There was a need to bide time out of sight of any approaching guards and of the residents he had chosen as his next victims. His focus turned not just to the adobe home but to the two plots next to it. To its left stood another adobe dwelling, but no lights shined out from the windows. Either the residents were absent, asleep, or non-existent. This was a boon. Located to the right was a wooden residence. Aerlan walked by and could hear the sounds of raised voices. Slowing his pace, he listened closer and was able to discern two different voices, one male and the other female. Most likely it was a married couple fighting from what could be heard. That was beneficial as well. Those two would be too focused on each other to notice the world outside their home. Recon completed, the mage turned around and headed back down the dirt lane and passed the twins' home.
As soon as he approached the neighboring adobe dwelling, Aerlan looked around to make sure no one was looking and walked between in the twenty foot gap heading for the rear. His steps swiftly took him to the empty space between the residences and the ward ring. Deciding to put his bet on the unlit home as a safer place to wait, Aerlan moved behind the house while ducking beneath any windows from either housing unit. He lay down and wrapped his cloak tightly around his tall, slender frame. Closing his eyes, his senses reached down to the earth beneath him and with an influx of ether, the Defier called out. It didn't take long before the deep humming that was the voice of Earth echoed in his mind. A message with his Will was sent out and the earth rumbled gently beneath him. Dirt slowly piled upon itself and began to cover every inch of the Eidisi with only his face open to the air above. A thought struck him. A body sized mound of dirt was suspicious in the unlikely event he was found. Another influx of ether and Will piled more dirt around him and leveled out into a minor slope. One could only hope it just looked like part of the landscape. In such a position, Aerlan kept his eyes closed and decided to try his hand at meditating to pass the time. Breathing in and out in the same even tempo that the mage currently used to prepare his magic, he kept the repetition and cleared his mind for the next four breaks.
You know, brother... Sometimes I think you're an idiot. You could have merely tripped the woman with your magic and assisted the twins. Playing that nice guy facade you use on people, I'm sure they'd have let you in their home. From there...it would have been quick and simple. Just an idea for next time so I won't be so fekkin' bored!
The 24th Break arrived. The mage opened his eyes and reversed the magic he had cast earlier. The earth returned to its original position and Aerlan stood up, brushing off the remaining dirt stuck to himself. A quick look at the two adobe homes revealed what he had hoped. Lights were off now in the twins home. Sneaking closer, Aerlan made a slow but careful loop of the home, making sure to stop and listen at windows, to check for noise within. He could hear nothing. This didn't mean his targets were asleep, but he couldn't wait forever. The mage approached the front door, the only one the dwelling had, and knelt down. With a cursory look around to make sure there were no pedestrians about at this late hour, the aberrant held out his hand and poured Ether into the darker magic within him. Before his hand appeared a Sphere no larger than a beach ball. Deep purple in color, within its depths swirled tempest of crimson clouds. As chaotic as the nature of the magic, the crimson clouds stretched and bulged, thinned and sped around. No form was stuck to for more than a moment.
As Aerlan's hand moved, so to did his sphere. That bastard always showed me to focus via using my hands like a conductor...but I wonder... The momentary lapse in concentration had caused the Sphere to swell to twice its size, causing Aerlan to step back. Uncertainty towards the results of touching it was a worry. A bead of sweat appeared and the mage focused closer upon the sphere, returning it to the original size he had desired. With his previous thought in mind, Aerlan lowered his hand and looked from the sphere to the lock and handle of the door. Pushing with his Will, the sphere moved with his thoughts and collided with the lock.
Glaren, assist me. You know I lack practice with this magic.
I'm well aware of your inexperience. It's because you play with your elements more than me. Now. Will the very essence of what this power is: destruction. Let the Sphere do the rest.
Advised thus, Aerlan put his Will to a single thought: destroy. The metal lock slowly rusted. What would have taken months of exposure to wind & rain occurred over the next few bits. Aerlan watched the shiny metal turn dull then slowly become flecked with rust before being completely overtaken and crumbling to minute particles at his feet. The door was untouched, strangely enough. So just because it is in the Sphere does not mean it will be affected... Truly a random magic for now. I must gain better control of this. Shrugging and filing the thought away for further exploration later, Aerlan pushed on the door gently. Thankfully the hinges were in decent shape for very little sound escaped from his intrusion. Glancing carefully inside, the aberrant was only able to see a darkened interior and the shapes of what he assumed were a table with two chairs. No sound from the occupants met his ears so he slowly inched his way inside in a crouch.
A sudden snore erupted from within and Aerlan smirked. Good. Sleep well, my test subjects. You'll soon awake in the next world. Aerlan closed the door silently behind him.
As soon as he approached the neighboring adobe dwelling, Aerlan looked around to make sure no one was looking and walked between in the twenty foot gap heading for the rear. His steps swiftly took him to the empty space between the residences and the ward ring. Deciding to put his bet on the unlit home as a safer place to wait, Aerlan moved behind the house while ducking beneath any windows from either housing unit. He lay down and wrapped his cloak tightly around his tall, slender frame. Closing his eyes, his senses reached down to the earth beneath him and with an influx of ether, the Defier called out. It didn't take long before the deep humming that was the voice of Earth echoed in his mind. A message with his Will was sent out and the earth rumbled gently beneath him. Dirt slowly piled upon itself and began to cover every inch of the Eidisi with only his face open to the air above. A thought struck him. A body sized mound of dirt was suspicious in the unlikely event he was found. Another influx of ether and Will piled more dirt around him and leveled out into a minor slope. One could only hope it just looked like part of the landscape. In such a position, Aerlan kept his eyes closed and decided to try his hand at meditating to pass the time. Breathing in and out in the same even tempo that the mage currently used to prepare his magic, he kept the repetition and cleared his mind for the next four breaks.
You know, brother... Sometimes I think you're an idiot. You could have merely tripped the woman with your magic and assisted the twins. Playing that nice guy facade you use on people, I'm sure they'd have let you in their home. From there...it would have been quick and simple. Just an idea for next time so I won't be so fekkin' bored!
The 24th Break arrived. The mage opened his eyes and reversed the magic he had cast earlier. The earth returned to its original position and Aerlan stood up, brushing off the remaining dirt stuck to himself. A quick look at the two adobe homes revealed what he had hoped. Lights were off now in the twins home. Sneaking closer, Aerlan made a slow but careful loop of the home, making sure to stop and listen at windows, to check for noise within. He could hear nothing. This didn't mean his targets were asleep, but he couldn't wait forever. The mage approached the front door, the only one the dwelling had, and knelt down. With a cursory look around to make sure there were no pedestrians about at this late hour, the aberrant held out his hand and poured Ether into the darker magic within him. Before his hand appeared a Sphere no larger than a beach ball. Deep purple in color, within its depths swirled tempest of crimson clouds. As chaotic as the nature of the magic, the crimson clouds stretched and bulged, thinned and sped around. No form was stuck to for more than a moment.
As Aerlan's hand moved, so to did his sphere. That bastard always showed me to focus via using my hands like a conductor...but I wonder... The momentary lapse in concentration had caused the Sphere to swell to twice its size, causing Aerlan to step back. Uncertainty towards the results of touching it was a worry. A bead of sweat appeared and the mage focused closer upon the sphere, returning it to the original size he had desired. With his previous thought in mind, Aerlan lowered his hand and looked from the sphere to the lock and handle of the door. Pushing with his Will, the sphere moved with his thoughts and collided with the lock.
Glaren, assist me. You know I lack practice with this magic.
I'm well aware of your inexperience. It's because you play with your elements more than me. Now. Will the very essence of what this power is: destruction. Let the Sphere do the rest.
Advised thus, Aerlan put his Will to a single thought: destroy. The metal lock slowly rusted. What would have taken months of exposure to wind & rain occurred over the next few bits. Aerlan watched the shiny metal turn dull then slowly become flecked with rust before being completely overtaken and crumbling to minute particles at his feet. The door was untouched, strangely enough. So just because it is in the Sphere does not mean it will be affected... Truly a random magic for now. I must gain better control of this. Shrugging and filing the thought away for further exploration later, Aerlan pushed on the door gently. Thankfully the hinges were in decent shape for very little sound escaped from his intrusion. Glancing carefully inside, the aberrant was only able to see a darkened interior and the shapes of what he assumed were a table with two chairs. No sound from the occupants met his ears so he slowly inched his way inside in a crouch.
A sudden snore erupted from within and Aerlan smirked. Good. Sleep well, my test subjects. You'll soon awake in the next world. Aerlan closed the door silently behind him.
