Damien
At least the trip through the city was uneventful. Damien had waved shyly at the kids while Belial created colorful sparks of magic that danced between his hands. The elf slouched as they continued along a winding path that was in no way at all headed straight for the college. It didn't take him long to figure out why, but Damien was tired. Tired of fighting the inevitable, tired of being studied, tired of being tired.
He leaned forward to view the barrier, leaning on his staff for support. "It's beautiful," he mused to himself. "Ain't never seen a ward like it before." Of course, most other cities and towns didn't have mages running the show. It was no surprise.
He tapped at the ward to view it once more, pale blue eyes scanning it to soak up every detail visible. Passing through the ward would would give him more insight into the ward's structure, if he was lucky (ha!).
"Well, as long as it ain't gonna hurt me or Bel..." Damien gave a shrug and stood up straight. "I'm gonna hold you to the promise of a meal, though." With another shrug, he stepped forward.
Oh.
Killian wasn't lying about the ward pushing him back. It certainly wasn't the most welcome of feelings, and most definitely not a way to welcome anyone to the college. It felt rather like walking through jello, only the jello was thicker, viscous, and icy. Crackles of magic bloomed against his skin, pushing him back as he fought his way through the ward, but Damien wasn't going to give that smug prick the satisfaction of watching him get pushed out.He'd get through, even if only by his sheer stubborn willpower.
His head was throbbing now, and Damien could feel his insides churn. The elf's pale grey skin tinged green, growing clammy under the ward's influence. With a final push, he was through, and Damien took a breath of relief...
...before doubling over and dry heaving.
Were it not for his staff, which he clutched tightly with both hands, the elf might very well have collapsed on the spot. Throbbing headache, dizziness, nausea... Never again. That fucking ward was intense, and he didn't even gain any insight about it. Just his luck. But he was through. Turning around, still braced by his staff, he gave Belial a thumbs up. His hair had increased in length, and led through the ward to where Belial waited on the other side.
"You look terrible, Damien," the spirit said with what could only be described as a frown. "You're positively green."
The look he received from Damien could only be described as the face made by someone who had smelled something awful, and Belial chortled as the elf once again dry heaved. "Just watch. I'll show you how it's done."
As he moved forward, the strands of Damien's hair shortened. Belial entered the ward, and unlike the elf, he moved through it effortlessly. The ward's magic was absorbed by the elemental, creating a distorted void of emptiness directly around him. Gliding over to Damien, patting his stomach. "An unexpected meal. I hope I didn't damage your ward."
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