The King's Decree

[19:36] Alexander rei Petrakis says, "Come, Atlas, Aeolus, Odin."
[19:37] Alexander rei Petrakis says, "It is time I show you three the difference between you all and I."
[19:38] Odin ...has known the difference between Alexander and himself for his entire life, but...
(Odin ras Petrakis)
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[19:39] Magnus Perridi II says, "Your higness. I bring a report about the demons."
[19:40] Alexander holds a hand up and calls upon the magics of protection once more. To protect his people. To show them the leagues of difference between the King of Esshar and the cadets.

The leagues between the might of Elaide's coven and these cadets.

The leagues between demons and these cadets.

Instead of the wrath of the cosmos, there is something of more divine origin. Where light comes down and flashes from the king's hand and he draws upon his blade, held betwixt two hands.

"If you three wish to past so desperately all you need to do is get past me. So draw your blades, come," he tells them. Waiting with blade held tight.
(Alexander rei Petrakis)
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[19:44] "...All of us at once?"

His Brother was strong, but -- … This was, likely, a mistake on the King's behalf. He was underestimating the two Cadets at his side - Odin, himself, knew how strong they were. It left a sour feeling in his mouth, knowing that the King refuses to believe their strength. ...It's fine if he sees Odin as weak, there's nothing that he will ever be able to do to change that, but --

"That's--- … A little overkill, Brother."
(Odin ras Petrakis)
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[19:44] What did he mean by show them the difference between them and him?

Was this-- finally the time when Aeolus would get to see the King's abilities first hand, be able to face off against the same man who had killed Asta?

Helping someone in need was of course the boy's first priority, but who knew when another chance like this would come?

"Do you... intend to take all three of us on at once?"

No matter how powerful King Alexander was-- surely he couldn't defeat the three of them. Whether it be one on one or a group battle, the swordsman intended to do his best. Right now, at this very moment... Alexander was an obstacle he'd have to overcome. One stopping him from helping those in need.
(Aeolus)
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[19:45] Atlas stood there, expecting some sort of combat based on Alexander's previous words.

Come, Atlas, Aeolus, Odin. It is time I show you three the difference between you all and I.

A small smirk grew on the boy's face as it was his time. He had been waiting for this moment for awhile. Battling Athanoti day after day for a chance of challenging Alexander wasn't going anywhere, but now the King ahd brought the challenge to him.

"That's all? Say no more..."

Atlas drew his blade and surrounded himself in green energy. Time around the man would fast-forward. His movements seemed like a blur as Atlas assumed his fighting stance.

His eyes honed in on the King and he'd charge once they were all ready. No hesitation, this was the moment he was waiting for. Even if it was with some others he wanted the chance to see what true power was. Maybe it was odd that he wasn't questioning Alexander's choices, but Atlas a bit more prone to action than the others.

He wanted this.
(Atlas)
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[19:53] "I will," King Petrakis answers.

Time magics rift around, calling the plants to a pause, the water to still, the air to slow. No longer did the breeze seem to happen upon the king so freely. It is similar to Odin and Atlas' mastery but more refined, as if the actual anvils of time responded to this man's call.

This would be a time to inspire. To show them the heights they could perhaps one day reach.

"Go whenever you are ready," he informs. He calls upon the magics of Light once more, where the essence of his mana becomes suited for a single purpose, rather than merely calling upon the power of the stars.

To protect them from the dangers of the world until they were ready. So they would not die an early death.

It is then the holy magics start to grow, where it manifests more closely. Where his mana circuits are purged with divine light... and instead of the starry magic that runs through it is the Light. Like he witnessed first hand from the Angel Maltziel.

That was who he was aiming to replicate in the end. To lead like. When the battle starts he moves in, not with the heavy sword swings of Alexander of past but of a more gentle blade with dulled edges. Meant to cast them aside but not hurt.
(Alexander rei Petrakis)
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[20:02] {Lost Restrained RPB against Alexander rei Petrakis}
[20:20] It is a combination effort with the cadets swapping in and out of the fight, darting to and fro. The air becomes rife with magics but more importantly, swordplay. Pillars of light descend down at times and warding protection spells almost conjured, but they are weak for Alexander's mastery of the holy arts is not yet complete.

Alexander meets Aeolus and Atlas first hand, where their blades touch and steel collides upon steel. There is fast swings, where the king's arms blur and the strength behind each strike is enough to force them back. But they do manage to seek some purchase along the armor of his frame. Where they almost cut his face, his hair.

He moves in and out of the time stream, where time comes to a hold and ethereal green covers his frame at times. Letting the strikes stop in time. Finally, he takes down Atlas first, and surges forward. There is a hard swing of his blade where he knocks said boy aside. The blunt end, the flat of his blade used so no damage was done.

After all, he wished not to hurt his people. Merely to teach them, to protect them from the dangers of the world.

And then he looks upon Aeolus, where tornadoes ravage at him. Sending hair amuck and red cloak of royalty aflutter. A single step and he's onward, holy magics coil down to the edge of mithril and another strike that seeks to cast even Aeolus to the floor. Where the light of holiness comes upon the king to shield him from the turbulent air.

And then finally his brother. The edge of his blade becomes almost dulled with these magics. Time against time, Petrakis against Petrakis and once more, Alexander comes on top. After all, he was first born, the oldest and while Odin has the display of fate at his hands, ultimately a hard strike against his hand of the clock casts him to the side.

Only when the battle finishes does Alexander speak. He comes to stand, where the area is ravaged by some of the marks of magi battle. Thankfully it had not gotten all that serious.

"None of you are at the level to be attempting to fight the witches coven. Perhaps you can beat a lesser demon, just perhaps," he offers. Eyes fall upon Aeolus and Atlas. "But then what? The witch will just do away with you. Stop being so reckless, think it through."

The magics around King Petrakis start to simmer, falling to mere essence in the air. And the light around his blade soon fades as well. He sheathes it, and watches the group of three, now four, no five as Magnus joins the line.
(Alexander rei Petrakis)
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[20:26] There was no telling just how powerful the Petrakis was-- but he had already sparred against the likes of Del, someone Aeolus assumed to be in a similar power ranking.

Besides-- with Atlas as well as the prince on his side, he was all but certain they'd come out on top.

Right...?

Charging in, Aeolus would strike with his Mythril blade, daring to clash it against the King's own, wind around the group would blow intensely as the cadet willed it to bolster his speed.

However as fast as Aeolus was, King Alexander was simply faster... his mastery of time was something that couldn't be contended with. Whenever Aeolus moved for what seemed like a good strike, Alexander seemed to fade, only to re-appear elsewhere.

Not only was his magic used for what looked like an impenetrable defense, but the offensive capabilities of it were unreal. Fading away only to reappear and strike what seemed like countless times, all in the blink of an eye.

Before long, the blue swordsman was defeated... he wanted to get back up and try again however. He wanted to be able to garner experience against the same power that could contend with a witch.
(Aeolus)
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[20:28] Before they even fought, he knew he was going to lose. ...Even if he was... seasoned, now- If he'd fought before, even though he'd been training- He was never, ever, ever going to be able to best his Brother.

That's just how things were. That's just how it was. Alexander was better than him. He always was. He always would be. He was born to be above him - To be unreachable, a star in the night sky that Odin would never be able to grasp, no matter what he did.

As they're scolded - he looks away. He doesn't face the King. He already knew what this conversation would be.
(Odin ras Petrakis)
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[20:29] Charge.

The three ran into combat with the goal of taking down Alexander, Atlas' and Aeolus' drive to do so was probably higher than the Prince. In one on one combat it was likely that Alexander would prevail against any of them but they had each other to lean on.

Atlas and Aeolus were already experienced in team combat and had taken down Del and a partner when fighting together, this couldn't be any different. They'd open the King's eyes in this moment.

Oh how he was wrong.

The trio fought in a rotating manner. Everyone got a solo shot at the King while the other members of the party sat back and assisted or healed. Atlas was the first on the chopping block.

This strategy came to a screeching halt, the result of time magic. The two clashed blades and time around them froze as they knew it, except for the two magi battling within this state. Atlas used the environment to his advantage, ripping trees from the ground and flinging them at Alexander. Time was used to heal the multitude of bruises inflicted by the King's blunt blade.

The sound of clashing iron still rang throughout this battlefield of solitude. The flash of steel was all he could see. And soon even that left his eyesight. In what seemed like a second to the outside world, Atlas was planted on his back and knocked out of the fight.

His eyes looked up at the sky, hopeless. He couldn't defeat the King at his current level. And that meant he wouldn't be doing any demon hunting in the near future. He couldn't even protect his friend's mentor if King Alexander didn't think he was strong enough to leave the kingdom in search of conflict.

Soon after the others were defeated and Alexander confirmed his beliefs. They weren't strong enough.

"Tch…"

"I guess not. Not now anyway. But I'm not sure if I can just stay by while these demons and witches are doing this. Though even if I did something, if they're as strong as you say they are I'd be killed."
(Atlas)
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[20:34] "You would be. There needs to be a plan. Our focus has to be on our people for now. But none of you are weak. You are strong, you each have potential. Strong magic in your blood. One of you of the Petrakis line, the other two cadets, sons of Knights past. Nysea - Osrona, Esshar still has hope, we just have to be wise. Reasonable about how we act, when we do so," he explains as he looks over them all.

By no means were they weak, they were just young and had work to go. That went for all of them.

"In the future, movement outside of Nysea will have to be with proper communication. No more reckless running away. You will need to bring capable people with you, Odin, not just children."

Alexander brushes some shrubbery from the trees launched at him by Atlas, moving twigs off of his kingly form.
(Alexander rei Petrakis)
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[20:34] Through the bramble and canopy does the High Keeper sprint, heavy breaths and heavier footsteps betraying his arrival at the flank of King Alexander rei Petrakis.

Blood soaks him. The stench of Occult lingers on his attire. Robes are torn and armour is mottled, his ivory visage splotted with dirt and crimson. He is a battered man - battered, but alive.
(Sethon)
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[20:35] Alexander rei Petrakis asks, "--?"
[20:35] Alexander rei Petrakis says, "High Keeper Sethon."
[20:36] Odin ras Petrakis asks, "--Sethon, are you alright...?"
[20:36] Alexander rei Petrakis says, "Marks of battle, blood."
[20:37] He was right.

Wit how things are now, it wasn't safe to just travel around... one of his friends had been attacked as well as a fellow cadet.

"It sucks that we've trained so hard and yet the disparity between us in terms of skill is so vast." Just how much training would it take to combat a witch?

Noticing the High Keeper's arrival in what seemed to be horrible shape-- worse than Kendri's even, he could only imagine one thing had happened.
(Aeolus)