The Chronicles Of The Finalists

Keeping On Looking

Upon stepping on the rocky path and setting off, there's an immediate sense of nervousness that settles on the group. Maybe it's due to trespassing, maybe it's not. But there's something so..wrong about the place.

"I guess the ornate part of the Magius HQ is where they do all the formal stuff, and down here is where they do their dirty work." Kreek comments. "Oh, wow, funny how certain metaphors work out."
"..How is that a metaphor, Kreek?" Tanqr asks.

"If ya don't get it, you won't. But I'll explain anyway." It's much like Tanqr to not get something like this, him and his lies and all.

So Kreek starts talking - ranting a bit, actually - about the Magius.

"It's funny because it describes them perfectly. All sweet and nice on the top, all sweet and kind to what we can see, but then under the covers of darkness.."

While Kreek's distracted, Hyper decides to ask Ashley something. Would be better if the other two didn't know.

"Yo, Ashley?" He whispers to her.

"Yeah?" She responds, looking over at him.

"You implied that Sanna and Megan joined the Magius because of Keisyo's death. So...why didn't you join them?"
"You know, I sometimes wonder that mysel-"
"Whatcha talking about?" Kreek interrupts, turning around and walking backwards so he's facing the other two while still moving. Tanqr turns around slightly as well.
"Uhm- nothing." Hyper attempts to cover up, but Kreek makes a face.

"Cmon, Hyper, I'm not a dummy. I could hear you guys easily, it was something important."

"Uhh...Most people I knew joined the Magius, I didn't." Ashley states, satisfying Kreek. He nods and turns back around, focusing more on where he's going. She turns back to Hyper. "Because I'd already met you all, I didn't need the extra help. The other two split up after it. They were alone for a long time. They were left alone to grieve, and that never goes over well. You always need help from someone close. So I guess they were left scared after their grief, and they needed the help from the Magius."
"Oh.." Hyper nods. "I'm glad you think of us that way."
"You're my friends, after all!" Ashley smiles. "You helped me through a lot."
"I think as a group we all helped each other through a lot." Tanqr adds. "You know, with Denis, and everything that's happened with us. Maybe the members of the Magius needed that too. Needed someone to lean on."
"What, and they joined a cult?" Kreek retorts. "I'd at least hope they'd have some common sense."

"It's not as easy as that, Kreek. I get it, you don't know how it feels to be desperate. But when you've got nowhere to go, somewhere like this can be appealing."
Ashley and Hyper exchange glances.
"I know how it feels to be desperate, thanks very much! But surely they wouldn't want to be lied to, especially not in their time of need?"

"They wouldn't know they were being lied to, would they?" Tanqr shrugs. "They wouldn't think they were being lied to, and even if they suspected it, they wouldn't care. They'd need comfort."
"I see, that makes sense. But it hurts them more in the end, doesn't it?"

"I suppose it does."
And a rare occasion occurs. The two seem, somehow, to have come to a full agreement.

The group continue walking in silence. There's nothing much to speak about. Tanqr's once again thinking back to the past and how he got here, Kreek is planning on what he might do if a fight occurs, Hyper is simply worrying what they'll run into and Ashley's keeping an eye on their surroundings to make sure everyone's safe.

She looks over the edge of the path they were walking on only to see more. Lines of walkways, threading around and seemingly all heading to different points. There seems to be a faint layer of blue on everything, making things seem cold and unwelcoming. Maybe it's just because it's cold, and so everything around her feels cold. She's got gloves but they don't really help.