Descendants of Arcana Base

*The orange orb of energy fizzles out in front of the traveling duo*

Mana: *tugs Whip to a stop in what seems to be an empty space in the Wastelands* We're here.

*Whip halts alongside Mana. He scans the featureless patch of desert*
Whip: ....There's nothing here.

Mana: *looks in surprise* You don't see it? *looks at the open space, and then reaches to take Whip's hand, forcing a magical current between them* What about now?

*Whip blinks his eyes*
Whip: ....That...wasn't here before.....

*The actual view to any magician is a large fortress that resembles a castle in many ways, except that it's made of metal alloys and has a sharper design than one would expect. There are no visible windows and only one entrance, with two guards cloaked in green standing at its gates*

Mana: What do you suggest we do? It doesn't look there's another way in...

Whip: ....There's not much of a choice. Even if we take out the two sentries, the odds are, we'll need to know how to unlock the door to get in....
*Whip examines the walls*
Whip: ...And breaking in is out of the question....

Mana: *stares long and hard at the entrance, bracing herself* So we'll go in through the front doors. Hopefully they'll take us in or something, thinking we're "guests"...?

No. No. No. A thousand times no.
Whip: ....I don't like that idea.
*Whip crosses his arms*
Whip: What if they try to take you by force? Then we'll have two knocked out guards and no way in.
*He sounds completely serious whilst saying this*

Mana: What else are we supposed to do, Whip? There's no other way in and-

: Heeeeey!

Mana: *freezes and eyes widen in fear*

*the green-cloaked Descendant starts waving from afar, surprisingly without a mask to hide his face, and it seems like a friendly green eyed red panda mobian*

Red Panda: Yo! No need to be shy! We can see you all the way from over here~!
*his partner nudges him on his side, and the two seem to have a quick argument*

Mana: *turns to Whip and speaks to him in a low voice* Well. Looks like it can't be helped now... *looks down back at the grinning red panda and then back at Whip* If it's any consolation at all, he's friendly, which means his guard is down...

*Whip seems very resistant to the idea, but eventually relents*
Whip: ....Fine. Keep your guard up.
*Whip approaches the two guards at a very careful pace*

Mana: *follows Whip, maintaining contact so he can see the Descendants as well as the place* (in a low voice only he should be able to hear) Well you just try not to beat up anyone before we get inside...
Red Panda: *sees the hand holding between the two partners and raises a suggestive eyebrow* Oh~? Look at that, Clear, we picked up a couple.
Clear: *the mobian is also without a mask, revealing a white hedgehog with crimson eyes that manage an excellent cold stare at the duo* Or a norm. There's always that option, Psyche. *eyes the other guardian with distaste* Not everyone is so enthralled with the idea of love like you are.
Psyche: *play whispers to the duo* She wants me~ *continues the non-stop grin* But c'mon, Clear! Look at her! *eyes Mana appreciatively and then nods* What kind of idiot would let this one slip out of their hands?
Mana: *despite her wariness of the two, she still manages a bright red blush at the suggestions and compliments* W-We're not a couple.
Psyche: *raises an eyebrow at her, then at Whip* ...Tsk, tsk. *shakes his head in shame* Well, if you're not buying, dude- *suddenly takes Mana's other hand and kisses it* (in a terrible accent) Vous êtes très belle, ma dame~
Mana: *has turned a brighter shade of red and seems to be shocked speechless*
Clear: *eyeing Whip carefully, watching out for her fellow guardian* You're an idiot, Psyche.
Psyche: *raises his two hands up in the air, as if he was caught by police or something* Guilty~ *winks at Mana* Beautiful girls tend to do that to me~

*Whip seems completely indignant and just about ready to ignore Mana's previous request. However, through some divine blessing of patience, he doesn't react violently, though he does have to actively hide the twitch in his eye. His voice drips with repressed thoughts and grates itself through his teeth*
Whip: We're here for more important matters. We'd like to speak to whomever is in charge.

Psyche: *laughs* Whoooa, now there's a hostile aura~
Clear: *eyes Whip suspiciously, and unlike Psyche, she seems completely unfriendly* ...Our leader is rather busy.
Psyche: *puts a calming hand on Clear's shoulder* Sides, the Queen likes to visit any touring possible member of the DoA. *gives what seems like a genuine smile at the two* I'm sure she'd make it a point to see you guys.
Clear: *her cold stare seems to falter slightly, and it degenerates into suspicion* ...
Psyche: *takes his hand off Clear to dust off his hands* How about I give you guys the grand tour? We've got a pretty snazzy place~
Mana: Well... *seems to think it all over* ...I wouldn't mind getting a tour. But it's up to my partner. *looks at Whip for his answer*
Psyche: C'mon, dude! *despite the fact he can both see and feel the obvious hostility coming off of Whip, he still nudges the rabbit in the shoulder* If your lady friend wants it...~

*He is absolutely overcome with conflicting thoughts and violent intentions, but he manages to cool his demeanor down to his usual glare before responding*
Whip: ....If you think it's for the best.
*Whip unexpectedly holds out his hand*
Whip: .....Whip.

Psyche: *clasps Whip's hand with a firm shake* Psyche! As you guys know, that's Clear. *tilts his head back to gesture to the girl before turning a suave grin at Mana* And you, my sweet~?
Mana: *has now gone from embarrassed to embarrassed but amused* I'm Mana.

*The handshake stops being polite the second he refers to Mana and becomes little more than a restrained vice grip. He holds onto the handshake as he speaks, a barely-contained murderous smirk spreading across his muzzle*
Whip: Good to meet you both.

Psyche: *sweatdrops with a pained smile and attempts to pry his hand out of Whip's grip* L-Likewise.
Clear: *makes a noise in her throat* Alright. I'll give them the tour. *gives a distasteful look at Psyche* You stay out here.
Psyche: W-What? Why?
Clear: *gives him a flat look* Because you're going to get yourself killed at this rate. *she turns around and the door automatically opens* Follow me.
Mana: *looks a little uncomfortable with Clear as the guide but follows anyways*
Psyche: *digs his own grave* Have a good time, Mana dear~!

*Though he allowed Psyche to keep his hand, as the last one into the establishment, he turns around and gives Psyche what may very well be the scariest glare ever, teeth shining through in a sharp grin, and facial features hidden by a mysterious shadow*
Whip: See you later.

*Inside, Whip seems to return to his usual composure and catches up to Mana and Clear*

Psyche: *closes his eyes and plays with his ear with a resigned grin* Maybe I should've checked his mind instead...

Clear: *leads the two through a thin hallways with cold metal walls everywhere*
Mana: *has now donned a worried look* Now this looks familiar...
Clear: Psyche seems to trust you, Mana.
Mana: *although a light pink dusts her cheeks, she looks uncomfortable* Is that what we're calling it?
Clear: *slants what seems to be her trademark cold stare* Just let it be known now that I, however, am still evaluating the both of you. *gives Whip a longer evaluating look before turning forward again*
Mana: *seems almost displeased by Clear's words* Thanks for the warning...

*Whip, ironically enough, doesn't seem to appreciate the distrust in Clear's words*
Whip: Does everyone receive such a warm welcome, or are we special~?

Clear: *rolls her eyes* Usually Psyche is smart enough to do a mental check on all guests, not just one.
Mana: *stops in her tracks* M-Mental check?
Clear: *looks at Mana with her cold crimson eyes* I'm taking you to the lab as we speak.
Mana: *pales and backpedals away from Clear out of pure instinct*

*Whip's hand finds its way to his bokken's sheathe*
Whip: So this was a trap.
*The wooden katana finds its way out of the sheathe very easily, and he stances himself defensively between Clear and Mana, prepared to attack*

Clear: *narrows her eyes at the weapon and reaches to her back, withdrawing a silver katana that seems to be coated in ice* You tell me. *points her sword out at Mana and Whip* What division are you from?
Mana: *is perplexed by Clear's question* What?
Clear: *turns her glare on Mana* I'm asking the questions. The direction orb you brought you here was of high standards. You're supposed to be someone important, from another division perhaps. What division?
Mana: *shakes her head in confusion* No! We're not from a division! Blaze just gave it to me before-! *eyes widen and she narrowly dodges a sharp ice shard that tried to pierce her from the back*
Clear: *around her, more ice shards form around her as the one that attacked Mana joins the fray* You're lying. *brandishes her sword threateningly* For your lies, this room will become your grave.

*With her words, a sky blue pentagram forms on the ground, and the two are transported to an open room. The ice shards go after Mana as Clear dashes at Whip with her sword trailing behind her, immediately going for a lethal blow*

*Whip ducks below the sharp attack and follows up with his own uppercut-swing*

*An ice shield suddenly forms to take the blow from Whip, giving Clear enough time to fully dodge the attack when it breaks through the ice, and she manipulates the shards to fall on Whip*

Mana: *after some struggling and dodging/enduring some ice shards, she manages to conjure up electricity in her hands and feet to tackle the ice shards*