Vlindrel:Journey Through the Chasm

Day 4, Afternoon
The Pyxis, Candlelit Vigil

Kaali: **True to her word she's stood vigilante while Barlowe and Tate slept for the last four hours, her deep blue eyes scanning the horizon with practiced precision. Suddenly they narrowing, as she senses a disturbance, somewhere out there in the dark. Her voice comes out loud and resounds in the dark.** Wake! **She turns and looks at Tate and Barlowe.** Wake up!

Tate: **Loki suddenly stands up, looking off into the dark, obviously sensing something too. He jumps onto Tate's head and starts making a weird "fhip-fhip!" sound.** What? What happened? **Loki leaps off of him and runs over to Barlowe climbing up onto him and pulling his beard lightly, making the sound again.**

Barlowe: **He opens his old grey eyes. He coughs a few times, then wipes his mouth.** I had hoped I'd wake up back in my armory. **He wheezes a bit, then realizes Loki's commotion.** What is it?

Kaali: **Her eyes search the darkness.** We've run our time. **There's a momentary white flash of light in the distant dark, followed by serveral more. A few seconds after there's a rumbling sound of thunder that causes the air to tremble. The four of them can even feel even the ground tremor with the noise. A few lingering skinwalkers are illuminated by the flash, and they quickly clear out, making strange animalistic yelps as they scurry away into the darkness.**

Barlowe: What in the twelve hells was that? **He grabs onto Tate and pulls himself upright to look in the direction of the flash.**

**There's another set of flashes, and in the split-second of illumination, Tate and Barlowe can see the huge beasts that moved the ruins and garbage into large piles. With each flash, one of them is sent crashing to the ground, and a few moments later they feel the impact of the colossal beasts shake the earth and air. The images are so far that even at this distance, Tate and Barlowe can only barely make out the silhouettes and what they are, but Kaali seems to see them clearly.**

Kaali: The Sovereign Knight hunts us, to linger here any longer is to die.

Barlowe: **He coughs slightly.** You said he's only invulnerable under that Sun's light, why would he leave it?

Kaali: Likely to ensure that the First Monarch never knows of the Chasm Knight's failure... **She turns and walks over to the two witches.** Get to your feet old man, with your pace we need as much distance as can be spared if we are to reach the Eochair in time to escape with our lives.

Barlowe: **He coughs loudly.** I cannot walk.

Kaali: Then a manifest yourself a steed. **She looks down at him quizzically, and with slight annoyance.**

Barlowe: I cannot, lest not without a catalyst.

Kaali: **She looks to Tate, then back to Barlowe.** You can summon a massive flaming monster and translocate but you can't *walk* or conjure a simple *mount*?

Barlowe: **He lets out a loud wheeze.** Is a mythical Knight of Loyce so weak that she can't carry a withered old man? **He looks up at her and smirks.**

Kaali: **There's another flash, and her head turns to dart in the direction, looking out into the dark. She lets out an annoyed grunt, which is quickly drowned out by the echoing wave of thunder that shakes the air.**

**Two hours later...**

Kaali: **She's trudging through the dark, keeping a fairly decent pace despite carrying an old man on her back. Barlowe has his arms wrapped around her shoulders as she has her hands hooked under his knees. She looks displeased with the situation. Tate is trailing about ten feet behind her, carrying one of the candles, which provides minimal light. Having told Barlowe and Tate to keep quiet since they left the candlelight, she finally breaks the silence.** You should've left the light behind. you make us a beacon in this dark so long as you carry it.

Tate: **He looks to her, his blue eyes reflecting strangely in the dim blue flame of the candle. After a moment he figures it's safe to speak since she did.** It keeps the skinwalkers away, which means it keeps us safe. **Loki is running around them in a circle as they move, looking out into the dark at random edges of the light. Tate's having a little trouble keeping pace as he hasn't had anything to eat since the small bag of tater tots he had yesterday and he's starting to feel groggy as he longs for one of the sodas and some of the junkfood Hunter sent him.**

Kaali: My blade keeps us safer than any flicker of flame.

Barlowe: **After a moment of silence he lets out a quiet wheeze and looks to the left.** The dark is infinite in every direction. **He looks around with tired eyes.** Are you certain of where you're taking us?

Kaali: I would not be a Chasm Knight if I were unable to reliably traverse a *chasm*. **She lets out a low grunt of annoyance.**

Barlowe: So you can see in all this darkness then?

Kaali: I know the way. **Her tone continues to border on stoicism and annoyance.**

Barlowe: **He makes a mental note that she didn't really answer the question, then clears his throat quietly, trying not to cough into the knight's ear.** The Chasm Knights seem quite different than the other Knights of Loyce that I've read of. You've an affinity for all this darkness, even the powers you wield in combat -That strange shimmering blackness. Never have I seen such a thing before today.

Kaali: We are trained to fight with what we can, for the power of the First Monarch does not reach to these depths, and without it we must wield that which thrives here.

Barlowe: Then that- **He struggles not to cough, holding his breath for a short moment before continuing.** -that power *is* darkness? Something similar to a hexer's spellcraft, or umbramancy?

Kaali: The Chasm Knights merely have a better understanding of our humanity. We do not wield darkness of the kind that you imply...

Barlowe: **He thinks for a moment, trying to make sense of what she's said.** ...Then it is... Humanity that thrives in the dark? ...But we are creatures that require light, warmth, without it we falter and die.

Kaali: Have the lot of your nations made no progress into the true nature of mankind? Have you still not reached the point of Loyce from whence we knights left, all those aeons ago? **She sounds surprised, but also a little condescending.**

Barlowe: **He thinks for another moment.** The might and knowledge of Loyce has never been matched, though many have tried. **He muses for a moment on Loyce and what little is known about its powers, despite there being vast records of its accomplishments.**

Kaali: To be human is to be capable of great acts of *humanity*. Great heroism and great villainy. The power the Chasm Knights wield is that greatness, made manifest upon the world... Man is made of more than just a soul. Being a sorcerer of some skill, I'm sure you at least know that much.

Barlowe: Yes, I do, but your explanation is yet somewhat lost on me... It sounds as if you're drawing upon the figurative nature of man and wielding it as a weapon.

Kaali: **She lets out a quiet grunt, which Barlowe can only hear because he is so close to her.** I assume you've studied the basics of the soul, yes?

Barlowe: I am no zielamancer, of which few exist, or... But yes, I know a rutementary knowledge of Souls.

Kaali: ...The soul is eternal, bright, pure, unyielding, *perfect*. But mankind does not align with this nature. Man is made manifest by his emotions and capacity of them, not by the perfection of his soul. This black quintessence of life, which settles around the soul like sediment, is what makes us human... These qualities aren't figurative, they are a measurable force that dwells within all mankind, and we Chasm Knights have come to wield that force, as it thrives in godless places, where man must fend for himself... If the soul is absolute and eternal, then humanity is capricious and paradoxical... Not having the traits of any one thing, instead being all things that humans can be... Neither dark nor light, and requiring neither. A shinning ebon beacon... Set apart from all that is non-human... **Her voice trails off, her tone of voice making it seem like she repeating the words of someone else with that last part.**

Barlowe: Then you are like Tate and I, but instead of drawing upon mana, you wield a quality of your own humanity.

Kaali: A simplistic explaination, but not wholly inaccurate... **Her tone has quickly turned dry, making it difficult for Barlowe and Tate to tell her mood.**

Barlowe: **He mumbles in a quieter tone, looking back at Tate as he continues to trail farther and father behind them.** The boy has a capacity for this power... I'm sure of it.

Kaali: **She looks to the side.** You are sure that he's capable of wielding a power you seem to know nearly nothing of?

Barlowe: In a long-passed age I had a student, a brilliant young man, always searching for something beyond what mastery the academy could teach. He made even me look a pupil when his apprenticeship at the Academy came to an end, not merely mastering magics, but peering into the very nature of the universe itself, and that what lay beyond. **He coughs quietly and takes a moment to calm his lungs.** He sought the very bedrock of what the soul is built upon, and when he could not find his answers, even from the Headmaster of the Academy did not have the knowledge he sought... So he began to study and record the Dark, and its true nature. Decades he did this, and it consumed him, and when he had exhausted his available resources and knowledge at the Academy, he left to find a deeper meaning to fill his longing.

Kaali: He certainly sounds impressive... **She looks back at Tate.** Keep up, boy! I'm not going to carry you as well!

Tate: Lay off! **He picks up the pace for a moment but begins to fall behind again. He mumbles something to himself, Kaali largely ignore him.**

Barlowe: I sensed in him a darkness, much as I sense in Tate... This dark called to him- **He suddenly lets out a long wheeze and rubs his mouth to his shoulder.** -in a way that made me think that he thought the dark a thing with a will of its own... And so he heeded that call. **He clears his throat suddenly, trying not to go into another fit of coughing.** Before he left he said something strange to me- "I seek the dark within the depths of man." **He wheezes quietly and takes a deep breath.** Having heard your explaination of what your power is... I'm certain now that he sought a power not to unsimilar to what is it that you wield.

Kaali: Does this seeker of dark have a name? **Barlowe can't tell if she's actually curious or if her tone is one of disbelief that the man even exists.** I have... Conversed with many denizens of the darkness, perhaps I've met him...

Barlowe: **He wheezes quietly, then exhales the name.** Naphalius. **As he speaks it, the word comes out with a strange quality, and Kaali, with her greater sense, can feel the insurmountable dark around them shake as the sound of the name travels through it, rippling outwards from them like a disturbance in water. Barlowe himself and even Tate and Loki take no notice of this tremble of the dark.**

Kaali: **Her deep blue eyes look about the darkness around them for a moment. She picks up her pace slightly.** His name carries a power with it, down here in the dark... Perhaps your former pupil came to reside here, in this fathomless chasm...

Barlowe: **He coughs lightly.** A strange place to rest, in the great rubbish bin of all wizards. **He lets out a short wheezing laugh.** ...This place is not at all what I expected it to be...

Kaali: Whatever spell you use to deposit your undesirables here, it is older than you sorcerers and your *academy*. It's been in practice since before my grandfather's grandfather's time... During the time before even the Chasm Knights... And it was used for a purpose different than simply disposing of junk... **Still uncertain of the dark after Barlowe's utterance of his former pupil's name, she turns around to look at Tate.** I told you to keep up wick-witch!

Tate: And I told you to fuck off! **After a moment he lets out a loud groan and his angry expression fades. He mumbles to himself.** My fucking feet are starting to hurt... And I'm starving... Stupid bitch... **Loki runs around between Tate's feet and scurries off into the dark for a moment, before running back into the candlelight.**

Kaali: **She hears him, despite his mumbling.** If you wish to stop and forfeit your life to the Sovereign Knight, so be it. I've not the care to stop you. **She turns forwards and keeps walking, not slowing even a little. Tate lets out another loud groan and speeds up a bit as he feels his stomach grumble. Kaali speaks in a quieter tone.** Who is this boy? He is surely no warrior, or even a proper wizard...

Barlowe: He is from a place far from the world even I come from, and farther still from the Pyxis. **He takes a deep wheezing breath as he thinks for a moment and looks back at Tate, before returning his gaze forward.** Though I've just met him, I feel compelled to ensure the young man's safety.

Kaali: Young *man*? **She looks back at Tate again.** He must be from a world of dwarves if that is one of their *men*.

Barlowe: He is small, but few match the stature of a knight of Loyce- **He looks to the side, having a sudden coughing fit. Letting go of Kaali with one hand, he puts a ragged sleeve over his mouth to muffle himself. The fit lasts a few seconds, and he finally clears his throat and catches his breath.** -Even in my prime, I'd scarcely reach your height. **He clears his throat again.** About how tall would you say a male knight of your people would stand?

Kaali: **She silently lets go of him with one of her hands and holds it above her head, raising it until it stops about six or seven inches from the top of her head.**

Tate: Caspian is about that tall, said he's from Loyce. **He's caught up to Kaali and Barlowe, close enough to half-hear what they're talking about.**

Kaali: **Tate's comment catches her attention, and she quickly looks back to him.**

Barlowe: You have met a knight of Loyce in your previous travels? You never mentioned that... **He turns his head to look back at Tate and wheezes quietly. Even though he's not doing the walking, hanging onto Kaali is taking its toll on him.**

Tate: Well he's not a knight, he's just a descendant of some knights... Of Loyce... **He shrugs and rolls his eyes.** Something like that, but he's tall as fuck. Like the tallest guy I've ever seen in person... Or just... The tallest in general...

Kaali: You did not meet the knight he is squire to?

Tate: He's not the squire to anybody, he's all by himself -Parents left him alone when he was a kid when they went back to Loyce or something. **Kaali looks back ahead as he looks up to her.** Didn't talk to him enough to know anything more.

Kaali: ...Strange that Knights of Loyce would be so far from their Kingdom that they need abandon their child to return home... **Her tone sounds suspicious.**

Barlowe: Knights are frequently sent far from home on assignments, you're the product of such a lineage of knights, are you not?

Kaali: ...I suppose you are right... It merely troubles me that this Caspian was unable to accompany his parents.

Tate: Maybe the trip was too dangerous or some shit.

Kaali: **She looks back at Barlowe for a moment, then to Tate.** Do you see the world around us? **She turns from Tate and motions to everything around her with one hand.** A true Knight of Loyce is raised in a crucible of death and thrives in spite of it.

Barlowe: It is a curious line of thought, isn't it? **He quietly coughs several times, then takes a deep breath.**

Kaali: What is the state of Loyce that its Knights choose not to bring their child with them upon their return... **She goes quiet.**

Barlowe: **He looks back at Tate, wondering what else he's seen in his short time in Vlindrel.** Loyce has kept itself discrete in the passed centuries. To see its knights is a rarity beyond rarity, even in my long life, all of the knights I've seen, I've seen just this day. **He wheezes and lets out a strange laugh, then coughs slightly before clearing his throat.** ...No one even dare go near that ancient nation's borders, and a miniscule number remain that even know where it is.

Kaali: A wise choice. I've no doubt that Loyce wouldn't take kindly to the musings of withered old men. **As they continue walking, Barlowe can see that the path on either side is becoming narrow. Rough stone is quickly closing in on them, and a thin rising line of cherry-red light is on the horizon in the distance, flickering dully in the distance at the opening of the pass.**

Barlowe: **He notices the light up ahead, but doesn't say anything about it.** This withered old man incapacitated you well and good.

Kaali: You seem satisfied with your ability to best me, old sorcerer. **She sounds moderately annnoyed.**

Barlowe: Not many men can claim to best a Knight of Loyce.

Kaali: **She lets out an exasperated grunt.** You bested a Chasm Knight issued a child's training blade and a steel shield with the durability of a dinner plate...

Barlowe: And you lost to a crippled old wizard with no catalyst or spellbook. **He smirks a little.**

Kaali: **Her tone comes out somewhat dark.** Be sure that you savor that feeling of accomplishment, old man. Should we fight again, you will mourne its absence... **She starts walking faster, practically breaking into a jog.** Keep up boy. When we reach that far light ahead we will rest.

**Meanwhile, a world away, back in Forlorin...**

**Ahiga, Caspian, and Delpha are standing just outside the front entrance to town.**

Ahiga: **He's wearing one of Caspian's tunics and he's cut his jeans off at the knees to turn them into long shorts since they were all torn up at the bottom anyway. What's left of his gray-blue hoodie is tied around his waist. He holds his hands up and bounces on his toes a little as he looks at Caspian, moving like a boxer would.** C'mon man I want to get better at fighting, let's just go a few rounds.

Caspian: **He's standing about five yards from Ahiga, resting his arm on the hilt of wooden practice-sword. He's wearing his leather armor.** You're sure? I don't want to hurt you Ahiga.

Delpha: **She crosses her arms over her chest and leans back against the wall with her twinblade propped up against it next to her. She looks back and forth between the two young men.** Dueling is the primary means to improve *without* getting injured.

Caspian: **He looks to Delpha.** I'm not skilled enough to keep from hurting someone.

Delpha: Then perhaps this will be good practice for you as well, future knight of Loyce. **She holds her hand out.** Knowing restraint of strength is as important as being strong. Power is nothing without finesse.

Caspian: **He looks away from her, to the forest for a moment. Her words sound like something his parents would've said.** Perhaps you are right, Delpha. I must practice a steady hand.

Ahiga: Even if I do get hurt I'll just go sit by the bonfire for a bit and heal, we're like, totally immortal so it's not even a big deal, right? **He bounces on his toes again and then enters a fake kung fu stance.** Plus I don't want to spend the day worrying if Tate's coming back, and I'm getting antsy so you gotta be a good friend and keep my mind occupied.

Caspian: **He nods.** Very well Ahiga. The both of you make good points, so let us duel. **He pulls the wooden sword-spear from the earth and hoists it up onto his shoulder. It's a lot lighter than the real sword-spear, and looks more like a big pointed paddle than a real weapon.**

Ahiga: It's just for fun man, practice fighting, just like in Dark Souls, but better.

Delpha: In Dark Souls? **She looks to Ahiga.**

Ahiga: It's a game we play back home. **He looks at Knight-Hunter.** Me and Tate duel in it all the time.

Caspian: Is it like your football game? **He tilts his head a little.**

Ahiga: Umm... Well, no. **He realizes that Delpha and Caspian don't realize that he's talking about a video game, and that now he's being a bit disingenuous, but he doesn't want to explain it to them.** It's a bit more complicated than that.

Delpha: Making a ball out of feet seems complicated.

Ahiga: **He looks to the side an shakes his head.** Well that's not what football... Is... -*anyway*, let's get this going.

Caspian: Very well. **He looks over to Delpha.** A duel for fun and practice.

Ahiga: That's the spirit! Just remember not to get mad when you lose. **He starts bouncing on his toes again and flicks his thumb over his nose.**

Caspian: But if you win, you'll have gotten better. **He smiles.** Why would that make me angry?

Ahiga: **He stops bouncing for a moment and realizes that Caspian is so polite and nice that friendly banter like that is going to go right over his head.** Yeah... You're right, thanks... **He smiles a big grin.**

Delpha: **She just shakes her head a bit, realizing the same thing about Caspian that Ahiga does. She grabs her blade and pushes off of the wall, spinning it quickly a few times as she walks over to a spot between the two young men. She raises one end of her twinblade, and its polished surface shines in the warmth of the afternoon sun.** When my blade descends, the duel begins. Agreed?

Caspian: **He nods.**

Delpha: **She looks to Ahiga.** Are there any restrictions that the duel should entail?

Ahiga: **He looks to Delpha.** Nah, we're immortal, so it doesn't really matter- **He looks at Caspian.** -right Cas?

Caspian: **The shortening of his name seems a little odd to him and catches him off guard.** Fight as you wish, Ahiga. **He swings his blade off of his shoulder and grabs the hilt with both hands, pointing it at Ahiga as he enters a trained stance that Ahiga hasn't seen him use before.**

Ahiga: **He realizes that Caspian is going to take this pretty seriously, so he starts to drum up his nerve, focusing like he did before big football games back in high school.** Man you're gonna take this seriously, aren't you?

Caspian: It may be for fun, but if you're aiming to improve, it would do you no use to fight against an opponent that does not strive to defeat you. **He looks to Delpha.** I am ready, Knight-Hunter.

Ahiga: Awesome. **He cracks his knuckles and nods to Delpha that he's ready.**

Delpha: Begin! **She slices her silver-steel blade down, cutting a faint trail through the air, and as the tip of it hits the earth she jumps backwards from between the two of them.**

Ahiga: **He raises his right hand over his head and a swirl of iridescent air spirals into it, quickly forming into a spear of cutting wind. He immediately throws it at Caspian after it forms, with surprisingly good aim.**

Caspian: **Though the attack surprises him, he manages to side-step and duck to the side to evade it, then immediately breaks into a sprinting charge, lunging at Ahiga with the bull tip of his weapon. The motion is quick and precise, and it immediately slams into Ahiga's stomach.**

Ahiga: **He lets out a weird sound as Caspian's strike lands.** *Vlbahck*! **Afterwards he makes a long groan and stumbles back a little.** ...Ow... Shit... That hurt...

Caspian: **He furrows his brow and looks to Delpha for a moment, before looking back to Ahiga.** I should've stopped my lunge. I'm sorry Ahiga.

Ahiga: ...Nah... Man... **He coughs and takes a deep breath, standing back up.** I'm good, see? I just gotta toughen up a bit. I've gotten soft since I stopped playing football.

Delpha: **Her silver mask looks up at the sky and she shakes her head. Never has she seen such unpracticed and overly concerned duelists** Return to your spaces. **She walks up between them.** Ready? **She waits for a nod from the two of them, and then slashes her sword down.** Begin!

Ahiga: **He immediately jumps and a gust of air pushes him up into the air, whipping his hand out and sending a blade of wind streaking down into Caspian's back.**

Caspian: **He winces slightly as the wind slices down through his leather and hits his skin, leaving a thin line of blood. Despite the pain he quickly spins, pulling his wooden weapon around in cleaving circle.**

Ahiga: **As he sees Caspian's back cut open his eyes go wide, not actually wanting to hurt him. He holds his hands up as he lands.** I'm sorry Cas- **He tries to jump back but Caspian's weapon slams into his side and sends him tumbling to the ground. He opens his mouth and a weak squeaky sound comes out as his voice cracks. He curls into a ball and grabs his side.**

Caspian: **He looks worried and runs up to him.** I thought you'd dodge Ahiga!

Ahiga: **He lets out a hissing sound through his teeth as he lay there in agony.** It's fine Caspian... I just... Let me take a break...

Delpha: **She shakes her head again.** You are not well-trained in combat at all, Ahiga. **She looks to Caspian.** And for a knight-to-be you are far to concerned with the well-being of your opponent, Caspian. These duels are meant to train you to fight for your lives, and so you should act as if you're fighting for them when you duel. More especially that the two of you cannot *die* or be mortally crippled.

Caspian: **He looks away from Delpha.** You are right, Knight-Hunter. **He flips his weapon up into a practiced pose.**

Ahiga: Just gimme a moment first... **He stands up and stands walks around in a circle, clutching his side.** Let me walk it off...

Delpha: **She looks at Ahiga and realizes that this is going to take some time.**

**Meanwhile, in the Pyxian dark, at the top of a large cliffside...**

**Kaali has finally stopped to let them rest, and so that she can survey their surroundings, confident that they've gained a large enough lead on the Sovereign Knight. They've come to rest near the edge of a steep cliff, in a small area off the path, surrounded by boulders that would help hide them from anything that passes.**

Kaali: **She's standing on the cliff's edge, looking down into the valley about fifty feet blow. A burning swathe has been sliced deep into the rock and earth about half a mile ahead, it glows brightly in the dark of the Pyxis, like a long thin line of cherry-red neon in the dark. Kaali's eyes follow it to the left, where it runs up into the mountains and vanishes out of sight.** That... Emblazoned crevice... That runs the length of the valley... It was not on the map. **She looks up from the burning glow, to the dark range of mountains beyond.** Something happened here in the time since Sir Torien was sent on his assignment... We will have to take a detour to find a way passed it.

Barlowe: Is the path to the Eochair a long one yet? **He's sitting against a rock, his eyes closed as he rests. Despite being carried, the journey has taken its toll on him due to his advanced age. He hasn't move this much in centuries.**

Kaali: If that burning divide had not been here, we would be but a few hours from our destination... I've no idea how difficult it will be to trespass that strange fire... **She turns and looks to Barlowe.** Can't you transpose ourselves beyond it?

Barlowe: Mphm... Hmm... **He thinks for a moment.** If I had a catalyst it would be much safer. Teleporting an astral form is one thing, but physical matter can be unwieldy... Let me rest a moment, I'll try to think of something.

Kaali: **She narrows her eyes at the old man judgmentally, and then turns to look back.** Then while you muse on your inability to be *useful*, I will go forth to scout and survey the area. Perhaps also to bring us back something to eat... **She turns and walks along the edge of the cliff side.**

Barlowe: **He waits for her to leave, waiting a little longer until his sense of her presence fades.** What do you think of the Chasm Knight?

Tate: I think if we don't find a way to help her she's going to leave us down here. She's the one that's getting that spear or whatever, right?

Barlowe: You make a good point. If we do not prove useful to her journey, she may think us dead weight, and leave us behind... **He hadn't considered this. Aside from breaking her free, Kaali really has no reason to travel with them.**

Tate: I also think she acts a lot more stuck up than Caspian does... **He sits down across Barlowe, setting the candle between them. Loki runs up to the cliff edge and sniffs the air before standing up on his hand legs and looking around.** He's actually... Almost annoyingly nice...

Barlowe: I agree that Kaali is rather crude... But it is fun to goad her. She seems a very proud woman, and her pride isn't undeserved. She has skill to be sure... **He lets out a muffled chuckle that turns in a kind of snoring sound from deep in his throat.** When we happened upon her, I asked Loki if she was our savior. He hadn't seemed so sure. **He opens one eye and looks over to the little familiar.** I wonder if his opinion of her has changed at all.

Tate: Well Loki? **The ferret turns around and looks at them, making a small "ehck" sound.** He doesn't seem sure still.

Barlowe: Well, does he sense that she's dangerous? **He closes his eye and clears his throat while he scratches his beard.**

Tate: **He stares at Loki for a moment before shrugging.** He's giving me the feeling that he thinks she has a lot to hide. **Loki suddenly scurries off.** ...Says he wants to follow her... See what she's up to... I'd tell him to stop, but... I think he'd just get mad like earlier. **He sighs and rolls his eyes.**

Barlowe: When I found Lady Kaali, she was a prisoner. The powerful Knight that's pursuing us, under threat of death, seemed to be her warden, or at least a presiding power that wanted her kept there. I now wonder if that Sovereign Knight wasn't our savior, and I inadvertently freed someone I should not have. **He lets out a very tired sounding sigh. The day has taken its toll on him.**

Tate: **He shakes his head.** It'd be part of the running theme since I got here...

Barlowe: What theme would that be?

Tate: That everything just keeps getting shittier. **He leans his head back and looks up at the backness above.**

Barlowe: You're referring to Morganstern? I should've known it would do something drastic once it found that you sought me out. I should've been there to stop it from whatever it did to you, and I should've kept it from sending you here...

Tate: **He smirks and lets out a half-laugh, looking to Barlowe.** It doesn't fuck'n matter. I was already a billion miles from home, it's not like the banishment sent me any farther... The only shitty thing now is that I don't get to eat a stack of pancakes every morning... **He shakes his head.** Figured I'd never see home again anyway.

Barlowe: You've given up on returning to your world?

Tate: ...I guess if it happens it happens... I'm not going to hold my breath... **He lets out a long sigh and pulls his knees up to his chest, setting the lower half of his face between them as he wraps his arms around his legs to keep them close.**

Barlowe: You shouldn't give up. Every trial has a solution. Perhaps the way back home isn't readily apparent now, but that does not mean that there is no way.

Tate: **His voice comes from between his knees, a little muffled as he speaks.** That sounds like something my friend would say... "*Cheer up Tate! We'll figure it out!*" **He does a half-hearted fist punch.**

Barlowe: Your friend sounds as if he compliments your personality well enough then. He sounds quite positive.

Tate: It's not about being positive... It's... **He pauses and looks down at the blue-flamed candle.** I guess when it all comes down to it... I just don't give a fuck... If we get home, we get home... If we don't... Then we don't... It's just the way it'll be...

Barlowe: **He opens his eyes and stares at Tate for a moment.** If I were to speak frankly my boy?

Tate: **He looks up from the dirt to Barlowe.** It annoys me when people pretend to be nice so they don't hurt someone else's feelings.

Barlowe: I sense that you expect nothing, so that in turn your expectations will never disappoint you. **He takes in a shallow breath and then continues.** You're afraid to *want* to go home, because if it never happens, you'll have been let down.

Tate: **He looks back down to the candle, not saying anything.**

**An hour later, under the afternoon sun, just outside of Forlorin...**

**Ahiga and Caspian have been dueling for the last hour, with Caspian beating Ahiga highhandedly in every fight so far. Even without his proper weapon, Ahiga has been worn down and forced to take a few breaks.**

Ahiga: **Ahiga runs back out through the archway, taking his spot across from Caspian. He's breathing heavily, and the tunic he was wearing is now drenched in sweat, with a few blood stains from where the skin has been broken by Caspian's powerful strikes.** Break time's over Caspian... **He takes a deep breath and stretches his neck out a little, shaking off his nerves.** I think I got one more in me. **He's improved a lot, but not enough to get more than a few lucky strikes in.**

Caspian: **He looks considerably more well-off than Ahiga, and he's adapted to fighting Ahiga more than Ahiga has improved. He nods and pulls his fake oar-spear from the ground, putting it up onto his shoulder. After the first half-hour he got considerably better at not hurting Ahiga, but also got over his dislike of it, keeping Delpha's words in mind.** I am ready.

Delpha: **She slashes her twinblade down between them.** Begin!

Ahiga: **He jumps back and throws a horizontal slash of wind in Caspian's direction. The blade is so wide that Caspian has no choice but to duck under it, or jump over it, to evade it.**

Caspian: **He sees it as a setup, and instead of evading he raises his weapon up and flat against his shoulder, tackling through the oncoming wind-blade, breaking into a sprint. Most of his weapon blocks it, a shallow cut slashing into the wood, but the unblocked portion still cuts him lightly across the chest and back, his leather absorbing much of the attack. He turns and slams his weapon down onto Ahiga with and incredibly powerful attack.**

Ahiga: **He jumps back, Caspian adapting to his attack catches him off-guard a bit, but he's learning to react a lot more quickly. He uses a gust of wind to knock himself back even farther mid-jump to put some more space between him and Caspian. As he lands, a vortex of wind flows into his hand, but he quickly whips his other arm up in an underhand throwing motion, sending out another blade of wind that goes diagonally towards Caspian.**

Caspian: **He ducks down to the left, causing the blade to slice passed him harmlessly, keeping his eye on the javelin in Ahiga's other hand.**

Ahiga: **As Caspian moves to duck under the blade Ahiga's eyes light up, and he pulls his hand down. A gust of wind rushes down around Caspian, and pushes the blade down, causing its path to curve just enough to slice across Caspian's back. He follows it by throwing the spear immediately afterwards at Caspian's chest.**

Caspian: **He lets out a loud groan and slams his weapon through the spear with uncanny aim, causing the resulting explosion to send wood chips off of it, but it otherwise protects Caspian. He quickly jumps forwards and swings his weapon upwards, the very tip of it just in range to smack Ahiga under the chin.**

Ahiga: **He side-steps at the last moment, causing Caspian's upward slash to miss him by a fraction of an inch. He blasts himself to the side with a gust of wind and stumbles backwards before catching his footing and throwing another slicing current of air so that Caspian can't easily follow up.**

Caspian: **He attempts to follow up anyway, throwing himself into the wind-blade and stabbing his weapon forwards into Ahiga's chest.**

Ahiga: **The blade he threw slices up Caspian's neck as he lunges foward, causing blood to spray out. He takes a labored breath as his skin quickly turns a shade paler, realizing that he's mortally wounded Caspian. He feels the blunt tip of Caspian's weapon slam into his ribs and it throws him backwards and sends him tumbling over the dirt.**

Caspian: **He gulps, not even realizing that Ahiga's attack wounded him so badly. He grabs his neck, feeling the hot blood spurting out from between his fingers. His serious expression fades and he smiles as well as he can.** I'm glad... Ahiga. **He lurches a little as he instinctively tries to stop the bleeding, even though he knows it's useless.** Delpha... Please... **He slowly looks over to the Knight-Hunter as his skin turns ghost-white as he quickly loses blood.**

Delpha: **She nods, and then with a sudden flash of steel, Caspian's head is lopped from his body, turning to ash as it sails through the air. The rest of his body follows momentarily. Her silver mask glints in the sunlight as she looks down at the stains of blood on the ground, then spins her weapon up around her body with a practiced grace, setting it onto her back, and then heading over to help Ahiga up.**

Caspian: **He crawls from the flames as they flash and crackle around him, quickly getting to his feet. Renewed, he calls out as loud as he can.** That was very good Ahiga!

Ahiga: **He runs into town as well as he can, still gripping his ribs, which are probably broken.** I didn't mean it Caspian! **His eyes look like they're watering a little, whether from the pain or having killed his new friend or probably even both. Delpha is trailing after him closely.**

Delpha: Never had I thought to see someone so happy that their friend killed them. **She looks up at Caspian from the first step that leads up to the large bonfire.**

Ahiga: **He frowns and looks up to Caspian.** I'm sorry Caspian! I didn't think you'd lean right into the attack!

Caspian: **He tilts his head at Ahiga.** Don't be sorry, Ahiga. You landed a killing blow! Be proud. You're getting better!

Ahiga: **He smiles a little, glad that Caspian isn't mad. He quickly hobbles up the stairs to sit by the fire and heal in its warm for what must be the sixth time today. After a moment, his ribs stop hurting so bad, and he looks up to Caspian.** I'm beat... And hungry... I don't think I can fight anymore.

Caspian: You earned your rest, Ahiga. **He looks to Delpha.** Perhaps Delpha and I can hunt something to eat in the Nabalwald. Your improvements in combat deserves a feast.

Ahiga: **He rubs his stomach a little.** Yeah, I'm starved.

Caspian: **He raises an eyebrow as he looks to Ahiga.** You can't be starved, we ate just this morning.

Ahiga: It's... Just hyperbole... Like a joke... **He turns around, scooting over the plaza a little as he looks to Delpha.** You must be starving though, Delpha. You haven't eaten since we rescued you.

Delpha: I am not hungry. **She looks to Caspian.** But I will help you hunt, Caspian.

Caspian: You don't need to eat? **He looks to the Knight-Hunter with a quizzical expression.**

Delpha: As thin as it may be, my paleblood sustains me for the time being. **She turns away and then looks back at Caspian.** Shall we?

Caspian: We'll be back in a bit Ahiga. **He runs down the steps.** I will try to kill us a large beast!

Ahiga: Sounds good! **He waves and sits down at the top of the steps. After they leave he sighs and looks down.** That sucked... **He brushes his hair from his face.** I never killed anyone before... **He frowns a bit, sitting at the top of the steps.** Even thought he didn't actually die... It didn't feel too good... **He wipes the back of his hand across his eyes and rubs his nose a little. Ahiga half-expects the Lady-in-Waiting to say something, like she did earlier, but she only silently stares into the flames, her expression as unmoved as always.**

**Meanwhile, in the infinite dark of the Pyxis...**

Kaali: **She's wandering a large area of the Pyxis where the ground is covered in short black plants, it's dimly lit by the distant cherry-red light of the flames. Having quickly discovered that Loki was following her, she and the ferret have already caught and killed three round rabbit-like animals, which she has slung over her shoulder. As the small familiar runs about the brush, pitch-black and stealthy, she silently admires that he doesn't talk or complain like his master, and he's actually capable of doing something useful.**

**As Kaali continues to search through the dark brush she hears the footsteps and quiet breathing of someone not far off, to her left.**

Kaali: **She immediately reacts and draws her sword, pointing it to the exact spot where the sound came from.** Who goes there?

**A pair of large glowing neon-blue eyes peer across the darkness towards her, about twenty feet away. Even with her strange senses, the body of the figure is difficult to make out, appearing to be made of darkness itself. A masculine voice, muffled and deep, almost warped in tone, calls out to her.** That familiar. Where'd you find it?

Kaali: **She narrows her eyes at the creature.** The only concern you should have is the edge of my sword. **Loki vanishes into the underbrush as he goes full stealth-hunter mode.**

Blue Eyes: **The blue eyes seem to look to her sword. If they're conveying an expression Kaali can't tell what it is.** You sure that tiny thing's supposed to be a sword? **There's a series of white flashes that appear in front of the figure, and an accompanying series of deafening small explosions rip up the ground and shred the foliage all around Kaali's feet.** I've had a bigger weapon than that since I was twelve, so you'll have to do better than that. **There's a clicking sound, and the figure seems to move a bit.** Now I'm gonna ask again, real night, one more time. Where'd you find that ferret?

Kaali: **She narrows her eyes and her sword shimmers with a halo of trembling white energy. She starts to walk towards him.** It is unwise to provoke a Chasm Knight.

Blue Eyes: **His eyes seem to be fixated on Kaali, large, inhuman, and unblinking.** And I told you that was the last time I'd ask nicely. **There's another series of flashes, and a series of small explosions spark off of her shinguard and tear up her ankles.**

**Loki jumps out of the dark and up onto him, scratching at him and jumping in his face.**

Kaali: **With the ferret's distraction, she leaps ten feet into the air, avoiding the attack. She then shimmers with black and white energy and she dives straight from the air and spins around, whipping her blade down at him. Loki jumps off of him as a long black and white greatsword extends to cut him in half.**

**As his attacks miss due to the interfering ferret attack, he struggles to grab at Loki and throw him off. When Loki jumps off, he sees her swing just in time to turn around and duck, causing her blade to slash across his shoulder and back, where it hits some form of extremely durable armor. As she dives down and reaches him, he shoulder-charges into her and slams her away with surprising strength before she can land another clean hit.**

Kaali: **She lands on her feet, somehow immediately recovering and sliding towards him again, wreathed in a halo of the same black and white energy. She slashes at him with three quick sword slashes, each of which would easily slice the whatever he is in two.**

Blue Eyes: **He barely deflects the first slash with some steel weapon, which her sword cuts in half like its made of paper. Realizing how sharp the blade is he steps into the next swing and it glances off the armor on his shoulder before he grabs her hand holding the sword with an iron grip, keeping her from swinging the third time, his other hand grabs her other arm, and he pulls her and turns her similar to a dance move, bear-hugging her close with obvious strength. His large inhuman neon-blue eyes peer deeply into hers.** You know- **A shrieking roar from somewhere in the distance cuts him off and catches his attention, followed by the sound of footfalls running towards them.**

Kaali: **The moment he's distracted she breaks free of his grasp and pushes him away, then immediately turns to see what's coming for her.**

**Both the blue eyed man and Kaali can make out a large insect-like creature in the distance, crawling over the black earth on multiple human-like arms, a pair of translucent broken wings on its back fluttering uselessly. Its huge compound eyes glow with a sickly purple and lime-green light as they've fixated on the Knight and the stranger.**

Kaali: All that noise your magic has made... You've attracted this *thing* to us. **She holds her blade ready.**

Blue Eyes: **He looks to her for a moment.** What say we tag team this thing, then get back to killing each other afterwards?

Kaali: As if I need your help. **Her weapon shimmers brightly, as does her form, and she suddenly slides over the ground, dashing towards the insectoid horror. She brings her blade up to cleave through one of its huge bug-eyes.**

**Her weapon strikes true and cleaves the creature's eye open, causing a spray of glowing green sludge to burst forth and cover part of her. The creature shrieks loudly, one of its six arms darting up and grabbing her, the hand large enough to palm her entire chest, with the long fingers wrapping around her. It slams Kaali into the ground several times, and then pulls her up to its face. Unlike a real fly's mouth, it has no promiscuous, and instead a huge human-like mouth full of flat teeth opens up to bite off her head.**

Blue Eyes: **There's a thunderous boom, and the side of the fly creature's other huge eye explodes in a burst of glowing sludge.** Don't need my help, huh!? **The fly shrieks again and recoils from the pain.**

Kaali: **She quickly uses the distraction to slash the arm that's holding her clean off, then props her sword under the fingers pulls it out and away from her to slice them apart and free herself. Her weapon shimmers again and she thrusts her short sword up into the fly's mouth, where it extends into a greatsword, the end of which bursts from the top of the monster's head.**

**The creature shrieks and gurgles, jumping backwards and away from the Chasm Knight. It stumbles around and twitches, its arm-legs spasming in a chaotic flurry.**

Kaali: **She gets to her feet and runs over to the monster, and in a clean downward swing she cuts its large head from its body, then kicks it away. Immediately she looks back to the man with the glowing eyes.**

Blue Eyes: **He tilts his head as he looks at her.** Maybe we got off on the wrong foot... Look, that ferret is the familiar to someone I'm looking for. He's short and small, blue eyes, pale skin, black hair, goes by Tate. Have you seen him?

Kaali: **She narrows her eyes, spins her sword twice, causing the gunk and sludge from the fly creature to fly off of it, and then she shoves it into her sheath. She walks over to where she was and picks up the bundle of rabbit-things she and Loki hunted earlier.** I will lead you to him.

Blue Eyes: ...Just like that, huh? **He eyes follow her as she starts to walk away.**

Kaali: You are a better fighter than he is, that makes you useful. **She calls out.** Tiny beast, we're going back! **Loki comes running out of the brush and runs around Kaali's feet before stopping and looking back at the neon eyes.**

**Meanwhile, back at the clearing near the cliff...**

**The pink-red light from the fires beyond the cliff is gone. The cliff itself is gone. Barlowe is gone. The candle is gone. The world seems stranger, darker, somehow. Without even realizing it, the nature of Tate's surroundings has changed. Did it just happen, or has it been this way for the passed hour? Despite the deep all-consuming darkness around him, he can still see himself, clear as day.**

Tate: **He quickly gets to his feet and looks around.** Barlowe?! **He spins and looks around.** What the fuck... LOKI!? **He calls out and narrows his eyes. Panic nearly sets in, but he realizes he might just be dreaming, and that things really can't get much worse anyway. After a moment, in a quieter voice he whispers.** ...Morganstern? **He turns and looks around again.**

**A voice resounds in the dark around him. It's distorted, almost like someone speaking through an old radio communicator.** The dark was yet nascent within you... But it has grown in such little... *Time*...

Tate: **He spins around again.** Who the fuck is that!? **He looks for the source of the voice.**

**A white-purple mist appears in the blackness ahead of Tate, growing out of it subtly for a moment, before it becomes apparent. As it begins to clear a bit, it reveals a strange sight. What looks to be an astronaut, or something wearing a helmet that is very similar to one, is floating weightlessly. The mist itself shrouds this being, condensing and forming into field of what looks to be tiny stars.** I forwent all names long ago... But if you like... You may call me... Naphalius...