Academy of Villains: Heathens [IC]

[Forest State]

CANDACE BELLEROSE

Candace found herself with a gun to her head, not that long after entering the cafeteria. And the person was saying that she needed souls, whatever that meant, exactly. The threat was ominous, and while Candace felt like lashing out with anger at the demand for souls, she stopped herself and took a deep breath. That would get her killed. She needed to talk her way out of this, and she put her hands up and put on her most stern and cold voice. "If you want souls, you're going to have to get them from elsewhere," she said, her voice a low growl.

"Because you know what's going to happen if you take mine? You're going to die in the worst way imaginable. My family doesn't forgive, and they won't take kindly to your threats against me," she continued, turning around to face the girl with the gun. "They will kill you, don't think that they won't. And it won't be an honorable death. Unless you want to get flayed and hung from a bridge, I suggest you leave me alone."

SEVA SAINT-DENIS

Seva shrugged when Filia said she wasn't a murderer. So she was a bit soft. That was fine. She'd come around eventually. Also, the girl was apparently a demon, which was different than most students she'd met. She was intrigued for sure, and she wondered if that made Filia a better ally. Someone with a powerful demon family had to be useful for her purposes... "Must be nice having a rich family. Well, my aunt is rich, but I hate her. My parents were just another poor family from Belfast before..." she said, and her voice trailed.

She listened to the girl's last question. "Sure. You seem nice enough," she said, looking into her eyes. She wondered what she was hinting at when she said that she knew a way to get her approval. She decided to test her theory further with more experimentation. "But take me out to dinner first," she added in an almost snarky way, smirking at the implication.

[Imperial--japan]

Lin Xiuying

Before Lin reached Ember and could deliver any form of devastating blows, she was blocked by an oncoming pillar that prevented her from completing her charge in its entirety. Lowering her shield so that she could punch through the pillar with her other hands, Lin did just that and the pillar shattered with ease. However, her opponent had used the short time it took for Lin to shatter the Pillar to move out of the way of Lin's charge.

"Too much emotion?" Lin thought about her opponents words. No, she was fueled by emotion, and by her bloodlust.

Before Lin could turn to face her opponent once more, she was attacked from the side by some Panda-esque creature. It wielded bamboo and attempted to smash it against Lin. In response, the warrior raised her earthen shield and blocked the attack from the creature. It was impressive for sure, and the shield easily shattered under the attack as Lin was slightly knocked back. A wild grin spread across Lin's face. Finally, someone who could give her a good fight! She dropped the meager remains of the shield and ran at the Panda again. She raised one first to deliver a hard blow, and though it stopped her from hitting its body like she intended by blocking, it obviously wasn't ready for the sheer power that came with the attack. Its arms had been moved thanks to the initial blow, and Lin followed up with a second punch from her other arm. This one landed against the Panda's stomach, and Lin's grin grew wider. The creature wasn't ready to go down just yet, and that was perfect.

"Come now! Don't tap out just yet!" Lin prepared to deliver a high kick to the creatures Jaw, and in her short skirt, it would probably be a decent show for anyone who paid enough attention. Lin didn't care however, but was surprised when the Panda narrowly avoided her kick and grabbed her leg.

"Fu-" Was all Lin managed to get out before she was thrown over the Panda's shoulder while it gripped her leg, and it slammed her into the ground. A decent amount of cracks were created in the ground before Lin looked up. As she started to stand, the Panda backed away apparently intent on recollecting itself.

"Not when we're in the thick of it you won't". The berserker thought to herself before rushing towards her opponent once more.

[Reuss-Lippe]

CANDACE BELLEROSE

Candace found herself with a gun to her head, not that long after entering the cafeteria. And the person was saying that she needed souls, whatever that meant, exactly. The threat was ominous, and while Candace felt like lashing out with anger at the demand for souls, she stopped herself and took a deep breath. That would get her killed. She needed to talk her way out of this, and she put her hands up and put on her most stern and cold voice. "If you want souls, you're going to have to get them from elsewhere," she said, her voice a low growl.

Viola

Dropping the empty gun to the ground, she screamed out in pain in the middle of the cafeteria as her eyes slowly switched between white, black and red before ending back at her original color of black as she fell down on the floor, hearing some screaming before she was lifted off. She was too tired to even resist it as she felt her soul slowly slipping between her own body and that of the demon within her.

When she came to, she found that she was in the nurses office. Slowly looking around, she saw that the nurse was currently somewhere else. Slowly, she slipped away as she walked off back to her dorm room. The moment she entered, she walked towards the suitcase on the table. She quickly opened it and strapped her hostler on as she brought her guns with her. Walking out, she saw that there was a fight happening and intended to watch. But once again, she forgot her pills as she screamed and was knocked out. Soon, she would come back in her possessed form, this time much more deadly with her weapons. Quickly drawing her guns, she turned around looking through her different eyes as she saw a force. Rushing into the cafeteria, she drew her gun at Karl as she muttered something. "Souls... I... need souls."

Ian Darrow

Observing the confrontation from within the bushes, Ian waited for the perfect time to strike. With The gunslingers partner a whiles away from the duel which was happening near the auditorium, Ian took the chance to attack. Getting in a kneeling position, Ian summoned a sniper rifle with his ability. preparing his rifle, Ian began humming to himself the tune of the Celtic Symphony. "Ooh ah up the Ra, say ooh ah up the Ra" hummed Ian, as he scooped in on his target. Slowly bringing his finger to the trigger, Ian abruptly stopped himself upon seeing a dark demon-like figure land on top of the man. "Bloody hell, i almost feel bad for him." Ian chuckled to himself, slinging his rifle to his back. Due to the intervention of another student, Ian deemed the situation no longer his and decided to patrol the eastern campus to see if anyone needed assistance.

Walking around the eastern side of the campus, Ian heard a commotion coming from the cafeteria. Preparing for whatever could come next, Ian grabbed his sniper rifle which was slung on his back. Sure a sniper rifle wouldn't really work well indoors, but its not like that was the only weapon Ian had, he also had a entire arsenal to his display and could change the weapon whenever he wanted to whatever he wanted. Peeking into the cafeteria, Ian spotted a women pointing a gun at another's head. As both were distracted staring each other down, Ian snuck in quietly and watched the situation with gun in hand.

[Khasinkonia]

Kazimiera Wojciecha Jadwiga Zdunowska

Through Alphonse’s entire speech, Jadwiga made no break in her gaze or attention to Alphonse, looking him directly back in the eyes as she dissected every word he spoke to the best of her ability. From what she’d understood of his criticisms, she was a natural torturer but needed careful guidance to become truly effective. To be specific, Alphonse’s guidance. As far as she was concerned, the current outcome was looking well. He seemed to have taken a quick liking to her, and was more than happy to take her under his wing.

“That does sound more effective. I think you might be a bit off with me, though,” she said in response, “Seeing the world as it is, without the things I want fills me not with fear but with contempt for the damned. The idea of me going to hell haunts me, but others going to hell is natural. I only have one question as to this: one would use gloves for the whole thing to avoid DNA and fingerprint tracking, right?”

Alphonse Baskerville

"... Depends. If you did your job right and you have the proper connections. If you did it right, the subject tortured won't go to the police. He knows you will find him, and he knows you won't like it. This is why language matters. Each and every word is a step taken towards the mind of the person vulnerable, and you need to seize control of it. You need to use it according to your convenience, to control it in its extension. This is why networking is important.

Once I had to... practice with someone. I'll skip the details. However, he felt it was wise to go to the police chief, say that someone kidnapped him... and then he told my name. You know what happened? The police chief locked him up, and called us there. We picked him up, and of course, we killed him after some hours. I don't care about my fingerprints because I can go to jail. But if that happens, lots of people will be exposed... And they don't want it. I hold their secrets with me, and they want to keep it out of the public spotlight. You would be amazed with the number of politicians that use my... trafficking and kidnapping services. But if you don't have that many contacts, well... You have to take care.

Of course, I can... skip that difficulty for you, as I will extend my benevolence. I see you have the potential, the will to be satisfied with the world when you are at the top, holding the power in your hand... And I could use such qualities in my dear organization, and inside this Academy. But that comes with a price.

You want the power. But you see these people, these... stains in the path of your goals, and you wonder: 'What do I do with them?". I know what to do with them, and I am eager to help you, and also to show you with more... practical lessons. However, I said my prices for you are different... Tell me, Jadwiga. Who do you like here and who do you hate here? I want to evaluate how you see your surroundings. Think of me as the one you will confess in the lack of a priest here. I won't regulate your relations, at least not in the current state of things. I also want to teach you how to use your... beautiful appearance and charm to work the situation on your favor."

It was undeniable: There were another motives behind his question. He wanted to know if she liked him more than a simple teacher, and the last phrase was a clear compliment. Of course, when Alphonse was interested in something or someone, he became obsessed. He had to control it, and he had to know he controlled it to its full extension. If Jadwiga was willing to do it, maybe Alphonse would take a step into another, less professional sense...

Kazimiera Wojciecha Jadwiga Zdunowska

At first, Jadwiga simply nodded in response to Alphonse’s explanation, as it was, for him at least, perfectly logical, if perhaps a bit arrogant. She soaked in Alphonse’s apparent complements as she thought of who she liked and disliked at the school. She really didn’t outright dislike most of the people at the school, though she held disdain to one degree of another for many of them.

“Well, I have to say my only ‘enemies’ I’ve yet made are Katelyn and Candace,” she replied, “Neither of whom have last names that I can be bothered to remember. But I’d know them if I saw them. Though, in honesty, I consider them essentially the same person with different looks and a few other minor differences.”

Now came the other part, the more interesting part. Alphonse seemed to be courting her in his own special way, and Jadwiga had caught on. She gave him a quick look up and down once more while she pursued her lips and bit the inside of her lower lip as she mentally went through implications of their relationship. If all went well through the end, she’d be calling her mother for dowry and the family priest in no time, and, dare she look further, into the future, a final sealing of the potential covenant with conception. Of course, it was best not to get too far ahead when the courting was only just in progress.

“Well,” she continued, “I must say you’re quickly becoming my new favourite person at this academy, though I think I’ll let my roommate continue to think she still is. I’d be happy to learn under your hand an art I’m naturally suited to physically.”

As she uttered the last phrase, she gestured her with hands down the sides of her body, leaning on one leg to more clearly display what she referenced.

“And perhaps,” she chuckled, “I might learn to charm even a prudent inquisitor you in time as well.”

She hoped the hints were enough to test the waters to see whether Alphonse saw her as simply an apprentice or as a potential wife as well. As their interaction continued, she found herself growing rather fond of him, though she certainly wouldn’t be the one to ask him out, as that would go in conflict with the traditions of courting. Thus, whilst she began to wait for him to court her more concretely, all she could really do was wait until he made a move.

[Higher Japan]

Viola

Seeing that the girl defied her request, in fact fighting against her, the demon within Viola soon fully took over her body as she groaned in pain for a while, before her hair quickly turned black as her eyes also turned to the color of pure red, the color of blood. She would fall over and her face for a few seconds before she eventually rose back up, this time looking different from when she first came in, and had a difference voice as whatever was in her laughed in a deep voice before pulling the trigger back on the gun, sending a shot flying past her hair, taking out a single strand.

"You? Family? Little girl, don't try me. I can assure you th-" But before he could finish, the host would suddenly scream as her eye switched colors. "R-Room, pil-ls ,h-help." But before the true Viola could speak, she was taken over yet again. "Enough of that girl, now just surrender and close your eyes. I promise it will all be over soon." Soon, the true Viola and the demon would fight for control before she could mutter out one last sentence. "R-right pocket. Key, pills!"

[The Flutterlands]

FILIA UMBRARUM

Filia nodded when Seva spoke of her own family history, particularly her aunt. Her own family wasn't exactly that great ether from what she seen, but the younger teenager still loved her father. "Well, rich people can be awful sometimes." she said grimly, "Those are the ones I like stealing from the most. Aside from that, my family can be good... sometimes. Dad's a kingping like you are as well as a business tycoon. He does... questionable things, but I dont want to get involved."

Filia's face suddenly brightened when Seva asked her out for dinner. However, the young girl may not have guessed that the other was being sarcastic or anything. "I would love to take you out for dinner!" she exclaimed, "Where do you want to go? I know the perfect place Dad likes to take me! We can talk about my little game there. Oh this is going to be just like... a date!"

[Kingdom of Irhk]

Alphonse Baskerville

"... Depends. If you did your job right and you have the proper connections. If you did it right, the subject tortured won't go to the police. He knows you will find him, and he knows you won't like it. This is why language matters. Each and every word is a step taken towards the mind of the person vulnerable, and you need to seize control of it. You need to use it according to your convenience, to control it in its extension. This is why networking is important.

Once I had to... practice with someone. I'll skip the details. However, he felt it was wise to go to the police chief, say that someone kidnapped him... and then he told my name. You know what happened? The police chief locked him up, and called us there. We picked him up, and of course, we killed him after some hours. I don't care about my fingerprints because I can go to jail. But if that happens, lots of people will be exposed... And they don't want it. I hold their secrets with me, and they want to keep it out of the public spotlight. You would be amazed with the number of politicians that use my... trafficking and kidnapping services. But if you don't have that many contacts, well... You have to take care.

Of course, I can... skip that difficulty for you, as I will extend my benevolence. I see you have the potential, the will to be satisfied with the world when you are at the top, holding the power in your hand... And I could use such qualities in my dear organization, and inside this Academy. But that comes with a price.

You want the power. But you see these people, these... stains in the path of your goals, and you wonder: 'What do I do with them?". I know what to do with them, and I am eager to help you, and also to show you with more... practical lessons. However, I said my prices for you are different... Tell me, Jadwiga. Who do you like here and who do you hate here? I want to evaluate how you see your surroundings. Think of me as the one you will confess in the lack of a priest here. I won't regulate your relations, at least not in the current state of things. I also want to teach you how to use your... beautiful appearance and charm to work the situation on your favor."

It was undeniable: There were another motives behind his question. He wanted to know if she liked him more than a simple teacher, and the last phrase was a clear compliment. Of course, when Alphonse was interested in something or someone, he became obsessed. He had to control it, and he had to know he controlled it to its full extension. If Jadwiga was willing to do it, maybe Alphonse would take a step into another, less professional sense...

Kazimiera Wojciecha Jadwiga Zdunowska

At first, Jadwiga simply nodded in response to Alphonse’s explanation, as it was, for him at least, perfectly logical, if perhaps a bit arrogant. She soaked in Alphonse’s apparent complements as she thought of who she liked and disliked at the school. She really didn’t outright dislike most of the people at the school, though she held disdain to one degree of another for many of them.

“Well, I have to say my only ‘enemies’ I’ve yet made are Katelyn and Candace,” she replied, “Neither of whom have last names that I can be bothered to remember. But I’d know them if I saw them. Though, in honesty, I consider them essentially the same person with different looks and a few other minor differences.”

Now came the other part, the more interesting part. Alphonse seemed to be courting her in his own special way, and Jadwiga had caught on. She gave him a quick look up and down once more while she pursued her lips and bit the inside of her lower lip as she mentally went through implications of their relationship. If all went well through the end, she’d be calling her mother for dowry and the family priest in no time, and, dare she look further, into the future, a final sealing of the potential covenant with conception. Of course, it was best not to get too far ahead when the courting was only just in progress.

“Well,” she continued, “I must say you’re quickly becoming my new favourite person at this academy, though I think I’ll let my roommate continue to think she still is. I’d be happy to learn under your hand an art I’m naturally suited to physically.”

As she uttered the last phrase, she gestured her with hands down the sides of her body, leaning on one leg to more clearly display what she referenced.

“And perhaps,” she chuckled, “I might learn to charm even a prudent inquisitor you in time as well.”

She hoped the hints were enough to test the waters to see whether Alphonse saw her as simply an apprentice or as a potential wife as well. As their interaction continued, she found herself growing rather fond of him, though she certainly wouldn’t be the one to ask him out, as that would go in conflict with the traditions of courting. Thus, whilst she began to wait for him to court her more concretely, all she could really do was wait until he made a move.

Alphonse Baskerville

So even after knowing he could make people disappear and get away with it easily, she still wanted his attention. That was the confirmation he needed: She came not only for the lessons he offered, but for the role he had too: She was conservative, and that meant she wanted a man at her side, and maybe Alphonse was the man she needed, being stronger than her. Of course, once Alphonse wanted something, well... he started to be obsessive about it.

Without any words, he went for in a kiss, slow, as his hands explored Jadwiga's body freely, like he inspected the person that wanted him. His hand slowly reached her neck, before he ended the kiss abruptly and choked her lightly, his eyes set on her face with a cold stare.

"Charm me? Oh no... You already got my attention. So you want me? Great... I want you too, but I want you for me, and only me... That's what you wanted, right? A man at your side, someone that could teach you and guide you, and that's what I will do. I want you to be mine, I want to know what you do what you did, and what you will do, I want to hear your 'yes' when I give you an order I want you to agree with and I want to hear your 'no' when I tell you something I want you to disagree with. You wanted me? Great, but you already know who I am... You know that out of here I could find you and Poland, and keep you in a secret place, away from everyone else, only for me, but I believe we can achieve more here and in the outside world when you agree with my conditions without any violence, don't you think?

When I want things, I don't ask for them. I go and get them. I wanted you, and now I have you. I wanted a kiss, and now I kissed you. Don't expect me to justify things for you, but I expect you to justify things for me. I am not fond of these open relationships where people hide things from each other... I want you to be an open book for me, accessible. I want to know everything about you, your thoughts, your behavior... And I also want to correct them. I gave these rights to myself. And now I'll have another kiss."

Again, Alphonse kissed her. Firmly, he held her in place, like his words transformed into acts, a real, tangible example of what he wanted and expected of her from now on. And again, he stopped the kiss to make his point clear... With a small slap in her butt cheek, Alphonse looked at her again, with eyes that seemed to restrain her in his world.

"This was a small example of what I will do if you behave improperly. Anything to say, Jadwiga?"

[Khasinkonia]

Kazimiera Wojciecha Jadwiga Zdunowska

At first, Jadwiga simply nodded in response to Alphonse’s explanation, as it was, for him at least, perfectly logical, if perhaps a bit arrogant. She soaked in Alphonse’s apparent complements as she thought of who she liked and disliked at the school. She really didn’t outright dislike most of the people at the school, though she held disdain to one degree of another for many of them.

“Well, I have to say my only ‘enemies’ I’ve yet made are Katelyn and Candace,” she replied, “Neither of whom have last names that I can be bothered to remember. But I’d know them if I saw them. Though, in honesty, I consider them essentially the same person with different looks and a few other minor differences.”

Now came the other part, the more interesting part. Alphonse seemed to be courting her in his own special way, and Jadwiga had caught on. She gave him a quick look up and down once more while she pursued her lips and bit the inside of her lower lip as she mentally went through implications of their relationship. If all went well through the end, she’d be calling her mother for dowry and the family priest in no time, and, dare she look further, into the future, a final sealing of the potential covenant with conception. Of course, it was best not to get too far ahead when the courting was only just in progress.

“Well,” she continued, “I must say you’re quickly becoming my new favourite person at this academy, though I think I’ll let my roommate continue to think she still is. I’d be happy to learn under your hand an art I’m naturally suited to physically.”

As she uttered the last phrase, she gestured her with hands down the sides of her body, leaning on one leg to more clearly display what she referenced.

“And perhaps,” she chuckled, “I might learn to charm even a prudent inquisitor you in time as well.”

She hoped the hints were enough to test the waters to see whether Alphonse saw her as simply an apprentice or as a potential wife as well. As their interaction continued, she found herself growing rather fond of him, though she certainly wouldn’t be the one to ask him out, as that would go in conflict with the traditions of courting. Thus, whilst she began to wait for him to court her more concretely, all she could really do was wait until he made a move.

Alphonse Baskerville

So even after knowing he could make people disappear and get away with it easily, she still wanted his attention. That was the confirmation he needed: She came not only for the lessons he offered, but for the role he had too: She was conservative, and that meant she wanted a man at her side, and maybe Alphonse was the man she needed, being stronger than her. Of course, once Alphonse wanted something, well... he started to be obsessive about it.

Without any words, he went for in a kiss, slow, as his hands explored Jadwiga's body freely, like he inspected the person that wanted him. His hand slowly reached her neck, before he ended the kiss abruptly and choked her lightly, his eyes set on her face with a cold stare.

"Charm me? Oh no... You already got my attention. So you want me? Great... I want you too, but I want you for me, and only me... That's what you wanted, right? A man at your side, someone that could teach you and guide you, and that's what I will do. I want you to be mine, I want to know what you do what you did, and what you will do, I want to hear your 'yes' when I give you an order I want you to agree with and I want to hear your 'no' when I tell you something I want you to disagree with. You wanted me? Great, but you already know who I am... You know that out of here I could find you and Poland, and keep you in a secret place, away from everyone else, only for me, but I believe we can achieve more here and in the outside world when you agree with my conditions without any violence, don't you think?

When I want things, I don't ask for them. I go and get them. I wanted you, and now I have you. I wanted a kiss, and now I kissed you. Don't expect me to justify things for you, but I expect you to justify things for me. I am not fond of these open relationships where people hide things from each other... I want you to be an open book for me, accessible. I want to know everything about you, your thoughts, your behavior... And I also want to correct them. I gave these rights to myself. And now I'll have another kiss."

Again, Alphonse kissed her. Firmly, he held her in place, like his words transformed into acts, a real, tangible example of what he wanted and expected of her from now on. And again, he stopped the kiss to make his point clear... With a small slap in her butt cheek, Alphonse looked at her again, with eyes that seemed to restrain her in his world.

"This was a small example of what I will do if you behave improperly. Anything to say, Jadwiga?"

Kazimiera Wojciecha Jadwiga Zdunowska

Alphonse had seemed to suddenly shift from simply a cold and professional teacher, to a dominant romantic. Jadwiga couldn’t complain too much; she’d gotten more or less what she was after. Even by her standards, he was a bit controlling, but such was life. As far as she was concerned, he was about as perfect of a fit for her as she’d ever find, and he seemed to share the sentiment. Until his last action, of course. That showed to her that he was a far less uptight with her, and in her mind the dowry was being paid.

“So I take this to mean you would like dowry soon,” she said, implying he should like her as his bride, “You might expect it within a week, as my mother patiently waits for me to receive a suitor like you. Unless I take your words wrongly, of course, in which case I apologise.”

She didn’t quite know what more to say, other than hope for a positive response. Her parents and grandparents had courted younger than she, and only abstained from marriage for as long as the institutions required it. Then she noticed a bit of her lipstick had gotten onto his upper lip rather than just on his lips since she’d flinched just a bit from surprise after he first kissed her. She licked her finger, and brought it to the mark.

“Ah, let me just get that for you,” she said, wiping off the bit of lipstick from his upper lip, “There, that’s better. Sharp as ever now.”

[Forest State]

CANDACE BELLEROSE

Candace stood silently and watched as the girl's tone shifted between her normal one and that of the demon that was apparently inside her. This gave Candace a chance to lift up her shirt and reach for the revolver that was holstered at her side... But before she did that, she couldn't help but notice the boy who had walked in, looked at the situation, and did nothing. She made eye contact - as well as she could while wearing the mask, at least - and then flashed her middle finger at him.

She turned her attention back to the girl in front of her, and she had a choice to make. Go for the keys, or try to attack before the girl attacked first. Getting the keys looked like it was too risky, because the demon could always come back and attack her... So she lowered her head out of the line of fire from the pistol, and lunged forward, trying to hit the girl in the midsection and drive her into the ground. It wasn't like Candace could win in a close quarters fight, so her best option was to blanket her enemy and hold her down until someone else could help. "Are you all going to do anything?" she shouted, somewhat pissed at the amount of bystanders who weren't bothering to get involved.

SEVA SAINT-DENIS

"Oh you sweet summer child," Seva muttered under her breath. Filia thought that Seva was really asking her out, and she wasn't sure how to proceed. Would she break the news that she was being sarcastic, or would she let the girl think that she was really interested? Because the truth was, she wasn't. Not yet. Filia had to impress her, and right now, she hadn't done anything to prove that Seva should keep her around. "I was being sarcastic."

She turned up the tension, moving her hand to the back of the girl's head and pulling her closer as if they were going to kiss. And then she stopped, chuckling again. "I like you. But not that much. Not yet, anyway. Ask me out when you prove that you're worth my time," she stated, before backing up. "After all, you seem a little naive. Can you handle being with a real villain like me? I wouldn't want to be the one responsible for... Corrupting you."

CECILIA EMBER

The battle with the panda gave some time for Ember to rest and catch her breath after getting out of the way just in time to avoid being hit by Lin's charge. She could either go after Katelyn or keep dealing with Lin, who had to be weakened by now. After all, fighting expended energy, and Lin had been handling most of the fight so far. Ember decided that if they were going to win, they needed to target her first. And so when there was a break in the fighting between Lin and the panda, Ember charged and went for a diving superman punch, her right fist coated in a layer of lava as she went in for the attack.

If she missed, she'd be vulnerable to a counter attack. If it was a direct hit, she could end the fight right there. It was a gamble, but against a strong opponent, it was the kind of risk that was needed.

[Saleon]

Rudy Daimonia
Baga, World Conqueror
Academy of Villains

---

---

Lin Xiuying

Before Lin reached Ember and could deliver any form of devastating blows, she was blocked by an oncoming pillar that prevented her from completing her charge in its entirety. Lowering her shield so that she could punch through the pillar with her other hands, Lin did just that and the pillar shattered with ease. However, her opponent had used the short time it took for Lin to shatter the Pillar to move out of the way of Lin's charge.

"Too much emotion?" Lin thought about her opponents words. No, she was fueled by emotion, and by her bloodlust.

Before Lin could turn to face her opponent once more, she was attacked from the side by some Panda-esque creature. It wielded bamboo and attempted to smash it against Lin. In response, the warrior raised her earthen shield and blocked the attack from the creature. It was impressive for sure, and the shield easily shattered under the attack as Lin was slightly knocked back. A wild grin spread across Lin's face. Finally, someone who could give her a good fight! She dropped the meager remains of the shield and ran at the Panda again. She raised one first to deliver a hard blow, and though it stopped her from hitting its body like she intended by blocking, it obviously wasn't ready for the sheer power that came with the attack. Its arms had been moved thanks to the initial blow, and Lin followed up with a second punch from her other arm. This one landed against the Panda's stomach, and Lin's grin grew wider. The creature wasn't ready to go down just yet, and that was perfect.

"Come now! Don't tap out just yet!" Lin prepared to deliver a high kick to the creatures Jaw, and in her short skirt, it would probably be a decent show for anyone who paid enough attention. Lin didn't care however, but was surprised when the Panda narrowly avoided her kick and grabbed her leg.

"Fu-" Was all Lin managed to get out before she was thrown over the Panda's shoulder while it gripped her leg, and it slammed her into the ground. A decent amount of cracks were created in the ground before Lin looked up. As she started to stand, the Panda backed away apparently intent on recollecting itself.

"Not when we're in the thick of it you won't". The berserker thought to herself before rushing towards her opponent once more.

Bampanda launched outwards from Lin, creating some distance. Rudy calls for him to "Meditate". He had already taken hefty damage, stumbling only slight as he landed. He began to breath softly, starting to glow slightly green. The essence around him resonates, seemingly starting out in a heavy burst of energy, but slowly seems to collect tighter and tighter.

It doesn't take long for Lin to charge after Bampanda. The rubble at her feet cracking as a cloud of dust burst forth. Her fist pulled back ready to fire forth.

Rudy jumped out. She intercepted before Lin could knock out her Demonic Creature. Rudy grinned, knowing most fighters started to ignore her whenever one of her creatures fought. She took out her bat, jumping up and careening her bat forwards. She had jumped up, the bat aiming for roughly her head or shoulder. "Enjoy the headache!" Rudy giggled.

[Rynagria]

Despite the reassurance for a desire of friendship between them, Rhianna only continued stay tense. Even more so when the younger student offered Hayate help with her studies, when she alone should be enough and will be enough. Otherwise, it might just become more apparent to Hayate that she was useless without her, of how she's going to be replaced in this cruel world. Fears of Amaranta being chosen as Hayate's wielder began to fill the 20-year olds mind, as she imagined being left behind. In following her only friend and the only person she will need, Rhianna has made returning back to normal life impossible. She'd be thrown in jail on her return for the cold-blooded murders and aiding a fugitive from the law.

In the meantime, Hayate listened to Amaranta intently. "I'll consider your offer, we thank you for that. And ability training might not be compatible in that regards, since my abilities are primarily close combat oriented. Unless you'd be willing to be my sparring partner?" Jokingly asked Hayate, before moving on. "Emotional and spiritual training, how does that work?"

"I could always learn how to spar. I have a staff, but that's not something you'd necessarily stab someone with. However, I could certainly help you practice as though you were going to stab someone, if anything," Amaranta answered, with a soft giggle. She then thought for a moment about how to explain her own abilities-the "emotional and spiritual training" that she had mentioned to Hayate. In the meantime, she glanced at Rhianna, knowing that she was nervous about making a new friend. The feeling of being replaced, the feelings of loneliness and alienation, were things Ama herself feared. She wondered if she could perhaps train Rhianna one day as well...if the girl would interact with her at all. "...Well, any great fighter has to be in-control of their body, so that they can attack and defend themselves as the situation requires. However, one must also be in-control of their emotions, and of their soul. One must recognize their feelings, their state-of-mind when they are in battle, as well as the amount of peace or calm in their souls. It's not something that can solely be explained by talking, but that's at least a good introduction to it. Let me show you."

Amaranta backed away just slightly, and closed her eyes. She then her spiritual energies, this time without drawing her jewels. She had made a mistake in showing Alphonse-and potentially others-her prized possessions, so she decided to use her abilities now without them. She then slowly moved her arms up above her, as a ballerina might do before beginning her performance. She breathed deeply, holding that air in before slowly exhaling, as she drew her arms down. As she drew them down, she slowly cupped her hands around her chest, as though she was cradling something against it.

The entire sweeping motion caused for a light-blue light to glow around her body, and to flow off of her body, spreading around her. Hayate and Rhianna would have both felt as though they had just stood under a waterfall somewhere in the mountains. A peaceful, refreshing, majestic feeling. Amaranta then opened her eyes sharply and got into a fighting position, as though she was going to box Hayate. As her fist shot forward, stopping right before the other girl's nose, she stood still and smiled. "That was 'Cleansing'. It might only look like a simple breathing technique, but there's a trick to it that allows you to tap into your spirit. I can show it to you if you would like," she concluded, winking as she brought her fist back and now stood as she had when she first approached the two girls.

Hayate nodded. “Right, now I remember. My late instructor taught me something similar in terms of emotional balance for competing against other people. Personally, I think it’s better if I just let myself follow the flow of my emotions in the heat of battle. It’s far easier and patterns has a chance to become unpredictable, making it harder to set a counter and defense against a flurry of attacks. That’s just my opinion though.”

With that said, Amaranta began to glow blue taking both girls surprised. The aura spreading to them. Both affected, Hayate and Rhianna enjoyed the feeling it brought upon them. The feeling Rhianna felt reminding her of a perfectly heated up bath. Suddenly, it was tersely ended by the unforeseen punch seemingly heading towards Hayate. Caught completely off guard and eyes wide, Hayate applied an edge to her palm, ready to slice the hand that dared try to hurt her. It was only when Amaranta stopped short of her nose did she relax a bit. The pair visible nervous, Hayate gave an anxious laugh. “Tha-.... That was the quite the trick.... I didn’t expect that at all. I bet that would come in useful in a fight.”

More nervous laughter from Hayate.

“Ha-Had that landed, I’m not sure you would still have that hand.” She tried to joke, doing her best to hide the fact that was her intent. “Anyways, spirit, huh? I can’t say I believe in such a thing, maybe determination, but spirit not quite....”

[Kractero]

There was something odd about the school that Remi had signed up for. Not the name, the Academy of Villains. Not the dubious events surrounding the events of the class prior to her entrance, an event known as the Disaster of Sixteen, something that most students wouldn't normally know. It was something even stranger, and that was the fact that Remi could observe multiple alternate timelines from the Academy of Villains, with each one aside from their own meeting their end at a unfortunately quick rate. This was obviously a rare occurrence, something that Remi had never seen in her three thousand year long life. Consulting with Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi, a notable Arabic scholar, he merely told her that this was not worrying about.

Of course, the only reason she found this out was because of Trajan, who was the only reason she was even going to this school. By Trajan, this is the same Trajan that was proclaimed arguably the greatest emperor in Roman History. The Trajan that briefly allowed her to return to Constantinople briefly, at least until he died. But Remi's ability to communicate and petition the spirits of the dead would become useful, something she frequently did, usually talking to Roman figures or Arabic scholars. Right now, in some ways it was a mistake to talk to Trajan, as he felt bad for allowing her to be boarded off to Sassanian Persia behind his knowledge, so he took on a parent-like role, or at least as parentlike a dead person could become. After all, how could the lone successor of the Valere family, important noble family of the great Roman civilization, be virtually unemployed since the siege of Baghdad in the 13th century?

Now, Remi was an extremely eccentric individual, even though she hated to be portrayed that way and always sought to be normal. To an onlooker, it looks like she's talking to herself, as the spirits of the dead are not visible to people that she does not trust. She also has nobody that she trusts, with the dead being her only friend. Additionally, her vampire nature makes her a voracious consumer of meat, often out in public, as she had no where to stay. It was common to see her sitting on a park bench or outside of a library eating meat. This eccentricity didn't really matter in the Roman world, she often was out in farmland taking measurements or just writing down divisions of land for plebian farmers. It proved helpful in the Arabic world because it broke the sterotype of a typical woman (at the time). However, it was not well-received nowadays, meaning that she needed a school with equal or more eccentricity than she did.

Somehow she wound up at a school where the school itself seemed more abnormal than the people attending it. And all of this was being thought while sitting on a chair, talking to a ghost, chewing on a drumstick, and consulting a book gargantuan in size.

[Imperial--japan]

Lin Xiuying

Lin didn't expect to be intercepted by her previous foe, and as Ember moved towards her she paused her run towards Bampanda in order to give her attention to the warrior before her. As her opponent readied to punch with their lava covered hands, Lin pulled her own arm back to meet the punch head on. The intention was for both their fists to collide, and hopefully Lin would hurt her foe or stun them enough so that she could focus on that Panda beast near her. As their fists met, Lin could feel the burning sensation on her hand, but simply grunted in pain. What was most important was absorbing the shock from the punch to further increase her own strength. If she lasted long enough, hopefully she would be too strong for them to take down.

"You won't beat me with strength alone!" Lin roared excitedly. She hadn't met someone who could truly inflict pain on her since all those years ago. It was a glorious feeling. Then came the stars. The baseball bat hit Lin on the back of the head as she was busy boasting to her foe. Turning around with that same creepy grin on her face, Lin reached out with her non-Lava coated hand to grab her opponents throat and choke them.

[Saleon]

Rudy Daimonia
Baga, World Conqueror
Academy of Villains

---

---

Lin Xiuying

Lin didn't expect to be intercepted by her previous foe, and as Ember moved towards her she paused her run towards Bampanda in order to give her attention to the warrior before her. As her opponent readied to punch with their lava covered hands, Lin pulled her own arm back to meet the punch head on. The intention was for both their fists to collide, and hopefully Lin would hurt her foe or stun them enough so that she could focus on that Panda beast near her. As their fists met, Lin could feel the burning sensation on her hand, but simply grunted in pain. What was most important was absorbing the shock from the punch to further increase her own strength. If she lasted long enough, hopefully she would be too strong for them to take down.

"You won't beat me with strength alone!" Lin roared excitedly. She hadn't met someone who could truly inflict pain on her since all those years ago. It was a glorious feeling. Then came the stars. The baseball bat hit Lin on the back of the head as she was busy boasting to her foe. Turning around with that same creepy grin on her face, Lin reached out with her non-Lava coated hand to grab her opponents throat and choke them.

Rudy felt a grip of pressure almost as quickly as her hand thrust across Lin's face with the bat. She gasped quickly, wincing. The grip across her throat was like a vice grip. It was as if all her air had been ripped from her throat. She cringed in pain, her hands trying to pry off Lin's hand from her throat.

"Y-You are quite the formidable foe," Rudy says, feebly, exasperating in breath. Maybe speaking at the moment wasn't helping her situation, but she continued to squirm and squirm all over. She then added, "but... even if you are very pretty... doesn't mean I will lose to you!" The lost of oxygen making her a little loopy, it seemed. It did make Lin's sweaty composure and strong form seem a little... fuzzier to Rudy's eyes

She clenched her teeth and snapped out it.

Rudy swung her feet forward, trying to give a quick kick to the gut, before swinging back the other way. She slipped onto Lin's shoulders. Pulling off from teh grip was difficult, but she made sure to hit hard enough to let off a small release. She then smacked Lin in the jaw, just enough to release herself. She stood on top of Lin, before jumping in an arc and smacking a quick kick off as she jumped down, "So you wanna play? You won't catch me twice!"

Warning, Warning. last post before complete meditation.

[Higher Japan]

Viola

"Foolish mor-!" As the host was struck down by Candace, it spat some spit out as it appeared that Viola had gained some control back. Instead of speaking, she reached for her pocket and threw a pair of keys aside, away from where she was originally as she quickly got taken over once again by the demon within her. As control returned, it began to scream and flail before firing off another few bullets which had hit some of the walls as it attempted to fight off the weight on the body.

(Sorry for short post, not much to do)

[Granis]

Despite hoping it would work out, Diz was honestly surprised when the man lost hold of his gun. However, the man was apparently not planning to give up after his firearm had been taken from him, pulling out a trench knife and rushing him.

In response, Diz sprang backwards, barely blocking the knife with his tail blade. Yeah, it technically might not have mattered, considering his natural armour, but this guy seemed somewhat intelligent for an unpowered human. He probably realised that a blade to any of the gaps in it would hurt him just as badly as it would a normal human.

Moving in closer again, Diz made a quick flurry of swipes with his tail blade and right hand, making sure to keep the gun secure and right in his left.

"Are you sure you really wish to so this?" Doz asked the man. "I would really prefer to avoid killing you, if at all possible..."

[The Flutterlands]

FILIA UMBRARUM

For a moment, Filia felt as if her heart was made of glass and someone smashed it with a hammer. She frowned deeply and sulked her head, feeling stupid that she didn't get the sarcasm. Of course Seva was being sarcastic, but it was just hard for the half-demon to tell the difference sometimes. Shame. Filia actually thought she could have nice evening with the pretty girl.

However, Filia smiled when Seva once again offered the chance to impress her. The half-demon already thought of stealing Ama's ruby to be a good chance. Though there are other things on her list she sought to steal as well, including a certain dagger she kept hearing about.

Filia's eyes brightened when Seva spoke of "corrupting" her and giggled. "Girl, I have robbed banks, pillaged jewelry stores and stripped art museums among other great crimes of theft." She said coolly with a grin, "How does that not make me a real villain? I just dont like killing, that's all. ...Doesn't mean that I can't put up a fight though. So I think I can handle you if you can handle me."

[Kingdom of Irhk]

Alphonse Baskerville

So even after knowing he could make people disappear and get away with it easily, she still wanted his attention. That was the confirmation he needed: She came not only for the lessons he offered, but for the role he had too: She was conservative, and that meant she wanted a man at her side, and maybe Alphonse was the man she needed, being stronger than her. Of course, once Alphonse wanted something, well... he started to be obsessive about it.

Without any words, he went for in a kiss, slow, as his hands explored Jadwiga's body freely, like he inspected the person that wanted him. His hand slowly reached her neck, before he ended the kiss abruptly and choked her lightly, his eyes set on her face with a cold stare.

"Charm me? Oh no... You already got my attention. So you want me? Great... I want you too, but I want you for me, and only me... That's what you wanted, right? A man at your side, someone that could teach you and guide you, and that's what I will do. I want you to be mine, I want to know what you do what you did, and what you will do, I want to hear your 'yes' when I give you an order I want you to agree with and I want to hear your 'no' when I tell you something I want you to disagree with. You wanted me? Great, but you already know who I am... You know that out of here I could find you and Poland, and keep you in a secret place, away from everyone else, only for me, but I believe we can achieve more here and in the outside world when you agree with my conditions without any violence, don't you think?

When I want things, I don't ask for them. I go and get them. I wanted you, and now I have you. I wanted a kiss, and now I kissed you. Don't expect me to justify things for you, but I expect you to justify things for me. I am not fond of these open relationships where people hide things from each other... I want you to be an open book for me, accessible. I want to know everything about you, your thoughts, your behavior... And I also want to correct them. I gave these rights to myself. And now I'll have another kiss."

Again, Alphonse kissed her. Firmly, he held her in place, like his words transformed into acts, a real, tangible example of what he wanted and expected of her from now on. And again, he stopped the kiss to make his point clear... With a small slap in her butt cheek, Alphonse looked at her again, with eyes that seemed to restrain her in his world.

"This was a small example of what I will do if you behave improperly. Anything to say, Jadwiga?"

Kazimiera Wojciecha Jadwiga Zdunowska

Alphonse had seemed to suddenly shift from simply a cold and professional teacher, to a dominant romantic. Jadwiga couldn’t complain too much; she’d gotten more or less what she was after. Even by her standards, he was a bit controlling, but such was life. As far as she was concerned, he was about as perfect of a fit for her as she’d ever find, and he seemed to share the sentiment. Until his last action, of course. That showed to her that he was a far less uptight with her, and in her mind the dowry was being paid.

“So I take this to mean you would like dowry soon,” she said, implying he should like her as his bride, “You might expect it within a week, as my mother patiently waits for me to receive a suitor like you. Unless I take your words wrongly, of course, in which case I apologise.”

She didn’t quite know what more to say, other than hope for a positive response. Her parents and grandparents had courted younger than she, and only abstained from marriage for as long as the institutions required it. Then she noticed a bit of her lipstick had gotten onto his upper lip rather than just on his lips since she’d flinched just a bit from surprise after he first kissed her. She licked her finger, and brought it to the mark.

“Ah, let me just get that for you,” she said, wiping off the bit of lipstick from his upper lip, “There, that’s better. Sharp as ever now.”

Alphonse Baskerville

"Dowry? I don't need money, Jadwiga. I am a man with enough money to live and to practice my activities comfortably. What I need is another thing... The certainty you will act accordingly with what we established. We met today, and even if you are someone with a certain beauty, that doesn't make you automatically my wife. I want to know if you are willing to understand my authority over you. I want to know if you are willing to see me doing what I do, and then comply with your obligations as a wife right after it.

Katelyn and Candace, you said? Candace, by some small talk I overheard, is an old student... But Katelyn isn't. I want you to understand that I enjoy breaking my enemies, that I enjoy seeing them helpless, fearing me... And if they are your enemies, they might be my enemies too. I want you to observe her. To learn her vulnerabilities. Then, you will come back to me, and I will... talk with her. We will find a way to use her as practice for the lessons you are receiving."

Taking some steps back, he sat at his bed, while his eyes seemed to examine Jadwiga's body from head to toe. He knew that she wouldn't sleep with him until they were married, but that didn't mean he was going to have some fun with her.

"Now, come over here. I want you to sit on my lap and tell me how you imagine yourself being my wife. That's what you want, right? So convince me. I also want you to tell me everything about this... Katelyn individual. Why you don't like her, how is she, how she talks, her behavior... Everything you remember. I will use all of that to help you against her."

[Forest State]

CECILIA EMBER

Lin had better strength and endurance, and Cecilia had to admit that as their fists collided, herself taking more damage than Lin. The force from the punch was turned back on her, and it threw her to the ground. She'd never been a specialist at close combat, after all, and she was vulnerable in this position. But also tired. She tried to catch her breath as Rudy's bat made contact with Lin, rolling onto her stomach and starting to crawl away and scramble to her feet.

CANDACE BELLEROSE

Candace was surprised that her ditch attack actually worked, but she also didn't do a good job of keeping the gun from flailing around and firing. Shit. A few shots ricocheted off the walls, but one of them caught her in the side. She wasn't sure if it was a graze or a hit, but it hurt. Like hell. "You motherfucker," she said simply, and she remembered a lesson from her sister, suddenly. On how to pummel someone that was already on the ground. She raised her posture so there would be leverage behind her hits, knowing that she wasn't very strong and that she would need to use physics to her advantage.

And then she angled her elbow towards Viola's head and brought it down and forward hard and sharply, with the goal of possibly breaking something in her face and possibly concussing her by bouncing her head off of the ground. It was a brutal attack, but Cass had always been a brutal fighter who showed little mercy to her opponents. Just moving into position for the move hurt Candace because of how she'd been shot, but actually lunging forward with her elbow hurt enough to cause her to scream. Loudly. She hoped that it was worth her effort, that it would deal serious damage to her opponent...

THE CROW

The Crow took a couple of hits that were absorbed by his body armor, but backed up anyway as he used the trench knife to glance the blows away slightly. "I'm not worried," he said, and he was looking at something that was standing behind the demon. Not a man, but a robot, and a tall one that stood at about seven feet and carried a large minigun that was attached to a power pack on its back. "I suggest that you back away, not me. You're in the line of fire right now..."

SEVA SAINT-DENIS

Seva watched Filia's quick mood changes and noted that she seemed to have an up and down personality. That was good information for the future, and the kind of information that she looked for whenever she was first meeting someone. "If you say you can fight..." she muttered, not sure if she trusted Filia. Filia desperately wanted to impress her, and that was something that was clear. It also presented an advantage, so Seva decided to go along with it. "Maybe we'll work together soon. Since we seem to have common interests."

[Doughertania]

WESLEY ROBSON

Graf Johann Faust

Anton Greaves
In response to Johann's venom, Anton felt a sense of smug satisfaction. It was one thing to win the respect of a fellow inventor. It was quite another to put an arrogant boy in his place. When the vampire threatened to leave in a huff, Anton put up his hands. "Now now, Johann, don't fret. There is always a place for dumb muscle." Anton paused and gestured toward the sun, allowing himself a small smile. "Provided our adversaries do not leave the blinds open."

The aristocrat questioned the drones ability to survive an hit from the guards, something Anton had already anticipated. "The Stinger is semi-autonomous, capable of making snap judgements about where to move to escape being swatted. " Of course, it had never been field-tested before. He only just created the drone after all. Besides, with the amount of work that went into creating the techno-organic creature, Anton didn't want to risk breaking it when he had no time to repair it.

"And if the worst happens, I do have this." Anton raised his right arm and made a fist. Grey-white metal materialized from the back of his hand, crawling over his fingers and down his forearm. Soon, a metal disk sprouted from his wrist, creating an outward-facing cone. The inside of which glowed a bright blue.

"A sonic incapacitator, capable of non-lethally subduing opposition in a nigh undetectable fashion. This would not look like an accident unfortunately, but it would leave little evidence of who'd actually attacked the guards." Of course, they could always sift through the students and faculty, and look for those who had access to sonic attacks, a short list which would unfortunately include Anton. But if the plan succeeded, the scientist would be able to alter his known abilities, hiding his sonic cannon from his file.

"Now, if there are no more questions, we should begin." Anton lowered his arm, allowing the metal to retract back into his body. He gestured to the engineer who called them all together. Wesley seemed to have a semblance of a plan, which was better than most people Anton worked with. If the AI and gadgets did their job, there should be little opposition for them. However, he had to admit the German had a point; Wesley's lack of certainty regarding guard numbers, placement, or even the exact location of the objective was worrisome. If they were to continue to do business, Anton would have to stress the importance of details.

"Lead the way, Wesley."

[Luminesa]

"I could always learn how to spar. I have a staff, but that's not something you'd necessarily stab someone with. However, I could certainly help you practice as though you were going to stab someone, if anything," Amaranta answered, with a soft giggle. She then thought for a moment about how to explain her own abilities-the "emotional and spiritual training" that she had mentioned to Hayate. In the meantime, she glanced at Rhianna, knowing that she was nervous about making a new friend. The feeling of being replaced, the feelings of loneliness and alienation, were things Ama herself feared. She wondered if she could perhaps train Rhianna one day as well...if the girl would interact with her at all. "...Well, any great fighter has to be in-control of their body, so that they can attack and defend themselves as the situation requires. However, one must also be in-control of their emotions, and of their soul. One must recognize their feelings, their state-of-mind when they are in battle, as well as the amount of peace or calm in their souls. It's not something that can solely be explained by talking, but that's at least a good introduction to it. Let me show you."

Amaranta backed away just slightly, and closed her eyes. She then her spiritual energies, this time without drawing her jewels. She had made a mistake in showing Alphonse-and potentially others-her prized possessions, so she decided to use her abilities now without them. She then slowly moved her arms up above her, as a ballerina might do before beginning her performance. She breathed deeply, holding that air in before slowly exhaling, as she drew her arms down. As she drew them down, she slowly cupped her hands around her chest, as though she was cradling something against it.

The entire sweeping motion caused for a light-blue light to glow around her body, and to flow off of her body, spreading around her. Hayate and Rhianna would have both felt as though they had just stood under a waterfall somewhere in the mountains. A peaceful, refreshing, majestic feeling. Amaranta then opened her eyes sharply and got into a fighting position, as though she was going to box Hayate. As her fist shot forward, stopping right before the other girl's nose, she stood still and smiled. "That was 'Cleansing'. It might only look like a simple breathing technique, but there's a trick to it that allows you to tap into your spirit. I can show it to you if you would like," she concluded, winking as she brought her fist back and now stood as she had when she first approached the two girls.

Hayate nodded. “Right, now I remember. My late instructor taught me something similar in terms of emotional balance for competing against other people. Personally, I think it’s better if I just let myself follow the flow of my emotions in the heat of battle. It’s far easier and patterns has a chance to become unpredictable, making it harder to set a counter and defense against a flurry of attacks. That’s just my opinion though.”

With that said, Amaranta began to glow blue taking both girls surprised. The aura spreading to them. Both affected, Hayate and Rhianna enjoyed the feeling it brought upon them. The feeling Rhianna felt reminding her of a perfectly heated up bath. Suddenly, it was tersely ended by the unforeseen punch seemingly heading towards Hayate. Caught completely off guard and eyes wide, Hayate applied an edge to her palm, ready to slice the hand that dared try to hurt her. It was only when Amaranta stopped short of her nose did she relax a bit. The pair visible nervous, Hayate gave an anxious laugh. “Tha-.... That was the quite the trick.... I didn’t expect that at all. I bet that would come in useful in a fight.”

More nervous laughter from Hayate.

“Ha-Had that landed, I’m not sure you would still have that hand.” She tried to joke, doing her best to hide the fact that was her intent. “Anyways, spirit, huh? I can’t say I believe in such a thing, maybe determination, but spirit not quite....”

“Oh there’s no reason to be concerned. I wouldn’t have actually hit you,” Amaranta answered, kindly, “But your reflexes are really good! You must be a much better fighter than me. I don’t usually punch people myself, when I fight. I like having my Staff, or a polearm of some sort. But anyway! It seems that you have a pretty good understanding of what I’m talking about. However, simply following the flow of your emotions in a fight isn’t always a good thing. For example, what if remaining calm is the way to win, but you get angry?” She frowned, as she challenged Hayate and Rhianna to think carefully. “...Then you might lose control of the fight. Even worse, what if something in you’re soul is manipulating you to harm others, even the people you care about?...If you are in control of your body and soul, then you won’t have to worry about either of those situations. Right?” she inquired, smiling again as she tossed the question to Hayate. “So! Do you want to maybe train after classes today? We can meet outside of my room and then go out on the field outside.”

[Khasinkonia]

Kazimiera Wojciecha Jadwiga Zdunowska

Alphonse had seemed to suddenly shift from simply a cold and professional teacher, to a dominant romantic. Jadwiga couldn’t complain too much; she’d gotten more or less what she was after. Even by her standards, he was a bit controlling, but such was life. As far as she was concerned, he was about as perfect of a fit for her as she’d ever find, and he seemed to share the sentiment. Until his last action, of course. That showed to her that he was a far less uptight with her, and in her mind the dowry was being paid.

“So I take this to mean you would like dowry soon,” she said, implying he should like her as his bride, “You might expect it within a week, as my mother patiently waits for me to receive a suitor like you. Unless I take your words wrongly, of course, in which case I apologise.”

She didn’t quite know what more to say, other than hope for a positive response. Her parents and grandparents had courted younger than she, and only abstained from marriage for as long as the institutions required it. Then she noticed a bit of her lipstick had gotten onto his upper lip rather than just on his lips since she’d flinched just a bit from surprise after he first kissed her. She licked her finger, and brought it to the mark.

“Ah, let me just get that for you,” she said, wiping off the bit of lipstick from his upper lip, “There, that’s better. Sharp as ever now.”

Alphonse Baskerville

"Dowry? I don't need money, Jadwiga. I am a man with enough money to live and to practice my activities comfortably. What I need is another thing... The certainty you will act accordingly with what we established. We met today, and even if you are someone with a certain beauty, that doesn't make you automatically my wife. I want to know if you are willing to understand my authority over you. I want to know if you are willing to see me doing what I do, and then comply with your obligations as a wife right after it.

Katelyn and Candace, you said? Candace, by some small talk I overheard, is an old student... But Katelyn isn't. I want you to understand that I enjoy breaking my enemies, that I enjoy seeing them helpless, fearing me... And if they are your enemies, they might be my enemies too. I want you to observe her. To learn her vulnerabilities. Then, you will come back to me, and I will... talk with her. We will find a way to use her as practice for the lessons you are receiving."

Taking some steps back, he sat at his bed, while his eyes seemed to examine Jadwiga's body from head to toe. He knew that she wouldn't sleep with him until they were married, but that didn't mean he was going to have some fun with her.

"Now, come over here. I want you to sit on my lap and tell me how you imagine yourself being my wife. That's what you want, right? So convince me. I also want you to tell me everything about this... Katelyn individual. Why you don't like her, how is she, how she talks, her behavior... Everything you remember. I will use all of that to help you against her."

Kazimiera Wojciecha Jadwiga Zdunowska

Jadwiga seemed to wordlessly share Alphonse’s sentiments, if with slightly different intent. She sat on his lap, his own lap being completely obscured by her rear as if it were the moon being eclipsed by the shadow of the earth itself. Certainly though, nobody could consider her top heavy, as she was balanced as a traditional European noble ought. However, her midsection, even without her corset, lacked the certain girth characteristic of a respectable Austrian empress. Jadwiga, being polish, wasn’t quite as bothered by this, though her midsection’s width compared to other parts of her wasn’t as pleasing of a feature to her as it might be to others, Alphonse in particular.

“Me as your wife,” she began, adjusting her position on her space-confined seat so she was sitting as comfortable as possible. At least with his height she could comfortably look him in the eye from a slightly lower position despite her ‘booster seat’ in the form of sitting on his lap with a larger-than-average rear, “Well, according to what I believe, if I were your wife I’d be almost anything you want me to be, except someone who rejects my own beliefs. And even then, since you’d be my husband, I’d be expected to follow you even if I disagreed. Of course, as your wife, I’d also be sure to voice my concerns privately to you, unless you didn’t want to hear my thoughts. Unless you didn’t want me to, I’d either manage the house myself, order servants to, or stand by your side, whichever you’d prefer, so you could do your work in peace.”

She paused for a moment, and once again shifted her position in his lap slightly, as she’d begun to slid off.

“And, well, anything else you’d want me to do that I could, really. My beliefs on my duties as a wife are that your ideas are almost always the right ones, with few exceptions,” she looked up at the ceiling thoughtfully as she tried to think of anything she’d left out of the basic job description for her potential future self. Not able to bring anything to mind, she moved on to Katelyn, “For one, the Katelyn girl looks as if she were pulled off the streets of some fantasy world, but certainly not a good street. Perhaps a cartoony version of an Albanian slum, but with more white people. Her clothes look similar, but more, uh, Japanese. She looks like a white Albanian hobo with blood-red hair, black bags under her eyes, and an outfit that looks like it was dug from the dumpster behind a convention centre after some xenophiles came together with their weird clothes. But she’s from your runaway colony rather than Albania, so her poverty is more surprising. Other than that, she’s a devout heathen who wallows in her hedonism, and made a point of provoking me. Candace was worse, but I suppose I might have to ‘take care’ of her at a later time.”

[Higher Japan]

Viola

As she felt an elbow hit her, the demon merely spat out more spit as she finally got enough strength to lift her up before tossing her aside, laughing as she loaded in a bullet. "Foolish mortal, do you really think you can defeat the Demon of the Trigger? Farewell you foolish woman, I'll see you in the depths!" But as it fired the bullet, instead of a projectile coming out the gun, the only thing that came out from it was the sound of a resonance bullet. As it screamed, the body began to switch between her and the demon as it slowly attempted to reach for the revolver, the only thing that can't fire the resonance bullets, while it went slowly closer towards the table. As it reached the table, Viola screamed before slamming her head onto it, cracking and even chipping a part of it away as she laid on the ground, a little blood leaking out from her head.

[Cruxa]

Rowan Smith

Rowan stood, eyeing FIlia and Seva suspiciously. "Speaking of goals..." he said, slinging his gun over his shoulder. "Have any of you heard of a Dark Horizon Corp?" His eyes narrowed as he prepared to judge their responses for truth. He was good at that kind of thing. Intuition served him well. And if it didn't, well, he still had his pistol at his waist.

"I'm looking for them. I need to... settle a score."

[New Antonalia]

WESLEY ROBSON

Anton Greaves

Graf Johann Faust

Had it not been for Johann's remarkable ability to control himself, he would have made a meal out of the smug inventor, regardless of what Wesley thought. Though what he couldn't control was his hand swiftly grabbing the Antons neck and squeezing hard, his nails beginning to dig into the . "Call me dumb one more time peasant, and it won't matter how many tricks, how many toys, or how many baubles you have. I will kill you." Johann said, before tossing the 19 year old away like a rag doll. After sighing he turned to Wesley, looking slightly less irritated. "As the hack said, lead on, though once we reach the mainframe, I will have something for you to do for me. And before you object, consider it my payment for this job."

Oberst Hans Stroeller,
Fjallerheim, Norway,
November 20th, 1940

By the time he took the alias Hans Stroeller, Johann had lived more than five centuries and the alias served him well. The alias helped him gain prominence throughout Brunswick as the hero of Somme, the unkillable lieutenant who single handedly held the trenches against a company of Tommys. But after the Armastice, Stroeller was left disillusioned with Germany and the West. He felt that the Allies had dishonored Germany and shifted a large part of the blame onto her when she was nothing but a victim of circumstance. But when Hitler rose to power and the Nazis were parading through the streets, he felt pride in what his people were accomplishing, but like a lot of the old aristocratic blood, he rued the one-testicaled Austrian corporal more than the others within his social circles. However, to Stroeller, even flies had their uses, and Hitler's use was to get closer to Himmler and his Abwher. The Reichsfuhrer's obsession with the occult naturally brought him together with Stroeller, and the two could often be seen together at gatherings, discussing myths, legends, and other superstitions. It wasn't long before Oberleutnant Hans Stroeller found himself promoted to Oberst Hans Stroeller, in charge of Abwehr operations in the Scandanavian Countries. A position that would prove to be enlightening to Hans in more than just one way.

By the time Hans Stroeller had reached Norway, the Nazis had already conquered it and a puppet government had been set up. As part of the Abwehr contingent sent to Norway, Stroeller had unfettered access to all parts of the country, and for all tense and purpose, was untouchable. Which considering the nature of his assignment, it was more than necessary as even members of the SS were not immune to Party Law. He flipped through the dossier that was given to him in Bremen and immediately dismissed most of hit as local folklore and legends not worth investigating. But one page in particular stuck out, and as he read it, he couldn't help but smile as he ordered his men to move out.