Welcome to Gaia! ::

~Within the chamber, Malkaia found himself fatigued as she faced off with the man. He was not surprised at the outcome, even though he did not like it. This man was indeed strong enough to defeat Azrielle in battle, but then again, he had managed to survive an assault from the three of them altogether. As he contemplated his next course of action he heard a whisper in his ear....the whisper of a name.~

Azure? Azure?! Azure of the Cold Fire? No.

Ah. So you finally understand.

You are the same Azure who delivered the final blow to the kingdom of Nikau. Turning it into what it is today?

If that is what you wish to believe.

Heh heh.

At what do you jest?

Just a theory I wish to test. twisted

~With that, Malkaia made another attack at Azure, swinging his blade at him with all the force he could muster. The results of his attack were not what he predicted it seemed. Azure only needed raise his arm in front of him to stop the blade, grasping it's metal withhis bare hand. He tilted his head slightly and raised an eyebrow as Malkaia looked back at him. With a shift of his hand, Malkaia's Zanbatou was awarded the same fate as Azrielle's Mugetsu: It shattered completely. Malkaia then dropped to one knee, the strength that remained within his body was only enough to keep him conscious. As he looked up at Azure, he had a pecuilar smirk on his face.~

Sure you realize by now that your efforts are meaningless.

Meaningless? Perhaps. Although I am proud to say that you have indeed answered one of my questions.

I suppose.

Still hard to believe. Up until now, I thought that we were perfect. No matter what happened in the world, the two of us would always survive. I'm beginning to wonder if this was the reasoning behind those actions.

You and Azrielle were two parts of a greater whole. When you were created, you were given the powers of my being which has been dormant within your bodies. Once you began to grow stronger, my own body began to call you back to me. This is the only reason for your existence. Whether you had known your fate to begin with, or no...the outcome would have been the same. Those who were born in the darkness, shall return to the darkness. That is your fate and it cannot be changed.

So many questions....Maybe I will find my answers....

Perhaps....though it will not be in this life. Farewell.

~WIth that, the man, Azure, pointed his open palm out towards Malkaia. Although he had come to accept his fate, the smile on his face had not left, as a red smoke began to rise from his body. He had begun to melt into a puddle of blood as the doors to the chamber had finally opened. Aschera and Darsha were just about to attack until they layed eyes on Malkaia, whose body had just been destroyed. The puddle of blood that lay on the floor, had shot out of the ground and assimilated itself with the skin of Azure, restoring the color to his body. Once he had completely assimilated the blood, he looked to the floor, and began to collect the fragments of the blades of his fallen prey. Darsha was at a loss for words, but soon disappared int oa spiral of flame leaving Aschera behind to deal with Azure. In his hand, the fragments had begun to burn with a black flame, and soon materialized into two large Katanas, in their sheathes. Both sheathes were black, but contained intracate designs of two different dragon-like murals on their material. One was a blood red, while the ohter was a Midnight blue. He placed them in their perspective positions. On onhis back and the other on his waist. He then turned to Aschera and held his arms out to the side in a gesture that seemed to welcome an attack. His voice, now holding a tone that reflected neither Malkaia nor Azrielle, it was completely unique as he spoke to him...announcing his presence it all his glory.

At last all the peices have returned to their original states.

What are you rambling on about? You killed Malkaia and Azrielle. You shall pay for this crime.

It is not a crime to reclaim what originally belonged to me.

I will stop you.

Do you truely believe you can stop the coming evil? You are most welcome to try. twisted

(((Alright here is the time jump ladies and gentlemen lol. Time for all the pieces to fall into place whee )))

No more than little over a day and a half later Issildia, along with Kyrion, Archer, Khastur, Sin, and Kegawa came upon the first mark of civilization within Trenius Sekia...a place known as Baledon Sukiyo.

Clouds dark with rain approached from the south as the group approached, all the while the sun neared the western horizon. "We must keep moving, our destination lies.....Kyrion ..," Issildia said as the azerian ceased in his movements to gaze out at Baledon Sukiyo.
"Kyrion!" she exclaimed in anger.

Finally the azerian averted his gaze, "We should go back." he uttered flatly.

"What are you talking about?" she asked after bringing her horse to a stop and turning to face him.

"We are to late." he muttered to himself.

Looking off to the north towards where Kyrion had been focused, it was then that something familiar...a presence tied to distant memory... came to her attention.
It can't be...

"Issildia No!" shouted Kyrion, as Issildia signaled her horse into a fast paced gallop towards Baledon Sukiyo, to leave the others behind.

Sin nodded to Khastur and flicked the reigns and followed after him and Issildia.

"No need to even ask!"

(short sweatdrop )

The wolf hesitated as several of them broke off towards Baledon Sukiyo. His ears perked slightly at Archer's words, though they were not meant for him. He howled sudenly, his ears flattening themselves against his head. His eyes flickered as he sunk into the earth, though not fighting it. Quickly he was consumed into the soil, which returned to its normal appearance afterwards.

~~~
Seishin watched from his distant point observing the small party as they seperated, several heading for the distant city. He had been following them for days about to listen to their conversations and watch them closely with the help of Kojin. He was hidden against his surroundings, masking his presence completely as well, having learned such techniques during his training with the Nether Gate. As the howl reached his ears, carried by the wind, he focused on its origin, the image appearing into his mind instantly. He watched as the wolf was enveloped into the earth. He gazed, astonished by what he had seen, unmoving. His expressions became stern; he was now sure of the identity of the wolf. Nodding to himself he fased into nothing once more, disappear, as a swift wind rolled through the area.

Niobe ran swiftly down the halls, bursting through the doors she had knocked down earlier, not stopping for anything. Beasts chased after her, those in the air swooped down and attacked her, but Niobe continued on. She plowed through the Forest of 1,000 souls like a bull, knocking down everything in her way, creatures biting and scratching at her all the way.

There is only one place I can take her...

She continued on, only slowing down to wade in the Qeu Dari River out of necessity and need for refreshment. Niobe enjoyed the cool water as she splashed on, the blonde still unconscious in her arms.

Larovia, I'm not that far now. I can make it.

She told herself this, even as the soles of her feet burned in protest.

A dark expression crossed Kyrion's face as he listened to Archer's words. "You do not understand what waits within that city...what has returned."
He looked back at Archer with a look of defeat in his eyes, "You are all going to get yourselves killed" he muttered as he took to their air and set off towards the city.


~Issildia had entered the city, pausing little for the others to catch up. The dominating feature of Baledon Sukiyo was an enormous keep that towered over the city; a dark amassment of spires that rose upwards, blending in with the storm clouds that dominated the sky.
As she approached the citadel she dismounted, granting time for the others that had followed behind her to catch up.

The presence was so alike...yet different...something was incredibly amiss, she realized.