Forest of Ceylis

The Kelestrian Rabies virus has been accidentally unleashed upon the world, in what looks like some sort of freak accident. Now, Celcia and her group must save the world from this unintentional disease.

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POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD



About a decade ago, Lute still lived with his family in a city. Lute was just a baby, Kor and Celcia were about five years old each, and their parents were still alive. Their parents were incredibly successful scientists. They were quite famous for being hyper-intelligent and creating several miraculous breakthroughs. They mainly studied how magic worked and how magefoxes originally developed magic.

At this point in time, Kor had amazingly powerful fire abilities, but he was unfortunately unable to control it at all. The parents had been trying to invent a system for Kor to control his super abilities, but unfortunately, they never succeeded. Kor escaped and accidentally destroyed the entire city, leaving everything and everybody in smoldering ashes. The parents captured Kor, and the entire family decided that it was best to transfer Kor's massive power to baby Lute. They went through with the transfer process, and now Lute has Kor's explosive powers.

There was an unintended side-effect to the transfer process, though: Something affected Lute's and Kor's brain. Kor was much more immediately affected, as he quickly began to resent and hate his family. He became increasingly bitter and angry. Meanwhile, the parents finally managed to create a special device that could allow Lute to control his massive power. This device ended up being Lute's sunglasses, which made him blind, and therefore unable to explode anything. The sunglasses also had a special hidden function: It repressed the malfunction hidden inside Lute's head, to an extent. He never went crazy or insane, because he never took off the sunglasses for any extended period of time.

Kor became so angry and hostile that he ended up killing Celcia, their mother, on accident. The rest of the family quickly decided to split up and head their seperate ways.

Lutukor found his way to the Forest of Ceylis, where he decided to stay. He made no real effort to hide or run away from Kor, thinking Lute could just kill him with his firepower if Kor tried to pay Lute a visit.

The daughter was scared that Kor would find her and kill her, so she took her dead mother's name. This daughter is the person everybody else knows as Celcia. She eventually came to live with Lute and now she has her own laboratory in the forest.

Recently, Lute had to visit Asuza for some unrelated business (Saving the world). She didn't know about Lute's condition, and she put him in a hallucination as part of a challenge. One of the first things she did to Lute was take off his sunglasses in the hallucination. He had spent several months inside this place, in his brain, but it only seemed like a few minutes to everybody else. This couple months was enough of a catalyst that the malfunction began to spread throughout his brain and Lute began to go insane like Kor.

Celcia managed to bring Lute back to the lab before the problem got too bad, and Lute appeared to be making a recovery. However, something strange happened; the disease in his head turned contagious. Celcia and others decided to call this the Kelestrian Rabies virus.

Victims of the disease show symptoms in the form of attacks or episodes. In the attacks, the victim becomes hostile and angry, even violent. The person will eventually experience memory loss and general degradation of thought processes, speech becomes more erratic and, and eventually, their thoughts will be completely replaced by the thought of causing harm and murdering people. At that point, curing the victim of the disease seems increasingly impossible. However, Kor has lived with the disease most of his life, and even he is showing some signs of recovery.

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And now, Celcia, Rankine, and Kallec have just gotten together, and they are getting ready to leave. They had just exited Kallec's underground library and were gathering the necessary supplies they needed to visit the Pith home town.

Celcia had just exited the rocky entrance to the underground cave. She looked around and saw the lake in the distance, but she couldn't quite tell if anybody was there yet. Celcia looked back into the entrance and saw Kallec and Rankine catching up to her. She began jumping down from the rocks to the grassy floor below.

"Well, I think we're about ready to leave.." Celcia called out. "Maybe we should find a few more people to join us, first.."

Celcia had no idea what her parents had prepared for them.. It made her shiver slightly, thinking about her parents. They always had some sort of plan. Some bigger picture. A better idea of what was going on. Celcia had no idea what her parents were planning.

It made her even more fearful this time, because her parents were both already dead.

Kallec got out of the cave, carefully not to slip on the rocks. It wasn't actually hard to step on those rocks, but he didn't want to start an important trip with an accident. After he got out, he stepped aside so Rankine could get out too, then turned around to talk to Celcia

"So, we have what we need, and the way to get there is well known by you. We shouldn't expect much trouble during the trip, but since you want to get someone else to help, it's up to you. I don't know anyone we could invite. Uh.. I don't know anyone at all..."

(As Rankine) Rankine followed the others out onto the grass, and stood, waiting for instructions, and double checking the supplies. (I have no clue what else to put here.)

Baduk saw the group from afar and decided to approach them, perhaps some questions from last time would be answered, maybe he'd even be able to help out more, last time he was kinda just there.

"Hello, Celcia, where are we off to this time?" he asked, quite excited and more or less ready this time around, since he understood quite a bit more.

Celcia had been scanning the lake, looking for anybody. Honestly, they probably weren't prepared at all for what was in store for them. The only magical user so far was Kallec, and if he got incapacitated, it wouldn't end well. But why would he get knocked out? They're just going to pay Mom and Dad a visit, right? What could be so dangerous about that..? Celcia only made herself more nervous thinking about it.

"I don't know, Kallec but I think we should bring other people. It may get potentially dangerous, and.. Hello, Baduk, we're going to my home town. We're trying to find the cure to the Kelestrian Rabies virus. You probably have it as well, unfortunately.. Do you want to go..?"

Celcia didn't want to bring Lute or Kor along. Lute was too volatile and dangerous, and Kor was a completely useless person that would just get in the way. Celcia really didn't know too many other people around here.

Rankine thaught for a moment,fidgeting with a book. "Mom, I can't think of anyone else who would be useful, plus, if your expecting danger, shouldn't we bring weapons of some sort? Also, what kind of time frame are we working with? I mean, before we show symptoms, and eventually go completely mad?"

Kallecyanus nodded in agreement to Celcia as she explained her cautiousness. She was the only one who would be able to tell what they could find in her former home town. There was still a chance that she would be totally surprised by a new scenario; something more dangerous; they were dealing with some weird magical disease which was probably a mild version of the Kelestrian Plague after all.

As all those possibilities got clearer in Kallec's mind, he noticed he was just a few steps away from the others. Awesome as one's mind could digress so much in a short time.

"Um... we should probably be very careful, specially since it's been a long time you've been there, Celcia. Oh, and hello to you other friend of Celcia. It's nice to see so much people plighted to this cause"

There were actually four people there, and it wasn't decided if Baduk would really come along with them, but Kallec's feeling was that he was surrounded by a crowd of people. Somewhere in his mind, he probably made the comparison between three and zero people, and unconsciously concluded three was an infinitely larger number than zero.

Baduk tilts their head at Celcia "Your hometown for a cure for some illness? I can go with you, but I don't really have any knowledge on illnesses." they replied, listening to the others talking to Celcia, asking her questions and leaving comments.

They decided any further questioning of what was going on would only bombard Celcia and kept anything they had to ask to themself, if they were already involved with this, as Celcia said they might have the illness already, It's only normal and to be expected that they would come along. Besides, how often does one get to go on some unknown adventure.

Reem had taken Lute's advice and decided to seek out his sister. traveling wasn't high on her list of things she wanted to do while so heavily pregnant, but whatever it was that was making her the way she was had to end. Soon. Reem knew she would be incapable of raising her kits in this state.

She had rested well in the little hiding hole she had been stowing away in and was up with the sun, hopeful that something will change in her. She wasn't too paranoid or out of it so things seemed to be looking up for the day. She had asked Lute to point her in the right direction to find his sister and went with that this morning. She kept her attention on her nose, trying to find an unfamiliar scent as she headed toward. It took her a while, but she caught something. It was similar to Lute's scent, but distinctly different. That had to be her! She picked up the pace as much as her heavy body would allow until she spotted the group.

Reem was nervous. She had never met Celcia. And with what was ailing her, she was afraid of the paranoia getting to be too much and hurting the unfamiliar of the group - or getting hurt in a scuffle. She paused a good distance away, waiting to see if any symptoms would kick in.

Nothing.

That was a good sign at least. The fox decided to venture forward, slowly and cautiously. She slowed as she drew near.

"H-hello? Are you Celcia, Lute's sister?"

Celcia had been thinking about who they could possibly bring along. Four people was not a lot, but it was a lot more than just Celcia by lonesome - she didn't know if she could handle everything by herself.

"The illness affects everyone differently. Some people have months before anything even happens, but most of us will see the symptoms within a week or two. Baduk, I feel we're going to need all the help we can get. You can absolutely come with us."

Celcia began slowly walking towards the lake, hoping that they would find someone useful in the area. Kallec had loads of magical ability, but Celcia didn't know whether or not he had ever actually used it in any sort of combat. Lute would have been the most obvious choice, but again, he would probably be too unreliable and violent.

She was then approached by a rather strange fox. Celcia looked her over, and quickly deduced that she was quite pregnant. This was probably Reem. Lute had talked about her before, calling her 'that one pregnant bitch'.

"Hello! I assume you are Reem..? Yes, I am Celcia, Lute's sister. I feel I must inform you that you and your children may be in serious danger. Pregnant women are probably more quickly affected than others. You need the cure as soon as possible."

Kallec was surprised by how much this suddenly discovered disease had spread so fast. Now, with the new person, Reem, they had a group of five. Five! But the fact that most of them had the mysterious disease was his main concern... and now there was a pregnant one.

"I believe this disease should be taken more seriously now. With the rate this is spreading, I wouldn't be surprised if every magefox living in the surroundings was affected. I'm sorry to know you have contracted it Reem. Hope we can fix this before it gets dangerous to your offspring"

Baduk's tail flicked a little with joy as they were told they could come, looking over the rest of the group. Illness, disease, these do not matter to him, he simply wanted to have a bit of fun with their 'friends', if he helps stop some massacre or whatever, all the better.

Besides, to Baduk, this probably would be much more fun than having more tests done on them. They'd practiced their magic since the last time they talked, while probably not good at combat, they still knew some basic abilities that would assist the group.

(Rankine is having computer troubles and can't log in right now. I am posting for her so she doesn't get skipped over by everybody.)

Rankine shifted around on his paws,anxious to get going. "It doesnt seem like we have a lot of time, but it DOES seem like we have a sufficient number of volunteers, so, might it be a good idea to get going?" He asked no one in particular.

"Yes, that's me," Reem replied shyly, a bit embarrassed for some reason by the fact that Celcia knew who she was already. But the words that followed the fox's initial greeting made her worry even more. Her ears dropped.

"I'll do anything to save my kits. Anything. They are the most important things in my life. I can't put them in any more danger than I already have." Reem's words made it seem like she was the one at fault for being infected. She did blame herself for not realizing that she was sick. It was her fault that this had gotten to the point that it did. At least, that's how she saw it.

"I need help though... I don't know what to do. I might slow you down a little because I can't move very fast but please let me go with you!"

Celcia listened quietly to Reem's pleas for help. She looked over to Ran. Celcia could definitely relate to the feeling of needing to save her children. Besides, Celcia was already going to let Reem come along anyway.

"Of course! We need to get there as fast as we can, but we will only be moving at a comfortable pace. But we do need to get moving as soon as possible. Let's go!" Celcia looked around briefly, getting her bearings. She never thought she'd have to return to her home town again. Not that it could be called a town anymore.

Celcia got up and began walking towards the general direction of where they needed to go. She looked back, waiting for the others to follow.

Kallec was pleased to realize everyone was motivated to work on this problem. Some of them had more serious reasons to look for the cure, but it still seemed like everyone was truly going to dedicate themselves.

"Judging from what I've seen about this disease, I'd say you shouldn't be worried for your kits, Reem. Not yet. If you didn't notice there was something wrong with you, then it's not developed harmful symptoms. Celcia has been in contact with someone infected with it for a long time, and it just started to show minor effects. I'm sure we'll find the cure in time".

After having his attempt to reasure the soon to be mother, Kallec would face Baduk.

"You seem to enjoy the fact we have quite an adventure ahead. You don't need to know about illnesses, and I confess I have little knowledge on this matter too. Your enthusiasm is what we need - the will to do good".

Kallec had read somewhere that being optimistic was a good thing when in a group. Even though he hadn't practiced it, he felt like he was doing the right thing saying those things, and somehow, it matched what he really meant. With that, he stepped closer to Celcia, as if saying he was ready to go, and nodded at Rankine, agreeing with him about leaving now.

Baduk looked at Reema and thought some, mainly about how everyone seemed nervous, this did seem like a bad virus, but luckily their unknowledgeable nature made them oblivious to what was actually happening.

They looked over at Kallec when he spoke to them and flicked their tail some in excitement "Yeah, I want to see more of this place, it seems interesting, and maybe I can come of help at some time during it."

Was grateful to be allowed to go. She just wanted for all of this to be over. She wanted to have her self back - and her life with Lhune. She hadn't lived through her curse and endured it when the curse was broke to be with him just for something else to get in the way of her having a happy family.

"Thank you," she said shyly, more to all the foxes as a group rather then to just Celcia alone. She did her best to keep pace with the group as they started to move. Luckily, no one walked too quickly.

After a good long while of relative silence from the pregnant fox, she decided she had better warn them that even though she still had her mind about her, she was prone to fits. Reem attempted to think of a good way to word what she wanted to say, but nothing really fit. It wasn't after a good bit of debating that she decided to speak up.

"Um... I wanted to warn you," she started. She continued to walk, not wanting to delay their travels. "I know I seem okay now and Lute told me about the symptoms and... W-well, i do have them. They come in waves. Usually suddenly and without warning. I get very, very paranoid and angry. I've only lashed out once but since then I've been avoid everyone at all costs. The symptoms have only gotten worse to I'm afraid that if I fall into how I've been getting I might run away or try to hurt one of you..."

Astatine suddenly burst out of the brush and spoke with glee, "Ran! Yay! I found you!!" She raced over to her brother, attempting to pounce and nuzzle him, "Can we play a game? I'm bored!"

It seemed momentarily she didn't even notice that there was a gathering of people around her, but that wore off very quickly. Suddenly her gaze turned a little cold as her eyes darted between the members of the group she didn't recognize. She spoke in a lower, darker voice, "Wait.. what are all these people doing here?"