Welcome to Gaia! ::

Sci smiled again this man was bold his mask was off and this was the first time anyone had touched him in a non-threatening way. The woman who had healed him before had been slightly aggressive with him.. but in smiling at Bandi without his mask on it gave a full view of his teeth two rows up on the upper jaw and two rows below on the lower jaw of sharp shark like looking teeth. Sci just kept smiling he had two. He wasnt one for pain and at times little things hurt him more than big things did. He always guessed it was his mind could block the large waves of pain by splitting it between his two minds so it didnt bother him but the little pains he couldnt do that with." Hmmm your the second person whos touched me since my mother that wasnt meant to be a strike or a blow to my head."

Rena looked as they got to the castle and saw that Dark was waiting for their arrival. She got off her horse as Soma did. She stood next to her horse as Soma walked a little forwards. She was a little shocked when Soma asked what she was going to do. "I have to go see my Lord soon, to get new instructions" she said. She looked at Dark having not seen him since she left the castle on her mission from Daton. She nodded her head in respect to Dark. She wondered what would happen to Soma and wondered would he be alright without her around. "You give me a shout anytime you need me alright Soma" she said to him, really not wanting to leave him. She had lost her brother once like this she didn't want to loose Soma. She took the raines of her horse over its head ready to lead it off to the stables. She never let anyone take her horse. Last time the horse reared up and knocked the person out.

It was enough for her just to see that the woman was better. She’d seen starving people before, she’d seen people so stuffed with food that they were ready to pop, and she understood hunger much more than most people. She could only smile, while she tried not to stare at the fruit juice from her mouth. It was nice and well she didn’t mind because it was nothing she hadn’t seen before. However when the small creature pulled out a very pretty necklace and thought her eyes shone with want she turned her attention away and gave a small smile. The woman didn’t seem to want to hand over such a thing so Yunari would not show her want for such a pretty thing.

Besides she was sure that she couldn’t do such a thing justice. It was so very beautiful and well she had a bit of a low self esteem issue. She shook her head and retained a small smile. “ Thank you little guy, but I don’t need any payment. I do what I do because I like to help people. If I expected a reward every time I helped someone, then it wouldn’t be helping.”

She wanted it, but she had reserve and there for she would give up earthly desires, but even so, it was so pretty…

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“just touching meh? Yah make is sound like it’s gonna be easy or something.” This was something he had only heard of, the strange thickness of his voice, the dangerous aura. It made him shiver with delight. But as he had promised he wasn’t going to lay a hair on Hokyo’s head, so to avoid such situations he placed his hands in his pockets. All he had to do was dodge and by pulling his arms in and close to his body he could increase his speed and decrease his area where the other could touch.

What he could feel coming from the man, it was thrilling, dangerous and he wanted it. But it was something that he was sure could only come from Hokyo. A clear glaze smoothed over the former glaze making him look almost blind, but Hokyo would know better. He was limiting situations, futures and anticipating what would come next.

Red Rebels

Hokyo only slightly glanced at the blonde and the new comer; they were having a conversation while he had to play a game with Kei that meant her fate, dumb. His eyes shifted back to normal, he no longer let his mind wonder, his eye twitched to the left and his entire body dove to the left, his movement was quicker then normal, it was as though it was like that of a snake striking his hand reaching out towards Kei while his second hand came in from the left. These we both of course just to make him move, Hokyo could see Kei’s choices in moves, he could move to the left, the right under his reach and of course there was over him.
Though there were just some possible ways he could go, Hokyo might have not been able to see the future like Kei but he knew battle. He had hoped that due to the arrow being not attached him or having its own mind; it would not be a possible future outcome that Kei had limited himself to only focusing on Hokyo’s future movement and in doing so he would not see the arrow simply floating waiting to tap him on the shoulder with the feather tips.

Free Lancer

Soma bowed a bit at Dark, he glanced around as the men left them and he could see that Dark was watching everyone, he felt a bit nervous, but at least it was not Daton himself. Staying bowed a little he could feel Dark’s dark red eyes starring at him, was he waiting for something? Or did he just want to wait for his father to show himself. Maybe it was Hokyo!? Or?

The Capital

Dark stood there with a rather amused look on his face. “Rena please carry out your report in writing, Lord Daton isn’t feeling well and would like to rest for a few days, we had a celebration and I fear he has tired himself out.” Dark spoke over the noise of people to reach the woman walking her horse, he had been told to take the information personally but he feared that the boy in front of him took matter above that. Daton had a need to have all Five General positions filled at all times. “First I would assume welcome back is to be taken, second the interest of your father I’m sure is been at the top of your mind these last few days. Though I have news from Daton which precedes the news of your father.” He spoke rather calmly and much like the man that those that knew him was like, he had to deal with Daton news first prior to his own. “Please come inside.” He said turning and walking into the courtyard of the castle. Stopping at the steps he took a seat and patted at the ground beside him for Soma to follow suit which the boy did.

Dark folded his hands together and ran his hand through his shaggy hair. “Following the knowledge I give you about your father Daton has asked that you take a position of one of the Five, granted your knowledge in battle is weak and you lack training but we are required to have Five Pillars at all times.” Dark said rather interested, to see the boys reaction, but to his surprise Soma had stay calm through that knowledge, he wondered if he had guessed who might’ve been his father. Soma simply nodded and Dark continued. “Your mother loved two men, myself and Hokyo, and we loved her however my knowledge of events were limited while Hokyo’s was kept informed. Daton felt that your mother had betrayed him by keeping your blood-line as a secret, which she did out of the interest of Hokyo’s advice. I guess I should inform you that Hokyo left Daton’s services nearly two years ago, and now commands the Red Rebels, so as you can tell his dislike of Daton must have run deep and it likely cost your mother her life.” Dark spoke with a rather acknowledgement of hatred towards Hokyo, it had cost him his love and now years out of his own child’s life.

Dark took a deep breath. “Now, assuming we have those things out of the way, I loved your mother deeply Soma, and I remember times that we would cuddle in the garden reading, enjoying company of the other, she loved me enough to keep a secret away from me. You see as maddening as it sounds, you weren’t the only one that didn’t know about your father.” Dark stopped, how was he going to inform him? Did he just blurt it out? Soma was sitting on the edge of the castle stairs, he was reading to learn. “I am your father, Soma. I wasn’t aware for all the time I had spent with you and your mother, her and Hokyo kept that secret and your mother till she died.” He stopped and looked at Soma, there was utter silence between them, and the world itself was now holding its breath it seemed.

Free Lancer

Soma had listened to Dark carefully; some of it didn’t make sense. He knew of lust and desire, but never figured that his mother had slept with more then one man, that the man just was a coward, but she and Hokyo had kept it from Dark. Wait. Dark was his father, the man that he longed to know for so long, and yet he already knew Dark. It was like finding out a friend was your dad, his heart had skipped and he was happy, but at the same time a little disappointed, the secret no longer held any desire of knowledge, he was now like everyone else. He was sad that Hokyo had left and mad at him for keeping it a secret until his mother was put to death, his hands gripped his pants and his eyes filled with tears. They weren’t happy, but a mixture of all the feelings he felt at that moment and all he could do was cry.

“Why does Daton want to make me one of the Five? Are there not better men that fit the position?” He found himself asking, most likely to get his mind off of what had happened to his mother.

The Capital

Dark felt his hand lift and reach out to Soma and put it on the back of his son’s back, for the first time it was his son’s back. “Daton feels as though you’d be the best, and in time you will prove that. I along with my sub-generals will train you along with the other Generals and if you’d like Rena could help along the way, knowing more then one battle style is helpful.” He said and a smile spread across his face, and patted on Soma’s back. “Though first we need to get you cleaned, hair cut, and new clothes.” He said with a laugh in his voice, standing and heading into the castle with Soma following.

Red Rebels

Hokyo flung himself over his own head, flipping almost onto his back, his legs caught himself and pushing off it would appear like he was almost floating, his mind twitched and the arrow leaped to life and flung itself clumsily at Kei this wasn’t truly to make it touch but Hokyo did have some pride and the arrow would allow him to distract Kei and possible grab his leg or just to touch the man. “Oh I will.” He spoke calmly as he flew at Kei. The arrow coming from the other angle.

Red Rebels

Hokyo simply slapped his hand on the back of Kei’s head, he had moved quickly to regain his upright position and a sly smile had spread across his face. “You can’t count for everything in battle, even I know this.” He said rather cocky, he had no idea what the blonde had done, but he knew that if he should not have stopped the curse that the dark haired woman would’ve and if all else failed he would’ve simply taken the curse onto himself. Hokyo was many things, including cold and distance at times, but he lacked the heart to allow someone is cursed.

“Kei you should leave before those women attempt to kill…”He would’ve finished his sentence, but his heart skipped a beat, his mind fussing and his words fell short. It would’ve appeared as though he had just simply gone blank for the most part but if Kei would notice Hokyo was rather limp from his normal guard like state. The tattoo symbol glowed once and the throne grew out up his shoulder and down to his elbow. A sudden heat was engulfing Hokyo’s right side, the heart wasn’t far away. The curse had already moved.

Suddenly his body gave out and he fell forward, landing beside Kei with a thud. There Hokyo laid, his mind the only thing working. ‘What is it you desire?’ Asked a rather calm voice inside of him, it was the deep accented tone that his voice would overlap at times, it was so warm and welcoming, Hokyo couldn’t help but feel like he should head towards the voice, but something kept him away, a memory. In a moment he was no longer in the realm of Kei or the women, he was standing on the Red Sea, his body frozen in movement. ‘You look well Falo, you have gained a nice strong body this time, though I fear Lagn hasn’t been nice to you this time, he means for you to remember.’ Spoke a sweet kind voice, as a woman appeared before him.

She was beautiful, long brown hair that waved around her like the soil of the earth, such deep green eyes that it seemed to put Hokyo’s own to shame. ‘Who are you?’ He asked, the pain in his shoulder had been reduced to a slight throbbing, but the woman before him made him forget that he might die. She smiled softly at him, and dropped to his level, reaching out with her arms and grabbed his face and pressed her lips softly against his own. They stayed that way for a moment and Hokyo felt another mind in his own and it wanted him to reach for her, and make his own. ‘You will need to remember for that answer my dear Falo.’ She said breaking away from him and pulled away, vanishing, leaving him alone on the Red Sea alone.

He stood there for what seemed like forever, unsure of what was going to happen, he couldn’t see Esta from here. In fact he saw no land, just the sea and its red glint from the water. ‘Do you remember how this sea was created?’ Asked the same accented voice from within him and another body appeared before him, this man was larger then him, he wore heavy body armor and a small slender sword much like Hokyo’s own, his hair was bright red and dark blue eyes shinned under the hair. He nodded is head, and the man smiled kindly at Hokyo. ‘What do you desire?’ He asked again, this time with a body attached to the voice, it seemed to fit and scare Hokyo. ‘I want to fight, I want to create war in order to maintain peace for Ameena and any other who wish it.’ Hokyo said rather like a child, he was scared of what the man might think of this, but the man let out a laugh. ‘Then live with that knowledge, and know that Wento will likely forgive you for all your actions’ The man said and vanished again, Hokyo felt nothing again just the silence of the water moving below him. It was a few moments before he was grabbed from below the surface of the water and pulled down into the depths of the sea, the final moments before he truly thought he was going to die.

He lurched upwards, grasping for air. Though he found himself besides Kei and the others again, it had only been a few secrets and yet he still felt the kiss from the woman and the words from the man. His eyes were watering and his bow was sweating, but it took a moment for his mind to regain himself. He felt very weak and that was odd for Hokyo, his eyes drifted at his right eye and he found the tattoo of the curse was pulling back down to its normal size and pressed back into the band of thrones and flames, he felt nothing from it anymore. It was a dead curse; he had cancelled it out, or was it from one of the two he had met in his dream. Glancing at Kei and the other two, he didn’t say a word.

It was probably sad that Kei had not tried to catch Hokyo when he went down. He just looked at him, found a stick and went to poking him. He wasn’t dead, but he wasn’t alive either. Kei could tell something serious was going on though he had no idea what it was. However the curse on the man’s arm became his focus. While he planned on making due on his promise, he didn’t have to because he watched the curse recede. What shocked him was that it had been canceled out. Was Hokyo that strong? When the other came too he quickly threw the stick and stood. Kei brushed off his pants and rolled his eyes before extending a hand. Hokyo may have been his enemy but they were still both generals, even if on opposite sides now.

He had his alternate motives but those would appear later in time, when he fully understood what had just happened to the man. There was no way enough of Blake’s power was left over to hit the guy so there was no reason for him to pass out right? Who knew, but he’d gotten what he came for, even if Hokyo himself hadn’t realized it. Everything, well except the not hitting his target part, had been planned out within his mind. And he had it now, it was just a taste but he had what he wanted.

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The two girls looked to Hokyo and Kei, while neither of them knew what was going on, they did suspect something big. This was not their battle though so Ray went back to aimlessly watching and Yune went back to looking at the thief. She had yet to receive her answer and well hopefully that little event with her barrier had gone unnoticed because she really didn’t want to have to explain her other powers. She ran her foot over the ground, brushing away the symbol at her feet to break the barrier, she didn’t want someone coming this way and running into it as that would be painful.

Red Rebels

Hokyo sat there for a moment, he was trying to process his mind, he knew that woman and even the man that had stood before him, but he found no memory of them, he just simply knew them. Glancing at Kei’s hand rather oddly he ignored it for a moment and then finally allowed his pride to leave himself and helped himself up, though he wasn’t thrilled about being poked with a stick. Standing he glanced at the women and at Kei. “I think for today we can call it a draw Kei.” He said rather unsure of his voice, it had returned to normal, the deep accent was barely noticeable now.

He glanced at the blonde and the others and walked slowly away, he didn’t say anything else to Kei he didn’t want to. He was truly frightened to the bone of those people, they made Daton’s power look like a child fiddling with unknown knowledge. That woman though, he had heard her name before, but where?

The Capital

Dark sat silently as he watched the servants attempt to remove the long hair from Soma’s head. It had taken nearly four hours and the hair still hung around his head to his shoulders, however this look was much better then that of the long hair. It was then that Dark noticed how tormented his son’s face looked; if he was trained he would become someone strong Daton had been correct. “We shall not let your hair ever get that long again; I fear it would kill a servant next time. Soma smiled a little, he was pretty much naked but they had to remove his pants as they had bathed him. “I believe that is for the best.” Soma said with a rather smug look, rubbing hand through his hair, it was so much lighter he felt like he truly lost twenty extra pounds.

Dark had sent servants out to find clothes for Soma and they had just returned, as he looked through the clothing they were all finely made a good selection, though Dark threw his pick at Soma, tight black pants, a tight leather shirt without arms, in fact they cut off about at his neck. Attached to armings which fit opening on his arms, buttoned to the main leather shirt, servants wrapped clothe around his upper legs and hard leather were buckled around his lower legs. Finally a scarf was wrapped around his neck and hung down and two belts were put around his waist. Dark smiled when he was done, the boy looked increasable decent now. “Now we get you a weapon, follow me please.” Dark spoke leaving and Soma followed strangely behind, he wasn’t sure about the clothing yet but he seemed pleased by them.

Descending three floors into a dark lighted hallway, this part of the castle didn’t look used. “This is the General’s personal storage unit; we keep a number of objects here, weapons, and objects that Daton has spent his rule keeping from others hands and to increase his own personal hand.” He spoke grabbing a torch off the wall and pushed open a door, to find that the entire room was dark. Dark shifted his hands in the dark, and dipped his hand into a large bowl and lifted it out before dropping the torch into it, and in a second the room was lighted by a trail of fire following gases along stone edging that went around the room. The room was large; large enough it was nearly the size of the central hall. On the walls there was large weapons hung, far too large for a human to wield but Soma felt as though in some point in time there was a master to them.

Each item in this hall seemed to scream and echo to find a new master. “These are the weapons that once held a place in each legend you find in the world, each one has a soul which resembles its master, mine was selected from this place, it is called the Rose Blade for the color of the red blade, it allows me to be beautiful in battle while maintaining the danger of being near a rose.” Dark spoke rather oddly; he had not entered this room in a long time, the General that was most commonly found here had been Hokyo. “Do all the Generals find their weapons here?” Soma found himself asking, it felt odd as he ran his hands across a few of the swords that were on stands. Dark fiddled with the answer, he followed Soma, he could not help choice the weapon, and it was Soma’s soul that would find its weapon. “No, in fact Hokyo often sat in this room waiting for a weapon to call to him, however he broke several in attempts to use them even though they were matching his soul, but each day his soul would change and so the weapon refused him as a master and would break, so he would often sit here listening to their calls.” Dark said as he ran his own hand across a small box which contained body armor which fused it to the owners own body.

Soma had walked far into the hall and down several lanes of weapons, each one reaching at him as he ran his hand across it, some bite at his own mind and screamed to kill, but Soma didn’t feel comfortable with these. He stopped as his hand touched a blade and he an odd fire inside of him. Looking at the weapon, it was a short sword, no longer then his upper body, the entire sword was crafted in blue runes and the blade had a large weight on the back making it easy to hit harder, it was made for defense and quick movement. “If Hokyo never found a weapon here, what does he use now?” Soma found himself asking Dark, while he wrapped his hand around the blades hilt. Dark found it a interesting question, due to the fact it was nearly the last time they had seen Soma’s mother alive when Hokyo had found the weapon. “During our campaign in the Asian lands, he came across a weapon which was crafted by the Angelic race, it was named the Duel Dragon blade as the man that gave it to Hokyo claimed that it was once given to the mortal race by a god and held their sign on it.” Dark spoke remembering the time, it was such a weak looking blade, but when Hokyo received that weapon he became fiercer on the battle field then most remember, he was called the Red Blitz inside of the castle but the enemies would’ve known him as the Blood Demon. He drew his attention to Soma and found a smile spread across his face.

“What is this weapon called?” Soma asked raising the sword and dropping it, it sliced through the air and in a second became light in his hand; it weighed nothing like another attachment of his arm. The Generals of Daton were not human, Soma felt this, to be able to control any weapon in this room took a will power, a desire for war and to live and those of normal men would likely be cast away if they touched them. “It’s called the Blue Soul, it was found in the dunes of an ancient Kingdom, and by chance the man that found it was your grandfather, it has refused any attempts of a master until now, it seems it is a very picky weapon.” Dark spoke, the weapon was for quickness, to attack for every angle in seconds. Soma shifted the weapon in both hands, and either way the sword seemed to cuddle against his bare hands. “I would like to use this one.” He said rather confident in the weapon, and Dark nodded. Reaching into a box which was labeled Blue Soul, he brought out a small chain and at the end of it held a cross. “This belongs with the weapon, it greatly increases its users speed.” Dark said, reaching up into Soma’s hair and clipping the chain along some strains of hair, and Soma felt another part of the soul surround him. Placing the sword into its sheath he smiled at his father and they left to enter back into the main hall three stories above.

Daton’s Personal Chambers

Daton sat on the edge of his bed, an old man again, his eyes starring into space. The room was softly lit by two candles in each corner, a book laid in his lap. If one thought he was awake, they would be wrong, he had simply fallen asleep sitting up. His hands resting on the edge of turning the page, his head hanging low. A soft light entered into his room, and the book was pulled softly away from him. A woman appeared beside him, her hair light red and she appeared even younger then Dark, her features were that of barely being dressed and soft blue eyes. Sighing she pushed Daton down into the bed softly, rolling his feet up onto his bed. ‘Wento you push yourself too hard, you should allow your soul to rest before this foolishness continues.’ She spoke softly; her head jerked a little glancing into the distance and nodding, as though someone was speaking to her. Frowning she kissed his forehead, spreading a gentle hand down his face and then vanished in red sparkles. Daton moved in his sleep and groaned a bit, his features had reduced themselves to a younger man and a small tear ran down his face.