Holy High - IC 2 - Open

[Theocretes]

MARS

Adam smiled thoughtfully, and he replied, "I have had no reason to, until now. And I also choose to take this form. Though it is moreso I took her and used her as my form, but I can also change form at will, if I please..." He then looked down at the other deities, who were all arguing now about what to do about Thana. "You are quite content with separating yourself from your flock, aren't you, Raven?"

THANAKRON'S PALACE

Thana's back hit the wall hard, and while he grit his teeth, he still managed to land in a crouch, though painfully. He slowly stood back up, and then he began to carefully explain himself. "I came to you in order to request your assistance. Please, what do you know about the god who calls himself Raven?"

Raven grinned beneath the mask, floating on the air, before snapping his fingers, returning both he, and Adam / Rosalie to the ground, several hundred feet below them, teleporting them in an instant.

I'm an observing God. That's how I got myself in this mess in the first place. Never was one for intervention. Plus, I'm here just for their assistance. No need on getting emotionally attached, especially when I'm sending them home soon enough.

He then turned to face Shen, grinning, as he teleported the dragon to their location on the ground, robs and hood flapping in the wind, while his mask stayed firm.

Quetzalcoatl is directly west of here. Once Ryujin has healed, we'll move directly there. Good?

Thanakron

Thanakron crouched, chuckling to himself, a chilling howl, that screeched through the cavern, causing the black walls to shimmer, and the bones of the long dead to shiver.

He stood up slowly, leaning on his massive scythe, before turning away, holding his massive skeletal arms aloft, looking down into the darkness.

RAVEN WAS GOD. WAS. NEGLECTFUL. ARROGANT. WRATHFUL. HE TOOK MY PLACE. MY HOME. MY LITTLE KINGDOM OF SOLITUDE IN THE DARKNESS. SO WE ROSE UP. AND WE TOOK HIM. BANISHED HIM, FOR WE COULD NOT TRULY KILL HIM. I'M GUESSING THIS IS THE SAME TALE YOU WERE FED, HMMMM?

Thanakron's voice cracked, eerily shattering the deathly quiet, as in one swift motion, he crouched, and turned back, slamming Thana's throat to the wall, leaning in, cold =, dark smelling breath hissing from his skeletal lips, as a fissure appeared, cracking along his skull for a face.

YOU WERE MY FRIEND. MY FRIEND. MY FRIEND.

Thanakron screamed, roaring, and picked up Thana by the throat, throwing him into the opposite wall, close to the exit of the cavernous obsidian cave like palace.

LEAVE MY HOME, MAGE OF DEATH. AND DO NOT RETURN.

And with that, the mighty Death personification, disappeared into the darkness.

Ianar came out of his invisibility
"Thank you Thanakron, we will not forget this service"
With that, Ianar turned invisible again
He spoke to thana
"on to tharizdun?"

[Luminesa]

MARS

Adam smiled thoughtfully, and he replied, "I have had no reason to, until now. And I also choose to take this form. Though it is moreso I took her and used her as my form, but I can also change form at will, if I please..." He then looked down at the other deities, who were all arguing now about what to do about Thana. "You are quite content with separating yourself from your flock, aren't you, Raven?"

THANAKRON'S PALACE

Thana's back hit the wall hard, and while he grit his teeth, he still managed to land in a crouch, though painfully. He slowly stood back up, and then he began to carefully explain himself. "I came to you in order to request your assistance. Please, what do you know about the god who calls himself Raven?"

Raven grinned beneath the mask, floating on the air, before snapping his fingers, returning both he, and Adam / Rosalie to the ground, several hundred feet below them, teleporting them in an instant.

I'm an observing God. That's how I got myself in this mess in the first place. Never was one for intervention. Plus, I'm here just for their assistance. No need on getting emotionally attached, especially when I'm sending them home soon enough.

He then turned to face Shen, grinning, as he teleported the dragon to their location on the ground, robs and hood flapping in the wind, while his mask stayed firm.

Quetzalcoatl is directly west of here. Once Ryujin has healed, we'll move directly there. Good?

Thanakron

Thanakron crouched, chuckling to himself, a chilling howl, that screeched through the cavern, causing the black walls to shimmer, and the bones of the long dead to shiver.

He stood up slowly, leaning on his massive scythe, before turning away, holding his massive skeletal arms aloft, looking down into the darkness.

RAVEN WAS GOD. WAS. NEGLECTFUL. ARROGANT. WRATHFUL. HE TOOK MY PLACE. MY HOME. MY LITTLE KINGDOM OF SOLITUDE IN THE DARKNESS. SO WE ROSE UP. AND WE TOOK HIM. BANISHED HIM, FOR WE COULD NOT TRULY KILL HIM. I'M GUESSING THIS IS THE SAME TALE YOU WERE FED, HMMMM?

Thanakron's voice cracked, eerily shattering the deathly quiet, as in one swift motion, he crouched, and turned back, slamming Thana's throat to the wall, leaning in, cold =, dark smelling breath hissing from his skeletal lips, as a fissure appeared, cracking along his skull for a face.

YOU WERE MY FRIEND. MY FRIEND. MY FRIEND.

Thanakron screamed, roaring, and picked up Thana by the throat, throwing him into the opposite wall, close to the exit of the cavernous obsidian cave like palace.

LEAVE MY HOME, MAGE OF DEATH. AND DO NOT RETURN.

And with that, the mighty Death personification, disappeared into the darkness.

MARS

Rosalie/Adam continued smiling, and then her/his eyes widened slightly, when Raven mentioned he was not emotionally attached to the group. "How interesting. You and I, I suppose, have quite a bit in common...But it's quite sad. Your own flock does not believe you, while mine bends unquestioningly to my will. I wonder if that is a testament to...your lack of authoritative power? Are you being too kind to them, or are you being too hard on them? Only time will tell..." Adam then surrendered control of Rosalie, and her eyes turned back to their blue color. She fainted, falling into Raven's arms, as he caught her.

THANAKRON'S PALACE

Before Thanakron could fade into the darkness, Thana landed again, and he shouted after Thanakron, "Thanakron!...He has fooled the other deities into thinking he is their hero, and he is using them, so he can come after you and take your powers. Please, if you will please listen to me...I can help you stop him."

[Luminesa]

Raven grinned beneath the mask, floating on the air, before snapping his fingers, returning both he, and Adam / Rosalie to the ground, several hundred feet below them, teleporting them in an instant.

I'm an observing God. That's how I got myself in this mess in the first place. Never was one for intervention. Plus, I'm here just for their assistance. No need on getting emotionally attached, especially when I'm sending them home soon enough.

He then turned to face Shen, grinning, as he teleported the dragon to their location on the ground, robs and hood flapping in the wind, while his mask stayed firm.

Quetzalcoatl is directly west of here. Once Ryujin has healed, we'll move directly there. Good?

Thanakron

Thanakron crouched, chuckling to himself, a chilling howl, that screeched through the cavern, causing the black walls to shimmer, and the bones of the long dead to shiver.

He stood up slowly, leaning on his massive scythe, before turning away, holding his massive skeletal arms aloft, looking down into the darkness.

RAVEN WAS GOD. WAS. NEGLECTFUL. ARROGANT. WRATHFUL. HE TOOK MY PLACE. MY HOME. MY LITTLE KINGDOM OF SOLITUDE IN THE DARKNESS. SO WE ROSE UP. AND WE TOOK HIM. BANISHED HIM, FOR WE COULD NOT TRULY KILL HIM. I'M GUESSING THIS IS THE SAME TALE YOU WERE FED, HMMMM?

Thanakron's voice cracked, eerily shattering the deathly quiet, as in one swift motion, he crouched, and turned back, slamming Thana's throat to the wall, leaning in, cold =, dark smelling breath hissing from his skeletal lips, as a fissure appeared, cracking along his skull for a face.

YOU WERE MY FRIEND. MY FRIEND. MY FRIEND.

Thanakron screamed, roaring, and picked up Thana by the throat, throwing him into the opposite wall, close to the exit of the cavernous obsidian cave like palace.

LEAVE MY HOME, MAGE OF DEATH. AND DO NOT RETURN.

And with that, the mighty Death personification, disappeared into the darkness.

Ianar came out of his invisibility
"Thank you Thanakron, we will not forget this service"
With that, Ianar turned invisible again
He spoke to thana
"on to tharizdun?"

Thana turned to him and whispered, "Not yet." He then put a finger over his lips, before he turned back to Thanakron, whose response he was waiting for.

[Luminesa]

Lux flew over to his side, and stood next to him, ankle-deep in the cold water. He then put a hand on the wound and used his light to heal it. "You are going to be okay, Ryujin...please just stay still..." he whispered. Though they had their fights in the past, Lux still cared about the dragon, who he saw as a teammate and, ultimately, a friend.

Meanwhile, a few yards away, Xavier argued with Patriah over what to do.

"You mean you really think it had something to do with Raven?"

"Yes. Thana and Ianar are probably doing something to learn more about Raven. And honestly, I don't blame them," he said.

"He would tell us if he was going to do something like that, though..." Patriah insisted.

"He doesn't have to. I don't know what he's doing or why, but whatever it is, he didn't want any of us to know," Xavier replied.

"He could have at least given us a heads-up that he was leaving," Joaquin muttered.

Patriah grit his teeth and stared at the ground. Whatever Thana was planning, it had to be dangerous, if he wasn't telling anyone. But why did he take Ianar and not me?...Why didn't he tell me...that he was planning something? He knew he had to trust his former Master, but he still couldn't help but fear he was getting himself in over his head, and that if he had just been allowed to help with whatever it was, at least he wouldn't be alone in it...

He opened one eye, iris dull around the slitted pupil, and grunted his thanks before drifting back into his sleep.

Shen Lung, meanwhile, came next to Xavier and Patriah, arms crossed, "Raven certainly has his secrets, but you have no reason to place your trust so far away from him. He has given you no reason to believe he's going to stab us in the back, and honestly, I feel that he's on our side."

Lux smiled at Ryujin and nodded to him, as he finished. He then leaned against the large dragon and stood in the water, staring off into space. The stars above him did not twinkle as brightly as they did on the earth where he was from, it made him anxious. ...The sky is not as bright here...I wonder...could that possibly mean there is indeed something wrong?

Meanwhile, as Mourir spoke, Xavier turned to him. "I don't know what's going on, but if my friends are concerned about Raven, then I'm not going to rest, not until I know everything that they are worrying about is either completely baseless or completely true," he declared.

[Theocretes]

Raven grinned beneath the mask, floating on the air, before snapping his fingers, returning both he, and Adam / Rosalie to the ground, several hundred feet below them, teleporting them in an instant.

I'm an observing God. That's how I got myself in this mess in the first place. Never was one for intervention. Plus, I'm here just for their assistance. No need on getting emotionally attached, especially when I'm sending them home soon enough.

He then turned to face Shen, grinning, as he teleported the dragon to their location on the ground, robs and hood flapping in the wind, while his mask stayed firm.

Quetzalcoatl is directly west of here. Once Ryujin has healed, we'll move directly there. Good?

Thanakron

Thanakron crouched, chuckling to himself, a chilling howl, that screeched through the cavern, causing the black walls to shimmer, and the bones of the long dead to shiver.

He stood up slowly, leaning on his massive scythe, before turning away, holding his massive skeletal arms aloft, looking down into the darkness.

RAVEN WAS GOD. WAS. NEGLECTFUL. ARROGANT. WRATHFUL. HE TOOK MY PLACE. MY HOME. MY LITTLE KINGDOM OF SOLITUDE IN THE DARKNESS. SO WE ROSE UP. AND WE TOOK HIM. BANISHED HIM, FOR WE COULD NOT TRULY KILL HIM. I'M GUESSING THIS IS THE SAME TALE YOU WERE FED, HMMMM?

Thanakron's voice cracked, eerily shattering the deathly quiet, as in one swift motion, he crouched, and turned back, slamming Thana's throat to the wall, leaning in, cold =, dark smelling breath hissing from his skeletal lips, as a fissure appeared, cracking along his skull for a face.

YOU WERE MY FRIEND. MY FRIEND. MY FRIEND.

Thanakron screamed, roaring, and picked up Thana by the throat, throwing him into the opposite wall, close to the exit of the cavernous obsidian cave like palace.

LEAVE MY HOME, MAGE OF DEATH. AND DO NOT RETURN.

And with that, the mighty Death personification, disappeared into the darkness.

MARS

Rosalie/Adam continued smiling, and then her/his eyes widened slightly, when Raven mentioned he was not emotionally attached to the group. "How interesting. You and I, I suppose, have quite a bit in common...But it's quite sad. Your own flock does not believe you, while mine bends unquestioningly to my will. I wonder if that is a testament to...your lack of authoritative power? Are you being too kind to them, or are you being too hard on them? Only time will tell..." Adam then surrendered control of Rosalie, and her eyes turned back to their blue color. She fainted, falling into Raven's arms, as he caught her.

THANAKRON'S PALACE

Before Thanakron could fade into the darkness, Thana landed again, and he shouted after Thanakron, "Thanakron!...He has fooled the other deities into thinking he is their hero, and he is using them, so he can come after you and take your powers. Please, if you will please listen to me...I can help you stop him."

"as can I, we want to help you thanakron..we want to stop raven."
Ianar contiued
"anyways, we cant go back, they would kill us, so we are with you now..."

[Ranoria]

Otohime, who had been convinced that Ryujin was not, in fact, going to die of poisoning now that Lux had finished healing him, decided to go and find Raphael. Now, that wasn't exactly easy, and sand was starting to fill up her shoes, but she managed eventually, and sat down beside him with a warm, heart-melting smile.

"Hi Raphy, I found you." She wrapped her arms around one of his and leaned against the angel's shoulder with a grin, "How you doing sweetie?"

[Free Empire of the Low Isles]

Otohime, who had been convinced that Ryujin was not, in fact, going to die of poisoning now that Lux had finished healing him, decided to go and find Raphael. Now, that wasn't exactly easy, and sand was starting to fill up her shoes, but she managed eventually, and sat down beside him with a warm, heart-melting smile.

"Hi Raphy, I found you." She wrapped her arms around one of his and leaned against the angel's shoulder with a grin, "How you doing sweetie?"

Raphael looked down at her, and then opened his mouth. Sand fell out of it, on to the ground. "Alright..." he coughed out. "Now that I got my head out of the sand."

[Ranoria]

Otohime, who had been convinced that Ryujin was not, in fact, going to die of poisoning now that Lux had finished healing him, decided to go and find Raphael. Now, that wasn't exactly easy, and sand was starting to fill up her shoes, but she managed eventually, and sat down beside him with a warm, heart-melting smile.

"Hi Raphy, I found you." She wrapped her arms around one of his and leaned against the angel's shoulder with a grin, "How you doing sweetie?"

Raphael looked down at her, and then opened his mouth. Sand fell out of it, on to the ground. "Alright..." he coughed out. "Now that I got my head out of the sand."

She frowned, "Good thing I didn't kiss you...ew..." Then she rubbed his hair, trying to get the gritty stuff out of it, "Is there anymore? You aren't sick at all, are you?"

[Free Empire of the Low Isles]

Raphael looked down at her, and then opened his mouth. Sand fell out of it, on to the ground. "Alright..." he coughed out. "Now that I got my head out of the sand."

She frowned, "Good thing I didn't kiss you...ew..." Then she rubbed his hair, trying to get the gritty stuff out of it, "Is there anymore? You aren't sick at all, are you?"

"No, no... I think I'm good... Didn't swallow any." Raphael said, spitting out more sand at the end. "This is really hard to get out..."

[Ranoria]

She frowned, "Good thing I didn't kiss you...ew..." Then she rubbed his hair, trying to get the gritty stuff out of it, "Is there anymore? You aren't sick at all, are you?"

"No, no... I think I'm good... Didn't swallow any." Raphael said, spitting out more sand at the end. "This is really hard to get out..."

"Um...okay." She leaned against his shoulder, "If there's any in your mouth, I can get it out...You sure you're okay?" She had some of the particles in her hair as well, but she didn't mind that so much.

[Free Empire of the Low Isles]

"No, no... I think I'm good... Didn't swallow any." Raphael said, spitting out more sand at the end. "This is really hard to get out..."

"Um...okay." She leaned against his shoulder, "If there's any in your mouth, I can get it out...You sure you're okay?" She had some of the particles in her hair as well, but she didn't mind that so much.

Raphael nodded. "Could you? Some water would really help..." he said, before helping her get some out of her hair.

[Ranoria]

"Um...okay." She leaned against his shoulder, "If there's any in your mouth, I can get it out...You sure you're okay?" She had some of the particles in her hair as well, but she didn't mind that so much.

Raphael nodded. "Could you? Some water would really help..." he said, before helping her get some out of her hair.

"Okay, your mouth is going to feel really dry though, okay? And try not to gag while I'm doing it." She poked his cheek with her finger, holding it there, and used his saliva to grab all of the sand out before dumping the wad of liquid and invasive particles onto the sand at their feet. "Better?" She sounded a bit apprehensive, having just taken all the moisture from his mouth in the middle of the desert, but pulled some water out of thin air, then, the only slightly wavering orb levitating before him. "Drink up."

[Luminesa]

Otohime, who had been convinced that Ryujin was not, in fact, going to die of poisoning now that Lux had finished healing him, decided to go and find Raphael. Now, that wasn't exactly easy, and sand was starting to fill up her shoes, but she managed eventually, and sat down beside him with a warm, heart-melting smile.

"Hi Raphy, I found you." She wrapped her arms around one of his and leaned against the angel's shoulder with a grin, "How you doing sweetie?"

Lux watched the two interacting with each other, and then he climbed on top of Ryujin's back and went to sleep. He was exhausted from fighting so much without a break, and now he needed a nap, before they went to their next fight.

However, while he slept, he saw images flash through his mind. Fearful images, things in no coherent order, but that still frightened him.

An open field with a figure standing and staring at the sky. Lightning came down around him, and then he sprouted wings. He turned and glared at him.

The image twisted into that of a girl with angel-wings, standing in a dark room alone, her eyes turned to the ground. She looked very familiar, with her long red hair.

Lux approached her. "...Charlotte?" he asked, softly, reaching out to grab her hand.

Before he could touch her, something came from behind her and grabbed her shoulders. She threw her head back in a shriek, and one of her wings twisted into a demon wing. Then her whole body twisted into another image...

Another desert, empty and lonely. When he looked into the sky, Lux saw three Suns dancing. One was white, one was orange, and then one was black. The black sun absorbed the white sun, and the orange sun fought with it. They collided, and swirled into another image...

The final image was that of a dark, desolate throne room. A figure sat stately on the throne, staring down at the ground also. He had long, beautiful, golden angel wings, but in such a terrible room, something about him didn't seem right.

"...Who are you?" Lux asked, as he stood in the person's presence nervously.

The figure turned its eyes to face Lux, and the silhouette merely stared at him. "...Lux...come closer..." it whispered.

Carefully, Lux walked forward, not sure what was happening. When he reached the throne, the figure stood-just a slight bit taller than him. He then grabbed the back of his head, and he stared down into the angel's eyes. His own eyes were a bright, glowing pink. "...Tell me, little one...do you feel alone?..."

Lux shuddered, confused. "...What?" he asked.

The silhouette smiled. "...Do not be afraid...you are not alone here..."

As he spoke, the ground below them disappeared. Under the two figures' feet was a crowd of shadows with round, glowing, yellow eyes. All of them watched the two silently.

"This is where you belong, Uriel...Come home to us..." The silhouette then dropped him into the crowd of shadows below.

Still lying on Ryujin's back, Lux flashed his eyes open and stared at the night sky in terror. "...No...what is this?...What is this?" He sat up and looked around him, suddenly fearing that maybe something had been trying to speak to him. Something had been trying to tell him that everyone was in danger. When he looked around, however, one person's eyes did meet his.

Arael's.

Lux looked over at him, and Arael also looked terrified. He had come near Lux to heal, after the fight, and he also understood what had happened. Adam had used Arael's connection to Lux in order to reach the Angel.

"...Arael...that was..."

Arael shook his head swiftly, terrified himself. "I did not mean it...I did not..."

Lux slid down from Ryujin's back and sat next to him. "I know...I know it was not you...Has he used all of you this way?" he asked quietly.

Arael didn't want to answer that at first. Yet then he broke into tears, and hid his face in his hands. "Forgive us, Uriel...Forgive us...for what we have been forced to do..." he sobbed.

The Archangel of Light was not angry with him. He was more afraid for the future than anything, and instead of questioning Arael further, he wrapped an arm around his shoulder and huddled close to him, letting the Angel of Oblivion cry on his shoulder.

What is happening to us?

[Free Empire of the Low Isles]

Raphael nodded. "Could you? Some water would really help..." he said, before helping her get some out of her hair.

"Okay, your mouth is going to feel really dry though, okay? And try not to gag while I'm doing it." She poked his cheek with her finger, holding it there, and used his saliva to grab all of the sand out before dumping the wad of liquid and invasive particles onto the sand at their feet. "Better?" She sounded a bit apprehensive, having just taken all the moisture from his mouth in the middle of the desert, but pulled some water out of thin air, then, the only slightly wavering orb levitating before him. "Drink up."

"Tank you..." Raphael said, his mouth extremely dry. He then leaned forward and drank the water happily, smiling at the end and wiping his chin. He smiled at Otohime. "Thank you, Hime... Have I ever told you that you're so much better than me at this whole patient care stuff?"

[Ranoria]

Otohime, who had been convinced that Ryujin was not, in fact, going to die of poisoning now that Lux had finished healing him, decided to go and find Raphael. Now, that wasn't exactly easy, and sand was starting to fill up her shoes, but she managed eventually, and sat down beside him with a warm, heart-melting smile.

"Hi Raphy, I found you." She wrapped her arms around one of his and leaned against the angel's shoulder with a grin, "How you doing sweetie?"

Lux watched the two interacting with each other, and then he climbed on top of Ryujin's back and went to sleep. He was exhausted from fighting so much without a break, and now he needed a nap, before they went to their next fight.

However, while he slept, he saw images flash through his mind. Fearful images, things in no coherent order, but that still frightened him.

An open field with a figure standing and staring at the sky. Lightning came down around him, and then he sprouted wings. He turned and glared at him.

The image twisted into that of a girl with angel-wings, standing in a dark room alone, her eyes turned to the ground. She looked very familiar, with her long red hair.

Lux approached her. "...Charlotte?" he asked, softly, reaching out to grab her hand.

Before he could touch her, something came from behind her and grabbed her shoulders. She threw her head back in a shriek, and one of her wings twisted into a demon wing. Then her whole body twisted into another image...

Another desert, empty and lonely. When he looked into the sky, Lux saw three Suns dancing. One was white, one was orange, and then one was black. The black sun absorbed the white sun, and the orange sun fought with it. They collided, and swirled into another image...

The final image was that of a dark, desolate throne room. A figure sat stately on the throne, staring down at the ground also. He had long, beautiful, golden angel wings, but in such a terrible room, something about him didn't seem right.

"...Who are you?" Lux asked, as he stood in the person's presence nervously.

The figure turned its eyes to face Lux, and the silhouette merely stared at him. "...Lux...come closer..." it whispered.

Carefully, Lux walked forward, not sure what was happening. When he reached the throne, the figure stood-just a slight bit taller than him. He then grabbed the back of his head, and he stared down into the angel's eyes. His own eyes were a bright, glowing pink. "...Tell me, little one...do you feel alone?..."

Lux shuddered, confused. "...What?" he asked.

The silhouette smiled. "...Do not be afraid...you are not alone here..."

As he spoke, the ground below them disappeared. Under the two figures' feet was a crowd of shadows with round, glowing, yellow eyes. All of them watched the two silently.

"This is where you belong, Uriel...Come home to us..." The silhouette then dropped him into the crowd of shadows below.

Still lying on Ryujin's back, Lux flashed his eyes open and stared at the night sky in terror. "...No...what is this?...What is this?" He sat up and looked around him, suddenly fearing that maybe something had been trying to speak to him. Something had been trying to tell him that everyone was in danger. When he looked around, however, one person's eyes did meet his.

Arael's.

Lux looked over at him, and Arael also looked terrified. He had come near Lux to heal, after the fight, and he also understood what had happened. Adam had used Arael's connection to Lux in order to reach the Angel.

"...Arael...that was..."

Arael shook his head swiftly, terrified himself. "I did not mean it...I did not..."

Lux slid down from Ryujin's back and sat next to him. "I know...I know it was not you...Has he used all of you this way?" he asked quietly.

Arael didn't want to answer that at first. Yet then he broke into tears, and hid his face in his hands. "Forgive us, Uriel...Forgive us...for what we have been forced to do..." he sobbed.

The Archangel of Light was not angry with him. He was more afraid for the future than anything, and instead of questioning Arael further, he wrapped an arm around his shoulder and huddled close to him, letting the Angel of Oblivion cry on his shoulder.

What is happening to us?

Ryujin woke up when Lux slid off of his back, and picked his head up, sheets of water running from azure scales that let off a dull luminescent glow in the night, moonlight reflecting from them now that he was healthy. "Lux? Is something wrong?" He stood up, more liquid running down like a waterfall off of his massive back, wings flaring out as he stretched the muscles within them, wind sending sand blasting outward. He leaned down then, concerned, with the slightest of growls.

[Charlia]

Otohime, who had been convinced that Ryujin was not, in fact, going to die of poisoning now that Lux had finished healing him, decided to go and find Raphael. Now, that wasn't exactly easy, and sand was starting to fill up her shoes, but she managed eventually, and sat down beside him with a warm, heart-melting smile.

"Hi Raphy, I found you." She wrapped her arms around one of his and leaned against the angel's shoulder with a grin, "How you doing sweetie?"

Lux watched the two interacting with each other, and then he climbed on top of Ryujin's back and went to sleep. He was exhausted from fighting so much without a break, and now he needed a nap, before they went to their next fight.

However, while he slept, he saw images flash through his mind. Fearful images, things in no coherent order, but that still frightened him.

An open field with a figure standing and staring at the sky. Lightning came down around him, and then he sprouted wings. He turned and glared at him.

The image twisted into that of a girl with angel-wings, standing in a dark room alone, her eyes turned to the ground. She looked very familiar, with her long red hair.

Lux approached her. "...Charlotte?" he asked, softly, reaching out to grab her hand.

Before he could touch her, something came from behind her and grabbed her shoulders. She threw her head back in a shriek, and one of her wings twisted into a demon wing. Then her whole body twisted into another image...

Another desert, empty and lonely. When he looked into the sky, Lux saw three Suns dancing. One was white, one was orange, and then one was black. The black sun absorbed the white sun, and the orange sun fought with it. They collided, and swirled into another image...

The final image was that of a dark, desolate throne room. A figure sat stately on the throne, staring down at the ground also. He had long, beautiful, golden angel wings, but in such a terrible room, something about him didn't seem right.

"...Who are you?" Lux asked, as he stood in the person's presence nervously.

The figure turned its eyes to face Lux, and the silhouette merely stared at him. "...Lux...come closer..." it whispered.

Carefully, Lux walked forward, not sure what was happening. When he reached the throne, the figure stood-just a slight bit taller than him. He then grabbed the back of his head, and he stared down into the angel's eyes. His own eyes were a bright, glowing pink. "...Tell me, little one...do you feel alone?..."

Lux shuddered, confused. "...What?" he asked.

The silhouette smiled. "...Do not be afraid...you are not alone here..."

As he spoke, the ground below them disappeared. Under the two figures' feet was a crowd of shadows with round, glowing, yellow eyes. All of them watched the two silently.

"This is where you belong, Uriel...Come home to us..." The silhouette then dropped him into the crowd of shadows below.

Still lying on Ryujin's back, Lux flashed his eyes open and stared at the night sky in terror. "...No...what is this?...What is this?" He sat up and looked around him, suddenly fearing that maybe something had been trying to speak to him. Something had been trying to tell him that everyone was in danger. When he looked around, however, one person's eyes did meet his.

Arael's.

Lux looked over at him, and Arael also looked terrified. He had come near Lux to heal, after the fight, and he also understood what had happened. Adam had used Arael's connection to Lux in order to reach the Angel.

"...Arael...that was..."

Arael shook his head swiftly, terrified himself. "I did not mean it...I did not..."

Lux slid down from Ryujin's back and sat next to him. "I know...I know it was not you...Has he used all of you this way?" he asked quietly.

Arael didn't want to answer that at first. Yet then he broke into tears, and hid his face in his hands. "Forgive us, Uriel...Forgive us...for what we have been forced to do..." he sobbed.

The Archangel of Light was not angry with him. He was more afraid for the future than anything, and instead of questioning Arael further, he wrapped an arm around his shoulder and huddled close to him, letting the Angel of Oblivion cry on his shoulder.

What is happening to us?

"Are you two all right?" Charlotte asked quietly. "Oh, that's a stupid thing to ask. Why did I ask that? Let me amend. What's wrong, and is there anything I can do?"

---

Amaterasu saw Ryujin's worry, and stood nearby watchfully.

---

Rachel sat back and enjoyed a small viewing of Hitler committing suicide. Because she was bored.

---

Haruka... basically just stuck with the children.

[Luminesa]

Lux watched the two interacting with each other, and then he climbed on top of Ryujin's back and went to sleep. He was exhausted from fighting so much without a break, and now he needed a nap, before they went to their next fight.

However, while he slept, he saw images flash through his mind. Fearful images, things in no coherent order, but that still frightened him.

An open field with a figure standing and staring at the sky. Lightning came down around him, and then he sprouted wings. He turned and glared at him.

The image twisted into that of a girl with angel-wings, standing in a dark room alone, her eyes turned to the ground. She looked very familiar, with her long red hair.

Lux approached her. "...Charlotte?" he asked, softly, reaching out to grab her hand.

Before he could touch her, something came from behind her and grabbed her shoulders. She threw her head back in a shriek, and one of her wings twisted into a demon wing. Then her whole body twisted into another image...

Another desert, empty and lonely. When he looked into the sky, Lux saw three Suns dancing. One was white, one was orange, and then one was black. The black sun absorbed the white sun, and the orange sun fought with it. They collided, and swirled into another image...

The final image was that of a dark, desolate throne room. A figure sat stately on the throne, staring down at the ground also. He had long, beautiful, golden angel wings, but in such a terrible room, something about him didn't seem right.

"...Who are you?" Lux asked, as he stood in the person's presence nervously.

The figure turned its eyes to face Lux, and the silhouette merely stared at him. "...Lux...come closer..." it whispered.

Carefully, Lux walked forward, not sure what was happening. When he reached the throne, the figure stood-just a slight bit taller than him. He then grabbed the back of his head, and he stared down into the angel's eyes. His own eyes were a bright, glowing pink. "...Tell me, little one...do you feel alone?..."

Lux shuddered, confused. "...What?" he asked.

The silhouette smiled. "...Do not be afraid...you are not alone here..."

As he spoke, the ground below them disappeared. Under the two figures' feet was a crowd of shadows with round, glowing, yellow eyes. All of them watched the two silently.

"This is where you belong, Uriel...Come home to us..." The silhouette then dropped him into the crowd of shadows below.

Still lying on Ryujin's back, Lux flashed his eyes open and stared at the night sky in terror. "...No...what is this?...What is this?" He sat up and looked around him, suddenly fearing that maybe something had been trying to speak to him. Something had been trying to tell him that everyone was in danger. When he looked around, however, one person's eyes did meet his.

Arael's.

Lux looked over at him, and Arael also looked terrified. He had come near Lux to heal, after the fight, and he also understood what had happened. Adam had used Arael's connection to Lux in order to reach the Angel.

"...Arael...that was..."

Arael shook his head swiftly, terrified himself. "I did not mean it...I did not..."

Lux slid down from Ryujin's back and sat next to him. "I know...I know it was not you...Has he used all of you this way?" he asked quietly.

Arael didn't want to answer that at first. Yet then he broke into tears, and hid his face in his hands. "Forgive us, Uriel...Forgive us...for what we have been forced to do..." he sobbed.

The Archangel of Light was not angry with him. He was more afraid for the future than anything, and instead of questioning Arael further, he wrapped an arm around his shoulder and huddled close to him, letting the Angel of Oblivion cry on his shoulder.

What is happening to us?

Ryujin woke up when Lux slid off of his back, and picked his head up, sheets of water running from azure scales that let off a dull luminescent glow in the night, moonlight reflecting from them now that he was healthy. "Lux? Is something wrong?" He stood up, more liquid running down like a waterfall off of his massive back, wings flaring out as he stretched the muscles within them, wind sending sand blasting outward. He leaned down then, concerned, with the slightest of growls.

Lux looked over his shoulder at him and nodded. "Yes...I do not know what is happening...but I had a nightmare...terrible things happened, and...I believe someone...is trying to reach us...to tell us something..."

[Charlia]

Ryujin woke up when Lux slid off of his back, and picked his head up, sheets of water running from azure scales that let off a dull luminescent glow in the night, moonlight reflecting from them now that he was healthy. "Lux? Is something wrong?" He stood up, more liquid running down like a waterfall off of his massive back, wings flaring out as he stretched the muscles within them, wind sending sand blasting outward. He leaned down then, concerned, with the slightest of growls.

Lux looked over his shoulder at him and nodded. "Yes...I do not know what is happening...but I had a nightmare...terrible things happened, and...I believe someone...is trying to reach us...to tell us something..."

"Do you know who it is, Lux?" Charlotte asked worriedly.

She couldn't help but remember Loki's message.

If you stay, you will die.

[Free Empire of the Low Isles]

Lux watched the two interacting with each other, and then he climbed on top of Ryujin's back and went to sleep. He was exhausted from fighting so much without a break, and now he needed a nap, before they went to their next fight.

However, while he slept, he saw images flash through his mind. Fearful images, things in no coherent order, but that still frightened him.

An open field with a figure standing and staring at the sky. Lightning came down around him, and then he sprouted wings. He turned and glared at him.

The image twisted into that of a girl with angel-wings, standing in a dark room alone, her eyes turned to the ground. She looked very familiar, with her long red hair.

Lux approached her. "...Charlotte?" he asked, softly, reaching out to grab her hand.

Before he could touch her, something came from behind her and grabbed her shoulders. She threw her head back in a shriek, and one of her wings twisted into a demon wing. Then her whole body twisted into another image...

Another desert, empty and lonely. When he looked into the sky, Lux saw three Suns dancing. One was white, one was orange, and then one was black. The black sun absorbed the white sun, and the orange sun fought with it. They collided, and swirled into another image...

The final image was that of a dark, desolate throne room. A figure sat stately on the throne, staring down at the ground also. He had long, beautiful, golden angel wings, but in such a terrible room, something about him didn't seem right.

"...Who are you?" Lux asked, as he stood in the person's presence nervously.

The figure turned its eyes to face Lux, and the silhouette merely stared at him. "...Lux...come closer..." it whispered.

Carefully, Lux walked forward, not sure what was happening. When he reached the throne, the figure stood-just a slight bit taller than him. He then grabbed the back of his head, and he stared down into the angel's eyes. His own eyes were a bright, glowing pink. "...Tell me, little one...do you feel alone?..."

Lux shuddered, confused. "...What?" he asked.

The silhouette smiled. "...Do not be afraid...you are not alone here..."

As he spoke, the ground below them disappeared. Under the two figures' feet was a crowd of shadows with round, glowing, yellow eyes. All of them watched the two silently.

"This is where you belong, Uriel...Come home to us..." The silhouette then dropped him into the crowd of shadows below.

Still lying on Ryujin's back, Lux flashed his eyes open and stared at the night sky in terror. "...No...what is this?...What is this?" He sat up and looked around him, suddenly fearing that maybe something had been trying to speak to him. Something had been trying to tell him that everyone was in danger. When he looked around, however, one person's eyes did meet his.

Arael's.

Lux looked over at him, and Arael also looked terrified. He had come near Lux to heal, after the fight, and he also understood what had happened. Adam had used Arael's connection to Lux in order to reach the Angel.

"...Arael...that was..."

Arael shook his head swiftly, terrified himself. "I did not mean it...I did not..."

Lux slid down from Ryujin's back and sat next to him. "I know...I know it was not you...Has he used all of you this way?" he asked quietly.

Arael didn't want to answer that at first. Yet then he broke into tears, and hid his face in his hands. "Forgive us, Uriel...Forgive us...for what we have been forced to do..." he sobbed.

The Archangel of Light was not angry with him. He was more afraid for the future than anything, and instead of questioning Arael further, he wrapped an arm around his shoulder and huddled close to him, letting the Angel of Oblivion cry on his shoulder.

What is happening to us?

"Are you two all right?" Charlotte asked quietly. "Oh, that's a stupid thing to ask. Why did I ask that? Let me amend. What's wrong, and is there anything I can do?"

---

Amaterasu saw Ryujin's worry, and stood nearby watchfully.

---

Rachel sat back and enjoyed a small viewing of Hitler committing suicide. Because she was bored.

---

Haruka... basically just stuck with the children.

Genbu walked over and looked down at Rachel, a small smile at his lips. Whatchya doin' beautiful?

[Ranoria]

Ryujin woke up when Lux slid off of his back, and picked his head up, sheets of water running from azure scales that let off a dull luminescent glow in the night, moonlight reflecting from them now that he was healthy. "Lux? Is something wrong?" He stood up, more liquid running down like a waterfall off of his massive back, wings flaring out as he stretched the muscles within them, wind sending sand blasting outward. He leaned down then, concerned, with the slightest of growls.

Lux looked over his shoulder at him and nodded. "Yes...I do not know what is happening...but I had a nightmare...terrible things happened, and...I believe someone...is trying to reach us...to tell us something..."

Ryujin tilted his head, somewhat perplexed by such notions, and pondered them for a moment. Of course, despite the stereotypical wisdom of dragons, he wasn't exactly the sharpest tool in the shed, at least metaphorically. Literally, he very well could be.

"A nightmare, you say? Interesting. Is it possible that our world's God could be trying to tell you something? You are an angel, after all." It seemed to make the most sense to him, as Lux was a servant of that God.

He would've entered his human form, but his dragonic one was much more comfortable, and he wasn't thinking about it at the moment.

[Charlia]

"Are you two all right?" Charlotte asked quietly. "Oh, that's a stupid thing to ask. Why did I ask that? Let me amend. What's wrong, and is there anything I can do?"

---

Amaterasu saw Ryujin's worry, and stood nearby watchfully.

---

Rachel sat back and enjoyed a small viewing of Hitler committing suicide. Because she was bored.

---

Haruka... basically just stuck with the children.

Genbu walked over and looked down at Rachel, a small smile at his lips. Whatchya doin' beautiful?

"Mentally reviewing when Hitler killed himself," she said casually. "I never get tired of it. A bit graphic, but it's a great moment in history. Well. Depending on when I'm at when I see it, I suppose."

[Free Empire of the Low Isles]

Genbu walked over and looked down at Rachel, a small smile at his lips. Whatchya doin' beautiful?

"Mentally reviewing when Hitler killed himself," she said casually. "I never get tired of it. A bit graphic, but it's a great moment in history. Well. Depending on when I'm at when I see it, I suppose."

"... Who's Hitler?" Genbu asked, his eyes losing their blue glow and the master warrior falling to the ground beside her.

[Ranoria]

"Okay, your mouth is going to feel really dry though, okay? And try not to gag while I'm doing it." She poked his cheek with her finger, holding it there, and used his saliva to grab all of the sand out before dumping the wad of liquid and invasive particles onto the sand at their feet. "Better?" She sounded a bit apprehensive, having just taken all the moisture from his mouth in the middle of the desert, but pulled some water out of thin air, then, the only slightly wavering orb levitating before him. "Drink up."

"Tank you..." Raphael said, his mouth extremely dry. He then leaned forward and drank the water happily, smiling at the end and wiping his chin. He smiled at Otohime. "Thank you, Hime... Have I ever told you that you're so much better than me at this whole patient care stuff?"

"Well, no," she smiled at his comment, blushing a little, "You're a much better doctor than I am though..."

[Free Empire of the Low Isles]

"Tank you..." Raphael said, his mouth extremely dry. He then leaned forward and drank the water happily, smiling at the end and wiping his chin. He smiled at Otohime. "Thank you, Hime... Have I ever told you that you're so much better than me at this whole patient care stuff?"

"Well, no," she smiled at his comment, blushing a little, "You're a much better doctor than I am though..."

"I guess... only if you say so, though." Raphael said, and then leaned forward and kissed her. "I love you..."

[Luminesa]

Lux looked over his shoulder at him and nodded. "Yes...I do not know what is happening...but I had a nightmare...terrible things happened, and...I believe someone...is trying to reach us...to tell us something..."

Ryujin tilted his head, somewhat perplexed by such notions, and pondered them for a moment. Of course, despite the stereotypical wisdom of dragons, he wasn't exactly the sharpest tool in the shed, at least metaphorically. Literally, he very well could be.

"A nightmare, you say? Interesting. Is it possible that our world's God could be trying to tell you something? You are an angel, after all." It seemed to make the most sense to him, as Lux was a servant of that God.

He would've entered his human form, but his dragonic one was much more comfortable, and he wasn't thinking about it at the moment.

"It could be God...I hope it's God...but I also have a feeling it could be...something else..." he whispered. He then looked at Charlotte, and he told her, "...When we face the Rot...please...you must be careful...I saw him do terrible things to you, Charlotte..." His voice shook, as he spoke, and his eyes seemed to almost fill with tears. She had suffered enough, and now something else was going to happen to her?