Valor gone

[17:16] "Ya know, it's dangerous ta b alone. 'xpecially in a place like this."

The words licked the air as the rattling of chains would fill it. Around the shrine, rifts would begin to open, spilling forth Nethradin and Undead in large amounts. Swords were drawn in moments, the creatures slicing them across the walls of the shrine, or fire tipped arrows striking the walls. As it did, the invisible arcane chains moved forwards, slamming towards the singular young woman in the location.

"I am Lord Ultovex. This land was once taken from ma. I hav' not come ta talk. I am only here ta inflict tha' sufferin' tha' was inflicted on ma back inta tha' world."

"I'll make an example o' ya."
(Sors Ultovex)
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[17:25] It was a calm day by all means. Something that few people would complain about. The sun was warm, the young luminites were being respectful, the citizens and low-level magi were tending to their business, the disfigured armies of the underworld were slicing at the shrine—

That voice. That accent. She'd never heard it before, but there was no mistaking a presence like this one. Nauseating, bringing those who remembered the man to run away in fear and terror, others bowing in servitude and in hopes they wouldn't be a target of his.

Rindou's eyes remained wide. The shock was unlike anything else - to think she'd be met out there practically on her own by the man who lead Dusk before it was torn away from his grasp.

Sors Ultovex. There was no mistaking it.

A deep breath was taken by the woman as she moved near one of the shrines, reaching for a blade that the madman would surely recognize - one he had given to a certain someone in the past. Suffering's End was held tightly as Rindou's eyes narrowed onto the cosmic magi.

"You're the first person to come to this shrine for me ever since it was built. Even my friends haven't paid a visit." She admitted, giving glances left and right to the few men from the Fourfold Army that had been deployed to guard the place.

"Are you sure you wouldn't rather have tea and a talk? I've been suffering plenty out there all alone."
(Rindou Sakamoto)
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[17:34] There was no pause in movement as the first volley of fire arrows would hit the nearby building walls. The undead army would march towards the civilians with their weapons as the Ultovexian themselves seemed to echo around. The invisibility potion had been taken, but it was more then that, with experimentation, he had started to distill the power of the potion, a minor illusionary to flicker him between Helheim and the physical world, making him harder to detect.

There was a the hiss of steel as it was used around them before he floated forwards. The chains surrounded them, cut off escape, but rather then instantly strike as the sword was drawn there was a pause.

"Tha' is actual a shame. Ya are quite pretty. Ya should hav' mor' gentleman o' gentlelady vistors. Maybe I'll take ya wit' ma. Lonliness is awful." The invisible chains wrapped to cut off escape.

"Ma intent is tha' harvestin' o' souls an' desecration o' tha' shrine. If ya'd sit by an' talk wit' ma instead o' prevent it? I'll allow ya ta sheath tha' blade. I'll rift us ta a place far from here an' tha' shrine'll b desecrated."

"I am here ta cause Reito ta suffer. But I do allow fer tha' switchin' o' sides."
(Sors Ultovex)
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[17:45] She couldn't see him or his chains, but she felt as if the whole world was getting smaller - like she was squeezed in a spot that wasn't all that enjoyable. The young woman's blade remained within her grasp as she spoke up, allowing the few guards to fight back against the undead for the time being - for people to run and try to escape before the place burned down— before the tides of battle could be decided.

"I can't say the same of you." She replied. The man was invisible, after all.

"And I'm afraid I can't let you do something like that. These people in this shrine have nothing to do with the Chancellor, I'm afraid." She said at first, only to take a courageous step forward with her heart out there in the open.

"I was the one who had the idea of constructing this place. It was for my own goals. I'd call them selfish but they'll bring about a better Agartha for everyone. Lady Reito did nothing more than claim the idea was hers, promising to purify the lands and..."

She gestured to her left where the center of the settlement was - once brimming with occult magi but now merely being a memory of their vile magic, everpresent.

"... I'm sure you can tell she hasn't done any of it."

Another step was taken in an approach to the unseen, her blade still drawn yet her mana not flowing out.

"Part of me knows that Reito Shimasu will never be a good person so long as she's in love with that man. She took my idea, took my glory, left me with no title and only responsabilities. An exile would have been kinder. Yet, they look at her with desire in their eyes and stare me down like my birthright does not exist."

"They say that you're the scariest man on Agartha. People are afraid to speak of your name; no one would dare look down upon you, Sors Ultovex. So tell me, what kind of loneliness have you felt?

Call back your armies for now. If my words don't manage to reach you, then you can attack all you want and strike me down for living up to what's expected of me."
(Rindou Sakamoto)
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[17:54] The invisible man seemed to draw ever closer as the guards battled against the undead. He was unseen and unheard, even the sound of footprints absent and only able to be tracked by the sound of the rattling chains. His words do not leave him for seconds, hearing her and watching her step forwards.

"I hate 'em, ya know. Hypocrites. Tha' Demi-angels fer their words o' slaughterin' all tha' Oscuri an' then welcomin' 'em inta their homes. Their targettin' o' a single evil, an' ignorin' tha' one tha's right beside 'em. Make no mistake, I am a monster, an' many would call ma evil. But know wha' I am, an' don't proclaim maself any different. Tha' Demis ain't light if they ignore their own demons."

The gravity around them would feel as if it were intensifying, weighing down on the guards.

"Ain't nothin' wrong wit' bein' selfish. Tha's wha' people are. But I did 'magine it was Reito's an' not ya own. I'll b honest. I ain't even heard o' ya. They certain do cover up ya."

"I'll make ya an offer. Serve by ma hand. Throw away ya allengence wit' Reito, come wit' ma instead. Strike down Isaac an' inflict sufferin' on 'im an' tha' woman tha' stole everything from ya."

A rift opens behind him, deadly power radiating from it. It was to a place unworldly.

"If ya want ta know ma pain willingly, step through tha' rift. We may speak in there. But if ya refuse, I will ensure ya know ma despair fully as ya take ya las' breaths."
(Sors Ultovex)
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[18:05] The weight of her sins was bringing her down. Amber eyes laid upon the guards for a few moments as she felt their own demise coming closer. There wasn't much of a choice but to listen to him if she wanted them to live.

.. Still, she wanted much more than that. Serving someone like him was not going to benefit Agartha in any shape or form, despite the fact their sights would be put upon the dark-winged angel. No. Rindou's entire loneliness had been built on the fact she deserved a better life - better looks towards her and more respect.

"You speak of betrayal yet you're eager to have me serve you. I'm afraid I can't accept that. I'm sure you understand, but... I want people to look at me. I want them to pay respect to me. I want them to recognize me. I want them to see me - to know who I am and to give me the life I should have."

The Illuminated glow that came from her grew a bit brighter, shedding light upon the man's invisible form as she kept on speaking.

"If you'll help me take down the evil that is Isaac Shimasu, then I'll welcome it. But I'll never reduce myself to being a mere servant. The best you'll have of me is an ally until our goal is met. And then?

She looked down to her blade, rising it up slightly before looking at the place the voice seemed to be coming from.

"... then I'll make sure you won't come around to ruin what'll have been accomplished."

"If you can live with that, then I'll hear your story. If not, then I guess these may be the last words that'll come from me."
(Rindou Sakamoto)
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[18:11] Dusk and Aurum would look towards the woman as she spoke, watching the glow that came from her. His invisbility slowly stuttered away except for the part that he had personally amassed. A slightly disinterested sigh left him.

"It's a shame a lil. Ta get from one thang ta anotha, ya mite need mor' then jus' pride. If ya would work under ma, then ya, i'd willingly take ya. But if ya even want tha' chance o' alliance instead o' being forced?"

The undead army did not stop, continuing to strike the shrine's residents as the arcane chains spilled forwards, crashing across the area, aiming to cut off all escape.

"Then ya'd hav' ta impress ma. I not willin' ta work wit' anyone without strength. Our goals mite not align now, but if ya impress ma, ya may assist wit' spreadin' sufferin' in tha future. Gon' hav' ta see."

"Fer now, ya standin ma way. But after? If ya survive, I'll call ya. Ya may b mor' willin', once ya betta understand pain."

The invisbility would lose it's effects and the Ultovexian lurched forwards to attack Rindou.

"Today? I mus' hav' souls."
(Sors Ultovex)
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[18:16] The sound of metal having mana practically ripped from it as she sent forth a wave of holy magic echoed across the area. Their talk had been cut short - falling to nothing more than pointless words who's ending was going to remain the same whether they had been said or not.

Still, Rindou made her piece. Her pride was far from being sated, too. She needed more than just that. More than what she could be promised. She could only imagine the stories she'd tell and the attention that would come to her from the battle between herself and Sors.

She had to survive to see it unfold. To have her name spoken of. To have people pay attention to her - they may even love her for who she was.

Maybe, just maybe.

Alas, a battle was to unfold.
(Rindou Sakamoto)
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[18:26] Holy magic met occultism across the plains of grass. Dusk and Aurum honed in one the swordswoman near instantly as the blue eye of his staff turned a pale green. Dozens of pale green eyes had opened around him as the earth tore beneath them, opening up. Skeletal servants threw arrows towards the woman, striking towards her as she used a blade.

A blade that had a hard time reaching him. From the start of the battle he moved around, avoiding most of her strikes, and even the times she did get close, rifts would open up, allowing the Ultovexian to sidestep most of her blows.

"People follow two distinct rules. They search fer pleasure an' avoid pain. Because o' this, people will always betray, only havin' tha' severity in which they betray matta. I ask ya ta commit betrayal ta those tha' hav' betrayed ya. I also realize ya one day will betray ma."

"But I rare put people at tha' same level as maself. If one wants ta b an ally instead o' servant, I mus' see strength o' reason deservin'. Wha' can ya do ta make me see ya as someone worthy o' bein' an ally? How much pain hav' ya suffered ta think it's compared ta mine?"

The last strike was occultic needles festering on her skin, stabbing into her ankles to trip her down as he hovered high in the air.

"Wha' is ya name, gal?"
(Sors Ultovex)
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[18:37] She felt her legs not responding anymore. Her body fell down and her face met the ground in nearly no time, being dealt more humiliation than pain. Her blade hardly even scratched that man. How was she supposed to have him tone down his offer— how could she turn him into an ally for the goals she desperately needed to accomplish when she was this weak? This... incapable. Her heart picked up speed, her left hand pressing up against the ground. Jet black hair draped over her face as she slowly rose.

"I am Rindou of house Sakamoto. Illuminated and caretaker of the twin shrines of Dusk."

A proper introduction when death was not too far from her. The holy might that surrounded her washed over her body, taking care of the needles in her skin, yet she remained lower than this man. Lower than Sors Ultovex. He soared far, far above her; in his grasp was the attention— the renown she wanted to reach, yet she couldn't.

How could she hope to be an ally to a man like that, even if for but a single goal?

"In life you get a choice. Either you get to hurt someone or you get to hear about what they've been through. I'm afraid you've already picked yours."

She wouldn't tell him what was on her heart, even if it came quite obvious at this point. The expression on her face was telling of her desire, of her need, of her jealousy, of her sadness and pain, of this disdain for those who left her behind, of the failures she made, of this immense self-loathing.

Born a noble, yet treated like no one special. Fired from the army she joined for honor. Ignored in the Order she helped grow and make popular after decades of inactivity. Ditched by the only friend she ever wanted. Defeated by her rival. Left behind by the one who promised to fix it all.

She wasn't enough for the fourfold army. She wasn't enough for the illuminated. She wasn't enough for Caira's rivalry. She wasn't enough for Calista's dedication.

These people approached her, yet didn't want her, they wanted something else, someone else.

And Sors Ultovex was no different.

Serve by ma hand.

"I hope you won't regret it." She said, engaging once again.
(Rindou Sakamoto)
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[18:42] {NARRATION} As she reachest her lowest point, the light of valor that once surrounded Rindou begins to dim. She is desperate and lost, and no longer embodies the glow of Hope and Willpower.
/spell/ValorsLight was removed from your spells.
[18:53] "Rindou o' house Sakamoto. Ya are wrong."

The arcane chains filled the air with rattling as Rindou was forced downwards. In the battle, after the intial blows, she seemed to be gaining ground. The swordswings struck the Nightmare, trying to hit him, again, and again, and again. But through each and every blow the Ultovexian forced her back.

The army of the Ultovexian is simply too much. the Occultic needles stab into her skin, the gravity takes it's toll on her body until she can no longer stand or swing her blade. At this point, the clawed hand reached out to her head, wrapped around her forehead.

"Life does not giv' ya a choice. Ya saddled wit' the expectations o' others, the weight o' everything, an' ya are crushed by it. The weight o' the world wraps around ya neck, an' chokes tha' life from ya."

As he spoke, occultism would strike her veins, followed by a maubable chaos that would breath straight into her mind like a poison. In it were carried his own memories.

The betrayal of a woman he loved, leaving him for someone he hated. The betrayal of another, laughing at his feelings. The betrayal of a god closing their eyes on them. The betrayal of a lower cheating on him with a friend. The betrayal of an idol calling him a failure. The betrayal of children, disobeying orders, and eventually dying because of someone he would have slain without their interruption. It was pain. It was malice. It was hatred, all strewn together, burying into her flesh.

And then, something for so long he had tried to do happened. As his hatred, his malice, his despair infected Rindou, the light of valor and hope, and willpower dimmed. He wasn't sure if it was his own power or if it was simply coincidence, but for him, it was the realization of what he had desired. The hero de-powered, but not injured.

"Regret? There ain't no time fer tha'."

"There is only time fer pain. Fer tha' sufferin' o' those 'gainst ma. If ya will not surrender ta ma, if ya will not stand by ma hand, b overwhelmed by tha' pain o' this world."

"Give up. Fer tha' light ya stood for stands by ya no longer."
(Sors Ultovex)
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[19:24] She was blown back, slammed against the ground and reduced to nothing more than a memory of this briefly-fought battle. Her lips parted, yet no words came out. Needles crashed against her light, pushing it back and pressing deeper and deeper into her skin. She felt her life hanging in the balance for but a moment, amber eyes laid upon the old man who's deranged mind had targeted her, who's disgusting hand was gripping onto her head like some sort of beast.

Her body would contort in pain, twisting and shifting as more of the man's vile magic flowed into her, yet, the light wouldn't dim yet. The weight of the world was pressing down upon her, life itself was restricting her very being as she felt more than mere pain to his attacks.

Each blow was a reminder of how weak she was; Caira had seen her like a rival but quickly surpassed her. Particles of holy light shattered with her accepting her own weakness.

Each time she opened her eyes was a reminder of how alone she was; her friends had left her to go be happy together, happy as a couple. They found love where she couldn't, they found happiness while she remained alone - hurt. Hope disappeared from within her heart.

Each breath she took in reminded her of how she was unimportant to the world; Reito had taken her idea with a solid grasp and pushed for it, promising to purify the land and claiming the construction of the shrines as a feat of her own, mentioning Rindou as nothing more than a caretaker. The Order of the Illuminated saw her as nothing more than a tool. Willpower was sapped away with each thought.

Why bother trying if no one even likes me for it?

Sors held her up in the air, feeling as if his torturous ways were delving deeper and deeper into Rindou's heart, but... The woman had felt that way for a long, long time.

----------------
"Your standards for yourself are too high, Rindou. You're going to get too self-absorbed in your own perceived mediocrity to actually improve if you don't reign it in a little bit."
----------------

Lea was right. Ever since that defeat in the tournament against Caira it had been nothing but desires. She wanted to be stronger, wanted to be better, hated herself for being lesser than what she thought she was.

----------------
"I would rather not have her as a friend. She has the class and wealth to be my friend, but utterly lacks any other redeemable features, in my eyes."
----------------

How ironic that these would be the words she said to Reito when speaking of her daughter; Rindou had been chasing after her for the past three years, trying to be good enough for that divine heritage, good enough for her to be the -only- friend she'd ever need. A better replacement for the friendship she lost after Caira... left.

----------------
"I ran into your... Grandmother?"
"E-Excuse -me?-"
----------------

The Gehennan had it all, didn't she? Despite that woman's age Eztli Vindict had dropped by the settlement to speak to her granddaughter, leaving Rindou as nothing more than a third wheel, listening to the stories of old, to the days where chaos and order were more prevalent. When was the last time Rindou had family speak to her? Would she ever have one of her own?

----------------
"It's quite a shame you looked at your retainer during that fight. Your eyes should have been laid on me."
"They still can be.."
"I would not hate it."
----------------

She ruined it all in the end. She wanted all of Calista's attention, her respect, her love, her adoration. She wanted a friend and someone to confide in. Someone who's heart would remain set on that path, yet, Rindou came out with nothing but broken promises.

----------------
"I'll be the one you need. No matter who you may need."
"Oh..? What does that mean Rindou..? Can you be who I need..? No matter who it is..? I want to know how you can be whoever I need.."
"... I don't know."
"Then when you do.. tell me.. otherwise there will be nothing to satisfy both of us it seems."
----------------

This cry for loneliness had driven her to despair, hope and will broke apart without restraint and had left her promising things she could never fulfill, all out of a desire for companionship - to keep the last person she hadn't lost yet.

And in the end she came up with no answer. No solution. Rindou was herself, an nothing more. If only life could be different. If she could be someone other than herself.

Maybe people would like her that way.
Maybe Aurora wouldn't make her beg for her life.
Maybe Ashalle wouldn't do the same.

----------------
"He knew why you were there from the get-go. I wanted to earn his trust - I needed it. I told him about the two things you told me: Those questions about prisoners and your name. You went in at a disadvantage. I-

I hope it didn't end up making things worse for your girlfriend, because all of that was my fault.

That's why I wanted to apologize. That's why it couldn't wait, Siegfried."
"Ah," he says flatly. "So what you're telling me is that you're someone who would screw people over if it means getting ahead. Or that you were. Who knows. Who cares."
----------------

Even when she listened to Reito's advice to be nicer, to apologize, to act in a way that was more suited for a commoner it... wasn't enough. It was never enough. Apologizing to Siegfried hadn't given her anything but people hating her more, it brought misery and pain to her heart. That man would rather befried a vile beast like Ardith than someone who tried her best like Rindou.

----------------
"You are... headed down a dangerous path, Rindou Sakamoto. All it takes is one bad day, one... unfortunate happening, and that well-intentioned drive to improve the world becomes... something selfish- something dark. It is the downside to our order - our... ineffable hubris."
----------------

The light of valor that surrounded Rindou practically shattered. Her mind had been warped in those selfish, needy desires, leaving her to recall each and every moment where she had failed others, where she had wanted to be more, to be someone else, to be able to do... some sort of difference.

Jiuweihu's light dimmed tremendously, practically being absorbed by the young woman's own downfall, barely alive, if only because she could understand— she understood Sors Ultovex' pain.

"I... guess I really am standing alone now, aren't I?"

Tears were welling up in her eyes, her heart wounded more than ever before after this undiscriminate assault of the shrine she was meant to protect, all over Reito.

To make the Kitsune suffer, Rindou had to suffer.

"I wish I could avoid that pain." She admitted to herself - to that man.
(Rindou Sakamoto)
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[19:25] ..Aurora has little reason to come to this shrine. She had no reason to visit Rindou, did she?

And when it came to her aunt, the demi-angel could've simply waited to see her back in Huangzhou. So why was she here? What did Aurora Cruor look for in the ruins of Dusk, right near the shrine of the Illuminated? It was fairly hard to tell. And while she first went to the shrine itself, the woman was drawn to the outskirts near it...

Mostly due to the what she suspected to be a fight between magis.

Never did she imagine for one of them to be Sors Ultovex.

Pale, blue eyes that the brunette inherited from her mother begin to widen at the sight of the ex-Adjudicator of Dusk.

She's silent, although she wants to speak. Although she's willing to fight by Rindou even, if only because it was a man she loathed more than anyone else.

Needless to say, Aurora hasn't heard a word they exchanged. Since she only just arrived..!
(Aurora Cruor)
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[19:39] The light of Valor, of willpower, of courage, shattered around Rindou, left only with the lingering despair that Lord Ultovex brought. Around them, the sound of violence still filled the ears, rifts opening to spill forwards Nethradin who slaughtered the people of the shrine. Most of them would manage to escape, but there were more then a few wayward souls who's bloody bodies would be taken into the rifts, retrieved for later.

He stood above Rindou. His hand would release her head, no longer forcing his own feelings into her, instead having met her own. There was a vile knowing smile on his face, one of sadism and truth.

"Ya are. Ya are friendless. Ya said ya've been at this shrine alone. Ya've had ya place taken from ya, by Reito an' by others. I could see it all, everything ya mind showed ma. Ya feel tha' lingering pain I do."

Strangely, the clawed hand would reach down. As a tear welled up in the girl's eye, a talonwould wipe it away. And then the clawed hand would open.

"It is human nature ta avoid pain. But I think ya should do something different. Giv' inta it. I think ya should giv' up ya hope o' a betta world, an' real look inta yaself. Find wha' ya truly want, ya selfish motivation."

"I think ya'd delve inta tha' pain a little, an' b able ta find a wish. I think ya would look bes' if ya discarded tha' light in preference o' wearin' a dress o' Envy."

The hand would be extended. Again the claw is opened as a rift opened behind him.

"I hav' ma goal. Tha' shrine desecrated, mor' souls needed obtained. But 'gain, I offer. Come wit' ma. Discard this world an' b bathed in despair. Become one who follows ma, advance ma goals. Find out ya true selfish wish."

"Ya can hav' place by ma side."

As he spoke, the rift behind him would widen, and he would step backwards. The movements would be slow, willing to let her follow him if she wanted. But as he did, he heard the sound of another approaching against his chains. The blue eye turned, noticing, before he seemed to make not to linger.

"Tha' choice is here an' now. Wha' will ya do?"
(Sors Ultovex)
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[19:48] It hurt. It hurt so bad to hear those screams, to feel the pain they felt, to know she'd once more disappointed another person. Why was she that way? Why was she nothing more than a tool to use and blame when things went wrong? She was born a noble, one that could have status, one that needed to be atop the rest, one that could be looked at with either admiration or fear. Rindou Sakamoto was one step away from selfishness.

... She had failed already, hadn't she?

Why would she stay here? Why would she pain herself with delivering the bad news about the shrine? It was.. much easier to accept it. To accept who she was. To accept what she wanted. To accept she thought of herself as weak.

"... I'll make Agartha a better place." She muttered, forcing herself up, having cast aside that disgusting thought about the man's touch upon her skin. Her jet black hair were a mess, but that mattered not. The rift that was torn open blasted a strong wind directly into her face, leaving her to face her demons - to accept what she was.

"I don't want to follow you forever. One day we'll walk at the same pace."

Even a monster like Sors was one she could envy.

She stepped forward, casting the light away of her own will.
(Rindou Sakamoto)
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[19:52] She only arrived to see the aftermath of the fight. The finish- the last blows traded between Sors and Rindou, her aunt's best student. An understudy who'd gone under the same trials, a woman who's been bestowed with the same blessing.

.. And Aurora can't quite believe what she's seeing.

Even as that rift opens, even as Sors' grip upon the forehead of the priestess remains tight and steady.

Maybe it was the demi-angel's responsibility to step ahead and stop him. To stop ahead and yell at Rindou to fight against whatever he was feeding her, whatever lies she'd been told and whatever promises he's made.

Maybe. But it's not what Aurora decides to do.

Whether if it is because of fear or not remains unclear, but one thing is certain- the two pass through the portal uncontested.


Aurora didn't know what she just witnessed. But one thing was certain- Rindou was gone.
(Aurora Cruor)