#code:suneater

It's intimate work. I mean intricate

was experimenting and it turned into this guy

Nirael stood in the garden, tending to an overgrown rosebush.

He'd never considered he might find himself gardening at any point, but something about hacking through overgrown undergrowth and pulling weeds was cathartic.

Mist drifted about his ankles. He moved through the garden heedless, not finding it unusual for the freezing area along the sea that the castle was built in.

The mist moved as though piling up, drifting higher until Nirael realized he was enveloped. Something didn't feel right. It wasn't regular sea fog.

He held up a hand, using magic to dissipate the fog.

Nothing happened. He felt energy welling in his chest, but it was weakened, stifled. And his spell certainly did nothing to the fog.

He covered his mouth and nose with his hand, and then dared to plunge through it into it to re-enter the castle. Fortunately, the fog had not gotten indoors.

He quickly sought Tosiol, plucking the strings of their bond to locate her- But finding even that was difficult. She seemed mildly started as he barreled into the kitchen.

"Tosiol! Are you alright?"

"...Yes? Did something happen?"

Nirael warily lowered his hand from his mouth, wondering now if he were simply imagining things.

"I...No. I don't think so."

Tosiol lowered the kitchen knife she had been using to chop up vegetables, and turned to lay her hands on his arms, comforting and concerned. "Are you sure, Nirael? It's not like you to get so uneasy."

"Yeah, sure. It's been a nice tossup. Still kinda pissed about that one bitch getting past my defense. I figured out a workaround, though."

"Read 'em and weep, babe."

>> "Looks stupid as hell."