dev 5 cry wolf

"CAYDEN!"

The teraphim echoed out, having spotted someone from Ilburg... It was Cayden. He respected Cayden. He felt no ill will towards the man. Yet, they were destined to do battle? Nonetheless, he decided to confront him all the same.

He watches him shred through not one, but two knights. They seemed fairly skilled, yet it mattered little to him. The latest victim, Ulhi, seemed like he nearly had him handled... Rest now, young man.

"Not one, but two of your own!" he began. "They have stooped into territory far from their own. They snuck, and they harassed, and they ran."

His expression seemed stern... Was another fight about to brew?

"To do battle with one of my Greycloaks is one thing, one of which I cannot allow to sit down. However, I was content with fighting you lot on a decidedly even field of play. Yet..."

He harbors a pointed finger towards Cayden. "Two ofyour own laid their damnable hands on Freya..."

He lowers his arm, marching his way towards the feiry menace. That name likely held importance to no one, save for Hadwin himself. He never truly knew or cared what others saw her for. "If neither of them are here to answer for this, then I will just have to make you answer for it."
(Hadwin Hazaiah)

Silvain raises if voice towards Hadwin.

"The ones who touched Freya weren't our men. Just saying."
(Silvain Conquïc)


Hadwin Hazaiah says, "They were from Ilburg nonetheless."
Owyn whispers something.

Something about it felt terribly annoying..

If only for the fact that the lot of them seemingly were going to keep piling upon Cayden, even as he dispatched them one after another, without any consideration for all that they've done. If anything, he's grown to be terribly disappointed in Teraphim..

And already the rosegold tint shines.
Enough to display the intent.

"Ya know what, greyskin."

"Getting real fucking tired of you buttnoses of Asta." For while Cayden and Basil may seem like unlikely allies at all, considering that Basil tends to do entirely different thing.. it does not mean this hasn't impacted him at all.

"I ain't care whatever Teraphim want."

"The lot of ya follow Asta who started this war - and she intends to butcher people after she ain't got even a single proof that there are any Occultists, Demons n' witches."

"So I'll just say this - fuck off."

But that is found in not only words. For it seems that the cosmic stardust and flames alike are already directed towards Hadwin, of all people..

He'd have to be passing through two, not one.
(Basil)

Taking a deep breath, blood continues to leak from his wounds... he had taken too many people on. Even if they were all just children, they were all fierce Warriors.

Respect and admiration for all of them now existed in his heart.

A look around is taken, a destroyed battleground, the grass being nothing more than ashes and the tree's becoming charcoal. Had he gone too far? No, he hadn't, not when he thinks of why he did it.

Finally calming himself and getting control of his flames to the point he could now properly listen to his surroundings, he hears several voices entering his ears.

Nothing but a nod is offered towards Lloyd, a glance to Luneth, and then his attention was on Hadwin.

"I do not know nor do I know if I should care. Does the one who was attacked plan on joining the War? If yes, then they should be ready. War is upon us, and no soldier will be blamed for felling their enemy when spotting them. If not..."

His flames were now an extension of his body, spreading from his person and into his surroundings as his mind calmed down and settled on a single feeling. He collects them from his surroundings so they don't spread further and absorbs them as his own.

Love for his Clan rather than Hatred for his Enemies.

That's how it should be. If they all wanted him to step back, then so be it. He would follow their desires, after all, the only thing he wished for was their best. And being here like this, threatened to go against that.

Before he can say anything more though, Basil steps in?


(Cayden Arborea)

Lloyd confirms the name from Silvain, then as Cayden nodded towards him, his face remains stone hard in response. Cayden.

He'll remember that name.

He points a finger at him, keeping Uhli tucked close to him. "I'll defeat you in the name of my friends' honor and retrieve my fellow knight back from you lot soon. I won't let you get away with this!" he said proudly.

It was the honorable thing as a knight to do. He couldn't let Cayden make a mockery of his fellow knights in such a way. Still, he defeated them fairly and squarely.

That means he had to respect his new opposition.

For now though, he has to get Uhli treated. He was hurt, but luckily it wasn't too bad. He'll try to soothe his pain with easy assimilations of holy magic, dismissive of the situation regarding the Teraphim and Basil. More important matter at hand.
(Lloyd Durages)

"You... You can say as you please," he retorts, tilting his head towards Basil.

"I do not take pleasure, nor have I ever taken from this... war." He conceded such. He grit his teeth, but stayed his rage for now.

"Yet milady had declared Holy War after openly detecting occult presence... If that is what her will is, she will appear when the time comes. I nary have an option but to protect her."

Then... he looks to Cayden. It seems like there was some exposition to do.

"And as for you! Cayden... Freya had merely been gathering ingredients. To cook. She makes food."

What did that have to do with this...?

"She had been minding her own business, when she was inflicted with burns, and convulsions. A fire mage, and a lightning mage had attacked her mercilessly. And yet, when she described the fire mage..."

He pointed an accusatory finger towards him. "It couldn't have been anyone besides Feuer!"

His voice picks up. "I couldn't give a damn about this war! I demand to see her, and whoever else this lightning mage was!"

Hadwin was clearly pissed, unbespoken to a reasonable effort unless he got what he want. Even if he was mistaken or not...
(Hadwin Hazaiah)

To claim victims such as this.

Truthfully, it is the ugly reality of war - that even if someone is actually innocent, they get hurt regardless; but that's what they asked for, did they not? After all, of all things out there, he knows that this could end in a very, very crude manner..

"Ya ain't take pleasure - but ya ain't do shit about it."

"Apathy is death, n' the Teraphim are gonna get what's coming for them for following a warmonger." After all, a lot of people have grown rather royally pissed off with these matters.. so much so that it was evident across the faces of many. But..

Detecting Occultic presence?

"An' any of ya ever detect it yourselves? Ya know that concept of lying exists, right?" It's a moment of self-reflection for Hadwin, for if he's never felt anything as Teraphim..

"Ilburg was shown to others many times, including Teraphim themselves. They ain't ever feel anything Occultic - and some of them lingered there long enough to see anything that might be off."

"But of course ya ain't aware of that. High Lady said something n' ye gonna gobble it up like a good boy, ain't you?"

It was so painfully obvious that she was lying. "She even admitted it to Pericles, the High Keeper of Church, that all she did was use Osrona as war dogs to gather army against Ilburg n' siege them."

"For expansion. For slaves. For resources. Ain't anything else." But..

"Innocent victims can happen in this war - and ya side have caused tenfold more of these. Your people started this flame, and now ya refuse to take it down or at least let it quiet down."

"An' ya cry wolf?"

Ridiculous.. at least, in his own view. In fact, he already draws weapon; as a precautionary method.

"Not one step closer."
(Basil)

Luneth watches the situation. Fuck what were they doing here. Was it to save him? Did Ekheim not deliver his message? Oof. He couldn't do anything right now. He crosses his arms.

Speaking in the Kalvorian tongue, Luneth says,

"<Cayden.

Please. No more. We are not warriors who sow chaos. We are warriors who protect the weak. Who carry honor. Stop this and go to Illburg. Prepare for what is coming instead.>"

Before changing to normal and pointing at the forest. "Look! Is this what we should be doing? Burning a forest down?"
(Luneth Veracrucis)

This was going on for too long, and both sides of the fence leave him really sighing as one side tries to stake claim over why they are allowed to do what they want. And the other side tries to bring out the faults that brought them to this very course of action.

In the end. Wouldn't it come down to a fight? In the end, wouldn't they battle it out no matter what? The Kalvore clad in armor had one thing right for certain, there was no better chance to take your enemy out than the present. Honor..

Did it even exist on the battlefield?

He steps forward while Basil looks to Hadwin, and he instead looks to Cayden. "Right, well. You need to vanish, before I do something I regret."

Del wouldn't be too happy to see these things, but Del isn't here, thus he is free to act up a bit. "You've already caused a ruckus here, don't you think that's enough?"

"Scram."
(Owyn)

He speaks in a tired voice, calm, and after a few moments... he nods.

"I'll speak with them about this and see if there's anything I can do."

"As for your demands... they are your own. If you wish to see them, come to Ilburg and challenge them. Most will respect that."

His flames begin to die down as he loses strength, the fire which had been burning brightly in his heart still there, but his body wasn't able to handle it, not with all the injuries he had. His body was so overheated it was a wonder it could even stand.

Turning around, he moves to leave like the others had said, a nod being given to Owyn. Only a flinch coming from him when Luneth's words reach his ears, his head lowering in some shame.

"You are right... I made a mistake."

He answers in Kalvorian, not a glance being taken back as he continued on to leave.
(Cayden Arborea)

The weight of his peoples' actions hefted on him. He knew... He wanted to yell at them, tell them to mindlessly back off. He had nearly enough.

But he never felt hatred towards these people. Not even now... The fact he felt betrayed when he first heard about the possibility of witches was evident that he then held a certain bond of respect.

"...I believe you, Cayden." was all he could offer. Would he really approach Ilburg under such a pretense?

"I can already understand that most would honor such a request, yet it was stated by yours that I would be attacked on sight. I will send a messenger bird when the time is right... When I receive a message of confirmation back, that will be when we settle it."

He looked onto those still surrounding him. They berated him for blindly following this path... He berated himself, as well, for another reason.

"I know." he admits. "Nothing you can tell me will be new information, young man. Yet, this has already been decided. Any attempts of convincing milady to back down, will fail."

Why would he say anything about convincing her? Will fail, or have failed?

"Yet, if I die that day- if I were to fall by one of your hands? I would perish knowing I would be besides the High Lady, whom I am loyal to. I have to fight... That blood price can't be helped but be paid."
(Hadwin Hazaiah)

He would not back away.

He would not forget the High Lady, no matter what.. and truthfully, despite all these things, he simply would not refuse to follow her - even if she's in the wrong, even if she promised nothing but death. After all, in such matters, it's only a matter of time until they would be enemies for certain..

For Hadwin's people - they intend to butcher Basil's people.

No amount of words changes this. No amount of persuasion does anything. Perhaps, Asta simply had them wrapped around her fingers like that, or perhaps they chose to wilfully ignore it in order to believe that she may lead them to something greater in the future. But..

"So ya gonna just follow her like that, huh."

There's evident disappointment, but.. Basil wasn't one to merely talk all the time. He isn't unreasonable, per se.. for he tries to talk, he tries to reach out - and he proves his point time and time again to all that he encounters. But..

He also knows that at some point, trying to prove anything else is futile.

"If ya ain't gonna abandon the ways of High Lady n' at the very least stay away from the war, then there's no point talking further." Already the rosegold tints further.. as if becoming a gathering of explosive force.

Ready to roll down destruction.

"Ain't a point to convince. Ain't a point to wait."

"If you're my enemy anyway."

That is the last thing spoken by Basil.. for already the cascading, brilliant light of rosegold shines down upon Hadwin, intending to blast the Teraphim's flesh..

He has no choice, but to defend himself.
(Basil)

Hadwin certainly had little chance to think before a rain of starfire and heated energy blasted his direction. He had to defend himself, in his narrow actions and justifications.

A clash between bone and flames, crystal and stellar forces ensued.

Hadwin was forced to dance around these dangerous beams and blasts, crashing together in an arcade of mayhem. And when he had the chance to get close, rare as it was, he created a flurry almost unseen, phasing through the material plane in a combination of strikes.

Each exchange ended similarly, with Hadwin backing away to allow his bonemancy to heal his injuries and Basil throwing the odd ball of fire and bolt of plasma to undo this. To that end, he had pressed the attack until he scratched against flesh his his bone blade Calcaneus, to ultimately down the boy.

After he had ended the battle with one last essence strike, he huffed... Was it over?

Hadwin sheathed the blade to his back, and let out a longsigh.

"...So it must be, then? I have no desire to continue this."

He wipes his forehead of sweat, and he turns from the defeated Basil. "If you truly wish to improve your chances, don't go after a Mistseer."
(Hadwin Hazaiah)

Osiris' lips pursed together at the sight of what just unfolds before them. They were, quite honestly, expecting Basil to come out as the victor. Not because they underestimated Hadwin, but because they just had faith in one of their closest friends.

To watch him fall like this churns something within their stomach. Even if this situation might be diffusing itself, slowly wearing down... Osiris just wanted it to end; to snap, immediately.

"--Owyn?!" They called when he suddenly charged forth, already biting at the innards of their cheek.

People didn't know when to just... stop fighting. It was so tiring. So boring.

So necessary.

So stupid.

"Basil, are you okay?" The Felinae shifts their attention for now - if only partially.
(Osiris)

Still young. Still incomplete.

For one thing is clear about the Rhoynur.. he's far, far from his mastery- yet the endeavour in which he would pursue the mastery over various types of flames and the cosmic mana would only continue, seeking to thrash away against Hadwin and burn him each time that he dares come close.

In what seems like explosive force..
Driven by the tint of rosegold.

For the star above, Alph, blesses him with might such as this; enough to keep the Mistseer at bay, enough to ensure that he could not come towards him as easily as he could otherwise imagine himself to do. If anything, it felt as if the stars could forever protect him, but..

There's an opening.

"What--!"

In what seems like a sudden appearance of Teraphim, he's struck. There are flames to reduce the engaging Teraphim to nothingness, but.. the crystals, the strength that allows him to persevere, seems to nullify the flames and cosmic dust. And while he comes oh so close to burning him down..

It's just not enough.

Where the blade is driven into him, it almost becomes instinctive to leap away before he could be injured too much, before he could suffer to the point of becoming unable to recover; if anything, as he huffs out, as he tries to recover..

"--It ain't over till it's over."

"Ya will be seeing more of it."

Soon.

Soon all of them will.
(Basil)



Quite surprising, to be honest. But there's something that she's beginning to learn about these people. They're...Quite strong in particular. Much, much stronger than what she would have imagined. So much so, that she would even find herself beginning to chuckle- carefully bringing her claws up to her lips as she speaks..

"This one reminds me of-...Well...All of them, really." She adds with a wave of the hand. "Kinda curious though- since we're doin' all of this. Just how far do ya' think you can go? I mean...Do you really feel as if you can stand up to anything while servin' ya' queen? Seems like half of the world hates her, to be honest." She adds while lightly tapping her cheek...

 Nevertheless, another glance is given towards Osiris...Perhaps, signaling him torun in as well. "Y'don't got much of a choice here but...Let'em give you a shot. Might simmer down that pride of yours a lil' bit."
(Mars)

To say that he needed help is wrong. At least, not right now- for as much as he battled the Teraphim before them, it is rather clear that he is, for the most part, uninjured. There are some bruises and cuts, but for the most part, he's fine, really..

"--Ain't gotta worry about me, Osiris."

"Owyn.. seems in trouble."

Of all things, he imagines that an endeavour like this could end up rather bad. If anything.. as much as the Teraphim stands victorious, and brought down Owyn, he expects the worst to come to fruition.. and he understands that this could end up very, very badly.

And very soon.

"...Let him go."

"He ain't got to take consequences for me jumping on ya. Take it up with me if ya want, n' I'll meet ya later - but he ain't supposed to suffer for it."

After all, all that Owyn has done is protect a friend.. and at this point, he'dknown that eventually he could try and face off against the Teraphim once more. For now..

There were bigger priorities.
(Basil)

Another enraged inferno coming his way... The rules of engagement were clearly stated upon the first attack being fired: no mercy.

Each blow felt similar to the last opponent... Ranged balls of flame mixed with up-front waves of fire, however his heat was far more intense.

They traded blows up close, as well. It was hard to even keep track of- their collisions echoed through the forest and the roads and the swings were hardly visible. This young man... He was impressive. So was the last one. He held respect to each of them in their own right- yet it felt ill. He felt ill.

The way they fought, it reminded him of how others fought. Each attack held purpose, while Hadwin's blows were hollow.

The flame consumed his body, yet he utilized this heat to encourage him to end this as soon as possible. The bones that jut from his person struck at the teen with precision, and yet he guarded it with near perfection... The flames covered him, and charred his cape.

Upon rising, Hadwin had scanned the right way to pursue victory. Patiently awaiting the boy to send out his stronger attacks, and use up his defenses, that was when he flung his blade towards him!

It ended, when Hadwin swung the weapon one final time. It sent the boy back, and Hadwin was able to hold the sword towards his neck...

But then, Hadwin pulled away.

"There is no pride here. If you were to ask me, the duration of our good kingdom is short. The path it follows is one of destruction, and it can't be helped but ensure the dark forces rise in the distraction."

He had to speak his mind. He had to let someone know, before he was made to do something he'd regret. He looked to Osiris.

"Yet, if there was something to work towards, it would be for the sake of balance. Balance... in the spiritual realm. That is what threatened Eternia as a whole, as it had once threatened Esshar before. And so, I point my blade."

He sheathes his sword one more time... Basil was calling for him. To let his friend be.

"I offer your friends no substantial injuries. The rate we proceed, I cannot promise that same fate to you. And ultimately... I've yet to be convinced of humanity's ability to endure the witch's trial without some sort of continent-wide incident... Though, ironic as it is, seeing my involvement."
(Hadwin Hazaiah)

He's got to pick himself up after such a fate. Near death, possibly. Two doors away, and it could have been over. Out like a light, as they say. a switch that was flickered.

He hadn't a right to anything in the moment. even as his fists were blazing inferno's, even as his punches landed, his kicks landed. It wasn't enough.

He had to give the credit to this one. He wasn't just for show. Hadwin---Hadwin was strong. As much as it pained him to admit.

His lips curl into a snarl as he grips his neck, rubbing it.
(Owyn)

Osiris's tail flickered from one side to the other - the agitation is piquing further. More and more - Owyn's own eagerness to fight. That hot blood of his which only ever cooled in the presence of someone like Del.

It's gotten him in quite the... predicament.

Hasn't it?

There's a fleeting thought to run while they can. To find a free, a hole, a safespace. To observe from, to cower behind and/or within.

But, there's a reason that thought is fleeting.

Osiris changed - and still is changing.

They want to discover themselves for who they are without the identity of 'just that quiet cat'. The one who was fearful. The one who'd be stuck between a rock and a hard place when contemplating whether to run, or to hide.

That shell had been cracking for along time until this very fallen guild member of theirs broke it in its entirety not too long ago. And, whilst their standing with Owyn is rather... unknown now.

That wouldn't mean they'd stand there and let this happen to him. Not if they were still standing, watching.

Mars' words weren't unheard, but there was no reaction to them. They already knew, or already had a plan in mind to try.

"I'm..."

"I'm really tired of all of this-- I don't really even know you, but... I already know I just... I just can't stand you. And, I don't particularly care about politics either. My issue is with you. For this." A hand motions towards Basil and Owyn.

Rose-tinted shades of gold and hay pulse forth from that symbol of Phos that hung from their neck. If only to envelop the rest of their person.

'Give me that strength to face him unflinchingly.' A prayer for an act of vengeance.

The earth's upturned as sands and granules erupt forth from every crevice to engulf Hadwin whole.
(Osiris)

Another battle... He couldn't take it. So many of them are throwing themselves at him, but even through all that! They still persist!

"WHY?!" he yelled towards Osiris.

He swung the blade towards the felinae, in a wild wind-kicking attack. Another of the stars... It made him wonder, for a moment, what sort of spirits may exist above Eternia?

When the gravel under his feet began to grip at him, it was only then that he realized what the deal was. He couldn't allow himself to endure this trap, even if he had taken a heavy beam of starlight to his chest on several occassions during this bout. But the fight itself remained a blur to him...

What he thought about, instead, was the reason. Why he would battle them. Why they would battle him. It was the same form of rage he had dealt with when making demands to Cayden. For... what he did to the others.

He was no Weiss. Fight after fight may have been taxing on him, but he nevershowed it. Hadwin, on the other hand... He despised it. He could hardly handle doing this. Yet, in the lost throes of battle, he made a misstep. The blade swung far too closely to his opponent in the last moments of battle. It landed its mark... The sickening pang the sword created when damaging bone could be heard.

No... he had warned them this would happen.

"I... I told you, I warned you of the consequences. But you charged at me anyways... For them."

This time... he didn't sheath his blade. He allowed the blood to drip onto the green grass, seldom mixing with dew. He looked between the felinae... Then, to the other two. The other watching, as well. If even for the sake of his home... was this really balance? Beating and battering children?

"It is all... the same." He stabs the weapon into the dirt. His palm rests on the end of the pommel. "Very well," he finally speaks, aloud. To them all. "You all fightfor your home. Your lives. Me... I've been fighting for such a false pretense of balance- I cannot help but feel it is a throwaway term, now. Even if it was to protect milady... I cannot allow myself to embrace this lie."

"And so, I'll resign from the battle."
(Hadwin Hazaiah)

"Wait!"

There is but a shout towards Osiris, but.. it would seem that it's too late for the Felinae; because he charged in, and Basil is far too injured to actually be able to battle anyone right now.. or for the matter of fact, stop anyone else from actually jumping into the fray. If anything, where he watches Osiris be defeated in such manner..

He can't help but frown.

Because he knows that they still have a way to go, they still have a way in order to improve. But.. in the end, does it even matter? For now, they're simply unable to oppose the force before them. They just can't, no matter how much they try.

"Osiris.."

"That ain't needed.."

There is but a sigh. There is hope that he would not have his life jeopardized by falling before the Teraphim, but.. in the end, where he sees Teraphim speak out in such manner?

Perhaps, he actually understood.

Perhaps, for a change he's actually able to see what Asta has been truly doing - even though she's admitted to such a long, long time ago. At this point, it isn't difficult to discern the truth.. because it's readily available for all to see. If anything..

It was merely about accepting it as this point.

"--I ain't need Teraphim sieging my home."

"All I want is for my people to be left alone. But.. if ye ain't gonna be aiding Asta in butchering my people, then I ain't got an issue with you."

Or at least, he hopes that Hadwin would hold up to his word.
(Basil)

Several audible clicks can be heard coming from the Lioness. When she sees her family member beginning to falter, she slowly begins to step forward- her chin tilting, the earth beneath her body beginning to rattle as she watches the narrow defeat. "Close, but no quarter." She was expecting the two of them to win...Expecting the two of them to remain dominant over the Teraphim and yet...This was not what she was expecting. But is she upset over the things that have happened? Is she upset over how the world has seemingly turned upon itself?

...No.

Because this is what they always do. They find a reason to fight. To bleed. To battle one another because they want more. Insatiable. Hungry. Terribly thirsty for something that they shouldn't have and yet...

"It doesn't matter- the consequences, that is." She says while closing her eyes. "It's just like what you say-...It's all the same. Nothin' changes, nothin's gonna change...Not unless we're the ones that make a difference." Her gaze lowers towards the knotted grass- and within it, she thinks of how all of their dreams and aspirations have intermingled with one another..

"It's...Noble for you to resign from the battle. To not defend. To not participate in somethin' that's wrong because...There ain't no witches there. There is no darkness...It's all just lies." However...

She still readies herself.

"But that ain't mean that I'm still not gonna defend the honor of my brothers and family. Th' aim here ain't to hurt you...But to teach you somethin'." She says.

"To teach everybody somethin'-...I don't care if all of us are gone tomorrow, just know that we ain't gonna stand by. Just know that we aren't gonna stop fighting, even if it's impossible. Even if it takes all of us dyin' to win...We'll do that. And we'll stop these wars while doin' too. Watch." But still..

"So, let me have the last one."
(Mars)

"Why?" Osiris repeats as their heart's star grew brighter, bolder, blinding. Enough so to the point it almost impedes their own sense of sight.

As that blade came forth, Osiris sort to misguide it elsewhere. His strikes were as devastating as they'd expected... The occasional saving grave being those monsoons of sandbourne blades that swirled viciously around the Felinae.

Intermingled with their Starlight, the Leonaus-blessed stepped closer and closer. It enticed Hadwin to stay still, to move closer even. His heels couldn't move, but that's not his own will anyway.

Arcs of the Cosmos itself rained down upon the Hazaiah, but even so, it wasn't enough. The golds were overwhelmed by this Teraphim.

That resolve, the drive, the determination to refuse to surrender - to refuse to let another being harm the ones they were growing to care for.

It was overbearing on the Felinae's mind.

Why would Basil try to dissuade them?

Isn't this what everyone wanted from Osiris? To stand up for themselves. This was Osiris standing up for themselves and everyone else.

Their mind is returned to earlier years.

Sylas.

Hadwin.

What was the difference right now? He slipped from their sounds and the bone-crunching cleave of their blade evokes nothing short of a bloodcurdling screech. No tolerance to pain, but they didn't want to succumb.

Refusing wasn't enough. They felt that tether wane as Phos fades from them momentarily. They back away - towards what they know. Starlight flashed to carry them away and far. But not gone.

They couldn't.
(Osiris)

There is nobody that is like her within this world. There is nobody that wields magma that can compare to the potential of the magic that rolls through the form of this little girl- and although one believes that she shouldn't be cocky...She has the right to be, even if it is under friendly pretenses. "It ain't the same..." Her breath spills raggedly past her lips- her ears flattening, tail tucked as she slowly begins to crawl from the barrier of magma that kept her afloat. She narrowly escaped unconsciousness.. And one could tell from the way that she sways within combat...Her vision tunnel ever so briefly as she continues..

"You beatin' someone...Ain't beatin' me." No matter what they say, she does not enjoy the comparisons...But what she does love is a good fight. A good scrap. A way to sacrifice everything to the sun and the stars above that power her through thick and thin. Regardless though...the last round is where the two would differ from one another..

"I've been fightin' your kind since the tournament...I know how you are. I know how all of you are!" Her voice rises above the tumultuous groan of the earth...Her control over magma shown within the way the world forms at the beck and call of her hand. Not one, not two, but three lions appear amidst each sway of her palm...

Covered in molten rock, the ashen beasts launch upon the target...Grasping him, pinning him down until both hands raise to the sky once more. "And because of that, I fight to be different...I fight to be better! I ain't gonna lose! I can't afford to!" Not in this war. Not in this battle. But even when the stars rain down and pierce upon his flesh....She wouldn't hold this against him, because she can respect someone who dares to say that they'd stand down for what's right.

So, when he falters...And when all he sees is nothing more than mere light- he'd find the hand of the small little Felinae reaching through, grasping to pull him up. "We're gonna do this the right way...Promise you." That much, she knows. But regardless, there is a newfound respect for the Hazaiah. And...From this interaction, she could never be more proud of 'humanity'...

"Good job. I-..I can see why y'got so far in the tournament." But already, one would be able to see that she'd turn to check upon her friends- an attempt as assessing their wounds is made.
(Mars)

It seemed as though the fight tilted in his favor... When he recognized a spell here or there, he had a strong feeling towards a more cocky attitude. A more... jovial taunt was displayed at her direction. He compared her to another...

After the second time someone fell over, the turnaround took Hadwin by surprise. A hardened shell of molten rock during his clash of blows- and the ground underneath him erupted! He couldn't control his momentum... he was blasted away.

That display of martial prowess- the very fact she had been able to time such a skill at the moment he did revealed something to him. She knew entirely well how a fight could flow- just from the first round. She understood him, though his many other teraphim compatriots could easily be lent to assist her understanding of his fighting style.

"Kkh... How did you- Ah... I believe I might have made a mistake." He probably shouldn't have said that about her and Tepa. That was rude.

Coming along to the final chase, she had him right where she wanted. An enormous blast of cosmic energy synergized with the erupting fury of a volcano- a blast above and below. He remembered Tonak having a particularly hard time...

Nearly crushed, he couldn't see a damned thing. Yet, in the end of it all- a hand to lift him up. A symbol, he'll concede, of hope.

He rose, and watched as Mars wandered off to her friends. Of all the people, she could show him what they were made of.

"Mars!" he called out, turning towards the group. "Tonak was rather upset when he lost to you. This is how I remember your name... Understand the amount of faith I'm putting in your people. This is the spirit realm's balance I speak of here. Treat it with as much severity."
(Hadwin Hazaiah)

Of all things, he had expected this to turn out wrong.

But even a single changed mind is already something. For he knows that the matters of war require to not only change the landscape, or the battlefield.. but it requires all of the people to be changed in a way that would guarantee such meaningless bloodshed does not repeat again. After all..

As much as he liked violence on his own, being a Rhoynur.. with his steady maturing, he realized that such things should only go so far. At the very least, they were able to expose the truths of Asta to one more Teraphim, and where it started as something terribly hostile..

In the end, it became something akin to understanding.

"..At least ya ain't too prideful for your own good like the rest of Teraphim." Something that not only annoyed him.. but proved to be detrimental in attempting to sort out just about anything.

But.. with this resolved..

"I ain'thave much else to say about this."

"So long as you stay away from the battle, we ain't got a problem. This war is unjust - and only serves to butcher my people."

A fate that he would avoid at all costs.
(Basil)