Glance Into Helheim

This wasn't going to be something the usual that they do.

In fact, it was hardly the lesson of pushing one's limits. They're already well done over with that, and Bei's role in this scenario is not of a battery, but of a guardian, of a Knight to her Adjudicator that she aspired so much to be. Considering the danger that's present in such Art, surely she wouldn't mind drawing her blade in his defence, would she?

"Bei, listen carefully."

"I won't need your help to open a Rift this time. Actually, I think I already grasped how exactly that's done, and I no longer need to rely on your mana."

"Instead-- instead I want you to stab anything that tries to come out of it. If you see a single trace of something that tries to enter this world, kill it immediately."

"Is that clear?"

Although he didn't quite conjure up anything yet, in his mind, he was vividly remembering the visage of Helheim that Dylerun exposed before his eyes- the hellscape of a land, the odd waters, the crimson colored sky of oblivion, and much, much more.

In a sense, she's his protection now, the last line of defence if something goes wrong. But for what reason he's doing all of this - that remains unspoken of.
(Arthur Rowan)


Why any magi would want to open up a rift to Hellheim without intending to go there is beyond her. If there is one thing about the spirit realm that she understands, it is that the creatures are volatile - and much, much worse than those that are within the living. The dangerous part of Hellheim, however, is its ability to claim living souls within it's maze. So many people, so many magi - now confined...Turned into nethradin because of mistakes like this. It's not that she is worried about being pulled in. It is that she's worried about what might come out. Shaytans. Nethradin. Demons.

 They're all a part of the area. And some of them, she might not be able to fight...However, at this particular moment, she merely withdraws her blade. At times, she realizes that her role as being a knight calls for her to protect him within this situations. And although rare - it feels right. It feels 'niche' to do so.

 "Understood."

 There isn't much to be vocal about, nor is there much disapproval in her tone. In all honesty, she seemed more curious to peek into the forbidden place herself. After all, she never saw it...She just merely heard rumors.
(Bei Rowan)

The most obvious reason - he needs to know how to open up the portal into Helheim at the safest route possible, without actually drawing too much attention to himself. Of course, there will be Demons and other creatures that would rather devour Rowan where he stands the moment they get the chance, but that's why he brought her along.

To make sure that he's safe while he learns how to open such passage.

Slowly, the runes begin to manifest in the air. They draw with magnificence, their power expanding and their glow only lighting the sky with its blue hue; there's something about such runework, that seems almost so innocent and pure, and yet--

-- both of them know it's about to be used for something quite malicious.

'Imperium - the Power, Potency.'
'Spatium - the Distance, Space.'

The mastery he's been acquiring clearly shows itself. No longer his Rift is unstable nor it fuzzes with the black lightning all around it, and the passage is being generated- while it would be fairly safe for any other place on the mortal realm, Helheim is something entirely different. The window opens - and as they stare into the abyss.

The abyss stares right back at them, through the eyes of a confused, yet curious Shaytan.

"...Don't let him through if he tries it."
(Arthur Rowan)

Of course, it shows when the portal would suddenly open. But curiosity isn't something that she would expect of a Shaytan. If anything, she expected the creature to suddenly seize the opportunity - and yet, there wasn't much that she could possibly do in response. Unfortunately, she's not a close ranged magi....But, she does have other options that might 'dizzy' the creature. Atleast, long enough for the Rowan to close the portal once again. Nevertheless....Her own stance would suddenly be taken...

 Occultism swivels in existence around her blade - virulent, grey sparks acting as a barrier would steadily form...And soon, with a forward 'piercing' strike, the winds, tinged with her magic would suddenly 'jolt' forward. The impact slams into the abyss- aiming directly towards the features of the confused Shaytan…

"I won't give him a chance to."

 She knew what would come next. But it's something that she's extremely prepared for. She'll have a nasty fight on her hands...One that would either end with the death of the Shaytan or both of them, assuming that the Rowan would be unable to close the portal.

"Just make sure to close if it you think we're being breached. We can always open up another."
(Bei Rowan)

There's something uncertain about supporting a process like this.

Whether or not he should close the gate now is something he could not decide- surely, he can open another Rift, but there are only so many attempts he gets before he'd simply run out of juice. A good number of Rift magi need at least hours of rest between each Rift conjured, and certainly, they do not have that much time.

Carefully, his eyes implore the landscape.

Sickening, twisted, ruined. The red rivers and crimson sky of the oblivion did not look pleasant at all- the scorched land seemed as if the Divine War itself happened upon its ground, with the bloody grass that tried to snap at feet of anyone that would try and pass it- the boiling lava surrounding smaller islands, the horror of screeching Demons looming somewhere in the distance--

-- and yet, this Shaytan keeps staring. Until, suddenly, he turns in attempt to flee.

"Wait--"

"Stop! Stop him now! He's trying to get the others!"

A sudden ring of his voice, and as much as he was focused on the ritual, there's a single spell that he could split his attention to perform; a pull of powerful Telekinesis, enough to draw him to the gate.

But the rest is up to Bei only.
(Arthur Rowan)

It seems that killing him would have been the more appropriate option, rather than stunning him. Or perhaps, closing the gate would have been better as well. But then again, this form of practice seemed rather dangerous...All in all, there isn't much panic in response...When the creature shakes himself from the sudden 'dizzy spell' and turns around...She awaits for him to be reeled in close before jutting a single arm through the rift itself. Dangerous, sickening - the sudden 'crunch' could be heard from the impact...The arching of her blade, sweeping the area clean...Aiming to slice the Shaytan in half...

Fwwwhippp!

 It slices through winds of reality and chaos - the sound of tearing flesh radiating through the ears...The area of impact muted by greys and blacks. It seems that she, too, was getting close to mastering her own technique.

 "It's over..!"

 But is it? Could they really bank on the creature actually being dead?-- after all, killing those within the spirit realm has always been trivial. "We're fine. Keep the portal open...If there's more, I can handle it." Simple, no? The one thing that she does avoid, however, is jumping in there, herself.
(Bei Rowan)

To establish the affinity, one must come face to face with the horrors beyond.

At least, that's what he's been telling himself. In reality, if he didn't know what to expect beyond the gate of Helheim, beyond the gate of what Tragedy experienced in her time there, maybe he would never be able to truly understand how to defeat such power.

Maybe in the future he will be able to attain something of his own.

To their luck, this particular Shaytan was not powerful, and could be rated among the Demons that litter the caves; there's a reason as to why he attempted to call for the others rather than taking the opportunity for himself, because he clearly knew he would be unable to best the two of them- though, does that mean the journey is over?

Far from it.

The eye of the Rowan ascends over Helheim, its shining prism looking over the Spirit World, as if to spot the safest routes he could- though, in a moment, there could be roaring and screeching heard from the distance.

They did not stop the advancement of otherworldly creatures. They merely delayed it.

"I will be closing the gate soon. I need just a bit more."

"Keep them at bay with fire, if possible. Do not stick yourself out too much."
(Arthur Rowan)

If this is about pushing limits, then perhaps, it's time that she pushes her own. "Don't worry about having to close the gate soon. Take all the time that you need." She says, nodding once - twice. If only briefly, would her wings outstretch - brushing against the winds of the beach...Perhaps, in preparation of diving into the world herself to battle against them. Or maybe, just seeing how far she could go. "I'll be ready for anything that comes...Just push yourself and I'll do the same." It would serve as good practice...

 Of course, she shouldn't dilly-dally with the spirit realm in such a manner but...What's the point of opening up the place to discover a safe route? In all honesty, there is no safe place in Hellheim. Everything there, every nook and cranny is often filled with so many hazards....She cannot imagine how someone could possibly live in such a placeover the years.

 But to digress.

 "I'll do what I can."

 Keeping them at bay with fire might be rather difficult, perhaps, because she's not as practiced as any other magi. However, there were a few spells that might do well. "We'll be fine."

 In the moment, both hands come together - and an amethyst 'flamethrower' is shot within the portal...Weak, yes. But it still might serve as a 'deterrent' to most.
(Bei Rowan)

There's no such thing as safe place in Helheim, yes, but the reason he needed safest route possible is because he will not always have her by his side, or as a matter of fact, anyone else at all- there will be times when he will be travelling those lands alone, unguarded, all on his own.

Surely, that's a risky affair, but it could become worth a lot.

"No. You don't quite understand. We've already stirred the hornet's nest. All I need to do is to visualize the safest place I can find as good as I can manage."

"Then, I'm closing the gate as soon as possible, and--"

But he's not given a chance to finish his sentence. It seems as if the flamethrower she sent out actually revealed the nigh invisible Nethradin that intended to sneak up to the entrance as close as possible, just enough to leave unnoticed- or rather, ambush the two without giving them the time to prepare.

A horrible screech echoes.

They're lucky that flamethrower happened to hit them. If it weren't for that, perhaps they would risk an outbreak, but the Rowan decides to waste no time- his eyes carefully scan over the projected area, doing his absolute best to find the spot he will claim.

But a single sentence follows.

"Don't let them through. I need just a bit more."

"Slice and dice if you must."
(Arthur Rowan)

Wandering into Hellheim alone. She imagines that the solo mission would be him going after something that was more...Self-serving, especially since a lot of their people seem to be a little more entitled on the excursions. It'd be understandable, albeit, dangerous to him if he could not find his own way back. She imagines, though, that he wouldn't need to if he had masters Riftmancy...Though, walking in and out might have some consequences either way...Assuming that he visits the place often. But to digress.

"I didn't think that things would be this difficult." The horrid screech meant that she hit something- although she could not see it. But regardless...It just showed that she'd need to prepare something a little bigger if she wanted them all to topple over. "Hold on- I think I know what to do." It wouldn't be safe...Nor particularly smart, but...It was the best that shemight possibly be able to do.

 The wings upon her back would soon become drenched within the cosm- her horns dissipating as she makes the exchange with proxima once more. Heat and energy could be felt all around....The silent glow of cinders and mana erupting through mana circuits...

"Let them get closer-...We can end all of this in one fell cleave. As long as you're prepared. Unless-...Unless you think otherwise." She's capable of becoming the epicenter of something devastating. But...It's risky. However, while doing so, she's still slicing...Cutting into those that might enter, knowing that it simply wouldn't be enough without it.
(Bei Rowan)

There it is. The lonely island among the hellscape.

By all means, it was not a beautiful island that was different from any of the hellscape around Helheim- as a matter of fact, it was absolutely same with the scorched earth it had, with the bloody grass that tried to snatch at everything that would step on it, and the boiling lava surrounded every single inch around it. Why would he choose it, then?

Simply because it's far away from the den of Demons, Shaytans and Nethradin. At least, far enough to come back to senses after arrival.

"Things will always be difficult, unfortunately."

There's something about maintaining the passage to Helheim that was fairly challenging- the mana was escaping him with each passing moment, and even as he tried to preserve it all to the best of his ability, essentially, he was becoming exhausted.

The gate was becoming thi, thinner, even thinner...

"I can't... I can't hold it open anymore. You need to do it now. Hurry."

The last remnants of the otherworldly creatures were still trying their luck to squeeze into the hole that remained open; with each passing second, there's less and less of those that could fit in, but--

-- no one said there isn't a chance for a last minute invasion, so they try.
(Arthur Rowan)

He wouldn't have to tell her twice. She utilizes the moment to become something greater - the cosmic cinders that radiate off of her body vanish briefly....tucked within the core of her circuits as she continues slicing, the world around her becoming slow and sluggish, pressurized by the strength of proxima. With each passing second, one would be able to feel the sickening, twisted heat exuding off of her frame.....For the thinner that the portal gets, the brighter she seemingly glows. Everything becomes a caution, a warning....Even the subtle change of fang and scales give off warnings before suddenly..

Ba-thump, ba-thump, ba-thump.

 He wouldn't need to hold it anymore. As she extends a single arm into the void...Ametyhst and cosmic flames would suddenly shoot outward. It rattles the vicinity - the intense heat, strong enough to immediately send others into shock...frying the sense of touch and balanceof all those that come together....Muting the world of color, if only briefly.

 And before it could close- she withdraws it. Gripping tightly, tucking it within her stomach as she grimaces. Painful. Extremely so...But definitely worth getting rid of the demons that were coming. "...Not as crazy as the last time but- hah -it's crazy enough. I'll take it." She doesn't reveal her arm to him...Perhaps, knowing that the pain itself signifies that she might've 'ruined' it entirely.

 "Are we- haah -done here? Did you get what you wanted?"
(Bei Rowan)

She's certainly pushing herself above the limits that she could safely handle.

But to blame her for it would be hypocrisy from his side- he's done things like that many times, and what would it be if he scolded her for doing that while he performs such feats all the time? Even now, while this portal to Helheim does not cause wreckage to his body, while it does not cause his arms to become torn and wrecked, there's still the exhaustion that settles into his being rather harshly.

It doesn't matter. Only actual progress matters.

In a moment, the gate begins to thin out even further, enough for the blows coming from her to go through, but not enough for the Demons to put up a significant counterattack- once Arthur notices the opportunity to close it for good, he does just that, and the bridge between the realm of the living and Helheim is broken.

For good. Or at least until heopens it again.

"Yes... yes we're done. I got what I wanted."

"It's over now."
(Arthur Rowan)