Ronin: Powerless [HI]

11:59] Flare says, "...."
[12:00] Ronin says, "Hey, uuh..."
[12:01] The ookami would slowly pull his blade out and then turn around slowly.

"You must be either stupid or ignorant of the situation. What do you want?"
(Flare)
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Ronin slowed to a stop.
The ring of blade being unsheathed was more than enough to turn him on the defensive, hands up and backpedaling -- Clearly afraid of the gesture posed.
"W- Woah! I'm sorry, sir! I didn't mean to badger you at all." He hurriedly sputtered.

But wait, what situation?

"I... I don't know what you're talking about. What situation?" He asked bluntly, praying that such didn't earn him violence in response.
(Ronin)
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[12:06] Tip toe. The man would drag the blade on the ground. He then take up a stance. As he would begin to walk closer and closer. "Know you actually made perfect timing. I needed someone else blood or coin." He would look to younger gentlemen.

"This not hatred against you personally. This is just me hating people in general."

The blade would be twisted.

"Now then what would you like? To give what you got the easy way or the hard way?"
(Flare)
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[12:10] Ronin froze...
This was going badly, and he knew it could only get worse if he didn't think fast.
This man was armed with a blade, and had full intention on cutting him down had he not submitted to their demands.

A mugging? Or just a madman.
He made a half-step backwards, before freezing...
If he tried making much more of a motion away, it was possible that the man would interpret this as reason to cut him down immediately-- So, perhaps... He could de-escalate the situation.

"I don't really have much. I think someone stole the majority of what I had when I woke up in the woods just yesterday." He admitted, "b- but..." He lowered his arms slowly, to put them to his sides.

"I don't want any trouble, but perhaps I can help you. Hell, I can help get something you want? Work with you, whatever you need. I just... I just don't have anything worth your time or energy. Not yet." He assured.

"Can we work something out here?" He asked, trying his best to keep himself composed.
"It can help you out more than simply cutting me down here, I promise."
(Ronin)
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[12:12] Ronin says, "A-... A mage."
[12:14] Talk. Talk. Talk.

That's all this one did. He had dealt with a talker before. He would not seek such. The anger hatred that was deep in his soul for humanity in general would begin to fluster.

"You...don't understand what is about to happen here." The shroud of energy from such negativity would begin to burst forth.

Though he would stop.

"Huh?" The aura would disappear. "What can you work out? If you want me to not break your face right now you best hurry because....im not the only who wants to rip someone apart." The young man would see not one but three creatures come forth from the woods.

Snarling and very dangerous like wolves.
(Flare)
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[12:19] Beads of sweat visibly rolled down the man's face.
If it wasn't bad enough, the man that waged this hostile intent was not merely an armed individual, but a mage!
By comparison, Ronin was merely a man, not even skilled with using a weapon-- He hadn't even touched a sword in his life!

His heart was beating out of his chest and the narrowing time window was getting to him, but he had to pull through. His life... Depended on it.
The wolves, were all the more incentive to get him sputtering in a frantic fashion.

"Y- Y- You're angry and you want money -- Don't like people, got it! I-can-help-you-get-money and if you want, someone else's blood." He promised, perhaps out of fear. He spoke too fast to think.
"Anything... I will help you... Just... Please... Don't... Hurt me..."
(Ronin)
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[12:20] Thalia Elisheva says, "..."
[12:20] Reaching out, the girl would grab onto Ilui's sleeve, halting him.

"You!"

The girl calls out loudly. "Why are you here? Are you still looking for blood sacrifice?"

Oh lord.
(Thalia Elisheva)
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[12:22] "Hmm..?"

Quirking a brow after he's halted, a faint grin found its way onto his features once he caught sight of the man. Yeah, he was a criminal, and wanted blood.

.. But he had a certain energy to him that the Dryad could respect.

"Oh! I really, really like this guy!"
(Ilui Elisheva)
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[12:24] He look and then see it was the other from before. Here we go again.

He take his blade up and then smirk. "My fate has a strange way of bringing us back together." He then walk forward ignoring the one who he was dealing with before.

He take a knee.

"First come first serve."

The aura would burst forth from his body. She would see his right eye was covered by a eyepatch. Black blood dripping from it. "In the name of Saekanis I will have a sacrifice."

He look to the wolves. "GET HER!" As the wolves would run at the girl.
(Flare)
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[12:27] Again?

There's a shift on her feet as she would aim to move out of the way. There's pain along her side as she moves, but her teeth grit as the golden circles that summon her swords begin to simmer around the area. One right after the other as she aims to use those swords to pin the wolves down by their tails.

"You won't have a sacrifice from me!"

Oh hell no. It was fight time, again.
(Thalia Elisheva)
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[12:27] Taiga Rowan says, "...Illui my boy. Kill these bandits."
[12:28] "Pffffffft!"

"Aahahahahahahaaaaaa!"

Oh gosh, he can't help himself. Practically doubling over, a few groans of pain from could be heard as he actually busted a gut.

"Blood..! He's going to get your blood..! In his bronze armor, and steel sword..!"

"Aahhahaa!"

"I LOVE HIM!"
(Ilui Elisheva)
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[12:28] Alesia Elisheva says, "...they're probably still injured."
[12:28] Taiga Rowan says, "Ah well."
[12:28] Taiga Rowan says, "Thalia probably... has this."
[12:29] Alesia shifts slightly in place...
(Alesia Elisheva)
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[12:30] Before things could go for the worst... He heard another voice!
A savior? Someone had intervened, just as things were going dire. He was pleading, and it certainly wasn't going to end well. Yet, as though fate would not have it, he was spared by the grace of luck itself.

The would-be murderer passed him by, with his wolven cohorts following suit for, a duo that happened to by nearby.
Thalia in particular garnered all of his attention: The hero in this predicament.

"Thank god. I thought I was through."
The very blasts of spell and technique abroad certainly pried all of his attention. He sighed, before stumbling back for the group gathering near, and falling to his back to relax.

"I thought I was a goner..."
(Ronin)
[12:45] It was as she stated. There was no way that she could just let someone such as this attempt to take her blood for a sacrifice to any kind of foul creature. She can still feel the likes of her injuries from fighting Declan eating away at her, but she wasn't going to just back down from the wolves that had rushed in her direction.

The flurry of weaponry would come in her direction as she brought her gauntlets upwards toward one of the shimmering, golden circles by her side. Pulling free a sword of condensed, blessed magic, she would grip her hands around it tight as she pulled free, aiming to blast forward. Fire hot at her heels, she would aim to meet Flare's sword blow for blow, and each time? He'd manage to get a few good cuts into her person. He'd slice at her armor, even managing to get down to the flesh beneath as the blood spilled to the ground around them.

Promising she wouldn't bleed was harder than she liked to admit when she wasalready in great amounts of pain.

However, as she saw an opening, she would swing that sword backwards in both of her hands. Fire would burn around the 'blade' of the weapon as she abruptly brought it down, right into the chest plate of the man. The sheer heat would begin to cause the metal to melt into his very flesh, cooking him alive inside of the torso piece.

The sword would dissipate as she stumbles backwards, but she forces forward-- soon after, a flurry of golden swords blasted forward, aiming to pin him down to the ground below by his shoulders, hands, thighs, feet. The glowing weaponry remained as she staggered over, staring him down with her intensely burning eyes.

And there's one statement that comes as she leers in his direction:

"Repent."

For his crimes against her. For his crimes against those people within the caverns. The fire continues to spill uncomfortably around her as her hair scatters from her braid, falling around her shoulders-- singed and pieces falling away to the ground from the onslaught of Flare's weapon.
(Thalia Elisheva)
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[12:55] The man would look as he attacked. The fight was intense. He gotten stronger from his hatred. His hatred of people and man. The very people who took it all away. The ookami sadly had to watch his family be burned as they attacked the girl.

"DAMN YOU!" The two fighting it out as he seek to keep coming at her.

The blood was flowing. The ookami himself already basically missing a eye fought her as hard as he could. The fires and magical heavenly power would overcome his body. It was to much as he kept on attacking. As good as he was.

It wasn't enough.

She would constantly counter him. He feel the armor melt into his body and he would feel his flesh being cooked. Though she only see anger and hatred in his eyes.

As he was pinned down he look and see.

"Repent! Repent! Of what! For taking what I need to survive? For not following your pathetic god who sits on his ass as others suffer. A god who watches villages burn andpeople be made slaves!" He would shuffle but he barely could move.

All she see was anger. "You people are the biggest hypocrites. Least im a honest thief. You preach about saving and helping others. But your no more better than those fucking Azrael pawns. You sit upon high up fucking pedestal while those of us who watch you suffer from hunger, war, dehydration, slavery and much more. You stupid child. Have you ever had to eat crumbs to stay alive! Drink water that is contaminated with toxic things but had no choice?!"

"DONT YOU EVER TELL ME TO REPENT BECAUSE I DO WHAT I MUST DO TO SURVIVE!!!"
(Flare)
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[13:24] The breeze rolls through, and the Elisheva stands over the Ookami that had fallen beneath of her blades. Repent. That's a simple demand. If someone would do whatever they could to survive, then they would do just that. Strands of her hair continue falling to the ground, growing less and less finally after all the cut up pieces had been scattered away. Her chin tilts upwards as she grips her fists tight at her sides.

"Twice," the statement comes in a rough way. "Twice now you've demanded my blood as a sacrifice to your god." Sweat coated skin seems to give off a bit of steam as her body begins to burn that much more harshly. Within the caves when she was much younger, and now when she was already injured. All she might've seen was anger, but what he didn't realize was that it was all she felt.

No better than Dawn. No better than those that followed Akasha. Each beat of her heart in her ears causes more of an unwinding, and it was only unfortunate that the pulse didn't drown him out.

Elisheva. What do you know about suffering?

What did she know? About loss, about being alone, about sleeping on the streets? All of it. Where Noel thought that he was Elisheva's forgotten, it was a constant that she felt like she was invisible. A constant that she felt as though she was nothing more than a burden to everyone else, so much so that Magdalen didn't even know who's child she was.

Her misery has never been something that she needed to justify. Her desperate means to survival never needed to come to light.

"I don't exist."

Her words hiss outwards, filled with bitter poison. "Unless I have a purpose, I don't exist. Unless I can be used as a shining example of what they think they've done for me, I don't exist." Like a backdrop, like someone that didn't truly matter. There's certain dread to the words. Yet, she was the stupid child in this situation. She was the hypocrite.

Around his head, the wind would spin around. Like a vacuum, all the air within his being would begin to draw out, sucking his lungs until there was nothing left. Suffocating him beneath of the pressures with nothing more than a heated stare from her glance.

"DON'T YOU EVER TELL ME I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT IT'S LIKE TO LIVE LIKE THAT. LIKE I DON'T MATTER. LIKE I DON'T EXIST. YOU'RE THE ONE WHO TRIED TO KILL ME. TWICE."

So why not return the favor? Her hand moves, pulling the wind around his head and she'd effectively ragdoll the Sakaenite into a tree, leaving a sickening crunch behind as the tree's bark caved in. Each vertebrae within his back would be riddled with cracks and more as she turns, the wind breaking away from around his head as she tilts her chin upwards.

"I have no Gods. I have nothing that will tell me what path I will take. All of my decisions are my own. If you don't take on similar path of thought during your time here in Levengard, I will execute you."

Then, she looks around toward the people around. Her gaze continually burns as she finds her shoulders shaking with the motions of adrenaline within her. They didn't know what this man had done. They didn't know that this was, for all intents and purposes, a mercy to let him cling on to his life as a prisoner here.
(Thalia Elisheva)
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[13:30] Ronin couldn't begin to realize how the situation played out in the eyes of others, but for him? Being a powerless man, once at the mercy of this individual looking for a sacrifice? Suddenly, saved by a young female warrior that transcended into a pyromantic force of fury.

"A burning avenger." He dubbed her. The heroic title may've been over-the-top, for other fellow magi-kind, but for him? It was a symbol:

Justice.

Not power hunger, nor tyranny.
No torment, nor hatred.

All of which, juxtaposing to the dispatched yet --Not so morally defeated Flare. One that did not take their defeat so soundly...
His lashing certainly left Ronin petrified on the sidelines, though unable to move, fully willing to listen.
Anyone, readied to cut another person down, was likely to have reason-- This was it.

Hypocrisy.
Azreal pawns.
... And... So much more...

He wanted to say something... He opened his mouth, butnothing came out...
He couldn't.
That was when he noticed Ilui parting from the crowd to approach the battle-worn duo, ebbing at Ronin internally. Something didn't sit right about this-- About Ilui…

And then, there was Thalia:
Why was her blade, still posed to the attacker?

… That was when things took a drastic turn. What he saw as his hero... His avenger...
Was a greater terror than what he had initially been put up with. This time though, he was not on the receiving end, but rather this Ookami. They apparently sacrificed people in the name of their religion -- Barbaric, in his eyes, and mortifying.

What was originally going to be a run up to the woman for a pleading thanks, turned to hard hesitation.
All eyes were on this scenario playing out now.
(Ronin)
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[13:38] Slam! She was beating him down. And he didn't cry out he just showed his pain through his eyes. The other would hear the words and she was one to deal such damage. As she suffocated him he would be prepared. It was nothing. He been through it all already.

This was only making his point clear. He would be choked and feel the air leaving his body. All he could see was his wolves watching from the distance. Death. It was a cycle which he seen over and over. The amount of anger the girl had.

It made smile on the inside. Then he felt his spine snap and he would howl out in pain. "ARGHHHHHHHH!!!!!" He would close his eye. This was the end. A ookami without the ability to run or walk. No...he rather die than deal with this.

As she would say she execute him he look to her.

Barely able to even move or lift his head up at the time. "You already killed me. Just do it."

"Heh. Nothing like seeing the true colors of people. Change your ways or die to me."

He was beat up. The eyepatch would fall off showing his right eye held the mark fo the Winter wolf. Completely black not even able to be used anymore. A curse. Yet, it was over.

"Go...show your true self. Least I will die knowing what a monster truly is."
(Flare)
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[13:41] Ronin says, "< Please don't do it. >"
[13:49] The back and forth, the shouting between Flare and Thalia, more-so on Flares part, it brings a frown to her face. There's already enough fighting, enough killing.. The peaceful place that Levengard once was, the place she calls home, it's grown darker over the years. Tahl isn't about to give up on the place though, things can change.. they can return to the peaceful place that it was when they were all kids.

Thalia may have slammed the man into a tree and attempted to shatter him.. but there's still restraint, a glimmer of hope within her actions. She doesn't ultimately know what has brought these two to such points, but it's clear that it's not good.

"Thalia please don't." she says as her face displays worry. She's not spent much time with Thalia over the years, that doesn't mean she doesn't wish for the best within her though.

Tahl sincelery hopes that Thalia will remain above the man's words, to at least give her some small semblance of hope that things can continue to improve within the area.. little by little.
(Tahldrig)
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[13:50] Her confusion turns to deep, burning discomfort as she witnesses Thalia continue maiming the ookami bandit, air being pulled from within his lungs.

She hears Thalia's words, all of them. And, truly? She had no idea how much her cousin was apparently hurt, traumatized, deep inside...

But that doesn't excuse what she's doing.

She's already won, already brutally injured the ookami bandit, already removed his ability to fight back. There's no need to-

And then she flings the man behind her, his spine cracking against a tree.

A dark flash crosses over her face, memories of a time nearly a decade ago, now, but still present all the same.

This is wrong.

A cold shiver runs down her own spine at the raging intensity within Thalia's stare, but then her attention is once more taken by the ookami.

He tells her to execute him.

Looking back to Thalia for a moment, even as the bandit continues to taunt her, she makes a decision.

Probably a bad one, to be honest.

She steps forward in-front of the ookami, glaring down at him...and, conveniently, intersposing herself between Thalia and him.

"I don't really know what you did to make her so pissed off at you..."

A deep breath is taken, eyes closing for a moment...and when she speaks again, they open, continuing to glare down at him, fires seemingly reflected within them.

"But, honestly? There has to have been something, and I really suggest you shut the fuck up, before someone actually decides to put you out of your misery."

...those. Those are some pretty violent words, from the usually withdrawn dryad. And with a venom behind them not usually heard.
(Alesia Elisheva)
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13:51] The Winter Wolf.

Approaching over toward him, one foot moves in front of the other as she leers in the direction of the monster harboring a man's body. There were so many things begged within the span of time.

As she halts there in front of him, she allowed the fire to flicker through her eyes like a mirror, a reflection of all that burned within her. She broke him. Yet...

"No."

Because death wasn't something she'd hand out on the beck and call of someone such as this. Percival was outright ignored, however. She knew what she needed to do, how she needed to act. No one needed to pretend like they cared now.

Her chin turns upwards as she aims to bring one of her shaking, burned hands through her hair. The long strands fall away down her back as she aims to move forward.

Away from the man.

"Ilui. He's a prisoner. To be re-educated. As I stated, if he doesn't learn, he'll be executed."

As simple as that. He would learn, or he would die. He would forsake his God and all the violence that came with it, or he'd lose it all.

"Does anyone want to argue with my decision? I'm letting a man who's tried to kill me twice now live." She begged for anyone to try and tell her she was wrong.
(Thalia Elisheva)
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13:56] As the only adult in the vicinity, it is only natural that Isaac Shimasu, baron of righteousness and all things moral, takes charge. He makes his way over, calm and composed despite the tensions; the demi-angel smiled toward his goddaughter and gave a light nod of his head, followed by a glance to the troublemaker.

"It would be a waste of time. Slit his throat and be done with it."

The condemnding words are spoken with a gentle look that betrayed their meaning. His eyes are half-lidded, embers burning beneath his long black lashes.

"I've been here long enough to know that the land is filled with the stupid and the suicidal. This man is both of those. The best thing to do is gut him and get on with your day."
(Isaac Shimasu)
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13:57] Ronin stood back, but his gaze switched from Thalia... To everyone else.
Just a moment ago, he was alone on the verge of being victimized at the hands of this man... But now? He was saved, only to see a gathering of the settlement's populace looking onward at what seemed to be a curtain call to his presence.

Certainly, he wasn't a good person, mortality-wise... But why were people simply sitting around, as though he deserved death? Did anyone deserve such a fate?
Perhaps, there was more to this, than he realized-- Not knowing much more context aside from the near-attack, didn't earn his guesswork much justice.

He started on his approach, slow... But assured now.
Playing brave again, especially under the illusion that he was in safe company, towards Thalia.

"Miss?" He asked out to her, oblivious as to how she, nor anyone nearby would react to his own intervention.
It must've taken a lot, to be the only person not overly willing to allow this man to die here.

"I just want to say... Thank you."
It was for a bit more than just saving his life. Staying true to the symbolic imagery she took form of, in his mind was yet another thing.
A motivator -- An inspiration, of sorts.

"I'm... In your debt... But, if I may ask of anything. Please... Don't do it."

Ill-timed? Maybe.
But this man, was likely in need of some sort've help.
Re-education, even.
After all he's heard in his short time in the settlement, this would've been an example of the heroism he's come to hear of.

… Could have...
(Ronin)
[13:59] After the blackwinged speaks, the youngest Kang brings himself forwards..

.. And he points a finger at the man.

"..No, you're not going to influence her like that. She's made her choice." He speaks, stern in his words as he tries to reprimand his uncle. He knew his game, and he knew how he worked. He didn't want anything to come from his words.

"Levengard isn't a place of savagery, or brutality. He's not going to be welcome here after he's fixed, and we're not going to treat him like they would in the east," Percival breathes.
(Percival Kang)
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[14:01] She thought he should die after apparently attempting to kill Thalia twice, even if she disagreed with the slit his throat and be done with it part.

It should be a slower death.

"If he's tried killing you twice, I don't really see the point in keeping him alive."

Her tail was swishing softly behind her, betraying her excitement to some extent.
(Calista Shimasu)
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[14:01] Ronin says, "< What is wrong with the people here? >"
[14:02] He would laugh as he coughed up blood.

Ignoring the others as he would look to her. "Look at you. Such a warrior of justice. But you enjoyed this." He couldn't move so it was over anyways to him. What education could he gain. To denounce what saved his life.

"A prisoner. Without choice. Isn't that slave. Do or die. Heh just like home." He smile at them all. "Look at you all. You enjoy this and I don't mind. She is right. I am no innocent bandit. I attacked. I fought anyone who came way."

Coughing up blood he smile.

"There is nothing good of what I done and I wont beg for forgiveness. I wont lie to you."

He then look to Issac.

"He is right. He smells just like that Dark one who I planned to attack. Death I would die that day as well. What is it like to kill someone must be strange."

Though he would then remember. This whole time he was going to run off and eat pork with the wolves.

"WAIT I CANT DIE?! I HAVE WOLVES TO FEED! DAMMIT LET ME FEED MY FAMILY FIRST!" He couldn't wiggle or move so that was out.
(Flare)
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[14:02] In the past, he would disagree with that.

But after all that happened in those years, he just can't find himself disagreeing with that notion. Not anymore. It may be crude, really, and it might even be somewhat rushed... but it's effective. It's something that he learned, and so long as there was a reason to do that, it could be very well necessary.

Though antics of heroism suggest that he should be re-educated... he never had any good experiences with that.

"I'm fairly sure Isaac said it best. We've encountered Clara, and if you don't remember, she was alongside with servants of Fallen Angel - the man that even pleaded protection from him."

"You might try to re-educate him, but he'll simply run back. Unless... you have some way to assure he isn't going to run. Ever."

Spoken in a plain, calm voice. He was passionless about this - he didn't enjoy killing or pushing towards it like some, but he also understood the necessity that comes with it. Though, as much as the Shenlong makes such statement, he adds more.

"Just be quick about it. There's no need to draw out someone's suffering. If it must be done, it doesn't have to be painful."

Perhaps something that could be viewed as cold necessity; no pain, no suffering, no passion, nothing. Only the outcome that was needed.
(Keitaro)
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[14:02] Thalia's decision seemed fine, and it made complete sense-- She was granting him mercy, despite the two times he's tried to kill her. But instead of giving him what he wants, which was released through death. It was better to teach him his faults, to steady him a new path.

Alesia's screaming and Ilui amusement are ignored, while he exchanged whispers with Alueta's, Isaac's approach made his stomach sink.

'Slit his throat.'

The urge to scream out and even try to muscle Isaac down was heavy, so heavy it made the back of his head fuzzy. But honestly, despite his dislike for the man due to harming his uncle. He wasn't really wrong?

Twice. This hound had tried to get at Thalia's life as stated, so maybe ending his was really the best decision? Adrian couldn't argue against it, but he didn't want Thalia's own mind changed due to Isaac's words.

Trotting forwards, he moves around the other side of the hound. Slits turn down to the damaged body of the dog, before back up towards Thalia.

''As much as Isaac might have a point, I think you should stick by your own decision. You'll be giving him the third try, a chance to redeem himself. Which is far better than giving him death, especially when he asks for it.

Tsk... Let me stop, I tend to talk too much. All I want to say is, I stand by your decision Thalia. To take him in and teach him, and if he fails to learn he dies. Or to end his life here and now, just in case he lashes out at others who aren't as capable as yourself.''

Now he was fully focused on Thalia, waiting for her to make that final decision. It was her right, it was her time-- No one could take that away from her.
(Adrian Rowan)
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[14:03] It was unwinding, to his surprise, a bit better than he'd expected. Thalia was going to detain rather than outright execute. Honestly, it made him happy - A flit of a hopeful smile gracing his mug.

Enter uncle Issac, however, tossing his own take of it all.

The cowardly Kang hesitates for a moment, his mouth opening for a moment before biting down a few words as they rise. Clenching his fist he'd aim to take a spot beside his younger brother.

"Waste of time or not it is what would be right in the end." Those light blue hues flick towards Percival, a rather prideful grin sparking upon his mug. His brother grew far greater than himself.

"We'll try to help him in ways that we can as it is what we preached. It is what would be right, and if we're not to act as such how will we be any better? What matters is we try to make a difference here."
(Sima Kang)
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[14:04] Alueta lifted a digit in contest of such a remark, the one made specifically by Isaac. Yet when faced with facts such as that, perhaps there was a bit of reason that came with one's own ability to make a decision.

Thalia had made hers, and yet there'd been others whom spoke out in contest. While not visible upon the surface, the clash of wills made known through voice.

"Haha... Ah, this is tough! The right thing to do is to help him, he's obviously off his rocker!"

For kids not even older than him to be cheering for death just seemed far too odd. Just what sort of world were they living in? Just the mere thought scared Alueta a little.
(Alueta)
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[14:04] "A prisoner, hm? If you're so sure, but he may just end up getting away again. And returning to doing what he was before, just like the other one."

Glancing over towards his sister, a brow was quirked. Shocked that she'd even speak like that, and yet, it was a welcome change.

"But, if you're sure.."

There's a bit of reluctance in his voice there. Over time, he had learned that doing what he felt was right only got him more flack. People were going to jump at him, and now if she went through with it, Thalia too. Comparing them to the great 'evils'.

Shuffling closer, his gaze panned down, staring at the crippled Ookami. Only for Isaac to come closer, and speak those words of wisdom. Words that he could agree with, wholeheartedly. He glances towards the man, over to his daughter, and finally, back down at the Ookami.

Silent, waiting to see what Thalia was going to do.
(Ilui Elisheva)
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[14:05] Tahls eyes go wide at Alesia's outburst.. though, as reserved as the dryad is, she's bound to explode once in a while. Boom.

Once Thalia states that he's going to be a prisoner, to be re-educated, the look of worry fades. He'd get a chance, a chance to become better.

Then Isaac.. the black sheep, the troublemaker.. always looking to spread discord, of course he feels the man should be killed right then and there. What good does that serve though? It's Dawn who kills.. at least in Tahl's mind anyway.

A scowl quickly overtakes her face as emerald eyes snap to Isaac. "No, he can do better." she says as she steps along side Percival and Sima.
(Tahldrig)
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[14:07] As Thalia walks up to the ookami, she's certainly prepared for the worst. The worst being Thalia executing him, given that there wouldn't be much to stop her from doing so.

Thankfully...

She doesn't. She declares him a prisoner, to be...re-educated, whatever that means. And only if he continues his ways of violence and sacrifice would he die.

Not a free release, at all. But a second chance. Or...third, chance, given that this is the second time she's apparently releasing him.

Then the black-winged duke of ethics Isaac Shimasu approaches, telling her to slit the man's throat.

She knew she didn't like him.

A glare is sent his way, but she doesn't really add any more words...she's too focused regarding Thalia, now, to see what her cousin will do.

Will she go back on her choice?
(Alesia Elisheva)
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[14:09] After he's fixed...?

It pulls a quiet laugh out of his lips, soft and brief, and he shook his head while smiling down at the blue haired boy. "People aren't objects to be corrected and sent on their merry way. That is, unfortunately, not how it works."

"Thalia..."

With a turn towards the girl, Isaac stepped around, both hands behind his back, one resting over the other. "Believe me when I say that not a single child here who wants him to live knows what they're talking about. I have seen it happen a hundred times - whether it was the Belialite Syracruse or his companions, or the many Dawnite occultists that Huangzhou tried to... 'remedy'."

"Nothing changes."

"Nobody changes."

His eyes are alight above his soft smile. "Prisoners only understand one thing: Everyone is their enemy, and the ignorant, holier-than-thou types who think that they're able to 'correct' a person by smiling at them and offering them tea once or twice a week are their only chance for survival."

"It is an unfortunate truth. A dagger through the throat is often the only answer, in this land. But as always - make your decision and stick by it. Don't let the noise distract you."
(Isaac Shimasu)
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[14:10] Ronin says, "< That can't be true. He's babbling, right? >"
[14:18] "Re-educating is a silly word. I've tried to save many, by giving them a different path, and the end result? Ah, well. Would anyone here be willing to feed their siblings to this man? Any takers? Who's life do you value more? The lives of the ones you love, of the lives of those willing to kill them? Toss out your petty notions of 'good' and 'evil' for a moment, and think about what it is that you truly want to protect."

Thera casts her gaze upon Thalia, offering a meager shrug. "While I hate nearly everything that just came out of Isaac's mouth, I hate it because...in most cases, it's the objective truth. Where is Laddie? The boy we went through so much effort to save? I've a report that states he's in Dawn. Clara? Returned to Dawn. Ashalle? We were always kind to her, she's a sin of pride fighting alongside the fallen angel. Emily Bell? Blacklined Oscuri who, at a time, planned on rejoining Azrael's ranks.

...the list goes on, and on, and I won't bother listing off the amount of people I've failed to save, the amount of corpses I stand beside simply because I refused to draw a weapon in my youth."

Again, she shrugs, becoming a bit jaded to it all.

"I hope that Godfrey becomes a shining example of how people can change, but unfortunately? Trying to save those that want your head, simply results in your own demise."

She raises a single finger, pointing it towards the accused.

"Thalia. If you believe that you can save him, follow your heart. If you believe that letting him live, will result in the deaths of those around you, simply pick who's life you value more. I'm granting you the rank of Enforcer, so his fate is in your hands; and I believe you wise enough to make the right call with matters such as these."
(Thera Elisheva)
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[14:28] A glance is afforded back to Ronin as she gives a small, almost haunted smile toward the other. There's certain melancholy to her being that suggests that while she wants to be a hero, it's more complicated than she could've ever imagined. Staining one's hands with the blood of what could've been considered your would-be murderer should they gain power was...

Well, she didn't know how to describe it.

There's the droning beat of her heart again as the words are stated all along the way. The statements that had been expressed toward her had, unfortunately, been something that she experienced before. "Clara went back to Dawn." She announces this plainly as she tilts her chin upwards. Enemies were everywhere. All around them. Crippling them wasn't enough, was it? "Declan protects her, they fight for the Fallen." Ilui and Keitaro were already aware of such facts, but...

With this in mind, could she really let someone go?

All the echoing of all the words, knowing that she couldn't just fix it like a bandaid. She knew that she didn't have the do all, end all. The answers weren't entirely there for her, but she knew what she saw in the form of one person she had allowed to go. Seraph's words ring true, too-- you could let them go once, but... If they shirked your statement of mercy a second time...

"I don't think I can save him."

The statement comes as she listens to the words of her Aunt, her gaze trailing down to the now begging man. For all that she was worth, she was too hotheaded and too impatient to sit down with someone and mull it over. There had been so many examples of people that just walked back to the lives they had because they had this need to try and make it all right. "I can't save you."

...Can't. Or is it that she doesn't want to boil her life down to saving people who would ultimately turn on her and try to kill her? The lives of what she valued more over the life of one that would've become an addition to the long list of people that betrayed kindness above all else.

A hand lifts toward one of the many circles that shimmered around her, and her fingers pull free that of a golden sword as she angled her gaze down toward this man. She wouldn't be the one taken for a fool when one of her family members ended up plastered along cavern walls nor anything like that because someone wanted to pretend and abuse trust, clearly having never changed from years ago.

"May your next life hold more promise for you."

No final words. She didn't want to hear about 'true' colors nor about how she was a monster. The warmth radiated harshly through the air as she aimed to cleave this golden sword right through his neck to cause a misty spray of blood upwards into the air, aiming to swiftly end his life here and now.

There'd be no 'I'm sorry' from her, her expression running blank as she stares downwards. There was too much agony and hurt experienced above all else to make her feel forced to apologize for her actions taken.
(Thalia Elisheva)
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[14:38] The man would see the end coming. He close his eye. It was nice to know he die like this. Even after all he done he could die knowing someone tried to save him.

He never had the chance to go back to give the coat to Illin. One of his regrets. The man would look to the wolves who were hidden knowing it was over he snap his fingers. They would disperse in the forest. They had to survive on their own. They can do it. They were big boys now.

Death.

He could see Zeno and him glaring at one another as he took his eye. Another regret to not get his revenge for such. It was fine this was only apart of the cycle. Death wasn't bad. Not bad not bad at all.

His head would hang. It was over.

Saekanis now had a sacrifice.
(Flare)
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[14:38] There it was...
Peer pressure.
Former examples.
Troubled past.

All of them attributed to it-- But it shocked him none the less.
While, he was thankful to be alive, this... Posed to be a lesson of sorts.
This world, was much darker than he had realized.
Second chances... Couldn't be realized, given the weight of the potential consequences.

Was this, the heroism he was told of?
Was this, what it took to be a hero?
Was this strength? Moral strength? The high-ground?
Did that mean, that the Dawn, the Azrealites, the others were even worse?

Dread took him, and he stepped back, distancing himself from Thalia, and the others.
"It's like, the others are enjoying this." He said under his breath, fear taking him slowly.

--and what was he to do? He couldn't do anything.
He was powerless. A mere man amongst what he could only define as gods with powers.
If only he had powers like he did, maybe he could've helped the man.

Maybe he could've re-educated the man.
Maybe he could've defended himself without needing Thalia's intervention.
Maybe... He could've stopped the bloodshed.

… His shoulders slumped, and with that, another backpedaling step.
Maybe... But not today...

Today, blood was spilled, and he could only watch.
(Ronin)
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