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 Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2026 7:17 pm
Kaisariani was restless. He had been stir crazy at home, hadn't been able to sit still while trying to work on a new painting, so he powered up and went out looking for something to work his energy out with. He needed to learn how to handle himself, how to be a more productive knight. He couldn't keep relying on sheer dumb luck to get by, after all.
Normally, Kai would be much more aware of his surroundings, more aware of that gross feeling of Chaos prickling at his skin, but he was too absorbed in his own thoughts. Too unaware to notice the feeling get stronger as whatever it was got closer, until the creature was practically right on top of him.
Black as ichor, countless spindly legs clicked across the ground as what looked to be some sort of monstrous massive centipede creature rose its segmented body up, sharp jagged pincers clicking together as it moved towards the Ida knight.
Kaisariani felt and heard it almost too late, throwing himself out of the way as it crashed down right where he had been standing. Scrambling backwards, he stared in horror at the creature. This was not what he had had in mind when he wanted to practice being magical. Giant monster bugs? Not his thing. At all. Ever.
"Why me. Why me? What the hell are you?" Stick manifesting in his hand, he brought it up just in time to use it to hold the pincers back, using all of his strength to push back against the creature. This was so very, very not his day.
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Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2026 7:34 pm
"You know," Chris said, glancing over at his brother. "If you needed a break, you could've just said that. You didn't have to pretend you were only meeting up because you missed me."
Michael gave him a look.
Chris smiled, pleased with himself. Between Spring Training, the kids, the Negaverse causing their usual problems, and whatever Michael had been working on lately, they hadn't had much time to just be brothers. He missed it.
But then Michael stopped.
Chris's smile faded. "What is it?"
"Youma," Michael said, voice low. "And a Knight."
That was all he needed to say.
They moved quickly, cutting through side streets and keeping to the shadows until Michael was certain no civilians could see them. Only then did Chris let his power settle over him. By the time Valhalla rounded the corner, the Page was struggling against something black, segmented, and horrible.
"Oh," Valhalla said, cringing. "That's a lot of legs." He brushed his hand over the pocket watch at his side, and Kyrie flashed into being above them.
"Kyrie!"
The lightning bird dove, talons flashing as she struck at the youma from above. Valhalla moved in after her, careful to keep out of the way as he reached for the Knight, who looked no older than Peter.
"Hey, you're okay," he said gently. "We've got it. Just breathe for a second." He offered a small, reassuring smile. "Not exactly the best practice partner, huh? Don't worry. We'll help you get rid of it." Sessrumnir didn't comment on Valhalla trying to make the situation seem less terrifying. Valhalla was good at that. Sessrumnir was better at watching for what else could go wrong.
"Princess." The giant white wolf dog appeared at his side, already growling. Sessrumnir barely lifted his hand in command before Princess lunged hard, jaws snapping for the creature's segmented body as Kyrie struck from above. Between them, the youma was forced back from the Ida Knight, pincers clicking as it twisted and recoiled.
Sessrumnir moved closer, but kept his attention on the street, the rooftops, the alleys between buildings. One threat didn't always mean only one threat. He positioned himself near Valhalla and the Page, close enough that anything trying to reach them would have to get through him first.
"You did well holding it off," he said to the younger Knight, serious but not unkind. "But stay behind us for now. Don't turn your back on it until it's dust."
Only then did he glance over at Valhalla. "Keep him safe." Then his eyes returned to the youma.
"And don't let it touch you," he added, although made a face at himself for how easy it was for him to end up sounding like someone's father even in the middle of a monster attack. He was getting too old for this.
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Posted: Thu May 14, 2026 8:39 pm
Something swooped down, driving the creature off of him, and Kaisariani for once was absolutely not about to question a giant bird. At least this bird didn't seem to be made of gross rancid ooze like the one he had encountered last year. Thank whatever gods there were for that.
As someone came closer, Kaisariani gave a rattled smile in return and let himself relax just a little. "Thanks. Seriously. I was absolutely not prepared for that many legs. Or the pincers." He decided Florian did not need to know the exact details about the monster when he would tell him later, and would simply leave the description as "insectoid". He made a face and glanced back at the youma, absolutely not enjoying the predicament he had gotten himself into.
His eyes widened as a giant white wolf appeared, mouth falling open a little. Who even were these guys? "Wow...." It was all he could manage at the moment as he stared in awe. At the compliment, though, he snapped out of it and gave a small grin. "Thanks. I uh. Got lucky that my stick didn't snap." He watched from beside Valhalla, absolutely fascinated.
"I'm Kaisariani, by the way. Thanks for the save." He looked at Valhalla with a grateful expression. "Do all of us get cool animal companions like you guys eventually? Because I could really look forward to something like that." He laughed softly, trying to act like he wasn't absolutely still shaken by being face to pincers with the youma.
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Posted: Mon May 18, 2026 7:39 pm
Valhalla kept his smile gentle, although his attention shifted back to the youma when Kaisariani looked in its direction. Kyrie was still striking from above, keeping the creature occupied whenever Princess forced it back.
"Yeah, I don't think anyone's ever really prepared for that many legs," he said, making a sympathetic face. "Or pincers. Definitely want to stay away from those."
He glanced toward Sessrumnir, who was very much not introducing himself at the moment, and then looked back to Kaisariani.
"I'm Valhalla," he said warmly, despite the fight taking place. "And that's Sessrumnir. He's a little busy right now, but he's friendly."
Mostly. When he wasn't trying to make sure no one died.
Valhalla's smile softened a little when Kaisariani asked about the summons. "I don't know if everyone does," he admitted. "There aren't a lot of Knights I know who have them, but I know a few. So… maybe? I don't want to get your hopes up too much, but it's possible."
He looked back toward Kyrie as she circled overhead, feathers crackling faintly with electricity.
"Knights are all a little different. Wonders are different, magic is different, weapons are different. The best thing you can do is keep learning and keep trying. You're already doing that."
And maybe, try not to get eaten by giant centipedes in the meantime. But Valhalla thought that went without saying. Sessrumnir heard enough of the conversation to know Valhalla had introductions handled.
Good. Because he had the youma.
Princess snarled as she dragged the creature away from the knights, paws digging into the ground while Kyrie struck again from above. The youma twisted violently, pincers snapping, its segmented body writhing as it tried to shake them both off.
Sessrumnir's expression hardened. He had his stormglass in hand, the large vial of liquid catching the light for only a moment before the chain shifted in his grip. Glass and metal stretched, changed, and settled into the familiar weight of a broadsword.
"Back," he warned, more for Valhalla and Kaisariani than for Princess.
Princess released the youma and leapt away.
Sessrumnir stepped in. The blade cut cleanly through the creature's body, and whatever sound it made was swallowed by the rush of it breaking apart. A second later, the youma dissolved into dust, scattering harmlessly across the ground.
Sessrumnir held position for a moment longer, watching the remains fade, then he lowered the sword as he glanced across the street once more for anything off, then let the weapon shift back into his stormglass.
Only when he was satisfied there was no immediate second threat did he turn toward the Page.
"Kaisariani," he repeated, committing the name to memory. "Are you hurt?"
He glanced briefly to the stick in the Page's hand, then back to his face. "That could have gone worse. But you kept your head and bought yourself enough time for help to arrive. That was good."
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