Pride and Glory (Shinsou vs Storm)

[Shinsou Vaan Osiris]

The funnel wall of the Citadel’s portal snapped and crackled as the electrical substance that comprised it bent to the Ai'Bronne's every whim. Strange, tendril like anomalies morphed and swirled in front of Shinsou’s face as the arena panned into focus. The Telgradian judged the two foot gap between the lip of the portal and what appeared to be some sort of stone path and stepped down perfectly; Shinsou’s foot pressing, for the first time, onto the cold, hard floor of the monk's creation.

A creation from his memories.

Shinsou had recalled every small detail and had sent word ahead to the powerful guardians of the Citadel to work their magic. With an approving nod, the spellsword surveyed the wonderful work that had taken place in his absence.

The glistening surface of a white marble path carved an icy garden in two. It was covered with crispy, frost covered leaves, the kind that could be found in the aftermath of a bitter winter’s morning, and as his footsteps crunched one by one Shinsou cast his gaze to the Telgradian "Council of Five" chamber grounds.

Ah, the nostalgia. How long has it been? Five years? Ten?

Just ahead, that familiar silver gate stood at least three times the height of the ten foot wall on either side of it that encircled the chamber of the Council of Five. It was topped with crystalline spires that glinted like diamonds in the low morning sun. The dome shaped structure was made of some sort of white granite. Finely carved statues adorned the edges of the gate around its massive iron doors. Shinsou had seen the decorations before, although he couldn’t make out any of the statues from memory. Heroically posed warriors, insignias of Telgradia and the Council of Five and assorted coats or arms were some of the more prominent statuary, breathtaking in their beauty and refinement.

As he approached the door, Shinsou stopped to take it all in and then pressed his hand against the iron door on the right. After a bit of a struggle it slowly opened on its massive chrome hinges.

The revered halls of the Council of Five’s chambers were as silent as a crypt, and almost as dark and eerie. In Telgradia, the mausoleum like structure was well guarded and kept away from any official Telgradian military buildings. It was used only to summon the most powerful of warriors, including his father Telos Soltair, and was so scarcely attended that anyone walking its cold corridors could feel an empty chill reverberate down their spine as they peered at the empty walkways. As the heavily reinforced doors slammed behind him, Shinsou settled and took a moment to investigate the replica of the building he had been away from for over ten years

Far over his head, vaults and arches sailed up and converged in a classical array of marble carved embellishments. A row of marble columns rose to the ceiling and created an avenue that extended past the end of the dome chamber in which they stood. At the end of this avenue a white statue of a goddess, shrouded in celestial robes, loomed over the walkway with a single hand held towards the heavens. The floor consisted of a myriad of marble slabs that led to a centre circle underneath the peak of the dome, from which all other passageways through the building were connected. Here, the flooring was laid in such a way that the emblem of the Council of Five was sketched out over the circumference of the room.

Every detail etched. It's probably better than the original.

Shinsou once again set off, walking a straight path between the columns in silence. The lay-out of this section of the building was similar to several of the other royal buildings in the complex; high, narrow windows of colourful stained glass, patterned to portray important events in Telgradian lore. They alternated with the pillars, dark with the lack of any background light. Under these, tucked into coves far into either side of the corridor, were strange pedestals that contained small statues of previous council members. Rows of lighted, scented candles flickered on top of tables positioned either side of these figurines.

Shinsou couldn’t help notice that the Council of Five’s inner chambers was as enormous, and as disquieting, as any other part of the main building from the outside. It was then, as he cast his gaze down, he felt a lone power preparing to materialise at the end of the corridor.

The spellsword stopped, brushing a thread of chestnut brown hair from his face, as his golden eyes steeled onto the forming portal. He took his coat off to reveal a sleeveless black top, baring his arms to the world, and concentrated his trademark dark matter spell into his palms. Instead of producing a projectile, the two dark matter nucleuses instead expanded within their respective hands and cladded Shinsou's fists, like gloves, with a black and purple marbled membrane. He had tried this once in sparring with Josh, and now he would put the dark matter spell to new use here again, in a situation where he was without his sword to aid him.

Come on Storm, don't keep me waiting.