chaos 20 - teaching karias

The journey wasn't long.

Perhaps it wasn't a known fact to everyone, but the mountains just above Dawn were energized thoroughly with Arcane energies. Mostly, it was the malignant, yet seductive force of Chaos... something that compelled the travellers of their sort closer and closer, until they were faced with embrace of what would become the stirring force that defies the reality itself.

Unravelling.

It was almost as if they entered a place far away from Dawn- the air felt thicker in here, and unless one could adapt themselves to the true flow of this energy, they would find themselves having difficulty to breathe, as if this very energy was trying to kill them. Not that the Vampire had any difficulty with not breathing, anyway.

"Mind..."

"I cannot simply push you on this path. It takes a special mindset, a special journey to undergo in order to adapt this power. At most, I can nudge you towards it, but..."

"Whether you truly grasp it, that's beyond me."

Though, a pause. Taking something akin of a sitting position on the ground, Arthur soon elevated himself above it just slightly, with the energies that were all too similar to that which surrounds them. A glance of his gaze, and he exclaims.

"Sit."
(Arthur Rowan)

Karias followed shortly behind Arthur; his malevolent, sanguine gaze, occasionally shifting about, scanning his surroundings vigilantly.

And at last - they've arrived to their destination. Crimson hues looked forward, at the sea in front. And then, he glanced to his left, and to his right, briefly. One the left, the climate was extremely cold. Everything was covered with ice as snow rapidly poured onto the ground.

And, on his right, was Dawn. The climate, was much warmer, delicate, comfortable.

And in the middle, was the cliff that both Karias and Rowan stood upon.
Karias, as told, dissipated his levitation magic and allowed his body to come crashing down onto the ground with a loud thud. Subsequently, seating himself down; his gaze directed at the sea.

Karias could tell that the air was somewhat thicker, and polluted. Karias, was unable to discern why, however. As someone who never studied or used the arcane arts, except for certain occasions, maybe, where he emitted chaotic energies unconsciously - he was just too unfamiliar with it, and therefore he couldn't quite put his finger on what was different here.

"Very well." - he obediently sat down upon the ground, and awaited for further instructions.
(Karias Van Landerge)

To understand the Arcane means to understand the world.

The power was not given. Among the countless sheep, the power was only taken by the lions, the very few that could rip it away from the rest and take it for themselves - among such numbers, Karias was one of the few who knew such philosophy very well. Perhaps, with time, he could advance himself a lot further than he currently did... but that remains to be seen.

"The core of Arcane is willpower."

"Both Order and Chaos spectrums may only lend their power to someone with strong conviction and will. However... that's where similarities end."

"Order is selflessness, but it does not mean good. You may serve the greater cause, or so they would tell you, which only results in death and suffering of many. It is because of Order, the Chaos may strive - it is because of how Order binds them, the Chaos must be there to free them."

"Chaos, on the other hand, is selfishness, but it does not mean evil as many would tell you. It means... happiness. It means to live life the way you want it... though, that alone may lead many on the darkest of their paths. At the other times, however? It brings the Man to new level, something that even gods would be afraid of."

The theory of Arcane had to be in place. Maybe Karias even knew it at this point, but to hear it from the renowned Chaos mage would certainly be different, wouldn't it?

"Now, close your eyes."

"Follow my voice. Soon, you'll see what I mean."
(Arthur Rowan)

Karias, indeed was all too familiar with such philosophy. Infact, he lived it. He always reached out and took whatever he wished for, whatever he needed. With force, too, if he had to. He was a lion amongst sheep, after all. The way he sees it, vampires are superior beings, the apex predators, lions, essentially. While the humans, are inferior versions of them. Far more fragile, and weak. Sheep.
'The strong devour the weak.' - that's the most classic example of that philosophy.

He occasionally nodded and heard Arthur out, carefully. He was extremely concentrated - he had to be. This was his chance to step his game up. To take it onto the next level.

"Selfishness-.. happiness.." - he murmured under his breath, cackling. This, was very much true, especially for Karias. He did what he wanted to. What he deemed essential. And doing that, he began to pave his own path. A path towards absolute dominance.

It's almost as if Karias was meant to go on the Chaos path. The theory of Arcane, the chaos-part of it, specifically, it was precisely the way Karias had lived, ever since becoming a vampire.

An upward nod was offered to Rowan as Karias slowly closed up his eyes.
(Karias Van Landerge)

This wasn't meant to be a test... at least, not yet. Rather, a revelation.

When the two of them closed their eyes, the reality began to warp and shift around them- the consciousness slipping further, deep and deeper, until the guiding voice of Arthur ceased to be, for now. It would be an unlikely thing for a Vampire to be sunk in such depths of magic, and yet... here he is.

Revealed unto the form of the Greatness.

The Emperor, the Beast, the Sage. One bound to his throne, another bound in chains, and another bound to his desires. The three of them remained in the dark, gazing upon Vampire, waiting. If only for a moment, there was a flash of the smile from the Emperor, and the hand extending further - beckoning him, calling, the three speaking one after another.

'Come. We waited.'
'Will he prove worthy?'
'Probably not...'

The flash of the red, the scarlet colors swirling before him, it was hard to resist the call- the Chaos mage that led him here was nowhere to be seen, and it would seem that the choice is left up to Karias.

And what he does next? That is yet to come.
(Arthur Rowan)

As soon as Karias closed his eyes, reality warped and shifted around him, his body, meanwhile uncontrollably shaking, for some reason. How odd.

Three figures stood before him. One, was dressed in nobly-attire, seated upon his throne. Appearing to be a ruler, of some sorts. The other, was chained up, his movements completely restricted. This one, didn't seem, or feel like he had even the slightest resemblance to a normal human - it was much more like, an uncontrollable beast. And, then last one seemed to be somewhat too normal, compared to the other two. And he simply stood there.

The noble-like figure beckoned to Karias, telling him to come closer.
Karias, kicked his feet into motion and began to make his way towards the emperor, although, somewhat hesitantly. He wanted to refuse altogether, infact, however, something was too alluring about those three. It was simply too hard to resist the call, and therefore, Karias obliged.

He walked towards the Emperor, every step was swift, precise and firm. He carried himself with grace, and eventually, positioned himself right in front of him.
(Karias Van Landerge)

It's Them.

The three elements of Karias, the three beings within that were starving to be unleashed in their true potential. With each step he took closer, the features of each were revealed - the benevolence with which Emperor sits, the gruesome nature and blood of the Beast, and the all too apathetic yet experienced and calculated look of the Sage. The Triumvirate judged him with their stares, as he would judge himself everytime a reflection is made.

For he is them, and they are him.

But once revealed, the images shift, appearing to be something else. The Emperor's future reveals one that revels in the glory and rule, one who possesses endless wealth and power; the Beast reveals the glory of the kill, of bloodshed and violence, the thrill of maiming and killing someone in the heat of battle, the least reasonable of all; the Sage reveals the inevitable knowledge that comes with years, the hunger for greater power and yearning to discover more. Within the revelations, the three of them speak.

'You've found us, finally.'
'Took you long enough.'
'Could be sooner...'

The Emperor rose his hand again, revealing a shackle, one that is chained to the throne- the Beast revealed his endless chains, all of them binding him to the ground- the Sage showed the cuffing, one that bound him to the ageless notion of ceaselessly learning.

'Set us free, and we will set you free.'
'We will feed and grow.'
'We will be wisest one can be.'

An extension, and each offered their shackle, their hungering stares looking upon the Vampire. They waited for his decision, the ghastly hands of each extending, almost as if trying to lay hand upon him. And in union, they spoke.

'Do it.'
(Arthur Rowan)

Karias approached the trio, and upon getting close enough, it all became so clear. Crystal-clear.

They were all, apart of him. The Emperor essentially symbolizes Karias' thirst for absolute dominance. For wealth. For success. The will to rule.

The beast, symbolizes the darker side of Karias. His ruthlessness in battle; his thirst for blood, and violence. The thrill of the hunt. It essentially represents the vampiric, beastly part of him. Perhaps, it's the very avatar of his Vampirism.

And the last, but not least, the sage. It symbolizes Karias' growth over the past few years. His knowledge; his experience, be it in combat or in actual way of living. The ever-growing curiosity that come with the gift of immortality - always moving forward, learning, and studying greater powers, embracing those powers. Very much like Karias was about to do now;

A single, sinister cackle inevitably escaped Karias' mouth.

Without the slightest hint of hesitation, he struck the shackles which chained /him/ down, shattering them completely, and with that, he essentially freed himself. Unconsciously he was limiting his own growth; however, that was no longer the case.

The shackles broke down, and Karias' avatars, the elements that made him what he is were set free.

What would happen now?
(Karias Van Landerge)

The pact was made.

The subconscious belief, the will and conviction, all of these things were not yet ideal for the proper development of Chaos within him - for now. It was not the mana, nor magic, that the Vampire experienced, no, it was the deep seated connection for the roots of Chaos and to allow it to blossom.

With the broken shackles, the three peered upon the Vampire again. A smile appeared upon each of them, and they walked, closer and closer, until there was no space left- before Karias knew it, they were merging with him, contributing the factors that he lacked beforehand. A simple whisper, a reflection...

'You made the right choice.'

It felt like the power of hundred men, the rage of thousand suns, the knowledge of aeons and beyond. All of it flooding his mind, his heart, his very soul, a test to which it felt like he was being torn apart. It's all too much, almost like he's drowning in that energy, and yet--

--awakening.

They were still here. The hill, upon which snowy plains and grassy fields could be seen, the howling winds ruffling through the hair of a Vampire, but something was different. Something stirred in his soul, something was planted in his mind. Something... spoke.

'We are free at last.'
'You have much yet to learn.'
'But first step is taken.'

And yet, among it all, the Necromancer remained there, floating infront of Karias. The scarlet eyes of Chaos mage were looking at him, the expression remained as neutral as always, and a single sentence spoken out.

"What did you see?"
(Arthur Rowan)

As soon as the shackles were broken, the three walked towards Karias, smiling. Eventually, coming into direct contact with, and subsequently merging with him, completely.

The strangest thing happened, during the merging process. at first, it was extremely excruciating. His body, and mind felt like they were completely breaking down. Rage, and chaotic energies filled his body, and surged violently.

'I'll stand above them all.' - he thought, smirking.

And then, he was overflowed with energy. It brimmed inside him. Unfathomable strength, and wisdom. He now aware of their presence, he knew what he needed to do. He had already chosen the path that he'll walk upon -- he awakened.

His eyes abruptly opened up; crimson hues glimmered in the darkness, glaring at Arthur.

"I saw--.. I saw myself." - he replied, shrugging briefly.

"However, I was shackled down. I was, unconsciously, in denial. They--.. no, IT always was apart of me. My very being, itself is chaotic, a ripple within the lifestream." - he paused briefly whilst rising back up onto his feet.

"I think, I know what I have to do. I simply need to let them in."
(Karias Van Landerge)

Such awakening was not unusual for people.

It was the concept by which Arthur had grasped the very core of Chaos, the concept that allowed him to freely wield the power that it offered - the power that was now given to somebody else, or at least, the beginning of it all. Now, how exactly he grows it? That depends entirely on Karias.

"Good."

"The power of Arcane is not grasped in a day, and I hope you realized that. For now, this is a mere start, something to unshackle your consciousness, to open up the flood you could say..."

"But the real training? It's ahead of us."

If Karias didn't expect this, then perhaps he expected some sort of secret, a revelation that would lead him to grasping the Arcane as soon as possible. The truth, in fact, was very different - there's nothing but him, and in order to grasp that power, the mindset must be open to it first.

"We can continue more practical training later on."

"For now... you can meditate upon what you learned, perhaps even communicate to what you've discovered. You'll find out that Arcane is all about connecting yourself to something greater - even if it is your inner self."

"Until then... this is the end of my first lesson."
(Arthur Rowan)