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 Posted: Sat Dec 02, 2017 2:58 pm
The intensity in which the Kin gazed at the fallen Goddess was immense. Even as her blood mixed with his saliva and dripped upon the ground, there was an overwhelming urge within him to finish her. The voice of the matriarch sided with his logical mind - further harm to the Goddess could have horrendous repercussions to his own beloved. Every breath of his sounded like a low growl, if she moved towards the Matriarch, he would finish her. The voice of Yo distracted him from his bloodlust, his head turning towards her as she asked the question. "You are the Matriarch... I fear there is many things he has not told you about your station." The question posed to him was a difficult one in the least. He turned from the weakened Goddess, giving her the chance to escape his anger and his attention to Yo.
He would have never expected the burst of flame to leap forth from the ground, the magic was new, it belonged to none of them at present. Snarling he focused on it, the man's attention to Yo made him threat enough. Her mate in that patchwork shell would hardly be a bother to this new threat.
Mance retorted with a surprising snort, though Vyafos had been just a hatchling during his lifetime, somehow he felt little surprise Vyafos had taken over ruling the fire tribe and even earned his spot on the council. Mance stepped forward, the naginata eager as ever to be fed, though it lacked the sheer power it should have had. "Take her and leave." He said, eyes narrowing at the threat whom for the moment had the upper hand against them. Even he was not such a fool as to fight such a cunning foe without his magic.
Morva studied the new threat carefully, even Mance was clearly wary of what the beast before them could do. "So long as you bring no harm to my family, than I have no cause to fight you." The sheer power of the man before him made Morva very aware that a battle between them would end with loss, he did not need Mance's stance to tell him this.
It was concerning, how powerful Vyafos had become. Far too well he remembered the strength of his broodmother, the fire dragons had been some of the most difficult to subdue - they hardly had been at that nor did they take kindly to it. By creating the council he had hoped to keep them... Quiet. "I am aware Vyafos. Should this war bring harm to my mate? I will be coming for the council first." Such a powerful and cunning new foe at the head of the council only made it more of a threat.
Lost in the anger and fear of his thoughts, it was Yo's cursing that regained his attention. "Yo, you need to-", even as he stepped forward once more her attention was back on the whelp once more. "He cannot." Mance answered softly as he knelt at her side and gently took her into his arms and rested her against him. "You are exhausted. Please, I need you to think of yourself. There is still far too much danger I cannot protect you from. I need to retake his form and-" He cut himself off, feeling the anger of the Kin. He looked down at the woman, this was her whelp they were discussing after all. She wished to protect her from another mate that would only bring harm upon her.
"He has a point..." Morva said softly, lowering himself back onto the ground to bring himself closer to the pair. How strange it was to see the fear and concern in the eyes of his captor for another. Perhaps before the magic took hold of him, there was truth that he was a benevolent God. "Show her the truth." Morva after all, had nothing to hide. He rose a little, enough to extend his neck towards the man.
"So be it." Carefully and deliberately, he shifted Yo just enough to grab the naginata and stab at the beast's neck. A heavy thud made the invisible, visible. A solid band of obsidian, with flowing molten gold ruins on it appeared. "I forged it, but it was bound and placed by my Apprentice. Only she can remove it, my control is limited." Again he lay the naginata down as the beast returned to his former position at her level.
"I believe there my only be two left alive other than the Apprentice that could remove it - One resides in front of me and the other is her whelp. This being said, the amount of magic needed-" He heard the sharp intake from Mance. "Is more than I wish to see the Matriarch expend at present." He finished, still finding the way Mance grew protective of the human so curious. "For now... It serves its purpose. Suppressing my human form and amplifying my dragonic powers, the assumption is that if left on a shifter for long enough periods we will lose our humanity and become feral. A beast of destruction, subservient to the master that wrote the ruins and places the magic upon the collar. The process is expedited with physical torture and suffering, the creation of hatred only multiplies its abilities."
He raised his head to sniff the ocean breeze. "On lesser creatures, the effects only take days or weeks to become permanent, the hardest to break appear to be the dragons of Goldoa and as the only Kin subject... It is difficult to project a success rate. Locked away in the Keep, under the full control of the Mistress, I am the weapon you have foreseen Matriarch. The mount of the Child of Darkness, the harbinger of the end times for the land across the sea where Konoe was taken. I alone can kill millions because I share in the darkness of your mate, the gnawing insanity that consumes and inflames."
"My apprentice shares a common goal, the destruction of mankind and the freedom of the suppressed Kin. Their return to the surface and the reclamation of their homeland. In order to sustain the darkness, the light must be snuffed and in order to do so-"
"Konoe must die." Morva said bitterly. "All and any light users must be slaughtered. Konoe must easily be the most powerful one, except for a few sects scattered about. Once the last few bastions of human resistance fall to the Apprentice's darkness? I will be hunting for her, for her execution. I have been planning, laying traps against my feral form, in the vain hope that they will weaken me enough that she will have the power to either free me or end me." He looked away from Yo, unable to face the Matriarch in his shame. "The Apprentice was and is aware of Konoe, Konoe was the one who tried to heal her Mother, before the darkness claimed the heart of her Father."
At first I was supposed to use her for our ends, because of her powers... To summon the dark god back to this plain. I never thought that I would grow to love her... Humans and Gaia are the reason our kinds were damned to the underworld but... She is different. Just her presence alone is enough to silence the voice of the darkness, to bring peace and calmness. When the opportunity to end her came, to assure our side victory, I could not do it." He looked to Mance, the way he held the elder in his arms.
"You understand it. The fragility and preciousness of the human you guard. Such powerful creatures these humans truly are because of their abilities. Consider what we are, the powers we have, the powers have we yet to unleash upon this realm... Yet these two would easily stand against us if needed to." He turned back toward Yo once more. "I stay bound a servant for many reasons. Some to protect Konoe, for as long as my captors believe her killed, they will not hunt her. To protect her own whelp, the one I faintly smell on you. She requested I protect him during the war and I shall, even if I must be his opponent in the process. For my people, who were raised to believe that the only way for us to return to our place was the death of mankind... I was wrong and you know it too now. We were wrong, the only way we can return to the surface is as allies and as equals."
If there was one thing Aki did not expect to be awoken to, it was a fire dragon in humanoid form. It had to be a fire of course, a beast she knew instantly she would have little chance of victory over and being in a tree? Their survival was slim at best, though surviving the anger of Yo and the endless hunger that was Ugil might as well have made any chance of survival negative. Her icy eyes met his as she detected a still sleeping Tristan behind her, one of the few mercies of the moment. Before she could even growl he silenced her and since placing Tristan in anymore danger than he was at present was unforgivable to her, she obeyed the newfound threat.
When he began to offer her the ruby scale, the blood and the flesh, she began to grow even more confused - as far as she was aware she and Tristan had no dealings with the blood of the flame. As soon as he began to speak, she allowed her icy magic to creep away - if this was going to devolve into a fight? Aki was going to do everything in her powers to protect Yo's home and Tristan. If his words were true, she would have had to guess he'd been victorious against his father and it reminded her of the naming ceremony of her youth; could this be its origins? That look, he'd caught her. As she steeled herself for battle, he only sighed and continued on. Such cunning from a dragon, it seemed odd to hear since they had such sheer power of their own. "Dragons have a council too?" She whispered, suddenly another parallel between their kinds materialized. Aki could sympathize with his dam, she too just wanted their kinds to walk upon the surface once more - peacefully.
"Thank you." She said quietly, shocked that their whelp may finally have a chance to escape the curse of Turas. Even after all her years in the archives, there was so little recorded about dragons other then in the origins of the Kin. "It seems everyone knows the fate of our whelp. Yet it will be years before his birth..." Somehow that baffled her. Then again, things were so much simpler when she was just the guardian of royal family... She snarled suddenly, the intensity of her position changed as suddenly as the bitter bite of the wind can. "You carry faint traces of my Lord and the Matriarch. I trust they have not come to harm?" It was so very, very faint upon him, if she had been looking for it she likely would have never noticed it.
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Posted: Thu Dec 14, 2017 7:00 pm
Yo couldnt help but to huff, first Mance now the new comer? "Please its mere child's... by the gods..." Yo's eyes widened as the gazed over the so called shackle that bound the poor beast. "Your student.. your teaching her many things. Dark things, Without balance she will become something truly terrifying." Was this what he wished to unleash onto the world, a being with such frightening magic. To enslave a kin is one thing, but to imprison a member of the royal family was extraordinary. If only she could train such a disciple. Sadly, that would only be a thought.
"I don't know how child, but you are right I don't possess such magic. Even if I did it would leave me too frail and raise too many questions. The frail don't survive long here, only the strong can survive." Even her age was seen as a form of frailty and dishonor among the people. Dying of old age or illness was a crime that brought no honor. "If you can use this war as a means of escaping... seek your mate for if my fears are true, then she now possess the means of freeing you." Slowly she turned her head to face Mance who was staring down at her. Even he knew how much of a blunder this brought to his plan. For his apprentice was still training, if konoe were to catch them off guard then all hell would break loose. She was the biggest threat, and even if he didn't want to say it. Eventually he would have to take her down. Maybe they all knew it?
"Escape whelp, and bring my daughter home. Free this land from its ruler and claim the throne for your own. My people have worshipped your kind for many many generations. This can be the testing ground for the kins' resurface." Yo stated proudly. Though ugil would have to he dealt with, their. Blood would feed into his power. Already the beast was far too powerful, beyond that of their warriors. Bryna had the best chance of killing the b*****d, and she squandered it. "Your future has changed... everyone's has. Some for the better, and some for the worse. Please... bring her home to us..." yo gave a weary yawn as she placed her hand onto the cold hide of morva.
Vyafos couldn't help but to snicker. If only there wasn't a human in the room, he'd probably be dying with laughter. The child still believed he was a threat, and faithfully attempted to make the room cold. "Relax child of ice. I am not our lord, nor his toy. Besides if I wanted too... I could simply destroy this place. May be a runt but I'm a pretty large runt compared to the likes of your kind." The young kin's eyes. The stern gaze she gave, it reminded him too much of his mother. Except for the eyes, though of course blue would be common for her.
"So many questions, and so little time. Your matriarch has established her place.... or do you answer to your prince's mate? I digress, the elder is in somewhat decent talons. Though you missed one hell of a show. Don't think Turas will be gettin up soon, but be proud of the new matriarch. Even if she's under the heel of my experiment, she's a powerful human.... I'm trailing off again." Strange how the cold was nipping at his nose. Maybe she was stronger than what she seemed. That or maybe it was something else. She did have a strange smell to her, something unnatural.
Such oddities, could they be answered? Or maybe the kin were doing what he has been. Just in a different fashion. Instead of experimentation, simply empowering their people or those deemed worthy. "Yes we hold a council governed by our goddess and her guardian. Speaking of which... Cassandra your report?" His grin turned into that of a frown. Poor wretched creature. Her curse was something even he feared. The Turas clan weren't meant to die, but forever live in servitude. Thanks to the so called mother of all. Another price they all had to pay for her decline to insanity.
Approaching from the shadows an inordinately tall, short haired woman approached. Her dulled hazel eye met with the sleeping Tristan. Half of her face was hidden behind a a large veil. Hiding the entire right side. her scaled armor twinkled within the dim lights. Pain emerged forward, as golden bindings glowed through her white collar. "The goddess is asleep my lord, the pain was too much. The light clan are making their way to her chamber to aid." Her hand rested upon the blades' hilts at her sides. While the three strapped to her back began to glow. One burned a blazing red, the next sparked with lively electricity, and the last had an aura of a cold winter's mist. Tears began to form as she continued to stare down at Tristan.
Vyafos ignored the pressure building, and turned to Aki once more. "Time has been shattered, new paths await and the Turas line has a horrible calling. Dearest child, I will warn you. With this power I give comes the greatest of tests. When faced with a great trial the fire dragon will emerge, and it will either consume or be tamed by him. If consumed.. then he will fall into the shoes of his grandfather... if he prevails then he will live. If the flames are true little one, then your whelp may be the precursor to our freedom." Gently his tail wrapped itself around his leg. "I promise... dear Cassandra that this will be different." The man showed a sheer moment of remorse to the woman who stood at his side. After all, she watched first hand as her son was consumed by it
Finally breaking down, Cassandra zeroed in on Tristan. Faster than the eye could see, quicker than even Aki's reflexes, she was at his side with a blade mere inches from the boy's neck. The other three escaped her back, and pointed in the direction of aki. "My son was corrupted by your magic, this one is a by product of his crazed thinking. Maybe it was always there... this one..." the more she stared the more the lump swelled within her throat. The floating blades spun about moving when ever Aki did. Blocking any route she had to safeguard Tristan. The blade coaxed in fire illuminated her figure more. Revealing the hollowed gauntlet that held the blade that threatened the boy's life. Very little could be seen from her face except the horrid claw marks. Along with snippets of burnt flesh tucked away by the veil itself. The golden bindings around her neck even gave way to more hideous burns.
Finally she couldn't help but to snicker. Which soon turned to laughter. "I swear this one must belong to my daughter... only she could sleep through such a ruckus." Sheathing the blades, the ready eyed woman ran her hand through the boy's hair. "A lifetime of servitude.... that is our new curse little one. And soon that will be your fate little one." Sighing softly she continued to stare down at the hard sleeper. She imagined how her own two must've looked like. That is if one wasn't a tyrant, and the other still with them. How she wished to have returned from that war. To live an honest life with the two.
"Little one, let me tell you this. By giving your child the things to ensure his survival, you will make him a slave to the fates. His future will no longer be his own. pain, sorrow, and great hardship will await him. There is no changing it, and no way to detour it." Slowly Cassandra turned to face the woman who sat a mere foot away. Her bright sapphire eyes glistened beautifully within the dimmed light. As if staring into a vast ocean lit by the moon itself. No wonder her grandson fell for such a thing. "So I ask you this, and i only wish for you to think this through..." for a moment the room grew eerily silent. Even the normally talkative vyafos could not help but to hang his head.
"Do you wish for your child to be a Turas?"
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KnightLord Zero Vice Captain
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Posted: Sat Jan 06, 2018 5:54 am
Morva watched the Matriarch intently, how odd it all suddenly seemed. "I fully intend on doing so..." His tail tip gently rested against the back of her hand as he searched her eyes. "I already lost my family to one tyrant, I will not allow another tyrant to claim hers." He felt the glare of Mance, even if it was the truth the man did not wish to admit it. "You are not the only one at fault." Morva said quietly as he laid back down, how strange it felt to suddenly have a family again, if only for a moment.
Mance hated that Yo knew, Konoe was in danger from his Apprentice. However, her plan was sound - remove Konoe from the continent and the Apprentice would not hunt her, she would be no threat over here. Something would have to be changed with her thinking though... Perhaps it was still possible. For just one moment though, the dark dragon was content just to hold his mate close. He knew eventually she would have to return home, the loneliness seemed suddenly so all compassing.
"My whelp will be more than a Turas." Aki said, her sapphire eyes glistened as she turned to look at the woman. "He will be the greatest guardian this world has ever seen." Her gaze fell to her beloved Tristan, intently studying him once more. "As the Guardian of the Royal family, I too have a destiny like those that came before me." It shifted back to the woman once more, "Lady Cassandra, so too shall it be my own; he shall not be abandoned. History will remember the Silver General, even if it will not be the truth..."
"You are also wrong Lady Cassandra." Aki exhaled, surprised to see the cloud of vapour - how exhausted must Tristan be to sleep though this? "You speak only of the ill. You fail to see the moments of peace, of love and joy that are entwined" She let out a snort, crystals merrily rained upon the ground. "On a continent across the sea, nations rest on the eve of a seemingly world wide war. The ground will run red with the blood so many innocents and yet it is only a prelude to an even greater madness. A madness that makes your son's doing look like mere child's play. That will be the world our whelp will be born into."
Closing her eyes she shook her head for a moment. "I am aware I cannot change it nor detour it any longer, things outside of my power have been set in motion. I answer to no Lord Vyafos, unless..." Her head turned enough to place Tristan within her her peripheral line of vision. "Beware then, of the dangers you play with... Even a fire dragon can still be burned." She smiled softly. "Do you believe I cannot feel the powers of the whelp I was charged to protect even now? That the insanity of Mance does not reach me even here? Do not for a moment believe that harm which befalls the Matriarch will not repaid in full..." She could feel the consuming power of her Lord, Vyafos had picked a dangerous game indeed.
"I may just be a pawn to be brokered in this game, as is my beloved and our whelp. Yet even a pawn knows time is no living beings thing to command." Once again her eyes returned to the Lady Cassandra, "I am just so sorry Cassandra... For everything." Soon Aki knew she too would share her pain.
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Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2018 10:31 pm
Yo yawned loudly as she gently placed her hands upon her mates arms. Enjoying the embrace for as long as she could. For the next time they met could be ever so different. The future was such a blur and now there were too many key figures in play. So any lives at play, and even more at risk. Everything felt so hazy, the fine line between light and dark. Soon they will merge and she somewhat feared what it would hold. Till then all she could do is wait, and play her part. Though at least she found some joy out of this. Even if it was for the briefest of moments. "All answers will come, and go. Fight for them never the less child. One day you'll bring my girl home... I just pray it's not too late.
Turas groaned as he slowly shambled to his feet. How his ancient muscles ached. Truly a number was done, and the damage could be healed but how long would it take? "Is she gone?"he muttered weakly, all the pep he once held was all drained. Every breath was heavier than the next, blood there was still that strong taste of blood that filled his mouth. That was one hell of a fight, something he'd surely think against next time. If there would be such a thing. "Little ones? Or should I say big one?" He stated with a slight smirk. It hurt too much to stand, or even move at that. So the mighty turas sat upon his knees staring up at the new player in this maddening game. Though this one held a familiar scent. Was it that little kin that wished for his grandson's death? Better yet, another scent crossed his nose. "Konoe?" He muttered softly as he stared up at the beast. How long had he been out? Too damaged to fully get up, the hybrid simple sat there upon his knees watching the display. in a way, it made him truly hope for better times. Simple harmony.
Cassandra couldn't help but to smile. Such optimism this one held. The spark that engulfed her eyes were even brighter than vyafos's flames! It narrowly made her believe in her. To want to hope that things would be exactly as she said. Though for her to wish the child to be the greatest guardian? That was a big order to fill. "Remember your words child, to follow this path will cause your whelp
Many hardships. Then again... reflect on your own time as guardian. Your whelp will be in the center of that blood bath, and no mercy will be given to it. Trust me child.. I know better than anyone else what it's like to lose your children to war. To be pulled away from their lives never to return. Only to find out that one was sold into slavery then becomes a bloody cut throat, and the other becoming a damned tyrant." Her body shook for a second. There was so much more she wanted to say, but couldn't. Somethings were too painful.
Vyafos placed his hands upon the woman's shoulders. Hoping to calm her nerves, but all he got for his efforts was a quick slap on the hands. "Some grudges will never end..." her whispered before lifting his head to stare at the ice kin. "I know I will be burned child, hell maybe Mance will rip out my throats for all I care. But the only thing I desire, more than anything in this world... is to leave behind a place where there is peace. A world where you and this one could live a long joy filled life. Where my people are no longer soulless war machines... where even the gods can be free from their duties and live freely, as regular dragons." He never blinked as he placed his hands behind his back. "It is-"
Before he could speak another word, Cassandra butted in, " something that will never be. War will always be a thing, destruction, chaos, death, sadness! It is and always will be! Children have died trying to create your future! Those are the damned lucky ones!" Her eye peered down at the stirring tristan who dared to raise up. As he got more than half way up, she drew her blade and thwacked the poor child upside the head with its hilt. Causing the poor soul to hit the pillow once more. "You say I brush over the good times, but let me tell you something... I live this hell. I have suffered from your kind, and from his! Yet both of you preach a fantasy that pissed me off! My father is cursed, and all he wanted was love! My grandfather suffered the same curse, my brother took his own life for his beloved, and my only sister was cursed to the point where healing magics will end her life! And I was ripped away from my own children!" On that remark vyafos could do nothing but hang his head. Yet the onslaught continued forward.
"Love, tenderness, and all the other horse s**t you spout is nothing more than a fairy tale. You said it yourself, there is a hell of a war your child will be born into. And ya know what, he will be made an example of. There will be nothing you can do, but watch as he is tormented time and time again." Lifting the veil in anger, she allowed Aki to see the scars that bore into her. The horrific burns that deformed the right half of her face. The deep sickening gashes that dug oh so deep into her neck, questioning the fact she could even breath. Her hair was pure white, as if it had turned to ash. "Your little guardian will have this to look forward to! The pain, the misery, the suffering, torment, hatred, and loneliness will forever haunt him!" She watched as Aki attempted to rise but with great force she pushed her back on her butt.
"The monsters that plague this world will be at his heels, taking everything away! Just as it has done to me, to my family, and just as it will be done to you!" Cassandra spat as a blade unsheathed itself. The floating blade suddenly shot down pinning vyafos's robes to the wall. " tears began to fill her blood shot eyes. Soon the images flashed forward once more. The screams of her children, the screeches of the kin that thought they were oh so mighty. The terrible flames that reeked havoc upon her flesh. How they burned, how her charred skin but how could she fight back! The little ones, they'd kill them! Her body began to shake violently as if the earth was quaking beneath her feet.
The other blades began to slowly unsheathe themselves as she clinched the closest one. The hollowed sounds of metal on metal echoed lightly through her gauntlet. Pointing the blade towards aki it burst into flames. Fully lightening up the oddly designed gauntlet. Small rubies climbed from the claw like finger tips all the way to her pauldron. Within the gaps were nothing, no mail, no cloth, and definitely no flesh. It was as if the masterfully crafted gauntlet acted as a replacement as to what used to be there. "Your kind, his kind took everything from me! My mother, my father, my sister, my lover, and my own kids! You couldn't of just had me in their stead! No they take and take, until all you have is nightmares of what could have been! And you even lie to your own damn self! You'll give birth to a future slave!" She shouted as she attempted to slash through the kin.
Much to his displeasure, vyafos moved in front of her using his own wing to shield against the heavy blow. It worked for the most part, except the blade cut through both the scales and bone like butter. Severing his right wing by the bone. "Dammit casandra control yourself!" He hissed as he turned to face her. Pain riddled his body, but oddly he barely felt it. Adrenaline pumping he moved forward. Grasping the woman's wrists he attempted to tighten his grip, but even then it was barely enough. "Get a hold of yourself! Cassandra, look at me! Look at me! Those kin are dead, this is a new tomorrow! A new age! It's why I'm fi-" once more vyafos was cut short.
"Why you're fighting! Please I may have been a young bright eyed girl two hundred some years ago when you tried to court me, but things change ya damn lizard! I see through the ruse! See through all of it!" She shouted once more, blade shaking in hand. "I should just end this... end all the damn hurt, all the crimes, all the damn darkness! I must I have to!" Tears filled her eyes once more as she turned to Tristan. Eyes burning with unrelenting rage.
Wounded, vyafos slowly rose. Trying his hardest not to make a noise. "Whelp of ice.... I may need your aid in this... if you value your lovers life... then we best get her out of here!" It took all he had just to focus on keeping her wrists locked. Even then he felt all too woozy from the blood loss. "Child help me push her outta the hut!"
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KnightLord Zero Vice Captain
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Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2018 3:04 pm
The snarl from Morva was great, having completely forgotten about the hybrid. Startled at first, he soon lowered his head at the elder earthen one. "Yes..." He said gently, looking from the pair to Turas. "Konoe... The madness was so great, its own void of insanity... She. Konoe has the power to silence it, to balance it. She was suppose to die, I was supposed to kill her after I had finished using her for our means. Her magic, when it smoothed the madness, I began to understand... Things. I failed." How he missed her suddenly, even as he spoke of her.
"We fought and at the appointed time of her slaughter I refused. How could I? As the last Dark Kin, I... Needed her. More then that, I had fallen in love with her, I believe you call it love anyway. Here was a human, with the powers of the light goddess herself, so alone... So hurt." His talons dug into the earth, "she is alive, I have left her with the enforcer. She wished I would protect her whelp, as best as I could, from this upcoming war. I shall, even if it means I must stand as his enemy. Then... I will return to this land and claim her fully as my own, for as long her mate lives undefeated by myself then she is not truly mine. By doing so, we will liberate her people and maybe, just maybe the Kin will have their freedom."
"Things have been set in motion which cannot be stopped, but perhaps they can be delayed or changed somewhat from their present path. If so, maybe things will change for the better." Mance said, pausing to look down at Yo and search her eyes, it seemed deep in her heart she knew the truth. He would leave and without her, he would be consumed by the void again, a puppet of his own dark magic. Only she would know the truth, what he could have been, what he could be if things worked according to his plans. To everyone throughout time, he was nothing more then a monster. "Peace I believe, could return and the balance restored. Time will tell."
"Meadur, Huinarin... I am sorry." The ice Kin looked past the combatants to her Tristan, whom Cassandra had injured and now threatened. "How. Dare. You." Aki said slowly, rising and pushing away the blades that threatened her and Tristan as if they were a mere branch in the road. "For decades since the passing of my Dam and the abandonment of my Sire, I wanted to belong again." She moved to Tristan's side where the hilt had connected with Tristan's skull. "I belonged, for too short a time with the Royal family, the Guardian of their whelps. I failed in my duty and they too were taken from me." Her fingertips so gently touched the lump caused by Cassandra's rash actions, carefully her own icy magic worked to hinder the swelling and slow the bleeding. "This human, used as bait to lure me for my execution... Despite his sufferings, his grievous wounds, his chances to leave me for his safety... Has never faltered." Aki broke contact and turned to Cassandra, her eyes as dark as a winter storm.
"How DARE you harm family." She howled,sounding eerily like the wind in a blizzard as the dark magic lent its aid, blackening her veins. "Get out." She threw her hand forward, dark jaws snapped though the ground and closed around the combatants, blades and all. Encased among the jaws, they pulled back into the ground and released them into the open area where she had Yo had dueled hours prior. Aki followed, her skin and scales picking up a strangely illustrious glow, watching the weakened fire dragon try and restrain the woman. "I refuse to allow you to harm what you have lost, to take from me yet another."
She strode up to them, reaching past Vyafos, seemingly unconcerned by the woman's well trained weapons. "Nor will I allow you to carry the guilt of losing another." She cradled Cassandra's burned face within her palm. "You spoke of the Lady Aella, your sister? I know her, worked beside her. She saved our lives..." As Aki spoke, she pushed her way into Cassandra's mind, showing her the memories of the events through Aki's eyes - their adventures in the mines, the landslide. "She even found a lover, a man by the name of Garth. A simple, quiet, human shepherd who has no hesitation to risk his own life for hers if the need arose." Though Aki was loath to show her the risk Aella took in the mines, she did. Though she focused on heavily on the earthen armor that Garth ripped his way through and how tenderly he carried her exhausted form.
"Cassandra, you've become bitter because of the losses you've suffered. Even among the battles I have experienced upon the surface world, Tristan has never once abandoned me." She showed her his daring rescue from the bandit camp, how he liberated her from the spell of Mance even at the cost of his own injury, his appearance and heroics from when she was skinned and how he came for her even in the Underworld. "All we want, is to be left alone with each other for the precious few years he has left." Aki showed her their discussions about where to settle, working together to make her human armor and the newfound sword. "Even when we traveled here, as frightened as I was? I knew I would not abandon him. Ugil's insanity has already badly maimed him, muzzled my powers lest I fight back. If I am to lose my beloved Tristan? He will not pass alone."
She stepped back, looking at the weakened Vyafos. "The things you called bullshit on? You're staring at it, you just refuse to see it." Even Aki could see the feelings the fire dragon had for her, Cassandra herself mentioned it, was the woman too scared of the loss that may follow to embrace the risk and chance something positive? "My whelp, faces a terrible future... I know this. The blood of the Turas runs through him, maybe the curse of the guardian does as well. But I also know this, he will never be alone. My time upon the surface has taught me this much. The Kin face extinction because we refuse collaboration, we seek revenge and lust for the slaughter of our captors. Right now, Tristan and I have a very clear destiny before us - win the war or die."
She stepped back, using her magic to call the sword Tristan and her forged together to her. "Release her Vyafos, though I wish not to harm family, I cannot allow her to harm my beloved further. You have been harmed enough in my stead." She allowed her wings and tail to slip free, even the veining within her wings had turned back while the scales kept the strange illuminating silver glow. "If I am the last guardian, then I will not fail again." No part of her wished to harm Cassandra, but she could not allow Tristan to come to anymore harm.
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Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2018 7:58 pm
Turas couldn't help but to chuckle. Though blood spewed from his mouth with each wheeze. "Gods... these humans are something else. We sought to enslave and use them, yet now we cling to them with our very being. Looking to them to fend off the sea of emotions that consume us." Falling back into the sand turas couldn't help but to let out a small grunt. His entire body still tingled from the fight. Yet it mattered little in the long run. Hell fade back into the mind of Tristan and begin to recuperate. As much as he wished not to. Still at least he could talk to the living a little longer.
"It pleases me beyond belief she moved on. That child is too stubborn for her own good, though I see where she gets it from. Still child, hold onto... with everything in your being. Cause once she's gone... the truth of the world will become too hard to bare." Holding up his hands to the stars above, he began to think of his own. The days where hilda and himself would sneak outta camp and gaze upon the very stars. Apart of him wondered if they remembered, or did his ancestors turn a blind eye upon them? Still that longing, her touch, her kiss. The feeling she brought about with her presence. How he missed it so. "Humans... they're such powerful beings that we do not understand. The emotions they bring, so foreign yet so familiar to us. Once mated... it's so hard to forget them, to move on. They're scent always pops up in the spring's wind. Their beauty captured forever in our minds... haunting us, yet allowing us to remember exactly what we miss most..." his eye gazed over to Mance who held yo ever so tightly in his arms. Only one question popped into his mind, something simple yet oh so powerful. "Is it wrong to embrace such love?"
Cassandra turned to face her new foe who dared draw a blade upon her. Yet her words, her magic that flashed images throughout her mind. The happiness her little sister possesses, the words of the young Tristan's feats swayed her mind to better times. Back when she was just a young lass being swooned by Vyafos. Those were good days, but like everything else it never lasted. Yet this beastie was willing to fight on and protect the s**t that ran outta the lords mouth. A fire dragon that could possibly ruin her child's future. Saying nothing the blades that float about her sheathed themselves once more. This time, however, she drew one blade from her side.
It was a magnificent blade with dragonic etchings within its steel. The hilt was much longer than a standard, a mere six inches longer at that. its guard glistened brightly in the moon light. A brilliant rose gold, within the center yet another ruby and at the very end of the hilt appeared to be a dragon's fang. "If you are willing to fight for his cause and draw blade against me then I shall accept your challenge whelp." The scent that radiated off that blade, it had the same scent as her father's. Did he create another without telling them? Better yet why was a kin wielding a weapon that could seal her very fate, just as it did her people; how ironic.
Her stance, however, said a different story. It was sloppy. Her feet were in the wrong position, yet almost in the correct. The way she even held it left her wide open. Did she not hear the whispers of the metal? Did it not speak to her? Even then it preached such oddity. A blade made of love and hardship, a blade of engagement and divinity. A blade of time eternal. Such a beautiful voice it had. Sadly her ears were deaf to it. She slid her feet into its usual formation, while gripping the hilt with both hands. Slowly she raised it up to where the hilt was barely above her left ear with the blade pointing out at aki. At that moment her steel like gaze bore into her victims eyes. Yet she saw something unexpected out of an inexperienced fool. The very same gaze.
Smirking, the woman eased her stance into a more relaxed state. The blade went from being two handed, to her more relaxed right. While she returned to a more calm stature. "If you think you can best me with a blade... then you will die along with your resolve. I am a blade saint, and your weapon sings to me. Telling me of your inexperience, your flaws. So tell me child... what are you going to do? Fight me crippled? If so, then please make the first move." The woman was hesitant, did she not realize that she was in battle? That by drawing the blade sealed their duel?
Vyafos chuckled softly as he placed his hand upon the nub that was once his wing. Fire shot from his palm sealing the wound and successfully stopping the bleeding. Still, after such a blow in this form he was still woozy. Yet the ice whelp needed his aid. If not she will surely die. Already she chose to battle by blade, a mistake but at least it wasn't in her dragon form. Though what was truly odd was cassandras relaxed position. Normally she'd go all out and end the challenger, yet she only used one blade! Never the less, it would take both of them to push the blade saint. Taking in a deep breath he summoned his own weapon. A glistening three pronged trident. The elegant weapon was roughly eight feet in length. A considerable reach for such a weapon."Cassandra, this is... its unnecessary... please lay down your arms. Please Cassie, it's not-" once more he was cut off by the woman.
"Don't you dare call me that, I'm no longer that hopefully little girl. I am Cassandra, blade saint of house Turas. Whisperer of metal, and enforcer of naga." Within the blink of an eye she was gone. The only thing that could be seen was the flash of steel as it slashed at the defending vyafos. "I will prevent my family from being placed into this hell hole! I will save them all from this goddamned curse, I will save them all from the visions!" Her slashes were defined, well placed and calculated. It was terrifying how one so berserk could accomplish such a feat. Yet she was already pushing back the defensive dragon.
Striking out with his tail, vyafos finally broke free of the flurry. Breathing heavily the dragon, pushed forward. Stabbing at the hybrid human with such ferocity. Sparks flew as both weapons clashed. "Cassie! I'm trying to prevent it! Please listen to me!" Vyafos shouted as he lunged forward.
"Enough, your weapon lacks the resolve! It screams for me to end this bout so I shall!" Shifting to the left, Cassandra crouched low and gave a swift slash upwards. "Cassie is dead vyafos!" Her blade bore into the metal shaft of the trident. Ripping through it like the brittlest of papers. With no hesitation, she flipped the blade in her hand and brought it down upon her victim. The blade slit open the man's chest, spewing his warm blood upon her wrist and forearm. Much to the man's surprise, yet he fell like the others clinching the gruesome wound inflicted upon him.
That's when her eyes met with Aki's. Her eyes burning with the fury of a thousand suns. "It is just you and me... prove your worth whelp, or I will break the chains of fate and stop the visions at the source." Cassandra stepped towards the child. No longer hesitant on waiting. "Fight for your precious memories, show me your cause is more or I shall shatter it."
Reaching his hand out towards her, vyafos murmured weakly," Cassie... please... come back...."
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KnightLord Zero Vice Captain
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Posted: Sun Jan 14, 2018 7:15 pm
At Turas' words about Konoe, both dark lords looked to Yo. Though Konoe was not hers by birthright, there were things far thicker then blood in this world. "I am... Aware of my fate after her passing." Morva said quietly, noticing how Mance's grip tightened a little on Yo. In some ways the Kin was glad Mance was not his dragon self, he was liable to injure the Matriarch.
"We... Do not." Mance admitted suddenly, looking away from Yo and gazing intently in the direction of Aki, though unaware why he was doing so.
"Humans..." Morva began thinking of Konoe and the memories Aki had of Tristan. "In order to survive in our worlds, we long abandoned or suppressed emotions that would have, possibly, led to our extinction. In a twist of fate perhaps, those emotions we discarded were the very ones that would have assured our survival. Humans never did that, most of them anyway. This is why, though physically so much weaker then us? Together they were able to imprison us in the past." The Kin's tail swished reflectively before his head too snapped towards the direction Mance was looking. "The Guardian has returned."
"Foolish. Yet, even a fool can be brave." Mance said before his gaze shifted back to the patient Turas. "I... Know not." He admitted, his experiences would probably have said yes, his own magic screamed affirmation in the shadows... However, the woman resting in his arms told him otherwise.
"No." Morva interjected before turning to meet the eyes of Turas. "No. Look at the Guardian. Her mate is... Something. By most standards he is as weak as a child, even by human measure he can hardly hold his own anymore; if he lacks either of the weapons made by yourself. Yet, his mind? It is dangerous on its own and his spirit is nearly untouchable. Recall, Aki was easy to control and make our weapon and this human has defeated our magic and freed her every time, even at the cost of so much of his own life."
His talons once again dug into the earth. "Love... It is a fierce weapon. Mayhaps even greater than our own. Capable of making the impossible, possible." He looked back to Yo, how by just her sheer presence alone it was able to silence the madness within the dark god. How Morva was certain anything Yo asked of Mance, as long as there was sanity within him, he would do. How willingly the dark god would rip the earth apart to protect her and the silent agony their separation would destroy him. "Yet... It will be the destruction of so many." Turas did indeed pose a conundrum.
Aki was surprised when Cassandra spoke of the metal speaking to her, then she remembered the words of both Turas' family - Metal danced to Cassandra's battle song, it spoke to her. "I do not believe I can best you with a blade, even I am not so much a fool as to believe that." Aki was about to make that first move when Vyafos decided to interfere. The wisest course of action at present was to observe and wait a few moments, Cassandra would likely dispatch Vyafos in short order.
Aki flinched at Cassandra's tone, pausing a moment to wonder if she had been so harsh to Tristan when the darkness possessed her. Strangely enough Aki did not interfere with the bout between the hybrid and the dragon and felt no surprise when the blade saint dispatched not only the weapon of the dragon but, wounded the dragon. The look of the woman, it thrilled her in a strange way. "Tell me something Blade Saint." Aki began as she shifted her stance a little. "When you spoke to the blade, did it not tell you whom its master was?" The icy eyes flashed dangerously a moment. "Then you know I would be a fool to meet you with such a weapon."
The blade in her hand began to blacken and change shape, almost as if it was clay and an invisible sculptor was at work. "As Guardian, I was also the sparring mate of the Enforcer, our King and our Princes..." The hilt of the blade had become a shaft as the blade thickened and rode higher upon the shaft. "The Royal family and even the Matriarch Konoe were trained with an elegant weapon, crafted from the fang of our God, Mance. That Naginata, was my opposer... My position was not afforded such elegance however..." She smiled softly as the blackness of the weapon seemed to fade back inward. "
The shaft of the weapon was of a highly polished wood, a deep red in hue with black veining, which was about six and half feet long. The butt of the shaft had a white gold, dagger-like spike, roughly six inches, affixed to it. The blade head was just shy of three feet and crescent in shape, nearly eight inches wide at the center. The curious matter was the inside of the crescent was a serrated edge, while its convex outside was honed to a plain edge. The weight of the blade alone was a good four or five pounds, though it was a mere feather to Aki. "I would ask you what it says to you now? But, I would rather find out during our spar." The sweep of the weapon became just another extension of her arm, how strangely relaxed she appeared.
"Of course I do you an injustice, for slaying a Kin in its human form is less glorious than say the slaughter of one of us in our true form. In a better time and place, I would have rather given you that justice." It seemed Cassandra was done with the formalities as she made the first move and Aki's weapon moved just as swiftly to intercept her attack. The sound of the Blade Saint's weapon rang true against the shaft, though it failed to leave a mark upon its gloss. "You carry your title well, the stories did you justice." Cassandra's next strike bypassed the weapon and should have been a fair hit upon Aki's right forearm, except the metal rang out against what sounded like ice.
"I have learned a great deal from humans." She grinned softly, there was a bracer, similar to the design Kelly had used - only made of a material that could have been ice, if not for the dark colouring. "I think you will find yourself the superior one in the end, for the enforcer is the more battle-hardened one. I know my place, despite what you may believe." Each sentence was punctuated by a sweep of the weapon, yet there was a grace about Aki's motion with it. Cassandra certainly could hit and move faster but, her reach was far less. "I will not use the dark magic afforded to me by the Lord unless you use yours against me first. Fair Lady Cassandra, is fair." She nodded her head as she listened to the sounds created by the passing of Cassandra's blade. The eye may not track but, to the blind Kin's of the underworld, sound could.
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Posted: Sun Jan 21, 2018 7:19 pm
Turas chuckled as he continued to stare at the couple. How funny it all was, if life went differently then maybe they all could've been happy. Instead fate shook them all to the core. Just watching the two reminded him of simpler times, yet even he could see the sadness. Something he attempted to come to terms with a long time ago but failed. "You know... you'll never forget them. Their scent is always in the spring air, or the wind that rushes through our scales. They are the night, and the stars that light our way..." staring up into the night sky turas searched eagerly for a star that had long fallen. Yet his hope never ended on being under it once more. "They are the things we dream we could hold on to forever, wishing to never wake up..."
The more he spoke, the more he felt. It was as if hilda were still with him. Placing her ever so gentle hand against his cheeks. Though upon opening his eyes it was simply a gentle breeze. "We'd do anything for our mates, and they'd do anything for us. Even this new generation would see the world burn before harm car to their mate. My grandson... Tristan, you claim him weak... but throw danger towards his aki and there will be hell to pay. Same goes for my granddaughter who you keep eye balling." Even he could feel the magic from here in all it's intensity. Whatever was going on, she wasn't backing out. Though part of this scared him. Such recklessness reminded him too much of his own daughter. How similar the two were, both wearing their emotions upon their sleeves.
Taking in a deep breath, turas pulled himself up and made way towards the others. Propping himself up against the side of the giant dragon kin next to him. The pain of the fight still riddled throughout his being. Yet he wanted to be closer to them. Maybe it was the longing, maybe it was something else. Yet to see the sorrow within those eyes. The darkness would take over, reeking havoc upon his soul until there was nothing left but a shell. Even then the memories and thoughts of what could have been would still seep in. Waking his soul to the nightmare that is reality. "Whelp... take care of konoe... perform the ritual with her and spend as much time as you can together. Take her to this land, raise a family... and hold onto them until your last breath." It was the only advice he could give. Something he wished he did with hilda, instead of taking it all for granted.
"Rest now matriarch. preserve your energy while you can... after all, you're the only one who can get us back safely." Turas said with a light chuckle. An honest attempt to break the sadness that filled the air.
Jumping back, Cassandra began studying the newly formed weapon. It sung a lot differently than the other. It was colder, yet at the same time it called out for her. Going in for a few more strikes she paid closer attention to the story it held. Gulping hard Cassandra leapt back once more. It seemed her speed was already too much for the child. Pity, yet she still stood. Something she admired, then again from what the metal sung, it was all she knew. "You put yourself in a hole... just as you've done your entire life. You take to heart every failure, even things out of your own control." Slowly the saint circled about aki. Her blade ever so relaxed at her side as she examined her foe.
"You seek and seek for a home, replacing figures in your old life with new ones. Swearing to the heavens above that'll you shall protect them... even when you know the truth. Yet you run from it..." Cassandra stared intently into the young whelps glowing eyes. She lost everything, and will continue to do as such. "The role of the guardian weighs heavily on your shoulders. It is easy being the enforcer, you simply kill. Yet as guardian there comes with a curse... you must protect them, teach them, and love them like your own. They become family, and with it you find a strength you never thought you had." Cassandra couldn't help but to sigh. In a way the young one reminded her of her own family. She'd almost swear the young aki was a lost sister.
"A guardian is by far stronger than any mere enforcer. For the enforcer only has one purpose, but you have many. Already you're proving your strength yet holding back." Cassandras eyes narrowed as she leapt forward. Smashing her blade hard into the shaft of the naginata, sending the poor wielder flying backwards. "A guardian must put everything on the line to save what they must protect. Something you clearly don't understand. So Child of ice let me make this clear... if you fail to land a single blow upon me... I will kill Tristan, and free you of your duties. The promised child will only be a thought to you as you weep over the loss. Yet you will finally be free." Taking in a deep breath, Cassandra took a new position. Both hand gripping the hilt ever so tightly. "If i bring you to your knees... then you best say farewell to your beloved 'guardian'."
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KnightLord Zero Vice Captain
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Posted: Wed Jan 31, 2018 11:10 pm
Morva made what could have otherwise been some kind of startled cough when Turas mentioned Konoe, otherwise he was content to let the hybrid dragon speak. Turas' next move made him uneasy and yet... What was this feeling? He turned to study the man, suddenly feeling he was the one being scrutinized. "I..." His head dipped at his words. "You know of it too then. Though I am not immortal as Mance is, I wish to shelter her from the teeth of time as long as she wishes... Anyway." He thought of her and suddenly wished deeply for her to be here, with all the family.
"I am... Scared for her. Having left her on a continent embroiled in a war that will wreak only destruction upon its surface and a bloodbath if the Kin below surface to reclaim what we believe is ours. There is so much coming and it can no longer be contained." He once again looked back towards the castle. "The guardian has arisen, my Sire and Dam were fools to warp such a creature with magic that was not their own. If not for Tristan... I shudder to think that this continent would be infected with such an imbalance. Her place is not here, it is far too dangerous for her to be near the blood of the gods." He gave a shake of his head, deeply concerned for the safety of all their mates.
Aki had underestimated the sheer strength of the hybrid; a deadly mistake considering what she had seen Aella accomplish. Even as the blade connected with the shaft of her weapon, her wings snapped out and pushed back with surprising force. Backwards she did go, but hardly as far as Cassandra probably wanted. "Tell me something Lady Cassandra." Her once sapphire eyes nearly black with the magic pulsing through her. "If you know so much..." With a flash of her hand, a dark claw reached out of ground and closed itself ground the woman, binding and pulling her within spitting distance of Aki.
"Then you already know that I know." How tempting it would have been to just cleave her head off like this, the talons so tight she could just crush the life out of her. "I know I cannot protect them. I know well enough I cannot save Tristan. I know I damn my whelp to a life of unspeakable damnation." With another flick she threw Cassandra into a wall and then advanced upon her once more as the tendrils shot out of the ground and bound her. "I might be the stupidest Kin in the history of time itself you could say." She closed the gap and crouched down beside the woman.
"For example? I have right where I want you. I could easily make an attempt on your life right now." She leaned in a little closer, her breath rolling like mist in the fringed air. "I almost feel tempted to finish your wounded lover off first. I mean, that's a possibility too..." The same dark claw that once held Cassandra grabbed Vyafos, though it did not crush on command. "I know I am not strong enough to save them, I know I have become nothing more then a living weapon in the Dark Lord's plans, the both of them. I have the magic of both the light and dark coursing through me, but I was never trained to use it nor do I wish to kill anyone unless they threaten harm to my Tristan."
The claw that held Vyafos tightened a little. "The magic screams for your blood, to be fed. Such destruction it seeks and it will never be satisfied, ever. Yet you, enforcer of Naga..." Her attention focused back on Cassandra, "the light magic is uninterested in you though the dark seeks to feed on you too." With her free hand, she summoned what seemed to be shards of black ice. "I long to say if you threaten my mate, then I will take yours... But tell me something Cassandra? Is he." The shards launched themselves at the weakened Vyafos.
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Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2018 5:14 pm
Now this she didn't expect. Such untrained, raw, magic. She truly struck the button this time, yet what was this on her brow? Was it sweat? Grinning widely she raised her head to see the enraged kin. Even her eyes appeared different, this was something she could not control. Her grip was ever so tight, and now she attempted to threaten Vyafos. Going as far as calling him her "beloved". The coward deserved whatever was coming to him, did she not make herself clear the first time? Then again, watching him lay upon the ground motionless. A mere image flashed upon her. A memory that took place two-hundred years ago. When she was but a young lass. Bright eyed, and ever so eager to see the world.
It was such a sweet memory, a time when her brother was still around. Poor Ancy, life was so different with him around. Everyone was so much happier. Yet it was he and Vyafos who took her away. To show her what was truly on top of the mountain that bordered the Crimean line. To see the sunrise above her majestic peak, that was the goal. How Vyafos held her ever so tightly, as her brother led the way. The climb was so long, it took them several days to reach the summit itself. Yet, with every trouble that crossed their path Vyafos was there. Even with the smallest of knicks, he'd care for her.
Upon reaching the peak, she remembered the first thing that happened. She was scooped into the man's arms and her maiden's kiss was stolen. How warm his body was. How right it felt, of course her brother simply laughed. Yet from that day on, that spark was ignited. How they would run away to spend alone time together. Vyafos was always there, he promised her that.
"Till the end of all times my little firefly, I will protect you."
Was it wrong to give in to such feelings again? To be hurt once more, then again was it wrong to be that little girl? To be found once more in is warm embrace, gazing upon the starlit sky. Listening to the stories of how the fire dragons would name stars after their fallen chieftains. A swell was building up in her throat as she glared into Aki. "Gods be damned.... I'm still that young lass..." She whispered. Closing her eyes, she opened up the palm of her hand.
"you know... I am the child who controls metal. It bends to my will. I may not have the brute force of my sister, or the power to tame the wild. But..." The finger tips of her gauntlet shot out. Faster than one can blink, they dug deep within aki's skin. Two within each of her arms, and the final within the center of chest. Effectively breaking her spell, she placed her hand upon her gauntlet. The metal slowly began to pull back and straighten out until all remained was flying, dagger like, steel.
She reached back, drawing upon the blade of flames. "This can..." her eyes drew back to Vyafos. Something wasn't right, why was there a pool of blood beneath him? Didn't he singe the wounds shut? Unless, no it couldn't be. "Gods no...." She attempted to run towards him, only to drop to the ground. The flying metal had hit the ground with a loud thud, along with her own legs. "No, no... Casandra... center. center." She took in several deep breaths, as she attempted to scramble. "Damn you kin... gods damn you!" She shouted as she attempted to rise once more. But her legs would not allow it, no matter how hard she tried to regain composure.
"Useless hunks of metal!" She shouted, as she swiftly rolled onto her side. This time hurling one of the metal chunks towards aki's head. only missing her nose by mere inches, yet leaving a clean slice upon her right cheek. "K-Keep her distracted..." She thought. At least until she could get her damned legs moving again. This sensation, why was it plaguing her once more? The visions of things that once were rotted her concise. Digging her hand into the earth, she called upon all the strength she could muster.
Nothing. The feeling of dread swept over her once more, apart of her saw her brother during his last stand. How he ordered Vyafos to take her far from the battlefield. Knowing full well he was no match for Naga's chosen, knowing that he would not bow and be her slave. That he would fall for the rest of them to live. Now Vyafos tried to do the same, and she cut him down in cold blood. She felt something wet trickling down her cheeks. Was it tears? "No.... no..." Glaring up at Aki, she shouted, "Take my life instead of his. Save him, cause those scales are useless without his magic. If you want your child to live, then save him!" Her heart was pounding so fast.
"I-I'm already half a woman anyway, held together by mere metal. Besides... I'm the threat, the traitor. I wounded him, and would of killed your beloved for selfish reasons." Slowly she felt the tingle within her legs, had she reconnected the flow? What was this heat that was building up within her. Like a raging fire ready to burst. The kin seemed unmoved, just standing there as if mocking her without the use of words. "The guardian... is always stronger than the enforcer..." She whispered. "The enforcer is not suppose to have something to protect... only destroy the target, but right now... I will take my birthright!" Slowly she stood back, yet remained in a kneeling position.
Images continued to flash throughout her mind. How her brother was brought to his knees time and time again, yet he kept rising. Kept fighting, slaying the chosen elite one by one. Was this the same feeling he had? The birthright of a Turas? If so, then this was the fate she would accept. To protect the one memory that forever lingered. Pushing herself onto her legs, Cassandra gazed towards Aki.
Perhaps she should thank the child. For the first time in a long, long, time her eyes were finally open. Signalling with her hand, the scattered metal flew into the air. Surrounding not her, but Vyafos. "Go after him... and die in a sea of metal." Raising her arms into the air she once more summoned three of her blades. Each gleaming in the moon's light. "I'm sorry my spark, but it's time for the the firefly's light to shine." She mumbled as a blade flew towards Aki.
The Kin was swift to block it, yet it was slow for a reason. Once the the metal touched metal it's magic ran rampant. Sending electric jolts shot down the naginata, it acted as a rod to amplify the effect. The second blade left her aura. This one slamming into the ground between her feet. Soon it engulfed itself into a mighty flame. Finally she charged the kin, with not the final enchanted blade but the one of steel. Her first weapon of choice. The first blade she ever created. The blade forged with her former beloved. Unlike before, her movement was much slower. The grieves sunk heavily as she dashed forward. Yet, it sung not for death. This strike, it didn't want to be true.
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KnightLord Zero Vice Captain
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Posted: Tue Feb 06, 2018 11:01 pm
Aki watched in pure fascination as Cassandra came to her realization of her feelings and though she expected recourse for her actions? What she received was rather unexpected. Smiling to herself as the shards of metals pierced into her flesh, biting deeply into muscles and organs without remorse. She needed to release the spell, the dark shards of ice falling to the floor and shattering with a tinkling sound. That was the reaction that Cassandra was expecting of her, deciding to release Vyafos from the dark magic. Besides she needed to tap into the light magic to heal anyway. "I thought so." Aki said softly, blood dripping from her mouth as the light magic kicked in and began to mend the wounds inflicted by Cassandra's attack.
Readying her weapon as Cassandra reached for hers, Aki was startled by what unfolded next. Though she did expect her to notice Vyafos' wounds were grievous, her collapse was unexpected; almost as if all her magic had been stripped from her. Watching this display, Cassandra's strike was true - metal zipped past her cheek and left its impression. The glowing silver blood trickled down and pattered the ground, adding its own stain upon battlefield as her eyes met Cassandra's once more. She released the light magic, the pity for the hybrid human in front of her withered like a young plant frosted by the chill.
Yes, the Turas whelp was finally rising. This pleased the dark magic, though Aki could not understand why, but it was not the vessel's place to understand. "Tell me something - Why do you serve? That is not your place. You are a false enforcer." The metal rose, once again serving its mistress' whim and defending the one that meant something. What the Kin did not expect, was the blade she deflected to carry an electrical charge. Her snarl echoed throughout the hollow as the blade of flame began to singe her flesh. "Likewise Lady Cassandra, you will not harm mine." Aki growled through gritted teeth as her tail rammed itself into the ground, using her wings to push herself off the ground, forcing the current of the electrical blade to discharge harmlessly.
With a slash she parried the electrical blade and pushed away from the flame blade with her wings, catching the slower third strike of her's with the spiked end of her weapon. "You are not Naga's servant, whelp of the earth. The darkness seeks to feed off your essence because you are the last of those that could restore the balance. Reclaim your birthright alongside the one who has never abandoned you." She pushed away the blade and used her tail to warp around the woman's sword arm - "half a woman... No. Stop thinking like that Cassandra Turas." With a shake of her head, her tail released. "I am the mate of Tristan Turas - you will always be family." Her wings pushed her back once more, tail coiling and flexing. "Humans are such strange creatures, you believe your injuries make you lesser? Hardly. What I see before me is truly a powerful woman, half a woman would have died a long time ago."
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Posted: Fri Feb 09, 2018 8:35 pm
"I am no enforcer, I am but a fake. A place holder, if you will, to the so called true enforcer. Cause you're right... I can't deny my blood no matter how hard I try. The feelings they burn deep within me. Yet I still fear, fear the fates of my family. Of watching my brother die a pointless death over and over again. Then when we had our children. Our little whelps... I thought things would be different, that I could protect them from the fate of a Turas." She gazed up at Aki with tear filled eyes.
The pain, the inescapable pain that had followed her throughout the course of time. All the emotions she tried to hide, there was no running anymore. This kin, was the deadzone and it was all because of one word; family. "Vyafos had to separate them, to allow them to grow strong without me. to protect them. I suppose it worked... each lived a life. One as a mercenary turned tyrant... the other.... a pit dog turned assassin." something began to swell in her throat. The blade she held pointed at the kin, it felt so heavy. Loosening her grip, the beautiful steel blade fell upon the earth. landing with a loud thunk.
"I wanted to protect them, to give them more to life. I sacrificed myself... so that the kin wouldn't hurt them. So that my enemies would be satisfied... oh how the mutilated me. Eating slowly at my legs and arm as if they were biscuits. My strength was nothing more than a memory... they got what they wanted. Torturing me for days, the only thing holding me to this world was my own cursed bloodline." Her eyes turned to Vyafos who still laid, unmoving and cold. "He saved me from that nightmare, yet I hated him for it... traded off once more to be saved by Naga. The very creature who took my brother's life." once more she found herself paralyzed. Her arm sinking down to her side. The will to fight was no longer there. Only thoughts of the past lingered.
The thought of bringing up a family with Vyafos. To have the dream that her own father wished for. An escape from this horrid world, and all the people within it. Peace was all she wanted. "We promised those bright little eyes, as I held their precious hands, that we would protect them from the world... It still sickens me what truths befell them. How I failed my little ones, and watched as they grew up alone in the world." Turning to Vyafos she stared intently at him. Now knowing why he couldn't stick with their young. Naga would've snatched them, if not then their enemies would surely. No matter how much she blamed him for it, the truth was that he saved them.
"I'm so sorry sparky... so sorry for what I have done. For all the pointless blame." Slowly, and shaken, Cassandra made way to the fallen dragon. Kneeling before him, she scooped his frail body into her arm. Her fire blade soared to her side and pressed firmly against the cut. Searing the cut, as well as giving his body the much needed heat. Tears soon pattered against his cheek, and soon sizzled away. "Aki... little sister... I deem you stronger, you have something precious to protect. You, unlike I, never lost your way. Keep that, and teach it to your child..." Laying Vyafos's head upon her lap, she turned one last time to face Aki.
"Might I ask one favor... just one, that I pray you keep?" She studied the eyes of the kin. They seemed a lot kinder than before. "My mother once told us, when we were but small whelps, that her people would give the names of their great heroes to their newborns. In hopes that the spirit would come back to guide and bestow strength upon the child as they grow..." Weeping gently in the cold winter air, she attempted to muster the courage one more time. "Ancelot... please... name your son after the greatest hero I have ever known. The man... the man who saved my life when I was a but a wee lass. The man who, fought Naga to the death to save Vyafos and I's lives. My beloved brother..."
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KnightLord Zero Vice Captain
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Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2018 12:15 pm
As soon as Cassandra started talking, Aki let the spike of the weapon rest in the ground - she was no longer a threat and the Guardian knew this. Could it be? Aki wondered, as the blade drooped before hitting the battlefield, Joan. Was Joan the lost daughter of Cassandra? What was it about the Turas bloodline trying to kill itself off? Joan, Ugil, now Cassandra had injured her beloved Tristan. Still she watched the woman, everything she said about their kind was... True. Depending which tribe, how much they had been integrated under the rule of the Royal Family, could explain this behavior. Some of the rogues would have easily resorted to torturing humans, why would a hybrid like Cassandra be different.
Aki waited, observing the woman's motions, intently listening to her words while a strange bitterness threatened once more to engulf her mind. Finally, she had protected something, she had protected her family. "Cassandra..." Aki said softly, allowing the weapon to return to its proper form before awkwardly shoving it in her belt, picking up the steel blade of the Blade Saint. Releasing her own icy magic she slowly approached the woman. "I would be honoured to." She knelt beside Cassandra, carefully extending a wing around her as the cut on her cheek healed, placing the blade down at Cassandra's side.
"I lost my family as a whelp as well, hated humans for the slaughter of my mother. I never wanted the Royal Family to come to the surface, I could not trust humans to have changed... Both sides, Kin and Human have made terrible decisions in the past centuries. Maybe, we can change that." Aki smiled softly as she looked at her hand and ran her palm against the edge of Tristan's blade. "The powers of the Dark God and the Light Goddess run through my body." The black veins bled the glowing silvery blood, "why me." The blood pooled in her palm for a moment as Aki studied it.
"I know your daughter... The enforcer of the Royal Family is her potential mate." She laughed gently before looking over to Cassandra. "It seems to me, those of the Turas blood can't keep away from having Kin mates can they?" She studied Vyafos intently, "thank you... Both of you. For reminding me that there is still good in the world." For a moment there was a calmness in the heart of the Guardian.
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Posted: Mon Feb 19, 2018 4:35 pm
Cassandra blinked at the realization. When Naga had ventured to that cave where Ugil's old wife dwelled. Where that unnaturally ritual took place. That familiar scent that emitted from that kin. The one that was too familiar, yet at the same time so foreign. "By the goddess..." Cassandra whispered as she placed her hand upon Vyafos's chest. His heart was still beating, thankfully, but she knew he'd be too weak to move. "Maybe a visit wouldn't hurt..." She muttered. Never before was she given an exact location of her daughter. It was always one spot to the next. Never pin point, but now she had a lead and a strong one at that.
"Thank you child... but have you given thought about how strong your whelp will be? Tristan may have a human mother, but his father is still branded. Hell Ugil and... Joan? Yes... they're more dragon than human. So... what would that make your child? Fire, earth, silver, ice... dark and light?" Closing her eyes, Cassandra to the deepest of breaths soon followed by a heavy sigh. "Naga will be watching, and I'd be surprised if the dark lord wouldn't spare a wandering eye. Keep him safe child, and hold on to every moment. Fore one day you won't be there, and he will be cast out into a harsh war torn world." Even she held a few dreams of a tall, long haired man battling a horrible shadow. Yet there were also more dreams.
Her eyes left aki and to that of Vyafos. Former dreams seemed to rise once more, how they once talked of starting a little family. To raise their little ones away from such a hatefilled world. Where they could grow into strong individuals and find lovers of their own. Experiencing a long, healthy, life was all she'd dream for the little ones. Yet, something crossed her own mind. She wouldn't see the child grown, nor experiencing the little grandwhelps roaming about. Just like her, she would be cursed to watch from the sidelines. "Aki..." Cassandra whispered softly.
"Come... I know we tell you how your child will face many trials, and they speak doom. Yet, there's more to it. For opening my eyes, I want to show you something that no one else knows." Slowly, her hand left the chest of her beloved and moved towards that of aki. "Give me your hand, and I will show you more. Something I wish I could have foreseen for my children." Unlike the others she was smiling as she spoke. All others were dread sayers, yet Cassandra had a twinkle of hope in her eye.
Grasping a hold of her hand, she allowed aki to see a new dream. A new vision. Everything soon faded to black. They remained in this darkness for the longest of time. Finally an explosion of life came forth, and they found themselves behind a rather tall man with long, braided, hair. It was was almost snow white! Another odd feature, was his right arm. It seemed to be blacked out, but where the shadow ended were four thick leather straps that wraped around his chest. Upon his back was a familiar golden sword. The man seemed to be happy as he walked through the desert. As if there was no cares in the world.
However a large shadow seemed to tail him. It consumed everything behind him, yet it never got close to him. Cassandra signaled Aki to move forward, as she tailed the figure throughout the desert for what seemed like hours., until they reached a small cottage next to a large oasis. Aki seemed rather confused, but once more Cassandra pointed forward. She was smiling, as the door to the cottage swung open. Two little ones came running out. One with bright red hair, and off colored eyes; one green the other a brilliant violet. Unlike the sister who followed, he looked frail. His skin as pail as his father's hair. Yet stretching from his back was this large ominous shadow.
At the boy's side was a girl, roughly the same age, her hair was a brilliant blonde and her eyes a shimmering gold. Unlike her brother she was a tad bit taller, and her skin tanned. Her eyes were shimmering gold, and around her was a strange glowing aura. One that intertwined with that of the shadow, creating a weird balance between the two.
Both children ran into their father's legs narrowly tripping him in the process. Both holding onto his pants with all their little might. They couldn't be no more than five or six. Their grins seemed to light the eyes of the father has he hoisted them onto his shoulders and spun them about. Both squealing with laughter, before he stopped suddenly. At the door stood, what looked to be, an extremely familiar face. The woman had red hair, and somewhat shared her son's eyes. Although hers were both a brilliant emerald green. Within her arms was a small baby wrapped in a cloth. Unlike the two children upon his shoulder, it emitted no aura. Though it still cried a mighty cry.
The father slowly approached the mother, setting both children down before taking the baby into his arms. Gently rubbing it's cheeks with his massive hand. It was a beautiful scene, and a lovely family. A peaceful time where the darkness seemed to not touch. "Take a closer look aki... for you may never see this with your own eyes. I want you to remember this... you may never get the chance to see him grown, but I can at least show you a glimpse of happiness that does await him." Gently she placed her hand upon Aki's back and pushed her ever so easily forward.
"Hurry little whelp ,for dawn will soon rise and the image will be lost..."
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KnightLord Zero Vice Captain
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Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2018 2:27 pm
"I would not discount the blood of his Dam either. For a human, she was fierce. You would have liked her, she would have given you a probably warrior's duel." Strangely it hurt to speak of Konoe, another loss this war had taken from them. "I know not if I will subject my whelp to the ritual, I believe Tristan will... object. Plus humans have such bones, to hollow out his shoulder blades would leave him so... Vulnerable. I know not if the whelp would recover sufficiently with no... ill effects." Truly she knew not if she would do it.
For a time she was content to watch the pairing, how often had such a scene been shared between Tristan and herself? It was odd to witness it from the sidelines, yet be a part of it. The darkness within her would have killed him, tortured him for nothing more then pure enjoyment and to feed. She hated it. It was only the whispered voice of Cassandra that pulled her from her thoughts once more. "Yes?" The woman moved to take her hand and Aki obliged, nearly disbelieving what she soon saw before her.
That man! "Trist-". No, he moved to swiftly for Tristan or anyone else she knew. He was tall though and smelled so familiar to her, was this.. Her whelp? Was he... Happy? Then there was the shadow, she growled silently, disliking its existence so near her whelp. Cassandra followed him, just as swiftly trying to figure out where they were going. The eventual appearance of a cabin startled her, it almost could have been their old home moved elsewhere. The little whelps dashed out, how the man lavished attention on them and soon his mate appeared, at least Aki thought it was. The shove from Cassandra, she stumbled out into plain view and what she saw, was unbelievable.
"Amelia?" Aki had no idea what spurred her to say it, the woman before her certainly looked and smelled a great deal like Amelia. Yet, would it even be possible for her to still be -
"How - Who are you." The eyes of the woman flashed as she pushed her little ones behind her, startled by the newcomers appearance in their private oasis. Even more worry some was the fact the woman seemed to know her Mother's name. Nukia could have been mistaken but, she could have sworn the woman was a Laguz. "Tell me who you are and why you have come to this place." She stepped forward, keeping herself between her beloved Ancelot and their children.
Aki froze, this was supposed to be a... Was Cassandra also a Seer? If she was, then was this real? Would it be dangerous to fight or even speak the truth. "I am..." The woman seemed frightened, the attack came without hesitation - whoever she was had some skill with light magic. Even as Aki caught the blinding ball of white fire in her palm, she toyed with it calmly, it brought back memories. "I was... a servant, under the orders of the Guardian of the Royal Kin Family." She said finally, closing her hand around it and snuffing it out. "My apologies for my appearance in your homeland, I have long sought you both out... To relay a message from your Mother." She looked over to Ancelot, there was so much of her beloved Tristan staring back at her.
It was clear the broodmother had no interesting in letting Aki close to her whelps, but the scent on one of them was unmistakable - Lord Morva. It was not, it could not be, she wanted to disbelieve completely it was possible even. It smelled corrupted, as if he had finally succumbed to the darkness and should have been destroyed but, was there no one to do so? "I served with Aki during the Daemeain Wars... Under the orders of General Tristan." She noticed Nukia tense, there was recognition there. "Both of them... were some of the greatest people Crimea ever accepted as citizens. General Tristan was brave, loyal, unwavering in his devotion to Crimea and her citizens, he led the army into a battle with impossible odds in order to secure the escape of Queen Amelia and some of her trusted advisers and retainers. He rode into battle on the back of Aki, to try and shield his soldiers from harm and show Daein the ferocity of Crimea."
Her icy eyes locked with Ancelot's. "No matter what the historical tomes say about that battle; that it was the greatest folly of the age or a testament to a senseless slaughter of Crimean soldiers? That is not true!" Her whole body seemed to tense. "General Tristan agonized over that battle in the few short weeks we were given and tried to spare as many causalities as possible. He was no fool, but the great tactician Crimea has ever known. He loved Aki more than his own life, she said he laid it down so many times just to know she was safe. He suffered greatly for his love, yet I can see him... Reflected in you. Your scars tell me everything. The suffering and pain you have endured over the years, yet with one motion confirmed the love and loyalty for each other and for the whelps."
"Aki loved you Ancelot, so very much. She wanted so dearly for the war to end, to live much like you are now, with Tristan and her whelps. To be here to watch over your whelps. She would be so proud of you, so pleased to see her descendants and know how happy and content you are." It was almost breaking her, to see them all, suddenly wondering what the years behind this and the years to come held. "They both would be so proud of you." Her eyes shifted to Nukia.
"Your mother was a great woman, a noble ruler in a time of crisis who stood by her morals and convictions when the road became unbearable. She gave sanctuary and a home to those who had become outcasts to the continent and believed in them, entrusted the lives of her citizens to them because she saw the good in them. She could see the good in anyone, even when so many others could not."
Aki wanted to turn and look back to Cassandra, if this was the truth... Then maybe Tristan's actions were not in vain. Maybe running was never the answer, if they failed? This future would not come to pass. Those beautiful, curious and inquisitive little whelps would not exist. It was no longer about her whelp anymore, but these little whelps.
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