damned_institute | Day 30: Cafeteria, Dinner

The Star Dragon Sword’s gaze never once left Frey as they warily glanced around the room. He had to admit interest in exactly which rune this one possessed, and as they leant forward, he dropped his attention down to the offered hand. The symbol that appeared on the back of their hand was far too familiar, and it was all he needed to confirm his suspicions.

“Obviously you are of Falenian royal blood if you are bearing that rune.” The sword pointed out, but spoke nothing about the death of Frey’s companion. It was simply the will of the runes and something he wouldn’t interfere in when it came to those who were the bearers. His attention was stolen away, however, by one who was far too familiar to him.

He sat there quietly with an irritated scowl on his face as Sierra pushed herself into their conversation. It appeared that their numbers were growing, but what that meant yet he didn’t know. Watching as she all but fawned over the Dawn Rune bearer, the Star Dragon Sword growled lowly in the back of his throat until she eventually settled down beside Frey.

“Always as absentminded to your surroundings as per usual Sierra,” The sword snapped in irritation.

Frey just... blinked. At first the woman had been reminding him uncomfortably of Nifsara, but then she got quite irritated and started stalking around him like she was appraising him for sale at market. "E...eh? I beg your pardon?"

It took some effort to drag his attention back to his conversation with the Star Dragon Sword, but he knew that it was much more important that he connect with the man who was from his own world than it was that he figure out the baffling woman. "Ah... yes, I'm the Queen's son."

"You're blessed," Sierra told Frey, in a tone that suggested this was not so much a point of potential reverence as some sort of embarrassing disease. But she was distracted from expanding on this point by the comment from across the table. Her gaze shifted from annoyed to dangerous as it moved to fix on the ugly little fellow who'd dared make such a comment. "Who the-"

The harsh response died as realization set in, and was replaced with a disbelieving stare, followed by laughter. "It's really you, isn't it?" she asked, failing entirely to contain her amusement, "I'd thought your last form was strange, but this one is truly unfortunate."

“Hmph I figured as much.” It was no wonder that the Dawn Rune picked this particular individual. While he had cut off all ties to the Sun Rune and the two children born from their split, he held no doubt that only those within the royal family bloodline would be worthy enough bear such a rune.

Any other thought on the subject though was moot to point as Sierra’s attention found itself on him. He returned her dangerous glare with one of his own as she began to inquire to who he was before her expression went through a range of emotions. The laughter, however, was hardly welcomed he pinned her with his amber gaze. “Being within this weak bag of flesh was hardly by choice.”

These were worrying circumstances to say the least. What were the chances that two others connected to himself had also been brought to this institution. If that wretched Eightfold Rune wasn’t here he could have almost pegged it as an attempt to rid their realm of all of those connected to him, but considering that the blonde knight was here threw off that theory.

“It is rather worrisome to discover that you both are now trapped within this realm.” The sword stated after a quiet moment of thought. Gesturing towards Frey, the Star Dragon Sword began his attempt of filling in the other two of not only their situation, but the connection between them also. “Sierra this is Freyjadour from the Queendom of Falena. He is the bearer of the Dawn Rune.”

Frey looked back and forth between the two. Clearly they knew each other, which suggested that the woman was also from his world. What the Star Dragon Sword said confirmed this--all three of them were from the same world.

"Pleased to meet you, Miss Sierra. I don't believe I'm blessed, as you say. I've certainly never seen any sign of that." His life certainly hadn't been blessed--he'd lost his parents, his aunt, Lyon... war was no blessing to anyone.

"It wasn't your choice? What happened?" Sierra asked. She didn't exactly sound sympathetic (the fact that she was still smiling probably killed any chance the question would come across as a genuine display of concern), but they were something like family in an obscure way and she was at least interested in hearing how he'd ended up like this.

"Falena? The Dawn Rune?" Sierra's eyes shifted back to Frey, reappraising him. She hadn't taken him for a person from her... world. She wasn't really the sort to worry, but she could see why the Sword would say such a thing. Moon, Night, Eightfold, and a fragment of Sun, all here? She wasn't an expert on True Runes other than her own, but even she knew this represented a concentration of power to rival even Harmonia's collection of True Runes at its height.

"It's probably your Rune, then," she said in response to his disagreement. A runic vampire wasn't harmed by sunlight, but it wasn't surprising that its concentrated essence would be discomfiting for a creature of the Night.

“I woke up in this useless bag of flesh that’s what happened. I’ve no doubt it’s that barbaric oaf Viktor’s fault. That sloth of a man was more trouble than what he was worth.” The Star Dragon Sword snapped back to Sierra in irritation. They both knew that it was hardly the result of any normal human capability, but he was hardly going to let that stand in his way of verbally slamming that boar. “The last thing I remember was that oaf handing me over to another swordsman like I was his property to begin with before I woke up here. What about you both? What is the last moment you remember before waking up in this pile of bricks?”

He wasn’t entirely happy with the situation, and while he wouldn’t wish for anyone else from his realm to be trapped in this mess, the sword was at least pleased there were some here who were at least useful. “Perhaps this mess has something to do with the connection of our three runes, but the appearance of the Eightfold bothers me greatly. Those who summon that treacherous snake obviously have some misguided intentions, and the fact that he is here doesn’t bode well.”

Glancing between the pair, the typical scowling expression on his face appeared more serious than irritated as he firmly stated. “I believe we’ll need to work together if we’re ever to get out of this mess. Our powers may be dampened but our will is not, and they will not be able to hold us here for long.”

Frey felt like he ought to apologise for his Rune, except that it wasn't like he'd chosen to bear it. He wasn't sure what to say, really, especially when the Star Dragon Sword started going on about more people he didn't know.

But then he asked a question Frey actually could answer, and the Prince almost sighed in relief. "The last thing I remember is that we had just defeated the Sun Rune incarnation that Marscal Godwin had unleashed, though at great cost..." Oh, Lyon.

"Viktor could hardly be responsible," Sierra disagreed instead of answering the question. "Besides, as rude as he could be he had many redeeming qualities." Like shutting up when threatened and giving Sierra gifts. Nash could learn a thing or two from him. Just not about grooming.

But after listening to Frey's answer she gave her own report. "I was traveling back to Dunan from Grassland. The last thing I remember was going to sleep at an inn." She frowned. "In 475." Using that newfangled Harmonian calendar.

"I don't need your help," she announced. "As soon as I've gotten some rest I'll tear down whatever barrier they're using and take down this 'Landel' myself."

Of course she would stick up for that oaf, and while the sword was well aware of the truth Sierra spoke, he wasn’t about to admit such things either. Ignoring any further discussion on that sloth, the Star Dragon Sword focused his attention on the others as they spoke of their moments prior to waking up here.

“The cost would have been far greater had you not defeated that wretched rune.” The Sword muttered in response to Frey’s words. That blasted Sun Rune was still causing trouble; why did that not surprise him? It was always far too flashy for its own good. He’d felt the spike back a few decades ago, but since then it had laid dormant as far as he could tell – which meant that Frey must have been from a number of decades prior to his time.

He would have pegged it as an occurrence connected to Grasslands, considering that Moon, Eightfold and himself had been pulled from that area, but the Dawn Rune was from a completely different region – not to mention a different era.

“Oh? Well by all means you’re free to leave the table if you’re so able to do this without our aid.” The Sword dared to Sierra when his offer went rejected. While he was willing to lower himself to work with others, he hardly had time or the patience to deal with the difficulties this woman unnecessarily brought. It wasn’t the time or the place to be stubborn. “Don’t allow us to hold you back from tearing down that barrier.” He stated while waving the vampiress away.

If she was going to be so stubborn – she could forget his help the next time she foolishly got herself into a bind.

Frey was more than a little alarmed by Sierra's words. After what he'd seen during the riot this morning he was quite sure that breaking the barriers in this place would not be so easy, and in fact he was quite concerned that Sierra would hurt herself trying. But obviously she also had a great deal of pride and Frey didn't know how to advise caution without insulting her; it had always been Lyon or Aunt Sialeeds who had done the talking in situations like this, or Lucretia who would come up with some brilliant plan...

Well, what would Lucretia do, in such a situation? Something clever and indirect, probably. Frey knew he'd never be the genius Lucretia was, but surely he could manage something? Tentatively, Frey addressed the Star Dragon Sword. "I've noticed, since coming here, that my Rune seems to be weakened somehow. Is this the case with yours, as well, Mr. ... uh... Sword?" Maybe Sierra would take the hint and realise that there was more than just lack of rest affecting her powers.

... But probably not.

"I'm free to stay, too," Sierra shot back. Like she'd give him the satisfaction of throwing her out. It wasn't like the table was his or anything, and it wasn't like she had even come here to talk to him. Or noticed him at all. His new form was ugly and unremarkable, she decided. It suited his personality. Though the words went unsaid, a superior smirk appeared on her face at the thought.

And when Frey brought up Night's powers she couldn't help but interrupt. "Can't you tell just by looking at him?"

Not only had the ruse increased the antagonism between Sierra and the Sword, the implicit message was brushed off by its intended recipient. After all, Frey's rune wasn't the actual Sun Rune, and Night had no bearer to channel its power through. Sierra fully expected that she and the Moon Rune together could break through an attempt to suppress them where the other two could not.

His intense gaze was directed away from his quarry as Frey questioned him, and after a few lingering moments, the Star Dragon Sword’s gaze slide over to the Prince. “The majority of my abilities have been sealed away, but my capability to affect the undead appears to remain despite being somewhat limited.” That’s what he’d been able to figure out after fighting against that pile of rotting flesh the previous night.

It was such a dishonour to his very existence to be weakened in such a way, and while he loathed admitting to such details, the Night Rune was more than well aware of the situation. He held no doubt that Sierra would antagonise him for such inconveniences, but he also held no doubt that she was affected to some degree even if it wasn’t to the same level as he was. Whatever higher power she thought she had, the Star Dragon Sword had been within these walls longer, and knew far well that Sierra’s apparent easy escape plan would not unfold in her favour anytime soon.

“You’ll need to test both of your runes tonight to properly assess how much power remains.” He muttered to them both despite the fact that Sierra was being difficult. He was certain that she would have done such things even without his words, but the aura he was gaining from Frey told him that the young Prince would probably hold off on such actions. “Even if you attempt to keep your trial away from the eyes of others – it still needs to be done.”

Frey managed to resist the temptation to just put his head down on the table and cry. While this was all very frustrating, it was far from the worst thing he'd ever been through and it would be silly and childish to cry over petty things. He did close his eyes for a moment, however, to regain his composure. "I'm sorry, but I'm afraid I don't know what Rune Mr. Sword has, or why his appearance would tell me anything about it."

Placing his hands flat on the table's surface, palms down, to keep them from shaking from all this stress, Frey managed a wan smile and said, "As for testing my Rune, from the sound of things I won't have much choice. I arranged to work with the Arts & Crafts club tonight, and my team is apparently going to the basement."

Sierra frowned and crossed her arms. She thought that she and the Moon Rune were in a better position than Night, but he was still a True Rune, and the one that could harm her at that. "He's the Night Rune," she told Frey offhandedly, still considering the Sword's words.

Frey's suggestion that the Sword was weakened hadn't bothered her, but the Sword so bluntly admitting it did. She knew, on some level, that he wasn't the sort to admit to weakness any more than she was.

"I was planning to," she said, though she hadn't been. His admission had convinced her that it might be a good idea, but she wasn't about to let him think he could tell her what to do.

The Star Dragon Sword glanced from Frey and over to Sierra as she offhandedly replied to the Prince’s question. He made not attempt to verbally add anything further, but instead, gave one sharp nod in return to confirm her words.

He felt an eyebrow rise up in surprise at Frey’s following words, and muttered irritably. “I would use caution down there I suspect that the lower regions of this institution are nothing but a trap for us patients.” Ever since he’d arrived here there had been numerous intercom messages urging them to head down lower, but if there was one thing he knew about megalomaniacal humans, it was their final destination was never in the basement, but in the highest peaks of their castles. He doubted that the rule was any different here either.

“And what of you Sierra?” The Night Rune asked gruffly as his amber gaze slid over to the vampiress. He would never verbally admit that she was one of the few who he would look out for, and despite her stubborn nature and foul temperament, he would look out for those who were connected to his rune and she was no exception. Frey’s connection with the Dawn Rune also placed the boy into that category – even if that damn rune was brought into creation because of himself and that blasted Sun Rune.

"Oh! Oh, I'm so sorry!" The Night Rune? He was that sword? Oh, dear. Frey felt terrible for not realising. "Zerase only ever referred to it--I mean you--as the 'Sword of Night', so I didn't make the connection. My apologies." No wonder the little man reminded Frey of the Star Rune bearer--or the other way around, more accurately. Like father, like daughter.

Frey nodded at the sword's advice to be careful. "I'll be cautious. I'm sure my group wouldn't mind a little extra help, if you wish to come as well. Traps often hide important things, after all. It seems worth investigating."

Sierra had wanted to sleep, but that unfortunately was no longer an option.

"I'll have a look around," she said simply. She hadn't joined any group, and she didn't really intend to, though if anyone useful appeared she couldn't say she wouldn't let them help her. Accomplices had their place, even for her. So long as they knew where they stood...

Day 30: Cafeteria, Dinner

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