NationStates

Xichung wrote:Irina

"Hey, big guy, what's with the waterworks" she whipped the tear away from his face just as it began to roll down "you shouldn't cry, your too pretty for that" she put her stew to the side and sat on the bed next to him "life is too short to cry" she rubbed his head messing up his hair "want to lay in my lap, will that help?"

Kishi

"Sorry, I'm just remembering the one who I lost, long ago," he closed his eyes as he spoke. "You remind me of her. One of the few people who can withstand being in my presence," it was when he spoke those words that a dark energy became more apparent, similar to when she looked into his eyes, but not as potent.

Aiko, Ater, and Arbus

The two girls flew high into the sky, above the clouds. Normally Ater would carry Aiko when they were all flying together, but with Arbus in her condition it was best for her to rest within her seal. "Flying like this is really calming Isn't it Ai?" Ater decided to initiate the conversation.

"Yeah, it really clears the mind," Aiko turned to look at Ater whose long white hair was fluttering in the wind. When looking down they could see the vast forests and fields. The people traveling along the roads looked so small from their height and it provided them with a sort of solitude that not many others could experience. "Well we should head towards Kalingway now, huh?" Aiko looked towards her companion once more, the white haired demon nodded and both girls turned around and began to fly towards the city.

When they grew closer they thought that they would find a city filled with life and people, but what they saw was the remains of a massive battle. "We should go check it out," Ater began to fly down to the surface. Aiko nodded and followed after her, they landed in the middle of what seemed like a marketplace. "What happened?" Ater said as she began looking around the area, corpses littered the streets.

"We should look for survivors," Aiko turned to Ater and pointed down an alleyway, "Let's go this way." She immediately began to walk towards the alley and Ater followed.

Irina

she ignored it, she must push forward, for she knows a being far more terrifying than him. she smiled and leaned in, he could feel the heat of her close to her face "did you love her?" she said softly "more than anything in the world, that not even the very personification of death would stop you" she sat back up "and so you took this monster inside you, to avenge her, even if it will be your demise" she combed back his hair "you truly are a hero, least my own, i gave up on humanity long ago" she sighed "yet i still help them, to hopefully find the one and i think i have, its you" she leaned back in and kissed his forehead

Xichung wrote:

Frachen wrote:Drei
"I, well, ok, your right, but he was warned! I told him to leave me alone and he didn't, sinple as that! So, can I leave now?" She glances around nervously after hearing the voices.

Ra'an
"So, famine, who are you in relationship to Thanatos" he says putting on the necklace. "And what potential are we talking about? What power is this giving me?"

Hiteroshi

"i hold your life in my hands so i suggest you tell me everything" he grinned "unless i should let them have you and the police here aren't as law-abiding as you think, they may even have their way with you, now you wouldn't want that, do you?"

Rasputin

when he put the necklace on he felt a great surge of power going through him "I'm one of the horsemen of the apocalypse, Death or as you know him as Thanatos is another." he smiled "and if you don't want to become his next prey, don't take that off" he pointed at the necklace

Drei
"I, well, I assume you read my name on the poster. I am Drei, a young girl wanted for false accusations of murder. It was in self defense, I swear it was. Please believe me. I was bullied from a young age and John, the one who I supposedly murdered, was the worst of them. He beat me like there was no tomorrow. It was when I was 10 that I finally stood up for myself, though, I must admit, it was far from how I imagined it. I simply wished that he wouldn't bother me anymore, and then just like that, he was a statue of stone, jothing more, nothing less. I ran away from it all, to avoid it, to avoid the police, to avoid my parents, to avoid his parents, to avoid everyone. Now I'm here, being hunted like a deer. Happy?"

Ra'an
"Understood." He stood up and looked at Rasputin directly while tossing him a card "If you ever need something, take that to our hideout, you'll know where it is if you study that card properly."

5pb wrote:

Frachen wrote:Vestía
She blocks the weopon with a spear and throws another one at Aiko. "I feel insulted that you would accuse me of such trickery. They may have had every right, like I did, but they were young and inexperienced, like me. I foolishly fell for the lies like they did." She throws another spear. "Well, I'll end this in a draw." She throws a spear at the items Cyrus stole, destroying them. "There's no way to retrieve them, killing me would be out of pure revenge, not justice."

Vyron
He reached the place of battle and crouched down unnoticed. He watched the two fight. "So that one is a demon, and the other a summoner. Ok, then who is that one?" He whispered to himself quietly.

Aiko, Ater, and Arbus

"Conceding defeat is smart," she flicked the blade around before it vanished. She reached into her bag and pulled out the card with the Infernal Den's insignia, "We have shown you that you are weak." She held the card up in front of her face and lit it on fire with Ater's white flames, after it burned she threw it down in front of Vestia. It was then that a large black spear flew past Vestia, it missed by mere centimeters. Looking in the direction the spear came from was Ater, swathed in her white flames. Cyrus was completely surrounded in flames so he couldn't follow her.

"My Master may have accepted your defeat, but I will not! You speak as if you know me and my sister, and all you say is lies!" the flames grew stronger and she quickly grew closer to Vestia. She called back her spear and pointed it at her, " I love Ai, I've known her for all of my life, and you're trying to toy with that! I will not allow you to act as if you know my emotions."

"Ater please, we've made our point here," Ai walked up behind Ater and placed her hand on her head, "please, Ater." Ater began to slow her breathing.

"But she is trying to make you dis-trust us," Ater spoke in a voice that showed a bit of fear, "I don't want you to have to worry about us."

"I know how you guys feel, she couldn't convince me that you guys were sad even if she had proof. I know you guys all to well," Aiko pet Ater as she spoke, as she did the white flames began to die down. "We should get going, come on. We can fly around a bit before we head into Kalingway," Arbus' wings sprouted from Aiko's back and she began to fly up.

"Yeah, that sounds fun," Ater let out a smile as she unfurled her own wings and bega to follow Aiko. Within seconds they had both disappeared from sight.

Xichung wrote:Irina

she sat down and crossed her legs "well I'm generally silent and don't do much, but you are sleeping in my only bed so, be weary i may lay with you in your sleep, so don't think of perverted things" she ate some stew "so, why exactly did you come here?"

Thanatos

"Well then, its time to awaken old power, i shall pull from the scrolls of demise" he walked into a large round room made of gold where scrolls float above a pedestal. the scroll was tied together by a red ribbon with black ancient writing and seal using a sigil long forgotten. this was the very scrolls that gave him immortality and his great power, but only a portion as reading the powerful scroll came at a cost of body and mind. this will be last time he will read this forbidden power, he had already sent his pets to the resting places of the great warriors. he grabbed the scroll and broke the seal, it always melds back after each read, like a limiter. he opened the scroll as light flooded the room.

Kishi

"I wouldn't dare," he lay his head back and looked at the ceiling, She acts a lot like Shizu did. Tears began to form in his eyes but never left that spot. Recently he had been remembering his past and it's caused him a lot of pain and turmoil. He didn't know who was responsible, but he knew he would make them pay. This Infernal Den group he had heard so much about was a great place to start looking though.

Vestía, Vyron and Cyrus
She laughs silently as they leave, "the crucial thing they didn't know is that I can change the density of my spears, so most of the items we stole are fine, Cyrus, pick them up, we are done"
"What!? We aren't going to chase them down!? Look what they did!"
"The physical front is not as important as the intellectual front. Here, we lost physically, but intellectually we dominated the battle. Keep that in mind Cyrus."
Vyron watched this all unfold and is debating what to do. "She is clearly much stronger than me, I can't even hit her from here, but that other guy, he seems to be just your average man. Maybe if I use him a bargaining tool."
"Cyrus, we have company!" Vestía says as she senses Vyron's thoughts. "I have reached my limit however, so, lets see how you handle this." She grasps at her heart again and falls to her knees. "Are you ok?"
"I'm fine Cyrus, but our friend here isn't"
Vyron summons a spear of Ice to throw at them but slowly lowers his hand causing it to disappear. He falls to uis knees grasping his head. "Get out!" He roars
"Infernal Den won't let you get away with the knowledge you may have obtained, so now you will forever remain silent, subject to my every whim and fancy."
Vyron stands up and walks over to Vestía. He just stands there like a statue.
"We can leave now Cyrus."

Frachen wrote:

Xichung wrote:Hiteroshi

"i hold your life in my hands so i suggest you tell me everything" he grinned "unless i should let them have you and the police here aren't as law-abiding as you think, they may even have their way with you, now you wouldn't want that, do you?"

Rasputin

when he put the necklace on he felt a great surge of power going through him "I'm one of the horsemen of the apocalypse, Death or as you know him as Thanatos is another." he smiled "and if you don't want to become his next prey, don't take that off" he pointed at the necklace

Drei
"I, well, I assume you read my name on the poster. I am Drei, a young girl wanted for false accusations of murder. It was in self defense, I swear it was. Please believe me. I was bullied from a young age and John, the one who I supposedly murdered, was the worst of them. He beat me like there was no tomorrow. It was when I was 10 that I finally stood up for myself, though, I must admit, it was far from how I imagined it. I simply wished that he wouldn't bother me anymore, and then just like that, he was a statue of stone, jothing more, nothing less. I ran away from it all, to avoid it, to avoid the police, to avoid my parents, to avoid his parents, to avoid everyone. Now I'm here, being hunted like a deer. Happy?"

Ra'an
"Understood." He stood up and looked at Rasputin directly while tossing him a card "If you ever need something, take that to our hideout, you'll know where it is if you study that card properly."

Hiteroshi

“Satisfactory for now” He dispelled the curse without a hand moment or word “but you will come with me, also I’m a Phoenix knight, to let you know”

Rasputin

“Thanks” he took the card “it’s time to go” a white light engulfed him and he vanished

Xichung wrote:

Frachen wrote:Drei
"I, well, I assume you read my name on the poster. I am Drei, a young girl wanted for false accusations of murder. It was in self defense, I swear it was. Please believe me. I was bullied from a young age and John, the one who I supposedly murdered, was the worst of them. He beat me like there was no tomorrow. It was when I was 10 that I finally stood up for myself, though, I must admit, it was far from how I imagined it. I simply wished that he wouldn't bother me anymore, and then just like that, he was a statue of stone, jothing more, nothing less. I ran away from it all, to avoid it, to avoid the police, to avoid my parents, to avoid his parents, to avoid everyone. Now I'm here, being hunted like a deer. Happy?"

Ra'an
"Understood." He stood up and looked at Rasputin directly while tossing him a card "If you ever need something, take that to our hideout, you'll know where it is if you study that card properly."

Hiteroshi

“Satisfactory for now” He dispelled the curse without a hand moment or word “but you will come with me, also I’m a Phoenix knight, to let you know”

Rasputin

“Thanks” he took the card “it’s time to go” a white light engulfed him and he vanished

Drei
"Fine, just promise me I won't die."

Ra'an
He walks away from the tree and makes his way to the hideout. He sits down on his throne and prepares plans to test out his new strength.

Hiteroshi

“For the time being, least till you attack me” he turned around and began walking “follow me, I can hide you” he cracked his knuckles and smiled “so best not to sting the frog you ride on”

Xichung wrote:Hiteroshi

“For the time being, least till you attack me” he turned around and began walking “follow me, I can hide you” he cracked his knuckles and smiled “so best not to sting the frog you ride on”

Drei
"Fine, I won't attack you, just get me out of here."

Frachen wrote:

Xichung wrote:Hiteroshi

“For the time being, least till you attack me” he turned around and began walking “follow me, I can hide you” he cracked his knuckles and smiled “so best not to sting the frog you ride on”

Drei
"Fine, I won't attack you, just get me out of here."

Hiteroshi

"well then stop standing around" the voices from the alleyway got louder "i suggest you hurry, they seem to brought the hounds today" he smiles as dog barking is soon heard

Xichung wrote:

Frachen wrote:Drei
"Fine, I won't attack you, just get me out of here."

Hiteroshi

"well then stop standing around" the voices from the alleyway got louder "i suggest you hurry, they seem to brought the hounds today" he smiles as dog barking is soon heard

Drei
She followed the man and threw her hood up to avoid notice.

Xichung wrote:Irina

she ignored it, she must push forward, for she knows a being far more terrifying than him. she smiled and leaned in, he could feel the heat of her close to her face "did you love her?" she said softly "more than anything in the world, that not even the very personification of death would stop you" she sat back up "and so you took this monster inside you, to avenge her, even if it will be your demise" she combed back his hair "you truly are a hero, least my own, i gave up on humanity long ago" she sighed "yet i still help them, to hopefully find the one and i think i have, its you" she leaned back in and kissed his forehead

Kishi

His face went red for a few second when Irina kissed his forehead, "I'm no hero, I'm just a knight." Kishi sighed and began to talk about his past, "She was my only friend, she cared for me deeply, an I for her. I was helpless when the village was attacked, or rather, I wasn't there. When I returned to the village I saw her get taken."

Frachen wrote:

Xichung wrote:Hiteroshi

"well then stop standing around" the voices from the alleyway got louder "i suggest you hurry, they seem to brought the hounds today" he smiles as dog barking is soon heard

Drei
She followed the man and threw her hood up to avoid notice.

Hiteroshi

he led her to a bar hidden underground, it was a fight club. she could tell by the ring in the center and people betting on the others in the center. "welcome to the scorpion, everyone is a convict and no one will turn you in, I come here cause this is the place my old man taught me everything i need to survive" he took off his glasses "maybe i can train you to be better"

5pb wrote:

Xichung wrote:Irina

she ignored it, she must push forward, for she knows a being far more terrifying than him. she smiled and leaned in, he could feel the heat of her close to her face "did you love her?" she said softly "more than anything in the world, that not even the very personification of death would stop you" she sat back up "and so you took this monster inside you, to avenge her, even if it will be your demise" she combed back his hair "you truly are a hero, least my own, i gave up on humanity long ago" she sighed "yet i still help them, to hopefully find the one and i think i have, its you" she leaned back in and kissed his forehead

Kishi

His face went red for a few second when Irina kissed his forehead, "I'm no hero, I'm just a knight." Kishi sighed and began to talk about his past, "She was my only friend, she cared for me deeply, an I for her. I was helpless when the village was attacked, or rather, I wasn't there. When I returned to the village I saw her get taken."

Irina

"ahhh... I see, but a knight to a damsel in need is the best hero" she ran her hands through his hair "ill be your friend if you so desire, I may never be able to replace her, but I'll do my best to be there for you" she pushed her body closer to him "so please give me that opportunity and maybe I'll tell you my story"

Xichung wrote:

Frachen wrote:Drei
She followed the man and threw her hood up to avoid notice.

Hiteroshi

he led her to a bar hidden underground, it was a fight club. she could tell by the ring in the center and people betting on the others in the center. "welcome to the scorpion, everyone is a convict and no one will turn you in, I come here cause this is the place my old man taught me everything i need to survive" he took off his glasses "maybe i can train you to be better"

Drei
She looks around and takes off her hood. "Why are you doing this for me?"

Infernal Den
They had been preparing for this moment for a while now, everything is in place. It is time to takeover the empire. Ra'an had gathered only the stongest and smartest members of the Den to accompany him. They started their journey at sunset. Lumis, Umbra, Vestía, Solera, Athena, Lyra, and Vyron, their newly acquired slave, had come with him. (Those are the enforcerss, the second highest ranking members, Vyron is not one though) Each having a group of 10 grunts.

Bendy and Vestía
He was just hanging around minding his own business when suddenly he heard someone walking alone. He looked down from the tree he was sitting him and saw a woman passing by. "Hey, watcha doing?" Vestía looked up suddenly summoning multiple spears. "Who are you?"
"The name's Bendy, yours?"
"Vestía."
"What brings you here to my neck of the woods?"
"Personal business."
"That's not very descriptive." He jumps out of the tree and lands in front of her(he is a good 2ish feet shorter.) "I'm afraid I'm going to need a better answer."
Vestía starts laughing "Oh this is so cute, you threatening me."
"I'm not cute!"
"Keep telling yourself that." She walks by him but is suddenly surprised by an inky hand grabbing her leg. "What is the meaning of this!."
"I want an answer, simple as that."
"An answer you won't get."
"An answer I will get."
Vestía destroys the hand with one of her spears and continues to walk off, making sure to avoid the ink puddles everywhere. Suddenly the ground is flooded with ink. "I just want an answer, is that too much to ask for?"
"Infernal Den business, happy?"
"Not much of a difference, but tell me, what is Infernal Den?"
"A group of people striving to bring the world under better rule."
"Yeah, well I kinda like how the world is right now, so........I'll let you go, but don't come back, I wanna remain free."
"Wait, your a demon, aren't you?"
"Yeah, got a problem with that?"
"No, not at all." She turns and leaves.

Xichung wrote:

5pb wrote:

Kishi

His face went red for a few second when Irina kissed his forehead, "I'm no hero, I'm just a knight." Kishi sighed and began to talk about his past, "She was my only friend, she cared for me deeply, an I for her. I was helpless when the village was attacked, or rather, I wasn't there. When I returned to the village I saw her get taken."

Irina

"ahhh... I see, but a knight to a damsel in need is the best hero" she ran her hands through his hair "ill be your friend if you so desire, I may never be able to replace her, but I'll do my best to be there for you" she pushed her body closer to him "so please give me that opportunity and maybe I'll tell you my story"

Kishi

"You are welcome to try, but the life I live may be a bit too much," he closed his eyes and began to fall asleep.


He had left the castle and began to look around, "This is absolutely the work of curse magic." He wandered the city tracing the residual magic, he was lead to the place of the fight with the false gods. "Seems that there was a battle here. A lot of expended Essence," he raised his staff and closed his eyes. A red wave washed over the area and the essence began to react, "No deaths here, but there was a lot of blood shed. Wait, what's that?" Arashi walked over to the place where Luna had fallen, "a massive amount of essence was dispersed here." It was the when he heard a voice behind him.

"Look! I see a survivor!" Ater ran over towards Arashi, "I told you we would find someone if we followed that weird aura."

"Good job Ater," Aiko walked over to Arashi as well, "Excuse me sir, do you know what happened here? We only recently arrived here, and we don't quite know yet." Arashi glanced over the two and smiled, he hadn't seen such promise in youth.

"Yeah, I know about what happened here. Allow me to ask, are you by any chance a Summoner and a Demon?"

"Yes I am a summoner, My name is Aiko, and this is Ater, one of my demons," she signaled towards Ater who waved at Arashi.

"Demons? You have more?"

"Yes! Ai summoned both me and my sister Arbus!" Ater responded readily with an unrivaled joy in her voice.

"Oh, and where is your sister?"

"She was afflicted by an esoteric ability, she is resting now, allowing me to isolate the affliction and destroy it." Aiko interrupted.

"I see, what method are you using to do that?"

"My magic," Aiko readily answered the curious sage and when she did he began to look at her closer.

"I see, so you're an esoteric, interesting. Well, my name is Arashi Seji, I'm better known as the Great Sage of Cagia," he switched hands his staff was in and gave a small bow.

"That explains why Ater felt like we should follow the aura, as well as why I felt like I could tell you what I did," she scratched her chin as she thought about it. That caused a slight chuckle to escape Arashi's lips, "What's so funny?"

"It's nothing, just that I get that a lot. Well, we can exchange information, but I would prefer to do it in a more comfortable area, let us find a place to rest, and maybe even eat," Arashi waved to the girls for them to follow. The girls looked at each other and nodded, then they began to follow him.

Irina

she pulled him close, wrapping her arms around his neck "ill do all that i can, noble and brave knight" she kissed his cheek and leaned back "now rest, tomorrow is another day"

Infernal Den
When they arrived at Kalingway they were surprised that someone had beaten them to their goal. "Boss, should we claim that we did it or...."
"No, we won't claim this, we will find out who did this, meanwhile I will be looking over there for any survivors who can tell me something."
"Yes sir!"
"One question if I may."
"What Vestía?"
"Are we allowed to kill anyone? Or do you want us to just leave them alone?"
"I don't care, just find out who did this!"
"Yes sir!"
Ra'an walks over to the spot he had pointed to and began searching for people, going up and down the former neighborhoods of Kalingway.

Rasputin

He was learning in an alleyway nearby “beautiful isn’t it” he smiled as he walked out of the alley “death did this, all of it, he killed them” he put his hands behind his head “but there is still life in this world, our job, snuff it out” he laughed “so kid you ready to help finish the job”

Xichung wrote:Rasputin

He was learning in an alleyway nearby “beautiful isn’t it” he smiled as he walked out of the alley “death did this, all of it, he killed them” he put his hands behind his head “but there is still life in this world, our job, snuff it out” he laughed “so kid you ready to help finish the job”

Ra'an
"I will gladly help if you promise me this, that I am the one who kills a girl named Aiko. Just promise me that, its for revenge." Ra'an holds out his hand, waiting for Rasputin to do the same.

Luther and Alexander Esquoria

Luther and Alexander were discussing the current state of the Commonwealth. "The Emperor is dead, and with no heirs, the throne is up for grabs," Luther said as he stared outside the window of the Esquoria Estate. Since the original threat of the Etira was established during the meeting, they were forced to go to an underground bunker to seek safety. The Interior Guard had worked with the engineers to create an entire underground catacomb system. One of the paths led straight to the Estate outside the city walls. Before Luther could speak again, his father cut him off. "Being one of the Three Elites, we do have a legitimate claim, at least compared to the rest of the nobles houses. However, I became aware of the presence of an archmage...a Sage."

Luther turned to Alexander. "What?"

"Arashi Seji, the Great Sage of Cagia, is here in Kalingway. It would be wise to act in accordance with his will, or at least wait until the situation here is calm."

Luther froze. He heard stories of the Great Sage, but every legend was set centuries ago, before the Commonwealth was even established. The Great Sage was the one who sealed away Narissa, the Chaos Sage in the epic battle of the two opposing forms of magic. Now focusing on Arashi, Luther asked, "If the Great Sage has returned, then does that mean that Narissa has broken her seal?"

"I don't know if that's the case. But we should definitely tell Seji about it. We should also inform him of the Etira and that we suspect they have obtained the Cursed Resurrection spell."

"Right. Let's go, father."

Adelina and Elakashi

Adelina comforted Elakashi, who was crying after the events of the day. Being an Interior Guardsmen, Elakashi saw some pretty horrific stuff, but today was unlike any other. Fighting undead monsters continuously, and then seeing her sister, who had disappeared years earlier, caused her to just breakdown. Adelina stroked Elakashi's short black hair and held her gently in her arms as she cried. This was the first time Adelina ever saw an Interior Guardsmen, and the first time she saw such an elite mage show any sort of emotion at all. Elakashi was always stoic and calm, but she lacked control over herself today.

Minutes passed before Elakashi regained her composure. She thanked Adelina and wished her good luck. She left the palace grounds, still wearing her signature blue and black uniform, signifying her occupation as an Interior Guardsmen. She walked throughout the streets in order to find her father. Hours of using the Cursed Eye had drained her of her Essence, which was now slowly recovering. Elakashi saw her father, sitting down at a marketplace, drinking beer. He was clearly exhausted, and even a senior IG member like himself would be tired after the battle. She went over to him and sat down.

Kiyonari and Jade

Following the conclusion of the Battle of Kalingway, Kiyonari teleported to Eravil where Jade was. Without exchanging words, Jade pointed to Yucella Esquoria's coffin. With a simple gesture, Kiyonari's portal enveloped the coffin of Yucella, sending it to the Etira hideout. Kiyonari opened a portal to Aesyerus, the home of the Allegrodo. As they stepped through, Jade asked "What happened to the rest?"

"Ayano and her demon, Ira are recovering from the battle. I'll go back and retrieve the others later."

"I see," Jade responded. "You go to Narissa and bring her back to the hideout. The Interior Guard are all over, and it's better that they only see one of us."

"Right, good luck."

Kiyonari went to Eravil to teleport the seal back to the hideout while Jade stayed in Aesyerus. Jade looked around the Allegrodo Estate and saw many guards. She sighed. This was going to be another long day.

As Jade was dealing with the Interior Guards at the Allegrodo Estate, Kiyonari came across the seal where Narissa was held. He extended his arms out, and blasted fire in the chamber. The Scrolls of Eternity was, of course, not held in the same place as Narissa's seal. And even if it was, Kiyonari would not dare destroy the records of spells that the Scrolls contained. Even though Jade could restore the burned seals to their original condition, he couldn't gamble on it. But since the Seal was completely cut off from the rest of the catacombs, he could afford to burn down the chamber and take the seal.

As everything burned around him, he opened a portal, and reached into it. When his hand came out, there was a scroll. The scroll contained several ancient symbols. He bit his thumb and laid the blood on it. The symbols lit up a bright blue as a chain was summoned. He quickly wrapped the chain around the vessel containing Narissa, causing it to also turn blue. With the vessel now free from the chamber and protected from the fire, Kiyonari opened a portal back to the hideout.

Arashi/Aiko, Ater, and Arbus

After the two parties Exchanged their information the sage had come to a decision, he was going to cultivate the young prdigy who stood before him. She has the potential to be a very powerful sage, even with her esoteric abilities. He nodded to himself as he sat across a table from Aiko and Ater.

"Mr. Sage?" Ater was the first to speak up in the scilence.

"Oh sorry. Well I have an idea," he stood up and walked over towards the two young ladies, "Aiko. How would you feel about showing me your abilities?"

"What? Why would you want me to do that?" the sage's proposal was very unexpected and somewhat unreasonable, Aiko had always been cautious when using her esoteric powers outside of battle.

"I want to help you grow stronger, and even though I cannot replicate your magic, I may be able to help you meld it into a more powerful form."

"I-I uh..." she let out a quick sigh, "Alright... right. I will show you my powers."

"Very well, let us head outside where there is more room," he began to walk out of the building and into the street. "Alright, what woulld you like to sho me first?"

"How about we start with my shield?"

"That sounds fine, I will fire a simple attack spell at you and then you can use that to show off your shield, okay?"

"Alright, fire when you're ready!" the sage nodded in response to her call and raised his right arm, fire began to build up and within seconds it fired at Aiko. She quickly raised her left arm in response, the firebolt struck a projected shield and shattered the first layer.

"Hmmm, I see. It's like a projection?" Arashi talked quietly so that Aiko wouldn't hear his words, "What if she channeled her essence into one layer of the shield? Could it hold up against a stronger attack?" He walked over towards Aiko and began to speak, "Aiko, can you hold your shield out for a few seconds?" Without speaking Aiko raised her arm and the sheild projected in front of it. Arashi placed his hand on the shield and began to analyze it. It is made from pure essense, if she focused more essence into the shield she could project a stronger one with more layers or even one with an unbreakable layer.

Instead of telling Aiko his thoughs be began to pour his own essence into the shield. It began to glow blue and the shattered layer was reformed. The shape also had began to shift and became more alike to a kite shield. As Arashi removed his hand the shield began to get larger until it was the size of a kite shield as well. "My gift to you Aiko, I have infused your shield with my essence. It should be much stronger now," Aiko looked at the shield in awe then back towards Arashi.

"I thank you, but will this be permanent?" she asked the sage with a voice of concern.

"Yes, you should be able to use both this new shield and the original whenever you want, but do keep in mind that this new one will require much more time to recharge."

"I will," Aiko smiled in an uncharacteristic way for a few seconds and Arashi smiled back. It was then that Ater jumped onto Aiko's back in celibration.

"That's so cool! Ai, you've got the power of The Great Sage inside of your shield!" Ater was acting as her bubbly and kind self and it made Aiko giggle a small bit.

"Alright, this is all a can do for you right now, but I would like to train you after this whole 'Etria' issue is resolved."

"That sound good to me," Aiko reached her hand out towards the sage and he did the same, the two shook hands. Arashi began to walk of and Aiko turned to Ater, her shield began to fade and Ater gave her a hug. They began to walk away so they could explore the rest of Kalingway.

Arashi had returned to investigating the residual magic within the city.

---

Ayano and Ira

"Man I hate this part!" Ira was laying on the floor with the leg that was bitten exposed, Ayano was right next to him tending to the curse.

"Ira hold still or I can't remove the curse!"

"But it hurts!"

"You've been impaled before!"

"That's unimportant!"

"I'm cutting it off," Ayano raised an axe above her head

"Wait wait wai... FUCK!" there was a spray of blood and the thud of an axe striking the ground. "Ah, for all that is sacred why must you do that when I''m not prepared?"

"Because you're never prepared," she sighed as she summoned a flame and burned the severed leg.

"Exactly the problem," he raised the ramainder of his leg and began to gather essence around it, rather quicly a new leg had formed in it's place. "We should probably meet with the others right?"

"They will send a portal to us when they need us. I suggest we rest for a bit," Ayano sat sown on the floor and closed her eyes, Ira decided to do the same and sat down next to her.

Rasputin

He grabbed his hand and smiled “she is your prey, till you die” he laughed and let go pulling his hand away “now then, there is none other alive, least in this city that you must worry about” he walked away leaving the rose behind

Thanatos

He was breathing heavily “give me more” he held out with rage and fury punching a wall causing it to cave in greatly “Damn you” the scroll opened up behind him and light poured out, beckoning him. He walked over to it “huh, so you’re granting me my wish...” he reached out and a scythe began forming in his hand “yes, now I shall become the true god of death!”

Xichung wrote:Rasputin

He grabbed his hand and smiled “she is your prey, till you die” he laughed and let go pulling his hand away “now then, there is none other alive, least in this city that you must worry about” he walked away leaving the rose behind

Thanatos

He was breathing heavily “give me more” he held out with rage and fury punching a wall causing it to cave in greatly “Damn you” the scroll opened up behind him and light poured out, beckoning him. He walked over to it “huh, so you’re granting me my wish...” he reached out and a scythe began forming in his hand “yes, now I shall become the true god of death!”

Ra'an
He watched Rasputin walk away. "What is up with him and roses?" He murmurs to himself as he walks back to the rest of the group. "Change of plans, no one is here. We are going to the palace instead." The memebers of Infernal Den quickly assembled themselves again.

Legion

He began a great hunt in the back Forrest, a mage had wandered into somewhere they didn’t belong. The fog was thick but legion could smell the blood from the mage getting struck by thorns, it was a sweet and yet tangy smell and it was sending him into a frenzy. He stayed low to the ground and ran his profile nearly invisible except for the rustling of bushes giving him away. This is what he lived for, the thrill of the hunt!

Hiteroshi

“So you sure you ready to learn how to fight?” He said looking at the girl “I am trusting you didn’t kill that kid on purpose or not” he grabbed her shoulder “I want to spar before we fight”

Thanatos

“Thank you my old friend” he said while on his knees, wings of blood coming out of his back and a black scythe at his side “but now I have to kill you” he stood up and cut the scroll in half and it burnt in half right from the cut. “This time he won’t stand in my way, I am death!” He then laughed like a mad man. He had reached his grand desire to become death incarnate and now he will kill all who stand in his way and send the world into chaos