There Is Always A Sacrifice

"I've been fighting a lot lately." She says softly, her hands lightly tucking behind her back in idle wonder. "I've been fighting against people who might eventually go against ours. And I've learned a lot of things-...A lot of scary things." Her mana glistens into reality, bursting forward in bouts of hellish flames around her being. Draconic wings flutter - muscles tensing slightly underneath the newfound pressure. "I'm not invincible." That much, she had known. Out of everyone else within the city, her type of fighting forces her to rush into the fray. Her type of fighting demands that she goes at the enemy again and again, no matter if it is through their flames, no matter if it is through ice spikes, or blizzards....She must.

"I'm not...Indomitable." Her recent fight with Conall had showed such a thing. And although they both were fighting at 'partial' power...She knew that there was no excuses. Being stopped by objects such as statues and flora...Even near by people is not an excuse that she needs. And so, it only proves that she needs to become stronger. She needs to push herself more.

"I think that I'm falling behind."

 Isa'belle is strong. "The vampires are-...I can beat them, but it's only a matter of time. Their strength is unmatched and-.." There is no excuses. There is nothing. She understands that at times, she wins by the simple 'skin' of her teeth. "I just need more. So- if you will, if you can.." She trails off, the light of Proxima beginning to shine as she establishes her first connections.

"Don't go easy on me." She needs this. She needs all of 'this'. Otherwise, she won't amount to anything in these wars.
(Bei Bei)

Maybe she's come to that realization quite late.

No matter just how talented Arthur was and how much new techniques he grasped, there's always one thing that he realized- by far, he's not invincible, and the bold demeanor he often displays can be broken through actual force and strength, the visage of might dispelled, and greatness reduced to pebble. It's just the nature of how people envision power, really.

"Then you're learning."

A simple thing spoken to her in regards of her realization, and nothing more. It's true, though - the first step to improvement was realization of your own flaws and reflection upon them. If there was no planning and acknowledgement of what must be done, there would be no growth. At least, the progress was made in her.

"And yes, it is true. A lot of Valmasians have grasped quite powerful techniques by now, and while you're certainly formidable, I think you could be more."

A pause. The moment she asks him to not hold back against her, he raises his hands, and with a powerful roar in the sky, the Storm is beckoned to its master. Rain starts to pour, and arcs of electricity gather around the Rowan- the reality itself feels much more difficult to cope with.

He realized it may be good time to tap into Arcane at this moment. A practice is a practice, no matter how mystical these energies are.

"I won't, you can count on that."

"Prepare yourself."
(Arthur Rowan)

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Your body begins heating up painfully!

Your body begins heating up painfully!

Your body begins heating up painfully!

Your body begins heating up painfully!

Your body begins heating up painfully!

As expected of the Drakaness, she was as furious as the Storms he wielded.

No matter how much boundaries he surpassed, Bei Bei was a mortal reminder to him as well- the fact that he is, in fact, far from being invincible at all, and that just like any other time, a simple mistake in a fight to death would cost him his life. It's a disturbing thought, but Arthur has long abandoned fear - the concept of Chaos fed upon his resolve, his unwavering, even stubborn nature, which reflected in everything he's done.

The rain poured, and the wind howled.

It was akin to the dance. The two of them, with all the history and things that they've shared, now fought against each other with no remorse and nothing being held back. Just as he promised to her, the might of Rowan was at full display- every single arc of electricity she felt upon herself would do its best to disable her muscles, every gust of wind seeking to slash against her smooth skin, every ounce of water seeking to drown and soak her thoroughly--

-- if only for the electricity to follow, amplifying the pain she felt by tenfold.

But most of all, it was that energy he wielded that she must be afraid of. The Storm, she could resist - but the unforgiving power of Arcane would throw and thrash her everytime she's caught in it, acting almost as if it tries to rip her apart, with no mercy and no restrain in it. How can be a blast of one's mind be so cruel?

"Hah... haha..."

A chuckle, as she was forced back. By no means the fight was over- catching his breath, the red locks stained in rain were covering the glaring scarlet eyes as he watched her, a foreshadow of what's coming next to her.

"Not bad, Bei."

"But not good enough. Get up."
(Arthur Rowan)


The rain soothes the pain. And if only for a brief moment, does she find herself succumbing to the gentle drops that pitter-patter atop of her head. She breathes in and out, knowing that it forewarns her of the pain that is to come...But ultimately, believes that the constant drops remind her of her own desperation. The need to master not just the soul, but the body. The pale, ashen light of Proxima glistens upon her form - her gaze beginning to darken considerably as the fires intensify around her being.

Tssss…!

The constant hissing could be heard as she prepares to move - one, two, three...Upon the last second, she kicks off of the ground, the virulent dance of blade and limb occurring between the two - where she dances within the arcs of lightning. Where she trembles upon being enraptured by the worst of all moments. This energy, this lightning that he wields by far passes all that she could possibly imagine. But standing against the Arcane is a foreign aspect.

 Upon being locked down, she is captured....And soon, she is sent tumbling across the grounds- her breathing hitched, vision tunneling as she pushes against the earth once more, coughing.

"Hah.."

 Blood spills from the strain...And yet, the soothing power of proxima chills the fires that roll through her being. "Don't-...Don't worry. I'll get there." If she is ever going to beat that power, then it's best if she puts everything into it now.

 The chaotic fires through circulate through her system is soon churned with the combination of the cosm. And eventually, the pale light above head would threaten to form - glistening upon draconic wings...Promising both power and endurance upon achievement. But still, it isn't enough. It's not... Good enough.

"Come." But still, she's ready.
(Bei Bei)

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Your body begins heating up painfully!

Your body begins heating up painfully!

Your body begins heating up painfully!

Just like she requested, he advanced once more. Like an avalanche, like the Storm itself that he wielded, he rolled over her without any restrain to his movement, with full on confidence in his victory that he shall experience soon enough, but most of all, to teach her how to break those boundaries she has.

Unforgiving, as always. He loved her, he shared so much with her, he cherished her and never he would give her up for anything else - but he was ready to make the sacrifice of hurting her, of throwing yet another arc of electricity against her, of ripping her skin and flesh with powerful gusts of winds with hellish speed to them, to drown her in the water he bends and subdue her.

The most cruel of them all, truly, was display of the Arcane.

She was caught. Much like a fly in the spider's web, she was captured by the bloodmancy that Arthur wielded, and it didn't take too long before she was blasted heavily from up close with irresistible power of Arcane itself. It was the power to move the world, to defy the reality itself.

And it was directed against her.

It felt like death... a short lived, brief death that forced her to blackout for a split second, for her to lose her senses and grow numb to the entirety of the world. The death that made her forget who she is, what she's doing here, and what she wants - if only for a very, very brief moment. If it wasn't for her natural durability as magi, the soil she stands on would become her grave.

It stung him dearly in heart to see her like this, but she asked for it. He knew the rule very well - to achieve something, you must sacrifice something.

"No. Not enough."

"You still have that weakness, it seems."
(Arthur Rowan)


She's never been fond of trembling. But there was something about the otherworldly that runs amuck within her mind. To believe that she would be able to stand against something such as this is...Different. How could she? How can she? Unlike others, she does not bend reality, she is uncapable of commanding it with the tips of her fingers.....Nor, will she ever be able to do such a thing due to her own lack of knowledge within the field. Impeccable, it is. To be placed upon the receiving end of such a brutal lashing. When winds and lightning rip into flesh, the hissing could be heard. But despite such a thing, she seemed prepared to move on still. The glimmering, pale light of Proxima pushing her forward. However, she doesn't stop until she is blasted heavily with the Arcane.

Ba-thump! Ba-thump! Ba-..."

 There is a brief moment when the world darkens. The light that glimmers from her star burns brightly - perhaps, twice as much within the face of death, before threatening to fade entirely. She is sent careening across the battlefield, perhaps, seemingly lifeless from the sudden attack, save for the shallow breathes that spill past her lips. Unconscious, if only briefly...And yet, the pitter-pattering of rain is what wakes her up quickly..

 Limbs are heavy, the blood that spills is washed away by the blessing of the storm. "N-nnhh...Arthur- I.." Steadily, would she move to a slow crawl, using her blade as a crutch...Pushing herself up once more. "I'm not-...Just one more. One more." No, to go down like this is embarrassing. To simply allow this to happen isn't-...It just cannot be.

 Once again, does she establish the connection- the Ametyhst flames becoming doused within the light of the cosm, intensifying the heat and yet, soothingit around her being. The art...It seems that she is capable of calling upon it freely, willing herself to go overboard. Willing to sacrifice all it takes, in order to achieve victory. "Again-...Even if it kills me."

(Bei Bei)

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Your body begins heating up painfully!

Your body begins heating up painfully!

Your body begins heating up painfully!

{RP BATTLE} You have survived combat with only a few minor, superficial injuries.

Bei Bei drops Home Key.

Bei Bei picks up Home Key.


Can you feel it?

 The power that was once suffocating, that once inflicted so much pain upon her body had become numbed and steady. What once seemed to be a jagged, relentless 'ripping' of muscle became nothing more than idle stings throughout the battle. The pale light of proxima continues to shine upon her being, wings fluttering, amethyst scale loitering her flesh as she dives into more of her own ancestry. In times such as these, when one dives into the reckless abandon...Being instinctual becomes useful. Becoming the one thing that you've pinned down for so long, is wise. But - through training, she keeps herself calm and steady. She grips tightly upon this newfound power and never lets it go, even as they exchange blows time and time again.

Can hear it?

 It comes bearing gifts of the future, where divination and fate intertwines with one another. Within this moment - she rushes forward during her own last stretch...And soon, finds herself locked once more within the grasp of the Rowan. But with the power of Proxima, it seems that she puts her all into the rapid attacks. Moments when chaotic afterimages of her frame appears...Cutting through armor and sinew, spilling blood upon the tangled knots below.

 It...

 Most certainly seemed as if this fight had been taken to another level. Dangerous, reckless. Haah...Hah...hah.. But still, it's not good. After the battle, she falters - the pale light dissipating from her form as she kneels..

"It's still not enough. I-..I'm sorry for disappointing you, Arthur." She needed to be more. She needed to be better. "I've got it now. I can do it-...I-..Thank you." A part of her is ashamed, a part of her is embarrassed. Losing all the time doesn't feel well, especially, when power used to come so easily to her.

 In the end though, she moves close - extending a hand towards the Rowan.
(Bei Bei)

The overwhelming power of Chaos was always present.

At every occasion he could catch her, she was forced to relent with the powerful blast of Arcane that was sent rolling forth against her frame, enough to rip apart the reality itself and stop the charge of this mighty Drakaness. It did not help her at all that the arcs of electricity constantly shocked her, and the wind with water worked to wear her down.

Among more terrifying things, of course, his bloodmancy.

A clear hit, one, two, three... he almost began to feel that she was going to surrender, that she was going to fall like she did before- much like a spider closing in on its victim, Arthur had her in his grasp.

'I have you now-'

But no, the prediction did not come true. Breaking the shackles that Arthur imposed upon her, she lashed out, furious as one would expect a Drakaness to be. Slash, slash, slash... He could feel the warmth of his blood as it dripped and filled the empty spaces inside his armor, the blue-white beautiful armor battered by her attacks and stained with his blood.

It forced him to relent, clutching onto his wounds.

"Guh--"

Inhale, exhale... only now that the fight was over, he took his time stopping the bleeding and cleansing himself with water. The wounds were forced shut, and through a grit of his teeth, he spoke.

"No, you did fine..."

"I'm proud of you."
(Arthur Rowan)

But is it enough to face her enemies? There are so many things about the rest of the realm that she's having more than just a difficult time with - especially, when it comes to those that are willing to and able to bend the entire world with the palm of their hand. A part of her never downplays it - especially, since she knows of what it is that they are capable of. And because, she knows that she teeters upon a very narrow path between life and death. But she dances upon the thin line in hopes of discovering how to bend reality just as the Rowan.

 "I suppose that we'll see when the tournament comes." It seemed that they would have the opportunity to place themselves against the rest of the realm. To perhaps - issue challenges to all those that would dare. "Unless-..You think that it would be unwise." She imagines that going to Crafthold's tournament might be a way for Valmasians to learn and figure out their future opponents.

 It might be better if they simply gather notes, rather than participate in such antics. But to digress - she steadily eases herself down, "I'm not sure if Conall or Shiva has spoken to you, yet, but he's wondering who he should attack in the caverns. Is there any specific enemy that you want to rid yourself of..?"
(Bei Bei)

To miss out the tournament would be unwise.

And participation in it? Just as important. It's the selfishness and desire for his people to grow that compelled him to actually bother with the tournament in Crafthold, due to all the promise of things that they could acquire, on top of glory and studying their opponents.

"Do not think you're pathetic simply because you struggle against me. I am a formidable opponent of my own, Bei Bei, and I'm certain that your strength will only grow with time to come."

"I believe that you'll be much greater than this."

At last, the energy that swirled around him subsided. The Chaotic Arcane which he utilized so much, no matter the drawbacks of corruption and pain that comes with it held quite the lingering presence in the air. Steadily, his ability for Arcane was growing, and it's only the matter of time until he takes the next step into becoming something greater.

"I'd rid ourselves of Vampires. Their land could be used for us, and they're an immediate threat."

"Though, I would not forget of Gehennans either. These that impose laws against us must go."
(Arthur Rowan)