dev 2 - fear of divinity

Although it's clear Keitaro carries something with himself, probably the result of picking on various ores and precious rocks around here, he stops in his tracks. This was a lot more interesting than just earning some coin.

In particular, he's intrigued by the armor that Teivel wears.

Aren't their colors black now, which goes to their flag and whatnot? This... looked like a uniform. Stepping closer, he keeps observing - though, it's clear that Shenlong is onto something.

"Hrm…"

"Could've sworn I've seen something similar. Where have you been?"
(Keitaro)

Her gaze flickers back and forth between the two present there as she rolls her shoulders idly.

"He's familiar, and he also knew our names. So," her voice drones a bit in agitation.

"Why don't you come back to Levengard to visit? Hm?"
(Thalia Elisheva)

Clara seemed caught off guard by Thalia's question, gray eyes widening slightly,

"Because I thought I'd die if I went back," She answered, completely honestly. "I need potions, and I can't find any to the places I've been."
(Clara Ultovex)

"Ah, I've been doing what I always do, Keitaro. Risk my life to get into places that are otherwise dangerous and collect information." Even though it was clear and obvious that the Shenlong was looking at his armor, Teivel simply smiles as he somehow flexes the dark colors; his war colors.

"Like it? I wore this when we were fighting the Fallen Angel's mist. Never decided to change it, really." After the flex off was over, he looks over at Thalia, hoping to answer the question that was there. Afterwards, a simple nod - then looks at Clara and goes to the side.

"And, I cannot - the situation is kind of similar, but I simply just cannot go unless I am watched, or I get the noose again.
(Teivel)


Clara Ultovex says, "..... I was locked in some house in Huangzhou when the Fallen Angel attacked..."

Clara Ultovex says, "So I never even got to see it."

Teivel says, "Not going to lie. Angels can't be that handsome."

Teivel says, "Even if they're fallen."
Thalia narrows her eyes.
(Thalia Elisheva)


Teivel says, "- I found the perfect suitor for you, Clara."

Teivel says, "The Fallen himself."

Clara Ultovex says, "--...."
Thalia aims to -blast- golden swords right at Declan.
(Thalia Elisheva)

Does he have the agi?
(Teivel)

Teivel moves to the side, ninja like.
(Teivel)

It's an oddity of an armor, but while he keeps inspecting it here and there, eventually, he looks up at the man's features. There are some similarities he recognizes from the past, but furrows his brows a little at the praise given; this is no old Keitaro that would just be overbearingly nice or kind. That time is over.

"Quit the flattery. He deserves none."

"Why were you supposed to get the noose, anyway?"

That statement does alert him somewhat, but it's not enough for him to make a full deduction in his mind just yet. Besides, he'd hate to waste his effort if it were suddenly for naught. He may not be that nice anymore, but he thinks twice before he does anything like this.

"And watched by whom?"

"People don't get watched, unless there's a reason to watch them, you know."
(Keitaro)

".. Unless you're watched?"

Canting his head ever so slightly to the side, a soft hum could be heard escaping past him. Glancing over towards his counterpart for a moment, before settling his gaze back onto 'Declan'.

Going silent right after, he starts to straighten out his cloak a bit. Allowing for his friend to speak first.

-- Oh, we're fighting then..
(Ilui Elisheva)

Watching as the swords crash from behind her and against the doorway, she would give a bit of a narrow of her eyes all the while.

"The next time I won't miss,"

the words linger threateningly, smoke falling free from her lips as she stared them down. If they were going to talk about something such as the Fallen in such regard, then...

She wasn't going to have it.

"Are you going to get the noose because you adore Akasha?" She demands as she glides forward, one of her hands lifting upwards. Fire spins around her fingers as she looks between them. "You are fans of someone that wants to wipe us all out? Is that what the case is?"

The temperature within the cavern was turning up to uncomfortable degree. "Was the spirit of my father wrong to spare you the mercy he did? Your mother is in Levengard, you know. She came all that way." The lingering words on her lips suggested that she believed Clara to be abandoning her own mother...!

Ah, ah, ah.
(Thalia Elisheva)

Clara nearly jumped from the golden sword crashing against the rock by her. Thankfully, it missed, but her now wide gray eyes peered at Teivel, and then to Thalia who had thrown it. This had been a horrid idea to go into the caves, goofing around or not. Finally she spoke up,

"Can we please all calm down?" She asked, the Ultovex surprisingly being the voice of reason amongst hated temperments. "The spirit wasn't wrong to spare me... I'm trying to carve out my own path in life just like I said. I don't want to be caught in the middle of my Father and Mother's... Estrangement. I was kept trapped in Dawn all my life until Daniel took me out, and then I was a prisoner again," She said quietly, actually speaking honestly, "I don't intend to let that happen again. I love my Mother, I do -- infact…"

She withdrew a rather old, folded up piece of paper. It was clear she had unfolded it and refolded it several times over the course of over a decade. Her grip on it tightened just a bit before she held it out,

"Can you give that to her for me?" She asked. If Thalia would open it, it'd be a child's drawing of a once happy family.
(Clara Ultovex)

Oof, it was getting hotter and Declan was only staying calm and actually fanning himself with his own wind magic. Then, with a simple tap of his foot, he summoned up a simple mud chair and sat down against it. It was story time, kids.

"No, god no. It is simply when I was younger, I tried to kill myself due to simply because very sad, and very lonely. Most of my 'friends' said I deserve it for being the 'weird one out'."

"But besides that, being watched meant having someone of higher personnel being there. In this case? It's the child over there." Then he noticed that harsh words going over to them, a brow was raising.

"Let's all calm down. No need to get that far in the terms of violence- especially when the real enemy isn't 'here' at the moment." He looks over at Thalia first. "I don't adore the person who was willing to bring the end to those who don't submit or bow. I also don't adore the fact that he idols up here and Obisdia."

A finger then raised, pointing at Keitaro. "I have many reasons to be watched. Fighting against the Fallen is one of them. Being the one who hosted a summit talking about it, and hopefully bringing down Dawn is another case." He then remembers that it's no longer Dawn; plot hole was found and the information was not updated.

"And, at the moment, collecting information is the biggest tool I can give. Calael should know my conditions, and he will get enough information from my 'Fae' soon enough-

Oh, look at that. Zethra and Eshmun. "Hello"


(Teivel)

"For some reason, I find it difficult to believe what you say."

The whole aura around Teivel, the fact that he was here with one of the offsprings of Ultovex, so close to Dawn- or well, Dusk now- it made little sense to him that he apparently has nothing to do with the Ultovexian rule or anything like that. Even if he genuinely, honestly wanted to bring down Fallen Angel...

This play of double-agent, or so it seemed, was still dangerous.

"There's just something about you that literally screams about you playing two sides. I can't quite put my finger on it, but it's there."

"As much as I can't really prove it... I'd rather get these answers for myself."

It's clear that Keitaro had little to no trust in this, and he would rather act than stand aside. Though... with Thalia supposedly engaging, and Ilui no doubt about to join in? He only readies his own sparks, the very lightning he commanded, mixed with holy magics.

"But I don't think you'd come just like that, would you?"
(Keitaro)

Look unto I, when you seek absolution. Look upon I, when you seek out purpose.

The sounds of creatures which scurried once without fear throughout these caverns, silenced from presence alone. Blackened wings stretched in each direction as in the darkness of this cavernous abyss - The dual gaze of crimson peered back.

"... And when you look upon man, what do you see? I see nothing but potential wasted, humans who can rise above Divinity? Slaughtering one another as they are overcome with choice. Choice in every scenario they they so brazenly abuse."

Those had been the words spoken unto each here, his movements pushing past both Ilui and Thalia. Each, knocked aside as the cold and sickly embrace of death wrapped around their very beings.

"And so, when you seek to break those chains which burden them? When you seek to free them from choice which hath become a burden? Still, they will fight and push back as though their existence itself demands it."

Wings folded inwards as his gaze scanned across each present. Gradually his attention drifting to look upon that very same trio which had opposed, which had stood against this figure amidst the battle of Levengard.

"I am the breaker of chains, Akasha."

The sensation of death, cold and suddenly harsh grasped the very beings of each present. Standing still, with his presence alone being forced upon each which stood near.

"I seek only to see what choices you humans will make here. Continue as you would. Your Divine Fathers have demanded that much of you all."
(Akasha)

Seeing that Akasha has came in, Teivel took this time to grab Clara by the very wrist and walk -away- from the situation if it was possible. Having Clara here would only make him feel weaker, and seeing that Akasha was here, there was some sense of both security and it's opposite.

He knows exactly, that trying to even fight them would break the rules of what Sors already said. Yet, keeping their daughter safe and sound would be the good way of handling things. Their eye shifts between the group of people, and finally going in to whisper to the little Ultovex.
(Teivel)

Teivel whispers something.

Clara had not expected Thalia and Ilui to come upon them in the caves - then Keitaro too. She was hoping to avoid combat, just as her Father had directed her to given the mess of runes still tattooed neatly upon her back from Magdalen's wrath. So thusly, Clara tried to be the reasonable one, the one who avoided the fight for once.

Because it was the smart thing to do.

Then the Fallen. How could she not even sense it? His presence overwhelmed her, and the Ultovex leaned harder against the doorway. This was different than touching him while he laid out upon a bench, curiosity getting the better of her. He was wide awake now. She could only hope the trio's attention would turn onto Akasha, and now to her and Teivel.

As he came closer, wide gray eyes struggled to rip their sights off Akasha only briefly before she stared at the man in silence. She swallowed hard, and nodded slowly, responding in her own whisper.
(Clara Ultovex)

Clara Ultovex whispers something.

Teivel whispers something.

Damn it. This was bad.

When he hears that voice, slowly, the Shenlong turns. It becomes quickly apparent to him that the tides turn almost immediately, and where a moment ago he could afford to question the man that once was known as Declan, now, his entirety of attention had to be placed onto Fallen Angel.

After all, he was a much, much greater threat.

Then, came the typical words. The words that he's stated before, but the words that didn't really convince anyone out there - aside of Dusk and Briar Locke, perhaps, and even the latter seemingly done out of spite rather than true service.

"...Those 'chains' you seek to break are only chains to you. Ability to make a choice is what makes humanity."

Even if that was the wrong choice. It surprised him when he heard that Akasha was only here to observe how the scenery would unfold, but just how true was that? To attack him here would not only be futile, but something that may as well literally end their lives. He's not afraid of such risk, but he'd hate to see everything they have being taken away.

And everything they could ever have.

"Thalia, don't..." The tiniest of mutters, only really intended to her, with a shake of head. He knew how she felt about this, and really, he would support that - but in this scenario, it felt like suicide. Now wasn't the time.

An inhale.

"If you're here to only observe, then we shall continue."

In truth, this was merely a ploy to win time and maybe get Akasha as distanced and careless in regards of this situation as much as possible. He took it upon himself to continue- and perhaps draw the attention- and thus he spoke again. This time, to Teivel.

"...How would I know what you're telling is the truth?"

Come on, Keitaro. Just keep saying something. Anything.
(Keitaro)

Clara Ultovex whispers something.

Teivel whispers something.

Clara Ultovex whispers something.

Teivel whispers something.

Teivel whispers something.

Clara Ultovex whispers something.

Teivel whispers something.

Clara Ultovex whispers something.

Teivel whispers something.

Standing there, grinning just about as long as life, that curl of his lips dropped the moment the presence of a certain being was felt. Suffocating; that's the only way to properly describe it, his body growing as stiff as a board as he's brushed aside, and the man began to speak.

Breaking chains.
Choice.
Divine fathers.

It's all stuff that went over his head, stuff that he shouldn't be worrying about. Since in all honesty, the lands were his main concern. And yet, through his devotion to those who had once rescued him, he helped fight against the Divine being and its mist.

Glancing over towards Thalia, he could only hope that the girl wasn't going to outright attack the thing. Since if she was, then that meant he was going to have to fight as well.

As the other two try to leave, his hand waved, practically moving on pure instinct alone as petals began to spill from the sleeves of his shirt. Fluttering near them, and blocking off their path of exit,

"You two stay."

Snapping out his words, a soft sigh could be heard, his eyes coming to a close as he tried to steady himself. Fear wasn't something he was unfamiliar with, after all - it's something he's learned to try and control, to try and push down within himself.

And yet, right now, he couldn't help but feel afraid.
(Ilui Elisheva)

Rocks fall, scattering among the caverns from the onslaught of golden swords that had been unleashed, and something causes her to straighten up. It causes a look of momentary disgust to flicker along her features as she hears the familiar voice that drips like a sweet poison into one's system. The binding of death around the inner sanctions of her very soul causes a rattling that she can't pry away from for a few beats of her riled up heart.

It drones, lingering, eating away.

Yet, there's something that demands within her as well. She listens to the words, but she doesn't let them infect her mind even though she feels sickened by the very presence before them.

Though, don't think that her eyes didn't catch the manner by which they tried to slink away. To use Akasha like some form of a shield.

Oh, no. Not even in the slightest.

"Save your words," the ground begins to burn at her veryfeet, spilling free from her form as she tries to cling to something other than the likes of the feeling of death that tried to invade her dour soul. No, she would reach beyond that sensation, clinging to life itself in the very wake of death. "I don't want to hear it, Akasha."

Thalia. Don't.

But in this moment, she has to. Her arms move downwards as she channels that laden magic within her, the unbridled fires from within as she attempts to break free of this sensation of death. Fire spills from every part of her body that it can, attempts made at rejecting the foul sensation that lingered within her. It roars around her as she grips her fists tightly, wings burning to life at her back as she reached deeper and deeper, trying to realize the potential within life over the likes of death.

Akasha wasn't here for her.

The monster had to be here for them, for something else.

"You'll take it to her yourself, without using the Fallen as your shield. If you're not flying... You. Are. FIGHTING."

If it's a show desired, then the girl who burns wouldn't be one who'd disappoint, showing only a fraction of the empowered fire that she'd rain down upon the likes of this broken angel that sought to take it all away. This was nothing more than a distraction. She made up her mind. Either they'd do, or be spared mercies as traitors to Levengard. She wouldn't let Akasha chain her down, even if he believed himself to be the supposed 'breaker of chains'.
(Thalia Elisheva)

Clara Ultovex whispers something.

This was the worst possible scenario, come true. Clara for all intents and purposes was unable to completely control that ice magic of hers quite yet. Whether it was due to the runes tattooed on her back, or due to a lingering after effect of Sunyata it was unclear.

But she knew it'd be dangerous.

But Thalia truly wasn't giving them an option to leave peacefully. Sors had told her to avoid combat but here it was, throwing itself into her face. As Thalia's fire and winds begin to churn and heat up the very cavern they were within, Clara's mastery over ice seemed to break apart.

Teivel would be the one who truthfully noticed it at first, the sudden temperature drop around the Ultovex, whilst Clara stared wide eyed, perhaps not even realizing what her mana was doing. Icy particles exploded outwards, with the very real potential of cutting the girl up as well as her enemies, but...

"You stupid idiot!" She suddenly snapped, "I'm not using anything as a shield! You aren't going to stand in the way of what I intend to do, either - do you hear me?!"

The winds and ice around her whipped itself into a frenzy. She didn't seem to care whether or not Akasha watched, more concerned with the very real possibility of being dragged back to Levengard.
(Clara Ultovex)

Good, they were fighting..

It's something he held back on, knowing that at most times, people were going to try and get on him about his actions. Since honestly, he didn't really need much of a reason to want to attack Clara. She was a Necromancer at some point in her life - she had stolen from the lands.

.. And so, something had to be returned in place of what was taken.

"-- Good, she can finally pay for what she's taken from the lands, hm?"

Thankfully, despite the chilling presence of death that could be felt, he was able to find a moment of reprise through violence. Something he could lose himself in, a grin already starting to creep onto his features as his hand suddenly cut through the air.

Commanding his petals to swarm them.
(Ilui Elisheva)

Something told him that the snuffing influence of Death coming from Fallen Angel could impair Ilui and Thalia alike.

While it's definitely not match- in fact, not even in the slightest close to Fallen Angel's power- it would still bring that small piece of soothing feeling and security alike with the drop of holy magic; but it's not just the holy magic that he intended to use here, not by a long shot.

The eyes of Shenlong acquire the slightest of blue glow.

A representation of his ancestral bond to the strength that allowed him to bend lightning in the most bizarre ways; while normally the storms howl with winds and become riddled with water's moisture, Keitaro's is much more different. It is pure lightning that comes in arcs, like a 'cage' that shuts around the group before they could try to escape.

It is certainly taxing, but the only way they could leave is to fight through it. Not like Thalia wasn't going to do exactly that.

Bzzztt…

The arcs continue to buzz and glow, electricity crackling all around them; infused with ancestral strength of Shenlong that Keitaro possessed, and the might of holy magic alike, it served as a ground of battle, and as mild protection against Fallen Angel's aura of Death.

This is the least he could do.

"Go on. I'll keep an eye on them."
(Keitaro)

This was not going to get any better, was it? If this was him on his own, he would have happily done as told, even going that far to let his soul betray him and die. However, seeing that -she- was here and watching, and was only going to make this worse as she stayed and even through a tangent, he couldn't.

Clara, was too easy to anger, and instead of taking the calm, delightful way of getting out of this situation, it was made that much worse. It was actually terrible, and it was very, very bothering. He wasn't dolt to protect them in the caves, he was said to only report it.

Seeing how everyone was getting scared, even him, only made it even scarier, more worried than before. Akasha's presence didn't fill him with the joy that he wanted, and it would only make it that much -worse-. Anxiety was riding his skeleton, and the worse thing to come would be met as it was declared.

Fight or flight? There was only so many options that he could do.

Akasha was watching to see what the humans would do, yet, seeing how this would only forfeit any way of saving his grace, being labeled as a traitor once again, it would only go so far, far south that he screamed. And, seeing that Teivel wasn't in the works of getting someone killed...it would be time to do this.

"There's no need to even fight, here...Clara, you know damn well you shouldn't be fighting. I shouldn't be fighting either. Clearly, us being here is a massive mistake that we can fix later. But seeing that this is only going to...be incredibly worse."

His eyes looks towards them, Ilui had the look of murder. Thalia really, really wanted to kill Akasha. And, Teivel really, really wanted to get Clara the fuck out of dodge.

"Akasha, I don't really care about living past a certain point. I didn't think I would live past a certain point, really. I honestly thought that I would die at twenty five."

A rub of his chin, and simple contemplation. "Or twenty...

…

Or Eighteen.

…

Or Fifteen for that matter. I'm pretty sure that the noose is supposed to TIGHTEN around the neck when you fall from a stool?"

The comedy was over. Shit.



Then finally, he looks up at the fallen angel. A growl escaped him, anger was there. And it was the anger of seeing him and making this worse mixing with the fact that he just simply -hated- being in heated places.

"But...if you can save Clara from the very worse outcome, it would be nice."

God asking for help is very, very bad.
(Teivel)

Watching amidst the darkness.

Gradually his plea would gain the attention of such a divine individual. He who now found himself corned and standing before those doors of death. Silence would linger, watching and listening to every action and sound which escaped from those present.

"Look upon me, and I will give you purpose. Look towards your creators, you will find satisfaction in your life moving forwards. You ask, you pray that I may save this young Ultovex?"

One small wave of his hand had shown the difference in power which had separated those present. Hundreds of ethereal blades of a sinister vermilion, now aimed upon those which stood to oppose both soldiers of Dawn.

"... No, I am nothing if not a being which keeps his word. Your purpose is survival, to spill blood for I so that you may prove your worth. Any and all which have lowered their heads before I, are expected to strike down those who oppose our grand goal."

Shaking his head from side to side, those blades vanished just as quickly as they had come to form. The sounds of boots ringing clearly against this stone once more, walking away from those which had found themselves in a far too difficult sitation.

"Survive, humans. Kill those who oppose us, now is but a chance to prove your worth."

Without a word more - The Lifestream would scream in agony as darkness enveloped the figure of this man. Torn through that very fabric of it all as he had vanished just as quickly as he came.

The Rift behind him, closing the second those blackened feathers slipped through.
(Akasha)

"We don't have to do this...I hate doing this. I don't -want- to do this. Why can't you guys ever just calm down and talk it out? You think I enjoy doing this? You think I enjoy -fighting-?"

Tears, actual tears that were coming down his cheeks as the fight continued further and further. The battle was destructive, but it was beautiful. Two fighters of nature that continued to go back and forth constantly while the wonderful flames and embers of the demi-goddess? Came into play.

He had to survive, and he had to get pressuring. If this was any other way, if this was the way he wanted, he wouldn't have even held his staff to the two. He would've happily went with them, face the judgement, and die as a man who was able to save Clara.

But that wasn't going to happen today, was it?

It was never, truly easy.

"Please...just forgive me...tell everyone at Levengard I am sorry."

As strong as the inferno was, and the power of the demi angel was great. The duo of the Ultovexes was more than capable of bestowing it. They both focused her down and brought her to a single knee before focusing on Illui. And when she was down, unable to continue the fighting, he left a single whip that stun just enough to leave a simple, baby-back bitch bruise.

"Stop....stop..."

Teivel leaned over to avoid the following rock that was coming - "Okay, that's just rude, don't you think?" The entirety of the battle was left to those two, and of course, with the little help coming from Ultovex and her weird -cutting- ways. With the battle commencing, and the waters and natures duking it out. Declan swopped up, SLAPPED him with the whip of JUSTICE. NATURE PROVIDES...!

And watched him fall.

"Go...just go...I don't want this...I never wanted this."

Teivel grabbed the hand of Clara and quickly ran off.
(Teivel)

With the pair of them, it seemed that even Clara's unwieldy mastery over ice couldn't stop them. The shards of cold particles cut at her entire body, but equally so Thalia and Ilui together. Blood ran down her arms, regardless of how well her own water healed her simply due to her own abilities spiraling out of control as they were.

Thalia was focused down, Clara utilizing not only fierce winds that seemed to even match Thalia's own, but sound. The sound of ringing bells could be heard all throughout the caverns; some prompted the pair to grow tired and sluggish, whilst others attempted to freeze their movements altogether.

But through it all, Clara was petrified.

She didn't want to go back to Levengard. What would they even do to her at this point? Kill her? Just for who she was, at this point, and nothing else? It wasn't fair; but... She also didn't care. Emotions were a weakness.

Finally, it came to an end... Then a sudden pain hit her; and she didn't even know why. They had won. Why... The main rune upon her back that took up the majority of it began glowing, Clara's form twisting downwards onto the ground. The rune itself transmuting into gold-veined marble as the Ultovex gasped out. She felt her hand grabbed, with Teivel aiming to drag her off.
(Clara Ultovex)

The entirety of the battle, he was held on the edge. So many things could go horribly wrong, but the entire time he still had faith that they could handle it. Though, as time went on, there was less and less that they could really do in order to secure their victory against Teivel and Clara. Eventually, Thalia was brought to a knee, and even Ilui was knocked aside.

"Damn it."

The blue glow in Shenlong's eyes disappeared, and the cage of lightning, of pure arcs that conjured mighty electricity, now was fading. He had no more interest in preserving the cage that would disallow them to leave - and not like he could hold his own against two magi at this point either. Something else mattered more than getting in their way.

Instead, he hurries to the two fallen.

A brief assessment is made out of Thalia's injuries. She can endure, he's sure of it. Drawing his staff, he stood guard, all in hopes of cutting off the other two from reaching Ilui and Thalia. If they advanced, they'd have to go through him - even if it meant he'd risk his own life like that. But...

Thankfully, that wasn't needed, as they seemed to flee.

"Get her up, Ilui. We have to leave quick before they bring anyone." He shot a glance, and spoke so out of the reason that Thalia was injured. She could probably walk on her own, but is help really something to be ashamed of, in situation like this?

"It's our chance to go."

He knew how backlash could be like, but really, what's important for them is to get back to safety for now. They could fight another day.
(Keitaro)