The Devil's Lab: The Dreaded Mystery of Slumber

we paint white roses red, each shade from a different person's head

Journeys were never pleasant. Leaning against the back of the seat in the carriage, Janneline Ariel sighed, passing a hand through her loose locks, strawberry blonde hair falling on her black cloak. Taking a pair of pins with bear ornaments from her pockets, Janna quickly tied her hair in a pair of pigtails, blue eyes analyzing the scenery outside as her transport approached the Savage Skull guildhall, the very place Janna called "home", the only place which had accepted her when everyone refused to. She had been a foolish girl, with a knightly attitude, yet wrong ideas. Ideas which the Magic Council dissaproved off. Ideas of freedom that wouldn't satisfy the economic desires of the Magic Council's members. Ever so often, the Savage Skull Guildmaster couldn't help but wonder, what would have happened if the Rune Knights had accepted her. What would have happened, if, instead of being on the wrong side of the law, she had been on the right one? If she had banished the ideas of freedom from her head.

And yet, the answer was always the same. Janna could not imagine herself banishing the ideals in which she had believed her entire life because of a simple faction, nor could she imagine herself anywhere, except in Savage Skull. Although a cruel, sinister place, the Illegal Guild had accepted her as she was, and had forged her into the person she was today, allowing her to do whatever she pleased with her life, to serve whoever she thought convenient, and so forth. Savage Skull had been the only Guild that accepted to give her the freedom she longed for. And Janna would never forget that. Then, the feeling of being free to do whatever she pleased had became Janna's medicine and drug. It had became so addicting that Janna kept experimenting, forcing her limits, trying to see what points she could reach and get away with it. And one thing led to another, she find the extreme pleasure in ending the lives of those who opposed her, and slowly, yet progressively, the shell she had kept herself closed in had began breaking, showing the world just how psychotic, yet reasonable and calm she could be.

And now, the chaos was her new drug.

Snapping out of her thoughts as the carriage stopped in front of the tall, dead silent castle, Janneline elegantly got up, getting out of the carriage through the door opened for her by her loyal servants. The sound of her heels hitting the stone pavement beneath her feet being the only noise heard, Janna silently made her way towards the walls, greeting the guards with a simple nod. Words weren't neaded in the Savage Skull guildhall. The members, most of them quiet and calm, didn't need to greet someone with words, causing noise and trouble. Here, the relationships were much colder, yet about as sincere as any other.... Or so Janna expected.

It was no surprise to see Dubhlainn's face first as the Savage Skull Guildmaster entered the hall through the massive entrance doors. A small smile drawing on her lips, the strawberry blonde mage greeted her most loyal Knight, a man with an attitude somewhat similar to her own, or well, her attitude before Janna became an addict of chaos and murder. Although hesitant at first, Dubhlainn had not needed much time to follow Janna and become loyal to her, about as loyal as he had been to Aedre while she was alive, or Harrigan before he dissapeared. Noticing how the smile from her face quickly faded at the thought of the dissapearance of her Master and one of the people in the guild she respected the most. The fact that the two people that had been the most important to Janna in a certain time of her life had suddenly faded away, into the black mist, still brought deep pain to the Artificial Human. Artificial Humans weren't supposed to feel pain, and that was the scariest part.

And, as expected, it was paperwork what expected Janna. Papers regarding what had happened in the guild, letters adressed to Janna, Photographs of monsters roaming the Guild area... Just the typical things. A sigh escaping her lips, Janna let herself fall in her chair, behind her mahogany desk, throwing the cloak away, not giving a damn about where it fell. She'd pick it up later on, probably. Or someone else would. Honestly, if this cloak wasn't useful, she would have burned it ages ago. Having to remember the time at which she hood her face, ashamed of her alignment, was not pleasant. And that cloak, the cloth with which she hid her face, was not something that she wanted to have near now, considering how she was. How foolish she had been, to fear the authorities then. The authorities could do absolutely nothing against the dark guilds now. Mostly because Janna was ready to bash their heads to the wall if they tried to near her precious members. When Harrigan had left, Janna had swore to give her own life in order to protect the guild, if necessary. Savage Skull was meant to live on for centuries, and if the sacrifice of a Guild Master would keep it safe, then be it so.

Slim fingers dancing around the desk, picking up letters and opening them cauteously with her sharp, red nails, Janna couldn't avoid it but feel bored by the entire situation. Journeys weren't pleasant, mostly because of the fact that she couldn't hijack a carriage to Bellum all the time, but paperwork is even worse. Having to sit in an office all day, dealing with letters and more letters... Where was the freedom in that? That was when, by accident, Janna's hand took a grey-ish letter. Eyebrow rising, the blonde opened the letter without hesitation, Janna's cold blue eyes dashed through the lines, assimilating the information offered in the small, yet interesting letter.

To whom this may concern,

For many years scientist and powerful mages have been trying to figure out why magic cannot be used in the Neutral Grounds. A few years back a few scientist have found an anomaly underground that may be connected to the mystery of why magic and lacrima have no power in this city. My informant was able to get a hold of classified material. Apparently the Magic Council and the leading scientist of the Neutral Grounds, have made a joint effort to research the anomaly underground. A deep underground facility was constructed to be the main base for all this research. Not only was the facility a research base, it was also used to develop new weapons and various other devices that may be of interest. However an incident occurred in the facility, a total of 50 scientist and workers where killed in a "facility accident". No other information was found, all that is known is that the Magic Council and the Leading Scientist have swept the project under the rug. No one, except us, know that the facility was ever there. Whats even more odd, the council and the Scientist where never able to recover their data and research. Your job is to assemble a team and infiltrate the abandoned facility. Make your way to the facilities power core and start up the back up generator. This should give you enough power to boot up the computers in the main data storage section. Download all the information, escape and give it too me. You'll be able to meet my assistant in the Neutral Grounds near central district. He has the map of the whole lab, and information on the experiments that seem to be still wandering in the facility. I've sent three parties already, none have come back alive. If you take this job, you all will be rewarded handsomely. My assistant will be waiting for you all at midnight, if you still have not arrived then. I shall assume you have declined to take this job. But if you do come, I wish you luck. Proceed with caution...after all you won't be able to use your magic here....

~Yours truly,

Dr. John Dee


... A request about investigation, where one would be unable to use his or her magic? Poor John Dee... To think there was someone foolish enough to accept this request, when they would spend the entire time without magic, like literal humans... The sole idea made Janna shiver, a sensation of disgust forming in her, yet, she could not help but feel curious. Truly, why were mages unable to perform their arts there? It was such a peculiar place. Perhaps, just perhaps, going on a small investigation mission wouldn't hurt.

Moving her eyes to the knight before her, Janna remembered that she wasn't alone in her office all of sudden. It was interesting how she managed to forget about everything when something new occupied her mind and took it away from other matters. A small smile dancing on her lips, Janna folded the letter and shoved it into the pocket of her cardigan, placing her elbows on the table, her chin on her hands.

Ah, leave the paperwork, Dubh. We both know it's boring, doing it and talking about it, that is. Tell me, are you busy? I may have a small request for you, something you may find rather... interesting.

we paint white roses red, each shade from a different person's head

I'm the Master of a freak show.

Still hesitant about the job before her, Janneline stared at it with her icy blue eyes, trying to avoid the habit of biting her lip when doubting. Curiosity was killing her; the reason as to why magic refused to work within the lands of the Neutral Grounds had always been a mistery; not even scientist, not even archmages could encounter the reason as to why magic refused to work within the area of the city. There was a plethora of theories; some thought that ages ago, some freak accident had took place at the city, spreading some sort of essence which stopped magic from working within the Neutral Grounds; other thought there was some sort of anti-magical source spread in the soil or something that disabled the supernatural abilities of mages. It was the eternal mystery, the horror of mages, and the heaven for normal people who wanted to lead a normal life.

And yet now, someone was offering a dark mage to go and investigate the scene in order to deschipher the eternal mystery. The reasoning behind the offer were even a bigger mystery than the one that surrounded the Neutral Lands; yet it had achieved its objective: It had captivated Janneline's attention. Albeit she detested humans and wanted to purge Fiore from this plague called Ordinary human beings, Janneline was more than ready to throw herself into the Devil's Den, the most normal place on Fiore, and try to deschipher its curse. The Homunculus had an undying will to achieve knowledge about everything surrounding her. So she could know this land better than her own native land, Bellum. The thought of Bellum brought Janna peaceful, pleasant memories back. The days in which she was a mere child, so calm and happy, when she felt not troubled by anything in particular and happily walked alongside her father, dressed in the finest dress, the best satin covering her childish body, her hair combed into a ponytail, soft and always perfect.

How much she had changed.

The calm, happy girl had faded away to reveal a psychotic persona, impatient and violent, willing to end with the lives of people who disagreed with her point of view among certain topics. She was a free, untameable soul, a beast that, if unchained, could cause a massacre without doubting. What had happened with the cheerful little girl? Where had she gone? Had the monster hidden in Janna's head eaten her through the years, or had she simply faded. The answer was fairly simple; Life had killed her. Life had taught Janneline that she was not supposed to trust anyone or be as social as she used to be, it taught her that the cheerful people usually were the easiest to trick.

And the easiest to manipulate and kill. With the course of the uncountable years, the cheerful little girl kept withering, before finally, she died, quickly replaced by the pig-tailed monster that now sat in the Guild Master's seat and observed with analytic eyes the man before her. Did Dubhlainn accept her? It was a mystery. He had been as loyal to Harrigan as Janneline herself while she was a Knight. Althought they had not met or spoken very often during Harrigan's reign, although both of them were one of the same, knights that needed someone to be loyal to, someone to devote their life to. Shamefully, though, Harrigan's reign has ended. A new Queen has taken the throne, and, like it or not, she was to be accepted and praised. Janneline Ariel's name was known in the Guild for a reason; her pillar, while she had been a Pillar head, had dedicated itself to hunting down the traitors, assesing the most cruel tortures, and, after that, death itself, upon them. One head more or less in the guild, it made no difference. Those who opposed the Guild Master were not worthy to be in the guild.

And those who had left the guild, forcefully or willingly, were not worthy to live. Because if there was one thing every member of Savage Skull was forced to devote to their guild, was literally their life. Because once you set foot in Savage Skull and become a part of it, the only way to make it out it in a coffin. And let's just say that that was not an option many members appreciated.

Getting up, Janna began walking around the massive office that now pertained to her, filled with ancient relics, books and documents containing information about Savage Skull's incredible past. Holding the letter in her right hand, scarlet nails stuck in the paper, the Guild Mistress simply walked around calmly, listening to the noise her heels made upon impacting with the stone floor beneath her, filling the cold, sinister office. Should she trust Dubhlainn and invite him alongisde her? Perhaps; some reinforcements would be of use, and Janna had never really worked with him. She wanted to see how all her members worked, how they acted in battle, so that, if there was a sole coward, she could send him to the coffin directly.

Cowards had no place in her guild. It was time to bring Savage Skull back to the top, and if Janna wanted to achieve that, she had to kick out all those who were too scared to fight for the cause. After all, a scared knight could only be a nuissance to the troops, and no help at all. Fear paralyzed people, and in a battle between Good and "Evil", a single second of paralysis could determine the outcome of the battle. If Janneline was one thing besides the mistress of blades, then it was a master strategist. Because a knight wasn't only made to fight; knights were also masters of strategy, intelligent beings that could quickly improvise a plan to cut your head off. She'd need help in the Neutral Grounds, though. Nothing guaranteed the Homunculus that she'd be able to stumble upon a bow or something to use to fight with, and her weapons; well, they were inusable. She'd have literally no access to her beloved pocket dimension, so she would be unable to exquip absolutely anything. Oh the joy.

Hence why, Janneline wanted Dubhlainn to assist her. Aside from the need to evaluate him, Janna wanted to see how capable he is in a fight and if he'd defend his guildmaster if there was such need. It was the perfect test, overall.

I've received this letter about an invesitgation mission in the Neutral Grounds. I know it doesn't sound like something our dear freak guild would be in charge of, but well, why wouldn't we give it a go? I mean, we're going to reveal the biggest mystery of Fiore, the reason as to why magic is rendered useless in the Neutral grounds. This could give us enormous advantage over the Legal Guilds in a future war, and I, naturally, as a future leader of the war, am willing to capture this city for strategical means, discover its secrets in order to get a small advantage over the Legal mages. Are you willing to come with me, become a part of the Glorious Rise of Savage Skull?

we paint white roses red, each shade from a different person's head

Boy, did the mages abuse of magic. Janneline knew that best, probably. Having grown up in a place where magic was something about as usually seen as grass, Janna had withnessed in many ocassions how humans, or those that posess magic at the very least, took every single opportunity they had in order to abuse of their magic. Her father wasn't an exception. If he needed a jacket, he'd simply touch another cloth and a jacket would magically appear, thanks to his knowledge of alchemy. He'd use that knowledge in every single situation. Which was such a waste, honestly. The massive abuse of magic had always bothered Janneline; hence why her weapons only left the pocket dimension when a battle was inevitable. Or when someone had to get threathened.

Without her weapons, Janna would be completely defenseless, though. Her pocket dimension would be sealed shut until they managed to deactivate whatever was eliminating the magic from the Neutral Grounds, and she'd had to rely only on her brute force. Thankfully, though, the blondie wasn't exactly as weak as she seemed at first sight. Being an homunculus, a God-blessed one at that, granted her a few priviledges and abilities, which only reinforced her supperiority to humans. Better senses, greater speed, and of course, greater strength. No human could rival her in terms of strength. Oh, how pleasant it was, at that, to see the surprised faces of humans when a simple slap managed to send them against the wall. It was priceless.

Heading back towards her desk, Janneline bented, remining hidden from view for a few seconds thanks to her height while carefully she introduced a key inside the keyhole of a drawer. Hearing the click after a few seconds, the Savage Skull Guildmaster took out a wooden chest from inside of it. It was a rather large chest, descorated with gemoetrical ornaments and the LeBlanc insignia on top of it. A small sigh escaping her lips, Janneline stared at the ornate chest for a few seconds, doubtful about wether she should or should not open it and reveal the secret hidden within. She remembered the day in which she received the chest too clearly; though it had ocurred years ago, so many that Janneline could barely recall the amount; much less the year. She was a teen at the time; fearless yet well-behaved and elegant, perhaps too elegant for a homunculus that was created to be a soldier; and not the perfect aristocrate, though her father had ended up teaching her how to be a perfect noble anyways. The beautiful chest had caught the attention of the homunculus instantly. Curious as to what it held, Janna barely listened to her father's words; instead, she focused on the chest. Though, a few significant words remained engraved in her mind; perhaps the only ones she heard.

Use this weapon wisely, Diana. There will be times, in which you will be unable to use magic for one reason or another one. You can't rely on magic always. But you can rely on normal weapons always. Or well, partially normal.

So, her father had been right. There would be a time, in which her magic would fail her. And that time had arrived. When magic weapons failed you, normal weapons were the only source you can rely on entirely. The only ones which would serve in any situation to their master, regardless if she could use her magic or not. Opening the chest slowly, her hand moving towards the beautiful gun hidden inside, a small smile drew on the blonde's smile. It was a magnificent creation; made by the best crafters in Bellum, made with the best materials that could be found in all Earthland, the Bloody Rose was a machine for death; and a work of art none less. Passing her fingers through it slowly, blue eyes focused on the magnificent weapon in her hands, Janna turned to Dubhlainn, a smirk on her lips.

A work of art, isn't it? I didn't think that my father would be right, and that I'd have to rely on normal weapons one day, but he was right. Oh well. At least I get to rely on this weapon in particular, this masterpiece. When magic betrays you, you can only rely on the non-magical weapons. Because they will never leave you. The pride in Janna's voice was obvious as she spoke about her beloved weapon. Never had she had the opportunity to test it out; and today was her lucky day. Who knew? Perhaps it did much damage. Or was it weak? That'd be yet to be discovered, although Janna doubted that such a masterpiece could be weak. Well? Shall we get going? The carriage is ready at all times to take us anywhere.