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 Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2013 3:32 pm
xxxxxx[Sylph Forcas]
"And yet you allude to the ability to find him," another voice entered the fray, though the location of this one was originally unknown. It was only after a series of soft steps that the large stallion appeared. At just a touch shorter than Kiyoshi, he struck an imposing figure himself. However, he didn't appear to strive towards an intimidating stance, and instead he had something akin to diplomacy written across his expression. While a faint grimace may have lined his lips, his eyes continued to glow with the warmth he was so well known for - a warrior he might have been, but he was a compassionate one.
More importantly, he was the heir and voice of reason within the family.
"Rest assured that I did not intend to come here today, but when my son, my aunt and my nephew all converge on the same location I grow concerned," he pursed his lips, regarding both Tut and Connie with a critical gaze before casting an inquisitive glance towards Esper - given that Esper was a scout, he wasn't too surprised at his appearance...it was the antics of the two oddballs that gave cause for concern.
"While my nephew's behaviour is within normal boundaries, the antics of the younger two has not gone unnoticed," he pointed out flatly, causing Kiyoshi to afford him a rare smile.
"I apologize for the intrusion, but now that it has become evident that you are aware of information that could guarantee the safety of my brother, it is vital that I receive it."
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Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2013 3:45 pm
xxxxxx[Esper]
A rare moment of silence followed as Esper regarded Sylph, a slight twinge of irritation evident. A quiver of his eyebrow and a twitch of a vein just beneath his eye indicated that he hadn't appreciated the interruption. No doubt it was because he was in the process of pursuing the information himself, though he had schooled himself over the years to not take this personally. He could only surmise that a more juvenile part of him was frustrated that he had not gotten the information before Sylph. He took great pride in supplying accurate and up to date information...this would have been quite the find.
"I was about to request that information," Esper murmured, lifting his eyebrow as he turned his intention back to Kiyoshi. It was better not to argue or display any further discontent in the presence of so many, after all, this was not Sylph fault and was more to do with certain aspects of his own mind - aspects that he had still not gained control of.
"It is imperative that we receive this information," he continued in further support of Sylph's request. "In the event that he is out numbered he will be incapable of fighting more than one at any time -"
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Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2013 3:53 pm
xxxxxx[Kiyoshi Yukio]
"You have so little faith in the only one of your line that elects to embrace his abilities," Kiyoshi replied, meeting the gaze of Esper and then Sylph with a steady one of his own. While he would concede that a conflict with multiple walkers would cause considerable strain to his Grandson it was not impossible for him to succeed. Granted, Tempest had much to learn in this respect and to a certain degree, both Sylph and Esper were right - without guidance it would be unlikely that he would be able to locate the strength inside him to win outright. However the stallion would not allow them to assume that he was defenceless and incapable, even if that meant that Kiyoshi would be required to travel with him for a short while as well.
"You believe he is incapable, yet it is he who faces the same walker over and over again," Kiyoshi slipped away, removing himself from his position within a circle of his estranged family. From there, he walked towards the ledge and gazed out over the canopy, his lips pursing. "He chases her every waking hour, saves hundreds from her grasp, come heaven or hell," he chuckled softly, refraining from looking round.
"Even the deepest of wounds heal within days, not weeks or months," he shook his head and returned to the topic at hand.
"While I appreciate that you are concerned for the well-being of your own brother, uncle or nephew, he would never forgive me if I were to expose his location," he frowned and finally turned back to the group. "You have made no secret of your distaste for his pursuits and desire to be more like me; the strength he has comes from me and you would become a liability to him in your current condition."
He paused.
"You would hold him back, though your intentions are good, and that is not something I can allowed."
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Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2013 3:59 pm
xxxxxx[Sylph Forcas]
"So you are refusing to assist one of your own," Sylph remarked, his tone cooling as he regarded his grandfather. He had always been the son who avoided bias, who sought to find the best in others. Firm but fair, he had given others the benefit of the doubt until it was proven that he should not. To that end he had two children, one of which was mutated beyond that of even his father, and a mate who heralded from a land of slavery.
"You would sooner he died on behalf of this crusade because we do not follow his religious calling, because we do not concede to our more dark and base desires," Sylph grimaced, his gaze becoming more critical as he observed Kiyoshi. Suffice it to say that he didn't understand the mentality behind his grandfather's response, but then again he had never truly questioned his father's decision to shield him from this aspect of his heritage.
...That in mind, he had never really listened to Tempest when he was around. Each time his younger brother had spoken of his grandfather, of all the magic and power he possessed... of everything he had taught. It had sounded ridiculous at the time, or it had until now.
Did Kiyoshi know something he didn't?
"At the very least, please tell me he is not alone."
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Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2013 4:05 pm
xxxxxx[Kiyoshi Yukio]
"He is not alone," Kiyoshi replied softly, a warmth flickering into his glowing and otherwise impenetrable eyes. He hadn't always been a monster and on the eve of the spirit's destruction within Esper, he had remembered that. While compassion didn't often show itself, he understood the importance of family, even if they did not necessarily appreciate his importance or relevance. While he was prepared to block their path towards Tempest, he would not let them remain in the dark about some things.
"He is in the presence of her daughter and a recently rescued healer, though her skills leave much to be desired," his tone was wry as he recalled the flickers and memories in his own mind. The fluttercorn had not been particularly good in her ministrations but she was improving and would no doubt prove to be a valuable asset as time pressed on.
"Both have complimentary skills and expertise necessary to his survival, so you have my assurances that he will most certainly have support when he needs it most."
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Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2013 4:23 pm
xxxxxx[Conduit]
"But they won't," she had kept quiet and left the immediate generations to converse with their Grandfather, but when it became apparent that the conversation was going nowhere fast, she elected to step in. While she could appreciate that Kiyoshi may not want to betray the trust of the only family member to grace him with company, respect and even love, it could potentially be of a detriment to him. As an outsider to the worst of the internal family politics, she was the most neutral party in this and more critically, she was the only one privy to the information of her father.
Information she should have kept to herself.
"My father -" she hesitated, tightening her lower jaw as she considered whether or not she should speak further. However when she thought about it, if she didn't speak now there may come a time when she realised it was too late. She couldn't miss the opportunity, particularly if it served as a way of guaranteeing her nephew's safety.
"He has seen the end, Kiyoshi..." she spoke so softly she was barely audible, her expression pained. "Tempest's survival is in doubt, for where he treads -"
Another pause.
"Where he treads, not even the holy dare to do so without great hesitation." She lifted her gaze to meet Kiyoshi's and shook her head. "He will fight at hell's gate."
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Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2013 4:42 pm
xxxxxx[Kiyoshi Yukio]
It gave him pause for thought and a moment of hesitation.
Conduit was clearly the daughter of Cyn Generis, the arbiter of time and the one who had warned of his own downfall. He had once warned that if Kiyoshi continued to burn so brightly, he would be extinguished in a single, violent burst. At the time the stallion hadn't believed, swept away amidst the voice of the spirit within his head...but when he had finally been freed and lay in ruin, he had realised that the Angeni had spoken the truth. He had burnt too brightly and he had been extinguished violently.
Nevertheless it was rare for the Angeni to make reference to anything that might have affected the balance of time. In fact, the stallion had it on good authority that the Angeni never meddled. It was too risky and those he loved could be caught in the cross fire, though the fact he had already warned his daughter of the tragedy that lay in wait...
Kiyoshi met the mare's gaze with his own and held it.
The Angeni had done something.
He had meddled.
Yet even if he had done so, Kiyoshi had first hand experience of the accuracy of the arbiter's gaze and knew better than to question it... but if this was the case, then he would have to betray his grandson's trust. Even more problematic, was that he would also prove to be an obstacle as he could already feel the concern bubbling in his own stomach.
"Scrying for him will take a great deal of concentration," he said at last and released a deep, rumbling sigh. "To find him will take time, but when I do locate him, I will go to him," he shook his head as both Sylph and Esper opened their mouths to disagree.
"I gave him my word that I would not permit anyone to follow him, and as only one of two family members I have, I will not betray his trust."
"You have my word that I will protect him; but this fight is not yours, it is his and if need be I will drag him out from the gate of hell myself."
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Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2013 5:03 pm
xxxxxx[Esper]
After all this time, his Great Grandfather was still proving to be difficult? Esper had to concede that his honour and duty to Tempest was impress and he found it difficult to fault him. While his uncle may have been at risk, there was something in the tone of Kiyoshi's voice that made it very clear that Tempest would not walk alone. Though his grandfather and his uncles might struggle to understand and would most likely claim that Kiyoshi was being deliberately awkward...Esper was sure he knew better.
Nevertheless he did have one complaint, bar the armour the stallion wore, Kiyoshii had very little in the way of weapons. He may have been strong, but he was wingless and lacked the ability to cause lasting damage to the Skinwalker or multiple skinwalkers if that were the case.
"Forgive me for saying, but you do not look well equipped to battle anything - Walkers cannot be beaten by sheer strength, and what will you pull him out with, your teeth?"
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Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2013 5:11 pm
xxxxxx[Lil Tut]
"Scarcely takes damage, armour plated and armed with whips," Tut flicked his gaze towards Esper and shook his head, a wry smile on his lips. Esper and Sylph may not have watched the encounter between Syntyche and Kiyoshi, but both he and Conduit had done so. They had seen him lash out and they had seen her flee, unable to escape the grappling and ethereal tendrils that sought to ensnare her. She had come up against a weapon (or was it a limb?) that she couldn't kill and she had been at a loss for what to do...though he had no idea where Kiyoshi had put said limbs.
"Whips that can't be caught, yet seem solid when used by him," he narrowed his eyes at Kiyoshi and lifted a brow. "I get the feeling he's got far more equipment than we realise, Esper," he said slowly and grimaced. All things considered, Kiyoshi looked almost harmless without those things. A simple, black stallion with horns - he had no wings, no tendrils...just armour.
No one would have expected those whips to emerge.
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Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2013 5:18 pm
xxxxxx[Kiyoshi Yukio]
As if on cue the stallion's shoulder blades flickered and the ethereal, wispy tendrils coiled into the air. Quivering and rippling in the still air, they seemed to be completely harmless until he flicked his gaze to a tree and the one on his right lashed out. With a loud crack, it shattered the bark, the wood beneath revealing itself before the whip went through the trunk without further damage. Satisfied, the stallion turned his gaze back to Esper and offered a small smile - leaving both Tut and Conduit to coo over the rippling, ethereal wings that were beginning to reveal themselves on his shoulder blades.
"Your cousin speaks the truth, Esper," Kiyoshi remarked and chuckled. "Looks can be deceiving, but I assure you that I am one of the most well equipped soquili you will meet," he confirmed and with that, he turned his attention to Sylph who had been silent for quite some time. Kiyoshi had no doubts that he had been following the conversation, but rather than contribute he had elected to absorb the more important facts.
"I have few whom I may call family." he stated. "He is not someone I can afford to lose."
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Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2013 5:25 pm
xxxxxx[Sylph Forcas]
What was he?
Not even Azumoth could perform the feats that Kiyoshi could, there were no whips or ethereal wings, no innate healing. It was both terrifying and intriguing, to think that such blood existed in him and yet...it was untapped. Was this what Kiyoshi had meant when he said that none had embraced who and what they were? Whatever the case may be, it gave the stallion pause for thought as he regarded his estranged grandfather - a grandfather who now made a rather important promise.
Kiyoshi had declared that he would protect Tempest from harm, that he would have his back and at a glance, Sylph could appreciate he was more than capable. However a small part of him ultimately resented Kiyoshi's decision to protect Tempest, to uphold a promise that he had made to him - while honourable, it complicated matters.
...Regardless, Sylph appreciated that he was not going to gain the information he wanted from Kiyoshi and he would have to be satisfied with his promise. Nevertheless he would eventually find the information he sought and track down his brother, it was only a matter of time.
It was for this reason that he gave a curt nod, murmured his thanks and then directed his attention to his aunt and son.
"I would say that we have had enough espionage for today," he grimaced and gave an abrupt motion, "Home."
When Tut and Conduit were both ahead of him, he glanced back briefly at Kiyoshi and then Esper before departing - no doubt Esper would follow behind, though he did appear to want to take another stab at questioning Kiyoshi first.
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Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2013 5:30 pm
xxxxxx[Esper]
It wasn't so much that he wanted to interrogate his great grandfather more thoroughly, it was that he was in a state of mild shock as Kiyoshi revealed his weaponry. Esper was beginning to suspect that he had more up his sleeve that he wasn't yet ready to reveal, it was disconcerting and he couldn't help but wonder what Kiyoshi was. He knew Angeni had unusual powers, but even then they had never possessed such weaponry or traits...and frankly Kiyoshi didn't resemble one in the slightest.
...However, unlike the others, he wasn't as subtle when it came to his musings.
"What are you?" he said at last, his lips pursing into a grimace as he observed the stallion and his new attire with a slight glint of curiosity in his eyes. Wary he might be, but he still wanted his answers. "You are like nothing I have seen before."
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Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2013 5:35 pm
xxxxxx[Kiyoshi Yukio]
One of them had finally had the courage to ask and most interesting of all, it was the most unlikely. The one who had been inflicted with the same curse as he and had endured such horrors, had yet to put two and two together. Granted, Esper had suppressed many of his negative views since he became an adult, but in doing so it seemed he had missed vital clues - after all, as a child Esper had heard the same voice as Tempest.
...Heard the same whispers.
The same musings.
"Who am I?" Kiyoshi repeated, a smile lifting onto his lips and his eyes creasing with mischief. He deliberately held his peace as he considered his response, and having decided that Esper would understand the response far better than any other, he then gave his reply.
"I am Divinity," he stated softly. It was then that he unfurled his wings, and with one single, mighty beat, he thrust himself into the air and towards a sanctuary where he might begin to find his wayward grandson...
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