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 Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2009 12:45 pm
Isadora ran with her spear and shield, following Amelia and with Melethia behind. They had went to the next floor where they encountered what appeared to be a giant chess board. Nearby was a small table with the chess board. The chess pieces were in the same position as the giant pieces were. Luckily, they had managed to figure out how to play and checkmated the opponent's king.
Off again they went, heading to the next floor. How tall was this tower? The paladin was unsure, but she hoped they would make it in time. As they reached to the next floor, Isadora let out a horrified gasp.
In front of her was the hallway decorated with corpses. Unlike the previous corpses that she had encountered, these corpses were the people she knew. Isadora was shocked to find their bodies hanging along the wall.
"That fiend..." Isadora muttered as she felt her anger flowing through her. How did Tura manage to bring Roy and the Watch's bodies in the tower while they were chasing him? She did not know. However, what she knew was that he had committed another murder. This time, it were the people that she knew. Just how far did that mad assassin want her to lose control?
Not letting Tura getting the best of her, Isadora and the girls headed down the room ahead. The door seemed to be unlocked, but the paladin didn't care. This had gone far enough from what Tura did. Isadora stood in the center of the room, holding her spear and shield in a fighting stance.
There he was, sitting in his chair with a smile on his face. Isadora felt mockery and insulted by his presence. Did he know how much he had caused throughout this crime? Maybe he did. However, she didn't care what he felt. All she knew was that this was the end for Tura. It was over for him. There was no escape or mercy from her.
She then heard Tura informed Melethia to close the door. She would ordered Melethia not to since she was the crew member of the guild, but she didn't. She didn't care if they were locked in the same room with him. What she knew was that they had cornered him. But who had the upper advantage in this mad scheme?
"Finished? You're right about that." Isadora replied as she stepped forward, raised her spear, and pointed at him. "With all the crime that you've had caused, you are hereby under arrest. You have the right to remain silence. Dare to make any resisting move and I shall force the law upon you."
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Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2009 12:59 pm
"Resistance? How... entertaining of you to say that, Dame Knight," Tura replied, striding gently around the table. Behind the two, Melethia locked the door silently and then stood to witness what would come next. "The Queen, the Princess, and the Lady Betrayer. But you cannot blame Melethia, I had guided her in a direction far from what I originally came out with. She had no knowledge of the murders, nor of my art here. She simply wished to help..."
His cape rushed out behind him with a sudden gust of wind, showing that the windows to the balcony were in fact cracked open. The torches flickered for a moment, but did not go out. And in the flickering light, the bronzed mask shimmered, not just with a metallic light but with liquid, as if of tears running from his eyes. "It is time to end this, now," he said, voice soft and gentle. His hands flashed to his sides, bringing up a pair of oddly-shaped knives. "This is the Endgame. You've reached the very edge of the board, and have only the King left to topple. So, then, topple me! Come at me with all your strength, and give me the punishment that I have so fully earned! Bring your justice upon me!"
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Overlord of Night- Shadow
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Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2009 1:10 pm
"You can't blame yourself. Blaming yourself and falling into depression, it won't change anything.
You have to look →forward→. Remember what you have here now.
Just think; if you hadn't come here, you wouldn't have met anyone here from Elibe or anywhere else!" XXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX{Amelia}Amelia gritted her teeth. She hardly heard what Tura said, eyes still blurred as very suddenly, the wind kicked in and Tura's cloak fluttered along with it. She was struck for a moment at the sudden shift in his mask; was he crying, too? For just that split second as the lights dimmed and threw shadows onto his mask, it almost looked like liquid was running down his eyes.
But why would he cry...?
Amelia's entire body shivered just a little. He brought his knives out, and as she stared at them, trying to imagine what damage they had wrought, her entire form tensed. Her legs shifted, as if to get a good grip on the carpet, and her hands tightened, knuckles white under her gloves.
"Bring your justice upon me!"
Amelia said nothing. She merely launched herself forward, bringing the spear up. She slashed the weapon powerfully at Tura, and even if it struck, she immediately let the momentum of her attack swing her to the side, where she proceeded to lunge the sharp tip of her weapon at his fleshy side. There were no words; there were only the single tears falling as she focused on her opponent, eyes blazing.  XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX{Graceful Spear}XXXXXXXX"What... I mean is... Being a member of the holy order doesn't mean you can't put your own wants first sometimes. The goddess is supposed to be all‑forgiving, right? You've worked hard and you deserve to do some things that make you happy.
I think she'd forgive you for it."
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Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2009 1:21 pm
"You don't understand the full situation of this thing." Melethia said. "If you knew as much as I did...you might have helped him. But..." She then looked at Roy and then glared at Tura. She was right when something was telling her something happened to Roy. "You didn't tell me that THEY," She pointed to the bodies. "Were going to die!" She was pissed off and upset. She should had prevented Roy from coming. She liked the fellow pyro. Why do you think she called him Spitfire? She started to growl a bit.
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Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2009 1:24 pm
"Sorry, but I don't take things lightly when I mean it seriously." Isadora retorted. She could hear the click behind her, telling the paladin that the girls were now locked in the same room with him. However, it didn't matter. Tura had nowhere to run. They were up in the tower and the only exit was the door behind it. There was no way he could escape.
She heard the nicknames given to them as Tura slided around the table. Queen? Princess? Lady Betrayer? Those were odd names to be given to the enemy. She figured that Amelia was the Princess since she was the youngest in the group. Lady Betrayal... It could be Melethia since she knew the murder without getting involved with it. But why would Melethia be called Betrayal? As for herself, she did not understand why he called her the Queen. Isadora knew full well that she was a noble lady, but to be called a queen was a bit too much. Why given these names to them?
She then heard of Tura speaking about Melethia. A bit of shock appeared on her face as she turned her head and looked back at Melethia. Melethia was somehow a part of this. Why would she help this mad man?
Isadora gave Melethia a stern look before turning her attention to Tura. As a crew member, it would be her job to deal with those who broke the rules. However, whatever Melethia did in the past would be dealed later. Right now, they needed to stop Tura.
Suddenly, she felt a wind blown, fluttering her cape behind. She didn't know that the balcony window was opened. However, she ignored the scene as she looked back at Tura.
There was something leaking from his mask. Was that a tear? Why was he crying? She knew it couldn't be remorse. If he did, he wouldn't dare continue killing these people. She saw Tura pulled out his knives as he announced that this was the final battle.
For once, Isadora agreed with him. This was the final battle and she was bound to make sure he didn't win. For what he had caused, the people he killed, and the emotions he stirred within her and Amelia's, determination flow greatly inside her veins.
"Since you resist and kindly accepted your punishment, allow me to repay that kindness!" Isadora yelled as she charged at him. She held her spear over her chest as she raised her shield in front of her. Since she was the closest, the paladin thrusted her spear at him. She prayed to St. Elimine to give her the strength to stop him.
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Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2009 1:56 pm
All things were trivial. There was only life and death.
All things were trivial. There was only the here and now.
Yet nothing was trivial. Everything contributed to the grand plan.
Everything from nothing and nothing from everything. Myriad thoughts swirled through the assassin's mind, none his own, none belonging to the man behind the mask. The man behind the mask simply watched, impotent, unseeing yet seeing all, deaf yet hearing every word and scream and cry, mute but crying out in pain and agony. This was not his will. This was no longer his wish. The only expression was the silent tears running down his face, now easily visible and he began to move.
Arms moved, ligaments and tendons stretching and contracting to bring up the pieces of metal in his hands to parry, to block, to minimize the damage to this sack of flesh inhabited by a soul. Though the outer shell didn't matter, it sustained what was inside; and only when what was inside was ready to fly free could the facade be discarded. A slash, Amelia's spear deflected across his stomach. A pierce, Isadora's lance pushed into his shoulder. And then he moved back, away from them, towards the balcony. And he laughed, and laughed, and it sounded like crying, and it sounded like happiness, and it sounded like utter despair. "Death. Life. What are they but two sides of the same coin? What changes when you are dead? I want to know this. I have to know this. Show it to me."
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Overlord of Night- Shadow
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Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2009 2:11 pm
"You can't blame yourself. Blaming yourself and falling into depression, it won't change anything.
You have to look →forward→. Remember what you have here now.
Just think; if you hadn't come here, you wouldn't have met anyone here from Elibe or anywhere else!" XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX{Amelia}Amelia hesitated after her first strike, seeing Tura's face closer now. He truly was crying. The knowledge stilled her rage for a few moments, true shock expressed in her eyes. Her own tears were still falling, but slowly, very slowly; Tura seemed to sob silently, wetness cutting rivers down his cheeks.
Amelia held herself still for just long enough to listen to his words. "Death. Life. What are they but two sides of the same coin? What changes when you are dead? I want to know this. I have to know this. Show it to me."
Amelia pursed her lips. She stared at her spear. She looked back to Tura. He wanted to know what death was? Fine. Have death.
The General did not speak. She did not cry, not at this moment. She scarcely breathed as she rushed at him again, her legs--made strong from so many weeks of training--propelling her into a leap. Her spear rose up into the air, her eyes focused on Tura's, and then the sharp spearhead slashed at his head, at a diagonal across his face. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX{Graceful Spear}XXXXXXXX "What... I mean is... Being a member of the holy order doesn't mean you can't put your own wants first sometimes. The goddess is supposed to be all‑forgiving, right? You've worked hard and you deserve to do some things that make you happy.
I think she'd forgive you for it."
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Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2009 2:19 pm
Isadora made a pierce to his shoulder. She wasn't sure how deep the wound would be. However, she hoped that it would be enough to stop his limb. It would be helpful if his arm became useless to fight.
She watched as Tura moved backward, his back facing the balcony. If he dared to jump off that balcony, it would not be what the paladin had wanted. However, at least it may stop him from killing people.
Isadora watched as he laughed. That laugh sounded like a mad man, but why did she hear a hint of sadness in it. It couldn't be remorse she was hearing. This man was not asking for forgiveness or mercy. This man was crazier than she thought he was.
He then talked about life and death and questing to know. Isadora frowned at him. Still trying to talk nonsense about the life and death? Didn't he know he was at the end of his rope?
"It is true that they are both sides of the same coin. But they create harmony within each other and teache us the meaning of life. What changes are the sadness surrounding the people who care about the person dying. It is unknown how long will grief continue or how dearly we miss the people. However, time heals us to help us become stronger, but also to help us move on with our lives. The people we care dearly doesn't want us to grief forever. They want us to live to the fullest life and be happy with the people that we love and care."
The paladin was unsure why she answered him. She knew that the assassin would not take her answer, whether it may be right or wrong. Although she despite the man for what he did, she could barely feel sorry for him. Pity that he won't understand the meaning of life.
"I'm sorry if I cannot answer you well on my own." Isadora spoke. Her eyes held pity to him behind her justice rage and stoic. "However, if you wish to know the answer, you have to find it yourself. No one can give you the answer. You just have to look for the answer on your own. Unfortunately, you have to find your answer while staying in prison!"
Isadora charged forward, this time lowering her spear head downward as she ran. When she was in close range with him, she swung her spear upward. The paladin was unsure if she slashed his chest. However, she knew that she hit it when she felt her spear hit after passing the face.
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Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2009 2:20 pm
"Death is just a part of life." Melethia mummbled. As much as she wanted to strike down Tura, something in her mind was telling her not to do that. Something was telling her to wait.
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Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2009 2:24 pm
Such a strange species.
He was huddled behind one of the bookshelves, concealed in the darkness of the study with green eyeshine betraying his place for just a moment. Everything happened so quickly, but at the same time each individual strand of comprehension was stretched out into eternity, as though their surroundings had contorted the true sensation of time and bent it to the mosaic of ideals and emotions embroiled in this place. Tura was an unreadable character, perhaps in more than one sense. The three who faced him were predictable. Quite so predictable, but one could hardly blame them. They were only responding to the prompt, playing the game, abiding by the rules that were set.
Neros settled into a sphinx-like position, wings twitching at the sight of Tura sustaining the blows that had been thrown at him.
"Death. Life. What are they but two sides of the same coin? What changes when you are dead? I want to know this. I have to know this. Show it to me."
Neros licked his upper lip, much like a dog licking at its nose. He regarded the scene with acute nightvision, wondering why no one had simply come to him with questions of Life and Death. He had seen beyond that. He had seen beyond the fabric of reality, beyond the rules projected by their collective existences, beyond the fathomable.
But then again, he'd already given his input.
The transient entity sighed and put his chin on the ground, wings twitching again as he watched the armored girl — Amelia — go for another round at Tura. Isadora was doing the same. He hardly listened to what they had to say; as rude as it seemed, he had honestly heard the same thing too many times over, too often for him to care about. He was tired of hearing despair and tired of hearing resolve.
Neros supposed that this show would end soon, and that he would go home, forget all about it, and play more with quintessence... Despite the predictability of some persons in some situations, he had been rather entertained throughout.
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Overlord of Night- Shadow
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Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2009 2:47 pm
This feeling. What was it? It felt like pain.
This feeling. What was it? It felt like freedom.
This feeling. It wasn't there.
The mask. No. He couldn't. One hand flashed up, dropping the dagger it held as he did so, holding the mask to his face. A current of fear flashed through his eyes; He couldn't let them see. No. Not that. He had to die on his own terms... they couldn't know...
He stepped backwards, pushing through the doors, stepping onto the balcony and turning to face them. "Such a pleasant game... but I've no need to play it anymore. I've run out of moves, you see." Thought the words were spoken calmly, the tears still ran from his eyes, and the cold wind whipped around his form, tearing at his cloak. It had to end now. By his own hand, not theirs. "Yet you still do not have the win... and now it is too late."
And at that moment, the wind grew fiercer... and with one last rush took the maqsk and cloak, ripping them away to dance away into the night sky.
The face was familiar. It seemed a bit younger; the lines had gone, but the raptor-grey eyes were still the same. The shock of teal hair stayed the same.... and Renault stared at those gathered within the room in dawning, horrified awareness. "Goddess... no... what is this..." But his intent didn't seem to change, though the workings of his mind had. He was still moving backwards, body slowly changing balance to topple backwards, though there was still time to stop him if one so desired.
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Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2009 3:09 pm
Isadora watched as Tura ran his hand to the mask that Amelia had sliced. Why would the man concerned about his face than his life? It didn't make any sense. However, she didn't have time to answer that. All she knew was that they had him now.
Tura was stepping back to the balcony. Isadora rushed forward. She didn't come just to let this man die. There were more ways to punish the evil deeds than death. Suicide was not the option that the paladin wanted her opponent to do.
Tura was speaking nonsense again. Talking about the game had ended and he had no moves to make. Well, if he had lost, then that was what the paladin wanted to hear. It was over. She and the girls had won the battle. Now it was time to-
A wind blew the cloak and mask into the air, revealing what she had never thought it would be.
Isadora gasped in shock of what she saw before her. Standing before her was not Tura, but Renault. Renault? He was alive after all? But why? Why did he not come with them after the Ragnarok battle? Did he know how much grieve he had given to Amelia and herself?
"... Renault?" Isadora softly spoke, forgetting the title "Father" that she usually addressed. This man before her. He looked a bit younger than she last remembered. But his figures.... They still looked the same as she remembered. She then heard him spoke. His voice.... It was just the same she last heard. The voice that used to calm her whenever she was in tormoil. The same voice that had wisdom to guide her about life and St. Elimine.
Why?
Why was she forced to fight against someone she knew and cared so dearly? This was not what the paladin had wanted. She was here to stop Tura. Not Renault. She was more confused as to what happened.
Suddenly, she saw him continued moving backward, heading over to the rail. Alarm and fear shocked through her as Isadora dropped her spear.
"Renault! NO!" Isadora cried as she ran to him. Tears began to flood out of her eyes as she held her hand out to Renault. Not again. No. Anything but that again. The paladin didn't want to see him die in front of her again. She had suffered enough to see him die. She refused it.
Why, St. Elimine? Why? Isadora thought desperately. I have continued my duty as your knight to help those in need. I have helped saved Elibe when fighting against Nergal. I have helped Learania fought against Loki. And yet, I have suffered from your hand for the good deeds I have done. Please...... Please, don't let me suffer more.
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Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2009 3:15 pm
"You can't blame yourself. Blaming yourself and falling into depression, it won't change anything.
You have to look →forward→. Remember what you have here now.
Just think; if you hadn't come here, you wouldn't have met anyone here from Elibe or anywhere else!" XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX{Amelia}Amelia's hands were tight on her Spear. There had been so much death. So much pain, so many people who had lost what could not be brought back to them. Would any of it had happened had the Heroes not returned? Are we really to blame? I... did I really lead Teifi to die? And everyone else?
She barely registered the deep chill of the wind outside. She could only focus on Tura growing closer and closer to the edge of the balcony. The tears were still falling. But for what reason? He had lost... he was about to die. But he accepted his fate. He knew his death was coming. Were the tears coming for another reason?
Amelia felt her clothing whip around her in the wind. Her own cloak nearly tore away from her armor, as Tura's did. And then his mask disappeared, and Tura's hand wasn't enough to hide that face...
Her hands dropped open. The spear clattered uselessly onto the balcony, rolling to the edge and catching itself there. Her entire expression went... blank. Horror swelled up there, a deep-cut agony in her eyes as the tears welled again. This wasn't Tura. How was it not Tura?
The eyes, sharp and grey, didn't change. The teal hair didn't change. Amelia could do nothing but stare as her father moved back again, his voice coming back out as expression grew more and more horrified. "Goddess... no... what is this..."
And then he was starting to fall backwards, and Amelia lurched towards him. Her hands were steady, though she was crying again, harder now; she could barely see him past the tears and the cold wind stinging into her eyes. "Dad!" Amelia heard herself scream; she felt detached, separate from her body. She vaguely recognized Isadora's voice, her hand reaching for Renault's. Amelia tried to grab his arm, his shirt, his anything.
"You can't die, no!" Amelia shrieked, her voice strangled. Why? Why this? Why again? She couldn't breathe. She was desperate, but her hands were steadier than any other part of her as she grabbed onto her father and tried to pull him back to safety. "You can't... c-can't die... not again... p-please..." XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX{Graceful Spear}XXXXXXXX "What... I mean is... Being a member of the holy order doesn't mean you can't put your own wants first sometimes. The goddess is supposed to be all‑forgiving, right? You've worked hard and you deserve to do some things that make you happy.
I think she'd forgive you for it."
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Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2009 3:20 pm
"Renault!" Melethia said. "Don't do this!" She ran as fast as she could to the bishop. She wasn't going to let him die. She shoved anything that was in her way away from her even if that was people too. Though the other two females weren't Once on the balcony she grabbed Renault and pulled him away from the edge. She knew this wasn't the end though. She knew there was more. She knew there were a few more things left to do.
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Overlord of Night- Shadow
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Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2009 3:45 pm
And he was falling. Goddess, he'd forsaken all his vows, all he had worked for, and he'd gone back to the ways of his mercenary days under Nergal. So he would recieve his just punishment this time. The ones he loved must hate him for what he'd done... and now, he could die. He closed his eyes, beginning to let himself go...
And then he was stopped. Their hands were reaching out, catching him, pulling him back... even though he'd done these things. Even though he'd betrayed them. Even though... Goddess, why? He didn't understand. But then he was standing again, unable to try to fall again because he was held there, kept there. He... wasn't alone this time. How strange. Was that... all that had been missing? People who cared?
He looked around at them then, eyes filled with sadness and pain. A woman who was one of his dearest friends. A girl that had become his beloved daughter. And a woman who, though he was unable to admit it, had slowly begun to become someone he loved... was this... a sign? Was this a second chance for him, that he could redeem himself?
"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry... this isn't... I didn't want this..." Tears streamed down the man's face, and he lowered himself to his knees before them, bowing his head in shame. "I don't understand..."
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