The Blessed; he who had fallen

[21:04] The magi, after scouting the plains, saw the ever so familiar vampire.

However, without further ado, golden wings protruded from his back; dashing for the Invidia.

Soon, feathers of light descended upon her to halt any forms of escape.

"Priscilla."
(Salthiel Anauel)
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[21:08] Salthiel.

Another person to have wandered into the plains. Alone this time, just as all other times. Salthiel just couldn't stop wandering, could he? Priscilla seemed to enter his view this time around. Luckily, he didn't have any sort of companion with him this time.

She didn't want an engagement, for her bloodlust was sated for today. Having assisted in the murder of three magi from Huangzhou would have sated it.

"That is my name."

Feather of scalding light. Pure, horrible light. She recoiled in disgust at the attempt to halt her escape, it eventually worked. A sad attempt at escape, for her agility was not enough to dodge them!

(Priscilla Invidia)
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[21:16] Clearly, the magi was unlike before, who automatically attacked upon her sight. He was impatient, and he sought for answers.

"You will come with me," uttered Salthiel calmly, yet the potent mana and killing intent that emanated from him was vicious.

And with that, the vampire would feel the field about her turn heavier as Salthiel lifted his hand, conjuring upon a spear of raw mana.

Soon, he threw it against her, destroying the ground on its path as it flew to the Invidia.
(Salthiel Anauel)
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[21:23] Was he angry?

Just in the slightest bit?

Just a tiiiiiny amount?

Probably. The Invidia offered up a smile for the Anauel to take. She was a tad worried, seeing as Salthiel was one higher than her skill level. He was one of the people that she feared before during the meditation with her candlelight. No longer did she fear him. No longer did Salthiel scare Priscilla.

Huangzhou didn't scare her.

It thrilled her.

"I'm afraid I can't do that. After seeing Huangzhou's strongest fall, I doubt what you have for me is pleasant. News travels quickly, my friend."

Her head tilted, strings being pulled and calling upon otherworldly essence to defend her. The spear of mana would be deflected, or at least put off from its target a decent amount as a small wave of corruption leaked from her palms. Forming a slingshot effect.

Priscilla, of course, also made the attempt for a dodge if the travelingspear had not been affected all that much. Vampiric agility was a blessing.

"So /hostile/. I didn't do anything, did I?"
(Priscilla Invidia)
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[21:28] He remained silent.

Was he angry?

In response, he took off his mask, revealing upon the Invidia a countenance so cold. No emotion seemed to don his features as the vampire smiled.

Nothing, even after his spear was deflected. As expected of a vampire.

"Tell me what happened to them," said the Anauel before lifting his staff.

If she chooses not to speak, then she'd have no use for him, no?

And only fate would know what would happen to a vampire of no notable use. For the Anauel, at least. This time, he would not be as merciful, and only death awaits those who would tell him 'NO'.
(Salthiel Anauel)
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[21:37] Oh? Did he not continue his attacks?

Hesitant to approach, the former kitsune floated closer. Slowly but surely, a set of vixen-like ears arose from the top of her head, no longer stuck under layers of secured hair and hidden away. She'd require the full capacity of her senses to survive this encounter. They stood erect, tall like a mast.

Her smile continued to show. It wasn't one of happiness, but rather looked like a very neutral smile. It was more akin to a poker face than any sort of happy expression. It wasn't meant to mock or make fun of, but rather... It was just -there-. Creepily, her ashen skin reflected off of the sun's bright rays, making the vampire appear very much like a statue. Priscilla did not require breathing or anything of the sort, so she just... hovered above the ground. Not even the slightest micro-movement could be perceived.

"Them? Do you mean the Virtue, Hayashi, and the other one that I never seemed to catch the name of? Why- Hayashi's death was quite respectable. He stated that as long as he walked the earth, he'd always be against my kind. Very noble and brave of him to say that in the face of death! Meiyo? Well, the virtue seemed to... Dissolve? Is that the right word. He could have been a useful ally under our blessings. And the other one? Ah. He just might rise again. Don't worry. A courier is apparently being sent from Dawn to send his last words!

Do you want to know what they were? I couldn't make much sense of them."

Nonchalant could be a way to describe her. She divulged information, but didn't care much of it. Boasting perhaps? Pride, was it? The former kitsune just liked a nice chat.

"Their deaths were respectable, I say, again. If I cared for that."
(Priscilla Invidia)
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[21:45] "I see," he said and closed his eyes as he remained afloat.

However, potent mana flared about him as his wings shone even brighter.

"Might rise again, huh?" muttered the magi. Surely, she was speaking of Ban. After all, Meiyo and Hayashi has been named.

The seemingly cheerfulness that hid behind the vampire's words irritated him. It did not help at all as he silently mourned. Indeed, blessed by the divine, yet who said even they are devoid of emotions like anger?

"Forgive me, Jiuweihu. For what I am about to do," calmly he prayed, yet audible enough for the Invidia to hear.

"Please grant me the right, to be livid for once. Please grant me the right, to mourn in my own way. Grant me the right, to cast upon them rightful judgement. For their deaths, grant me light," and with that, he flashed his eyes open and looked down upon the Invidia.

"Perish."
(Salthiel Anauel)
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[21:54] Revealing to match his radiant wings was an aura of corruption and dread. Depraved Cainanite power caressed her form like a soft cloud. It shone brighter and brighter with each passing second. The pink within her eyes turned darker. Crimson radiated out from her optics.

With his preparations, one could most definitely assume that a fight had to occur in order for both of them to leave this. There was always the possibility of not leaving at all. While Salthiel might have won against her, there was always the chance of the tides turning in Priscilla's favor. Maybe the angels that blessed Salthiel would have liked to switch sides for once in a while? No?

Oh. Alright.

If you want something done correctly, you had to do it yourself. Ceridor Draskovic's sword is drawn, aimed at the Angel-blessed perfectly straight towards his throat, and coated with venomous power.

"You'd really like to do this? After you know what happened to every one else who stood against us?"

Both hands now gripped the sword, eyes aligning with his own.

"I'm going to enjoy watching you die."
(Priscilla Invidia)
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[22:08] The Invidia's speed was something he could not match, and her blows exceedingly powerful.

However, he matched it with finesse and calm, reading her movements and responding with precise counter attacks.

Tornadoes of wind chased after her, possibly in an attempt to throw her off balance and divide her focus.

Whilst he always waited for an opportunity to attack.

Soon, chance revealed itself; zooming forward as a spear of raw mana was conjured on his other hand.

As he inched forward, like a javelin, he threw it against the vampire; colliding as she was sent crashing against a rock.

He waited, features remaining stoic and cold, "Again."
(Salthiel Anauel)
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[22:25] Salthiel was on another level. At least not one that she could easily read at the moment. Her senses were failing. The Cainanite power that coursed through her was not enough!

She traded blows with the Anauel, leading to her colliding with a nearby rock. Not even a whimper was sent out as her launched back off.

Priscilla had to go... Ultra.

She couldn't just depend on her Instincts. She had to combine the two. Summoning more depraved power, Priscilla engaged in some sort of... Shonen move of some sort.

ultra instinct just go with it

"I will not lose to -you-."

To herself, she whispered the words that began the fight. Gradually increasing in volume, she would shout, a bloodrage overcoming every other sense. Every power within herself struggled against the current, waiting for the right moment to strike out.

"... I said- I'LL ENJOY WATCHING YOU DIE!"
(Priscilla Invidia)
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[22:47] Salthiel was... beyond strong.

Watching each movement that Anauel made Priscilla shudder in... Fear? No. She had gotten rid of that. Anxiety? No. Something about him shook her to the very core of Priscilla's cursed being. Was it his blessing? It had to have been his blessing. Something above was looking out for him, and whatever it was, Priscilla was not in any nice-list of that 'something'.

Every other fight didn't shake her as much as this one. Was it because of the very real possibility of death? Every other fight had backup.

Salthiel was... Disgusting.

The former kitsune's throat constricted, eyes scrunching up. She had no need to breathe, so the threat problem would have barely affected her. Putrid. Disgusting. There was nothing else to describe what Salthiel was to Priscilla. He was, in very basic terms, the enemy.

Slice.

The woman charged off from her rock and exploded into a mist of toxin in mere seconds. Every attack she pulled of was filled with desperation. Every core fiber that hated the Angel-blessed worked overtime to provide the necessary strength to pull off every maneuver and action.

He was gaining on her. Quick.

The sword she once wielded was thrown into the air. Disarmed, the Invidia barreled toward him. Hoping that the force of the rush along with the force of herself would be enough, the Invidia....

Clapped.

Waves of sound were thrown out, but the force behind them joined quickly. It weaved through every wrapping wind that he could have used to hound Priscilla and aimed at him in an attempt to force him back. Finding the sword she thrown still spinning within the air, Priscilla rocketed to catch it and arm herself once more.

Deadly intent was wielded.

For once in a blue moon, Priscilla grimaced, aiming the sword to pierce completely through a hopefully-stunned Salthiel. As usual, her chaotic pulling of worldly strings began. Metaphysical force leaked behind her, empowering her to rocket forward and impale.

Priscilla launched.

(Priscilla Invidia)
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[23:12] Angel's blessing, or so they call it. Or so he called it.

Was he truly even worthy of it? No, he never felt he was worthy of it. And to feel worthy for that power he donned, he tried his best not to disappoint the divine. The Emperor and Jiuweihu herself.

And thus, Priscilla's blade hit his form, deeply slicing against his skin; blood splashing against the ground, tainting the previously greenery with red.

Priscilla was able to predict his movements, and so, he was losing his edge.

"Is this the end of it?" he thought.

'That day, I should have died. Yet with your help, I did not. With your aid, I was able to escape from their grasp.

Henceforth, I fought. In your name, for my family.

What did that cost me? Their deaths. My brothers' deaths.'

He gritted his teeth as he was continuously forced back, unable to defend against the flurry of her attacks. He was dominated, pushed back, unable to fight back.

'Your blessing, I only taint it with defeats. I tried so hard, yet I've only failed. Losses upon losses. No notable victories. Is this truly right? For me to live?

For me to keep on living whist my brothers lay dead? Tell me, is this a blessing or a curse? I don't know.'

Thoughts rushed through his mind as the vampire grimaced, his being stunned, unable to move. But, he only looked on as Priscilla launched.

'Yes. Let this be the end of it all. Let me lay back and rest. The chosen of the divine, huh.

I don't deserve it. Not one bit.'

Thus, he closed his eyes and smiled to himself as the Invidia's blade pierced through his abdomen.

Death...

Though, as it inched closer to completely crush his intestines, he vanished into a thin mist.

'Perhaps. Not until I say them my goodbyes. Then, I can pass on.'

And with that,the Anauel's presence could be felt no longer.

Priscilla achieved victory. And she would only grow stronger than ever. He can only hope that he would be a match to her might in the coming future.
(Salthiel Anauel)
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[23:32] This battle would be the only one where emotion would spread forth. Every other battle was just another part of warfare. Winning or losing. Basking in the glory of a win, or wallowing in shame at a defeat. It only sated the vampiric thirst inherent to all of her kind. To cause war. To cause conflict.

To spread hatred.

To drain, to kill, to revel in the carnal pleasures that were possible in this world. Drink. Other... activities. Priscilla was free to do whatever she wanted. That was life under the Curse that her body contained. While she had not reveled, feasted, or done any sort of other activities, the draining and conflict part was shown quite a bit.

Perhaps she had not grown old enough to care about things other than warfare. Her fledgling nature had only just began to diminish. Greater control over her actions as the years passed by. The lust for blood was not as strong, and her sanity still relatively intact.

Priscilla was not an elder. Barely still a fledgling. Barely in control.

But the part that she controlled was piloted well. The Curse had given her its all in the hardest moments of combat. The former woman rocketed in what felt like a slow perception of time. Her lips curved uncontrollably, a battle to decide which direction they should have faced. Did this bring joy? Happiness? Hatred or anger?

It certainly felt like hatred. The forces of Arcane that allowed her this fragment of power were only just unlocking themselves within the young Invidia. Priscilla had to steal for power, not be blessed by it.

In a flash of toxin, Priscilla was there. Blood splattered along her blade that aimed to impale. It pierced through his abdomen. Blood steadily seeped into the corners and edges of her blade. The grip, pommel. It was soaked, but not at too large of an amount. Nostrils flared at the scent of blood. And Priscilla was closer to it than ever before.

To his intestines. Every inch shot searing pain into the Anauel. The blade was full of poisonous material. Corrosive toxin and malicious venom that worked to sear and burn.

Salthiel would have died.


... No.

Priscilla's blade gave one final lunge. She tripped forward and fell into the mist that no longer contained Salthiel's presence. Now on the floor, her beaten and blood body struggled to achieve a forward momentum. What did Malentine say again? Sharpen her knife? Her knife had nearly killed Salthiel. Her metaphysical knife was not enough?! Upon the Invidia's anger, she pulled more from the world, allowing a small area to be corrupted. Cracks formed where the strings of the world stores their energies. The entire area plunged into a surge of Chaotic energy, licking at every speck of blood and grass to find where Salthiel had gone.

Priscilla steadied on her blade, muttering the words she had mentioned about watching his death to herself slowly. Her wounds weretoo great to look for him.

Invidian-pink eyes shut. Ceridor's blade raised to meet her lips, allowing a velvety tongue out to sample the mess she had made of Salthiel's stomach. How had... she not pierced him?

"S-Salthiel."

She never wished to combat him again.
(Priscilla Invidia)
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[23:38] As he was able to get away, he flashed his wings open as he gazed towards the sky- towards the sun, as it illuminated his skin.

He held his stomach close, oh how painful it was.

From the sky, as he bled, he glanced back to where they fought. Of course, he could not see it anymore.

"Until we meet again, Priscilla. Thank you," he muttered. But, it was not a declaration of ill intent. She taught him after all, of another form of pain and defeat. And he was glad for that. The battle would be a lesson he'd ingrain on his heart.

And so, he looked back to the sun, blinded by it as he reached out. As if it was within his grasp.

Soon, he'll embark on a journey. Not a journey filled with blood and gore, but a journey to find himself.
(Salthiel Anauel)