Rift Magic 2

[12:41:48] Wandering across the forest, Echo had been looking for a place to practice in quiet and solace. A slightly weary expression rests upon his face after hourly studies that he's been going through, and while walking out of the town, he decides to make his way towards west side of the forest, due to assumption that the area is visited less by the common folk.

And it seemed to be the right assumption. While going there, he did not come across anybody; his gaze seemed a bit off, in a constant ponder in his mind, recollecting the memory of what he has been reading about. A brief utter from his lip kept repeating: "Calling, Concurrence and Occurence..."

But without realisation of what he just gotten himself into, he ends up perhaps on the wrong side of the forest. His mind breaks off the thought for a minute, only to eye the bunch of people he wandered into - that is Yokai, a barely familiar Tyria whom he met earlier, and the Ookami he knew absolutely nothing about.

Stupified by his own action of just randomly wandering into some section of the forest like this, he just squinted, gazing at the rest.
(Echo)

[12:45:13] Tyria hadn't much cared for the boy's fear or discomfort, she was thinking about something- mainly a way to get one over on Sunflower. She needed to gain their trust though, so she couldn't just go up and ask them to do things for them... Guarin was probably her ticket to doing so. He trusted her the most, and she could see that Diarmuid had some trust in her as well. Those were good figured to run on.. she just had to expand.

"Stressed? Trust me.. you haven't SEEN me STRESSED!! This is NOTHING!"

The girl would just seem to lose her temper, although there werent many signs other than her voice that would show it. Her body acted in the opposing way, calm and normal, while her voice seemed to be the only thing out of place.

"Yea, you better run!! I see your face again and I'll be wearing your tail as a scarf!!"

Whateve this new personality change was, it probably wasn't good for the girl's appearance.. no that things usually were, but hey- she was way different now. And the newcomer certainly hadn't helped her mood- but for now she wouldn't speak to him, continuing to pace back and forth shoeless in the ash that used to be the grass around her.
(Tyria)

[12:52:54] He would overhear the bickering and the squabble that they were having. "Explain your quibble with the Ookami, Tyria. I want to know exactly what occurred, and do not attempt to distort the actuality of the occurence. You know that you are my favored." If she didn't actually know, she most certainly did now.

He would take a few steps out of that oaken and bark chair that he sat at for the most part of his own time, and take his light, but heavily weighted steps towards the two of them. Then his eyes stared over their little heads and at the newcomer who seemed to be encroaching upon their territory. "Identify yourself intruder. Before I see fit to liberate you from your less than worthwhile experience."
(Venirae)

[13:00:35] A frown was cast upon Echo's face after noticing Tyria's shadowy tentacles - their mere appearance did not seem as anything promising or as anything up to good, and by the looks of scene and her demeanor, this backed up such thought. The feeling of something... unnatural, wrong with the Lifestream, perhaps the hints of Depravity had made him have goosebumps over his arms; the youth had a talent, and whereas he by no means was experienced to determine precise information, or recognize types of magic, that eerie feeling was suggesting to him that something's up.

Shifting his gaze upon Venirae, a towering Kaor Yokai who made his way closer, Echo immediately grasped upon the hilt of the sword that rested within the scabbard on his hip, and the other hand had been preparing a spell. The previous encounters with Yokai had taught him all too well that meeting yet another one often means a trouble. Though, while he stood his stance in guard, he overheard his words.

'Do all of them act like this...' - a thought passed Echo's mind.

His lips parted for a brief sigh, and he heared out what Yokai had to say. Instinctively, he took a step backwards in case he'd have to defend himself or flee, but he responded to Venirae.

"Well, I'm a human, if you didn't notice." - Echo spoke out as an answer to request for identity, and soon added more.

"I was merely wandering around, I did not know someone's here."
(Echo)

[13:12:32] Tyria would stare up at the Yokai, meanmugging him and scoffing as she turned away - pacing further out towards the waters. He would be able to hear her talking to herself.. nothing loud enough to pick up from the distance, but it was kinda clear that there was an ovious bit of malice coming from her.

"It doesn't matter.. he's stupid."

Was all that the girl would have to say. Venny of all people should be able to note the girl's rather abhorrent change in character. Much different than how she was before- carrying a rather bad attitude with her. Not her best day it would seem- and all because of a damned mimic.

Shit..
(Tyria)

[13:21:04] He would raise a brow at the acolyte's odd behavior, but he would not question that too intensely. Rather, he would imposition further upon the human who strayed too close to his territory for his liking. He would make his answer short and curt, "Once more, you have but a few moments to identify yourself, before I incinerate you. What do you take me for? A damned fool!?" He didn't like people to dance around the questions he asked. He wasn't in the mood for games.

He would have the yokai that were lying in the periphery come and they would bear their fangs and their different claws, teeth, fangs, and talons to the young knight, all of their hideous weapons layed bear to his sight in order to cow him into answering, "I am the Kaor Venirae. And you shall call me master."
(Venirae)

[13:28:44] Echo's brows tugged together after hearing that out, and the hint of grimacing could be seen upon his expression. The lip curve suggested mild signs of fear slipping through, but he kept himself collected in the face of danger. 'Kaor... not good.' - a thought passed his mind, quickly remembering the approximate ranking that other, more experienced humans, had been explaining to Echo. Understanding what he has gotten himself into, he decides to no longer be evasive in question - the name did not matter as much as the possibillity to lose his life, here and now.

"Echo." - he uttered briefly as the answer to Yokai's request.

Though, he spoke no more, nor he would call him master; if Yokai's perception was keen enough, he could notice the irises of youth's eyes slipping to the sides, eyeying his surroundings in a possibillity to find the best escape route around here. The young magi's mind was mostly focused upon thinking how to get out of here rather than upholding the conversation, and for an obvious reason.

But another thought passed his mind: "Calling... Concurrence... Occurence..." - a recall of his training for cognitive magic, that could be oh-so-useful right now for a sudden escape attempt; but although talented, he was not experienced, and that could be his undoing.
(Echo)

[13:35:34] He would take the name as a heed to himself. Echo. How unorcommon. But that wasa of little importance. He would offer an arm to the boy, "Your sword. And if you draw or attempt to flee, I shall consume your life like a dark and gloomy night snuffs out a candle." He would give a grimace with his skulllike face as he delivered the threat. It was meant to intimidate him to surrender.

And if that didn't work, he was quite sure that his force would be enough to condemn the foolhardy attempt to resist these commands. Indeed he would cherish the opportunity to test all manner of vile invention upon the man. And then consume the sweet and energy rich flesh of a magus. He would continue to proll his mind, but it seemed this was far more resistant to his psionic proddings and attempts to search his mind.

In any case or regard, he had acontingency planned, even as the people began to cover the exits and narrow ways. He was not taking any chances.
(Venirae)

[13:43:15] Remaining on guard despite the intimidation technique bestowed upon him, Echo gave out a sharp exhale to help him recollect his mind into calmer state. Gazing upon the large arm infront of him for a moment, a small drop of sweat rolled on the side of his head; for an observant eye, it was clear that he was nervous, but had managed to keep himself from losing it so far. Furrowing his brows after the remark said by Yokai, he put up the best expression he could muster that expressed confidence, and spoke with the according voice as well.

"How do I know you won't just murder me after I give my sword?"

Such a silly question. He expected Yokai to find this hilarious, amusing, ridiculous, laughable, perhaps even pathetic, but he asked that regardless. Perhaps he could have his answer, perhaps not - but that was better in his mind than blindly surrendering his weapon to a demon that could send yet another soul into underworld.

But without a fret, his other hand stood by and ready to launch a spell. 'Screw cognitive, won't help much right now.' - a thought passed his mind. And with that realisation, he briefly thought it over again: 'If I can fuel symbolic magic with anger and hatred, perhaps fear could.." - interrupting himself from thinking too much and for too long, he looked up upon Yokai again.

Expecting a soon answer, - or even an action - Echo stood alert.
(Echo)

[13:48:22] He would furrow his brow as the fire began to heave from the joints in his armor, "You surrender the weapon not because of the assurance or the confidence provided to you. You surrender the weapon because I have commanded it! You surrender it because if you do not, that will be the assurance of a slaughter for you!" He would take another step forward, like an impending doom.

Now the prodding and probing of his abilities were turned to another thing entirely. A kind of dimentia to be imposed within the user, using every fragment of knowledge he had taken about the other and the humans he had taken from as a whole, the whispers and the voices that he would rasp and claw at his mind would be all sorts of forms and distortions.

He would be pressing the whole of his energy into pressing the boy into submission. To breaking his will against his own. He didn't care for his antics. His thoughts. His training. And the more that he delayed the Kaor's impositions and demands, the less and less that he cared for the man's life.
(Venirae)

[13:59:28] Instinctively taking a step back due to intimidation that he's been going through, Echo's eyes widen. Audibly, and perhaps even visibly, his breath was getting deeper and faster; his heart pounding and racing, with own blood getting a heavy mix of adrenaline into it. His mind, now under assault of visions that Kaor was enforcing upon him, was getting a harder time to concentrate - and at one breaking point, the cognitive magic that requires concentration was just no longer possible, not to someone with his level of experience.

His eyes stayed wide, with their attention emphasized at approaching terror - the towering Kaor Yokai, a demon that could take his life on this very field. Reaching out to his own thoughts amidst the river of horrors, he instinctively tried to call upon the magic, using own's fear as a fuel; his psyche, although strong and formidable for someone of his age and training, had been slowly crumbling - like a fortress under massive assault of relentless force that just does not stop.

He flashed a grit of his teeth. With enough fuel from fear, his magic was not the type that would pressure on against his opponent - as it naturally drew it's power from the mental and emotional state of the young magi, it was much like aegis that protected him.

A feat of bloodbending that he'd been studying was not an easy one, but he went for it. The fear had told him so.

Echo's arm jolted up in a sudden motion, and was pointed directly at Kaor Yokai. With his fingers getting tense, and the boiling blood forcing the veins to surface at the sides of his head, he directed one of the powerful spells upon Kaor in hope it would actually stop the advance - the Blood Paralysis, the spell that was meant to shutdown target's bodily functions. A dangerous technique, even if imposed temporarily against one's opponent.

But he knew not just how formidable Kaor is; the fuel was large, drawning upon all the fear he felt as a massive pool of mana, but who knows - perhaps Yokai could be prepared for this?
(Echo)

[14:08:00] Unleashing his magical potential against his opponent, Echo displayed the bloodbending techniques first, with a follow of water bending - the fear ruled him in this battle, but he had managed to tap into it as a reserve of mana to fuel his spells.

Right after the usage of Blood Paralysis, he coated himself in watery defenses to help him survive this; throughout the battle his heart is racing and is pumping adrenaline in his veins.

Fighting for his life with sword and magic, Echo desperately attacked Yokai, in the current demeanor being short of cornered animal that sought to get an exit from life threatening situation.
(Echo)

[14:08:00] The terror in his eyes said everything that he needed to hear. And it seemed that the man was wholly unwilling to surrender the weapon that he still clutched close so tightly. What more he tried to assert a preemptive attack! This was not in the calculation he had taken, and so he would narrow his eyes, prepared to strike and to attack the knight clad in silver.

Echo was now in deep trouble. The swarm of yokai that he commanded would be whipped into a violent frenzy, and then they would be commanded to assault the foolish man, "You fool! You spit upon the hand that would bless you! Suffer for your myopic foolishness!" He would throw his hand to the side as the burning fire and energy would circumvent about his body before forming his terrible blade.

With this in hand, and his rage burning like fuel for his occultic fire in his body, he would raise the weapon as he charged him, "Upon my horns I shall gore thee! And for the crows your body shall be scattered! Your soul life shall be mine and your soul surrendered to Azrael! MAy he have the mercy that you shunned from me!"
(Venirae)

[14:09:42] {combat} Echo has been defeated by Venirae! They're unable to continue fighting.

[14:13:58] He would feel the force of his own body turning against him. His own muscles crunching against his bones as he forced himself to move, the occultic juggernaught shrugging off that magical force that sought to hold him, forcing himself through it by sheer force of will, giving an inhuman wail as he continued to power through. The enemy seemed to command both water and flame in attempt to damage the creature, but the feara that wracked him made his hand unsteady, and his body unresponsive.

He would slam his sword against him in the height of his fury along with the burning and terrible brimming and hellish smoke that now consumed the patches of brambles that characterized his clearing. He was going to learn the meaning of suffering. The meaning of mortal terror, he would grab him, and throw him into one of the barb-wire like patches of thorns and terrible burned carcasses of what once lived there.

He would make his imposing run, head down charging forward, "Learn your place whelp!"
(Venirae)

[14:19:56] Realising only now that his magic is not effective against Kaor Yokai at all, his face showed the expression of absolute terror. Launching various attacks against his foe, by commanding both fire and water, he desperately fought for his life, even if it all was futile.

Barely dodging the sword by literally turning into patch of mist at one point, he perhaps evaded the strike that would be his end. A loud gasp followed once he turned back, only to try and escape the Kaor Yokai once more - now on his feet, but his attempts were cut short by how Venirae grabbed him and threw him onto thorts; they painfully tore at his flesh, and the burned carcasses showed the fate that he may soon follow. Quickly making his way up on his feet again, he ran to dodge the charge and not die right away.

But his breath was coming short; the fire was burning oxygen naturally, and it felt for him as his very life is getting snuffed out from his lungs while he panically weaved around the Yokai as much as he could - that grab didn't help it either, the crushing force that squeezed him inside his own armor.
(Echo)

[14:29:20] He would defeat the magus in battle once more. Bashing the weapon away from him and grabbing him, before impaling his body upon his horns and throwing him into another corner of the clearing, "You will know suffering. You shall know pain. You shall know the damnation that comes with your pathetic weakness!" He would grab him again, and throw him into a tree.

He truly was a fool. He didn't have the skill needed to even damage the Kaor lord, but he did have the potential to do some serious hurt, and thats what scared him. What frightened the lord of terror. He would grab him and place him into the dark area, near the foot of his trrlike throne.

He would be racked about the mind with horrible and terrible visions. Full flesdged fake memories and the dark squirming tentacles of the Yokai's influence into his mind. Tearing and gnawing and parousing through all his major memories, at all his emotions. And most of all, imposing the thoughts of the dark creature upon him. He would feel the dark influence and be compelled to take heed to its commands. He would be called to obey. He was being indoctrinated.

Enthralled.
(Venirae)

[14:41:16] Vigorously fighting against the Kaor Yokai, he did just as much as he could in order to fight back - but all of that was not enough. His weapon was bashed away, the moment when the world almost froze for him in a moment; his eyes were wide, his mind scared and body decaying into fatigue.

But with another heartbeat passing by, the time resumed for him, the moment of shock had passed. He found himself being grabbed by Yokai, and soon he was impaled upon one of the horns, it seems just as Yokai Lord had promised in the beginning.

With his body pierced, his mouth went agape to scream in pain. The agony that he experienced was nigh unbearable, tearing at his organs and flesh, shedding the high volume of his blood too. But that was not the end of his story - he was thrown into tree, only to his his back against it and fall just beneath it; in a rapid succession and panic, he coated his body in the healing waters to keep himself alive, breathing rapidly and deeply upon being at the death's doorstep.

With the bloodied face and the curve of blood by his lips from the blood cough, and the goried body of the young magi being covered in own blood, he had made the slight bloodbend out of fear to keep it in place - the strong psyche of young mage knew that if he's going to lose too much blood, this is certainly the end.

Now, resting at Kaor Lord's mercy after seeing him approach, he thought that he will be killed on spot, but no.

Quietly sobbing due to intense pain that he can barely resist to not scream, but nonetheless he weeps and silently cries with a grit of his teeth, his mind is flushed with the dark energies of occult - the terrible visions that you'd not wish even for your enemy.

His hand grasped upon his head, digging through own hair like there's no tomorrow. He kicked around beneath the Dark Lord, and eventually his lips parted to scream, both physical and mental pains adding up. It was as if he was on the verge, almost falling into pit of dark in which he'd ultimately perish, but he stubbornly hung on that cliff to not fall.

With his mind being nothing but the destroyed fortress, his raw emotion was open to view; a hint of thirst for power and determination slipped by, mixed with the drop of Depravity that hid within - Hubris, the fatal pride that had made him think he's worthy enough to fight back against Kaor Yokai in the first place.


(Echo)

[14:46:24] He would wrack the man's mind before letting his grasp of him go. Taking a step back and up from his body, a simple message would be given, "Who do you serve, Echo?" He would give a tilt of his head as his question would reverberate into the human's skull. He wasn't going to surrender apiece, especially not after it had been forced into submission.

He would dissipate the weapon that he had used against the human and seat himself into the tree throne that was also theh place of the man's torment and torture. He was quickly swelling the ranks with those forced into his service and those attracted willingly. He was foolish enough to fight back, and now he was forced to pay the piper for his insolence.

And his penance had yet not been fully payed. He had much more he cared to test on this one. His foolishness and lack of sense made him the prime candidate on whom to test these disgusting things. Those who were forced to serve would always serve below those who chose, that was the natural order that was given, and the only logical way to ensure the continued loyalty of those who served above them.
(Venirae)

[14:55:47] Gasping loudly once the horrors had at last ended, even if temporarily, he opened his eyes wide to see himself still in a bad physical condition; doing so perhaps without much noise, he focused just as much fear for his own life to be the spell's fuel to keep the healing waters going to save his life - a clear testimony of the youth's spirit that makes it hard to give up on everything for as long as there's an opportunity to fight for his life.

Overhearing the words of Kaor Yokai, he wiped the blood by the edge of his mouth; still weak, he recognized that he would not survive another round of go between them, and a brief word escaped his lips:

"You..."

Then he remained laid down on the ground, doing his best to heal and not die from his wounds. But to admit into submission like this? That badly hurt Echo's pride, no matter how far superior the opponent was. Deep inside he simply could not /truly/ admit that he shall serve Kaor Yokai that beat him, alas, that would go against his nature of character as a whole.

Fueled with the hurt pride, and now the anger with hatred for what Venirae had done to him just now, he spared a glance with furrowed brows towards his direction.

If anything, that was a clear hint for a certain fact - even if he will never deeply admit this servitude, and has only used this as a temporary method to survive, this hatred has made it's significant push towards the darker side, and combined with the thirst for power, it could eventually turn Echo into something else entirely. Something that cannot be recognized anymore.
(Echo)

[15:03:28] He would take the man, grabbing him and placing his hand onto the man's chest. His hand rawing about him and impressing the mark onto his body. A moment of inspiration was had! He would continue to move that finger about, carving the black and depraved rune into his chest, a horrible pentagram lined with all sorts of marks and etchings. It would brim with occultic power. And it would rack his body with unimaginable pain. With it, his connection to the darkness would be enhanced greatly, and his fall to depravity would be expedited. His thoughts twisted and the nightmarish visions would seem like a reality, making his master seem more worthy of devotion than he had thought, the indocrtrination would be sealed with this horrific and devil's-pact of a gift (rolled a 6).

As the symbol was formed and seared into the Magi's body he would give him an odd and horrible smile, he had been marked and imprinted upon with that horrible seal of darkness, and in it, he had made manifest the practice that he was seeking. HE had created the great design. A seal of unholy corruption and depravity that suited his dark needs, and granted the man a greater, almost innate and yokai-like, understanding of the occult.
(Venirae)

[15:15:24] Emitting yet another desperate gasp in anticipation of horrible pain once the Yokai's hand lowered upon him, he soon had his fears confirmed - experiencing yet another unbearable wave of pain, he screamed and kicked around, unable to withstand it anymore. His teeth gritted in pain while he was weeping, and at certain moments Echo's eyes seemed to blink a bit too much and his eyeballs rolling upwards - he has been slipping in and out of consciousness constantly, the tired body and mind were barely keeping his consciousness in one piece.

Once the branding had been done, he felt the unnatural surge within, the very energy he felt before from Tyria; breathing deep and slow, he stayed laid on the ground, mustering enough strength to stand up at all in the future.

Now, engulfed in the darkness, he just stared up in the sky. His mind was flooding with thoughts of the newly acquired brand, and he spared another glance to it; his body had been almost fully healed at this point with the curing waters, but the stains of gore and blood remained. For now, weak and exhausted, he remained moveless.
(Echo)

[15:23:56] He would look at the man after he was being mired and drained from his strength. His weakness was understandable. He was not fond or understanding of the power of the occult, and therefore the suddens surge in those energies reacted with his body most... unceremoniously. Lesser men and nonmagi would likely have died or gone wholly mad.

He would stay there. The job had been done. He had learned his place in this world, and that place was under the direction of his superior. He knew that one day, the mage would thank him for the mark and the blessing he had been given. That he would remember this as the day that Venirae had not only spared him his life, but also had granted him the blessing of his power and of his understandings. Of those leanings and visions that no mortal man had previously been given unto.

At least this is how he thought of it, and perhaps hints of this idea of do no wrong hubris had sunk into the mind of the one he branded, amplifying what he admitted to himself had been lurking there. He had always said the same thing. He never changed people. He only brought out the people that were lurking under the surface all along.
(Venirae)

[15:33:20] Coming to a greater balance and attunement with the mark he was bestowed upon by the Kaor Yokai, at last he drew the breath of relief. Sitting up from the ground slowly, he still held the place where he was pierced regardless - the reminder of horrible pain that he learnt just recently. His breath was deep and heavy, one that could suggest that Echo is still struggling with the darkness that filled his heart, but is coming to terms on how to live with it - he knew that if he did not, he'd simply die from it, eventually drained of all his force from the constant battle. Managing to balance it was the only way he saw.

But it was hard to even try and balance it already, the blessing, - and at same time the curse - that had been imposed upon him was driving foul thoughts into his mind, ones that showed him the pictures of a future glory of him becoming a powerful Magi, one that had submerged himself into darkness wholly.

But he slowly stood up.

No longer sparing a gaze full of anger towards Venirae, he cast a glance towards him; but nonetheless, a keen eye would notice the slight hints of hatred that the youth still had in his heart, the hatred that was silenced by the mark of servitude. Carefully stumbling off, he made his way elsewhere nearby, to rest and heal more, but his pace was slow - in case the Kaor decided to speak to him.
(Echo)
[15:33:20] Venirae: (are u leaving irl?
[15:34:11] Echo: (well i can stay for 1-2 more posts, but yea)
[15:39:18] He would give a tip of his head to the man, "Take care Echo. May the darkness guide you, you shall grow strong in time... and with my guidance and training, every man shall bow at your name and in the wake of your prescence." He wasn't exactly aiming low in the promises that were being offered. He knew where to strike, and this struck directly at his hubris and his self indulgent excesses that he always wanted.

He had taken this when he was burning through his mind in the indoctrination prcoess, and that this was exactly what he would target with his honeyed words. He wanted power in his ranks, not simply meatshields or pushovers that any blow of the wind could disable, but something had to be assured. A single command, "I hope you know that our interactions and my guidance occur on a strictly confidential basis, yes?" He would give a sinister smirk.
(Venirae)

[15:49:32] Stopping in his pace to hear the words of the Dark Lord, Echo turned his gaze back at the Yokai and listened to him thoroughly. And the demon was not wrong - the idea of power had always been luring Echo, and right now it could seduce him as nothing else. With the mark reinforcing such position, he slowly nodded to Venirae's words, in both acknowledgement and agreement.

But the pride not only made him a subject to being seduced to the dark side with visionsof power, it had also made him hate the mere thought that he was beaten into submission. It lurked within his heart, deep inside, as a small spark that could be one day re-ignited again.

The part of confidentiality was obvious to him, but it was a conflict of nature for him - to agree upon Yokai's instruction and follow them? That was a strike at his pride at the very least to follow anyone's order.

But the mark reinforced Echo's mind in favor of the Yokai once more, and he uttered:

"I... yes, I understand..."
(Echo)

[15:55:31] He would see the odd inconsistencies he was wrestling with, "You aid me because you know that our goals are aligned. You strive to take the place you seek amongst the strongest of men. An admirable goal... and one that you know you should listen to me when I say this. Not as your superior, but rather another that has goals that align." He would slink those thoughts into his head.

He needed to get a new feel for the slippery nature of his fractured and broken mind, and this seemed like the waya to go about it. He would sit there and think with a grim chuckle to himself about the nature of that mark he placed upon him. "You are the first o experience the power of my brand. The only so far. You can taste its power moving through you yes? It is the only of its kind. Always remember your weakness before it, and know the strength that was gifted, and in that, your ambition will become clear." He would settle into his seat again.

This one's actions were now far more unpredictable. He needed to keep a strict watch, as the hubris clouds the judgement.
(Venirae)

[16:03:12] Uncertain of what exactly will turn out from all of this, and what are the true motives of the Yokai Lord that had put him through this, he remained silent while he exclaimed those words. It gave him a food for thought, something that was feeding his strive for power, glory and fame.

But that was quite an egoistic wish in it's very nature, and by forever remaining someone's servant you can never achieve the true glory and power - a fact that Echo knew all too well. However, with consideration of what happened earlier, Echo recognized the power that Venirae had defeated him with, the kind of power that he craves for. That mix of hubris and thirst for power was a deadly mixture of his nature, something that always elevated the youth as a dangerous subject.

He acknowledged the words of Yokai Lord once more once he elaborated on the weakness that Echo was exposed to during their fight. 'He's not entirely wrong...' - a thought passed his mind, and the eyes of the young magi travelled upon the mark once more to see it.

Young mage spoke no more, and nodded to Yokai Lord, both in acknowledgement and agreement.
(Echo)

[16:06:36] He would return the man's nod. "Go as you see fit then." It was an order cloaked wholly as allowing him to take his own initiative. For Ven, it was all about deception and manipulation, and this was the height of his game. The full mental questioning and turnings that he had specialized and controlled about, bubbling the thoughts he wanted to the surface.

And now, his notes would be complete, he had found the perfect and golden ratio in that mark. It was almost wholly perfect in every way, and now, he would continue to work on it, scheduling seeing how it interacted, making changes as he needed.
(Venirae)

[16:10:01] Making his way out of this place, Echo still sometimes touched the mark on his chest as the reminder of this event. His mind was conflicted, with many thoughts passing his mind at all of the time - there were too many questions and very little answers for them.

But the nightmare of horrors he experienced earlier was over, at least for now. It was the time for him to rest and think this over through - both things were more than needed for him right now.
(Echo)