TRANSCENDENCE 6

[14:47:50] Whispers of danger in the woods was enough to drive Savannah further into Bygonegrove. She was determined to prove otherwise - there was no danger too big for her! She was invincible. She was Savannah.

And there was no doubt, the little squirt was loud.

She snapped twigs and rustled bushes without remorse. Savannah didn't care not to announce her prescence; if anything, it was to prove her point. There was nothing dangerous in these woods!

The only danger the young girl had was getting lost. Surely enough, the trees began to blur together. The flowers were unfamiliar, and the singed spots of grass Savannah had left in her path seemed to disappear... It's almost as if the forest were trying to make her lose her way.

And when she noticed that she had no idea where she was, Savannah began to grow just a bit frantic. She broke way into a clearing, huffing and puffing.

With her hands on her knees, Savannah knelt over and stopped to catch her breath...
(Savannah)
[14:51:15] Savannah: your img in your desc is broken)
[14:54:40] Argoth awake from his deep sleep as he needed to train more of his own students later on for today. Getting up and wandering about Argoth would do his best to figure out what is needed of him to advance the studies so he can at least keep his students with him. He wanted to learn more of them but what could he even do now?

Looking around Bygonegrove, Argoth wanted to see who else he could possibly teach today from it's value. As he kept on walking around he came across a seeming human around the grass area, he approached but not too close so she can obtain the darkness that emitted from Argoth. "Human are you alright? Are you lost?" Argoth spoke as he sat down on the ground across from her.

Scratching his head he did not want to scare the human as he still remembered his face was still scarred, "Right...human before you look at me directly do not be afraid." He spoke again with a kind respect. Expanding and folding his wings he wanted to know what the human will do.

(Argoth the Crusher)
[16:08:03] An unfamiliar - and somewhat strange voice shook Savannah from her moment of rest. She stood up straight, and when her stare came to rest on the yokai, she stiffened up. It was huge... and not very pretty.

Her hands curled into fists at her sides, but she didn't move. She didn't dare. From the fleshy ripples that made up his body to the torn, shredded gore of his face, Savannah was utterly terrfied.

She had never seen anything so unusual, so ugly in her life. But then he spoke again - did he mean no harm? Were the beasts she had been warned against her entire life simply ugly and that was all?

Her dirt-crusted hand rose to scratch nervously at the scar that covered her own face. It certainly wasn't as ugly as the yokai's, but she could relate. From her bright green hair to the dirt and tatters that covered her body, people seemed reluctant to look at Savannah.

But this thing wasn't a person. She had reason not to trust it, but at least it hadn't killed her yet. It sure as hell could have. When she spoke, her voice was shaky, tentative.

The gutsy Savannah was scared shitless.

"I'm - Yeah, I'm lost. You're not gonna..." She paused, taking in a deep, shaky breath. "You're not gonna hurt me?"
(Savannah)
[16:20:00] Argoth chuckled and shaked his head,

"Of course not I'm not going to hurt you. I want to know by the way are you a follower of Kraus because I have been searching and found one person willing to teach me the ways of it. By the way where are you heading young one? I could at least show you the way out or at least back to Byson if you wished."

Argoth spoke kindly and nodded. Slowly getting up as he would bow in a fancy movement like a butler would, "I am Argoth, Killer of Queen Stinnox's and Kaor's as well teacher of the few at your service." he spoke once again as he stopped his bow and sat back upon the ground. He didn't want to scare the human to death but he couldn't help it as his face was a terrifying nature.

"I hope I didn't scare you as much young one, I had a nast bout with a follower of Kark. She was a vicious being, even as a Kaor I would recommend avoiding her. Her name was....Valledia if I wasn't wrong as well some of the other Kaor. So far I am considered the lazy or likely docile one out of all of them."

Argoth spoke as he tried to reason with kind and respect as his distance away from the human should be decent enough.

"By the way don't get to close to me, somehow other beings get afflicted or become strange if they get too close to me. I hope this is a good enough distance."

He kept on talking trying to keep a conversation going hoping he wouldn't make a scene of just talking to air. As he would go into a thoughtful stance by holding and rubbing his chin thinking of something while he glanced around.

Seeing a wandering Kaor again this made Argoth happy as he wanted to have more of his students to at least attain the status of killing a Kaor. Perhaps to Argoth he could train this youngling as well. Maybe the fates were kind with him today.
(Argoth the Crusher)
[16:25:07] Something inside Savannah stirred. Humans were mean and spiteful to her; they teased and scolded and and scarred her. They abandoned and excluded and demeaned her.

But the very beast she had been told to avoid for her entire life, the 'demon', the 'face of evil' was treating her kinder than any human ever had.

She took another step forward - one close enough for conversation but just within safe distance - and sat down. A smile wavered on her scarred expression.

"I was going to Byson. But if you want to learn about Kraus, we can talk a bit." She stared at her hands. "I grew up raised Krausite, but I'm not really into it. What do you wanna know?"
(Savannah)
[16:33:39] "Well I more likely want to be a follower....but since I'm a Yokai I don't think the other Kraus followers will accept my ways. But of course I do have questions, I was hoping to learn of whatever happened to Kraus." Argoth nodded slowly and a smile was upon his face. It was getting easier to talk to humans but Argoth didn't know if he could ever treat them like friends but more of a ally and being he wouldn't mind hanging with to have a chat about the world. He had to think of something to show he wasn't going to try anything as he nodded once more sure of his plan.

"Young one, I have a question to ask. I feel a presence of the Crusade is at hand but of course I may pass on through this genocide of my people. I want to know if you want to be my pupil of three others....well possibly two...I have no idea where Chartuese went as well that other one." Argoth talked on once again as he scratched his head in confusion looking up to the sky. He wondered where his pupils were at now it worried him as he hoped none of them got hurt but as well got themselves in trouble. Possibly scolding them if they did was a idea to Argoth to let them know not to repeat their mistakes.

Argoth was happy listening to this human perhaps things will be easier for him as he looked on. Perhaps the day will get better. He could feel that this human could be stronger than a Kaor or at least two of them if trained further.
(Argoth the Crusher)
[16:38:46] Savannah furrowed her brows, leaning forward!

"You can be a follower if you want to be. You don't have to be accepted... you just have to accept it in yourself. I don't know whatever happened to Kraus, or if he even did exist... But if you believe, then it's true to you."

"I know what it's like to be pushed away. To be told that I can't do what I want to do because of who I am - how I act. But you're in charge of yourself, Argoth." She paused, eyes glimmering with hope.

Any yokai able to reach this size was strong - and smart. If she trained under him... Her smile could only grow.

"And if - if you want me to be your pupil even though my people are looking to genocide your race, then..." She paused again. "I accept."

"My name is Savannah."
(Savannah)
[16:51:34] The words came to him which made his mind more enlightened as he looks on and smiles again, "Thank you for telling me Savannah. This is a joyous day, so tell me what is your magic currently? I have seen fire, water, darkness and the other magic I have used before but I don't know the other terms for the rest unfortuantely." he spoke as he scratched the back of his head lightly, laughing a little. So it was possible to be a follower but he had to accept it which made Argoth think that he had to accept Kraus fully but course this would go against his current allies the Oscuri. What could Argoth do about this?

Accept the fate and let Kraus into his dark heart to enlighten him and evolve him into nothing but a abomination to the Yokai but as well the Oscuri? It was a really hard decision but Argoth had to hold on to the edge of decision for now as he still needed to learn how to read and write efficiently before he could do anything. To Argoth the decision could be life changing for him but to the Kaor he needed to think of what is right to him but as well better for his life.

"Oh right, if you head south you should find Byson. Unfortunately there will be lesser's but as well blue yokai in your way but it shouldn't be much trouble if you have trained well in your lifespan. I hope the other pupils will be here sooner or later I was hoping I could teach you three of killing a Kaor today or read the books over at the citadel." Argoth spoke which seemed like a longest time for him. The idea made him happy that he finally had another pupil to teach at least he won't be so bored as much anymore it was hard for him in the first palce to even hope for someone to teach. The lesser, mega and tera Yokai were more likely the bunch Argoth couldn't teach for the life of him correctly unless he had to enforce his power upon them.
(Argoth the Crusher)
[16:58:24] "I'm not very good at magic yet. I've been practicing it for a long time... but I'm not the most patient learner."

She stood up, planting her bare feet firmly on the ground. Swiftly, Savannah cracked her knuckles and then shut her eyes, falling into concentration. The grass around her began to shrivel, twisting and writhing in resistance. Water rose up from the ground, condensating into a large stream that floated before her.

Savannah opened her eyes. She kept the water raised with one hand, and from the other erupted a blast of fire, powerful and pure. Her hands moved together, and with a powerful breath of pure mana, straight from her mouth, the two energies merged.

A blast of scalding hot steam erupted, filling the air with a hot, shimmering mist.

"Steam magic."

She moved back to sit down, flat in the middle of the patch of dehydrated grass. The steam began to clear.

"And one more thing - I've been working hard on this."

Savannah shut her eyes and planted her hands on the ground. The flow of time in her general area began to move backwards - the steam shifted to move together, condensing back into a stream of water. Downwards it trickled, reversing the movement where Savannah had drawn it out.

The grass unfurled, vibrant and lively. The lush green hue returned to it.

Time magic.
(Savannah)
"Steam magic seems interesting as for time magic has my attention...I am actually surprised that you could use that power. Color me impressed." Argoth said as he clapped his hand in applause. He had a distinct feeling of awe but as well thought of trying to obtain such magic like time, perhaps this time magic is similar to Necromancy but of course he did not want to tell Savannah of the Oscuri magic. It was more of a instinct of at least protecting a magic only used by the Oscuri perhaps even the followers of Azrael. Maybe Argoth could learn from this human of time magic so he could possibly stop this irony of life he was in.

"Savannah is it possible to teach me this...time magic? I am wondering how it works, the technique seems like something to master in a while but as well more efficient to the letter." Argoth spoke as he did not know what he was saying at the last part but it came natural to him as it was with his melee, darkness and lightning skills. He did not need to learn fully as it was more instinctive to use against his prey or enemies than struggle maybe this magic could give him that very journey of becoming stronger. Could Argoth even go the distance to achieve such godly powers?

The thought of his life came to him once again as he could think of the possibilities what he could do with the magics he would obtain over the years. Could he become a devourer of the gods and angels, a king of all yokai or even a peacemaker between two races? He knew the consequences of each one but he couldn't help it but want to go against the odds.
(Argoth the Crusher)
"I'm not even very good at it," Savannah begun, "but I have a book that might help you."

She rustled around in the tatters of her jacket. An inside pocket held an old book. It was hand-bound and close to falling apart. The author's name was scratched out of the title but his handwriting persisted within the pages of the tome.

His ramblings were wild and crazy, but one with the right mind could decipher it.

"Can you read? It's hard for me to read, even... I don't know what this nutcase was on, but some of it makes sense. The thing even smells of soothing reed."
(Savannah)
Argoth was startled by the book that was presented before him as he never read a book before or anything for that matter as he was illiterate but it was easier for him to read a little bit of letters but not many. Hoping he would find that follower of Azrael again so she can teach him how to read. An embarassing moment for Argoth he could cough into his hand that was curled into a fist as he scratched the back of his head again.

"I...cannot read but I can write somewhat. It is just I was never taught before even by my own father." Argoth spoke as he had to tell the truth to Savannah to not at least hide the fact of it. He wanted to read the book really badly but as well understand the thing but knowing he couldn't do much about with his curent skillful level made him sigh. Maybe Argoth should at least read a bit more if he had the chance at the citadel but he needed of course to finish up his writing's.

Even with his expansive mind was a achievement but a fail when it was nothing but a worthless idea of not able to do other things correctly. He could teach others how to become strong and of his own kind's evolution, prowess as well weaknesses. What else could he even do?
(Argoth the Crusher)
"It's okay. I couldn't read til I was ten, so I'm not very good, either. Want me to read some of it to you?"

She began to unfold the book, opening to one of the pages. Savannah had drawn a large star in the margins, and nearly half the page was underlined. Certainly, it was important!

"This is what I used to help me learn."
(Savannah)
Argoth would nod at the answer as he would feel at ease of it. He would finally learn from Savannah but what could Argoth do to at least repay her for helping him with this? Perhaps Argoth could give her a yokai horn which was something Argoth kept like a souviner for himself but he knew this would at least be enough payment.

Perhaps the human may not want the payment of the horn, Argoth looked on trying to think of what is efficient for him. In a relaxed state Argoth would fold his arms and would do his best to listen intently of what Savannah had to say from the book. Can it be a first step to god hood or even to something even better?


(Argoth the Crusher)
Argoth the Crusher: (congrats
"Alright. One second."

Savannah thumbed over the paragraph, rereading it quickly, before she began to speak.

"If you absorb yourself into the time stream, you can become seperate from the timeline Eternia lies on. Time and space are infinite, the X and Y axes of the world. The Z axis is you. If you seperate yourself from reality, you can control your position on the Z axis, you can control where you are and how you are.

"And if you focus, if you try hard enough, you can even manipulate the graph itself. That is magic. Time magic is the awareness of this measure, time magic is complete and utter sentience.

"Time magic is enlightenment."

She began to flip pages again.

"That was the jist of the introduction, it sounds a bit crazy... There's a place where he actually starts to explain it, too."

"To manipulate time is to reach your mana out to the stream of eternity itself. Time is - time is the essence of everything, just as matter is. Without time, there would be nothing. Nothing would have begun in the first place.

"Meditate. Find peace within yourself, and stretch your inner self out to the world around you. Think about what you want to happen. Believe it. Believe that you can control time, that you can control the fate of something other than yourself."

"If you believe, then you can. Force this thought into your mana. Make your mana believe that you can control time. If you believe, then you can. Once your mana is acclimated," Savannah pronounced this word one syllible at a time, "it too will be able to control time. Reach out, and visualize the flow of time. Imagine how things were, how things are, and how things will be. This is the string of time, and if you can see it, you can manipulate it."

Savannah stopped, looking up at Argoth.

"Is there any of that you didn't get?"
(Savannah)
"I believe it is the axis...I do not know what the word mean unfortunately. I hope to learn more of this, it has grabbed my attention more than I have thought." Argoth talked with admiration and respect. Looking over to Savannah he would know that there is meditatio which had to made him think, "Ether was doing something similar to this meditating..." Argoth thought to himself as he try to think of what else there is to time magic. It seemed more confusing to him as he still did not know what axis meant probably it had to do with direction or Argoth was too dumb to figure it out.

He wanted to know more as he waiting in anticipation as  he wanted to make sure he did not miss a piece of information. "Mana" it was similar to magic if Argoth was right about the word as it seemed right but could it mean of how Argoth used his skills against the KAor but run out of magic eventually? Mana could be the capacity of Argoth's limitation on magic.

(Argoth the Crusher)
"The axis... it's like. One of the supports." Savannah rustled around in her jacket for a moment. A dagger slid out of one of her pockets. She began to draw in the dirt.

She carved out a graph - complete with an x and a y axis.

"This is a graph. Humans use it to show correlation between things... like, the bottom would be the month of the year, and the side would be the amount of rain falling in Byson."

She made little notches on the graph.

"It goes up sometimes, and it goes down - sometimes time does that too, right? It feels like it's speeding up, or slowing down... or if you're a time mage, it can even go backwards. The bottom and the side lines are the axes."

"Anything else?"
(Savannah)
Argoth looked on in amazement as he smiled at the understanding of what Axis meant, "I do not think I have much more questions to ask but possibly I may be coming to a sleep...this evolution of mine can be so limited at times. I hope we can talk more of this later Savannah, overall I thank you for such. If you want I could lead you to Byson before I slumber once more." Argoth spoke as he stood up from his spot. He had to wonder where else could Argoth head off for sleep, perhaps near the Kaor again. It was too bad for Argoth he did see any of his pupils come by to at least know they had a new pupil once again.

Where else could Argoth go after his sleep? Wychwood seemed to be under pressure from the attack of his fellow Yokai as well the desert seemed more of a place in slight stress but no humans or crusaders should be heading there for now. Of course Argoth had to go to the grasslands to meet with Ether as he hoped for more of a efficient way to learn of meditation.


(Argoth the Crusher)
Savannah: That would be great.