dev 4 - fighting salthiel

[12:49] From behind the veil of his mask, he pursed his lips upon the chaotic energy emanating from the necromancer.

Truly, perhaps Arthur was not someone he could truly take. A necromancer of incomparable experience. However, as he closed his eyes, he felt the ripple of the lifestream; the forced ripping of the lifestream.

"Many things, Arthur," he said in a whispery voice, golden eyes peeking from the slits of his mask.

"Information, most notably of all. But, I wish to know about you. To call you not evil or corrupt as most of us would say. But, to know what you made seek chaos above all," said the Anauel.

Although calm and composed, the occasional flare of potent mana about him asserted he did not hold his guard down.
(Salthiel Anauel)
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[13:00]
{LOAD GAME}

[13:01] "We both know that's not possible."

And here he thought he sought combat. Though, it doesn't mean things can't go that way... even as much as something else from the darkness does not emerge, it would seem that a brief hand gesture is given- to something, or someone- to stay put. For as much as Salthiel is concerned, Arthur is all alone - and yet it feels like he isn't. Who's hiding?

"We both know that the moment either of us is taken in war, we're dead. My people will kill you, because your people attacked us during raid of Gehenna and hunted us - your people will kill me for who I am, and for what I practice."

"But..."

A pause. It made him ponder as to why Salthiel is curious about this all. Did he just want to know more about the enemy, or did he want to know something to convince them? Neither could really work, really... especially for someone as Arthur. You cannot teach an old dog new tricks.

"A lot."

"Fear of dying. Imperfection of what Necromancy is. Belief that humanity deserves better, and deserves a freedom of choice as to how they will live, and more."

"I've been captive to your forces before. I've been captive in Deseti, captured by Ikkaku no less. They tried to force me to fight against Eidolon, despite my wounds, a fight that would result in my death - and they threatened to kill my future wife if I had not won that fight."

"They had a point about something, though. Nobody wants to be just a rotten corpse that Necromancy commonly results in. That's where I began working on a lot of things... and despite your kind of people, I've gotten far. In just a decade, I did more than old Valmasia did in a century."

"Beyond that, you'll need to be specific in your questions... least, you got tired of them and you would rather draw your weapon."
(Arthur Rowan)
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[13:13] He has been mocked before, taunted; yet they were beneath him.

His gaze turned to the darkness ever so briefly, before looking back to Arthur.

"Indeed, no one does. And I can say that truly, you have a noble cause. To go against the nature of things, to defy fate itself is something I can only admire.

Humanity's destiny is to live, to learn, and to die. For their souls to experience life countless times before returning to the lifestream.

And you wish to go against that. You wish to reform the world through necromancy; through immortality," he added with a solemn voice.

"To this day, even I can wish that we all can live forever, free from destiny's shackles. But, I believe that is not simply how the world works. And I have reason to believe it should remain that way. Because that is the nature of the world. That is the nature of humanity.

I believe that to go against that, would create not a perfect world; but, only chaos and infamy," said Salthiel.

"So, perhaps this is where our differences lie."
(Salthiel Anauel)
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[13:22] "Reform the world?"

What a misunderstanding. Surely, Arthur has had a noble cause, or at least it could be viewed that way... but in reality, he was a lot more selfish than one could imagine, especially if dug deeper into his true reasoning behind what he practices.

"My boy... you will discover that nobody cares that much about doing anything to the world on vast scales... except, perhaps, Tragedy. Then again, she intends to erase the world as it is - it's something I do not approve of either, which is why all of her alliance with Dawn has ceased ever since I got to power."

A pause. Maybe Salthiel expected a great revelation, or some grandiose plan for the rest of the world, but... such simply did not exist. When Arthur spoke of eternal life, he did not mean everyone, not by a long shot.

"I don't care how the rest of the world lives."

"If they want to follow our cause, if they want to invest themselves in it... then by all means, they can. If they wish to follow the cycle imposed by Angels, then they can as well. It matters little to me if people choose to live eternally or to die again and again - it's their lives, not mine."

"And I only take care after those that stand by my side."

As selfish as it all may sound, it brings Arthur's mindset to awfully simple truth, that one may not enjoy to follow the 'herd' of the Lifestream, just like others have to.

"Besides..."

"I've seen what Angels are, Salthiel. I encountered one, and I fought one. Believe it or not - they do not have interests of humanity in their mind. An Angel may kill you, just because it's for 'greater good', but by no means it will be humane or even moral action."

"Angels may wish to rule over the heavens, or over humans. Regardless of the colors of their wings... when dug deeper, their agenda never lies with humanity."

"That is why I refuse to follow Angels. That is why I refuse to change my ways. That is why I've gotten so far in my progress, because I took matters in my own hands and reshaped my fate as I see fit."

"A feat that most can never hope to achieve."
(Arthur Rowan)

"I see," he said as his grip on his staff loosened as Arthur finished talking.

"A clash of ideals and beliefs. A clash of set agendas, causing the many to get caught in the crossfire.

People fight for order, people for the light. People fight for themselves, causing chaos, people for the darkness," he muttered under his breath.

"I've noticed how people of Dawn, even vampires, blame us for taking what's theirs. They call us warmongers, and they call us unreasonable. And I understand.

People like you do anything for whatever you may want, for yourself.

And people like us stop you from doing it because we believe it is wrong. We believe it is not right because it destroys the world as we see it. It destroys nature, it destroys the lifestream," he said.

"But most of all. It kills the innocent. It kills those without the power to fight. It makes those without the blessing of magic only remain silent and be victims of our endless war. We do not care for them. You. Or my side.

In the end, we pursue what we believe that matters, and I fight for humanity.

And this is why I refuse to believe the angels do not care. Because, to fight for humanity's sins, to fight for those stifled by our respective causes, I have gained the Emperor's blessing," Salthiel asserted.

"So, Arthur. Can you blame me if I wish to take you with me?"
(Salthiel Anauel)

Quite the disappointment. And it is why this war continues, it's why it will always continue.

"You're young... inexperienced."

"You weren't there. You weren't there to witness the atrocities committed by those following Order. You weren't there to witness their cowardly actions, striking from shadows when we're pre-occupied defending the people they claim to fight for. You weren't there to witness their readiness to exterminate everything that does not align with their vision."

"But I was. I lived through it with scars, with fears and heartache, but I learned."

Though, what fear is there for him now? It's been so long... even now, every time he delves into what defines him, in the progress he covets so much, he sometimes forgets what year is it even - a flow of time ceases to exist, just as much as everything he was afraid of.

"Those without the power cling to those who have them."

"I've sheltered such people... gave them a second chance, for what they were thankful for. I gave them second chance in which they were not rotting corpses, not pale reflections of their past self - but actual people, able to live out their lives again. Does that make me wrong, because I refuse to follow the endless cycle?"

"Because I refuse to run in circles, dying again and again, to lose everything I have all over again?"

"The Lifestream, by all means, will always sustain itself. Perhaps you're blind to what Angels wish for, and I can only hope you will discover that before it's too late for you or your loved ones."

He paused. It's the clash of ideals that will never match, and heavens themselves would have to move for that to happen - something that's not quite possible.

"I'm afraid I cannot come with you, for that will mean death to me."

"And I do not wish to die just yet."
(Arthur Rowan)

"You are right," he admitted, before taking off his mask, revealing upon the Rowan a pale countenance, with inky black veins visible to the naked eye.

He's young, and truly inexperienced, but those eyes refused to believe so. Those hardened eyes who has seen despair, blood, war and death, seemed to pierce through Arthur.

"Perhaps Order magis of old truly did that, committed things you may deem as atrocity. But, perhaps they deem as right. After all, the differences of ideals causes subjective lexical understanding," he said, features ever so tranquil.

"And you are right. That you are not wrong to refuse to follow the endless cycle of life. Because that's what we all want. No matter how much one tries to hide it, we all want to live free from such a cycle. Free from what the divines set upon us," and he paused, before closing his eyes.

"As humanity, even if our nature is to die, it is also our nature to resist; to refute our fate. In whatever form that may be. But, many of us also would rather choose to follow the lifestream to however it flows. Because it does not hurt anyone, and the lifestream symbolizes order and balance. A river that should never be tainted, lest we wish destruction befall us.

It is as if the divines and the angels simply toy and play a joke on us," he said, flashing his eyes open, and offering the Rowan a light smile.

"Whatever their desire may be, perhaps, indeed, I am too young to comprehend them. But, I also have people, like you, whom I wish to protect.

People I have to shelter and keep away from the darkness. I have people to fight and die for, people you are no pre-occupied defending.

And for them, this is why I fight," he said as he wings of golden light protruded from his back.

"Not out of a noble cause. Not because I see you corrupt. But because of them.

And soon, we will both go to war. We willkill each other. And I cannot let you, or the vampires you harbor take more of my family. Just like what Malentine did to Bai.

And perhaps, if I can capture you, then there is hope into stopping this war," and with that, he lifted his staff.

"Forgive me."
(Salthiel Anauel)

"I expected no less."

It is useless for the two to attempt to change the mind of one another. Perhaps it is possible for them to understand each other better... or to understand the motive behind their actions, but other than that, there's nothing else to be done. It is a sickening, twisted game of reality that pushes the two sides to fight one another, no matter how much understanding they find.

And each time, that understanding is soaked in blood.

'He does not understand.'
'None do.'
'He will.'

A silent mutter beneath his breath. "I know." - with it, the change of environment becomes all too apparent, and the thunder roars; it does not strike Salthiel, however, but the acceptance of thunder comes as Arthur's duty, and the lightning seems to course him violently, seeping underneath his skin.

"May the best win."

It's not that genuine... in fact, he wishes only himself to be victorious, the selfish nature showing its prickly sides, and yet masterfully disguised by the Rowan. When the final bolt of lightning seeps beneath his skin, his body seems to twitch only briefly, and all communication ceases. Such intense focus almost makes one wonder what truly happened... and yet...

Their finale will be a duet.
(Arthur Rowan)

Salthiel Anauel has been defeated by Arthur Rowan! They're unable to continue fighting.

{RP BATTLE} You have WON round 1!

Such precision.

It would almost seem that no matter how much the young magi attempted to catch the Rowan, it would all be proven naught but futile in the face of flexibility that he displayed- for the moment when he thought he had them, the Necroamncer was already gone, each movement almost... unnatural for a human being. The grace, the fluidity of each step could not be mistaken for anything else.

Perhaps it is why he survived for so long, and hardly anyone could truly best him.

"Sloppy."

Where Salthiel sought to catch the man in razor-sharp winds, it all backfires with particles of ice, if only to frostbite his skin. Each felt like an agonizing shriek, his body begging to stop and tend to its wounds, but... doing so now would certainly result in his immediate defeat. The pain would have to wait.

And yet, the glow in his eyes never waned. It would seem that something has taken him for duration of this fight, almost forcing the Rowan to act autonomous. A single glance exchanged, and he would exclaim.

"Continue."
(Arthur Rowan)

Despite his hardest, the Rowan's calculated movements allowed him to evade the Anauel easily.

And despite causing the field about Arthur hard to move, with flurries of wind that would aim to buffet the Rowan's being, particles of ice caused him to falter.

"Right," he said in response before standing up from a kneel.

With the chaotic energy about Arthur, however, he then attempted to find that remaining, free flowing trail of the lifestream.

Perhaps in comfort, it would help him.
(Salthiel Anauel)

The struggle he showed was commendable.

Perhaps it's due to his innate strength, or because he truly believed in what he fought, but... that day, Arthur's conviction was stronger than Salthiel's. It's not just that, but the unusual toughness the Rowan displayed was too much for Salthiel to deal with- he may have struck him well, but it all didn't matter in the end.

A blow of mana, a wave, the pure light of energy. The Necromancer took it all, exchanging hit after another - but he didn't fight alone, and the improved Undead that served him were constantly protecting their master. What looked like good idea to constantly assault Arthur, ended up with the rain of arrows and hail of blades stabbing the man from Huangzhou.

And against the odd, a sudden pull.

The distance between the two was closed, and two hands latched upon the one blessed by Angels, refusing to let go. The steaming fires of energy refused to die down on his chest, and yet he clutched him like there's no tomorrow, clutched him like the Death's hand, and the eyes stared back.

"Not today."

The shock. The lightning engulfed them both, but Arthur didn't flinch; what proved to be an almost deadly voltage to Salthiel, only seemed to evoke the most impassionate, careless gaze that could be ever summoned. Perhaps, affecting himself with lightning earlier proved to make something out of him... something a lot more resisting to harm, but to digress...

"Goodbye."

An eviscerating shock, and Salthiel was flung elsewhere, to the safety. The duo of crimson eyes remained, staring at him from afar, waiting- but not pursuing. Still... the fight was over.
(Arthur Rowan)

Arthur's fighting style was different than the most he fought.

It was difficult to get close, and from afar, rains of arrows fell upon him. So, instead of attacking, he had to protect himself, and deal with the army of undeads just the same.

Not to mention Arthur's mastery over Storm.

And as the Rowan's hands latched upon him, he stared back without fear on his eyes. Those eyes who suffered countless losses yet did not lose the will to fight. To embody hope, to embody losses against the darkness, oh he wished to rise and fight once more. To embody the flickering candle of hope.

With that, a yell resounded amidst the caves as he was flung away. Despite the will to resist, to offer no signs of weakness, his body screamed in pain.

"Perhaps tomorrow."

His undying will decreed him so.

"Goodbye."
(Salthiel Anauel)