chaos 23 - confronting astaria

The least that could be expected of him is the glare that could tell a lot more than words could.

A mask. That mask. The visage of a man whom battled Astaria all these years ago- even now, he would not let go of it so easily. But... with all this time, something has distinctly changed. Much like upon command, his eyes flare up with distinctive blue color, a color of legends to those that had ever gazed upon the book of Azraelism.

He's something else.

"You."

He steps forward. His staff is not yet drawn, but even by his posture it's easy to tell that he seeks retribution for all that's been done - and despite the rumours, despite the reports he's had... it's by far not enough for someone like him. Perhaps if it were a different circumstance, with many more decades pass, he could forget if she were of lesserimportance, but...

But no. They have too much history.

"What in the world are you doing here, traitor?"
(Arthur Rowan)

Slowly, mirror-like silvery eyes trail all the way from the surrounding people towards Arthur, settling onto his mask. An entire focus is placed upon him, as if the Neries had forgotten of everybody else- her overfocused stare, running over his features - or lackthereof, due to the mask - and settling upon the flaring blue eyes, with a nigh imperceptible narrowing.

A small sigh escaped from her lips as she no longer leaned over the tower, turning around to face Arthur. He armor was still pretty busted; the right shoulder plate shattered, most of the mythril rings broken with a hole tore through the breastplate, exposing a small part of her waist. Astaria herself was unharmed, though.

"Me."

That could be fear, over her expression- mixed with some distinct different feelings, though. She missed him, for all of his anger. A hand rose to trail over from her chest to her left shoulder, where bits of a deep scar could still be seen in the very little places where it wasn't covered by armor. Arthur's lightning bolt.

"I'm doing the same as I've been trying to do for a few years. I'm trying to come home."
(Astaria Rosenkreuz)

None of it was enough. For as much as Arthur is concerned, she was always a traitor... not a letter, not an attempt of communication throughout all these years, nothing. Only now, after her second family of Mariposa had fallen in Huangzhou, she came back here to Dawn - a desperate attempt to dodge consequences of Huangzhou cutting her down like the rest of the people.

"You betrayed us."
"You betrayed me."

Even now, the crackling volume of lightning could be heard around him- with each passing moment, the flare of the blue was only becoming stronger, the energy hidden within the new-born Excellence desperately wanting to unleash itself, to drain Astaria of her life-force and leave naught but a husk. Yet, somehow, there's restraint...

"You were only interested in coming back when your treachery backfired to you. You stayed with them for as long as it was convenient for you - for as long as Moriya lived, for as long as they would protect you."

"You thought that Huangzhou would stand on top in this war. You thought that they would easily decimate us, that Dawn would be wiped out quickly - but you miscalculated."

Even his Undead bodyguards took up their weapons. But were those even Undead? Shaped by the vision of Azraelism, pale and perhaps not perfect to their very core, but hardly resembling abominations people tell the legends of... a flare of blue extended to their eyes as well. Something could tell that his mastery had only grown.

"Give me a single reason why I should not take you."
(Arthur Rowan)

"I did" she mutters. Not a single attempt as defend herself, at least as far as the betrayal part. No longer facing Arthur; her eyes trail over to the undead beside him, taking a second longer over the flare of blue on their eyes, only to drop to the grass beside her later.

"I did, and I'm sorry. I thought it'd be far simpler than it turned out to be. Go to Huangzhou. Finish my war. Go back home. At the time, it seemed like a good idea."

A small pause there as her eyes slowly trail upwards again- to face Arthur, her eyebrows furrowing slightly. Though there's some regret over the words she had spoken just now, some sorrow, they hardened again for the next following words,

"But I'm not coming back because Huangzhou's weak. I've been trying to come back since before the backfire- I've been trying to come back for a damn long time. The only thing holding me back.."

She glanced at Djura briefly. Very briefly, just before looking back at Arthur.

"..I was trying to get something that belonged to me. Something that could help Dawn. But I failed there, too.

You'll.. do what you will, Arthur, but my heart's never left Dawn. I've used Huangzhou while it was convenient, and I tried to leave as soon as I was done. And everything went horribly wrong, every step of the way."
(Astaria Rosenkreuz)

The words had fallen on deaf ears. For all it's worth, all the heartache, the suffering, the injuries, both his and his beloved... no. It was not enough to quell his anger, not enough to erase the history of his experiences. Even now, the flare refused to subside, occasionally only growing bigger in response to certain words- he may have transcended things like this, but... as much as he strived to divinity, he was still just a man.

A man who feels, who bleeds, who rages against the tide.

"You were the fault for it all, trickster."
"You were the reason our people had lost their faith."
"You were the reason why I could not trust any Neries anymore."

Yet, his breathing only becomes sharper, louder- like a fierce beast, who at last had the chance to bite back against his tormentors, against the root of his suffering... a chance he could hardly miss. Despite her best efforts to tone it down, it didn't seem to help.

"Sorry? You're sorry?!"
"A SORRY ISN'T GOING TO UNDO EVERYTHING WE'VE LOST!!"

"A THOUSAND TIMES WOULD NOT BE ENOUGH!!"

A step closer. The sickly, blue-green color flares up upon his hand- no doubt an extension of his absolute mastery to the blessing he's capable of wielding. The blessing she should be all too familiar with... for she's the one who sought to learn from him, all these years ago.

"You will see the new light."
"Only then, I may forgive you."
(Arthur Rowan)

Shouting always set her on edge. This time was particularly difficult for her. Even as her heart starting pumping hard, enough to bring blood pounding close to her ears, she tried to muster some courage. She still held on a tight grip to Astaria, not so fearless as to go without her.

"Please! If you must hurt someone, let it be me."

Already fear dug its grip deeper on her, now having made a scene and put herself in the crosshairs potentially. It was something she knew had to be done - something small she had to do.

"She stayed because I asked her to, because I was terrified. Astaria's been trying to go back for the longest time - so this is my fault. I don't know what you intend to do, but..."

No, she wasn't sure what was happening, but she'd die a hundred times before backing down when her wife was in danger.

"I- I don't want to see her hurt, if that's what you're going to do..."
(Roanna Rosenkreuz)

The move that would immediately put her in crosshairs indeed. To take a step before the Necromancer would force all of the Undead squadron to take their aim upon her- the swordsmen that accompanied him immediately pointed the blades towards her, and the archers stood behind, each aiming an arrow upon Roanna. Usually, they would speak, a warning to force her to back off, but... they knew well their Master is the one who wishes to speak.

"She's the reason why many of us lost their faith. She's the reason why we've seen so many betrayals, why some still reside in Huangzhou."

He may be unfeeling towards such sympathy, he may be impossible to convince... but the form with which he'd speak served well his dark intent. But to assume that he would let it go to waste, to simply murder her here and now? She deserved that much, at least in his mind... but she could be used for so much more.


"One way or another, she must pay. For her transgressions, for all that she's done to us, for all the times she made others keen to betray us, and for doing it all behind my back. She's a traitor, and I have no tolerance for them."

"I will say this again. She will suffer her punishment, regardless of what you do. She will be turned, and she will be loyal to Dawn - this time, for good. But should you choose to keep intervening--"

"Stand in my way, and you will never see her again."

Despite her presence, he would seem to advance. A hand reaching out, an odd presence that comes from blue-green light upon his palm, and a single mutter.

"Step aside."
"Now."
(Arthur Rowan)

Her hand rose to rest on Roanna's shoulder, gently, giving it a light squeeze to reassure her- as useless as it may be. Slowly, the Neries walked around the woman, to stand beside her.

"It's alright, Roa."

A gentle nudge for the woman to step back as the Neries stood close to Arthur, the mirror-like silvery eyes set upon him. Her hand dropped from Roanna's shoulder, only to be reached towards the necromancer, with a small nod- confirmation. Her eyes glew softly in the color of silver as she was surrounded with an energy of the same color - her chilling presence reaching to all around her.

A cold to be felt underneath the skin, poking and prickling at the circuitry of all nearby. Even Arthur's, or Roanna's, though it was not a painful, or even particularly hostile thing; for the surrounding grass around her, however - the plant life rapidly began to wither, turning dry and dryingin a matter of seconds.

"My loyalty lies where it's always been, with the valmasian people. I've never intended to make anyone think otherwise.. I've never intended to make anyone left. And I truly am sorry that my actions have taken this turn.

So.. if that's what it takes to make you forgive me, Arthur, then go ahead."
(Astaria Rosenkreuz)

A desire to simply butcher her was always there. Perhaps, it would grant her new life in Dawn, safe from the constant suspicion and tracking... yet still, the hatred in his heart was too much to let it to unnoticed. In the end, she would end up something else, something with assured loyalty to Dawn, no matter the cost. But still...

"QUIET DOWN."

A wave of Arcane washed over to surroundings, aimed at particularly no one... though, a simple guess could be placed that it's for the gawkers that dare say the things they say. One could assume it's unwise to interrupt a Master Necromancer in things such as this, backed by the action. While his attention was only briefly split for such thing, he focuses back upon Astaria.

"Good."

A touch. It was aimed at the upper torso, right next to the collarbone- and with that touch, something was fleeing her body, of brilliant blue color… something that forced Astaria to turn pale, to grow weak, and to begin feeling numb. It's nothing short of the touch of Death itself, one that forces her physical existence to fade.

"...This death isn't what I envisioned."
"But it will have to do."

Despite Astaria's life promptly taken, it would seem that he was far from done. A circle of runes began to spread right beneath her, and with a pause, the ephemeral excellence was slowly coaxed back to the body.

Something else was happening too.
(Arthur Rowan)

Roanna backs up a bit. She knew Astaria would be okay in the end but - still, watching her go through this was painful. She covers her face in Annie's shoulder, clutching to her instead.
(Roanna Rosenkreuz)

A hand reached for her staff- the slender thing of mythril that rested on her back. Yet the action was too slow for it to be something hostile, too deliberate - the staff was raised only to be cast aside, on the ground, towards Roanna. A deep breath was taken as Arthur's finger touched her - ironically close to the scar that he himself had given her, years ago. She exhaled softly - the last one she would take.

At the feeling of numbess, the Neries relaxed. As her lifeforce escaped from her body, she would close her eyes slowly; a slight, nigh unnoticeable tug at the corner of her lips as she felt the grasp of death taking her body. Her knees were the first thing to falter, to lose their strength, making her drop - though the rest of her body wouldn't last that long.

Now immobile, Astaria fell onto the ground, her volumous snow white hair spreading over the grass, along with a few pieces of her still broken armor - her expression accepting of it, even happy; perhaps for the promise of the future. That she would return home.

For the moment, Astaria remained still- now a corpse, no longer drawing breath.
(Astaria Rosenkreuz)

Roanna continues pressing her face into Annie's chest. She didn't want to look. Astaria being dead - even for a moment - was unthinkable for her. She decided to retreat and make up a happier story of how this had happened. The only thing keeping her together at this point being the firm knowledge it really would end and she'd have her back. At least she doesn't outwardly cry.
(Roanna Rosenkreuz)

A shine of thousand stars. A vision that her essence was no doubt experiencing by now, but while the essence had the chance to gaze at the stars, her soul was still in his grasp. It was slowly coaxed down back to the body, and the blessings he's been taught were coming to life- the blessings that defeated Death, almost entirely, if only with few side effects...

It would still be better than how they usually are.

"I pledge this lost soul to you, O Azrael."
"Please accept and cleanse her sins."

The runic circle beneath her began flaring up. With each passing moment, new inscriptions were drawn upon the ground, preparing for the proper resurrection. A moment passes, and where she was witnessing the light of the galaxy, a sudden whisper to her very soul reached out across what could feel like a distance of entire world.

'Your debt is not yet paid.'

A pull. Whether she resisted it or not, it was irrelevant - for someone as powerful with Necromancy as Arthur, it was nigh impossible to resist it, even if she sought to defend herself with any possible means... like a soaring meteor, she falls from the high reaches of galaxy, back to the earth, back to her body--

-- back to her eyes.

An odd power is channelled with it. To those looking, it doesn't even seem as if she rots, nor it seems as if anything had changed- she was a pale woman as it is, and perhaps she's become just slightly paler... but she is not changed. Instead, she's forced to awaken, and where her eyes are - a subtle glow of blue, empowered by the magics of the Rowan.

"Your sins are cleansed."
"Awaken."
(Arthur Rowan)

Enjoying respite- something slow as her soul made its way back to the Dreamer. For a while, for as little as it lasted, the Neries enjoyed it, at least until the tugging at her soul came, drawing back to life. Her debt was not yet repaid - and what little conscience she still had left was aware of it. The soul struggled, but very little; not unlike what was natural, and not as a conscious effort, either.

She still wanted to live. Now, more than ever, she still had a lot she'd wish to accomplish.

Her corpse shudders as she soul was launched back to it, for a brief moment only; her eyes remained closed for a few seconds more before they opened suddenly, with that pale glow of blue from legend. No breath was drawn, but the Neries moved her hands to look at them, as if they were strange; from there, she looked towards Arthur, also staring at him for a few seconds more, as if he was strange. Everything around her was strange.

And then she rose. Slowly, like those few seconds of respite were enough for her to feel awkward inside her own body again; the pale, now softly glowing hues were set on Arthur before anybody else.

"Thank you."

A mutter, barely audible, as the Neries closed and relaxed her hands again; her eyes once more dropped, to herself now, as if analyzing her own body. While alive, her skin had already been pale as snow - monochromatically pale; there seemed to be little to no change in that. Just a couple of seconds she'd spend looking at herself until she was satisfied.

Her gaze rose once more, now towards the tower - towards Ludovic and Cho. "Thank you", she repeated it, a little louder this time for them to hear as well, and then trailing her gaze back over towards her necromancer.

Silent, as if waiting for something.
(Astaria Rosenkreuz)


Ipos says, "Such an interesting interaction..."
He may still feel wronged by all that she's done, but... at least, now there was assurance that she could not betray him, nor Dawn as a whole. At least now she was tied to this place - and even if she somehow defeated the will of Necromancer and escaped, for whatever reason... there are only few years she could exist until she inevitably falls apart.

By all means, the loyalty should be assured.

"Your thanks is too early."

"All I did was to give you new light, and assure that you will remain with Dawn this time. You are yet to prove yourself, and I'll be watching... I do not need freeloaders either."

As quick as it began, as quick as the storm brewed, it subsided too. The Necromancer's guard sheathed their weapons, and turning his back to her, he intended to leave, choosing to let her adapt to the new life she will now have.

To the new self.
(Arthur Rowan)