Welcome to Gaia! ::

It had been two years since he had taken Az's marking in the tunnel. Touma could almost feel it burning on his shoulder beneath his clothing. He remembered why he has asked for it to be there. No identifying marks. In life he had been the opposite of what he was now. His clothing was the same but he wore the mask whenever he was out now.

His vanity had grown and only when in the castle did he remove it so his face was seen. It was to the point that he felt no others deserved to see his face and he took pride in his fastidious manner whether in clothing or the details of a job. This fact was not lost on others.

Twirling his blade, he struck out at the practice dummy with an ease and confidence that he had had in life. Touma focused, not simply on the mannikin before him, but also on the area surrounding him. It mattered not that it was a simple practice which occurred every day for him. He knew the yokai was there, but merely continued. It would only be interrupted if words were spoken by the shapeshifter first.

When he was finished, and only then, Touma turned to stare at Valkon as he sheathed his blade. He still wiped it down first as he would have in life. It was a habit.

"Valkon, what can I do for you?" he gazed at the yokai legend unflinching. On some level the older ghostling fascinated him. Perhaps that was the very reason he had taken the marking and he constantly found his eyes drawn to the other.

Valkon leaned indolently against hte wall, feeding Clipper some seeds from the palm of his hand. The yokai was never without the bird though the others came and went as he wanted them to. He grinned suddenly.

"What makes you think that I want anything, Touma? I might simply have been admiring your skills." His lips twitched upwards into an amused grin.

Touma's lips curved. "I am." he agreed. "But I'd be a fool not to suspect something. I am not a fool."

The yokai chuckled. "You are right. I do want something. I have a job for you." Indicating that Touma follow him to his rooms, Valkon walked silently beside the younger ghostling. His face indicated a lot of thought, but he finally spoke. "It should be done discreetly, but I am curious about a few things. And I think you can do them unseen."

Touma nodded as he padded quietly beside the legend. The other ghostlings they passed moved to the side as they walked through. Once inside the rooms, the yokai explained in detail what he wanted done. After he was finished speaking, there was only silence.

Finally Touma nodded, "I can do that. How long do I have?"

"A few weeks is sufficient. Have some fun while you are there." Valkon replied grinning widely. "Just keep quiet about what you are doing. Chronos and I don't want anyone to know."

Touma nodded. Focusing he vanished. It would not take long to get there. Not long at all.

All day he sat in the trees watching those who walked through on their way to wherever they were going. Touma knew the patterns of everything going on inside the park by nightfall.

He slipped down from the trees entirely unseen. He knew his orders and had accomplished a portion of them. None knew what he was about, he was certain, but he did not hesitate in his actions.

This was the first time he had returned to Priyal since leaving it. He had settled in the castle finding his niche amongst the shadows. His skills had not really been used until now either. Touma was certain few would pose a challenge to his particular skills.

The city had changed little from what he could see. The park was the same as it had been. There were no improvements of any kind. The charm dragon wondered briefly about Priscilla and Ember. Then he shoved thoughts of them away and moved towards the other end of the park.

The grounds of the temple were in disarray. Brown dry leaves were blown up against the steps and foundation. They crunched as he walked forwards. This was the temple of the goddesses, but it was abandoned. Old flowers lay on the altar, faded and dead, indicating that there had once been followers present. Now there was little to show that they had once been.

A light flickered casting light about, but it was pale in consideration of what had once been lit. No less than 20 lights used to shine no matter the time of day. Now one was all that was given and it was more to keep others out than protect them and light their way.

He shook his head sadly. It was not merely because of the condition he found things in, but more. He knew and understood the meaning to this place.

"Do none worship here anymore?" he asked, his whisper caressing the air. Touma glanced over at the outstretched hands of the statues with a frown. Even they wondered. "Tis their folly that brings about what is to come... They will have none to blame but themselves."

Shaking his head, Touma glanced around at the shadows one more time in the temple. The statues were dusty and had not been taken care of in some time. Pulling out a rag from his pocket, he studied it for a moment. It looked clean at least though not in the greatest condition. A moment more and he was wiping the statues off with it.

"I don't understand how they can just forget like this. I thought they understood," he grumbled slightly as if the statues could hear him. "that they owe a great deal to both for fixing things as much as they have been able to."

"It is sad, but they will have none to blame but themselves."

The marble gleamed a bit brighter as he stepped back to light a couple more of the lamps in the room. Nodding in satisfaction to himself, the charm dragon turned after bowing. Whatever happened it was not his fault, but he did plan to help with the plan. If Valkon and Chronos told him what they were doing. He was certain it involved the goddesses. He had overhead them talking and Valkon had admitted to seeing the Goddess Seska. At that point when they had noticed him listening, the conversation changed.

He walked from the building, but hesitated, lifting his chin upwards as if searching the area around before he continued walking forwards. No good would come of his visit here. There was some information that Valkon wanted, but the yokai was not saying exactly what it was for. Why would anyone want to know the activity in these areas? There would be more in other places and from all appearance these were seldom frequented.

Not understanding what was going on, Touma thought about it as he began walking forwards again. Idly he flexed his wings. Perhaps there would be more people in the final area. Then he stopped staring upwards for a long moment. There was someone there, wasn't there? Who? His eyes narrowed at the treetop as he pushed the mask back a bit.

"Who's there?"

Touma simply watched her for a long moment. His eyes scanned over her clothing and then stopped at her face.

"Clear my mind? No. That is not why I am here. I am here because I was sent." he replied. What harm would it do to say that so long as he made no mention of specifics.

Turning slightly, he indicated the building he had just walked out of. Nothing had changed there except it was a bit more lit because of him. He still thought it sad.


"I came to see this place. To see how many came here. Do you know what this place is? It is Lux Lucis Atrum Luna Aedes, the temple of the goddesses- Juska and Seska. But the living have abandoned them for a false religion." He stared in the direction of the false church where it sat amongst the residences.

Touma's voice was clear and filled with a certainty that said he knew of what he spoke.
"No good will come of it and punishment will come swifter than many think. Perhaps for both living and dead."

Touma nodded at her words. "They do forget but it is not the world that will be destroyed. Perhaps it will hit a bit closer to them than that." Adjusting his clothing a moment, he simply watched the area around him.

"The goddesses are displeased by what everyone is doing. Not merely living but also those ghostlings who have forgotten them. Some places will be saved, being precious to them. Places like their temple. This park." He glanced over at the clocktower. It was magnificent and it would be preserved also.

"I am Touma." he said realizing that she had introduced herself but he had not. He could at least show her courtesy. "It has been about a year since I was here last. Nothing much has changed."