Katzan and Joanne

[21:27] Katzan simply looks around at the room as soon as they arrive. He gazes into the flaming braziers in the middle of it, as they flicker with a gesture of his own hand. He looks at the spot surrounding him, and starts speaking.

"These guys have resisted bravely. They have, time and time again, withstood against the Atl." He said, a powerful tone to his voice, as if he was speaking of the most important thing in the world. And to him, it was -- Atl was the most important thing of all. Because he was Atl.

"And this marks the end of their resistance. You see what's happening here, right?" He looks at the room, both arms raising to his sides as the flames simply skip through the brazier and onto the carpet, starting a controlled flame, lacking the usual greyish tone as well as emitting a nice amount of heat for its length, as opposed to draining it.

"They have harmed Tristan. They took two eyes from him. And... I believe that this is more than enough to take something from them. Dante, apparently, was the one to do it. But they keep him in shelter, and he considers this his home."

With that, the flames started spreading slowly, following the pace of Katzan's steps as he walked around the room. "In a while, he won't have a home to return to."
(Katzan Xizoh)
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[21:44] This was an odd place for a conversation. It seemed too far southeast to be Atl, yet they decided to come here. Was there another purpose? Apparently there was as the Chieftain began to manipulate the flames in the brazier by adding to them. She had really, really bad timing, but could she really attempt to stop him when her purpose was far different here?

Joanne's demeanor remained stoic as she raised her left hand and channeled the power that was controlled by her emotions being channeled, "Stop." She stated as the fingers of her left hand twitched and then the mana circuitry in her body was pulled upon, transferring magical energy to lob small blasts of concussive water at the flames with a flick of her hand.

"This is not something I'm going to watch or condone." The black-haired female spoke firmly. She would probably come off as a lot different than before, the changes she had undergone in her mentality fairly obvious for even those who barely knew her.
(Joanne Stiller)
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[21:51] Katzan looked towards Joanne. Clearly, she did not understand what was going on in here, or why he needed to do this. The water hit against the flames, and yet... They quickly turned grey, the water on top of them evaporating as to only make clear one thing.

They consumed upon everything without discretion. They now consumed upon the very colors around them, an eerie feeling of emptiness slowly filling up the room, almost as if instinctively the flames wanted to hold themselves together.

But yet, they obeyed to the command of the Xizoh. He waved a hand, and the flames that weren't with the brazier were quickly gone. Yellow irises stared towards her, and then he let out a sigh.

"You don't UNDERSTAND, Joanne. You think you do. All of you think you do. But you have no idea the burden it is to be someone as great as me. To have to protect Tristan..." And with that, the flames surrounding him came to the ground, crashing down against the carpet. They swallowed everything immediately, the greyish scenario intensifying.

"You wanted to speak, Joanne." With that, once a small little abode of black and white was made surrounding him, the Xizoh sat down on a chair, sustained by the greyish flames. "Feel free to do it. For now, I'll listen."
(Katzan Xizoh)
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[22:02] Failing to put out the building pyre, her red eyes turning towards the flames fully. Learning to combat that gray inferno was something that was, in fact, among her list of things to do. Considering she couldn't quite mix the necessary elements to put out those flames, the former bartender relented. "I came to make an offer." Joanne began, keeping note of the fire's positioning to avoid being harmed herself.

"You meant Isaiah, didn't you, when you said you wanted someone offered up as a bet for the honor fuel?" The doubt in her eyes was vaguely visible among the massive amount of determination to do what she felt was right, and that was simple.

Protect Isaiah and the others at Crafthold, even if the worst happened and Eiphraem lost. As the monochrome pyre spread, water pooled at her feet, taking form around her shoes as the symbolic magic she used was fueled further. Joanne continued, maintaining the same level of composure as she usually did, "I have a counter offer."

Was Joanne really going to make such a deal? Yes. She had finally found something precious to her, something that she wanted to defend, no matter how strange it could be seen as. The bright red eyes turned back to Katzan, awaiting a reply of some kind.
(Joanne Stiller)
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[22:12] The flame almost began spreading, but it remained silent at Katzan's side. They were wholly under control, not tackling against anything... Even if their whole intention was completely to destroy this whole place. And the way that Katzan looked upon everything with disdain made it clearer: He was obviously going to make sure that this whole place wouldn't stand after he was done with it.

However, she seemed to have misunderstood completely. He looked at her, and putting the elbow at the counter near him, the ultimate care being taken to stop the flames from attacking it as well... He covered his mouth.

And under his hand, an audible giggle could be heard. That pesky "pffft, ksssh. kshhhehehe." that he always used for himself. His yellow irises remained still on Joanne, meeting the red eyes with an obviously defying dare.

"I meant JACK. That asshole. I don't give afuck about the doctor. Hell, only the way that he looked so scared was enough for me." He let out a sigh, and crossed his legs. Putting both elbows to the counter, he almost relaxed.

Yet, he continued speaking, with a slight tone of interest added to his voice. "But you had a counter offer?"
(Katzan Xizoh)
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[22:23] That was a bit different, however it didn't change that Eiphraem might refuse. There was a moment of confusion, then understanding in those red hues, then she made the decision that was on the basis that this was something that needed to be done for the future to be brighter. That was her wish in the end, after all, though few knew about it.

"I... offer to replace Jack as the bet."

It was a bold move and possibly the most courageous thing she had ever done, but Joanne had confidence, and one could even go as far as saying she had utmost faith, in Eiphraem's ability to win. However, the black-haired female folded her arms over her stomach as she explained a bit further.

"You were insistent on teaching me before and I know why. I know what you did to Amoxtli, too. It also seems like you could use an alchemist and someone who has experience with more mundane injuries."

There was still doubt in her eyes, and even some form of concern. She was worried about what might happen to her if Eiphraem lost, but the determination was still present, heavily overpowering the other emotions she felt.
(Joanne Stiller)
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[22:41] He quirked an eyebrow at the fact that Joanne offered herself. Determination, obviously, but why was something that far over his head. Obviously, Katzan didn't care about the people that she did, or even at her motivation. What he saw there was nothing more than adoration. Nothing more than wanting to be in front of the others.

Because she sure as hell knew that Katzan wouldn't punish her, or at least he hoped so. He was, after all, a bit more fond of her than of most of Crafthold. However, there were a few words which, like pretty much everything else on this day, might have been signalizing him that she picked up the wrong meaning of his words.

"You think you know why I want to teach you." With that, he slightly inclined his head to the side, a characteristic pop of his neck coming to resonate on the room. His head was still slightly inclined as he put his own cheek to rest against the lifted palm of his hand.

"I assure you, most of you guys think for me to be dumb for some reason. You believe that my reasons are different most of the time, when in reality, they aren't." And then, he lets out a slight yawn.

The flames around him quickly die off, yet they remain at the destroyed piece of the bench, holding it up. "You don't seem to have any fear." He said, finally getting up from the bench.

A few steps are taken towards her. There was no visible aura, no flickering flames -- Perhaps for the first time, she could see him on full color, even if this time he was wearing Chi Ciao's armor as a sign of his victory today. "You almost look like you'd be willing to take it. I know that you want something else, beyond that..."

He inclined his head slightly forwards, the neutral expression filled with the eerie destructive passion that his own flames carried as he stared at the woman's red eyes. "You too want some power, don't you?"

A faint smirk came to his face as he raised his head once again, staring directly onto her, chin raised up high.
(Katzan Xizoh)
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[23:02] Joanne stood her ground, listening to the words of the Chieftain, her expression remaining the same throughout the entire thing. He thought himself to be right, that she didn't understand anything about him. In truth, she didn't know much about him, she didn't understand all that much about him, but she did read him well enough to know one thing. For the first time in any serious situation between them, Joanne's expression changed entirely, but not to negativity.

The black-haired female smiled.

Katzan might have closed the distance, but the color returning to him was another sign. Where one might grapple for power, her desire for might was not for the same reason as many. She wanted power, she wanted the strength that she saw in others. She wanted to be like Eiphraem, she wanted to be respected, appreciated, and yet keep her humanity, the thing that the naga had obtained himself.

That was why she wanted to protect Eiphraem, maybe even more than Crafthold.

"You're right, I do want power." She began, but the smile remained as defiance flashed in her eyes, "But not like yours. You see, I talked to Tristan..." Her hands were lowered to their sides. That staff from a fallen paladin that rested behind her, the thing that she took up in arms against the future, became faintly luminescent with a pale glow that died out after a few seconds.

"You want to corrupt others, right? You want to be respected, to be praised, to instill fear and to dominate. You want to darken others' hearts and spread that corruption." Joanne's determination was boundless, allowing her to overcome any fear that she might have faced, however... Her next words were almost forced. She did have a point to falter at.

"You have your chance to try and corrupt me, to stop me from doing things to help the world without killing me." She said, pausing for a couple of seconds. The break in her speech could easily be taken as weakness, the lack of true mental strength. It was, though, a fact that she did not know how to go about her goal without large amounts of power.

Eiphraem, I'm sorry if this turns out worse.

"Accept the duel under the conditions of non-lethality and the replacement offer I have given you."
(Joanne Stiller)
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[23:27] Katzan merely looked towards her, the same indifferent expression remaining still at his face. However, he shookd his head. Her proposal wasn't that bad. Of course, he loved the very opportunity of trying to corrupt others, but Tristan's silver tongue had gotten to her first.

"I seek to corrupt others?" He looked towards her, the yellow irises locked into her red hues, staring directly at her. Perhaps she thought that this was a good thing, that she was fulfilling her objectives. However, this was nothing but something that managed to anger him.

His mind was far too corrupted by sin and his own manner of seeing the world. Perhaps she thought that she knew his intentions completely, and a hand rose, landing at the side of her head. His thumb stroked once through her flesh, the nail almost digging in with such strength that he exerted.

Obviously, the very touch of a sinner was strong. It was palpable, how his very presence almost forced her expression to turn into awe, his own magnificence made into a palpable presence in the room, almost as if he was making sure that in here...

... She was nothing before him. After he examined the texture of her very skin, he examined his own hand, a greyish trail left on her cheek. "You think I want to corrupt. I am no corruptor. I merely make them see truth."

He rose one hand to his side, a very primitive flame coming to his hand, wild as the ones that he carried. Yet, it lacked the all-devouring power that his signature power emanated. "I want to make sure that people don't do wrong decisions. If they're incapable, someone has to take these for them."

It's true. In his mind, he was a benefactor, one that more than certainly deserved to be noted and seen, worshipped by all for the immense good that he brought upon this world. "You think I want to stop the world from becoming a better place?"

He gestured towards the door. "If anything, I stop those that do wrong to the world. That's why I took over Atl. To keep them away from the shambles. To let them finally rise over the bad times that they were in, and make them into a glorious tribe once again."

And then, he continued. "If you think that I am as basic as wanting to do what I do because I'm supposedly evil, you're inherently wrong. You could have left."

And then, he looked back towards her, his head leaning slightly towards one side. "If I felt that you would do harm to the world, I'd easily put you down. If I wanted to see you dead like I want to see Jack... You'd be long dead by now. And you know what? No one would ever know who killed you."

A slight shake of his head, from side to side, a slight frown appearing upon his face. It was obvious: He was disappointed, both that she thought that his reasoning would be as shallow as this, and that he would not want to do the good things that he had in mind.

Of course, for Katzan, the world was in a rough shape. And he was the savior from across, to turn them to the true salvation: The Way of Blood, where they all wound find their guidance under him. Of course, he was greedy, but in the end? What motivated him was the legacy of his father.

Ezton Xizoh, the savior of Atl. The man who came before Xomac, and made the tribe climb back from shambles. Katzan did, in his own view, the same, but he was failing his own objectives. He wanted to make it bigger than ever. To make everyone witness how powerful Atl was, and to all accept that under him...

... Under the guidance of one worthy to become Strigoi, Atl would rule over these, guiding the poor useless fools away from their own pitiful fate, where their very choices damned them.
(Katzan Xizoh)
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[00:00] The stare was returned, though now there was regret. He was too caught up in his own vanity to understand what he was doing, the sheer idea of the strong ruling the weak and doing with them as they pleased disgusted her. As the Sin Mage raised his hand and placed his hand on her head, there was a moment where she faltered as the thumb just about dug into her flesh.

Her emotions betrayed her and for only seconds, there was a glint in her eyes, an intense negative reaction to the awe he was trying to inspire. Despite Katzan's attempts, he did not get the affect he might have expected. No, something protected her, even as her emotions so abruptly and briefly betrayed her.

Joanne hated it. She despised that someone could think themselves so mighty, and for a few moments, that was reflected in her eyes. Regardless if she kept still, the malice in her eyes was obvious, so very blatant and... then was gone. It went with the others into solitude, into a cage as the red eyes closed. She exhaled loudly, her release of breath followed by the staff that was still sheathed began to glow with holy light.

Symbolic magic, the magic that came from emotions, except for Joanne, it was different. She used negativity to fuel magic that should not accept such feelings and she overcame that with the confidence that Elizabeth Sharp's staff had given her. Negativity was 'channeled' into the focusing weapon and it became the effects she wanted. Even if it was a crude form of spell casting, her emotions made it strong enough to protect herself in ways she could not before.

With a frown, Joanne's eyes opened, the malice drained into a holy aura of illumination that spread around her. She wouldn't be able to explain it herself, but her innate magical talent was beyond that of many, to the point of allowing her to use some advanced magic, but not skillfully. Maybe that's why the flowers she always had in her hair were still the same color as they were the day she received them at least one year ago.

"The truth is the world's rotten. There is so much suffering and so much pain inflicted by others just because they can, including you. Isaiah's an idiot at times, but he certainly doesn't deserve death." She shook her head slightly. The gray streak across her cheek dissolved, her holy magic not being weak, but also not exceptionally strong. It wasn't refined enough to be as strong as it could be, she didn't have the formal training necessary.

Joanne offered neither retaliation nor any attempts to distance herself. This aura's appearance was not an initiation to do combat. It was almost as if it were simple reaction to the amount of malice she held prior. "You want a reality where the strong do whatever they want to the weak. I want a world where there doesn't have to be a difference. It's a stupid idea, I know, but it's possible."

She was being honest with her opinions now, to the point where it was exceptionally dangerous. "Killing me would start a bloody war with Eiphraem and I know neither of us want that in the end. Your people would suffer, the ones you say you care so much about, just as much as Crafthold would. People saw me leave with you and that's where Eiphraem would start."

Katzan had gotten to her. He had managed to make her express the things that would fill this situation with more peril. "I don't want a war, I don't want people to suffer because I did something reckless."

Most of all, he had, briefly, returned anger to her that was uncharacteristic.
(Joanne Stiller)
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[00:45] Katzan looks towards Joanne, her whole expression turning into whatever it was that she sought to make. Somehow, he felt it. He knew how that was, how the emptiness fueled her very magic now, seeking to cage away her feelings. It brought a slight smile to his face, seeing her cage them away through the holy magic...

A different approach to his very magic. "You say you're so different, yet look at you. I began like that, you know. Using my own magic to overthrow my emotions. To stop them from affecting me." It was simple, almost a guiding voice. Even if she managed to shake away the awe that he so eagerly tried to induce into her... It seemed to do no harm to him.

He knew that sooner or later she would start it. Everyone resisted it at first, but sooner or later, they recognized what was wrong with their very ways of thinking. Perhaps it went over his head how he managed to convince people so easily, to make his own influence so perceptible. And indeed, it was: Katzan's very first contacts with the occult all involved accidental wrecking of his opponent's minds.

"You're so naïve. You think you know what truth there is to know, but you don't. You think you're all knowing... But not even I am." Of course, he was still a sinner. This was very, very clear. Even if it was what originally made someone with such good intentions slowly stumble down into degeneracy.

But it was true, he was filled with good intentions. And so was hell. Warped, distorted good intentions, but in the end, he believed vehemently in every single word that he spoke. "You think you know what I want. I merely want for us all to strive, Joanne! Can't you SEE?"

Obviously, there was nothing that the people could see. No one had such enlightened vision as he did, no one knew barely half of what he knew. His mind was so warped by his occult, so destroyed by his own wrongdoings that now every single reason of his mind had to be searched thoroughly in order to actually make sense.

But obviously, he would make sure that she would see. Or at least that she would be able to imagine, to try and accompany his line of thought. "You're saying I want a reality where the strong do whatever they want to the weak. You don't understand that it isn't like that. The strong rule because the weaker need their protection."

And like that, he pointed towards the general direction where he imagined that Crafthold would be. "You think that it isn't like that? Even if you don't want it to be like that, it already is. You see everyone bowing to Eiphraem because he's just stronger? Because you KNOW that where you belong is under him."

And with that, he scowled. Finally, it looked like she got to him. Perhaps his own words helped that a whole lot more. "You say you don't want a war, but you're openly threatening me with one. And it isn't even one where you want to fight at. You want someone stronger than you to take it over."

And like that, Katzan let out a huff, before a sudden wave of grey washed over his body. And then, his calmness returned, the eerie feeling of emptiness surrounding him once again. "You want a reality where your strong rule over the other weak. You don't know half of what you think you know about the Way of Blood. About honor. About how the world back in the mainland works."

True, Katzan had never seen the Mainland. He was nothing but a kid born here, who had never even seen his father. Perhaps, this was what made him become such a trainwreck in the end, what made him get so destroyed over everything that happened to him. Perhaps, in the end, Katzan was just a victim. And honestly? To him, this was a hell of a great way to get over his past. To just overthrow it.

"You don't know why the occuali in Atl remain in the city. They are free to leave. They CAN leave. Sometimes, we even encourage them to. But you know what? They never do. Why? Because they love it. Because they know that they need our protection to grow stronger. And you know what?"

He points towards his own chest. Obviously, there was some point to that, as he was already totally flustered. The greyish mass surrounding him vanished, while the golden tone over his skin washed over, obviously making sure that she knew what this was about. It was his own, very personal opinion of himself acting right now. "I was once an Occualli. And you know what made me become greater? Knowing that in order to protect the others, I needed to be stronger than them. There is no point in having it otherwise."

"And you know why we have to do things like make others suffer? Because we have to. Because we can't let society run itself because some people like you just think that they're under the guidance of the wrong strong person. You wanna know why I beat Amoxtli up?" He steps in closer, the golden tone growing stronger.

"To help her. To make sure that she wouldn't eat that man alive. To make sure that unlike you guys are doing, I would keep her in check. To stop her from going on a killing spree and devouring half of that town. And you know what she tells me every time I get there? That you've been FEEDING that. That you've been LETTING her drive deeper into that." Obviously, Katzan was upset about something. Perhaps about something that he saw as nothing short of incompetence, where they simply allowed something so despicable in his own sight to go on.

"I PROTECTED HER. I protected YOU. You want to tell me that you want the people to give up to those obnoxious sinners? To let them rule over you just because they can't control themselves? Someone's got to exert control over that, and obviously, I'm doing a MUCH better job than you lot." And like that, Katzan took a step back, letting out a huff through his mouth as his feet stomped down onto the ground, walking back and facing the brazier.

"You know nothing about us, Joanne. You walk in, with that fancy Valmasian morals, thinking that you know what's upwith Atl. I bet you say we're savages as well, don't you?" He turned towards her, obviously angry. Oh boy. Perhaps, this was a bad decision.

And he hasn't even started to speak about his life goals.
(Katzan Xizoh)
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[01:20] The distortion of what Katzan thought was what was truly upsetting about this. She was surprised by the response that he gave, quite obviously. The fact that he replied with anger rather than the odd calm he usually had meant something. "You're right. I'm weak..." Her gaze slowly went to the floor as the Chieftain finished his speech.

"Even when I couldn't cast spells, I risked myself to try to free Amoxtli after I saw her get captured by Nerzan. I made a plan so that even if they locked me away or killed me, you and Eiphraem would be aware of it." Joanne's expression was still a frown as she refused to take her gaze from the floor. The weight of Katzan's words was crushing, or perhaps, it was simply a rude awakening.

"I gave her food so she wouldn't have to hunt for herself and her children and get herself hurt again. It didn't work." There was regret obvious in her tone of voice, but she continued, "It may have made things worse or it may have just not been enough to keep her from going out looking for blood."

For a moment, there was a pause as Joanne collected herself. "You're wrong, too. I don't use magic to control myself. All of these bad things that have happened to me, to others, it made me realize something..." Slowly, her red eyes were lifted to meet the Atl's own. She knew this was dangerous, but there was a possibility this could be a chance to save someone else.

"If I allow that anger to rule me, if I allow despair to control what I do, it means I'll end up just as bad as Tragedy. You're right that I'm weak, but my weakness doesn't come from inherent lack of ability as am I now, it comes from how much I began caring." The flicker of determination returned to her eyes, but there was a faint backing of sorrow. She pitied him because he was so caught up in his own pride that he couldn't see anything but his own world.

"However, I'm going to find a way to turn that weakness into strength! You say the strong should protect the weak... I say the strong should teach the weak. I say they should strive to better those below them and themselves, no matter who they're dealing with." That desire to protect and to change the future from the darkness that it was sailing towards grew stronger now. Katzan only reinforced her will to become stronger to do this, but without relying on such dark magic.

"I have my resolution to fight for a better future. I know I can't save everyone... but that doesn't mean I shouldn't try. You say that emotions are weakness, Katzan, but I know they're eating at you right now, just as much as you prey upon them!" Joanne exclaimed. Such a statement was a bold move, but her next was, perhaps, far more bold than anything she might ever do, sans maybe challenging Tragedy to a duel to the death.

"If you want to protect the future, Katzan? You won't just use cruelty to reinforce growth. You say you care, so start caring! If you want to be the one to be so reputed for paving the way to a bright future, you have to stop this violence. You're going to burn down someone's home for revenge!" Joanne contined with her rebuttal, then she glanced to the ground. Something had reminded her of her past and the events that pushed her to joining Crafthold formally.

"If you keepdelivering revenge like this, you'll fall further to darkness. You'll put Amoxtli into danger because those you harmed, even if inadvertently, will continue the cycle. They will want revenge on you and your tribe." The light that Joanne found was still unaffected by Katzan's aura of pride. If anything, he had only pushed her further into the nature she was embracing. Her next statement was quieter, but still audible enough.

"You want to be so much better than anyone else, but in the end... Who will protect you?"

She truly had begun to pity him.
(Joanne Stiller)
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[01:58]
{LOAD GAME}

[02:13] Katzan seems to be barely able to hold himself together. While so far he kept his own aura of pride concealed, where he just made it clear through his never-ending effort to keep it to himself. Where she was already managing to get through his endless patience and neutrality.

Obviously, this was something horrible to witness. It was clear that the greyish flames flickered under his eyes, draining away at the color of his irises. Anyone who did know him better or seen him fighting, knew what this meant. Katzan's gaze was deadpanned, empty, and perhaps looking far, far away from where she currently was.

He clearly looked around, as if trying to locate her voice. His gaze moved around the very room, searching for her, searching for that familiar presence, as the greyish flames finally erupted around him, seeking, but not destroying. Although it was as clear as water: They were meant for destroying, but Katzan was withholding those.

He was making hi best effortnot to kill her. Everything of him made it clear: He wanted to. Even his subconscious managed to say it, he wanted to kill her so bad. And instead, when they weren't allowed to feed on the material... They fed upon the light. They consumed the colors and the light that the brazier itself emitted, covering the room in a black-and-white penumbra that would more than definitely show the eeriness that laid inside of the Xizoh.

"You understood it all WRONG. You say the strong should teach the weak, where did you miss that? I said it myself: I WAS AN OCCUALI. I wanted to TEACH you. You say that I am such a merciless being, yet I offered you help time and time again." He still looked around the room, seeking her. He moved around, the greyish flames feeling everything, leaving slight burns on every single object that they dared to touch, but something very, very different from before.newl
It was leaving a very signature of his own personality behind, almost a tangible form of it, spread throughout the destructive flames. However, more important than that, they tackled against himself. It was the sort of self-protective measure that he spoke earlier. "You are saying just what I did before I felt it through me, Joanne. That my feelings are a weakness. You know it to be true, don't you?"

And like that, he got a grasp on the cauldron that sat in the middle of the room, letting it stumble on the ground. He looked down to it, taking a step back in perhaps a brief demonstration of just a jumpscare, where his flames simply tackled against the iron cauldron. It was quick, merciless and left no vestiges: The cauldron simply vanished after a quick washing over of the greyish flames, devouring over it entirely.

"You... You say that. You don't understand. You come to my continent, to me and you say that everything I do is wrong, while the people around you do the exact same. You have no idea what you're doing, Joanne?!"

And like that, he finally found her. The greyish flames spread throughout the room, before a single spark touched her holy aura. He instantly turned to it, as they were little more than an extension to himself, although barely controlled. And right now, it was visible in his gritting teeth: He was struggling to keep himself controlling those. The very occult that ran through his bloodline, once again uncontrolled, unparalleled in its strength. It was raw, pure force, emitted through these flames.

"You're just claiming that I AM INCAPABLE of doing that job as well as the others. You say that my way is wrong, but you have no idea what it was like to be raised in Gehenna. You have no idea why we do what we do, and you simply expect everything else to work out in the end because you believe that the ones who are FAR more violent than I am are pleasing to you." He shakes his head from side to side, before finally walking towards her. His gaze wasn't directed anywhere in specific: It simply laid behind her, pointing at her general direction, but not at her. Somewhere around her, perhaps somewhere behind her, but it lacked any sort of objectivity. At this point, his vision was long gone.

The greyish flames tackled against him, eating away at his skin, and for some reason... The golden aura still hadn't flared. He seemed to feel no pain, no shivers running through his spine, as the hellish flames surrounded the girl. Obviously, she was doing something very, very dangerous. Something motivated her, and yet, he still hadn't forgotten those last words.

He finally approached her, and staring straight forwards, even if it meant staring at the door behind her,he spoke. Perhaps this was the most emotional of the Xizoh that anyone could have seen in a while, regardless. "You want to know who's going to protect me, Joanne? You want to say what? You're going to do it?"

And like that, the golden glow took over his very being. It washed through his skin, repairing every superficial wound almost in an instant, as the yellow irises finally came to life once again, and he simply directed them downwards. "There comes a point, Joanne. Where you're just on top of the chain. Where the true Strigoi strive, and nothing can tackle them down. And you know what?"

He leans himself downwards slightly. Of course, he kept the same arrogant tone to his voice, now that he seemed to be recovering some of his own personality, almost as if that very golden glow that ran through him was a significance of whatever sort of personality remained in him. Deep down, perhaps, he was still that same lost boy from before.

"I'm going for that. You want to tell me who's going to protect me, Joanne? Who's going to be above me? You want me to bend the knee and accept someone else to ride and command me like a pitiful lamb?"

(Katzan Xizoh)
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[02:49] There was a time and place for decisions that were foolish, reckless and possibly just plain stupid. That time had long since passed, Joanne was at the point of no return. That which motivated the former bartender was the idea that anyone could change for the better, that death was a final resort that should not be thrown around wantonly. What had once been absolute neutrality and trained apathy was gone and it was no human that managed the feat of making her truly care again.

When Katzan stared at her, she stared back. Yes, she was scared, but even the fear that could be seen in her eyes was being pushed back by that desire to make things right with the world, to make things right with the person standing before her. She had connected the dots and understood that the Chieftain was cursed in a way similar yet different to Amoxtli. One major difference was that for him, it was all-consuming. It bypassed even his training to control his emotions.

"No. I can't protect you from anyone but yourself." She replied softly at first, knowing full well that the flames had blocked her exit. It was horrible that he did this to himself. "I don't want you to bow to anyone. I don't want you to have to bow. It's stupid, that accusation that I'd judge the Atl based only on hearsay." Her red eyes reflected the combination of regret, fear, pity and determination that she felt.

It was in this moment that a choice had to be made, a decision that would make or break the progress here, and was a choice she could not take back if Katzan decided to go through with it. "I know that look in your eyes... I remember it from when they killed my mother. I was only a child... I still remember how she died holding me, as if everything was going to be okay. It's the same look..." She trailed off for a moment as her voice cracked. It was still painful for her, especially with the situation as it was.

"It's the same look that the Magi who murdered her had." Joanne stated, a bit quieter now. If she were to make this choice, she had to do it now, but even as she contemplated it, she found the fear of losing everything was making it extremely difficult to speak further. All those memories she had made, the friends she had gained. The fact that she had progressed far enough with Eiphraem's help to remove that mental block that prevented her from learning magic. It would all be lost if the Chieftain chose to do this. But, to Joanne, it was a matter she couldn't avoid now. She was in way over her head.

If even a Demon can change to be human...

"Kill me." Joanne spoke the boldest words anyonecould in this situation, far beyond anything she had said so far. "If that's what you have to do, then kill me. It won't make things better, only worse. Not because you'd start a war with Eiphraem and a drive for revenge in others, but because you'd go against your own words, your own goals." The black-haired female slowly raised her right hand, not going for the staff, but reaching towards Katzan's chest, aiming to lightly press her hand against the cloth covering the flesh just above his heart. It was no attack, she wasn't channeling any mana anymore, the holy glow around her had even dissipated.

Then Katzan can be redeemed, right?

"Your heart is your own enemy. You suffered too much in some way, and you locked everything away to begin feeding off of it. That's where you're different from me. I don't prey on my emotions, I learn from them and use them in a positive way." Joanne continued to stare back at the blue-haired Chieftain, even if he couldn't see her at the moment. She was genuine in everything she had said, and the next words were sincere because she didn't want to lose everything.

"I don't want to die, I don't want a war to start between you and Eiphraem nor for anyone to feel it's necessary to try to gain revenge, but... If it would make you human again, kill me."

Saving someone from themselves, that was the goal here. She had come to try and save someone else initially, but it turned against her when she realized just how much Katzan had lost of himself. Regrets, memories, they were present, yet Joanne would keep to her word. At this point, it was no longer about the honor duel at all. It was about doing something she tasked herself with doing for Eiphraem for someone who may end up killed by the same Archon if things continued this way.

If Katzan chose to, he could end her life right now without any hassle.
(Joanne Stiller)
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[04:17] Comparing him to a murderous magi. Putting a hand to his chest, it was almost instantly zapped away from him. His very aura was protective, and even if what she meant wasn't an attacked, she most certainly wasn't allowed to get this close to him. She was being hostile to him, she was hurting him where he couldn't even bear being hurt.

She had hurt his ego. So big, so immense and yet so fragile, even as it commandeered every single act that Katzan did. And yet, Joanne managed to anger him so much. To hurt every single part that he valued, to hurt his very pride, to hurt his very essence.

And even if she put himself at his mercy, it was... It was pleasing. He knew that he could end her with a snap of his fingers, and by hell, his aura closing in on her helped a lot to enforce that, clinging closer to her clothes and skin.

They devoured slightly, devoid of any pain, but the simple feeling that she was being eaten was an uneasy one. Like a leech, sucking her very essence out, using it to feed themselves as they only got stronger and stronger. It was clear, and perhaps she could feel it.

His very magic being at work, recovering his eyesight, recovering everything. It was truly a miracle, perhaps, the way that he restored, as his own magic took over him, taking its toll in his own flesh. But yet, he found amusement in the fact that she decided to talk about him to that. To try and help him, and in her own words... To "protect him against himself".

Pitiful. Protecting him against himself? What kind of person would manage to do this, where he was the only thing able to protect him against himself? Obviously, this was a proposal which she did not know how far it needed for her to go by herself.

Perhaps he was calmed down. Perhaps he was just too overwhelmed with his own curses to speak without that boastful tone that he did. "You say you can protect me from myself, then?" A smirk spread across his face as he looked down onto the girl, the yellow hues staring directly into her red ones.

However, her point was made. He understood it, and yet, even if he wanted to ignore it completely, he couldn't. He looked down onto the lady in front of him, and a single thing came across his mind. She said that she didn't want to die, and for him, it came across as nothing short of begging. She was wanting for him to keep her alive, even if she did all that.

And yet, he felt himself comfortable upon the end. She said that if it would make him human again, he should kill her. That. To make himself human again. He wanted to be no human. Ezton was a human. Xomac was a fool that could be compared to a God. And yet, Katzan had to live up to all that.

One single hand lifted up, one finger lifted as to point towards her face. "To make myself human, Joanne?" He said, obviously finding the thought of it funny, not to say otherwise. "I do not want to become human again. You understand it, don't you?"

And like that, that same finger came to poke at her cheek, like if she was a doll in front of him. "You'll have to learn about the Strigoi, dear. I feel it coming closer and closer..." His voice still had the same boastful tone, but now it assimilated more to that of a teaching one than otherwise.

He kept poking at Joanne's cheeks, a faint burn being left behind before his flames started backing down, finally. "I want you to know. I don't aim to become human, Joanne. I am leagues above. You want to save me from myself?"

He leans in closer, staring directly into her eyes. "No one can save me for there is no need to save me from ascending. You don't understand yet, do you?"
(Katzan Xizoh)
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[04:34] * You have been awarded 0.75 Roleplay Points! *
[04:46] The transfer of magical energy to her hand was followed by a grimace and the suddenly movement to pull her hand away and return it to her side. For a moment, she felt as though she could feel the emotion that current ruled inside of Katzan. Maybe it was just her mind playing tricks on her, or maybe it was the magic of the sin that he embodied, she couldn't tell at this point. In fact, his aura had begun to affect her to the point where she was beginning to reflexively pulse holy mana throughout her form.

Was it that he found this so amusing that he did not take the opportunity or was there a shred of humanity left? Joanne couldn't help but think it was the former. His actions, his words, they all spoke of the void that he was, the husk of anything but that pride. It almost made her sick to her stomach, not because he was so ingrained in it, but because this could happen at all. Eiphraem had awoken her desire to hold things close to herself, to pick a side and fight for the protection of her allies and friends, but even then she was only human.

Katzan didn't get it at all, as much as he thought she didn't understand. The term 'strigoi' was one she had not fully familiarized herself with as she lacked in Gehennan cultural tutors, but whatever it was, if it took this kind of mentality, it was not good for anyone in the end, not even Katzan himself. The energy that drew from her was met with mana of light, as her body reacted to the advance of the Sin Mage's influence, continuing to pulse that holy magic through her at regular intervals.

Each time her cheek was poked with the burning finger, she flinched, almost as if expecting something worse with each motion. The very notion of casting humanity away for power and clarity was terrible, and yet the fact that a skeletal knight was more rational and human than the Chieftain was disgusting and horrifying. This was not the strength she sought nor was it ever going to be what she sought willingly.

To take power for such a cost would mean she would, too, have to die or be redeemed. That was the gist of it in the end, those who only destroy where they go could not live well in a peaceful society. Especially not if they constantly sought to use their power over those others that lived there to do what they wished. For once, she stared into eyes that stared back yet offered nothing familiar, only an alien feeling of emptiness.

Joanne took a step back, then attempted another. This was where her resolve failed and she could not further attempt to do anything. She lacked what was needed most in this moment, and that was exactly what Katzan boasted about. Power. Power enough to win a fight with him and make him see that he wasn't the strongest, that there wasn't a point in doing everything yourself and giving into this arrogance. While she wished for such a thing, she could not muster it on her own.

"I understand enough. I understand that you cast away your humanity for this ill-natured power. Our business here is done." She was attempting to leave with those words, her determination had waned enough that further attempts at communication wouldn't be helpful. Additionally, the flames that tried to eat away at her own energy were not helpful for this conversation and drove her subconscious to deliver a secondary response.

The essence of water magic infused with holiness pulsing irregularly through Joanne would help to ward her as she attempted to turn and leave, though it was not an aura. It was too erratic and too subtle to be a method of empowerment, only offering defense.
(Joanne Stiller)
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[05:08] The flames backed out from her as soon as he aura flared in her own defense, the same arrogant gaze being thrown directly at her. As she turned and took a step back, he made no effort to stop her. He simply let her go, arms opening wide as the flames retreated back. Not back to the room, even if they attacked everything on it. But back to him.

He was finally getting ahold of it once again. He was finally controlling it, and even as she left, he followed quickly after. Even her few words were something that didn't hit him at all. Perhaps she understood, but more than likely, she didn't know what she was talking about. She didn't know how much of a lifelong dream it was to become a Strigoi, how much everyone in Atl tried so hard, bled and died for that very goal.

She didn't know the culture of Gehenna. She didn't know the culture of the tribes, or how they worked. She simply thought about those with her pesky morals, one that he did not welcome at all. And like that, Katzan took a step forwards, arms open wide.

"I cast away no humanity, Joanne. I am still a human, after all! For now." He smiled, before a courteous bow came as she walked away. Perhaps he had taken it too far, but more than likely it was intentional. Oh, how he loved being feared. How he loved seeing her heart racing, the blood pumping against her veins. Even if he was never part of the cannibalistic rituals of Atl, he loved it.

He could feel the thrill of it. He could understand why the Strigoi were so worshipped, and in the end, that was his goal. To be worshipped as a Strigoi, as the first, one and only. To be the Strigoi that guided Atl to glory until the day that he died.

No matter how long that took. "You can go, Joanne. I want to show you that you're missing on something. You believe that we're so, so different. But I can tell you." Both arms moved forwards, index and middle finger pointed towards her, as fingerguns. "We're more alike than you think. Might as well tell Eiphraem to kill me right away, eh?"

And with that, he simply observed as she left, almost as if wondering if he could see something else other than that on her. Almost wondering if he could provoke something further from her. To see if he could dig down and drag something up with all his force.

Perhaps, this was an effort that he'd have to take another day.
(Katzan Xizoh)
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[05:22] Kindness and cruelty were two things that Joanne understood very well. Losing her parents at different points in her life to actions she thought she could not forgive was much of the cruelty she had experienced, but it was not all of it. The kindness she had been given overpowered that in entirety, especially considering who it came from.

It was true she felt afraid, but it was not entirely fear of Katzan. It was, too, fear that one day she might have become like him if Eiphraem didn't change her point of view. In her movement to leave, she paused at the final statement and question.

Did he really think she was here because Eiphraem told her to be?

"I'm not talking to him about this."

In truth, she couldn't stomach this right now, not with the war that was going on. It was emotional strain that could very well break her, something that she subconsciously avoided with the neutrality of her previous bar. Something that she would probably never be able to return to.

Joanne shared no enjoyment in this interaction, believing it was a total failure. She hadn't gotten what she came here for, nor did this turn out to be anything but belittling and people ignored her profession and capabilities enough as it was.

Resuming her movement out of the building, she decided to speak one more time, to attempt to clear up the misconception that she felt he was buying into far too much. Maybe she sounded harsh or cold, but it was a temporary push back to her previous attitude as a form of mental defense against the terrors of this country, to allow her to better cope.

"We're nothing alike."

They were just too different to coexist, she felt. There was nothing Joanne could really do for him now, either, to attempt to bring him out of that darkness he hid in. That was the same thing shesaid to Tristan, that it was not the same thing as willing descent. Joanne wanted to believe that nobody would go down this path that with a smile and a happy past.

The door was slammed shut on her way out.
(Joanne Stiller)
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[05:34] Katzan merely observed as she walked away. He felt like shooting more and more taunts at her direction, but he knew very well. That sordid smile couldn't vanish from his face, a utter feeling of completion, of his own objective being fulfilled as she finally gave in to what he wanted her to.

She was more alike to him than she thought. She didn't admit it, but deep down, he felt it. He felt that she recognized that he was right. That even if she thought it to be unfair for him to rule over the others for the simple fact that he was stronger, he knew that she knew: it was completely true.

That most of what she thought to be the right was only enforced with power. And there was nothing like that. However, an eyebrow is quirked up as she says that she won't talk to him about this. Well, perhaps she will just wait for him to kill Katzan, if he manages to beat him. Or, at least, the Xizoh mind thought to himself.

Her last affirmation, though, was received with a barely heard, almost pitiful voice. As if she had just said something that was so cute to the point where he simply felt sorry that she was even saying that. "Oh, Joanne..."

And like that, when she opened the door to leave, he continued speaking. "It's just more than you think." He said, the slamming door forcing his voice to a halt as he backed a single step. A smile came to his face.

Even if she didn't admit to it. Even if she didn't agree with him. He knew that he had gotten to her. He knew that she had experienced way more fear than she thought she would have to during that confrontation, but unfortunately, she left a lasting impact on him as well.

And the bad part was that she probably knew it. However, so consumed upon himself, thinking himself so above this that he could not be affected by someone's efforts like that. Andthere was more truth in this than even he could think.

Breaking his resolve into becoming a Strigoi was harder than it looked.
(Katzan Xizoh)
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