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A friend and I have stumbled across a type of flower that he believes may be of interest to you for study. It appears to have an affect on Noctaere- or at least whatever part of one may be currently possessing a person; if you've spoken with one Kazuma Asogi you may know what I'm speaking of and who said friend is.

Their presence seems to be unpleasant, even repulsive, and when crushed appear to calm to bring back around to the person's right mind. Even if this has only been tested on one person so far.

I have a few that I can deliver to you, should you wish to actually examine them.

[Jude's spoken to Kazuma - or at least, they've written to each other. But considering the other man's situation and his understandable reluctance over the whole affair, Jude decides against making any acknowledgement on paper towards the name.]

That's an amazing find, I'd appreciate it! I can come meet you too, whichever may be more convenient for you. Are there more of these flowers out in the wild?

[Plus, that conversation the other day did remind him he should have someone more knowledgeable review the notes he's put together so far. This seems like a good opportunity, and meeting the helpful "76" in person was probably overdue too.]

[Kazuma brought up this guy's name, and honestly that was all he needed to contact him as asked with what they'd found during this outing after spending a few days out deep in the woods.]

I can, yes. I'm currently out in the Wildlands, but I can come much closer to town as that may be the safest bet. There are, but for now the largest amount of them appears to be guarded by a few large and potentially dangerous creatures.

Can talk more about it in person, easier. Just tell me a place you're familiar with and I can get there, been here long enough to know my way.

[The result of this particular expedition someone else had undertaken may serve as a wake-up call to him, too. Maybe it's time he stops only keeping his nose buried in papers/sticking to the tapirs' simulation dreamscape, and actually go out there to do some field study for a change himself?...]

The environment they grow in may be helpful to study too, I can also fight and heal. I'd like to take a look at their natural habitat where you found them in sooner or later, there may be more clues we can uncover. Would it still be more convenient to meet at the edge of town?

[Maybe he's being hasty and presumptuous, but if 76 managed to find some of these flowers today, then that may also mean the area he's in right now is likely clear of monsters for the time being, wouldn't it? Gotta strike while the iron's hot, he just needs to make sure he can handle himself.]

Makes sense. Better than asking you to try and meet out here, yeah. I can lead you to the place Kazuma and I found them in, since it's easy to get turned around this far in if you don't know the way. Will make it a quicker walk if you'd like to get a look now.

I've got the time.

[76 had been spending the majority of his time out here since bringing Kazuma, making sure he was alright. This was a chance discovery, thanks to Kazuma spending time tracking that herd of deer.]

Your call.

Then please, I'd like to tag along with you for a look myself. Which direction would you be coming back to town from, M. 76? I can at least start heading out that way.

[Grab his gauntlets, a few couple of notebooks, containers for soil and other flora samples... There isn't much in the way of tools in Songerein, but he can still get some things ready relatively quickly before heading out for the town's outskirts.]

I'll be coming from the direction of the mountains. There will be a blue dragon with me when we meet, she's carrying some of my supplies in saddlebags, but Kazuma will likely join us as we get further in.

If it helps, the dragon can carry anything you might decide to bring with you as well so you can have a free hand- should we run in to some trouble.

[Blue had been sticking close to him, and had provided a good bit of help and company while spending a majority of his time 'camping' in the Wildlands.]

[Dragon? Like a wyvern? He's tempted to ask, but decides against it after a beat. He'll see for himself soon enough, and while they're in no great rush, he shouldn't waste time and let himself get caught up in technicalities. The other man is already offering such a precious opportunity on top of being accommodating, the least that he can do is go along without fussing over every detail.]

Understood. I can travel light, I don't have much anyway. I'll head out shortly, I have dark brown hair and am dressed in a white coat. Thank you for the heads-up.

[As soon as Jude's got his things stuffed in a messenger bag, he's heading towards Reverein's outskirts in the direction of the mountains and thinking about any vantage point he may come across on his way. Is 76 flying back? It seems like a logical conclusion to draw if he's got a dragon in his company, but a lot of things in this world defy logic, so he probably shouldn't jump to conclusions to be safe, especially after the hard lesson learned on his first day from Songerein's cotton candy sheep. He's already described some of his own physical characteristics to cover their bases, so even if this may be the first time they meet face to face, it shouldn't be difficult to flag each other down along the way.]

White hair, red visor and lower face-guard mask. Blue and red jacket. The blue dragon will probably be the biggest give away.

[Already on the move, and at the very least 76 would be there waiting at a clearing as said dragon was sitting, wings flared out with feathers ruffled, about the size of a young horse. Nearly matured in size. Looked as if the stop there was due to having to get a few sticks out of those feathers that were closer to the scales that also covered wings. Her ears swiveling and head perked up-

The dragon was the alert of Jude approaching, 76 glancing over his shoulder and holding up a hand. Taking a guess with the description given—]

Give me a second here, she got a little excited and took out a limb on the way down. No harm done, be on our way further in.

[Really was just tugging a twig loose before the dragon did some full body shake, all of those feathers fluffing amongst scales before she was settling. Much better.]

[Just about every descriptor there was very distinctive, definitely not going to have issues recognizing each other. Committing the image to memory, he's out of the treehouse within minutes towards the mountains.

It's a little bit jarring to arrive second (or last, really), but the teen doesn't dwell. Jude answers 76's gesture of acknowledgement with a wave of his own, quickly taking in the other man's appearance as well as that of the dragon's. There's no notable sign of surprise on his open expression as he surveys the clearing, coming from a world where magical beasts are an ordinary part of the fauna. The pair of them are nevertheless a sight to behold: the dragon is significantly smaller and sleeker than the wyverns of Xian Du, and he can't help but briefly wonder what sort of climate would produce a creature with such bright coloring and a hybrid coating of feathers and scales. The man on the other hand vaguely reminds him of Spirius agents, sporting a decidedly modern and Elympion look which contrasts all the more against the fantastical nature of his companion. They make quite a pair...

--But right, he's here for business, not sightseeing.]

You took the detour because of me, please take as long as you need. Thank you for coming, and it's nice to meet you in person, M. 76.

[Folding his hands over his lap, the boyish teen of 5'4 in a white lab coat maybe a touch thin for the season offers a faint bow of greeting. The polite and proper thing done, he straightens himself once more after briefly glancing at Blue clearing her wings.]

You said it's a short walk? [He's keeping several feet of distance nevertheless, a good chunk of the reason is admittedly giving the dragon her space. She doesn't seem aggressive or confrontational, judging by both their demeanor, but better be safe than sorry, and Jude is normally the prudent sort.]

[76 tipped his head in turn, stepping back to give Blue room as she preened the area of her wing the sticks had gotten stuck in. Take her a few moments. No harm done, it likely just itched and felt a little funny for her now.]

Nice to meet you, too. [He did lift an arm and gestured off behind himself.]

We're going to be walking deeper in to the Wildlands, heading towards the foot of those mountains over there. Can follow the stream that leads to a waterfall, there's a cave behind it. [That was one helpful landmark of sorts.] Before we get there we'll likely run across Kazuma, who will be joining us.

He and I found the flowers, and this place where a lot of them grow, following a herd of deer that had them growing off their antlers.

A waterfall... [The teen echoes, already scribbling the landmark info down into the mini flip notebook he retrieved out of his coat pocket. Sounds straightforward and distinct.] Got it.

That's an impressive stroke of good luck, they could potentially be used in medicine or aromatherapy, for starters. [But hearing confirmation once again that Kazuma Asogi is out here, and that these flowers have "only been tested on one person so far"... Not exactly tricky, putting 1 and 1 together under these circumstances.]

How's M. Asogi doing?

[There's probably no need to beat around the bush in hindsight, but recalling how their conversation went over the journals roughly a week ago, that much feels okay to ask, from balancing his personal concern, ~~nosiness~~ scientific curiosity, and respect of privacy for the Noctaere-possessed man.]

I'd known of the deer's presence before, which is why I took him out here- I just didn't think the flowers growing on them to be of anything significant until he noticed a repulsion towards them. [Which 76 didn't have. He could only put that towards the fact that his own case -that only an incredibly small handful knew of- wasn't as bad as Kazuma's. Not just because he hadn't been possessed entirely by it, either.

There was more to it, the fact that those deer didn't warp and change in to some nightmare creatures as most would once Kazuma got a hold of them. Details

He patted Blue's side and started walking then, slow enough that Jude would know to follow before just turning it to an easy pace. Keeping on ground to better meet up with the other man.]

Better, but you'll see for yourself. He is who suggested I contact you, along with another person he knows who won't be coming out here, once we got in to the clear.

You took him here because of the deer? Did anything else about them stick out to you? [He'll keep on jotting down notes as they walk and talk, not showing any notable sign of trouble in keeping up even if he may have to jog a bit here and there. Kazuma did mention how wild animals in his surroundings were affected by the possession, and how he was compelled to consume them for more nightmare energy. That bodes well for the flowers' properties, looking at the big picture.

The revelation that Kazuma's the one who requested him has Jude's step falter, however, but only for a moment before he's caught up to 76 again.]

--He did? I'll have to thank him too, but is he really okay with me coming along?

[From their previous exchange, Kazuma Asogi felt like a serious and private person, but also definitely considerate and proper in his own way. Maybe this isn't that surprising, but if he's under significant enough Noctaere influence to single out the flowers, is it really fine to meet in person...?]

Yeah, because of how large some of the bucks are. Figured he needed to eat and that'd be a lot of meat- they didn't behave like the other animals around him did. Didn't change. [Not it made more sense. The bit of green in the blood, the flowers, them possibly living in the cave with all of those flowers and the odd guardians.

Hard to tell how tightly all of them were tied together, but they certainly were linked deeply enough for this.]

He did, and if he wasn't he saw me leave and could have said something.

[Giving away that 76 had been with Kazuma up to that last second? Yes.

Wouldn't be too long before they'd be close to where 76 had left him, too.]

["Needs to eat". That's... a lot of information, and as worrisome as it would normally sound, Jude's gotten wise enough to let sleeping dogs lay. He's never been one to lie or hide his feelings, however, so the way how he lowers his gaze and his brows knit in thought probably show enough. These quick revelations in succession are inferring many things, and he has to keep in mind that even if he lays the events out in the most logical manner, it would still be an educated guess at best. He has much to learn about this world, and only recently met the people involved.

But in the meanwhile, this basically confirms that Kazuma had not recovered from the aftereffects as he hoped one would from a cold, and is in such a state that he could not continue living normally in Reverein like everyone else. Even without 76's verbal affirmation, that the taller man guided him to a secluded area with deer for the purpose of food well implied that he's been looking after Kazuma at least to some degree out here in the Wildlands, which also checks out with how 76 mentioned he was relying on the dragon to carry supplies. That wouldn't be necessary for a short trip out of town, so...

...

He glances back up at the profile of the white-haired man sporting a visor that covered his eyes, with more scrutiny this time despite the futility as he readjusts his pace to keep up once more.]

...Alright. You said he mentioned someone else, are they also researching Noctaere possession treatment? [If they have the same goal, maybe it's someone he could get into contact with later?]

[As they get closer to where Kazuma is, so does the temperature start to rise. Even with the flowers keeping his mind intact, there's nothing that can be done for the domain he creates. It'll only get worse as they get closer. On top of the heat, feelings of anger and hate will start to creep into a person's psyche as well.

The ground will start to shake. In a clearing nearby, deer the size of elephants are running, trying to get away from something. It's become clear as to what, when a beast-like man as tall as the deer themselves suddenly appears and pounces onto one of the stragglers. He's become an expert at taking these deer down that he manages to pin the prey without much of a struggle, digging his claws in, biting down on it's neck with his fangs. Then all he has to do is wait until they bleed out.

Was he aware he had guests soon? Not really.]

They're someone he knows and trusts- a doctor of his world. I don't now if he is or not, but likely worth reaching out to.

[He knew the moment the heat hit him, what it could do, moving then to pull a canteen from a bag that Blue had on her, shaking it to make sure there was still something in it. Satisfied with the weight and sound, 76 was holding it for Jude to take.]

You're going to want to drink this, now. It will help keep your head about you, given the influence.

[What was it? Well, 'tea', for the most part. Some of those flowers boiled in water giving it a chilling mint taste, but very bitter.

There was also a chill in the air as shadows moved in closer, clinging and wrapping upwards along 76's legs, and a few of them invading Jude's shadow as well. Calming even if cooling. It was what he had to help push back against the heat and the anger in the air.

Stopping only once h saw the deer running and the figure following them, Blue stopping as well and an arm held out to stop Jude.]

Speaking of, that would be Kazuma.

Then it's worth a shot. We're all a bit out of our element in this world, it would help to work together.

[Naive or optimistic? Perhaps both. He's about to ask for a name, but a year or two spent travelling a magical world and fighting through it did hone his senses more than what the average academic would have. He's straightening himself with his gaze turned back up front the moment the autumn chills begin to fade. The cause...?]

Okay.

[Jude doesn't ask, accepting the canteen and taking a drink from it without a hint of doubt or hesitation. The scent itself is sharp and sobering, bracing him well for the bitingly bitter taste accompanying it. He can't help but briefly scowl, but downs a few gulps without trouble before handing the canteen back to its owner. They're getting close, the negative emotions are beginning to encroach noticeably with the few steps he's taken while downing the drink.

...May be a good time to test something, actually.]

Thank you. Please give me a moment.

[That said, he stops walking and adjusts his posture. Back straight, head raised, arms horizontally outstretched, and palms folded together facing outward, he draws a slow and measured breath as energy is gathered where he stands. His forearms are pulled back on the exhale within the next beat, hands closing into fists facing upward before releasing what he's processed:]

Healer.

[A refreshing breeze of a different sort entirely is whipped up around him in a radius of about three feet, accompanied by a faint glow of green and blue light clearly signalling magic of some kind. It's normally a simple healing arte cast through spirit channelling back home, but he has been practising in turning everything he knew to use dreamotion instead, with a self-imposed focus on support and tweaking the original properties to better fit with what he knew of Songerein. This Healer cast through not mana but dreamotion is fuelled by the conviction to strive for the better with everything in one's power, along with the determination to never give up and the calmness to weather all challenges through. If 76 is close enough to be in the area of effect, any minor injuries may become fully healed. Beyond that, while he structured it to use his positive will and emotion and has been successful in casting it by himself, he's admittedly never had a chance to actually use it against nightmare energy, so... Suppose the 'worst' case scenario is a brief reprieve from the negative emotions permeating the air, before the coolness is swallowed back up by the oppressive heat like a drop of water vanishing inside a desert. But if his theorycrafting and practising have been on the right track, then it may just have added another layer of resistance on top of what the tea already provided.]

I'm ready.

[Having done what he could, he catches up to follow the taller man deeper into the woods, along with this worsening heat reminiscent of the Nala Lava Tubes back on Rieze Maxia. And what also grows alongside it, is these feelings...

...

He's not given time to dwell, as a stampede of large deer suddenly dashes through their surroundings in a bid to escape from their hunter. His focus remains steady, despite that and the effects of the domain whether through 76's help or his own efforts. The shadows are given a glance and no more, but he does halt as instructed at the older man's raised arm. The monstrous figure ahead hovering over a downed deer laying in a growing pool of blood has him reach for his bag where he stored his gauntlets just in case, but his hand stops at 76's introduction.

...So this is what Noctaere possession can do to people, and what Kazuma declared he would renounce if he could during their exchange.

Jude nods, silent and still. There was surprise, but it was short-lived, especially now that 76 had made it clear who this is. He simply observes, scrutinizing what he could from where he stands of Kazuma's Noctaere form. 76 had already implied quite clearly that Kazuma's mind is his own, but it does admittedly still leave him at a loss on what to do or say. Does he just introduce himself? Wouldn't it be rude though, to interrupt someone about to eat no matter who they are and what they're having? ...Mhm, staying quiet definitely feels like the wisest thing to do right now.]

[Kazuma remains focused on his kill until the deer's struggling starts to subside. It's breathing becomes erratic until eventually...there's nothing. As he removes his fangs, there are dark veins coming from the puncture wound, but it doesn't spread very far. After licking the blood from his claws and around his lips, he proceeds to lift the whole deer up and onto his shoulders. Better to go and setup a campsite than butcher out here in the open. He does not want another encounter with giant bears.

It's then that he'll notice the presence of others.] . . . [Of the two of them, he's staring right at Jude, only because he hasn't seen anyone else besides 76 who would travel this far out. By his furrow brows, he's clearly concentrating on something. Why was Jude out here, to see him like this? Did he need to deal with it...? 76 is there with him so....right, it's the flowers. He and 76's cave ventures had left him a little hungry, so all he wanted to do was hunt for food once they went their separate ways. And for that moment, he sort of lost himself in the hunt.

He'll start marching his way over to them. The weight of both him and the deer causing the ground beneath his feet to sink slightly with each step. There's nothing imposing at all about a giant man carrying an equally giant deer.] Here for the flowerss...? [His voice a low hiss, tongue flicking as a snake would.]

[Hair stood on the back of his neck, more at the coolness that wasn't coming from his own shadows, but it was better than not. Strange of a feeling as it was when Jude caught back up after that paus, having stopped to give him the time.]

Might come in handy on top of everything else. Just keep mindful if you start having any intruding thoughts, and the heat breaking past.

[76 had his shadows acting as a thin layer of protection, even if there was a bit of frost trailing in his footsteps before the needed stop to keep out of the way. Another of those deer then—

His stance was relaxed, arm falling back to his side, nodding once Kazuma approached and spoke.]

He wanted to see the cave that we found so many of them in for himself, could hold a few answers about them in there. [Easier to see what conditions they could need, too. All good reasons to se for himself were given, so 76 thought, and reason he hadn't argued bringing Jude along with him.

his head tipped, gaze shifting back towards Jude.] Holding up?

[This isn't the first time Jude found himself being towered over, and it most certainty won't be the last. Rieze Maxia is home to a slew of large and formidable monsters, though he's used to interacting with adult men taller than him anyway, even as a student before his "Doctor Mathis" days. They normally don't address him while carrying large game still dripping blood, granted, but he can keep himself together and hold his ground. ...Relatively and passably well enough, anyway; it's admittedly a tad unnerving, especially considering the circumstances. It's got him more tense than usual with one hand holding onto his bag's strap over his chest, and the other resting over the flap near the opening clasp. Stranger still that these feelings are actually welcome, an extra distraction from the scorching haze of directionless anger and hatred this entire area is seeped in. Guess that's another theory he can jot down for later: maybe someone with a mild and non-confrontational temperament is also less prone to being influenced?

Later, because he's not really thinking about it now. He nods at Kazuma's question, looking up to meet the sharp gaze of the beastly man who, thanks to his quarry, quite literally doubles him in height if not more. Pupils like slits and yellow sclera, along with snake-like physical mutations... Wonder what determines that? Do the traits gained depend on the host, or the Noctaere?]

...Hello, M. Asogi. [Okay so he's a little nervous, but whatever, helps him focus on who he's talking to and stay on his toes inside this domain,] M. 76 informed me that you found flowers with anti-Noctaere properties, so I asked to tag along for field study. [...] Thank you for letting me know.

[That much is only proper, after all. Thanks conveyed, he nods at 76's question, though his eyes remain fixed ahead, busy observing Noctaere-possessed Kazuma along with their immediate surroundings. He may be a bit distracted, but he's not idling; any part of these woods can become useful, and it never hurts to be as aware as you can of your environment.]

[He watches Jude carefully as he talks, his tongue flicking, getting a feeling of uneasiness from him. That fear, that unsettledness, he can sense them as a creature that feeds on such things. So to a hungry Noctaere, Jude is starting to look a little more appetizing than the deer. After a moment of staring, he blinks, averting his gaze to snap him out of that mindset. A nod.]

Don't mention you've sseen me. [There's a reason why he's out here after all, away from causing others harm until he's better. He adjust sthe deer on his shoulders, pulling a flower attached to the antlers. He'll then present it to Jude.] Until we get there. [Something for Jude to look over, recognize what they're looking for. It also may help keep his head together.]

Take a breath, kid. [More to Jude than not, given how his head tilted, words more soft spoken than not.

Looking back up towards Kazuma then, voice much more clear-] Can take that with us, or leave it up in a tree to deal with later. Doubt it'll spoil between now and then, given we know the way.

Issue is going to be what's in that cave with the flowers.

[Reason 76 had his pulse rifle with him, strapped on to his back. Blue still just behind them, weight shifted on clawed paws. Ready and willing to go on this little adventure with them, even if she's expected to wait outside of the cave again.]

[It'll take a bit getting used to, like much else in this new world, but Jude's relatively confident he'll manage. Just... 'Brave' and 'fearless' are words he certainly would never use to describe himself, an academic in mind and heart at the end of the day despite how much he ends up involving himself in. Guess this situation is a tiny bit nostalgic, thinking of it that way...

He nods firmly, and being presented with the flower in real time is a very effective reminder and motivator in helping him regather his focus. This is what he's here for, the first real lead they've had since he's willingly thrown himself into all this. It didn't matter not having personal ties to anyone involved, just knowing about what Noctaere possession can do was more than enough. He really should be concentrating on learning as much as he can on these flowers instead of being taken aback by the ~~large and intimidating~~ physical appearance of someone who is suffering the affliction, who also made it amply clear that he would gladly rid himself of this if he could.]

Got it. Thank you.

[He gingerly accepts the flower offered, already lowering his eyes onto it and mulling over its appearance, feel in his hand, and scent before 76 voices his advice. Right, it would do him good to put some effort into deepening and regulating his own breathing, to disperse the last of his jitters and better fortify himself once more against the effects of this domain. ...In, out. In, out...

...

He should have a container that fits this, a glass jar to preserve its form without squishing it. 76's statement has him looking up and glancing back towards the white-haired man, the implication of his words quite clear.]

Is it right up ahead?

Sender: 76 | around the middle of November

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I have appeared. Kazuma -> 76 -> Jude tag order yea?

Works for me o7

Sounds good!

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