The Gamble of a Djinni

[Summerchika]

At Avalon's words, Rajat dropped her hand and Buren's arm as if they burned him, hoping that dropping any physical contact would delay the wish. But it was too late; his magic had already taken effect. Behind Avalon's eyelids, light shone as her wish was granted. Avalon would see her sister and her surroundings. Whether she was dead or alive would not matter. As the picture manifested itself to Avalon, Rajat felt his strength draining. His knees buckled and he gasped for air, his breathing suddenly labored.

After this wish, he realized he would need to leave his irons behind. Iron did not interfere with his Djinn powers—only his Ifriti ones—but in his weakened state the mere pain caused by the irons would multiply exponentially. Because the irons were so little, the pain would usually only flare for a few seconds when he shifted forms, and that he could deal with. But in his current state, they would begin to affect even his ability to shift.

“I am sorry, Buren, for manhandling you,” Rajat panted, content to kneel on his hands and knees on the ground for a while. “I thought she would wish us to a different place. Needless to say, she didn't.”

[Avalon Silvasti]

Avalon gasped as the images played out in front of her as if she was there. She seen her sister alive and well adorned in battle armor and her once joyful green eyes now tainted lavender and cold as ice as she commanded her troops. Wait, her troops. Fear clutched Avalon. The Draklore had converted her, corrupted her. And made her one of their own. As the images stopped Avalon gasped and she went forward to her knees looking Rajat in the face as he mentioned wishing to be somewhere else. "I'm sorry my wish wasn't what you wanted." She said as she watched her weakened friend on his knees. "I'm terribly sorry." She said raising her hand to his shoulder to try and help him.

Fear still wrenched her gut as she wondered if they were still in pursuit of her. And feared her friends would be in danger.

[Omio]

Buren nodded, and took up the irons. Strangely enough, he simply held on to them, his thoughts finally distracted from the morbid tone they had taken. Hearing Rajat speak, he replied also, letting Avalon take precedence. "Your actions are justifiable enough, Rajat... ...but I will say one thing; I would imagine it being a wiser idea for us to gain some distance from town. Take a few moments to rest, yes, but... ...movement is a must, if we are to keep safe; towns are easy locations to sniff people out in, especially when I'm floating around. I'll locate you guys well enough by your footsteps, but if things get loud and non-hostile, try not to mind too much if you find my hand placed somewhere on you. I'll try to avoid awkward places, but... ...I won't have visibility for the rest of today."

He had little idea that Rajat had completely hit the ground - only that the irons he had did.

[Summerchika]

Rajat snorted amusedly at Avalon's apology, but panted for a while longer while Buren spoke. He noticed somewhere in the back of his mind that Buren had picked up his irons, but was so focused on getting a hold of himself that he pushed it from his mind for the time being.

“First, dearest, Avalon. It wasn't my wish that needed to be granted. Besides, I offered. No apology needed. Just don't try to bind me to you for other wishes and we'll call it even.” Then Rajat looked up at Buren and again noticed his irons in the mage's hand. He looked up at the mage with an odd expression on his face, then shook his head bemusedly.

“Buren, you are quite right. Let us away,” he said grandly in an attempt to lighten the situation. Rajat reached a hand up and grabbed a hold of Buren's shirt for support as he stood slowly. “Forgive me. How about I'll be your eyes, and you be my support, hm?” he proposed, trying not to lean on Buren too heavily. He would get some of his strength back soon, but for the sake of moving on quickly, Rajat would need support. “But don't touch me with those irons quite yet,” he added in a rush, “and thank you for picking them up for me.”

[Avalon Silvasti]

Avalon still felt bad for how personal her wish was and walked up to Rajat? "is there anyway I could possibly ask a favor of you?" She asked as she ran her hand through her hair nervously.

[Summerchika]

Rajat startled a bit, and immediately became wary of Avalon's request. Blind favors always made him wary, being the Djinni he was. He raised his eyebrow warily, and looked at her with cautious eyes. Nazanin was likewise wary, but equal parts curious of the elf. “And what would that favor be?” he asked, glancing briefly at Buren, but obviously failing to make eye contact.

As he interacted with Avalon, Nazanin warned Raj softly. You are growing too weak, Raj. Be careful of showing that weakness. I won't be there to save you should something go amiss. Raj nodded solemnly and attempted to correct his posture as he leaned on Buren's shoulder. Silently, he thanked the fates that she wouldn't be around should something really go amiss. He couldn't put her in harms way again.

Nin snorted a little at the direction of his thoughts, though he had attempted to keep them from her. I can take care of myself Raj. But thanks, she whispered in his mind with a smile.