Secrets

[TwinCast]

Books sat neatly on the shelf, each by their own subject and each organized neatly. There were various trinkets that sat upon shelves, each laying perfectly still waiting for their owner to come and gather them. The room was a clean white, painted such by the Labor team, and kept clean by its owner as well. The room gave a feeling of cleanliness and purity. However, the occupants were almost anything but. Sitting upon chairs on either side of the bed were two warriors who watched the still form sleeping upon it with an intensity.

The first was a man of the cloth, as much as a warrior could be. He swore allegiance to the divine entities that were destined to destroy the world. His piercing blue eyes looked upon the form with a grief that transcended even his mighty courage. His hands were clasped tightly in supplication to his gods, though he wasn’t sure if they would even help him. The form before him had become a very important part of his life, and had given a fire to his heart that he did not wish to see quenched anytime soon. His robes shifted subtly, perhaps the only movement in the room.

The other man, was uncharacteristically silent. Usually a man with a desire to verbally berate all about him, the figure that sat upon the other side was strangely quiet. Not even his own love and daughter could deter him from his goals. His brown hair mussed and in a wild manner, his clothing not entirely unlike the other occupant of the room. Though they were brethren dedicated to the same destructive forces, both went about it in a different manner. While the other man was clad in robes, this one merely dressed in what one could loosely call a uniform.

Though many people came in and out it soon became policy that none could enter the room other than these two, who only left silently at the end of the day. Nothing changed, not since she had returned. The figure on the bed had remained so deathly still, it was a wonder that she retained any semblance of life at all. At times the blond man had touched her to make sure she had not gone cold. At first he had begged her, pleaded her to awaken, only to get the same silent treatment anyone who had desired it had gotten. The medics of the Ixian Knights had tried everything they could to awaken her, only to find that she was unresponsive. Whatever had occurred, the young woman had retreated deep into herself, and it was entirely possible her body would waste away before she clawed her way to the surface.

The woman had been carried into the castle by the brown haired man with the help of another medic, Anastasia Rios, a blond haired woman who had served under the sleeping woman. She had tried everything she had known, and even amongst her peers they could not bring her back. With them was the small black cat that had served her faithfully through the years, Felicity Orlouge sister to the sleeping form. The cat had witnessed the final acts, and of them she could only say the woman had been broken in mind and spirit before she had fallen into her state.

Aislinn Orlouge rested upon the bed, only moving when someone shifted her to prevent bed sores from appearing on her body. The young woman had undergone a transformation when she had left the Castle under the duress of the Knights of Dawn. The entirely Human organization was as xenophobic as humans could be, claiming that the time of other races was at an end and it was Humanity’s chance to become the dominant race. To this end they attacked, raped, and pillaged any non-human race they could get their hands on. When Kylanna Orlouge had caused a disturbance that greatly reduced the population of Mystics in Althanas to a mere handful, the Knights attacked declaring war on the magical race. What they got instead, was nearly destroyed.

In the center of it all was Aislinn Orlouge, who remained deathly still on the bed of her room.

Her right hand was missing for the first part. This revelation had caused the blond man Adolph Gretzel to nearly kill his best friend, the other vigilant watcher Jensen Ambrose. Jensen was supposed to protect Aislinn, and safeguard her from the dangers that would have caused such damage. However there was more, one of the beads in her hair was glowing with a faint light. While her hair was full of small beads trinkets and fetishes, this one was the only one that actually glowed in the dark.

It lit up a small area about her much like a small candle and had served as such to the two watchers. Felicity had helped in the removal of the other trinkets, except for a small collection, the one that served to protect Aislinn from the creatures from the Plane of Shadow, and this glowing trinket. The others were linked symbiotically to her various wards and protections offered to a witch, and as such, Felicity had warned against their removal at all. Felicity had assured the two men when they went to make Aislinn as comfortable as possible that to remove the trinket would be to risk the wrath of her patrons. In following her advice all the other trinkets and beads rested on the small nightstand next to her bed.

Adolph of course could not be in the room at all times, and it was in these times that he left the woman of his heart in the care of the Enigmatic Immortal. Jensen Ambrose, while normally jocular, was deathly serious with the charge he had been given, having not left his friend’s side since her return, or even since he had found her amidst the burned carnage that had become the Knights of the Dawn’s forward camp in the war. It had chilled him to see the destruction wrought, and what he had witnessed he had avoided telling Adolph, for fear of the man’s reaction.

Adolph of course could guess, many people could guess. Aislinn had left with both and had returned with a new trinket and a missing hand. The Knight’s camp had been destroyed in flames, and the Witch had been found amidst the wreckage. Though Adolph had insisted that Aislinn’s place was never to be on the battlefield, somehow she had been forced upon it, and made a beautiful mess of the enemy in the process. When he had watched her go only a few scarce weeks before he was left unable to comprehend how to fix the problems that had cropped up in her wake.

A gauntleted hand gently caressed the crimson red tresses that adorned the woman. Even in her deep slumber she was as beautiful as the day she had marched into Valdta with the bulk of the Ixian Knights. She had saved his body from the predations of Andy Rorton, vaunted Gunslinger of the enemy forces. In the weeks that followed she had saved his soul, reminding him that because he couldn't be with the one he thought he loved, not all was lost. In that manner she had freed him from the clutches of the Seventh Ixian General Cassandra Remi. when the General had in turn targeted the Witch to deal a morale breaking blow to her foes amongst the knights, Adolph had returned the favor.

Now, now he felt powerless to save her. There was no enemy he could kill, no foe he could browbeat into submission. There was nothing he could do for her, other than wait, and pray to the Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Though he had prayed fervently at first, he found his prayers quickly diminishing in time with each passing day, he had begged, and pleaded to them. He had made all manner of deals with the gods, trying to find the magical words that would magically make this right.

He was fast losing faith.

It was at the moment that he began to get up, to leave so he could cry himself to sleep that he noticed it. It was soft, so pitifully weak, but he had heard it. It was a groan, as something began to stir in the sleeping beauty. Jensen’s eyes darted to his friend before it was back to the sleeping form on the bed, even as they saw her move, and shift. Adolph was there immediately, while Jensen found his voice and called for a medic. The door burst open, revealing the image of Pierce Hawk, who had served as Aislinn’s surrogate father. He moved to the bed with a grace that belied his more crass nature. While he most certainly had raised the woman and instilled in her the ideals she carried with her to the her current state his eyes widened when he saw her arm and remembered. Immediately he bolted out of the room, even as the woman began to sit up, even as a hand went to her head.

Adolph immediately moved to support her, gently taking her hand as he sat on the bed beside her, tears of joy trickling down his face before he said softly, “Thank the Horsemen, you’re alive!”

Aislinn Orlouge immediately pierced the night with a cry, and was born anew into the world.

[TwinCast]

“What’s wrong?” Jensen asked looking about for the doctor who had just left the room. Aislinn let another scream of pain leave her as she clutched the arm with her missing hand and held it tightly to her chest. Adolph held her in a comforting embrace as he tried to calm her, even as tears of pain crept down her face.

Her eyes clamped shut as she began to sob before she groaned, “It hurts!”

“What? Your arm?” Adolph asked, trying to figure out what she was talking about.

“My hand!” She groaned as another cry of pain left her lips. She kept groaning about the pain as Pierce showed up with bark in hand. Immediately he moved next to Aislinn before he shook his head.

“I knew it,” he muttered as she opened her mouth to scream before he shoved the piece of bark in her mouth, “Bite down on it, hard. Come on pretty girl, you can do it, just relax. Its in your head, you just gotta fight through it, its in your head!”

Adolph looked to Jensen and back to Pierce a look of concern on his face as Aislinn bit down, a groan of pain issuing from her lips. She continued to sob as she bit down, transferring her pain to the bit of wood in her mouth before she finally sagged and relaxed against Adolph. The Chaplain looked at Pierce questioningly before Jensen spoke up, “Okay, you gotta tell us what the hell just happened…”

“Phantom pains,” Pierce explained. The two men frowned before he continued, seeing their confusion, “She thinks her hand hurts, but obviously she doesn’t have one. I saw it for one of the first times when I was working the border skirmishes in Raiaera. Occasionally the Dark Elves would test a new weapon, and more than a few maimed their targets. We’d patch them back together, but they’d be useless on the front lines. Invariably, they’d experience pain in whatever limb or limbs they were missing. It’s not that she actually feels the pain, her body just doesn’t know how to function without it….”

Aislinn merely whimpered in Adolph’s arms as the chaplain looked down on his beloved. He then looked Darkly at Jensen before the Immortal piped up, “Look, she purposefully sacrificed herself to let me get the kids to safety. You know I can’t get her to do anything she doesn’t want, hell even you have problems getting her to do what she doesn’t want to do. You think I really had time to tell her no, when we were being chased by half the Knights of the Dawn?”

Adolph looked down on the pained witch before he whispered softly, “It’s alright, come on, you can do it, just relax…” Aislinn nodded as she focused herself, pushing off from the man even as she felt another jolt of pain. Her teeth clamped down on the piece of bark between her lips before she forced herself to relax, and finally managed it.

A calming hand was placed on her back as Adolph quietly supported her. Aislinn herself looked about the room before she said softly, “I’m home?”

“Yeah, Sei decided it was for the best to bring you back amongst friends. Especially after what you did before you passed out,” Jensen replied.

“What…what did I do?” Aislinn asked.

Jensen cocked an eyebrow before he spoke up, “Look Lady I know you don’t like killing and all that, but really? You just going to pretend you don’t remember?”

Aislinn frowned looking down before she spoke, “I…I remember seeing Uncle Ciato, then…it gets hazy…”

Adolph frowned upon hearing those words before he shook his head, “You were found in a Knights of the Dawn camp. The camp was burned to the ground and you were the only survivor. Jensen says you were going crazy, but other than that, I cannot say. They refuse to give me more than that.”

Aislinn shuddered upon hearing those words before she shook her head, “I hate them, every last one of them…”

Pierce sat on the foot of the bed gently patting her legs, “Calm down Ais, you don’t need to get yourself worked up so soon after waking up. Are you hungry?”

“Famished,” The witch replied.

Pierce nodded before he went to the corner of Aislinn’s room and grabbed her staff and carefully held it out to her, “Go to the mess hall, take Adolph with you. I’m sure they’ll scrounge something up for you…Soup Nazi was worried sick about you…”

Aislinn let a soft giggle escape her lips before she nodded, “Perhaps that is for the best…” She sounded so weak as she carefully swung her legs out from under the sheets. Adolph took care to move beside her as she carefully pulled on her boots. She laced the worn leather before she looked at him and smiled, “Thank you. I know you wasted time watching me…”

Adolph hugged her about her waist before he said softly, “It wasn’t a waste. I would do it a hundred times over if I get to see your smiling face one more time.”

“Oh come off it you two, you’re as bad as me and Steph. Just go on your date and get it over with,” Jensen crowed. His arms were crossed much like Pierce’s, and while the elder Doctor had a smirk of knowing on his face Jensen’s face was inscrutable. The two carefully made their way out the door, through the throng of her students. Each excited and more than a few whooping at the chance to see their teacher return to life before their eyes.

It took them a few minutes to leave before Jensen turned to Pierce, “Another medical problem?”

“She’s repressed those memories. If what you told me is true, she would have had to. She can’t stand the thought of killing someone, even when she got mugged she just knocked them out. That’s going to do a lot of damage if we don’t drag them out of her, but if you do that-”

“The person she is now might just die…” Jensen finished.

“Everything changes after your first. But for her, its more than that isn’t it?”

“Was a big camp…”

“We talking forty fifty?”

“Main camp…” Jensen replied.

Pierce swore as he shook his head. A hand going to his forehead before he looked where the woman he had raised from almost childhood went. Finally he found his voice, “I’m so sorry Ais.”

[TwinCast]

Aislinn had only been awake for a mere handful of days, and already she was growing frustrated with the handicap she now faced. With the Phantom Pains and the fact her hand was gone, she had nothing going for her. She would try to move about her room slowly at first, and with growing momentum. Soon she was able to at least move about her room without quickly tiring, though she found herself unable to sustain her normal level of activity. This annoyed her to no end, having endured similar restraints upon her when she had begun the task of starting the very medical ward she was in. While her students had already surpassed the enraging incompetence they had begun at, she couldn't help but feel frustrated every time she tried to help only to realize the fact her hand was gone.

Combined with the fact she couldn't remember how it had become lost, her patience had worn thin. Her only clue to the act was the now glowing bead in her hair, which in and of itself was an annoyance, causing her a bit of trouble sleeping the first few nights, before she had finally grown accustomed to the light. Needless to say Aislinn Orlouge was in need of more than a friend, she needed a miracle to keep her sanity. When Jensen Ambrose came in with a table and slammed it next to the bed she raised an eyebrow.

"When I was in that coma from the diamond, I heard you still hung out with me on Wednesdays. I figured I'd return the favor," The immortal replied to the implied question.

"This is hardly a place for you to get drunk Mr. Ambrose," Aislinn said in warning as her arms crossed under her modest chest. The eyebrow remained raised even as she sat upon her bed waiting for the immortal to invariably shout his own explanation for his actions.

"Listen lady, just because you didn't see fit to order take out for your dates with me doesn't mean I'm going to skimp," Jensen replied before he carefully picked up a basket setting it upon the table he had hurried into the room. A chair was pulled from the Witch's desk before he sat down rubbing his hands a look of satisfaction upon his face before he opened it.

"Jensen now is..." Aislinn paused as the scent of food wafted to her nostrils. The eyebrow lowered before her eyes narrowed and she looked to the immortal, "Is that what I think it is?"

"If you mean the chicken pot pie from Ashley's tavern, you're right. She misses you by the way, said that I should give you her best," The reply was quick as the hands darted into the basket and pulled out a small pastry, though the steam was still rising off it as the pie was placed before Aislinn.

She carefully grabbed a fork and dug into the meaty pie before a sigh of satisfaction crossed her lips. Carefully placing the fork down she looked at Jensen with an appraising eye, "This is a bribe."

"I knew you weren't that dumb," Jensen replied shrugging. His jovial demeanor not diminished in the slightest as he dug into his own meat pie, "More correctly this was a bribe for me rather than you. I just happened to know we both love these things, and a certain someone felt it was necessary to get you to smile for once."

A soft smirk crossed her lips before she shook her head, "You people are far too concerned with my happiness."

"He also wanted me to get some meat on your bones, after the Remi incident he feels you're too skinny, that a breeze'll blow you over."

"Well that certainly narrowed down the list of suspects. Adolph doesn't mind the litheness of my body, so that would leave Pierce, who of course frets over me constantly," Aislinn continued to dig into her meal before she sighed, "I begin work again tomorrow..." her eyes closed, "Or at least, the mockery of it."

"You don't sound happy for a girl who has a job doing her hobby," Jensen replied as he continued to dig into his chicken pot pie.

"I worry I won't be able to do my duties as efficiently as I used to," Aislinn responded.

"Oh, that missing hand thing? Here you can have one of mine," Jensen replied pulling a knife out.

"That's not what I meant!" Aislinn hissed her hand covering his before it could complete the act. Her friend had perhaps the most morbid sense of humor she had ever seen. That was part of the charm of their friendship, born of a bar fight in which two Drow had picked on the two of them in the aforementioned tavern. They didn't know each other at the time, but it didn't matter. Her hatred of the hermetic wizard, and his hatred of the Eleven bodyguard he possessed had begun a true friendship, the first in a long time for the both of them. Somehow they had managed to defrost the ice around the others hearts, even if ever so slightly. It had given rise to their weekly meeting, where they got everything they truly wished to tell their subordinates, or superiors, what they felt.

It was an understanding that gave birth to many a humorous night.

The tradition was kept intact tonight as the Witch looked upon her friend, a warm smile upon her lips. A reminder that she didn't have just Jensen to lean upon anymore was always a good thing, especially when she had felt so useless only moments before. Their conversations had taken a meandering path about many things, Adolph and her relationship, complete with Jensen's crass comments about Aislinn's abilities with only one hand. It also touched upon the medical ward, and her fears. Only briefly did he comment upon the Mystic War, so far behind her, and that topic was quickly changed. Surprisingly it was changed by Jensen, when Aislinn began a rant about her hatred of the Knights of the Dawn, something that awoke an inferno in her chest, waiting to explode.


Jensen of course refused to be the detonator of such a thing.

Eventually the night drew late and the Immortal carefully packed up all the remnants of their dinner before he left for the night. Adolph of course had business to attend to, and with the frequent absences from his duties to perform his own vigil over her, had lead to a small backlog. Though she missed the chaplain and his straightforward manner of speaking, she continued unabashed in her duties. They had already planned to be together at the end of the week, and every day built upon the anticipation of their reunion in private.

[TwinCast]

With the dawn Aislinn was in the infirmary beginning preparations for the day. She had been reading and keeping up with the reports, allowing her to know the situation before it had even begun. Combined with the fact that she was perhaps the second most knowledgeable in the bunch and she was an asset to the team. She merely had to remind herself of this every now and then when she realized the missing hand made things particularly difficult. Things she had taken for granted suddenly became insurmountable obstacles. The first and foremost of these was the fact she was right handed.

Writing was now a difficult task rather than the menial chore it had been. Her left hand had neither the strength or manual dexterity to actually be able to write something even decently legible. The difficulty in writing was such a frustration that when she had begun the process of acclimating to her other hand, she had flung the quill against the wall in agitation. Pierce of course immediately spoke up offering to be her secretary. He had even made a joke about not requiring a dress from Cassandra Remi.

Yet another name that raised the ire of her situation.

Cassandra seemed only brighter with the prospect of seeing the Witch suffer. Though Aislinn had never seen the General, she knew she was being watched, that it was being reported how much she was suffering. Though perhaps that was Aislinn’s own pride speaking, after all she had developed another extreme amount of hate towards that woman after the Gisela Reaper’s nearly successful attempt on the Witch’s life. There were few things that drew the Witch’s ire, attempts on her life, and lying to her face were two of the worst offenders.

Which is why she felt irritated every time one of the students told her it was alright. Things were not alright. She was missing a hand, and she wasn’t as useful as she had first thought. With the inability to even write her name, and the fact that she couldn’t carry anything as she lacked a second hand, Aislinn was frustrated as she was now relegated to doing the very things her students really should have been doing. Aislinn felt like a third wheel in her infirmary.

At lunch she sat with Adolph and Pierce, relishing some time with her love. They didn’t get often to spend any time together, and while she would have preferred Pierce wasn’t there, she knew it was because the man was worried about her. While Pierce probably had left a few dozen half elf children in his wake following the end of the border skirmish in Raiarae, she was the only one he had taken any time to actually raise. It was a wonder that Aislinn herself didn’t have more loose morals.

Still they ate in comfortable silence as Pierce watched the two of them. Not a word had been said between the two, but perhaps it was because there wasn’t the need. Both were rather pragmatic people, and unnecessary talk was never their thing. While Aislinn had made strides in the realm of idle banter, she felt no need or desire to practice such habits around Adolph. The two of them were truly two of a kind, moving through their lives with a deliberate force, shoving aside any obstacles in their path.

“So, when should I tell my students I need to get ready for Saturday?” Aislinn finally ventured.

Pierce perked up hearing the words before Adolph stroked his chin only briefly before he shrugged, “Depends on how long it would take you to get prepared. I figured we could go to Radasanth and see the Zidane Cecil play you’ve been badgering me about. So, dress accordingly…it starts at sundown.”

“We should probably leave an hour before sundown then, which means I would need to be ready…perhaps I should just take the evening off and let them get on without me after lunch. I could use the break and I think they could do without worrying about me for a few hours,” Aislinn finally said before she nodded, “Then it is settled, shall we meet in the courtyard?”

Adolph nodded, ending the discussion even as Pierce remained quiet. Finally the Chaplain spoke up, “How is it, being back in your ward?”

“Frustrating,” Aislinn admitted. She tucked some of the strands of hair back as she continued, “I was ill prepared for today, thinking I could just walk into my old life and do everything as if nothing had changed.”

“Well, you know better for tomorrow. It will be a rough time for you, but I trust your ability to adapt,” Adolph replied. Aislinn nodded thoughtfully before she sighed. Adolph picked up on the cue before he spoke, “Is something the matter Aislinn?”

Aislinn gestured to the stump on her arm before she spoke, “I just, cannot fathom how difficult everything has become for me. One moment I am in the peak of my prime, surrounded by friends, and peers. I have everything I could ever desire, and a few I didn’t even know I wanted…” She looked pointedly at her love before she sighed and continued, “And now look at me. I just-”

“Aislinn, I believe you promised not to be childish anymore,” Adolph said firmly. She stopped looking up at him almost in disbelief, “I understand, your missing hand has gotten you down, but I trust in your ability to adapt. Someone else, anyone else, I could see this behavior from, but I know you’re better than this. The world will not end because you are missing a hand, and I will still love you.”

The witch’s shoulders sagged greatly under the pointed speech from Adolph before she nodded, “You’re right, I can’t let this be an excuse. I have to work through it…”

Adolph leaned in and kissed her cheek, “Very good, same time tomorrow?”

Aislinn let a soft smile crossed her lips before she nodded her assent, “Tomorrow it is.”

[TwinCast]

“Thayne bless it,” Aislinn pinched her nose at the bridge as she took a deep breath. Her students looked at the witch, for she rarely if ever cursed, and for her to even state that much was a sign of extreme duress. The witch carefully knelt down before she grabbed the basket she had tipped over and began the process of putting the herbs back within it. Anastasia helped her nodding as she did so, and soon the basket was lifted. Aislinn carefully gripped the edge in her left hand before she lifted it to her waist. Using her leg for a brace she then slid it to under the basket before she moved to the table and set it down.

Anastasia looked worriedly to her teacher before she spoke up, “Lady Orlouge, perhaps you should rest, it has been a long day.”

Aislinn sagged before she looked at the basket and then turned to her students before she asked, “Is that your desire, or your concern for my well being?”

“A bit of both teach,” One of the students spoke up. The others looked upon the man as if he were a traitor, but he merely ignored them. This one was Carlos Espanoza, a younger man with tanned skin he often served as a bit of a jokester in the group, brightening up the day. The fact that the others were afraid to say something meant he would, and probably voice their concerns damning the consequences. He ran a hand through black hair before he gave her that charming smile he always did, “You’ve been working really hard teach, but you keep pushing yourself, and you’re going to end up right back in your bed. I can see it in your face, you’re tired.”

“Is that so Mr. Espanoza?” Aislinn replied, leaning against the table. Her arms crossed dangerously in front of her before she arched an eyebrow.

“Yeah, you got that twitch in your eye you get when you’re tired, and you’re acting irritable, which we all remember you get when you haven’t slept enough. As much as you know us teach, we can see when you’re pushing yourself. I know you want to be team captain, but you gotta slow it down or you’re just going to be warming benches during the war that’s coming down the pipe,” Carlos replied.

“Very well, I shall retire for the day. However Mr. Espanoza, you shall have to pick up where I left off. We need more ointment for burns, as we seem to have run out following one of Tagaz’s more intense sparring sessions with his oracles. You shall have to pick up where I have left off.”

“No problem, is there any other balms or ointments that need to be made? If I’m breaking out the mortar and pestle might as well stock up right?” Carlos replied a smarmy smirk slashing his face as she finally admitted defeat.

“Ms. Rios, how are the rest of the stores?”

Anastasia looked thoughtful for a moment playing with her hair idly as she always did when thinking before she nodded, “We need more healing ointment, Hoturi is about to start live steel training again and we’re bound to get a few injuries from that. Other than that, I believe we’re okay.”

Aislinn nodded before she spoke up, “Well then Mr. Espanoza, it seems you have your work set before you. Do not dally…” She then looked to the other students before she sighed, “Continue with your duties, I shall be rejoining you tomorrow, and hopefully we can get more accomplished this time.”

She moved through her door, shutting it behind her with an irreverent boot, perhaps a bit more harshly than intended. The door slammed shut and she leaned against it before she gripped her face tightly. Her shoulders shook before she moved to the bed and began to cry in earnest, knowing that her students were probably listening for just that. To be dismissed by her own students, it stung her already wounded pride.

Then the Phantom Pains kicked in again.

She curled up on the bed cradling her stump against her chest as she gritted her teeth, not wishing to be more of a burden to her students than she already was. She rode through the pain as it sharply cut through her, a knife plunged deep into her heart. She convulsed from the pain, and could almost swear she was going to pass out from the sheer amount of it, before it finally began to die down. It seemed forever and at the same time she wasn’t sure it would ever go away. Looking about her she sniffled, wiping her eyes with her one good hand before she saw the solution sitting on her dresser from only the night before.

It was a piece of willow bark, deeply gashed from when she had bit into it to alleviate her pain.

Carefully grabbing the piece she placed it in her mouth once more, hoping it still had a bit of what she needed, even as a second wave of pain rushed through her body. Much like the night before she had no tolerance for the pain she was undergoing, being unaccustomed to battle and the pain it inflicts. She had endured duller pains than this, it felt like her hand was aflame, burning away. It caused her to curl up once again even as she bit deeper into the wood, and carefully swallowed to avoid the bark slipping down her throat.

Slowly yet surely, she found the pain growing less and less intense. She could focus now, could actually work, if she had work to do. She sighed carefully pulling her boots off looking at them as if they were an appalling thing. Tying them had been a headache and a half in the morning. Yet another thing she had taken for granted. Her life was full of episodes that seemed to only remind her at every turn that she was without her right hand. The part that stung, was it was her good hand gone, not even her weaker one. She was more than certain this would not have been nearly as bad if she had her good hand. At least she could write, and maybe not drop things when she had fatigued her hand from gripping too many things.

As the pain finally subsided she carefully cleared her mouth of the bark before spitting into the fireplace. Carefully scraping her tongue of bark residue she spat once more upon the fireplace before she returned to her bed and continued preparations. She looked upon her missing hand and gently touched the stump before she shook her head, “That is almost feverishly warm, is it infected?”

That was the last thing she needed, another complication in her life that seemed to quickly become full of them.

[TwinCast]

The week was blissfully over. It had been a trying time for both Aislinn and her students, as a silent war raged in the Infirmary. It was a war that threatened many times to blow into a torrent of yelling and arguing, but somehow, it managed to remain at a low simmer. Aislinn kept trying to do everything she had done before, and as the students were quick to find out, she couldn’t do that anymore. Her attempts often took her longer than if someone else had done it, anyone else.

It was all they could do to figure out ways to politely move her to the easier tasks that she could do. The problem came when she realized what was going on. They all knew their teacher was prideful, but the reality of the situation only reared its ugly head when they found themselves working against her pride. She needed to do her old job, but they couldn’t let her. She simply was unfit to do it anymore, and she was going to slowly drag everything she did into oblivion unless she finally backed off.

Pierce continued to watch her, seeing the anger and hatred that she shoved down deep within her. A small notebook was almost always in hand now as he observed his surrogate daughter, taking notes and muttering prayers to the Thayne. He had taken it upon himself to serve as the medical wards diplomat in most cases, because while the students knew their logic was sound, it took Pierce for her to finally capitulate. Every instance of it saw her leaving either to the forest, or to her room with another slamming of her door.

Were they a truly risky bunch they would have opened a pool of how many times in the week she would have to calm herself before resuming her duties.

Aislinn always broke down in these cases, her perfect world crumbling down around her as she found herself unable to keep up with those she taught. It was one thing to far outstrip them, it was expected for she was still training them with each passing day. When they began to outstrip her, she thought she would be proud, but the circumstances were far different than her ideal conditions. She wasn’t falling behind because they had finally become her peers, she was falling behind because she lacked a second hand. It infuriated her that she had lost the extremity, and further than she still had no idea what the glowing bead in her hair meant.

She had however noticed, that the angrier she got the brighter it glowed, almost seeming to ignite on fire to embody her wrath.

However, she had other things to worry about than a night light in her hair, even if it was a gift from one of the winds of magic. Yet another frustration mounting when she thought of the winds, they had been deathly silent since her return from the Dranaks that housed her people. She had continued her rituals, had done everything they had asked of her, and now they were silent. She couldn’t for the life of her figure it out. They had always been constant in their reassurance of her skills, and suddenly overnight she was not only cut off from them, but apparently from her old life.

So, when she hit the tables for lunch and met with Adolph, to say she was in a foul mood would be to grievously understate the situation.

The chaplain had quickly learned to anticipate her in a horrible mood at lunch, and while he often found ways to cheer her up, by the same token he also did not coddle her. This was perhaps the saving grace of Adolph Gretzel, for she was tired of being coddled by her students, by her teacher, by the rest of the Ixian Knights. The thought of their horrific attempts to make things “easier’ for her only dredged up more anger in her chest. The fact that the man she loved respected her enough to not pry, to not persuade, to not force her to do anything “for her own good” allowed him to still sit at the same table. Pierce had long since lost that privilege, after the third time he had intervened on the behalf of her students, who equally had raised her ire.

It seemed that she was always angry nowadays.

However, there was still one shining light in the darkness. Tonight was to be their date, and Adolph was well prepared to make her happy. When she sat beside him she found resting next her tray a small white slip of paper. Looking upon it she carefully held it up before a relieved sigh escaped her lips, “You did get the tickets…”

“I tell my Chaplains not to lie, much like Taka if they say something is going to happen, they will make sure it gets done to their detriment,” Adolph offered up. Aislinn felt her anger fade replaced by joy as she hugged Adolph tightly. They held the embrace for awhile before Adolph whispered, “Your food is getting cold…”

Sheepishly Aislinn began to consume her meal as she sighed, for the first time all week relaxing. She felt Adolph’s hand gently trail up and down her back as he continued to eat his own meal, the two enjoying the companionable silence. Soon their plates were clean, and pushed aside as she moved such that their sides were touching. Adolph carefully wrapped an arm about the woman’s slender waist allowing her to rest and relax before she said firmly, “I fear I am only getting in their way. I cannot count the number of times I have been dismissed to collect myself…”

“Is that so?” Adolph asked softly. He looked down towards her before she rested her head upon his shoulder.

“I try so hard, and I can’t do things fast enough. Eventually Pierce ends up talking to me because the students are waiting on me to continue. I’m learning how to cope-”

“But you aren’t up to the standards you have set for your students,” Adolph finished for her. She nodded softly before she wrapped both her arms about the Chaplain’s waist.

“Perhaps, you should work separately from your students at first. Get up earlier begin work immediately, by the time they come in, they can begin to catch up with you. If you get far enough ahead it will allow you to continue as you have, and as you progress and get better you won’t need to get up so early,” Adolph offered.

“Amazingly enough I tried that, and I am still slow to start,” The witch offered, “I fear for my position, what good is a Chief Medical Officer that cannot do their job efficiently, especially a job that is so time sensitive.”

“I cannot empathize with your situation, only because my job is in training these men to be spiritual leaders on and off the battlefield. I understand you are frustrated Aislinn, that I can understand, but I cannot tell you I understand your plight. You will get there eventually, you just have to be patient,” Adolph said softly.

“That’s the other thing, I feel so angry all the time, angry at the others, at myself, and just in general. I cannot fathom how this anger got here, but it is there underlining my every word, my every move, and my every decision,” She confessed even as she moved herself closer to the man who she loved.

“When I am angry I train myself, perhaps you should visit Tagaz, or if he frightens you Hoturi. If that fails there are any number of other trainers, Tobias for one who could help you get through this,” Adolph said softly. He felt Aislinn stiffen at those words before she sat up quickly and shoved his arm off of her.

“So you seek to make me another killing machine on the battle field? Is that your wish?” The witch’s eyes burned with anger as she let her wounded pride rear its ugly head again, “Because I cannot do my job effectively its time for me to grab a sword and rush the front lines of the enemy? Is that your decision?”

“Aislinn, that is not what I meant, I merely meant that the act of training-” He was cut off as she stood up from the table and carefully gathered her things. Her eyes bore into his before she spoke, her voice hoarse;

“You can enjoy your play tonight by yourself. Perhaps the time spent in civilized culture will allow you to comprehend what you just suggested.”

Before he could say anything she had turned her back to him and rushed out of the mess hall of the Ixian Knights. Immediately she was fishing through her pockets, knowing full well that her anger was about to trigger another set of Phantom Pains. It seemed the angrier she got the more her missing hand felt it was on fire. Still the willow bark took care of that problem and she marched straight out of the castle, she would need awhile to recover from this slight, even as she felt the pain begin she sighed realizing that the bark might not be strong enough for this pain.

She found that she needed two pieces of the bark to actually diminish the pain to levels well below tolerance. Still one piece would be enough as she marched into the woods, her anger still tightly gripping her heart.

[TwinCast]

She sat in the forest for what felt like forever. The sun continued its easterly sojourn, uncaring of the witch who hid in the woods. It had to have been at least two hours since she had blown up at Adolph, something that in hindsight she regretted. He was truly only trying to help her, and she spat on the proffered hand. Still, she refused to go back, not until she felt she had calmed down. She closed her eyes for what had to be the hundredth time as she fought back the tears.

She was sick and tired of crying, sick and tired of feeling inadequate. She was tired of losing everything around her slowly yet surely. She was tired of being abnormal, she just wanted what she had, a normal life. She continued to sit there for what felt like forever before she heard it, the snap of a twig. Immediately she stood, her staff held at the ready before she turned to face whoever had dared interrupt her alone time.

She was in for a surprise when it was General Taka. Elevated to control of the Ixian Knights Mercenary Company, the man was seen with such distrust following an incident in Concordia Forest where he had gotten most of his men killed. Even Aislinn had seen fit to harshly judge the Akashiman, who seemed to merely wait at the edge of the clearing, his arms crossed over his kimono. His long locks of white hair flowed freely behind him, even as his face hid behind a porcelain mask.

No one had truly talked to the Ronin after his return from Akashima. Adolph had said that Taka had learned a lot there, that maybe he was fit to lead after all. No one really knew what was in the General’s head anymore, as he had taken to meditation far more readily. Further, he seemed more relaxed than he had been when he left, the pomp and circumstance finally being beaten out of him by the disillusionment of war. While not on good terms with Aislinn, the two had a mutual respect, born out of the time they had been forced to spend together in Dheathain.

“Tsukai,” The Ronin said firmly.

“General Taka,” Aislinn managed as she lowered her staff. The Ronin wouldn’t attack her, this much was certain, even as the Ronin looked upon her with appraising eyes. Aislinn avoided his eyes before she idly tucked stray strands of hair behind her ears, an ultimately futile task, as the fetishes in her hair forced them to invariably come loose and hang about her. Finally she managed, “Did Adolph send you?”

“I came of my own accord, Tsukai,” Taka replied before he moved into the clearing. His sandals crushed more scree underfoot, sending the noise through the trees, even as he looked about the area. “A curious place to practice, if I may be so bold.”

“You may not, I do not tell you how to run your men, what gives you the right to-”

“What gives me the right, is when your actions threaten to disrupt the Ixian Knights. While not the first, you are seen as the one treading the line far closer than any of the other members of the command,” Taka replied firmly. There was a tone of admonishment, and he had interrupted her. Both of these facts spoke that the Witch would not brow beat him into submission, for he was only rude when he was disciplining men, as she suddenly felt the affects of.

“I am far from threatening the Order of the Ixian Knights,” Aislinn said through gritted teeth. The bark between her jaws crunched loudly at the declaration as Taka’s eyes seemed to narrow.

“Curious, how the Chief Medical Officer has found herself once again thrown out of her ward. Curious, how the Chief Medical Officer has been seen berating and belittling those about her. You are Lady Aislinn Orlouge of the Ixian Knights. Whether you believe it or not, you are by far one of the popular figures in this castle. You inspire the men to try harder and work, you have had men throw their lives down for you, and this is how you repay them?”

“You can go to hell-”

“And you can grow up. If I thought you actually drank alcohol I would believe that this dishonorable behavior was the fault of drink, but you haven’t even that as a shield. I will be blunt, the Generals are growing tired of your childish antics. In the time since you have awoken the medical ward has been growing farther and farther behind in its tasks. There were questions of your ability to effectively lead as a trainer, or whether we should have Hawk-san replace you,” Taka once again cut her off.

Aislinn’s jaw dropped at the open declaration of the General. She had nothing she could say, nothing that would magically make it right. Her frustrations were being proven true before her, and she wasn’t sure if she could recover in time. Now her very job was in jeopardy, and there was little she could do about it. Still she had one last card to play, “I am no longer under the purview of the Generals, only Uncle Sei has the authority to remove me from my position.”

“While that is true, I believe it falls under the jurisdiction of the Generals to protect the Knights from internal and external threats, mobilizing forces as is necessary. While I may not have the man power to forcibly remove you from your post, I have several men who are more than willing to help in such an endeavor, offered to me from the other Generals. I came not to tell you that you have been removed however.”

“Then why are you here?”

“I came to warn you Tsukai-san, I felt I owed you at least that. The decision is still being discussed, and frankly, I am one of the few arguing for you,” Taka’s statement shook her to her core as she saw what was going on.

“I will step down in the interim then, until such time as I can figure out how I can perform my duties to the standard I had before I left,” The witch replied feeling so empty inside. She sagged her shoulders, her head shaking at the proclamation from her lips, even as she had to fight back even more tears.

“I will tell the other Generals your decision. Tsukai-san…” The Ronin paused only briefly before he tossed something to her. She floundered through the air to catch it before she saw what it was. A small white cloth that had embroidered into it a small flower. Blue in hue it was a delicate knit, that spoke of supreme skill. It was the size of a handkerchief, and she knew exactly why it had been tossed to her. She looked up to the Ronin questioningly before he spoke up, “It hurt me as much to force you to this decision. Perhaps you should consider talking to Hoturi about your demons, and perhaps you will cleanse yourself of your taint, before I do mine…”

[TwinCast]

It had taken Aislinn a day to recover from the shock of losing her job. She had only just picked it back up before she was forced to relinquish it. Her students of course objected to the treatment, but Aislinn had insisted they continue to work, and that Pierce would of course take care of them as she had. Her free time left her much to think about, and with no other choice but to pursue answers she began her circuit through the castle. Her first stop was the dojo that contained Taka’s mentor Hoturi.

They had talked, and he had been welcoming, but every time she spoke of her desire to learn to fight, he rebuffed her. It was never rudely, but instead a firm insistence that she was not looking for the knowledge of how to fight. She had argued the point with him for what seemed like forever before she had stormed out of the dojo, feeling no less calm than when she had entered. The anger brought with it a pain in her arm, a pain that she immediately sought to dull with a piece of willow bark. Moving through the castle now with gritted teeth she sought the next person who could train her.

Entering the dojo of Tagaz the trainer, she saw the straw dummies, people punching and kicking into them relentlessly. TA few wielded weapons against wooden versions of the dummies, providing them a chance to perfect strikes and blows against imaginary opponents. The scent of sweat and blood overwhelmed the witch, as the dojo was not a place she often went. Markedly different from Hoturi’s Dojo she entered only after stopping a mere second to assure herself this is what she desired. Moving through throng of students she could feel the eyes upon her as she finally managed to find the target of her attentions.

Stephanie Odara was a friend of sorts, in that she was acquainted with the Witch and they were on good terms. While there was a bit of tension between them, it arose mainly from the fact that at one time, while thoroughly under the influence of Moontae Sexual Pheromones, she had sought to get her satisfaction from Jensen, by any means necessary. Stephanie had understood the situation, but was wary thereafter, taking caution where her Fiancée was concerned. Also a red Head the two had many similarities in body type, but that was all they were, for while Aislinn was a Witch and a Medic, Stephanie was a Soldier, who trained to fight and kill. Her body was finally honed to perform the task she put herself towards, while Aislinn’s was far more frail.

Still she managed a smile as Aislinn moved forward and spoke, “Miss Odara, as always it’s a pleasure to see you.”

Put off by the odd greeting Stephanie seemed to stiffen at the words before she put forth, “Yes Aislinn, it is always nice to see my Fiancée’s best friend. How can I help you?”

With a flick of her good wrist, Aislinn tossed bits of her red hair behind her before she spoke, her tone neutral yet formal, “Miss Odara, I will not lie to you. I have come here looking for someone to teach me how to fight. I am sure you’ve heard of the spat between me and Adolph by now, but I found some truth in his words. Perhaps if I find a way to vent these frustrations of mine out, I will be able to regain some semblance of myself….”

“No way, not doing it,” Stephanie said almost immediately after the explanation. Her clipped tone seemed deliberate as she turned to walk off the mats. Students continued to fight and train as the Witch chased after the woman and in a rash action grabbed the woman’s hand.

“Please, I need someone to do this for me, or I will never move beyond this!” Her tone held a note of desperation, even when Stephanie turned to her.

“Aislinn, you’re a pacifist you don’t need to learn how to fight. I thought you were proud of that, or are you going to turn that upside down just for some pipe dream,” Stephanie said pointedly. By now Tagaz had heard the commotion and come over. The large man was dressed as he always was, in a pair of loose fitting shorts, with his hands and feet wrapped up and ready to fight. He looked upon the woman with his piercing gaze before he looked to Stephanie.

“Is there a problem Stephanie?”

“Someone just wants me to train them, I told them no, that’s all,” Stephanie said pointedly. She carefully pulled her hand from the Witch’s as she turned to her mentor.

“I always did say that my students should take on their own students, if only to understand their own failings,” Tagaz replied sternly. Aislinn looked between the two a look of anticipation crossing her face as she held her breath.

Stephanie looked to the witch before she scoffed, “Even if its Aislinn?”

Tagaz immediately turned and whipped the witch with a scrutinizing stare. She felt small, almost insignificant under that gaze before he shook his head, “No, you were right to turn her down. Lady Orlouge, the battlefield is not your place, hasn’t Adolph told you that? Hasn’t he promised to keep you from there?”

“I feel so frustrated, so angry, so helpless! I want to learn how to fight, in order to help relieve this anger that is welling up in me!” Aislinn said entreating the trainer for his aid. The man looked upon Aislinn before he shook his head.

“No, you have no concept of what you’re asking. You think you do, but even you know you have no place in a fight. Tell me Lady Orlouge, why do you fight? Do you even have a reason? If you can tell me why and I can see that is true, then I shall train you myself.”

Aislinn paused her face turning to a frown as she contemplated the answer. Why was fighting so important? She could have sworn the fight was important for some reason. There was an answer somewhere, was it to defend herself? Did she need to fight to prove something? What she protecting something? Was it for her, for someone else? She couldn’t figure it out, and the more she tried the more her arm ached as the anger increased in intensity. She couldn’t understand why fighting was so important anymore, it was almost as if the feelings she had were foreign to her.

“I need to,” Aislinn finally managed.

“Why?” Tagaz barked. The witch shook her head as she felt the beginnings of a headache, no small task due to the fact she had been chewing on willow bark. A hand went to her temple as she gently massaged it and shook her head;

“I can not remember why. I needed to fight, I had to fight, why did I…” Her voice trailed off, and Stephanie gave the Witch a worried look. Aislinn was in her own little world, ignoring everyone about her as she seemed to be watching something. Whatever it was, was truly baffling the witch. Finally she shook her head and looked at Tagaz, “I need to fight, I have to fight…something within me is screaming to fight with all I have!”

“You won’t get that fight from here,” Tagaz said forcefully, crossing his arms over his chest, “If I catch anyone touching you in a way that is not helpful, or if from Adolph endearing, they shall have to answer to me. You won’t get your fight Lady orlouge, no matter how much you demand it. You aren’t a warrior, and it is best you remain that way!”

“I have her opponent,” A voice said from behind Tagaz. It was a neutral tone, that held no spite or malice. A tone that betrayed no emotion at all. If one did not know the voice, they would have sworn it had come from a magical creation, not unlike a golem, even as an elven woman stepped forward. Tagaz frowned at the woman before he growled;

“I forbid you from fighting her. She isn’t a warrior!”

“I will not then, but in that case I still have an opponent for the Witch. If she truly wishes to fight, then I know who she can fight,” The Elven woman said. Her hair was tied back in a long ponytail, even as she wore form fitting leather outfit. Her boots clicked across the floor as her eyes looked into the Witch’s own. Her gaze held the Witch’s attention before she spoke, still in that bizarrely neutral tone, “Come to the Dojo tomorrow morning. Your opponent will be there ready to fight you.”

“Lilith this isn’t a game, do you have any idea what you are doing?” Tagaz roared at the woman. Known as Lilith, oracle of Water she was a calm as the still waters, and as furious as the storm when roused.

“I know precisely what I am doing,” The Oracle said, before she left the Dojo, as quickly as she had come.

[TwinCast]

Aislinn awoke early the next morning moving dutifully through the castle. She had been on edge after the incident in the training rooms yesterday, and the thought o a fight thrilled and mortified her at the same time. She was a Witch, and a healer, why did she have to fight? Why now, of all times, did she need to fight? The answer would not present itself and only seemed to irritate her. Instead she focused on what she could do, and nearly blanched.

She was even more useless in a fight.

Without her other hand, her staff was nothing more than a weak club at best. Atop this she was using her bad hand to fight, and so wouldn't have the strength. The best she could do is kick at her opponent. As far as magic went Agony was her best bet, because the evil eye would only delay the inevitable, eventually they would see through the deception and she would pay for her use of it. Agony at best was her only combative skill, and she had no way of making sure she won with it.

Still she entered the dojo, and saw a sight that nearly made her duck back out.

Standing in the dojo were most of her friends, Felicity was perched atop the shoulder of Adolph, who looked on with a feeling of concern. Stephanie and Jensen were looking at her, with Jensen unable to meet her gaze. Tagaz himself was leaning against a wall, a look of disdain painted across his features even as he muttered. Lilith, the Oracle of Water stood in the center of the Dojo, a look of pure boredom on her face.

"You showed up," Lilith replied blandly. She moved about the witch studying her from every angle. Every nuance of Aislinn's anatomy was an open book to the woman as she moved about her with a fluid grace. Finally she spoke up, "Your opponent is here."

Aislinn looked about the room, the training dummies had been pushed against the walls, with two flanking the Training Instructor. The space had been cleared to give as much room as possible. The wood seemed to have been freshly cleaned for this fight, and Aislinn carefully gripped her staff, even as she felt a line of anticipation course through her body It began in her heart causing it to whip into a frenzy, beating rapidly in her chest. Soon it had worked it's way down to her stomach, causing the empty organ to knot in reminder she had not eaten yet. Finally it raced to her mind giving her a remarkable clarity as she seemed to be able to almost count each and every hair, every particle of dirt and dust in the room.

"Where are they?" The words were soft, almost non-existent as the adrenaline continued to course through her body.

Jensen carefully removed his coat, tossing it to his fiancée before he spoke, "That'd be me sugar tits."

Aislinn looked to her long time partner an eyebrow raised before she spoke, "Why are you-"

She never got to finish before the Immortal's fist crossed her face, "You talk to much. Learn to fight my ass, after what I saw you're more than capable of handling people!"

Confusion rocked her body even as she brought the staff about in a clumsy attempt to club at the immortal. He caught the staff easily before he ripped it from her grip, and brought his leg about in a sweeping kick, sending the Witch to the floor. He stopped there, looking at her staff before he shook his head, "Don't even have the strength to make it sting. You are a sad sack of shit, aren't you? Why don't you just stop pretending and actually take this fight seriously Aislinn. We both know you can fight."


"I have no clue what you're talking about!" The witch managed. Her shoulders heaved as she slowly drew herself up. Her cool was being lost, and with it the red bead began to burn brightly. Her right hand once again began the pains she had associated with her anger. Even then she gave the immortal a baleful eye and opened her mouth...

...only to receive a boot across her face for the effort.

"I said, shut up you talk too much!" Jensen replied continuing the assault. Aislinn felt a boot dig into her stomach, deflating her lungs with the pressure placed there. She let out a cough and a wet gasp as she tried to fight through the hysteria that was building up in her mind. Like an animal, fear clung to her every thought as she realized she was drastically out classed. Managing to get back to her knees after some effort, her remaining hand clung to her hair as the bead began to glow ever brighter.

"You gonna cry? Is the big bad witch gonna cry?" Jensen sassed as he waited for Aislinn to open her mouth again. The witch's hair had fallen in a curtain about her and she shook her head slowly. Jensen frowned narrowing his eyes before he brought another boot about the girls face and grumbled, "You're boring the crap out of me Aislinn, at least give me some reason to be afraid of you..."

"I'll teach you why you should fear me..." The witch said. The voice was otherworldly, almost ancient in its tone and inflection. The witch's shoulders hunched before they sagged and slowly, a demented smile crossed her face. Her body seemed to sway to and fro, almost in time to a serene melody only she could hear even as the group watched in horror what Jensen had dug out of their friend. The torches on the walls exploded into a torrent of flames the hovered about the Witch, even as Jensen watched carefully. He never left his stance and merely looked on unafraid, even as a few of the viewers began to show looks of concern upon their face.

The flames circled around the witch, who held up her stump, her eyes ablaze with an eerie light. Moving about her like a protector the fire slowly began to slide over her body, until it reached the stump where her hand had been. The fire gathered there until a nimbus of flame had sprouted from her stump and took the form of her missing hand. She smiled looking at the marvel even as the torches ignited on the walls, never allowing the light to diminish before she looked at Jensen with a look of satisfaction, "Burn."

With a casual gesture the witch raised her arm, so that the flaming hand was pointing at her best friend. The flaming hand immediately shot forth from the stump and rocketed right at the Immortal.

[TwinCast]

Jensen barely managed to get out of the way of the flaming missile that sought to ignite him before it struck the stone walls of the training room, leaving a pitch black scorch mark. The immortal was on the offensive immediately before with a flashy sweep of the hand, a disdainful wave of flame separated the two once more. The boards scorched, yet didn't ignite, as if afraid to endanger their charge by creating an inferno. The immortal barely halted his assault and for his efforts saw his pants leg ignite on fire, the flames unafraid of destroying her opponent in this battle.

"This is what you wanted, isn't it? Or perhaps you like her better as the pathetic pacifist you enjoyed tormenting with your cruel antics?" The words flowed venomously from crimson lips, never losing that feeling of wrongness. This was not Aislinn Orlouge, friend of Jensen Ambrose, this was something else, something otherworldly that had possessed their one time friend. Her lip curled into a sneer before she spoke again, "Do you even know why she is a pacifist? Have you any idea the trials we put her through, for her to prove her faith in us?"

The others shifted in the room with the violent words even as Jensen swatted out the fire. Glowing eyes of power swept over the assembled, whipping each with a defiant glare that spoke of unbridled hate. A passion had consumed the Witch and the heat was palpable even as the flaming hand upon her stump continue to glow brightly. Soon she looked at her staff and casually picked it up in her burning hand, the wood refusing to ignite as she studied it, "Not one of you can claim to know her, or anything about her, yet you all feel you know what's best for her. You hold her back, you claim to know better than she, who has endured much to gain our favor. It is laughably pathetic how you presume so much, and understand so little..."

Adolph stepped forward, refusing to give into fear as he spoke up, "I may not know her, but I feel I understand her better-"

"One who knows nothing...can learn nothing," The witch cut him off before the staff switched to her physical hand with ease. A hand flicked out and once more a missile of fire shot out at the chaplain. Adolph looked at the flames head on, almost shocked that the witch would attack him as the fact it had occurred.

A figure of black slammed into the side of the chaplain before a voice spoke out, "Get them out of here and take her down!"

Flames licked and curled about the form of a shielding Jensen Ambrose over the downed Adolph Gretzel. The Chaplain met eyes with his friend and read the intent there. Aislinn was not in control, it wasn't her doing these things, and if she had any hope of returning, she had to be stopped. A hand grabbed the clip on the chains to his weapon before he locked into the Crozius, his maul. Stephanie was already moving Pierce and Felicity from the room, as the Oracles spread out to help take down the witch.

Jensen lay on the ground charred and badly burn, perhaps even dead from the intensity of the flames. The chaplain stepped forward before he uttered a battle oath and took up position, "Horsemen forgive me, but you fight me now..."

Flaming eyes locked with ice blue as the head tilted ever so slightly. A whimsical smile crossed those crimson lips before a soft pink tongue darted over them, almost tasting the fear and chaos in the air. White teeth flashed in a smile that was as mirthless as the situation, before she sauntered forward. Her eyes alight with the burning flames, "Oh? You think you have what it takes, Chaplain?"

"She is no warrior, the fact that you control the body will never erase that fact," Adolph replied even as he brought the Crozius up in a blow designed to wind the woman.

"Correction, she was a warrior," Aislinn's tone held a sinister tinge to it as she moved fluidly. Her grace belying her strength as the Oracles looked to their leader for an explanation. Tagaz only watched sternly before he gestured them to wait, the unwritten message clear, if Adolph could not handle this, then they were to finish the job, by any means necessary. The maul missed the mark by the barest of measurements before a staff blow came down on his wrist. Were it not for the metal cuffs linking him to his weapon, it could have had the power to make him drop the maul.

Crozius came down in a blow meant to bring it to a more ready position even as the Witch continued to dance about the chaplain. Staff struck into his face this time, though the strength was insufficient to make the blow a way to end the fight. Instead it brought pain as his nose crushed under the weight of the wood. The explanation continued, "She gave to me the battles. She vowed that she would never fight again, and that I was to take from her the ability to fight ever again. That is why I protect her, when she cannot protect herself. Or, more correctly, when you, her would be champion, do not protect her!"

"I protect her with every fiber of my being! I alone marched into the tombs to recover her, I alone fought for her when it seemed that she would rather witness her own demise!" Adolph roared, blood dripped from his nose even as he lashed out with a punch that caught the witch off guard. This time she stumbled a step before that sickening smile graced her lips.

"If you protect her, then why did she lose her hand? Why was I offered the flesh of a Mystic to cleanse the very camp that sought to kill her and defile her corpse and memory. Where were you, oh knight?"

[TwinCast]

Wood clattered against metal as the Witch's assault was unrelenting in its fury. The Chaplain had stopped trying to reason with the force that had possessed his love after her last argument, that the Knight had abandoned her in her moment of greatest need. There was nothing that could be said, for it was a guilt the Chaplain had born since the day she had left. The fight continued in silence as she had tried several times to land another blow into the Chaplains face, trying desperately the end the fight.

The saving grace of Adolph is that he was quick enough to scare the witch out of using her new burning limb against him. Every time she had tried it the Crozius had nearly winded her with a gut blow. Now she was merely prowling, waiting for her moment, those eyes glowing with an eldritch power he had never seen in the witch. While he was sure this was merely one of the patrons she prayed to, the knowledge was hardly reassuring, as the patron had made it well known what it thought of him.

"What is the matter Knight? Can you not even defeat me, and protect the maiden? Have you conviction to end this? Bare your throat to me so I can end this game of cat and mouse," The words were taunting and fiery in their rhetoric. Passion seemed to rule this one's actions, be it to protect their charge, or end someone's life. The more Adolph carefully moved about the dojo, the sweat dripping from his brow furrowed in concentration, the more he realized the witch would wear him down to try and defeat him with a fiery blast, much as had injured Jensen, who even now rested in the arms of his love, brutally injured by the Witch's act of betrayal against her love.

"It's not what she wants, so I'm afraid I'll have to decline," Adolph finally managed.

"How do you-"

"The correct answer is how do you?" Adolph finally countered. The witch enraged flew at the Chaplain before Adolph did something unexpected. Dropping Crozius he let the chains that allowed him to keep his weapon at arms length go taut. The witch had already committed to the blow and in true fashion a hand swept the attacking staff to the side, causing another blow for the nose to merely hit his shoulder. His hands moved Swiftly, causing the witch to spin before her throat was caught in the chains dangling from his arms. Pulling the metal links taut she immediately dropped her staff and clutched at the metal, a gasp of shock leaving her lips.

"You pushed her to this, with every word, every action. You were controlling her from the start, and you were unwilling to let her go after you found she had no strength to defend against you," Adolph hissed. The spirit possessing Aislinn let out a rasping snarl before the chains constricted, tightening around the woman's neck. "I know this isn't what she wants, because unlike you I listened to her. You give to her what she wants, but not what she needs. You merely pay attention when she is willing to give something in exchange. You are a parasite that has finally killed it's host."

The witch tried desperately to pull the chains from her wind pipe as she kicked violently, using up precious air. Adolph closed his eyes, unable to witness the horror of choking the woman he loved. The fighting soon ceased to be as violent, as the fight slowly left the witches body. Finally all jerking stopped as the Witch lost the last bit of oxygen in her lungs and went limp. Still the chaplain held it up until the fire died on her stump. He quickly released the chains and looked upon her form, tears in his eyes before he whispered, "I'm sorry Aislinn, there was no choice..."

[TwinCast]

Boots clicked against stone, even as the soft shuffling of wood against stone could be heard beside them. The noise echoed softly in the hallways as two men walked down the hallway side by side. The younger of the two, the Ronin Taka looked to his partner before he asked firmly, "Are you sure you wish to do this?"

"We need every advantage we can get. You know she can save more lives out of the dungeons than in them," The words were spoken with a tired resentment. The irritation seeming to be as rote as the reply.

"This goes beyond gaining an advantage against the enemy," Was the Ronin's reply, "This goes beyond everything. She's down here for a reason. Why should we release her into her lover's custody, when she showed no restraint in attempting to kill him not a month ago?"

"Because, I know what its like to not be in control. When you finally get it back, you resolve not to let it happen again," Was the curt reply. The Ronin began a retort before a gauntlet clad hand slammed into the wall in front of the warrior, who turned his masked face to meet the cold grey eyes of the thief, his head tilted expectantly. The man didn't disappoint, "You can play this as safe as you want Taka, you can play it so safe that Sei will give you a gold star in resource management, but if you aren't willing to take risks you aren't leading, you're babysitting. If you keep this up, I'll know who to ask to watch my daughter when she finally returns."

The Ronin stiffened under the rebuke before he spoke, his voice hoarse, "How dare-"

"Sorry Taka, you get no sympathy from me. I've stood right where you are, and I'm giving it to you straight. This sycophancy that has pervaded the Ixian Knights has to be cut off now, before it chokes us at a critical moment," The man retorted, "Go ahead, yell at me, go tattle to Sei. Do whatever you have to do to make yourself able to sleep tonight, but get her out of those chains. That's a death sentence for anyone with even a modicum of magical talent, and if we were attacked tomorrow you'd have killed her as surely as Adolph nearly did."

Taka glared into Seth's eyes seeing only the life fade out of them, replaced by something. He could see it hiding behind those eyes, an unsettling intelligence watching, waiting, sizing him up for the next meal. Taka broke eye contact first before he repressed the shudder that had started, making it look like an adjustment of his kimono. He then spoke softly, "Let us be done with this farce so she can be on her way. She is in your care Dahlios-san. Do not let Orlouge-dono down."

"Well then, let's explain the situation to her," Seth replied nodding softly. The life returned to his eyes only showing a muted annoyance towards the Ronin.

The door was guarded by a member of the Ixian Knights who promptly opened it saluting Taka and Seth as they entered the chamber, revealing Aislinn sitting at a table.

The room was kept warm by a small fireplace tucked into the corner. The flames dancing about the logs in a merry wonderment. The soft orange glow of the fire revealed the bed, and further, the chains that ran through the room. They all connected overhead, to a small ring set into the stone roof. there was four in total, though two hung listlessly in the center of the room. Two were connected to the arms of Aislinn who even then was seated at a small desk working furiously at writing something down. Her eyes looked up upon the distraction before she went back to her work. Her eyes held a firm resolve that seemed set against the invading army of tears upon her eyes.

"Tsukai, it has been a month, and you have remained in control," Taka said firmly. The witch nodded even as she continued to write. She seemed to remain non-vocal even as Seth moved about the room, inspecting the quarters of the onetime Lady of the Castle.

"We gave your post to Pierce, it seemed only fair that we keep your infirmary running until you can get back in the swing of things," Seth spoke up. Aislinn looked to the thief, who remained not looking at him even as Taka seemed the glare at the rogue. He then sighed and turned to Aislinn.

"There were talks of letting you out. Surprisingly, these requests came not from Hawk-san or Gretzel-san. While I can easily refute their demands, there has been a rising tide of concern about your condition down here. Some say I have placed you here to wither and die in my own mockery of Remi-san's attempt upon your life," Taka said firmly.

"One would of course wonder when they are refused access to me, let alone news of my condition," Aislinn responded in kind. Her eyes remained fixed on Seth studying the man for awhile. It was a measure of respect she had thrown the thief who understood the precaution. He was a thief, and being treated as one, rather than respected as the upstanding member of society he wasn't.

"I'm here to protect the general, while he talks with you. He wants to see if it's truly you in there, or if that spirit is still in possession of your body," Seth replied firmly as he kept his hands where Aislinn could see them. Another nod of respect towards the witch in showing he wasn't attempting to rob her blind.

"Pending this discussion we may be letting you out for an issue that has arisen. Adolph is already preparing to fight, and it has been brought up you might be a resource required for his group to succeed, "Taka continued.

"So, I must convince you I am not crazy, or worse, possessed?" Aislinn said. An eyebrow arched even as she neatly slammed her journal closed. She arose from her chair to give the Ronin a stern glare and responded fully in a whisper, "I am not some tool you can dangle in front of my love when it suits you Ronin. I am not some pet to be kept in the yard where you can watch me, then let me inside only when it suits you. If you wish me to be of service, I wish to be free, not this mockery of freedom."

Taka nodded firmly as he looked upon the woman. Finally he turned to leave Seth watching him go. The Ronin snapped for Seth to follow who only crossed his arms and remained still on the matter. The Ronin turned with an exasperated sigh as he viewed the Thief remaining in silent vigil. Finally he spoke, "Remain here if you wish, but I refuse to be subjected to more verbal abuse."

His sandals scraped along the hallways and it wasn't until they were silent that Seth turned to Aislinn. The young woman looked upon the Rogue with a genuine smile before she asked, "Is he this angry often?"

"I exasperated him on the way in. I figured it'd be easier to sneak you some things. He'll let you out, he's become too afraid not to cave into a large portion of the knights demands, for fear of proving incompetent," Seth replied firmly.

"I take it, that the Ronin has much to learn?"

"He needs to find a victory for himself, something to build his reputation off of. So far, nearly dying against an Oni and his own family aren't good candidates for inspiring leadership,"

"Thank you Seth, that is twice you've stepped in on my behalf," Aislinn said softly.

"Don't thank me yet. The fight's gotten worse, and I'm not sure people will enjoy any association with me by the time it's over," The Lavinian Demon shook his head.

"What has happened?"

"It began with a city called Valdta..." (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?22568-The-Return-to-Valdta)

[Duffy]

Secrets (http://www.althanas.com/world/showthread.php?22529-Secrets/page2) – Full Rubric
Featuring Twincast

If you have any questions about anything below, please don't hesitate to get in touch with me via PM; alternatively, get in touch with the Head Judge Sagequeen.

Plot ~ 17/30

Story ~ 6/10 – your story starts strongly, with a potent vigil and a shocking revelation about Aislinn’s injury. You work hard to reference to the wide-arc of the Ixian Knights, and your technique and setting lures the reader in to be a part of that story. The length of this thread, taking into account its place as a prequel of sorts to the preceding thread, hampered real development of a better story, and thus, a higher score. My recommendation would be to consider pacing, and if you’re really said all you need to say at any particular point. It would have been nice to hear more about Aislinn’s awakening, the reasons for her pacifism, and perhaps more scene work in the classroom, Hogwarts style. Whilst brevity is great, sometimes, a story needs more traction.

Setting ~ 6/10 – your setting was lavish, detailed, and not overdone. You did not however draw on the full range of senses enough, or use the props to a greater level than you could have. The chicken pot pie was one particular example, whilst you portrayed Aislinn’s relish of her favourite meal, there was an opportunity to make my tongue salivate – get into the meat and gristle of a descriptive paragraph to really drive home how juicy the white meat and gravy really are. Texture and taste could have been developed when describing Aislinn’s biting down on the willow, and the setting of the forest, and the fighting arena, could have been developed more, especially the forest; whilst you had a strong character and communication score, don’t let the setting fall to the wayside because of it.

Pacing ~ 5/10 – your pacing was poor, not just because of the length of the thread, but because of the awkward, unneeded, and unannounced time and scene transitions. The jump between posts five and six, six and seven and the exposition in the closing sequence were jarring, to say the least. Whilst it might seem trite to do so, a sub-title or simple use of the epilogue could have given the reader time to adjust, and a more logical approach to reading. The closing dialogue in the prison, between Aislinn and Dissinger felt especially rushed.

Character ~ 22/30

Communication ~ 7/10 – needless to say, whilst the writing has plenty of opportunity to improve, I found the communication, the dialogue and emotion between your characters, to be very well considered, written, and portrayed. Aislinn’s stubborn, childish, and easy to anger personality was displayed incredibly appropriately in the training sequences, the awakening, and in her reaction to her pupil’s concern. My only comment would be to be careful with the switch between formal and informal, elision implies a sort of person who is less than weary of his or her speech – something that Tagaz and Pierce would seem to not naturally do.

Action ~ 7/10 – good action should not just be about direct, brutal, and obvious conflict and motion. You used physical with Aislinn, sound and description with the training, and jostled between fighting, movement, and tension between people. I appreciate your simple but effective ‘clash of wood against metal’ and the excellent “boots clicked against stone”. To improve on the score, perhaps consider reflecting on how your characters respond to the turbulent world around them. Internal thought is not always appropriate in writing, especially dialogue heavy, but Aislinn could reflect on her brash words, and show her indignation with internal turbulence, as well as the fire and brimstone she exudes from her wound.

The highlight of this thread came in the action in post ten, coupled with Jensen’s enigmatic goading and insults in the training scene.

Persona ~ 8/10 – reflected in your strong communication and action scores, your grasp of your character’s persona, and those of the PC and NPC’s you utilised throughout is impressive. You portray the stoic determination of the training instructors. You highlight Peirce’s patriarchal desires, and you, as ever, encapsulate Sei and Jensen’s juxtaposed masochism. As Aislinn was struggling to come to terms with the loss of her hand, I felt sympathy for her, genuine, unbridled, and heartfelt. I can only give kudos for the development of frustration, and her determination to find a new purpose in her life. The only issue I had believing in your character’s actions was her sudden anger at Pierce, when he asks her to consider physical training. It seemed both overdramatic and out of place.

Prose ~ 16/30

Mechanics ~ 4/10 – your mechanics, and in turn, your clarity, sadly detract from an otherwise solid investigation into the secrets and lies of Aislinn Orlougne. There were consistent mistakes throughout, which I have tried to reflect in the commentary. Some were the sort that can be caught with proofreading, others appear to be ingrained. I would be a hypocrite if I said anyone was free of these sorts of tars to a literary canvas, so I have to say I hope the comments help – I don’t mean to be overly critical by it.

Comma use is clunky throughout. Be careful with separating clauses, pacing your points, and reflecting on the otherwise excellent word choice and solid description. It’d be easier to list a few noticed ones.

1. Third sentence, first line, post one; requires comma for third clause.
2. ‘Lit like a candle’ could use a comma.
3. You use ‘its’ instead of it’s twice in post two.
4. Several dialogue formatting errors, capital letters after commas etc. in post five.
5. “It was all they could do to figure…” sentence in post six requires proofing for chunkiness.
6. In post seven/eight you say “Aislinn, you’re a pacifist you don’t need to learn”. Comma should come after pacifist.
7. Perhaps the sentence ending “held no spite or malice” in post eight should be separated with a semi-colon.
8. Post eight uses listing and triple clauses extensively, which should have two commas and then comma ‘and’ to temper the awkward reading (be wary of this, and clarity will improve alongside readability).

Other mechanical errors include:

1. Misspelt Raiaera in post four.
2. Capital E in eleven in post three.
3. Capital W used in Witch in several places, but not in many others (post seven and eight).
4. Capital F in fiancée (post eight).
5. Word missing, ‘TA’ instead of, I assume, Tagaz in post seven.
6. Several formatting errors with capital letters in broken dialogue in post eight.
7. You capitalised Training Instructor; if this was due to a continuity/Ixian Knight point, a comment to explain why it’s personified would be appropriate.
8. After an ? or an ! in dialogue, such as ‘he said what?” she asked, treat it as a comma. You capitalised incorrectly in this manner with “move beyond this!” He in post eight, as well as (“Where are they?” The) in post nine and (talking about!” The witch managed); also in post nine.
9. Standardise your choices, either go with Immortal, or immortal, you switch between the two often. Personification is a difficult rule to follow, but I question your use of Phantom Pains over phantom pains, and Darkly in post two, though I expect that was a typo.
10. Capital I in infirmary in post six.
11. Capital D in Dranaks in post six. Again, if this was colloquial/character history, it would be appropriate to explain what a Dranak is, or why it is deserving of special treatment.
12. Formatting error in post twelve: succeed “taka, instead of succeed” Taka.

Clarity~ 5/10 – I had to re-read two to three lines each post because of the above mentioned comma misuses and clunky sentence structure. That, coupled with the scene transition, made it difficult to follow the flow and peaks and troughs of your tale.

Technique ~ 7/10 – I have to say one thing firstly, congratulations on the correct epistemological use of ‘blond’ over ‘blonde’. The gulling, plot hook, and the solid rising tension in the first post were fantastic. You have a good sense of word choice to highlight the mood, the drama, and the right level of formality depending on the NPC’s present. To improve be wary of repetition of words and phrases. “Adolph of course” opens two paragraphs in post one, as well as several words in post four, and down several times close together in post six. I’m not saying you need to invest in a thesaurus, just be careful not to rely on the literary concrete.

I urge you to the side of caution when using elision outside of dialogue. That is not to say it’s incorrect, because it isn’t. However, you use it in some places, and not in others. If you’re going to use couldn’t, make sure it’s consistent, and the same for wasn’t (post one) and so on and so forth. You use it appropriately in the changing moods of your character’s communication, so I think you grasp its importance.

The same can be said for being careful with redundant words. In post four, for example, “still they ate in comfortable silence.” The old saying ‘why say it in ten words if you can say it in four’ comes to mind. I think you’ve got the grasp of technique, word choice and emotion in your writing to really take technique (and mechanics in turn) to a new level.

Be careful not to use Earth unique terms, even colloquialisms that could work on Althanas. The phrase Soup Nazi really isn’t appropriate (not because of its meaning, but because ‘Nazi’ is a redundant word in Althanas culture. On the other hand, you inflect cute cultural titles with –dono and –san, a simple, but well placed technique that earns you more praise.

Wildcard: 7/10

This score reflects two things, firstly, enjoyment, and secondly, continuity. It goes without saying that I hope you take on board the pointed errors, proof read, and keep your fantastic character development and understanding of Aislinn’s persona into subsequent threads. I hope nothing here was overly critical, but I want to help, and help I shall!

You handled a large number of NPC’s very well, both as tools, setting, and support. If I were not as familiar with the world of the Ixian Knights, it perhaps might have not pulled off so well; be weary of dealing so heavily in an intrinsic world like this in the future – whilst I know who Uncle Sei is, most won’t, though you did well to keep everything relatively succinct.

Total ~ 62/100


Spoils:

Twincast gains 818 exp, and 150 gold.

[Letho]

EXP/GP added.