Soma in the Mansion

Finally he could get in. The blue-haired woman who Soma could only assume was a resident of this small house left in quite a hurry, with Eri in tow as well. He was rightfully confused; first they make him wait for so long and then she rushes past him as if he weren't even there. At least Eri appeared to be under protection - the further away from this place the better, he thought.

Even with the door open it was very hard to see inside, the image itself appeared blurred. As much a gentleman as he was, Soma would not spend the rest of the day in front of the door, especially not when people's lives were at stake. Waltzing in, he quickly found himself scratching his head: This was a small house, right? And yet the interior told a different story; it was grandiose, not unlike Castlevania itself.

Two paths stood before him, with the red carpet under his feet going up one of them. "Might as well." he figured. It was useless to think about a trap; for all he knew, this entire place looked like some washed-out wooden shack a few moments ago. Those kidnapped people had to be here, no doubt about it.

Following the path laid out before him, Soma ended up on the second floor, opening an ornate double door. Inside, as if already waiting for him, was a short girl with golden locks. Upon seeing him, her eyes lit up, shyly walking towards him. "Soma?" she said, suddenly opting to avoid eye contact now that she was close. "You are the h-hero..."

Perhaps he came back to reclaim his familiar, now lost to one of her masterpieces. Maybe he was here for the people; he really seemed to be a kind soul as far as she knew, but here they were - it had to happen eventually. Livvy steeled herself for what was to come.

This girl...she looked familiar. Ah yes...She was the one who had taken Old Axe Armor....Man, he really should have tried to get another one. But as it was.....

"Hey. How are you doing? Still making masterpieces?" He really didn't wanna fight her. She seemed nice enough. "So...Do we really have to do this? I just need to go save some people...and get Old Axe Armor. I kinda miss the guy."

Livvy gave a quiet nod. "Now that... you're here." she distanced herself upon hearing him confirm that he was the one they were waiting for. "I will also..." the witch didn't finish, instead she pulled a miniature canvas from under her thick layer of clothing, one that gradually expanded when placed on the floor.

"Don't lose your focus, Livvy." a female voice could be heard from the back of the room; it was calm yet assertive. Soma glanced over the small witch, noticing a woman sitting alone at an empty table. Just from that one look at the voluptuous redhead, he could feel a pang in his chest; it felt like a midara, but on a level he never experienced before - she was dangerous.

"Soma... you are going to be beautiful." Livvy picked up her color palette from a nearby table; patches of colored paint already placed on it, no doubt in preparation for the hero's arrival.

Part of Soma wanted to let her paint to her heart's content - but he knew better what happens to those she paints. Despite her appearance and demeanor, she was one of the kidnappers still.

Soma: 30 willpower
Livvy: 30 stamina/willpower
Canvas: 10 stamina

"....." A frown made his way to his face as he looked over at the other woman. "So you're the head honcho, eh? When I finish here, you and I are having words."

Turning back to Livvy, he crossed his arms. "As tempting as it is for me to let you paint me, I don't have time to be a model."

Clapping his hands, he pulled them apart, slowly, revealing one...two...three balls of flame floaing in a row. Turning his palms outward, they fired off towards Livvy. "I'll make this quick!"

(Hellfire)

Before Livvy had the chance to set up a barrier, three fireballs collided with her tiny frame, sending her flying back, a pained grunt escaping her. "No..." the small witch rose to her feet and picked up her tools, releasing a brief wave of water from around her to douse the flames. She hurried back at the canvas, limping the first few steps on the way.

Livvy looked relieved to see her canvas still intact, all of the pain was gone from her thoughts which only focused on finishing the barrier. That was a wake-up call, plain and simple. She didn't want to imagine how Roèaz must be feeling about what happened - she had to keep focus.

"N-now..." she said, as the barrier formed around her and the canvas. "We begin."

Soma: 30 willpower (Hellfire - 46, 84, 12)
Livvy: 24 stamina, 30 willpower (Outline - 67)
Canvas: 10 stamina

He frowned slightly as he took in her reaction, a grimace on his face. "Sorry. But I don't have time to do this. You're a good person, but I don't feel like losing my soul."

Maybe he should try for something a bit less...painful. Pressing his finger and thumb together, he pulled them apart to reveal a bone, floating into his hand...Which he then chucked towards her. Whatever that barrier was, he would have to see just what it was capable of.

(Bone -> Livvy.)

Soma's bone was slow, perhaps deliberately so. The small witch had enough time to react, her hand reaching out towards it. Long before it reached her, the bone shrunk to the size of a pebble, dissolving inside the barrier. Livvy then mimicked his movement, lobbing a shard of glass behind him that expanded, turning into a floating mirror.

"T-thank you..." she said, completely ignoring the part about losing his soul.

Soma: 30 willpower (Bone - 33)
Livvy: 24 stamina, 30 willpower (Magic Mirror)
Canvas: 10 stamina
Mirror: 1 stamina

Spinning around, he came face to face with a reflection of hims- Wait, was that a piece of spinach stuck in his teeth? How the hell? He didn't even eat spinach!

Shaking his head, he held his hand out in the shape of a gun, taking aim and pulling the 'trigger'. A stream of water shot out towards Livvy. "Hope that paint of yours is water-resistant!"

(Water Pistol -> Livvy.)

The white-haired man was busy looking at himself in the mirror that he barely noticed his opponent had started to paint him. Thankfully, the reflection of a giant spectral brush was a good enough warning. But he noticed too late, and now his back was soaked in paint that seemingly went away as soon as it appeared. A second brush materialized next to him, mimicking the movement of the first, yet Soma was on guard this time, rolling underneath the swing and answering back by shooting a thin stream of water at Livvy.

The little witch did not have time to react and her barrier offered little in the ways of resistance. The beam of water cut across her arm, tearing through the part of the shawl that covered it. Livvy let out a shriek of pain, holding her arm that just dropped the brush. Without a second thought, the girl rushed to retrieve it, only to be met with a devastating fire ball as soon as she did.

Another scream was heard as the witch was sent flying again. Just as last time, Livvy picked herself up and shambled towards the canvas, once again hiding under the barrier that had not been as effective as she'd have wished. "I-it's nothing..." she turned to Roèaz, whose eyes looked down on her.

Soma: 30 willpower + Painted(1/10) (Water Pistol - 94! + Dark Inferno - auto-hit)
Livvy: 15 stamina, 30 willpower (Outline - 16 + Reflection - 67)
Canvas: 10 stamina
Mirror: 1 stamina

"I'm giving you one final chance, Livvy. This doesn't have to go this way! Just let the people go, give me back Old Axe Armor, and I will walk out of here and leave you alone."

Taking a few steps forward, Soma broke out into a sprint, charging towards the woman. With a jump, he tried launching a kick in her general direction.

(Drop Kick.)

Livvy hesitated for a moment upon hearing his words, yet his actions... were completely opposite. He was charging at her - she couldn't trust this. Soma noticed the mirror was floating right along him, but it was too late to stop. The man jumped straight at her, using his momentum to land a powerful kick - but Livvy was prepared; she did not fall into his trap.

The short reached out again, focusing her energy on him. He felt almost all of his momentum come to a halt, as his foot clashed with the barrier. The impact sent out wave that reverberated across the transparent globe of magic. It traveled outward like a ripple. Livvy motioned in the air with one hand, commanding the mirror to float and absorb the wave, thrusting her other hand towards Soma. At her command, the mirror shot out a blast of concentrated force, blowing Soma away before floating back behind him.

Wasting not a moment of this opportunity, Livvy resumed her painting. There were no words to be said to her opponent; she had to continue.

Soma: 30 willpower + Painted(2/10) (Drop Kick - 23)
Livvy: 15 stamina, 30 willpower (Reflector Mode - 64 + Outline - auto-hit + Reflection - 43)
Canvas: 10 stamina
Mirror : 1 stamina

Stumbling back, Soma shook his head, clearing the cobwebs. "Alright...Jumping in, not my best idea.......Time to try this one..."

Spreading his legs, Soma pointed a finger at Livvy, tapping into a soul he had..not actually tried in the past. A recent addition to his skillset. A small black orb formed at the tip of his finger, before it shot towards her. "Sorry about this!"

(Ifringr.)

The short witch happily painted away at the portrait, completing Soma's outline with impossible accuracy. She was smiling and humming a little song to herself as she became absorbed in her work. The dark orb Soma sent at her was miniaturized just like the bone, being slow enough for Livvy to react to it.

"There." she uttered. Soma began to experience a strange sensation. It was not painful, not physical either, not even mental; it was something beyond that. The man felt like he had just lost a piece of himself, like a cold wind was blowing on a part of his body that he could not reach. Whatever the little witch had done, it started to affect him.

Soma: 30 willpower + Painted(3/10) (Ifingr[dis] - 59)
Livvy: 15 stamina, 30 willpower (Reflector Mode - 69 + Outline - 48 + Reflection - 85)
Canvas: 10 stamina
Mirror: 1 stamina

"G-Ghk...."

Alright...So not only did he miss, but he felt...wrong. Maybe that canvas was the reason for that....Shaking his head, he clapped his hands, trying to fire off another set of Hellfire projectiles at the dimunitive witch.

"I'm not going to lose so easily!"

She kept smiling, not even looking at her enemy; she was deciding on where to start applying color. Maybe his gorgeous silver hair? That was really getting her in the mood to paint, and as long as she did it this way, it was going to look beautiful. Those three fireballs again... Livvy let them collide with the barrier and placed her own forearm in front of the last one to protect her face. It hurt, just like last time, but now something seemed different about her: Livvy was so focused she could ignore the pain entirely.

"Need to get a better look." the words came out without any stuttering, as she threw another shard behind Soma.

Soma: 30 willpower + Painted(3/10) (Hellfire - 59, 41, 74)
Livvy: 13 stamina, 30 willpower (Reflector Mode - 15, 92 + Magic Mirror)
Canvas: 10 stamina
Mirror 1: 1 stamina
Mirror 2: 1 stamina

More mirrors....and she seemed so focused on her work. He wanted to stop her...Should he?Whatever she was doing, it didn't seem like it was gonna go well. He managed to damage her, but...she was in a whole other world.

"Alright then..First thing's first!" Spinning around, he threw a punch at one of the Mirrors. Seven years of bad luck was worth it.

Soma shattered the mirror, feeling a strange energy nesting in his body. It did not surprise him if it actually did give him bad luck; after all it was definitely not a normal mirror.

Livvy dipped her brush in creamy white paint, ready to color that surreal hair of his when suddenly, she dropped the tool. The girl winced in pain as she held her now-trembling arm. It appeared most of the heavy hits she took were to that particular arm, the one she used to paint with all the time. Soma could not have asked for a better opening.

[The color Yellow's effects will be used for White in this battle.]

Soma: 30 willpower + Painted (3/10) + Bad Luck (Destroy Mirror)
Livvy: 13 stamina, 30 willpower + Paralyzed (Yellow - 7! + Reflection - 9)
Canvas: 10 stamina
Mirror: 1 stamina

Shaking his hand free of the glass shards, he turned to see her holding an arm....He couldn't blame her, having it get whacked with several fire balls was probably painful....Though that gave him an idea. Holding up a hand, he fired off yet another Dark Inferno. "I need to finish this now! Sorry, I'll patch you up later!"

(Dark Inferno @ Livvy.)

Her arm just refused to listen to her; this frustrated her to no end. It didn't matter - she was better than this, she could paint with the other hand if need be. Reaching down for her brush, Livvy did not even notice the ball of flame hurling towards her. Her pained yells once again reverberated through the room, being laid upon the ground a third time.

She crawled back to the canvas, using it as support to stand up. She was having trouble breathing, and even more trouble focusing. But Roèaz was watching her; she could not show weakness. The little witch used her other hand and began coloring Soma's hair and jacket, two spectral brushes ending up hitting the man and infusing his soul with strange energy; he felt good, twice as fast as he was before. He had no clue what was going on and could try to expunge the energy, but the feeling of power was all too real.

Soma: 30 willpower + Painted(5/10) + Yellow(2) (Dark Inferno - auto-hit)
Livvy: 8 stamina, 30 willpower (Yellow[adv] - 44 + Reflection[adv] - 24)
Canvas: 10 stamina
Mirror: 1 stamina

"......"

He didn't know what was going on. All of a sudden, a couple brushes had painted him, and now he was feeling stronger. And as he watched her labor to get back to the canvas, a part of him felt outright horrible. He almost wanted to stop and offer her a chance to put down the brush, but she hadn't listened before. What would change that? Holding a hand up, another blast of water shot out towards her.

(Water Pistrol @ Livvy)

Moving with speed way beyond his normal self, Soma shot out two more beams of water at the witch. This was way beyond her reaction time; the barrier was also failing and her arm, it hurt so much. Why was this happening? She knew how the demonic powers worked, she had practiced for days... but the end result told a different tale.

Ro was right...

The two attacks pierced her puny barrier and hit her dead on. Falling yet again on the marble floor, the little witch did not have the strength to get up this time, just curling up into a ball and holding her arm. She tried hard not to cry, but the tears still fell in the end. It was a combination of pain and shame she never truly experienced before.

Roèaz snapped her fingers, commanding a butler to bring a small wheeled table in front of Soma. On it, five flasks were put on display. "Impressive, hero." Roèaz spoke. "Here is your complimentary reward: invigorating potions of increasing quality and appropriate risk." her tone shifted, carrying a hint of scorn. "A choice is not available this time around. As it stands, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain."

Soma may pick a potion:
- Dose of Certainty: restores 5 wp
- Bit of Flavor: restores 10 wp, requires a roll above 30
- Gulp of Tension: restores 15 wp, requires a roll above 50
- Sliver of Fortune: restores 20 wp, requires a roll above 70
- Riskbreaker: fully restores wp and increases it by 10, requires a roll above 90

"......"

Soma didn't seem to respond, looking over to Livvy. A twinge of regret made it's way to his face, before....

"Hey. Your paintings are pretty good. Don't cry, alright? You're still an amazing artist. The next Van Gogh, if you ask me."

With that, he turned and grabbed a potion. He was unsure what it would have, exactly..But so far, as she said, nothing to lose, everything to gain.

(Bit of Flavor.)

Soma's words seem to somehow affect the little witch, if only for a moment. She paused and tried rolling over to one side, but the stinging pain in her arm and chest made it come to a sudden stop. Livvy gave up trying to move and got back to her initial position, resting on the polished floor of the room upon which her tears were falling.

Downing the potion, Soma did not feel anything change. But then again, the blonde girl did not manage to inflict any damage upon him. All the strange feelings he had disappeared as soon as she fell for the last time. He turned to face the woman in black, but just then the door he came from opened.

The blue-haired witch had arrived, now wearing a fancy magician's hat. "Oh my, seems like I've missed the fun." she walked over to Livvy, looking at her canvas. "Not a single one completed, huh? Well, what should I expect from a weakling?" Next, she examined the small witch's body, noticing the cuts, as well as her tarnished clothes. "Mmm, I like your style."

He remembered Eri calling her name, 'Maya'. This one gave him bad vibes from the very beginning, and her way of speaking just confirmed it.

"Someone as ruthless as you will do nicely." Maya smirked. This man would help her get back in the mood. "Unless you and the boss have 'other plans' together."

(Bit of Flavor - 38)

"I suggest you lose that tone before I cut out your tongue."

He was angry. Uncharacteristically so. But then again, seeing her insult Livvy was making him furious. Walking over towards the downed witch, he knelt down, turning his head briefly to look over at Maya. "I'll take you on, and then your so called 'boss'. But first, I need to help Livvy out. She has more of my respect than either of you."

Turning back, he held a hand out. "You can stand, right? There's gotta be a place where you can rest and recuperate...Sadly, this isn't Castlevania. I'd offer you some chicken....which always seemed to be pristine and on a silver platter regardless of me finding it inside of a wall...Hrmm."

Maya was cackling heartily at his venomous words. He really was as ruthless as she imagined him to be. She crossed her arms as she watched Soma approach Livvy to help, only to have the little witch slowly crawl away from him in fear.

"She commands your respect? I can see that." she said, her voice almost breaking into laughter again. "The runt gave you a free potion; she's more ally to you than us."

Livvy's heart was pounding fast; she couldn't trust a single word of Soma's - and it didn't look like Maya was going to help her... but when did she ever? "Livvy." Roèaz's voice interrupted her crawling. "The brush." With that, the girl tried standing up again, powering through whatever pain was holding her back, this time using a wall for support. She turned to face Soma, still refusing to look him in the eye. "H-here..." she said holding a hand out, her painting brush held in it.

"That is your reward, Hero. But perhaps you would like another." Roèaz continued. "You mentioned wanting your familiar back, Old.. Axe Armor, was it? If you find her magical brush not suitable, you may claim whatever you lost to her."

Maya looked over at their leader, clearly seeing her not happy to have to explain this. "Maybe we should write a rule book."

"Noted."