002=VIDEO [ forward dated to March 10th ]

[rebellions]

[ It's an evening like any other since the beginning of the blackout ─ since the last rays of sunshine have disappeared behind the horizon already, there are few people left on the streets, whatever little light there is still around coming mostly from candles in the nearby windows and an occasional brazier a person or two may stop by to warm up on their way home.

Even so, it shouldn't be difficult for anyone familiar with Aldrip to recognize the area shown in the video feed despite the surrounding darkness ─ and that's doubly true for those who have been through their "sentencing". The building displayed is, without any doubt, the City Hall, the very same where the Council (supposedly) dwells and casts their judgement upon the Chosen. The person filming this, whoever they are, approaches the main entry to the building before stopping right before its doors. They reach out to it, but instead of placing their hand on the knob as some might have assumed, they press their palm against the surface of the door instead. It's at this point that the mysterious figure speaks up, and those who know him will surely have no trouble realizing who it is. ]

... Restriction 666 released, dimensional interference field deployed.

[ Multiple elaborate magic circles start appearing from beneath his hand, their blue light illuminating the area and making it easier to see for those who haven't recognized the place yet. Paying them no mind, the voice continues: ]

IDEA Engine, linked. BlazBlue... activate.

[ An ornate crest flashes in front of him, and then the screen is filled with blinding light. What follows is a loud sound of an explosion, but it doesn't come just from the recording ─ no, anyone in Aldrip will probably be able to hear the almost deafening, sharp noise. The whole thing only lasts seconds, probably, but it might feel like it takes longer than that for the light to finally fade ─ and once it does, the area is completely unrecognizable. Where the City Hall stood just moments ago, there is nothing but a sea of fire and rubble. Surely, there are screams, too, and people rushing in to see what was the cause of the explosion ─ but their voices are drowned out by the sound of falling rocks and crackling fire.

Finally, Ragna turns the charm to face him, appearing completely unfazed like he didn't just raze a building to the ground. ]

The sentencing's been called off. I'm done playing their games.

Comments

[emet_sulk]

It is obviously too late for that. Gods forbid one minimise collateral damage when blowing up an important building to make a statement.

I take it you know this man?

[ae10d1f]

It isn't too late for him to do worse than that, though.

Actually, no, I don't know him. Why do you ask?

[emet_sulk]

You said not to give him further ideas. I presumed you knew the man.

[ae10d1f]

I don't know him, but he does seem to be the kind that thinks he's above the law.

I doubt anything good can come out of giving people like that an incentive to kill. Even if you were just being sarcastic.

[emet_sulk]

Bah! I have to go now and check for any injured or Ethlyn will be demanding to know why. If he tries anything further, I will be there to stop him.

I swear every week seems to come with a new emergency for us to deal with. Even I only have so much aether to spare.

[ae10d1f]

By "aether" you mean you can use magic like him?

I don't know any magic, but maybe I could help you with the injured somehow.

[emet_sulk]

Magic, yes, although I hesitate to compare it to an unknown system of magic after a single demonstration.

Come and help if you like but don't get in the way.

[ He'll be there surveying the damage and muttering loudly about how the maniac would have got along well with someone called 'Amon'. ]

[ae10d1f]

[ To someone whose only exposure to "magic" was through videogames prior to ending up in Aldrip, that explanation actually raises more questions than answers...

Following the commotion takes Ryuki to the empty whiteness where the City Hall used to stand. Even that broadcast just now does the terrifying sight very little justice.

But one man's noisy monologue brings him back from the shock (and the surge of unpleasant memories it triggers). ]

Um... what are you doing?

[ Is that what he would look like if people caught him talking to Tama out loud?? ]

apologies, DW went down on the days I was going to tag x_x

[emet_sulk]

[ He stops muttering and glances up. He doesn't recognise them but there's only one person he semi-invited to come by. ]

Nothing. Which is entirely and utterly wrong for a disaster of this scale. There are no injured or dead here.

[ He jabs a finger out at the ruined remains of the Council building and whatever has become collateral damage. ]

I went to take a look and there is nothing. Just an empty hole where rubble ought to be.

no worries!!

[ae10d1f]

[ It's a relief to see that, despite the eccentric vibes, this man seems capable of more than grumbling aloud to himself! ]

Does that mean the building was evacuated before the explosion?

[ But there's an even bigger mystery here. He turns his attention to where the man is gesturing at. ]

Or did the culprit's magic do all of that...?

[emet_sulk]

I haven't the faintest idea. I have never seen magic that fails to leave some sort of trace and unfortunately my Sight is useless here.

[ He paces back and forth by the edge of the rubble. ]

Either way, I suppose I'm not needed as a healer. But this begs the question of what will happen now that the Council has presumably...been forcibly expunged.