As frosty footsteps struck against the harsh stone of Mount Drakolt, Sylvari leaned down to pet her loyal steed, grateful for the exertion Mercy put herself through in service to her mission. The justiciar looked back with a smile to where Videl and Lumi trailed after her, a few paces behind. Ever since their talk in Moonglade, conversations with her friend had resumed their normal cadence and ease, far from her fears that their tough talk would drive a wedge further between them. true to his words, Videl had lost none of the warmth he held for the vampiress, even after her admission of sealing off romance.

"Just a bit further now, V! I'd offer to race you to the top, but for the sakes of Mercy and Lumi, I think I'll hold that challenge for a later time." Sylvari smile was wide and impish, enjoying her playful teasing as much as the light breeze that tousled her hair and her unveiled features. The pair were on a job to investigate strange occurrences that had emerged in the crater where Vulcadreus was. Apparently a ring of flowers had lined the rim of the mountaintop, and their presence caused all manner of problematic magical effects.

On the one hand, Sylvari was dubious about the urgency of dealing with such magical phenomena when it was so far out of the way from most people, but the stop was on the pair's way as they returned to the guild with news of their successful escort.

As Mercy and Sylvari crested the hill, the vampiress gasped.

"Yeah, that's a lot of flowers..."

SPOILER: Click to show

Quest Name: Ring of Flowers (Ash Lands, Drakolt Crater)
Participants: Exactly Two

Location: One of the listed locations below

Post Requirements: 6 posts per person, 200 words per post

Reward: +2 Renown, 1 Mystical Archive Ticket

Description: Strange things are occurring around these newly formed flower circles and help is needed in understanding why. Unfortunately, as one of the first groups of people to explore these phenomena, we are unaware of any specific strange or weird side effects interacting with these rings may bring, so be careful. Study the flowers, record what you see, hear, or even feel.

A soft smile had played out along Videl's features as he listened to the words that Sylvari had spoke. She had considered challenging him in a race to the top.. But could she truly come out on top if they were to do so? Videl didn't believe as much. Not only had he managed to acquire a set of reigns for Lumi that removed the air resistance around both herself and her rider but he had gone on to ascend to a higher state of magic as well. In addition to his empowering glacial magics, Videl had managed to tap into wind magic as well. So much so that he effectively became one with it at times. By this point, his feet didn't even need to trudge along the ground. If he had so willed it, he could float off of the ground at all times. Rather than boast his abilities, however, Videl would instead opt to play along with his beloved companion and her whims.

"I'm sure that they'd be willing to put up with our antics~" That was as much as the T'saya could get out before the pair had reached the summit of the mountain. Red, yellow and orange flowers had been the first thing to catch his eye, given how boldly they stood out amidst the crater. Despite their odd display, however, the flowers themselves wouldn't exactly remain within Videl's thoughts for all that long. No.. Shortly after having reached the rim of the crater itself, the lingering smell of burnt flesh that permeated the very air had begun to cling to the mans senses. It was almost enough to cause him to hurl but he contained himself in this moment. "This.. What is this?"

An overbearing sense of curiosity had washed over the T'saya, even as the lingering smell had continued to assault him, and Videl had begun to act before he even knew it. "Are these.. The source of the smell?" With a single wave of his hand, the very wind surrounding one of the crimson tinged flowers would transform into a twirl, plucking the flower from out of the ground and bringing it into his hand. With said flower now in his grasp, Videl would proceed to bring it to his nostrils before inhaling its scent. Unfortunately this had indeed been the source.. It took everything within the man not to wretch here and now. Of course, in his hurry to distance himself from the flower within his hand, Videl would accidentally stumble within the ring of flowers. At present.. nothing had changed. Once Sylvari had come to join him though, this was certain to change.

Quite contrary to the viscerally displeased expression Videl wore at the flower's scent, Sylvari was inexplicably drawn to the lingering aroma. She could acknowledge that there was something off-putting about the smell but found herself inexorably drawn to them.

No sooner had she leaned down to smell the flowers, mirroring her friend's kneeled pose, however, than the scent turned in her nostrils becoming revolting all too suddenly causing the justiciar to retch. That's odd. I haven't lost my stomach since my turning, not even when I eat mortal food... Why is it so cold all of a sudden?

The vampiress wrapped hardened hands much tanner than her own around herself in a feeble attempt to fend off the raging blizzard within. She was surprised when her hands... no not her hands... met soft cloth and not hardened plate. Looking down in confused horror she saw a furred parka covering a masculine frame, rather than the metal shell over pale skin that she was used to.

Her eyes only widened in further shock as she looked over to where she... no not she... held a flower delicately in her metal gauntlets. The justiciar looked over at her body, feeling the urge to retch again. Despite the persistent frost within, a fire arose in the pit of her stomach looking upon herself and a dull, persistent ache of longing gripped hard in her chest. No not her chest... Videl's...

With a quivering voice that was not her own, Sylvari let out a whimpering question. "V...?"

Similar to the experience that Sylvari was having, Videl would find himself undertaking an immediate transformation as well. Not only had the acrid scent disappeared but it had found itself replaced by an inexplicably sweet one. While this was an oddity that he had found himself curious about, there was something far more pressing that had immediately washed over Videl and caught him unawares. Rather than the persistent cold that had bombarded him, Videl had felt a semblance of what he could only assume was warmth. It was.. exceedingly odd to say in the least. Just what was going on? He hadn't felt this way a day in his life, the closest he had come to it having been that emotional warmth that Sylvari brought forward, and yet now he had felt it?

While his mind was still reeling from this experience, Videl would come to realize that his physical surroundings had been different as well. Not only had his previous location changed but what he had worn had been different as well. Gauntleted hands and pristine armor.. Armor that felt all too familiar to him. Astonishment, and a bit of unbridled horror, had welled up within the mans chest as he begun to look around, hoping to figure out what had just happened. It was then that his, or rather her gaze had fallen upon a body that belonged to himself. If the sudden location change hadn't hit him hard enough, seeing himself from outside of his body most certainly had. Especially when he had heard the words that had left from his lips.

Given the speech that had been produced through his body's lips, Videl could only surmise that Sylvari had found himself within his body and he had found himself within hers. He was just about to start considering why this was when something hit him harder than everything else.. An intense and primal hunger had begun to rise within his, or rather her, chest as her gaze had lingered upon her former body. With each beat of the living bodies heart, a pulse of mana would be displayed to the current Sylvari. Their stomach had begun to ache at this and their mouth had begun to salivate. Was this.. what Sylvari had always dealt with? She had explained it to Videl in the past but this was far worse than he could have ever imagined. If it wasn't for the willpower that he was currently displaying, he could tell that he would have already stripped his former body of its very life.

"S-syl... Just what is happening right now.. and how do you deal with this hunger?" Although he had been the one to ask this question, Videl could already tell that this likely had something to do with the flower circle. Context clues were enough to reveal that this area held the effect over them, given that nothing had transpired until the pair had both stepped within it. It was possible that the pair might free themselves of this effect, if they were to step from out of the flower circle, but Videl honestly couldn't tell if that was the case or not. He had considered stepping out of the ring to test this theory of his when he had begun to feel a display of worry, astonishment, and longing coming from his spear. The only reason that he could even note that it was coming from his spear was simply due to the fact that the connection between the two of them had been through the very soul. "This.. Our souls have swapped bodies? Just what kinds of flowers can do this kind of thing?!"

There was a yearning itch in Sylvari's, Videl's, dominant hand for her hammer which pulsed piteously from where it was slung on her body's back. The tiny lingering connection was the only source of magic she could sense. Sylvari had become so used to seeing magical auras and smelling spellcraft that its lack was like a pressure off of her that she had forgotten to exist.

She looked over to see Videl speak with her lips, a jarring sensation of hearing her own voice speaking to her. Gods, do I really sound like that? Her petty concerns were quickly washed away with horror as Videl felt the curse of her dark thirst. In truth, she had just fed the night before, in preparation for the journey, to be ready for any externalities, but she was all too aware how powerful hunger could be for one unready for it.

"Gods. Um, it's ok, V. I have the stash of blood vials in my pack if the need gets too intense." She indicated to the satchel in question with Videl's body, not daring to get closer for fear of provoking the beast further. She had often thought the worst thing in the world would be for her to devour Videl in a frenzy, but she discovered a new terror to haunt her dreams: that he would devour himself and leave her alone.

Sylvari wanted to get to the bottom of what had occurred with the flowers, of course, but she knew from painful experience that the hunger was not to be ignored.

Although it would take just about every ounce of willpower that he could muster, Videl would attempt to stave off the hunger that they had been feeling in this moment. The more that they thought about the hunger itself, the more that they had felt drawn to its effects. Taking note of this, Videl, or rather Sylvari, would turn their mind away from the hunger and attempt to focus on the task at hand. If they could get that much done.. than perhaps they could find a way to turn back the clock and throw the two of them back into their respective bodies.

"I.. I appreciate the heads up. This is something that I'll be sure to keep in mind." Hoping to get away from these thoughts, Sylvari would wipe away the saliva that had pooled around her lips, before proceeding to further inspect the flower within their gauntleted grasp. While it might have seemed a bit different than the ones that he was personally used to seeing, given the nature of the fauna that resided within Frost Gale, Videl, or rather Sylvari, quite simply couldn't say much about what was currently within their grasp. "We should.. start by taking notes on the things that we've experienced. Not just that but detailing the flowers themselves, just incase others find themselves out here."

Once they had said as much, Sylvari's gaze would begin to take in the additional magical properties within the area. While the ones surrounding their former body had perhaps stood the strongest to his attention, an undeniable magic had lingered within the flower circle as well. Given their overall lack of experience when it came down to witnessing magical auras, Sylvari would pull their gaze away from the flower ring and back towards Videl. Or rather Sylvari. "There's this strange aura that the flowers seem to be emitting.. This aura is whimsical in nature and is honestly rather potent overall.. When compared to the two of us, they might even be considered stronger in some aspects. I don't.. The fact that you can see these things naturally is astonishing to me.."

Hoping to try and gauge what this whimsical aura might be, they would start to approach their companion. Before they could fully make it over to them though, their body would find itself coated in another aura of its own before dissipating fully into a heavy mist ^{[Demon of the Mist]} that coated the area over which they moved. This mist would continue to move towards their companion but internally, without making any real noise, the one whom had done so would find themselves freaking out.

Sylvari gave a grim smile, using her friend's lips. "I doubt this experience will be one I soon forget, even if we are able to switch back, but you are right, we should make note of the effects and submit them to the local government as a cautionary tale for others. I daresay most common folk wouldn't have such a disparate experience as ours, given our differences, but inhabiting a new body alone is a jarring experience."

Sylvari frowned slightly at Videl's next words about her magical sight. "I wouldn't say my arcane sight is natural. It's very overwhelming at times, but it does have its uses, which I suppose is a fair enough way to describe most aspects of the curse." Sylvari's words stopped short as she witnessed Videl activating her mist form from her curse, cocking her head in confusion as to the purpose.

"Videl, what are you doing?" Realizing the terror on his, or rather her, semi-visible face, however, Sylvari's tone quickly changed to one of soothing command. "Hey, it's alright, V. Just focus on.... solid thoughts, and the effect should end. You won't be harmed in any way, but maybe try to solidify quickly to avoid falling through the mountain..."

Overwhelming.. Yes, Videl could see why she might think such a thing. Especially when given that this intense hunger lingers behind it. On it's own though, this arcane sight was a gift that Videl would greatly appreciate uncovering the secrets of. If he could make use of such a thing.. It was very likely that his magical prowess would grow in leaps and bounds. This.. Perhaps this was something that he should keep to himself. At least for the time being. Especially considering that he still had to deal with the ramifications of his previous actions. At present, he was still currently a mist..

Thankfully they wouldn't remain trapped within said misty state for very long. With Sylvari's aid, Videl was capable of returning to Sylvari's physical form, his reappearance occurring directly beside Sylvari, or rather himself. "I.. You have a lot going on in here, Sylvari.. I'm amazed that you manage to keep it all under control simultaneously.." An odd feeling that he couldn't quite identify would then start to well up within Videl's, or rather Sylvari's, chest. If these were the kinds of things that she had to deal with, every moment of every day, than Videl could understand why she didn't want him around at times. It really was for his safety.. His naivety and overbearing emotions had pushed Videl to discard her thoughts and opinions on the matter. Having experienced these things himself.. Could he really continue to act so bullheadishly?

His mind still being his own, Videl couldn't help it but to reach out and hug Sylvari, or rather his body, in that moment. As he had done so, Videl would immediately feel the retching cold tear into him. This body not having been his own, he had immediately desired to pull away from this feeling.. but opted not to do so. If Sylvari could put up with all of this than so could he. And if he had to push past the overwhelming hunger to continue this hug? Than they would.

"I've put a bit of thought into it.. and from my understanding.. These energies must be associated with the fae. I can't imagine any other magical aura having such potency and coloring.." They would then pull away from the hug and gesture towards the circle of flowers that surrounded them. "It would also make sense when one considers that this is what some refer to as a fairy circle. My only question now is if these other fairy circles have the same effect.. Or would they have alternative effects? Also, who was it that placed these things?"

Sylvari smiled as Videl reached out to pull her into a hug, particularly because his proximity in her body was a comfort: not warm exactly, but a distraction from the biting cold, her armor oddly fitting well against his body. The closeness of their embrace brought a strange pain within Videl's chest, however, a gripping, almost strangling feeling over his chest, which bewildered Sylvari. She wondered whether this was a natural aversion by the proximity of her undead flesh, or whether this was indicative of some psychological effect on the physical body. She wanted to ask Videl about it, but figured she should address his surmisings first.

"I can't say I've had all that much interaction with the fae, but from what I've heard, their magic is as capricious and chaotic as they are themselves. I doubt that any but they could create such effects, and if these circles are widespread throughout Charon, I worry for the larger picture of what such intervention entails..."

The immediate question addressed, Sylvari curiosity got the better of her as she began to speak again. "V... what is this... pain in your chest? Is it an old wound or an affliction perhaps? It seems to become worse around my body. Perhaps it's some sort of curse that clashes with the necromantic energies that suffuse my being...?"

A couple of curt nods would be offered in response to Sylvari's musings. Back when he had resided within his own body, Videl had very little to no interactions with any sort of fae creature or their magics. So far as he could recall anyways. It would make sense that Sylvari didn't have that many experiences with them either. Even for someone as well traveled as herself, these were beings of a realm that he barely understood. Not many would have had the chance to experience them up unto this point. He could also agree about the sentiment that she spouted in regards to how they worry about what kind of event would lead to these fairy circles cropping up. If there was one thing that Videl had learned since his departure from home, it was that the world had continuously thrown things at you whether you were prepared or not. If they were to encounter another Vulcadreaus level incident.. Well he wasn't all that sure that Charon could hold itself up too well.

It was then that Sylvari would ask him a question through his own lips. One that caused his very soul to ache, albeit that pain only going so far now that he was removed from his own body. "That.. pain?" With a bit of an awkward cough, Videl would attempt to explain. "While I can't exactly feel that sensation at the moment, given that I'm within your body, I can certainly make assumptions.. It's very likely that a bit of myself is ingrained within my body still.. and that it could be the longing that I feel when you display physical affections towards me." Seeing that this might make things awkward, considering their current stance on feelings of a romantic nature, Videl, or rather Sylvari, would laugh a bit. It was a pained laugh that was easily seen through but one that slipped forth nonetheless. "Try not to pay too much attention to it.. The feeling will persist for quite some time but if you focus on something else, it get's a bit easier to deal with."

While Videl had already felt a sense of urgency when it came to finding some way to return them back to their own bodies, that feeling would only grow as his emotions had begun to plague his beloved. No matter how hard he might try and ignore those feelings, they wouldn't exactly go away. So much so that they had clearly lingered within his very body, from what he could see. "Once... Once we find a way to reverse the effects of these flowers, I would recommend that you try and forget that pain. You've already got enough going on as is.." His mind would suddenly fill with the hunger that lingers within. "..I don't want to add more to your plate than is necessary."

"I... I never realized my presence was such an anathema to your being. I'm sorry for my blindness." Sylvari hung Videl's head in hollow guilt, ashamed that she had been unable to see how her friend had been hurting so profoundly. She made a little space between herself and her friend who inhabited her body as she began to speak again in a low voice, needing to focus on enunciating to be heard with Videl's lower pitch.

"If it would be less painful, I can refrain from further displays of affection. Such things come easily and unconsciously to me from my upbringing, but feeling this affliction firsthand, I will make a conscious effort to alleviate as much pain form you as I can..." Sylvari trailed off, frowning intensely at the predicament, now wholly absorbed in the problem of her friend's pain, too much to care much in this moment to returning to her own body.

"V, I must ask again why you subject yourself to my company when my presence causes such anguish within you. I should not doubt your steadfast honor for how you have already borne with me, but I can't, in good conscience, demand you fulfill your oath in the light of such hardship..." Sylvari looked up at her friend, pleading for his sake with his own eyes.

Rather than allow for Sylvari to push away from him, Videl would take that moment to close the distance between them yet again. It was likely that this would hurt her in some way or another, given that she resided within his body, and this was something that he had known going in. Even with that being the case though, she was capable of staving off this hunger each and every day. If she could deal with that than she can most assuredly deal with this.

Taking Sylvari's, or rather his own, hands within theirs, Videl would refuse to let Sylvari go. It was exceedingly selfish and yet, in this moment, he hadn't cared. "Stop it. I refuse to allow you to increase the distance between us yet again. We've finally settled back into a good place and I won't allow for such an event to occur again. You know the answer to all of these questions Sylvari. It's because I love you. I love you enough to push all of these feelings of mine deep down, even to the point where it physically hurts. And that's okay. Because I'm willing to undergo these feelings for you. So long as I can keep you in my life, nothing else matters. My devotion to you is my oath. Now stop treading on it."

Once he said all that he had to, Videl would let Sylvari's hands go and turn back towards the flowers that were on the ground. He would attempt to pull out several of the flowers on the ground, seeing if that had any sort of effect, to which it ultimately didn't. From there he would stuff those flowers into Sylvari's pack before moving towards the edge of the fairy circle. He hadn't quite stepped out of its boundary as of yet but Sylvari's foot had been about to break that border. "The only method I can think of at this moment, to return us to our bodies, is to escape from the fairy circle. If returning to your body is what it takes for you to forget this pain of mine than let us achieve it. Because I refuse to lose you again."

Sylvari could only deepen the frown that she formed on her friend's face. She hated choosing between evils, and yet, that seemed the only option available to her time and time again in her role as a justiciar. When she was young and naïve, she often thought of her family's work in rosy overtones, blind to the harsh realities of the world, shielded by the steadfastness of her people. Now, however, especially shouldering the burden without her clan, it was only the ironclad oath of promise that kept her devoted to the path when everything else made her want to throw her hands up in defeat. When faced with a choice between evil and evil, she preferred not to choose, but life was not so kind.

So, she simply stood, allowing her friend to take his hands with her body, without making any attempt at reciprocation. She kept her face carefully neutral, afraid any emotion would drive the dagger of heart further into his heart. She harbored suppositions that even this course of action was painful and hated herself for only bringing misery to her dear friend. What he wanted... she could not even begin to comprehend how to give in any meaningful way. She refused to participate in a farce when Videl deserved only the fullness of happiness.

Sylvari nodded as Videl poised her body to step outside the bounds of the floral circle. Together, they walked out, feeling the slight disorientation as their bodies were once again made their own. Gone was the cold, the feeling of exposure, the wretched chest pain: replaced instead with familiar sensations of emptiness and a ravenous, acidic hunger.

The vampiress sighed, gradually ceasing the practiced process of breathing without any more need, before looking at Videl, no properly within her own body. She was loathe to admit that she had not the strength to deal with their pain right now, and so merely changed the subject to one of duty: a usual tactic. "Let's instruct the local towns to erect a cordon. We don't want others to fall prey to this trap." Without so much as a glance backwards, Sylvari swung up into Mercy's saddle, her eyes trained only on the road ahead of them, as she hesitated for Videl to follow suit.