Joseph scratched the back of his head at Alexander's interesting request for knowledge. He took out a small bit of paper once more and seemed to scribble something into it before putting it away once more. He seemed quite interested in Alexander now, the random Phebe running into the trials now forgotten.
"Glaring about, you say? Now that is quite interesting. It means that your shadow is actually developing...well, a part of you. I'm not sure if it is something to be alarmed about or not, but it means that your shadow is somewhat more attached to you because of the experiences you have had with them. Have you had any additional experiences? Perhaps another extension of yourself? While I have had a few....instances of shadows doing something, it would be interesting to see how a mage like yourself is extended through them." Joseph, seeming to be somewhat more intrigued by the moment, was even more interested as more mages entered, and then Gabriel asked an even more intriguing question.
"Ohh....Multiple individuals? Well, I would imagine that they might all end up in the same trial! Probably. Maybe. Most likely it would be a stretch on all the individuals involved. Perhaps it would make the trials more intense on a team level perhaps? Or maybe it would make the reward for doing such a thing a bit more...globally recognized? So many questions that could be answered! I would hope that you would let me know what would happen upon attempting such a thing! Maybe it would be different from what I had seen, or maybe different for EVERYONE because you are mages. Or maybe even more things could happen! Perhaps your energies would be expanded, or perhaps would be seen in other ways!" Joseph was nearly babbling at this point, extremely happy to be hearing the mages with all these ideas. Though, it seemed his surprise wasn't over yet as Fei wasted no time running towards the crystal now, the doorway becoming waterfalls that parted for her as she made her way forwards.
The Prime Minister was obviously amused at this point, standing once more with the glowing happening about himself, seeming to gather up his energy to once again give to the crystal. Though, he seemed happy to wait at this point as the young mage was going to seemingly enter the gateway. However, he did take the time to answer Nat's question somewhat wryly.
"They are trials, Nightshade. You will be given a choice as to how they play out, but ultimately you will be choosing the fates that befall you within, and you can go with an ally if you wish. Otherwise, there is not much more you need to know. Step through the doorway, and go through the trials. Win or lose, you will be doing a trade for your prize, and the price is as severe as the prize would be. More explanation is merely hypothesis at this point, and it seems that we are a bit...anxious to begin."
[hr]
The cloaked figure watched as Phebe approached, not seeming to change from their routine as she leaned forward to ask her questions. To the first, he scattered the cards in the air, which seemed to ominously float about him, each with different pictures and titles attached to them. GUARDIAN, JUDGE, EXECUTIONER, MAKER, WATCHMAN, MAGICIAN, MASTER, DEATH, DEVIL, all floating about for a small moment before all fluttering back into the stranger's hands. At Phebe's second question, he flipped the cards on the table over, to show what each represented.
However, the cards did not show moral, battle, peace, personality, goals, and broken. At least, they did not have those words written upon them. Instead, they said JUSTICE, WAR, WRITER, DEMONS, ENDING, and VANQUISHED. Each with its own design. The cards all gave off an odd shimmer, as if there was more to each card than the text and picture upon them indicated. However, the stranger behind the table offered nothing else, not uttering a word as all this occurred. Also while this occurred it seemed lightning and a storm was brewing about the pair in the darkness. The sound of rain and distant thunder seemed to echo about them.
