Welcome to Gaia! ::

Ryugi nodded and gave his revived friend a thumbs up. He then turned to the green-haired elf and then back out at the ocean as the ship began to leave port, taking them to god know's where.

So, Mr. Lassenger... How long have you known Maximos? I take it you've known him longer than I have.

Ryugi grinned a bit as he scratched the back of his neck. He was almost sure that it was his mark that was itching...

Well, Maximos never told me about Aria, but I've know him for a couple years or so. We fought a long time ago in a city arena, and he beat me soundly. He was a truly great fighter, and we quickly became friends. I haven't seen very much of him, only perhaps met him two or three times since then, but each time we've met, he's wound up changing my life in some profound way. And he's the kind of person you never really forget, no matter how much time goes by.

Ryugi looked at the water as he spoke, the clear blue looking marvelous in the sun of the day, as the clouds reflected of the shimmering surface.

Hmmm...if...I could just....

::This was more of an art form than a science, with careful brush strokes he began the rune on his right arm, the mark slowly absorbing into his skin as he drew it. Line, after painstaking line, until it was completed. Theoretically, this should open a channel using the ethereal nature of shadows allowing his hand to touch the ethereal....theoretically...

Slowly, he moved his hand toward the hilt of the Nameless. The very moment he touched the blade, he knew something was wrong. He was supposed to be able to just touch it, but instead the arm twitched once, then twice, then erratically as if it had a life of its own. It spasmed wildly, sharp pains shooting down the arm.::

Errrryaaaaaah!!!!

::The scream echoed down the cabin as Maximos tried his best to pin his own arm down. Something was wrong, WAY wrong. Instead of ink the markings felt like fire burning through his viens, another scream ripped down the halls. It felt like his arm was being eaten alive. He could see the black ink markings, blowing that wild brilliant purple as the spell did something...it was unknown exactly what, but it was "something". It felt like someone had poured liquid hot metal in his arm and it was scalding everything away. As the glow faded, Maximos was left with his teeth grinding against one another as the runes had turned to vicious scars, as opposed to paintbrush spokes his arm found itself covered in deep violet burns. Burns which bled a wicked black ichor.

There was a knock at the door, someone asking if he was alright. Before he could even answer his arm sprung into motion. What seemed to be short black tendrils reaching from the arm as the arm reached for the door.

Maximos tried his best to ward the person away, but the concerned attendant began to open the door. Like hungry arms awaiting a meal the semi transparent ethereal tendrils reached for the door as it opened. Maximos barely had a chance to move before he as tugged by his arm, the man tried to scream but the had covered his mouth as it began to feed. He could feel the life force draining into him, and with as much effort as he could muster wretched his hand off the boys face, the poor boy running off down the hall in terror.

The arm still hurt, and the pain refused to fade. But Maximos was no stranger to pain, this thing had to be controlled. He place it under the sink to try to clean away the black ichor, though he could tell it wouldnt be healed so easy. Next he gently wrapped the arm in bandages, and using a bit of shadow manipulation extended the glove of his right hand until it was full fingered. He couldnt risk direct skin to skin contact with another living thing without running the risk of draining its life or overstuffing it, should he lose control.

But there was still the matter of the sword. He needed a new vessel for it...that dusty shell was useless. Something small, something portable...something like the necklaces he used to make...yes...a necklace...with a gem...no, just a gem. Yes! That was it! A stone!



He created 5, small stones each with a small lunoc rune inside, and after much concentration, he manged to release the eaten spirit of the Nameless from his arm, into each of the stones. With a spark of shadow, the stones activated, tranforming into a 4ft long, and 3inch wide broad sword, each as sharp as the original blade.

The venture wasnt a total failure. He knew if the screams hadnt reached the top floor already Ruu and Ryu might begin to wonder so he quickly dressed himself, sliding the 5 stones into his pocket and then clipping the sword to his side, as he made his way out of his room and back upstairs.

If the duo didnt notice the change in his gloves, they probably wouldnt notice the random twitch of his right arm.::

I hope you two werent saying anything too horrible about me.

::He said with a smile as he stepped to the duo.::

Now THAT is a long story. I hope you're comfy, because this isn't going to be one of those short tales with a morel in them.

It basically starts with me in my homeland of Angara. Now, Angara is the Continent of Dragons, and only Dragons know where it is, or how to get there. It's completely isolated from the outside world by a magical barrier, and also by terrible natural protection. Anyway, I got falsely accused of some horrible crimes there and got tossed in prison. As time went on, I was eventually released on the condition that I'd have to find the real cause of the crimes. It didn't take me and my friends long to find the real culprit.

Ryugi looked out over the open ocean as he spoke, his eyes seeming to drift as he told the story.

The culprit turned out to be a being named Ramiel. As it turned out, Ramiel was a clone created from ym DNA to try and get a hold of one of my friends, who was an experiment created by the same lab that created him. In the end, we thwarted his plans, and he wanted revenge. So, he went around killing powerful elementals and absorbing their souls, and with it, gained their powers, causing him to become god-like in his power. It got to the point where ordinary magic wouldn't harm him unless weakened, and so, we used anti-magic to weaken him, then magic to finish the job.

Ryugi looked up to the sky now, as he continued to speak.

After we plowed him into the ground, he somehow managed to survive, and completely annihilated my friends. This angered me and filled me with a righteous anger so powerful I was ready to fight him to the death, and do whatever it took to revive my friends and family. Power flowed into my body, and I somehow managed to bring my friend back to life, and defeat Ramiel with a massive show of strength from Ragnarok, my sword. After than, my powers were drained, and I expected to die. After a goodbye, I faded from Angara, and wound up in the Elemental Plane of Fire. There I trained for months, trying to figure out a way to come home.

After a long time, I finally received a pendant that could help me return, and I ended up in the Ethereal Void, where I met a shadow of Maximos. I thought he was the real thing, but of course he wasn't. Hence my surprise when I found out that the REAL Maximos was alive once more, and I'd fallen on him. Anyway, after trading one of my most beloved possessions for a way out, I finally exited the void, and wound up falling out of the sky to land here. Overall I'd say nearly nine or ten months have passed since I was in Angara. As soon as I finish catching up with Maximos here, I'll be heading to the Stadium and Latent to find my friends and family again. And that's pretty much that... In a nutshell anyway...

Ryugi grinned and looked back at Ruuvan, having finished his tale.

That isn't even a half of my adventures. Maybe I'll tell you more at a later date.

Oh! I see you're back my good friend!

Ryugi smiled and welcomed Maximos back to the group.

Which reminds me... I believe I have something that belongs to you...

It was then that Ryugi reached into his breast pocket to retrive his small bag of memories...

Ruuvan laughed with Maximos at the little joke, accepting the retort as a fair balance to the whole situation. He eyed the bag as it was passed, wondering what it could be; he had seen the hat which Joshua had, Max's old top hat, and returned the sword, so what could it have been?

::Those brought back so many memories...some good, most not. Most were memories of a part of him, he hoped he was gone for good. A chapter in his life he prayed was closed. He reached his hand out for the gauntlets. But they were his memories, just like those were his--::

PRETTY!!

::A pair of sticky sugar covered hands jumped up from under Maximos and Ryugi and snatched the gauntlets, and then tried his best to slip them on. Those would be D's hands, strangely enough, they seemed rather snug. This was odd because one gauntlet should have been able to fit both of D's hands in it. But they did, it was almost like they shrunk. D pulled his sleaves over them, and then said::

Tank you Ryuyi!

::And then ran off to find more sugary goodness. Maximos however, broke into laughter.::

::Maximos could see the dissappointed, emotions were something quite literally visible to his right eye. Disappointment came across as a strange yellow hue, it was caught between pure white, and vibrant orange. But still he smiled, Ryugi didnt understand, so of course he'd be disappointed of his gift was taken.::

Thanks alot for those, Ryugi. In truth, they're in a better home. The Carvers belonged to the Destroyer. So really...its only right that he have them back...you know?



::He had one of those consoling smiles, really he could understand, he had some friends he long considered dead. If he saw one of those friends today despite his joy over their life, he would probably still be feelin the grief of their death.::

Thank you Ryugi...

::He said in his warmest tone.::

You remembered me, though it seemed most of those I would call family beside Ruuvan here, forgot. A spirits worst fear is being forgotten, when your forgotten entirely is when you truly cease to be...here, let me see that cloth really quick.

::He held out his left hand palm up.::

Dont worry, I'll give it back.