fuck.

[00:07] "Yes. I did. I accepted it out of panic when he mentioned that my friends and family wouldn't be protected from the targets he specified. It's not an offer that'll bind me to his whims or anything. Rather, it was a contract that'll do nothing more than hurt me a lot if I don't fulfill the condition, which is to kill one of a handful of people. If I wanted to, I could simply not do it. And I was considering just taking the results of failure, because I find it hard to bring myself to hurt anyone. I find the very thought of it abhorrent."

"And yes, actually, I think it does excuse it."

it's not her fault.

Lea gazed upon the crowd before her, her expression judging them.

"Can you name one person here- aside from the children- who hasn't done something dumb out of panic and desperation? Hasn't hurt someone who didn't need to be hurt? Hasn't stained their own spirit in the pursuit of something? Failed to do something important out of fear? Done something unnecessary to try to protect someone?"

She didn't name names, but the people here knew who she was referring to.

"What did I even do?"

it's not her fault

"I listened to him, said no at first, had my friends and family implicitly threatened, and said yes out of panic."

Also not wrong. None of it was. Lea was telling the truth.

"And, surprise surprise, it's something that's only wrong if I act on it. I could just do nothing, take the hurt that comes from failing it, and go on with my life, having learned a valuable lesson that I expect everyone here to hold me to on the off chance I can't hold myself to it."

there's no way this was her fault

"I made a mistake. I'm sorry. I won't do it again. But all my mistake did was offer me a reward for something I won't fucking do."

"What more do you all want from me out of this?"
(Lea Elisheva)
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[00:11] She continued to cover her ears from the foul language presented, not quite able to hear anything, but there was no way she'd wander off to miss all of this.
(Juniper Elisheva)
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[00:12] Calael almost rolled his eyes at Rindou's words, but he floated silently while Lea spoke to everyone else, letting her speak her piece. "I'm not here to direct this city anymore." He said to Lea, to the others. "I'm not here to arrest her. I'm n not here as an Oracle, Keeper, or Sage."

"I'm here as your uncle, telling you that Ultovex has weaved his way into our family." Cal turned to the Commander again. "This is between all of you, for you to decide what comes next. You're at the helm of it all." An echo of Noel's words that Cal's older brother had left him.

Cal's light dimmed, and he intended to land a bit away, nearer the Lighthouse.

"Seraph has made his judgement. I would suggest arresting Rindou Sakamoto and starting with the weeds she has planted here... weeds that are strangling us all."
(Calael E. Kang)
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[00:12] Seraph idly taps his spear.
(Seraph)
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[00:13] Seraph says, "She has made no attempts to assault me. Should she be collared, I can find a way to deal with whatever corruption plagues her soul."
[00:13] Seraph asks, "... Calael. Did you /get/ that collar?"
[00:13] Calael E. Kang says, "We won't need one if Ilui decides she should be arrested"
[00:13] Calael E. Kang says, "."
[00:13] Juniper Elisheva says, "Um...."
[00:15] The white-feathered listens quietly to that speech - accepting a contract that will hurt her a lot if she does not complete it, with the terms that she has to kill someone. And she was considering not taking it. She's crying quietly at this point, standing still and just staring at that child of hers. Lea would never do something so awful - the motherly Atmosian-blooded knows that this is Rindou's fault.
(Magdalen Elisheva)
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[00:22] On the onset of all of this, the panther's hues would fall to Lea as she gave her speech. She was telling the truth, as the natural lie detector in Calael had proven time and again no truth escaped his sight, but there was simply something off still about her.

Even contemplating the offer Sors gave was not something the therapist, the oracle, and the prized daughter would ever do.

Quiet sobbing next to him would have him comforting the mournful mother to the cerulean haired demi-angel as he hugged her and made sure she was taken care of as silvery hues looked over to Rindou as the main source of this warping and twisting of thought.

Whatever had happened to the woman caused her to cause the tiniest fracture to the mirror of virtues Lea held.

Slowly but surely the kimono wearing woman had worked at the seems, making sure that when stressed more and more cracks would form until she took the shape she desired.

His mind wasset on that at the very least.... but some of the work still lied within the now former Oracle as well.

Corruption was a perversion of patience after all.
(Kabu)
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[00:26] After Lea had said he piece, the Dryad finally spoke up.

"If you're wanting me to make the decisions here, then--" Stuff was probably about to get really messy, knowing his track record. And yet, for some strange reason, he was the one that had been called upon. Slowly shaking his head to and fro he moved himself from the cliff, sand crunching beneath his boots as he made his way over.

"Ah, you're right-- I've done a lot of terrible things, hm? And what I'm about to say might be the most terrible of them all, in all honesty." He turns, swiveling on his heel so that a pair of pink eyes could narrow in on his aunt.

"As it is now, Magdalen, this is the second child of yours that has given themselves up to Sors. One not so willing, and the other.." He glances back over towards his cousin once more, grimacing, ".. Well, whatever excuses she was making for herself just now. I'm sure you get the picture." A wave of his hand,

"But I don't care about her excuses, not one bit. And if I were able to have it my way..? Well.." He chuckles, a faint grin finding its way onto his features, "Well the problem would be squashed right here and now. But nobody will allow something like that to happen..."

"And if I banish you, Lea, you'll just run right back to Sors..."

"So--"

Always one for theatrics, he turns once more. A finger pointing towards his Aunt,

"-- Lea Elisheva will be given over to her mother. She's to remain collared, and by her side. She can be the one to try and handle figuring out just how far this rabbit hole goes. Hm? And Magdalen.." A slight pause, his eyes turning to tiny little slits as they narrowed in on her,

"Do. Not. Let. This. One. Go. You've already lost one daughter to Sors, so don't lose another. Hm, hm?"

And then, over to the other.

"As for Rindou, I don't care if she actually is what she's being accused of. I never have. What I care about is that she seems to be the root of this entire ordeal." Another wave of his hand, "Arrest her, and do as you see fit with her, Seraph. I trust your judgement."
(Ilui Elisheva)
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[00:27] Seraph says, "Mm. Understood."
[00:28] Seraph says, "Calael. Collar."
[00:30] Calael E. Kang asks, "Ilui, you can still do that vine trick, right?"
[00:30] Ilui Elisheva says, "I can handle collaring them."
[00:30] Seraph says, "Wonderful."
[00:30] Calael E. Kang says, "Mhm."
[00:36] Juniper Elisheva says, "...."
[00:36] "The fact of the matter is that you put yourself in whatever proximity necessary to Sors Ultovex that would put you in this predicament. You could've come to me, you could've come to Uncle Cal, you could've come to any single one of us that wasn't known to be corrupted for assistance," her voice is tinged with certain disappointment, but...

What people like Lea didn't understand was that she'd already threatened Ilui's life if he grew to become out of control with his 'tendencies' all those years ago. She erased Sienna's spirit rather than trying desperately to bond and counteract the fact that she hadn't been wanted.

Her eyes flicker over toward Magdalen as she rocks with Juniper in her arms. "I think this is the best decision. Separate Lea and Rindou immediately. When a snake bites, you have to draw the poison out." Naturally, Rindou was that poison, the one whosewed weeds within the garden.

"We'll have to figure out just how compromised Levengard really is, from parameter to others within the walls, too." Smoke curls from her lips in the form of an idle sigh.

Then, her gaze moves, laying on Lea. She wasn't going to keep harping on about promises she had made to people, or who she's had to execute to keep people safe, but... Now she felt it more than ever; How many people would end up hurt if they let this continue on?
(Thalia Elisheva)
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[00:42] This was really not what he'd expected to walk over and see. It really was a mess, the worst part was that now he'd have to deal with Vedran saying told you so. Though, from what he saw everything was well in hand. Lea would be given to her aunt for treatment and Rindou would be collared and aided as well.

All in all it was a very Levengard outcome! The Zanders frowned, which in essence meant the two women where most likely going to end up dead. Dulled jade hues shifted from Lea for the moment glancing to Kabu. Noting his expression, wondering perhaps if the man could offer help for the woman.

Though, not that anything he thought mattered in the end. So, the old Paladin would clasp his hands behind his back. Watching the evnets taking place with interest.
(Ascalon Zanders)
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[00:44] Lea sat down and hung her legs over the cliff, staring down at the sand below.

"...I've been nothing but honest this entire time."

She hung her head down, her expression turning blank.

"I was straightforward with all of you the moment it came up, telling the whole truth."

A sigh escaped her lips.

"...but I guess what I did really is that bad, huh?"

She shifted her gaze over to Calael, her despair evident in her eyes. But she still managed to stand up, walk over to him, and hold her hand up, where the invisible Nethradin ring that signified her contract was located.

"Can you take me to the lighthouse and see if it fixes this? Please...?"

She knew he couldn't see it, but she also knew that he knew that's where it was.

"...I don't wanna be stuck here with this... I really don't... please help me get rid of it..."

The desperation and despair was plainly evident in her voice, and her tone pretty much confirmed what Seraph said earlier:

She really was a child, at heart.
(Lea Elisheva)
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[00:48] "The Lighthouse cannot help with it, but your mother's magic can." Cal looked past what was boiling over on the beach to his sister. "You should come see to it, Mags." He nodded to Ilui, and then to Thalia. If he didn't need to oversee what else happened here, then he'd take the others inside.
(Calael E. Kang)
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[00:48] She was held against her Mother quietly, the young Juniper finally pulling her hands away from her ears. Was it over? She assumed it was. She pulled from her Mother's grasp to skip down the stone stairs once more. Peacefully. Happily.

She scooted by Rindou as if she didn't matter, because to the child the only thing that mattered was the spirit who was pointing his spear at the woman.

"Grandpa Sera!" She said happily, in a singsong-y type of voice. "Do you wanna plant trees with me?" The graveness of the situation was lost upon her, mainly because she had kept her ears covered.
(Juniper Elisheva)
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[00:48] The accusations were naught but true. Those that she discussed with Setsuna of what Miyo had knowledge of, even opting to give her that potion Miyo would have used on another for the sake of investigation.

Though, that was all negated here as the young Empath's mana shimmers out, easily sensed as it makes its way towards all present to inspect their deepest emotional mindsets.

With Miyo's own sentiments arising, heat wavers from her body. Young embers of white flame flicker amongst the evening airs.

Gold tinged eyes settle Agartha's light, Lea Elisheva, or who Miyo once perceived her to be. A ray of hope lost in dusk's embrace. That of Sors Ultovex, tainted by the Illuminated woman's endeavors who is viewed now just below the rock-face in the sand..

Miyo can't help but to indulge in rising tensions towards this situation. The permeating warmth heightens somewhat gingerly as the Kitsune tries to keepherself at ease.

How could the Despair Sin's influence affect even the most brightest of Agartha's light? It touched Miyo in ways she never could imagine feeling. A sense of betrayal. The inner turmoil she felt would be abandoned by the physical disposition she held, however. Miyo turns towards Magdalen, the crying mother, to whisper something to her.
(Miyo Yuumi)
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[00:48] Miyo Yuumi whispers something.
[00:50] Lea Elisheva will be given over to her mother. She's to remain collared, and by her side.

Arrest her, and do as you see fit with her, Seraph.

Ilui Elisheva.
Ilui Elisheva.

The root of the issue always reared its head in the very end. That entitlement that allowed Calael to just direct Levengard's forces as he willed, to overthrow Lea's position as an Oracle, to trample over the world they wanted to build.

To destroy their paradise.

Entitled. Divine. Blood.

The dryad may not have been the same, but he was brought up with the name. It made him the same as Aurora. The same as Calista. The same as Calael. They were all... shifting the world as they pleased. They pointed at those who wouldn't agree with them - those who wouldn't bend the knee and call them villains.

Corrupt.

"What gives you the right?"

Rindou's amber eyes focused on that spear being idly tapped, on the anticipation that had been rising from the spirit, on the preparation for battle it first stepped up to her. She would've been dellusional to think this could go any other way. It couldn't.

They hated her for saying the truth. They hated her for calling them out. They hated her for being herself. She needed not to even do anything wrong, she would be judged as a criminal. From the moment they saw her as a hindrance to be thrown away, to this very day.

"What gives you the right to decide who is in the wrong only for existing?!"

There was a reason the judgement had been cast so, so fast. A gut-feeling that Seraph's spirit had even if hadn't reared its ugly head from the start. It took a lot to draw its full manifestation out of Rindou, to be honest. She was already jealous enough as it was. She wanted more than she could grasp. And right now she could only wish she was born in the right family, with the right heritage, with the right to decide the fate of the world.

"Your fate is to be a pawn." She said, her voice shifting to replicate one that very few had ever heard— though it was easy to feel cold shivers when hearing the voice of a man who's sinful life was known all across the world. "He wasn't wrong. Fate is decided by those who were blessed from the start, that's how it works on Agartha."

A sickening sensation could be felt tugging at the heartstrings of each and every single person in the area; from those blessed by their heritage, to those blessed by the sun, to the chosen of the fallen, and the hunters of the night.

A feeling of pure, unfiltered jealousy ripping at the very person they had grown into, the people they were becoming. It pulled, coalescing around Rindou in its greenest of forms. Timeless magic that would not die, for it was born within one's heart.

When Lea shifted around and turned her back on her it exploded forth. A blade that could never be hers manifested itself within Rindou's grasp as she fully embodied the one they all hated, the one they all wished would just disappear.

Lea had given up on her, hadn't she?

And when she did, when she let go of that dream Rindou's heart screamed for her, eyes watering up for she was naught but a tormented soul, deep down.

"I don't want to die here!"

For there was so much more she wanted to have, experience, andfeel.
(Rindou Sakamoto)
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[00:51] Thalia fuckin' snatches her wayward daughter -again-. This was too serious of a situation for her to be playing games like this.
(Thalia Elisheva)
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[00:53] please let me have fun god
(Juniper Elisheva)
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[00:53] She was snatched before she was actually in danger, thankfully. But the sickening sensation exuding from Rindou? She promptly threw up.
(Juniper Elisheva)
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[00:59] Move.

Chaos and lies had all spread outwards as a single pull upon this spear was quick to follow. Winds which sought to strike in each direction now seeming all the more harsh as one such spirit wasted not a second.

Do not allow a second of reaction.

Around his body was that same gentle glow now being twisted into something far more harsh. Where as all others that had come to witness sin would feel that soft embrace cloud the sickening touch of sin - Rindou would feel a cold and desolate touch.

One which sought to push her down more and more so that she not stand against this beacon of light.

"Everyone. Man, woman and child are all blessed from the very second they are born. Blessed by choice, blessed by the options which life has given them. Don't pin what sickening aura swells around you now..." His words followed by a pause, that spear raised as it now aimed to strike at this woman.

"On anyone but yourself. You chose this life. You, just as any other are not exempt from Judgement."

Without another word, with instinct alone driving his spear...

Seraph struck.
(Seraph)
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[00:59] The white-and-gold High Artificer remains in place, frozen and stuck in an expression that showcases perfectly just how miserable she is, currently. The older isn't able to meet Ilui's gaze, gold-stained eyes upon Lea and Lea alone. Still, utterly and completely torn apart. It shouldn't even be that much of a surprise to her - she knew a bit of this already.

It's just, seeing the grave, sickened wound so clearly cuts to the heart of the mother, doctor, maker who spent her entire life trying to prevent and heal these wounds.

But the judgement that's impending isn't as heart-shattering as she expected. Even though Lea's self-imposed wound is aired, her relation with Sors and proof that he has corrupted her-

Ilui lets her off light.

Gaze lowered, surprise fills her gold-stained eyes. The fear starts to seep away, bit-by-bit, the sorrow that's spilling over immediately subject to the uncovered drain. Magdalen can and will look after Lea. Even if she's going to be doing that for the rest of her life, it doesn't matter much to her.

The Angel-blooded's gaze lifts slowly, eyes reddened softly, tears still falling as she leans into the Kabu she just notices again to be hugging her. A small, resolved nod is given to Thalia's look. Then, Lea's small ask for help reaches her-

… See if it fixes this? Please...?

Immediately does that white-feathered launch herself skyward, a rippling wave of alabaster feathers joining with the small little wings she possesses, a powerful whump heard at her wing-beat! Just a simple wing-assisted jump to ferry her directly to Lea, to be at her side! Both downy-feathered, longer-then-she-is-tall currently things would seek to encircle and isolate Lea (no doubt getting Calael ensnared in this soft-white dome at the same time), where, the teary-eyed thing declares;

"I'm here Lea- I'm here, and I'll always be here... And I can fix anything - please. It'll be alright. I'll never leave you...

I love you, my dearest treasure..."
(Magdalen Elisheva)
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[01:10] Quicksilver whispers something.
[01:10] Quicksilver whispers something.
[01:10] Calael E. Kang whispers something.
[01:10] Quicksilver whispers something.
[01:11] Quicksilver says, "Well."
[01:11] Calael E. Kang whispers something.
[01:11] Lea immediately buried her face into her mom's chest, beginning to sob rather loudly. The regret and remorse was starting to hit her head on; and it was genuine. All of it was. Lea was nothing if not truthful this whole time, expressing her feelings as they came.

"Please don't let them hurt me, mom. Please. I'm scared..."

Teary eyes gazed up at her mom, her pleas continuing to no end.

"Please let me become a better person from this..."

She didn't want Sors to be right. She really, really didn't. She wanted him to be wrong more than anything. She didn't want to be bitter, resentful, or anything. She just wanted to be free. She just wanted people to trust her. No, she needed it. And if they didn't, well...

That'd validate things that were much better off not being validated.

"...I'm scared of what people like Rindou can do to me. I'm scared of what Ilui is gonna do to me. I'm scared of not learning a lesson from this. I'm scared of being hated and feared and... and..."

She buried her face in again, sobbing.

This really was not her finest hour.

"...fix me, mom... fix me and get this over with so I don't have to be like Lailah was..."
(Lea Elisheva)
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[01:11] Vedran whispers something.
[01:11] Quicksilver whispers something.
[01:11] Vedran whispers something.
[01:17] Vedran whispers something.
[01:17] Vedran whispers something.
[01:18] Quicksilver whispers something.
[01:19] Vedran whispers something.
[01:19] Quicksilver whispers something.
[01:20] Vedran whispers something.
[01:21] Quicksilver whispers something.
[01:22] Quicksilver whispers something.
[01:22] Vedran whispers something.
[01:24] That Angel-blooded mother pulls Lea close instinctively Both arms come to hug and hold, tight and welcoming and gentle. The same arms that have always been there for Lea. Still soft, gentle, and tenderly squeezing.

"I'll never let them hurt you, my Lea. You'll come home with me, and we'll be together again, and I'll fix whatever happened to you..."

Tears still dripping down her face like a fool, her head buries itself into Lea's blueberry locks for several moments, that wing-hug upheld, even as the feather-barrier recedes in a gentle wave of white-gold light, leaving just those tiny two wings upon the mother's back.

"Remember when you told me that no matter what, 'You'll always have your Lea.'...

Well, no matter what happens, you'll always have your mom..."

Without even looking back upon Rindou and whatever punishment she's to receive, Magdalen would aim to gently maneuver Lea away, looking to Calael to follow as the Lighthouse is the place to be entered! Not letting Lea look back, or even think about or worry about Rindou...
(Magdalen Elisheva)
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[01:26] Lea Elisheva whispers: ...w...will you stop them from putting a collar on me, mom...?
[01:28] Magdalen Elisheva whispers: It'll be okay, dear. Trust me.
[01:28] Lea Elisheva whispers: ...I need you to tell me. I need you to trust me...
[01:31] Magdalen Elisheva whispers: I do trust you. Heart and soul, but Ilui ordered it, my Lea. Please let me. I don't trust Sors. Remember how Lailah got before, even when we got her back?
[01:31] Kabu whispers: Today's.... well. Mnh. I simply want your mother to know for sure that you will not be letting Rindou or the Ultovex influence you any longer.
[01:32] Lea Elisheva whispers: ...Is that your final answer, mother?
[01:44] Everything was a mess right from the start. That spear pierced right through her defenses and wouldn't allow her to rest or even think for a moment before unleashing a barrage of golden and divine winds alike. She was sent flying backwards before she could even process what was going on. Her heart pumped, adrenaline flooded through her entire body as she saw just how dire the situation was. It was... real, wasn't it? This man— this spirit of justice wouldn't allow her to live on after what she had demonstrated.

Her eyes went shut.

A Carnal Wrath.

All of those repressed emotions, that rage that she felt at this injustice she perceived while justice itself was trying to bring her down was burning up, building up. She wouldn't be able to win if she played things fair, if she played them without remorse, no. This was not a game to know whether or not she could best Seraph in an honest match; this was for her life.

For her whole being.

She reached into her robes, pulling a small flask of bubbling red anger. Her eyes opened wide as all of the adrenaline and anger deep within her was manifested at once. Dark wisps of mana surrounded her, twisting and shifting as they ate at everything, even herself. The potion within her hand merely fed the beast of the underworld that had manifested itself within her heart, pumping through her veins.

This was serious.
This was someone who may just kill her.

Her body flickered out of sight, shifting from one spot to the next one as she struck Seraph in an unpredictable, wild manner. A storm of heavenly blades came rushing at her.

Fate is decided by those who were blessed from the start

Her left hand reached out as the sinful manifestation of her desires reached out, latching at the spirit himself before stealing from him. The divine-blooded's own ability to manipulate the holy arts was manifested before Rindou, creating a shield able to withstand the full barrage of its master's own divnity.

She pushed through. She advanced, using magics that weren't hers in order to get up close to the Elisheva; to finally catch him in the worst of all spots:

Right before her blade.

She struck. With all of her might, she slashed across his midsection. The weapon within her grasp did more than merely carve through him, it craved through him, too. It ate at his divinity, at his luck, at the wheels of fate, at the hand he was dealt at birth.

Envy struck with reckless force, attempting to steal that divine blood coursing through the man's spiritual circuits. She couldn't. Of course not. The cut the man was left with, however, would ceaselessly try to eat away at his birthright.

"No one in their right mind would choose to be hated by the world, to be betrayed and left all on their own.

Don't pin your opinions and thought as Justice."

Rindou's free hand reached for a smoke bomb, launching it against the ground and allowing a large, large cloud of smoke to erupt from it, one covering the whole area. Magi and non-magi alike would have their visions obscured long enough to...

Stop worrying about losing Rindou Sakamoto.

And so she did. When the smoke cleared up there no longer was Rindou. She was nowhere to be seen. She had slipped away right before their eyes. A mere moment was enough for her to don a mask and hide in plain sight. No one would be able to tell in which direction she left.

And more terrifying than all?
No one would be able to tell if sheeven had left.
(Rindou Sakamoto)
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[01:52] The white-feathered mother stops at that question. It's a much more serious one then what was asked previously. The implacations of which - pressuring and trying to put herself into a position to escape.

Why would she need to be uncollared if she truly wanted to change?

Magdalen freezes, tuuurning around, kneeling to Lea's height, and looking her dead in the eyes. Gold-stained, fearful and pained plead with the Order mage (or maybe ex-Order, now) silently.

"Lea... Please don't fight this. You said you wanted to change, better yourself, and learn...

We need to do this, Lea... Please be my Lea."

Misty eyes stare deep into hers, searching, looking at that neutral face for a sign. Smaller, heart-poured words are given to her;

"Please don't abandon me. It... It would be even worse then what you felt like when Adrian abandoned you, for me."
(Magdalen Elisheva)
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[01:52] Ah...

You've grown lazy, haven't you?

He could hear one such voice linger in his mind as blows never quite met their mark. Golden blades which had been flung across this beach only grazing when fatal blows were meant to follow. The sounds of a spear whizzing past the head of this woman, time and time again only to be rejected that spring.

Ithaca would scold Sera for this.

Isaac would strike down those which had knocked him down - Though this spirit had only himself to rely on.

What followed was an opening, one foolish and leaving this spirit's form flickering and cracked. One final strike across it's midsection sending this being flying backwards - Divine ichor flowing and spilling upon these grounds before vanishing on single contact.

"You're a liar... You know full and well what you were doing before falling into sin."

Would act as his final words, as the spirit looked up once more...

Only for Rindou to have vanished.
(Seraph)
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[02:15] snap

The gaze Lea shot Magdalen could only be described as pure hatred. Nay, not even hatred. This was love passed through a filter of bitterness, regret, and remorse. It was love lost, love destroyed, love torn asunder from a lack of trust.

"Just like you abandoned my father, right before his death?"

All she had to do was trust Lea. All she had to do was give her the same faith that Lea gave others. All she had to do was make the same "mistake" that Lea made with others; a mistake that saved almost every life it was tried on, only to be ruined by others.

What did they have to say to Lea? What did they have to say to the person that did everything right, up until they made one single mistake? What did they have to say, when all she asked for was...

...I need you to tell me. I need you to trust me...

I do trust you. Heart and soul, but Ilui ordered it, my Lea. Please let me. I don't trust Sors. Remember how Lailah got before, even when we got her back?

That was it. That was the final straw. People didn't fight for her, they didn't stand up for her. Is this how Rindou felt? It made sense now. All of it did. Everything Sors told her, which she once thought were nothing but lies, manipulations...

I don't believe you fully know how dark and despair filled this world is. Not yet. Just wait. Everyone betrays. You will eventually know my pain. Not a threat. A warning.

...ended up being true.

Because now she knew that Sors was right. It was a truth that should not have been, yet was proven beyond a shadow of a doubt with the actions taken on this wretched, horrible day.

And so she remembered something from a long time ago, something which she had heard on another fateful, terrible day:

If the greatest angel in history could not keep his wings white forever, then neither can I.

"I suppose my brother was right..."

A single, vile spark shot from her right wing...

"No angel can keep their wings white... not even one as good as me."

...before both of them erupted into deep, crimson flames, fires derived directly from Helheim itself. While her wings were not black before, nor could they be stained black by her sins, the sheer intensity and vileness of the flames would, if only for a moment. She hoisted Rebirth off her back, enveloping her body in an aura of holywater, and pointed the holiest staff in the land at her mother, as it was about to be used for the most corrupt purpose imaginable:

"All you had to do was love me half as much as I loved you, mom."

To kill the person Lea loved most.

"But I suppose you failed, even at that."

"And now you will reap the results of that failure."

And so she charged forth, stopping at nothing to make this day her mom's last.
(Lea Elisheva)
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[02:17] Arlei Zanders whispers something.
[02:21] Setsuna slowly entered the scene, Adar following closely behind. A potion of truth was clutched to her chest, off to find Rindou. Yet upon seeing the woman, her light blues widened.

Seraph lay atop the ground, injured and defeated, while the Sakamoto deftly escaped. Smoke lingered, while the young Qilin's boots crunched against the hard sand, the moon lighting up her pallor features.

"I-"

Her statement was cut short by the sudden charge of Lea Elisheva. Quickly turning on her heel to face what would likely be more chaos. As she had just arrived, absorbing the influx or information, she didn't react.

The Captain's gaze shifted back to the smoke, as she soon pocketed the truth potion. It wouldn't be needed anymore, given the conflict that had just occurred.
(Setsuna Ukitake)
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[02:23] Vedran whispers something.
[02:23] Arlei Zanders whispers something.
[02:23] Vedran whispers something.
[02:24] Arlei Zanders whispers something.
[02:24] Arlei Zanders whispers something.
[02:24] Arlei Zanders whispers something.
[02:25] Vedran whispers something.
[02:25] Vedran whispers something.
[02:25] Vedran whispers something.
[02:25] Arlei Zanders whispers something.
[02:25] Arlei Zanders whispers something.
[02:25] Vedran whispers something.
[02:25] Vedran whispers something.
[02:26] Arlei Zanders whispers something.
[02:26] Arlei Zanders whispers something.
[02:26] Vedran whispers something.
[02:26] Arlei Zanders whispers something.
[02:26] Arlei Zanders whispers something.
[02:26] Vedran whispers something.
[02:26] Vedran whispers something.
[02:26] Arlei Zanders whispers something.
[02:30] Vedran whispers something.
[02:30] Vedran whispers something.
[02:32] Arlei Zanders whispers something.
[02:32] Vedran whispers something.
[02:32] Arlei Zanders whispers something.
[02:35] Arlei Zanders whispers something.
[02:36] Arlei Zanders whispers something.
[02:36] Joan Caelum whispers something.
[02:38] The Angel-blooded is shocked by that hatred - by that utter cruelty bent towards her in an instant. She just sits there, the tears that were in her eyes falling free, now, staining up the ground, as before. As always. Crybaby. Weakling. Cursed. Useless.

Useless.

Useless.

Even pure heartbreak, that old pain felt anew, lancing red-hot hooks digging into her chest, tugging in different directions doesn't stop the hopeless love in her eyes. It's a physical pain that Lea can easily see.

Magdalen's eyes are unceasing gold-stained, frayed, pained, the white-and-gold self-titled High Artificer immediately immersed into what is a nightmare.

She's probably laying in bed right now, sweating buckets and rolling around. Maybe thrashing - she doesn't usually scream anymore, but sometimes she cries.

So those eyes keep staring up at Lea, hoping that what her eyes - something that a person focused on the physical, tangible, here-and-now always relies on - show her is just some sort of creation by her subconscious to keep her sympathetic nervous system in check and working properly.

Magdalen's Lea would never evoke Hel-flames. She'd never veil herself in that loving, kind Holy-water she used to play around by shooting bubbles and laughing, for the purpose of killing. She'd never point her father's Lifestream-fixing staff at her mother. Not her Lea.

Not Magdalen's Lea.

Not Magdalen's Lea.

Not my Lea

But sometimes you just need to go with the nightmares, right? The impossible scenarios your mind crafts for you to spend a night running and thrashing and fighting. So, her words speak, softened, pleading and bearing a desperation pure and whole, as she remains kneeled in place, even as Lea rises to murder her for more power.

"I... I love you more then anything, Lea. That's why I'm not afraid to do whatever I need to, to keep you safe, you see? Please, Lea. It's just a collar..."

Again with the stupid collar! What a dumb woman. Anyone can see that this nightmare Lea isn't going to accept that collar. This is Sor's Lea, now. Slow. Stupid. Useless.

…

…

…

Magdalen doesn't move from the place she's currently kneeling in, horrified, pleading, and desperate. Begging silently for her Lea to come back and see reason. There's no drawing of her gunblade, no evoking of magic -

Why would she do such a thing to her own Lea? She hasn't realized, just yet, that it's not her Lea anymore. Maybe she'll never realize that. Love can blind you and all that-

Regardless, this is just a nightmare, anyway!
(Magdalen Elisheva)
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[02:41] "Oh gods-"

Calael felt it before those wings took flame, that vileness on the wind. Magic no one in Levengard had any business wielding was manifesting within someone he trusted, someone he believed in. The sun set upon it all, and the Lighthouse's beacon rotated over, and over, and over above them, blinking out into the freshly fallen night with its bright glow.

With Setsuna and Adar arriving, along with more and more faces coming to watch and join the crowd, Cal's starfire wings sparked to life and he held his arms out to urge them back.

"Stay where you are- nobody move!" came the demiangel's call. The raw emotions bubbling out of his niece toward her mother were enough to draw everyone's attention, and the fires of Helheim itself burst into view at their reveal.

"Magdalen-!" Calael called out for his sister, and then looked over to everyone else, "We can't let her leave the city, not like that-"

Rindou may have escaped, may have defeated Seraph, but this was someone they had watched grow up, someone they all held dear in their hearts, someone now completely spoiled by a distant monster who was surely laughing at everything he had pushed into motion.

"LEA JUST- LISTEN TO HER!" he called out toward the Oracle, trying to get her to hear her mother's words. He wasn't going to let Lea just outright kill Magdalen on this beach.
(Calael E. Kang)
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[02:42] Not on his watch...

It was interesting truly. Tail curled some, body kicking into a static crackle as a primal might kicked up in the hunter's being.

An apprehension that was given about the woman's mental state had lingered since they'd talked to her last.

B r o k e n

There was something vile... wretched and troubling behind those childish eyes. Something lying right behind that glass that had been cracked into by envious chagrin.

Seeing the flames of Helheim erupt from Lea and the smoke clearing from the former exchange that had happened regarding the deeds of Seraph and Rindou squaring off and all leading up to this rather pressing event.

The panther would love to be surprised here...

How he'd love to have had faith that Lea truly saw the error in her ways, but once a weed dug too deep into the roots of a plant, they were no better than a influencer in it's name.

Pollen, seeds, nutrients all for that corruption things like sin, and chaos often brought.

B r o k e n

As the cerulean daughter would advance towards the blonde mother, the woman would feel his spark coursing through her with reflexes, acuity and power enhanced by the blessing of his deeds to move out of the way of the initial blow.

But she doesn't move...

No instead a hand pushes her back, there would be no more chances given with those eyes... with that hatred... with that longing to enact Sors' acts.

He would not lose someone he cared for again.

Declan, Saba, Kott... his brothers.

He wasn't there for any of them, but this would be different.

Runes glowing steadily beneath his shirt as that same coldness emanated off from him and he'd match that intensity of Lea's with his own will to make sure her taint would not reach the only person that ever truly cared for her.

" You are truly lost.

For anyone to strike with intent at their own mother's life...and pretend to have ever of cared for her...

I suppose now I understand what Living Necromancy is.

Puppets....shattered and warped back together to form the faces resembling those of long past....

Lea Elisheva is dead."

B r o k e n

His voice would ring out in a cold manner, with eyes constricting into slits, hair on end, a hail of golden arcs leaking off from him and staff at the ready.

He did not strike yet, but he had EVERY intent to should they take so much as a step towards their mother's direction.

There was no redemption, no reasoning... and no hope for this slight.
(Kabu)
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[02:43] The girl floated towards the tower- having noticed Levengard suspiciously absent of people. Through the crowd, she found Arlei, yet above them all, there was Magdalen, and Lea, and Kabu.

And yet there before her was not a heartwarming scene, not the Magdalen who shone so brightly with hope and blessed light, not the Lea who she knew- she KNEW was a kind hearted woman, for the Grandmother had spoken so highly of the woman.

But the woman was being attacked. By her own daughter.

"G-Grandmother, move!"she shouted, not understanding just what Magdalen was feeling.
(Joan Caelum)
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[02:47] A scene that looked, more or less bad really. Only one thing could have sparked it all. Rindou and Sors. Two people that he didn't trust and didn't like. For good reason. This was an example of that. Of trusting the wrong people.

Lea had clearly stepped far off the path, but was it to far for redemption and righting those wrongs? He didn't think so. But what she was doing was making things rather... dire. Drawing a weapon on her mother, fiery wings on her back instead of her usual, rather beautiful feathery ones.

He was still concerned from their chat with her earlier. It seemed that his concern was indeed well placed. One that he wished he had acted on more than he did. He partly felt that this was this fault, even if he tried to console the woman and show her that people were still there for her.

That people still cared for her.

He knew they did, he knew that deep down she knew that they did. She was clearly not herself, being influenced by something. He didn't know whjat, with his father it could have been many things. Things even he didn't know. It had been well over ten years since he had even seen the man.

Let alone see what he could do now.

He'd keep an attentive eye on Lea. He didn't want to jump the gun, draw his spear, and go at her in a bit of combat. While he enjoyed fighting, he didn't enjoy fighting those he cared about in this manner. He'd probably lose that fight to, even with his new weapon. It only made him slightly stronger.

But he doubted that would be enough for him to pull out a win when he ahs never done so before.

He hated this situation though. He hated Rindou for it, he hated Sors for it. Once more his father had affected those close to him. Changed them, to something they weren't. He could see that enough.

He would speak out though.

"Lea, ya' got people here that care about ya' that want the best for ya'. This ain't like ya'. Even if it isn't with a collar, just come along. Let people help ya'. Whatever Sors did to ya'. It can be fixed. I don't believe ya' lost yet."

The man now, was actually showing some more emotion. Even with the pendant dulling him to an extent. This was someone he cared for deeply. She was being influenced. This wasn't Lea ELisheva, this was something taking her over.

Something that needed to be stopped.

"Don't make people do something they're going to Regret Lea, don't do something that you're going to regret."

"Please."
(Jun Zanders)
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[02:49] She doesn't run off, even as her Grandfather loses his battle, and even as Rindou disappeared within the crowd. It didn't matter.

But what Lea was doing did matter, a great deal. The feeling of magic that exuded from those wings of fire caused even Juniper to tremble in fear. She didn't know why it made her so scared, but she stood there upon the beach. Her parents were asleep - so, who could she run to, to hide?

To be safe?

She didn't even know anymore. She shouted out, that innocent voice that at one point perhaps would have reminded Lea of herself cutting through the air,

"DON'T DO IT!"

There wasn't a chance she'd make a difference in the fight, really, but... Maybe words would be better.
(Juniper Elisheva)
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[02:50] Emotions ran deep. Too deep.

far too deep here.

The Empath senses every bit of that angel mother's deepest regrets. Her horrified sentiments for pleading and desperation. It paints Magdalen's physical features as she kneels on the ground before the murderous Ex-Order magi.

Miyo shook her head in that instance. Magdalen's pains could be felt in the deepest of Miyo's heart.

Family that abandons one another.

That was a horrible feeling she could absolutely sympathize with.

But as Helheim's glorious hellfires envelop the younger demi-angel, preparing herself to attack her mother, her family, Miyo's heightened emotions peak through-

An immediate burst of white-hot, gloriously beautiful fires wisp in a manner that's both judging, albeit Miyo's made her own. Just as Seraph Elisheva engaged Rindou because ofthat vile, envious shield she possessed, Miyo opts to do potentially the same, disbanding Calael's pleads for none to move, though with those unpigmented flames that Miyo possessed, unfurling in a cortex of searing hot blazes, her willpower drives her forward to such protective degrees that it's injurious for all around, including Miyo herself.

Bound to bring Order. Bound to ensure justice, the Kitsune's speaks;

"She's made up her mind-" That willpower manifests into materialized wings that push her forward with the assistance of the natural word and the metaphysical forces of gravity to push her out of Magdalen Elisheva's way.

But.. would that initially cause a fight?
(Miyo Yuumi)
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[02:54] As it seemed that the young Juniper had escaped her mother's grasp somehow, the youngest Kang breathes in before leaping down, landing onto the sands with a strong thump. As it shifts beneath his feet, he hobbles over to the youngest Elisheva. A hand comes to rest on her head.

"There's no point. Nothing you can say will ever change these kinds of people.." He spoke, in an utterly defeated tone.

It almost seemed like he'd lost his spark. There was nothing left of the old Defender in him.
(Percival Kang)
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[02:55] Juniper Elisheva says, "......"
[02:58] It's true, this was no longer the Lea they knew. She still had the memories of Lea, the strength of Lea, the voice of Lea, and the appearance of Lea, but this Lea was lacking something precious, that made her naught but a hollow shell of who she once was:

This was a Lea that had given up on goodness, on treating people well. This is a Lea who projected her boundless love inward, turning it into motivation. She stopped in her tracks, and gazed over at Kabu, shooting him a smile that looked exactly like the kind of smile Lea would've shot someone before, and spoke...

"...Living Necromancy? Don't make me laugh."

...a smile that quickly turned into a smirk.

"I never let people manipulate me into making decisions that I haven't already made."

She took a single step forward, aiming to strike Magdalen down.

...the words of Jun did cause her to hesitate, but she was so lost in her feelings that it didn't matter much.
(Lea Elisheva)
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[02:59] Disregarding the dreadful feeling of a presence unlike the others near the enhanced alloy fundament of the lighthouse, and bolting his stare right past the curtain of smoke, Adar's attention had befallen right over the ensuing conflict at the entrance to the tower.

His hand clasped itself to the Qilin's shoulder, having seemingly lost equilibrium for a solid second. With his vision having become blurred from the agitation, Adar's sensitivity to transmundane presences made him incapable of making out Lea's figure.

Slowly gaining composure, the navigator managed to make out the picture ensuing, though barely.

"M-Miss Magdalen…!" Hopelessly outstretching a hand forward, Adar could've barely concentrated any mana to compress the aggressor. Instead, he struggled to regain composure while leant on Setsuna's shoulder, seemingly afflicted by both the sin and the pawn of Sors' presences.

Adar cursed below his breath, grunting in impotence.
(Adar)
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[03:02] Arlei Zanders whispers something.
[03:03] Joan Caelum whispers something.
[03:14] Gripping his staff tightly now as the angel would come to claim her mother's life indefinitely.

Kabu would shoot forwards with his numbing aura intent on halting this onslaught with the extent of his capabilities.

He'd not had to abandon his apprehensions in a very long time, but for the battle to save his wife from her corrupted daughter it seemed the panther wouldn't have any trouble in letting go enough to make his intent on halting harm known.

Claws of tesla'd thunder erupted from his forearms now, encasing his claws in their crackle with him zipping across the fields and summoning flora to invigorate him and keep him from falling without his spark being felt.

"I will not let you....." he'd growl out, flashes of his storm slamming into the sand below.
(Kabu)
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[03:17] The propel forward does not stop. Willpower manifested into something gloriously detrimental, materialized, and heightened does not cease while Magdalen Elisheva is in trouble by her own corrupted daughter.

In those few seconds that Miyo flies forward towards the murderous demi-angel, she verses a plethora of things within her mind. Judgement is cast; surely either of them could bring her down to rescue this light-hearted blonde demi-angel from the makeshift abilities of Helheim itself before them that Lea possesses.

White fires blossom, illuminating the entirety of the area- Just like the sun should.

Juiweihu's astral body's harmonizing through the Lighthousing has transformed these flames akin to the sun's radiance. Her Lady's wondrous, otherworldly Light shines brighter through determination; brighter than most fires a simple magi could possess. Ones that are born of the Empath's amplified emotions..

Born of sheer will, driven by that of a strong-headed woman who wants to protect those closest to her, and of each picked off turmoil those around her possess that bestow this Empath with pieces of their feelings she could understand.

Though, right now that mattered not in Miyo's pursuit as Kabu tackles at the woman; she wouldn't stop pursuing her no matter the circumstances if it meant Magdalen would live and Lea was stopped.
(Miyo Yuumi)
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[03:36] ** Kabu has inflicted an injury upon Lea Elisheva. ("Temporary Injury", "Temporary Injury", "Temporary", "Duration: Medium (4 days)") **
[03:36] Arlei Zanders whispers something.
[03:36] Arlei Zanders whispers something.
[03:36] Arlei Zanders whispers something.
[03:40] Arlei Zanders whispers something.
[03:40] Joan Caelum whispers something.
[03:40] Arlei Zanders whispers something.
[03:51] Engaging in a truly titanic battle of ideologies. The panther's dissonant roar would overtake the fields as he faced an opponent beyond anything he'd faced since the throes of the expedition.

Many had assumed the former chieftain had grown soft in his home life... a good wife, good kids, and a good home.

Those same hardships that brought him up had him hanging up his claws now as he sought after the finer things of simply living well but no one ever asked the man what he'd do to preserve it...

The thought of his wife being attacked and killed by her own blood reawakened something within Kabu.

The blessing he simply wore, would fizzle, a pelt of woes fading away into nothing but the pure glory of combat and making sure the despair of Magdalen would not be her undoing...

Hunt.

Water would enter his lungs, thousands of swords would pierce his flesh.. death calling for him, gnawingat him to join his family, yet the man's water magic would push it out from his body...his lightning would destroy the mana alloy'd weapons slamming down into his form.

Nothing....

Nothing could sway him.

Adapt

As his body became the incarnation of lighting, he would slam and stun against the fallen Elisheva crashing into her with piercing blows, and metered strikes of a seasoned warrior.

Fight.

A huge, darkness rending claw would slash forth pushing the cerulean haired combatant back down into the bulk of the crowd as he took his place in front of Magdalen once more.

The world took everything from him...

But he earned it all back.

And he would not lose it ever again.

Win.
(Kabu)
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[03:52] Vedran whispers something.
[03:53] Calael E. Kang whispers something.
[03:53] Vedran whispers something.
[03:53] Arlei Zanders whispers something.
[03:53] Jun Zanders whispers something.
[03:57] Calael E. Kang whispers something.
[04:00] Jun Zanders whispers something.
[04:00] Vedran whispers something.
[04:00] Calael E. Kang whispers something.
[04:00] Vedran whispers something.
[04:00] Juniper Elisheva says, "...."
[04:00] Juniper Elisheva whispers something.
[04:00] Vedran whispers something.
[04:00] Vedran whispers something.
[04:00] Calael E. Kang whispers something.
[04:03] As she continued to fight, the fires of Helheim continued to burn away at her very spirit, degrading her mental and emotional state even further. Her eyes widened, the soft features she once held twisting and turning into something horrid. And when she fought on, eventually being defeated, she grasped her face in pain, the mana searing her chest, causing her an astounding pain. Blood splattered across the ground, both from her chest, and spat out of her mouth from the internal trauma caused by her wounds.

"You keep hurting me... you keep hurting me! WHY DO YOU KEEP HURTING ME?!"

This is not the Lea they once knew. What stood before them now is a horrible facsimile of what Magdalen's worst nightmares involving Lea could be, and perhaps even worse. She was hurt, her wings were aflame, and she was losing her goddamn mind.

She gazed over at Calael through her fingers, taking a moment to scream at him while stepping back.

"I hate you, Calael! I HATE YOU! Of all the people you had to let down... why did it have to be me...?"

"Why... did you have to let down the person most loyal to you, uncle Calael? The one that listened to you the most...?"

She paused for a moment, before trying to make her escape, uttering out one final thing-

"...was it really... was it really worth it?"
(Lea Elisheva)
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[04:04] Vedran whispers something.
[04:07] She backed up now, fear on full display at the battle directly in front of her eyes. She had seen very few things like it, and it fascinated her. Her inhumanly large eyes watching closely... But still, fear dominated the little Dryad. She backed up and backed up, quivering.

"I hate you, Calael! I HATE YOU! Of all the people you had to let down... why did it have to be me...?"

Juniper brought her hands over her ears again, and squeezed her eyes shut. She imagined everything nice the world - the birds, the trees, nature itself. Anything but this.
(Juniper Elisheva)
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[04:11] At the back of the magi present to watch the spectacle, the youngest Kang grips Spiritforce tightly. His will to protect, to fight, felt terribly weak..

But in the same vein, he watches his cousin with pity as she breaks before him. He wants to get up and fight- to try and save her, but a part of him that ate at him constantly whispered that it was pointless to try.

.. He shuffles up to Juniper instead, leaning down and whispering.
(Percival Kang)
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[04:11] Percival Kang whispers something.
[04:12] Juniper Elisheva whispers something.
[04:12] The pursuit against Lea Elisheva still does not cease. The Kitsune's willpower and strive for order against that of chaos pushes her beyond limitations.

Because this is the path you've chose, Lea Elisheva!"

Those words reverberate across the rippling waters of the nearby ocean and around the Lighthouse's vicinity. So loudly proclaimed, cast out with a stern tone, Lea's injuries mattered not in those moments that Miyo took to collect the woman for the sake of Levengard.

To fight with every single soar of emotions that the Empath senses amongst all in its proximity, heightening her senses into a state of what could be seen as a fiery overdrive.

White embers lick upon the skin of the Kitsune that creates welts the longer they permeate, though as tolerable as they've become, she dares strike and chase the young demi-angel as she tries to make her escape.

A hand juts out from below sapphire elegancy as white mana casts forward to enshroud her vision with utter darkness and confuse her!
(Miyo Yuumi)
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[04:15] Calael had learned recently that even a selfless life had to have moments of personal focus. He wasn't greedy, or selfish per se, but he had made plenty of mistakes in his life that had come back to bite, and many bit hard. He looked on as Kabu defended Magdalen from the wayward Lea, stood before the others who had gathered in case the worst came to pass.

Lea's screams toward him echoed through the clearing. The Oracle Calael Kang would have likely been broken by them. They would have tore at his heart and mind, reverberated around his head at night while he tried to sleep. This would have been the end of the line for him, in one way or another.

But he had learned since then,
learned that you couldn't save everyone,
learned that you couldn't carry everyone's burdens or blames.

One day at a time, throughout this short retirement, he had learned to live for himself.

And today would not be any different.

A slow shake of his head came while still very sorrowed eyes looked at Lea, the broken and fallen demiangel he had once held to the highest standard. This city was hers, he and Noel had put it in her hands, even if Adrian had left. The beacon of light that Levengard was supposed to be was safeguarded in her possession and she... dropped it.

"No Lea." Cal began, refusing to take the blame for this, refusing to feel guilt over something his Wisdom told him wasn't his fault.

"You're the one who let me down..."

He didn't answer if it was worth it,
if it was a regret or a mistake. Lea Elisheva had been one of the only proper choices for the Oracle's place. She had been perfect in every way.

And instead she chose to fall.
(Calael E. Kang)
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[04:17] Miyo Yuumi says, "rpb"
[04:18] Lea Elisheva says, "...I guess it really is my fault, isn't it..."
[04:18] Lea Elisheva says, "...no... it can't be... I did everything right until now..."
[04:18] Calael E. Kang says, "Until now, Lea... until you listened to the words of a man trying to kill his own soul."
[04:19] Arlei was watching this entire ordeal from behind Vedran, floating so she could see over his head. Her arms were crossed and a joyless, tight frown marred her pale countenance.

Lea Elisheva, the one who had so much potential to do so much good in this world, falling under the influence of the Ultovexian Nightmare himself. Her thoughts twisted, her nature corrupted. His sickness had spread to her, wrapping deeply around her pumping heart, replacing the love that was once within it with naught but hatred and rage.

A fall for the history books.

So much wasted potential. So much compassion and love, buried under corruption and negativity. The last shining beacon in a world filled with greys and blacks.

And her light had been snuffed out, just like so many others.

It was beyond disheartening to watch. A kindred spirit in the world, someone who cared, taken and replaced by something else. Something malicious.

They hadn't left Lea. Lea had left them.

She opened her mouth, as if to say something. As if to tell her exactly what the drakan was thinking, but decided it against it. It was family matters now. She was not one to stick her head into something as sacred as that.
(Arlei Zanders)
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[04:26] Magdalen remained where she was. Hopeless, lost. Tears drip down her face freely as she stays in place, that torrent of divine blades, the very blessing she gave to Lea coming to rain down and tear the one Lea loves most apart. Or- not anymore.

Unspoken words slip from parted lips.

"Please Lea, I love you."

"Please Lea, I'll never leave you."

"Please Lea, you'll always have me to help you."

Both hands have went to her chest now, clutching at the fabric above that spot, right in the middle of her, where the hooks pull and tug, tearing her open, leaving a yawning wound.

"… Please Lea..."

Her voice is tiny, small, and weak, headless to Kabu's intervention, how he interposed himself between her and Lea, how Lea twists andcontorts to better comply that that nightmare world. The battle drags on, away from Magdalen now. She doesn't even know that she's safe. She's still just staring. Eyes follow Lea, before turning to the spot where she loomed over her...
(Magdalen Metzli)
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[04:32] ** Lea Elisheva has inflicted an injury upon Miyo Yuumi. ("Temporary Injury", "Temporary Injury", "Temporary", "Duration: Medium (4 days)") **
[04:51] This was no longer a fight to kill Magdalen; it was a fight for survival. A fight of desperation. And her fighting style reflected that, as it was more brutal and vicious than ever before. Lea slipped up a few times, sure, but she managed to score a decisive victory. And, to close off the fight, Lea dashed forth, striking Miyo head on with cosmic mana, and-

oh no

She noticed a massive gash on Miyo's chest, the wound sealed shut before it could bleed. Her wings, enveloped by the flames of Helheim, had left a far deeper wound than she intended, the sight of which single-handedly shocking her back into lucidity. And then, slowly, it began to set in...

she hurt someone

she actually hurt someone

"Oh... oh Kraus... this is..."

this isn't real it can't be real

"I'm... I'm so sorry."

it was real. all of it was real. the only person this was a nightmare to was your mother.

She reached her hand out towards Miyo, her expression one of desperation, sadness, and grief. She started crying- nay, sobbing- unable to handle the fact that she actually, seriously hurt someone as a result of this. She just wanted to get revenge on her mom! That's all. She just wanted to make her pay! To show her how much it all hurt! And yet... and yet...

this is who you are now, Lea. it's too late to take it back.

Other people had to get involved.

Why...?

"M-Miyo, please, let me heal that..."

She was surrounded from all angles by people who were hostile. As much as she wanted to make things right, she couldn't. Lea was in far too deep.

"Someone heal her, please... I don't want the hurt to last... I don't want to be remembered like th...-"

this is all people will remember you for, Lea.

With that, Lea turned around and dashed away as fast as she possibly could, occasionally looking behind her to see if someone was tending to the person she injured.

...she had left her home behind. She had given everything up... and for what? This?

Did you really expect the story of someone as kind as her to have a happy ending?
(Lea Elisheva)
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[04:53] Cal stepped out into the field, letting Lea run. He couldn't give chase, not once the smoke had cleared, even if he wanted to. He approached Miyo to help her up and was already speaking to others to help her up, to tend to her wounds as Lea had suggested.

"Get her to the clinic- bandages and some lax are in there."

Lea could run, and keep looking back.

She could run all the way into the treeline.

Every time she looked back all she would see was Calael's gold eyes watching, shining, with disappointment.
(Calael E. Kang)
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[04:54] The girl stared, her eyes wide as she watched the fights before her. She didn't know what to do- what to say. Should she do- say anything? Her hands slowly reached up to cover her mouth, and she watched the woman- watched Lea... Flee. Run from the family that loved her. But where was she going?

"W-wait... Lea wait! Don't go back to him! Don't go back to The Nightmare!" She screamed out, yet it was too late. The demi-angel was already gone, and the teenager's hand was outstretched towards nothing. Slowly dropping her hand and bowing her head down.

"There's still good in you..."
(Joan Caelum)
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[04:57] Arlei stood there, just. . watching. Watching with misery in her eyes. Someone so great, fallen to darkness. Just another day on Agartha for most, but this one hit home.

Lea had cared for the citizens of Aurum ever since they came here, and even as they left, she'd stayed caring for the Zanders household. She truly was a beacon of light offering reprieve from the ever encroaching shadows that lurked the darkest reaches of the island.

There was nothing Arlei could say nor do to keep her here. If her mothers words hadn't gotten through to her, if Miyo hadn't, then she was lost. She could scream not to go as much as she wanted, but the Drakan knew it'd just fall on deaf ears.

As Joan called out, Arlei floated up and placed her right hand upon her left shoulder, giving it a squeeze. Silently, she looked down and just shook her head. There was nothing Joan could do either. She didn't want this becoming a repeat of the Declan and Lailah situation.
(Arlei Zanders)
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[04:59] Seeing the former Elishevan reel between whatever had taken over her and turned her into the person she was now and that former sense of kindness the runes on the panther's chest would stop blaring a vibrant white.

A careful dash forwards with Magdalen in tow was attempting to go to the clinic to seal Miyo up--as the Shaman had done before but this time with much more of a devastating wound.

How far one could truly fall....

The man would think to himself, fully viewing the woman as an enemy to not only Levengard, but her mother, and anyone here as well.

"She's gone." he'd simply say aloud through a taxed breath though what mattered now was the issue of the fallen Kitsune.

"Let's get you closed up. Where's the clinic?"
(Kabu Metzli)
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[05:04] Wound, too, ran so deep. Not anymore deeper than the turmoil those suffered with, but deep enough to leave a lasting effect on an individual's psych no matter the temporary or permanent damage.

The flames of Helheim's energy mended within her chest, closed shut by the other's abrasive yet exorcistic healing abilities. Their fight was naught but two with resolves to fulfill. The other's being escape as Miyo's was to capture.

Yet.. tonight only one would be; The young Kitsune was pushed back roughly, skidding across the ground as wrathful blades pierced her body, tearing clothes to shreds, and leaving her in the dust.

Although Miyo tried it, she couldn't contest the power of whatever contract was made that bestowed the other with these unforeseen abilities she's utilized. And as Miyo is pushed back into the dirt further and further, her flames dwindle away, diminished until no light shines upon the little woman as Lea manages her escape.

Grunting from afar, there wasn't truly any pain harsh enough to keep this head-strong little lady from stopping or falling, not even death could cause a loss of her valor should it have came to such a thing, no.

Though, she speaks, "You can.. fix this, Lea..!" Her voice is raspy from the lingering pains. "We're just.. trying to..-" Another grunt as Miyo rises from the sands, opting to scream out as loud as she could muster;

"We're trying to help you..!

And she falls back upon her knees after using what's left of current strength to reassure her of their willingness to help.

She saw the prior hesitations. Could she not see it herself through their perceptions? "You're not alone, Lea.." Whispered, she likely wouldn't have heard it as she darted away from the crowd, leaving her loved ones behind.
(Miyo Yuumi)
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[05:06] Distant, Magdalen watches, flames and starlight and those vile energies. Away, away, further and further. That grip upon the fabric of her chest is tight - as if it's to stem the tide of her own blood to pour from the wound that her dearest treasure reopened and wrenched and widened.

Emotional pain is obvious, the white-and-gold self-titled Artificer unable to do much, still, the reflections of that brilliant battle remaining within those tear-ebbing, dull, gold-tainted eyes of hers. Her thoughts are a delirious spiral. Disbelief and terror. The image of that nightmarish daughter, aiming to kill her own mother sticks.

It'll join her nightly remembrances, freshly dug up. The wounds described to her that lined Lailah's form, Nethradin-binding runes, bruises, surgical scars, mechanical parts he put into her, Void-tainted cosmic ichor he poured into her eyes and mouth. The treatment that Sors gleefully told her about, paired with that glimmer in his eye when it came to describing how he enjoyed watching the innocence die inside her hopeful, loving eyes. The rattling of those phantasmal chains, that monotone, soulless voice...

And now, Lea, standing over her, contorted and ready to kill her, Holy-water and Hel-fire wings.

Both hands clutch her chest tightly, tugging that fabric, knuckles white as wide eyes stare on. There's one last thing she can do... A shaking hand slipping down and down, releasing dress to grip something else - a pieced-together transceiver, bulkier, and bearing a few modifications. It hasn't been properly and utterly tested just yet, but a message is typed out.

I love you, my dearest treasure.

Sent.

It'd appear with a lack of ID, for whenever Lea looks at her transceiver, but it's obvious who sent it.

Then, item slip-dropped back into pocket, she'll gaze forwards, distantly staring at a darkened horizon.

You know that like feeling when you've just had too much input for your poor mortal mind to handle so it needs to shut itself off for a bit? Magdalen's past that. Her gaze is empty as she sobs quietly, staring, broken and torn apart. Offline. Damaged. Gonezo.

Check in in a month's time.
(Magdalen Metzli)