So Matvei planned to torture him. Fair enough. After all he’d done to him, and to so many others, he couldn’t say he didn’t deserve it. A fitting and karmic death, several centuries too late. But without the power of the artifact, he’d be surprised if he lasted long enough for Matvei to get any ...

So, the child wanted a fight? Amusing. Caliavannas had other business, yes, but there was always time to put a little brat in his place.

Caliavannas watched as Matvei performed his disgusting little show, head cocked to the side. He talked a big game, but whether he had the punch to back it up ...

Caliavannas slowly approached Tell, stopping when his beak was nearly touching his face. He stared at him in silence, unblinking, for almost a full minute. “How stupid do you think I am?” he asked, finally. “Your intervention did force me to abandon your father earlier than I anticipated, but in a ...

Such frustration was expected, of course, but Ivone could only blame herself. Vanyusha had followed the proper etiquette to the letter: he arrived early so Ivone would have ample time to prepare, and even knocked on her door twice as a courtesy – just in case she didn't hear the first.

Since his ...

“In a manner of speaking. My rebirth destroyed its physical form, but the power it accumulated over the centuries still exists, permanently merged with my mind. It is now part of me.”

But that power alone would not be enough to sustain him forever; creating his new body had already expended much of ...

Vanyusha stepped forward, his glowing eyes peering at her from the shadows. He tilted his head to the side. “Since the note I left on your doorstep is unopened, I assume you have not read it. Have you been sleeping this entire time?”

He was wise to check in on Ivone, otherwise his master wouldn't ...

Soon after he finished speaking Caliavannas felt a strong drowsiness come over him. He had been speaking with Ivone for far too long; expending valuable energy meant for his resurrection. As much as he savored controlling a body, doing so beyond a few minutes meant a considerable price – one he wasn ...

“Yes, I am capable of judging the research's usefulness. But remember my time is a limited resource; even now I expend much of my strength simply by speaking with you. To properly assess whatever we find in that laboratory would require an excessive amount of energy – far more than I am willing to ...

Caliavannas savored his horrified reaction. He had indeed perished at the hands of Tell and his siblings; even now he remembered waking up in the middle of the night with them standing over him, their knives drawn. Though he had only seen them a moment before his death, the image festered within his ...

Caliavannas brought a hand to his chest as the artifact began to glow. He breathed out deeply as he relished in its power, sounding almost aroused. Using Vanyusha to harvest emotions was more efficient, but experiencing the process firsthand was far more satisfying. His artifact responded best to ...

"Does the idea of harming innocents gnaw at your conscience? You seem unable to move past that point."

Caliavannas examined his claws thoughtfully. "When I speak of innocents, I do not use the term in a moral sense. Morality is a social construct, nothing more. We live in a cruel and chaotic world ...

Caliavannas never imagined he would be discussing the details of his magic with anyone, let alone a human woman. His hesitaton was turning to mild enjoyment -- it was pleasing to put his own accomplishments into words, to have an audience to appreciate his success. But he would not waste the ...

A fair enough question, though he would rather not squander the artifact's magic by explaining its intricacies to a simple woman. But the fact she didn't immediately rebuke him was promising, so he would be patient and address her concerns.

"Vanyusha mentioned the artifact embedded in his torso ...

"You seek to take the life of the one who ruined yours, perhaps even to dismantle the corrupt government he serves."

Rather than taking control when he had the chance, he had waited and allowed the woman to tell her story, sensing an opportunity. But he was not impressed. Where Vanyusha saw a ...

I support waiting for Kat before we move to the bombing part. But if anyone has any conversations they'd like to continue in the thread until then, such as the Luca/Lorenna one, feel free.