Upon the Shrine [Part 4]
Dec. 31st, 2020 10:51 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
esp_dragonv2Fandom: Noblesse
Summary: Muzaka is a forest god who lost his following a long time ago, his strength diminished because of it - all he can do now is wait until his power fades completely. But one day a blond mortal stumbles across Muzaka's shrine, one that can see and hear him in his weakened form. Curious, Muzaka hopes the mortal will keep returning to talk to him.
Rating: G
Genre: Supernatural
Word count: 2,179
Total word count: 7,966
Status: Work in progress
Muzaka tilted his head, frowning at the noise coming from the forest, startling birds. It was too early in the day for when Frankenstein usually appeared, and it didn't seem like predators hunting either.
Did that mean...
Was there more people coming through?
Muzaka strained his ears, trying to figure out what direction the group were moving. Maybe they would come through his clearing?
He could only hope.
* * *
Muzaka looked over at movement in the corner of his eye. It was too big to be any of the usual animals in the area, and it wasn't Frankenstein - his hair stood out amongst all the foliage.
So then...?
More humans?
Muzaka peered around, trying to see anyone.
Eventually, a group emerged from the shadows, their clothes dark. They had swords at their sides. Hmmm.
"Hey!" Muzaka called out to them, waving an arm.
The group continued walking towards him, but their eyes passed over him, and they didn't react to his call.
Muzaka exhaled, his shoulders drooping as he lowered his arm. They couldn't hear him. Then was Frankenstein special...?
He shook his head. More people were coming by his clearing, so maybe something was happening that meant he'd see more humans passing by. That meant a chance that there would be another human who could see and hear him.
"So this is where the traitor's been hiding," the one at the front drawled, looking around. She was pale, her hair sticking up in thick spikes, and Muzaka stared at it, trying to figure how she did that. But he put that thought away to focus on what she had just said.
Traitor?
The only person coming here was... Frankenstein?
Were they talking about Frankenstein? It didn't make sense though. Frankenstein didn't seem like he would betray anyone.
Muzaka watched them as they set up something around the edge of his clearing. It was some kind of dark powder - Muzaka didn't recognise it, but the group were meticulously digging small holes to put the powder in. What was it? What was it for?
The longer the humans stayed there, the more Muzaka could feel a familiar energy from them. It was similar to Frankenstein's, but not exactly the same.
"Tsk, do we really need all this for a scientist, Taze?" the dark-skinned man groused, pouring more powder into a hole. "He stole something, but a scientist is a scientist."
"They wanted this," the lady with spiky hair said. Taze? "Are you going to disobey orders?"
"It's just a waste of effort, is all. All we have to do is grab him, right? That's easy." He snorted. "What's he going to do, think at us?"
Unease grew in Muzaka listening to their conversation. They wanted to catch Frankenstein? Because he was a traitor?
Muzaka knew what was done to traitors, had heard the stories.
From the way the two were talking, he doubted things had changed in that respect.
"Do you think he hid his work here?"
Muzaka turned around and stilled, seeing the red-haired woman running her hand over his statue.
What, no! Aside from the initial tests and cleaning Frankenstein had done, Frankenstein had never touched it again. Frankenstein always made sure he didn't leave anything behind when he left.
...Was...this why?
Frankenstein had told him he was worried about people stealing his work.
"Oi, leave it," Taze said, standing up and wiping dirt from her hands. "If he notices any changes, he might not enter here."
Muzaka had to warn Frankenstein. Make sure he didn't get any close.
For once, it was good he couldn't be heard or seen by anyone else - they wouldn't know what he was doing.
"Get out, I'm about to set the last part," one of them called out.
What?
As Muzaka whirled around to see what the person was doing, a power surged through the ground. He sucked in a breath as a sigil lit up the grass, spidering out and connecting all the spots of the powder together.
No. Nononono. A trap? He had to get out before it formed completely!
Muzaka dashed out of the clearing.
And smacked into the edge, the sigil already at his feet, though it faded until it seemed like it was never there.
Dammit.
He pressed his hands against the wall, smooth like a polished stone.
He couldn't escape.
Not that he could get much further than the edge of the clearing, but now he was even more trapped.
"Hey, how come it's activating over here? There's nothing touching it."
Muzaka snapped his head up, his eyes wide, still pressing his hands to the barrier. The voice had come from above him, and when he looked around, he saw he was alone in his clearing.
"It's probably just a spirit," Taze said. "Don't worry - it can't break through it."
Muzaka leaned on the barrier, exhaling. Hah... He really was weak now. What kind of protector was he? He couldn't even break through one spell that wasn't intended for him?
He fisted his hands, shaking his head. Okay. Think, think, think. He couldn't go to Frankenstein to warn him. That wasn't anything new. He still had his voi...
Could Frankenstein hear him when he was inside the barrier? Did it cut off sound as well?
Dammit.
He didn't know. He could only try, and hope that it was enough.
* * *
The good thing about not having a body was he didn't run out air, no matter how much he yelled.
Muzaka didn't know how much he'd kept shouting for, but the sun's angle had changed since he'd started.
Would he even know if he'd been successful in keeping Frankenstein away?
Not really. It would only be if Frankenstein stopped coming and... Muzaka looked up at the branches above him, picking out the humans there.
Frankenstein couldn't come back here.
If Frankenstein came back, they might be waiting for him again.
That couldn't happen.
Muzaka snapped his head to the side, sensing the unique aura he didn't want to feel again. Dammit, dammit, no.
"Hey, Frankenstein!" he yelled, dashing to where Frankenstein's aura was the closest, banging on the barrier. "You need ta get away! There's people here who want to take you somewhere!"
"The spirit's getting antsy again."
"Let it."
Could Frankenstein hear him? He had to. He had to.
Except Frankenstein's aura continued coming closer, and no, no, no!
"Frankenstein!" he tried again, straining his senses, hoping. "Run! Leave! It's not safe! Please, you have to hear me!"
Was he really this helpless, unable to do anything while Frankenstein walked into a trap?
He had to keep trying.
Muzaka continued shouting and making as much noise as he could, tracking Frankenstein, hating how Frankenstein kept coming closer.
Except.
Muzaka peered out at the forest, even though Frankenstein wasn't close enough to be seen yet.
Frankenstein wasn't coming straight for him anymore, curving around the clearing.
Maybe Frankenstein had heard him and was hesitating?
Or maybe he had found something he wanted to study first or pick to show Muzaka.
...Hah. He would do that. Always curious about everything.
It was a delay, at least.
"You hafta be careful!" Muzaka shouted. "You're going to be walking into a trap if you come here!"
Maybe his voice wasn't reaching Frankenstein yet, if he could hear him past the barrier.
Maybe.
That was all he had.
Frankenstein continued circling the clearing, getting closer like a shark, and Muzaka followed him, still shouting.
"Do you think the spirit's trying to test the entire barrier?" Muzaka heard above him, and he froze.
Damn, he was following Frankenstein's movements. If the people had realised, they would know where Frankenstein was.
No pounding the barrier. Right.
"The people are in the branches above the clearing!" Muzaka called out as he stepped back. Could Frankenstein hear him? It seemed like it, because Frankenstein had never taken such a meandering route to him before. "They dug holes and put powder in them to make the trap!" Information. Had to give Frankenstein as much information as he could.
Frankenstein was so close and Muzaka wanted to go up to the barrier to see if he could spot Frankenstein, but if that alerted the people above him... He couldn't.
If Frankenstein could hear him, then why was he still coming here?
The people were right - Frankenstein was a scholar, someone who wanted to study the world around him. He wasn't a fighter.
Then... No.
Was Frankenstein coming because of him?
Dammit. "Frankenstein, I'll be fine!" Muzaka called out. "Save yourself!" What difference did it make if Frankenstein tried to release him? Muzaka would still be stuck in this spot, with or without the trap.
Muzaka trailed off, frowning. He was still tracking Frankenstein's aura, but it was changing now, the spark that set Frankenstein apart from everyone else growing.
Not enough for the others to notice, but Muzaka didn't know how attuned their senses were to auras. No-one in the group had mentioned it yet, at least.
It wasn't the same as a follower drawing on the power of their god, it couldn't be. Frankenstein wasn't connected to one, so where Frankenstein calling this power from?
His frown deepened, hearing whispers of souls start up. What was... Was that... Was that what Frankenstein's connection was with?
What had Frankenstein done to have that connection?
A sharp burst of the souls and a rustle above Muzaka.
It was where Muzaka knew one of the people had been hiding. Muzaka saw a flash of blond hair in the canopy before it disappeared again.
Frankenstein was attacking them!
The second time it happened, there was a rustle of branches, a soft exclamation, and Muzaka glanced at where the other people were. Had they heard?
"We know you're there, Frankenstein," Taze called out, her position different from where it had been before. "Come out so we can take you to the Union. So long as you give back what you stole, the Union will forgive you."
"That's why you made a trap?" Muzaka spluttered. It didn't seem like the actions of someone who wanted to forgive a thief. If Frankenstein was one.
A laugh echoed throughout the clearing, with no clear origin. "Then why are you hiding?" Frankenstein said.
The trees rustled, and dammit! "They're trying to find you!"
He had to do something to help! Could he do something? He couldn't touch anything or anyone, and only Frankenstein could hear him. Was there anything else he could do?
Hah, aside from moving bran -
Muzaka stared up at the canopy, at the branches. He had just enough power for that.
If his power could reach past the barrier.
Only one way to find out.
Taze was still in the same place and Muzaka lifted his hand towards her, drawing on what little power he had left.
He exhaled, and yes, felt his power grip the branch. He yanked the branch and Taze toppled, the barrier rippling as she fell through it, Muzaka flinched, feeling the murmuring souls explode in strength, screaming in rage and hunger.
What had-?
Something dark tore out of the trees, leaving a smoking fissure in the ground. Muzaka stared at it, unease rolling in his stomach.
That wasn't something he'd seen often, or that powerful. Not without the power of a god backing the human.
The sounds of fighting echoed around them, trees crashing against each other and jeers.
How were they - the other humans weren't tied to gods either, but Muzaka could sense their power as well as they ripped through the forest.
How much had changed that humans could gain powers without gods...?
Taze snarled, punching the barrier - she had as much effect against it as Muzaka did. She kicked out at the bottom of the barrier, where Muzaka could see one of the filled holes were on the other side. While she kicked up dirt, it didn't affect the dirt on the outside, and the barrier stayed in place.
Good. She was trapped in here, and that meant she couldn't hurt Frankenstein.
She scowled, her ear turned towards the fighting before she snorted, walking towards...
Wait.
"While you're busy," she muttered as she closed in on Muzaka's statue, "I can grab your research."
"He didn't hide it there!" Muzaka knew she couldn't see him, knew he couldn't touch her, but dashed in front of her, standing her way.
She walked through him, not even having a sense she'd done so.
He was worse than a ghost.
He could only watch as she raised a foot-
No.
He tried to push her. All he did was go through her.
He span around, and she hadn't paused, a triumphant grin on her face-
No!
-as she slammed her through his statue.
The world tilted and Muzaka was sure he was screaming, but he couldn't hear anything, everything focusing on the ever increasing hole in his chest, his mind, feeling the last ever connection he had with the world break apart to nothing.
Summary: Muzaka is a forest god who lost his following a long time ago, his strength diminished because of it - all he can do now is wait until his power fades completely. But one day a blond mortal stumbles across Muzaka's shrine, one that can see and hear him in his weakened form. Curious, Muzaka hopes the mortal will keep returning to talk to him.
Rating: G
Genre: Supernatural
Word count: 2,179
Total word count: 7,966
Status: Work in progress
Muzaka tilted his head, frowning at the noise coming from the forest, startling birds. It was too early in the day for when Frankenstein usually appeared, and it didn't seem like predators hunting either.
Did that mean...
Was there more people coming through?
Muzaka strained his ears, trying to figure out what direction the group were moving. Maybe they would come through his clearing?
He could only hope.
Muzaka looked over at movement in the corner of his eye. It was too big to be any of the usual animals in the area, and it wasn't Frankenstein - his hair stood out amongst all the foliage.
So then...?
More humans?
Muzaka peered around, trying to see anyone.
Eventually, a group emerged from the shadows, their clothes dark. They had swords at their sides. Hmmm.
"Hey!" Muzaka called out to them, waving an arm.
The group continued walking towards him, but their eyes passed over him, and they didn't react to his call.
Muzaka exhaled, his shoulders drooping as he lowered his arm. They couldn't hear him. Then was Frankenstein special...?
He shook his head. More people were coming by his clearing, so maybe something was happening that meant he'd see more humans passing by. That meant a chance that there would be another human who could see and hear him.
"So this is where the traitor's been hiding," the one at the front drawled, looking around. She was pale, her hair sticking up in thick spikes, and Muzaka stared at it, trying to figure how she did that. But he put that thought away to focus on what she had just said.
Traitor?
The only person coming here was... Frankenstein?
Were they talking about Frankenstein? It didn't make sense though. Frankenstein didn't seem like he would betray anyone.
Muzaka watched them as they set up something around the edge of his clearing. It was some kind of dark powder - Muzaka didn't recognise it, but the group were meticulously digging small holes to put the powder in. What was it? What was it for?
The longer the humans stayed there, the more Muzaka could feel a familiar energy from them. It was similar to Frankenstein's, but not exactly the same.
"Tsk, do we really need all this for a scientist, Taze?" the dark-skinned man groused, pouring more powder into a hole. "He stole something, but a scientist is a scientist."
"They wanted this," the lady with spiky hair said. Taze? "Are you going to disobey orders?"
"It's just a waste of effort, is all. All we have to do is grab him, right? That's easy." He snorted. "What's he going to do, think at us?"
Unease grew in Muzaka listening to their conversation. They wanted to catch Frankenstein? Because he was a traitor?
Muzaka knew what was done to traitors, had heard the stories.
From the way the two were talking, he doubted things had changed in that respect.
"Do you think he hid his work here?"
Muzaka turned around and stilled, seeing the red-haired woman running her hand over his statue.
What, no! Aside from the initial tests and cleaning Frankenstein had done, Frankenstein had never touched it again. Frankenstein always made sure he didn't leave anything behind when he left.
...Was...this why?
Frankenstein had told him he was worried about people stealing his work.
"Oi, leave it," Taze said, standing up and wiping dirt from her hands. "If he notices any changes, he might not enter here."
Muzaka had to warn Frankenstein. Make sure he didn't get any close.
For once, it was good he couldn't be heard or seen by anyone else - they wouldn't know what he was doing.
"Get out, I'm about to set the last part," one of them called out.
What?
As Muzaka whirled around to see what the person was doing, a power surged through the ground. He sucked in a breath as a sigil lit up the grass, spidering out and connecting all the spots of the powder together.
No. Nononono. A trap? He had to get out before it formed completely!
Muzaka dashed out of the clearing.
And smacked into the edge, the sigil already at his feet, though it faded until it seemed like it was never there.
Dammit.
He pressed his hands against the wall, smooth like a polished stone.
He couldn't escape.
Not that he could get much further than the edge of the clearing, but now he was even more trapped.
"Hey, how come it's activating over here? There's nothing touching it."
Muzaka snapped his head up, his eyes wide, still pressing his hands to the barrier. The voice had come from above him, and when he looked around, he saw he was alone in his clearing.
"It's probably just a spirit," Taze said. "Don't worry - it can't break through it."
Muzaka leaned on the barrier, exhaling. Hah... He really was weak now. What kind of protector was he? He couldn't even break through one spell that wasn't intended for him?
He fisted his hands, shaking his head. Okay. Think, think, think. He couldn't go to Frankenstein to warn him. That wasn't anything new. He still had his voi...
Could Frankenstein hear him when he was inside the barrier? Did it cut off sound as well?
Dammit.
He didn't know. He could only try, and hope that it was enough.
The good thing about not having a body was he didn't run out air, no matter how much he yelled.
Muzaka didn't know how much he'd kept shouting for, but the sun's angle had changed since he'd started.
Would he even know if he'd been successful in keeping Frankenstein away?
Not really. It would only be if Frankenstein stopped coming and... Muzaka looked up at the branches above him, picking out the humans there.
Frankenstein couldn't come back here.
If Frankenstein came back, they might be waiting for him again.
That couldn't happen.
Muzaka snapped his head to the side, sensing the unique aura he didn't want to feel again. Dammit, dammit, no.
"Hey, Frankenstein!" he yelled, dashing to where Frankenstein's aura was the closest, banging on the barrier. "You need ta get away! There's people here who want to take you somewhere!"
"The spirit's getting antsy again."
"Let it."
Could Frankenstein hear him? He had to. He had to.
Except Frankenstein's aura continued coming closer, and no, no, no!
"Frankenstein!" he tried again, straining his senses, hoping. "Run! Leave! It's not safe! Please, you have to hear me!"
Was he really this helpless, unable to do anything while Frankenstein walked into a trap?
He had to keep trying.
Muzaka continued shouting and making as much noise as he could, tracking Frankenstein, hating how Frankenstein kept coming closer.
Except.
Muzaka peered out at the forest, even though Frankenstein wasn't close enough to be seen yet.
Frankenstein wasn't coming straight for him anymore, curving around the clearing.
Maybe Frankenstein had heard him and was hesitating?
Or maybe he had found something he wanted to study first or pick to show Muzaka.
...Hah. He would do that. Always curious about everything.
It was a delay, at least.
"You hafta be careful!" Muzaka shouted. "You're going to be walking into a trap if you come here!"
Maybe his voice wasn't reaching Frankenstein yet, if he could hear him past the barrier.
Maybe.
That was all he had.
Frankenstein continued circling the clearing, getting closer like a shark, and Muzaka followed him, still shouting.
"Do you think the spirit's trying to test the entire barrier?" Muzaka heard above him, and he froze.
Damn, he was following Frankenstein's movements. If the people had realised, they would know where Frankenstein was.
No pounding the barrier. Right.
"The people are in the branches above the clearing!" Muzaka called out as he stepped back. Could Frankenstein hear him? It seemed like it, because Frankenstein had never taken such a meandering route to him before. "They dug holes and put powder in them to make the trap!" Information. Had to give Frankenstein as much information as he could.
Frankenstein was so close and Muzaka wanted to go up to the barrier to see if he could spot Frankenstein, but if that alerted the people above him... He couldn't.
If Frankenstein could hear him, then why was he still coming here?
The people were right - Frankenstein was a scholar, someone who wanted to study the world around him. He wasn't a fighter.
Then... No.
Was Frankenstein coming because of him?
Dammit. "Frankenstein, I'll be fine!" Muzaka called out. "Save yourself!" What difference did it make if Frankenstein tried to release him? Muzaka would still be stuck in this spot, with or without the trap.
Muzaka trailed off, frowning. He was still tracking Frankenstein's aura, but it was changing now, the spark that set Frankenstein apart from everyone else growing.
Not enough for the others to notice, but Muzaka didn't know how attuned their senses were to auras. No-one in the group had mentioned it yet, at least.
It wasn't the same as a follower drawing on the power of their god, it couldn't be. Frankenstein wasn't connected to one, so where Frankenstein calling this power from?
His frown deepened, hearing whispers of souls start up. What was... Was that... Was that what Frankenstein's connection was with?
What had Frankenstein done to have that connection?
A sharp burst of the souls and a rustle above Muzaka.
It was where Muzaka knew one of the people had been hiding. Muzaka saw a flash of blond hair in the canopy before it disappeared again.
Frankenstein was attacking them!
The second time it happened, there was a rustle of branches, a soft exclamation, and Muzaka glanced at where the other people were. Had they heard?
"We know you're there, Frankenstein," Taze called out, her position different from where it had been before. "Come out so we can take you to the Union. So long as you give back what you stole, the Union will forgive you."
"That's why you made a trap?" Muzaka spluttered. It didn't seem like the actions of someone who wanted to forgive a thief. If Frankenstein was one.
A laugh echoed throughout the clearing, with no clear origin. "Then why are you hiding?" Frankenstein said.
The trees rustled, and dammit! "They're trying to find you!"
He had to do something to help! Could he do something? He couldn't touch anything or anyone, and only Frankenstein could hear him. Was there anything else he could do?
Hah, aside from moving bran -
Muzaka stared up at the canopy, at the branches. He had just enough power for that.
If his power could reach past the barrier.
Only one way to find out.
Taze was still in the same place and Muzaka lifted his hand towards her, drawing on what little power he had left.
He exhaled, and yes, felt his power grip the branch. He yanked the branch and Taze toppled, the barrier rippling as she fell through it, Muzaka flinched, feeling the murmuring souls explode in strength, screaming in rage and hunger.
What had-?
Something dark tore out of the trees, leaving a smoking fissure in the ground. Muzaka stared at it, unease rolling in his stomach.
That wasn't something he'd seen often, or that powerful. Not without the power of a god backing the human.
The sounds of fighting echoed around them, trees crashing against each other and jeers.
How were they - the other humans weren't tied to gods either, but Muzaka could sense their power as well as they ripped through the forest.
How much had changed that humans could gain powers without gods...?
Taze snarled, punching the barrier - she had as much effect against it as Muzaka did. She kicked out at the bottom of the barrier, where Muzaka could see one of the filled holes were on the other side. While she kicked up dirt, it didn't affect the dirt on the outside, and the barrier stayed in place.
Good. She was trapped in here, and that meant she couldn't hurt Frankenstein.
She scowled, her ear turned towards the fighting before she snorted, walking towards...
Wait.
"While you're busy," she muttered as she closed in on Muzaka's statue, "I can grab your research."
"He didn't hide it there!" Muzaka knew she couldn't see him, knew he couldn't touch her, but dashed in front of her, standing her way.
She walked through him, not even having a sense she'd done so.
He was worse than a ghost.
He could only watch as she raised a foot-
No.
He tried to push her. All he did was go through her.
He span around, and she hadn't paused, a triumphant grin on her face-
No!
-as she slammed her through his statue.
The world tilted and Muzaka was sure he was screaming, but he couldn't hear anything, everything focusing on the ever increasing hole in his chest, his mind, feeling the last ever connection he had with the world break apart to nothing.