrid wonder how this woman managed to not injure herself on the daily if not hourly basis.
The answer was made immediately apparent when she walked into the utterly disgusting but surprisingly cleared out kitchen. While Amori was busy with whatever was in the large black kettle in her fireplace the various items that Amori had picked up literally returned themselves to their respective areas. No, they weren’t sentient. No, it wasn’t Amori using any amount of power to make them move. Hell, she wasn’t even paying attention. Instead against all odds the items just moved themselves. It was as though the thought of Amori finding something out the place was so terrifying that the objects in question just decided to save themselves the trouble of inconveniencing her. Astrid wanted to say something but couldn’t find the words despite the sheer volume of them she now knew. That was okay though because Amori definitely had something to say in Astrid’s stead.
Amori turned her head shortly after Astrid entered the kitchen and let go of the large wooden spoon she was using. Though the spoon continued to stir the contents of the pot, much to Astrid’s surprise. Meanwhile Amori just simply smiled widely and put her hands together as she looked over Astrid with her clouded eyes. They looked bloodshot and an iris wasn’t discernable in either. In fact, her eyes didn’t look like they had pupils either. Astrid had energy orbs that took the place of her eyes but even that didn’t look nearly as creepy as just having eyes that shouldn’t see. And yet with the smile on her face and the aura she gave off there was no doubt that Astid was being watched. Physically. She shuddered some but didn’t move or say anything to Amori. “Oh dear, you must not be used to kindness. I can’t very well blame you given where you were raised. No worries though dearie, you’ve done me multiple good turns. Why killing off Sanctus members and ensuring information they learned never returns and killing that absolute fucking pest that was Grimdal? That alone is enough to warrant me doing at least one favor for you. Truthfully likely two.”
Amori chuckled to herself over her words. It was amusing to her just how much Astrid had accomplished effectively on her own. Sure, Amori had nudged her in the right direction but the actual work that was put in to kill Grimdal and Hetax? That was all Astrid. Hell Astrid had even managed to kill a worm from Greed and kill off a would-be pet of hers. Amori, if nothing else, was thoroughly impressed with Astrid and her actions. Amori realized she was staring and chuckled to herself again. “Dearie, don’t mind me. I can’t help but look you over. You’re such a small, pathetic, little thing~ Why I almost can’t imagine how you achieved what you did. And I was watching you the whole time! You’ll have to tell me what was going through your mind and why you did things over a bowl of hason stew. Oh, and don’t worry, as I said she’s fresh! Literally fell out the sky onto my own abode. Poor thing, died in the process though, but at least she was able to supply us with dinner. What a kind child. Anywho~, take a seat over at the table there, I’ll grab us a couple bowls so we can talk and eat.”
Amori pointed an utter pale and boney finger at the table, which was more akin to a few tree stumps around a used to be tree body that somehow was carved to be flayed out in the shape of a table. Astrid dared not ask as she wasn’t certain she wanted to know the answer for that. Still Astrid had nowhere else to go at the moment and thus decided to take Amori up on her offer. Her chicks hung around her, a couple on her shoulders, one on her head, and the rest just hovering or walking next to her. They were all shivering as Amori looked at each individual one before humming to herself and going back to the stew. A few agonizingly long minutes passed and eventually Amori brought a smaller pot filled with the hason stew onto the table. She then went and grabbed a couple black rock bowls and a plastic ladle before handing Astrid a ladle and a bowl. ” Alright dearie, all done! I’ll let you have the first taste; it’s been centuries since I made hason stew this way, so I need to know your thoughts on how it tastes. I’ll be having this for the next week or so.”
Slowly but surely, Astrid reached over and grabbed the bowl and ladle. In truth though Astrid’s mind was trying to figure out what she was going to do and constantly being thrown off by Amori’s “goodwill” and speech her stomach was utterly empty. And now that the small pot was next to her, her stomach and instincts took over. Astrid managed to not put her head and upper body into the pot, but she did start eating like a starving animal, which at this point didn’t feel very far from the truth. Amori simply chuckled and watched Astrid while she ate, realizing moments later that the pot was threatened to be devoured by Astrid for simply holding the food in question. As a hason herself, she wasn’t terribly surprised at Astrid’s reaction. Especially given she was far more bestial and had something of a curse, though noticeably weaker now, from Hell. Despite her eyes not looking like they worked in any capacity Amori was very adept at seeing reiatsu and even the souls of others. And Astrid’s had several markings on hers. Though the “curse” from Hell was immediately able to be seen. Though its influence was weakening considerably as Astrid’s spirit was actively purging it. Amori hummed to herself as she took note of this and a few other details while Astrid finished eating the stew entirely.
When she was done Astrid was looking Amori dead in the eye. She was quiet, uncertain, and clearly on guard. Amori chuckled to herself as she knew exactly what that look was for. Astrid expected her to kill her dead on the spot. Which was tempting truthfully. There was a part of Amori that felt like Astrid would do the same in a heartbeat. But ultimately? She had done enough that Amori knew it wasn’t the right play. Especially when she could be so much more useful to her in the current situation or down the line. So, for now any consideration of her life needed to be put off. Especially once Astrid and her talked over what she was doing searching for her. Amori had an idea, but Astrid was a younger Hason. There could be any other number of reasons she’d want to find her. Though killing her was likely involved in some capacity. If so, well that’d be disappointing. She didn’t want to kill the girl so soon. No, she needed a bit more seasoning before that could occur.
However, since Astrid wasn’t going to speak Amori just sighed to herself and whisked the pot away with her finger. Throwing said object into an already overly full sink. “Alright dea-Perhaps I should just use your real name. Astrid. My dear, you have done well by me. There’s no lie in that. What you’ve done is more than my pets could do, and that was while you were at their intelligence level. Now you’ve clearly evolved past that so we can actually talk like people. Which, contrary to your current viewpoint, is closer to what we both are. So, tell me Astrid, why did you go so far to try and find me? I’m but an older hellion living out their eternity within a slice of this ever-expanding domain. You already know I’m lying to every weak, stupid, and otherwise inept hellion that exist here. So, what is it you want?”
Astrid was tense. Very tense. The truth of the matter was she wanted to talk with Amori and now she could. But she held such a distrust for the woman that she didn’t want to. She knew the other was likely to try and twist her words. Perhaps try to control her, same as Alastor and Orobas. Still, if she could kill Grimdal, who was an utter thorn in this woman's side. She could at the very least fight her and have a chance at winning. Hopefully. If nothing else, Amori would not get away unscathed. And Astrid was certain she could make that happen. So, with a moment to breathe she looked Amori dead in the eye, banished away any fears, and spoke up to her. Her guarded tone was still there but it didn’t seem like Amori really cared about that. She was just as relaxed as ever. “I. . . I want to talk about your sigils. . . I know they're fake. You’ve admitted they don’t work as you say they do. . . Yet they aren’t made poorly. I’ve made my own and studied what I’ve seen. . . I want to know if you can change someone permanently. Not the mind control and flesh warping shit you pulled on that lizard hason. I mean permanently change someone into something else.”
Amori’s eyes and her face lit up. Both impressed that Astrid had known her runes were domination and physical transformation both. Not a complete transformation. Say what she would but she was clever. No teacher. No tome of knowledge. Just figure it out or find out the consequences. Astrid would get far with that attitude but not to Amori’s level. She’d need someone to help her gain more knowledge or something to push her further. Self-study only went so far after all, which is why Amori went and collected all the knowledge and power she now had. Which is when her eyes went to a mask that was hanging up in her living room. A simple pure white little thing. It looked distinctly humanoid, however. Yet she knew what it was. What it could do. Still Astrid would have no way of knowing what each and every item did. Let alone her hoard of powerful items. So even if she did reveal it, she’d never actually have the means to find it. Not without her knowing anyway. Amori got off of her stump and stretched her back out. A disturbing amount of cracks and popping sounds were made. After she groaned in delight she looked back over at Astrid.
“Alright my dear, I’ll be honest with you. I do, in fact, have such an item. It’s an old treasure that I stole from a hellion of some power centuries. . . or was it millennia now? Ahh much too long ago to matter. The point is, I still have such an item. And as far as changes go it's permanent. You will become a hollow. Normally that’s not a hell many wish to go through but if I’m not mistaken. . . that is exactly what you want to become is it not?” She looked over Astrid and then looked into her soul. It told her everything she wanted to hear. Astrid’s goal in this entire endeavor was to become a hollow. Heh. Funny considering, she was so close to being a beast all on her own. Still if she wanted it, far be it from Amori to tell her not to become one hm? Amori chuckled before she spoke up again as Astrid was not keen to speak further but was already adamantly looking at her with the intentions of wanting the mask. “Alright dear, alright. If you look at me any more desperately, I’ll almost feel bad that you want it in the first place hahahahaha! However, though you’ve done me good, it cannot be understated that I cannot simply give the item to you. Nor will I simply use the item on you. Heh, I doubt you’d let me use it on you anyway.”
“Now. . . . that doesn’t mean we can’t. . . make a deal for it, however. My terms for this will be simple. I want you to do for me, one small task. Well perhaps it's not all that “small” but you will do a task for me. However, I’ll need you to be stronger Astrid. You’re simply not at a point in which I can trust the task to you. However, that is where the multiple good turns you’ve done for me will come into play. I am going to help you get there, just a little bit. I am going to teach you more about sigils and all that encompass them. Oh, don’t look at me that way. Trust me dear, it's not going to be anything but hands-on practice and instruction. Starting with one, our peers forgot millenia ago. It is called the “Soul Convertor” rune. If you haven’t noticed already my dear, your strengths lie not in how you use your reiatsu but the sheer volume of reiatsu you’ve obtained. The souls within you have fostered so much of your spiritual growth that you are simply a blooming and bustling tree of spiritual power. Yet you struggle to find a way to use your gifts that aren’t in blatantly inefficient ways. Thus, while your runes are easily made they are also easily broken. If you’re willing, I will make them become far stronger. And this gift will be on the house. A good turn, for a good turn. What do you say, Astrid?”
Astrid sat still for a long while. This was. . . concerning. Honestly even stupid. She wanted to find out if Amori could help her. And kill her if she was unwilling. Yet here she was, telling her that the method to her goals was present and yet she wouldn’t immediately give it to her. She wanted her to do something in exchange AND she wanted to strengthen her so she could have a chance of succeeding. This smelled of deception all over the place. Falsehoods and flowery terms to hide the fact that Amori had no intention of assisting her. Astrid didn’t like that. She also didn’t like that she was willing to help her out and teach her sigils. No doubt the woman knew anything Astrid could possibly need in that regard. . . But could she trust her to not attempt to bind her in some manner or another? Absolutely not. Amori was not the “owner” of the Suicide Forest for being nice. She was there for killing her opposition if she didn’t outright make them her pets. She was cruel, powerful, and had millennia of cunning and experience to work off of. Astrid was never going to be the first or last being to want to kill her and take from her hoard.
Yet what other option was there? Astrid had no other leads on who could change her. Astrid wasn’t likely to just “learn”, as she did with speech, how to do something to change her into a hollow. She wasn’t anywhere near as knowledgeable in the fleshcraft arts to even consider it. Nor did she even have the faintest idea of how to use a sigil so potent that it would be placed upon the soul of another. Assuming that was even possible. Amori held all the cards in this case. She knew what Astrid wanted and she could force Astrid, or try to force her, to do what she wanted anyway. For once, Astrid had to ask herself what Alastor would do. He was a con man at heart. He made deals and twisted words as he whimed. The smug asshole was nothing if not clever in how he handled others. So perhaps she could take a page from him and try to make a deal that would force Amori to only teach her, not control her. But Astrid wasn’t certain how that would work. She wasn’t certain how to do that. However, she did know someone that might be able to. And that was Grimdal. There was no one else in Hell who had nearly as perfect control over the beasts of Hell as he did. And his soul was bound to her.
She could use him and his knowledge as leverage to make certain she would get away without any “extra” bindings on the sigils that Amori would use around her, or even on her. This was Astrid’s one and only idea, the only thing she could do to make things at least “safer”, since “safe” didn’t exist in Hell. She looked hard into Amori’s eyes while she spoke, steeling herself spiritually and mentally into committing to her plan. “I don’t trust you. Not in your cooking. Not in your deal making. And certainly not in your intentions behind teaching me sigils. However. . . There’s no way you aren’t capable. You couldn’t make the lesser sigils without a deep understanding. There is, however, at least one thing you don’t have nor completely understand. And that’s how to tame and control the beasts of Hell. Otherwise, you’d have never been concerned with Grimdal. And if he weren’t a threat in any capacity, you’d have dealt with him prior. What I’ve heard from being born and raised in this forest speaks to that. So, I raise you a deal instead. I’ll learn from you. You will teach me any and every sigil I need to know for this “task” of yours. But you will NOT bind me or try to manipulate me in the process. You will teach me, and I will learn. In return I will ensure Grimdal himself or what I can learn from him, is given to you as well. You can add in the “good turn” I did for you as added incentive to agree to this. Otherwise, I will not agree.”
Amori smiled widely. Too widely. Astrid was too clever for her own good and it just continued to amuse her. Amori could not say she wouldn’t have done exactly what Astrid was concerned over at some point. Just perhaps not initially. Still Grimdal’s beast sigils were invaluable. And it would further protect her from that waste of space “Sanctus”. No manipulation. No bindings. Nothing that would ensure that after everything Astrid would be hers. And no “insurance” was allowed in this deal prior to. Amori began chuckling to herself before ultimately laughing over the situation. This went on for several minutes and Astrid only got more put on edge as the abode itself started to shake in its entirety. Eventually it did all stop and Amori flared her reiatsu, sparking Astrid to do the same instinctually. Amori’s smile was wide, and she put out her hand. “Alright Astrid, I agree to your terms. My knowledge of sigils, with the added protection from anything to make you a pet of mine. You will gain my knowledge in all that regards sigils. In return, you will give me Grimdal’s knowledge.” Astrid nodded and reached out to shake Amori’s hand. Something went through her the moment she did, and she was unable to let go until a new circular making was burnt into her right hand. It seemed that Astrid now had gained a new sigil on her body, yet when she was about to lash out Amori showed her the same sigil on her right hand. Astrid’s eyes narrowed as she realized that was how she did her dealings. Binding sigils. Still how else would Amori get her end while guaranteeing her alternates own suffering?
Astrid shook her head however when she looked back at Amori she noticed the look in her eyes was different. Serious and looking directly at her. Then she pointed directly at Astrid’s chest cavity. When she spoke next, she sounded distant and oddly far more monstrous. “That will be where the rune is placed. Upon your backside. Central and aligned with your spine. Though you may move it, that will be your converter's starting point. Come child, it’s time to enact the ritual.” She walked to the living room, now surprisingly clean and clear of anything, including furniture. Astrid was slow to do so initially but got up off the stump and walked towards Amori. Once there Amori immediately snapped her fingers and a sigil so complex appeared that Astrid honestly could not have recreated it appeared at her feet. It was 6 feet wide in diameter and glowed bright white at first. Slowly but surely though the sigil itself started to take on her reiatsu’s color, deep orange-red and over the course of a minute the white coloring was changed. Amori began to chant, saying something in a language that Astrid couldn’t know. Had never known existed. And yet it was anything but human. As far as she was concerned it was deep speech because what was coming out of Amori’s mouth should not have been possible to recreate. Before Astrid could consider what exactly was going on however, she was immediately bound in chains.
These chains took the form of every hellion had. While hers were bound within her body and interlinked in the roots these were immediately wrapped around her wrists, waist, neck, and ankles. Or the equivalents thereof. They pulled her to the ground forcefully and wouldn’t allow any movement from her. The sigil then glowed a dark deep crimson color and slowly started to fill up with energy. But the energy looked surprisingly liquid in nature. And wholly unnatural. And yet it only got worse. Astrid then pulsed and her core pulsed from deep inside. Then slowly but surely that pulse grew and started to collect energy from deep within Astrid. The amount it drew from her was considerable and even Astrid wasn’t comfortable with how much energy was being channeled forcefully from her. This energy finally crescendo'd and created a large crystalline spike that pierced through Astrid. She gasped and then attempted to yell out, only to realize she was unable to do such. Not even a moment after the crystal started to absorb the deep crimson colored energy. Slowly at first and then gradually became faster about it. Growing in power and having the crystal not only grow darker as it was corrupted and taken over by the crimson energy but physically growing into more crystal branches. What felt like an eternity was only a minute at most and by the end of its Astrid’s inner tree, the representation of her spiritual power, was recreated in some capacity.
The tree then proceeded to fight with the energy it had sucked up from the sigil. Yet the energy was not going to be so easily beaten. The two fought as the color changed from orange to red. Crimson to Rust. Cracks started to form throughout the crystal and on Astrid roots of red and orange alike started to show on her body. The energy burned immensely and yet it was distinctly her own energy. She could, for once, feel what reiatsu felt like. But only her own. And it was agony to endure it. Pain. Nearly unbearable and yet she was unable to do anything as she was in chains and pinned to the sigil. All things have to end eventually however, and so too did this ritual. Finally, the tree of her energy in crystalized fashion created a sigil of its own. A spiked oval with tendrils at the top and bottom most parts while the center held a bright orange glow. The remainder was a deep red. The tree then shattered, roots and all gone, revealing Astrid’s body to be untouched. Unharmed. Yet had anyone else see what had happened prior it would seem unbelievable. However, the sigil created by the tree was now on her back. Dead center and it was slowly growing more dim as the seconds passed. Moments after the chains binding her snapped and faded away. The sigil on the ground dimmed and followed the chains. Sadly, Astrid would be passed out, lost to her unconscious mind along with her spirits.
Amori in the meantime took a seat in a chair that just so happened to be behind her. She was sweating intensely as she hadn’t actually done something so daunting in a long while. With several deep gulps of air and some amount of stamina reclaimed she wiggled her finger at Astrid and had the floorboards take her back to the bed she’d been resting on prior. Amori couldn’t do more than that for now. Astrid would have words for her. And they were justified to an extent, but she’d have to explain that this was simply the process for how to get the sigil. At least as far as her understanding convinced her. Perhaps there was another way, but it didn’t matter now, Astrid had gained the first real sigil of power. And that power would take her exactly where Amori wanted her to go. In time. For now, she and Astrid simply needed to rest. A long. Well deserved. Rest.
Astrid slowly found herself waking up, still thoroughly worn out, but at least physically in one piece. . . And mildly comfortable at that. Having not yet opened her eyes, she didn’t know what exactly was giving her the comfortable feeling she was experiencing but she was confused. Still, she was tired enough that even though she had the mental alarm going off in her head, she was willing to let herself just remain still for a bit longer. If she was going to be killed, she’d have been killed by now. Especially considering that she’d just been fighting Grimdal in his released form. She groaned as her mind slowly replayed the events of that fight. It was going surprisingly well up until the point he released. Then shit hit the fan because from what Hetax had said there was a hydra involved with him. She hadn’t known that the hydra in question WAS Grimdal. Fuck that guy. Still, she did manage to finally kill him, but it took her bringing out every spirit she could manage to maintain and then killing them all at point blank to kill him. Or at least produce a wound that WOULD kill him.
Still even with her victory she was pushed to her limit and if she recalled. . . hadn’t she passed out? The more Astrid thought about it, the more she realized that yes. She had in fact blacked out after a certain point. She’d just managed to get to Samson and then the world went dark. So how. . . Astrid finally let her paranoia and fears take over for a moment and jumped up from where she was and onto the floor. Her glowing eyes took a moment to scour her surroundings and it brought both a growing sense of concern and an explanation for what was happening. She was in a hut, a clustered and hoarded hut. It had definitely seen better times, or it was just immensely dirty. There was mold and algae growing on the floor, walls and ceiling in different sections.
To add to the clutter there were cabinets galore with the shelves filled to the brim with seemingly random objects. Books, pots, bowls, jars of floating things, and spices? Though the spices and other plant life were also hanging from the ceiling on thin pieces of rope that had other pots or vessels holding the plants in the air. For once Astrid could be glad, she wasn’t too tall as she could vividly imagine many others knocking into them. And what had she previously been on? A bed. Arguably the nicest thing here despite the yellow-brown color of the mattress itself, the clearly unwashed pillow, and the ragged yet surprisingly thick blanket. With all this in mind, there was no doubt in Astrid’s mind where she was at. The hag’s abode. Specifically, Amori’s abode. Still just because she knew where she was didn’t mean she knew why she was there. If anything, she was trying to GET to Amori’s abode, yet here she was already.
None of this sat well with Astrid. However, her concerns about her current location suddenly got sidetracked when she realized something important. The hunger that had plagued her for so long was significantly weaker. She could actually feel more of “herself” present both in form and in mind. The most noticeable showing of this being that she could think and though she was hungry, she easily overpowered the deep desire to consume wantonly. If anything, she could almost forget about it because it was dulled so significantly that it was more akin to wanting to have snacks than it was to eat entire entities. “W-what? But. . . how? I’m . . . usually so hungry. . . Wait. . . am I. . . speaking?! That’s when it started to dawn on her. She could think well enough to actually string together words. Words she hadn’t realized she’d known prior. Words she didn’t think she could use or say prior. Yet now she was actually capable of considering and then speaking from so many words. It was honestly like her mind had just decided to consume a dictionary while she was unconscious.
“What in th-” Before she could start trying to speak and think through all these new words, sentences, and heaven forbid grammar that she effectively just “knew” somehow, another voice made itself known. One that felt more than sounded like chalk scratching into a board. It was shrill and female, yet it held weight to it. Power was the best way to describe the confidence in tone despite the voice itself sounding unpleasant and old. “Oh dearie you’re awake! Come, come! I’ve almost got supper ready. You wouldn’t believe who just fell into Hell today. Why it’s like we had just an absolute shitshow of pathetic souls, yet they were so fresh that I guarantee you that you’ve not had anything this good! Be quick or I may just eat the entire pot hahahahaha!” Amori cackled loudly for a few minutes before she finally fell silent and left Astrid to her devices. Astrid was on guard to say the least. This was the person she wanted to find but was also known as the “owner” of the Suicide Forest. Astrid couldn’t take her lightly.
Still having been unable to resist anything she did for god knows how long meant that if she truly wasn’t being affected by anything pointed towards a reason. Likely fucked up. Maybe even as weak as just “playing with her food” but regardless of if Amori had wanted Astrid dead, she’d have made it so. Especially by now. Still Astrid was nothing if not knowledgeable on the multitude of ways one could get fucked over in Hell. Thus, she immediately summoned forth ten hollow chicks, due to size constraints and so she could have as many eyes as possible around. The walk towards what could be assumed was the kitchen wasn’t long but fuck if it wasn’t arduous. This woman had shit literally just lying on the floor. Yet despite the mass minefield of god only knew what trinkets there no blood was to be seen or smelled. Which made Astrid wonder how this woman managed to not injure herself on the daily if not hourly basis.
The answer was made immediately apparent when she walked into the utterly disgusting but surprisingly cleared out kitchen. While Amori was busy with whatever was in the large black kettle in her fireplace the various items that Amori had picked up literally returned themselves to their respective areas. No, they weren’t sentient. No, it wasn’t Amori using any amount of power to make them move. Hell, she wasn’t even paying attention. Instead against all odds the items just moved themselves. It was as though the thought of Amori finding something out the place was so terrifying that the objects in question just decided to save themselves the trouble of inconveniencing her. Astrid wanted to say something but couldn’t find the words despite the sheer volume of them she now knew. That was okay though because Amori definitely had something to say in Astrid’s stead.
Amori turned her head shortly after Astrid entered the kitchen and let go of the large wooden spoon she was using. Though the spoon continued to stir the contents of the pot, much to Astrid’s surprise. Meanwhile Amori just simply smiled widely and put her hands together as she looked over Astrid with her clouded eyes. They looked bloodshot and an iris wasn’t discernable in either. In fact, her eyes didn’t look like they had pupils either. Astrid had energy orbs that took the place of her eyes but even that didn’t look nearly as creepy as just having eyes that shouldn’t see. And yet with the smile on her face and the aura she gave off there was no doubt that Astid was being watched. Physically. She shuddered some but didn’t move or say anything to Amori. “Oh dear, you must not be used to kindness. I can’t very well blame you given where you were raised. No worries though dearie, you’ve done me multiple good turns. Why killing off Sanctus members and ensuring information they learned never returns and killing that absolute fucking pest that was Grimdal? That alone is enough to warrant me doing at least one favor for you. Truthfully likely two.”
Amori chuckled to herself over her words. It was amusing to her just how much Astrid had accomplished effectively on her own. Sure, Amori had nudged her in the right direction but the actual work that was put in to kill Grimdal and Hetax? That was all Astrid. Hell Astrid had even managed to kill a worm from Greed and kill off a would-be pet of hers. Amori, if nothing else, was thoroughly impressed with Astrid and her actions. Amori realized she was staring and chuckled to herself again. “Dearie, don’t mind me. I can’t help but look you over. You’re such a small, pathetic, little thing~ Why I almost can’t imagine how you achieved what you did. And I was watching you the whole time! You’ll have to tell me what was going through your mind and why you did things over a bowl of hason stew. Oh, and don’t worry, as I said she’s fresh! Literally fell out the sky onto my own abode. Poor thing, died in the process though, but at least she was able to supply us with dinner. What a kind child. Anywho~, take a seat over at the table there, I’ll grab us a couple bowls so we can talk and eat.”
Amori pointed an utter pale and boney finger at the table, which was more akin to a few tree stumps around a used to be tree body that somehow was carved to be flayed out in the shape of a table. Astrid dared not ask as she wasn’t certain she wanted to know the answer for that. Still Astrid had nowhere else to go at the moment and thus decided to take Amori up on her offer. Her chicks hung around her, a couple on her shoulders, one on her head, and the rest just hovering or walking next to her. They were all shivering as Amori looked at each individual one before humming to herself and going back to the stew. A few agonizingly long minutes passed and eventually Amori brought a smaller pot filled with the hason stew onto the table. She then went and grabbed a couple black rock bowls and a plastic ladle before handing Astrid a ladle and a bowl. ” Alright dearie, all done! I’ll let you have the first taste; it’s been centuries since I made hason stew this way, so I need to know your thoughts on how it tastes. I’ll be having this for the next week or so.”
Slowly but surely, Astrid reached over and grabbed the bowl and ladle. In truth though Astrid’s mind was trying to figure out what she was going to do and constantly being thrown off by Amori’s “goodwill” and speech her stomach was utterly empty. And now that the small pot was next to her, her stomach and instincts took over. Astrid managed to not put her head and upper body into the pot, but she did start eating like a starving animal, which at this point didn’t feel very far from the truth. Amori simply chuckled and watched Astrid while she ate, realizing moments later that the pot was threatened to be devoured by Astrid for simply holding the food in question. As a hason herself, she wasn’t terribly surprised at Astrid’s reaction. Especially given she was far more bestial and had something of a curse, though noticeably weaker now, from Hell. Despite her eyes not looking like they worked in any capacity Amori was very adept at seeing reiatsu and even the souls of others. And Astrid’s had several markings on hers. Though the “curse” from Hell was immediately able to be seen. Though its influence was weakening considerably as Astrid’s spirit was actively purging it. Amori hummed to herself as she took note of this and a few other details while Astrid finished eating the stew entirely.
When she was done Astrid was looking Amori dead in the eye. She was quiet, uncertain, and clearly on guard. Amori chuckled to herself as she knew exactly what that look was for. Astrid expected her to kill her dead on the spot. Which was tempting truthfully. There was a part of Amori that felt like Astrid would do the same in a heartbeat. But ultimately? She had done enough that Amori knew it wasn’t the right play. Especially when she could be so much more useful to her in the current situation or down the line. So, for now any consideration of her life needed to be put off. Especially once Astrid and her talked over what she was doing searching for her. Amori had an idea, but Astrid was a younger Hason. There could be any other number of reasons she’d want to find her. Though killing her was likely involved in some capacity. If so, well that’d be disappointing. She didn’t want to kill the girl so soon. No, she needed a bit more seasoning before that could occur.
However, since Astrid wasn’t going to speak Amori just sighed to herself and whisked the pot away with her finger. Throwing said object into an already overly full sink. “Alright dea-Perhaps I should just use your real name. Astrid. My dear, you have done well by me. There’s no lie in that. What you’ve done is more than my pets could do, and that was while you were at their intelligence level. Now you’ve clearly evolved past that so we can actually talk like people. Which, contrary to your current viewpoint, is closer to what we both are. So, tell me Astrid, why did you go so far to try and find me? I’m but an older hellion living out their eternity within a slice of this ever-expanding domain. You already know I’m lying to every weak, stupid, and otherwise inept hellion that exist here. So, what is it you want?”
Astrid was tense. Very tense. The truth of the matter was she wanted to talk with Amori and now she could. But she held such a distrust for the woman that she didn’t want to. She knew the other was likely to try and twist her words. Perhaps try to control her, same as Alastor and Orobas. Still, if she could kill Grimdal, who was an utter thorn in this woman's side. She could at the very least fight her and have a chance at winning. Hopefully. If nothing else, Amori would not get away unscathed. And Astrid was certain she could make that happen. So, with a moment to breathe she looked Amori dead in the eye, banished away any fears, and spoke up to her. Her guarded tone was still there but it didn’t seem like Amori really cared about that. She was just as relaxed as ever. “I. . . I want to talk about your sigils. . . I know they're fake. You’ve admitted they don’t work as you say they do. . . Yet they aren’t made poorly. I’ve made my own and studied what I’ve seen. . . I want to know if you can change someone permanently. Not the mind control and flesh warping shit you pulled on that lizard hason. I mean permanently change someone into something else.”
Amori’s eyes and her face lit up. Both impressed that Astrid had known her runes were domination and physical transformation both. Not a complete transformation. Say what she would but she was clever. No teacher. No tome of knowledge. Just figure it out or find out the consequences. Astrid would get far with that attitude but not to Amori’s level. She’d need someone to help her gain more knowledge or something to push her further. Self-study only went so far after all, which is why Amori went and collected all the knowledge and power she now had. Which is when her eyes went to a mask that was hanging up in her living room. A simple pure white little thing. It looked distinctly humanoid, however. Yet she knew what it was. What it could do. Still Astrid would have no way of knowing what each and every item did. Let alone her hoard of powerful items. So even if she did reveal it, she’d never actually have the means to find it. Not without her knowing anyway. Amori got off of her stump and stretched her back out. A disturbing amount of cracks and popping sounds were made. After she groaned in delight she looked back over at Astrid.
“Alright my dear, I’ll be honest with you. I do, in fact, have such an item. It’s an old treasure that I stole from a hellion of some power centuries. . . or was it millennia now? Ahh much too long ago to matter. The point is, I still have such an item. And as far as changes go it's permanent. You will become a hollow. Normally that’s not a hell many wish to go through but if I’m not mistaken. . . that is exactly what you want to become is it not?” She looked over Astrid and then looked into her soul. It told her everything she wanted to hear. Astrid’s goal in this entire endeavor was to become a hollow. Heh. Funny considering, she was so close to being a beast all on her own. Still if she wanted it, far be it from Amori to tell her not to become one hm? Amori chuckled before she spoke up again as Astrid was not keen to speak further but was already adamantly looking at her with the intentions of wanting the mask. “Alright dear, alright. If you look at me any more desperately, I’ll almost feel bad that you want it in the first place hahahahaha! However, though you’ve done me good, it cannot be understated that I cannot simply give the item to you. Nor will I simply use the item on you. Heh, I doubt you’d let me use it on you anyway.”
“Now. . . . that doesn’t mean we can’t. . . make a deal for it, however. My terms for this will be simple. I want you to do for me, one small task. Well perhaps it's not all that “small” but you will do a task for me. However, I’ll need you to be stronger Astrid. You’re simply not at a point in which I can trust the task to you. However, that is where the multiple good turns you’ve done for me will come into play. I am going to help you get there, just a little bit. I am going to teach you more about sigils and all that encompass them. Oh, don’t look at me that way. Trust me dear, it's not going to be anything but hands-on practice and instruction. Starting with one, our peers forgot millenia ago. It is called the “Soul Convertor” rune. If you haven’t noticed already my dear, your strengths lie not in how you use your reiatsu but the sheer volume of reiatsu you’ve obtained. The souls within you have fostered so much of your spiritual growth that you are simply a blooming and bustling tree of spiritual power. Yet you struggle to find a way to use your gifts that aren’t in blatantly inefficient ways. Thus, while your runes are easily made they are also easily broken. If you’re willing, I will make them become far stronger. And this gift will be on the house. A good turn, for a good turn. What do you say, Astrid?”
Astrid sat still for a long while. This was. . . concerning. Honestly even stupid. She wanted to find out if Amori could help her. And kill her if she was unwilling. Yet here she was, telling her that the method to her goals was present and yet she wouldn’t immediately give it to her. She wanted her to do something in exchange AND she wanted to strengthen her so she could have a chance of succeeding. This smelled of deception all over the place. Falsehoods and flowery terms to hide the fact that Amori had no intention of assisting her. Astrid didn’t like that. She also didn’t like that she was willing to help her out and teach her sigils. No doubt the woman knew anything Astrid could possibly need in that regard. . . But could she trust her to not attempt to bind her in some manner or another? Absolutely not. Amori was not the “owner” of the Suicide Forest for being nice. She was there for killing her opposition if she didn’t outright make them her pets. She was cruel, powerful, and had millennia of cunning and experience to work off of. Astrid was never going to be the first or last being to want to kill her and take from her hoard.
Yet what other option was there? Astrid had no other leads on who could change her. Astrid wasn’t likely to just “learn”, as she did with speech, how to do something to change her into a hollow. She wasn’t anywhere near as knowledgeable in the fleshcraft arts to even consider it. Nor did she even have the faintest idea of how to use a sigil so potent that it would be placed upon the soul of another. Assuming that was even possible. Amori held all the cards in this case. She knew what Astrid wanted and she could force Astrid, or try to force her, to do what she wanted anyway. For once, Astrid had to ask herself what Alastor would do. He was a con man at heart. He made deals and twisted words as he whimed. The smug asshole was nothing if not clever in how he handled others. So perhaps she could take a page from him and try to make a deal that would force Amori to only teach her, not control her. But Astrid wasn’t certain how that would work. She wasn’t certain how to do that. However, she did know someone that might be able to. And that was Grimdal. There was no one else in Hell who had nearly as perfect control over the beasts of Hell as he did. And his soul was bound to her.
She could use him and his knowledge as leverage to make certain she would get away without any “extra” bindings on the sigils that Amori would use around her, or even on her. This was Astrid’s one and only idea, the only thing she could do to make things at least “safer”, since “safe” didn’t exist in Hell. She looked hard into Amori’s eyes while she spoke, steeling herself spiritually and mentally into committing to her plan. “I don’t trust you. Not in your cooking. Not in your deal making. And certainly not in your intentions behind teaching me sigils. However. . . There’s no way you aren’t capable. You couldn’t make the lesser sigils without a deep understanding. There is, however, at least one thing you don’t have nor completely understand. And that’s how to tame and control the beasts of Hell. Otherwise, you’d have never been concerned with Grimdal. And if he weren’t a threat in any capacity, you’d have dealt with him prior. What I’ve heard from being born and raised in this forest speaks to that. So, I raise you a deal instead. I’ll learn from you. You will teach me any and every sigil I need to know for this “task” of yours. But you will NOT bind me or try to manipulate me in the process. You will teach me, and I will learn. In return I will ensure Grimdal himself or what I can learn from him, is given to you as well. You can add in the “good turn” I did for you as added incentive to agree to this. Otherwise, I will not agree.”
Amori smiled widely. Too widely. Astrid was too clever for her own good and it just continued to amuse her. Amori could not say she wouldn’t have done exactly what Astrid was concerned over at some point. Just perhaps not initially. Still Grimdal’s beast sigils were invaluable. And it would further protect her from that waste of space “Sanctus”. No manipulation. No bindings. Nothing that would ensure that after everything Astrid would be hers. And no “insurance” was allowed in this deal prior to. Amori began chuckling to herself before ultimately laughing over the situation. This went on for several minutes and Astrid only got more put on edge as the abode itself started to shake in its entirety. Eventually it did all stop and Amori flared her reiatsu, sparking Astrid to do the same instinctually. Amori’s smile was wide, and she put out her hand. “Alright Astrid, I agree to your terms. My knowledge of sigils, with the added protection from anything to make you a pet of mine. You will gain my knowledge in all that regards sigils. In return, you will give me Grimdal’s knowledge.” Astrid nodded and reached out to shake Amori’s hand. Something went through her the moment she did, and she was unable to let go until a new circular making was burnt into her right hand. It seemed that Astrid now had gained a new sigil on her body, yet when she was about to lash out Amori showed her the same sigil on her right hand. Astrid’s eyes narrowed as she realized that was how she did her dealings. Binding sigils. Still how else would Amori get her end while guaranteeing her alternates own suffering?
Astrid shook her head however when she looked back at Amori she noticed the look in her eyes was different. Serious and looking directly at her. Then she pointed directly at Astrid’s chest cavity. When she spoke next, she sounded distant and oddly far more monstrous. “That will be where the rune is placed. Upon your backside. Central and aligned with your spine. Though you may move it, that will be your converter's starting point. Come child, it’s time to enact the ritual.” She walked to the living room, now surprisingly clean and clear of anything, including furniture. Astrid was slow to do so initially but got up off the stump and walked towards Amori. Once there Amori immediately snapped her fingers and a sigil so complex appeared that Astrid honestly could not have recreated it appeared at her feet. It was 6 feet wide in diameter and glowed bright white at first. Slowly but surely though the sigil itself started to take on her reiatsu’s color, deep orange-red and over the course of a minute the white coloring was changed. Amori began to chant, saying something in a language that Astrid couldn’t know. Had never known existed. And yet it was anything but human. As far as she was concerned it was deep speech because what was coming out of Amori’s mouth should not have been possible to recreate. Before Astrid could consider what exactly was going on however, she was immediately bound in chains.
These chains took the form of every hellion had. While hers were bound within her body and interlinked in the roots these were immediately wrapped around her wrists, waist, neck, and ankles. Or the equivalents thereof. They pulled her to the ground forcefully and wouldn’t allow any movement from her. The sigil then glowed a dark deep crimson color and slowly started to fill up with energy. But the energy looked surprisingly liquid in nature. And wholly unnatural. And yet it only got worse. Astrid then pulsed and her core pulsed from deep inside. Then slowly but surely that pulse grew and started to collect energy from deep within Astrid. The amount it drew from her was considerable and even Astrid wasn’t comfortable with how much energy was being channeled forcefully from her. This energy finally crescendo'd and created a large crystalline spike that pierced through Astrid. She gasped and then attempted to yell out, only to realize she was unable to do such. Not even a moment after the crystal started to absorb the deep crimson colored energy. Slowly at first and then gradually became faster about it. Growing in power and having the crystal not only grow darker as it was corrupted and taken over by the crimson energy but physically growing into more crystal branches. What felt like an eternity was only a minute at most and by the end of its Astrid’s inner tree, the representation of her spiritual power, was recreated in some capacity.
The tree then proceeded to fight with the energy it had sucked up from the sigil. Yet the energy was not going to be so easily beaten. The two fought as the color changed from orange to red. Crimson to Rust. Cracks started to form throughout the crystal and on Astrid roots of red and orange alike started to show on her body. The energy burned immensely and yet it was distinctly her own energy. She could, for once, feel what reiatsu felt like. But only her own. And it was agony to endure it. Pain. Nearly unbearable and yet she was unable to do anything as she was in chains and pinned to the sigil. All things have to end eventually however, and so too did this ritual. Finally, the tree of her energy in crystalized fashion created a sigil of its own. A spiked oval with tendrils at the top and bottom most parts while the center held a bright orange glow. The remainder was a deep red. The tree then shattered, roots and all gone, revealing Astrid’s body to be untouched. Unharmed. Yet had anyone else see what had happened prior it would seem unbelievable. However, the sigil created by the tree was now on her back. Dead center and it was slowly growing more dim as the seconds passed. Moments after the chains binding her snapped and faded away. The sigil on the ground dimmed and followed the chains. Sadly, Astrid would be passed out, lost to her unconscious mind along with her spirits.
Amori in the meantime took a seat in a chair that just so happened to be behind her. She was sweating intensely as she hadn’t actually done something so daunting in a long while. With several deep gulps of air and some amount of stamina reclaimed she wiggled her finger at Astrid and had the floorboards take her back to the bed she’d been resting on prior. Amori couldn’t do more than that for now. Astrid would have words for her. And they were justified to an extent, but she’d have to explain that this was simply the process for how to get the sigil. At least as far as her understanding convinced her. Perhaps there was another way, but it didn’t matter now, Astrid had gained the first real sigil of power. And that power would take her exactly where Amori wanted her to go. In time. For now, she and Astrid simply needed to rest. A long. Well deserved. Rest.
{Sigil to be given to Astrid}
