Ramiel And The Divine Priestess' Curse

First topic message reminder :

(Where We Last Left Off)

Taomin followed Ramiel's lead this time, waiting as he made an opening in Nyake's shadowy form. "There!" Taomin cried out, etching into the sky an incantation that would take the form of a Talisman. She pointed at the skull and directed the Wind to guide the slip toward the skull so that it would hopefully attach to it and begin to siphon its power -- a Siphon Talisman. "Ramiel!" Taomin cried, etching more Siphon Incantations in the sky, forging them into Talismans, "Distract Her!" He should be able to take care of that for her, and then the Talismans would be allowed to do their work.

Ramiel stood wary, spear in hand and fully deployed at the first shout. He gave a visible sag and an audible sigh of relief that he wasn't going to have a round two so soon after the first. He triggered his spear back down into the rod form, and sank it into its holster at his hip. He bowed slightly to Tia, though kept his eyes on her. He spoke to answer Tao's question, "I do not know. I've seen many priests and priestesses in the Bay, from a variety of ideologies. I do not know the intricacies of your faith, Taomin."

Taomin was so touched by Ramiel's words that she said to him, "Then Tao Will Teach You!"

Taomin thought for a moment. "I Am A Believer Of God." Taomin smiled, raising her sleeves up cutely to her face. "So, You Really Must Like Me, Huh?" She mentioned, noticing how much he was doing on her behalf. She wondered if he really meant business, though. Maybe she shouldn't.

"Are You Interested In Me For Real?" Taomin asked innocently.

"Foolish Fool Girl!" Tia shouted at Taomin, "You Also Need To Be Catching Up On Your Studies." The Great Empress, Tiamat, was ever too pleased for there to be a person that was interested in her in such a fashion, "I Told You, I'd Defeat You." It seemed like the Empress Tia had made quite the impression upon Ramiel's heart. "Or Maybe You'd Like To Help Tao In Her Studies?" It seemed that she was being a shoddy asset if he were looking at someone else whilst he were also dealing with Taomin.

Ramiel looked confused. "Why would you need to ask such a thing, Tao?" He said, as her wrapped his arms around her.

He turned his head towards Tia, but not fully looking at her, his back was to her while hugging Tao. "What do you mean, assist her? I know nothing." He shrugs, "I feel like I could only slow her down if I helped in her studies."

Taomin shifted a bit, letting herself be embraced by Ramiel. Hesitantly, she hugged him back, smiling and welling up in her eyes almost like she would shed tears. She sucked them back up, though, naturally, because she had a reputation to uphold, but she was still touched by Ramiel's actual genuine affection for her. "Let's Just Say..." Taomin started, eyes veering off to the side as she passed through Ramiel's body like the wind over his form, "... I'm Not Exactly A Lovable Person." After all of the terrible things that happened in her life, including her own sins that made her into a horrible person, she was not one to think of herself as one to be loved. In fact, she was more accustomed to being feared or lusted after. Ramiel showed neither of those qualities.

"With The Slaughter Of Your Own Clan," Tia suddenly shouted, "The Various Sexual Obscenities," she added, "And The General Rebellious Attitude," Tia finalized, "It Is No Surprise Why She Would Deem Herself Unlovable."

Ramiel was totally ignorant of who Tao was before, and Nyake was only a glimmer of that. "You Do Not Know How Many Hearts She Has Broken... And How Many Times Hers Has Been Broken, As Well." Certainly, it first began with her parents. "As You Know, Taomin Was Sacrificed To The Family Spirit -- Which Was A Demon -- In The Time Of Her Innocence And Purity As A Priestess. That Broke Her Innocent Heart. She Was Never The Same Afterward."

"I Believe That You May Be Able To Keep Her Chaste, At The Very Least," Tia said to Ramiel, "For She Seems To Have An Actual Will To Be On Her Best Behavior Around You." Tia closed her beaming red eyes and furrowed her brow, floating closer to Ramiel, "But I Warn You Now Of Taomin's Behavior When She Is Having Fun. She Lacks Self-Control At Times And Often Unleashes Her Power And Subsequently Goes Off Naked To Feel The Full Experience Of Her Excitement." Tia lowered her head. "Like A Feral Beast." Taomin was indeed feral by choice and by nature, but she still needed to control it, no matter how fun it might be.

"Heed Me When I Say Again That You Cannot Handle Her. That Experience With Myself In My Demon Form Was Only A Test." Tiamat hovered away from Ramiel and over to the edge of the grassy platform that they were standing on, saying lastly, "But I Still Believe She Will Keep Herself Under Control If You Are Present."

Ramiel listened, and hearing the grave crimes gave him pause, though some he didn't consider crimes.

It took him some moments to think how to answer, with the words that conveyed his thoughts best.

"You were sacrificed to demons, what heart wouldn't be changed by this? Mantled with power beyond any you knew before, and dark power at that? What innocence would survive that unscathed?"

He drew in a breath, "I had no knowledge of these things, not to any true depth when I met you. And I found someone worth caring about. You are lovable." He looks at Taomin, "I care about you, and your happiness. Where I call home, is a place of second chances. Where your past isn't held against you."

He paces a bit, "I feel like I can see the good in people. I work to try and draw it out. That's why I said what I said to Shiyoko. No one's perfect. Not in my world. Even I'm no angel. I'm just some dumb bunny that still has both lucky feet attached."

"The Darkness Of Taomin's Family Line -- King Keaton," Tiamat practically screamed at the poor rabbit, seeming to just be following the personality that she is; a wind Aethereal; "It Is The Combined Form Of Foxes, Canines And Felines Into A Thirteen Tailed Inari That Actually Was The Tensei Spirit Claiming A Tensei At The Time Of It Happening." That needed to be explained, because Taomin would remember it differently. "The Living Shadow -- As The Tensei Curse Is Called -- Ended Up Being Attached To Taomin Through Me, Nyake, And I Have Been With Her Ever Since."

"I, Too, Have Become A Goddess, For I Am The Mother Spirit That Teaches Taomin And Knows All Of Her Deepest Negative Traits." Naturally, she would, since the Living Shadow had all of Taomin's negativity and darkness pent up inside. "But When I Get Frisky," Nyake said, her black cat ears appearing in a perky fashion, "Our Bad Side Comes Out, And I Project It Unto Taomin." That was how the 2,000 year old curse was to seal Nyake. "However, Because Taomin Is A Goddess, I Became A Goddess As Well -- The Goddess Of Discord, Eris." She blushed a little, "Normally I Am Called Tiamat -- Queen Of Dragons -- But My Name Is Aeris As A Goddess, With Nyake Being My Demon Form." This was because she was a mother and daughter spirit, herself. "I Have Numerous Other Children Around Here As Well, Such As Meiun, Who Is Known As 'Black Friday'. They Are Each Afflicted By My Motherly Generational Curse."

It was something extremely personal, to say the least.

The cat ears were slicked down into her lavender hair and disappeared. "But Tia Isn't A Bad Kitty Too Much, Right, Usagi Child?" Usagi was the name of the lapines in the Veritas. They were rabbits and such.

Taomin suddenly became embarrassed, waving her arm around in Chibi form at Nyake, "OMFL, I CAN'T EVEN BELIEVE YOU SAID ALL OF THAT!!" Taomin became flustered, for those were embarrassing things about herself.

But, why be flustered by embarrassing things, right?

"Anyway, Ramiel, I'm Just Happy That Your Feelings Are Real This Time. It Has Been So Long Since People Have Shown Genuine Emotion To Me And I Actually Cared." Taomin blushed, trying to change the subject as best she could -- back to the original subject, actually. "But Why Do You See That? Maybe God Will Shine Down On Our Union." It seemed like Taomin was a bit excited to talk about it, since all of the other lovey things that they'd done together were actually really very engaging for Tao. "I Really Love The Bay, But I Just Cannot Stay For Too Long, Because I Live Here In The Veritas, Where I Am Supposed To Be Studying On How To Be A Priestess Again To Reclaim My Virginity And Repent Of My Sins Against My Family, Friends, Random Passersby, Animals, Supernatural And Celestial Beings That Died By My Hand After I Committed Terrible, Terrible Acts Of Them." Taomin covered her eyes with her robe, more embarrassed. "I Just Killed A Lot Of People And Messed With Their Minds And Hearts And Bodies Like They Were Toys... Just Like Nyake Does."

Taomin smiled nervously, "Which Is Why We Had To Show You In This Fashion." She chuckled dryly.

"Now Do You See Why We Fought Nyake? It Strengthened Our Bonds!"

Ramiel stared looking sad, and covered his face with a hand.

"Taomin. I think you believe me to be something I'm not." He looks at her. "I can't stay here with you. Not because of your past, but what you want from me in the present, and maybe the future."

He looked up at the sky above, "My heart is open to you, but there are others I hold there as well. My wives, Glaista and Sascha, and my daughter, Ro'wanna." His thumb went to the rings he wore, the shield ring that they had seen in the fight, and another, matte black band. "If this upsets you, I am sorry. I should have been forward about that. I didn't intend to deceive you, or hurt you. Before I understood your link to Nyake, I thought she was hunting you, and I sought to protect you."

He cast his eyes down, "Once I started to understand, I remained concerned for you, I felt for you and wanted to help you, and know more about you." He sighs, "But you know I'm not a chaste man. I'm anything but. I share my love freely. With all those I care about."

He gave them a sad smirk, "Like I said, dumb bunny. Not an angel. Just named after one."

The name kinda fit, actually.

Taomin did not seem to care very much about how Ramiel's past hurt him, for she was already forgiving him in her heart.

"Well God Bless You For The Confession," Taomin said meekly, placing her hands in her lap and bowing her head. "Tia Is Right, Though. You Have Great Love In Your Heart For Me And I Can Tell This Immediately. The Point Is For ME To Be Chaste," she flicked his nose, "Silly!" Taoming wondered if that meant in her Demon Mode, too, as an Oni. "So As Long As You Wish No Harm Upon Me And Know That Nyake Is A Part Of Myself And Also My Mother In A Way, You And I Should Get Along!" Taomin would just treat him platonically, as she had been in the first place. "I Just Get A Little Rowdy And Start Getting Kind Of Open About It..." Which is what she was doing... "... But I Shouldn't Be Being So Flirty, I Suppose." It had just been a while for Tao and Ramiel seemed to wish to know about her Living Shadow.

Speaking of which.

"Tia," Tao asked politely, shifting her arms into her sleeves, "Will You Please Let Ramiel See Shiyoko? He Needs To Know About Her, As Well."

Tiamat did not respond immediately.

"Very Well," Tia finally spake, a face appearing in a ripple coming from her stomach, "Shiyoko!" Tia called, pulling forth from the Living Shadow body the form of Shiyoko, the kunoichi. She spattered out of Tia's robe like being pulled from water, yet formed her tightly curved body from what seemed like shadows, themselves.

Her legs did not detach from Tiamat's body.

"Shiyoko Is One Of The Fallen Ninja Of The Abandoned Clan. She Was Meant To Come Eliminate Me -- This Was When I Was In My Full Demon Form, Mind You -- Yet Suddenly Became Hypnotized By My Seductive Wiles And Absolute Domineering Power. She Saw Power In Me, And It Was To Save Her Clan. But They Are Long Dead." Shiyoko was ultimately just a small piece of Nyake's memory as the Queen Succubus that threatened her clan and made her join her in order to further her dark powers. "She Can Appear In An Adult Form Or A Child Form, Because She No Longer Ages. Whichever Is Necessary." Tia smirked like Nyake, her gleaming fang suddenly glimmering in the light.

"But All Of This Was To Say That Shiyoko Is A Part Of Me, Now, Even Though She Retains Her Personality. She Knows Her People Are Gone. She Also Knows That I Spared Her And Kept Her." Tia looked to Shiyoko with tender eyes, "The One Who Raised Her From Childhood."

All of those things were just memories from Nyake's assault on the entire planet in Taomin's time.

"I am sorry for the confusion," Shiyoko said, bowing deeply, flipping her overly long lavender ponytail over her head, then letting it roll back down over her shoulder. "I am my Mistress, yet I am also her loyal subject for all eternity." Shiyoko could never be anything else, but she learned the forbidden dark arts that she wanted, which was ultimately what Shiyoko wanted in the first place. She willingly serves Nyake, as it was seen and said before. "Please don't try to save me~!" Shiyoko said cutely, placing her knuckles on her face.

Rami sighed, partly in relief. "Good... I was afraid you'd be hurt." That was the relief. The rest was mounting confusion and headache. Everyone was part of someone else, and their own relation.

He looked to Shiyoko, "If that is your will, then I won't try to break you away."

He walked to the edge of the isle they were on, and sat down. "This makes so little sense to me, everything's so recursive and entwined and complex. I feel like a child, unaware of how things work, just that they do and it's all so beyond me."

Taomin gasped, not really understanding why the outcome was this. "Whatever Do You Mean, Ramiel?" Tao asked sincerely, "I Thought We Explained It Pretty Well. But If You Could See The Full Extent, You Would Be Less Confused!" It would have been better to have explained it piece by piece, probably. Taomin, again, simply got too excited.

That was pretty much how she was as a person and was trying to sustain self-control for as long as possible.

She hovered over to Ramiel and sat next to him on her legs in a traditional Japanese style, "As Long As You Are Sincere With Me, I Won't Ever Be Hurt." She smirked, rubbing her nose with her sleeve, "I've Got Too Much Heart!" She did rule over the Heart of the Veritas, after all -- the Crystal Heart. "So Just Be As Honest As Possible!" Taomin figured she was doing well at holding back, letting the night roll by in relaxation with a nice, dear friend. She looked at the floating islands that were around and started to say, "Those Are The Empyrean Islands, Where All Of The Most Important Pieces Of The Avisora Paradisia Meet." She turned her head to Ramiel and nodded, making full eye contact, "ESPECIALLY The Celestial Isles."

It seemed like Taomin was enjoying her date, the moon rolling by with the soft churn of the floating island.

Tiamat could see that Taomin was understanding how to serve God as a Divine Priestess again. Her innocence was still there thanks to her Tensei blood from the Crystal Heart. Tia need not say anything else to the practicing Priestess as she closed her eyes, withdrew Shiyoko into herself, and silently slipped down to the ground and slid into the shadow of Taomin, then attached symbiotically to her tail and kimono in the same way Shiyoko was when she was present.

Ramiel had no more words for now. He still had his questions, such as how deific beings had their own deity? Or if they were one being, or many, or still somehow both? But these were unvoiced, there was too much already on his mortal mind to process.

His hand slid gently over hers, fur like soft velvet over her skin. He leaned over and smooched her forehead, then smiled to her. He kicked his legs slowly at the edge.

He asked one thing, looking both up and down to peer into the distance, "So, is there any other layers above or below us here?"

Taomin smiled at Ramiel and blushed a bit after receiving a kiss to the forehead. Normally, she was the one doing that to people.

She knew that he couldn't have understood everything going on in just one sitting, and that they probably would have to speak a little more deeply on the matter, but she didn't mind just sitting and enjoying the ambiance for now. His soft hand was like a warm reminder of their friendship and strengthened bonds with each other. It made her feel comfortable, though she'd never done such things before with anyone without trying to kill them.

"Layers?" Taomin parroted after Ramiel inquired, "Oh Yes, Plenty! Some Of The Avisora Paradisia Isles Float Up And Down Whilst Others Float Side To Side, And There Are Others Still That Orbit Or Stay In Place." There were floating islands all around, each with a special purpose and necessity to the Avisora Paradisia Sky Realm as a whole.

The atmosphere of the Sky Realm bore many of its isles gently floating through the sky in all directions, as Tao insisted. Some were as large as continents and others were as small as houses, or even smaller. The islands all seemed to revolve around a certain central point that bound them all within the Sky Realm -- a sort of powerful force. This was the Crystal Force, which was the special element of Wind. Tia, who was the atmosphere, kept everything contained and in motion whilst Taomin, the Goddess, ruled over the land and Tia, as well.

The layers of the Sky Realm were something to behold. Above, the congregation of floating islands with pastures and mountains, as well as cities and jungles with ruins; below, a cloudy cushion that seemed to be a safeguard for any who may so happen to fall off. This made up its own city made completely of clouds and was layered along with the islands.

There was one island in particular that stood out from the rest; a tiny island with an enormously tall mountain. It had the tallest mountain in the Dawn, and it was known as a sky forge. Many who could not fly trekked up the pathway to reach the legendary forge, but the creatures there were vicious and strong, thus making the trek deadly, to say the least.

The platform that Tao and Ramiel sat on was Astrid, the Sky Garden, which harbored exotic plant life which were nurtured here by the Avisorans, which were native bird-people and general flying creatures of the sky. Taomin was guardian of all of these things, but she remained in the Sky Sanctuary, Sanctimonious -- which she hated. She was always escaping and swirling about the Veritas and other places, but eventually always had to return to the Sky Sanctuary to deal with her Divine Priestess training. Tia -- who was the entire atmosphere -- could see that Taomin was finally coming into her divinity and would soon willingly go to the Sky Sanctuary instead of being forced there by Tia or one of the other deific spirits... or even the great deity, himself, who ruled over each of his Spirits.

The bunny just watched it all for some time, sitting next to Taomin. Then he let out a wide yawn, his tongue actually curled a little, like his lower lapine foreteeth were a ramp that it jumped. Seems the second wind he'd gotten after the battle was fading. Even if it hadn't, he'd been battered up pretty good, and was pretty bruised under the armor. He'd need time to heal, as any mortal would.

"Nyaaa..." He smacked his lips and winced a bit as his ears drooped a little. "Sorry, I'm starting to feel really tired."

"Oh, Is That So?" Taomin inquired, "Then Let The Veritas Heal Your Wounds With The Passing Wind," she said as she blew him a kiss.

A pair of invisible angelic Soul Wings arose from the back of Taomin and released a great force as they did, withdrawing air with a light pressure to generate a heart-shaped vacuum of air that was in the shape of her lips. Her wings flapped as she blew it, creating a single gentle push to his direction.

The resulting force of the flap of Taomin's Crystal Wings released a healing breeze that would clear the air to make it clean for him whilst also kissing his mouth by having the wind pass over him in a gentle, but forceful burst. "This Will Help You Recover More Quickly."

The lingering Side-Effect of the Crystal Wings also continually healed him because they cleared his air for him. Taomin smiled as her wings suddenly disappeared. "I Hope I Do Not Blow You Over The Edge, Even If The Cloud City Below Would Catch You, Or Maybe Another Island."

One of the islands passed them by, which seemed to be continental in size. The Paradisia Isle, as it was called -- The largest of the 'Empyrean Isles,' its name an homage to the entire land of 'Avisora Paradisia,' itself. This islands is beautiful and lush, seeming to be completely peaceful and open to nature. With mountains, trees bearing fruit, isolated clouds, animals and its own lakes and waters, beings are known to go here to live and to train in a serene paradise in segregation of all the goings on of the world.

As the blown kiss of wind rushed over him, he felt the effects it imbued. The sensation made him shiver, and the fur on the back of his neck stood on end.

"Whoa... that's different." He grinned. "One of the better ways I've been healed." He subconsciously rubbed the purple tip of his ear, that stood in contrast to his normal grey main coat of fur. It wasn't a match to even his russet/chocolate brown underbelly, nor to his coppery hair atop his head. That purple wasn't dye, yet it was clearly not normal.

"Thanks," Tao said, licking her lips, "I Do My Best To Be As Sexy As Possible..." She winked, but then remembered that she wasn't supposed to do anything suggestive, either, as a Priestess. "Um, Well, In... A Good Way!" There were ways to be chase, holy and sexy at the same time and Taomin was going to show anyone that thought otherwise!

Shifting her hand over his, Taomin leaned in closer, giving Ramiel a peck on the cheek. Her other hand was still buried in her lap. The keen eyes of Taomin gleamed green when she perceived Ramiel fiddling with his ears some, and she couldn't help but be reminded that he said something about them before. "Oh? What's The Deal With Your Ears?" Clearly, from her speech, Tao was a bit more casual now, and it showed by her kimono's shoulder slipping off of Tao's to lay lackadaisically as it may -- along with Taomin's jiggling breasts.

Taomin bat her eyes, awaiting an answer. "Oh, And If You Get Tired Of This Location Or Want To Know More About The Veritas, Just Let Me Know."

The air around them was thick. This much was clear from how their wavelengths were interacting with each other; the waves were getting into the air and undulating in it slightly, letting beings that could feel become washed in it.

Tia could not help but see herself when she was younger in Tao, especially now that she was trying to be sexy for no real reason. Something Tia did as Nyake innumerable times.

Perhaps, Taomin would end up succumbing to her Demon again.

All around, the islands of the Avisora Paradisia were pushed and pulled by Tiamat, the Aethereal Wind Spirit, who encompassed all of the air in the Veritas. She was omnipresent, and in that had responsibilities -- though, many of her responsibilities were she cleaning up Tao's messes. Not that Tia minded, but it was Tao's job to be omnipresent on her own and to give up her body for the sake of being a Goddess. She just enjoyed doing too many things that involved the flesh, so she could not do things geared toward her Spirit, which she embodied completely as a being.

Haiku lit up the night sky of Astrid, the Sky Garden as some of Taomin's favorites etched themselves through the air in fine calligraphy. The exotic flowers swayed in the breeze that was Tiamat's silent and invisible movement, bringing with her the overbearing watchful eye of a Mother over Taomin and also the rest of the Avisora Paradisia, of which she knew everything that was going on within due to her omnipresence.

The faint invisible silhouette of Tiamat could be seen moving in any variable direction that the breeze went and for its duration, no matter the time nor the force. Though her eyes were closed and her presence was nigh but imperceptible to the naked eye, her sheer Presence was established in a domineering fashion literally everywhere.

Tiamat looked on silently and intangibly, even with eyes closed.

Ramiel looked at Taomin, and smiled softly. "It's part of a sad story. But it was cut off at one point, and got badly infected. It made me so sick I couldn't stand, and I had a terrible fever. Then this strange 'doctor' healed it, purged the infection, and forced it to regrow in a blink. Since then, the regrown part's been purple."

He reached over and gently righted her kimono. It wasn't that he didn't want to look at her bare chest, far from it. It was that he remembered she had to be chaste, what could happen if she lost control, and the things he wanted to do would almost certainly invite some disastrous consequences.

He brought his hand to cup her face, and stroked her cheek with his thumb. "Sorry, had to fix that, to keep away bad ideas."

Taomin was busy listening to the story to notice that her top was askew. "Bad Ideas?" she inquired, then realized that before Ramiel adjusted her kimono's shoulder, it was hanging loosely. "Oooooh, Because You Could See My Tits--" Tao stopped herself, trying to remember that a Divine Priestess was to have a more proper and less vulgar speech. "... I Mean, My Bosom." Taomin's kimono snapped tightly around her body, hugging her curves vivaciously; each one now more prominent than before, Taomin's breasts bounced about with more intensity and her pear-shaped hips were now completely visible, as were her long, smooth legs; even her well defined abs showed their definition through the now tight-fitting shadowy kimono. "Well, Now, Problem Solved!" Tao said with a chuckle, knowing nothing would slip off now. "I'm Just A Little Too Casual Sometimes, But This Should Do It." Tao smiled, fangs apparent.

"Oh, But It's Terrible To Hear About What Happened To You," Taomin went on to say after resolving the issue, "I Am Glad That You Are Well." It seemed odd that losing a part of the ear could do something like that, but Taomin had her share of injuries in her day, despite being protected by supernatural beings pretty much all of her life. "Well, As A Divine Priestess, I Will Be Happy To Heal You If You Need It, Just Like Before!" Taomin randomly stood up, inspired and invigorated.

"Yeah! You're My Friend, And If You're Going To Be My Friend, You've Gotta Be Healthy!" That may have come out wrong, but Tao was fired up and not particularly monitoring her speech anymore. "So I'll Heal Ya! I've Got More Than Enough Energy To Do So! I Just Need To Learn To Use It!" Taomin really remembered mostly destructive things, and her healing powers -- though severely increased nowadays -- were mostly forgotten about due to lack of necessity. Taomin was a Goddess; she barely got injured, if at all. Gods don't bleed, as they say. "So You Just Come To Me Anytime You Are Sick Or Wounded. Better Yet..." As Tao kept talking, the wind began to stir because of her heart being pumped by the friendship bonds that they shared, "I'll Come To YOU And Heal YOU! I Can Cure Just About Anything, And If I Can't, Someone Here In The Veritas Can!" Which led her to another sentiment...

"Would You Like To See More Of The Veritas? Or Meet New People?" Tao's eyes seemed full of childlike innocence -- something she hadn't had in a long time since her innocence was taken from her.