The Colors of Grey

[orphans]

This is Closed to Amber_eyes, Silent_Sei, and Enigmatic Immortal. This is Azza's second quest from the recruitment thread. (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?t=21690&page=2) The events that happen within this thread are in direct relationship to Children of the Shattered Moon. (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?21534-Children-Of-the-Shattered-Moon-(Solo))

All Bunnying Approved


“Mom, you’ll be back tomorrow right?”

With a quick flick of her hand, Stephanie flattened a stubborn piece of her red hair. Satisfied with her image in the wall mirror, she turned to face her daughter. The young girl was slowly growing older and soon it would be a full year that the girl had been adopted. As it was, it would also be her birthday soon.

“I heard you’re gonna go to Radasanth today.”

Stephanie stooped enough to be level with her daughter and offered a smile. “I am, and I promise to be back by tomorrow in time for your birthday.”

At that, Azza gave a cheer and hugged onto her adoptive mother. As she did, the straw had that adorned her head nearly fell off. By instinct, the girl quickly bolted a hand up to hold it in place.

“Oh Azza, I really wish you’d stop wearing the hat around inside.” Immediately, Stephanie kicked herself mentally, knowing she was prodding about a sensitive subject for her daughter. Still, someone had to do so.

The fidget of Azza and her squirming in place were telltale signs of wanting to end the conversation, but to Stephanie’s surprise, it was Azza this time who continued it. “I know… but others stare at my horns.”

What Azza said, left Stephanie in an awkward position. She had been one of those in the beginning that stared at her daughter’s horns. It wasn’t so much that Stephanie found it strange, but rather, she just couldn’t help it. “I’m sure they’re just curious about you.”

Azza didn’t seem convinced. Her eyes drifted about the stone floor as she watched her own foot swivel about. She had stopped wearing her sandals the day Jensen had been removed from the cave. She didn’t know why she did, but the cold stone floor seemed to ease the hollowness inside slightly. “I wish dad was still here…”

A comforting hand grazed along the child’s cheek, making her look to her mother’s eyes. “Azza, no matter what, you’re still our daughter and we love you no matter what. You know that right?” Azza still wasn’t exactly sure why her father was dismissed by Sei and it had come as a surprise to her and all of those in the cave. It was a mixed reaction, but nevertheless, still a shock. “I’m sure dad is thinking about you right now even, so be a good girl for him, okay?”

Azza nodded her head slowly.

With a warm but pained smile, Stephanie stood up and adjusted the strap of her travel’s pack. “Stay out of trouble, alright? Kyla is busy today so, you’ll be on your own until tomorrow. Think you can handle that?”

With something that fluttered between a grin and a frown, Azza nodded her head vigorously. “I guess so.”




Eventually, Stephanie steps stopped echoing back and Azza knew that she was alone in the family area of the caverns. It was near dinner time and Azza would usually have meet up with her father by now to begin walking to the mess hall. This simple routine had changed in the past couple of weeks and Azza was beginning to grow accustomed to it, but secretly she hated it.

Dinner…

As her thoughts drifted to what was being served, Azza noticed that her appetite for food wasn’t as strong as it was normally around dinner time. It wasn’t that she didn’t like food anymore, rather, she just never felt hungry. She knew she missed her father, and that by itself could cause her disinterest, but there was a feeling that it was something else. Luckily, she always found her craving for food whenever it was something sweet or the simple scent of fresh warm bread loaves.

Being simple was the best…

At the thought, Azza felt a small tinge of pain seeping into her head. It was something familiar and yet, foreign. Hadn’t she been simple all her life so far? Only recently did her physical appearance even complicate things. Even then, everyone tried to encourage her and was constantly trying to make her feel accepted. Jensen, most of all, had tried the hardest to make his daughter feel comfortable in the caves.

In the end, she was beginning to feel something tearing at her heart. It was something that was familiar to her from another time and it felt, comforting. That by itself bothered her more than anything. She was normal, wasn’t she? The horns and wings were maybe just a defect. Or maybe it was something she ate in the caves.

Yet, no matter how much she tried to deny everything, she knew she was only trying to fool herself. This was how she was always supposed to be. This was who she was. She was supposed to wander alone…

… or was she?

She had wanted a home. She felt that this was it. And still, there was a doubt corroding her senses.

It made her head hurt.
It made her want to stop thinking…
…that made her want to hurt things.


Through all of this, there was a single soft voice, urging control and calm to her. It was faint and weak, likely to be overpowered in the roar of stronger emotions, but it was because of this single frail voice that Azza held on.

Breaking out of the cycle of thoughts, as if she had been in a long trance, she looked tiredly about herself in the empty hallway. Fatigue threatened to claim her as she stood wavering on her legs. A yawn drifted out, prompting the young girl to make her way to her room.

Perhaps bed wasn’t a bad idea. After all, tomorrow was her birthday and maybe dad would be allowed to comeback, even if it was just for a day to be with her. Besides, sleeping had always helped her headaches and it was a convenient way to quicken time.

[orphans]

Sleep came quickly to the young girl once she had pulled the warm blankets over herself. Bed time always drifted in the later hours, but today, she had gone to bed much earlier than usual. It was still a few hours before midnight.

Kyla would eventually come by to check on Azza and find the small girl sleeping soundly with half of the covers throw askew. It only took a moment’s effort to tuck the girl in properly and after a second of admiring a job well done, Kyla turned to return to her own room.


====


Cold.

Bone shattering cold.

The cold had never bothered Azza before, but this chill was unnatural. Sickly and it clawed at the flesh and mind. Enough so, that the young girl awoke with her eyes misted in a dense fog.

“I was wondering when you’d decide to wake up. I was beginning to get worried.”

Blinking her eyes, Azza pulled herself up and stood on her feet. Facing the shape that had spoken, she brought a hand up to rub away the haze. When the mist cleared enough so that she saw who it was, it took her breath away. Her heart raced in her chest as she took a step forward towards the figure.

Before the young girl was a mirror image. Every part of the opposite figure was identical down to the last strand of hair. The only thing that differed was the dress. Where Azza was dressed in her usual attire of a plain white dress, the other was clad in a full set of armor. It was very strange looking armor as well, nothing Azza had ever encountered as Corone craftsmanship.

Yet, it looked strangely familiar, enough that she could even imagine the weight upon her own shoulders.

“You look surprised, Azza.”

“You… know my name?” Confusion and a hint of fear seeped into the girl’s voice. As her other listened, it seemed to wince in disappointment.

“Of course Azza, I’m you.” The air around the two grew colder as seconds turned to minutes.

“No… that can’t be right.” Azza stumbled back from the figure, and as she did, she noticed that there was nothing around them. Nothing, except for the pitch black void that surrounded them.

With every step back that Azza took, the figure before her took another forward. “Are you afraid of me, Azza? Of us?”

With a shriek, Azza suddenly fell back as dark, wispy tendrils rose from what should have been the floor. Like vines, they crept around her ankles and slowly wound up her legs. “Stop! Get away from me!” Terror flooded out in her screams as her hands swiped uselessly at the appendages.

Instead, her image only smiled. Then leisurely, the smile widened until it was near that of an insane grin. “Oh, but this is only the beginning!” Sadistic mirth pervaded every syllable as it reached its right hand out. From the very darkness, it drew a blade of shadows and raised it bit by bit overhead with both hand.


“I don’t want to die…” Tears welled up and blinded Azza’s sight as she watched in horror.

“Please, I don’t want to die…” Time slowed as the blade began to drop. In a single moment, the girl’s short life flashed before her eyes: faces of those that she saw everyday growing up, the other children, the orphanage keeper Mother Holly, her mother Stephanie and at the end, her father Jensen.

“I DON’T WANT TO DIE!”

With that single desperate scream, a burst of light erupted from Azza and seared away the shadows that crowded the girl. In the same instant, the light revealed a delicate stone altar upon which she rested. However, the single effort drained the girl and as she collapsed, she caught the sight of something or someone else.


“You!” Rage seethed from the armored child as she gazed to the person before her. Like her, it was identical to Azza and even wore the same attire, but it was more matured. Its demeanor, however, reflected someone of a much more collected personality. “I should have killed you instead of being so damned curious as to who you were!”

It only responded with a gentle smile and crouched down to the unconscious form of the unconscious Azza. Quickly, the elder form wrapped its arms about the child and embraced her closely.

“Die, both of you!” A great wind suddenly howled through the chamber, stirring the wispy tendrils into thick vines. Without further warning, they lashed out at Azza and her elder form, and as the young doppelganger watched with a smirk of satisfaction, the elder returned it with a grim look of determination.

A sickening crunch sounded through the room as the air before the elder form flicked. It was the older one’s turn to grin as the vines writhed pathetically against an invisible barrier. But it was only a brief moment of victory as they quickly began to wrap around the barrier, attempting to smother the light and find a crack.

Eventually, the shadows outlined the domed barrier that the elder had set in place and began to fill the small pockets of revealed stone floor. With a sigh of annoyance, the younger sat down at the edge of the altar, massaging its temples. “Call for help all you want, sister of Farinma… you forget I get to barter first.”


====


Kyla Orlouge sat reading one of her books that she kept by her nightstand. It was a normal night and a nice way to relax before bed. A quick glance up at a clock told her that it was a single minute before midnight.

[Amber Eyes]

Kyla brushed a stray strand of hair from her face as she reached the end of her page. She kicked her legs unknowingly behind her while her mind wrapped around the strange connection between the lovers in her story. Her bed was soft beneath her and she knew she should turn out the light, roll over and let herself sleep. As always though, she was much too wrapped up in the story to put her book down. She reached to turn the page as a cold wind whipped through the room. Chill bumps quickly ran down her arms and the girl reached for the blanket behind her. Another chill went down her spine as she realized where her blanket should be lay a thick layer of grass.

The girl's head shot up from her story and she saw a familiar clearing. Cheateau Drantrak lay before her, her childhood home looming in the distance. Kyla pushed up from the ground and wiped her eyes with her fists hoping she would reopen them to find the comfort of her own bedroom. When that failed, she resolved to figure out what was going on. As she began walking she took in the little town. It was strange, there where houses there she’d never seen before. Her first thought was that perhaps someone had been building, but these houses did not look new. No, they were well worn as though they’d been standing there for years. A thousand questions swirled in her head as she reached the porch to her child hood home. As she was about to knock the door swung open and a strange man appeared.

Kyla hid behind a rocking chair as the man was followed by another two. A little girl with a dirty face rushed out and hugged each one. “I wanna go!” She squeeled, her blue eyes pleading with each in turn.

“No, Kylana it is much too dangerous. Papa wants you to stay here.”

“But Jaquelynn gets to go and she’s just a baby!” Kyla watched her younger self produce tears on demand, an art she had perfected over the years and the older Kyla smiled. Little Kyla reached up and grabbed the man’s arm.

“Jaquelynn has to go Kylana, we’ll take you next time!” Her eldest brother tried to pry her younger self from his arms.

Everything around the mystic then went black. The girl remembered what happened next though. The little girl would rush to her bedroom and cry for over an hour. She would selfishly wish them all dead, the way a child of six does. Two days later it would come true.

When Kyla could see again she was in a barn. The moment it appeared she knew where she stood. This was the most awful memory of her entire life. The girl watched as a teenage version of her entered the barn followed by two young girls. They were both dressed up and excited about being invited to the party. The men who raised Kyla quickly joined the group and after first introductions she was forgotten. Kyla watched herself watching the show and recognized the look in her eyes. Kyla remembered her jealousy of the girls, especially Sophie who walked like an angel and held the attention of every person in the room. The room faded again and Kyla tried to make sense of it all. Why was she seeing these things? What good was reliving these moments?

As she began to focus again Kyla could see a small light at the end of a hallway. The familiar smell of the tomb filled her nostrils and she began to walk towards the slightly cracked doorway. She pushed it open just a crack and could see the simplest of family dinners.

Jensen, Azza, and Stephanie sat on a blanket with a spread of food in between them. They laughed as they ate and Jensen made a joke about the rain outside. “Who needs a sunny day for a picnic?” He smiled down at Azza and patted her on top of her head. Stephanie’s face lit up watching the two and then Jensen kissed her.

Kyla turned and walked away from the room as everything began to fade. Within moments there was nothing around her. Kyla was alone with the most powerful emotion she could think of, Envy.

[orphans]

Soon enough, the emptiness that blanketed Kyla would give off a gentle warmth. One that was similar to the sanctuary of one’s bed and covers. Yet, no matter how comforting it was, there was nothing natural about the heat that the darkness surrounded Kyla with.

Envy, the strongest emotion that the young woman held in her heart, was exactly what the corrupted entity craved and fed upon. The very scent of it lured it close, but it was wise enough to wait in the shadow and mull over what was to be done.

Each of Kyla’s memories fascinated the entity. They were such simple things that Kyla held dear and they all exuded such a strong connection to the gloom inside the woman. Yet, what would be the best approach for the entity to coax Kyla to side with her? Landbound had always disgusted her, after all.

After a moment, a sinister smile crept onto her features as it weaved a scene, mixing Azza’s old memories with that of Kyla’s…

Slowly, the emptiness melted away and gave way to a small open pavilion surrounded by a garden covered in snow. Had Kyla glanced about, she would notice herself standing in an archway of a great hallway that led to the area. It was a place unrecognizable to Kyla, but a place that the entity knew well.

There was a sudden chatter of voices as a pair of horned and winged humans wearing sets of robes passed by, without giving a second glance at Kyla. Rather, they didn’t even seem to be aware of her presence. Eventually, their voices faded away and their images disappeared into another doorway. Almost immediately, a black haired man moved up a set of stairs directly across from the pavilion. He was too possessed horns and wings, and was clothed in heavy robes with a pair of spectacles on the bridge of his nose that hid his brown eyes.

He too, seemed ignorant of Kyla’s presence as he passed by her into the garden. Stopping for a moment to share the archway with Kyla, he took off his spectacles to clean them on his robe before replacing them. With a draw of chilled air, he them sighed out and proceeded towards the center of the pavilion.

In the middle, there was a woman with dark brown curls that framed a pair of grey eyes. As she caught sight of the black haired man she gave a smile and waved. He did the same in return and walked closer. The two moved quickly in an embrace and whatever was said between them only drifted to Kyla as murmurs.

How long the two stood together, Kyla didn’t know, but eventually she became aware of another person that stood beside her. The newcomer remained hidden behind one of the pillars as she looked out into the garden.

Upon closer inspection, Kyla could recognize the person as Azza. She had the same white hair and maroon eyes, but much older and garbed in strange armor. However, this wasn’t the spirited and energetic Azza that Kyla knew. The eyes of the woman were somber, brimming with jealousy as she watched the two in the pavilion. When finally she could take no more, Azza tore herself away, leaving only Kyla in the hall to spy on the two.

As the image of the older Azza ran down the steps, the foreign scene that Kyla had been forced into began to dissipate. Once more, Kyla was enveloped by the shadows, but this time, she wasn’t alone. Before her stood the small Azza that she knew, illuminated by a soft glow as if trying to chase away the dimness of their surroundings.

"Envy... is a horrible feeling isn't it?"

[Amber Eyes]

The memories still swirled in Kyla's mind, and Azza's change in demeanor did little to calm her nerves. The people who had passed her reminded Kyla of something and it was not until she looked at the little girl that she placed it. The wings and horns were larger versions of Azzas. Where am I? The mystic looked around herself, enjoying the new warm air but still unable to shake her chill bumps. Something about Azza was different, more mature. "Yes," Kyla answered the little girl's question, "It is."

Kyla looked around, darkness covering all her surroundings. The scenes that had unfolded thus far told Kyla this must be a dream, but that possiblity offered very little comfort to the girl. Kyla stared at the little girl, "Where am I?" Azza only smiled, not the typical all-is-well smile Azza typically wore, but a much older smile as though she had a secret and was not about to share.

Kyla turned away and again went through the events of the evening in her mind. Each memory fell into place like the pages of a storybook. Envy had followed Kyla through her entire life. In addition to the first three, more scences flashed in the girl's mind. In the darkness around Kyla they appeared.

The first was Anita wearing a beautiful dress, with Sei watching as she got ready to go out. Kyla turned her head, and there was Aislinn. She walked through the room with books in her hands, driven by her goals. Kyla had always been jealous of her purpose in life, when Kyla's own seemed so distant. Again the girl turned, refusing to give into the feelings.

Before her sat a bassinet, barely illuminated by the light given off by Azza behind her. Kyla smiled as she walked towards it, knowing that holding her angel would make everything okay. When she reached the bed she reached inside of it instantly, already sure of the exact weight of the child in her arms. When she touched nothing Kyla turned and looked at the girl. "Where is he?"

Again Azza smiled, "You've always wondered how much easier it would be without him, haven't you?"

Kyla looked down at the ground, another example proven. How many times had she thought of how carefree her life had been before Akiv. "Yes," Kyla looked back up at the girl. "Your right, I do envy my old life. Sometimes its all I can do to keep moving, but you don't understand. The thing is, he's the only reason I can keep moving! You pointed out that envy is a horrible feeling. Yes, it is. But its okay because there are wonderful ones out there as well. My love for my son is stronger than any envy I've ever had."

[orphans]

With each envious memory of Kyla manifested, the image of Azza smiled more and more, drinking up the feelings the poured from each. As it did, the gentle glow that radiated from it faded to nearly nothing while at the same time, the shadows around seemed to flow towards the girl. So eager was it at consuming Kyla’s envy, that the sudden shift to another emotion caught it off guard.

At once, the smile faded as the flood of another emotion crashed over the entity. One that caused it to fall to its knees while clutching its horned head in agony. Screams of pain quickly followed and while Kyla knew that what was before her wasn’t quite the Azza she knew, the terror that was entwined with its voice was simply the cry of a small girl afraid of the world.

Yet, before Kyla could move to help the entity, cracks of light rushed forth from where the entity kneeled. Its screamed lessened to that of a whimper, obvious the child entity was still in pain as tears fell from its eyes. With every drop, another small patch of darkness was illuminated in a warm glow, and as each patch grew brighter, it began to murmur softly.

“No… no… things weren’t like that. Things didn’t happen like that…”

Turning its pitiful eyes to Kyla, a small bit of regret seemed to dance behind them as it spoke again.

“… it wasn’t fair…”

Rising for the entity was a strained effort and even after it stood, the knees of the child entity still buckled. Slowly, its hands wrapped about itself, as if trying to contain something within from escaping.

“It was never fair…”

Without warning, three tendrils of shadows burst forth from the entity and whipped about violently behind it. Just as quickly, its eyes glared at Kyla, brimming with hatred.

“IT WAS NEVER FAIR!”

With that shout, the tendrils shot forward straight and true. Yet the scream from Kyla that the child entity expected never came. Instead, it was replaced by the sharp sound of snapping metal as the entire lengths of the tendrils shattered.

Surprise framed itself upon the entity’s face for a single moment before it turned to disgust. “You again…”

Standing between Kyla and the child was the familiar image of the older Azza with her hand raised towards the child. However, this one seemed more solid rather than just another memory. With a quick glance, the elder form eyed Kyla with a cold calculated look, warning Kyla to stay away, before returning its attention to the child entity.

But instead of attacking again, the child entity closed its eyes as it gave a grimace. “She’s yours… sister of Farinma,” and with those words, it stepped back and melded away into the dissipating shadows.


Eventually, the elder form relaxed itself, certain that the corrupted entity was no longer nearby it looked about the mindscape reforming again. Once more, they stood in the pavilion surrounded by a garden locked in winter with the same image of the black haired man from before, but this time, he was standing in the center.

With another glance over, the elder form saw the question in Kyla’s eyes but only motioned for her to be silent. As they watched, a young woman that resembled Azza soon appeared and made her way over to the black haired man. This time the likeness was a little different in that the woman only had horns and lacked the wings.



“So? What’d you want to meet here for?”

Looking flustered, the black haired man only rubbed the back of his neck lightly and mumbled something.

“Come on, you know I can never heard you if you do that”

The man gave Azza an irritated look, but still maintained a level tone as he mumbled louder, “I asked if you’d be willing to soul bond…”

The request seemed to stun Azza as she stared back in shock and for a little while, the two said nothing. Soon however, tears welled up and just as fast her fist met the man’s cheek, knocking his glasses askew. “You didn’t have to pity me as well…”

Surprised by the outburst, the man stumbled back a few steps and fumbled for the right words. Yet, try as he did, nothing came forth as he watched the image of Azza run off. Standing alone in the pavilion for a long time, he eventually stooped to pick up his glasses, and then left as well with a bit of reluctance.



In time, the memory faded and the images disappeared, leaving Kyla and the elder form alone in the garden. “That is the true memory.” As it spoke, a small form began to materialize in its arms and soon, the sleeping form of Azza was resting in them.

Turning its icy stare to Kyla, it seemed to consider her for a moment before closing its eyes. “Kyla of Orlouge, which is better? Living a lie of happiness or bearing the truth of despair?” Then, it motioned for Kyla to take the child from its arms.

[Amber Eyes]

Kyla did as she the elder Azza requested and took the sleeping child from her arms. The girl looked peaceful as she had earlier when Kyla had checked in on her. The mystic placed one arm under her knees and the other across the small of her back and held the child close. She was unsure of what was going on here, but Kyla was not about to let anything happen to Azza if she could stop it. Dream or no dream it was her job to keep the child safe.

Kyla closed her eyes and wished for conciousness, this dream had gone on long enough. When she opened them to find the elder being simply staring at her patiently awaiting her answer Kyla considered the question.

The young mother furrowed her brow and looked at the slumbering girl in her arms before again making eye contact with the one before her. Images of all the things she had seen moments before shot through her mind and made it hard to concentrate.

She finally spoke, her voice coming out barely more than a whisper. "Well, I suppose...I think I would rather know the truth?" The words came out more like a question than a statement and Kyla bit her lip as she thought of a sound reason behind her answer. "Happiness through ignorance isn't really happiness at all is it? I would think no matter how miserable one became, that could be changed with time, but to not know the truth...well I could see that hurting much more."

The general shifted uncomfortably back and forth watching for the being's reaction, Kyla was never one for words of wisdom and she felt silly commenting on the elder Azza's personal life, "I don't know, I really don't. I just want to make sure Azza gets home safely, please."

[orphans]

The answer Kyla gave neither moved nor disappointed the elder form. It simply listened with its eyes closed and contemplated Kyla’s wish. Finally, after what seemed like years, the elder form said barely above a whisper, “As do I.”

However, the sight of Kyla holding the sleeping Azza was comforting to the elder. Slowly, it took steps backwards one by one, until it reached the edge of the grounds. “Kyla of Orlouge, watch over her.” As the elder finished, it faded away while the last words echoed about for a moment before leaving Kyla in silence again.



Elsewhere, the corrupted entity milled about back and forth. The tingling feel of the memories Kyla imparted still lingered in the back of its mind, further irritating it.

“Human Landbound…”

Spitting the words from its mouth, the very mention of the subjects left a bad taste in its mouth. It spat again in a vain effort to remove the feel before it sank down to sit. The advantage it once had over the mindscape of the child was slipping much faster than it liked.

Kyla, who was young and the first pulled into the mindscape, was supposed to be easily manipulated and yet, was much more layered than the entity could have anticipated. The woman’s connection to the young girl was much stronger than expected as well.

The very thoughts of the entity began to make it fear the next who might enter. After all, the entity was doing its best to protect all that she held dear. Doubt made its way quickly into the heart of the entity as it remained brooding over the loss.

With a dark sigh, the corrupted entity resumed her gaze into the darkness around itself. Perhaps… reason would be the best way to convince the next…

[Silence Sei]

When somebody in the army was sick, Sei Orlouge took it upon himself to visit the ill victim. He prepared soup, arranged for Aislinn to provide the best medical items, and did everything to make sure his people were comfortable. This rule did not just apply to the soldiers within the Ixian Knights, but their families as well. As such, when he had heard from Kyla that Azza had not been feeling well, the Mystic strategist had prepared some home remedies for what had ailed her, and began approaching the Ambrose family room.

Each step brought Sei closer to Azza, the mute completely unaware of the darkness sneaking up behind him. When he had finally grabbed the doorknob and turned, he opened the door to find something he had never expected.

It was the second Gisela Open tournament. Sei had managed to pull off a great showing the previous year, managing to best Max Dirks, and clench the third place title. While he had hoped for first, third place was admirable. Of course, upsetting Max Dirks to go on to the semi-finals seemed to be the biggest shock of the tournament. Sei was planning to strike out again and win.

Unfortunately, before the tournament began, Sei had disappeared. As such, the daughter of the Mystic, Anita, had taken control of the army. Anita was young and inexperienced, and even though she had the assistance of Sei's generals from the last contest (as well as Sei helping her from the shadows); the girl had not even placed. She had been eliminated in the second round of the Gisela, and with her defeat, came a great blow to Sei's name.

Humiliation. It festered inside of the mute for weeks. No matter what he had done, how many he had saved, people still laughed at him from the shadows. Sure he was a hero, and a man of the people, but in the people's eyes for those following weeks, he was nothing but a loser with a failed army. It did not matter that he had not engaged first hand in the war tournament, he was viewed the same way.

Being able to see the whole picture, the people snickering behind his back, the full on feeling of having lost what he had built. Sei was filled once again with that feeling of humiliation. He felt so ashamed, he dropped the bowl of hot chicken noodle soup he had prepared for little Azza....

[orphans]

Whether Sei Orlouge had intended it or not, he laid a feast before the child entity of Azza. The adrenaline of combat and the shock of a surprise victory was nothing in comparison with what Sei finally felt, humiliation.

The very stench of being humiliated in front of everything one care for and even protected was too much to resist. Yet even so, the entity forced its own eyes closed and turned away the temptation just barely.

Having watched Sei Orlouge through the eyes of her host for the greater part of a year, the entity knew more than well enough that Sei was a man of reason and wouldn’t be easily tempted by a simple offering to rid him of troublesome memories.

After all, memories are what make up a person, both Dovicarus and Landbound alike. She mulled her thoughts over from the darkness as she watched the bowl of soup fall towards the ground and by a whim, willed the shadows to catch and cradle it.

With a gentle sigh, the entity set aside her desire for more sustenance to fuel her sanctuary and moved forward to set an offer. If Sei Orlouge was to take it, she would be able to build upon it…

As the memory began to fade, the entity stepped from the shadows and stood before Sei Orlouge in her set of armor. She made no movements or hinted at her hunger and desires, instead, the entity did what it could do best, offer truth.

“Sei of Orlouge, we know well of your struggle in protecting the land and while you try your best, those around do not see your efforts clearly.” With a single wave of her right arm, it played further scenes and images of the new papers, information accusing Sei of harboring demons within his ranks and employing merciless killers.

“But, we know that one needs to do whatever is necessary to protect what is dear to us.” Closing her eyes the entity took a deep breath, waited...

Then spoke with purpose.

“Sei of Orlouge, you are in need of warriors who are able to fight, and fight well without question. Azza of Ambrose, as you call her, can be such a person. There is neither shame nor humiliation in this offer, for as you’ve seen, we are not human, but without guidance, the abilities of Azza would become waste. It would benefit us mutually…”

When she finished, the shadows cradling the bowl raised themselves to Sei, offering him to take it.

[Silence Sei]

Sei listened to the entity for a moment. It was true; he had needed warriors in order to save Althanas. He had dipped into the less lawful talent pools in order to make sure he found the best of the best. He had a team of soldiers he trusted with his life almost more than anyone else. The mute began to reach for the bowl offered to him.

And then, he stopped.

"No," Sei spoke, realizing that by doing so he had actually been in Azza's mind, or something similarly psychic-oriented. "This is wrong. I do have a war to fight, and I wish to fight it with those that are willing to do so."

"But I--” The entity began to break in, but was cut short by Sei's palm.

"--Are not Azza Ambrose. You wish to make a sweet innocent girl into something she is not. You wish to stain the hands of a child with the blood of others. I've never wished that upon any youth. Everybody in my employ has blood on their hands, yes, but it was of their own free will. I will not be responsible for Azza tainting her purity for my own selfish needs."

"But isn't it for the good of Radasanth?" The vicious, poison words of the entity tried to get the telepath to second guess himself.

"It is, but I don't want to live in a Radasanth where I have asked children to kill. Humiliation bears with it the honor of becoming humbled." Sei waved his hand, and swirl of colors appeared before him and the strange being.

It was a few weeks after the Gisela; Sei had gone to the citadel to train. He had fought Max Dirks in a one on one style competition. Dirks had won the day by saving the mute's daughter, Anita, from one of Sei's careless attacks. Sei was humiliated by that fight, but had learned to become more reserved about using his abilities. In doing so, he had become revered as one of the wisest, most strategical minds on Althanas. His name and reputation had returned just as quickly as it had been blemished.

"If you take away humiliation, you take away what we learn from it. Instead, I'll leave you with a lesson you yourself need to learn..." Another swirl of different colors appeared, this time showing Sei across from a green haired woman, her extended canines indicating she was a vampire. A large piece of wood had penetrated the both of their chests. With her dying breaths, the girl raised a hand and stroked it across the Mystic's face, whispering the words 'I love you' before dissipating into ash.

"I will give you this memory of Ryoki Nishoba’s love for me," Sei spoke with tears in his eyes, "I will let you fester on what it truly means to love, and that sometimes one has to learn to let go. Now if you don't mind, I wish to go back now..."

[orphans]

Denial again and by the man that she was sure she could convince! Surprise was only the beginning of emotions it felt before it turned to a quickened rage. Not only was did he refuse her offer but he denied her identity and claim to know who she was. For a reasonable man such as Sei to have taken such a route infuriated the entity further.

Did he not need soldiers? Was the fight not drawing closer with each passing moment?

Every thought that passed through the mind of the entity only made her lose focus. Enough so that Sei had been able to spring his own memory upon her. Another memory of love, and yet, it was mixed with a bittersweet aftertaste. Wordlessly, the entity watched and then collected the words Sei offered her, one by one.

But this time, the entity did not fall to her knees screaming. It did not simply lose control of itself as it had with its meeting with Kyla. Instead, pain riveted through the child entity’s body and by reflex she clutched at her heart with a single hand. It was as if this motion had been repeated many times before.

“Sei of Orlouge, you assume much about who we are…” With a labored breath, the entity straightened herself and steeled her gaze at the man she had once respected. “Blood is all we have ever known…”

A thought of forcing the man crossed the entity’s mind briefly. However, it was swept away quickly when the entity recalled her attempt with Kyla. The other was surely close by, waiting for a chance to strike. She was vulnerable now as it was, and to risk more of her energy would be dangerous. That much she was certain of.

With a wave of her hand, the shadows supporting the bowl dissipated and as it fell, the entity whispered quietly, “…Azza of Ambrose is the one running from what she was,” and when the bowl clattered to the ground, the entity faded away.



For a long while, Sei Orlouge was left alone in the dark with nothing but his own thoughts. Eventually, a thin thread of light broke from the floor beneath his feet and quickly webbed as far as his eyes could see. As the light cleared away the wisps and shadows, it revealed carved stone floors of a great hallway. A quick glance to either side showed a fierce blizzard framed by the majestic archways that supported the ceiling above.

“Unexpected, Sei of Orlouge.” Turning, Sei would catch sight of an older girl: an older Azza. She, the elder form, kept her eyes closed as it continued quickly, almost with a sense of urgency, “I am thankful but I’m afraid there is not much time for explanation. Time willing, I will clarify what I can, but for now you must join your daughter.”

Not waiting for a response, the elder form leapt out from between the arches of the hall into the blizzard. In her wake, a ripple formed and soon expanded to a portal big enough for even Sei’s largest warrior to pass through.

There was hesitance in Sei’s movements, but when the image within the portal cleared, he could plainly see Kyla cradling the sleeping form of Azza within a gardened pavilion. That was enough for him to trust the elder form as he stepped through to join Kyla.



“Azza of Ambrose... have you grown bored of a Landbound life?” With a heavy sigh, the child entity brooded silently. It was agonizing to watch her control slipping away one bit at a time, annoying to be hunted by one that she had once subdued, but worst of all was the feeling of helplessness.

She couldn’t convince either was of the two that had entered to relinquish a darker memory to solidify her abilities needed to maintain her power. Instead, they weakened her and chipped at her own conviction. Kyla made her feel selfish and cowardly while Sei had even made her question who or what she was.

With nothing to do but to prepare for the final intruder that the elder form would reach out to, the child entity closed its eyes and tried to still her body from the rattling fear. “I don’t want to die too, Azza. Not again…”

[Enigmatic Immortal]

Jensen shuffled awkwardly in the evening wind, feeling the howling gale ripple his jacket and attempt to rip it off him. He had bent his knee and grabbed his arms, rubbing them for support as the immortal’s teeth chattered, the freezing wind reminding him of a memory none to pleasant. His shaking feet carried him forward closer and closer to the place he sought out. He didn’t know why he was going, he just knew he had to go.

All father’s instinctively knew when their little girls were in trouble. It was something that was hardwired into their hearts at birth for when the time arrived. His gut told him his baby girl was in trouble, and while he wasn’t her real father, a mere foster father for her life, he would be damned if he didn’t make it to her.

The ominous wind continued to howl against him, the force pushing his skin back and making his ears turn red with the nip of frost. All around his feet a white ink began to form outwards, the fresh coat of newly fallen snow gradually covering the entire Radansath floor. His teeth chattered as he shook violently, his fingers losing feeling as he gripped his jacket tighter. The warmth that usually he received from his coat was no longer present and a feeling of emptiness ran rickshaw through his veins as he stumbled onto the newly packed snow. A soft crunch heralded his fall as he looked to Sei’s tomb, seeing the entrance slowly disassemble before his eyes into a familiar peak of a rock in the middle of nowhere.

“I’m…c-c-coming, Az-z-za,” Jensen whispered in determination as his fingers began to claw at the snow. He stood upwards, focusing all his energy, but the cold continued to eat him away all the way to his bone. He collapsed again, this time to his knees as he felt the cold wrap its talons around his heart, and he shivered uncontrollably in the freezing tundra.

Not again, Jensen said, his face contorting into a silent weeping form. This isn’t real The wind blew harder, telling him it was real. He scrambled on his hands and knees, feeling the frost bite his toes in his boots as he managed to reach the rock. He looked forwards, seeing on the horizon four bodies make their way over to him. They were adolescent children; teenagers all looking for some warmth to save their souls.

“Get away from here!” Jensen shouted, finding strength to shout the words, but the group kept walking forwards. He looked away from them, knowing full well what the omen meant from his own pain. He turned, seeing a small scene unfold. Ghostly images began to shout to one another, and every insult tossed jabbed his heart in a way he didn’t know he could fathom. The ghosts materialized before his eyes like a theatre puppet on strings. One was himself, a rage filled face, eyes filled with tears. The other was Sei, quiet and calm, but his own face also masked a hidden rage.

They bickered on and on, and then suddenly it happened. The words echoed in Jensen’s mind and he felt the cold grip him yet again, chocking the last bits of warmth from his heart. “You’re to leave this place, and never return…”

That was the memory of when Jensen was kicked out of the Ixian Knights. That night he had ran his mouth off against Sei, and in return Sei had enough of it, and kicked the man out of his home. Jensen left his family behind, and the memory of seeing his little girl crying and his girlfriend looking to him confusedly drove a knife into his chest as he began to tear up. The droplets landed on his hands, forming into ice upon impact as his the trail left behind stung his face. The cold wouldn’t even permit the warmth of his own tears to satisfy him. He looked to the ghosts, seeing Azza’s face slowly and surely fade away. Then Stephanie’s face began to fade away. He clawed for them, begged for them to stay, but they left him. He beat the ground in frustration, his muscles numbing as the cold gripped him tighter.

He turned around, and his heart sank even deeper. There, before him, was a graveyard now, all frozen over in the tundra. Several grave markers littered the earth. One said Sei Orlouge, one said Stephanie Odara. There were three at the top of the hill; his friends who died so long ago in the freezing cold of Salvar. Jensen looked to the gravesites and wept as the last bit of warmth in his soul was finally erased. He was immortal, but his friends were not. He would never die, but they would.

Jensen Ambrose was alone, and would always be alone. That was why he pushed them all away. This grim reminder of that made him sob and shiver as the freezing drops of water from his eyes solidified into ice shards that cut at his skin. His jacket that he felt so much warmth from in the past was now making him colder and colder. He ripped it off in a tantrum of emotions, holding himself tightly. He was told his friends would keep him warm, but now they were all dead; buried forever.

Jensen trembled as he looked to the grave before him, collapsing onto it as he lost himself looking to the name Azza Ambrose.

[orphans]

When the child entity felt the final piece enter, she could only watch with horror when realization of who it was set in. This wasn’t how it was supposed to be. He wasn’t supposed to be the final one. Anyone should and could have been, except him. Watching the man struggle upon the frozen land tore at the child entity, and as much as it wanted to, she could do nothing to protect the man that had come to accept her no matter what.

But, as she continued to watch, she felt the pull of familiar wants and darker memories. At the same time, surprise ran through the entity upon realization that the memory wasn’t entire real. Bits and pieces of fact were mixed into a perceived future. Something that Jensen was fabricating himself.

However, most surprising was seeing the grave marker that bore the name of Azza Ambrose. That made the child entity freeze in her ambitions and realize what this man represented. What the man who accepted her represented. The man who had become a father to her in the single short year she had known him.

Solitude.

It was a feeling she already knew well, but one that she had never savored. Solitude was a horrendous feeling, even for the child entity. While it may have been familiar and safe to her, it was still something that she didn’t relish. But, she had never thought that Jensen would have hidden such emotions and fears.

Finally when Jensen had collapsed upon the last grave, her grave, the entity could take no more and drifted down. Yet, she was at a loss of what to do. Her thoughts still dwelled upon how cowardly Kyla made her feel while Sei’s denial of who she was still made her mind reel.

How would the man she looked up to react to her in this place? A place where her body, mind, and spirit had been fragmented from each other for so long? Would he only accept a facet he had never seen?

She landed light as a feather on the top of her headstone before hopping down to stay level with Jensen. Yet, as she reached out to him, she stopped once more, unsure of what to say. He was alone, but she knew not the reason. He was a man surrounded by family and friend, though at the moment, he was cast out. But she knew being dismissed wasn’t the real reason. No, there was something else that the child entity didn’t know.

Even so, she took a gamble and touched her hand lightly against Jensen’s cheek to make him look towards her. Confusion and pain wrote themselves across her expression and try as she might, she couldn’t force the words she wanted out. Instead she said something she knew she shouldn’t.

“Jensen… this isn’t real… that much you already know. As for the future, this isn’t certain as well.” Taking a moment to look about at the grave markers, she amended quickly, “At least, not all of it is certain.” A weak smile formed on the child’s lips as she stood and began taking slow steps back. All she knew was that her father felt alone and she was as well. She had felt even more alone in this alien realm of existence where her physical self might never understand what she is.

When she stopped a few steps away, the landscape shifted rapidly. The dove white snow melted into a stone floor while the winds curled into grand columns that stretched up to an ornate ceiling. Murals and carvings decorated the walls that shut out the cold air. Before Jensen as well, the child entity changed to that of a grown woman in full armor, an older self that lacked the wings of her younger self.

Around them, translucent figures filled the room and moved about performing arbitrary tasks. None of them paid any attention to Jensen or Azza, but soon, whispers began to fill the air. Eventually, the grown Azza kneeled down and sat before the man she called father, and began. “None of what I say now might make sense, but if I do not say what I need to say now, I fear that I might die without anyone ever knowing the truth.”

As she talked, she wove her fingers carefully before herself until a small blue light began to glow. Three of the hundreds of figures gathered about behind her but still ignored Jensen and Azza’s existence. “Among my people, I was odd and those who I grew up with grew apart quickly. I never understood why...”

Immediately, one of the figures behind her spoke out accusingly, “The girl shows too much zeal in her actions!”

The older Azza frowned but said nothing to deny it. “Even among the warrior caste, I was viewed as aggressive and crude. I was given respect, but only because it is our way…”

A second chimed in quietly, “She would have been a star example if she could control herself more. We had never seen such anger in one of our own!”

Again, the older Azza did nothing to deny the accusation. “I was surrounded by my kind, by family, but it was empty all the same. I had been branded a heretic long before I became one...”

The final one spoke knowingly, “The girl will do something she regrets before she even reaches her first millennia…”

Silence enveloped the area as the small blue light disappeared and the figures rejoined the crowds moving about. For a long time, the older Azza sat before Jensen with her eyes cast down upon the floor before gazing up. “Jensen of Ambrose, we have both held solitude close to our heart because of different reasons.”

Standing, she looked to Jensen pleadingly as she reached her hand out. “I may not be who you know on the surface, but I ask that you stand with me, together. At least for a short time, we can forget what has defined us for so long.”

[Enigmatic Immortal]

Jensen was confused, more confused than he had ever been. With tear stained eyes he looked at the entity that beyond the shadow of a doubt was his daughter, but something about it was not wholesome, not altogether Azza. She wasn’t his little girl, but yet was. Jensen had no idea what to expect, and when she spoke to him he had only become more confused.

The gripping feeling of loneliness clawed at his chest creating a sinking feeling around his heart. He looked to the eyes of the one he called daughter, breathing shallowly as he tried to make sense of the world around him. Cold sweat made him shiver once more as the feeling of being alone clouded his mind. The paralysis of numb limbs made it hard for him to shake off the feeling, but with clenched teeth and a tear stained face the immortal looked right into the maroon eyes of his most beloved treasure.

“You’re,” His teeth chattered, the feeling sending tiny shockwaves up his mind. “Lonely?” He cried even more to hear her admit that she, like him, felt all alone. He clenched his fists into a ball, slamming the knuckles onto the gray surface of the world at his feet, doing everything he could think of to feel something. “But,” He seethed through his teeth, the cold making his back ache like never before. “Why?” He at last managed to spittle out as he collapsed.

The entity that was his daughter looked upon her father, pleading with those eyes for him to take her hand. Jensen rolled to his back, and looked up to her. He felt the chilling wind return, but he pushed past the pain as he lifted his hand up to hers.

“You never,” He whispered. “Have to feel lonely,” He smiled, so softly before saying the next word as he felt the first warm tear fall from his eyes. “Kiddo.” He felt the circulation in his body return, every nerve start to tingle as he wiggled his fingers. “I will always be there for you. No matter what!” He looked to her, seeing and feeling the warmth of his daughter, but noticing the cold empty feeling as well. This Azza was not whole, and he thought to that idea before he gripped her hand.

“Kiddo, I don’t just love one part of you! I don’t just love the little girl I wake to everyday. I love the parts that make you up, be they good or bad. All of it!” He said lifting himself up, dragging his precious Azza towards him with his grip as he felt strength return to his limbs. “Nothing in the world can make that change. I’ll love you forever and always, because you’re my little girl! And you’ll never be alone, Kiddo…I’ll always have you, and you’ll always have me…”

Jensen hugged Azza, tightly as he felt his entire body running back on full operations. The world around them began to fracture, the slivering sound of glass cracking creeping louder and louder as Jensen closed his eyes, nuzzling his little girl’s head. The fractures began to split like tiny spider webs, the people that floated around them vanishing as they were consumed by the void that crept upon them. The immortal ignored it all as he smiled, whispering into his little girl’s ear.

“You’ll never be lonely, Kiddo…”

The world shattered, a thousands mirrors breaking as they fell. Jensen didn’t flail around, but he did feel his stomach lurch from the sudden whoosh feeling. In seconds he felt the ground, collapsing as he opened his eyes and saw a garden unlike anything he had ever witnessed. Each hedge was perfect, each blade of grass equal. The gravel road led to a beautifully sculpted fountain and sitting at the edge was Sei and Kyla, both looking to Jensen with confusion before Kyla looked upon an Azza Jensen knew all to well. Her height still small, and only the protrusions from her head went so far. It was his little girl. Sei gave Jensen a long look before standing and walking towards the immortal.

Looking around and rubbing the back of his head, he felt a slender hand grab his and he turned to see the entity of the grown up Azza smile as she stood up, lifting Jensen with her. The immortal looked around the garden some more before looking to his daughter.

“What the hell is going on, Kiddo?” Jensen asked.

[orphans]

Her smile soon faded to that of confusion, writing itself plainly upon the entity’s face as she looked about her surroundings. She knew where she was and she recognized the Orlouges instantly. Even her child form, still held by Kyla, was present. The form that she had tried to eliminate and accept through force. When she finally settled her eyes upon her father and could feel the warmth of his fingers in her grasp, she finally began to understand.

Had she destroyed that one facet, she would have further fragmented herself. Time was what she needed to pull herself together, in a more or less literal sense. It was a wound in her very spirit that needed mending. One that had never tried to heal, but even with this realization, she didn’t know what to do. Pieces were still missing.

“Had I the answer, I would gladly give it…”

It wasn’t until Sei Orlouge neared did she notice an abnormal shimmer at the edges of the garden. Panic flooded through her body, causing an uncontrollable shaking as she turned her head this way and that, darting her eyes about to confirm her fear. “Sei stop!”

Even as she yelled, she knew what she wished wouldn’t happen. Wasting no time, the entity threw Jensen roughly aside and in nearly the same movement of her arm, the entity hurled a sizable orb of pulsing energy towards Kyla. It would only take a few seconds to reach the woman and her child self.

Next was Sei. She knew him well enough that he would try to stop it as long as he drew breath, but whether or not the man knew it, he was in as much danger as his daughter. Instinct was what she relied on now and it only took another second for her to close the distance between Sei and herself.

However, it was obvious her focus wasn’t upon Sei, but rather something in the skies above them. With a prayer upon her lips, the entity threw her arms over her head just in time to form a transparent barrier and as she did, a dozen silver spears partially pierced through, some inches away from the entity’s face while one punched through her armor and stomach. Where Jensen had stood only moments ago, spears of the same kind had embedded themselves.

Kyla and her child form fared much better, having expended more of her precious, dwindling energy to form a shield around them. The spears had clattered harmlessly off the gleaming black barrier. Yet, when both the barriers fell, it was apparent that the child form reflected the same wound as the entity, coloring the white dress a dark crimson. With a pained breath, the older Azza collapsed to her knees and coughed up blood. The child, even though sleeping in Kyla’s arms, did the same.

“Unexpected, Azza of Farinma. I didn’t think you would notice the seal around this place and detect the offensive so soon.” Appearing in the same fashion as Jensen and the entity, the elder form stood before the group, balancing a massive two handed crystal blade on a pauldron of the same material. Her cold eyes held neither the fire of passion nor the warmth of innocence as characteristic of her younger counter parts, only cruel calculation.

“Kyla, Sei, and even you Jensen, I thank you for having helped me, but I cannot allow any of you to leave intact and retain a memory of what has transpired. I am sorry.”

[Enigmatic Immortal]

As Jensen looked to the woman who stood before him, listening to her words about destroying and killing people to eliminate a potential threat, he concluded one thing. That woman was not his little girl. With that clarity he had no qualms as he drew up his leather gloves from his pocket, feeling the steel studs on the knuckles, slapping them against his hand as he placed them over his wiggling fingers until the leather creaked.

“You got a lot of nerve threatening us,” Jensen said as he eyed up his foe. He looked to the crystal weapon, monitored the length and how much room he had to maneuver with. The pauldron would be a problem if a kick went astray so he concluded to keep things close and personal as he began to bounce back and forth in place, feet shuffling in time with his movements.

“You could not begin to comprehend the events going on around you, Jensen of Ambrose,” The older, crueler Azza said with harshness. Though she spoke so rough, her eyes and face still did not show righteous zeal nor impassioned delusions. It was as if this entity was built solely to destroy, and that was all. He could understand that, for he too is nothing more than an instrument of death. But unlike this being, he chose to use his talents for good, not evil.

He rushed forwards without even bothering to talk a strategy over with Sei and Kyla, leaving the Orlouge’s to defend his daughter’s life. The matter at hand was deeply personal and their interference would not be tolerated by him. Though this creature most definitely was not his little girl, she was still a part of her. A part he would take out himself. With a maddening laugh he went to battle, the same passion of insanity he always did.

The crystal sword easily cut downwards in a glittering arc, the half swing cutting upwards as Jensen dodged left to avoid the first strike, and flipped backwards to avoid the second. The vile Azza took a V-step forwards, blade cutting the air in a horizontal half circle as she swung to cleave into the immortal’s gut. With reflexes born from experience in battle Jensen withdrew one of his throwing knives, feeling the blade reverberate in his hand as his wrist vibrated from the impact. He turned to face his foe, bringing his free hand around in a hay maker to catch his daughter off guard. Azza tilted her head to the side, his swing flowing past her face. She arced her sword downwards, shoving her shoulder forwards as she ran it into the chest of her father knocking him down.

With quick strikes he never would have expected from the frail looking warrior the crystal sword began to dig deep into the grass, dirt being cut into and torn up as it rain down around the knight. He twisted and turned to avoid being impaled, letting the debris of the dirt fall upon. When Azza lunged her weapon forwards again he grabbed her wrist and ran his palm into her elbow. She let out a cry of pain as the immortal pulled his fist back and twisted on the ground so his feet found her chest, placing both his boots on her stomach and shoving them forwards in a violent mule kick. Azza flew backwards away from Jensen, rolling backwards and dragging her heel into the earth as she skidded to a stop bringing her blade before her in a two hand grip.

Jensen kipped up to his feet and stood at the ready as he shuffled into his Caeiporiea stance, waving his fingers forwards for her to come at him. The darker entity grinned to him, her feet casually moving forwards as her boots clacked upon the cobble stone of the garden. She titled her sword to the side, as if inviting Jensen to come take a swing, but when he moved a step forwards, blinking once, he opened his eyes and found Azza in his face, eyes lit with amusement as she gripped her father by the throat. She squeezed his windpipe, her face not showing any emotional care once so ever that she was chocking the life out of the man who cared for her when nobody else would. With ease her arm muscles tensed and up the immortal went, legs dangling in the air as he continued to choke.

“You cannot stop the inevitable, Jensen of Ambrose,” She hissed as her fingers clutched his throat tighter. He began to gurgle as his lips parted wheezes and gasps, his legs flailing below him as he continued to fidget with his belt for a weapon. His sight began to grow hazy as his daughter continued to apply pressure to his vocal chords, his fingers loosing feeling as he felt the veins in his head begin to pulse outwards on his flesh around his temple.

Soon he started to feel his body shutting down as he lacked the oxygen to breath, spittle barely escaping his mouth as it drooled onto Azza’s hand. She studied him as if he was some great experiment, narrowed eyes looking to his blood shot eyes. He began to claw at her chest, feebly attempting anything to save his life, but the warrior merely continued to hold him tightly, lifting him even higher. With little care she brought her sword arm back and prepared to run it through her father’s stomach.

“I….guv…ouu…” Jensen managed to mutter through pursed lips, looking into his daughter’s eyes as she swung the sword forwards.

[orphans]

The mention or attempt to mention love from Jensen suddenly softened the eyes of the elder form. It gave pause for the final blow to Jensen and even her hands seemed to loosen ever so slightly. In a voice that was barely audible to Jensen she whispered, “We share the same feelings for the same person then.”

Renewed with purpose, the elder form tightened her grip again and prepared to run him through.

“GET AWAY FROM HIM!” Without warning, the wounded entity lunged with blinding speed towards the two, holding the silver spear that had recently impaled her.

Surprise graced the elder’s eyes for a briefly and in the split second she had to react, threw Jensen to the ground roughly before stepping quickly with her blade raised in front to counter the other entity. As she did, the point of the spear collided with the flat of the crystal sword, creating a cascade of brilliant sparks that showered them both.

“Stubborn as always…” With a push and a quick burst of energy, the elder sent the entity sprawling onto her back. Charging after the girl, the elder swung down and connected with the shaft of the silver spear, carving a deep notch. Slowly, the elder pressed the sword closer and closer, sapping the strength of the entity as blood from the stomach wound began to flow more rapidly, painting the once white cobble stone a dark crimson.

In desperation the wounded entity moved a single hand away and quickly pressed it to the crystal. Instantly, the sword shattered and with a wild swing, cracked into the elder's horn and bent the spear. However, as the elder broke away with a grimace of pain, the entity noticed that the very image of the elder began to crack and splinter from where she struck.

Taking the second to reevaluate the situation, the elder form let out a sigh of disappointment, the first sign of any real emotion. “Pretending to be you seems to have lost its edge now. Both of us know you were the better physical combatant, Azza of Farinma.”

The comment only made the wounded entity narrow her eyes as she pulled another spear from the numerous others that littered the ground. Her strength was fading fast and in a final attempt to end the encounter, launched the spear towards her elder form. But shock couldn’t come over Azza fast enough, for the elder did nothing to stop it and when the spear collided, the entire image fragmented into nothing more than dust that settled on the floor.

In the place where the elder once stood, stood a very familiar man to Kyla and Azza alike. It was the same black haired man that Kyla had seen during her trial, the same childhood friend of Azza.

Lifting his right hand up to the spectacles that hid forlorn eyes, he fixed them unhurriedly as his entire left arm began to crackle and glow with energy. “It’s time to return home, Azza of Farinma.”

Realizing who it was finally, Azza felt the strength inside of her leave. Pride kept her conscious as she sunk to one knee with a labored breath. “It’s… Azza of Ambrose now, Seratem of Farinma.”

[Silence Sei]

Sei had watched the pieces come together in what seemed like a dragged out game of chess. Azza, or rather what appeared to be Azza, seemed to attempt a divide and conquer strategy against some of the closest people in the little girl's life. Kyla, the baby sitter who would give up anything as long as it meant the girl was safe, Jensen, the loving father of the girl who had fought feral beasts just to spend some time with his daughter, and Sei himself, who did his best to be another good paternal figure for the little one. Each one served a purpose, each one had something this entity had been drawn to, and now each one was here to fight for (presumably) the life of Azza Ambrose.

However, before the true conflict could begin, a new player had made his presence known. A dark haired man appearing before them and obviously knowing who Azza was. Sei quirked an eyebrow as the two made their exchanges. Could this black haired fellow have been the orchestrator to this symphony of madness? Sei reached behind him, gripping at the hilts of the Gemini Blades that lay at his back. The mute had had enough of just simply sitting around and watching things happen that he could have stopped. Jensen had almost (or maybe he had, Sei was not sure) died in order to talk to the creature taking Azza's form, and he was not going to allow any more death that could be avoided.

Sei took several steps towards the two titans. He was aware of how powerful this 'Azza' could be, assuming they were indeed in the child's mind. He did not wish to be erased from the place's existence before the real battle had even began. Sei was within a few paces of the two when 'Seratem' had turned his gaze towards the Mystic, only to be looking down the long end of one of the orange haired youth's Gemini Blades. The other was pointed towards the neck of this thing claiming to be Azza Ambrose.

"I want answers," he said simply, the sword inching closer to each of them, "and I want them now."

[orphans]

If it was one thing that Seratem admired about Sei Orlouge, was the man’s bravery. Had a lesser man been in Sei’s position, the man might have just resigned to whatever fate awaited him. But not Sei. Indeed, in his moment of distraction Seratem never noticed Sei until the man had both Azza and him at a seeming disadvantage. Given the situation though, Seratem only eyed Sei coldly, then his blade, then Azza, and finally back to Sei.

From this distance, Sei had opened himself to Seratem unknowingly, but how could he have known? Azza was the only one of his kind here in Althanas, and her physical form still couldn’t fight. By normal conventions, closing distance between a magic wielder and one who wielded blades would have given the upper hand to the one with blades. On the other hand, answers were what Sei wanted, not blood.

With a deep sigh and taking one last look at the injured, wingless Azza, Seratem relented reluctantly and dissipated the energy from his left arm. Answers were the exact thing Seratem had been searching for the past two years in the mind of his friend. Answers were the very thing that Seratem was still piecing together, bit by bit and somehow amidst his zeal he had lost his very way and sought to return his friend home by force.

Having never brought his right hand down from his glasses, Seratem adjusted them once more and slowly lowered his hand. “I did promise to clarify, time willing.” Even as he said that, the man furrowed his brows, struggling with what to say. The tension of silence might as well been palpable, only occasionally broken by the drip of pooling blood from Azza.

Seratem’s eyes relaxed as he began, “Simply put, Azza…” but hesitated before continuing with a wavering smile. “Azza of Ambrose was a heretic, and I had enough hubris in myself to believe I could bring her back before her time.” Finally he turned them to Azza and let them shut; hiding a decade’s worth of things he had wanted to say to his friend.

Opening his eyes he turned to Kyla, ignoring Sei’s blades. Threatening as the swords may be, he knew Sei was a man who valued honor. After all, he had watched the man for nearly a year and that was enough to know. “The least I could do for Azza now is to unseal her mind. Kyla, please bring the child in your arms.”

However, Kyla remained silent and slowly shook her head. At first, confusion overtook Seratem before he let his shoulders sag in defeat. Her reluctance became obvious to him as he traced her eyes to Jensen’s unconscious form, lying still on the cracked floor. A brief moment of amusement crossed his mind, at the wonder of how one would become unconscious in the mindscape of another, but that thought drifted away quickly as he realized how grim the situation was.

There was no one he could entrust what he needed to give now. Kyla was distrustful, Sei was on edge, and Jensen was passed out. All that was left was the wounded Azza before him; the wounded soul of his dearest friend.

But, would she be ready to accept something she barely understood? Everything that had transpired here would mean nothing to the other fragments of Azza unless the mind was awakened.

Time stood still as Seratem stared at Azza with conflicting thoughts and emotions he didn’t comprehend running through his own mind. Yet, when Azza looked up and locked eyes with him, he felt caution and reasoning in him ebb away. For she was the only one he had ever trusted with his own fears. She had always been the independent and confident one. The one who struggled desperately against anything that held her down.

Without further hesitance, Seratem burrowed a hand slowly into his chest where his heart should have been; sending gentle ripples through his image as if it were the surface of a pond. After a sharp, pained inhale of air, he withdrew a long silver chain with a small vial made of metal of some kind on the end, free of blood. Immediately, his body began to fade as a faint pulse of energy resonated from the pendant.

“Sera no!” but the screams of Azza were in vain and as she stretched out the hand not clutching her wound, she felt the pendant pressed into her palm.

“You have wonderful people watching over you, better than I ever could have been.” Another pulse of energy rippled through the mindscape, prompting the images of the three outsiders to begin fading as well.

“Sei, please take care of her…”

The pendant pulsed once more, erasing Seratem completely, leaving Azza to look frantically at Sei, begging him with silent words for him to stay.

The pendant pulsed a final time, leaving the grown Azza and her child form alone.

[Enigmatic Immortal]

There was a stillness as Jensen felt his body slowly being pushed. It was as if a soft wind was pushing him over the edge of a cliff as he dug his claws in the ground to stay near his baby girl. But no matter how hard he dug his nails into the garden dirt he just couldn’t seem to stay until he was blown away. He still had no clue what was going, but being winded in his fight with Seratim had virtually taken him out of the conversation. Whoever he was wanted to protect Azza, but that was all the immortal could discern. Before he had the ability to say anything else he tumbled into an abyss that didn’t exist away from his little girl.

When he awoke he felt a gentle breeze upon his chest and slowly his eyes fluttered open. He was back in Concordia forest, the summer sun gazing down upon him as people looked at the knight with concerned stares. One even called him a bum but he didn’t mind it. Spinning his feet he rotated his body vertical once more and ran off in the direction of Sei’s castle. After all that happened he had to find his little girl and make sure she was alright.

He rushed through the throng of travelers on the road that led to Underwood passing right by them all as he took a hidden trail leading deep into the forest. It took him twenty minutes to find the hole beneath the rock, but when he did he slipped into one of the many caverns that connect with Sei’s tomb. Following the lines of arrows he left himself from long ago the immortal walked in the humid underground. He could feel the cobwebs on his face as he brushed them all away looking for the correct tunnel. At last he managed to find the one he was looking for and sprinted down the narrow hall. Halfway through he slowed down as he had to bend over to fit in the low ceiling walkway.

After moving hunched over for several minutes he reached the end of the hallway and he waited a moment as he a light sliver through a crack. There was movement above him and he listened. With a silent count to three he lifted his hands up to the sliver of light and pushed upwards. With effort a stone slab jiggled and scraped the floor as the stone piece pushed away. Then with careful movements he began to move another one before he heard footsteps drawing near. Biting his lower lip he waited before four tiny paws dropped to the floor. With feline grace the cat swooped forwards under the wooden object above Jensen’s head and looked at him before meowing softly.

“It’s just Jensen, sis,” Felicity Orlouge said to her sister, Aislinn. Jensen reached one hand out and scratched the cat under the chin. With a bit of a grunt the whole bed above him shifted as Aislinn looked down to the immortal with a half grin, half disappointed scowl.

“You know you were kicked out of the castle, right?”

“Yup,” Jensen said non-chalantly. Aislinn sighed loudly as she helped him push the rocks aside for a small emergency hole that Jensen had to wiggle through. “You really know where all the entrances to this place are, don’t you?” Aislinn helped her friend up as Jensen kicked the rocks back into place.

“Well, helps kill the time when I’m bored. But I must be going now. I have to make sure Kiddo is alright!” Jensen tapped Aislinn on the shoulder gently before rushing out the door. The chief medical officer waved him off as it wasn’t the first time the immortal made short work of his visits. He usually took five seconds out of his meetings to at least say hello and set up their weekly Wednesday visit.

He had to be careful walking the hallways. The patrols and the army all knew that Jensen wasn’t allowed to be in the castle at all, and whenever Jensen neared the castle Sei had used the abilities of his mental tracer to keep his guards on alert. The mute however never seemed to really try to capture Jensen as he snuck in. At least he didn’t until the immortal overstayed his welcome. It was as if the mute understood that Jensen needed to see his family, but Jensen understood that the time was on Sei’s terms until the immortal apologized for the night Jensen insulted his family and his personal name.

At long last Jensen was nearing the tower where his family lived in. He sprinted down the red carpet to where his room was, sharing an apartment suite with Zerith Dracosius and Kyla Orlouge. When he at last hit the door he ripped it open and ran inside praying he would find his daughter.

[Amber Eyes]

Kyla opened her eyes and looked around. The bookshelves and piles of clothes on the floor quickly let the girl know that she was back in her room. The fire from a couple of the torches she had been using for light was nearly extinguished. She attempted to look at the clock, trying to guesstimate the time in relation to the weakened flames, but in the low lit room, she could hardly see anything. Had what really happened all been a dream? Kyla placed a hand on her chest and closed her eyes, her body still warm from the holding of the baby Azza.

Kyla's eyes shot opened as she realized the danger Azza could be in. Standing straight up from the chair, Kyla began to rush towards Azza room. It was not a long walk, roughly a good thirty feet between the room of the Ambrose family and her own. She paused for a minute and spun around on her heels, the sound of footsteps alerting her to somebody's presence. Guards were not allowed up on the top floor during their watches (With the exception of Adolph, Stephanie, and until a few weeks ago, Jensen). It took the girl no time to form her shadow blade and point it towards the source of the sound, the warmth from the blade quickly dying once the woman realized who she aimed her weapon at.

"Jensen?"

The immortal seemed to pay the girl no mind, shooting past the Ixian General and straight to his daughter's room. Kyla gained her bearings, remembering Azza once more, and followed her ex-boyfriend.

As the two got to the door frame of the room, both of the warriors gasped. Sei Orlouge was lying on the floor, a bowl of soup staining itself on the carpet below.

For a moment, Kyla forgot about Azza and kneeled down to see her father, checking to see if he was alright.

[Silence Sei]

The warmth of Kyla's hand began to rouse the mute. Sei opened his eyes and looked directly at Jensen, though from his angle he could not determine whether or not Azza was okay. He moved his head over to his daughter, sensing the concerned look upon her face. Sei nodded to her, a way of telling the girl that he was okay, and began to push himself off of the floor.

"It seems I'll have to have somebody clean up the floor in Azza's room. My apologies." Sei said, unsure as to whether he was talking to somebody, or just to himself. The mute narrowed his eyes towards Jensen, trying to see the status of his daughter. The mute quickly realized that the little girl was nestled underneath a pile of covers, probably hiding in them from safety.

Unlike Kyla, Sei knew that the ordeal the three had just gone through was more of a telepathy attack rather than an actual dream. As such, the Mystic began to take several steps towards Jensen, who was himself reaching towards the covers that hid his little girl. The orange haired warrior could see his friend’s hand trembling, and in order to help the immortal's nerves steady, placed a single hand on the back of the man he had kicked out of the castle. Jensen's eyes shot over to Sei, but the enigmatic one nodded and grabbed the fabric of the sheets, a little more confidence in his grip.

Jensen threw over the covers, and all three Ixian Knights hoped Azza was truly underneath.

[orphans]

The girl was indeed under the covers, though it was evident that she had tossed and turned about quite a bit. Her feet were under her pillows while her form was curled more or less against a stuffed animal. How she laid, it was impossible to tell if she was breathing from her face, as it was buried into the mattress. Instead, the steady rise and fall of her wings were what confirmed her vitality.

She had first awoke when her door opened, expecting it to be her mother Stephanie. Even so, her mind was hazy and everything seemed muffled and distant; even the voices that she knew so well. Figuring that it was a vivid dream, Azza only burrowed her face into the fabric more.

However, with her covers thrown loose, Azza gave out a whine. Then turned enough to look up and find Sei’s eyes, then Kyla’s, and finally Jensen’s. There was obvious confusion in her eyes before she suddenly sprang up and hugged onto Jensen. “Father!” was what she exclaimed, rather than her usual, ‘daddy.’

But Jensen didn’t care.

His little girl was safe in his arms and that was all that mattered to him. It soon occurred to Azza that with Sei present her father might be forced to leave again soon, but for now she was content in making the moment last. Silently she hoped for things to return to the way they were before Jensen was forced to stay away from his own home.

Most of all, Azza just wished for things to be normal.

[orphans]

At the same time in Azza's home world.

Waking is a strange feeling after having mind melding for an extended period of time. One forgets the feeling of possessing a physical body, even if everything in the mind was excruciatingly real. At least, that was what Seratem felt when his conscious returned after two years. Two years, and the sense of failure was overwhelming. The very feeling crept into his bones, borrowing deep before finally settling in.

The silence was broken as a quiet humming drifted and pressed carefully to his ears. Opening his tired, brown eyes, he glanced about before finally settling on a familiar form. A vibrant brown river flowed down the figures back and stopped right before the ground. A sight that Seratem knew well enough that shame began to overtake him. “Matri-”

But he never finished the word as he was interrupted by the bell like voice. “Besal. I am surprised that even after two years of melding with Azza’s mind you still manage to keep formalities alive, Brother Seratem.” With a chuckle, the woman finally turned around as her own auburn eyes settled on the man.

His body felt heavy and with a groan lifted himself from the bed he was in. Taking a moment to look about the room, he noticed right away that oddities of all sort were about, many of them in the shape of wind chimes. Nothing about the room was familiar though. That very fact bothered him, but it did little to distract him from what he wanted to say. “Ma- Sister Besal, I failed remove the corruption inside Sister Azza and I allowed the Landbound to leave whole. I’m sorry.”

However, the Matriarch just laughed. It wasn’t a cruel laugh, but amused. “Corruption? No… Sister Azza was never corrupt. I can understand your reasoning though. The matter of the Landbound though… is fine. Unexpected, but fine.”

Pushing himself off the bed, Seratem stood, anger welling up, forgetting whose presence he was in. “Then what was the point of all this?! This- this façade of a task? Why was I chosen to meld into Azza’s mind? What if I had done something and doomed her instead?! What-”

“Please… Brother Seratem. Enough…” Anger seethed in Seratem’s veins, but the voice of the Matriarch possessed an air of vulnerability; something that caught him off guard, settling him down.

“Sister Besal I… I’m sorry.”

A pitiful smile drew itself onto the woman’s face. “There is no need. I have not told you everything that is happening to Azza, only just enough so that you would want to save her. To that end, you have done your part.”

“My part?”

“Yes…” Turning her back to him, Besal took slow and deliberate steps towards the only window of the room, an arched portal with bars. “Brother Seratem, do you know how an Oracle’s Grace is formed?”

Seratem froze and thought about the question. Was it a trick? “Legend states that any Oracle’s Grace are artifacts from the days of Farinma.”

“You would be correct, if the legend was correct as well.”

“What do you mean? Have we been lied to?”

Besal chuckled and shook her head. “No, rather, given only a partial truth. Orankem is much better at telling the full story. You should ask him later.”

“Then, for now, how is an Oracle’s Grace formed?”

For a long time, Besal stayed silent as she gazed out the window. Then softly, barely above a whisper, she answered. “When we Dovicarus fall in love, then die.”

“You mean, Sister Azza was-”

“Yes. That particular Oracle’s Grace was hers, and as such, belonged to her. Did you not ever wonder about how easy it was for you to meld with her mind?”

“I assumed that you had a hand in the process.”

Another chuckle. “I may be Matriarch, Brother Seratem, but not omnipotent. No, the Oracle’s Grace you had was the focus.”

“… I see. And once I returned it to Azza, I lost the connection to her.”

Besal smiled and nodded. “And why did you return it to her, Brother Seratem?”

“I felt that I should… something inside me knew to do so.”

A frown creased onto the woman’s features as she turned to face him. “You are not being truthful to yourself.”

“… Because, I loved her.”



Requested Spoils List:
Changes in Physical Appearances and Abilities:

The Troubled Guardian, Voracious Corruption and Oracle's Grace from "Children of the Shattered Moon (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?21534-Children-Of-the-Shattered-Moon-%28Solo%29&p=170930#post170930)," are to be changed into other things/removed.


Adult Dovicarus: A Dovicarus reaches adulthood when his or her horns have finished growing. Age has no relevance. This brings a few physical changes in traits and abilities (will be done in level update to be approved by ROG).

Landbound Habits: This will go hand in hand with becoming an adult of Azza's race. The act of eating, sleeping, and other things normally associated with normal humans, or life in general, no longer need to be performed out of necessity, but rather, will be done out of habit. (Will be expanded upon in level update to be approved by ROG).

Fragmentation: The manifestations of Azza’s mind and soul are disconnected from her physical body, crippling many of her abilities that should have appeared after her horns had grown to their fullest, signaling her entry to adulthood (will be explained during next level up for ROG approval).

Memories of Another Time: Azza’s former memories of her past life are flowing back to her, but slowly in minute trickles due to her soul, mind and body being disconnected. However, memories of her eight years before her consciousness awoke are also returning.



Additional Spoils:
If Jensen, Sei, or Kyla wants to, they may retain a small amount of knowledge about Azza's race.

Sei loses his memory of Ryoki temporarily for at least 1 month.

Kyla loses her memory of Akiv temporarily for at least 1 month.

Items:
None

[Lord Anglekos]

The Colors of Grey.
I apologize that it has taken this long to get to you. As requested, I will give light commentary - very light commentary, if you don't mind - along with the full rubric. If you wish additional information as to why I judged some things the way I did, I can be reached by private messaging. And now, on with the judgment.

~ Story: 6
Admittedly, at first I was not drawn into the story whatsoever. This slowly changed as Azza's role evolved and the other three became participants, until the very end which left me confused. Still, an enjoyable story nonetheless, as confusion gave way to understanding.

~ Strategy: 4
I had trouble understanding just whom Azza was throughout the thread, and her actions (plus those of the alternate Azzas) did little to assuage that lack of understanding. By the second page things were progressing a little smoother, but not by much. It was only by taking a look at Azza's profile that I truly began to understand her.

~ Setting: 4
In a word? Erratic. Leaping to and fro, with little distinction between dream sequences and "reality", and honestly lackluster descriptions here and there left me wondering just where everyone was half the time. Some high points and Jensen's introductory dream sequence prevented this from being lower.

~Continuity: 4
It wasn't until Sei's dream sequence that I truly understood when this was happening, and just what role everyone played in Althanas was only made in vague references here and there. Azza's references to the black-haired man were especially confusing, and played a negative role instead of a positive one on this score.

~ Interaction: 7
This was one of the better categories you guys scored in. How "bad" Azza interacted with the others was especially interesting, along with the appearance of the cold, cruel Azza.

~ Character: 7
Another overall good category from you four; Jensen and Azza especially. Amber_Eyes, I would work on giving Kyla more of a narrative voice; right now it feels too "quiet", if you get my meaning. I felt that Kyla was strongest when she admitted to herself her envy, if that helps.

~ Creativity: 6
Overall I really didn't get a sense of any real creative illusions or usage of advanced techniques to help further the story, but there were some places that really stood out to me and I was impressed; Jensen's introduction post for one thing. That helped tack on an extra point to an otherwise average area.

~ Mechanics: 7
I found a few places where there should have been a comma and there wasn't, or a semicolon was lacking in another spot, and while it wasn't really huge it did stand out to me. Otherwise, spelling and grammar wise, the thread seemed to be fine.

~ Clarity: 2
This was no doubt your weakest area, from all of you. Even when I felt I understood what was going on, who was going on, I was constantly questioning until the point where that understanding was undermined by yet more confusion.

~ Wildcard: 8
Despite the general confusion and points of mediocrity in the thread, I really felt that you guys pushed into this thread with a purpose; to tell a powerful, albeit confusing, story of four individuals and how they each came together in a sinister, but enlightening, way.

Final Score: 55/100.
orphans gains 1650 EXP and 400 GP's
Amber Eyes gains 2062 EXP and 300 GP's.
Enigmatic Immortal gains 2612 EXP and 300 GP's.
Silence Sei gains 3330 EXP and 200 GP's.

All spoils are approved, pending RoG process.

[Silence Sei]

GP-EXP added.