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| Too many topics at once? |
| Yup. Stupid girl. |
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| Psh... Naw. |
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| Well... |
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| Total Votes : 27 |
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 Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007 6:02 pm
((AHHH SAVE THE THREAD!!! WHERE IS RAINER?!?!))
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Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007 8:32 pm
((To tell you the truth, I don't really know. She disappeared without so much as a word. All of her threads are suffering because of it. In theory we could keep this Role Play alive, but we'd have to shift away from the impending war between the Gardens and shift to something of our own invention until her return. Anyone have any ideas?))
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Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2007 4:14 am
||Oh my God... I'm so sorry. Fate seems determined to keep me off Gaia. At school, I'm unable to log on, probably because the site is blocked and the proxy makes it all weird. Earlier, internet here at home was whacked. Give me a few minutes to see what's been going on... I'm so sorry guys!||
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Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2007 11:55 am
((She does live! Perhaps we won't have to redirect the story! Just give us the word Icarri, and we'll do what we can to keep this thing going.))
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Posted: Sat Nov 24, 2007 3:56 am
||So very sorry... If it's all right with everyone else, can we continue with the storyline? Hopefully, this RP will be up and going again. Also, sorry for the long post. I'll understand if you don't want to read the whole thing. sweatdrop ||
Rainer stopped in the middle of the street. She was tired from walking around so much. A car screeched to a stop behind her, the driver honking at her impatiently.
Oh. Now I feel stupid.
Sighing, Rainer stepped out of the way, waving an apology to the driver. She should just rent a car. Looking for the others would go a lot faster. Already, she had checked two hotels. Nothing. The other hotels were a lot farther from where she was, so it would be smart to rent a car and look. The wrapped package in her arms, light as it was, was starting to weigh her down.
Her fingers itched to open the package.
Ach, just wait till you find your friends, Siren murmured. She rarely spoke to Rainer, always preferring to sing. But even when Siren spoke, there was a graceful, melodious tone to it. I'm sure you'll find them soon enough. Just focus on finding the nearest Rent-A-Car station.
Rainer made a face, earning a few alarmed glances, but continued on. If she remembered correctly, the Rent-A-Car would be just around the corner...
There, right next to the Rent-A-Car, was the Cybele Sterre. Rainer mentally smacked herself. How could she have forgotten the place? Geez, how stupid.
And, as luck would have it, there was James and Amara. Rainer's balloon full of elation at seeing James deflated at the sight of Amara. Just the sight of her set her blood boiling. For some odd reason, Rainer just got bad vibes from the Galbadian. And it wasn't just Diablos. Siren hissed a bit, also sensing Diablos. Rainer was startled. Siren hadn't acted like this before.
Something has changed, Siren snarled. There was no musical tone to her voice now; just primal hatred and animosity. A chill ran down Rainer's spine. That's probably what it was. There was something different about her that Rainer had felt before, but hadn't been able to decipher. Now, though, after their absence of about an hour and a half, there was a tension. Rainer felt as if she could slice through it with her new gunblade.
Maybe it was the emergence of her powers and the feeling she had felt before, when she felt destructive after the battle.
Impatience finally drove Rainer to move toward them. Her gloved, bloody hands clenched around the tightly wrapped package as she closed the distance between them.
"Hey," she said quietly. "What are you doing here, Bossman? I would've expected something closer to the... reconstruction site." Rainer deliberately avoided Amara's gaze. Her little joke did not even bring a smile to her face. Rainer didn't know what was wrong with her. She disliked Amara, but this was ridiculous. Rainer tried to smile, but it came off as more of a grimace.
"We staying here or something?"
~|~
Pacing, Azhure let out a frustrated sigh. It had been days since Leagh failed her. Her Sorceress Sister had failed her. Didn't Leagh care about her? No, obviously not, because she went and lost the fight against the Power thief and her raggedy band of filthy SeeDlings. And that Sorcerer... Sorcerer he may be, but he was still vincible. In addition, his surprise was gone. Galbadia knew what lay in wait for them. And they could take measures. Hyne may have gotten away, but this Sorcerer would not be so lucky.
Although Sorceresses felt an affinity for Hyne, they did not feel any such thing for Sorcerers. Hyne had originally meant for the power to pass through women, and no one knows how baby males finally started to inherit the trait. And as if that wasn't bad enough, Sorcerers were subtly different from their counterparts. Although Azhure had never encountered a Sorcerer, instinct told her it would be a terrible experience that she would regret. Chills ran down her spine.
"Cold?"
Azhure spun around to come face to face with the leader of Galbadia. Axis.
"When did you arrive?" she asked coldly, ignoring his question. From the silent, satisfactory smug look on his face, she knew he was merely taunting her. He thought her useless baggage now, without her powers. Well, the Highest thought otherwise, and the thought helped her refrain from striking out at Axis.
"I might ask you the same. This is my Garden. I live here. What's your excuse?"
Azhure sneered at him.
"This is no longer your Garden. You resigned it to the Highest the moment you pledged your loyalty and life."
Axis' narrow blonde eyebrows came down violently as he fixated on her with a fierce, blue-eyed glare. Azhure returned the glare in kind, though she felt hers was somehow ineffectual. This blonde haired, blue-eyed man was the most handsome man she had ever met, that was for sure, but also the most dangerous. When she was still a Sorceress, Azhure had no reason to fear the man. But now she did. The thought of the Highest still wanting her around gave her some courage.
"Watch your mouth, woman. I pledged myself to the Highest, not to you. If I feel I must, I will go against the Highest's wishes and I will kill you. Don't you forget that, wench." As if to make a point, Axis' slender but powerful hand shot up and grabbed Azhure's throat. Her green eyes widened fractionally, though she remained calm.
"You wouldn't dare," she hissed, animosity and rage radiating from her frail body.
Those merciless blue eyes told her otherwise. The hand at her throat tightened until she couldn't breathe.
"Oh, but I would, woman," he murmured. He suddenly let her go, causing her to drop to the floor clutching her throat as she gasped for breath. However, the damage was done. Her windpipe was crushed. There was no way she could breathe. Azhure gripped her throat with one hand as the other snagged itself on Axis' slacks. He laughed at her, kicking her away.
"So much you don't know," he said conversationally. Azhure's vision was starting to go hazy. She fell, limp, onto the floor. "And so much you just never will find out."
Leagh. Azhure's last thought was of her sister. I'm glad you got away...
Axis coldly stared down at the lifeless body. He was right. She was useless baggage. Yes, the Highest would be angry at him for killing the former Sorceress, but Axis was special enough that he wouldn't be severely punished. He calmly walked toward his desk. Leaning over, he pushed a button on his telephone.
"Yes, Maurice, come and take out the trash, please," he said absently.
"Right away, sir," a man replied. A moment later, the door opened and a middle-aged man stepped through. His eyes went to the dead woman and to Axis.
"Sir?"
Violent blue eyes met Maurice's.
"I gave you your orders, Maurice."
"Y-Yes, of course, sir." Maurice hastily bowed and retrieved the body. He started to drag it out.
"You do remember what we do with trash, right, Maurice?" Axis asked coldly.
Maurice, pleading only with his eyes, nodded somberly.
"Of course, sir. Thrown out..."
Fixing Maurice with a chilling stare, Axis sat down. He watched silently as Maurice dragged the body out the door. After silently counting a few minutes, he rolled his chair toward the window. He gazed down as a body was thrown unceremoniously off a small balcony. The limp, lifeless body fell through the air, falling... falling... The revolving plates under the Garden shredded the body to pieces. Small bits of flesh and viscera fell to the ground.
Jaw set with grim satisfaction, Axis slowly turned back to his desk. He pulled out a drawer and pulled out several files. Opening them one by one, he laid out all the pictures in a row. Rainer de Weistrasse, before her transformation, smiling at the camera next to a tired James. Rainer, after her transformation, lying on the infirmary bed. Amara Ambrose, covered with tubes and needles, lying glassy-eyed in a shallow tub of clear liquid. James Gunnar, riding Doomtrain. Isaac Armine, speaking with James. Erec Enilde, fighting a King Behemoth. Kino, fighting the same monster. Rainer, again, in the grip of her power.
Axis' eyes lingered over Rainer's pictures.
What did she do to you?
No longer did she have her black hair and green eyes. Now she looked like Azhure. His heart constricted for a moment while he stared at the photos. His hand shot up and swept across his desk, scattering the photos, the files, important documents, pens, a cold cup of coffee. Everything fell to the floor with a clatter. He panted for a moment before standing. Calling for Maurice to clean his mess once more, Axis left the room and headed for the stairs.
"Where are you going?"
Axis stiffened. That was Rainer's voice. How in Hyne's name...? Axis whirled around and came face to face with the young SeeD Sorceress. Blue eyes, no longer fierce at all, widened. There she was, exactly as she was before she was defiled by Azhure.
"R-Rainer?"
A large smile grew on her face. Her brows came down quizically as she impatiently brushed away black strands of hair from her face.
"Of course it's me, silly. Who were you expecting?"
This must be a trick.
"What's going on?" he asked through pursed lips.
Rainer laughed.
"I think you've been working too much, Axis. Why are you acting so surprised?" Her form shimmered. It grew a little taller and fleshed out more until she was his height. Her long black hair grew back into her head and lightened to blonde. Axis found himself staring at himself. The hell? Oh...
"Ah! Highest! You... what are you doing here?" Axis was in a state of shock. Not only from seeing Rainer as she was before all this (his heart twisted at the memory), but from seeing the Highest here.
"Well, of course I'm here to see you," the Highest replied. He copied Axis' body language perfectly.
If I didn't know better, I'd say I was looking into a mirror.
"At this time...?"
The Highest folded Axis' arms across his chest. Axis frowned. This was crazy. He was staring at himself. It was a live mirror, except his reflection moved on its own, and it spoke back to him.
"There really was no better time, Axis," the Highest replied. A hand came up to touch Axis' face. Axis flinched from the familiar hand that was his, yet was not his. A condescending smile made its way across the Highest's face. Axis recognized it. He used that expression often. Perhaps too often...
"You just killed my property," the Highest whispered. Axis' 'reflection' shimmered once more and Rainer again faced him. Her green eyes filled with tears. "Why do you want to make me cry?"
Axis was not moved. He shifted his weight to one foot and folded his arms across his chest.
"What did you need her for anyway? She was useless baggage."
Rainer suddenly moved forward and embraced him. Axis stiffened.
"Do not presume to question me, Axis," she hissed. Axis bit his lip in pain as nails dug into his back. "You are also expendable, and did you really think I wouldn't do to you what you did to Azhure?" The nails slowly ran down his back, leaving bloody welts in their wake.
Axis didn't speak. The Highest wouldn't kill him; he knew that much. But this was the punishment he had expected. And he found it wasn't so bad as he thought it would be.
"Oh, Axis, don't be so naive. You can't seriously expect this to be the extent of your punishment." The nails made their way down his back and stopped just above his hips. The Highest drew back and caressed Axis' face with bloody hands. "There will be repercussions... Starting with spending the night with me." A dreadful smile crawled across Rainer's face. "You really should have thought twice before crossing me."
Axis didn't doubt that.
........
Several hours later, Axis sat up from the bed. His entire body was covered with bloody welts, and he was staining the white bedsheets. The Highest had left already, and was expecting him in a meeting with several important diplomats. Hissing from the pain, Axis slid out of bed and retrieved the clothes the servants had laid out for him. As he dressed, he kept imagining Rainer standing over him, hands crackling with fire. He knew it wasn't really Rainer, but the thought still depressed him.
Once dressed, Axis made his way back to his office. He entered and was immediately greeted by the sitting diplomats. The Highest was now taking on James Gunnar's appearance, sitting at the head of the table.
"Please, Axis, join us," James said politely. Despite his gentle voice, Axis could see death in his eyes.
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Posted: Sat Nov 24, 2007 8:17 pm
Amara's body instantly tensed at the presence of Rainer nearby, minutes before she actually came face-to-face with the sorceress. The Galbadian's teeth grit forcefully beneath her closed mouth, blood seething within her veins by the automatic impulses of her body. James's presence she had grown accustomed to for the moment, though the hostility still lingered deep within her bones; yet this sudden, unwarned emergence of Rainer's presence as well was nearly overwhelming to her unguarded senses. For a moment, the girl's gloved fingers twitched, aching to graze her glaive--yet instantly her golden eyes flickered towards James's constantly calm, almost amiable form, and the blood impulse began to cool.
She was struggling to imprint the image of James as the impression of all sorceresses in her mind, if only for a moment, which was a grueling, if not a foolhardy attempt in itself. James was a rare exception; a sorcerer, one that was unnaturally kind and on the side of the SeeDs themselves, details which contradicted anything the girl had learned in her experience with the accursed of Hyne...
Including yourself, with those few cell cultures of Adel running through your veins. That's why you feel such repulsion--Odine is clever, no?
No. Now shut up, Diablos, please.
At Diablos's sudden compliance to her request, the silence that blanketed her mind was uncomfortable, as the guardian shared her mind so intimately they may as well have been joint owners. Yet this surprise enabled Amara to regain her composure, enough so that she could return Rainer's obviously disappointed gaze in seeing her with James with one of blank apathy.
The Galbadian couldn't help but twitch again towards her glaive. Something was...amiss. Her lips twisted into a cringe as an unsettling cold wrapped about her body, a pervading numbness like a thousand pinpricks pressing against her very soul...
Some magical presence has diminished.
Diablos's voice again pervaded her senses, and she realized his sudden silence had been due to intense concentration on the phenomenon Amara had just been aware of,
You mean...a... She worded the phrase carefully, as, although a figurative statement, it applied to herself in a more literal sense, ...vessel...of magic, perhaps even a sorceress, has just been killed?
Nothing of importance, perhaps. We would be lucky ones indeed if it were one of those sisters...yet your place is here, playing the chase with the little SeeDlings. There are enough Hyne brats here for you to contend with.
Including us in a way, right, Diablos?
Hmph.
The guardian's scowl brought a morbid amusement to Amara, though she feigned disinterest before the two SeeDs as she realized it would not be at all wise to reveal she was engaging in more conversation with Diablos. The Galbadian merely stood there, the third wheel for the moment, hoping to fade away into the background during the conversation, and inwardly spiting both of the SeeDs before her.
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Posted: Sat Nov 24, 2007 8:17 pm
||Has any one seen Yaku-Chan/Mimi? I've tried PMing her, but she hasn't responded. Since she hasn't come back at all, I've erased her from the profile page. Behemoth is once again open. PM if you guys want a second GF. I don't know how I'll do this, but if you guys want a second GF, you know what to do.||
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Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2007 9:07 am
Did you feel that, Doomtrain?
I did, Sorcerer. A vessel was just destroyed. A powerful vessel. She was somewhere in the region of Galbadia.
Interesting. A Sorceress Vessel, perhaps? Possibly the one that Rainer took the powers from?
That is a possibility. In time we may find out.
In time, yes.
"Oh, Rainer!" James had hesitated momentarily, courtesy of his conversation with Doomtrain, "Sorry. I'm a little spacey. It actually wasn't my choice to stay here. Erec called in a favor, and he got us a place to stay. He doesn't seem to be here, but I believe Isaac is asleep in his room."
The thought of Galbadia made James's blood boil slightly. The last time he was there he was on an exchange program. He had the great displeasure of meeting the Galbadia Garden Headmaster, only ever known as Axis. Axis was a terrible, cruel man who handed ruthless orders and never gave them a second thought. How a leader could be so violent shocked James. And the thought that they would very likely end up making a return trip to the region sickened him.
"Going to go clean yourself up?" James asked his prized student with a bit of a sarcastic laugh, "You're still a bit blood covered from the Behemoth King Battle."
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Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2007 4:15 pm
Rainer sidled up near to James. His presence made her nerves calm, but there was always that back tingling presence of Amara. Rainer didn't know what to make of it. She would ask James later.
"Erec? Oh... That guy... Well, I suppose Cybele Sterre is better for low survailance and privacy..." Rainer didn't add that the Sterre was also a questionable establishment that she usually avoided. No need to bring that up.
"Yeah, this blood is starting to make me sick, even though it's mine," Rainer added. She frowned at her hands, still clenched around her sword. "I'm gonna go shower or something, then I have to show you my new gunblade." A small smile managed to fight it way across her face. "I haven't seen it yet, but I can just tell that it's gonna be great." A true smile lit up her face as a new idea struck her. "Hey, can we train later? I wanna see how my gunblade will do against the Bossman." Now that Rainer was excited, she felt she could get over her depression.
~|~
Axis slammed the door shut after arriving at his apartment. He stomped past the kitchen and into the bedroom, where he tore off all his clothes and stepped into the shower. He winced and cursed as hot water stung his welts.
I'd forgotten about those...
The meeting had been cataclysmic. The Highest had made a total fool of him, and now Galbadia Garden was heading toward Centra. This was a fool's errand, and the Highest knew it. Axis had remained silent throughout the meeting, silently steaming. The Highest, taking the form of James, had watched him with a smug smile and a cruel glint in his eye. That just pissed Axis off more than anything.
Sighing, Axis turned off the water. Wrapped only in a towel, he dropped onto his bed. Luckily, the Highest hadn't used his apartment last night; just the nearest room. Startled the students right out of their room. Axis would have to apologize later.
Axis sauntered out of the bedroom and into the kitchen. He was low on food, but he usually ate in his office. The refrigerator provided no food; just beers and sodas. There was nothing in his freezer. Opening the cupboard provided him with a loaf of bread. Well, it would have to do. Grabbing a beer and the bread, he headed back into his room.
Laying on the bed, he sighed and opened the loaf of bread. Taking a bite, Axis gagged. Moldy. Disgusting. Growling, he threw the bread across the room. The beer soon joined the bread.
Now only one thing would make him feel better. Reaching across the bed, Axis pulled open the drawer in the nightstand and pulled out a stack of photos. There he was, a teenager just joining SeeD, and a ten-year-old girl with long black hair and brilliant green eyes. He was laughing, something he hadn't done in years, and he and Rainer were having a great time. Axis angrily rubbed at his eyes.
He started going through the pile. Once done with every photo, he tossed it down next to him. As the pile in his hands got thinner and thinner, Rainer was nearing seventeen and he was already a rank twenty-nine SeeD. The pictures with him in it were getting fewer and fewer. As he had gotten older, he smiled less. Rainer however, got happier and happier every day. She saw the depression within him, and tried to cheer him up. He felt bad about that time. She would try to be happier for him. But she was never the problem. Axis wished he could have told her that.
Maybe there's still time...
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Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2007 6:42 pm
Amara watched the dialogue between the two magical SeeDs with helpless disgust. Her raven brow furrowed as Diablos growled a bestial cry of constant disapproval for her newfound comrades, sensing the innate repulsion within the girl that she could not possibly quench with willpower alone. Flipping her dark sheet of hair behind her shoulders, the Galbadian fingered her glaive with another stroke of longing and broke into a brisk walk to distance herself from the two.
"Back to the Sterre?" She murmured, more a statement than a question, "Good riddance."
The girl's rude exit bridled her mottled senses with a vicious pride. If she could not possibly harm them, as that was simply something unallowable in the situation (and unfavorable, as the girl was currently opposed to her former Galbadia Garden), she would be content with, at least, verbal cruelty. Perhaps it would make things easier for the girl, slake her instincts which thirsted for violence. Diablos made no contribution to the effort; rather, she could feel his nails digging into the back of her mind, eager for bloodshed.
Calm yourself, Diablos. It will be quicker than you think.
We are their official partners from now, Amara, siding with our natural enemy. And so the lion loses his claws and bleats with the lambs.
Amara made her way into the Sterre, easily acquiring a room for, what she guessed, would be a very short visit. She glanced half-heartedly at her meager surroundings and placed her glaive, as if it were a pet, carefully upon her small bed. With a laborious sigh, the girl sat upon a chair opposite the bedside and began to think, crossing her legs and swinging her feet in a very human-like characteristic of frustration.
Not that she wasn't human. There were just a few differences, that was all.
She flexed her fingers at the thought, wondering where the cells that were not her own were dispersed, flowing like toxic in her bloodstream. Diablos scowled at her thoughts, his nasty growl causing her to roll her eyes; he valued that power that she had been endowed with, thirsted for it. And why wouldn't he? He was a dark force, after all.
I just wonder what it would be like, coming back to the Garden after all those memories.
Since you have struggled so futilely to erase them from your mind? Even I haven't erased those particular thoughts from you yet, among everything else. If anything, you should enjoy that particular slaughter, as more is yet to come.
Amara considered this for a moment. She raised her head and stared out at the door, which remained slightly ajar, thinking momentarily of the other SeeDs that she was now a companion to; James, Rainer, Isaac, the others...the newer additions whom she had seen only previously. The girl wondered at what they thought of bloodshed, at their sacrifice as SeeDs--did they feel regret, remorse?
She certainly didn't--and yet she couldn't remember a time when she ever had.
My first thoughts were of two years ago, fighting temporarily in the Galbadian army. I don't remember my family...I don't remember when Odine stole me.
They detract from your purpose. They are the thoughts of the weak.
She lowered her feet to the ground, shuffling them against the floor. It was something she imagined a child would do--something she might have even done, when she was younger. Her lips twisted in contemplation, and then, grim acceptance.
Perhaps.
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Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2007 12:35 pm
It would give the girl something to do. Invite the others. Let them know just what needs to be done, and how to do it. It may also give Odine's invention something to look at in awe.
I really wish you wouldn't call her that. She's human, however much you may hate to admit it.
"Sure!" James hadn't had a good sparring match in well over a year, and he was starting to want one. Who better than Rainer, a fellow sword, and even a gunblade user? No one, "Go get cleaned up, and we can go find a place to train. You could even invite the others. After our training match, I need to talk to everyone anyway. I'll be waiting out here."
James waved to a nearby bench where he intended to sit and wait for everyone. There was much to be done, and not a very large amount of time to do it in. The war was getting closer. Soon, very soon, the Gardens would truly be divided. One side was already set in stone: Esthar and Galbadia. That much he was sure of. But what of the other? James couldn't see Onyx of the White SeeD abandoning Alister of Balamb. Where would Trabia fall, though? There was certainly much to consider.
"I'll be waiting." He murmured as he wandered off to the bench, already lost in his own thoughts.
You plan to lead them to the others, don't you.
Must you read my mind?
I reside within it. I hear every thought. I know every feeling. It's an avoidable.
Well then, yes, I do. We need more power. If we are to stand up against Galbadia and Esthar, possibly even Trabia, we'll need much more strength. Adding to the number of Guardian Forces we have in our squadron would be the logical choice.
In time then, even you will find yourself with a Second Guardian. Even though you hardly need it.
Thank you, Doomtrain.
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Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2007 6:05 pm
~I'm a crazy a** star~ ((Oh yeah...I left myself...running, did I not? Silly me, adding cliffhangers in an RP.))
Erec growled in frustration and leapt off the edge. He heard some of the people behind him cry out, but he didn't care. He had to get to the bottom of his student's unexpected return.
Erec braced his legs just seconds before he hit the ground. Although the landing was a little shaky, he managed to stay on his feet and break out in a run.
Thank Hyne for junctions,he thought as he quickly junctioned the remainder of his Haste spells towards his speed and tried to catch up to Riol. His former student led him down the long, narrow, seemingly never-ending Estharian walkway, which was nearly empty save for a few people scrambling to move out of their path. Riol was undoubtedly faster, which told Erec that he must have more Haste spells junctioned than he does, but Erec was more used to running at these enhanced speeds. He narrowed the gap between the two of them until they made it to a string of nearby buildings. Riol took this opportunity to duck around the first corner he could. Erec cursed and tried to rush towards the edge of the building.
'Watch out!' Cerberus warned. Just then, as he passed the corner and entered an alleyway, Erec heard a loud grinding sound and looked up to see a large, bluish container speeding towards him. Without thinking, he jumped from the wall and hurdled onto the container and jumped off the top. He spotted Riol just below him, so he drew his fist back and, as he fell towards him, swung it at his head. Riol sidestepped the attack and countered with a roundhouse kick aimed at the back of Erec's knees. He responded by lifting his foot to block the kick and struck back with a backhanded punch to Riol's face.
Riol ducked the attack with an almost unreal speed, which made Erec remember the obvious junctioning, and caught him in the face with a quick left jab. Erec stumbled to the side, which allowed his ex-student to break out in a run again down the alley. Growling in frustration, Erec chased after him.
"Not bad, Sifu!" Riol exclaimed. "But not good enough!" He turned around on the balls of his feet to face his former teacher and lifted his hand. "Fira!" Suddenly, an intense burst of flame shot from his hand and toward his pursuer. Erec knew he had no time to cast a Blizzara spell, so he pressed his body tightly against the wall to avoid it. The spell just barely missed Erec, but he had no time to think of the what-ifs. He quickly resumed the chase while wondering what would cause Riol to approach him the way he did.
This is maddening! For an old man, he can still keep up! Riol thought as he turned to look at Erec still on his heels. He looked ahead and saw that he was running out of alleyway. A huge blue wall stood in his way. What the hell is up with Esthar and blue? As he said the word blue, he spotted a small hole at the bottom and planned out how to duck this persistent man. He held out his hand and pointed it towards the ground. "Blizzard," he muttered. A cold, icy mist shot out and formed a sort of rudimentary slide from the hole to the other side. Taking a deep breath, Riol started to slide while making a perfect split. He slid through the hole, catching his black shirt on the jagged side as he did.
"Dammit!" Erec cried out in frustration as he watched his student slide perfectly through a hole he knew he couldn't get through. Instead of stopping, Erec focused some of his energy into his fist and stared at the corner of the wall, which seemed to be fastened to the sides with locks. If he couldn't slide through, he'd bust through, he figured. With a loud cry, Erec punched the lock and inwardly smiled as it gave way, which allowed him to get through. He saw Riol glance back in surprise and another face he hadn't seen for a while.
James? he asked himself. He realized that the chase led them right to the Cybele Sterre, which made him also realize that it was most likely Luke's wall he busted down. At the moment, however, he didn't care about that. Riol was all that mattered to him right now. Catching up to him, Erec quickly kneed him in the side. Riol used the momentum to roll to the side and kick his leg out, catching Erec in the ankle. As he fell, Riol's fist began to glow a dark orange, which he then quickly thrust into Erec's abdomen. He then grabbed Erec's shirt so that he wouldn't fall over from the blow.
"You remember the Ascending Dragon, right, Sifu? The first technique you taught me?" Riol said, spitting in his face as he talked. "I can't finish you off here now, y'know? I got my orders, but in due time, you and the Sorceress SeeDs will soon be finished. I'll be glad to finish you myself!" With that, Riol threw Erec back, leapt in the air, grabbed his head and kneed him in the face. Erec's head bounced off the ground and he laid still. He was still breathing, but the wooziness he felt wouldn't allow him to get up.
"Why?" Erec managed to get out his mouth.
"Why, you ask? You and those elitists at White SeeD...you'll all pay." That was it...revenge. Riol, finished talking, ran off and disappeared from sight again.
"Dammit," Erec muttered as he stared at the spinning sky.
~Like a ********' asterisk~
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Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2007 11:35 am
James was a little taken aback by the sight of Erec being pummeled so easily by someone he'd never seen before. He didn't interfere though, because he felt it wasn't his place. When the fight was over and the younger man had fled, James left his bench and walked to Erec. With a hand extended, he lifted Erec back to his feet and led him back to the bench.
"You'll have to explain to me who that was and what the hell it was about sometime soon." James sounded half way worried, and partly amused by it all, "He mopped the floor with you."
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Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2007 8:05 pm
~I'm a crazy a** star~ Erec felt himself being led to the bench after being picked up from the ground by James. He cursed himself mentally for letting himself be seen getting his a** handed to him. It wasn't an unpleasant thought.
'Damn amusing sight though,' Cerberus boomed in his head. Erec mentally cursed at the Guardian for rubbing it in. He noticed that James had been waiting for an answer for a while, so he decided to speak.
"That...was a former student of mine from White SeeD Garden," he said slowly, almost slipping into a flashback to simpler times. He snapped himself out of it and continued. "About nine years ago, he was exiled from the Garden. To this day, I have no idea what he did, nor did he tell me. All I know is that he left bearing an intense hatred for SeeD, especially those of us from White SeeD." Erec rubbed a hand through his hair, sighing heavily as he did.
"I taught him...everything I know when it comes to the martial arts. I figured that, since he was so talented, he could very well take over and train other kids when I'm away. Now, he's attacking me in the streets of Esthar, as well as my room, for Hyne knows what reason." He looked at James with a steady gaze. "The scary thing is...even though the movement seems similar, the fighting style he used...wasn't what I taught him."
~Like a ********' asterisk~
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Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2007 10:08 pm
"I remember that exile." James said more to the street than he did to Erec, "Riol, right? He was a fantastic fighter. Onyx and I were rather sorry to see him exiled. He was a brilliant student and a fantastic fighter. Only on one occasion did I have the pleasure of combating him."
That boy...should you be worried?
Unlikely, Doomtrain. The boy is Erec's student.
You heard what Erec told you. The movements, the fighting, they've all changed. I ask again, should you be worried?
Unlikely, Doomtrain. Unlikely.
"You said his moves were similar, but still seemed different." James continued, "What did you mean? Is it possible that he's garnered extra power from somewhere, or perhaps had a second teacher?"
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