Luministi

[Croix never found out what happened to him when this "balance" or whatever was struck. Not until recently, when it may as well be too late.

It began about three days after, actually. For some reason, he found it just a little harder to move around. His body felt heavy, like it took more energy just to do simple things. Next came the fever - annoying at first, but easy enough to ignore. The dizzy spells, though... can't really ignore those, or hide them. Damn.

He did get dragged to the clinic, but they didn't know what was wrong and just sent him home to rest. Which he planned to do, but...

When Croix gets back to his townhouse, it's all he can do to get the damn door open, he has so little strength anymore. Somehow, he makes it to the living room, but that's as far as he gets before his legs completely give out. His knees hit the floor and his hands go to his head. His mind is suddenly screaming. This is nothing he's ever felt before - a sudden rush of red-hot emotions and thoughts... and none of them good. Fear. Anger. Hate. Why? Why is he feeling this way? These aren't even his own feelings - or are they?

Something clicks. He may not have ever felt this way for himself, but he's heard of this happening plenty of times. He's even seen it for himself. He's watched hundreds succumb to this, and seen many of them go on panicked rampages, sometimes losing their lives - or just taking their own because of it... Croix realizes that, for some reason, he has the powers of a Reyvateil. An IPD Reyvateil, and a high-level one, he thinks, considering he can already feel magic pouring from his body: bolts of electricity, firing in all directions, non-stop. He also realizes that this is an IPD Outbreak, and he's about to lose his mind.

Well, at least his last fully conscious thought was... somewhat helpful.

The sparks continue flying, and Croix can't bring himself to move, too consumed with the need to make his mind stop screaming. Maybe if he broke something. Maybe if he broke someone. Maybe if he killed. Or if he died. Maybe once this whole town is ruined and no one is left, nothing will be left to make any more noise in his head. Something has to work, something has to give, he can't keep feeling like this--

With all of the electricity sparking about, it was only a matter of time before something caught fire... It starts in the living room, but it very quickly spreads, and it's not going to stop until the whole townhouse burns down for all to see.

And Croix... isn't moving.]


((OoC: Croix's had his Positive IPD Outbreak. He is completely overcome by fear, paranoia and other negative emotions and is not thinking straight - if you're gonna come save him from the house fire, you're... probably gonna get attacked. :/ Just a heads up.))

[Croix is back in his little townhouse, and clearly annoyed by this fact. He even sighs before he actually speaks for the CAT.]

If I knew I would only have that long back home, I don't think I would have bothered.

[Annoyed, but... well, apparently not surprised. He shakes his head.]

Who else is here? Maybe we should talk. [slight hesitation] Is anyone going to go see the dedication celebration?



((OoC: if you'd rather run into him face-to-face, that's cool! We can just set up a thread and say it's elsewhere. ♥))

[There is a new location in the forest. Just barely visible from the path is what looks like four curving, metallic pillars that join at one focal point, with a beautiful, extravagant bell hanging there. Of course, if you happen to be curious and move closer, you'll see that it's actually some sort of open-air shrine. It's circular, and the floor is made of a strange mixture of stone and metal. In the center, atop a short ring of steps, stands a large statue of two singing women and a... poofycreaturething floating between them.

You'd also happen to see Croix, standing before the statue, expression completely unreadable.

Well. Such a serious person obviously needs to be bothered, right~?]

[Croix is sitting in his living room, still. He takes a deep breath and gently clears his throat before speaking.]

Excuse me. I have a question for anyone who was here once before.

[An awkward pause - he's trying to find the wording... but with a shake of his head, he gives up on it. May as well be blunt - maybe weirder really has happened here.]

Do people come back to life in this town? Because, I think... that might have just happened. To me.

[You can tell from his expression that he's completely serious, if a little disturbed and clearly very confused.]

[Having received his coupon from Verita, (he wasn't honestly interested in the coupon, but she was just so enthusiastic about it, how could he refuse?) Croix is now wandering the square, towards the shops, looking at his CAT and trying to figure it out.]

It's like a telemo, only it has a lot more to it...

[He finally looks up, eyes narrowed, focused now. He's clearly on a mission: Step one, find Luca. Step two, find Lady Cloche. Step three, find-... Okay, find everyone. Then, get out of here. The fact that none of this is remotely familiar bothers him - there's only so much land, after all, and for him to turn up somewhere he's never seen before takes a lot of effort.]

Someone here has to have seen them. Don't worry, Luca, wherever you are. I'll protect you.

[And suddenly, he hears a strange melody, one meant to fill the spirit with determination! Baffled, he looks around, trying to figure out where it's coming from...]