[Closed Action] Losing Confiance, ft. Ragyo

[innocent_royal]

[The time had come and she made her choice. Anastasia departs from Satsuki's home carrying her small sword, Confiance, to a remote open space somewhere in Nova City. It was difficult to find, but at least the space was big enough and had the right elements to suit her purpose. Just a big, open space with a large rock bigger than she was. A rock like this, or any rock for that matter, is not suitable for training with a sword. So that only means one thing.

Anastasia plans to destroy her sword.

Drawing it from it's scabbard, the girl looked at it with loathing. Struggling to understand in her mind how someone as nice as Terra could be involved with something so unspeakably evil? To Anastasia, the sword was tainted, and she'll be damned if she corrupts herself wielding such a object. She approaches the rock and raised Confiance in both hands, bringing it down with all the force her little arms can muster and the training she got from Satsuki. A loud clang and a flash of sparks, but the sword remains intact.

With a yell and another strike leads to another loud clang and a flurry of sparks. She winces each time at the sparks, but she repeats as often as her stamina can carry her until the blade slips into a crack in the rock. Now the sword was stuck and she lacks the strength to pull it out. She gave up and backed off, tired from using up so much of her stamina to try to break the thing. She has no other choice then.

With an upright posture, her heels together and hands close together in front of her, she channels the natural mana that flows through the air, weaving purple wispy ribbons together which condensed into lightning. She looks to be in pain as she holds it until it was ready, then, she thrusts her arms into the air. A small bolt of lightning strikes Confiance still jammed in the rock, creating a electrical beacon for a second, larger bolt of lightning to strike immediately after.

The sword remains intact.

Lightning magic is hard for her to use, her celestial anti-element drains a lot of her own mana. But she resumed her pose to try again, weaving yellow ribbons. She thrusts her arms into the air once more, stones rip from the ground into the air above Confiance and merge to form a large rock, then fall onto the sword. The new rock shattered and did nothing more but shove the sword deeper into the rock.

Anastasia was at her limit now, but she wanted this sword destroyed. Another anti-element will harm her and another neutral element will do nothing, so she is left to try a positive element. She resumed her posture once again, weaving together white-blue ribbons. This was a natural element for her, easy to use, but this is a higher ranked spell than her previous two. She thrusts her arms forward, and the sword and rock together were consumed by a large magic sphere, with large, sharp stones of ice swirling around inside with howling speeds. Anastasia tried to keep up the spell for as long as she can, but it only took a few seconds for her vision to blur and her mind began to swim. Her focus was lost and the spell ended, revealing a still undamaged sword.

Anastasia staggered and simply toppled over onto her side, hitting the ground with a light thud. She could hear footsteps approaching as she slowly slipped out of consciousness.]

Comments

[discomilf]

Ragyo had been heading toward Ayame's shop, flanked by two maids each carrying a basket full of multicolored cloth, when she came upon Anastasia and the sword in the stone. With a hand gesture, the maids took up positions around Anastasia while Ragyo checked on the girl. Once satisfied she hadn't been attacked, another gesture had the maids take up more relaxed positions. One maid sat next to the girl, lifting her head onto her lap while the other sought a drink for her once she came to.

That left Ragyo alone with the blade embedded in the rock. She pulled it from the crack with relative ease, inspecting the blade and the craftsmanship of it once it was freed. She even gave the blade a couple lazy swings, cutting deep gouges into the rock. It was an impressive blade, and one she was surprised to find near Anastasia.

[innocent_royal]

[With light groans, Anastasia struggled to come around. Her body was still drained of much of her mana and refused to do what she wanted. Though, she was steadily coming around. Her eyes fluttered, trying to clear her vision, but still remained blurry, and caught a glimpse of a figure with a sword.]

"...sas...ki...?"

[discomilf]

[As Anastasia started to stir, the maids busied themselves tending to her, making sure she was drinking before moving her to a sitting position. Meanwhile, Ragyo just arches an eyebrow and smirks as she examines the blade with an expert eye.]

Make sure she's comfortable. It wouldn't do to have Satsuki's 'sister' in discomfort now.

[innocent_royal]

[When Anastasia heard the voice not belonging to Satsuki, she got frightened, believing she is being kidnapped. She managed to force herself back onto her feet, but then her vision begins to spin and she collapsed once more. She was awake now, but she was still quite out of it.]

"Who... Who are you...? What do you want with me?"

[discomilf]

[The maids don't attempt to restrain her, but do position themselves in a way to catch her when she collapses. Ragyo makes a mental note to ask Satsuki if this happens often with Anastasia.]

My name is Ragyo. I'm Satsuki's mother. We spoke before, remember?

[One maid practically forces a glass of lemonade into Anastasia's hand, urging her to drink.]

[innocent_royal]

[It felt like terror itself drove a knife into her heart. Anastasia was immediately fully aware now. She recalls Satsuki warning her to avoid Ragyo, but now, she was in no condition to excuse herself. She felt like she is now a hostage, and being forced to do anything, even drink lemonade. But she drank it anyway.]

"I... I remember... What do you want with me?"

[discomilf]

[Ragyo chuckles as she gives the blade a swing or two, inspecting the edge afterward. It was a good blade.]

I'm glad to see you're coming back to your senses. As for what I want, nothing really. It's not every day you find a sword in a stone with someone passed out next to it in Nova City.

What were you trying to do?

[innocent_royal]

[Anastasia's vision was clearing up some, just enough to see the sword in Ragyo's hands was her sword.]

"That's... That's my sword, Confiance. ...It's tainted, given to me by a traitor."

[A beat...]

"...I'm trying to destroy it before it corrupts me, too."

[discomilf]

Well that should be simple enough.

[She snaps her fingers, one of the maids coming to her side with the basket of cloth where Ragyo pulls a knitting needle from the basket. Holding the sword under one arm, Ragyo pinches the point of the needle as it seems to elongate and sharpen under her fingers.]

[She takes a few steps forward toward the rock, effortlessly thrusting the point of the blade into the stone before seemingly measuring out the center of the blade with the needle.]

Tell me about the person who gave you the sword. It's certainly not the kind Satsuki would be familiar with. She much prefers her katana.

[innocent_royal]

[Anastasia appears to be getting better now, able to sit upright without wobbling too much. Her body was trembling slightly, likely out of fatigue or fear. She was watching Ragyo warily, wondering what she was doing with the sword.]

"...Her name is Branford. She associated herself with a man to kidnapped and tortured so many people to very slow and agonizing deaths. ...And he broadcasted his torture show live for all to see. ...I don't know how a kind florist can be attracted to a monster like that."

[discomilf]

[Ragyo remains focused on her task outwardly, finding the center point of the blade and pressing the point of the needle into the metal. After a moment, the point begins to sink into the sword until Ragyo releases it with the needle lodged in the blade.]

Humans are very basic creatures, dear. It's hard to say what caused the change. It could be something as simple as fear forcing complacence in exchange for her own safety, or perhaps she was hiding her true nature from the world, biding her time until she thought she could cause the maximum amount of pain and suffering. Hard to say really.

[Ragyo steps to the side of the blade, and with a single palm strike to the end of the needle, sends it through the blade, causing the metal to crack and shatter. She turns, dusting her hands off while one of the maids busies themselves with gathering the shards of metal from the ground.]

There. The blade is gone and shall trouble you no more. How are you feeling otherwise?

[innocent_royal]

[Anastasia thought about what Ragyo said. Perhaps it's true in some case, as she has spoken to enough boys to figure out that they are very simple. She made no more comment as she could see the shards reflecting glints of light as the sword was shattered. She doesn't know why she finds this very intimidating.

She adjusted her position slightly upon the question.]

"...I'm still feeling a little weak... ...Is the sword really gone? What are going to do with the shards?"

[discomilf]

[She snaps her fingers, the maid placing the shards in the basket with the other sewing materials and handing it off to Ragyo.]

Simply collecting them for disposal. It wouldn't do for someone to come along and hurt themselves on the shards after all. I will leave my attendants with you until you regain your strength then. They will see to any need you may have. Just ask them and they will comply.

[innocent_royal]

[That makes sense. With her head clearing up, she remembers she was sent away to stay with Ayame when Ragyo showed up.]

"You are Satsuki's mother, yes? Why is she wary of you?"

[discomilf]

[That just gets a raised eyebrow and a smirk.]

Wary? That's news to me. I will have to ask her myself.

[innocent_royal]

[She noticed that smirk, and instantly she got a bad feeling. Anastasia managed to get back to her feet now.]

"You wanted us to talk, right? I think now is a good time. Why would Satsuki be cautious around you?"

[discomilf]

[Ragyo chuckles a bit, shaking her head.]

I honestly have no clue. Though I suppose it would be only natural given the nature of the business world. I am a powerful person in our world, and as such I have acquired a large amount of enemies. I have to be on guard all the time, and I suppose that air must be affecting her.

I will have to have a talk with her about all this...

[innocent_royal]

[Anastasia wasn't sure if she believes this. If the business world is anything like her family being surrounded by two nations worth of enemies, then Satsuki and Ragyo's reactions to each other is far too different.

She doesn't fully turn her back on Ragyo or her maids as she pulls out her phone...]