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~Azure quickly brought his right blade down, the back up. First knocking the Kunai out of the air, and then deflecting Issildia's attack. He then spun to his right, his body disappearring once again into a cloud of black flame. If it wasn't before, it was apparent that he had been holding back his true strength trmendously, and still it was undetermined to whether or not this was even his full potenial. There was little time to condemplate this engima as his attack threatened her being once again, however this time the attack came from above. The two blades that he bore came hurling down at Issildia at an incredible speed, both of which engulfed in black flames.~

~Azure's blades which had impacted with the ground, sunk deep into the marble that made up the floor of the terrace. Azure made no attempts to evade the attack that Issildia had fired toward his being. He only sirked at her as the ivory lights neared his being. He only held his arm out toward the lights as he stared down at her. It was still undetermined as to how he was hovering in mid air as they fought. He only uttered one phrase as the shadows began to speak to her.~

A darkness that no light can conquer.

~With that phrase, the light in which she had based her attack made contacted with Azure's open palm, and exploded. The explosion seemed to mimic something of a napalm of white flame as it consumed his body and spread throughout the sky. It was then that the unthinkable had taken place. The white flames of Issildia's attack had begun to shift in color, taking on a darker tone. It was not long before her attack was consumed in black flames. It was then that Azure's deranged laughter could be heard as the flames shot downwards toward the baldes that he had hurled toward her earlier. Once on the groud, the flames disbursed toward the left and right, revealing the figure of Azure, as he grabbed his two blades from their places in the marble floor.

Then, in a movement that seemed like no movement at all, Azure's body had faded back into sight flaotig down to the railing of the terrace, two black wings spread from his back as new stains of blood dripped down from his blades. It was then that two brand new gashes found their home in both of Issildia's thighs. The wounds were more like tears, as if he had stabbed his blades into her flesh and ripped them out slightly to the let of her thigh. It was deep enough to stop her movements, but he had somehow avoided the artery. The pain would have been imense, but she would survive this encounter. As the last of the blood dripped off of his blades, he slowly made his way over to Issildia, and held one of his blade to her throat, slightly lifting her chin to look at him.~

As long as you're down there know this. You mind is clouded by your own beliefs....your own ideals...and your own feelings. Fighting in such a state will only lead you to your own destruction. If you have any hopes of achieving your ideals, you must simply let go of your past, your memories, and your emotion. Attain a state of pure selflessness, and nothingness. Until you are capable of doing so, your effort will remain without purpose, or meaning.

~Azure only smiled at his opponent. Her words held a truth that was all to familiar to him. He removed his blade from her throat and twirled it a bit before placing it back in the sheathe at his waist. The flames that resisded on his shoulders had begun to die down, and the strom above the citadel was slowly clearing. He reached down to grab her by the shoulders, lifting her to her feet. He gazed at her once again the strength in her soul slowly diminishing as her pride was obviously devestated by her defeat, but this man, at this point held no malice toward her being. His point had been proven.~

There is nothing further to gain by taking your life. Now is not your time. Your soul tells me you still have much to accomplish in this world.

~Somewhere between the time that he lifted her of the ground to the end of his statement, it could be seen that the wounds that Issildia had sustained during this battle had completely healed themselves. It was obvious that this man had possessed his own unique healing capabilities, but the ability to bestow that same blessing upon others was a trait that not even the Nazuren could duplicate. Once he released her, he stepped backwards a few feet and spoke toher once again. The cries of his poeple had fallen silent as they had departed the city in the midst of the battle. Obviously they were heading to intercept the Larovian Army withn the Forest of 1000 Souls, but he did not seem obligated to join them.~

You are more than what you appear to be. We have never met until now, and yet eevn I can see this within you. Your comrades can see the same thing. Which is precisely why they followed you here. The sooner you realize this about yourself, the better off you will be. It is then that you will discover that you are capable of far more than you believe.

~Azure then bowed to her as his body became surrounded by a cloud of spiraling smoke. He gazed up at her one last time, and stared into her eyes once again. The assertion in his voice solid as stone as he made his final comment before departing her presence.~

Though our paths are different, we are in pursuit of the same goal. As long as that truth remains we shan't become enemies. Should the Fates allow it...our paths will cross again. Fare thee well.

~With that the smoke consumed his body and constricted upon his begin. Once the smoke cleared and the dust settled, there was nothing left of his presence except a single black feather floating down to the earth as the sun finally broke through the clouds, providing the first bit of light that had been seen in this city for six millenia, as it shone down upon the terrace of Baledon citadel.~

Khastur took the shot and yelled out "Insect!...Worthless bug!" soaring down at a clearing of trees he tried to bring in a crash landing as he knew his wings would fade soon-- his head felt light as he flew towards the ground at an alarming rate and put his right boot into Sin's chest so that he would land standing on him.

As his wings faded, Khastur grabbed onto a branch with the one arm left uninjured. Hauling himself up, he made a whistle to his horse which came quickly to the tree with thunderous hooves. Leaping down onto it's back he spurred the horse of to his next destination; he was going to meet Reinsen. As he left Khastur let a small scrap of parchment fly from his hand to the ground behind him, the wind carrying it near the main path. On the note was a red bird with a spear in it's beak-- his declaration of war upon Issildia.

Issildia suddenly appeared near Sin in a brief spiral of shadow. Her expression was unreadable as she watched Khastur depart. Wordlessly she approached the main path where the note had been cast, granting Sin little regard as she did this.

As Issildia read the note silently no noticeable sign of anger or blatant surprise could be seen on her face. There was something apparently different about her manner; obviously her encounter with Azure had brought about something of a change in her demeanor.

She slowly looked up to watch her former comrade disappear off into the distance.

"What is this treachery Khastur?" she murmured to herself.

((Soo...Where is Reinsen? ninja ))

(((Don't worry I'll play as Reinsen unless Azure is online. 3nodding )))


For a moment Issildia stood motionless with the parchment note in her hand, though as Sin concluded his statement she wordlessly released the note to be taken where the wind willed. No mater what Khastur believed she would not allow him to become a servant of her father, even if it was his will to take up such a station.

Finally she turned to Sin and caught him by the upper arm, her eyes took on a lighter tone for a brief moment as his wounds immediately began to knit back together until little evidence of their existence remained. Normally she would be restricted to using verbal spells and incantations to perform such acts, but ever since her meeting with Nicholas Remos she no longer used such things to control her power.

As she released his arm the sound of wing beats descending upon them was heard. Kyrion landed with a grim expression splayed across his face. "Khastur is retreating west...towards the larovian forces that now cross the borders."
In a distant manner he turned his attention to Issildia for a brief moment.
"Interesting..." he muttered.

"What..." she asked in a subdued tone as she looked back to where Khastur had departed.

"Nothing." the azerian replied with a subtle smirk.

"I simply didn't expect you to return to us alive."

"Don't start." she warned in the same subdued manner.

"What exactly happened?" Kyrion questioned, finally his tone turning serious.

"What do you think?" she replied finally turning to face him, her voice sharp with venom.
"Utinu en lokirim, Lle wethrine amin." she uttered lowly, though her voice remained calm, traces of anger could be heard.

"I did no such thing." Kyrion responded. "I myself did not know until now, why should I offer up such information when you yourself should have acted with greater caution This is no longer your personal vendetta for vengeance Issildia."

Issildia looked away from him at his harsh words, she was silent for a few tense moments before she turned to leave and retrieve the horses that were a short distance away.

Kyrion frowned slightly as she left, any other time she would have argued the point with him, but no longer. It seemed that her pride had diminished.

((("Utinu en lokirim, Lle wethrine amin." = Son of Snakes (dishonest person), you decieved me)))

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(The Larovian Encampment)

The larovian forces had only just cleared the Forest of 1000 souls and had made camp only a few short miles beyond the dark forest.
Reinsen stood alone at the crest of a rise that allowed him to easily view the vast expanse of land before him. For some time he had stood there, watching as a storm raged off in the distance.
He could sense the discord between them, a fact that he would utilize to its fullest when turn coat of his daughter's companions reached his location.